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THE IOLA REGISTER Wednesday, October 23, 2013
Phone system hangs up hospital plans By SUSAN LYNN The Iola Register
“I want to hear a dial tone,” said Ron Baker, in regards to the dysfunctional phone system at the new Allen County Regional Hospital. On Tuesday, AT&T representatives installed what hospital administrators hope will be a temporary phone system that will allow the hospital to open. “I will in no way, shape or form commit to an opening date until AT&T gives me a firm commitment that things are
I will in no way, shape or form commit to an opening date until AT&T gives me a firm commitment that things are operational.
Members of Iola Troop No. 55 open their meeting with the Scout’s Oath. REGISTER/STEVEN SCHWARTZ
A LASTING EFFECT Haskins’ life changed by time with Iola troop
By STEVEN SCHWARTZ The Iola Register
— Ron Baker, CEO
The Boy Scouts of America have more than 2.7 million youth members across the country, according to its 2012 Report to the Nation. The organization, founded in 1910, is known for its signature shirts adorned with badges, scarves and somewhat militaristic manner. The Scouts are active in nearly every American community. Over the course of several days, The Register will explore what makes area Boy Scouts unique, and how they fit into the big picture of what a Scout should stand for. The stories will highlight former Scouts, the current Scoutmasters, and those that are involved today. Victor Haskins
“Boy Scouts was everything to me,” Victor Haskins said as he sat at a table, sipping on a glass of water. “I’ve basically been in it my whole life. I’ve always had the need to help others, and the Scouts offered a good opportunity for that.” Haskins, 29, started Scouting in Iola when he was in kinSee HASKINS | Page A5
operational,” Baker, chief executive officer of the hospital, told trustees Tuesday night. The hospital was scheduled to open on Oct. 29. The problem is lack of connectivity between the hospital and the AT&T center in its downtown Iola office. “What caused the problem is not material,” said Harry Lee, chairman of hospital trustees. “What I want to know is when can we have the workaround solution and when will the fiber be ready.” Administrators were led to believe the fiber optics system would be activated Sept. 1. The contract with AT&T was drawn up in March and as recentSee PHONES | Page A2
Merger not completely grounded By BOB JOHNSON The Iola Register
Just when it appeared the ambulance merger was a done deal, concerns about wages paid Allen County employees transitioning to Iola’s service cropped up. The merger is positioned to be effective Jan. 1. City Administrator Carl Slaugh told county commissioners Tuesday morning three potential transfers earned more than was accommodated by the city’s pay scale for firefighter/ambulance personnel. An addendum to the contract for
merger of county and Iola services included a pay scale for county employees. County commissioners have been adamant county employees would not take a pay cut with transfer to the city. Slaugh didn’t mince words in saying he thought the contract was valid without the county pay scale attached; commissioners, particularly Dick Works and Jim Talkington, weren’t so sure. Slaugh said he thought the difference in pay could be worked out and, after some discussion, Works acknowledged it shouldn’t be a deal-
breaker. Tom Williams was most resolute of the three commissioners in not letting differences in pay scales become more than a moderate distraction. A consideration, said Slaugh, might be for the city to pay the higher wages to any of the three who transferred and let them settle into the city’s pay plan but not receive annual cost of living raises, which occur on Jan. 1 each year. In possible concession, commissioners also said they might consider making See MERGER | Page A5
Curry ‘banks’ on experience By KAYLA BANZET The Iola Register
One job in college ended up steering Heather Curry’s career path. A native Iolan, Heather Strunk graduated from Iola High School. When she was studying at Allen Community College she took a job at a bank. “It was my intro into banking,” Curry said. After Allen she attended Wichita State University, but wasn’t sure of her major. Banking, however, was al-
ways her default. “I thought about doing something in the business field and I even worked at a bank in Wi ch i t a , ” she said. Finance, n a t u r a l l y, became her major. AfHeather Curry ter college she got into lending and moved back to Iola in 2000. Curry worked at Citizens Bank and recently started working at Piqua
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State Bank. In early August, Curry became vice president of loans at Piqua State Bank. She currently has 19 years of banking experience. In her new position she works on mortgage loans and consumer loans at the Piqua branch. She is married to Heath Curry who also is involved in the banking industry. His family owns Piqua State Banks. He works at the bank in Gas as a cashier. Together they have three See CURRY | Page A5
Maggie Barnett’s SUV, pictured above, was struck by a grain truck on U.S. 54 Tuesday evening. REGISTER/RICHARD LUKEN
One injured in wreck LAHARPE — Iolan Maggie Barnett, 66, was seriously injured in a collision on U.S. 54 at the east edge of LaHarpe Tuesday evening. According to the Kansas Highway Patrol a sport utility vehicle driven by Barnett was entering the highway from Jefferson Street and collided with an eastbound farm grain truck driven by Jerry Wallis, 69, Moran. Im-
“The best way to keep one’s word is not to give it.”
— Napoleon Bonaparte
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pact was to the driver’s side on Barnett’s vehicle. Barnett was taken to Allen County Regional Hospital by ambulance and then transferred by helicopter to a hospital in Kansas City. Wallis was not injured. Barnett was leaving the LaHarpe VFW building, where she and other women were preparing food for a fundraiser.
Hi: 63 Lo: 39 Iola, KS