Letters to the editor

Dear editor,

As many of you may know, the Friends of the Bowlus purchased the Warren house east of the Bowlus building. Now they intend on tearing it down to put in a parking lot.

What a waste of $110,000 in donated money. Now they are asking for more money. I am sure a parking lot with landscaping will run another $20,000-$30,000.

I am sure Phyllis Warren would never have sold the house if she knew it was going to be bulldozed. Phyllis spent a large amount of money remodeling the house. I know because I did a lot of the interior decorating for her. She was very proud that she could own a house that had belong to a Northrup.

I cannot continue to support an organization that wants to destroy another house or historical building in Iola just for a parking lot. We have lost too many as it is.

Jim Smith,

Iola, Kan.

(Editor’s note: According to Jan Knewtson, president of the Friends of the Bowlus, no decision has been made in regards to the home formerly owned by Phyllis Warren. “We are considering all the opportunities the property presents,” she said.

A Register reporter will meet with members of the Friends Monday to discuss the hoopla a Facebook page has stoked.)


Dear editor,

Many people may not be aware that Friends of the Bowlus organization that owns the beautiful brick home at 217 E. Madison Ave. (Next door to the Bowlus Center), is strongly considering tearing it down to create a parking lot. This was my Aunt Phyllis Warren’s house for 40 years. They claim it is in disrepair. I can say first-hand that this is not true.

Many times Susan Raines talked to me about Phyllis Warren’s home (Evy Northrup’s house.) She said that is Phyllis would sell to The Bowlus, her house would be well-cared for and live into perpetuity. Everyone connected to Susan reassured Phyllis and family that the house would be saved. In fact, when Lynn and Jack Warren came to remove Phyllis’s household effects, Wade Park (Susan’s friend) came over to reassure them that the house would be taken care of.

I called last night to see if Phyllis was aware her house was to be made into a parking lot. Her granddaughter-in-law, Lynn, said, No, Phyllis isn’t to know anything about her house as it would devastate her.

As soon as the papers were signed, Susan and the Friends of the Bowlus were set to bulldoze Phyllis’s house for a parking lot. Many people were interested in buying Phyllis’s house and still are. A credible person offered to buy the house last week and was turned down by Susan Raines. 

The architect using brick and mortar has created a masterpiece. There are many unique houses in Iola and all should be saved. Architects are artists and their work should be seen, savored and saved just as artists that create their work on canvas. These houses are monuments to a more artistic and refined era. Our era will be known as the parking lot generation.

If you agree that it is a travesty for a group to spend $110,000 on a house that they are going to tear down, please go to the Save the Northrup Warren House page on Facebook. The Friends of the Bowlus members need to hear from you immediately before it is too late.

Kathryn Ronay,

Iola, Kan.


Dear editor,

This is in response to Mr. Erbert’s comments about the homeless couple.

Really, I thought there was only one judge, Jesus Christ. What gives you the right to judge someone else?

You are very blessed to live the way you do. Unfortunately, not everyone has had the same privileges. You made the comment that there was an underlying story there. Just because they had to stay at the Crossroads (Regency Inn) doesn’t make them bad people. Just because he had a job doesn’t mean they had a lot of money. I know of several good people in Iola who have a two-person income and yet they still struggle trying to make it from month to month. Sometimes it takes all they have and there still isn’t enough for everything. 

Have you noticed just how high the rent is in Iola? Really, for a small, decent home, or apartment for that matter, rent is outrageous.

The Bible says, “I was hungry and you fed me, I was naked and you clothed me.” Where is your compassion for your fellow man? The Bible says, “There, but by the grace of God, go I.”

Instead of putting someone down and judging them because of where they live — why not give a hand up.

Meredith Rogers,

Iola, Kan.


Dale and Judy Daniels

Dale Daniels and Judy Magill Daniels, Humboldt, are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. The couple were married June 20, 1964. Hosting a celebration are Scott and Heather Daniels and Cindy Laver. 

Dale and Judy have five grandchildren: Chloe, Bailey and Sydney Daniels and Megan and Zachary Laver.

Dezera Jones and Kirk Driskel

Dezera Nichole Jones, Moran, and Kirk Dean Driskel, Moran, will unite in marriage on Aug. 9, 2014, at Murphy’s Landing in Stark.

Dezera is the daughter of Jamie and Debbie Jones, Moran. She is the granddaughter of Richard and Pat Dudley, Moran; Ellen Harrison, Iola; and Ella Maye Norman, Moran.

She  has her associates degree of science in nursing. She is employed at Iola Nursing Center as a charge nurse.

Kirk is the son of Barry and Teresa Driskel, Moran.

He works as a farmhand at Lair Farm.

USD 257 to meet with Iola Council Monday

Jack Koehn, USD 257 superintendent of schools, will speak with Iola City Council members Monday about potential city assistance with new school construction.

Board of Education members are considering asking the city to put a sales tax referendum before local voters to help supplement a future school bond issue.

School board members briefly approved language to put a public vote to a bond issue that would have funded construction of a new elementary school. That measure was rescinded after board members agreed the matter needed further investigation.

Like the sales tax hike, any bond issue also would be subject to voter approval.


ALSO ON the agenda for Monday’s meeting is further discussion on how the city can make up a projected $413,000 deficit related to the city-operated ambulance service for Allen County.

Council members also will hear budget requests for the city’s Gas, Water and Wastewater, Water, Electric Distribution, Electric Production, Purchasing, Recreation and administrative departments.

The 6 p.m. meeting, at the New Community Building at Riverside Park, is open to the public.


IN A RELATED matter, USD 257 school board members have pushed back their regular meeting to 6 p.m. Tuesday — one day later than normal — in order for Koehn to visit with the city.

The school board meeting will be at the USD 257 board office and is open to the public.

Kansas State alumni host student banquet

Kansas State University Alumni and the Power Catbackers of Southeast Kansas are sponsoring a banquet Tuesday at the American Legion, 712 W. Patterson Ave., at which basketball coach Bruce Weber and other campus representatives are scheduled to attend.

The banquet is an annual event in Southeast Kansas on a rotation of area cities.

“It’s an opportunity for K-Staters to get together,” Gavin Hargrave, associate director of alumni programs, said in a press release. “We’re awarding scholarships to local area high school students who will be making their way to K-State this fall.”

The banquet starts at 5 p.m. with a social hour, where alumni and students can talk with the campus representatives including Weber. Dinner will be served at 6 p.m. followed by a program on the college’s athletic programs.

The event is open to everyone. Registration costs $20 per adult and $10 per child ages 3 to high school juniors. High school seniors and community college students can attend for free and get a free K-State T-shirt.

For reservation information, contact the Alumni Association at 800-600-2586 or visit www.k-state.com/sekansasgolfbanquet14

Lydhia Graham

Lydhia Nicole Graham, infant daughter of Rick N. Graham and Cassondra E. Geisler, passed away Tuesday, June 17, 2014, at Allen County Regional Hospital in Iola.

A private family service will take place at the Altoona Cemetery. Memorials to the Lydhia Nicole Graham Memorial Fund may be left with Waugh-Yokum & Friskel Memorial Chapel of Iola. 

Gary Lassman

Gary L. Lassman, 76, Iola, passed away Tuesday, June 17, 2014, at Windsor Place in Iola.

Gary was born March 7, 1938, in Humboldt, the son of Harvey and Leona (Michael) Lassman. He graduated from Humboldt High School in 1956 and attended Allen County Community College. He served in the United States Air Force from 1958 to 1962, stationed in Anchorage, Alaska and Fort Meade, Md.

On July 8, 1966, Gary married Nancy Houston at Faith Lutheran Church in Ottawa. He spent most of his life in the car business working in Topeka and Lawrence before coming back to southeast Kansas to work at Merle Kelly Ford in Chanute. In 1984, Gary and Nancy purchased the Ford-Mercury Dealership from Dale Wichman in Iola. They sold Lassman Motors in 2003.

Gary was a member of Grace Lutheran Church and the American Legion both in Iola.

Survivors include his wife, Nancy Lassman, Iola; one daughter, Lisa Briscoe and husband Ron, Kansas City, Mo.; one son, Jeffrey Lassman, Iola; and one grandson, Brandon Briscoe, Kansas City, Mo. He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, LaVerne and Dean Lassman, and sister, Ona Lassman Young.

Visitation is 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Grace Lutheran Church in Iola. Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Grace Lutheran Church in Iola. Burial is in Mount Hope Cemetery, Humboldt. Memorial gifts may be left with Waugh-Yokum & Friskel Memorial Chapel of Iola, which is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be left at www.iolafuneral.com.

John Fiore

A memorial service for John Joseph Fiore, 74, will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at First Assembly of God, Iola. He died Thursday, June 12, 2014. 

John was born to Kenneth Fiore and Lena Stanzione Fiore on April 28, 1941, in Newark, N.J. He graduated from Our Lady of Good Counsel in Newark, N.J. and immediately entered the U.S. Air Force. While on active duty he was part of the Air Police and K-9 Corps, stationed at Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines and Offutt Air Force Base in Omaha. He was awarded the Purple Heart for service to his country, among other honors. He left active duty and joined the Air National Guard in 1963. On Nov. 28, 1964, John married Karolyn Scott in Irwin, Iowa, and they were blessed with three children: Kelli, Kristina, and John Andrew.

After living in Roselle Park, N.J., where John held several Public Works jobs, they moved to Harlan, Iowa, where he worked as a police officer and as an Iowa State Trooper before working for Northwestern Bell. While with the Bell System he was promoted to management and transferred from Iowa to Corpus Christi, Texas and later to Topeka and finally Goodland. A highlight of his time with Bell was being awarded the Silver Vail Award in 1982 after rescuing a couple trapped in a car accident during a snowstorm in Iowa. After retiring from SW Bell in April of 2001, he taught telecommunications at Goodland Community College. In 2003, he returned to Topeka to be closer to family and worked as a safety officer for Chronister Construction. In 2006, he moved to Iola, where he met his fiancée, Linda Arrowwood. Throughout his life John loved animals, frequently taking care of family and friends’ pets and volunteering with Allen County Animal Rescue Facility.

John will be missed by many, including his fiancée Linda Arrowwood, Iola; his brothers, Kenneth, Jr. and Ronald, N.J.; his sister, Joan, N.J.; and three children Kelli Fiore, Lawrence, Kristina Crays, Topeka, and John A. Fiore, Eudora, as well as four grandchildren. John was preceded in death by his parents, Kenneth and Lena Fiore. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to ACARF to honor his love of animals.

‘Make Par for Kayla’ golf tourney

The golf tournament and drawing “Make Par for Kayla” will be at 9 a.m., June 28, at Cedarbrook Golf Course. Registration costs $140 per team for a four-person scramble. 

Proceeds will go to Kayla Genoble, an eight-year-old battling osteosarcoma, a cancerous bone tumor that is in her left leg’s femur. 

“She’s going to have surgery that week and they’re going to remove her femur bone, and her hip bone, and put in a ratchet type of apparatus,” said Phyllis Nelson, 59. “When she grows, it will grow.”

 Phyllis Nelson’s daughter, Anna Nelson, 33, came up with the idea for the tournament. Anna’s boyfriend is good friends with Michael Genoble, Kayla’s father.

Phyllis said the drawing has plenty of support. Items up for the drawing consist of tickets to the Schlitterbahn water park in Kansas City, four passes to Sycamore Ridge Golf Course in Spring Hill, golf putters, dinner and movie passes and many more miscellaneous items.

“The golfing community is a strong community, so I’m hoping for a good turnout,” Phyllis said.

There are multiple ways to register. Register in person at Cedarbrook Country Club or Nelson Quarries. Participants can also call Cedarbrook at 620-365-2176 or Anna Nelson at 620-228-8822 or Nelson Quarries at 620-365-5300.

YC player named to Tri-Valley All-League team

Yates Center’s Justin Rossillon was named to the Tri-Valley All-League team. He batted .642 (34 of 53) with a .753 on-base percentage and a .962 slugging percentage, or an other-wordly 1.716 OPS. Rossillon had hits in 20 of the Wildcats’ 21 games, ending the season with a 13-game hitting streak. Rossillon drove in 25 runs and scored 34. He also had 20 walks. Yates Center upped its win total from one in 2013 to 11 this spring. Yates Center’s season ended in the Class 2-1A regional tournament with a loss to CedarVale-Dexter.