Sports: Late drama fills day for IHS baseball See B1
THE IOLA REGISTER Locally owned since 1867
Wednesday, April 15, 2015
MAKING FURRY FRIENDS
COUNTY
New use for old hospital? By BOB JOHNSON The Iola Register
The old Allen County Hospital may be repurposed rather than razed. Arlyn Briggs asked Allen County commissioners for a price to buy or lease the structure Tuesday morning. He and part of his team of investors met with commissioners in executive session a week earlier, during which they fleshed out plans to convert the hospital into a care facility for patients with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, as well as a possible station where dialysis could be performed. Other possibilities, he told the Register, center on intervening in abusive situations. “We’d like to have a place to care for families as a whole,” he said. Commissioners didn’t respond immediately to Briggs’ request, and said they likely would have an answer at next Tuesday’s session. County Counselor Alan Weber said he received an assessment of hazardous materials in the hospital that would have to be dealt with, whether it were razed or kept standing and reused. “The report isn’t too bad,” he said, which led him to mention commissioners might want to look to remediation by the county if they decided to demolish the structure. That could lead to better bids for the work, he said, suggesting costs for razing very well might be $300,000 See HOSPITAL | Page A4
www.iolaregister.com
USD 257
Schedule changes coming in 2016-17 By KAYLA BANZET The Iola Register
Above, SEK-CAP students met Ella, a kangaroo from the farm of Becky and Rick Robb. From left, are Alisha Rutherford, Eryiona Frierson (on her lap) Corbyn Larios, Sha-Dawna Scheibmeir, Lillian Nelson, Raudy Bearden, Cayleigh Rutherford and Stella Higinbotham. At right, staff member Stella Higinbotham, left, laughs as Ronnie Adair and Isaiah Geisler greet Robb’s goat. REGISTER/KAYLA BANZET
SEK-CAP events highlight special week SEK-CAP, the Southeast Kansas Community Action Program, is celebrating Week of the Young Child by hosting several events throughout the week. The purpose of the Week of the Young Child is to focus public attention on the needs of young children and their
families and to recognize early childhood programs and services that meet those needs. Events include a visit from children’s librarian Leah Oswald of Iola Public Library, spirit week, a health lesson from a SEKCAP nurse, a parent and
children night activity, having community members eat lunch with the children and hanging the children’s artwork at Community National Bank and Town Square Tannery. Becky Robb brought a goat and baby kangaroo to show the children Tuesday.
It’s all about time. USD 257 school board members continued their discussion on how much time students spend in a class at their board meeting Tuesday night. The board approved changing block scheduling — where students learn a specific subject every other day — to where they study subjects every day for the 2016-2017 school year. The motion passed 6-1 with board member Darrel Catron against. Superintendent of Schools Jack Koehn listed what he viewed as the pros and cons of block scheduling before members voted. If the school members were to shorten the school calendar they would run into issues with the current block schedule, including longer school days. Koehn said moving from the current 90-minute classes to 55-minute periods every day increases time spent on a subject. “There are some good things about block scheduling but I’m concerned if we are getting as much class material as other schools,” Koehn said. Advantages of block scheduling include students don’t have to prepare for a subject every day, there’s more planning time See 257 | Page A4
MV keeps 5-day weeks By RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register
Packed house
More than 1,000 area middle school students descended on Iola’s Riverside Park for the Iola Middle School Invitational track meet. Results from the mammoth meet are on B1. Results will be listed in Thursday’s Register. REGISTER/SPENCER MICHELSON
Gas council hears plans for salvage lot By BOB JOHNSON The Iola Register
GAS — Though Gas council members won’t participate in the decision, Terry McDonald told them Tuesday evening about a request he has made of Allen County to re-zone property he owns to heavy industrial. McDonald bent the Gas
governing body’s ear because the land is little more than a stone’s throw east of town along the north side of U.S. 54. McDonald owns TJ Towing, a business that includes storing damaged vehicles. McDonald said he would plant cedar trees as a screen to hide what many may view as an eyesore.
Quote of the day Vol. 117, No. 115
McDonald’s aim with the zoning change is to permit him to directly market the unclaimed vehicles to recycling centers in Kansas City, rather than have to sell them locally — he mentioned Ray’s Metal Depot — and consequently sacrifice a share of profits. See GAS | Page A2
MORAN — Marmaton Valley schools will continue having school five days a week in the fall. At their meeting Monday, USD 256 Board of Education members voted 6-1 to eschew a four-day school week starting with the 2015-16 school year. District officials sent surveys to district patrons over the winter seeking feedback on the proposal. While the surveys from patrons and teachers both indicated support for four-day weeks, “when it came down to it, the board just wasn’t ready for a change,” Superintendent of Schools David Hardage told the Register. Two patrons, Patti Boyd and Lindsay Drake, spoke at Monday’s meeting in favor of keeping the five-day schedule. Stan Harles spoke out in favor of switching to four-day weeks. Supporters of changing to
“Think big thoughts, but relish small pleasures.” — H. Jackson Browne, American author 75 Cents
four-day weeks pointed to potential budget savings, estimated at between $30,000 and $40,000, by paying less for classified employees (bus drivers, paraprofessionals, janitors, etc.) and transportation and utility savings. Hardage acknowledged those numbers were imprecise because of fluctuating fuel costs. Advocates of the five-day week, conversely, stressed the importance of added time in the classroom. Board members Bill Bigelow, Kris Smith, Joshua Herrmann, John Booth, Jim Armstrong and Steve Becker voted to keep the five-day week. Amanda Allen abstained, and was counted as a “no” vote. BOARD members accepted the resignation of Elysa Buss as high school English instructor, effective at the end of the school year. Board members approved rehiring all current classified staff for 2015-16.
Hi: 68 Lo: 52 Iola, KS