Drive to benefit ACARF

The Iola Community Involvement Task Force/PRIDE Committee is spearheading a drive to benefit the Allen County Animal Rescue Facility.

Starting Oct. 1, collection boxes will be set up at Iola City Hall, Orscheln Farm and Home, the Feedlot, Emprise Bank and Bank of Gas for the community to fill with ACARF wish list items.

The CITF/PRIDE committee targeted the animal shelter “because of the huge amount of animals that are left uncared for,” noted Donna Houser, one of the volunteers.

Wish list items:

— Trash bags (13 and 55 gallon)

— Vinegar

— Bleach

— Purina Cat Chow and Purina Kitten Chow

— Rawhide bones

— Chew toys for dogs

— Kitten or puppy milk replacer

— Cat scratching posts

— Hand sanitizer

— Carabiner clips

Financial donations also will be accepted.

The collection drive runs through October.

Christmas Vespers rehearsals to begin Oct. 2

Iola’s 63rd Christmas Vespers program is taking shape.

The Christmas music concert, presented as a gift to the community, is scheduled for 3 p.m. Dec. 1 at Iola’s First Presbyterian Church.

Rehearsals will begin at 8:15 p.m. each Wednesday in the choir room on the lower floor of the Bowlus Fine Arts Center, beginning Oct. 2.

The event is nondenominational. All are invited to participate.

For years, Vespers was sponsored by the Iola Music Club until it disbanded more than 10 years ago. Since then, Vespers was sponsored by the Southeast Kansas Christian Artists Series, but that program has dissolved as well.

The group once again is seeking a sponsor. Choir member Donna Houser approached the Iola City Council Monday to seek city sponsorship.

The sponsorship would not cost money, Houser said. At least not yet.

“Could I hit you up for money later?” Houser asked the Council. “That’s a maybe.”

While the performers are not paid, a small stipend goes to the director and pianist, Houser noted.

Council members agreed to consider Houser’s sponsorship request.

Park cleanup in the works

HUMBOLDT — With Biblesta less than two weeks away, a team of volunteers is looking for assistance to beautify the community this Saturday.

In particular, attention is being focused on the Neosho River Park on the west edge of town, which was hit hard with flooding last May.

Once receded, the floodwater left a thick layer of silt across the park, killing most of its flowers and other plants.

Crews have removed much of the silt, but a pile remains in the park, noted Damaris Kunkler, community engagement director for A Bolder Humboldt.

“I could really use a skid steer,” Kunkler said.

The park’s flower beds just west of the marsh arch bridge also have been inundated with weeds. Kunkler is hoping to recruit as many volunteers as possible to come to the park between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Helpers are encouraged to bring work gloves and shovels.

This year’s Biblesta celebration is Oct. 5.

Allen Countians shine at State Fair

HUTCHINSON — Allen County 4-H members completed another successful year at the Kansas State Fair, held Sept. 6-15 in Hutchinson.

On top of the following individual events, the Southwind District, which includes Allen County, brought home the fourth overall intermediate photography judging team and the third overall senior photography judging teams. Both are coached by Terri Kretzmeier, Prairie Dell 4-H leader.

Individual results:

Prairie Dell

Haleigh Grieshaber – Clothing Construction, Blue; Sweet Spread, Participation; Food Preservation, Blue

Payton Weast – Black & White Photo, Red; Photo Judging, 39th

Katie Weide – Color Photo, Red; Digital Composite Image, Blue; Clothing Construction, Red; Clothing Educational Exhibit, blue; Rug Making, Blue; Foods Educational Exhibit, Blue; Fashion Revue, Purple

Jackson Wilks – Black & White Photo, Blue; Food Preservation, Purple; Food Preservation, Blue; Poultry Judging, 15th; Poultry Exhibit, Red; Poultry Exhibit, Blue

Logan Pals 

Cassidy Friend – Color Photo, Blue & Kansas 4-H Foundation Selection

Teghen Jaro – Color Photo, Blue

Abby Rinehart – Food Gift Package, Blue; Woodworking, Blue; Fashion Revue, Blue; Photo Judging, 88th

Zoey Rinehart – Color Photo, Blue; Fashion Revue, Blue

Gabby Sharp – Intermediate Dog Showman Finalist & Purple; Novice Dog Obedience, Reserve Grand Champion; Graduate Novice Dog Obedience, White; Crossbred Market Lamb, 4th

Tori White – Color Photo, Blue & Kansas 4-H Foundation Selection

Chanlynn Wrestler – Fiber Arts, Purple; Non-perishable Food, Blue

City Slickers 

Carly Dreher – Non-perishable Food, Purple; Duroc Gilt, 7th; Cross Market Hog, 4th; Grand Champion Market Hog

Isaac Hopkins – Berkshire Gilt, 8th; Duroc Gilt, 10th

Carson Keller – 3rd Junior Sheep Showman; Commercial Ewe, 2nd; Commercial Ewe, 1st; Supreme Champion Breeding Ewe; Crossbred Market Lamb, 1st; Crossbred Market Lamb, 1st; Natural Market Lamb, 3rd

Jillian Keller – Commercial Ewe, 1st; Commercial Ewe, 1st; Crossbred Lamb, 2nd; Grand Champion Market Lamb, Natural Market Lamb, 2nd

Leah Mueller – Clothing Construction, Purple; Shooting Sports Poster, Purple

Thatcher Mueller – Clothing Construction, Purple

Brody Nemecek – 4th Senior Swine Showman; Commercial Gilt, 5th; Reserve Light AOB Market Hog; Crossbred Market Hog, 1st; Meat Goat Doe, 2nd; Meat Goat, 4th; Meat Goat 3rd

Kyser Nemecek – 3rd Junior Swine Showman; Berkshire Gilt, 4th; Champion Light AOB Gilt; Duroc Market Hog, 4th; Light AOB Market Hog, 2nd; Meat Goat 5th

Rohan Springer – Color Photo, Blue; Non-perishable Food, Purple; Food Preservation, Blue; Robotics, Red

Hallie Sutherland – Dog Showmanship, Purple

Prairie Rose 

Jenni Armstrong – Clothing Construction, Red; Clothing Construction, Blue; Food Preservation, Purple; Food Preservation, Purple; Home Environment, Blue; Photography Judging, 28th

Allison Heim – Rocketry, Red

Sophia Heim – Black & White Photo, Blue; Rocketry, Red

Shelby Sprague – Breeding Doe, 9th

Gracie Yoho – Color Photo, Purple & State 4-H Office Selection; Food Gift Package, Purple; Food Preservation, Blue; Photography Judging, 77th

Zoi Yoho – Black & White Photo, Blue; Food Gift Package, Purple; Food Preservation, Red; Food Preservation, Red; Food Preservation, Red; Photography Judging, 7th

Square B 

Carly Kramer – Color Photo, Red; Non-perishable Food, Purple; Food Preservation, Participation; Crops Judging Contest, 10th

Abigail Meiwes – 4-H Presentation, Blue; Crops Judging Contest Participant; Photography Judging, 25th; Dog Showmanship, Purple

Levi Meiwes – 4-H Presentation, Blue; Crops Judging Contest Participant; Photography Judging, 54th ; Poultry Judging Contest, 10th; Pen of 3 Pullets, Blue

Madeline Wanker – Non-perishable Food, Red

California utility company cuts power to 24,000 residents

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — California’s largest utility cut power to 24,000 northern customers Monday evening as fall brings back dangerous weather conditions and the company tries to head off wildfires sparked by electrical equipment.

The utility shut down power to areas of Butte, Nevada and Yuba counties in the Sierra Nevada foothills.

The power will remain off until conditions are safer, and PG&E warned that it might expand the precautionary outages on Tuesday to El Dorado, Placer, Sutter, Lake, Napa and Sonoma counties if gusty winds and hot, dry weather continue.

Butte County is where a wildfire blamed on PG&E transmission lines killed 86 people last year and virtually leveled the town of Paradise.

Meanwhile, Southern California Edison warned it might shut off power to 41,000 customers due to forecasts calling for gusty Santa Ana winds.

The cuts could affect Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino and Riverside counties.

Strong winds, low humidity and warm temperatures were forecast in the state through Wednesday, and authorities issued an extreme fire danger warning for some areas.

Wind gusts could reach 50 mph (80 kph) in the northern Sierra and foothills, and between 30 to 40 mph (48 to 64 kph) in the Sacramento Valley and near the Pacific coast, said Eric Kurth, a forecaster with the National Weather Service.

“Humidity levels are dropping, and winds are picking up,” Kurth said. “The main threat is overnight when the winds pick up in the mountains and foothills.”

Some of the most destructive blazes in the state in the past two years were started by PG&E power lines. Winds can knock down live wires and power poles or drive trees and other vegetation into contact with them.

PG&E first cut off power preemptively last October, affecting some 87,000 customers. The move prompted complaints and demands for reimbursement.

But the utility canceled plans to shut off power ahead of the deadly Nov. 8 blaze that started near Paradise.

California regulators in May approved allowing utilities to cut off electricity to avoid catastrophic wildfires but said utilities must do a better job ramping up preventive efforts and educating and notifying the public, particularly people with disabilities and others who are vulnerable.

 

In January, PG&E sought bankruptcy protection, saying it could not afford an estimated $30 billion in potential damages from lawsuits stemming from catastrophic wildfires.

 

Earlier this month, PG&E agreed to pay $11 billion to insurance companies holding 85% of the claims from fires that include the Paradise blaze.

 

The settlement, confirmed Monday, is subject to bankruptcy court approval.

 

It’s important for PG&E to pull itself from bankruptcy protection because it will be a big part of a wildfire fund set up to help California’s major utilities pay future claims as climate change makes wildfires more frequent and severe.

Farmers’ Market sports new hours

Buyers and sellers will greet the arrival of fall Thursday with new hours at the Allen County Farmers’ Market.

The market runs from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. along Jefferson Avenue on the east side of the Iola square.

A full selection of produce as well as baked goods and other homemade products.

Around the Corner will be hand with cold and hot apple cider and will take orders for salads and sandwiches.

Vendors accept EBT and debit cards and participate in the Double Up Food Bucks program.

City Slickers talk record books, fall plans

The City Slickers 4-H Club organized a 4-H Record Book Workshop before their Sept. 15 meeting at the Allen County Courthouse Assembly Room. 

Older 4-H members helped younger youth understand the importance of setting goals and remembering their accomplishments during the 2018-2019 4-H year. 

After the workshop, Club President Jillian Keller called the meeting to order, and the flag salute and 4-H pledge were led by Leah and Thatcher Mueller. 

Carly Dreher led us in singing “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.”

Roll call was answered by 19 members and one community leader. 

We discussed National 4-H week ideas, voted to ring the bells for Salvation Army during the upcoming holiday season and decided to participate in 4-H Sunday on Oct. 13. 

Club Leader Robbie Grisier reminded us that record books are due to him by Sept. 29, and we need a volunteer to serve on the 4-H Council committee for the park entrance. 

The next meeting will be Oct. 13 at the Nemeceks’ for the fall social and pumpkin decorating. 

Missing area man sought

Family and friends spent much of the day Sunday searching for Timothy “Tim” Todd Fritch, who has been missing from the Humboldt area since Saturday evening.

Fritch, 41, was last seen  at Wide Open Speed Park, which was hosting a demolition derby that evening.

An acquaintance used a “Find My Phone” app later in the evening in an attempt to find Fritch, which placed him first near Neosho Falls, then again near Le Roy along K-58 highway. His vehicle and personal belongings were found near the Neosho River bridge on the edge of Neosho Falls, but his cell phone was missing.

Fritch’s sister, Cora Finley, detailed the subsequent search through Sunday, which followed the Neosho River between Neosho Falls and Iola. Searchers were on foot or all-terrain vehicles, while others were on watercraft to traverse the river.

Finley said officers suspect Fritch may have been picked up by someone.

Another search upriver from Neosho Falls was planned for today.

Fritch is about 5 feet, 11 inches tall and weighs 275 pounds. He has brown hair, which is shaved. He has hazel eyes and  was last seen wearing a light gray or white T-shirt and blue jeans.

Anyone with information regarding Fritch’s whereabouts is encouraged to call the Woodson County Sheriff’s Department at (620) 625-8640.

 

Moran Day fun for young and old

Rainy weather did little to douse the fun Saturday at the Moran Day celebration, with several participants of all ages taking part in the parade.

 

Bill Lamb, pilots an International Harvester tractor to pull a float for Midpoint Baptist Church.

 

Bailey LaRue, driven by her father, Kent, was crowned Miss Moran Day Queen prior to the parade.

 

The festival coincided with the 40-year reunion from the MVHS Class of 1979, including alums from left, Harry Maley, Gina (Stalnaker) Wagner, Janet (Wagner) Stafford and Dave Rhodes, who traveled from California to attend the reunion.

 

Representing the Marmaton Valley eighth-grade class in a chariot race, from left, were passengers Cooper Schmidt and Janae Granere, being towed by Chance Aiello and Brooklyn Adams.

Mahomes outshines Jackson for 3-0 start

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs rolled into Arrowhead Stadium to play the red-hot Baltimore Ravens without their best wide receiver, their lead running back and their stalwart left tackle.

They still had Patrick Mahomes, though.

The reigning league MVP threw for 374 yards and three touchdowns in another record-setting performance, and Kansas City’s defense corralled Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson most of the rain-soaked afternoon, allowing the Chiefs to squeak out a 33-28 victory Sunday.

“Everyone gets reps with the starters, and guys just build that confidence that they can play,” said Mahomes, whose 13 games of at least 300 yards passing broke Kurt Warner’s mark for the most in the first 20 games of a career. “Whenever someone gets an opportunity they make plays.”

Such as wide receivers Demarcus Robinson and Mecole Hardman, who had TD catches while Tyreek Hill recovers from a broken collarbone. Or LeSean McCoy and Darrell Williams, who combined for 116 yards rushing and a score in place of injured running back Damien Williams. Or Cam Erving, who filled in for left tackle Eric Fisher and helped to limit the Ravens to a single sack.

“I trust that guys are going to step up and play,” said Chiefs coach Andy Reid, whose 210th win broke a tie with Chuck Knoll for sixth-most in NFL history. “Each one of them collectively had a pretty good day. They took advantage of their opportunity.”

Missed opportunities ultimately doomed the Ravens. They were stuffed once on fourth down, and three times they failed to convert on a 2-point conversion, leaving them chasing points all game.

The last came after Jackson scrambled for a touchdown with 2:01 to go. The conversion would have gotten the Ravens (2-1) within a field goal, but Jackson was shoved out of bounds short of the pylon.

Baltimore tried to get the ball back with a rare dropkick, but the Chiefs (3-0) calmly called for a fair catch. Then they converted on third down moments later to run out the clock.

“I don’t remember the situation or which was what, but every one of those was clear analytical decisions to go for two,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. “We had a mindset that we were going to come in and try to score as many points as we could. So, that’s what we tried to do.”

Mark Ingram was the Ravens’ biggest bright spot, running for 103 yards and a trio of touchdowns while catching four passes for 32 yards. Jackson finished with 267 yards passing and 46 rushing, most of that when he was trying to rally the Ravens from a big halftime hole.

The Ravens actually scored first on Ingram’s touchdown plunge, then they took points off the board when a penalty gave them a shorter try at the conversion. Jackson was stuffed at the goal line in what would become a recurring theme for Baltimore all afternoon.

The Chiefs then proceeded to score four times in the second quarter for the second consecutive week, this time getting three touchdowns and Harrison Butker’s 42-yard field goal to take a 23-6 lead

They scored four TDs in the second quarter last week in Oakland.

McCoy, hobbled by a sore ankle all week, gave Kansas City the lead with a TD run early in the second quarter. Then, after the Ravens’ turnover on downs, Mahomes lofted a pass to the corner of the end zone that Robinson caught with an incredible one-handed stab .

That highlight was joined by another on the Chiefs’ next possession, when the Ravens blew the coverage and Hardman was open downfield. The rookie hauled in the heave from Mahomes, then used his 4.3-second 40-yard-dash speed to sprint 83 yards to the end zone.

“I just did enough to get in the end zone,” Hardman said.

Ingram sandwiched two more touchdown runs around Mahomes’ third touchdown toss in the second half, and the second one got Baltimore within 30-19 with 12:22 to go. But the Ravens again tried for the 2-point conversion and again came up empty, leaving them in an 11-point hole.

That could have loomed large when Justin Tucker added a field goal.

Instead, Williams ripped off a 41-yard run, the Chiefs picked up a couple more first downs, and Butker hit a 36-yard field goal that made it a two-possession game and ultimately out of reach.

“We wanted to be aggressive,” Ingram said. “Coming here to a hostile environment, one of the better teams in the league, everyone says, and we went toe-to-toe with them. We got aggressive and we’ve got make sure we execute so we have our coaches’ back for believing in us. I love the aggressive mindset, coming in here aggressive offensively and defensively. Just got to make those plays.”