Wednesday, November 8, 2023
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County OKs plan to accept plastic recyclables By VICKIE MOSS The Iola Register
The county’s first foray into recycling might look a little different than they expected. Allen County commissioners agreed Tuesday to allow a recycle and trash service provider from Erie set up a bin at the landfill to collect some types of No. 2 plastic items such as milk jugs. “It’s not cardboard, but it’s a start,” Mitch Garner, Public Works director, said. The county had identified card-
board as its top recycling need. Kenny Schettler, whose company collects trash for the City of Humboldt, offered to set up a container to collect only No. 2 plastic, a sturdier type of plastic that includes such things as juice and milk containers, bottles for cosmetics and household cleaners, plastic chairs and some types of toys. No. 2 plastics can be recycled up to 10 times. Schettler would be responsible for setting up the container and transporting
recycled items, at no cost to the county. Landfill staff will monitor the bins to deter people from throwing other types of trash into the containers. Commissioners still want to find a way to collect and recycle cardboard. Garner said he continues to look for options. In previous discussions, commissioners said they’d like to collect cardboard at the landfill and take it to a recycling center in Coffey County.
recycling options after an all-volunteer recycling group ceased operations late September. Allen County Recycling Board President Dan Davis said he supports efforts made by the county or cities. The group unsuccessfully lobbied for help from the county and the City of Iola for months before suspending its efforts. When the group was active, cardboard was the group’s largest recyclable, followed by No. 1 plastics, which include such things as water or soda bottles, food containers
THE COUNTY is exploring
and other types of clear, onetime use items. After that, the group collected a large amount of No. 2 plastics. “But those are still just big drops in the overall bucket,” he said, reiterating that cardboard is the top recycling need. Davis said he or other group members would be happy to share their experience and knowledge with other entities. “I applaud anything the See RECYCLING | Page A3
Commission rethinks industrial park plans
Supreme Court seems likely to preserve gun prohibition
By VICKIE MOSS The Iola Register
By MARK SHERMAN Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court seemed likely Tuesday to preserve a federal law that prohibits people under domestic violence restraining orders from having guns. In their first guns case since last year’s expansion of gun rights, the justices suggested that they will reverse a ruling from an appeals court in New Orleans that struck down the 1994 ban on firearms for people under court order to stay away from their spouses or partners. Liberal and conservative justices sounded persuaded by arguments from the Biden administration’s top Supreme Court lawyer that the prohibition is in line with the longstanding practice of disarming dangerous people. The case before the court involves a Texas man, Zackey Rahimi, who was accused of hitting his girlfriend during an argument in a parking lot and later threatening to shoot her. The justices peppered See SCOTUS | Page A4
IMS girls host Burlington
Laree Wools of Humboldt. REGISTER/TIM STAUFFER
‘A village around us’ After Chanute and Humboldt rally to support family, a mother reflects on parenting young son with cystic fibrosis By TIM STAUFFER The Iola Register
For Laree Wools, there’s nothing worse than watching her son, Marcus, struggle to breathe. Marcus, 6, has cystic fibrosis, a genetic disorder that complicates breathing and digestion. Marcus was diagnosed at age 3; a newborn screening at the hospital missed the disorder. The diagnosis brought some relief, but also frustration. “Before he turned 3, we had probably taken him to the hospital 25 or 30 times,” said Wools. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cystic fibrosis affects around 35,000 people in the U.S. Equipped with answers, Marcus began treatment at Warren Clinic, a part of the
St. Francis Health System in Tulsa, Okla., where Laree and husband, Cody Wools, were living at the time. They now live in Humboldt. Cody works for Coffeyville Resources, an oil refinery; Laree manages her own cleaning business, Soap Opera Solutions. They’ve continued Marcus’ care in Tulsa, where they now know many of the doctors and nurses by name. So on Halloween morning, when Laree noticed Marcus was having trouble breathing, it was a mother’s intuition that made her call the clinic and set up an afternoon appointment at the clinic. By the time they got there, Marcus’ throat had almost shut completely. She had pulled over twice to give him a breathing treatment with his inSee MARCUS | Page A4
With bids 40% higher than expected, Allen County commissioners are now exploring their options to improve water lines near the airport. The county has plans for two related infrastructure projects at the airport in the hopes of eventually developing an industrial park there. One project would install new water lines for Rural Water District No. 8. The other would build sewer lines. Engineers expected the water line project to cost around $464,148, but when bids were opened Oct. 24, the lowest came in at $756,228. The higher bids are blamed on supply chain issues and inflation. Commissioners expressed sticker shock and are concerned costs for and estimated $3 million sewer project also will be much higher than expected, though that project has not yet been let for bids. They discussed options with Thrive Allen County’s CEO Lisse Regehr and grant writer Rachel Moore on Tuesday. Moore suggested the scope of both the water and sewer projects could be scaled back to save money, See AIRPORT | Page A3
A good tradition Poll workers Judy McGraw, from left, and Vince Coons, attend Mike and Diane Rogers at the polling station at Iola’s Dr. John Silas Bass North Community Building on Tuesday morning. “It’s a family thing,” said Mike, of the couple’s habit of voting together. Results of the election are available online at iolaregister.com. A full report on results will be published in Thursday’s edition.
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MVHS students donate items PAGE A2
Vote for Athletes of Month
REGISTER/TIM STAUFFER
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