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THE IOLA REGISTER Locally owned since 1867
www.iolaregister.com
Monday, November 21, 2016
Trump greets Cabinet hopefuls
CHANGE AGENTS
By SUSAN LYNN The Iola Register
The best thing about annual events is that they can serve as a mile-marker. Friday night’s ninth annual Thrive Allen County banquet highlighted the arc of the non-profit’s dramatic success as well as gave opportunity to recognize the leadership of people across the county. Only a short nine years ago, Thrive relied on one source of funding — the REACH Healthcare Foundation. Today, it has multiple sources that, accordingly, have allowed its mission to expand. It has grown from a staff of two to nine employees. And its offices are now in a building three times the size of its original 500 square foot site. But the most telling measure of Thrive’s progress is its works. Today, Thrive is the largest rural health coalition in Kansas and the only one that combines health with economic development, according to David Toland, its executive
The annual Thrive Allen County dinner and awards banquet was Friday at St. John’s Parish Hall in Iola. The ceremony honored individuals and groups that have made a positive difference in the community. At top, from left, Iola Superintendent of Schools Jack Koehn, Marmaton Valley Superintendent Ken McWhirter, MVJS/HS Principal Kim Ensminger and LaHarpe businessman and philanthropist Ray Maloney receive the “Donna Talkington Award” for their work in establishing the Regional Rural Tech Center in LaHarpe. Thrive CEO David Toland, bottom left, addresses the packed hall and Iola teacher Karen Jesseph’s fourth- and fifth-grade drumming ensemble provides the live entertainment, including Mac Leonard, left, and Ben Kerr. REGISTER/SUSAN LYNN director. “It’s a different formula, but it works,” Toland told a crowd of more than 250 gathered in the parish hall of St. John’s Catholic Church in Iola.
For its health and wellness focus, Thrive’s effort to get more people signed up for health insurance has seen marked success. Allen County’s uninsured rate has
dropped from 21 percent to 10 percent. “We’ve had the second largest decline in the state of Kansas,” he said, thanks to its
See THRIVE | Page A4
NEW YORK (AP) — Call him the dealmaker-elect. By his own account, President-elect Donald Trump has worked out a few agreements after a parade of weekend visitors who could land major appointments in his administration. T h e r e were hints but no decisions to a n n o u n c e. Mitt Romney, the Republican nominee in Donald Trump 2012, was “under active and serious consideration” for secretary of state, Vice President-elect Mike Pence said. Trump himself said retired Marine Corps Gen. James Mattis was an “impressive” prospect for defense secretary. “We’ve made a couple of deals,” Trump told reporters at his Bedminster, New Jersey, golf club before returning to New York. He gave assurances that “incredible meetings” would be bringing “incredible people” into the government. “You’ll be hearing about them soon.” More meetings are on Trump’s schedule today. His transition team said former Texas governor and GOP presidential rival Rick Perry was expected to meet with Trump this afternoon. Among the visitors to the white-pillared clubhouse Sunday were Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, billionaire investor Wilbur Ross and retired Marine Gen. John Kelly, the former commander of U.S. Southern Command. The businessman who is now the president-elect also apparently was considering options to lead the Commerce Department, meeting with Ross. “Time will tell,” Ross told reporters when asked if he wanted a See TRUMP | Page A4
Iola bus collides with vehicle, car’s driver killed By RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register
Scott Stanley, USD 257’s transportation director, gave credit to bus driver Heather Jones and other school employees for their work in the aftermath of a Friday afternoon bus accident that claimed the life of the other driver. Many details remain unclear — the official report from the Kansas Highway Patrol remains unavailable — other than a northbound car lost control shortly after 2 o’clock, about three miles south of Garnett. The car, a Chevy Aveo, left the roadway briefly before the driver re-entered the roadway, but over-corrected in doing so. The car skidded in front of the southbound school bus,
and the vehicles collided “Heather did a great job of keeping the bus on the road,” Stanley said. As of press time this morning, the other driver, and passenger, were not identified by
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the Kansas Highway Patrol. Additionally, a student riding the bus was transported from the scene in an ambulance for treatment at a nearby hospital. Others, inlcuding the bus
driver, suffered other minor injuries, Stanley said. He declined to be more specific, citing confidentiality. The bus was returning to Iola from a field trip to Kansas City. It was one of three
“A day without sunshine is like, you know, night.” — Steve Martin, American comedian and banjo plucker 75 Cents
USD 257 buses to make the trip. The teachers and drivers aboard the other buses immediately assisted in efforts See BUS | Page A4
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