The
IOLA REGISTER Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Locally owned since 1867
Amber waves of grain
Register/Bob Johnson
Wheat gushes from the bin of Brian Specht’s combine Monday afternoon north of Piqua. The wheat harvest is in full swing and large yields are being reported.
Area wheat harvest bolts from the blocks By BOB JOHNSON bob@iolaregister.com
With close to 10 tons of grain on board Monday afternoon, Brian Specht raised the 32-foot header on his combine and headed for a nearby semitrailer to unload. The first patch of wheat he cut on Saturday made 75 bush-
els an acre. “This is better,” he said of an expansive field north of Piqua. “It’s dry and test weight is real good at 62 pounds.” Anytime test weight inches above the industry standard of 60 pounds that’s good news. Payment is based on that weight, which means for every 30 bushels cut at 62 pounds, Specht gets paid for an extra bushel. “We had a few tests come in last week,” said Ken Smail, Piqua Farmers Co-op manager. “Then, cutting started over a wide area on Saturday. That’s a little unusual,” with normal progression being the harvest
starts in one area and in a few days spreads to others. Dry wheat with good test weights is the rule this year for area farmers, he added. Many fields are yielding 60 or better bushels an acre. “Of course, we’ve had some 40- and 50-bushel wheat,” Smail said. “I’ve also heard of some 80-bushel.” The co-op took in about 70,000 bushels over the weekend. With hot, dry weather forecast this week, trucks will be coming in a steady stream. Monday afternoon the dust had hardly settled on roads leading to Piqua before anothSee WHEAT | Page A6
TRACK ACC grad wins silver See B1
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Students help grow church through program By KAYLA BANZET kayla@iolaregister.com
Iola Trinity Methodist is on a mission to grow its congregation and hopes a lively Vacation Bible School will lead the direction. The Rev. Carl Ellis and a small group of college-aged students have come to Iola this week to help Trinity Methodist, 228 S. Kentucky, run its VBS. Ellis and his team bring aid to smallmember churches by leading a week full of activities and teach members of the church how to lead an effective VBS. Ellis says bringing in a younger group to lend a helping hand can help the program. “When you have young people leading, the kids get more excited,” Ellis said. Sara Burris, a member of
Trinity Methodist, helped plan the program to attract more members. “We’ve been working on community outreach,” Burris said. “Our mission is to grow.” Churches apply to have the group come to their town to help. The group selects only four churches. The program’s theme is “Everywhere Fun Fair” and is being led by Rudo Dozva, a Kansas Wesleyan University student from Zimbabwe. Dozva will earn three credit hours toward her education because she is leading the program. “I was originally a pharmacy major but I changed it to religion after helping with this program last year,” Dozva said. See TRINITY | Page A2
Register/Kayla Banzet
Rudo Dozva (right) leads a game in the Trinity Methodist sanctuary during Vacation Bible School Monday. Dozva is part of the traveling VBS from Kansas Wesleyan University.
Eyesores get council’s attention By BOB JOHNSON bob@iolaregister.com
Courtesy photo
Iolan Paige Olson competes in a color run in Lawrence last October, in which runners are pelted with powdered paint. A similar run is in the works for Saturday in LaHarpe.
City council members sank their teeth into discussions about removal of dilapidated structures Monday night during budget-preparation reviews by department heads. Shonda Jefferis, code services officer, said 153 structures — houses, garages and sheds — were on a demolition list, but that only a handful could be done each year with $12,000 set aside. Cost is $3,000 to $3,500 by private contractors, depending on size and complexity. City crews
are too busy to add house demolition to their chores, said Assistant City Administrator Corey Schinstock. Councilman Don Becker said he would like to accelerate removal. He proposed $50,000 be budgeted for demolition. Eventually, the motion died for lack of a second, but it did spark more discussion. Nancy Ford wondered where increased funding might originate, and said she would be reluctant to short another city department. She mentioned National Guard assistance, suggesting that
would be cost-free and would increase removal from the four structure demolitions proposed for 2014. “We’re never going to get them all done at that rate,” Becker said. Beverly Franklin said razing properties for free on the provision that the owner would rebuild on the property could add to Iola’s housing stock. Owners are charged demolition costs, but, Schinstock said they aren’t always recovered. Bob Shaughnessy had his See COUNCIL | Page A6
Color run race to splash across LaHarpe Saturday Pristine waters offer lessons LAHARPE — The LaHarpe PRIDE Committee promises a little something for everyone who shows up at LaHarpe City Park Saturday. Those in the fitness kick can partake in either a 5-kilometer run or 3-kilometer walk as part of the LaHarpe PRIDE Patriot’s Challenge-Color Splash. The male and female runners who run the fastest will bring home a special prize. Each will receive an American flag that has flown over the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. The flags were displayed by Kansas Sen. Jerry Moran in honor of LaHarpe PRIDE. Those who prefer a more leisurely pace for their runs have the option of something else entirely — getting dirty. The “color splash” portion of the festivities features a
number of stations along the route in which participants voluntarily get pelted with powdered paint. The non-toxic paint can be washed out of clothing, or treated with vinegar to preserve the colorful designs. A limited number of white shirts will be available to runners, to better show the colors. Sunglasses or other eye protection is advised. Proceeds from Saturday’s events will go to the PRIDE Committee’s ongoing efforts to upgrade the LaHarpe park. Members are eager to repair or replace playground equipment, bleachers at the nearby softball diamond and perhaps see a walking trail built to surround the park. Other beautification projects, such as large “welcome” signs along U.S. 54, also are in the planning stages. SATURDAY’S RUN begins See COLOR | Page A5
Vol. 115, No.165
By STEVEN SCHWARTZ steven@iolaregister.com
Register/Steven Schwartz
Darci Collins supervises SAFE BASE students with the front range of RMNP in the background. 75 Cents
“Can you imagine what this place would have been like before it was a national park,” SAFE BASE Director Angela Henry said while surveying the cabins littered around Rocky Mountain National Park. The sun was just beginning to gleam over the ridge to the east, as light cascaded onto Long’s Peak and its neighboring summits. The large basin, through which the Thompson River runs, snakes down into the valley of the park, providing a lush backdrop to the campgrounds. The 68 SAFE BASE students were beginning to rustle around in their tents at around 7:30 a.m. Staff members had been awake for a short while, preparing breakfast for the hungry campers. It seemed most people had caught up on See MOUNTAINS | Page A6
Iola, KS