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Sports: Iola recreation action continues See B1

THE IOLA REGISTER Locally owned since 1867

www.iolaregister.com

Wednesday, June 24, 2015

Grocery contract in the making By BOB JOHNSON The Iola Register

Allen County District Court Clerk Dina Morrison, left, and District Judge Daniel Creitz, center, attend Tuesday’s Allen County Commission meeting with commissioners, foreground from left, Jim Talkington, Jerry Daniels and Tom Williams. REGISTER/BOB JOHNSON

Security upgrades force budget increase By BOB JOHNSON The Iola Register

Security upgrades to Allen County District Court will force general operations to cost more, county commissioners learned Tuesday morning. Court Service Officer Dina Morrison and Judge Dan Creitz met with commissioners to propose a budget of $357,000 for fiscal year 2016,

an increase of slightly less than $5,000. The budget does not include salaries of judges and court staff, which are the responsibility of the state. Security upgrades will cost $19,500 and will include installing bullet-resistant materials between court workers and the public. Other items are three security cameras and door-locking hardware that will use cards

Payback time: Ash Grove due $6.5 million refund By RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register

CHANUTE — Representatives from Neosho County’s taxing districts may have a potential payment plan to refund $6.5 million to Ash Grove Cement. The plan endorsed Tuesday by representatives from the Neosho County Commission, City of Chanute, USD 413, Neosho County Community College and Southwind Extension District will have the groups repay the $6.5 million, interest-free, over the next four years. In May, the Neosho County appraiser’s office and Ash Grove attorneys settled the cement company’s property tax dispute, in which the company claimed its equipment had been improperly classified as taxable real

property or untaxed personal property. Each county’s appraiser sets the value of taxable property in his or her area. A law passed by the Kansas Legislature has since clarified the equipment as personal property, and exempt from taxation. Several methods of repayment were considered, including all of the taxing entities borrowing from an investment pool to repay Ash Grove all at once, then repaying the loan at .117 percent (based on Tuesday’s variable interest rate.) “I know it’s only .117 percent,” NCCC President Brian Inbody said. “That’s pretty small; almost free money. But zero percent is better. Zero is my favorite cost.” See ASH GROVE | Page A6

for access. Court security, pegged at $15,000 this year, will cost $2,100 more in 2016. The lion’s share of the budget is $250,000 for legal defense. In 2014 that cost $307,011, with $250,000 earmarked this year as well as in 2016. Printing and office supplies, computer services See BUDGET | Page A4

Iola Councilman Jonathan Wells applauded Allen County commissioners Tuesday for their efforts to attract a grocery store — namely G&W Foods — to Iola. While prefacing comments by saying he wasn’t speaking for Iola or its council, Wells said, “As a councilman I will put all my political capital behind it,” because Iola “really, really needs a grocery” and “I really like the G&W plan.” Wells bounced into the commission meeting during a lull, which came about while commissioners were awaiting Arlyn Briggs and his attorney, Chuck Apt, to arrive and comment, apparently on Briggs’ efforts to purchase the old Allen County Hospital for conversion to a health care facility. Briggs had made an appointment for 8:30. About then Clerk Sherrie Riebel received a call from Briggs, who said he was unable

Vol. 117, No. 161

By RICK DANLEY The Iola Register

MORAN — Second District State Representative Adam Lusker addressed the Allen County Democratic Party Tuesday evening at the Community Center in Moran. Lusker’s district includes most of Crawford County, though not Pittsburg; parts of Neosho and Bourbon counties; and the eastern third of Allen County. Having survived the lengthy legislative session with his good humor intact, the straight-talking second-term See LUSKER | Page A4

New service helps stroke victims By SUSAN LYNN The Iola Register

A new two-way video system will enable a stroke victim at the local hospital to receive an expert diagnosis and care from neurologists based at Research Medical Center in Kansas City through a program called Tele-Stroke. Allen County Regional Hospital trustees learned of the new service Tuesday night that should be up and running by late July. “Think of the benefits of having that access to physicians all over the country. Heck all over the world,” Harry Lee, board chairman, said of the new field of treating patients via telemedicine. Patty McGuffin, director of nursing at ACRH, gave trustees a demonstration of how the video system works. On the other end was Jackie Addington, a nurse who coordinates the Tele-Stroke

Patty McGuffin, center, explains a new tele-medicine program coming to Allen County Regional Hospital, while on camera is a nurse at Research Medical Center in Kansas City. Harry Lee, left, serves as chairman of hospital trustees. program from Kansas City. The biggest advantage of the service is that patients diagnosed with having a stroke can receive life-saving treatments in a matter of minutes. The technology is so sophisticated cameras can zoom in on a patient to detect

symptoms of stroke, giving neurologists the ability to prescribe necessary procedures. “I can count your eyelashes,” said Addington, as she zoomed the camera in on a See HOSPITAL | Page A6

Iola Municipal Band Since 1871

By KAYLA BANZET The Iola Register

Quote of the day

Lusker visits local Dems

See GROCERY | Page A4

Historian pilots program on WWI aviation

Fort Scott National Historic Site director, Bill Fischer, talks about the realities of Great War aviation during a program Tuesday at the Iola Public Library. REGISTER/KAYLA BANZET

Rep. Adam Lusker

Jake Ard, director

Many people envision World War I pilots as glamorous heroes geared up with goggles and silk scarves flowing in the wind. The truth is it was dangerous and scary. Bill Fischer, historian at the Fort Scott National Historic Site and former U.S. Air Force officer, presented “The Realities of Great War Aviation,” Tuesday night at the Iola Public Library. The military historian ex-

Thursd Thursday, day, 8 p.m p.m., m., a att tthe he b bandstand andstan nd

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See AVIATION | Page A3

“Take calculated risks. That is quite different from being rash. — Gen. George S. Patton 75 Cents

Hi: 95 Lo: 74 Iola, KS


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