Fillies host VB tourney See B1
THE IOLA REGISTER Locally owned since 1867
Monday, September 14, 2015
www.iolaregister.com
PEDAL POWER
Governor links merit pay, school aid By JOHN HANNA The Associated Press
Above at left, Karry Rood, Lenexa, shows her “travel companions” affixed to the pouch on her bicycle. An ex-smoker, Rood, 53, said bicycling was part of her new lifestyle. Rood rode 100 miles in Saturday’s Portland Alley Pedalfest, a bicycling event that passed through all the towns of Allen County as well as Chanute, Kincaid and Colony. Food and drink stations were stationed along the 100-mile route. Above, Joe Evans, Humboldt, entertained the gathering crowd at Saturday’s Pedalfest in Riverside Park. At far left, Lori Stottlemire takes off Saturday morning. Stottlemire, Iola, logged 80 miles for the Pedalfest. At middle, a cordoned off “beer garden” in front of the Recreation Building in Riverside Park provided a venue for food and drink. Enjoying friendship and a beverage are, from left, Brian Coltrane, Ryan Coffield, Ceri Loflin, Jessy Coffield, Don Burns and Shawn Geffert. About 30 campers pitched their tents Friday night in Riverside Park in preparation of Saturday’s ride. Campers made use of the facilities, including showers, in the Rec building. About 100 cyclists participated, riding distances of up to 100 miles. The majority rode 50 miles. Most cyclists took their time to enjoy the scenery along the rail trails. An average pace was 12-13 mph.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback says work on a new formula for funding the state’s public schools should focus on how local districts s p e n d t h e i r m o n e y, create in- Brownback centives to shift dollars into classroom instruction and encourage merit pay for teachers. The Republican governor said during an Associated Press interview that he’d like the GOPdominated Legislature to draft a new formula next year, a goal shared by some prominent Republican lawmakers. Such a formula would determine how the state distributes the bulk of its aid to the 286 districts, now more than $4 billion. Brownback rejected arguments from many superintendents and school board members — and four districts suing the state — that the state isn’t providing enough aid to provide a suitable education for every child. He said a key issue is making sure that a See AID | Page A2
Hospital closure sheds light on rural challenges in world of health care By ROXANA HEGEMAN The Associated Press
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — The upcoming closure of the hospital in the southeast Kansas community of Independence has highlighted the problems faced by rural medical providers in states that have refused to expand their Medicaid programs. “The climate of health care these days is very challenging, and particularly for small rural hospitals like ourselves,” said Joanne Smith, spokeswoman for Mercy Hospital in Independence. “We are facing decreased reimbursement; the fact that Kansas did not expand Medicaid has been a significant factor in our reimbursement, and declining population here in our corner of Kansas, as well as a lot of outmigration of patients to other communities for their health care.”
According to the National Rural Health Association, at least 55 rural hospitals across the nation have closed since 2010, and 283 more are at risk of closure. Rural hospitals were already struggling with declining populations, and, in many cases, their financial situations had become critical because of changes in the way hospitals get reimbursed under the Affordable Care Act. The cuts in Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements were designed to be offset by additional revenues from the Medicaid expansion. So when Kansas refused to expand Medicaid, its hospitals were hit especially hard. The Kansas Hospital Association has repeatedly warned lawmakers that hospitals in the state were struggling because of the state’s See CLOSURE | Page A4
Quote of the day Vol. 117, No. 217
Amber Boeken gathers belongings after she escaped serious injury this morning from a traffic accident near Gates Corporation. Boeken told officers she was on her way work in Humboldt when the accident occurred. REGISTER/BOB JOHNSON
Driver escapes injury in crash By BOB JOHNSON The Iola Register
Iolan Amber Boeken had the ride of her life this morning when her car went out of control and rolled on Montana Road southeast of Gates Corporation plant. Boeken was able to walk away from the accident that pratically flattened her car.
“I think the back tire gave way, and I overcorrected,” said Boeken, 24, who was on her way to work at Independent Living in Humboldt. Boeken’s car rolled more than 200 yards along the east side of Moonlight Hill, just east of Gates. “I’m glad I had on my seatbelt,” Boeken said, with her only visible injury a cut
“Wisdom outweighs any wealth.” — Sophocles 75 Cents
on the big toe of her right foot, noticeable because of the flip-flops she was wearing. “All I remember is seeing the sky,” she said. “I just said, ‘Oh my,’” to herself before the car came to a stop. The car’s roof was smashed within a foot or less of the sides and ended up lying on its passenger side.
Hi: 83 Lo: 64 Iola, KS
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