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Wednesday, February 16, 2022
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Local property values on the rise
County looks at wellness program
By VICKIE MOSS The Iola Register
Expect to see property valuation notices in the mail soon. And be prepared for a little sticker shock. That was the warning from County Appraiser Jami Clark. Property valuations have increased between 8% and 25% because of higher prices when real estate is sold, she said. Agriculture prices also are up. Clark, who asked commissioners to approve more than $5,000 in postage to mail the valuation notices, told commissioners they might get a few phone calls from proper- Register of Deeds Cara Barkdoll hands a proposal to commissioners Jerry Daniels, left, and David ty owners who aren’t happy Lee. Commissioner Bruce Symes is not pictured. Barkdoll asked commissioners to use federal relief money to help pay to digitize records. REGISTER/VICKIE MOSS about the increase. She said she has “an open door policy” and is willing to ley school district could get $250,000 as a “payment in lieu $50,000 went into the county’s coffers. answer questions and talk to a slightly bigger piece of the of taxes” (PILOT). pie. Last year, the first year for Some Moran residents have anyone who is concerned. An agreement allows the the PILOT disbursement, the criticized the disbursement, PILOT spending Prairie Queen Wind Farm to county gave each school dis- saying because the wind Commissioners aren’t remain exempt from proper- trict an equal share of $50,000, farm is located on rural Mosure yet exactly how they’ll ty taxes for the first 10 years with another $50,000 to the Re- ran properties, they should spend wind farm money this of its operation. Instead, the gional Rural Technical Center receive a larger chunk of the year, but the Marmaton Val- wind farm gives the county at LaHarpe. The remaining See COUNTY | Page A6
Mustangs sweep Osawatomie
Senators want school tax holiday PAGE A2
West sees no sign of Russian pullback PAGE A3
A wellness program could potentially help the county save money and improve the health of its employees, a company representative told commissioners on Tuesday. Tria Health, an Overland Park company, offers to be a middleman between patients, physicians and pharmacists. The service will manage medications used to treat chronic conditions like diabetes, heart disease and more. Matt Baki, a senior vice president for Tria, outlined the program for commissioners. The company would charge a flat fee of $20,000 per year, but he recommends the county also pay an incentive of about See HEALTH | Page A6
Faith leaders, others say bills undermine schools By NOAH TABORDA Kansas Reflector
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By VICKIE MOSS The Iola Register
TOPEKA — A coalition of Kansas faith leaders and education advocates are calling on lawmakers to reject legislation currently being drafted to ban or restrict teaching about U.S. racial history. More than 50 people gathered Tuesday on the first floor of the Capitol in Topeka to rally against what they considered a concerted effort to dismantle diversity and inclusion initiatives at Kansas public schools. One such measure would establish a parental bill of rights, creating a series of transparency checks to ensure parents have knowledge of all material made available in school.
About 50 people gathered to oppose legislation that opponents say will undermine the authority of teachers and school boards to properly educate Kansas students. (NOAH TABORDA/ KANSAS REFLECTOR)
House Bill 2662 also compromises the affirmative defense for schools and educators if somebody charges
them with promoting material harmful to minors. The House K-12 Education Budget Committee is set for a hearing
on the measure Wednesday. “This conversation about race or critical theory, whatever the right is calling it, is being used as an excuse to undermine support for public schools,” said Rabbi Moti Rieber, executive director for Kansas Interfaith Action. “We need to reach out to kids from across different spectrums, bring them into the conversation and to center the experience of people not often centered in our history books.” A handful of faith leaders, equal rights advocates and teachers joined Rieber to describe their view of the Kansas Legislature’s approach to education. The consensus was that careless laws are putting See SCHOOLS | Page A4
Canada’s Trudeau moves to stop trucker blockades By PATRICK J. MCDONNELL Los Angeles Times/TNS
OTTAWA, Canada — Seated in an 18-wheeler, Tyler Armstrong vowed Monday that he would not vacate his coveted parking space in front of Canada’s Parliament building until COVID-19 vaccination mandates and other pandemic restrictions were lifted. His big rig is among scores of trucks and other vehicles that have been parked on Ottawa’s so-called Parliament Hill for more than two weeks as part of a protest against government measures meant to contain COVID-19. “We’ll stay here as long as we have to,” said Armstrong, 25, as his girlfriend, Ashley Wapshaw, 26, nodded in agreement. “This is about free-
dom.” The self-styled “Freedom Convoy” has largely paralyzed the Canadian capital and — along with allied blockades on Canadian border crossings to the United States — become a worldwide symbol of the backlash against pandemic constraints. Critics say the demonstrations disrupt commerce, ignore science and intimidate opponents. On Monday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, under intense pressure to do something about the mounting crisis, invoked emergency powers in a bid to help dismantle the blockades. Among other steps, the federal Emergencies Act — invoked for the first time since its passage in 1988 — could
Tractor trailers drive across the Ambassador Bridge border crossing from Windsor, Ontario, to Detroit, Michigan, on Monday, Feb. 14. The border crossing has reopened to traffic. (GEOFF ROBINS/AFP/ GETTY IMAGES/TNS)
bolster police ranks and powers, compel towing firms to cooperate in removing vehicles, and facilitate the cancellation of licenses and insurance
linked to trucks deployed in blockades. “We cannot and will not allow illegal and dangerous activities to continue,” Trudeau
told reporters. “These blockades are illegal and the time to go home is now.” The seeming ultimatum See TRUCKERS | Page A4
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