The Iola Register, Feb. 24, 2022

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Thursday, February 24, 2022

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Russian forces attack Ukraine KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia launched a wide-ranging attack on Ukraine today, hitting cities and bases with airstrikes or shelling, as civilians piled into trains and cars to flee. Ukraine’s government said Russian tanks and troops rolled across the border in a “full-scale war” that could rewrite the geopolitical order and whose fallout already reverberated around

Education commissioner in hot water TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas’ state school board has scheduled a special meeting for Friday to discuss personnel issues after Educa- Randy Watson tion Commissioner Randy Watson made what one board member called an inappropriate remark during a conference last week. State Board of Education member Ann Mah told The Capital-Journal on Wednesday that the board was taking Watson’s comments “very seriously.” She said Watson had reached out to her after the comments but she couldn’t share exactly what Watson said in his remarks. “What you need to know is that it was an inappropriate comment, and we’re going to deal with it,” said Mah, a Topeka Democrat. Watson did not immediately return a telephone See WATSON | Page A3

the world. In unleashing Moscow’s most aggressive action since the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979, President Vladimir Putin deflected global condemnation and cascading new sanctions — and chillingly referred to his country’s nuclear arsenal. He threatened any foreign country attempting to interfere with “consequences you have

never seen.” Sirens rang out in Ukraine’s capital, large explosions were heard there and in other cities, and people massed in train stations and took to roads, as the government said the former Soviet republic was seeing a long-anticipated invasion from the east, north and south. It reported more than 40 soldiers had been killed

and dozens wounded so far. The chief of the NATO alliance said the “brutal act of war” shattered peace in Europe, joining a chorus of world leaders who decried the attack, which could cause massive casualties, topple Ukraine’s democratically elected government and upend the post-Cold War security order. The conflict was already shaking global finan-

cial markets: Stocks plunged and oil prices soared amid concerns that heating bills and food prices would skyrocket. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy cut diplomatic ties with Moscow and declared martial law. “As of today, our countries are on different sides of world See RUSSIA | Page A3

Students take director’s chair By VICKIE MOSS The Iola Register

T

he next time some Allen Community College Theatre students step on the stage, they’ll do so with more empathy and a better understanding of what it takes to make a production happen. Four ACC theatre students and a member of the faculty moved into the director’s chair this year for the annual Student-Directed One-Acts. Their debut performances will be offered at 7:30 tonight through Saturday at the ACC Theatre. Trevor Belt, who directs the theatre department, said he enjoys giving students the chance to experience a different aspect of production. They’ll also learn leadership skills that will be invaluable whatever they do after ACC. “You need to know about acting to be a director, and vice versa,” Belt said. “And it’s good for them to learn how to be in charge of their peers.” There are six performances, with Iola’s JieJie Means handling two of them. The final piece is a dance number created and choreographed by Means. The Perfect Proposal

In “Off the Map,” Bobby L. Lewis of Iola meets a delightful penguin played by Krais Baker of Yates Center, who teaches him a lesson about love, marriage and parenthood. Allen Community College Theatre students and a faculty member are directing six short one-act plays they’ll present at 7:30 tonight through Saturday. REGISTER/VICKIE MOSS Director: Lexie Vega, Iola

Albus Huskey of Lincoln and Rachel Shaffer of Moran play the-couple-that-shouldhave-been. But they’re just friends. Huskey’s character is ready to propose to his actual girlfriend, played by the enchanting Means. Shaffer’s character arrives

just in time to stop …. Errr, help, him. She asks him how he plans to propose, and offers several suggestions to deliver the perfect proposal. That, of course, leads to hijinks with an assortment of props and carefully timed physical comedy. For example, Shaffer uses a fishing

pole and pretends she’s fishing. Huskey is “hooked” and hilariously hops toward her as she reels him in. At another point, Shaffer literally rips the rug out from under him. Shaffer and Huskey have an adorable chemistry, which See ALLEN | Page A2

Schools, businesses make connections By RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register

Iola High School Principal Scott Carson, center, speaks with Superintendent of Schools Stacey Fager, left, and Board of Education member Dan Willis during a Workforce Connections summit at the high school. REGISTER/RICHARD LUKEN Vol. 124, No. 102 Iola, KS $1.00

A collaboration between educators and business leaders requires several components, notes Melissa Stiffler, career and technical education director for Iola-USD 257. Schools want to produce skilled graduates; businesses want a productive workforce. That said, the challenge is considerably more difficult when they’re not on the same page. Stiffler, speaking at Wednesday’s “Workforce Connections” symposium at Iola High School, recounted a conversation a few years back with a business representative about a certification program. Midway through the conversation, the business rep

stopped Stiffler in her tracks. Phrases such as “curriculum,” “pathways” and even “CTE” were falling on deaf ears because those aren’t common terms used in most businesses. “That became a lightbulb moment for me,” Stiffler said. “We’re not using the same language.” Such a concept led to Wednesday’s get-together, drawing a crowd of more than 70 to the IHS Lecture Hall. They spoke of several success stories, and challenges that lie ahead as students enter the workforce after graduation. STIFFLER kick-started the discussion by noting the “20 to 2” rule. Take a group of 20 incomSee WORK | Page A2

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