Fans jam the stands at Speedway

HUMBOLDT — A loyal fan base is vital to all sports.

Humboldt Speedway owners and promoters Ron, Rhenda and Ryan Whitworth have always had their fans in mind. They’ve upgraded the facilities at the Speedway throughout the 20-plus years they’ve owned the local dirt track.

So last Friday, the Whitworths threw the gates wide open as fan appreciation night. There was no charge for general admission at the nightly races and the fans “Jammed the Stands.”

According to the race report, more than 3,600 people packed the grandstands and the bleachers on the pit area side. Drivers had fans cheering them on all the way around the track all night.

And the drivers, who also have been taken care of over the years by the Whitworth family’s work to make Humboldt Speedway one of the best dirt stock car tracks in the area, gave the fans a show.

John Allen used all of his considerable driving skill in winning the USRA modified feature, passing and being passed numerous time before settling into a comfortable groove that lead to victory. Allen had intense pressure from runner-up Steven Bowers, Jr., who was actually on Allen’s back bumper at the finish line. 

Justin Folk slipped into the driver’s seat of his brother’s car for the race. Folk drove  Jesse Folk Jr.’s car from near the back of the 21-car field to claim third. Both Jessy Willard and Scott Daniels ran strong early, before finishing fourth and fifth respectively.

  USRA B-Mod action was dominated by Tim VanGotten taking a wire-to-wire win. Jeremy Chambers was second in the event, followed by Jimmie Davis, Curt Drake, and Blake Kisner.

  And while Scott Stuart rolled on to another feature win in factory stock, it was door-to-door racing for second place. On the final lap, Steve Stuart got the edge for second ahead of David Matlock. Tim Phillips ran fourth and Dusty Marvin was fifth.

Jeremy Willard, the defending pure stock points champion, returned to the winners circle. He held off Tyler Kidwell for the win.

Willard also passed a post-race engine teardown performed by tech officials. Levi Phillips claimed the third spot, followed by Mike Aiello and Matthew Kay. 

 This Friday the mechanic’s races will be a highlight in addition to the regular show.

Humboldt Speedway

Race Results

Friday, August 17, 2012

Whitworth Construction Pure Stock

HEAT 1 — Tyler Kidwell, Derek Michael, Robert Shaughnessy, Matthew Kay, George Reimer, Mike Churning

HEAT 2 — Mike Aiello, Jeremy Willard, Levi Phillips, Bryon Wunschel, William Habiger, Tony Morris

FEATURE — Jeremy Willard, Tyler Kidwell, Levi Phillips, Mike Aiello, Matthew Kay, Mike Churning, Tony Morris, George Reimer, Dakotah Stewart, Robert Shaughnessy, William Habiger, Bryon Wunschel, Derek Michael

Factory Stock

HEAT 1— Scott Stuart, Steve Stuart, Dustin Marvin, Rick Aiello, Clint Drake, Patrick Kay

HEAT 2 — David Matlock, Tim Phillips, John Rosson, Brandon Weide, Derrick Wilson

FEATURE — Scott Stuart, Steve Stuart, David Matlock, Tim Phillips, Dustin Marvin, Rick Aiello, Patrick Kay, John Rosson, Brandon Weide, Clint Drake

Ray’s Metal Depot USRA B-Mod

HEAT 1 — Tim VanGotten, Curt Drake, Blake Kisner, Jeremy Wilson, Jason Thurman, Jon Westhoff, Mike Letterman

HEAT 2 — Andy Bryant, Craig Mintz, Ray Maloney, Riley Whitworth, Tyler James, Scott Collins, Leon Bash

HEAT 3 — Jeremy Chambers, Jimmie Davis, Kenny Shaw, Jeremy Bennett, Gene Becker, Dakota Foster

FEATURE — Tim VanGotten, Jeremy Chambers, Jimmie Davis, Curt Drake, Blake Kisner, Craig Mintz, Andy Bryant, Ray Maloney, Jason Thurman, Leon Bash, Riley Whitworth, Jeremy Wilson, Kenny Shaw, Tyler James, Scott Collins, Mike Letterman, Jon Westhoff, Gene Becker, Dakota Foster, Jeremy Bennett

USRA Modified

HEAT 1 — Dennis Bishop, Chase Domer, Justin Becker, Chase Sigg, Lewis Jackson, Van Gemmill, Bryce Schniepp

HEAT 2 – Jessy Willard, John Allen, Paden Phillips, Randy Zimmerman, Justin Folk, Rick Murcko, Allen Broers

HEAT 3 — Scott Daniels, Steven Broers Jr., Stephen Muilenburg, Dalton Kirk, Cody Schniepp, Gene Hogan, Tad Davis

FEATURE — John Allen, Steven Bowers Jr., Justin Folk, Jessy Willard, Scott Daniels, Dalton Kirk, Cody Schniepp, Randy Zimmerman, Dennis Bishop, Paden Phillips, Rick Murcko, Tad Davis, Chase Sigg, Bryce Schniepp, Gene Hogan, Van Gemmill, Chase Domer, Justin Becker, Allan Broers, Stephen Muilenburg, Lewis Jackson

Margaret Bryson

Margaret E. Bryson, 76, Iola, died Sunday, Aug. 19, 2012, at Iola Nursing Center.

Margaret was born Oct. 13, 1935, on a farm east of Cherryvale in Labette County, the daughter of Kenneth Edgar and Joanna Maxine (Testerman) Hild. She graduated from Cherryvale High School.

Margaret worked in banking for 39 years. In 1957, she began working for People’s State Bank in Cherryvale. On Oct. 13, 1964, Margaret married Carl Lee Bryson and they made their home in Iola. She went to work for Allen County State Bank as a secretary in the loan department. She became a trust officer when the bank became Allen County Bank & Trust. When Emprise bought the bank in 1993 she served as senior vice president until retiring in 1996.

She was a member of Business and Professional Women.

Her husband, Carl Lee Bryson, survives; as do two brothers, Donald Hild, McKinney, Texas, and Kenneth Hild Jr., Edmond, Okla.; and a sister, Reba Borovicka, Republic, Mo.

She was preceded in death by an infant sister, Mary Louise.

Funeral services will be at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at Waugh-Yokum & Friskel Chapel in Iola. Visitation will follow the service. Memorial gifts may be made to the donor’s choice. Online condolences for the family may be left at www.iolafuneral.com.

Trula Redfern

Trula Mae Redfern, 87, Iola, died Saturday, Aug. 18, 2012, at Allen County Hospital in Iola.

Trula was born April 12, 1925, in Chanute, the daughter of Edmond R. and Flossie V. (Traylor) Carpenter. She grew up in Chanute.

In 1940, Trula married Paul D. Redfern and they made their home in Iola. She worked as a checker at her husband’s grocery store, for Head Start and helped her husband in a freight business, E.F.D. 

Mr. Redfern preceded her in death on June 17, 1985.

She is survived by a son, David Redfern and his wife, Elaine, Iola; a sister, Kathleen Kirchner, Chanute; two granddaughters, Angela Redfern, Manhattan, and Kandra Redfern, Iola; and three great-grandchildren, Heaven Wagner, Isaac McCullough and Kandrella McCullough.

She was preceded in death by a son, Bryan, daughter, Pamela Redfern, and grandson, Derek Redfern.

Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Highland Cemetery in Iola under direction of Waugh-Yokum & Friskel Memorial Chapel. Online condolences for the family may be left at www.iolafuneral.com.


Sharon Cooke

Sharon Kay Cooke, 67, beloved mother and sister, passed away Sunday, July 22, 2012, at her home in Iola.

Sharon was born Jan. 9, 1945, in Lamar, Mo., the daughter of Leo E. and Lanta Lee (Woods) Needham. She grew up in Lamar where she graduated from high school. Sharon continued her education receiving multiple degrees from Pittsburg State University and Emporia State University.

Sharon made her home at Kincaid for many years before moving to Iola in 1992. She married Edward F. Cooke on July 15, 1993. He preceded her in death Feb. 14, 2008.

Sharon was the district librarian and teacher for the Le Roy/Gridley school district before she retired.

She enjoyed reading and supported wildlife organizations and the Multiple Sclerosis Society.

She is survived by her son, Tawn Katzer and his wife, Keela, Kansas City, Mo., and a brother, Lowell Needham, and his wife, Jancy, Lamar.

She was preceded in death by her parents and an infant sister.

Cremation has taken place.

Memorial services will be at 1 p.m. Sunday at the Waugh-Yokum & Friskel Memorial Chapel in Iola. Visitation will follow the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Multiple Sclerosis Society. Memorial gifts may be left with the funeral home. Online condolences for the family may be left at www.iolafuneral.com.

Peggy Sigg

Margaret Lynn “Peggy” (Martin) Sigg, 48, Iola, passed away at home surrounded by her family on Friday, Aug. 17, 2012.

Peggy was born March 1, 1964, in Iola, the daughter of Don and Mary (Murrow) Martin. She grew up in Iola and graduated from Iola High School in 1982. In 1983, Peggy graduated from the Fort Scott School of Cosmetology. She worked as a cosmetologist in Iola with Nancy Sigg for three years.

On Dec. 7, 1985, Peggy married Mitch Sigg at St. John’s Catholic Church in Iola, and they have always made their home in Iola. She has worked at Sigg Motors the past 17 years. She enjoyed everything about her kids and supported them in all of their activities.

She was a member of St. John’s Catholic Church, where she taught First Communion Class and PSR for 18 years. Peggy also enjoyed making rosaries for family and friends. She coached softball, baseball and soccer for 20 years with the Iola Recreation Department.

She is survived by her husband of 26 years, Mitch Sigg, of the home; five children, Jessica Lynne Sigg and her partner, Josh Adams, Wichita, John Martin Sigg, Iola, Jenna Margaret Sigg, Iola, Jerrik Mitchell Sigg, Iola, and Jadyn Elizabeth Sigg, of the home; her mother, Mary Martin, Iola; her in-laws, John Sigg and Linda Sigg, Iola; three brothers, Greg Martin and his wife, Shannon, Yates Center, Robert Martin and his wife, Melody, West Plains, Mo., and Mike Martin and his wife, Cindi, Owasso, Okla.; three sisters-in-law, Shelly Mueller and her husband, Scott, Iola, Teresa Hines and her husband, Scott, Colony, and Kim Rich and her husband, Jaison, Olathe; one granddaughter on the way; 18 nieces and nephews; and one great-niece.

She was preceded in death by her father, Donald L. Martin, Jr.

Rosary will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday at St. John’s Catholic Church in Iola. Visitation will follow from 8 to 9:30 p.m. at St. John’s Parish Center.

Funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at St. John’s Catholic Church in Iola.

Memorials may be left with Waugh-Yokum & Friskel Memorial Chapel for St. John’s Catholic Church, American Legion Post No. 15 baseball or the Iola Recreation Department. Online condolences for the family may be left at www.iolafuneral.com.

Emma West

Emma Jean West (Scully), 68, passed away suddenly on Thursday, Aug. 2, 2012 in Albuquerque, N.M.

Emma attended St. John’s Catholic School in Iola, then Mount Saint Scholastica in Atchison where she received her diploma.

She was married to Grant Gibbs Alexander from 1963 to 1977. Grant passed away in 2003.

Grant and Emma ran the Montgomery Ward catalog store on the Iola Square from the mid 1970s to the mid ’80s. Emma or “E.J.” then became a mainstay at Coast to Coast / Ace Hardware.

Emma married Dennis Gilbert West of Bronson in 1996. They moved to Caballo, N.M., in 2004 where they enjoyed time at “West’s Palm Beach” with all the wonderful wildlife and beautiful scenery. After Dennis passed away in 2009, some wondered aloud if she’d move back to Kansas, but she didn’t really consider it. She had made a true spiritual, familial home in the high desert. 

Emma was surrounded by her “family” at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church where she was a leader of the Lady’s Council. Emma also was recently made Chaplain of the American Legion Auxiliary. She also had a close-knit family of neighbors in her subdivision.

She leaves behind one brother, Joseph Scully, and his wife Judy of the family farm in Colony; one son, Mike Alexander, and his wife, Angie, Lenexa; and three stepdaughters, Linda Leake and her husband, Steve, Iola, Cherryl Olson, Chanute, and Mary Daniels and her husband, Brett, Savonburg.

Funeral services will begin with rosary at 10 a.m. Friday at St. John’s Catholic Church in Iola. Mass is at 10:30. Following Mass, lunch will be served. Interment follows at Bronson Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, 103 East Sixth St., Truth or Consequences, NM 87901-2360.


Letter to the editor — August 20, 2012

Dear editor,

During my lifetime the United States has fought World War II, the Korean War, Cold War (Berlin blockade, 1949), Berlin Crisis, 1961, Cuban Missile Crisis, 1962, Vietnam War, Panama, Grenada, Bosnia, Kosovo, Kuwait (Desert Storm), War on Terrorism, Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya.

In most of these wars the mission was to defend democracy and to ensure the rights of the people to hold free and open elections.

Think of Iraq, where the symbol of a free and open election was the purple fingers the people so proudly displayed after casting their votes with their fingerprints. 

The United States now has millions of veterans, over 2 million from Vietnam alone.

In my lifetime hundreds of thousands of U.S. armed forces have died defending democracy and ensuring the rights of others to have free and open elections. I believe an honorable discharge or a DD-214 declaring honorable service should be adequate ID to vote in any state. 

Kansas and several other states have passed laws requiring photo ID to vote. I believe restricting the voting rights of any veteran is at minimum un-American and possibly unconstitutional. 

For various reasons many veterans do not have a photo ID.

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled in the Citizens United case that it is legal for a wealthy individual or a corporation to make unlimited anonymous political contributions to influence the results of an election. These donors are not required to register with the state or furnish a photo ID. 

I understand that to mean the Koch brothers, Koch Industries, Inc., and other corporations or individuals can legally make unlimited, undisclosed anonymous political contributions to influence the results of an election, yet it is illegal for a veteran with an honorable discharge and no photo ID to cast one vote to influence the results of an election.

Just call me old-fashioned, but that seems un-American to me. During the Berlin Crisis of 1961, the U.S. armed forces were called the guardians of democracy. It must have been the  German democracy we were defending. It doesn’t feel like it was mine 51 years later.

William Frank Schomaker, Sr.,

Humboldt, Kan. 

P.S.

If you served in the armed forces during the period of 2-28-1961 to 5-7-1975, you can send a photo copy of your DD-214 or honorable discharge to the Kansas Commission on Veterans Affairs and Gov. Brownback will send you a Vietnam War Medallion, a medal and a certificate thanking you for your service. No photo ID required.

So your honorable discharge or DD-214 does have some value in Kansas. They will not permit you a vote, but they will give you a $10 medal.

So after serving a 30-month tour of duty I now know what my service is worth to the state of Kansas — approximately $10.


Russia plays the heavy with band

Three young Russians were deemed a “threat to society” by a Moscow judge and sentenced to two years in a penal colony.

The women were members of the band Pussy Riot, which played a one-minute protest song critical of Russia’s then-presidential candidate Vladimir Putin inside Moscow’s main Orthodox cathedral.

Putin was overwhelmingly reinstated as president last spring.

A YouTube video shows the band members’ arrest by police inside the cathedral while performing — although that’s a loosely applied term.

Doesn’t matter. Vulgar or not, the unreasonably harsh sentence shows an increasingly intolerant Russia. 

Pussy Riot does not produce high-brow music. Its music is of the punk rock genre with lots of unintelligible ranting — of course it is in Russian.

Its performance purportedly beseeched the Virgin Mary to rid Russia of President Putin. A miracle, indeed. Putin has been in power as either president or prime minister since 2000.

During their trial the three women, two of whom are mothers of young children, apologized to the church, saying they had never intended to offend it, but rather sought to make a political statement against Putin and against the church patriarch, Kirill I, for supporting Putin’s campaign for a third term as president.

 

CORRUPTION is rampant in Russia. Police, politicians, church leaders, doctors and those in media are complicit in their oppression of the Russian people. 

According to a photo essay in Sunday’s New York Times, corruption is now so rampant it’s “just a way of life,” from heads of state on down.

That’s a sad commentary on a society.

It’s also a predictable outcome of unbalanced power. Victims take out their oppression on others engendering a state of suspiciousness and mistrust.

That’s a very big reason a democracy trumps all other forms of governance.

Meanwhile, the world watches in horror as one of the world’s most powerful leaders takes his country into the dark ages.

— Susan Lynn


Meeting postponed

Tonight’s planned “Community Conversation” hosted by Thrive Allen County has been postponed.

The conversation will take place later, possibly under a different format, Thrive officials said.

[ANNIVERSARY] Wayne and Nancy Chandler

Wayne and Nancy Chandler will celebrate their 50th anniversary. 

The couple was married Aug. 25, 1962 at the Moran Christian Church. 

They have one daughter, Jenny, married to Mark Spillman and two grandchildren, Sarah and Jeff Spillman. 

They will celebrate with family and friends on Aug. 25 at the Moran Christian Church Fellowship Hall from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. 

Instead of gifts, they requested a card shower.