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Locally Locally owned owned since since 1867 1867
Iola RegIsteR Tuesday, October 2012 Wednesday, July 30, 6, 2011
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CROSS COUNTRY Iola AAmen Indians split ACC claim with Baldwin conference title SeeB1 B1 See
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County GOBLINS, MONKEYS AND CHICKENS — OHCheating MY Orcutt creates hears scandal a ‘haunting budget legacy’ detailed requests By STEVEN SCHWARTZ steven@iolaregister.com
A singing gorilla, boxing chickBy BOB JOHNSON en and giant cats may seem out of bob@iolaregister.com the ordinary for many people who Calls to the 911 dispatch center celebrate Halloween, but it just average one almost every 10 minmarks another holiday for Steve utes. and Cecelia Orcutt. And while that may sound a lit“I went to a Halloween contest tle slow, played out over 24 hours when I was 5 years old,” Steve a day and every day of the year, said. “We’ve been celebrating Halthe total comes to 55,000. loween ever since.” “That’s what we received last Celebrate may be an underyear,” Angie Murphy, dispatch statement. Since the Orcutts center director, told Allen County moved into their home at the commissioners Tuesday morncorner of Cottonwood and East ing. streets in 1979, they have made a The call total — she figures point of going all-out each Oct. half or more are for true emer31. This year their lawn is littered gencies — wasn’t the point of her with giant black cats, cauldrons, appearance, but the magnitude of skeletons and a goblin. The list the number captivated commisgoes on. sioners. They expect to see more than Murphy was before commis1,000 children on Halloween sioners to request a 20 percent night. They keep tally by countincrease in the department’s buding how many pieces of candy are get for 2012, up $126,000 over this handed out — one per child. year’s $490,000. “It has really become overThe increase seemed pretty whelming with this amount of hefty. Murphy reasoned health people,” Cecelia said. “We didn’t insurance will cost an additional try and make it this big.” $50,000 and another $6,000 was The crowds haven’t discourexpected for Kansas Public Emaged them, however, rather seem See COUNTY | Page A5 to have encouraged the displays. Steve said his decorations started just on the porch, but by word of mouth more and more kids began showing up at his doorstep. It was at that point when he decided to expand to the lawn. When asked why they spend so much of their time decorating their lawn and handing out candy,
ATLANTA (AP) — Former Atlanta schools Superintendent Beverly Hall knew about cheating allegations on standardized tests but either ignored them or tried to hide them, according to a state investigation. An 800-page report released Tuesday to The Associated Press Register/Richard Luken by Gov. Nathan Deal’s office Mules Pat and Pete pull an antique sickle bar mower piloted by Ray Whiteley of Le Roy. Whiteley was through an open records request joined by Greg Gleue in cutting an 18-acre prairie hay field Tuesday. shows several educators reported cheating in their schools. But the report says Hall, who won the national Superintendent of the Year award in 2009, and other administrators ignored those reBy RICHARD LUKEN attached. The bar was triggered ports and sometimes retaliated richard@iolaregister.com through a gear box engaged as its against the whistleblowers. LE ROY — Unlike the mecha- wheels roll. The yearlong investigation nized behemoths of today, Ray With no mechanical engine to shows educators at nearly four Whiteley’s mowing outfit was speak of, the only noise emanatdozen Atlanta elementary and considerably quieter. ing from his unit was from the middle schools cheated on stanHis “engine” — a pair of teeth of the seven-foot cutting bar dardized tests by helping stu1,200-pound mules — needed only rotating back and forth. dents or changing the answers an occasional break from the stiJoining Whiteley was neighbor once exams were handed in. fling summer heat as Whiteley and friend Greg Gleue, with his The investigators also found a traversed his way around an 18- own mowing outfit, another sick“culture of fear, intimidation and acre prairie hay meadow. le bar mower pulled by a pair of retaliation” in the school district “It’s a little warm, so we’ve Percheron draft horses. over the cheating allegations, Register/Steven Schwartz been taking it easy,” Whiteley “We’re having some fun with which led at tothe educators lying said.Comb, “It’s our little hobby .” Milo a boxing chicken, and Johnny Dinero, a local gorillakind musician, pose in front of one of the many displays Orcutts’ home it,” Whiteley joked. “Greg’s aboutopportunities the cheating or destroying mules were pulling White- of a should on The Cottonwood Street. Trick-or-treaters plan on with the wimp about it.stopping He needsbya between 5 and 8 p.m. for candy and photo Ray Whiteley ley’s antique sickle bar mower, See CHEATING | Page A5 characters. See MOWING | Page A5 a small wagon with cutting bar Steve expressed his care for the people,” Steve said. “Sometimes nor Steve dress up for Halloween, “I have to make sure the candy children of the community. Steve I think children have better val- but instead dedicate their time to keeps coming out,” Cecelia said. and Cecelia were both art teach- ues.” making sure all of the children The Orcutts’ retirement, if ers in Iola schools, and it seems While Cecelia said Steve’s cre- have the best time possible. you can call it that, is filled with their connection with young peo- ative mind is a lot of the driving Cecelia said during Halloween, activities that have one theme ple has grown stronger than ever. force behind the Halloween fes- she is constantly running in and in common — to make the com“It’s really about the passion of tivities, she said her role is much out of the house, resupplying the See HALLOWEEN | Page A6 staying connected with the young more than logistics. Neither she candy jar.
Mowing effort recalls yesteryear
Temps for run look inviting By BOB JOHNSON bob@iolaregister.com
Cyber faith: Internet brings church service into jail
An anticipated field of a thousand runners and walkers, who will flee Iola’s downtown business district early Saturday as Charley Melvin did in 1905, can be thankful that Melvin chose to do his dastardly deed in the middle of the night. By BOB JOHNSON incident of nearly a year ago in Had the event being commemobob@iolaregister.com Humboldt. rated occurred in mid-day, par“I’m trying to change my life,” Cleaver’s troubles began Nov. 21 ticipants would battle oppressive Garrett Cleaver said Monday af- when a Humboldt officer stopped heat and humidity, with both picked up,” Weiner said Tuesday ternoon. a car on Bridge Street after noticforecast at the upper end of the afternoon. As in the past, “we exHe thinks live-streamed ser- ing its occupants weren’t wearing discomfort scale during daytime pect a lot of people to sign up Frivices into Allen County Jail from seat belts. Friday and Saturday. As is, they day night.” Fellowship Regional Church, Cleaver bolted from the car Cost is $12 for the walk. Runwill run and walk in somewhat which began last weekend, will with an assault rifle. The offimore inviting temperatures pre- ners’ fees are $14 for youth to age help. Register/Susan Lynn cer gave chase on foot and in a dicted for the low 70s by 12:26 a.m. 17, $20 for adults and $17 each for “It was being to a leave part of These menlike are ready theirnearby inhibitions home as they participate in Friday night’s favorite alleyatwas confronted by members of teams. Saturday. the heFrom continued. Cleaver, whoSkahan, then ranBrian backWolfe, to the Nic Lohman, David Toland and race,community,” the drag race. left to right are Matt Runners in the third annual The race — many walkers will “It means someone there is atcar, jumped away. Hesquare. Fred Heismeyer. Theout race begins 10:30 p.m. in onand the sped courthouse Luken event will aimRegister/Richard for best times of be out for a stroll — will cap activthinking about us.” escaped when he ran into timber 15.40.06 for males and 20.44.78 for ities that start late Friday afterJared Ellis, who has a Bible and brush northeast of HumJohn Muhl, left, and Zach Sigler, members of Iola Boy Scout Troop 55, carefully place a worn flag females, set last year. noon aand go on throughout study at the jail every other boldt, and was arrested Dec. 5 in onto a fire pit Monday evening during flagwill retirement ceremony at the LaHarpe Veterans of ForSticks of “Melvin Dy-No-Mite” the evening. Included will be the Thursday, was in the pulpit Sat- Springfield. eign Wars parking lot. Eighty flags in all were disposed of during the ceremony. The project was will be awarded the first three much-awaited “drag race,” feaurday evening and Sunday morn“I’ve given my life to the Lord,” part of the troop’s Journey To Excellence campaign and was spearheaded by Muhl, senior patrol places for males and females in turing some of the area’s finest ing, drawing from the Song of Cleaver By SUSAN LYNN year a woman’s said Monday garterafternoon. was trans- The Shirt 20 Scout W. Jackson, leader forShop, the Boy troop, Spencer Ames, Raymond Alumbaugh, Sean Lewis, Austin Sigler each of ages groups, 15 and men and women dressed in drag. susan@iolaregister.com Solomon to talk about marriage He ferred thinks from being one aparticipant’s part of a conleg where participants willconducted have a the ceremony under the direction of Scout five and Zach Sigler. They Master Mike Waldman, under, 16-30, 31-45, 46-60 and 61 Chris Weiner at Thrive Allen you’ve got enough husbands of it, Fri- gregation, andIf the commitment to another.albeit in the detached wide selection from which to and Stacie Sigler and Tom Wheat, committee chair for Troop 55. Assistant Scout Masters Jared and over. County, co-sponsor with Allen day wives night should is the night and make.to let your manner “It’s better it is, will than fortify a baton,” his faith. said choose. Doors open at 10 p.m. LaHarpe VFW and VFW Auxiliary County members also participated the solemn All ceremony. participants will break Crimestoppers for in “The hair down. along in my Bible,” He “I followed David attended Toland, church executive as a child, director but Registration to participate from in front of the post office. One sure is with to participate Cleaver said, test along many of hadn’t of Thrive for many Allenyears. County and one in the drag race is $5. That also Charley Melvin Mad Bomber Run in the “Drag Race” as a runup to of“Jared’s the other 40-plus inmates. sermon for wasFriday’s awegains participants entrance to a for your Life,” said total of partic- Runners will follow a course that the organizers the Charlie27,Melvin Madawaiting Bomber events. Cleaver, is in jail 9:30 p.m. pre-party at the Thrive ipants was approaching 450, with will take them on West to WashSee CHURCH | Page A5 Run For Your race. from a disposition ofLife charges If you don’t have a thing to office, 12 W. Jackson. Tickets can about 200 signed on for the 5-kilo- ington, then Jackson, Jefferson By ALLISON TINN Men and women alike are en- wear — no worries. be purchased in advance at the meter run. The walk will follow a and East to Cottonwood. They allison@iolaregister.com See TEMPS | B6 couraged to dress in a cross-genDresses, hats, purses, jewelry Thrive office or Friday night on 3-kilometer course. Women, who have moved to the “Registration, including probder manner and then “compete” and other accoutrements will be See EGO | Page were B6 area in the past 12 months, ably a fifth online, has really in teams of four in a relay. Last available at Elizabeth Donnelly’s welcomed into the community Monday evening at the Iola Coterie Club’s second annual newcomer’s dinner. The Coterie Club began holding the dinner last year to give By JOE SNEVE — Since 1871 — newcomers the opportunity to joe@iolaregister.com At the bandstand Jim Garner, director meet new people and community When Brian Pekarek was hired Thursday, July 7, 2011 8 p.m. leaders, while also learning about as superintendent of the Iola PROGRAM the local businesses. school district in February, he Star Spangled Banner..................................................arr. J.P. Sousa Presenters honed in on what saw an opportunity to “reinvigoAmericans We — march .......................................... Henry Fillmore makes Iola special. rate” USD 257. Rock, Rhythm and Blues — medley ...................... arr. Jack Bullock Susan Raines, director of the With a focus on academic Army of the Nile — march...................................Kenneth J. Alford Bowlus Fine Arts Center, gave a achievement and public transparBegin of the Beguine ...................................................... Cole Porter presentation about Iola’s hidden ency, Pekarek hopes he can furInvercargill — march ................................................... Alex Lithgow gems and about this year’s activither success for the district and Hymn to the Fallen.................................... John Williams/Sweeney ties. the more than 1,300 students relyMen of Ohio — march ............................................. Henry Fillmore “If you live in Allen County you ing on it. A Sixties Time Capsule — medley .............................. arr. Jennings have the right to take advantage Pekarek walks his talk. A naThe Washington Post — march ...................................John P. Sousa of the Bowlus and the upkeep as Brian Pekarek, center, visits with Barb Geffert and Marcy Boring at Register/Bob Johnson Rained out concerts will be rescheduled for Friday evening. See PEKAREK | Page A5 well, fortunately,” Raines said. Jared Ellis fine-tunes a computthe USD 257 board office. Register/Allison Tinn Iolans get a steal of a deal when er program used to live-stream
Final salute
Put that ego on the shelf, boys
Newcomers welcomed at dinner
Iola Municipal Band
Vol. 113, No. 209
church services to the Allen County Jail.
Vol. 115, No. 3
Pekarek finds home at USD 257
See DINNER | Page A2
Allen County Country Club manager L.C. Lacy speaks at a newcomers dinner hosted by the Coterie Club Monday evening.
75 Cents
Iola, KS
75 Cents
Iola, KS