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THE IOLA REGISTER Locally owned since 1867
Save-A-Lot looks to operate in Iola By BOB JOHNSON The Iola Register
Save-A-Lot, the nation’s second-largest grocer, has targeted Iola for a supermarket — as quickly as it can find someone to invest in the corporation and operate the store. According to David Toland, part-time economic director for Iola and Allen County, Iola is one of eight Kansas cities that figure in the company’s immediate expansion plans. Others include Emporia and El Dorado. Chanute and Parsons have had Save-A-Lot stores for years. “Iola is a terrific community and a perfect fit for a new Save-A-Lot store,” said Dick Koop, a manager with SaveA-Lot. “That’s why we’re actively seeking the public’s help to find a self-starter with retail experience to own
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Thursday, August 21, 2014
the license for the new SaveA-Lot store in Kansas,” Koop said in a press release. Toland noted Save-A-Lot and Thrive Allen County have worked closely with the management team of the State Street neighborhood center, 700 N. State St., in efforts to locate a supermarket where Country Mart was before closing several years ago. Additional tenant improvement and equipment incentives are available. Anyone interested in owning the license for the SaveA-Lot store is encouraged to review www.save-a-lot.com/ own and then contact either the Thrive office, 620-365-8128 or info@thriveallencounty. org or Koop at 314-592-9653 or dick.j.koop@savealot.com. “Suggestions from the public for people who might have interest also are welcomed,” Toland said. See STORE | Page A5
Link Crew connects freshmen By KAREN INGRAM The Iola Register
Long gone are the days where freshmen would show up for their first day of high school feeling lost and intimidated. Hazing? Not in this town. Iola High School has been taking care of its own for about eight years with Link Crew, an orientation program that uses upper level classmates to act as the welcoming committee and tour guides, then continue to work with younger students throughout the year. Amy Shannon, art teacher at IHS, said the program tries to promote a positive beginning for freshmen, because research indicates this can lead to better retention and graduation rates later in their high school careers. Incoming freshmen started their day on Wednesday with a large group assembly before breaking into smaller groups for activities to help them break the ice. The Link Crew then took them on a guided tour to show them where their
Stacey Fager, Iola High School Principal REGISTER/KAREN INGRAM classes are located, the administrative office, counselor and other resources they might need. Principal Stacey Fager said the program makes a big difference for new students. “It makes them more a part of the high school from day
one,” he said. The high school’s dropout rate has gone down dramatically since Fager arrived in 2007, but the improvements could be attributed to a number of programs the school See LINK | Page A5
New teacher hopes to inspire Pilot of plane carrying
marijuana faces charges
By KAYLA BANZET The Iola Register
Inspirational teachers is all it took to spark an interest in education for Renae Gifford. “I had a lot of inspiring teachers in school,” she said. “I wanted to give back and inspire others as well.” Gifford is a new addition to Iola High School. She will teach English for sophomores, a reading concepts course for a semester at Crossroads and a semester of creative writing. She grew up in Hutchinson and graduated from Hutchinson Community College with an associate of arts degree and then received her bachelor’s in English secondary education at Emporia State University. It was at Emporia where she met her husband,
By BOB JOHNSON The Iola Register
The pilot of an airplane transporting marijuana when it landed at Allen County Airport on July 11 is being held on federal charges in Harvey County, which has a contract with the U.S. Marshals Service. Kenneth Weaver, 58, Denver, was indicted by a federal grant jury for possession and distribution of marijuana. He will appear in federal court on Oct. 7, said Allen County Sheriff Bryan Murphy. Weaver had planned to land at Burlington, but diverted to Allen County when he apparently learned authorities were waiting there. A tip led local officers to intercept Weaver
Renae Gifford is a new English teacher at Iola High School this year. REGISTER/KAYLA BANZET Nathan. Gifford took on the role of stay-at-home mother until 2004 when she began substitute teaching. She and Na-
than have five children ranging from 3 to 15. She began substitute teaching in Burlington longSee TEACHER | Page A5
once he landed at the airport three miles southeast of Iola. When Weaver couldn’t produce a pilot’s license, officers had reason to keep him grounded while a drug-sniffing dog from Wilson County was en route. The dog indicated the present of marijuana, which led to issuance of a warrant and a search of the plane. The search produced 224 pounds of marijuana, with estimated street value of as much as $1 million. Meanwhile, investigations have continued, the result of which Murphy said he would be able to release later. When all is resolved, Allen County will share in proceeds from sale of the airplane and whatever else is seized during the investigation.
Foley’s death isn’t changing views in Congress By BRADLEY KLAPPER The Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — For all its horror, the beheading of an American journalist in Syria appears unlikely to change lawmakers’ minds about military intervention against Islamic State extremists. It’s equally unclear whether the Obama administration will be asking them to back a new U.S. approach. President Barack Obama said the United States wouldn’t scale back its military posture in Iraq in response to James Foley’s killing. But he offered no specifics Wednesday about what new steps he might take to protect additional captives
and other Americans, and ward off what he described as the al-Qaida offshoot’s genocidal ambitions. The initial response from members of Congress was mixed, reflect- James Foley ing the divide of the American people. While all decried Foley’s death, hawks, particularly Republicans, continued to assail the Obama administration’s limited airstrikes in Iraq and its refusal to target Islamic State bases in neighboring Syria. The president’s supporters voiced support for the cur-
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rent, cautious intervention in Iraq. No tea partiers or dovish Democrats who have cautioned against military action publicly changed position. “The president’s rhetoric was excellent, but he didn’t outline steps to stop the slaughter,” Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., one of Obama’s harshest foreign policy critics, said in a telephone interview. “The strategy should be to launch all-out air attacks in Iraq and Syria to defeat ISIL,” he said, using an alternative acronym for the Sunni militants. Interrupting his family vacation in Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, Obama denounced the Islamic State as a “cancer” threatening the en-
The president’s rhetoric was excellent, but he didn’t outline steps to stop the slaughter. The strategy should be to launch all-out air attacks in Iraq and Syria to defeat ISIL. — Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.
tire Middle East. And military planners weighed the possibility of sending a small number of additional U.S. troops to Baghdad. Still, Obama was vague about what more his administration would do, saying the U.S. will stand with others to “act against” the extrem-
“Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less.” — C.S. Lewis, author 75 Cents
ists. “We will be vigilant and we will be relentless,” he said. “When people harm Americans, anywhere, we do what’s necessary to see that justice is done.” See FOLEY | Page A5
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