The Iola Register, Jan. 7, 2025 by Iola Register

County escapes winter’s worst

By VICKIE MOSS

Iola Register

Allen County escaped the worst of a weekend winter snowstorm but residents still faced icy conditions, power outages and bitterly cold temperatures. The county courthouse and some businesses remained closed Monday, and Iola schools extended the winter break as classes were canceled.

The storm dropped a total of .65 inches of precipitation Saturday and Sunday, as reported at the Iola water plant. Most of that — .62 inches — fell as sleet or ice on Saturday, with about a quarter-inch of snow in most places.

A blown fuse resulted in a power outage to the south part of the city late Sunday afternoon, Administrator Matt Rehder said. It was fixed within an hour or so. A few

individual residences faced power outages and crews responded promptly, he said. Crews returned by about 6 p.m. Power outages also were reported throughout the county but electric services were ful-

ly restored by Monday morning, Emergency Management Director Jason Trego said. Moran was without power for a few hours Sunday, he said. Much of the east side of the county, extending north into

Major winter blast shuts down schools, offices

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP)

— A major winter blast of snow, ice, wind and plunging temperatures in the U.S. stirred dangerous travel conditions from central and southern states all the way to the East Coast early Monday, prompting schools and government offices in several states to close.

Snow and ice blanketed major roads across Kansas, western Nebraska and parts of Indiana, where the state’s National Guard was activated to help stranded motorists. Nearly 300,000 customers were without power early Monday across Kentucky, Indiana, Virginia, West Virginia, Illinois and Missouri, according to electric utility tracking

website PowerOutage.us.

The National Weather Service issued winter storm warnings for Kansas and Missouri, where blizzard conditions brought wind gusts of up to 45 mph (72 kph). The warnings extended to New Jersey for Monday and into early Tuesday.

“For locations in this region that receive the highest snow totals, it may be the heaviest snowfall in at least a decade,” the weather service said.

Gary Wright wore a parka as he and his husband chipped away at thick ice coating his SUV in a slippery apartment parking lot in Missouri. Wright said he will work remotely Monday, but wanted to scrape off his

Congress certifies Trump’s election win

WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress certified President-elect

Donald Trump as the winner of the 2024 election in proceedings that unfolded Monday without violence or mayhem, in stark contrast to the Jan. 6, 2021, violence as his mob of supporters stormed the Capitol. Lawmakers convened under heavy security and a snowstorm to meet the date required by law to certify the election, but the legacy of Jan.

By VICKIE MOSS The Iola Register

A new program offers help paying health insurance for childcare providers and their employees. Thrive Allen County announced it received a grant from the Kansas Children’s Cabinet to provide stipends up to $3,600 a year to childcare providers and employ-

6 leaves an extraordinary fact: The candidate who tried to overturn the previous election won this time and is legitimately returning to power. Layers of tall black fencing flank the U.S. Capitol complex in a stark reminder of what happened four years ago, when a defeated Trump sent his mob to “fight like hell” in what became the most gruesome attack on the seat of American democracy in 200 Workers clear the plaza at the Capitol in Washington, Monday, Jan. 6. AP PHOTO/J. SCOTT APPLEWHITE

See TRUMP | Page A3

Thrive secures health insurance stipends for childcare workers

ees of childcare facilities in Kansas. The program is called Health Insurance Resources for Child Care Professionals — All in for Kansas Kids. To qualify for the stipend, you must be a Kansas resident who works full- or part-time at a licensed child care facility and you are currently enrolled in the Marketplace or pay a private health insurance premium. If you are currently unin-

sured, contact a Care Coordinator at Thrive to learn how to find a health care plan before open enrollment ends Jan. 15. Contact Rhonda Culp at Rhonda@thriveallencounty.org or call 620-365-8128 for help with enrollment. Applications are open until Feb. 15. You’ll need to fill out the application and provide proof of employment and insurance, including your most recent insurance statement. About 100 people will receive the stipend, with rebate checks issued quarterly. To apply for the stipend, go to allinforkansaskids.org/. A pop-up window will take you to the application. Submit the application along with requested documents to J Keltner via email at j@thriveallencounty.org or mail it to 9 S. Jefferson Ave., Iola, KS 66749.

The

A flock of Canada geese explore the winter landscape at the Lehigh Portland Lake on the south edge of Iola Sunday morning. Allen County received a wintry mix of rain, sleet and ice on Saturday followed by snow Sunday. Farther north, much of Kansas was blasted with more than a foot of snow and

Bicycles are covered in ice in front of Thrive Allen County’s office, 9 S. Jefferson Ave.

Arthur

Lake

Obituary Kansas officials say bird flu a low risk to public health — but urge caution

Arthur Matthew Lake, of rural Aliceville passed away Dec. 27, 2024, in Cottonwood Falls, Kan., with his family at his side.

He was born Sept. 15, 1936 to Matthew and Alice Lake in rural Le Roy, Kan. He attended Sunnyside school and graduated from Le Roy High School in 1954.

He served in the Kansas Army National Guard for nine years. He grew up farming with his parents and continued farming all his life. He worked outside the home to support his family. He was a skilled carpenter and built cabinets for many in the community.

Visitation is from 6 to 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 9 at First Christian Church in Le Roy. Funeral services are at 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 10 at the church. Burial will follow in Logue Cemetery east of Le Roy. His complete obituary can be found www. vanarsdalefs.com.

Trudeau resigns

TORONTO (AP) — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his resignation Monday after nearly a decade in power, bowing to rising discontent over his leadership and growing turmoil within his government signaled by the abrupt departure of his finance minister.

Trudeau, the latest incumbent to be driven out amid rising voter dissatisfaction worldwide, said it had become clear to him that he cannot “be the leader during the next elections due to internal battles.” He planned to stay on as prime minister until a new leader of the Liberal Party is chosen.

“I don’t easily back down faced with a fight, especially a very important one for our party and the country. But I do this job because the interests of Canadians and the well being of democracy is something that I hold dear,” said Trudeau, who was initially tearyeyed at the announcement outside his official residence.

He said Parliament, which had been due to resume Jan. 27, would be suspended until March 24. The timing will allow for a Liberal Party leadership race.

All three main opposition parties have said they plan to topple the Liberal Party in a no-confidence vote when Parliament resumes, so a spring election after the Liberals pick a new leader was almost assured.

“The Liberal Party of Canada is an important institution in the history of our great country and democracy. A new prime minister and leader of the Liberal Party will carry its values and ideals into that next election,” Trudeau said. “I am excited to see that

By JACK HARVEL and FERNANDO CERVANTES JR.

The Topeka Capital-Journal

Kansas is at low risk for avian flu, Kansas Department of Health and Environment say, even as cases across the country rise.

But the department is still urging people to be cautious around wild birds and backyard poultry as more reports come in on pathogenic avian influenza both in and out of state. Since the latest outbreak, which started nearly three years ago, the virus has spread to poultry, dairy cattle, wild carnivores and domestic cats.

The virus reaches these populations primarily through contact with such waterfowl as duck and geese.

“While there has been no person-to-person spread, KDHE is monitoring the situation carefully. We are working with people who have had flocks test positive and encourage the public to avoid contact with sick birds,” said KDHE chief medical officer Dereck Totten.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture found two commercial flocks and six backyard flocks in Kansas had at least one bird test positive in December, impacting a grand total of 11,170 birds. Nationally, 115 flocks tested positive for avian flu over the same period, which impacted over 17 million birds.

in two

tient in Louisiana was infected with a strain of the bird flu called D1.1. The patient, who hasn’t been identified, is over 65 years old and has underlying health problems.

“It has been determined that the patient had exposure to sick and dead birds in backyard flocks,” the CDC said.

A mutation has also been reported in British Columbia, Canada.

Egg prices soar and cat food is recalled due to bird flu concerns

The spread of bird flu among poultry flocks in the United States is causing egg prices to skyrocket, reaching near-record numbers as 2024 comes to a close.

six

frozen chow after health authorities linked the death of a cat to a batch of feed contaminated with bird flu.

The recalled products include the company’s 2-pound bags of its Feline Turkey Recipe that have a best-by date between May 21, 2026, and June 23, 2026.

What are its symptoms?

Most people infected with bird flu in the U.S. have had mild symptoms. Symptoms of H5N1 bird flu infection in humans may include pink eye, fever, fatigue, cough, muscle aches, sore throat, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, stuffy or runny nose and shortness of breath, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

process unfold in the months ahead.”

Trudeau came to power in 2015 after 10 years of Conservative Party rule and was initially hailed for returning the country to its liberal past. But the 53-year-old scion of one of Canada’s most famous prime ministers became deeply unpopular with voters in recent years over a range of issues, including the soaring cost of food and housing.

Opposition Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre said Canadians “desperate to turn the page on this dark chapter in our history might be relieved” that Trudeau is leaving.

“But what has really changed? Every Liberal MP in power today and every potential Liberal leadership contender fighting for the top job helped Justin Trudeau break the country over the last nine years.”

The political upheaval comes at a difficult moment for Canada internationally. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has threatened to impose 25% tariffs on all Canadian goods if the government does not stem what Trump calls a flow of migrants and drugs in the U.S. — even though far fewer of them cross into the U.S. from Canada than from Mexico, which Trump has also threatened.

Canada is a major exporter of oil and natural gas to the U.S., which also relies on it for steel, aluminum and autos.

Trudeau kept publicly mum in recent weeks.

“His long silence following this political drama speaks volumes about the weakness of his current position,” said Daniel Béland, a political science professor at McGill University in Montreal.

The outbreaks occurred at backyard flocks in Anderson, Coffey, Douglas, Jewell, Philips and Sedgwick counties, and at commercial flocks in Rooks and Doniphan counties. The commercial flocks are where most of the potentially infected birds come from, accounting for 11,000 of the 11,170 birds exposed to the virus. Where things stand with bird flu

Officials across the country are becoming increasingly concerned that bird flu could potentially spark another pandemic.

The CDC said the pa-

4-H report

The regular monthly meeting of the City Slickers 4-H Club was called to order at the Riverside Community Building by president Shelby Shaughnessy on Dec. 8.

Case and Elijah Mentzer led the club in the Pledge of Allegiance and the 4-H Pledge. Charlie Kerr, Case Mentzer and Declan Springer led the club in singing “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.”

Club members answered roll call by saying what they are most looking forward to this Christmas. Fourteen club members and one Community leader were present.

The club decided to have a model meeting at 4-H Days.

The next meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Jan. 12 at the Riverside Park Community Building. — Moira Springer, reporter

The average cost of a dozen Grade A large eggs was $3.65 in November, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. That’s up from $3.37 in October and $2.50 at the beginning of the year.

This week, Northwest Naturals recalled a line of its raw and

While data is limited, experts from the College of American Pathologists said the farmworkers might have had different symptoms than others infected either because of different strains of the virus, or because they were infected in different ways.

Chickens

commercial flocks and

backyard flocks in Kansas have tested positive for avian influenza, affecting a total of 11,170 birds. The outbreaks included birds in Anderson and Coffey counties.

(MARIO TAMA/GETTY IMAGES/TNS)

After nearly a decade in power, Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau bowed to rising discontent over his leadership by announcing his resignation Monday. (DAVE CHAN/AFP/GETTY IMAGES/ TNS)

PHOTO GALLERIES

Arthur Lake

People engage in a snowball fight as U.S. flags, along the base of the Washington Monument, fly at half-staff in memorial to former President Jimmy Carter, who died at the age of 100, in Washington, Monday, Jan. 6. AP PHOTO/MATT ROURKE

Winter: Record snowfall

Continued from A1

vehicle as an excuse to spend a little time in the snow. He also is seeking boots for their two older dogs when their paws hit the cold ground.

The polar vortex of ultra-cold air usually spins around the North Pole. People in the U.S., Europe and Asia experience its intense cold when the vortex escapes and plunges southward.

Studies show a fast-warming Arctic is partly to blame for the increasing frequency of the polar vortex extending its icy grip.

Temperatures plunge

Starting Monday, the eastern two-thirds of the U.S. will experience dangerous, bone-chilling cold and wind chills, forecasters said. Temperatures could be 12 to 25 degrees below normal.

The Northeastern states are more likely to experience several days of cold after a mostly mild start to winter, said National Weather Service meteorologist Jon Palmer in Gray, Maine.

The cold air likely will grip the eastern U.S. as far south as Georgia with parts of the East Coast experiencing single-digit lows, Palmer said.

Classes canceled

School closings were widespread Monday. Districts in Indiana, Virginia, Kentucky, Missouri and Kansas began announcing cancellations and delays on Sunday afternoon. Kentucky’s Jefferson County Public Schools canceled classes, extracurricular activities and athletics for its nearly 100,000 students.

Classes also have been cancelled in Maryland, where Gov. Wes Moore declared a state of emergency Sunday and announced the state government would be closed Monday.

“Keeping Marylanders safe is our top priority. Please stay off the roads during this storm. Prepare your home and family and charge your communications devices in case you lose power,” Moore said in a statement.

Car wrecks proliferate as storm hits

Over the weekend, at least 600 motorists were stranded in Missouri, authorities said. Hundreds of car accidents were reported in Virginia, Indiana, Kansas and Kentucky, where a state trooper was treated for injuries that were not life-threatening after

his patrol car was hit.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, who declared a state emergency, said government buildings would be closed Monday.

“We see far too many wrecks out there for people that do not have to be on the roads, so I want to ask: Stay inside,” Beshear said.

Road crews remained on duty overnight and were making headway Monday morning, the state Transportation Cabinet said in a social media post. But the agency warned that ice was an issue on roads, especially mid-state and northward where there was more packed snow.

Virginia State Police responded to at least 230 crashes statewide, with more than 20 injuries, between 4 p.m. Sunday until 4 a.m. Monday. There was one fatal crash, but it wasn’t clear if it was storm-related, police said. In Charleston, West Virginia, where several inches of snow had fallen by Sunday night, authorities urged motorists to stay home.

Snow and ice in the forecast

In Indiana, snow fully covered portions of Interstate 64, Interstate 69 and U.S. Route 41, prompting Indiana State Police to plead with motorists to stay off the roads as plows worked to keep up.

“It’s snowing so hard, the snow plows go through and then within a half hour the roadways are completely covered again,” Sgt. Todd Ringle said.

Topeka, Kansas, reported 14.5 inches about 8 p.m. Sunday, according to the weather service.

Kansas City International Airport received a record snowfall of 11 inches on Sunday, breaking the previous record for the day of 10.1 inch-

es set in 1962, according to the weather service’s office in Kansas City, Missouri. In Kentucky, Louisville recorded 7.7 inches of snow on Sunday, a new record for the date that shattered the previous mark of 3 inches set in 1910.

Severe travel delays were expected to continue as the storm moved into the Mid-Atlantic, where another 6 inches to 12 inches of snow were expected, the weather service’s Weather Prediction Center warned. Dangerously cold temperatures were expected to follow, with nighttime lows falling into the single digits through the middle of the week across the Central Plains and into the Mississippi and Ohio Valley. In the Mid-Atlantic, lows were expected to fall into the teens with daytime highs near freezing.

A hard freeze was expected as far south as Florida. Winds downed trees around the Deep South on Sunday.

Air and rail travel also snarled

The storms caused havoc for the nation’s passenger railways with more than 20 cancellations Sunday and more than 40 planned Monday and two already planned on Tuesday.

“If local authorities are telling people not to travel, it’s counterintuitive to try to run a full slate of services when people are being told to stay home,” Amtrak spokesperson Marc Magliari said.

More than 1,400 flights were canceled and another 740 delayed nationwide on Monday morning, according to tracking platform FlightAware. Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport was reporting about 46% of arrivals and 59% of departures canceled.

Trump: Congress certifies win

Continued from A1

years. It is the tightest national security level possible.

Vice President Kamala Harris, presiding over proceedings as the role of the office, read the tally.

The chamber broke into applause, first Republicans for Trump, then Democrats for Harris.

The whole process happened swiftly and without unrest. One by one, the state results were read aloud by the tellers as senators and representatives sat in seats in the House chamber.

Vice President-elect JD Vance joined his former colleagues. Within half an hour the process was done.

No violence, protests or even procedural objections in Congress this time.

Republicans who challenged the 2020 election results when Trump lost to Democrat Joe Biden have no qualms this year after he defeatedHarris.

anomaly, the year Americans violently attacked their own government, or if this year’s expected calm becomes the outlier. The U.S. is struggling to cope with its political and cultural differences at a time when democracy worldwide is threatened. Trump calls Jan. 6, 2021, a “day of love.”

“We should not be lulled into complacency,” said Ian Bassin, executive director of the cross-ideological nonprofit Protect Democracy.

He and others have warned that returning to power an emboldened leader who has demonstrated his unwillingness to give up the office “is an unprecedentedly dangerous move for a free country

before, with the arrival of ceremonial mahogany boxes filled with the electoral certificates from the states — boxes that staff were frantically grabbing and protecting as Trump’s mob stormed the building last time.

Senators walked across the Capitol — which four years ago had filled with roaming rioters, some defecating and menacingly calling out for leaders, others engaging in hand-tohand combat with police — to the House to begin certifying the vote.

What’s unclear is if Jan. 6, 2021, was the anomaly, the year Americans violently attacked their own government, or if this year’s expected calm becomes the outlier. The U.S. is struggling to cope with its political and cultural differences at a time when democracy worldwide is threatened. Trump calls Jan. 6, 2021, a “day of love.”

to voluntarily take.”

And Democrats frustrated by Trump’s 312-226 Electoral College victory nevertheless accept the choice of the American voters. Even the winter snow blanketing the grounds didn’t interfere with Jan. 6, the day set by law to certify the vote.

Trump said in a Monday post online that Congress was certifying a “GREAT” election victory and called it “A BIG MOMENT IN HISTORY.”

The day’s return to a U.S. tradition that launches the peaceful transfer of presidential power comes with an asterisk as Trump prepares to take office in two weeks with a revived sense of authority. He denies that he lost four years ago, muses about staying beyond the Constitution’s twoterm White House limit and promises to pardon some of the more than 1,250 people who have pleaded guilty or were convicted of crimes for the Capitol siege.

What’s unclear is if Jan. 6, 2021, was the

Biden, speaking Sunday at events at the White House, said, “We’ve got to get back to the basic, normal transfer of power,” the president said. What Trump did last time, Biden said, “was a genuine threat to democracy. I’m hopeful we’re beyond that now.”

Still, American democracy has proven to be resilient, and Congress, the branch of government closest to the people, was coming together to affirm the choice of Americans.

With pomp and tradition, the day unfolded as it has countless times

Harris presided over the counting, as is the requirement for the vice president, and certify her own defeat — much the way Democrat Al Gore did in 2001 and Republican Richard Nixon in 1961. She stood at the dais where then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi was abruptly rushed to safety last time as the mob closed in and lawmakers fumbled to put on gas masks and flee, and shots rang out as police killed Ashli Babbitt, a Trump supporter trying to climb through a broken glass door toward the chamber.

The House chaplain, Margaret Kibben, who delivered a prayer during the mayhem four years ago, gave a simple request as the chamber opened to “shine your light in the darkness.”

There are new procedural rules in place in the aftermath of what happened four years ago, when Republicans parroting Trump’s lie that the election was fraudulent challenged the results their own states had certified.

Public notice

RE: Colt Energy, Inc. – Application for Waterflood Permit (Docket # E-34,564), for the JOHNSON Project located in the SW/4 of Section 11-24S-18E, Allen County, Kansas.

TO: All Oil & Gas Producers, Unleased Mineral Interest Owners, Landowners, and all persons whomsoever concerned. You, and each of you, are hereby notified that Colt Energy, Inc. has filed an application for a Waterflood Permit (Docket # E-34,564) for the JOHNSON Project located in the SW/4 of Sec 11 Twp 24S Rge 18E, Allen County, Kansas and to add the following wells:

the Johnson R-12 located 2467’ FSL & 3657’ FEL, the Johnson R-14 located 2160’ FSL & 3657’ FEL, the Johnson, D 24 located 1679’ FSL & 1241’ FWL, the Johnson, D 25 located 1761’ FSL & 1486’ FWL, the Johnson, D 26 located 1992’ FSL & 1718’ FWL and the Johnson, D 33 located 1254’ FSL & 3945’ FEL, all within Sec. 11-24S-18E, to request injection of salt water into the Bartlesville sand with depths from 852’-945’, a maximum operating pressure of 450 PSI and a maximum water injection rate of 180 barrels per day. This notice covers 6 injection wells, none of which will be used for injection that are closer to lease or unit boundary lines than allowed by field or general state spacing rules unless further notice is given.

Any person who objects to or protests this application shall be required to file their objections or protests with the Conservation

Division of the State Corporation Commission of the State of Kansas within 30 days from the date of this publication.

protests shall be filed

suant

TAKE DUE NOTICE

R&W Towing, LLC 1306 Belton, Iola, KS 66749

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Footer: (Published in The Iola Register July 12, 19 & 26, 2023.)

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Indonesia launches free meals program

Crest USD 479 is seeking bids for constructing a new asphalt parking lot.

Those interested in bidding should request a copy of the RFP and site plans from Superintendent Shane Walter via email at swalter@usd479.org.

Sealed bids are due on January 13, 2025.

ANDERSON COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE IS ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR

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We are looking to hire full-time detention o cers. The starting wage is $18.66 an hour, a possible increase for experience. You must have a high school diploma, or its equivalent, a valid driver’s license, and be able to pass drug screening, criminal background check, and general knowledge test. We work 12-hour shifts and o er health beneﬁts, paid vacation and sick days.

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JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Indonesia’s new government started an ambitious project on Monday to fight malnutrition by feeding nearly 90 million children and pregnant women that is expected to cost $28 billion through 2029, although critics question whether the program is affordable.

The Free Nutritious Meal program delivers on a campaign promise by President Prabowo Subianto, who was elected last year to lead the nation, which has more than 282 million people and Southeast Asia’s largest economy. He said the program aims to fight the stunting of growth that afflicts 21.5% of Indonesian children younger than

5 and would raise the income of farmers.

Subianto has pledged to accelerate GDP growth to 8% from 5% now. In his inauguration speech in October, Subianto said many children are malnourished. His promise to provide free school lunches and milk to 83 million students at more than 400,000 schools is part of a longer-term strategy to develop the nation’s human resources to achieve a “Golden Indonesia” generation by 2045.

“Too many of our brothers and sisters are below the poverty line, too many of our children go to school without breakfast and do not have clothes for school,” Subianto said.

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Police: Attacker recorded footage using smart glasses

NEW ORLEANS (AP)

— The man responsible for the truck attack in New Orleans on New Year’s Day that killed 14 people visited the city twice before and recorded video of the French Quarter with Meta smart glasses, an FBI official said Sunday.

Shamsud-Din Jabbar also traveled to Cairo and Canada before the attack although it was not yet clear whether those trips were connected to the attack, Deputy Assistant Director Christopher Raia said at a news conference. Federal officials believe Jabbar, a U.S. citizen and former U.S. Army soldier, was inspired by the Islamic State militant group to carry out the attack.

Police fatally shot Jabbar, 42, during an exchange of gunfire at the scene of the deadly crash of the rented pickup truck on Bourbon Street, famous worldwide for its festive vibes in New Orleans’ historic French Quarter.

Federal investigators so far believe Jabbar acted alone, but are continuing to explore his contacts.

“All investigative details and evidence that we have now still support that Jabbar acted alone here in New Orleans,” said Raia. “We have not seen any indications of an accomplice in the United States, but we are still looking into potential associates in the U.S. and outside of our borders.”

Lyonel Myrthil, FBI special agent in charge of the New Orleans Field Office, said Jabbar traveled to Cairo in the summer of 2023 and

CRYPTOQUOTES

then to the Canadian province of Ontario a few days later.

“Our agents are getting answers to where he went, who he met with and how those trips may or may not tie into his actions here,” Myrthil said.

ON OCT. 31, Myrthil said Jabbar used glasses from Meta to record video as he rode through the French Quarter on a bicycle as “he plotted this hideous attack.” He said Jabbar was also in New Orleans on Nov. 10.

He also wore the glasses capable of livestreaming during the attack, but Myrthil said Jabbar did not activate them.

The FBI released Jabbar’s recorded video from the planning trip to New Orleans as well as video showing him placing two containers with explosive devices in the French Quarter at around 2 a.m. shortly before the attack. One of the containers, a cooler, was moved a block away by someone uninvolved with the attack, officials said.

JABBAR PROCLAIMED support for the Islamic State militant group in online videos posted hours before he struck. It was the deadliest ISISinspired assault on U.S. soil in years, laying bare what federal officials have warned is a resurgent international terrorism threat.

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said that the country faces “not only the persistent threat of foreign terrorism” but “a significant increase in what we term homegrown violent extremism” in recent years.

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MISC.

MUTTS by Patrick McDonell

Tuesday, January 7, 2025

Lone wolf attacks show need for robust counterintelligence

As far as authorities can determine, the terrorist attack on New Orleans last week was an isolated incident. Only a single individual decided to plow into New Year’s Day revelers.

In information since discovered, he had been radicalized by the Islamic State terrorist group, better known as ISIS, over the past year.

Otherwise, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, age 42, gave no inkling he was disturbed.

He was a U.S. Army veteran living in Houston with a high-paying job in information technology security.

Fourteen have died from Jabbar driving his truck into a crowd with many others grievously wounded.

Research shows Jabbar planned for more carnage. His truck was loaded with guns and he had planted two explosive devices in coolers near the site of the attack which it appears he planned to detonate with a transmitter found in his truck.

Jabbar was shot dead by New Orleans police during the attack. In his rental truck was found an ISIS flag. And before the rampage he had sent family members videos saying he had become aligned with the terrorist group.

Jabbar was not, as President-elect Donald Trump claimed, an immigrant who had illegally crossed the U.S. border.

This violence was homegrown, and is the hardest nut to crack.

As columnist David Ignatius recently pointed out, you can’t destroy an idea. Something in its messaging made Jabbar switch his allegiance from the United States to ISIS.

In the 23 years since the terrorist attacks of 9/11, Americans have dropped their guard against terrorist attacks, which is a good thing.

It does no good to live in a state of fear.

Credit goes to the intelligence networks within the Federal Bureau of investigation, Department of Defense, and Central Intelligence Agency authorities who have done a remarkable job of finding such plots as Jabbar’s and stopping them in advance.

IN THE COMING WEEKS, members of the U.S. Senate will decide who will lead our national security institutions when they vet Trump’s cabinet appointments.

Kash Patel has been nominated to lead the FBI; Pete Hegseth the Department of Defense, and Tulsi Gabbard national intelligence. None have experience in counterterrorism.

Hegseth has been a conservative media personality for the past 14 years. Though he served in the National Guard, he’s since become critical of the military and urged pardons of those convicted of military crimes. Most importantly, Hegseth has never held any positions of leadership. The Defense Department has 3 million employees.

During her eight years in Congress, former Rep. Gabbard did not serve on any intelligence committees nor does she have experience in counterintelligence. Gabbard also served with the National Guard.

As for Patel, he’s declared that if appointed FBI director, his first job is to “dismantle” the agency beginning “Day 1.”

Patel’s biggest responsibility in handling national intelligence to date was to manage a staff of 12 as a senior director with the National Security Council. The FBI has 35,000 employees.

AS THEY VET these nominees, U.S. Senators owe their allegiance to Americans, not whoever sits as president. Our safety is at stake.

— Susan Lynn

~ Journalism that makes a difference

The Iola Register

Trump’s pardon promise for rioters

Does it include the ex-meth trafficker who brought a metal baton and swung it at police?

President Trump can’t change what happened four years ago on Jan. 6, when a mob of his supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol in an impossible effort to undo his 2020 election loss.

Soon, though, Mr. Trump will get the power to extricate the riot’s participants from the legal consequences of their actions. How far will he go? “A vast majority should not be in jail,” he said recently.

Scanning the latest case activity, what jumps out isn’t sympathetic characters.

On Dec. 20 a prison sentence of 48 months was given to 31-year-old Joshua Lee Atwood, who pleaded guilty to assaulting law enforcement. He emptied a can of pepper spray at police, beat them with a pole, and pelted them with objects such as a “metal scaffolding pipe.” He yelled that the cops were “pieces of s—” and “betraying your country.”

The prosecution’s sentencing memo says his criminal history includes a pending felony case for an alleged 2023 stabbing.

police line, punching cops, and walloping riot shields with a baseball bat.

***

This was the brutal reality of the Capitol riot that many want to forget.

At times Mr. Trump suggests his pardons for Jan. 6 defendants won’t extend so far, and at times he’s less clear. He was pressed last month by an NBC host, who said that many of them “have pleaded guilty to assaulting police.” Mr. Trump’s reply was that a tough federal justice system gave them “no choice” but to plead out.

Well, if they were innocent, they could have told a jury.

Pardoning such crimes would contradict Mr. Trump’s support for law and order, and it would send an awful message about his view of the acceptability of political violence done on his behalf.

That’s what Jan. 6 was, make no mistake.

Pardoning such crimes would contradict Mr. Trump’s support for law and order, and it would send an awful message about his view of the acceptability of political violence done on his before.

varies widely, as do the sentences, which run from probation and fines to years in prison. As of early November, 1,028 cases had been fully adjudicated, with 645 resulting in incarceration and 143 home detention. The volume and range of cases make it difficult to generalize, and each individual court file tells a story. As is typical, defendants who admit wrongdoing and take a plea deal can get less punishment than those who lack remorse, lie to a jury, and get convicted. Some Jan. 6 rioters were organized with the Proud Boys or other groups. Some were in the vanguard of breaching the building. Some reveled at the violence and intimated more to come. Rap sheets differ. Even if Mr. Trump restricts his clemency to nonviolent offenses, he’d do well to examine the details.

***

A look back in t me.

55 Years Ago January 1960

A new dress code adopted by the Iola High School Student Council goes into effect Jan. 25. According to the code, girls should not attend school with their hair pinned up and they should not wear scarves in the classroom. Sweatshirts are considered to be gym clothing and not appropriate for classroom wear. Plain T-shirts, commonly considered to be underclothing, shall not be substituted for shirts unless tucked into the trousers and worn only during warm weather. All clothing shall fit properly, being large enough to provide freedom of movement and to avoid an appearance of undue tightness. Jeans and slacks are eliminated altogether for girls. All extreme haircuts or bleaches that attract attention to the point of disrupting classroom work are prohibited.

*****

Lake Bassola was a mirror of ice yesterday and several hundred juvenile skaters put it to good use before the day was over.

*****

David L. Robinson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Robinson, is one of 11 young men to be nominated for the U.S. Air Force Academy for 1960, it was announced today by Rep. Newell A. George.

***** Construction of a brick structure to house the famed courthouse clock will soon begin by Andrew Walden, Iola bricklayer and contractor. The walls will be of Iola Red Sand Face brick, which also were used for the walls in the courthouse museum. Since the clock was taken down last February, the dismantled clock has been stored in the old jail on Jefferson.

Principal Floyd Smith said these rules are less strict than in most SEK schools.

On Dec. 17 a 60-month sentence was given to Michael Bradley, 50, who apparently went to the Capitol on Jan. 6 with his own metal baton in a hip holster. He swung it at police more than once, though video at his trial couldn’t conclusively prove whether he made contact.

The government also says he lied to the FBI and at trial. He claimed it was really a flashlight holster on his hip, but the one he brought to court didn’t match the footage. His list of priors includes a 2002 conviction for meth trafficking.

Also in December: A 24-year-old man got nine months for having thrown an “equipment container lid” that beaned a cop, causing momentary loss of consciousness and a suspected concussion.

A 41-year-old man, who wore body armor on Jan. 6, pleaded guilty to scuffling with police, including trying to seize an officer’s baton while shouting, “Come out here b—.”

Other active cases include accusations of ramming the

Though the GOP had valid complaints about the loosening of voting procedures amid Covid, Mr. Trump lost in 2020 by three states and tens of thousands of votes.

His advisers repeatedly told him there was no evidence of massive ballot fraud. Yet he insisted the election was stolen and that Vice President Mike Pence could halt the count on Jan. 6.

That’s why he sent his supporters toward the Capitol.

The size of swirling crowds is tricky to estimate, but the acting head of the U.S. Capitol Police testified the month after Jan. 6 that the number converging on the building was “well in excess of 10,000.”

The U.S. Attorney’s office in D.C. “generally has not charged” those whose only crime was trespass on restricted grounds, declining “hundreds” of cases, the FBI recently said. Press reports have suggested prosecutors believe that up to 2,500 people entered the Capitol.

The feds have charged about 1,600, including at least 590 accused of “assaulting or impeding law enforcement.” The alleged conduct

On Dec. 6 a prison sentence of 12 months was given to Philip Sean Grillo, 50, for a jury conviction of four misdemeanors. He isn’t accused of specific violence, but he was at the Capitol early with a bullhorn, yelling, “Charge!” He climbed into the building through a broken window and was part of a group that pushed past police to open doors for others. He smoked marijuana inside. He was no lost tourist.

“I’m here to stop the steal,” he said. Later: “We f— did it, baby, you understand? We stormed the Capitol!”

Sentencing him was Judge Royce Lamberth, a Reagan appointee. “Having read dozens of indictments related to January 6,” he wrote, “I can say confidently: nobody has been prosecuted for protected First Amendment activity. Nobody is being held hostage. Nobody has been made a prisoner of conscience. Every rioter is in the situation he or she is in because he or she broke the law, and for no other reason.”

As Mr. Grillo was preparing to be led off by U.S. Marshals, CNN reports he shouted a final word: “Trump’s gonna pardon me anyways.”

— Wall Street Journal

An estimated 10,000 Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 in an attempt to prevent Congress from confirming Joe Biden as president. Many clashed with police and security forces as they breeched the Capitol. President-elect Donald Trump has said he will pardon many of those convicted of crimes related to the attack. (BRENT STIRTON/GETTY IMAGES/ TNS)

Farm and Home

Deportations affect meat economy

By FRANK MORRIS Kansas News Service

Raising cattle is tough. Nearly every day, Kansas ranchers and feedlot operators have to wrestle with drought, disease or blizzards. But the biggest problem is labor — the industry is chronically short-handed. That is especially true in southwest Kansas.

“If the immigrants weren’t there to help out, there wouldn’t be an operation functional in any of those places,” said Micheal Feltman, an immigration attorney in Cimarron, Kansas, just west of Dodge City.

Feltman helps the feedlots and mega dairy farms near there find workers. He said people funneling into southwest Kansas, from at least 40 countries, are the lifeblood of the beef industry and the regional economy.

Close to half the people who process meat in the U.S. were born someplace else, and immigrants do much of the work feeding and tending animals. Most of these workers are here legally, but a significant percentage aren’t, and documented immigrants often support close family members living with them illegally.

That’s why President-elect Donald Trump’s promises of a sweeping crackdown on immigration, sealing the border, and deporting 11 million people have many people in the meat industry worried. Mass deportations would trigger a cascade of hardships across the chronically shortstaffed meat industry, Feltman said. Processing plants would slow down, causing meat shortages that economists worry would drive consumer prices to record highs. Farmers would find themselves with more livestock than they could sell or care for, and the value of their animals would plummet.

“If every immigrant … over the last 20 years disappeared immediately, it would be a ghost town,” Feltman said. “I don’t know how the businesses would survive.”

FOR ONE recent Haitian immigrant, who said she was afraid to divulge her name because she fled hunger and horrific violence at home, the stakes seem like life and death. The woman and her 4-yearold daughter made their way to Garden City three months ago. They’re here on temporary humanitarian parole. That gives her two years to apply for asylum.

She’s still waiting to be granted a work permit, but said she’d be willing to do any kind of labor, including the dangerous, uncomfortable, smelly jobs at the Tyson packing plant on the outskirts of town. Through an interpreter, she said she’s following the letter of the law

Feedlots increasingly turn to immigrants, legal or otherwise, willing to do the hard, often uncomfortable work of

to stay in the U.S., and has an appointment for a screening that should clear the way for her work visa, and financial independence.

“It will bring me a lot of joy,” she said. “Because I have a kid to take care of, I have myself, and if I could invest in the country, it would bring me a lot of joy.”

Given Trump’s rhetoric during the election and since, she now fears she’ll be sent back to the violent chaos in Haiti instead of joining a workforce that badly needs her.

“It’s not safe. The gangs are killing people,” she said.

DESPITE HEFTY pay hikes for meat processing workers in recent years, the industry cannot hire people

If every immigrant over the last 20 years disappeared immediately, it would be a ghost town. I don’t know how the businesses would survive.

— Micheal Feltman

fast enough. In places like southwest Kansas, employers say there aren’t nearly enough native-born people willing to show up reliably and do the hard, dirty work necessary in the meat industry.

The complicated immigration system doesn’t allow in enough legal immigrants to make up the difference, so some companies turn to undocumented workers to get by.

University of Arkansas economist Jada Thompson said mass deportations would exacerbate the problem, sending shockwaves up and down the meat supply chain. For one thing, deporting meat-packing workers would slow down the plants, triggering shortages.

“I think we’re going to see higher prices (for) the retail (customer),” said Thompson.

But farmers wouldn’t see any gains from soaring retail prices, she said, because there would be too many animals in the system for the meat processors to use, a glut building daily as more pigs and cows mature.

“I think you’ll end up eventually seeing low-

Staying safe during winter

This time of year, typically it is pretty slow in the ag industry. The two main activities are livestock care and equipment maintenance. These everyday run-of-themill things that seem like just another day in the life of farmers and ranchers can be dangerous at times. As your Extension Agricultural Agent, I feel that we all need to be reminded, every now and then, to be careful as you tend to your livestock and as you work on your equipment.

er prices (for) farmers,” said Thompson, “because it will eventually be oversupply because, effectively, they just can’t harvest that many animals.”

THOMPSON SAID the same thing happened a few years ago, but it wasn’t an immigration crackdown causing the labor shortage — it was the COVID pandemic.

“And what happened in that supply chain?” Thompson asked. “It backed it up. Prices went up. All of a sudden, you had people with pigs and cows that could not go to market because there was nowhere for them to be slaughtered.”

Those animals still had to be fed, and they still needed space to live in, but nobody wanted to buy them for meat, meaning farmers were spending extra money every day to keep more pigs and cows alive. Eventually, some farmers had to cut their losses, shoot their livestock and bury it. Everybody loses.

Kansas State University economist Glynn Tonsor said losses like those would spread broadly through southwest Kansas towns that depend on big feedlots, dairies and packing houses.

“They very often are one of the largest employers and local tax generators, so there’s relevant implications for funding of schools, funding of libraries, funding of anything you want to talk about that’s publicly funded in local areas,” said Tonsor.

It’s not clear yet how Trump administration deportations will work, if they happen at all, but Kansas Livestock Association CEO Matt Teagarden hopes they move slowly, and that they somehow shield the immigrant-dependent meat industry.

Teagarden said he believes border security should be tightened, but he’d like the system of granting work visas streamlined, not shackled. It’s either import people or import food.

“One of the alternatives is our food production goes overseas or moves outside the country,” said Teagarden. “If we don’t have an adequate workforce, can’t produce the food that we all want each day, each week, each month, that food production will go elsewhere.”

According to the 2022, census the average age of Kansas farmers is now 58.2 years of age. This means that slips, trips, and falls become a main concern for producers. This winter we could see some moisture and freezing temperatures that will increase the likelihood of falling while tending to your livestock. Examples include:

• Slipping in the mud or on ice

• Slipping on the steps getting in and out of the truck or tractor

• Tripping over frozen clods of dirt

• Losing your balance when carrying buckets of feed

• Getting knocked down by livestock trying to get to the feed source

One reason the probability increases is we tend to layer up our clothing to stay warm, which is necessary when working in winter conditions. The problem with this is the more layers and heavier the clothing you have on, the more it will decrease your range of motion and restrict your ability to maintain your balance.

Working in the shop on equipment requires producers and employees to be more proactive when it comes to safety. A wise investment for anyone working in a shop is the proper

Lonnie Mengarelli

Extension Agent for Agriculture

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

We all know how expensive hospital visits can be. Spending a couple hundred dollars on PPE is less expensive than a trip to the emergency room. PPE items I strongly encourage producers to wear when working in the shop are:

• Safety glasses

• Leather gloves

• Long sleeve shirts

• Jeans

• Solid toe boots with slip resistant soles

• Ear plugs that do not need to be smashed or earmuffs

ALONG WITH proper PPE a clean shop is a safe shop. Pick up slip-and-trip hazards such as spills, extension cords and hoses when not in use, and put tools away when finished. Keep all hot work, like welding, away from flammable materials (oil, fuel, cleaners, etc.). The OSHA standard is a minimum of 50 feet

and in a flammable storage cabinet. You also need to check to make sure all electrical equipment is properly grounded and all cords are free from any rips and tears that may expose the wires.. I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. This month, K-State Research and Extension will be very active in putting on several programs throughout the southeast area. I will be hosting a four day coffee shop discussion in four different locations across the Southwind District that will be producer led. It is called Growers’ Grind. I would love to sit down and visit with you and answer any questions you may have. Feel free to reach out for more information.

On a final note, in the ag industry we know how precious life can be. One second everything is good, and the next tragedy can strike. Do your part to stay safe out there.

Lonnie Mengarelli is a K-State Research and Extension Agriculture agent assigned to Southwind District. He may be reached at mengo57@ksu.edu or 620223-3720

caring for large animals. KANSAS NEWS SERVICE/FILE

Storm: Bitterly cold temperatures ahead

Anderson and Linn counties, were without power Sunday morning into the late afternoon.

Crews from Evergy and Heartland were making repairs as of late Sunday night.

“All things considered with how things are going statewide, we’re looking pretty good in Allen County,” Trego said.

Conditions were worse to the north, and highways across the state were closed by Sunday night.

As of Monday morning, many were starting to reopen. I-70 was opened between Hays and Salina mid-Monday morning, but other sections remain closed. The Kansas Department of Transportation sent out alerts multiple times over the weekend, urging motorists to avoid travel.

A few slide-off accidents were reported to the Allen County Sheriff’s Department, but no serious injuries. Daren Kellerman with the sheriff’s department said deputies worked four accidents. All passengers were wearing seatbelts and only one minor injury was reported. A vehicle apparently slid off the road near 1710 Nevada Road, southeast of Iola, and took out 50 feet of fence, but left the scene without contacting the landowner or law enforcement.

Iola did not send crews to plow streets because of the freezing temperatures, Rehder said. Road treatment chemicals don’t work well in freezing temperatures, and any melted moisture would simply refreeze, he said.

“It’s more about traction, and we’re getting enough traction on the roads,” he said Monday morning. “There’s a little more traffic today. When temperatures get above freezing, then

we can melt the ice, but right now it doesn’t make sense.”

Kellerman said deputies saw few motorists on the road and most appeared to drive cautiously. He gave credit to emergency dispatch operators, who received numerous calls about downed power lines, snapped poles and tree branches in the streets.

“We would like to recognize our dispatchers for doing great work like they always do, but also the citizens, and most especially those utility workers who put in a lot of long hours just to get everyone back up and running,” Kellerman said. “We know it can be frustrating being out of power, but it seemed everyone was pretty patient as they knew others around the country had it much worse.”

IOLA STUDENTS were supposed to return to classes Monday after the winter break, but school was canceled because of the conditions.

Humboldt and Marmaton Valley schools planned in-service days Monday but also canceled those.

Meals on Wheels delivery also was canceled Monday.

City Hall, though, re mained open and city employees were on

duty. Trash service continued as expected.

The Recreation Center at Riverside Park is open during regular business hours and can be used as a heating center for those in need, Rehder said.

Trego said he has not received requests to open a warming center, particularly as power has been restored countywide. If that changes, emergency crews can maneuver quickly to respond, he said.

He encouraged res idents to remain cau tious as cold tempera tures continue.

“Stay off the roads if travel isn’t absolutely necessary,” he said.

If you live in Iola and experience a power out age, Trego recommends you text the emergency dispatch 911 center at 620-365-1437, to report the incident rather than call. Call 911 in the event of a medical or other emergency.

A WINTRY sleet, rain and ice began to fall over the coun ty Saturday afternoon before turning to snow Sunday.

Temperatures dipped to a low of 6 degrees Fahrenheit overnight

Bitterly cold temperatures are expected to continue through the week, according to the National Weather Service.

Tuesday’s high is expected to be 20 degrees, with a low of 3 and wind chills around -6 degrees.

By Saturday, temperatures will reach 36 degrees with a low around 22.

Temperatures are likely to remain in the 30s for the near future.

Biden urges Democrats to reach across the aisle

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Sunday called on incoming Democratic lawmakers who will govern in the minority to always be mindful of other people’s perspectives — even when they may be wrong.

At a reception meant to welcome new, mostly young, Democratic lawmakers to Washington, the nation’s oldest and outgoing Democratic president — reflective as he shared some war stories of his past and pointed to challenges ahead — urged the new generation of legislators to listen and work across the aisle.

“We don’t do that anymore,” he said in the White House State Room. “The single greatest loss we have is that we don’t know each other anymore.”

The new slate of roughly 30 Democratic lawmakers arrive prepared to be in the minority in the executive and legislative branches. Democrats faced a crushing loss in the 2024 general election — after Vice President and Democratic nominee Kamala Harris lost her bid for the presidency. Republicans also maintained control of the House in the November election and won a narrow majority in the Senate.

New incoming lawmakers on Sunday ex-

pressed hope they can make a difference.

California Rep. Sam Liccardo, a former San Jose mayor, told The Associated Press that while he expects limitations as a new Democratic member of Congress, he believes there will be opportunities to make change by focusing on common areas of agreement.

“I’m not expecting as a first-term member I will be the one to cut the deal on the border,” he said. “On the other hand, there are other issues like housing costs, low-income housing tax credits, where there is a relative consensus to build a majority.”

At the reception, Biden recalled his entry to Washington more than 50 years ago. He was just 29 when he was first elected to Congress in 1972, having ousted longtime incumbent Republican Caleb Boggs. At the time of his election, Biden didn’t meet the Senate’s minimum age requirement but turned 30 a couple of weeks after he won his race.

He talked about the importance of building relationships with lawmakers across the aisle. “You don’t have to give up your principles to build relationships,” Biden said.

Ice wraps around pine needles near the downtown square.

A plow truck travels through downtown Iola Sunday. Traffic was minimal through the winter storm. REGISTER/TIM STAUFFER

Sports Daily B

MV tops

Chetopa

CHETOPA — It didn’t take long for Marmaton Valley High to find its shooting touch Friday.

The Wildcats emerged from the holiday break with a hot-shooting hand, draining 10 3-pointers in an 80-38 win.

The victory lifts the Wildcats to 4-1 with a road tilt at Oswego set for Tuesday.

Marmaton Valley’s Jaedon Granere was the early catalyst, scoring 11 points in the first quarter as the Wildcats roared to a 21-7 lead after one quarter. The lead grew to 43-

See MV | Page B4

Tuesday, January 7, 2025

Crest fends off Southeast

By RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register

COLONY — Crest High head coach Dakotah Sporing promised anyone who would listen that Lancer freshman Kole Walter was going to make an impact on the team, sooner rather than later.

Visiting Southeast of Cherokee didn’t need any convincing.

Walter scored 23 points, including a critical 3-point play in the final minute as Crest opened the 2025 portion of its schedule with a 60-56 victory.

“As much of a breakout game could be, that was it,” Sporing said. “He controlled the game the whole way.”

It was Walter whose 3-pointer late in the first quarter pushed Crest ahead for good, 11-9.

It was Walter’s spinning layup early in the third quarter, after Southeast had shaved a nine-point deficit to three. A few minutes later, he converted a 3-point play to stretch the lead to 39-27.

Southeast didn’t go away quietly, taking advantage of Crest miscues against its full-court press.

“They weren’t turning

See CREST | Page B3

CHS rally comes up short

By RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register

COLONY — A cold start doomed Crest High’s girls Friday. The Lady Lancers struggled finding their stride

At left, Crest HIgh’s Aylee Beckmon (5) corrals the ball against Southeast Friday. REGISTER/RICHARD LUKEN

against Southeast’s pressure defense.

Southeast, conversely, rode some hot shooting from Eliz White and Teagan Warner on the way to a 4942 victory.

The loss drops Crest to 3-3 with a matchup against Jayhawk-Linn slated for Tuesday.

“Give Southeast credit,”

See CHS | Page B2

Yates Center boys rally but fall to Jets in overtime

BUFFALO — After a spirited comeback erased a 12-point halftime deficit, Yates Center High’s Wildcats scored in the waning seconds to force overtime at Altoona-Midway Friday.

But Yates Center’s offense went cold in the overtime as Altoona-Midway outscored the Wildcats 11-3 in a 48-40 victory.

“Moving forward, we must improve defensively and stay in front of our man,” Yates Center head coach Lane Huffman said. “Offensively we just need to approach each possession with patience and confidence.”

Altoona-Midway took advantage with a 13-2 second-quarter run to lead 2311 at the break.

“Early in the game, we had

a lot of unforced turnovers,” Huffman said. “They played a zone, and we struggled to attack and make good passes. Shots weren’t falling at a high rate, and I expected that coming off the winter break.”

As the game progressed, Yates Center found gaps in the Buffalo defense and began to hit its shots.

A putback layup from Evan McVey sent the game into overtime.

Ben Cook and Gavin Busteed paced Yates Center with 18 and 10 points, respectively. McVey was next with eight. Jarrett Birk, Colton Burkholder and Marcus Cummings scored two points each.

Yates Center returns to action Tuesday at home against Chetopa.

Yates Center High’s Evan

(4) puts up a shot in a game earlier

BUFFALO — Yates Center High’s girls picked up their first win of the 2024-25 season in dramatic fashion Friday. The Wildcats’ McKynzee Burkholder was fouled after a 3-point attempt in the waning seconds. She hit two of the charities to break a 19-19 tie and give Yates Center a 21-19 victory. The host Jets were able to get off a desperation 3-point attempt at the buzzer, but it

See YC | Page B2

Crest High’s Denton Ramsey (1) puts up a shot in front of Southeast defender Colten Jameson (4) Friday. REGISTER/RICHARD LUKEN

McVey

this season. REGISTER/RICHARD LUKEN

Marmaton Valley High’s Ethan Lawson, left, puts up a shot while being defended by Chetopa’s Jackson Lewallin Friday. PHOTO BY HALIE LUKEN/MVHS

Yates Center High’s McKynzee Burkholder puts up a shot in a game in December.

Denver blasts KC as Chiefs rest starters

By ARNIE STAPLETON The Associated Press

DENVER (AP) — Bo Nix celebrated the end of Denver’s eight-year playoff drought with a bunch of new friends.

The rookie quarterback circled Empower Field while handing out high-fives to fans after he passed for 321 yards and four touchdowns in a 38-0 rout of the Kansas City Chiefs’ bevy of backups on Sunday.

“I learned I’ve got to run a little more during the week because that’s a long lap,” Nix said. “I was a little tired at the end. But the fans deserve it, it’s been a long time coming.”

Denver (10-7) buried nearly a decade’s worth of futility and frustrations by returning to the postseason party for the first time since winning Super Bowl 50 following the 2015 season.

The Broncos will visit Buffalo (13-4) for a wildcard game Sunday after handing the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs their first shutout since Dec. 16, 2012, at Oakland.

Nix went 26 for 29 while setting franchise records for completion percentage (89.7) and most completions to start a game (18).

“It’s fun to clinch a playoff spot in the last game of the year against

a divisional team,” said Nix, who also set an NFL record with 19 touchdown throws at home in his rookie season. “But now playoff time starts, and our goal wasn’t just to make the playoffs, even though it hadn’t been done in a while.”

Having already secured the AFC’s No. 1 seed and sole firstround bye in their quest for an unprecedented three-peat, Chiefs coach Andy Reid sat Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and a host of other starters.

“My hat goes off to Denver. Great opportunity for them to get into the playoffs and did

Crest High’s Jaycee Schmidt (1) and Southeast’s Camryn Sanders (30) leap for the ball Friday. REGISTER/RICHARD LUKEN

CHS: Rally comes up short

Continued from B1

Crest head coach Steve Zimmerman said. “Their press gave us problems and got us out of rhythm. We couldn’t get into our offense, but we had our chances.” Southeast broke out of the gates to lead 16-5 before Crest’s Jaycee Schmidt hit a pair of 3-pointers early in the second quarter to pull CHS back to within 1613. But Southeast’s White drilled a 3-pointer to end the first half to push the lead to 23-15. Southeast then opened the second half with a quick six-point run to push its lead to 29-15.

Cursten Allen caught

fire for Crest in the second half. She drilled a 3-pointer midway through the third quarter before Kinley Edgerton added four points late in the period to slice the deficit to 34-26.

Allen scored eight points in the fourth quarter and Karlee Boots added six as Crest closed the gap to five down the stretch, but Southeast hit just enough free throws late — 9 of 16 in the fourth quarter — to stay safely in front.

“That’s one thing about these girls,” Zimmerman said. “They never quit. We’ll recover from this.”

Allen scored 12 points and Schmidt scored 10

to lead Crest. Boots and Edgerton added nine and seven points, respectively. Warner’s 14 points led Southeast, while White added 12 and Bella Tavernaro scored 11.

(16-7-11-15—49)

a nice job today,” Reid said. “Sean (Payton) has done a good job with that group. A positive for us we got to play a lot of young guys. That experience is invaluable, especially against a good football team.”

Carson Wentz got the start at quarterback and fizzled in his first extended action since Week 18 with the Rams last season. He was 10 of 17 for 98 yards and was sacked four times by the league’s best pass rush (62 sacks).

“We didn’t play great as a team. I didn’t play my best, either,” Wentz said. “Move on from this one pretty quick. It was fun to get out there, give myself and a lot of guys a chance to just go out there and compete. But obviously they were the better team today.” Denver beat Kansas City (15-2) for just the second time in the last 19 games between the teams.

Nix’s four TD passes gave him 29 for the season, second-most by a rookie in NFL history, behind only Justin Herbert’s 31 in 2020. He hit Marvin Mims twice, Courtland Sutton (five times for 98 yards) and Devaughn Vele for scores.

Vele’s TD was intended for Adam

YC

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was off the mark. The win came after a spirited comeback for the Wildcats, who trailed 12-5 at halftime.

Yates Center’s Cayten Cummings took over in the third quarter, scoring 10 in the period as the Wildcats clawed their way back into the game. Cummings wound up scoring 17 of Yates Center’s 20 points. Burkholder had the other four.

Yates Center (16) is back in action at home Tuesday against Oswego before traveling to Oswego for another showdown on Friday.

Trautman but ricocheted off cornerbacks

Nazeeh Johnson (twice) and Keith Taylor before Vele cradled the catch just before tumbling out of the back of the end zone, extending Denver’s lead to 21-0.

“Vele ran the wrong route,” Nix said, “but he didn’t give up on the play. ... Actually, it was perfect. I’m glad he did exactly what he did and he got a touchdown out of it.”

That wild conclusion capped an 18-play, 89yard drive that lasted more than 11 minutes, keeping Wentz cooling his cleats on the sideline next to Mahomes, who was decked out in a white hoodie.

“It felt like it lasted forever,” Payton said.

The Chiefs certainly concurred.

After Harrison Butker was wide left on a 51-yard field goal — his first miss in 18 tries at Empower Field at Mile High — Wil Lutz gave Denver a 24-0 halftime lead by nailing a 33-yarder with 3 seconds left that came right after Nix’s first incompletion, to a wideopen Javonte Williams.

“I’ll kick myself for a while for not going 19

for 19 and hitting Javon for a touchdown,” Nix said.

The Chiefs won’t play again until Jan. 18 or 19, meaning Mahomes, who last played on Christmas Day, and other stars who sat this one out will have at least 24 days between games.

Denver’s playoff drought was the longest for a team after raising the Lombardi Trophy by four years.

The Broncos’ clincher came 3,255 days after Von Miller led them to a 24-10 win over the Carolina Panthers on Feb. 7, 2016, and their reward as the AFC’s seventh seed is a trip to face Miller next weekend.

“Man, we look forward to the challenge,” Payton said.

The Bills were the only other team to beat Kansas City this season, 30-21 in Week 11.

The Chiefs’ loss ended their six-game win streak but eliminated the prospect of them having to possibly face Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow at some point in the playoffs.

The Chiefs planned on staying in Denver for the night because of a winter storm that also delayed their flight into Colorado for several hours Saturday.

Injuries

Chiefs DB Chamarri Conner (shoulder) was injured in the first half and didn’t return. Also sitting out for Kansas City were RB Isiah Pacheco (ribs), RT Jawaan Taylor (knee), CB Jaylen Watson (ankle), WR Mecole Hardman (knee), DE George Karlaftis, CB Trent McDuffie and DT Chris Jones (calf), among others.

The Broncos head into the playoffs as healthy as they’ve been all season.

Bo Nix (10) of the Denver Broncos runs against the Kansas City Chiefs Sunday in Denver. THE DENVER POST/AARON ONTIVEROZ/TNS

TCU scores last seven to stun K-State

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Noah Reynolds scored 18 points and made the go-ahead basket during TCU’s game-ending 7-0 run to defeat Kansas State 6362 on Saturday.

Reynolds worked off the dribble from the left side to the right, ducked inside and hit a onehander off the glass for the go-ahead basket with 12.8 seconds remaining.

A 3-pointer from Max Jones gave the Wild-

cats a 62-56 lead near the 3-minute mark of the second half but the Wildcats did not score again. A tip-in by Vasean Allette and a 3 from Brendan Wenzel made it 62-61 with 1:17 left.

Coleman Hawkins missed in the paint for Kansas State, then blocked a layup at the other end. David N’Guessan rebounded, was fouled and missed the front end of the one-and-one with 24 seconds left.

Reynolds then put the Horned Frogs ahead and K-State’s Dug McDaniel was unable to finish a contested layup before time ran out during the battle for the rebound.

Allette and Trazarien White each scored 14 points for TCU (8-5, 1-1 Big 12) and Ernest Udeh Jr. grabbed 12 rebounds.

N’Guessan had 17 rebounds and scored 10 points for K-State (7-6, 1-1). McDaniel scored 12 points, Coleman Haw-

kins 11 and Brendan Hausen 10.

TCU pushed its three-point halftime lead to six points early in the second half before Kansas State took the lead at 45-43 with 11 minutes remaining. The Wildcats held the lead for close to 11 minutes before Reynolds’ game-winner.

TCU improved to 8-0 at home and Kansas State’s road losing streak reached 51 weeks and 11 games.

Jaguars fire Pederson after 4-13 season

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Doug Pederson is out as Jacksonville’s head coach after the franchise’s “best team assembled” won just four games.

Jaguars owner Shad Khan fired Pederson on Monday, a day after a 26-23 loss at Indianapolis in overtime. It was the team’s 18th loss in its last 23 games. But Khan kept general manager Trent Baalke, a questionable decision that surely will affect who will become Jacksonville’s next coach. Khan made the move with one year remaining on Pederson’s contract. The decision came more than five months after Khan stood in front of coaches and players and declared this the “best team assembled by the Jacksonville Jaguars ever.”

“Winning now” was Khan’s edict as training camp opened and after he committed nearly half a billion dollars to to signing quarterback Trevor Lawrence, pass rusher Josh Hines-Allen and cornerback Tyson Campbell to long-term deals in the offseason. It was the most expensive stretch of roster building in franchise history.

Kole Walter (4) dribbles between a pair of Southeast defenders Friday. Walter scored 23 points in Crest’s 60-56 victory. REGISTER/RICHARD LUKEN

Crest: Wards off Southeast rally

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us over, but they were speeding us up,” Sporing said.

Tyler Warner scored on back-to-back possessions as Crest pulled to within 52-50 with 3 ½ minutes left in the game.

Gentry McGhee responded with a free throw for Crest, Jacob Zimmerman followed with a steal, and Walter’s baseline jumper pushed Crest back ahead 55-50.

Southeast had one final salvo.

Garrett Burger’s basket sliced Crest’s lead to three before Zayne Gabern stole the inbound pass, leading to another Warner layup, and suddenly Crest’s lead was 57-56 with about 35 seconds left.

After a timeout, Walter drove to the basket, absorbed the foul and drained the running jumper. His subsequent free throw made it a four-point lead with 24 seconds left.

“That’s as good as I’ve seen someone play for us in a long time,” Sporing said.

Southeast missed twice from 3-point range on its next possession and Crest was able to run out the clock. Not to be lost in the shuffle was Zimmerman’s play inside against Southeast’s towering front line.

Zimmerman scored

13 points with 14 rebounds and three blocks.

“Jacob was very strong for us on the glass,” Sporing said. “That was big for us.”

Levi Prasko and Lane Yocham added eight points each. Walter, Denton Ramsey and Henry White each had three steals. Ramsey also had three assists.

Sporing carried high praise for Crest’s raucous cheering section, which didn’t take long to get back into mid-season form following the holiday break.

“Our student section has always been one of

Yocham and Koiy

Miller added three and one point, respectively.

Jayhawks blast Central Florida

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Hunter Dickinson scored 21 of his 27 points in the first half and No. 7 Kansas posted the second-largest margin of victory in program history Sunday, beating UCF 99-48 in a Big 12 matchup. Dickinson, a 7-foot-2 senior center, shot 12 for 17 from the field and had nine rebounds while limiting UCF’s Moustapha Thiam, a 7-2 freshman who was slowed by foul trouble, to four points.

Flory Bidunga had 12 points and five rebounds, Rylan Griffen scored 14 points and Dajuan Harris Jr. and AJ Storr each had 11 for the Jayhawks (103, 1-1).

Kansas went on a 23-8 run after Thiam’s second foul in the first half and held UCF without a field goal for more than seven minutes. The Knights missed 11 straight shots during that run and made only three of their final 19 shots in the first half. UCF shot 20.6% in the game and was 7 for 30 from 3-point distance.

Keyshawn Hall had 12 points on 4-for-17 shooting as UCF (10-3, 1-1) suffered its worst home loss.

Takeaways Kansas: Bounced back from a 62-61 loss to West Virginia in its Big 12 opener. UCF: The Knights have plenty of length and athleticism, yet looked outclassed after an impressive win over Texas Tech in their conference opener.

Key moment UCF was down 30 midway through the second half when Kansas had some emphatic plays. Bidunga blocked a jumper and scored a runout dunk. After a steal on the next possession, Kansas got a 3-pointer from Griffen to make it a 77-38 lead with about eight minutes to play.

Key stat Kansas dominated the interior with 22 offensive rebounds and 37 second-chance points.

Up next Both teams have Big 12 games Wednesday. Kansas hosts Arizona State and UCF welcomes Colorado.

the best in our league, in our area,” Sporing said. “I tell them thanks, because they’ve won us some games. They may have helped us win tonight.”

Now, it’s up to Crest to build on its early momentum.

“I told the guys we have a decent chance to take a winning streak into the Iola tournament,” which begins the week of Jan. 21.

Southeast emerged with a 40-20 junior varsity win. Max Disbrow scored seven points for Crest’s JV, followed by Charlie Slyter with five and Roy Gordon with