Inside: The Register’s year in review
Don’t Forget: Jingle Bell Jog 1 p.m. Wednesday
See Insert
THE IOLA REGISTER Tuesday, December 31, 2013
NEW YEAR, NEW SERVICE
EMS will merge at midnight
At left, from left, James Jerome, Jeremy Ellington, Eric Lawrence and Ron Ballard look over the scheduling for the new Allen County EMS Services. The City of Iola took on nine new county employees for the merged service, under the name of Allen County EMS. Below, EMS Director Ryan Sell, left, and Iola Fire Chief Donald Leapheart have been hard at work to ease the transition between Allen County EMS and Iola EMS. Crews began working together out of the same station on Dec. 1, but have been collaborating for the past few months. REGISTER/STEVEN SCHWARTZ
By STEVEN SCHWARTZ The Iola Register
Tonight marks the eve of a new year, but for Allen County EMS services, it marks the eve of something much more substantial — a combined service that covers all of Allen County. Starting at midnight, the City of Iola will take the reins for a countywide emergency medical service under the name of Allen County EMS. They will be responsible for the entire operation, except for the billing, for which the county will retaining responsibility. Crews with the Iola EMS and Allen County EMS have been working since mid-November to gradually merge the entities. On Dec. 1, Allen County began operating partially out of the Iola Fire Department. “It’s provided for a lot of learning opportunities, we’re not just coming in cold,” EMS Director Ryan Sell said during a break in his long list of pre-merger chores. “Some things worked, and some things didn’t.” An employee schedule was lying on the table in the fire department’s common area. “Every change we have made has been to make things more efficient,” he said.
More using ‘fixed’ ACA website By JIM MCLEAN KHI News Service
TOPEKA — It took them the better part of two months trying to get signed up through the federal health insurance marketplace, but Leo Klumpe and Diana Arb finally have health coverage. “This is one problem we don’t have to worry about anymore,” said Klumpe, 57, who recently retired after working for the state of Kansas for 30 years, the last several at a juvenile correction facility. The Topeka couple had the option of maintaining Klumpe’s coverage through the state after he retired. But Arb said it would have cost too much. “Our insurance was going to cost $1,150 (a month) and it was going to leave us $150 See WEBSITE | Page A6
But not altogether different. County Counselor Alan Weber, along with Iola Administrator Carl Slaugh and Sell, said coverage would remain the same across the county. There are two type-I ambulances stationed in Iola, one in Humboldt and one in Moran. SLAUGH said he expects to see challenges throughout the process, which is expected when making a move such as the merger. Nine county employees took on positions with the 19 city employees, bringing the current total to 28. He said they are looking to hire at least a few more responders. “It’s just like switching to a new job, even though they are doing the same thing,” Slaugh said. Sell is optimistic. He said while it has been a lot of work to merge the services, he believes it will make a positive difference to the work environment. “We are on the ascent, and any ascent is energy expired,” he said. “We fully intend to make full use of our resources.” What those resources will be is yet to be determined. The city will take control of all ambulances (of which the county will replace one every other year), the equip-
“We’ve worked together for years. Now we are learning how one another work. It’s exciting to me, but there is that learning curve. We want people to look at Allen County and say, ‘now that’s a healthcare system.’” — EMS Director Ryan Sell
See EMS | Page A3
STATE
Voter law faces scrutiny
By JOHN HANNA Associated Press
tors to audit how Kobach’s office has administered the law once they convene Jan. 13. Kobach and Arizona Secretary of State TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A proof-of-citizen- Ken Bennett filed a federal lawsuit earlier ship requirement for Kansas voters is likely this year to compel a federal agency to help to come under attack once the Legislature their states carry out proof-of-citizenship opens its annual session, but the debate over requirements. The American Civil Liberties the policy championed by Secretary of State Union launched its own legal challenge over Kris Kobach also will play in out in federal the policy in November. court and his re-elec“He promised that this tion campaign. law would be simple, The law took effect He (Kris Kobach) promised that easy and seamless to at the start of the year implement,” Schodorf, and requires new vot- this law would be simple, easy and who voted for the law as ers to produce a birth seamless to implement. We’re in this a moderate Republican certificate, passport horrible mess. state senator, said during or other documena recent interview. She — Jean Schodorf, former state senator tation of their U.S. lost her seat in 2012 concitizenship when regservative primary chalistering. As the year lenger and switched parends, more than 19,000 Kansas residents find ties. “We’re in this horrible mess.” their registrations on hold — keeping them If Kobach and Bennett are successful, the from legally casting ballots — because they federal government will be forced to modify haven’t complied. its national registration form and Kansas Several Democratic lawmakers have pro- and Arizona residents will be informed they posed rewriting or repealing the proof-of- must present proof of their U.S. citizenship citizenship law, and even some of Kobach’s to be allowed to vote. Currently, people who fellow Republicans in the GOP-dominated use the national form only have to sign a Legislature want to look for ways to shrink statement attesting to their citizenship. the list of affected voters. Former state Sen. Kobach and Bennett contend their states Jean Schodorf, the expected Democratic See LAW | Page A3 challenger for Kobach, is calling on legisla-
Quote of the day Vol. 116, No. 45
“Write it on your heart that every day is the best day of the year.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson 75 Cents
H&R Block holding ACA seminar By KAYLA BANZET The Iola Register
Confusion is one of the words that comes to mind for some Americans when it comes to the tax penalty if they fail to obtain health insurance coverage by 2014. H&R Block, Iola, is hoping to rid individuals and business owners of the confusion by hosting an open seminar on Jan. 9. In a tax survey by the Tax Institute at H&R Block, 77 percent of respondents were unaware of the importance their 2012 tax return has in the reform. “The seminar will provide information about the Affordable Care Act by explaining which resources are available to the individual and business owners that will be affected by taxes,” H&R Block franchise See SEMINAR | Page A3
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