Inside: MV FFA kids do well at competition See A2
2017 1867
Sports: Iola squads sweep Santa Fe Trail See B1
THE IOLA REGISTER Locally owned since 1867
www.iolaregister.com
Wednesday, May 10, 2017
County forms economic development board By BOB JOHNSON The Iola Register
Economic development will become a priority for Allen County commissioners. Tuesday they voted unanimously to form an economic development board with Chuck Apt, an Iola attorney, as its chairman. From there, a committee of six will be developed. “I want something for the
betterment of the entire county and its residents,” Commissioner Tom Williams said, which would include considering stipends for nonprofits as well as new or existing businesses and industries. Williams further said he would prefer board members to have experience in business and community affairs, and having demonstrated wisdom in the ways of the world.
Wind farm tax plan discussed
Commissioners will depend on board members — much as they do planning commissioners — to filter requests for funds and then make recommendations. Commissioners will have final say on any request. “If Hope Unlimited runs into (financial) problems, they could ask for help,” Williams said. “If they need a
By BOB JOHNSON The Iola Register
If plans continue on track, wind turbines in northeast Allen County will be generating electricity by October 2018. Allen County, however, will not reap a payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) that has
See COUNTY | Page B6
been bandied about. A delegation from EDP Renewals had a lengthy discussion with Allen County commissioners Tuesday, and toward its end Rorik Peterson, EDP’s associate director of development, proposed the See TAXES | Page B6
College approves employee raises By SHELLIE SMITLEY The Iola Register
Auxiliary service employees of Allen Community College are the target of a new policy concerning pay raises. Currently raises are 2 percent. President John Masterson spoke to ACC Trustees Tuesday about implementing a new procedure that would give the greater of either a 2 percent or $1,000 increase to all employees. The change was inspired after a maintenance worker pointed out that the current formula based on percentage of gross earnings benefited higher paid faculty more than it did lower paid staff positions, according to Trustee Neal Barclay. Chair Ken McGuffin pointed out the value of employees in auxiliary positions and said
starting out at the bottom increases workplace morale. “The biggest benefactors will be the people who need it the most,” he said of the new procedure. The change in policy will add more than $28,000 to the college’s budget, an amount Masterson said was within the college’s means. “It will hit everybody under the $50,000 range,” said Vice President of Finance and Operations, Brian Counsil. In other news, trustees voted to accept the resignations of Sara Ellis, administrative assistant to the Directors of Development and Student Life and Jamie Jensen, assistant athletic director and head softball coach. The position of music instructor will be offered to Jeffrey Anderson of Cincinnati, Ohio.
Head over heels for the law By SHELLIE SMITLEY The Iola Register
HUMBOLDT — This is part seven of a 14-part series following Nina Froggatte’s journey through police training at the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center, Hutchinson. As part of a small group Monday, Froggatte was dispatched by radio to a
mock-murder scene as a first responder. In a matter of a few minutes, Froggatte was to check Nina Froggatte the victim’s vital signs, secure the crime scene and keep curious neighbors at bay. Once things were under See TRAINING | Page A6
Riley Murry is ready for the next step in her education when she enrolls at the University of Kansas in the fall. She and her fellow Iola High School classmates will earn their diplomas Saturday. REGISTER/RICHARD LUKEN
Ready for what’s next By RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register
She was barely into her freshman year, when Riley Murry’s dream of maintaining all A’s suddenly looked in jeopardy. She had enrolled in geometry and found her nine-week grade at a precarious 89 percent — a solid grade for most. But not for Murry. “That set the pace,” she said. “I knew I needed to step it up. It wasn’t going to be like middle school.” Murry quickly rebounded,
and scored a 98 percent in her follow-up nine-week stretch, securing the A grade for the semester. She looks back now with a slight grin. “I’ve always been good at math, but there’s something about geometry I don’t like. To this day, shapes really get me.” After the early scare, the rest of Murry’s high school career went off without a hitch. Murry is one of four outgoing seniors to have maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA
through high school. “It’s really unimaginable how quickly it all goes by,” she said. “I’m graduating? Oh, my goodness.” THE DAUGHTER of Aaron and Kim Murry, Riley plans to attend the University of Kansas School of Pharmacy in the fall. But unlike others who pursue degrees in pharmacy, Riley’s sights are a bit different. She’s eschewing a career in retail, in favor of working See MURRY | Page A2
Sounds of spring Iola High School’s jazz and concert bands filled the Bowlus Fine Arts Center with a number of rousing songs Tuesday. Included in the concert was the introduction of Ranie Wahlmeier, at right, who is replacing Matt Kleopfer as band director. Darius Greenawalt, far right, performs “Classical Gas” on the vibraphone. The IHS jazz band is above. The IHS and Iola Middle School choir concert is at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Bowlus. REGISTER/RICHARD LUKEN
Quote of the day Vol. 119, No. 137
“Work is much more fun than fun.”
— Noel Coward, playwright (1899-1973) 75 Cents
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