Locally owned since 1867
Tuesday, August 25, 2020
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Remote learning starts today By VICKIE MOSS The Iola Register
Families who chose remote learning for their students because of the coronavirus pandemic will dig into the work today, after the USD 257 Board of Education officially approved a plan Monday night. The district’s model is unique because it appoints three elementary teachers to instruct remotely, guiding preschool through fourth-graders through the required online hours and holding them accountable for attendance and performance. The model also is unique because it allows families to switch from remote learning to in-person classes, and vice versa, at any time. “Parents and the board wanted that flexibility,” Briana Curry, instructional coach, said.
Livestock team wins sweepstakes
Briana Curry, left, and Jenna Higginbotham, curriculum coaches for USD 257, talk about the district’s new remote learning plan. Three teachers will instruct online elementary classes. REGISTER/ VICKIE MOSS
“Student learning is what we’re here for. If it’s not working, they can make the switch,” Jenna Higginbotham, curriculum director, added.
That’s unusual, board president Dan Willis said. Most districts ask families to pick either in-person or remote learning, and stick with it, he said.
“It’s a whole lot more work for you guys, but it’s good customer service,” Willis said. Expectations are different for different grade levels, Higginbotham said as she laid out the highlights of the “Rigorous Remote Learning Plan.” Preschool students will be required to attend two-and-ahalf hours of remote learning a day. Kindergarten through 12th grade students must attend six hours of instruction. Two hours should be done “off-line.” Attendance will be taken, and the standard procedures apply for notifying the school when a student is absent. Three teachers will each teach two grade levels with around 20 students for each teacher. That includes 11 in preschool, eight in kindergarten, See SCHOOL | Page A3
School board condemns hate speech By VICKIE MOSS The Iola Register
USD 257’s school board members released a statement Monday evening about an Aug. 17 incident when four Iola High School students painted symbols known to be white supremacist code words on the high school parking lot. The statement condemned hate speech and symbolism, called the incident a learning opportunity, and promised increased expectations and supervision of the privilege for students to paint their individual parking stalls. The board met in execSee SIGN | Page A3
Residents asked to reimagine downtown after 54 rebuild By RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register
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Online addiction workshops begin PAGE A2
St. Louis pounds Kansas City PAGE B1
With a full rebuild of U.S. 54 through much of Iola coming down the pike, city officials are hoping to get input from those most affected by such a project. An open house is planned from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the Recreation Community Building at Riverside Park to discuss what is needed, and how best to tackle it. It’s an opportunity for Iolans to reimagine what downtown looks like during and after the project, Interim City Administrator Corey Schinstock explained. Several stations will be set up to detail what’s in the plans, and what will need to change. Engineers from Burns & McDonald will be on hand as well to answer questions. “This is always going to be
An open house will run from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Iola’s Recreation Community Building at Riverside Park for the public to discuss a full rebuild of U.S. 54 through Iola planned for 2024. REGISTER/RICHARD LUKEN
a concern for downtown businesses,” Schinstock said. The study phase for the rebuild will conclude this fall; work is anticipated to begin
in the spring of 2024. With more than half of the Iola City Council members interested in attending the open house, Mayor Jon Wells
suggested the city announce it as a city meeting, to remain in compliance with Kansas Open Meetings Act stipulations.
County’s COVID-19 cases up to 30
Truck’s troubles trigger replacement talk Republicans
By VICKIE MOSS The Iola Register
By RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register
Allen County’s positive COVID-19 cases increased to 30 this week, up seven cases from last week. The SEK Multi-County Health Department issued its weekly update Monday on cases in the four counties it serves: Allen, Anderson, Bourbon and Woodson. Four of those cases are active and the other 26 have recovered. Two people have been hospitalized, with one remaining in the hospital. The total includes three presumptive cases and three people who live out of state but are staying in Allen County. In the other counties, Anderson has had 32 pos-
About 10 years ago, Iola purchased a fully equipped, state-of-the-art Pierce pumper truck for the Iola Fire Department, for a shade more than $500,000. For two years, the truck worked like a dream. But a series of computer upgrades in 2012 apparently disagreed with the unit’s DD13 Detroit diesel engine. Since then, the truck — Engine 311 — has been a chronic problem for the Fire Department, with multiple mechanical issues. In the eight years hence, Engine 311’s computer has been replaced three times and a new fuel system has been installed, firefighter Corey Isbell told Iola Council members Monday night.
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Even worse, issues continue to pop up, including “surging” with both the motor and the water pumps when spraying water onto a fire, Isbell said. “The problems we’re having is not a Pierce problem,” Isbell said. “It’s a Detroit diesel problem.” But with the engine’s warranty long-since expired, the persistent breakdowns have become increasingly costly. Since 2016, when the truck’s warranty expired, the city has spent about $31,000 on repairs, Fire Chief Tim Thyer reported. (Before that, Thyer counted 44 repair/warranty invoices the city didn’t have to pay.) “It’s going to get somebody killed,” Councilman Ron Ballard, a former firefighter, said. Monday’s discussion was at See TRUCK | Page A2
stoke fear if Trump loses By ELI STOKOLS and NOAH BIERMAN Los Angeles Times
Elmore Patterson, chief executive officer at Allen County Regional Hospital, introduces himself Monday to Iola City Council members. REGISTER/
RICHARD LUKEN
WASHINGTON — Republicans kicked off their national convention Monday by trying to radically recast President Donald Trump’s failures in containing the coronavirus pandemic as triumphs and by painting an apocalyptic vision of America if Democratic nominee Joe Biden wins in November. With Trump significantly trailing Biden in national and battleground polls, a parade of elected Republican officials, activists See RNC | Page A6