Volleyball: IHS 9th grade opens season
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THE IOLA REGISTER
County concedes to EMS guarantee By BOB JOHNSON bob@iolaregister.com
Allen County commissioners will guarantee $750,000 a year in income for a countywide ambulance service operated by Iola firefighters. But, they balked Tuesday morning at making an annual cost of living adjustment to the sum. “I’d advocate for the $750,000 guarantee,” said Commissioner Tom Williams. “That’s OK, but no COLA,”
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
chimed in Chairman Dick Works. “We can give a little, and they (city council members) need to give a little, too.” Commissioner Jim Talkington was opposed to either concession. The initial contract proposed for merger of Iola and Allen County’s ambulance services was for the county to hand over up to $750,000 to the city from fees collected for ambulance runs. Last week council members See EMS | Page A2
Cars back on grass By BOB JOHNSON bob@iolaregister.com
If Oct. 19 is a typical fall day, the multitude of owners bringing vehicles to the Farm-City Days Car Show will be able to relax in the shade of trees on the Allen County Courthouse lawn. Commissioners told Jim West and Mike Schwindt they were favorable to moving cars from the asphalt of West Street to the lawn.
The show was on the lawn for many years and having it back there will be an enticement to owners, said West, a member of the Crossroads of Mid-America Car Club, the show’s sponsor. BILL KING, director of Public Works, said the county will receive about $500,000 from the Kansas Department of Transportation See GRASS | Page A2
Humboldt’s food pantry will move By BOB JOHNSON bob@iolaregister.com
Soon 23 volunteers who work at Humboldt’s food pantry won’t be bumping into each other. Allen County commissioners Tuesday agreed to a request from Humboldt’s Ministerial Alliance to move the pantry from cramped quarters in the 900 block of Bridge Street two blocks west to the town’s Senior Center, 718 Bridge St. Half of one of two rooms at the center will be partitioned off for the pantry, complete with a counter where food will be distrib-
uted. Commissioners asked County Counselor Alan Weber to draft an agreement, including a $50-a-month payment for utilities. The pantry has several freezers and a refrigerator, and currently pays about $300 a month for rent and utilities. Money saved will be used to purchase food, said David Meier, pastor at Humboldt’s St. Peter’s Lutheran Church. The pantry is open twice a week, from 10 to 11 a.m. on Mondays to distribute food donated by Chanute’s
Around the Corner manager Shay Hlavaty brews a cup of espresso Tuesday afternoon at the coffee shop, located on South Jefferson Avenue. REGISTER/STEVEN SCHWARTZ
Brewing up business
Iola transplant helps to open coffee shop
By KAYLA BANZET kayla@iolaregister.com
Just around the corner on South Jefferson Avenue, is a brightly colored umbrella and table and chairs. The ensemble welcomes patrons to Iola’s newest business venture, Just Around the Corner coffee shop. Inside the shop at 110 S. Jefferson, music plays softly in the background and cups gently clink as Shay Hlavaty works behind the counter. “I love the feel of a coffee shop and how it brings the community together,” Hlavaty said. Hlavaty manages the shop, moving to Iola five months ago from Lubbock, Texas where she recently graduated from Texas Tech University with a degree in environmental conservation. She also has extensive experience working in coffee shops, including Starbucks. Hlavaty’s desire to get more involved with the Iola community coupled with her experience in food service was a perfect match for David and Beth Toland who had long been interested in opening a coffee shop, but didn’t have the time to manage it. Denice Stahl, Iola, eats her lunch under the shade of an
See PANTRY | Page A2
See COFFEE | Page A5 umbrella outside the shop.
A life of service
Lee sees success in army reserve, guard By STEVEN SCHWARTZ steven@iolaregister.com
David Lee, a third generation soldier, stands on the back porch of his home in LaHarpe. Lee was recently made eligible for promotion to colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve. REGISTER/STEVEN SCHWARTZ
Quote of the day Vol. 115, No.219
LAHARPE — David Lee is on track to become a colonel with the U.S. Army Reserve. Lee recently received news of the promotion, or what is called being put on “the O6 list,” in Army talk. The position awaits Senate approval. Lee relaxed on his back porch Tuesday afternoon to discuss his 28-year career with the Army. Within 60 days, he will coordinate the departure of two units to Afghanistan. Though he will remain stateside, he’s seen the conflict up close and personal. When Lee signed up for the Kansas National Guard in 1985 he was 22 and already had a trade under his belt. Since he was a youth, he had worked
“The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails.” — William Arthur Ward 75 Cents
for his father, Harry Lee. His family owns LaHarpe Telephone. In the Guard he became a “wire dog” or wireman with his unit in Iola, laying communication lines for base camps. For almost 20 years things remained quiet. He stayed stateside during Desert Storm in the 1990s. Then in 2004, he got the call — he would be deploying to Iraq, just outside of Baghdad. “It was exciting, it was scary, there were a myriad of emotions,” Lee said. “You play in the minor leagues your whole life, and all of a sudden you get to play baseball.” Lee’s skills were put to use as a quartermaster logistician at his post. He was responsible for supplies coming in and out of Baghdad. Just hours See LEE | Page A5
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