Sports: Area track athletes qualify for state meet See B1
THE IOLA REGISTER Locally owned since 1867
www.iolaregister.com
Tuesday, May 26, 2015
A call to arms to support fallen veterans Light dim at end of revenue tunnel By BOB JOHNSON The Iola Register
John Masterson named each military action involving the United States since the Revolutionary War during Memorial Day services at Iola’s American Legion Monday. “Even those conflicts in which there were only a few deaths took someone’s husband or wife, son or daughter, mother or father, sister or brother, relative of friend,” Masterson said soberly. Almost 1 million Americans have now died in service to their country. He encouraged the audience to honor all veterans and that “we need to be active and politically involved. ... We need to hold our politicians accountable.” Masterson recounted a boyhood memory to illustrate the political mire of war. He noticed a cat darting down a street with a mouse in its mouth. Drawing on 1950s cartoons, Masterson thought mice — with Mickey and Mighty as examples — were good and cats were evil. He caught up to the cat, caused it to drop the mouse and picked it up. The mouse, apparently fearing further danger, bit Masterson on the finger. “It seems too many times we have taken on the cat to be bitten by the mouse,” he said. “Since our military men and women cannot choose the campaigns in which they become involved, we must be their voice and make sure that
By BOB JOHNSON The Iola Register
The third week of the so-called veto session starts today with, from Rep. Kent Thompson’s respective, less than a b o u n d i n g Kent Thompson hope that a $406 million Fiscal Year 2016 shortfall will be resolved anytime soon. “I don’t see an end in sight,” Thompson told the Register Monday afternoon. The stumbling block is being able to convince 63 representatives, a simple majority, to vote for some combination of tax increases. He said the more conscientious have dismissed additional spending cuts as a solution. A small but vocal bloc of ultra-conservatives have pledged not to vote for any tax increase and repeatedly have given notice they intend to remain steadfast. Also, moderate Republicans and
Above, Mike Garner, a 1990 graduate of Iola High School now living in Kansas City, wore his Navy uniform to Monday’s Memorial Day services. At top right, John Masterson, a Navy veteran and president of Allen Community College, spoke during Memorial Day services at Iola’s America Legion. At lower right, Bob Lane gets a congratulatory handshake from Harvey Rogers at the conclusion of the service. Lane, 95, served in the Army during World War II. Rogers, 82, was the first black man permitted to enlist in Iola’s National Guard unit. REGISTER/BOB JOHNSON
the campaigns chosen by our presidents and legislators are worth the sacrifices that will surely be made. And that every effort is made to settle our differences peacefully before resorting to force.”
See THOMPSON | Page A3
See VETERANS | Page A3
Helping others is its own reward for Circles allies By RICK DANLEY The Iola Register
S
ince its introduction two years ago, Circles of Allen County has made a measurable difference in the lives of many of the area’s most vulnerable residents. It has helped propel individuals back into the workforce. It has smoothed the way for a reunion between a young
mother and her children. It has helped find doctors for individuals with previously untreated conditions. And this is without touching on the boost to confidence that follows these hard-won projects of self-improvement. The program — launched by Georgia Masterson in the summer of 2013 with grant money from the REACH Healthcare Foundation — aims to reduce poverty and improve quality
of life by bringing a disadvantaged portion of the community into regular contact with volunteers drawn from the broad bracket of the middle class. Every Monday evening the two groups gather as one to discuss ways the participants might improve their situation. This pairing between Circles participants — known as “leaders” — and its volunteers — known as “allies” — is the
lifeblood of the program. As Masterson prepares to introduce a new group of leaders into Circles, she and the program are in need of more volunteers. The ideal ratio of “allies” to “leaders,” explained Masterson, is two to one. The only prerequisite for volunteering as an ally is attendance at one of two “Bridges Out of Poverty” classes, which Masterson will hold on
the evenings of this Thursday and June 2. According to Masterson, the class offers potential allies an education “in why people in poverty react differently to circumstances than those people who were raised in the middle class.” Tara Solomon, a co-facilitator in the program, describes the nature of a volunteer’s commitment this way: “You See CIRCLES | Page A6
Area councilman dies HUMBOLDT — Humboldt City Councilman Jerry Stephens, 61, died Sunday evening at Overland Park Regional Medical Center following a sudden illness. Stephens, a Humboldt native who returned to his hometown in 2012 after living much of his adult life in southern California, quickly reintegrated himself into the community upon his return. In addition to serving on the City Council, Stephens was active with the Humboldt and Iola Rotary clubs, the Lions Club, Biblesta Committee, Humboldt PRIDE and Humboldt’s Downtown Action Team. “Jerry was such a super positive guy, who was always wishing others would
Jerry Stephens do well,” Cole Herder, Humboldt city administrator told the Register. “He was a true asset. We’re going to miss him dearly.” A memorial service is at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Humboldt’s First Baptist Church, where Stephens was a member.
Quote of the day Vol. 117, No. 142
Water, water everywhere
Steady rains dumped about 2.7 inches of precipitation in the Iola area over the Memorial Day weekend and filled the Neosho River to the brim and beyond Monday. Here, the swollen waters filled a stone amphitheater at Humboldt’s Neosho River Park. As of this morning, more than 9.7 inches of rain have fallen in Iola since May 1, making this month nearly twice as wet as normal. REGISTER/RICHARD LUKEN
“The family is the nucleus of civilization.”
— Will Durant, American historian 75 Cents
Hi: 81 Lo: 59 Iola, KS