Saturday, July 28, 2018
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The long and winding trail Symes prefers door-to-door approach By RICK DANLEY The Iola Register
For the last three months, Iolan Bruce Symes has traveled door to door across Allen County’s crowded third district, introducing himself with this simple opener: “Hello, sir/Hello, ma’am. My name is Bruce Symes and I’m letting folks know that I’m running for county commissioner.” Since announcing his candidacy in midMay, Symes has made a dedicated attempt to visit the home of every registered Republican and unaffiliated voter in the district. At this point, with slightly more than a week to go before the Aug. 7 primary, Symes, a Republican, has already knocked on more than 700 doors, and he’s still going. The Register trailed the candidate on one of his canvassing
County commissioner John Brocker speaks at a town hall event last week. Brocker (R) was appointed to his seat in March after the resignation of the previous commisioner. REGISTER/RICK DANLEY
Brocker hosts forum Iola resident Bruce Symes visits with Don McDaniel in his door-to-door bid to receive the Republican nomination for Allen County commissioner. Symes faces current commisioner John Brocker in the Aug. 7 primary. REGISTER/RICK DANLEY
jaunts earlier this month. Iola was in the midst of a heatwave at the time and the temperature that afternoon was a touch cooler than the burning center of an active volcano. But Symes never complained. In fact, despite having
sweated through quite a few good shirts in his mid-summer attempts to introduce himself to the citizens of District 3, Symes seemed to acquire more energy and more enthusiasm with each resident he encountered. Symes, who was a
reporter at this paper for 23 years and has been for more than a decade now an educator and tutor at Allen Community College, faces current county commissioner John Brocker in the RepubSee SYMES | Page A7
By RICK DANLEY The Iola Register
When discussing the county’s budgetary priorities, Allen County Commissioner John Brocker is fond of pulling out his wallet. “This is the way I look at it,” Brocker said, holding his calfskin prop aloft at a recent town hall meeting, “you pull out your billfold [as a commissioner] and you say,
‘Would I spend that money in my everyday life or wouldn’t I spend that money? ...You’ve got to analyze what you’re getting for what you’ve given, and that’s how I make my decisions as county commissioner.” Nearly 10 people gathered under the roof of the Iola Community Theater earlier this week for a forum with See BROCKER | Page A5
How to make a silk purse of a new pig handler 4-H’ers turn tables on adults By SUSAN LYNN The Iola Register
It’s very impressive to watch a 10-year-old manhandle a 275-pound hog. Leading up to Thursday night’s swine show at the Allen County Arena, Josey Ellis of Humboldt, tended her pig, Pete. At our first introduction, Pete was asleep in his stall. “He does that a lot,” Josey said. He is, after all, only 6 months old. Josey hopped in and began
Josey Ellis and her pig, Pete. REGISTER/SUSAN LYNN
Humboldt chief charged following June arrest Domestic battery and other charges have been filed against Humboldt Police Chief Brian Dillow following his arrest in late June. The Allen County attorney’s office on Tuesday filed one charge of domestic battery, one charge of battery and two counts of disorderly conduct against Dillow. All are Class B misdemeanors. Dillow was arrested after sheriff ’s deputies were called to a disturbance in the 1300 block of Central Street in
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Humboldt the evening of June 27. Dillow has taken a leave of absence as Humboldt police chief Brian Dillow since the arrest. He remains free on bond. A court hearing has been scheduled for Sept. 12. Scott Aikins, a lieutenant with the Humboldt Police Department, is overseeing the department on an interim basis.
to gently nudge the beast with her boot as she cooed sweet nothings. Pete acknowledged Josey with a grunt, but kept his eyes firmly shut. Josey then became slightly more aggressive, pushing one side of Pete and then another. Still nothing. Then came the slapping, loving but firm. “OK, OK,” Pete grumbled, as he came to. “Meet Pete,” Josey said. I kept the gate between us. Josey is a member of Logan
Pals 4-H. She is the daughter of Scott and Amanda Ellis, who farm south of Humboldt, and is their eldest daughter, followed by Jadey, 7, and Jesey, 3. All three girls showed their pigs Thursday evening. “I’ve been doing this for four years,” Josey said in a confident manner. “Tomorrow I show my horse, Bill. Then on Saturday my steer, Oreo.” I thought to myself, “And they’re even bigger.” Bill is a Palomino. Oreo, a See PIGS | Page A3
Baby Barnyard campaign stop Kansas Gov. Jeff Colyer and his lieutenant governor, Tracey Mann, made a brief but busy campaign stop in Iola Friday, paying a visit to the Allen County Fair. Here, Colyer gets a high-five from Laney Church, daughter of LeAnn Church. Mann is at left. The Allen County stop was one of four county fairs Colyer visited on Friday in his heated campaign ahead of the Aug. 7 GOP primary election. He was slated to make four additional campaign stops later in the day. REGISTER/RICHARD LUKEN
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