Sports: Iola Recreational Leagues wrap up playoffs See B6
THE IOLA REGISTER Locally owned since 1867
www.iolaregister.com
Tuesday, July 19, 2016
GOP kicks off unconventional convention
GIVE ’EM SHELTER
By KATHLEEN HENNESSEY and CALVIN WOODWARD The Associated Press
CLEVELAND (AP) — Barring a last-minute jolt to the proceedings, Donald Trump is hours away from attaining the 2016 presidential nomination despite efforts to stop him that spilled messily into the opening of the Republican National Convention. As his wife, Melania, put it from the stage, “It would not be a Trump contest without excitement and drama.” She generated a lot of buzz with her well-received speech and, later, a controversy over some of
Melania Trump appears at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland Monday. LOS ANGELE TIMES/ CAROLYN COLE/TNS
her remarks. Two passages of her address matched nearly word-for-word the See GOP | Page A3
Alec Sager oversaw construction of a shelter along the Lehigh Portland Trail south of Iola as part of his Eagle Scout project. REGISTER/RICHARD LUKEN
Trail project leads to Eagle Scout rank By RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register
I
t started out as an effort to help his uncle clear brush and debris one weekend. But 14-year-old Alec Sager’s contribution to the Lehigh Portland Trail’s opening south of Iola soon grew exponentially, and has since led to an Eagle Scout badge. Sager oversaw construction of one of the trail’s centerpieces, a shelter overlooking Elks Lake. The shelter was completed in late May, just in time for the trail’s grand opening celebration a few weeks later. The shelter, a concrete pad with poles and a roof, provides a spectacular view of the lake, which formerly served as the old Lehigh Cement rock quarry. The shelter’s location near the east entrance is a perfect resting stop for walkers
traveling the nearly 2 miles of the crushed limestone track that loops around the trail complex. The idea for the shelter came in February, when Sager was asked by his uncle — and one of the key volunteers behind the trail’s development — John Sager. “He asked several of us if we’d want to help,” Sager said. “While we were there, they mentioned they needed a shelter.” That got the Boy Scout’s attention. In order to earn an Eagle Scout rank — the highest rank available to Boy Scouts — Sager was required to oversee a community service project, complete with helping draw up a design, recruit volunteers and see the project to completion. The trail provided a perfect marriage. Thrive Allen County, the leading player behind the trail’s development, secured a
“Kindness matters” is the theme of the Humanity House Garden in downtown Iola. Organizers have given away a ton of free produce this summer. REGISTER/SUSAN LYNN
Humanity House gives away a ton (literally) of produce Humanity House has given away a ton of food this summer. Through its weekly produce giveaway session, Humanity House crossed the 2,000-pound threshold Friday, organizer Tracy Keagle reported. Keagle has marked the weekly giveaway sessions since it started in mid-May. On Friday, 252 pounds of produce was distributed. “It’s gone very well,” Keagle said. “We gave away all
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we had last week.” The produce comes from garden plots Keagle tends on the northeast corner of the courthouse square. She and others hand out bags of whatever folks want at 6 p.m. Fridays, free of charge. Much more remains to be given away through the summer and fall, Keagle said. Her goal for 2016 is to give away 6,000 pounds of free produce.
Roadwork delays may lead to potholes on path to re-election By ANDY MARSO KHI News Service
As the 2016 Kansas legislative session was winding down in May, Sen. Jake LaTurner sat for an interview on a bench just outside the Old Supreme Court chamber. The first-term Republican from Pittsburg was still about a half-year away from facing his first re-election challenge. But he already could anticipate one issue that would be big for his campaign. “Highway 69 is always an issue in the elections,” LaTurner said. “If you’re a Republican, a Democrat, an independent, whatever your party
affiliation is, you better be a supporter of Highway 69.” U.S. 69 connects southeast Kansas to Kansas City. Earlier this year, the Kansas Department of Transportation was scheduled to expand the 20-mile stretch between Pittsburg and Fort Scott to four lanes with a median — something locals have desired for years. Then, in April, that project was among 25 delayed by the department due to highway fund sweeps that Gov. Sam Brownback and Republican legislators have used to balance the budget the last several years. A portion of the U.S. 69 expansion has since been reinstated after LaTurner protested.
Quote of the day Vol. 118, No. 183
State budget cuts put a long-planned expansion of U.S. Highway 69 north of Pittsburg on hold. A portion of the project has since been reinstated, but two-thirds of it remains in limbo — along with two dozen other highway projects across the state. KHI NEWS SERVICE/ANDY MARSO
But two-thirds of it remains in limbo, along with dozens of other road projects across the state. That could make re-election bids rockier, especially for Republicans associated with Brownback and his budgets.
The state has had to cut many areas since the governor spearheaded large income tax reductions in 2012. Pittsburg State University was among them, but the school’s president, Steven Scott, said the public outcry
“Information’s pretty thin stuff unless mixed with experience.” — Clarence Day, author 75 Cents
went to a higher level when U.S. 69 landed on the chopping block. “When it was the road being cut, that was a totally different thing,” Scott said. “It’s like it just touched everybody in the community because virtually everybody at some point is going to head up in that direction.” Those who use the road are concerned about safety, Scott said. A 17-year-old high school student who planned to attend Pittsburg State died in a headon collision north of town earlier this year. Brownback’s campaign promise
This isn’t the first time U.S. See U.S. 69 | Page A3
Hi: 92 Lo: 75 Iola, KS