Jack Whitton Jacobs, 84, Hill City, Kansas, passed away February 8, 
2023, at the Graham County Hospital. He was born January 15, 1939, at 
home in Hill City to Kenneth “Shorty” and Ruby Lee (Whitton) Jacobs. 
Jack and Shirley Kauffman were married October 24, 1959, in Hill City.

From kindergarten through high school Jack attended Hill City 
Grade and High School, graduating in 1957. He worked for the Hill City 
Times during his school years. By doing so, he earned his 
apprenticeship. Jack worked in the printing industry in Denver and 
Pueblo, Colorado from 1959 to 1974. Returning to Hill City in 1974, he 
started Jacobs Plumbing which he operated until his retirement. Jack had
 many interests. He created lovely, detailed woodworking which included 
building furniture. Jack also did a bit of construction work, including 
an apartment for Shirley and him to live in during their retirement 
years. Other hobbies he enjoyed were building and flying radio 
controlled made airplanes and traveling. He and Shirley especially liked
 attending bluegrass music concerts. Jack loved people and life.

Jack was preceded in death by his parents Kenneth and Ruby 
Jacobs,  his daughter Christine Gail Jacobs, his son David Lynn Jacobs 
and brother-in-law Roger Odle. 

Survivors left to fondly remember him are
 his wife Shirley of Hill City; sister Linda Jacobs of Latham, Missouri;
 daughter-in-law Debbie Jacobs Gish (Steve) of Fort Myers, Florida; 
grandchildren:  Jennifer Weich (Steve) of Phoenix, Arizona and Kyle 
Jacobs (Colleen) of Columbus, Ohio. Great grandchildren:  Rocco Jack 
Jacobs and Bear Hicks Jacobs of Columbus, Ohio; sister-in-law Louise 
Odle of Cedar Falls, Iowa; nieces Tracy Rake of New Orleans, Louisiana 
and Brenda Showers (Terry) of Valley Falls, Kansas; nephew Craig Odle 
(Vicky) of Lenexa, Kansas; and cousins:  Edith Vondall of Pocatello, 
Idaho, Jane Jacobs of Pawnee City, Nebraska, and JF Stover of Hill City.

Click <a href="https://www.stinemetzfh.com/obituaries/Jack-W-Jacobs?obId=27240022#/obituaryInfo">HERE</a> for service details.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676411785039.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Jack Whitton Jacobs, 84, Hill City, Kansas, passed away February 8, 
2023, at the Graham County Hospital. He was born January 15, 1939, at 
home in Hill City to Kenneth “Shorty” and Ruby Lee (Whitton) Jacobs. 
Jack and Shirley Kauffman were married October 24, 1959, in Hill City.From kindergarten through high school Jack attended Hill City 
Grade and High School, graduating in 1957. He worked for the Hill City 
Times during his school years. By doing so, he earned his 
apprenticeship. Jack worked in the printing industry in Denver and 
Pueblo, Colorado from 1959 to 1974. Returning to Hill City in 1974, he 
started Jacobs Plumbing which he operated until his retirement. Jack had
 many interests. He created lovely, detailed woodworking which included 
building furniture. Jack also did a bit of construction work, including 
an apartment for Shirley and him to live in during their retirement 
years. Other hobbies he enjoyed were building and flying radio 
controlled made airplanes and traveling. He and Shirley especially liked
 attending bluegrass music concerts. Jack loved people and life.Jack was preceded in death by his parents Kenneth and Ruby 
Jacobs, his daughter Christine Gail Jacobs, his son David Lynn Jacobs 
and brother-in-law Roger Odle. Survivors left to fondly remember him are
 his wife Shirley of Hill City; sister Linda Jacobs of Latham, Missouri;
 daughter-in-law Debbie Jacobs Gish (Steve) of Fort Myers, Florida; 
grandchildren: Jennifer Weich (Steve) of Phoenix, Arizona and Kyle 
Jacobs (Colleen) of Columbus, Ohio. Great grandchildren: Rocco Jack 
Jacobs and Bear Hicks Jacobs of Columbus, Ohio; sister-in-law Louise 
Odle of Cedar Falls, Iowa; nieces Tracy Rake of New Orleans, Louisiana 
and Brenda Showers (Terry) of Valley Falls, Kansas; nephew Craig Odle 
(Vicky) of Lenexa, Kansas; and cousins: Edith Vondall of Pocatello, 
Idaho, Jane Jacobs of Pawnee City, Nebraska, and JF Stover of Hill City.Click <a href="https://www.stinemetzfh.com/obituaries/Jack-W-Jacobs?obId=27240022#/obituaryInfo">HERE</a> for service details.

Jack W. Jacobs

SEDGWICK COUNTY—A Kansas woman accused of a sex crime involving a minor is scheduled for a court appearance Monday.

Makaela Denny, 20 of Wichita, is charged with aggravated criminal sodomy, aggravated sexual battery, and furnishing alcohol to a minor, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

Police booked her into jail Jan. 31, in connection with an incident in October, according to court documents. Denny and two others were&nbsp;accused of engaging in sexual intercourse and other sexual activity with a victim who is a minor and was incapable of giving consent because of the effect of alcohol, which was allegedly provided by the suspect.&nbsp;

She posted the $100,000 bond and is no longer in custody. Her preliminary hearing is set for 10:30a.m. before Judge Quentin Pittman, according to the district attorney's office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675369981931.png" alt="Denny-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Denny-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—A Kansas woman accused of a sex crime involving a minor is scheduled for a court appearance Monday.Makaela Denny, 20 of Wichita, is charged with aggravated criminal sodomy, aggravated sexual battery, and furnishing alcohol to a minor, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.Police booked her into jail Jan. 31, in connection with an incident in October, according to court documents. Denny and two others were&nbsp;accused of engaging in sexual intercourse and other sexual activity with a victim who is a minor and was incapable of giving consent because of the effect of alcohol, which was allegedly provided by the suspect.&nbsp;She posted the $100,000 bond and is no longer in custody. Her preliminary hearing is set for 10:30a.m. before Judge Quentin Pittman, according to the district attorney's office.

Kansas woman charged with sex crimes due in court

Corrected Tuesday, Feb. 7, for a typo in the paragraph on the number of cases that resulted in prison convictions in 2021.

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

For victims of sexual violence seeking justice, the wheels of the court system grind slowly.

Sexual violence cases can take up to two years to resolve, according to Ellis County Attorney Robert Anderson.

Among those few cases that make it all the way to a conclusion within court system, many result in plea deals and few result in incarceration.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/4d6c50a1-d68d-418e-876e-65896aac09d3">Second in a series</a>

Based on correlating multiple data sources, Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network estimates that for every 1,000 rapes, 384 are reported to police, 57 result in an arrest, 11 are referred for prosecution, seven&nbsp;result in a felony conviction, and six result in incarceration.

“I once had it referred to as the leaky pipeline,” said Joyce Grover, executive director of the Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence. “The cases just fall away. At the end, I think there are a lot of victims who feel they did not get justice because there wasn’t a conviction in their case.”

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/4d6c50a1-d68d-418e-876e-65896aac09d3">SEE RELATED STORY: Rape reports increase in Ellis County; majority of victims remain in shadows</a>

Anderson said when he took over the Ellis County Attorney's Office in January 2021, he had a backlog of unfiled cases — some of these included sexual violence cases.&nbsp;

Anderson has filed some of the cases that were left to him by the previous Ellis County Attorney Tom Drees, who is now a district court judge, but he said the county attorney's office will never have enough attorneys to keep up with the county's caseload.

“We get 1,500 reports a year, and we are capable of getting to approximately 1,000 of them,” he said. “There are always going to be that number of reports that we just can’t get to."

Anderson said in his opinion, there's a clear hierarchy of case types.

“Generally, that hierarchy goes dead bodies, child victims, victims of sexual assault, victims of serious person crimes," he said, "and then we start branching out into this area of drug distribution, property crimes underneath that is drug possession. We’ve also got traffic that we deal with.

“The challenge is there is no one area that we can completely ignore. If you leave any one area untouched, then that sort of behavior is going to fester in the community.”

Even within the realm of sexual violence cases, he said there's a hierarchy.

“Sexual assault covers a lot of different behavior,” Anderson said. “It covers suspects and defendants and victims who are a lot of different ages.”

 Anderson said each incident is handled on a case-by-case basis.

“Objectively, a rape that occurs at gunpoint is a lot more serious than a rape that occurs between two college-age kids who are heavily under the influence and there’s some question about whether or not it's consensual,” he said. “Those are both rape. They are both the same crime and the same punishment, but they are very different circumstances.”

Hecker said from a victim's perspective, sexual crimes are all violent.

"All sexual assault is serious and violent whether they use a gun as a weapon or they use alcohol as a weapon," she said.

Anderson said even if he had more staff, he did not think the judicial district had enough judges, courtrooms and court staff to try all cases.

Anderson said he has been looking at some of the sexual violence cases in the county attorney's backlog and trying to file those.

"I feel I have made sexual assault cases more of a priority in my time as county attorney. I have filed a number of cases predating my time here," Anderson said.&nbsp;

“I would say a quarter to half of the sexual assault cases that I have filed predate that Jan. 11, 2021, date,” he said.

This story was updated Monday, Feb. 6 for the number of cases filed in 2022 and 2023.

In 2022, the county attorney's office filed 18 sexual assault cases. Four cases have been filed through Feb. 3 of this year. He filed 19 in 2021, his first year in office.

In 2020, Drees, as the Ellis County Attorney, filed 14 sexual assault cases. Anderson worked as a special prosecutor for a short time that year and filed three other cases.

Anderson reported the following number of cases filed by the county attorney's office under Drees from 2014 to 2019. • 2019: 6 sexual assault cases filed • 2018: 8 sexual assault cases filed • 2017: 3 sexual assault cases filed • 2016: 14 sexual assault cases filed • 2015: 13 sexual assault cases filed • 2014: 12 sexual assault cases filed&nbsp;

“I do work through old reports and look at what still can be filed and what is important enough to be filed,” Anderson said.

The office has to consider statute of limitations issues and factors such as the death of parties in the case or lack of access to investigating officers or medical professionals. A suspect also might be in prison serving a lengthy sentence for another crime.

Hecker claimed its a double standard to urge victims to report sex crimes, but not file the cases in court.

“When our police departments and sheriff’s departments, county attorneys — everyone in that system is saying 'go report, go report, go report,' how disheartening is it for a victim to go and make that report and then have nothing happen to it after the case is filed," she said.

"Nothing happens. It just fades into the distance. What does that say about how much we value perpetrator accountability for the worst person crimes," Hecker said. "They are rape, domestic violence, child abuse. These are the worst crimes against people, and they’re not even getting filed.

"That’s shocking and shameful. That’s as shameful as not testing a rape kit. And we’re still scratching our heads asking,'Why don’t people report?' ”

Tracking conviction rates in Ellis County is near to impossible and Anderson explained why.

When Anderson attempted to run a report for sexual violence convictions during the last 10 years, he said the reports came back incomplete.

"The accuracy of those reports relies on the accuracy of data entry over the last 10 years. I know the datasets are not completely accurate because when I run a report that would work for this purpose, I don’t see cases I know should be there," he said in an email to the Hays Post.

Many other factors play into the difficulty in tracking sex cases. Here are some mitigating factors.

• A case might be filed by a prosecutor in 2022, but that incident could have been reported years earlier. • Juvenile and adult offenders are treated differently in court but lumped together into the same statistics. • A case may initially be filed as a rape but the charge might be reduced as the result of a plea agreement

Anderson said each case is handled on a case-by-case basis. He meets with each victim before the case begins and discusses with them their visions of justice.&nbsp;

"Based on their perceived idea of what justice would look like for them, that is a driving force on how I handle a case. It doesn’t control it. I’m not bound by it, but it is certainly very important," Anderson said.

However, he said, plea agreements are the norm.

“The reason for that is if every single case we had was prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, we would need dozens more courtrooms, hundreds of more attorneys, defense attorneys, judges and court staff. There’s just simply not the time or resources to try cases and prosecute cases to the fullest extent of the law,” he said.

“A defendant is not just going to give up and plead as charged and take the punishment they deserve. They are going to want something in exchange for their plea,” he said. “That usually comes in the form of a lesser charge or less time or a different disposition."

To provide some light on the conviction rate, Anderson hand-pulled cases from 2021 and 2022. Anderson became Ellis County Attorney Jan. 11, 2021.

In 2021, 19 sexual assault cases were filed by the county attorney's office. Sixteen of those resulted in felony&nbsp;convictions or adjudications. Nine of those convictions resulted in prison sentences.

As of October, not all of the 2021 cases had been resolved and others were pending sentencing.

As of October 2022,&nbsp;13 sexual assault cases had been filed by the county attorney's office. Anderson said at that time the office had several unfiled reports (some of which were from 2022, but some of which were from 2021 or before), but he said he anticipated filing those by the end of the year.

None of the 13 filed cases that were filed in 2022 had been resolved by October.

Anderson reported&nbsp;nine out of 17 (53 percent) sexual assault cases that were filed in 2020 ended with a conviction and prison sentences. Of those cases that did not end up in conviction, there were circumstances beyond local officials' control. One suspect died, one was taken into federal custody and one had an active warrant but had not been located.

Hecker said other counties in northwest Kansas have been even less cooperative in tracking conviction data. Instead of being able to access cumulative county data, court records keepers require agencies to request each record by name of the suspect or case number.

Anderson called the current case management system antiquated. He said would like to be able to provide better statistics to the community.

The Ellis County prosecutor's office is set to launch a new case management system in April.

"I think moving forward these types of inquiries will be a lot easier to answer and we will have a lot more accuracy, but I imagine that Ellis County’s numbers are pretty consistent with nationwide statistics and statewide statistics,” he said.

Anderson made a plea to any victims of sexual violence to come forward and make a report.

“If a victim is seeing those low prosecution, conviction and incarceration rates, I think the message they are probably receiving is no one cares, which is tragic and is obviously going to have a deterrent effect,” he said of reporting sex crimes.

“If I could send out a message to victims or someone who might become a victim, I would say I do care. This office cares. Law enforcement cares. This community cares. The community partners, Options, the Western Kansa Child Advocacy Center, the [Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner] program at HaysMed, we care. We care a lot.”

Grover said&nbsp;victims need advocates, such as the ones provided by Options, to be with them all through the judicial process. She said she did not think the state had the resources to provide that across the board. 

“I think that is one of the areas that could really make a difference,” she said, “to have that kind of support for victims from the moment they are assaulted until the case is resolved.”

“I want victims to know there is confidential support for them where they are in the state,” she said. “They can get that support through the statewide hotline, certainly through the local resources at Options. 

"They have a variety of ways people can be in touch with them beyond the hotline. I would encourage the victims they are not going to have to be made to tell anybody else. They can just start with that phone call or with that first contact and reach out for support. They’re not alone.”

If you or someone you know has been a victim of sex crime, you can reach an advocate through Options through its&nbsp;text, chat or phone hotlines. Text the word "Hope" to 847411.

The 24-hour phone helpline is 800-794-4624. The chat and other information can be accessed on the Options website at&nbsp;<a href="https://help4abuse.org/">https://help4abuse.org/</a>&nbsp;All of the helplines and chats are manned 24/7, 365 days a year. All services are free and confidential.

The agency also has a mobile unit that travels throughout its 18-county catchment area in northwest Kansas. Contact Options through one of the means above to learn more.

Corrected Tuesday, Feb. 7, for a typo in the paragraph on the number of cases that resulted in prison convictions in 2021.By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostFor victims of sexual violence seeking justice, the wheels of the court system grind slowly.Sexual violence cases can take up to two years to resolve, according to Ellis County Attorney Robert Anderson.Among those few cases that make it all the way to a conclusion within court system, many result in plea deals and few result in incarceration.<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/4d6c50a1-d68d-418e-876e-65896aac09d3">Second in a series</a>Based on correlating multiple data sources, Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network estimates that for every 1,000 rapes, 384 are reported to police, 57 result in an arrest, 11 are referred for prosecution, seven&nbsp;result in a felony conviction, and six result in incarceration.“I once had it referred to as the leaky pipeline,” said Joyce Grover, executive director of the Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence. “The cases just fall away. At the end, I think there are a lot of victims who feel they did not get justice because there wasn’t a conviction in their case.”<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/4d6c50a1-d68d-418e-876e-65896aac09d3">SEE RELATED STORY: Rape reports increase in Ellis County; majority of victims remain in shadows</a><h2>Backlog of cases</h2>Anderson said when he took over the Ellis County Attorney's Office in January 2021, he had a backlog of unfiled cases — some of these included sexual violence cases.&nbsp;Anderson has filed some of the cases that were left to him by the previous Ellis County Attorney Tom Drees, who is now a district court judge, but he said the county attorney's office will never have enough attorneys to keep up with the county's caseload.“We get 1,500 reports a year, and we are capable of getting to approximately 1,000 of them,” he said. “There are always going to be that number of reports that we just can’t get to."Anderson said in his opinion, there's a clear hierarchy of case types.“Generally, that hierarchy goes dead bodies, child victims, victims of sexual assault, victims of serious person crimes," he said, "and then we start branching out into this area of drug distribution, property crimes underneath that is drug possession. We’ve also got traffic that we deal with.“The challenge is there is no one area that we can completely ignore. If you leave any one area untouched, then that sort of behavior is going to fester in the community.”Even within the realm of sexual violence cases, he said there's a hierarchy.“Sexual assault covers a lot of different behavior,” Anderson said. “It covers suspects and defendants and victims who are a lot of different ages.” Anderson said each incident is handled on a case-by-case basis.“Objectively, a rape that occurs at gunpoint is a lot more serious than a rape that occurs between two college-age kids who are heavily under the influence and there’s some question about whether or not it's consensual,” he said. “Those are both rape. They are both the same crime and the same punishment, but they are very different circumstances.”Hecker said from a victim's perspective, sexual crimes are all violent."All sexual assault is serious and violent whether they use a gun as a weapon or they use alcohol as a weapon," she said.Anderson said even if he had more staff, he did not think the judicial district had enough judges, courtrooms and court staff to try all cases.Anderson said he has been looking at some of the sexual violence cases in the county attorney's backlog and trying to file those."I feel I have made sexual assault cases more of a priority in my time as county attorney. I have filed a number of cases predating my time here," Anderson said.&nbsp;“I would say a quarter to half of the sexual assault cases that I have filed predate that Jan. 11, 2021, date,” he said.This story was updated Monday, Feb. 6 for the number of cases filed in 2022 and 2023.In 2022, the county attorney's office filed 18 sexual assault cases. Four cases have been filed through Feb. 3 of this year. He filed 19 in 2021, his first year in office.In 2020, Drees, as the Ellis County Attorney, filed 14 sexual assault cases. Anderson worked as a special prosecutor for a short time that year and filed three other cases.Anderson reported the following number of cases filed by the county attorney's office under Drees from 2014 to 2019. • 2019: 6 sexual assault cases filed • 2018: 8 sexual assault cases filed • 2017: 3 sexual assault cases filed • 2016: 14 sexual assault cases filed • 2015: 13 sexual assault cases filed • 2014: 12 sexual assault cases filed&nbsp;“I do work through old reports and look at what still can be filed and what is important enough to be filed,” Anderson said.The office has to consider statute of limitations issues and factors such as the death of parties in the case or lack of access to investigating officers or medical professionals. A suspect also might be in prison serving a lengthy sentence for another crime.Hecker claimed its a double standard to urge victims to report sex crimes, but not file the cases in court.“When our police departments and sheriff’s departments, county attorneys — everyone in that system is saying 'go report, go report, go report,' how disheartening is it for a victim to go and make that report and then have nothing happen to it after the case is filed," she said."Nothing happens. It just fades into the distance. What does that say about how much we value perpetrator accountability for the worst person crimes," Hecker said. "They are rape, domestic violence, child abuse. These are the worst crimes against people, and they’re not even getting filed."That’s shocking and shameful. That’s as shameful as not testing a rape kit. And we’re still scratching our heads asking,'Why don’t people report?' ”<h2>Pleas are the norm</h2>Tracking conviction rates in Ellis County is near to impossible and Anderson explained why.When Anderson attempted to run a report for sexual violence convictions during the last 10 years, he said the reports came back incomplete."The accuracy of those reports relies on the accuracy of data entry over the last 10 years. I know the datasets are not completely accurate because when I run a report that would work for this purpose, I don’t see cases I know should be there," he said in an email to the Hays Post.Many other factors play into the difficulty in tracking sex cases. Here are some mitigating factors.• A case might be filed by a prosecutor in 2022, but that incident could have been reported years earlier. • Juvenile and adult offenders are treated differently in court but lumped together into the same statistics. • A case may initially be filed as a rape but the charge might be reduced as the result of a plea agreement Anderson said each case is handled on a case-by-case basis. He meets with each victim before the case begins and discusses with them their visions of justice.&nbsp;"Based on their perceived idea of what justice would look like for them, that is a driving force on how I handle a case. It doesn’t control it. I’m not bound by it, but it is certainly very important," Anderson said.However, he said, plea agreements are the norm.“The reason for that is if every single case we had was prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, we would need dozens more courtrooms, hundreds of more attorneys, defense attorneys, judges and court staff. There’s just simply not the time or resources to try cases and prosecute cases to the fullest extent of the law,” he said.“A defendant is not just going to give up and plead as charged and take the punishment they deserve. They are going to want something in exchange for their plea,” he said. “That usually comes in the form of a lesser charge or less time or a different disposition."<h2>Not as easy as pressing enter</h2>To provide some light on the conviction rate, Anderson hand-pulled cases from 2021 and 2022. Anderson became Ellis County Attorney Jan. 11, 2021.In 2021, 19 sexual assault cases were filed by the county attorney's office. Sixteen of those resulted in felony&nbsp;convictions or adjudications. Nine of those convictions resulted in prison sentences.As of October, not all of the 2021 cases had been resolved and others were pending sentencing.As of October 2022,&nbsp;13 sexual assault cases had been filed by the county attorney's office. Anderson said at that time the office had several unfiled reports (some of which were from 2022, but some of which were from 2021 or before), but he said he anticipated filing those by the end of the year.None of the 13 filed cases that were filed in 2022 had been resolved by October.Anderson reported&nbsp;nine out of 17 (53 percent) sexual assault cases that were filed in 2020 ended with a conviction and prison sentences. Of those cases that did not end up in conviction, there were circumstances beyond local officials' control. One suspect died, one was taken into federal custody and one had an active warrant but had not been located.Hecker said other counties in northwest Kansas have been even less cooperative in tracking conviction data. Instead of being able to access cumulative county data, court records keepers require agencies to request each record by name of the suspect or case number.Anderson called the current case management system antiquated. He said would like to be able to provide better statistics to the community.The Ellis County prosecutor's office is set to launch a new case management system in April."I think moving forward these types of inquiries will be a lot easier to answer and we will have a lot more accuracy, but I imagine that Ellis County’s numbers are pretty consistent with nationwide statistics and statewide statistics,” he said.Anderson made a plea to any victims of sexual violence to come forward and make a report.“If a victim is seeing those low prosecution, conviction and incarceration rates, I think the message they are probably receiving is no one cares, which is tragic and is obviously going to have a deterrent effect,” he said of reporting sex crimes.“If I could send out a message to victims or someone who might become a victim, I would say I do care. This office cares. Law enforcement cares. This community cares. The community partners, Options, the Western Kansa Child Advocacy Center, the [Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner] program at HaysMed, we care. We care a lot.”Grover said&nbsp;victims need advocates, such as the ones provided by Options, to be with them all through the judicial process. She said she did not think the state had the resources to provide that across the board. “I think that is one of the areas that could really make a difference,” she said, “to have that kind of support for victims from the moment they are assaulted until the case is resolved.”“I want victims to know there is confidential support for them where they are in the state,” she said. “They can get that support through the statewide hotline, certainly through the local resources at Options. "They have a variety of ways people can be in touch with them beyond the hotline. I would encourage the victims they are not going to have to be made to tell anybody else. They can just start with that phone call or with that first contact and reach out for support. They’re not alone.”If you or someone you know has been a victim of sex crime, you can reach an advocate through Options through its&nbsp;text, chat or phone hotlines. Text the word "Hope" to 847411.The 24-hour phone helpline is 800-794-4624. The chat and other information can be accessed on the Options website at&nbsp;<a href="https://help4abuse.org/">https://help4abuse.org/</a>&nbsp;All of the helplines and chats are manned 24/7, 365 days a year. All services are free and confidential.The agency also has a mobile unit that travels throughout its 18-county catchment area in northwest Kansas. Contact Options through one of the means above to learn more.Cover photo courtesy of Pixabay

Judicial system 'leaky pipeline;' few rapists end up in prison

Fort Hays State (19-7, 14-4 MIAA) vs. #10/#15 Central Missouri (18-3, 14-3 MIAA) Saturday, February 11, 2023 • 2 p.m. Hays, Kansas • Gross Memorial Coliseum Radio: KJLS (103.3)

<a href="https://radio.securenetsystems.net/cwa/KJLS">CLICK HERE TO LISTEN</a>

Game Sponsor:&nbsp;Vyve Broadband National Anthem:&nbsp;Holy Family Elementary Joyful Noise Promotions:&nbsp;Senior Night, FHSU Student-Athlete Academic Recognition, 20-year Donor Recognition Halftime:&nbsp;Big Creek Crossing Baby Crawl The Fort Hays State women's basketball team plays at home for the final time this season on Saturday (Feb. 11) when FHSU hosts 10th-ranked Central Missouri beginning at 2 p.m. The Tigers will honor the lone senior on this year's roster, forward&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/clary-donica/6854">Clary Donica</a>, pregame in advance of her final home game in a Tiger uniform. Fort Hays State (19-7, 14-4 MIAA) enters the contest in fourth place in the MIAA standings, one-half game behind the Jennies (18-3, 14-3 MIAA). The Tigers and Jennies are two of six teams that are separated by just two games atop the league standings. Fort Hays State will play four of the five other teams in that mix over the final three weeks of the season, including UCM, Pittsburg State, No. 21 Missouri Southern and No. 11 Nebraska-Kearney. Live video of the conference clash will be available on The MIAA Network, presented by Tiger Media Network. Fans can purchase access to a single contest for $10, a month-long pass for $25 or a season-long, all-access pass for $125. Both the monthly and year-long passes gain access to any event in any sport streamed on The MIAA Network. Live radio coverage with voice of the Tigers Gerard Wellbrock will be available over the air on KJLS 103.3 FM and online at hayspost.com. Both teams in Saturday's matchup are among the nation's best at ball control, with FHSU ranking third in the country with 11.9 turnovers per game and UCM close behind in 12th with an average of 12.8 miscues per contest. <a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/katie-wagner/6848">Katie Wagner</a>&nbsp;has five career games played against the Jennies, with the sophomore averaging 12.2 points per game in those contests.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/jessie-sallach/6847">Jessie Sallach</a>&nbsp;has scored in double figures three times in six tries against UCM. With 120 career blocks, sophomore&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/olivia-hollenbeck/6845">Olivia Hollenbeck</a>&nbsp;needs one more swat to tie Jamie Heiman for sixth all-time at FHSU. The Lincoln, Neb. native also needs 61 points to reach 1,000 in her career. The Tigers need one win to reach 20 victories for the 12th-consecutive season. Their current streak of 11 such seasons is the longest active streak in Division II. Thursday's win over Lincoln was FHSU's 10th home victory of the year. The Tigers have won at least 10 games inside the Coliseum in each of the last 13 years and in 14 of Hobson's 15 seasons at FHSU. The Tigers have won at least 10 games at home in 35 of their 50 seasons played inside Gross Memorial Coliseum. Central Missouri leads the all-time series 20-17, including a narrow one-point victory in Warrensburg earlier this season (12/31/2022, 63-62). However, the Tigers have dominated in series history at home, winning 10 of the 12 all-time matchups inside Gross Memorial Coliseum. Fort Hays State has won eight in a row at home over the Jennies, with the last UCM road win coming in February 2010.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/coaches/tony-hobson/1136">Tony Hobson</a>&nbsp;is 15-15 all-time against UCM, including a 9-1 mark at home. Central Missouri heads to Hays after dropping back-to-back games for the first time since October 2021. Two of UCM's three losses this season took place away from home. UCM knocks down 46.3 percent from the floor, 10th-best in Division II and tops in the MIAA. The Jennies outrebound their opponents by an average of 8.2 boards per game, 11th-best in Division II. Brooke Littrell ranks 15th nationally and second in the MIAA with an average of 19.5 points per night.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676052257327.jpeg" alt="Fort Hays State forward Katie Wagner and center Olivia Hollenbeck celebrate following a basket in an MIAA game vs. Lincoln February 9, 2023 in Hays, Kan. (FHSU Athletics photo/Madison Shapland)" />
 <figcaption>Fort Hays State forward Katie Wagner and center Olivia Hollenbeck celebrate following a basket in an MIAA game vs. Lincoln February 9, 2023 in Hays, Kan. (FHSU Athletics photo/Madison Shapland)</figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU AthleticsFort Hays State (19-7, 14-4 MIAA) vs. #10/#15 Central Missouri (18-3, 14-3 MIAA) Saturday, February 11, 2023 • 2 p.m. Hays, Kansas • Gross Memorial Coliseum Radio: KJLS (103.3)<a href="https://radio.securenetsystems.net/cwa/KJLS">CLICK HERE TO LISTEN</a>Game Sponsor:&nbsp;Vyve Broadband National Anthem:&nbsp;Holy Family Elementary Joyful Noise Promotions:&nbsp;Senior Night, FHSU Student-Athlete Academic Recognition, 20-year Donor Recognition Halftime:&nbsp;Big Creek Crossing Baby Crawl The Fort Hays State women's basketball team plays at home for the final time this season on Saturday (Feb. 11) when FHSU hosts 10th-ranked Central Missouri beginning at 2 p.m. The Tigers will honor the lone senior on this year's roster, forward&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/clary-donica/6854">Clary Donica</a>, pregame in advance of her final home game in a Tiger uniform. Fort Hays State (19-7, 14-4 MIAA) enters the contest in fourth place in the MIAA standings, one-half game behind the Jennies (18-3, 14-3 MIAA). The Tigers and Jennies are two of six teams that are separated by just two games atop the league standings. Fort Hays State will play four of the five other teams in that mix over the final three weeks of the season, including UCM, Pittsburg State, No. 21 Missouri Southern and No. 11 Nebraska-Kearney. Live video of the conference clash will be available on The MIAA Network, presented by Tiger Media Network. Fans can purchase access to a single contest for $10, a month-long pass for $25 or a season-long, all-access pass for $125. Both the monthly and year-long passes gain access to any event in any sport streamed on The MIAA Network. Live radio coverage with voice of the Tigers Gerard Wellbrock will be available over the air on KJLS 103.3 FM and online at hayspost.com. Both teams in Saturday's matchup are among the nation's best at ball control, with FHSU ranking third in the country with 11.9 turnovers per game and UCM close behind in 12th with an average of 12.8 miscues per contest. <a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/katie-wagner/6848">Katie Wagner</a>&nbsp;has five career games played against the Jennies, with the sophomore averaging 12.2 points per game in those contests.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/jessie-sallach/6847">Jessie Sallach</a>&nbsp;has scored in double figures three times in six tries against UCM. With 120 career blocks, sophomore&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/olivia-hollenbeck/6845">Olivia Hollenbeck</a>&nbsp;needs one more swat to tie Jamie Heiman for sixth all-time at FHSU. The Lincoln, Neb. native also needs 61 points to reach 1,000 in her career. The Tigers need one win to reach 20 victories for the 12th-consecutive season. Their current streak of 11 such seasons is the longest active streak in Division II. Thursday's win over Lincoln was FHSU's 10th home victory of the year. The Tigers have won at least 10 games inside the Coliseum in each of the last 13 years and in 14 of Hobson's 15 seasons at FHSU. The Tigers have won at least 10 games at home in 35 of their 50 seasons played inside Gross Memorial Coliseum. Central Missouri leads the all-time series 20-17, including a narrow one-point victory in Warrensburg earlier this season (12/31/2022, 63-62). However, the Tigers have dominated in series history at home, winning 10 of the 12 all-time matchups inside Gross Memorial Coliseum. Fort Hays State has won eight in a row at home over the Jennies, with the last UCM road win coming in February 2010.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/coaches/tony-hobson/1136">Tony Hobson</a>&nbsp;is 15-15 all-time against UCM, including a 9-1 mark at home. Central Missouri heads to Hays after dropping back-to-back games for the first time since October 2021. Two of UCM's three losses this season took place away from home. UCM knocks down 46.3 percent from the floor, 10th-best in Division II and tops in the MIAA. The Jennies outrebound their opponents by an average of 8.2 boards per game, 11th-best in Division II. Brooke Littrell ranks 15th nationally and second in the MIAA with an average of 19.5 points per night.&nbsp;&nbsp;

🏀🎙️ LISTEN - Tiger women look for revenge against Jennies on Senior Day

Alan V. Ochs, 68, passed away February 9, 2023, at Hodgeman County 
Health Center, Jetmore, after a long, courageous battle with metastatic 
prostate cancer.

He was born October 18, 1954, in Dodge City, the son of Vernon and 
Nola (Hill) Ochs.&nbsp; A lifetime area resident, he was a diligent, 
hard-working farmer, raising wheat, milo, corn and soybeans.

He was a charter member of Grace Community Church, a past COOP Board 
Member and was a past elder board member at the First Baptist Church, 
all of Dodge City. He graduated from DCCC with an associate’s degree in 
1975 and later attended Fort Hays State University, studying diesel 
mechanics. He was a Hodgeman County Commissioner, where he served one 
term and had just been re-elected to a 2nd term. He was a 
member of AOPA (Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association). Alan earned his
 private pilot’s license in 2001 and his instrument rating followed.&nbsp; He
 also took pride in restoring his 1969 Chevelle and loved spending time 
with his children and teaching his grandchildren things about the farm.

On October 30, 1976, Alan married his high school sweetheart, Julie A. (Crabill) in Jetmore.&nbsp; She survives.

Other survivors include: his three children, Alexandra (Bobby) 
Rainbolt and their children, Hope, Bridger and Brooks, Fort Collins, CO,
 Colby Ochs, Dallas, TX, and Jessilyn (Spensor) Askren and baby girl 
coming in March, Laramie, WY; brother, Loren (Kay) Ochs, Jetmore; 
sisters-in-law, Karen Ochs, Wichita, and Joyce Ochs, Jetmore, and 
numerous nieces and nephews.

Alan was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Charles and Marion Ochs.

Funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, February 11, 2023, at 
Grace Community Church, 500 Ross Blvd, Dodge City, KS 67801 with Rev. 
Kirk Larson presiding. Family suggests casual dress.&nbsp; Visitation will be
 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday at Beckwith Funeral Home, Jetmore.&nbsp; 
Private family burial will be in Fairmount Cemetery, Jetmore.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Alan Ochs Memorial 
Fund in care of Beckwith Funeral Home, Box 663, Jetmore, KS 67854.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676044785174.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Alan V. Ochs, 68, passed away February 9, 2023, at Hodgeman County 
Health Center, Jetmore, after a long, courageous battle with metastatic 
prostate cancer.He was born October 18, 1954, in Dodge City, the son of Vernon and 
Nola (Hill) Ochs.&nbsp; A lifetime area resident, he was a diligent, 
hard-working farmer, raising wheat, milo, corn and soybeans.He was a charter member of Grace Community Church, a past COOP Board 
Member and was a past elder board member at the First Baptist Church, 
all of Dodge City. He graduated from DCCC with an associate’s degree in 
1975 and later attended Fort Hays State University, studying diesel 
mechanics. He was a Hodgeman County Commissioner, where he served one 
term and had just been re-elected to a 2nd term. He was a 
member of AOPA (Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association). Alan earned his
 private pilot’s license in 2001 and his instrument rating followed.&nbsp; He
 also took pride in restoring his 1969 Chevelle and loved spending time 
with his children and teaching his grandchildren things about the farm.On October 30, 1976, Alan married his high school sweetheart, Julie A. (Crabill) in Jetmore.&nbsp; She survives.Other survivors include: his three children, Alexandra (Bobby) 
Rainbolt and their children, Hope, Bridger and Brooks, Fort Collins, CO,
 Colby Ochs, Dallas, TX, and Jessilyn (Spensor) Askren and baby girl 
coming in March, Laramie, WY; brother, Loren (Kay) Ochs, Jetmore; 
sisters-in-law, Karen Ochs, Wichita, and Joyce Ochs, Jetmore, and 
numerous nieces and nephews.Alan was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Charles and Marion Ochs.Funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, February 11, 2023, at 
Grace Community Church, 500 Ross Blvd, Dodge City, KS 67801 with Rev. 
Kirk Larson presiding. Family suggests casual dress.&nbsp; Visitation will be
 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday at Beckwith Funeral Home, Jetmore.&nbsp; 
Private family burial will be in Fairmount Cemetery, Jetmore.In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Alan Ochs Memorial 
Fund in care of Beckwith Funeral Home, Box 663, Jetmore, KS 67854.

Alan V. Ochs

WASHINGTON (AP) —Former Vice President Mike Pence has been subpoenaed by the special counsel&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-4a2cd9693dfded229332210b85661bc9">overseeing investigations</a>&nbsp;into efforts by former President Donald Trump and his allies to overturn the results of the 2020 election, according to a person with direct knowledge of the event.

The subpoena to Pence as part of the investigation by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-donald-trump-merrick-garland-government-and-550c01de053c08db4d53ca57f315feb6">special counsel Jack Smith</a>&nbsp;was served in recent days, according to the person, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Thursday to discuss a sensitive issue.

The extraordinary scenario of a former vice president potentially testifying against his former boss in a criminal investigation comes as Pence&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ap-interview-mike-pence-8e9b0176044846b4502f176251ce703f">considers launching a 2024 Republican presidential bid</a>&nbsp;against Trump. The two&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-politics-reality-tv-michael-pence-ddbfc1fbb94034c39aadc5260536be3c">have been estranged</a>&nbsp;since a mob of Trump's supporters&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jan-6-committee-final-report-takeaways-56cf44f8809cc76632f91f5c7910ec81">stormed the U.S. Capitol building</a>&nbsp;on Jan. 6, 2021, in an attempt to stop Democrat Joe Biden's victory.

The subpoena is an aggressive step from a prosecutor who for years led the Justice Department’s public corruption section and who oversaw indictments against major political figures. The move sets the stage for a likely executive privilege fight, given Pence’s close proximity to Trump for four years as major decisions were being contemplated and planned. It is unclear whether efforts to secure voluntary testimony from Pence stalled before the subpoena was issued.

Spokespeople for Pence and Smith declined to comment on the issuance of the subpoena, which was first reported by ABC News.

Pence was a central figure in Trump's efforts to stay in power after losing the 2020 election. Trump falsely insisted that his vice president, who had a ceremonial role in overseeing the certification of the election, could simply reject the results and send them back to the battleground states he contested.

On Jan. 6, Trump supporters driven by the lie that the election was stolen marched to the Capitol building, brutally pushed past the police and smashed through the windows and doors while Pence was presiding over the certification of Biden’s victory. The vice president was steered to safety with his staff and family as some in the mob chanted, “Hang Mike Pence!”

While the mob was in the Capitol, Trump tweeted, “Mike Pence didn’t have the courage to do what should have been done to protect our Country and our Constitution.”

Smith, who was named special counsel in November by Attorney General Merrick Garland, has been tasked with overseeing investigations into Trump’s attempts to subvert his defeat, his actions leading up to the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol and his possession of top-secret government documents at his Florida estate, Mar-a-Lago.

Federal prosecutors have been especially focused on a scheme by Trump allies to elevate fake presidential electors in key battleground states won by Biden as a way to subvert the vote, issuing subpoenas to multiple state Republican party chairs.

Federal prosecutors have brought multiple Trump administration officials before the grand jury for questioning, including former Trump White House counsel Pat Cipollone and Pence’s own former chief of staff, Marc Short.

In a sign of the expanding nature of the investigation, election officials in multiple states whose results were disputed by Trump have received subpoenas asking for communications with or involving Trump and his campaign aides.

A House committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/january-6-final-hearing-investigation-wraps-0bceb95826c1c836023d2810ccbeccca">recommended that the Justice Department bring criminal charges against Trump and associates</a>&nbsp;who helped him launch a pressure campaign to try to overturn his 2020 election loss.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668696327219.png" alt="In October, former Vice President Mike Pence made a campaign appearance in Wichita for Derek Schmidt.-photo courtesy Schmidt campaign" />
 <figcaption>In October, former Vice President Mike Pence made a campaign appearance in Wichita for Derek Schmidt.-photo courtesy Schmidt campaign</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —Former Vice President Mike Pence has been subpoenaed by the special counsel&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-4a2cd9693dfded229332210b85661bc9">overseeing investigations</a>&nbsp;into efforts by former President Donald Trump and his allies to overturn the results of the 2020 election, according to a person with direct knowledge of the event.The subpoena to Pence as part of the investigation by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-donald-trump-merrick-garland-government-and-550c01de053c08db4d53ca57f315feb6">special counsel Jack Smith</a>&nbsp;was served in recent days, according to the person, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Thursday to discuss a sensitive issue.The extraordinary scenario of a former vice president potentially testifying against his former boss in a criminal investigation comes as Pence&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ap-interview-mike-pence-8e9b0176044846b4502f176251ce703f">considers launching a 2024 Republican presidential bid</a>&nbsp;against Trump. The two&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-politics-reality-tv-michael-pence-ddbfc1fbb94034c39aadc5260536be3c">have been estranged</a>&nbsp;since a mob of Trump's supporters&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jan-6-committee-final-report-takeaways-56cf44f8809cc76632f91f5c7910ec81">stormed the U.S. Capitol building</a>&nbsp;on Jan. 6, 2021, in an attempt to stop Democrat Joe Biden's victory.The subpoena is an aggressive step from a prosecutor who for years led the Justice Department’s public corruption section and who oversaw indictments against major political figures. The move sets the stage for a likely executive privilege fight, given Pence’s close proximity to Trump for four years as major decisions were being contemplated and planned. It is unclear whether efforts to secure voluntary testimony from Pence stalled before the subpoena was issued.Spokespeople for Pence and Smith declined to comment on the issuance of the subpoena, which was first reported by ABC News.Pence was a central figure in Trump's efforts to stay in power after losing the 2020 election. Trump falsely insisted that his vice president, who had a ceremonial role in overseeing the certification of the election, could simply reject the results and send them back to the battleground states he contested.On Jan. 6, Trump supporters driven by the lie that the election was stolen marched to the Capitol building, brutally pushed past the police and smashed through the windows and doors while Pence was presiding over the certification of Biden’s victory. The vice president was steered to safety with his staff and family as some in the mob chanted, “Hang Mike Pence!”While the mob was in the Capitol, Trump tweeted, “Mike Pence didn’t have the courage to do what should have been done to protect our Country and our Constitution.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668434923044.png" alt="In November, the former Vice President released his autobiography" />
 <figcaption>In November, the former Vice President released his autobiography</figcaption>
 </figure>Smith, who was named special counsel in November by Attorney General Merrick Garland, has been tasked with overseeing investigations into Trump’s attempts to subvert his defeat, his actions leading up to the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol and his possession of top-secret government documents at his Florida estate, Mar-a-Lago.Federal prosecutors have been especially focused on a scheme by Trump allies to elevate fake presidential electors in key battleground states won by Biden as a way to subvert the vote, issuing subpoenas to multiple state Republican party chairs.Federal prosecutors have brought multiple Trump administration officials before the grand jury for questioning, including former Trump White House counsel Pat Cipollone and Pence’s own former chief of staff, Marc Short.In a sign of the expanding nature of the investigation, election officials in multiple states whose results were disputed by Trump have received subpoenas asking for communications with or involving Trump and his campaign aides.A House committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/january-6-final-hearing-investigation-wraps-0bceb95826c1c836023d2810ccbeccca">recommended that the Justice Department bring criminal charges against Trump and associates</a>&nbsp;who helped him launch a pressure campaign to try to overturn his 2020 election loss.

Pence subpoenaed by special counsel leading Trump investigations

Fort Hays State University will present "Light from the Past: Ian Hornak, A Retrospective," a major exhibition of the innovator’s life’s work. The exhibit originated in Los Angeles, California, in 2012 and was later showcased at the Federal Reserve in Washington D.C. during the 2013 Presidential Inauguration. Hornak's work will be on display at the Moss-Thorns Gallery of Art from Feb. 10 to 24.

Ian Hornak's (1944-2002) artistic talent was visible at an early age. Today, he is regarded in art history as one of the founding artists of the Photorealist and Hyperrealist movements.

His earliest works show influences of the high renaissance masters, such as Leonardo and Michelangelo, whose drawings and paintings he saw in a book about the Old Masters given to him by his mother. The technical skills Hornak learned from emulating the work of previous masters are visible in his art throughout his career.&nbsp;

Hornak's realism was counter to the abstract expressionist movement popular in the 1960s, but he resisted pressure from teachers and other artists to work in a non-representational style. He continued in the realist tradition even after moving to New York City in 1968, where he became close friends with some of the leading abstract and pop artists, Willem de Kooning, Robert Indiana, Andy Warhol, and Robert Motherwell.&nbsp;

One of Hornak's signature styles was the technique of transposing multiple photographs of a landscape into one painting. Using photographs he took during his travels as inspiration, Hornak layered the images to create multiple-exposure landscape paintings. The resulting paintings display both surrealism and romanticism and brought critical acclaim to the artist in the 1970s. John Canaday wrote in the New York Times in 1974, “…Mr. Hornak is right at the top of the list of romantically descriptive painters today.”

In the mid-1980s, Hornak began adding "painted frames" -- flat, wood borders that he would use to expand the imagery of the canvas. He used these painted frames in his landscapes to create a different type of multiple-exposure painting.&nbsp;

Hornak also employed "painted frames" when he began experimenting with still-life painting in the late-1980s. His still lifes show reverence for Flemish and Dutch masters and portray a keen sense of design and openness to vibrant color.&nbsp;

In a 1994 interview with Cover Magazine, Hornak said of his artistic approach to still life painting, “While I know that the beautiful, the spiritual and the sublime are today suspect, I have begun to stop resisting the constant urge to deny that beauty has a valid right to exist in contemporary art.”

Hornak continued to paint and create new, imaginative works until his untimely death from an aortic aneurysm in 2002 at the age of fifty-eight at his studio in East Hampton, New York.

Ian Hornak’s artwork is owned by many major museums throughout the United States, including the Smithsonian Institution, Library of Congress, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Corcoran Gallery of Art Legacy Collection, Museum of Fine Arts Boston, and the Detroit Institute of Arts.

For many years, the Department of Art and Design was spread out among a number of buildings and never had a formal gallery. In 1969, John C. Thorns, Jr. first presented his vision to the college administration for a regional art museum with educational laboratories to house the Department of Art. With the completion of Rarick Hall in the spring of 1981, Thorns' vision was realized.

When it first opened, the gallery was called the Visual Arts Center Gallery. It was rededicated the Moss-Thorns Gallery of Art on October 11, 1987, during the annual homecoming activities. The gallery was renamed for Joel C. Moss (chair of the department from 1946 to 1973) and John C. Thorns, Jr. (chair from 1973 to 1990).

Connected to the Center for Art &amp; Design, the Moss-Thorns Gallery (&amp; The Patricia A. Schmidt Gallery Lobby) is home to various student art exhibits, faculty shows, and traveling exhibits throughout the year. During the fall and spring, the gallery is open Monday - Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675806764575.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU University CommunicationsFort Hays State University will present "Light from the Past: Ian Hornak, A Retrospective," a major exhibition of the innovator’s life’s work. The exhibit originated in Los Angeles, California, in 2012 and was later showcased at the Federal Reserve in Washington D.C. during the 2013 Presidential Inauguration. Hornak's work will be on display at the Moss-Thorns Gallery of Art from Feb. 10 to 24.Ian Hornak's (1944-2002) artistic talent was visible at an early age. Today, he is regarded in art history as one of the founding artists of the Photorealist and Hyperrealist movements.His earliest works show influences of the high renaissance masters, such as Leonardo and Michelangelo, whose drawings and paintings he saw in a book about the Old Masters given to him by his mother. The technical skills Hornak learned from emulating the work of previous masters are visible in his art throughout his career.&nbsp;Hornak's realism was counter to the abstract expressionist movement popular in the 1960s, but he resisted pressure from teachers and other artists to work in a non-representational style. He continued in the realist tradition even after moving to New York City in 1968, where he became close friends with some of the leading abstract and pop artists, Willem de Kooning, Robert Indiana, Andy Warhol, and Robert Motherwell.&nbsp;One of Hornak's signature styles was the technique of transposing multiple photographs of a landscape into one painting. Using photographs he took during his travels as inspiration, Hornak layered the images to create multiple-exposure landscape paintings. The resulting paintings display both surrealism and romanticism and brought critical acclaim to the artist in the 1970s. John Canaday wrote in the New York Times in 1974, “…Mr. Hornak is right at the top of the list of romantically descriptive painters today.”In the mid-1980s, Hornak began adding "painted frames" -- flat, wood borders that he would use to expand the imagery of the canvas. He used these painted frames in his landscapes to create a different type of multiple-exposure painting.&nbsp;Hornak also employed "painted frames" when he began experimenting with still-life painting in the late-1980s. His still lifes show reverence for Flemish and Dutch masters and portray a keen sense of design and openness to vibrant color.&nbsp;In a 1994 interview with Cover Magazine, Hornak said of his artistic approach to still life painting, “While I know that the beautiful, the spiritual and the sublime are today suspect, I have begun to stop resisting the constant urge to deny that beauty has a valid right to exist in contemporary art.”Hornak continued to paint and create new, imaginative works until his untimely death from an aortic aneurysm in 2002 at the age of fifty-eight at his studio in East Hampton, New York.Ian Hornak’s artwork is owned by many major museums throughout the United States, including the Smithsonian Institution, Library of Congress, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Corcoran Gallery of Art Legacy Collection, Museum of Fine Arts Boston, and the Detroit Institute of Arts.About the Moss-Thorns Gallery of ArtFor many years, the Department of Art and Design was spread out among a number of buildings and never had a formal gallery. In 1969, John C. Thorns, Jr. first presented his vision to the college administration for a regional art museum with educational laboratories to house the Department of Art. With the completion of Rarick Hall in the spring of 1981, Thorns' vision was realized.When it first opened, the gallery was called the Visual Arts Center Gallery. It was rededicated the Moss-Thorns Gallery of Art on October 11, 1987, during the annual homecoming activities. The gallery was renamed for Joel C. Moss (chair of the department from 1946 to 1973) and John C. Thorns, Jr. (chair from 1973 to 1990).Connected to the Center for Art &amp; Design, the Moss-Thorns Gallery (&amp; The Patricia A. Schmidt Gallery Lobby) is home to various student art exhibits, faculty shows, and traveling exhibits throughout the year. During the fall and spring, the gallery is open Monday - Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Artist Ian Hornak’s work to be exhibited at Moss-Thorns

Kathleen Ann Schneider, of WaKeeney, KS, passed away on February 6, 
2023, at the Hospice House in Hutchinson, KS, at the age of 69. She was 
born on October 16, 1953, to Harvey and Viola (Rummel) Wright in Atwood,
 Kansas. She married Michael Schneider on August 11, 1973, in Atwood. 
They were blessed with six children: Adam, Tate, Kahl, Chauncy, Becky, 
and Mary.

Kathy grew up in Atwood and graduated from 
Atwood High School in 1971. She went to cosmetology school in Goodland, 
KS and worked in the beauty industry for 2 years. Once she and Michael 
were married, she worked on the farm and was a Para at the WaKeeney 
schools for many years. She was a very active member of the WaKeeney 
Church of God.

Kathy enjoyed farming, sewing, reading, 
fishing, cooking and baking with her grandkids, getting together with 
her church groups, and the girls’ trips with her sister and friends. For
 Kathy, it isn’t the farm that makes the farmer’s wife; it’s the love, 
hard work, dedication, faith, and character. She was all these things 
and more. She set for us an example and passed on to us the values of 
hard work, noble character, and devout love for God, family, friends and
 neighbors.

Left to cherish Kathy’s memory are her 
children, Adam (Jannelle) Schneider of Goshen, KY, Kahl (Heather) 
Schneider of Adair, IA, Chauncy Schneider of WaKeeney, KS, Becky (Aaron)
 Hammeke of Great Bend, KS, and Mary Schneider of Denver, CO; siblings, 
Lynn (RayeAnn) Wright of Atwood, KS and Debbie (Mike) Fanders of Atwood,
 KS; and 17 grandchildren, Abigail Schneider, Colton Schneider, Quynton 
Younker, Paxton Schneider, Treyton Schneider, Brexton Schneider, Ben 
Schneider, Gabe Schneider, June Schneider, Ethan Hammeke, Beth Hammeke, 
Tyler Hammeke, Deseray Herskowitz, Tanner Herskowitz, Treydon 
Herskowitz, Tucker Herskowitz, and Tristian Herskowitz.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Harvey and Viola Wright; husband, Mike Schneider; and son, Tate Schneider.

The
 Psalmist David said, “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart 
trusts in Him.” Kathy was a woman of strong faith who trusted every 
aspect of her life to the hands of her Lord. Although we love and miss 
her greatly, we rejoice that the strength and protection He gave her is 
no longer needed, for now her trust has found fulfillment in the same 
loving hands that have now carried her home.

A funeral 
service will be held on Friday, February 10, 2023, at 11AM at the 
WaKeeney Church of God. The family will receive friends on Thursday, 
5-7 PM at the Church.

Memorials are suggested to Hospice
 and Homecare of Reno County or WaKeeney Church of God and may be sent 
to Plumer-Overlease Funeal Home, 723 N 1st, Stockton, KS 67669.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675886113718.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Kathleen Ann Schneider, of WaKeeney, KS, passed away on February 6, 
2023, at the Hospice House in Hutchinson, KS, at the age of 69. She was 
born on October 16, 1953, to Harvey and Viola (Rummel) Wright in Atwood,
 Kansas. She married Michael Schneider on August 11, 1973, in Atwood. 
They were blessed with six children: Adam, Tate, Kahl, Chauncy, Becky, 
and Mary.Kathy grew up in Atwood and graduated from 
Atwood High School in 1971. She went to cosmetology school in Goodland, 
KS and worked in the beauty industry for 2 years. Once she and Michael 
were married, she worked on the farm and was a Para at the WaKeeney 
schools for many years. She was a very active member of the WaKeeney 
Church of God.Kathy enjoyed farming, sewing, reading, 
fishing, cooking and baking with her grandkids, getting together with 
her church groups, and the girls’ trips with her sister and friends. For
 Kathy, it isn’t the farm that makes the farmer’s wife; it’s the love, 
hard work, dedication, faith, and character. She was all these things 
and more. She set for us an example and passed on to us the values of 
hard work, noble character, and devout love for God, family, friends and
 neighbors.Left to cherish Kathy’s memory are her 
children, Adam (Jannelle) Schneider of Goshen, KY, Kahl (Heather) 
Schneider of Adair, IA, Chauncy Schneider of WaKeeney, KS, Becky (Aaron)
 Hammeke of Great Bend, KS, and Mary Schneider of Denver, CO; siblings, 
Lynn (RayeAnn) Wright of Atwood, KS and Debbie (Mike) Fanders of Atwood,
 KS; and 17 grandchildren, Abigail Schneider, Colton Schneider, Quynton 
Younker, Paxton Schneider, Treyton Schneider, Brexton Schneider, Ben 
Schneider, Gabe Schneider, June Schneider, Ethan Hammeke, Beth Hammeke, 
Tyler Hammeke, Deseray Herskowitz, Tanner Herskowitz, Treydon 
Herskowitz, Tucker Herskowitz, and Tristian Herskowitz.She is preceded in death by her parents, Harvey and Viola Wright; husband, Mike Schneider; and son, Tate Schneider.The
 Psalmist David said, “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart 
trusts in Him.” Kathy was a woman of strong faith who trusted every 
aspect of her life to the hands of her Lord. Although we love and miss 
her greatly, we rejoice that the strength and protection He gave her is 
no longer needed, for now her trust has found fulfillment in the same 
loving hands that have now carried her home.A funeral 
service will be held on Friday, February 10, 2023, at 11AM at the 
WaKeeney Church of God. The family will receive friends on Thursday, 
5-7 PM at the Church.Memorials are suggested to Hospice
 and Homecare of Reno County or WaKeeney Church of God and may be sent 
to Plumer-Overlease Funeal Home, 723 N 1st, Stockton, KS 67669.

Kathleen Ann Schneider

Otto Harp, age 95, passed away peacefully
 on Friday, February 3, 2023, at Progress West Hospital in O’Fallon, 
Missouri with family by his side.&nbsp; He was born on August 4, 1927, in 
Yardell, Arkansas, the son of Ira Harp and Bertie (Hill) Harp.&nbsp; He moved
 to Scott City, Kansas, in 1941, working as a farm hand and other 
miscellaneous jobs.&nbsp; Otto served in the Army from November 1945 to 
February 1947, serving as a Tec 5 Heavy Truck Driver with the 3rd Engineer Combat Battalion at Kokura, Japan, in the post-war cleanup effort. &nbsp;

Otto met the love of his life, Emogene L. Wood while she was 
waitressing at the Airliner restaurant in Scott City.&nbsp; He was there 
every night to take her home when she got off work.&nbsp; Otto gave her an 
engagement ring at Christmas when she was 16 and they got married on 
June 8, 1952, at First Christian Church, Scott City, Kansas, two weeks 
after Emogene graduated from Scott County High School.&nbsp; They were 
blessed with four children, Debra Lynn, Richard Duane, Denise Michelle, 
and Devoe Eugene.&nbsp; While living in Scott City, Otto was active in First 
Christian Church and 4-H.

Otto drove a truck for Shallow Water Refining Company and in the 
1960’s began farming in Wichita County on the weekends.&nbsp; In 1971, Otto 
and Emogene built a home in Wichita County and they started farming 
full-time.&nbsp; After moving to the farm, the family attended Pleasant 
Valley United Methodist Church which was the church Emogene had grown up
 attending.&nbsp; In addition to farming, Otto was a school bus driver for 
Emogene whenever the roads were bad, served as a Wichita County 
Commissioner, and was active in church, 4-H, and the community.&nbsp; In the 
1990’s, Otto and Emogene began traveling in their RV, including a 
multi-month trip to Alaska one summer.

In 1998, they retired from farming and moved back to Scott City, 
Kansas.&nbsp; Otto and Emogene started traveling more in their RV, spending 
winters in Fredericksburg, Texas, and summers in Salida, Colorado, where
 they made many friends.&nbsp; During the months they were in Scott City, 
Otto enjoyed working in his shop, having coffee with friends, and, as 
Emogene called it, attending “story hour” at Co-Op.&nbsp; Emogene passed away
 on November 28, 2015, and in October 2016, Otto moved to O’Fallon, 
Missouri, to be closer to his daughter and family. &nbsp;

Otto is survived by two sons – Richard (Alicia) Harp, Garden City, 
Kansas, Devoe (Kim) Harp, Avinger, Texas, and one daughter – Denise 
(Tim) Murphy, St. Charles, Missouri, five grandsons – Ryan (Kimberly) 
Harp, Garden City, Kansas, Russell (Sarah) Harp, Topeka, Kansas, Reed 
(Rheagan) Harp, Manhattan, Kansas, Cody (Keele) Harp, Zanesville, Ohio, 
Kolt Harp (fiancée Marissa Thompson), Longview, Texas, one granddaughter
 – Lauren (Cody) Hill, O’Fallon, Missouri, and six great grandchildren.

Otto was preceded in death by his parents, spouse Emogene L. Harp, 
their first born, Debra Lynn, a sister, Ora Wallis, and two brothers, 
Doy Harp and Troy Harp.

Funeral Services will be held at the First Christian Church, Scott 
City, Kansas, at 10:30am on Saturday, February 18, 2023, with Rev. 
Rodney Hopper presiding.&nbsp; Visitation will be from 10:00am to 8:00pm, 
Friday, February 17th at the Price and Sons Chapel in Scott 
City with family in attendance from 5:00-7:00pm.&nbsp; Interment will be in 
the Scott County Cemetery in Scott City, Kansas.&nbsp; Lunch will be provided
 at the church following Interment.&nbsp; 

Memorials in lieu of flowers may be
 given to First Christian Church, the American Red Cross or the American
 Burn Association in care of Price &amp; Sons Funeral Home, Scott City, 
Kansas.&nbsp; Otto was a lifetime blood donor.&nbsp; This was his way to repay for
 all the blood given to their daughter Debbie before she passed away at 
age 6 from injuries in a burn accident.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675816221957.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Otto Harp, age 95, passed away peacefully
 on Friday, February 3, 2023, at Progress West Hospital in O’Fallon, 
Missouri with family by his side.&nbsp; He was born on August 4, 1927, in 
Yardell, Arkansas, the son of Ira Harp and Bertie (Hill) Harp.&nbsp; He moved
 to Scott City, Kansas, in 1941, working as a farm hand and other 
miscellaneous jobs.&nbsp; Otto served in the Army from November 1945 to 
February 1947, serving as a Tec 5 Heavy Truck Driver with the 3rd Engineer Combat Battalion at Kokura, Japan, in the post-war cleanup effort. &nbsp;Otto met the love of his life, Emogene L. Wood while she was 
waitressing at the Airliner restaurant in Scott City.&nbsp; He was there 
every night to take her home when she got off work.&nbsp; Otto gave her an 
engagement ring at Christmas when she was 16 and they got married on 
June 8, 1952, at First Christian Church, Scott City, Kansas, two weeks 
after Emogene graduated from Scott County High School.&nbsp; They were 
blessed with four children, Debra Lynn, Richard Duane, Denise Michelle, 
and Devoe Eugene.&nbsp; While living in Scott City, Otto was active in First 
Christian Church and 4-H.Otto drove a truck for Shallow Water Refining Company and in the 
1960’s began farming in Wichita County on the weekends.&nbsp; In 1971, Otto 
and Emogene built a home in Wichita County and they started farming 
full-time.&nbsp; After moving to the farm, the family attended Pleasant 
Valley United Methodist Church which was the church Emogene had grown up
 attending.&nbsp; In addition to farming, Otto was a school bus driver for 
Emogene whenever the roads were bad, served as a Wichita County 
Commissioner, and was active in church, 4-H, and the community.&nbsp; In the 
1990’s, Otto and Emogene began traveling in their RV, including a 
multi-month trip to Alaska one summer.In 1998, they retired from farming and moved back to Scott City, 
Kansas.&nbsp; Otto and Emogene started traveling more in their RV, spending 
winters in Fredericksburg, Texas, and summers in Salida, Colorado, where
 they made many friends.&nbsp; During the months they were in Scott City, 
Otto enjoyed working in his shop, having coffee with friends, and, as 
Emogene called it, attending “story hour” at Co-Op.&nbsp; Emogene passed away
 on November 28, 2015, and in October 2016, Otto moved to O’Fallon, 
Missouri, to be closer to his daughter and family. &nbsp;Otto is survived by two sons – Richard (Alicia) Harp, Garden City, 
Kansas, Devoe (Kim) Harp, Avinger, Texas, and one daughter – Denise 
(Tim) Murphy, St. Charles, Missouri, five grandsons – Ryan (Kimberly) 
Harp, Garden City, Kansas, Russell (Sarah) Harp, Topeka, Kansas, Reed 
(Rheagan) Harp, Manhattan, Kansas, Cody (Keele) Harp, Zanesville, Ohio, 
Kolt Harp (fiancée Marissa Thompson), Longview, Texas, one granddaughter
 – Lauren (Cody) Hill, O’Fallon, Missouri, and six great grandchildren.Otto was preceded in death by his parents, spouse Emogene L. Harp, 
their first born, Debra Lynn, a sister, Ora Wallis, and two brothers, 
Doy Harp and Troy Harp.Funeral Services will be held at the First Christian Church, Scott 
City, Kansas, at 10:30am on Saturday, February 18, 2023, with Rev. 
Rodney Hopper presiding.&nbsp; Visitation will be from 10:00am to 8:00pm, 
Friday, February 17th at the Price and Sons Chapel in Scott 
City with family in attendance from 5:00-7:00pm.&nbsp; Interment will be in 
the Scott County Cemetery in Scott City, Kansas.&nbsp; Lunch will be provided
 at the church following Interment.&nbsp; Memorials in lieu of flowers may be
 given to First Christian Church, the American Red Cross or the American
 Burn Association in care of Price &amp; Sons Funeral Home, Scott City, 
Kansas.&nbsp; Otto was a lifetime blood donor.&nbsp; This was his way to repay for
 all the blood given to their daughter Debbie before she passed away at 
age 6 from injuries in a burn accident.

Otto Harp

By DAVID CONDOS <a href="https://www.hppr.org/hppr-news/2023-02-01/30-years-ago-these-kansas-farmers-were-told-to-use-less-water-heres-how-they-did-it">Kansas News Service</a>

Trying to cut back on irrigation in western Kansas isn’t a new idea.

More
 than three decades ago, the state came to farmers in the Walnut Creek 
basin south of Hays with a mandate. Farmers had to drastically change 
how much water they used on their crops. Some had to cut irrigation by 
nearly half.

Roger Mohr, who has grown grain in that area since 
1970, remembers the irrigation limits didn’t go over well — at least at 
first.

“None of us liked that when it happened,” Mohr said. “But we all realized that we had to make changes.”

A <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/366988632_Adapting_to_water_restrictinons_Intensive_versus_extensive_adaptation_over_time_differentiated_by_water_right_seniority" target="_blank">new study</a>
 from Kansas State University shows how farmers in this part of 
west-central Kansas have made those changes to meet the state’s strict 
irrigation restrictions since they began in 1992.

The research focuses on the Walnut Creek Intensive Groundwater Use 
Control Area, or IGUCA, which spans part of the creek’s basin in Ness, 
Rush and Barton counties.

Prior to the IGUCA’s restrictions, Mohr 
said, nearly all of the irrigation in his area came from inundating 
fields with long trenches of water that ran between the crop rows — a 
method that’s notorious for losing water to <a href="https://www.e-education.psu.edu/geog3/node/1096" target="_blank">evaporation and runoff</a>. Now, pretty much every piece of land that can field a more-efficient center pivot irrigation system has one.

The
 water limits spurred farmers to make other changes, too. They’ve 
switched up what they grow, Mohr said, from mostly irrigated corn — 
which requires a lot of water — to a rotation that includes other crops,
 such as soybeans and sorghum. Some of his neighbors have gone beyond 
center pivots and installed subsurface drip irrigation systems that 
conserve even more water.

Those changes have meant some big upfront expenses for farmers. But in Mohr’s view, it’s been worth it.

“We have to be very careful,” Mohr said, “because without water, none of us are going to be here.”

The state established the Walnut Creek IGUCA to leave more water for 
nearby streams that flow into Cheyenne Bottoms, a critical wetland bird 
habitat that the recent drought temporarily <a href="https://www.hppr.org/hppr-news/2022-11-04/up-to-1-million-birds-count-on-kansas-wetlands-during-migration-drought-has-left-them-high-and-dry" target="_blank">dried up</a>. If aquifer levels decline enough, the water that historically flowed in a stream above it can get <a href="https://www.kgs.ku.edu/Publications/pic9/pic9_2.html" target="_blank">sucked underground</a> and leave a <a href="https://www.kgs.ku.edu/Publications/pic9/pic9_2.html" target="_blank">dry bed on the surface</a>.

As opposed to local enhanced management areas, or LEMAs, that allow local landowners to <a href="https://www.hppr.org/hppr-news/2023-01-10/this-is-do-or-die-western-kansas-farmers-push-to-save-the-ogallala-aquifer-before-its-too-late" target="_blank">come up with their own plan</a> for cutting irrigation, <a href="https://agriculture.ks.gov/divisions-programs/dwr/managing-kansas-water-resources/intensive-groundwater-use-control-areas" target="_blank">IGUCAs</a>
 are initiated by the state. And farmers don’t have a say about how big 
the cuts are or whether they have to abide by the rules the state sets.

Here’s
 what that meant for farmers in the Walnut Creek area. Those who got 
their water rights after October of 1965 had to cut their irrigation the
 most — roughly twice as much as those with older water rights that were
 established between 1945 and 1965. Some farmers, like Mohr, had land 
that fell into both categories.

The junior water rights holders, which make up roughly half of the 
total allocations in the area, had to reduce their water use by 42%. 
Those with more senior rights only had to cut irrigation by around 20%.

Nathan
 Hendricks, a Kansas State University agricultural economics professor 
who worked on the study, said that 20% cut purposefully left senior 
rights farmers with as much water as the state determined was the bare 
minimum for growing irrigated corn in that area.

“The juniors just got whatever was left after that amount,” Hendricks said. “So it became much more restrictive.”

The
 remaining one-fifth of farmers had water rights that were established 
prior to the Kansas Water Appropriation Act of 1945 and didn’t have to 
reduce their irrigation at all — basically serving as a control group 
for the study.

And it turns out that if the farmers weren’t forced
 to cut their water use, they didn’t choose to do it on their own. The 
farmers whose irrigation got grandfathered in, Hendricks said, have 
hardly changed how much they water their crops over the past few 
decades.

Up to a certain point — around a 25% reduction in irrigation, 
Hendricks said — farmers can shrink their water use by just sprinkling 
fewer inches on a field. But once irrigation cuts exceed 25%, they 
pretty much have to stop watering some fields altogether, leaving the 
crops planted there to rely on the weather or choosing to not plant 
crops on those fields at all.

The K-State study reports that the 
reduction in irrigated acres around Walnut Creek significantly reduced 
the area's land values. That’s because there’s a big difference between 
rental rates for irrigated and nonirrigated farmland. 

In Barton County, for instance, an <a href="https://www.agmanager.info/farm-management/land-rental-rates/2023-kansas-county-level-cash-rental-rates-irrigated-cropland" target="_blank">irrigated acre of land</a> is worth more than twice as much as <a href="https://www.agmanager.info/farm-management/land-rental-rates/2023-kansas-county-level-cash-rental-rates-non-irrigated-cropland" target="_blank">one without irrigation</a>.

The
 study calculated all of the potential money forfeited due to those 
cheaper rents within this IGUCA and showed it adds up to a loss of 
$283,000 per year for the region.

For the farmers who had to stop 
irrigating some of their fields entirely, Hendricks said, it’s likely 
they also took a personal financial hit to their harvests and profits.

“If you’re backing off irrigated acres,” Hendricks said, “it’s hard to imagine there’s not a loss.”

Other research from part of northwest Kansas has shown that some farmers who cut irrigation end up seeing their <a href="https://www.hppr.org/hppr-news/2021-05-05/farmers-trying-to-save-the-ogallala-aquifer-face-tension-from-peers-but-their-profits-are-improving" target="_blank">profits go up</a>
 as they spend less money pumping water from underground and buying seed
 and fertilizer. But the conditions farmers face — the local climate, 
the depth and quality of their section of aquifer — can vary greatly 
from one part of the state to another.

And with the ongoing 
extreme drought, there’s only so much farmers can do to make up for a 
lack of rain even if they have irrigation.

Parts of Ness County near the western edge of the Walnut Creek IGUCA experienced their <a href="https://www.hppr.org/hppr-news/2023-01-23/how-bad-was-the-2022-drought-for-these-seven-kansas-communities-it-was-the-driest-on-record" target="_blank">driest year on record</a> in 2022. And many farmers in west-central Kansas already saw drought <a href="https://www.hppr.org/hppr-news/2022-06-08/western-kansas-wheat-crops-are-failing-just-when-the-world-needs-them-most" target="_blank">burn up their wheat</a> and <a href="https://www.hppr.org/hppr-news/2022-09-20/how-the-drought-killing-kansas-corn-crops-could-make-you-pay-more-for-gas-and-beef" target="_blank">corn crops</a> last year, drastically reducing harvests.

Without
 some precipitation in the next 60 days, Mohr said, farmers in his area 
will have to start making tough choices about the coming season.

“Mother Nature’s water,” Mohr said, “is much better than irrigating water.”

David Condos covers western Kansas for High Plains Public Radio and the Kansas News Service. You can follow him on Twitter <a href="http://twitter.com/davidcondos" target="_blank">@davidcondos</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675279076013.png" alt="Irrigation restrictions pushed farmers in the Walnut Creek basin to switch from flood irrigation to center pivot sprayers, like the one seen here, in order to use their water more efficiently. David Condos / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>Irrigation restrictions pushed farmers in the Walnut Creek basin to switch from flood irrigation to center pivot sprayers, like the one seen here, in order to use their water more efficiently. David Condos / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>By DAVID CONDOS <a href="https://www.hppr.org/hppr-news/2023-02-01/30-years-ago-these-kansas-farmers-were-told-to-use-less-water-heres-how-they-did-it">Kansas News Service</a>Trying to cut back on irrigation in western Kansas isn’t a new idea.More
 than three decades ago, the state came to farmers in the Walnut Creek 
basin south of Hays with a mandate. Farmers had to drastically change 
how much water they used on their crops. Some had to cut irrigation by 
nearly half.Roger Mohr, who has grown grain in that area since 
1970, remembers the irrigation limits didn’t go over well — at least at 
first.“None of us liked that when it happened,” Mohr said. “But we all realized that we had to make changes.”A <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/366988632_Adapting_to_water_restrictinons_Intensive_versus_extensive_adaptation_over_time_differentiated_by_water_right_seniority" target="_blank">new study</a>
 from Kansas State University shows how farmers in this part of 
west-central Kansas have made those changes to meet the state’s strict 
irrigation restrictions since they began in 1992.The research focuses on the Walnut Creek Intensive Groundwater Use 
Control Area, or IGUCA, which spans part of the creek’s basin in Ness, 
Rush and Barton counties.Prior to the IGUCA’s restrictions, Mohr 
said, nearly all of the irrigation in his area came from inundating 
fields with long trenches of water that ran between the crop rows — a 
method that’s notorious for losing water to <a href="https://www.e-education.psu.edu/geog3/node/1096" target="_blank">evaporation and runoff</a>. Now, pretty much every piece of land that can field a more-efficient center pivot irrigation system has one.The
 water limits spurred farmers to make other changes, too. They’ve 
switched up what they grow, Mohr said, from mostly irrigated corn — 
which requires a lot of water — to a rotation that includes other crops,
 such as soybeans and sorghum. Some of his neighbors have gone beyond 
center pivots and installed subsurface drip irrigation systems that 
conserve even more water.Those changes have meant some big upfront expenses for farmers. But in Mohr’s view, it’s been worth it.“We have to be very careful,” Mohr said, “because without water, none of us are going to be here.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1667578335644.png" alt="A basin at Cheyenne Bottoms wetlands in central Kansas that's normally filled with water sits empty during the extreme drought of 2022.&nbsp;Catherine Evans / Colby Moorberg / Kansas Geological Survey / Kansas State University" />
 <figcaption>A basin at Cheyenne Bottoms wetlands in central Kansas that's normally filled with water sits empty during the extreme drought of 2022.&nbsp;Catherine Evans / Colby Moorberg / Kansas Geological Survey / Kansas State University</figcaption>
 </figure>The state established the Walnut Creek IGUCA to leave more water for 
nearby streams that flow into Cheyenne Bottoms, a critical wetland bird 
habitat that the recent drought temporarily <a href="https://www.hppr.org/hppr-news/2022-11-04/up-to-1-million-birds-count-on-kansas-wetlands-during-migration-drought-has-left-them-high-and-dry" target="_blank">dried up</a>. If aquifer levels decline enough, the water that historically flowed in a stream above it can get <a href="https://www.kgs.ku.edu/Publications/pic9/pic9_2.html" target="_blank">sucked underground</a> and leave a <a href="https://www.kgs.ku.edu/Publications/pic9/pic9_2.html" target="_blank">dry bed on the surface</a>.As opposed to local enhanced management areas, or LEMAs, that allow local landowners to <a href="https://www.hppr.org/hppr-news/2023-01-10/this-is-do-or-die-western-kansas-farmers-push-to-save-the-ogallala-aquifer-before-its-too-late" target="_blank">come up with their own plan</a> for cutting irrigation, <a href="https://agriculture.ks.gov/divisions-programs/dwr/managing-kansas-water-resources/intensive-groundwater-use-control-areas" target="_blank">IGUCAs</a>
 are initiated by the state. And farmers don’t have a say about how big 
the cuts are or whether they have to abide by the rules the state sets.Here’s
 what that meant for farmers in the Walnut Creek area. Those who got 
their water rights after October of 1965 had to cut their irrigation the
 most — roughly twice as much as those with older water rights that were
 established between 1945 and 1965. Some farmers, like Mohr, had land 
that fell into both categories.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675279221952.png" alt="This map shows the boundaries of the Walnut Creek IGUCA (the section shaded black) within the Walnut Creek watershed (the section shaded blue) in west-central Kansas south of Hays. Kansas Department of Agriculture" />
 <figcaption>This map shows the boundaries of the Walnut Creek IGUCA (the section shaded black) within the Walnut Creek watershed (the section shaded blue) in west-central Kansas south of Hays. Kansas Department of Agriculture</figcaption>
 </figure>The junior water rights holders, which make up roughly half of the 
total allocations in the area, had to reduce their water use by 42%. 
Those with more senior rights only had to cut irrigation by around 20%.Nathan
 Hendricks, a Kansas State University agricultural economics professor 
who worked on the study, said that 20% cut purposefully left senior 
rights farmers with as much water as the state determined was the bare 
minimum for growing irrigated corn in that area.“The juniors just got whatever was left after that amount,” Hendricks said. “So it became much more restrictive.”The
 remaining one-fifth of farmers had water rights that were established 
prior to the Kansas Water Appropriation Act of 1945 and didn’t have to 
reduce their irrigation at all — basically serving as a control group 
for the study.And it turns out that if the farmers weren’t forced
 to cut their water use, they didn’t choose to do it on their own. The 
farmers whose irrigation got grandfathered in, Hendricks said, have 
hardly changed how much they water their crops over the past few 
decades.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675279264020.png" alt="This photo from 2021 shows a field of nonirrigated grain sorghum, or milo, in part of the Walnut Creek basin in Rush County. Some farmers in this area have switched from growing corn to growing milo, which requires less water, since the IGUCA's irrigation restrictions went into effect. David Condos / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>This photo from 2021 shows a field of nonirrigated grain sorghum, or milo, in part of the Walnut Creek basin in Rush County. Some farmers in this area have switched from growing corn to growing milo, which requires less water, since the IGUCA's irrigation restrictions went into effect. David Condos / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>Up to a certain point — around a 25% reduction in irrigation, 
Hendricks said — farmers can shrink their water use by just sprinkling 
fewer inches on a field. But once irrigation cuts exceed 25%, they 
pretty much have to stop watering some fields altogether, leaving the 
crops planted there to rely on the weather or choosing to not plant 
crops on those fields at all.The K-State study reports that the 
reduction in irrigated acres around Walnut Creek significantly reduced 
the area's land values. That’s because there’s a big difference between 
rental rates for irrigated and nonirrigated farmland. In Barton County, for instance, an <a href="https://www.agmanager.info/farm-management/land-rental-rates/2023-kansas-county-level-cash-rental-rates-irrigated-cropland" target="_blank">irrigated acre of land</a> is worth more than twice as much as <a href="https://www.agmanager.info/farm-management/land-rental-rates/2023-kansas-county-level-cash-rental-rates-non-irrigated-cropland" target="_blank">one without irrigation</a>.The
 study calculated all of the potential money forfeited due to those 
cheaper rents within this IGUCA and showed it adds up to a loss of 
$283,000 per year for the region.For the farmers who had to stop 
irrigating some of their fields entirely, Hendricks said, it’s likely 
they also took a personal financial hit to their harvests and profits.“If you’re backing off irrigated acres,” Hendricks said, “it’s hard to imagine there’s not a loss.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675279312650.png" alt="A combination of drought on the surface and depleted aquifer levels underground can leave river beds dry. Here, the Smoky Hill River south of Hays sits parched in the fall of 2022. David Condos / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>A combination of drought on the surface and depleted aquifer levels underground can leave river beds dry. Here, the Smoky Hill River south of Hays sits parched in the fall of 2022. David Condos / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>Other research from part of northwest Kansas has shown that some farmers who cut irrigation end up seeing their <a href="https://www.hppr.org/hppr-news/2021-05-05/farmers-trying-to-save-the-ogallala-aquifer-face-tension-from-peers-but-their-profits-are-improving" target="_blank">profits go up</a>
 as they spend less money pumping water from underground and buying seed
 and fertilizer. But the conditions farmers face — the local climate, 
the depth and quality of their section of aquifer — can vary greatly 
from one part of the state to another.And with the ongoing 
extreme drought, there’s only so much farmers can do to make up for a 
lack of rain even if they have irrigation.Parts of Ness County near the western edge of the Walnut Creek IGUCA experienced their <a href="https://www.hppr.org/hppr-news/2023-01-23/how-bad-was-the-2022-drought-for-these-seven-kansas-communities-it-was-the-driest-on-record" target="_blank">driest year on record</a> in 2022. And many farmers in west-central Kansas already saw drought <a href="https://www.hppr.org/hppr-news/2022-06-08/western-kansas-wheat-crops-are-failing-just-when-the-world-needs-them-most" target="_blank">burn up their wheat</a> and <a href="https://www.hppr.org/hppr-news/2022-09-20/how-the-drought-killing-kansas-corn-crops-could-make-you-pay-more-for-gas-and-beef" target="_blank">corn crops</a> last year, drastically reducing harvests.Without
 some precipitation in the next 60 days, Mohr said, farmers in his area 
will have to start making tough choices about the coming season.“Mother Nature’s water,” Mohr said, “is much better than irrigating water.”David Condos covers western Kansas for High Plains Public Radio and the Kansas News Service. You can follow him on Twitter <a href="http://twitter.com/davidcondos" target="_blank">@davidcondos</a>.

30 years ago, these Kansas farmers were told to use less water. Here's how they did it

Jerry Dean McGuire, 53, Hill City, Kansas, was born September 12, 1969,&nbsp; at the Norton County Hospital and died January 26, 2023, at Hays Medical
 Center, Hays. Jerry was adopted by Doyle and Shirley McGuire when he 
was three days old. Jerry attended school in Hill City from 5th through 
the 9th grade. He then obtained his GED from Colby Community College 
October 26, 1986.

Jerry was preceded in death by his 
father Doyle McGuire, grandparents: Raymond and Evelyn Yowell, and 
Clifford and Edith McGuire. 

Jerry is survived by his mother Shirley 
Smith, a stepfather Huck Smith and a son Nathan Biddy, all of the home. 
He is also survived by his sister Sandy (Jeff) Morris, a nephew Patrick,
 all of Arvada, Colorado, a daughter Elizabeth McGuire of Des Moines, 
Iowa; Aunt Virginia Weis of Colby, Aunt Pattie and Uncle Chuck Post of 
Concordia, and Aunt LaVern Gilliland of Haltorn City, Texas. Jerry also 
leaves behind many other family members and friends.

Click <a href="https://www.stinemetzfh.com/obituaries/Jerry-Dean-McGuire?obId=27160466#/obituaryInfo">HERE</a> for service details.

Jerry Dean McGuire, 53, Hill City, Kansas, was born September 12, 1969,&nbsp; at the Norton County Hospital and died January 26, 2023, at Hays Medical
 Center, Hays. Jerry was adopted by Doyle and Shirley McGuire when he 
was three days old. Jerry attended school in Hill City from 5th through 
the 9th grade. He then obtained his GED from Colby Community College 
October 26, 1986.Jerry was preceded in death by his 
father Doyle McGuire, grandparents: Raymond and Evelyn Yowell, and 
Clifford and Edith McGuire. Jerry is survived by his mother Shirley 
Smith, a stepfather Huck Smith and a son Nathan Biddy, all of the home. 
He is also survived by his sister Sandy (Jeff) Morris, a nephew Patrick,
 all of Arvada, Colorado, a daughter Elizabeth McGuire of Des Moines, 
Iowa; Aunt Virginia Weis of Colby, Aunt Pattie and Uncle Chuck Post of 
Concordia, and Aunt LaVern Gilliland of Haltorn City, Texas. Jerry also 
leaves behind many other family members and friends.Click <a href="https://www.stinemetzfh.com/obituaries/Jerry-Dean-McGuire?obId=27160466#/obituaryInfo">HERE</a> for service details.

Jerry Dean McGuire

Lezetta Marie (Hackerott) Hlad, Salina, passed away surrounded by family on Tuesday, January 31, 2023.

She was born October 17, 1936, in Alton, Kansas, to Everest and Gladys (Gregory) Hackerott.

Lezetta worked as a surgery scrub tech for St. Johns and Asbury 
Hospitals, and for Doctors Sloo, Kruckmeier and Peterson at the 
Orthopedic Clinic.

The greatest joy of her life was her grandchildren and great 
grandchildren. She spent many hours sitting at ball games, track and 
cross country meets, wrestling matches, and twirling contests. Many 
miles were walked up “the hill” to “hunt” with the boys and sled down 
them in the winter. She enjoyed camping and the boys have fond memories 
of smelling bacon cooking in the camper and helping bait her hooks for 
fishing. Lezetta enjoyed crocheting and made numerous towels for gifts. 
Lezetta was a great baker and a special day every year was the day 
before Thanksgiving baking pies with her granddaughter, Haley.

Lezetta was preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, Rober; her 
parents; brother, Gilbert Hackerott, sisters, Betty Howell and Arlene 
Bloome; and, grandson, Brian Hlad.

Lezetta is survived by sons, Jerold (Bernetta) Hlad and Larry (Cathy)
 Hlad, 4 grandchildren, Jeffrey (Sara) Hlad, Jeremy (Ashley) Hlad, Adam 
(Rachael) Hlad, Haley (Randal)Torres, and 14 great grandchildren. She is
 also survived by 3 sisters; Erma Westfall, Thelma Anderson, and Doris 
Lewis.

Memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday February 11, 
2023, at Trinity Lutheran Church, 702 S. 9th St. Salina, Kansas, with 
inurnment to follow in Osborne City Cemetery at 2:00 p.m. that day. 

In 
lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to Trinity Lutheran
 Church, Holiday Resort Nursing home, or Interim Hospice.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675793791149.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Lezetta Marie (Hackerott) Hlad, Salina, passed away surrounded by family on Tuesday, January 31, 2023.She was born October 17, 1936, in Alton, Kansas, to Everest and Gladys (Gregory) Hackerott.Lezetta worked as a surgery scrub tech for St. Johns and Asbury 
Hospitals, and for Doctors Sloo, Kruckmeier and Peterson at the 
Orthopedic Clinic.The greatest joy of her life was her grandchildren and great 
grandchildren. She spent many hours sitting at ball games, track and 
cross country meets, wrestling matches, and twirling contests. Many 
miles were walked up “the hill” to “hunt” with the boys and sled down 
them in the winter. She enjoyed camping and the boys have fond memories 
of smelling bacon cooking in the camper and helping bait her hooks for 
fishing. Lezetta enjoyed crocheting and made numerous towels for gifts. 
Lezetta was a great baker and a special day every year was the day 
before Thanksgiving baking pies with her granddaughter, Haley.Lezetta was preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, Rober; her 
parents; brother, Gilbert Hackerott, sisters, Betty Howell and Arlene 
Bloome; and, grandson, Brian Hlad.Lezetta is survived by sons, Jerold (Bernetta) Hlad and Larry (Cathy)
 Hlad, 4 grandchildren, Jeffrey (Sara) Hlad, Jeremy (Ashley) Hlad, Adam 
(Rachael) Hlad, Haley (Randal)Torres, and 14 great grandchildren. She is
 also survived by 3 sisters; Erma Westfall, Thelma Anderson, and Doris 
Lewis.Memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday February 11, 
2023, at Trinity Lutheran Church, 702 S. 9th St. Salina, Kansas, with 
inurnment to follow in Osborne City Cemetery at 2:00 p.m. that day. In 
lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to Trinity Lutheran
 Church, Holiday Resort Nursing home, or Interim Hospice.

Lezetta Marie (Hackerott) Hlad

Crude prices have dropped nearly $9 in nine trading days. The near-month Nymex contract for light sweet crude settled Friday at $73.39 per barrel, down from nearly $82 on January 24th.&nbsp; Kansas prices have dropped nearly $6 in the last week. Kansas Common crude at CHS in McPherson starts the week at $63.75 per barrel after dropping $2.50 on Friday. The average price in January was $68.72 per barrel. That's up nearly $2 from the month before, but down more than $4 from the January average last year.&nbsp; Gasoline and diesel prices continued to drift lower last week, alongside gradual increases in US stockpiles. The national average pump price for a gallon of regular dropped to a fraction below $3.50 per gallon on Thursday. That's 28 cents more than a month ago, but about a dime cheaper than last year at this time. National diesel prices were also slightly lower at $4.67 per gallon, but remain nearly a dollar higher than a year ago. Across Kansas, the average price for regular was $3.20 per gallon Thursday; diesel was about $4.15 per gallon. The government reported a slight uptick in weekly US crude production. The Energy Information Administration said operators pumped 12.151 million barrels per day in the week through January 27, up 1,000 barrels a day from the week before, and more than a half-million barrels per day higher than a year ago. EIA said imports increased by 1.4 million barrels per day. The four week average is one percent higher than imports during the same four weeks a year ago. Crude inventories were up 4.1 million barrels from the week before, and about four percent above the five-year average for this time of year. New monthly numbers from the government show crude production inching upward in Kansas and a slight dip nationally. The November tally from the Energy Information Administration shows US operators pumped over 371 million barrels, or about 12.37 million barrels per day. Output the month before was about 3,000 d barrels per day higher. In Kansas, November output averaged 77,300 barrels per day, up about 100 barrels per day from October. State regulators report 129 intent-to-drill notices filed across Kansas last month, up from 70 in December, and 97 in January of last year. There are three new intents in Barton County, six in Ellis County, two in Russell County and six in Stafford County. The Kansas Rig Count was down seven rigs east of Wichita and down three rigs in Western Kansas, a 21% drop. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service reports a number of rigs in eastern Kansas have been cold stacked and taken out of service. The count is down nearly 25% from a month ago and is nearly 12% lower than a year ago. Drilling was underway Friday on three leases in Barton County, one in Ellis County and two in Stafford County. Operators completed 41 wells last week, 29 in Western Kansas, including one each in Barton and Ellis counties. Kansas regulators last week okayed 13 new drilling permits, eight of them west of Wichita, including two in Stafford County. The Rotary Rig Count from Baker Hughes drops to 759, down ten oil rigs and two gas rigs. The counts in Texas and Wyoming were each down three rigs. US rail shippers moved more crushed stone and sand last month than they ever have, thanks largely to the growth in demand for fracking sand. But the Association of American Railroads says total rail traffic in January was down more than three percent compared to a year ago. Oil-by-rail traffic during the week through January 28th was up more than 13% over the same week last year. AAR reports 10,952 tanker carloads hauling petroleum, up 366 carloads from the week before. Canadian traffic was down 138 carloads for the week, or about three percent below the tally a year ago. An appeals court is forcing the government to consider a much broader class of pollutants before approving oil-and-gas drilling in northwestern New Mexico. The US 10th Circuit Court of Appeals invalidated the government's analysis of the impact of drilling, in what environmental groups say is a "new precedent" that will help protect community health. The court rejected nearly 200 drilling applications in the greater Chaco region, which is an area viewed as sacred to indigenous people and is the home of the Chaco Culture National Historical Park. The case has now been sent back to the district court for further action.

By JOHN P. TRETBARCrude prices have dropped nearly $9 in nine trading days. The near-month Nymex contract for light sweet crude settled Friday at $73.39 per barrel, down from nearly $82 on January 24th.&nbsp; Kansas prices have dropped nearly $6 in the last week. Kansas Common crude at CHS in McPherson starts the week at $63.75 per barrel after dropping $2.50 on Friday. The average price in January was $68.72 per barrel. That's up nearly $2 from the month before, but down more than $4 from the January average last year.&nbsp; Gasoline and diesel prices continued to drift lower last week, alongside gradual increases in US stockpiles. The national average pump price for a gallon of regular dropped to a fraction below $3.50 per gallon on Thursday. That's 28 cents more than a month ago, but about a dime cheaper than last year at this time. National diesel prices were also slightly lower at $4.67 per gallon, but remain nearly a dollar higher than a year ago. Across Kansas, the average price for regular was $3.20 per gallon Thursday; diesel was about $4.15 per gallon. The government reported a slight uptick in weekly US crude production. The Energy Information Administration said operators pumped 12.151 million barrels per day in the week through January 27, up 1,000 barrels a day from the week before, and more than a half-million barrels per day higher than a year ago. EIA said imports increased by 1.4 million barrels per day. The four week average is one percent higher than imports during the same four weeks a year ago. Crude inventories were up 4.1 million barrels from the week before, and about four percent above the five-year average for this time of year. New monthly numbers from the government show crude production inching upward in Kansas and a slight dip nationally. The November tally from the Energy Information Administration shows US operators pumped over 371 million barrels, or about 12.37 million barrels per day. Output the month before was about 3,000 d barrels per day higher. In Kansas, November output averaged 77,300 barrels per day, up about 100 barrels per day from October. State regulators report 129 intent-to-drill notices filed across Kansas last month, up from 70 in December, and 97 in January of last year. There are three new intents in Barton County, six in Ellis County, two in Russell County and six in Stafford County. The Kansas Rig Count was down seven rigs east of Wichita and down three rigs in Western Kansas, a 21% drop. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service reports a number of rigs in eastern Kansas have been cold stacked and taken out of service. The count is down nearly 25% from a month ago and is nearly 12% lower than a year ago. Drilling was underway Friday on three leases in Barton County, one in Ellis County and two in Stafford County. Operators completed 41 wells last week, 29 in Western Kansas, including one each in Barton and Ellis counties. Kansas regulators last week okayed 13 new drilling permits, eight of them west of Wichita, including two in Stafford County. The Rotary Rig Count from Baker Hughes drops to 759, down ten oil rigs and two gas rigs. The counts in Texas and Wyoming were each down three rigs. US rail shippers moved more crushed stone and sand last month than they ever have, thanks largely to the growth in demand for fracking sand. But the Association of American Railroads says total rail traffic in January was down more than three percent compared to a year ago. Oil-by-rail traffic during the week through January 28th was up more than 13% over the same week last year. AAR reports 10,952 tanker carloads hauling petroleum, up 366 carloads from the week before. Canadian traffic was down 138 carloads for the week, or about three percent below the tally a year ago. An appeals court is forcing the government to consider a much broader class of pollutants before approving oil-and-gas drilling in northwestern New Mexico. The US 10th Circuit Court of Appeals invalidated the government's analysis of the impact of drilling, in what environmental groups say is a "new precedent" that will help protect community health. The court rejected nearly 200 drilling applications in the greater Chaco region, which is an area viewed as sacred to indigenous people and is the home of the Chaco Culture National Historical Park. The case has now been sent back to the district court for further action.

News From the Oil Patch: Crude prices nosedive

William “Bill” Dennis Walker was born on October 
9, 1943, in Carneiro, Kansas, to Ray C. Walker Sr. and Evelyn M. (Sheridan)
 Walker. He was blessed with thirteen siblings. He died on February 3, 
2023, in Lindsborg, Kansas, with his family at his side.&nbsp; Bill was a 
graduate of Brookville High School and Kansas Wesleyan University. He 
was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Russell, Kansas.

In his early years, Bill worked for Northern Natural Gas Company, 
Walker Hardware, and the Civil Corps of Engineers. Bill was an avid 
fisherman and enjoyed camping, hunting, and fishing with his friends and
 family. He enjoyed restoring antique furniture and spent many years 
raising hogs. He could fix anything as long as someone could hold the 
flashlight still. He often had a good “dad” joke to tell. He enjoyed 
watching the Kansas City Chiefs and will have the best seat to watch the
 Super Bowl this year. Friends and family are welcome to wear their 
Chiefs gear to the service in honor of Bill.

Bill married Carol (Rathbun) Walker on February 2, 1962. She survives
 in the home with their faithful dog, Daisy.&nbsp; Bill is survived by his 
children Daymon (Lisa) Walker of Salina, Cassie (Rob) Gorman of 
Lindsborg, Carla (Mark) Kerns of Lindsborg, and Wade (Michelle) Walker 
of Solomon. He loved and adored his seven grandchildren, Megan Croomes 
(Cutler), Kristopher Gorman (Haley), Taylor Walker (Jaycelyn), Bayleigh 
Walker (Marissa), Tate Walker (Lexi), Mason Kerns (Daisy), and Mickalee 
Kerns; and 9 great-grandchildren Kylar, Ben, Paisley, Mary Alice, 
Addison, Wyatt, Isla, Maggie, and Ridley.&nbsp;&nbsp; Other survivors include a 
brother, Duane (Jo) Walker of Canton, sisters Helen Pflughoeft, Dixie 
Walker, Ernestine (Bob) Allen, and Geri (Monte) Elam, all of Salina, and
 many nieces and nephews.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents; siblings Ray (Joyce), 
Frank, Bob (Marty), Don (Rachel), Sherry Walker, Virginia Vanek (Cirel),
 Ramona Wagner, Berniece Zimmerman (Claude); and great grandson Corbin 
Walker.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675720104511.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>William “Bill” Dennis Walker was born on October 
9, 1943, in Carneiro, Kansas, to Ray C. Walker Sr. and Evelyn M. (Sheridan)
 Walker. He was blessed with thirteen siblings. He died on February 3, 
2023, in Lindsborg, Kansas, with his family at his side.&nbsp; Bill was a 
graduate of Brookville High School and Kansas Wesleyan University. He 
was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Russell, Kansas.In his early years, Bill worked for Northern Natural Gas Company, 
Walker Hardware, and the Civil Corps of Engineers. Bill was an avid 
fisherman and enjoyed camping, hunting, and fishing with his friends and
 family. He enjoyed restoring antique furniture and spent many years 
raising hogs. He could fix anything as long as someone could hold the 
flashlight still. He often had a good “dad” joke to tell. He enjoyed 
watching the Kansas City Chiefs and will have the best seat to watch the
 Super Bowl this year. Friends and family are welcome to wear their 
Chiefs gear to the service in honor of Bill.Bill married Carol (Rathbun) Walker on February 2, 1962. She survives
 in the home with their faithful dog, Daisy.&nbsp; Bill is survived by his 
children Daymon (Lisa) Walker of Salina, Cassie (Rob) Gorman of 
Lindsborg, Carla (Mark) Kerns of Lindsborg, and Wade (Michelle) Walker 
of Solomon. He loved and adored his seven grandchildren, Megan Croomes 
(Cutler), Kristopher Gorman (Haley), Taylor Walker (Jaycelyn), Bayleigh 
Walker (Marissa), Tate Walker (Lexi), Mason Kerns (Daisy), and Mickalee 
Kerns; and 9 great-grandchildren Kylar, Ben, Paisley, Mary Alice, 
Addison, Wyatt, Isla, Maggie, and Ridley.&nbsp;&nbsp; Other survivors include a 
brother, Duane (Jo) Walker of Canton, sisters Helen Pflughoeft, Dixie 
Walker, Ernestine (Bob) Allen, and Geri (Monte) Elam, all of Salina, and
 many nieces and nephews.Bill was preceded in death by his parents; siblings Ray (Joyce), 
Frank, Bob (Marty), Don (Rachel), Sherry Walker, Virginia Vanek (Cirel),
 Ramona Wagner, Berniece Zimmerman (Claude); and great grandson Corbin 
Walker.Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. Friday, February 10, at Ryan Mortuary, 
Salina. Funeral services are scheduled for 10:00 a.m. at Brookville 
United Methodist Church in Brookville, with burial in Carneiro Cemetery.In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.