Two Kansas City-based teams were in Iola Thursday morning to begin work on replacing the marquee windows and doors on the old Iola movie theater on South Broadway.The historic theater is being restored through efforts of the Iola Theatre Association Funding includes $3.2 million through the 2024 Consolidated Appropriations Act The group also has raised $1 million through private donations and two grants.  Crews with Dimensional Innovations are charged with replacing the current marquee said the goal is to go off the original marquee Morgan Phillips of Dimensional Innovations and Ricky Livers and Miles Franz of Re-View Windows Phillips is overseeing restoration of the theater’s marquee and Livers and Franz are in charge of restoring its windows and doors Photo by Susan Lynn / Iola RegisterOne challenge is that they have only black and white photographs to go by. On Thursday climbed into a bucket truck to peer deep into the current marquee to see if he could gather some clues to the original marquee as well as how it was attached to the building.“We’re hoping we can find some old pieces of the sign,” buried behind the current one Work will include removing some of the panels of the canopy that extends over the sidewalk and determining if the canopy is original to the 1931 building Phillips has been unable to find anyone who remembers the colors of the original sign she said.The new sign will come with some definite advantages.“It will be modernized with LED lighting and some faux neon lighting,” Phillips said. As to the latter much progress has occurred over the years.“Neon lighting originally required blown glass filled with gas,” Phillips said “That’s been replaced today with a faux neon strip that looks like neon Today’s LED bulbs also last “10-15 years,” she said.  The target date for the new sign to be installed is by fall said Phillips. Jason Combs of Dimensional Innovations peers into the marquee of the old Iola Theatre to see if remnants from the original marquee remain.Photo by Susan Lynn / Iola RegisterMiles Franz were on site to inspect the theater’s windows and doors They plan on restoring 10 windows and the two front doors to their original Art Deco design. They plan to complete their work by fall. The building was last used as a movie theater in 2001 The goal is to renovate but not restore the building as a stand-alone theater it will be used to stage events and host gatherings Terms of Use|Privacy Policy Powered by CopperPress 2024-25 OnFocus Central Wisconsin Area Conferences: Conference and Team Links, Schedules Hear about top athletes and top teams in our area ********************************************** We welcome your stories! Contact us at [email protected] David Keech is a retired teacher and works as a sportswriter, sports official and as an educational consultant. He has reported on amateur sports since 2011, known as 'KeechDaVoice.' David can be reached at [email protected] a Digital Content Producer with 25 News KXXV and 15 ABC KRHD Texas (KXXV) — Iola Independent School District will release students early Friday afternoon due to inclement weather The elementary school car line will begin at 2:20 p.m. with the secondary campus dismissing at 2:40 p.m District officials said buses are scheduled to depart at 2:45 p.m as a precaution ahead of approaching storms Today's baseball game has also been moved to Saturday HUMBOLDT — With summer just around the corner and temperatures beginning to climb Monarch Cement Company hosted a comprehensive seminar on heat workforce safety on April 30 Sponsored by the Kansas Athletic Trainers Society and Kansas State University College of Health and Human Science the event aimed to educate employees on the dangers of working in high-temperature environments and how to mitigate those risks.“Cement production is a highly complex process involving extremely high temperatures especially with the use of kilns,” said Judy Works Licensed Practical Nurse at Monarch Cement many of our production employees are regularly exposed to heat at varying degrees This makes the risk of heat-related illnesses a very real concern for the company.”Works introduced keynote speaker Dr ATC — an associate professor at Kansas State University and past president of the Kansas Athletic Trainers Society With nearly three decades of experience as a certified athletic trainer Vardiman brought extensive knowledge to the session including his contributions to state-level heat illness policies He served on the Kansas State High Schools Activities Association (KSHSAA) Sports Medicine Advisory Council when the state’s Heat Illness Policy was formed.VARDIMAN provided an in-depth look at Exertional Heat Illness (EHI) and the most severe — Exertional Heat Stroke (EHS) “EHS is a life-threatening condition and is the leading cause of death among weather-related phenomena in the United States,” he said “Excessive heat also exacerbates existing health conditions and heart disease.”Warning signs of EHS include a core body temperature over 104 degrees “It’s important to understand and know your employee,” Vardiman said “Do they look out of it or are they behaving abnormally?”He backed up these warnings with some statistics there were 33,890 work-related heat injuries or illnesses the economic cost of heat exposure was estimated at $100 billion “Heat exposure for inside and outside workers is a growing hazard,” Vardiman noted Vardiman frequently referred to the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) a tool that measures heat stress more accurately than the traditional Heat Index “It is the most reliable indicator in determining the overall risk of heat illness during athletic participation in periods of elevated heat and humidity,” he explained.Using a combination of temperature readings — including a dry bulb and a black globe thermometer — the WBGT accounts for environmental variables such as humidity Risk factors for heat illness increase dramatically when the WBGT exceeds 82 degrees and can be worsened by poor hydration or a history of previous heat illness.ACCLIMATIZATION is one of the most effective strategies for prevention “You want to gradually increase heat exposure to workers over seven to 14 days,” Vardiman said citing CDC recommendations of 20% exposure on day one and increasing 20% daily “You will need to provide more time for new employees to acclimate.”The benefits of proper acclimatization include better sweating efficiency and the ability to maintain a lower core temperature and heart rate during work.Dr Dietetics and Health Professor at Kansas State University joined the seminar to discuss the nutritional component of heat illness prevention “If you’re hot and eating a lot of protein your body has a decision to make,” Haub explained “It will take blood away from circulating through your body to cool you off to help digest the food.” He warned against consuming hot food while working in high heat: “It’s like putting hot coal in a hot oven.” He suggested eating foods with high water content when you know you’re going to be working in extreme heat is a great option.Haub also recommended adhering to a hydration schedule “Drink 16 ounces of fluid two hours before activity another 8 to 16 ounces 10 to 15 minutes before and 4 to 8 ounces every 15–20 minutes during the activity,” he noted isn’t typically a concern unless an individual has a medical condition like hypertension.When it comes to hot-weather workwear moisture-wicking materials that allow sweat to evaporate quickly Vardiman stressed the importance of employers’ choice in work gear noting that some jobs require heavy equipment to be worn “Employers need to take special consideration when it comes to clothing,” he said they should try to adjust the clothing that they are requiring their employees to wear.”TO RESPOND to a worker suffering from EHS Vardiman said it is important to get them into some sort of rapid cooling equipment This kind of equipment is usually something similar to a trough or tank Once the person is submerged they must remain there until their core temperature reaches 102 degrees This is referred to as the “dunking method.”Alternatives include what is called the “taco technique” where the person is placed on a tarp and ice water is placed on them while they are moved back and forth by lifting the sides of the tarp Vardiman said the military uses body bags packed with ice water “You can also just pack them down with ice if it’s the only thing you have The Iola baseball team huddles up between innings against Danbury on Saturday at Cy-Lakes High School The Iola baseball team pushed its 2A Division I bi-district series with Danbury to three games but ran out of gas as the Bulldogs fell 9-3 Saturday at Cy-Lakes High School The winner-take-all finale was the second game of the day as Iola won 22-3 in five innings earlier in the afternoon to force a third game Iola leaned on a plethora of bats as Brek Roberts (4) Ryan Roubion (3) and Collin Fowler (3) all had multiple RBIs Austin Calvillo had just one RBI but was 3 for 3 Brody Vaughn was the winning pitcher in that one as he gave up five hits Iola got within one run at 3-2 but Danbury answered with two runs in the third to go up 5-2 and didn't look back Email notifications are only sent once a day College Station junior pitcher Jake Boggan was named the athlete of the week after his complete game helped the Cougars earn a share of the di… “We gave ourselves chances to chip away,” College Station coach Chris Litton said The second game in the series set for 7 p.m the third game is set for Saturday at a t… Centerville will face Garrison in the area round at a time date and location to be determined next week College Station's Wilson Stapp didn't expect his senior season to start with a serious injury but he's grateful for the time he gets back out there Get up-to-the-minute news 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Contact us at [email protected] David Keech is a retired teacher and works as a sportswriter, sports official and as an educational consultant. He has reported on amateur sports since 2011, known as 'KeechDaVoice.' David can be reached at [email protected] The Southeast Kansas Mental Health Center received the Visionary Leader Award sponsored by Allen County Regional Hospital.Jo’s Men’s Grooming earned the Excellence in Customer Service Award sponsored by Chanute Radio/Murfin Media.The Pregnancy Resource Center received the Excellent Club or Organization Award “We know that when we support our children we support the future of our entire community,” Dimity Lowell told USD 257 board members at their Tuesday evening meeting Lowell presented the board with a check for $6,000 to go towards school supplies for students at Iola Elementary School.“We’re proud to be a part of a community that believes in lifting each other up — especially our youngest learners,” said Lowell “Our hope is to ease the financial burden on families by covering essential school supplies for preschool through sixth grade students.”Lowell took the opportunity to encourage other local businesses and organizations to join in the effort we can make a lasting difference in the lives of our students and families,” she said.Superintendent Stacey Fager extended his gratitude to the organization Thank you very much,” he said.IN OTHER NEWS the board also approved the renewal of USD 257’s membership with Schools For Fair Funding a Kansas non-profit that advocates for equitable funding for public schools Formed in 1997 by a coalition of superintendents SFFF has played a prominent role in school finance litigation and reform in Kansas.“We usually renew around this time of the school year,” said Fager He pointed to the group’s efforts in monitoring the state’s evolving school finance formula which is scheduled to be rewritten in 2027 “It’s something I see as a priority,” he told the board.The current school funding formula is based on a BASE aid amount set by the state legislature and adjusted for inflation combined with a district’s weighted full-time equivalent (FTE) enrollment Additional weighting factors — such as for at-risk students or special education — further determine a district’s total state aid SFFF represents 35 Kansas school districts and approximately 125,000 students or one-third of the state’s total student population.USD 257 Transportation Director Aaron Cole updates school board members on upcoming summer projects during their Tuesday evening meeting.Photo by Sarah Haney / Iola RegisterUSD 257 Transportation Director Aaron Cole gave the board an overview of upcoming summer projects These include work on the east-side parking lot at Iola Middle School as well as completing bathroom partitions on the second and third floor of the school.“Last year we did new partitions in the first floor restrooms,” he said we’d like to complete the project.” The additional partitions would cost $14,489 Cole noted that the parking lot project hasn’t been put out for bid yet.Another project would include converting storage space at Iola Elementary School (IES) into office space Iola High School Principal Scott Carson has watched this year’s senior class grow into leaders in and out of the classroom.“This is an exceptional class,” Carson said at Wednesday’s Awards Night ceremony to honor the Class of 2025.“It’s an exciting night to celebrate our seniors and all of their hard work,” he said Iola High School senior Kenleigh Westhoff receives a cord from Principal Scott Carson for being named a Kansas CTE Scholar Photo by Richard Luken / Iola Register“Tonight you’re going to see all of their hard work take them into the future,” he predicted.Sure enough many of the outgoing seniors raked in thousands of dollars in scholarships and other awards which follow:Chapter L PEO Award — Reese CurryEdward B LaHarpe High School Alumni Association Scholarship — Kaysin CrusinberyNEA Scholarship — Alejandro EscalanteBuilt Ford Tough FFA Scholarship by Twin Motors — Kyser NemecekKansas State Scholars — Kaysin Crusinbery and Madeleine WankerRoberta Shirley Memorial Health Professions Scholarship — Tavia SkahanCommunity National Bank PSU Scholarship — Janae Griffin Rooted in Rural Educational Program Scholarship — Mariah JelinekCollins Ain’t Quitters Scholarship — Grady Dougherty HUMBOLDT — Allie Utley and Hank Thomas were enjoying a cup of coffee at Humboldt’s Mercantile last weekend when four youngsters entered the coffee shop.They were toting bats gloves and other baseball essentials.The 79-year-old Thomas author grandson of legendary fireballer and Humboldt native Walter Johnson struck up a conversation with the group.“What kind of bat you got there?” he asked.The youngsters even as he pressed on with the conversation.Utley whom most could have mistakenly assumed was Thomas’s granddaughter “Do you know who Walter Johnson was?” she asked them.Of the four only one had even a passing knowledge of Johnson universally considered one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history a lifetime 2.17 ERA and an unmatched 111 career shutouts,As the conversation ended Thomas and Utley headed to their car when one of the youngsters came chasing after them.“Sir “I just googled who you are!”Thomas happily obliged,leading to another extended conversation this time with the youngsters peppering the questions and Thomas basking with the newfound appreciation a few youngsters gained of Humboldt’s baseball legacy “It was really a heartwarming story,” Utley said.THOMAS was in Kansas last week for a two-pronged visit with Utley whose love of baseball was also shaped by her grandfather a Humboldt native and baseball historian.The first was to tour the sites of Humboldt.Thomas last was in town more than 25 years ago for the dedication of Sweatt Park named after another Humboldt sports legend George Sweatt.Aside from both being Humboldt natives Johnson and Sweatt also carried a unique link in that both played in their respective leagues’ World Series in 1924 Johnson for the Washington Senators; Sweatt for the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro Leagues.; As a newly formed apprenticeship program at Allen Community College continues to take root Kelly Baker can’t help but envision a viable tool to help employers find quality employees and aid the students get the skills necessary to become a productive worker.“There are so many options out there,” said Baker Allen’s director of workforce development and apprenticeships “We can do anything from diesel mechanics to retail or allied health There aren’t many things we couldn’t learn.”Baker spoke as the local college celebrates National Apprenticeship Day this week with a small celebration to honor those who have signed up for ACC’s program.Her biggest obstacle may be impatience Baker chuckled.“I’m the type of person who wants things to happen right now,” she said “But sometimes moving too quickly is a bad thing who had worked in the college’s financial aid department since 2016 was hired last year as ACC’s first-ever director of workforce development and apprenticeships It’s her charge to match students with employers willing to invest in  having a full-time employee on hand to learn the tricks of the trade students get on-the-job hours as they work for the employer while getting technical instruction through ACC or another viable entity. “Every apprenticeship has a classroom component but we don’t necessarily have to be the technical instruction provider,” she added “We have the option to work with other instructional providers for part of it.”Online instruction is often a core component.The students are eligible for pay raises as their skills and qualifications increase receive a tax credit — as much as $2,500 per apprentice — and potentially much more.“The biggest seller to the business or the employer’s point of view is that statistically 92% of apprentices will stay with their businesses,” Baker said.  in that you’re getting paid from Day 1 to learn the job.”The apprenticeship program is not just for new employees but can be tailored for current employees looking for new skills.“One of the things we’ve talked about is we have an aging workforce here,” Baker said Are they teaching others how to do their job when they leave An apprenticeship is an avenue to have older seasoned workers as your mentors.”A simple training manual may fall short on providing instruction on “the inner workings,” she said that are best learned through hands-on experience.In its first year Allen has two apprenticeship programs in place one with the college’s maintenance and repair team while five students were recently hired as certified nurse assistants at Heartland Meadows Assisted Living Center in Iola Iola Public Library’s annual plant swap is from 9 a.m to noon Saturday.Plant donations — houseplants or garden plants — are now being accepted. With the lawn still soggy from recent rains the event will be held in the meeting room adjacent to the parking lot. The first hour is for donors only; after that first served. Donors are asked to bring their plants in containers with attached notes bearing the name Casey Diver of K-State Research and Extension will present a free bucket garden workshop soil and seeds are included courtesy of a library grant from the American Heart Association MORAN — A slow but steady population loss in rural Kansas has hit Moran as hard as anybody Mayor Jerry Wallis noted Tuesday.It wasn’t that long ago that Moran boasted three filling stations two taverns and the Klein Tools plant north of town.But one by one about the same time Allen County Hospital shuttered its health clinic in town.“We just keep losing stuff,” Wallis said.Wallis was among a crowd of about 25 residents taking part in a community conversation that centered on more than a few blunt comments about the community’s future But while the solution to reversing the population loss is easy to diagnose — more jobs quality (and affordable) housing and increased day care availability — turning those to reality has become a nut too tough to crack.When asked about how she envisioned Moran in 20 years Taeler Carr was even more blunt: “Hopefully we’re gonna die.”But as the conversation shifted to the community’s strengths glimmers of hope began to shine.“Everything I hear about your schools is positive,” noted Patrick Zirjacks community engagement coordinator for Thrive Allen County which moderated the discussion.On top of offering a high quality education Marmaton Valley USD 256 is also the community’s largest employer and has the potential to draw folks to the community  It’s taken nearly four years for organizers to raise more than $52,000 to go toward construction of a splash park in Iola.But much more is needed.Now organizers are appealing to the Iola City Council to take over the project.Marie Barclay and Donna Houser speaking on behalf of the Community Involvement Task Force/PRIDE Committee requested the city take over the project they estimate will cost about $212,000 to build.“We’ve got traction and we’ve got awareness,” Barclay said “but there aren’t enough funds for us to achieve what we’re trying to do.”Despite numerous fundraisers and the task force’s best efforts to keep the splash park in the limelight — and universal support from everyone they’ve talked to — donations have slowed Houser noted. The group also has been unsuccessful in seeking support in the form of grants The task force had originally looked at a larger splash park with an estimated price tag of $400,000 before scaling it back to a $200,000 project Houser noted.But it’s still apparent private fundraising won’t reach that goal in the foreseeable future.“We can’t do it without you,” Barclay concluded.An artist’s rendering shows what a splash park could look like Register file photoThe appeal received an empathetic ear from the Council but nothing definite.“I’m not opposed to helping fund this,” Councilman Jonathan Wells said “But it needs to go through the budget process for an amount like this agree to a number until we have a deeper discussion with staff going through the proposal.”Wells and Mayor Steve French noted the city is in the process of lining up its 2026 budget meetings which hit high gear in June. The Council’s consensus was for City Administrator Matt Rehder to go over the costs of the project and return with a better handle on what it would cost from here. French also wondered if the city could make up some of the costs through labor or other in-kind contributions.Councilwoman Kim Peterson also voiced support noting the $50,000 raised from the CITF/PRIDE group could be considered a grant to the city She noted the city also funded other recreational projects in recent months including a sports court near the Prairie Spirit Trail along South State Street “There is no skill more important for their future than being able to stand up in front of a crowd and speak with confidence Forensics allows students to use their voice in a way that few other school activities can replicate.”Boy twisted interpretation of “Dear Husband” by Joyce Carol Oates plumbed the depths of a psychotic mother’s mind The audience squirmed with discomfort; Newkirk expertly drew out each line with practiced patience “Who’s going to teach these boys to cry while they’re still alive?” His performance of “A Trip to Nirvana” explored masculinity and mental health with earnestness and passion to prevent self-harm before it’s too late.Mental health generally lines drawn throughout half a dozen performances From Madelyn Ashworth’s “Through a Window” to Demarco Ross’s sparkling oral interpretation of two poems the evening’s audience had an opportunity to witness young adults tackle issues so tough most prefer to ignore them. THEY DID so with grace well beyond their years. “Sometimes all the oxygen in the room becomes water I feel like I’m sticking to the bottom like i’m like I’m running out of air but I made a promise to myself that I won’t be another drowning fish,” performed Ross from the poem “Drowning Fish,” by Rudy Francisco. “I heard that if you just take a deep breath and relax the human body will naturally float on top of the water so I breathe and I tell myself that it’s gonna be okay,” Ross performed “Because I know there is a better version of me somewhere in the future and he is staring at this moment right here and he is saying There are so many reasons to keep going.Everett Glaze delivered one of the evening’s most gripping moments in performing an adaptation of the film “My Life” by Bruce Joel Rubin A terminally ill father records videos for his young son Glaze somehow managed to get all the small details of an advanced illness right – a racking cough as a man facing death knows he loves his son now more than ever.Iola High School forensics team members heading to the state speech and drama championships this weekend are Alyssa Williams and Layla Newkirk; second row Photo by Tim Stauffer / Iola RegisterPERHAPS the group’s versatility impresses most Kaeden Vega shone in a riotous duet with Cole Moyer; 15 minutes later he and Ross tackled a friend’s death by suicide in “Scooter Thomas Makes it to the Top of the World” by Peter Parnell whose impressive ability to morph from one character to another instantaneously delighted the audience while at the same time putting their heads on a swivel. At the end of the evening it was easy to understand how the team has won the Pioneer League four years running Iola racked up 19 state qualifiers through the season Andersen is a two-time defending state champion in Oral Interpretation of Prose It’s hard to see any of them losing their crown and so easy to see Iola bringing home many more honors Bella Rahming was named Rookie of the Year; Bethany Miller was Speaker of the Year Demarco Ross was named Interpreter of the Year Kaeden Vega was named Most Dedicated Underclassman while Demarco Ross was awarded Most Dedicated Upperclassman Tuesday’s Marv Smith Invitational seemed a showcase of area teams as multiple athletes medaled while improving ahead of the postseason.The Iola Mustangs Humboldt Cubs and Marmaton Valley Wildcats went head-to-head with Iola coming out on top in its first meet but the competition was stiff.“I thought they performed pretty well They’ve been eager to get back to work because we’ve had meets canceled,” Iola coach David Daugharthy said “They just wanted to go out there and compete It started out really warm and nice but got a little chilly later on.”In relay action the Mustangs won the 800 meters by 35 seconds and took second in the 400 meters by 11 they edged Anderson County by less than a second at 46.7 seconds while Humboldt took fourth in 55.7 seconds.Marmaton Valley High School freshman hurdler Evva Sander clears the bar during her heat of the 300 hurdles Tuesday at Riverside Park for the Marv Smith Invitational Humboldt and Marmaton Valley did not run the 800 nor the 400 but Humboldt took fourth in the 100 (57.5) followed by MV (58.11) and Iola (1:02.2).Individual results as follows:Boys100-meter: 2 18 Seamster,  34.70400-meter:  7 MV 21.85300 hurdles:  2 Cortland Carson Humboldt 49.54Long jump:  2 Stevenson 35’00.5”Shot put:  2 Matthew McCullough By Rusty SurettePublished: Apr 2025 at 3:57 PM CDTEmail This LinkShare on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInANDERSON Texas (KBTX) - A Grimes County jury delivered a strong message Wednesday sentencing 44-year-old William Eric Tisdale to 75 years in prison for burglary of a habitation The conviction stems from a July 2024 incident in Iola where Tisdale was convicted for breaking into a home and stole several packages 2024 when a Grimes County Sheriff’s deputy responded to a 911 call reporting an active burglary on CR 175 the deputy testified to finding that the suspect had entered the home without permission while its occupants were inside heard noises and reviewed footage from their Ring doorbell camera which showed Tisdale leaving with stolen items The family managed to keep Tisdale on the scene until law enforcement arrived Tisdale’s trial began this Tuesday in the 12th District Court with Judge David Moorman presiding Assistant District Attorney Anjelica Harris led the prosecution presenting a case including eyewitness testimony and video evidence of the burglary Jurors were also presented with Tisdale’s extensive criminal record Among his prior convictions were Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child One of the victims provided emotional testimony during sentencing describing the long-term impact the incident has had on her life “Waking up to a registered sex offender breaking into your home is unimaginable for most people,” said ADA Harris in a statement following the verdict “William Tisdale’s behavior is dangerous and criminal The jury’s sentence reflects how the Grimes County community feels about this type of criminal conduct.” Tisdale was sentenced to 75 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice The statutory range for the offense was 5 to 99 years “The jury gave William Tisdale 15 years in prison over what ADA Harris asked for during the punishment phase of the trial This speaks clearly about how Grimes County citizens feel about this type of crime in their community,” said Grimes County District Attorney Andria Bender lawmakers scaled the credit back this year.Republican Rep Sean Tarwater wanted to eliminate the tax credit not just roll it back as the Legislature settled on The Johnson County lawmaker told colleagues the program was supposed to cost $25 million per year — but so far it had left Kansas on the hook for nearly $1 billion.“Oopsy daisy right?” he said during debate on the plan earlier this year THE CREDIT originally provided up to a $25 million per-year match to state funds lawmakers revised that plan to provide only $8.8 million in new awards statewide through 2028 — and then stop issuing new credits completely.Just like the original plan this year’s bill to roll it back earned bipartisan support and Democratic Gov Laura Kelly’s signature.But the policy change has homelessness researchers and advocates worried that the drought of affordable housing will keep thousands of Kansans from finding steady lodging.Affordable housing and homelessnessThere is no single cause of homelessness.Access to educational opportunities affordable health care and community support are just some of the factors that influence whether someone can find a place to live on a long-term basis NORRIE − A 48-year-old man is dead following a one-vehicle crash about 25 miles east of Wausau a 911 caller reported a one-vehicle crash on Marathon County N according to the Marathon County Sheriff's Office they found the only occupant of the vehicle The Marathon County Medical Examiner's Office assisted the Marathon County Sheriff's Office at the scene Check out our photos: Eggstravaganza Easter Egg Hunt at Marathon Park in Wausau More local news: 'Largest and most photographed' elk in Wisconsin found shot dead near Black River Falls Contact Karen Madden ator kmadden@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @KMadden715, Instagram @kmadden715 or Facebook at www.facebook.com/karen.madden.33 TOPEKA — Fear that federal funding cuts will mean loved ones won’t receive nutritional food and safety checks through Meals on Wheels is driving an increase of calls to agencies across Kansas.“It’s scary,” said Laurel Alkire “I’ve had a lot of families call me about their mom or dad but it’s very concerning.”The fear is generated by potential federal funding cuts from multiple sources that could affect Meals on Wheels budgets nationwide an advocate at the organization’s national office Meals on Wheels America.“I think there’s a lot of confusion and a lot of anxiety that we’re hearing from across our network that is in response to multiple threats that are happening all at once,” he said.Programs facing federal cuts include those funded by Health and Human Services which has faced “massive” cuts of budget and personnel A leaked budget document signaled intentions to cut and split apart some programs that serve older adults.Also of concern is the ongoing budget reconciliation process which among other things may include elimination of social services block grants and cuts to the Older Americans Act “Social Services Block Grants are a critical source of funding for many Meals on Wheels programs to help fill in the gaps where there are shortfalls in other funding sources,” Protas said.PROPOSED CUTS to Medicaid also could harm Meals on Wheels budgets because those funds sometimes offer reimbursements director of nutrition at the Northwest Kansas Area Agency on Aging said her agency serves 18 counties at 28 sites in northwest Kansas.“I do hear the concerns from participants,” she said “I think it’s more they hear these things on the news and they automatically think it’s going to affect our program very badly.”Her agency receives about 25% of its funding from federal sources Protas said Meals on Wheels programs are all funded through different mechanisms so it’s difficult to tell how cuts might affect each program while others may receive 80% of funds from federal sources.Staying calm executive director of the North Central-Flint Hills Area Agency on Aging Inc. is assessing potential cuts and trying to plan for how her agency might be affected including the Meals on Wheels program it runs.“We’re right now telling people don’t panic,” she said “We don’t want our elder Kansans to stress out over the uncertainty we want lawmakers in Washington to understand that the Older Americans Act programs are making significant differences in the lives of older Kansans and their caregivers and their families.”ABOUT HALF of Walter’s agency budget is derived from the Older Americans Act with about 34% of the allocation and related in-kind match donations supporting the meals program in 18 northeast Kansas counties LAWRENCE — Pulitzer Prize winner Edward Larson is convinced building blocks of the Scopes trial — a showdown between human evolutionary biologists and fundamentalists beholden to creationism — remains relevant as activists work to build national political movements long after dust settled in Dayton Tennessee.The highly publicized battle in the summer of 1925 between defense attorney Clarence Darrow and prosecutor William Jennings Bryan at the trial of high school teacher John Scopes was an international spectacle Darrow worked on behalf of the forces of scientific inquiry and champions of the separation of church and state while Bryan stood with Bible-thumping Christian creationists defending a Tennessee law banning the teaching of evolution in public schools.LARSON who earned the Pulitzer Prize in history for “Summer for the Gods: The Scopes Trial and America’s Continuing Debate Over Science and Religion,” said Tuesday at University of Kansas the 100-year-old drama addressed broad cultural religious and legal issues of the post-World War I and pre-Depression era.Larson said the rhetorical style favored by Darrow and honed by Bryan had periodically resurfaced in American politics as folks sought to capture the public’s imagination about the risk of teaching human evolution in classrooms It’s been a factor in debates about other issues blending politics old-fashioned strategy rooted in populism was being used to undermine public health ideas of mass vaccination tamping down disease threats the antivaccination activist turned secretary of the U.S has challenged effectiveness of vaccines at a moment when the threat of measles escalated.“Most people I’m talking to agree it’s not evolution right now They tend to say it’s the anti-vaccine,” he said “Another one that could come back is gay marriage Some states are beginning to play with laws and to test the Supreme Court on that one.” DESPITE POLITICAL maneuvering in a few states the fight over evolution lost some of its luster lawmakers sought to skirt constitutional boundaries set by the U.S Supreme Court to advance legislation promoting religion The creationist mantra is shrouded in statute urging critical analysis of all sorts of theories including evolution.“The 2008 Louisiana law expressly allows local school boards to promote critical thinking Not only about evolution and the origins of life but also global warming and human cloning,” he said “The 2012 Tennessee act goes further by protecting and encouraging critical studies of such controversial scientific theories as evolution who spoke 25 years ago in Lawrence on the Scopes trial rural community in southern Tennessee became the focal point of tension between religious fundamentalism and scientific theories regarding evolution.IN PART the courthouse trial was a publicity stunt by locals to generate attention for Dayton.He said the forum also placed on a legal scale literal interpretations of creationism found in the Bible and fossil evidence discovered by scientists that pointed to evolution of the species The messaging was so alluring the trial was the first in the United States to be broadcast on national radio You will be automatically redirected to the requested page after 30 seconds Pierre Lisk’s stay in Iola was almost over before it started.A mechanical engineer by trade Lisk through the years had  begun looking at real estate investments — apartment complexes in particular.With nothing readily available near his home in Ottawa which led to a few intriguing prospects in Iola including the old Head Start building.So he came to town to check it out.“I thought maybe we’d need to move a couple of walls slap some paint on it and get it ready,” he recalled.But upon arrival he found a building in need of much more than paint.Pierre Lisk has acquired the old H.L current home of Bolling’s Meat Market.Photo by Richar Luken / Iola Register“This was going to need a complete overhaul,” Lisk said He called local Realtor Jennifer Chester with bad news.“I don’t think I have the bandwidth to take on a project like that,” he said “This was like new construction.”Chester encouraged him to take a closer look.“Let’s meet up and talk numbers,” she suggested.Out of equal parts caution and curiosity And it changed his entire outlook.“I’m a numbers guy,” he said “You can’t go wrong with numbers.”As Chester and Lisk pored over the renovation costs vs suddenly that project didn’t seem so daunting.“I ran through the numbers again and again,” he laughed “I called my insurance guy to make sure this cost was correct I was almost trying to talk myself out of it it checked out.“There have been times I’ve missed out on opportunities because I took so long but if the numbers add up — and they added up here — you make the deal.”It was one of three major purchases Lisk completed in Iola “An advanced civilization must not limit its efforts to science and technology alone.”Let’s hear it for humanities!In 1965 Johnson signed into law the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act. The legislation combines technical information needed for a new law with aspirational language needed to describe its purpose: An advanced civilization along with investing in science and technology must also “give full value and support to the other great branches of scholarly and cultural activity in order to achieve a better understanding of the past and a better view of the future.”The legislation established the National Endowment for the Humanities which was designed to keep Americans engaged and thinking about democracy and ideas The work of state humanities councils — there is one in every state and territory including Humanities Kansas — has been embraced by millions of Americans participating in activities like local preservation projects This work has also been supported by every Congress for the last 60 years.Until now.On April 2 Humanities Kansas received a letter from the Department of Government Efficiency terminating the federal grant that carries out the intent of the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act This has significant implications for our state and nation.Federal funds are appropriated by Congress to the National Endowment for the Humanities and then sent out to the state humanities councils that are charged with distributing the funds across their state Why would the United States government have responsibility to fund projects that explore history and literature and support community treasures like museums and libraries democracy depends on the exchange of ideas.The creation and passage of the 1965 Arts and Humanities Act did not occur in a vacuum writes historian Jason Steinhauer in a recent History Club commentary.The space race between the United States and the Soviet Union and a cultural focus on technological advancement led a group of passionate Americans to convince members of Congress from both parties that our position in the world — and our very democracy — would be threatened without a serious investment in strengthening civic engagement through arts and humanities.“Democracy demands wisdom and vision in its citizens,” the legislation states “It must therefore foster and support a form of education designed to make people of all backgrounds and wherever located masters of their technology and not its unthinking servants.”That statement shared in a recent podcast how the state humanities councils do this work: “Person by person community by community.”This is true in Kansas The Cherryvale Museum volunteers sat down and interviewed local Vietnam War veterans The Republic County Historical Museum worked with filmmakers to tell the story of a once thriving town named Minersville built on Kansas’s lignite coal industry.Historians partnered with Humanities Kansas to create a special speakers bureau to explore the legacy of the 1954 landmark Supreme Court case Board of Education of Topeka on its 70th anniversary Four speakers were invited to speak 32 times in 25 different Kansas communities over the course of a year. And free tickets to the U.S as part of an event created by Humanities Kansas sold out in 22 minutes. Kansans love the humanities Demand for humanities resources continue to rise Armory struckDylan Sicka had exited the 1000 block of North State Street at a high rate of speed Wednesday and struck the exterior of Iola’s National Guard armory building.Sicka was injured in the accident Iola police officers reported. Both the building and Sicka’s vehicle sustained extensive damage.Arrest reportedIola police officers arrested Andrew Pratt on an arrest warrant Wednesday evening in the 300 block of West Madison Avenue. IOLA MUNICIPAL COURTJudge Patti BoydConvicted as follows failure to stop at accident; improper registration driving while suspended (second or subsequent offense) probation orderedDiversion agreements with fines assessed:Marissa D to Robert and Patricia (Adams) Shields.A man of service He proudly served in the United States Navy for 22 years retiring with honors at the rank of Chief Petty Officer he transitioned into a career as a real estate agent helping countless families find their homes His commitment to service extended further when he played a vital role in aiding communities while working with FEMA Some of his work included assisting those in Iola and Southeast Kansas affected by the devastating floods John was a proud member of the Sons of the American Revolution.Later in life earning the admiration and affection of his students leaving a lasting impact on everyone who had the privilege of learning from him His passion for community service led him to serve as the president of the Kiwanis Club where he worked tirelessly to make a difference in the lives of others.Above all John’s greatest role was that of a devoted son and caretaker to his parents He not only provided for them but also became his mother’s closest friend sharing a bond of love and companionship that was truly special.John’s legacy is one of unwavering dedication and the many lives he touched throughout his journey.John was preceded in death by his father Patricia Shields of Iola; and two brothers and two sisters Mary Weatherman and husband Neal of Eudora Michael Shields and wife Denise of Richmond and Richard Shields and wife Kimberly of Clinton who John enjoyed a special bond with.Mass of Christian of Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. John’s family will greet friends following the service in the parish hall.In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials to A.C.A.R.F or the Pregnancy and Family Center of Iola and may be sent in care of Feuerborn Family Funeral Service KS 66749.Condolences may be left for the family at www.feuerbornfuneral.com.Advertisement Health care providers in Sedgwick County are preparing for the potential return of measles to the area for the first time in nearly a decade.An outbreak of the highly contagious respiratory virus in Kansas has grown to 37 confirmed cases Laura Kelly for residents to get themselves and their children vaccinated Most of the cases have been in southwest Kansas with six in Kiowa County.Measles has not been detected in the Wichita area so far this year — but doctors are bracing themselves for the possibility of a local outbreak.“I think we’re going to have cases here in Sedgwick County,” said Dr a professor of family and community medicine at the University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita “I’m kind of surprised we haven’t had a case yet.”WICHITA’S LAST confirmed measles case occurred in 2017 after an unvaccinated child from Butler County contracted the virus in Europe and infected another person on a flight home More than 400 people in Sedgwick County were potentially exposed measles outbreaks are unusual — meaning many doctors lack first-hand experience treating measles patients who worked with measles patients in Salina in the 1990s is trying to educate health professionals on how to test for and treat the virus without spreading it even further he and KU Medicine-Wichita pediatrics professor Robert Wittler are holding a virtual training for health care providers on clinical strategies for managing an outbreak.One tip or consider making house calls — because bringing them into the office risks spreading the virus to everyone who’s unvaccinated in the building.“Measles is so contagious,” Kellerman said even if you bring people in through the back door of your office it can be transmitted through the ventilation system clear to the other side of the office.”The virus can linger in the air for hours after an infected person leaves the room The vast majority of people who are exposed to measles and lack immunity will contract the virus.The Medical Society of Sedgwick County is distributing information to doctors ensuring they have the latest information on how the virus presents and how to test for it runny nose and fever.As the infection progresses many kids develop small white spots inside their mouths and eventually a splotchy rash Someone can be contagious for days before a rash breaks out meaning many people spread the virus before they’re aware that they have it.Sedgwick County health officer Garold Minns says parents who suspect their child may have measles should keep them home.“Don’t take them to the movie theater Don’t send them to school,” Minns said.He says parents should notify their family physician — but don’t bring them anywhere in person without clearing it with staff ahead of time TOPEKA — Analysis of potential congressional cuts to Medicaid indicated Kansas’ loss of nearly $350 million in the first year and more than $3 billion over 10 years could shrink coverage for vulnerable populations escalate family medical debt and raise the risk of hospital closures.Reductions in federal financing of Medicaid could lead to downsizing by 5% to 15% the number of Medicaid enrollees in Kansas and trigger a decline of 22% in Medicaid funding to hospitals in the state Kansas has two-dozen rural hospitals at risk of immediate closure Shrinking federal funding to Medicaid could add to the burden of uncompensated patient care and threaten hospitals operating on narrow margins.The findings were in a report released Tuesday by REACH Healthcare Foundation and United Methodist Health Ministry Fund both health-related philanthropies serving Kansans The report incorporated analysis from Manatt Health policy and legal advisory services in the health care industry.Impetus for the projections was upcoming debate in Congress on a goal of cutting $880 billion in federal spending on Medicaid in the next decade.“The data is clear and deeply concerning,” said David Jordan president and CEO of United Methodist Health Ministry Fund increases in local taxes and less access to care — to offset these cuts advocates and the people of Kansas recognize the consequences before it’s too late.”United Methodist Health Ministry Fund is a statewide foundation that has worked since 1986 to improve the health of Kansans Medicaid is a joint federal and state program offering health coverage to lower-income Kansas children people with disabilities and pregnant women Medicaid supports four of seven nursing home residents in Kansas as well as one in four working-age adults in the state who have a disability the report said.There is interest among congressional Republicans in adopting a national work requirement for recipients of Medicaid doesn’t extend coverage to working-age adults regardless of income unless the recipient was a parent caregiver or a person with a disability.“Medicaid is the largest source of federal funds in Kansas and any cuts to the program will have severe economic and health impacts felt in every corner of the state,” said Brenda Sharpe president and CEO of REACH Healthcare Foundation.REACH is a charitable organization striving to improve access to quality affordable care for uninsured and medically underserved residents of Johnson Wyandotte and Allen counties in Kansas and Jackson Cass and Lafayette counties in Missouri.Manatt Health relied on computer modeling to produce one-year and 10-year projections for Medicaid based on the idea of reducing federal expenditures by $880 billion within a decade The work by Manatt Health was released before Congress completed work on spending adjustments but the assessment aligned with policy parameters options and effective dates outlined by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office ROME — Fire officers on Friday installed the renowned chimney on the roof of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican that will emit the plumes of smoke signalling the results of the upcoming conclave.The process to elect a new pope is set to start on Wednesday with 133 cardinals sealed off in the 15th century chapel with its famous Michelangelo ceiling.DURING THE election black smoke rising from the chimney signals unsuccessful voting rounds.The smoke – traditionally generated by burning the cardinals’ ballot papers – turns white once a new pope has been chosen.Following uncertainty over the colour of the smoke in the past chemicals are now added to the ballot papers to ensure a clear signal – whether black or white.The chimney is connected to two stoves a cast-iron model from 1939 used for the discarded ballot papers and a newer version from 2005 for the chemicals It’s a conversation Tom Strickler will always remember.“I was at the fair when Bill Mentzer came up and asked me what are you going to do when you graduate?’”Strickler was a senior at Kansas State University majoring in ag economics his plan was to work somewhere else for a while and then join his dad He didn’t have a solid answer for Mentzer.“I’m going to need some help with my ag loans,” Mentzer told him come visit with us.” A farmer turned banker Mentzer was at Allen County Bank & Trust. At the interview with Allen County Bank and Trust officers Ray Pershall but after that I’ll be back on the farm,” Strickler told them.“And when I said that working 15 years at Allen County Bank & Trust He then moved to TeamBank for about nine years before he and Ken Gilpin agreed to open a Community National Bank & Trust branch in 2001 TeamBank merged with the former Iola Bank & Trust in 1990.And now Strickler is stepping down as president of Iola’s Community National Bank & Trust. Mike Waldman is the branch’s new president Waldman is no fledgling; he has been a commercial loan officer at CNB&T for 19 years and in the banking industry for 32 years Waldman was the branch’s executive vice president.“We could have made this transition years ago,” Strickler noted “Mike’s ready to step right in and keep things going.”And while Strickler is stepping down from his role as president He plans to work half-time with commercial and ag loans.  my relationship with Tom won’t change,” Waldman said “I’ve told Tom I want him to be around here as much as he wants to be around here.”When asked how banking has changed in their careers Waldman and Strickler are both quick to answer: regulations.“There have been times in my career when new regulations come along and you just scratch your head and wonder if they even want us to make loans,” said Strickler we had one loan document that you signed once we have eight to 10 pages that involve dozens of signatures.”“There’s not a banker out there who wouldn’t say it isn’t out of hand,” agreed Waldman.For small community banks which are often first and foremost agricultural lenders industry changes have also impacted their work Iola-Scandinavia Softball Prevails in CWC Matchup with Amherst We welcome your stories! Contact us at [email protected] David Keech is a retired teacher and works as a sportswriter, sports official and as an educational consultant. He has reported on amateur sports since 2011, known as 'KeechDaVoice.' David can be reached at [email protected] Former Allen County Sheriff Bryan Murphy was taken to the hospital early Friday morning for “non-emergent” injuries he suffered in a two-vehicle accident east of LaHarpe.Current Sheriff Anthony Maness said Murphy — who now works as a deputy sheriff in Bourbon County — was eastbound on U.S just east of LaHarpe when he was hit by a vehicle driven by a female juvenile at about 5:30 a.m.The juvenile told deputies she became distracted by her dog in the vehicle and failed to stop while she was southbound on 2800 Street.The collision knocked Murphy’s vehicle — a BCSD patrol truck — into the eastbound ditch while the juvenile’s vehicle came to a stop in the eastbound lane.Emergency workers had to use the “jaws of life” to get a door open in order to free Murphy from his vehicle Iola Fire Chief Corey Isbell said.Both drivers were taken to the hospital A group of Family and Consumer Science students from Crest High School got a first-hand look at careers in early childhood education Tuesday Switching up the usual idea of a field trip – long hours on the bus trips to the city – students toured local childcare centers nonprofits and school districts to get a better idea of jobs they could pursue right in their own backyard.Crest High School freshman Kallei Robb holds Felix Tyler during nap time at Humboldt’s The Growing Place during a field trip for Crest Family and Consumer Science students.Photo by Tim Stauffer / Iola RegisterThe trip was organized by Crest’s Career and Technical Education coordinator Caitlin Callaway and Allen Community College’s Beth Toland who is the college’s Education and Human Services director and a member of the Crest school district’s Family and Consumer Sciences advisory board.“We wanted to show students the different options they have for careers close to home,” said Toland “Students are seeing jobs with a variety of qualifications and they’ve met several people who didn’t necessarily have higher education experience but who have grown and expanded into their roles.” The day included trips to Grow at Eden Early Learning Center Southeast Kansas Mental Health Center and the Iola Public Library The students also visited with Ceri Coffield a speech language pathologist. Construction on The Growing Place’s new 6,000 foot addition is scheduled to be complete before the start of the 2025-2026 school year.Photo by Tim Stauffer / Iola RegisterThe nine Crest students were able to interact and gain first-hand knowledge in a way ordinary field trips would find hard to replicate.At Humboldt’s The Growing Place Construction is on pace for the new addition to be ready for the start of the new school year this fall Kennington envisions adding 10 new employees to help staff the enlarged center; The Growing Place currently employees 26 “We have waiting lists for all age groups,” said Kennington. The theme of the day Each community’s needs require unique solutions Kennington praised a new agreement with Monarch Cement Co where the company pays for 50% of childcare expenses for employees who have children at The Growing Place A similar agreement is in place between Monarch and Grow at Eden.  Tuesday marked the second evening meeting for the Allen County Commission The meeting was short a commissioner with the absence of David Lee and the crowd was considerably smaller than the previous evening meeting.Dimity Lowell spoke to commissioners on behalf of residents of Montana Road in Iola “We’ve been having a lot of truck problems on our road,” said Lowell She explained that the road has become increasingly congested due to the routine parking of semi-trucks especially on weekends and overnight during the week.Montana Road is half residential and half commercial with Gates Corporation located on the north side just across the street from Lowell’s house.“We get truckers that stop in the middle of the roadway and then they sit there for 10 hours,” Lowell continued She pointed out that semi-trucks are frequently parked on both sides of Montana Road often remaining overnight to comply with 10-hour rest regulations.LOWELL’S main concerns are the safety risks as well as the impact on the residents. “The parked trucks obstruct visibility for drivers and create dangerous conditions for children She added that the large vehicles hinder the normal flow of traffic and limit access for emergency services Lowell says the idling trucks produce noise and exhaust which disrupt the peace and air quality of the neighborhood.  There are available alternatives for the truck drivers A truck stop is located two miles away with the appropriate facilities for overnight parking.“If we have no parking signs on both sides of the street then the truckers will have to go to the truck stop,” she said Lowell then requested the commission install “no parking” signs along the entire length of Montana Road.“When we’ve called the police department because of these issues their suggestion was to go see the county commissioners,” she explained.Road & Bridge Director Jeremy Hopkins questioned the county’s jurisdiction in the matter. “That might be the city because we don’t maintain that section through there,” he said Lowell pointed out that the city is responsible for half of the road while the county is responsible for the other half Commissioner Jerry Daniels suggested that Allen County Sheriff Anthony Maness take a look at the concerns I’m going to let the sheriff check on it,” said Daniels “He can return to us in a week or two with his suggestions Then we’ll see what we can do and go from there.”SEK-CAP Community Engagement Coordinator Casey Brown seeks a letter of support from Allen County Commissioners for a Community Service Block Grant Photo by Sarah Haney / Iola RegisterIN OTHER NEWS Southeast Kansas Community Action Program (SEK-CAP) Community Engagement Coordinator Casey Brown sought a letter of support from commissioners for a Community Service Block Grant (CSBG) “It’s a federal initiative that runs through state and tribal territories,” he explained “It’s part of the core funding of community action programs across the nation.” The CSBG program provides funding to support services aimed at alleviating poverty in communities.Brown shared some impacts that SEK-CAP currently has in the county “SEK-CAP has 22 families housed in the county through either Section 8 or tenant-based rental assistance,” he said “We also have our early childhood education center in Iola that serves 24 kiddos.” He added that SEK-CAP has additional early childhood education visitation services throughout the county.SEK-CAP serves 12 counties in the region “Part of being a community action program is that we have a community needs assessment that we do every three to five years,” said Brown “This is where we gather input from our community We will gladly take anyone who wants to complete it.” The survey can be accessed at www.sek-cap.com the Marathon County Communication Center received a 911 call about a single vehicle crash on County Road N east of County Road Y in the Town of Norrie they located the only occupant of the vehicle The vehicle’s driver was identified as 48-year-old James Michael Kemp The Marathon County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by Birnamwood Fire and EMS and the Medical Examiner’s Office No other information is being released at this time Any further updates will be provided via the Marathon County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page We welcome your stories! Contact us at [email protected] This piece was posted by our news team! Contact us or submit stories at [email protected] We have the address for the funeral home & the family on file If you're not happy with your card we'll send a replacement or refund your money The family of Iola Baker created this Life Tributes page to make it easy to share your memories Made with love by funeralOne Ryan Maddox has the 1959 Chrysler Saratoga looking awfully pretty for Iola High School’s Grand March before prom this Saturday. IHS seniors Lucas Maier and Reese Curry have the honor of driving the classic.   The automobile’s name dates back to Iola’s Class of 1981 was a senior in high school and the car’s lucky owner Friends would pile into the sedan’s plush back seats laugh hilariously as they raced through Chinese fire drills They’d head to the drive-in on Saturday nights cramming eight eager teenage bodies into a car that made them feel like the world was theirs. The car a “poly head” V8 thrusting them into a future that would put Iola in the rearview mirror It was christened the Batmobile. And then it was forgotten Last week a group of Lynda’s high school friends gathered in Iola to relive the good times and to marvel at how fast time flies. Ryan had reached out figuring they’d like a chance to drive down memory lane He didn’t need to ask twice.The 1959 Chrysler Saratoga is all chrome and sharp curves It will make its long-awaited reappearance during Iola’s Grand March on Saturday.Photo by Tim Stauffer / Iola RegisterTHE KEYS to the Batmobile ended up in Lynda’s hands almost by accident who in 1916 established a garage — and later a Chrysler and Plymouth dealership — on 222 South St. Lynda’s father used to own the Amoco garage on West Street he worked at the Deep Rock/Kerr McGee service station on the southeast corner of U.S Hwy 54 and State Street. Family lore has it that Arbuckle brought the brand-new car to Leslie’s garage for an estimate on a repair he asked Leslie how much he could get for the vehicle The car had been parked on some property east of Iola for 27 years It had been one of the loves of Lynda’s life Its sorry state was one of her greatest tribulations and took it to a garage in Fort Scott.Work on the car was slow and inconsistent and then months of silence. And when Lynda died in 2018 at the age of 54 the car was still in Fort Scott — and in bad shape. “There were no bumpers “It was a mess.”Out of devotion to his mother’s memory He whipped the mechanic into shape and made progress after years of silence and shaved 5 percentage points off first-quarter growth Consumer spending also slowed sharply — to 1.8% growth from 4% in October-December last year Federal government spending plunged 5.1% in the first quarter.Forecasters surveyed by the data firm FactSet had expected the economy to eke out 0.8% growth in the first quarter but many expected GDP to fall.Financial markets sank on the report The Dow Jones tumbled 400 points at the opening bell shortly after the GDP numbers were released The S&P 500 dropped 1.5% and the Nasdaq composite fell 2%.The surge in imports — fastest since 1972 outside COVID-19 economic disruptions — is likely to reverse in the second quarter Paul Ashworth of Capital Economics forecasts that April-June growth will rebound to a 2% gain.Trade deficits reduce GDP GDP is supposed to count only what’s produced domestically So imports — which the government counts as consumer spending in the GDP report when you buy Swiss chocolates — have to be subtracted out to keep them from artificially inflating domestic production And other aspects of Wednesday’s GDP report suggested that the economy looked solid at the start of the year.A category within the GDP data that measures the economy’s underlying strength rose at a healthy 3% annual rate from January through March up from 2.9% in the fourth quarter of 2024.Still many economists say that Trump’s massive import taxes — the erratic way he’s rolled them out — will hurt growth in the second half of the year and that recession risks are rising.“We think the downturn of the economy will get worse in the second half of this year,’’ wrote Carl Weinberg chief economist at High Frequency Economics “Corrosive uncertainty and higher taxes — tariffs are a tax on imports — will drag GDP growth back into the red by the end of this year.’’Wednesday’s report also showed an increase in prices that is likely to worry the Federal Reserve which is still trying to cool inflation after a severe pandemic run-up The Fed’s favored inflation gauge — the personal consumption expenditures price index — rose at an annual rate of 3.6% so-called core PC inflation registered 3.5% The central bank wants to see inflation at 2%.The first-quarter GDP numbers “highlight the bind that the Federal Reserve is in,” Ryan Sweet of Oxford Economics wrote in a commentary.The Fed must weigh whether to cut interest rates to support economic growth or leave rates high because of elevated inflation “The economy was essentially stagnant in the first three months of the year while growth in headline and core inflation accelerated fanning concerns of stagflation.’’TRUMP INHERITED a solid economy that had grown steadily despite high interest rates imposed by the Fed in 2022 and 2023 to fight inflation His erratic trade policies — including 145% tariffs on China — have paralyzed businesses and threatened to raise prices and hurt consumers.Democrats were quick to blame Trump for disrupting several years of solid economic growth Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts said: “100 days into his presidency green-light tariffs are shrinking our economy with businesses stockpiling imports in anticipation of tariff doomsday.” KwiKom is drastically reducing its Iola workforce. Over 30 employees from the company’s construction crews were laid off last week.The move comes as KwiKom adjusts to a new merger between its parent company, WANRack, and Gateway Fiber of St confirmed the company is eliminating KwiKom’s outside fiber installation crews who were responsible for planning and installing mainline fiber routes the company will now rely entirely on subcontractors for that work.“The biggest effects of those cuts will be felt in Iola,” said Meyer.When asked about the future of KwiKom’s office in Iola and its maintenance building in Gas Meyer declined to comment.KwiKom is expected to sell off its fleet of vehicles and shutter its Gas facility in the wake of multiple layoffs in the Iola area.Photo by Tim Stauffer / Iola RegisterKwiKom’s Iola office houses about 15 employees across its IT sales and business office teams; it also has a large warehouse The Gas location has served as home base for KwiKom’s aerial positions that were all terminated along with the location’s mechanic which impacted 14 employees across departments,” Meyer said.After the layoffs with 111 from KwiKom/WANRack.Though the combined company is now owned by a global real estate investment firm The company began in 2010 when John Vogel and Zach Peres merged their individual companies Vogel retired from KwiKom before the WANRack acquisition; Peres left the company earlier this year prior to the announced merger with Gateway All positions that have been eliminated are a result of the merger “It was a hard business decision to make,” said Meyer “But we made it with future opportunities for the area in mind It was difficult for us to support those crews long-term and we appreciate our customers.”THRIVE Allen County’s CEO Lisse Regehr noted the non-profit offers a variety of services to those recently unemployed.“If you just lost your job you qualify for a special enrollment period and our care coordinators are ready to help,” she said.Regehr also noted KansasWorks employees are in Thrive’s office every Wednesday to help with employment searches.“Thrive can also help with food utility and housing assistance,” said Regehr “We want to help get our community members back on their feet as fast as we can.” Four bar associations reached an historic settlement with New York State to help ensure that needy New Yorkers have lawyers when facing civil court battles – such as a parent’s fight for custody of a child or a plea to save the family home “When the state created a fund in 1983 to help everyday New Yorkers afford legal services during the most consequential moments of their lives the state promised that the fund would own its own assets the state usurped $55 million of the fund for its own purposes,” the New York State Bar Association the New York County Lawyers Association and the Monroe County Bar Association said Under the threat of a lawsuit from the four bar associations and the fund itself Kathy Hochul and Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli agreed this week to put the fund off limits from the normal politics of budget making By agreeing to characterize the Interest on Lawyer Account Fund of the State of New York as a ‘fiduciary fund,’ it guarantees that this vital lifeline to legal services remains intact The fund has distributed almost a billion dollars in grants The state’s raid of the fund last year could not have come at a worse time; the access to justice gap between those who can afford a lawyer and those who cannot is now a canyon widening into an abyss into which an untold number of New Yorkers are now falling “The harsh truth is that justice is growing increasingly out of reach for all but the well-to-do,” the bar associations said “Most of the poor simply cannot afford a lawyer to help them with civil legal problems of central importance to their lives Greenberg Traurig is the pro bono counsel for the bar associations and IOLA in this matter a litigation shareholder at the firm and former president of the New York State Bar Association and includes shareholders Elizabeth Garvey The vast bulk of the money in the IOLA fund comes from pooled interest paid on lawyers’ trust accounts – interest generated without taxing the public and at no cost to lawyers or their clients Read what the bar associations are saying about the settlement: © 2025 New York State Bar Association Somebody once asked Steve Strickler if he was going to follow in his father’s footsteps.Not likely and I wear 9 ½.”But Steve eventually did follow — and indeed fill — the footsteps of  his father to continue the family’s storied legacy in the dairy business.“Dad was president of virtually every dairy organization in the country,” Strickler said they’ll ask — especially the older ones — if I knew Ivan Strickler. “Yeah bringing to an end one of Iola’s enduring farming legacies in the process.An agreement is in place to sell off the cattle herd at Strickler Holstein Farm to a dairy in Springfield One hundred thirty Holsteins are set to be shipped out next week Enough business partners have convinced him to continue raising breeding bulls.“I’ll probably keep them for a few months here but I’ll probably have to find someplace else to raise them after that,” he said.Strickler is nearing a separate arrangement to lease his dairy barns and equipment to another producer.By the end of next week there will be no milk produced under the Strickler Dairy umbrella for the first time in 85 years.“People have asked me ‘Do you have an exit strategy,’” Strickler said I’ve never really tried to look too far ahead Strickler notched another milestone last weekend when the Kansas Dairy Association Board recognized him as a Kansas Dairy Leader the same designation given to his father in 1974 the year Steve graduated from college.It marks the first time in the 73 years the organization has given the award that the honor has gone to a father and son from the same family.“It’s a nice honor,” Strickler said.As an aside he still mispronounces “Holstein.” “It’s pronounced ‘Hol-STINE,’” Steve chided a nod to the way the breed originally was pronounced in Europe. STRICKLER DAIRY came to Iola in 1939 when Ivan Strickler was just getting out of high school had moved his operation from Colony to the outskirts of Iola