Sunrise over Kansas Photo by Phyllis Luedke
THE IOLA REGISTER Locally owned since 1867
www.iolaregister.com
Wednesday, October 8, 2014
Families share histories of giving Commissioners closer
COUNTY
By KAYLA BANZET The Iola Register
to signing contract By RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register
Allen County Commissioners are expected to decide next week on an amended contract for Iola to provide countywide ambulance service. For the past several months, the county and city have negotiated new contract terms after the city asked for more funding from their original pact that took effect in January. The last sticking point — using on-duty staff from neighboring communities to serve as backup if an ambulance is dispatched, but leaving those ambulances where they are unless needed — ap-
T
om Bowlus left a large gift to Allen County, the Bowlus Fine Arts Center. His philanthropy has inspired many families throughout the county to give back to their communities. Tuesday night five area families shared their stories. “The idea of community service ties into what our parents do and what you choose to do later on in life,” executive director Susan Raines said. “Each family has given but have different examples.”
pears to have been resolved. “In other words, if both of Iola’s are out, we don’t automatically call Humboldt up here,” County Counselor Alan Weber told county commissioners at their regular weekly meeting.. The new policy would help the city alleviate overtime costs, particularly while the Iola Fire Department — which mans the service — is shorthanded. It also calms fears from residents in other parts of Allen County that their service area is not being short-changed for Iola’s benefit. The long-distance transfer clause also was clarified. Moran and Humboldt’s
Humboldt — The Works Family
Dick and Joe Works were representatives for the Works family. They are fourth-generation members living in Humboldt. Their great-grandfather, Robert Miller Works, was born in New York but when
See COUNTY | Page A4
Harry Lee, left, and his wife, Joyce, talk about their family history at the Allen County Families of Giving program Tuesday. REGISTER/KAYLA BANZET
his father died his mother sent him to live with a farmer when he was 11. He worked for the farmer until he was 21. He arrived in Allen County in 1857 and settled along the
Neosho River to farm. After returning to Humboldt from the Civil War, Robert sold some land to the city. The city borrowed money from him to See GIVING | Page A4
Baby Hudson heads home Conservative states
balk at gay marriage
By RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register
Hudson Harles’ amazing life so far has reached the proverbial end of its first chapter, his mother explained. “One amazing chapter,” Keely Harles wrote in a recent Facebook post under her “Team Hudson” page. Hudson Harles was born in April at 23 weeks of his mother’s pregnancy. He was discharged from the hospital earlier this week, allowing his parents, Stan and Keely, to bring him home to Moran for the first time after a nearly six-month stay at Overland Park Regional Medical Center. The timing of his birth was crucial. Had Hudson been born at the same time as his twin brother, Hunter, one week earlier, he almost certainly would not have survived. (Babies born at 22 weeks have a zero percent chance of survival). Those born at 23 weeks have a 25 percent survival rate, while the survival rate at 24 weeks goes to 50/50. By 25 weeks, the survival rate skyrockets to more than 90 percent. A typical pregnancy is 40 weeks. His twin brother, Hunter, did not survive. Keely Harles credited the doctors’ quick thinking, by not removing her placenta, stitching it in place and waiting four agonizing hours to ensure Hudson was not born on his own. Then, they treated Hudson with steroids to help his lungs and other organs strengthen before he was born. HUDSON’S recovery since then has been nothing short of miraculous. He survived heart surgery and has steadily grown larger and stronger . The largest remaining barrier for now is in Hudson’s
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Officials in some conservative states, where Supreme Court action could clear the way for same-sex weddings, say they won’t issue marriage licenses to gay couples until their hands are forced. Gay rights advocates are preparing and filing new federal lawsuits to do just that. On Monday, the nation’s highest court refused to take up appeals from five states seeking to preserve their gay marriage bans. Six other states — Colorado, Kansas, North Carolina, South Carolina, West Virginia and Wyoming — would be bound by those same appellate rulings that were put on hold. Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt noted that, to
Hudson Harles comes home after a six-month stay in Overland Park Regional Medical Center. COURTESY PHOTO vocal cords, his mother explained. The left side of his vocal cords are paralyzed, which will give him a raspy voice. Doctors are hopeful he will grow strong enough to overcome the paralysis on his own Hudson is able to drink from a bottle, his mother wrote. He also has passed all vision and hearing tests as well, and has no neurological or physical issues. The vocal paralysis “makes it a longer process to make his bottles, but it’s not rocket science and he is eating from a bottle,” Keely said. Hudson’s weight is above 11 pounds. WHILE THE family has received well wishes from thousands of folks from around
Quote of the day Vol. 116, No. 241
the world — most of whom they’ve never met — they are limiting the number of visitors they can receive. The potential for spreading respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is of utmost concern for premature babies, Keely Harles wrote, making them susceptible for complications like pneumonia or bronchitis. The Harleses have set up an extensive protocol for visitors. They must have received their flu and Tdap shot, and be symptom-free from any type of illness for at least five days. Facebook messages are more than welcome, she said. Keely noted one Facebook photo shared by a photographer earned more than 13,000 “likes” from around the world. “We have no idea where it See HUDSON | Page A2
date, no court has squarely decided whether the Kansas Constitution’s prohibition of same-sex marriage is invalid and that the state will deal with any litigation as it comes. And Republican Gov. Sam Brownback, fighting a close re-election battle in which he needs conservative support, says the state should defend the ban. “The people have spoken on this,” Brownback said. “I don’t know how much more you can bolster it than to have a vote of the people to put in the constitution that marriage is the union of a man and a woman.” Wyoming Gov. Matt Mead said the state’s attorney genSee MARRIAGE | Page A2
Brownback: Kansas should defend ban TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Republican Gov. Sam Brownback said Tuesday that Kansas should defend the state constitution’s ban on gay marriage in court because it was enacted through a statewide vote, while Democrat Paul Davis’ campaign described him as focused on other issues. Brownback is in a tough race for re-election, and his public support for the gay marriage ban in the face of adverse court decisions could energize conservative Catholics and Christian evangelicals who’ve been a key part of his political base ahead of the Nov. 4 election. Davis, the Kansas House mi-
“Happiness consists in giving, and in serving others.” — Henry Drummond, writer 75 Cents
nority leader, opposed the gay-marriage ban as a lawmaker, but he’s portraying himself as a bipartisan centrist in wooing disaffected Republicans. The Kansas GOP’s platform supports “traditional” marriage as “the foundation of society,” while the Democratic counterpart says, “Kansas Democrats support marriage equality.” The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday rejected appeals from five states seeking to maintain gay-marriage bans, including Utah, which is in the same federal appeals court circuit as Kansas. Gay couples in several See BROWNBACK | Page A3
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