The Iola Register, Aug. 5, 2023

50 years: Pharmacy is family

By VICKIE MOSS The Iola Register

There are many reasons why Iola Pharmacy feels like a family for founder Jim Arnott.

In the early years after he and partner Bret Lawrence purchased the former Cooksey’s Drug Store in 1973, Arnott found himself spending nearly all of his time at work. They had a vision for the business, and it took a lot of effort.

During the day, he and Lawrence managed both the downtown pharmacy and hospital pharmacy, then took turns making home deliveries in the evenings.

“I was fortunate my wife and my two daughters supported me, and they haven’t held it against me for not being there on a lot of occasions,” Arnott said.

“I did not want that to happen to the other owners and staff. It was important to keep their families involved.”

That philosophy could ex-

Wyrick talks coaching philosophy

Report: Economy still strong

WASHINGTON (AP) —

The job market has cooled over the summer. But it’s still strong enough to defy predictions that higher interest rates would tip the United States into recession.

U.S. employers added 187,000 jobs last month, fewer than expected. But the unemployment rate dipped to 3.5% in a sign that the job market remains resilient.

plain why several staff members have been with Iola Pharmacy more than 20 or even 30 years. Teenagers who worked for the business in high school returned to start their career or decided to be-

come pharmacists in other communities. Children of two owners now work for the business.

For decades, the company invited family members to attend out-of-state conferences. They gathered locally for annual company get-togethers. They’ve comforted each other through divorces, deaths and tragedies. They celebrated marriages, births and graduations. At one point, Arnott attended a conference that discussed the importance of employee satisfaction. He came away from the experience determined to do better about recognizing staff who performed well, only to find out his wife, Mary Ann, had

already been doing that for years. She handled human resources and often would slip a note of support to an employee who was struggling, or thanked them for doing good work.

“I learned early on that if you’ve got good help, you better keep them,” Arnott said.

The pharmacy celebrates its 50th anniversary this weekend, followed by a week’s worth of events and drawings for prizes.

ARNOTT grew up in western Kansas and found he enjoyed studying science at Pratt Community College. He took a test to see where his career interests might lie.

Hiring was up from 185,000 in June, a figure that the Labor Department revised down from an originally reported 209,000. Economists had expected to see 200,000 new jobs in July. Still last month’s hiring was solid, considering that the Federal Reserve has raised its benchmark interest 11 times since March 2022. And the Fed’s inflation fighters will welcome news that more Americans entered the job market last month, easing pressure on employers to raise wages to attract and keep staff.

“This is a good strong

The day Altie Smith lassoed a bear

By RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register

At 98, Altie Smith is still sharp as a tack, regaling anyone willing to listen about life on the ranch.

It’s a mere legend that he was born with a lasso in his hand — but not by much.

“I was around cattle and horses all my life,” he explained this week. “I was just used to being that way.”

Smith, who still lives in an Iola apartment with wife Lula Bell — they’ll celebrate their 80th wedding anniversary later this month — recalled perhaps his wildest day on the ranch, more than 50 years ago.

It was the day Smith roped a bear.

SMITH grew up in Iola, the son of Archie and Orpha Smith. Archie, like his son, was a lifelong cowboy and owned a corral at the edge of town.

Young Smith learned the ins and outs of ranching at a Altie Smith, 98, still recalls vividly the day he lassoed a full-grown bear while working on a ranch in New Mexico in 1967.

REGISTER/RICHARD LUKEN

Jim Arnott and wife Mary Ann have stressed family connections since Jim purchased what became Iola Pharmacy in 1973. Below, crews remodel the exterior of the pharmacy in the run-up to the pharmacy’s 50th anniversary celebration. REGISTER/VICKIE MOSS

Obituaries

Olive Carpenter

Olive Lorie Carpenter, 98, of Iola, died Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2023, at Heartland Meadows, Iola.

Olive was born May 2, 1925, in rural Anderson County, to Ira Francis and Pearl (Scott) Francis.

Olive married John W. Carpenter on April 10, 1952, in Eureka Springs, Ark. He died on Dec. 15, 1982.

Olive is survived by her daughter, Kathy (Danny) Boese, Garnett; her son, Steven (Donna) Carpenter, Iola; three grandchildren and one great-grandson.

A graveside service will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, Aug. 7, in Highland Cemetery, Iola.

Memorials are suggested to Paralyzed Veterans of America.

Condolences may be left at www.feuerbornfuneral.com

Lois Ruby

Lois Ruby, 87, of LaHarpe, died on Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2023, at Moran Manor. Funeral services have been entrusted to Countryside Funeral Home, 101 N. Highland, Chanute, KS 66720.

Thrive gets AARP grant for garden

Thrive Allen County has received a grant for $2,500 to improve the existing Humboldt community garden.

The grant will help make the garden more accessible to older residents.

AARP Kansas awarded Community Challenge grants to five organizations throughout the state on July 10.

Nationally, 310 or-

Children compete at fair’s pedal pull

Twenty-seven children, ages 4-12, took part in the Gale Ritter Pedal Pull Aug. 5 during the Allen County Fair.

The event was sponsored by Allen County Farm Bureau, Strickler Holstein Dairy, Mid-America Dairymen and Dairy Farmers of America, represented by Harry and Kathy Clu-

bine.

Each participant received a cold milk for their efforts.

Winners received Chill Zone Sno Cones, second-place finishers a treat from A&W and third from Dairy Queen.

Winners follow

4-year-olds: 1 (tie). Eli Kramer and Edward Meiwes; 2. Bella Simp-

son; 3. Everleigh Herder.

5-year-olds: 1 (tie)

Dawson Bennett and Jeanie Mentzer; 2. Ryker Barnhart; 3. Cecilia Peaster.

7-year-olds: 1. Case Mentzer; 2. Paisley Renfro; 3. Korben Barnhart

8-year-olds: 1. Brogan Sterling; 2. Ellie Kramer; 3. Shakyia Trester.

9-year-olds: 1. Nickolas Trester Jr.; 2. Bentley Renfro; 3. Elijah Mentzer.

10-year-olds: 1. Zander Wilson; 2. Kale Arnold; 3. Cayton Bennett.

11-year-olds: 1. Isabell Kirby; 2. Ziva Wilson; 3. Hadassah Bland.

There were no participants in the 6- or 12-year-old groups.

Kremlin critic Navalny sentenced to 19 years

MELEKHOVO, Russia

(AP) — A Russian court convicted imprisoned opposition leader Alexei Navalny on charges of extremism and sentenced him to 19 years in prison Friday, his spokesperson and Russian news agencies reported. Navalny is already serving a nineyear term on a variety of charges that he says were politically motivated.

IOLA MUNICIPAL

COURT

Judge Pattie Miklos

Boyd

Convicted as follows:

Phil D. Churning, Gas, driving while suspended (third or subsequent offense), $2,135

Jason W. Curtis, Burlington, theft, $75, probation ordered

Tremayne L. Glaze, Iola, battery, possession of marijuana, $575, probation ordered

Brittany K. Rodgers, Piqua, failure to carry/ exhibit driver’s license, $665

Michael E. Scott, Humboldt, failure to carry/ exhibit driver’s license, $665

Robert M. Stufflebeam, Iola, theft, $365

Accident

Harold L. Ode Jr., was northbound on State Street July 28, when Iola police officers said he failed to stop at a red light, striking a westbound car driven by Shelby D. Oldridge, who was westbound on U.S. 54.

Officers said Oldridge suffered possible injury, but was not hospitalized. Ode was unhurt.

Both were wearing seat belts.

Trespassing alleged

Iola police officers said Robert Faulkner was charged Monday with criminal trespassing after he was found on Iola Walmart property after previously being banned from the store.

ganizations received grants from AARP totaling $3.6 million. Grantees will implement quick-action projects that help communities become more livable by improving public places; transportation; housing; digital connections; diversity, equity and inclusion; and more, with an emphasis on the needs of adults age 50 and older.

Blaine E. Wallace, Iola, 48/35, $173

Diversion agreement:

Walker J. Logan, Gas, no liability insurance, possessing alcohol as a minor, transporting an open container of alcohol, littering, $1,225.

WORSHIP WITH US AREA CHURCH DIRECTORY

The new charges related to the activities of Navalny’s anti-corruption foundation and statements by his top associates. It was his fifth criminal conviction and the third and longest prison term handed to him, all of which his supporters see as a deliberate Kremlin strategy to silence its most ardent opponent. It wasn’t immediately clear whether he would serve this new term concurrently with his current sentence on charges of fraud and contempt of court.

The prosecution had demanded a 20-year prison sentence, and Navalny said beforehand that he expected to receive a lengthy term.

Navalny was also sentenced in 2021 to two and a half years in

Carlyle Presby

Church

prison for a parole violation. The extremism trial took place behind closed doors in the penal colony east of Moscow where he is imprisoned.

Navalny appeared in the courtroom wearing prison garb and looking gaunt, but with a defiant smile on his face. As the judge read out the verdict, the politician stood alongside his lawyers and his co-defendant with his arms crossed, listening with a serious expression.

A screen shows the already imprisoned Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny, second from left, as he listens to his verdict over a series of extremism charges on Friday. He was sentenced to another 19 years in prison. (ALEXANDER NEMENOV/AFP/GETTY IMAGES/TNS)

Smith: Iolan recalls the memorable day he roped a bear

Continued from A1

ripe young age.

“We’d rope cattle for branding or whatever,” he recalled. “I roped pretty much everything I could.”

It was a skill that served him well as an adult, when Smith ventured out to New Mexico to work on an 85,000-acre ranch, not far from Cimarron, at the eastern slope of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.

It was a bright summer morning when Smith’s boss had gone out to check on the cattle herd, probably five miles away, when he returned in a rush.

“Get the truck and follow me, and bring a rope,” the boss barked. “We spotted a bear.”

Smith loaded up in a pickup with a coworker, drove probably five miles east or so, to see the full-sized bear, covered with a brilliant shade of dark red hair.

“He was just standing there,” Smith recalled.

The bear quickly noticed the pickups surrounding him, and took off in a fast gallop

“We didn’t crowd him, but we just followed him,” Smith said.

Smith estimates the bear made it about five miles before tiring, and stopped to lie down.

Smith’s boss returned to the ranch, several miles away, to alert the New Mexico Fish and Game Department — remember, this was long before cell phones were around — and received a simple order: “Stay with him. Don’t let him get away.”

That’s when Smith took action.

“I knew if I roped him around his neck, he’d be able to take it off pretty quickly,” Smith reasoned.

So instead, he gently tossed the lasso onto the bear’s back, allowing plenty of slack for it to hit the ground in front of him.

The best strategy, Smith figured, was to get the bear to step into the loop.

It worked perfectly; perhaps too much.

The bear lifted his left foot into the air, and held it for a while, tantalizingly so.

But eventually the bear stepped down, into the loop.

Then, almost to taunt Smith, the bear did the same thing with its right foot, holding for a while before stepping down, exactly where Smith had hoped.

IT WAS just the opening Smith needed. He quickly yanked on the rope, tightening the lasso.

As he did, the lasso slid up the lumbering bear’s back, coming taut just behind the bear’s front legs.

Mission accomplished. The problem was, Smith and the bear were still five miles from the ranch, and the Game Department crew was still hours away from arriving.

So Smith and his coworker figured the best course of strategy was to return with the bear back to the ranch.

Sure enough, the bear, almost like a leashed dog, began to

walk, then trot, as Smith pulled forward with his pickup.

They’d gone a good stretch, when the bear, tiring once again, stopped and laid down.

“I just kept a hold of the rope,” Smith said. As they nudged the truck again, this time, the bear stayed on its side.

“So we drug him for a while, before he got up and started going again,” Smith recalled.

THEY slowly made it back to the ranch, with the bear in tow.

Smith’s boss wanted to show the animal to his family, so he brought his kids into the yard, protected inside a corral in the back of a pickup.

Smith still has the picture his boss snapped of him inside a pickup and the bear seated next to the truck, with another pickup full of young children watching from afar.

“He never got excited or anything,” Smith said. “He was a pretty bear.”

EVENTUALLY, a Fish and Game crew arrived at the ranch, with a horse stock trailer in tow.

Smith gladly handed over the rope to one of the workers, who led the bear into the trailer, where the steel doors were fastened behind him.

The horse trailer had a significant opening at the top of the back gate, prompting the Fish and Game workers to leave him tied up inside, with a thick canvas secured to cover the opening.

Smith figured he’d venture up closer to the trailer to give his newfound friend a closer look.

“When the Fish and Game guy came by, he said, ‘If I was you, I’d stay back.’”

He should have listened.

The bear, while relatively docile outside the trailer, was none too keen on being cooped up inside the trailer.

“The old bear jumped up and growled at me and showed his teeth and claws,” Smith said.

“I jumped back.”

Smith’s driver almost made the same mistake he had, ignoring his warning to not venture too close.

“He jumped up again,” Smith laughed. “He turned as white as this napkin. I probably did, too.”

THE FISH and game workers planned to take the bear up into a tall mountain range frequented by lumber companies, roughly 100 miles from the ranch.

Turns out that trip was an adventure, too.

With nobody to keep the rope held taught, the bear was able to work itself loose from the lasso and began exploring the trailer.

It didn’t take long for the bear to push aside the canvas covering,

climbing out the back opening and onto the roof of the trailer — all while the truck and trailer were going down the highway.

He stayed there, too, the rest of the way.

Eventually, they reached their desti-

nation and stopped. The bear, none the worse for wear, calmly climbed off the trailer, to the astonishment of all, and silently walked into the woods.

He was home.

THE BEAR roping was one of the last big adventures for Smith on the ranch.

He and his family returned to Iola in 1968, where he worked as a carpenter and truck driver before retiring.

“When I met him, he was just a cowboy,” Lula Bell said.

“I’ve done about everything,” Altie quickly added.

The Smiths had three children. Son Dewayne still lives in Iola, Rodney in Parsons.

Daughter Candra died in 2013.

Today, Altie and Lula Bell live in an apartment within the Arkhaven Residential Care complex.

Lula Bell thanked the Register reporter for stopping by to hear his story.

“He loves telling that story,” she chuckled. “He tells everybody over and over about it.”

The above photo was snapped in 1967, the day Altie Smith roped a live bear while working on a ranch in New Mexico. Smith, now 98, lives in Iola and spoke about the experience, while also showing off homemade steel spurs he made for his father more than 80 years ago.

A6

Saturday, August 5, 2023

~ Journalism that makes a difference

Letter to the editor First contact with aliens could end in genocide and colonization if we don’t learn from history

Dear editor, Kansas legislators have tabled a bill for medical marijuana. The Governor was ready to sign the bill, but lawmakers and law enforcement are against it. It is unconscionable for our legislators and the police officers of Kansas to not recognize the health benefits for those that live with chronic pain.

If medical marijuana cannot be legalized in Kansas, why are liquor and cigarettes legal.

To deprive those who had tried every legal drug for pain management and have the legal drugs fail, where medical marijuana has succeeded, what is left for them? Kansas is one of just a few states without a good Samaritan law that encourages people to call 911 by shielding them from prosecution when they witness a drug overdose.

It’s also just one of 11 states that doesn’t permit syringe service programs that provide sterile injection equipment to people who inject drugs.

Most of the drug overdose deaths in Kansas — and nationwide — involve fentanyl, a synthetic opioid often mixed with other drugs like cocaine or methamphetamine. Many users are unaware the substances they buy illegally contain synthetic opioids like fentanyl to make them more potent.

Last but not least, I have known several people who have used marijuana for pain medication.

It keeps their pain in check, so they don't go after illegal drugs such as fentanyl, or they have reduced their prescribed drugs the have used for years.

I am not saying Marijuana is a miracle drug. What I am saying is that it has a different action than what hard core drugs do.

Some people get high for fun, but a lot of people use it for pain. There are far fewer known traffic fatalities from marijuana than hard core drugs or alcohol.

So, what's really going on here? Well, perhaps manufacturers of legal pain medication and those that produce alcohol are more worried about medical marijuana taking a piece of their pie. Its time to dust off the law for medical marijuana in the state of Kansas and pass it so people who live with chronic pain can have medical marijuana.

— Alzina Kress, Iola, Kan.

By DAVID DELGADO SHORTER, KIM TALLBEAR and WILLIAM LEMPERT Kansas Reflector

We’re only halfway through 2023, and it feels already like the year of alien contact.

In February, President Joe Biden gave orders to shoot down three unidentified aerial phenomena — NASA’s title for UFOs. Then, the alleged leaked footage from a Navy pilot of a UFO, and then news of a whistleblower’s report on a possible U.S. government cover-up about UFO research. Most recently, an independent analysis published in June suggests that UFOs might have been collected by a clandestine agency of the U.S. government.

If any actual evidence of extraterrestrial life emerges, whether from whistleblower testimony or an admission of a cover-up, humans would face a historic paradigm shift.

As members of an Indigenous studies working group who were asked to lend our disciplinary expertise to a workshop affiliated with the Berkeley SETI Research Center, we have studied centuries of culture contacts and their outcomes from around the globe. Our collaborative preparations for the workshop drew from transdisciplinary research in Australia, New Zealand, Africa and across the Americas.

In its final form, our group statement illustrated the need for diverse perspectives on the ethics of listening for alien life and a broadening of what defines “intelligence” and “life.” Based on our findings, we consider first contact less as an event and more as a long process that has already begun.

Who’s in charge of first contact

The question of who is “in charge” of preparing for contact with alien life immediately comes to mind. The communities — and their interpretive lenses — most likely to engage in any contact scenario would be military, corporate and scientific.

By giving Americans the legal right to profit from space tourism and planetary resource extraction, the Commercial Space Launch Competitiveness Act of 2015 could mean that corporations will be the first to find signs of extraterrestrial societies. Otherwise, while detecting unidentified aerial phenomena is usually a military matter, and NASA takes the lead on sending messages from Earth, most activities around extraterrestrial communications and evidence fall to a program called SETI, or the search for extraterrestrial intelligence.

SETI is a collection of scientists with a variety of research endeavors, including Breakthrough Listen, which listens for “technosignatures,” or markers, like pollutants, of a designed technology.

SETI investigators are virtually always STEM — science, technology, engineering and math — scholars. Few in the social science and humanities fields have been afforded opportunities to contribute to concepts of and preparations for contact.

In a promising act of disciplinary inclusion, the Berkeley SETI Research Center in 2018 invited working groups — including our Indigenous studies working group — from outside STEM fields to craft perspective papers for SETI scientists to consider.

Ethics of listening

Neither Breakthrough Listen nor SETI’s site features a current statement of ethics beyond a commitment to transparency. Our working group was not the first to raise this issue. And while the SETI Institute and certain research centers have included ethics in their event programming, it seems relevant to ask who NASA and SETI answer to, and what ethical guidelines they’re following for a potential first contact scenario.

SETI’s Post-Detection Hub — another rare exception to SETI’s STEM-centrism — seems the most likely to develop a range of contact scenarios. The possible circumstances imagined include finding ET artifacts, detecting signals from thousands of light years away, dealing with linguistic incompatibility, finding microbial organisms in space or on other planets, and biological contamination of either their or our species. Whether the U.S. government or heads of military would heed these scenarios is another matter. SETI-affiliated scholars tend to reassure critics that the intentions of those listening for technosignatures are benevolent, since “what harm could come from sim-

ply listening?” The chair emeritus of SETI Research, Jill Tarter, defended listening because any ET civilization would perceive our listening techniques as immature or elementary.

But our working group drew upon the history of colonial contacts to show the dangers of thinking that whole civilizations are comparatively advanced or intelligent. For example, when Christopher Columbus and other European explorers came to the Americas, those relationships were shaped by the preconceived notion that the “Indians” were less advanced due to their lack of writing. This led to decades of Indigenous servitude in the Americas.

The working group statement also suggested that the act of listening is itself already within a “phase of contact.” Like colonialism itself, contact might best be thought of as a series of events that starts with planning, rather than a singular event. Seen this way, isn’t listening potentially without permission just another form of surveillance? To listen intently but indiscriminately seemed to our working group like a type of eavesdropping.

It seems contradictory that we begin our relations with aliens by listening in without their permission while actively working to stop other countries from listening to certain U.S. communications. If humans are initially perceived as disrespectful or careless, ET contact could more likely lead to their colonization of us.

Histories of contact

Throughout histories of Western colonization, even in those few cases when contactees were intended to be protected, contact has led to brutal violence, pandemics, enslavement and genocide.

James Cook’s 1768 voyage on the HMS Endeavor was initiated by the Royal Society. This prestigious British academic society charged him with calculating the solar distance between the Earth and the Sun by measuring

the visible movement of Venus across the Sun from Tahiti. The society strictly forbade him from any colonial engagements.

Though he achieved his scientific goals, Cook also received orders from the Crown to map and claim as much territory as possible on the return voyage. Cook’s actions put into motion widescale colonization and Indigenous dispossession across Oceania, including the violent conquests of Australia and New Zealand.

The Royal Society gave Cook a “prime directive” of doing no harm and to only conduct research that would broadly benefit humanity. However, explorers are rarely independent from their funders, and their explorations reflect the political contexts of their time.

As scholars attuned to both research ethics and histories of colonialism, we wrote about Cook in our working group statement to showcase why SETI might want to explicitly disentangle their intentions from those of corporations, the military and the government.

Although separated by vast time and space, both Cook’s voyage and SETI share key qualities, including their appeal to celestial science in the service of all humanity. They also share a mismatch between their ethical protocols and the likely long-term impacts of their success.

The initial domino of a public ET message, or recovered bodies or ships, could initiate cascading events, including military actions, corporate resource mining and perhaps even geopolitical reorganizing. The history of imperialism and colonialism on Earth illustrates that not everyone benefits from colonization. No one can know for sure how engagement with extraterrestrials would go, though it’s better to consider cautionary tales from Earth’s own history sooner rather than later.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license.

John

Doug Dunlap doug.dunlap@usd257.

Robin Griffin-Lohman robin.griffin-lohman@ usd257.org

Tony Leavitt tony.leavitt@usd257. org

Jen Taylor jen.taylor@usd257.org

John Wilson john.wilson@usd257. org

REQUIREMENTS: SEND LETTERS TO: - Signed- Address &phone number included editorial@iolaregister.com PO Box 767, Iola, KS 66749 Names will be omitted on request only if there might be danger of retribution to the writer.

Pharmacy: Iola drug store celebrates 50th anniversary

The results were very diverse.

The test suggested he might enjoy farming, but he didn’t have a farm.

It also indicated he might be a good minister. “Of all things, can you imagine?” he said with a laugh.

The third result was pharmacy. He’d always thought of pharmacists as people who were valued in their community.

“The other two, I didn’t see that happening. So I started directing my college courses toward pharmacy,” he said.

Now, after more than 50 years as a pharmacist and approaching the age of 77 — and having sold his share of the business more than 20 years ago — Arnott can’t give it up completely.

“I still love it. I’m still working. I don’t have the energy I used to. Now I just work three half-days, then I go home and take a nap.”

WHILE studying at Pratt, Arnott met a fellow student from Iran who planned to transfer to Allen County Community College. That was the first time Arnott heard about Iola, and he certainly didn’t expect the town would become vital to his future.

After college he worked in Kansas City for a short time, while his wife worked as a speech pathologist. He

started playing basketball with some of his wife’s colleagues and met Art Lohmeyer of Iola. Lohmeyer was friends with Lawrence, who was working as the Allen County Hospital’s pharmacist at the time. Lohmeyer suggested Arnott and Lawrence might team up to start a pharmacy in Iola.

So they did.

At that time, Richard Nixon was president. Inflation was high. Oil prices were rising. Physicians often dispensed their own medication, so rural residents were skeptical about a new model.

Perhaps it wasn’t the best time to start a pharmacy, but Arnott and Lawrence persisted.

“Starting a business takes a lot of time. We’d be remodeling in the middle of the night, things like that,” Arnott recalled. “We used the salary from the hospital to put into the business and we lived off our wives. I’m fortunate Mary Ann put up with all the time I was gone because I became married to the pharmacy.

“But when you can go to work everyday and can’t wait to get there, it never really feels like work.”

After they bought Cooksey’s Drug Store on Aug. 6, 1973, they looked for opportunities to expand.

In the summer of 1975, they bought Eyler Drug, formerly Cook’s Drug Store. They moved from the Cooksey’s location at 1 E. Madison Ave. (now Ele Nails) to the Eyler location at 109 E. Madison and have been there since.

In 1987, they purchased Knorp Drug, which had been located in the Iola Plaza where the O’Reilly Auto Parts store now sits.

From the beginning, their goal was to offer

Economy: Hiring slows

report,’’ said Julia Pollak, chief economist at the jobs website ZipRecruiter. “The worst fears that people had of a painful downturn, a loss of jobs, longer unemployment durations, all those things — those are not coming to pass.’’ Unemployment fell to a notch above a half century low as 152,000 Americans entered the job force. The number of unemployed fell by 116,000.

Despite the influx of workers, average hourly wages rose 0.4% from June and 4.4% from a year earlier – numbers that were hotter than

expected and are likely to worry the Fed.

The Labor Department revised payroll figures down for both May and June, reducing the number of jobs created in those months by 49,000. With the revisions, June and July were “the two weakest monthly gains in twoand-a-half years,’’ noted Paul Ashworth, chief North America economist at Capital Economics. In July, health care companies added 63,000 jobs. But temporary help jobs – often seen as a sign of where the job market is headed – fell by 22,000. And factories cut 2,000 jobs.

Eugene Lupario, who owns the SVS Group staffing firm in Oakland, California, is seeing signs of a labor market slowdown – though certain businesses, such as restaurants and bars, are still hiring aggressively. “Interest rates have had an impact,’’ he said. Banks and home lenders have been hit hard by higher borrowing costs and aren’t looking for much help. “They’re not getting new loans. They’re not getting refis,’’ Lupario said. “Because rates are where they are, nobody’s going out there and buying first or second homes right now.’’

unparalleled 24-hour service, including delivery.

“And I mean 24 hours. I had three direct phone lines between my house to the store. One was by my bed,” Arnott recalled. “We took it seriously.”

Arnott visited other pharmacies to see how they operated and how his business might learn from their successes or failures.

He stayed on top of the latest technologies and attended conferences.

Continued from A1 See

He made a point of connecting to the community, insisting his partners join the Iola Area Chamber of Commerce. They supported local philanthropic ef-

forts, organizations and events.

“Our success was dependent on the community. You have to be involved,” Arnott said.

The store adapted to changing times.

Arnott recalled an ethical struggle over selling cigarettes at the pharmacy. Their business is about health, so how could he, in good conscience, sell a product known to cause so much harm to a person’s health? They stopped selling cigarettes.

The store also sold adult magazines like Penthouse and Playboy for a short time. Even though the magazines were kept covered on a high shelf, Arnott felt a little uncomfortable about it. One Sunday morning, he listened to the local radio station and heard a preacher admonish “a local business” that sold those magazines. Arnott immediately pulled them from the shelves.

IN 1988, Lawrence decided he wanted to move on. Arnott soon realized he needed a new partner. “I couldn’t handle it by myself,” he said. “I always tried to surround myself with great help, so I hired people for what I thought they could add to the business. Each of them had special talents.”

Jeff Dieker, who had grown up on a farm near Westphalia, joined as a pharmacist; Arnott

Bill Walden, right, one of the pharamcy’s co-owners, looks through a scrapbook filled with items about the pharmacy with employees Debbie Hegwald, left, and Susan Pratt. REGISTER/VICKIE MOSS

in honor of Iola Pharmacy’s 50th anniversary. REGISTER/VICKIE MOSS

‘Hostage’ Niger president pleads for U.S. help

NIAMEY, Niger (AP)

— Niger’s military junta says it is severing military agreements with France, its former colonial ruler, firing some of the previous government’s key ambassadors and warning citizens of the West African nation to watch for foreign armies and spies.

A regional delegation’s efforts at negotiation quickly deadlocked.

The junta’s announcement on state television late Thursday deepens the post-coup isolation for what had been the United States’ and allies’ last major security partner in the Sahel, the vast region

south of the Sahara Desert that Islamic extremist groups have turned into the global center of terrorism.

With two days remaining before a deadline set by the West African regional bloc to release and reinstate President Mohamed Bazoum or face possible

force, Bazoum in a plea published in a Washington Post opinion piece said, “I write this as a hostage” and urged the U.S. and partners to help.

Niger’s mutinous soldiers face a Sunday deadline set by the regional bloc known as ECOWAS, whose envoys

50th: Iola Pharmacy celebrates

Continued from A1

insisted he wait three years before buying into the business.

That became something of a tradition: Before a new partner could become an owner, he’d have to work three years.

Bill Walden graduated from pharmacy school in 1990.

An Iola native, Walden grew up in a family of construction workers.

“I thought I was going to follow in the family business. When I was about 16, my granddad put his arm around me and said, ‘Honey, you need an inside job,’” Walden recalled.

Arnott hired Walden as soon as he was accepted to pharmacy school.

“That’s when I met Jeff, who was already working here,” Walden said. “We hit it off real well.” Walden considered going to work for a pharmacy in Garden City after graduation, but Arnott convinced him to come to Iola. After some tough negotiations, Walden agreed on the condition he could become an owner in three years.

“Jeff and I could have come back and opened stores separately, but Jim taught us to join forces, which made us stronger,” Walden said.

In 1993, Arnott decided he wanted to hire Jim Bauer, another Iola native who graduated from pharmacy school. The problem was, Bauer and his wife had recently married and purchased a home in Lawrence.

“Bill contacted me a month after we purchased our first home. A year to the date of closing on our first home, we closed on the sale and moved back to Iola in February 1994,”

Bauer recalled. “We always thought we might come back, but Jim planted that seed.”

Of course, Bauer’s hiring meant the business now had two Jims.

“We made a very big distinction between Old Jim and Young Jim. I was 25 and Old Jim was 45. Now I’m in my 50s and I’m still Young Jim.”

Bauer echoed Arnott’s philosophy about the necessity of carving out time for your family.

“Bill, Jeff and I spent a lot of time away from our families because of the amount of time it takes to operate a business 24/7 but it opened our eyes to how important family time is,” he said. “Our work family is our family as well and we’ve been through a lot of ups and downs. We don’t want our employees to miss school events, athletic events, plays. It’s an important distinction and one reason for the longevity of our employees.

“Jim (Arnott) instilled in us both by example and verbally that we don’t know what someone is going through. We can just be there for them.”

Bauer joined as the director of the hospital’s pharmacy. He started buying into the business in 1996 and became a full partner in 2001.

Around the same time, Dieker retired to focus on his family’s farm. Travis Coffield joined the ownership team and Arnott sold his portion.

Like Walden and Bauer, Arnott pursued Coffield because he’d grown up in the area. He knew the community and its people.

“Travis was a tough nut to crack,” Arnott recalled. “He wanted ownership pretty

quick. To get someone to invest — and put their heart and soul into it — it was better to give up a little than to lose a lot. Travis has been a great addition.”

OVER THE YEARS, Iola Pharmacy continued to expand.

In addition to the downtown location, they operate a clinic at 1408 East Street. Dieker’s daughter, Morgan, runs the clinic pharmacy. Walden’s son, Shane, runs the downtown location.

The business continues to offer delivery services and online services in three states, and provides pharmacy management services to multiple hospitals, including Allen County Regional Hospital where Nich Lohman serves as the director. They also offer durable medical equipment through Iola Respiratory & Home Medical, and GeriCare LTC, a service for nursing home pa-

tients.

“What Jim (Arnott) has taught us so well is that you’ve got to broaden your base to keep going,” Walden said.

“We’ve had a lot of failures, but Jim never let the failures hold us back. They propelled us forward.

“I can’t imagine doing this ride with anyone else.”

TO CELEBRATE Iola Pharmacy’s 50th anniversary, the business is offering special discounts next week. You can register to win prizes, including $50 in Chamber bucks.

On Thursday, in conjunction with the Allen County Farmers Market, Simply Delicious Food Truck will provide free funnel cakes and bottled water from 4 to 6 p.m.

At 6, the pharmacy will draw its grand prize winner, who can choose between four tickets and a parking pass to the Chiefs/Raiders football game or $500 in cash.

arrived Thursday for talks. But those discussions stalled, with the delegation unable to meet the coup leader, Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani, or go into the capital, Niamey, according to a person with close knowledge of the talks who spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to comment.

The junta’s announcement brought further skepticism about any deal. It said it was terminating the military agreements and protocols signed with France and announced the end of functions for Niger’s ambassadors to France, the United States, Togo and neighboring Nigeria, which is leading ECOWAS efforts on dialogue.

“All aggression or attempt at aggression against the state of Niger will see an immediate response and without warning,” said a spokesman for the coup leaders, Col. Maj. Amadou Abdramane, with the exception of Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea, which have expressed support for the coup. Mali and Burkina Faso have said such an intervention would be a declaration of war against them.

France’s Foreign Ministry responded that Paris only recognizes “the legitimate Nigerien authorities,” dismissing the move by coup leaders. France reiterated its call for “the re-establishment of the democratic institutions of Niger,” the ministry said.

Bazoum wrote that Niger’s security situation had been improving before the coup, in contrast to

neighboring Mali and Burkina Faso that are led by military juntas, but said that’s now at risk because Niger would lose aid from foreign partners and extremist groups would take advantage of the country’s instability.

“In our hour of need, I call on the U.S. government and the entire international community to help us restore our constitutional order,” he wrote.

France has 1,500 military personnel in Niger, which had been envisioned as the base for counterterror operations in the region after anti-French sentiments grew elsewhere. The U.S. has 1,100 military personnel in Niger, including at a key drone base, and indicates it’s reluctant to leave, especially with the growing influence of the Russian private military group Wagner in the Sahel. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters it was concerned about emerging regional tensions but the “interference by non-regional powers is unlikely to change the situation for the better.”

ECOWAS has been unsuccessful in stemming coups and is trying to change course with Niger in a region that has seen five of them in the past three years — two each in Mali and Burkina Faso.

Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu, fulfilling a legal requirement, informed lawmakers on Friday of the ECOWAS intention to intervene militarily in Niger if the coup leaders “remain recalcitrant.”

But there are risks that any intervention could get Bazoum killed, said James Barnett, a researcher specializing in West Africa at the Hudson Institute.

Long-time partners at the Iola Pharmacy are, from left, Travis Coffield, Bill Walden, Jim Arnott, Jim Bauer and Jeff Dieker. Dieker has subsequently retired and Arnott sold his portion. COURTESY PHOTO

Sports Daily B

Saturday, August 5, 2023

Singer, Royals down Mets

KANSAS

CITY,

Mo.

(AP) — Brady Singer is starting to look like the promising young pitcher that was at times dominant last season, and Bobby Witt Jr. is starting to make good on the expectations that many placed on him as one of baseball’s top prospects.

Together, they’re making the last-place Kansas City Royals look like a winning ballclub.

Singer tossed eight innings of three-hit ball Thursday, and Witt joined Drew Waters in hitting homers, helping the suddenly hot Royals blow out the free-falling New York Mets 9-2 to wrap up their second straight series sweep.

Humboldt’s Wyrick leads Cubs again

By QUINN BURKITT

HUMBOLDT — Humboldt football head coach Logan Wyrick credits his family for much of his success.

That’s common.

But the second source of his success comes from a unique source.

“I’d say family and video games is the reason why I’m doing what I’m doing today, as odd as that sounds,” said Wyrick. “Me and my family always played sports, always

wanted to play catch or shoot baskets, and that’s what we did in a small town.”

The video games, likewise, were where he learned about such things as schemes and depth charts. And now?

“I get to call Madden plays on Friday nights,” Wyrick said. “That’s the dream for some.”

AFTER Wyrick graduated high school in Haviland, he went to play college football at Coffeyville Community

College before moving on to Southwestern College. His first coaching gigs were as a graduate assistant at Benedictine College and then Southwestern College.

Wyrick earned his masters degree from Southwestern and then coached for four more years at the school.

He got the call to apply at Humboldt when his brother was working as the strength and conditioning coach at the high school.

“I had never been to Humboldt before coming here,” said Wyrick. “My first year coaching was in 2015 and I thought I’d be here a year, maybe two because I had been a college coach.”

Fast forward to this season, Wyrick’s ninth as head coach at Humboldt. Under his tutelage, the Cubs have racked up a 54-27 record.

“I’ve been big at building a family atmosphere and that’s what I preach,” he said. “It’s important to build a program where kids want to be.”

Wyrick’s philosophy is to

show his players he cares for them, and in turn earn their trust and buy-in to the program.

The strategy has worked so far, with multiple deep playoff runs over his nine years, including regional championship win over Osage City last fall. (The Cubs bowed out to eventual state champion Nemaha Central a week later.)

But wins and losses are only part of the story.

“My response to how we’re going to do in a season is to come back and ask me in 15 years,” said Wyrick. “That’s what really matters in the long run. Our immediate goals are to win league, district and regional — if we don’t have those goals, what’s the point?

“What I mean by 15 years is I want to know what we’ve helped these young men become.”

WYRICK recalled a funny moment from one of those early years at Humboldt when

The last-place Royals had won just four of their first 33 series this season. But leaning on their young stars, they squeaked out three wins over Minnesota before taking three from the Mets, a club they had never swept in franchise history.

“It just shows you what we’re capable,” said Witt, who got off to a poor start to this season.

“The guys are really buying in.”

Singer (7-8), who also got off to a dismal start, allowed singles in the second, fourth and fifth and didn’t walk a batter while cruising through the New York lineup. He did not allow a run while striking out four and throwing exactly 100 pitches.

“We’re riding high and we should be,” Singer said. “Six in a row. Just keep doing what we’re doing.”

Carlos Carrasco (4-5) allowed all six runs on eight hits and a walk over six innings in an-

See ROYALS | Page B2

Underwhelming U.S. team slumps into knockout game

MELBOURNE, Australia

(AP) — Frequent rivals Sweden and the United States will meet once again at the Women’s World Cup, but this time the stakes are tremendously higher.

The two-time defending champion Americans are struggling heading into the round of 16 match on Sunday against the Swedes, who they have played often in both the World Cup and the Olympics.

“We always find a way to play them in these big tournaments, so we know they’re a very good team. Every time that we play them it’s a massive battle,” U.S. captain Lindsey Horan said ahead of the match in Melbourne, Australia. The United States is vying for an unprecedented third consecutive World Cup title,

but skirted into the knockout round with only one win in group play. The Ameri-

cans were nearly eliminated by Portugal on Tuesday — a stoppage time blast from Ana

Capeta hit the post to preserve a 0-0 draw that pushed the Americans through.

The United States looks nothing like the team that won the 2015 and 2019 titles. That American team pounced early on its opponents won all of its seven matches in 2019.

This year, the Americans have just four goals and coach Vlatko Andonovski is integrating 14 newcomers making their World Cup debuts.

Sweden has won all of its group matches at this World Cup and has outscored opponents 9-1. The team capped the opening stage with a 2-0 victory over Argentina on Wednesday.

See USA| Page B2

Humboldt’s Logan Wyrick, right, leads the Cubs football team onto the field. COURTESY PHOTO

Humboldt’s Logan Wyrick, center, surrounded by the Humboldt football team. COURTESY PHOTO

The Iola Register

USA’s midfielder #10 Lindsey Horan (C) celebrates scoring her team’s first goal during the Australia and New Zealand 2023 Women’s World Cup. MARTY MELVILLE/GETTY IMAGES/TNS

See

Jets begin Rodgers era with 21-16 loss to Browns

CANTON, Ohio (AP)

— Aaron Rodgers has yet to throw a pass in a game for the New York Jets. He’s already responsible for a long completion.

Zach Wilson showed he can move New York’s offense as a backup quarterback, but the Jets kicked off the Rodgers Era with a 21-16 loss to the Cleveland Browns on Thursday night in the Hall of Fame game.

Wilson, whose struggles as a starter the past two seasons sent the Jets on a QB quest that eventually got them Rodgers via trade from Green Bay in April, had some positive moments during his three series.

On his 24th birthday, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 draft was 3 of 5 passing for 65 yards. Wilson set up the game’s first score with a 57-yard completion to wide receiver Malik Taylor — on a play sug-

gested by Rodgers. “Great call by Aaron Rodgers,” Wilson said smiling. “I have to give him a shoutout there. We were backed up then and took the shot downfield. Malik’s done great job all camp and I wanted to get a ball to him.”

Jets coach Robert Saleh was pleased with Wilson’s performance.

“Zach did a good job, he was poised and looked comfortable in the pocket,” he said. “It’s just rebuilding that confidence and swag we (saw) during the draft process. No setbacks. It’s all about confidence with him.”

It was a battle of rookies and reserves as both teams rested their starters in the NFL’s inaugural game of 2023.

There was a notable opening-night glitch as a power outage in Tom Benson Stadium caused about a 20-minute de-

lay between the third and fourth quarters.

Browns rookie quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson rallied the Browns with a pair of second-half touchdowns. Thompson-Robinson, a fifthround pick, threw a 22yard TD pass to Austin Watkins Jr. with 9:33 left to put Cleveland ahead.

Thompson-Robinson also threw a block that sprung Demetric Felton, his former UCLA teammate, for a 10-yard TD run.

“It was awesome,” Felton said. “It felt like it was back at UCLA. It was cool.”

Thompson-Robinson said he was happy to lend a shoulder.

“All instincts,” he said. “I’m out there playing as hard as I can for my teammates. I seen Felt was going to cut back and kind of how the hole was going to open up and all he

had was one person to be back sideways was the corner. So I figured I’d stick my nose up there real quick.”

Greg Zuerlein kicked field goals of 54, 44 and 53 yards and Israel Abanikanda had a 10yard touchdown run for the Jets.

Rodgers was a high-profile spectator.

The four-time MVP watched from the sideline wearing black Jets gear and a headset, giving him more the look of an assistant coach than star quarterback.

On Wednesday, Rodgers toured the Hall of Fame and got an upclose view of a place where he’ll one day be enshrined.

Before that, he’s supposed to return New York’s franchise to glory.

The 39-year-old is not expected to play this preseason — he hasn’t

See NFL | Page B3

Royals: Sweep Mets for six straight wins

Continued from B1

vided the Mets’ only offense with a two-out, two-run homer in the ninth.

“Our guys are motivated. They have a lot of professional pride,” Mets manager Buck Showalter said. “I can rattle off four or five things I was proud of today but I know nobody wants to hear of them when it’s 9-2.”

The series-ending romp wrapped a tumultuous week for the Mets, who traded Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander as part of a stunning selloff that also included closer David Robertson, and outfielders Tommy Pham and Mark Canha.

Meanwhile, the Royals (35-75) completed just the fifth perfect homestand of at least six games in franchise history.

“We’ll take them whenever they come, right?” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said.

“I mean, obviously we’ve got ourselves in an enormous hole record-wise, but like we’ve talked about all year, the effort has been there. The intensity of the work and all those things. So it’s nice to see some rewards coming for the guys.”

Witt got their offense started with a single in the first inning, then he stole second for his 31st of the season, before trotting home when Salvador Perez doubled off the wall to give Kansas City the early lead.

The Royals continued to put pressure on the Mets with their baserunning in the third. Samad Taylor beat out an infield single, swiped second — that made Kansas City 13 for 13 on stolen base attempts on the homestand — and reached third on a wild pitch before a high sacrifice fly by Maikel Garcia gave the Royals a 2-0 lead.

Witt followed with

his first-pitch, 425-shot to straightaway centerfield.

The Royals put the game out of reach with three in the seventh when Freddy Fermin and Matt Beaty opened the inning with singles and Waters took Carrasco deep to right field. They added three more in the eighth for good measure.

The Mets turned to infielder Danny Mendick to get their final two outs on the mound.

FANCY GLOVE WORK

Witt was part of two spectacular defense plays behind Singer. The first came in the second inning, when the shortstop ranged to his left and grabbed Omar Narvaez’s grounder behind second base, then wheeled around to throw him out at first. The second came in the fifth, when second baseman Michael Massey dived to get Narvaez’s grounder, flicked it from his glove

USA: To face Sweden in KO

Continued from B1

“It’s the Round of 16, they’re going to be a good side and it’s going to be a tough battle,” U.S. forward Lynn Williams said. “But (we’re) just mainly focusing on what we can do and what makes us special, and hopefully go out there and win this game.”

The United States has played Sweden six times in the group stage at the World Cup, most recently in 2019 when the Americans won 2-0. The United States went on to win its record fourth overall title in the tournament.

Overall, the United States has won four of those matches against Sweden, lost one and played to a scoreless draw in 2015.

But the Swedes have held the advantage at the Olympics in recent years. The United States failed to medal at the Brazil Olympics in 2016 after being ousted by Sweden in the quarterfinals.

They played to a 1-1 draw before Sweden advanced on penalties, marking the earliest U.S. exit from an Olympics. Afterward, U.S. goalkeeper Hope Solo caused controversy by calling the Swedes “cowards” for bunkering in on defense.

Sweden also beat the Americans 3-0 in the group opener at the Tokyo Olympic s. The loss snapped a 44-match U.S. unbeaten streak that had dated back to January, 2019.

The Swedes knew they would face the United States before their group final against Argentina, so they were able to rest their starters and used nine lineup changes in the group finale.

But Sweden has one less day of preparation than the Americans going into the Sunday match.

“If you are going to go all the way, you are going to have to play this kind of opposition sooner or later. And the

U.S. are ranked No. 1. It might be better to play them Sunday instead of a semis or a final,” Sweden coach Peter Gerhardsson said.

“There’s not anything we can do about it,” he continued. “We’re playing them on Sunday and we’ll do everything that we’re able to mobilize, both in energy and above all, courage, which is something you have to do against teams of that quality.”

The United States will be without midfielder Rose Lavelle for the match because she picked up a pair of yellow cards in group play. That’s going to hurt the Americans because Lavelle has been one of their few energy sparks.

She came off the bench in the second half of a 1-1 draw with the Netherlands and sent a corner kick to Horan for the tying goal.

The Americans are trying to be upbeat about where they stand: on the ropes facing a strong Swedish team.

to Witt to get Mark Vientos at second base, and he fired to first to complete the double play. TRAINER’S ROOM

Mets OF Brandon Nimmo (left quad) could be available to open a three-game set in Baltimore on Friday night, manager Buck Showalter said. RF Starling Marte (migraines) also could be back against the Orioles.

UP NEXT Mets RHP David Peterson (3-7, 5.92 ERA) gets the start against the Orioles on Friday night. The Royals will send RHP Jordan Lyles (2-12, 6.15) to the mound for their series opener Friday night in Philadelphia.

Humboldt’s Logan Wyrick, left, talks with Cubs before taking the field. COURTESY PHOTO

Wyrick: Leads Cubs

Continued from B1

he introduced a new orange jersey.

“One of the first years I got here we got orange uniforms and I thought it was the coolest thing in the world,” Wyrick said. “Others weren’t so fond of them.”

Regardless, the community’s support has been instrumental in the team’s success.

“I love the small community and the support has been

great,” Wyrick said. “As any small town football team goes on Friday night, so does the town. As I’ve been here and we’ve been able to build success, we’ve built the program.”

Along with serving as Humboldt’s head coach, Wyrick has also coached middle school basketball and been the assistant coach for Humboldt’s baseball team for the past seven years.

Cape Cod Baseball League celebrates 100 years as college baseball heaven

BOURNE, Mass. (AP)

— Pete Alonso didn’t hit a home run the summer he played in the Cape Cod Baseball League. He made a different kind of connection.

On a day off during his time with the Bourne Braves during the summer of 2015, Alonso headed out to Provincetown, at the tip of the New England summer paradise. That’s where he met his wife.

“For me it was a disappointing summer because I expected to play well,” said Alonso, who returned to Florida and played himself into a second-round selection in the next year’s draft. “But I thought it was awesome because I met my wife during that summer, and it was phenomenal.

“You get to play ball and create incredible relationships,” he said. “It’s a super memorable baseball experience for any kid who gets to go out there and play. It’s super fun, it’s a super special place to play during summer.”

For 100 years, the

Cape Cod League has given top college players the opportunity to hone their skills and show off for scouts while facing other top talent from around the country. Using wooden bats and riding buses like they would in the minor leagues, they get a sense of what pro ball might be like. They might learn a few things about life, too.

“Shoot. You’re 19, 20, 21 years old. So you’re kind of figuring out who you are as a man,” said Boston Red Sox outfielder Rob Refsnyder, who played for the Wareham Gatemen in 2011.

Before he came to the Cape, New York Mets manager Buck Showalter played high school and community college ball on the Florida panhandle. He won the 1976 Cape League MVP award with a .434 average that is third-best in CCBL history.

“Best summer of my life,” Showalter said. “See, I was from a little Southern town and a little junior college and I went up there and all

DeMarcus Ware Hall of Fame celebration part Dallas, Denver

of a sudden they let (us) out there on the beaches and I was like, ‘Oh my God, there’s another world here.’

“That was quite the summer,” Showalter said. “And then I went from there to Mississippi State and I was ready for anything.”

100 YEARS

Like the tourists that stream to the beaches every summer, a century of baseball history has flowed through the Cape Cod League — more, if you count the Fourth of July games held in some towns starting in 1885. The league that formed in 1923 with an Original Four of Chatham, Falmouth, Osterville and Hyannis just finished up its 100th anniversary season, trimming 10 teams down to three rounds of playoffs that start Friday.

College players who are invited settle in with host families, maybe pick up a parttime job but mostly work on getting the attention of major league scouts. So many of them have: Through

See COLLEGE | Page B6

NFL: Hall of Fame game kicks off year

Continued from B2

since 2018 — and said earlier this week that upcoming joint practices against Tampa Bay and Carolina will help him prepare for the Sept. 11 season opener against Buffalo.

The Browns sat quarterback Deshaun Watson, who like Rodgers, is expected to do big things in his second year with Cleveland.

Watson went 3-3 after returning from his 11-game suspension in 2022 for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy after he was accused by two dozen women of sexual harassment and assault during massage therapy sessions while he played for Houston.

Kellen Mond started for the Browns and played the first half, going 7 of 12 for 49 yards with a TD pass and an interception. Thompson-Robinson finished 8 of 11 for 82 yards.

CLASS ACT

As both teams formed a tunnel near midfield, this year’s Hall of Fame class was introduced before the opening kickoff.

Of course, the biggest

ovation went to former Browns tackle Joe Thomas, who waved to the thousands of Cleveland fans packing Tom Benson Stadium.

New inductee DeMarcus Ware sang the national anthem.

TACKLE BOX

Both teams got a look at their respective massive tackles.

New York’s Mekhi Becton played for the first time since the 2021 season opener. It has been a long road back for the 6-foot-7 Becton, who underwent multiple surgeries on his right knee. He slimmed down to 350 pounds after once tipping the scales at 400.

Cleveland rookie Dawand Jones, just a tad bigger than Becton at 6-8, 374, held his own while playing the entire game.

BROWN TRIBUTE

More than two dozen Hall of Famers, most wearing their signature gold jackets, attended a tribute earlier in the day for legendary Browns running back Jim Brown, who died in May.

Brown was remembered for his football

accomplishments, and much more.

Former Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis delivered the most impassioned remarks about Brown, who became his mentor.

“He became a father to the fatherless, gave hope when there wasn’t hope,” said Lewis. “I’ve never met a greater person.”

The Browns wore “32” decals — Brown’s number — on their helmets for the first time.

INJURIES

Jets: LB Hamsah Nasirildeen (neck) left after being hurt on New York’s first defensive series and didn’t return. ... CB Brandin Echols (hip) and LB Chazz Surratt (hamstring) were both ruled out after halftime. Surratt’s interception in the first half set up New York’s TD. ... LB Maalik Hall left in the fourth with an undisclosed injury.

Browns: WR Daylen Baldwin (hamstring) went out in the first half. He was targeted once. ... CB Thomas Graham Jr. (ankle) didn’t play in the second half.

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DALLAS (AP) — DeMarcus Ware won a Super Bowl as a Denver Bronco after setting a storied franchise’s sacks record with the Dallas Cowboys.

There’s little question the outside linebacker’s Pro Football Hall of Fame celebration will be part Denver, part Dallas.

“He accomplished what he accomplished as a Cowboy,” said former teammate Marcus Spears, Ware’s fellow first-round pick with the Cowboys in 2005.

“But to go to Denver and in that short period of time make such a huge impact, and Denver fans and people in that area remember him as a Bronco,” Spears said. “It just tells you about him.”

Ware, the 11th overall pick out of Troy before Spears went 20th, was a salary cap casualty with the Cowboys in 2013 after compiling 117 sacks in nine seasons, three more than Hall of Famer Randy White’s previous club record.

With questions about age (32 at the time) and injuries, Ware joined Peyton Manning and the Broncos. Two years later, Ware sacked Cam Newton twice in Denver’s 24-10 victory in Super Bowl 50 when the Manning-led offense mostly just tried to stay out of the way of a dominant defense.

“I felt good. I still know I’ve got something in the tank,” said Ware, who is 13th on the all-time sacks list with 138½. “You get released, and you’re like, ‘OK, what’s the next chapter?’ And then I saw Von Miller.” The second overall pick two years earlier, Miller was already a decorated edge rusher when Ware joined

him. Miller battled injuries their first year together, then Ware did the second before getting healthy in time for the playoff run.

“I saw a young me,” Ware, who just turned 41, said of Miller. “I started to see things I used to do in him, and I started doing them again.”

Miller, who was MVP of that Super Bowl victory with 2½ sacks and two forced fumbles, still gets help from Ware these days with his pass rushing clinics in the offseason. He plans to be in Canton for the induction Saturday. “I’ve been there for Champ Bailey. I was there for Peyton Manning,” said Miller, who was a 16-year-old high school player in the Dallas area the year Ware was drafted. “I think this one hit a little bit harder seeing my brother go into the Hall of Fame this year.”

When deciding his next move after the Cowboys, Ware remembers Manning telling him they could win it all together, and saying he wanted Ware to be the captain of the defense the same way Manning was with the offense.

“You get released, sometimes you go to a team, you’re like,

‘Where am I going to fit?’” said Ware, who retired following the 2016 season after earning the last two of his nine Pro Bowl selections in three years with the Broncos.

“They let me know where I was going to fit before I even got there.”

One of Ware’s signature moments came in Dallas, not long before his first playoff victory during the 2009 season. Six days after a neck injury that left him temporarily without feeling in his extremities, Ware played in New Orleans, and had a victory-clinching strip sack to beat the 13-0 Saints.

Then-New Orleans coach Sean Payton remembers putting together the game plan, and making the mistake of assuming Ware wouldn’t play.

“Then here comes game day, and he’s running through the tunnel,” said Payton, who is entering his first season as coach of the Broncos. “I’m like, ‘You have to be kidding me.’”

Payton, who was on Hall of Fame coach Bill Parcells’ Dallas staff when Ware was drafted, learned his lesson. The Saints capped that

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The Dallas Cowboys’ DeMarcus Ware (94) celebrates after a fumble recovery against the Philadelphia Eagles on Dec. 29, 2013, in Arlington, Texas. RONALD MARTINEZ/GETTY IMAGES/TNS

See WARE | Page B6

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1235 N WALNUT ST, SATURDAY 7 A.M.-?, CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE RUMMAGE & BAKE SALE; All proceeds go to purchase sewing machines for the “House of Grace” in Uganda, Africa.

Family debates moving to be closer to friends

We asked readers to channel their inner Carolyn Hax and answer this question. Some of the best responses are below.

Dear Carolyn: My family (husband, two kids 11 and 14) moved into our house 10 years ago. We’ve put lots of time and money into making it a great home; it’s not our dream home but a great home for us. Our neighborhood is full of families, but neither the kids nor us adults have connected with the other families here despite trying.

We hadn’t thought about moving until we found out the house next door to our really close friends (and my son’s best friend since kindergarten) is going up for sale. I get really excited thinking about living next to people who mirror our way of life and values, because my ideal life is one more communal than is traditionally seen in this country. My husband isn’t as interested as I am. He says it is my dream, not his, and he has some selfconsciousness about living next door to friends, as if we are encroaching on their space. They are campaigning for us to live there, so I know they are on board.

The school district is the same, and the house sizes and prices are almost identical, so no issues there.

Even though we currently live about a threeminute drive away from each other, it’s not easily bikeable, especially for the kids, because of a major road and steep hill between us. While it isn’t that big of a deal to drive back and forth, I think the benefit of living next door (on a cul-de-sac!) would improve our quality of life. We could bop back and forth and share impromptu meals. I’m very confident our adult friendship will last forever regardless of what happens with the kids’ friendship in the future. They are our people.

There are downsides. Moving is a huge deal, an expense and a hassle. We would have to leave our current home, which we put a lot into to make it ours. The new home will need some updates. We must make a decision quickly, as the house is likely to be scooped up. Husband isn’t excited about the idea but is open to considering it. I also worry about the reaction from some family members, but ultimately it’s our choice.

Part of me feels crazy to move our entire home and life three minutes away for the sole purpose of living next to friends we already see regularly. The other part of me feels like it would be crazy to pass up a rare opportunity to create a life that will bring us more joy and community. How can we decide so quickly on such a huge decision? — Split Household

Split Household: Just do it. I’m biased, but I used to live on the same floor of an apartment building as really close friends with two kids close in age to our kids. It was wonderful, and I miss it so much. From the little (shooting a text asking to share a glass of wine after the kids go to bed and wandering over in my pjs and slippers with a bottle of wine) to the big (our eldest had a seizure and we could run our younger kid down the hall for help), it was a huge net positive to our happiness and quality of life. And for your kids being able to play with their friends without you needing to drive them, or to work around your schedule, will be huge.

To your husbands point: talk through

boundaries with each other (and them) before the move. My friend and I also worked together so we often ended up on the same subway. I told her bluntly I needed my subway ride and walk as my quiet time, and she totally understood and needed the same.

We’d give each other a wave and go back to our books/crossword on the subway. — Nike

Split Household: I considered this about 10 years ago myself — a house I really liked came up for sale just blocks away from two sets of my good friends in a desirable part of town. Since then, one set of those friends moved to another part of town quite far away, and the other set moved out of the country altogether.

If you want to move to this other house, don’t do it solely because it’s next door to your good friends. Life throws all kinds of unexpected things at us, and for all you know your friends will have to move in the next few years. Not to mention how high interest rates are right now! Even at a similar price point, you may end up with a much larger mortgage payment just because of that. The move should be worth it on its own merits, even if your friends didn’t live next door. — Cady

Split Household: It does sound fun, but your own marriage must come first for the sake of all involved. Right now, you’re giving it short shrift. If you went to all the trouble of putting your house up for sale and landing in a house that needs the updates you’ve lovingly put into this home, all while dismissing your husband’s concerns, you’re at risk of creating irreparable resentment.

It sounds like you’ve had a few conversations but that you’re like a kid making arguments for why it will all be just perfect rather than hav-

ing an intimate conversation with him about what you want for your lives and how to get it.

The opportunity of this move might actually be serving the purpose of making you face and strengthen your marriage and family while continuing to relish and develop community ties. And your kids can bike up a steep hill, especially as they get older. — Anon

Split Household: Since you have to move quickly, ask yourself a few quick questions before deciding. Would you be happy in this house if your friends accepted a job transfer and moved to another city? If your son and his best friend drift apart in a year or two, would you still be content in this house? As moving expenses and the expense of new home updates mount up, will you and your husband be able to calmly work together to resolve any conflicts that may arise, or will the pattern be one of resentment and blame? Let your answers to these questions guide your decision. —

Terri W

by Jerry Scott and Jim Borgman

BEETLE BAILEY by Mort

Walker

HAGAR THE HORRIBLE by Chris Browne

BLONDIE by Young and Drake

MUTTS by Patrick McDonell

MARVIN by Tom Armstrong

HI AND LOIS by Chance Browne

ZITS

Diana Taurasi first WNBA player to reach 10,000 points

PHOENIX (AP) — Diana Taurasi received a pass and in an instant, the shot was off her fingertips. It was a 3-pointer that splashed through the net, just like so many others.

Taurasi became the first WNBA player to reach 10,000 points, hitting the mark with 8:23 remaining in the third quarter against the Atlanta Dream on Thursday night. After the shot, the crowd in Phoenix erupted in cheers and Taurasi’s teammates surrounded her in a circle, jumping up and down and celebrating.

“It was a cool night — you couldn’t have wrote this any better for our fans and our city,” Taurasi said. “I’m really thankful for my teammates because moments like this, it’s everyone’s moment. They really came with me and wanted me to do it tonight.”

It was a vintage performance from Taurasi, who reminded everyone just how incredible

she’s been in her career with a season-high 42 points on 12 of 21 shooting, including 6 of 13 from 3-point range. She also hit all 12 of her free throws and the Mercury won 91-71. The 41-year-old guard started the night needing 18 points to make it to 10,000 — and finished at 10,024.

“Tomorrow, I’ll feel like I’m 50,” Taurasi said grinning.

“On behalf of the WNBA and basketball fans worldwide, I want to extend my heartfelt congratulations to Diana on reaching the incredible milestone of 10,000 points as she continues to author new chapters is an illustrious WNBA career.” WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said in a statement.

“Diana’s achievement stands as a tes-

College: Baseball summers on Cape Cod

Continued from B3

this season’s opening day rosters, more than 1,700 Cape League alumni have played in the major leagues; in 2022 alone, there were 377.

Among them: Hall of Famers like Pie Traynor and Carlton Fisk, a handful of MVPs and Cy Young Award winners, and a half dozen current managers, including Showalter.

“You get a taste pretty quick of whether you can hang,” Fisk said.

No wonder, then, that the Cape League is a fertile ground for the MLB draft. Five of the last six No. 1 overall picks were Cape alums, including LSU right-hander and former Gateman Paul Skenes, who was picked by Pittsburgh last month.

“I feel like it’s any college guy’s dream to play summer baseball on the Cape,” Chatham Anglers shortstop Chris Maldonado, who goes to Vanderbilt, said before a game against Bourne last month. “Just the history of it. These fields have been the same for a very long time.”

IDYLLIC SETTING

Just over the canal that separates the Cape from the Massachusetts mainland, Bourne’s Doran Park sits behind the Upper Cape Technical High School, within view of one of the bridges that bring millions of vacationers over each summer.

Admission is free for Cape Cod League games (donations are accepted), and most fans bring their own beach chairs and sit wherever they can find space on the hills lining the playing field.

The teams are spread from Wareham, on the mainland, to Orleans, just above the elbow on the flex-arm shaped peninsula. The proximity of the ballparks leaves less time on buses and more for hanging out.

Prior to a recent game, Bourne manager

Scott Landers gnawed on Mike and Ike candies the way his predecessors got their buzz from chewing tobacco. Behind him, Braves starting pitcher Bryce Cunningham played catch with Landers’ 9-year-old son, Cal.

“He’s got new favorite players every day, every year,” said Landers, who is the head coach at Oswego (New York) State during the academic year. “And he follows them.”

Growing up in central Massachusetts before going to Yale, New York Mets pitcher Ron Darling knew the pull of the Cape: Long after he played there, he would come back most summers with his family. Just a guy, pulling up his lawn chair, taking in a ballgame.

HOST FAMILIES AND ODD JOBS

Most players stay with host families, often leading to a lifelong connection. Darling’s host family had a barn out back where he slept with future major league teammate John Franco and an infielder named Dave Myers, who never made it to the majors.

Showalter’s host father had a car rental agency.

“So I would get a Chrysler Cordoba on Fridays, with the Corinthian leather,” he said. “And then I would go wash my uniform, take a nap, go hang out two line drives, and hit the streets.”

When Darling played for the Cotuit Kettleers in 1980, players needed to get a part-time job to maintain their college eligibility. He worked as a middle school janitor, cleaning the floors so they would be ready for the students to return in September.

Showalter had a job as a short-order cook, whipping up breakfast at the Hyannis news stand; he also painted houses, including the Kennedy Compound.

“I could tell you a

tament to her skill,

determination, and unwavering dedication to the game, which along with her competitive nature, has captivated fans with her incredible scoring ability, clutch performances, and unparalleled basketball IQ. We are honored to witness this milestone.”

Taurasi got her scoring started Thursday with a corner 3-pointer about two minutes into the game and then drove through the Atlanta defense for a layup a few minutes later. She had 10 points by halftime. She was right back at it in the third quarter, hitting a layup on the

Mercury’s first possession. Then she hit backto-back 3-pointers — the last a 28-footer over two defenders that got her to 10,000 points.

“I came here a little nervous, I didn’t want to disappoint anyone, I just wanted to get it over with for a sense of relief,” Taurasi said. “But at the same time, I was just focusing on trying to win a game.”

It’s been a tough year for the Mercury, who have a 7-19 record. But this was a moment the whole franchise could celebrate. In a postgame celebration, Taurasi was presented sev-

See TAURASI | Page B7

Ware: Celebrating with Dallas, Denver

Continued from B3

season with a Super Bowl upset of Indianapolis, assuming along the way that injured Colts pass rusher Dwight Freeney would play, which he did.

and a 20-sack season in 2008.

lot of things looking through those cracks,” he said.

SCOUTING HEAVEN

A’s scout John Mesagno has coached at Yale and in the Futures League, where the teams are spread across four states and a couple of hours apart. On the Cape, the longest ride is 45 miles (though in peak season, that can take hours).

“It’s unique in the fact that all the fields are so close to each other,” Mesagno said while he waited to watch Bourne play Chatham last month. “It’s kind of a different vibe here, you know? These are some of the better players in the country. So it’s cool to see them all on one field playing against each other.”

For the players and scouts alike, the talent is the draw.

Darling heard plenty about how he couldn’t compete against the kids from California, Florida or Arizona, where the weather allowed for year-long seasons.

“And then I came here and played against all those guys. I was like, ‘Wait a minute, I’m as good as any of these kids here,’” Darling said last month at a dinner for the Cape Cod League Hall of Fame, where he was inducted in 2002. “So for me, personally, it provided a platform to play, and the confidence I was lacking that I was good enough.”

White Sox outfielder Gavin Sheets said the 2016 summer with Wareham was “still one of my favorite baseball experiences ever.”

“It’s such a cool atmosphere, the way the city rallies around you, the way just the community just loves the game there,” Sheets said. “Just the history there and the talent that you’re playing against, just on high school fields, it’s such a cool experience. Certainly one that I’ll never forget.”

“I know how much Bill thought of him, as did anybody who had a chance to play with him or coach him either here in Denver or in Dallas,” Payton said. “I think you saw right away all those traits that you’re looking for.”

After a wild-card victory over Philadelphia, the Cowboys were blown out in Minnesota by Brett Favre and the Vikings the year New Orleans won the Super Bowl.

Dallas didn’t make the playoffs again before Ware’s release, leaving him with one victory in three trips to the postseason, despite four All-Pro nods

Longtime Cowboys tight end Jason Witten, who might soon join Ware in the Hall of Fame, and quarterback Tony Romo never got a shot at a title. Neither did Spears.

Ware likes to say he believes his career was defined by playing for others as much as he played for himself. There was another meaning for that when he showed up for his only Super Bowl.

“Every day, they would let me know,” said Ware, who made the Hall of Fame in his second year of eligibility. “Before the game, they were like, ‘Dude, man, I feel like this is my opportunity to soak in a Super Bowl.’”

Ware clearly had no hard feelings about the ending in Dallas because owner/general manager Jerry Jones

is his presenter in Canton. Ware said it’s because Jones communicated with him about why he was being released.

Jones issued a heartfelt statement after the release, as he did later with two other stars in receiver Dez Bryant and running back Ezekiel Elliott.

“I just had to ask, ‘How did I get here to not have DeMarcus Ware and give us a chance to win it?’” Jones said. “And it was what you have to do to manage the salary cap. And so you just can’t have it all.”

And that’s why Denver gets to share in the Hall of Fame celebration.

“When you play for teams that have done so much for you on both ends, you’ve got to show them love,” Ware said. “And that’s what I’m doing.”

If

you feel different, you drive different.

A high is still too high to drive.

little

Diana Taurasi (3) of the Phoenix Mercury shoots a three-pointer defended by Kayla Thornton (5) of the New York Liberty. DUSTIN SATLOFF/GETTY IMAGES/TNS

Taurasi: Scores 1o,000

Continued from B6

eral gifts and listened to several tributes on the video board, including from NBA commissioner Adam Silver, tennis icon Billie Jean King, South Carolina coach Dawn Staley and Hall of Famer Magic Johnson.

Taurasi has been the cornerstone of the Phoenix franchise since she was drafted first in 2004 out of UConn. She not only is the career regular-season scoring leader, but

Big Ten clears way for Oregon, Washington

also holds that mark in the playoffs. She’s won three WNBA championships for the Mercury and was twice the MVP of the Finals.

Taurasi has averaged more than 19 points in her career, including a career-high 25.3 points in 2006. She is more than 2,500 points ahead of Tina Thompson, who is second on the scoring list with 7,488 points.

Cheyenne Parker had 20 points for the Dream.

By RALPH D. RUSSO The Associated Press

The Big Ten has cleared the way for Oregon and Washington to apply for membership and join the conference, four people with familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press on Friday.

The people spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the conference and schools were finalizing

an official agreement and announcement.

The Ducks and Huskies from the Pac-12 still must officially apply for membership and the Big Ten presidents, who met Friday morning to discuss expansion, need to officially approve any moves. Two of the people familiar with the negotiations said the schools’ applications are expected to be unanimously approved.

When that’s done, they will become the 17th and 18th members of the Big Ten, and the third and fourth on the West Coast, joining USC and UCLA.

The latest departure from the Pac-12 pushed the storied West Coast college sports conference to the brink of extinction.

Arizona has been in serious talks to leave for the Big 12 and join Colorado, which announced last week its

exit from the Pac-12 after this year. It is unclear if in-state rival Arizona State will join the Wildcats. The Arizona Board of Regents held a special meeting Thursday night to try to get the schools on the same page.

The Big 12 also has been targeting Utah. Pac-12 leaders met early Friday to determine if the nine remaining schools, which at the time in-

See BIG TEN | Page B8

Big Ten

Wilt Chamberlain 1972 jersey to draw over $4M

cluded Oregon and Washington, would accept a potential media rights deal with Apple, according to a person familiar with that meeting. With Oregon and Washington positioned to jump, the Pac-12 is in danger of soon being down to four members: Stanford, California, Oregon State and Washington State.

Continued from B7 ARCHIVES

The Associated Press Collectibles broker Sotheby’s expects Wilt Chamberlain’s 1972 NBA Finals jersey to sell for more than $4 million in an upcoming auction.

Sotheby’s calls the jersey Chamberlain wore in the championship-clinching Game 5 victory over the New York Knicks the most valuable piece of his memorabilia ever to appear on the market. The current record sale for a Chamberlain sports memorabilia item is $1.79 million in June

2023. It was for a jersey worn his rookie season with the Philadelphia Warriors.

Online bidding will run from August 28 to September 27. The 7-foot-1 Chamber-

RACING THIS WEEK

COOK OUT 400 AT RICHMOND RACEWAY

lain anchored the team that won the Lakers’ first NBA title. Playing with a broken hand, he had 24 points and 29 rebounds in Game 5 against New York and was named Finals MVP.

Chamberlain died at age 63 in 1999.

“This jersey holds an extraordinarily significant place in the history of Los Angeles, not only adorned by the man many consider to be the greatest player ever to step on the court, but as a relic from one of the greatest franchises

TRUCKS BURNOUT ALERT! Carson Hocevar celebrates after winning the Worldwide Express 250 at Richmond Raceway Saturday. (Alejandro Alvarez/ NASCAR Studios)

Chris Buescher and his teammate Brad Keselowski combined to lead a race-best 190-of-400 laps – Buescher’s 88 laps out front was the most laps he’s ever led in a race in his eight-year Cup Series career.

Playoffs? Sure, why not, says Chris Buescher

RICHMOND, Va. – Chris Buescher capped Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing’s dominant day at Richmond (Va.) Raceway with a trophy, holding off the field on a restart with three laps remaining to win the Cup Series Cook Out 400 Sunday afternoon – his and the RFK team’s first victory of the season.

Buescher and his teammate Brad Keselowski (also a coowner of RFK) combined to lead a race-best 190-of-400 laps – Buescher’s 88 laps out front was the most laps he’s ever led in a race in his eight-year NASCAR Cup Series career. And it all results in an important automatic bid into the 16-driver Playoff field with only four races remaining in the regular season.

Buescher’s No. 17 RFK Ford ultimately held off last week’s race winner, Denny Hamlin by a slight .549-seconds although Buescher had held more than a five-second advantage on Hamlin’s No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota up until that caution flag flew for an accident involving Noah Gragson and Daniel Suarez in the closing laps.

“It was smooth sailing trying to take care of this Fastenal Mustang, it was so good and trying to take care of it there and about the time (crew chief) Scott (Graves) said over the radio ‘It’s working perfect, keep it up,’ and then there’s a caution,’’ said Buescher with a smile.

“But we were so strong during the race, I had a good feeling there about it,’’ added Buescher who now has three career NASCAR Cup Series wins. “So awesome to pull it off. I’m proud of everybody. That was a long way from the back.’’

That late-race yellow flag was the only caution flag on the day other than the two stage breaks. And the afternoon racing at the Richmond three-quarter mile track was physically demanding under intense heat – over 130-degrees inside the race car. As seventh-place finisher Martin Truex Jr. said smiling after the race, “my cheek feels like it’s sunburned, it was like a hair dryer blowing on you.’’

The 30-year old Texas native Buescher, however, handled the heat and the field, starting 26th but steadily working his way forward. He first cracked into the Top-5 by lap 160 of the 400-lap race, chasing down then-leaders Bubba Wallace, Tyler Reddick, Keselowski and Hamlin.

For a race with so many green flag laps, it was actually issues on pit road that thwarted several winning efforts, not problems racing on the track.

Wallace’s 80 laps out front mid-race in the No. 23 23XI Racing Toyota marked the most laps led in a single race in his career. But he ultimately had to play catch-up when his team had a slow tire change on green flag pit stop on Lap 175. He finished 12th.

With 56 laps remaining, race polesitter and Wallace’s 23XI teammate Tyler Reddick got flagged for violating the commitment line coming to pit road for green flag stop,

Chris Buescher, driver of the #17 Fastenal Ford, takes the checkered flag to win the Cup Series Cook Out 400 at Richmond Raceway Sunday. (Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)

relegating him from running among the Top-3 to desperately trying to remain on the lead lap with the laps counting down. He finished 16th after leading 81 laps early – every lap of Stage 1 en route to claiming his fourth stage win.

Similarly, Keselowski suffered a misstep in the pits after his No. 6 RFK Ford led a race-best 102 laps. He made an awkward turn into his pit during a green flag stop with 115 laps remaining and it cost just enough time to allow his teammate Buescher to take the lead with under 100 laps remaining.

Richard Childress Racing’s Kyle Busch – the all-time active winner at Richmond – finished third; his best showing on a short track this season. Team Penske’s Joey Logano rallied in the late laps to finish fourth and Stewart-Haas Racing’s Ryan Preece turned in his best showing of the season with a fifth place run.

Keselowski and Truex finished sixth and seventh followed by SHR’s Aric Almirola, Richard Childress Racing’s Austin Dillon and SHR’s Kevin Harvick. Chase Briscoe finished 11th giving SHR one of its best full team efforts of the season – all four cars inside the Top-11.

Every car in the 36-car field finished the race, the first time the full field was running at the end since 2018.

Buescher is now the 12th driver to win a race in 2023, leaving four positions still available for a new winner or the top drivers in points. Harvick and Keselowski hold more than a 100-point advantage on the 16th place cutoff. Wallace is up 54 points and Front Row Motorsports driver Michael McDowell holds an 18-point buffer on Joe Gibbs Racing rookie Ty Gibbs for that 16th place position. Kaulig Racing’s A.J. Allmendinger is 22 points behind McDowell.

Four races now remain to settle the 2023 Playoff field.

in sports history,” said Brahm Wachter, Sotheby’s head of streetwear and modern collectibles.”

The jersey is being offered with a collection depicting it in magazines, newspapers, photographs, trading cards and more. It will be on display for the public at the Sotheby’s Los Angeles gallery from August 2 to August 31.

Chamberlain is a Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer and a four-time NBA most valuable player.

NEXT: FIREKEEPERS CASINO 400

Michigan International Speedway

2:30 p.m. ET Sunday, USA

ABOUT

• Michigan International Speedway is a two-mile moderate-banked D-shaped speedway located off U.S. Highway 12 on more than 1,400 acres approximately four miles south of the village of Brooklyn, in the Irish Hills area of southeastern Michigan.

• Capacity: 56,000–137,243 (max.)

Length: 2.0 mi (3.2 km)

• Banking: Turns: 18°; Start/Finish: 12°; Backstretch: 5°

TRACK FACTS

• Groundbreaking took place Sept. 28, 1967. Some 2.5 million yards of dirt were moved to form the D-shaped oval designed by Charles Moneypenny, who previously designed the 2.5-mile Daytona International Speedway. The original layout included in eld and exterior roads, which could be combined to form a single 3.1-mile interior/exterior road course, or divided into separate 1.9-mile interior/exterior road courses. The road courses were designed by Formula One great Stirling Moss and are still used on a limited basis for passenger car testing by area law enforcement agencies. The last interior road course race was held in 1984, and the last time the exterior road course was used was in 1973.

• The prime mover in the venture was Lawrence H. LoPatin, a Detroit-area land developer who built the speedway at an estimated cost of $4-6 million. The saucer-shaped, 18-degree banking provided exciting racing right from the start. The Inaugural Race took place Oct. 13, 1968. The 250-mile Indystyle event posted a purse second at the time only to the Indianapolis 500. Ronnie Bucknum collected $20,088 as the rst driver to take the checkered flag.

• Cale Yarborough won the rst NASCAR race at the speedway on June 15, 1969, in a thrilling duel with LeeRoy Yarbrough. The two drivers battled doorto-door for most of the nal 150 laps. On their nal circuit, they touched twice-entering turn one, with Yarbrough brushing the outside wall. Coming out of the nal turn Yarbrough crashed just 300 yards from the nish line, handing victory to Yarborough.

Kevin Harvick partied in Victory Lane last season at Michigan.

CHRIS GRAYTHEN/ GETTY IMAGES

Wilt Chamberlain’s ‘Championship clinching’ jersey from 1972. FREDERIC J. BROWN/GETTY IMAGES/TNS