Track: Red Devils open outdoor season
Locally owned since 1867 www.iolaregister.com
See B1
THE IOLA REGISTER Tuesday, March 18, 2014
WORLD
Anxiety comes before Putin’s next move
eorge Hawley is turning 70 this April and he has every intention of slowing down at work; better said than done for someone who has mastered a trade over the past 54 years. He began working with lumber at age 16 with a man from Chanute, then decided to start out on his own. It eventually became Hawley Lumber, located in between Humboldt and Elsmore on Florida Road. He and his wife Betty live there, in a home built out of native lumber from southeast Kansas. “Time has just gotten away from me,” Hawley said. He walked between his barn, which houses thousands of sections of wood from across the area. That is his specialty. Ever since he began working for himself, Hawley said he has prided himself in only taking wood from the area. He pointed out the resources for lumber in Kansas are under-utilized, and the wood is top-notch. “I like the idea of promoting Kansas prod-
MOSCOW (AP) — With Crimea in Russia’s pocket, the world anxiously awaits Vladimir Putin’s next move. Beyond the prize of the Black Sea peninsula, a picture is emerging of what the Russian president ultimately wants from his power play: broad autonomy for Ukraine’s Russian-speaking regions and guarantees that Ukraine will never realize the Kremlin’s worst nightmare — joining NATO. The big question is whether Putin is willing to invade more areas of eastern Ukraine to achieve these goals. For the West, it all boils down to a tough dilemma over compromising with Moscow to avert military conflict or taking a hardline stance and risking a Russian invasion of Ukraine. Putin has sent clear signals he could take extreme measures if he doesn’t get his way on keeping Ukraine out of NATO and ensuring that Ukraine remains in Russia’s political and economic orbit. Sunday’s referendum in Crimea, which overwhelmingly supported joining Russia, has also raised fears that Ukraine’s eastern provinces could try to hold their own independence votes. Protesters have seized administrative buildings in several eastern cities and hoisted Russian flags over them. Some clashed with supporters of the Kiev government, raising the danger that the Kremlin could use such violence as a pretext to send in troops.
See HAWLEY | Page A3
See PUTIN | Page A6
George Hawley stands next to one of his planing mills at his property, located between Elsmore and Humboldt. Hawley has owned and operated Hawley Lumber for nearly 50 years. REGISTER/STEVEN SCHWARTZ By STEVEN SCHWARTZ The Iola Register
G
Hawley having a hard time slowing down
Baby shower to help new parents By KAYLA BANZET The Iola Register
Preparing for a newborn baby can be a mix of emotions, joyful and overwhelming. The SEK Multi-County Health Department is hoping to make the transition into parenthood easier with a community baby shower from 1 to 3 p.m. on April 5 at the Bass Community Building, 505 N. Buckeye. Vicki Howard, Healthy Start Home Visitor for the department, said the baby shower is a first for the department. Employees got the idea from See SHOWER | Page A3
Disease leaves Robb floored hasn’t worked since her husband was lifeflighted to the Kansas City hospital. Daily expenses have mounted along with medical bills, while income has flagged. Friends will have a fundraiser for the Robbs Saturday at the Iola Elks Lodge, 202 S. Jefferson. Biscuits, sausage gravy, coffee and juice will be served from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. for $5 a plate. Also, an account for the Robbs has been set up at Iola’s Community National Bank, 120 E. Madison Ave.
By BOB JOHNSON The Iola Register
GAS — Steve Robb always has been the picture of health — a wiry physique from 30 years of working with his hands, 25 years at Iola’s power plant and the last five as city superintendent in Gas. He never missed a day of work, until just after the first of the year when what he thought was a bad cold had him visit his doctor, who prescribed antibiotics. A few days later, with his condition worsening, Robb, 55, was admitted to Allen County Regional Hospital. Soon thereafter he was lifeflighted to Overland Park Regional Medical Center with respiratory problems initially diagnosed as pneumonia. He immediately was put on a ventilator, spent six days in intensive care and was at the medical center for two weeks. The eventual diagnosis was mucormycosis, a relatively
Quote of the day Vol. 116, No. 99
Steve Robb rare disease. The road to recovery, he soon learned, was going to be long and trying — and it isn’t over yet. THE ROBBS have health
insurance and Gas council members have found ways to keep Robb on the payroll, mainly by permitting other employees to share sick leave. Wife Becky, a paraprofessional at Lincoln Elementary,
“There is always some madness in love. But there is also always some reason in madness.” — Friedrich Nietzsche 75 Cents
TODAY, ROBB is receiving treatments every other day at ACRH, after a second two weeks at the Overland Park facility and time at the University of Kansas Medical Center . “When I walked into KU, I told the doctor to do something, that I was dying,” Robb said Monday afternoon from See ROBB | Page A6
Hi: 70 Lo: 33 Iola, KS