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THE IOLA REGISTER Thursday, January 16, 2014
Shooting victim remains critical By BOB JOHNSON The Iola Register
Matt Kleopfer is the band instructor for Iola Middle School and Iola High School. REGISTER/KAYLA BANZET
‘Mr. K’ hits high note with students
By KAYLA BANZET The Iola Register
Being able to teach music is more than just a job to Matt Kleopfer. “The best part is watching the kids mature, succeed and be excited,” Kleopfer said. “I’m not just a music teacher but a mentor to them. If you’re just a music teacher you’re missing out on a part of the job.” Kleopfer, also known as “Mr. K” by his students, is the band instructor for Iola Middle School and Iola High School. This month he was awarded the Horizon Award. The award identifies and recognizes exemplary first-year teachers in Kansas.
When it came to nominating a teacher from USD 257, IHS principal Stacey Fager already had Kleopfer in mind. “We couldn’t be prouder of Mr. Kleopfer,” Fager said Monday night during the USD 257 board meeting. Kleopfer said he is honored to receive the Horizon award, but credits his students for the band department’s success. “It’s fun to come to work every day and work with these kids,” Kleopfer said. “Honestly, they deserve the award. I ask more from these kids than any other program in the area and they do it.” Since coming to Iola last year,
Kleopfer has quickly received support from the district and the community. He has set goals to grow the department. “We are excited for Mr. Kleopfer and for USD 257 because we know what a great teacher we have for our students,” said Jack Koehn, superintendent of schools. “I know Matt is going to continue to build our instrumental programs. He has a rare combination of talent, knowledge, personality and common sense that has given him a tremendous amount of credibility with his students, parents, staff members and administrators. This is just the beginning.”
Nathan Tavarez, 11-year-old cousin of Iolan Kristi Tavarez, remains in critical condition at University Medical Center in Lubbock, Texas. The boy suffered severe wounds from a 20-gauge shotgun blast Tuesday morning at Berrendo Middle School, Roswell, N.M. He was among students congregated in the school’s gymnasium before classes started Also wounded was Kendal Sanders, 13, who suffered shoulder injuries. She is in satisfactory condition at UMC. A 12-year-old seventh-grader at the school was taken into custody minutes after the shooting. Tavarez underwent two surgeries, one immediately after arriving at UMC by helicopter Tuesday and a second later in the day, said Kristi Tavarez, who drove more than 600 miles from Iola to Lubbock, arriving there about 10 a.m. Wednesday. “Nathan is in intensive care,” said Tavarez, who works at All About U hair saloon in Iola. “Doctors are concerned about keeping the swelling down in his brain,” and there also is concern for the boy’s vision. Some See VICTIM | Page A3
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The event will be at the Ward Chapel A.M.E. church, pictured above. REGISTER/BOB JOHNSON
Dangerfield to speak at MLK celebration By BOB JOHNSON The Iola Register
D.J. Dangerfield, associate pastor at Chanute’s First Baptist Church, will speak Monday evening during the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. recognition at Ward Chapel A.M.E. Church, 523 N. Buckeye St. The event will start at 7 o’clock and will have singing, including special numbers by Patricia Pulley, Naomi Clounch and Lloyd Houk, and remarks by the Rev. Joe Bywater, Ward Chapel minister, and Iola Mayor Joel Wicoff. Theme of the annual event is “Remembering the Past, Living the Present and Planning the Future.”
Dangerfield is a part of the ministerial team at First Baptist, where former Iolan Rick Qualls is lead pastor. His focus is with middle school, high school, c o l l e g e and young adults, a calling he Dangerfield answered about 10 years ago. He is a 1995 graduate of Humboldt High School, where he was a standout on the basketball court, and was building a career with Sprint when he “had a vision one night” that called him to See MLK | Page A3
Quote of the day Vol. 116, No. 56
DARE to succeed Students graduate program By STEVEN SCHWARTZ The Iola Register
At top, DARE students do the “DARE Dance” during the graduation Wednesday evening. Above, former Kansas City Chief Gary Spani addresses the students. REGISTER/STEVEN
It was a night of celebration, and reinforcement, for the DARE graduates Wednesday evening in the Bowlus Fine Arts Center. Students from each elementary school received their completion certificate for the DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) course, and listened to several keynote speakers — including former Kansas City Chief standout Gary Spani. Iola Administrator Carl Slaugh started the commencement by encouraging the students to stick together, and no matter what happens in life there is always the right choice and a bigger goal to reach for. “Set high goals,” Slaugh said. “They say a per-
SCHWARTZ
“Never reach out your hand unless you are willing to extend an arm.” — Pope Paul VI 75 Cents
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Hi: 53 Lo: 24 Iola, KS