Sports: Boys tennis kicks off regional season See B1
THE IOLA REGISTER Locally owned since 1867
www.iolaregister.com
Wednesday, May 6, 2015
What awaits hospital site burning question By BOB JOHNSON The Iola Register
“A grand opportunity,” Allen County Commissioner Tom Williams called a plan to bring a G&W Grocery and apartments to the site of the old Allen County HospiTom Williams tal. “It would be great for the community,” Williams said at Tuesday’s commission meeting. While vocally supportive, commissioners — including Jerry Daniels and Jim Talk-
ington — did not commit themselves to any binding agreement on the project, in part because they have given a group headed by Arlyn Briggs, Kincaid farmer, until June 1 to submit detailed plans for converting the structure to a care facility. A part of that is for Briggs to purchase the old hospital for $157,000, which County Counselor Alan Weber said was its appraised value. Briggs told the Register Tuesday afternoon he anticipated having a firm plan in place for commissioners’ review by June 1. “We’re going forward and will have an architect walk
through the hospital Monday,” he said, with other components of his project in concluding stages. “We’re working our butts off ” to get it all done. In addition to handing commissioners a letter of intent from G&W — reported in Tuesday’s Register — David Toland, in his economic development role, said another housing developer was due to visit Allen County later this week to scope out development on another site. Also pointed out, in regard to development on the old hospital site, was new conSee SITE | Page A6
Backers: Grocery store would anchor ‘new neighborhood’ By RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register
Nearly lost amid the hubbub of Tuesday’s announcement that G&W Foods hopes to build a new grocery store in downtown Iola was the other portion of the ambitious project — new housing complexes. As reported previously in the Register — and elsewhere in today’s newspaper — the bigger dream is to have the
grocery store be the centerpiece of a complete neighborhood redevelopment at the old Allen County Hospital site. Thrive Allen County Executive Director David John McRae Toland and former mayor John McRae, See STORE | Page A6
Children found after Code Red alert issued By RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register
A “parental custody” issue sparked a Code Red alert Tuesday afternoon after two children were reported missing. Iola Police Chief Jared Warner said officers spent several hours searching for Dylan and Izabella Marlow, 8 and 7, respectively, after they were picked up from their father’s home in Iola by their grandfather, Theodore Witchley. Witchley had told the father he had planned to take the children to the park, Warner said. Instead, Witchley took the children to their mother’s home. See KIDS | Page A3
Iola Middle School art students, from left, Jacob Wight, Jonathan Cress, Kylee Norton and Dalton Kerr show some of the pieces they’ll display Thursday at the IMS Art Show. REGISTER/RICHARD LUKEN
Middle school artwork on display Thursday Iolans are invited to vote on their favorite pieces Thursday at Iola Middle School’s annual art show. The art work has been set up in the IMS commons area,
and will be open to the public from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. A large variety of pieces will be shown, instructor Joyce Atkinson said, including drawings, paintings, de-
LET’S GET PHYSICALS
signs, record designs, clay projects, etchings, paper cutting and foam pop art. Special tributes to such legends as Van Gogh, Monet, Salvador Dali and Georgia
O’Keefe also are planned. Spectators are invited to vote for their three favorite pieces, with the top votegetter earning the People’s Choice Award.
Legislators eye tax plans By JOHN HANNA The Associated Press
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas homeowners would pay higher property taxes under a proposal that a state Senate committee endorsed Tuesday, as the Republican-dominated Legislature began work on raising new revenues to close a projected budget shortfall. The Senate Assessment and Taxation Committee approved
proposals to raise about $50 million for the fiscal year that begins July 1. It would be a See TAX | Page A6
5 schools get special aid By NICHOLAS CLAYTON The Associated Press
Iola Middle School seventh-grader Andre Quinn was among the scores of students undergoing physical examinations, a necessity in order to play sports for IMS or Iola High School in the 2015-16 school year. Several local health care professionals provide their services for the annual physical exams. Here, Quinn is being examined by Becky French, a nurse practitioner with The Family Physicians. REGISTER/RICK DANLEY
Quote of the day Vol. 117, No. 130
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Gov. Sam Brownback and legislative leaders agreed Tuesday to give roughly half a million dollars in additional funding to five school districts hit
“Sometimes you just gotta be drop-kicked out of the nest.” — Robert Downey Jr. 75 Cents
hard by recent policy changes and unforeseen expenses. Eight districts made requests totaling about $1.1 million, claiming that enrollment fluctuations and rising costs would cause them to fall short See DISTRICTS | Page A3
Hi: 75 Lo: 65 Iola, KS