Twenty years ago
October 1999
The Iola City Parks Department is preparing a base in Cofachique Park at the north edge of Iola on State Street for a M110A2 self-propelled Howitzer which has been donated to Iola by the U.S. Department of the Army. Parks Superintendent Berkley Kerr said concrete will be poured for the base early next week and the motorized weapon could be on display as early as December.
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City commissioners donated $2,000 to the Millennium Blast 2000 party and fireworks display scheduled for Dec. 31 in Riverside Park. Bonnie Steward, a leader in the celebration committee, told commissioners Tuesday afternoon that about $4,000 has been given or pledged for the project and that $5,000 was needed by Nov. 1, next Monday, as a first payment on the fireworks.
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Iola firefighters are going to sell baked goods, wash cars and do whatever else they must to raise about $20,000 to buy a thermal imaging camera. Fire Chief Don Leapheart said a thermal imaging camera would permit firefighters to see through smoke and darkness to find victims. The camera will also allow firefighters to find hot spots after a fire appeared to be extinguished. He said the firefighters want to raise the money rather than have the city buy the camera because it would mean so much to them personally.
