The Iola chapter of the United States Bowling Congress caught up on some old business from the past several years Saturday morning at Country Lanes bowling alley.
The Iola USBC gathered to honor the winners of their annual Brighten Veterans Lives leagues where bowlers from across the state raise money for hospitals that serve veterans in Wichita, Topeka and Leavenworth and other programs that benefit service members.
This year, Kansas bowlers contributed $12.337.36. Bowlers participating in BVL leagues donated a dollar to compete. Iolas local chapter raised $166 through league dues and another $390 collected during the BVL tournament held Nov. 11-17 in 2018.
We cant thank our bowlers from Kansas enough for their generosity, BVL Chairman Edna Donovan said. It is truly appreciated. Throughout the state in both small towns and big cities, hard working volunteers really made a difference.
The league had six divisons. Elaine Caldwell finished first in the womens division with a 660 hadicap. Mike Yates took first in the mens division with a 671 handicap. Hailey Stogsdill and Korbyn Holmquest took the top spot in the bantam girls and boys division with 430 and 372 handicaps and Emily Lawrence and Cory Bowen won the majors girls and boys divisions with 562 and 698 handicaps.
THE IOLA USBC also honored local Hall of Famers.
Among the honorees were Barbara Nelson and Kenneth Joe Bacon who were originally inducted back in 2015, Jan Baker, Kathy Butler, Sabrina Butler and Dale Sevart who were inducted in 2017 and Frances Tweedy and Jack Dawson who were inducted in 2018.
Nelson has been bowling since she attended Iola High School back in 1947.
The bowling alley was on the north side of the square at the time and the first bowling ball she ever threw was made of wood.
Since then, Nelson has bowled in national tournaments, Kansas tournaments and the four-state open bowling tournament in Pittsburg where she took first in singles in May of 1974.
Nelson has survived cancer three times (breast, bone and bladder.) Currently cancer-free, she continues to bowl.
Bacon, who has since passed away, started bowling in the late 1950s in Fort Scott on a mens team from Bronson.
He sponsored a team called the Bacon Five at the Kansas State Bowling Tournament in 1977, which won first overall.
He also won several awards including a diamond ring at the Diamond Award Tournament as well as several league championships.
