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The Weekender Saturday, August 16, 2014
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Block party brings in large crowds By KAREN INGRAM The Iola Register
Going back to school has never looked sweeter. Dozens of families filled the square to enjoy free food, games, gift basket drawings and donate some money to a good cause at the Back to School Block Party Thursday. PowerUp Iola, Kiwanis Club, several local churches, businesses, students and organizations from several area schools all banded together to raise money for local people in need. “I’m very happy with all the support we’ve gotten,” said Elyssa Jackson, organizer. There were a few kinks in the system, but they worked out the issues quickly with help from the community. For example, the dunk tank was discovered to have a leak in it, but Dieboldt Lumber supplied them with a pool liner.
“That was very nice,” she said. Several booths sold T-shirts. One table featured a drawing with 15 different gift baskets to choose from, including a John Deere books and toys basket, a movie lovers basket and three mystery money prizes from Piqua State Bank. The sno-cones proved to be very popular. Roger Carswell kept dumping more and more ice into the grinder while Carol Ross scooped and added flavors, but the line kept coming. “I think we’re going to need more ice,” Carswell observed. Kiwanis Club had brought the sno-cones and the miniature train to the Block Party and both were doing well. The crowds were all smiles with blue tongues from the icy treats, and more importantly the donation buckets were filling up. See PARTY | Page A4
Haley Carlin, a seventh-grader at Iola Middle School, performs at the courthouse bandstand while a donation bucket sits nearby during a Back to School Block Party Thursday. Donation buckets were set up at each table to raise money for two local children and a teacher battling cancer, as well as a teacher injured in a car accident. REGISTER/KAREN INGRAM
New schools votes on the ballot
Chanute manager fired CHANUTE — Chanute’s city manager, Luke Lewis, was fired Monday night. The decision, following an executive session, was on a 4-1 vote by commissioners, the Chanute Tribune reported. Lewis was hired on Jan. 13 and began his duties on Feb. 24. Lewis, who was being paid $96,000 a year, will receive a six-month severance package. Rick Willis, information technology director, will serve as temporary manager until an interim manager is named, probably before month’s end. “Over the past several
On Nov. 4, voters from Iola and USD 257 will decide whether to build a new elementary and high school. Starting today, the Register will begin an occasional series looking at all aspects of the issue: why district officals say it’s needed (and why others disagree); what it would mean for students and their parents; and how it would be funded.
months many red flags have appeared,” Mayor Greg Woodyard told the Tribune. “It was my opinion to give (Lewis) more time through the budget cycle to see if things would level out. After having multiple issues brought not only to myself but all of the commission, an evaluation and decision had to be made for the best interest of our community.” Commissioner Martha McCoy said Lewis “was not a good communicator. The person in that position must be able to communicate with everyone. This was not a snap decision.”
Ferguson officer ID’d in shooting This conceptual layout shows how a new elementary and high school might look if voters approve their construction on the north edge of Iola. The land is dissected by the Prairie Spirit Trail.
Superintendent explains needs By RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register
Jack Koehn, superintendent of USD 257 schools, explained in detail Thursday evening why the district needs to replace its elementary and high schools. Koehn spoke at length with a small group of Iolans about issues facing the district, and why the most affordable longterm option is new construction. Voters in Iola and USD 257 will decide Nov. 4 a pair of issues: a district-wide general
obligation bond and a halfcent sales tax for Iola. Both must be approved for the project to proceed, due to an interlocal agreement between the Iola City Council and the USD 257 board. Koehn touched on four issues that he contends make new construction the best option for USD 257 — safety; educational and operational efficiencies; and what he describes as an inadequate educational environment. SAFETY
Elementary,
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middle
and
high school buildings have significant issues regarding air quality, stemming from water in basements and crawl spaces, Koehn said. Traffic and parking around each school creates major problems, particularly in separating cars and bus traffic. A side note, Koehn dispelled what he calls a “neighborhood school myth”: more than 4 of 5 students ride to school in a vehicle. The high school campus layout also remains an issue, See BOND | Page A3
FERGUSON, Mo. (AP) — A suburban St. Louis police chief on Friday identified the officer whose fatal shooting of an unarmed black teenager ignited days of heated protests, and released documents alleging the teen was killed after a robbery in which he was suspected of stealing a box of cigars worth $48.99. Ferguson Police Chief Thomas Jackson released police reports stemming from the case during a news conference where he also identified the officer involved as Darren Wilson, who has been on administrative leave since he shot 18-year-old Michael Brown on Aug. 9. Brown and his friend, Dorian Johnson, were suspected of taking the cigars from a convenience store in Ferguson that morning, according to police documents. Jackson said Wilson
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responded after a 911 call reported a “strong-arm” robbery just before noon. He said a dispatcher gave a description of the suspect, and Wilson encountered Brown a few minutes before another officer arrived. Jackson said Wilson is a six-year veteran of the police department, but he refused to release any other details about the officer. The family’s attorney, Benjamin Crump, said Brown’s parents were “incensed” after being blind-sided by the public announcement and allegations against their son. “It’s bad enough they assassinated him, and now they’re trying to assassinate his character,” he said. Crump noted that police aren’t releasing a photo of the officer but released phoSee OFFICER | Page A3
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