Sports: Little League action reported See B1
THE IOLA REGISTER Locally owned since 1867
www.iolaregister.com
Wednesday, July 15, 2015
ACH demo bids surprisingly low Renovations likely By BOB JOHNSON The Iola Register
A mix of surprise and elation enveloped Allen County commissioners Tuesday morning when bids for demolition of the old Allen County Hospital were opened. The lowest of seven was $198,810, made by Remco, a Kansas City, Mo., demolition contractor. Of the six others, four ranged no higher than
$260,000. The highest, out of character with others, was for $1.348 million. Commissioners will decide next Tuesday whether to accept Remco’s bid, after County Counselor Alan Weber has had time to check references and other particulars. Two factors likely had a role in the bid being as low as it was: Refuse will be accepted at the county landfill without charge and the
to extend past start of ACC school year
contractor will have salvage rights. Concrete will be kept separate at the landfill and much of it may be crushed and used to stabilize small streams along county roads and for similar purposes. Salvage was seen by contractors as significant during a tour of the structure. If salvageable materials had been sold at auction, as first pro-
By KAYLA BANZET The Iola Register
Construction at Allen Community College has left administrators in a tizzy. The estimated $1.5 million project has run into a few hiccups this summer, setting the project back by several weeks. It was planned to be completed by the start of the 2015 fall semester. At Tuesday’s board meeting, ACC trustees toured Iola’s campus to observe what progress has been done. The project, which is part of the college’s update plan,
See HOSPITAL | Page A4
includes remodeling the chemistry and biology labs, restrooms, locker rooms and constructing a new athletic department office on the south side of the building. The delay in construction has administrators working on a “plan B” to host science students in different locations in the fall. With ACC athletes arriving Aug. 3, the possibility of the locker rooms being complete is not looking good. IN
REGARDS to develSee ACC | Page A3
Report: Nearly 1 in 3 young U.S. adults too fat for military
Talent to spare Area youth Abi Hirt, top, Haley Carlin, bottom left, and Jacob Riebel were among the hopefuls who auditioned Tuesday for a slot in the upcoming Allen County Fair Talent Show. The Talent Show is one of the fair’s featured attractions the evening of July 27 on the free stage at Iola’s Riverside Park. REGISTER/SARAH WEIDE
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — The nation’s obesity epidemic is causing significant recruiting problems for the military, with one in three young adults nationwide too fat to enlist, according to report issued today by a group of retired military leaders. The nonprofit, non-partisan group called Mission: Readiness (Military Leaders for Kids) is promoting healthy school lunches in Kansas and across the nation as a way to combat the problem. In Kansas, 29 percent of teenagers are overweight, according to figures it cites from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About a third of American children and teens are considered obese or overweight. “We think a more healthy
By BOB JOHNSON The Iola Register
GAS — Gas councilmen put limits on how lots the city owns may be developed Tuesday evening. In the same vein, they also adopted comprehensive building codes — none had been in place previously. Wayne Barnett has been in the process of buying two lots on Humphrey for construction of a house. A month ago he thought the deal had been completed, but councilmen had not signed off on the contract. When they did Tuesday night they added a stipulation, that any house constructed would have to be single-family and contain no less than 1,100 square feet of living space. “Living space” was added to offset a
builder from using garage square footage as part of the equation. They did not change cost of lots, leaving it at $1,000 each, $2,000 for two lots, deemed the minimum for construction of a house. The city has 12 lots on Humphrey it is willing to sell. Two others, near City Hall, are more expensive, $1,800 each. Adding building codes — for structure, plumbing and electric — were mentioned a month ago, as well. Steve Robb, city superintendent, was given the additional duty of code enforcement officer, which means it will fall to him to decide whether building, plumbing and electrical practices are being followed to the letter of the law. The codes will not mean a licensed plumber or electrician will have to do the work. Gas has no provision See GAS | Page A4
Quote of the day Vol. 117, No. 174
See OBESITY | Page A4
State allows unlicensed teachers for some schools
Gas puts development limits on land it sells Council approves higher water rates
lifestyle over the long term will have significant impacts on both the military posture — those available to get into the military — and across our society as a whole from a medical perspective,” retired Brigadier Gen. John Schmader said in a phone interview ahead of the report’s release. Obesity is among the leading causes of military ineligibility among people ages 17 to 24, the report notes. Others are a lack of adequate education, a criminal history or drug use. All those put together mean that 71 percent of Kansans are ineligible for military service, according to the group. The military has also seen a 61 percent rise in obesity
Nature’s wrath
A ferocious round of storms that dumped nearly an inch of rain in Iola Tuesday morning also produced gusty winds that destroyed the Dollar General sign on North State Street. The store’s roof also reportedly sustained damage, and several homes and businesses in east Iola were without power in the storm’s aftermath. REGISTER/RICK DANLEY
“The remedy is worse than the disease.” — Francis Bacon, English philosopher 75 Cents
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Unlicensed teachers can work in six Kansas school districts, the Kansas State Board of Education decided Tuesday by a narrow vote. Supporters contend the move will help address teacher shortages, especially in hard-to-fill subject areas. Opponents say it will hurt students and is a slippery slope for education in Kansas. The proposal was poised to fail, but gained a swing vote for 6-4 passage when its supporters amended it to give the state board greater control over hires in those districts, the Topeka Capital Journal reported. Board member Kathy Busch of Wichita was the one to drop her opposition. The measure waives the state’s licensure regulations for school districts in the InSee STATE | Page A4
Hi: 94 Lo: 73 Iola, KS