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Healing Hooves Savonburg family eager to tout therapeutic value of farm animals By TREVOR HOAG The Iola Register
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Kelli Beggs works with two of her donkeys on her farm in rural Savonburg. Beggs is set to launch “Healing Hooves” in partnership with the Southeast Kansas Mental Health Center. REGISTER/TREV-
OR HOAG
By RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register
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Iola Middle School students honored
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See HOOVES | Page A8
Former Iolan leads contact tracing effort at Yale
Kiwanis aids Community Pantry
Area graduates recognized
n difficult times, we all could use a moment of peace, a project that induces comfort, an encounter that brings us joy. For Kelli Beggs, one source of those therapeutic moments are her farm animals: miniature donkeys, miniature zebu, pot-bellied pigs, rabbits and more. “Animals are just great for kids,” Beggs explained. And she’s on a mission to share the healing power of animals with others, specif-
ically through her burgeoning nonprofit project called “Healing Hooves.” Located on the east side of U.S. 59, just before the turn to Savonburg, lies the farm that will host the nonprofit’s efforts, though Beggs has already had quite a few visitors over the past year as the program has been taking shape. “I built this barn with the purpose of therapy in mind,” Beggs said, and mentioned how she’d “started the barn a year ago last January” — though she’s lived on the
Tyler Shelby has never been one to shy away from a challenge. From graduating with honors at Iola High School in 2012, followed by a biochemistry degree from Pittsburg State University, Shelby is now attending medical school at Yale University. As a third-year graduate student, Shelby is helping oversee an effort many think is crucial to how the country can re-emerge from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Shelby, the son of Iolans David and Kathy Shelby, is a co-director of Yale’s contact tracing program. He oversees a team of roughly 200 volunteers (mostly students) working tirelessly to interview hundreds of paSee SHELBY | Page A4
Tyler Shelby, shown here participating in a research project while a student at Pittsburg State University, is leading a contact tracing effort for Yale University’s School of Medicine, where he is working toward his doctorate degree. PSU FILE PHOTO
Changing of the guard at Iola High School Carson takes the reins
Crenshaw reflects on relationships
By VICKIE MOSS The Iola Register
By VICKIE MOSS The Iola Register
Scott Carson cheers for the underdog. He likes helping struggling students find their way. “I’ve always been drawn to students who came from rougher situations. The ones who are the hardest to love are the ones who need it the most. That’s just their defense mechanism,” he said. “That’s why you have to work together and take time to build trust. Once you have it, they know
In looking back at his five years with USD 257, Scott Crenshaw admits he’s made a lot of mistakes as an administrator. The good news is that he’s a quick learner. “My first year as an assistant principal was probably the biggest year of personal growth I’ve ever experienced,” Crenshaw said. “I fought a lot of battles that didn’t need to be fought. It took me
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Scott Carson whatever I’m telling them is in their best interest. That’s always satisfying.” Carson will have plenty of opportuni-
ties to work with students, as he the reins as Iola School principal
those takes High next
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Scott Crenshaw a while to understand that relationships trump all.” Then-principal and now Superintendent Stacey Fager helped him understand the value of building relationships. “There’s a time for sternness and there’s a time to understand,” Crenshaw realized. He also began to study trauma-informed
PENICILLIN ALLERGY TESTING now available at Neosho Memorial
Information & graphic from the CDC.gov
care, which recognizes the role trauma plays in a student’s life. “That was huge growth for me, once I became aware and really immersed in learning about this trauma mentality of adverse childhood experiences and how many of our kids have had things happen that are out of their control,” he said. “It became a real passion of mine. We’re not here to battle. We’re here to understand and build relationships.” Crenshaw is leaving this year to become superintendent of the Lincoln school district. He was hired as the school’s assistant principal in 2015, then became principal two years later. As princiSee REFLECTS | Page A5