Saturday, August 8, 2020
Locally owned since 1867
A most unusual season
iolaregister.com
By RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register
The fruits of Terri Johnson’s persistence have begun to pay off this summer Johnson, of Moran, is in her second year as a vendor at the weekly Allen County Farmers Markets in Iola and Humboldt. She’s among the few sellers who make it to all three weekly sessions, the Tuesday and Thursday afternoon sessions along North State Street and on the square, respectively, and Saturday mornings in downtown Humboldt. “I think I’m doing better just because they’ve seen me before,” Johnson said. “But I was very worried at the start of this year.” The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic came just a few weeks before the markets were scheduled to open in April. That forced organizers to adjust on the fly. For a spell, customer numbers were limited to prevent over-crowding, and non-essential food items — arts and craft items, for example — were prohibited until late June. Part of Johnson’s inven-
What do masks do? By VICKIE MOSS The Iola Register
tory is wax melts, which she usually only sells before the proverbial dog days of summer. “Then it gets too hot and
Students will be heading back to school soon, with mask mandates in place. The CDC earlier this month urged every American to wear a mask, citing studies and data that show face masks reduce the spread of COVID-19. Allen County also requires masks, following recommendations from local and state health officials, though some residents object to being forced to wear one. Those who are opposed to masks say they don’t believe the threat of COVID-19 is serious enough to warrant drastic action, or they worry that a face mask would restrict oxygen levels. Those fears are unfounded, local health experts say. Wearing a mask provides at least
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A line of eager customers forms at the Heck family produce booth Thursday at the Allen County Farmers Market. At right, Terri Johnson of Moran is in her second year as a market vendor.
Preserving Humboldt’s artistic treasures By TREVOR HOAG The Iola Register TO
2020 -20 21
Get ready for class with our Back to School magazine! (See insert.)
16 killed in plane crash in India PAGE A3
New aid package deal hits roadblock PAGE A7
A call has been sounded to protect and preserve some of Humboldt’s most beloved artistic treasures. Harvey Peck, now 94, has spent a lifetime beautifying Humboldt, including adorning buildings with expansive and intricate murals. You can find them in both old and new city halls, Estrellita Restaurant, the United Methodist Church and several other locations. The subject matter in Peck’s works includes historical sites in or near Humboldt (such as the bandstand and seven-arch bridge), the Biblesta parade, pioneer scenes with cabins and mountains, Biblical images for children
Above, a mural of Noah’s Ark adorns the wall in one of the children’s rooms at the United Methodist Church. At right, Nacho and Monica Melendez pose with Peck’s depiction of the seven-arch bridge at Estrellita Restaurant. “It’s the nicest one,” said Monica. and much more. Given that Humboldt’s old city hall will likely soon no longer belong to the city, it first became imperative to find some way to preserve
Kansas House speaker had virus; governor tests negative By JOHN HANNA The Associated Press
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A top Republican legislator in Kansas was hospitalized last month after testing positive for the novel coronavirus and didn’t disclose it to colleagues until this week. The state’s Democratic governor tested negative Friday, after taking a test because the two of them attended a meeting together after he was hospitalized. Kansas House Speaker Ron Ryckman Jr.’s delayed acknowledgment of his hosVol. 122, No. 198 Iola, KS 75 Cents
er, as he pointed out some of the artwork’s fine details. “It’s difficult to make an agreement” to guarantee that the piece will remain intact forever, and it could get damSee MURALS | Page A3
US adds 1.8 million jobs; hiring has weakened
pitalization — in an email to fellow House Republicans after Tuesday’s primary — concerned colleagues, particularly Democrats. Gov. Laura Kelly called his decision to attend a July 29 meeting at the Statehouse “reckless and dangerous.” Ryckman, from the Kansas City area, is the highest-ranking official in Kansas known to have been infected. Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt of Oklahoma tested positive last month. Ryckman said in an interSee EXPOSED | Page A6
Peck’s mural there, whether through photography, removal of the wall or some other means. “We’re going to lose access to it,” explained Humboldt city administrator Cole Herd-
WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States added 1.8 million jobs in July, a pullback from the gains of May and June and evidence that the resurgent coronavirus has weakened hiring and the economic rebound. At any other time, hiring at that level would be seen as a blowout gain. But after employers shed a staggering 22 million jobs in March and April, much larger increases are needed to heal the job market. The hiring of the past three months has recovered only 42% of the jobs lost to the pandemic-induced recession, according to the La-
bor Department’s jobs report released Friday. And now, with much of the nation having paused or reversed plans to restore economic activity, many employers are still reluctant or unable to hire and consumers remain generally hesitant to shop, travel or eat out. Until the health crisis is solved through a vaccine or an effective treatment, most experts say the economy will struggle to sustain any recovery. Though the unemployment rate fell last month from 11.1% to 10.2%, that level still exceeds the highest rate during the 2008-2009
Great Recession. “The progress is encouraging, but let’s not lose sight of where we currently are,” said Nick Bunker, economic research director at the jobs website Indeed. “By both the unemployment rate and the cumulative hit to employment, the current labor market crisis is worse than the Great Recession.” The jobs report emerged as new infections run at about 55,000 a day. While that’s down from a peak of well over 70,000 in the second half of July, cases are rising in about half of the states, and deaths are climbing in many of them.
Welcome Tracy Sambo, MD
Board Certified General Surgeon
Neosho Memorial is pleased to welcome general surgeon, Tracy Sambo, MD, FASC, FICS to the new NMRMC Surgery Clinic. Dr. Sambo is board certified and specializes in hernia repair, breast surgery, colorectal surgery, endoscopy, wound care and many other procedures. Dr. Sambo is now seeing patients in the NMRMC Surgery Clinic inside the main hospital.
To make an appointment, call 620.433.3838.