Sports: Iola coaches mark retirement
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The Weekender Saturday, May 24, 2014
Kosovo veteran will speak at services By BOB JOHNSON The Iola Register
Rob Nelson, Leslie J. Campbell American Legion Post commander, will speak at Memorial Day services in Highland Park Monday morning. The annual recognition of veterans, alive and deceased, will start at 11 a.m. Iola and Moran American Legion members, Iola Municipal Band and Troop 55 Boy Scouts will be involved. Nelson said he would speak about sacrifices men and women have made for the country, and how many have
had to adjust to stresses of having served in war zones in recent years, an outcome to which Nelson can relate. He served 2005-06 in a peace-keeping mission to Kosovo with a National Guard armored unit from Emporia. He was under active duty orders for 20 months. “We did a lot of patrols and illegal weapon seizures,” Nelson recalled. The experience stayed with him. “It took me at least six months to adjust” to civilian life upon return, Nelson said. While deployed, “You think all is perfect here. You come back and it takes time to re-
adjust. I think the older you are, the tougher it is.” Nelson, 42, is a 1990 graduate of Iola High School and has farming and livestock operations in the area. He joined the Army in 1991, and was stationed with the First Cavalry armored unit at Fort Hood, Texas. His regular Army service spanned five years. He then was in the National Guard until retiring from the 891st Engineer Battalion, with headquarters in Iola, in May 2007. A factor in his decision to join the Army was growing up immediately after the Vietnam War and having had a deep respect for those who
Rob Nelson will speak at Memorial Day services at Highland Park. REGISTER/RICHARD LUKEN served, Nelson said. Then, being at the age of
those veterans, “had a lot to do with me joining,” he said.
Perfect attendance at reunions for Jecks By BOB JOHNSON The Iola Register
David Toland, left, and Don Burns, both representing Thrive Allen County, watch an obscured worker secure the old Owl Creek bridge for transport to Iola Thursday evening. REGISTER/BOB
JOHNSON
Old bridge gets new life By BOB JOHNSON The Iola Register
Transport of a 63-foot iron bridge through Iola had motorists doing double-takes Thursday evening. The bridge, built in 1909 over Owl Creek three miles west of Humboldt, will become part of a new exercise trail at the south edge of Iola. Bids will be taken by Allen County to build a new bridge over the creek in early June.
Thrive Allen County won a $100,000 Healthy Living Grant from the Kansas Health Foundation to develop the Lehigh Portland Rail Trail. This new trail system, an adjunct but not connected directly to the Southwind Rail Trail, will have walking and biking trails, as well as mountain bike trails and related amenities that are rare in this part of Kansas, said David Toland, Thrive executive director. The bridge, 16½ feet wide,
Love of teaching inspired Hart By KAYLA BANZET The Iola Register
Silence trickles through the halls of Lincoln Elementary School. Another school year has come to a close for principal Larry Hart. This particular year is number 42 and it is his last one as a principal. Hart, 68, has been the principal at Lincoln for 13 years and he has enjoyed every minute of it. His career in education has had many twists and turns but
he credits his wife of 46 years, Pam, for keeping it all together. Pam has taught for 35 years and retired from full-time teaching four years Larry Hart ago. “She instilled a lot of important things for me,” Hart said. “I wouldn’t be here now if it wasn’t for her.” See HART | Page A6
Quote of the day Vol. 116, No. 147
was moved from its moorings early Thursday. Workers from Unruh House Moving, Moundridge, slid the bridge slowly over huge I-beams onto the road north of the creek and atop four timber columns. Dollies were placed under the south end and a moving truck eased under the front. By early evening the bridge started its 14-mile journey, along county roads, See BRIDGE | Page A4
Leo and Judy Jeck, Paola, haven’t missed an Iola High all-classes reunion since they were eligible in 1993, 40 years after graduating. This weekend’s will be special. “Our niece is coming, the first time she has been eligible,” said Judy. Their niece is Diana Deeds, daughter of Iolan Jim Hinson, who graduated in 1974 and now lives in Emporia with husband Richard. “Last year was the 60th reunion of our class,” Judy said. “For a while out of high school, we had class reunions every 10 years, then every five years for a while. We’re talking about every two years now,” as the class numbers dwindle. The Jecks will reach a milestone of their own in 2015 when they will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary, having married on Feb. 22, 1955. “That was a Tuesday,” Judy mused. Both had jobs and took advantage of a day off for Washington’s Birthday.
They didn’t stick around long. Leo was working with his father, also Leo Jeck, at Kroger’s and a transfer to a company store in Paola had them moving from Iola three months after they were married. She was working in abstract for Frank Thompson at the time, and filled in some in Stanley Toland’s law practice. She had no trouble translating her skills and experience to a position in Paola. Today she still works for an abstract firm in Paola mainly from her home computer. “The extra money is good and I figure it keeps my brain going,” she said. “Miss (Margaret) Aker was my typing teacher in high school and she taught me well,” Judy said, which led to her office jobs. JUDY FLINT and Leo were friends in high school, but didn’t have their first formal date — if a picnic can be called formal — until their senior year. “I think we went to the See JECKS | Page A4
Graduation signals a ‘clean’ start By KAREN INGRAM The Iola Register
It was an emotional day in Drug Court as they celebrated their second graduating class on Thursday. Three graduated from the program, bringing the total number who have completed the program to four. “This is just awesome,” said District Judge Daniel Creitz. “These people are awesome and they’ve done remarkable things.” Drug Court is a program organized by the 31st Judicial District to help those struggling with drug dependency overcome their addiction and
reintegrate into society. It is modeled after similar programs used across the country. The program’s objectives include increasing the number of participants receiving treatment by 75 percent by Dec. 15, 2015 and decreasing the number of drug-related charged offenses by 10 percent by Dec. 31, 2015. The program includes regular meetings with drug counselors, probation officers, case managers and regular appearances before the judge. Random drug testing is also done. Each graduate was given a plaque for completing the program, a congratulatory card from United Methodist
“The average American is nothing if not patriotic.” Herbert Croly, political philosopher 75 Cents
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Women and a gift certificate. Each graduate also each gave a short speech to the audience, which was made up almost entirely of people still in the program. They thanked Creitz and other members of the team, as well as spoke directly to their friends in the program, giving advice and encouragement to stick with the program. “I was desperate for change and had thrown away so many opportunities,” said new graduate Danny Fox. He also knew that graduation was not the end of the journey. “I still have a long road ahead of me,” he said. See COURT | Page A6
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