Colony: Crest students learn science in 3-D See A2
2017 1867
Sports: Former rivals star for ESU baseball See B1
THE IOLA REGISTER Locally owned since 1867
www.iolaregister.com
Wednesday, March 22, 2017
Judge consolidates hearings for murder case By RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register
The cases against three remaining defendants accused of killing Iolan Shawn Cook in March 2016 will be consolidated for a single preliminary hearing. Allen County Magistrate Judge Tod Davis on Tuesday approved County Attorney
Lawmakers embrace old school funding plan By JOHN HANNA The Associated Press
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas lawmakers are moving back toward distributing state dollars to public schools through a complicated per-student formula like one derided and scrapped by a more conservative Legislature only two years ago. A special House committee outlined an education funding plan Tuesday that would use basic concepts from the state’s previous formula. The panel plans to have hearings on its bill Thursday and Friday. The Kansas Supreme See STATE | Page A6
Rhonda Jackson
James Myers
Jerry Hathaway’s motion to consolidate cases against Rhonda Jackson, James My-
ers and Joshua Knapp for a preliminary hearing scheduled for May 31 and June 1. Davis’ ruling came durJoshua Knapp ing what was supposed to be Jackson’s preliminary hearing.
Hathaway, however, opened the proceedings by announcing he had filed the consolidation motion. Robert Myers, Jackson’s attorney, objected to the motion, contending an additional delay violated Jackson’s rights to a speedy trial. “In light of the history of the case, and the delays we’ve had, it’ll be close to a year
Who says guys get to have all the fun? By SHELLIE SMITLEY The Iola Register
March is National Women’s History Month. The 2017 theme honors women who have successfully challenged the traditional role of women in the workplace. Donna Evans, 51, Iola, is a local woman who has not only challenged the role of women in the paid labor force but also challenged herself to go outside her comfort level. Evans is employed at the Allen County Landfill, LaHarpe. She works five to six days a week from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., but she will not be found in the office.
Donna Evans, Iola, stepped outside her comfort zone three years ago when she applied for the position of equipment operator at the Allen County Landfill. REGISTER/SHELLIE SMITLEY “I am an equipment operator,” she said. “I run the compactor, the loader, trackhoe, dozer and dump truck.” When Evans applied for the
position three years ago, after resigning from Russell Stover Candies, she had no experience operating heavy equipment.
Volunteers David Tidd, from left, Barbie Daugharthy and Teresa Gribble were among those hosting scores of area residents this morning during a Lenten breakfast hosted by Iola’s First Baptist Church. The March 29 breakfast will be at First Presbyterian Church.
Poisons don’t just come from chemicals fects and may even result in death. Eating apple seeds may cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or a rash. The seeds contain low amounts of amygdalin which converts to cyanide after they are eaten, according to Dietary See POISON | Page A4
Quote of the day Vol. 119, No. 92
Eating the stems and leaves of tomatoes can cause nausea, stomach cramps and anxiety attacks. REGISTER/ SHELLIE SMITLEY
“I figured all I could do was try,” she said. At first the job was pretty See EVANS | Page A3
COUNTY COMMISSION
Ambulance stations draw county’s attention By BOB JOHNSON The Iola Register
This is National Poison Prevention Week. It is not just household chemicals that can cause toxic reactions. There are a number of common foods that can cause an array of uncomfortable side ef-
See MURDER | Page A4
WORKING OUTSIDE THE BOX
Serving up fellowship
By SHELLIE SMITLEY The Iola Register
she’s been in custody before we’re even close to having a preliminary hearing,” Myers said. “I’m aware of the due process concerns, and I’m not unsympathetic,” Davis replied. However, due to the severity of the allegations, Davis said the consolidation mo-
New ambulance stations in Moran and Humboldt received more than a passing nod at Tuesday’s Allen County Commission meeting. Currently, the county leases buildings in the outlying towns, and in both cases a number of deficiencies have been noted, from lack of space to inferior living conditions. Commissioners directed County Counselor Alan Weber to meet with Mike Burnett and Iola Fire Chief Tim Thyer to name a steering committee to see what can be done. Among things that may be considered are a Community Development Block Grant, which would pay much of construction and outfitting costs of new stations, “at least 50 percent and perhaps more,” Weber said. The downside is that a CDBG would require federal wage scales that would increase costs by 20 to 30 percent. Humboldt City Administrator Cole Herder said some programs include in-kind la-
“Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently.” — Henry Ford 75 Cents
bor and might be pursued. Herder said Humboldt officials had had some discussions about a new fire station and won- Alan Weber dered if the city’s old fire barn might be converted to an ambulance station, a proposal that didn’t find traction. Commissioner Tom Williams suggested having the two facilities adjacent would be of advantage. In Moran, the fire barn is relatively new, but no consideration has been voiced yet whether putting a new ambulance station next to it would be considered. IN A MEETING given mostly to Humboldt, commissioners heard a plea from Paul Finney, who has an affinity for restoring Humboldt’s century old buildings, to remove the metal siding from the top story of the senior See COUNTY | Page A4
Hi: 57 Lo: 48 Iola, KS