Sports: Allen Cross Country preps for Nationals See B1
THE IOLA REGISTER Locally owned since 1867
Wednesday, November 5, 2014
www.iolaregister.com
No chance for change No way, no how for new schools, upgrades for city By RICHARD LUKEN and SUSAN LYNN The Iola Register
Iola and USD 257 voters said “No, No” at the polls Tuesday. Voters resoundingly rejected a proposed $50 million school bond referendum that would have paid for new elementary and high schools at the north edge of Iola. Unofficially, the bond vote failed, 62 percent to 38 percent (1,812 to 1,128). A corresponding sales tax vote, that would have increased Iola’s citywide tax one-half percent also failed, 58 percent to 42 percent (1,027 to 740). Half of the proceeds from the sales tax increase would have gone to upkeep of city streets. Voters were even more emphatic in Gas and LaHarpe, where the school bond was rejected by a nearly 7030 margin. The rebuke puts the district back at square one in terms of what, if anything, should be done in terms of facility improvements. In the run-up to Tuesday’s vote, school officials cited several issues with the current buildings, including safety and accessibility issues, unequal educational resources at respective
Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback waves to a cheering crowd in Topeka Tuesday night after he was reelected. WICHITA EAGLE/MCT/TRAVIS HEYING
Kansans keep Brownback, Roberts By JOHN HANNA ASSOCIATED PRESS
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Republican Gov. Sam Brownback narrowly won re-election Tuesday in Kansas against a Democratic opponent who attempted to make their race a referendum on the incumbent’s conservative fiscal experiment. Brownback’s contest with Democratic challenger Paul Davis remained close as ballots from Tuesday’s election were counted, but voters gave the incumbent a second, fouryear term. “Praise be to God that we got across the line,” Brownback
declared to cheering supporters at a GOP rally in Topeka. The governor successfully pushed the GOP-dominated Legislature during his first term to slash personal income taxes to boost the state’s economy. The state cut its top rate by 26 percent and exempted the owners of 191,000 businesses from income taxes altogether. Davis argued that the cuts wrecked the state’s finances. He told supporters at a rally in his hometown in Lawrence that the state faces real challenges and people must work together. “The only way we can overcome these challenges is to
face them together,” Davis said. “While we fell just short of the outcome that we wanted, I would do it all over again in a second.” The challenges facing Brownback in a second term include stabilizing the budget over the next two years. The Legislature’s nonpartisan research staff is predicting a budget shortfall of at least $260 million by July 2016. But the Republican governor exuded confidence throughout the campaign that the tax cuts he championed are boosting the economy. He outlined a platform that See ELECTION | Page A4
buildings and rising maintenance and utility costs. School board members said on numerous occasions they unanimously favored new construction over renovation. It was not immediately clear how Tuesday’s vote will change their focus. “I want to thank everyone who supports education and who worked so hard on this,” Superintendent of Schools Jack Koehn said after the results were announced. THE MOOD among supporters was somber from the get-go. As they gathered at the county courthouse Tuesday evening, the tally of advanced votes released at 7 p.m. showed voters were soundly against building new schools. Of the 858 cast before Election Day, the bond issue trailed by 161 votes; the sales tax, by 89. Their prospects did not improve as the votes from Gas, LaHarpe and finally Iola came in. By 9:30 p.m. the measure had failed decidedly. The defeat came hard. “I want to thank you all for what you did. I thoroughly appreciate it,” said Tony Leavitt, president of See BOND | Page A4
Saturday set aside Owl Creek bridge to open in spring for war veterans COUNTY COMMISSION
By BOB JOHNSON The Iola Register
By BOB JOHNSON The Iola Register
On Nov. 11, 1918, Iolans flooded downtown streets to celebrate the end of World War I, the Register reported at the time. Factory whistles blew and revelry continued into the night. Saturday, U.S. veterans of all wars, as well as those with peace time service, will be recognized here during Veterans Day 2014 ceremonies. All veterans were included in the annual recognition after World War II. Lt. Col. Kenneth Weishaar, a member of the Kansas National Guard, will give the address. His comments will come shortly after 11 a.m. in front of the Veterans Memorial Wall, just off West Madison Avenue. The theme is “Past, Present, Future Veterans.”
Lloyd Houk will sing the national anthem prior to Weishaar’s speech. Names of Kansans still missing in action will be read; the Moran American Legion firing squad will salute deceased veterans. First Christian Church’s Rev. Dave McGullion will have a role. Command Sgt. Maj. (Ret.) Alfred Link, whose life for years revolved around veterans activities before his death at age 83 on March 23, will be recognized. The annual parade will start at noon featuring soldiers from the Headquarters Company and Forward Support Company of 891st Engineer Battalion, stationed in Iola. Soldiers will carry a huge U.S. flag; others will drive military vehicles. Several bands and floats are expected. See VETERANS | Page A4
Quote of the day Vol. 117, No. 8
A new bridge over Owl Creek three miles west of Humboldt is expected to be open by early spring, provided weather remains conducive for construction work the next several months. Forms for part of the span’s deck are in place and some concrete work has been done. The new bridge will replace a 63-foot-long iron bridge that had been in place since 1909. Earlier this year it was moved to the south edge of Iola, where it eventually will become part of an extension of the Southwind Rail Trail. Thrive Allen County was awarded a $100,000 Healthy Living Grant by the Kansas Health Foundation to develop the new hiking and biking trail in wooded areas near the old Lehigh Cement plant.
Construction materials fill Owl Creek three miles west of Humboldt, where a new bridge is being built. REGISTER/BOB JOHNSON Bill King, director of Public Works, told Allen County commissioners Tuesday the Owl Creek bridge was “coming along well.” The bridge is being con-
“Instead of giving a politician the keys to the city, it might be better to change the locks..” — Doug Larson 75 Cents
structed by B & B Bridge, a division of Beachner Construction, St. Paul. King said cost, including $100,000 for See BRIDGE | Page A4
Hi: 70 Lo: 43 Iola, KS