WORLD SERIES BOUND See B1
The Weekender Saturday, October 24, 2015
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Trinity makes tough decision By BOB JOHNSON The Iola Register
M
embers voted Thursday night to close Trinity Methodist Church, 228 S. Kentucky St., though the date won’t be decided until later. The United Methodist Great Plains Conference, which includes churches in Kansas and Nebraska, owns the property and will have the final say on what will become of the structure that dates to 1904, said the Rev. Jocelyn Tupper. Tupper and Associate Minister Ed Flener provide pastoral guidance for Trinity, as well as Iola’s other United Methodist churches, Wesley and Calvary. They arrived in Iola nearly three
Mark Fenton
Expert to assess walkability, city health By RICK DANLEY The Iola Register
“A city sidewalk by itself is nothing. It is an abstraction. It means something only in conjunction with the buildings and other uses that border it…. Streets and their sidewalks, the main public places of a city, are its most vital organs.”
— Jane Jacobs, “The Death and Life of Great American Cities” (1961)
In the coming days Thrive Allen County will host a series of events with Mark Fenton, the nation’s foremost authority on creating safe, walkable, bike-friendly communities. Billed as a public heath, planning and transportation consultant, Fenton — a See STUDY | Page A6
months ago when the conclusion was to work toward a cooperative United Methodist presence in town, rather than three separate churches. “We can do better together,” Tupper said. The decision to close was a local one. Members were notified by mail of Thursday night’s session and “a representative number” were involved in the decision, said Gary McIntosh, chairman of the church council. At issue for Trinity was a dwindling congregation, McIntosh said, allowing that at age 72, “I’m probably the youngest active member. It’s not a money issue, and the church is in mint condition” — extensive upgrades were done See CHURCH | Page A5
Historic storm bears down on Mexico PUERTO VALLARTA, Mexico (AP) — Hurricane Patricia barreled toward southwestern Mexico Friday as a monster Category 5 storm, the strongest ever in the Western Hemisphere. Residents and tourists were hunkering down or trying to make last-minute escapes ahead of what forecasters called a “potentially catastrophic landfall.” The storm was homing in on a Pacific coastline dotted with sleepy fishing villages and gleaming resorts, including the popular beach city of Puerto Vallarta and the port of Manzanillo. After hitting land, Patricia’s projected path would quickly take it
over mountainous terrain that is prone to dangerous flash floods and landslides. In Puerto Vallarta, residents reinforced homes with sandbags and shop windows with boards and tape, and hotels rolled up beachfront restaurants. The airport was closed to flights and all but deserted, but lines formed at a bus station by people anxious to buy tickets to Guadalajara and other inland destinations. At a Red Cross shelter, some 90 people waited anxiously amid the heavy, humid air, including senior citizens in wheelchairs and young children snuggled between their parents on mattresses
on the floor. Carla Torres and her family sought refuge there in the afternoon, fearful of what Patricia might do to her home located just two blocks from a river in an area vulnerable to high winds. “Here we are with those who can give us help,” Torres said. Patricia formed suddenly Tuesday as a tropical storm and within 30 hours had strengthened to a recordbeating Category 5 hurricane, catching many off guard with its rapid growth. By Friday it was the most powerful hurricane on record in the Western HemiSee STORM | Page A5
Current movement: 12 mph NNW
Max sustained winds: 200 mph (Cat 5)
Texas
U.S.
MEXICO
Sat. 1 p.m. 25N
Puerto Vallarta
20N
Sat. 1 a.m. Mexico City
Fri. 7 a.m. Acapulco
15N
Pacific Ocean 500 miles 500 km
Hurricane Patricia NOTE: All times ET
Source: NHC Graphic: Staff, TNS
Adopt-A-Child sign-up set for Nov. 2
Allen County Sheriff’s Deputy Jason Kegler, center, mimics throwing an object at Allen County employees, from left, Rachel Covey, Brenda Beth and Misty Sharon during an ALICE training session Thursday. The exercise illustrated how difficult it can be to do simple tasks while being distracted, which could prove helpful in case of a violent workplace attack. REGISTER/RICHARD LUKEN
ALICE training targets surviving office attacks By RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register
A room full of Allen County employees confronted the unthinkable Thursday afternoon. The topic — how to respond in the event of an armed or otherwise violent intruder — was covered in depth through a four-hour ALICE training
session provided by the Allen County Sheriff ’s Department. Sheriff ’s deputy and instructor Jason Kegler instilled the ALICE training tenets: Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate. The program has one primary focus, Kegler noted: Survival of those who find themselves under attack.
Quote of the day Vol. 117, No. 245
Kegler erased several myths surrounding school or office shootings. Folks cannot safely assume law enforcement will arrive at the scene in time to stop an ongoing attack, Kegler said, noting the minimum response time of recent notorious shootings was 7 minutes. However, the average mass shooting incident lasts less
than 5 minutes, Kegler noted. Response time could be much longer in rural communities, such as Iola, where law enforcement could be on the other side of the county. That makes it imperative to know how to react. That leads to ALICE, in order to provide comprehensive See ALICE | Page A3
“Poetry is the deification of reality.” — Edith Sitwell, British poet 75 Cents
Before most youngsters have finished off their Halloween candy stash, Cheryl Sparks, Barbie Daugharthy and Teresa Gribble will have their sights set on Christmas. In particular, they’ll be focused on providing help to youngsters in need through the Adopt-A-Child campaign. Parents can sign up their children for assistance from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 2 — the first Monday after Halloween — at Iola’s First Baptist Church, 801 N. Cottonwood St. Parents must bring their child’s Social Security card, medical card and clothing and shoe sizes, as well as non-clothing gift ideas. Children up to 18 years old are eligible, provided they See HELP | Page A3
Hi: 68 Lo: 43 Iola, KS