Sunday, March 2O Saturday, March 19, 2022
Locally owned since 1867
Following the road home
iolaregister.com
Red Devils’ run ends at National tourney
By VICKIE MOSS The Iola Register
Shane Walden always wanted to follow his dad’s professional footsteps. He spent much of his childhood at Iola Pharmacy, watching his father, Bill, and others provide care to the residents of Allen County. “I just thought it was so cool to help him out,” Shane said. Of course, life doesn’t always go according to plan. The pandemic, in particular, threw a wrench in Shane’s education during his third year of pharmacy school. He was offered a job at other pharmacies, but turned them down to pursue his ultimate goal of coming back home. And now, Shane has ended up exactly where he always wanted to be: Working at Iola Pharmacy, side-by-side with his dad and others who have mentored him since he was a child. “This is a dream come true,” Shane said. “I love being home. I wouldn’t change it for the world.” IN 1990, BILL Walden returned home to join Iola Pharmacy after graduating from the school of pharmacy at the University of Kansas. He often brought Shane to work, where the boy became part of the pharmacy family. Iola Pharmacy was founded by Jim Arnott and Bret Lawrence in August 1973. Arnott became sole owner in 1988. Jeff Dieker bought into the pharmacy in 1991, followed by Bill Walden in 1993 and Jim Bauer in 1994. Arnott sold his shares to them in 2001. Travis Coffield bought into the pharmacy in 2007. Arnott is retired and Dieker is semi-retired, but both still help out. Current
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Anti-wind farm bill fails PAGE A8
GOP revives anti-vax bill Shane Walden has joined the pharmacy staff at Iola Pharmacy. He grew up with a goal of joining the pharmacy with his dad, Bill Walden, shown with him in the photo at right. REGISTER/VICKIE MOSS
owners are Walden, Bauer and Coffield. “They all say, ‘I can remember when you were a little turd running around the store,’” Shane said, laughing. “Now I’m a big turd running around the store.” Over the years, each served as a mentor. “The most unique part of that dynamic is that each is different in their own way. I have different and meaningful conversations with each one, so that has shaped me,” Shane said. The men provided five different perspectives on what it means not only to be a pharmacist, but also what it means to be part of a community. “Ultimately, when I am finally able to get in a groove See PHARMACY | Page A5
By SHERMAN SMITH Kansas Reflector
TOPEKA — Sen. Kristen O’Shea on Thursday pointed to a sequence of events in which one of her Republican colleagues flipped his vote on a veto override of a congressional map hours after a Senate health panel endorsed an easy out for childhood vaccine requirements. O’Shea, a Topeka Republican, unsuccessfully tried to convince members of the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee to remove the vaccine exemption from House Bill 2280. “We all know the events that transpired the day this was added, and so do we as a committee want to vote and encourage that?” O’Shea said. Sen. Mark Steffen, a Hutchinson Republican who had flip-flopped on the veto override, and other Republicans on the See VACCINE | Page A3
Mildred, Iola featured in national news program on food deserts By VICKIE MOSS The Iola Register
Two Allen County food providers made national news Thursday as the CBS Evening News highlighted the plight of rural food deserts. The Mildred Store and Humanity House, along with a grocery store in St. Paul, were featured in a three-minute segment. The report highlighted that 40 million live in food deserts in the U.S., which in rural areas means they are at least 10 miles from a grocery store. At least 20% of those people are low income. “The irony in many rural communities is that they are surrounded by farmland that’s growing food. There’s just no access to it,” reporter Janet Shamlian said.
The segment first focused on the St. Paul store, which is owned by the city in a unique arrangement. Then, it showed scenes from Humanity House in Iola, where founder Tracy Keagle talked about its food pantry that serves about 2,000 people each month. “Without this recourse, what would families do?” Shamlian asked. “They would starve,” Keagle responded. The bulk of the segment, though, was dedicated to the Mildred Store. Owners Loren and Regena Lance said they bought the store to keep it from closing, as most area residents at that time would need to drive at least 30 minutes in any direction to buy groceries. They’ve since turned the See FOOD | Page A7
Mildred Store owners Loren and Regena Lance, at left, are interviewed by a CBS Evening News crew in the store’s dance hall area. COURTESY PHOTO
Vol. 124, No. 118 Iola, KS $1.00
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