Inside: Humboldt Young Authors
2017 1867
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THE IOLA REGISTER Locally owned since 1867
Wednesday, April 26, 2017
www.iolaregister.com
Lawsuit could affect county’s aid to Bowlus By BOB JOHNSON The Iola Register
Allen County commissioners said on Tuesday they intend to provide $100,000 in their 2018 budget to support the Bowlus Fine Arts and Cultural Center. The county upped its support to the Bowlus from $32,000 to $82,000 in 2016 when the school district com-
plained it could not afford its commitment to the fine arts center because of state bud-
get cuts to school districts. The $32,000 came as a match to Iola’s contribution when in 2014 the city dedicated 1 mill of property tax, about $32,000, to support Bowlus operations. In 2016, the county had budgeted $32,000 when commissioners decided to up their contribution to $100,000 a year. With half the year remaining, they added $50,000 for the $82,000 grant.
Commissioners then made the $100,000 grant a budget line item in 2016. The district had paid about $140,000 a year for educational programs — music, art and drama — in the center, and had decided to reduce its commitment. The county’s future support for the Bowlus may now be in jeopardy, said Commissioner Tom Williams, because of a lawsuit the school
VELO+ PARTY AHEAD By RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register
Paul Ebner has dabbled in carpentry, is a whiz mechanic and loves being outdoors. He’s happiest when he’s on two wheels and pedaling. “Cycling is one of those things you can do for years and years and years,” Ebner said. “You get the same feeling as if you’re on a motorcycle, rolling through the air.” And with Iola’s recent development of the Lehigh Portland Trails complex south of town, Ebner predicts more and more locals will catch the cycling bug. Ebner is a facilities manager with Velo+, which will open its doors Saturday at 112 S. Washington Ave. (the old Sidelines Sports Bar.) The opening comes amid great fanfare, with a caravan of riders trekking from Lenexa — home of the original Velo+ outlet — to Iola. The group is expected to arrive around 3 p.m., with a local batch of riders greeting the out-of-towners along the Prairie Spirit Trail and Oregon Road on the north edge of Iola. The local riders are invited to gather at about 2:30 p.m. at the Oregon-Prairie Spirit intersection. From there, the peloton will make its way to the 100 block of South Washington Avenue, where live music, See VELO+ | Page A4
Froggatte ready for some action By SHELLIE SMITLEY The Iola Register
HUMBOLDT — This is part five of a 14-part series following Nina Froggatte’s journey through police training at the Kansas Law Nina E n f o r c e - Froggatte ment Training Center, Hutchinson. The police academy is a 14-week part of Kansas University’s curriculum. Nina Froggatte said it was See FROGGATTE | Page A3
Marco DeAngelis, left, and Paul Ebner are helping bring a Velo+ bike shop to Iola. The shop opens its doors Saturday, with a group riding into town from Lenexa. Food, live music and a beer garden also are planned. REGISTER/RICHARD LUKEN
district filed in District Court last year asking for another interpretation of the will of benefactor Thomas Bowlus. The trust set aside money to build the center in the early 1960s, and further funded its maintenance at $1 million, an amount that eroded with time and inflation. The local school district, then No. 10, See COUNTY | Page A4
‘Biggest tax cut ever’ plan proposed
WASHINGTON (AP) — President D o n a l d Trump is proposing “the biggest tax cut” ever even as the gover nment s t r u g g l e s Donald Trump with mounting debt, in an effort to fulfill promises of bringing jobs and prosperity to the middle class. White House officials today were to release broad outlines of a tax overhaul that would provide massive tax cuts to businesses big and small. The top tax rate for individuals would drop by a few percentage points, from 39.6 percent to the “mid-30s,” according to an official with knowledge of the plan. Small business owners would see their top tax rate go from 39.6 percent to 15 percent, said the official, who was not authorized to publicly discuss the proposal before the White House announcement and spoke on condition of anonymity. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, in a Wednesday morning speech, said the See TAX CUTS | Page A4
Fundraiser planned for Iola High forensics students The Iola High School forensics team will host a showcase and dinner at 6 p.m. Monday at the Bowlus Fine Arts Center. Audiences will be treated to national- and statequalifying speech and drama performances following a free-will donation baked potato dinner and silent auction. Proceeds will go to Iola’s national forensics qualifiers. Four Iolans have qualified for the National Catholic Forensics League Grant National Tournament in Louisville, Ky. At a qualifying event March 18, Aaron Terhune and Karly McGuffin qualified for nationals in oral interpretation of literature. Lexie Vega and Zach Cokely teamed up to qualify in duo interpretation.
Quote of the day Vol. 119, No. 127
Iola High School forensics team members, from left, Lexie Vega, Zach Cokely, Aaron Terhune and Karly McGuffin have qualified for the National Catholic Forensics League Tournament this summer. A baked potatoe dinner, silent auction and talent showcase are planned for Monday at the Bowlus Fine Arts Center to raise funds in order for the students to attend the national event this summer in Louisville, Ky. PHOTO COURTESY OF REGINA CHRIESTENSON
“Oh, had I but followed the arts!” — William Shakespeare 75 Cents
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