Sports: Go-kart extravaganza coming to Yates Center See B1
THE IOLA REGISTER Locally owned since 1867
www.iolaregister.com
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
HUMBOLDT COUNCIL
City rate jumps draw protest By BOB JOHNSON The Iola Register
HUMBOLDT — Larry Reeves questioned Humboldt officials why water and sewers rates are going up with Oct. 10 billings. The public discourse occurred during the council’s Monday evening public hearing for the city’s 2015 budget, an event that often draws more yawns than questions. Reeves would have none of that. He pointed out that a 20 percent jump — which will occur with water rates — “is a lot to my budget” and was coming about at a time when Humboldt “has fewer people and many are living on fixed incomes.” Councilwoman Vada Aikins was succinct in her explanation of the water and sewer (13 percent) rate increases: “Utilities are supposed to be self-sufficient and they haven’t been in a
long time.” City Administrator Cole Herder tried to soften the impact by relating what a typical Humboldt resident will face. “If you use 4 units of water, your water bill will increase $7.23 a month and your sewer bill will go up $4.95 a month,” he said, or $12.18 a month. “That’s $150 a year, isn’t it,” said Reeves, more as statement than question. No one argued. Herder said the last water rate increase was in October 2006 and the last sewer increase Jan. 1, 2012. “We’ve been transferring money from reserves (including those in the gas fund) since then,” he said, adding that there is financial good news in that gas sales this year already have surpassed what was anticipated for all of the year, meaning those reserves should grow See INCREASES | Page A3
Road crew members Elmer Alvarado, left, and John Lynch prepare a form for what will be a concrete storm drain along U.S. 54 on the west edge of Gas Monday afternoon. Curb work should be complete soon as the highway rebuild project nears its home stretch. REGISTER/RICHARD LUKEN
Finish line in sight on road work By RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register
The finish line is near on U.S. 54 road work from Iola to LaHarpe. Brian Haar, a Kansas Department of Transportation engineer overseeing the
highway’s reconstruction, said work remains largely on schedule. The multi-faceted project included a full rebuild from the ground up of the four-lane, concrete thoroughfare. “We’re looking pretty good on time,” Haar said. The deadline for Koss Con-
struction, Topeka, to finish the roadwork is Oct. 31, with all other cleanup finished by Nov. 26, the day before Thanksgiving. All of the lanes have been poured in both directions, Haar said. See ROAD | Page A3
Tensions flare in Ferguson, Mo. FERGUSON, Mo. (MCT) — Two men were shot during the chaos of demonstrations late Monday and early today near West Florissant and Canfield, police confirmed. Officers weren’t involved in the shootings. There was no immediate information on the identities or conditions of the victims. Police also confirmed that 31 people were arrested, including some who had come from as far as New York and California. In an emotional news conference around 2:30 a.m. in the
area of the protests, Missouri Highway Patrol Capt. Ronald S. Johnson said the shootings demonstrate “a dangerous dynamic in the night” in which a few people determined to cause trouble can pull a whole crowd into it. While he acknowledged there is currently no curfew in place, he urged legitimate protesters come out during the day from now on, rather than at night. “We do not want to lose another life in this community,” said Johnson.
His comments came after a night punctuated by bottles thrown at police, two fires in the area, and scattered reports of gunfire. “Our officers came under heavy fire,” said Johnson. He stressed that “not a single bullet was fired by officers.” Johnson, who was put on charge of security in Ferguson last week under orders by Gov. Jay Nixon, appeared before a table that displayed two handguns that officers had confiscated in an unrelatSee FERGUSON | Page A3
New principal at Lincoln school By KAYLA BANZET The Iola Register
Lincoln Elementary students will meet a new principal on the first day of school. Jason Marciano will lead students and teachers into a new school year. Marciano grew up in Hutchinson and graduated from Hutchinson Community College and Wichita State University. He recently worked in the Remington district located in Whitewater where he was principal for 13 years. Before that he was an elementarymiddle school administrator in the Clifton-Clyde district. He has been involved in education for 18 years. He began as a substitute teacher. That position lead him to become a paraprofessional for the Reno County Special Education Cooperative. He then taught four years as a sixth grade teacher and coach for middle school boys basketball in the Nickerson
Sheila and Richard Ivy will celebrate 30 years of marriage next year. They renewed their wedding vows on their 25th anniversary. They had meant to do so on their 20th, but that was shortly after Richard’s accident and he was unable to speak at the time. “You can overcome so much,” Ivy said. “There’s things that we’re still overcoming 10 years out.” REGISTER/KAREN INGRAM
Brain injuries traumatize family By KAREN INGRAM The Iola Register
Jason Marciano is the new Lincoln Elementary principal. He replaces Larry Hart, who retired. REGISTER/KAYLA BANZET district. Marciano said he knew he wanted to get involved as an administrator. “I have a passion for working with children and felt a
Quote of the day Vol. 116, No. 207
calling for administration,” he said. “I like the teaching aspect of education and helping others be successful at it.” Iola’s school district is difSee PRINCIPAL | Page A3
Some people learn the true meaning of endurance when tragedy strikes, and keeps striking, and they discover just how much they can do. A local woman is starting a support group to help victims of traumatic brain injuries and their loved ones. “It’s a lot more common than you’d realize,” said Sheila Ivy, Iola resident. “If you don’t know where to turn, you feel lost.” Ivy knows firsthand how a traumatic brain injury (TBI)
“Work isn’t to make money; you work to justify life.” — Marc Chagall, artist 75 Cents
can suddenly and violently change the lives of an entire family. It’s happened to her own family — twice. MAY 23, 2004 is forever etched into Ivy’s memory as deeply and as surely as scar tissue. It was a day that started out with joy and celebration and ended in tragedy. The Ivy family was celebrating the high school graduation of their two oldest children, Heather and Christopher. They’re not twins, but they were close enough in age that they had See INJURY | Page A6
Hi: 97 Lo: 72 Iola, KS