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THE IOLA REGISTER Thursday, December 5, 2013
NATIONAL
White House unveils holiday decor WASHINGTON — First lady Michelle Obama opened the holiday season at the White House on Wednesday, importing Chicago talent to style the world’s most famous home into an elegant, fir-draped and fragrant wonderland. “Gather Around” is the theme of this year’s White House Christmas, the Obamas’ fifth. It is meant to signify people coming together to share the stories of the season and the country’s heritage. “Our goal is for every room and every tree to tell a story about who we are and how we gather around one another to mark the holidays,” Obama told the first guests, who were military families. Three weeks before Christmas, she and kids from military families made merry in the State Dining Room, where chef Cris Comerford, pastry chef Bill Yosses and florist Laura Dowling helped them decorate springerle cookies and craft tissue-paper poinsettias. “Bo-quet flowers,” the blossoms were dubbed, for first dog Bo, 5, who was on hand along with the Obamas’ other Portuguese water dog, Sunny, 1. While admiring the puppy, Ashtyn Gardner, 2, from Germantown, Md., lost her balance and fell to the floor, but recovered like a trooper. She was with her dad, Navy Lt. John Gardner.
COLONY BUSINESSES HIT BY BLAZE
Emergency personnel work to extinguish a fire that is raging through buildings in Colony’s downtown area. Below, an onlooker surveys what remains of the diner’s back portion. PHOTOS BY ANGELA BLACK (ABOVE) AND STEVEN SCHWARTZ
Colony Diner, convenience store left in ashes by fire By STEVEN SCHWARTZ The Iola Register
COLONY — When Roger Young woke up to a fire alarm early Wednesday and ran outside to see the Colony Diner ablaze, one thought went through his mind. “This can’t be happening,” he said. The diner — along with Colony Foods and the diner’s convenience store — was engulfed in flames. Responders from the Anderson County Communication Center arrived on the scene at approximately 4:25 a.m. to battle the fire, which according to the official report, had completely engulfed the three buildings. Young is a part-owner of the diner, along with Gary and LaNell Knoll, and lives down the street in Colony. The Knolls declined to comment on the situation until the investigation was completed by the fire marshal. Crews worked to sift through the rubble on Wednes-
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Changes in store for local bank By STEVEN SCHWARTZ The Iola Register
Landmark takes reins at CNB location
Springer stepping into leadership role
There are some major changes happening at Landmark Bank — besides a name change — but its core values are still the main focus. CEO and Chairman of the Board for Landmark Bank, Pat Alexander, sat down with The Register to discuss the changes over the past few months, as well as what they are looking forward to, including a new vice president in Job Springer. Landmark made final the purchase of Citizens National Bank on Nov. 1, when the signs were officially changed. Alexander said taking over CNB was Pat Alexander a “great fit” for Landmark. “The ownership of the bank needed an exit strategy,” Alexander said. “It was very much a reciprocal process.” Landmark, which has 30 locations across the state, maintained the majority of the positions for their Iola location from CNB, save for a few “redundant” administrative positions. He said the customer service values of Citizens drew them to the area. “We have a similar philosophy on customer service,” he said, in addition to their loan portfolio and “credit culture.” He said with change always comes skep-
Job Springer is stepping into the role of vice president for Landmark Bank; it’s a pair of shoes that seem to fit him very well. Springer grew up in Gas, and graduated from Iola High School in 2000. After attending Kansas State University for his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in agricultural economics, he moved to Ardmore, Okla., to work with the Noble Foundation — a non-profit that assists farmers across the southern Great Plains. “I was working on one side of the desk, and I think this will be the other side of the desk,” Springer said. He Job Springer worked with other professionals as an economist to improve production, profit and the overall quality of life for farmers and ranchers. Agriculture runs in his bloodline. His grandparents and parents were both farmers in southeast Kansas. “It’s something you grow up around,” he said. “They’re good people, the salt of the earth.” He said he is driven to assist farmers and ranchers, no matter what side of the desk he is on. The representation for agriculturists is important for the community in any sec-
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Quote of the day Vol. 116, No. 29
Betty Cunningham, left, and Barbara Hafer practice for their Vespers performance Wednesday evening at the First Presbyterian Church. REGISTER/KAYLA BANZET
Vesper concert prepped and ready for Sunday show
The Vespers program, sponsored by the Southeast Kansas Christian Artist Series, is directed by Terry Meadows and begins at 3 p.m. Sunday at Iola’s First Presbyterian Church. The choir, celebrating its 57th concert, will be performing Christmas selections. Ron Baker, organist, Jan Knewtson, pianist, Paula Sutherland oboist and the First Presbyterian Bell Choir will accompany the choir.
“The final forming of a person’s character lies in their own hands.” — Anne Frank 75 Cents
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