The Iola Register, June 24, 2020

Wednesday, June 24, 2020

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ACRH BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Hospital ready for changeover Humboldt puts off opening pool

By RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register

HUMBOLDT — Plans to open the Humboldt Municipal Pool have been put on hold.

The pool, which was scheduled to open Monday, will remain closed until the city and county receive clearance from Allen County’s top health official.

Rebecca Johnson of the Southeast Kansas Multi-County Health Department announced earlier this week she is slowing the county’s process of reopening, which means curSee POOL | Page A6

St. Luke’s takes reins at ACRH next week

By VICKIE MOSS The Iola Register

By this time next week, Allen County Regional Hospital will be under the control of the Saint Luke’s Health System.

The next few days are going to wrap up the transition, culminating in a flurry of activity with “an army” of Saint Luke’s staff converging on Iola June 30 to swap old computers for new and flip the switch at midnight to convert ACRH’s systems.

Saint Luke’s will lease the hospital building from the county, and will be responsible for providing all medical services. Hospital employees have been hired as Saint Luke’s employees.

The ACRH Board of Trustees met for their final time Tuesday night to discuss a variety of housekeeping issues related to the transition, and met the new administrator, Elmore Patterson, who officially

Allen County Regional Hospital’s new administrator, Elmore Patterson, far left, meets with the Board of Trustees Tuesday night at their final meeting before a lease with Saint Luke’s Health System starts July 1. Also pictured, is Steve Schieber, center, Chief Executive Officer for Saint Luke’s rural hospitals, and Jeff Johnson, an ACRH trustee. REGISTER/VICKIE MOSS

takes over July 1.

The Board of Trustees now becomes a facilities board, with the same group of county-appointed members. Their role is to oversee the hospital building and other county-owned facilities.

A separate board, called

an operations board, will take over most of the responsibilities previously under the Trustees’ purview. That board includes three Saint Luke’s officials and five Allen County residents: Loren Korte, John Brocker, Terry Sparks, Mary Kay Heard and Alan Weber. Korte, Brocker and Sparks are also members of the Trustees board.

PATTERSON, who previously served as a healthcare

administrator in Alabama, met with the board members and hospital staff Tuesday.

He has spent the past eight weeks training in the Saint Luke’s system.

“I’m glad to be here. This is a golden opportunity,” Patterson told the trustees. “It was good meeting people.

Everyone is excited. I know these are troubled times with COVID-19 but we’re going See ACRH | Page A6

More Kansans seeking mail ballots

COUNTY COMMISSION

By JIM MCLEAN Kansas News Service

TOPEKA — Facing the prospect of standing in line at polling places amid the coronavirus pandemic, requests from Kansans for mail ballots continue to come in at a record clip.

As of June 17, more than 142,000 Kansans had filed applications for advance ballots for the Aug. 4 primary. That far exceeds the 54,000 requested at the same point in the last presidential election year.

Kansas Secretary of State

Thrive Allen County Chief Executive Officer Lisse Regehr, left, and economic development manager Jonathon Goering share new details about the CDBG-CV grant with county commissioners Tuesday. REGISTER/TREVOR HOAG

Businesses may soon apply for grant funding

By TREVOR HOAG The Iola Register

Lisse Regehr brought Allen County commissioners up to date on Tuesday as to how a $132,000 grant to the county will be distributed.

Regehr is chief executive officer of Thrive Allen County, which was given authority to disburse the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG-CV) from the Kansas Department of Commerce.

She began by saying Thrive will lower its management fee from $10,000 to $7,500 to Vol. 122, No. 167 Iola, KS 75 Cents

come more in line with what the awards to individual businesses will be.

In order to be eligible for assistance funds, Regehr said business owners and employees will need to submit employee certification forms to verify low-to-moderate income status.

Because the grant is geared toward helping businesses retain low-to-moderate income workers, they must prove that 51% or more of their employees make below approxi-

See BALLOTS | Page A5

Kansas voters can cast advance ballots at their county election office or deliver their mail ballots. KANSAS NEWS SERVICE/ STEPHEN KORANDA/KCUR.ORG

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Wednesday, June 24, 2020

The Iola Register

iolaregister.com

Police report Arrests reported Olivia M. Polk, 28, Chanute, was arrested

by Allen County sheriff ’s deputies Sunday for suspicion of driving while intoxicated and transporting an open container of alcohol.

Iola police officers arrested Travis L. Tobin, 37, Chanute, Sunday for suspicion of transporting an open container of alcohol.

Iola officers arrested Nicole Likes, 38, Emporia, for suspected possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia following a disturbance in the 800 block of North Washington Avenue Saturday.

Steven R. Sinclair, 37, Iola, was arrested

by IPD Saturday on a warrant stemming from burglary and theft charges.

Deputies arrested Annie J. Tush, 36, rural Moran Friday for suspicion of driving while intoxicated, possessing

methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia, driving against restrictions and transporting an open container of alcohol.

Jase L. Fewins, 29, moran, was arrested by IPD Friday on a warrant related to burglary and theft charges.

Iola officers arrested Jeremiah A. Miller, 34, Iola, for suspicion of domestic battery June 17.

Steven W. Thomas, 42, Iola, was arrested by IPD June 17 for suspected domestic battery.

Deputies arrested Anthony M. Fishburn, 30, Burlington June 17 for suspicion of driving while intoxicated and possessing marijuana.

Travis L. Walters, 27, Iola, was arrested by deputies June 16 for suspected possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

Deputies arrested Laura M. Myes, 41, and Zachary W. Kelly, 40, both of La Cygne, June

16 for suspicion of possessing narcotics, marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

On June 16, deputies arrested Bryce A. Wynn, 48, LaHarpe, for suspicion of possessing marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

Raymond Villareal Jr., 49, El Paso, Texas, was arrested June 16 by the Kansas Highway Patrol for suspicion of driving while suspended, illegal registration and no liability insurance.

Iola officers arrested Brodey F.M. Silcox, 22, Iola, on June 16 for a warrant relating to a theft charge.

Garry E. Bradley, 33, Iola, was arrested by Iola officers June 15 for suspected driving while suspended.

Troopers arrested Aaron J. Sechrist, 20, Olathe, June 15 on a warrant out of Johnson County for an aggravated battery charge.

Jerry A. Tindel, 31, Iola, was arrested by troopers June 14 for suspected driving while suspended (third or subsequent offense), illegal or expired registration and no liability insurance.

Troopers arrested Levi K. Laster, 19, Thayer, June 14 for suspicion of driving without a license and no liability insurance.

Russell V. Carson, 39, Iola, was arrested by the Humboldt Police Department June 14 for suspected driving while suspended.

Deputies arrested Tanner A. Beauvais, 26, rural Iola, for suspicion of driving suspended June 14.

Pole struck Kenneth G. Reed, 45, was northbound near an alley in the 900 block of North State Street Sunday when his pickup struck a utility pole.

He was uninjured.

Kappa Alpha sorority US likely to be left out as Europe reopens borders elects new officers Kappa Alpha Chapter of Phi Tau Omega members elected new officers at their meeting June 1 at Iola’s Riverside Park.

The group received a $100 memorial donation from Tammy Comstock.

Janet Wilson reported four fuel cards were donated to local cancer patients to help with travel expenses.

The meeting ended with a baby shower for Ashlyn Rowe.

The group received

a thank-you card from the Ronald McDonald House for donating 17 lbs. of pop tabs.

Jolene Boeken, Rhodesia Rowe and Lucinda Stanley hosted the meeting.

Kappa Alpha also hosted a social on June 15 at Riverside Park, with 11 members attending.

Mary LaCrone, Lucinda Stanley and Gwen Tefft hosted the event. Stanley demonstrated how to chalk couture paint.

Colony church talks about fatherhood Larry Wittmer gave the Communion Meditation over Psalm 37 at Sunday’s Colony Community Church service.

This chapter reminds us to trust in the Lord and do good deeds.

Pastor Chase Riebel gave the sermon on fatherhood. God pro-

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302 S. Washington, PO Box 767, Iola, KS 66749 (620) 365-2111

Published Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday afternoons and Saturday mornings except New Year’s day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.

By LORNE COOK The Associated Press

BRUSSELS (AP) — Americans are unlikely to be allowed into Europe when the continent reopens its borders next week, due to how the coronavirus pandemic is flaring in the U.S. and President Donald Trump’s ban on Europeans entering the United States.

European nations appear on track to reopen their borders between each other by July 1, and their representatives in Brussels are now debating what virus-related criteria should apply when lifting border restrictions to the outside world that were imposed in March.

In recommendations to EU nations on June 11, the European Commission said “travel restrictions should not be lifted as regards third countries where the situation is worse� than the average in the 27 EU member countries plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

That is likely to rule out the United States, where new coronavirus infections have surged to the highest level in two months, according

to figures compiled by Johns Hopkins University. After trending down for well over a month, new U.S. cases have risen for more than a week.

The U.S. on Tuesday reported 34,700 new cases of the virus, bringing its total to more than 2.3 million and over 121,000 dead — the most anywhere in the world. The virus outbreaks in Brazil, India and Russia are remarkably high too, and it’s also unlikely that the EU will let their citizens in.

In contrast, aside from a notable new outbreak tied to a slaughterhouse in western Germany, the virus’s spread has slowed notably across the EU and particularly in the 26 nations that make up Europe’s visa-free travel zone known as the Schengen area, which more than 15 million Americans visit each year.

For the EU’s executive arm, the key criteria for opening up to the outside world should include the number of new infections per 100,000 population — the exact ceiling is up for debate — and the country’s overall response to the pandemic, in terms of testing, surveillance, treatment, contact tracing and reporting cases.

Students recognized MANHATTAN — Area students earned academic honors for the spring semester at Kansas State University.

Included are, Jacob Eyster and Kira McReynolds of Humboldt; Madison Carlin,

Today

Chase Regehr, Clara Wicoff and Colby Works of Iola; and Emily Smart of LaHarpe.

To qualify, students maintained a grade point average of 3.75 or above as well as commendations from their deans.

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From left, Dr. Robert Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases; Adm. Brett P. Giroir, assistant secretary for health; and Dr. Stephen M. Hahn, commissioner of the Food and Drugs Administration, testify at a hearing of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce on Capitol Hill on Tuesday.

(Kevin Dietsch/Pool/Getty Images)

Fauci: Next few weeks critical to tamping down virus spikes WASHINGTON (AP) — The next few weeks are critical to tamping down a disturbing coronavirus surge, Dr. Anthony Fauci told Congress on Tuesday — issuing a plea for people to avoid crowds and wear masks just hours before mask-shunning President Donald Trump was set to address a crowd of his young supporters in one hot spot.

Fauci and other top health officials also said they have not been asked to slow down virus testing, in contrast to Trump’s claim last weekend that he had ordered fewer tests be performed because they were uncovering too many infections. Trump said earlier Tuesday that he wasn’t kidding when he made that remark. “We will be doing more testing,� Fauci, infectious disease chief at the National Institutes of Health, pledged to a House committee conducting oversight of the Trump administration’s response to the pandemic.

The leading public health officials spent more than five hours testifying before the committee at a fraught moment, with coronavirus cases rising in about half the states and political polarization competing for attention with public health recommendations.

Fauci told lawmakers he understands the pent-up desire to get back to normal as the U.S. begins emerging from months of stay-athome orders and business shutdowns. But that has “to be a gradual step-by-step process and not throwing caution to the wind,� he said. “Plan A, don’t go in a crowd. Plan B, if you do, make sure you wear a mask,� Fauci said.

Troubling surges worsened Tuesday in several states, with Arizona, California, Mississippi, Nevada and Texas setting single-day

records for new coronavirus cases, and some governors saying they’ll consider reinstating restrictions or delaying plans to ease up in order to help slow the spread of the virus.

Arizona, where Trump was headed for a speech at a Phoenix megachurch, reported a new daily record of nearly 3,600 additional coronavirus infections Tuesday. Arizona emerged as a COVID-19 hot spot after Republican Gov. Doug Ducey lifted his stay-home orders in mid-May. Last week he allowed cities and counties to require masks in public places and many have done so.

Texas surpassed 5,000 new cases for a single day for the first time — just days after it eclipsed 4,000 new cases for the first time — as America’s largest pediatric hospital began taking adult patients to free up bed space in Houston. The infection rate in Texas has doubled since late May. And Nevada surpassed a record one-day increase for the fourth time in the past eight days. Other states also were experiencing worrisome surges, including Louisiana, Utah and South Carolina.

Another worrisome trend: an increase in infections among young adults. Fauci said while COVID-19 tends to be less severe in younger people, some of them do get very sick and even die. And younger people also may be more likely to show no symptoms yet still spread the virus.

If people say, “‘I’m young, I’m healthy, who cares’ — you should care, not only for yourself but for the impact you might have� on sickening someone more vulnerable, Fauci said.

About 2.3 million Americans have been infected and some 120,000 have died, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

Clarifications on articles The three events at the Bowlus Fine Arts Center that were rescheduled are the “Stunt Dogs Experience� Aug. 16, Albert Cummings Sept.

18. Another show, “Anne of Green Gables — The Ballet,� was rescheduled for Oct. 2 but now it appears that show may not happen. The date was incorrect for the October show, and the Children’s Summer Theater Workshop in July is continuing as scheduled. ***

Iolans Mike and Nancy Ford, who are converting an old warehouse into an event center at 612 W. Miller Rd., are working in partnership with Jay and Connie Weseloh of Yates Center.

The venue was the site of a mini prom Saturday hosted by parents of Marmaton Valley High School students.

Pictures of the event were in Monday’s Register, but did not mention the Weselohs’ involvement.

iolaregister.com

The Iola Register

Wednesday, June 24, 2020

A3

Virus pummels commercial real estate, could end long boom

By JOYCE M. ROSENSBERG and KEN SWEET The Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — Americans are likely to see more “for rent” signs in the coming months as many businesses devastated by the coronavirus pandemic abandon offices and storefronts and potentially end a long boom in the nation’s commercial real estate market.

Hotels, restaurants and stores that closed in March have seen only a partial return of customers, and many may fail. Commercial landlords have already reported an increase in missed rent payments.

They expect vacancies to rise through the end of the year.

Two trends compound the problem: Office tenants are considering renting less space as more employees work from home, and the trend toward online shopping is accelerating, which could cut already weak demand for retail space in downtown areas and malls.

The swift emptying of commercial space marks a sharp departure from the real estate market that boomed in New

York, Chicago and other cities in recent years.

The virus outbreak has encouraged businesses of all types to choose simplicity and convenience over the prestige of a big-city address.

The effect on landlords and local economies could be disastrous.

A weak commercial real estate market can mean layoffs among its estimated 3.6 million workers and at companies providing goods and services to real estate firms. Moreover, a weak market attracts fewer investors, limiting construction activity.

“The outlook isn’t good. There are going to be defaults and losses,” said Matt Anderson, managing director of Trepp, a data and research firm.

One out of 5 loans tied to hotels is now delinquent, as are 1 in every 10 loans for retail properties, according to Trepp.

Moody’s Analytics forecasts a record office vacancy rate of 19.4% by the end of the year, up from 16.8% last year.

In the Atlanta suburb of Marietta, several tenants in Bruce Ailion’s office buildings want to downsize because their business has contracted

due to the virus. He’s trying to keep as many tenants as possible by reducing their monthly payments and allowing them to pay over longer periods of time. But even that may not be enough.

“If their business does not recover, we will look at termination provisions or downsizing,” Ailion said.

Still, some real estate experts and landlords see this as just another boom-and-bust cycle, although the bust is happening at lightning speed. The next question is: How soon does the pandemic fade?

When employees return to offices, they will presumably go to restaurants, make quick shopping trips and rent hotel rooms while traveling for business. That will determine how rapidly the real estate market recovers.

For now, landlords will see their income

decline sharply. Average office rents are expected to fall 10.5% nationally this year, according to Moody’s Analytics. Average retail rents are expected to fall 2.7% nationwide in 2020, and another 1.2% next year, surpassing declines seen during the Great Recession.

Dan Bailey decided to give up his Austin, Texas, office a month after his staffers began working remotely.

“I only have a few who have any interest in going back to the office, and I can’t justify the costs to keep them there,” said Bailey, whose company, Wikilawn, operates a website where homeowners can find lawn care. He will not renew his lease in October, potentially saving $5,800 a month.

Concerns about a future pandemic are likely to prompt some employers to move from densely populated urban areas

Deadly earthquake shakes southern Mexico MEXICO CITY (AP) — A powerful earthquake centered near the southern Mexico resort of Huatulco on Tuesday killed at least five people, swayed buildings in Mexico City and sent thousands fleeing into the streets.

Mexico President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said one person was killed in a building collapse in Huatulco, Oaxaca. Otherwise he said reports were of minor damage from the magnitude 7.4 quake, including broken windows and col-

lapsed walls. Oaxaca Gov. Alejandro Murat said a second person was killed in an apparent house collapse in the mountain village of San Juan Ozolotepec and a third died in circumstances he did not explain.

Federal civil defense authorities reported two more deaths: a worker at the state-run oil company, Pemex, fell to his death from a refinery structure, and a man died in the Oaxaca village of San Agustin Amatengo when a wall fell on him.

Pemex also said the quake caused a fire at its refinery in the Pacific coast city of Salina Cruz, relatively near the epicenter. It said one worker was injured and the flames were quickly extinguished.

Churches, bridges and highways also suffered damage during the quake.

López Obrador said there had been more than 140 aftershocks, most of them small.

Seismic alarms sounded midmorning with enough warning for residents to exit

buildings. Power was knocked out to some areas.

Helicopters flew over downtown Mexico City and police patrols sounded their sirens.

Groups of people still milled around in close proximity on streets and sidewalks in some neighborhoods of the capital about an hour after the quake.

Many were not wearing masks despite past appeals from municipal officials for them to do so as a way to curb the spread of the new coronavirus.

6 killed in crash were finishing cross-country drive LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Five family members and a longtime friend had been driving for nearly 20 hours last week when they were killed in a fiery head-on crash in Kansas less than an hour from their destination, relatives have said.

Their car collided with another vehicle Thursday evening on the Kansas 10 bypass.

The driver of the second vehicle was seriously hurt, according to the Douglas County Sheriff ’s Office. Authorities have not explained how the crash happened.

Relatives said the victims were 29-year-old Anico Kirk; her three daughters, 11-year-old Yamel Kirk, 9-year-old Umariel Lee and 4-yearold Nah’Liyah Cay; Kirk’s brother, 27-year-

old Maurice Ross; and longtime family friend 49-year-old Felecia Harvey, according to the Lawrence Journal-World.

Tony Kirk said the six were headed from Lakeland, Florida, to Topeka, Kansas. He is the uncle of Anico Kirk and Maurice Ross.

Anico Kirk moved to Florida from Topeka about a year ago and had recently returned

to school to get her license as a hairdresser and makeup artist. Ross and Harvey flew from Topeka to Florida to visit, and Harvey was helping to look after the girls as they drove across the country to visit family, Tony Kirk said.

Tony Kirk described his niece’s daughters as “phenomenal young ladies.”

Prosecutor: Trump ally Roger Stone was ‘treated differently’ WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal prosecutor is prepared to tell Congress on Wednesday that Roger Stone, a close ally of President Donald Trump, was given special treatment ahead of his sentencing because of his relationship with the president.

Aaron Zelinsky, a career Justice Department prosecutor who was part of special counsel Robert Mueller’s team and worked on the case against Stone, will say he was told by supervisors that political considerations influenced the decision to overrule the recommendation of the trial team and propose a lighter prison sentence, according to testimony released by the House Judiciary Committee.

Zelinsky now works in the U.S. attorney’s office in Maryland, and his testimony will feature the extraordinary spectacle of a current prosecutor castigating decisions made by the leadership of the Justice Department where he still serves. The hearing is likely to add to scrutiny of Attorney General

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William Barr, who has alarmed Democrats in recent months with his efforts to scrutinize, and even undo, some of the results of Mueller’s Russia’s investigation.

“What I heard — repeatedly — was that Roger Stone was being treated differently from any other defendant because of his relationship to the president,” Zelinsky says in the prepared testimony.

The panel subpoenaed Zelinksy and John Elias, a career official in the department’s antitrust division, as part of its probe into the politicization of the department under Barr. The Democratic-led panel and Barr have been feuding since shortly after he took office in early 2019, when he declined to testify about Mueller’s report.

The Democrats launched the investigation earlier this year over Barr’s handling of the Stone case but have expanded their focus to several subsequent episodes in which they believe Barr is doing Trump’s bidding.

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to the suburbs, said Victor Calanog, a real estate economist at Moody’s.

But real estate professor Glenn Mueller expects that even as some companies leave, others will need extra space to make their offices more conducive to social distancing. The net effect will be to require the same amount of space, said Mueller, who teaches at the University of Denver’s Daniels College of Business.

And while some of the changes in commercial real estate could be permanent, Calanog expects the overall market to do what it always does — recover. A similar scenario played out after many companies fled New York following the 2001 attack on the World Trade Center. Manhattan eventually regained its appeal, and the office market boomed.

“It will bounce back as soon as the world normalizes, but not as quick

as some optimists say,” Calanog said. “You don’t just flick the light switch on again.”

The same trajectory can be expected for restaurant space.

Broker Stephen Siegel expects thousands of restaurants across the country to fail.

“It will be a year or two before the restaurant market comes back, before everyone feels comfortable again,” said Siegel, head of the brokerage division of real estate firm CBRE. History shows there will likely be a new wave of chefs and entrepreneurs ready to fill empty spaces. In 2006, before the previous recession, the Census Bureau counted over 549,000 restaurants and bars in the country. By 2010, when the industry was still struggling to recover, that number had fallen to nearly 519,000. But by 2017, the most recent data available, there were nearly 658,000.

The outlook for the retail market is darker.

Moody’s predicts retail vacancies will hit a record 14.6% by the end of 2021. And unlike restaurants, there may not be new retailers ready to fill the void.

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A4

Opinion The Iola Register

Wednesday, June 24, 2020

~ Journalism that makes a difference

More than ever, early voting makes sense If the primary elections are an indication, the Nov. 3 general election is on course to be a nightmare.

Not only will we likely not know the election’s outcome in a timely manner, but many voters will be prevented from casting their votes.

In Tuesday’s primary election in Kentucky, polling locations were reduced from the usual 3,700 to 200 due to a shortage of poll workers amid the pandemic. Louisville, population 600,000, had only one voting station open.

As of this morning, most results were not known.

On June 9, swaths of voters in Atlanta were forced to wait between six and eight hours to vote in Georgia’s primary election.

New voting machines were part of the problem in addition to poll workers receiving little to no training in advance of the election, which slowed down the process considerably.

There, too, only a fraction of available polling sites were open, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, overwhelming poll workers at those open.

In early April, Wisconsin suffered the same fate.

Reduced polling sites led to interminably long lines with the result of disenfranchising thousands of voters.

That such a scenario could be repeated hundreds of times over in our large cities come November, is not a stretch of the imagination.

ADVANCE VOTING by mail would seem to be a good alternative.

It’s easily accessible, it’s pretty much impenetrable to election fraud, it helps alleviate the hassle of Election Day lines, it

yields a higher turnout, and, most importantly, in these times of a global pandemic it would be infinitely safer to vote from home rather than at a public polling site.

Even without the pandemic, voting by mail is catching on. In the 2018 midterm election, almost 1 in 4 votes were cast by mail.

Five states conduct elections entirely by mail: Colorado, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington and Utah.

Experts say that as a nation, we’re not prepared if a majority of voters opted for mail-in ballots for November’s election. Neither the postal service nor election officials have at this point the infrastructure to handle millions of paper ballots.

One glimmer of hope: Democratic Sens. Amy Klobuchar of Wisconsin and Ron Wyden of Oregon are sponsoring legislation giving additional funding to states so that they can keep polls open 20 days in advance, ensure mail-in voting and train a new generation of poll workers.

Important dates:

July 14 is the last day to register to vote for the Aug. 4 Kansas primary election.

July 15 is the first day for in-person advance voting.

July 28 is the last day voters can request advance ballots be mailed to their homes for the primary election.

Aug. 3 is the last day advance ballots can be cast.

For more information, contact Sherrie Riebel at the Allen County Clerk’s office at coclerk@allencounty.org or call 365-1407.

Remember, voting is what makes us a democracy!

— Susan Lynn

Election Day should be a holiday Coaches show the way by giving athletes the day off to vote Coaches at the University of Kansas and Kansas State University have signed statements declaring Election Day a mandatory day off for athletes, ensuring no practice or competition will interfere with getting student athletes to the polls in November.

The coaches made the move at the encouragement of the NCAA, joining the other Big 12 coaches in signing the agreements.

This move from two major Kansas athletic departments has multiple benefits. Logistically, it frees student-athletes, who often have packed schedules between coursework and practice schedules, to make it to the polls on Election Day. It also sends a valuable message about the importance of voting to a population in need of encouragement.

Young voters, generally defined as those between 18-24, are chronically under-repre-

Wichita health officer faces new foes Garold Minns, Sedgwick County’s public health officer, told county leaders Wednesday that face coverings are one of the few tools we have to curb the spread of COVID-19.

“If this mask keeps a neighbor from getting it . . . if that keeps a couple patients from getting admitted to the ICU, I’m willing to pay that price, personally,” Minns said.

“I’m willing to do that because I don’t have a lot of other tools to offer society.”

The County Commission’s response? It was — with apologies to pop star Ariana Grande: Thank you, next.

“It’s been very educational, very helpful, and thanks for the discussion,” Commission Chairman Pete Meitzner told Minns.

Buh-bye, now. Have a nice day. Moving right along.

Commissioners, acting as the Board of Health, could have bolstered the doctor’s advice by reminding residents that we’re still in the throes of a public health crisis.

They could have emphasized the importance of basic precautions such as washing your hands, keeping your distance, avoiding crowds and covering your face.

They might have underscored their commitment to public health by encouraging — or even requiring — residents to wear face masks when out in public, especially when social distancing is difficult. Numerous jurisdictions have done just that.

But once again, when offered the opportunity, county leaders not only shunned health experts but offered bogus objections to their advice.

Commissioner Jim Howell: “If someone had the choice between social distancing — staying far from other people — and maybe not wearing a mask, or being next to someone else and wearing a mask, which is more dangerous?”

Minns said he wasn’t sure.

This virus has been cagey and unpredictable, he said.

There’s lots we don’t know and haven’t had time to test.

“Here’s my point,” Howell said. “I’ve seen lots of people who think because they wear a mask, social distancing is not important. . . . If they believe that, we’re essentially embracing, if you will, a false sense of security.”

Masks don’t stop the virus, Howell said. “So if someone really wants to be protected, ignoring social distancing and wearing a

mask is frankly not the right strategy here.”

No, it’s not. But that’s a nonsense comparison. Curbing the spread of COVID-19 isn’t an either-or situation — it’s all of the above.

Masks aren’t a cure, but they help. Why not use every measure we have to keep this virus at bay?

Here’s what we know now: The coronavirus is spread largely by respiratory droplets. Face masks — even homemade cloth ones — can block the majority of those droplets. Countries that have mandated masks, including Austria and the Czech Republic, saw noticeable decreases in COVID-19 infections.

Face masks are easy, inexpensive and painless (save the occasional fogged glasses or pinched ears). We should all be wearing them as much as possible in public, particularly in situations where the risk of transmission is high — stores, office buildings, buses, gyms, churches. And yes, even while participating in crowded public protests.

We should listen to public health experts and do everything possible to protect one another, not turn legitimate health measures into political debates.

— The Wichita Eagle

sented at the polls. Even in the 2004 presidential election, the high-water mark of youth participation, only 47% of eligible voters between 18-24 cast a ballot.

Typical participation is closer to a third of eligible voters participating, although young voters did make a strong showing in the 2018 midterms, according to Pew Research Center analysis. Healthy democracy requires a wide range of perspectives and interests. Youth participation in the electoral process can only make our democracy stronger.

The United States is somewhat unique in our choice to have elections on days most people are working or attending school. Israel, South Korea, France, Mexico, India and others have government holidays on election days. A majority of other democratic nations, including 27 of the 37 nations in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, hold elections on weekends.

Workers are entitled to two

hours of paid time off to vote in Kansas, but the logistics of getting away from work on Election Day, particularly for shift workers and people with long commutes, can still make it difficult to cast a ballot.

An Election Day holiday, particularly when combined with same-day voter registration, more polling place accessibility and voter education initiatives, has the potential to be transformative for American democracy.

The idea is long overdue, but while public support for such a measure builds, private employers and institutions can do their part by making the day an employer-recognized holiday. In recent years, large and small employers have made positive headlines by creating Election Day holidays for employees.

Community leaders in a position to recognize Election Day as a holiday would be casting their votes in favor of a stronger democracy.

— Topeka Capital-Journal

A look back in t me.

50 Years Ago June 1970

Mr. and Mrs. Glen Menegay have sold their restaurant to Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Wheeler of Olathe.

Menegay’s downtown cafe has been operated by the Menegays for the past 23 years.

They sold Menegay’s North, which they established sometime after their downtown operation became a success, to Mr. and Mrs. Paul Purden.

Mrs. Wheeler is the sister of Paul Purden. The Wheelers, a young couple, have had no prior experience in restaurant operation. Mrs. Menegay will stay in the cafe to assist them for at least a month. ***** Graduates of Neosho Falls High School will meet in Riverside Park for a reunion Saturday. They also will say farewell to their alma mater. The high school closed shop in May with its final graduating class. The community now becomes part of a larger unified school district serving parts of Allen and Woodson counties. At its closing, Neosho Falls High School was one of the oldest in the state, dating back to its founding in 1900. ***** A tornado, seen just be-

fore it hit by at least one Iolan, skipped through the east part of the city shortly after 7 o’clock last night and left between 150 and 175 houses damaged. City officials estimated damage may run as high as $1 million. The tornado apparently touched ground in the area of the Garfield playground, swept from the south edge of Iola with the highest concentration of damage in the northeast part of town. Damage was bounded on the west by Oak Street and the east just past Kentucky. The heaviest damage along Second and Third streets. Large areas were left without electric power for hours. Windows were broken in Allen County Hospital and trees uprooted on hospital grounds. Between 20 to 25 vehicles were damaged by falling trees and branches.

The Jim Baze home at 417 N. Second was severely damaged. The roof was ripped off and the front wall torn down.

The John Masquelier home in Sterling Heights was also badly damaged. ***** Preliminary U.S. Census figures show the City of Iola lost 457 residents between 1960 and 1970 and now has an official population of 6,428.

iolaregister.com

The Iola Register

Wednesday, June 24, 2020

Grant: Businesses soon able to apply for relief funding Continued from A1

mately $36,000.

This number is based on household income rather than individual income, and is a federal requirement rather than something being requested by Thrive or the state.

Any business that received Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) or USDA funds are ineligible to receive CDBG-CV assistance, and farmers are not eligible as it expected by the federal government that they would seek funding through the USDA. Businesses that received Payment Protection Plan (PPP) funds are eligible; however, businesses cannot submit invoices to receive CDBG-CV funds for the same items as PPP

funds (such as payroll).

Eligible expenses include: rent, utilities, equipment, salaries and inventory.

Funds cannot be used to cover future costs, and only costs incurred since March 1.

Businesses can only submit for grant funds a single time, and the maximum amounts are $7,500 for small businesses (6 to 50 workers) or $3,000 for micro businesses (1 to 5 workers).

These numbers will likely vary depending on how many businesses apply for funds.

How funds will be distributed around the county has also changed, with Iola receiving 55%, Humboldt, 30% and remaining areas, 15%, though these amounts are only a rough guide.

Regehr said she hopes the Low-to-Moderate Income forms (LMI) will be posted on the Allen County website by this Friday, and that the full application will be posted by July 6.

The window for application will run from July 6 through July 17, with review of applications taking place at the July 21 county commission meeting.

IN OTHER news, new LED lights have been installed at the Allen County landfill barn, and dust control for roads has been pushed back to the end of the month.

Another one of the county’s heavy machines is down, this time, the reclaimer; though parts have been ordered and repair

work is scheduled for the Elsmore area.

County workers will have the opportunity to take new courses on road repair, where they will get handson training using the county’s blader to do ditch work.

Loads of dirt have been taken to the new ambulance barn in Moran as dirt work is one of the final stages remaining in landscaping and construction.

The Humboldt ambulance station may be completed by the end of this week, with a grand opening soon to follow.

The last of the electrical work is being completed at the station, as well as installing television and internet for emergency crews.

When everything is complete, a ceremony

will be held in collaboration with the City of Humboldt and the Humboldt Chamber of Commerce.

Due to COVID-19, the Department of Wildlife and Parks are no longer doing boat training for the fire department, so they will have to look for a new partner in this regard.

The entity who once served as the county’s health vendor has gone bankrupt, so officials are on the look-out for a new group to partner with for blood tests, weight loss coaching and other employee wellness measures.

The county received an audit with regard to the Services to the Elderly van, but only had to make a single change in their policies with regard to how disabled

A5

riders are accommodated in wheelchairs.

According to county clerk Sherri Riebel, ballots for the upcoming election have been tested and are ready to go.

The primary election is scheduled for Aug. 4, with advanced voting beginning on July 15.

Commissioners signed a resolution officially closing the county’s lease with St. Luke’s, who will soon take over management of the Allen County Regional Hospital.

The Southeast Kansas Area Agency on Aging (SEKAAA) requested $6,341 from the county in order to support its meals and caregiver programs, though no action was taken whether to accept the request at this time.

Ballots: More Kansans want to vote in advance of primary Continued from A1

Scott Schwab said the jump reflects worries about in-person voting, but he’s not willing to heed calls from state Democratic Party officials to switch to allmail elections.

That would create “massive voter confusion,” said Schwab, a Republican preparing to oversee his first statewide election.

Five states — Colorado, Hawaii, Oregon, Utah and Washington — conduct all elections by mail. Other states may do so this year to prevent a surge in coronavirus cases.

Kansas Democrats conducted their May 2 presidential primary entirely by mail. They considered it such a success that State Party Chair Vicki Hiatt said Schwab should use a similar process for this year’s primary and general elections rather than putting “a whole lot of money into making provisions for safety.”

Schwab has the authority to alter elections. But he said he can only do so in emergencies that make it “impossible” for people to vote in person.

The threat posed by the coronavirus, Schwab said, doesn’t rise to that level, especially given the steps he and the state’s 105 county clerks are taking to make polling places safer.

They’re installing plexiglass shields at voter registration tables and stocking every polling place with masks, gloves and hand sanitizer. They’re also providing disposable styluses so that people don’t have to actually touch the screens of voting machines.

“We’re doing everything on our end to make it safe for voters,” Schwab said.

The state got $4.6 million in federal pandemic relief to pay for the modifications.

Harvey County Clerk Rick Piepho is worried that the volunteers he counts on to staff the county’s 12 polling places - many of them retirees - might also be reluctant to show up this year.

“Most of them are going to be in those higher-risk age groups,” Piepho said.

Piepho said those

A worker at Bizwanger Glass in Topeka making plexiglass shields to protect voters and poll workers from the coronavirus. KANSAS NEWS SERVICE/JIM MCLEAN/KCUR.ORG he’s talked to as he begins his recruiting push for the primary are relieved “that we’re putting in protections for them.”

Ballot security

President Donald Trump strongly opposes large-scale mail-in voting. He’s threatened to withhold federal funding from states seeking to expand it. Several times in recent months, he has said that such an expansion would invite widespread fraud.

At a White House press conference in early April, Trump called advance voting “a terrible thing” that would result in “thousands and thousands of people sitting in somebody’s living room singing ballots all over the place.”

Experts say while fraud is more of a problem in mail elections than in-person voting, it is still rare.

Schwab represents the conservative wing of his party. But he differs with Trump, saying mail-in elections don’t pose a serious fraud risk and that vote cheating, in general, is highly uncommon.

“That doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen,” he said. “But it’s very rare.

And normally when people attempt it, they get caught.”

Kansas, Schwab said, has taken several specific steps to protect the security of mail-in ballots, including the implementation earlier this year of an online tracking system.

“It allows you to track your ballot to its destination,” Schwab

said.

In addition, he said, many county election offices have secure drop boxes. Those allow voters to hand-deliver their ballots rather than handing them over to a third party to deliver in bulk.

Piepho, the Harvey County clerk, said the advance-voting process includes several safeguards. For one thing, he said, officials scrutinize the signatures on incoming ballots to make sure they match those on the applications.

“We check it to make sure it’s the same person,” Piepho said.

A poll released this month by the Kansas News Service found nearly half of the people in the state think voting by mail is safe.

And that it should be encouraged. But nearly a fourth disagreed. Notably, Democrats were far more in favor of mail voting than Republicans.

tial impeachment trial, disputes over how government entities at all levels responded to the pandemic and recent protests that exposed the racial divide over police tactics have upped the stakes in this

Voters eager but nervous

A divisive presiden-

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year’s election.

In Kansas, the potential for a competitive race for a U.S. Senate seat that Republicans have owned since the Great Depression is adding to those stakes.

The jump in advance

ballot requests, Schwab said, could indicate that Kansas voters will turn out in higher numbers this year.

“It’s one of many indicators,” he said.

The latest registration totals may be another signal.

As of June 1, more than 1.8 million Kansans had registered to vote, an increase of more than 100,000 from June of 2016.

It’s risky to draw too many conclusions, Schwab said, but those numbers suggest Kansas voters are engaged.

The number of registered Democrats has gone up to 468,805, compared to 425,879 four years ago. Republicans continue to hold a sizeable advantage with a registration total of 804,552. That’s up from 766,923 in June of 2016.

Meanwhile, the number of unaffiliated voters declined slightly to 553,673 from 534,035 in 2016.

A6

Wednesday, June 24, 2020

The Iola Register

iolaregister.com

Pool: Humboldt

IRS wants funds sent to inmates returned

Continued from A1

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Hundreds of thousands of dollars in coronavirus relief payments have been sent to people behind bars across the United States, and now the IRS is asking state officials to help claw back the cash that the federal tax agency says was mistakenly sent.

The legislation authorizing the payments during the pandemic doesn’t specifically exclude jail or prison inmates, and the IRS has refused to say exactly what legal authority it has to retrieve the money. On its website, it points to the unrelated Social Security Act, which bars incarcerated people from receiving some types of old-age and survivor insurance benefit payments.

“I can’t give you the

rent prohibitions of crowds of more than 45 people remain in effect, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Additionally, City Hall and other city buildings and park playground equipment and restrooms will remain closed.

City business can be accommodated through the drive-thru window and drop box at City Hall, or by phone (620473-3232) email or other appointment.

The news comes the same day the Health Department announced Allen County’s third overall positive COVID-19 test since the coronavirus pandemic was declared in March, and the first in-county positive test in which the patient has shown symptoms of the virus.

The patient, who

has been placed in isolation, is thought to have come in contact with a positive case in another county. The patient’s family is in quarantine.

Residents are urged to continue practicing social distancing; cleaning and disinfecting hightouched surfaces and washing their hands with soap and water routinely; using hand sanitizer if soap and water is not available; and not touching your face, particularly your eyes, nose and mouth.

Those who show symptoms are asked to call before seeking medical care.

COVID-19 patients frequently exhibit mild to moderate symptoms, or no symptoms at all, but the virus can become life-threatening for those with pre-existing medical conditions.

legal basis. All I can tell you is this is the language the Treasury and ourselves have been using,” IRS spokesman Eric Smith said. “It’s just the same list as in the Social Security Act.” Tax attorney Kelly Erb, who’s written about the issue on her website, says there’s no legal basis for asking for the checks back.

“I think it’s really disingenuous of the IRS,” Erb said Tuesday.

“It’s not a rule just because the IRS puts it on the website. In fact, the IRS actually says that stuff on its website isn’t legal authority. So there’s no actual rule — it’s just guidance — and that guidance can change at any time.”

After Congress passed the $2.2 trillion coronavirus rescue package in March, checks of up to $1,200

were automatically sent in most cases to people who filed income tax returns for 2018 or 2019, including some who are incarcerated. A couple of weeks later, the IRS directed state correction departments to intercept payments to prisoners and return them.

The IRS doesn’t yet have numbers on how many payments went to prisoners, Smith said.

But initial data from some states suggest the numbers are huge: The Kansas Department of Correction alone intercepted more than $200,000 in checks by early June. Idaho and Montana combined had seized over $90,000.

Washington state, meanwhile, had only intercepted about $23,000 by early June.

Some states, like Nevada, have refused to re-

lease the numbers, citing an IRS request for confidentiality.

While the IRS says checks sent to jail inmates also should be returned, the sheer number of jails and detention centers across the U.S. makes it difficult to tell if many are following those instructions.

The IRS seems to have decided by itself to pull back the payments approved by Congress, said Wanda Bertram, a spokeswoman for the Prison Policy Initiative, a think tank focusing on the harm of mass incarceration. She says prison officials are accustomed to intercepting tax documents to screen for potential scams, priming them to follow this request.

“It appears that the IRS is just making this up,” Bertram said.

ACRH: Saint Luke’s set to take the hospital’s reins on July 1 Continued from A1

to work through it. Regardless of what name is on the sign, we have a commitment to this community and we’re going to stay committed to this community by providing high quality healthcare.”

Patterson showed his sense of humor as the trustees updated him on the status of a few ongoing projects, including a problem with showers that have plagued the building since it opened in 2013. A settlement with the contractors has provided money for repairs, but the trustees wanted to wait to seek guidance from Saint Luke’s before they fixed the problem.

“Does Elmore know about our shower project?” Trustee Jim Gilpin asked.

“Our showers leak,” Loren Korte explained.

“We were just waiting for you to come on board

Allen County Regional Hospital Quality Manager Polly Barker, left, with Chief Nursing Officer Patty McGuffin, accepts an “Achievement” certification from the Kansas Healthcare Collaborative, for meeting goals related to Medicare and Medicaid requirements. REGISTER/VICKIE MOSS to fix it.”

“Oh, I can stop a leak,” Patterson joked.

The board also was waiting until after the transition to remodel the hospital’s pharmacy, a project expected

to cost about $115,000.

Like the showers project, the board has money set aside for the work but was waiting for guidance from Saint Luke’s.

The board covered

Providers you know and trust.

We are your community doctors. Our provider team is committed to meeting the healthcare needs of our friends and neighbors.

various topics related to the transition, mostly about medical staff credentials, vendor contracts, employee benefits and technology systems. The transition team has worked on those matters for months, and expect things to go smoothly next week.

“You guys have been exemplary with the transition. I can’t thank you enough,” Steve Schieber, Chief Executive Officer for Saint Luke’s rural hospitals, said. He will be a member of the new operations board.

THE hospital’s financial picture continued to remain positive because of an influx of cash from federal assistance programs, despite a serious reduction in revenue because of the coronavirus pandemic, Chief Financial Officer Larry Peterson said.

The hospital’s revenue fell about $600,000 short of budget in May, but with savings on expenses the month was about $200,000 short of budget expectations.

That’s better than April, Peterson said, which was about $750,000 short of revenue.

In April, when only

essential and emergency surgeries were allowed, the hospital conducted nine surgeries.

In May, non-essential surgeries were allowed and the hospital had 75 surgeries.

The hospital took out a loan of about $3.7 million at the beginning of the pandemic, as a precaution to make sure it had adequate cash on hand. Peterson initially planned to pay back that loan immediately, as very little of the money was needed. Instead, he’ll put it in an escrow account because federal rules “are always changing,” he said, and it’s possible the government may allow the hospital to keep some or all of the money because of the pandemic.

The hospital also got money from the federal CARES Act and the Payroll Protection Program.

Most of that money will be spent to recoup losses from the pandemic, but cannot be transferred to Saint Luke’s. Peterson said most of it will be accounted for; if not, it must be given back to the government.

IN

OTHER

the board • Recognized ity Manager

NEWS,

QualPolly

Barker for her work that brought recognition from the Kansas Healthcare Collaborative. ACRH received “Achievement” recognition for meeting goals set by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to reduce hospital-acquired conditions and preventable readmissions.

• Recognized the work of Peterson and Chief Nursing Officer Patty McGuffin for their efforts to transition ACRH from its management contract with Hospital Corporation of America to the lease with Saint Luke’s. Peterson will remain with ACRH; McGuffin is leaving for a position elsewhere in the HCA system.

• Heard a report on quality control measures. After the transition to Saint Luke’s, patients who visit ACRH will receive text messages and emails to survey their experience at the hospital.

The current process is to telephone a small number of patients for a 30-minute survey. The new process should provide better results, Angela Slocum, ACRH’s risk management and emergency department director, said.

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Sports Daily The Iola Register

B

Wednesday, June 24, 2020

Rope found hanging in Wallace’s garage was a coincidence, not hate crime

By JENNA FRYER The Assoicated Press

NASCAR went to Talladega Superspeedway on heightened alert after Bubba Wallace, its only Black driver, took on an active role in a push for racial equality.

Wallace had successfully called for the ban of the Confederate flag and received threats. Fans paraded past the main entrance of the Alabama track displaying the flag, and a plane circled above the speedway pulling a Confederate flag banner that read “Defund NASCAR.” So NASCAR moved quickly when one of Wallace’s crew

members discovered a rope that resembled a noose in their garage stall. The sanctioning body called in federal authorities, who ruled Tuesday it had been hanging there since at least last October and was not a hate crime.

U.S. Attorney Jay Town and FBI Special Agent in Charge Johnnie Sharp Jr. said the investigation determined “nobody could have known Mr. Wallace would be assigned” to that same stall. NASCAR said it was the lone garage stall with a pull down rope that resembled a noose.

NASCAR has defended its reaction and insisted it would call the FBI again. A defiant

Wallace said there is no confusion and the rope had been fashioned into a noose.

“I wanted to make sure this wasn’t just a knot,” Wallace said on CNN. “It was a noose.

Whether it was tied in 2019 ... it is a noose.”

Wallace never saw the rope.

He said NASCAR President Steve Phelps came to see him Sunday night at the track with “tears running down his face.”

“The evidence he brought to me was that a hate crime has been committed, quoteun-quote,” said Wallace, who instantly began to fear for the See WALLACE | Page B6

Bubba Wallace, driver of the #43 Victory Junction Chevrolet, prepares for the NASCAR Cup Series GEICO 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on Monday. CHRIS GRAYTHEN/GETTY IMAGES/TNS

MLB:

MLB: Kansas City Royals

Royals sign 6-man draft class KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Royals brought their entire six-man draft class to town this week, signing them to their first professional contracts and giving them a chance to see spacious Kauffman Stadium and learn about the organization.

Worry not: In the age of COVID-19, the prospects and their families maintained plenty of social distancing.

The headliner of the crop is Asa Lacy, their first-round pick out of Texas A&M, whom scouting director Lonnie Goldberg believes has the talent to pitch at the front of the rotation. The big, rangy left-hander was widely considered the best arm in the draft earlier this month, yet he slid to the Royals at the fourth overall pick.

The Royals continued the draft by taking Baylor shortstop Nick Loftin in the competitive-balance round; high school right-hander Ben Hernandez in the second; Alabama outfielder Tyler Gentry in the third; Oregon State left-hander Christian Chamberlain in the fourth; and Eastern Illinois right-hander Will Klein in the fifth and final round.

“We’re very proud of the players we selected. We're proud of their families and we're proud of the scouting departments and the great work that many people in our staff are doing,” Royals general manager Dayton Moore See ROYALS | Page B2

Kansas City Royals manager Dayton Moore during spring training on Feb. 17, 2019.

JOHN SLEEZER/KANSAS CITY STAR/TNS

NCAA: College Football

Colleges already showing they can’t keep athletes safe on campus

By MICHAEL CUNNINGHAM The Atlanta JournalConstitution

There’s tension between my view that it’s wrong for colleges to ask unpaid athletes to take the field during the novel coronavirus pandemic and my anxiety about what fewer football games means for a sportswriter in SEC country. For Zachary Binney, an epidemiologist at Oxford College of Emory University, the quandary is squaring his love of sports with his expert opinion that it may be too risky for games to be played.

“I do wear two hats, sports fan and public-health profes-

sional,” Binney said Tuesday.

“I was always an epidemiologist focused on sports. I never in a million years foresaw them colliding in this way.

“It’s a struggle wanting sports to come back and recognizing what the risks are, and feeling compelled as a public-health professional to go against my interests as a sports fan.”

That dichotomy is what I found relatable about Binney’s nuanced, informative blog post with the title: “Covid-19: How Can Sports Come Back?” When Binney updated the post May 27, he still felt generally optimistic SEE CFB| Page B2

League eyes July 23 or 24 start NEW YORK (AP) — Major League Baseball issued a 60-game schedule Tuesday night that will start July 23 or 24 in empty ballparks as the sport tries to push ahead amid the coronavirus following months of acrimony.

A dramatically altered season with games full of new rules was the final result of failed financial negotiations. But for fans eager to see any baseball this year, at least now they can look forward to opening day.

The announcement by MLB came while more players continue to test positive for the virus — at least seven on the Philadelphia Phillies alone.

And a stark realization remained, that if health situations deteriorate, all games could still be wiped out.

“What happens when we all get it?” Milwaukee pitcher Brett Anderson tweeted Monday.

One day after the players’ association rejected an economic agreement and left open the possibility of a grievance seeking hundreds of millions of dollars in damages, the bickering sides agreed on an operations manual. Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred then unilaterally imposed the schedule, his See MLB | Page B5

NBA: Denver Nuggets

Jokic tests positive for COVID-19 in Serbia

By TIM REYNOLDS The Associated Press

The Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic (15) is fouled by the Dallas Mavericks’ Maxi Kleber during the second half at American Airlines Center in Dallas on Jan. 8.

SMILEY N. POOL/THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS/TNS

All-Star forward Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets has tested positive for the coronavirus and is quarantining in his native Serbia, according to a person with knowledge of the situation.

Jokic is expected to return to Denver long before the team leaves for the Disney complex for the restart of the NBA season next month, said the person who spoke to The Associated Press on Tuesday on condition of anonymity because neither the player nor the team acknowledged the positive test publicly.

ESPN and The Denver Post See JOKIC | Page B6

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Wednesday, June 24, 2020

The Iola Register

iolaregister.com

Royals sign picks Continued from B1

said. “So we wanted to share knowledge, we wanted to share vision, but most importantly we wanted to begin that relationship, and doing what we can to break down barriers and build trust through transparency and learning and growth.”

Typically the Royals have a news conference when their first-round pick signs his contract, and then showcase him to fans during a home game. But all that pizzazz was put on hold while the country continues to deal with the coronavirus, which has kept big leaguers sidelined and is likely to prevent minor league baseball from happening at all.

That didn’t stop Lacy from marveling at a ballpark that has played host to two World Series in the past six years.

“Just to have all of us here, all the picks, and have us together and have some sense of normalcy, and to kind of learn and realize what we’re about to embark on has been special,” he said, “and this is only the beginning.”

Goldberg said the plan for the rookie class is to join the rest of the Royals’ prospects in a series of video meetings, and the hope is that they eventually will be given a green light to begin workouts at their facility in Surprise, Arizona.

The pandemic caused Major League Baseball to shorten its draft to just five rounds, creating a massive pool of undrafted prospects

that teams could sign for a maximum of $20,000. The Royals attacked the market the minute the draft ended and came away with seven other players that many scouts ranked among the top 25 that were still available.

They included Washington State left-hander A.J. Block; Georgia outfielder Tucker Bradley; Arkansas-Little Rock catcher Kale Emshoff; LSU catcher Saul Garza; Texas Tech righthander John McMillon; Michigan infielder Matt Schmidt; and Tennessee right-hander Chase Wallace.

“They all really want to play baseball,” Moore said, “and like I’ve told Asa and some of the other players that have earned those slots in the draft where they’ve been awarded pretty good financial packages — they’ve earned that. They’ve earned that through their hard work and commitment and perfecting their skills.

“The other players, because of only five rounds, were kind of left out of that mix a little bit, so it speaks volumes that they just want to play baseball.

The money doesn’t make the player and these guys all understand that. And they’re going to get the same opportunity here in Kansas City, and some of them are going to be in a different spot financially as they begin their career, but they’re all going to have the same opportunity to make it to the major leagues.”

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Joe Burrow #9 of the LSU Tigers talks with Trevor Lawrence #16 of the Clemson Tigers after their 42-25 win over Clemson Tigers in the College Football Playoff National Championship game at Mercedes Benz Superdome on Jan. 13. CHRIS GRAYTHEN/GETTY IMAGES/TNS

CFB: Universities see jump in COVID-19 Continued from B1

about football being played safely in the fall.

Fans in stadiums are out of the question, but there could be games without them.

That was before several states reported spikes in COVID-19 infection rates. Now Binney said he’s “more pessimistic” that football can be played in the fall. And he’s calling for college football programs to suspend their so-called voluntary workouts after reports of several COVID-19 infections among athletes at multiple schools.

“A month ago, it was not clear if they were up to the task” of keeping athletes safe, Binney said. “Now it’s clear that even some of the major, well-resourced programs aren’t up to the task.”

USA Today wrote that at least 34 NCAA Division I schools have reported positive COVID-19 cases for athletes who returned for workouts.

Outbreaks forced Kansas State, Boise State and Houston to shut down workouts.

Boise State shut down its entire campus until at least next week.

LSU has isolated at least 30 athletes who were either infected

by COVID-19 or were in contact with infected people. Seven other SEC schools reported positive tests: Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, LSU,

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Mississippi, Mississippi State and Tennessee.

Clemson announced 23 positive tests, including 21 football players. Texas said 13 athletes tested positive.

“That’s enough evidence to say too many schools are not providing a safe enough environment,” Binney said.

“It’s not worth it to me, especially if the only reason they are coming back to campus is for athletics.”

There likely are more COVID-19 cases than disclosed among college athletes. The Associated Press reported more than half of the 66 FBS programs that responded to its inquiry said they will not publicly release the number of positive tests for athletes. The list includes Georgia, Georgia Tech and Georgia State.

No public disclosure by schools means less scrutiny of their ability to keep athletes safe.

Student privacy isn’t a legitimate argument against it. The number of positive tests can be announced without including names or even specific sports.

The schools reporting positive tests say that many of them happened during initial screening when athletes returned to campus. They say positive tests at the outset of workouts sets a baseline for further testing and precautions. But LSU didn’t test its athletes when they came back.

Shelly Mullenix, LSU’s senior associate athletic trainer, told Sports Illustrated that the program’s surge in COVID-19 cases isn’t related to the lack of initial testing. Mullenix said some athletes had gathered at off-campus bars. State officials said more than 100 people who went to those establishments tested positive for the virus.

Said Binney: “If the only reason they are back on campus is because you wanted them there, you are responsible for any outbreak.

Not just in the weight room or athletic facility, but any outbreak based on what students might foreseeable do.”

It is foreseeable that college athletes will go to bars or other social gatherings with other students and members

of the general public.

That’s why what happened at LSU could be a preview for the fall.

Sports programs may be able to create a relatively safe environment for athletes, but what happens when they are outside of that zone?

The “bubble” model that MLS and NBA are planning won’t work for college athletes. They can’t be quarantined for weeks at one site away from the outside world.

In their case that includes students, faculty, staff and support workers on campus.

Travel is another big obstacle for college football. Safe transportation on commercial airliners or buses is only part of it. The NCAA has no uniform protocols for COVID-19, so the risk of exposure could depend on how well the visiting opponent follows guidelines. The location of the game is another variable: teams from low-risk areas going to high-risk areas, and vice versa.

Binney said he still believes it’s feasible to play college football games safely with guidelines that include masks, very limited indoor gatherings and at least one test per week on the day before games.

But he’s become more concerned about games being played because of the continued regional outbreaks of COVID-19.

Binney said that unless schools do an impractical amount of testing (“every student, every other day”) then an outbreak near campus probably will lead to an outbreak on campus.

“It all depends a on a mix of individual behavior and policy response,” Binney said. “We know that some areas have high exposure and some are fine, we just don’t know which areas will be in which column at which times. Some areas probably will be able to operate (football) OK. Others won’t.”

In March, I figured the NCAA wouldn’t allow athletes on campuses that were closed to other students because it would make it harder to maintain the fiction that athletes aren’t workers. I should have known better. Schools are so desperate for football revenue that they brought their unpaid players

back weeks ago to get them ready to play in the fall and winter.

At the same time, colleges are attempting to put more of the risk on players by protecting their institutions from legal liability should athletes become infected.

A Georgia Tech spokesman said the standard “risk acceptance form” that athletes sign every year now includes COVID-19. Georgia and Georgia State said their athletes didn’t have to sign anything related to COVID-19.

University leaders also are asking lawmakers to limit their liability when campuses open in the fall. Last month an education group that represents 1,595 institutions, including all of Georgia’s NCAA members, lobbied Congress for insulation from any lawsuits related to COVID-19 filed by students, faculty and staff.

To say it’s no big deal if young and healthy athletes get sick is to ignore any possible underlying health conditions (especially among the largest football players) and the potential for long-term effects (including lung damage). And even if athletes don’t become seriously ill with COVID-19, they still can spread it to older family members, coaches and administrators.

I would like to see college football in the fall because I enjoy the sport and it’s my job to cover it. But it’s not right for schools to allow unpaid players with little bargaining power to take the risks. I don’t want to see players, coaches or staff members get sick.

I was glad to see another sports fan with a conflicting professional view agree.

“Believe me, I want to watch a Bulldogs game this fall,” Binney said. “I just don’t think it’s ethical to have students back for workouts. If not having them means we can’t have football in the fall, then it is what it is.”

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The Iola Register

Wednesday, June 24, 2020

B5

MLB: 60-game plan in place Continued from B1

right under a March agreement with the union.

In a twist, the sides expanded the designated hitter to games between National League teams for the first time and instituted the radical innovation of starting extra innings with a runner on second base.

Playoff teams remain at 10 for now — there is still talk of a possible expansion.

The rejected deal had called for 16 teams.

Players will start reporting for the resumption of training on July 1. It remains to be seen which players will report back to work — high-risk individuals are allowed to opt out and still receive salary and service time, but others who sit out get neither money nor the service credit needed for eligibility for free agency and salary arbitration.

Each team will play 10 games against each of its four division rivals and 20 total games against the five clubs in the corresponding regional division in the other league, according to details obtained by The Associated Press.

This will be MLB’s shortest season since 1878, a schedule of such brevity that some fans may question the legitimacy of stats and records.

No matter what, the season will be among the most unusual ever for a sport that takes pride in the race for titles being a marathon and not a sprint: Washington started 19-31 and 27-33 last year but finished 93-69 to earn a wild card and won a seven-game World Series for its first title.

“There’s a lot more pressure because in a 60-game schedule, I think that you have 25% more teams that can compete, that had no idea they were going to compete for 162 games,” said Hall of Fame pitcher John Smoltz, now a broadcaster.

The trade deadline will be Aug. 31 and the deadline to be in an organization for postseason eligibility is Sept.

15. Teams can resume making trades Friday, when rosters will no longer be frozen.

Active rosters will be 30 players during the first two weeks of the season, 28 during

the second two weeks and 26 after that. They will not expand to 28 on Sept. 1, as originally intended this year.

With no minor leagues, teams would be allowed to retain 60 players each, including a taxi squad. Up to three players from the taxi squad can travel with a team to a game, and one of the three must be a catcher.

MLB is keeping the planned innovation that pitchers must face three batters or finish a half inning — players refused to agree a year ago but also waived their right to block.

The injured list minimum for pitchers will remain 10 days rather than revert to 15, as initially intended.

Public opinion shredded both sides as they locked in a ferocious financial battle during a pandemic that has led to more than 120,000 deaths and 2.3 million infections in the U.S. and led to a 14.7% unemployment rate, the highest since the Great Depression.

MLB hoped to be the first U.S. major league to return, at first with an 82-game schedule starting around the Fourth of July, but sniping broke out between management and players who distrust teams’ claims of economic losses following years of franchise appreciation.

MLB claimed that without gate-related revenue it would lose $640,000 for each additional regular-season game, a figure the union disputed.

MLB became exasperated with the union’s leadership team, headed by former All-Star first baseman Tony Clark and Bruce Meyer, a litigator hired in August 2018. Manfred and Deputy Commissioner Dan Halem were infuriated when Clark said he considered the result of a one-on-one meeting with Manfred last week a proposal rather than what MLB termed a framework for a deal.

Rather than play 162 games over 186 days, the season will be 60 games over 66 or 67 days, depending on whether there is a nationally televised Thursday night opener. It is scheduled to end Sept. 27, which leaves little margin to make up September

rainouts. MLB insisted it needed to complete the World Series in October, avoiding any second wave of the virus.

Players are being given staggered reporting times over several days for intake screening. The time will be used for coronavirus testing ahead of the resumption of workouts, which were stopped March 12 due to the pandemic.

Because of an uptick in infections in Florida and Arizona’s summer heat, 28 teams currently are leaning toward training in their regular-season ballparks. Detroit remained partial to Lakeland, Florida, and Toronto was hoping to gain government permission to work out at Rogers Centre.

Under terms of the deal the sides reached on March 26, which was to have been opening day, players would receive prorated portions of their salaries if the 60-game schedule is not cut short by the virus. Salaries originally totaled $4 billion, and the prorated portion of about 37% reduces pay to $1.48 billion.

Salaries were to have ranged from $563,500 at the minimum to $36 million for Mike Trout and Gerrit Cole at the top, but the spread would now be from $208,704 to $13,333,333.

MLB initially had sought last month in its initial economic plan to reduce pay to about $1 billion, and players vowed not to give up full prorated pay and proposed a 114-game schedule that amounted to $2.8 billion.

The relationship deteriorated back to the level of the acrimonious labor disputes that led to eight work stoppages from 197295, and the union has threatened a grievance claiming MLB didn’t fulfill the provision in the March deal requiring the longest season economically feasible, conditioned by several other provisions. MLB would claim the union bargained in bad faith, and the case would be argued before arbitrator Mark Irvings.

That would be a prelude to the expiration of the current labor contract on Dec. 1, 2021, which likely will be followed by a lockout.

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Colin Kaepernick looks to pass during his NFL workout held on Nov. 16, 2019.

CARMEN MANDATO/GETTY IMAGES/TNS

Ravens’ OC rooting for Kaepernick

By DANIEL OYEFUSI The Baltimore Sun

BALTIMORE — As the NFL has publicly shifted its stance on player protests during the national anthem, with Commissioner Roger Goodell recently admitting that the league was wrong for not listening to players fighting for racial equality, many have called for quarterback Colin Kaepernick to get another shot to play in the league.

Ravens offensive coordinator Greg Roman, who coached Kaepernick for four seasons in San Francisco, said he is “rooting” for the quarterback’s return.

“I had a great experience working with Colin,” Roman told reporters Tuesday in a virtual meeting. “I certainly wish him the best, and I’m hopeful for him if that’s what he chooses to do, to get back and

play. I don’t know exactly where he’s at with that, where every team in the league is.

“But one thing’s for sure: I’m always rooting for him. Colin was a treat to coach and I wish him the best. However that goes, it goes, and I’m certainly in his corner rooting for him.”

Roman served as the offensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers from 2011 to 2015, spearheading a unique offensive system around Kaepernick, who took San Francisco to Super Bowl XLVII, a 34-31 loss to the Ravens.

Roman has since implemented a similar offense with quarterback Lamar Jackson and the Ravens, setting the NFL’s regular-season rushing record last season.

Kaepernick, 32, began kneeling during the playing of the national anthem during the 2016 preseason to protest po-

lice brutality against people of color and racial injustice. He continued his silent protest, which became a polarizing topic nationwide, and has not been signed since the end of the 2016 season.

The Ravens flirted with the idea of signing Kaepernick in the summer of 2017 after starter Joe Flacco was sidelined for all of training camp with a back injury. The team ultimately did not sign Kaepernick, and former Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis claimed the team reversed course after a “racial gesture” from radio host and Kaepernick’s girlfriend, Nessa Diab.

Kaepernick filed a grievance against the NFL in 2017, claiming owners colluded to keep him out of the NFL. In February 2019, Kaepernick, as well as former 49ers teammate Eric Reid, reached a settlement with the league.

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B6

Wednesday, June 24, 2020

The Iola Register

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Wallace: Rope in No. 43 car garage was there in October 2019 Continued from B1

safety of his family.

Even after the conclusion it was not a hate crime, Wallace remained angry at what he perceives as constant tests of his character. He holds no ill-will toward NASCAR. “I stand behind Steve and I stand behind NASCAR,” he said. “NASCAR was worried about Talladega. We had that one circled on the radar with everything going on.”

NASCAR opened the Talladega gates to 5,000 fans, its highest number so far during the coronavirus pandemic.

Since finding his voice over the last month, the 26-year-old Mobile, Alabama native has

embraced an international role in NASCAR’s attempt to push past its rocky racial history.

Wallace has worn an “I Can’t Breathe” shirt, raced with a Black Lives Matter paint scheme in Virginia and successfully lobbied for the Confederate flag ban.

NASCAR has assigned security to Wallace at the track and has been protective of the driver. The first word of the incident came in a sharply worded statement in which NASCAR said it was “angry and outraged” over the “heinous act” that the series directly linked to racism.

The FBI sent 15 agents to Talladega for Monday’s rescheduled race

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at the same time the industry rallied around Wallace. In an unprecedented show of solidarity, every team member on pit road lined up behind him during the national anthem.

Phelps has taken exactly nine questions about the finding in Wallace’s garage and none provided any details of the incident. Because of health protocol restrictions, a limited number of personnel have access to the garage. Only a handful of Wallace’s crew members and NASCAR saw the rope.

Roughly 48 hours after the discovery, federal authorities said video confirmed the rope “was in that garage as early as October 2019” hanging from a garage door.

The rope was referred to as a noose, but can be used as a handle when closing the door.

Phelps continued to call it a noose after authorities said no charges would be filed, and held firm in that NASCAR is investigating why the rope was tied that way.

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He was pleased it wasn’t a hate crime directed at Wallace, but insisted NASCAR would have conducted its investigation the same way even now knowing it was just a coincidence.

“The evidence was very clear that the noose that was in the garage was in there previously.

The last race we had in October, that noose was

present. The evidence we had, it was clear we needed to look into this.”

He took no questions on the FBI’s findings.

Meanwhile, Wood Brothers Racing team said it cooperated with the investigation and an employee recalled “seeing a tied handle in the garage pull down rope from last fall,” when the team had the stall.

NASCAR saying it had found a noose stunned the stock car series as it takes an active position in a push for inclusion.

The series first tried to ban the Confederate flag five years ago but did nothing to enforce the order.

NASCAR has yet to detail how it will answer Wallace’s call to stop the display of the flag.

Jokic: Tests positive for the coronavirus Continued from B1

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Bubba Wallace, driver of the #43 Victory Junction Chevrolet, and NASCAR Hall of Famer and team owner Richard Petty look on after NASCAR drivers pushed Wallace to the front of the grid as a sign of solidarity with the driver prior to the NASCAR Cup Series GEICO 500 on Monday. CHRIS GRAYTHEN/GETTY IMAGES/TNS

previously reported Jokic’s positive test, which came on the same day that another top Serbian athlete — Novak Djokovic, the world’s top-ranked men’s tennis player — revealed that he and his wife had tested positive for the virus.

Djokovic and Jokic were together at an event earlier this month, though it cannot be concluded it played in a role

in the positive test of either athlete.

Jokic is averaging 20.2 points and 10.2 rebounds this season for Denver.

Only four other players — Minnesota’s Karl-Anthony Towns, Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid, Atlanta’s John Collins and Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo — are averaging at least 20 points and 10 rebounds this season.

When the season re-

sumes July 30 at Disney’s ESPN Wide World of Sports complex, the Nuggets will start with a 43-22 record, placing them 1 1/2 games behind the second-place Los Angeles Clippers and 1 1/2 games ahead of fourthplace Utah in the Western Conference playoff race.

Photos of Jokic during the NBA's shutdown clearly suggest that he's slimmed down during

his time off, and Nuggets President Tim Connelly raved about the new physique earlier this month to Altitude Sports Radio.

“He’s got abs," Connelly said in that interview.

“I’ve never seen him have abs before."

Last week, Nuggets coach Michael Malone revealed he tested positive for COVID-19 antibodies and added that he believes he had the virus in March.

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