Today in history

Today is Thursday, July 19, the 200th day of 2018. There are 165 days left in the year.

Today’s Highlight in History:

On July 19, 1980, the Moscow Summer Olympics began, minus dozens of nations that were boycotting the games because of the Soviet military intervention in Afghanistan.

On this date:

In 1848, a pioneering women’s rights convention convened in Seneca Falls, New York.

In 1969, Apollo 11 and its astronauts, Neil Armstrong, Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin and Michael Collins, went into orbit around the moon. In 1979, the Nicaraguan capital of Managua fell to Sandinista guerrillas, two days after President Anastasio Somoza fled the country.

Five years ago: In a rare and public reflection on race, President Barack Obama called on the nation to do some soul searching over the death of Trayvon Martin and the acquittal of his shooter, George Zimmerman, saying the slain black teenager “could have been me 35 years ago.”

One year ago: Sen. John Mc-Cain’s office said the 80-year-old Arizona Republican and former presidential nominee had been diagnosed with a brain tumor, glioblastoma.

FBI director: Russia still sows discord

ASPEN, Colo. (AP) — FBI Director Christopher Wray said Wednesday that Russia continues to use fake news, propaganda and covert operations to “spin up” Americans on both sides of hot-button issues to sow discord in the United States.

Wray stood behind the intelligence agencies’ assessment that Moscow meddled in the 2016 presidential election, dismissing Russian President Vladimir Putin’s claim that his country was not involved.

“He’s got his view. I can tell you what my view is,” Wray said at the opening event of the Aspen Security Forum in Colorado. “The intelligence community’s view has not changed. My view has not changed.”

Wray spoke after a day of controversy in Washington over whether President Donald Trump accepts the intelligence agencies’ assessment and whether he believes Moscow is continuing to try to influence American elections or threaten the nation’s infrastructure.

Wray also dismissed Putin’s offer to allow the U.S. access to 12 Russian military intelligence officers who have been indicted on charges of interfering in the election in return for being able to interview Americans the Kremlin has accused of unspecified crimes.

The White House said it was under consideration. Wray dismissed the offer.

“I never want to say never about anything,” Wray said, “but it’s certainly not high on our list of investigative techniques.”

Much of the conversation with Wray, which was moderated by NBC’s Lester Holt, focused on Russia.

“Russia continues to engage in malign influence operations to this day,” Wray said.

He said that while U.S. officials have not yet seen an effort by Russia to target specific election systems, it is aggressively engaged in influence operations to sow discord and divisiveness in America. “To me, it’s a threat that we need to take very serious and respond to with fierce determination,” Wray said.

He said the Russians identify divisive issues, and through covert and overt operations, fake news and propaganda, they “spin people up on both sides of an issue and then kind of watch us go after each other.”

Olympic figure skater killed

MOSCOW (AP) — Prosecutors in Kazakhstan say Olympic figure skating medalist Denis Ten has been killed, and they are treating the case as murder.

Kazakh news agencies report Ten was stabbed after a dispute with people who tried to steal a mirror from his car in his home city of Almaty.

Doctors in Almaty say he died in hospital there. He was aged 25.

“Today is truly a dark day for all of us who knew and loved this young figure skater and were inspired by his talent and creativity,” Kazakhstan Olympic Committee president Timur Kulibayev said in a statement. “Throughout his sporting career, Denis set an example with his motivation, strength of spirit and his champion’s personality.”

Born in Kazakhstan to a family of Korean descent, Ten won bronze at the Winter Olympics in Sochi in 2014, becoming Kazakhstan’s first medalist in figure skating.

He also won the Four Continents championships the following year, and was a world championship silver medalist in 2013.

Ten struggled with injuries in recent years and could manage only 27th at the Olympics in Pyeongchang in February.

Ten hadn’t formally retired from skating but in recent months he’d often spoken of his studies in economics and his plans to write a movie script.

Cambage scores WNBA-record 53 points

DALLAS (AP) — Elizabeth Cambage scored 53 points to set a WNBA record Tuesday, leading the Dallas Wings to a 104-87 victory over the New York Liberty.

The 6-foot-8 Australian reached 50 points on a three-point play with 2:19 remaining and broke Riquna Williams’ WNBA record of 51 points, set Sept. 8, 2013, on an open 3-pointer from the top of the key.

“It’s pretty big,” Cambage said. “I’ve had big numbers in China, I’ve had big numbers in Australia, and I’ve heard a lot of people say I could never have big numbers here in the WNBA. So I guess this game is for y’all.”

Cambage was 17 of 22 from the field with 10 rebounds and five blocks for her ninth double-double of the season. She made 15 of 16 free throws and outscored the Liberty’s starting lineup by 10 points.

Glory Johnson and Allisha Gray each added 13 points for Dallas (13-9), which won its first home game against New York since 2016.

Dallas coach Fred Williams was ejected with 1:44 remaining in the third quarter. New York took its first lead, 70-69, on the next possession, but Dallas opened the fourth quarter on a 12-3 run and cruised from there.

Kia Nurse scored 25 points, including four 3-pointers, and Tina Charles added 19 for New York. The Liberty (7-15) had won their previous two games.

Cambage had 28 points in the first half to send the Wings to a 57-44 lead. She added five points in the third quarter and broke her previous high of 37 points on a three-point play with 7:29 remaining. She finished 4 of 5 from 3-point range.

Cambage returned to the Dallas franchise after sitting out the past four years. She was drafted by Tulsa with the second pick in 2011 behind Maya Moore.

Moore is third in the WNBA for most points in a game, scoring 48 in a double-overtime game in 2014. Phoenix’s Diana Taurasi had 47 points in a three-OT game in 2006.

Tour enters stage 9

ALPE D’HUEZ, France (AP) — Geraint Thomas is wearing the yellow jersey for the 12th stage of the Tour de France, which concludes with the famed 21 bends up to Alpe d’Huez.

The last and most feared of the three stages in the Alps, the 109-mile leg began in Bourg-Sant-Maurice and will take the peloton over three beyond-category climbs.

Hours before the peloton arrived at Alpe d’Huez, fans lined every meter of the climb — many of them having camped out for days — and thousands of amateur cyclists tested their legs on the ascent.

Thomas leads by 1 minute, 25 seconds over Sky teammate Chris Froome, the four-time champion.

Rigoberto Uran, last year’s runner-up, withdrew before the stage began, having failed to recover from a crash on the cobblestones in Stage 9.

IHS Class of 1968 celebrates its 50th reunion

Fifty-nine classmates attended the 50th reunion activities of the Iola High School class of 1968 Friday through Sunday in Iola.

Festivities began with a mixer at the Iola Elks Club at 6 p.m. Friday, followed by a “Flat Earth Band” reunion and concert at the Little Theater. Two classmates were in the band, Don Sharp and Tom Luttrell.

On Saturday, some walked the Lehigh Trail in the morning with Lonnie Henkle, rode trolley rides in the afternoon guided by Jim Gilpin, and later toured improvements at the Bowlus with Richard Spencer. The class reunion picture was taken at the Riverside Park football stadium at 6:30 p.m. with a tour of improvements there and a balloon release to honor the 33 departed members of the class. Dinner at the Elks with Dudley’s catering rounded out the evening. Sunday, classmates met for nostalgic lunch at King’s Sandwich Shop.

Classmates attending from out of state were:

Paul Jo and Cheryl Conderman, Germany; David and Susie McGuffin, Oviedo, Fla.; Janet Perkins Galloway, Brunswick, Ga.; Gary and Ginny Finkenbinder, Fulton, Mo.; Mike Smith Gladstone, Mo.; Carol Creason Perez, Kansas City, Mo.; Bill and Lisa Moore, Shelbina, Mo.; Cheryl Whitteberry Davis, Strafford, Mo.; John and Anna Nickels, Fuquay-Varina, N.C.; Keith and Kathy Shetlar, Rio Rancho, N.M.; Roger and Patti Hagerman, Oklahoma City; Cyndy Littlepage Hughey and Randy, Perry, Okla.; Chris McKean, Salem, S.C.; Mike and Liz Sigg, San Antonio, Texas; Sandy Davidson Scott, Sugar Land, Texas; Kathryn Washington Jukes, Willamsburg, Va.; Linda Michael Monfort and Larry, Cusick, Wash.; Roz Brooks and Obbie, LaCrosse, Wisc.; and Linda Folk Knapp, Mount Hope, Wisc.

Classmates from Kansas were: Marie Bell Davis, Cheney; Diane Kress Stine and Bob, Edgerton; Mike May, Goddard; Debbie Sicka Robinson, Humboldt; Sandy Hamm and Ken Devore, Independence; Linda Garner Young, Kansas City; Craig and Jeryl Crane, Lawrence; Chari Burtnett and Jim Sowers, Lenexa; Greg Kretzmeier, Lenexa; Brent and Jan Wright, Ottawa; Donna Zornes, Ottawa; Wendy Steward Ledford, Overland Park; Ron Roe, Perry; Ron and Nancy Close, Pittsburg; Dave and Irene Massoth, Pittsburg; Nellie Compton and Ed Meyers, Whitewater; Herk and Margie Russell, Wichita; Mary Yokum and Gene Mohr, Yates Center; and Debbie Masquelier Hanson, El Dorado.

Classmates from Iola were: John and Joan Audley, Peggy Connor and Jake Marple, Gale Emert Ludlum, Deanna Erbert King, Jim and Karen Gilpin, Kirby Gregg, Lucille Griffith Bevard, Beth Harrison Griffeth, Lonnie and Clarice Henkle, Jon and Pam James Minor, Tom Luttrell, Randy Maple, Vickie Robert and Jim Tholen, Carl and Pam Carter Roush, Don and Marilyn Sharp, Richard Spencer, Raymond and Sharon Sutterby, Steve and Linda Troxel, Terese Yetzbacher and Debbi McKaig Sellman

Joining the class for dinner were retired teacher-administrators, Don Bain and Harry and Joyce Lee, and, underclassman Barbara Cook Thomas and sister, Mary Beth Cook, and Debbie Hagerman.

Classmates plan to reunite in 2023.

Hawaii resumes boat tours after incident

HONOLULU (AP) — Hawaii tour boat operators plan to continue taking visitors to see lava, but will follow the Coast Guard’s revised policy and stay farther away after an explosion caused molten rock to barrel through the roof of a vessel, injuring 23 people.

The Coast Guard prohibits vessels from getting closer than 984 feet from where Kilauea volcano’s lava oozes into the sea. On Monday, a woman in her 20s was transported to Honolulu in serious condition with a broken thigh bone. The other 22 people injured were treated for minor burns and scrapes, including 12 who were treated at a hospital in Hilo.

Moku Nui Lava Tours Captain Kanoa Jones, whose boat was not involved in Monday’s incident at Kilauea volcano, said not running the tours would only withhold income from local restaurants and other businesses dependent on tourism, he said.

“If we stop operating, it not only hurts us, it hurts the community,” Jones said.

The county strictly limits access to the lava on land for safety reasons, making boat and helicopter tours the only options people have to witness volcanic spectacle in person. The ocean and aerial tours each cost about $250.

The restrictions have deterred many travelers from visiting the Big Island in general, and Puna near the volcano in particular.

Shane Turpin, the owner and captain of the vessel that was hit, said he never saw the explosion.

He and his tour group had been in the area for about 20 minutes making passes of the ocean entry about 500 yards — which is the length of five football fields — offshore, Turpin said.

He didn’t observe “any major explosions,” so he navigated his vessel closer, to about 250 yards (228 meters) away from the lava.

“As we were exiting the zone, all of a sudden everything around us exploded,” he said. “It was everywhere.”

The U.S. Geological Survey says explosions of varying sizes occur whenever 2,000-degree lava enters much colder seawater.

The volcano has also been pumping more lava into the water now compared to past years. Kilauea is sending to the sea as much as 26 times the amount of lava per second than it did during the 2016-17 eruption.

Iola Swim Team Results

vs Humboldt

7/11/18

Boys 6 and under

25 Free – Lukas Bishop, 57.53.

Boys 7-8

25 Fly – William Toland, 32.38; Adam Klubek, 38.58; Branton Varney, 48.98. 25 Back – Toland, 33.41. 25 Yard Breast – Toland, 28.75, Klubek, 41.95; Joseph Bishop, 45.91; Branton Varney, 50.20. 25 Free – Toland, 24.98; Klubek, 38.95; Bishop, 42.53; Varney, 45.87.

Boys 9-10

25 Fly – Rohan Springer, 35.90. 25 Back – Gannon Hutton, 29.60; Ben Fager, 32.95; Springer, 33.55. 25 Breast – Hutton, 30.63; Springer, 34.41; Ben Fager, 36.58; Powe, 37.33. 25 Free – Powe, 24.76; Springer, 28.25; Fager, 28.93.

Boys 10 and under

50 Free – Toland, 54.32; Powe, 58.47; Springer, 58.92; Fager, 1:06.21. 100 IM – Toland, 2:19.17.

Boys 11-12

100 Free – Will Talkington, 1:31.65. 50 Fly – Talkington, 55.86; Griffin Westervelt, 1:04.15. 50 Back – Talking-ton, 54.81; Westervelt, 1:05.82. 50 Breast – Westervelt, 1:03.41; Talkington, 1:03.59. 50 Free – Talkington, 41.11; Westervelt, 46.24. 100 IM – Talkington, 1:51.15; Westervelt, 2:05.78.

Boys 13-14

100 Free – Trenton Varney, 1:12.32; Sam Fager, 1:21.85. 50 Fly – Varney, 40.56; Jesse Taylor, 41.26; Fager, 42.35; Wyatt Westervelt, 54.91. 50 Back – Varney, 40.68; Taylor, 44.16; Fager, 47.89; Westervelt, 59.56. 50 Breast – Varney, 40.30; Taylor, 45.29; Fager, 51.57; Westervelt, 1:03.02. 50 Free – Varney, 32.44; Fager, 33.64; Taylor, 36.83; Westervelt, 47.08. 100 IM – Varney, 1:26.55; Taylor, 1:34.46; Fager, 1:36.24; Westervelt, 2:16.30.

Boys 15-18

100 Free – Spencer Ames, 1:29.78; Jake Lea, 1:36.62. 50 Fly – Ames, 55.82; Lea, 1:03.69. 50 Back – Ames, 56.49; Lea, 1:04.36. 50 Breast – Ames, 1:02.65; Lea, 1:10.04. 50 Free – Ames, 41.34; Lea, 45.16. 100 IM – Ames, 1:53.12; Lea, 2:11.86.

Girls 6 and under

25 Back – Mariah Mathis, 35.76; 25 Breast – Mathis, 44.83; Moira Springer, 55.43; Anna Klubek, 1:19.07. 25 Free – Mathis, 45.84; Springer, 59.09; Klubek, 1:04.88.

Girls 7-8

25 Back – Bailey Sparks, 38.75; Eli Higginbotham, 43.05. 25 Breast – Sparks, 44.77; Higginbotham, 55.35; Estella Bethards, 58.79. 25 Free – Sparks, 30.14; Bethards, 48.46; Higginbotham, 50.98.

Girls 9-10

25 Fly – Lily Lohman, 23.00; Bethany Miller, 25.31. 25 Back – Lohman, 24.04; Miller, 26.51. 25 Breast – Miller, 29.44; Lohman, 31.77. 25 Free – Lohman, 20.07; Miller, 23.10.

Girls 11-12

100 Free – Jackie Fager, 1:23.25; Caroline Toland, 1:46.39; Hallie Sutherland, 1:48.49. 50 Fly – Fager, 44.18; Sutherland, 52.67; Toland, 57.01. 50 Back – Fager, 47.98; Sutherland, 59.45. 50 Breast – Fager, 53.77; Sutherland, 55.29; Toland, 1:00.66. 50 Free – Fager, 36.60; Sutherland, 46.92; Toland, 50.97. 100 IM – Fager, 1:40.17; Sutherland, 2:01.69.

Girls 13-14

100 Free – Ursula Billings, 1:19.95; Audrey Powe, 1:30.69. 50 Fly – Powe, 40.82; Billings, 45.51; Dancer, 54.16. 50 Back – Powe, 44.49; Billings, 48.77; Dancer, 1:00.54. 50 Breast – Powe, 53.41; Dancer, 54.98; Billings, 1:00.39. 50 Free – Billings, 34.20; Powe, 38.05; Dancer, 44.97. 100 IM – Powe, 1:40.72; Billings, 1:41.95; Dancer, 2:06.66.

Girls 15-18

100 Free – Elka Billings, 1:12.92; Kaylin Klubek, 1:32.67. 50 Back – Billings, 44.08; Klubek, 56.05. 50 Breast – Billings, 48.79; Klubek, 1:03.36. 50 Free – Billings, 32.38; Klubek, 42.25. 100 IM – Billings, 1:30.77; Klubek, 1:51.20.

Relays

Mixed 9-10 200 Medley – Bethany Miller, Ben Fager, Lily Lohman, Rohan Springer, 1:39.81; Mixed 11-12 200 Medley – Hallie Sutherland, Griffin Westervelt, Jackie Fager, Will Talkington, 3:16.76; Mixed 13-14 200 Medley – Ursula Billings, Trenton Varney, Audrey Powe, Sam Fag-er, 2:44.79. Mixed 7-8 100 Free – Estella Bethards, Mariah Mathis, Adam Klubek, Branton Varney, 2:50.28. Mixed 9-10 100 Free – Rohan Springer, Ben Fager, Bethany Miller, Lily Lohman, 1:36.58. Mixed 11-12 200 Free – Hallie Sutherland, Griffin Westervelt, Jackie Fager, Will Talkington, 3:29.02. Mixed 13-14 200 Free – Audrey Powe, Ursula Billings, Sam Fager, Trenton Varney, 2:46.84.

Letter to the editor — July 16, 2018

Dear editor,

I wasn’t going to respond further, since I seem to have been rather egregiously misunderstood. However, I have been encouraged by even acquaintances I barely know who have taken the time to tell me they agree with me and appreciate what I wrote last week, so, here goes:

Yes, things that actually happened — four years ago — are being “reported” (used again this year as grist for the slander mills) — as if they just started happening now instead of four years ago.

This administration, by encouraging enforcement of laws already on the books, is bringing attention to the fact that these were not good laws to start with and need to be changed! This is how a law abiding, democratic republic operates — according to our Constitution, which has guided us toward our ideals for over 200 years.

Yes, things have changed since the Statue of Liberty was gifted to the USA by France in 1885. We no longer are a developing nation with “plenty of room and opportunity” for the “huddled masses” of the rest of the world, for one thing! Our American Way – imperfectly implemented even from the beginning, has nevertheless proved so successful that millions of people want to come here and take advantage of its benefits! (I would suggest that it would be a better plan for other nations to discover and implement the keys to our success in their own lands! Instead we seem “hell-bent” on following the examples of nations that are floundering in debt, human abuses, abject poverty, and the woes of all the “isms” of the world!

Which leads me to my latest discovery: there is no longer a consensus of opinion, much less actual definition of terms such as: fascism, socialism, libertarianism, liberalism (look each of these words up in several sources and the contradictions will flabbergast you, as they did me! We no longer seem to agree as to what is “right” or “left” wing, much less what “in the center” or “liberal” or “moderate” means. And the simple word “progress” obviously indicates something very different to different people. Even people who call themselves “Democrat” or “Republican” have wildly divergent, and often inconsistent, standards for those labels!

And now, instead of recognizing the danger of all this divisiveness, it is being whipped into frenzy by “the blind leading the blind.” Some are panicked by legitimate fears; others are simply “looking out for No. 1” with no genuine deep concern for the well-being of others. Slick talking politicians have replaced honest statesmen (that term includes the female gender). Bureaucrats have replaced duly elected officials.

The point I have been trying to make is that anything that is not “the whole truth and nothing but the truth” (all available information — not extraneous opinions but plain, un-slanted facts) is an attempt at deception — a false representation — a lie.

I certainly do not, and did not, intend to imply that it has necessarily been intentional on the part of our newspaper, much less my friend the editor, to present unproven claims as fact. The article that I referenced was not written by her or any of our local reporters but simply copied from one of our (supposedly moderate — actually extremely leftist — look up synonyms for yourself) national publications.

We all need to check out, first of all, our sources (and their biases) and then other sources (with biases other than our own!) and then carefully examine the actual wording of what is being presented (should, maybe, might, predictably, is likely, for example, are all words indicating opinions not facts) and look for credible supporting evidence.

Thanks for “hearing” me,

Jean Anderson

Iola, Kan.

Four State Farm Show in Pittsburg this weekend

The Four State Farm Show will hold its annual agricultural technology and equipment showcase this weekend in Pitts-burg.

Show hours are 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday. Show-grounds are located south of town — one half-mile east from the junction of Highways 400, 69 and K-171. Admission is free.

Billed as the “Mall of Agriculture,” the Four State Farm Show has grown to comprise 700 booths covering 25 acres. This weekend’s show will include live demonstrations of the latest ag equipment daily at 1 p.m. Area lawn mower dealers will also be demonstrating their wares at the lawn mower test-driving range.

The Four State Farm Show is sponsored by Farm Talk Newspaper. For more information, call 1-800-356-8255.