Sports: State dreams end for area high schools See B1
The Weekender Saturday, May 21, 2016
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Art paved her way By RICK DANLEY The Iola Register
Clarie Moran’s path to graduation has been strewn with academic laurels. But for the Iola High School senior — one of this year’s valedictorians — it’s the art that counts. In March, Moran was selected to show an oil painting, “Sizzling Bacon,” at the State Capitol, and, in April, See MORAN | Page A6
Clarie Moran
Ready for next steps By RICK DANLEY The Iola Register
Last fall, when Iola High School science teacher Dana Daugharthy selected Sagar Patel as his student of the week, he praised the senior for demonstrating “dedication and hard work at times when many other students would give up.” He then observed this of See PATEL | Page A6
Prepping for pomp and circumstance Decorating their mortarboards is part of the rite of graduation for these Iola High School graduates. From right are Hannah Ingle, Taylor Sell, Joie Whitney and Taylor Heslop. Ceremonies are at 2 p.m. Sunday in the IHS gymnasium. REGISTER/SUSAN LYNN
Sagar Patel
Gates, community celebrate 40th anniversary By SUSAN LYNN The Iola Register
Gates Manufacturing, the area’s largest employer, is celebrating its 40th year in Iola. That’s a long enough Gates-Iola time to Open House span two, Tours sometimes Today three, generations of 1-4 p.m. workers. To help mark the company’s anniversary, Iola Mayor Joel Wicoff has designated today as Gates Day. The plant also is giving tours from 1 to 4 this afternoon. Employment stands at 500, according to Teri Porter, human resources manager at the plant. It’s been as high as 800. The company manufac-
to buy new equipment,” he said. “A slowdown in building new schools or roads hits our bottom line. It all ties back to us.” The 82,000 square-foot expansion “will be on the back burner,” Stryker said, at the very least until the oil business “turns around.” Tagged at $17 million, the expansion is to accommodate a new line of oil and gas hose products.
Breck Thompson, 43, looks over varying sizes of hose manufactured at Gates Corporation’s Iola plant, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary today. At inset is a hose with markings showing when (May 2) and where (in Iola) it was made. REGISTER/RICHARD LUKEN tures industrial hoses used in myriad ways, including hydraulic hose used on heavy farm and road construction equipment as well as polebuilt hose that is used in extracting oil. So right there, you can see
why an expansion planned for last summer is still on hold and employment is down 150 compared to February 2015. “A downturn in road construction projects, a slow economy that may affect agriculture, or a stagnant oil
and natural gas market, all directly affect us,” said Scott Strycker, plant manager. “A lot of the industries where our hydraulic hose is necessary to their equipment are either cutting back on production or waiting longer
WHEN GATES opened in 1976, Iola was an industrial mecca. Berg Manufacturing had on its payroll 380 employees; Thompson Poultry, 200; IMP Boats, 110; Quality Packaging, 150, and Walton Foundry, 45. The gears started turning in 1974 when Gates officials came scouting and found the local industrial climate a good fit. “We looked for a community where an investment of See GATES | Page A4
Longtime retailer says it’s time to close up shop By RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register
Jerry Whitworth is ending his 51-year career in retail, the past 46½ at McGinty-Whitworth in Iola. REGISTER/RICHARD LUKEN
Quote of the day Vol. 118, No. 145
Throngs of customers greeted Jerry Whitworth as he opened his doors Wednesday morning. Many were there in search of bargains, as Whitworth kicked off his retirement party/liquidation sale at McGinty-Whitworth in downtown Iola. Just as many others were there to share stories and
“YOU are the one who’ll decide where to go.”
— Dr. Seuss 75 Cents
reminisce, and perhaps get a hug. Whitworth has been a fixture in the Iola retail scene since opening McGinty-Whitworth January 1970. “I’ve loved what I was doing,” he said. “You don’t do something this long if you don’t. And I love my customers. But it’s time.” The retirement sale means savings on pretty much every See RETAILER | Page A6
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