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The Weekender Saturday, April 11, 2015
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Geared up for the fight of his life By RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register
Benefit to assist ailing Iola officer
F
or most of his life, Mike Aronson has trained to fight. As a Marine, he trained to fight the enemy. Then, for the past 20 years he trained to fight fires, and now crime with Iola’s fire and police departments. And there were Aronson’s other outlets, such as working part time as a bodyguard for the Atlanta-based rap group Ying Yang Twins, and his regular sparring sessions with mixed martial arts and kickboxing partners in recent months. “But to get told this, it’s probably the hardest left hook I’ve ever taken,” said Aronson, who was diagnosed in March with testicular cancer. Aronson has undergone two surgeries since March 24, and is scheduled to begin a six-week chemotherapy stint on Monday. “This is the biggest fight I’ve ever been in,” Aronson, 44, said. “The whole mental process — the getting weaker, and not being as active as I want to be — is probably going to really drive me crazy.” ARONSON started noticing pain in his lower back
Iola’s police officers will host a benefit pancake and sausage breakfast for officer Mike Aronson, who was diagnosed in March with cancer. The breakfast runs from 8 a.m. to noon May 3 at the Iola American Legion Post. Meals will cost $5 for adults, and $3 for children 12 and younger. Monetary donations are being collected online through gofundme.com. Type in “Fight For Mike” on the search bar, or contact Rachel Covey at wildangeleyes1230@gmail.com.
Iola police officer Mike Aronson begins Monday chemotherapy after being diagnosed in March with cancer. REGISTER/RICHARD LUKEN
about three months ago. “For a long time, I just figured my back was jacked up from the job and work,” he said. Then came the day-today maladies, which he dismissed as a cold or flu as winter dragged on. “Then one night I woke up with a sharp pain in my
groin,” he recalled. “I knew I hadn’t been kicked there or anything like that.” Aronson’s wife, Mindy, a nurse at Allen County Regional Hospital, ordered him to see a doctor. The doctors ruled out complications from a recent vasectomy, and directed him to seek further treatment if the
Lack of budget rankles Thompson By BOB JOHNSON The Iola Register
pain persisted. It did. Aronson underwent an ultrasound and CT scans before visiting with Dr. Michael Peaster, a Bartlesville, Okla.based urologist. “He took one look at my CT scan (which revealed a tumor), and said we needed to schedule a surgery,” he said. Aronson underwent a rapid orchiectomy — “a technical term for removal of a testicle,” he said — and a second scan was ordered. More bad news.
Since the Legislature adjourned last week for its month-long break, Rep. Kent Thompson has tried to put the state’s problems — mostly finances — out of his mind. No luck. “It’s always there,” Thompson said, referring to decisions legislators will have to make when they return for the wrap-up session on April 29. He is distressed that the House, in his mind, ignored its duties and didn’t settle on a budget for fiscal year 2016 that starts July 1. Also, House members never had a chance as a whole to debate the budget and consider any means of putting into balance what the Senate passed. The Senate version, with a $130 million deficit after cuts and one-time transfers, did have hearings in the House Appropriations Committee, but nothing was forwarded to full membership.
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LEO AND MAX ACROSS AMERICA
Leo Dever pauses for photos while traveling near LaHarpe Wednesday. REGISTER/RICK DANLEY
Ozarks man pedals through Allen County
Ropes training
A group of firefighters from Iola and surrounding communities completed a three-day course in ropes training. Here, firefighters James Russell, from left, Matt Kent and Nathaniel Day carry a gurney loaded with fellow firefighter Ashley Robb up a 50-foot cliff south of Elks Lake Thursday. See more photos of the ropes training on A4. REGISTER/RICHARD LUKEN
Quote of the day Vol. 117, No. 112
Heavy thunderstorms this week didn’t deter Leo Dever and his Shih Tzu-terrier mix, Sassy Max, from continuing their cross-country bike ride. Leo, 60, left his Ozarks home 10 years ago and has been traveling the country by bike ever since. Wednesday evening, having departed Fort Scott earlier that day, Leo and Max paused on the shoulder of the highway just north of LaHarpe. Max, who balances on the back of the bike during their travels, curled up to nap. “I always wanted to see if I could make it doing this,”Leo said, squeezing the rainwater
from one of his Willie Nelson braids. “I didn’t want to just start something — you know, go a place or two and quit. So, when I was 50, I got myself a cheap bicycle, and that’s what I’ve been doing.” The pair have pedaled across Arizona, California, Oregon, Idaho, Nevada, and have no plans to quit. Part of Leo’s goal is to bring attention to homeless animals. “Also, everything Sassy Max and I have ever done is on our website” — search “Leo and Max Across America” — which Leo maintains on a smartphone he carries in a satchel lashed to his handlebars.
“In politics, nothing is contemptible.” — Benjamin Disraeli, British statesman 75 Cents
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