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Baseball: Cubs knock off Chargers

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THE IOLA REGISTER Wednesday, April 30, 2014

School aid estimate drops by $12 million TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A school funding plan recently enacted in Kansas is projected to provide $12 million less than previously thought for public school classrooms, and a top State Department of Education official publicly apologized Tuesday for “confusion” surrounding its estimates. Aides to Republican Gov. Sam Brownback said he and his staff weren’t aware of the revised estimates when the governor signed the plan into law last week. Brownback and GOP lawmakers who backed the plan said repeatedly that it would put an additional $73 million into classrooms for the 2014-2015 school year. The first estimate was based on figures issued April 6 by the Department of Education as legislators were preparing to pass the final version of the plan.

Kansas kids stay fit By KAYLA BANZET The Iola Register

Third graders from Iola, Marmaton Valley and Yates Center leaped, sprinted and rolled through an activity packed day at the Kansas Kids’ Fitness Day on Tuesday. More than 170 students traveled to Allen Community College to participate in the annual event. It is a statewide

event that focuses on increasing physical activity and safety awareness. Statewide, there were 21,000 students participating. Jackie Chase, USD 257 nurse, and Vince DeGrado, Allen track coach, organized the big day for the students. ACC students volunteered their time to help with different activity stations. See FITNESS | Page A

Kaylah Lampe, at top, leaps over hurdles in the Allen Community College gym. Holden Barker, above left, watches Trey Wallace pass a volleyball. REGISTER/KAYLA BANZET

COUNTY

Ambulance deficit is no surprise to county Commissioners were aware of Iola’s pending request for additional support for its operation of countywide ambulance service prior to Monday night’s city council meeting. City Administrator Carl Slaugh had visited with commissioners individually to bring them up to date on ambulance finances. Current estimates are that the city will be about $400,000 short of meeting expenses in its fire/EMS department by the end of the year, city council members were told Monday night. Alternatives are to raise funds within the city — first blush means are a utility surcharge or increase in local sales taxes — or for the county to up its ante.

The contract city and county governing bodies negotiated and signed in January provides for Iola to provide countywide ambulance service, for which the county guaranteed $750,000 from run charges. The city proposed a meeting between its principles and commissioners to consider a change in funding. None is yet scheduled. County commissioners noted that a deficit in the neighborhood of the estimated $400,000 was mentioned several times during negotiations. Thus, Commissioner Dick Works observed, the pending deficit should have come as no surprise. See COUNTY | Page A2

But new figures April 17 showed the extra dollars for classrooms, as calculated by the Brownback administration, would be $61 million and local school property taxes would drop $84 million, instead of the $78 million previously calculated. Brownback signed the bill April 20. Four days later, Attorney General Derek Schmidt attached the April 6 figures to a petition he filed in Shawnee County District Court, seeking dismissal of part of an education funding lawsuit filed by parents and school districts in 2010. “We’re sorry for the confusion,” Deputy Education Commissioner Dale Dennis said. The April 17 figures were posted online, but Dennis said some state officials See FUNDS | Page A6

Tucker steps down at Humboldt By BOB JOHNSON The Iola Register

HUMBOLDT — City Administrator Larry Tucker resigned at a special meeting of the Humboldt City Council Tuesday night. He will become Butler, Mo., city administrator on May 27. His last day at Humboldt will be May 25. “I’ve enjoyed my time here (seven years) and I wish you and Humboldt all the best,” Tucker told council members. They also passed along “job well done” accolades. Tucker, 65, told the Register his family had a large role in his decision to take the Butler position. “I have two daughters, a son and five grandchildren living in Overland Park and Kansas City, Mo.,” he said, with emphasis on the grandchildren.

Mayor Nobby Davis told the Register a search for Tucker’s replacement would begin immediately. If no one is on board by the time Tucker leaves, Davis said he and City Clerk Jean Flores would look after day-to-day operations. Davis runs Opie’s Family Restaurant in Chanute. During his tenure, Tucker was instrumental in several improvements, including the new Neosho River Park. Housing was an emphasis for Tucker. A new senior housing complex was built at the north edge of town and a grant recently was obtained to help with upgrade of rental properties. The swimming pool was expanded and improved and a walking trail with exercise equipment was constructed between the pool and ball fields at the southeast cor-

Larry Tucker ner of town, about a quarter mile distant. See TUCKER | Page A6

Kansas media fights to open court records By ANN MARIE BUSH Topeka Capital-Journal

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Judges trying to close hearings and seal court documents should be a cause for concern among members of news media outlets, two organizations say. “We have become increasingly concerned by the knee-jerk sealing of court documents and closing of hearings in so many cases,” said Doug Anstaett, executive director of the Kansas Press Association. “It seems that it has become standard operating procedure in murder cases.” A Kansas Supreme Court ruling filed July 17, 1981, laid

out clear and concise rules a judge must follow before closing any pretrial proceedings or sealing records, said Ron Keefover, a retired spokesman for the Supreme Court and president of the Kansas Sunshine Coalition for Open Government, The Topeka Capital-Journal reports. The Kansas City Star Co. filed a lawsuit to compel Leighton A. Fossey, associate district judge of the Sixth Judicial District, to open certain criminal proceedings in the case of the State of Kansas v. James M. Crumm. The case arose from an April 17, 1980, homicide in Miami County. Crumm was charged with the first-degree murder of his 13-year-old stepbrother. Crumm was found guilty

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of first-degree murder on May 1, 1981. On the same day, the Kansas City Star Co. filed a challenge of the hearing’s closure with the Kansas Supreme Court. The high court’s decision said a judge could close a pretrial hearing and seal the record only if dissemination of information from those sources would create a “clear and present danger to the fairness of the trial” and the prejudicial effect of the information on trial fairness couldn’t be avoided by any reasonable alternative means. Despite that ruling, there have been several cases recently where hearings have been closed and documents have been sealed.

We have a quadruple murder in Parsons that occurred Nov. 26 and the newspaper still has not been able to report details of the crime that would answer a good many questions the public has. — Doug Anstaett, KPA executive director

“We have a quadruple murder in Parsons that occurred Nov. 26 — five months ago — and the newspaper still has not been able to report details of the crime that would answer a good many questions the public has,” Anstaett said. “This is basic informa-

“Let us go forth with fear and courage and rage to save the world.” — Grace Paley, writer 75 Cents

tion, and it’s hidden from the public but only in Kansas.” Peter Cook, publisher of the Parsons Sun, agrees. He has been with the Sun for three years but has spent 51 years in the industry. “This is probably, out of See MEDIA | Page A6

Hi: 59 Lo: 39 Iola, KS


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