Sports: Cubs claw their way to win
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THE IOLA REGISTER Locally owned since 1867
www.iolaregister.com
Wednesday, January 28, 2015
Willing to serve: Citizens file for seats By BOB JOHNSON AND RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register
Several races developed for seats on governing bodies through Allen County before the noon Tuesday filing deadline, including two for Iola City Council positions. The city-school spring election will be on April 7. In Iola, all Austin Sigg four incumbents filed for re-election, while newcomers Aaron Franklin and Austin Sigg filed. Sigg, a supply sergeant with the Kansas Army National
Guard, will face incumbent Eugene Myrick for Ward 3, in the southwest portion of town. Franklin, a claims adjuster with Nationwide Insurance, will challenge Aaron Franklin incumbent Steve French in Ward 4, in the southeast quadrant. Meanwhile, incumbents Jon Wells (Ward 1) and Bob Shaughnessy (Ward 2) are unopposed, as is Iola Mayor Joel Wicoff. Humboldt’s council also will has two races, for positions where incumbents did not file. Robert Lachenmaier and Jeb Kaufman will square off
to succeed Wayne Smith in Ward 1, position 1, while Jean Moore and Sarah Lassman are candidates for the Ward 1, position 2 seat currently held by Joann Evans. Incumbents Nobby Davis, mayor, and council members Vada Aikins and Sunny Shreeve are unopposed. BOARD OF EDUCATION
in USD 257 (Iola) and USD 258 (Humboldt) drew considerable interest. In USD 257 Douglas Dunlap is the only incumbent on board, for position 2. Others seeking seats are Stanley Grigsby, who owns a local computer business, and Jen Taylor, who chaired the “Yes, Yes” committee in favor of building new elementary and high schools for USD 257, for
position 1; Mary Apt, a former member, for position 3; local business owner Virginia Macha and Dan Willis, environmental manager at B&W Trailer Hitches, for position 7, which being at-large will be decided for all voters in the district. In USD 258 Sandra Whitaker and Joe Works are the only incumbents among seven candidates seeking four seats, all decided in at-large voting. Other candidates are Joyce Allen, Donald Hauser, Craig Mintz, Scott Murrow, Clayton Schoendaller and Briana Wilkerson. ln USD 256 (Moran-Elsmore) two incumbents — Jim Armstrong, position 3, and Kris Smith, position 7 — are seeking re-election, while Mark See FILINGS | Page A4
Humboldt supt. has heart attack HUMBOLDT — K.B. Criss, USD 258 superintendent of schools, has returned home after suffering a heart attack Friday. K.B. Criss Criss was attending a meeting with school superintendents from across the state in Wichita Friday when he fell ill, reported Lori Buchholz, USD 258 board clerk. He was discharged from See Criss| Page A4
County commission
Gas gets a hand By BOB JOHNSON The Iola Register
Allen County commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday morning to pay materials costs — $14,878.90 — to place a new roof on the Gas school. Mayor Darrel Catron and other Gas representatives had sought assistance from the county a week ago. They are in the process of refitting the old school for city offices, library, museum and community center. Commissioner Jim Talkington had some questions — about the source of coun-
ty funding (taxes) and what was done to help other cities — that he framed as due diligence, before Commissioner Jerry Daniels moved in favor of the Gas request. Commissioners also heard a report from Iola Administrator Carl Slaugh and others about the state of ambulance service, both finances and physical bearing, all of which was reported in Tuesday’s Register following Monday evening’s city council meeting. Commissioners concluded their session with a review of health insurance provided to employees.
Allen County Regional
Hospital aesthetics front and center By SUSAN LYNN The Iola Register
Hospital trustees agreed to pay Murray Construction $45,000 for repair work done recently to the new Allen County Regional Hospital. The stone exterior has had some issues as well as interior walls facing east, said David Wright, an architect and president of Hospital Facilities Group, which designed the facility. “I have no concerns structurally about the building,” Wright said. Installing control joints where windows line the front of the hospital should correct cracks that have occurred as the hospital has settled, he said.
Murray Construction, Kansas City, Mo., is the general construction management company that oversaw the hospital’s construction. “Murray also has made some good progress on the test-and-balance report,” Wright told trustees at their meeting Monday night. The report measures the efficiencies of the hospital’s heating and cooling systems. “I feel comfortable releasing the $45,000. But any more, I’d need to see some significant advances. I’ll be here every month until we are done. I’m motivated to get this done,” he said. A retainer of $110,000 is still due Murray ConstrucSee ACRH | Page A4
Quote of the day Vol. 117, No. 63
Allen County District Court employees Angie Whitney, left, and Sarah Stockebrand are among the 12 full-time employees who work with the Judicial Branch in Allen County. District Judge Daniel Creitz is optimistic a budget deal will get done prior to June 30 to prevent court closings and employee furloughs. REGISTER/RICHARD LUKEN
Kansas courts budget deal in works By RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register
A $3.6 million shortfall in the Judiciary Branch’s budget could shut courtrooms across the state before June 6 if additional monies aren’t found, although a potential solution is near. Allen County District Judge Daniel Creitz told the Register Tuesday he was “cautiously optimistic” the state has found a solution, in the form of a proviso in the State
Legislature’s rescission bill. The Senate and House leaders and state budget director are working with the judicial branch on the proviso, Creitz said. Creitz is a member of the Kansas District Judges Association, which has asked the state to allow the Judicial Branch to use funds previously set aside for the state’s E-Court system. A large portion of the ECourt funds, already in the bank, will not be spent this
“There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.” — Edith Wharton 75 Cents
year. The E-Court system is a planned statewide electronic and filing centralized case management system, and is expected to bring increased efficiencies when it’s up and running. But it’s not up and running yet. Fiscal Year 2015 ends June 30, Creitz noted, and the quicker a solution is found, the better. “If we wait until (June 30), See COURTS | Page A4
Hi: 73 Lo: 41 Iola, KS