Inside: Our fall sports preview
The Weekender
Locally owned since 1867
www.iolaregister.com
Saturday, August 29, 2015
Still in her element
Flooding plagues LaHarpe post office
Julie Sterling, 74, remains as busy as ever on family’s farm By SUSAN LYNN The Iola Register
HUMBOLDT — Most days, Julie Sterling’s only concession to fashion is her diamond earrings. Otherwise, she’s comfortable wearing nary a trace of makeup, a nofuss bob for a hairdo, and she finds jeans and rubber boots are the most practical. Julie is a modern-day pioneer woman. She’s as handy on the farm as any man and pulls her own weight — all 93.4 pounds — when it comes to doing chores. And at 74, Julie can still swing her 3-year-old granddaughter, Mylan Sterling, up to her hip with ease. Julie and her husband, Merle, live on a farm west of Humboldt where they raise crops and cattle. These days, however, the bulk of the work has fallen to Julie and their son, Layne, who lives east of town with his family. Two years ago Merle, 72, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease which, coupled
bine, her thoughts are never far from her husband of 44 years. Only minutes from leaving him eating his breakfast at the kitchen table on this summer morning, her cell phone rings. It’s Merle. “This is how we stay in touch when I’m out in the fields,” she said. How often does he call? “Oh, it depends. Some days every five or 10 minutes,” she said with a ready smile that couldn’t quite hide the worry.
Julie Sterling clears brush from her family’s farm west of Humboldt. Despite her age, and diminutive stature, Sterling, 74, is as handy on the farm as most men. REGISTER/SUSAN LYNN with congestive heart disease, has taken a toll on his level of activity. “But he’s always think-
ing about the farm and what needs to be done,” Julie said. And conversely, while Julie may be on a tractor or com-
By RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register
LAHARPE — Steve Holloway notes the irony of the LaHarpe post office’s location at the intersection of Main and Eighth streets. “You can tell it’s at the highest point in town,” he said. Indeed, the post office is situated near the crest at a slight incline, with Main Street sloping downward both to the north and south. Certainly, such a lofty elevation would make the post office impervious to flooding, right? “You’d think so,” Holloway chuckled. “But it doesn’t work out that way.” Thursday morning’s torrential rains once again flooded the post office’s parking lot — and in so doing,
JULIE IS IN her realm on the farm. “I love to be outdoors. It’s peaceful. I like the wildlife. “I grew up on a farm, but with three older brothers, I never got a chance to farm as a kid,” she said. Instead, she and her two sisters helped their mother with the cooking and household chores. “Now, I got my chance,” she said. Whether it’s driving a combine, manhandling live-
See MESSY | Page A4
See FARM | Page A6
Police recover firearms
HUMBOLDT — A juvenile faces charges of burglary, theft and criminal damage to property after he admitted stealing several guns from a home in Humboldt Tuesday. Police Chief Brian Dillow told the Register the juvenile, whose name has not been released pending formal charges being filed, lived across the street from the victim on South 10th Street. “The suspect apparently entered through the back door and found the keys to the gun safe, and took several firearms, boxes of ammunition and other hunting items,” Dillow said. “Once we got the report of the theft, we realized how close the suspect lived,” Dillow said. “We’ve dealt with this juvenile before. After we talked to his father, he gave us permission to search the house. At that time, the juvenile surrendered the items.” Dillow said the juvenile had no apparent intention of using the weapons. “He just took them,” he said. “Fortunately, all of the property was found and returned to the owner.” Dillow lauded the investigative work of his three officers at HPD. Information was sent to the Allen County attorney’s office to determine what charges should be filed.
Vera Hunt has donated a piano to the Rev. Waylon Ingle, pastor at Bible Fellowship Church. Hunt received the piano as a gift from actress Melody Thomas Scott in 1992. Above, Hunt is pictured with her piano in 1992. The Register wrote an article the day Hunt received the piano from the actress. REGISTER/KAYLA BANZET
Hunt finds new home for prized piano By KAYLA BANZET The Iola Register
One of Vera Hunt’s most exciting moments in her life all started with a letter. In 1991, Hunt read an article in the National Enquirer about readers writing to actors with the same birthday as theirs. Hunt wrote her letter to Melody Thomas Scott who plays Nikki
Quote of the day Vol. 117, No. 207
on the daytime drama “The Young and the Restless.” They both share an April 18 birthday. Hunt said she told the actress about her life and volunteer work — she mentioned playing an old piano — and wrote a song, “Victory For Desert Storm” in honor of her son-in-law, Mike Byers, who fought in the military campaign.
In August of that year she received a signed photo of the soap opera star but the big surprise came in January of 1992. Scott called Hunt from California and asked if the piano she played had ever been replaced. When Hunt answered no, Scott said “Well, you’re getting one.” Shortly afterward an upright Kambe piano was de-
“If you don’t know where you’re going, you might wind up someplace else.” — Laurence Peter, Canadian Writer 75 Cents
livered to Hunt’s home in Gas. “She told mother she was the only person who didn’t ask for anything,” said Mary Lou Byers, Hunt’s daughter. “The piano still holds a tune very well,” Hunt said. NOW 90 and residing in Windsor Place, Hunt made See PIANO | Page A4
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