Softball: Fillies drop two at Central Heights
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THE IOLA REGISTER Wednesday, May 7, 2014
ALLEN COUNTY
Searching for profit Hospital administrator updates commissioners By BOB JOHNSON The Iola Register
A downward trend in adjusted patient days at Allen County Hospital that started in 2005 has reversed itself slightly with Allen County Regional Hospital’s opening, Administrator Ron Baker told Allen County commissioners Tuesday. But, “we haven’t picked up to where we need to be,” Baker said, noting that most of the influx has been among outpatient services. The disruption of Allen County taking control of the hospital from Hospital Corporation of America and
the move to North Kentucky Street has been a factor, he said. Meanwhile, swing-bed care has been a lifeline. Baker explained the service is used by patients who have had major procedures, usually elsewhere, and are rehabilitating at ACRH. An illustration is something such as a hip replacement necessitating extended therapy, often as much as four to six weeks. That’s how ACRH can participate in orthopedic procedures though it lacks an orthopedic surgeon. Both a surgeon and the equipment he or she needs comes at a high price. “A screw (to mend a broken bone) doesn’t cost 20 cents, it’s more like $200,” Baker observed, and that full-blown inventory can range to $400,000 worth of joints, plates, screws and other devices. Consequently, Iola area See ACRH | Page A6
Trilby Bannister, left, Garrett Prall and Olivia Bannister and Clara Wicoff (not pictured) placed at the State Forensics competition on Saturday. The team took home 10th place overall. REGISTER/KAYLA BANZET
When ‘too much drama’ is OK
By KAYLA BANZET The Iola Register
It’s funny how things can fall into place. Olivia Bannister and Garrett Prall learned that on Saturday. Turns out they are a dynamic duo though their pairing
is new. The two earned first place in improvised duet acting at the State Forensics competition in Topeka. “I kinda was partner-less all season,” said Bannister, a sophomore at Iola High School. “This was sort of a
last hurrah type of thing.” At the very last meet of the season Regina Chriestenson, Iola Forensics coach, suggested Bannister pair up with Prall. It proved magic. The two took first, qualifying them for state. See STATE | Page A2
COUNTY COMMISSION
Ambulance service revenue is on track By BOB JOHNSON The Iola Register
A GRAND AFFAIR More than 400 supporters attended the first Iola school band banquet Friday night. Guests were served dinner, heard performances and updates on student successes. Zury Burleson, left, and Zach Cokely play during the banquet. Matt Kleopfer is instructor. COURTESY PHOTO
Ambulance runs and revenue are on pace to generate more than $750,000 this year. Allen County guaranteed Iola $750,000 in the contract for the city to operate countywide ambulance service. Any collected above that will go into the county’s ambulance fund, to meet the cost of new ambulances in years ahead. Meanwhile, Iola officials think they are going to come up $400,000 short at the end of the year. At least one commissioner isn’t so sure.
Iola needs “to give it a chance to succeed,” said Commissioner Tom Williams. “I think they have the people who can do it. I think with the runs becoming more streamlined, they can come out ahead.” Much of the feared deficit is from overtime pay, which spiked early this year when additional personnel were being hired and trained and run numbers soared. Commissioner Jim Talkington, while allowing the two governing bodies signed a contract, wondered if the county should be a little more conducive to helping See REVENUE | Page A6
Jefferson students win poster contest By BOB JOHNSON The Iola Register
Tim McDonnell quizzed fifth-graders at Jefferson Elementary School about the many uses of a tree Tuesday afternoon. The outdoor exercise was part of a ceremony to recognize Jake Damron’s poster as tops for Iola fifth-graders as well as that of the Southeast Kansas District. Runnersup were classmates Kaitlyn Smutz and Grace Garner. A Garden City student was the state winner from six districts. McDonnell is a forester with the Kansas Forest De-
partment, which sponsors the poster contest each year along with Iola’s Tree Board. The kids had what McDonnell enthusiastically said were “very good answers” for uses that can be made of trees — from bearers of fruit and nuts to firewood to habitat for wildlife. He also gave the students a short tutorial on how to plant a tree. An autumn splendor sugar maple, about seven feet tall, was placed on the west side of Jefferson Elementary. He began the process by taking quick hacks with a shovel at balled roots when the tree was freed from a See ARBOR | Page A6
Quote of the day Vol. 116, No. 135
Jake Damron, Jefferson Elementary fifth-grader, had the winning poster for Iola and the Southeast Kansas District in the Kansas Forest Service’s annual Arbor Day poster contest. With him during a presentation Tuesday afternoon at Jefferson were Iola Tree Board members Kristy Sutherland, left, and Roberta Shirley. REGISTER/BOB JOHNSON
“Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions. — Dalai Lama 75 Cents
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