The Iola Register, May 15, 2024

Thrive seeks to help transient

By SARAH HANEY

The Iola Register

Thrive hopes to help better assist those needing shelter in Allen County via an emergency solutions grant. Jessica Thompson, with Thrive Allen County, approached the county commission Tuesday morning seeking support for the grant application process.

“This solution focuses on finding emergency housing,” in the form of hotel vouchers for transients, said Thompson.

“It’s for those who are here for just a day or two and need some help as they transition from one housing situation or community to the next.”

Thompson explained that Thrive must go through the county to apply for the grant, which is awarded through the Kansas Housing Resource Commission.

Hope Unlimited has also applied for the grant, Thompson said, “but for different types of services.”

She noted the grant would likely be between $30,000 to $40,000.

Commissioner David Lee questioned whether there was a need for the grant.

Thompson asserted there is. Usually it’s people trying to make their way to larger cities, she said, but sometimes it’s for those locating here.

“We had one instance where someone was just starting a new job,” she said. “They didn’t have a place to live and just needed a few days to get on their feet with the new job and find a place to live. This would help people

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Former teachers share views on end of reading program

By VICKIE MOSS The Iola Register

Accelerated Reader is an educational tool — and like any tool, it’s useful only when used properly. That was a recurring theme in comments from parents and retired and current educators who shared their concerns about plans to end the decades-long reading program at Iola Elementary School.

The comments were addressed to USD 257 school board members, who did not discuss the matter because of a board policy to not respond to public comments during the meeting. However, board President Jennifer Taylor briefly touched on the issue at the start of the meeting, anticipating what the crowd of about a dozen had come to discuss.

The board would not interfere in IES administrators’ decision to end Accelerated Reader, Taylor said. She noted it is a program and not part of the curriculum, so it doesn’t fall under the board’s purview.

By TIM CARPENTER Kansas Reflector

TOPEKA — Wichita Democratic Sen. Oletha Faust-Goudeau said the bill overhauling Kansas law on unpaid traffic fines signed by the governor would reduce suspension of driving privileges and allow people to drive to work on restricted licenses as they attempted to make necessary payments.

“Our administration and our teachers work extremely hard and do an amazing job, and we wholeheartedly support ... their decisions regarding appropriate programs for our schools,” Taylor said.

encouraged to come to the school, administrators said, but perhaps with a different program and at a different time.

The Accelerated Reader program allows about 45 minutes each morning for volunteers to read books with first-graders and help with the testing portion of the program.

Volunteers will still be

Linda Garrett, who retired after 45 years teaching in the district, suggested newer teachers and administrators lacked training and understanding of the benefits of Iola’s program, which has been

Concert to benefit Humanity House

By VICKIE MOSS The Iola Register

Area musicians will team up Friday evening to raise money for a charity that provides food and housing assistance to those in need.

Dubbed “A Night for Humanity,” the concert features Damaris Kunkler and Atomic Possum at 7 p.m. Friday at the Bowlus Fine Arts Center. Tickets are $15 and all proceeds benefit Humanity House.

Kunkler, who lives in Humboldt, has performed at the Kansas State Fair multiple times and opened at music festivals for Flatland Cavalry and Kaitlin Butts. She has

recorded two albums, “Come Sit By My Fire” and “Howl at the Moon.”

Kunkler describes her music as “spitfire, sassy and sweet. Just a woman and her guitar with pure emotional partnership.”

Atomic Possum formed in 2009 under the moniker “10 Pounds of Cheese,” but soon changed the name. The band features veteran musicians Cliff True of Eudora on drums, Richard Brockus of Ottawa on bass guitar, Leonard Louk of Kincaid on lead guitar, Chuck Johnson of Ottawa as lead singer, and Iola’s own Randy Maple on guitar

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Atomic Possum, above, and Damaris Kunkler of Humboldt will perform at “A Night for Humanity,” a concert to benefit Iola’s Humanity House, at 7 p.m. Friday at the Bowlus Fine Arts Center.

Senate Bill 500, signed into law by Gov. Laura Kelly, had many moving parts and took years to refine, but was endorsed 120-0 by the House and 36-1 in the Senate.

“This bill will help those Kansans continue to take care of their responsibilities and contribute to their communities while they work their way through the legal system,” Faust-Goudeau said.

Sen. Rick Wilborn, a McPherson Republican, said he took pleasure in working to bring GOP majorities together with Democrats to “promote solutions for Kansans caught in a loop of mistakes and bad decisions.”

“I’m proud to give eligible drivers a new chance at responsible citizenship,” he said.

Kelly said when announcing signing of the legislation Friday that it was important to reduce red tape for Kansans overwhelmed by hefty fines that blocked reinstatement of a Kansas license.

the new law,

Retired teacher and school volunteer Linda Garrett, standing, talks to USD 257 board members about her experience using the Acclerated Reader program. Iola Elementary School has announced plans to end the program and limit time volunteers have to read with students each morning. REGISTER/VICKIE MOSS

USD 257 board members Jennifer Taylor, from left, and Dan Willis with Superintendent Stacey Fager fill their plate with barbecue made by Iola High School’s new BBQ Club. Club members are practicing cooking skills for a national competion in June.

Obituary

Wayne Chandler

Wayne C. Chandler died Friday, May 10, 2024. He was born June 6, 1935, in rural Colony to Roland and Julia (Powell) Chandler. Survivors include his wife, Nancy, and daughter, Jenny Spillman.

He was preceded in death by his brother, Orville (Georgia) Chandler; and sister, Linda (Ron) Call.

A funeral service will at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Moran Christian Church. Burial will follow at Fort Scott National Cemetery.

Memorials are suggested to Moran Christian Church.

Author Munro dies

By HILLEL ITALIE

The Associated Press

Nobel laureate Alice Munro, the Canadian literary giant who became one of the world’s most esteemed contemporary authors and one of history’s most honored short story writers, has died at age 92.

A spokesperson for publisher Penguin Random House Canada said Munro, winner of the Nobel literary prize in 2013, died Monday at home in Port Hope, Ontario.

Often ranked with Anton Chekhov, John Cheever and a handful of other short story writers, Munro achieved stature rare for an art form traditionally placed beneath the novel. She was the first lifelong Canadian to win the Nobel and the first recipient cited exclusively for short fic-

Vilsack not on board with cutting SNAP

By WILL BAUER Harvest Public Media

As Farm Bill negotiations hit full force in Washington D.C. in the next few weeks, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said he’s not on board with making cuts to a food assistance program for lower-income Americans.

tion. Echoing the judgment of so many before, the Swedish academy pronounced her a “master of the contemporary short story” who could “accommodate the entire epic complexity of the novel in just a few short pages.”

Munro, little known beyond Canada until her late 30s, also became one of the few short story writers to enjoy ongoing commercial success.

Her most popular books included “Dear Life,” “Too Much Happiness,” “The View from Castle Rock” and “The Love of a Good Woman.”

Over a half century of writing, Munro perfected one of the greatest tricks of any art form: illuminating the universal through the particular, creating stories set around Canada that appealed to readers far away.

Putin to visit China

BEIJING (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin will make a twoday state visit to China this week, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said Tuesday, in the latest show of unity between the two authoritarian allies against the U.S.led Western liberal global order.

Putin will meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping during his visit starting on Thursday, the ministry said, saying the two leaders would discuss “cooperation in various fields of bilateral relations ... as well as international and regional issues of common concern.” No details were mentioned.

China has backed Russia politically in the conflict in Ukraine and has continued to export machine tools, electronics and other items seen as contributing to the Russian war effort, without actually exporting weaponry.

China is also a major export market for energy supplies that keep the Kremlin’s coffers full.

China has sought to project itself as a neutral party in the conflict, but has declared a “no limits” relationship with Russia in opposition to the West. The sides have also held a series of joint military drills and China

has consistently opposed economic sanctions against Russia in response to its now two-year-old campaign of conquest against Ukraine.

The two continent-sized authoritarian states are increasingly in dispute with democracies and NATO while seeking to gain influence in Africa, the Middle East and South America.

Putin’s visit comes just days ahead of Monday’s inauguration of William Lai Ching-te as the next president of Taiwan, the self-governing island democracy that China claims as its own territory and threatens to annex by force if necessary.

Xi returned last week from a five-day visit to Europe, including stops in Hungary and Serbia, countries viewed as close to Russia.

The trip, Xi’s first to the continent in five years, was seen as an attempt to increase China’s influence and drive a wedge between the EU and NATO on one side, and a yet-tobe-defined bloc of authoritarian nations on the other underpinned by Chinese economic influence that has been wavering amid a housing crisis and dramatically slower domestic economic growth.

Vilsack praised Sen. Debbie Stabenow’s proposal, which outlined Democrats’ priorities for massive omnibus legislation, which is passed roughly every five years. The chairwoman of the Senate Agriculture Commitee released her 94-page proposal earlier this week.

It includes maintaining a 5-year reevaluation of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

As part of debt ceiling negotiations last summer, Democrats agreed to raise the work requirement age limit for the program to 55. Some Republicans had long pushed for that, arguing increasing the age could help lift Americans out of poverty. With negotiations ramping back up ahead of the Sept. 30 deadline, some GOP congressional members want further cuts.

“It’s breaking a deal — and it’s not the right policy,” Vilsack said on Friday while visiting Venice, Illinois, a small town just outside St. Louis.

Rep. Glenn Thompson, the chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, released his 5-page summary this week, which recommended $28 billion in SNAP cuts. The Republican’s proposal would nix the USDA’s five-year reevaluation, which the department last performed in 2021.

But the USDA’s Democratic secretary said Stabenow’s proposal would avoid Congress having to make large increases in the future.

“It’s much better to over time adjust accordingly in small increments — so that families, who need the help, get help and appropriate help,” Vilsack said.

Initially, the 2018 Farm Bill was set to expire last September, but lawmakers extended it until this September amid stalled negotiations over other legislation.

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle and farm advocacy groups have said Congress needs to act on a new farm bill.

“It’s important, I think, for Congress to focus and to recognize that this has to be a practical farm bill,” Vilsack said. “This has to be not a pie in the sky, not hopes and dreams and going to give you everything you’re asking for.”

Increasing the crop support payments, called reference prices, may be an area where Republicans and Democrats agree. Many farmers have said those price points are too low, but some agricultural economists argue the program is a waste and doesn’t make a big difference in farmers’ bottom lines.

Under the current farm bill, there’s already inflation adjustments for reference

prices, Vilsack noted.

Both Thompson and Stabenow’s proposals advocate for increases to those reference prices.

Vilsack said he will await a lengthier proposal from the leadership of the House Agriculture Committee, which will meet later in May to vote on the first proposals. Senate committee leadership said it will vote after the House.

“It’s going to require some innovative, creative thought process, but it’s also going to have to be practical, because the folks out in the countryside are practical,” Vilsack said. “They understand you can’t do everything. You don’t have the resources to do everything.”

“Save for a rainy day” is an old piece of advice — and a good one. But is it possible to save too much?

To begin with, what defines a “rainy day” in terms of financial needs? It could be any number of things: a temporary loss of employment, a major home or car repair, a large medical bill, and so on.

If you did not have the money readily available to pay for these types of expenses, you might be forced to dip into your IRA, 401(k) or other retirement accounts, incurring taxes and possible penalties, as well as lowering the amount of money you’d have available for retirement. And that’s why it’s a good idea to build an emergency fund containing up to six months’ worth of total expenses, with the money kept in a liquid, low-risk account that’s separate from the accounts you use for your daily spending needs.

An emergency fund is valuable, but many people may be overfunding it. And while this isn’t the biggest financial mistake one can make, it could result in some missed opportunities.

For one thing, when you keep money in a low-risk account, you can generally count on your principal being protected, which means the money will be there for you when you need it —but the flip side is that this money likely won’t grow very much, if at all. And if you’re going to achieve your long-term goals, such as a comfortable retirement, you need your investment portfolio to provide you with significant growth potential within the context of your individual risk tolerance. So, any excess dollars kept in your rainy-day fund might be used to help fuel some growth-oriented investments.

You could also use these dollars to help diversify your investment portfolio. If you only owned one type of investment, your portfolio could take a big hit if a market downturn affected just that asset class. But by owning a mix of stocks, bonds, government securities and other investments, you can help reduce the impact of market volatility. (Keep in mind, though, that diversification, by itself, can’t protect against all losses.)

Still, before deciding on what to do with extra money you might have in your emergency fund, how will you know if you indeed have too much? Up to six months’ worth of total expenses may be adequate for most people — but everyone’s life is different. For example, if you have reason to believe your employment — or that of your spouse — may be in jeopardy in the near future, or if you anticipate the need for some renovations to your home, but not for a year or so, you might want more than six months of expenses tucked away in your emergency fund. Also, once you’re retired, you may well want to keep a year’s worth of expenses in the fund. If you need cash, you don’t want to be forced to sell investments when their price may be down, especially since you have less time for them to recover.

Ultimately, when thinking about how much to keep in your emergency fund, review your situation carefully and weigh as many variables as you can. And if you do decide your rainy-day fund is abundant, use any “overflow” in a way that can help you keep moving toward your financial goals.

Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack spoke in Venice, Illinois on Friday. He’s not on board with Rep. Glenn Thompson’s proposal to cut $28 billion from SNAP, the food program for low-income Americans. ERIC LEE/ST. LOUIS PUBLIC RADIO/HARVEST PUBLIC MEDIA

County: Grant

Continued from A1

like that.”

The Ministerial Alliance also offers motel vouchers but, according to Thompson, they go through them quickly. “It is such a need for our community,” she said.

Thompson clarified that while the grant money would only be used as needed, it is for one year. “You would have a year to spend that money,” she explained. The commissioners unanimously approved the grant application.

IN OTHER NEWS

Public Works Director Mitch Garner informed commissioners that the main runway lights are on at the airport. “It’s open for them to land at night now,” he said. Additionally, Garner noted that the county may save some money on the 50x50 foot hangar project with the relocation of the walk-in door.

Garner noted that if a hydraulic door is installed in the front of the hangar while a walk-in door is located on the back, it could potentially bring the total cost down by $700 or $800.

Lee asked Garner if the hangar would accommodate two planes. “It would probably be for just one big plane,” Garner said, but could potentially fit two smaller aircraft. “A small plane and a helicopter, maybe,” he said. Currently, the airport has two tee hangars, capable of housing three aircraft on each side. “Because they can house more, the cost is quite a bit more than a 50X50 hangar,” Garner said.

Becky Johnson, director of the Multi-County Health Department, gave an overview of services offered in the county, followed by a yearly funding request for $115,000. “We’re continually expanding and adding new programs to try to better

Thrive Allen County Deputy Director Jessica Thompson speaks to commissioners about an emergency housing grant Tuesday morning. REGISTER/SARAH HANEY

serve Allen County and the surrounding population,” said Johnson. “We’re looking at ways to better meet the needs of all populations, not just moms and babies.”

In the past year, the department offered free tetanus shot clinics for people affected by flooding; attended various conferences; and offered a variety of training courses, including CPR, car seat safety, and safe sleep training that teaches how to correctly have babies sleep to prevent SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome).

The department has also recently applied to be a breast milk donor site.

“We will be having a freezer provided to us by the Oklahoma Milk Bank and once that is in place and we receive the milk, we will be a drop-off station,” she said. From there, the donations are sent to the Oklahoma Milk Bank where they process and check for diseases or drugs. “Once that is processed, it will be donated back to our nearby birthing centers,” she said.

Johnson noted that the request for $115,000 is the same amount as last year’s.

“We greatly appreciate your support as we grow and strive to better support Allen County,” she said.

Celebrating The Good Earth

SAFE BASE and Title I teachers at Iola Elementary School offered their Blue Plate Special dinner and activities Thursday. The theme was “The Good Earth” and was centered on Earth-friendly activities such as growing seeds, an inflatable planetarium and vouchers to the Allen County Farmers Market. Above, Ava Gragg has her face painted like a cat by paraprofessional Shayla Robinson. Below left, Winson, Ryler and Timberlyn Chapman make “seed bombs” to plant and grow flowers. Below right, Rick

watches his daughter Finley color a birdseed holder. REGISTER/VICKIE MOSS

State: Law allows restricted driving

Continued from A1

2025, state courts could restrict individuals’ licenses, rather than suspend them, while offenders kept their job, remained in school and attended church services as they continued to make payments on fees owed.

The statute would limit license reinstatement surcharges to a single fee of $100. Existing law imposed separate $100 reinstatement fees for each charge associated with failure to comply with a traffic citation.

The remodeled law would allow a person who committed the misdemeanor crime of failing to comply with a traffic citation to petition the court to reduce or waive payment of court costs. Current law

mandated individuals who failed to comply had to pay fees in full within 30 days. If they didn’t, driving privileges were suspended. The new law would instead require an offender to pay the amount ordered by the court.

Courts would have to consider alternative solutions, including alcohol or drug treatment as well as community service, instead of restriction or suspension of driving privileges. The law would prohibit courts and the Kansas Department of Revenue from considering any conviction for a failure to comply older than five years when making determinations on suspension or restriction of driving privileges.

Rep. Ford Carr, D-Wichita, said the

legislation was a tribute to the late Wichita Rep. Gail Finney, who passed away in 2022. She was an advocate for

reforming laws that had a disproportionate influence on people with modest incomes and people of color.

Nelson

Kelly signs ‘good Samaritan’ law to mitigate drug overdose deaths

By RACHEL MIPRO Kansas Reflector

TOPEKA — Gov. Laura Kelly signed into law a drug overdose prevention measure that will no longer criminalize Kansans who seek help for themselves or others during overdoses.

The bill is part of a slew of legislation Kelly signed into law last week.

Senate Bill 419, known as a “good Samaritan” law, provides immunity from prosecution for drug possession or use for those who call for help from law enforcement or emergency medical services when someone requires life-saving intervention.

“It’s critical that all Kansans are empowered to seek or deliver medical assistance during an emergency,” Kelly said. “This bill is a lifeline for families and Kansans who are battling substance use disorders. It will save lives and provide the opportunity for recovery.”

State’s fentanyl battle Before the change, Kansas was one of the two states left in the

country where people who needed help during drug overdoses could be arrested. Wyoming is now the only state without some form of a good Samaritan opioid overdose law.

Lawmakers passed the measure 114-0 in the House and 36-0 in the Senate, citing the move as a way to fight fentanyl overdoses in the state. The measure follows last year’s legalization of fentanyl test

strips as a tool to fight fentanyl overdoses.

“This bill comes on the heels of the decriminalization of fentanyl testing strips — and combined these two policies work to protect vulnerable Kansans by keeping them alive long enough to get the help they need to healthily recover,” said Rep. Jason Probst, D-Hutchinson.

“This bill represents the sort of compassion and acceptance I’ve al-

Survey: 8,000 women a month receive abortion pills via mail

(AP) — Thousands of women in states with abortion bans and restrictions are receiving abortion pills in the mail from states that have laws protecting prescribers, a new report shows.

Tuesday’s release of the #WeCount survey shows about 8,000 women a month in states that severely restrict abortion or place limits on having one through telehealth were getting the pills by mail by the end of 2023, the first time a number has been put on how often the medical system workaround is being used. The research was conducted for the Society of Family Planning, which supports abortion rights.

Another 8,000 women in states without bans or major restrictions on telehealth abortion were receiving pills each month through virtual appointments, the study showed.

In all, the survey counted about 90,000 monthly surgical or medication abortions offered by medical providers in 2023, higher than the previous year. Another study recently found that close to twothirds of the total use pills.

THE GROUP found that by December 2023, providers in states with the protections were prescribing pills to about 6,000 women a month in states where abortion was banned at all stages of pregnancy or once cardiac activity can be detected — about six weeks, often before women realize they’re pregnant. The prescriptions also were going to about 2,000 women a month in states where the local laws limit abortion pill prescriptions by telemedicine.

“People ... are using the various mechanisms

to get pills that are out there,” Drexel University law professor David Cohen said. This “is not surprising based on what we know throughout human history and across the world: People will find a way to terminate pregnancies they don’t want.”

Medication abortions typically involve a combination two drugs: mifepristone and misoprostol. The rise of these pills is one reason total abortion numbers increased even after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022.

I hope what we will see in the end is that all the states that are not banning abortion will adopt shield laws.

— Dr. Rebecca Gomperts

After Roe was overturned, abortion bans took effect in most Republican-controlled states. Fourteen states now prohibit it with few exceptions, while three others bar it after about six weeks of pregnancy.

But many Democratic-controlled states went the opposite way. They’ve adopted laws intended to protect people in their states from investigations involving abortion-related crimes by authorities in other states. By the end of last year, five of those states — Colorado, Massachusetts, New York, Vermont and Washington — had such protections in place specifically to cover abortion pill prescriptions by telemedicine.

Wendy Stark, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Greater New York, called the shield law there “a critical win for abortion ac-

cess in our state.”

James Bopp Jr., general counsel for the National Right to Life Committee, said the law where the abortion takes place — not where the prescriber is located — should apply in pill-by-telemedicine abortions. That’s the way it is with other laws, he said.

But unlike many other aspects of abortion policy, this issue hasn’t been tested in court yet.

Bopp said that the only way to challenge a shield law in court would be for a prosecutor in a state with a ban to charge an out-of-state prescriber with providing an illegal abortion.

RESEARCHERS note that before the shield laws took effect, people were obtaining abortion pills from sources outside the formal medical system, but it’s not clear exactly how many.

Alison Norris, an epidemiologist at Ohio State University and a lead researcher on the #WeCount report, said the group is not breaking down how many pills were shipped to each state with a ban “to maintain the highest level of protection for individuals receiving that care and providers providing that care.”

Dr. Rebecca Gomperts, director of Aid Access, an abortion pill supplier working with U.S. providers, said having more shield laws will make the health care system more resilient.

“They’re extremely important because they make doctors and providers ... feel safe and protected,” said Gomperts, whose organization’s numbers were included in the #WeCount report. “I hope what we will see in the end is that all the states that are not banning abortion will adopt shield laws.”

tion to those seeking or providing aid related to controlled substances, we recognize the inherent value and dignity in every life, even amidst drug-related challenges,” said Rep. Nick Hoheisel, R-Wichita. “Whether it’s teenagers experimenting with pills or older individuals battling addiction, each life is a precious gift deserving preservation.”

Other new laws

ways known lives in the hearts of so many Kansans.”

While the extent of fentanyl use in the state is unknown, reports show rising numbers for synthetic opioids, a category that illicit fentanyl falls under. The Kansas Office of Vital Statistics reported a rise in opioid-related deaths from 255 in 2020 to 428 in 2021 and 497 in 2022.

“By extending immunity from prosecu-

The law contains other changes to criminal policy, such as removing the element of concealment and secrecy from the crime of breach of privacy, and amending the Kansas code of procedure for municipal courts’ practices on fingerprinting for municipal convictions.

It’s critical that all Kansans are empowered to seek or deliver medical assistance during an emergency.

— Gov. Laura Kelly

Kelly signed Senate Bill 414, approved 114-0 in the House and 26-0 in the Senate, which increases criminal penalties for distribution of fentanyl-related substances.

It also adds fentanyl to the list of drugs included under the crime of child endangerment. Allowing a child to be in an environment where the person knows or suspects fentanyl is present would come with a heightened charge.

Kelly also signed Senate Bill 291, a law that will consolidate state IT services and modernize cybersecurity infrastructures. The measure passed 1131 in the House and 27-9 in the Senate. Among other changes, state government branches would have to implement new cybersecurity standards. The change comes after an October cyberattack that took the judicial system offline for weeks and potentially compromised the personal data of 150,000 Kansans.

In the past few years, new treatment for depression has emerged beyond the traditional anti-depressant oral medication.

For decades, traditional treatment for major depressive disorder has been the use of oral medication such as anti-depressants and atypical anti-psychotics. While these medications can be helpful for treating the symptoms of depression like feelings of sadness, lack of motivation, sleep issues, and suicidal thoughts for many people, there are those who have tried and failed multiple medications in their life. Despite doing everything “right,” such as taking medication as prescribed and following up appropriately, many people do not experience relief or adequate relief from their depressive symptoms while taking these medications.

Spravato is a new, innovative treatment for treatment-resistant depression. Treatment-resistant depression is simply depressive symptoms that have not been alleviated with the use of medication or other treatment modalities. Spravato is a nasal spray for the treatment of depression in adults and has shown a greater reduction in depressive symptoms compared to oral anti-depressants alone.

The Ashley Clinic in Chanute began offering Spravato treatment this January. Ashley Clinic is the only healthcare facility in southeast Kansas certified to provide Spravato treatment. Spravato has shown improvement in depressive symptoms in as little as 24 hours after the first treatment, with continued improvement over the next four weeks.

This is exciting for those who struggle with depression, as many times oral medication can take 4-6 weeks to begin to alleviate symptoms. Many times, patients experience an improvement in their depressive symptoms within the first week. Spravato has also been shown to have long-term efficacy as well in the treatment of depression if patients continue their treatment regimen. Side effects of Spravato are typically limited to the 2-4 hour timeframe immediately after treatment and include dizziness, tiredness, increased blood pressure, and nausea. Most patients experience few side effects outside that timeframe, making Spravato well-tolerated.

The Ashley Clinic is proud to offer Spravato treatment for patients who suffer from treatment-resistant depression. The ability to offer this service in southeast Kansas has allowed patients improved access to care that historically was reserved for those living in larger urban areas.

Amanda Alanzo PMHNP-BC

Ashley Clinic & Southeast Kansas Mental Health Center

Amanda Alanzo

Gov. Laura Kelly said allowing Kansans to seek assistance for drug overdoses would help save lives during medical emergencies. RACHEL MIPRO/KANSAS

REFLECTOR

Opinion

The Iola Register

~ Journalism that makes a difference

Wednesday, May 15, 2024

Laura Kelly doesn’t shy from disciplinarian role

Last week, Gov. Laura Kelly made three groups of people plenty mad, likely with some crossover.

First, Kelly vetoed a measure Friday that would have recognized “fetal personhood.”

The measure ruled that from the moment of fertilization, a woman’s fetus should be granted legal rights and protections such as child support during the mother’s pregnancy.

Proponents pushed the measure as a way for a pregnant woman to claim financial support for any pregnancy-related expenses, but only as long as she elects to give birth, not if she opts for an abortion.

The measure passed 8238 in the House and 25-12 in the Senate, largely along party lines with Republicans overwhelmingly supporting the measure.

Kelly viewed the legislation as government overreach.

“Kansans already made it very clear that they don’t want lawmakers involved in personal matters. It’s time we listen to them,” Kelly said, referring to the 2022 primary election where voters overwhelmingly rejected a constitutional amendment that would have all but banned abortion.

ALSO ON FRIDAY, Kelly vetoed a bill that would have further restricted ownership of Kansas land by China and other nations declared “of concern,” including Cuba, Iraq, North Korea and Venezuela.

The bill would have prohibited more than 10 percent ownership by foreign nationals of any non-residential property within 100 miles of any military installation — or most of Kansas. Kelly viewed it as a punitive overkill.

Chinese ownership in Kansas amounts to one acre. In fact, total ownership by foreign individuals amounts to 2.4 percent of the state’s 49 million acres of private farmland.

The legislation was sparked by the news that a China-based company that manufactures parts used in electric car batteries is

setting up shop in Johnson County.

Cnano Technology USA Inc., has plans to partner with Panasonic’s new $40 billion electric battery plant in De Soto, creating an additional 120 jobs.

While Kelly agreed that Kansas needs to beef up its defense against “foreign adversaries,” she also argued against blanket discrimination that “could disrupt legitimate investment and business relationships.”

China is the state’s fourth-largest trading partner, amounting to $850 million in Kansas exports.

US should abolish judge-shopping

When Matthew Kacsmaryk issued a ruling in April 2023 suspending the Food and Drug Administration’s approval of mifepristone, an abortion pill, Democrats were furious. How could a lone judge in smalltown Texas deprive millions of American women of a drug that has been deemed by doctors to be safer than Tylenol?

Mr. Kacsmaryk embodies a pressing problem in America’s judiciary: partisan lawyers pinpointing an ideologically sympathetic judge to hear their case, who then blocks a policy for the entire country.

Forum-shopping is as old as the law itself and was used enthusiastically by Democrats when Donald Trump was president, for example to block funding for his border wall. The practice of “judge-mandering” (a cousin of electoral gerrymandering) takes this to an extreme. It is a potent tool of Republicans seeking to stall President Joe Biden’s agenda.

The longer judge-mandering goes on, the more politicized America’s judiciary will become — with dire consequences for the rule of law. Preliminary injunctions were once reserved for rare cases where plaintiffs would be harmed while litigation proceeded. They are now being used for rapid political retaliation.

Between 2000 and 2023 the share of Americans who said they trusted judges fell from 75% to 49%, according to Gallup, a pollster. Judge-mandering doesn’t help.

The problem is especially harmful to the Supreme Court. When lower-court

Judge-mandering plays out when partisan lawyers pinpoint an ideologically sympathetic judge to hear their case and can then block a policy for the entire country.

judges issue incendiary rulings and appeals courts do not temper them, the justices have to weigh in. Since they tend to hew to the politics of the president who appointed them, filling the docket with culture-wars cases risks making the court appear even more politicized.

THOUGH POWERFUL people on both sides of the political aisle agree that judge-mandering is dangerous, the question of how to stop it is contentious. Unsurprisingly, those who happen to be benefiting at any time are unwilling to lay down their arms.

The Judicial Conference, a policymaking body composed of judges from across the country, tried to tackle judge-mandering in March. It issued a recommendation that all federal district courts should select judges at random for lawsuits seeking to impose or rescind national injunctions. Yet Republican politicians and some jurists resisted.

The Northern District of Texas, where Mr Kacsmaryk sits, said that it would make no such change “at this time.” James Ho, a judge on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans, instructed his conservative colleagues not to buckle.

In April Chuck Schumer and Mitch McConnell,

the Senate’s majority and minority leaders, each introduced a bill that tackled the problem in different ways. But the chances of either making it successfully through both the Democratic Senate and the Republican House of Representatives are nil. Calling attention to the problem is one thing; fixing it is another.

Fortunately, the Judicial Conference has not yet spent all its ammunition. It is empowered under federal law to prescribe binding rules for the courts, not merely toothless guidelines. Although the agency may have hoped that the worst-offending districts would rein themselves in, the outright hostility to its recommendation shows that it will need to issue mandatory rules.

JUDGES checking judges could go some way towards restoring the public’s trust.

In September Amanda Shanor, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania, sent the rule-making committee of the Judicial Conference a proposal that would impose random judicial assignments. The conference ought to adopt it. If war is a continuation of politics by other means, so is judge-mandering. But fighting partisan battles with a partisan judiciary should be no one’s idea of justice.

— The Economist

can withstand tax cuts of roughly $425 million.

With both Democrats and Republicans supporting the most recent measure, Kelly’s expected budget veto — her third this session — does not feel punitive, but rather, judicious, in her effort to keep the state’s economy forging ahead.

For the past two-plus years she has championed eliminating the state sales tax on groceries, while Republicans have dragged their feet, insisting on staggered reductions of minuscule increments.

She’s also a fan of eliminating the state income tax on Social Security benefits as well as reducing the property tax rate.

THE BIGGEST SHOE to drop that same afternoon was Kelly’s announcement that she will veto the legislature’s budget proposal and demand it reconvene.

The proposed tax cuts — $641 million the first year and about $470 million per year the next five years — are too generous, Kelly said.

“There is no way I’m going to put my signature on a bill that I think will take us back to those days of fourday school weeks, crumbling roads and bridges, a foster care system that was totally broken,” she said. “I can’t do that.”

Kelly has said the budget

The biggest sticking point is legislators’ plan to convert the state’s three-tier income tax system to two tiers, reducing the upper tax rate from 5.7 percent to 5.57 percent, and lumping the 3.1 percent rate for low-income earners in with middle-class earners at a 5.2 percent rate. Those income tax reductions alone consume about half of the total package of cuts.

Kelly would prefer to keep the three tiers, reducing their rates individually, so that each bracket benefits.

KELLY’S PLAN is responsibly generous, balancing wants against realities, a difficult, but admirable, goal. Such discipline should be rewarded.

— Susan Lynn

China bans popular ode to Hong Kong

A sure sign that you’re living in a dictatorship is that the government dictates what you can sing. That’s now the policy in Hong Kong, er, Little Beijing, as a court has endorsed the government’s plan to ban “Glory to Hong Kong.”

The song became popular in 2019 amid pro-democracy protests, and Hong Kong has warned that playing or even posting it online can violate national-security and sedition laws. Authorities have arrested a housewife and a delivery worker who posted the song on social media, and last week a Hong Kong appeals court granted the government’s request for an injunction that goes further.

Be careful what you whistle on your way to work in once-free Hong Kong.

take a brave judge to defy the government. “To effectively curb the criminal problems at their root, it is important that internet platform operators . . . take down problematic videos of the song,” the government argued last year. It sought to make it clear to tech companies “by way of a court order” that the song is “prohibited by Hong Kong law” and “should therefore be removed and not be allowed to be uploaded to their platforms.”

The ruling restricts “broadcasting, performing, printing, publishing, selling, offering for sale, distributing, disseminating, displaying or reproducing” the song “in any way including on the internet and/or any media accessible online and/or any internet-based platform or medium.”

The court ruling is no surprise, since it would

Rules published in 2020 let Hong Kong authorities order social-media companies to remove posts deemed a threat to national security, and local employees who fail to comply can face imprisonment or fines. Google and other digital platforms that still operate in Hong Kong will now be under pressure to make sure the song never appears when you search. Be careful what you whistle on your way to work in once-free Hong Kong. You could end up in Stanley Prison, like publisher Jimmy Lai and other political prisoners.

— Wall Street Journal

REQUIREMENTS:

Gov. Laura Kelly, center, at the groundbreaking of the $302 million Wichita Biomedical Campus at Wichita State University earlier this month. The facility will become a central location for the WSU College of Health Professions and Speech Language Hearing Clinic, WSU Tech’s health care program, and the Wichita campuses of KU School of Medicine and KU School of Pharmacy. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE

Reading: Former teachers, parents share concerns

Continued from A1

in use in Iola since the 1990s.

“The people who are making the decision to end this program, have they had the training? If the answer is no, perhaps that’s where you start,” Garret said.

She noted lawmakers passed a bill that allows Gov. Laura Kelly to establish the Kansas Blueprint for Literacy advising committee to redesign the teaching of reading and focus on evidence-based research. If local and state officials studied how the Iola district successfully adapted Accelerated Reader to fit student needs, they might see the benefit, she said.

“Are you truly investigating what’s being recommended to you is best for our students?” she said.

Dimity Lowell, whose daughter attends IES as a first-grader, said she conducted her own research and spoke with other area school districts to better understand how they view Accelerated Reader. She said she was unclear why the district was making the change.

“If it’s a money issue, then I stand in front of you as a representative of Iola Senior Citizens Inc. and we will provide the money needed for it,” Lowell said. “If it’s because you need a change, well, change is scary but I understand change is necessary too. We’d like answers.” Because of the board’s policy, none of the members spoke about her concerns.

Lowell said her daughter likes Accelerated Reader because she can learn at her own pace.

“She especially likes working with volunteers. She likes visiting with the people in the morning,” Lowell said.

Dizera Benham spoke as a special education paraprofessional and parent of a first-grader.

If it’s a money issue, as a representative of Iola Senior Citizens, we will provide the money needed for it [the reading program].

— Dimity Lowell, parent of a first-grader

Her daughter struggles with reading and the Accelerated Reader program has helped by encouraging her to meet reading goals. Benham also said the program can be adapted to meet the needs of special education students.

“They can feel like every other kid,” Benham said. “It’s the only program I remember in the eight years I’ve been here that has been 100% inclusive of every child.”

Nancy Skahan, another retired teacher, called it “an awesome program.”

“In my first-grade classroom I could see such a difference, from the first of the year to the end,” she said. “I want to thank the ladies at the library and the time they spend with kids. They start reading and they start picking up books in the classroom. They ask you for

help with a few words and they work hard to take the test and see if they pass. It encourages readers.”

Longtime volunteer and retired teacher Donna Houser has been one of the most vocal supporters of Accelerated Reader. She talked of the relationships she has built with students. Reducing the time allowed for volunteers to work with students will hurt those who come from disadvantaged homes, because they typically don’t arrive at school until after the time allotted for volunteers has passed.

“It’s imperative they learn to read. If they can’t read, they can’t function,” Houser said.

“The kids get so excited when they see us. They hug us. These kids need that connection. I know it’s not your job to raise them. It’s not mine either. But these

kids need this.”

IN OTHER news, the board:

• Approved a new five-year food vendor contract with OPAA! Staci Talkington, food service coordinator, said the district asked for proposals from multiple companies. Only two responded and a committee recommended the district continue to work with OPAA!

• Board member Robin Griffin-Lohman talked about the many end-of-year activities and recognized the efforts of school librarians. Monday’s meeting was moved to the IES library.

• Prior to the meeting, the new Iola High School BBQ Club prepared food for board members and guests. The team will compete at a national competition in Branson, Mo., in June. Doug Kerr, their coach, discussed a new Career and Technical Education program for special education students in grades 8-12 next year. He teaches a culinary arts class for special education students.

• Superintendent Stacey Fager noted BNIM, the Kansas City devel-

Speaker appears at Trump’s felony trial

By the Associated Press

U.S. House Speaker

Mike Johnson assailed the U.S. judicial system on Tuesday as he became the highest-ranking Republican to attend court with Donald Trump, echoing unsubstantiated or disproven arguments made by the former president and his allies. It was a remarkable moment in modern American politics. The powerful House speaker signaled a turn of his political party against the federal and state legal systems and demonstrated further loyalty toward Trump, who is accused of having arranged secret pay-

ments to a porn actress to hide negative stories during his successful 2016 campaign for president.

Johnson, a lawyer who is second in line for the presidency, called the court system “corrupt” and the case against Trump a “sham,” while alleging without proof that the special counsel who’s charged Trump in two separate cases has doctored evidence. He also attacked the credibility of Michael Cohen, Trump’s former lawyer and fixer who began his second day of testimony in the former president’s hush money trial.

Concert: Friday

Continued from A1

and keyboards.

Atomic Possum plays a variety of classic rock, blues, country and original songs. They have performed at several Farm City Days events and at venues and events throughout the region.

Humanity House is a non-profit organization aimed at reducing poverty in Allen County. It offers a food pantry, utility and rent assistance, and programs that help people connect and learn. An American Sign Language class starts at 6 p.m. Wednesday.

Trump’s campaign has lined up allies in recent days to appear at the New York courthouse to attack witnesses and others whom Trump is barred by a judge’s gag order from criticizing himself.

Also with the presumptive GOP presidential nominee on Tuesday were U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum — both considered possible vice presidential candidates.

opers hoping to convert former Iola elementary schools into housing, submitted proposals to the state for low-income housing grants and tax credits. The Health Forward Foundation has pledged $250,000 toward the projects, in hopes of making the proposals more attractive to the state. BNIM hopes to learn in July if their proposal is successful in obtaining the state financing assistance.

• Houser also talked about efforts to research the history of Iola Middle School, which celebrates its 100th anniversary next year.

Southern states hit by strong storms

By the Associated Press

Two people are dead in Louisiana after storms slammed several southern states, including many areas previously hit during one of the most active periods for twisters on record.

A woman and her unborn baby were killed after Monday night’s storm knocked a tree into their mobile home in West Baton Rouge Parish, the Louisiana Department of Health confirmed. A tree fell on top of a home, the sheriff said.

At a news conference, deputies said the victim was identified as Kristin Browning, 31, who was nine months pregnant. The fetus did not survive and is being counted as a storm-related death, state health officials said. Browning’s husband and her 5-yearold daughter were also injured, but they were expected to survive.

Another death happened near the town of Henderson, St. Martin Parish Sheriff Becket Breaux and Henderson Mayor Sherbin Collette both confirmed on social media. They said a tornado appeared to have struck the area, but they gave no details of how the person died.

Coach Doug Kerr and members of the Iola High School BBQ Club made ribs and street tacos for USD 257 board members, administrators and guests. The team will compete in a national competition in June in Branson, Mo.

Sports Daily

Iola High School: Softball

Iola finds its groove in rout

By RICHARD LUKEN

A renewed focus at the plate and in the field paid off handsomely for Iola High’s softball team Monday.

The Mustangs blasted out of the gates for nine first-inning runs and never looked back in a 16-1 romp over Neodesha to open the Class 3A regional playoffs.

The victory sets up Iola for a regional semifinal showdown with top-seeded and unbeaten Bluestem.

The win also snapped a three-game losing streak for Iola (16-11) and was a marked improvement over the team’s defensive struggles that popped up at the end of the regular season.

“It was nice that they brought the most focus all year to the biggest game of the year,” Iola head coach Chris Weide said. “From the get-go, we were ready defensively, ready at the plate. We had great at-bats.”

Perhaps nobody was more focused than freshman center fielder Brooklyn Holloway, who drove in four runs on a 3-for-3 performance at the plate.

Iola High’s Brooklyn Holloway connects on a third-inning home run Monday in a 16-1 win over Neodesha. REGISTER/ RICHARD LUKEN

Holloway’s two-run single in the bottom of the first got the fun started. She then fouled off several tough pitches in the next two times to the plate. Her second-inning atbat turned into a leadoff single to spark another scoring rally. She then worked a full count in the bottom of the third before blasting her first

SOFTBALL | Page B4

Iola High School: Golf

REGIONAL CHAMPS

Wednesday, May 15, 2024

Iola High’s Brennen Coffield, shown here at a tournament earlier this season is a 2024 Class 3A regional champion. REGISTER/RICHARD

Mustang golfers punch ticket to state

By RICHARD LUKEN

OSAWATOMIE — Monday’s Class 3A Regional Golf Tournament was not for the faint of heart.

A tough Osawatomie Golf Course was made even tougher as organizers did their darnedest to make the conditions even more treacherous for the high-schoolers in attendance.

By placing the holes pre-

cariously near the edges of some greens, or along sloped areas of others, it meant scoring par was next to impossible.

“I’d say those were some of the toughest pins I’ve ever played,” Mustang senior Xander Sellman said afterward.

Hole 4 was a monster unto itself. None of the 49 golfers were able to make par on the 408-yard par 4 hole.

“I don’t know how many

kids I’d see chip onto the green, only to see the ball roll back down,” Iola head coach Jeremy Sellman said.

“If somebody could shoot below par on that course today, they need to be on tour.”

But, he noted, the conditions were the same for everyone.

That turned the regional competition into a mental battle of not letting one hole

Crest High School: Baseball Humboldt High School: Softball

Crest High’s players surround senior Rogan Weir after Weir’s three-run home run broke open a 10-3 win over Southern Lyon County to secure a Class 2-1A regional championship and berth in next week’s state tournament. PHOTO COURTESY OF LEANN CHURCH

RICHMOND — Coach Roland Weir’s challenge Monday was simple. He asked his Crest High players to think back 12 months, to a heart-breaking loss in last season’s regional championship, when the Lancers were deprived of a third consecutive trip to the Class 2-1A State Tournament. “Do you want that two years in a row?” he asked. Fast forward to Monday, when the Lancers — with a largely rebuilt lineup this year due to graduation — struggled early before pulling away late in their semifinal to topple Central Heights, 18-8, to set up a championship showdown with Southern Lyon County. It was perhaps fitting that Crest’s Rogan Weir, one of the few holdovers from the previous powerhouse Lancer squads, had the two big blows, a three-run home run and a two-run triple as

HUMBOLDT — The cruel nature of postseason softball, where the slightest lapse can sink a season’s worth of dreams, did in Humboldt High Monday.

The Lady Cubs, in a wild back-and-forth affair with Conway Springs, saw both teams trade momentum swings in the late innings before the visiting Cardinals took advantage of four Lady Cub errors in extra innings.

Conway Springs scored three times to break a 6-6 deadlock to win, 9-6.

The loss, in the opening

round of the Class 3A Regional Tournament, ended Humboldt’s season at 14-10. Conway Springs advances to Wednesday’s semifinal round against tournament host Trinity Academy in Wichita. The winner faces either Iola or Bluestem in the championship game with a berth in next week’s state tournament on the line.

THINGS WERE GOING swimmingly for Humboldt in the early going. Ryan Covey got the Lady Cubs on the

LUKEN

The Iola Register

Humboldt High senior Rylan Covey bats in a game earlier this season. PHOTO COURTESY OF MIKE MYER

The Iola Register

PAPERS

AVAILABLE at the Iola Register Office. $3 per bundle. WANTED

Will buy copies of The Annals of Iola and Allen County, 1868-1945, Vols. 1 and 2. Call the Iola Register, 620-365-2111 or email susan@iolaregister. com

HR Generalist

The Monarch Cement Company in Humboldt, KS has an opening for a HR Generalist in the Corporate HR Department.

The HR Generalist performs human resource related duties at the professional level and will carry out responsibilities in some or all the following related functional areas: employee relations, training, employment, labor relations, a rmative action, and employment equity programs. The position requires candidates to have a bachelor’s degree in human resources or a related eld, one or two years of related experience, or a combination that will allow successful performance and completion of the duties required for the position. HR certi cation is preferred.

The position also requires a high level of con dentiality, pro ciency in a variety of computer software attention to detail, ability to work as part of a team and excellent communication skills. The position is open until lled. Salary is DOQ.

Please mail or deliver cover letter, application and resumé to: Corporate HR Department, The Monarch Cement Company, PO Box 1000, Humboldt, KS 66748 Or email cover letter, application and resumé to: hr.dept@monarchcement.com Applications and other necessary documents can be found a monarchcement.com. Previous applicants should complete new application. The Monarch Cement Company is an EOE. We

for

Crest: Lancers roll to state tourney

Continued from A1

Crest punched its ticket back to state with a 10-3 win.

“Our big players made big plays when it mattered most, but this was a total team effort,” Coach Weir said. “Our pitching wasn’t great, but it was good. We struggled at times, but we didn’t give up.”

And now, Crest is state bound for the Class 2-1A Tournament in Great Bend May 2324 for the third time in the past four seasons.

WHILE ANY trip to a state tournament is special, this year’s Lancer squad did so after bidding adieu to a decorated senior class that sent four players off to college teams across the state. And with a loaded schedule that gave Crest more losses this year than in the past three seasons combined, it would be fair to assume Crest would take a step back.

The Lancers’ head coach knew otherwise.

“The last couple of years were really good,” Coach Weir said. “We had nice pieces up and down the lineup and lots of depth with kids off the bench who could play.” And while Crest doesn’t have that same depth, “I knew we had nine core guys who could play. I knew what they’re capable of doing. We just had to keep the faith.”

CREST entered Monday having won its regional opener in dominant, but sloppy, fashion last week against Northern Heights.

After a couple of extended practices — geared to get the players in the right frame of mind as much as anything — Crest entered Monday’s action with renewed vigor.

But not immediately.

A pair of fielding errors in the top of the first allowed Pleasanton to load the bases before Lancer pitcher Jerry Rodriguez slammed the door with a strikeout.

But after Drake Weir’s two-run single staked Crest to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the inning, Pleasanton erupted in the top of the second, scoring seven times to seize the upper hand. Crest methodically climbed back into the game. Rogan Weir reached on an error in the bottom of the second as a run crossed the plate. Ryan Golden, another holdover from

last year’s starting lineup, followed with a sacrifice fly, making it 7-4.

Kade Nilges walked to lead off the third inning, moved to third on an error and scored on a passed ball to make it 7-5 before Logan Kistner ripped a two-run double to tie the score.

The fun continued in the fourth. Drake Weir and Nilges reached base to start the inning. Both came around on fielding miscues to give the Lancers the lead for good.

Nilges walked with the bases loaded in the fifth inning, Jensen Barker followed with a sac fly and yet another Blu-Jay error plated two more runs to push Crest ahead 13-7.

Three walks and two hit batsmen paved the way for a five-run outburst in the bottom of the sixth to end the game.

Kistner was Crest’s offensive catalyst, racking up four hits, including a double. Rogan Weir added a single and double. Drake Weir and Rodriguez each added singles.

Rogan Weir picked up the win in relief, scattering three hits over 4.2 innings of work with nine strikeouts. Rodriguez allowed three hits over 1.1 innings, with three strikeouts.

DRAKE WEIR got the pitching nod in the championship game against Southern Lyon County.

He overcame a wild first inning, walking the bases loaded and then walking in a run to put Crest at a 1-0 deficit.

But he found his accuracy from there, pitching six innings, scattering four hits and striking out seven. More importantly, he allowed only one other walk after the first frame.

Meanwhile, Crest

wasn’t able to do much offensively against Southern Lyon County starter Brayden Fowler until the top of the third.

Brayden Goodell was hit by a pitch to start the frame, followed by Henry White’s one-out single, putting runners on first and second for Rogan Weir, who roped a 2-2 pitch to the fence for a two-run triple. He then came in to score on an error to push Crest ahead, 3-1.

Barker drove in a run with a double in the top of the fourth, followed by RBI singles from Goodell and Rodriguez to push the lead to 6-1.

Golden went deep in the top of the fifth for the seventh run. Rogan Weir’s three-run blast in the top of the sixth put the game away.

Golden also pitched the final inning, striking out the side to send the Lancer players home with the regional trophy.

Weir’s triple and single were good for five RBIs. Nilges added a single and double. White singled twice, Kistner had a double, and Drake Weir, Goodell and Rodriguez had singles.

COACH WEIR declined to compare this team’s feats on the diamond against the decorated Crest squads of the past few years.

‘“They’re all special,” he said. “Last year we had one of the best

pitching staffs in the state. And while we don’t have an ace per se this season, we have four or five guys I feel confident throwing out there at any time.”

Such depth may give Crest a leg up once the Lancers learn their seeding for the state tournament. He noted some of the 2-1A powerhouses expected to contend for a state title this season already have been ousted.

“Anything can happen,” he said. “I don’t even know who I’m going to start in Game 1. But if we can play like we did against Southern Lyon County, if we can catch a break or two, we can compete with anybody.”

ELSEWHERE, Crest High’s softball season came to an end in their 2-1A regional opener in Mound City with a 27-9 loss to Oswego. Lady Lancer sophomore McKenna Powell hit a grand-slam home run in defeat.

Additional details were unavailable.

The Crest softball team bids adieu to seniors Kaylee Allen, Liliana Blaufuss and Brooklynn Jones.

Summer Vacation is Right Around the Corner

By Dr. Megan Westerhold, DVM

May is here, which means summer is just around the corner, and with summer usually comes more activities and road trips. Sometimes that means our pets go with us and at other times, they must be left behind. Either option requires planning for the pet owner.

If you're not taking your pets with you when you travel, arrange for their care beforehand. If someone is pet-sitting at their own home, ensure that your pets get along with theirs and take your pet there a few times before leaving. If someone is coming to your house, ensure that they have all the necessary supplies and that your pet is comfortable with them. Schedule boarding early and ensure that your pet is up to date on vaccinations. Regardless of who is taking care of your pet, ensure they have enough food, your contact information, and information about your pet's medical needs and veterinarian. If you're bringing your pet with you, consider the following.

If you’re flying with your pet, check with your destination and airline if you need a health certificate. Most airlines and many international locations require a health certificate written by your veterinarian within 10 days of your departure. This will require your veterinarian to examine your pet. Some locations require a health certificate to be obtained 2-3 months in advance. Ensure you know the health requirements before flying with your pet this summer.

If you're traveling by car with your pet, get them used to being in the car. Use a crate or harness to keep them safe. Prepare a pet-friendly travel kit with food, water, a leash, a waste scoop, medications, comfort items, and grooming supplies. Take frequent stops for bathroom breaks but don't feed your pet while the car is moving. Never leave your pet alone in a parked vehicle. Parked vehicles, even with the windows open, can quickly turn into an oven in the summer and cause heat stroke. You may be headed out for a fun family vacation, but your pet doesn’t always see it that way. They are in a car for a long time and often left in a strange hotel room by themselves – a change in their routine. This can be very stressful for them and often causes them to eat less or have diarrhea. Talk to your vet about potential probiotics or anxiety medications. Summer vacation can be filled with fun. It can also be very stressful when trying to take our pets along or make alternative plans for them. Planning is key when trying to travel with your pets during summer vacation or make alternative arrangements for them. Don’t wait until the last minute!

Crest High’s McKenna Powell earlier this season. The Lady Lancers ended their season Monday with a loss to Oswego. REGISTER/RICHARD LUKEN

The Class 2-1A regional champion Crest High Lancers are, front row from left, Preston Blaufuss, team manager Theo Church and Henry White; second row, head coach Roland Weir, Dalton Kersley, Drake Weir, Brayden Goodell, Ryan Golden, Rogan Weir, Logan Kistner, Jerry Rodriguez, Roy Gordon, Jensen Barker, assistant coach Chandler Crow, Kade Nilges and assistant coach Dakotah Sporing. PHOTO COURTESY OF LEANN CHURCH

Softball: Mustangs open regional playoffs with rout

Continued from B1

career home run, making it 13-1.

“The last pitch she fouled off was one she’d been striking out on recently,” Weide said.

“Two pitches later, she hits a home run. It was a great at-bat.

“She just has that talent,” he continued.

“We’re pretty hard on her in practice because she can be that good.

She’d been struggling a bit lately and was a little down on herself. But she made a nice running catch in left-center, and I think that helped.”

BUT YOU DON’T win by 15 with just one player.

Every Mustang starter collected at least one hit. Zoie Hesse smashed two doubles, Elza Clift

singled and tripled, while Harper Desmarteau and Kaysin Crusinbery each had a single and double. Reese Curry, Kinsey Schinstock and Alana Mader all had singles.

Clift got the pitching nod, and wobbled a bit in the first inning, hitting three batters and allowing a run, but settled down nicely from there.

She struck out five and allowed three hits over four innings in her first action from the mound in nearly two weeks because of a sore forearm.

“She hadn’t thrown too much, and was probably a little rusty,” Weide said. “She did a good job of getting to two-strike counts, but then would go a little too far inside.”

Champs: Iola golfers headed to state

Continued from B1

affect a player’s approach to the rest of the course.

And Iola’s squad did so to perfection.

Buoyed by sophomore Brennen Coffield’s 5-over-par 76, the Mustangs blew away all comers in capturing the regional title, and a berth in next week’s Class 3A State Tournament in Emporia.

Iola’s team score was 32 strokes above runner-up Wellsville.

Coffield’s round was five strokes better than Lucas Prado of Heritage Christian Academy, who carded an 81. Xander Sellman shot an 85, good for fourth. Chris Holloway’s 91 got him eighth. And Ethan Harris had one of his best rounds of the season, carding a 99, good for 13th. Baron Folk wasn’t far behind, shooting a 102 to place 19th. Parker Andres carded a 144 to take 48th.

This season marks the first time Iola qualified as a team for state since 2015, and the Mustangs’ first regional crown since 2014.

“It was a tough round,” Coffield said,

adding that by seeing his playing partners struggle, he was optimistic he would be near the top of the leaderboard.

“You couldn’t just go after holes. You had to be a little conservative,” he said. “When you 3-putt a hole, it’s tough.”

THE MUSTANGS

shot a practice round in Osawatomie Sunday to get a feel for the course’s challenges.

“We talked about managing expectations,” Coach Sellman said. “The bogeys were the new par. We knew scores were going to be high.”

By the midpoint of the round, it became evident the Mustangs were the proverbial cream of the crop. At one point, Iola held the top three individual scores, with Harris not far behind in seventh.

“I was trying to figure out where Ethan was on the scoreboard,” Coach Sellman joked. “I couldn’t find his name until I realized he was at the top.”

Each of the top four golfers agreed the round was a struggle.

“I didn’t think I played very well, but with the conditions as tough as they were, I felt very accomplished,” Holloway said. “When Coach went around telling us we had it in the bag, and not worry about the scores, it allowed us to relax.”

Monday’s tournament capped a whirlwind week, especially for Holloway and Xander Sellman, the two seniors on the squad.

Besides playing three tournaments over a four-day stretch, Saturday was Graduation Day. On Holloway’s plate was also delivering the keynote address during the commencement.

“After Saturday, I just felt relief,” he admitted. “Now, I’m just dedicated to golf.”

Xander Sellman said the regional title is one more notch on his goals for the 2024 season.

“I want to go out with a bang,” he said.

“That’s what I’ve said all senior year. We want to end on a high note.”

Harris agreed. “This was probably one

of my toughest golf games ever,” he said. “But the other guys I was playing with were struggling worse than me.”

Harris accomplished a few personal goals along the way.

“I never lost any balls for the first time at a golf meet.”

As an aside, Harris’s official round was 11 strokes better than his practice round 24 hours earlier.

“We could have all shot 100s and had a shot to win it as a team,” Xander Sellman said. “But I knew we weren’t going to do that, not with guys like Brennen and Chris out there.”

COACH SELLMAN will preach a similar message when Iola tees off at state next Monday at Emporia’s Municipal Golf Course, which will feature a similar layout, minus the unyielding pin placement.

“I knew with the conditions like they were, our scores weren’t going to dictate how we played,” he said. “I know what we’re capable of doing out there at state.”

A slight adjustment in her setup from the pitching circle helped things considerably, Weide noted, in that she positioned herself a couple inches to the left, just far enough to keep those inside pitches nearer the strike zone.

From that point, the Bluestreaks had only two hits and never threatened to score again.

“I thought this was a real ‘team’ game,” Weide said. “We had great at-bats for our teammates. We played great defense for our teammates. I was real proud of their effort and their attitude.”

THE VICTORY sets up a regional semifinal showdown Wednesday against unbeaten and top-seeded Bluestem. The winner will take on either Trinity Academy or Conway Springs in Wednesday’s championship game with a berth in next week’s state tournament on the line.

The semifinal and championship games will be held at Trinity Academy’s campus in East Wichita.

“It’ll be a tall task,” Weide said. “I’m confident if we play our best, we’ll have a good chance. It’ll be fun to go out there and give ourselves a chance.”

The 2024 Class 3A regional champion Iola High Mustang golf team members are, from left, Baron Folk, Parker Andres, Brennen Coffield, Xander Sellman, Christopher Holloway, Ethan Harris and head coach Jeremy Sellman. REGISTER/RICHARD LUKEN

Iola High’s Kyndal Bycroft reverses course on the basepaths against Neodesha Monday. REGISTER/ RICHARD LUKEN

Bills sign former Chiefs receiver

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y.

(AP) — The Buffalo Bills have signed yet another receiver, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, to reshape a position group that lost two starters, including Stefon Diggs.

The Bills announced the signing of the sixth-year player to a one-year contract on Tuesday, a day after Valdes-Scantling visited the team for a workout.

Listed at 6-foot-4 and 206 pounds, he is a twotime Super Bowl champion after spending the past two seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs, where he combined for 63 catches for 1,002 yards and three touchdowns. Among his most notable catches was a 16-yard TD reception in Kansas City’s 2522 Super Bowl win over San Francisco in February.

Selected in the fifth round of the 2018 draft by Green Bay, he spent his first four seasons with the Packers, where he had 123 catches for 2,153 yards and 13 TDs.

The 29-year-old Valdes-Scantling goes from catching passes from Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay and Patrick Mahomes in Kansas City to Buffalo’s Josh Allen.

He joins what is becoming a crowded receiver group of free agents and castoffs the Bills have brought in this offseason to offset the loss of Diggs, who was traded to Houston last month, and the freeagent departure of No. 2 receiver Gabe Davis.

The two combined for 152 catches, 1,929 yards and 15 of Allen’s 29 touchdown passes last year.

Buffalo used its top draft pick to select Florida State’s Keon Coleman at No. 33 last month.

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Yesterday’s Cryptoquote: The woods are lovely, dark and deep, But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep.

-- Robert Frost

ZITS

by Jerry Scott and Jim Borgman

BEETLE BAILEY by Mort Walker

HAGAR THE HORRIBLE by Chris Browne

BLONDIE by Young and Drake

MARVIN by Tom Armstrong

HI AND LOIS by Chance Browne

MUTTS by Patrick McDonell

Yates

Oswego ousts YC

LYNDON — Yates Center High’s softball team fired the first salvo of its Class 2-1A Regional Tournament opener Monday, scoring in the top of the first to take a quick lead over Central Heights.

But the Vikings responded with a wallop, scoring 17 unanswered runs, including six in the third and seven in the fourth to win, 17-1.

The defeat ends the Wildcats’ 2024 campaign at 8-13.

A bunt single from Cayten Cummings with two outs in the top of the first sparked the Wildcats’ sole scoring rally. Avery Eakin followed with a line drive single to left before Kinley Morrison punched a single through the left side to score Cummings for a 1-0 ad -

vantage.

But Cayleigh Latimer’s two-run double in the bottom of the frame pushed Central Heights on top. The score was 4-1 in the top of the third when Cummings again bunted for a single, putting runners on first and second. But Eakin was ruled out for batter’s interference for a second out, and a strikeout ended the threat with no damage. Aracely Crump limited Yates Center to four hits, striking out 10 batters. Cummings had two of the Wildcats’ hits. Eakin and Morrison had singles as well. Eakin got the start on the mound, surrendering three hits with two strikeouts. Morrison came on in relief. She struck out three over 2.1 innings.

NBA: PlayoffS

OKC rallies to even series with Mavs

DALLAS (AP) — Shai

Gilgeous-Alexander was making his normal share of shots through three quarters for Oklahoma City. Most of his teammates weren’t, until it mattered most.

Gilgeous-Alexander scored 34 points and the Thunder overcame a Mavericks franchise playoff-record 13 blocks, rallying for a 100-96 victory Monday night to even their Western Conference semifinal series at 2-2.

Chet Holmgren and Lu Dort hit clutch 3-pointers late, and Jalen Williams drove for a dunk and a 94-91 lead with 1:29 remaining as Dallas players and coaches screamed for a double-dribble call.

Crew chief Zack Zarba said in a pool report that video confirmed officials were correct not calling the double-dribble, saying Williams never had control of the ball before grabbing it with two hands and starting his dribble.

The teams split a pair on each other’s home court. Game 5 is Wednesday night in Oklahoma City.

“We just stuck to it,”

Gilgeous-Alexander said. “We just plugged away, took it possession by possession. And eventually the game turned for us.”

The Mavericks’ last chance to tie came with 10.1 seconds left when, trailing by two, Luka Doncic had two free throws. But the Dallas superstar missed the first, part of a dismal 12for-23 effort by the Mavs from the line. Oklahoma City was 23 for 24.

“We’ve just got to work on our free throws,” Doncic said. “We shot 52%. That’s unacceptable.”

Lady Cubs: Fall in extras

Continued from B1

board with an RBI double in the bottom of the second, followed by Carly Weilert’s run-scoring single for a 2-0 lead.

Kamry De La Torre got into the act with an RBI single in the third, making it 3-0.

Meanwhile, Humboldt starting pitcher Shelby Shaughnessy held Conway Springs scoreless through the first four innings.

But that changed in a hurry.

The Cardinals rallied with one out in the fifth, with three singles, a walk and an error to knot the score at 3-3 before scoring the gohead run on a passed ball.

Humboldt evened the proceedings at 4-4 after Taevyn Baylor singled and scored on Hadley

Galloway’s sacrifice fly.

Conway Springs scored twice more on a two-run double from Reece Johnson in the sixth.

Humboldt answered promptly with RBI singles from Skylar Hottenstein and Shaughnessy in the bottom of the inning to knot the proceedings at 6-6.

Shaughnessy retired Conway Springs in order in the top of the seventh, and Humboldt threatened to end it in walk-off fashion after De La Torre walked and Weilert singled to put runners on first and second. But a strikeout ended the rally.

The Cardinals loaded the bases on three consecutive errors to start the fateful eighth.

Brooke Beck singled in a pair of runs before a fourth error with two

outs allowed a third run to score.

Humboldt threatened once again in the bottom of the inning. Shaughnessy singled with one out and Baylor reached on an error.

But Conway Springs pitcher Macie Hartman induced a strikeout and ground ball to end the affair.

Backed by one of their best defensive efforts of the season, the Mavs led by 14 early in the second half. But their offense disappeared from there, and the Thunder slowly came back.

Oklahoma City went in front for the first time since early in the game — and for good — on Holmgren’s 3 for an 89-86 lead with 3:24 remaining.

P.J. Washington Jr. led Dallas in scoring again with 21 points, while Doncic had 18 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists. Kyrie Irving had his second single-digit scoring game of the series with nine points.

Dort’s clutch 3 came on a 3-of-10 shooting night from deep as he finished with 17 points. Holmgren had 18 points and nine rebounds.

Dereck Lively II and Derrick Jones Jr. had four blocks apiece for Dallas, each getting one in the final seconds of the first half to continue the defensive tone that had already been set.

That defensive struggle turned downright ugly in the third quarter, with the Thunder outscoring Dallas 22-15 to cut their deficit to four — the closest they had been since the middle of the first quarter. Oklahoma City shot 33% in the third to 25% for the Mavs.

Dallas wasn’t much better in the fourth, shooting 42% and go-

ing just 1 of 5 from long range while the Thunder finally started seeing shots go in after shooting 34% through three quarters.

Gilgeous-Alexander, who along with Holmgren did most of the shot-making while their teammates struggled, got the Thunder even on a jumper with four minutes to go.

“There’s nothing comfortable about playoff games,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. “I thought our ability just to endure the early punches, and just not able to get back in the game for a long time, our ability to endure that was big time. In the fourth, the offense turned for us.”

Shaughnessy and Weilert paced Humboldt’s 15-hit attack with three singles apiece. Covey, Humboldt’s lone senior, had a single and double, while Galloway and Baylor singled twice. De La Torre, Hottenstein and Laney Hull each added singles. Leah Carman scored a run.

Shaughnessy allowed seven hits with 14 strikeouts over eight innings of work.

Center High’s Avery Eakin delivers a pitch in a game earlier this season. REGISTER/ RICHARD LUKEN

Yates Center: Softball