Sports: Royals win over Red Sox
Inside: More thoughts on a new school for Iola See A4
2017 1867
See B1
THE IOLA REGISTER Thursday, June 22, 2017
Locally owned since 1867
www.iolaregister.com
Three to face murder charges in Cook’s death
By RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register
First-degree murder charges remain intact for Joshua Knapp, Rhonda Jackson and James Myers, for the 2016 killing of Iolan Shawn Cook At the conclusion of a two-day preliminary hearing Wednesday, Allen County Magistrate Judge Tod Davis agreed with prosecutors, that evidence was sufficient to bound all three over for trial. While the preliminary hearing was consolidated for all three, it’s apparent at least one will be tried on his own. Knapp, through his attorney John Boyd, indicated his preference for a jury trial. Allen County District Judge Creitz scheduled Knapp’s arraignment — during which he will enter a plea — at 1:30 p.m. Aug. 2. Meanwhile, both Jackson and Myers waived their right to a jury trial, instead opting for a bench trial, where a verdict will be handed down by Creitz. Each waived formal arraignment and entered not guilty pleas. Creitz scheduled the trial (or trials) to run Nov. 27 through Dec. 6. He also scheduled a hearing for 9:30 a.m. Sept. 19 to consider Allen County Attorney Jerry Hathaway’s motion to try both Knapp and Jackson simultaneously. Additionally, Assistant County Attorney Jacqie Spradling said additional felony obstruction of jus-
tice charges would be filed against Knapp and Myers: two against Knapp, four against Myers. She accused both of destroying evidence related to the killing by washing out the back of Myers' pickup and burning evidence after the murder. She said Myers also destroyed Cook's cell phone and removed a bed liner from the back of his pickup. Prosecutors have alleged Knapp and Amber Boeken used Myers' truck to take Cook to a secluded Allen County road, where his throat was cut. They then transferred the injured-butstill-alive Cook to a second pickup, owned by Brent Cagle, to be taken to a Neosho River bank northwest of Iola, where Knapp allegedly stabbed Cook repeatedly in the throat, killing him. AFTER Tuesday’s testimony focused primarily on the night of Cook’s March 13, 2016, slaying — much of it coming from Boeken — Wednesday’s witnesses spoke extensively about the subsequent investigations. Detectives Jared Froggatte and Doug Campbell and Kansas Bureau of Investigation Agent Steve Rosebrough took to the witness stand to talk about their work in helping unravel the mystery surrounding Cook’s death. Froggatte recounted interviewing Jackson about her involvement with Cook prior See CHARGES | Page A5
Top left clockwise, Iola Rotarians pose with Tulsa Rotarian Bob Mackenzie and his support staff. Before passing off the next 30 minutes of peddling, MacKenzie speaks briefly to Steve Schoonover. In between pedaling times, the bicyclists ride in designated vehicles. Shown here is the vehicle decorated for Ruth Brandstaetter of Austria. REGISTER/ SHELLIE SMITLEY
Race Across America stops in Iola By SHELLIE SMITLEY The Iola Register
Rotarians from Iola greeted Tulsa Rotarian Bob MacKenzie, Wednesday, as he and fellow bicyclist Steve Schoonover, Salt Lake City, Utah, swapped positions during the Allen County section of the 36th Annual Race Across America. The riders began in Oceanside, Calif., Saturday, and are journeying more than 3,000 miles and crossing 12 states to finish in Annapolis, Md. MacKenzie and Schoonover have alternated with teammates Kurt Matzler of Italy and Ruth Brandstaetter of Austria
every nine hours of the trek. While half of the team catches up on some much needed rest in a motel room, the other two bike-riding members alternate every 30 to 60 minutes. In between their turn to pedal, they ride in a designated vehicle. Finding places to eat was hard through the western part of the country, MacKenzie said. The bicyclists rode for hundreds of miles without seeing any signs of civilization. Schoonover said the weather in Kansas offered a relief compared to both the heat of the desert and the cold mountain temperatures.
In 1988, the World Health Organization, together with Rotary International, UNICEF and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention passed the Global Polio Eradication Initiative. In an effort to raise money for the Rotary International’s goal of eradicating polio, MacKenzie and teammates had raised, as of Wednesday, more than $550,000 through corporate sponsors. MacKenzie visited Iola last year when he traveled from Tulsa, Ok., by bicycle to present details of his 2016 RAAM experience to Rotary members.
Senate GOP releases bill that would reshape Obamacare WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Republicans would cut Medicaid, end penalties for people not buying insurance and erase a raft of tax increases as part of their long-awaited plan to scuttle President Barack Obama’s health care law, congressional aides and lobbyists say. After weeks of closed-door meetings that angered Democrats and some Republicans,
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell planned to release the proposal today. The package represents McConnell’s attempt to quell criticism by party moderates and conservatives and win the support he needs in a vote he hopes to stage next week. In a departure from the version the House approved last month, which President Donald Trump privately
called “mean,” the Senate plan would drop the House’s waivers allowing states to let insurers boost premiums on some people with pre-existing conditions. It would also largely retain the subsidies Obama provided to help millions buy insurance, which are pegged mostly to people’s incomes and the premiums they pay. The House’s tax credits
were tied to people’s ages, a change the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said would boost out-of-pocket costs to many lower earners. Starting in 2020, the Senate version would begin shifting increasing amounts of tax credits away from higher earners, making more funds available to lower-income recipients, some officials said. The emerging Senate bill
was described by people on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss it publicly. Facing uniform Democratic opposition, the Senate plan would fail if just three of the chamber’s 52 Republicans defect. More than half a dozen GOP senators have expressed problems with the measure, and a defeat would be a humiliating setback for Trump See GOP | Page A5
Iola Municipal Band — Since 1871 —
At the bandstand Jake Ard, director Thursday, June 22, 2017 8 p.m. PROGRAM
Star Spangled Banner....................................... (arr. J.P. Sousa) Orange Bowl..................................................... Henry Fillmore Guys and Doll..................................................... Frank Loesser Old Comrades............................................................ Carl Teike Go West!.............................................................. arr. Ralph Ford Sepulveda Blues...................................................Claude Lakey Repasz Band........................................................ Harry Lincoln Blue Skies..............................................................Irving Berlin Fantasia and Fugue.......................................Johann Pachelbel George Washington Bicentennial............... John Philip Sousa
Repeat after me Elza Clift, left, and Emilia Wilkerson participate in a mirroring exercise this morning as part of the Children’s Summer Theater Workshop. Thirty-six youths in grades 3-8 are working on basic theater techniques this week before writing and rehearsing a series of plays for the CSTW Showcase at 9:30 a.m. July 1 at the Bowlus Fine Arts Center. The showcase is open to the public. CSTW is sponsored by the Bowlus and the Sleeper Family Trust. REGISTER/RICHARD LUKEN
Quote of the day Vol. 119, No. 167
Rained out concerts will be rescheduled for Friday evening.
“I can’t have cats around me because they try to steal my energy. “ - Roseanne Barr, comedian 75 Cents
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