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Tuesday, October 27, 2020
District eyes wish list for new school By VICKIE MOSS The Iola Register
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4-H Club celebrates Halloween PAGE A2
Medicare Part D explained PAGE A5
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Construction of a new elementary school could include up to $1 million on “wish list” items, if the process goes smoothly enough to result in cost savings. USD 257 board members on Monday approved construction bids of up to $26.1 million for the new school at Monroe and Kentucky streets. That’s the “guaranteed maximum price” for the project and is under budget, representatives of SJCF Architecture of Wichita and Coonrod, the general construction manager, told the board. They also outlined 19 alternatives that could be added
Construction crews remove dirt earlier this summer at the site of a new elementary school. FILE PHOTO as the project moves forward. They include such things as enclosed upper cabinets in classrooms, a walking trail extension, wider sidewalks, an outdoor basketball court, up-
graded lighting in some areas, additional parking bays and a multipurpose area that could be used for an afterschool program or other groups. “As we get parts of the
building complete, and reduce the contingency dollars, and see savings on other projects, we may be able to fund the electives and do a little better project,” Architect Allison Le said. The plan approved by the board Monday includes enough savings to add two of the wish list items: more classrooms and adjustable shelves for increased storage. Those two projects will cost about $820,051. The additional classrooms will result in a total of five classrooms per grade level (preschool through fifth). Administrators and school board members debated whether to See PROJECT | Page A3
Veterans Bowlus offers house for students to remodel Day event canceled By VICKIE MOSS The Iola Register
By the Register Staff
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has hit the fall celebration schedule once again, with Allen County’s Veterans Day Committee canceling its 2020 tribute to those who have served. Typically held the Saturday before Veterans Day — Nov. 11 this year — the celebration usually entails a parade and keynote address. In lieu of that, committee members are seeking for a special display at the Allen County Veterans Wall on the courthouse square, Iola Councilman Carl Slaugh said. Committee members are asking for photographs of veterans, particularly those whose names are on the wall, Slaugh said. The pictures will be placed in the blank spaces on the outer edges of the wall. Correspondence may be sent to iolaveteran@ gmail.com.
A long-delayed desire to teach construction students how to build a house got an assist from an unlikely source, the performing arts. Staff at the Bowlus Fine Arts Center offered a win-win suggestion to allow construction trades students to work on a house project this winter. Instead of starting from scratch and building a new house, why not remodel a house the Bowlus owns but wants to move so it can use the space for a new parking lot? The district has long wanted to build a house as part of the construction class at the Regional Rural Technology Center at LaHarpe, but the project continually hit snags. Neosho County Community College took over the project this year with a goal to make that dream become reality. It’s been a slow start though, and leaders are concerned it would not be possible to pour a concrete foundation and complete enough of the project before winter weather interrupted. A remodel project would solve the problem and teach construction students useful skills, school board president Dan Willis said. Most
Iola teen injured in two-vehicle crash By the Register Staff
Iolan Jacob Wight, 19, was taken to a Joplin hospital following a two-vehicle accident south of Humboldt Monday evening. The Kansas Highway Patrol reported Wight was northbound on U.S. 169, just north of the Neosho County line, when his vehicle slid on the icy roadway, crossed the center line and collided head-on with a southbound pickup driven by Jake A. Noble, 34, Chanute. Wight’s vehicle came to rest in the southbound ditch; Vol. 122, No. 254 Iola, KS 75 Cents
Noble’s on the roadway. A deputy responding to another slide-off accident was nearly struck by the vehicles as they crashed. Wight was ejected from his vehicle, which soon caught fire. Neither was wearing a seat belt. Wight was taken to Mercy Hospital in Joplin for what troopers described as suspected serious injuries. Noble was taken to Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center in Chanute for what officers said was a suspected minor injury.
This two-story house at 210 S. Buckeye could be moved and used as a remodel project for the construction trades students at the Regional Rural Technology Center. GOOGLE MAPS students who enter the construction field likely would find themselves working on remodel projects more often than new home construction, Willis said. The Bowlus likely would transfer the house to the district at a minimum cost of $1, director Dan Kays told the board. The Bowlus would take respsonsibility of removing two trees and capping sewers. Veterans Worldwide, a group hired by the EPA to remediate contaminated
soil throughout the city, has the property on its list but agreed to wait until the house is moved. Instead of sod, the group would prepare the ground for construction suitable for a parking lot. The district would be responsible for moving the house from its current location at 210 S. Buckeye St. to two empty lots west of Iola Middle School. Maintenance director Aaron Cole received two bids, one for $27,000 and an anticipated move date in
February, and another for $20,000 with an anticipated move date in late December or early January. The house is two stories and about 36 by 30 feet. Board members, though, were hesitant to approve the expense until they know more about other associated costs. They asked Cole to obtain more estimates about what it might cost to remodel the house, and would consider the matter in two weeks when they meet again.
Community buildings still off limits By RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register
Iola’s community buildings likely will remain off limits for the time being. When the facilities are reopened to the public will be determined by the city’s managers, and not City Council members. The Council discussed the matter briefly Monday, before agreeing to hand off responsibility to Parks Superintendent Berkley Kerr and Interim City Administrator Corey Schinstock. The Council members were split, 3-3, on whether to keep the buildings largely off lim-
its to the public as a protective measure amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The city has kept the buildings closed in adherence to Gov. Laura Kelly’s recommendations of prohibiting mass gatherings of 45 people or more in places where social distancing cannot be regulated.
Since March, the city is limiting usage only for such things as periodic bloodmobiles, and next Tuesday’s general election polling site. Council members noted demand for community buildings may increase for the upcoming holiday season, although Kerr noted he hasn’t received many requests. In fact, most calls he fields are for people seeking to cancel previously reserved dates. “People have been pretty understanding,” Kerr said. Schinstock told the Council he’d met briefly with City See COUNCIL | Page A3