Officer Impersonator Makes Local Traffic Stop

Allen county authorities are on the lookout for someone who is posing as a law enforcement officer. In a statement yesterday afternoon, Sheriff Tom Williams reported a woman has called his office after being pulled over Wednesday evening on Miller Road just east of State Street.

She said the person was in a Grey SUV with Maroon lettering of the word SHERIFF. The male deputy impersonator is white, and about 6 feet tall. His uniform was a Tan shirt and brown pants. The shirt had a sewn on badge. The unidentified woman says a second man was with the man posing as an officer, but Williams did not indicate she had given his office a description of that person. Neither the Sheriff's office, highway patrol nor police departments in any area community report having made a traffic stop in the 9 to 9:30 pm Wednesday time frame. Williams is asking for your help solving the case -- if you saw the SUV or the man in a fake sheriff's department uniform, please call the Allen County Sheriff's office at 365-1400.

Wednesday Night Wreck Hurts Two

Two people were hurt yesterday in a single-vehicle crash on K-7 in Bourbon county. According to Kansas Highway Patrol crash reports, the three were riding in a 2005 Dodge Pickup truck, westbound on K-7 about 7pm. The Driver, Kristopher Beard of El Dorado Springs, MO, missed a curve and struck a sign as he went into the ditch. Troopers say Beard was not hurt, but two passengers, Brandy Dick and Destiny Dick, both of Nevada, MO, suffered disabling injuries. The two teen-aged girls were taken by ambulance to Mercy Medical Center.

See the Ball Drop -- in Garnett!

This New Years Eve you can drive to see the ball drop. And no, you don't have to leave today in order to make it to Times Square by tomorrow night. The City of Garnett is having a Happy New Year Ball Drop at midnight tomorrow. The location is in front of an arbor on the Town Square. The recreation of an arbor built in 1911 was undertaken this year in commemoration of the 150th anniversary of Kansas statehood. the City electric department will be responsible for the ball drop right at midnight. The event is followed by Chris Cakes flippin’ a pancake breakfast to all that show up (freewill donation).

Census trend

Census figures were released this week, showing Kansas had a total population of 2.8 million. That's enough for Kansas to retain its 4 seats in the US House. There seemed to be a shift in this census, away from the northern industrial states and toward the sun belt. Secretary of Commerce Gary Lock helped oversee the census.






The state with the largest population once again is California at 37 million, and the state will the fewest people is Wyoming with 536 thousand.

Farmers weathering the weather

To say the least, it has been a dry spell for Allen County in the past few months. Rain of any substance hasn’t been recorded in more than five weeks and since Sept. 24 only a little over two inches have fallen. Some good things have come from the lack of rain. Soybean harvest was completed this fall without much interruption from rain, and many farmers have been able to work the ground and finish other chores in the dry weather. Winter wheat was planted in more volume this year than several previous ones and the dry weather has led to mixed results. Dale Daniels told the Iola Register that some of the later wheat is suffering a bit. If it were taller it could withstand the cold a bit better. But overall, area farmers seem to be doing well with the dry conditions.

USD 257 update

School is out at USD 257, and even though the students are gone, the teachers are finishing up today with a work day.

Superintendent Craig Neuenswander lets us know about other activities coming up in early 2011.






And about the search for a new principal.






With New Year's falling on a Saturday, the following Monday is a holiday for many, but the school will be back in session Monday January 3rd. And they'll jump right in with activities, with a basketball game against Anderson County on Tuesday the 4th.

Funeral announced

Funeral services have been announced for Joan E. Goddard, who died December 20th. Funeral services for Joan E. Goddard will be held at 11:30am Monday December 27th at First Christian Church in Garnett, Kansas. Condolences can be sent through feuerbornfuneral.com. (FIREborn)

Iola Police, Allen Co Sheriff Deputies Bust Two for Recent Burglary Spree

Iola Police and the Allen County Sheriffs Department have arrested two Iola residents in connection with drug and burglary charges. Officers went to a home in the 300 block of North Street Monday night in an attempt to contact a wanted person, according to a release from Sheriff Tom Williams today. Once in the house, officers saw what they believed to be evidence of possible drug crimes, and a search warrant was obtained for the home. Williams says during that search a deputy saw what he believed to be stolen property from a burglary in the area. After obtaining a second search warrant, more stolen property was found, which police say ties 29-year old Brett Wempe and 26-year old Dana John Guilford to two burglaries in Allen County, one in Bourbon County, and one in Anderson County. Both are presently held at the Allen County jail awaiting filing of formal charges from all four jurisdictions.

Dr. Neuenswander Talks About Inititives Underway in USD 257

USD 257 Superintendent Dr. Craig Neuenswander, who is leaving at the end of this school year after serving for the past 12 as superintendent here, says several initiatives have happened during his tenure in Iola. One of the ones of which he is most proud is one that's just taking hold this year:






Neuenswander has accepted a position as Director of Finance for the State Department of Education, which will require him and his family to move to Topeka. The school board will begin a superintendent search soon.

Dr. Neuenswander Talks About His New Job

Iola Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Craig Neuenswander announced at Monday night's board meeting that he has accepted a new position to start this summer as Director of Finance for the State Department of Education. In an interview yesterday morning, Neuenswander said the position will have him looking at the school finance issue from the opposite side of the picture as he does in his superintendent role:






Why did he take the job? He says it's one of those things that only comes along once in a great while:






Neuenswander has been superintendent in Iola for 12 years. His resignation takes effect at the end of the school year.

Iola, Erie Seniors Receive Service Academy Nominations from Sen. Roberts

U.S. Senator Pat Roberts has released the names of the young Kansans who will receive his nomination for appointments to U.S. Service Academies. An Iola senior and one from Erie are among the young men and women nominated by Roberts. Charles Apt, a senior from Iola, has been nominated to the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, New York. Joshua Thornton of Erie has been nominated to attend the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. Roberts made a total of 39 nominations this year.