Sports: Indians fall in tourney See B1
The Weekender Saturday, July 26, 2014
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Food fast out the door
New Wave hits SEK
Number of clients soars at food pantry By BOB JOHNSON The Iola Register
O
n Jan. 1, 2011, Ed Hamilton parked the over-the-road truck he was driving for the last time. “I was getting awfully tired of being gone from home all the time,” Hamilton said late Thursday morning, as he waited to fill out paperwork at the Iola Area Ministerial Association’s Food Pantry. “I’ve gotten some help here before,” Hamilton said, who allowed he and wife Kathy, who is disabled, also had received assistance through U.S. Department of Agriculture food stamps. “I’ve been looking for work,” since he walked away from truck driving, but hasn’t found anything. “I just keep looking, but I’ve had no luck.” In addition to providing for themselves, the Hamiltons care for a 14-year-old grandson, and have since he was a baby. THE NUMBER of people seeking assistance has
Volunteer Jeffson Mertulion, left, helped two Sonic Equipment Co. employees, Joe Carver, center, and Lonnie Larson unload fresh produce provided the food pantry through Walmart’s Feed American Program. REGISTER/BOB JOHNSON increased the past couple of months, said the Rev. Tom Waters, who became panty director a month ago when the Rev. Phil Honeycutt left after years of managing the facility. Tuesday of this week 19 families, representing 60 individuals, came for assistance, Waters said. He expects numbers to pick up more next week, be-
ing the last week of the month when government assistance going to many down on their luck starts to flag. Waters said the school district’s summer lunch program ending in early July also likely had a role in numbers increasing this month. See PANTRY | Page A4
Gates Corporation sells Crews from Hemphill Tower Construction, Tulsa, place the top half of a 120-foot tower at the LaHarpe Communications property in downtown LaHarpe. The tower is part of an effort to provide fixed wireless Internet service to rural customers in the area. REGISTER/RICHARD LUKEN
LaHarpe Communications announces New Wave launch By RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register
LAHARPE — LaHarpe Communications is riding a “New Wave” to provide faster, more reliable Internet service to rural areas of southeast Kansas. The erection Thursday of a 120foot tower outside the LaHarpe Communications complex in downtown LaHarpe is the next domino to fall in the creation of New Wave Broadband, which
should go online sometime in mid-August. New Wave offers a fixed wireless Internet feed capable of providing high-speed access. Businesses can be served by up to 1 gigabitper-second Internet — 1,000 megabits per second — while residential customers can receive up to 14 megabits per second, with current rate plans. The capacity is more than See NEW WAVE | Page A3
NEW YORK — Blackstone announced Friday it has finalized the previously announced acquisition of Gates Corporation. Private equity funds managed by Blackstone on behalf of its investors have acquired Gates for $5.4 billion. Gates is a leading global manufacturer of power transmission belts, fluid power products, and other critical components used in diverse industrial and auto-
motive applications. Its production plant in Iola employs about 700. “We could not be more pleased to formally begin our relationship with Gates and its superb management team,” Neil Simpkins, senior managing director in Blackstone’s private equity business, said in a press release. “We look forward to working with Gates in the years ahead as the company further establishes itself as
a global leader in its industry with an unparalleled reputation for quality products.” “This investment from Blackstone positions Gates for continued success,” Jim Nicol, chairman and chief executive officer of Gates, said. “We cannot be more excited to start work with Blackstone’s team to refine operations and explore a wide range of opportunities for continued growth.”
Ethanol plant eyes biodiesel expansion GARNETT — East Kansas Agri-Energy LLC (EKAE) announced its intent to integrate renewable diesel production at its ethanol plant here. Renewable diesel will be made from the corn distillers oil already produced at the plant along with other feedstocks purchased on the market. Construction on the new
facility will begin soon and will be completed in 12 to 14 months. The plant will be able to produce 3 million gallons of hydrocarbon fuel per year, with the ability to double that capacity. “This is about maximizing revenue, leveraging activities that we already do every day, and enhancing the value
of products we already produce,” said EKAE President and CEO Jeff Oestmann. “Adding renewable diesel capability aligns perfectly with our business strategy of diversifying our energy portfolio and creating additional enterprises that are sustainable on their own.” See ETHANOL | Page A4
Open class food judging kicks off Allen County Fair week activities Allen Countians of all ages are whisking, measuring and baking tasty treats for the Allen County Fair, which starts this weekend. The open class judging will begin at 9 a.m. Tuesday. Carol Crawford, a member of the fair board, is in charge of organizing the open food category and participates herself. Crawford has been a part of the fair for about 15 years. She
started bringing food to fairs when she was 9 years old. “I enjoy doing it and I always have,” she said. In the past Crawford has brought angel food cake, cookies and banana chiffons. During the closed judging, judges look at the appearance of the entry, serving size, taste and if it is over baked. If the participant is entering cookies the judge wants to see a
Quote of the day Vol. 116, No. 190
121 stst Annual
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uniform size. Cakes can be a tricky entry. “The judge will cut into
a cake and see if there are tunnel holes in it and if it is baked completely,” Crawford said. “They will also turn items over and make sure it’s not burnt on the bottom.” Believe it or not, the weather can affect the outcome of the judging. If it is humid outside, which is common in Kansas in July, cakes and cookies won’t set properly. “We have had a few catas-
“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.” — Benjamin Franklin, 75 Cents
trophes over the years,” Crawford said with a chuckle. The judging depends on the year and the judge. “I always say it’s one person’s opinion on any given day,” Crawford said. The food entries will be sold after the judging. At 6 p.m. Tuesday the apple pie contest will take place. Participants may enter their pies at the Little Theater.
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