The
IOLA REGISTER
SWIM TEAM Iola Seahorses compete at home See B1
Thursday, June 13, 2013
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ACH beefing up therapy depts.
Workshop lets kids ‘act out’ By KAYLA BANZET kayla@iolaregister.com
A germaphobe, a farmer and a dancer walk into a party — kids at the Children’s Summer Theater Workshop Wednesday practiced as those and other characters during an acting exercise. The exercise is pretty simple. The workshop kids knock on a pretend door on the stage and greet the host of the party. The host then welcomes the guests into his or her party (the stage) and tries to figure out who the guest is without being told. During the exercise the kids took turns playing different characters. “It’s similar to the party game on ‘Whose Line Is It Anyway,’” Susan Raines, workshop director, said. Raines has been in charge of the workshop for 15 years, which this year has elementary age kids attending the workshop from 8 to 10 a.m. and those in middle school from 10 a.m. to noon. Former Children’s Theater Workshop students now
Register/Kayla Banzet
Madison Wilson (left) acts as a party guest on Wednesday morning with Parker Smith and Hannah St. Clair. Isaiah Wicoff (far right) tries to guess who the characters are during a Children’s Summer Theater Workshop session. in high school help run the workshop. NO ONE in the workshop
is judged for making funny faces or rolling on the ground
when performing. Enthusiasm is welcome and that is what Allie Utley likes about the workshop. “My favorite part is you See WORKSHOP| Page A4
In an effort to beef up the hospital’s physical, occupation and speech therapy departments, hospital trustees agreed Tuesday night to hire the services of Rehab Visions to oversee the departments. “This is an organization that can help us visualize new resources, including updated equipment and expanded services,” said Ron Baker, chief executive officer of Allen County Hospital. The hospital’s rehabilitative services had been managed in-house. The hospital’s six employees who work in rehab and with home health services will be offered positions with Rehab Visions. “In a review of our program, officials with Rehab Visions viewed all of our current employees as valuable and would like them to serve as the core of an expanded department,” Baker said. Trustees agreed to pursue a two-year contract with Rehab Visions, which will include a benefits package for those six employees. Rehab Visions operates within a wide swath of hospitals throughout the Midwest, Baker said, including McPherson and in the Ozarks. Baker said it has more than 600 employees. RICHARD CHASE, former Iola school administrator, gave a gift to the hospital’s foundation. Hospital
trustees recognized Chase at Tuesday night’s meeting. Patient room 123 will be named the Richard A. Chase Family room in honor of the financial gift. The spacious room is on the south end of the new hospital and looks over hospital grounds. Chase’s Allen County roots
“
This is an organization that can help us visualize new resources, including updated equipment and expanded services
— Ron Baker, Allen County Hospital CEO
“
The world’s a stage
By SUSAN LYNN susan@iolaregister.com
run deep. Both his maternal and paternal great-grandparents settled in the area, as did his grandparents. Chase grew up in Independence, moving to Iola in 1981 when he took on with the school system as assistant superintendent. PLANS TO ABSORB Preferred Medical Associate remain on track, Baker said. Transfer of ownership will be June 30. Its entire staff has been offered employment with Allen County Regional Hospital. “The only difference patients will see is the absence See REHAB | Page A4
AC Historical Society joins museum program Allen County Historical Society is now officially a member of the Blue Star Museums program. The program, which includes over 1,800 museums across the nation, gives free access to military personnel and their families. Though
the Allen County museum is always free, society director Elyssa Jackson said being part of the program will help get the museum’s name out in the public, as well as support other museums that recognize military personnel. See MUSEUM | Page A4
Pianist to play free show Concert pianist John Nilsen will showcase his talent at Wesley United Methodist Church, 301 E. Madison Ave., at 7 p.m. Saturday. The show, free to the public, will include folk, jazz, classical and hymn arrangements from the classically trained musician. Nilsen also will speak about life experiences travel-
ing the globe, playing music and growing up as a Methodist. He has recorded 18 CDs in the Portland, Ore., area and has toured Europe and Asia, selling over one million albums. He has played in churches in all 50 states, as well as all Methodist churches in the Oregon/Idaho Conference — 213 total.
Courtesy photo
Pianist John Nilsen Vol. 115, No.162
Actors prepare sizzling summer play
Register/Steven Schwartz
Allen Community College is preparing to wow with their summer play, “45 Minutes from Broadway,” written by George M. Cohan. Director Tony Piazza said the play, funded by the Sleeper Family Trust, is “an all-American play, it’s a classic.” Cast members are, left to right, Matthew Wynn, Quentin Mallette, Nick Thomsen, Zach Cokely, Clara Wicoff, Whitney Olson, Ankit Gandhi, Hannah St. Clair, Isaiah Wicoff, Madison Luken, Zach St. Clair and Justice Boll.
Cactus abloom
Courtesy photo/Kim Romig
Cholla cactus blossoms have brightened areas near Kim and Ralph Romig’s home, 601 North St., this week. 75 Cents
Iola, KS