Sports: Early burst helps Royals snap skid See B1
THE IOLA REGISTER Locally owned since 1867
Wednesday, September 9, 2015
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Iolans geared up for weekend bike fest By RICK DANLEY The Iola Register
In early fall of 2013, Renee Droessler was introduced to Lynn Cameron. “We quickly became best friends,” remembered Droessler. “Lynn was really into cycling, and one day she just said: ‘Come on, ride with me.’” Her interest piqued, Droessler tracked down a $25 bike at a local garage sale and set off for the area trails alongside her new friend. Sufficiently hooked after her first few rides, Droessler advanced to a nicer bike, and the pair began to tackle longer sections of trail. “We rode to Humboldt a number of times. We’ve ridden to Colony. And last year,” explained Droessler, “we actually rode 40 miles in the Gorilla Century” — a large-scale bike ride in Crawford County. After recent foot surgery, however, Droessler is curtailing her mileage for Saturday’s Portland Alley Pedalfest, choosing to ride the shorter, 13-mile course. “I’m not near what I was last year,” said Droessler — who, as part of the National Bike Challenge, rode 207 miles during the previous July alone — “hence the shorter ride this time. “But I always enjoy going out. I love to be on my bike. And the trails we have in Allen County are top-notch. … In the one organized ride that I have done, it’s a lot of fun, and there’s a ton of camaraderie. You’re able to meet people from other areas that get to come and enjoy our trails. From looking at the schedule
By BOB JOHNSON The Iola Register
Regina and Tom Woodworth, above, and Renee Droessler, below, will participate in the upcoming Portland Alley Pedalfest Saturday. REGISTER/RICK DANLEY
of events [at Pedalfest]” — food, camping, a beer garden, and live music are planned for Saturday — “I think it’s going to be a really fun day.” TOM AND REGINA Woodworth moved to Iola from Lebo in the spring of 2006. Or,
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By BOB JOHNSON The Iola Register
Kim Davis, center, and husband Joe Davis are greeted by relatives, including Kim’s mother Jean Bailey, left, outside the Carter County Detention Center in Grayson, Ky., Tuesday. LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER/PABLO ALCALA/TNS
Freed county clerk gets hero’s welcome MOREHEAD, Ky. (AP) — After a five-day stint in jail for refusing to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis will return to work as soon as Friday to face another day of reckoning. The apostolic Christian, now a symbol of strong religious conviction to thousands across the globe, would not say whether she would allow licenses to con-
Asbestos is being plucked from the old Allen County Hospital, paving the way for its demolition. County Counselor Alan Weber told commissioners Tuesday hazardous waste removal should be completed by the end of September. Then, Remco, a Kansas City firm, will begin to raze the structure, a process expected to take about 90 days. Along the way, Remco supervisors will meet with officials from G&W Foods to make sure all is done in a manner satisfactory for construction of a new grocery. “G&W expects to start construction of the store in the spring,” Weber added, although no opening date has been advanced. G&W has about 30 stores in the region, including one in Yates Center. It has sought to build in Iola for two years, with the first choice of sites at the east edge of town overturned by soil contaminated with lead, zinc and other heavy metal, residue of Iola’s smelter days of a century ago. The G&W store will be full service. The larger site may also contain apartment complexes. At least two develop-
See CYCLISTS | Page A4
Unsupervised kids draw ire of Gas council
By ADAM BEAM The Associated Press
Demolition nears for old hospital
tinue to be issued or try to block them once again, defying a federal court order that could send her back to jail. Davis walked out of the Carter County Detention Center’s front door Tuesday, arm-in-arm with her lawyer and with Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee as thousands of supporters cheered and waved white crosses backed by a 150-voice church choir. Some in the crowd sang “Amazing Grace” and “God See CLERK | Page A6
Quote of the day Vol. 117, No. 213
GAS — Gas Council members want Allen County deputies to spend more time patrolling the town’s streets in efforts to control unsupervised youth. Recent reports of kids pounding on doors in the wee hours of the morning, spurred discussion at Tuesday night’s meeting on whether the town needs a curfew for youngsters. Councilman Rick Schulenberg said he was recently awakened at 1:30 a.m. by such a disturbance. When investigating, Schulenberg said he saw “some girls, maybe 13 years old” walking along a street. In lieu of an apparently unenforceable curfew — Gas has no police force — Mayor Darrel Catron instructed Clerk Rhonda Hill to call Sheriff Bryan Murphy and urge him to increase patrols in Gas. Councilman Mark Henry wondered if Murphy might also have his officers See GAS | Page A4
ACC to maintain levy By KAYLA BANZET The Iola Register
Allen Community College trustees took another look at their 2015-16 budget after a new valuation was introduced by the county. Enbridge Pipeline’s new line coming through Allen County bumped up countywide valuation by more than $45 million. The higher valuation gives the college an added $765,990 in general fund or capital outlay
See COLLEGE | Page A4
Utility bill issues discussed By RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register
MORAN — The city’s postal delivery system may cause an issue for Moran utility customers. City Clerk Lori Evans told City Council members Tuesday that the city sends out utility bills as soon as it receives its monthly statement from Westar. September’s bills were sent out Tuesday afternoon, for example. However, the mail isn’t shipped from the Moran post office until 4:30 p.m. each weekday, not in time to
“A straight path never leads anywhere, except to the objective.” — Andre Gide, French novelist 75 Cents
spending authority for the upcoming fiscal year. “I see this as an opportunity to take a look at how we operate,” ACC president John Masterson said. “If we’re going to continue to grow the college and continue to make improvements it is extremely difficult. We went through a number of years we would grow a little bit and then go flat. “We’re extremely frugal.
reach the Kansas City, Kan., sorting station by that day’s deadline. So it essentially sits in Kansas City for at least 24 hours. Evans noted times in which some customers didn’t receive their bills until near — or in some cases after — those bills were due. Mayor Phillip Merkel’s concerns focused on what would happen if the U.S. Postal Service further cuts the Moran post office’s hours. He noted residents should See MORAN | Page A3
Hi: 83 Lo: 64 Iola, KS