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THE IOLA REGISTER Locally owned since 1867
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Monday, August 10, 2015
MOST WANTED
Sheriff’s department uses social media to fight crime By BOB JOHNSON The Iola Register
The Allen County sheriff ’s department has begun to use the social network Facebook as a means to apprehend those wanted on arrest warrants, said Sheriff Bryan Murphy. The department acted on a tip from Tim Beckham, a former deputy now working in Barton County. Its Facebook page has a “most wanted” section which has yielded success, Murphy said. As of Friday, Allen County had 561 outstanding warrants, a typical number for a county of Allen’s size, Murphy said. Many are for traffic violations, failure to appear for a court appearance, small claims and misdemeanor crimes. Those charged with higher profile crimes usually don’t have the option to skip out — they either have to post a hefty bond or are incarcerated from the day they’re arrested. Only 10 are posted at any one time on the department’s Facebook page. It is easily
“We picked up three people in just the first week,” on calls from people who noticed someone they knew, and their whereabouts, Murphy said. “Before, most people didn’t know who was on the warrant list. Now they do, and as
Replacing school nurses saves money
the word gets around I think we’ll get a lot more help from the public.” To make a report, a citizen may call the sheriff ’s office during business hours at 365-1400; Allen County Crime
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A recent audit showed that an eastern Kansas school district could save money by employing health aides instead of nurses, but the district’s recent superintendent said nurses are worth the extra money because of the services they can provide. A Legislative Post Audit study of staffing and other practices at Auburn-Washburn Unified School District 437 showed the 6,200-student district could save $68,000 a year by replacing four of its 10 nurses with health aides. The switch also would save the state $9,000 a year in pension funding because lower pay would mean lower retirement obligations. According to the legislative audit, nurses’ salaries are about $19,000 higher than salaries for their unlicensed counterparts. But Brenda Dietrich, superintendent of the AuburnWashburn district from 2001
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Sheriff Bryan Murphy looks through photos and information now available on the department’s Facebook page that has been helpful in apprehending people on the department’s arrest warrant list. REGISTER/BOB JOHNSON accessible from the Sheriff ’s Department website, allencosheriff.org, by clicking on “Most Wanted” at the top of the page. “I’m glad I have some people on staff who are savvy about using Facebook,” he added.
STATE AUDIT:
Kansas officials riled by EPA’s changes to power plant rule TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Even though many Republicans were critical of the federal government’s efforts to cut carbon emissions from power plants, the GOP-dominated Kansas Legislature enacted a law spelling out how the state would comply. Then came last week and the final version of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s rule, which tightened standards for Kansas
John Hanna An AP news analysis and other states. It prompted Republican Gov. Sam Brownback and the chairman of the Kansas House’s Energy and Environment Committee to
suggest that the state must reconsider how it responds to the rule, which is meant to tackle climate change. “We certainly may have to revisit the legislation that we passed,” said the House committee chairman, Republican Rep. Dennis Hedke, of Wichita, who labeled the EPA’s changes “absolutely crazy.” Hedke, Brownback and other critics of the EPA argue that utilities will be forced to
make expensive changes and dramatically increase electric rates to cover the costs. Critics also argue that electric service could become less reliable. However, Rabbi Moti Rieber, director of the environmental group Kansas Interfaith Power & Light, said the state can meet its targets because of a burgeoning wind-energy industry and because it has yet to be particularly aggressive
about energy efficiency. “There are a lot of Chicken Littles,” he said. “The sky is not falling.” The EPA originally told states they would have to start reducing carbon emissions in 2020. The final version of the rule gives states another two years to start making reductions, but Kansas and 15 other states also received tougher targets to meet by 2030. The See EPA | Page A4
KCC workers offered pay raise to drop civil status TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas utility regulators are offering nearly 100 classified staff members a 7.5 percent raise if they agree to be removed from the state’s civil service system. Kansas Corporation Commission employees have until later this month to decide if they want to take the pay bump and give up their civil service protections, the Topeka Capital-Journal reported. The newspaper obtained the text of the email offer, which was sent by KCC human resources director Danelle Harsin. Of the agency’s roughly 200 workers, 94 are classified staff members. Commission spokesman Samir Arif confirmed that all classified workers at the agency received the offer Wednesday. The 7.5 percent salary hike represents more than an entire step increase on the classified pay scale.
“The choice to participate will remain in the hands of the employee, but they are under no obligation to do so. Simply put, this offer was made available to reward and retain our employees,” Arif said. The commission said the raises are being offered as a result of the Legislature’s passage this year of a measure changing the Kansas Civil Service Act so that all newly hired employees, promoted workers or those who voluntarily transferred would be placed in the unclassified system. Rebecca Proctor, director of the Kansas Organization of State Employees, said she’s concerned that the offer requires employees to first waive their classified status with no guarantee they will receive the pay hike. The KCC offer cautioned See CIVIL | Page A4
Quote of the day Vol. 117, No. 193
NOT YOUR GRANDDAD’S LODGE Flanked by Elks Lodge No. 569 members and officers, the group’s Exalted Ruler Gary Stout cuts the ribbon during the grand re-opening of the Iola chapter’s lounge on South Jefferson. In the works for more than a year, the building’s newly remodeled interior presents a more modern look and feel, which, Stout hopes, will appeal to a broader portion of the local community. The Elks is no longer a male-only organization, and Stout is eager to attract civic-minded residents of all ages and backgrounds into the ranks of the organization. He is especially keen to attract younger applicants, to counter the aging membership of the organization nationwide. Saturday evening’s celebration attracted a full house, with food, spirits and live music on offer. REGISTER/RICK DANLEY
“We are made wise not by the recollection of our past, but by the responsibility for our future.” — George Bernard Shaw 75 Cents
Hi: 92 Lo: 68 Iola, KS