WASHINGTON&nbsp;— Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland joined President Biden as he signed the Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park Expansion and Redesignation Act into law today, providing for inclusion of additional related sites in the National Park System to reflect a more complete story of the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision outlawing segregation in public schools in 1954, according to a statement from the U.S. Department of Interior.

This law, championed by a bipartisan coalition in Congress, redesignates the existing historic site in Topeka, Kansas to Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park. 

The law also adds two school sites in South Carolina to the historical park upon acquisition by the National Park Service (NPS), and designates schools in Delaware, Virginia and the District of Columbia as affiliated areas of the NPS. Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site in Topeka, Kansas, was originally established as part of the National Park System on October 26, 1992.

“The expansion of Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park to recognize sites in South Carolina, Delaware, Virginia and Washington, D.C. helps us to more fully tell the story of the struggle to end school segregation,” said&nbsp;Secretary Deb Haaland. “The Supreme Court’s finding that racially segregated schools were unconstitutional was unquestionably a pivotal event in our nation’s civil rights struggle and we are honored to serve as stewards to part of that history.” 

“It is our solemn responsibility as caretakers of America’s national treasures to tell the whole, and sometimes difficult, story of our nation’s heritage for the benefit of present and future generations,” said&nbsp;National Park Service Director Chuck Sams. “Including these important sites will broaden public understanding of the events that led to the 1954 landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision in Brown et. al v. Board of Education.”

From single-room shacks labeled “schools,” to student-led strikes with more than 400 participants, the Brown v. Board decision didn't stem from a single case; rather it was a ruling for a bundling of cases that all challenged racial segregation in public schools. With more than 200 total plaintiffs, the cases were filed in Delaware, the District of Columbia, Virginia, South Carolina, and Kansas.&nbsp;

The authorized additions to the park are: 

The newly authorized affiliated areas are:

The NPS will begin efforts to acquire the sites from willing sellers in South Carolina—Summerton High School and Scott’s Branch High School in Clarendon County. While the three affiliated areas will not be managed by the NPS, they will be eligible for NPS technical and financial assistance and be required to be managed in accordance with laws generally applicable to sites in the National Park System. The three new Brown v. Board affiliated areas bring the total number of areas affiliated with the NPS to 30.

To learn more about Brown v. Board National Historical Park, visit the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nps.gov/brvb/index.htm" target="_blank">Park Service's website</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1652448051068.png" alt="This law, championed by a bipartisan coalition in Congress, redesignates the existing historic site in Topeka, Kansas to Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park-White House photo" />
 <figcaption>This law, championed by a bipartisan coalition in Congress, redesignates the existing historic site in Topeka, Kansas to Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park-White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON&nbsp;— Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland joined President Biden as he signed the Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park Expansion and Redesignation Act into law today, providing for inclusion of additional related sites in the National Park System to reflect a more complete story of the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision outlawing segregation in public schools in 1954, according to a statement from the U.S. Department of Interior.This law, championed by a bipartisan coalition in Congress, redesignates the existing historic site in Topeka, Kansas to Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park. The law also adds two school sites in South Carolina to the historical park upon acquisition by the National Park Service (NPS), and designates schools in Delaware, Virginia and the District of Columbia as affiliated areas of the NPS. Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site in Topeka, Kansas, was originally established as part of the National Park System on October 26, 1992.“The expansion of Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park to recognize sites in South Carolina, Delaware, Virginia and Washington, D.C. helps us to more fully tell the story of the struggle to end school segregation,” said&nbsp;Secretary Deb Haaland. “The Supreme Court’s finding that racially segregated schools were unconstitutional was unquestionably a pivotal event in our nation’s civil rights struggle and we are honored to serve as stewards to part of that history.” “It is our solemn responsibility as caretakers of America’s national treasures to tell the whole, and sometimes difficult, story of our nation’s heritage for the benefit of present and future generations,” said&nbsp;National Park Service Director Chuck Sams. “Including these important sites will broaden public understanding of the events that led to the 1954 landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision in Brown et. al v. Board of Education.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1652448082184.png" alt="President Biden, Vice President Harris celebrate with members after he signed the Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park Expansion and Redesignation Act into law." />
 <figcaption>President Biden, Vice President Harris celebrate with members after he signed the Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park Expansion and Redesignation Act into law.</figcaption>
 </figure>From single-room shacks labeled “schools,” to student-led strikes with more than 400 participants, the Brown v. Board decision didn't stem from a single case; rather it was a ruling for a bundling of cases that all challenged racial segregation in public schools. With more than 200 total plaintiffs, the cases were filed in Delaware, the District of Columbia, Virginia, South Carolina, and Kansas.&nbsp;The authorized additions to the park are: <ul>
 <li>Summerton High School (Summerton, SC). Built in 1936 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Summerton High School was an all-white school that refused to admit black students prompting the&nbsp;Briggs v. Elliott&nbsp;case. </li><li>Scott’s Branch High School (Summerton, SC). The former “equalization school" was constructed for African American students in 1951 under the guise of providing facilities comparable to those for white students. Today, the former school is now the Community Resource Center owned by Clarendon School District 1.</li>
 </ul>The newly authorized affiliated areas are:<ul>
 <li>Robert Russa Moton School (Farmville, VA). The all-black school was the location of a student-led strike in 1951 that lead to Davis v. County School Board of Prince Edward County. The former school is a National Historic Landmark, and today serves as the Robert Russa Moton Museum, which is administered by the Moton Museum, Inc., and affiliated with Longwood University.</li><li>Howard High School (Wilmington, DE), Claymont High School (Claymont, DE), and Hockessin Colored School #107 (Hockessin, DE)Howard High School, already a National Historic Landmark, was the first high school for African Americans in the state of Delaware and the school to which the plaintiffs in&nbsp;Belton v. Gebhart&nbsp;were forced to travel. Today, the school is known as Howard High School of Technology and is administered by the New Castle County Vocational-Technical School District.Claymont High School denied admission to the plaintiffs in the&nbsp;Belton v. Gebhart&nbsp;case. Today, the former school is a community center.Hockessin Colored School #107 was an all-Black school one of the plaintiffs in&nbsp;Belton v. Gebhart&nbsp;was required to attend without public transportation. It is now used as a community facility.</li><li>Howard High School, already a National Historic Landmark, was the first high school for African Americans in the state of Delaware and the school to which the plaintiffs in&nbsp;Belton v. Gebhart&nbsp;were forced to travel. Today, the school is known as Howard High School of Technology and is administered by the New Castle County Vocational-Technical School District.</li><li>Claymont High School denied admission to the plaintiffs in the&nbsp;Belton v. Gebhart&nbsp;case. Today, the former school is a community center.</li><li>Hockessin Colored School #107 was an all-Black school one of the plaintiffs in&nbsp;Belton v. Gebhart&nbsp;was required to attend without public transportation. It is now used as a community facility.</li><li>John Philip Sousa Junior High School (Washington, D.C.). Built in 1950 in the Fort Dupont neighborhood, this was an all-white school where 12 African American students were denied admission, spurring the&nbsp;Bolling v. Sharpe&nbsp;case. Today, the school serves as a DC public middle school and was previously designated as a National Historic Landmark.</li>
 </ul>The NPS will begin efforts to acquire the sites from willing sellers in South Carolina—Summerton High School and Scott’s Branch High School in Clarendon County. While the three affiliated areas will not be managed by the NPS, they will be eligible for NPS technical and financial assistance and be required to be managed in accordance with laws generally applicable to sites in the National Park System. The three new Brown v. Board affiliated areas bring the total number of areas affiliated with the NPS to 30.To learn more about Brown v. Board National Historical Park, visit the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nps.gov/brvb/index.htm" target="_blank">Park Service's website</a>.

Biden signs bill to expand Topeka’s Brown vs Board historic site

TOPEKA – Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt asked the U.S. Supreme Court to once again review the legality of the Biden administration’s vaccine mandate for healthcare workers, which is causing disruption in the healthcare workforce, particularly in small, rural communities, according to a statement from Schmidt's office.

<a href="https://ag.ks.gov/docs/default-source/documents/cmsmandatewritofcertiorari.pdf?sfvrsn=bff7a01a_2">Click here to read a copy</a> of the petition for writ of certiorari in the CMS challenge&nbsp;

Schmidt, together with officials from nine other states, filed a request for the U.S. Supreme Court to review the constitutionality of the federal vaccine mandate for healthcare workers, as well as questions of whether the Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services (CMS) properly followed the rulemaking process in issuing the mandate.

In January, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to temporarily block the healthcare mandate from being implemented, but did not reach all of the statutory or constitutional questions presented in the states’ petition.

Earlier this year, Schmidt sent a letter to Gov. Laura Kelly urging her to seek a waiver from CMS to exempt rural healthcare workers from the federal mandate, as has been sought by governors in other states. CMS responded by reducing the state’s survey and certification funding allocation by $348,723 for Kansas’ failure to enforce the mandate and indicated it would use those funds to pay for direct enforcement by the federal government.

Schmidt has aggressively fought back against federal vaccine mandates since Sept. 9, 2021, when President Biden announced his “patience is wearing thin” and began ordering federal vaccine mandates. To date, Schmidt has brought legal challenges to four of the Biden mandates, and three of those four were blocked from implementation in Kansas by federal court orders Schmidt has obtained. The OSHA mandate for private employers was blocked by the U.S. Supreme Court, and later withdrawn by the federal government. The federal contractor mandate that affects defense contractors and research universities is blocked by a federal appeals court, and the Head Start mandate that requires all staff and contractors in Head Start facilities to be vaccinated and requires toddlers age two and older to wear masks is blocked by a federal district court.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637784447337.png" alt="In October, Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt spoke to the government overreach committee, where he outlined plans to challenge a vaccine mandate for federal contractors. image Kansas Legislature YouTube." />
 <figcaption>In October, Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt spoke to the government overreach committee, where he outlined plans to challenge a vaccine mandate for federal contractors. image Kansas Legislature YouTube.</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA – Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt asked the U.S. Supreme Court to once again review the legality of the Biden administration’s vaccine mandate for healthcare workers, which is causing disruption in the healthcare workforce, particularly in small, rural communities, according to a statement from Schmidt's office.<a href="https://ag.ks.gov/docs/default-source/documents/cmsmandatewritofcertiorari.pdf?sfvrsn=bff7a01a_2">Click here to read a copy</a> of the petition for writ of certiorari in the CMS challenge&nbsp;Schmidt, together with officials from nine other states, filed a request for the U.S. Supreme Court to review the constitutionality of the federal vaccine mandate for healthcare workers, as well as questions of whether the Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services (CMS) properly followed the rulemaking process in issuing the mandate.In January, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to temporarily block the healthcare mandate from being implemented, but did not reach all of the statutory or constitutional questions presented in the states’ petition.Earlier this year, Schmidt sent a letter to Gov. Laura Kelly urging her to seek a waiver from CMS to exempt rural healthcare workers from the federal mandate, as has been sought by governors in other states. CMS responded by reducing the state’s survey and certification funding allocation by $348,723 for Kansas’ failure to enforce the mandate and indicated it would use those funds to pay for direct enforcement by the federal government.Schmidt has aggressively fought back against federal vaccine mandates since Sept. 9, 2021, when President Biden announced his “patience is wearing thin” and began ordering federal vaccine mandates. To date, Schmidt has brought legal challenges to four of the Biden mandates, and three of those four were blocked from implementation in Kansas by federal court orders Schmidt has obtained. The OSHA mandate for private employers was blocked by the U.S. Supreme Court, and later withdrawn by the federal government. The federal contractor mandate that affects defense contractors and research universities is blocked by a federal appeals court, and the Head Start mandate that requires all staff and contractors in Head Start facilities to be vaccinated and requires toddlers age two and older to wear masks is blocked by a federal district court.

Kan. AG renews request for court to block health worker vaxx mandate

<a href="https://memorials.baalmannmortuary.com/Rietcheck-Darlene/4926952/">Darlene Rietcheck Obituary - Colby, KS | Baalmann Mortuary-Colby</a>

Long time Oakley resident Darlene A. Rietcheck, 66, died Wednesday, May 11, 2022, at Hays Medical Center, Hays, KS. At her request, no service will be held. The family will receive friends from 2-4:00 p.m. Sunday, May 15, 2022, at Gateway Fellowship, Oakley. Darlene was born on October 2, 1955, in Oakley, KS to Ambrose and Anna Selenke. Darlene was known for her competitive nature and could turn any mundane activity of daily living into a contest. Darlene worked in the medical field for nearly fifty years. She could often be seen wearing an EMT T-shirt.

Her children Rhonda and Kyle brought her much joy. Shopping for her six grandchildren was one of the joys of her life. She was happiest when they were in her home following her directions on how to decorate her house for various holidays. She had a “fairy village” for every season. Darlene loved her collections! She enjoyed being in charge, crafting, quilting, and gardening. She was preceded in death by her father Ambrose and her brother, Larry.

She is survived by her mother Anna; daughter Rhonda and spouse Jason; her son Kyle and spouse Heather’ and six grandchildren Jackson, Jaron, Josie, Jayla, Remi, and Isla. She is also survived by her brothers, David Selenke, his wife Gayle and Don Selenke, of Oakley, KS, a sister Anna Hillman, of Lincoln, NE, and a sister Diana England and her husband Bob, of Norman, OK and a host of nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers she would like donations to be made to either the Norman Yardley Cancer Foundation, c/o Farmers State Bank, 100 Center Ave., Oakley, KS or the Logan County EMS, 710 W 2nd St. Oakley, KS 67748.

For more information visit www.baalmannmortuary.com.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<h2>Darlene Ann Rietcheck , Oakley</h2><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1652447798364.png" alt="Darlene Ann Rietcheck" />
 <figcaption>Darlene Ann Rietcheck</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://memorials.baalmannmortuary.com/Rietcheck-Darlene/4926952/">Darlene Rietcheck Obituary - Colby, KS | Baalmann Mortuary-Colby</a>October 2nd, 1955 - May 11th, 2022Long time Oakley resident Darlene A. Rietcheck, 66, died Wednesday, May 11, 2022, at Hays Medical Center, Hays, KS. At her request, no service will be held. The family will receive friends from 2-4:00 p.m. Sunday, May 15, 2022, at Gateway Fellowship, Oakley. Darlene was born on October 2, 1955, in Oakley, KS to Ambrose and Anna Selenke. Darlene was known for her competitive nature and could turn any mundane activity of daily living into a contest. Darlene worked in the medical field for nearly fifty years. She could often be seen wearing an EMT T-shirt. Her children Rhonda and Kyle brought her much joy. Shopping for her six grandchildren was one of the joys of her life. She was happiest when they were in her home following her directions on how to decorate her house for various holidays. She had a “fairy village” for every season. Darlene loved her collections! She enjoyed being in charge, crafting, quilting, and gardening. She was preceded in death by her father Ambrose and her brother, Larry. She is survived by her mother Anna; daughter Rhonda and spouse Jason; her son Kyle and spouse Heather’ and six grandchildren Jackson, Jaron, Josie, Jayla, Remi, and Isla. She is also survived by her brothers, David Selenke, his wife Gayle and Don Selenke, of Oakley, KS, a sister Anna Hillman, of Lincoln, NE, and a sister Diana England and her husband Bob, of Norman, OK and a host of nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers she would like donations to be made to either the Norman Yardley Cancer Foundation, c/o Farmers State Bank, 100 Center Ave., Oakley, KS or the Logan County EMS, 710 W 2nd St. Oakley, KS 67748. For more information visit www.baalmannmortuary.com.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Darlene Ann Rietcheck 

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A film production company is contesting sanctions by New Mexico officials for alleged workplace safety violations on the set of “Rust,” where actor and producer Alec Baldwin fatally shot a cinematographer in October. 

In a filing made public Wednesday, Rust Movie Productions is challenging a $137,000 fine against the company by state occupational safety regulators who say production managers failed to follow standard industry protocols for firearms safety. 

Rust Movie Productions says misfires prior to the fatal shooting did not violate safety protocols and corrective action was taken. 

In October 2021, Baldwin was pointing a gun at cinematographer Halyna Hutchins during setup for filming when the firearm discharged.

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A film production company is contesting sanctions by New Mexico officials for alleged workplace safety violations on the set of “Rust,” where actor and producer Alec Baldwin fatally shot a cinematographer in October. In a filing made public Wednesday, Rust Movie Productions is challenging a $137,000 fine against the company by state occupational safety regulators who say production managers failed to follow standard industry protocols for firearms safety. Rust Movie Productions says misfires prior to the fatal shooting did not violate safety protocols and corrective action was taken. In October 2021, Baldwin was pointing a gun at cinematographer Halyna Hutchins during setup for filming when the firearm discharged.

Film producers defend safety in Alec Baldwin shooting

Freda Bell Sutton, age 95, of Sylvan Grove, Kansas, was born on June 21st, 1926, in Liberal, Kansas, to James M. Lewis and Jesse E. (Cone) Lewis.&nbsp; She was number 8 in line of 10 children and by the time she was born her parents were letting the older siblings name the younger ones, one of her older brothers happened to have a girlfriend named Freda. She was the first to be born in a hospital because she was born near wheat harvest and her farmer father didn’t have time to tend to her mother.

She grew up on a farm in the Oklahoma panhandle, in the Baker community on land that had been in the Lewis family.&nbsp; She lived in that home until she married then returned to it later to raise her family there for a time.&nbsp; When she was 4 years old, she wanted to go to town with her dad, but he said no.&nbsp; Determined to go anyway, she squatted on her knees on the running boards of his 1928 Nash and rode 20 miles to Liberal because she was wanting new shoes and some candy.&nbsp; She did get candy, a dad that collapsed and had to go to the hospital and a headline in the Wichita Beacon Newspaper.

On July 4, 1943, she told her parents she was going to a rodeo but instead eloped to Tucumcari, New Mexico, to marry the love of her life, Robert Lee Sutton.&nbsp; He passed away on October 1st, 2001, after 58 years of marriage. This union was blessed with 3 children: Geraldine (Delvin-deceased) Simmons; Margaret (Jerry) Barlow; Lonnie Sutton. One of her greatest joys was her family especially her 7 grandchildren: Tamie Simmons-deceased; Barry (Leslie) Barlow; Stacey (Debbie) Simmons; Jera Chovanec; Brady (Denise) Barlow; Shannon (Shawn) Henderson; Amanda (Corey) Uhl.&nbsp; Her pride and joy were her Great Grandchildren: Tyler (Caitlin) Simmons; Gabe Addington; Trever Simmons; Joey (Kaylie) Addington;&nbsp; Haupe (Derrick) Lanham; Caleb (Danica) Uhl; Ryanne Henderson; Preston (Corinne) Chovanec; Colten Uhl; Reese (Kayli) Chovanec; Bailey Barlow; Mackinzie Simmons; Cade Uhl; Bode Barlow; Elise Barlow; Rhett Barlow; Addison Barlow. She was also proud to have 11 GREAT-GREAT Grandchildren. She has one surviving sibling, Helen Parnell, her daily “words with friends” buddy on the internet.

Freda spent her life involved with her family’s activities; she had even attended ballgames of some of the great-great grandchildren.&nbsp; She was her family’s biggest supporter.&nbsp; She spent her life being a homemaker and there was never a white glove test that her house couldn’t pass.&nbsp; She was an amazing cook and is famous in the family for her hot rolls, chicken and homemade noodles, enchiladas and chocolate pies.&nbsp; Freda would be known to spend the morning cooking for the harvest hands and the afternoon hauling grain to the elevator, working just as long and as hard as the men. She was the master of crossword puzzles and could beat anyone at the Wheel of Fortune. Freda had a green thumb unlike any other.&nbsp; She could grow flowers anywhere, in fact, one year a volunteer petunia grew in the crack of her driveway to prove that fact.&nbsp; She was the Queen of cards, and she taught her grandchildren and most of her great-grandchildren to play spades. She never sat still for very long (unless she had her ipad in hand) even well into her 90s. She had a quick wit and was still cracking jokes on the day she passed.

Freda leaves behind a legacy of love.&nbsp; She was the cornerstone of her family and gave an abundance of unconditional love.&nbsp; She has shaped many lives/families by her example and will be forever missed.

Graveside services will be held in Oklahoma at a later date.&nbsp; Memorials are suggested to&nbsp;Ellsworth County Medical Center, in care of the Funeral Chapel.

Arrangements in care of Brock's-Keithley Funeral Chapel and Crematory 2509 Vine Hays, Kansas 67601.

Condolences may be left by guest book at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com/">www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com</a>&nbsp;or by email at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:keithleyfuneralhomes@gmail.com">keithleyfuneralhomes@gmail.com</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1652281788048.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Freda Bell Sutton, age 95, of Sylvan Grove, Kansas, was born on June 21st, 1926, in Liberal, Kansas, to James M. Lewis and Jesse E. (Cone) Lewis.&nbsp; She was number 8 in line of 10 children and by the time she was born her parents were letting the older siblings name the younger ones, one of her older brothers happened to have a girlfriend named Freda. She was the first to be born in a hospital because she was born near wheat harvest and her farmer father didn’t have time to tend to her mother.She grew up on a farm in the Oklahoma panhandle, in the Baker community on land that had been in the Lewis family.&nbsp; She lived in that home until she married then returned to it later to raise her family there for a time.&nbsp; When she was 4 years old, she wanted to go to town with her dad, but he said no.&nbsp; Determined to go anyway, she squatted on her knees on the running boards of his 1928 Nash and rode 20 miles to Liberal because she was wanting new shoes and some candy.&nbsp; She did get candy, a dad that collapsed and had to go to the hospital and a headline in the Wichita Beacon Newspaper.On July 4, 1943, she told her parents she was going to a rodeo but instead eloped to Tucumcari, New Mexico, to marry the love of her life, Robert Lee Sutton.&nbsp; He passed away on October 1st, 2001, after 58 years of marriage. This union was blessed with 3 children: Geraldine (Delvin-deceased) Simmons; Margaret (Jerry) Barlow; Lonnie Sutton. One of her greatest joys was her family especially her 7 grandchildren: Tamie Simmons-deceased; Barry (Leslie) Barlow; Stacey (Debbie) Simmons; Jera Chovanec; Brady (Denise) Barlow; Shannon (Shawn) Henderson; Amanda (Corey) Uhl.&nbsp; Her pride and joy were her Great Grandchildren: Tyler (Caitlin) Simmons; Gabe Addington; Trever Simmons; Joey (Kaylie) Addington;&nbsp; Haupe (Derrick) Lanham; Caleb (Danica) Uhl; Ryanne Henderson; Preston (Corinne) Chovanec; Colten Uhl; Reese (Kayli) Chovanec; Bailey Barlow; Mackinzie Simmons; Cade Uhl; Bode Barlow; Elise Barlow; Rhett Barlow; Addison Barlow. She was also proud to have 11 GREAT-GREAT Grandchildren. She has one surviving sibling, Helen Parnell, her daily “words with friends” buddy on the internet.Freda spent her life involved with her family’s activities; she had even attended ballgames of some of the great-great grandchildren.&nbsp; She was her family’s biggest supporter.&nbsp; She spent her life being a homemaker and there was never a white glove test that her house couldn’t pass.&nbsp; She was an amazing cook and is famous in the family for her hot rolls, chicken and homemade noodles, enchiladas and chocolate pies.&nbsp; Freda would be known to spend the morning cooking for the harvest hands and the afternoon hauling grain to the elevator, working just as long and as hard as the men. She was the master of crossword puzzles and could beat anyone at the Wheel of Fortune. Freda had a green thumb unlike any other.&nbsp; She could grow flowers anywhere, in fact, one year a volunteer petunia grew in the crack of her driveway to prove that fact.&nbsp; She was the Queen of cards, and she taught her grandchildren and most of her great-grandchildren to play spades. She never sat still for very long (unless she had her ipad in hand) even well into her 90s. She had a quick wit and was still cracking jokes on the day she passed.Freda leaves behind a legacy of love.&nbsp; She was the cornerstone of her family and gave an abundance of unconditional love.&nbsp; She has shaped many lives/families by her example and will be forever missed.Graveside services will be held in Oklahoma at a later date.&nbsp; Memorials are suggested to&nbsp;Ellsworth County Medical Center, in care of the Funeral Chapel.Arrangements in care of Brock's-Keithley Funeral Chapel and Crematory 2509 Vine Hays, Kansas 67601.Condolences may be left by guest book at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com/">www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com</a>&nbsp;or by email at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:keithleyfuneralhomes@gmail.com">keithleyfuneralhomes@gmail.com</a>

Freda Bell Sutton

Carol Jean Wood, 74, of Russell, Kansas, died on Saturday, April 23, 2022, at the Wheatland Nursing Center in Russell.

Carol was born on October 2, 1947, in Hays, Kansas, the daughter of John and Marge (Henn) Johnson. &nbsp;She grew up in Hays and graduated from Hays High School. &nbsp;After high school she attended Ft. Hays University where she met, fell in love and was united in marriage to Gale Ray Wood on June 3, 1967, in&nbsp;Ellis, Kansas. &nbsp;From this union Carol and Gale were blessed with two children a son Kelly and daughter Cindy. &nbsp;The family lived in several towns in Kansas and eventually moved closer to home and moved to Russell in 2000. &nbsp;She was a very artistic person and&nbsp;enjoyed working with various crafts, scrap booking photo albums and cake decorating. &nbsp;She also enjoyed sewing and making clothes for her children and her&nbsp;daughters&nbsp;dolls. &nbsp;Most of all she enjoyed spending time with her family and especially enjoyed time with her children and grandchildren.

Surviving family include her daughter Cindy Jury and husband Rod of Russell, Kansas; brothers Tom Johnson and wife Joyce of Hays, Kansas; sisters Leigh&nbsp;Mabb&nbsp;and husband Gary of Ellis County, Kansas, Becki Johnson&nbsp;of&nbsp;St. Paul, Nebraska&nbsp;and Chris Dietz and husband Perry of Ellis County, Kansas; granddaughter Sadie Wood and husband Bobby Elliott of Russell, Kansas and great grandchildren Ronan Elliott and Hayden Ruiz. &nbsp;

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Gale on November 04, 2020&nbsp;and son Kelly Ray Wood.

Cremation has been selected by the family.&nbsp;A&nbsp;memorial service&nbsp;to celebrate Carol’s life will be held at 10 A.M. on Friday,&nbsp;May 13, 2022, at the Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary in Russell, Kansas. &nbsp;Family will greet guests the day of the service. &nbsp;Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary in Russell, Kansas, is in charge of the funeral service arrangements.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1652211111065.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Carol Jean Wood, 74, of Russell, Kansas, died on Saturday, April 23, 2022, at the Wheatland Nursing Center in Russell.Carol was born on October 2, 1947, in Hays, Kansas, the daughter of John and Marge (Henn) Johnson. &nbsp;She grew up in Hays and graduated from Hays High School. &nbsp;After high school she attended Ft. Hays University where she met, fell in love and was united in marriage to Gale Ray Wood on June 3, 1967, in&nbsp;Ellis, Kansas. &nbsp;From this union Carol and Gale were blessed with two children a son Kelly and daughter Cindy. &nbsp;The family lived in several towns in Kansas and eventually moved closer to home and moved to Russell in 2000. &nbsp;She was a very artistic person and&nbsp;enjoyed working with various crafts, scrap booking photo albums and cake decorating. &nbsp;She also enjoyed sewing and making clothes for her children and her&nbsp;daughters&nbsp;dolls. &nbsp;Most of all she enjoyed spending time with her family and especially enjoyed time with her children and grandchildren.Surviving family include her daughter Cindy Jury and husband Rod of Russell, Kansas; brothers Tom Johnson and wife Joyce of Hays, Kansas; sisters Leigh&nbsp;Mabb&nbsp;and husband Gary of Ellis County, Kansas, Becki Johnson&nbsp;of&nbsp;St. Paul, Nebraska&nbsp;and Chris Dietz and husband Perry of Ellis County, Kansas; granddaughter Sadie Wood and husband Bobby Elliott of Russell, Kansas and great grandchildren Ronan Elliott and Hayden Ruiz. &nbsp;She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Gale on November 04, 2020&nbsp;and son Kelly Ray Wood.Cremation has been selected by the family.&nbsp;A&nbsp;memorial service&nbsp;to celebrate Carol’s life will be held at 10 A.M. on Friday,&nbsp;May 13, 2022, at the Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary in Russell, Kansas. &nbsp;Family will greet guests the day of the service. &nbsp;Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary in Russell, Kansas, is in charge of the funeral service arrangements.

Carol Jean Wood

Rowena Arlene Sheraden, 90, passed away May 6, 2022, at County Living Memory Care in Larned.

She was born September 17, 1931, in Larned, the daughter of Charles and Lillian Clark Dipman.

Returning to the area from Wichita in 2015, she was of the Christian 
Faith. She worked as a secretary for Midland Supply and was also a 
school teacher.

On September 30, 1961, Robert Sheraden in Larned; he preceded her in death on October 8, 2015.

Survivors include two brothers, Damon Dipman, Holly, Colorado, and Allen (Mary) Dipman, Larned.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and a brother, Donald Dipman.

Graveside Service will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, May 14, 2022, at Larned
 Cemetery with Pastor Daryl Riffel presiding. Visitation will be 9:00 
a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Friday, May 13, at Beckwith Mortuary, Larned. Burial 
will be in the Larned Cemetery.

Memorials may be given to New Beginnings Church of the Nazarene in care of Beckwith Mortuary, PO Box 477, Larned, Kansas 67550.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1652207051245.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Rowena Arlene Sheraden, 90, passed away May 6, 2022, at County Living Memory Care in Larned.She was born September 17, 1931, in Larned, the daughter of Charles and Lillian Clark Dipman.Returning to the area from Wichita in 2015, she was of the Christian 
Faith. She worked as a secretary for Midland Supply and was also a 
school teacher.On September 30, 1961, Robert Sheraden in Larned; he preceded her in death on October 8, 2015.Survivors include two brothers, Damon Dipman, Holly, Colorado, and Allen (Mary) Dipman, Larned.She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and a brother, Donald Dipman.Graveside Service will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, May 14, 2022, at Larned
 Cemetery with Pastor Daryl Riffel presiding. Visitation will be 9:00 
a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Friday, May 13, at Beckwith Mortuary, Larned. Burial 
will be in the Larned Cemetery.Memorials may be given to New Beginnings Church of the Nazarene in care of Beckwith Mortuary, PO Box 477, Larned, Kansas 67550.

Rowena Arlene Sheraden

As Fort Hays State University wraps the 2021-22 academic year with
commencement this weekend, it’s not just graduating seniors taking a moment to
look back and reflect on their accomplishments.

As the end of the academic year quickly approaches the university itself
is taking stock of the number of noteworthy accomplishments made by FHSU students
and staff over the year.

Chief Communications Officer Scott Cason recently shred some of those triumphs
as the university begins winding down operations for the summer break.

“One of
the things that I think is distinctive and unique with our year, is the way our
students have competed,” Cason said. “And we have a lot of experiential – we
call them experiential learning opportunities — for students, internships,
service learning, things like that.

“But
nothing quite like the crucible of competition to bring out and really hone
your skills,” he continued. “Skills that I think prepare our students for
successful lives after college.”

One
example of the athletic achievements of the year was Bennington native Ryan
Stanley.

Stanley,
he said, is “one of the all-time greatest NCAA Division II pole vaulters ever,”
Cason said.

A four-time
All American, he won the national title and pole vault for the second straight
year, he said.

“The
height he hit to win the national championship — 17 feet, nine and a quarter
inch on his first attempt,” Cason said, “stands as the fifth best all
time in Division II and the third best in the Division II championship history.”

Cason also
noted, Stanley served as vice president of the FHSU Student Government.

“So,
there's a there's a young man who's gaining tremendous experience before he
goes out in the world,” Cason said.

While athletic
achievements are an often thought of examples of competition, he said FHSU is competitive
in academic areas as well.

On the non-athletic
completion side, he said students in the W.R. and Yvonne Robbins College of
Business and Entrepreneurship were able to continue their legacy of achievement
during a national financial planning challenge, bringing home a third place.

“You
talk about something that really prepares you for life in business, presenting
plans to boards and leadership groups, our students have great experience with
that with this financial planning challenge,” Cason said.

And technical
studies at the university also continue to shine.

“In the
last month (during the) annual International Technology and Engineering
Association conference in Orlando, our students won three of the five
individual events to claim the championship, and all-round honors with Purdue
University. … So truly a nationally dominant program in that regard.”

While
schools like Purdue may have more resources than a school the size of FHSU, he
said the caliber of students attending FHSU more than makes up for any size
advantage.

“It's that
that ethic of that perseverance, that innovation, that really is the hallmark
of our university and the kinds of students that we attract,” Cason said.

And
while academic and athletics programs at the university are notable for those accomplishments,
he said some campus club sports also highlighted the FHSU competitive spirit.

"We've
got the premier shooting sports team in the nation. Flat out hands down. We
just got our eighth national championship in October, in the Scholastic clay
targeting program in Columbus, Ohio. This is I think it's a pretty amazing
statistic, how good our students are. They hit 2,953 targets out of 3,000
targets that were served. That's a 98% hit percentage.”

Having competitors at that level
of ability, is a draw for future students.

“It really
is a reflection of our culture and where we live,” Cason said. “I think we have
students that come from California and north northwest, and obviously,
Nebraska, places like that, but they know about us, they know about our team,
and they want to come here and compete,” Cason said. “And they're also some of
the best students we have, as well. Their academic performance is top-notch.”

FHSU
graduations will once again be broken down into colleges with a mix of virtual
and in-person events beginning at 8 a.m. Friday.

<a href="https://www.fhsu.edu/commencement/">A full calendar of the graduation
events can be found on the FHSU website, fhsu.edu.</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1578077978142.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By JAMES BELL Hays PostAs Fort Hays State University wraps the 2021-22 academic year with
commencement this weekend, it’s not just graduating seniors taking a moment to
look back and reflect on their accomplishments.As the end of the academic year quickly approaches the university itself
is taking stock of the number of noteworthy accomplishments made by FHSU students
and staff over the year.Chief Communications Officer Scott Cason recently shred some of those triumphs
as the university begins winding down operations for the summer break.“One of
the things that I think is distinctive and unique with our year, is the way our
students have competed,” Cason said. “And we have a lot of experiential – we
call them experiential learning opportunities — for students, internships,
service learning, things like that.“But
nothing quite like the crucible of competition to bring out and really hone
your skills,” he continued. “Skills that I think prepare our students for
successful lives after college.”<div><iframe title="Fort Hays State University has lots to celebrate as year end nears" allowtransparency="true" height="300" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=g25qh-1220ee0-pb&from=pb6admin&square=1&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=auto&logo_link=podcast_page&btn-skin=3267a3&size=300" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>One
example of the athletic achievements of the year was Bennington native Ryan
Stanley.Stanley,
he said, is “one of the all-time greatest NCAA Division II pole vaulters ever,”
Cason said.A four-time
All American, he won the national title and pole vault for the second straight
year, he said.“The
height he hit to win the national championship — 17 feet, nine and a quarter
inch on his first attempt,” Cason said, “stands as the fifth best all
time in Division II and the third best in the Division II championship history.”Cason also
noted, Stanley served as vice president of the FHSU Student Government.“So,
there's a there's a young man who's gaining tremendous experience before he
goes out in the world,” Cason said.While athletic
achievements are an often thought of examples of competition, he said FHSU is competitive
in academic areas as well.On the non-athletic
completion side, he said students in the W.R. and Yvonne Robbins College of
Business and Entrepreneurship were able to continue their legacy of achievement
during a national financial planning challenge, bringing home a third place.“You
talk about something that really prepares you for life in business, presenting
plans to boards and leadership groups, our students have great experience with
that with this financial planning challenge,” Cason said.And technical
studies at the university also continue to shine.“In the
last month (during the) annual International Technology and Engineering
Association conference in Orlando, our students won three of the five
individual events to claim the championship, and all-round honors with Purdue
University. … So truly a nationally dominant program in that regard.”While
schools like Purdue may have more resources than a school the size of FHSU, he
said the caliber of students attending FHSU more than makes up for any size
advantage.“It's that
that ethic of that perseverance, that innovation, that really is the hallmark
of our university and the kinds of students that we attract,” Cason said.And
while academic and athletics programs at the university are notable for those accomplishments,
he said some campus club sports also highlighted the FHSU competitive spirit."We've
got the premier shooting sports team in the nation. Flat out hands down. We
just got our eighth national championship in October, in the Scholastic clay
targeting program in Columbus, Ohio. This is I think it's a pretty amazing
statistic, how good our students are. They hit 2,953 targets out of 3,000
targets that were served. That's a 98% hit percentage.”Having competitors at that level
of ability, is a draw for future students.“It really
is a reflection of our culture and where we live,” Cason said. “I think we have
students that come from California and north northwest, and obviously,
Nebraska, places like that, but they know about us, they know about our team,
and they want to come here and compete,” Cason said. “And they're also some of
the best students we have, as well. Their academic performance is top-notch.”FHSU
graduations will once again be broken down into colleges with a mix of virtual
and in-person events beginning at 8 a.m. Friday.<a href="https://www.fhsu.edu/commencement/">A full calendar of the graduation
events can be found on the FHSU website, fhsu.edu.</a>

🎙 As commencement nears, Fort Hays State celebrating accomplishments

Robert L. Stockton was born December 24, 1940, to Leo B. and Neva 
Billings Stockton. He was born in Smith Center, KS and lived in the 
Kensington area for his entire life. He attended Hardilee Rural School, 
Kensington Grade School, and graduated from Kensington High School in 
1958. He attended Fort Hays State University and served in Kansas 
National Guard.
 On June 4, 1961, he married Margaret Rayburn Gilliland in 
Phillipsburg. Their daughter Katherine Ann (“Anne”) was born December 
26, 1965. Sadly she preceded her parents in death in June 1985 at the 
age of nineteen. Margaret passed away October 13, 2009.
 Bob and Margaret were very involved with Anne’s sports and 
activities. They were always very supportive of Anne’s friends and all 
youth in the community.
 Bob was a farmer his entire life. He was a very creative person. He 
could build and fix anything. His projects included beautiful furniture,
 working on farm equipment, doing carpentry and many other things. At 
one point, he built a train from barrels for the children of the 
Kensington community. He loved antique cars and would often participate 
in local parades and car shows. Restoring antique cars was a hobby of 
his.
 Bob is survived by his Sisters, Shirley Powell and Sharlene (John) 
Sampson, Nephews Mike (Ramona) Powell and Gary (Wendy) Powell and Niece 
Sharlyn (Chris) DeWeese. Many members of the Gilliland Family also 
survive him. Bob is survived by his dear dear friends Annette and Tim 
Riley. The Family wants to thank the Rileys (Annette, Tim) and Sherry 
Newbrey for all they have done as friends and caretakers. He was also 
preceded in death by his parents, Infant brother Kenneth (1936), 
Margaret’s parents Edwin and Florence (Dixon) Gilliland, Brother-in- Law
 Jack Powell and many members of the Gilliland Family. Many cousins who 
were dearly loved.

Click <a href="https://www.rfmortuaries.com/obituaries/Robert-Lee-Stockton?obId=24807983#/celebrationWall">HERE</a> for service details.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1652201651358.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Robert L. Stockton was born December 24, 1940, to Leo B. and Neva 
Billings Stockton. He was born in Smith Center, KS and lived in the 
Kensington area for his entire life. He attended Hardilee Rural School, 
Kensington Grade School, and graduated from Kensington High School in 
1958. He attended Fort Hays State University and served in Kansas 
National Guard.
 On June 4, 1961, he married Margaret Rayburn Gilliland in 
Phillipsburg. Their daughter Katherine Ann (“Anne”) was born December 
26, 1965. Sadly she preceded her parents in death in June 1985 at the 
age of nineteen. Margaret passed away October 13, 2009.
 Bob and Margaret were very involved with Anne’s sports and 
activities. They were always very supportive of Anne’s friends and all 
youth in the community.
 Bob was a farmer his entire life. He was a very creative person. He 
could build and fix anything. His projects included beautiful furniture,
 working on farm equipment, doing carpentry and many other things. At 
one point, he built a train from barrels for the children of the 
Kensington community. He loved antique cars and would often participate 
in local parades and car shows. Restoring antique cars was a hobby of 
his.
 Bob is survived by his Sisters, Shirley Powell and Sharlene (John) 
Sampson, Nephews Mike (Ramona) Powell and Gary (Wendy) Powell and Niece 
Sharlyn (Chris) DeWeese. Many members of the Gilliland Family also 
survive him. Bob is survived by his dear dear friends Annette and Tim 
Riley. The Family wants to thank the Rileys (Annette, Tim) and Sherry 
Newbrey for all they have done as friends and caretakers. He was also 
preceded in death by his parents, Infant brother Kenneth (1936), 
Margaret’s parents Edwin and Florence (Dixon) Gilliland, Brother-in- Law
 Jack Powell and many members of the Gilliland Family. Many cousins who 
were dearly loved.Click <a href="https://www.rfmortuaries.com/obituaries/Robert-Lee-Stockton?obId=24807983#/celebrationWall">HERE</a> for service details.

Robert L. Stockton

George Edwin Childs, 92, passed away May 5, 2022, in Hutchinson.&nbsp; He 
was born January 8, 1930, in Carroll County, MO, to Raymond and Allie 
(Melvin) Childs.

George graduated from Tina High School, Tina, MO.&nbsp; He was employed by
 Decker &amp; Mattison Co., Inc., Hutchinson, for over 30 years, and 
then worked with his son at Child’s Electric Heating &amp; Air, Inc., 
Hutchinson.&nbsp; George was a longtime member of Faith United Methodist 
Church, Hutchinson.

On October 29, 1950, he married Bonnie Violet Ferguson, in Colby, 
KS.&nbsp; They shared over 69 years of marriage, prior to her death on 
January 31, 2020.

George is survived by:&nbsp; his children, Betty (Roy) Cox of Council 
Grove, KS, Jim (Kris) Childs of Bruceton Mills, WV, David (Susie) Childs
 of Hutchinson, and Dan (Carla) Childs of Hutchinson; 15 grandchildren; 
36 great-grandchildren; sister, Anna Thomas of Chillicothe, MO; and best
 friend, Del Fesler of Hutchinson.

He was preceded in death by:&nbsp; his parents; wife; daughter, Glenda 
Meadows; grandson, Corey Meadows; brothers, Billy Childs, Tommy Childs, 
Warren Childs, Walter Childs, and Raymond Childs; and sister, Margie 
Lowe.

Funeral service will be 2 p.m. Wednesday, May 11, 2022, at Elliott 
Mortuary, with the Reverend Larry Brock officiating.&nbsp; Burial will be in 
Fairlawn Burial Park, Hutchinson, at a later date.&nbsp; Friends may call 
from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, May 10, 2022, at Elliott Mortuary.&nbsp; To 
view the funeral service online, the link will be available at the end 
of George’s obituary on the Elliott Mortuary website on the day of the 
service beginning at 1:45 p.m.

<a href="https://view.oneroomstreaming.com/authorise.php?k=1651960869182786">Click here to view the funeral service.</a>

George would ask that you not send flowers, but rather make a 
donation to Kansas Honor Flight.&nbsp; It would be his way of honoring his 
brothers who served in World War II.&nbsp; Donations can be mailed to Elliott
 Mortuary and Crematory, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1652029901910.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>George Edwin Childs, 92, passed away May 5, 2022, in Hutchinson.&nbsp; He 
was born January 8, 1930, in Carroll County, MO, to Raymond and Allie 
(Melvin) Childs.George graduated from Tina High School, Tina, MO.&nbsp; He was employed by
 Decker &amp; Mattison Co., Inc., Hutchinson, for over 30 years, and 
then worked with his son at Child’s Electric Heating &amp; Air, Inc., 
Hutchinson.&nbsp; George was a longtime member of Faith United Methodist 
Church, Hutchinson.On October 29, 1950, he married Bonnie Violet Ferguson, in Colby, 
KS.&nbsp; They shared over 69 years of marriage, prior to her death on 
January 31, 2020.George is survived by:&nbsp; his children, Betty (Roy) Cox of Council 
Grove, KS, Jim (Kris) Childs of Bruceton Mills, WV, David (Susie) Childs
 of Hutchinson, and Dan (Carla) Childs of Hutchinson; 15 grandchildren; 
36 great-grandchildren; sister, Anna Thomas of Chillicothe, MO; and best
 friend, Del Fesler of Hutchinson.He was preceded in death by:&nbsp; his parents; wife; daughter, Glenda 
Meadows; grandson, Corey Meadows; brothers, Billy Childs, Tommy Childs, 
Warren Childs, Walter Childs, and Raymond Childs; and sister, Margie 
Lowe.Funeral service will be 2 p.m. Wednesday, May 11, 2022, at Elliott 
Mortuary, with the Reverend Larry Brock officiating.&nbsp; Burial will be in 
Fairlawn Burial Park, Hutchinson, at a later date.&nbsp; Friends may call 
from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, May 10, 2022, at Elliott Mortuary.&nbsp; To 
view the funeral service online, the link will be available at the end 
of George’s obituary on the Elliott Mortuary website on the day of the 
service beginning at 1:45 p.m.<a href="https://view.oneroomstreaming.com/authorise.php?k=1651960869182786">Click here to view the funeral service.</a>George would ask that you not send flowers, but rather make a 
donation to Kansas Honor Flight.&nbsp; It would be his way of honoring his 
brothers who served in World War II.&nbsp; Donations can be mailed to Elliott
 Mortuary and Crematory, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

George Edwin Childs

Steve E. Larsen, 90, of Salina, passed away Tuesday,
 May 3, 2022.&nbsp; He was born in Lincoln County, Kansas to Edward Leaman 
and Myra Marie (Ackerman) Larsen on January 21, 1932.&nbsp;&nbsp; He married Mary 
Lou Willcoxon on October 7, 1961, in Salina.

Survivors include his children, Dan Larsen (Nancy), Tim E. Larsen and
 Penny Larsen; grandchildren, Shannen Morrow (Jason), Ashley Larsen, 
Kody Larsen (Taylor), and Chelsolyn Larsen; four great-grandchildren, 
Allie, Taylee, Weston and Emeree; sister Agnes Larsen Stamm.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Mary Lou; parents; siblings; 
Oscar Larsen, Esther Steinle, Rita Lehman, Leo Larsen, Mark Larsen, Ivan
 Larsen, Michael Larsen, and Rose Mary Thomas.

He worked various jobs from ranch hand in his early twenties around 
Hays, Kansas; to construction in Hutchinson, Kansas. He worked at a 
grain elevator west of Salina, Kansas until he was drafted into the Army
 in 1956; where he was stationed in Italy until he came home in 1958. He
 returned to the grain elevator until he started his business, Steve’s 
Refrigeration Service, in 1963. He ran his business for 50 years until 
his retirement in 2013.

He was active member of the Salina chapter of the AMBUCS Breakfast Bandits since around 1975.

He enjoyed golfing with different members of his family and was looking forward to getting back to it this summer.

Visitation will be 4-8 p.m. Sunday, May 8, 2022, at Ryan Mortuary.

Funeral service will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, May 9, at Ryan Mortuary.&nbsp; Interment will follow in Roselawn Memorial Park.

Memorials may be made to AMBUCS Breakfast Bandits, in care of Ryan Mortuary, 137 North Eighth Street, Salina, Kansas 67401.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1651843549164.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Steve E. Larsen, 90, of Salina, passed away Tuesday,
 May 3, 2022.&nbsp; He was born in Lincoln County, Kansas to Edward Leaman 
and Myra Marie (Ackerman) Larsen on January 21, 1932.&nbsp;&nbsp; He married Mary 
Lou Willcoxon on October 7, 1961, in Salina.Survivors include his children, Dan Larsen (Nancy), Tim E. Larsen and
 Penny Larsen; grandchildren, Shannen Morrow (Jason), Ashley Larsen, 
Kody Larsen (Taylor), and Chelsolyn Larsen; four great-grandchildren, 
Allie, Taylee, Weston and Emeree; sister Agnes Larsen Stamm.He is preceded in death by his wife, Mary Lou; parents; siblings; 
Oscar Larsen, Esther Steinle, Rita Lehman, Leo Larsen, Mark Larsen, Ivan
 Larsen, Michael Larsen, and Rose Mary Thomas.He worked various jobs from ranch hand in his early twenties around 
Hays, Kansas; to construction in Hutchinson, Kansas. He worked at a 
grain elevator west of Salina, Kansas until he was drafted into the Army
 in 1956; where he was stationed in Italy until he came home in 1958. He
 returned to the grain elevator until he started his business, Steve’s 
Refrigeration Service, in 1963. He ran his business for 50 years until 
his retirement in 2013.He was active member of the Salina chapter of the AMBUCS Breakfast Bandits since around 1975.He enjoyed golfing with different members of his family and was looking forward to getting back to it this summer.Visitation will be 4-8 p.m. Sunday, May 8, 2022, at Ryan Mortuary.Funeral service will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, May 9, at Ryan Mortuary.&nbsp; Interment will follow in Roselawn Memorial Park.Memorials may be made to AMBUCS Breakfast Bandits, in care of Ryan Mortuary, 137 North Eighth Street, Salina, Kansas 67401.

Steve E. Larsen

Brian Pattrick Smith was born October 31, 1975, on the USAH Base in 
Wurzburg, Germany, to Don Jay and Linda S. (Scott) Smith. He passed away 
May 3, 2022, in Norton, KS at the age of 46.
 Brian grew up in Stockton, KS and was a 1995 graduate of Stockton 
High School. He was very active in sports, competing in football, track,
 K-18 and the American Legion baseball teams and he was a state 
qualifier in wrestling. In high school, he was known to many as 
“Smithers." Brian married Corene Barnett on May 30, 2009, at the Hoxie 
Christian Church.

He worked for B&amp;B Redimix, Norton County Solid 
Waste/Landfill for many years and then was recently working for New Age 
Industrial in Norton. He enjoyed volunteering in the Norton community in
 many ways, from being on the Rural Fire Dept. to coaching recreational 
softball, tee ball, wrestling, and soccer. Brian was also very involved 
in the racing community, he raced cruisers, he was a tech for IMCA, and 
was known as “One Hit Wonder Smith” at the Demolition Derby. Brian was 
full of life and enjoyed having a good time with his friends and family.
 Brian had a great sense of humor, and he is especially remembered for 
misspelling his own name on his demo car and from then on, he was known 
as “Brain”. Most of all, Brian loved spending time with his family 
whether it be camping and fishing or helping coach his kids’ sports 
teams. He meant the world to his wife and kids, and he will be truly 
missed. 
 Brian was preceded in death by his parents, Don and Linda; children 
born into God’s arms, Caden and Avery; grandparents, Carolyn and Wallace
 Smith and Gerald and Jean McLaughlin; grandparents-in-law, Edwin and 
Lorraine Coulter, Vernon Barnett, Mildred and Gerald Green; and 
father-in-law, Richard Barnett. He is survived by his wife, Corene and 
children, Grace, Eden, and Axel Smith all of the home; brother, Michaell
 (Heather) Smith of Galveston, TX; mother-in-law, Janet (Ron) Dunbar of 
Menahga, MN; brothers-in-law, Conrad (Carolynn) Dunbar of Richville, MN 
and William (Keisha) Dunbar of Menahga, MN, and many aunts, uncles, 
nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, family and friends.
 Funeral services will be held 10:30 am Tuesday, May 10, 2022, at the 
Norton Christian Church. Cremation will follow the services. Visitation 
will be from 4-7:00 pm Monday, May 9, also at the church. In lieu of 
flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Brian Smith

Memorial 
Fund to help with their children’s education funds and may be sent in 
care of Plumer-Gobber Funeral Home, 215 W. Main St., Norton, KS 67654. 
Condolences may be left online at www.plumergobber.com&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1651843295385.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Brian Pattrick Smith was born October 31, 1975, on the USAH Base in 
Wurzburg, Germany, to Don Jay and Linda S. (Scott) Smith. He passed away 
May 3, 2022, in Norton, KS at the age of 46.
 Brian grew up in Stockton, KS and was a 1995 graduate of Stockton 
High School. He was very active in sports, competing in football, track,
 K-18 and the American Legion baseball teams and he was a state 
qualifier in wrestling. In high school, he was known to many as 
“Smithers." Brian married Corene Barnett on May 30, 2009, at the Hoxie 
Christian Church. He worked for B&amp;B Redimix, Norton County Solid 
Waste/Landfill for many years and then was recently working for New Age 
Industrial in Norton. He enjoyed volunteering in the Norton community in
 many ways, from being on the Rural Fire Dept. to coaching recreational 
softball, tee ball, wrestling, and soccer. Brian was also very involved 
in the racing community, he raced cruisers, he was a tech for IMCA, and 
was known as “One Hit Wonder Smith” at the Demolition Derby. Brian was 
full of life and enjoyed having a good time with his friends and family.
 Brian had a great sense of humor, and he is especially remembered for 
misspelling his own name on his demo car and from then on, he was known 
as “Brain”. Most of all, Brian loved spending time with his family 
whether it be camping and fishing or helping coach his kids’ sports 
teams. He meant the world to his wife and kids, and he will be truly 
missed. 
 Brian was preceded in death by his parents, Don and Linda; children 
born into God’s arms, Caden and Avery; grandparents, Carolyn and Wallace
 Smith and Gerald and Jean McLaughlin; grandparents-in-law, Edwin and 
Lorraine Coulter, Vernon Barnett, Mildred and Gerald Green; and 
father-in-law, Richard Barnett. He is survived by his wife, Corene and 
children, Grace, Eden, and Axel Smith all of the home; brother, Michaell
 (Heather) Smith of Galveston, TX; mother-in-law, Janet (Ron) Dunbar of 
Menahga, MN; brothers-in-law, Conrad (Carolynn) Dunbar of Richville, MN 
and William (Keisha) Dunbar of Menahga, MN, and many aunts, uncles, 
nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, family and friends.
 Funeral services will be held 10:30 am Tuesday, May 10, 2022, at the 
Norton Christian Church. Cremation will follow the services. Visitation 
will be from 4-7:00 pm Monday, May 9, also at the church. In lieu of 
flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Brian Smith Memorial 
Fund to help with their children’s education funds and may be sent in 
care of Plumer-Gobber Funeral Home, 215 W. Main St., Norton, KS 67654. 
Condolences may be left online at www.plumergobber.com&nbsp;

Brian Pattrick Smith

Dorothy Mae (Frazier) Smith, 84, of Smolan, KS 
passed away peacefully May 3, 2022, with family at her side.&nbsp; She was 
born August 12, 1937, in Bazine, to Otis James and Lillian (Burch) 
Frazier. She passed Hal Patrick Smith on October 26, 1959. They 
bought their house in Smolan where they raised their son and many 
others. Hal passed away in 2009.

She is preceded in death by her parents; two sisters, Lois Roubidoux 
and Carol Sharp; two brothers, Robert Frazier and Richard Frazier.

She is survived by her son Hal William “Bill” Richard Smith and wife 
Kathy, of Smolan; foster daughter Ruth Downey, of Kansas City, Kansas; 
grandchildren, Eric and Brandee Adam, Hal Kelly Smith, Kylee Smith, 
Chris and Rachel Ledbetter and Steven and Grace Buller; 
great-grandchildren, Katie, Karter, Karee, Kelsee Adam, Hal Ryddyk B. 
Smith, Isaiah and Gabriella Smith, Evangelina Buller and many close 
nieces and nephews.

There will be a memorial service planned at a later date.&nbsp; Memorials 
may be made to Dorothy Smith Memorial Fund, in care of Ryan Mortuary, 
137 North Eighth Street, Salina, Kansas 67401.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1651781808551.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Dorothy Mae (Frazier) Smith, 84, of Smolan, KS 
passed away peacefully May 3, 2022, with family at her side.&nbsp; She was 
born August 12, 1937, in Bazine, to Otis James and Lillian (Burch) 
Frazier. She passed Hal Patrick Smith on October 26, 1959. They 
bought their house in Smolan where they raised their son and many 
others. Hal passed away in 2009.She is preceded in death by her parents; two sisters, Lois Roubidoux 
and Carol Sharp; two brothers, Robert Frazier and Richard Frazier.She is survived by her son Hal William “Bill” Richard Smith and wife 
Kathy, of Smolan; foster daughter Ruth Downey, of Kansas City, Kansas; 
grandchildren, Eric and Brandee Adam, Hal Kelly Smith, Kylee Smith, 
Chris and Rachel Ledbetter and Steven and Grace Buller; 
great-grandchildren, Katie, Karter, Karee, Kelsee Adam, Hal Ryddyk B. 
Smith, Isaiah and Gabriella Smith, Evangelina Buller and many close 
nieces and nephews.There will be a memorial service planned at a later date.&nbsp; Memorials 
may be made to Dorothy Smith Memorial Fund, in care of Ryan Mortuary, 
137 North Eighth Street, Salina, Kansas 67401.

Dorothy Mae (Frazier) Smith

October 31, 1975
 -
 May 3, 2022

An obituary is pending with Plumer Gobber Funeral Home.

Click <a href="https://www.plumergobber.com/obituaries/Brian-Pattrick-Smith?obId=24781858#/celebrationWall">HERE</a> for service details.

October 31, 1975
 -
 May 3, 2022An obituary is pending with Plumer Gobber Funeral Home.Click <a href="https://www.plumergobber.com/obituaries/Brian-Pattrick-Smith?obId=24781858#/celebrationWall">HERE</a> for service details.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma joined Texas this week to form a region that parts of a nation divided over abortion care might look like if the U.S. Supreme Court strikes down its landmark Roe v. Wade ruling.

While abortion providers across the country have been bracing for the possibility that the high court’s new conservative majority&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/roe-wade-supreme-court-state-fight-e53b2b46d9606dc9468b8044a0b42ed0">might further restrict abortion</a>, that has especially been the case in Oklahoma, where lawmakers have passed a half-dozen anti-abortion measures this year.

A bill signed into law on Tuesday by Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-abortion-business-lawsuits-laws-8690c15ea5de5c6ed695003b7a533cb1">similar to the law passed in Texas</a>&nbsp;last year that led to a marked&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-health-business-texas-oklahoma-65225decf918b820801d162f14b09b80">increase in women</a>&nbsp;going to neighboring states, including Oklahoma, to get abortions. It prohibits doctors from performing an abortion after fetal activity is detected in the embryo, which experts say is typically after about six weeks and before many women even know they are pregnant. And like Texas’ law, it is enforced through civil, not criminal, courts and relies on civilians to inform on one another.

Abortion providers in Oklahoma said they are prepared for the law to take effect and have been helping women get appointments at clinics in neighboring states.

“I think something we realized in September (when the Texas law took effect) is that we are already living in a virtual post-Roe world in our region,” said Dr. Iman Alsaden, the medical director of Planned Parenthood Great Plains, which operates clinics in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma.

“We have seen people go to extreme lengths to access abortion care: driving all night, doing whatever they can to get the basic health care they need for them and their families. We have been seeing what a post-Roe future looks like in this region of the country already, and it’s unbelievable.”

The Oklahoma Supreme Court declined to temporarily stop the law from taking effect, although the court is still considering a legal challenge.

Stitt’s signing of the bill, along with the leaked draft opinion suggesting the U.S. Supreme Court is considering weakening or overturning its Roe v. Wade decision, led more than 100 people to protest on Tuesday at the Oklahoma Capitol.

“I honestly and truly never thought we would actually get here,” said Sophia Fults, 22, a University of Oklahoma student from Tulsa who held a sign that read: “Keep abortion safe, legal and accessible.”

“Honestly, I was just shocked and I’m still kind of shocked and disgusted. So many women are going to be harmed because of this. It’s just horrendous.”

The new law authorizes abortions if they are performed as the result of a medical emergency, but there are no exceptions for if the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest.

Like the Texas law, the Oklahoma bill would allow private citizens to sue abortion providers or anyone who helps a woman obtain an abortion. After the U.S. Supreme Court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-health-texas-0b4ed1808ed44d176bf6c86e6646a718">allowed that mechanism to remain in place</a>, other Republican-led states sought to copy Texas’ ban.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/idaho-abortion-ban-law-6eec10650b51c2b9dc98607d13cd8f40">Idaho’s governor</a>&nbsp;signed the first copycat measure in March, although it has been temporarily blocked by the state’s Supreme Court.

Stitt earlier this year signed a bill to make performing an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-oklahoma-law-87880e9f3c7bde2ae634cb2f02839e6e">abortion a felony</a>&nbsp;in Oklahoma, but that measure is not set to take effect until this summer, and legal experts say it’s likely to be blocked because Roe still remains the law of the land.

“One of our main responsibilities in government is to protect life, and that has been our deliberate intention,” said state Sen. Nathan Dahm, a Republican who wrote the bill to make abortion illegal. “I believe here in Oklahoma we’ll do everything we can to protect life from conception.”

The number of abortions performed each year in Oklahoma, which has four abortion clinics, has declined steadily over the last two decades, from more than 6,200 in 2002 to 3,737 in 2020, which were the fewest in more than 20 years, according to data from the Oklahoma State Department of Health. In 2020, before the Texas law was passed, about 9% of the abortions performed in Oklahoma involved women from Texas.

Before the Texas ban took effect on Sept. 1, about 40 women from Texas had abortions performed in Oklahoma each month, the data shows. That number jumped to 222 in September and 243 in October, according to the most recent data available.

Clinic operators in Texas saw about a 40% decrease in the number of abortions performed there after the law took effect, and Oklahoma operators say they expect similar declines, said Zachary Gingrich-Gaylord, a spokesman for Trust Women, which operates clinics in Oklahoma City and Wichita, Kansas.

“In Texas, we’ve seen that many clinics were able to retain around 60% of their pre-SB 8 patient volume, and it seems reasonable to expect something similar in Oklahoma,” Gingrich-Gaylord said, referring to the Texas law by its state Senate bill name. “The primary reason to think that we may see far less volume than that is the chilling effect caused by the (Supreme Court) leak that may add to confusion for patients seeking abortions.”

According to state health department data, about 47% of abortions performed in Oklahoma in 2020 were for women who were less than six weeks pregnant.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1649779268364.png" alt="“We want to outlaw abortion in the state of Oklahoma,”&nbsp; Gov. Kevin Stitt said during a bill signing ceremony in April.-photo courtesy Oklahoma Governor's office&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>“We want to outlaw abortion in the state of Oklahoma,”&nbsp; Gov. Kevin Stitt said during a bill signing ceremony in April.-photo courtesy Oklahoma Governor's office&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma joined Texas this week to form a region that parts of a nation divided over abortion care might look like if the U.S. Supreme Court strikes down its landmark Roe v. Wade ruling.While abortion providers across the country have been bracing for the possibility that the high court’s new conservative majority&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/roe-wade-supreme-court-state-fight-e53b2b46d9606dc9468b8044a0b42ed0">might further restrict abortion</a>, that has especially been the case in Oklahoma, where lawmakers have passed a half-dozen anti-abortion measures this year.A bill signed into law on Tuesday by Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-abortion-business-lawsuits-laws-8690c15ea5de5c6ed695003b7a533cb1">similar to the law passed in Texas</a>&nbsp;last year that led to a marked&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-health-business-texas-oklahoma-65225decf918b820801d162f14b09b80">increase in women</a>&nbsp;going to neighboring states, including Oklahoma, to get abortions. It prohibits doctors from performing an abortion after fetal activity is detected in the embryo, which experts say is typically after about six weeks and before many women even know they are pregnant. And like Texas’ law, it is enforced through civil, not criminal, courts and relies on civilians to inform on one another.Abortion providers in Oklahoma said they are prepared for the law to take effect and have been helping women get appointments at clinics in neighboring states.“I think something we realized in September (when the Texas law took effect) is that we are already living in a virtual post-Roe world in our region,” said Dr. Iman Alsaden, the medical director of Planned Parenthood Great Plains, which operates clinics in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma.“We have seen people go to extreme lengths to access abortion care: driving all night, doing whatever they can to get the basic health care they need for them and their families. We have been seeing what a post-Roe future looks like in this region of the country already, and it’s unbelievable.”The Oklahoma Supreme Court declined to temporarily stop the law from taking effect, although the court is still considering a legal challenge.Stitt’s signing of the bill, along with the leaked draft opinion suggesting the U.S. Supreme Court is considering weakening or overturning its Roe v. Wade decision, led more than 100 people to protest on Tuesday at the Oklahoma Capitol.“I honestly and truly never thought we would actually get here,” said Sophia Fults, 22, a University of Oklahoma student from Tulsa who held a sign that read: “Keep abortion safe, legal and accessible.”“Honestly, I was just shocked and I’m still kind of shocked and disgusted. So many women are going to be harmed because of this. It’s just horrendous.”The new law authorizes abortions if they are performed as the result of a medical emergency, but there are no exceptions for if the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest.Like the Texas law, the Oklahoma bill would allow private citizens to sue abortion providers or anyone who helps a woman obtain an abortion. After the U.S. Supreme Court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-health-texas-0b4ed1808ed44d176bf6c86e6646a718">allowed that mechanism to remain in place</a>, other Republican-led states sought to copy Texas’ ban.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/idaho-abortion-ban-law-6eec10650b51c2b9dc98607d13cd8f40">Idaho’s governor</a>&nbsp;signed the first copycat measure in March, although it has been temporarily blocked by the state’s Supreme Court.Stitt earlier this year signed a bill to make performing an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-oklahoma-law-87880e9f3c7bde2ae634cb2f02839e6e">abortion a felony</a>&nbsp;in Oklahoma, but that measure is not set to take effect until this summer, and legal experts say it’s likely to be blocked because Roe still remains the law of the land.“One of our main responsibilities in government is to protect life, and that has been our deliberate intention,” said state Sen. Nathan Dahm, a Republican who wrote the bill to make abortion illegal. “I believe here in Oklahoma we’ll do everything we can to protect life from conception.”The number of abortions performed each year in Oklahoma, which has four abortion clinics, has declined steadily over the last two decades, from more than 6,200 in 2002 to 3,737 in 2020, which were the fewest in more than 20 years, according to data from the Oklahoma State Department of Health. In 2020, before the Texas law was passed, about 9% of the abortions performed in Oklahoma involved women from Texas.Before the Texas ban took effect on Sept. 1, about 40 women from Texas had abortions performed in Oklahoma each month, the data shows. That number jumped to 222 in September and 243 in October, according to the most recent data available.Clinic operators in Texas saw about a 40% decrease in the number of abortions performed there after the law took effect, and Oklahoma operators say they expect similar declines, said Zachary Gingrich-Gaylord, a spokesman for Trust Women, which operates clinics in Oklahoma City and Wichita, Kansas.“In Texas, we’ve seen that many clinics were able to retain around 60% of their pre-SB 8 patient volume, and it seems reasonable to expect something similar in Oklahoma,” Gingrich-Gaylord said, referring to the Texas law by its state Senate bill name. “The primary reason to think that we may see far less volume than that is the chilling effect caused by the (Supreme Court) leak that may add to confusion for patients seeking abortions.”According to state health department data, about 47% of abortions performed in Oklahoma in 2020 were for women who were less than six weeks pregnant.

Oklahoma joins Texas in offering glimpse of 'post-Roe' world

The students of Ellis County that attend and will attend USD 489 for many years to come need your help.&nbsp;A great education is one of the most important&nbsp;things a&nbsp;child will need to compete in the future.&nbsp;As technology advances the&nbsp;need to be competitive increases. Are we providing all the tools that our children&nbsp;will need to be the best and the brightest?&nbsp;Do we&nbsp;offer&nbsp;the best&nbsp;learning&nbsp;environment?&nbsp;What about classroom sizes? Optimum number of students? All these&nbsp;things and more are needed. It has been 40 years since a new school was constructed.&nbsp;

I recently retired from&nbsp;our&nbsp;local county government&nbsp;as a department head.&nbsp;One of the most important things to keep productivity at&nbsp;the most efficient level is&nbsp;training,&nbsp;proper equipment and&nbsp;facilities.&nbsp;I believe the administration&nbsp;does the very best in spending taxpayer dollars.&nbsp;

The drawback is constant repairs to old and outdated equipment and buildings. In October 2021, I received&nbsp;my Kansas Emergency&nbsp;Substitute&nbsp;Teaching License. This has allowed me to&nbsp;sub-teach over 60 times to date. What an eye-opening experience. The teachers in all the schools do an outstanding job&nbsp;and strive every day to give the students the best educational experience. But the&nbsp;buildings are old, classes are overcrowded, classrooms are too small, windows do not open, and old heating systems make noise. These things&nbsp;and others are&nbsp;not conducive to&nbsp;a proper learning&nbsp;environment.

I truly understand the importance of&nbsp;being frugal with taxpayer&nbsp;monies,&nbsp;but it is also the only place&nbsp;that the income to operate USD 489 comes from.&nbsp;My&nbsp;youngest son went through&nbsp;489,&nbsp;K – 12&nbsp;and received an excellent education.&nbsp;I am grateful to those who supported education&nbsp;in the past and ask that you&nbsp;truly look to the future and&nbsp;say yes to providing our children now and in the future the best education and opportunities for advanced learning. They are our future.

William “Bill” Ring, Ellis, retired Ellis County Public Works Director

The students of Ellis County that attend and will attend USD 489 for many years to come need your help.&nbsp;A great education is one of the most important&nbsp;things a&nbsp;child will need to compete in the future.&nbsp;As technology advances the&nbsp;need to be competitive increases. Are we providing all the tools that our children&nbsp;will need to be the best and the brightest?&nbsp;Do we&nbsp;offer&nbsp;the best&nbsp;learning&nbsp;environment?&nbsp;What about classroom sizes? Optimum number of students? All these&nbsp;things and more are needed. It has been 40 years since a new school was constructed.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575913663048.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>I recently retired from&nbsp;our&nbsp;local county government&nbsp;as a department head.&nbsp;One of the most important things to keep productivity at&nbsp;the most efficient level is&nbsp;training,&nbsp;proper equipment and&nbsp;facilities.&nbsp;I believe the administration&nbsp;does the very best in spending taxpayer dollars.&nbsp;The drawback is constant repairs to old and outdated equipment and buildings. In October 2021, I received&nbsp;my Kansas Emergency&nbsp;Substitute&nbsp;Teaching License. This has allowed me to&nbsp;sub-teach over 60 times to date. What an eye-opening experience. The teachers in all the schools do an outstanding job&nbsp;and strive every day to give the students the best educational experience. But the&nbsp;buildings are old, classes are overcrowded, classrooms are too small, windows do not open, and old heating systems make noise. These things&nbsp;and others are&nbsp;not conducive to&nbsp;a proper learning&nbsp;environment.I truly understand the importance of&nbsp;being frugal with taxpayer&nbsp;monies,&nbsp;but it is also the only place&nbsp;that the income to operate USD 489 comes from.&nbsp;My&nbsp;youngest son went through&nbsp;489,&nbsp;K – 12&nbsp;and received an excellent education.&nbsp;I am grateful to those who supported education&nbsp;in the past and ask that you&nbsp;truly look to the future and&nbsp;say yes to providing our children now and in the future the best education and opportunities for advanced learning. They are our future.Thank you.William “Bill” Ring, Ellis, retired Ellis County Public Works Director

LETTER: Time to invest in a great education for the future

WICHITA —Wichita State University parted ways with Athletic Director Darron Boatright Wednesday.&nbsp;

University President Richard Muma issued a statement "I write to let you know of a transition in our Department of Athletics."

"Earlier today, I informed Director of Athletics Darron Boatright, who has served the Shockers for 12 years, six as the full-time director, that we are making a change in the leadership of the department."&nbsp;

"While there were certainly achievements and successes during Darron’s tenure, there were significant, ongoing concerns that became acute in recent weeks, ones that I did not believe could be addressed. This decision is in the best interests of Wichita State, our coaches and staff, and our student-athletes."

"I have asked <a href="https://goshockers.com/staff-directory/sarah-adams/1425">Senior Associate Athletic Director </a>/ SWA Sarah Adams to serve as our Interim Director of Athletics and I am confident that she will provide us with the leadership, stability and compassion needed during the transition. "

"As all of you know, Wichita State University is on the rise, and our athletics program plays an important role in our institutional momentum. With incredible fans and supporters, talented coaches and support staff, a campus committed to excellence and, most importantly, hard-working student-athletes, we are poised for great success. With the assistance of an experienced search firm, we will immediately launch a national search for a new Director of Athletics who shares our values, our vision and our passion for Shocker sports and will work expediently but diligently to identify a new leader of our athletics program. I look forward to introducing our new leader of our Department of Athletics, who will elevate us to unprecedented heights." &nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1651690010771.jpeg" alt="Darron Boatright -photo courtesy WSU" />
 <figcaption>Darron Boatright -photo courtesy WSU</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA —Wichita State University parted ways with Athletic Director Darron Boatright Wednesday.&nbsp;University President Richard Muma issued a statement "I write to let you know of a transition in our Department of Athletics.""Earlier today, I informed Director of Athletics Darron Boatright, who has served the Shockers for 12 years, six as the full-time director, that we are making a change in the leadership of the department."&nbsp;"While there were certainly achievements and successes during Darron’s tenure, there were significant, ongoing concerns that became acute in recent weeks, ones that I did not believe could be addressed. This decision is in the best interests of Wichita State, our coaches and staff, and our student-athletes."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1651694508428.png" alt="Sarah Adams came to WSU from Eastern Washington University where she served as Senior Associate Athletic Director and Senior Woman Administrator from October 2018 until November of 2019. She was promoted to Deputy Athletic Director in December of 2019 and served in that role until June of 2021.-photo courtesy WSIU" />
 <figcaption>Sarah Adams came to WSU from Eastern Washington University where she served as Senior Associate Athletic Director and Senior Woman Administrator from October 2018 until November of 2019. She was promoted to Deputy Athletic Director in December of 2019 and served in that role until June of 2021.-photo courtesy WSIU</figcaption>
 </figure>"I have asked <a href="https://goshockers.com/staff-directory/sarah-adams/1425">Senior Associate Athletic Director </a>/ SWA Sarah Adams to serve as our Interim Director of Athletics and I am confident that she will provide us with the leadership, stability and compassion needed during the transition. ""As all of you know, Wichita State University is on the rise, and our athletics program plays an important role in our institutional momentum. With incredible fans and supporters, talented coaches and support staff, a campus committed to excellence and, most importantly, hard-working student-athletes, we are poised for great success. With the assistance of an experienced search firm, we will immediately launch a national search for a new Director of Athletics who shares our values, our vision and our passion for Shocker sports and will work expediently but diligently to identify a new leader of our athletics program. I look forward to introducing our new leader of our Department of Athletics, who will elevate us to unprecedented heights." &nbsp;

Wichita State fires AD, names Sarah Adams interim director

On Saturday, April 30, 2022, Rebecca "Becky" Gillett,a loving mother of 
three and the widow of Richard Gillett passed away at the age of 70. 
Becky was born on October 21,1951 in Alice, TX. On October 14,1972, she married Richard Gillett. 
The two of them resided in Healy, KS for 30 years. Becky was employed 
for many years as a CMA at Lane County Hospital. She also spent time 
working as an interpreter for the public school system. Becky enjoyed 
volunteering at Hope's Closet in Scott City, where she was able to meet 
and help out many people in the community. Becky loved to travel with 
her late husband and family. They enjoyed visiting many sites across the
 United States She loved family and hosting family gatherings. She 
enjoyed playing bingo at the local VFWs, listening to Elvis, and 
spending time picnicing at Scott Lake. 
Becky is survived by her three children 
Tracy Rene Gillett, Leslie Cheri Gillett (Mark), and Ramon Inguanza (Amanda). 
Five grandchildren Blake Gillett, Chris Hemel, Skylar Hemel, Makayla Inguanza and Kadence Inguanza. 
Four sisters Martha Sustiata, Sheila Inguanza, Zulema Inguanza, Gloria Ynguanzo. 
Two brothers Rene Inguanza and Raymond Inguanza. 
She is preceded in death by her husband Richard Gillett. 
One sister Ida Trujillo, and three brothers Rudy Inguanza, Reynaldo Inguanza, and Roy Inguanza 
Services will be held at a later date.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1651681749120.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>On Saturday, April 30, 2022, Rebecca "Becky" Gillett,a loving mother of 
three and the widow of Richard Gillett passed away at the age of 70. 
Becky was born on October 21,1951 in Alice, TX. On October 14,1972, she married Richard Gillett. 
The two of them resided in Healy, KS for 30 years. Becky was employed 
for many years as a CMA at Lane County Hospital. She also spent time 
working as an interpreter for the public school system. Becky enjoyed 
volunteering at Hope's Closet in Scott City, where she was able to meet 
and help out many people in the community. Becky loved to travel with 
her late husband and family. They enjoyed visiting many sites across the
 United States She loved family and hosting family gatherings. She 
enjoyed playing bingo at the local VFWs, listening to Elvis, and 
spending time picnicing at Scott Lake. 
Becky is survived by her three children 
Tracy Rene Gillett, Leslie Cheri Gillett (Mark), and Ramon Inguanza (Amanda). 
Five grandchildren Blake Gillett, Chris Hemel, Skylar Hemel, Makayla Inguanza and Kadence Inguanza. 
Four sisters Martha Sustiata, Sheila Inguanza, Zulema Inguanza, Gloria Ynguanzo. 
Two brothers Rene Inguanza and Raymond Inguanza. 
She is preceded in death by her husband Richard Gillett. 
One sister Ida Trujillo, and three brothers Rudy Inguanza, Reynaldo Inguanza, and Roy Inguanza 
Services will be held at a later date.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

Rebecca Gillett

Carol was born on October 02, 1947, in Hays, Kansas, the daughter of 
John and Marge (Henn) Johnson.&nbsp; She grew up in Hays and graduated from 
Hays High School.&nbsp; After high school she attended Ft. Hays University 
where she met, fell in love and was united in marriage to Gale Ray Wood 
on June 03, 1967, in Salina, Kansas.&nbsp; From this union Carol and Gale 
were blessed with two children a son Kelly and daughter Cindy.&nbsp; The 
family lived in several towns in Kansas and eventually moved closer to 
home and moved to Russell in 2000.&nbsp; She was a very artistic person and 
enjoyed working with various crafts, scrap booking photo albums and cake
 decorating.&nbsp; She also enjoyed sewing and making clothes for her 
children and her daughters dolls.&nbsp; Most of all she enjoyed spending time
 with her family and especially enjoyed time with her children and 
grandchildren.

Surviving family include her daughter Cindy Jury and husband Rod of 
Russell, Kansas; brothers Tom Johnson and wife Joyce of Hays, Kansas; 
sisters Leigh Mabb and husband Gary of Ellis County, Kansas, Becki 
Johnson of St. Paul, Nebraska and Chris Dietz and husband Perry of Ellis
 County, Kansas; granddaughter Sadie Wood and husband Bobby Elliott of 
Russell, Kansas and great grandchildren Ronan Elliott and Hayden Ruiz.&nbsp;

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Gale on November 
04, 2020 and son Kelly Ray Wood. Cremation has been selected by the 
family. &nbsp;A memorial service to celebrate Carol’s life will be held at 10
 A.M. on Friday, May 13, 2022, at the Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary in 
Russell, Kansas.&nbsp; Family will greet guests the day of the service.&nbsp; 
Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary in Russell, Kansas, is in charge of the 
funeral service arrangements.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1651681669433.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Carol Jean Wood, 74, of Russell, Kansas, died on Saturday, April 23, 2022, at the Wheatland Nursing Center in Russell.Carol was born on October 02, 1947, in Hays, Kansas, the daughter of 
John and Marge (Henn) Johnson.&nbsp; She grew up in Hays and graduated from 
Hays High School.&nbsp; After high school she attended Ft. Hays University 
where she met, fell in love and was united in marriage to Gale Ray Wood 
on June 03, 1967, in Salina, Kansas.&nbsp; From this union Carol and Gale 
were blessed with two children a son Kelly and daughter Cindy.&nbsp; The 
family lived in several towns in Kansas and eventually moved closer to 
home and moved to Russell in 2000.&nbsp; She was a very artistic person and 
enjoyed working with various crafts, scrap booking photo albums and cake
 decorating.&nbsp; She also enjoyed sewing and making clothes for her 
children and her daughters dolls.&nbsp; Most of all she enjoyed spending time
 with her family and especially enjoyed time with her children and 
grandchildren.Surviving family include her daughter Cindy Jury and husband Rod of 
Russell, Kansas; brothers Tom Johnson and wife Joyce of Hays, Kansas; 
sisters Leigh Mabb and husband Gary of Ellis County, Kansas, Becki 
Johnson of St. Paul, Nebraska and Chris Dietz and husband Perry of Ellis
 County, Kansas; granddaughter Sadie Wood and husband Bobby Elliott of 
Russell, Kansas and great grandchildren Ronan Elliott and Hayden Ruiz.&nbsp;She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Gale on November 
04, 2020 and son Kelly Ray Wood. Cremation has been selected by the 
family. &nbsp;A memorial service to celebrate Carol’s life will be held at 10
 A.M. on Friday, May 13, 2022, at the Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary in 
Russell, Kansas.&nbsp; Family will greet guests the day of the service.&nbsp; 
Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary in Russell, Kansas, is in charge of the 
funeral service arrangements.

KANSAS CITY (AP)—A man who killed a couple during a robbery at their rural home more than a quarter of a century ago was put to death Tuesday, becoming just the fifth person executed in the United States this year.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/executions-sentencing-missouri-8b1099a050b86c4a98c6fd0da5e0e3ed">Carman Deck</a>, 56, died by injection at the state prison in Bonne Terre. He was pronounced dead at 6:10 p.m. His fate was sealed a day earlier when neither the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-supreme-court-executions-missouri-4d6d9cf622713c2f79a8d577ccb13520">U.S. Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;nor Republican Gov. Mike Parson stepped in to halt the execution. Deck’s death sentence was overturned three times before for procedural issues.

Deck mouthed a few inaudible words as the 5 grams of pentobarbital were administered, then puffed out a couple of breaths before all movement stopped, the process lasting just a few seconds.

“My hope is that one day the world will find peace and that we all will learn to be kind and loving to one another,” Deck said in a written final statement. “We all are a part of this journey through life, connected in every way. Please give love, show love, BE LOVE!”

Parson, in a statement, said the couple killed, James and Zelma Long, “were innocent victims of Carman Deck’s heinous violence. Tonight, justice was served.”

Just four other people have been executed in the U.S. in 2022 —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-oklahoma-oklahoma-city-robbery-mcalester-3693d1a245878cc773aa6bdbbad56ab4">Donald Anthony Grant</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/executions-oklahoma-mcalester-24d25f6c178c5b0852ccae3ba03214f1">Gilbert Ray Postelle&nbsp;</a>in Oklahoma,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-supreme-court-health-alabama-executions-b9b6c18d2d0f1833329d09091998b14a">Matthew Reeves</a>&nbsp;in Alabama and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-shootings-texas-executions-houston-74e25cf0325008b48a21619d257c69d0">Carl Wayne Buntio</a>&nbsp;n last month in Texas. Eleven people were executed in the U.S. last year, the fewest since 1988.

Court records show that Deck, of the St. Louis area, was a friend of the grandson of the Longs, who lived in De Soto, about 45 miles (72 kilometers) southwest of St. Louis. He knew the couple, in their late 60s, kept a safe in their home.

In July 1996, Deck and his sister stopped at the home under the guise of asking directions. Deck wasn’t surprised the couple let them in.

“They’re country folks,” Deck told a detective, according to court records. “They always do.”

Once inside, Deck pulled a gun from his waistband. At Deck’s command, Zelma Long opened the safe and removed jewelry, then got $200 from her purse and more money hidden in a canister.

Deck ordered the couple to lie on their stomachs on their bed. Court records said Deck stood there for 10 minutes deciding what to do, then shot James Long twice in the head before doing the same thing to Zelma Long.

A tip alerted police to Deck, and he was arrested later that night outside his sister’s apartment building in St. Louis County. The decorative tin canister from the Long home was on the floorboard of his car.

Prosecutors said Deck later gave a full account of the killings in oral, written and audiotaped statements. He was sentenced to death in 1998, but the Missouri Supreme Court tossed the sentence due to errors by Deck’s trial lawyer.

The U.S. Supreme Court threw out his second sentence in 2005, citing the prejudice caused by Deck being shackled in front of the sentencing jury.

He was sentenced to death for a third time in 2008.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/59b0d23c85d04ed7b8374ce433393748">Nine years later</a>, U.S. District Judge Catherine Perry determined that “substantial” evidence arguing against the death penalty in Deck’s first two penalty phases was unavailable for the third because witnesses had died, couldn’t be found or declined to cooperate.

In October 2020, a three-judge panel of the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals restored the death penalty, ruling that Deck should have raised his concern first in state court, not federal court. Appeals of that ruling were unsuccessful.

The clemency petition on behalf of Deck cited abuse he suffered as a child, including beatings that left welts and sexual abuse. It said he and his siblings often were left alone without food. Deck's attorney, Elizabeth Unger Carlyle, said in a statement that Deck also was raped while in prison for theft at age 19.

“This experience transformed him from a non-violent thief into the person who committed two terrible murders,” Carlyle said. She called his execution “unjust and immoral.”

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-executions-f32c014193ac2fdc77c15e7c3db4ec6c">number of executions</a>&nbsp;in the U.S. has declined significantly since peaking at 98 in 1998. The drop has coincided with declining support, falling from a high of 80% in 1994 to 54% in 2021 according to Gallup polls. Since the mid-1990s, opposition has risen from under 20% to around 45%.

Use of the death penalty has become concentrated mostly in a few Southern and Plains states. Last year, Texas executed three inmates, Oklahoma executed two, and one each were put to death in Alabama, Mississippi and Missouri. Three federal inmates were executed in January 2021, toward the end of President Donald Trump’s administration.

On Monday, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-executions-tennessee-nashville-e143acccdd34b46b346c0e1fb02fe823">paused executions</a>&nbsp;in his state for the rest of the year to enable a review of lethal injection procedures after a testing oversight forced the state to call off the execution of Oscar Smith an hour before he was to die on April 21.

KANSAS CITY (AP) —A man whose death sentence for killing a Missouri couple while robbing their home was overturned three times was scheduled to be executed on Tuesday.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/executions-sentencing-missouri-8b1099a050b86c4a98c6fd0da5e0e3ed">Carman Deck</a>, 56, would be just the fifth U.S. inmate to be executed this year if his lethal injection goes ahead. His hopes for a reprieve were all but dashed on Monday when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-supreme-court-executions-missouri-4d6d9cf622713c2f79a8d577ccb13520">the U.S. Supreme Court turned aside an appeal</a>&nbsp;and Republican Gov. Mike Parson declined Deck’s clemency request, though he could file new appeals.

Deck, who was from the St. Louis area, was a friend of the grandson of James and Zelma Long and knew they kept a safe in their home De Soto, about 45 miles southwest of St. Louis, according to court records.

In July 1996, Deck and his sister stopped at the home under the guise of asking for directions. Deck told a detective that he wasn’t surprised to be invited inside by the couple, who were in their late 60s.

“They’re country folks,” Deck said, according to court records. “They always do.”

A tip alerted police to Deck and he was arrested later that night outside his sister’s apartment building in St. Louis County. The decorative tin canister from the Long home was in his car.

Prosecutors said Deck later gave a full account of the killings. He was sentenced to death in 1998, but the Missouri Supreme Court tossed the sentence due to errors by Deck’s trial lawyer.

He was condemned to death a second time, but the U.S. Supreme Court threw out the sentence in 2005, citing the prejudice caused by Deck being shackled in front of the jury.

He was sentenced to death for a third time in 2008, but U.S. District Judge Catherine Perry overturned that sentence&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/59b0d23c85d04ed7b8374ce433393748">nine years later</a>&nbsp;after she determined that “substantial” evidence arguing against the death penalty during Deck’s first two penalty phases was unavailable for the third because witnesses had died, couldn’t be found or declined to cooperate.

Deck’s clemency petition said he suffered sexual abuse and beatings as a child, and that he and his siblings were often left alone without food.

But Parson wasn’t swayed, explaining his rationale for rejecting the petition in a news release: “Mr. Deck has received due process, and three separate juries of his peers have recommended sentences of death for the brutal murders he committed.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1643738665139.png" alt="Deck photo MODOC" />
 <figcaption>Deck photo MODOC</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP)—A man who killed a couple during a robbery at their rural home more than a quarter of a century ago was put to death Tuesday, becoming just the fifth person executed in the United States this year.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/executions-sentencing-missouri-8b1099a050b86c4a98c6fd0da5e0e3ed">Carman Deck</a>, 56, died by injection at the state prison in Bonne Terre. He was pronounced dead at 6:10 p.m. His fate was sealed a day earlier when neither the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-supreme-court-executions-missouri-4d6d9cf622713c2f79a8d577ccb13520">U.S. Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;nor Republican Gov. Mike Parson stepped in to halt the execution. Deck’s death sentence was overturned three times before for procedural issues.Deck mouthed a few inaudible words as the 5 grams of pentobarbital were administered, then puffed out a couple of breaths before all movement stopped, the process lasting just a few seconds.“My hope is that one day the world will find peace and that we all will learn to be kind and loving to one another,” Deck said in a written final statement. “We all are a part of this journey through life, connected in every way. Please give love, show love, BE LOVE!”Parson, in a statement, said the couple killed, James and Zelma Long, “were innocent victims of Carman Deck’s heinous violence. Tonight, justice was served.”Just four other people have been executed in the U.S. in 2022 —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-oklahoma-oklahoma-city-robbery-mcalester-3693d1a245878cc773aa6bdbbad56ab4">Donald Anthony Grant</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/executions-oklahoma-mcalester-24d25f6c178c5b0852ccae3ba03214f1">Gilbert Ray Postelle&nbsp;</a>in Oklahoma,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-supreme-court-health-alabama-executions-b9b6c18d2d0f1833329d09091998b14a">Matthew Reeves</a>&nbsp;in Alabama and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-shootings-texas-executions-houston-74e25cf0325008b48a21619d257c69d0">Carl Wayne Buntio</a>&nbsp;n last month in Texas. Eleven people were executed in the U.S. last year, the fewest since 1988.Court records show that Deck, of the St. Louis area, was a friend of the grandson of the Longs, who lived in De Soto, about 45 miles (72 kilometers) southwest of St. Louis. He knew the couple, in their late 60s, kept a safe in their home.In July 1996, Deck and his sister stopped at the home under the guise of asking directions. Deck wasn’t surprised the couple let them in.“They’re country folks,” Deck told a detective, according to court records. “They always do.”Once inside, Deck pulled a gun from his waistband. At Deck’s command, Zelma Long opened the safe and removed jewelry, then got $200 from her purse and more money hidden in a canister.Deck ordered the couple to lie on their stomachs on their bed. Court records said Deck stood there for 10 minutes deciding what to do, then shot James Long twice in the head before doing the same thing to Zelma Long.A tip alerted police to Deck, and he was arrested later that night outside his sister’s apartment building in St. Louis County. The decorative tin canister from the Long home was on the floorboard of his car.Prosecutors said Deck later gave a full account of the killings in oral, written and audiotaped statements. He was sentenced to death in 1998, but the Missouri Supreme Court tossed the sentence due to errors by Deck’s trial lawyer.The U.S. Supreme Court threw out his second sentence in 2005, citing the prejudice caused by Deck being shackled in front of the sentencing jury.He was sentenced to death for a third time in 2008.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/59b0d23c85d04ed7b8374ce433393748">Nine years later</a>, U.S. District Judge Catherine Perry determined that “substantial” evidence arguing against the death penalty in Deck’s first two penalty phases was unavailable for the third because witnesses had died, couldn’t be found or declined to cooperate.In October 2020, a three-judge panel of the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals restored the death penalty, ruling that Deck should have raised his concern first in state court, not federal court. Appeals of that ruling were unsuccessful.The clemency petition on behalf of Deck cited abuse he suffered as a child, including beatings that left welts and sexual abuse. It said he and his siblings often were left alone without food. Deck's attorney, Elizabeth Unger Carlyle, said in a statement that Deck also was raped while in prison for theft at age 19.“This experience transformed him from a non-violent thief into the person who committed two terrible murders,” Carlyle said. She called his execution “unjust and immoral.”The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-executions-f32c014193ac2fdc77c15e7c3db4ec6c">number of executions</a>&nbsp;in the U.S. has declined significantly since peaking at 98 in 1998. The drop has coincided with declining support, falling from a high of 80% in 1994 to 54% in 2021 according to Gallup polls. Since the mid-1990s, opposition has risen from under 20% to around 45%.Use of the death penalty has become concentrated mostly in a few Southern and Plains states. Last year, Texas executed three inmates, Oklahoma executed two, and one each were put to death in Alabama, Mississippi and Missouri. Three federal inmates were executed in January 2021, toward the end of President Donald Trump’s administration.On Monday, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-executions-tennessee-nashville-e143acccdd34b46b346c0e1fb02fe823">paused executions</a>&nbsp;in his state for the rest of the year to enable a review of lethal injection procedures after a testing oversight forced the state to call off the execution of Oscar Smith an hour before he was to die on April 21.----------KANSAS CITY (AP) —A man whose death sentence for killing a Missouri couple while robbing their home was overturned three times was scheduled to be executed on Tuesday.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/executions-sentencing-missouri-8b1099a050b86c4a98c6fd0da5e0e3ed">Carman Deck</a>, 56, would be just the fifth U.S. inmate to be executed this year if his lethal injection goes ahead. His hopes for a reprieve were all but dashed on Monday when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-supreme-court-executions-missouri-4d6d9cf622713c2f79a8d577ccb13520">the U.S. Supreme Court turned aside an appeal</a>&nbsp;and Republican Gov. Mike Parson declined Deck’s clemency request, though he could file new appeals.Deck, who was from the St. Louis area, was a friend of the grandson of James and Zelma Long and knew they kept a safe in their home De Soto, about 45 miles southwest of St. Louis, according to court records.In July 1996, Deck and his sister stopped at the home under the guise of asking for directions. Deck told a detective that he wasn’t surprised to be invited inside by the couple, who were in their late 60s.“They’re country folks,” Deck said, according to court records. “They always do.”Once inside, Deck pulled a gun from his waistband. At Deck’s command, Zelma Long opened the safe and removed jewelry, then got $200 from her purse and more money hidden in a canister.Deck ordered the couple to lie on their stomachs on their bed. Court records said Deck stood there for 10 minutes deciding what to do, then shot James Long twice in the head before doing the same thing to Zelma Long.A tip alerted police to Deck and he was arrested later that night outside his sister’s apartment building in St. Louis County. The decorative tin canister from the Long home was in his car.Prosecutors said Deck later gave a full account of the killings. He was sentenced to death in 1998, but the Missouri Supreme Court tossed the sentence due to errors by Deck’s trial lawyer.He was condemned to death a second time, but the U.S. Supreme Court threw out the sentence in 2005, citing the prejudice caused by Deck being shackled in front of the jury.He was sentenced to death for a third time in 2008, but U.S. District Judge Catherine Perry overturned that sentence&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/59b0d23c85d04ed7b8374ce433393748">nine years later</a>&nbsp;after she determined that “substantial” evidence arguing against the death penalty during Deck’s first two penalty phases was unavailable for the third because witnesses had died, couldn’t be found or declined to cooperate.In October 2020, a three-judge panel of the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals restored the death penalty, ruling that Deck should have raised his concern first in state court, not federal court. Appeals of that ruling were unsuccessful.Deck’s clemency petition said he suffered sexual abuse and beatings as a child, and that he and his siblings were often left alone without food.But Parson wasn’t swayed, explaining his rationale for rejecting the petition in a news release: “Mr. Deck has received due process, and three separate juries of his peers have recommended sentences of death for the brutal murders he committed.”<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-executions-f32c014193ac2fdc77c15e7c3db4ec6c">The number of executions</a>&nbsp;in the U.S. has declined significantly since peaking at 98 in 1998. The drop has coincided with a decline in public support for capital punishment that has fallen from a high of 80% in 1994 to 54% in 2021, according to Gallup polls. Since the mid-1990s, opposition to capital punishment has risen from under 20% to about 45%.Just four people have been executed in 2022 —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-oklahoma-oklahoma-city-robbery-mcalester-3693d1a245878cc773aa6bdbbad56ab4">Donald Anthony Grant</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/executions-oklahoma-mcalester-24d25f6c178c5b0852ccae3ba03214f1">Gilbert Ray Postelle</a>&nbsp;in Oklahoma,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-supreme-court-health-alabama-executions-b9b6c18d2d0f1833329d09091998b14a">Matthew Reeves</a>&nbsp;in Alabama and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-shootings-texas-executions-houston-74e25cf0325008b48a21619d257c69d0">Carl Wayne Buntion</a>&nbsp;last month in Texas. All four were convicted killers who were put to death by injection. Eleven people were executed in the U.S. last year, which was the country’s fewest executions since 1988.Use of the death penalty has become concentrated mostly in a few Southern and Plains states. Last year, Texas executed three inmates, Oklahoma executed two, and one each were put to death in Alabama, Mississippi and Missouri. Three federal inmates were executed in January 2021, toward the end of President Donald Trump’s administration.On Monday, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-executions-tennessee-nashville-e143acccdd34b46b346c0e1fb02fe823">paused executions</a>&nbsp;for the rest of the year to enable a review of lethal injection procedures after a testing oversight forced the state to call off the execution of Oscar Smith an hour before he was to die on April 21.---------------WASHINGTON (AP) —The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to halt the upcoming execution of Missouri inmate Carman Deck, and Republican Gov. Mike Parson said he will not grant clemency.Deck, 56, is scheduled to die by injection at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the state prison in Bonne Terre for killing a couple while robbing their rural home in July 1996."Mr. Deck has received due process, and three separate juries of his peers have recommended sentences of death for the brutal murders he committed,” Parson said in a statement. “The State of Missouri will carry out Mr. Deck’s sentence according to the Court’s order and deliver justice.”Deck's attorney didn't immediately respond to a message seeking comment.Only four executions have been carried out in the U.S. so far in 2022, and the 11 last year were the fewest since 1988. Earlier Monday, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-executions-tennessee-nashville-e143acccdd34b46b346c0e1fb02fe823">paused executions</a>&nbsp;for the rest of the year to enable a review of the state's lethal injection procedures. That decision came after a testing oversight forced the state to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-health-crime-executions-tennessee-c35f2cf35a7791617bd4e24555d13a2c">call off the execution</a>&nbsp;of Oscar Smith an hour before he was to die on April 21.Deck, of the St. Louis area, admitted that he killed James Long, 69, and his 67-year-old wife, Zelma, while robbing them at their home in the eastern Missouri town of De Soto in July 1996.Deck's death sentence was thrown out three times due to procedural errors before a federal appeals court panel restored it in 2020.The clemency petition on behalf of Deck cited abuse he suffered as a child, including sexual abuse and beatings. It also said he and his siblings often were left alone without food.The number of executions in the U.S. has declined significantly since peaking at 98 in 1998. The drop has coincided with a decline in public support for capital punishment that has fallen from a high of 80% in 1994 to 54% in 2021, according to Gallup polls. Since the mid-1990s, opposition to capital punishment has risen from under 20% to about 45%.------------JEFFERSON CITY—On Monday, Governor Mike Parson confirmed that the State of Missouri will carry out the sentence of 56-year-old Carmen Deck on Tuesday, May 3, 2022, as ordered by the Supreme Court of Missouri, according to a statement from Parson's office."Mr. Deck has received due process, and three separate juries of his peers have recommended sentences of death for the brutal murders he committed,"&nbsp;Governor Parson&nbsp;said. "The State of Missouri will carry out Mr. Deck's sentence according to the Court's order and&nbsp;deliver justice."Deck was tried and convicted for the heinous execution-style murders of two innocent elderly victims during a robbery in 1996. Mr. Deck fully admitted to his callous offenses in verbal, written, and recorded statements to law enforcement.Court records said Deck and his sister went to the Long home under the guise of asking for directions, but with the intent to rob them. Deck pulled a pistol from his waistband and ordered them to lie facedown on their bed. He shot them in the head. In three different proceedings, separate juries have recommended Mr. Deck’s death sentences. Deck's case has been reviewed in the state trial court, Missouri Supreme Court, federal district court, Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, and United States Supreme Court.