Wrestling: Humboldt downs Iola, Erie on mats. See B1
The Weekender Saturday, December 17, 2016
Locally owned since 1867
www.iolaregister.com
Iolan on fast lane to success PITTSBURG — Cole Morrison, a 2013 graduate of Iola High School, has turned his integrated studies degree into an exciting career in renewable energy, well before he graduated from Pittsburg State University on Friday. Few PSU seniors have been busier than Morrison. When not in class, he often is on the road, heading to a site visit for a potential solar power installation, or back at his office at CDL Electric working on solar
Cole Morrison
Iolans Tom and Margo Williams stand next to the renamed surgery lounge in honor of their $25,000 donation to the Uniting For Excellence campaign, which pays for ACRH equipment.
panel installation design. “Right now I’m pretty swamped,” Morrison said. “I’m on the phone a lot with utility providers, getting metering applications turned in and code specifications done on system designs. There’s a lot that it entails.” Morrison, son of Kim and the late Jess Morrison, Iola, is hard at work in an area he says he’s See COLE Page A6
REGISTER/RICHARD LUKEN
Hospital drive nears finish line By RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register
A yearslong fundraising campaign to purchase equipment for Allen County Regional Hospital since before it relocated to North Kentucky Street in 2013 is nearly complete. Jeff Cokely, executive director of Your Community Foundation, said Thursday
evening the $3.2 million goal lacks only about $12,500. “We’re just about there,” he said. The announcement came as some of the key organizers of the fund drive recognized Allen County Commissioner Tom Williams and his wife, Margo. The Williamses recently donated $25,000 to Uniting for Excellence.
Jingle Bell Jog postponed
In recognition, the hospital’s surgery lounge has been named “Bless the Hands that Heal” the Thomas and Margo Williams Family Room. “We came to Iola 32 years ago, and were welcomed with open arms,” Margo Williams said. “Able to raise three daughters in a
The looming threat of nasty winter weather — forecasts call for as much as 2 inches of snow today, followed by bitterly cold temperatures — has forced organizers to postpone today’s 19th annual Jingle Bell Jog. The event has been rescheduled until the morning of New Year’s Eve. The schedule of activities, from a cookie chase to
See DRIVE | Page A5
5K runs and walks, will remain the same. The event is sponsored by the Iola High School track and field team. Despite today’s gloomy forecast, the cold snap should be over by midweek.
Big chill descends upon much of country Wind chill tonight may hit 20-below in Iola CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — Low temperatures and high winds have put the Northeastern U.S. in a deep freeze. Dangerous wind chills of
20 to 30 below in parts of the region made for some crippling conditions Friday. “You are talking about 30
degrees below normal highs. That is pretty darn cold,” said National Weather Service meteorologist James Brown in Maine. “This is pretty much a piece of Arctic air that came off the North Pole and came into New England.” Forecasters said a storm will follow the frigid weather, bringing chances for snow, sleet and freezing rain across much of the country.
Some schools closed early Thursday and many others delayed opening Friday to avoid a bone-chilling wait at the bus stop. “We’re not strangers to these sorts of bitter temperatures on Mount Washington’s summit,” senior weather observer Mike Carmon said in the weather observatory’s blog at the highest peak in the Northeast. “However,
over the last few winters, it’s generally late January or February before we experience this sort of polar air outbreak.” The wind chill was down to 85-below at the summit early Friday. Utility workers were prepared for power outages due to fallen trees. David Flener, See CHILL | Page A6
Christmas display built to entertain, educate By BOB JOHNSON The Iola Register
Windows at the front of the Allen County Historical Society Museum, Madison and Washington avenues, have theme-focused decorations throughout the years. Currently they feature winter scenes related to World War II. The north window, with a backdrop of trees on a snowcovered hill, “was perfect for ‘coming home for holidays,’” said Donna Houser, who decides and arranges for the decorations. Helpers this time were her daughter, Laura, and Jim Smith. Both have assisted many times previously.
Smith, an ACHS board member, set up his historical trains, track and town replete with buildings, livestock, vehicles and so forth to finish off the display. The south window depicts indoor and outdoor scenes. The outdoor shows a WWII soldier, who arrived home to find loved one sitting on a bench, and surprised by his arrival. The indoor scene depicts the same time period when loved ones, school children and people in general were encouraged to send V-mail to soldiers serving overseas and unable to come home. An adjunct was, the government See DISPLAY | Page A5
Quote of the day Vol. 119, No. 37
This window display at the Allen County Historical Society museum incorporates the Christmas season and veterans returning home from serving the country. The display was set up by Iolan Donna Houser. REGISTER/RICHARD LUKEN
“Colors are the smiles of nature.”
— Leigh Hunt, English poet (1784-1859) 75 Cents
Hi: 30 Lo: 10 Iola, KS