Locally owned since 1867
Allen Community College President John Masterson
Facilities forum is Monday A community meeting to discuss a proposed activities center at Allen Community College is scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday in the Sadler conference room on the Iola campus. College President John Masterson recommended that anyone who’s interested in the project should plan to attend and provide feedback. The center, which will be open to the public, will potentially include a 200-meter indoor track, indoor sports fields, stadium seating, weight room, storm shelter and possibly an indoor pool. Before moving any further, however, it’s vital to know exactly what’s going to be built, and that means gauging the public interest about what projects they would be willing to support.
Saturday, February 15, 2020
iolaregister.com
Selling Hell’s half-acre ‘Bloody Benders’ site included in land auction By TREVOR HOAG The Iola Register
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HERRYVALE — “Look, it’s farmland for crying out loud,” said Cherryvale native and museum board member Don Richardson. “That’s all. There’s nothing out there.” Or is there? Richardson was referring to “Tract 9,” a plot of 162 acres northeast of Cherryvale that, according to auctioneer Brent Wellings, was sold for agricultural use Tuesday. The ground went for around $418,932 at the auction in Parsons, the price you’d expect for similar properties in the region. It was “sold for about what it was worth,” added Wellings, and despite a few out-of-state inquiries, its backstory had neither a positive nor a negative impact on the price that was achieved at the sale.
Register reporter Trevor Hoag reads the historical marker at the junction of highways 400 and 169 near where the Bender family murdered numerous pioneers between 1872-1873. REGISTER/ BOB JOHNSON
But what a bloody story it is. This acreage was once home to the notorious Bender family, and therefore witness to one of the most grisly series of murders in the state’s and the country’s history. Multiple people were buried on the property, and others nearby. Although nothing remains
above ground of the Bender farm, Richardson added “I’ve always said that I would not be the least bit surprised to find that there’s more bodies there.” He and other members of the Cherryvale Historical Society hope that the buyer for the property — as yet undisclosed — will donate an acre of ground to their museum
for tourism purposes. BETWEEN 1872 and 1873, John, Elvira, John Jr. and Kate Bender lured at least a dozen hapless pioneers to their cabin along the Great Osage Trail that housed an inn and a general store, sometimes to spend the night, See BENDERS | Page A4
King says he won’t run to keep county seat By TREVOR HOAG and RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register
Jessy Coffield, preschool teacher, reads to children at Ready Set Learn preschool Wednesday as Sheri Orear, owner, watches. The Dolly Parton Imagination Library recognizes the value of reading to children from birth to age 5 and will now send free, high-quality books to every child in Allen County each month, courtesy of the Iola Rotary Club and Talk, Read, Play Allen County. REGISTER/ VICKIE MOSS
Music legend’s literary gift benefits Allen County kids By VICKIE MOSS The Iola Register
Every child in Allen County from birth to age 5 can now start their very own library collection, courtesy of local groups and music legend Dolly Parton. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library will send a free, high-
Vol. 121, No. 332 Iola, KS 75 Cents
quality book to every young child who signs up for the program, courtesy of the Iola Rotary Club and Talk, Read, Play Allen County, in collaboration with numerous local agencies. Each month, they’ll get a new book, and each child in a family is eligible to participate up to age 5. The Iola Rotary Club has
a history of encouraging Allen County youth to read and take leadership roles, with a program that gives a personalized dictionary to every third grader and a youth leadership camp for high schoolers. But studies show that chilSee READING | Page A4
Dolly Parton
PENICILLIN ALLERGY TESTING now available at Neosho Memorial
Information & graphic from the CDC.gov
This week, as others were filing for the office, Allen County Commissioner Bill King announced that he would not seek reelection. Bill King He has held the office since August 2018, and his term will conclude at the end of 2020. King cited “health issues” and “timing” as factoring into his decision. In his words, “I’ve worked with local government for 40 years,” and that “this was long enough.” “It’s time for an old man to go home,” he joked. King likewise encouraged others to step up and run for the position, saying “it’s time for us to let See KING | Page A4