Sports: Manning retires See B1
THE IOLA REGISTER Locally owned since 1867
Lawmakers take closer look at sex education By JOHN HANNA The Associated Press
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Denise Mead panicked when she learned that her ninthgrade daughter, one of her seven children, was learning about safe sex in her Topeka High School health class, concerned that the curriculum would conflict with her Catholic values. “We are teaching our children that sex is a beautiful thing created by God,” Mead said. Under a bill that the House Education Committee approved last month, Kansas public schools would be required to get parents’ consent before students could enroll in sex education courses. The “opt-in” bill also would allow parents to review curriculum before enrolling their children in the classes. However, critics worry that the Kansas bill could undo historic declines in teen birth and pregnancy rates. Committee Chairman Ron Highland, a Republican from Wamego, said the bill likely would pass if it reaches a floor vote. Rachel Whitten, spokeswoman for House Speaker Ray Merrick, said the bill will debated in the full House later this month. Most of the 286 school districts in the state currently have an “opt-out” policy, in which children are automatically enrolled in sex education courses unless their parents exempt them. Each See SEX ED | Page A2
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Tuesday, March 8, 2016
USD 257
Obstacles emerge for tech ed center By RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register
Planners continue to work feverishly to have at least three courses in place by this fall at a technical education center in LaHarpe. Jack Koehn, USD 257 superintendent of schools, updated Board of Education members Monday on recent developments, including a curveball thrown the school
district’s way. The tech ed center is a cooperative venture featuring a number of area school districts, including all three in Allen County (USD 257, Marmaton Valley-USD 256 and Humboldt-USD 258) as well as Allen, Neosho and Fort Scott community colleges. The center would be geared to provide more extensive instruction than basic high school courses,
with students earning either college credit or other certification, and thus be more employable upon graduation. Instruction would be provided by the community colleges, through the state’s Senate Bill 155, which provides higher education funds to the colleges for technical education offerings. Plans for the tech ed center hit high gear in recent months after LaHarpe busi-
nessman Ray Maloney acquired the old Diebolt Lumber facility and offered it up for the districts to use. Representatives from each district met Monday morning, Koehn said, and defined the three courses they planned to offer at the outset: construction trades, welding and nursing. “If we can get (the buildSee CTE | Page A6
SUMMER PROJECTS STAY ON TRACK
Board defers bus purchase, roof replacement By RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register
USD 257 school board members agreed Monday on a series of summer maintenance projects, including work to keep the no-longernew track at Riverside Park in tip-top shape. They just hope like heck
the Iola Middle School roof can last another year, and no other big-ticket expenses crop up in the interim. Board members approved spending a shade more than $145,000 on summer work, including 10-year maintenance work to the track; replacing fire alarms and adding fully accessible restrooms to
Jefferson and McKinley elementary schools; concrete work and other miscellaneous projects. To afford this, USD 257 will defer until 2016-17 to buy another school bus and replace the IMS roof. “If we don’t do the track this year, in a couple of years the cost will double,” Super-
intendent of Schools Jack Koehn said in explaining his rationale. “We need to do the track (maintenance) while it’s still doable. “If the middle school roof was leaking, I’d have a different story,” he continued. “How hopeful are you this See REPAIRS | Page A6
Grant expands Moran garden By BOB JOHNSON The Iola Register
Poll shows support for Medicaid By JIM MCLEAN KHI News Service
Poll results released Monday by the Kansas Hospital Association show a majority of Kansans continue to favor expanding Medicaid to cover more low-income adults. The statewide poll conducted in mid-February found that 62 percent of Kansas voters supported expanding KanCare, the state’s priva-
tized Medicaid program, to cover approximately 150,000 non-disabled adults earning less than 138 percent of the federal poverty level, which is $16,242 for an individual and $33,465 for a family of four. Support increased to 76 percent when respondents were told that an expansion bill introduced by the hospital association was “budget neutral” and would provide
Quote of the day Vol. 118, No. 90
coverage only to U.S. citizens who helped pay for their care. “These are things that we’ve heard from the (Brownback) administration, from legislators and from Kansans that are really important,” said Cindy Samuelson, a KHA spokesperson. The KHA bill, called The Bridge to a Healthy Kansas, was modeled after a so-called See MEDICAID | Page A2
MORAN — Families here will have more fresh garden vegetables on their dinner tables this year, thanks to the high school’s Future Farmers of America chapter. Jacque Grabbert, FFA adviser, told Moran council members Monday evening the students attracted a $2,500 national FFA Food for All grant, which will purchase equipment for a 24-plot community garden about two blocks northwest of City Hall. Spaces will be 13 by 25 feet. “We’ve got the trees down and have cleaned up brush,” Grabbert said. “Some topsoil has been put down and we’re planning on getting more.” Council members were impressed with the students’ initiative, and voted unanimously to remove four stumps and install a hydrant — FFA grant money will pay for a second — and provide $20 worth of water a month. “That’s 7,000 gallons,” Mayor Phillip Merkel computed.
“Love alone could waken love.”
— Pearl S. Buck, American writer, 1892-1973 75 Cents
“If you need more, we can negotiate,” said Councilwoman Cheryl Ginn. Once the FFA students have the garden up and going, management will go to a community board, Grabbert told the Register. “Board members will decide what to charge those who want to rent a space.” As a former vocational agriculture teacher in Marysville, Grabbert has experience with community gardens. “We started a community garden there and it’s been going for three or four years,” Grabbert said. A community garden is among recommendations that the Allen County Food Council — a joint effort of Thrive Allen County and Farm Bureau — provided. Another signature program of Thrive also is taking shape. Surveys were sent with utility bills last month asking residents what they would like to have in the way of See MORAN | Page A2
Hi: 67 Lo: 53 Iola, KS