Sports: Rec leagues play ball See B1
THE IOLA REGISTER www.iolaregister.com
Monday, June 9, 2014
Locally owned since 1867
Libertarian touts gutting state budget by 14% By RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register
Keen Umbehr thinks voter dissatisfaction with both political parties may provide him with a track to the governor’s mansion. Umbehr, 55, Alma, is the Libertarian candidate for Kansas governor, having been nominated in late April. He stopped by Iola Friday as part of his whirlwind schedule to visit every county in the state. While elections are rarely friendly to third-party candidates, Umbehr thinks conditions are ripe for a winning strategy in 2014. “It’s almost a perfect political storm,” he said. “I figure it’s going to take 287,000 votes to win this thing. That’s what I’m gunning for.” Umbehr, a former criminal defense attorney who gave up his law practice to focus on the campaign, changed his party affiliation last August from Republican to Libertarian. Spending policies between both parties have proven it doesn’t matter whether a Republican or Democrat is in office, he said. The centerpiece of the governor’s race revolves around jobs, the economy, school funding, taxes and health care, Umbehr said.
A night of hope Relay exceeds goal
By KAYLA BANZET The Iola Register
Keen Umbehr Taxes are a pointed subject. Umbehr noted 2012 legislation that eliminated state taxes for corporations and small business owners, including farmers, as unfair. Umbehr estimates about 191,000 Kansans benefit from the tax cuts, leaving another 1.3 million who still pay taxes. “That’s not a party label issue,” he said. “It’s an issue of fairness.” Umbehr favors eliminating all income taxes, which would require across-theboard spending cuts in all areas of state government, including schools and social service agencies. He figures a 14 percent cut would do the trick. “Would there be state employees who lose their See KEEN | Page A4
Cheyenne Reno, 4, top, leads the survivor lap. Kelly Sigg, above left, and Judy Works take a lap around the track as cancer survivors. In back are Paul and Saundra Upshaw. REGISTER/KAYLA BANZET
It was a night of remembrance and hope at the Allen County Relay for Life Friday at the Iola High School gymnasium. Organizers exceeded their goal of $45,000 by raising $49,277.51 for the American Cancer Society. The team that raised the most was Iola Sisters with $16,984. The individual that raised the most funds was Ina Railsback. The event kicked off at 6 p.m. with the opening ceremony lead by Denise Smith, event chairperson. The theme of the night was Super Heroes. The survivor lap was lead by Cheyenne Reno, 4, and Kayla Genoble, 8. Each survivor was introduced and they followed the two girls around the gym. Altogether there were 57 registered cancer survivors, 172 registered participants and 12 teams. The luminaria ceremony lit up the gym at 9 p.m. with 563 luminaria bags. Tony Godfrey, Harvest Baptist Church pastor, lead the group in a prayer of blessing and hope. Twelve Girl Scouts were “Hush Angels.” They circled the track while names of those honored or remembered were announced. The team that sold the most luminaria See RELAY | Page A2
Inspector general for KanCare resigns By JOHN HANNA Associated Press
Jim Smith, left, Ron Fry and Ginny Hawk, chat at the Day of Giving in the Iola Theatre on Saturday. A steady trickle of people came to the event to learn more about community organizations and see the progress of the theater’s restoration. REGISTER/KAREN INGRAM
Wide array join in Day of Giving By KAREN INGRAM The Iola Register
The weather on Saturday followed the same blitzkrieg pattern of storms seen for the better part of a week, driving the Day of Giving event from the Iola square to the shelter of the old Iola Theatre. More than a dozen organizations gathered together to share
information with the public; what they can do for the people of Iola, and what Iolans can do for them. The organizations covered a broad range of services, including Allen County Animal Rescue Facility, Iola Public Library, Thrive Allen County and KS MIA, which urged people to support the veterans memorial.
Quote of the day Vol. 116, No. 157
Alison Leach, community resource specialist for KVC, was on hand to educate people about foster children in southeast Kansas. Currently, there are 18 licensed foster homes for 77 children in Allen County. There are also a total of 476 children seeking adoption in the state. “We have a huge need for See GIVING | Page A4
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The acting inspector general for Kansas’ privatized Medicaid program abruptly resigned Friday, facing questions about whether he was qualified for the job and still unable to perform all of his duties because he was awaiting state Senate confirmation. Sara Belfry, a spokeswoman for the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, said former state Rep. Phil Hermanson stepped down Friday afternoon. He’d been appointed acting inspector general in April by department Secretary Robert Moser. Hermanson submitted a letter of resignation, but Belfry said the department is not releasing it because, “this is a personnel matter.” Hermanson did not immediately return a telephone message seeking comment Friday afternoon. “The position is open,” Belfry said. “We will have
“Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance.” — George Bernard Shaw, Irish playwright 75 Cents
to go through the process again.” Democratic legislators had criticized Hermanson’s appointment because has no auditing or investigatory experience. The inspector general is charged Phil Hermanson with identifying fraud within the state’s Medicaid program, which provides health care to the needy and disabled. Hermanson’s salary was $77,000. In Kansas, Medicaid is known as KanCare, and Republican Gov. Sam Brownback’s administration has turned over its management to three large, private health insurance companies. Hermanson’s past included a 1998 bankruptcy tied to the closing of a small business he operated, and a no contest plea to a charge of driving under the influSee INSPECTOR | Page A4
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