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County Local troupe brings magic to stage with ‘Nutcracker’ Cheating hears scandal budget detailed requests The name of the game for this year’s performance of “The Nutcracker” is refinement, and director Jesse Cooper says the dancer and production is ready for a stellar show. The show, put on by the Kansas Youth Dance Company, will be presented at JOHNSON 7 p.m. Friday By BOB and Saturday at the Bowlus Fine bob@iolaregister.com Arts Center. Calls to the 911 dispatch center This year marksevery the second average one almost 10 minannual utes. production of “The Nutcracker” by the which And while thatcompany, may sound a litCooper said is going to be a famtle slow, played out over 24 hours ily tradition in day Allen County. a day and every of the year, They have been preparing since the total comes to 55,000. September. “That’s what we received last “I have highMurphy, expectations for year,” Angie dispatch the performance, peopleCounty will center director, told Allen forget they are watching local commissioners Tuesday a mornyouth (dance) company,” Cooper ing. said. “They and The call are totallooking — sheless figures less like recreational dancers.” half or more are for true emerHe said show “grown gencies — the wasn’t thehas point of her massively,” more than appearance,featuring but the magnitude of 200 for the 39 dancers the costumes number captivated commisinvolved. sioners. In addition, they have added morewas productions pieces Murphy before commisincluding a confetti cannon, sioners to request a 20 percent snow machine, more backdrops increase in the department’s budand coordinated sword-fighting get for 2012, up $126,000 over this scenes on stage. year’s $490,000. The for the pretty show The backdrops increase seemed were rented from Kenmark hefty. Murphy reasoned health Backdrops out cost of Kansas City. insurance will an additional All of the costumes are hand$50,000 and another $6,000 was made by Jeanne Cooper, Sherry expected for Kansas Public EmElmhorst See andCOUNTY Lori Stephens. | Page A5 This year will be the first that men will perform as dancers, all of which volunteered for the roles. In the past, the female dancers have played the male roles during the production. In addition to the dancers with the company, there are 10 volunteers from the community performing as well. Dancers hail from Chanute,
Humboldt, Le Roy, Colony, Yates Center and Iola. Lauren McDermiett is playing the role of Clara, Hayden Seabolt is the King, Zoie Stewart is the Sugar Plum Fairy and Mackenzie Weseloh is taking on the role of the Snow Queen. Cooper is filling in as Drossalmyer.
“ I have high expecta-
tions for this performance, people will forget they are watching a local youth (dance) Register/Richard Luken company. They are Mules Pat and Pete pull an antique sickle bar mower piloted by Ray Whiteley of Le Roy. Whiteley was looking less and less joined by Greg Gleue in cutting an 18-acre prairie hay field Tuesday. like recreational dancers.
Mowing effort recalls yesteryear — Jesse Cooper, director
“
By STEVEN SCHWARTS steven@iolaregister.com
By RICHARD LUKEN richard@iolaregister.com
LE ROYsaid — Unlike the mechaCooper the audience can nized behemoths of Ray expect a more refinedtoday, and preWhiteley’s mowing outfit was cise version of “The Nutcrackconsiderably er” this year. quieter. He said all of the His “engine” a pair of lead dancers are—going to be 1,200-pound mules — needed only wearing pointed ballet toe shoes an occasional break from the stiinstead of flats, allowing them fling summer heat as Whiteley to execute more technical matraversed his way around an 18neuvers. acre prairie hayhas meadow. Cooper, who 15 years of “It’s a little warm, so we’ve experience dancing with the been taking it easy,” Whiteley company, formerly known as said. “It’s our little hobby .” South Street Dance Company, The mules pulling Whitesaid the goal were for the dancers is ley’s antique sickle bar mower, to give them a taste of what it is a small wagon professionally. with cutting bar like to perform “I want to give them a realistic flavor of what it is like,” Cooper said. “From here they can eventually move on to dance full-time with a company or to major in dance in college.” The dancers in the company See PLAY| Page A4
attached. The bar was triggered through a gear box engaged as its wheels roll. With no mechanical engine to speak of, the only noise emanating from his unit was from the teeth of the seven-foot cutting bar rotating back and forth. Joining Whiteley was neighbor and friend Greg Gleue, with his own mowing outfit, another sickle bar mower pulled by a pair of Percheron draft horses. “We’re having some fun with it,” Whiteley joked. “Greg’s kind of a wimp about it. He needs a
Ray Whiteley
See MOWING | Page A5
ATLANTA (AP) — Former Atlanta schools Superintendent Beverly Hall knew about cheating allegations on standardized tests but either ignored them or tried to hide them, according to a state investigation. An 800-page report released Tuesday to The Associated Press by Gov. Nathan Deal’s office through an open records request shows several educators reported cheating in their schools. But the report says Hall, who won the national Superintendent of the Year award in 2009, and other administrators ignored those reports and sometimes retaliated against the whistleblowers. The yearlong investigation shows educators at nearly four dozen Atlanta elementary and middle schools cheated on standardized tests by helping students or changing the answers once exams were handed in. The investigators also found a “culture of fear, intimidation and retaliation” in the school district over the cheating allegations, which led to educators lying about the cheating or destroying
See CHEATING | Page A5
Temps for run look inviting
Register/Richard Luken
Delaney Umholtz leads a line of ballerinas during a- presentation of “The Nutcracker,” which runs at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the Bowlus Fine Arts Center. Tickets are available at the door for $10 apiece. Other photos from the production are theJOHNSON Register’s Facebook page. Byon BOB bob@iolaregister.com
An anticipated field of a thousand runners and walkers, who will flee Iola’s downtown business district early Saturday as Charley Melvin did in 1905, can By BOB JOHNSON be thankful that Melvin chose to bob@iolaregister.com do his dastardly deed in the midIola High’s leadership class dle of the night. got an early Christmas present Had the event being commemoWednesday morning, a $1,500 rated occurred in mid-day, parcheck from Walmart. ticipants would battle oppressive Making the presentation to the heat and humidity, with both class of 28 students and instrucforecast at the upper end of the tor Regina Chriestenson were discomfort scale during daytime Jeff Livingston, Walmart managFriday and Saturday. As is, they er, and Shandie Wrench, a departwill run and walk in somewhat ment manager. more inviting temperatures preRegister/Susan Lynn Livingston learned about the dicted for the low 70s by 12:26 a.m. These men are ready to leave their inhibitions at home as they participate in Friday night’s favorite many things the leadership class Saturday . race, the drag race. From left to right are Matt Skahan, Brian Wolfe, Nic Lohman, David Toland and does during a Chamber of ComThe race — many walkers will Fred Heismeyer. race begins at 10:30 p.m. on the courthouse square. merce “See, HearThe Iola” session, be out for a stroll — will cap activwhere Stacey Fager, IHS princiities that start late Friday afterpal, spoke about the positive efnoon and will go on throughout fects the class has had on students the evening. Included will be the and the community. much-awaited “drag race,” fea“Jeff came up afterward and turing some of the area’s finest By SUSAN LYNN year a woman’s garter was transThe Shirt Shop, 20 W. Jackson, said he was impressed with what men and women dressed in drag. susan@iolaregister.com ferred from one participant’s leg where participants will have a we were doing and thought he Chris Weiner at Thrive Allen If you’ve got enough of it, Frito another. wide selection from which to could get us some financial help County, co-sponsor withandAllen day night is the night to let your Regina Chriestenson, left, receives a check for $1,500 from Shandie Wrench, a department manager, “It’s better than a baton,” said choose. Doors open at 10 p.m. through Walmart,” mentioning County Crimestoppers for “The hair down. Jeff Livingston, Walmart manager, to be used for activities of Iola High School’s leadership class. MemDavid Toland, executive director Registration to participate the possibility of a $1,000 grant, Charley Melvin Mad Bomber Run One sure test is to participate of Thrive Allen County and one in the drag race is $5. That also bers of the class on hand for the presentation Wednesday morning were, front from left, McKenzie WeFager said. for your Life,” said total of particinWalmart the “Drag Race” as a runup to gains participants entrance to a of the organizers for Friday’s seloh, Keli Lee, MaKayla Robb, Klairissa Hall and Ashley Cary; second row from left, Emma Sigg, Halie did better. Livingston approaching 450, with the Charlie events. Caleb Burrough, Katie Kelley,9:30 p.m. pre-party the Thrive Darci Collins, ChloeatFriederich, Lexi ipants Cramerwas (behind Friederich) and Wrench Melvin showedMad up Bomber at Iola Cleaver, about 200 signed on for the 5-kiloRun For Your Life race. If you don’t have a thing to office, 12 W. Jackson. Tickets can and Jacob Cooper; back row from left, Alanna Knavel, Joel Mefford, Austin Snyder, Cody Conner, SteHigh Wednesday morning with meter run. The walk will follow Men and women alike are en- phen wearMcDonald, — no worries. be purchased advance atKaleb the Beckham and Chase Roettgen. a Tyler Bartholomew, Devon Simpson,inJohn Hutton, See LEADERSHIP Page A3 couraged to dress in a |cross-genDresses, hats, purses, jewelry Thrive office or Friday night on 3-kilometer course. “Registration, including probder manner and then “compete” and other accoutrements will be See EGO | Page B6 ably a fifth online, has really in teams of four in a relay. Last available at Elizabeth Donnelly’s
IHS leadership class gets financial boost Kansas fails in
Put that ego on the shelf, boys
public health preparedness picked up,” NEWS WeinerSERVICE said Tuesday By KHI afternoon. As in the past, “we exWASHINGTON, D.C. — Kansas pect a dead lot of last people sign health up Friranks for to public day night.” according to a new preparedness, Costreleased is $12 for the walk. report Wednesday . Runners’ areor $14 forreport youthby to the age Thefees Ready Not 17, $20 for adults each for nonprofit Trust and for $17 America’s members of Kansas teams. and Montana Health, lists the third annual as Runners the worstin performing states event will aimwith for each best times of in the nation, meeting 15.40.06 forout males 20.44.78crifor only three of 10and readiness females, set last year. teria. Sticksmeans of “Melvin That that Dy-No-Mite” Kansas is will be awarded three significantly less the well first prepared placesother for males females to in than states and to respond each ofthreats five ages 15 and health suchgroups, as foodborne under, 16-30, 31-45, diseases 46-60 andand 61 illnesses, infectious and over.weather events. extreme All participants will break Factors that led to Kansas’ low from in included front of funding the postcuts office. ranking in Runners course prothat state and will localfollow publica health will take them on West to at Washgrams, insufficient staffing the ington,public then Jackson, Jefferson state’s health laboratory and the East to Cottonwood. They and state’s inability to meet See TEMPS B6 See HEALTH | Page|A4
Midwest hit by first major snowstorm of season By BARBARA RODRIGUEZ and JOHN MILBURN Associated Press
Kansas to Wisconsin, after blanIola Municipal keting the Band Rocky Mountains ear-
lier in the— week. — Since 1871 DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — On the edge of At the bandstand Jimsouthern Garner, director TheThursday, first major snowstorm of the the storm system, high winds July 7, 2011 8 p.m. season began its slow eastward wreaked havoc, damaging homes PROGRAM march theBanner Midwest early and downing trees across ArkanStar across Spangled ..................................................arr. J.P. Sousa Thursday, leaving at least three sas, the NationalHenry Weather Service Americans We — march .......................................... Fillmore people dead, creating said. A powerful storm the Rock, Rhythm and treacherous Blues — medley ...................... arr. Jackpeeled Bullock driving conditions and threatroofs off buildings and toppled Army of the Nile — march...................................Kenneth J. Alford ening to disrupt some of...................................................... the na- trucks in Mobile, Ala., but inBegin of the Beguine Cole Porter tion’s busiest airports of jured no one. Tornado warnings Invercargill — marchahead ................................................... Alex Lithgow theHymn holiday remained inWilliams/Sweeney effect in parts of to weekend. the Fallen.................................... John Forecasters that heavy Mississippi, Louisiana and AlaMen of Ohiowarned — march ............................................. Henry Fillmore snow coupled with strong — winds early Thursday . Jennings A Sixties Time Capsule medleybama .............................. arr. would blizzard conditions The storm dropped P.nearly The create Washington Post — march ...................................John Sousa a for morning commuters from foot of snow in Des Moines, but Rained out concerts will be rescheduled for Friday evening. the storm wasn’t as dangerous as earlier feared because everyone had good warning of the Vol. 113, No. 209 Vol. 115, No.39
Pekarek finds home at USD 257
approaching havoc, said Kevin Skow, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Des Moines. But By JOE SNEVE wind might become a concern, he joe@iolaregister.com warned. When Brian Pekarek was hired starting to taper as“It’s superintendent of off,” theSkow Iola said of the snowin early Thursday . school district February, he “It’s going to become less of saw soon an opportunity to “reinvigoarate” snowUSD event and more of a wind 257. event.” With a focus on academic The airportand at public Creston, Iowa, achievement transparrecorded the highest ency, Pekarek hopes winds, he canwith furather gustsuccess of 53 mph. said wind for Skow the district and gusts would grow the more than 1,300stronger studentslater relyThursday, ing on it. creating whiteout conditions, before dying Pekarek walks hisdown talk.by A the naevening. See PEKAREK | Page A5 Iowa native Laurie Harry said the weather probably wouldn’t See 75STORM Cents | Page A4
Brian Pekarek, center, visits with Barb Geffert andRegister/Bob Marcy Boring at Johnson the USD 257 board office. Scott Reeder cleared snow from sidewalks outside the Allen County Courthouse early today after the first winter storm of the season arrived in the wee hours of the morning. Iola, KS
75 Cents
Iola, KS