Tennis: Iola pair drops tough one at state
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The Weekender Saturday, May 17, 2014
Transplant recipient encourages organ donation By BOB JOHNSON The Iola Register
Sharon Kelly, Chanute, spends much of her time encouraging people to enroll in an organ donor program. Few people know the value more. Seven years ago she had a double lung transplant, a procedure that restored her vigor and kept her from facing mortality far sooner than she wanted. Iola Rotarians were given an intense and emotional review Thursday of what it was like for Kelley to await
an opportunity for a transplant. THE DIAGNOSIS that eventually led Kelly, 61, to have her double lung transplant, occurred about 15 years ago when she came down with pneumonia. It became so severe that an evaluation at the University of Kansas Medical Center uncovered that she suffered a condition that prevented her liver from producing enzymes necessary for proper lung function. The recommendation was
Sharon Kelley a transplant, but with children in elementary, middle and high schools she opted to
School’s out for summer
have oxygen 24 hours, even with the prospect that she might not live another year. She then received a reprieve. A new enzyme-replacement treatment was developed, her condition stabilized and over the next several years Kelly led a relatively normal life. Then, pneumonia struck again and she was back at KU Med in January 2006, with a transplant the only recourse. Disadvantage was Kelly had to move to St. Louis, near a hospital where the transplant could be done, because
Students of all ages enjoyed the last day of school in Iola. Luke Hopkins and Andrew Garber along with the sophomore class pull with all their might during the Iola High School Spring Fling. Madison Carlin, above left, receives the KSHSAA Citizenship award from Terry Lower. Julie Strickler, above middle, gives Kailey Schinstock a congratulatory hug at the Jefferson Elementary fifth grade graduation. Tay Hammond, above right, hops across the McKinley Elementary playground during field day. More photos of will appear next week and also may be found at www.iolaregister.com. REGISTER/KAYLA BANZET AND RICHARD LUKEN
LAHARPE — Thrive Allen County will sit down with anybody from LaHarpe who wants to talk about the community’s vision for the future at 7 p.m. Monday. The Community Conver-
sation is part of a regular series of meetings between Thrive representatives and communities within the county. See THRIVE | Page A2
Large gift honors former Iolan man A former Iolan, Thurman Potts, was honored in a significant way recently when the Louisiana Contractors National Trust Fund contributed $100,000 in his name to the Thurman Potts Endowed Professorship at the University of Louisiana,
Monroe. Throughout its history, $1.3 million has been donated to the professorship. Potts was first director of the university’s Department of Building Construction. See POTTS | Page A2
Quote of the day Vol. 116, No. 142
See KELLEY | Page A4
Freedom Ministries continues on track By BOB JOHNSON The Iola Register
Thrive Allen County to visit LaHarpe
of a two-hour window from the time when a potential donor surfaced and surgery. She was alone in a small apartment, in days that grew longer by the week, because of husband Merle’s obligations at Merle Kelly Ford in Chanute. “He couldn’t take off for a prolonged time from the business and all his employees,” Kelly said. The call came at 2 a.m. on Feb. 3, 2007. “I was going to drive myself to the hospital, but real-
In its 17th year, Freedom Ministries has started its annual series of visits to Kansas prisons. Founded by Tom Bevard and perpetuated by him and son Randy, the ministry provides food through a cookout, entertainment and the message of Christianity to inmates. However, visits are open to all faiths, not just Christians. Bevard told the Register Freedom Ministries had an abbreviated event at the women’s prison in Topeka last week, but still had about 100 inmates respond each of two nights to altar calls. “We’ll be going back to Topeka soon full-blown, with food and all,” Bevard said. Visits are scheduled practically every week at state prisons through September. By then, Bevard predicted at least 7,000 of the state’s 10,000 prison population will have been exposed to his message. An addition this year is a medium-security facility at Oswego, which closed as a boot camp for young people
and has reopened as a prison housing about 160 adults. Freedom Ministries also goes into schools, where the focus is on encouraging students to avoid drugs and alcohol. An adjunct is filmed interviews of inmates who tell, often in graphic terms, how drugs and alcohol ruined their lives. “We’ve been in about a dozen schools in the past couple of years,” Bevard said. At prisons and schools Bevard and his son entertain with guitar-backed vocals. Randy often draws raves when he plays his guitar behind his head. Bevard was first exposed to spiritual needs in jails and prisons when he and wife Lucy lived above the Bourbon County Jail in Fort Scott. He was jailer and Lucy cooked meals. “She got $2 per prisoner per day,” Bevard said, more than sufficient to feed the prisoners. He later worked as a jailer in Allen County, where he honed his prison ministry with local inmates. He continues to visit inmates in the Allen County facility.
Program changes woman’s life By KAYLA BANZET The Iola Register
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t has been a long and challenging, yet educational journey for Maria Fournell. After years of obstacles she will obtain something she’s worked hard for, her GED. Fournell along with 17 others will receive their certificates at 7:30 p.m. Monday at Allen Community College’s General Education Development ceremony in the gymnasium. Fournell, 40, was born in Mexico and moved to the United States with her family in 1996. She lived in California for 10 years, where she began to learn English. She later moved to Nebraska and it was there she met her husband.
He worked on his degree and then told Fournell it was her turn. She tried taking the GED tests twice before, but her husband’s job required the family to move multiple times. “When we moved here I said, ‘OK, I have to do this now,’” she said. “Without the people here at Allen, I couldn’t have done it.” Julie Martin, director of the adult education program, said Fournell came to Allen with determination. “The challenge with language doesn’t stop her,” Martin said. “She came to us with this spirit of wanting to get it done.” The program lasts eight to 12 weeks, and varies with each student. New testing standards adopted in January made preparation more
“Let us always meet each other with smile, for the smile is the beginning of love.” — Mother Teresa 75 Cents
Maria Fournell difficult, Martin said. Seeing students succeed and reach their goals is gratifying for Martin. “Seeing them graduate is the part of the job we love,” Martin said. “It’s such a significant thing for them and their confidence level increases. I’ve had people say See GED | Page A4
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