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The Weekender Saturday, April 16, 2016
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Budget cut means likely end to Home Health By RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register
Holly Jerome is seeing firsthand how far resilience and a positive attitude can carry a team. But she wonders — after the dust settles — whether it will have made a difference. In late February, the staff at Southeast Kansas Wellness, a part of the statewide Health Home program, learned they likely will lose their jobs June 30. On top of that, the state fire marshal evicted the crew from offices in the basement of the Medical Arts Building earlier this month. Rather than see any form of sadness, or even anger, Jerome instead saw a room full of smiles. Of determination. “It shows the type of people they are,” said Jerome, SEK Wellness program manager. “The resilience of this staff is amazing. From knowing this program is coming to an end, and knowing they have to pack up and move on one day. They pulled up their bootstraps, showed up for work the next day in work clothes and asked what we needed them to do. They were willing to work out of their cars if we
Holly Jerome and Nathan Fawson. REGISTER/RICHARD LUKEN needed them to.” IT’S BEEN A tumultuous 2016 for Jerome and SEK Wellness executive director Nathan Fawson and their crew of 10. As part of the Kansas Health Home program, SEK Wellness is among the programs that will disband June
30 because of state budget cuts. Since its formation in 2014, SEK Wellness has served more than 700 Medicaid clients in southeast Kansas, 150 of whom reside in Allen County. The program serves what Jerome and Fawson describe as a vital link between mental and physical health services.
“It’s critical because everything affects the other,” Jerome said. “If you’re really depressed, you probably don’t feel good. And if you don’t feel good, you’re probably very depressed.” Fawson, whose chief role is executive director of the Southeast Kansas Mental Health Center, said the con-
nections between the two are well documented. “The population we serve are those individuals with a serious mental illness,” he explained. “Now, through experience, we’ve learned the vast majority of the cases also have a physical or chronic condition that needs attention.” That’s where SEK Wellness came in. A team of registered nurses and social workers helped provide a holistic approach to serving its clients. Services ranged from doing as little as explaining to a patient what his doctor just diagnosed to putting them in touch with specialists or other support organizations. “Another service we’ve provided naturally through time has been connecting our clients with primary care physicians, and helping strengthen and coordinate those relationships,” Fawson said. “That allows that primary care doctor to provide additional support to them in their time of need as well, so they’re not as dependent upon us.” Such an effort also leads to fewer expensive, unnecessary emergency room visits. Or, if See HEALTH | Page A2
Bee-ware
The Allen County Courthouse was abuzz with activity Thursday afternoon when a swarm of honeybees made themselves home beneath a bush at the courthouse’s west entrance. Local beekeeper Terry Friend sprayed the hive with sugar water (to prevent the bees from fleeing) before brushing the colony into a “Langstroth Hive,” or box used to store colonies of bees. Among the cluster was the colony’s queen. With her safely inside, the rest of the swarm eventually made its way into the box. The remaining stragglers eventually flew away without incident. REGISTER/RICHARD LUKEN
Iola gets grant Iola will receive more than $144,000 in federal funds to help pay for sidewalk improvements around its three elementary schools and Iola Middle School. The grants were announced Friday by the Kansas Department of Transportation. Statewide, 25 projects advancing a host of transportation initiatives were selected, according to a KDOT press release. Forty-eight applications were submitted. The Iola project is part of its “Safe Routes To Schools” effort. The federal funding requires a 20 percent match, meaning Iola is responsible for $36,060 of the $180,000 project, according to KDOT. Iola City Administrator Carl Slaugh said the first step, now that funding has been awarded, is for the state to begin design work. Project bids likely will be awarded sometime late this year. The grant funding calls for completion within a calendar year.
Iola Senior Citizens thrift store seeks volunteers By RICK DANLEY The Iola Register
When longtime Iolans Richard and CeCe Huston decamp for Leavenworth this month, the Iola Senior Citizens thrift shop at 223 N. State St. will lose two essential members of its roughly 12-person volunteer corps. The loss puts the squeeze on a facility which, despite the great gobs of cash it pours into local causes — the store generated more than $20,000 for charity just last year — struggles perennially to fill the volunteer requirements to staff the shop Monday through Friday. “We need volunteers badly,” stresses CeCe, who arrived at the store 10 years ago as a customer, but then, recognizing an opportunity to pitch in, never left. “We
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need the help simply to stay open.” The modest facility on North State Street, with its faded sign proclaiming “rummage sale,” was launched almost 40 years ago on the astute conjecture that by helping a single individual — helping a man find cheap work pants or a mother find toys for her children — you could aid an entire community. “We donate all the money back to the area,” said Richard. “To Hope Unlimited,” says Cece. Richard Huston works his last week at the Iola Senior Citizen “Hospice,” says Richard. thrift store. The store is in need of volunteers. REGISTER/RICK “ACARF, Faith House.” DANLEY “The Pregnancy Resource Center.” gave them —” the county,” reflects Cece. “Everything,” says Cece. “One thousand dollars “Their paying for the build“Schools, too,” says Rich- recently,” Cece said. ing and utilities allows us to ard. “We give money to the Allen County owns the sell jeans for 25 cents.” And first and second grades for Iola Senior Citizens, Inc. shoes for 20. “We couldn’t their milk program. And building and pays utility See SENIOR | Page A2 the Community Garden, we costs. “We’d be lost without
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