Inside: Moran youths plan rummage sale
2017 1867
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Sports: Mustangs win in walkoff fashion See B1
THE IOLA REGISTER Locally owned since 1867
www.iolaregister.com
Wednesday, May 3, 2017
Economic development stays on county’s radar By BOB JOHNSON The Iola Register
Allen County is on the verge of dedicating specific funds for the purpose of economic development. The money will come in large mea- Tom Williams sure by increased assessed valuation from the Enbridge pipeline company.
The fund contains about $2 million, and will be fattened in the years ahead from property taxes paid by Enbridge. Also adding to the pot will be taxes reaped if one or both of two wind farm companies follow through on plans set up shop in the east part of the county. Bill Maness, economic development director for Thrive Allen County, handed a detailed plan to commissioners Tuesday, part of which proposed a $300,000 budget line item built from
New EMS stations discussed
$100,000 for three years, starting in 2018. “Given the climate we’re in and the possibility of more money coming our way (from the wind farms), I think it’s time to jump,” said Commissioner Tom Williams, with developing a set of standards to deal with requests from both existing and prospective businesses. Requests would be filtered through a committee, probably made up of seven from
By BOB JOHNSON The Iola Register
On recommendation of County Counselor Alan Weber, commissioners will take a more pronounced look at upgrading ambulance stations in Humboldt and Moran. The new stations are needed because new ambulances — and all their additional bells and whistles — would be
See COUNTY | Page A4
too big to be quartered in the current bays available. Weber suggested commissioners look at metal buildings. Commissioner Jerry DanSee EMS | Page A4
Planned outage Thursday Iola’s Electric Department will conduct several repairs in the early morning hours Thursday that will require a planned electric outage from 4 to 6 a.m. in several parts of town. The area of impact follows along U.S. 54 from Iola’s water plant to State Street, south to Neosho Street, east to Washington Avenue, North to Jackson Avenue, east to Sycamore Street, north to Benton Street and back west to State Street.
Moran clinic opens May 25 By SHELLIE SMITLEY The Iola Register
MORAN — The Allen County Regional Clinic, Moran, will begin seeing patients May 25. Physician Assistant JoAnna Curl said those wishing to make an appointment prior to its official opening should call the Humboldt location at 473-3008. A ribboncutting ceremony will be announced soon, she said. Curl told Moran City Council members Monday she was excited and honored to be practicing in Moran and credited, in part, support from people in the area for her success. “We’ve been saving up our illnesses for you,” Council Member James Mueller said jokingly.
IN OTHER news, Moran’s storm sirens are on the blink. The radio controls, which are custom-built, need to be replaced. “It’s the remote part that is tripping them,” Mayor Phillip Merkle said. A review by Blue Valley Public Safety via Google Earth estimated it would cost the city $12,499 to replace the controls. Council members elected to ask the Grand Valley, Mo.based company to come in person and give them a firm quote for the upgrade and to find out what services are used in Fort Scott and Chanute. Assistant Superintendent Craig Miller said Blue Valley services other siren systems throughout Allen See MORAN | Page A3
Training gets physical By SHELLIE SMITLEY The Iola Register
HUMBOLDT — This is part six of a 14-part series following Nina Froggatte’s journey through police training at the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center, Hutchinson. The police academy is a 14-week part of Kansas University’s curriculum. This week was a lot like the previous weeks, mostly classroom time. Each week Froggatte’s test scores continue to
improve. Half of Thursday and Friday of this week will be spent in physical training and defense tactics. She has been trying to prepare by Froggatte running one mile each evening on the treadmill, she said. Froggatte described the See TRAINING | Page A3
Quote of the day Vol. 119, No. 132
Above, social worker and SAFE BASE volunteer Susan Hawk, introduces Christopher Kilby to a puppy at the Allen County Animal Rescue Facility. At right, Adelyn Wacker, left, shares window-cleaning duties with Sheridan Byrd. Below, Karen Glukowsky receives a kiss on the cheek from one of ACARF’s most recent arrivals. The project is part of a Junior Volunteers program sponsored by SAFE BASE, Iola’s after-school program. REGISTER /RICK DANLEY
Dirty work mixes with ‘snuggle time’ By RICK DANLEY The Iola Register
LAHARPE — Among the great train of worthwhile programs offered by SAFE BASE — Iola’s after-school program — is its Junior Volunteer outing. Headed by licensed social worker Susan Hawk, Junior Volunteers buses school children, kindergarten through sixth grade,
to the Allen County Animal Rescue Facility, where students split their time between volunteer work — cleaning floors, walking dogs, filling litter boxes — and a period of intensive “snuggle time” with some of the facility’s furriest tenants. “For one, they’re learning what happens behind the scenes here,” said Hawk. “But they’re also learning what it
feels like to give, and what it does for others when you give of your time and skills. It will be important in their later lives to have that basis of volunteering.” And the interactions with the animals? For Hawk, the moment when a first-grader cradles a nervous puppy to his chest — this is the perfect See ACARF | Page A4
Lawmakers continue push for tax increase By JOHN HANNA The Associated Press
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Bipartisan support for higher spending on public schools pushed Kansas legislators Tuesday to be more aggressive about the income tax
increases they’re already considering to fix the state budget. Top Republicans abruptly scrapped a plan that would have raised
“Television is chewing gum for the eyes.”
— Frank Lloyd Wright, architect (1867-1959) 75 Cents
$879 million in new revenue over two years by rolling back past income tax cuts championed by GOP Gov. Sam Brownback. Support for the proposal had collapsed, with Democrats and moderate ReSee TAXES | Page A3
Hi: 51 Lo: 41 Iola, KS