The
IOLA REGISTER
BASEBALL Iola squad gears for tourney See B1
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
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Evacuees may find refuge here By BOB JOHNSON bob@iolaregister.com
modate the crowds.” Last year about 10 teams of four men each participated in the relay. The men exchange garters as they complete each lap. A coronation of the “queen” caps off the event. Costumes for the men will be available at The Shirt Shop, the corner of Jackson and Broadway, beginning at 8:30 p.m. Women from the local P.E.O. organiza-
If Allen County were to accept responsibility of dealing with people fleeing an “event” at the Wolf Creek Nuclear Plant northeast of Burlington, the county wouldn’t be out a cent. That was among things Russel Stukey, Coffey County emergency management coordinator, told Allen County commissioners Tuesday morning. Stukey and several Coffey County and Kansas Department of Health and Environment officials, as well as Matt Sunceri, Wolf Creek manager, gave locals a 45-minute tutorial on how Allen County could be helpful. For the past 20 years Lyon County, through Emporia State University, has maintained a potential site for evacuees, Stukey said, an arrangement that will end later this year, “apparently because of a change in (ESU) leadership.” There is a chance ESU will stay on board, but Coffey County and the generating plant want a backup. The Wolf Creek officials want a reception and care center in Allen County in case of an emergency at the nuclear
See BELLES | Page A3
See REFUGE | Page A5
Register/Susan Lynn
THE BELLES OF THE BALL Ready for a good time Friday night, are from left, David Toland, Sam Shallah, Ben Middleton, Roger Carlin, Don Burns, Archie Huskey and Steve Schwartz. Willing to be the butt of probably many a joke, these men are but a sample of those who will participate in Friday night’s “drag race,” as part of the Charley Melvin festivities. By SUSAN LYNN susan@iolaregister.com
Friday night’s “drag” race has become such a highlight of the Charley Melvin festivities that this year the course will be extended to about three-fourths of the block of North Washington Avenue on the west side of the downtown square. “Last year the race bordered on chaos,” said David Toland, executive director of Thrive Allen County, and a co-sponsor of the Charley Melvin along
with Iola Crime Stoppers. Hundreds of spectators crowded in on the race which ran about 50 yards. This year, the relay among teams of men fancifully dressed as women, will be longer and the arena for spectators will be extended. “It’s going to be way bigger with six sets of bleachers,” said Damaris Kunkler, program director for Thrive. “This year spectators will have better visibility. The additional bleachers will better accom-
Merchant moves, starts new thread By KAYLA BANZET kayla@iolaregister.com
Keagle’s Sewing Shop is moving to just off the square. To celebrate the move, the sewing shop will have a grand re-opening from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at 106 S. Washington Ave. “We will have a few discounts, machine tips and demos during the day,” Jennifer Keagle said. “We will also have door prizes.” Jennifer and her husband, Eric, run the business as a team. Jennifer is in charge of sales, fabric, and classes and Eric works out the kinks in customer’s sewing machines. They had been located in a shop at 430 West St. “Nobody saw us over there,” Eric said. “This is a better location, a bigger location.” The shop is open Wednesday through Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays. The sewing duo will also take in machines for repair by appointment. Their
Register/Kayla Banzet
phone number is 363-0583. “We take a lot of appointments during the day,” Jennifer said. “He stays really busy.” Eric also works for the City of Iola. He learned how to repair sewing machines from Jennifer’s grandfather, Melvin Price. Melvin and Mary Price ran Price Fabrics north of Iola for many years. “I still give him a call every now and then to ask him a question or two,” Eric said. THE NEW location gives Jennifer a bigger space to teach more sewing classes and carry more fabrics. Jennifer has a background in selling fabric and has taught sewing classes in Iola before. “The goal is to add more classes,” Eric said. “More sewing classes, embroidery classes, minor repair tips. This gives us the area we need.” Classes cost $10 each, including fabric. See THREAD | Page A5
Jennifer and Eric Keagle stand in front of their new location on South Washington Avenue. Vol. 115, No.180
Register/Kayla Banzet
Polecat Annie, left, and Professor Farquar perform Tuesday evening.
Medicine show mesmerizes By KAYLA BANZET kayla@iolaregister.com
People battled the grueling heat and gathered under shade trees on the north side of the bandstand last night to witness the Great American Medicine Show. The stars of the show, Professor Farquar and Polecat Annie, dazzled the Iola crowd with illusion, comic chronicles and tall tales. The show was brought to Iola through the ongoing Heritage Arts Camp at the Bowlus Fine Arts Center. The group performed Tuesday for Heritage campers and then again for free in the square. Professor Farquar, also known as Sanford Lee, and his wife Polecat Annie, also known Mary Katheryn Lee, perform at festivals, historical sites, fairs and more. Farquar busted out jokes and the crowd instantly responded to them. He played the guitar and talked about the types of music he played. “Do you guys want to hear a little country music?” he asked the crowd. They responded with a loud “Yes.”
“Good,” Farquar said. “This song is from Nicaragua. That’s a little country.” He tried to sell “Professor Farquar’s elixir of life,” a fake elixir he made himself. Farquar and Annie also got the audience involved in the fun. Annie had an audience member help her do a dinner plate trick. Farquar pulled a scarf out of a man’s sleeve,
found an audience member’s card in a deck and somehow pulled colorful paper from his mouth. The group clapped along as Annie and her little limber jack man danced to Farquar’s music. The Sleeper Family Trust sponsored the Heritage Arts Camp and all camps at the Bowlus this summer.
Iola Municipal Band -Since 1871Thursday, 8 p.m.
At the bandstand
Jake Ard, director
Star Spangled Banner......................................Arr. J.P. Sousa The Melody Shop.......................................... King
Across The Wide Missouri.................................Smith
Bill Bailey.....................................................Van Auken
The Foot Lifter...............................................Fillmore
Go West...................................................... Arr. Ford In The Good Old Summertime..............................Evans
Springfield Regiment.........................................Curnow
Cotton Eyed Joe..............................................Emery
Black Horse Troop............................................J.P. Sousa Rained out concerts are scheduled the following evening.
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