The Iola Register, Feb. 24, 2024

FFA expands opportunities

VICKIE MOSS

Iola

Call it a “happy accident.”

Jaydon Morrison discovered FFA thanks to a scheduling error. He unintentionally found himself taking an agri-science class when he first entered Iola High School as a freshman. He sat

in the classroom, intending to switch to a different class, then discovered how much fun it was and decided to stay. Now, as a senior and the chapter’s vice president, he’s grateful for the unexpected turn of events. It might even lead him to become an

By SARAH HANEY

The Iola Register

With four years of active participation in FFA under her belt, including two years in officer roles, Brooklyn Adams has seen personal growth through her experience in the organization.

The Marmaton Valley High

School senior had previously held the office of student advisor and currently serves as sentinel for her chapter. In this role, she assists the president in maintaining order of meetings.

According to FFA adviser Jacque Gabbert, Adams has consistently demonstrated

Construction underway on Humboldt’s ‘Last Mile’ trail

HUMBOLDT — After more than five years of planning and preparation, construction is underway for Humboldt’s “The Last Mile”

By SARAH HANEY The Iola Register

Humboldt senior Garren Goodner’s journey into the world of FFA began his freshman year when he enrolled in a horticulture class. Little did he know that this initial step would sow the seeds for a passion for

agriculture and leadership.

“My favorite part of FFA has been being able to be a leader,” said Goodner. “It’s a fun experience to have, going to all the competitions and learning from it, gaining valuable skills along the way.”

Goodner currently serves

By VICKIE MOSS The Iola Register

Ryan Golden, a senior at Crest High School, describes himself as “extremely competitive.”

He’s an athlete who has played football, basketball and baseball all four years at Crest.

The summer before his freshman year, he decided to take a job hauling hay. He grew up as more of a city kid but thought it would help build strength.

“I’ve always liked the outdoors, hunting and fishing,” he said.

In fact, he was fishing at a

By SARAH HANEY The Iola

Iola City Council members will continue discussions surrounding the

involvement in recycling at their upcoming meeting on Monday.

City Administrator Matt Rehder will present the council with a request for proposals for a contractor to haul recyclable material gathered in roll-off containers. The roll-off containers would hold

for

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Garren Goodner

Brooklyn Adams

Ryan Golden

Jaydon Morrison

Kansas Health Institute says expanding Medicaid a break-even deal

By SHERMAN SMITH Kansas Reflector

TOPEKA — The Kansas Health Institute on Thursday unveiled its analysis of Gov. Laura Kelly’s proposal to expand Medicaid, predicting 152,000 Kansans would enroll in the first year with no additional cost to the state government.

The Democratic governor has made passage of Medicaid expansion a top legislative priority this year, following her statewide campaign to promote the policy last fall. But Republican leadership in the Legislature opposes the policy and has blocked hearings on Medic-

aid expansion for four years.

KHI, a Topeka-based nonpartisan research organization, announced its new estimates during an online video briefing. The organization plans to publish a full report later this month.

Kari Bruffett, president and CEO of KHI, said rather than focus on the reasons why some people support or oppose Medicaid expansion, the organization was working “to help build understanding” and allow people “to use the same set of facts and numbers for the discussion.”

“We acknowledge that definitely the discus-

Thursday dinner to benefit Hope Unlimited

sion and debate around Medicaid expansion has evolved over the last decade,” Bruffett said. “And so there’s different questions that are being

raised and we try to help address those.”

Kansas is one of 10 states that haven’t expanded Medicaid since President Barack Obama

Dance crew ‘eggs yards’ to raise funds

Who doesn’t love an Easter egg hunt? A local fundraising effort will scatter chocolate-filled eggs over participating yards overnight on March 30.

“Egg My Yard” is a fundraiser for Miss Chelsea’s Dance Academy’s competition dance crew. Eggs will be deliv-

ered to the Iola, Gas, LaHarpe, Moran and Humboldt areas. Eggs will be scattered starting at dusk. You can order 12 eggs for $15, $25 eggs for $20 or 50 eggs for $40.

Contact Krysta Baughn at (620) 2288268 to order. The deadline is March 6.

meals or quarts you’re wanting.

Exit ramps close Monday

The exit ramps at U.S. 169 and Douglas (Plummer) road interchange 2 miles north of Chanute will be closed Monday through Wednesday.

The Kansas Department of Transportation will install light towers there. The north- and southbound exit ramps will be closed to traffic during the light installation, so motorists should plan to use alternate routes.

Check KDOT’s updat-

Police news

Accidents

On Feb. 3, a vehicle driven by Johnathon Burris turned west onto Miller Road and damaged property owned by Tramec LLC, then turned south into the Walmart parking lot and damaged the lawn, trees, posts and equipment. The vehicle then hit a parked vehicle owned by Pamella Pugh and left the area.

On Feb. 16, a vehicle driven by Mary Ann Ritter of Iola collided with a vehicle driven by Anita Dodge of Iola at the intersection of First and East streets.

On Feb. 20, a vehicle driven by Tobias Shaughnessy backed from a driveway and struck a vehicle driven by Christine Tholen, who was headed east in the 1100 block of East Buchanan.

On Feb. 19, vehicles driven by Pamela Pugh and Jacob Kettler collided in the Walmart parking lot.

On Feb. 13, a vehicle driven by Eric Stahl failed to yield at a stop sign at First and Lincoln streets and struck a vehicle driven by Kylee Maloney, who was headed west on Lincoln.

ed traveler information website, www.Kandrive. gov, for more highway condition and construction details.

Persons with questions may contact Construction Manager Warren Ebberts at (620) 901-6549 or Public Affairs Manager Priscilla Petersen at (620) 9026433.

signed the Affordable Care Act in 2010.

In December, North Carolina was the most state to expand the program. The state-run version of Medicaid, called KanCare, provides health care services to low-income families, seniors and people with disabilities. Currently, those who earn less than 38% of the federal poverty level are eligible. For a family of four, the annual income limit is $11,400.

Under the ACA, the federal government offers to cover 90% of the cost of Medicaid services in exchange for expanding eligibility to 138% of the federal poverty rate. The annual income threshold for a family of four would be $41,400.

KELLY’S PROPOSAL includes a work requirement with exceptions for full-time students, veterans, caregivers, people with partial disabilities, and former foster kids. Her plan also would add a new surcharge for hospitals.

KHI predicts the change in income eligibility would result in 151,898 people enrolling in KanCare — 106,450 adults and 45,448 children. Those numbers include 68,236 adults and 16,377 children who are currently uninsured.

About 68.9% of the adults are already working at least part-time, according to the KHI analysis. It isn’t clear how many of the remaining 31.1% would be excluded under Kelly’s work requirement, but KHI determined 19.1% of the unemployed adults have a disability, 16.1% are students and 3.8% are veterans.

KHI calculated the cost to the state for expanding Medicaid over the first eight years would be fully offset — mostly because of a $509 million incentive included in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. Other savings would come from the federal government picking up more of the tab on existing services, as well as the new surcharge on hospitals.

Gov. Laura Kelly talks about Medicaid expansion at Holton Community Hospital. SHERMAN SMITH/KANSAS REFLECTOR

Golden: Excited for the future

Continued from A1

pond when the property owner suggested he come work at his farm. In addition to hauling hay, he cleared brush and did general work around the farm. He now works for a different farmer, in addition to a summer job with Anderson County’s Rural Water District No. 5. And that’s all in addition to his lawn care business “so I stay pretty busy in the summers.”

His exposure to life on a farm encouraged him to join FFA as a freshman.

Though he enjoys competing as an athlete, he was a little nervous to enter FFA contests.

“It wasn’t anything I’d ever experienced before. I had a lot of expectations going into it. I think that’s what scared me the most,” he said. “I had to learn how to be disciplined and figure out what needs to be done.

Because if you don’t get it right, everything can fall apart.”

He’s entered so many FFA contests over the years that he has a hard time remembering what all

he’s done. He particularly enjoys poultry and livestock judging. “I love it now,” he said about the contests. “It’s very fun and you meet a lot of kids from different schools.”

He’s also excited for the chapter’s future. Crest doesn’t have a very big senior class this year, but the sophomores are very talented, Golden said. He is the chapter’s president and enjoys mentoring

rewards you get from it and the different places you can go,” he said.

GOLDEN started a lawnscaping business for his Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) program. He’s been working at it since his freshman year and hopes to complete at least 360 hours to earn his State FFA Degree, the highest degree a FFA member can earn at the state level.

We taught the kids a lot about what goes on in FFA and all the rewards you get from it and the different places you can go.

— Ryan Golden

the younger students.

“I just try to keep a good attitude and do all I can,” he said.

This past fall, he and other officers organized the annual Day on the Farm event for elementary students.

“We taught the kids a lot about what goes on in FFA and all the

He has to keep track of his hours and expenses, and has learned a lot about entrepreneurship.

He now takes care of about 10 yards each summer.

“FFA creates a lot of experiences. It’s definitely something to take advantage of. It’s worth it,” he said.

Lawmakers address asset forfeiture

By RACHEL MIPRO Kansas Reflector

TOPEKA — The Kansas Highway Patrol took more than $15,000 in cash from Barbara Reese in 1995 during a traffic stop.

It took her 24 years, several claims against the government, and legislative outrage to get some of the money back.

Reese, and others like her, were subjected to the state’s civil asset forfeiture practice, one widely characterized as in dire need of reform. Civil asset forfeiture allows law enforcement agencies to seize cash and property they suspect was used in a crime. Critics of the practice say loose regulations have led to unjust seizures.

In Kansas, police can take property they believe to be connected to crime before the property owner is charged or convicted — a practice that has led to approximately $25.3 million in cash and property seized by Kansas law enforcement agencies over the past three and a half years.

“For certain agencies, this has devolved into a moral hazard, where

it’s gone from being an effective crime-fighting tool to solving the case, to now it’s become a way we can make cash for our organization,” said Sen. Tom Holland, D-Baldwin City, Thursday during Senate debate.

This is a good, sound piece of legislation that is going to do significant work here in Kansas.

— Rep.

Stephen Owens

Agencies will need to meet higher standards to keep taking these assets if lawmakers finalize approval of new legislation. Concerned lawmakers have put forward more transparency measures in the form of House Bill 2606 and Senate Bill 458. Both bills would remove the crime of drug possession from the list of offenses subject to forfeiture, shorten the window of time for

property to be returned to the owner, require a judge to approve a probable cause affidavit before a forfeiture case could proceed, and allow defendants who recovered more than half of their property to recoup attorney fees and litigation costs.

The proposed changes come after several studies of forfeiture costs. The Kansas Legislature in 2018 required the Kansas Bureau of Investigation to report seizures and forfeitures in the state through a public platform.

Rep. Stephen Owens, a Hesston Republican who introduced HB2606, characterized the bill as one that is “not simple but it is incredibly important” in Thursday’s House chamber discussion of the legislation.

“This is a good, sound piece of legislation that is going to do significant work to effect change here in Kansas,” said Rep. Dan Osman, an Overland Park Democrat.

House lawmakers voted 119-0 to send HB2606 to the Senate and Senate lawmakers voted 36-2 to send their bill to the House on Thursday.

Goodner: Journey

Continued from A1

as president of the Humboldt chapter.

Reflecting on his early days in FFA, Goodner fondly recalled nurturing plants and tending to his own garden.

“During the spring of my freshmen year, I was able to plant whatever seeds I brought in and I was able to make a garden at my house,” he said. “I was even able to give my neighbors a few of the plants.”

Goodner’s FFA curriculum has been as diverse as it has been enriching. From delving into horticulture and animal science to mastering the art of welding in ag mechanics, he has embraced each challenge.

“In animal science last year we learned about various meats and how to judge them. At judging contests we’d learn what good livestock is, “ he said. “That’ll be helpful if I ever decide to start a farm.”

Even though he has enjoyed every course he has taken through FFA, welding has been Goodner’s favorite. “You can really see yourself progress and get better as you go,” he noted. His FFA journey is marked by a series of accolades and accomplishments, from

clinching third place in creed speaking during his freshman year to assuming roles such as greenhand officer and reporter in subsequent years.

“We have an FFA creed and the creed speaking competition is judged on how confidently you can say it — your tone of voice, your pace, and how well you know it,” he explained. He added that each role he has served in has provided him with unique opportunities to grow and develop.

After graduation, Goodner plans to continue his studies at Kansas State University to pursue business management.

But before he leaves town, Goodner has some advice to incoming freshmen.

“I’d absolutely recommend FFA to freshmen,” he said. “It’s not as scary as people think it is — you’re just in there to have fun, learn a few things. There are a lot of valuable skills that you’ll keep for the rest of your life.”

As he sets his sights on a horizon of possibilities, one thing remains certain — the seeds of success in leadership that Goodner has planted within FFA will continue to bear fruit for years to come.

UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Director-General QU Dongyu, speaks during the 37th Session of the FAO Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024. AP PHOTO/ERANGA

JAYAWARDENA

UN agency targets growth in aquaculture production by 2030

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization on Thursday set a target to further increase aquaculture production to meet a rising demand for seafood and to fight global hunger and undernourishment.

The FAO hopes to see 35% growth in the sector by 2030, according to a report adopted at the end of a three-day Asia and Pacific regional conference in Sri Lanka’s capital, Colombo.

Officials said the world’s aquaculture production has increased by 54% since 2011 and remains one of the fastest growing agricultural producing sectors.

The new target is part of

the FAO’s “Blue Transformation” road map, which seeks to transform the world’s aquatic food systems by the start of the next decade.

The world’s aquaculture production has increased by 54% since 2011 and remains one of the fastest growing agricultural producing sectors.

It’s projected that nearly 600 million people in the world will be chronically undernourished by 2030. But progress is expected in Asia and the Pacific, where

the number of undernourished is projected to fall from the current 371 million to 202 million people by 2030.

Angela Lentisco, the FAO’s Fisheries and Aquatic officer, said the fisheries and aquaculture sectors “play a very important role in addressing food insecurity in the region,” and added that the FAO is helping member countries to develop this sector.

In Sri Lanka, the FAO has helped with several projects in a bid to improve Sri Lanka’s fishing industry, which plays a key role in the island nation’s economy and provides livelihoods for more than 2.5 million people.

Morrison: Poultry business teaches skills

Continued from A1

agriculture or animal science teacher. Morrison isn’t the stereotypical FFA kid. He didn’t grow up on a farm. He wasn’t in 4-H. True, his grandparents had a farm and his parents kept a few chickens as pets, but that’s about the extent of his rural background.

But FFA isn’t just for farmers. Morrison spoke to eighth grade students at Iola Middle School earlier this week, hoping to recruit the next wave of future FFA leaders.

“A lot of them don’t know about the opportunities FFA provides,” he said. “It’s not something you have to grow up in to be successful. It’s very diverse.”

SINCE HIS family had chickens, it made sense for Morrison to choose poultry for his Super-

vised Agricultural Experience (SAE) program.

As a freshman, he took over the care of his family’s chickens. He also bought 40 chicks to start his own business, JM Poultry, and sell eggs.

“For people who don’t have pasture, chickens don’t take much space and they’re not high maintenance to take care of,” he said.

He quickly ran into his first challenge in expanding and upgrading the chicken coop. He needed to keep the younger chicks separated from the older ones to allow them to grow to their full potential in a less stressful environment.

Then, he had to prepare for winter.

“These cold winters have been a challenge but I winterize the pen with some foam blocks and then make sure

their doors are secure at night, get some heat lamps up and some tank heaters,” he said. “All of that is just to make sure they stay safe. Their well-being is my responsibility.” He doesn’t have someone to take over the business after he graduates and starts college. He plans to attend college on a track scholarship and is considering where to go; Neosho County Community College is high on his list. Then, he hopes to transfer to Emporia State University and become a teacher, likely something related to science and agriculture.

Morrison didn’t buy new chicks last spring, knowing it was time to start winding things down. Hens typically live between three to seven years, so his parents will care for the

chickens into their “retirement.”

“We’ll let them grow old and enjoy a happy, full life,” Morrison said.

FFA projects teach students about responsibility, he said. He had to learn how to plan and prepare, knowing the chickens rely on him for their survival.

FFA has taught him many other skills, too. In his agri-business class, for example, a local banker talked to students about how to qualify for loans and how to build credit.

“This class teaches you how to move forward after school, with budgeting and finances. Stuff you really don’t learn anywhere else in school,” he said. “I can’t stress enough how important FFA has been to me and how much I wish more people would get involved.”

European farmers protest ag policies

PRAGUE (AP) — Czech farmers were driving their tractors and other vehicles to several border crossings on Thursday to meet their colleagues from neighboring countries and join forces in their protests against European Union agriculture policies, bureaucracy and overall conditions for their business.

Farmers complain that the 27-nation EU’s environmental policies, such as the Green Deal, which calls for limits on the use of chemicals and on greenhouse gas emissions, limit their business and make their products more expensive than nonEU imports.

The farmers also complain about low prices for their products and say grain

and other agriculture products coming from Ukraine and Latin America negatively affect the market.

The farmers met their colleagues from neighboring Germany, Poland and Slovakia at a number of border crossings. Farmers from 10 EU countries, ranging from Central Europe to the Baltics and the Balkans, were participating in the protest, organizers said.

The farmers invited Czech Agriculture Minister Marek Vyborny, his Slovak counterpart Richard Takac, and the representatives of farmers from Poland and Hungary to rally at a Czech-Slovak border crossing known as Hodonin-Holic, which was blocked by hundreds of tractors.

OUR MISSION:

OUR VISION:

In Ukraine, Schumer challenges Speaker Johnson to ‘rise to the occasion,’ send aid

By MARY CLARE JALONICK The Associated Press

Standing on Ukrainian soil in a surprise visit with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer challenged House Speaker Mike Johnson to take up a $95 billion national security package that includes aid for the country as it battles Russia’s invasion.

“The weight of history is on his shoulders,” Schumer told reporters in Lviv on Friday after he and four other Democratic senators met Zelenskyy and other officials. “If he turns his back on history, he will regret it in future years.”

Schumer said he was in Ukraine “to talk directly to Speaker Johnson,” as the aid bill passed by the Senate has stalled in the House and

Ukrainian forces run dangerously low on ammunition and weaponry.

“Speaker Johnson, history is looking down upon you, looking over your shoulder,” Schumer said. “Rise to the occasion.”

The Senate passage of the aid package, with $60 billion for Ukraine, came last week after the collapse of a broader framework that would have combined the aid with changes to American border policies. The Senate quickly moved ahead with just the foreign aid portion, passing it on a 70-29 vote, with 22 Republicans in support.

But the path ahead in the House is far from certain. Johnson, R-La., has not yet put forward a plan for passing it in the House.

GOP opponents of aiding Ukraine are a vo-

cal faction in the House, where Republicans have narrow control and former President Donald Trump, the front-runner for the GOP presidential nomination, holds more sway. Trump has opposed the aid package and urged Republicans to vote against it.

Some House Republicans have threatened to try to remove Johnson from his job if he puts the aid package up for a vote. He has said he “won’t be rushed” into a decision.

House Republicans have floated possible ways to push the aid to passage, including by scaling it back, but no plan has so far emerged. It remains unclear how Johnson – only months into the job after replacing ousted Kevin McCarthy as speaker — will navigate the deep divisions within his party.

Dirt work

City of Iola crews helped CITF replace dirt in the group’s flower barrels around the square. Someone also captured this fox enjoying himself in the fresh dirt, at right. CITF plants flowers and decorates the barrels during the summer and holidays as a way to beautify the square. COURTESY PHOTOS

Watch melted during atomic blast over Hiroshima sells for more than $31,000

BOSTON (AP) — A watch melted during the Aug. 6, 1945, bombing of Hiroshima, Japan, has sold for more than $31,000 at auction. The watch is frozen in time at the moment of the detonation of an atomic bomb over the Japanese city — 8:15 a.m. — during the closing days of World War ll, according to Boston-based RR Auction.

The winning bid in the auction that ended Thursday was $31,113.

The artifact was recovered from the ruins of Hiroshima and offers a glimpse into the immense destruction of the first atomic bomb detonated over a city.

The small brass-tone watch, a rare survivor from the blast zone, was auctioned

alongside other historically significant items, according to the auction house. Despite the cloudiness of the crystal caused by the blast, the watch’s hands remain halted at 8:15 a.m. — the moment when the B-29 Enola Gay dropped the “Little Boy” atomic bomb.

The auction house said that according to the item’s

consignor, a British soldier retrieved the wristwatch from the ruins of the city while on a mission to provide emergency supplies and assess post-conflict reconstruction needs at the Prefectural Promotion Hall in Hiroshima.

“It is our fervent hope that this museum-quality piece will stand as a poignant ed-

ucational symbol, serving to not only remind us of the tolls of war but also to underscore the profound, destructive capabilities that humanity must strive to avoid,” said Bobby Livingston, executive vice president at RR Auction.

“This wristwatch, for instance, marks the exact moment in time when history changed forever.”

Fertility clinics on the witness stand

By MICHAEL FRERICHS Chicago Tribune/TNS

The new battlefield over abortion rights centers on the use of in vitro fertilization. It’s a battle that is highly personal for me and my wife, Erica.

Last summer, we became the parents of twin sons Max and Theo. For this blessed event to happen, we needed reproductive health care.

Erica has endometriosis, a condition that makes it difficult to conceive a child naturally. It affects an estimated 11% of women in our country, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. In vitro fertilization made it possible for Erica to conceive and for us to start a family.

Now Alabama, Florida and Missouri want to take away a woman’s right to use IVF to have a child, emboldened by the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2022 disastrous Dobbs decision that took away the constitutional right to abortion.

After the Supreme Court overturned Roe, the “personhood” debate took center stage, with Republicans attempting to define a fertilized egg or embryo as a legal human entity. During IVF, a doctor collects eggs from a woman, sperm is used to fertilize the eggs outside the body and one fertilized egg is implanted at a time.

For Erica, a doctor collected eggs during four rounds.

Five days after fertilization, we had four embryos. After testing, only one of them was viable. “Personhood” laws would consider the unviable collections of cells people, and doctors or their patients would be considered to have committed a crime by disposing of them.

Such laws could have widespread impact. About 1 in 5 women in the U.S. with no prior births have fertility challenges.

The Alabama Supreme Court last week ruled that frozen embryos are children and have the same legal rights as other “unborn children.”

Justice Greg Cook, who offered a dissenting opinion, wrote that the decision “almost certainly ends” IVF in Alabama. This is an unjust ruling that takes away a reproductive right from women.

In Florida, two Republican lawmakers are pushing a bill that would allow parents to

recover lawsuit damages for the wrongful death of a fetus or unborn child. The idea is to scare off doctors from providing abortion care and fertility treatments.

“As a woman who had to utilize assisted reproductive technology to have my children, it is frightening there’s legislation that would basically make it untenable to utilize this type of medicine to achieve creating a family,” Florida Senate Democratic Leader Lauren Book told HuffPost. “It’s really, really scary.”

In Missouri, ultraconservative lawmakers are trying to pass another personhood law, one requiring judges to decide embryo custody disputes by ruling in favor of the person most likely to create a child from the embryos. Medical organizations say that personhood laws could criminalize some contraceptives and restrict infertility treatments. Critics say the Missouri measure would cause people to hesitate before creating embryos. Sean Tipton, chief advocacy and policy officer for the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, says such decisions should be left to the people involved in creating the embryo and not politicians. I agree.

Fortunately, Erica and I live in Illinois. Although rightwing groups here want to ban IVF, last year, our governor and state lawmakers enacted a law protecting people’s decisions to use IVF to have children.

At the federal level, Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth is fighting to make it a legal right for patients to access IVF, continue treatments and retain authority over how sperm or egg cells are used. Such legislation is critical, given that new U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson supports banning IVF. He is a co-sponsor of the Life at Conception Act, a nationwide abortion ban that also would affect embryos created for IVF.

For Erica, the IVF process took several years and was physically and mentally challenging. ... We are relieved that we live in a state that gives women reproductive freedom. Government should not deny women the medical help they need.

About the author: Michael Frerichs is the Illinois treasurer.

Senate bill insults health officials

In the event of another pandemic or other public health emergency, our county commissioners are to have sole discretion on how to respond, according to new legislation approved by the Kansas Senate on Thursday.

The vote on Senate Bill 391 was 23-17. Six Republicans sided with Democrats in an effort to defeat the measure. From our district, Sen. Caryn Tyson voted in favor of the bill, which now goes before members of the House.

Government’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic is the genesis of the legislation.

The new law instructs public health officials to “stay in your lane,” said Sen. Beverly Gossage, Republican from Eudora, and chair of the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee.

Health is the business of elected officials, she said, and “Somewhere along the line we gave them (health officials) authority.”

The pandemic contributed to the deaths of more than 10,200 Kansans. In Allen County, 52 deaths have been attributed to the virus.

THE LAW would make Kansas first in the nation to designate county commissioners as health officials during the outbreak of highly infectious diseases. Among their responsibilities would be orders on how to treat a particular virus and whether to quarantine.

Sen. Mark Steffen, a Republican from Hutchinson,

Susan Lynn Register editor

and a former anesthesiologist, is a big proponent of the new legislation.

During the pandemic, Steffen railed against the promotion of the Covid-19 vaccines and instead promoted the use of off-label drugs such as ivermectin, hydroxychloroquine, and fluvoxamine — none of which have been proven effective against the prevention or treatment of the virus.

ALLEN COUNTY commissioners deferred to Rebecca Johnson, director of the Southeast Kansas Multi-County Health Department, during the pandemic. One of the perks of the partnership included the department’s training for such events.

“We had been practicing for years,” Johnson told commissioners in May 2022, two years out from when the pandemic first arrived. “Maybe our response wasn’t flawless, but it had a good flow and we had lots of positive comments from the public.”

The department sponsored mass vaccination clinics, gave regular updates to school officials, commissioners and emer-

gency managers and provided public guidance on how to guard against the virus such as thorough hand-washing, the wearing of face masks and getting vaccinated.

Health department employees worked evenings and weekends to meet the needs of the public during the pandemic.

That devotion was not always appreciated, Johnson said, noting she and her staff encountered hate mail, vandalism, and death threats.

“I’ve told myself throughout this pandemic to try to stay strong, that this is what our residents need,” Johnson said in a March 2022 interview with the Register.

Not all counties were as lucky.

Of the state’s 105 counties, 60 had lost their health department administrators due to the public backlash. Johnson’s district includes Allen, Anderson, Bourbon and Woodson counties. Johnson praised her staff for keeping their cool.

“They have been resilient through it all. Some of our experiences were a horrible nightmare. … We tried to turn the other cheek as much as we could.”

THURSDAY’S ruling was another slap in the face to public health workers like Johnson.

Knowing the measure will likely now go before House Rep. Fred Gardner, I’m going to ask him to oppose it. His email is Fred. Gardner@house.ks.gov.

Save Ukraine: Countering Putin requires concerted action

Saturday marks the twoyear anniversary of Russian despot Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, after Moscow’s military forces took control of Eastern Ukraine and Crimea in 2014. When he launched his “special military operation” in 2022, Putin expected his tanks to roll into Kyiv within days, a proof of concept for his vision of a reconstituted Soviet Union.

As the months dragged on and the offensive failed spectacularly some optimistic observers began predicting Ukraine would win decisively, and perhaps even push into Russia. The truth is somewhere in the middle: Ukrainian forces have fought resolutely against a much larger adversary but are worn down and on their back foot. The Russians have just taken the eastern Ukrainian stronghold of Avdiivka.

It’s easy to fall into the narrative trap, established both

been providing aid, but it is running low and as by far the biggest player, Washington’s continued assistance is crucial.

President Joe Biden, Senate Majority Chuck Schumer, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and 68 other senators all agree to send Ukraine $60 billion in a bill which passed the Senate last week. It would absolutely pass in the House of Representatives as well, but Speaker Mike Johnson sent the chamber on vacation instead of acting, because Donald Trump wanted him to.

ing that says Putin won’t win — in his own war against democracy, in Ukraine, even in Poland and farther afield.

by our popular mass media and general conceptions of historical progress, that there is something inherent about the victory of the good side, that a smaller nation invaded by a murderous and imperialistic neighbor will still triumph.

This is not true; there is no guarantee that the right side wins, and to think so is dangerous and counterproductive. And here the right side, Ukraine, certainly cannot prevail without help. The United States and our Western European allies have

So advancing on the battlefield and having America frozen are good for Putin, who felt emboldened to finally get rid of Alexei Navalny, the brave man who opposed Putin’s stranglehold of corruption and violence and has now paid the ultimate price.

And as much as it’s frightening to think so, there is noth-

This doesn’t leave us powerless, it simply means that we must take real action to stop him. The arc of history doesn’t bend inexorably in favor of liberty; it must be bent, by continued military and economic support for Ukraine, by sanctions and the fomenting of internal dissent in Russia, by steadfast support for NATO. Right now, the MAGA GOP is doing what they can to bend it in Putin’s direction. Putin’s denials that he has any interest in a wider war with Poland or Latvia ring close to his obviously false denials of interest in war with Ukraine, and Republicans should have a hard think about what kind of world they want to be in three or four years from now. Is it worth it?

— New York Daily News

In February 2021, the Southeast Kansas Multi-County Health Department sponsored a Covid-19 vaccination clinic targeting those age 85 and older. Above, volunteers Beverly Roush, left, and Karen Gilpin check in other volunteers during a practice run before the clinic opened its doors to the public. The clinic administered all of its allotted 300 doses of the Moderna vaccine in less than two hours. REGISTER FILE PHOTO

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, center, walks with Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), left, and Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) on Dec.12, 2023. Last week, the Senate OK’d $60 billion in aid to Ukraine’s defense against Russia. Meanwhile, the House of Representatives refuses to address the issue.

(DREW ANGERER/GETTY IMAGES/TNS)

Plants want to bury CO2 in Kansas to cut carbon footprints

By CALEN MOORE AND CELIA LLOPIS-JEPSEN Kansas News Service

Kansas has three carbon dioxide pipelines. Next, it could get two carbon sequestration wells, linked to ethanol plants.

Two companies seek to build the first sites in Kansas where carbon dioxide emissions get pumped deep underground to keep them out of the atmosphere, a practice that proponents argue will combat climate change but that many environmental groups oppose.

The fledgling carbon sequestration industry is picking up pace globally, and geologists say rock formations beneath Kansas offer a bonanza of suitable locations for it.

“Kansas has abundant geology that would be compatible with long-term permanent CO2 storage,” said Brendan Bream, a senior scientist at the Kansas Geological Survey.

The Kansas Geological Survey envisions conducting a county-by-county study to identify suitable areas.

The two proposals for the state’s first carbon sequestration wells are linked to ethanol plants in central Kansas. They’ll need to pass muster with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The proposals come amid a national trend of corn ethanol makers racing to access federal tax incentives that could make or break an industry at risk of being sidelined by newer biofuels with smaller carbon footprints.

The wells would also mark a new chapter in Kansas’ foray into the world of carbon capture. So far, the state has three CO2 pipelines in southwest and southeast Kansas, and one well that repurposes the emissions from a Garden City ethanol plant

state’s first CO2 sequestration wells to shrink their carbon footprints. PIXABAY

into a tool for forcing hard-to-get fossil fuels out of the ground.

Here’s what we know about Kansas’ proposed and existing carbon dioxide infrastructure and a burgeoning new sector.

THE TWO pending applications in Kansas are relatively small compared to massive multistate pipeline proposals that have grabbed headlines elsewhere in the Midwest. One of those seeks to carry CO2 from 51 ethanol plants in five states to sequestration wells in North Dakota.

PureField Ingredients, an ethanol and wheat protein maker in Russell, Kansas, submitted its application last spring to pipe emissions from the edge of town to a well that it would drill six miles away.

Its filings with the EPA describe the company as one of Russell’s largest employers in this rural area, which lies between Salina and Hays.

The company didn’t respond to requests for an interview.

It ships most of its ethanol to the West Coast and wants to capture 150,000 metric tons of carbon annually.

California, Oregon

and Washington state have adopted rules pushing biofuel makers to shrink their carbon footprints. Last week, New Mexico followed suit.

The second application to build a carbon sequestration well in Kansas comes from an ethanol plant in Pratt, which also declined an interview request.

The Kansas News Service doesn’t have a copy of the proposal that Pratt Energy filed with regulators, so it’s unclear how many miles of pipeline the project would require. The EPA is reviewing an open records request from the Kansas News Service for details.

Many U.S. ethanol plants would need to pipe their emissions long distances to reach geological formations that can store CO2. Summit Carbon’s proposed 51-plant project in other states involves 2,000 miles of pipeline and has become embroiled in regulatory battles and community opposition. And last fall, similar hurdles killed a separate multistate effort involving top ethanol producers Valero and POET.

If ethanol plants in Kansas can show the EPA that rock forma-

tions close to them offer appropriate storage locations, that could save them time and money securing land access and regulatory permissions for laying pipe.

THREE PIPELINES carry CO2 in Kansas, federal regulators say. All three have less than 15 miles of pipe in the state.

One is a 14-mile pipeline in Finney County that transports CO2 from an ethanol plant in Garden City to the only well in the state of Kansas that uses captured CO2 emissions to extract oil.

The CO2 frees trapped oil and sweeps it toward the top of a well.

The other two CO2 pipelines transport greenhouse gases beyond state lines.

One 65-mile pipeline starts at a fertilizer plant in Coffeyville and heads to Burbank, Oklahoma, where it gets repurposed to extract fossil fuels, according to a 2015 federal report.

The other is part of 178 miles of pipe that carry, in part, CO2 from an ethanol plant in Liberal to the Texas panhandle — also for fossil fuel extraction. Both pipelines are operated by Texas company CapturePoint,

Landing on the moon: Hits and misses

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Landing a spacecraft on the moon has long been a series of hits and misses.

Now, a U.S. company has become the first private outfit to achieve a safe moon landing. Only five countries have done it. A lander built by Intuitive Machines through a NASA-sponsored program touched down on the moon Thursday.

The achievement puts the U.S. back in business on the moon for the first time since NASA astronauts closed out the Apollo program in 1972.

The moon is littered with wreckage from failed landings over the years. Another U.S. company — Astrobotic Technology — tried to send a lander to the moon last month, but had to give up because of a fuel leak. The crippled lander came crashing back through the atmosphere, burning up over the Pacific. Both U.S. businesses are part of NASA’s effort to support commercial deliveries to the moon.

A rundown on the moon’s winners and losers:

First Victories

The Soviet Union’s Luna 9 successfully touches down on the moon in 1966, after its predecessors crash or miss the moon altogether. The U.S. follows four months later with Surveyor 1. Both countries achieve more robotic landings, as the race heats up to land men.

Apollo Rules

NASA clinches the space race with the Soviets in 1969 with a moon landing by Apollo 11’s Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin. Twelve astronauts explore the surface over six missions, before the pro-

gram ends with Apollo 17 in 1972. Still the only country to send humans to the moon, the U.S. hopes to return crews to the surface by the end of 2026 or so, a year after a lunar fly-around by astronauts.

Russia Stumbles In 2023, Russia tries for its first moon landing in nearly a half-century, but the Luna 25 spacecraft smashes into the moon. The country’s previous lander — 1976’s Luna 24 — not only landed, but returned moon rocks to Earth.

Japan lands sideways Japan becomes the fifth country to land

successfully on the moon, with its spacecraft touching down in January. The craft lands on the wrong side, compromising its ability to generate solar power, but manages to crank out pictures and science before falling silent when the long lunar night sets in.

federal data show. The company hasn’t accepted multiple requests for interviews last month and this month.

Last month, the Kansas News Service reported that CapturePoint is considering piping CO2 from a potential renewable jet fuel plant that Canadian company Azure Sustainable Fuels wants to build in southeast Kansas.

Azure’s proposed factory location lies close to CapturePoint’s pipeline that feeds the fossil fuel industry in Burbank.

This practice of capturing CO2 but then using it to retrieve more fossil fuels that produce greenhouse gases is opposed by many environmental groups.

The EPA regulates CO2 sequestration wells for most states, including Kansas.

The federal agency has a duty to protect drinking water from industrial activities that involve injecting substances underground.

States can ask to take over regulation of these activities from the EPA.

But just three states have assumed oversight of sequestration wells: Louisiana, North Dakota and Wyoming. Arizona, Texas and West Virginia are seeking a role, too.

Kansas has already assumed oversight from the EPA of other kinds of injection wells – such as wells where oil producers dispose of waste brine.

Will it take over oversight of carbon sequestration wells, too?

Officials at the Kansas Corporation Commission and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment don’t yet see cause to do so.

“The level of demand does not warrant the heavy burden of federal requirements” to assume oversight, a health department spokeswoman said. She said officials may

revisit the matter if federal rules eventually make carbon sequestration more common.

COMPANIES FACE

many of the heated debates that surround other kinds of pipelines. Those include concerns about pipeline safety and fights over whether companies should be allowed to lay pipe against a landowner’s will.

In 2020, a CO2 pipeline erupted in Mississippi, poisoning the air and causing people to pass out or have seizures, landing 45 of them in hospitals.

Some farmers also worry that pipeline construction damages soil so significantly that it cuts into crop yields.

Iowa State University research into a crude oil pipeline found as much. Other landowners have expressed anger over the effects to natural habitat.

But pipelines also pay local property taxes, which could benefit local governments in rural areas. Last year one Kansas county newspaper reported that oil and gas pipelines made up seven of the rural area’s 10 biggest taxpayers. After one of those pipes — the Keystone — exploded and polluted cropland, prairie and a creek, some residents said the economic benefits of pipelines to rural areas are worth such risks.

Some Iowa and South Dakota landowners have protested and sued companies trying to run CO2 pipelines across their property. And some Iowa counties passed rules restricting how close the pipelines can come to cities, homes and schools.

A court ruling barred enforcement of some of those rules because the federal government and an Iowa state agency already regulate pipelines.

Corn is the most common source of U.S. ethanol. Ethanol plants in central Kansas could build the

US, EU pile new sanctions on Russia for Ukraine war, Navalny’s death

WASHINGTON (AP) —

The United States and European Union on Friday heaped hundreds of new sanctions on Russia in connection with the second anniversary of its invasion of Ukraine and in retaliation for the death of noted Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny last week in an Arctic penal colony.

The U.S. government imposed roughly 600 new sanctions on Russia and its war machine in the largest single round of penalties since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022.

The EU, for its part, added sanctions on several foreign companies over allegations that they have exported dual-use goods to Russia that could be used in its war against Ukraine. The 27-nation bloc also targeted scores of Russian officials, including members of the judiciary, local politicians and people it said were “responsible for the illegal deportation and military re-education of Ukrainian children.”

President Joe Biden said the sanctions come in response to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s “brutal war of conquest” and to Navalny’s death, adding that “we in the United States are going to continue to ensure that Putin pays a price for his aggression abroad and repression at home.”

But while previous sanctions have increased costs for Russia’s ability to fight in Ukraine, they appear to have done little so far to deter Putin and it was unclear that the latest big round would significantly alter that.

In specific response to Navalny’s death, the State Department targeted three Russian officials the U.S. says are connected to his death, including the deputy director of Russia’s Federal Penitentiary Service, who was promoted by Putin to the rank of colonel general on Monday, three days after Navalny died.

The sanctions bar the

officials from traveling to the U.S. and block access to U.S.-owned property. But they appear largely symbolic given that the officials are unlikely to travel to or have assets or family in the West.

White House nation-

in his view, are not pulling their weight in the alliance.

Biden on Friday called on Congress to pass Ukraine aide, which has stalled since House Speaker Mike Johnson blocked votes on aid passed by the Senate for

Russia is taking on Ukraine territory for the first time in many months. But here in America, the Speaker gave the House a two-week vacation. They have to come back and get this done, because failure to support Ukraine in this critical moment will never be forgotten in history.

— President Joe Biden

al security spokesman John Kirby said to “expect more” action later related to Navalny’s death, adding that “today this just a start.”

The Biden administration is levying additional sanctions as House Republicans are blocking billions of dollars in additional aid to Ukraine. The war is becoming entangled in U.S. election-year politics, with former President Donald Trump voicing skepticism about the benefits of the NATO alliance and saying that he would “encourage” Russia to “do whatever the hell they want” to countries that,

Ukraine and other countries.

“Russia is taking Ukraine territory for the first time in many months,” Biden said. “But here in America, the Speaker gave the House a two week vacation. They have to come back and get this done, because failure to support Ukraine in this critical moment will never be forgotten in history.”

Many of the new U.S. sanctions announced Friday target Russian firms that contribute to the Kremlin’s war effort — like drone and industrial chemical manufacturers and machine tool importers — as well as

financial institutions, such as the state-owned operator of Russia’s Mir National Payment System. The U.S. also will impose visa restrictions on Russian authorities it says are involved in the kidnapping and confinement of Ukrainian children. In addition, 26 third-country people and firms from across China, Serbia, the United Arab Emirates, and Liechtenstein are listed for sanctions, for assisting Russia in evading existing financial penalties.

The Russian foreign ministry called the EU sanctions “illegal” and said they undermine “the international legal prerogatives of the UN Security Council.” In response, the ministry is banning some EU citizens from entering the country because they have provided military assistance to Ukraine. It did not immediately address the U.S. sanctions.

Overall, since the start of the war, the U.S. Treasury and State departments have targeted more than 4,000 officials, oligarchs, firms, banks and others under Russia-related sanctions authorities. The EU asset freezes and travel bans constitute its 13th package of measures imposed by the bloc against peo-

Council: Meeting is Monday evening

Continued from A1

be decided, however, city staff does not believe any city-owned property would be appropriate at this time.

City administration notes that if a contract is signed for this service, the monthly solid waste charge will be amended to cover the city’s expense. If the charge increases at any time, so will the monthly charge. Because of these unknowns, city staff is hesitant to recommend pursuing this endeavor, but will work at the council’s direction.

The proposed invitation for bids, if approved by council, would be opened to sealed bids until 10 a.m., Tuesday, March 26.

The council will also consider:

• The removal of four dangerous structures at 116 N. Fourth St., 306 S. Kentucky St., 602 E. Lincoln St., and 1014 N. Sycamore St.

• Adding to city code that flammable liquid storage not be al-

lowed for residential or commercial uses. This change will help clarify that the use of propane tanks inside the city limits is not allowed.

• Allen County Farmers Market’s request to close a portion of Jefferson Avenue for the farmers market on Thursday evenings. In addition, the market is also requesting permission to

use Cofachique Park on Tuesday afternoons for the market. Last year was the inaugural year for the market at the park. The market would be open from 1 to 3 p.m., each Tuesday, from May to October.

The market will also seek permission from the council to install a temporary banner at the park, promoting the

ple and organizations it suspects of undermining the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.

“Today, we are further tightening the restrictive measures against Russia’s military and defense sector,” EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said. “We remain united in our determination to dent Russia’s war machine and help Ukraine win its legitimate fight for self-defense.”

In all, 106 more officials and 88 “entities” — often companies, banks, government agencies or other organizations — have been added to the bloc’s sanctions list, bringing the tally of those targeted to more than 2,000 people and entities, including Putin and his associates.

Companies making

electronic components, which the EU believes could have military as well as civilian uses, were among 27 entities accused of “directly supporting Russia’s military and industrial complex in its war of aggression against Ukraine,” a statement said.

Those companies — some of them based in India, Sri Lanka, China, Serbia, Kazakhstan, Thailand and Turkey — face tougher export restrictions.

Some of the measures are aimed at depriving Russia of parts for pilotless drones, which are seen by military experts as key to the war.

A $60 per barrel price cap has also been imposed on Russian oil by Group of Seven allies, intended to reduce Russia’s revenues from fossil fuels.

Path: Work starts

Continued from A1

it crosses 9th Street over to 8th and continues along the west side of the golf course. It crosses back over to 9th near Franklin and continues down the west side of 9th to downtown.

A push-button crossing will be added at the intersection of 9th and Hawaii, and the speed limit will be lowered north of Humboldt along the old highway. The concrete path will be 8 feet wide except in residential areas, where it narrows

to 5 feet.

At some point this spring, expect the intersection of 9th and Hawaii to be closed for a few days for construction, Beth Barlow with A Bolder Humboldt said.

The project is expected to wrap up this summer.

“I'm excited to finally see it start,” Barlow said. “I’m hopeful it will bring more folks from the trail to our downtown. It also provides a safer way to get around Humboldt for anyone walking or on bicycles.”

market. The installation would be coordinated with park staff to ensure the temporary location of the banner is good for normal park operations.

A flower and a picture are left as a tribute to Russian politician Alexei Navalny, near to the Russian Embassy in London, Feb. 18. The U.S. government is hitting Russia with the largest tranche of financial penalties imposed on Moscow since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. AP PHOTO/KIRSTY WIGGLESWORTH, FILE

Adams: Enjoys food science

Continued from A1

her commitment by actively participating in various events. “Brooklyn is always willing to help and show up and organize events that we’re doing,” Gabbert notes.

A standout aspect of Adams’ FFA journey has been her involvement in competitive events, particularly in food science. She has showcased her skills in a diverse array of competitions, ranging from food science to ag sales, poultry, meat judging, entomology, farm management, milk quality, and public speaking.

Adams is proud of her achievements, which include a thirdplace finish in ag sales and participation at the state level in food science.

“Competing in food science has been my

favorite,” she shared. “FFA has opened doors for me — I’ve met new people, made friends, and it has helped me with my public speaking skills. It’s helped me overcome my nervousness.” She added that the organization has equipped her with invaluable skills and confidence that has helped in her high school career. It’s hard to imagine the smiling and outgoing senior was ever shy, but she notes that the organization is to thank for this transformation.

As Adams prepares to embark on the next chapter of her academic journey, she sets her sights on studying radiology at Labette Community College. Her interest in this field was sparked by a human anatomy class, as well

as her studies connected with FFA.

Ever the advocate for FFA, Adams encourages incoming freshmen to join the organization to help them grow as individuals.

“I would tell freshmen to join FFA because it has so many opportunities,” she said. “They can meet new people and help narrow down their career path. Just getting the experience of talking in front of people can be very helpful to anyone.”

Looking ahead, Adams is eager to continue her FFA journey on a high note. “I’m looking forward to hopefully qualifying for state this year,” she said. “We also have Ag Days coming up at the end of March. We bring out animals and teach the little kids in the school district about agriculture.”

Biden eyes options on immigration

WASHINGTON (AP)

— President Joe Biden told the nation’s governors on Friday that he’s exploring what executive actions he can take to address migration across the southern border after a bipartisan deal collapsed in Congress this month. He seemed to express frustration at the limits of his authority to act unilaterally.

Biden hosted members of the National Governors Association in the East Room, where he implored them to urge their representatives in Congress to resurrect the bipartisan proposal that collapsed within 48 hours. He also sharply criticized Republicans for backing away from the agreement after former President Donald

Trump lobbied in opposition to the deal.

Biden

Joe

Later, during a private question and answer session with the governors, he indicated he was looking at what his options are for doing something by executive order.

“Over time, our laws and our resources haven’t kept up with our immigration system and it’s broken,” Biden told the governors, lamenting that “petty politics intervened” to kill the deal.

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, the Republican chair of the association, told reporters later that Biden didn’t specify what actions he is considering, but he said the president

noted that he was confronting the limits of what he can do without Congress.

“He did say that he has been working with his attorneys, trying to understand what executive action would be upheld in the courts and would be constitutional, and that he seemed a little frustrated that he was not getting answers from attorneys that he felt he could take the kind of actions that he wanted to,” Cox said.

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, Democratic vicechair of the governors’ group, said governors got a “general sense that they’re looking into whatever they can do on the executive side. Again, keeping our expectations realistic, that’s going to be more limited than a congressional solution.”

Sports Daily B

Cubs on the mat: Standouts vie for state hardware

(Editor’s note: Due to press deadlines, results from Friday evening’s state wrestling competition were unavailable.)

SALINA — Cole Mathes is still alive for a state wrestling championship.

The Humboldt High junior, ranked third in Kansas among all Class 3-1A 175-pound grapplers, won his

first two matches of the day at the state wrestling tournament at the Tony’s Pizza Events Center in Salina. Mathes (26-5) advanced in dominating fashion, pinning Micah Galvan of Ellsworth in the second period of their opening round match, and then controlling Carsen Meitle of Phillipsburg for an 11-2 decision.

With the win, Mathes is assured of a state medal as he moved to Friday evening’s semifinals.

Mathes was slated to face Aiden Amrein of Hill City (41-1), the state’s top-ranked among 175 wrestlers in Class 3-1A. The other semifinal pitted Elijah Webb (25-13) who upset Brayden Suchy of Russell in the quarterfinal, and

Gage Lee of Garden Plain (361).

ONE OTHER Humboldt wrestler stayed alive, but must work his way through the consolation bracket to earn state hardware.

Garren Goodner, wrestling in the 215-pound weight class, dropped his first match against top-ranked Ivan Jirak

Despite loss, Iola girls carry high hopes

By RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register

CARBONDALE — Thursday’s 50-34 loss to Santa Fe Trail was in many ways a microcosm to Iola High’s basketball season, head coach Kelsey Johnson agreed.

“Yes, we had too many turnovers,” Johnson said. “Yes, we got off to a slow start. But there were a lot of good things tonight.”

Iola (7-13) made things interesting against the threetime defending Pioneer League champion Chargers with a 9-0 run to pare a 19-8 deficit to two points late in the second quarter.

The key was matching Santa Fe Trail’s aggression at both ends of the court, Johnson said.

“Santa Fe Trail is a great team,” she said. “But we were able to put some pressure on them, and scared them a little bit. We came out tough. We just didn’t respond well in the third quarter.”

A 21-4 Charger run pushed Santa Fe Trail’s lead to 4021 by the start of the fourth quarter.

Iola’s Keira Fawson scored twice early in the final frame

and Reese Curry drained a shot to pull to within 49-33.

But a pair of 3-point attempts down the stretch rimmed out that would have been a big help.

Mustangs come up short in regular season finale

By RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register

CARBONDALE — With Iola High’s playoff seeding already in place, the Mustangs entered Thursday’s regular season finale at Santa Fe Trail more focused on how they played rather than the final score.

Things didn’t go according to script.

The host Chargers blitzed Iola early, leading 29-9 midway through the second quarter.

Then, after Iola improved its perimeter defense, Santa Fe Trail answered by feeding the ball to its 6-5 junior Jalen Smith, who scored almost at will down the stretch.

Iola’s 65-48 loss left head coach Luke Bycroft in a sour mood.

“We won’t beat anybody next week if we show up like that,” Bycroft said. “It’s not like Santa Fe Trail is bad or anything, but we didn’t show up to compete. That’s the

main thing you want to see.”

Iola played zone defense early on, which led to a flurry of Charger 3-pointers.

“We didn’t extend our zone like we should have,” Bycroft said. “We did a better job of defending the perimeter when we went to our manto-man defense, but then we didn’t take away the dump down to the blocks.”

Smith was more than happy to take it from there. He scored 13 of the Chargers’ 17 fourth-quarter points.

“We were as flat as could be. We had no energy. We wouldn’t help, wouldn’t rotate. There was no conversation. We didn’t locate a man, and just let a guy come up and shoot.”

Iola stayed within shout-

See SHORT | Page B5

“The last time we played these guys, we backed down,” Johnson said. “We get on our heels, we’ll turn the ball over and get smaller than what we are.

“Tonight, we did not back down.”

Johnson praised the work of Fawson, Alana Mader and

See IOLA | Page B6

of Oakley via pin. Goodner fended off Hoisington’s Colin Mater in a consolation match to book his ticket to Day 2 of the 3-day state wrestling meet. Goodner was slated to face Radyn Martin of Caney Valley in another consolation match. He was required to

See HUMBOLDT | Page B4

Yates Center, SCC boys bow out

The basketball season for Yates Center High’s and Southern Coffey High’s boys has ended.

Yates Center bowed out to Madison/Hamilton, 58-17, Thursday to open the Class 1A-I Substate Tournament. Yates Cener ended the season with a 2-18 record. Southern Coffey County fell to Waverly, 53-9, in their Class 1A-II Substate opener.

Friday’s playoff games between Marmaton Valley and Crest girls, Yates Center girls at Madison/ Hamilton and Southern Coffey County’s Lady Titans at Altoona-Midway were unavailable by press time.

The postseason begins for the rest of the area high schools next week, each vying for berths in their respective state basketball tournaments.

Iola High’s Zoie Hesse, center, lunges between a trio of Santa Fe Trail defnders Thursday in the Mustangs’ regular season finale. REGISTER/RICHARD LUKEN

At right, Iola High’s Casey Rowe, right, is guarded by Santa Fe Trail defender Jalen Smith Thursday. REGISTER/ RICHARD LUKEN

Wary Tahitians brace for crowds of surfers

By DANIEL COLE The Associated Press

TEAHUPO’O, French Polynesia (AP) — Peva Levy said he felt a powerful, natural energy known as “mana” when he surfed Teahupo’o’s waves on a piece of plywood for the first time, rushing down a crumbling white surf in front of an untouched volcanic beach several years before the steady streams of surfers started arriving when the village got its first asphalt road over fifty years ago.

“It was a secret spot,” the surfer and Tahitian native remembered, as he stood on the pristine beaches of Teahupo’o on the island’s south side, waves crashing off in the distance. “But it was not a secret spot for a long time.”

Teahupo’o has since achieved world renown among surfers — the roaring wave garnered a reputation for its ferocious power — and will be home to the Paris Olympics surfing competition, scheduled from July 27 to Aug. 4.

The island in French Polynesia is an overseas territory of the European nation. The decision to host part of the Games here has thrust unprecedented challenges onto a small community that has long cherished and strives to protect a way of life more closely connected to wild lands and crystal-clear ocean than the fame promised by an Olympic stage. And while organizers are trying to adjust their plans to conserve the local environment, ensuring that the village of Teahupo’o stays a village is proving to be a struggle for locals.

The original pro-

posed scale of the Olympic site – which called for new roads, housing units and even an aluminum judging tower that required drilling into the reef – caused a significant local backlash. Environmental and surf communities banded together to protect Teahupo’o’s culture, its corals and its marine life.

“It was too much for us, a big change. And it was just for, like, one week” of competition, Levy said, who’s also a member of the local environmental organization Vai Ara O Teahupo’o.

Though it’s known throughout the surfing world, there is not one surf shop in Teahupo’o, with the town forgoing most of the development that’s usually a staple at popular surf destinations.

At the end of the village’s road lies its sole snack bar which is only open for lunch and serves fish caught that morning. Kids spend the afternoon surfing as families watch from

the black sand beaches. At night, the distant roar of waves barreling down onto the reef lulls the town to sleep.

“We loved this place because it was still wild, there were not many people over here. There was a lot of fish all around, and that good mana,” Levy said.

In response to criticism, now 98% of Olympic housing will be within the homes of locals, with athletes accommodated on a cruise ship anchored nearby. The size of the judging tower has been scaled back and new infrastructure plans are being drawn up to minimize the need for new construction.

But concerns remain: Environmentalists and local fishers fear that drilling into the coral reef could attract ciguatera, a microscopic algae that infects fish and makes people sick if eaten, and many sustain themselves by what they catch in the ocean.

Mormon Maitei, 22, makes a living from spearfishing in the la-

Chiefs sign ‘Punt God’ Araiza

By JESSE NEWELL The Kansas City Star

The Kansas City Chiefs signed a pair of players Thursday, including one who could project as an immediate starter.

Matt Araiza, a 23-yearold punter and 2022 sixth-round draft pick, agreed to terms with the Chiefs, according to Araiza’s agent, Joe Linta. Araiza — nicknamed “Punt God” during his storied career at San Diego State — was released in August 2022 by the Buffalo Bills after he was named in a civil lawsuit that claimed he took part in a gang rape.

More than a year later, the accuser withdrew the civil lawsuit against Araiza, according to reporting from Yahoo’s Dan Wetzel. In addition, the local police and prosecutor’s office declined to recommend charges, while a separate investigation from San Diego State also stated it had no findings against Araiza, per Wetzel.

“I am proud and honored to sign a contract with the Chiefs,” Araiza said in a statement released by Linta. “I am thrilled to be able to continue my NFL career. I want to thank my family, who have been my rock and my many

friends who have been unwavering in their support. I am excited to begin the next phase of my career with the Super Bowl Champs!”

Before his 2022 release, Araiza had an 82yard preseason punt for the Bills.

And Araiza received plenty of national attention in college. Sports Illustrated titled a story about him, “Meet Matt Araiza, Punt God,” in April 2022, while the left-footed kicker was also featured on ESPN’s College GameDay.

“Matt can now move forward knowing that this ordeal is behind him,” Linta said in a statement. “He is thrilled to move forward as a part of the

Chiefs Kingdom.”

The Chiefs’ move would seem to indicate the end of punter Tommy Townsend’s tenure in Kansas City.

Townsend, 27, is a free agent after averaging 47.2 yards per punt this year. He spent his four previous seasons with KC, earning Pro Bowl and All-Pro status in 2022.

Townsend changed agents last August, hiring Drew Rosenhaus. The Chiefs also announced Thursday they had signed safety Tyree Gillespie. A 2021 fourthround pick of the Las Vegas Raiders and former Missouri Tiger, Gillespie spent about a month on KC’s practice squad in December.

goons, feeding his family and selling what he has left over. “The lagoon is our refrigerator, it’s where we get our dinner from,” he said.

The sought-after shape of the waves could be affected, too, islanders say, if the reef were to fissure and lose the shape that the waves rely on to form.

“If it does crack and break off, there will be no more wave over here, it will be finished for us,” said Levy. In December, local fears were confirmed when a barge razed sections of coral on its way to the construction site on the reef. A video of the damage spread on social media, provoking an outcry.

Cindy Otcenasek, the president of Via Ara o Teahupo’o, called the destruction deeply hurtful. “In Polynesian culture, gods are present everywhere, in the coral, in the ocean,” she said. “The ocean is considered to be the most sacred temple.”

“The fish live around the corals so if we break a coral, we break a home,” she said. Olympic organizers expressed their concern

over the incident.

“It was awful for us,” said Barbara Martins-Nio, a senior event manager for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games Organization Committee. “Tahitians have this special relationship with nature, with their lands, and it was like a bomb for us.”

Martins-Nio said that their interactions with local groups are now improving, and the organizing team has taken a step back on several issues and are better involving local groups so that construction work is fully transparent. Despite the fears, some on the island still see the Games as an opportunity. Much of the local population is in favor of the Games, the economic benefits it could bring and the standing it will give their little corner of French Polynesia.3

Born and raised in Teahupo’o, Gregory Parker’s morning routine consists of watching the waves crash along the horizon from his beachfront bungalow while smoking a cigarette. But while the

Games are in town, he’s willing to sacrifice that for a bit of spare cash by renting it out.

His family owns a significant portion of properties in the village that are regularly rented out to the international surf community during the annual World Surf League competition, and he intends to do the same for the Olympics.

“I will try to live at my daughter’s house during the Games. If she also rents out her house, I have a tent,” Parker said. “It’s not hard for two weeks, and given all the money I will make, it’s worth it.”

In January this year, just months before the Games, a small group of local surfers bobbed up and down in the water, awaiting the perfect wave, when 21-yearold Kauli Vaast, who’s competing in this year’s Olympics, spotted it forming.

He’s quick to slide his board into one of the glassy tubes, gliding out before the wave thunders down onto the reef, a monstrous spray of lapping white froth raining down behind him.

“Magical things happen here, you feel this energy and you must show respect,” said Vaast. “It is so important to show respect in these types of places where you face mother nature.”

Vaast learned how to surf on these waves at just eight years old, nearly 40 years after Peva Levy first felt the wave’s mana. Mana that many islanders feel — and want to preserve.

“We hear a lot about the infrastructure and heritage that will be left by the Olympic Games, but we already have an ancestral heritage,” said Via Ara o Teahupo’o’s Otcenasek. “Teahupo’o is the land of God before being the land of the Games.”

PIXABAY.COM

Matt Araiza punts during Buffalo Bills training camp in 2022. Araiza has signed a contract with the Kansas City Chiefs. GETTY IMAGES/JOSHUA BESSEX/TNS

Self: Jayhawk fans disappointed after Nets fire Vaughn

By GARY BEDORE The Kansas City Star

Jacque Vaughn, who led the Brooklyn Nets to a 43-32 record and NBA playoff berth after taking over for Steve Nash as interim coach in November of 2022, was fired by the NBA team Monday despite his receiving a four-year contract extension to continue on head coach in February of ’23.

The Nets decided to replace former University of Kansas point guard Vaughn after this year’s 21-33 start despite the Nets (according to Yahoo Sports) owing him between $16 million and $20 million with payments to be made through the 2026-27 season.

“I know everybody is disappointed today because Jacque got let go in a next-to-impossible situation,” KU coach Bill Self said Monday on his Hawk Talk radio show.

The impossible situation ostensibly concerned the Nets’ roster.

Vaughn, whose Nets started the 2023-24 season at 1515, had one of its top players, Ben Simmons, available for just 12 games because of injury.

Even with its current record, Brooklyn entered allStar break just 2.5 games out of the postseason playin tourney. It didn’t help Vaughn’s job status that the squad’s last game before the break was a 50-point loss at Boston.

“We all love Jacque,” Self said Thursday at a news conference held in advance of

Saturday’s KU-Texas game, set for a 5 p.m., tip at Allen Fieldhouse. “I am not in Brooklyn. I don’t know what happened firsthand or anything like that. We want what’s best. I hope he had a good contract, so that way he’ll be fine regardless, which I’m sure he did. “At that level,” Self noted, “when somebody buys the franchise and pays $3 billion for it you would think they probably have a little bit more clout in what they think needs to be done. When

somebody has an investment like that I’d think the patience would probably be not quite as much if somebody didn’t have near as much equity in your business.”

Joseph Tsai and Clara Wu Tsai bought 49% of the team for $1 billion in 2018 then paid $2.35 billion in 2019 to buy the rest of the team from Mikhail Prokhorov.

“I think those guys (NBA coaches) understand that there’s two types of coaches — and it’s that way for the most part in college too — but there’s the ones that

have been fired and the ones that haven’t been fired yet,” Self said Thursday. “I think most of those guys in the NBA probably understand that.”

VAUGHN, WHO turned 49 in February, had been with Brooklyn since the 201617 season as an assistant or head coach. He became interim coach when the Nets fired Nash on Nov. 1, 2022. He was elevated to head coach a week later and signed a contract extension with the team on Feb. 21, 2023. He was a true supporter of the front office, never criticizing last season’s trades of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.

“The consistent positivity and passion he poured into our team daily will remain with the players and staff he interacted with throughout his tenure,” GM Sean Marks told brooklyneagle.com. Marks, by the way, has hired and fired three head coaches in his tenure as Nets GM.

Mikal Bridges of the Nets expressed frustration with the Nets’ offense after the Boston game.

“You can’t just let this one (loss) go, just let it drop. Maybe if you lost (a close game) towards the end, but you got beat by 50,” Bridges told sny. tv. “A lot of (bleep) is not right and you’ve got to fix it.”

Ian Begley of sny.tv offered his take on the firing.

“In the weeks leading up to Monday’s decision, several Nets players had privately questioned Vaughn’s ingame decisions. Several had also expressed a lack of con-

fidence in the head coach,” Begley wrote.

“This is often what happens when an NBA team underperforms. But the situation with Vaughn was layered. Some with the Nets had concerns about Vaughn hindering the club’s pursuit of a top player. The Nets have the trade assets to make a competitive offer for a disgruntled star. They also can create enough cap room to pursue a top free agent as early as the 2025 offseason.

“Bridges’ frustration with the coaching staff was apparent last week after the Boston game. But there were other efforts to get Vaughn to adjust his offensive approach. Spencer Dinwiddie spoke to Vaughn — in a completely non-confrontational way — about the importance of defining roles and a hierarchy on offense, per SNY sources.”

Former UConn coach Kevin Ollie has been named the Nets’ interim coach.

“Unlike most teams in this position, the Nets have no incentive to lose games down the stretch,” wrote Logan Reardon of nbcnewyork. com. “Brooklyn owes its 2024 unprotected first-round pick to the Houston Rockets due to the James Harden trade, which quickly backfired when he played just 80 games before requesting another trade. ...

“For now, the Nets are building around a core of Mikal Bridges, Cam Thomas, Cameron Johnson, Nic Claxton and Ben Simmons,” Reardon added.

On Dec. 20, 2023, Brooklyn Nets head coach Jacque Vaughn reacts during action against the New York Knicks at Barclays Center in New York. The Nets fired Vaughn this week. GETTY

IMAGES/SARAH STIER/TNS

Humboldt: Wrestlers in the hunt for state hardware

win that, and two other consolation matches, to earn a state medal.

HUMBOLDT’S Taevyn

Baylor saw her season come to an end Friday afternoon in Salina.

She dropped her first match of the state tournament Thursday with a 6-3 setback to Rose Latta of Marysville. Baylor (31-8) responded in strong fashion, pinning Johnna Ebner of Phillipsburg in 42 seconds of their consolation match. Baylor then opened Friday in similar fashion, pinning Hunter Wilson of McPherson.

But her run ended there, dropping a 4-0 decision to Emmaline Primrose of Pratt in her final consolation match.

THREE OTHER Humboldt wrestlers also

have concluded their participation at the state tournament.

Curt Shannon lost to Chase Johnson of Minneapolis and Patrick Driggs of Phillipsburg in the 120-pound weight class.

Broc Ivy lost by technical fall to Jacob Moore of Haven in the 126-pound class.

Savannah Koch, wrestling in the girls 235-pound division, lost by pin to Halia Garman of Santa Fe Trail and Gracie Penrod of Hill City.

The tournament wraps up Saturday.

HUMBOLDT’S full results follow.

Girls Class 4-1A

—

Humboldt High’s Taevyn Baylor, left, shown wrestling in a match earlier this season, finished her season Friday in Salina. REGISTER/RICHARD LUKEN

—

—

Short: Mustangs struggle

ing

Landon Weide’s jumper late in the half capped Iola’s best sequence of the night, cutting Santa Fe Trail’s lead to 33-23.

The lead yo-yoed between 12 and 15 points from there.

Cortland Carson’s 3-pointer late in the third quarter pulled Iola to within 47-35, but he was whistled for a technical foul as he retreated up the court.

“He didn’t say anything foul or vulgar, but he did say something to the official,” Bycroft said.

In accordance to Bycroft’s long-standing policy, that meant spending the rest of the game on the bench.

Carson finished with 16 and four steals to lead the Mustangs. Weide was next with 15 points, seven rebounds and five assists.

The Mustangs were without the services of starting forward Grady Dougherty because of illness.

IOLA’S shift from Class 4A to Class 3A made for a scheduling quirk in that Thursday’s game was essentially meaningless in terms of postseason playoff position.

Class 4A playoff seedings are not set until this weekend; those in

Class 3A and smaller had their seedings announced Wednesday.

“We’ve got it changed for next year,” Bycroft said. “We won’t be playing this one after seeding.

“But I don’t care when we play, or who we play,” he continued. “I just want to see us compete.”

The Mustangs (11-9) have precious little time to bounce back, with the Class 3A Substate Tournament opening Monday with a home game against Olathe’s Heritage Christian Academy. The Chargers bring a 10-10 record into the playoffs.

“They’re a guard-oriented team,” Bycroft said. “They’re quick and they’re aggressive, and they’re really active defensively. Heritage can hurt us from the 3-point line if we don’t get out and guard.”

As added motivation for next week, Bycroft scheduled an extra practice on Friday, summoning the players to the IHS gymnasium at 6 a.m., as well as their regular practice session Friday afternoon. Another practice is scheduled for Sunday.

“I don’t feel sorry for them,” Bycroft said. “I’m giving them Saturday off.”

If Iola can get past Olathe Heritage, the Mustangs would face either 18-2 Humboldt,

the substate tournament’s top seed, or eighth-seeded Prairie View (3-17) in the semifinal round Thursday at Wellsville. The championship game, and a potential berth in the Class 3A State Tournament, is set for next Saturday in Wellsville.

Santa Fe Trail prevailed, 49-45, in the junior varsity game. Jayden Beene scored 13 to lead the Mustang JV, followed by Kyser Nemecek’s 12. Gavin Jones chipped in with eight, Matt Beckmon with six, Jase Herrmann with five and Nick Bauer with one.

The Mustang C team took home a 57-41 victory, behind Austin Crooks’s 23 points. Herrmann was next with 14. Keegan Hill chipped in with eight and Hayden Kelley scored six. Kaeden Vega scored four. Donovan Nee had two.

BBQ benefit Monday

A pulled pork dinner will be served prior to Monday’s Class 3A Substate playoff game between Iola and Olathe’s Heritage Christian Academy.

The dinner is a fundraiser for the high school’s newly created barbecue cookoff team, which is preparing for a state competition in Wichita March 23.

Tipoff for Monday’s basketball game is 7 p.m.

The winner advances to the semifinal round Thursday in Wellsville, against either Humboldt or Prairie View.

Kenya mourns

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP)

— Kenya’s world marathon record holder Kelvin Kiptum has been given a state funeral as many urged the government to do more to protect the country’s famous athletes.

Hundreds of dignitaries — from Kenyan President William Ruto to Sebastian Coe, head of World Athletics — joined family,

friends and fans of Kiptum in paying last respects as he was interred in Naiberi. The 24-year-old was set to be a superstar of long-distance running, having broken the world record in what was only his third appearance in an elite marathon. He was killed along with his coach in a crash in Kenya Feb. 11.

Iola: Falls to SFT

Continued from B1

Curry for their willingness to work inside for scoring opportunities, as well as reserves like Kaysin Crusinbery, who sparked Iola’s firsthalf rally with her defense and rebounding. Crusinbery’s steal and layup was part of the 9-0 run to get Iola back in the game.

“She didn’t get to play much Tuesday,” Johnson noted. “For her to come out with fire and confidence really helped us out tonight. That’s what I told the girls in the locker room. To contribute, you don’t just have to score. There are plenty of other things we need you to do well. All those girls battled and fought back. That’s what I like to see.”

Fawson scored 12, Mader eight and Curry six to lead Iola’s scoring attack.

in the War on 54 Midseason Tournament.

“They’re a fundamentally sound team who’s always hard to beat,” Johnson said. “They’re aggressive. Their post players aren’t tall, but they’re strong.

“For us, it’s a mentality thing, to see if we can get over the hump,” she continued. “I think I’ve got the right group to do it. A lot of people don’t expect us to win, but we’re right there. I like what we’ve created this year.”

Santa Fe Trail won the junior varsity matchup, 26-17. Zoie Hesse and Harper Desmarteau scored five apiece for the Mustang JV. Brooklyn Holloway, Dally Curry and Elza Clift each scored two. Mahala Burris had a free throw.

Iola High’s Reese Curry, left, works her way in front of Santa Fe Trail defender Whitney Herren in Iola’s regular season finale Thursday. Curry scored six points in Iola’s 50-36 defeat. The Mustangs (7-13) will travel to Humboldt Tuesday to open the Class 3A Substate Tournament.

Friday-Saturday

ACC

Saturday, Feb. 24 — Baseball hosts Ellsworth, noon and 3 p.m.; Softball vs. State Fair CC 12:30 p.m. and vs. NEO 5 p.m. @ Miami, Okla.; Men’s basketball @ Fort Scott, 4 p.m.

Sunday — Baseball hosts Ellsworth, noon and 3 p.m.

Wednesday — Basketball hosts Labette, women 6 p.m., men 8 p.m.

Friday and Saturday, March 2 — Softball @ Springfield, Mo.

Saturday, Feb. 24 — Basketball hosts BYU 1 p.m., ESPN+

Monday — Basketball @ West Virginia, 6 p.m., ESPN2

THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS

Saturday, Feb. 24 — Basketball hosts Texas, 5 p.m., ESPN

Tuesday — Basketball hosts BYU, 7 p.m., ESPN+

Saturday, March 2 — Basketball @ Baylor, noon, ABC

Kaelee Washington scored 19 and Braegan Buessing 16 to lead Santa Fe Trail. Buessing eclipsed the 1,000-point scoring mark in the first half. She was honored after the game.

IOLA will travel to Humboldt at 7 p.m. Tuesday to take on the Lady Cubs in the opening round of the Class 3A Substate Tournament.

The teams played once already, with Humboldt prevailing, 63-55,

Competitors, but not rivals on the ice

By ELLEN DUNKEL Philadelphia Inquirer

PHILADELPHIA — Nancy Kerrigan and Tonya Harding were infamous rivals.

Figure skating also saw the battle of the Brians (Boitano vs. Orser), the battle of the Carmens (Debi Thomas vs. Katerina Witt), and many other head-tohead matches. But Isabeau Levito (2023 U.S. champion) vs. Amber Glenn (2024 U.S. champion)?

No, they’re friends.

They’re also the two U.S. women assigned to the World Figure Skating Championships on March 18-24 in Montreal.

“Obviously, there is a large age gap here,” said Glenn, who is 24 to Levito’s 16 . “When I was growing up, I was the newbie, and it was Ashley Wagner [and] Gracie Gold, and I was in the locker room. And not to say that it was aggressive, but they completely ignored each other. The media was pinning them against each other. It was just very hostile. I could feel that, and I could see it, and it was just very quiet.

“I’d always try and find someone in the locker room to talk to because I was nervous and I didn’t want to be in my own head. So that’s just kind of how it was for years and years. As I got older, I always was very social. I was homeschooled, so my only outlet was skating. And the only time I’d see people was at skating competitions.”

ONE DAY at a competition, Glenn borrowed Levito’s jacket. When she returned it, she also offered Levito, who lives in Mount Holly, N.J., and trains in Mount Laurel, N.J., a pair of earrings she wouldn’t be wearing. Both had risen quickly through the ranks and made their marks on skating, so they understood each other. But they were on different levels and rarely at events together until 2022, when they wound up on the podium together at Skate America, a Grand Prix competition. In 2023, they were among the skaters who won the gold medal for the United States at the World Team Trophy. A green frog Levito crocheted for Glenn

made the rounds on social media. People were delighted to see competitors getting along. And it got better. Both again were assigned to the 2023 Skate America. One day at practice, Glenn saw Levito land a jump and gave her props. Levito praised her right back at the press conference after the short program, in a moment that surprised and charmed skating fans.

“She is actually the most genuinely nice person you will ever meet,” Levito said on that video. “Everyone loves her — as they should.”

On a recent Zoom with Glenn, Levito explained: “I did the axel out of the transition in the run through during practice. I landed it, and I saw Amber skating behind me [gesturing in approval], because she knows how much I struggled with that entrance.”

A changing of the guard would not change that bond. At the U.S. Championships in January in Columbus, Ohio, Glenn knew she had a chance of winning. But the native Texan could be seen on TV cheering on her friend, who skated after her in the long program, and wincing when the reigning champion, Levito, faltered.

“There’s not many people that are doing this at this level,” Glenn said. “So being among people that, like, get that and [are] able to talk about it is awesome. Like, in a casual way, not like I get to talk about my therapist, like a really casual, fun way. People that, just, they get it. It’s nice.

“I mean, we were still going out there and we want to do the best we can. Come on, let’s go! But it’s not ‘I hate her,’ you know, some Tonya Harding-Nancy Kerrigan type.”

AT MARCH’S World Championships, it’ll be back to business: practicing, competing, and laying low in between. Off the ice, Levito probably will be crocheting or reading in her hotel room. Glenn likely will be playing Magic: The Gathering with a lightheaded TV show on in the background in hers. Both will rest and recover.

“I don’t really make plans with people

when I go to events,” Levito said, “but they always have buffet meals at the events‚ and I hang around those [for] like the entirety that they’re open for because I’m just talking from one friend group to another group of people, and that’s how I get my social time in when I’m at competitions.” Glenn agreed.

“When we’re there, it’s less of, ‘OK, we’re going to plan so and so and so,’ but ‘Hey, I’m going to the grocery store, do you need anything, do you want to come with?’ ” she said. “It’s more of that kind of vibe. Not like, we’re going to have girl time and hang out.”

They have individual goals as well as a shared one: to get a third woman back on the team at the 2025 World Championships. To do that, Levito and Glenn’s placements must add up to no higher than 13 in Montreal. (This also is why it is difficult for Russia that its skaters cannot compete. Once they are allowed back, they will only get one skater or team in each discipline the first year and will have to earn extra slots for future years.)

“I think both of us are just trying to go there and skate as cleanly as possible,” Glenn said. “We both have a difficult content and the skill level to do what it takes. And, honestly, I just want both of us to do as good as possible so we can get those slots back. If that’s Isabeau, I go, ‘Beat me by 20 points. You go get as high as you can — please!’ Going into this, it feels really like it’s going to be a team effort.”

And if Levito regains her title at the 2025 U.S. Championships, Glenn said she would support that, too. She is happy to finally have her name in the books as a senior U.S. champion. (She was

the junior champion in 2014, a title Levito held in 2021.) Instead, she wants to inspire each other to the biggest goal: the 2026 Winter Olympics.

“Let’s just keep pushing to try and like do our best and keep going,” Glenn said, “especially — and this wasn’t even something I thought about like a year ago — through Milan.”

How to watch

The women’s short program will be broadcast at 1 p.m. March 21 on USA Network. It will stream at 4:05 p.m. March 20 on Peacock.

The women’s free skate, or long program, will be aired at 8 p.m. March 22 on USA. It will stream at 6 p.m. March 22 on Peacock.

Area schools ready for substate tourneys

Class 3A Boys

Monday Heritage Christian at Iola, 7 p.m.

Prairie View at Humboldt, 7 p.m.

Thursday Heritage Christian-Iola winner vs. Prairie View-Humboldt winner at Wellsville, time TBA

Saturday Substate championship at Wellsville, 5 p.m.

Class 3A Girls

Tuesday Iola at Humboldt, 7 p.m.

Friday Iola-Humboldt winner vs. Osawatomie-Heritage Christian winner at Wellsville, time TBA

Saturday Substate championship at Wellsville, 6:30 p.m.

Class 1A-I Boys

Thursday Crest vs. Madison/ Hamilton at Rosalia, time TBA

Saturday Crest-Madison/

Hamilton winner vs. Olpe-Oswego winner at Rosalia, 5 p.m.

Class 1A-I Girls

Friday Marmaton Valley-Crest winner vs. Flinthills at Rosalia, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday Substate championship at Rosalia, 6:30 p.m.

Class 1A-II Boys

Thursday Marmaton Valley vs. Waverly at St. Paul, 6 p.m.

Saturday Marmaton Valley-Waverly winner vs. Altoona-Midway-St. Paul winner at St. Paul, 5 p.m.

Class 1A-II Girls

Friday Altoona-Midway-Southern Coffey County winner vs. Marais des Cygnes Valley, at St. Paul, 6 p.m.

Saturday Substate championship at St. Paul, 6:30 p.m.

From left, Josephine Lee, Amber Glenn, Isabeau Levito, and Sarah Everhardt pose with their medals after the Championship Women’s competition during the U.S. Figure Skating Championships at Nationwide Arena on Jan. 26 in Columbus, Ohio. GETTY IMAGES/MATTHEW STOCKMAN/TNS

Kaysin Crusinbery and her Iola High teammates will open the Class 3A Substate Tournament

We are looking to fill the following positions:

Hiring for '24-'25 school yearSpecial Education Teachers

Tri-County Interlocal #607 serves 7 school districts and hires all special education teachers and providers. Applicants must have, or be eligible for, a KSDE License by August 5, 2024. Base pay is $43,750 and increases with experience and education; full benefits are provided and are not included in the salary (total package worth at least $60,361).

School-Based Occupational Therapist for '24-'25 school year

Tri-County is taking applications for a Full-Time Occupational Therapist. Applicants must have, or be eligible for, a Kansas Occupational Therapist License by the start date. OTs for Tri-County serve a wide variety of students with physical needs in the school setting from early childhood level to high school. Competitive salary with full benefits (total package worth at least $85,000). This position will remain open until filled with the anticipated start date of August 5, 2024.

Hiring for '24-'25 school yearSchool Psychologist

Tri-County Interlocal #607 serves 7 school districts and hires all special education teachers and providers. School Psychology positions are located in Coffeyville and Fredonia and provide school psychology services to children ages 3-21. Interested applicants must hold a valid license as a school psychologist in the state of Kansas OR they must have completed their program and practicum and be ready for their initial internship by August 5, 2024. Competitive salary with full benefits (total package worth at least $75,000).

To apply, contact Emily McCambridge at emccambridge@tricounty607.com tricounty607.com

Ex is too happy with divorce

Dear Carolyn: My exwife asked for a separation in December 2022, and we finalized the divorce in August, so it’s not even been six months. I know it was for the best; we weren’t happy and had a lot of issues we couldn’t seem to work through.

But I’m struggling after hearing my ex’s feelings about it all. I recently saw her for the first time since we signed the papers, and she was just glowing with happiness. She assumed I felt the same way and was yakking on about what a relief it was to be single and dating and living alone and so on, and I just stood there pretending to agree, but inside I was numb from shock.

Nearly five years of marriage, eight years together and she is just so relieved it’s over? No grief, no regret, nothing?

Ever since that meeting, I’ve been so angry, and I feel like I need to get it out. But on the surface, she didn’t do or say anything wrong.

My feelings are what they are, though, which leaves me with no good place to direct those feelings. Can I at least email her about how callous she is, or do I need therapy, or what?

CRYPTOQUOTES

M B F B Y T D V N

C U C Q P C V N E Q C Y

, C U C M H B C L N ,

D B G P E A D V

D C V Q L A V M

D B K Y . -- S C K Y V

Z X L S J C Q V K Y

Yesterday’s Cryptoquote: Isn't it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet?

-- Lucy Maud Montgomery

Tell Me About It

Carolyn Hax

If I’m better off without her, then why is learning she’s so happy postdivorce so hard for me?

— Divorce Is Weird Divorce Is Weird: Divorce is weird, your signature gets it right. So it’s normal to have big, uncomfortable feelings that have no place to go. You don’t really need an explanation beyond that for your anger. Getting our equilibrium after a divorce takes time, pain, a lot of mental sorting through old files, and lonely sessions with our faults and mistakes. And that’s the best case, when the parting is amicable and we’re big enough to accept our share of the blame.

It is a fact of breakups — and any form of loss, really — that some people do their hard work and grieving as the loss is in progress. They’re the ones who emerge from a wrenching breakup almost giddy with relief, or who worry there’s something wrong with them when they don’t cry over a death or a big departure.

It’s not that people like this don’t care — they pre-care, from the moment they sense something big is coming to an end.

The way you describe your ex-wife, I’d say she’s in that emotional camp, grieving before you even separated. I’m guessing you’re in the other camp: living more in the moment, so your grief-and-hard-work clock starts upon the fact of a loss.

There is nothing wrong with either emotional makeup. Each has advantages and disadvantages. Hers was harder then, and yours is harder now.

The problem is when the two don’t understand each other. Let’s say she misread you when she thought you’d share her relief, completely missing the fact that you’d process the divorce too differently for that. You misread her when you perceived her glow as a failure to care about you or grieve.

This can remind you why you’re better apart, as post-divorce encounters have a way of doing. “Nearly five years of marriage, eight years together,” and you still don’t get what you need from each other.

You divorced each other, sure, but really

you both were divorcing that signature frustration.

A blamey email would only give it an afterlife, and for what?

Divorce is an agreement to manage your lives apart. So, manage your anger apart. Therapy isn’t the only way — time and temperance are pretty great, too — but it’s appropriate, if you’re stuck.

by Jerry Scott and Jim Borgman

BEETLE BAILEY

by Mort Walker

HAGAR THE HORRIBLE

by Chris Browne

BLONDIE

by Young and Drake

MUTTS

by Patrick McDonell

MARVIN by Tom Armstrong

HI AND LOIS by Chance Browne

Crest High volleyball team members are, front row from left, Aylee Beckmon and Jaycee Schmidt; second row, Brooklynn Jones, Cursten Allen, Kaelin Nilges and Hanna Schmidt; back row, Kayla Hermreck, Kinley Edgerton, and Karlee Boots. COURTESY PHOTO

Swimmers die in crash

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Three members of the University of Wyoming swimming and diving team were killed in a highway crash in northern Colorado.

The crash happened Thursday about 10 miles south of the Wyoming-Colorado line south north of Fort Collins.

The crash apparently happened when the driver swerved and went off the pavement, and the SUV rolled over multiple times.

DRACING THIS WEEK

AYTONA BEACH, Fla. –William Byron gave team owner Rick Hendrick something extra to celebrate in the 40th anniversary year of Hendrick Motorsports.

In a frantic scramble after a restart on Lap 197 of 200 in the Daytona 500, Byron reached the start/finish line and took the white flag moments before NASCAR called the fifth caution of the evening as Ross Chastain slid wildly through the infield grass off the bumper of Austin Cindric’s Ford.

Alex Bowman was a close second to his teammate at the moment of caution, giving Hendrick a 1-2 finish and the organization’s first victory in the “Great American Race” since Jimmie Johnson bested Dale Earnhardt Jr. to the stripe in 2013.

The victory was Hendrick’s ninth in the Daytona 500, tying the company with Petty Enterprises for most in the history of the Cup Series most prestigious event. The race was postponed from Sunday to Monday because of heavy rains during the weekend.

“I’m just a kid from racing on computers and winning the Daytona 500,” said the 26-year-old Byron, who picked up the 11th Cup Series victory of his career and his second at Daytona, the first coming in the 2020 summer race.

“I can’t believe it. I wish my dad was here. He’s sick, but this is for him, man. We’ve been through so much, and we sat up in the grandstands together and watched the race (when Byron was younger). This is so freaking cool.”

Hendrick could barely contain his elation in Victory Lane.

“I’m telling you, you couldn’t write the script any better,” he said. “When we thought about coming down here the first time, we didn’t think we should be here, felt so out of place.

“We win this on our 40th to the day, it’s just… and tied a record now, so that’s awesome.”

Before the final restart, Chastain was racing at the front of the field on Lap 192 when a bump from Alex Bowman got Hendrick Motorsports teammate William Byron out of shape and knocked Byron into the right rear of Brad Keselowski’s Ford.

Keselowski turned up the track into

the Ford of Joey Logano, who had led a race-high 45 laps to that point. Reigning series champion Ryan Blaney’s Ford was among the 23 cars involved in the accident that left a string of mangled vehicles strewn along the backstretch.

The wreck knocked Blaney, Keselowski and Logano out of the race, along with Tyler Reddick, defending race winner Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Daniel Suárez and Todd Gilliland. NASCAR red-flagged the race for 15 minutes 27 seconds for track cleanup.

“Speedway racing again,” Logano said ruefully. “It’s a lot of fun until this happens. It was pretty interesting, with a lot of pushing and shoving there at the end. Our car was able to take it. Our Mustang was so fast. It could lead a line really well. I kind of thought I had the cars I wanted around me. I had at least one I wanted around me but just couldn’t make it work.”

“Obviously, hate what happened on that backstretch,” Byron said of the accident. “I just got pushed and got sideways. But so proud of this team, whole Axalta team, 40th anniversary to the day, on Monday.

“Just extremely blessed and thankful for all the opportunities, and we just want to keep it going. We have a lot to prove this year, and this is a good start, obviously.”

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Daytona 500,

gave a

Byron who spun into Brad Keselowski.

How much Byron has yet to prove is debatable. He won a series-best six races last year, qualified for the Championship 4 and finished third in the final standings.

The race was not quite five laps old when an eight-car accident off Turn 4 started the inevitable attrition. Contact from Keselowski’s Ford in a tightly bunched line of the outside knocked John Hunter Nemechek’s Toyota into the center lane and into the side of Harrison Burton’s Ford.

Burton slid toward the infield, collecting the Chevrolet of Sunoco rookie Carson Hocevar. Burton’s No. 21 Mustang shot up the track and slammed into the Ford of Kaz Grala and the Chevrolet of Austin Dillon. Behind Dillon, Hocevar careened into the path of seven-time series champion Jimmie Johnson, who couldn’t avoid the collision.

The wreck eliminated the cars of Burton, Hocevar and Grala. Dillon took his No. 3 Chevy to the garage for extensive repairs, and Johnson lost two laps on pit road as his Legacy Motor Club crew worked frantically to repair his Camry.

“I don’t remember exactly who it was on my outside,” Burton said after a trip to the infield care center. “It just looked like they either got a bad push or got loose and just hit me in the right side and sent me across.

“The grass was so wet that once I got in the grass, I thought I’d be OK, but the car just kept going and going… so really sad that our day is over as quick as it was. We had a really fast Ford. It’s just a bummer. There’s nothing we can do but just move on and try to win next week.”

It took 187 more laps of racing before the colossal wreck that dwarfed the earlier incident thinned the field and set up the fight to the finish among the cars that survived.

In a race that featured 41 lead changes among 20 drivers, Christopher Bell ran third, followed by Corey LaJoie, Bubba Wallace and AJ Allmendinger. Chastain, who didn’t have quite enough room when he dived to the inside of Cindric on the penultimate lap, finished 21st, one spot ahead of Cindric.

Seven-time Cup champion Jimmie Johnson, who was initially caught in the first yellow of the day on Lap 6, finished 28th. Reddick, the 2024 Bluegreen Vacations Duel 1 winner, finished 29th.

With nine Susan Booth, Agent Logan Booth, Agent

a Cup race. Only three of the original seven; Darlington, Daytona and Charlotte, are still in operation. With just the Weaver Grandstand and wooden bleachers on the backstretch, fans would bring blankets and sit on the dirt bank. Bruton Smith changed all that when he purchased Atlanta International Raceway in 1990 and renamed the facility Atlanta Motor Speedway. A year later, the addition of the East Turn Grandstand expanded the seating capacity by 25,000, and the 30 suites that rimmed the top gave new meaning to “luxurious.” Atlanta Motor Speedway has undergone massive expansion and dramatically increased its menu, hosting everything from the X nity and Truck Series, drag racing, legends and Bandolero Racing as well as car shows, concerts and business conventions. Medicare Supplements Medicare Part C & D Vision/Dental Annuities Life