Sports: Royals nab Wild Card in 12-inning nailbiter See B1
THE IOLA REGISTER Locally owned since 1867
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Wednesday, October 1, 2014
State collections short $21 million
‘Don’t vote no because of the Bowlus’
By JOHN HANNA Associated Press
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas reported Tuesday that its tax collections fell $21 million short of expectations in September which could expand a predicted budget shortfall as Republican Gov. Sam Brownback faces a tough re-election battle over income tax cuts he engineered. The Department of Revenue said softer-than-anticipated personal income tax collections reported in its preliminary revenue figures could rebound in future
Tax cuts take a little bit of time to be able to generate (revenue) and move forward. People are looking at it (Kansas) and saying, ‘Ok, I think this is moving in the right direction.
Susan Raines, Bowlus director, is excited about a potential new fine arts curriculum for the Center.
Director supports new schools By RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register
Susan Raines has a message for those considering whether to support construction of new elementary and high schools in Iola — especially those considering voting against the $50 million bond issue. “Don’t vote no because of the Bowlus,” she said. Raines is the executive director of the Bowlus Fine Arts Center and spoke Tuesday about the prevailing thought by some that by altering the types of Iola High School classes at the Bowlus, USD 257 puts itself at risk of losing the Bowlus Center and its assets. Raines, who supports the bond issue, disagrees. “I see this as an opportu-
Public Forum 7 p.m. Thursday Old Gas Grade School USD 257 officials will discuss plans to build new elementary and high schools in Iola. nity for some new direction while still fulfilling the basic fine arts education requirements for our school children today,” Raines said. Raines contends the new course offerings would enhance fine arts education here and create greater employment opportunities for IHS graduates. “I support the idea of these schools,” she continued. “I support the idea of the Bowlus moving forward and tak-
growth, but before Tuesday’s report, the Legislature’s nonpartisan research staff predicted a budget shortfall of $238 million by July 2016. “Tax cuts take a little bit of time to be able to generate (revenue) and move forward,” Brownback said during an interview on Fox News. “People are looking at it (Kansas) and saying, ‘OK, I think this is moving in the right direction.’” But Democratic challenger Paul Davis has made inroads among Republican moderates by arguing that the personal income tax cuts Brownback
— Gov. Sam Brownback
ing on new challenges in the future. Technology is such a huge part of fine arts anymore.” As part of the school district’s new schools proposal, classes such as vocal and instrumental music, visual arts and drama classes would be pulled from the Bowlus and moved to the new campus. In their place, the Bowlus would feature curriculum geared more toward careers in arts. For example, recording engineering and music production classes might replace vocal and instrumental music; digital graphic arts, Web and app development or broadcast video courses are considered visual arts curriculum, while drama and theater students could enroll in event or
months. The department also said corporate income tax collections exceeded expectations and said it suggested a good business climate. Even with the good news in corporate income taxes, the state collected $521 million in taxes for the month, or 4 percent less than the $542 million it had anticipated. Since the fiscal year began July 1, the state has taken in $1.35 billion in taxes, some $23 million, or 1.7 percent less than anticipated for the past three months. The state has cut its top personal income tax rate 26 percent and exempted the owners of 191,000 businesses from personal income taxes. Brownback contends the reductions are stimulating economic
See BOWLUS | Page A4
championed have wrecked the state’s finances, jeopardizing funding for public schools and social services. “This continuing slide downward probably means more cuts to keep the state in the black,” Kansas Democratic Party Chairwoman Joan Wagnon, a former revenue secretary, said in a statement. Shawn Sullivan, the governor’s budget director, announced last week that the administration had identified $101 million in potential budget savings through June 2016, focusing on consolidating computer systems, savings in the health plan for state workers and other administrative See TAXES | Page A4
Ebola makes its County inches toward new pact way to Texas EMS TALKS
DALLAS (AP) — The first case of Ebola diagnosed in the U.S. has been confirmed in a man who recently traveled from Liberia to Dallas, sending chills through the area’s West African community whose leaders urged caution to prevent spreading the virus. The unidentified man was critically ill and has been in isolation at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital since Sunday, federal health officials said Tuesday. They would not reveal his nationality or age. Authorities have begun tracking down family, friends and anyone else who may have come in close contact with him and could be at risk. Officials said there are no other suspected cases in Texas.
At the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Director Tom Frieden said the man left Liberia on Sept. 19, arrived the next day to visit relatives and started feeling ill four or five days later. Frieden said it was not clear how the man became infected. “I have no doubt that we’ll stop this in its tracks in the U.S. But I also have no doubt that — as long as the outbreak continues in Africa — we need to be on our guard,” Frieden said, adding that it was possible someone who has had contact with the man could develop Ebola in the coming weeks. “But there is no doubt in my mind that we will stop it here,” he said. Stanley Gaye, president See EBOLA | Page A3
Quote of the day Vol. 116, No. 237
By RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register
A proposed change in how Iola’s ambulance crews would be backed up may provide the key to resolving the city’s ongoing emergency medical services contract negotiations with Allen County. Iola City Administrator Carl Slaugh spoke Tuesday with Allen County commissioners about his proposal to deal with the latest sticking point — the best way to provide backup service if an ambulance is dispatched from the Iola Fire Department. Under Slaugh’s scenario, any time an ambulance is dispatched from Iola, crews from Humboldt and Moran would be considered backup to help respond if the city then was called to a fire.
But unlike what had been talked about in the past, those crews would not immediately be sent to Iola for standby. “My concept is to leave those ambulances and count them as being ready to respond, and not have them come in,” Slaugh said. “They’ll still have a 15-minute response time (for a potential call to Iola). Such a practice would assuage the county’s fears of leaving Humboldt and Moran unprotected, while also helping the city curb its overtime costs. Currently, the city calls in two firefighters on standby if an ambulance from IFD is dispatched and patient transport required. “It is a change in attitude and philosophy,” Slaugh explained, and one that still must be endorsed by the Iola City Council. “I know it would
“We can learn something new anytime we believe we can.” — Virginia Satir, social worker 75 Cents
degrade response time for structure fires in our fire service territory.” Still, Slaugh considered the benefits worth the potential risk. County Commissioner Dick Works agreed with Slaugh’s reasoning. “That makes me feel a lot better,” Works said. “It makes sense to keep ambulances in outlying areas. It’s better for everybody.” Bringing ambulances from Humboldt or Moran to Iola as backup would have been a deal-breaker, Works continued. “There was a huge level of discomfort for me last week,” Works said. “I was convinced this morning the county was going to run it.” Works and County ComSee COUNTY | Page A4
Hi: 85 Lo: 68 Iola, KS