Whitehead scholar students announced

Six area students — Clara Boyd, Zury Burleson, Madison Carlin, Zachary Cokely, Nathan Cunningham and Erin Klubek — have been named recipients of the Helen Gates Whitehead Scholarship.
The scholarships are made available to any Allen County student who plans to study fine arts or graphic arts or studies home economics at Kansas State University, Helen’s alma mater.
Financial need is not a requirement.
To date, 134 such scholarships have been awarded since 1990.
Seventeen recipients are still in college: four each at K-State, the University of Kansas and Pittsburg State University, two are at Emporia State University and one each at Washburn University, Baker University and Mid-America Nazarene University.

 

Williams loses in most lopsided defeat of career

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Serena Williams walked off the court offering waves to a supportive Bay Area crowd that certainly didn’t expect to see the 23-time Grand Slam champion’s early exit.
In the most lopsided defeat of her career, Williams’ disappointing night ended in less than an hour as she lost her opening match of the Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic on Tuesday night to Johanna Konta, 6-1, 6-0.
When the 52-minute match ended on Williams’ forehand into the net, she quickly grabbed her gear and headed off the court. She had never won only one game — she won her serve for the initial game Tuesday then not another. She got two games at the 2014 WTA finals in Singapore, falling 6-0, 6-2 to Simona Halep.
“I know I can play a zillion times better so that kind of helps out, too. I have so many things on my mind I don’t have time to be shocked about a loss that clearly wasn’t at my best right now,” Williams said. “When I was out there, was fighting. That’s the only thing I can say, I wasn’t just like giving it away and I was moving a lot better. So I’m just trying to take the positives out of it.”
While Williams was encouraged by her court coverage, she hardly looked like herself on a cool summer evening. She double-faulted and landed drop shots in the net. Williams missed returns and sprayed her groundstrokes long and wide.
Konta, who captured her first WTA title two years ago at Stanford, got on a roll with a quick first set and didn’t take a chance in letting Williams get back in it. Konta closed the first game of the second with consecutive aces under 100 mph.
“I think she played well in the second set,” Williams said. “I wasn’t sharp at all in the first set and I think she got confident and clearly ran away with it.”
The sixth-seeded Williams is a three-time champion in the Bay Area. This marked the fifth tournament for the 36-year-old Williams since giving birth to her daughter, Alexis Olympia, last September. It’s her first tournament since her straight-set Wimbledon loss to Angelique Kerber.
Williams shrugged in disbelief when things went well, and when they didn’t. She gestured with her hand when the ball hit the lowest part of the net.
Williams had moments of brilliant shot-making to win long rallies, then would put a drop shot into the net and sigh in disappointment.
The good shots were to be celebrated.
She pumped her left arm and yelled “yes!” after winning the first point of the second game in the second. Williams then outlasted Konta for a long third point but was unable to hold serve.
“It’s difficult, I guess. It’s not I guess, for sure,” she said of trying to find that consistency again.
Williams, wearing a long-sleeved red dress and headband and cheered by the pro-Williams crowd, lost her second service game in the initial set and Konta then held for 3-1 as Williams made unforced errors with her timing not quite consistently there on the serve and ground game.
In the sixth game of the first set, Konta hit a 101 mph ace for ad then Williams got it back to deuce before Konta held for 5-1.
Williams, a 23-time Grand Slam champion, returned to the Bay Area event for what is the former Stanford WTA stop that moved to San Jose State University for the first time.
Big sister Venus is also playing here this week.
From here, Serena Williams goes to Montreal next week as she received a wild card into the Rogers Cup.
Following her loss in the Wimbledon final to Angelique Kerber, Williams said she had proven to herself that she could still compete to win Grand Slams.
Her next Grand Slam title would tie her with Margaret Court for the most with 24. She already has the most major trophies in the professional era.
Williams was treated for frightening blood clots after having her baby. At the All England Club, she wore special compression leggings as a precaution.

Letter to the editor — August 1, 2018

Dear editor,
Are you as sickened by the election propaganda as I am?  The constant barrage of nasty, border-line slanderous mailings put out by those who want to overhaul Kansas government has been, in my opinion, beyond reason!  Apparently it is more important to “reduce taxes” than it is to treat people with respect. As a superintendent for a relatively small, rural, Kansas school district, I want to encourage people to vote this month in the primary races. It is not very difficult to personally contact many of the candidates and simply ask them about where they stand on issues. Don’t buy everything you have been seeing in your mailbox!
The effort to replace several representatives in Topeka has been driven by folks who are aligned to the tax policies that Governor Brownback initiated in 2012. Many of these policies crippled public education and social services after they were put in place. Several of these tax policies have been rescinded during the past two years by more moderately-minded representation.  The rescinding of the 2012 tax policies have not only helped public education, but the overall economy of Kansas is also on the rebound! In Woodson USD 366, we have more resources for our students and our tax rate for the school district has gone down to a level below what is was two years ago! This is the direction our current, more moderate decision-makers have taken the state!
Are we rich now? Heavens no. But we are going to do a much better job of taking care of our students and staff.   
We now have greater resources to support at-risk students and their families. One example of this kind of support is evidenced by partnership discussions with the local mental health agency.  We are able to provide employees with a decent raise, which is important as we are the largest employer in the county. We are beginning to address serious maintenance issues that had to be put on hold for several years. I want to thank the decision-makers in Topeka who have supported public education with their voting record!
When I was working on my master’s degree at Kansas State in 1997, one of my professors warned how we need to be aware of a movement to establish policies that will destroy public education, saying, “Public schools will become ‘schools for the poor.’ Everyone who can afford to send their children to private schools, will.’”
It saddens me greatly to see efforts to make his prophetic message come true!   
Greg Brown,
Superintendent of Schools
USD 366
Yates Center, Kan.

 

Sen. Wagle’s endorsement of Kobach flouts ethics

Like any other Kansan, state Senate President Susan Wagle has every right to endorse a candidate in the gubernatorial race. But she does not have the right to ballyhoo her endorsement of Kris Kobach from her official state email account, under her official Senate letterhead.
Though we’re not shouting, “Lock her up!” or anything, Kansas law does bar state officeholders and employees from using any public funds, time, equipment or supplies to “expressly advocate” the nomination or election of a candidate.
“We weren’t intending to violate any ethics laws,” said Harrison Hems, Wagle’s chief of staff.
Maybe not. You’d think such a prominent member of the same Kansas Republican Party that has been on the lookout for any public school teachers using their official email for campaign purposes would have known better.
But either Wagle didn’t know or didn’t care. And on Wednesday, less than two weeks ahead of the Aug. 7 primary, the Wichita Republican sent out the message, via her official account and under her letterhead, that “I am proud to endorse Kris Kobach and I ask my fellow Republicans to stand with the candidate who best reflects Kansas values.”
Wagle, who at one point considered running against Kobach, picked the voter-fraud-obsessed secretary of state over current Gov. Jeff Colyer, Insurance Commissioner Ken Selzer and former state senator Jim Barnett.
“I find it interesting that Sen. Wagle is endorsing the secretary of state after he has referred to Topeka and the Legislature as corrupt and as part of the swamp,” Selzer said.
We find it interesting that Wagle, who has traveled quite an ideological distance since she ran on the ticket with moderate GOP gubernatorial nominee Barnett in 2006, seems to think it’s Kobach, the most extreme candidate in the race, who will win the nomination.
Way back last year, when she was considering taking him on herself, she said, “There’s a desire out there for stability in state government and leadership. We’ve had a rocky road for the last few years, we’ve been walking down a rocky road, and I think people are looking for a leader who can manage the budget, can manage the Legislature and put forth a vision for Kansas.”
Now, her vision for Kansas is that Kobach is that leader.
— The Kansas City Star

NBA strikes deal with MGM Resorts to provide data to bettors

NEW YORK (AP) — The NBA and WNBA will now share official data with MGM Resorts International, a major win for the leagues as they prepare for the anticipated growth of sports betting across the country.
The Las Vegas-based casino giant will pay the NBA for that data to use in determining outcomes of various bets. The NBA’s stance has been that getting accurate stats to bettors is critical so players know what they’re betting on and so casinos will know when to pay out, and MGM Resorts is the first casino to make an arrangement with the league for those numbers.
Terms of the deal announced Tuesday were not disclosed, other than it’s a multiyear arrangement.
“I know the value of data,” MGM chairman and CEO James Murren said. “To be able to have the official NBA data for sports bettors around the world is very valuable. I was willing to, and I’ve paid for that.”
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, who has been talking with Murren about such an arrangement for weeks, said the leagues believe they’re getting adequately compensated for the data.
“It’s a leap of faith on both sides,” Silver said. “It’s a deal moderate in length where I think we can both step back and assess as we go and see, ‘Is it working? Is this deal fair? Are we providing the consumers with the right type of experience?’”
It’s the first such deal between a major U.S. sports league and a casino.
“We understood the value of our marks, of official designations,” Silver said. “But I think then in terms of the data we’re providing, we have a sense of the magnitude of the current business and a sense of where things may go over the next few years.”
How MGM will get that data remains unclear.
NBA stat data is distributed globally by Sportradar, which sends it to media outlets, broadcasters and betting outlets outside the U.S. — but not inside this country, at least for now. With the start of preseason games still about two months away, there’s plenty of time for those matters to get worked out.
“What this relationship entails is access to official data for the many casinos that MGM operates,” Silver said. “It’s the use of the NBA’s intellectual property and as we’ve discussed before we’re very focused on integrity provisions to protect our fans, to protect those who choose to engage and bet on the NBA.
MGM will be an official casino partner for the league, but will not have exclusive rights to the data. The NBA still can, and likely will, try to make deals with other casinos who will be offering sports betting in various states or through mobile apps.

Tri-City sales Saturday

The communities of Elsmore, Savonburg and Stark are joining forces Saturday with a Tri-City Garage Sale. Almost 20 homes and each town’s community building (see maps) will host the sales, scheduled to include appliances, tools, furniture, clothing and toys. Vegetables, fruits and baked goods from the farmers markets will also be for sale. Proceeds from the community building sites will go to community events and facilities.
In Elsmore, Big Creek Market will provide biscuits and gravy for breakfast and smoked pork sandwiches for lunch.
In Savonburg, Mason’s Cedar Lodge No. 103 will provide burgers, hot dogs and drinks.
In Stark, Colborn’s Kitchen will offer breakfast burritos as well as plenty of take-out fare.

 

Mildred Store offers Double Up Bucks

The Mildred Store has joined the Double Up Food Bucks program, a healthy food incentive program that helps low-income families eat more healthy food and supports local farmers and local economies.
With the Double Up program, SNAP participants who shop at the Mildred store earn a $1 credit (up to $25 per day) for every $1 they spend on fresh fruits and vegetables. The credit can be spent on more fresh fruits and vegetables on their next purchase. The Double Up program specifically works with retail locations that commit to sourcing a variety of local produce for their shoppers.
The Double Up Food Bucks program is part of a $2.9 million USDA grant received by a coalition of partners in Greater Kansas City, and will be matched by $2.9 million from private foundations and local governments, for a total of $5.8 million.
The Double Up Heartland program has expanded in the last two years to include grocery stores and farmers markets across Kansas and Missouri, from Wichita to St. Louis, including many locations in the Southeast Kansas area.
More information is available online at www.DoubleUpHeartland.org.

10-year-old accidently discharges gun at KC science camp

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Police say a 10-year- boy brought a gun to a science camp in Kansas and accidentally discharged it.
The Lawrence Journal-World reports no one was injured but the incident caused the evacuation Tuesday of the room at the New Century Fieldhouse in Johnson County where the camp was being held.
Capt. Rob Weber of the Johnson County Parks and Recreation Department Police says about nine to 10 children were in the room.
Police say the boy brought the gun from home in his backpack to “show it around” at the camp. The child later thought better of that plan and kept the gun in the backpack. He accidentally hit the gun’s trigger when he reached into the backpack to get something out. The single round shot into the floor.
Parents were immediately notified to come pick up their children, Weber said.

AUCTION ACTION

The Allen County Fair came to a lucrative conclusion for scores of young 4-H’ers and FFA members Monday evening.

The 4-H/FFA Livestock Premium Auction brought in a combined $50,050 in premiums to youngsters selling their cattle, swine, meat goats or lambs. That averages to more than $926 for the 54 sellers.

The bids came in fast and furious from start to finish, with Brody Nemecek’s grand champion steer receiving the top premium, at $2,500. Kyser Nemecek had the top earning swine, raking in a $2,000 premium for his grand champion. Shelby and Julianna Sprague were tops in meat goat, bringing in $1,400 and $1,300, respectively, for their animals. Only three sheep were sold, with Nata-lea Elmenhorst’s Hampshire the top seller, bringing her $1,600 in premiums.

Premiums are bids buyers were willing to pay on top of the base price for the animal.

Most use the money to fund projects for future county fairs, or as a tidy nest egg for college.

The 15 cattle brought in a combined $18,050 in premiums, with the Allen County 4-H Booster Club willing to chip in a little extra to anybody whose steer did not earn at least $1,000 in premiums.

The 19 hogs sold for a combined $16,200 in premiums. The 4-H Boosters said they would chip in enough to make sure all sellers earned at least $650 in premiums.

Seventeen goats sold for a combined $12,300. The Boosters upped each minimum premium to $800.

The three sheep sold for a combined $3,500.

Auctioneers Kent Thompson, Ross Daniels and Jack Franklin volunteered their services for the sale.

TWO FAIR events still remain.

Phil Vandel, a country music performer from northwest Missouri who has performed across North America, as well as several overseas military bases, will be at Wide Open Speed Park south of Iola Saturday. Tickets for the 7 p.m. show sell for $15 apiece, (or three event tickets.)

On Sunday, children 6-12 will be admitted for $10. Those 5 and under will be admitted free of charge.

Wide Open Speed Park is at 1361 Maryland Rd.

The Terry Ellis Memorial Draft Horse Pull, postponed from last weekend because of rain, will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Lyle Dre-her Roughriders Arena at Riverside Park.

Admission is $5 or one event ticket.

A look back in time

70 Years Ago

July 1948

The Allen County Red Cross surveyed Iola yesterday and estimated that water had reached the inside of 100 Iola homes. Those dwellings were in about 25 square blocks of the south and west portion of the city.

*****

The Allen County Red Cross had registered 73 families for flood relief by noon today.

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Water had surrounded about 30 or more homes without getting inside. Farm acreage covered by the floodwaters was tentatively set at 35,000 by Red Cross leaders. About 22,000 acres are crop land. The Red Cross has set up headquarters at the rear of the Northrup Building on West Jackson Street and will be open for the indefinite future.

*****

26 — Iola still had a major flood today. The river remained about three miles wide here, having fallen only to a level of 20.40 feet at 7 a.m. Studying the health and sanitation situation, city officials said the city water had been tested and is safe. There is still danger from debris filth and livestock carcasses remaining. The stench is sickening.

*****

The Community Building in Riverside Park had water two feet deep in the building.

*****

Bob Lacy, Iola High School senior, qualified yesterday for a place in the national junior golf tournament at Ann Arbor, Mich., by finishing third in a field of 14 competing in elimination rounds at the Lakewood course in Kansas City. The national tournament will be held Aug. 11-14.

*****

29 — Spraying of the flooded area in and near Iola by plane may begin sometime tomorrow. City officials arranged a contract yesterday with the Anderson Crop Service of Kansas City, Kan., to cover 2,000 acres of ground with a DDT oil spray to kill mosquitoes and other insects. The cost will be $2,900.

*****

Jack Kelley, one of the proprietors of the Kelley Hotel, will leave tomorrow for Camp Carlson, Colo., to begin a one-year tour of duty in the Army. He will be accompanied by Mrs. Kelley and their small son. He will retain his interest in the hotel, he said today, and expects to return here in a year.

*****

31 — The record flood on the Neosho River has aroused new determination within the ranks of the flood control association to press action at the next session of Congress. John Redmond of Burlington, president of the Neosho-Cottonwood Valley Flood Control Association, has mapped plans for collecting new data on flood damage in eastern Kansas to present in the argument.