Volleyball: Iola takes third at local tournament
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THE IOLA REGISTER Monday, September 16, 2013
BEING THERE Gray Ladies the backbone of service at hospital
By STEVEN SCHWARTZ steven@iolaregister.com
Nine Red Cross volunteers, also known as “Gray Ladies,” sat around a table on Friday afternoon, reminiscing about their years of assistance at Allen County Hospital and discussing their move to the new hospital in October. The nine women all have been assisting at the hospital for many years, helping to file paperwork or point
people in the right direction. They are a face of the hospital who always are there, but not always recognized. The volunteers who decide to make the move to the new hospital will merge with the hospital auxiliary. When the Allen County Hospital CEO Ron Baker asked if the change would be the end or beginning of an era, the women all agreed — “a little bit of both.” See RED CROSS | Page A4
A fair weekend At top, children scramble for candy during the Elsmore Day Parade Saturday. The community gathered for festivities including a bean feed, barbecue dinner and turtle races. Grand marshals for this year’s Kincaid Fair parade were, below, on a float with family members, Howard and Leila Thompson. Karlee Hammond, left, was crowned the fair’s queen in ceremonies just before the parade, which drew hundreds of spectators. PHOTOS BY BOB JOHNSON/STEVEN SCHWARTZ
Jean Prothe has been a Gray Lady for 26 years. REGISTER/STEVEN SCHWARTZ
Friends For Life see ten years of success 5k benefit slated Oct. 12 By STEVEN SCHWARTZ steven@iolaregister.com
It’s been 10 years since 12 women came together to fight breast cancer, and they’re hoping their fight will bring more support than ever this year. The Friends For Life group started in 2004 in Yates Center to raise awareness and
support for the fight against breast cancer. Every year since, they have organized a walk to raise support; their goal is to keep the money raised local. “We realized we could keep the money in Woodson County,” Dina Morrison, a Friends member, said. “It’s just people helping people in See FRIENDS | Page A4
STATE
Future is bleak for state’s rural bridges By BILL DRAPER Associated Press
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Kansas may have more problem bridges than states such as California and Illinois, but experts say that doesn’t tell the whole story of a state filled with centuryold rural spans that carry just a few vehicles every day. According to Federal Highway Administration statistics from last year, Kansas had 347 bridges — out of more than 25,000 statewide — that were both rated in poor condition and lack the structural redundancies needed to guard against collapse. That compares with 302 in California and 189 in Illinois. But most of those 347 bridges in Kansas are aging, countyowned spans. They’re a reflection
of an aging rural population that doesn’t have the financial clout to keep the little-used roadways open. “In the big counties, most of the population doesn’t use those bridges — just farmers and people who live in rural areas,” said Norman Bowers, local road engineer for the Kansas Association of Counties. “It’s an issue of priority for the counties. Do you spend money to replace a bridge when only 10 people a day use it?” A new Associated Press analysis of federally collected data identified 7,795 bridges nationwide that are both fracture critical and structurally deficient. The tally comes from data states submitted to the federal government’s National Bridge Inventory. Fracture critical bridges are at See BRIDGES | Page A4
Quote of the day Vol. 115, No. 227
Clash of the combines Thousands gathered at the Humboldt Speedway Saturday evening for the annual combine demolition derby, sponsored by Mirza Shriners. Numerous machines went head-tohead in a last man standing competition. Mini-vans also raced around the track in a “crazy eight” race. REGISTER/STEVEN SCHWARTZ
“There is only one rule for being a good talker — learn to listen.” — Christopher Morley, journalist 75 Cents
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