Lancers open district play with win

COLONY — Crest High’s Lancers began and ended their contest Friday like gang-busters.
Crest romped its way to a 26-0 lead in just over a quarter over visiting Chetopa High.
But the Hornets proved a bit peskier to swat from there. Chetopa scored 20 unanswered points in one stretch, getting within a touchdown of Crest on three separate occasions, the last coming with 1:34 left in the game.
But Chetopa’s onside kick attempt was recovered by the Lancers. Crest’s Kyle Hammond then plowed through on a six-yard gain on fourth-and-one at midfield with less than a minute left on the clock and Crest had secured a 42-34 victory.
The win lifts Crest’s record to 4-1 overall and 2-0 in Three Rivers League play. Most importantly, the win puts the Lancers at 1-0 in Kansas Eight-Man I, District 2 play, which will determine which squads qualify for postseason play.
“We started off with probably our best first quarter we’ve had all year,” Lancer head coach Brent Smith said. “Take nothing away from Chetopa. They fought and clawed their way back. But I think we got a little complacent.”
Kyle Hammond put Crest on the scoreboard less than two minutes into the game with a 45-yard touchdown run. Dakota Ramsey capped Crest’s next two drives with touchdowns of three and one yard.
Jordan Morton’s one-yard touchdown run 42 seconds into the second quarter pushed Crest’s lead to 26-0.
Back came Chetopa.
Dylan Price led the Hornet comeback with three touchdown passes in the second and third quarters, covering 47, 28 and 30 yards to close the gap to 26-20.
Hammond scored on a 10-yard run early in the fourth quarter to push Crest back on top 34-20 before Price connected on his fourth touchdown pass of the game, a 10-yarder to Tyler Pike to close the deficit to 34-26.
 Hammond then closed the Lancer scoring with a 14-yard touchdown run with 3:12 left on the clock to push the gap back to 16, 42-26.
Pike scored on a nine-yard touchdown with 1:34 left in the game.
Hammond wound up with 173 yards on 27 carries. Luke Decker rushed 10 times for 46 yards. Ramsey had two touchdowns with his 36 rushing yards. Dexter Wiley gained 17 yards on two carries.
Morton completed 3 of 8 passes for 25 yards, one of which went to Decker covering 25 yards.
On defense, Ramsey had 11 tackles, followed by Wiley and Decker with nine apiece and Byran Miller and Jayden Bowen with six apiece. Morton intercepted a Chetopa pass, while Bowen and Dustin Womelsdorf each recovered fumbles.
“We had some huge stops on defense tonight, and we bounced back and stood up when it counted in the fourth quarter,” Smith said. “But we can’t afford to play like that for two quarters.”
Thomas Dietrich was crowned homecoming king during a special ceremony. Ashley Catt was crowned homecoming queen.
Crest hosts St. Paul next Friday in another league and district contest.

Crest     20-6-0-16—42
Chetopa    0-12-8-14—34

Crest — Hammond 45 yd run (PAT failed)
Crest — Ramsey 3 yd run (Ramsey run)
Crest — Ramsey 1 yd run (PAT failed)
Crest — Morton 1 yd run (PAT failed)
Chetopa — Bruning 47 yd pass from Price (PAT failed)
Chetopa — Jones 28 yd pass from Price (PAT failed)
Chetopa — Bruning 30 yd pass from Price (Price run)
Crest — Hammond 10 yd run (Hammond run)
Chetopa — Pike 20 yd pass from Price (PAT failed)
Crest — Hammond 14 yd run (Ramsey run)
Chetopa — Price 9 yd run (PAT good)

[Engagement] Erin Weston and Jeffery Mills

Erin Weston and Jeffery Mills, Grandview, Mo., announce their engagement and approaching marriage Nov. 13 at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Pittsburg.
The bride-elect is the daughter of Ann Weston, Moran, and the late Don Weston. She is a 2001 graduate of Marmaton Valley High School, 2003 graduate of Allen County Community College, 2005 graduate of the University of Kansas and a 2009 doctor of optometry graduate from Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tenn. She is employed as an independent optometrist in Independence, Mo.
The groom-to-be is the son of David Mills, Elsmore, and Lucinda Lonergan, Iola. He is a 2000 graduate of MVHS, 2002 graduate of ACCC and a 2005 graduate of the heating and air conditioning program at Fort Scott Community College. He is employed as an HVAC technician for KB Complete in Shawnee Mission. 

Eleanor Swanson

Eleanor Alvina Swanson, 91, of Gas died Thursday, Sept. 30, 2010, at Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice in St. Francis Hospital in Wichita.
She was born Nov. 29, 1918, in Boone County, Iowa, to Charles and Minnie (Arhens) Hasstedt. She grew up in the Boone, Iowa, area.
On Sept. 6, 1936, she married Leslie H. Swanson. He worked construction. They lived in numerous communities before moving to LaHarpe in 1962 and then to Gas in 1971. He died July 20, 1976.
She worked several years for Schell Cleaners and also provided day care in her home. She enjoyed baseball, crocheting and yard work. She was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Iola.
She is survived by three daughters, Patricia Prather, Humboldt, Delores Betsworth, Wichita, and Ruth Smart, Iola; a sister, Louise Browning, Boone; 10 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.
Four brothers, two sisters and three great-grandchildren died earlier.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Grace Lutheran Church in Iola. The Rev. Bruce Kristalyn will officiate. Burial will be in Moran Cemetery.
Memorials to Grace Lutheran Church may be left at Waugh-Yokum & Friskel Memorial Chapel of Iola, which is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences for the family may be left at iolafuneral.com.

Image redo rejuvenates, inspires

For the past several years the Iola Register has been falling behind its competitors in the annual Kansas Press Association Awards of Excellence.
We still score very well in editorial content — the way we write and what we say — but we’re missing the boat in design and photography. Because of those gaps, we’re overlooked for the Sweepstakes Award that recognizes overall excellence.
The awards serve more than to make us feel good. They are proof to others that we are on top of our game.
So, with this in mind, the Register is undertaking a redesign, including becoming a full-color product. The new look begins Nov. 1.
The change requires sacrifice, commitment and flexibility on our part. We’re facing a huge learning curve. What we’ll get in return is a superior product that we know will please our advertisers and readers.
Which brings me to the Nov. 2 vote for a quarter-cent sales tax that will help finance a new hospital.
The Register and Allen County Hospital have a lot in common. We’re old salts who know what to do and do it well. Trouble is, we don’t look like we do. The Register’s black and white pictures put us in the stone age for today’s sophisticated readers. Our antiquated look is a turnoff.
Likewise, the hospital has a top-notch crew, but its 58-year-old building sends the message that it’s behind the times, much less able to stay ahead of future demands.
Perception — how we are viewed by others — is key. The hospital, the newspaper, our schools, stores and city as a whole — are all in the business of putting our best feet forward so people will want to live here and use our services.
If we don’t, the market will find those who do.

TAKING BACK local control of the hospital is key to keeping it competitive.
As a renter, Hospital of Corporation of America has no interest in or incentive to modernize the hospital. As long as the hospital turns a profit, HCA is happy.
That’s been the same scenario for the past 27 years as the hospital has been handed off to succeeding companies that have leased the hospital from the county.
Yes, it’s been convenient to outsource the hospital’s operations to professionals. But it’s also been costly. That’s 27 years of profits padding someone else’s pockets. Had we been able to keep even a fraction of that income, we’d have the necessary nest egg to build a new hospital.
Instead, we’re starting with a zero balance.
The lesson is that our situation will never improve unless we take the initiative to start anew — now.
Step 1 is to vote Nov. 2 for a quarter-cent sales tax that, with funds committed by the City of Iola, will guarantee we can meet the debt service of the $30 million needed to finance a new hospital. (A quarter-cent sales tax is an extra quarter for every $100 spent. Talk about a feather touch!)
Step 2 is to end our contract with HCA and regain financial control of the hospital.
Step 3 is to then hire a management service, such as HCA.
Step 4 is to form a local board of trustees who would hire their own CEO and his or her team.

A “YES” vote Nov. 2 will give our hospital — and its 160 employees — a secure future. I dare not think of the alternative.

–Susan Lynn

Correction

Kyle McCammon graduated from Iola High School in 1977, not 1971 as reported in an article in Thursday’s Register.
We regret the typographical error.

Uniontown JV volleyball team wins two

BUFFALO — Uniontown High’s junior varsity volleyball team picked up two wins Thursday.
The Eagles beat host Altoona-Midway 25-9, 25-8. Kelli Wilkinson served for nine points and Ambar Abrego had eight service points.
Uniontown defeated St. Paul 25-22, 25-15. Abrego and Taylor Wade each served for seven points.

Southern Coffey County evens league record

HARTFORD — Southern Coffey County High’s Lady Titans evened out their Lyon County League mark Tuesday. They defeated host Hartford 25-13, 25-8 and beat Marais Des Cygnes Valley 25-22, 25-21.
Sam Jacob was 10 of 10 serving with five aces agaisnt Hartford. She also had five kills. Brooke Scheele had three ace serves and five set assists.
Keasha Parks had six assists. Kristin Stephens had four kills.
In the Marais Des Cygnes Valley match, Scheel was 9 of 9 serving and had 13 set assist. Parks came up with 10 assists.
Ashton Isch put down 10 kills while Stephens and Sarah Webb each had six kills.
The Lady Titans are 13-9 overall. They host Flinthills and Madison in LCL action this coming Tuesday.

Marmaton Valley Jr. High volleyball girls beat Crest

MORAN  — Marmaton Valley Junior High’s volleyball teams swept matches with visiting Crest Middle School Thursday.
In A-team play, Marmaton Valley beat Crest 25-17, 25-15. Cheyenne English served for nine points for the Wildcats.
Also for Marmaton Valley, Kaysha Elmenhorst had six service points and Shauna Knight had five points. Serving three points each were Emily Boyd, Makenzie Harrison and Tessa Olson.
“It was a match of long volleys back and forth. We continuously set up the ball and hit at Crest and they would send the ball immediately back,” said Jamie  Stodgell, MVJH head coach. “We looked solid on the floor and it was a great win.”
Marmaton Valley won a three-game B-team match, 25-11, 16-25, 15-6.
Kyla Drake served up 17 points and Misty Storrer had 12 points for Marmaton Valley. Tanna Lutz served three and Molly Hamlin had two points.
Serving one point each for the Wildcats were Mackenzie Tynon, Kendra McNutt, Olson and Emily Plaschka.
“We were on with our serves, which contributed to our win,” said Brenda Mills, MVJH assistant coach. “It was a fun match for all the girls to play in.”

Prep sports landscape shifts

Changes come again as of Monday. The area high school sports landscape is a bit different following the release of the Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA) classifications for 2010-2011.
Football in the area had already undergone the changes a year ago. They are locked in for two years.
Volleyball, cross country, basketball and spring sports are affected by the new numbers. Classifications are determined every year (except for football districts) with enrollment figures as of Sept. 20 based on 10th, 11th and 12th grades only.
Iola High’s numbers are up in those three grades to 293 (281 in 2009). Class 4A enrollments are in the range of 194 to 530. Iola is  on the lower side of the median.
The Fillies and Mustangs stay entrenched in Class 4A competition. The new numbers did little to the Southeast Kansas League; every school but Pittsburg remains in Class 4A. Columbus is the smallest at 240 students and Chanute takes the top spot at 470. Pittsburg has 548 students.
Iola’s volleyball team is at 4A substate in Louisburg. The cross country teams go to Garnett for 4A regional. The Iola girls’ tennis team is in the 4A regional at Parsons.
Volleyball changed in 2010 to seven classifications — 6A, 5A, 4A, 3A, and two divisions of Class 1A, similar to 8-man football divisions.
The biggest change for area high school comes to Uniontown. The Eagle football team had already been thrown into Class 3A competition for the 2010 and 2011 seasons. Now, all the Eagle athletic teams join the football team for 2010-2011 school year because Uniontown has 125 students.
The Eagle volleyball team went from ranked No. 1 in Class 2A to ranked fifth in Class 3A. They will travel to a 3A substate tournament hosted by Northeast-Arma joined by Southeast-Cherokee, Cherryvale, Erie, Frontenac, Galena and Riverton. The girls’ golf team is unaffected because it plays in the Class 3-2-1A golf tournament.
Yates Center, which dropped to 1A last year, moved back up to Class 2A by one student. Yates Center has 77 in the top three grades and the cutoff for 2A is 76. Marmaton Valley at 88 and Humboldt at 112 are also in 2A.
Crest with 57 students and Southern Coffey County with 60 students are in Class 1A.
The two area 1A schools are put in volleyball’s Class 1A, Division I. With the two divisions at the 1A level, the state has eliminated the regional volleyball playoffs. All volleyball teams go directly to substate action.
Crest and Southern Coffey County are in a 1A substate at St. Paul. Others in that tournament are Cedar Vale/Dexter, Chetopa and Pleasanton.
Yates Center will host its Class 2A substate tournament with Marmaton Valley and Humboldt joining. Also in the substate are West Elk, Madison, Jayhawk-Linn, Oswego, Pittsburg-Colgan and Sedan.
The Yates Center cross country runners are back in 2A running in a regional at Mound City along with Humboldt and Marmaton Valley. Crest cross country runners are in the 1A meet also being held at the Sugar Valley Golf Course in Mound City.

FOOTBALL DISTRICT play begins tonight for Humboldt in Class 2-1A and in the Eight-Man divisions.
Humboldt High’s Cubs are in the toughest Class 2-1A district in the state of Kansas. The top three ranked teams in the division — Pittsburg-Colgan, Oswego and Olpe plus Lyndon are all 4-0. Humboldt (0-4) hosts Oswego tonight. Colgan beat Jayhawk-Linn 59-0 Thursday.
Crest (3-1) hosts Chetopa (2-2) in Eight-Man I, District 2 play and Marmaton Valley (2-2) hosts Yates Center (1-3). St. Paul (2-2) and Pleasanton (1-3) play each other.
In Eight-Man I, District 3,  Southern Coffey County has three undefeated teams — third-ranked Lebo, fifth-ranked Madison and Burlingame — to contend with along with White City. The Titans host Marais Des Cygnes Valley in district play tonight.
Iola in Class 4A and Uniontown in Class 3A will not open district play until Oct. 15. The Mustangs have Prairie View (3-1), Anderson County (3-1) and Fort Scott (2-2) in district 6 and opens with Fort Scott at home.
Uniontown and Central Heights are both 1-3 after four weeks while Wellsville is 3-1 and West Franklin is 2-2 in the 3A, district 4.

Kincaid Free Fair returns

KINCAID — The 102nd annual Kincaid Free Fair is in full swing this weekend, once again bringing a free bean feed, horseshoe pitching and parade. The events, following the “Hometown USA” theme, began Thursday.
Antique farm equiopment and arts and craft booths are set up at the old city hall building, and Toby’s Amusements has an assortment of carnival rides.
The fun hits high gear Saturday morning with a fun run and walk at 7. Runners will follow a 5K route; walkers half that distance. Horseshoe pitching and a pie contest ensue at 9, followed by 4-H horse judging at 10.
The Kincaid Fair Queen will be crowned at 1 and be featured in the 1:30 parade. Open class horse judging begins at 2:30.
Children’s games feature races of all sorts — sack, wheel barrow, potato, tricycle, turtle and a traditional 25-yard dash — starting at 
3 p.m. A draft horse pull is at 5 o’clcok.
The day’s activities will be capped with a performance by comedic magician Christopher Starr.