Inside: Senate confirms Gorsuch See A5
Sports: Yates Center, MV squads tangle See B1
2017 1867
The Weekender Saturday, April 8, 2017
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WORLD REACTS TO U.S. STRIKES By ZEINA KARAM and SARAH EL DEEB The Associated Press
U.S. Tomahawk cruise missiles hit airfield
TURKEY Aleppo
Med. Sea
BEIRUT (AP) — World leaders rallied around the United States after it launched a missile strike early Friday on a Syrian air base in response to this week’s chemical attack, while Russia condemned the move as “aggression” and suspended crucial coordination with Washington in Syria’s congested skies. The overnight missile attack, which marked the first time the U.S. has directly targeted Syrian President Bashar Assad’s forces, was condemned by his allies in Russia and Iran but welcomed by the Syrian opposition and its supporters, who expressed hope it signaled a turning point in the devastating six-year-old civil war. The bombing represents Trump’s most dramatic military order since taking office and thrusts the U.S. administration deeper into the complex Syrian conflict. The Obama administration threatened to attack Assad’s forces after previous chemical attacks, but never followed through. About 60 U.S. Tomahawk missiles hit the Shayrat air base, a small installation with two runways, where aircraft often take off to
Khan Sheikhoun
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Damascus
U.S. Navy destroyers fire Tomahawk cruise missiles at Syria Thursday. COURTESY U.S. NAVY/TWITTER bomb targets in northern and central Syria. The U.S. missiles hit at 3:45 a.m. (0045 GMT) Friday and targeted the base’s airstrips, hangars, control tower and ammunition areas, U.S. officials said. They were fired from two warships in the Mediterranean Sea, in retaliation for Tuesday’s deadly chemical attack, which officials said used chlorine mixed with a nerve agent, possibly sarin. Assad’s office called the U.S. missile strike “reckless” and “irresponsible.” The Syrian military said at least seven people were killed and nine wounded. The Britainbased Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition monitor said the seven included a general and three soldiers. The Kremlin said President Vladimir Putin believes the U.S. strike is an “aggres-
Shayrat airfield
SYRIA IRAQ
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sion against a sovereign state in violation of international law.” Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said “Washington’s move deals a significant blow to the Russia-U.S. relations, which are already in a deplorable shape,” and poses a “serious obstacle” for creating an international coalition against terrorism. Russia said it is suspending a memorandum with Washington — signed after Russia began an air campaign in support of Assad in September 2015 — under which the two exchange information about their sorties over Syria. The Kremlin said just 23 of 59 missiles reached the air base, destroying six Syrian jets but leaving the runway intact. A U.S. official said all but one of the 59 missiles struck
100 miles
JORDAN
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Source: AP Graphic: Staff, Tribune News Service
their targets, hitting multiple aircraft and air shelters, and destroying the fuel area. The official, who was not authorized to discuss initial reports, spoke on condition of anonymity. A U.S.-led coalition has been bombing Islamic State targets in Syria since 2014, while Russia’s air force has been striking both extremist groups and Syrian rebels in order to aid Assad’s forces. Saudi Arabia and Turkey, which support the Syrian opposition, welcomed the missile strike, with Riyadh calling it a “courageous decision” by Trump. Iran called it a “dangerous” move that See SYRIA | Page A3
County hears about projects By BOB JOHNSON The Iola Register
Allen County commissioners will decide soon whether to increase support for the Economic Development Program that operates under auspices of Thrive Allen County. The program began in 2013, with the county, Iola and Iola Industries each contributing $15,000. The total increased to $60,000 — $20,000 from each body — the following year and has remained at that level. Now, with expenses increasing each year, the request of each entity for 2018 is $27,000. Larry Manes, committee See PROJECTS | Page A3
Passion flows through VISTA volunteers By SHELLIE SMITLEY The Iola Register
Thrive Allen County, in collaboration with Americorps VISTA, has three generous and passionate women helping to wage the war on poverty. Sabrina Greer, Yvonne Scott and Pepper Weathers are all “Volunteers In Service To America,” who have committed to a year of service in this area. Greer, born in Olathe, is a native Kansan who moved to Iola in 2007. She relocated from Kansas City with two of her five children in order to raise them in a smaller, family-oriented setting. Her familiarity with the area stemmed from a year, in 1996, at Allen Community College, where she began a computer science degree. In 2015, she returned to ACC, taking business math classes. Greer began the Americorps application process in December 2016 after receiving emails about an open position with Thrive. “I kept on reading this email about this position and finally I called Georgia (Masterson),” Greer said.“I did not know it was to work with her at all.” Greer already considered Masterson to be a positive influence in her life. Masterson encouraged her to apply for the position. That position, it turned out, was working at Humanity House Foundation with Masterson and founder Tracy Keagle, commencing
At left, Yvonne Scott, left, works with Thrive Allen County’s healthy foods initiative. Director of Outreach Lisse Regehr, right, says Scott brings an array of valuable experience to Allen County. At right, Sabrina Greer, standing, works at Humanity House Foundation through the Americorps VISTA program. Georgia Masterson has been Greer’s long-term mentor. REGISTER/SHELLIE SMITLEY February 2017. Thrive works as a supervising agency and has provided the pathway for that union to take place. “I couldn’t pick a better couple of people to work with,” Greer said of her position at Humanity House. Greer is an organizer by nature and is utilizing skills that were developed while she was employed by Sonic Equipment Company. For Humanity House, she develops spreadsheets for inventory, client information and classes and creates flyers. “I am creating tools so that Humanity House can help the public and keep track of their records,” Greer said.
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That may be a modest description of what she does. Keagle said Greer is a blessing not only to the non-profit agency but also to everyone who walks through its door. “She has an amazing sense of humor (and) an amazing intuition when it comes to people,” Keagle said. “She understands poverty and the struggles that come with it. She has a quick wit and a sharp mind and is able to come up with great ideas and quick solutions to difficult problems.” It is a placement well-suited for all involved and, if future funding permits, working with Humanity House
is something Greer said she would like to continue even after her year-long commitment is over. SCOTT, a mother of four and a grandmother of six, arrived in Humboldt at the end of March, from Sylva, N.C. It was a three-day drive, she said. Her passion for fighting poverty has been evident for some time.This is Scott’s second tour with Americorps. The first time she worked in Kentucky for a year. “I managed the initiation of the Grow Appalachia program in our community, in Wolfe County,” she said. Grow Appalachia in col-
“He who laughs most, learns best.”
— John Cleese, actor 75 Cents
laboration with Berea College seeks to resolve food insecurity issues by strengthening the relationships between people and farm lands. “I got to see the porch in Harlan, Ky., where President Johnson sat when he decided ‘we have to do something’ and he created the war on poverty,” she said. Scott has worked for a number of nonprofits in the past and has an array of experience. “I worked in domestic violence in several different areas, I have been in education, I have been an administraSee VISTA | Page A6
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