Sports: Chiefs start preseason tonight See B1
THE IOLA REGISTER Locally owned since 1867
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Thursday, August 7, 2014
Parents as Teachers aids development By KAREN INGRAM The Iola Register
As parents brought their children to Iola High School for USD 257’s district-wide enrollment Wednesday, some may have taken the opportunity to see to the educational needs of the smallest members of their family. Parents as Teachers, an early learning program
Michelle Meiwes, from left, Dorothy Sparks and Donita Garner take on domestic abuse and sexual violence in the Iola community. Sparks said rape is far more common than people would believe. Many rapes go unreported because victims fear the social stigma that would make them a target of ridicule, or because they fear no one will believe them. Male victims have an even more difficult time coming forward and often call the hotline as adults, decades after the assault. “I think about all the years they struggled with it,” Sparks said. “It’s heartbreaking.” Hope Unlimited welcomes any and all who need someone to talk to. Call 620-365-7566 any time. Associates are available 24 hours a day. REGISTER/KAREN INGRAM
We like to make sure we have a happy, healthy child enter the school system. — DeAnn Hauser, parent educator
There’s no place like Hope
geared for parents of children from prenatal to 3 years, hosted a booth to raise awareness and promote the free program. Parents as Teachers, part of the Southeast Kansas Education Service Center in Greenbush, offers a number of services that target all aspects of development, from learning to read to health and development. “We like to make sure we have a happy, healthy child enter the school system,” said DeAnn Hauser, parent educator. Health, vision and hearing screenings are provided
Sparks encourages teamwork at Hope Unlimited By KAREN INGRAM The Iola Register
T
his is a story about Dorothy, who is not from Kansas, but made this state her home. This is not a fairy tale about witches and wizards, however; this is a story about looking at the effects of violence every day and choosing to see hope. Dorothy Sparks first came
to Hope Unlimited in 1997 as a volunteer. She came here from Bath County, Kentucky, where as a child her grandmother had a strong influence. Her grandmother spoke passionately about politics and voting, Sparks said. She took young Dorothy to the voting booth as a child to teach her about civic duty, something she felt strongly about because her own mother was not allowed to vote. Her grandmother also
for early detection of any developmental delays. Dental health also is emphasized to ensure baby teeth grow in correctly. Organizers provide information for parents on local resources, such as the library and, if they need a little extra help, the local food pantry or other charitable groups. Parents as Teachers also provides free, age-appropriate books deliv-
passed on her philosophy. “You work hard and you give back,” Sparks said. “Everybody has something to give in their community, no matter what your talent might be.” Perhaps this is what guided Sparks to becoming a paralegal. It was while working as a paralegal in Kentucky that she first became intimately acquainted with the effects of domestic violence. Many See SPARKS | Page A5
ered by mail to encourage early reading development. Hauser has worked with the program for about 13 years, first in the Humboldt and Moran areas, and more recently in Iola. She said the program is excellent for first-time moms who have lots of questions about what to expect. “A lot of times they have questions like, what should a daytime routine look like?” Hauser said. “How much sleep should my child get?” The programs tries to help See PARENTS | Page A5
School provides free supplies By KAREN INGRAM The Iola Register
U.S. Army Spc. Austin L. Gott from Rough Rider Troop, Tiger Squadron, works on a gate on FOB Lightning. He enjoys using his craft and offers his skill set to anyone on the FOB. U.S. ARMY
PHOTO SUBMITTED BY COMM. SGT. MAJ. ROGER HIENZE
Iolan shows skills while deployed PAKTYA PROVINCE, Afghanistan (DVIDS Media Services) — Iola native Spc. Austin Gott, 20, from Rough Rider Company, 1st Squadron Tiger, 3d Cavalry Regiment, has been doing welding projects for numerous organizations on forward operating base Lightning in his spare time while deployed in Afghanistan. Gott enlisted as a mechanic at age 17, before he finished his junior year of high school in Joplin. By then he was already attending the Franklin Technology Center
HUMBOLDT — Humboldt Elementary School is starting the school year in style by offering a night of free food, fun and — best of all — free school supplies. Family Fun Night is scheduled from 6 to 10 p.m. Aug. 15 at the USD 258 Sports Complex. There will be sack races, kickball, cup stacking relays and other activities. Hot dogs, chips and a drink will be provided free of charge from 6 to 7. All students, grades K-8, can pick up free school supplies any time during the event. “We’ve never done anything like this before,” said Darcie Croisant, president and inter-
im director of the Humboldt Recreation Commission. The event came together with little time to prepare. Still, organizers went in with an all-or-nothing attitude, Croisant said. Their goal is to provide all of Humboldt’s elementary students with basic supplies they need to get through the school year. Fortunately, they found a slew of generous sponsors to help. The school district, Monarch Cement Company, B&W Trailer Hitches, Personal Service Insurance and Community National Bank contributed about $1,500. Walmart also offered a $2,000 grant and Moon’s Hometown Market offered a discount on school supplies.
Darcie Croisant The group has a mound of supplies, such as paper, penSee SUPPLIES | Page A5
in Joplin, working toward his American Welding Society certification. When Gott enlisted, his hometown of Joplin was still recovering from the May 2011 tornado. His high school was destroyed and all the students were being taught in a shuttered mall. He was simultaneously completing a two-year vocational degree to become proficient at metal inert gas welding, gas tungsten arc welding, shielded metal arc welding
Fire leaves family without home
See DEPLOYED | Page A5
See FIRE | Page A5
Quote of the day Vol. 116, No. 199
By RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register
Fred and Alison Bunney were ready to move many of their belongings to their new home at 806 South St. Instead, they find themselves seeking refuge in a camper for the time being. A Monday afternoon fire gutted the home’s interior as it was being prepared for their
arrival. Barbara Elliott, who was in the structure shortly before the fire started, explains: Elliott and her husband, Jerold, were preparing the house for the arrival of Barbara’s son and his wife, the Bunney couple, and their two children. (A third child is on the way.) Barbara Elliott had been in the home cleaning, and had
“Age is not important unless you’re a cheese.” — Helen Hayes, American actress 75 Cents
left to eat dinner, as her husband called her from their house about two blocks away. The two were chatting on the phone when they heard sirens. “He thought I had been pulled over,” she told the Register. Instead, the sirens were from firefighters headed to
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