Commencement season arrives

As the 2015-16 school year roars to the finish line, area high-schoolers and community college students are putting the finishing touches on their scholastic careers.

Allen Community College begins the graduation processions at 10:30 a.m. Saturday with its sophomore class commencement.

Iolan and ACC alumnus Teresa Clounch will deliver the keynote address.

Southern Coffey County, Humboldt and Marmaton Valley high schools also will have their respective senior commencement ceremonies Saturday, at 4, 5 and 7 p.m., respectively.

Yates Center’s commencement is at 4 p.m. Siunday.

Crest High School’s graduation is at 2 p.m. May 21.

 

Finally, Iola High School wraps up the local ceremonies with its commencement at 2 p.m. May 22 in the high school gymnasium.

Allen teacher to perform Tuesday at ACC Library

Allen Community College music instructor Ted Clous will perform a number of original songs at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday as the part of the ACC Library’s Cultural Series.

He will joined by special guests Matt Kleopfer, USD 257 msuic director, Keith Mallory, music instructor from Ottawa University, and ACC student Josh Hawley.

 

The public is invited.

Leah Griesel

Sarah and David Griesel, Howard, are the parents of Leah Frances Griesel, born Feb. 5, 2016, at Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center in Chanute.

She weighed 9 pounds, 10 ounces, and was 20 inches long.

Leah has two siblings, Ryatt, 5, and Jaycee, 2 ½.

Her maternal grandparents are Wayne and Mary Frances Dunn, Humboldt. Her paternal grandparents are John and Debbie Griesel, Howard.

 

Leah’s great-grandparents are Marjorie Frances Neely, rural Chanute, and Marie Dunn, Meriden.

Letter to the editor — May 6, 2016

Dear editor,

I enjoyed the recent articles on bootlegging.

Regretfully, I was unable to attend the presentation at the Allen County Historical Society, but was wondering if anyone made any comments or mention of our current period of prohibition. America made a bad law prohibiting alcohol in the early 20th century, and paid the price with over-reaching consequences much like today’s DEA classification of marijuana as a Class 1 scheduled substance, putting it in the same class as heroin and making it a felony to possess any amount of weed. This has led to America’s shameful criminal policy of incarceration of ordinary citizens whose only “crime” is that they like to get high, or in many cases, they need it for medicinal purposes.

I have just returnedto Iola after spending 40 years in Los Angeles as an artist. Due to personal illnesses and injuries, and their subsequent pain, I was able to get a license in California to possess and ingest small amounts of cannabis that helps alleviate my chronic pain. I also learned to use it as an enhancer to my creativity processes when I’m working on a project. Needless to say, I do not have the option of having my medicine in Kansas. It makes life hard, but I deal with it. 

The future is clear. Marijuana (cannabis) will be federally legal within the next two to five years. 

If Kansas were to legalize growing and consuming cannabis, it would quickly be out of debt. Weed is not dangerous, it is not addictive, it is medicinal and beneficial if used properly. It is also extremely lucrative.

Benefits would include: Everyone could grow and sell marijuana and keep the profits for which the government could tax the sales to pay for schools, education, roads and infrastructure, etc.

At this point you’re probably envisioning some hippie types, stoned out of their minds, neglecting their children, farm animals, and other obligations by smoking pot constantly. Simply, this is not true. The average person only uses a little on weekends to relax, just like alcohol, a far more dangerous, yet legal, substance. The laws should regulate marijuana exactly like alcohol. 

Of course, there will be growing pains. People need to be carefully educated about the proper dosages, especially first-time users. Unlike street drugs, legitimate sellers are required by law to fully inform customers about potency and exact dosages. And, like drinking, one never drives when high, and if they do they pay the consequences just like drunk drivers. 

One of the many by-products of growing cannabis is fibers for making paper, and for building material for houses and manufacturing. I urge you to educate yourselves by exploring the Internet. Then make an informed decision about whether legalizing pot in Kansas would be a good thing or not.

Tom Ellis,

 

Iola, Kan.

Letter to the editor — May 6, 2016

By Rep. Kent Thompson

There are some days in Topeka that aren’t much different than a day on my farm, filled with hard work and wading through the manure. After being elected, I received the following advice, “there are people in Topeka who want to play politics and people who want to make policy. It’s your job to know the difference.” That advice rang true during the final days of the veto session. 

There was an effort to pass H Sub SB 63, hailed as the “LLC fix” to the governor’s 2012 tax plan. I voted against this bill for a number of reasons and I’d like to tell you why.  

This bill was drafted in a back room, it never had a committee hearing and no one could explain the real impact to the state. Bad things happen when we abandon the process and start writing policy on the fly. This is the same way we ended up with the governor’s 2012 tax plan in the first place. Your family wouldn’t make major financial decisions without knowing all the facts and I don’t think the state should either.

Don’t be fooled, this bill does not solve the problem. In reality, it would have triggered more corporate tax breaks, exacerbating the problem while our families picked up the tab. This bill wasn’t going to stop the sweep of the highway funds. It wasn’t going to stop the borrowing from KPERS. It wasn’t going stop the cuts to higher education and other essential services. And it wasn’t going to balance the budget. This vote was nothing more than an election year tactic for those trying to separate themselves from failed tax policy rather than admitting that it isn’t working.

You know I want to fix things. I have always been willing to talk about the reform needed to create a fair, stable and reliable tax policy for all Kansans. Unfortunately, there are not enough of us fighting for real revenue reform. 

Each legislative session, I cast hundreds of votes on behalf of our community. I do so with my friends and neighbors in mind. For me, putting people before politics isn’t just the right thing to do, it is the way I was raised and how I vote.

 

 

Rep. Kent Thompson may be reached at: kent@iolare.kscoxmail.com or (620) 365-3197

Joan Dix

Joan Marie Dix, 69, Iola, died Monday, May 2, 2016, at Overland Park Regional Medical Center.

Joan was born Sept. 5, 1946, in Iola, the daughter of Carl and Pauline (Madison) Grogan. She grew up in Iola. On Dec. 24, 1964, she married Robert Dwayne Dix and they made their home in several communities before making their home in LaHarpe in 1980. They divorced and she eventually made her home in Iola.

She is survived by six children: Robert Wayne, Joseph Allen, Michael, Bobby Jr., Brad and Sheila; and five siblings: Dwight Grogan, Barbara Wilson, Marilyn Kay Seeley, Janice Puckett and Betty Yoho. She was preceded in death by her parents and her daughter, Ann Marie Dix.

 

Cremation has taken place and inurnment will be in Highland Cemetery in Iola. Waugh-Yokum & Friskel Memorial Chapel was in charge of arrangements. To leave a condolence, go to www.iolafuneral.com.

Marilyn Drake

Marilyn Wheeler Drake, 85, left this earth for her heavenly home Friday, May 6, 2016, at Windsor House in Iola, Kansas. She will always be known for her wonderful smile and serving heart.

Marilyn was born in Kansas City, Kan., the third daughter of Claude and Alma (Brumfield) Wheeler. She grew up there, graduating from Wyandotte High School in 1950. She attended the Quindaro Christian Church where she met Larry. They were united in marriage at that same church on May 25, 1952. Marilyn has always been Larry’s loving spouse, best friend, and known to him as “sweetheart!” In 1953, Marilyn gave birth to her first child, beginning her role as mother and loving it. Three more children were to follow. Marilyn took great pride in raising her four children and was a stay-at-home mom until her children were all in school. She then began using her administrative assistant/bookkeeping skills as she worked for: Robert Talkington Attorney Office, Kincaid Elevator and Iola Grain. In 1970, grandchildren began to enter her world (12 total). In 1993, she retired to allow more time to make memories with them. Several have spent many nights, weekends, weeks, and in the summertime, months at Grandma’s house. She was also blessed with 19 great-grandchildren whom she dearly loved and adored.

Marilyn was a member of the Moran Christian Church, the American Legion, and the Wednesday Morning Breakfast Club. She enjoyed baking, reading, gardening, games, puzzles and flowers. She spent many hours doing embroidery work and made many baby blankets.

Marilyn is survived by her husband Larry; four children, Devona Herrin and husband Kenny of LaCygne, Danny Drake and wife Pam of Topeka, Denise Sweany and husband Jack of Manhattan, and Daryl Drake and wife Sandra of Moran; 12 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Claude and Alma Wheeler; and two sisters, Ermagene Nuesse and Deloris Griffitts.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Moran Christian Church with Pastor Jack Sweany officiating. Burial will follow in the Moran Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Feuerborn Family Funeral Service Chapel in Moran.

Memorials may be made to the Moran Christian Church.

 

Condolences may be sent to www.feuerbornfuneral.com.

Another charge for murder suspect

Iolan Amber Boeken, charged with first-degree murder in the death of Shawn Cook, faces an additional charge of  battering a corrections officer.

Allen County Attorney Jerry Hathaway filed the felony charge this week in Allen County District Court.

“She had an issue with one of the corrections officers,” Sheriff Bryan Murphy said.

The alleged incident occurred April 26 at Allen County Jail, where Boeken is being held.

Boeken, 24, is scheduled to appear in front of Judge Thomas Saxton Wednesday regarding the battery charge.

She also appeared in front of Saxton this week for a status hearing regarding the Cook death. During the hearing, she filed a paper asserting her Fifth, Sixth and 14th Amendment rights.

The Fifth Amendment deals with her right to remain silent; the Sixth Amendment deals with effective assistance by her counsel; and the 14th asserts her right to due process of law.

“I do not wish to be questioned, interviewed or interrogated further, either while incarcerated or while released on bail, by any city, county, state or federal police officers, probation officers, parole officers or agents….,” Boeken’s motion read.

Saxton scheduled a June 15 status hearing for the murder charge.

She remains in custody on a $1 million bond.

Boeken’s attorney is Mary Stephenson, Paola.

 

ALSO charged with Cook’s murder, Joshua Knapp, 34, Bourbon County,  remains incarcerated at a state prison in Hutchinson, where he’s serving a 90-day sentence for probation revocation.

Murphy said efforts are being made locally for Knapp to be transported to Allen County for his first appearance in regard to the murder charge.

Hathaway alleges Knapp and Boeken murdered Cook sometime on or near March 13. Cook’s body, which showed evidence of stab wounds, was found along a bank of the Neosho River north of Neosho Falls April 3.

Boeken was arrested on unrelated charges March 21; Knapp on unrelated charges March 24. 

 

The murder charges were filed April 28.

Sprinting Wildcat duo shines in Humboldt at the Crest Invitational

HUMBOLDT — Austin Deer and Savanna Puckett pulled off the sweep of the two premier sprinting events at the Crest Invitational in Humboldt on Thursday. Each Marmaton Valley sprinter won the 100- and 200-meter dashes.

Deer has been dominant on the track this season. He has already set the school record in the 100 meters and is nearing another school record in the 200. On Thursday, he ran a 11.02 in the 100 and 23.09 in the 200.

“I’ve been feeling good running,” Deer said. “As long as I keep working in practice, I’ll be fine.”

Deer’s coaches say they can notice a difference this season in the way Deer approaches his business on the track.

“We talked before the season started that he has to be more focused and in tune with our running this year,” coach Steve Smith said. “He agreed that as his goal and he’s been working on it every day.”

Puckett — just a freshman — has quickly made her presence known as one of the area’s top female track athletes. 

“Puckett is doing what she has to do,” Smith said.

She won the 100-meters with a time of 13.12 seconds — just beating Southern Coffey County’s Adina Ratzlaff’s 13.15 — and then followed that up with a win in the 200-meters with a time of 27.2.

Puckett also finished second in the 100-meter hurdles and her coaches are confident that even bigger things are yet to come for their talented freshman.

Brady Newman also picked up a first-place finish for Marmaton Valley in the high jump by clearing 6-foot, but Smith knows he is capable of more.

“He had higher goals than that,” Smith said. “He has lofty goals.”

 

HUMBOLDT

Humboldt’s boy’s track team is rounding into form at the perfect time for coach Eric Carlson. They took the boys’ championship at the Crest Invitational.

“We had a really good day,” coach Eric Carlson said.

Like many track coaches, he preaches that the most important part of the regular season is getting ready for the postseason.

“We are trying to get to our apex for these last three meets,” Carlson said. “We will see how it works out for us.”

The Cubs had a bump in the road to being 100 percent for the the postseason earlier this season when star distance runner Joe Kline took a tumble at the finish line in Yates Center and broke his arm. The prognosis was bleak for Kline’s season as the doctors told him that the earliest he was likely to return would be either league or regionals, but Kline was determined that would not be his timeline.

“I tried to bike about six miles a day,” Kline said of his workout regiment while he could not run. “I also did a lot of ab work. Doctor said I couldn’t run so I had to do something.”

Kline said it was a team effort to return to the track so quickly.

“My doctor ran in high school so he knew I wanted to get back running so he tried to help me out,” Kline said.

Kline returned to the track last week for the Neodesha track meet and said he had some “throbbing” in his arm for that meet, but by the time he had the opportunity to run at his home track on Thursday he said he felt fine.

“We went to the doctor last week and he put a cast on and he said as long as it isn’t hurting you, go ahead and run,” Carlson said.

The results proved that belief. Kline won both the mile and 2-mile runs. He ran a 5:01.94 in the mile and a 11:19.9 in the 2-mile. 

“He is definitely driven,” Carlson said. “He knows what he wants to do and he’s not going to let anything get in her way.”

Bryce Isaac also won two gold medals on Thursday as he took first in the triple jump and long jump. Kalob Cleaver added a victory in the discus as well.

Isaac broke Tanner McNutt’s record in the triple jump.

For the Humboldt girls, Kailey Johnson was the star of the day. She won the triple jump with a jump of 33’10.75” and finished second in both the long jump and 400-meters.

 

SOUTHERN COFFEY COUNTY

The Titans are another team that is beginning to click at the right time according to coach Jeff True.

“We were really happy with everyone,” True said. “We had a lot of personal-bests.”

SCC managed three different individual champions on the girls’ side of the competition. Erika Lyons won the javelin with a toss of 114’4”, Adina Ratzlaff won the 800 in a time of 2:33.78 and Madison Parra was the champion in the discus with a throw of 90’5”. 

“Adina broke the school record in the 800-meters by a couple seconds,” True said. “Erikah broke her own school record in the javelin.”

The constant improvement of his athletes has True excited about what is to come for his team.

On the boys’ side, Chonner Ludolph continued to set the standard for all other area hurdlers to strive for. Ludolph won the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 16 seconds and backed that up with a win in the 300-meter hurdles with a 43.93.

Our goal is to eimprove every meet and we have been doing that,” True said. “We are right on pace for where we want to be, we just have to keep working hard to improve.”

 

CREST

Evan Godderz has been a constant for the Lancer track program all season and continued his strong season with a first-place finish in the javelin on Tuesday. 

“Every meet his javelin has been over 150’, but he is just not satisfied in that because he isn’t getting over 160’,” coach Alan Newton said.

Although Godderz was unable to throw a personal-best at Humboldt, his throw of 152’3” was good enough to win it. Godderz joked afterwards that Humboldt’s new track facility was too nice and he wasn’t used to it so it threw him off.

Gooderz’s sister Laurel posted the best individual finish for the Lancers on the girls’ side. She took second in the discus.

 

IOLA JV

The Iola track team sent its junior varsity to compete in Humboldt and managed to end up with several placers. 

“The squad we took yesterday is a young group and if they continue to set personal records then they will have a bright future,” coach Dana Daugharthy said.

Ashleigh Nicholas was the top performer on the girls’ side earning a third-place finish in the 300-meter hurdles and fourth in the 100-meter hurdles. Klair Vogel added a sixth-place finish in the discus. 

Cole Regehr had a strong individual day on the boys’ side. He took fourth in the 2-mile and sixth in the 800-meters.

 

“This is the first time he ran the 3200-meter and I was really pleased with his effort,” Daugharthy said.

Iola, Yates Center compete in Burlington

The Iola track team was able to pick up several placers in Tuesday’s Burlington Invitational. 

The combination of Kendall Jay, Chase Regehr, Nathan Sprague and Braden Plumlee accounted for all of the medals that the team earned. 

The four joined forces to take third in the 4×400 and fourth in the 4×800.

Iola coach Dana Daugharthy was very excited with the way his relay teams performed. 

“This was Plumlee’s first time running the 4×400, and he did a great job filling in,” Daugharthy said. “Chase and Kendall have been solid 800-meter runners all season, with split times around 2:09. Nathan was the big performer in the 4×800. He shaved 5 seconds off of his personal best to run a 2:11 split.”

Plumlee earned an indivisual medal by taking fifth in the 3200-meter run. Jay finished sixth in the 800-meters and Sprague got a seventh-place finish in the 400-meters.

On the girls side, Asheigh Nicholas picked up two individual medals. She took fourth in the low hurdles and seventh in the long jump.

Cassie Delich took seventh in the high hurdles and Daugharthy says he has been pleased with her effort all season long. 

“Cassie had a rough year last year and this year dealing with illness, so it is good to see that she is getting better despite all of that.”

Madi Carlin also earned two medals by tieing for eighth in the high jump and she was part of a 4×100 team that earned seventh.

Carlin was joined on the 4×100 team by Klair Vogel, Addison Prather and Erin Klubek.

 

YATES CENTER RESULTS

Hadley Splechter and Levi Cooper each earned first-place finishes for the Wildcats.

Splechter continued his dominance in the 2-mile run by running a 10:09 and finishing in first place.

Cooper earned his first in the 400-meter dash. He finished in 52.82 seconds.

HUMBOLDT RESULTS FROM NEODESHA

The Cubs competed in the Neodesha Invitational last Thursday and earned first-place finishes on both the girls and boys side of the meet.

Britnee Works set the school record in the high jump by jumping a 4’11.5”. She broke a 40 year old school record that was previously held by Donna Price.

Bryce Isaac earned two gold medals with a 19’5.25” long jump and a 40’4” triple jump.

Anthony Doran won the 400-meter dash with a time of 54.03.

 

The meet was also Joe Kline’s first event back after recovering from a broken arm. He took third in the mile.