Robert Martin

Robert W. Martin died Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2019.

He was born Feb. 26, 1931.

He was preceded in death by brothers, William “Bill” and George Martin.

Survivors include nephews, Steve Martin (Kaye) and David Martin (Susan); nieces: Barb Craley, Patti Bates (Tom), and Peggy Doyebi (Jim); grand-nephews and nieces: Damon, Chris and Laura Martin, Brian, Kevin and Karen Craley, Paige Dodge, Sarah Lester, Josh Breen, Chelsea Breen, Nicole Breen, Tyler and Ellie Martin.

Burial will be in the springtime in Moran.

Arrangements by Heafey-Hoffmann-Dworak-Cutler, Omaha, Neb.

Violet Ring

Violet Marguerite (Sprouls) Ring died Tuesday Nov. 19, 2019, in Iola, with her family by her side as she had lived her life with grace and dignity. She was revered by her family and admired by her friends. Violet was born Dec. 3, 1925, in rural Oakton, Mo., to Bert Andrew and Nellie Belle (Hininger) Sprouls. She graduated from Lamar High School in 1943.

Violet worked at the Ration Board in Lamar, Mo., during World War II until her marriage to Vernon Ring in 1944. After raising her children, she was a housekeeping supervisor at the Lamar Hospital, retiring after 20 years. She was married for 62 years. Upon Vernon’s death, Violet moved to Iola to be near her daughter.

Violet is survived by her son Gary Ring and wife Judy, Granby, Mo.; son Tim Ring and wife Marsha, rural Liberal, Mo.; daughter Joy Ring Westervelt, Iola; 10 grandchildren; Mindy, Tracy, J.C., Tod, Corey, Lori, Heather, Rauchel, Kelly, and Vernon Lee; 24 great-grandchildren, one great-great grandchild; a sister;  Shirley Cook, St. Louis, Mo., a sister-in-law, Laverne Sprouls, Pittsburg, and several beloved nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Vernon; brother, Marion Sprouls, and sister, Vera Caruthers.

A visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Bible Fellowship Church, Iola. A funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Konantz Warden Funeral Home in Lamar, Mo., followed by interment at Nashville Cemetery, Nashville, Mo.

Bob Coldwell

Bob Coldwell, age 92, of Humboldt, died Monday, Nov. 18, 2019, at Ascension Via Christi Hospital St. Francis in Wichita. 

He was born on Dec. 18, 1926, to Richard F. and Gladys Irene (Rodgers) Coldwell at Independence, Mo. 

He was preceded in death by his wife, Bonnie; son, Larry; and other relatives. 

Survivors include his daughter, Jolene Keidel of Humboldt; son, Ken Coldwell of Santa Fe, N.M.; and other relatives. 

Memorial services will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Humboldt. The family will greet friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at the church in Humboldt. 

City Slickers installs new officers

The regular monthly meeting of the City Slickers 4-H Club was called to order Nov. 10 at the Riverside Park Community Building by president Carly Dreher.

Robbie Grisier installed the new officers: Carly Dreher, president; Leah Mueller, vice president; Kyser Nemecek, secretary; Hallie Sutherland, treasurer; Rohan Springer, reporter; Lindsey Moore and Angie Ledford, historians; Brody Nemecek, Thatcher Mueller and Carson Keller, recreation directors; Moira Springer, songleader; and Ty Shaughnessy, parliamentarian.  

Thatcher Mueller and Rohan Springer led the club in the Pledge of Allegiance and the 4-H Pledge. Moira Springer led everyone in singing “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.” 

Club members answered roll call by saying their favorite candy. Sixteen club members, one community leader, and one guest were present. Parliamentary procedure was led by Ty Shaughnessy on the Division of the House. 

During the new business portion of the meeting, a decision to order new shirts was referred to committee. It was decided to adopt two children for Christmas this year and to have a secret gift exchange of no more than $5 of your favorite snack or candy. It was discussed to sign up for project talks, snacks, committees, ringing of the bell, and such for each of the monthly meetings. 

Everyone was reminded to sign back up for 4-H. Brody Nemecek and Thatcher Mueller led the club in a game of freeze tag.

The next monthly meeting will take place at 4 p.m. Dec. 8 at the Riverside Park Community Building. Children ages 5 to 18 and their families are encouraged to visit and/or join the club. If there are questions regarding the City Slickers  4-H Club, please call Southwind 4-H District 620-365-2242.

-Rohan Springer, reporter

Leaf pickup Dec. 2

The City of Iola will offer a leaf pickup day on Dec. 2.

It’s not necessary to call the city to make arrangements for pickup. Crews will pass through town only once. In case of inclement weather, the pickup will be canceled.

Leaves will be picked up with the following criteria:

— Leaves must be bagged.

— Loose leaves or leaves in other containers will ?not? be picked up.

— Leaf bags will be picked up from the street side of all residential properties (?at the curb?).  ?No alley pickup.

— Limbs and other debris will ?not? be picked up.

-— Bags must be out by 8 a.m. Dec. 2.

Dirt Diggers to dissolve

Iola’s Dirt Diggers Garden Club will soon be uprooted.

Club members unanimously voted at their Nov. 13 meeting to dissolve the garden club. Funds left in the treasury will be donated to the Iola Community Pantry.

For the program, members discussed no-till gardening.

There’s no need to till to grow edibles and ornamental plants. 

Growers should poke holes in the ground with a fork, so as not to step on holes and collapse them.

A thin layer of cardboard, covered by 6 inches of aged manure, chopped leaves and compost, is ideal. Make sure the compost is the top layer because it’s easier in which to plant. 

Next spring, treat it just like an established bed. Use a digging fork to poke holes in established vegetable beds, then cover with a 1-inch layer of worm compost and other amendments. It’s best to do so just before it rains. Cut back tomatoes, peppers and broccoli in the summer to prevent their roots from decaying, attract microorganisms and promote biological activity.

Repeat for the fall crops. Mulch helps stunt weeds and conserves moisture.

Give biochar a try. It’s the carbon leftover from burning plants. Soil containing high levels of biochar has improved nutrient-holding capacity and can neutralize soil’s alkaline levels. Let fresh biochar “season” for six months to neutralize its pH level before putting on your own soil.

Dorothy Saxton hosted the meeting. Pat Howerton was co-hostess. Five members and one guest, Linda McGhee, attended.

The next meeting will be at 11:30 a.m. Dec. 11 at Dutch Country Cafe in Garnett.

7-time champion, Jimmie Johnson, announces 2020 as final ride

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Jimmie Johnson sat down next to Jeff Gordon at a 2001 driver meeting and asked the champion if he had time to offer any career advice.

Gordon was so impressed with the fellow California native that he encouraged Rick Hendrick to start a team built specifically for the 25-year-old Johnson.

It turned into one of the greatest hires in NASCAR history and nudged Gordon aside as the most dominant driver on the track. Now Johnson will follow Gordon and many other NASCAR superstars into retirement as the seven-time champion announced Wednesday he will retire from full-time competition after next season.

The 44-year-old Johnson joins an exodus of popular drivers that began when Gordon retired after the 2015 season. Tony Stewart, Dale Earnhardt Jr, Carl Edwards, Matt Kenseth, Danica Patrick and Jamie McMurray are among those who followed Gordon out the door.

Johnson, the winningest driver of his era, said in a video posted to his social media and titled “(hash)Chasing8 one final time” that next season will be his final attempt to win a record eighth Cup title. It will be his 19th season in the No. 48 Chevrolet.

“I am so thankful for 18 incredible years of racing in NASCAR,” Johnson said in the black-and-white video comprised of highlights from his career. “This sport has been good to me and allowed me to do something I truly love. I showed up chasing a dream and achieved more than I thought possible. I am looking forward to next season and celebrating what will be my last year as a full-time Cup driver. I know what this team is capable of and I hope 2020 is one of the best yet.”

Johnson scheduled a Thursday news conference at Hendrick Motorsports to discuss his decision. He joins Gordon and Earnhardt Jr. as Hendrick drivers who have called it a career since 2015.

“NASCAR history will always hold Jimmie Johnson in the highest regard, for his hard-charging success on the racetrack and the way he conducted himself as a champion off the track,” said NASCAR Chairman Jim France. “This remarkable seven-time champion — through his competitive spirit, immense talent and sportsmanship — has made NASCAR a better sport.”

Reaction was immediate from drivers, as well as retired cyclist Lance Armstrong and seven-time Supercross champion Jeremy McGrath.

“Proud of you, bro,” Armstrong wrote. “And even prouder to call you a friend. Let’s go get #8.”

Gordon called Johnson “a class act and true champion on & off track” while current Hendrick teammate Chase Elliott was among the many young drivers to refer to Johnson as the greatest of all time with an emoji of a goat.

Johnson has 83 career victories, tied with Cale Yarborough for sixth all-time. He trails Darrell Waltrip and Bobby Allison on the all-time win list by one, and two wins in 2020 would give him sole possession of fourth on the list behind Gordon’s mark of 93 trips to victory lane.

Johnson’s seven titles are tied with Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt for most in the Cup Series, the last one coming in 2016. His most impressive championship battle was likely title No. 2 during a 10-win 2007 season in an epic showdown with Gordon, his teammate. Gordon won back-to-back playoff races that season to take the points lead, but Johnson reeled off four straight victories and Gordon visited him in victory lane after the fourth win and bowed in concession.

The heady days are long gone and Johnson has been in a two-year slump. He last won a race in 2017 and had two different crew chief changes this season while missing the playoffs for the first time since the format began in 2004. He finished 18th in the final standings, 13th in Sunday’s season finale, and has just five top-five finishes the last two years.

Johnson has driven for Rick Hendrick his entire Cup career and set a NASCAR record in winning five consecutive titles from 2006 through 2010, an accomplishment that earned him Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year after his fifth crown.

All 83 of Johnson’s wins have come in the No. 48 and include two Daytona 500s, four victories at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, a record 11 wins at Dover International Speedway, nine at Martinsville Speedway and eight at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Johnson had two years remaining on his contract when new sponsor Ally signed on before this season to replace Lowe’s, which had sponsored Johnson from his 2001 debut through 2018. Ally last month announced a three-year extension to sponsor the No. 48, but Johnson’s future was not tied to the renewal through 2023.

“Jimmie Johnson is a legend in racing, the epitome of class and the ultimate representative of our brand,” said Andrea Brimmer, chief marketing officer at Ally. “We are proud that Jimmie will finish his remarkable NASCAR driving career with Ally as his primary sponsor.”

Davis Cup: Americans eliminated despite win over Italy

MADRID (AP) — Not even some late heroics — some very, very late ones — were enough to keep the United States from being eliminated from the Davis Cup Finals on Thursday.

The U.S. failed to advance despite beating Italy 2-1 after a doubles match that ended past 4 a.m. local time in Madrid, the second latest finish in tennis history.

Sam Querrey and Jack Sock won the decisive doubles match 7-6 (4), 6-7 (2), 6-4 against Simone Bolelli and Fabio Fognini, but it wasn’t enough to secure the Americans in the quarterfinals as one of the two-best second-place finishers from the six groups.

Only a big win against Italy, without losing many sets or games, would have been enough to send the U.S. to the knockout stage of the revamped team competition.

With the elimination, the U.S. will equal its longest gap between Davis Cup titles, with its last one coming in 2007.

The doubles match ended 4:04 a.m. in the Spanish capital (10:04 p.m. ET, 0304 GMT), the latest finish in U.S. Davis Cup history and second in tennis history behind Lleyton Hewitt’s victory over Marcos Baghdatis at the 2008 Australian Open, which ended past 4:30 a.m. local time.

“I don’t even know where we are, what time it is, what day it is,” U.S. team captain Mardy Fish said. “That was pretty special from these guys, for sure.”

Taylor Fritz had kept the U.S. hopes alive by defeating Matteo Berrettini 5-7, 7-6 (5), 6-2 to level the series at 1-1 after Fognini had beaten Reilly Opelka 6-4, 6-7 (4), 6-3 to put Italy ahead.

“I’m excited for Taylor,” Fish said. “That’s one of the biggest wins of his life. I’m just happy to be part of it.”

The American team lost to Canada in its opening series on Tuesday — its first Davis Cup defeat against the North American neighbors. Italy also lost to the Canadians, who won the group and will face Australia in Thursday’s quarterfinal.

The U.S. sent to Madrid its youngest Davis Cup team in a decade, with 22-year-olds Fritz and Opelka making their tournament debuts. Fritz was the team’s highest-ranked player at No. 32.

The new Davis Cup is being played in a World Cup-style format with all 18 teams playing in a single venue in the same week, instead of the head-to-head confrontations that used to take place at varied sites over four weekends throughout the year.

NBA roundup: Doncic leads Mavs past Warriors; Clippers edge red-hot Clippers

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Lou Williams scored 27 points, Kawhi Leonard and Paul George combined for 42 points in their first game together for the Clippers, and Los Angeles rallied to edge the Boston Celtics 107-104 in overtime Wednesday night.

George scored 25 points. Leonard added 17 and blocked Kemba Walker’s potential tying 3-point attempt after injury and rehab had prevented them from playing in the same game over the season’s first 14 games.

The Clippers improved to 9-1 at home after rallying from a 10-point deficit in the fourth.

Jayson Tatum led the Celtics with 30 points and Marcus Smart and Brad Wanamaker added 14 apiece.

Williams hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 31 seconds remaining in regulation. After a timeout, Tatum hit a 3-pointer with George falling down defending him to tie it 97-all with 13 seconds left.

MAVERICKS 142, 

WARRIORS 94

DALLAS (AP) — Luka Doncic scored 33 of his 35 points in the first half and had yet another triple-double to help Dallas rout short-handed Golden State.

Doncic fell a point short of matching Dirk Nowitzki’s team record set Nov. 3, 2009, against Utah. In just 17 minutes, Doncic was 10 for 11 from the floor, making 6 of 7 3-pointers, and hit 7 of 8 free throws.

The second-year star from Slovenia had 22 points, five assists and five rebounds in the first quarter alone. He played only 25 minutes total, but still managed 10 rebounds and 11 assists.

Doncic was coming off a 40-point triple-double Monday night against San Antonio, and has an NBA-best seven triple-doubles in 14 games this season.

The Mavericks never trailed and tied a franchise record with 22 3-pointers while sending Golden State to its worst loss since a 1973 playoff game.

Tim Hardaway Jr. added 20 for Dallas. Kristaps Porzingis had 14 points and 10 rebounds for his fourth-straight double-double. Eric Paschall led the Warriors with 22 points.

 

NUGGETS 105, ROCKETS 95

DENVER (AP) — Nikola Jokic had 27 points and 12 rebounds, Denver played smothering defense on James Harden and the Nuggets snapped Houston’s eight-game winning streak.

Harden had 27 points, ending his string of eight consecutive games of 36 or more. He was 8 of 16 from the floor as the Rockets were held under 100 points for the first time this season. Denver is 7-0 this season when keeping an opponent below 100.

Russell Westbrook scored 25 points on 8-of-22 shooting for Houston, and Clint Capela had 21 rebounds.

 

76ERS 109, KNICKS 104

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Ben Simmons hit the first 3-pointer of his career and had 18 points and 13 assists to lead Philadelphia past New York.

Mike Scott’s fourth 3-pointer with 1:29 left stretched the Sixers’ lead to 99-95 and they held on after New York’s Marcus Morris hit a pair of 3s in the final 10 seconds. Joel Embiid had 23 points and 13 rebounds, and Scott scored 12 points.

Simmons did the improbable when he fired a 24-footer from the corner in front of the 76ers’ bench, sending the crowd into a frenzy. Simmons received a lengthy standing ovation for the first 3-pointer after 17 misses (and one more miss in the postseason).

Morris led the Knicks with 22 points.

 

RAPTORS 113, MAGIC 97

TORONTO (AP) — Fred VanVleet scored 24 points, Pascal Siakam had 18 points and 11 rebounds and Toronto snapped Orlando’s winning streak at three.

Orlando lost center Nikola Vucevic and forward Aaron Gordon to right ankle injuries in the second quarter.

Raptors rookie Terence Davis scored a career-high 19 points, Norman Powell had 15 points, and Chris Boucher added 14 points and 11 rebounds. Defending champion Toronto improved to 6-0 at home.

Evan Fournier scored 21 points for Orlando.

 

HEAT 124, CAVALIERS 100

MIAMI (AP) — Duncan Robinson set Miami records for 3-pointers in a quarter and a half on his way to 29 points and Miami beat Cleveland to remain unbeaten at home.

Playing in front of his college coach — the Cavs’ John Beilein, who had Robinson at Michigan — the second-year guard was 9 for 15 from the field, with all those shots coming from behind the arc. Robinson set team marks with seven 3-pointers in the second quarter and eight in the first half.

His flurry helped Miami tie a franchise mark with 75 first-half points.

Tyler Herro added 22 points for Miami. Kevin Love had 25 points and 13 rebounds for Cleveland.

 

BUCKS 135, HAWKS 127

ATLANTA (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo had 33 points and 11 rebounds, Eric Bledsoe scored 28 points and Milwaukee beat Atlanta for its fifth straight victory.

Antetokounmpo, the reigning NBA MVP, has had at least 30 points and 10 rebounds an NBA-best nine times this season. The Bucks have won nine of 10 and improved to an NBA-best 8-2 on the road.

Atlanta rookie De’Andre Hunter had a career-high 27 points. Trae Young added 25.

 

JAZZ 103, TIMBERWOLVES 95

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Bojan Bogdanovic scored 30 points, Donovan Mitchell added 26 and Utah beat Minnesota to split a home-and-home series.

Bogdanovic and Mitchell each hit three 3-pointers in the fourth quarter. Bogdanovic was 6 of 11 from 3-point range, and Mitchell 5 of 10 to help Utah rebound for a home loss to Minnesota on Monday night.

 

Andrew Wiggins had 22 points for Minnesota after missing three games because of personal reasons and an illness. Karl-Anthony Towns was held to 14 points and struggled with foul trouble most of the night.

 

WIZARDS 138, SPURS 132

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — Bradley Beal shot 9 for 9 in a 21-point third quarter and finished with 33 to help Washington hand San Antonio its seventh consecutive loss.

Davis Bertans, acquired by Washington from San Antonio in the offseason, scored 21 points, and so did Ish Smith.

DeMar DeRozan scored 31 points for San Antonio. The Spurs fell to 5-10.

 

NETS 101, HORNETS 91

NEW YORK (AP) — Jarrett Allen had 22 points and 17 rebounds in Brooklyn’s victory over Charlotte.

Taurean Prince and Spencer Dinwiddie added 20 points apiece. Brooklyn was without Kyrie Irving for the third straight game because of a right shoulder injury.

Terry Rozier had 18 points for Charlotte.

 

BULLS 109, PISTONS 89

CHICAGO (AP) — Lauri Markkanen scored 24 points to bust out of a slump, Wendell Carter Jr. had 12 points and 15 rebounds and Chicago beat Detroit.

Derrick Rose had 18 points and Blake Griffin — in his third game of the season — added 16 for Detroit.