Sports: NWTF hosts youth shoot See B1
THE IOLA REGISTER Locally owned since 1867
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Monday, May 4, 2015
Students take a bow with state titles Prall-Piazza team, Bannister golden
Marmaton Valley’s Boyd, Wilson win
By RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register
By RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register
TOPEKA — Saturday brought validation to Regina Chriestenson’s long-held belief: Iola High School “is swimming with talent” when it comes to speech and drama. Iola brought home a pair of state championships Saturday at the Class 4A Speech and Drama Championships, hosted by Washburn Rural High School. Garrett Prall and Emma Piazza won the duet acting competition in dominating fashion. “I’ve never had a pair of students go 1-1-1 in finals before,” Chriestenson said, meaning the three judges all placed Prall and Piazza first with
SALINA — Marmaton Valley High’s dynamic duo of Emily Boyd and Payton Wilson brought home a state title Saturday. The pair teamed up to take first place overall at the State Speech and Drama Championships Saturday in Salina. The duo’s tally headlined Marmaton Valley’s sixth-place overall finish, an impressive haul considering the school only had 12 entries. “That indicates the caliber of competitors I had on my team,” Marmaton Valley adviser Julie Tholen said. They weren’t the only lofty finishers. Clara Boyd brought
Iola High School forensics students from left, Garrett Prall, Emma Piazza, Trilby Bannister and Olivia Bannister hold medals they won at the 4A state championships in Topeka Saturday. COURTESY PHOTO
their respective votes. Trilby Bannister — three-time state qualifier — is the champion in humorous solo acting. With the trio of se-
niors leading the way, Iola took seventh as a team. “I’m not sure historically how it compares See IHS | Page A4
Marmaton Valley High forensics students, from left, Emily Boyd, Payton Wilson and Clara Boyd hold up their medals from the Class 1A state championships Saturday in Salina. COURTESY PHOTO home third in serious solo acting. Wilson reached the semifinals in humorous solo acting, as did Wyatt Bolinger and Jesse Gardner, both in oral interpretation of prose. The students will
recreate their performances for the public during Fine Arts Night at 7 p.m. Wednesday, along with music and other exhibits showing paintings, drawings and other pieces of art.
Kansas may revisit governor’s tax break TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Top Republican legislators in Kansas appear increasingly ready to reconsider a business tax break that’s been a cherished economic policy for GOP Gov. Sam Brownback, possibly making it more difficult to close a projected budget shortfall. Brownback is clear that he wants to preserve an exemption from personal income taxes for 281,000 business owners and 53,000 farmers. He calls the policy, enacted in 2012 as part of a larger package of income tax cuts, the “small business accelerator” and describes it as a catalyst for job growth. But Republican allies who championed the same tax break three years ago said the GOP-dominated Legislature will seriously consider
John Hanna An AP news analysis narrowing it as a budgetbalancing move. Several suggested the exemption was broader than they’d intended and raised the same questions about whether the policy is fair to working-class families that Democrats have long asked. GOP legislators involved in drafting budget and tax proposals acknowledged that they’ll have to push Brownback into accepting changes. “As with any business plan, See TAXES | Page A4
Allen County Gives Susan Raines, executive director of the Bowlus Fine Arts Center, explains to Sue Atkinson, Kincaid, plans for the new entrance and landscaping surrounding the east side of the Center at Saturday’s Day of Giving sponsored by the Allen County Community Foundation. REGISTER/SUSAN LYNN
State lacks KanCare inspector
The good earth Square B 4-H’ers help Devon Westhoff, 7, Erie, construct an earthworm farm at Saturday’s Spring Garden Fair sponsored by the Iola Public Library and Southwind Extension District. From left are Sarah Stark, 10, Erie, the young Westhoff, Ashley Riebel, 9, Gas, Abigail Meiwes, 9, Iola, and Becky Meiwes. The event had several stations for garden enthusiasts to learn about best practices. REGIS-
TER/SUSAN LYNN
Quote of the day Vol. 117, No. 128
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The job of inspector general for the state’s managed care Medicaid program has been open for nearly a year, but Kansas health officials insist they are working to fill the position. The post has been empty since Phil Hermanson resigned in June 2014, just months after he was hired to lead KanCare, an umbrella program for three private managed health care companies. The lack of a leader for the $3 billion program drew attention last week from lawmakers, The Topeka CapitalJournal reported . In early 2013, United Healthcare, Sunflower Health Plan and Amerigroup
“Instead of loving your enemies, treat your friends a little better.” — E.W. Howe, American writer 75 Cents
were given three-year contracts, with options for extensions, to cover the state’s Medicaid enrollees. The inspector general is supposed to oversee those companies to watch for potential abuse or mismanagement. Hermanson, a former state lawmaker, was appointed in April 2014 by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, which did not announce the appointment. He began work as an interim director before he was confirmed by the Kansas Senate, but resigned that June after questions were raised about his lack of qualifications, a previous bankruptcy and a 2009 no-contest plea for driving under the influence.
Hi: 82 Lo: 60 Iola, KS