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Thursday, January 14, 2021
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Allen County COVID-19 Case Count
Current cases ................. 74 Total cases* ................... 805 Deaths........................... 11
How will I get the vaccine?
*Since the start of the pandemic
By TREVOR HOAG The Iola Register
Sources: Southeast Kansas Multi-County Health Departments, Kansas Department of Health and Environment
Crest defeats MV in boys basketball
PAGE B1
State sees drop in hospitalizations from COVID-19 PAGE A8
Megan Neville, RN with the Allen County office of the Southeast Kansas Multi-County Health Departments, displays the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. The health department will offer a vaccination clinic when shots are available for the next population group, though a date has not yet been announced. REGISTER/VICKIE MOSS
Health department to offer large clinic Council split when next phase of vaccination begins on solar project By VICKIE MOSS The Iola Register
By RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register
Iola City Council members want to see the fine print before deciding whether they’ll endorse a proposed solar field project to add to the city’s energy portfolio. Council members voted 3-3 — requiring a tie-breaking vote from Mayor Jon Wells — to move forward with Texas-based POW Solar LLC through the planning phase. The city retains authority to call off the project before any funds are obligated. While POW engineers will begin designing the solar plant, which would cover a smidgeon of city property just west of Russell Stover Candies, the city will take a closer look at its short- and longrange electric projects, the health of its electric reserves and how much the city’s electric demands will increase with the new Peerless Products plant slated to go online in the near future. Council members capped 45 minutes of debate Monday with the split vote to move forward POW Solar LLC — the company that would build the solar plant. Because of the tie vote, Wells cast his vote in favor of going forward with the planning, noting the See SOLAR | Page A3
Vol. 122, No. 307 Iola, KS 75 Cents
College ramps up for spring
When it comes time to vaccinate the next group of Allen County residents for COVID-19, the Southeast Kansas Multi-County Health Departments will make a public announcement and organize a large vaccination clinic site. Exactly when that will happen is not known, as it depends on multiple factors including the availability of vaccines from the federal government. The health department issued an update on Monday about its COVID-19 response, and indicated the county remains in Phase 1 of the state’s vaccination plan. Only healthcare workers and those in
Dr. Brian Wolfe receives the first of a two-shot vaccine to guard against COVID-19 in December. FILE PHOTO long-term care facilities qualify. When the county shifts to the next phase, which will allow shots for those age 65 and older, the health department
will schedule a clinic site. Notices will be made to newspapers, radio, Facebook and the department’s website about the location and times for vacSee SHOTS | Page A5
Allen C o m munity College is ramping up for the spring term, poised to navigate the challenges brought about COVID-19. According to vice president Cynthia Jacobson, “we’re doing better than we did to start off last semester” regarding the virus. Currently, there are 10 positive cases on the Iola campus, and 15 in quarantine. The college has been widely testing incoming students, and will continue to do so in order to limit viral spread. Jacobson noted that a saliva test is being used as opposed to “the touching the brain test” with a swab, so students are less squeamish about participating. She also said “we have a process down so we’re feeling pretty prepared” as things move forward. Influenced by the impact of COVID-19 as well, the board voted Tuesday evening to have no new increases in tuition, fees, room or board. As Jacobson explained, “our students are feeling the impact of the pandemic financially,” and so any increase seemed problematic. ON THE athletics side, the board voted to change its policy on allowing fans at sporting events, if the athletic association for community colleges makes a blanket change as well. “Right now, there are no See ACC | Page A3
Trump impeached for second time after riot WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump was impeached by the U.S. House for a historic second time, charged with “incitement of insurrection” over the deadly mob siege of the U.S. Capitol in a swift and stunning collapse of his final days in office. With the Capitol secured by armed National Guard troops inside and out, the House voted 232-197 on Wednesday to impeach Trump. The proceedings moved at lightning speed, with lawmakers voting just one week after violent proTrump loyalists stormed the Capitol, egged on by the president’s calls for them to “fight like hell” against the election results. Ten Republicans fled
Trump, joining Democrats who said he needed to be held accountable and warned ominously of a “clear and present danger” if Congress should leave him unchecked before Democrat Joe Biden’s inauguration Jan. 20. Trump is the only U.S. president to be twice impeached. It was the most bipartisan presidential impeachment in modern times, more so than against Bill Clinton in 1998. The Capitol insurrection stunned and angered lawmakers, who were sent scrambling for safety as the mob descended, and it revealed the fragility of the nation’s history of peaceful transfers of power. The riot also forced a reckonSee RIOT | Page A5
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi presides over the House of Representatives vote on the impeachment of President Donald Trump at the Capitol, Wednesday. (SAUL LOEB/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES/TNS)
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