Sports: Legion doubleheader sweep slips away See B1
THE IOLA REGISTER Locally owned since 1867
DISTRICT 9 RACE
Conservative to the core
By SUSAN LYNN The Iola Register
Chad VanHouden, candidate for the Republican nomination for state representative, takes umbrage at a recent mailing by his opponent, incumbent Kent Thompson. “I wouldn’t know the Koch Brothers if we passed in the street. And they wouldn’t know me,” VanHouden said, in reference to Thompson’s accusation that VanHouden is in the hands of “billionaires.” Not that he doesn’t have big guns behind his candidacy. VanHouden said he has the support of both the Kansas Chamber of Commerce and the NRA in his race for the District 9 position. At age 31, VanHouden can hardly be criticized for not having a resume of public service. “This is my first try,” the Chanute native said, in a stop by the Register Monday afternoon. VanHouden’s platform is
www.iolaregister.com
Tuesday, July 8, 2014
MORAN COUNCIL
Valuation loss forces Moran to raise taxes By BOB JOHNSON The Iola Register
Chad VanHouden “pro-gun, pro-life and proeducation.” In reference to the legislature’s removing teacher tenure this past session, VanHouden said he is sympathetic to the plight of public school teachers.
“Teachers need a safety net,” he said. “In Chanute schools, teachers haven’t had to worry about their job security because they have a good See RACE | Page A6
MORAN — A decrease in assessed valuation led to Moran council members approving an increase in the town’s property tax levy to support its 2015 budget Monday evening. Valuation dropped by more than $55,000, from this year’s $1,558,115 to $1,502,728. The reason for the decrease was not immediately clear. The figures for the decreased valuation come from the Allen County appraiser’s office. Phil Jarred, Moran’s accountant, said the property tax levy will be increased by just under 3 mills, from 30.598 to 33.427. The increase will keep the city’s budget at about equal funding levels between fiscal years 2014 and 2015. About $50,000 will be raised from the tax increase of which $38,000 will go to the general fund.
Individual taxpayers will see a slight increase in their tax bills. Jarred estimated on a house with a market valuation of $50,000, the tax increase would be about $4 for the 2015 budget. A levy of 1 mill raises $1 for each $1,000 of assessed valuation. Residential property assessment is figured at 11.5 percent of market value. Moran’s general fund expenditures were put at $256,161, an increase of about $40,000 over this year. More than half of that increase is found in general government, $6,000; police department, $6,500; and recreation, $10,000, with most of that pegged for new playground equipment. Another $12,000 increase is for fire equipment, putting the projected expenditure for 2015 at $17,000. The overall budget calls for net expenditures of $1.43 million, up $415,000 from this year. See MORAN | Page A6
MAD BOMBER
Local music talent to be featured Saturday By KAREN INGRAM The Iola Register
This year’s Mad Bomber Run will have a few changes, namely to its music lineup. Damaris Kunkler, program director for Thrive Allen County, said that in the past they have paid for outside musical entertainers, but this year they opted to use only local talent. “We want to focus on people who are from around here,” she said. The music also aims to cover a wide variety of genres to please the audience. Kunkler will kick off the music lineup at 5 p.m. Saturday with a variety of rock and country cover songs spanning from the 1950s to the present.
At 6 p.m., Christian contemporary artist Julia Martin will take the stage. Riley Herder will serenade attendees with some soulful folk music at 7 p.m., and at 8 p.m. Lowwater will headline the event, bringing alternative Americana to the stage. Joe “Papa Joe” Evans, Humboldt resident and drummer for Lowwater, said he was looking forward to performing at the Mad Bomber Run. Lowwater performs some cover songs, as well as original pieces. They plan to do some studio recording on the 19th. “We put a lot of energy into it,” Evans said. Lowwater has four members, three of whom have See MUSIC | Page A6
On the move Workers load office equipment onto a flatbed trailer Monday morning. Southeast Kansas MultiCounty Health Departments are in the process of moving to 411 N. Washington Ave., across from the fire department. The move will put the health departments out of commission for a couple of days, but will benefit the community with more exam rooms, better parking and handicap accessibility. REGISTER/KAREN INGRAM
Group plans to challenge gun law By JOHN HANNA Associated Press
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A national gun-control group said Monday that it plans to challenge a Kansas law making it a felony for U.S. government employees to attempt to enforce federal regulations for guns manufactured, sold and kept only in the state. The Washington-based Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence said it would file a federal lawsuit Wednesday in Kansas. The center has scheduled a telephone confer-
ence call for reporters and a news conference at the offices of a Kansas City, Missouri, law firm. In announcing its plans, the center did not provide details, other than to say the lawsuit will argue that the Kansas statute is unconstitutional. The law was enacted in 2013. Montana enacted a similar law in 2009, but a federal appeals court struck it down last year, concluding that the courts already have said Congress can use its power to regulate interstate commerce
Quote of the day Vol. 116, No. 177
to set rules for guns. The U.S. Supreme Court twice refused to review the case. But Republican Gov. Sam Brownback promised the state would “vigorously defend” the Kansas law, which declares that the federal government has no authority to regulate Kansas-only guns, ammunition or accessories. “The right to keep and bear arms is a right that Kansans hold dear,” Brownback said in a statement. “The people of Kansas have repeatedly and overwhelmingly reafSee GUNS | Page A6
CORRECTION
Man survives fall Edward Marnell survived a fall on the banks of Elks Lake Friday evening and remains in stable condition at the University of Kansas Medical Center. A story in Monday’s Register erroneously reported Marnell’s demise from the fall. Mike Marnell, Dallas, Edward’s older brother, informed the Register Edward remains “heavily sedated.” “They don’t want to bring
“Friends show their love in times of trouble, not in happiness.” — Euripides, writer 75 Cents
him around yet,” Mike Marnell said, saying Ed experienced some “bleeding on the brain,” from the trauma of the accident. Mike said his brother also had developed a lung infection “from taking in water from the lake,” as well as some broken bones in an arm and wrist. The Register regrets any additional harm to the family its story may have caused.
Hi: 86 Lo: 64 Iola, KS