Sports: Iola volleyball hosts league foes See B1
THE IOLA REGISTER Locally owned since 1867
Wednesday, October 7, 2015
www.iolaregister.com
County studies wind farm proposal By BOB JOHNSON The Iola Register
Allen County commissioners encouraged Mitch Garner, director of Public Works, to keep himself appraised of goings-on with the proposed construction of nearly 100 powergenerating wind turbines north of LaHarpe and Moran. Commissioner Jim Talkington said Tuesday he visited with commissioners in Coffey County about their ex-
periences with a wind farm in the Waverly area, which is near completion. A good idea, “to talk with them and find out what worked and what didn’t,” said Chairman Tom Williams. If the Allen County project materializes — much preliminary work is to be done — county roads would be used extensively during the construction phase. CommisSee COUNTY | Page A4
Finding a medallion hidden at the old Fred Funston home site — part of the inaugural FarmCity Days Medallion Hunt — were, front from left, Tabitha Graham and Anna Taylor; second from left, Joseph DeVoe, Jillian DeVoe, Sheri Taylor and Jason DeVoe. The family won $500 for finding the medallion. PHOTO COURTESY OF AARON FRANKLIN
Hidden medallion found By RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register
The search is over. The inaugural Farm-City Days Medallion Hunt ended late Tuesday afternoon at the old Fred Funston homesite north of Iola. Brothers Joseph and Jason DeVoe and other family members searched for about 45 minutes before finding the small, metal medallion fastened to the side of an elm tree. The family receives the $500 grand prize for finding the medallion. The family followed a series of obscure clues crafted by Donna Houser, released
one day at a time. It was the third clue, released Tuesday morning — “There’s nothing better than some good smoked pork. But, don’t bother bringing a knife or a fork” — that sent the family north. “We had been searching every day since the first clue was released Saturday morn-
ing,” Joseph DeVoe said. “The ‘smoke’ clue led us to the old smokehouse on the (Funston) property. Sheri Taylor discovered the link to the smokehouse while searching the Internet for smoke-related terms associated with Allen County.” One item noted the Funstons had a smokehouse on the property along Old 169 north of Iola. The Funston house, of course, was moved to the courthouse square in Iola in the mid 1990s. But the smokehouse remained. “There were too many tall weeds to put it on the smoke-
Ruth and Earl’s Down Home Cookin’ will open its doors in Gas Monday. REGISTER/RICHARD LUKEN
(Almost) ready for business By RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register
GAS — Clara Ellis and Clifford Peterson figured they’d try a “slow” opening for their restaurant. The pace was anything but. “For the first two hours we were open, we only had two empty chairs,” Ellis said. “I was so nervous and so scared, but we came through. We’re
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all still alive and not bruised up. It made the first day a good one.” Ellis and Peterson are the co-owners of Ruth and Earl’s Down Home Cookin,’ which occupies the former Bonnie’s Corner Cafe building in downtown Gas. Ruth and Earl’s opened its doors unannounced TuesSee RUTH | Page A4
Brownback aide blasts Medicaid expansion TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Gov. Sam Brownback’s office has indicated that the administration will not expand Medicaid and bring coverage to 150,000 uninsured Kansans, calling the plan “morally reprehensible.” Hospitals have sought to expand Medicaid, which provides health care for low-income and disabled Kansans, under the Affordable Care Act. “Governor Brownback’s primary objection is a moral one: Medicaid Expansion creates new entitlements for able-bodied adults without dependents, prioritizing those who choose not to work before intellectually, developmentally, and physically disabled, the frail and elderly, and those struggling with mental health issues,” Melika See BLASTS | Page A4
The Allen County Multi-Agency Team, in partnership with Preferred Family Healthcare, was awarded a $125,000 Drug-Free Communities grant from the White House Drug Policy Office. From left: ACMAT co-chairs Angela Murphy and Jaime Westervelt, PFH program director Brenda Salvati, ACMAT treasurer Carol Olson and ACMAT secretary Michelle Hoag. REGISTER/RICK DANLEY
Coalition earns $125K to fight youth drug abuse By RICK DANLEY The Associated Press
The Allen County MultiAgency Team has been awarded a $125,000 Drug-Free Communities (DFC) grant. The federal grant, a project of the White House Drug Policy office, recognizes locally based coalitions that aim to reduce the problems of youth substance abuse.
Quote of the day Vol. 117, No. 235
There was time only for an abbreviated burst of applause Tuesday afternoon when ACMAT co-chair Angela Murphy announced the good news to her colleagues during the coalition’s regularly scheduled meeting at Pizza Hut. “We are excited, and we’re grateful,” said Murphy. “But now the celebration is out the window; it’s boots on the
ground time. We’ve got a lot of work to do.” According to Brenda Salvati, a program director at Preferred Family Healthcare — the agency charged with facilitating the grant project on behalf of Allen County — ACMAT’s first order of business, in light of the increased funding, is to hire new staff. “This is primarily a staffdriven grant,” explained Sal-
“An ugly sight, a man who is afraid.” — Jean Anouilh, French playwright 75 Cents
vati. “You need somebody to make it happen.” PFH and ACMAT are looking to hire one full-time employee responsible for collaborating with civic leaders in the area on the planning and implementation of strategies designed to curb alcohol, tobacco and other drug use in the community. See ACMAT | Page A4
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