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County hears budget requests By BOB JOHNSON bob@iolaregister.com
Calls to the 911 dispatch center average one almost every 10 minutes. And while that may sound a little slow, played out over 24 hours a day and every day of the year, the total comes to 55,000. “That’s what we received last year,” Angie Murphy, dispatch center director, told Allen County commissioners Tuesday morning. The call total — she figures half or more are for true emergencies — wasn’t the point of her appearance, but the magnitude of the number captivated commissioners. Murphy was before commissioners to request a 20 percent increase in the department’s budget for 2012, up $126,000 over this year’s $490,000. The increase seemed pretty hefty. Murphy reasoned health insurance will cost an additional $50,000 and another $6,000 was expected for Kansas Public EmSee COUNTY | Page A5
Wednesday, October 2012 Wednesday, July 6,31, 2011
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Cheating scandal detailed
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 the whistleblowers. LE ROY — Unlike the mecha- wheels roll. Jefferson, McKinley and Lincoln against elementary students put The yearlong investigation nized behemoths of today, Ray With no mechanical engine to on their best costumes — Spider Man, Scream, shows educatorsgrapes, at nearly four Whiteley’s mowing outfit was speak of, the only noise emanatwitches, jesters, M&Ms, ninjas, Batman, lady bugs and dozen Atlanta elementary and considerably quieter. ing from his unit was from the around school for the middle schools cheated on stanHis “engine” — a pair of teeth of the seven-foot cutting bar more — this morning and strutted tests by school helping stuannual Halloween parades. Evendardized Vegas, the local 1,200-pound mules — needed only rotating back and forth. the answers an occasional break from the stiin on or thechanging fun by dressing Joining Whiteley was neighbor pooch at Iola Middle School, got dents once exams were handed in. fling summer heat as Whiteley and friend Greg Gleue, with his up as a Halloween jester. 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 Photos by Bob Johnson and Steven Schwartz retaliation” in the school district “It’s a little warm, so we’ve Percheron draft horses. over the cheating allegations, been taking it easy,” Whiteley “We’re having some fun with which led to educators lying said. “It’s our little hobby.” it,” Whiteley joked. “Greg’s kind about the cheating or destroying The mules were pulling White- of a wimp about it. He needs a Ray Whiteley ley’s antique sickle bar mower, See CHEATING | Page A5 See MOWING | Page A5 a small wagon with cutting bar
Mowing effort recalls yesteryear
Iola connection to hurricane: Unnerved but unscathed By BOB JOHNSON bob@iolaregister.com
“You could hear the house groan” when Hurricane Sandy struck the East Coast on Sunday, Mark Chagaris told the Register Tuesday evening. He and wife Jennifer, daughter of Iolans Jay and Sharon Thyer, live about 10 miles south of Dover, Del., and six miles from the Atlantic. They were fortunate, Mark said, that rain and wind didn’t damage their home or others nearby, and that they were far enough inland to avoid surging tides. Chagaris, an Air Force Reserve pilot, flies for Southwest Airlines and was in Las Vegas Friday. A schedule change allowed him to
BASEBALL BASKETBALL
Jennifer and Mark Chagaris
make it home to be with his family when the storm landed on Sunday. The Chagarises spent Saturday shopping for PVC pipe to extend discharge from a sump pump in their basement and a portable See CHAGARIS | Page A4
Landfill getting upgrades Temps for run look inviting By BOB JOHNSON bob@iolaregister.com
A project under way at the Allen County landfill will improve disposal of natural gas generated by decomposition of organic matter embedded there, Bill King, director of Public Works, told county commissioners Tuesday. Sixteen wells that draw methane from retired cells are being replaced, as is a connecting line whose flow is hampered by water collecting from condensation in a bend. A new flare to burn off gas will be installed. Contracted cost by SCS Field Services, Austin, Texas, is $373,893. “It’s the second of three phases to expand and improve the landfill,” King told the Register. Construction of a new 10-acre cell for trash disposal was completed three years ago for $2 Register/Susan Lynn
These men are ready to leave their inhibitions at home as they participate in Friday night’s favorite race, the drag race. From left to right are Matt Skahan, Brian Wolfe, Nic Lohman, David Toland and Fred Heismeyer. The race begins at 10:30 p.m. on the courthouse square.
million. The third phase, with no construction timeline yet established, will permit users to dump trash on the perimeter of the landfill and not have to drive into disposal areas. “We may do the third phase in By BOB JOHNSON 2013,” King said. bob@iolaregister.com Money for the work comes An anticipated field of a thoufrom tipping fees and proceeds sand runners and walkers, who from a half-cent sales tax. will flee Iola’s downtown busiThe gas collection system upness district early Saturday as grade was at the behest of the Charley Melvin did in 1905, can Environmental Protection Agenbe thankful that Melvin chose to cy. Methane is collected from do his dastardly deed in the midthe 16 wells. Leachate — water dle of the night. contaminated by contact with Had the event being commemotrash — is separated to a tank rated occurred in mid-day, parand methane is burned off with ticipants would battle oppressive a flare. The leachate eventually heat and humidity, with both evaporates in a pond lined with forecast at the upper end of the plastic to protect ground water. discomfort scale during daytime Until three years ago, some Friday and Saturday. As is, they methane was used to fuel infrawill run and walk in somewhat red heaters in a landfill equipmore inviting temperatures predicted for the low 70s by 12:26 a.m. Saturday. The race — many walkers will be out for a stroll — will cap activities that start late Friday afternoon and will go on throughout the evening. Included will be the much-awaited “drag race,” featuring some of the area’s finest men and women dressed in drag. Chris Weiner at Thrive Allen County, co-sponsor with Allen County Crimestoppers for “The Charley Melvin Mad Bomber Run for your Life,” said total of participants was approaching 450, with about 200 signed on for the 5-kilometer run. The walk will follow a 3-kilometer course. “Registration, including probably a fifth online, has really
ment building. “Lately, we haven’t been able to use the gas because of contamination,” King said, which the upgrade will eliminate. Eula Hutton, landfill and quarry foreman, tests the wells periodically and noted about 120 cubic feet of gas comes from the 16 wells each minute. That’s 7,200 cubic feet an hour, more than enough to fuel the building heaters during cold weather.
KING SAID the new 10-acre cell may be good for more than 10 years. “In three years we’ve used about a third of its surface and we canup,” go higher onsaid thatTuesday third,” picked Weiner he said. As in the past, “we exafternoon. Allen has pect a lotCounty of people to maintained sign up Fria landfill less than a mile southday night.” east of isLaHarpe for walk. years,RunexCost $12 for the
Seeare LANDFILL | Page A4 ners’ fees $14 for youth to age 17, $20 for adults and $17 each for members of teams. Runners in the third annual event will aim for best times of 15.40.06 for males and 20.44.78 for females, set last year. Sticks of “Melvin Dy-No-Mite” will be awarded the first three places for males and females in each of five ages groups, 15 and under, 16-30, 31-45, 46-60 and 61 and over. All participants will break from in front of the post office. Runners will follow a course that will take them on West to Washington, then Jackson, Jefferson and East to Cottonwood. They
AREA TEAMS LEAVE FOES IN THE DUST
Put that ego on the shelf, boys By SUSAN LYNN susan@iolaregister.com
If you’ve got enough of it, Friday night is the night to let your hair down. One sure test is to participate in the “Drag Race” as a runup to the Charlie Melvin Mad Bomber Run For Your Life race. Men and women alike are encouraged to dress in a cross-gender manner and then “compete” in teams of four in a relay. Last
year a woman’s garter was transferred from one participant’s leg to another. “It’s better than a baton,” said David Toland, executive director of Thrive Allen County and one of the organizers for Friday’s events. If you don’t have a thing to wear — no worries. Dresses, hats, purses, jewelry and other accoutrements will be available at Elizabeth Donnelly’s
Iola Municipal Band — Since 1871 —
Photos by Mike Myer, upper and Richard Luken At the bandstand Jim right, Garner, director All Thursday, three area July high7, schools that qualified for the postseason play2011 8 p.m. offs in football — Humboldt, Marmaton Valley and Crest — were PROGRAM
successful in their first-round contests. Above at left, Marmaton Star Spangled Banner ..................................................arr. J.P. Sousa Americans Wehold — march .......................................... Henryplaque Fillmore Valley’s players aloft their bi-district championship Rock,after Rhythm and Blues medley ...................... Jack Bullock shortly defeating Udall—60-14. Above at right,arr. Humboldt’s playof the Nile — march ...................................Kenneth Alford ersArmy did much the same after they thumped visiting CentralJ.Heights Begin of the Beguine Cole Porter 48-6. Meanwhile, Crest’s...................................................... 200-mile trek to Kiowa was successful, Invercargill — defeating march ................................................... Alexteams Lithgow with the Lancers South Barber 66-50. All three will Hymn to the Fallen.................................... John Williams/Sweeney play Saturday: Humboldt at Pittsburg-Colgan St. Mary’s, Marmaton Menatofhome Ohio against — march ............................................. Henry Fillmore Valley Rock Hills-Mankato and Crest at Hanover. A Sixties Time Capsule — medley .............................. arr. Jennings At right, a Halloween theme was evident at Marmaton Valley, with The Washington Post — march ...................................John P. Sousa makeshift tombstones depicting each of the team’s “victims” this Rained out concerts will be rescheduled for Friday evening. season displayed. Full coverage of all three contests begins on Page B1. Vol. 113, No. 209
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The Shirt Shop, 20 W. Jackson, where participants will have a wide selection from which to choose. Doors open at 10 p.m. Registration to participate in the drag race is $5. That also gains participants entrance to a 9:30 p.m. pre-party at the Thrive office, 12 W. Jackson. Tickets can be purchased in advance at the Thrive office or Friday night on See EGO | Page B6
See TEMPS | B6
Pekarek finds home at USD 257 By JOE SNEVE joe@iolaregister.com
When Brian Pekarek was hired as superintendent of the Iola school district in February, he saw an opportunity to “reinvigorate” USD 257. With a focus on academic achievement and public transparency, Pekarek hopes he can further success for the district and the more than 1,300 students relying on it. Pekarek walks his talk. A naSee PEKAREK | Page A5
Brian Pekarek, center, visits with Barb Geffert and Marcy Boring at the USD 257 board office. Iola, KS
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