Thursday, November 19, 2020
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Winter sports season may be delayed
Be safe (and sane) for the holidays By VICKIE MOSS The Iola Register
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Kansas virus spread ‘exponential’
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Trump targets vote certification PAGE A5
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It’s natural to want the perfect holiday, with the entire family full of love and laughter as they gather around the dinner table. But that’s not always the reality, local therapist Kari Miller said. And this year, more than ever, it’s important to adjust expectations. The coronavirus pandemic has put wrinkles in everyone’s plans, as families debate the benefit of gathering together versus the risk of exposure to a potentially deadly illness. “We have this cultural perception that these holidays are supposed to be picture
Thanksgiving gatherings may be a little smaller this year because of the coronavirus pandemic. PIXABAY perfect, and rarely are they. A pie burns. Someone says something hurtful at the dinner table,” Miller said.
“COVID has really been stressful, but we can look for alternative ways to connect to our families, near and far, that
can be as creative and unique as our families.” The CDC recommends celebrating virtually or only with a household (those who live together). Dr. Brian Neely, with Allen County Regional Hospital’s Iola clinic, said he is worried about increased spread of COVID-19 as families gather for the holidays. Increased infection reports followed summer holidays like Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day. Neely worries that will happen again, especially as local cases have continued to rise in recent weeks. Some relatives might be traveling from areas where
Southwind spreads its wings By TIM STAUFFER The Iola Register
The Southwind Extension District has found a new home. In fact, they’re already moving in. Thanks to help from the crew at Allen County Public Works, the Extension District was able move decades’ worth of furniture, files, books — a staff favorite uncovered by district director Carla Nemecek was a 1930s dust-covered “How to be a Good Mother-In-Law” — in a matter of hours. Their new office space is 1004 and 1006 N. State St., prime real estate on one of Iola’s busiest streets. THE MOVE came thanks to a variety of entities working together. County commissioners agreed last week to purchase the building from Jay Kretzmeier for $140,000, with the money coming from the county’s general fund. Using its taxing entity, the Extension District will pay the county back $100,000 over a five-year period. In return for its $40,000 investment, the county will have rights to use the building’s vault, a cement-floored garage and office space. Thus, 1004 and 1006
See HOLIDAYS | Page A5
Thrive scraps in-person ceremony By TIM STAUFFER The Iola Register
Thrive Allen County has scrapped plans for an in-person gathering for its annual Awards of Excellence tonight. Initially, Thrive planned on hosting a scaled-down version of the event at the Bowlus Fine Arts Center in which only two representatives of each nominated group would attend. Traditionally, the event includes a banquet at which hundreds attend. “The Bowlus is a beautiful facility, and Duane’s Flowers was going to decorate for us,” said Thrive CEO Lisse Regehr. “It was going to be really nice, but we have to do what’s best for the community, even if it’s hard. “We want people to feel celebrated. This is a year when we desperately need things to celebrate,” said Regehr. “But with cases rising locally, we sat down and said, ‘We just can’t do this.’ We’re a health
Southwind Extension District director Carla Nemecek stands outside the Extension District’s new home at 1004 and 1006 N. State St. in Iola. N. State will not just be Southwind’s new location; it will also be Allen County’s annex. County counselor Bob Johnson, who facilitated major elements of the building’s purchase, called the agreement a “win-win” for both See MOVE | Page A6
See THRIVE | Page A3
Governor issues new mask mandate By JOHN HANNA and HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTH The Associated Press
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Gov. Laura Kelly issued a new mask mandate Wednesday in hopes of lessening the spread of the coronavirus in Kansas after the state again reported another record seven-day increase in new cases. State law still allows Kansas’ 105 counties to opt out of such an order from the Democratic governor, and most did when Kelly issued a similar order in July. But the state’s rolling seven-day av-
erage for new coronavirus cases is now more than nine times higher than it was than when her first order took ef- Gov. Kelly fect. Kelly’s order takes effect Nov. 25, the day before Thanksgiving, and only in counties that don’t yet have their own mask mandates, though that’s still a majority of them. Kelly said she was giving counties without mandates a week to draft
their own alternatives. Her order requires people to wear a “face covering” in indoor public spaces and in public spaces outdoors where social distancing is not possible. The governor’s Statehouse news conference Wednesday afternoon came only hours after state health department data showed that Kansas averaged 2,767 new confirmed and probable coronavirus cases a day for the seven days ending Wednesday. That’s slightly above the previous record of 2,741 for the seven days ending Monday. When See MASKS | Page A3
‘Tis the season Iola CITF/PRIDE members decorate downtown planters for the holidays. Here, Chelsey Beasley, left, and Donna Houser fight the wind to install candy cane decorations. Also assisting were Corey Schinstock, Heather Curry and Tiffany Reed, CITF president. REGISTER/TABITHA GRAHAM
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