THE IOLA REGISTER Locally owned since 1867
Suspect in custody after local killing A person of interest is in custody today following a reported homicide in Iola Tuesday. Police Chief Jared Warner told the Register the victim was a female. The incident apparently occurred on West Edwards Street. Warner was scheduled to meet with Allen County Attorney Jerry Hathaway later this morning before releasing any further information. He declined to give any other details. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation is assisting the Iola Police Department and
A Kansas Bureau of Investigation vehicle is parked this morning in front of a home on West Edwards Street, the scene of an apparent homicide Tuesday. REGISTER/BOB JOHNSON Allen County Sheriff ’s Department with the investigation.
County OKs Fair Board request By BOB JOHNSON The Iola Register
Allen County commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to obligate up to $30,000 for each of the next five years to make improvements to Allen County Fair buildings. Fair board members proposed a five-year plan several months ago, and a week ago asked commissioners to provide $30,000 for roof improvements to several livestock barns. Commissioner Jerry Daniels suggested a capital improvement fund and, in a bow to Commissioner Jim Talkington, added commissioners would have final say on bids. Talkington worried that handing over $30,000 a year might lead to a slush fund, and an urge to spend the excess without identifying need. “I’d rather have more control than just writing a check,” he said. “We’ve no problem with that,” said Carla Nemecek, agriculture Extension agent and member of the fair board. Jerry Middendorf, another board member, also was involved in presenting the plan. The county provides $11,000 a year for the conduct of the annual fair, $5,000 of which goes to 4-H programs, judges and materials. Mid-
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Wednesday, January 18, 2017
Jim Talkington
Jerry Daniels
dendorf noted a recent audit of 2016 fair expenses found $2,400 alone was spent during fair week on utilities. The fair board has a 99year lease on buildings dedicated to fair use in Riverside Park — they and the ground they’re on are owned by Iola. The lease was negotiated in 1966 between fair board members and the city. County Counselor Alan Weber said it might be wise to upgrade the lease, which “is just a page-and-a-half long.” Nemecek said she visited with Iola Administrator Sid Fleming and he agreed a memorandum of understanding should be developed to lay out how the city might assist with the fair. Nemecek said in an effort to make the fair more participatory and visitor-friendly 4-H entries and livestock would be brought to the fair on Thursday, July 27, so all could be in place during the rodeo on Friday and Saturday nights, and the Iola Rotary Club’s Day in the Park, featuring a car show and barSee COUNTY | Page A4
‘Fin-tastic’ lessons
Jillian Trester, from left, Jordan LaCrone, Bailee Griffeth and Javin Franklin look over a dissected shark Tuesday. REGISTER/RICK DANLEY
SAFE BASE students help dissect shark By RICK DANLEY The Iola Register
On Tuesday afternoon, nurse Wanda Kneen prised open the pale underbelly of a small dogfish shark. She ran a scalpel over the stomach pouch, laying its contents bare. She sliced into its liver, and removed its heart, and opened its womb — extracting three baby sharks — and then she pressed a thumb firmly into the shark’s left eye socket until, after a great deal of prying — struggling against about 400 million years of evolutionary gristle
Wanda Kneen — the eye popped free. At that point, standing before a crowd of bellowing fifth and sixth graders — who had gathered to watch the public dissection as part of SAFE BASE’s 2nd Annual Shark Week — Kneen set upon the eyeball with her knife. “It looks small through
the front, but it’s basically a human-sized eyeball,” said Kneen, separating the vitreous orb from the remaining bits of optic nerve. “And here,” said Kneen— ”wait, where is it?” She reached into the shark’s body See SHARK | Page A4
Titus Jones inspects the carcass of a dogfish shark Tuesday as part of a SAFE BASE activity.
Appeals court cuts reward to Health Foundation
Mildred’s 100th in focus
By ANDY MARSO Kansas News Service
“Mildred: A Century” will be presented at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Iola Public Library. Mildred is perhaps most famous for the century-old store, known for decades as Charlie Brown’s. New owner Regena Lance will discuss its history, its famous sandwiches and the new music nights. Megan Meiwes will share a
An appeals court has cut by more than half the $434 million in damages awarded to the Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City in its breach-of-contract lawsuit against hospital giant HCA. In a long-anticipated decision, the Missouri Court of Appeals in Kansas City
on Tuesday reduced the judgment to $188 million, finding a capital expenditures commitment HCA made when Dr. Bridget it acquired McCandless the assets of Health Midwest 14 years ago was partly met by HCA’s con-
Quote of the day Vol. 119, No. 56
struction of new hospitals in Independence and Lee’s Summit. The decision is a partial victory for both sides: HCA is now on the hook for substantially less than it was before Tuesday, but the Health Care Foundation still stands to reap a substantial reward. If the award stands, it will See KHF | Page A4
“Get busy living, or get busy dying.”
— Stephen King 75 Cents
short video she made about the store. Mildred photos and artifacts also will be on display. Those who Regena Lance have stories or items to share are invited to bring them along. The public is invited.
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