Sports: Allen runners qualify for nationals See B1
The Weekender Saturday, April 18, 2015
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257 revamps free summer food program By KAYLA BANZET The Iola Register
Free food in the summer is a hard deal to beat, but the USD 257 summer food program has seen low attendance in the past few years. Kathy Koehn, USD 257’s food service coordinator, has a plan to change that. Koehn attended a food service summit in Topeka in February. It was there she learned Kansas ranked 48th in summer food program participation. The U.S. Department of Agriculture encouraged food service coordinators not just to focus on students who receive free and reduced-price meals during the school year. The sum
Mike Bruner is seeking to revive the Democratic Party in Allen County. REGISTER/RICK DANLEY
Let’s get this party (re)started
mit motivated Koehn to find ways to increase participation in Iola’s program. “I don’t want this program to focus on any group of people,” she said. “It’s about wanting to feed kids.” The program is free for See MEALS | Page A6
By RICK DANLEY The Iola Register
T
he Allen County Democratic Party will host a meeting intended to rekindle interest in the party’s local chapter at 7 p.m. April 28
at the courthouse. All registered Democrats — or anyone considering ticking that box at the door — are invited. The meeting will offer area Democrats an opportunity to get in on the ground floor of a party operation that has been
absent in the county for years. Accordingly, the first order of business for the Allen County Democratic Party will be to establish the Allen County Democratic Party. Currently lacking a central See BRUNER | Page A6
Kansas authorizes bonds for pension program
High fives aplenty
George Wyant, star of the National Geographic Channel series, “Diggers,” is greeted by scores of SAFE BASE youngsters following his presentation Thursday at Lincoln Elementary School. REGISTER/RICHARD LUKEN
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Republican Gov. Sam Brownback has signed a bill authorizing $1 billion in bonds to bolster Kansas’ pension system for teachers and government workers. The bill that Brownback signed Wednesday will give the pension system an infusion of cash and narrow a gap in funding for pension benefits. The state expects to earn more from investing the new funds than it would pay on the
bonds. But some lawmakers have expressed concerns that it could be risky and the votes to pass it in the Legislature were relatively close. Democratic Sen. Laura Kelly from Topeka has said she believes the state made the move in order to lower its annual pension payments as it faces budget shortfalls of nearly $600 million in the fiscal year beginning July 1.
Raid nets four arrests Four people were arrested Thursday morning after Iola police officers and Allen County sheriff ’s deputies executed a search warrant at 618 South St. As a result of the warrant, executed at 6:45 a.m., Heather McCullough, 29, Kinda Jacobs, 39, Norman Jacobs, 38,
and Jimmy Beeman, 24, were arrested for allegedly possessing methamphetamine. All four also face charges of possessing drug paraphernalia. All four were booked into Allen County Jail, Iola Police Chief Jared Warner said in a press release.
Sen. Roberts: ‘Let it go’ WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. Pat Roberts is urging people to “let it go” after his cellphone filled a somber committee hearing room with the first few bars of a song from Disney’s “Frozen.” The Kansas City Star reports the 78-year-old Kansas lawmaker was questioning Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on Thursday when his phone went off. Vilsack tried in vain to repress a smile as an apologetic Roberts fumbled with his phone and quipped, “Just let it go.” Twitter exploded, with
the celebrity news focused TMZ and Roberts’ 2014 primary opponent, Milton Wolf, among those offering snarky commentary. Wolf said he figured Roberts was “more Pat Roberts like a Sleeping Beauty kinda guy.” Roberts spokeswoman Sarah Little said in an email that the senator’s “Frozen” ringtone is for his grandkids. He has five.
Quote of the day Vol. 117, No. 117
One injured Emergency crews treat Lori Thompson, Parsons, following a two-vehicle accident at Moran Thursday. Thompson was southbound on U.S. 59 when her auto collided with a westbound car driven by Pamela Hartley, Haysville. Thompson was flown to a metropolitan hospital from the scene. Hartley was unhurt. REGISTER/RICHARD LUKEN
“Love is the triumph of imagination over intelligence.” — H.L. Mencken, American author 75 Cents
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