Sports: Iola AA American Legion eyes state berth See B1
The Weekender Saturday, July 25, 2015
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Committee says: Mine the shale Scores hear pros, cons of proposed Monarch quarry By BOB JOHNSON The Iola Register
Allen County Planning Commission members voted unanimously Thursday evening to recommend Monarch Cement Company be given a zoning exception to remove shale from land it owns north of Humboldt. The exception would not affect agricultural zoning of the land. The planners did not recommend a preferred route for Monarch trucks to follow in hauling shale about 4 miles to the company’s plant at the south side of Humboldt. That will be left to county commissioners to
decide when they rule Aug. 4 on the exception. The hearing carried on for nearly 2 1/2 hours. Commentary was prefaced by Walter Wulf Jr., president of the company, who noted Monarch had been in business since 1908, had 165 employees, as well as 35 retirees who drew pensions from the company. With the issue being land outside the immediate domain of Monarch, Wulf pointed out the company owns 17 houses — three on property involved in the proposed mining — it rents. Much of the land it owns, including that in question, is leased to area farmers.
He also observed Monarch paid $850,000 in property taxes last year, and in 2010, 2011 and 2012 its ad valorem tax bill was “more than our net income.” Kenny Miller, vice president for cement manufacturing, set the table for the hearing, explaining what Monarch wants to do, including that it had made every effort to rectify concerns that arose during a similar hearing for a zoning exception on the same property in February 2014. Miller said Monarch proposed to remove shale from only about 180 acres, three miles north of Humboldt, with 128 acres — first to be mined — west of the Southwind Rail Trail. Core samples show the shelf of shale on that property is about 30 feet thick and is expected to be sufficient to meet Mon-
arch’s needs for more than 40 years. The plan is to mine west of the trail first, starting in the northwest corner, and then bridge the trail to continue mining on the east side, years from now. The east property contains 53 acres. Miller said Monarch was eager to open a borrow pit on the site because “Monarch’s existing shale supply is limited and extremely shallow at our current locations, east of Humboldt.” Later it was spelled that shale laid only a foot or two thick above limestone formations east of Humboldt and with present zoning exceptions current supplies would last only another six months. A second, and important, See MONARCH | Page A6
Volunteers needed for meals programs By BOB JOHNSON The Iola Register
“Tell them how rewarding it is to be a volunteer,” Sherrie Riebel said in asking folks to help deliver meals when Allen County takes over the Meals on Wheels
program Aug. 3. The county stepped up to the plate when Senior Services of Southeast Kansas changed its deliveries from hot meals five days a week to seven frozen meals once a week. The county will continue daily provision of freshly
prepared meals through its jail kitchen. “We need volunteers for Mondays and Thursdays, but will be happy to have more for any day,” said Riebel, county clerk and on whose shoulders falls the chore of getting the daily meals de-
livered to senior centers and the homes of elderly recipients. Congregate meals will be provided in Iola, LaHarpe, Humboldt and Moran senior centers; Gas may be added, See MEALS | Page A6
Council to discuss tougher cell phone rules By RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register
Iola City Council members will discuss Monday whether cell phone usage laws should be tightened in city limits. Legislators introduced a bill in the 2015 session to expand on the 2911 state law banning texting and driving. The proposal would have prohibited the use of all hand-held devices such as cell phones while driving. The bill failed to make it out of committee. However, the discussion caught the eye of Iola City Councilman Aaron Franklin, who suggested recently the city take up the discussion. According to information compiled by City Administrator Carl Slaugh, cities such as Manhattan and Junction City already have such laws restricting the use of cell phones and electronic devices while driving. Bonner Springs and See COUNCIL | Page A6
Fairgrounds their home away from home By KAYLA BANZET The Iola Register
The Rev. Jeff Yelton
Chaplain offers comfort in state mental hospital By RICK DANLEY The Iola Register
OSAWATOMIE — Osawatomie State Hospital is a collection of brick buildings set among a quiet, leafy campus on a hill overlooking the Marais des Cygnes valley. Many of the looming, century-old structures still cast a shadow across the wide lawns, but for the most part they’re boarded up, no longer in use. These days, the hospital coordinates the bulk of its
care from behind the solid walls of a handful of lowslung, midcentury units that resemble army barracks. During the day the hospital grounds are still. No one is out and about. It looks — with its empty red-brick buildings, stands of giant elms and sunlit quad — like an Ivy League campus that time forgot. A narrow, curving road leads back to the admissions building. Inside, the lobby is See CHAPLAIN | Page A4
Quote of the day Vol. 117, No. 182
For nine days out of the year the Allen County Fairgrounds come alive with activity. Pigs are led around Allen show rings, County funnel cakes are conFair sumed and Schedule cowboys attempt to ride Page A2 8 seconds on the back of a bull. To the average fair-goer the events flow together seamlessly. But behind the scenes several dedicated volunteers help make it happen. A group of 25 volunteers comprise the fair board. They meet once a month throughout the year to make sure everything runs smoothly the last week of July. Angela Slocum, fair board treasurer, is one who dedicates countless hours to the planning. The fair has always been a part of Slocum’s life. She was a 4-H member as a youth and has been on the board for about 10 years. Her husband, Randy, serves as board president. Fair week is another full time job for the Slocum family. They both take off work for the week and spend their vacation time prepping and run-
Randy and Angela Slocum, fair board members, put long hours into prepping for the Allen County Fair. REGISTER/KAYLA BANZET ning the fair. They even live at the fairgrounds from Friday to the end of the fair in their camper to ensure everything is taken care of. The Slocums have four sons who are all in the Logan Pals
“Time is the fairest and toughest judge.”
— Edgar Quinet, French historian 75 Cents
4-H club and have projects with animals, arts and crafts and woodworking. Slocum said there is lots of prep work for the fair: PaintSee FAIR | Page A3
Hi: 98 Lo: 76 Iola, KS