The Iola Register, April 28, 2020

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Tuesday, April 28, 2020

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Fewer students taking part in online learning District will consider graduation after governor speaks

257 puts Crossroads virtual program in its crosshairs

By VICKIE MOSS The Iola Register

By VICKIE MOSS The Iola Register

A plan to recognize Iola High School’s 2020 graduates could be announced after administrators learn if the governor will relax restrictions on mass gatherings.

Gov. Laura Kelly is expected later this week to announce plans to start easing the state out of a shutdown caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Residents are asked to stay at home except for a few exceptions including going to work or to buy food. Current social distancing guidelines limit gatherings to 10 or fewer people, with a minimum 6 feet of distance between people.

Those rules have thrown events such as graduation ceremonies into doubt. Some

The recent foray into online learning caused by the coronavirus pandemic has taught parents and students something USD 257 administrators have known for awhile: virtual learning has its downside.

Citing decreased graduation rates since 2006, administrators asked the school board to consider major changes to the Crossroads virtual education program.

The program’s name will be changed (to be determined) and the school will move to Iola High School, where students will be required to attend at least 10 hours each week and meet with teachers and paraprofessionals on a regular basis.

See CROSSROADS | Page A2

Virus affects Royals prospects

Scott Carson, Iola High School assistant principal who will be principal in the fall, talks about changes to the Crossroads alternative learning program. ZOOM SCREENSHOT districts have announced plans for virtual or alternative ceremonies, limiting attendance to only a handful at a time.

Superintendent Stacey Fager said he doesn’t want to make plans now only to have to cancel or adjust them if the regulations change. Instead, he and other administrators will wait to see what the governor announces and then

will begin to plan accordingly.

“We hope to get clarification by the start of next week,” Fager said. “Once we have direction from the governor, we can get parental feedback and plan quickly.”

MEANWHILE, students, parents and staff continue to adjust to having school at home. Results have been See SCHOOL | Page A2

“It’s been a struggle every year to get those kids to do the work and graduate,” said Scott Carson, assistant Iola High School principal.

Carson will take the reins as principal for the next school year.

“It’s mainly the lost connection to the high school.

I think this last month has shown how important it is to have that connection, to be around teachers, administrators and other students.”

Only juniors and seniors would be allowed to attend the program, with sophomores evaluated on a caseby-case basis. Currently, it’s easy for sophomores and upperclassmen to opt for the virtual education program, with little interaction with other IHS students and staff.

City sets 15-day deadline for past-due bills

By RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register

PAGE B1

‘Normal’ still a long ways off for US PAGE A2

Social distancing needn’t be isolating PAGE A5

Iolans whose utilities are subject to be disconnected because of non-payment will have 15 days to get their accounts caught up once a state order prohibiting disconnections expires.

City Council members on Monday set the 15-day grace period following another extensive discussion on how many, and how severely, Iolans are behind adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Gov. Laura Kelly’s executive order prohibiting utility shutoffs expires on Friday.

“Even though I sympathize with the situation, I don’t know if we’ll make it better by extending out the deadline,” City Councilman Carl

Iola City Council members voted to give customers 15 days to pay their utility bills after the governor’s prohibition on utility shutoffs expires Friday.

Slaugh said.

In a memo to Council members prior the the meeting, Interim City Administrator Corey Schinstock said an av-

Kansas has 1st prison virus death; meatpacking cases up

By HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTH The Associated Press

MISSION, Kan. (AP) — Kansas has reported its first death in a prison coronavirus outbreak and saw the number of positive cases in six meatpacking plants rise to 378 as the state works to reopen its economy.

Dr. Lee Norman, the state’s health director, said most of the infected meat packing workers were asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic.

None have died and at most one is hospitalized. Norman also said the number of influenza-like illnesses reported statewide was “dropping like a rock.”

As of Monday, the number of COVID-19 deaths rose by two to 120, and the number of positive cases increased by 154 to 3,328. But Norman said hospitalizations are dropping Vol. 122, No. 128 Iola, KS 75 Cents

erage of 75 accounts would have been subject for disconnection in March and April, but have not been because of the state order. In 2019, the

monthly average of shut-offs for non-payment was 23.

However, Council members were uncertain if the number See UTILITIES | Page A6

Pentagon releases 3 Navy videos showing UFOs

By DAVID MATTHEWS New York Daily News

Dr. Lee Norman, Kansas health director. and that the rise in the number of positive cases is largely the result of the state trying to boost its lowest-in-the nation testing rate.

“We will without question continue to see an uptick in the total number of cases as we do more testing, and that is going to be a challenge in

how to communicate that to people,” Norman said. “It is going to look like it is getting worse in the case count but it is not in reality.”

For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, See CASES | Page A2

The Department of Defense has been watching, and recording, the skies.

The Pentagon released three videos Monday that depict unexplained “unidentified aerial phenomena” which were recorded by pilots between 2004 and 2015.

In each of the reconnaissance videos, a flying aircraft maneuvers strangely before emitting a bright light and flying away at great speed.

The Pentagon released the videos “to clear up any misconceptions by the public on whether or not the footage that has been circulating was real, or whether or not there is more to the videos,” spokesperson Sue Gough

The Pentagon released three videos Monday that depict unexplained “unidentified aerial phenomena” which were recorded by pilots between 2004 and 2015.

(Department of Defense/TNS)

said. “The aerial phenomena observed in the videos remain characterized as ‘unidentified.’”

The Navy originally verified the videos’ existence in See UFO | Page A6

A2

Tuesday, April 28, 2020

The Iola Register

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The US reopening is coming, but ‘normal’ is still a ways off NEW YORK (AP) — Everyone wants to know: When, oh when, will it go back to normal?

As some governors across the United States begin to ease restrictions imposed to stop the spread of the coronavirus, hopes are soaring that life as Americans knew it might be returning. But plans emerging in many states indicate that “normal� is still a long way off.

White House adviser Dr. Deborah Birx says social distancing will be with Americans through the summer. Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards warns of a “different way of life� until there is a widely available vaccine — maybe not until next year. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo says: “There is no return to yesterday in life.�

From the beginning, the pandemic forced impossible choices: physical health or mental health? Economic well-being or medical safety? Most states joined the world and turned the dial down hard, closing shops and restaurants, factories and schools.

Asking people to largely keep to their homes. Now, the dial is beginning to inch in the opposite direction.

In Georgia, Gov. Brian Kemp is pushing one of the most aggressive reopening plans in the United States. Barbershops, gyms and nail salons were allowed to reopen Friday, and dinein restaurant service and movie screenings were freed to resume Monday — despite warnings that, without sufficient testing, the state could see a

surge in infections.

Even there, though, life was far from normal Monday. Patrons went to restaurants with X’s on some tables, chatted across the room to one another and gave orders to servers whose faces were covered by masks.

Draft guidance for reopening from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provided more evidence Monday that “normal� would not be on the menu — at restaurants or anywhere

else. No break rooms for employees and no field trips for school children, the guidelines recommended. Children should eat in their classrooms, not the cafeteria, and congregants should stay 6 feet apart in church.

In Maryland, Gov. Larry Hogan envisions a phased reopening — something the federal government also advocates. First small shops could open, and some outdoor recreation could resume, then perhaps

restaurants and bars.

Phase three, which the administration cautions it has no realistic time frame for reaching, would allow larger social gatherings and high-capacity bars, restaurants and entertainment venues could reopen.

You know, the stuff that two months ago might have just been called “city life.�

Even with strict rules

School: Students Continued from A1

mixed.

The third two-week packet was delivered Monday. Some receive paper packets filled with assignments, while most older students do their work online.

Virtual meetings aren’t required for students, but teachers offer Zoom meetings at various times to give students a chance to see each other and their teachers. .

Preschool and kindergarten students struggled early on but are starting to adapt, McKinley Elementary School principal Angie Linn said. Participation in online meetings varies. Some students can’t use Zoom during the day because of daycare or because older siblings may be using devices, so it’s good to have teachers who are flexible, she said.

But principals Tiffany Koehn at Jefferson Elementary and Andy Gottlob at Lincoln report decreased participation.

The first week that Jefferson offered its packets for parents to pick up, only three families failed to show up. This time, teachers and staff had to deliver 38 packets after families failed to come for them. Later Monday, another 10 or 15 families had returned the previous week’s as-

Crossroads: New approach needed Continued from A1

“We just kick them down there and never see them,� Carson said. “We want them to feel like part of the high school.�

In 2006, the graduation rate for Crossroads students was 92%. It has continued to drop since then, to around the mid80s now, Superintendent Stacey Fager estimated.

About 20 students currently attend the program. Administrators would like to reduce that number to around five.

The program originally began at a building in Gas with four teachers. It has been modified over the years, and now requires little to no interaction with others in the district. “Just placing students on virtual and expecting them to succeed can be a challenge,� Fager said. “We’re all experiencing

Today

79

that now.�

Often, students who attend Crossroads struggle in a traditional learning environment. The virtual program gives them an opportunity to learn at their own pace, without the distractions and disruptions in a classroom setting.

But it’s easy for struggling students to use Crossroads as a default and escape the reality of high school, Carson said. “They get in a spot and think, ‘Well, I flunked everything my freshman year. I don’t think I can do the work at the high school level,’� he said. “It is tough. And there is a time when a junior gets so far behind that they need help.�

It’s also important to change the name, Fager and Carson said. “Crossroads� can have a negative connotation,

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Temperature High yesterday Low last night High a year ago Low a year ago

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0 This month to date 1.77 Total year to date 11.09 Excess since Jan. 1 2.00 Spring Break is around the corner.

Book your furbabies stay today.

Sunrise 6:29 a.m.

Sunset 8:09 p.m.

they said. They are considering a name with some version of the word “Blended,� as the new model will blend the virtual and physical locations.

The board agreed to allow Carson to explore the changes.

IN OTHER news, the board: • Approved spending $174 each on 200 new Chromebooks, after approving a cost of $167 each at the last board meeting. That’s because the company rescinded its offer after increased demand, and planned to charge $209 for a different model.

At a coming board meeting, the board will debate whether to offer used Chromebooks for sale to eighth-graders.

The district assigns a specific Chromebook to fifth-graders, which they’ll use until eighth grade. In ninth grade, they get a new Chromebook to use until graduation, and have the option to purchase that device.

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USD 257-Iola Meal Pick-up Locations March 23rd - May 14th Iola High School Cafeteria Entrance

Some eighth-graders said they would like to buy their Chromebooks, which would provide an extra device for home use and could save on wear and tear for the high school models. The district currently has a glut of used Chromebooks, and already approved selling the devices to seniors for just $25, or half the usual cost. • Recognized outgoing IHS principal Scott Crenshaw, who was named Area 2 Principal of the Year by the Kansas Association of Secondary School Principals, and Carson, who was named Area 2 Assistant Principal of the Year. It’s quite unusual to have two administrators from the same school awarded those honors, Fager said. • Heard an update on summer improvement projects. Efforts to obtain cost estimates for numerous projects has been slowed by the coronavirus, Aaron Cole, maintenance director, said.

2900 Dodge Drive - 10:30 - 10:40 200 McGuire Drive - 10:50 - 11:00 Lincoln Elementary - 11:10 - 11:20 Eisenhower Dr. School on North End - 11:30 - 11:45 McKinley Elementary - 12:10 - 12:20 Jeerson Elementary - 12:30 - 12:40 Riverside Park South Parking Lot - 12:50 - 1:00 Students receiving a meal must be present.

*If you live in Gas, LaHarpe, or you are a rural bus rider, please call the district oďŹƒce (620) 365-4700 or email judy.baker@usd257.org to schedule meal delivery.

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signments for grading.

Zoom participation has dropped to just five or six students per class, Koehn said.

Lincoln also saw a drop in families coming to pick up packets.

Staff delivered 30 packets.

Zoom participation also has dropped at Iola Middle School, principal Brad Crusinbery said.

IHS delivers its paper packets, since most students prefer online assignments, principal Scott Crenshaw said.

Monday’s delivery was the final packet, as classes end for seniors on May 6. Teachers and other staff will spend the remainder of the school year working closely with students who are behind, helping them improve their grades.

STATE officials are optimistic classes will return to normal in the fall, Crenshaw said, but there’s still a possibility that the continuous learning will continue if the pandemic remains or returns.

If that happens, teachers and administrators will be better prepared because of this experience and because they’ll have the summer to think about improvements, Crenshaw said. They’ll also have higher expectations for students, he said.

Cases: Inmate dies at Lansing Continued from A1

especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness and death.

The inmate who died over the weekend at the prison in Lansing, where 64 other inmates and 71 workers are sick, was over the age of 50 and had significant underlying health issues, Norman said.

Gov. Laura Kelly has been under pressure to free inmates to allow for better social distancing.

She has said for weeks

that efforts are underway to identifying inmates who are close to finishing their sentences who can be freed early. “I wish it was as easy as opening the door and letting people out,� Kelly said Monday. “It takes a lot longer than we had hoped it would.�

Kelly said she was preparing to make an announcement later this week on both prison releases and her plan for lifting the state’s stayat-home order, which is set to expire Sunday. She said the reopening effort involves meeting with

207 N. Cottonwood - 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

MONDAY - FRIDAY M.A.R.V. Bus

in place, it’s a delicate dance, as Dennis McKinley learned this weekend.

He had planned to open two of the three branches of his restaurant, The Original Hot Dog Factory, for dine-in service in the Atlanta area. He reversed himself Monday after getting about 40 calls from politicians, community leaders and customers urging him to keep diners out.

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industry groups, leaders in neighboring states and health officials.

She said the major challenge she has cited in meetings with federal officials is ongoing challenges beefing up testing. “We are in agreement that we need to work together to increase testing,� she said. “It is the only way that we can safely reopen our economy.�

Dr. Sanmi Areola, director of Johnson County’s Department of Health and Environment, said that while coronavirus testing has increased there in recent weeks, he is not sure the county has enough testing kits yet to last beyond a few weeks. He said the county, which is the largest in the state, is having the same struggles getting testing materials as other communities, with the biggest issue being swabs. “Once you roll things back, testing becomes even more important,� he said. “That’s how you identify cases. You quickly get in touch with their contacts, and using isolation and quarantine procedures, you minimize the opportunities for others in the community to become infected,� he said.

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The Iola Register

Tuesday, April 28, 2020

Cancer surgeries still a go; telemedicine gets a boost

By BRIAN GRIMMETT Kansas News Service

WICHITA — Doctors diagnosed Courtney Buchmann’s breast cancer on March 6, three days before the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in Kansas.

Buchmann worried, as hospitals braced for an overflow of coronavirus patients, whether the potentially life-saving surgery she suddenly needed would be deemed elective.

Instead, a quick shift to online consultations with her doctors, the surgery went ahead without much change.

Yet the stress that comes with cancer remained. And a tough decision got rushed.

Right after her diagnosis, Buchmann quickly scheduled two appointments with doctors at the University of Kansas Cancer Center.

Her brother, a physician, went with her to her first appointment with her surgeon. She was hoping to bring her sister-in-law, an oncologist, to the next one a few days later. By that point, the doctor’s office wasn’t allowing any visitors to come to appointments.

“So as I had my appointments, COVID was really changing the landscape,” Buchmann said.

Those changes also altered a tough decision.

Rather than wait for the results of a genetic test that would help her decide on getting a double mastectomy, she went ahead and scheduled surgery to just remove the cancerous tissue.

“We wanted to go ahead and operate on

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If you have not received your paper by this time, please call your carrier.

If you cannot reach your carrier, call the Register office at (620) 365-2111.

Iola Routes

Route 1 — LARRY MORRISON, 620-363-2829

(S. State St., 400 W. Madison Ave., 500-600 West St., Bruner St., Campbell St., Scott St., Park St., Acres St., High St., Davis St., S. Walnut St., S. Chestnut St., and W. Neosho St.)

Route 3 — SUE KELLER, 620-228-0631

(S. Washington Ave., part of Acres St., W. Broadway St., W. Neosho St., and W. Spruce St.)

Route 4 — SAMUEL KARHOFF, 620-363-2228

(S. Jefferson Ave., S. Sycamore St., South St. 300 block on, 100-200 E. Irwin, E. Calhoun, 206-1/2 E. Broadway Apts.)

Route 5 — MACEN FISCHER, 785-259-0017

(S. Buckeye St., S. Cottonwood St., 300-400 E. Irwin St., 200-400 E. Broadway)

Route 6 — SARHA PETERSON, 620-228-0387

(S. Colburn St., S. Oak St., S. Elm St., S. 1st St., 400-700 E. Spruce St., 500-800 E. Broadway St.)

Route 7 — ASHLEY TRAINOR, 620-228-8238

Cancer Center of Kansas near Wesley Medical Center in Wichita KANSAS NEWS SER-

(S. 3rd St., S. 4th St., 900 E. Broadway St., 1019 E. MadisonS. Kentucky St., S. Ohio St., S. Tennessee St., S. Vermont St.)

Route 8 — BARBARA BERRY, 620-228-7341

VICE/BRIAN GRIMMETT/KCUR.ORG

(N. State St., N. Chestnut St., W. Madison 200 block on)

the cancer I currently had while KU still had masks,” she said.

“While they were still seeing cancer surgery as essential.”

About that same time, the American College of Surgeons began issuing guidance to hospitals on how to best prepare for the surge of COVID-19 patients. And which surgeries were truly needed. The group offered guidance to help prepare U.S. hospitals for the same problems other countries faced.

“Many hospitals were literally overwhelmed with admissions,” said David Hoyt, executive director of the American College of Surgeons. “So, just to free up beds to be able to care for these patients, to preserve protective equipment, gowns, gloves, masks. All the things that you need.”

And it seemed to work. While many people had to delay knee or hip replacements, Kansas hospitals have so far handled the influx of

COVID-19 patients without too many issues.

Some models project Kansas will soon reach its peak, and that it has capacity to spare. Meanwhile, cancer treatment has gone forward almost the same as it had before.

The one major difference is that most appointments before and after surgery now happen online.

“Today, I have eight patients who showed up on my schedule,” Dr. Shaker Dakhil, president of the said. “And beside their appointment, it says virtual visit.”

He said the visits look very much like an in-person visit would.

He has his computer in front of him. He asks them questions about their disease and listens to any of their concerns.

“We kept everything exactly the same,” he said, “and this has been working beautifully.”

Dakhil hopes that some of the changes made to deal with

the coronavirus stick around after the pandemic.

And while it could be intimidating, health officials are encouraging people to not wait to get treated and try the new system.

“If there’s something that you think is important enough that you would call the doctor’s office, then consider a telemedicine appointment.” Lori Ranallo, nurse practitioner at the University of Kansas Health System Cancer Center and state ambassador for the American Cancer Society said.

Buchmann, the breast cancer patient, said she would have thought you were crazy if you’d told her back in February she’d be having doctor’s appointments over Zoom, but she’s now had three of those video calls.

“It hasn’t sent me into an extraordinary panic,” Buchmann said. “I would say I’m at baseline you-have-cancer panic.”

NTSB to release report on fatal Duck Boat sinking LIBERTY, Mo. (AP) — Nearly two years after 17 people died when a tourist boat sank on a Missouri lake, federal transportation safety investigators today will release the results of an investigation into the tragedy.

The National Transportation Safety Board has been investigating what caused the Ride the Ducks vehicle to sink at Table Rock Lake near Branson, killing 17 of the 31 people on board. The boat, known as Stretch Duck 7, was unable to make it back to shore when a severe storm hit in July 2018.

The boat’s owner, Ripley Entertainment, has settled 31 lawsuits filed by survivors or relatives of those who died.

The refurbished am-

A3

phibious duck boats were a major tourist attraction in Branson for nearly 50 years, and Ripley purchased the attraction in 2017. The boats started out on land and then entered the water for a brief tour around the lake.

Ripley suspended operations of the boats after the accident and it remains unclear if they will ever return to the lake.

In November, the NTSB criticized the U.S. Coast Guard for ignoring its recommendations to improve the boats since a duck boat accident in Arkansas killed 13 people in 1999.

The board said it has repeatedly urged the Coast Guard to require that the boats be upgraded to better stay

afloat when flooded, and to remove barriers to escape, such as canopies.

That report found that a fixed canopy and closed side curtain on the Branson boat prevented passengers from escaping and likely caused more deaths.

The boat’s captain and two company executives were indicted after the sinking. Curtis Lanham, the general manager at Ride the Ducks Branson, and Charles Baltzell, the operations supervisor, are charged with misconduct and neglect.

Route 9 — DOMINQE MENDOZA, 620-228-7148

(10-1100 N. Walnut St., 200 W. Jackson Ave., 200 W. Douglas St., 113-201 W. Lincoln St.)

Route 10 — ALEX MORRIS, 620-228-7479

(N. Walnut St. 1200 block on, W. Garfield St., Guest Home Estates, Northwestern St., Northwestern Cir., Prairie Dr., Timber Dr.)

Route 11 — DEVON WILSON-WING, 620-363-0839

(N. Washington Ave., North St. to Buchanan St., 2 E. Buchanan St., 10-20 W. Buchanan, and Monroe St.)

Route 12 — DEVON WILSON-WING, 620-363-0839

(200-600 N. Jefferson Ave., 200-523 N. Sycamore St., 100-500 N. Buckeye St., 100-300 E. Monroe St., 400 block E. Douglas St., 200-506 N. Cottonwood St., 202 E. Jackson Ave., 410-519 N. Oak St.)

Route 13 — LETICIA GARDNER, 620-228-7148

(600-1400 N. Jefferson Ave., 4-102 E. Buchanan, 4-116 W. Edwards)

Route 14 — MACEN FISCHER, 785-259-0017

(217 North St., Townhouse East and 217 N. Washington Ave., Townhouse West)

Route 15 — DEVON WILSON-WING, 620-363-0839

(E. Garfield St., Garfield Rd N., Windsor Place, White Blvd., E. Alamosa Cir., W. Alamosa Blvd., 1200-1400 N. Cottonwood St., Mustang Cir.)

Route 16 — MICHAEL STOLL, 620-778-9747

(600-1300 N. Buckeye, 700-1110 N. Cottonwood St., 321 E. Buchanan St., 600-1300 N. Sycamore St., E. Jim St., 120 E. Garfield St.)

Route 17 — ALISHA TRAINOR, 620-228-8238

(500-700 E. Lincoln St., N. Oak St., N. Elm 300 block on, 400-710 N. Colburn St.)

Route 18 — BARBARA BERRY, 620-228-7341

(N. 1st St., N. 2nd St., 800 block of E. Jackson Ave., part of E. Lincoln St., 818 E. Carpenter)

Route 19 — TINA CRAFT, 620-365-7979

(N. 3rd St., N. 4th St., 900-1110 E. Carpenter St., 902-1101 E. Douglas St., 1105 E. Lincoln)

Route 20 — DOMINQE MENDOZA, 620-228-7148

(The Square, 100-300 South St., 100-220 S. Jefferson Ave., 1-102 N. Washington Ave., 9-19 N. Jefferson Ave., 110 East St., 1-108 E. Madison Ave., 1-115 E. Jackson Ave., 2-224 S. Washington Ave., 9-120 W. Madison Ave.)

Route 22 — SARHA PETERSON, 620-228-0387

(Low numbers on N. Buckeye, 200-700 E. Jackson Ave., 8-19 N. Sycamore St., East St. thru 700 block, 200 N. Elm St., 200 N. Colburn St., 400-500 E. Monroe St., 100 N. Cottonwood St.)

Route 23 — LETICIA GARDNER, 620-228-7148 (Meadowbrook Rd. East and West)

Route 24 — JUDY BRANSTETTER, 620-228-2535

(N. Kentucky 700 block on, E. Buchanan St., Redbud Ln., Kenwood Cir., Sterling Heights Addition)

Route 25 — JUDY BRANSTETTER, 620-228-2535

(N. Kentucky thru 600 block, N. Ohio St., N. Tennessee St., 1200-1300 block E. Carpenter St., 1100-1300 E. Lincoln St., 1100-1321 E. Douglas St., 1200-1300 E. Breckenridge)

Route 26 — BARBARA BERRY, 620-228-7341

(N. Vermont St., Kansas Dr., 1500 E. Carpenter St. on, Eisenhower Dr., Wilson Ln.)

Route 27 — BARBARA BERRY, 620-228-7341

(Dodge Dr., Holiday Ln., Kansas Ave., Holiday Cir. North and South)

Route 28 — SARHA PETERSON, 620-228-0387

(1800-2600 N. Cottonwood St., E. and W. Miller Rd., Funston St., Pryor St., Canary Ln, Cardinal Dr.)

Rural Motor Routes

Route 29 — IOLA REGISTER DRIVER, 620-365-2111

(Burris Addition, Country Club Addition, Bennett St. Addition)

Route 32 — IOLA REGISTER DRIVER, 620-365-2111 (North side of Gas)

Route 38 — IOLA REGISTER DRIVER, 620-365-2111 (South side of Gas)

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Route 34 — TAMMY BUNCE, 620-333-2861 (Moran) Route 39 — ADISYN PRITCHARD, 620-224-6209 (LaHarpe)

Humboldt Routes

Route 41 — CADEN VINK, 620-363-4432

(Northwest Section - 300-800 Bridge St., 500 Osage St., 200-800 Central St., 300 Neosho St., 200-800 Charles St., 600-1200 Franklin St., 300-1100 N. 2nd St., 200-500 N. 4th St., 400 N. 5th St., 100-500 N. 6th St., 300-1100 N. 7th St., 100-800 N. 8th St., 400-1200 N. 9th St.)

Route 42 — CADEN VINK, 620-363-4432

(Northeast Section - 900-1300 Bridge St., 1200 Osage St., 900-1700 Central St., 1200-1700 Neosho St., 1000-1600 Charles St., 1200 Elm St., 600-1600 Signor St., 100 Amos St.,1000 Kansas St., 400 N. 9th St., 300-1000 N. 10th St., 100-900 N. 11th St., 200-600 N. 12th St., 500 N. 13th St., 400 N. 14th St., 300 N. 16th St.)

Route 43 — LEXI BLACK, 620-228-4259

(Southeast Section - 900 Leavenworth St., 400 Pine St., 900-1200 Sycamore St., 1300 Pecan St., 1000 Mulberry St., 900-1200 Cherokee St., 900-1300 New York St., 900 Bridge St., 200-1100 S. 9th St., 500-1200 S. 10th St., 500-800 S. 11th St., 300 S. 12th St., 200 S. 13th St.)

Route 44 — LEXI BLACK, 620-228-4259

(Southwest Section - 600 Ohio St., 300-1100 Pine St., 100-700 Sycamore St., 400-900 Pecan St., 200-800 Mulberry St., 1-900 Cherokee St., 100-800 New York St., 1-500 Bridge St., 500-700 S. 3rd St., 200-600 S. 4th St., 400 S. 5th St., 300-1400 S. 8th St., 200-1100 S. 9th St., 500-1200 S. 10th St.)

Register Routes

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A4

Opinion The Iola Register

Tuesday, April 28, 2020

~ Journalism that makes a difference

States need federal aid to survive pandemic Senate Majority Leader of course, is a poster child Mitch McConnell says states for such criticism. But what with budgets devastated by does that have to do with a the pandemic should con- shutdown-imposed crisis sider declaring bankruptcy that’s suddenly draining rather than counting on fed- state resources while cutting eral help. This view is more off tax revenue? than just unfair — it’s a reciMcConnell’s myopic focus pe for worsening the econom- on previous state finances ic crisis. fails to take into account the State governments have fact that many of the red been on the front lines in the states he implies are fiscally battle to save lives. An earlier responsible have in fact been federal aid package to states carried by their blue-state was restricted only to new neighbors for years. Lists of expenses directly related to net “takers” from the federal the pandemic. To continue government — states that rethat approach ignores the ceive more money from Washeconomic emergency caused ington than their taxpayers by plummeting state tax rev- send there — are heavy with enues, which threatens to ne- red states like Mississippi, cessitate cuts in crucial state- Alabama and, yes, Kentucky. led areas like education, “Givers,” meanwhile, are led health and housing. Cuts by blue states like New York, in those areas would ripple New Jersey and Illinois. How through an already-weak- does that fit into McConened economy, nell’s lectures making recovabout state reery that much sponsibility?

States have been on more difficult.

And how, Yet McCon- the front lines in the exactly, does nell, in a series battle to save lives. To his concern of interviews ignore the econom- about furlast week, sugther inflating gested that ic emergency they the federal rather than are in by plummeting deficit match have the feder- state tax revenues, with his own al government would threaten an central role help keep those in exploding states’ budgets a l r e a d y - w e a k e n e d that deficit by afloat, current economy. an estimate law should be of almost $2 changed to altrillion with low them to a 2017 tax cut declare bankruptcy. This that primarily benefited the shortsightedness by the top wealthy? Talk about irreRepublican on Capitol Hill sponsible. is largely driven by partisanThe instinct by McConship, as indicated by his false nell’s party toward a federalclaim that federal help would ist approach isn’t helpful in represent a “blue-state bail- a crisis that demands a uniout.” fied national response. McIn fact, McConnell’s own Connell’s personal instinct home state of Kentucky, as toward injecting partisan powell as other Republican-led sitioning into every decision states like Missouri, will makes it worse. The next aid need help if they are expect- package should include funded to continue responding ing to offset states’ tax-revto the emergency while still enue losses so they can conproviding the basic services tinue to offer not just the that states normally provide. emergency services needed It’s true that some states had to fight the virus, but the orpre-pandemic fiscal problems dinary services upon which stemming from irrespon- their citizens rely. sible pension management — The St. Louis and other failures — Illinois, Post-Dispatch

Remember this? Wow, what a sweet sight. First Lady Michelle Obama hugs former President George W. Bush while President Barack Obama and former First Lady Laura Bush look on at the opening of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, on Sept. 24, 2016. TNS PHOTO

Laura & Michelle show how it’s done

When former first ladies Michelle Obama and Laura Bush teamed up on April 18 to help raise private dollars for global health and front-line workers in the midst of this pandemic, you’d think there would be universal praise that something worthwhile and sorely needed had been done.

In this divisive era, when even a worldwide fight to prevent the spread of coronavirus has been politicized, we know it’s a little more complicated than that.

Obama and Bush appeared in a 90-second joint segment of Saturday’s Global Citizen “One World: Together at Home,” a concert event to raise money for the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund for the World Health Organization. Taking turns speaking from separate locations, they delivered a message of hope that the country and the world will get through this difficult time and expressed gratitude to health care workers and first responders.

The two former first ladies from different parties — Obama a Democrat and Bush a Republican — helped raise almost $128 million, providing $55.1 million for the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund and $72.8 million to local and regional responders.

And for that, some are unIt is fair to point out that fairly criticizing them and the World Health Organizaquestioning whether they see tion can be flawed, and it has themselves as citizens of the been less than perfect in this world over being Americans. pandemic. It seemed to give Here’s the truth of it: When China’s efforts too much unwe have former presidents earned credit in early Janand former first ladies, espe- uary. But around the same cially from optime, officials posing parties, were also warnworking togething of possible The former first la- global spread. er it sends a clear leadership dies reminded us that And Trump signal that polit- we all have a responsi- himself has ical differences been criticized bility to do our part in can be set aside for downplayto address com- defeating this deadly ing the threat. mon problems. virus.

But the botIn this case, tom line is that their leaderwe must all ship also underfocus on the scored the need to curb the common goal: Defeating this coronavirus in places where, deadly virus. The former first if allowed to fester, it would ladies reminded us that we all rebound back to America. have a responsibility to do our It’s the reason we were so part. alarmed with President DonThey are displaying the ald Trump’s call for halting kind of leadership that is too funding to the WHO, over its often lacking in public diswarnings about the coronavi- course. Without playing polrus and cases in China. At a itics or castigating others, time when cases are believed they simply supported the to be far from peaking in the important critical work being world, this is not the time to done around the world to save cut resources to a U.N. agency lives. charged with controlling this For that, they should be apglobal pandemic. plauded and, we hope, joined The WHO, buoyed by for- by millions of Americans inward-looking U.S. leadership terested in beating this virus. and monetary support, is — The Dallas needed now more than ever.

Morning News

Don’t wag the dog: U.S. does not need a war in Venezuela A look back The COVID-19 pandemic has thrust the United States into crisis, and its citizenry is in desperate need of medical, economic and moral support. What the people do not need, or want, is another war.

Yet, over the past several weeks, the federal government has been amassing a significant military force in the Caribbean — the largest U.S. military operations in the region in 30 years — intensifying its pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. War, it seems, could be on the horizon.

The Trump administration has made no secret about its desire to oust Maduro, who has been characterized by President Donald Trump as a dictator. Trump has continued and expanded economic sanctions initiated during the George W. Bush administration, in addition to adding his own. His administration also supported the claims of Venezuelan politician Juan Guaido to the presidency in 2019. And, just last month, the U.S. Justice Department charged Maduro with drug trafficking and narcoterrorism.

Despite all this, Maduro remains in charge of Ven-

Opposition leader Juan Guaido, left, and president of Venezuela Nicolas Maduro. (Yuri Cortez/AFP/Getty Images/TNS) ezuela. But with Venezuela’s economy collapsed after years of sanction pressure, leaving the country vulnerable to a public health crisis, the Trump administration seems to be considering giving regime change another go.

The U.S. has built up a tremendous force in the waters north of the country. “We’re deploying additional Navy destroyers, combat ships, aircraft and helicopters; Coast Guard cutters; and Air Force surveillance aircraft, dou-

bling our capabilities in the region,” Trump announced abruptly during an April 1 coronavirus briefing at the White House.

Officials at the Defense Department reportedly opposed the deployment, as the military has struggled with the spread of COVID-19. But their concerns were ignored.

The president claims that the operation is meant to combat drug trafficking, primarily cocaine smuggling, but such a force has never been previously deployed solely

for drugs. And data from the U.S. government’s own Consolidated Counterdrug Database shows that Venezuela is not a primary transit country for U.S.-bound cocaine.

Six times as much cocaine passed through Guatemala in recent years.

Venezuela is a deeply troubled country. Its economic crisis predates COVID-19 and its people will likely suffer even more as medical facilities face shortages of supplies. But Venezuela and Nicolas Maduro are no threat to the United States, its economy or its people.

To launch a needless war during a time of domestic crisis would be folly likely to result in failure or unintended consequences that might be worse than the present regime.

And this folly would cost the country a great deal in money and blood at a time when it should not sacrifice either for any but the clearest and greatest cause.

Our government should focus on the more pressing needs of its own people, who are trying to make it through the most significant crisis the country has faced in decades.

— Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

in t me.

April 1970 40 Years Ago

George H. Mack, 77, longtime Iola banker, died April 13 at Allen County Hospital.

He and his wife, Lola, came to Iola in 1941 to work for Allen County Bank. He rose in that organization to its presidency, the position he held at his retirement in 1965. ***** The Fifth District Republican convention will be Saturday at the National Guard Armory here. Robert Bennett, former governor of Kansas, and Jack Brier, secretary of state, will be featured speakers. Also scheduled to make remarks are State Sen. Robert Talkington, Rep. Rochelle Chronister of Neodesha, and Denise Apt, a member of the State Board of Education. ***** Phyllis Meredith, Iola artist, is one of 25 southeast Kansas artists who will be honored Friday at a reception at Cedar Crest, the governor’s mansion. The Association of Community Arts Councils of Kansas is conducting the reception for the artists, all of whom have paintings currently hanging in Cedar Crest.

iolaregister.com

Farm

The Iola Register

Tuesday, April 28, 2020

A5

Social distancing needn’t be isolating The eternal I’m not the best one to start talking about technology. Believe me, I am learning with everyone new ways to communicate and reach others at a distance through technology. Covid-19 has forced us to learn new communication strategies.

Some of our older adults may have felt some sort of isolation prior to the social distancing recommendations we have received lately. Living in rural areas can contribute to isolation. Others of us may enjoy that extra space. However, when family, friends, and neighbors pass on or move away, those feelings of isolation can be amplified for those feeling left behind.

Let’s look at some ways that we might use the time we have with this stay-at-home order to keep connected and strengthen distance relationships.

Start using or learn new technology. If we have a smart phone, a computer, or an ipad, we might already have access to some video technology, such as Skype, Zoom, or Facetime. A live video conversation is the next best thing to being there

hope of farmers

Barbara Stockebrand Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences

in person. If you’re like me, you may need the assistance of someone from a younger generation to talk you through the steps of doing the process, but after a time or two of doing it, you’ll get the hang of it. It can be very rewarding to connect through a video conversation.

If technology isn’t your thing, then pick up the phone and catch up the old-fashioned way.

A quick text or email are great ways to stay in touch between conversations.

Engage family and friends.

Encourage members of your social group, faith group, or volunteer group to support each other or reach out to those who are socially isolated.

Just a quick check-in with them can mean a lot. Involve kids by having them create artwork that can be shared with grandparents, older neighbors, or other isolated individuals you

By JACKIE MUNDT Farm Bureau Insight

may know. You never know how important it may be to someone to know that they were thought of that day.

If you want to step it up a notch, consider hosting a digital dinner with family or friends.

Everyone joins online from their respective homes and eats together with family discussions. Some of our best discussions take place over the dinner table.

If you don’t relish the idea of watching each other eat, try playing games over video or read books to young ones. To encourage staying active, create an online exercise group where all meet at the same time by a video process.

Research shows we are more accountable to our exercise program when we exercise as a group rather than individually.

Quality relationships that have devel-

oped with close family, friends, and neighbors help provide ongoing joy, excitement, support, and purpose.

Maintaining meaningful relationships take a conscious effort. While we may not be able to carry on some of those relationships in person, now, more than ever, it’s important to follow through in sustaining those connections.

Whatever you do, check in on the well-being of family and neighbors who are more isolated at this time.

Hopefully, they are sticking close to home as directed. A check-in call or running a quick errand for them could be what it takes to lift spirits right now.

For more information on overcoming feelings of isolation, contact the Yates Center Southwind Extension District Office at 620-625-8620.

COVID-19: Less meat selection, higher prices DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Meat isn’t going to disappear from supermarkets because of outbreaks of the coronavirus among workers at U.S. slaughterhouses.

But as the meat plants struggle to remain open, consumers could face less selection and slightly higher prices.

Industry leaders acknowledge that the U.S. food chain has rarely been so stressed and that no one is sure about the future, even as they try to dispel concerns about shortages.

On Sunday, the meat processing giant Tyson Foods ran a full-page advertisement in the New York Times and other newspapers outlining the difficulty of producing meat while keeping more than 100,000 workers safe and shutting some plants.

“This means one thing — the food supply chain is vulnerable,” the statement said. “As pork, beef and chicken plants are being forced to close, even for short periods of time, millions of pounds of meat will disappear from the supply chain.”

Company spokesman Gary Mickelson said the Tyson family thought it was important to explain their perspective.

“The letter encourages government leaders to unite to address food supply chain challenges,” Mickelson said. “We are taking a proactive approach to balance safety

and production by moving aggressively with testing and plant closures when necessary.”

COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, has infected hundreds of workers at meat-processing plants and forced some of the largest to close and others to slow production. While the output at beef and poultry plants has diminished, pork plants in the Midwest have been hit especially hard. The viral outbreaks have persisted despite efforts by the meat companies to keep workers at home with pay if they become sick.

The 15 largest pork-packing plants account for 60 percent of all pork processed, so when even one of those plants closes for days or weeks, the consequences ripple across the industry. That has become abundantly clear with two of the nation’s biggest plants now closed: Tyson suspended operations at its plant in Waterloo, Iowa. And Smithfield Foods halted production at its plant in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Each plant can butcher nearly 20,000 hogs a day. Some plants have reopened days after cleaning.

The result is that the nation’s pork processing capacity had declined by about 25% as of last week, said Steve Meyer, an industry economist with Kerns and Associates in Ames, Iowa.

Sarah Little, a spokes-

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woman for the North American Meat Institute, an industry trade group, said: “It’s down across the board right now, so the next couple of weeks we should see how the system works.

It’s never been tested like this before.”

A beef production plant in Green Bay, Wisconsin, is the latest to shut down because of infections among employees. JBS USA said the JBS Packerland plant, which employs 1,200, would be closed temporarily. As of Monday, 255 employees at the plant tested positive for COVID-19, said Claire Paprocki, a spokeswoman for the county health department.

Nationally, although the reduced meat supply is expected to cause consumer prices to rise, expectations are that the increases will be slight. The U.S. Department of Agriculture said late last week that it expects beef prices to climb 1% to 2% this year, poultry as

much as 1.5% and pork between by from 2% and 3%.

The agency acknowledged that consumer buying patterns change weekly and that some products face supply-chain disruptions that could affect prices.

But the USDA said its planned $3 billion purchase of fresh produce, dairy and meat should help stabilize prices.

The government will work with food distributors to provide the purchased products to food banks, community and faith-based organizations and other nonprofits serving the needy.

The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, which represents 1.3 million food and retail workers, said last week that 10 U.S. food-processing and meatpacking union workers in the U.S. have died and that an estimated 5,000 are sick or have been exposed to the virus while working near someone who tested positive.

When I left my corporate job and moved to rural Kansas, I was making decisions for the good of my future family. Sometimes those decision are at odds with my self-desires.

We don’t have a fancy house, high-speed internet or many of the creature comforts one finds in bigger cities.

Through the recent weeks of turmoil, my sense of irony keeps touting the rewards of this country life. I never feel cooped up because I can walk for a mile in any direction and not be in danger of encountering neighbors. Eating fewer meals out of the house has inspired me to put a dent in my “war chest” (freezer) of home-raised beef. My years of dealing with less than ideal internet has given me a sense of Zen when increased traffic causes frustrating hang-ups for everyone else working from home too.

Honesty, the thing I am most grateful for in this time of crisis is the sense of solid, constant purpose our farm-centered life. I have friends who are climbing the walls because they feel lost and purposeless with their worlds on hold. Others are completely overwhelmed shouldering new burdens and doing their best to make it through this storm. In perspective of all that is happening in the world, farmers’ lives remain largely the same.

Spring is a busy time on the farm. We are planting crops, spraying fields, working cattle and other livestock, prepping equipment for summer harvest or irrigation and ramping up for the “busy season.”

Even though much of the rest of the world is on hold, farms are the original essential industry: feeding the world.

Recently, I was asked to provide some insight into how farmers would make the decision on whether plant crops this year. It was a logical question to a nonfarmer, but I was

flummoxed. I had never really thought of it as a choice before.

Farmer are smart, logical people.

Every day they use their knowledge of many subjects like plant physiology, animal nutrition, accounting and economics to name a few to maximize their potential yields and hedge against current market conditions. The one place farmers may not use logic is in career choice.

The decision to farm often comes back to the solid, constant purpose of feeding others. A purpose that is sweetened by everyday moments validating the choice. A feeling of wonder in seeing newborn calve on shaky legs and seeking out its mother to nurse.

A silent cheer of excitement for newly planted crops as they break through the ground.

Laughter at the site of calves playing “reindeer games.” The sigh of relief when raindrops finally fall after days of having “the feeling in your bones.” The cordial sight of fields of wheat waving with all their might. The sense of purpose that comes from every truck leaving your farm going off to feed the world.

So even in uncertain times, farmers forget logic and plant a crop or buy cattle and they tell themselves prices will go up, the weather will cooperate, everything will work out. Farmers have an almost eternal sense of hope that the future will be better.

During this unprecedented time of challenge, I encourage everyone to think like a farmer. Here is to hoping prices will go up, the weather will cooperate and everything will work out.

Jackie Mundt is a Pratt County farmer and rancher.

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A6

Tuesday, April 28, 2020

The Iola Register

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Utilities: Council debates length of grace period to pay bill Continued from A1

was higher because customers were adversely affected by the pandemic-related economic shutdown, or if they simply neglected to pay because of the state order banning disconnections.

“There are people who were truly affected by this, that maybe were laid off, furloughed, or had a restaurant,” Councilwoman Nancy Ford said. “How can we come up with some sort of screening or vetting process?

“Of those, how many were truly affected by COVID?” she continued. “And I don’t mean, my kids are home and I have to feed them more.”

(Ford noted there are school programs available to offer free food for children through the week, even if they’re not

students.)

“If somebody truly needs a payment plan because they lost their job — they lost their income — then is 10 or 15 days enough?” Ford asked.

The problem is determining the difference, Schinstock responded.

“I’m not sure you’re going to find a definitive answer,” he said. “It’s going to be a very hard line to draw.”

In reaching out to other communities, Schinstock said many were giving their customers a grace period to catch up on their bills before disconnections resume.

That led to part two of the discussion: How long of a grace period.

Council members Gene Myrick and Nickolas Kinder suggested 30 and 60 days, respectively.

“We need to be as

My suggestion is for anybody who truly has been impacted

by COVID-19 to contact the city, to contact Roxanne, if there’s something we can legitimately do to help you and not put you further behind. We’re not trying to be heartless or mean, but we have to run the city as well. We have to look out for the city as a whole.

— Nancy Ford, Council member

generous as possible in allowing people to get out of the hole,” Kinder said. “There are people who got buried.”

Councilman Ron Ballard noted the city has a policy in which customers can ask City Clerk Roxanne Hutton to extend their utility due dates, in case of emergency. Hutton has granted those requests

SALUTING THOSE ON THE

I’m extremely proud of our entire staff for the way they have stepped up in response to COVID-19. Leaders from all departments have contributed through their unique skills and expertise. They have worked hard to make sure the necessary precautions are taken; that testing and PPE supplies are available; and, that we are operating in a manner to both serve and protect our patients. Our staff has been extremely flexible as we’ve made sacrifices, shifted resources and modified processes –sometimes daily- as we continue to learn more about this virus.

This pandemic has required many extra hours of research and investigation, along with creativity. I’m particularly pleased with the launch of the new telehealth service in our rural health clinics and our surgery and pain clinics at the hospital. Our team identified the opportunity, researched technologies, performed testing, documented processes, trained the providers and staff and had it implemented in a very short timeframe. This is just one of many examples where our teams have been working together and figuring out alternative ways to provide care for our patients given the new obstacles we face.

It’s also been great to see many different organizations coming together to share information and provide for our community. The guidance and support received from our local health department and emergency management has been wonderful. We’ve had great coordination between all of our area medical providers and clinics, first responders, and long-term care facilities. We are definitely in this together.

on rare occasions, such as if a customer has a costly water leak.

“We already have a policy,” Ballard said. “If somebody needs help, they can go in and talk to Roxanne.”

“It’s damned if you do, damned if you don’t,” Councilman Steve French said, noting the city still has bills to pay.

The 15-day grace period passed via 7-1 vote, with Kim Peterson opposed.

Ford offered a conciliatory note at the conclusion of Monday’s meeting.

“My suggestion is for anybody who truly has been impacted by COVID-19 to contact the city, to contact Roxanne, if there’s something we can legitimately do to help you and not put you further behind. We’re not trying to be heartless or mean, but we have to run the city as well. We have to look out for the city has a whole.”

IN OTHER energy matters, Council members approved a new power purchase confirmation letter with Evergy Kansas Central, Inc. The 10-year commitment goes into effect in

January 2023, once the current agreement expires.

Through the pact, the city will purchase 7 megawatts per hour from Evergy at a cost of $20.30 per megawatt hour, down from the $23 the city pays today.

Scott Shreve, Iola’s energy consultant, pegged the savings at about $165,000 annually.

The Council also reupped its energy consultant contract with Priority Power Consulting, formerly EMG, which is represented locally by Shreve. The cost is $1 per megawatt hour.

Estimating the city’s annual consumption, Shreve projected the consultant contract to be worth about $110,000 annually.

“It’s a pretty standard fee, we just have not paid it through the years,” Schinstock said. “We’ve never had an increase with EMG or Priority Power since 2006.”

COUNCIL members approved a new ordinance prohibiting the discharge of lawn clippings onto city streets and alleys. Violators would be subject to a $25 fine.

Schinstock noted the city will be lenient, at first, and offer a warning before any citations are issued.

Most often, a conversation with the violators has alleviated any problems, he said.

“I’ve seen some positive feedback,” Schinstock said. “I think the community is embracing it.”

Lawn waste in the street is a hazard for motorcyclists, and can

Continued from A1

2019 after they were leaked by To the Stars Academy of Arts and Sciences, a UFO research group started by Blink-182 guitarist Tom DeLonge.

“After a thorough review, the department has determined that the authorized release of these unclassified videos does not reveal any sensitive capabilities or systems, and does not impinge

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THE CITY will take a wait-and-see approach as to how soon to offer city facilities once the governor’s stay-at-home order expires. Kelly has indicated she will likely lift portions of the order Sunday.

Community building rentals may not resume for a while, Schinstock noted. “Depends on the governor’s orders. We’ll follow whatever guidelines the state has.”

Likewise, Schinstock is growing increasingly anxious about having the swimming pool and summer ball season program open on time, usually on Memorial Day weekend.

For now, the city is planning for a regular ball season, Schinstock said. “It depends on what the governor does.”

WHILE THE 2021 budget process isn’t due for another few months, city planners have begun formulating their spending priorities, Schinstock said.

He was asked about the budget planning by several Council members, who noted the COVID-19 pandemic likely will hit city coffers in multiple areas.

Mayor Jon Wells noted Iola’s revenues likely will be leaner in specific areas, such as with fuel and transient guest tax funds.

“There will be a hit, but not as bad as the state,” Wells said.

UFO: Navy videos show objects

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“And the third part is beautification,” Schinstock added. “We want to keep the city clean.”

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on any subsequent investigations of military air space incursions by unidentified aerial phenomena,” Gough said.

The Navy has previously said that releasing information from top-secret briefings about UFOs would cause “exceptionally grave damage” to U.S. national security.

According to the Navy, two of the videos were taken during training missions over military airspace.

“Any incursion into our training ranges by any aircraft or phenomena, identified or not identified, is problematic from both a safety and security concern,” Navy spokesperson Joseph Gradisher said in September 2019.

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Sports Daily

B

The Iola Register

Tuesday, April 28, 2020

Kenseth replaces Larson in the no. 42 CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Former NASCAR champion Matt Kenseth will again come out of retirement to compete for Chip Ganassi Racing as the replacement for fired driver Kyle Larson.

Larson lost his job two weeks ago for using a racial slur while competing in a virtual race. Although Ganassi developement driver Ross Chastain was assumed to be the leading contender to replace Larson in the No. 42 Chevrolet, the team instead announced Monday it will go with the two-time Daytona 500 winner.

“I think Matt gives us the best chance to win, run up front and compete for wins,” Ganassi told The Associated Press. “I’ve always gone with the mantra of trying to take the best driver avail-

able, and he’s the best driver available right now. And he brings something to our sponsors that they need right now.

Stability. No baggage. Family man. Daytona 500 winner.

Championship winner.”

Kenseth is in a class of drivers that includes Hall of Famers Dale Earnhardt, Jeff Gordon, Richard Petty and David Pearson as the only competitors to win a Cup Series championship, rookie of the year award and the Daytona 500.

“This was an unexpected opportunity for sure. I can’t say racing was even on my radar two weeks ago,” Kenseth said. “After spending some time thinking about it and all the unique circumstances surrounding all of us right now, it just seemed the timing and the opportunity was per-

fect to come back.”

Ganassi said the team will petition NASCAR for a waiver to make Kenseth, the 2003 Cup champion, eligible to race for the title this season. NASCAR completed just four of its 36 races before the season was suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Ganassi needed a clean start in the No. 42 after nearly every sponsor, including primary backers McDonald’s and Credit One Bank, backed away from Larson. The Japanese-American driver was popular, considered a rising star in the series and about to test free agency before he was fired.

Carl Edwards, a former teammate of Kenseth’s at Roush, was also contacted See KENSETH | Page B6

Matt Kenseth, left, and team owner Joe Gibbs talk in the garage during the 2017 season. JEFF SINER/CHARLOTTE OBSERVER/TNS

MLB: Kansas City Royals

NBA:

COVID-19 delays prospects development

By LYNN WORTHY The Kansas City Star

Even if Major League Baseball returns this year in an adjusted format and possibly with expanded rosters, there’s still a very real possibility that the minor leagues won’t be able to play anything resembling a traditional season.

While major league teams like the Kansas City Royals won’t feel that impact immediately, it could mean last year’s No. 2 overall draft pick Bobby Witt Jr., last year’s organizational Double-A player of the year Khalil Lee, top-rated pitching prospect Daniel Lynch, highly touted catching prospect MJ Melendez and host of other potential building blocks for the future lose an entire year of development and set back their timetables on when they could contribute to the big league club.

That is one scenario Royals assistant general manager/ player performance J.J. Picollo knows the organization must be ready to handle.

While Picollo remains optimistic and has endeavored to make the most of this extended period of players training in relative isolation, he’s not oblivious to what may be the harsh reality in coming months.

“From a game/competition standpoint, there’s really nothing we can do, as much as I hate to say that,” Picollo said. “We’ve had some players asking, ‘If I could, should I face hitters?’ At this point, we’ve told them just hold off on that. ‘We’ll have time to get you guys ramped up, get your pitch counts up

AFL West All-Star Khalil Lee #15 of the Kansas City Royals warms up before the Arizona Fall League All Star Game at Surprise Stadium on Nov. 3, 2018. CHRISTIAN PETERSON/GETTY IMAGES/TNS to a respectable number, so we’d rather you not face hitters right now.’

“But if it got to the point where we’re in the unfortunate situation where the season is canceled, yeah, then you’ve got to consider things like that. Regardless of what that might look like from one individual to the next, not

playing competitive games at the appropriate level for each player, that hurts.”

For now, minor league seasons remain suspended and not canceled.

Of course the logistics of staging a minor league season with multiple leagues at various levels — Rookie, Short A, Low-A, Advanced-A,

Double-A and Triple-A — figures to be a gigantic undertaking, and one that might not be possible in the wake of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. It certainly puts the likelihood of a season in doubt.

That said, Picollo stressed See ROYALS | Page B6

Nadal doesn’t see tennis back soon; is worried about injuries

Rafael Nadal of Spain in action in the 2018 French Open against Dominic Thiem of Austria. HENRI SZWARC/ABACA PRESS/TNS

MADRID (AP) — Rafael Nadal says it will be “very difficult” for tennis to return to action any time soon and is concerned about the risk of injuries when the sport resumes.

Nadal spoke in a joint interview with NBA player Pau Gasol that was published by Spanish newspapers on Monday.

“I don’t think training would be a problem, but competing... I see it very difficult,” Nadal said. “It’s a moment to be responsible and

coherent, so I don’t see how we can travel every week to a different country.

“I would be OK playing without fans, even though that’s not what we want, but unfortunately, from what I’m seeing, even though things are improving, for our sport I don’t see it prudent to be competing again any time soon.”

Nadal pointed out that even though there is a smaller risk of contagion in tenSee NADAL | Page B6

League pushes back plans to reopen facilities MIAMI (AP) — The NBA has pushed back the possible reopening date of some team practice facilities for at least a week until May 8 at the earliest, saying Monday the extra time was needed in part to make sure player training options would be safe and controlled in an effort to try to mitigate the threats caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

And when those facilities reopen, the rules will be strict.

The May 8 date is far from firm, the NBA said, warning teams that it “may push this timing back if developments warrant.” The league planned on giving teams the option of reopening facilities as early as Friday, though ultimately decided more time was needed across the league for many reasons.

But whenever those practice courts open — local government clearance would be needed first in all cases — there will not be an immediate return to normal.

A person with knowledge of the league’s plans said players would have to wear face masks inside facilities except when working out, that any staff members present would have to wear face masks and gloves, and that a minimum distance of 12 feet would be required as a buffer between players and staff members working with them.

The exception in that 12foot case would be when medical or athletic training personnel are in contact with players. The person spoke to the The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the details were not publicly released.

There are numerous other details of the league’s facility-reopening protocols, the person said, including: — Players who return to their home-team markets from out of town will have to quarantine before being allowed back in the facility.

— All equipment used by players in their voluntary workouts, including basketballs, will have to be disinfected before being used again.

Players will not be allowed to share towels, and teams will not be permitted to make steam rooms, saunas, cold tubs, oxygen chambers or cryotherapy chambers at the facilities available.

B2

Tuesday, April 28, 2020

The Iola Register

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Costs will prevent many from seeking care CEO: Air travel will remain down next 2-3 years

By RICARDO ALONZO-ZALDIVAR Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — As states gear up to reopen, a poll finds a potential obstacle to controlling the coronavirus: nearly 1 in 10 adults say cost would keep them from seeking help if they thought they were infected.

The Gallup-West Health Healthcare Costs Survey out today finds that 9% of those age 18 and over would avoid seeking treatment because of concerns about the cost of care, even if they thought they were infected with the coronavirus.

A significantly higher number, 14%, would avoid seeking treatment because of pocketbook worries if they had fever and a dry cough, two widely publicized symptoms of COVID-19.

Although Congress and President Donald Trump have made coronavirus testing free to patients, and some insurers are waiving copays and deductibles for treatment within their networks, the survey suggests such messages may not be getting to the public.

The survey delivers “important and distressing information,” said John Auerbach, head of the nonpartisan Trust for America’s Health. “I hope that policy makers take note.”

With so many reluctant to seek care, “it could pose problems in testing people,” Auerbach added. “Without widespread testing, it will be problematic to lift the restrictions.”

Auerbach’s group works with government at all levels to strengthen public health, and was not involved with the poll.

Experts say that to succeed, the nation’s reopening has to be based on three pillars: testing, tracing those who came in contact with infected people and treatment for those who become ill.

IF PEOPLE who may be sick are reluctant to come forward, that could create a blind spot for governors and public health officials trying to calibrate reopening plans to quickly contain potential virus flare-ups.

The survey found that members of minority groups, younger

By DOMINIC GATES The Seattle Times

Nurses in Bristol, Conn., collect a patient’s nasal swab at Bristol Hospital’s drive-through coronavirus specimen collection station. The station has collected over 120 samples on previous days but, due to a scarcity of specimen collection kits, the hospital collects 40 tests a day. (Mark Mirko/Hartford Courant/TNS)

U.S. cases, recoveries, deaths

Coronavirus cases in U.S.

The U.S. death toll from the coronavirus climbed to more than 55,000 with the number of infections now over 950,000.

As of noon, ET April 27

3-9 cases

1-2 cases

968,203+

100-1,000

Total confirmed cases

WA 749 OR 91

107,060

Total recovered

NV CA 206 1,721

54,938+

UT 41

Source: Johns Hopkins CSSE Graphic: Staff, TNS

people, those with less than a college degree and people making less than $40,000 a year were more likely to say they would avoid treatment for economic reasons.

Fourteen percent of nonwhite poll respondents said they would avoid treatment even if they suspected they had the coronavirus, compared with 6% of whites citing costs. Yet COVID-19 has proven to be more lethal among blacks and Hispanics, a grim phenomenon linked to higher rates of underlying diseases such as diabetes and lower rates of health insurance coverage.

Among age groups, the survey found those 18-29 were the most likely to avoid treatment.

Although COVID-19 claims a disproportionately high share of victims among older people, there’s plenty of evidence that seemingly healthy young adults can also get seriously sick.

In the poll 12% of those 18-29 said they would avoid treatment because of cost worries.

Adults ages 50-64 were the least likely to avoid care, with only 3% citing pocketbook issues as a barrier. Surprising-

CO 680 NM 99

AK 9

5,000+

(DEATHS)

VT ME 51 47 ND NH 60 MN 19 NY 22,612 286 MA 2,899 WI SD MI NJ 6,044 272 3,315 RI 233 11 PA 1,823 IA OH MD945 CT 1,924 NE IL 127 IN DE 125 56 1,933 813728 WV VA DC 185 MO KS 458 36 KY 208 283 122 NC 327 PR 56 TN 181 OK AK GA SC 174 195 50 MS AL 942 LA 229 219 TX FL 1,729 654 1.088

WY 7

AZ 275

Deaths

1,000-5,000 MT 14

ID 56

25-100 cases

10-25 cases

HI 14

Source: worldometers.info, Johns Hopkins CSSE Graphic: Staff, TNS

As of noon, ET April 27

New study predicts when states can safely reopen A study from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation predicts when states can start opening with restrictions. The theshhold is when infections fall below 1 prevalent infection per million.

May 4-10

May 11-17 June 1-7

May 18-24

May 15-31

June 8 or later

R.I. Conn.

Del. D.C.

*As of April 22, Study does update

ly, 7% of those 65 and older said cost would be an issue for them. Virtually all U.S. seniors are covered by Medicare, and many have additional protection for out-of-pocket expenses.

The poll also found income was a dividing line in Americans’ attitudes. Only 3% of those making $100,000 or more cited cost as a barrier to COVID care, compared with 14% of those earning under $40,000.

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“A pretty substantial chunk of the population could remain hidden from view because of the U.S. health care cost crisis,” said Dan Witters, research director for the poll.

The Gallup-West Health Healthcare Costs Survey was based on telephone interviews conducted April 1-14, with a random sample of 1,017 adults, ages 18 and older, living in all 50 U.S. states and Washington.

Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun told shareholders Monday the staggering business downturn due to the coronavirus pandemic is likely to impact the company through 2023 and beyond.

“We expect it will take two to three years for travel to return to 2019 levels and an additional few years beyond that for the industry’s long-term trend growth to return,” he said.

Speaking at the company’s annual meeting of shareholders, which was held virtually because of the pandemic, he added that when the commercial airline market stabilizes, it “will be smaller and our customers’ needs will be different.”

He described the devastated state of the current airline world, with 2,800 planes grounded in the U.S. alone and passenger traffic down 95%.

Describing a crisis “unlike anything we have ever experienced,” he said airlines are “grounding fleets, deferring airplane orders, postponing acceptance of completed orders, and slowing down or stopping payments.”

In response, he said Boeing needs to change production rates “to balance supply and demand.” However, he added that details on the rate cuts, which are likely to spur thousands of local job losses, must wait until earnings results are announced on Wednesday.

However, he offered an indirect glimpse at the sweep of the cuts ahead when he referred to the prospects for Boeing’s thousands of suppliers, most of whom before the pandemic had been gearing up for accelerated production rates after the expected clearance for the 737 Max to return to service.

“The plans they have made and the investments they have made around the future, not dissimilar to ourselves, they now have to tear up and start over and resize themselves to accommodate that new future,” Calhoun said.

BE A PARENT NOT A FRIEND

Calhoun referred only briefly to the termination Saturday of Boeing’s proposed acquisition of the commercial jet business of Brazilian manufacturer Embraer, previously promoted as a strategic priority of the company.

He stuck strictly to the statement issued when the collapse of the deal was announced: the two sides could not resolve “critical unsatisfied conditions” in the negotiations. Embraer intends to sue Boeing over the decision, and Boeing maintains that it doesn’t have to pay a $100 million termination fee.

Calhoun offered no news on the timing of the return of the 737 Max to service.

The restrictions during the pandemic have slowed the work of winning Federal Aviation Administration approval for the 737 Max to fly again. A person familiar with the details said Boeing’s target schedule has slipped from mid-summer to late summer.

“No new issues have been identified,” that person said, then added that documenting and testing the software changes to the Max’s flight controls “is taking longer than expected and this need for virtual work is beginning to have some impacts.”

However, Calhoun did not disclose any new delay Monday. He said only that “progress has continued during the pandemic.”

No shareholder dividends anytime soon

Ahead of Boeing’s earnings results Wednesday, Calhoun did not disclose any financially material details.

In answer to a question that raised a major worry for Boeing retirees, he asserted unequivocally that the company pension plan is secure.

The dramatic fall in Boeing’s stock price has caused concern about that because management chose to fund the pension plan in part with company shares.

But Calhoun offered reassurance: “There’s nothing I see that would put risk into the pension plan,” he said.

Stop the supply of alcohol to minors.

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Delivery services turning to robots

By HENRY PAYNE The Detroit News

ANN ARBOR, Mich.

— The streets are empty of cars in Ann Arbor, but robot traffic is up.

Refraction AI’s robot restaurant food delivery service has seen demand increase by four times since the COVID-19 crisis shut down Michigan last month, and the company’s engineers are working furiously to expand the company’s small fleet of threewheeled REV ‘bots.

Refraction is part of a surge in robot activity as the U.S. economy struggles to get back on track while maintaining selfdistancing and exposing as few workers as possible in the workplace.

The virus is accelerating robotics trends — from auto plant assembly lines to grocery store cleaning robots to security patrols — and that is likely to have enormous implications for the jobs

of the not-so-distant future.

“This moment is a call to arms for robotics makers to really bring their technology to market that helps people. Particularly now in a time when there are so few options for doing tasks that we don’t want to put people at risk for,” said Refraction AI CEO Matthew Johnson-Roberson, an associate professor of engineering at the University of Michigan with 20 years of experience in the robotics field.

Refraction autonomous REVs (Refraction Electric Vehicles) began restaurant food deliveries at the first of the year from four restaurants to a small group of beta customers within a 2-mile radius in downtown Ann Arbor.

With the state’s closure of in-restaurant dining and subsequent shelter-in-place order, Refraction’s customer list has ballooned to 400, taxing the startup’s five

robots which have been hustling to and fro along the edges of abandoned city streets.

“A bunch of new restaurants have said we have to have delivery now. The big limiting

factor is the number of robots we have,” said Johnson-Roberson, 36.

“We’ve been working to expand to groceries, which is the more important need of the moment than takeout food.”

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Learning to cope in a chaotic world Hi, Carolyn: I’m a millennial feeling overwhelmingly hopeless lately. Between the children suffering in concentration camps, impending climate disaster and a government that is utterly ineffective and controlled by a handful of people who make me feel terrorized on a daily basis, life is feeling meaningless to me.

I am afraid to have children. I am worried nothing we do matters anymore. I am upset that everyone is buried too deeply in their online worlds to tune into how urgent these problems are. I am not seeing the point in anything and to “think positive” seems impossible without going into denial and pretending things are okay when they’re not. What can I do? — Everything Is on Fire Everything Is on Fire: What we do always matters, to us if nothing else, though interconnectedness amplifies our ac-

Tell Me About It Carolyn Hax

tions in ways that I think we fail to appreciate. Every person whose life you touch, even if you just graze it once in passing, is affected by your choices.

So instead of living in a macro place of hopelessness, please push yourself deliberately to a micro place of purpose. (“It’s a Wonderful Life” captures this, and gets quite dark before it lightens.)

Thinking this way is not denial. It’s living life on what has been the normal human scale since there were humans. “Online worlds” are so recent as to be a nanosecond’s worth of history.

And, with all due respect, I think the “online worlds” phenomenon is as guilty of bombarding you with urgent problems

as it is of sheltering people from them. Your exposure to the ills you cite is disproportionately high [this was before COVID-19 — CH] relative to even a couple of decades ago when 24-hour news was in its infancy and people still had to go into the den before the TV could blast them with more information than they could usefully process.

We now have immediate and constant access to information without proportionate access — not even close — to ways to respond usefully to it.

So. First thing I suggest is unplugging. Not permanently, just until you feel less overwhelmed and anxious. Be local, be present, be productive, be generous with your time and effort toward your immediate environment.

And when you resume paying attention, choose responsible sources and set limits.

With all your newly freed up time, have a nice long date with Steven

Wellness visits aren’t regular checkups Dear Dr. Roach: Our excellent insurance allows for a yearly wellness visit at no cost. My regular copay is a very reasonable $10. So, the cost is not the real issue. For the past few years, after my visit, I have received a bill for $10, with the explanation that while the wellness visit was free, I was being charged for a regular visit also. This is because we discussed my blood pressure, which is a preexisting condition.

It seems that should be part of my wellness discussion.

The billing office says Medicare Advantage programs allow for this (double?) billing, based on how the doctor codes the exam. Interestingly, my wife, who sees another doctor in the same practice, has never been billed in this manner, even though her doctor has discussed preexisting conditions.

I have a good relationship with my doctor, but have not discussed this with him to any

Dr. Keith Roach To Your Good Health real degree. I guess that I don’t want to rock the boat. But this just seems wrong. Or, if it is permissible, then it seems like a contributor to runaway health costs. I’ve used the word unethical with the billing staff and supervisor. They say it’s not. Am I overreacting? — Anon.

Answer: The annual wellness exam is intended to allow you and your doctor time to discuss strategies for keeping you healthy. It may include performing or scheduling screening tests, discussing physical activity and diet, and other interventions to help reduce injury and disease. The annual wellness exam is NOT a regular visit to discuss problems and do a physical exam.

Some physicians will, in addition to the wellness visit, also do a brief regular visit, such as monitoring and discussing blood pressure. In that case, an additional charge for a “problembased visit” is allowed.

It is neither illegal nor unethical to bill the insurance for both types of services if both are provided. That’s what your physician has done, assuming he did the wellness visit appropriately.

However, discussion with my colleagues has shown me that many will NOT bill the insurance for the problem-based part of the visit, as many of their patients don’t understand this issue and the doctors don’t want to upset their patients. It sounds like your wife’s doctor is in that camp.

People without your excellent insurance have to pay a much larger fee, and I can understand why they might be upset, as the nature of the annual wellness visit is often not well explained.

Pinker at stevenpinker. com. Add data-supported optimism to your information diet. He is excellent and persuasive on the gap between what we perceive to be wrong and what actually is, and therefore the gap between what we perceive to be helpful and what actually is.

Then, if and when you’re ready, pick one or two ways you can work toward the general good that will allow you to see the impact of your efforts.

Also, I say it last but it should come first, please check in with your primary-care physician. It’s not unusual for external anxieties to be internalized into clinical ones.

Re: Millennial: Volunteer. Donate. I find unplugging and ignoring these huge issues to be part of the problem. — Be the Change!

Be the Change!: Yes, but even the most active activists need rest. Cycle out, regroup, cycle back in. (See also: my secondto-last paragraph.)

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Nadal talks return Royals: Prospects development in doubt Continued from B1

nis compared to team sports, there are many people involved in the organization of tennis tournaments, from hotels to other sectors of society. “As far as competing, maybe our sport is the most complicated one, having to move a lot of people week after week,� he said.

Nadal, who has had to deal with a series of injuries throughout his career, is also worried that the risk of new injuries will increase when players return to action. “When I hit a ball again, my arm is going to hurt in several places ... my wrist, my elbow,� the 19-time Grand Slam champion said. “When you are out of action, the risk of an injury is a lot greater than when you are exercising, even if just a bit. “If I could have a tennis-related training for half an hour every day, If I could at least exercise the specific muscles that are needed in tennis, I think that would help get the rust off my body when we

get back to action.�

Gasol also spoke about his concerns in the interview with newspapers that was conducted through a Zoom session and also included other Spanish athletes such as golfer Sergio Garcia, motorcycle rider Marc MĂĄrquez, F1 driver Carlos Sainz, cyclist Alejandro Valverde and soccer coach Julen Lopetegui.

The interview was promoted to help Nadal’s and Gasol’s campaign to encourage donations to the Red Cross and help during the health crisis prompted by the coronavirus pandemic. The interview was published by the Spanish sports newspapers Marca, As, Mundo Deportivo and Sport.

Nadal also spoke about how he has been paying special attention to his tennis academy in Mallorca, where there are about 150 people confined, including 85 kids.

Spain has been in a lockdown since March 14 and the confinement is expected to continue at least until May 9.

Continued from B1

that each major league organization faces the same predicament.

There’s no competitive disadvantage for any of the players in the Royals’ system compared to another farm system if minor league games aren’t played in 2020. “It’s kind of like time is frozen for a year, that’s what it would feel like,� Picollo said. “Just like this past month has felt like. So we’ll just try to keep encouraging them. The short answer is there’s not a whole lot you can do as far as replacing the game competition.�

Picollo holds onto a measure of optimism that the minor-leaguers will still be able to have some sort of competitive season.

Ultimately, an altered season might be similar to a collegiate redshirt year. In college programs, redshirt players can practice and train during the regular season, but they can’t compete in games.

Most of the time, they play a full collegiate summer league season to make up for lost time

senior SPOTLIGHT

Iola High School CLASS OF 2020 Andre Quinn

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and keep competing. “We’re doing what we can from a motivation standpoint, communication standpoint with our players about what they need to be doing right now for if we get a chance to get back,� Picollo said. “Obviously, if it gets to the point where there’s not a season, we’ve got to shift our intention and try to figure out what it may look like. We still would be optimistic about something in the fall, if it came to that. We’d want to prepare our guys for some type of instructional league/fall league type setting just to get some games in.�

There’s no template or comparable scenario in recent minor-league history to what could be at hand next. Even during the MLB strike seasons of 1981 and 1994, the minor leagues never missed an entire season.

Not even World War II shut down the minor leagues. “We’ll come up with something,� Royals general manager Dayton Moore said of a scenario in which there’s no

minor league season. “This is what we do.

We’ll figure out the best way to develop players. “The thing is, time is something you can never recoup. It’s gone.

The clock is ticking, but there are ways to take advantage of the calendar year from a developmental standpoint that we’ll explore. You don’t get time back, and we’re certainly losing time.

We understand that, but everybody is in the same boat.�

In the meantime, with players scattered around the globe, the player development arm of the Royals organization has focused on teaching mental skills that translate to the field.

Along with webinars on baseball fundamentals, players have heard from guest speakers from both inside and outside the organization. Recently, All-Star Whit Merrifield and outfielder Hunter Dozier spoke to minor-leaguers about their own experiences, adversities, growing pains and lessons learned. Held via a Zoom conference call,

the session included a question-and-answer segment.

And former major-leaguer and current minor league pitching coach Jeff Suppan recently talked to the organization’s pitchers about daily mental preparation. “The Zoom calls are good and the goal of them is really just to engage their minds and give them topics that they would be interested in as opposed to just doing this because we have to do it,â€? Picollo said. “That’s not why we’re doing them. We’re doing them because we think we can take advantage of a tough time and address areas we’ve always talked about addressing ‌ (but) didn’t have the time to do it.â€?

This week, members of KC’s strength and conditioning and performance science department had a meeting with the organization’s hitting and pitching coaches that featured some back-and-forth on kinesiology and how to assess and improve players’ pitching deliveries and swings.

Kenseth: Makes Cup Series return Continued from B1

about driving the No. 42 but declined to come out of retirement. As for Chastain, who filled in for Ryan Newman for three races before the season was suspended and has been patiently awaiting a full-time Cup ride, Ganassi said: “We’ve got plans for him.�

Kenseth retired from Joe Gibbs Racing after the 2017 season when Gibbs chose to give his seat to a younger driver.

But he came back for 15 races to aid the rebuild at Roush Fenway Racing, his original team, in 2018. He turned 48 on March 10.

The move makes Kenseth teammates again with Kurt Busch — they were teammates at Roush early in their careers — and in a Chevrolet in the Cup Series for the first time for Kenseth.

Kenseth began his racing career in 1988 in a Camaro and made his debut in the NASCAR Southeast Series in 1994 behind the wheel of a

Chevrolet, and continued racing Chevrolets in the Xfinity Series through the 2001 season. “I know I have a lot of work ahead of me to get up to speed in a relatively short period of time, but I’m looking forward to the challenge,� Kenseth said. “I started my career in a Camaro and I can’t wait to finally race a Chevy in the Cup Series. I also need to thank Chip and all his partners for this opportunity. Hopefully we will be on the track soon.�

Kenseth drove Fords for Roush and Toyotas for Gibbs. He was Cup rookie of the year in 2000 driving for Roush, where he won his only championship. He has 39 career victories and won the Daytona 500 in 2009 and 2012.

Kenseth joined Gibbs in 2013 and was an immediate title contender. He qualified for the playoffs — which began the year after he won the Cup title with just one win — in every season he was eligible but

one.

Kenseth won 15 races in five full seasons driving for Gibbs and was runner-up for the title in 2013, the year he won seven races.

In choosing Kenseth, Ganassi gives his partners a low-key driver with a winning record who typically avoids controversy. He was suspended two races

by NASCAR in 2015 for intentionally wrecking Joey Logano in a heated championship battle. “Throughout my time in NASCAR, I have always admired the way Matt Kenseth raced,�

Ganassi said. “He has proven to be a consistent winner, strong competitor, and respectful driver, and I’m glad we are able to add another NASCAR champion to the team for the remainder of this season.�

Busch won the 2004 championship in the first year of the playoff format to give Roush back-to-back titles, and now there are two former champions in the Ganassi stable.

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