THE IOLA REGISTER Locally owned since 1867
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Tuesday, January 13, 2015
IOLA COUNCIL
HUMBOLDT
Scott Shreve
Smart Start keeps drunks off area roads
Utility surpluses critical to general fund By RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register
Iola City Council members will continue to look at potential rate hikes to ensure its electric fund remains solvent. Council members were given an “electric rates 101” lesson Monday by energy consultant Scott Shreve of EMG. Shreve broke down how increases in electric rates, meter charges or other funds would affect monthly bills for residential or industrial consumers. Among Shreve’s notes: — Iola customers paid about $1 million less for electricity in 2014 through the city’s new consortium, the Southwind Energy Group, than it would have had it remained a member of the Kansas Power Pool. Before switching from KPP, Iolans paid on average 7.5 cents per kilowatt hour. With Southwind, the price fluctuated between 6.8 and 6.9 cents. — Iolans also pay less See UTILITIES | Page A6
By BOB JOHNSON The Iola Register
Keeping cool The recent spell of cold weather ties in nicely to this week’s SAFE BASE activities for USD 257 as students learn about penguins. The students returned to their first SAFE BASE session of 2015 Monday with a number of games relating to penguins and life in Antarctica. Here, instructor Regina Young assists Phillip Khang, left, and Elizabeth Baker with bags of shortening to simulate how penguins use blubber as insulation from cold and ice. Other activities included making homemade ice cream in a bag, showing how pets and animals adapt to the cold, penguin relay races and other games. On Wednesday, the students will watch “Mr. Popper’s Penguins.” The regular SAFE BASE session begins next Monday. REGISTER/RICHARD LUKEN
Brownback: Kansas needs stronger families, greater sacrifices TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas lawmakers returned to Topeka to begin the 2015 session with a massive state budget shortfall looming over most other issues, but Monday’s activities at the Capitol were mainly ceremonial. At his inaugural ceremony in the House chamber — moved indoors because of cold temperatures and dangerous wind chills — Gov. Sam Brownback said the state’s challenges can be resolved only by strengthening families and changing the culture from one that focuses too much on personal satisfaction rather than on obligation and sacrifice.
“We are headed to a renewed, stronger culture, to better days,” Brownback said. “And as in the past, we will take America with us. The future of Kansas is strong.” The governor’s speech didn’t touch on a projected shortfall of more than $710 million in the current budget and for the fiscal year beginning in July. That issue is expected to be a centerpiece of his State of the State speech Thursday evening. Several other statewide elected officials and judges also were sworn in during the inauguration ceremony. The state’s budget gap resulted from personal income
tax cuts enacted last session at the urging of Brownback, who proposed last month to address a projected $279 million in the current year’s budget by diverting funds for highway projects and public pensions to general government programs. That plan drew immediate, bipartisan criticism from legislative leaders because it would divert $41 million from the pension system for teachers and government workers. Some lawmakers have suggested the possibility of rolling back some of the tax cuts, but others, like House Speaker Ray Merrick, a Stilwell RepubSee SESSION | Page A6
HUMBOLDT — City Administrator Cole Herder proposed a new revenue stream for Humboldt Monday night that could generate as much as $12,000 a year. City council members gave their blessing, pending City Attorney Fred Works signing off on a contract. The measure would have Humboldt police officers installing and monthly calibrating devices required in cars owned by anyone convicted of driving while under the influence of alcohol. Called Smart Start, the system prevents a car’s ignition from functioning until the operator blows into a small breath analyzer connected to the auto’s computer system. “All we need is a garage — which we have — and a few hand tools,” Herder said, to install the system. Checking to ensure the systems are working correctly should take about five to seven minutes once a month per vehicle. “All we install won’t be from Humboldt, but from a radius (yet to be determined),” Herder said. He mentioned several vendors in other southeast Kansas cities, but none closer than about 60 miles of Humboldt. He and Dillow both said the additional income would give the police deSee ALCOHOL | Page A6
USD 258
Chicago choir, band trip approved By RICK DANLEY The Iola Register
HUMBOLDT — USD 258 Board of Education members spent the bulk of Monday evening’s meeting in a closed-door session. Upon reconvening, the board approved: — The resignation of PE teacher and middle school football coach Zach Rampy, effective, according to President Curt Mueller, “at a date to be determined by the administration when suitable replacements are found for his position within the district.” — The employment of Mike Miller as head baseball coach, Jay Carpenter and Brett Lisher as his assistants, and Courtney Orth as the elementary school crossing guard. — Extra-duty contracts for
Quote of the day Vol. 117, No. 53
teachers Mary Durand and Hailey Schoendaller for the purpose of producing the spring play, which is a new addition to the district calendar. “I think it’s great that they’re adding that, because there must be an appreciation,” said board member Joe Works. “Yeah, well it would be nice,” Mueller added dryly, “if we could get some boys to play boys this time.” — Out-of-state travel for the Humboldt High School band and choir, who — if their continued fundraising is successful — will travel, May 6–10, to the Music in the Park Festival, in Chicago. The total projected cost for the jaunt is $20,000, of which the students have so far raised $15,097 (which includes an $8,000 donation from the Whitehead Trust and $500 from the Allen County Sheriff ’s Office). HHS will take the stage at
“The most worthwhile thing is to try to put happiness into the lives of others.” — Robert Baden-Powell 75 Cents
6:30 p.m. on May 8. Board member Helen Harrington pointed to the “two spots we need to fill for the upcoming year” within the ANW Special Education Cooperative, due to the retirement of teachers John Sheehan and Amy Brewer. Elementary and middle school principal Kay Bolt drew attention to four of her teachers — Stephanie Oliver, Dave Taylor, Cara Thomas and Misti Czarnowsky — who received awards from the Masonic Lodge “for being exemplary teachers.” According to Bolt, the elementary school spelling bee produced three top spellers, who have earned a chance to compete for regional honors at the Bowlus Fine Arts Center, in I-O-L-A, on Jan. 30. Superintendent K.B. Criss wound down the meeting See USD 258 | Page A6
Hi: 32 Lo: 23 Iola, KS