Sports: Football night in Iola is Thursday
Inside: Still chasing the dream See A4
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THE IOLA REGISTER Wednesday, August 28, 2013
Fun for all
Above is Landscape Structures’ rendition of the special needs access playground, which was presented to Iola Kiwanis and MOMs group members after they were awarded a $25,000 grant. Below, the MOMs group and Iola Kiwanis members meet at Iola City Hall to discuss fundraising efforts for the $155,000 project. GRAPHICS COURTESY OF LANDSCAPE STRUCTURE, PHOTO BY
STEVEN SCHWARTZ
Kiwanis, MOMs nearer to special needs playground By STEVEN SCHWARTZ steven@iolaregister.com
Just over two months ago, the Iola Kiwanis, along with Mothers of Miracles, were awarded $25,000 to aid in the construction of a special needs access playground. Though the project has blossomed into more than they could’ve hoped for, challenges remain. The grant is through Kiwanis’ “Make a Difference Through Play” program in partnership with Landscape Structures. Equipment for the special needs access playground is “not cheap,” said Mike Ford, a member of the Kiwanis. The two groups have raised just over $60,000 through donations and grants, which is less than halfway to their goal of $155,000. Both the MOMs and Kiwanis members are surprised at how quickly
things have gotten off the ground. “I think we are doing pretty well,” Ford said. “Considering we haven’t even really started fundraising yet.” Contributors to the fund thus far include Iola Kiwanis, Iola Senior Citizens, Inc., Modern Woodmen, Iola Vision Source and Monarch Cement. Iola has contributed $25,000 to their cause and Walmart has pledged $5,000 as part of its “Volunteerism Always Pays” program, which will include 250 hours of employee volunteer work. A few more grants are in the works, which they hope to have in their fund by December. The playground must be installed by May 1, 2014, with construction underway by Kiwanis One Day (the first Saturday in April).
THE MOMS saw a need
for the playground in Iola, which can serve special needs children throughout Allen County and beyond. LeAnn Church, a MOMs member, said the equipment will be “inclusive,” meaning children with and without
disabilities can enjoy it. “I don’t care what kind of kid you are,” Kiwanis member Nancy Ford said. “It’s going to be fun.” Church said she is personally looking forward to bringing her children to the playground, which has received extensive planning
already from Landscape Structures’ designer Matt Cline, who presented the digital playground designs. John Shields, lieutenant governor for Kiwanis Division 3, said the MOMs and Iola Kiwanis groups were See FUN | Page A5
Colony Days ready to rumble Countdown on for hospital opening By KAYLA BANZET kayla@iolaregister.com
Colony will be packed full of people, activities and fun Saturday at its 106 Annual Colony Days celebration. The Colony Day committee has put forth countless hours of planning to ensure a steady stream of activities. Thirty vendors are regis-
tered for Saturday’s event, said Angela Black, whose responsibility on the Colony Day committee was to help organize the various vendors. Food and craft vendors will dominate. Safety demonstrations will be provided at the Anderson County Sheriff ’s Department booth. “U.S. Cellular will also
have a booth and will give a demonstration on Bluetooth devices,” Black said. Black said the number of vendors are up from last year. “We’ve worked really hard this year to improve from past years,” she said. The weekend weather forecast is predicting hot, sunny weather. Last year the gloomy See COLONY | Page A5
See it before it’s gone Allen County crews are removing the “Hegwald Bridge” west of Humboldt. The $694,933.50 project to replace the bridge will most likely take place at the end of 2013 or the beginning of 2014, said Bill King, director of public works. REGISTER/STEVEN SCHWARTZ
Quote of the day Vol. 115, No.215
By SUSAN LYNN susan@iolaregister.com
The next five to six weeks will see a “whirlwind of activity” at the new Allen County Regional Hospital, said Tim Moore, project engineer with Murray Company. On the inside, finishing touches are being applied to the surgery and emergency room areas, Moore told trustees Tuesday night. On the exterior, grading of the landscape is in the final stages and some trees have been planted. Lines will soon be painted on the parking lot. “In the next two to three weeks we can start cleaning and polishing the outside of the building,” Moore said, “which should provide a big change for the building’s aesthetics.” One setback is the disintegration of mortar between the smooth thin-set stone blocks on the building’s front facade. “The mortar is not sticking,” said a representative from Health Facilities Group, architects for the project.
“Weather forecast for tonight: dark.”
— George Carlin, Comedian 75 Cents
The irregular, rough stone on the upper section of the building’s exterior is in good shape, he said. Different crews installed the two sets of stone and also used different mortar mixes, he said. “That could have been it, or the weather,” he said, noting the two stones were installed at different times of the year. The stone will be removed and reapplied. TRUSTEES agreed to not exempt hospital grounds from those carrying concealed weapons. As of July 1, Kansas law allows concealed carry on public grounds, including hospitals and college campuses. The hospital could exempt itself from complying with the new law and continue to post signs saying no guns allowed. The exemption status is good for four years. After that point it must either change its noweapons status or implement a detection system at every public entrance. See HOSPITAL| Page A5
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