Coleen Dinkel, age 69 of Ellis, Kansas died Sunday, May 25, 2025
at the Good Samaritan Society - Ellis.

Coleen was born October 8,
1955, in Wakeeney, Kansas to Frank Schuster and Lorena (Malson) Schuster. She
graduated from Trego Community High School in 1973 and was united in marriage
to Fred Dinkel July 28, 1973.

Coleen stayed home and raised her three beautiful children. She
enjoyed cooking, cross stitching, putting together jigsaw puzzles, and
gambling, but most of all, spending time with her family. Coleen was also a
volunteer at the Ellis Thrift Store for over 10 years.

She is survived by her husband of almost 52 years; her children;
Tim (Bobbie) Dinkel; Jeff (Jessica) Dinkel, and Michelle (Matt) Murray, all of
Goodland, Kansas; grandchildren, James Dinkel, Kennedy Linin (Joel), Braden
Dinkel, Malynn Bonner, Mason Murray, Caleb Bonner, Dallynn Dinkel, Madelynn
Murray, Jayce Dinkel, Aaliyah Dinkel and Keyfyr Dinkel; great grandchildren,
Oakley Dinkel and Malachi Linin; sisters, Linda Kay Pulsipher (Rod), Illa Flax,
Lori Wagoner (Aaron); and brother, Mick Yannacito (Marcia).

She was preceded in death by her parents, Frank &amp; Lorena
Schuster.

Mass of Christian burial will be Friday, May 30, 2025 at 10:00 AM
at St. Mary's Catholic Church - Ellis. Burial will follow the mass in St.
Mary's Catholic Cemetery - Ellis. Viewing and Visitation will be on Thursday,
May 29, 2025 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM with a parish vigil service at 7:00 PM and
on Friday from 9:00 AM until service time all at St. Mary's - Ellis.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to: St. Mary's
Catholic Church - Ellis in care of the funeral chapel.

Please share memories and words of comfort on Coleen's tribute
page at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com/">www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com</a>

Services in care of Keithley Funeral Homes and Crematory -
Keithley Funeral Chapel - 400 East 17th Street Ellis, Kansas 67637.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748483667268.jpeg" alt="Coleen Dinkel" />
 <figcaption>Coleen Dinkel</figcaption>
 </figure>Coleen Dinkel, age 69 of Ellis, Kansas died Sunday, May 25, 2025
at the Good Samaritan Society - Ellis.Coleen was born October 8,
1955, in Wakeeney, Kansas to Frank Schuster and Lorena (Malson) Schuster. She
graduated from Trego Community High School in 1973 and was united in marriage
to Fred Dinkel July 28, 1973.Coleen stayed home and raised her three beautiful children. She
enjoyed cooking, cross stitching, putting together jigsaw puzzles, and
gambling, but most of all, spending time with her family. Coleen was also a
volunteer at the Ellis Thrift Store for over 10 years.She is survived by her husband of almost 52 years; her children;
Tim (Bobbie) Dinkel; Jeff (Jessica) Dinkel, and Michelle (Matt) Murray, all of
Goodland, Kansas; grandchildren, James Dinkel, Kennedy Linin (Joel), Braden
Dinkel, Malynn Bonner, Mason Murray, Caleb Bonner, Dallynn Dinkel, Madelynn
Murray, Jayce Dinkel, Aaliyah Dinkel and Keyfyr Dinkel; great grandchildren,
Oakley Dinkel and Malachi Linin; sisters, Linda Kay Pulsipher (Rod), Illa Flax,
Lori Wagoner (Aaron); and brother, Mick Yannacito (Marcia).She was preceded in death by her parents, Frank &amp; Lorena
Schuster.Mass of Christian burial will be Friday, May 30, 2025 at 10:00 AM
at St. Mary's Catholic Church - Ellis. Burial will follow the mass in St.
Mary's Catholic Cemetery - Ellis. Viewing and Visitation will be on Thursday,
May 29, 2025 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM with a parish vigil service at 7:00 PM and
on Friday from 9:00 AM until service time all at St. Mary's - Ellis.In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to: St. Mary's
Catholic Church - Ellis in care of the funeral chapel.Please share memories and words of comfort on Coleen's tribute
page at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com/">www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com</a>Services in care of Keithley Funeral Homes and Crematory -
Keithley Funeral Chapel - 400 East 17th Street Ellis, Kansas 67637.--

Coleen Dinkel

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A registered Kansas violent offender accused of attacking two woman in downtown Wichita earlier this month made his first court appearance for the crime on Tuesday.

Ishara Samson, 34 of Wichita, is charged with two counts of battery and&nbsp; an offender registration violation, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

On May 3, two women reported a suspect, later identified as Samson, attacked them while they were walking near Douglas and St. Francis in downtown Wichita, according to police.&nbsp; Samson was was arrested at a homeless shelter.

He has been listed as a registered violent offender in Kansas since October 2022 after conviction on charges of&nbsp; Aggravated battery; Knowingly use weapon cause great body harm/disfigure/death after an&nbsp;attack with a sword.&nbsp;

He’s being held in the Sedgwick County Jail on a $100,000 bond and is due back in court on June 9, according to the district attorney's office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748381720990.png" alt="Samson photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Samson photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A registered Kansas violent offender accused of attacking two woman in downtown Wichita earlier this month made his first court appearance for the crime on Tuesday.Ishara Samson, 34 of Wichita, is charged with two counts of battery and&nbsp; an offender registration violation, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.On May 3, two women reported a suspect, later identified as Samson, attacked them while they were walking near Douglas and St. Francis in downtown Wichita, according to police.&nbsp; Samson was was arrested at a homeless shelter.He has been listed as a registered violent offender in Kansas since October 2022 after conviction on charges of&nbsp; Aggravated battery; Knowingly use weapon cause great body harm/disfigure/death after an&nbsp;attack with a sword.&nbsp;He’s being held in the Sedgwick County Jail on a $100,000 bond and is due back in court on June 9, according to the district attorney's office.

Kansas registered offender back in jail after alleged attack

TOPEKA —The Kansas Department of Health on Wednesday reported six new case of measles over the past week in the state for a total of 64 cases in 11 counties.

The U.S. saw a small increase in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shakira-measles-new-jersey-texas-mmr-25022a0b7c69a23c27b0ccdbf818ee86">measles cases</a>&nbsp;last week, an indicator that outbreaks are slowing down, though exposures at a busy airport in Colorado and a Shakira concert in New Jersey are keeping public health experts&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-new-mexico-outbreak-mmr-vaccine-6cfda9a944084c390bc70f0e7a37a426">on their toes</a>.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday that there are 1,046 confirmed measles cases, up 22 from last week.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-texas-rfk-vaccines-8cf4641b04731c713edb524ca943490c">Texas, where the nation's biggest outbreak raged during the late winter and spring, reported one</a>&nbsp;additional case on Tuesday for a total of 729.

There are three other&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-mexico-canada-ontario-0956a30c043b030ae79bc9f67c6ce89c">major outbreaks</a>&nbsp;in North America. One in Ontario, Canada, has resulted in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/Documents/M/24/measles-ontario-epi-summary.pdf?rev=323859266e21469b8b97a294d6c6f98e&amp;sc_lang=en">1,795 cases</a>&nbsp;from mid-October through May 20, an increase of 173 cases in a week. Another in Alberta, Canada, has sickened&nbsp;<a href="https://www.alberta.ca/measles">538 as of Thursday</a>. And the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mexico-measles-vaccines-misinformation-mmr-mennonites-misinformation-ea6158b9a4d513b20f33cbc09034e5c2">Mexican state of Chihuahua</a>&nbsp;had 1,578 measles cases and three deaths as of Friday, according to data from the state health ministry.

Since the outbreak in the southwest U.S. began,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-rfk-death-vaccine-4e28b0edf5cab47980b40b2d47f0ec50">two elementary school-aged children</a>&nbsp;in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-west-texas-death-rfk-41adc66641e4a56ce2b2677480031ab9">epicenter in West Texas</a>&nbsp;and an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-death-new-mexico-texas-outbreak-b9aef6fdd51fbb4ebd1ce9ce28e33299">adult in New Mexico</a>&nbsp;have died of measles. All were unvaccinated.

But that outbreak, which affects&nbsp;<a href="https://www.datawrapper.de/_/sxSwi/?v=7">Texas</a>, New Mexico and Oklahoma, appeared to be “leveling off" last week, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention incident manager Dr. Manisha Patel said on May 15. But she noted that it's still “travel season” and there is "a lot of global measles activity right now.”

Other&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-kansas-ohio-mmr-vaccination-new-mexico-texas-569474272df9baaad1f6d73462ebe92a">states with active outbreaks</a>&nbsp;— which the CDC defines as three or more related cases — include&nbsp;<a href="https://www.datawrapper.de/_/aP4Au/?v=3">Kansas</a>, Michigan, Montana, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Tennessee. Indiana's outbreak was declared over this week.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-new-mexico-mmr-outbreak-vaccines-408371700e3ab548777bf0354e586549">Measles</a>&nbsp;is caused by a highly contagious virus that’s airborne and spreads easily when an infected person breathes, sneezes or coughs. It is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rfk-vaccines-autism-measles-obesity-food-dye-f26089856550e978d28fd25b653d8103">preventable through vaccines</a>, and has been considered eliminated from the U.S. since 2000. Here’s what else you&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-texas-rfk-vaccines-8cf4641b04731c713edb524ca943490c">need to know about measles in the U.S.</a>

<a href="https://www.datawrapper.de/_/aP4Au/?v=3">Kansas</a>&nbsp;has a total of 64 cases across 11 counties, with two hospitalizations. All but two of the cases are connected, and most of the cases are in Gray County.

How many measles cases are there in Texas?

There are a total of 729 cases across&nbsp;<a href="https://www.datawrapper.de/_/sxSwi/?v=7">34 counties, most of them in West Texas</a>, state health officials said Friday.

One more person was hospitalized, for 94 total throughout the outbreak.

<a href="https://www.dshs.texas.gov/news-alerts/measles-outbreak-2025">State health officials estimated</a>&nbsp;less than 1% of cases — fewer than 10 — are actively infectious. Fifty-six percent of Texas’ cases are in Gaines County, population 22,892, where the virus started spreading in a close-knit, undervaccinated Mennonite community. The county has had 408 cases since late January — just over 1.7% of the county’s residents.

The April 3 death in Texas was an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-rfk-death-vaccine-4e28b0edf5cab47980b40b2d47f0ec50">8-year-old child,</a>&nbsp;according to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-measles-outbreak-rfk-jr-ben-edwards-2dd7c79d47c64ad2e6d4a4ac3c87ec1f">Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.</a>&nbsp;Local health officials said the child did not have underlying health conditions and died of “what the child’s doctor described as measles pulmonary failure.” A unvaccinated&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-west-texas-death-rfk-41adc66641e4a56ce2b2677480031ab9">child with no underlying conditions died of measles in Texas</a>&nbsp;in late February; Kennedy said the child was 6.

How many measles cases are there in New Mexico?

New Mexico added one new case since Friday for a total of 79.

Seven people have been hospitalized since the outbreak started. Most of the state’s cases are in Lea County. Sandoval County near Albuquerque has six cases, Eddy County has three, Doña Ana County has two and Chaves and Curry counties have one each.

An unvaccinated adult died of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-death-new-mexico-texas-outbreak-b9aef6fdd51fbb4ebd1ce9ce28e33299">measles-related illness March 6</a>. The person did not seek medical care.

Oklahoma held steady Friday with a total of 14 confirmed and three probable cases.

The state health department is not releasing which counties have cases.

All of Indiana's cases — eight — were in Allen County in the northeast part of the state. The county health department said the cases had no known link to other outbreaks, and there've been no new ones since April 21, leading officials declare the outbreak over.

Michigan has eight confirmed cases of measles, with an outbreak of four connected cases in Montcalm County in the western part of the state that health officials say is tied to the Ontario outbreak.

Montana has 10 measles cases as of Thursday. The state's only outbreak started in mid-April in southwestern Gallatin County — Montana’s first measles cases in 35 years.

Flathead and Hill counties also have one case each.

Health officials said there is no known local spread of measles, but did note the outbreaks in neighboring North Dakota and the Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan.

How many cases are there in North Dakota?

North Dakota, which hadn't seen measles since 2011, is up to 23 cases as of Monday. One person has been hospitalized, and all of the people with confirmed cases were not vaccinated.

There are 13 cases in Williams County in western North Dakota on the Montana border, and seven cases in Cass County on the eastern side of the state. Grand Forks County also has three cases.

Ohio remained steady Thursday at 34 measles cases and one hospitalization, according to the Ohio Department of Health. That count includes only Ohio residents.

The state has two outbreaks: Ashtabula County near Cleveland has 16 cases, and Knox County in east-central Ohio has 20 — 14 among Ohio residents and the rest among visitors.

Allen, Cuyahoga, Holmes and Defiance counties have one case each.

How many cases are there in Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania has 15 cases overall in 2025 as of May 16, including international travel-related cases in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pa.gov/content/dam/copapwp-pagov/en/health/documents/topics/documents/2025%20HAN/2025-787-3-13-ADV-%20Measles.pdf">Montgomery County and one in Philadelphia</a>.

The outbreak of eight measles cases in Erie County in far northwest Pennsylvania has remained steady since it began in mid-April.

Tennessee had six measles cases as of early May. Health department spokesman Bill Christian said all cases are the middle part of the state, and that “at least three of these cases are linked to each other” but declined to specify further. The state also did not say whether the cases were linked to other outbreaks or when Tennessee’s outbreak started.

Where else is measles showing up in the U.S.?

Measles cases also have been reported in Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia and Washington.

Cases and outbreaks in the U.S. are frequently traced to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/europe-asia-measles-rates-unicef-who-report-2f888732cc297090238956986fd89cc4">someone who caught the disease abroad</a>. The CDC says more than twice as many measles have come from outside of the U.S. compared to May of last year, and most of those are in unvaccinated Americans returning home. In 2019, the U.S. saw 1,274 cases and almost lost its status of having eliminated measles.

What do you need to know about the MMR vaccine?

The best way to avoid measles is to get the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/vaccine-safety/vaccines/mmr.html">measles, mumps and rubella</a>&nbsp;vaccine. The first shot is recommended for children between 12 and 15 months old and the second between 4 and 6 years old.

Getting another MMR shot as an adult is harmless if there are concerns about waning immunity, the CDC says. People who have documentation of receiving a live measles vaccine in the 1960s don’t need to be revaccinated, but people who were immunized before 1968 with an ineffective vaccine made from “killed” virus should be revaccinated with at least one dose, the agency said.

People who have documentation that they had measles are immune, and those born before 1957 generally don’t need the shots because so many children got measles back then that they have “presumptive immunity."

Measles has a harder time spreading through communities with high vaccination rates — above 95% — due to “herd immunity.” But childhood vaccination rates have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-vaccines-funding-cuts-5785985d6b74024b0502f6a2fc1576e2">declined nationwide</a>&nbsp;since the pandemic and more parents are claiming religious or personal conscience waivers to exempt their kids from required shots.

Measles first infects the respiratory tract, then spreads throughout the body, causing a high fever, runny nose, cough, red, watery eyes and a rash.

The rash generally appears three to five days after the first symptoms, beginning as flat red spots on the face and then spreading downward to the neck, trunk, arms, legs and feet. When the rash appears, the fever may spike over 104 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the CDC.

Most kids will recover from measles, but infection can lead to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/measles/signs-symptoms/index.html">dangerous complications</a>&nbsp;such as pneumonia, blindness, brain swelling and death.

There’s no specific treatment for measles, so doctors generally try to alleviate symptoms, prevent complications and keep patients comfortable.

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1743085628490.png" alt="Photo by Tatiana Lanzieri Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.png" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Tatiana Lanzieri Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.png</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA —The Kansas Department of Health on Wednesday reported six new case of measles over the past week in the state for a total of 64 cases in 11 counties.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748448702371.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748448566253.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The U.S. saw a small increase in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shakira-measles-new-jersey-texas-mmr-25022a0b7c69a23c27b0ccdbf818ee86">measles cases</a>&nbsp;last week, an indicator that outbreaks are slowing down, though exposures at a busy airport in Colorado and a Shakira concert in New Jersey are keeping public health experts&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-new-mexico-outbreak-mmr-vaccine-6cfda9a944084c390bc70f0e7a37a426">on their toes</a>.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday that there are 1,046 confirmed measles cases, up 22 from last week.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-texas-rfk-vaccines-8cf4641b04731c713edb524ca943490c">Texas, where the nation's biggest outbreak raged during the late winter and spring, reported one</a>&nbsp;additional case on Tuesday for a total of 729.There are three other&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-mexico-canada-ontario-0956a30c043b030ae79bc9f67c6ce89c">major outbreaks</a>&nbsp;in North America. One in Ontario, Canada, has resulted in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/Documents/M/24/measles-ontario-epi-summary.pdf?rev=323859266e21469b8b97a294d6c6f98e&amp;sc_lang=en">1,795 cases</a>&nbsp;from mid-October through May 20, an increase of 173 cases in a week. Another in Alberta, Canada, has sickened&nbsp;<a href="https://www.alberta.ca/measles">538 as of Thursday</a>. And the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mexico-measles-vaccines-misinformation-mmr-mennonites-misinformation-ea6158b9a4d513b20f33cbc09034e5c2">Mexican state of Chihuahua</a>&nbsp;had 1,578 measles cases and three deaths as of Friday, according to data from the state health ministry.Since the outbreak in the southwest U.S. began,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-rfk-death-vaccine-4e28b0edf5cab47980b40b2d47f0ec50">two elementary school-aged children</a>&nbsp;in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-west-texas-death-rfk-41adc66641e4a56ce2b2677480031ab9">epicenter in West Texas</a>&nbsp;and an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-death-new-mexico-texas-outbreak-b9aef6fdd51fbb4ebd1ce9ce28e33299">adult in New Mexico</a>&nbsp;have died of measles. All were unvaccinated.But that outbreak, which affects&nbsp;<a href="https://www.datawrapper.de/_/sxSwi/?v=7">Texas</a>, New Mexico and Oklahoma, appeared to be “leveling off" last week, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention incident manager Dr. Manisha Patel said on May 15. But she noted that it's still “travel season” and there is "a lot of global measles activity right now.”Other&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-kansas-ohio-mmr-vaccination-new-mexico-texas-569474272df9baaad1f6d73462ebe92a">states with active outbreaks</a>&nbsp;— which the CDC defines as three or more related cases — include&nbsp;<a href="https://www.datawrapper.de/_/aP4Au/?v=3">Kansas</a>, Michigan, Montana, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Tennessee. Indiana's outbreak was declared over this week.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-new-mexico-mmr-outbreak-vaccines-408371700e3ab548777bf0354e586549">Measles</a>&nbsp;is caused by a highly contagious virus that’s airborne and spreads easily when an infected person breathes, sneezes or coughs. It is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rfk-vaccines-autism-measles-obesity-food-dye-f26089856550e978d28fd25b653d8103">preventable through vaccines</a>, and has been considered eliminated from the U.S. since 2000. Here’s what else you&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-texas-rfk-vaccines-8cf4641b04731c713edb524ca943490c">need to know about measles in the U.S.</a><h2>How many cases are there in Kansas?</h2><a href="https://www.datawrapper.de/_/aP4Au/?v=3">Kansas</a>&nbsp;has a total of 64 cases across 11 counties, with two hospitalizations. All but two of the cases are connected, and most of the cases are in Gray County.<h2>How many measles cases are there in Texas?</h2>There are a total of 729 cases across&nbsp;<a href="https://www.datawrapper.de/_/sxSwi/?v=7">34 counties, most of them in West Texas</a>, state health officials said Friday.One more person was hospitalized, for 94 total throughout the outbreak.<a href="https://www.dshs.texas.gov/news-alerts/measles-outbreak-2025">State health officials estimated</a>&nbsp;less than 1% of cases — fewer than 10 — are actively infectious. Fifty-six percent of Texas’ cases are in Gaines County, population 22,892, where the virus started spreading in a close-knit, undervaccinated Mennonite community. The county has had 408 cases since late January — just over 1.7% of the county’s residents.The April 3 death in Texas was an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-rfk-death-vaccine-4e28b0edf5cab47980b40b2d47f0ec50">8-year-old child,</a>&nbsp;according to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-measles-outbreak-rfk-jr-ben-edwards-2dd7c79d47c64ad2e6d4a4ac3c87ec1f">Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.</a>&nbsp;Local health officials said the child did not have underlying health conditions and died of “what the child’s doctor described as measles pulmonary failure.” A unvaccinated&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-west-texas-death-rfk-41adc66641e4a56ce2b2677480031ab9">child with no underlying conditions died of measles in Texas</a>&nbsp;in late February; Kennedy said the child was 6.<h2>How many measles cases are there in New Mexico?</h2>New Mexico added one new case since Friday for a total of 79.Seven people have been hospitalized since the outbreak started. Most of the state’s cases are in Lea County. Sandoval County near Albuquerque has six cases, Eddy County has three, Doña Ana County has two and Chaves and Curry counties have one each.An unvaccinated adult died of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-death-new-mexico-texas-outbreak-b9aef6fdd51fbb4ebd1ce9ce28e33299">measles-related illness March 6</a>. The person did not seek medical care.<h2>How many cases are there in Oklahoma?</h2>Oklahoma held steady Friday with a total of 14 confirmed and three probable cases.The state health department is not releasing which counties have cases.<h2>How many cases are there in Indiana?</h2>All of Indiana's cases — eight — were in Allen County in the northeast part of the state. The county health department said the cases had no known link to other outbreaks, and there've been no new ones since April 21, leading officials declare the outbreak over.<h2>How many cases are there in Michigan?</h2>Michigan has eight confirmed cases of measles, with an outbreak of four connected cases in Montcalm County in the western part of the state that health officials say is tied to the Ontario outbreak.<h2>How many cases are there in Montana?</h2>Montana has 10 measles cases as of Thursday. The state's only outbreak started in mid-April in southwestern Gallatin County — Montana’s first measles cases in 35 years.Flathead and Hill counties also have one case each.Health officials said there is no known local spread of measles, but did note the outbreaks in neighboring North Dakota and the Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan.<h2>How many cases are there in North Dakota?</h2>North Dakota, which hadn't seen measles since 2011, is up to 23 cases as of Monday. One person has been hospitalized, and all of the people with confirmed cases were not vaccinated.There are 13 cases in Williams County in western North Dakota on the Montana border, and seven cases in Cass County on the eastern side of the state. Grand Forks County also has three cases.<h2>How many cases are there in Ohio?</h2>Ohio remained steady Thursday at 34 measles cases and one hospitalization, according to the Ohio Department of Health. That count includes only Ohio residents.The state has two outbreaks: Ashtabula County near Cleveland has 16 cases, and Knox County in east-central Ohio has 20 — 14 among Ohio residents and the rest among visitors.Allen, Cuyahoga, Holmes and Defiance counties have one case each.<h2>How many cases are there in Pennsylvania?</h2>Pennsylvania has 15 cases overall in 2025 as of May 16, including international travel-related cases in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pa.gov/content/dam/copapwp-pagov/en/health/documents/topics/documents/2025%20HAN/2025-787-3-13-ADV-%20Measles.pdf">Montgomery County and one in Philadelphia</a>.The outbreak of eight measles cases in Erie County in far northwest Pennsylvania has remained steady since it began in mid-April.<h2>How many cases are there in Tennessee?</h2>Tennessee had six measles cases as of early May. Health department spokesman Bill Christian said all cases are the middle part of the state, and that “at least three of these cases are linked to each other” but declined to specify further. The state also did not say whether the cases were linked to other outbreaks or when Tennessee’s outbreak started.<h2>Where else is measles showing up in the U.S.?</h2>Measles cases also have been reported in Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia and Washington.Cases and outbreaks in the U.S. are frequently traced to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/europe-asia-measles-rates-unicef-who-report-2f888732cc297090238956986fd89cc4">someone who caught the disease abroad</a>. The CDC says more than twice as many measles have come from outside of the U.S. compared to May of last year, and most of those are in unvaccinated Americans returning home. In 2019, the U.S. saw 1,274 cases and almost lost its status of having eliminated measles.<h2>What do you need to know about the MMR vaccine?</h2>The best way to avoid measles is to get the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/vaccine-safety/vaccines/mmr.html">measles, mumps and rubella</a>&nbsp;vaccine. The first shot is recommended for children between 12 and 15 months old and the second between 4 and 6 years old.Getting another MMR shot as an adult is harmless if there are concerns about waning immunity, the CDC says. People who have documentation of receiving a live measles vaccine in the 1960s don’t need to be revaccinated, but people who were immunized before 1968 with an ineffective vaccine made from “killed” virus should be revaccinated with at least one dose, the agency said.People who have documentation that they had measles are immune, and those born before 1957 generally don’t need the shots because so many children got measles back then that they have “presumptive immunity."Measles has a harder time spreading through communities with high vaccination rates — above 95% — due to “herd immunity.” But childhood vaccination rates have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-vaccines-funding-cuts-5785985d6b74024b0502f6a2fc1576e2">declined nationwide</a>&nbsp;since the pandemic and more parents are claiming religious or personal conscience waivers to exempt their kids from required shots.<h2>What are the symptoms of measles?</h2>Measles first infects the respiratory tract, then spreads throughout the body, causing a high fever, runny nose, cough, red, watery eyes and a rash.The rash generally appears three to five days after the first symptoms, beginning as flat red spots on the face and then spreading downward to the neck, trunk, arms, legs and feet. When the rash appears, the fever may spike over 104 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the CDC.Most kids will recover from measles, but infection can lead to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/measles/signs-symptoms/index.html">dangerous complications</a>&nbsp;such as pneumonia, blindness, brain swelling and death.<h2>How can you treat measles?</h2>There’s no specific treatment for measles, so doctors generally try to alleviate symptoms, prevent complications and keep patients comfortable.___The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

Number of measles cases in Kansas continues to climb

CALICO ROCK, Ark. (AP) —As law officers search Arkansas' rugged Ozark Mountains for a former police chief and convicted killer who escaped prison this weekend by impersonating a guard and walking out through a gate a guard opened for him, the sister of one of his victims is on edge.

Grant Hardin, the former police chief in the small town of Gateway near the Arkansas-Missouri border,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/police-chief-arkansas-prison-escape-grant-hardin-280127e9737bc8e8e0d6388d7f268bd1">was serving lengthy sentences for murder and rape</a>&nbsp;and became known as the “Devil in the Ozarks.”

Hardin escaped Sunday from the North Central Unit — a medium-security prison also known as the Calico Rock prison — by impersonating a corrections officer “in dress and manner,” according to a court document. A prison officer opened a secure gate, allowing him to leave the facility.

Rand Champion, a spokesperson for the Arkansas Department of Corrections, described the clothes as not a standard inmate or correctional uniform.

“There's nothing inside the prison that looks like that, so that’s one of the challenges we're going through to find out what that was and how he was able to get that or manufacture it," he said.

Champion said that the decision to house Hardin in a medium-security facility weighed the “needs of the different facilities and inmates” and “assessments” of his crimes.

Hardin's escape happened days after 10 men fled a New Orleans jail by going&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-orleans-inmates-escape-0f96f173a3ded57b4b23f9a07b6cffac">through a hole behind a toilet</a>. Eight of those fugitives&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jail-louisiana-escape-new-orleans-vanburen-52a37e88b4a599c8dd4131ad791dc21e">have since been captured</a>.

Cheryl Tillman, whose brother James Appleton was killed by Hardin in 2017, said she and other relatives are alarmed by Hardin's escape since they were witnesses in his court proceedings.

“We were there at his trial when all that went down, and he seen us there, he knows,” she told The Associated Press on Tuesday.

Authorities are using canines, drones and helicopters to search the rugged northern Arkansas terrain, Champion said.

The search area has expanded as the hours have gone on, though Champion didn't discuss exact details of the search area.

"Where this facility is located, the topography does provide challenges," he said. “At the same time, it kind of limits where he is able to get.”

“It's called Calico Rock for a reason, because it's very rocky,” he added.

Video surveillance shows Hardin escaped at approximately 2:55 p.m. on Sunday, Champion said. Officials announced his escape at approximately 5 p.m. that evening.

Complicating the search effort is the heavy rain that's fallen in recent days in the area, he said.

Hardin’s escape into a rural part of the state isn’t necessarily an advantage, according to Craig Caine, a retired inspector with the U.S. Marshals who has handled many cases involving escaped prisoners throughout his nearly 30-year career with federal law enforcement.

“At some point in time, he’s going to run out of provisions,” said Caine.

“In more rural areas, most people know one another,” Caine said, making it more likely that someone will identify Hardin and turn him in. “In that aspect, it could be detrimental to him.”

Izard County Sheriff Charley Melton and other local sheriffs urged residents to lock their homes and vehicles and call 911 if they notice anything suspicious.

Bryan Sexton, who prosecuted Hardin for both murder and rape, said that his office has reached out to officers who investigated Hardin and families affected by Hardin’s crimes, which were the focus of a 2023 documentary, “Devil in the Ozarks.”

“Making those contacts again with folks who have moved on with their lives for the better part of a decade now and to have to be the one who picks up the phone and reminds them of what has happened to them is something that weighs heavily on me,” Sexton said.

Gateway, the town of about 450 people where Hardin briefly was the police chief in 2016, is in the same large county as the headquarters of retail giant Walmart in Bentonville. But Gateway and the northeast part of the county is far more rural and remote than Bentonville. The landscape only gets more rugged to the east, into the heart of the Ozarks and the Buffalo National River, toward Izard County where the escape happened.

Darla Nix, a local cafe owner in nearby Pea Ridge, Arkansas, said her sons grew up around Hardin and knew him as a mostly quiet person before he was convicted.

“He was always just one of the kids, a member of the community,” Nix said.

Describing Hardin as a “very, very smart man,” Nix said she anticipates that the search for Hardin will be challenging for law enforcement.

“He knows where the caves are. He’s just a survivor. He knows how to make it. They’re going to have their hands full trying to catch him,” Nix said.

Tillman said she wasn't surprised when she heard that Hardin had escaped. But the news suddenly added fresh pain for her and other family members after dealing with the grief from the killing.

“He's just an evil man,” she said. “He is no good for society.”

Hardin pleaded guilty in October 2017 to first-degree murder for fatally shooting Appleton, 59. Appleton worked for the Gateway water department when he was shot in the head on Feb. 23, 2017, near Garfield. Police found Appleton’s body inside a car.

Investigators at the time did not release a motive for the killing and Hardin was sentenced to 30 years in prison. He is also serving 50 years in prison for the 1997 rape of an elementary school teacher in Rogers, north of Fayetteville.

Hardin had been held in the Calico Rock prison since 2017. The facility has a capacity of about 800 inmates, according to the Arkansas Department of Corrections.

Riddle reported from Montgomery, Alabama.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748309291610.png" alt="Photo ADC" />
 <figcaption>Photo ADC</figcaption>
 </figure>CALICO ROCK, Ark. (AP) —As law officers search Arkansas' rugged Ozark Mountains for a former police chief and convicted killer who escaped prison this weekend by impersonating a guard and walking out through a gate a guard opened for him, the sister of one of his victims is on edge.Grant Hardin, the former police chief in the small town of Gateway near the Arkansas-Missouri border,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/police-chief-arkansas-prison-escape-grant-hardin-280127e9737bc8e8e0d6388d7f268bd1">was serving lengthy sentences for murder and rape</a>&nbsp;and became known as the “Devil in the Ozarks.”Hardin escaped Sunday from the North Central Unit — a medium-security prison also known as the Calico Rock prison — by impersonating a corrections officer “in dress and manner,” according to a court document. A prison officer opened a secure gate, allowing him to leave the facility.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748354598066.png" alt="Photo ADC" />
 <figcaption>Photo ADC</figcaption>
 </figure>Rand Champion, a spokesperson for the Arkansas Department of Corrections, described the clothes as not a standard inmate or correctional uniform.“There's nothing inside the prison that looks like that, so that’s one of the challenges we're going through to find out what that was and how he was able to get that or manufacture it," he said.Champion said that the decision to house Hardin in a medium-security facility weighed the “needs of the different facilities and inmates” and “assessments” of his crimes.Hardin's escape happened days after 10 men fled a New Orleans jail by going&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-orleans-inmates-escape-0f96f173a3ded57b4b23f9a07b6cffac">through a hole behind a toilet</a>. Eight of those fugitives&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jail-louisiana-escape-new-orleans-vanburen-52a37e88b4a599c8dd4131ad791dc21e">have since been captured</a>.<h2>Escape into rough terrain</h2>Cheryl Tillman, whose brother James Appleton was killed by Hardin in 2017, said she and other relatives are alarmed by Hardin's escape since they were witnesses in his court proceedings.“We were there at his trial when all that went down, and he seen us there, he knows,” she told The Associated Press on Tuesday.Authorities are using canines, drones and helicopters to search the rugged northern Arkansas terrain, Champion said.The search area has expanded as the hours have gone on, though Champion didn't discuss exact details of the search area."Where this facility is located, the topography does provide challenges," he said. “At the same time, it kind of limits where he is able to get.”“It's called Calico Rock for a reason, because it's very rocky,” he added.Video surveillance shows Hardin escaped at approximately 2:55 p.m. on Sunday, Champion said. Officials announced his escape at approximately 5 p.m. that evening.Complicating the search effort is the heavy rain that's fallen in recent days in the area, he said.Hardin’s escape into a rural part of the state isn’t necessarily an advantage, according to Craig Caine, a retired inspector with the U.S. Marshals who has handled many cases involving escaped prisoners throughout his nearly 30-year career with federal law enforcement.“At some point in time, he’s going to run out of provisions,” said Caine.“In more rural areas, most people know one another,” Caine said, making it more likely that someone will identify Hardin and turn him in. “In that aspect, it could be detrimental to him.”<h2>A rattled community</h2>Izard County Sheriff Charley Melton and other local sheriffs urged residents to lock their homes and vehicles and call 911 if they notice anything suspicious.Bryan Sexton, who prosecuted Hardin for both murder and rape, said that his office has reached out to officers who investigated Hardin and families affected by Hardin’s crimes, which were the focus of a 2023 documentary, “Devil in the Ozarks.”“Making those contacts again with folks who have moved on with their lives for the better part of a decade now and to have to be the one who picks up the phone and reminds them of what has happened to them is something that weighs heavily on me,” Sexton said.Gateway, the town of about 450 people where Hardin briefly was the police chief in 2016, is in the same large county as the headquarters of retail giant Walmart in Bentonville. But Gateway and the northeast part of the county is far more rural and remote than Bentonville. The landscape only gets more rugged to the east, into the heart of the Ozarks and the Buffalo National River, toward Izard County where the escape happened.Darla Nix, a local cafe owner in nearby Pea Ridge, Arkansas, said her sons grew up around Hardin and knew him as a mostly quiet person before he was convicted.“He was always just one of the kids, a member of the community,” Nix said.Describing Hardin as a “very, very smart man,” Nix said she anticipates that the search for Hardin will be challenging for law enforcement.“He knows where the caves are. He’s just a survivor. He knows how to make it. They’re going to have their hands full trying to catch him,” Nix said.Tillman said she wasn't surprised when she heard that Hardin had escaped. But the news suddenly added fresh pain for her and other family members after dealing with the grief from the killing.“He's just an evil man,” she said. “He is no good for society.”Hardin pleaded guilty in October 2017 to first-degree murder for fatally shooting Appleton, 59. Appleton worked for the Gateway water department when he was shot in the head on Feb. 23, 2017, near Garfield. Police found Appleton’s body inside a car.Investigators at the time did not release a motive for the killing and Hardin was sentenced to 30 years in prison. He is also serving 50 years in prison for the 1997 rape of an elementary school teacher in Rogers, north of Fayetteville.Hardin had been held in the Calico Rock prison since 2017. The facility has a capacity of about 800 inmates, according to the Arkansas Department of Corrections.___Riddle reported from Montgomery, Alabama.

Manhunt continues: Cop serving time for murder was allowed to walk out of prison

CALICO ROCK, Ark. (AP) —As law officers search Arkansas' rugged Ozark Mountains for a former police chief and convicted killer, the sister of one of his victims is on edge.

Hardin escaped Sunday from the North Central Unit in Calico Rock by disguising himself and wearing a “makeshift outfit designed to mimic law enforcement,” state prison officials said in a statement.

“I don't think he will be taken alive,” said Cheryl Tillman, whose brother James Appleton was killed by Hardin in 2017. “He won't go peacefully.”

Sheriff's deputies in multiple northern Arkansas counties have been working with state prison officials to follow leads and search the rugged terrain in the Ozarks, Izard County Sheriff Charley Melton said in an update late Monday.

“To the citizens of Izard County and surrounding counties, please stay vigilant, lock your house and vehicle doors and report any suspicious activity by calling 911 immediately,” Melton said. Other sheriffs were issuing similar warnings about Hardin, who was the focus of a 2023 documentary, “Devil in the Ozarks.”

In an interview Tuesday, Tillman said she wasn't surprised when she heard that Hardin had escaped. But the news suddenly added fresh pain for her and other family members after dealing with the grief from the killing.

Hardin being on the run is also alarming to Tillman and other family members since they were witnesses in his court proceedings.

“We were there at his trial when all that went down, and he seen us there, he knows,” she said.

Hardin pleaded guilty in October 2017 to first-degree murder in connection with the shooting death of Appleton, 59. Appleton worked for the Gateway water department when he was shot in the head on Feb. 23, 2017, near Garfield. Police found Appleton’s body inside a car. Investigators at the time did not release a motive for the killing.

Hardin, who was Gateway’s police chief for about four months in early 2016, was sentenced to 30 years in prison. He is also serving 50 years in prison for the 1997 rape of an elementary school teacher in Rogers north of Fayetteville.

Hardin had been held in Calico Rock since 2017. Tillman believes he had been planning his escape for a while.

“I'm sure it was in the makings for the eight years that he was there,” she said.

CALICO ROCK, Ark. (AP) — A former police chief in Arkansas who is serving decades-long sentences for murder and rape escaped from prison Sunday, state corrections officials said.

Grant Hardin, the former police chief of the tiny town of Gateway near the Arkansas-Missouri border, escaped from the North Central Unit in Calico Rock, where he has been held since 2017. Corrections officials did not provide any details about how he escaped.

They did say that Garvin had disguised himself and was “wearing a makeshift outfit designed to mimic law enforcement when he escaped the North Central Unit.”

The Division of Correction and the Division of Community Correction are following leads with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies.

On Monday night, officials reported they continue to utilize a variety of means to track Hardin, as well as investigating the events that led up to his escape

Hardin pleaded guilty in October 2017 to first-degree murder in connection with the shooting death of 59-year-old James Appleton. According to an affidavit filed in the case, Appleton worked for the Gateway water department and was talking to his brother-in-law, then Gateway Mayor Andrew Tillman, when he was shot in the head on Feb. 23, 2017 near Garfield. Police found Appleton’s body inside a car.

KFSM-TV, reporting on his guilty plea in 2019, wrote that police used DNA samples from the crime scene to apply for a John Doe Warrant in 2003 as the statute of limitations neared. The DNA was tested against old and new profiles, and investigators got a match when Hardin was imprisoned for killing Appleton.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748309291610.png" alt="It has been determined that Hardin was wearing a makeshift outfit designed to mimic law enforcement when he escaped the facility.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>It has been determined that Hardin was wearing a makeshift outfit designed to mimic law enforcement when he escaped the facility.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>CALICO ROCK, Ark. (AP) —As law officers search Arkansas' rugged Ozark Mountains for a former police chief and convicted killer, the sister of one of his victims is on edge.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748354598066.png" alt="Hardin escaped through the sally port wearing an ADC type uniform -photo ADC" />
 <figcaption>Hardin escaped through the sally port wearing an ADC type uniform -photo ADC</figcaption>
 </figure>Grant Hardin, the former police chief in the small town of Gateway near the Arkansas-Missouri border,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/police-chief-arkansas-prison-escape-grant-hardin-280127e9737bc8e8e0d6388d7f268bd1">was serving lengthy sentences for murder and rape</a>&nbsp;and became known as the “Devil in the Ozarks.”Hardin escaped Sunday from the North Central Unit in Calico Rock by disguising himself and wearing a “makeshift outfit designed to mimic law enforcement,” state prison officials said in a statement.“I don't think he will be taken alive,” said Cheryl Tillman, whose brother James Appleton was killed by Hardin in 2017. “He won't go peacefully.”Sheriff's deputies in multiple northern Arkansas counties have been working with state prison officials to follow leads and search the rugged terrain in the Ozarks, Izard County Sheriff Charley Melton said in an update late Monday.“To the citizens of Izard County and surrounding counties, please stay vigilant, lock your house and vehicle doors and report any suspicious activity by calling 911 immediately,” Melton said. Other sheriffs were issuing similar warnings about Hardin, who was the focus of a 2023 documentary, “Devil in the Ozarks.”In an interview Tuesday, Tillman said she wasn't surprised when she heard that Hardin had escaped. But the news suddenly added fresh pain for her and other family members after dealing with the grief from the killing.“He's just an evil man,” she said. “He is no good for society.”Hardin being on the run is also alarming to Tillman and other family members since they were witnesses in his court proceedings.“We were there at his trial when all that went down, and he seen us there, he knows,” she said.Hardin pleaded guilty in October 2017 to first-degree murder in connection with the shooting death of Appleton, 59. Appleton worked for the Gateway water department when he was shot in the head on Feb. 23, 2017, near Garfield. Police found Appleton’s body inside a car. Investigators at the time did not release a motive for the killing.Hardin, who was Gateway’s police chief for about four months in early 2016, was sentenced to 30 years in prison. He is also serving 50 years in prison for the 1997 rape of an elementary school teacher in Rogers north of Fayetteville.Hardin had been held in Calico Rock since 2017. Tillman believes he had been planning his escape for a while.“I'm sure it was in the makings for the eight years that he was there,” she said.CALICO ROCK, Ark. (AP) — A former police chief in Arkansas who is serving decades-long sentences for murder and rape escaped from prison Sunday, state corrections officials said.Grant Hardin, the former police chief of the tiny town of Gateway near the Arkansas-Missouri border, escaped from the North Central Unit in Calico Rock, where he has been held since 2017. Corrections officials did not provide any details about how he escaped.They did say that Garvin had disguised himself and was “wearing a makeshift outfit designed to mimic law enforcement when he escaped the North Central Unit.”The Division of Correction and the Division of Community Correction are following leads with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies.On Monday night, officials reported they continue to utilize a variety of means to track Hardin, as well as investigating the events that led up to his escapeHardin pleaded guilty in October 2017 to first-degree murder in connection with the shooting death of 59-year-old James Appleton. According to an affidavit filed in the case, Appleton worked for the Gateway water department and was talking to his brother-in-law, then Gateway Mayor Andrew Tillman, when he was shot in the head on Feb. 23, 2017 near Garfield. Police found Appleton’s body inside a car.Hardin, who was Gateway’s police chief for about four months in early 2016, was sentenced to 30 years in prison. He is also serving 50 years in prison for the 1997 rape of an elementary school teacher in Rogers north of Fayetteville.KFSM-TV, reporting on his guilty plea in 2019, wrote that police used DNA samples from the crime scene to apply for a John Doe Warrant in 2003 as the statute of limitations neared. The DNA was tested against old and new profiles, and investigators got a match when Hardin was imprisoned for killing Appleton.

Manhunt continues: Escape of 'Devil in the Ozarks' has residents on edge

Kathryn Elaine (Crawford)
Spencer, 82, of Natoma, Kansas, passed away Friday, May 16, 2025, at the
Meadowbrook Rehab Hospital in Gardner, Kansas.

Elaine was born October 01, 1942,
in Osborne, Kansas.&nbsp; She was one of five
children born to Lloyd M. and Lucy (Robertson) Crawford.&nbsp; She grew up in Natoma and graduated from
Natoma High School.&nbsp; She then attended a
Secretary School for a couple of years.

Elaine met, fell in love, and was
united in marriage to Gilbert C. Spencer, Jr.&nbsp;
on October 26, 1962 in Kansas City, Missouri.&nbsp; This union was blessed with two children;
Sherri and Wade.&nbsp; During their working
life they made their homes in multiple places throughout Iowa, South Dakota and
the Kansas City Metro area.&nbsp; Upon
retirement they moved to Natoma where they spent happy years here and enjoyed
the company of many of Elaine’s extended family members.

Elaine worked in Administration
for AT&amp;T and later Sprint Communications.&nbsp;
When her children were in school, she worked as a teacher’s aide.&nbsp; She was a member of Peace Lutheran Church in
Natoma.&nbsp; She enjoyed sewing and doing
arts and craft projects.

Elaine is survived by her husband
of 62 years, Gilbert of the home; daughter, Sherri Renae Spencer of Gardner,
Kansas; son, Wade Alan Spencer of Haven, Kansas; brother, Gerald Crawford of
Wisconsin; and two sisters, Lucille Luhman of Natoma, Kansas and Judy Gilworth
of Independence, Missouri.

Elaine was preceded in death by
her parents and brother Glenn Crawford.

Celebration of Elaine’s Life will
be held at 10:30 A.M. on Thursday, May 29, 2025, at the Peace Lutheran Church
in Natoma.&nbsp; Burial of ashes will follow
at the Natoma Lutheran Cemetery.&nbsp; The
family will greet guests from 9:30 A.M. to service time the day of the
service.&nbsp; A Memorial has been established
with Peace Lutheran Church.&nbsp;
Contributions and condolences may be sent to Pohlman-Varner-Peeler
Mortuary 610 N. Maple St., Russell, Kansas 67665, and is in charge of the
funeral arrangements.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748098072741.jpeg" alt="Kathryn Elaine (Crawford) Spencer" />
 <figcaption>Kathryn Elaine (Crawford) Spencer</figcaption>
 </figure>Kathryn Elaine (Crawford)
Spencer, 82, of Natoma, Kansas, passed away Friday, May 16, 2025, at the
Meadowbrook Rehab Hospital in Gardner, Kansas.Elaine was born October 01, 1942,
in Osborne, Kansas.&nbsp; She was one of five
children born to Lloyd M. and Lucy (Robertson) Crawford.&nbsp; She grew up in Natoma and graduated from
Natoma High School.&nbsp; She then attended a
Secretary School for a couple of years.Elaine met, fell in love, and was
united in marriage to Gilbert C. Spencer, Jr.&nbsp;
on October 26, 1962 in Kansas City, Missouri.&nbsp; This union was blessed with two children;
Sherri and Wade.&nbsp; During their working
life they made their homes in multiple places throughout Iowa, South Dakota and
the Kansas City Metro area.&nbsp; Upon
retirement they moved to Natoma where they spent happy years here and enjoyed
the company of many of Elaine’s extended family members.Elaine worked in Administration
for AT&amp;T and later Sprint Communications.&nbsp;
When her children were in school, she worked as a teacher’s aide.&nbsp; She was a member of Peace Lutheran Church in
Natoma.&nbsp; She enjoyed sewing and doing
arts and craft projects.Elaine is survived by her husband
of 62 years, Gilbert of the home; daughter, Sherri Renae Spencer of Gardner,
Kansas; son, Wade Alan Spencer of Haven, Kansas; brother, Gerald Crawford of
Wisconsin; and two sisters, Lucille Luhman of Natoma, Kansas and Judy Gilworth
of Independence, Missouri.Elaine was preceded in death by
her parents and brother Glenn Crawford.Celebration of Elaine’s Life will
be held at 10:30 A.M. on Thursday, May 29, 2025, at the Peace Lutheran Church
in Natoma.&nbsp; Burial of ashes will follow
at the Natoma Lutheran Cemetery.&nbsp; The
family will greet guests from 9:30 A.M. to service time the day of the
service.&nbsp; A Memorial has been established
with Peace Lutheran Church.&nbsp;
Contributions and condolences may be sent to Pohlman-Varner-Peeler
Mortuary 610 N. Maple St., Russell, Kansas 67665, and is in charge of the
funeral arrangements.

Kathryn Elaine (Crawford) Spencer

KANSAS CITY—A Kansas City man was sentenced to seven years in prison for an ice cream shop burglary that occurred last year, according to&nbsp;Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson.

<a href="mailto:Media%20Contact:%20%20%20Jazzlyn%20Johnson%20%20Director%20of%20Communications%20%20%20Jackson%20County%20Prosecutor%E2%80%99s%20Office%20%20%20415%20E%2012th%20Street%20%20Kansas%20City,%20MO%20-%2064106%20%20(816)%20929-1289%20%20%20jazzlyn.johnson@jacksongov.org%20%20%20https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com">John Heckman</a>, 78,&nbsp;received a seven-year prison sentence after pleading guilty yesterday to 2nd Degree Burglary and a concurrent four-year sentence for 1st Degree Property Damage.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2623/Heckman-John-PC-Statement_Redacted">According to court records</a>, Kansas City police were dispatched on October 13, 2024, to Betty Rae’s Ice Cream on a burglary. Officers observed a broken glass door, and the reporting party said a black safe with nearly $2,000 in cash was taken.&nbsp;

Surveillance footage of the incident showed an older male, later identified as Heckman, throw a rock into the window and enter the business. He walked to the back of the store where the safe is located and carries it out of the business.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The reporting party said the glass door was $1,700 to fix and the safe was $2,000 to replace.&nbsp;&nbsp;Police, joined by Kansas City, Kan. officers, located the Heckman in a Kansas City, Kan., residence. Detectives said he told them he spent the money on dope and the casinos.

Heckman's criminal record includes multiple prior convictions for burglary and stealing across the Kansas City metro.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729717963316.png" alt="Heckman from an earlier arrest in Wyandotte Co." />
 <figcaption>Heckman from an earlier arrest in Wyandotte Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY—A Kansas City man was sentenced to seven years in prison for an ice cream shop burglary that occurred last year, according to&nbsp;Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson.<a href="mailto:Media%20Contact:%20%20%20Jazzlyn%20Johnson%20%20Director%20of%20Communications%20%20%20Jackson%20County%20Prosecutor%E2%80%99s%20Office%20%20%20415%20E%2012th%20Street%20%20Kansas%20City,%20MO%20-%2064106%20%20(816)%20929-1289%20%20%20jazzlyn.johnson@jacksongov.org%20%20%20https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com">John Heckman</a>, 78,&nbsp;received a seven-year prison sentence after pleading guilty yesterday to 2nd Degree Burglary and a concurrent four-year sentence for 1st Degree Property Damage.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2623/Heckman-John-PC-Statement_Redacted">According to court records</a>, Kansas City police were dispatched on October 13, 2024, to Betty Rae’s Ice Cream on a burglary. Officers observed a broken glass door, and the reporting party said a black safe with nearly $2,000 in cash was taken.&nbsp;Surveillance footage of the incident showed an older male, later identified as Heckman, throw a rock into the window and enter the business. He walked to the back of the store where the safe is located and carries it out of the business.&nbsp;&nbsp;The reporting party said the glass door was $1,700 to fix and the safe was $2,000 to replace.&nbsp;&nbsp;Police, joined by Kansas City, Kan. officers, located the Heckman in a Kansas City, Kan., residence. Detectives said he told them he spent the money on dope and the casinos.Heckman's criminal record includes multiple prior convictions for burglary and stealing across the Kansas City metro.

Suspect arrested in Kan. for ice cream shop burglary is going to prison

Phyllis Marie Robinson passed away
on March 21, 2025 at 87 years old in Parkview Health and&nbsp;Rehabilitation Center in Osborne,
Ks. Phyllis was born in rural Rush County, Ks on October 29, 1937 to Jonny and Emma Weitzel.


She grew up in Rush County. During high school she moved to Denver, CO with her mother
Emma. Phyllis went to college in Colorado and obtained her Associates Degree in Business.
This is where she met her first husband Burl Ingle. This is also where their first son Reid Philip
Ingle was born. They then moved to Lacrosse, Ks where they had their second son Russell Burl
Ingle. After 5 years in Lacrosse they moved to Calhoun, GA.

While in Georgia they lived a
full, happy life. They raised their two sons there and eventually sent their oldest Reid to Clemson
University to play football. Phyllis, Burl and Russ moved back&nbsp;to Lacrosse where Russ graduated
high school. Phyllis lived a life full of adventures and businesses. Phyllis was the first
women’s editor for the Calhoun Times newspaper in Calhoun,Georgia. She painted pictures and
homes, had her own photography business, worked at theschool in Ness City and spent as
much time outdoors as she could. Phyllis loved all animals but especially horses and spending
time with her sons and eventually her grandchildren. She loved to travel and went to Mexico a few
times and went to Georgia to visit her son Reid and his family. Phyllis went to any school
events she could for her two granddaughters, who&nbsp; lived in Hill&nbsp;City, but she also cheered on her
two granddaughters and grandson in Georgia as well. 

Phyllis is preceded in death by
her grandparents Philip (Lula Mae) Weitzel and her parents Jonny (Emma) Weitzel. She is
survived by her two sons, Reid (Cheryl) Ingle of Loganville, Georgia and their children Lindsey (Mike)
Kocenski, Harrison Tobin and Mindy (Sharyl) Woodbury. Russell ( Connie) Ingle of Glen
Elder, Ks and their children Kelli (Taylor) VanLoenen, Kaitlyn (Colton) Boxum, Austin (Adrianna)
Groth, Torey (Kevin) Rich and Todd (Misty) Stupka;&nbsp;&nbsp;brother, Phil Weitzel and his wife Cheryl of
Wichita; sister, Cathy Weitzel of Wichita;&nbsp; and wasblessed with 21 great
grandchildren.

Memorials are suggested to Dawson
Place in Hill City, Kansas.&nbsp;Services will be held Saturday, May 31, 2025, at 10:30 a.m.
at Stinemetz Funeral Home, 522 N. Pomeroy, Ave. Hill City, Kansas.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748005691465.jpeg" alt="Phyllis Marie Robinson" />
 <figcaption>Phyllis Marie Robinson</figcaption>
 </figure>Phyllis Marie Robinson passed away
on March 21, 2025 at 87 years old in Parkview Health and&nbsp;Rehabilitation Center in Osborne,
Ks. Phyllis was born in rural Rush County, Ks on October 29, 1937 to Jonny and Emma Weitzel.
She grew up in Rush County. During high school she moved to Denver, CO with her mother
Emma. Phyllis went to college in Colorado and obtained her Associates Degree in Business.
This is where she met her first husband Burl Ingle. This is also where their first son Reid Philip
Ingle was born. They then moved to Lacrosse, Ks where they had their second son Russell Burl
Ingle. After 5 years in Lacrosse they moved to Calhoun, GA.While in Georgia they lived a
full, happy life. They raised their two sons there and eventually sent their oldest Reid to Clemson
University to play football. Phyllis, Burl and Russ moved back&nbsp;to Lacrosse where Russ graduated
high school. Phyllis lived a life full of adventures and businesses. Phyllis was the first
women’s editor for the Calhoun Times newspaper in Calhoun,Georgia. She painted pictures and
homes, had her own photography business, worked at theschool in Ness City and spent as
much time outdoors as she could. Phyllis loved all animals but especially horses and spending
time with her sons and eventually her grandchildren. She loved to travel and went to Mexico a few
times and went to Georgia to visit her son Reid and his family. Phyllis went to any school
events she could for her two granddaughters, who&nbsp; lived in Hill&nbsp;City, but she also cheered on her
two granddaughters and grandson in Georgia as well. Phyllis is preceded in death by
her grandparents Philip (Lula Mae) Weitzel and her parents Jonny (Emma) Weitzel. She is
survived by her two sons, Reid (Cheryl) Ingle of Loganville, Georgia and their children Lindsey (Mike)
Kocenski, Harrison Tobin and Mindy (Sharyl) Woodbury. Russell ( Connie) Ingle of Glen
Elder, Ks and their children Kelli (Taylor) VanLoenen, Kaitlyn (Colton) Boxum, Austin (Adrianna)
Groth, Torey (Kevin) Rich and Todd (Misty) Stupka;&nbsp;&nbsp;brother, Phil Weitzel and his wife Cheryl of
Wichita; sister, Cathy Weitzel of Wichita;&nbsp; and wasblessed with 21 great
grandchildren.Memorials are suggested to Dawson
Place in Hill City, Kansas.&nbsp;Services will be held Saturday, May 31, 2025, at 10:30 a.m.
at Stinemetz Funeral Home, 522 N. Pomeroy, Ave. Hill City, Kansas.

Phyllis Marie Robinson

Norma Lea Rogers of Hays, KS, formerly of Stockton, KS,
passed away on May 17, 2025, at the Good Samaritan Society in Hays at the age
of 98. 

Norma was born on January 3, 1927, in Hill City, Kansas, to Dale and Margaret (Scott) Scott. She married Clair Joseph Rogers on October 14, 1946. Together they were blessed with three children: Clair Jr., Carol, and Tina.

Norma grew up in Hill City and attended school through the 8th grade. She worked for many years as a cook at Fort Hays State University and later in housekeeping at St. Anthony’s Hospital (now Hays Med). She was known for her strong work ethic, love of a tidy space, and enjoyment in cleaning motels. Norma had a spirited personality — she loved soap operas, reading books, visiting with friends and family, singing, yodeling, and driving her little car fast.

She was a member of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Hays, a dedicated member of the VFW Auxiliary, and volunteered as a “Yellow Coat.”

Norma is survived by her son, Clair Rogers Jr. (Alberta) of Liebenthal, KS; Carol Mongeau (Martin) of Stockton, KS; and Tina Putz of Stockton, KS; grandchildren: John (Anne) Rogers, Julie Klein (Jeff Springer), Steven Mongeau, James (Shannon) Mongeau, Kylie Putz, Kelsie Putz (Kody Dixon), Lindsey Mongeau; great-grandchildren: Dakota Rogers (Morgan Feemster), Cheyenne Rogers (Adam Polly), Taylor Rogers, Riley Rogers, Sierra Wilson (Daniel Bennett), Jordan Wilson, Alesha Rogers, Ryan Mongeau, Garrison Mongeau, Grayson Mongeau, Grandon Mongeau, Treyvin Mongeau, Lexi Springer, Kaylee Springer, Cami Springer, and Thomas Dixon; and great-great-grandchildren: Jaxxon, Ashton, Sylus, Braxten, Zaylee, and Braven.

She is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Clair Sr.; siblings: siblings: Ernest, Alberta, Garland, Doug, Donna, Kenneth and Doyle; and grandsons, Michael and Joseph.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at 10:30AM at the St. Thomas Catholic Church in Stockton.&nbsp;Visitation
will be held on Tuesday, 4-8PM with a Vigil &amp; Rosary Service at 7PM at the
funeral home in Stockton.

Memorials are suggested to American Cancer Society and may be sent to Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home, 723 N. 1st, Stockton, KS 67669.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747747622449.jpeg" alt="Norma Lea Rogers" />
 <figcaption>Norma Lea Rogers</figcaption>
 </figure>Norma Lea Rogers of Hays, KS, formerly of Stockton, KS,
passed away on May 17, 2025, at the Good Samaritan Society in Hays at the age
of 98. Norma was born on January 3, 1927, in Hill City, Kansas, to Dale and Margaret (Scott) Scott. She married Clair Joseph Rogers on October 14, 1946. Together they were blessed with three children: Clair Jr., Carol, and Tina.Norma grew up in Hill City and attended school through the 8th grade. She worked for many years as a cook at Fort Hays State University and later in housekeeping at St. Anthony’s Hospital (now Hays Med). She was known for her strong work ethic, love of a tidy space, and enjoyment in cleaning motels. Norma had a spirited personality — she loved soap operas, reading books, visiting with friends and family, singing, yodeling, and driving her little car fast.She was a member of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Hays, a dedicated member of the VFW Auxiliary, and volunteered as a “Yellow Coat.”Norma is survived by her son, Clair Rogers Jr. (Alberta) of Liebenthal, KS; Carol Mongeau (Martin) of Stockton, KS; and Tina Putz of Stockton, KS; grandchildren: John (Anne) Rogers, Julie Klein (Jeff Springer), Steven Mongeau, James (Shannon) Mongeau, Kylie Putz, Kelsie Putz (Kody Dixon), Lindsey Mongeau; great-grandchildren: Dakota Rogers (Morgan Feemster), Cheyenne Rogers (Adam Polly), Taylor Rogers, Riley Rogers, Sierra Wilson (Daniel Bennett), Jordan Wilson, Alesha Rogers, Ryan Mongeau, Garrison Mongeau, Grayson Mongeau, Grandon Mongeau, Treyvin Mongeau, Lexi Springer, Kaylee Springer, Cami Springer, and Thomas Dixon; and great-great-grandchildren: Jaxxon, Ashton, Sylus, Braxten, Zaylee, and Braven.She is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Clair Sr.; siblings: siblings: Ernest, Alberta, Garland, Doug, Donna, Kenneth and Doyle; and grandsons, Michael and Joseph.A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at 10:30AM at the St. Thomas Catholic Church in Stockton.&nbsp;Visitation
will be held on Tuesday, 4-8PM with a Vigil &amp; Rosary Service at 7PM at the
funeral home in Stockton.Memorials are suggested to American Cancer Society and may be sent to Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home, 723 N. 1st, Stockton, KS 67669.

Norma Lea Rogers

Dorothy Mae (Huber) Herrman – Age
93, of Hays, Kansas passed away on Thursday, January 23, 2025, at the Good
Samaritan Society of Ellis.&nbsp;

&nbsp;She was born October 23, 1931, in Hays, Kansas to Otto and Caroline (Schafer)
Huber.&nbsp; She married Vernon “Vern” Herrman on May 10, 1951, in Hays.&nbsp;
He preceded her in death on January 27, 2016. 

Dorothy was a bookkeeper and office manager for Vern Herrman Motor Supply
working with her husband for many years.&nbsp; She was an AVON Cosmetic
Representative for many years and also worked for Bob’s Big Pencils. 

She grew up on the family farm one mile north of Ellis with her parents and
three sisters.&nbsp; She was a 1949 graduate of Ellis High School and the 1949
Homecoming Queen.

She
was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church of Hays, and enjoyed boating,
camping, and fishing.&nbsp; She was an excellent trap shooter, and received
many awards for her talent.&nbsp; Her pride and joy was her family and spending
time with them.

Dorothy is survived by her sons, John Herrman and wife, Terri, Dardenne
Prairie, MO; David Herrman and wife, Deanna, Hays, KS; Ron Herrman and wife,
Cheryl, Russell, KS; Marc Herrman, Hays, KS; her sister, Phyllis Schuster,
Federal Heights, CO; her brothers-in-law, John Linton, Potomac, MD; Gary
Hindman, Salina, KS; her ten grandchildren; her twenty two great grandchildren;
and her three great great grandchildren.

&nbsp;She was preceded in death by her parents, Otto and Caroline Huber; her husband,
Vern Herrman; her daughter, Kathleen Schukman; her son-in-law, Kevin Schukman;
her in-laws, Raymond and Lucy (Steckline) Herrman, her brother-in-law, Hank
Schuster; her sisters, Hermine Linton; and Carol
Hindman.

&nbsp;A celebration of Life Service will be at 10:00 A.M. Saturday, May 24, 2025, at
Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary of Hays, with Reverend Brenda Roger
officiating.&nbsp; Inurnment &nbsp;will
be in Saint Joseph Cemetery, Hays, Kansas.&nbsp; &nbsp;

The family will receive friends from 9:00 to 10:00 A.M. at Cline’s Mortuary of
Hays. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

The suggests memorials to the Trinity Lutheran Church in care of
Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary of Hays, 1919 East 22nd Street, Hays,
Kansas 67601.

Condolences can be emailed to <a href="mailto:clineschapels@gmail.com">clineschapels@gmail.com</a> or left by
guestbook at <a href="http://www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com">www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737748620262.jpeg" alt="Dorothy Mae (Huber) Herrman" />
 <figcaption>Dorothy Mae (Huber) Herrman</figcaption>
 </figure>Dorothy Mae (Huber) Herrman – Age
93, of Hays, Kansas passed away on Thursday, January 23, 2025, at the Good
Samaritan Society of Ellis.&nbsp;&nbsp;She was born October 23, 1931, in Hays, Kansas to Otto and Caroline (Schafer)
Huber.&nbsp; She married Vernon “Vern” Herrman on May 10, 1951, in Hays.&nbsp;
He preceded her in death on January 27, 2016. Dorothy was a bookkeeper and office manager for Vern Herrman Motor Supply
working with her husband for many years.&nbsp; She was an AVON Cosmetic
Representative for many years and also worked for Bob’s Big Pencils. She grew up on the family farm one mile north of Ellis with her parents and
three sisters.&nbsp; She was a 1949 graduate of Ellis High School and the 1949
Homecoming Queen.She
was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church of Hays, and enjoyed boating,
camping, and fishing.&nbsp; She was an excellent trap shooter, and received
many awards for her talent.&nbsp; Her pride and joy was her family and spending
time with them.Dorothy is survived by her sons, John Herrman and wife, Terri, Dardenne
Prairie, MO; David Herrman and wife, Deanna, Hays, KS; Ron Herrman and wife,
Cheryl, Russell, KS; Marc Herrman, Hays, KS; her sister, Phyllis Schuster,
Federal Heights, CO; her brothers-in-law, John Linton, Potomac, MD; Gary
Hindman, Salina, KS; her ten grandchildren; her twenty two great grandchildren;
and her three great great grandchildren.&nbsp;She was preceded in death by her parents, Otto and Caroline Huber; her husband,
Vern Herrman; her daughter, Kathleen Schukman; her son-in-law, Kevin Schukman;
her in-laws, Raymond and Lucy (Steckline) Herrman, her brother-in-law, Hank
Schuster; her sisters, Hermine Linton; and Carol
Hindman.&nbsp;A celebration of Life Service will be at 10:00 A.M. Saturday, May 24, 2025, at
Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary of Hays, with Reverend Brenda Roger
officiating.&nbsp; Inurnment &nbsp;will
be in Saint Joseph Cemetery, Hays, Kansas.&nbsp; &nbsp;The family will receive friends from 9:00 to 10:00 A.M. at Cline’s Mortuary of
Hays. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The suggests memorials to the Trinity Lutheran Church in care of
Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary of Hays, 1919 East 22nd Street, Hays,
Kansas 67601. Condolences can be emailed to <a href="mailto:clineschapels@gmail.com">clineschapels@gmail.com</a> or left by
guestbook at <a href="http://www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com">www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com</a>

Dorothy Mae (Huber) Herrman

Alvin James Stenzel, 68, Hays, passed away Saturday, May 17,
2025 at HaysMed with his sisters by his side.

He was born October 20, 1956 in Ness City, Kansas, to
Clarence and Cyrilla (Meis) Stenzel.&nbsp; He
graduated from Ness City High School and attended Cowley County Community
College on a basketball scholarship.&nbsp;
Alvin lived in the Wichita area until moving to Hays twenty years ago to
be closer to family.&nbsp; He retired from
Hays Professional Fire Equipment.

Alvin is survived by two brothers, Duane (Dixie) Stenzel of
Archie, MO and Lyle (Bridget) Stenzel of Ness City, two sisters, Colleen
(Terry) Schniepp of Cottage Grove, MN and Brenda (Tony) Leiker of Hays, and
many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Joanna
Stenzel-Kotz, one brother, Marvin and sister-in-law Donna Stenzel.

Graveside services will be at 10:30 am on Tuesday, May 20,
2025 in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Ness City.&nbsp;
Funeral services are in the care of Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home,
and condolences and memories of Alvin may be shared with his family at
www.haysmemorial.com

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747658987897.jpeg" alt="Alvin James Stenzel.jpg" />
 <figcaption>Alvin James Stenzel.jpg</figcaption>
 </figure>Alvin James Stenzel, 68, Hays, passed away Saturday, May 17,
2025 at HaysMed with his sisters by his side.He was born October 20, 1956 in Ness City, Kansas, to
Clarence and Cyrilla (Meis) Stenzel.&nbsp; He
graduated from Ness City High School and attended Cowley County Community
College on a basketball scholarship.&nbsp;
Alvin lived in the Wichita area until moving to Hays twenty years ago to
be closer to family.&nbsp; He retired from
Hays Professional Fire Equipment.Alvin is survived by two brothers, Duane (Dixie) Stenzel of
Archie, MO and Lyle (Bridget) Stenzel of Ness City, two sisters, Colleen
(Terry) Schniepp of Cottage Grove, MN and Brenda (Tony) Leiker of Hays, and
many nieces and nephews.He was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Joanna
Stenzel-Kotz, one brother, Marvin and sister-in-law Donna Stenzel.Graveside services will be at 10:30 am on Tuesday, May 20,
2025 in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Ness City.&nbsp;
Funeral services are in the care of Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home,
and condolences and memories of Alvin may be shared with his family at
www.haysmemorial.com

Alvin James Stenzel

By&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kmuw.org/people/rose-conlon">ROSE CONLON</a> <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/news/2025-05-09/how-one-rural-kansas-town-is-bringing-kids-and-nursing-home-residents-together">Kansas News Service</a>

Research shows intergenerational connection boosts wellbeing. The residents of Logan are putting that to the test.

LOGAN — With children’s shouts echoing off of playground equipment, the Logan Manor doesn’t look or sound like your typical nursing home.

This rural farm town, with a population of 436, recently welcomed nursing home residents and students into its new intergenerational facility, called the Logan Intergenerational Family Education Center. By bringing different age groups together under the same roof, LIFE Center administrators are hoping to foster connection and learning across generations.

Inside, Betty Albright — age 90 — is laughing and making May Day baskets with three of her friends: Jensen, Harper and Harper, ages 11 and 12.

“Betty, when’s your birthday?” Harper asks.

“October,” Betty says. “Why, what are you gonna do?”

“I will sing Happy Birthday to you on that day, OK?” Harper replies.

As more young people move away from rural Kansas, many communities are aging. That can mean increased social isolation for older adults who stay. The LIFE Center is an effort to improve their quality of life while teaching kids crucial skills.

The setup lets nursing home residents volunteer in classrooms and help with science projects.

And it provides learning opportunities for kids. One class is interviewing residents and recording their life stories. High school students can job shadow physical therapists and speech-language pathologists, and a few work part-time as nursing assistants and dietary aides.

Down the hall, 6-year-old Rhett is practicing his reading with 63-year-old Tom Goscha. Goscha has pulmonary fibrosis, and he’s lived in the nursing home for five years. He’s a favorite among the kids.

“My nieces and nephews are all grown and gone,” Goscha said. “They've got kids of their own, but they're in Imperial, Nebraska, Texas and Omaha, and so it's fun to have the little ones around.”

The LIFE Center is the brainchild of school Principal David Kirkendall, who says he’s envisioned creating a facility like it for decades.

Now that the LIFE Center is open after years of planning and construction, he says it offers unique opportunities.

“If there's a resident that is recovering from a stroke, and they're learning eye-hand coordination, they can come in with my preschoolers who are also learning eye-hand coordination, and just kick a ball back and forth,” he said. “It helps both groups.”

Kirkendall thinks Logan could be a model for other communities trying to improve well-being. So do researchers at Kansas State University. They’re studying whether the new facility can boost social skills and academic achievement in kids and reduce cognitive decline and depression in residents.

“Having Logan step forward with a very innovative idea that’s not often (seen) in the United States is exciting,” said Natalie Barlett, a teaching assistant professor of psychology at K-State who is studying its impact on students.

Teresa McComb, the nursing home’s administrator, says she’s already seen benefits in the 36 adults who live here.

“Even residents that are unable to verbalize how much they like the kids coming over, their faces light up. They smile,” she said. “They’re just in better moods.”

Research indicates intergenerational contact can reduce inflammation and improve psychological health in older adults. Shannon Jarrott, a social work professor at Ohio State University, says children also have a lot to gain.

“One of the the misnomers is this idea that these intergenerational programs are really for the benefit of the older adults,” she said. “In reality, if the program is a good one, the children are going to get just as much out of this as the older adults will.”

Younger kids, she says, gain crucial social-emotional skills and confidence. Teenagers — who, data indicates, are increasingly isolated and have increased mental health challenges — can develop perspective and lasting relationships.

There are also challenges, like how to keep residents safe during flu season, and how to keep them busy when school breaks for the summer.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747417953373.png" alt="Tom Goscha, 63, and Rhett, 6, read together at the Logan Intergenerational Family Education Center in Logan. Photo by Rose Conlon/Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>Tom Goscha, 63, and Rhett, 6, read together at the Logan Intergenerational Family Education Center in Logan. Photo by Rose Conlon/Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kmuw.org/people/rose-conlon">ROSE CONLON</a> <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/news/2025-05-09/how-one-rural-kansas-town-is-bringing-kids-and-nursing-home-residents-together">Kansas News Service</a><h2>Research shows intergenerational connection boosts wellbeing. The residents of Logan are putting that to the test.</h2>LOGAN — With children’s shouts echoing off of playground equipment, the Logan Manor doesn’t look or sound like your typical nursing home.That’s because it’s also a school.This rural farm town, with a population of 436, recently welcomed nursing home residents and students into its new intergenerational facility, called the Logan Intergenerational Family Education Center. By bringing different age groups together under the same roof, LIFE Center administrators are hoping to foster connection and learning across generations.Inside, Betty Albright — age 90 — is laughing and making May Day baskets with three of her friends: Jensen, Harper and Harper, ages 11 and 12.“Betty, when’s your birthday?” Harper asks.“October,” Betty says. “Why, what are you gonna do?”“I will sing Happy Birthday to you on that day, OK?” Harper replies.As more young people move away from rural Kansas, many communities are aging. That can mean increased social isolation for older adults who stay. The LIFE Center is an effort to improve their quality of life while teaching kids crucial skills.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747418063501.png" alt="Nursing home residents recently made May Day baskets with fifth- and sixth-graders. Photo by Rose Conlon/Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>Nursing home residents recently made May Day baskets with fifth- and sixth-graders. Photo by Rose Conlon/Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>The setup lets nursing home residents volunteer in classrooms and help with science projects.And it provides learning opportunities for kids. One class is interviewing residents and recording their life stories. High school students can job shadow physical therapists and speech-language pathologists, and a few work part-time as nursing assistants and dietary aides.Down the hall, 6-year-old Rhett is practicing his reading with 63-year-old Tom Goscha. Goscha has pulmonary fibrosis, and he’s lived in the nursing home for five years. He’s a favorite among the kids.“My nieces and nephews are all grown and gone,” Goscha said. “They've got kids of their own, but they're in Imperial, Nebraska, Texas and Omaha, and so it's fun to have the little ones around.”The LIFE Center is the brainchild of school Principal David Kirkendall, who says he’s envisioned creating a facility like it for decades.Now that the LIFE Center is open after years of planning and construction, he says it offers unique opportunities.“If there's a resident that is recovering from a stroke, and they're learning eye-hand coordination, they can come in with my preschoolers who are also learning eye-hand coordination, and just kick a ball back and forth,” he said. “It helps both groups.”Kirkendall thinks Logan could be a model for other communities trying to improve well-being. So do researchers at Kansas State University. They’re studying whether the new facility can boost social skills and academic achievement in kids and reduce cognitive decline and depression in residents.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747418145591.png" alt="Nursing home residents' windows look out on the school's playground and track field. Photo by Rose Conlon/Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>Nursing home residents' windows look out on the school's playground and track field. Photo by Rose Conlon/Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>“Having Logan step forward with a very innovative idea that’s not often (seen) in the United States is exciting,” said Natalie Barlett, a teaching assistant professor of psychology at K-State who is studying its impact on students.Teresa McComb, the nursing home’s administrator, says she’s already seen benefits in the 36 adults who live here.“Even residents that are unable to verbalize how much they like the kids coming over, their faces light up. They smile,” she said. “They’re just in better moods.”Research indicates intergenerational contact can reduce inflammation and improve psychological health in older adults. Shannon Jarrott, a social work professor at Ohio State University, says children also have a lot to gain.“One of the the misnomers is this idea that these intergenerational programs are really for the benefit of the older adults,” she said. “In reality, if the program is a good one, the children are going to get just as much out of this as the older adults will.”Younger kids, she says, gain crucial social-emotional skills and confidence. Teenagers — who, data indicates, are increasingly isolated and have increased mental health challenges — can develop perspective and lasting relationships.There are also challenges, like how to keep residents safe during flu season, and how to keep them busy when school breaks for the summer.Logan’s school year is almost over, but Goscha thinks he and his younger friends will manage.“(The kids) tell me, ‘We're going to come over and see you this summer.’ And I said, ‘OK, that'll work. You can come over and visit.’"And I’ve got a jar of candy, and they’re like, ‘So will you have candy this summer?’ I said, ‘I’ll always have candy.’”