The
IOLA REGISTER Monday, July 15, 2013
Locally owned since 1867
BASEBALL AA Indians lose and win See B1
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A 4-H FAMILY LEGACY Wilks kids represent 4th generation By STEVEN SCHWARTZ steven@iolaregister.com
The Wilks name is synonymous with local 4-H. Four generations of Wilkses have been involved with the local Prairie Dell club. JD Wilks, along with his children Jackson and Jenna, and their cousin, Sarah, recently gathered at the home of their grandmother, Susie Wilks. Her farm is situated on old U.S. 169, south of Iola and north of Humboldt. A large, red barn borders the white farmhouse — this is where the Wilkses spend time working on their 4-H projects. What’s different for this family, is that JD and his children, and their cousin Sarah, all live in Kansas City. “They love it down here on the farm,” JD said of the children. His grandfather, the children’s great-grandfather, Don Nichols, was one of the founding members of Prairie Dell. See WILKS | Page A4
Register/Bob Johnson
Don Erbert, left, and Steve Barlow are building and marketing bat roosting houses that they think is an economical alternative to spraying for flying insects, including mosquitoes.
Bats a useful tool By BOB JOHNSON bob@iolaregister.com
Bats, often portrayed as being on the dark side, may one day become an important insect-control tool for cities such as Iola. Bats depend on flying insects for nourishment and can capture and eat as many as 1,200 in a single night’s foray, said Steve Barlow, wildlife biologist. He and Iolan Don Erbert hope to capitalize by building and selling community size houses, one of which can accommodate up to 40,000 roosting bats.
Erbert has a construction company; Barlow has a background in bat culture. They met through both being associated with the National Wild Turkey Federation. The bat houses cost about $3,000. Barlow predicts having one in Iola could pay for itself by replacing the need to spray for mosquitoes twice a week during warmweather months. In addition to gulping down insects by the handful, bats also are interesting and entertaining to watch, BarSee BATS | Page A4
NATIONAL
Zimmerman trial meets protests By VERENA DOBNIK Associated Press
Register/Steven Schwartz
Top left, Jenna Wilks tends to her sheep; above, her guineas peer through the wire of their cage; at right, Jackson Wilks introduces his pony, Patches.
NEW YORK (AP) — Thousands of demonstrators from across the country — chanting, praying and even fighting tears — protested a jury’s decision to clear neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman in the shooting death of an unarmed black teenager while the Justice Department considered whether to file criminal civil rights charges. Rallies on Sunday were largely peaceful as demonstrators voiced their support for 17-year-old Trayvon Martin’s family and decried Zimmerman’s not guilty verdict as a miscarriage of justice. Police in Los Angeles said they arrested several people early Monday after about 80 protesters gathered in Hol-
lywood on Sunset Boulevard and an unlawful assembly was declared. The New York Police Department said it arrested at least a dozen people on disorderly conduct charges during a rally in Times Square. The NAACP and protesters called for federal civil rights charges against Zimmerman, who was acquitted Saturday in Martin’s February 2012 shooting death. The Justice Department said it is looking into the case to determine whether federal prosecutors should file criminal civil rights charges now that Zimmerman has been acquitted in the state case. The department opened an investigation into Martin’s death last year but stepped See PROTESTS | Page A4
STATE
Energy assistance available TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Eligible Kansas residents will receive additional assistance through a state program to help them pay their summer utility bills. The Kansas Department for Children and Families says that low-income residents who received assistance during the winter months to help will receive a supplemental payment of approximately $103. Those checks would be on top of average payment of $386 issued to 48,000 residents this winter through the Low Income Energy Assistance Program. DCF Secretary Phyllis Gilmore says the extra financial assistance helps residents stay safe from extreme heat. She says the funds are in the process of being distributed.
A MAD DASH Charley Melvin Run numbers down, but fun is upped
Top, runners prep for the start of the 5K. At right, Arion Kunkler, left, and Cody Conner cross the finish line. The tally topped 800 runners for Saturday’s Charley Melvin 5K and 3K walk, down around 200 from last year’s event. Festivities included a fair, musical performances, drag race and killer karaoke. The top male finisher was David Cox (16:46.5), Ottawa. The top female finisher was Nicole Schowengerdt (21:15.1), Iola. For full race results, go to ozendurance.net. Register/Richard Luken
Vol. 115, No.183
75 Cents
Iola, KS