55/25 Details, A3
The Iola Register
Locally owned since 1867
Weekender Saturday, January 19, 2013
BASKETBALL High school tournaments near conclusion. See B1
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IOLANS DELVE INTO POLITICS Iola teens Washington bound Filing deadline looms BOB JOHNSON bob@iolaregister.com
By ALLISON TINN allison@iolaregister.com
Iola freshmen Gus Hopkins and Zack St. Clair left early this morning for a trip of a lifetime — the 57th presidential inauguration in Washington, D.C. Hopkins and St. Clair were awarded partial scholarships through the National Young Leaders Conference (NYLC) to attend the ceremony. They needed to raise roughly $3,000 each. They met that figure and have a little bit of money for spending. “We made flyers and held a car wash,” St. Clair said. This will not be their first time at the capitol; they attended a NYLC conference where they were brought around to the major historical monuments. This trip has a feel of celebration. See TEENS | Page A6
Zack St. Clair and Gus Hopkins
tions of atrazine, the more money they received.” Toby Ross, Iola’s water and wastewater superintendent, said while Iola did receive a large sum from Syngenta, the levels of atrazine in local water have always been low. Legally, the amount of the herbicide in the water must be lower than three parts per billion.
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I’m not sure how we got the amount we got. Our water is safe, there is no atrazine problem in Iola. — Toby Ross, Iola’s water and wastewater superintendent
Ross said three years ago the corporation requested to use the Iola water plant as a sample site, and it took atrazine measurements 310 times in the past three years. He said the water coming through the plant averaged .11 parts per billion — significantly lower than the maximum allowed. “I’m not sure how we got the See SETTLEMENT | Page A6
A close-call flood rescue situation in 2007 opened the eyes of some emergency responders. Now, the Anderson County Water Rescue Team is more prepared than ever to face these dangers head-on. Marvin Grimes, the emergency management director in Anderson County, said before the volunteers were not fully equipped or trained to safely handle water rescues. “We didn’t have anything set up,” Grimes said. “We would get a call and we would respond, but it is nice to know what you are doing.” Volunteer Paul Stephens said training is essential for the safety of the volunteers, as well as the people they are rescuing. Register/Steven Schwartz
ONE INSTANCE during the
Four of the Anderson County Water Rescue team members display their newly designed shirts at the Colony Volunteer Fire Department. From left, are Marvin Grimes, Maralee Bauman, Paul Stephens and Paula Decker.
2007 floods highlighted the need for training: Grimes said two women had been stranded in floodwaters while driving near one of Anderson County’s many low-area road crossings. The rescue team responded, to find the vehicle nearly a quarter mile off of the road. “They were pretty far out there, sitting on top of their car,” Stephens said. The team’s boat had “broken
down” when they tried to get it started, from there they attempted to get a jet ski out to the women. But, the low water levels plugged the intake jet and stalled the makeshift rescue vehicle. “It was pretty hairy,” Grimes said. “That’s when I put a call out for anyone with a boat.”
Public broadcasting fund scrutinized
Vol. 115, No. 58
Public Radio. She said she’d like the state to be more generous but gives Brownback some credit for changing his mind about eliminating the funding altogether. “I’m just thrilled to be acknowledged by being in the budget,” she said. Conservative Republicans have argued for years that supporting public broadcasting isn’t a core government function, particularly with the explosion of choices for viewers and listeners in recent decades. GOP conservatives retained their Kansas House majority and ousted moderate GOP leaders in the Senate in last year’s elections. State funding for stations’ operations peaked in the 2008 budget at $3.4 million and has declined sharply since. Brownback proposed $600,000 for the same item last year — only to see lawmakers, pushed by the Senate, increase it. During the same period, according to Brownback’s budget documents, the public stations in Kansas have seen private contributions increase from $13.3 million to $14 million.
“You know, perhaps education advocacy has worked and people are beginning to understand the value of public broadcasting, particularly in our rural communities,” said Sen. Laura Kelly of Topeka, the ranking Democrat
Several boats were taken to the scene. They were able to maneuver through the fast moving water, close enough to throw ropes to the stranded women. At this point, only three inches of the car were showing above the water — the women were running See RESCUE | Page A6
SEK, Inc. honors local stalwarts
on the budget-writing Senate Ways and Means Committee. Some conservatives still aren’t sold on maintaining some state funding for public broadcasting. Rep. Pete DeGraaf, a Mulvane Republican and chairman of a House Appropriations subcommittee on general government,
CHANUTE — Iolan Max Snodgrass and Humboldt’s Chris Bauer were among honorees Thursday at Southeast Kansas, Inc.’s annual meeting. Snodgrass, a retired accountant, received the Invested In People award, for his leadership in business and community affairs, his business achievements, involvement in professional or trade organizations and for his responsiveness to business challenges and problems. Bauer, a postal worker in Humboldt, earned the Spirit Award, in recognition of his dedication to the Humboldt area through volunteerism, as well as his multiyear commitment to “the vitality, growth and sustainability of southeast Kansas” and his leadership and positive contributions to the business climate in the area. In other matters, Crawford County’s Kathryn Richard was
See BROADCASTING | Page A6
See SEK | Page A6
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You know, perhaps education advocacy has worked and people are beginning to understand the value of public broadcasting particularly in our rural communities. — Sen. Laura Kelly, Topeka
75 Cents
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TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — With Gov. Sam Brownback’s conservative Republican allies controlling the Kansas Legislature, eliminating state funding for public broadcasting might seem one long-held goal within reach. But An AP he’s proposing to continue the news aid for two additional years, al- analysis beit at a reduced level. Brownback told The Associated Press during a brief interview figure of $1.04 million. But this year’s measures conThursday that he drafted some trast with Brownback’s proposal of his budget proposals with an in January 2011 to eliminate the eye toward what could pass, even funding. Even after lawmakers as he pursues other major iniincluded money in the budget tiatives on taxes and spending. that year and Brownback acceptHis comments came a day after Budget Director Steve Anderson ed it, he still publicly warned the told reporters that the adminis- broadcasters that they should tration has no plans to eliminate prepare to lose the aid. Brownback said Thursday that state funding for public broadin drafting a budget, he was lookcasting “for now.” ing to “get it on through the proThe governor proposed cess.” $600,000 for operating grants for “So you make choices, then,” public television and radio stahe said. “We’ve got a lot of irons tions during the fiscal year that in the fire.” begins in July and the same The effects of Brownback’s amount for the following fiscal proposed reductions on stations year. The figure represents a 42 will vary and will be felt most percent drop from the current heavily in western Kansas, said Janet Campbell, general manager of Lawrence-based Kansas
John Hanna
See DEADLINE | Page A6
By STEVEN SCHWARTZ steven@iolaregister.com
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Iola has received an unanticipated settlement amounting to $197,242.30 from the Syngenta Crop Protection corporation, Sweden-based manufacturer of the herbicide atrazine. The settlement, according to a press release, was from a class action lawsuit brought by St. Louis law firm Korein Tillery and the Dallas firm of Barron & Budd, both of which have been representing water treatment plants against Syngenta since 2004. The total settlement was $105 million, distributed among 1,085 cities and towns in North America. Amounts received ranged from $25,000 to $1 million. A posted statement on the website atrazinesettlement.com described the rationale behind how much different cities received from the settlement: “These class members will receive payments based on evidence of: (1) the levels of atrazine in the water; (2) how often atrazine had been found in the water; (3) how long ago atrazine had been found in the water; and (4) the population served. Generally, the more water processed by a system or the frequency of high concentra-
ELSEWHERE, openings and candidates who had filed by noon Friday are: Bassett: mayor, Larry Crawford; council (5), Connie Alexander, Carol Crawford, James Ratcliff, Sheryl Lynn Ratcliff, Mark Dozier. Elsmore: mayor and council (5), no filings.
Water rescue trained and ready
City receives settlement from herbicide lawsuit By STEVEN SCHWARTZ steven@iolaregister.com
Candidates have surfaced for several positions that will be filled in the April 2 city-school election, but openings remain. The filing deadline is noon Tuesday. No one has yet to file for Iola mayor. Bill Shirley, elected mayor after Iola changed from a three-person commission to a council of eight members and a mayor, announced earlier he would not seek re-election. Five council incumbents have filed. They are Nancy Ford and Scott Stewart, First Ward; Beverly Franklin, Second Ward; Don Becker, Third Ward; Steve French, Fourth Ward. Also, Eugene Myrick, Third Ward, and Jerod Kelley, Fourth Ward, have filed. Both were unsuccessful in the initial council election in 2011.
Of the three incumbents yet to file, Jim Kilby, Third Ward, told the Register he would not seek re-election. The other two, David Toland, Fourth Ward, and Joel Wicoff, Second Ward, have not decided whether they will seek to continue in city government. Ford and Toland are filling unexpired terms, created when Kendall Callahan and Ken Rowe were removed from office in a recall election.
Iola, KS