The Iola Register, Aug. 11, 2023

Just keep swimming

Emma B’Hymer

Jr.

Olympic Games

By RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register

Emma B’Hymer’s summer is going swimmingly, thank you.

ACC gets ready to welcome students

By VICKIE MOSS

Allen Community College plans to welcome back students this fall with a little help from the community.

“Welcome Week” activities begin with move-in day on Saturday, Aug. 19, with a block party from 6 to 8 p.m. Aug. 22 at the Activities Building. Businesses and organizations have been invited to set up booths to talk with students about job opportunities and give a general overview of their operations.

“It’s great to see the community supporting us even more,” Josiah D’Albini, director of student life, said at a meeting of the board of trust-

ees on Tuesday evening.

About 40% of students have already moved in, Cynthia Jacobson, vice president of student affairs, reported. Most are student athletes — both men and women’s soccer, volleyball and cross country — who arrived starting July 29.

Enrollment is down by 100 students compared to the same point last year, Jacobson reported. In August 2022,

1,454 students were enrolled in 13,982 credits. Currently,

1,354 students have enrolled in 12,873 credits.

She is optimistic that number will increase, as efforts continue to reach out to high schools for enrollment in du-

B’Hymer, 17, of Iola, was in Des Moines, Iowa, July 27-30, for the AAU Jr. Olympic Games, where she took on throngs of the country’s best young swimmers. She saved her best for last, placing seventh out of 50 in the 100-meter breaststroke — her final meet of the competition — to earn a medal.

“This was one of the best and most memorable moments of my life,” said B’Hymer, daughter of Iolans Amie Witten and Eric B’Hymer and granddaughter Dwayne and Georganna Jarred of Iola and Barbara Riley of Newton. She also competed in three other races at the AAU event, taking 43rd out of 82 competitors in the 50-meter freestyle, 27th of 59 in the 100-meter backstroke and 41st out of 84 swimmers in the 100-meter freestyle.

B’Hymer is entering her senior year at Humboldt High School. She is the first (and only) Humboldt swimmer as part of a cooperative

team with Fort Scott High School. And because Fort Scott does not have a regulation-sized pool, B’Hymer commutes from Iola to Pittsburg — 75 miles each way — five days a week.

At least 36 killed as fires burn on Maui

WAILUKU, Hawaii (AP) —

Thousands of Hawaii residents raced to escape homes on Maui as blazes swept across the island, destroying parts of a centuries-old town and killing at least 36 people in one of the deadliest U.S. wildfires in recent years.

The fire took the island by surprise, leaving behind burned-out cars on once busy streets and smoking piles of rubble where historic buildings had stood in Lahaina, which dates to the 1700s and has long been a favorite destination of tourists. Crews battled blazes in several places on the island Wednesday, and the flames forced some adults and children to flee into the ocean.

At least 36 people have died, according to a statement from Maui County late Wednesday that said no other details were available. Officials said earlier that 271 structures were damaged or destroyed and dozens of people injured. The 2018 Camp Fire in California killed at least 85 people and virtually razed the town of Paradise.

Officials warned that the death toll in Hawaii could rise, with the fires still burning and teams spreading out to search charred areas.

Lahaina residents Kamuela Kawaakoa and Iiulia Yasso described a harrowing escape under smoke-filled skies Tuesday afternoon. The cou-

ple and their 6-year-old son got back to their apartment after a quick dash to the supermarket for water, and only had time to grab a change of clothes and run as the bushes around them caught fire.

“We barely made it out,” Kawaakoa said at an evacuation shelter on Wednesday, still unsure if anything was left of their apartment. As the family fled, a senior center across the road erupted in flames. They called 911, but didn’t know if the people got out. As they drove away, downed utility poles and others fleeing in cars slowed their progress. “It was so hard

to sit there and just watch my town burn to ashes and not be able to do anything,” Kawaakoa, 34, said.

As the fires rage, tourists were advised to stay away, and about 11,000 visitors flew out of Maui on Wednesday, with at least another 1,500 expected to leave Thursday, according to Ed Sniffen, state transportation director. Officials prepared the Hawaii Convention Center in Honolulu to take in the thousands who have been displaced. Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen Jr. said the island had “been tested like never before in our lifetime.”

“We are grieving with each other during this inconsolable time,” he said in a recorded statement. “In the days ahead, we will be stronger as a ‘kaiaulu,’ or community, as we rebuild with resilience and aloha.”

The fires were whipped by strong winds from Hurricane Dora passing far to the south. It’s the latest in a series of disasters caused by extreme weather around the globe this summer. Experts say climate change is increasing the likelihood of such events.

Wildfires aren’t unusual in Hawaii, but the weather

TRUTH be told, she wouldn’t want it any other way. “I’ve tried pretty much every sport in the book,” she said. “I’ve played volleyball,

Colleges crack down on chatbots

By JOCELYN GECKER The Associated Press

When philosophy professor Darren Hick came across another case of cheating in his classroom at Furman University last semester, he posted an update to his followers on social media: “Aaaaand, I’ve caught my second ChatGPT plagiarist.”

Friends and colleagues responded, some with wide-eyed emojis. Others expressed surprise.

“Only 2?! I’ve caught dozens,” said Timothy Main, a writing professor at Conestoga College in Canada. “We’re in full-on

Locally owned since 1867

The Iola Register

earns medal at the AAU

Emma B’Hymer earned seventh place in the 100-meter breastroke at the AAU Jr. Olympic Games in July in Iowa.

A wildfire burns out of control in Lahaina on the island of Maui. Drought and high winds from Hurricane Dora are causing fires across Hawaii and prompting evacuations across the state.

(COUNTY OF MAUI/ZUMA PRESS WIRE/TNS)

Betty Daniels

Betty Joan Daniels, age 89, of Elsmore, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023. Betty was born May 19, 1934, in Amsterdam, Missouri, to Jesse L. Croghan and Lucy A. (Corder) Croghan.

Betty attended LaHarpe Elementary. At age 12 she was afflicted with polio, and at age 14 was confined to a wheelchair. After being hospitalized for many months at K.U. Med Center, Betty’s quest for education continued.

After only three years of attending LaHarpe High School, in 1951 she graduated class valedictorian.

Betty discovered early on her talent for numbers. She began her accounting career early in life. As a teenager she was keeping books and managing accounts for her father at the Blaker Lumberyard in LaHarpe. Many will remember her as a pillar of the community where she served several decades as the bookkeeper for LaHarpe Farmers CO-OP.

In 1985, Betty took office as Allen County Treasurer. Betty served in her elected capacity as Allen County Treasurer until her retirement in 2001.

Even after retirement, Betty kept herself busy. Post-retirement, Betty could be found weekly volunteering at the Allen County Hospital as a member of the Auxiliary where she gave thousands of hours back to her community.

Education and a quest for preserving history led her to hold several officer positions within the LaHarpe Alumni Association, where the awarding of annual scholarships to local youth was something she looked forward to each year. For many years she also served as an active member of Allen County Republican Women.

Betty spent most of her life working for the Lord. As a member

Anti-corruption candidate killed

Betty Daniels

of First Baptist Church in Iola, she ministered to teenage youth by leading Sunday School classes for many decades. Even in the late stages of her life she treasured her bible study time and fellowship with friends. She cherished those special Fridays where she would open her home to friends.

Betty and George “Jay” Daniels were united in marriage March 20, 1966 at First Baptist Church in LaHarpe, the same church where Betty and her father, Lee, were baptized together.

Betty and Jay had a son, David.

Betty was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; and brother, Bill Croghan.

Betty is survived by her son, David J. Daniels, Polk City, Florida; brother, Jack (Kay) Croghan, Gas; sister, Connie Sue Wright, Edmond, Oklahoma; sister-in-law, Flo Croghan, Moran; nieces, Kimberly (Croghan) Mills, Tammy (Croghan) Emerson, Dana (Croghan) Endicott, Angela (Croghan) Ryan, Amy (Wright) Taylor; and nephews, Michael Croghan, Aaron Wright.

A visitation is from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday in The Venue at Feuerborn Family Funeral Service, 1883 US Highway 54, Iola. A funeral service is at 10 a.m. Monday in the chapel at Feuerborn Family Funeral Service, Iola. Burial will follow in LaHarpe Cemetery.

To help continue Betty’s legacy, and in lieu of flowers, the family is requesting memorials to LaHarpe High School Association Scholarship Fund, and may be left with Feuerborn Family Funeral Service, 1883 US Highway 54, Iola, KS.

Condolences for the family may be left at www.feuerbornfuneral. com.

HPV vaccine protects kids against cancer

By DEB BALZER Mayo Clinic News Network/TNS

As the back-to-school checklist grows, one detail that parents and caregivers should prioritize is ensuring all children have their appropriate vaccines.

Mayo Clinic’s Dr. Kim Barbel Johnson says the HPV vaccine should be part of a routine vaccination schedule. It’s a preventive measure that can save lives later.

“HPV causes a number of cancers. We think of it as causing cervical cancer in women. But it also causes vulvar cancer, vaginal cancer, head and neck cancers,” says Dr. Barbel Johnson. “There are about nine strains of this virus that we know causes a number of cancers.”

It’s the most common sexually transmitted infection in the world.

“We have an opportunity to prevent our

QUITO, Ecuador (AP) — An Ecuadorian presidential candidate who recently pledged to root out corruption and lock up the country’s “thieves” was fatally shot at a political rally in the capital as the South American country reels from drug-related crime and violence.

Fernando Villavicencio, 59, who was known for speaking up against cartels, was assassinated Wednesday, less than two weeks before a special presidential election. He was not a front-runner, but his death deepened an organized crime crisis that has already claimed thousands of lives and underscored the challenge that Ecuador’s next leader will face.

Video of the rally in Quito posted on social media appeared to show Villavicencio walking out of the rally surrounded by guards. The footage then showed the candidate getting into a white pickup truck before gunshots were heard, followed by screams and commotion around the truck.

The sequence of events was confirmed to The Associated Press by Patricio Zuquilanda, Villavicencio’s campaign adviser.

The candidate had received at least three death threats before the shooting and reported them to authorities, resulting in one

detention, Zuquilanda said.

“The Ecuadorian people are crying, and Ecuador is mortally wounded,” the adviser said. “Politics cannot lead to the death of any member of society.”

Former Vice President Otto Sonnenholzner, who also is seeking the presidency, bemoaned the loss at a news conference: “We are dying, drowning in a sea of tears, and we do not deserve to live like this.”

The assassins threw a grenade into the street to cover their flight, but it did not explode, President Guillermo Lasso said. Police later destroyed the grenade with a controlled explosion.

Operations carried out in different sectors

of Quito resulted in six arrests. One suspect died in custody from wounds sustained in a firefight, the attorney general’s office said.

Lasso suggested the slaying could be linked to organized crime and insisted on proceeding with the election scheduled for Aug. 20.

He declared three days of national mourning and a state of emergency that involves deploying additional military personnel throughout the country.

“Given the loss of a democrat and a fighter, the elections are not suspended. On the contrary, they have to be held, and democracy has to be strengthened,” Lasso said Thursday.

IN HIS FINAL speech

before he was killed, Villavicencio promised a roaring crowd that he would fight corruption and imprison more criminals.

He had been threatened by affiliates of Mexico’s Sinaloa cartel, one of a slew of international organized crime groups that now operate in Ecuador. He said his campaign represented a threat to such groups.

“Here I am showing my face. I’m not scared of them,” Villavicencio said in a statement before his death, naming detained crime boss José Adolfo Macías by his alias, “Fito.” Villavicencio, one of eight candidates running for president, was the candidate of the Build Ecuador Movement.

Law would allow taking Fido to the grave

By ANGELA RODRIGUEZ Sacramento Bee/TNS

In most California households, pets are more than furry friends. They’re family. They join you on trips to the park, car rides and vacations. But how much do you love your pet? Do you love them enough to be buried alongside them?

Assemblywoman

children from getting cancer down the road,” she says.

The HPV vaccine is recommended for boys and girls ages 11 to 12. It can be started at age 9.

“We want to take advantage of every opportunity that we have prior to increasing exposure risk. And so the recommendation is that we start to vaccinate our boys and girls, somewhere between 11 and 12. It can be as early as 9, “Dr. Barbel Johnson says.

The goal is to provide the vaccine before people are exposed to HPV. Dr. Barbel Johnson says the vaccine is safe and works.

“The data continues to prove that we are doing right by our children, and by young adults, by vaccinating them,” she says.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says teens and young adults should be vaccinated too.

Jacqui Irwin, a Southern California Democrat, is introducing a bill that would allow cemeteries to create separate sections where pets can be buried with their owners.

“Humans spend over a decade of their lives with their pets, building strong and irreplaceable bonds,” Irwin was quoted in the bill analysis. “It is natural for owners to want to keep their fur-

ry members close in the afterlife.”

The bill has passed both Assembly and Senate committees with no votes against it and no registered opposition.

How would the legislation work?

If a cemetery in California chooses to create a space for co-burials, pet and human

remains must be in separate containers, but can be placed in the same plot, niche, crypt or vault, according to the bill’s text.

“Through this bill, both public and private cemeteries will be given the option to decide for themselves whether or not they allow pet and human co-burials,” Irwin said.

As for the limits on the types of pets and size guidelines, Irwin said that will also be left for individual cemeteries to develop guidelines.

Do any states allow co-burials with pets?

A few states have recognized the increasing desire of owners wanting co-burials with their pets, according to the bill analysis. These states currently allow co-burials:

• New York

• Pennsylvania

• Virginia

• Florida

Fernando Villavicencio, a former Assembly member and presidential candidate, in Quito, Ecuador, on Aug. 8, 2023. Villavicencio, who campaigned to root out corruption was fatally shot at a political rally Wednesday. (RODRIGO BUENDIA/AFP/GETTY IMAGES/TNS)

Kara Wheeler, Allen Community College’s new vice president

Hawaii: Blazes on Big Island, too

Continued from A1

the past few weeks created the fuel for a devastating blaze and, once ignited, the high winds created the disaster, said Thomas Smith an associate professor in Environmental Geography at the London School of Economics and Political Science.

and I’ve never seen anything come close to that,” said Richard Olsten, a helicopter pilot for a tour company. “We had tears in our eyes.”

Search-and-rescue teams are fanning out

in the devastated areas in the hopes of finding survivors, Adam Weintraub, communication director for the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, said on ABC’s “Good Morning America.”

Tuesday.

ACC: Maintenance discussed

al-credit programs.

Dorms on campus still have about 28 beds available, D’Albini reported, with 264 students signed up for housing.

“It concerns me that we don’t have full dorms,” board member Vicki Curry said, noting that in previous years ACC had to house some students in area hotels because the dorms were full.

Student athletes are required to live on campus, unless they are local residents, Jacobson assured her. Only one exception was made this year, she said, for an international student who was already living with a host family.

The college also closed the Burlingame campus at the end of last school year, but that was not expected to significantly affect enrollment as most students could take dual-credit classes through area high schools.

D’Albini also noted he would like to change move-in day to Friday, starting next year. That will give students an opportunity to conduct last-minute business such as going to a bank or contacting other schools for transcripts.

After students move in Saturday, they’ll attend a dorm orientation that evening followed by a more general orientation on Monday. On Monday evening, students can attend Casino Night where they can win prizes.

Local businesses also will offer students special deals throughout the week.

The Red Devil Home Openers for soccer and volleyball will take place on Aug. 23.

Maintenance issues

With the start of a new school year, ACC’s maintenance director Ryan Sigg and his crew have been working furiously to prepare the campus.

He’s run into a couple of issues.

A fire panel in the B building and gymnasium is not working properly. All of the fire alarms in that section are tied to the fire panel; if an alarm is pulled, it triggers the fire panel to set off alerts and contact the Iola Fire Department.

The panel began to

The Big Island is also currently seeing blazes, Mayor Mitch Roth said, although there had been no reports of injuries or destroyed homes there.

sound alerts at random recently and had to be disconnected. The panel is decades old and repair parts are no longer available.

“It’s beyond outdated,” Sigg said.

Engineers are working to resolve the problem as quickly as possible, Sigg said, but it could be costly.

The hope is to find a way to connect that section to a primary fire panel. If that can’t be done, ACC may need to purchase a new fire alarm system.

“They’re trying to figure out a plan to save us money. This is going to be an extremely expensive project. They didn’t tell me a number but I’m thinking six figures,” Sigg said.

Johnson noted that if the building is occupied while the alarm system is down, someone must be on alert to watch for fire.

Sigg said contractors are ready to move forward with repairs as soon as they determine the best solution. The hope is to resolve the problem before classes begin.

Board members said they support calling an emergency special meeting to approve the repairs, since they aren’t scheduled to meet again until Sept. 12

MEANWHILE, the board approved a request from Sigg to hire Design Mechanical of Kansas City, Kan., at a cost of $13,189 to run new wiring for the HVAC system controls.

The board approved new controls for the HVAC system in 2021, with Design Mechanical using existing wiring for the project. Since then, some rooms have experienced inconsistent temperature issues the company has been unable to resolve. They believe there is a problem somewhere in the wiring and the upgrade should solve the problem.

CTE dean

from A1 IS A

The board created two new dean positions, although one is more of a title change.

Melanie Wallace, dean for academic affairs: offsite, will now have the title of dean for distance and general education.

A new position will be dean for CTE and industry partnerships.

That person will work with businesses and high schools, and will serve as the Perkins coordinator. Wallace had previously served those roles but as the college expands its career and technical education programs, the board agreed it’s important to have someone devoted to those efforts.

The college has joined a Perkins consortium, which allows it to access funding for CTE programs.

This year, ACC will get $45,000 from a Perkins grant and hundreds of thousands more dollars through associated state funding.

“It opens up additional revenue streams for us,” Bruce Moses, ACC president, said.

“This year we spent time in Topeka, advocating for ourselves at the statehouse. We’ll get over $400,000 we can use to work with businesses and industries to develop CTE programs to purchase equipment and train faculty. We weren’t getting that type of funding previously, so our efforts have paid off.”

He noted the funding is still “just a drop in the bucket,” as other community colleges in the state receive millions of dollars.

Wallace offered some examples of programs and partnerships that could be created. B&W Trailer Hitches wants to set up a certificate program for CNC operators. Area hospitals want a program for medical assistant certification.

“There are lots of things we can work on,” she said.

Board members are excited about the prospects.

“I’m glad we’re moving in that direction,” board member Lonnie Larson said. “We need to get more involved in CTE.”

As winds eased somewhat on Maui on Wednesday, pilots were able to view the full scope of the devastation. Aerial video from Lahaina showed dozens of homes and businesses razed, including on Front Street, where tourists once gathered to shop and dine. Smoking heaps of rubble lay piled high next to the waterfront, boats in the harbor were scorched, and gray smoke hovered over the leafless skeletons of charred trees.

“It’s horrifying. I’ve flown here 52 years

Inflation eases its grip on US

WASHINGTON (AP)

— Inflation in the United States edged up in July after 12 straight months of declines. But excluding volatile food and energy costs, so-called core inflation matched the smallest monthly rise in nearly two years, a sign that the Federal Reserve's interest rate hikes have continued to slow price increases.

The inflation figure the government reported Thursday showed that overall consumer prices increased 3.2% from a year earlier. That was up from a 3% annual rise in June, which was the lowest rate in more than two years. The latest figure remained far below last year's peak of 9.1%, though still above the Fed's 2% inflation target.

The Fed, economists and investors, though, pay particular attention to core inflation figures for signs of where inflationary pressures might be headed.

Check the Chip Day

By Nicole Haney R.V.T.

August 15th is National Check the Chip Day, which is a holiday dedicated to spreading awareness about the importance of microchipping and reminding owners to update any outdated information on their pets’ microchips. Owners need to understand the benefits, functions, and requirements of a microchip.

The benefits of having a pet microchipped vary for owners, pets, and situations. The most well-known benefit of microchipping is the increased likelihood of a pet being returned home safely if they ever go missing. When a pet is found and taken to a veterinarian or shelter as a found pet or stray, they will be scanned for a microchip. If properly registered, a microchip will then help the pet’s owner to be found and contacted. There are many microchip registries, some free, some with a fee for lifetime registration and some with an annual fee. Do some research and use as many or as few as you want. Other benefits of microchipping pets can range from a sense of security for owners to easy confirmation of patient identity in emergencies.

The function of a microchip is often misunderstood. Many people believe that microchips are GPS trackers implanted directly in their pets. The reality is that a microchip displays a number when scanned, and that number is registered with the manufacturer and sometimes other larger registries. The owner has to enter the pet’s information and contact information on the manufacturer’s website and any other registries that they wish to be listed with. This information is then stored by the company so that they can contact the owner if the pet is ever reported as found. Many microchip companies also have an option on their website to mark a pet as lost if they ever go missing, which allows the organization scanning the chip to know that the owner is looking for the pet.

If you are considering microchipping your pet, it is important to speak with your veterinarian to learn more about the process and the specific company they work with. If you find a lost pet, it is recommended to take them to a local veterinarian or shelter to have them scanned for a microchip, even if they appear to have been missing for some time. If you have moved or changed your information since registering your pet's microchip, it is important to update it online. Microchipping is a reliable way to help ensure that pets are reunited with their owners quickly and safely, as long as they are properly registered.

Red Barn Veterinary Service offers microchipping to help reunite pets with their owners quickly. Don't forget to ask us about microchipping your pet at their next visit and keep your contact information updated at the pet registry associated with your pet's chip.

of

academic affairs, at left, attends her first board of trustees meeting on

At right is Cynthia Johnson, vice president for student affairs. Tonya Johnson, not pictured but also attending her first board meeting, is the new vice president of financial operations. REGISTER/VICKIE MOSS

“The vegetation in the lowland areas of Maui is particularly parched this year, with below-average precipitation in the spring, and hardly any rainfall this summer.

ChatGPT: Colleges and universities consider impact of AI

Continued from A1

crisis mode.”

Practically overnight, ChatGPT and other artificial intelligence chatbots have become the go-to source for cheating in college.

Now, educators are rethinking how they’ll teach courses this fall from Writing 101 to computer science. Educators say they want to embrace the technology’s potential to teach and learn in new ways, but when it comes to assessing students, they see a need to “ChatGPTproof” test questions and assignments.

For some instructors that means a return to paper exams, after years of digital-only tests. Some professors will be requiring students to show editing history and drafts to prove their thought process. Other instructors are less concerned. Some students have always found ways to cheat, they say, and this is just the latest option.

An explosion of AI-generated chatbots including ChatGPT, which launched in November, has raised new questions for academics dedicated to making sure that students not only can get the right answer, but also understand how to do the work. Educators say there is agreement at least on some of the most pressing challenges.

• Are AI detectors

reliable? Not yet, says Stephanie Laggini Fiore, associate vice provost at Temple University. This summer, Fiore was part of a team at Temple that tested the detector used by Turnitin, a popular plagiarism detection service, and found it to be “incredibly inaccurate.” It worked best at confirming human work, she said, but was spotty in identifying chatbot-generated text and least reliable with hybrid work.

• Will students get falsely accused of using artificial intelligence platforms to cheat? Absolutely. In one case last semester, a Texas A&M professor wrongly accused an entire class of using ChatGPT on final assignments. Most of the class was subse-

quently exonerated.

• So, how can educators be certain if a student has used an AI-powered chatbot dishonestly? It’s nearly impossible unless a student confesses, as both of Hicks’ students did. Unlike old-school plagiarism where text matches the source it is lifted from, AI-generated text is unique each time.

In some cases, the cheating is obvious, says Main, the writing professor, who has had students turn in assignments that were clearly cut-and-paste jobs. “I had answers come in that said, ‘I am just an AI language model, I don’t have an opinion on that,’” he said.

In his first-year required writing class last

semester, Main logged 57 academic integrity issues, an explosion of academic dishonesty compared to about eight cases in each of the two prior semesters. AI cheating accounted for about half of them.

This fall, Main and colleagues are overhauling the school’s required freshman writing course. Writing assignments will be more personalized to encourage students to write about their own experiences, opinions and perspectives. All assignments and the course syllabi will have strict rules forbidding the use of artificial intelligence.

College administrators have been encouraging instructors to make the ground rules

B’Hymer: Swimmer prefers breaststroke

Continued from A1

I’ve played softball, basketball. I played golf one year, and I did dance. I’ve done a lot of different things, but swimming has always been my favorite.”

B’Hymer’s grandmother, Iolan Georganna Jarred, noted early concerns about burnout never came to fruition.

If anything, it’s been the opposite.

B’Hmyer typically fills her time during long trips back and forth to practice watching swimming videos, or various competitions, via YouTube.

“She still does it,” Jarred laughed. “If there’s swimming on TV, she watches it.”

JARRED sensed years ago there was something special about her granddaughter’s passion for the pool.

B’Hymer had barely learned to swim as a 6-year-old when she vowed one day she’d swim in the Olympics.

It was about the time B’Hymer entered high school that she opted to give up the other sports like volleyball and softball to focus solely on swimming.

Her path eventually crossed with Kurt King, a swim coach in Independence, where B’Hymer would travel daily to practice.

“He’s such a neat guy and a great coach,” Jarred said.

It was King who taught B’Hymer the proper technique, and watched as her times improved steadily.

Out of all the swimming disciplines, B’Hymer discovered a talent in the breaststroke, considered by

many the most difficult of the four basic strokes.

“That’s where I’d catch up with the others during the medley (races)” B’Hymer said. “And it seemed like those were the races where I’d consistently qualify for the championships. I thought, hmm, maybe I have a real talent.”

As the years wore on, B’Hymer hungered for more. As her teammates in Independence aged out of the youth program, or left to focus on other endeavors, B’Hymer found herself at a crossroads last winter.

“I looked around and I realized I was by myself with a bunch of little kids,” she said. “I was already the fastest swimmer on the team.”

King was gracious with her decision to move on. If she needed to go elsewhere to improve, she had his blessing to do so.

B’Hymer joined a YMCA team in Pittsburg, where she can compete over the winter, in competitions across Kansas and Missouri, until her final high school season gets underway next March.

Her new coach, Marlaine Nickelson was able to pick up where Coach King left off, B’Hymer siad.

“Coach King really worked on my technique,” she said. “Here, I do a lot more work with my endurance.”

B’Hymer estimates she puts in about 5,000 yards of swimming a day (a shade less than 3 miles).

The grueling practices can take their toll, if B’Hymer isn’t careful with her diet.

“I have to watch how

I’m balancing my calories because of how hard I practice, “ she said. “At one point, I quit eating as much, and would try to run all day on one meal. That wasn’t good. I was exhausted all of the time.”

Now, her daily salads are loaded with spinach, and B’Hymer has upped her red meat intake.”

ONCE HER high school season ensues, B’Hymer is hoping to improve on her career-bests in several disciplines.

She has taken sixth and ninth in her sophomore and junior years, respectively, in the breaststroke at the Class 5-1A State Swim Meet in May in Shawnee Mission to go along with a 16th-place finish as a junior in the individual medley.

After that is college, where she hopes to continue swimming and pursue an education in athletic training and physical therapy.

B’Hymer has her sights set on one school in particular: the College of Saint Mary in Omaha, Neb.

I’ve already visited

clear. Many institutions are leaving the decision to use chatbots or not in the classroom to instructors, said Hiroano Okahana, the head of the Education Futures Lab at the American Council on Education.

At Michigan State University, faculty are being given “a small library of statements” to choose from and modify as they see fit on syllabi, said Bill Hart-Davidson, associate dean in MSU’s College of Arts and Letters who is leading AI workshops for faculty to help shape new assignments and policy.

“Asking students questions like, ‘Tell me in three sentences what is the Krebs cycle in chemistry?’ That’s not going to work anymore, because ChatGPT will spit out a perfectly fine answer to that question,” said Hart-Davidson, who suggests asking questions differently. For example, give a description that has errors and ask students to point them out.

Evidence is piling up that chatbots have changed study habits and how students seek information.

prone to making things up, a glitch known as “hallucination.” Developers say they are working to make their platforms more reliable but it’s unclear when or if that will happen. Educators also worry about what students lose by skipping steps.

“There is going to be a big shift back to paper-based tests,” said Bonnie MacKellar, a computer science professor at St. John’s University in New York City. The discipline already had a “massive plagiarism problem” with students borrowing computer code from friends or cribbing it from the internet, said MacKellar. She worries intro-level students taking AI shortcuts are cheating themselves out of skills needed for upper-level classes.

“I hear colleagues in humanities courses saying the same thing: It’s back to the blue books,” MacKellar said. In addition to requiring students in her intro courses to handwrite their code, the paper exams will count for a higher percentage of the grade this fall, she said.

once, and I absolutely loved it,” she said. “They’ve got a new swim program, and the coach is in his second or third year.”

Nevertheless, Saint Mary already had one swimmer qualify for nationals last year.

“That’s pretty danged good,” she said.

B’HYMER had to overcome more than fast swimmers at the Junior Olympics.

When she stepped into the Wellmark YMCA Arena in downtown Des Moines, it marked the first time B’Hymer had seen, much less swam in, an Olympic-sized swimming pool.

“You don’t realize how big those things are until you see them in person,” she laughed. “When you watch them swim on TV, they make it look so easy. It’s not easy at all. I just hopped in the water for warmups and thought, ‘here we go.’”

Her grandmother notes B’Hymer may be a bit too modest at times.

“I love watching her swim,” Jarred said. “She can swim so smoothly. It’s like she’s just gliding along.”

Chegg Inc., an online company that offers homework help and has been cited in numerous cheating cases, said in May its shares had tumbled nearly 50% in the first quarter of 2023 because of a spike in student usage of ChatGPT, according to Chegg CEO Dan Rosensweig. He said students who normally pay for Chegg’s service were now using the AI platform for free.

At Temple this spring, the use of research tools like library databases declined notably following the emergence of chatbots, said Joe Lucia, the university’s dean of libraries.

“It seemed like students were seeing this as a quick way of finding information that didn’t require the effort or time that it takes to go to a dedicated resource and work with it,” he said.

Ronan Takizawa, a sophomore at Colorado College, has never heard of a blue book. As a computer science major, that feels to him like going backward, but he agrees it would force students to learn the material. “Most students aren’t disciplined enough to not use ChatGPT,” he said. Paper exams “would really force you to understand and learn the concepts.”

Takizawa said students are at times confused about when it’s OK to use AI and when it’s cheating. Using ChatGPT to help with certain homework like summarizing reading seems no different from going to YouTube or other sites that students have used for years, he said.

Other students say the arrival of ChatGPT has made them paranoid about being accused of cheating when they haven’t.

Arizona State University sophomore Nathan LeVang says he double

Dr. Stephanie Laggini Fiore, Associate Vice Provost and Sr. Director of the Center for the Advancement of Teaching, center, hosts a faculty teaching circle on artificial intelligence alongside Lori Anne Salem, Assistant Vice Provost and Director of the Student Success Center, on Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2023, at Temple University in Philadelphia. (AP PHOTO/JOE LAMBERTI)

Opinion

~ Journalism that makes a difference

Kansas needs to improve roads for bicyclists, pedestrians

After decades of decline, fatal traffic crashes increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Today’s traffic deaths are falling harder and harder on bicyclists and pedestrians. In Kansas, pedestrian deaths increased 261%, from 18 in 2019 to 47 in 2021, according to the National Governors’ Association.

Nationally, those numbers increased 77% during the same time period, from 6272 to 7274. The 2020 infrastructure bill passed by the Kansas Legislature includes safety along with economic growth as priorities, and U.S. Rep. Sharice Davis recently announced a $1.28 million grant coming to the state’s Third District to improve roadway safety.

This differs remarkably from previous crackdowns on auto safety. U.S. traffic fatalities hit a high in 1972 and began dropping. Just before that, a host of federal laws had mandated safety features including seatbelts, high backed seats, and collapsible steering columns. Also, consumer safety advocate Ralph Nader and his team of lawyers targeted auto companies marketing cars with known safety flaws, including the Chevrolet Corvair and Ford Pinto.

In the 1980s, the focus shifted to drivers. Candace Lightner founded Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) in 1980, after her daughter was killed by a repeat drunk driver.

How personal prejudices can affect civic decisions

Public officials’ actions can be flawed or a fraud. Yet some people applaud.

Michael Smith Insight Kansas

creased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Alongside these proposals, today’s safety advocates propose a host of changes to make roads themselves safer. All of us who truly enjoy driving should warmly welcome these ideas.

June 12, Salina’s city commission offered a prime example. A routine proclamation was read and signed by the mayor. It recognized Pride Month and celebrated LGBTQ contributions to city, state and country. Standard stuff.

Imagine everyone’s surprise, then, when new commissioner and soon-to-bemayor Bill Longbine rose up, announced he was recusing himself and walked out of the meeting.

David Norlin Kansas Reflector

pable of — and in a sense, committed to — inflicting harm, in the right circumstance.

This is dangerous.

(already issued by request of transgender individuals) back to an undesired or even repugnant gender designation.

So much for individual freedom.

National office provides even more power to harm.

Real drivers open our windows, sunroofs, and convertible tops on nice days and shift our own gears. We speed up, slow down, and negotiate curves, all the while staying connected to our surroundings.

MADD and its allies successfully advocated a host of federal and state laws targeting this behavior, and they are still at it today. The ’80s also saw seatbelt laws and changing social norms regarding buckling up — earlier, seatbelts were required, but few drivers or passengers used them.

Cars have also continued getting safer for the occupants, with energy-absorbing materials and crumple zones becoming universal. Yet these features do nothing to protect those outside the car — pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists. They may even make drivers become overconfident, more likely to speed and drive inattentively, and more dangerous to those outside the car.

A host of new safety ideas have been circulated, including renewed crackdowns on DUIs and reckless driving, both of which in-

Today’s pedestrian-unfriendly roadways consist largely of suburban streets that have been turned into straight, flat speedways where drivers race along at speeds approaching those on the freeway, often distracted by their phones. This mix of high speeds, heavier vehicles, and distracted driving terrorizes pedestrians and bicyclists. Proposed ideas include shorter blocks, pedestrian refuge areas, increased use of traffic circles, narrower roads, dedicated bicycle lanes, and chicanes — those s-shaped curves also used on racetracks. Money from the bipartisan 2021 Infrastructure and Jobs Act is available to help fund these improvements. I have appreciated cars and driving since childhood. My grandfather ran one of those old-fashioned gas stations in downtown Lawrence — the ones where you could get your car fixed. I grew up hearing car stories, reading car magazines, and attending car races with my dad. Every chance I get, I still exit the interstate and seek out the back roads — a “blue highway” driver.

Mindlessly, distractedly operating a vehicle on a flat, straight, suburban superspeedway is the antithesis of real driving. Real drivers open our windows, sunroofs, and convertible tops on nice days and shift our own gears. We speed up, slow down, and negotiate curves, all the while staying connected to our surroundings.

For the true driving enthusiast, better roadways cannot come fast enough. No more mindless driving — we need roads that keep us wide awake and firmly connected to our car, road, and surroundings. No matter what you drive, better roads can help us do that. Let’s get to work.

The next meeting, he was called to task during public comments. His response: “I do have deeply held beliefs and values. This did conflict with my beliefs and values, and I have that right.”

Following calls for an apology, three rose instead to applaud Longbine’s action. All were members of a like-minded local group, including one of their leaders, Chad Farber, a pastor and city commission candidate. Farber has long been outspoken against freedom for teachers in public schools and an opponent of city regulation, including for public health measures, vaccines or otherwise. Like Longbine, he consistently proclaims that his faith, first and foremost, will guide his public policy votes.

To be fair, it can be argued Longbine’s action harmed no one. No one was shot. No one was fired. No harm, no foul.

But here’s the rub: As commissioner, even Salina’s formal ethics code requires Longbine serve and respect all the public. His public trust includes a commitment to growth and working toward mutual understanding. Given his stance, future votes of greater consequence may be, well, more consequential.

His lack of commitment to examine his religious ideas (“moral” or not) means he can’t be trusted to vote in everyone’s best interest. His religion hems us in. By self-proclamation, he is ca-

Think such things can’t happen? Consider this: In Sterling, both city librarians lost their jobs because they had the temerity to use a rainbow in a book display.

As Dion Lefler of the Wichita Eagle editorialized: “It used to be you could get fired from a government job for being too prejudiced. Now, in Sterling, Kansas, you get fired for not being prejudiced enough.”

According to Lefler, Sterling library board vice president Michelle Miller said: “I do not want any kind of rainbow display … especially in this month. We are in Pride Month. People are on display. We have a conservative town and as a library, do not need to make political statements like Target and Bud Light.”

The Sterling Library Board is not elected. The mayor is on that board. He appoints other members submitted by the existing board. In this way, unaccountable public officials just cost accountable public servants their jobs.

In Saint Marys, officials aren’t removing the librarian. They’re trying to remove the library. The city commission again threatens to end the library’s building lease unless their religious doctrines prevail.

So much for the freedom to read. Going above city level, greater power brings even greater injustice. Republican Attorney General Kris Kobach has lost no time misusing his office. He is suing Gov. Laura Kelly to change driver’s licenses

Tommy Tuberville, a former football coach now serving as Republican U.S. senator from Alabama, has put a hold on all military appointments. He wants the Senate to vote on a military policy allowing travel reimbursement for service members seeking abortion services.

His self-righteous religious conviction endangers not only bodily autonomy but national security and defense. Tuberville’s from a different state, but he has a similar state of mind. Overwhelming condemnation of his actions, even from senators of his own party, have not swayed him. His “religion” tells him he is right. And the rest of us can, well, go to hell.

So much for bodily autonomy.

This is dangerous. Theocracy is not democracy. Will we really let another’s conscience be our guide?

These leaders’ actions, and the churches and members who support them, lead me to echo Mary Gauthier’s song “Mercy Now”:

“My church and my country could use a little mercy now

As they sink into a poisoned pit, gonna take forever to climb out.

They carry the weight of the faithful who follow them down I love my church and country and they could use some mercy now.”

About the author: David Norlin of Salina is a retired teacher at Cloud County Community College, where he was department chair of Communications/English, specializing in media. He has served on Salina’s Human Relations Commission, Planning Commission, and Access TV.

A look back in t me. A look back in t me.

50 Years Ago August 1973

Jim Arnott and Bret Lawrence have purchased Cooksey’s Drug Store, 1 E. Madison, and will take over operation Monday. Bill Cooksey has operated the store for 38 years. Lawrence is an Iola native who has worked as a pharmacist for Allen County Hospital for the past three years. Arnott

comes to Iola from Overland Park where he operated a pharmacy. Cooksey came to Iola in 1935 and purchased a paint, wallpaper and office supply store just west of where the Allen County State Bank entrance is today and opened Cooksey’s Drug Store. Cooksey said the store had two display cases, one for cigars, the other for cosmetics. The rest of the

merchandise was on pine board shelves. Cooksey said he will work part-time to fill in when area pharmacists must be away from their stores. *****

The Montgomery Ward Agency here, operated by Mr. and Mrs. Grant Alexander, will hold a grand opening tomorrow at its 7 E. Madison location.

Michigan’s tart cherry business turning sour

By CANDICE WILLIAMS The Detroit News/TNS

When fourth-generation farmer John Pulcipher took on the family’s cherry farm business full-time 16 years ago, he says the profits were fairly good for the crop, particularly for growers like him in the Traverse City area.

But increasing challenges over the past several years forced Pulcipher, 67, to recently clear out all 110 acres of his cherry trees in Acme Township, northeast of Traverse City. It’s a decision he says he contemplated for the past two years as he faced weather concerns and competition from imports that have driven down — and in some cases eliminated — profits for tart cherry farmers.

“There’s a confluence of things that have happened in the area and on the farm that just made me say it’s time for me to move on,” he said.

Pulchipher is among farmers in Michigan removing or reducing the number of tart cherry trees on their farms. Michigan has long been the top U.S. producer of tart cherries, accounting for 75% of the national total, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. According to the state, Michigan produced 201 million pounds of tart cherries in 2018 valued at $280.1 million.

The tart cherry crop in the state has a direct economic impact of $37.7 million and an indirect economic impact of $58.5 million, according to Michigan State University’s Interim Update on the Economic Impact of Michigan’s Agri-Food System released in May.

The report noted that the industry “continues to face difficulty due to changing consumer tastes and foreign competition. Access to labor is also an issue facing some fruit growers.”

The acreage of fruit-bearing tart cherry trees in Michigan has been declining since 2015, from 28,400 acres to 23,000 acres in 2022, according to the USDA. Experts cite numerous reasons, including cheap imports from Turkey and developers purchasing orchards for other uses.

After a low tart cherry crop harvest in 2012 blamed on bad weather, U.S. processors turned to imports to fill the gap, said Julie Gordon, president at the Cherry Marketing Institute in DeWitt.

“In 2013, most of our processors went back to domestic product, but then some of them did not,” she said. “Some of them were able to get the imported product cheaper than what they could buy domestic product for, so they continued with the imported product. Over the years, it’s just increased.”

The issue with imports from Turkey has been a concern for the past several years, said Nikki Rothwell, extension fruit specialist for Michigan State University: “A lot of Turkish farmers are subsidized so they can grow their

fruit at far reduced rates and costs than it would cost our growers.

“So it’s put a lot of economic pressure on our growers. There are some growers that are maybe getting up in age, or they just feel like it’s stressful to them, and so they’ve been pulling cherries out.”

When they decide to stop growing cherries, farmers remove the trees from their orchards so they don’t become a haven for insects and diseases that would impact other farmers, Rothwell said.

In addition to import concerns, farmers also must contend with frost and freezes, invasive species and other pests, as well as suburban sprawl, said Theresa Sisung, Michigan Farm Bureau industry relations specialist.

There’s also an issue with sprawl, particularly with population growth in the Traverse City area. That makes it more economically feasible to develop the land, rather than to continue to farm.

“Someone who maybe is getting closer to retirement or is wanting to scale back their operation, they can make a lot more money selling that land for housing development than they can using it to raise tart cherries, or really any agricultural crops, unfortunately,” Sisung said.

At Pulcipher Farms in Acme Township, Pulcipher removed up to 12,000 sweet and tart cherry trees on his orchard. He says the orchard will remain empty for the near future as he contemplates his next move.

The industry is a far cry from when his father, also named John, started planting cherry trees following World War II. Pulcipher worked on the farm to varying degrees since he was a boy and had a career in the banking industry before returning full-time in 2007.

“I think the reason why my dad planted cherries is probably because it was an up-andcoming crop,” he said.

“This area is noted for its ideal climate to grow cherries. Got the right soil, the right climate, the right elevation. At one time, pretty much the whole county was covered in cherries.”

Costs related to tart cherry production average 40 cents per pound.

This includes 26.5 cents per pound for operation and harvest, 12.6 cents per pound for orchard establishment and land control and 1.17 cents per pound for tart cherry assessments.

Pulcipher believes he earned about 22 cents a pound last year, adding:

“You can see real quickly that that’s not a good business model.”

But he isn’t the only farmer exiting the tart cherry business.

Less than four miles away, Doug White recently harvested the last of his tart cherry trees on 78 acres of farmland. White, who is also the Acme Township supervisor, said he shook his last cherry tree in mid-July.

“Business has changed,” he said. “I guess I need to move

on. The margins aren’t there anymore for me and the family.”

White is figuring out his next move for his land after he removes the trees. He said he’s had some interest from Traverse City Horse Shows, which operates at the nearby Flintfield Horse Park.

“People can come and enjoy the views that I’ve had over 35 years,” he said. “Standing up on the north end of the property and looking all the way up Grand Traverse Bay.”

He said things got tough four years ago, and he’d dealt with years of low crop yields, low prices and the increased cost of maintaining equipment, White said: “It’s bittersweet, no pun intended, growing sweet and tart cherries.

“But you got to look at cold, hard facts. I don’t think there’s too many businessmen out there that would say that you run a business without some profit.”

There have been efforts to help the domestic cherry industry.

In June, U.S. Sens.

Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow, both Michigan Democrats, announced that the U.S. International Trade Commission would begin tracking imports of certified organic and conventionally produced tart cherry juice

and tart cherry juice concentrate as well as all other varieties of cherry juice. They say that tracking this information will give a more accurate measure of the impact trade has on Michigan’s tart cherry industry.

“I’ve heard from growers across Michigan whose farms are struggling right now due to unfair trade practices and rising costs,” Peters said in an emailed statement. “We must be doing everything we can to protect their businesses and livelihoods and ensure they have a level playing field on the world stage. I pushed for this needed change so that Michigan cherry growers have a fair shot, and I’m pleased the ITC will now begin tracking these imports.”

Peters noted another concern for farmers, an invasive fly known as spotted wing that is damaging crops and increasing production costs. To address this, he said he’s pushing for his bipartisan Spotted Wing Abatement Trust Act to be included in the 2023 Farm Bill, which is working its way through Congress.

Greg Williams, owner of Williams Orchards in Leelanau County, said the government needs to be more active in helping the country’s agriculture industry

stay competitive with imports. He also urges consumers to buy products made with cherries from Michigan growers.

“Somewhere down the road, we’re all going to pay dearly because once agriculture dissipates in America, then these people can charge us anything they want, and we’ll be dependent on them,” he said.

Williams recently eliminated a portion of his tart cherry operation. He cleared 40 acres, containing about 500 tart cherry trees, out of 200 acres growing that crop this past spring, and he’s considering selling some of the land.

“I’m thinking about possibly selling some of my real estate because if I’m not making money and it’s costing me to do this. I have to liquidate some of my real

estate before I lose all my equity in my land,” he said. “Because that’s basically what we’ve worked our whole life for is to pay our land off and own real estate to farm on.”

The land he’s interested in selling has breathtaking views of Lake Michigan and is an ideal site to grow fruit, Williams said. The property is restricted as far as future development.

The state of the tart cherry industry concerns Juliette King-McAvoy, vice president of sales and marketing for King Orchards in Antrim County.

“When we see so many farmers either selling their land or taking their trees out to plant something else, it’s alarming to us,” she said. “Is this industry going to be able to survive? There’s been a lot of consolidation in the processing end of the industry, so there aren’t very many options for farmers to go to sell their cherries.”

King Orchards is a retail operation that uses the cherries it grows in the products it sells at its market and online. Among the products are Montmorency tart cherry concentrate and King Orchards Tart Cherry Pie filling. The orchard also processes cherries it purchases from other local growers.

“I’m very concerned about the industry as a whole,” she said. “That the growers have no power right now. They are taking whatever prices they can get.”

Michigan has long been the top U.S. producer of tart cherries, accounting for 75% of the national total, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The industry is now on hard times in part because the cherry farms have become very desirable real estate for developers. (DREAMSTIME/TNS)

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Today in history

Today is Friday, Aug. 11, the 223rd day of 2023. There are 142 days left in the year.

On this date:

In 1860, the nation’s first successful silver mill began operation near Virginia City, Nevada.

*****

In 1956, abstract painter Jackson Pollock died in an automobile accident on Long Island, New York at age 44.

*****

In 1965, rioting and looting that claimed 34

Footer:

lives broke out in the predominantly Black Watts section of Los Angeles.

*****

In 1992, the Mall of America, the nation’s largest shopping-entertainment center, opened in Bloomington, Minnesota.

*****

In 2014, Academy Award-winning actor and comedian Robin Williams died in Tiburon, California at age 63. *****

In 2016, the Obama

administration said it had decided marijuana would remain on the list of most dangerous drugs, rebuffing growing support across the country for broad legalization, but said it would allow more research into its medical uses. *****

In 2020, Democrat Joe Biden named California Sen. Kamala Harris as his running mate; Harris was the first Black woman on a major party’s presidential ticket. *****

Ten years ago: Jason Dufner won his first major title with a twostroke victory over Jim Furyk at the PGA Championship. Suspected militants gunned down 47 worshippers as they recited their early morning prayers at a mosque in Konduga, Nigeria, and killed another 12 civilians in a nearby village. *****

Five years ago: Nobel Prize-winning novelist V.S. Naipaul died at his London home at the age of 85.

Note: This interview took place before the SAG-AFTRA actors’ strike.

Q: Have you liked being in Nova Scotia making “Moonshine” the past several years?

A: The show is ver y loved there, and we ended up getting a place there, a little lake house. We want to go back ever y year and let our kids have these ideal summers, running around barefoot in the grass and swimming in the lake. It has a really wholesome feel that really resonates with us, and it’s great to spend real time there.

Q: How have you enjoyed working with your husband. actor Jonathan Silverman (“Weekend at Bernie’s”), on “Moonshine”?

A: He’s one of the kindest, most generous people on the planet … and if he’s going to do something with me (professionally), I want our characters to be completely at odds with each other. Frankly, there’s nothing more fun than when you’ve been in a long-term relationship with someone and you know them inside and out – and you don’t fight with them much — to go at it with them on camera. I can’t even tell you how cathar tic it is.

We see each other all the time, and par t of a happy relationship is a healthy boundar y. Many people have said to us over the years, “Why don’t you guys do a show together?” Well, it’s because I want us to stay married! One of the reasons The CW wanted this show is that Jonny is such a recognizable American actor, and I think that’s a nice advantage.

Q: How does that work for you yourself, in terms of being well-known in both the U.S. and your native Canada?

A: I think a lot of Canada doesn’t even know I’m Canadian. I think I’ve done nine series at this point, and I’ve been on ever yone’s television for 24 years.

Par t of my excitement in doing this show initially was to boost my profile in Canada, because I have always been patriotic and proud to be a Canadian, though doing a strictly Canadian show is something I’ve ver y rarely done. In the way my character Lidia goes back home (in “Moonshine”), this was going back home for me as well.

Friday, August 11, 2023

Sports Daily B

Mickunas all for the kids

By QUINN BURKITT The

Marmaton Valley head football coach Max Mickunas credits any success he’s had to his athletes.

“Good players always make good coaches,” said Mickunas, who has been at the helm for two years.

Mickunas believes his balance of tough love while also creating real bonds with his players is what has worked best.

“I think most people would say I’m enthusiastic and I’m passionate about what I’m doing,” said Mickunas. “I’m extremely competitive and that leads me to being intense sometimes. My players would tell you I hold them accountable. Sometimes they don’t like being told things but I’m always looking out for their best interest. I’m definitely a players coach.”

Mickunas recalled a highlight from last season when the Wildcats rallied from multiple touchdowns down to knock off Hartford in the final minutes of the game, 56-52. Mickunas was just as jubilant — and shocked — as his players in the post-game celebration.

Another highlight was when MVHS steamrolled Marais des Cygnes Valley in the district opener, 58-12. Mickunas wouldn’t be in the position he’s in today if it weren’t for the talented players and coaches around him that helped him succeed as a coach. Mickunas earned the head coaching role after being an assistant coach at Lebo

High. While at Lebo, Mickunas helped the Wolves compile records of 7-3 and 10-1 and got a glimpse of what a consistent top-of-the-state program is all about. Mickunas credits most of his coaching knowledge from his time at Lebo as their assistant coach.

“When I was at Lebo people were asking me when I would go be a head coach somewhere,” said Mickunas.

“That’s when the opportunity opened up at Marmaton Valley and I just thought it was too good of an opportunity to turn down. I came in to build the program with not a lot of exceptions to start off with and now I feel like we’re past the part of ‘rebuilding.’”

Prior to Lebo, Mickunas also served as an assistant coach at Cheylin High where they played eight-man football after starting out at Horton High in 11-man football. He attended the University of Kansas and studied physical education.

“At first, my motivation as a coach was that I wanted to be different from my high school coach,” Mikunas said. “I didn’t really like the way I was coached so it was a priority for me that when I became a coach to do better and to have that relationship with my players.”

Marmaton Valley returns five starters from last fall. Mickunas’s goal this season is to get over the hump of a

Marta, Sinclair and Rapino set to retire

AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) — Generational talents Marta, Christine Sinclair and Megan Rapinoe have all played in their final Women’s World Cup and are leaving the game in a much different place than when they started.

Joining them in the group of players ending their international careers is Estefania Banini of Argentina, who said it’s time to make way for younger players. Caroline Seger of Sweden is still playing in the tournament, but she has already said that it will be her last.

sub-.500 record and earn a winning record this season.

The head coach also enjoys getting his players out in the community and interacting with younger kids to serve as role models. What’s most important to Mickunas is playing hard and to the whistle as well as the relationships he’s able to have with his players.

“I just want the kids to represent their school well. It’s a privilege to wear that Marmaton Valley jersey and they should be proud of their school,” said Mickunas. “I want to teach them to control the things they can control, that life is a lot easier with a positive attitude and to continue to trust the process., Nothing happens overnight.”

Lorenzen throws no-hitter in home debut

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Michael Lorenzen walked to the mound to start the ninth inning — of just his second start with the Phillies, his first in Philadelphia — engrossed in the passion of fans roaring for him to complete a no-hitter, and considered the scene the coolest moment of his baseball career.

“Just walking out of the dugout, hearing the fans go wild, it gave me the chills,” Lorenzen said. “It gave that boost of energy that I needed, for sure.”

Boy, did it get wild in Philly just three outs later.

Lorenzen threw the 14th no-hitter in Phillies history, a dazzling performance that led Philadelphia to a 7-0 win over the Washington Nationals on Wednesday night. He became the fifth pitcher in major league history, and only the second since 1900, to throw a no-hitter in his home debut with a new team.

“Unbelievable, bro,” manager Rob Thomson said during a clubhouse toast. “Welcome to Philadelphia, buddy.”

The Phillies cheered for one of their newest teammates, who has settled in to near-perfection since he was acquired from Detroit at the

trade deadline. Kyle Schwarber, Rhys Hoskins and other Phillies clapped, laughed and yelled “great trade” as team president Dave Dombrowski walked through the clubhouse shaking hands. The 31-year-old Lorenzen (7-7) struck out five, walked four and improved to 2-0 since he was acquired from the Tigers for a minor

leaguer.

Lorenzen retired Lane Thomas on a grounder to open the ninth and struck out Joey Meneses looking.

The crowd of 30,406 erupted when Lorenzen induced a popup from Dominic Smith on his career-high 124th pitch to end his first career complete game in 2 hours, 9 minutes. Lorenzen stood

on the mound and raised his arms in triumph before running into the waiting arms of catcher J.T. Realmuto. Lorenzen then flipped his cap backward and was mobbed by his teammates in a rowdy celebration near the plate.

“You’ve just got to live in the strike zone and hope they continue to hit balls right

See NO-HITTER | Page B6

“It’s emotional. Those are some of the greatest football players of all time, players that I’ve looked up to,” said United States captain Lindsey Horan as her eyes filled with tears. “Pinoe, Sinc, both of them I got to play with. Marta, one of the GOATs. It’s hard as a football player to see these guys exiting like this, but look at how much they did for women’s football. Them on the field, their character, everything. They’re the reason we’re all here today.”

Marta, the Brazilian player once dubbed “Pele in Skirts” by the legendary Pele himself, raised the profile of women’s soccer in her home country with her dazzling play that she learned from boys on the streets of Dois Riachos.

The 37-year-old was tearful when Brazil was surprisingly eliminated from the tournament in the group stage. It

See WORLD CUP| Page B6

Pedaling beats politics

WEST LIBERTY, Iowa (AP) — Bob Molsberry was a college student when he first watched the recreational bike ride that organizers say is now the country’s longest, largest and oldest. That was in 1973, and there were just a few hundred riders in RAGBRAI (the Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa).

The following year, he and his wife joined in, starting what has become a family tradition. This year, the ride celebrated its 50th anniversary in July, with anywhere from 30,000 to 60,000 riders taking part

See RAGBRAI | Page B6

Marmaton Valley’s Max Mickunas talks to his team last season. COURTESY PHOTO

Iola Register

Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Michael Lorenzen, left, and J.T. Realmuto celebrate after Lorenzen’s no-hitter during a baseball game against the Washington Nationals. MATT SLOCUM/TNS

Friday, August 11, 2023

Virgin Galactic to fly its first tourists to space

TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES, N.M. (AP) —

Virgin Galactic is taking its first space tourists on a long-delayed rocket ship ride, including a former British Olympian who bought his ticket 18 years ago and a mother-daughter duo from the Caribbean.

The flight window opens Thursday morning at Spaceport America in the New Mexico

desert for a ride to the edge of space. If all goes well, Richard Branson’s company will begin offering monthly trips to customers on its winged space plane, joining Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin and Elon Musk’s SpaceX in the space tourism business.

Virgin Galactic passenger Jon Goodwin, who was among the first to buy a ticket in 2005,

Public notice

(Published in The Iola Register Aug. 11, 2023)

said he had faith that he would someday make the trip. The 80-year-old athlete — he competed in canoeing in the 1972 Olympics — has Parkinson’s disease and wants to be an inspiration to others.

“I hope it shows them that these obstacles can be the start rather than the end to new adventures,” he said in a statement.

Ticket prices were $200,000 when Goodwin signed up. The cost is now $450,000.

He’ll be joined by sweepstakes winner Keisha Schahaff, 46, a health coach from Antigua, and her daughter, Anastatia Mayers, 18, student at Scotland’s University of Aberdeen. Also aboard the planelaunched craft, which glides to a space shuttlelike landing: two pilots and the company’s astronaut trainer.

It will be Virgin Galactic’s seventh trip to space since 2018, the first with a ticket-holder. Branson, the company’s founder, hopped on board for the first full-size crew ride in 2021. Italian military and government researchers soared in June on the first commercial flight. About 800 people are currently on Virgin Galactic’s waiting list, according to the company. Virgin Galactic’s rocket ship launches from the belly of an airplane, not from the ground, and requires two pilots in the cockpit.

HAGAR THE HORRIBLE by Chris Browne

Yesterday’s

— Oscar Wilde

HI AND LOIS by Chance Browne

ZITS by Jerry Scott and Jim Borgman

BEETLE BAILEY by Mort Walker

BLONDIE by Young and Drake

MUTTS by Patrick McDonell

MARVIN by Tom Armstrong

RAGBRAI: Race escapes political fray

Continued from A1

on any given day.

Molsberry, a retired United Church of Christ minister who was paralyzed when he was hit by a car while riding 26 years ago, loves meeting people from all walks of life on the annual trek across Iowa. The camaraderie built over seven days and 500 miles, often through painfully rolling hills and withering late-summer heat, feels irreplaceable.

He also likes that thousands of cyclists in a deeply divided nation can leave their attitudes, beliefs and pentup angst at home, and prove that folks sharing a common interest like cycling can still get along.

“A few years ago, I was riding with the Adaptive Sports team and a couple of other guys in handcycles,” he said. “We got to the last day and we were pulling into Burlington, and I dropped some kind of comment about President Trump, and it wasn’t favorable. And this guy on his hand-

cycle — I’d been riding with him all week — he turns and says, ‘We’ve been riding all week and now you bring up politics?’

“When you’re riding together,” Molsberry said, “well, you put that stuff aside for a while.

During the year, I still find it hard to understand, and I don’t really feel comfortable associating with them, people that have such different understandings. But for one week in July, I’m still ready to throw my lot in with them.”

The polarization that has racked America may be at its deepest in decades. And those divides are especially evident now in Iowa, where the first-in-thenation caucuses will be held in just six months.

Democrats and Republicans have traded the state’s electoral votes over the years.

Except none of that was apparent on RAGBRAI, where discord seemed to disappear.

If a rider punctured a tire, someone would inevitably stop to help

change it. If someone fell, total strangers would pause their ride to provide first aid or wait for an ambulance. As temperatures climbed, church groups and fire departments and even local political parties were there to hand out water.

“There’s a lot of people here and not a single iota of divisiveness,” said Kyle Campbell, a project manager for a biotech company, midway through the ride.

“There’s an implicit agreement that everyone made a sacrifice to be here and everyone wants to have a good time,” he said. “And instantly, there is something everyone has in common, which is bicycling, versus I’m a Hawkeyes fan or I’m a Cyclones fan, or a Republican or Democrat.”

People would rather talk about the frameset on their bike or what seat is most comfortable for eight-hour days in the saddle.

“I think it’s because we’re all face-to-face, you know? The divi-

No-hitter: Lorenzen

Continued from B1

siveness comes from the fact that we’re all in our houses, and on computers and social media, and we’re not in person,” said Beth M. Howard, an author and documentary filmmaker who was working on a film about Iowans’ curious affinity for pie.

With so many riders passing through small towns, cell phone towers were often overwhelmed. It was not until riders reached larger towns that they could send messages or catch up on the news.

In the meantime, they were mostly forced to talk, and usually it was about the next craft beer tent, or the ice cream around the bend, or the spaghetti dinner that was awaiting them at a church or VFW or community center that evening.

“I feel a lot more negative when I’m working at home day after day,” Howard said. “Then someone does a random act of kindness, you’re like, ‘Oh, the world is still a good place.’”

World Cup: Female trio to retire

Continued from B1

her sixth World Cup and she fell short of becoming the first player — male or female — to score in all six.

At the team’s final match she looked across the field at young teammates Laurinha and Bruninha, and realized that there’s more work to be done for the Brazilian national team.

“Women’s football doesn’t end here. Women’s football in Brazil doesn’t end here. We need to understand this,” she said.

Marta has scored 115 goals for Brazil, including a record 17 goals at the World Cup. She has been named the FIFA women’s player of the year a record six times.

Rapinoe, 38, announced before the World Cup that it would be her last. She will play out the season with her club team, OL Reign, before retiring from the game. She finishes as one of the most decorated U.S. players ever. In addition to two World Cup titles, and Olympic gold and bronze medals, she won the prestigious Ballon d’Or as well as a FIFA best player award. She was also awarded the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, for her social justice work.

Rapinoe was among the players who fought for, and won, equal pay with the men’s national team.

Rapinoe’s World Cup career ended with a missed penalty. The United States were sent out of the tournament in a shootout in the Round of 16 with Sweden after a scoreless draw. It was the team’s earliest ever exit.

Rapinoe posted heartfelt farewell on Instagram on Thursday.

“This group was so very special, and I’m immensely proud of every single one of

us,” she wrote. “This team is in special hands as I walk away, just like it always was, and always will be. Because that is what this team is all about. We lay it out on the line every single time. Fighting with everything that we have, for everything we deserve, for every person we possibly can.

“It has been my honor to play for our country, with so many incredible women, for so many years. Thank you, a million times over.”

Sinclair’s future with the Canadian national team is unsettled, although at 40 this was assuredly her final World Cup. Canada is set to face Jamaica on Sept. 26 in Toronto for a spot in the Paris Olympics next year, and Sinclair hasn’t said whether she’ll play.

Sinclair has scored a record 190 international goals, most among men and women. As captain of the team, she was dogged throughout the World Cup by questions about an ongoing contract dispute between the players and Canada Soccer. The women’s team has been playing with-

out a contract for more than a year, demanding better pay and treatment.

After Canada was eliminated in the group stage, Sinclair called on her federation to support the team to avoid future early exits.

“I think more of it is like a wake-up call for our federation — the lack of a professional league, the lack of support for our youth national teams,” she said. “I think you’re just going to continue to see teams reach our level, surpass us, whatever you want to call it, if things don’t change.”

Seger, 38, has been struggling with a calf injury at the World Cup. Sweden advanced to the quarterfinals, by defeating the United States on penalties after a scoreless draw, and will face Japan on Friday in Auckland. It is Seger’s fifth World Cup.

Seger’s 235 appearances for Sweden are the most for any female player in Europe, and although she has two Olympic silver medals and two World Cup third-place finishes, Sweden has never won a major tourna-

ment.

“For me to be here with this national team and trying to do that, it’s my last chance. I mean, I’m not going to play any more World Cups so for me that’s the end,” she said. “To be able to hopefully help the team in every way I can to bring home the gold would be of course a dream come true.”

Banini was in tears following Argentina’s final match at the World Cup against Sweden. Known as the “Mendoza Messi” in reference to her hometown, she returned to La Albiceleste last year after a lengthy absence over what she said was the poor treatment of the women’s team.

“I was able to fulfill what I wanted: play in the United States, play on a great team and play in a World Cup with the national team, that was my great dream. I’m living what I always dreamed of,” she said. “I think I achieved everything I fought to improve, and now I have to step aside. I hope they continue fighting for women’s football.”

guys,” he said. “That was kind of the story of the night. If you give up a base hit, you give up a base hit. So what?”

Lorenzen’s mother, Cheryl, and wife, Cassi, wept in the stands during the final out, with Cassi holding their 9-month-old-daughter, June. Lorenzen later held his baby aloft on the field and smooched her on the cheek.

His teammates lingered near the dugout and continued the line of hugs and high-fives — a sight not unlike the ones last October at Citizens Bank Park during Philadelphia’s run to the World Series.

Lorenzen proved he can play a key role in leading the Phillies back to the postseason.

The Phillies acquired the righthander to stabilize their rotation as the defending National League champions battled the San Francisco Giants for the top wild-card spot.

Lorenzen pushed his pitch count to the point where it was questionable if Thomson would let him finish the game. But he kept the ball and became the first Phillies pitcher to throw a no-hitter since Cole Hamels on July 25, 2015 against the Cubs. Hamels retired last week.

Thomson said he talked to Lorenzen after the seventh and told the righty he had only about 20 pitches left.

“You better get quick outs,” Thomson told him. After a couple of labor-intensive innings early, Lorenzen settled down and made quick work of the Nationals.

“Honestly I was upset at myself for the first couple of innings, they were long innings, walking guys. And I knew I was just ruining my chances to go deep in this game,” Lorenzen said. “Just trying to buy some more innings and (Thomson) gave them to me. So hats off to him.”

Washington was no-hit for the first time in its 19 seasons since the franchise moved from Montreal. The Expos were last no-hit when the Yankees’ David Cone threw a perfect game on July 18, 1999.

The Phillies hadn’t even thrown a complete game this season. Their most recent was last Aug. 25 when Aaron Nola blanked Cincinnati.

The franchise’s 14 no-hitters include Roy Halladay’s against Cincinnati in the NL Division Series on Oct. 6, 2010.

The no-hitter was the fourth in the majors this season. Houston’s Framber Valdez threw one against Cleveland on Aug. 1. New York Yankees right-hander Domingo Germán pitched a perfect game at Oakland on June 28, and Matt Manning, Alex Lange and Jason Foley of Detroit threw a combined no-no against Toronto on July 8.

Lorenzen, an AllStar this season for the Tigers, threw a season-high eight innings of two-run ball in his Phillies debut last week.

Lorenzen already has one big souvenir from the no-no: Philadelphia’s grounds crew dug up the rubber and presented it to the pitcher in the clubhouse. And the Baseball Hall of Fame will be accepting another: Lorenzen’s white Vans spikes.