Sports: Royals storm past Milwaukee See B1
THE IOLA REGISTER Locally owned since 1867
www.iolaregister.com
Thursday, June 18, 2015
Manhunt on for S.C. church shooter
By ALEX SANZ and DAVID GOLDMAN The Associated Press
CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — An intense manhunt was underway today for a young white man who joined a prayer
Black
meeting and then opened fire inside a historic black church in downtown Charleston, killing nine people, including the pastor. Authorities called it a hate crime. Charleston Police identified him as Dylann Roof, 21, of
Lexington, South Carolina. “This is a very dangerous individual,” Police Chief Greg Mullen said. “We want to identify this individual and arrest him before he hurts anyone else.” The gunman stayed for
nearly an hour at the prayer meeting Wednesday night before shooting the victims — six females and three males, Mullen said. The Emanuel AME Church’s pastor, state Sen. Clementa Pinckney, was among those
killed, State House Minority leader Todd Rutherford told The Associated Press. Pinckney, 41, was a married father of two who was elected to the state House at 23, makSee SHOOTER | Page A5
Summer mystery comes to ACC
Cummings
Iolans face attempted murder charges
By KAYLA BANZET The Iola Register
Iolans Scott E. Black Jr., and Vanetta L. Cummings are in jail after being accused of attempted murder. The Allen County Sheriff ’s Department announced Wednesday the pair had been arrested Sunday after an incident in Elsmore, in which a subject had been struck in the head with a blunt object and kicked and struck several other times. The subject was transported to a local hospital with a fractured skull, deputies said. An investigation led to the execution of several search warrants, where deputies said they found evidence connecting Black and Cummings to the crime. Deputies are requesting the pair be charged with attempted first-degree murder, aggravated robbery,
Miss Withers, played by Allie Fager, above right, tends to Simon Starkweather, played by Jacob Cooper, as he gasps for air in the Allen Community College Summer Youth Theatre production of “Murder’s in the Heir,” that runs Friday and Saturday at the ACC Theatre. At left, Kathy Collins, played by Gaby Lampe, left, discusses the meeting with Paula Thompson played by Jennifer Tidd. The show is free to the public.
See CHARGES | Page A3
REGISTER/KAYLA BANZET
There is a murder mystery in Starkweather Mansion but it’s up to the audience to decide whodunit. The Allen Community College Summer Youth Theatre will present “Murder’s in the Heir,” at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday at the Allen College Theatre. The play introduces Simon Starkweather, a self-made billionaire played by Jacob Cooper, who has invited his relatives and staff to join him at his secluded mansion on a very stormy night for a very important meeting. Starkweather’s relatives include his niece Fiona, played by Amanda Moyer, great-nephew Jordan, portrayed by Zachary Cokely, and great-niece Paula, portrayed by Jennifer Tidd. In Starkweather’s will he states he will bequest his vast fortune to his house staff and relatives. All are thrilled until at the meeting Starkweather informs them he is changing his will. Now old and frail, Starkweather tells the assembled crew he will leave See MYSTERY | Page A3
IHS teen tapped for Girls Nation By SUSAN LYNN The Iola Register
Special gift Tavia Skahan, 8, donated $95 to ACARF, the Allen County Animal Rescue Facility. Instead of asking for presents for her birthday, Skahan asked her friends and family for money to donate to ACARF. Skahan, right, is pictured with director Janice Porter. REGISTER/SPENCER MICHELSON
Quote of the day Vol. 117, No. 159
For fear of Abigail Taylor getting a big head, perhaps it’s best not to mention she’s something special. Oops. Taylor, 17, was recently awarded a $1,000 scholarship at the conclusion of Girls State on the campus of Washburn University in Topeka, and was voted from among her 226 peers as one of two to attend Girls Nation. The national convention is from July 25 to Aug. 1, in Washington, D.C. Winning the scholarship also makes Taylor eligible to win one of 12 national scholarships valued at $20,000. “I’m pretty happy with the one from state,” Taylor said. An incoming senior at Iola
High School, Taylor plans to attend Brigham Young University in Utah, the same school her parents, Jen and Ben Taylor, attended. Girls State is sponsored by the American Legion and focuses on civics. The girls enact a mock government where they hold elections and debate current events. Taylor said her participation in Forensics, an extracurricular activity at school, helped prepare her for such a setting. In competitions against other schools, Taylor participates in improvisational speaking where students must think up short speeches on a variety of subjects in a matter of minutes. “It’s taught me to think on my feet,” she said. At the national convenSee TAYLOR | Page A5
“Lack of money is the root of all evil.” — George Bernard Shaw, Irish author 75 Cents
Abigail Taylor
Hi: 81 Lo: 68 Iola, KS