Remember Me: Former Iolan keeps on running See B1
THE IOLA REGISTER Locally owned since 1867
Trying to make sense of school budget figures By RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register
MORAN — Taxpayers may find themselves doing a double take when they see their respective school districts’ spending plans for the 2015-16 school year. For example, Marmaton Valley-USD 256 has recently set up its budget for 2015-16. The spending plan includes general fund expenditures of $3,193,073 — more than $650,000 higher than the district’s general fund in 2014-15 — despite the ever-so-consistent 20 mills taxpayers have spent for years to support general fund operations. So taxpayers should be thrilled, with much more bang for their bucks, right? Not necessarily, responded Craig Neuenswander. Iola’s former superintendent of schools, now school finance director for the Kansas Department of Education,
With the weather projected for a sweltering Saturday, the heat from a bevy of grills in Riverside Park will likely not be noticed. But the aroma from the cooking brisket, chicken and pork is sure to draw a crowd. As of today, 26 cooks have registered for this year’s barbecue cook-off, a prominent part of the local Rotary club’s Day in the Park. “We had 21 cooks last year and 26 will be the most we’ve had,” said Tom Brigham, a Rotary organizer. The grillers will arrive in Riverside Park Friday evening and
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noted changes in the state’s school funding laws give the appearance schools are spending substantially more money in 2015-16. With the state’s new block grand funding formula, approved by state legislators and signed into law by Gov. Sam Brownback in June, previous expenditures are now funneled through the general fund budget. Two prominent line items — KPERS and special education — stand out for USD 256. The funding for KPERS, the retirement program for public employees — set at $217,317 for 2015-16 — is first sent to the district’s general fund, then disbursed into the proper spending areas, Neuenswander explained. Another $396,596 dedicated for special education also goes to the general fund first. Neither had been considSee BUDGET | Page A5
Cook-off, car show kick off Allen Co. Fair By BOB JOHNSON The Iola Register
www.iolaregister.com
Thursday, July 23, 2015
many will start the cooking process in the dead of the night. The Rotary presence, including the Neil Westervelt Memorial Car Show, has become in its duality a signature event of the Allen County Fair. The local cook-off is sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbecue Society. A side benefit of the cookoff is that the society will provide about 400 pounds of meat to food pantries in the county. Winning the contest gives rise in the barbecue hierarchy and promises rewards on See COOK-OFF | Page A5
Ridge Barney, second from right, is overseeing a zip line construction project in LaHarpe as part of an effort to earn his Eagle Scout badge. Here, Barney poses for a photo with his relatives and fellow volunteers, from left, Austin Lee, Amber Barney, Cannon Barney, Layton Barney, David Lee, Ridge Barney and Jason Lee. COURTESY PHOTO BY SHAUN ATWOOD
Boy Scout spearheads LaHarpe zip line effort By RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register
LAHARPE — A little teamwork is going a long way at LaHarpe City Park. Sparked by one Boy Scout’s idea for a project to earn his Eagle Scout badge, LaHarpe PRIDE members, city employees and other volunteers are pooling their resources to erect a mammoth zip line. A zip line is a suspended cable between two poles that provides an exciting ride. The LaHarpe attraction will cover about 175 feet — far enough to give riders a thrill, but low and slow enough to remain safe for passengers
of all ages, explained Ridge Barney. Barney, 16, is the overseer of the project. The key is to ensure both ends of the line are at proper height, utilizing just enough gravity and friction, for a safe, fun ride. Barney and others have been at the park on a near daily basis for the past week as crews continue the meticulous work of erecting the support poles before work shifts to attaching a steel cable, platform and other elements. “It’s all gone pretty smoothly so far,” Barney said. The goal is to finish the
work by Aug. 5, when Barney and his family return home to Ramstein, Germany, where his father, Ryan, is stationed with the U.S. Air Force. Barney’s mother, Amber, is the former Amber Lee. Barney is the grandson of LaHarpe residents Harry and Joyce Lee. “My grandfather is on the local PRIDE committee,” Barney said. “They wanted something to spice up the park, and he asked if I had any ideas.” Barney’s thoughts turned to a village not far from See ZIP LINE | Page A5
Iola Municipal Band Since 1871 Jake Ard, director Thursday, 8 p.m., at the bandstand
PROGRAM The Star Spangled Banner...........................................arr. J.P. Sousa Them Basses...........................................................G.H. Huffine Don’t Fence Me In.....................................Cole Porter, arr. Teague Clear Track Polka................................................Edward Strauss, arr. Reed Go West!.......................................................Arr. Ralph Ford Circle City......................................................Douglas E. Wagner I Left My Heart In San Francisco....................................Cory and cross, arr. Reed Brauura..............................................................C.E. Duble On Top of Old Smokey...........................................Pete Seeger, arr. Leonard Boy Scouts of America.............................................John Philip Sousa
Signs of the cross Children of all ages dance and sing during Grace Lutheran Church’s Vacation Bible School Wednesday night. This year’s theme is Camp Discovery. REGISTER/KAYLA BANZET
Quote of the day Vol. 117, No. 181
Rained out concerts will be rescheduled for the following evening.
“Never give in and never give up.” — Hubert H. Humphrey, vice president (1965-1969) 75 Cents
Hi: 91 Lo: 74 Iola, KS