Looking ahead. That’s what John Brocker has been doing since he won the open Allen County commissioner District 3 seat Nov. 5. Brocker said his main goal is to cut taxes and control county spending.…

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…