Alice Maffett, interim nurse administrator for the SEK Multi-County Health Department, was the main speaker for Friday’s See, Hear Iola. The forum was one week earlier than normal because of the holiday.
Maffett is standing in after the recent resignation of DeDe Martin, nurse administrator. Martin has accepted another job.
Maffett said the health department does more than just shots in the community. It is able to give physicals and vision screenings. The department also helps with family planning, Women Infant and Children (WIC), and oral contraceptives.
“We have a healthy start home visitor who visits with women for emotional support and child support for new families,” Maffett said. “We help promote breast feeding, too.”
At the health department staff is able to do lab testing for things like blood sugar, hemoglobin, and checks for sexually transmitted diseases.
“Most people don’t realize we do investigations to stop disease from spreading in the counties,” she said. “We do research and interviews to stop the disease.”
Funding of the department is split into thirds: state grants, county aid and from revenue the department takes in. Four counties participate in the system — Allen, Anderson, Bourbon and Woodson.
Recently the Allen County office moved to 411 N. Washington Ave. in Iola. Maffett said the hours have been extended to 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. to better serve the community.
Maffett has worked in public health for 15 years. She received her bachelor’s degree from Pittsburg State University. She works out of the Bourbon County office. Maffett is married and has two daughters.
Maffett said the Iola office is seeking applications for the administrator position.
THE COMMERCIAL speaker was Emily Sigg, owner of Fifty 50. Sigg grew up in Iola and graduated from Iola High School in 2006. She went to Johnson County Community College on a basketball scholarship for two years and then attended and graduated from Kansas State University.
Sigg majored in fine arts and had always considered opening her own T-shirt business. With encouragement from her husband, Austin, she made the leap into her own business. They have a 2 1/2 year old daughter, Elliot.
She started her business in her home in August 2013 and by January 2014 she had a storefront at 7 E. Madison Ave. Sigg said this year has been very successful.
“I try to make items that I would want to wear myself,” she said.
