Although Humboldt was the more prominent military center in the area, along with other sites like Fort Belmont in Woodson County, at one time Iola’s “fort” had a force of 400 men and filled the area roughly demarcated by Madison, Jefferson, Broadway and South Streets. In the northeast corner of the block stood the Parsons building, which was essentially a Civil War military headquarters (1861-1865), and where many were sworn into service. The structure had initially been intended as a community safehouse in the event of attacks from hostile indigenous forces, but eventually concerns seem to have shifted from incursions by [...]

Allen Community College is ramping up for the spring term, poised to navigate the challenges brought about COVID-19. According to vice president Cynthia Jacobson, “we’re doing better than we did to start off last semester” regarding the virus. Currently, there are 10 positive cases on the Iola campus, and 15 in quarantine. The college has been widely testing incoming students, and will continue to do so in order to limit viral spread. Source: The Iola Register

Matthew Rehder figures it was his upbringing that led him to work in the public sector. “I had taken advantage of years of rec programs,” Rehder recalled. “As a kid, I played for city recreation programs, in city parks, all that kind of stuff.” It was a desire to give back to the community that first led Rehder, 42, to join AmeriCorps — the domestic version of the Peace Corps — then pursue a public administration degree in college. Those steps led Rehder to become Iola’s next city administrator. Source: The Iola Register

Chelsie Angleton is the new 911 director for Allen County after working at the critical response center for the past seven years. Before that, she served in practically every other role there, including: frontline dispatcher, certified training officer, quality assurance specialist and deputy director. As to what these different positions are responsible for, they involve everything from answering to analyzing calls, coaching dispatchers and mastering technologies. “It’s more than answering the phone and sending help,” Angleton remarked. “But as soon as I started and made it through training, I knew that this is where I wanted my career to go.” “I [...]

Armed with a state grant made available because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, LaHarpe Telephone’s New Wave Broadband is extending its broadband internet access to remote areas of Allen County. Construction wrapped up last week on the second of a pair of 190-foot towers, this one in the Geneva Township in the northwesternmost regions of the county. The first was finished earlier this month just east of Mildred. “There are a lot of areas out there that don’t have decent internet,” noted Harry Lee Jr., owner of LaHarpe Telephone and New Wave. Source: The Iola Register

Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly said Wednesday that Kansas should stop giving local officials the final say over the state’s response to the coronavirus pandemic because experience has shown “a patchwork approach” does not work. Kelly made the comments during an Associated Press interview a day after she and her top health administrator argued that Kansas is now controlling the spread of COVID-19 despite its high case numbers. They argued that the state is seeing the benefits of a “unified” state strategy to boost testing and an increased willingness by the state’s 105 counties to require people to wear masks, which she [...]

There’s “a sense of urgency” to building up the Allen County Regional Airport. That’s according to Jonathon Goering, Thrive Allen County economic development director, who discussed the possibility with commissioners. He said although the county had pursued the possibility of such projects in the past, the moment to strike might be now. Goering noted that, for one, federal stimulus dollars may soon become available such that the developments can be made with little to no cost to taxpayers. And he added that the Kansas Department of Commerce is currently sending out site-selectors to help identify potential building places. Source: The Iola [...]

Matthew Rehder, city administrator of Seneca, has been tapped to become Iola’s next city administrator. City Council members voted, 5-3, to extend a three-year contract offer to Rehder. Terms of the contract were not announced. According to Rehder’s LinkedIn profile, he’s been city administrator in Seneca since 2013. Prior to that, he worked for seven years as planning director for El Dorado. Source: The Iola Register

In 1900, Iola Portland Cement Company was the largest plant of its kind in the United States. From 1900 to 1903, it was also the single largest employer in Allen County, and so had the honor of naming the factory’s housing settlement in honor of one of its own: S.H. Bassett, an official who worked there. Not much of Bassett remains today, save a few foundations and “shotgun” style houses, which earn their name since it is almost impossible to detect an individual from out of a group. Source: The Iola Register

A fundraising effort dubbed Project Bookshelf has begun to add new books for the new Iola Elementary School, now under construction. A new fundraiser has started to help fill the library with books once the new Iola Elementary School is built. Volunteers with the USD 257 Endowment Association have launched Project Bookshelf, with the aim of buying assorted books for readers at varying grade levels, explained organizer Becky Nilges. Source: The Iola Register