Sports: Royals win, but lose Gordon to injury See B1
THE IOLA REGISTER Locally owned since 1867
www.iolaregister.com
Thursday, July 9, 2015
Governors differ in responses to gay marriage ruling By JOHN HANNA The Associated Press
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback described the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling legalizing same-sex marriage as a potential threat to religious liberties, while Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon called it an important step toward creating a fairer society. Advocates on both sides of the issue and the border Wednesday noted the sharp contrast in the neighboring governors’ responses, a day after both issued executive orders. Both Midwestern states have Republican-controlled legislatures, and voters in both overwhelmingly adopted amendments to their state constitutions a decade or more ago to reinforce policies against gay marriage. But Brownback is a GOP conservative and a vocal supporter of his state’s ban, and Nixon is a Democrat who acted two years ago to see that same-sex couples married in other states
Brownback
Nixon
could file joint tax returns. “The cultural divide is pretty clearly illustrated with Kansas and Missouri,” said Mat Staver, founder and chairman of the Liberty Counsel, a conservative Christian legal aid group. “That’s a division right down the middle of America.” Brownback’s order Tuesday told Kansas government agencies they can’t punish ministers or religious groups for opposing samesex marriage. His order said the “imposition” of gay marriage through the U.S. Supreme Court decision last month could lead to “potential infringements” of religious liberties. Nixon’s order directed Missouri state agencies to “immediately take all necesSee RULING | Page A5
About 15 children piled into the Savonburg Public Library Tuesday afternoon to dance and sing with musician Alan Cunningham. REGISTER/KAYLA BANZET
Summer fun in Savonburg By KAYLA BANZET The Iola Register
SAVONBURG — Children in Savonburg are keeping busy this summer at the local public library. A special library program was presented Tuesday by singer and songwriter Alan Cunningham. Cunningham attended Ottawa University to play football with no clear plan on what he would major in. When he chose music as his major he
Council addresses streetlight snafu
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — More than 50 years after South Carolina raised a Confederate flag at its Statehouse to protest the civil rights movement, the state is getting ready to remove the rebel banner. A bill pulling down the flag from the Capitol’s front lawn and the flagpole it flies on passed the South Carolina House early this morning. It should get to Gov. Nikki Haley’s desk before the end of the day. The governor promised to sign it quickly, but didn’t say exactly when. That’s important, because the bill requires the flag be taken down within 24 hours of her pen hitting the
By RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register
See CITY | Page A5
ing to dazzle girls with his talent. The love songs, however, didn’t come in handy when he was asked to play at an Amish school near Garnett. The upcoming gig prompted him to write a children’s song about his dog. It was a hit and became the first of his many children’s songs. His romantic lyrics did eventually land him a girlSee LIBRARY | Page A5
Days numbered for Confederate flag
LAHARPE
LAHARPE — The city will reimburse former LaHarpe City Councilman Clayton Carr for electric charges he was improperly assessed after electric service to his property was upgraded in 2013. Carr, who owns Jayhawker RV Park, told Council members Wednesday a pair of transformers — part of the upgrade — were installed incorrectly, and that three streetlights were improperly fed through his meter. Crews were able to take one of the streetlights off of Carr’s system recently, City Superintendent Shaun Atwood said, and should be able to reconfigure a second transformer to remove the other two streetlights this week. Carr remained sharply critical of CDL Electric, a contractor hired by the city this summer to help oversee upgrades
said his teammates made fun of him for picking a “sissy major.” Meanwhile, his music friends thought he was “dumb” to play football. Fortunately, he ignored both sides. “If you find out you’re really good at something don’t let anyone tell you not to do it,” Cunningham advised. During college Cunningham began to write music, mostly about love and romance. He admits he was try-
paper and shipped to the Confederate Relic Room. There were hugs, tears and high fives in the House chamber after the vote. Members who waited decades to see this day snapped selfies and pumped their fists. But even among the celebrations, there was more than a bit of sadness. After the Civil War, the flag was first flown over the dome of South Carolina’s Capitol in 1961 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the war. It stayed as a protest to the Civil Rights movement, only moving in 2000 from the dome to its curSee FLAG | Page A5
Views of the Confederate flag The percent of Americans who view the Confederate flag as a symbol of Southern pride rather than a symbol of racism.
Stranded
All adults
Iola firefighter Kenneth Powell, background, makes his way through high water along Utah Road north of LaHarpe Wednesday afternoon after a pickup driven by Iolan Donald Tidd stalled in the floodwaters. Powell escorted Tidd to safety in the 3-foot-deep water. Assisting, at left, is firefighter Travis Knavel. A tow truck was used to retrieve the vehicle. Allen County sheriff’s deputies on the scene used the incident as a reminder that motorists should avoid entering flooded roadways. PHOTO COURTESY OF DAREN KELLERMAN
Quote of the day Vol. 117, No. 171
Republicans
75% 69% 61%
Democrats
78%
54% 32%
’92 ’94 ’96 ’98 ’00 ’02 ’04 ’06 ’08 ’10 ’12 ’14 Source: Gallup Graphic: Staff, Tribune News Service
“We cannot become what we need to be by remaining what we are.” — Max DePree, American businessman 75 Cents
Hi: 76 Lo: 67 Iola, KS