George M. LeGrande, Jr., 67, Welda, passed away Monday, June 30, 2014, surrounded by his family. Private services are planned. Arrangements are being conducted by Kansas City Funeral Directors, 4880 Shawnee Dr., Kansas City, Kan., 66106.
Frank Eichstaedt
Frank L. Eichstaedt, 68, Wichita, husband of Kathy (Burke) Eichstaedt, died Monday, June 30, 2014 in Wichita.
Visitation will be at 6 o’clock tonight at Waugh-Yokum & Friskel Memorial Chapel. Inurnment will be at a later date in St. Martins Cemetery in Piqua. To sign the guestbook online go to http://www.iolafuneral.com/
The proof is in: Tax cut scenario is taking Kansas down
This is the (fiscal) year Kansas legislators are happy to kiss goodbye. Or maybe boot out the door.
Monday’s numbers showed we ended the fiscal year $338 million shy of that budgeted. For June, we were $28 million short.
Today marks a clean slate, so to speak, except there’s no reason to expect any better returns for fiscal year 2015. Gov. Brownback doggedly maintains his tax cuts are creating a “Kansas renaissance.”
Can’t you tell?
Perhaps if we were walled off from the outside world it would feel that way.
Truth is, Kansas lags neighboring states and the nation in job growth. We are one of only five states that have lost — not gained — jobs since the first of the year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In the five-state region, Kansas is the only state to still have fewer jobs today than in 2008, the onset of the recession.
Brownback has planned a total of $4 billion worth of tax cuts over the next five years. Today, state coffers are projected to be darn near empty by year’s end.
This is a roadmap to doom.
THE PREMISE of Brownback’s supply-side economics is that tax cuts have such a positive effect on the economy that they need not be balanced with spending cuts. As a tax-free haven, industries are supposed to flock our way, and consumers are to spend like crazy.
The lower tax barriers are also supposed to allow manufacturers to produce for less, and thus charge less. Only they aren’t.
When is the last time you saw the price of something drop?
And, of course, when sales taxes are kept high, the formula hits disproportionately on the middle class and poor who use more of their income to purchase food and clothing.
The trickle-down effect stops right at the front door of the well to do, conveniently.
PAUL DAVIS, presumed Democratic nominee for governor, understands this game and how it is geared to favor the wealthy.
On Monday, Davis proposed to postpone the Legislature’s income tax reduction schedule, as well as others.
“We want to freeze everything right where it is, right now,” he said in a speech Monday.
Halting the tax cut schedule would produce an estimated $1.2 billion over five years.
Davis brings sanity to the discussion.
Stanch the bleeding. Fund our obligations. And then see what’s possible.
— Susan Lynn
Michael Boles
Michael Lee Boles, 65, Piqua, passed away Saturday, June 28, 2014, at his home. Funeral services will be on Thursday at 10 a.m. at Zion Lutheran Church with visitation one hour prior to service time. Memorial contributions may be made to the family and memorials may be left at Webb & Rodrick Chapel.
Michael was born Aug. 22, 1948, in Caney, the son of Evart Lee and Edna M. (Goines) Boles, and graduated from Caney High School. Michael was a 21-year U.S. Navy Veteran having served during the Vietnam conflict and Desert Storm retiring in 1991. In 1993, he returned to Independence from Pennsylvania then moving to Piqua to work for Russell Stovers. He had received his bachelor’s degree in history from Columbus University. He was a loving family man who enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren.
On Dec. 18, 1969, Michael was united in marriage to Connie (Darbe) Boles. She survives, as do five sons, John Boles, Independence, Adam Boles, San Diego, Calif., Patrick Boles, Independence, Luke Boles, St. Joseph, Mo., and Matthew Boles Glen Burrie, Md., as well as 14 grandchildren. He is also survived by a brother, Roger Boles, Oklahoma City, Okla. He was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Alicia Rae Boles; and a brother, Bruce Boles.
Webb & Rodrick Chapel & Crematory is in charge of arrangements.
Dorothy Whitley
Dorothy D. Whitley, 90, Iola, died Monday, June 30, 2014, at Fountain Villa in Iola.
Dorothy was born April 9, 1924, in Croweburg, the daughter of David Ira and Minnie Marie (Greer) Darrow. She grew up at Pittsburg where she attended school. She had made her home in Iola in later years.
Survivors include four daughters, Marilyn Wiggins and husband Russell, Lawrence, Bonnie Steward and husband Jack, Iola, Lucinda Yeates and husband Mike, Comfort, Texas, and Kay Gross and husband Ben, Sedgwick; one brother, Lawrence Darrow and wife Noma, Oronogo, Mo.; 14 grandchildren and a number of great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by husbands Del Roy Martin and Lester Whitley, Jr., and grandson Jerry Moses.
Cremation has taken place. Memorial service is at 2 p.m. Thursday at Waugh-Yokum & Friskel Chapel in Iola. To sign the guestbook online or leave a condolence, go to, www.iolafuneral.com.
Texans enjoy Iola hospitality
Brynn Fontenot was a shade too short to get to go down the Iola Municipal Pool water slides last summer.
“But we’re going to be all over it this year,” her mother, Brooke White said Monday, while playing with her daughter at Riverside Park.
White, 30, is from Galveston, Texas, and is in town for the week to visit her grandparents, Iolans Mary and Bob White, and her aunt, Kris Rourk.
Brooke White attended Iola schools briefly as a child before moving away as a fifth-grader. She and Brynn plan a week-long excursion to Iola each summer to celebrate July 4.
“We only get to see my grandparents once a year,” she explained.
They’ll be in Kansas until Saturday, long enough to celebrate Independence Day, capped by a visit to the Gas fireworks show.
“We’ve gone there the past couple of years,” she said. “It’s always a good show.”
Brooke White is the daughter of former Iolans Matt and Bobbey White. Matt White is an Iola High School graduate.
Iola Elks plan family fun, fishing, fireworks
The Iola Elks Lodge will host activities for folks of all ages Friday for their annual Independence Day celebration.
The event kicks off at 9 a.m. with the annual Ed Hendrix Fishing Derby, open to those 16 or younger.
Gates open at 7:30 with registration starting at 8 o’clock. Bait will be provided. Participants will receive a free T-shirt, entry prize and lunch. Parents or guardians must be on hand to sign in their child.
The awards presentation begins at 11:30, at which time lunch will be provided: hot dogs, hamburgers, chips and drinks.
A land box turtle race — participants must bring their own turtle — is set for 12:30 p.m.
Kids games run from 12:30 to 3 o’clock.
A carp fishing tournament, available for a $5 registration fee, runs from 1 to 3 p.m. A cash prize goes to whoever lands the largest carp. The contest is available to all ages. Anybody under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
Prize drawings, a silent auction and chicken drop games begin at 3:45.
Concessions will be sold in the evening before the celebration is capped by a massive fireworks display after dusk.
Participants also are invited to bring their summer swimwear to cool off in the designated swimming area. One note: no lifeguard is on duty.
The Elks have set up a Facebook page — Iola Ed Hendrix’s Fishing Derby and Fireworks Display. For more information, call Lynda Beth, (620) 363-2470.
Christy Walden
Christina Marie “Christy” (Bennett) Walden, 32, Iola, passed away Thursday, June 26, 2014, at Overland Park Regional Medical Center.
Christy was born Sept. 25, 1981, in Iola, the daughter of Robert and Mary (Dietrich) Bennett. She grew up in Iola, Kincaid and Texas before returning to Iola. She graduated from Iola High School in 2000.
On June 23, 2013, Christy married Mitchal Walden. She was a CMA/CNA at Fountain Villa Assisted Living in Iola.
Her husband survives, as does a son, Phoenix Rayne Walden; her parents, Bob and Mary Bennett, Iola; her mother-in-law, Shelly Walden; a brother, Robert Bennett, Iola; a sister-in-law, Kimberly Sigler, Iola; and her grandparents, Les and Rita Dietrich, Colony.
She was preceded in death by two brothers, Seth “Andy” Bennett and Morgan Bennett.
Cremation has taken place.
Memorial services will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Colony City Hall Community Building. Memorials are suggested to the Christina Walden Memorial Fund.
Waugh-Yokum & Friskel Memorial Chapel, Iola, assisted the family. To sign the guest book online or leave a condolence, go to www.iolafuneral.com.
Brady Thomas
Brady Martin Thomas was born on June 1, 2014, at Overland Park Regional Medical Center in Kansas City, Kan.
Brady is the son of Brandon and Lind-zey Thomas, Iola. He weighed 6 pounds, 8 ounces, and was 19 inches long.
He is the grandson of Martin and Gwen Roseberry, Chanute, and Raymond and Jodi Thomas, Waverly. His great-grandparents are Roger and Barb Steveson, Nashville, Tenn.
Brady has one big brother, Ty Raymond Thomas.
Mandy Miller and Bill Roe
Mandy Miller and Bill Roe, Topeka, are happy to announce their engagement and pending marriage.
Ms. Miller is the daughter of Joe and Cheryl Miller, Iola. She graduated from Washburn University with degrees in political science, mass media and communications. She is the senior director of Legislative Affairs for Strategic Communications of Kansas.
Mr. Roe is the son of Bill and Donna Roe, Atchison. He graduated from the University of Kansas with a degree in political science. He is the district director for U.S. Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins.
A June 2015 wedding is being planned in Napa, Calif.