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Saturday, October 17, 2020
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Under pressure: Focus on health
3 WAYS TO VOTE
By VICKIE MOSS The Iola Register
High blood pressure. It’s one of the most neglected health conditions and, second only to nicotine, the most preventable risk factor. “It’s a silent killer,” Dr. Tracy L. Stevens, cardiologist with the Saint Luke’s Health Sys- Dr. Tracy tem, said. Stevens “Just because you feel well doesn’t mean your blood pressure is OK.” Allen County Regional Hospital is focusing on blood pressure, also called hypertension, as part of a health education push this month. The hospital also has joined the Million Hearts Collaboration, an initiative from the American Heart Association to educate, prevent and manage heart attack and stroke. “If everyone in our community could take ownership of one thing to improve health, it’s blood pressure,” Stevens said. “Each of us, as an indi-
EARLY: Vote in person at the Allen County Courthouse until noon Nov. 2. ADVANCE: Request an advance ballot and vote by mail or use an official drop box. Go to allencounty. org for details. AT THE POLLS: Polling places will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Nov. 3.
LaHarpe starts talk on stop signs By RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register
Allen County Regional Hospital nurse Chelsea Buck will serve as the Million Hearts Collaboration’s local ambassador. She is sitting at the hospital’s new blood pressure kiosk. REGISTER/VICKIE MOSS vidual, is responsible for our health. It’s not going to a doctor once a year. It’s what you do in between, every day, that matters.” Stevens is the medical director of Saint Luke’s Muriel
I. Kauffman Women's Heart Center. TO HELP residents track their blood pressure, a new kiosk was allocated to the hospital from the Saint Luke’s in-
ventory. The machine will allow patients and visitors to quickly and easily check their blood pressure. Visitors to the hospital are currently restricted See HEALTH | Page A4
Maternity service ended because of risk, ACRH administrator says By VICKIE MOSS The Iola Register
Elmore Patterson, administrator of Allen County Regional Hospital. REGISTER/VICKIE MOSS
Allen County Regional Hospital’s administrator provided more clarity as to why Saint Luke’s Health System made the decision to close the local maternity service. Elmore Patterson, administrator of ACRH, said Saint Luke’s studied the matter in depth. The decision came down to protecting patients from risk because the com-
munity has just one obstetrics provider, Dr. Timothy Spears. But one person can’t be everywhere at all times, and there’s no other local qualified provider to care for maternity patients when Spears is unavailable. “We did not have backup coverage for one solo person rendering obstetrics care,” Patterson explained. “That was going to put patients at risk when having babies in AlSee SERVICES | Page A4
LAHARPE — LaHarpe City Council members will chew over a request by city employees to add as many as 26 stop signs around town. Code Enforcement Officer Penny Miller and City Superintendent Mike Hedmon have driven every block in town in search of potential trouble spots for motorists due to obstructed views at intersections or where unfettered traffic pose safety hazards. Miller provided the See LAHARPE | Page A4
Iola wins league cross country title
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Local family becomes medallion masters By TREVOR HOAG The Iola Register
Three-peat. Dynasty. Legends. Whatever you call it, Shelli Sinclair’s family are medallion masters. In the six years since the Farm City Days medallion hunt began, they’ve found the coveted artifact three different times: 2014, 2017 and 2020. The core search team consists of multiple family members and their parents, where all of the children were born in Garnett and later moved to Iola. Sinclair is a housekeeper at Allen County Regional Hospital/St. Luke’s, and has a 9-year-old daughter, Chloe, who also likes to get in on the action. The family’s passion for games began early. When they were young they “stuck Vol. 122, No. 247 Iola, KS 75 Cents
to themselves” and had to find ways to “stay busy at home.” “We used to do scavenger hunts for each other,” said Sinclair, hiding items and developing various clues. “It’s something we’ve all loved forever. … Things that bend your mind, puzzles … love of trivia.” THIS year’s medallion was hidden in LaHarpe, with the only clue being a reference to “your heart.” Once they saw the clue, the family sprang into action, and quickly determined the reference. “At 10 a.m., we’re all like, who can go on their lunchtime?” Sinclair excitedly recalled. Then she and her sister Sheri ran to LaHarpe on their lunch break, first checking See HUNTERS | Page A3
Jason DeVoe and Shelli Sinclair display the three Farm City Days medallions found by their family over the past six years. REGISTER/TREVOR HOAG
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