A look back in time

50 Years Ago

September 1969

Vernon E. Walker of St. John has been employed by the board of trustees of Allen County Hospital as administrator. He assumed his duties this week. Walker has been administrator of the St. John Hospital for the past two years and associated with the medical care profession since 1950. He and his wife have three teenage sons. He replaced Larry Patterson, who became administrator last spring and resigned this summer.

*****

Alvin Lassman of Humboldt was named today to fill the unexpired first district term of James R. Nelson on the county commission. Nelson resigned effective the first of this month to accept a position with the state department of revenue. Lassman owns and operates the A. C. Electric store in Humboldt.

*****

The National Highway 54 Association will hold its annual convention in Iola Friday and Saturday at the Majestic Motor Inn.

*****

Capt. John David Conderman, son of Mr. and Mrs. David Conderman of Iola, was an honor graduate of a 10-week basic course in military legal affairs at Charlottesville, Va. recently. Capt. Conderman is a newly commissioned officer in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps. 

*****

Dismayed at the death rate of elm trees, the city fathers have put all available city employees to work aiding commercial tree removal crews.

*****

Twelve members of the graduating class of 1970 of Mt. Carmel School of Nursing in Pittsburg spent Thursday visiting Dr. Tommy Osborn’s clinic in Colony to see his dialysis machine in operation. The machine is used to cleanse the blood of patients suffering from kidney disease. Mrs. Oborn has had chronic kidney failure for more than a year and receives treatments from the machine twice a week. It is one of only five dialysis machines in Kansas. In the class were Diane Porter, daughter of Mrs. Mary Porter, RN, and Nancy Conner, daughter of Albert Conner of Iola.

Arthur McAnulty

Arthur Wayne McAnulty, age 81, of Iola, died Sunday, Sept. 22, 2019, at Medicalodges in Frontenac. He was born July 7, 1938, to Harold and Fern (Smith) McAnulty in Allen County.

Survivors include a son Randy McAnulty of Bronson; two daughters, Karla Abeyta of Pittsburg, and Jeananne McAnulty of Pittsburg; and numerous other relatives.

Family will greet friends from 6 to 8 p.m. on Saturday in the Venue at Feuerborn Family Funeral Service. 

Drive to benefit ACARF

The Iola Community Involvement Task Force/PRIDE Committee is spearheading a drive to benefit the Allen County Animal Rescue Facility.

Starting Oct. 1, collection boxes will be set up at Iola City Hall, Orscheln Farm and Home, the Feedlot, Emprise Bank and Bank of Gas for the community to fill with ACARF wish list items.

The CITF/PRIDE committee targeted the animal shelter “because of the huge amount of animals that are left uncared for,” noted Donna Houser, one of the volunteers.

Wish list items:

— Trash bags (13 and 55 gallon)

— Vinegar

— Bleach

— Purina Cat Chow and Purina Kitten Chow

— Rawhide bones

— Chew toys for dogs

— Kitten or puppy milk replacer

— Cat scratching posts

— Hand sanitizer

— Carabiner clips

Financial donations also will be accepted.

The collection drive runs through October.

Christmas Vespers rehearsals to begin Oct. 2

Iola’s 63rd Christmas Vespers program is taking shape.

The Christmas music concert, presented as a gift to the community, is scheduled for 3 p.m. Dec. 1 at Iola’s First Presbyterian Church.

Rehearsals will begin at 8:15 p.m. each Wednesday in the choir room on the lower floor of the Bowlus Fine Arts Center, beginning Oct. 2.

The event is nondenominational. All are invited to participate.

For years, Vespers was sponsored by the Iola Music Club until it disbanded more than 10 years ago. Since then, Vespers was sponsored by the Southeast Kansas Christian Artists Series, but that program has dissolved as well.

The group once again is seeking a sponsor. Choir member Donna Houser approached the Iola City Council Monday to seek city sponsorship.

The sponsorship would not cost money, Houser said. At least not yet.

“Could I hit you up for money later?” Houser asked the Council. “That’s a maybe.”

While the performers are not paid, a small stipend goes to the director and pianist, Houser noted.

Council members agreed to consider Houser’s sponsorship request.

Park cleanup in the works

HUMBOLDT — With Biblesta less than two weeks away, a team of volunteers is looking for assistance to beautify the community this Saturday.

In particular, attention is being focused on the Neosho River Park on the west edge of town, which was hit hard with flooding last May.

Once receded, the floodwater left a thick layer of silt across the park, killing most of its flowers and other plants.

Crews have removed much of the silt, but a pile remains in the park, noted Damaris Kunkler, community engagement director for A Bolder Humboldt.

“I could really use a skid steer,” Kunkler said.

The park’s flower beds just west of the marsh arch bridge also have been inundated with weeds. Kunkler is hoping to recruit as many volunteers as possible to come to the park between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Helpers are encouraged to bring work gloves and shovels.

This year’s Biblesta celebration is Oct. 5.

Allen Countians shine at State Fair

HUTCHINSON — Allen County 4-H members completed another successful year at the Kansas State Fair, held Sept. 6-15 in Hutchinson.

On top of the following individual events, the Southwind District, which includes Allen County, brought home the fourth overall intermediate photography judging team and the third overall senior photography judging teams. Both are coached by Terri Kretzmeier, Prairie Dell 4-H leader.

Individual results:

Prairie Dell

Haleigh Grieshaber – Clothing Construction, Blue; Sweet Spread, Participation; Food Preservation, Blue

Payton Weast – Black & White Photo, Red; Photo Judging, 39th

Katie Weide – Color Photo, Red; Digital Composite Image, Blue; Clothing Construction, Red; Clothing Educational Exhibit, blue; Rug Making, Blue; Foods Educational Exhibit, Blue; Fashion Revue, Purple

Jackson Wilks – Black & White Photo, Blue; Food Preservation, Purple; Food Preservation, Blue; Poultry Judging, 15th; Poultry Exhibit, Red; Poultry Exhibit, Blue

Logan Pals 

Cassidy Friend – Color Photo, Blue & Kansas 4-H Foundation Selection

Teghen Jaro – Color Photo, Blue

Abby Rinehart – Food Gift Package, Blue; Woodworking, Blue; Fashion Revue, Blue; Photo Judging, 88th

Zoey Rinehart – Color Photo, Blue; Fashion Revue, Blue

Gabby Sharp – Intermediate Dog Showman Finalist & Purple; Novice Dog Obedience, Reserve Grand Champion; Graduate Novice Dog Obedience, White; Crossbred Market Lamb, 4th

Tori White – Color Photo, Blue & Kansas 4-H Foundation Selection

Chanlynn Wrestler – Fiber Arts, Purple; Non-perishable Food, Blue

City Slickers 

Carly Dreher – Non-perishable Food, Purple; Duroc Gilt, 7th; Cross Market Hog, 4th; Grand Champion Market Hog

Isaac Hopkins – Berkshire Gilt, 8th; Duroc Gilt, 10th

Carson Keller – 3rd Junior Sheep Showman; Commercial Ewe, 2nd; Commercial Ewe, 1st; Supreme Champion Breeding Ewe; Crossbred Market Lamb, 1st; Crossbred Market Lamb, 1st; Natural Market Lamb, 3rd

Jillian Keller – Commercial Ewe, 1st; Commercial Ewe, 1st; Crossbred Lamb, 2nd; Grand Champion Market Lamb, Natural Market Lamb, 2nd

Leah Mueller – Clothing Construction, Purple; Shooting Sports Poster, Purple

Thatcher Mueller – Clothing Construction, Purple

Brody Nemecek – 4th Senior Swine Showman; Commercial Gilt, 5th; Reserve Light AOB Market Hog; Crossbred Market Hog, 1st; Meat Goat Doe, 2nd; Meat Goat, 4th; Meat Goat 3rd

Kyser Nemecek – 3rd Junior Swine Showman; Berkshire Gilt, 4th; Champion Light AOB Gilt; Duroc Market Hog, 4th; Light AOB Market Hog, 2nd; Meat Goat 5th

Rohan Springer – Color Photo, Blue; Non-perishable Food, Purple; Food Preservation, Blue; Robotics, Red

Hallie Sutherland – Dog Showmanship, Purple

Prairie Rose 

Jenni Armstrong – Clothing Construction, Red; Clothing Construction, Blue; Food Preservation, Purple; Food Preservation, Purple; Home Environment, Blue; Photography Judging, 28th

Allison Heim – Rocketry, Red

Sophia Heim – Black & White Photo, Blue; Rocketry, Red

Shelby Sprague – Breeding Doe, 9th

Gracie Yoho – Color Photo, Purple & State 4-H Office Selection; Food Gift Package, Purple; Food Preservation, Blue; Photography Judging, 77th

Zoi Yoho – Black & White Photo, Blue; Food Gift Package, Purple; Food Preservation, Red; Food Preservation, Red; Food Preservation, Red; Photography Judging, 7th

Square B 

Carly Kramer – Color Photo, Red; Non-perishable Food, Purple; Food Preservation, Participation; Crops Judging Contest, 10th

Abigail Meiwes – 4-H Presentation, Blue; Crops Judging Contest Participant; Photography Judging, 25th; Dog Showmanship, Purple

Levi Meiwes – 4-H Presentation, Blue; Crops Judging Contest Participant; Photography Judging, 54th ; Poultry Judging Contest, 10th; Pen of 3 Pullets, Blue

Madeline Wanker – Non-perishable Food, Red

California utility company cuts power to 24,000 residents

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — California’s largest utility cut power to 24,000 northern customers Monday evening as fall brings back dangerous weather conditions and the company tries to head off wildfires sparked by electrical equipment.

The utility shut down power to areas of Butte, Nevada and Yuba counties in the Sierra Nevada foothills.

The power will remain off until conditions are safer, and PG&E warned that it might expand the precautionary outages on Tuesday to El Dorado, Placer, Sutter, Lake, Napa and Sonoma counties if gusty winds and hot, dry weather continue.

Butte County is where a wildfire blamed on PG&E transmission lines killed 86 people last year and virtually leveled the town of Paradise.

Meanwhile, Southern California Edison warned it might shut off power to 41,000 customers due to forecasts calling for gusty Santa Ana winds.

The cuts could affect Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino and Riverside counties.

Strong winds, low humidity and warm temperatures were forecast in the state through Wednesday, and authorities issued an extreme fire danger warning for some areas.

Wind gusts could reach 50 mph (80 kph) in the northern Sierra and foothills, and between 30 to 40 mph (48 to 64 kph) in the Sacramento Valley and near the Pacific coast, said Eric Kurth, a forecaster with the National Weather Service.

“Humidity levels are dropping, and winds are picking up,” Kurth said. “The main threat is overnight when the winds pick up in the mountains and foothills.”

Some of the most destructive blazes in the state in the past two years were started by PG&E power lines. Winds can knock down live wires and power poles or drive trees and other vegetation into contact with them.

PG&E first cut off power preemptively last October, affecting some 87,000 customers. The move prompted complaints and demands for reimbursement.

But the utility canceled plans to shut off power ahead of the deadly Nov. 8 blaze that started near Paradise.

California regulators in May approved allowing utilities to cut off electricity to avoid catastrophic wildfires but said utilities must do a better job ramping up preventive efforts and educating and notifying the public, particularly people with disabilities and others who are vulnerable.

 

In January, PG&E sought bankruptcy protection, saying it could not afford an estimated $30 billion in potential damages from lawsuits stemming from catastrophic wildfires.

 

Earlier this month, PG&E agreed to pay $11 billion to insurance companies holding 85% of the claims from fires that include the Paradise blaze.

 

The settlement, confirmed Monday, is subject to bankruptcy court approval.

 

It’s important for PG&E to pull itself from bankruptcy protection because it will be a big part of a wildfire fund set up to help California’s major utilities pay future claims as climate change makes wildfires more frequent and severe.

Farmers’ Market sports new hours

Buyers and sellers will greet the arrival of fall Thursday with new hours at the Allen County Farmers’ Market.

The market runs from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. along Jefferson Avenue on the east side of the Iola square.

A full selection of produce as well as baked goods and other homemade products.

Around the Corner will be hand with cold and hot apple cider and will take orders for salads and sandwiches.

Vendors accept EBT and debit cards and participate in the Double Up Food Bucks program.

City Slickers talk record books, fall plans

The City Slickers 4-H Club organized a 4-H Record Book Workshop before their Sept. 15 meeting at the Allen County Courthouse Assembly Room. 

Older 4-H members helped younger youth understand the importance of setting goals and remembering their accomplishments during the 2018-2019 4-H year. 

After the workshop, Club President Jillian Keller called the meeting to order, and the flag salute and 4-H pledge were led by Leah and Thatcher Mueller. 

Carly Dreher led us in singing “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.”

Roll call was answered by 19 members and one community leader. 

We discussed National 4-H week ideas, voted to ring the bells for Salvation Army during the upcoming holiday season and decided to participate in 4-H Sunday on Oct. 13. 

Club Leader Robbie Grisier reminded us that record books are due to him by Sept. 29, and we need a volunteer to serve on the 4-H Council committee for the park entrance. 

The next meeting will be Oct. 13 at the Nemeceks’ for the fall social and pumpkin decorating. 

Missing area man sought

Family and friends spent much of the day Sunday searching for Timothy “Tim” Todd Fritch, who has been missing from the Humboldt area since Saturday evening.

Fritch, 41, was last seen  at Wide Open Speed Park, which was hosting a demolition derby that evening.

An acquaintance used a “Find My Phone” app later in the evening in an attempt to find Fritch, which placed him first near Neosho Falls, then again near Le Roy along K-58 highway. His vehicle and personal belongings were found near the Neosho River bridge on the edge of Neosho Falls, but his cell phone was missing.

Fritch’s sister, Cora Finley, detailed the subsequent search through Sunday, which followed the Neosho River between Neosho Falls and Iola. Searchers were on foot or all-terrain vehicles, while others were on watercraft to traverse the river.

Finley said officers suspect Fritch may have been picked up by someone.

Another search upriver from Neosho Falls was planned for today.

Fritch is about 5 feet, 11 inches tall and weighs 275 pounds. He has brown hair, which is shaved. He has hazel eyes and  was last seen wearing a light gray or white T-shirt and blue jeans.

Anyone with information regarding Fritch’s whereabouts is encouraged to call the Woodson County Sheriff’s Department at (620) 625-8640.