Sports: Humboldt wins thriller over Bullpups See B1
The Weekender Saturday, September 19, 2015
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Ron Hageman
Sonic Equipment names new director By RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register
It’s only fitting that Ron Hageman finds himself at the helm of a company renowned for its ability to adapt to an ever-changing business climate. Hageman has worked in several diverse roles since he took on with Sonic Equipment in 2006. His ascendancy up the proverbial ladder began as a technician, to construction manager and digital cinema installer, then to overseeing the company’s ground-breaking remote monitoring service and call center. Now, Hageman has been named Sonic’s new executive director. Hageman, 34, will oversee day-to-day operations and provide strategic direction for the company; and continue to work closely with theater owners — more than See SONIC | Page A2
Chim Chim Cherr-ific
Jim Stukey and Sabra Aguirre, center, headline a star-studded cast for the Iola Community Theatre production of “Mary Poppins,” which continues tonight and Sunday at the Bowlus Fine Arts Center. Show times are 7:30 tonight and 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets remain available at Sophisticated Rose and at the door. REGISTER/RICK DANLEY
Students named National Merit Scholar semifinalists By RICK DANLEY The Iola Register
Clara Wicoff, Iola, and Colton Strickler, Colony, have been named National Merit Scholarship semifinalists. The National Merit Scholarship program is open to any high school junior enrolled to take the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT), which both Wicoff and Strickler sat for last fall — both scoring in the country’s top 1 percent. With this award, the Iola and Crest High School scholars keep company with fewer than 200 students in Kansas.
Clara Wicoff
Colton Strickler
Approximately 16,000 students made the cut nationwide.
To be considered for a Merit Scholarship award — and the raft of scholarship
BRAINSTORM A smattering of downtown merchants met Wednesday morning in the meeting room of Iola Public Library to discuss ways to coalesce their efforts in making downtown Iola a shopping destination. Pictured from left are Hannah Brown, Iola Office Supplies, Kelly Sigg, Audacious Boutique, Jerry Whitworth, McGinty-Whitworth, Glenn Coffield, Town & Country, Duane McGraw, Duane’s Flowers, Jo Ann Butler, Jones Jewelry, Teresa Ross, The Funkie Monkey, Ryan Sparks, State Farm Insurance, and Susan Lynn, The Iola Register. Not pictured, Debra Suchy, The Treasure Chest. REGISTER/BOB JOHNSON
Coming together first step to change
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owntown merchants know what they are up against when it comes to attracting shoppers. 1. The demands on time. “People feel they don’t have time to do anything anymore, including shop-
ping,” said Jerry Whitworth, owner of McGintyWhitworth, Iola’s longest standing women’s wear store. 2. The Internet. “It’s hard to compete with the ease of shopping from home, until you buy something that doesn’t fit,” said Kelly Sigg, owner of Audacious Boutique, a women’s wear store. “And
Quote of the day Vol. 117, No. 221
believe me, there’s no such thing as ‘free shipping,’ Delivery is figured into an online product’s price.” 3. The hassle of shopping downtown. “We need to free up downtown parking so customers are the priority,” said Teresa Ross, owner of The Funkie Monkey, which carries women’s apparel and accessories.
See HONORS | Page A3
‘What’s Iola’s secret?’
MERCHANTS
By SUSAN LYNN The Iola Register
money that arrives in its wake — Wicoff and Strickler must maintain their already high level of academic performance and also take the SAT test, earning scores sufficient to confirm their performance on the preliminary exam. The organization will announce the 7,400 Merit Scholars come spring. Wicoff is planning to sit for the SAT in two weeks, and is fitting in advance-study in between the innumerable other activities which dot the top student’s academic calendar. A passionate advocate for
4. The lack of a unified front. “We all need to be open on Thursday nights, and why not Sunday afternoons, at least throughout the rest of the year,” said Debra Suchy of the Treasure Chest. WEDNESDAY morning, nine downtown merSee MERCHANTS | Page A4
“Smile, it’s free therapy.”
— Douglas Horton, American clergyman 75 Cents
Iola merchants may be feeling their backs are against a wall but if it’s any consolation, Iola is the envy of many other similar-sized towns. “Iola’s ‘problem’ is that it puts itself in league with communities that are much larger, like Chanute and Parsons,” said Barbara Anderson. “Whenever I’m on the road, I’m always asked, ‘What’s Iola’s secret?’” Anderson, a former Iola Area Chamber of Commerce director, now works for the Kansas Depart- Barbara Anderson ment of Commerce as a regional project manager for Southeast Kansas. Her focus is on business and community development. For a town Iola’s size, 5,600, it has a wide variety of businesses and services, Anderson said. Out of a list of 24 services — from furniture and appliances to medical supplies and clothing — the only items no longer sold in town are books, magazines and CDs. “Iola really has good shopping,” she said. Another advantage is its being at least 100 miles from the nearest city. “Communities that lie within an hour of a shopping mall are losing their downtowns to what shoppers perceive as better deals,” Anderson said.
Hi: 72 Lo: 52 Iola, KS