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THE IOLA REGISTER Locally owned since 1867
Thursday, September 18, 2014
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Opera singer, Gas native, to perform By SUSAN LYNN The Iola Register
Opera singer David Holloway is an example of how a few instrumental people can impact a person’s life. Holloway, 71, is a renowned baritone who has graced the stages of the world’s finest opera houses and theaters. Next Saturday Holloway will be one of several performers in a program to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Bowlus Fine Arts Center. “It’ll be fun to be part of such a large cast to celebrate the Bowlus,” he said. “I understand there’s only enough time for me to sing one number. That’s OK. I don’t practice much anymore.” After 30 years of playing lead roles, Holloway’s humility is endearing. Today, he is director of an apprentice singers program at the Santa Fe Opera, a position he’s held for the last 10 years. “At this point in my life,
I go from year to year in regards to commitments,” he said. Every fall, Holloway sits in on more than 1,000 auditions in several major U.S. cities for the 40 spots in the apprentice program. “I get to David Holloway work with the top young singers in the nation,” Holloway said of the interns who sing smaller roles and in the chorus for the opera’s seasonal productions as well as train for the lead roles. “Last year, one female apprentice filled in on opening night and three subsequent performances,” he said. Holloway regards his present position, “as the best job in opera.” Of course, he speaks from having reached the pinnacle of his profession. See HOLLOWAY | Page A5
Construction manager eyes local workforce A meeting of local participants who could have a hand in construction of new elementary and high schools in Iola has been set. The meeting will run from 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 7 at the New Community Building at Riverside Park and will be hosted by Universal Construction, chosen by USD 257 board members as the construction manager-at risk for the proposed $50 million project. Universal is looking for
the following: — Cabinetry — Cabinets — Doors, frames and hardware — Drywall and acoustical — Excavation — Fire suppression — Floor Covering — Glass glazing — HVAC — Laborers — Landscaping — Masonry — Material suppliers See BOND | Page A6
The Kansas City Symphony will perform at the Bowlus Fine Arts Center on Sept. 26. The concert is sold out but tickets are still available for the following night, an Alumni Variety Show. Tickets are $10 for orchestra and free for balcony.
How nifty, the Bowlus is turning 50 By KAYLA BANZET The Iola Register
Fine arts supporters from across the country will return to the Bowlus Fine Arts Center Sept. 26 and 27 to celebrate the center’s golden anniversary. The Bowlus stage will have a blast from the past. In 1964 the Kansas City Philharmonic played on the Bowlus stage. Ticket prices were only $4.
The Bowlus has brought in the Kansas City Symphony for the same ticket price. Tickets for that portion are already sold. From 9 a.m. to noon Saturday there will be guided or self tours through the Bowlus. “This gives people the opportunity to see parts of the Bowlus they’ve never seen,” Bowlus executive director Susan Raines said. Local organizations will help serve birthday cake and
punch in the band room before the rededication ceremony at 6 p.m. Attendees can tour a special art exhibit from Omer Knoll. Knoll taught art in Iola and was the first visual arts instructor to teach in the Bowlus. The rededication ceremony will start at 7 p.m. The Iola High School Marching Mustangs will parade on stage to play “The Victor” and See GALA | Page A5
Efficiencies task force starts the ball a rollin’ TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A new commission tasked with looking for efficiencies within Kansas’ public school system is scheduled to meet today at the Statehouse. A draft of cost-savings proposals prepared for consideration by the K-12 Student
Performance and Efficiency Commission suggests members should consider several proposals, including offering school districts incentives to merge or cooperate. Another proposal would change the traditional teacher salary schedule, which ties pay to
education and years of experience, to a salary range that takes into account experience and area of expertise. Legislators created the commission this year, tying it to a proposal increasing aid to poor school districts by $129 See FORCE | Page A5
A legal nudge
Litigation preceded completion of Bowlus Fine Arts Center (Editor’s note: The following, written by Iolan attorney and local historian Clyde Toland, provides details of the successful litigation that resulted in completion of the Bowlus Fine Arts and Cultural Center as directed in the will of Thomas H. Bowlus.) In April of 1961 the Board of Education of School District No. 10 (now USD 257) made its written acceptance of the funds and property devised in trust by Thomas H. Bowlus to the school district for the construction of the Fine Arts and Cultural Center. Under the terms of his testamentary gift, the beneficiaries were the school district, the school children, and the citizens of the Iola area. Mr. Bowlus provided in his will that the plans for this project must be approved by
Bowlus Fine Arts Center both the Board of Education and Allen County State Bank as Trustee of the Bowlus estate. After more than a year of study and planning — in August 1962 — both parties approved the architect’s plans as meeting the requirements of
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the will and the needs of the school district in educating its youth in the fine arts. The Trustee had never disclosed the value of the estate to the Board, advising only that it had budgeted $600,000 to $650,000 for this project.
Construction bids were taken on Sept. 27, 1962. Low bids totaled $982,981. Mr. Bowlus had provided that construction must begin no later than two years after his death or else the Board would forfeit this gift. With this deadline of Dec. 17, 1962, looming and with the Trustee taking no action to accept the low bids, the Board of Education filed suit on Oct. 25, 1962, invoking the equity powers and jurisdiction of the local court for the protection of the beneficiaries. A few days later, on Nov. 5, 1962, the Trustee signed construction contracts totaling $863,031, a reduction of $119,950 from the lowest bids. The next day, pursuant to the Board’s demand made in court, the Trustee filed its accounting showing the current value of the funds and
“It is not easy to find happiness in ourselves, and it is not possible to find it elsewhere.” — Agnes Repplier 75 Cents
property that it held in trust for the school district to be $1,329,399.81, a figure well in excess of the lowest construction bids of $982,981. In signing contracts for the lower figure of $863,031, the Trustee claimed a center that “will efficiently and effectively serve its intended purposes can be built for $863,031 without any change in plan.” On Nov. 19, 1962, the Board sent the Trustee a detailed letter noting that the reduction in bids by $119,950 was not required by a want of funds in view of the approximate $1,329,000 available to pay both the construction and equipping costs. In fact, after payment of these costs, there still would be a balance of more than $200,000. In its letter the Board said See HISTORY | Page A5
Hi: 79 Lo: 66 Iola, KS