Sports: ACC women’s soccer, volleyball compete See B1
THE IOLA REGISTER Locally owned since 1867
Revenue collections below forecasts By JOHN HANNA The Associated Press
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas collected $11 million less in taxes than anticipated in October, making it more likely that the state will have a projected deficit in its current budget. The Department of Revenue said Monday that the state collected $446 million in taxes last month when its official forecast anticipated $457 million. The shortfall for the month was 2.4 percent, and softer-thanexpected sales, corporate income and oil and natural gas production taxes were largely to blame. Since the current fiscal year began in July, tax collections have fallen about 4.1 percent short of expectations, at $1.8 billion. The $78 million shortfall in tax collections over the past four months would — unless trends change — wipe out any cushion of cash reserves that Republican Gov. Sam Brownback and the GOP-dominated Legislature expected the state to have at the end of June 2016. The report on October tax collections came only See STATE | Page A6
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Tuesday, November 3, 2015
How to help Santa make deadline By RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register
Youngsters have barely digested their Halloween stash, and shoppers already have set their sights on Christmas, Diona Joy noted. As Iola’s postmaster, Joy and her crew of employees are tasked with ensuring packages and Christmas gifts are delivered in a timely manner. To that end, Joy offered up several nuggets of information at Friday’s See, Hear Iola session to make the holiday shipping season a smooth one. Joy, a 25-year postmaster — the last three in Iola — spoke about four shipping options to ensure packages reach their destinations in time to be placed under the tree. — Standard post, ground service for lessthan-urgent deliveries and oversized packages should be mailed by Dec. 15. — First class mail, service for standard-sized, single-piece envelopes and small packages weighing 13 ounces and less. Delivery should be within three days or less. Joy recommended those parcels be mailed by Dec. 19. — Priority Mail, domestic services available in one, two or three days (depending on where the packages originate and are being shipped), with a variety of flat rate options. Those should be shipped by Dec. 21.
Diona Joy, the first female postmaster in Iola history, holds a sample Priority Mail package that can be shipped in a timely manner this holiday season by the United States Postal Service. REGISTER/RICHARD LUKEN
USPS deadlines for packages to arrive by Christmas Standard Post Service
First Class Mail
Priority Mail
Priority Mail Express
Dec. 15
Dec. 19
Dec. 21
Dec. 23
— Priority Mail Express, the fastest domestic shipping service USPS offers, with overnight delivery available at most locations. Those must be mailed by Dec. 23. JOY spoke extensively about the latter two options, noting the Postal Service has set up flat rates for priority and priority express shipments. Priority Mail is available
with boxes in three sizes, the smallest of which ships for $5.95, regardless of how much it weighs. Medium size priority mail boxes ship for $12.65, and are popular for parents sending care packages to their children. Large priority mail boxes, meanwhile, are the venue of choice for folks to send packages to military servicemen overseas, because of a $2 dis-
count from the regular $17.90 shipping rate. All three priority mail options carry automatic insurance coverage of up to $50. Priority mail express ships for $44.95 and guarantees delivery within one or two days, and carries with it $100 worth of insurance coverage. Both Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express packages See SHIPPING | Page A6
Prison growth in state’s sights By JOHN HANNA The Associated Press
Acting in the upcoming Marmaton Valley High School Drama Department production of “Arsenic and Old Lace” are, from left, Kaitlyn Knavel, Liz Johnson, Klay Von Dowe, Molly Henderson, Dimitri Lamping, Josh Wise, Clara Boyd, Gage Adams, Lane Houk, Michale Johnson, Jesse Gardner and Robbie Nickelson. REGISTER/RICHARD LUKEN
MV drama students present ‘Arsenic and Old Lace’ MORAN — Marmaton Valley High School will serve up some murderous intrigue, more than a few laughs and dessert this week. The annual MV Dessert Theatre production of “Arsenic and Old Lace” runs
Thursday and Friday in the old gymnasium. The curtain rises at 7 p.m., with doors opening at 6:30. The dark comedy revolves around a pair of spinster aunts who take in lonely old men, feeling bad about their
Quote of the day Vol. 118, No.7
situations and resorting to putting the visitors out of their misery by murdering them. As always, the high school’s Family, Career and Community Leaders of America chapter will serve
up a variety of dessert treats for spectators to enjoy during the production. Tickets sell for $8 for adults and $5 for students. The 12-member cast is under the direction of drama instructor Katie Farrell.
“Women and cats will do as they please and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea.” — Robert Heinlein 75 Cents
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas’ top corrections official Monday outlined a proposal for a $27 million expansion of the state’s maximum-security prison outside El Dorado to deal with the state’s increasing inmate population. Corrections Secretary Ray Roberts told a joint legislative committee that the state already has slightly more adult, male inmates in its custody than space for them. He said that by mid-2018, the Department of Corrections expects to have about 9,400 male inmates — about 600, or 7 percent, above capacity. Roberts also said that by See PRISONS | Page A6
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