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Sports: Hosmer blast lifts Royals over Cleveland See B1

THE IOLA REGISTER Locally owned since 1867

Career fit for a King By BOB JOHNSON The Iola Register

One bouquet after another flew Bill King’s way late Tuesday morning during a retirement reception for Allen County’s director of Public Works. Commissioners, in their adulation, decreed Tuesday Bill King Day in the county. Reality would be better served to say every day for nearly 23 years — King’s tenure as what many refer to as road boss — has been his day. They allowed King has made Allen the standard of many counties for how he has managed and responded to public works problems See KING | Page A6

Thrive sets countywide community conversation By RICK DANLEY The Iola Register

Thrive Allen County will host one of its most important community conversations to date on the evenings of Aug. 10 and 11 at B&W Trailer Hitches in Humboldt. For nearly a decade now, Thrive has accumulated a record of success in its efforts to improve the general health and wellness of Allen County. Thrive’s latest initiative, however, broadens the conversation, and invites the community to identify the top overall priorities facing Allen County (the conversation may include the theme of health and wellness, but will not be limited by it). Billed as “visioning” forums, August’s meet-ups offer a chance to pinpoint these most pressing challenges facing the county and then, with the aid of professional consultants from across the country, create a countywide plan of action for solving them. It’s a rare opportunity. The Kansas Health Foundation — in coordination with the Center for Global Policy Solutions — after a highly competitive process, selected only five state organizations to receive their “Community Engagement Initiative” grant. Thrive Allen County was one of the groups, and the only truly rural organization on that list. The grant earned the county more than $350,000 in funds to be used toward the projects that emerge from next month’s discussions. Which is to say, the hard See TALKS | Page A6

www.iolaregister.com

Wednesday, July 29, 2015

County commissioners discuss Monarch request By BOB JOHNSON The Iola Register

Bill King, in his last visit with Allen County commissioners as director of Public Works, proposed Monarch Cement Co. be permitted to have haul trucks carry shale through Humboldt. County planners recommended Thursday evening Monarch be given an exception from agricultural zoning to mine a 30-foot shelf of shale from land it owns 2 1/2 miles north of Humboldt. The vein is projected to be sufficient for Monarch production for 60 years. However,

Bill King

the planners did not attach a route for trucks hauling the material to their recommendation, rather left that up to commissioners. King pointed out the route he favored — old U.S. 169 — was over what once was a federal highway “built at different standards than county roads,” meaning its structure was sufficient to carry the heavily loaded trucks. As for the portion in Humboldt: “That’s our road,” King pointed out. “Humboldt has done work to it and we’ve helped,” but in the end if it See COUNTY | Page A6

Report: Average American car 11.5 years old By DEE-ANN DURBIN The Associated Press

PEDAL TO THE METAL Lilly Hirt, above, pedals as hard as she can during the Allen County Fair Pedal Pull. Raveyn Kegler, left, prepares to show her goat at the dairy goat show Tuesday afternoon. Hipbilly, below, plays on the free stage Tuesday night for Allen Countians. REGISTER/KAYLA BANZET

Above at left, Allie, a 4-year-old Boxer, took first place in her division of the Best Dressed Pet Contest Tuesday at the Allen County Fair. Allie was entered by her owner, Emma B’Hymer. At right, Reagan, a miniature dachshund also won first place in her division. She was accompanied by Abby Rinehart. REGISTER/RICHARD LUKEN

Quote of the day Vol. 117, No. 185

“The family is one of nature’s masterpieces.” — George Santayana, Spanish philosopher 75 Cents

DETROIT (AP) — In the age of Apple’s CarPlay, a lot of cars on the road still have tape decks. The average vehicle in the U.S. is now a record 11.5 years old, according to consulting firm IHS Automotive, a sign of the increased reliability of today’s vehicles and the lingering impact of the sharp drop in new car sales during the recession. Drivers behind the wheel of older cars aren’t enjoying some of the latest advanced safety features or infotainment systems that effectively turn cars into cellphones on wheels. Then again, they don’t have to worry about hackers finding their way in to the car’s computer network through the cassette or CD player. IHS said U.S. registrations grew to a record 257.9 million cars and trucks, up 2 percent from a year earlier. The average age of vehicles has been climbing steadily since IHS began tracking the number in 2002. As quality and reliability have improved, people have been holding on to their cars and trucks for longer. The average length of ownership for a new vehicle is now almost 6.5 years, IHS said. For a used vehicle, it’s five years. Cars and trucks now have the same average age, says Mark Seng, IHS Automotive’s global aftermarket practice leader. For many years, cars had shorter lifespans than trucks, but their See CARS | Page A3

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