Grant writing workshop planned

FORT SCOTT — A grant writing workshop is Nov. 8 in Fort Scott, and is geared to help communities seek alternative funding sources.

The workshop, which runs from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the River Room Event Center, 3 W. Oak St., in Fort Scott, is led by Nancy Daniels, community vitality specalist at Kansas State University.

Participants will learn:

— Data sources for community needs (where do you find the numbers to back up your request?);

— Where to find grants;

— The five elements of a great grant proposal;

— Practicing the grant writing elements.

A $10 registration fee is required by Nov. 1.

Information and registration is available by contacting Carla Nemecek at the Southwind Extension District Iola office, 620-365-2242 or email cnemecek@ksu.edu.

DAR celebrates

State Regent Susan Metzger, from left, visits with Cofachique Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution members Deborah Jackson and Linda Johnson at the 50th anniversary of Four Winds Chapter DAR in Garnett Saturday.  Joining Johnson and Jackson was Cynthia Geisler. Dr. Janet Bradshaw from Chanute was guest speaker for the group’s September meeting.

A van’s un-bearable surprise

GATLINBURG, Tenn. (AP) — Two bear cubs were rescued after they locked themselves in a van and then honked the horn for help.

News reports say security technician Jeff Stokely had parked his van outside a customer’s home in Gatlinburg, Tenn., and went to work. Soon he heard a horn honking and realized it was his van. He went back to the van and was surprised when he saw two small bear cubs locked inside and repeatedly hitting the horn.

Stokely took video and photos of the cubs before opening a door to let them out.

He says he didn’t see Mama Bear nearby.

Governor launches design of economic development strategy

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly says she’s launching the state’s first formal strategy in 30 years to strengthen economic development.

Kelly pledged Monday to work with industries and economic development specialists to write a comprehensive plan to speed economic growth. A report is expected by March 2020.

The project will be coordinated by the Kansas Department of Commerce and the McKinsey consulting firm.

Secretary of Commerce David Toland says the state has lagged in key economic indicators such as GDP growth, population growth and labor participation.

Toland said the goal of the project is to make Kansas “best in class.” Economic development professionals, business leaders and Department of Commerce staff will make up a steering committee that will guide the planning and development of the plan, called the “Framework for Growth.”

Police report

Arrests reported

Iola police officers arrested Shawn L. Cantrell, 50, Yates Center, Friday for a warrant out of Woodson County.

Allen County sheriff’s deputies arrested Chadley M. Mueller, 36, vagrant, for a probation revocation warrant Friday.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported the arrest Thursday of Christina C. Pasantino, 57, Chanute, for suspicion of driving while intoxicated and not having a required ignition interlock device.

Marvin J. McWhorter III, 47, Quenemo, was arrested by Iola officers Thursday for a warrant.

Deputies arrested David J. Petty, 19, Gas, Wednesday for suspicion of driving while suspended and illegal registration.

Iola officers arrested Braden A. Pollet, 18, Iola, Oct. 1 for a warrant stemming from a charge of possessing alcohol as a minor.

Raul Urbina, 20, Iola, was arrested by Iola officers Oct. 1 for a warrant related to driving without a license charge.

Deputies arrested Clarence A. Garber, 21, LaHarpe, Oct. 1 on a probation revocation warrant.

Deputies arrested Christin L. Menan, 43, Gas, for suspicion of being a pedestrian under the influence and interfering with law enforcement Sept. 30.

Caedyn J. Hauge, 19, Iola, was arrested by deputies Sept. 30 on three warrants stemming from charges of driving without a license, two counts of no liability insurance and illegal registration.

Jaedyn K. Hauge, 19, Coffeyville was arrested by deputies Sept. 30 on two warrants stemming from domestic battery, possessing alcohol as a minor and driving while suspended charges.

Donald D. Diebolt, 69, Iola, was arrested by deputies Sept. 30 for a warrant alleging giving a worthless check.

Iola officers arrested Sarah E. Flynn, 35, Iola, for suspicion of driving while suspended (second or greater offense) Sept. 30.

Deputies arrested William A. Doolittle, 44, LaHarpe, Sept. 29 for suspicion of driving while suspended (third or greater offense.)

Nicholas R. Miller, 34, Tulsa, was arrested by deputies Sept. 29 for suspicion of driving while suspended and possessing marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

Shane L. Sandlin, 29, Iola, was arrested by deputies Sept. 29 for suspicion of leaving the scene of an accident.

Deputies arrested Dennis W. Malloy, 62, Iola, on Sept. 28 for suspicion of possessing methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia and transporting an open container of alcohol.

Deputies arrested Larry J. Kress, 48, Humboldt, for suspicion of transporting an open alcohol container Sept. 28.

Humboldt police officers arrested Jennifer E. Martinez, 55, Chanute, for suspicion of interfering with parental custody Sept. 28.

Dakota S. Stierwalt, 27, Chanute, was arrested by deputies Sept. 27 for suspicion of possessing marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

Deputies arrested Beth S. Rife, 41, LaHarpe, on a warrant Sept. 27 dealing with a drug paraphernalia possession charge.

David W. Craft, 59, Iola, was arrested by deputies Sept. 27 for suspected mistreatment of a dependent adult.

Deputies arrested Christopher L. Thorn, 30, Humboldt, on warrants relating to charges of burglary, theft and criminal damage to property.

Kyla M. Wertz, 37, Iola, was arrested by deputies Sept. 26 for three probation revocation warrants and five warrants related to charges of felony theft, two counts of trespassing, disorderly conduct, two counts of driving while suspended and no liability insurance.

Cheryl A. Canfield, 61, Iola, was arrested by Iola officers Sept. 25 for suspicion of domestic battery.

Iola officers arrested Lenora L. Brown, 66, Iola, on a warrant Sept. 25.

Ronald Rife, 37, Westphalia was arrested by IPD Sept. 25 for warrants related to driving while suspended charges.

William D. Churning, 38, Fort Sill, Okla., was arrested by the Kansas Highway Patrol Sept. 25 for suspicion of driving while revoked, illegal registration and no liability insurance.

Deputies arrested Robert B. Smith Jr., 59, Piqua, on a warrant Sept. 25.

Iola officers arrested Joshua L. Rowe, 37, Iola, for suspicion of illegal registration Sept. 24.

Michael L. Schweizer, 38, Garnett, was arrested by Iola officers Sept. 24 for suspicion of possessing methamphetamine, marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

Deputies arrested Charles A. Carnahan, 29, Kansas City Sept. 23 for warrants out of Allen and Wyandotte counties, dealing with driving while suspended charges.

Deejah L. Marzette, 19, Oklahoma City, was arrested by deputies Sept. 23 for suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Iola officers arrested Vincent C. Falbo, 31, Iola, for suspicion of criminal damage to property.

Joshua A. Jones, 33, Erie, was arrested by Iola officers Sept. 21 for suspicion of driving while suspended.

Deputies arrested Mary M. Chase, 48, Iola, for suspicion of perjury and phone harassment Sept. 21.

 

Motorcycle stolen

Iola police officers were notified of a stolen motorcycle.

Michael Epperson reported a 2001 burgundy Kawasaki Ninja was stolen from his residence in the 600 block of North First Street.

 

Battery reported

Iola police officers were told about a reported battery Friday in the 1000 block of Dewitt Drive. Suspects were identified.

 

Bike stolen

Misty Rice told Iola police officers Friday about a bike theft in the 200 block of North Colborn Street.

 

Dispute reported

Iola police officers were called Saturday morning to a domestic disturbance Saturday in the 800 block of East Street. No arrests were made.

 

Parking lot wrecks reported

Christine E. Tholen, 46, was backing from a parking stall at Sonic Drive-In, 301 W. Madison Ave., Sept. 29 when she collided with a vehicle driven by Melissa A. Anderson. Neither was injured, nor were their passengers.

On Sept. 30, Valorie L. Johnson-Hall, 63, was backing from a parking stall at Allen County Regional Hospital when she collided with a passing vehicle driven by Mary Ann Arnott, 72. Neither was hurt.

 

 

Kyle Larson lives up to expecations at Monster Mile

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — It is odd to classify a victory on a 1-mile concrete oval in Delaware as the biggest win of Kyle Larson’s career. Maybe he is among those who count their greatest triumphs on dirt, in sprint cars, venues far away from NASCAR’s glitz and glamour.

But at this time of year, in the middle of a long losing streak and just a year away from free agency, Larson’s victory Sunday at Dover International Speedway was enormous for both driver and team.

Larson was not considered a legitimate title contender when the playoffs began. He wasn’t even the strongest of the two Chip Ganassi Racing entrants, and had been overshadowed almost all season by new teammate Kurt Busch. Then Busch had a rocky opening round of the playoffs and was eliminated when the field was trimmed from 16 to 12 a week ago.

Seven days later, Larson became the first driver locked into the third round — the reward for snapping a 75-race winless skid — and suddenly is in the championship conversation.

“This is my best opportunity to win the championship,” Larson said. “I’ve got to take advantage of that.”

Larson had nine top-10 finishes, but this season could have been considered his worst in years. His numbers are down in nearly every meaningful category — top-five and top-10 finishes, laps led and average start and finish — and he wasn’t a lock to even make the playoffs until the final month of the regular season. He did score the $1 million payday with his win in May at the exhibition All-Star race, but his success this year had been relegated to sprint cars, where Larson is idolized for his talent and passion for grassroots racing.

It’s why that losing streak didn’t seem so bad.

“I’ve won sprint car races this year. I’ve won midget races this year. Go-kart races. So yeah, I mean, it doesn’t feel like that long,” Larson said.

But it had been almost two years and the pressure was mounting. Larson came to NASCAR billed as the next Jeff Gordon or Tony Stewart, and while his potential has come in flashes, the results have not been consistent and questions have swirled about his commitment to Cup racing.

With his contract with Ganassi up at the end of next season, it’s not necessarily the best time for team owners to wonder if Larson would prefer to be dirt racing but paid as an elite NASCAR driver.

The Dover victory now gives Larson the power to meet his NASCAR expectations. He can prove over the remaining six weeks that he is a top driver, that Ganassi’s cars have turned a corner in competitiveness and that Larson does want to be part of NASCAR’s weekly show. He’s got his sights on Homestead-Miami Speedway, where the champion will be crowned in November.

Larson has three top-five finishes in six career starts at Homestead, where he has led laps in all but one appearance and has the skills to attack the progressive banking on the 1.5-mile oval.

But Larson could never make it out of the second round of the playoffs — no Ganassi driver has ever been to the round of eight — and his performance at Homestead each year meant absolutely nothing in the championship race. Now he doesn’t need to worry about Sunday’s race at Talladega Superspeedway, where Larson has crashed in two of the last three races, or the elimination race at Kansas Speedway, where an engine failure in 2017 knocked Larson out of the playoffs.

Instead, he and the No. 42 team can study the tracks at Martinsville, Texas and Phoenix, and carve out the clearest path to making the final four at Homestead.

“We want to go and make it into that final round of Homestead, where it’s my best track,” Larson said. “I’ve looked at this ever since they released next year’s schedule. Texas we could go there and win. We could go to Phoenix and have a good shot to win. Martinsville, hopefully, we can go have a good run there. But we’ll see. It’s just nice to get a win.”

Larson has it pretty good with Ganassi, who allows him to compete in sprint car racing while many team owners restrict what their drivers can do in their free time. And Ganassi is the one who has backed Larson since his transition into NASCAR in 2012. There is loyalty between the two, but it only goes so far when money is involved.

Ganassi took a multimillion-dollar hit in December when the FBI raided one of his primary sponsors and the pledged money for 2020 never came through. To justify an expected bidding war next season, Ganassi needs certainty that Larson can deliver.

The team owner developed Casey Mears and Jamie McMurray early in their careers, only for both drivers to jump to bigger teams after they’d proved competitive in the Cup Series. McMurray eventually returned to Ganassi, where he closed out his career last season and won a Daytona 500, but the organization has never had a title contender.

The closest was probably Ganassi’s second season in NASCAR when Sterling Marlin led in points for most of the year before a broken bone in his neck ended his season seven races early.

“Chip has had an opportunity to win a championship, I think one other time maybe, and I think Sterling Marlin got hurt that year,” Larson said. “It would be nice to get him that championship that he’s honestly probably owed.”

Larson may already know what he’s doing in 2021, and it may or may not involve Ganassi. But he’s going to control the free agent market next season, and results help owners believe he’s a worthy investment. In the meantime, he’s got a real chance to deliver for Ganassi take a true step toward becoming a NASCAR superstar.

NBA faces tension with China

TOKYO (AP) — Yao Ming could be the man in the middle if the NBA and China are going to mend fences.

Yao is a former Houston Rockets great and an NBA Hall of Famer. At home, the towering center is even larger as head of the Chinese Basketball Association and one of the most recognizable figures in the country.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver wants to talk to him — soon.

“I’m hoping together that Yao Ming and I can find accommodation,” Silver said Tuesday. “But he is extremely hot at the moment, and I understand it.”

Silver spoke at a new conference in Tokyo before an exhibition game between the Rockets and the NBA champion Toronto Raptors. He defended the right of Rockets general manager Daryl Morey to tweet last week in support of anti-government protests in Hong Kong.

The tweet has since been deleted. But Silver made it clear what the NBA stands for.

“I understand there are consequences,” he said. “We are not apologizing for Daryl exercising his freedom of expression. I regret that so many people (in China) are upset, including millions and millions of our fans.”

Silver said his office had talked with Yao and suggested the two might meet when he travels on Wednesday to Shanghai. The Los Angeles Lakers and the Brooklyn Nets play exhibitions on Thursday in Shanghai and on Saturday in the southern city of Shenzhen, which neighbors Hong Kong.

China state broadcaster CCTV has said it will not air the two exhibition games.

“There’s no question that Daryl’s tweet has hit what I would describe as a third-rail issue in China,” Silver said. “I think Yao is extremely unsettled. I’m not quite sure he accepts how we are operating our business right now.”

Silver said he and Yao “have been close friends since the joined the league.” He talked of finding “mutual respect for each other’s political systems and beliefs.”

Players and coaches were asked about the rift after the Raptors beat the Rockets 134-129.

“It’s not a distraction,” Rockets guard Russell Westbrook. “We’re focused on our team and getting better.”

Basketball is very popular in China, driven by roots put down there for three decades by the NBA, and by Yao’s popular career as the first and only Chinese superstar in the league.

“But I’m a realist as well and I recognize that this issue may not die down so quickly,” Silver said.

The CBA, a government-directed body headed by Yao, has suspended its relationship with the Rockets as a response to Morey’s tweet, which read “Fight for Freedom. Stand with Hong Kong.”

Silver said the disputed tweet may have inadvertently raised the issues surrounding Hong Kong to a wide audience, perhaps to some sports fans “who might not otherwise pay attention. Sports shines a light on them.”

“Certainly, I don’t come here as the commissioner of the NBA and an American to tell others how to run their governments,” Silver added. “At the end of the day, though, I am an American and there are some values that are deeply rooted in the DNA of the NBA. That includes freedom of expression for our employees.”

UK says chances of Brexit deal slim

LONDON (AP) — Britain and the European Union traded bad-tempered barbs Tuesday as the chances of a Brexit deal appeared to fade, with just over three weeks until the U.K.’s scheduled departure from the bloc.

U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s office blamed EU intransigence for a breakdown in negotiations, sparking a warning from a top EU leader against playing a “stupid blame game.”

Johnson’s office gave a gloomy assessment after a call between Johnson and German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Tuesday morning.

In a statement to British media, Downing St. said Merkel had told the prime minister that “a deal is overwhelmingly unlikely” unless Northern Ireland remains in a customs union with the EU — something the U.K. says it can’t allow.

Downing St. said that “if this represents a new established position, then it means a deal is essentially impossible not just now but ever.”

The German government confirmed that Merkel and Johnson had spoken by phone on Tuesday. It didn’t comment on the substance of the discussion, saying in an emailed response to a query that “as usual, we are not reporting on such confidential conversations.”

The EU denied its position had changed. European Commission spokeswoman Mina Andreeva said “the EU position has not changed. We want a deal. We are working for a deal with the U.K.”

European Council President Donald Tusk tweeted testily that “what’s at stake is not winning some stupid blame game.”

“At stake is the future of Europe and the UK as well as the security and interests of our people,” he said, addressing Johnson. “You don’t want a deal, you don’t want an extension, you don’t want to revoke, quo vadis?” — a Latin phrase meaning “where are you going?”

Irish Deputy Prime Minister Simon Coveney tweeted that it was “hard to disagree” with Tusk’s statement, saying it reflected “frustration across EU and the enormity of what’s at stake for us all.”

EU leaders have demanded more “realism” from Britain in response to a Brexit plan proposed by Johnson. The bloc says the proposals don’t fulfil the U.K.’s commitment to a frictionless border between Northern Ireland and EU member Ireland.

Johnson, meanwhile, has urged the bloc to compromise.

French President Emmanuel Macron has said the EU will assess by Friday whether a deal is possible.

Johnson’s opponents in Britain accused the government of deliberately undermining the Brexit talks. Keir Starmer, Brexit spokesman for the main opposition Labour Party, said the Downing St. statement was “yet another cynical attempt by No. 10 to sabotage the negotiations.”

“Boris Johnson will never take responsibility for his own failure to put forward a credible deal. His strategy from day one has been for a no-deal Brexit,” he said.

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who opposes Brexit, tweeted: “The UK government’s attempts to shift the blame for the Brexit fiasco to anyone but themselves – today it’s Merkel – is pathetically transparent.”

Johnson insists the U.K. will leave the EU on Oct. 31 even without a deal.

On Tuesday, Britain published more details of its plans for a no-deal Brexit, which the government says can minimize any economic shock from leaving without a deal.

Economists and major business groups warn that no amount of preparation can eliminate the pain of new barriers with the EU, which accounts for almost half of U.K. trade.

Many in the EU — and in Britain — are skeptical that Britain will leave the bloc on Oct. 31, because the U.K. Parliament has passed a law compelling the government to ask the EU for a delay to Brexit if no deal is agreed upon by Oct. 19.

Johnson says he will obey the law but will not ask for a delay. It’s not clear how those two statements can bd reconciled — but it’s clear Johnson wants to pin the blame for any delay on Parliament and the EU, so that he can campaign as a champion of Brexit in a U.K. election that’s likely to be called soon.

The U.K. Parliament is set to be suspended later Tuesday so that a new session can begin next week with a major policy speech from Johnson’s Conservative government.

An earlier attempt by the government to shut down Parliament for five weeks was ruled illegal by the U.K. Supreme Court because it had the effect of preventing Parliament from scrutinizing the government’s Brexit plans. This week’s shorter suspension is more routine. Lawmakers will return on Monday for the State Opening of Parliament, which includes a speech delivered by Queen Elizabeth II outlining the government’s legislative plans.

But most of those plans may be halted by an early election. Both government and the opposition see a national vote as the only way to break Britain’s Brexit deadlock, though they disagree on the timing.

 

Chiefs offense deals with injuries, stalls vs. Colts

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The way Indianapolis handled the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday night sent a jolt through the NFL, whether it was dominating the line of scrimmage or shutting down Patrick Mahomes and Co. on defense.

The one place the shock didn’t reverberate? The visiting locker room in Arrowhead Stadium.

“The one emotion we were not feeling is shock. I can’t even explain it,” Colts coach Frank Reich said after the 19-13 victory. “The way guys were walking down the hallway, it was ‘We’re not going to be denied. We have to get on track. We’ve got to do it.’ I just knew it was real. I felt it all week.

“There was just an air of confidence and belief that we would do what we did today.”

Marlon Mack ran for 132 yards, and ageless kicker Adam Vinatieri knocked through four field goals, as the Colts atoned ever-so-slightly for a January playoff defeat inside the same stadium.

Asked what the message was pregame, longtime Chiefs linebacker-turned-Colts defensive end Justin Houston replied: “To come out here and play our game. To leave it out there every snap, to play with your heart, play with your soul. And I think we did that tonight.”

The Colts (3-2) allowed points on the Chiefs’ first two possessions before shutting them out until Harrison Butker’s field goal with 1:16 to go. Indianapolis recovered the onside kick without any issue and ran out the clock to celebrate a big win heading into its bye.

Mahomes threw for 321 yards and a touchdown, and the Chiefs (4-1) had just 36 yards rushing despite getting top running back Damien Williams back from an injury, all while watching their record streak of 22 straight games scoring at least 26 points come to a crashing conclusion.

“Penalties are really what hurt us today,” said Chiefs coach Andy Reid, whose team was flagged 11 times for 125 yards. “You get things going, all of a sudden you’re going backward, and it’s tough in this league to do that against a good team and win.”

In an air-it-out era of the NFL, the Colts also won by dominating the line of scrimmage.

On offense, their big line bruised a Kansas City defensive front that lost Chris Jones and Xavier Williams to injuries. That created big holes for Mack and plenty of time for Jacoby Brissett, who threw for 151 yards while running for the Colts’ only touchdown.

On defense, the Colts spent most of the night in the Kansas City backfield, plugging up holes in the running game and relentlessly pressuring the reigning league MVP on passing downs.

Mahomes was sacked four times and hit plenty more. At one point in the second half, Cam Erving was pushed so far into Mahomes’ face that the backup left tackle stepped on his quarterback’s ankle, leaving Mahomes to hobble to the sideline when Kansas City was forced to punt.

“In this league, the margin of error is tiny,” said Mahomes, who dismissed the seriousness of his injury. “If you’re not executing at a high level you’re going to lose.’”

The Colts and Chiefs mostly played to a first-half stalemate, but the second of Vinatieri’s four field goals made it 13-10 at the break. The real winners were the officials, who finally got to rest the arms that they used to throw flags for the first 30 minutes.

The Chiefs’ prolific offense continued to sputter in the second half, and Brissett and the Colts essentially played a game of keep-away throughout the third quarter and into the fourth.

“You don’t need a large playbook to convert third-and-1,” Chiefs defensive end Frank Clark said.

The Colts used 8:34 off the clock to move a mere 35 yards and set up Vinatieri’s next field goal. Then, when the Chiefs failed to convert fourth-and-1 at their own 34, Indianapolis got another field goal from Vinatieri with 2:30 to go to make it a two-possession game.

“You could just tell they were hungry. They were hungry all week,” Reich said. “I know that’s not uncommon, but there was something different about this week. I could feel it. It was palpable. We just walked in here with a lot of confidence. Last night in our meetings, I can’t even explain what happened in our meetings last night. There was just a feeling amongst the team when we walked into this stadium.”

ALMOST INT

Mahomes nearly threw his first interception of the season in the third quarter, when FB Anthony Sherman batted a pass and LB Bobby Okereke caught it. A review showed the ball bounced off the ground.

RING OF HONOR

The Chiefs inducted OL Brian Waters into their Hall of Fame during halftime. Waters was a two-time All-Pro for Kansas City before wrapping his 13-year career with the Patriots and Cowboys.

HAPPY RETURNS

Colts DE Justin Houston celebrated his first trip to Kansas City as a visitor by sacking Mahomes in the first half. The four-time Pro Bowl pick had 78 1/2 sacks during eight seasons with the Chiefs.

FLAG DAY

Chiefs CB Bashaud Breeland had a night to forget. Not only did he struggle in pass coverage, he was flagged four times for 68 yards. That included a 53-yard pass interference call.

INJURIES

Colts: CBs Shak Taylor (chest) and Kenny Moore II (knee) left in the first half, joining inactive safeties Malik Hooker (knee), Glayton Geathers (concussion) and Rolan Milligan (knee) on the Indianapolis sideline. LB Zaire Franklin (hamstring) and DE Kemoko Turay (ankle) left in the second half.

Chiefs: WR Sammy Watkins (hamstring), LB Anthony Hitchens (groin) and DT Xavier Williams (ankle) left in the first half. DT Chris Jones (groin) and LG Andrew Wylie (ankle) left in the second half.