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Wednesday, August 18, 2021
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County to switch ambulance services By RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register
Allen County will pursue a contract with a private company to provide countywide ambulance services starting in 2022. County commissioners voted, 2-1, Tuesday to negotiate solely with American Medical Response, and to let its existing EMS contract with the City of Iola expire on Dec. 31. The move is certain to have major ramifications within the Iola Fire Department, because firefighters man ambulances throughout the county from stations in Iola, Humboldt and Moran. “The decision was not made lightly,” Commissioner David Lee said, noting he’d had “a lot of sleepless nights” during negotiations. “But at the end of the day, I think the
Allen County COVID-19 Case Count
Current cases ................. 47 Total cases* ................... 1,451 Deaths........................... 20 *Since the start of the pandemic Sources: Southeast Kansas Multi-County Health Departments, Kansas Department of Health and Environment
Allen County Commissioners, from left, Jerry Daniels, David Lee and Bruce Symes, consider a plan from American Medical Response to take over the county’s ambulance services. REGISTER/ RICHARD LUKEN
contract we’re gonna be pursuing is better for the county.” Commissioner Jerry Daniels agreed, while Commissioner Bruce Symes was opposed. “My vote will reflect my wish to continue the arrange-
ment with the city,” Symes said. “That being said, I truly do respect the thought and work that’s been put into this by all parties, especially my fellow commissioners. We’ll enter this new agreement with every intention of it
Royals defeat Houston
being successful to continue providing the best service we can to the residents of Allen County.” The county previously notified Iola officials that it intended to let the EMS conSee CONTRACT | Page A6
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Texas governor tests positive for COVID-19 AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday, according to his office, who said the Republican is in good health and experiencing no symptoms. Abbott, who was vaccinated in December and has refused calls to reinstate mask Gov. Abbott mandates as the highly contagious delta variant surges in Texas, was isolating in the governor’s mansion in Austin and receiving monoclonal antibody treatment, spokesman Mark Miner said in a statement. He is at least the 11th governor to test positive for the virus since the pandemic began, according to a tally by The Associated Press. “Governor Abbott is fully vaccinated against COVID-19, in good health, and currently experiencing no symptoms. Everyone that the Governor has been in close contact with today has been notified,” Miner said. In a video posted on social media, Abbott said the fact that he had been fully vaccinated “may be one reason I’m really not feeling any symptoms right now. I have no fever, no aches and pains, no other types of symptoms.” The positive test comes a day after Abbott, who has seldom been seen wearing a mask in public recently, did not wear one while speaking indoors near Dallas to a crowded room of GOP supporters, most of whom were older and unmasked. Video posted by his campaign shows the 63-year-old See TEXAS | Page A2
School line-up Parents and students wait outside McKinley Elementary School this morning. Most students in USD 257 returned to classes today, with face masks and social distancing recommended as the coronavirus pandemic continues. REGISTER/VICKIE MOSS
Southeast towns want help with water systems By RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register
Emergency grant funding from the federal government may aid Elsmore and Savonburg residents as they look to repair their water system. Allen County commissioners said Tuesday they likely would support a request by representatives from the Neosho-Allen Rural Water District No. 2 in seeking more than $100,000 for new meters, isolation valves, a fire hydrant and storage facility. If approved, the funds would come from the $1.2 million the county received in American Rescue Plan Act funding. (Another $1.2 million will come the county’s way in 2022.)
Lon Hale, with the Neosho-Allen Rural Water District No. 2, talks to Allen County Commissioners Tuesday morning. REGISTER/RICHARD LUKEN
Speaking on behalf of the district, Lon Hale said the water district has averaged about 1.6 million gallons of
“lost” water a month; some from leaks within its aging water lines, and the rest from old, inaccurate meters.
The system has been in place since 1964. Hale requested about $78,000 to install digital readers and equipment, which would give a more accurate reading of how much water is consumed and greatly cut down on the time needed to read meters; another $19,800 to install isolation valves throughout the system to help isolate and repair leaks without shutting off service to large swaths of the system; and about $5,000 for a fire hydrant to flush lines and a storage facility for pipe and other materials. Rural Water District No. 2 encompasses land in and around Elsmore and Savonburg, as well as portions of See WATER | Page A2
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