Wednesday, October 25, 2023
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LaHarpe candidate forum set LAHARPE — LaHarpe City Council members will get to discuss their views on city matters at a candidate forum Monday at City Hall. Incumbents Austin Lee and Danny Ware Jr. are seeking re-election. They’ll be joined at the forum by challenger Angela Barker. Craig Trester also has mounted a write-in campaign for one of the two Council seats. Mayor Mae Crowell also is slated to appear. She is unopposed in the Nov. 7 election. Audience members are invited to submit questions for the candidates.
iolaregister.com
Iolans object to recovery house plan By RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register
An effort to establish a recovery house for women suffering from substance misuse is drawing a vocal response from neighbors who live near the planned home. A group of Iolans living in the Meadowbrook Addition attended Monday’s City Council meeting to protest plans for an Oxford House facility in a long-vacant house in the neighborhood. They presented the Council with a petition of 38 names in opposition. An Oxford House is billed as a self-supporting recovery facility that relies on peer support as a means to promote responsibility and learning new life skills in a drug- and alcohol-free environment. An Oxford House is not a treatment facility, but a residence for those recovering from substance misuse. The house will be for women only. The women share expenses for food and utilities. Robin Lohman, who owns the property, addressed the opponents at the meeting, pointing to the success rates for such facilities. The organization reports a national success rate of 87%. A neighborhood such as Meadowbrook, with a park See COUNCIL | Page A4
Iolan Steve Garver speaks at Monday’s Iola City Council meeting in opposition to a planned Oxford House in his neighborhood. REGISTER/RICHARD LUKEN
Council praises fall festival volunteers By RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register
were tremendous, Farm-City Days Committee member Daren Kellerman told City Council members Monday. “This town and county came out in droves to support it,” Kellerman said. Without the carnival, Kellerman said more festival-goers spent time socializing, frequenting vendors booths
The recently completed Farm-City Days celebration is drawing rave reviews. Despite not having a carnival for this year’s celebration — the owners canceled at the last minute — the crowds and atmosphere
your KNOW CANDIDATES The five candidates for the USD 257 Board of Education are unopposed. In one case, though, candidate John Masterson is running to fill an unexpired twoyear term. He was appointed in June after Mandey
Coltrane resigned; under Kansas law, the seat must go up for election for the rest of her term. The rest of the candidates are running to keep their seats for the next four years. They include board presi-
and enjoying the added activities. Kellerman praised several Iola and Allen County employees for “making sure we had what we needed. We look for next year to be even better.” Mayor Steve French and See FESTIVAL | Page A4
USD 257 board of education
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dent Jennifer Taylor, Dan Willis, Doug Dunlap and Tony Leavitt. Below you’ll find a brief summary of the candidate and their reasons for serving on the school board, written in their own words.
Doug Dunlap
Jen Taylor
Tony Leavitt
John Masterson
Dan Willis
Doug was first elected to the USD 257 Board of Education in 2008. He is the director of information technology at Allen Community College. Doug says: I ran initially because there was an opening and I had children in elementary, middle and high school. I now have grandchildren in the district. I feel it is important to contribute to the education of the future leaders of our community. I’m very proud to be representing the school district in See DUNLAP | Page A3
Jen was first elected to the USD 257 Board of Education in 2015. She is currently serving as board president. She works as a grant and program coordinator for Southeast Kansas Mental Health Center. Jen says: I am a proud USD 257 graduate, and I was able to return and have my four kids also graduate from 257. When my kids were young, I volunteered weekly at their schools because I know how important an education and our schools are. I am passionSee TAYLOR | Page A3
Tony Leavitt was first elected to the USD 257 board in 2009. After stepping away briefly in 2018, he returned in 2020. He worked at Herff Jones for 45 years, the last 12 as plant manager. Tony says: If you are going to volunteer for something, I can’t think of anything better than trying to help kids. My goal is to contribute to making our District the best that it can be. After I started serving on the Board and saw how hard See LEAVITT | Page A3
John Masterson was appointed to the USD 257 board on June 26, 2023. He retired in 2022 as president of Allen Community College for 30 years. John says: I made the decision to apply for the vacant Board position because of my belief in education as a major factor in creating a happy, productive life. I hold both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education from Emporia State University and have spent the lion’s share of my career at Allen CommuniSee MASTERSON | Page A3
Dan Willis started his first term on the USD 257 board in 2015. He works in factory management and has been at B&W Trailer Hitches for the past 12 years. Dan says: We have a very positive relationship between our board, administrators, teachers and staff. As evidence, you can see four BOE members seeking reelection unopposed. Our curriculum is improving and scores are trending in the right direction. Successes for 257 in reSee WILLIS | Page A3
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