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Sports: Iola Middle School squads split games See B1

THE IOLA REGISTER Locally owned since 1867

Thursday, September 24, 2015

www.iolaregister.com

Harpo Marx’s legacy draws praise Soil cleanup begins Tuesday By RICK DANLEY The Iola Register

By RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register

The first scoops of dirt will be removed starting Tuesday as the Environmental Protection Agency resumes its cleanup of lead-tainted soil in Iola. Randy Schademann, the EPA’s on-site coordinator, told the Register he and others are finalizing plans so the excavation can begin. At least two feet of top soil will be removed from more than 300 properties around town, and replaced with “clean” dirt and reseeded with grass. All is being done at no cost to local residents. A bulk of the funds for the project — projected to cost between $8 million and $10 million — will be funded by the federal government. The state has agreed to See EPA | Page A5

The Mont Alto Orchestra will perform during two showings Saturday at the upcoming Buster Keaton Celebration at the Bowlus Fine Arts Center. PHOTO BY STEVE FRIEDMAN

Mont Alto lets music do the talking By SUSAN LYNN The Iola Register

Music does the “talking” in a silent film. A blaring trumpet is as effective as a scream; or a slow-playing violin can woo a lover. Whatever the message, it can be conveyed with music. It’s a special art form, playing music to silent movies, and nobody does it better

than the Mont Alto Orchestra, based in the Denver area. S i n c e 1998, the orchestra has performed for the Buster Keaton Celebration, with a few absences over the years. Still, that’s a commendable track record

for an orchestra that plays all over the world. And it speaks volumes to the reputation the Keaton Celebration has garnered over its 22 years. This year, the orchestra will play for two showings, the Saturday afternoon production of “The Oyster Princess,” (estimated show time is 3:40), and for the evening’s See MONT ALTO | Page A5

It is the fate of most families to have one standout sibling, one high-riser whose long shadow denies the others the same ultraviolet levels of praise and attention. Of the five Marx Brothers — and there were, at least in their earliest versions, five of them — Groucho was that abiding genius, the surreal Charlene Fix general of verbal schtick, and the primary face of the vaudeville clan. In other words, who today remembers Gummo? But there is a contingent of Marx Brothers fans who find in Harpo — the silent, bewigged brother — the components of a greater artist. Charlene Fix is leading that charge. Poet and emeritus professor at Columbus College of Art Design, in Ohio, Fix will deliver her talk, “Harpo Marx as Trickster” — based on her book of the same name — at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Bowlus Fine Arts Center. Fix’s claim is that the character of Harpo slots naturally into the tradition of the trickster archetype evident See HARPO | Page A5

Celestial rarity on tap for Sunday By MIKE MYER

The person who finds this medallion hidden somewhere in Allen County as part of the upcoming Farm-City Days celebration will be in line to win $500. REGISTER/RICHARD LUKEN

Medallion hunt nears By RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register

Take a good look at the above-pictured medallion. The next time you see it, it could be worth $500. The medallion — crafted by Rebel Works — will be hidden somewhere in Allen County in the next few days to kickstart the Farm-City Days Celebration. While the celebration itself doesn’t begin until Oct. 15, committee members will begin releasing clues to the medallion’s whereabouts on Oct. 3. Eight clues will be released in all, each getting progressively easier to solve. The first to find the medallion gets $500, provided he

Farm-City Days talent auditions 6-9 p.m. Tuesday Creitz Recital Hall Bowlus Fine Arts Center

has purchased a Farm-City Days button beforehand. The buttons cost $2 apiece and are available at Jump Start Travel Center, Audacious Boutique, the weekly Allen County Farmers’ Market and from a booth outside Iola Walmart on Saturdays. The buttons also can be purchased from Farm-City Days Committee members. See HUNT | Page A5

Quote of the day Vol. 117, No. 225

Sky watchers in southeast Kansas will have the chance to watch a “Harvest Moon,” a “Super Moon” and a fully eclipsed moon, all in the same night. And the event takes place early enough in the evening that you won’t have to stay up late, or get up early to watch it. The harvest moon is the full moon closest to the autumnal equinox, which took place Wednesday. The moon’s path around the earth is not round, it is an ellipse, or egg-shaped. And by chance this Sunday, the moon will be closest to the earth, at the full moon phase, than any other time this year. And this Sunday evening the moon will pass through the shadow of the Earth. The moon will rise at 7:05 p.m. but it may not appear much different than a normal full moon. But if you look closely the moon will

The phases of a lunar eclipse. PHOTOS COURTESY OF MIKE MYER appear larger and brighter because the moon is slightly closer to the earth than normal. The moon will appear 14 percent larger and 30 percent brighter than a normal full moon. Look for the eclipse to start at 8:05. That is when the moon will begin to enter the dark umbra shadow of the earth. Slowly the moon will submerge into the earth’s shadow until 9:10. At that time the moon will be fully enveloped by the earth’s shadow. Totality will last till 10:23. During totality the moon will appear dark

red. Many refer to the eclipsed moon as a blood moon. Then from 10:23 to 11:27, the moon will slowly leave the earth’s shadow and return to full luminescence. This eclipse will take place in the evening so let’s hope for clear skies. If we are lucky enough to have clear skies make sure you get out and enjoy the Super, Harvest, Total Eclipse! Editor’s note: Mike Myer, Humboldt, is an amateur astronomer and is eager to share information about upcoming celestial events.

Ammonia leak prompts plant shutdown An ammonia leak prompted Russell Stover Candies officials to shut down production this morning. The leak, which came from a cooling unit, was capped successfully shortly after it was discovered at 1:15 a.m., David Shapland, Russell Stover chief finan-

cial officer, told the Register. Employees were evacuated from the affected area while the leak was repaired. At about 3 a.m., an employee called 911 when a residual ammonia odor was detected. “It takes a while to completely evacuate (the ammo-

“Childhood is a short season.” — Helen Hayes, actress 75 Cents

nia),” Shapland said. There were no additional leaks. Ambulances were sent to the plant, where a handful of employees asked to be checked out by medical personnel. None of the employees reSee LEAK | Page A5

Hi: 84 Lo: 61 Iola, KS


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