NATO downplays divisions as infighting roils alliance

WATFORD, England (AP) ? NATO leaders on Wednesday played down their differences and insisted that they remain united over security issues and determined to defend each other despite a series of spats between the presidents of some of the alliance?s biggest member countries.

Before a summit near London, French President Emmanuel Macron had lamented the ?brain death? of NATO due in part to what he called a lack of U.S. leadership. President Donald Trump branded his remarks as ?very disrespectful.? Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan suggested that Macron himself is ?brain dead.?

The infighting is mostly due to Turkey?s invasion of northern Syria. Macron has complained that Trump pulled U.S. troops out of the region without warning his NATO allies. Turkey saw the move as a greenlight to send its troops in.

?NATO is agile, NATO is active, NATO is adapting,? NATO-Secretary Jens Stoltenberg said when asked by reporters whether the world?s biggest security alliance is brain dead.

?As long as we are able to deliver substance… then NATO proves once again that we are able to respond to a shifting security landscape, and that?s the best way to also provide unity of this alliance,? he said before chairing the meeting at a luxury hotel and golf resort.

Summit host Prime Minister Boris Johnson ? also busy with a divisive British election campaign ? said ?clearly it is very important that the alliance stays together, but there is far, far more that unites us than divides us.?

Johnson said NATO?s success is due to ?the very simple concept of safety in numbers. At the heart of it is a pledge that we will come to one another?s defense: all for one and one for all.?

Erdogan didn?t speak to waiting media. Trump arrived via a different entrance, away from media.

Macron, however, refused to apologize for his remarks, saying they had ignited a debate at NATO about important strategic issues.

?It?s allowed us to raise fundamental debates,? he said, chief among them being ?how to build sustainable peace in Europe.?

He said NATO ?debates should be about other things than budgets and finances.?

Stoltenberg noted that European allies and Canada have added $130 billion to their defense spending since 2016, even as Trump has complained that they are too slow to boost their military budgets.

?This is unprecedented, this is making us stronger,? Stoltenberg said of the spending effort.

After Russia annexed the Crimean Peninsula in 2014, NATO countries halted their post-Cold War spending cuts and began increasing spending. They pledged to ?move toward? spending 2% of their annual GDP on national defense by 2024.

Trump said Tuesday that much more needs to be done.

?You could make the case that they?ve been delinquent for 25-30 years,? Trump said. The figure of 2%, he added, ?is a very low number, it really should be 4.?

Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel conceded that ?we have experienced easier times. But we?re allies after all and we?re going to speak about everything.?

?The atmosphere last night was much more relaxed than what I expected after hearing what had happened over the last 24 hours. But I think differences can arise. We just have to talk about them,? Bettel said, referring to receptions late Tuesday at Buckingham Palace and at Downing Street.

After a working session of a few hours on Wednesday, the leaders of the 29-nation trans-Atlantic alliance are due to publish a declaration underlining their commitment to NATO on its 70th birthday, and to show that the alliance is adapting to modern threats and potential new adversaries like China.

Police: Druken worker returns, robs restaurant

OAKWOOD, Ga. (AP) — Police in Georgia say a man called out of his Steak ‘n Shake job because he was “intoxicated,” then showed up anyway and demanded money while holding a co-worker at gunpoint.

The Gainesville Times reports 20-year-old Kentarias Gowans, of Flowery Branch, is charged with offenses including aggravated assault. 

Oakwood Police investigator Todd Templeton says Gowans called out on Thanksgiving, went to the restaurant that night, held a gun to a co-worker’s head and demanded money.

Police say responding officers arrived to see employees running from the business, which had customers at the time. Police say an apparently still intoxicated Gowans briefly raised the gun at officers before dropping it. He was arrested after a brief struggle during which a stun gun was used.

It’s unclear if Gowans has a lawyer.

Harley McDaniel

COLUMBUS — Harley H. McDaniel. age 87, passed away at 12:50 a.m. Friday, Nov. 29, 2019, at Mercy Hospital, Joplin, Mo., following an illness.

Harley was born Dec. 9, 1931 in Iola, to Loyd and Velma (Finch) McDaniel. He had lived in Columbus since 1973, moving from Pleasanton.

He was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, serving from Oct. 23, 1950 to Oct. 22, 1954, reaching the rank of staff sergeant. He was an instructor for Jet Aircraft and Engine Mechanics. He served at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas and Amarillo Air Force Base, Texas. He received the National Defense Service Medal and Good Conduct Medal.

He earned a bachelor of science degree in agriculture from Kansas State University. He taught vocational agriculture in Hope and Pleasanton before becoming a game warden with the Kansas Fish and Game Department, a position he held for 22 years before his retirement in 1994.

He was a member of First United Methodist Church, Columbus. He was a lifetime member of Big Brutus serving on the board of directors with the Big Brutus Museum where he had received the Miner’s Lamp Award in 2018. He was also awarded the William R. Brock Memorial Medal of Merit from the Galena Elks Lodge for his work with the community as a law enforcement officer. He was a member of the NRA. He was a former councilman of the City of Columbus, and was mayor, 2007-08. Harley regularly attended coffee clubs at McDonald’s, Pizza Hut and Daylight Donuts. He was known for sharpening mower blades for friends around town and was often seen at his grandkids’ activities.

Harley was married to Shirley Y. McElvain on Sept. 2, 1956 in Mildred. She preceded him in death March 2, 2014. Two brothers, Harold McDaniel and Jerry McDaniel, also preceded him in death.

Surviving is one son, Shane McDaniel (Becky), Columbus; one daughter, Kelli Bigando (Brian), Columbus; seven grandchildren, Aaron Bigando (Marissa), Sarah Bigando, Hunter McDaniel, Colton McDaniel, Taylor McDaniel, Alexis Alumbaugh, and Jacob Thomasson; one great-grandson, Waylon Thomasson; and his close friend, Darline Mitchell, Columbus.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Derfelt Funeral Home, Columbus. Burial will be in Park Cemetery, Columbus.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Big Brutus Museum or First United Methodist Church, Columbus, in care of the funeral home.

Bill Spencer

Bill R. Spencer, a former president of Allen County Community College, passed away Nov. 24, 2019, in Lenexa.

He was born Nov. 4, 1932, in Eldon, Mo., and graduated from Chanute High School.

He was president of ACCC from 1968 to 1982.

Bill served in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Waccamaw and USS Wyandot during the Korean Conflict.

He graduated from Chanute Junior College and Pittsburg State University, earning B.S. and M.S. degrees in education. He received his Ed.D. from the University of Kansas.

Bill and Iris Barsby were married in 1956 in Chanute.

He was a school administrator in Parsons, Overland Park and Manhattan. In addition to Iola, he served as president of community colleges in Highland and Kansas City, Kan.

He was an avid tennis player well into his 70s, and played basketball throughout high school and junior college.

In addition to his wife, Iris, survivors include his daughters, Anne Atkinson and husband, Rob, of Lenexa, and Susan Catt and husband, Doug, of Shawnee, and four grandchildren.

Memorial services are Friday, Dec. 6, at 2 p.m. at Village Presbyterian Church in Prairie Village. Memorials may be made to Parkinson’s Foundation or Village Presbyterian Church.

Local training offered on substance abuse prevention

A four-day training next week will teach local leaders how to help prevent substance abuse in Allen County.

The Allen County Multi-Agency Task Force and Thrive Allen County are teaming up to bring the four-day training to the Allen County Courthouse, starting Monday morning.

The program will look at the history of substance abuse, and the effects of addiction and abusive substances on the brain and health. The course will teach skills to implement effective prevention programs to improve health and wellness.

It is aimed at members of community coalitions working to address substance abuse, and professionals working in fields related to substance abuse prevention.

“I’m very excited that this free training is coming to Allen County,” Jessica McGinnis, Drug Free Community Coordinator with Allen County Multi-Agency Team (ACMAT) and Southeast Kansas Mental Health Center, said. “It’s a fundamental training for those in our community who care about addressing substance abuse and prevention work.”

The program is provided by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration, which is part of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.

Participants will qualify for continuing education credits or educational credentials.

For those who are interested in attending the training, contact McGinnis at 620-365-5717. There is no charge to attend, but an online course must be completed as part of the registration process.

Police search for evidence in 20-year-old cold case

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Authorities have used ground-penetrating radar to search for evidence in a 20-year-old missing person case.

Kansas City, Kansas, police said in a news release that officers searched Monday on an empty lot and found an anomaly in an area that once contained a home where Star Boomer stayed off and on with her boyfriend. The release says the images don’t show exactly what is under the soil, but that the investigation will continue as police work to “bring an end to this cold case and hopefully some closure to the family.”

Boomer was last seen in February 1999 at a bar in the area.

The Kansas City Star reports that two Kansas City, Kansas, men were charged in her disappearance in October 1999. The case was dismissed after witnesses refused to testify. Detectives reopened the cold case in 2017.

Darrell Chester

Darrell Lynn Chester, age 56, of Iola, died Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019, in Sioux Falls, S.D. He was born Feb. 16, 1963, in Carlsbad, N.M., to Gerald Chester and Onetta (Burgess) Flynn.

He married Karyn Ard on May 26, 2012, in Gas.

Survivors include his wife Karyn; two sons, Andy Chester of Iola and Griffin Chester of Odessa, Washington; two daughters, Lexie Lakin of Topeka and Eve Ard of the home; and mother, Onetta Flynn of Gas.

A memorial service will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Feuerborn Family Funeral Service. A celebration of Darrell’s life will be held at the Time Out Tavern following the memorial service.

 

Police report

Arrests reported

Iola police officers arrested Iolans Justin Roberts, 31, and Nichole Collins, 29, early Sunday for suspicion of domestic battery following an incident in the 200 block of North Second Street.

Keagan Luttrell, 28, Iola, was arrested by officers for suspicion of battery, criminal damage to property and disorderly conduct Thursday following a disturbance in the 100 block of East Jackson Avenue.

 

Driver cited

Heather Sigg, 43, was cited for suspicion of failing to report an accident following a non-injury accident Thursday in the 400 block of North First Street.

 

Shocked? Electric eel powers aquarium’s Christmas lights

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP) — Visitors to the Tennessee Aquarium may be shocked to learn that an electric eel named Miguel Wattson is lighting up a Christmas tree.

A special system connected to Miguel’s tank enables his shocks to power strands of lights on a nearby tree, according to a news release.

Miguel releases low-voltage blips of electricity when he is trying to find food, aquarist Kimberly Hurt said. That translates to a rapid, dim blinking of the Christmas lights. When he is eating or excited he emits higher voltage shocks which cause bigger flashes.

Wattson has his own Twitter account  where he shares tweets generated by his sparky self, courtesy of coding by Tennessee Tech University’s iCube  center.

“They combined electrical engineering and emerging business communication to give the eel a voice,” center director Kevin Liska previously said  in a aquarium statement.

In between Miguel’s tweets boasting statements like “SHAZAM!!!!” and “ka-BLAMER-OO!!!!!,” a video posted to the account shows  Miguel shaking in his tank as lights on the nearby tree sputter on and off.

The aquarium hopes the Christmas tree will spark love and appreciation for the unusual freshwater fish.

Letter to the editor

Dear editor,

My name is Rosemary Bass, and I am writing in favor of the proposed renaming of Coon Creek.

I am 90 years old, African American, and have lived in Iola since 1947. My husband and I raised our three children in a house that has been owned by African Americans since the early 1920s, in a mostly working-class Black neighborhood. Our kids grew up playing in the creek, which still runs through my backyard today.

I agree with my friends, neighbors, and the residents of Iola, of all races and from all walks of life, who believe racial slurs that were in common use and accepted by many one hundred years ago can no longer be tolerated.  In the 1950s, I participated in the peaceful protests that led to the integration of the swimming pool. I have watched with pride as Iola integrated, and bonded and grew as a community. The renaming of the creek is not about “covering up history,” it is about doing the right thing and setting a good example for today’s youth and for generations to come.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Rosemary Bass

Iola, Kan.