Sports: A look at IHS seniors’ basketball careers See B1
The Weekender Saturday, March 14, 2015
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Message on target By KAYLA BANZET The Iola Register
Young students are keeping their eye on the target — both literally and spiritually — at a local archery ministry. On Target Ministries is a non-profit organization operated by Travis and Kathy Larson. The Larsons started the
youth ministry a year ago. It is funded by donations from individuals and Fellowship Regional Church. The students are given one hour of archery instruction in the sanctuary of Fellowship. The first week youths were lead through a two-hour flight full of safety practices and how to shoot properly. On Target Ministries uses
Centershot, a ministry created by the makers of Matthew’s bows. Centershot incorporates Bible lessons and “makes Christ the target of our lives.” On Target includes a 30-minute Bible study. “It is structured around Jesus being the archer,” Larson said. The Larsons have six certified NASP instructors with
them at each lesson to insure students are being safe and taught the correct archery methods. The students take home string bows to practice the 11 steps of archery: Stance, neck, draw hand set, bow hand set, pre-draw, draw anchor, aiming, shot set-up and release. Twelve students participate in this spring’s session.
Emily Long, a fifth-grader at Jefferson Elementary School, focuses on her target during On Target Ministries Thursday night at the Fellowship Regional Church. The class is instructed by Travis and Kathy Larson. REGISTER/KAYLA BANZET
Some tax increases likely for FY 2016 By BOB JOHNSON The Iola Register
John Brocker, of Allen County Realty, Inc. and former club president, gave Iola Rotarians a legislative update from information provided by Luke Bell, a lobbyist who monitors goings-on in Topeka for real estate agents. The rumor mill, Brocker said, has it that some legislators are looking at tax increases of as much as $350 million to help close the state’s budget deficit for fiscal year 2016, which starts July 1. The projection is that the 2016 budget will have a $600 million shortfall. Other means of dealing with the shortage are through cuts, some of which have been made, and taking money from state agencies, such as the Kansas Department of Transportation. See ROTARY | Page A6
Vocational tech big issue
Working together essential
By RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register
By RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register
Virginia Macha sees a vicious cycle afflicting too many young adults. “They move from one minimum wage job to another without any kind of ladder to crawl out,” Macha said. “Before long, a lot of these people have incurred debt” making it even tougher to make a living. The solution — a bettertrained workforce — requires a teamwork approach with schools, industrial leaders, district patrons and parents, Macha contends. Such a coalition is possible anywhere, she said, but is particularly vital for USD 257. Macha is one of two candidates seeking the at-large vacancy for the USD 257’s Board of Education. Voters
Dan Willis has occasionally toyed with the idea of running for a school board seat. He remembers getting a phone call from former Iolan Nancy Mechling when he was just out of college, asking him to fill a vacant seat on the USD 257 Board of Education. Willis politely declined. “Quite honestly, I didn’t feel I was the right candidate yet,” he said. “I wasn’t a family man yet. I hadn’t been seasoned yet.” But the notion never went away. Fast forward 25 years, as USD 257 voters prepared to vote last fall on a proposed $50 million bond issue to build new schools north of Iola. The ongoing discussions
Virginia Macha will choose between Macha and fellow Iolan Dan Willis in the April 7 general election. Macha and Willis are vying to fill the expiring seat held by Mark Burris, who opted not to run for re-election. (See related story on Willis elsewhere in today’s paper). “I think I can add value to our school disSee MACHA | Page A6
Dan Willis sparked renewed interest in Willis, who is one of two candidates for the district’s at-large board seat. “The bond issue got me cognizant of how much background I have that can help this board,” he said. “I figured (now) is the right time if I was going to do it.” Voters will choose either Willis or Virginia See WILLIS | Page A6
Candidate forums today
School funding overhaul passes Kansas House
Two forums this morning will give voters a chance to better know candidates in several local elections. Candidates for Allen Community College trustee positions (9 a.m.), Iola council (10 a.m.) and USD 257 (11 a.m.) will be in the Iola High School commons. In the Humboldt High School cafeteria candidates
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas House narrowly passed a top Gov. Sam Brownback policy initiative to overall school funding Friday. The House voted 64-57 to approve the bill and will now send it to the Senate. Rep. Kent Thompson, LaHarpe, voted against the measure. Aid to public schools is the biggest item in the state budget, and settling the amount is
for Humboldt’s council (9 a.m.) and USD 258 (10 a.m.) will be available. The Iola forum is sponsored by Allen County Farm Bureau, while Humboldt’s is sponsored by Farm Bureau and Humboldt Chamber of Commerce. At each site candidates will give a short presentation followed by questions.
Quote of the day Vol. 117, No. 92
key to resolving other spending and tax issues. The plan incorporates Brownback’s proposal to give districts “block grants” based on their current aid for the next two school years, until lawmakers draft a new formula. The governor and other Republicans say the current formula is too complex and directs too much away from classroom learning. A panel of district judges
“Honest disagreement is often a good sign of progress.” — Mahatma Gandhi 75 Cents
ruled in December that the state needs to spend at least $548 million more to fund schools at a constitutionally appropriate level under the formula. The measure won firstround approval Thursday on a tight 64-58 vote, with 30 Republicans joining all 28 House Democrats in opposing it. Many educators dislike the See FUNDING | Page A3
Hi: 67 Lo: 36 Iola, KS