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Rescue crews brave the waves
By TREVOR HOAG The Iola Register
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Sky watch By MIKE MYER Special to The Register
Fellow sky watchers. There is going to be a spectacular pass of the International Space Station tonight. Look for the ISS to appear in the northwest skies at 9:12 this evening. The space station will pass almost overhead at 9:16 and will disappear in the southeast at 9:19. The space station will appear as a bright star when it is overhead but it will be moving fast. It will be easy to see and you will not need to go out in the country to watch this pass. Enjoy. Mike Myer is an avid astronomer and photographer in Humboldt.
Emergency response crews from the area engaged in a unique experience Friday as they underwent water rescue training using the county’s new boats and other equipment. Crews braved the Neosho River west of Iola on both sides of the highway crossing. Those who participated became “Flood and Swiftwater Technician #1” certified under the rigorous course conducted by Rescue Training International out of New Braunfels, Texas. Ten crew members from Iola fire and rescue took part, as did members of the Moran police department, Moran fire department and Colony fire department. The instructors for the course were Camille Meyer and Jessie McGraw, who taught participants both inclass knowledge as well as hands-on, in-water skills. Crew member Michael Burnett of Iola fire and rescue said the course “Mainly teaches you to swim with the current, upstream, downstream, how to control yourself, how to rescue somebody, how to
Instructor Camille Meyer shouts directions to rescue crews on the Neosho River during a training operation Friday. REGISTER/TREVOR HOAG rescue yourself, different scenarios of saving people.” “You gotta be able to rescue yourself, if you get in a situation. … You never know when water conditions are going to change.” “It’s really not that different from lifeguard training,” he said.
“The best way to help somebody is to help them rescue themselves, and not you having to go in and rescue them.” Burnett also highlighted the need to learn “recovery” skills, that is, when it’s too late to save someone and their body must be retrieved.
Iola Fire Chief Tim Thyer said the course provides an opportunity to test out new equipment recently acquired by the county, including a rescue boat system that includes two boats and a trailer. “It’s an asset for Allen See RESCUE | Page A4
Virus relief bill up in air as negotiations resume By ANDREW TAYLOR The Associated Press
Students across the country are preparing to return to classes, either in person or online, amid the coronavirus outbreak. DREAMSTIME/TNS)
Student tests positive as Indiana school opens By CASEY SMITH The Associated Press
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Just days after public schools around the state reopened their doors for the first time since March, at least one student and one school staff member have tested positive for the virus. In the Greenfield-Central Community School Corporation, 20 miles east of Indianapolis, a student tested positive for the virus on the first day back to class. Superintendent Harold Olin sent an email to parents of students at Greenfield-Central Junior High School Thursday afternoon notifying them that a student at the school had tested positive for the virus. Olin told The Associated Press the district was notified of the positive test by the Hancock County Health
Department and that the student attended school only for part of the day Thursday. The student was tested for the virus days earlier, he said, and it appears the student attended school before receiving the results. “This really doe not change our plans,” Olin said of reopening schools. “We knew that we would have a positive case at some point in the fall. We simply did not think it would happen on Day One.” In response, the school district enacted its “Positive COVID-19 Test Protocol,” which included isolating the student in the school clinic. District and school nurses worked to identify other students or staff who may have come in close contact. Classrooms and areas where the student spent time were also given special cleanings. Close contacts will have to
quarantine for 14 days before returning to school, according to the protocol. Any staff or students who test positive for the coronavirus can return to school only after isolating at home for 10 days and allowing at least 72 hours to pass since showing symptoms. Greenfield-Central Junior High students who were not in close contact with the student who tested positive were able to continue in-person classes Friday. At Avon High School just west of Indianapolis, a staff member also tested positive. The district was notified about the case Thursday, one day after students returned to classes, said district spokesperson Stacey ForceyMoore. However, that staff member has not been at the school this week and did not See SCHOOLS | Page A2
WASHINGTON (AP) — Slow, grinding negotiations on a huge COVID-19 relief bill are set to resume, but the path forward promises to be challenging. Both the Trump administration negotiating team and top Capitol Hill Democrats reported progress over the weekend even as they highlighted their differences. Ahead of Monday’s talks, all sides predict a long slog ahead despite the lapse of a $600-per-week supplemental COVID-19 jobless benefit, the beginning of school season and the call of lawmakers’ cherished August recess. Sev-
eral more days of talks are expected, if not more. The White House is seeking opportunities to boost President Donald Trump, like another round of $1,200 stimulus payments and extending the supplemental jobless benefit and partial eviction ban. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the top Democratic negotiator, appears intent on an agreement as well, but she’s made it clear she needs big money for state and local governments, unemployment benefits and food aid. Appearances by the principal negotiators on Sunday’s news shows featured continued political shots by White See RELIEF | Page A4
Federal audit finds hazards at Kansas foster homes KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Kansas’ foster care homes have not been meeting health and safety requirements, even though state inspectors visited regularly, federal inspectors found in an audit. Foster care children have been living at risk in group homes with broken windows, mold, exposed electrical wiring, trashed porches and rodent droppings, according to the audit by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ inspector general. Federal inspectors dug into
the state’s system of group homes in 2018 and 2019, but their final report was just released this week, KCUR-FM reported. Inspectors visited all 31 group homes licensed at the time to house between five and 24 kids. Twenty-four of the 31 homes violated physical health and safety rules, and 29 broke background check or fingerprint requirements. Inspectors said walls had holes in them, there were See HOMES | Page A4
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