Thursday, February 4, 2021
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Lawmakers outraged by COVID scams
Allen County COVID-19 Case Count
Current cases ................. 56 Total cases* ................... 1,001 Deaths........................... 13 *Since the start of the pandemic
By JOHN HANNA The Associated Press
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Assurances from labor officials that new security protocols are blocking thousands of fraudulent attempts every hour to access Kansas’ unemployment benefits system did little Wednesday to dispel the concerns of Republican lawmakers who fear the state is losing millions of dollars to COVID-19 pandemic scammers. The state Department of Labor reported that it blocked more than 649,000 attempts from internet bots or human scammers to log into its unemployment system within 34 hours after a shutdown of the system ended Tuesday morning. The department shut down the system Saturday afternoon to add See SCAMS | Page A5
Iola’s Logan Brown signs with Butler
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Biden team pitches ‘go big’ on relief PAGE A3
Sources: Southeast Kansas Multi-County Health Departments, Kansas Department of Health and Environment
Liz Lammers of Quincy Recycle shares recycling advice with Rotarian Dan Davis, left, and Harry Clubine of Strickler Dairy on Wednesday afternoon. REGISTER/TREVOR HOAG
The recycling guru
Quincy is “to move as many truckloads across the country as possible … and to make sure everybody’s happy in the process.” “It takes a lot of very comSee RECYCLE | Page A6
See HOSPITAL | Page A3
By TREVOR HOAG The Iola Register
Liz Lammers of Quincy Recycle. I’ll be the first to admit it,” she laughed. Lammers hails from Quincy, Illinois, home of the recycling business that has sites in several states. Lammers said her job with
By the Register staff
Hospitals in Allen and Anderson counties are easing visitor restrictions, allowing one person per day to visit a patient. Previously, no visitors were allowed because of COVID-19 safety precautions. Saint Luke’s Health System, which operates both Allen County Regional Hospital and Anderson County Hospital, announced the change effective at 7 a.m. this morning. The spread of COVID-19 has slightly declined in the region, prompting hospital officials to ease back on the restrictions. Should cases start to increase, hospitals would reinstate the “no visitors” policy. The new restrictions allow one visitor per patient per day, no visitor re-entry and no visitors under the age of 14. Masks are required to be worn by visitors at all times, including in patient
Iola Rotary Club learns tips for its recycling program Liz Lammers of Quincy Recycle shared her years of recycling wisdom Wednesday with area citizens. Lammers was a guest of Iola’s Rotary Club. A group of about 20, including county commissioners, city council members and school administrators, were on hand for Lammers’s presentation. Lammers was impressed by the turnout, and said that usually only one or two people attend her presentations, even though she often travels great distances to give them. “You guys are a little rural,
Hospitals ease visitor restrictions
USD 257 Kansas unveils online map to ‘Find My Vaccine’ Prom is still on, for now By VICKIE MOSS The Iola Register
By SHERMAN SMITH Kansas Reflector
TOPEKA — Kansas officials on Wednesday unveiled an online map designed to help people figure out who to call and where to go to get a COVID-19 vaccine. The map is part of a larger website that also provides information about the current phase of vaccine rollout and who is currently eligible to get the vaccine. Doses are currently reserved for people ages 65 and older, individuals in prison and other congregate settings, and critical workers. The anticipated rollout of the “Find My Vaccine” platform arrives amid a sixweek decline in new cases of COVID-19. Still, the pandemic remains a serious threat. On Wednesday, the Kansas
Vol. 122, No. 322 Iola, KS 75 Cents
The new “Find My Vaccine” map tool does not yet not show results for Allen County. Department for Health and Environment reported 86 more people have died from COVID-19, bringing the 11-month death toll to 3,895. “I know that I sound like a broken record,” Gov. Laura Kelly said during a news conference at the Statehouse, See VACCINE | Page A5
It’s been nearly a year since the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the education system. Since March, the pandemic forced educators, parents and students to adapt to quickly changing situations. It’s been a learning experience, USD 257 Superintendent Stacey Fager said, but he’s optimistic about the coming months. “We feel like we can pivot pretty quickly when needed,” he said. “It’s been a challenge all year. One day can change so much from the next. But the way our students, facuity, staff, administrators and parents have handled it has been amazing. I really hand it to all of them.” Things like graduation,
Iola High School students, from left, Kolton Greathouse, Ashton Hesse, Xander Sellman and Maddy Cookson gather in the IHS commons area. REGISTER/RICHARD LUKEN sports, school plays and even daily classroom learning look much different now from just a year ago. Crowds are reduced. Events are much smaller or moved to a virtual setting. With all the changes, administrators want to keep as
many traditions as possible. That includes prom. As the pandemic continues, administrators are hopeful they can organize a prom in April, Fager said. “We’re planning for it. If we get to that point and we See SCHOOL | Page A3
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