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Tuesday, December 22, 2020
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Santa’s coming for a visit By SUSAN LYNN The Iola Register Editor
Allen County COVID-19 Case Count
Total cases* .............. 558 Deaths...................... 1
If you’re like me and have had a hard time catching the Christmas spirit this year, my advice is to hang out with Santa. On Monday, I took the assignment of photographing Santa visiting residents at Windsor Place skilled nursing home. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Santa appeared outside the windows of the residents’ individual rooms, communicating with them
*Since the start of the pandemic Sources: Southeast Kansas Multi-County Health Departments, Kansas Department of Health and Environment
The Big Four make it to the Final Four
Santa visited nursing homes and assisted living facilities Monday. Above, he peeks in at Virginia Latta at Greystone Assisted Living. At left, he places a call to a resident at Windsor Place. over the phone. The event was the brainchild of Traci Plumlee, marketing director of Allen County Regional Hospital, and the Allen County Sheriff ’s Department. Deputy Darren
Kellerman videotaped Santa’s visits for several hours Monday and again today, along with Plumlee, who did double duty as Mrs. Claus.
mas!” boomed Santa’s voice at each window. From there he did the “naughty or nice” bit and that he was checking his list —
“HO, HO, HO. Merry Christ-
See SANTA | Page A6
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Resist the urge to lick the spoon PAGE A5
Humboldt caves: Many roads to freedom Trevor Hoag Just Prairie Along the banks of the Neosho River west of Humboldt hides a breathtaking surprise, and an even more exhilarating story.
Lining the bluffs not far from the “Camp Hunter” park, a series of solutional caves reveals both places where water has patiently drilled through rock over millennia as well as where escaped slaves once hid themselves prior to the Civil War. The caves were reportedly part of the Underground Railroad, a network of secret See CAVES | Page A3
Above, solutional caves of several shapes and sizes line the bluffs by the Neosho River. Evidence suggests these caves were part of the Underground Railroad, a network for escaped slaves. At left, Bob Johnson (aka Santa Bob) digs for buried treasure along the bluffs by the Neosho River in Humboldt. REGISTER/TREVOR HOAG
Healthy Families start here By VICKIE MOSS The Iola Register
It’s not easy to start something new. It’s even more challenging during a pandemic. One year ago, the Kansas Children’s Service League opened an office in Iola to help families with babies and toddlers get off to the best possible start. It’s called the Healthy Families program, and it offers weekly visits and assistance to families to protect and promote the well-being of chilVol. 122, No. 293 Iola, KS 75 Cents
dren. COVID-19 hit just as the staff was getting established, forcing them to modify their plans as they went. And as the staff celebrates the first anniversary of opening its Iola office, they reflected on the challenges they’ve had to overcome. It hasn’t been easy, but they’re now planning to reach out to an even wider array of families. Alisha Turner came aboard in January as the supervisor, joining KCSL’s new Iola office after five years working as a
home visitor with the Neosho County Health Department. She spent the first few months of 2020 hiring staff and setting up the program. The Iola office serves Allen, Neosho and Wilson counties. By June, just as the state was coming out of a lockdown, Turner’s two new staff members were ready to start meeting with families by utilizing outdoor “porch visits.” The family support staff would stay at least 6 feet away See CHILDREN | Page A2
Alisha Turner, at left, opened the Healthy Families office in Iola on behalf of the Kansas Children’s Service League in January, and was establishing the program just as the coronavirus pandemic began. Her staff includes Linda Her, center, and Christina Turner, family support specialists. COURTESY PHOTO