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THE IOLA REGISTER Locally owned since 1867
www.iolaregister.com
Tuesday, February 17, 2015
Hope Unlimited hosts Winter Fest Annual fundraiser Friday in Piqua
By RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register
Russell Anderson, pastor of the United Methodist of Neosho Falls. REGISTER/RICK DANLEY
PIQUA — Dorothy Sparks and other organizers are putting the finishing touches on Friday’s Winter Fest 2015, the largest fundraiser of the year for Hope Unlimited, Inc., a non-profit organization that aids victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. As in years past, the centerpiece is a wine tasting event, although there’s much more to tempt the palates of just about everyone. “It’s really more of a culinary event,” Sparks said. A wide selection of cheeses, decadent desserts and other fine foods will be available. For those who don’t favor wine, organizers will provide several flavors of Italian soda, from blood orange to passion fruit. “It really has a unique taste,” Sparks said. Chefs from Giovanni’s Italian Restaurant will serve up Italian sausage with wine sauce, while Sam Kuns, owner of Air Capital Catering and the Chicken Shack in Bronson, will prepare his special chicken parmesan. Iola pianist Todd East will entertain guests, while
Neosho Falls
A few souls keep town vital By RICK DANLEY The Iola Register
Sitting at a long table beneath the fluorescent lights of the Senior Center in Neosho Falls, Thelma Bedenbender, 84, searches for something amid a pile of papers. While she does that, Rev. Russell Anderson, the softspoken, genial pastor of the town’s United Methodist Church, asks Thelma to recall an aspect of local history. “There were five different churches in this town at one time. Now they’re all gone. We’ve been the only church for a long time. There’s nothing even left of those other five, is there?” “Oh no. Not a brick. Here it is,” she says. “Listen.” She smooths the yellowed pages of an old copy of the Iola Register, and begins to read: “’Neosho Falls’ story began on April 6, 1857, when two men in an old buggy pulled by one horse
came upon the broad ledge of the rocks across the Neosho River forming the falls.’” From that date the town surged into radiant life — banks, restaurants, a train depot, telephone company, dance halls, a hotel — until one week, in 1951, floodwaters closed in over the city center, floated the pews of the Methodist church, and wiped out the town’s plans for a prosperous future. THESE DAYS it’s not always easy to tell which houses in Neosho Falls are inhabited. A house or trailer you dismiss during the day as abandoned, will have a lamplight shining from one of its windows at night. The empty old buildings on Main Street are held together with branches and vines. There is a sign in the yard of a two-story house in the center of town on which someone has spray-painted the words: “Welcome 2 the
ACC will help students College Goal Sunday Area high school seniors curious about how much federal student aid they’ll receive to attend college can find out at College Goal Sunday. This is a one-day free event where students and their parents receive professional, one-on-one help filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Information from FAFSA determines how much each student will receive in the form of a Pell Grant, and what parents and students should be expected to pay to attend college. The event runs from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at Allen Community College’s Student Success Center, and is open See ACC | Page A6
House committee restores highway funds transfer TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A House panel decided on Monday to reverse a decision made last week and fully restore Gov. Sam Brownback’s request to use millions of dollars from the Kansas Department of Transportation to fill gaps in other state spending. The governor wants to take $724 million from transportation projects. Last
week, the House Transportation and Public Safety Budget Committee voted to reduce that amount by $280 million, allowing about $444 million to be transferred during fiscal years 2016 and 2017. On Monday, during a quick meeting not held in a committee room, the panel restored the $280 million See HIGHWAY | Page A6
Quote of the day Vol. 117, No. 74
Jungle.” In the yard across the street a pony with a gray and white marbled coat and white mane gallops in wild, stir-crazy circles along the perimeter of the chain-link fence. The bar on Main, open as recently as last year, is closed now, boarded up under rumor of previous illegal activity. To the extent Neosho Falls is known, it’s known as a ghost town. For most, there is no cell phone service. It’s rare that more than one car moves through town at the same time. Large dogs roam up and down the dirt roads, dying for a car to pass so they can give chase. “When somebody asks me how many people live in this town, I say 100 people and 50 dogs,” said Thelma, who has lived in Neosho Falls since she was nine. “And that’s about the truth of it.” Today, to be over-simple, See ANDERSON| Page A3
several items will be made available through a silent auction. FOR THE FIRST time, organizers will set up shop at Piqua’s Knights of Columbus Hall. Fundraisers in years past have been at the Iola American Legion post. “We just figured we’d try something a little different this year,” Sparks said, noting having the fundraiser in Piqua allows planners to set up tables and decorations days in advance. Tickets for Winter Fest 2015 sell for $20 apiece, or for $150 for a table of eight. Festivities begin at 6 p.m., although Sparks stressed the event is “come-and-go.” Call 365-6040 for tickets or to reserve a table.
THE FUNDRAISER goes to all four of Hope Unlimited’s emergency shelters, child visitation and child advocacy centers and the organization’s crisis and outreach services, Sparks said. Formed in 1984, Hope Unlimited has begun its 30/30 campaign. To celebrate its 30 years, organizers are asking for community members to donate $30. “Response has been a little slow,” Sparks admitted. “We’re hoping events like this will help spread the word about the services we See TASTING | Page A6
Animal House
Comedy pet theater to come to Bowlus Sunday By KAYLA BANZET The Iola Register
The Bowlus is going to the birds and cats and dogs. Popovich Comedy Pet Theater will perform at 3 p.m., Sunday on the Bowlus stage. Gregory Popovich is a fourth-generation Russian circus performer. He became a member of the Moscow Circus Group at age 17. In 1990 he was invited to join the Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus in the United States. He was a featured performer at the Circus Circus Hotel and Casino and used his family kitten in his clown act. He began building an entire routine based on performing cats. After many years of traveling in other shows Popovich created a pet theater show. The Popovich Comedy Pet Theater made its debut in Las Vegas in June 2006. Gregory’s wife, Izolda, and daughter, Anastasia, are both performers in the show. Popovich’s goal is to educate the audience that every animal is unique and that people have a great responsibility to their pets. Both profession-
Gregory Popovich and his talented animals will perform at 3 p.m. on Sunday at the Bowlus Fine Arts Center. COURTESY PHOTO ally and personally, Gregory strongly supports and promotes adopting an animal from a shelter and increasing participation in the practice to spay/neuter cats and dogs. The Bowlus and Allen
“Wherever you go, go with all your heart.” 75 Cents
— Confucius
County Animal Rescue Facility have teamed up for this show. Anyone who adopts an ACARF animal from Feb. 2-21 will receive a four-family pack See POPOVICH | Page A6
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