Dear editor,
It’s been brought to my attention recently that keeping a yard/lawn in “perfect” condition is the absolute No. 1 priority to quite a few individuals.
The point being — mine was not “up to par.” I’d let a patch of fescue grass about 10-foot square grow for about five years. But suddenly — this year — it became a problem for someone. I don’t give loud parties, don’t play loud music, don’t litter, don’t gossip, don’t mistreat my pets by letting them go without food, water or shelter, my yard has no old cars or appliances in it.
My crime: I let a patch of grass grow in my backyard.
This offense prompted a letter threatening legal action if I did not remove this menace — which I’ve done.
I’m writing this because I wonder and question our priorities. When we’re on our death bed, do you really believe we’ll be thinking, “Oh my God! My yard needs to be mowed and weed-eaten!”
Or, “Oh my God! The neighbor’s yard hasn’t been mowed in 10 days! It looks awful!”
I don’t think so.
No, I’m not a perfect housekeeper, nor a perfect “lawnkeeper.” Just average. (Even though many people seem to think this “perfection” is of absolute importance.) But like others of my mindset, I care more about ministering to people. And even caring for animals.
There are so many hurting people and there are those who only focus on “lawn perfection.”
Even caring for pets and abandoned and neglected animals is more important in the scope of things. And our local animal shelter struggles daily to keep afloat.
I find this very sad.
Sharon McCauley,
Moran
Pull the shades; Iola deserves to sleep in today
If Iola sleeps in this morning, it’s excused.
After all, a sizeable chunk of townsfolk didn’t get to bed until the wee hours of this morning. So pull down the shades and roll over. You’ve earned those extra 40 winks.
The effort behind another successful Charley Melvin extravaganza cannot be overestimated. Countless hours on the part of Thrive Allen County and Allen County Crime Stoppers went into planning the various events.
Likewise, area organizations stepped up to the plate and got involved, proving once again it takes a village to make ANYTHING happen — at least successfully.
Yes, it was a busy time, but oh my, didn’t it feel good to come together for nothing other than to have a good time. No agenda. No competition — unless you put it on yourself for the 5K race. And no milestone to mark.
Of course the Charley organizers probably didn’t have that sense of laissez-faire. Both Thrive and Crime Stoppers use the proceeds from ticket sales and registrations to fund their worthwhile projects.
Crime Stoppers is effective in helping curb area crime. The organization gives rewards for tips on possible offenders or suspicions of wrongdoing. A board of directors decides the sum to be rewarded. The maximum amount is $1,0000. A dedicated phone line is used for the service. Tips also may be emailed or texted. Informants are assured anonymity.
Crime Stoppers also posts a “crime of the week,” on its website, allencountycs.org.
THRIVE’S purpose is to make Allen County a healthier place for people to live and work. Its goal is to make Allen County the “healthiest rural county in Kansas.”
The most obvious way Thrive has worked toward that goal is with its involvement with the walking and biking trails now running from Humboldt to north of Iola. Thrive has been instrumental in attaining grants to help build and maintain the trails.
It’s also the driving force behind The Movement, an exercise and healthy eating initiative that has recently involved 340 Allen Countians to lose a combined 2,040 pounds; an average of 6 pounds each.
Thrive also is working to help fight poverty, create better access to health care and spur economic development.
So, hats off to all who worked so hard, making for a very easy night for the rest of us.
—Susan Lynn
Iola band a welcome constant
Iola area folks have three more opportunities this summer for delightful entertainment that doesn’t cost a red cent.
The Iola Municipal Band plays at 8 p.m. Thursdays at the bandstand. Don’t miss a one. You’ll love the music, and also have a chance for a dish of tasty ice cream from a local group’s fundraiser.
Jake Ard, the band’s director, gave Iola Rotarians a sketch of the band’s history, most of which has been reported over the years but worth repeating every now and then.
Our band is one of the oldest in the land from the perspective of continuous performances.
Ard noted community bands weren’t a part of the social fabric until after the Civil War. Bands were a big part of the war effort, to entertain troops and spur patriotism, and when soldiers who had played came marching home, they wanted to continue.
Iolans fresh from battle encouraged formation of a band and the first concert was in 1867. The band, all brass and percussion and definitely all male, played sporadically until 1871 when Iola Municipal Band became a fixture.
That it has played every year since, 142 straight, is “pretty incredible,” Ard said. Also, only five city bands are left in Kansas that perform regularly each year. Iola’s is the oldest.
The current bandstand was constructed in 1916, when leaders of four industries ponied up $1,000 each for a new venue. Remarkably, its construction wasn’t without controversy.
Two of three county commissioners — apparently a couple of cantankerous fellows — voted against a new bandstand, which led the third to round up help to pour a concrete base for the bandstand in the dead of night.
However, its completion didn’t occur for more than a year, when Iola officials, tired of seeing the half-finished structure, stepped in and got it done.
Over time, the band grew. Woodwinds and violins were added and eventually women, too, although the band’s racial integration occurred much earlier, in the 1880s.
Nowadays, it’s an eclectic group, and has had performers as young as preteen and others in their 70s and 80s.
The band will never be at a loss for something to play. Its library contains 700 pieces of music, with printing dates as early as 1896, and new ones purchased each year.
While the band has evolved with the times, it has a couple of features that Ard said he nor anyone else had an inclination to disturb: Each concert starts with the national anthem and ends with a Sousa march.
—Bob Johnson
Aleah Sutterby
Aleah M. Sutterby, 16, Redfield, died early Tuesday, July 9, 2013, at Freeman Hospital, Joplin, Mo., from injuries suffered in an automobile accident.
She was born October 9, 1996, in Fort Scott, the daughter of Mark Sutterby and Rachel Payne Sutterby. Aleah was to begin her junior year at Uniontown High School. She was active in the Future Farmers of America Chapter and was to be reporter. She also was a member of the Scholarship Bowl, Math Club and Spanish Club. She was on the volleyball and track teams. Her family teased her often calling her “Elly May,” referring to her love of animals and ability to work with them. Aleah’s ambition was to be a veterinarian.
Survivors include her mother and father, Rachel and Mark Sutterby; two brothers, Jacob Sutterby and Caleb Sutterby; and maternal grandparents, Harold and Patsy Payne, Colony. She was preceded in death by her paternal grandparents.
Pastor Jeff Feagins will conduct funeral services at 10:30 a.m. Friday in the Uniontown High School commons area. Burial will follow in Uniontown Cemetery. The family will receive friends Thursday afternoon and evening at the home of Raymond and Joyce Houston. Memorials are suggested to a math scholarship fund at the Uniontown High School in her name. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
Chanute withdraws from KABA tourney
OSAWATOMIE — The Kansas Amateur Baseball Association (KABA) league tournament, which features Iola Post 15’s AA Indians, has lost a competitor.
Chanute’s squad pulled out of the competition, which slightly alters the schedule for the Indians, team manager Neal Barclay said.
With eight teams in the fold, a new pair of brackets have been set up — the championship bracket for the teams that continue to win; and a consolation bracket, for those that drop their first game of the tournament.
The Indians are still the top seed and will take on eighth-seed Louisburg at 10 a.m. Saturday at Osawatomie’s Karl E. Cole Sports Complex.
The first-round winner will play either fourth-seed Fort Scott or fifth-seed Garnett at 10 a.m. Sunday.
The other side of the bracket features thirdseed Wellsville against Osawatomie and second- seed Ottawa against Burlington.
The semifinal and final rounds are Sunday in Osawatomie.
Water safety in focus
The summer of 2013 has been a deadly one at several Kansas lakes, ponds and rivers.
At least 13 people have drowned in Kansas since May 18, according to a Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism press release, including Iolan John Williams, who drowned while fishing in the Neosho River in Woodson County June 22.
The pace seems to have quickened now that the weather has turned warm and more people are flocking to the water.
Five people drowned in the first week of July, including four during the extended July 4 holiday.
Of note, at least nine of the drownings were not boating related, according to KDWPT, which investigates boating accidents. Only one of the victims was wearing a life jacket.
There are several things you can take to ensure your safety, said Maj. Dan Hesket, boating law administrator with KDWPT.
His recommendations:
— Wear a life jacket at all times. Kansas law requires that all boats have proper life jackets for each person on board. Anyone 12 and younger is required to wear a life jacket at all times. Hesket encourages adults to follow the same example.
— Swim and wade with caution. Lakes and rivers aren’t swimming pools and shouldn’t be treated as such. Lakes have wind, waves, underwater obstacles, sudden drop-offs and soft bottoms. Rivers may have deceptively strong currents. Most bodies of water in Kansas are murky, making it nearly impossible to locate someone who has slipped beneath the surface.
— Never dive into a lake, since you can’t see the water depth or underwater debris.
— Know your limitations. Most people over-estimate their ability to swim in open water. Swimming in a large body of water is strenuous. Be particularly cautious if you have underlying medical issues or take medication.
— Don’t swim at night, and don’t swim alone. Nobody can see you if you get in trouble.
— Avoid horseplay and risk-taking. Practical jokes and childish challenges may seem innocent at the time, but could have tragic consequences. Hesket noted most of the drowning victims were male — possibly because they were more inclined to take risks than females.
— Avoid alcohol and other drugs. In addition to impairing a person’s judgment, alcohol increases the likelihood a swimmer will tire or become disoriented, hyperventilate or gasp involuntarily.
— Designate a lookout. With no lifeguards on duty, it’s a good idea to designate someone who can sound an alarm and respond appropriately if a swimmer gets in trouble. Rescuers should not attempt to approach a person struggling to stay afloat unless they are trained to do so. Even strong swimmers can drown trying to help others. Instead, stay on the boat or dock and extend a pole, oar, stick, rope or clothing to reach the victim, or throw something that can float.
— Learn cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR). You could save someone’s life in the time it takes for emergency responders to arrive at a rural location.
Iola, Humboldt swimmers bring action to pool
HUMBOLDT — The Iola Seahorses were back in action Wednesday, traveling to Humboldt in their first action following a two-week break.
The competition was evenly matched, with Iola nabbing 38 wins out of 78; Humboldt 40.
Several individual performances of note warrant mentioning. Iola’s Emma Piazza was Michael Phelps-esque in winning six individual events and two relays, in the girls 15-18 year division. Iola’s Autumn Johnson was just as dominant, winning all six individual events. Johnson did not have enough teammates to swim in a relay, however.
On the boys’ side, Iola’s Fryendz Wallace and Michael Wilson split their wins — three apiece — in some of the most hotly contested races of the night, where several of the races were decided by a fraction of a second.
Iola’s results follow. Humboldt’s results were not available by press time. All distances are measured in yards.
Girls
6-and-under
25 butterfly: 3. Elza Clift, 46.94; 6. Akeela Thompson, 1:17.88.
25 backstroke: 2. Clift, 36.82. 6. Thompson, 1:02.59.
25 breaststroke: 1. Clift, 35.28; 5. Thompson, 1:16.31.
25 freestyle: 2. Clift, 37.60; 4. Thompson, 47.97.
7-8 years
25 butterfly: 1. Rio Lohman, 34.78.
25 backstroke: 4. Lohman, 43.94.
25 breaststroke: 4. Lohman, 34.28.
25 freestyle: 3. Lohman, 34.78.
9-10 years
25 butterfly: 4. Kaylin Klubek, 33.50; 5. Jaci Gull, 35.16.
25 backstroke: 3. Gull, 26.47; 5. Audrey Powe, 32.10.
25 breaststroke: 4. Gull, 35.84; 5. Klubek, 41.19.
25 freestyle: 3. Gull, 25.56; 5. Klubek, 30.12; 6. Powe, 31.47.
11-12 years
100 freestyle:1. Autumn Johnson, 1:20.65.
50 butterfly: 1. Johnson, 42.28.
50 backstroke: 1. Johnson, 39.00.
50 breaststroke: 1. Johnson, 48.06.
50 freestyle: 1. Johnson, 35.43.
100 individual medley: 1. Johnson, 1:34.22.
13-14 years
100 freestyle: 1. Della Lohman, 1:12.06; 3. Trinity Hildebrand, 1:38.94; 4. Tori Smith, 1:39.03.
50 butterfly: 1. Lohman, 36.06; 3. Hildebrand, 58.69; 4. Smith, 69.63.
50 backstroke: 1. Lohman, 39.53; 2. Megan Klubek, 42.94; 3. Karly McGuffin, 44.38.
50 breaststroke: 1. Klubek, 43.88; 2. McGuffin, 51.41; 3. Smith, 54.03.
50 freestyle: 1. Lohman, 33.94; 2. McGuffin, 35.00; 3. Hildebrand, 41.25.
100 individual medley: 1. Lohman, 1:23.43; 2. Megan Klubek, 1:29.84; 3. McGuffin, 1:37.25.
15-18 years
100 freestyle: 1. Emma Piazza, 1:09.56.
50 butterfly: 1. Piazza, 36.84.
50 backstroke: 1. Piazza, 44.44.
50 breaststroke: 1. Piazza, 41.69.
50 freestyle: 1. Piazza, 31.37.
100 individual medley: 1. Piazza, 1:21.69.
10-and-under
50 freestyle: 3. Jaci Gull, 52.84; 5. Kaylin Klubek, 1:06.15.
100 individual medley: 3. Gull, 2:39.50; 4. Audrey Powe, 2:40.82.
11-18 years
200 freestyle: 1. Emma Piazza, 2:40.90; 2. Megan Klubek, 2:50.84
Boys
6-and-under
25 butterfly: 2. Everett Glaze, 37.97.
25 backstroke: 1. Glaze, 51.82.
25 breaststroke: 1. Glaze, 43.15.
25 freestyle: 1. Glaze, 39.85.
7-8 years
25 butterfly: 2. Kendall Glaze, 39.00.
25 backstroke: 2. Glaze, 40.16.
25 breaststroke: 1. Glaze, 36.37.
25 freestyle: 2. Glaze, 34.58.
9-10 years
25 butterfly: 3. Ryan Hildebrand, 44.13.
25 backstroke: 3. Hildebrand, 33.47.
25 freestyle: 2. Hildebrand, 23.58.
11-12 years
100 freestyle: 3. Spencer Ames, 2:07.97.
50 butterfly: 1. Ames, 56.78.
50 backstroke: 1. Ames, 1:00.53.
50 freestyle: 2. Ames, 49.15.
100 individual medley: 1. Ames, 1:54.72.
15-18 years
100 freestyle: 1. Fryendz Wallace, 1:02.63; 2. Tyler Holloway, 1:11.91.
50 butterfly: 1. Michael Wilson, 34.44; 2. Jordan Strickler, 34.62; 5. Holloway, 42.31.
50 backstroke: 1. Wallace, 31.72; 3. Wilson, 36.09; 4. Strickler, 39.22.
50 breaststroke: 1. Wilson, 38.03; 2. Strickler, 38.28; 3. Holloway, 38.63.
50 freestyle: 1. Wallace, 25.78; 3. Holloway, 29.84; 4. Strickler, 30.28.
100 individual medley: 1. Wilson, 1:12.07; 2. Wallace, 1:12.69; 4. Holloway, 1:23.18.
10-and-under
50 freestyle: 2. Ryan Hildebrand, 54.47.
11-18 years
200 freestyle: 1. Michael Wilson, 2:26.59; 3. Jordan Strickler, 2:43.00.
Relays
7-8 100 medley: 2. Iola (Elza Clift, Rio Lohman, Everett Glaze, Kendall Glaze), 2:29.00.
7-8 100 freestyle: 3. Iola (Clift, R. Lohman, E. Glaze, K. Glaze), 2:36.21.
9-10 100 medley: 3. Iola (Audrey Powe, Kaylin Klubek, Jaci Gull, Ryan Hildebrand), 2:16.78.
9-10 100 freestyle: 2. Iola (R. Hildebrand, Gull, K. Klubek, Powe), 1:46.22.
13-14 200 medley: 1. Iola (Karly McGuffin, Megan Klubek, Della Lohman, Trinity Hildebrand), 2:53.47.
13-14 200 freestyle: 3. Iola (McGuffin, Tori Smith, D. Lohman, M. Klubek), 2:26.59.
15-18 200 medley: 1. Iola (Jordan Strickler, Emma Piazza, Michael Wilson, Fryendz Wallace), 2:13.00.
15-18 200 freestyle: 1. Iola (Wilson, Wallace, Strickler, Piazza), 1:56.47.
Country star to entertain crowds
Music will be a strong component of the entertainment provided Friday night.
Josey Milner, an up-and-coming country music star, will perform at two separate times and venues.
From 7 to 7:45 p.m. Milner will be on the bandstand playing more old-time favorites as she plays the acoustic guitar.
One of her favorite tunes is Patsy Cline’s “Walking After Midnight.”
Then from 11 p.m. to midnight Milner and her full band will play in front of the post office on West Street “to get the crowd pumped up for the race,” said Mike Ford of Crime Stoppers, which with Thrive Allen County is organizing the Charley Melvin Mad Bomber Run for Your Life.
Milner, 18, hails from Kansas City, Mo., and has opened for country star Chris Cagle, among others. In 2012 she released her new single, “Not Pretty Enough,” although she herself is a former teen rodeo and pageant princess.
Milner’s performances will be free to the public.
“She gave us a good deal,” said Damaris Kunkler, program director at Thrive Allen County.
Proceeds from ticket sales for the run/walk will help defer the cost of Milner’s performances.
Iola squad hits postseason on a roll
OSAWATOMIE — Iola’s American Legion squad has parlayed its sterling regular season record into the top seed of the upcoming Kansas Amateur Baseball Association League Tournament.
The KABA tournament begins Saturday morning at Osawatomie’s Karl E. Cole Sports Complex at the intersection of 12th and Walnut streets.
The Post 15 Indians (32-2 overall) earned the top KABA seed, courtesy of their 18-0 league record. They’ll take on either eighth seed Burlington (4-12 in KABA and 7-17 overall) or ninth seed Louisburg (0-17, 5-17) at 1:30 p.m. Saturday.
Win or lose, the tournament continues Sunday with each team guaranteed two more games. The winner of Iola’s first-round game will play at 10 a.m. Sunday against either fourth seed Fort Scott (10-6, 13-7) or fifth seed Chanute (6-8, 13-13). From there, another win puts the Indians in the championship game at 4:45 p.m. Sunday, while a loss puts them in the third-place game at 2:30 p.m.
The other side of the bracket includes second seed Ottawa (9-3, 18-9) against seventh seed Osawatomie (6-9, 7-11) and third seed Wellsville (9-3, 12-3) against sixth seed Garnett (6-8, 7-16).
The losers of the first-round games will play a series of contests starting at 9 a.m. Sunday on Field 1. All winner’s bracket games, including the championship contest, will be on Field 2.
Iola’s cumulative statistics and the KABA tournament bracket appears on B2.
The defending AA state champion Indians will serve as the host team for the AA zone tournament, which begins the week of July 22 at Allen Community College. The zone winner will head to the state tournament in Pratt July 31-Aug. 4.
Friday night will be a chance to showcase Iola
Imagine if Iola grew by 20 percent.
That would be an additional 1,000 to our current population of 5,700.
That’s the expectation Friday night with the Charley Melvin Mad Bomber Run for Your Life.
Year after year the event has attracted a larger audience. Now in its fifth year, Charley Melvin has grown to be more than just a late night walk or run, but a full evening of activities geared for the whole family.
CHARLEY MELVIN is an opportunity Iola should not waste.
It’s a time we can put our best foot forward. Think of when you travel to other communities and what stands out.
Neighborhoods look best when the yards are neatly trimmed, when the toys are not scattered about and when trash cans are out of sight.
A downtown’s streets and sidewalks are inviting when free of litter and the store windows are colorfully decorated.
And nothing says come join the fun more than when the townsfolk themselves are participating. Friday night is a chance for us to show Iola is a fun-loving community.
And for heaven’s sake, if you see a stranger, be sure to say “Welcome, glad you’re here.” The Charley Melvin has helped Iola make just a little bit bigger impression on out-of-towners, much the same as the Buster Keaton Celebration each fall.
The uniqueness of the midnight 3K walk and 5K run is a draw especially for younger crowds who like to do healthy things — exactly the kind of people we want to come our way.
For many, the Charley Melvin will be the reason for their first visit to Iola. If they go home with a favorable impression, chances are they’ll come back.
And when that happens, Iola has won the race.
— Susan Lynn