60 Years Ago
July 1959
Harnessing the waters of the Neosho and Cottonwood Rivers will open a new industrial era for Southeastern Kansas, former Congressman Myron George said Saturday at the groundbreaking for the $32,000,000 John Redmond Dam on the Neosho River at Burlington. Speaking before 800 people, George said the reservoir will be the second largest in Kansas, exceeded only by Tuttle Creek north of Manhattan.
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This year the city budgeted $2,400 to support the restroom for women and children which is over Harrisons Shoe Store and is supervised by Miss Dora Langford. It has been asked to increase the funding to $2,600 for 1960. But the city commission is considering discontinuing the service because of a tight city budget and because the public restrooms in the new county courthouse are modern, accessible to the public and require no additional funding. Mayor Mack Colt pointed these things out to representatives of the Iola Business and Professional Womens Club, which sponsors the restroom, and suggested that the restroom be closed at the end of the current year.
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Iolas governing body last evening decided that the city must provide some kind of ambulance service if the Mercy Ambulance ceases to operate at the close of this month. Mayor Mack Colt said the city will try to purchase a surplus army ambulance and operate it in connection with the fire and police departments. The city will be able to answer all emergency calls but how far outside the city limits the ambulance can be sent legally must be determined. Mayor Colt said the city will charge for the service and so far as possible will man the ambulance with firemen who are off duty.
