The
IOLA REGISTER
SWIM TEAM Iola Seahorses compete at home See B1
Thursday, July 18, 2013
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Planners bow to rezoning foes By BOB JOHNSON bob@iolaregister.com
Register/Kayla Banzet
Quintin Lewis, a Missoula staff member, directs Alex Donnelly, a parrot, to step up and say his lines during rehearsals. The children will perform Saturday at the Bowlus Fine Arts Center.
‘It’s a pirate’s life for me’
Iola Planning Commission members voted 4-2 Wednesday night not to recommend 3.8 acres at 1002 N. Kentucky St. be rezoned from R1 (single family) to R3 (multiple family) to accommodate construction of a senior living complex. However, Commission Chairman Larry Crawford repeatedly noted — before and after the vote — that the planners’ recommendation was just that, and that city council members would have final say at their 6 p.m. meeting Monday. Crawford also encouraged opponents — there were many — of construction of the senior living complex on North Kentucky to show up Monday night, allowing there was strength in numbers and that council members were more likely to listen if they heard many voices in opposition. Opposition to the $5 million project — 26 suites for seniors and eight for people
with dementia-type concerns — was abundantly evident from the get-go. Concerns about privacy and depression of property values were prominent. “We’re private residents and taxpayers,” said Shirley Catron. “No one asked our feelings.” Dottie White, who has lived near the acreage proposed for development for five decades, read a letter that she earlier sent to each commissioner. She and husband (Dick) “built two houses there because it was quiet and zoned as single family,” White said. Construction of the senior living complex “would adversely affect property values,” she added, and questioned whether there was adequate access for emergency vehicles in the plans. She noted that construction of the new hospital, half a mile north of Kentucky, would increase traffic, and that having 34 residents in the complex, including the See REZONING | Page A4
Students prepare for musical By KAYLA BANZET kayla@iolaregister.com
The Missoula Children’s Theatre has taken center stage at the Bowlus Fine Arts Center this week. Children from kindergarten through 12th grade auditioned Monday for a role in the musical production of “Blackbeard the Pirate.” With the cast selected, practice started immediately for a performance Saturday at 3 p.m. Two staff members with Missoula’s theater, Kirsten Kiwior and Quintin Lewis, are directing the kids. They tour the country for weeks at a time. See MISSOULA | Page A4
Register/Bob Johnson Register/Kayla Banzet
Missoula staff member, Kirsten Kiwior, far left, has students hold a pose for the end of a musical number on Wednesday.
Larry Crawford, planning commission chairman, makes a point during Wednesday evening’s session. To the right are members Sharon Boan and Lillian Smith.
State
Zoning exception favored for school
Senator seeks fall hearing TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Senate Judiciary Committee’s chairman said Wednesday that he hopes to have a hearing this fall on Gov. Sam Brownback’s next nominee to the state Court of Appeals under a new selection system that gives senators the power to block such appointments. Chairman Jeff King said he asked legislative leaders to schedule a daylong meeting of his committee in October or November. King, an Independence Republican, said he’d plan to question the GOP governor’s nominee to the state’s second-highest court and allow members of the public to testify. But Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley, a Topeka Democrat, questioned King’s proposal, noting that the Senate has another committee for reviewing appointments before lawmakers reconvene their next annual session in See COURT | Page A4
By BOB JOHNSON bob@iolaregister.com
Budding entrepreneurs
Register/Steven Schwartz
Two local boys, Titus Jones, back left, and Trenton Johnson, decided to set up a lemonade stand on South Washington Wednesday morning. Shelby Shaughnessy, front left, and Autumn Ashford stopped by to enjoy a glass of lemonade. The entrepreneurs said they weren’t sure how they would spend money they made, it depends on how much revenue they bring in. Vol. 115, No.186
75 Cents
A zoning exception was recommended for refitting of USD 257 administrative offices as site for Crossroads alternative school by Iola Planning Commission members Wednesday evening, but they were thumbs down on closing a portion of an alley between Cottonwood and Colborn streets. Scott Stanley, maintenance and transportation supervisor for USD 257, said the district wanted to move Crossroads to save money and improve educational efficiencies. Crossroads, where students freshman through senior may complete high school after a variety of problems have made it difficult for them in a traditional setting, has been at the old Gas Elementary School 11 years. Stanley said it would cost $86,000 to replace a leaky roof in Gas and an See SCHOOL | Page A2
Iola, KS