COLONY — A fire that destroyed Colony Community Church, 322 S. Garfield St., is under investigation as a possible crime, officials said. The fire was discovered at around 6 p.m. Thursday. Fire crews continued to…

Attorney Daniel Schowengerdt finds his commute between Iola and Kansas City to be surprisingly productive.  “Sometimes clients want to have an hour-long conversation, and it’s difficult to find that time during the work day,” he…

The end of the year marks a key deadline for local governments that received pandemic-era money from the American Rescue Plan Act in 2021. Officials have until Dec. 31 to declare how they plan to…

COLONY —”We want this to be a center of joy,” said Colony Christian Church Pastor Chase Riebel, referring to the church’s new building at 211 Catalpa St., just south of the town’s baseball and softball…

LONE ELM — When he fell on his driveway late November, David Ensminger knew exactly what he had broken.   “It was the same hip from 39 years ago,” when he was in a horrific…

There’s a three-letter word to explain why Patrick Matarazzo agreed to direct the Iola Area Symphony Orchestra. F-U-N. “They’re in it for fun,” he said. “Some of these people have been playing instruments for 20,…

LAHARPE — The Lee family Christmas gift exchange will be loaded with sentimentality Wednesday — and a dash of competition. On purpose. In fact, Harry and Joyce Lee have already told each of their seven…

Humanity House offered a chance for area youngsters to meet Santa and pick out a Christmas gift, followed by cookies and hot cocoa Friday evening. About 150 children attended.

Your Community Foundation of Iola celebrated a successful match month, thanks to the support from community members and a substantial matching grant from the Patterson Family Foundation of Kansas City. Wrapping up the 2024 match…

Santa Claus paid a visit to Iola High School Thursday evening to partake in some revelry with the IHS cheerleaders between the Mustangs’ girls and boys varsity basketball games with Prairie View. Santa even did…