WESTPHALIA — The Marmaton Valley Middle School girls hit the road on Monday night in search of a win in Westphalia.
Westphalia was able to protect their home court, however, with a 25-18 victory.
Kayla Ard led the Wildcats with eight points while Alyson Ard and Kaylee Becker each scored five points in the loss.
The Marmaton Valley junior varsity squad picked up a hard-fought 19-18 road win in Westphalia.
Brynn Newman led the Wildcats with five points in the victory and Lexis Jones added four.
The Wildcats were a balanced unit with seven of their nine players scoring in the contest.
Alyssa Allison, Madison Lawson, Kamryn Boyd, Rebecca Reiter and Cadience Cook each scored two points for the victors.
Gutting Obamacare gets us nowhere; better to work with what we have
President-elect Trump often said during his campaign that among his first actions on taking office would be to repeal the Affordable Care Act, better known as Obamacare.
The legislation was designed to give millions of Americans their first shot at health insurance. Today, that number is an estimated 20 million.
The Medicaid feature, which Gov. Brownback has denied Kansans, adds another layer of healthcare that had been missing. Another important aspect is to give coverage to people with pre-existing conditions that had priced them out of traditional markets.
The program had problems from the start, predictable for such a signature measure. With young and healthy people declining coverage in return for a financial penalty, participation by insurance companies suffered and premiums rose.
Robert B. Reich recently wrote an analysis for RealClear Politics, an online medium that offers pros, cons and much in-between on any number of issues.
Reich, the Chancellor’s Professor of Public Policy at the University of Southern California at Berkeley, was President Clinton’s secretary of labor and was judged by Time Magazine as one of the most effective cabinet secretaries of the 20th century. With those credentials, what Reich has to say is well worth a listen.
Reich gives three reasons why “Republicans can’t replace Obamacare.”
— Republicans proclaim their replacement will be market-based. The ACA already relies on private, for-profit health insurers, i.e., market-based, to provide plans.
Reich thinks the enormity of the health insurance market gives insurers an influence so great they can “get the deals they want from the government by threatening to drop out of any insurance system Republicans come up with.” That has occurred with the ACA.
— The components of Obamacare are dependent on each other. “Trump says he’d like to continue to bar insurers from denying coverage for individuals with pre-existing conditions. But this popular provision depends on healthy people being required to pay into the insurance pool, a mandate Republicans vow to eliminate.”
— Of enrollees, 80 percent receive federal subsidies. “Revoking tax increases in Obamacare, a key part of repeal, would make it impossible to finance these subsidies,” and put many of the 20 million recipients back on the outside looking in.
THE BETTER approach than wholesale gutting of the program would be for Republicans, in concert with Democrats, to find ways to tweak it.
Even with the 20 million enrolled, another 30 million, give or take, are estimated to face each day knowing a serious illness or injury would be their financial undoing.
President Obama has received more than his fair share of criticism for many things that have occurred during his past eight years as president.
With a mission of helping those with little means and even less hope, the Affordable Care Act is something of which we all should be immensely proud.
— Bob Johnson
Doris Frederick
Doris Lee Frederick, 85, Paxton, Ill., died at 1:07 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 5, 2017, at Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana, Ill.
A Mass of Christian burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Humboldt, with Father Michael Linnebur officiating. Burial will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery, Humboldt.
There will be a Rosary at 9:30 a.m. followed by the visitation from 10 to 10:30 a.m. at the church on Saturday. Countryside Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
Doris was born Feb. 27, 1931, in Yates Center, the daughter of Leslie Claude and Thelma F. Ferree Chambers. She married Clarence R. Frederick May 8, 1948, in Yates Center. He preceded her in death Aug. 1, 2013.
She is survived by a son, Richard (Carla) Frederick, Kilgore, Texas; one daughter, Avis (Glen) Vermillion, Potomac, Ill.; two granddaughters, Michele (Bob) Bagwell, Paxton, and Shannon (Forrest) Tardiff, Paxton; stepgrandchildren, Jim, Steve, Kelli, Jodi and Luke; two great-grandchildren, Cainan and Emmy Bagwell; and many stepgreat-grandchildren.
Doris also was preceded in death by her parents, three infant sons, a sister, Wilma Jean Chambers Jeffers, and two brothers, Leonard and Billie Chambers.
She graduated from Yates Center High School in 1948 and worked as a legal secretary. She lived in Broken Arrow, Okla., before moving to Paxton in 2013.
Doris was an avid quilter. She enjoyed cross stitch, crocheting and embroidery.
Memorials may be made to Carle Hospice. Condolences may be offered at www.baierfuneralservices.com.
Edna Elmenhorst
Edna Marie Elmenhorst, 83, Moran, passed away Friday, Jan. 6, 2017, at Allen County Regional Hospital.
Edna was born Sept. 14, 1933, in Okarche, Okla., to John Alphonse and Teresa Coletta (Smith) Wittrock. She grew up in Okarche and graduated from Holy Trinity High School there. After graduation, she moved to New York City and worked as a telephone operator for a time before returning to Oklahoma. She married Joseph H. Elmenhorst on Nov. 18, 1953 in Okarche, Okla. Together they made their home in El Reno, Okla., where they were blessed with their four children. They later moved to Moran in 1966, where they continued their life together raising their children on the family farm. Edna worked hard as a homemaker, and developed many skills in gardening, sewing, cooking, painting, flower arranging and many other creative pursuits. She was a diligent mother and grandmother who taught her children and grandchildren many of these talents as well as important life lessons.
Survivors include her husband, Joe (Okie Joe) of the home; her children, Karen Sager and husband Bob, Moran, Chris Elmenhorst and wife Sherry, LaHarpe, Carla Metcalfe and husband Jim, Chanute, and Julie Hammes and husband Chris, Oklahoma City; 13 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren; four brothers and four sisters, Harold Wittrock, Joan Wittrock, Henry Wittrock, Raymond Wittrock, Mark Wittrock, Irene Garrett and Clare Borelli, all of Oklahoma, and Anita Webb of Ohio.
Edna was preceded in death by her parents, a sister, Ruth Knecht, and a granddaughter, Nicole Sigg.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at St. John’s Catholic Church, with burial following in St. John’s Cemetery, Gas. A Rosary service will be at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the church. Visitation will follow in the Parish Hall from 6:45 to 8. Contributions in memory of Edna may be made to Catholic Charities or Hope Unlimited and left in care of the funeral home. Feuerborn Family Funeral Service of Iola assisted the family with arrangements. Condolences may be left at www.feuerbornfuneral.com.
Mustangs, Cubs compete in Burlington
BURLINGTON — The Humboldt Cub wrestling program has been making strides every time it’s taken the mat this season and those strides continued on Saturday when the Cubs traveled to the 22-team Burlington Invitational.
Cheyenne Harris had the top placing for the Cubs with a second-place finish in the 132-pound bracket of the first-ever girls’ division of the tournament.
In the boys’ division, Noah Johnson and Dagen Goodner built on their strong starts to the season by each getting third-place finishes. Goodner went 4-1 with four pins in the 160-pound weight class and Johnson was 3-1 with a trio of falls at 220 pounds.
Humboldt 195-pounder Seth Hegwald and 126-pounder Sam Wehlage each took home fourth-place marks. Hegwald went 1-2 in the tournament and Wehlage was 4-2.
Josh Vanetta went 3-2 in the tournament and finished seventh in the 120-pound division.
Levi Habiger, Gunner Elder and Speed Hoepker also competed for Humboldt, but each finished 0-2.
IOLA
The Mustangs brought three competitors to Burlington and senior Colton Toney led the way with a third-place finish in the heavyweight bracket.
Toney went 4-0 with four pins in the tournament.
Thelma Martin
OMAHA — Thelma J. Martin died Jan. 1, 2017.
She was born Oct. 7, 1938, in Kincaid to Velma and Dean Foster. She married her high school sweetheart, George B. Martin, on Feb. 10, 1957. He preceded her in death on Oct. 4, 2011. She also was preceded in death by brothers Kenneth Foster and Larry Foster.
She is survived by a son, David Martin (Susan); grandchildren, Tyler and Ellie Martin; sisters, Bernadene Snodgrass and Pauline Deines (Lloyd); and a brother, Ronnie Foster (Gail).
A celebration of life gathering will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at Autumn Grove Clubhouse, 5830 S. 156th Ct., Omaha. Interment of ashes will be on Sunday, May 28, in Moran.
Memorials may be directed to the family or to a charity of your choice.
Arrangements by Heafey Hoffmann Dworak Cutler.
John Rausch
John Michael Rausch, 64, Chanute, passed away Friday, Jan. 6, 2017 at his home in Chanute. John was born on Aug. 25, 1952, in Chanute, the son of George John and Freida Nadine (Jones) Rausch.
On May 19, 1982, John married Janet (Broyles) in Miami, Okla. Janet survives him at their home.
John worked for and retired from Chanute Police Department as a detective. He was a member of the Shriners, Elks and Kansas Peace Officers Association. In his spare time, John enjoyed spending time with his children and grandchildren.
In addition to his wife, John is survived by his son, Gerard (Susan) Rausch, Chanute; his daughter, Bridget (Chris) Barnow, Chanute; a stepson, Barrett (Jennifer) Jesseph, McKinney, Texas; and six grandchildren.
John was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Georgeann Mefferd.
Cremation has been requested.
A memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Reachout Christian Center in Chanute. Online condolences may be left at www.countrysidefh.com.
Services have been entrusted to Countryside Funeral Home 101 N. Highland, Chanute, KS 66720. Memorials have been suggested to the Reachout Christian Center and may be left with or mailed to the funeral home.
Samuel Stump
Samuel T. Stump, 92, Blue Mound, died Saturday, Jan. 7, 2017, at Allen County Hospital.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Blue Mound United Methodist Church. Burial will follow in Pleasant View Cemetery. The visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Schneider Funeral Home & Crematory, Mound City Chapel. The family suggests contributions to Blue Mound United Methodist Church in care of the funeral home, P.O. Box J, Mound City, KS 66056. Family and friends may leave online condolences at www.schneiderfunerals.com.
Appreciating the colors
Iola’s 891st Engineer Battalion of the Kansas National Guard presented the colors before Saturday’s Allen Community College men’s basketball game against Hutchinson. Pictured, from left to right, Sean Ryan, Chris Dunn, Michael Semrad and Caleb Nitcher. The special presentation of the colors was a part of ACC’s Military Appreciation Day.
Moving meetings would be helpful
Monday evening Iola council members will discuss — perhaps decide — whether to move their meetings to the first and third Tuesday of each month.
Larry Walden, who takes interest in public affairs as many other citizens should, proposed the council make a change. He pointed out USD 257 Board of Education meets the same evening as the city, the second and fourth Monday of each month.
His rationale was it would give citizens who like to sit in on both the opportunity. As is, they have to choose.
Humboldt faces the same conflict, with its council and USD 258 meeting on the night. Moran’s council meets on the first Monday; LaHarpe the second Wednesday.
Having meetings in the evening, when a far larger number of people are not on the job, makes sense in a participatory democracy, which we all should go out of our way to encourage. Also, it’s far easier for eight council members, seven school board members and three county commissioners to schedule their meetings so Bob and Carol and Ted and Alice, and who knows how many others, can show up without having to make special arrangements.
By this standard, it would be a step forward to enlightenment if Allen County commissioners would switch from Tuesday mornings to evenings. And, by compressing their agendas a tad, they also could reduce their meetings to twice a month. If more were necessary, schedule them.
Transparency is a watchword during campaigns, but once elections dole out seats it is not so much of an issue; it certainly should be more so then.
Years ago Iola commissioners met on Tuesday afternoons. Eventually, they gave evenings a couple of tries. When no one or only a couple showed up, they beat it back to afternoons.
The point is, not every meeting and sometimes several in a row don’t stimulate attendance. When the opportunity for input on a sensitive topic arises, though, it is much better to have meetings as accommodating as possible.
THE REGISTER endorses whatever can be done to make city council and school board meetings open to all who want to attend.
— Bob Johnson