There isn’t a better place to show town spirit than at the “See, Hear Iola” events.
Friday’s meeting was the fourth of the city forums. Mayor William Shirley took the stage to explain the stress Iola city streets and alleys are taking on.
There are 132 miles of alleys and streets in Iola. “The drought is causing sometimes two or three breaks a day in the roads,” Shirley said.
He also addressed a prevalent complaint of the city having two trash pickups a week.
Having one trash pickup a week “wouldn’t work,” he said. Currently, one day’s trash is eight and a half tons. If there were only one pickup a week that would bring the weight to 17 tons, putting extra stress on the streets and more repairs needed.
Becky Robb took time out of her busy fair schedule by bringing some 4-H’ers with her. The kids took the stage, dressed up in cowboy gear, and animated the schedule of events.
Sheila Lampe, director of the Iola Area Chamber of Commerce, said the fall garage sale is Sept. 15 and the sidewalk sale next week.
Lampe said Farmers Market on Thursday evenings continues through the fall.
Brian Pekarek, superintendent of schools, said the Kansas State Department of Education asked the Jefferson Drumming Circle to perform at its state conference in November.
“This is a huge honor,” Pekarek said. “It is the first time they can remember asking an elementary school to perform.”
New staff was hired for USD 257 and they are getting ready for school to begin Aug. 16.
Pekarek introduced new football coach Doug Kerr.
Kerr said he is working with the football team to become more involved in the community.
Aug. 31 is the first home football game against Cherryvale and he wants to see the community come out and support the team.
“There is no better entertainment than seeing a football game on a Friday night,” Kerr said.
THE KEYNOTE speaker at the event Friday was Barbara Chalker Anderson of the Kansas Department of Commerce.
Her message to the community is to have town spirit.
She works with rural Kansas towns to develop more appealing attractions for visitors.
Anderson realizes the entire town should always have “eye appeal” but it really is the down- town square that incoming visitors remember most.
