The Iola Register, July 18, 2023

Kelly: Lehigh Portland a win for Iola, state

By RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register

More than 30 years ago, when David Toland was a Boy Scout, the future lieutenant governor and fellow Troop 55 members set up camp on the east ridge of what is now Lehigh Portland State Park. It was a typical Kansas spring day, with warm tem-

peratures in the afternoon that cooled considerably by nightfall.

The Scouts had to build their own shelter, Toland recalled, to varying degrees of success.

As the night wore on, it became too much for one of the youngsters, who had started

Mother Nature packs a punch

Scores still without power in Iola

By VICKIE MOSS The Iola Register

A massive storm system that walloped Allen County with straight-line winds estimated as high as 85 mph on Friday evening left nearly the entire county without power and damaged homes, other structures and vehicles.

Electricity services have been restored to most homes and businesses, but about 25% of Iola remained without power as of Monday morning.

County officials have taken preliminary steps for disaster declaration and will make it official at Tuesday’s commission meeting.

The brief but devastating storm hit around 5:30 p.m. Friday, dumping 1.41 inches of rain, with most of that falling in about 20 minutes.

Jason Trego, emergency management director, said he didn’t have official numbers but estimated winds between 80 and 85 mph.

The damage was severe in nearly all parts of the county, with the worst damage reported in the southern areas.

No one appeared to be seriously injured from the storm.

The loss of private property is expected to be extensive. Weekend storms hit communities across the state. Evergy reported about 190,000 homes were without power on Friday, and some areas were not expected to have power returned for several days.

“All things considered, we were pretty fortunate,” Trego said. “Allen County has resilient people and we’ll get through this together.”

However, the impact of the storm appeared to be most severe in Iola, where some residents were left without power through the weekend. Tree limbs — sometimes entire trees — ripped down power lines throughout the city.

The city’s five-member electric crew worked throughout the night to restore power to high-need areas and industries including the hospital, Walmart, Gates and Russell Stover, City Administrator Matt Rehder said.

That evening, power was restored to most areas north of U.S. 54 and east of Cottonwood Street. Most of the city had power restored by noon on Saturday, but homes in the southern areas didn’t have power until Sunday morning.

Crews were sent home at 6 p.m. Saturday for rest after working 36 hours, City Administrator Matt Rehder said. Many of them came home to

find damage at their residences, as well. They returned to action on Sunday morning.

Crews from Chanute and Girard also traveled to Iola to help on Sunday and Monday. As of Monday morning,

crews were working to restore electric services to about 25% of the city, mostly east of the Meadowbrook Addition. Rehder was optimistic those areas would be up and running by Tuesday morning.

It could take weeks to repair all the damage to the electric infrastructure, Rehder said.

“We’re doing the best we can. Our crew has done a

Chad and Harlie Smith and their children were trapped in their LaHarpe trailer house for more than 20 minutes after a storm toppled a tree onto their roof Friday evening. The family was unhurt. Visit www.iolaregister.com for more photos. REGISTER/ VICKIE MOSS

Winds estimated at more than 85 mph toppled a semitrailer at Russell Stover Chocolates in iola Friday. The same storm brought down several power lines, including this one draped over this pickup on Neosho Street, near Cottonwood. Below, a downed tree blocks the 1200 block of South Broadway Street in LaHarpe. See

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly is flanked by folks of all ages Monday as she signs a bill officially forming Lehigh Portland State Park Monday in Iola. REGISTER/VICKIE MOSS

Russia halts landmark deal that allowed Ukraine to export grain

LONDON (AP) — Russia halted a breakthrough wartime deal on Monday that allows grain to flow from Ukraine to countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia where hunger is a growing threat and high food prices have pushed more people into poverty.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia would suspend the Black Sea Grain Initiative until its demands to get its own food and fertilizer to the world are met. While Russia has complained that restrictions on shipping and insurance have hampered its agricultural

exports, it has shipped record amounts of wheat since last year.

“When the part of the

Black Sea deal related to Russia is implemented, Russia will immediately return to the imple-

mentation of the deal,” Peskov said.

The suspension marks the end of an accord that the U.N. and Turkey brokered last summer to allow food to leave the Black Sea region after Russia’s invasion of its neighbor worsened a global food crisis. The initiative is credited with helping lower soaring prices of wheat, vegetable oil and other food commodities.

Ukraine and Russia are both major global suppliers of wheat, barley, sunflower oil and other affordable food products that developing nations rely on.

The suspension of the deal sent wheat prices up about 3% in Chicago trading, to $6.81 a bushel, still about half what they were last year during last year’s peaks, but fell later in the day. Analysts don’t expect more than a temporary bump to global food commodity prices because places like Russia and Brazil have ratcheted up wheat and corn exports. But food insecurity worldwide is growing as developing countries also struggle with climate change, conflict and economic crises. Finding suppliers out-

side Ukraine that are farther away also could raise costs.

The grain deal provided assurances that ships won’t be attacked entering and leaving Ukrainian ports, while a separate agreement facilitated the movement of Russian food and fertilizer. While Western sanctions do not apply to Moscow’s agricultural shipments, some companies may be wary of doing business with Russia.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he wanted to keep the initiative going even without Russia’s safety assurances.

Park: Iolans turn out to celebrate signing with governor

Continued

to cry. The late Larry Magnuson, one of the Scout leaders, traded his warm tent and comfy sleeping bag with the distraught Scout.

Magnuson, who had once ventured to the frigid Antarctic, confessed the next morning that the nighttime temps had been surprisingly cold.

Cold but beautiful.

“He talked about how he could see the stars,” Toland recalled. “It was so clear he could make out the constellations and detect shooting stars. He looked out across the water and the moon was reflecting on the surface.

“It was just a magical night,” Toland continued Monday, at a signing ceremony to officially ring in Lehigh Portland as Kansas’s 29th state park. “And I’m so happy that going forward, thousands, or a 100,000 people or more a year are going to be able to come to this place and have those experiences that stick with you.”

Toland was joined by Gov. Laura Kelly and a host of other dignitaries for the signing ceremony.

Kelly declared Lehigh Portland as a win for Iola, southeast Kansas and the state as a whole.

“There’s no doubt, this park will boost the local economy and create yet another space for Kansas families and visitors to spend time together in nature,” Kelly said.

She heaped praise on several involved in turning the grounds formerly owned by Iola Industries into what promises to be one of the state’s premiere outdoor recreation areas.

She noted Brad Loveless, secretary of Kansas Wildlife and Parks worked tirelessly with legislators, including Reps. Fred Gardner, Doug Blex, Ken Rogers

and Sens. Brenda Dietrich and Mary Ware for rallying bipartisan support.

She also credited Thrive Allen County and the legions of community volunteers who turned what had been a vacant industrial site into a 360-acre recreational complex containing more than 16 miles of hiking and biking trails surrounding a 138-acre quarry formerly known as Elks Lake.

“And, of course, we wouldn’t be here without Mary Kay Heard,” Kelly said of the Iola Industries Inc. Board of Directors chairman.

“Mary Kay led the board as they made the crucial decision to gift ownership of the land and lake to the state. This extraordinary and visionary gift will impact Kansas and Kansas families for generations to come.”

Before entering the political realm, first as a state senator and now as a two-term governor, Kelly served as executive director of the Kansas Recreation and Park Association, which advocated for a public parks system.

“In that role, I witnessed time and again the benefit of investing in our parks system,” she said, pointing to the physical, mental health and environmental ben-

efits.

Additionally, a state park will have a significant boost on the local economy, Kelly added, pointing to a 2021 Wichita State University study showing Kansas state parks brought in nearly $300 million into the state’s economy, employed more than 6,000 Kansans annually and attracts thousands of tourists to the state.

“Of course, with the creation of this park, those numbers will only grow,” Kelly said.

LISSE REGEHR, Thrive Allen County CEO, spoke about another ancillary benefit of having a state park, that may mean more than dollars and cents — pride.

“I hope you are proud of what has happened,” Regehr told a crowd of about 100, “and what is to come.”

Heard, speaking on behalf of Iola Industries, said gifting the land to the state will become the organization’s legacy.

“Economic development has always been Iola Industries’ mission and their goal, and we have brought a lot of businesses to town, both large and small,” Heard said. “But we all know that businesses come and go. This park, this land, this lake is going to be here and that’s

what we’re celebrating today. … This is going to be our legacy.”

Linda Lanterman, Kansas state parks director, spoke not only of the economic boon a state park will bring, but the improved quality of life certain to follow, calling a visit to the park “a respite” for one’s mental and physical well-being.

KELLY also pointed to Toland’s role in helping turn Lehigh Portland into reality.

“David connected Secretary Loveless and Iola Industries,” Kelly said.

Then, when discussions led to real possibilities of a state park, Toland helped secure the necessary state funding through federal SPARK dollars that will be used to build cabins and a host of other amenities throughout the park.

“As many of you know, building healthy communities is one of David’s passions, and this is just one more way he has contributed to the well-being and the future of his beloved hometown,” Kelly said.

Kelly recalled reaching out to Toland a few years back when she was a state senator and he was CEO of Thrive Allen County. “I was scrolling through the news and came across

an article about Thrive receiving a prestigious award from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation,” she said.

“I knew that was a big deal. I picked up the phone and cold-called David,” she continued. “I wanted to see if we could replicate his success across the state.”

That, in turn, led Kelly to recruiting Toland to serve as her campaign treasurer for her inaugural run for governor in 2018.

“Being campaign treasurer is often a ceremonial role, but not so with David,” Kelly said. “He played an integral part during the campaign, including laying the foundation for what would become the Office of Rural Prosperity.”

After winning the

2018 governor’s election, Kelly said Toland was the first person she approached about a Cabinet position, secretary of commerce. He later was elevated to be Kelly’s running mate in 2022, while remaining commerce secretary.

Kelly pointed to his success in office, in landing the largest project in state history with a Panasonic battery plant in De Soto, and new capital investments worth nearly $17 billion, creating more than 60,000 jobs.

“Iola should be very proud of David Toland,” Kelly said. “And very proud to be the location for the newest addition to our system with the opening of the Lehigh Portland State Park. Congratulations to everyone involved. It is

Wheat lies piled in a grain warehouse earlier shelled by Russian forces on May 6, 2022, near the frontlines of Kherson Oblast in Novovorontsovka, Ukraine. Russia is pulling out of the international deal that allows grain exports. (JOHN MOORE/GETTY IMAGES/TNS)

From foreground, Sutton Wilcox, Elizabeth Wilcox, Finian Springer and Maria Unruh check out the water following the signing of the Lehigh Portland State Park in Iola Monday. REGISTER/VICKIE MOSS

Iola native and Kansas Lt. Gov. David Toland speaks at Monday’s Lehigh Portland State Park signing ceremony.

Storm: Damage widespread

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great job but there’s still more work to be done,” he said. “A lot of wires got mangled, so we have to untangle them and figure out what needs to be replaced.”

Because the storm blew through quickly, residents had a few hours of daylight on Friday evening to begin cleanup. By Saturday morning, the sound of chainsaws and the smell of gasoline to run those saws as well as generators pervaded communities.

Nearly all streets were cleared and passable by late Friday.

Rehder said he has been in communication with county leaders, including commission Chairman David Lee, to coordinate cleanup efforts.

The Allen County landfill remained open Saturday and with special hours on Sunday for the dumping of trees and brush. Humboldt also opened an area to take trees and brush.

Trego said damage is still being assessed, but the recovery effort seems to be going well.

“Little things like that can have a big impact so people can get tree limbs off property and move on with their lives,” Trego said.

Most area communities announced plans for curbside pick up of tree limbs and brush.

Rehder said he expected Iola would offer multiple pickup days, with the first round starting Monday.

IN LAHARPE, Chad and Harlie Smith were playing XBox with another couple at their trailer home on South Washington Street when the storm hit. They were accompanied by four children.

Harlie was holding her 2-month-old daughter when a massive tree toppled onto the roof of the trailer. She was struck in the

head but not seriously injured.

Everyone was trapped in the home until rescue crews arrived about 25 minutes later and helped them exit through a window.

The couple received assistance from the American Red Cross and the Knights of Columbus. They’ve been staying with friends as they look for a new rental property. They had moved into the trailer home in January.

Most of their clothing was ruined but they were able to salvage some of the baby’s belongings, Harlie said Monday morning.

Those who want to help or can offer accommodations can call Harlie at 620-228-7114.

They hope to stay in Allen County for Chad’s job.

Also in LaHarpe, Roger and Sarah Jane Womelsdorf sought refuge in a storm shelter on their property. They soon found themselves trapped when tree limbs fell, blocking the

door. They were able to use a cell phone to call for help and were rescued after about an hour.

Over the next couple of days, the couple used their tractor to help others with cleanup efforts.

TREGO said he spoke with Commission Chairman Lee to request an emergency disaster declaration. The county is expected to sign paperwork on Tuesday to make it official.

The disaster declaration activates an emergency operations plan and allows governing agencies to qualify for grants to help with mitigation.

Trego said he did not ask the state to provide additional assistance but was grateful for mutual aid from Chanute, Garnett and Girard.

“We didn’t need state assistance,” he said. “We were able to handle everything ourselves with neighbors helping neighbors.”

Iolan Susan Cook shared these images of a tree that impaled her roof Friday, extending clear through an interior ceiling. COURTESY

Iolan Becky Morris snapped this picture of a tree laying atop an outbuilding. See iolaregister.com for additional photos from Friday’s storm. COURTESY

This picturesque elm tree in front of Iola High School was mangled in Friday evening’s storms that brought winds estimated at more than 85 mph to Allen County. REGISTER/SUSAN LYNN

Jonathan and Destiny Thompson start the work of removing a tree that fell across their Iola driveway Friday on Garfield Street. REGISTER/VICKIE MOSS

While Mother Nature wreaked havoc through much of Allen County with Friday’s storm, she also provided this spectacular sunset later in the evening. REGISTER/VICKIE MOSS

Top tips for grilling food safely

Grilling with family and friends is a classic summertime activity, particularly during the month of July which is

China misses the mark

HONG KONG (AP)

— China’s economic growth missed forecasts in the second quarter of the year amid a slowdown in consumer spending.

The economy grew at a 6.3% annual pace in April-June, much slower than analysts’

forecast for growth topping 7%.

In quarterly terms, the usual measure for most major economies, growth slipped to 0.8% from 2.2% in January-March. China’s economy has been slowing in the long term.

designated as National Grilling Month. Keep foodborne illness off the menu by following these tips while grilling:

• Wash your hands. You should always wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before handling food. This is roughly the same amount of time it takes to sing the “Happy Birthday” song twice.

• Marinate food in the refrigerator. Never marinate food on the counter or outside.

• Avoid cross contamination. Never use sauce that was used to marinade raw meat on cooked food and do not put cooked food on a plate that was used for raw meat. If you want to use some of the mar-

inade as a sauce on your cooked food, set aside some of the unused marinade ahead of time for that purpose.

• Keep cold food cold. If you are transporting food in a cooler, use an insulated cooler and include enough ice or ice packs to keep the temperature at 40 degrees or below. Place your cooler in the shade or under shelter to keep it out of direct sunlight.

• Cook food to a safe internal temperature. Once food is on the grill, be sure to cook it to a safe internal temperature as measured by a food thermometer. Col-

or is not an indicator of food safety. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, whole cuts of beef and pork (such as steaks, roasts, and chops) should be cooked to 145 degrees and then allowed to rest for three minutes. Hamburgers made of ground beef or pork should be cooked to 160. All poultry (including ground poultry) should be cooked to at least 165

• Keep hot food hot. Once you have grilled meat or poultry, keep it hot (at 140 or above) until you serve it. This can be done by setting it to the side of the grill rack.

• Keep food safe. Do not let raw meat or poultry, cooked food, or cut fresh vegetables and fruits sit out at room temperature for more than two hours before placing them in a refrigerator or freezer. (If the temperature is above 90, this timeframe decreases to one hour.)

For more information from the Partnership for Food Safety Education, visit https://www.fightbac.org/grill-master/. You can also find information from the USDA at bit.ly/grillsafely. Contact me with questions at clarawicoff@ksu.edu or 620-365-2242.

So now what? Tips for managing retirement

Tara

Your finances are all in order and your bucket list is complete. You are officially ready to retire, right? Not so fast. Research has shown that we need to be concerned about more than just money before and during retirement.

Leaving the workforce has implications for your wallet, of course, but it can also affect relationships, physical and emotional health, and even your ability to live independently for longer periods of time. The good news? You can make a difference in all of these areas by being aware and making smarter, well-informed choices. Researchers at Kansas State University worked to understand steps individuals can take to live a successful, healthy retirement. Here are four key steps that help avoid common challenges and improve the overall retirement experience.

• Focus on your fundamental relationships. Retirement can have a significant impact on your most meaningful relationships. It is crucial to have conversations that will establish expectations, lay out plans, and allow others to provide input about their role in your well-deserved freetime.

Perils of Puppyhood: Parvovirus Edition

By Nicole Haney R.V.T.

Puppies are a joyful and adorable addition to many families. They can also be a source of heartbreak if you are not educated about the basic health needs of puppies. One of the most devastating health crises that a family and puppy can face is Parvovirus.

Parvovirus, as the name indicates, is an infectious viral disease, usually passed from animal to animal when an infected but possibly asymptomatic canine vomits or leaves stool in an area where an unvaccinated animal encounters the virus-loaded material. Birds may carry the virus on their feet from kennel to kennel as they pick dog kibble from bowls, but the most common exposure is when we take our cute, bundle of furry joy out to show friends and relatives. We jump into house training and our new puppy is being walked on the grass in the park, near McDonald’s, or shown off around town on the sidewalk or dog park. Even our yard may not be safe if we do not routinely pick up the dog feces or if we have had another dog with parvo that contaminated the area. Even if not required by law, be a thoughtful pet owner and pick up after your dog. The little bags don’t cost much and may save another dog’s life.

• Live a healthy lifestyle. Research shows that retirement has the ability to either improve your health or send you packing to the doctor. Whether you choose the path of pajamas and relaxation or activities galore, it is important to ensure that you are taking adequate care of your physical, mental, and emotional health. It is never too late to develop a healthy lifestyle!

• Find your balance. Leaving a 40hour workweek can be tough, and establishing a new normal may not be a breeze for everyone. Some may dive head-first into volunteering, babysitting, socializing, and doing all of their long-desired hobbies. Others might be unsure of what to do with all of their time. Establishing a balance that works for you is an important factor of living a successful retirement.

• Continue planning for the future. Just because your retirement funds are set does not mean you are done planning and preparing for the years ahead.

It is valuable to identify ways in which you can continue to manage your finances, prepare for future medical crises, and prepare your home for long-term living.

LOOKING to the future can be exciting and stressful all at the same time! It’s never too early to start action planning, taking goals one step at a time, asking for help when needed, and remember to celebrate what you accomplish along the way. Use retirement as a time to thrive and enjoy life,

but also to take care of your relationships, yourself, and your future — you deserve it!

For more information, contact Tara Solomon-Smith, tsolomon@ ksu.edu, or by calling 620-244-3826.

Being a virus, prevention is key, in the form of properly given vaccinations, generally three, given at intervals to attempt to take advantage of the puppies maturing immune system as soon as possible, as well as ensuring the best physical health with a good diet, and prevention of external and internal parasites that might cause anemia. Take care not to tire the puppy or take it out to areas where there may be parvovirus exposure. Your puppy is like a baby, still rather fragile and still needing special care.

Currently, there are no anti-viral medications that are a surefire cure for parvovirus. If your puppy is lethargic, vomiting, having diarrhea, or not eating previously accepted diets, there is a problem. Puppies in good health do not show any of these signs, but puppies with parvo will show at least one, often more. Call and give the veterinary office all the information you have about the puppy’s age, state of vaccination, worming, and when you noticed the onset of signs of illness. You will be asked to come to the office for a parvo test.

Often, the sample is taken from your pup in your car, where you will wait for results. This keeps the chance of exposure out of the public areas of the office. Your puppy will probably be hospitalized. During hospitalization, your vet will give antibiotics to attempt to stop secondary bacterial infections, intestinal tract protectants to minimize the damage and hemorrhage, and supportive care in the form of IV fluids to prevent dehydration and electrolyte imbalance. The pet must be kept in isolation to prevent exposure to other animals.

The care provider must be scrupulously clean, washing, and disinfecting anything that the puppy, the equipment, or the provider might encounter. You will be advised on how to accomplish this at home. If all goes well, food and water can be introduced to your pup, and it will be released to go home.

This treatment is expensive, depending on the age of the pup, the basic health of the pup, and how many vaccinations with quality, properly stored, and reconstituted vaccines the puppy has had, survival is possible. (The fatality rate is higher with younger pups and unvaccinated pups; one vaccination is not enough; multiple vaccinations with lesser quality vaccines, improperly stored and reconstituted are not enough.)

The final words about Parvovirus: it’s here, it’s deadly…Vaccinate, Vaccinate, Vaccinate!

As temperatures soar, more states should enact this protection

It’s too darn hot in much of the United States. Nearly 50 million people are living in a “heat dome” where the temperature has been topping 100 degrees. Heat advisories and warnings are in effect across Florida, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada and Southern California.

But here’s what compounds the misery for those who cannot pay their soaring utility bills: Only three states in that group prevent shut-offs during heat waves. So, as temperatures soar to levels anyone would agree are extreme, some Americans are likely to lose their ability to run their fans and air conditioning.

Across the country, 19 states ban utilities from cutting off service to their customers during excessive heat waves. Rules vary by state, but most prevent shut-offs above 95 degrees or when there is a heat advisory in effect in a county. Every state should have a rule like this.

Excessive heat waves are becoming the norm. The beginning of July marked the hottest week on record for the planet. Even places that once rarely faced blazing temperatures, such as the Pacific Northwest, are grappling with heat and seeing frenzied buying of air conditioners and backup generators. But low-income families aren’t able to install costly systems.

Most new homes are built with central air, and trees are planted to provide shade. Over time, the goal should be to retrofit and upgrade older ones with more efficient utilities, and some funding to do so was included in the

Inflation Reduction Act. Until those renovations can be made, it’s important to prevent utility shut-offs.

More than 40 states prevent utility shut-offs in the winter. The same logic should apply in the summer.

An average of 702 Americans die each year from heat-related causes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Thousands more are hospitalized from heat-related problems.

This is not a red state vs. blue state issue; it’s about common sense and basic decency. As the heat sets in this week, shut-offs are prevented in Georgia and Texas while there is a heat advisory in place.

Arizona enacted its law preventing shut-offs when the temperature rises above 95 degrees following the September 2018 death of a 72-year-old Phoenix woman after her power was cut off and temperatures soared over 105 degrees.

She owed $176.84 and had just made a $125 payment. A medical examiner said she died from “environmental heat exposure in setting of significant cardiovascular disease.” Washington state passed its law this year after a heat wave in 2021 took 157 lives.

Summer shut-off moratoriums typically last only a few days. But they help prevent such tragedies, and they afford people time to work with their utility provider to obtain financial assistance and set up a payment plan. It should not take more deaths to trigger basic lifesaving protections.

— The Washington Post

Nature’s fury let loose Friday

Friday night’s powerful storm demonstrated the valuable service of our city and county employees.

It was all hands on deck by the city’s electric department and other city employees who helped clear roads of debris and repair fallen power lines.

Allen County dispatchers relayed calls for help while the sheriff’s department served as the eyes and ears for the road and bridge crews to ensure all major roads were cleared.

The county landfill also was opened on Sunday to receive an estimated 70 loads of debris.

The storm affected tens of thousands up and down Kansas’ eastern border. Utility giant Evergy said it was the largest it has ever experienced since it’s been

a provider, causing the largest number of outages in its history. In Kansas City, almost 200,000 lost power.

The hot temperatures exacerbated conditions.

We’re in the midst of another heat wave, with daytime temperatures exceeding 90 degrees compounded by stifling humidity.

For every 1 degree Celsius that the atmosphere warms, it holds an additional 7 percent water vapor. The planet has already warmed 1.2 degrees above pre-industrial averages, and we’re on track — unless we uniformally decrease greenhouse gases — to add at least 2 more degrees on top of that.

This extra moisture often gets dumped out of the

atmosphere in torrential downpours like Friday’s where in less than 30 minutes the city recorded almost 1.5 inches of rain.

The storm also demonstrated our strengths. As we emerged from our homes to assess the damage, neighbors quickly began to help those less fortunate.

The whine of chainsaws pierced the otherwise calm in the storm’s aftermath. A beautiful sunset sent the message that the worst was over.

With no electricity, it was eerily quiet once darkness arrived with only the cicadas excitedly chattering about how they had held on.

Yes, blessings abounded, but also important warnings.

— Susan Lynn

Can Ukraine stave off Russia? I’m here to find out

Ukraine has a second enemy beyond Putins’s Russia. That enemy is time.

When this column appears, I will have just arrived in Odesa, Ukraine.

I want to see how Ukrainian soldiers and civilians are faring on the ground, as the country wages its counteroffensive against the Russian invaders. I also want to learn how the disappointing NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, has affected Ukrainian morale, and whether new weapons pledged by NATO countries will arrive fast enough to make a difference.

What many Americans don’t realize is that Ukraine has a second enemy beyond Vladimir Putin’s Russia.

That enemy is time.

In his concluding speech in Vilnius, President Joe Biden seemed to imply he expected Russia’s war on Ukraine to continue indefinitely. He compared the struggle to the Cold War struggle for freedom in Eastern Europe. “Putin still wrongly believes that he can outlast Ukraine,” Biden said. “After all this time, Putin still doubts our [NATO allies’] staying power. He is making a bad bet.”

But, as a visibly disappointed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy understood, Putin’s bad bet could still pay off if alliance leaders

The Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS

don’t realize how hard it will be for Ukraine to sustain a long war.

NATO’s Eastern European members do grasp the urgency of achieving victory in the coming year (before the U.S. election season) and securing Ukraine against future attacks with admission to NATO. But for some inexplicable reason, the Biden team still appears to believe that time is on Ukraine’s side.

That lack of U.S. comprehension was clear when Zelenskyy let loose an angry tweet in response to NATO members’ decision not to provide Ukraine with a clear timeline for joining the alliance. He was responding to language that said Ukraine would get an invitation “when allies agree and conditions are met” while steadfastly refusing to define any of the conditions.

Zelenskyy called that language “absurd.” The U.S. response was to leak to the media the administration’s pique at the Ukrainian’s “lack of gratitude.” Yet I fully understand this undiplomatic explosion (later smoothed over).

While the White House was referring to aid in dol-

lars, ammunition, and tanks, Zelenskyy was thinking of human beings. This extraordinary man knows that the longer the war lasts, the more Ukrainian soldiers and civilians will die, and the harder it will be for his country to rebuild. Ukraine can’t continue to lose its best and brightest indefinitely.

And if the war drags, according to the likely interpretation of NATO’s “conditions” for membership, Ukraine will never be able to enter the alliance, and thus will never be secure. That means Europe won’t be secure, either.

True, Biden deserves kudos for large-scale U.S. military and economic aid to Ukraine and for rallying Western European allies to do likewise. But this is not — as MAGA zealots in Congress claim — wasting U.S. money on a corrupt government, nor is it charity.

Biden rightly recognizes that a Putin victory will mark the end of a post-World War II era in which it was inconceivable that a great European or Asian power could invade and destroy a neighbor.

It would also mark the formal demise of the United Nations, whose charter is based on preventing such military aggression. The world would have reverted to the Hobbesian chaos that existed in the 1930s. But where Biden is mistaken is to compare the Ukrainian situation to the

Cold War. Putin’s Russia is not Stalin’s Soviet Union, nor is Putin capable of playing Stalin. Russia’s war has not only deeply damaged its economic future, but is splintering its army.

Putin’s military is cracking. His response to the mutiny by Wagner militia chief Yevgeny Prigozhin was astonishing, letting this warlord fly around Russia, retrieve millions of dollars from his home, and reportedly meet Putin in the Kremlin. Even if Prigozhin ultimately “falls” out a window, Putin’s indecision displays his weakness.

And that is not all. One of Russia’s most important and popular generals, Maj. Gen. Ivan Popov, commander of the 58th Army in Zaporizhzhia, which is the key front for the counteroffensive, was just fired for telling the top brass that top Defense Ministry officials were “betraying his troops” by not sending vital weapons and man power. This further signifies a command structure in disarray.

Now, when Putin’s focus is on internal political survival, is not the moment for NATO weakness. If Biden wants to convince the Russian leader that he can’t outlast Ukraine, NATO should announce it will be working on specific conditions for Ukrainian membership, to be announced at the next summit in Washington, D.C., in 2024. Ukraine understands it cannot join the alliance in

wartime, but the path can be clearly paved, and the end of the war accelerated.

Equally key, now is the moment to rethink how weapons from allies are delivered to Ukraine, and which weapons. For Ukraine to succeed in the counteroffensive, it needs coordination and concentration of weapons deliveries in critical mass. It also needs speedy delivery of specific systems that are most vital to break through Russian minefields. That includes air power, long-range missiles, and ammunition.

Instead, Western weapons are delivered piecemeal, drip by drip, which gives the Russians time to develop countermeasures.

Why the White House is still dallying in green-lighting delivery of F-16s by European nations is beyond comprehension. As is Biden’s refusal to send ATACMS longrange missiles.

Either we want Ukraine to push the Russians back and then move toward NATO admission, or we don’t. That is the question. Again, a war of attrition means failure.

So I am traveling to Kyiv, Odesa, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, and other cities to write about how Ukrainians believe they can still win this war, and what we can do to help them. Help them in our own self-interest, to avoid giving a weak Putin a new lease on power and permitting him more time to destroy.

The beauty of Friday evening’s sky belied Mother Nature’s wrath hours earlier. REGISTER/ SUSAN LYNN

Trudy Rubin

Sports Daily B

Tuesday, July 18, 2023

Witt Jr. powers Royals past Rays

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Bobby Witt Jr. homered and tripled with three RBIs, and the Kansas City Royals beat the Tampa Bay Rays 8-4 on Sunday for their second win in 10 games.

Witt and Drew Waters became the first Royals teammates to each triple and homer in the same game. In a game that sped by in 1 hour, 54 minutes, Brady Singer (6-8) won for the second time in seven starts since June 4.

Indians dominate zone, on to state

By QUINN BURKITT

HUMBOLDT — The Iola

AA Indians won the Zone 2 American Legion Tournament this weekend by defeating the Garnett Muddogs in the championship game.

The Indians (25-6) knocked down the Winfield Vikings in the opener with a 13-2 offensive romping before they shut down Garnett’s bats in Saturday’s matinee, 5-1.

“It’s exciting to know what we’re capable of and the fact that we haven’t gotten to that point yet and we’re still dominant,” Iola head coach Ethan Tavarez said. “Even back to when I played, that’s what we did. We’d show up knowing we were the top team in the zone and then we just played that way.”

Iola v Winfield Vikings — 13-2 win

In a game that took two days to play due to Friday evening’s storm, Iola toppled the Winfield Vikings, 13-2. Logan Page provided a quality start on the mound for the Indians, going five strong innings and allowing only two runs on three hits while striking out 10.

Iola took the initial lead in the second inning and added on nine runs in the fifth inning for the win. Brandon McKarnin, Sam Hull, Gavin Page and Rogan Weir each drove in a team-high two runs.

“I just think it’s cool that

small towns Iola, Humboldt and Colony can form a baseball team that’s the best in the state,” said senior Indian Trey Sommer. “We now have the chance to prove that statement again.”

Jack White put the Indians on the board in the second when he grounded out to first base, allowing McKarnin to score from third for the 1-0 lead. Weir then singled to the pitcher for the early 2-0 advantage.

Winfield cut into their deficit in the top of the third when Barrett McPherson singled to left field to bring

home a run for the 2-1 score. Brandon Johnson then scored on a wild pitch to knot the game at 2-2.

The Indians took the lead again in the bottom of the third when Hull reached on a dropped third strike to plate Kaiden Barnett for the 3-2 lead.

In the fourth, Trevor Church scored on a wild pitch to take a 4-2 lead.

Hull stepped up again in the fifth when he singled to left to bring home McKarnin for the 5-2 advantage. Weir then walked with the bases loaded to go up 6-2. Wilson

grounded out to shortstop which allowed Gavin Page to cross home plate for the 7-2 lead.

Iola wasn’t finished in the fifth when White scored on a wild pitch for the 8-2 edge before McKarnin sent a tworun single to right field to go ahead 10-2. Hull singled to third base to plate another run and Gavin Page singled to third as well to score one more for the 13-2 final.

Iola took advantage of Winfield’s poor pitching command, walking 11 times.

See IOLA | Page B4

“The slider was really good, had some good swing-and-miss on it, and on the changeup, too, when I needed it,”

Singer said,

He needed 70 pitches through seven innings and led 7-0 before Isaac Paredes hit a solo homer and Francisco Mejía hit a three-run drive for the AL-best Rays (60-36).

“When you have a sinker that’s working like that and they put the ball on ground early, it provides a lot of confidence for him to be able to work quickly and be able to move through the game efficiently.” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said.

Singer allowed four runs and seven hits in a season-high eight innings as Kansas City improved to 27-67, the second-worst record in the major leagues and ahead of only Oakland.

“That’s vintage sinkerballer,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “You’re relying on the late movement to get the ball on the ground and that’s what happened. He just had some extra movement on it today that made it a little challenging for us.”

The early lead gave Singer confidence to attack hitters.

the final out

“It set me up to be able to stay in the zone more,” he said. “I was definitely more aggressive with that lead. I was staying in the zone so much. Throwing so many strikes was helping me to get them to

See ROYALS | Page B3

Iola Seahorses host SEK League Championship

By QUINN BURKITT The Iola Register

The Iola Seahorses hosted the SEK League Championship at Riverside Park on Sunday afternoon. The Seahorses came in third.

Top finishes for Iola included Moira Springer earning first place in the 9-10 25yard breaststroke and Griffin Westervelt placing first in the 15-18 50-yard freestyle. Humboldt’s top finishes included Myles Brady finishing first in the 6 and Under 25yard fly.

Overall, Chanute came in first as a team with Independence second, Iola placed third, Coffeyville was fourth

and Humboldt took fifth.

The results are as follows:

Mixed 9-10 100-yard medley relay — 3. Iola, 1:37.28; 7. Iola, 2:00.83.

Mixed 11-12 200-yard medley relay — 4. Iola, 3:23.79; 5. Iola, 3:46.52.

Mixed 13-14 200-yard medley relay — 2. Iola, 2:37.56.

Mixed 15-18 200-yard medley relay — 5. Iola, 2:40.15.

Women 10 and under 50-yard free — 9. Moira Springer, Iola, 48.11; 10. Anna Klubek, Iola, 50.81; 19.

Luuly Tran, Iola, 54.14; 21. Aubree Trim, Humboldt, 57.28.

Men 10&U 50-yard free — 7. Liam Ilimaleota, Iola, 47.33; 8. Easton Higginbotham, Iola, 50.34; 9. Jayden Brady, Humboldt, 51.20; 17. Lincoln Foster-Gwillim, Humboldt, 57.11; 19. Cooper Cook, Iola, 59.06; 21. Korben Barnhart, Humboldt, 1:07.73; Wilder Schooler, Iola, 1:07.94.

Women 11-12 100-yard free — 9. Mariah Mathis, Iola, 1:33.20; 11. Isabelle Chapman, Iola, 1:440.40; 14. Helena Morrison, Iola, 1:52.71.

Women 13-14 100-yard free — 6. Lainey Oswald, Iola, 1:20.56.

Men 13-14 100-yard free — 5. Rohan Springer, Iola, 1:17.52; 6. Joshua Wanker, Iola, 1:21.36.

Women 15-18 100-yard free — 9. Bethany Miller, Iola, 1:21.27; 12. Assya Goforth, Humboldt, 1:26.67.

Men 15-18 100-yard free — 3. Griffin Westervelt, Iola, 1:06.52; 6. Zach McDown, Humboldt, 1:20.62.

Women 6&U 25-yard fly — 3. Suttyn Hillmon, Humboldt, 43.63; 4. Emersyn Higginbotham, Iola, 52.49.

Men 6&U 25-yard fly — 1. Myles Brady, Humboldt, 37.20.

Women 7-8 25-yard fly — 7. Stella Walls, Humboldt, 35.13.

Men 7-8 25-yard fly — 2. Jayden Brady, Humboldt, 26.74; 6. Korben Barnhart, Humboldt, 34.64.

Women 9-10 25-yard fly — 4. Moira Springer, Iola, 27.01; 6. Anna Klubek, Iola, 28.08; 13. Aubree Trim, Humboldt, 30.52; 16. Luuly Tran, Iola, 35.24; 19. Seattle Nagy, Iola, 39.94.

Men 9-10 25-yard fly — 4. Liam Ilimaleota, Iola, 25.35; 6. Lincoln

See SEAHORSES | Page B3

The Iola AA Indians American Legion squad won their home Zone 2 tournament championship and advance to the state tournament in Concordia beginning Thursday. Up front is coach Theo Church. First row, from left to right, is coach Ethan Tavarez, Brandon McKarnin, Kaiden Barnett, Korbin Fountain, Rogan Weir, Gavin Page, Logan Page and coaches John and TJ Taylor. Back row is Tre Wilson, Ashton Hesse, Sam Hull, Trey Sommer, Trevor Church and Jack White. REGISTER/QUINN BURKITT

The Iola Register

Iola walks off the field after

against Garnett in the championship game. From left, Trey Sommer, Kaiden Barnett and coach Ethan Tavarez. REGISTER/QUINN BURKITT

Iola Seahorse Rohan Springer competes in the breast stroke. REGISTER/QUINN BURKITT

Stump Removal Junk Removal

Help

This

Do

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If so, please apply at: https://www.kcsl.org/resources/careers/ or reach out to HR@kcsl.org for more information!

Public notice

(Published in The Iola Register June 17, 2023)

Notice of Application for Merger of Banks Bank of Commerce, 101 W. Main, Chanute, KS 66720 intends to apply to the Federal Reserve Board for permission to merge with The Piqua State Bank, 301 W. 1st Street, Gas, KS 66742 and establishes branches at the locations of The Piqua State Bank, 301 W. 1st Street, Gas, KS 66742 and The Piqua State Bank, 701 W. Mary Street, Yates Center, KS

Alcaraz proves his worth with Wimbledon title

WIMBLEDON, England (AP) — Novak Djokovic knows a thing or two about the talents and intangibles required to win big matches against the best players.

He’s been in 35 Grand Slam finals. He’s won 23 of them. He played Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer a total of

109 times, with headto-head edges against both. He went 9-5 against them in title matches at majors.

So it seemed only natural to ask Djokovic to whom he’d compare the new star of men’s tennis — Carlos Alcaraz — after losing to him across five sets and more than 4 1/2 hours

brimming with brilliant play and dramatic moments in the Wimbledon final on Sunday.

“People have been talking in the past 12 months or so about his game consisting of certain elements from Roger, Rafa and myself. I would agree with that,” Djokovic began, the bitterness of the

1-6, 7-6 (6), 6-1, 3-6, 6-4 defeat, and the end of his reign at the All England Club, still sharp.

“I think he’s got basically (the) best of all three worlds,” Djokovic said.

Left there, that would stand out as a rather striking endorsement of the precocious Alcaraz, a Spaniard who

won the U.S. Open last year and now is one of just five men to collect multiple Grand Slam trophies before turning 21.

Then Djokovic got into specifics.

“He’s got this mental resilience and, really, maturity for someone who is 20 years old. It’s quite impressive,” said

Djokovic, who had won Wimbledon four years in a row and seven times in all. “He’s got this ‘Spanish bull’ mentality of competitiveness and fighting spirit and incredible defense that we’ve seen with Rafa over the years.”

With a smile, Djokovic tacked on what he

See TENNIS | Page B4

SEAHORSES: League championship at Iola’s Riverside Park

Continued from B1

Foster-Gwillim, Humboldt, 30.36; 7. Easton Higginbotham, Iola, 31.21; 10. Cooper Cook, Iola, 38.44.

Women 11-12 50-yard fly —

Humboldt, 42.01; 6. Toby Veal/Jernigan, Iola, 46.76.

Women 6&U 25-yard back — 4. Emersyn Higginbotham, Iola, 42.33; 6. Suttyn Hillmon, Humboldt, 52.81; 8. Jolee Westervelt, Iola, 58.76.

Men 6&U 25-yard back — 3. Brady Myles, Humboldt, 48.97;

5. Ryker Barnhart, Humboldt, 1:33.47.

Women 7-8 25-yard back — 11. Stella Walls, Humboldt, 32.42.

Men 7-8 25-yard back — 7. Korben Barnhart, Humboldt, 37.86.

Women 9-10 25-yard back — 3. Moira Springer, Iola, 23.25;

12. Anna Klubek, Iola, 28.64;

16. Seattle Nagy, Iola, 32.75; 19. Aubree Trim, Humboldt, 36.65;

20. Tessa Lou Francis, Humboldt, 37.65; 21. Luuly Tran, Iola, 38.66.

Men 9-10 25-yard back —

3. Liam Ilimaleota, Iola, 22.85; 7. Easton Higginbotham, Iola, 30.32; 8. Cooper Cook, Iola, 31.16.

Women 11-12 50-yard back — 3. Mariah Mathis, Iola, 45.07; 8. Eliana Higginbotham, 49.23; 12. Helena Morrison, Iola, 56.20; 15. Isabelle Chapman, Iola, 59.97; 17. Ember Friend, Iola 1:14.16.

Men 11-12 50-yard back — 8. Lee Wanker, Iola, 59.21; 10. Adam Klubek, Iola, 1:07.45.

Women 13-14 50-yard back — 6. Lainey Oswald, Iola, 44.09; 8. Adalyn Hillmon, Humboldt, 49.97; 10. Evie Schooler, Iola, 51.23.

Men 13-14 50-yard back —

6. Joshua Wanker, Iola, 41.21; 7. Rohan Springer, Iola, 42.29; 9. Ben Fager, Iola, 47.23.

Women 15-18 50-yard back — 7. Assya Goforth, Humboldt, 41.25; 10. Bethany Miller, Iola, 44.20; 13. Madeline Wanker, Iola, 48.52.

Men 15-18 50-yard back — 4. Griffin Westervelt, Iola, 42,80; 5. Toby Veal/Jernigan, Iola, 50.92; 6. Zach McDown, Humboldt, 53.16.

Women 6&U 25-yard breast — 2. Suttyn Hillmon, Humboldt, 44.99; 6. Emersyn Higginbotham, Iola, 1:05.75.

Men 6&U 25-yard breast — 1. Myles Brady, Humboldt, 41.61.

Women 7-8 25-yard breast — 8. Stella Walls, Humboldt, 39.97.

Men 7-8 25-yard breast — 8. Korben Barnhart, Humboldt, 41.06.

Women 9-10 25-yard breast — 1. Moira Springer, Iola, 24.93;

4. Anna Klubek, Iola, 29.83; 11. Aubree Trim, Humboldt, 32.76; 15. Raina Borjas, Iola, 36.99.

Men 9-10 25-yard breast —

2. Liam Ilimateao, Iola, 24.42;

5. Lincoln Foster-Gwillim, Humboldt, 29.12; 9. Wilder Schooler, Iola, 34.47; 11. Cooper Cook, Iola, 37.37.

Women 11-12 50-yard breast

— 4. Mariah Mathis, Iola, 48.55; 6. Helena Morrison, Iola, 50.63; 12. Isabelle Chapman, Iola, 58.62; 15. Eliana Higginbotham, Iola, 1:08.30; 16. Ember Friend, Iola, 1:11.87.

Men 11-12 50-yard breast —

6. Michael Hancock, Iola, 58.23;

7. Adam Klubek, Iola, 59.37. 9. Lee Wanker, Iola, 1:01.84.

Women 13-14 50-yard breast — 5. Adalyn Hillmon, Humboldt, 46.82; 7. Lainey Oswald, Iola, 51.99; 11. Evie Schooler, Iola, 1:10.54.

Men 13-14 50-yard breast —

3. Rohan Springer, Iola, 41.80; 7. Ben Fager, Iola, 54.39; 8. Joshua Wanker, Iola, 55.91.

Women 15-18 50-yard breast — 7. Assya Goforth, Humboldt, 46.30; 8, Madeline Wanker, Iola, 46.65; 11. Bethany Miller, Iola, 49.94.

Men 15-18 50-yard breast — 5. Griffin Westervelt, Iola, 43.83; 6. Zach McDown, Humboldt, 54.06; 7. Toby Veal/ Jernigan, Iola, 55.60.

Women 6&U 25-yard free —

4. Suttyn Hillmon, Humboldt, 40.24; 5. Emersyn Higginbotham, Iola, 42.00; 7. Jolee Westervelt, Iola, 47.97.

Men 6&U 25-yard free — 3. Myles Brady, Humboldt, 40.41;

5. Ryker Barnhart, Humboldt, 1:24.72.

Women 7-8 25-yard free — 11. Stella Walls, Humboldt, 29.94. Men 7-8 25-yard free — 3. Jayden Brady, Humboldt, 21.61; 10. Korben Barnhart, Humboldt, 30.59.

Women 9-10 25-yard free —

11. Moira Springer, Iola, 24.03;

12. Anna Klubek, Iola, 24.19;

14. Raina Borjas, Iola, 25.82; 16. Luuly Tran, Iola, 26.28; 18. Aubree Trim, Humboldt, 27.69.

Men 9-10 25-yard free — 4.

Royals: Bats too much for Rays’ pitchers

Continued from B1

swing early.”

Zach Eflin (10-5) gave up a season-high five runs and seven hits over a season-low three innings, allowing hits to seven of his first 11 batters. The Rays had won three straight after a season-worst seven-game losing streak.

“I had a pretty bad bullpen going into the game,” Eflin said. “I didn’t feel like I was in sync. The sinker wasn’t working. I couldn’t figure out where the ball was going. I knew something was off going into the game. I didn’t set the tone like I should have.”

In a game that started one hour later because of rain, Royals All-Star catcher Salvador Perez left in the second inning after feeling left hamstring discomfort while scoring on Melendez’s double.

MJ Melendez hit a two-out RBI double in the first and the Royals opened a 5-0 lead in the second. Waters hit an RBI triple and

scored on Nick Pratto’s single. Witt, who has an extra-base hit in six straight games, hit a two-run, two-out triple.

“Seeing the guys before me put together good at-bats gives you confidence,” Witt said. “Just trying to simplify as much as possible and just trying to put a good swing on the ball.”

Waters led off the fourth against Yonny Chirinos with a 465-foot home run to the upper level of the right-field fountains.

Witt led off the fifth with his 16th homer and Melendez hit a solo homer in the eighth off Chirinos.

TRANSACTIONS Royals RHP Collin

Snider was optioned to Omaha and RHP Max Castillo was recalled from the Triple-A team.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals RHP Josh Staumont, placed on the 60-day IL on Saturday, is expected to have thoracic outlet syndrome surgery and miss the rest of the season.

CORRECTION:

The Register’s Allen County Fair Entries magazine incorrectly reported the flavor of this year’s Baked Pie Contest as gooseberry. It is not. The flavor for this year’s contest is blackberry.

The baked pie contest will take place Thursday, July 27 at 6 p.m. Each contestant must bring a copy of the recipes for both the pie crust and filling. No fresh fruit pies will be accepted if they have not been properly preserved. Further questions can be directed to Linda Garrett at 620-228-2101.

And deliciously enough, all winning entries become property of the Allen County Fair Association.

The Register sincerely regrets the error.

(And if anyone has already made a gooseberry pie, we will gladly accept it!)

Liam Ilimaleota, Iola, 20.63; 6. Easton Higginbotham, Iola, 23.73; 8. Cooper Cook, Iola, 24.66; 10. Lincoln Foster-Gwillim, Humboldt, 25.46; 14. Wilder Schooler, Iola, 33.92.

Women 11-12 50-yard free — 9. Mariah Mathis, Iola, 43.06; 10. Eliana Higginbotham, Iola, 43.72; 11. Isabelle Chapman, Iola, 45.38; 13. Helena Morrison, Iola, 48.44; 17. Ember Friend, Iola, 54.95.

Men 11-12 50-yard free — 6. Adam Klubek, Iola, 37.93; 7. Michael Hancock, Iola, 41.94; 9. Lee Wanker, Iola, 43.13.

Women 13-14 50-yard free — 7. Lainey Oswald, Iola, 36.42;

9. Adalyn Hillmon, Humboldt, 43.12; 10. Evie Schooler, Iola, 43.89.

Men 13-14 50-yard free — 4. Rohan Springer, Iola, 31.97; 5. Joshua Wanker, Iola, 32.44; 8. Ben Fager, Iola, 37.85.

Women 15-18 50-yard free — 10. Madeline Wanker, Iola, 35.12; 13. Bethany Miller, Iola, 36.33.

Men 15-18 50-yard free — 1. Griffin Westervelt, Iola, 27.23;

6. Toby Veal/Jernigan, Iola, 35.61; 7. Zach McDown, Humboldt, 35.81.

Women 10&U 100-yard IM — 3. Moira Springer, Iola, 2:01.75; 13. Anna Klubek, Iola,

2:15.24; 16. Aubree Trim, Humboldt, 2:30.20; 18. Luuly Tran, Iola, 2:38.82.

Men 10&U 100-yard IM — 4. Liam Ilimaleota, Iola, 2:01.91.

Women 11-12 100-yard IM

Iola Seahorse Lee Wanker in the butterfly. REGISTER/QUINN BURKITT

Titans landing 3-time All-Pro receiver DeAndre Hopkins

NASHVILLE, Tenn.

(AP) — The Tennessee Titans hope they’ve filled their major need at wide receiver with three-time All-Pro wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, agreeing to terms on a two-year deal worth $26 million with incentives that could push that to $32 million, a person familiar with the agreement said Sunday.

The Titans had the advantage of being the first NFL team Hopkins visited after being released by Arizona in May. Hopkins arrived in Nashville in June and documented on social media his visit to CMA Fest’s final night at Nissan Stadium, where the Titans play. Hopkins also visited the New England Patriots later that week. The deal was first reported by AtoZSports. The person confirmed the agreement to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because Hopkins has not signed the contract.

Hopkins, who turned 31 on June 6, would bring much-needed ex-

perience to Tennessee’s young wide receiving group. Head coach Mike Vrabel had more career touchdown catches with 12 in his own NFL career as a linebacker than anyone currently on the Titans’ roster.

The three-time AllPro would have led Tennessee last season with his 64 catches for 717 yards for Arizona despite a six-game suspension after testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs. He also missed the final two games with a knee injury.

Arizona released the five-time Pro Bowl receiver in a salary cap move May 26 after failing to find a trade partner in the offseason.

The Cardinals cut Hopkins three seasons after acquiring him in a blockbuster trade with Houston in 2020, and they had signed him to a $54.5 million extension through 2024. Hopkins would have counted close to $31 million against the cap for Arizona, which still took on a dead cap hit of $22.6 million.

Hopkins ranks 36th in NFL history with 11,298 yards receiving in his 10 seasons over 145 games. He immediately became a popular free agent, with his former Houston quarterback Deshaun Watson making a pitch for the receiver to join him in Cleveland.

Both Vrabel and new offensive coordinator Tim Kelly worked in Houston during Hopkins’ tenure with the Texans. Vrabel was busy Sunday playing in the American Century Championship celebrity golf tournament in Nevada with Pat McAfee.

“I did know the news.

I’m the head coach.

I actually knew the news yesterday ...,” Vrabel told McAfee. “The whole nine I didn’t want to give it to you. ... Looks like it happened.”

Hopkins shared a photo of him with Titans running back Derrick Henry on social media on Sunday. Hopkins followed up later Sunday night on social media defending his

See HOPKINS | Page B6

Tennis: Alcaraz is tops

Continued from B3

sees of himself in the youngster.

“He’s got some nice sliding backhands that (have) some similarities with my backhands. Two-handed backhands. Defense. Being able to adapt. That has been my personal strength for many years,” Djokovic said. “He has it, too.”

When the gist of that assessment was relayed to the No. 1-ranked Alcaraz, his eyes widened and he exhaled under the white bucket hat that became his trademark news conference accessory. Alcaraz was asked how he would describe himself.

“It’s crazy that Novak (would) say that, honestly. But I consider myself a really complete player. I think I have the shots, the strength physically, the strength mentally, enough to (handle) these situations,” he said. “Probably he’s right. But I don’t want to think about it. ... I’m ‘full Carlos Alcaraz,’ let’s say, but probably I have some great ability from every player.”

Living up to expectations is never easy, and so much has been expected of Alcaraz. Somehow, he is living up to all the hype.

He brings abundant athleticism, quickness, strength and reflexes to the game. He is equipped with a booming forehand and the touch to implement the softest of drop shots.

He produced more than twice as many winners as Djokovic on a windy afternoon, 66 to 32. He broke five times across 23 return games Sunday — something that Djokovic’s prior six opponents managed to accomplish just three times across 103 games. He hit serves at up to 135 mph at Wim-

bledon. He showed an adroitness at the net. He performed in the clutch against Djokovic, coming back from a set point down in the tiebreaker, winning a 32-point epic of a game in the third set and saving a break point early in the fifth before converting his own chance to assume the lead for good.

“I haven’t played a player like him ever, to be honest,” said Djokovic, who at 36 would have been the oldest men’s champion at the All England Club. “Roger and Rafa have their own, obviously, strengths and weaknesses. Carlos is a very complete player. Amazing adapting capabilities that I think are a key for longevity and for a successful career on all surfaces.”

One sign of greatness is doing things no one else has — or that haven’t been done in a long while.

In August, Alcaraz will head to New York to defend a U.S. Open

title that made him, all in one fell swoop, the first teenager ever to top the ATP rankings, the first teenager to win the men’s championship at Flushing Meadows since Pete Sampras in 1990, and the first teenager to win any Slam trophy since Nadal at the French Open in 2005.

Now he is the first man other than Djokovic, Federer, Nadal or Andy Murray to win Wimbledon since 2002.

When Sunday’s classic contest ended, Alcaraz went into the stands to share the moment with his father and other family members.

“Giving them a big hug, it’s something that I will never forget,” Alcaraz said. “I hope to have a photo from that moment, ‘cause I’m going to keep forever.” If he remains on this trajectory, there should be plenty of other trophies, hugs and photos to follow.

Iola’s Brandon McKarnin at bat. REGISTER/QUINN BURKITT

Iola: Heading to state

Continued from B1

Iola v Garnett Post 48 Muddogs — 5-1 win Church got the start on the mound against Garnett, earning a complete-game win while allowing only one run on four hits and striking out 11. Trey Sommer, McKarnin, Page and Weir each drove in runs.

“I knew I needed to throw strikes and attack them because they take a lot of pitches,” said Church. “To get through seven innings I needed to attack all their hitters and keep the pitch count low. Later on, I found my command and got back to throwing strikes.”

Garnett scored in the first inning when Tyler Stinnett reached base on a dropped third strike to score Preston Kueser for the 1-0 lead.

Iola took the lead in the third when Weir scored on a wild pitch to knot the game at 1-1 before Sommer shot a sacrifice fly to center field for the 2-1 lead. The very next at bat, McKarnin doubled to right field to bring home Ashton Hesse for the 3-1 advantage.

“Coach alway tells me it’s better to play selfless than selfish. It’s all about helping the team,” McKarnin said. “I kind of read where the outfield was at and saw where my runners

were and I got a good pitch.”

Gavin Page singled to left to score Sommer for the 4-1 lead in the fifth.

Weir finished off Iola’s scoring in the top of the seventh when he singled to left field to plate Gavin Page for the 5-1 victory.

Easton Mead took the loss for Garnett, going 2.2 innings and serving up three runs on three hits with four strikeouts. The Muddogs used two pitchers in relief, Stinnett and Wyatt King, who combined to allow two runs.

Iola v Garnett Post 48 Muddogs — 9-0 win

An all-around team victory sealed the Zone 2 tournament championship for the Indians when they took down the Muddogs in the finale, 9-0. Sam Hull mashed two home runs and Trey Sommer went a complete game on the mound, allowing only one hit and striking out seven.

“It was all-around great baseball and everybody had a part in it. It wasn’t just a few guys here or there,” Tavarez said. “That was huge. It takes him (Hull) quite a bit of the season to get there but he usually gets it going right before the big games and that’s where he’s huge.”

Hull’s home runs

came in the fourth and fifth innings and ultimately deflated Garnett’s chances at any sort of a comeback.

“I think it’s just staying relaxed in the box and not getting too tense,” said Hull. “Whenever I get too tense and overthink it I don’t hit very well. Just staying relaxed helps me a lot. The first home run felt good and then the second really put us over the top.”

Logan Page singled to center field to plate Gavin Page for the 1-0 lead.

In the third, Logan Page grounded out to first and two runs came home on throwing errors for the 3-0 lead. Weir stole home on a pickoff attempt to first base for the Indians to go up 4-0.

Hull’s first home run was a three-run moonshot to left field in the fourth for the 7-0 lead.

Hull’s second homer came in the fifth inning on a line drive to left field which gave the Indians their 9-0 victory.

Iola will face off against Colby in the American Legion state tournament in Concordia on Thursday at 4 p.m.

Register reporter Quinn Burkitt will be there. You can follow the games via the Register’s Twitter page.

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Spouse isn’t grieving unexpected death

Adapted from an online discussion.

Dear Carolyn: My husband of 20 years died seven months ago. He had been sick, but his death was unexpected. We had a decent marriage. We were not headover-heels in love, and that wasn’t our goal. We were good partners in life. I want to say I loved him, but maybe I don’t even know what that means. I have not grieved for him. I am sad for him that he lost the chance to fulfill his dreams. But I have at most had 10 seconds of a sob.

I discovered right away that I really like living alone. I like experiencing the world through my own eyes with no thought of a partner. I like myself better single than in a relationship.

But still, I feel something is really wrong that I haven’t grieved. I am not a cold or un-

Carolyn Hax

feeling person. What in God’s name is wrong here? — Not Grieving Not Grieving: Nothing. That you must be wracked with sobbing grief is from the Everyone Lives the Same Life playbook.

What you describe creates a coherent story of who you are, how you felt, what it meant, and where you are now. It’s an utterly credible arc of a decent person in a decent marriage that came to a premature end.

Maybe you feel you’re not honoring your late husband? Maybe you project this onto your eventual death, and wonder if anyone will sob with grief? Maybe, with this new informa-

tion, you’re rethinking how you spent such a large part of your “prime” years? If so, there’s nothing wrong with a little uncomfortable scrutiny. But it really is okay to have complicated, counterintuitive feelings. We’re just trained to expect simple ones.

Re: Not Grieving: When my mother died, I did not cry once. I handled everything well and was actually angry at myself that I wasn’t broken up because she deserved my grief. Months later, a celebrity I only mildly liked died, and I found myself sobbing for a half-hour. Afterward I realized it was for my mother. I have this tendency I hadn’t yet acknowledged then. I tend to grieve by proxy. It’s weird. But after that sobbing fit, I felt better and realized I actually hadn’t been okay that entire time — I just thought I was. — Anonymous

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ZITS

by Jerry Scott and Jim Borgman

BEETLE BAILEY by Mort Walker

HAGAR THE HORRIBLE by Chris Browne

MARVIN by Tom Armstrong

HI AND LOIS by Chance Browne

BLONDIE by Young and Drake

MUTTS

by Patrick McDonell

SOUTHEAST KANSAS History Online

Men to compete in artistic swimming at Olympics

FUKUOKA, Japan

(AP) — Snicker if you wish. Guffaw for good measure. Bill May and other male synchronized swimmers — now called artistic swimmers — have heard the putdowns before.

But they’re getting the last laugh.

Men have competed in synchro at the lower levels for decades. Now they’re being included in the Olympics, meaning next year’s Summer Games in Paris.

“I think it’s a huge opportunity for the sport to grow and attract more men,” May told the Associated Press at the World Aquatics Championships. “By keeping men out you’re limiting the sport. By including men you’re going to see an upshift in the popularity and the numbers.”

May looks like a lean bodybuilder. He was among the first men to compete when synchro was included in the worlds for the first time in 2015. And he worked for 17 years at Cirque du Soleil doing water-themed shows. He has come out of competitive retirement for a chance to compete at the Olympics.

“There has always been that misconception that it’s a female-only sport, or that it’s for wimps, or that it’s not a difficult sport,” the 44-year-old May said. “Anyone that has anything negative to say about the sport — boy, female, anyone. Just try it and you’ll know it’s the most difficult sport in the world.”

This is not the synchronized swimming that your parents or grandparents watched — the water ballet that

made few waves below the flowery rubber caps and permanent smiles, It’s estranged from the sport introduced at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.

The acrobatic team event, in particular, features lifts, throws and flips, and diving routines launched off the shoulders of teammates treading water below. It’s gymnastics on water and concussions are a risk.

Interested men often confront the stereotypes.

Beginning in elementary school, 18-year-old American Kenny Gaudet dreamed of being a synchronized swimmer. He made it, but it wasn’t easy.

“It makes me emotional just to think about the problems we all went through and the struggles we all had just to get a chance to swim and do what we love,” said Gaudet who competed at this year’s worlds.

“So much bullying. So much slander. So much hate,” he added. “Just because of my gender, just because I’m a male in artistic swimming. When I first started I wanted

to quit so many times. Growing up my peers would ask why I’m doing a female sport, why am I being like a girl and degrade me for doing what I love to do.”

One aspect of Adam Andrasko’s job as the head of USA Artistic Swimming is recruiting men. He said there are about 100 participating in the United States, up from 25 just four years ago.

“There hasn’t been a good foundation of growth,” Andrasko said. “You haven’t had the farm system.”

A few countries at the world championships have male swimmers including the United States, Japan, Germany and China. Spain and Italy also have top competitors.

“There aren’t a lot of countries with strong

males,” in the international competition, Andrasko said, noting men often lack the flexibility to compete. “So you might not see a lot of males swimming in the Olympics. I’m concerned it goes to the Olympic Games and we don’t see a male participating. I definitely have that fear.”

“To this point,” he added, “women are still far better at this sport than a man.”

Another fear, apparently unfounded, is that women might resent the men competing in the sport. Men will compete in only team events at the Olympics. Teams have a maximum of eight members — with a limit of two men — which means men might crowd out some women.

There is no require-

ment for men to be included.

Asked about any acrimony, two-time American Olympian Anita Alvarez replied: “No, not at all.” Alvarez has blacked out twice in the last two years while competing and had to be resuscitated. She’s been cleared to compete with no diagnosis except physical or mental exhaustion. Holding her breath for too long underwater is also sus-

pected.

Men can add some physicality to routines, and their presence could lead to a wider audience. Alvarez also credits May with choreography skills that he picked up with Cirque du Soleil.

“Having the inclusion of both males and females will make it more open for young boys and young girls to dream of being in the Olympics, parents wanting to start.”

Hopkins: To Titans

Continued from B4

choice of Tennessee as a free agent.

“I always loved having haters and doubters but I appreciate it even more now. Titan up!!” Hopkins wrote.

He would join a receivers’ room currently led by Treylon Burks, the 18th pick overall in the 2022 draft. Burks was the player taken with the selection acquired when Tennessee traded A.J. Brown to Philadelphia. The general manager that made that move was fired Dec. 6.

New general manager Ran Carthon used one draft pick in April on a receiver,

taking Colton Dowell in the seventh round. He also signed veteran Chris Moore, whose 548 yards receiving would have led the Titans last season. Their returning receivers combined for 69 catches for 962 yards and four touchdowns.

The Titans also have veteran quarterback Ryan Tannehill, who turns 35 in July, and three-time Pro Bowl running back Henry — both going into the final seasons on their current contracts.

The last time Tennessee added a 31-year-old wide receiver with 10 years of NFL experience didn’t work out so well.

The United Staes team, including Bill May, front left, compete in the team acrobatic of artistic swimming at the World Swimming Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, Saturday, July 15. AP PHOTO/NICK DIDLICK