Monday, April 6, 2020
Locally owned since 1867
Wiggin to play baseball at Allen
iolaregister.com
‘Grief doesn’t change’ Funerals adapt to pandemic restrictions By VICKIE MOSS The Iola Register
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly signed legislation Friday to launch a new 10-year transportation program she and other officials see as a $10 billion stimulus to counter the economic damage from the coronavirus pandemic. The program will use use existing funds to pay for $1 billion a year in projects, with projects designated every two years. The measure allows the state to expedite $300 million worth of big projects with
Under normal circumstances, a funeral for a member of the Riebel family would draw up to 200 mourners. The cathedral at St. John’s Catholic Church would echo with songs and scripture. L o n g t i m e Earl Riebel LaHarpe resident Earl Riebel may have expected as much. Instead, only seven people were in the church to commemorate his passing. Riebel came from a family with 13 children. He served with the Army during the Korean War. He was well-known in the community, having worked at local cement plants for 35 years, raising cattle, hauling hay and playing horseshoes. But when he died March 23, the state’s social distancing guidelines to avoid spreading COVID-19 limited attendance to his seven children. The siblings grieved alone, unable to console each other with hugs and thoughtful touches. Outside the church, a small number of their spouses and children watched a livestream video of the service on phones or tablets. A few minor glitches interrupted the audio, as it was only Feuerborn Family Funeral Home’s second virtual funeral service, but at least
See ROADS | Page A2
See FUNERALS | Page A4
PAGE B1
Kansas nearly out of protective gear
PAGE A2
Governor signs bill for new transportation program By JOHN HANNA The Associated Press
US braces for high death toll By LORI HINNANT and DANICA KIRKA The Associated Press
Earl Riebel’s funeral at St. John’s Catholic Church was livestreamed because of coronavirus restrictions. Only Riebel’s seven children could attend the service. YOUTUBE
LONDON (AP) — The United States and Britain braced for one of their bleakest weeks in living memory today as the social and financial toll of the coronavirus pandemic deepened. New infections in Italy and especially Spain showed signs of slowing, with emergency rooms in the hard-hit Madrid region returning almost to normal a week after scenes of patients sleeping on floors and in chairs. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who was infected last month, was hospitalized overnight in what his office described as a “precautionary step” after persistent symptoms. The 55-year-old Conservative leader, who had a fever for days, is the first known head of government to fall ill with the disease. “The issue is that his symptoms have remained persistent,” said Johnson’s spokesman, James Slack, adding that the prime minister was continuing to receive regular briefings. World shares rose after some hard-hit European areas saw glimmers of hope — deaths and new infections appeared to be See DEATHS | Page A4
State officials promise help is on the way for businesses By RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register
The state is using every proverbial arrow in its quiver to help businesses cope with the ongoing COVID-19 economic shutdown, Kansas Secretary of Commerce David Toland said Friday. The Iola native spoke as part of a statewide “First Friday” webcast hosted by KState Research and Extension. He was joined by Secretary of Labor Delia Garcia and Laurel Klein Searles, who directs the state’s unemployment services program. “These are unprecedented times we’re living in,” Toland said, while giving a rundown of the funding mechanisms the state is providing, or asThe downtown square is deserted in the middle of a business day. Federal and state assistance sisting when it comes to reprograms aim to help small businesses recover from the economic losses caused by the coronavirus ceiving federal funds, to help pandemic. REGISTER/RICHARD LUKEN Kansas businesses stay afloat. are both being administered lion. EIDL extends up to $2 million, THE MOST prominent pro- by the U.S. Small Business AdIf those businesses main- but carries a 3.75% interest grams for businesses, made ministration. tain their existing employ- rate for small businesses and available through the federal Through the PPP, business- ment levels, those loans will a 2.75% interest rate for nonCOVID-19 relief bill signed es with fewer than 500 em- be forgiven. profits. into law March 27, are still ployees can receive loans of The EIDL funding, meanPayments can be deferred coming into focus, Toland up to 2½ times their average while, provides $10,000 in for up to 12 months. noted. monthly payroll for the prior working capital to small busiGetting information to the The Payroll Protection Pro- 12 months, up to $10 million. nesses and nonprofits, which businesses, and getting apgram (PPP) and Economic The government is backing does not have to be repaid. plications filled in an orderly Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) this program with $349 bilA second loan through See HELP | Page A2
State call gets ‘Zoom bombed’ Friday’s s t at ew i d e presentation with state officials on the ongoing COVID-19 crisis showed the dangers in using a popular online video conferencing program. “Zoom bombers” infiltrated the K-State Research and Extension program on how the state is responding to the economic shutdown. Appearing in the conference were Secretary of Commerce David Toland, Secretary of Labor Delia Garcia and Laurel Klein Searles, who directs the state’s unemployment services program. The event was being broadcast live in order for residents to pose questions to the presenters, noted Nancy Daniels, a community vitality specialist with See ZOOM | Page A2
Order Today...
Vol. 122, No. 112 Iola, KS 75 Cents
DELIVERED TOMORROW order today by 1 p.m. & get by noon tomorrow 2103 S. Sante Fe Chanute, KS
620-431-6070
DELIVERY TO IOLA & HUMBOLDT ARE ON IN-STOCK ITEMS ONLY