The Iola Register
Weekender Saturday, July 13, 2013
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Melvin run 2013
Register/Steven Schwartz
Charley Melvin caps 5th year Clockwise from top, Josey Milner entertains the crowd in the afternoon; Alejandro VargasGarcia shows off his lit-up wheels during the Parade of Lights; Collin Randall is transformed into a pumpkin at the face-painting booth; children enjoyed the inflatable fair.
Seniors’ meals funding at risk By BOB JOHNSON bob@iolaregister.com
With a new Older Americans Act languishing in Congress, Elaine Money and Sandra Gross worry about senior citizens they serve meals to in nine counties of southeast Kansas, including Allen. Gross, executive director of Senior Services of SEK, Inc., and Money, public relations and education coordinator, were in Iola Thursday to visit with Iola Senior Citizens board members. The Iola group sells clothing and household goods in its thrift shop at 223 N. State St. Proceeds, about $25,000 each year, go to local causes. Senior services would like to be in the loop. Joe Hess, spokesman for Iola Senior Citizens, said a decision would be made in August. “We are going to think about it,” Hess said of board members. “It would be a change for us. In the past we’ve just sup-
GROSS SAID the fear was federal funding for food services — served in congregate settings and delivered to homes of the elderly at noon five days a week — would be cut. See SENIORS | Page A5
See COURTS | Page A5
Register/Bob Johnson
Vol. 115, No.182
groups,” if funding were expanded. “That would be a big change for us.” Meanwhile, Iola Senior Citizens voted Thursday to give Iola Kiwanis Club $1,000 to help with a project in Riverside Park to install playground equipment accessible to handicapped children.
Gov. hit on court policies TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Republican Gov. Sam Brownback’s critics are not mollified by his latest statement outlining why he won’t release the names of applicants for a new Kansas Court of Appeals seat. Brownback said Thursday that releasing the names would discourage some qualified applicants from coming forward. The League of Women Voters of Kansas had pushed the governor’s office to release the names. President Dolores Furtado said the group is “profoundly disappointed.” The new judge will be chosen under a selection process in effect this month.
Elaine Money, left, and Sandra Gross, of Senior Services of SEK, told members of the Iola Seniors Citizens board that pending federal funding cuts jeopardize local meals programs. ported strictly local groups.” Hess said a concern was that expanding contributions could lead to Iola Senior Citizens not being able to support local causes as much as they’d like. “A lot are being affected by cuts,” he said. “We could have requests from 50 or 60
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