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THE IOLA REGISTER Wednesday, November 13, 2013
The new Allen County Regional to open Dec. 9 By SUSAN LYNN The Iola Register
With phone lines now humming at the new Allen County Regional Hospital, the doors will swing open Dec. 9, about six weeks past the original Oct. 29 debut. The fiber optic system is “the real deal, not a workaround patch,” said Ron Baker, hospital chief executive officer. It was thought a makeshift system would be needed until fiber optics
could be made functional. “They just flat got it done,” Baker said of AT&T, provider of the phone system. Baker told hospital trustees as their meeting Tuesday evening that Sen. Jerry Moran helped stoke the fire in getting things done. The delay will likely incur costs, said Larry Peterson, chief financial officer of the hospital. The company hired to move equipment, Allied, had to cancel airline reservations booked for late October, Pe-
HUMBOLDT CITY COUNCIL
Streetscape plan advances By BOB JOHNSON The Iola Register
HUMBOLDT — Humboldt will apply for a Kansas Department of Transportation grant that would fund substantial downtown improvements. Council members also agreed, on a 5-to-1 vote, to provide $25,000 from their Community Development Fund, if application of the $420,000 grant is successful. The Downtown Action Team has been working on a downtown streetscape plan for three years. The grant would enable it. A local match of 20 percent is required, of which DAT has $65,000 in hand or pledges. The city’s contribution would push the total to $90,000, or slightly more than the required local match. Jerry Stephens, council and DAT member, made an impassioned plea for the application’s approval — it’s due by Feb. 14. “This is a leap of faith,” Stephens said, of the plan to upgrade sidewalks, install 44 new decorative light standards, trees, benches and trash containers. “All that’s being asked is to apply for the grant,” with opportunity to change plans for how the
terson said. As to whether the hospital has any recourse against AT&T for the holdup, Alan Weber, counsel for the hospital, said it was unlikely trustees could find the communications company in violation of its contract. “They are very good about sticking in limitations of liability,” Weber said. The six months estimated by AT&T to install the fiber optics system, “was an estimate,” not a hard and fast date, he said. That said, trustees said they will
be on the lookout for any additional charges made by AT&T during their efforts to figure out a makeshift system during the last several weeks. Hooking up the hospital’s electronic medical records through Cerner Corp., of Kansas City will occur in early January. The hospital’s “go live” date with the new system is now Jan. 20, about five weeks past the original date.
To reach Susan follow her on Twitter @ SusanLynnks or email her at susan@ iolaregister.com
PUPPY IN TRAINING
streetscape project will unfold after the grant is awarded, he said. “The reality is, we have to start at home” if improvements are to be made and Humboldt’s downtown is to be made more appealing. “There’s no magic wand. “This is a modest attempt to do something to make Humboldt a little bit better,” he said. “It’s the appropriate thing for the city to move forward.” During run-up to the vote, City Administrator Larry Tucker gave an overview of answers Matt Just, engineer for the project from d3 Civil, LLC, Lawrence, provided to questions that arose at a public meeting last week. He said lights and trees would be placed symmetrically and in a manner that wouldn’t interfere with businesses. Street lights would improve the illumination downtown and security lights may be added in alleys through lease agreements with Westar. Christmas lights and decorations would fit onto the new light standards and, according to Tucker, would be at the top three feet, at least 11 feet above the sidewalk and not block view See STREETSCAPE | Page A5
Red Barn Veterinary Clinic’s Dr. Belinda Garten holds Italy, a service dog in training. REGISTER/STEVEN SCHWARTZ
Iola welcomes newest service dog By STEVEN SCHWARTZ The Iola Register
The community of Iola welcomes one of its newest “citizens” — a 14-pound Belgian Labrador named Italy. Ron Fry, a local dog enthusiast, is training the puppy to be utilized as a guide or service dog for those in need. Fry received the dog through the Kansas Specialty Dog Service (KSDS). He will train Italy for two years be-
fore returning him to the service to receive specialized training for guiding. “I’ll teach him how to turn lights off and on,” Fry said, as well as how to retrieve certain items — like a can of soda from the refrigerator. Italy is Fry’s second dog from KSDS. The first, named Iola, was with him for two years — the two were easily recognized with the dog in a blue vest — and now is being trained as a service See PUPPY | Page A3
Faith House needs helping hand By BOB JOHNSON The Iola Register
Need a lift? Iola Middle School’s Matt Komma lifts Anderson County wrestler Dominic Sutton during their match Tuesday as part of the Iola Middle School Invitational. Komma wound up taking first in his 190-pound class. Full details of the tournament are on B1. REGISTER/RICHARD LUKEN
Quote of the day Vol. 116, No. 14
Faith House, a Chanute shelter for homeless people, is in an economic pinch. Linda Stange told Allen County commissioners Tuesday morning the facility that serves Neosho and adjoining counties, including Allen, had come up short with fundraising efforts. She proposed Allen County dip into alcohol tax money returned for local distribution, to help out. “We’ll try to do our best,” said Chairman Dick Works, and asked Stange to fill out an application for assistance — she suggested $10,000 — which will be decided at the commission’s Nov. 19 meeting. A decision was put off until Commissioner Jim Talkington, unable to attend Tues-
“I’m not a genius. I’m just a tremendous bundle of experience.” — R. Buckminster Fuller, architect 75 Cents
day’s session, may participate. “We have 20 people (mothers and children) in the home,” which has 12 beds, Stange said. “We probably could have 50 if we had room.” So far this year Faith House has sheltered 184 people, including 52 from Allen County. Allen County has contributed financially in the past but didn’t this year. Stange added the shelter’s annual budget was bare-bones at $90,000, which included $52,000 for counselor and staff salaries. She said most of those involved were “because we realize something needs to be done.” FAITH HOUSE is in its sixth year and was created to specifically help the homeSee FAITH HOUSE | Page A5
Hi: 50 Lo: 31 Iola, KS