Cyclists, circus ring in weekend Portland Alley Pedalfest
Culpepper & Merriweather Circus
8 a.m. Riverside Park
2 & 4:30 p.m. West Scott Street
See
The Weekender Saturday, September 12, 2015
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Committee brings flavor, fun to revamped festival Medallion hunt, talent show added to Farm-City Days By RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register
A new steering committee will usher in a number of new activities for the upcoming Farm-City Days celebration in October. The group’s focus since it was reformed — the nine new committee members started getting together in May — was to incorporate the festival’s popular events, such as the parade, car show and artisan exhibits, with new attractions to broaden its appeal. “Our vision is to turn this into a cultural event, as much as a farm event,” said Aaron Franklin, one of the committee’s newcomers. Much like Neewollah has turned Independence into a destination each Halloween, the committee’s goal is to turn Iola into an affair that draws participants from across southeast Kansas. The 44th annual Farm-City
Everett Glaze, who plays Michael Banks, and Cali Riley, who portrays Jane Banks, practice a dance with choreographer Chelsea Lea during rehearsals for the upcoming Iola Community Theatre production of “Mary Poppins.” REGISTER/KAYLA BANZET
ICT presents a spoonful of ‘Poppins’ By KAYLA BANZET The Iola Register
Rehearsals for Iola Community Theatre’s musical production of “Mary Poppins,” have been supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. The ICT is pulling out all the stops to launch such a big production in recognition of its 50th anniversary. “Mary Poppins,” tells the story of Jane and Michael Banks and their magical
nanny Mary Poppins. Mary Poppins sweeps the children into fun adventures with her friend Bert and opens their eyes to a whole new world. Along the way the children rub some of their new sunny attitude off on their conventional parents, George and Winifred Banks. The theatrical demands on the large cast of 39 make it a challenge to produce, Spencer said. “This is a very difficult
Independence hospital will close by end of year INDEPENDENCE — Mercy Hospital here will begin closing departments on Oct. 10 and will cease operations by the end of the year. The decision came after a proposed merger with Coffeyville Regional Medical Center failed, the Wilson County Citizen reported Thursday. Mercy CEO Lynn Britton said employees will have a specified severance period and some may have an option to transfer elsewhere. “We can’t continue to sustain the economic losses that are involved, nor have
we been able to find new relationships of partnerships ...,” Britton said. Acute care services will be the first to go on Oct. 10, followed by inpatient care, emergency room and ambulatory surgery. Outpatient services will remain until Dec. 31. About 190 employees, with annual salaries and benefits of $13 million, will be affected. Emergency medical and ambulance services are owned by the city and will continue. Independence has a population in excess of 9,000.
Mercy Hospital in Independence has announced its plans to close by the end of the year. MERCY.NET PHOTO
Quote of the day Vol. 117, No. 216
show, but we wanted to give the community something fantastic for our anniversary,” Spencer said. The production, which requires singing, dancing and flying, is next weekend at the Bowlus Fine Arts Center. Familiar and new faces will grace the stage. Playing Mary Poppins is Sabra Aguirre, whom Iola audiences have watched See POPPINS | Page A4
Days runs Oct. 15-18. FOREMOST among the new events is a medallion hunt that kicks off Oct. 3. Participants are required to purchase a $2 button before the committee announces one clue a day — eight in all — hinting at the medallion’s location. The medallion will be hidden somewhere in Allen County. The clues will be purposefully vague at the start, added committee member Carol Sager, to keep participants guessing. “The clues get progressively easier,” said Sager, who noted the committee is teaming up with the Allen County Historical Society to determine where the medallion will be hidden. “Donna See FESTIVAL | Page A6
Yocham brings skills to Register Printing By RICK DANLEY The Iola Register
Laura Yocham received an award for her 10 years of service to Herff Jones only days before the company, following corporate orders, announced that it would be leaving Iola for good and that its nearly 80 local employees would be let go. “With Herff Jones closing,” said Yocham, “I was just like, ‘What am I going to do now?’ I enjoyed what I did, I enjoyed who I worked with. It was pretty decent pay for around here. And I didn’t want to go back to a factory. I didn’t want to go back to nights.” But Yocham didn’t have to wonder long about her next job. Within weeks of the Herff Jones announcement, and before her last day at the plant, Yocham had signed on as the new print shop manager at the Iola Register. Yocham, who arrives at the Register on the winds of a stellar reputation as a machine operator, will combine her mechanical talents with the chance to engage in more design-oriented work. She anticipates a steady local market for stationary, invitations, order forms and the like. “I don’t want to see something like this shut down,” Yocham said of the century-old print shop, “I really just want to help it grow. … There’s a lot to learn, for sure, but I’ll get there. Once
Laura Yocham was hired in August to manage the Iola Register’s print shop. REGISTER/RICHARD LUKEN I get going, there is a lot of stuff I think would be cool to do up here.” And Yocham isn’t one to shrink from high volume.
“The mind has its own logic, but does not often let others in on it.” — Bernard DeVoto, American writer 75 Cents
“At Herff Jones sometimes, in a 10-hour-day, I would do 100, 110 jobs. I like to see how See YOCHAM | Page A6
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