City Commission Has Special Session

PROBLEMS WITH THE CONSTRUCTION AT THE IOLA CITY LIBRARY RENOVATION CAUSED THE IOLA CITY COMMISSION TO CONSIDER ROOFING PROBLEMS DURING A SPECIAL CALL MEETING FRIDAY MORNING CLOGGED DRAINS AT THE FACILITY CAUSED SOME WATER DAMAGE AND THE ROOFER ON THE PROJECT, ALLIED ROOFING OF JOPLIN, MISSOURI, IS ASKING THE CITY FOR THREE THOUSAND,FOUR HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS FOR DRAIN REPAIRS. IN ADDITION THEY WANT THIRTY THOUSAND DOLLARS OR POSSIBLY MORE SAYING THE THE ROOF TEAR OUT IS MORE THAN ANTICIPATED IN THEIR ORIGINAL BID. CITY ATTORNEY CHUCK APT TOLD THE COMMISSIONERS THAT THE CLOGGED DRAINS SHOULD HAVE BEEN DISCLOSED IN THE BID AS WELL AS THE ADDITIONAL TEAR OFF AND THAT THE CITY IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ADDITIONAL FUNDS. SOME NEW CARPETING, CEILING TILES AND ELECTRICAL FIXTURES HAVE BEEN DAMAGED BY THE OVERFLOWING DRAINS. THE CITY WILL DISCUSS THE MATTER FURTHER WITH THE PROJECT ARCHITECH AND DECIDE WHO SHOULD PAY AT THEIR NEXT REGULAR MEETING ON SEPTEMBER TENTH.

Heat Advisory This Afternoon

A HEAT ADVISORY WILL BE IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 9 PM THIS EVENING.

TEMPERATURES...WILL CLIMB INTO THE MID AND UPPER 90S THIS AFTERNOON. COMBINED WITH HIGH HUMIDITY...THIS WILL RESULT IN HEAT INDICES OF 105 TO 108 DURING THE AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING.
FORECASTERS ADVISE LIMITING STRENUOUS OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES DURING THE AFTERNOON HOURS...AND DRINKING PLENTY OF FLUIDS IF OUTDOOR ACTIVITY IS NECESSARY.

Man Injured in Car-Bike Crash Near Lebo

A bicycle rider was hit bay a car yesterday afternoon near Lebo, sending the rider to the hospital. Highway Patrol crash reports indicate 61-year old Fred Reber of Emporia was taken to Newman Hospital for treatment of potentially serious injuries. He was riding on old highway 50 a couple of miles west of Lebo just after noon yesterday when an eastbound pickup turned left into him was the driver tried to get onto Dobbin Road. 69-year old Karen Jones of Americus was not injured.

Crash South of Iola Injures One

Highway Patrol troopers say one person was injured in a crash yesterday south of Iola. The two-vehicle wreck was reported just before 5pm, according to the highway patrol. Curt Drake of Moran was westbound on Bassett Street in a 2001 Dodge Truck when Irvin Hutton of Iola turned left in front of him. Hutton had been southbound on State Street. Troopers say Hutton cut the corner too sharply and hit Drake head-on. Hutton is the only one listed with injuries. He was taken to ACH for treatment.

Jenkins: Haldex Closing Encouraged by Current Government Policies

The news of the Haldex brake plant closing has made it to the floor of the U-S House. In a floor speech earlier this week, here's what Representative Lynn Jenkins had to say:

New Unemploymnet Numbers Posted

The new Kansas jobless numbers are out, and in some ways seem a little contradictory. Unemployment is down from June 2009 to June 2010, however, the state actually lost 10,100 jobs from a year ago. Here's why: people who give up looking for jobs are no longer counted as unemployed. Here it is by the numbers: statewide, 6.2 percent of people looking for were had no job. a year ago it was 7.2 percent, and last month it was 6.4 percent.

In Allen county, 7.1 percent were jobless last month, compared with 6.8 percent in May and 8.8 percent a year ago. Anderson county reports 7 percent unemployment last month, down from 7.2 percent in May and 8.3 percent last June. Bourbon county stood at 6.5 percent in June, compared to 6.7 percent in May and 7.5 percent a year ago. Wilson county was the highest in the area again this month at 9.9 percent unemployment. Last month was 9.3 percent, while a year ago Wilson county unemployment was at 11.4 percent. Neosho county is down from 8.2 percent in May to 8 percent in June, compared to year ago numbers of 9.2 percent.

Haldex Brake in Iola to Close; Jobs Move to Mexico

Company officials at Haldex confirmed overnight the rumors that had been flying around Iola yesterday afternoon. The manufacturing work done at the Haldex plant here will be moved to Mexico and the plant here closed. In a news release posted on its website at about 8:30 this morning, Stockholm time, Haldex said the move is the last in a previously-announced Cost-Reduction Program. Manufacturing from Haldex’s Iola plant will be relocated to Monterrey, whereupon the operation in Iola will be discontinued during the second half of 2010. The production of brake cylinders was relocated to the operation in Monterrey earlier. Estimates are that the move will put a couple hundred Haldex workers in Iola out of a job.

Smith Resignation Announced, No Timeline Set for Replacement

Officials with Neosho County Community College say they don't have a time line yet to replace President Vicky Smith, who will leave the college this summer for a similar position at a troubled Illinois school. In a release, Smith said, “It has been my wish to relocate nearer family when my work at Neosho met several goals.” Among those goals -- the groundbreaking of Neosho’s new Ottawa facility. Smith said she’s confident Neosho’s staff will be able to complete the new facility, and she plans to attend the grand opening ceremony for the new campus in 2011.

Wilson COunty Crash Injures 1

One person was hurt in a crash over the weekend in Wilson county. Highway Patrol troopers say 70-year old Gerald Daniels of Toronto was taken to Labette County Health Center in Parsons with potentially serious injuries. He was westbound on County Road 410 near Neodesha on Sunday evening, troopers say, when he dropped a wheel off the right side of the road, struck a bridge embankment, crossed both lanes of traffic and went into the south ditch. Then the pickup spun around coming to rest facing north in the south ditch. He was alone in the vehicle.

Smith to Take Illinois Job

She's earned a reputation as a fixer, and now Vicky Smith may have her biggest "fixing" challenge ahead of her. Smith will step down soon from her role as Neosho County Community College president and take the same job at McHenry County College in Illinois. She was hired at the end of a highly-charged board meeting.

The heated words weren't about her, but about the board chairman, George Lowe, who was stripped of his post before the vote to hire McHenry. Just taking the action to change board leadership took the board over an hour of argument. Since the board ousted former president Walt Packard in late February 2009, five interim presidents have been at the helm.

Into the Fire?

If Neosho County Community College President Vicky Smith is chosen to lead an Illinois college, she may be stepping into a hotbed of discontent. McHenry County College's governing board could be shaken up today before members consider a much-anticipated vote to select a new president.

Before getting down to the business of selecting a president, the board will consider modifying or suspending its own policies on electing officers in a move that could unseat chairman George Lowe. "They don't want me as chair," Lowe said Thursday. "Apparently, I'm too outspoken." The board has a history of infighting. Earlier this week, Mary Miller, the board's vice-chairwoman, told the Northwest Herald that the board was getting along better. However, today's agenda belies complete harmony.

Vicky Smith is one of three finalists for the job at McHenry County College. The other finalists are from Illinois and Iowa.