Sports: Marmaton Valley drops softball games See B1
THE IOLA REGISTER Locally owned since 1867
www.iolaregister.com
Wednesday, April 27, 2016
Iola ushers in new neighborhood
Sparks fly
at county meeting
By BOB JOHNSON The Iola Register
Area civic leaders gathered Tuesday for the groundbreaking of the apartment complex at the site of the old Allen County Hospital. REGISTER/SUSAN LYNN
By SUSAN LYNN The Iola Register
Gold-tinted shovels turned the ceremonial first spades of dirt Tuesday for Iola’s newest housing complex, The Eastgate Lofts, on the site of the old Allen County Hospital in downtown Iola. “We’re celebrating a new neighborhood,” said Mary Kay Heard, chairman of Iola Industries, which in concert with city and county leaders and Thrive Allen County spearheaded the develop-
ment. Tom Carlson, a developer from Springfield, Mo., is the brawn behind the development, whose initial phase will consist of 12 apartments. Their dimensions are 915-square-feet and include two bedrooms and two baths. Rent is expected to be $650$700 a month. “Everyone will feel good about living here,” Carlson said. “It’s going to be firstclass, modern and appealing. “It’s going to make you feel good about your community.” In his address before a
crowd of about 50 on the construction site, Carlson commended the parties involved “for not taking the easy way out. “It’s a lot easier to build on an empty lot on the outskirts of town, but that’s not always good for the community,” Carlson said. Building on a town’s fringes only “creates a doughnut,” he said, causing a town’s interior to deteriorate. Carlson lauded the cooperation between city and county leaders to see the site of the old hospital turned to a
new cause. “In any other community, that vacant hospital could have sat there another 50 years,” he said. Carlson is familiar with local politics. He served as mayor of Springfield for a total of 14 years and on its city council from 1983 to 2008. Carlson first came to Iola in 2009 when he built 59 federally subsidized homes in a subdivision in north Iola. The Eastgate apartments receive no state or federal See EASTGATE | Page A4
Allen County Commissioner Tom Williams lit into fellow commissioners Tuesday morning, accusing them of excessively supporting what he termed is a disgruntled employee. Williams said a member of the countywide ambulance service had contacted commissioners Jerry Daniels and Jim Talkington seeking a vote of no confidence against ambulance director Ryan Sell. “If I had my way, he would be fired,” Williams said. Sell was unavailable for comment, but Fire Chief Tim Thyer said he and city administrative staff were looking into the matter. “Nothing has been done, yet,” he said. “I don’t know what will happen.” See COUNTY | Page A4
Moran fitness center takes step forward By BOB JOHNSON The Iola Register
Leave your phones at home Aaron Franklin has a message: Bring your families and your appetites, but leave your cell phones at home. May Day Unplugged, a series of activities geared for people of all ages, is set for 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Iola’s Riverside Park. The event is co-sponsored by the Farm-City Days Committee, Thrive Allen County, Iola Kiwanis and Rotary clubs and Humanity House. Among the games are relay tic-tac-toe, flag tag, four square, volleyball and horseshoes.
The cost of admission? Everyone in attendance must have no electronic devices. “Tech patrol” staffers will closely monitor everyone in attendance. Those caught sneaking in a little phone time will have a special surprise. Organizers also strongly encouraged to participate in the games with their children, and not watching from the sidelines. In addition, Thrive will be on hand to provide bike helmets to children who pass a safety test.
Water, water everywhere
Overnight storms that dumped nearly 3 1/2 inches of rain in Iola flooded several small streams and low-lying areas. Here, dogs and goats seek refuge from a swollen Rock Creek on a porch at a house on the east edge of Iola. Forecasts call for a chance of thunderstorms to return late this week and persist through the weekend. REGISTER/RICHARD LUKEN
Allen County commissioners joined an effort Tuesday morning to provide a fitness center for Moran. Thrive Allen County is preparing a grant application to the Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City, seeking about $30,000 to buy exercise equipment. Commissioners approved use of the Allen County Regional Hospital clinic building in downtown Moran for the center, and agreed to pay utility costs. “I talked to Tony Thompson (ACRH administrator) and he is fine with the plan,” said David Toland, Thrive executive director. It would revert to hospital control if needed. A recent survey sent with Moran utility bills indicated “significant demand” for a fitness center, he added. “Looks like a no-brainer to See MORAN | Page A4
Allen County Democrats celebrate rebirth of county chapter By SUSAN LYNN The Iola Register
Former Rep. Paul Davis greets Iolan Keith Goering at an anniversary celebration for the Allen County Democrats. REGISTER/SUSAN
Quote of the day Vol. 118, No. 127
With all the focus on national politics, Kansas Democrats are fearful voters will tune out the races in Kansas. “I can’t think of anything that affects me more than the decisions made at the state level,” said Brooklynne Mosley, a young woman from Lawrence who serves as vice chairman of the Douglas County Democrats. Mosley said the increase in the state sales tax has made her change her shopping hab-
its. “I’m affected by Topeka being broke,” she said. Mosley was among a handful of Democratic organizers and candidates in Iola Tuesday night to mark the oneyear anniversary of Allen County’s revived Democratic organization. Mike Bruner, Humboldt, is chairman of the fledgling chapter. The overwhelmingly Republican presence in Kansas can be intimidating to outsiders, said Kerry Gooch, executive director of the Kansas
“Youth is wasted on the young.”
Democratic Party. Gooch gave an example of his experience at last fall’s state fair: “You wouldn’t believe how many people came up to me and whispered, ‘I’m a Democrat, too.’” Bruner noted Allen County’s Democratic membership tallied 1,453. OF SPECIAL note at Tuesday’s forum was former state Representative Paul Davis, Lawrence, who opposed Sam Brownback in the 2014 gubernatorial race. See DEMS | Page A2
Hi: 70 Lo: 46
— George Bernard Shaw, Irish playwright 75 Cents
Iola, KS