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Saturday, February 12, 2022
Council to consider apartments
Allen County COVID-19 Case Count
Active cases ...........53 Total cases* ...........3,869 Deaths ..................45
By RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register
*Since the start of the pandemic Sources: Southeast Kansas Multi-County Health Departments, Kansas Department of Health and Environment
Mustang trio takes first at League Allen County has lost at least 45 residents to COVID-related illnesses since the pandemic began, with 11 deaths since the beginning of 2022. A federal program provides families up to $9,000 for funeral expenses for those who die from the coronavirus. PIXABAY.COM
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Ontario declares state of emergency PAGE A2
Republicans made a deal for remap PAGE A5
Gas hike: City wins first round MULBERRY, Kan. (AP) — Residents of a small city in southeast Kansas may continue a lawsuit that claims energy utility BP gouged them with hefty price increases for natural gas during freezing weather last year, a judge has ruled. A Crawford County judge on Wednesday dismissed a motion by the British multinational oil and gas company to end the lawsuit and said residents of the town have the right to sue BP, formerly known as British Petroleum, The Wichita Eagle reported. Mulberry is contesting about $51,000 of a natural gas bill it received last February, a hefty amount for the Crawford County town of less than 500 residents. BP, which on Wednesday announced a 2021 profit of $12.8 billion, did not respond to requests for comment, The Eagle reported. The decision came a day after the Kansas Corporation Commission approved Kansas Gas Service’s decision to increase prices for its customers for See GAS | Page A4
Vol. 124, No. 11 Iola, KS $1.00
iolaregister.com
COVID takes a toll By VICKIE MOSS The Iola Register
It’s been a difficult year for families who have lost a loved one because of COVID-19. Since Jan. 1, at least 11 Allen County residents have died while testing positive for COVID, according to statistics from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. Since the pandemic began, 45 county residents have died. Reuben Feuerborn, owner and funeral director at Feuerborn Family Funeral Home in Iola and Garnett, believes that number is higher. He and his staff have seen a lot more deaths than they typically do at this time of year. January was about double, he
said. “This has been far beyond seasonal,” he said. As the world enters its third year of the pandemic, gov- Reuben ernments and Feuerborn industries are adapting their processes and finding ways to help families bear the burden. In the U.S., some funeral costs can be reimbursed if the death is related to COVID-19. “In my 30 years in funeral service, this has been the most challenging time,” Feuerborn said. COVID has been difficult
for the funeral industry in numerous ways, Feuerborn said. In the beginning, social distancing restrictions meant postponing services, limitations on visitations and attendance, and online streaming. Often, those who died while positive for COVID had been hospitalized for some time. Family members may have faced visitor restrictions, and many weren’t able to say goodbye until the funeral service. When hospitals became overwhelmed with patients because of the pandemic, they often had to send people farther from home for care. Some died at hospitals far from home; funeral home staff would need to take time See FUNERALS | Page A7
Iola City Council members will decide Monday whether to greenlight a developer’s plans to convert an old nursing home into an apartment complex. Rocky Meo of Meo Development Co. LLP, De Soto, has applied for a zoning variance that would allow him to convert the former Arkhaven Nursing Home complex at 1336 N. Walnut St. into an apartSee CITY | Page A4
The world fears war in Ukraine WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House said Friday that a Russian invasion of Ukraine could come within the week, possibly within the next two days, even before the end of the Winter Olympics, and urged Americans to leave the country now. The message marked a sharp escalation in U.S. warnings about possibly impending military action. U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan said the United States did not have definitive information that an invasion has See UKRAINE | Page A4
Moran overpass could open in March By RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register
If everything goes according to plan, motorists will again be able to travel unimpeded east of Moran on U.S. 54 in March, once a railroad overpass work has progressed sufficiently. Crews are scheduled to place the bridge deck spanning the Union Pacific Railroad corridor on Tuesday, noted Ben Middleton, engineering technician specialist with the Kansas Department of Transportation. “But that also can change,” Middleton warned. Much like other road and bridge projects taking place in the winter months, schedules typically are dictated by the weather. Couple that with stringent rules and regulations covering construction over an active rail line, schedules can, and often do, change at a moment’s notice. In fact, crews had hoped to place the deck this week, but
Work continues on the overpass on U.S. 54 near Moran. REGISTER/RICHARD LUKEN were unable to do so because of UP’s train schedule. Union Pacific rules prohibit any work over the tracks if a train is passing, and it takes about two hours for crews to put together the protective measures before the work can start. A U.S. Department of Transportation study noted
an average of 13 trains pass along the tracks daily. That leaves extremely limited work windows to do anything near, or over the tracks, Middleton noted. Once the deck is placed, road surface work will commence almost immediately thereafter. If it goes without a hitch,
CONGRATULATIONS
traffic could be allowed to cross the span March 2, Middleton said, with full project completion scheduled for May. The most recent U.S. Department of Transportation study, completed in 2017, noted nearly 700 vehicles cross the overpass daily, including more than 50 trucks.
To the Staff of Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center for being recognized as the 2021 Health Quality Innovator of the Year population health category – runner up for Community of Immunity Initiative. 629 S. Plummer • Chanute, KS • 620-431-4000 www.neoshomemorial.com