Wednesday, January 29, 2020
Locally owned since 1867
Attorney may face sanctions TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A panel of attorneys has recommended Assistant Allen County Attorney Jacqie Spradling face ethics charges for her actions while Jacqie prosecuting Spradling a rape trial in Jackson County in 2017. Spradling, a former Jackson County special prosecutor, is accused of allegedly misleading jurors who found a man guilty of sex crimes that were later thrown out on appeal. The lawyers reviewed the Kansas Disciplinary Administrators Office’s investigation of Spradling and concluded there was sufficient evidence to believe she violated the state’s code of conduct in the 2017 convictions against Jacob Ewing for rape, aggravated criminal sodomy, battery, and oth-
iolaregister.com
COUNTY COMMISSION
County talks grocery options By RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register
Allen County commissioners continue to chew on the idea of helping a Humboldt grocery store get off the ground. Commissioners received an update Tuesday on Humboldt’s Our Hometown Market from City Administrator Cole Herder and grocery store proprietor Scotty
Welch. Welch said he’d come to see if commissioners had any follow-up questions after last week’s meeting, when he and his wife Amy approached the commission to form a partnership that would help launch the new store, specifically via the county helping purchase refrigeration units designed to lower potentially devastating utility costs. “I didn’t come here today
to try and get an answer,” Welch explained. “We’d like to get an answer, the sooner the better, but it’s a big decision on your part.” Commissioner Bruce Symes asked about the status of grants connected to the store. (Answer: They’re still waiting.) Similarly, it’s possible the City of Humboldt may be able to assist with the store’s conversion to gas utilities,
but the Council has not yet approved anything. Commissioners briefly looked over handouts Welch provided, and were interested in data that estimated how much the new store would make per week as well as how it might affect the local economy, especially with regard to how much business might be shifted away from existing See COUNTY | Page A5
See ATTORNEY | Page A5
Donkey basketball delight
Athlete of the Month candidates ATHLETES
Trent Jones
Ariel Walker
Joel Boyce
Bailey Griffith
Cheyenne Harris
Cal Leonard
Throngs of spectators were treated to a night of laughs and some spirited competition, courtesy of Dairyland Donkey Basketball at Iola High School. Among the competitors were, clockwise from upper left, Jenna Hess, foreground, pulls on her donkey in front of opponent in front of Ty Sigg, Codi Middleton and Drew Mueller; USD 257 Superintendent of Schools Stacey Fager tries to cajole his donkey down the court; Sarah Baker walks with her animal upcourt; Sarah Clift, right, tries to put up a shot against defender Brett Dawson. REGISTER/ TREVOR HOAG
PAGE B1
Forensics students shine in Neodesha
PAGE A2
Americans pulled from China PAGE A5
Pieces put in place for Saint Luke’s to take over ACRH in June By VICKIE MOSS The Iola Register
Allen County Regional Hospital continues to move closer to a lease under Saint Luke’s Health System of Kansas City. Officials with Saint Luke’s have started interviewing candidates for a new administrator to oversee ACRH through the transition and beyond. Larry Peterson, chief finan-
cial officer and interim CEO, said the goal is to hire an administrator by mid-February, but that person likely would train under Saint Luke’s in the Kansas City area for a few months. Saint Luke’s is expected to take over June 1; the current management contract
with Hospital Corporation of America (HCA) expires June 30. However, Saint Luke’s likely will take over ACRH’s home health and hospice unit before that, on April 27. The home health and hospice unit has been in a transitory state for a couple of years, after the retirements of most of the staff. A series of temporary, out-of-state directors have worked to rebuild the department, and a director from the
Chicago area recently signed a 12-week contract specifically to lead the transition to Saint Luke’s. In the meantime, Saint Luke’s staff continue to work behind the scenes on issues like internet technology, information systems and contract negotiations with the various vendors who provide services to ACRH. Saint Luke’s is installing a new fiber optic internet line at ACRH to connect to its sys-
tem. It has taken time to facilitate conversations between Allen County, Saint Luke’s and HCA officials, Peterson said. “It seems like everybody’s kind of cleared the hurdle and is talking to each other now,” he said. “It seems like things are starting to move.” One issue was convincing payroll vendors to extend a See HOSPITAL | Page A3
Services, Monuments & Events
Vol. 121, No. 320 Iola, KS 75 Cents
Garnett • Iola
620-365-2948
1883 US Hwy 54, Iola • www.feuerbornfuneral.com