Happy ST. PATRICK’S Day Tuesday, March 17, 2020
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‘Non-essential’ businesses urged to close By VICKIE MOSS The Iola Register
All “non-essential” businesses in Allen, Anderson, Bourbon and Woodson counties were advised to close their doors beginning this morning to help curtail the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus that is sweeping the nation.
Rebecca Johnson, Public Health Officer and executive director of the SEK MultiCounty Health Departments, issued the statement Monday afternoon. The health department is the agency in charge of local response.
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Johnson recommended schools, bars, factories, churches and other places with non-essential meetings
and gatherings remain closed until at least Sunday. There are no confirmed COVID-19 cases in those counties, but Johnson said in a press release her office is working closely with local, state and federal partners to monitor, respond and inform the public of any potential threat. Johnson regarded gas sta-
Trump: Outbreak could last past July WASHINGTON (AP) — Racing to stall an expected surge of coronavirus cases, the White House released a series of sweeping guidelines that for the next 15 days will temporarily rewrite the norms of American society. President Donald Trump, employing a newly somber tone about the crisis enveloping the globe, urged all older Americans to stay home and everyone to avoid crowds and eating out at restaurants. The president for the first time acknowledged that the pandemic may send the economy into a recession and suggested that the nation may be dealing with the virus until “July or August.” The guidelines were released Monday to an uneasy country. The stock market had its worst day since 1987, America’s largest school system shut its doors and questions remained about the administration’s ability to test See TRUMP | Page A5
tions and grocery stores as providing essential services and asked those businesses to remain open. Food service establishments are encouraged to practice social distancing and isolation. Patrons are asked to use drive-up windows or takeout during this See CLOSE | Page A3
Industries striving to stay ahead By RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register
Ronnie Higginbotham, head custodian for USD 257, sprays disinfectant on lockers at Iola High School. The district is conducting a deep cleaning of all schools during spring break, which is typical because of flu season, but is taking extra precautions with increased disinfection efforts because of the threat of a new coronavirus. REGISTER/VICKIE MOSS
Undergoing spring (break) cleaning By VICKIE MOSS The Iola Register
Under the current plan, students will return to Iola schools Monday. But as the national and state responses to a deadly new coronavirus continue to evolve, school administrators are taking things day by day. USD 257 is following state recommendations, and plans
to return to classes on March 23. But they’re also working on contingency plans if classes are cancelled. “We want to carry on the learning process,” USD 257 Superintendent Stacey Fager said Monday afternoon. “We want to provide children with the nutrition we know is so desperately needed in our community. That’s important to us and it’s important to our
patrons as well.” Fager and other area superintendents have daily meetings with Kansas Department of Education officials. As of Monday, the state officials advised schools to take this week off with the intention of returning to classes on March 23. Many districts, like Iola, Humboldt See SCHOOLS | Page A3
HUMBOLDT — The Monarch Cement Co. has safe guards in place as health concerns grow amid the global COVID-19 pandemic. The first Walter Wulf Jr. priority is ensuring the company’s workers exercise common sense, explained Walter Wulf Jr., chairman of Monarch’s Board of Directors. “We’ve disseminated information to the employees that’s basically commonsense stuff,” Wulf said. “Try to avoid touching your face with your hands. If you’re sick, stay home. If you have to, sneeze or cough into your sleeve.” Monarch has a contingency plan in place if it must isolate employees due to illness, Wulf said. The company owns a facility in Chanute, and if See INDUSTRIES | Page A3
Chiefs place tag on star lineman
The cabin on Big Sandy
The Daniel family cabin, rebuilt along Highway 54 in Yates Center, stands as a testament to the brutality of pioneer life. REGISTER/TREVOR Vol. 122, No. 94 Iola, KS 75 Cents
The cold rain was falling in hard green drops as I rounded the forested corner that hides Big Sandy cemetery. Cedar trees dripped in the morning mist, and hungry blackbirds were calling near the rectangular sandstone gate. As I approached the entrance I paused, listening, straining not only to hear but to feel something of the place, confident that its ghosts would reappear. Indeed, anyone who’s ever visited this place claims it’s haunted. Ignoring the weather, I shuffled through the wet grass toward the rear of the cemetery plot, intent on visiting some old friends.
Trevor Hoag Just Prairie And there they were: more than a dozen unmarked pioneer graves with peculiar shapes that when taken together look like rows of teeth lining an open mouth. The light was almost absent despite it being midmorning, and the entire space was cloaked in purple shadows. Unable to resist, I See CABIN | Page A6
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Humboldt Middle School lists rolls
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Census 2020 mailings sent out PAGE A4