Locally owned since 1867
Marmaton Valley defeats Yates Center
Wednesday, September 8, 2021
iolaregister.com
Monarch ready to mine for the future By VICKIE MOSS The Iola Register
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Kansans face housing crisis, eviction
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Idaho activates crisis health care PAGE A6 Allen County COVID-19 Case Count
Monarch Cement Company officials plan to use several conditional use permits to help the business thrive for the next 20 years or so. Allen County Commissioners on Tuesday approved the company’s request for the permits on eight properties to the east of Humboldt, totaling several hundred acres. The permits would allow Monarch to mine shale, limestone and associated minerals used in cement manufacturing. It should allow the company to remain competitive for the next 20 years as industry standards evolve and require a variety of resources. A planning commission hearing on Aug. 26 drew a large crowd of about 40 to discuss the matter, with many of those present speaking
Allen County Zoning Administrator Terry Call talks about conditional use permits for Monarch Cement Company. REGISTER/VICKIE MOSS
against the permits. They were worried about dust, noise and rocks dropped on the road from Monarch’s existing quarries, Terry Call, the county’s zoning administrator, said.
They also complained about a lack of response from Monarch when they attempted to resolve those issues. To ease their concerns, Monarch agreed to set up an email list to notify neighbors
before any blasting takes place. Monarch, which was represented at the Aug. 26 hearing by Vice President Kenny Miller, also agreed not to do any blasting or quarrying of two properties near the Humboldt sports complex. In those locations, they would only remove topsoil. In requesting the permit, Miller cited Monarch’s long history and economic impact for Humboldt. The company has been making cement for 113 years, and is well-known in the industry. But industry specifications for making cement change frequently, and it’s important for Monarch to have access to various types of rock and minerals. Miller also outlined the process for reclaiming quarries, such as removing berms
9/11 EVENTS
Current cases.................. 46 Total cases*.................... 1,587 Deaths............................ 23
Speaker at ACC
*Since the start of the pandemic
By the Register staff
Sources: Southeast Kansas Multi-County Health Departments, Kansas Department of Health and Environment
Chanute brings back face masks CHANUTE — After conferring with a committee of local health officials and a drop in attendance due to COVID-19, Chanute’s superintendent of schools Kellen Adams brought back a face mask mandate for District 413 students, teachers and staff, effective Tuesday, Sept. 7. As of last week, the district had 25 active cases of COVID and 185 students and staff under quarantine, according to the Chanute Tribune. The elementary school has the highest incidence of cases, with 13 students and five members testing positive for the virus. Roughly 7% of the district’s student population has the virus. Adams said the decision came after “extensive discussions” among the school district’s “Gating Committee,” which includes members of the Neosho County Health Department and Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center. Adams said hospital officials recommended universal masking. The See CHANUTE | Page A6
See COUNTY | Page A6
Gov. Laura Kelly joins second gentleman Douglass Emhoff, U.S. education secretary Miguel Cardona and other local and state leaders for a tour of Topeka High’s vaccine clinic on Aug. 9. (POOL PHOTO BY EVERT NELSON/THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL)
COVID-19 rips through schools By SHERMAN SMITH and NOAH TABORDA Kansas Reflector
TOPEKA — School districts across the state independently reported hundreds of infections of COVID-19 among students and staff in the first two weeks of school, while the state’s official ledger showed just two small outbreaks. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment’s data on school infections is unreliable because of the difficulty in tracing sources of infections and communication between the agency and local health officials. In its most recent update, the agency’s official accounting attributed just 75 new cases to outbreaks at public schools. The number of outbreaks is actually much higher, but nobody is attempting to tally statewide numbers. Gov. Laura Kelly last week announced a new workgroup would produce a weekly report with active outbreaks, but the gov-
Dr. Kelly Woestman, a professor of history at Pittsburg State University, is the guest speaker for a “Remembering 9/11’ presentation Friday at Allen Community College. Dr. Kelly W o e s t - Woestman man specializes in 20th century U.S. history and family history. The presentation is offered free of charge at 1:30 p.m. Friday at the ACC Library. The public is invited. The event is sponsored by the Allen College Library Cultural Series. Woestman’s classes often See SPEAKER | Page A6
Iola schools: Quarantine Update County District Positive Cases Positive Cases
Staff Quarantined
Students Quarantined
Test to Stay and Learn
Memorial Walk around square By the Register staff
ernor’s office didn’t say when the first report would be released. It isn’t clear whether the report will rely on the same incomplete data. County health departments determine the source of outbreaks, but the task is made difficult by the surge in COVID-19 cases attributed to the delta variant and restrictions imposed by the Legislature last year that allow infected residents to opt out of contact tracing. Because of widespread community transmission, it can be difficult to determine whether children who test positive at school were infected there or showed up with the virus.
Craig Barnes, division manager for community health outreach and planning at the Shawnee County Health Department, said keeping track of cases at schools is complicated. The department is able to investigate just 20% of the cases countywide. “The large number of cases coming in both via schools and the community has made investigations and contact tracing rather difficult,” Barnes said. “There are schools that have multiple cases. However, without an epidemiological link between the cases at the physical school, we would
Local first responders will take a role Saturday morning in a Memorial Walk marking the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks that killed about 3,000 people. Of those who perished were 412 firefighters, paramedics and police officers who struggled to save those trapped in the twin towers of the World Trade Center that were hit by hijacked planes. On Saturday, members of the Iola Police Department and Iola Fire Department will read their names in honor of their sacrifice, beginning at 9 a.m. The public is invited
See SCHOOLS | Page A3
See MEMORIAL | Page A6
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