OLPE — For a team as accustomed to success as Crest High’s boys are, head coach Travis Hermreck isn’t much into moral victories, especially after his team lost its second game in a row Tuesday, the first such occurrence in the 2012-13 season.
But the 44-41 loss at Olpe left Hermreck encouraged.
“We played well enough to win for about 30 minutes,” Hermreck said. “Unfortunately, games are 32 minutes long. The guys did everything we asked of them. We just had a few breakdowns at the end.”
Crest (11-4) led Olpe 25-23 at halftime and 35-33 after three quarters before the Eagles closed the game with a 13-6 fourth-quarter spurt to claim the win.
Kyle Hammond poured in 19 points to lead the Lancers, followed by Jordan Morton and Jesse Boone with eight apiece.
Brandon Baumgardner scored 17 points and Chance Stout 15 to lead the Eagles.
Despite the loss, “it was good to see our boys play like themselves again,” Hermreck said.
Meanwhile, Crest’s girls had a rough night at Olpe, dropping an 89-11 decision.
Crest resumes Three Rivers League play Friday at Oswego.
Crest (13-12-10-6—41)
Olpe (10-13-10-13—46)
Crest (FG/3pt-FT-F-TP): Boone 4-0-3-8, Green 0/1-0-3-3, Stephens 0-0-2-0, Morton 0/2-2-2-8, Hammond 7-5-3-19, Ellis 0/1-0-1-3. TOTALS: 11/4-7-14-41.
Olpe (FG/3pt-FT-F-TP): Stout 6-3-1-15, T. Smith 0-2-0-2, Krueger 2-2-1-6, Baumgardner 3/3-2-2-17, Redeker 1-2-4-4. TOTALS: 13/3-11-8-44.
Red Devil school records fall at MSSU
JOPLIN — A trio of school records went down Friday as Allen Community College’s indoor track team roared at the Missouri Southern State University Invitational Friday and Saturday.
On the women’s side, Terika Henry has the new school mark in the 200-meter dash, winning the event in 25.56 seconds. She defeated athletes from area two- and four-year schools in the process.
Elsewhere, Gabriella Ruiz took home a school record with her fifth-place finish in the 3000-meter run. She finished the race in 10 minutes, 30 seconds.
Both qualified for the National Indoor Track and Field Championships March 1-2 in Lubbock, Texas.
Also qualifying among the Allen women was Danae McGee in the 3000 meters with a time of 10:50.41, which earned her eighth at MSSU.
ON THE men’s side, Dakota Parker has the ACC record in the 1-mile run. He took fifth overall with a time of 4:23.63.
“What’s great about this performance is that he isn’t training for this particular event,” Red Devil coach Vince DeGrado said. “We’re working him toward the 3K/5K double at nationals. So for him to come in and break a school record and post that mark indoors is pretty impressive.”
DeGrado also lauded the efforts of Allen’s distance runners, many of whom ran both the 5000- and 3000-meter races.
“That’s a testament of how hard they work, and the amount of miles they put in,” DeGrado said. “It’s extremely difficult to do a 5k, then turn around and run a 3k. I’m very proud of that group.
“They’ll be even better in two weeks, when they get to focus on one race at the region and conference meet.”
“THIS COMPETITION was perfect for what we were trying to accomplish,” DeGrado said. “In some events, we’ll have more confidence at the region meet.”
Allen is taking a select group of athletes to run at the Iowa State Classic Friday, where they will compete against primarily Division I teams.
“We are geared up for a final push toward our season goal of staking a claim to the conference and region championships,” DeGrado said. “This week’s meet will be just about running as fast as possible.”
Allen’s full results follow:
Men
Long jump
6. Jethro St. Hubert, 6.62 meters
200-meter dash
16. Jethro St. Hubert, 22.60 seconds
26. Kelvin Gant, 22.80
28. Jordan Fountain, 23.00
3000-meter run
14. Brock Artis, 9:09.33
15. Patrick Rachford, 9:09.72
17. Jacob Spence, 9:11.74
20. Garrett Colglazier, 9:13.15
21. Tucker Morgan, 9:16.14
23. Gerald Christian, 9:26.80
24. Kyle Schauvliege, 9:29.68
60-meter dash
Rodrick Simmons, 7.10 seconds (DNQ for finals)
Michael Burns, 7.21 (DNQ)
60-meter hurdles
Bruce Barclay (DNF)
1-mile run
5. Dakota Parker, 4:23.63 — SR
15. Josh Whittaker, 4:34.88
400-meter dash
4. Kyle Smith, 51.88.
16. Simmons, 53.06
26. Gant, 54.35
800-meter run
38. Jordan Caudill, 2:08.90
5000-meter run
5. Colglazier, 15:53.09
6. Ryan Pulsifer, 15:53.52
12. Schauvliege, 16:05.16
16. Kevin White, 16:20.12
20. Rachford, 16:34.21
23. Gerald Christian, 17:05.27
27. Mark Emerson, 18:11.70
Women
200-meter dash
1. Terika Henry, 25.56 seconds — SR
3000-meter run
5. Gabriella Ruiz, 10:30.00 — SR
8. Danae McGee, 10:50.41
19. Kim Boyle, 11:36.32
22. Debra Kime, 11:43.32
60-meter dash
10. Henry,7.94 seconds
1-mile run
22. Mahalia Sooap, 6:19.97
(SR-school record)
Bud Beecher
Edgar “Bud” Dean Beecher, 73, passed away at his home in Yates Center on Saturday, Feb. 2, 2013.
Bud was born Sept. 17, 1939, the son of Edgar A. and Clara (Bode) Beecher in El Reno, Olka. Bud grew up in Okarche, Okla., attending Okarche Schools and eventually graduating from Okarche High School. During high school Bud began farming with his father. After Bud graduated from high school he then entered the U.S. Navy which he served for three years. Shortly after his time in the Navy Bud met Karen (Pate) in Oklahoma and after three months of being together they were married Feb. 2, 1962, in Oklahoma City, Okla. The couple spent their early years in Oklahoma; having four children, Deanna, Debbie, Dustene and Dale, before settling in Yates Center. After moving to Yates Center the couple was blessed with their youngest child, Daryl. Around 1987 Bud decided to quit farming and began raising cattle. After Bud had his time with the cattle he began to drive a truck, which was a most-loved occupation and hobby up until the end.
Edgar was a member of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Humboldt. In the past he served on the Woodson County Fair Board and Extension Council; he was also a 4-H Beef Leader and at one time was Woodson County’s Kansas Livestock Association President. In 1961 Edgar was presented with the American Farmer Award. Edgar was known to be a hard worker and often called working his occupation and hobby. He and his wife Karen were blessed with 51 wonderful years of marriage and five children. He will be missed.
Bud was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Jan. He is survived by his wife Karen (Pate), Yates Center; his children, Deanna (Stevens) Johnson, Yates Center, Debbie Stevens, Edmond, Okla., Dustene (Beecher) Weston and husband Rick, Yates Center, Dale Beecher and significant other Stacey Murrell, Iola, and Daryl Beecher and wife Aileen, Yates Center; his grandchildren, Mike Rollings, Shawna Johnson, Josh Weston, Jessica Rollings, Dallyn Beecher and Shandell Byerly; his great-grandchildren, Rhylan Altman, Jordynn Swartz and Cache Rollings; also one sister, Maxine Masquelier and husband Bob of Kingfisher, Okla.; as well as many other relatives and friends.
Memorial services for Bud were today at 10 a.m. at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Humboldt. Inurnment will follow in Yates Center Cemetery, Yates Center. The family met with friends the evening prior to the service, Tuesday, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Campbell Funeral Home, Yates Center.
Memorials are suggested to the “Friends For Life” of Yates Center, or St. Peter’s Lutheran Church Youth Group, Humboldt and may be sent in care of Campbell Funeral Home P.O. Box 188 Yates Center, KS 66783.
Information may also be obtained by visiting jonescampbellfuneralhome.com.
Ancient relics lost to perverse ideology
Imagine intruders storming Iola and raiding the Allen County Historical Society. Gen. Funston’s home is set ablaze. His statue, tumbled. Across the square the old jail museum is bombed. Down Madison Avenue, the Iola Public Library is burned.
In a matter of minutes, much of the county’s history is lost.
That’s pretty much what has happened in Mali from an invasion of Islamic extremists. Several thousands of years of relics have been destroyed under the pretense their preservation is idolatry of some sort. Anything but Islam is viewed as heretical.
In 2001, the famous Buddhas of Bamiyan in Afghanistan were dynamited by the Taliban under similar pretenses. Buddhist monks from the 6th Century carved the statues into the side of cliffs. The carvings had elaborate, brightly colored frescoes and were a massive 175 feet tall, the largest in the world.
Throughout the world, the carvings were viewed as treasures of a time gone by.
Mali is a small, poor country where terrorists, criminals and religious extremists have tried to take power. The west African country is home to Timbuktu, an ancient city that’s a virtual treasure trove of historical relics. In anticipation of upheaval, historians hid cultural artifacts and ancient manuscripts. Good thing. Despite previous promises to the contrary, its new library was ransacked where the remaining manuscripts were burned. Earlier this year tombs of saints were unearthed and their holdings looted.
To the credit of the majority of Muslims, they view the acts as grossly misleading and damaging to the image of Islam.
Time naturally takes a toll on the world’s wonders. Acid rain is yellowing the luscious white marble of India’s Taj Majal. The sandstone of Cambodia’s Angkor Wat, built in the 12th century, is losing out to erosion mostly from tourists’ hands and feet climbing among the expansive structure. Same with Egypt’s pyramids, which are just a stone’s throw from massive hotels and other commercial enterprises. Even England’s stoic Stonehenge shows significant wear and tear from the elements.
All of these are understandable — if not exactly forgivable.
Archeological terrorism, however, is an intentional crime against history.
If only the treasures could be seen in a broader view, rather than through the narrow limitations of an ideology.
— Susan Lynn
Iola running group to begin
Think running a 5K is beyond your reach?
Beginning April 6, free Saturday morning running clinics will be offered leading up to the Mad Bomber July 12 midnight run.
Personnel from the Iola Police Department and Thrive Allen County will conduct the clinics, which will meet each Saturday morning at 9 o’clock to start training for the 5K. The first session meets at Allen Community College.
Groups will be split up into advanced and beginners, so everyone can get involved, officer Mike Ford said.
“This is designed for people of all fitness ranges. You don’t have to have exercised on a regular basis to join,” Damaris Kunkler, Thrive program director said.
The group will start off slow. The first three Saturdays participants will stretch, walk and learn healthy ways to get fit for a 5K.
For the following 10 Saturdays people will meet in front of the Iola Post Office, the beginning of the Mad Bomber race, and slowly build up stamina.
Ford said there are 16,404 feet in a 5K, which runners will divide into 10 Saturdays and every Saturday they will run 1,640 until they have run a full 5K at the end of the program.
The runners will following the Mad Bomber route.
Joining is free and each participant will receive a folder with information including maps of the run so if they can’t make a Saturday or if they want to start walking or running it more than once a week they can.
T-shirts can be purchased for $5. Registration begins today and can be done at the Thrive office on 2 E. Jackson Ave. For more information contact Thrive at 365-8128.
Jimmie Higginbotham
Jimmie Higginbotham, 82, Fort Scott, passed away Monday, Feb. 4, 2013, at Mercy Hospital.
Jimmie was born Feb. 26, 1930, at Iola, the son of Floyd B. and Myrtle (Adams) Higginbotham. He grew up in the Carlyle area and graduated from Iola High School in 1948. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1948 until 1951, including 27 months in Guam.
On Nov. 21, 1952, Jimmie married Bonnie Jean Thornbrugh at his parent’s home in rural Iola. They made their home in Iola until 1953 when they moved to Paola for three years and returned to Iola. They lived in Plainfield, Ill., Anderson, Ind., Decatur, Ill. and Mason City, Iowa, before settling in Fort Scott. He worked as a terminal manager for Mitchell Transport Co. from 1964 until 1983. He retired from Gates Rubber Company in Iola. Bonnie preceded him in death April 9, 2006.
He was a member of the Presbyterian Church and VFW. Jimmie enjoyed woodworking, crocheting, making Christmas candy, gardening and farming.
Survivors include special friend and caregiver, Margie Albright of Fort Scott; two children, Ronnie Higginbotham and wife, Debbie, Iola, and Rhonda Smith and husband, Rodney, Parsons; two brothers, Jack Higginbotham of Mankato, Minn. and Tom Higginbotham of Iola; four grandchildren, Melisa Aikins and husband, Grant Chanute, John Higginbotham and wife, Jenna, Ottawa, Cindy Smith and husband, Jimmy Coffield, Iola, and Nick Smith and wife, Tiffany, Independence; five great-grandchildre, Dylan and Dalton Coffield, Ollie and Kadence Byrd, and Eliana Higginbotham.
He was preceded in death by a sister, Sharon Buss.
Visitation is from 6 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, at Waugh-Yokum and Friskel Chapel in Iola. Services are at 2 p.m., Thursday, also at the chapel.
Burial is in Mount Hope Cemetery, Humboldt.
Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society and left with Waugh-Yokum and Friskel Memorial Chapel, which is in charge of arrangements.
Online condolences for the family are at www.iolafuneral.com.
New Yorkers: Take the money and build
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has suggested a buyout program for homes affected by Hurricane Sandy.
The program would provide homeowners with pre-hurricane market values for the bulk of the homes washed away. In some cases, little more than foundations are left standing in the wake of the Oct. 29 hurricane.
Cuomo’s plan is similar in nature to the buyout in Iola after the flood of 2007 where more than 100 properties were sold voluntarily. Today, most of those lots are green fields in south Iola. A couple were used for the new Happy Tails dog park. Others were converted into soccer fields.
For those who chose not to participate, many homes have been raised several feet higher to help brunt the next deluge.
It was a tough decision for homeowners, but many were weary at the thought of starting from scratch the next time the proverbial floodgates open — which they will, as sure as the sun rises each morn.
Iola’s buyout was funded primarily by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the state of Kansas. Iola contributed about 5 percent of the cost.
Gov. Cuomo is proposing $400 million for the 10,000 or more homes that lay in the hurricane’s path. The buyout is not for multi-million dollar waterfront estates. Prices would be determined by a median value of the homes in neighborhood and would have a cap.
Already, some are willing to take the offer. In a neighborhood off the shore of Staten Island, 133 of 165 households have signed up to take a buyout if one is offered, according to Monday’s New York Times. The buyout requires approval from the federal housing agency.
Besides the worry of future hurricanes, which account for two-thirds of all uninsured property losses, homeowners also worry about prohibitively high flood insurance rates coming down the pike.
THE LURE of the water, for some, overpowers reason. Some of us like to take our chances against Mother Nature. On South Buckeye Street the sparkle off Elm Creek is especially soothing. And yes, those waters can get too close for comfort.
Likewise, people who build homes on seaside cliffs and in the gullies of mountainous timber stands are asking for trouble, and their home insurance policies should reflect the gamble.
But when entire shorelines have to be rebuilt time and time again because of rising sea waters — a fact — then it’s time for prudence to overrule desire.
Take the money. Build anew elsewhere. Respect Mother Nature’s omnipotent power.
— Susan Lynn
Crest girls win
COLONY — Crest High’s girls picked up a win Friday, using a second-half spurt to defeat visiting Chetopa, 46-39.
The Lady Lancers trailed 23-19 at halftime before outscoring Chetopa 13-9 to tie the score at 32-32.
Crest outscored the Hornets 14-7 in the fourth quarter to seal the win.
Kurston Gilliland scored 18 points to lead Crest. Madison Kellar added 12 points and Madison Covey had five.
Crest travels to Olpe Tuesday.
Humboldt girls fall
CANEY — Humboldt High’s girls had a tough go of it Friday.
The Lady Cubs traveled to Caney Valley, and dropped a 69-27 decision.
“Although the losses are tough, to see the growth in the kids is a great thing,” Humboldt coach Sherri Nelson said.
Lakota Wilson led Humboldt with 11 points, four rebounds, a block and two steals. Sheri Middleton added five points and a block. Brea Kline had four points and seven rebounds. Karsyn Menzie added four points and four boards. Delaney Umholtz had three points, while Cheyenne English pulled down five rebounds with a block.
Humboldt hosts Neodesha Tuesday.
Allen falls just short
HIGHLAND — A spirited comeback came up just short Saturday for Allen Community College’s men.
The Red Devils, after struggling mightily to start their game against Highland, picked up the pace after intermission.
The Red Devils erased a 12-point halftime deficit, and even took the lead midway through the second half.
But Highland responded with another kick regaining a double-digit advantage from there. Allen embarked on a second comeback, but ran out of time in a 66-60 loss.
The defeat keeps the Red Devils winless in Jayhawk Conference Eastern Division play.
“Allen played much harder on both ends of the floor,” Red Devil coach Andy Shaw said.
Cameron Blue, sidelined with foul trouble through much of the first half, rebounded to score a team-high 15 points for the Red Devils to go with eight rebounds and two blocks.
Bryce Schippers followed with 11 points, and DeAndrae Barnette had 10. Andrew Rountree pulled down 11 rebounds, four on the offensive end, with three assists, two blocks and two steals.
The Red Devils (4-19 overall and 0-10 in conference action) travels to Independence Wednesday.
Allen (19-41—60)
Highland (31-35—66)
Allen (FG/3pt-FT-F-TP): Rountree 2-2-5-6, Wesley 0-2-1-2, Fountain 0-0-1-0, Schippers 1/3-0-4-11, Uno 1/1-0-2-5, Keiswetter 1-2-1-4, Barnette 1/2-2-4-10, Blue 4/1-4-4-15, Walden 0/2-1-2-6. TOTALS: 10/9-13-25-60.