Sports: Iola High coach eager for gridiron action See B1
The Weekender Saturday, July 11, 2015
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Iolans reflect on losing Herff Jones Starting over — again Former manager ‘in pain’ By BOB JOHNSON The Iola Register
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ightning seldom strikes twice in the same place, but it did this week when Gregg Hutton — and about 10 other Haldex expatriates — learned Iola’s Herff Jones plant would close Oct. 1. Just five years ago almost to the day, said Hutton, the announcement was made the Haldex Brake plant, a stone’s throw north of Herff Jones, was closing and moving production to Monterrey, Mexico. Herff Jones production
City council to decide on one-ways, utility rates Iola City Council members will tackle a number of weighty items when they meet Monday evening. Among the topics: — IMS Traffic: The Council will decide whether to convert portions of East and Jackson streets as oneway thoroughfares around Iola Middle School. City officials note adding fifthgrade classes and as many as 10 instructors to IMS this fall will increase already congested traffic around the school during the day. — Utility rates: The council will discuss a proposal to increase water rates by 3 percent and electric meter charges from $5 to $7.50 in an effort to boost those utility reserve fund levels. The city historically uses utility reserves to supplement its operating budget in an effort to keep property taxes low. — 2016 Budget: Council members will further flesh out the city’s 2016 spending plan, which without amending, is pegged at $595,698 out of balance. The utility rate discussions may play a role in whether the city needs to cut spending projections or look at a property tax increase. See IOLA | Page A4
of diplomas and their covers will be moved to Indianapolis. Hutton’s Gregg immediate Hutton reaction: “I was mad, and maddest because for the second time I thought I was all set” with his career in manufacturing management. He had accumulated ample vacation and was on, he thought, a comfortable path to retirement at Haldex, working in quality control and See HUTTON | Page A6
By RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register
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ony Leavitt has yet to reach out to his former colleagues at Herff Jones, who learned this week the Iola diploma-making facility will soon close its doors. He also hesitated after being approached by a Register reporter seeking comment on the closure. “I’ve been kind of struggling with letting the smoke clear,” Leavitt said Thursday. “All I can really do is go out there and say ‘I’m sorry.’ And I’m a little apprehen-
sive about still trying to present myself as a part of the c o m p a n y. I’ve been out of the loop Tony for the past Leavitt couple of years.” Yet Leavitt also finds himself frequently referring to Herff Jones as “we.” That’s because for more than a generation, Leavitt was part of the Herff Jones family. He started working at Inter-Collegiate Press in March 1973, barely a month after the facility See LEAVITT | Page A6
Crime Stoppers looks to boost visibility How to report a tip to Crime Stoppers:
By KAYLA BANZET The Iola Register
When drivers enter the city limits of Allen County communities they will be greeted by brand new Crime Stoppers signs. The signs are reminders that community members want their county to be safe and how others can join their cause. The Allen County Crime Stoppers began in January 1993 with the help of the Emporia Crime Stoppers. Allen County is mentoring Woodson County with its program. The Allen group has grown to more than a dozen members, some of whom have been there since the beginning. Julie Strickler, Crime Stoppers president, has been a part of the organization for 10 years.
Call 1 -800-222-TIPS (8477) Go online to www.allencountycs.org
Crime Stoppers members Mike Ford, left, and Julie Strickler hold up one of the 24 new signs that will be displayed throughout the county. REGISTER/KAYLA BANZET A former fifth-grade instructor at Jefferson Elementary School, Strickler was encouraged to join the group by Mike Ford, Iola police officer and DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) instruc-
Text your message to CRIMES (274637) In your message text Allen + your message
tor. “My uncle was an officer in Reno County and helped start the Reno County’s Crime Stoppers,” she said. When he died in 2005, she decided to honor his memory
and help her local organization. Ford said the organization has added several new members. See SIGNS | Page A4
Kansas judge threatens challenge to judicial funding bill TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas district court judge who is suing the state over last year’s judicial budget bill said he also is prepared to challenge the constitutionality of this year’s funding measure, which he claims threatens the state judiciary’s independence. Attorneys for 30th Judicial District Chief Judge Larry T. Solomon filed a brief this week claiming that a “nonseverability” clause in this year’s legislation violates the separation of powers doctrine, the Lawrence Journal-
Quote of the day Vol. 117, No. 172
World reported. Solomon, the current longest-serving chief judge on the Kansas bench, Judge Larry T. filed a lawsuit Solomon over a portion of last year’s judicial funding law that stripped the state Supreme Court of its authority to appoint chief judges in the local courts. Partly in response to Solomon’s lawsuit, Kansas lawmakers this year passed a
two-year funding bill and inserted a clause that says if the judge wins his case challenging the new selection process, all funding for the judicial branch for the next two years becomes “null and void.” “This action by our Legislature and our governor strikes me as the actions of a tyrant who says either you do it my way or I’m going to wipe out the ability of our state to have a judicial branch of government,” said Pedro Irigonegaray, a Topeka attorney representing Solomon in
“Writing is the supreme solace.” — W. Somerset Maugham, British playwright 75 Cents
the case in Shawnee County District Court. Solomon’s attorneys called the nonseverability clause unprecedented and said it will be challenged if enacted. “In the event that this Court finds that (the new selection process) is unconstitutional, we are prepared to immediately bring suit challenging the validity of (the) nonseverability provision and seeking to preliminarily enjoin its operation so as to preserve the judicial approSee JUDGE | Page A4
Hi: 92 Lo: 72 Iola, KS