Dorothy Lucille Yowell, age 94, of Mesquite, Texas formerly of Ellis, Kansas, passed away November 16, 2021, in Mesquite. She was born May 20, 1927, in Hays, Kansas to Nicholas and Anna Heroneme. On January 15, 1946, she married Clyde Yowell in Ellis. He preceded her in death on October 24, 1994. Dorothy was a farm wife and also worked at Travenol in Hays for several years. She had been a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Ellis and St. Jerome Catholic Church in Phoenix, Arizona.&nbsp; She spent many years volunteering at the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in Phoenix. She was a beloved mother, grandmother and great grandmother. Those left to cherish her memory are her daughters, Victoria Larson and Claudia Schroer; a son, Paul Yowell; grandchildren, Rich Wellbrock, Monica Hafif, Brook Schroer, Nathan Yowell, Sarah Williams and Kelsey Yowell; great grandchildren, Griffin Wellbrock, Madeline Wellbrock, Jack Hafif, Freida Hafif, Lillian Schroer, Brenden Schroer, Jackson Williams and Addison Williams, as well as numerous extended family and friends who will miss her dearly. Memorial services will be 10:00 AM with visitation 9:00 AM until service time on Saturday, January 8, 2022, at Brock's-Keithley Funeral Chapel and Crematory 2509 Vine Hays, KS 67601. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial donations to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul @&nbsp;<a href="http://svdpusa.org/">svdpusa.org</a>&nbsp;in her memory. 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/2021/12/1640987669564.jpeg" alt="\" />
 <figcaption>\</figcaption>
 </figure>Dorothy Lucille Yowell, age 94, of Mesquite, Texas formerly of Ellis, Kansas, passed away November 16, 2021, in Mesquite. She was born May 20, 1927, in Hays, Kansas to Nicholas and Anna Heroneme. On January 15, 1946, she married Clyde Yowell in Ellis. He preceded her in death on October 24, 1994. Dorothy was a farm wife and also worked at Travenol in Hays for several years. She had been a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Ellis and St. Jerome Catholic Church in Phoenix, Arizona.&nbsp; She spent many years volunteering at the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in Phoenix. She was a beloved mother, grandmother and great grandmother. Those left to cherish her memory are her daughters, Victoria Larson and Claudia Schroer; a son, Paul Yowell; grandchildren, Rich Wellbrock, Monica Hafif, Brook Schroer, Nathan Yowell, Sarah Williams and Kelsey Yowell; great grandchildren, Griffin Wellbrock, Madeline Wellbrock, Jack Hafif, Freida Hafif, Lillian Schroer, Brenden Schroer, Jackson Williams and Addison Williams, as well as numerous extended family and friends who will miss her dearly. Memorial services will be 10:00 AM with visitation 9:00 AM until service time on Saturday, January 8, 2022, at Brock's-Keithley Funeral Chapel and Crematory 2509 Vine Hays, KS 67601. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial donations to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul @&nbsp;<a href="http://svdpusa.org/">svdpusa.org</a>&nbsp;in her memory. 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>.

Dorothy Lucille Yowell

Terry Wayne Young, 78, passed away on December 28, 2021, at his home 
in Great Bend, Kansas. He was born on October 27, 1943 at Celina, Ohio, 
to Russell &amp; Mable (Parks) Young. On August 26, 1973, he married 
Alice Paxton at Durango, Colorado.

A long-time Great Bend resident, Terry was the manager for the job 
service centers for the State of Kansas in Great Bend, Hutchinson and 
Newton until he retired in 2006. Terry was also a veteran, serving as a 
sergeant in the Air Force during the Vietnam War. He was a past 
department commander for the D.A.V. in 2013. Terry was an avid sports 
fan, specifically cheering on the Broncos and Ohio State Buckeyes. He 
enjoyed playing golf and was a lifetime hunter, picking up pheasant 
hunting when he moved to Kansas.

Survivors include, his wife Alice Young of the home; a brother, Altas
 Knapp and wife Teresa of Sidney, Ohio; sisters, Candy Knapp of Van 
Wert, Ohio, Laura Bricker of Greenville, Ohio, and Lahoma Frederick of 
South Carolina; nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death 
by his parents.

There will be no visitation as cremation has taken place. Funeral 
service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, January 7, 2022, at Bryant 
Funeral Home with Chaplain Jeffrey Owen presiding. Internment will 
follow at Great Bend Cemetery North. Memorials can be made to the D.A.V.
 in care of Bryant Funeral Home.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640978130766.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Terry Wayne Young, 78, passed away on December 28, 2021, at his home 
in Great Bend, Kansas. He was born on October 27, 1943 at Celina, Ohio, 
to Russell &amp; Mable (Parks) Young. On August 26, 1973, he married 
Alice Paxton at Durango, Colorado.A long-time Great Bend resident, Terry was the manager for the job 
service centers for the State of Kansas in Great Bend, Hutchinson and 
Newton until he retired in 2006. Terry was also a veteran, serving as a 
sergeant in the Air Force during the Vietnam War. He was a past 
department commander for the D.A.V. in 2013. Terry was an avid sports 
fan, specifically cheering on the Broncos and Ohio State Buckeyes. He 
enjoyed playing golf and was a lifetime hunter, picking up pheasant 
hunting when he moved to Kansas.Survivors include, his wife Alice Young of the home; a brother, Altas
 Knapp and wife Teresa of Sidney, Ohio; sisters, Candy Knapp of Van 
Wert, Ohio, Laura Bricker of Greenville, Ohio, and Lahoma Frederick of 
South Carolina; nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death 
by his parents.There will be no visitation as cremation has taken place. Funeral 
service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, January 7, 2022, at Bryant 
Funeral Home with Chaplain Jeffrey Owen presiding. Internment will 
follow at Great Bend Cemetery North. Memorials can be made to the D.A.V.
 in care of Bryant Funeral Home.

Terry Wayne Young

DENVER (AP) — An estimated 580 homes, a hotel and a shopping center have burned and tens of thousands of people were evacuated in wind-fueled wildfires outside Denver, officials said Thursday evening.

At least one first responder and six others were injured, though Boulder County Sheriff Joe Pelle acknowledged there could be more injuries and deaths could be possible due to the intensity of fires that quickly swept across the region as winds gusted up to 105 mph.

The first fire erupted just before 10:30 a.m. and was “attacked pretty quickly and laid down later in the day and is currently being monitored” with no structures lost, Pelle said.

A second wildfire, reported just after 11 a.m., “ballooned and spread rapidly east,” Pelle said. The blaze spans 2.5 square miles (6.5 square kilometers) and has engulfed parts of the area in smoky, orangish skies and sent residents scrambling to get to safety.

The activity of the fires, which are burning unusually late into the winter season, will depend on how the winds behave overnight and could determine when crews are able to go in and begin assessing the damage and searching for any victims.

“This is the kind of fire we can’t fight head on,” Pelle said. “We actually had deputy sheriffs and firefighters in areas that had to pull out because they just got overrun,” he added.

Evacuations have been ordered for the city of Louisville, home to about 21,000 people, and Superior, which has another 13,000 residents.

The neighboring towns are roughly 20 miles&nbsp; northwest of Denver in an area filled with middle and upper-middle class subdivisions surrounded by shopping centers, parks and schools. The area is in between Denver and Boulder, a foothills college town home to the University of Colorado.

Residents evacuated fairly calmly and orderly, but the winding streets in the suburban subdivisions quickly became clogged as people tried to get out. It sometimes took cars as long as 45 minutes to advance about a half mile (less than a kilometer).

Small fires cropped up here and there in surprising places — on the grass in a median or in a dumpster in the middle of a parking lot — as wind gusts caused the fire to jump and spread. Shifting winds caused the skies to turn from clear to smoky and then back again as emergency sirens blared nearby.

Some of the several blazes in the area Thursday were sparked by downed power lines.

Six people who were injured in the fires were being treated at UCHealth Broomfield Hospital, spokesperson Kelli Christensen said. A nearby portion of U.S. Highway 36 also was shut down.

Colorado’s Front Range, where most of the state’s population lives, had an extremely dry and mild fall, and winter so far has continued to be mostly dry.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-lifestyle-business-denver-weather-d967eafc0de74000c758fbbac9f5f52d">Denver set a record for most consecutive days without snow</a>&nbsp;before it got a small storm on Dec. 10. It hasn’t snowed since, though snow was expected in the region Friday.

One video captured by a bystander outside a Superior Costco store showed an apocalyptic scene with winds whipping through barren trees in the parking lot surrounded by gray skies, a hazy sun and small fires scattered across the ground.

Leah Angstman and her husband saw similar dark skies while returning to their Louisville home from Denver International Airport after being away for the holidays. As they were sitting on the bus going toward Boulder, Angstman recalled instantly leaving clear blue skies and entering clouds of brown and yellow smoke.

“The wind rocked the bus so hard that I thought the bus would tip,” she wrote in a message to The Associated Press.

The visibility was so poor that the bus had to pull over and they waited a half-hour until a regional transit authority van escorted them to a turnaround on the highway. There she saw four separate fires burning in bushes across the freeway, she said.

“The sky was dark, dark brown, and the dirt was blowing in swirls across the sidewalk like snakes,” she said.

Angstman later ended up evacuating, getting in a car with her husband and driving northeast without knowing where they would end up.

Vignesh Kasinath, an assistant professor of biochemistry at the University of Colorado in Boulder, evacuated from a neighborhood in Superior with his wife and her parents. Kasinath said the family was overwhelmed because of the sudden evacuation warning and anxious from the chaos while trying to leave.

“It’s only because I am active on Twitter I came to know about this,” said Kasinath, who said he did not receive an official evacuation notice from authorities.

The fires prompted Gov. Jared Polis to declare a state of a emergency, allowing the state to access disaster emergency funds.

The evacuations come as climate change is making&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/climate-climate-change-science-environment-and-nature-935be069af34aad472074d42097af85e">weather more extreme</a>&nbsp;and wildfires more frequent and destructive, scientists say. A&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ut-state-wire-az-state-wire-id-state-wire-or-state-wire-nv-state-wire-d1f130f8826ef57c74db611e959937ac">historic drought</a>&nbsp;and heat waves have made wildfires harder to fight in the U.S. West.

Ninety percent of Boulder County is in severe or extreme drought, and hasn’t seen substantial rainfall since mid-summer.

“With any snow on the ground, this absolutely would not have happened in the way that it did,” said snow hydrologist Keith Musselman, who was at home when the fire broke out not far away.

Musselman said this severe fire risk can be expected in September and October following a dry summer, but the lack of any precipitation – snow or rain – this late in the season is highly unusual.

The National Weather Service predicts up to a foot of snow could fall tomorrow in Boulder, and that moisture would bring substantial relief, Musselman said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640951000026.png" alt="Evacuations were ordered for the city of Louisville, home to about 21,000 people, and Superior, which has another 13,000 residents.-photo courtesy KKTV" />
 <figcaption>Evacuations were ordered for the city of Louisville, home to about 21,000 people, and Superior, which has another 13,000 residents.-photo courtesy KKTV</figcaption>
 </figure>DENVER (AP) — An estimated 580 homes, a hotel and a shopping center have burned and tens of thousands of people were evacuated in wind-fueled wildfires outside Denver, officials said Thursday evening.At least one first responder and six others were injured, though Boulder County Sheriff Joe Pelle acknowledged there could be more injuries and deaths could be possible due to the intensity of fires that quickly swept across the region as winds gusted up to 105 mph.The first fire erupted just before 10:30 a.m. and was “attacked pretty quickly and laid down later in the day and is currently being monitored” with no structures lost, Pelle said.A second wildfire, reported just after 11 a.m., “ballooned and spread rapidly east,” Pelle said. The blaze spans 2.5 square miles (6.5 square kilometers) and has engulfed parts of the area in smoky, orangish skies and sent residents scrambling to get to safety.The activity of the fires, which are burning unusually late into the winter season, will depend on how the winds behave overnight and could determine when crews are able to go in and begin assessing the damage and searching for any victims.“This is the kind of fire we can’t fight head on,” Pelle said. “We actually had deputy sheriffs and firefighters in areas that had to pull out because they just got overrun,” he added.Evacuations have been ordered for the city of Louisville, home to about 21,000 people, and Superior, which has another 13,000 residents.The neighboring towns are roughly 20 miles&nbsp; northwest of Denver in an area filled with middle and upper-middle class subdivisions surrounded by shopping centers, parks and schools. The area is in between Denver and Boulder, a foothills college town home to the University of Colorado.Residents evacuated fairly calmly and orderly, but the winding streets in the suburban subdivisions quickly became clogged as people tried to get out. It sometimes took cars as long as 45 minutes to advance about a half mile (less than a kilometer).Small fires cropped up here and there in surprising places — on the grass in a median or in a dumpster in the middle of a parking lot — as wind gusts caused the fire to jump and spread. Shifting winds caused the skies to turn from clear to smoky and then back again as emergency sirens blared nearby.Some of the several blazes in the area Thursday were sparked by downed power lines.Six people who were injured in the fires were being treated at UCHealth Broomfield Hospital, spokesperson Kelli Christensen said. A nearby portion of U.S. Highway 36 also was shut down.Colorado’s Front Range, where most of the state’s population lives, had an extremely dry and mild fall, and winter so far has continued to be mostly dry.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-lifestyle-business-denver-weather-d967eafc0de74000c758fbbac9f5f52d">Denver set a record for most consecutive days without snow</a>&nbsp;before it got a small storm on Dec. 10. It hasn’t snowed since, though snow was expected in the region Friday.One video captured by a bystander outside a Superior Costco store showed an apocalyptic scene with winds whipping through barren trees in the parking lot surrounded by gray skies, a hazy sun and small fires scattered across the ground.Leah Angstman and her husband saw similar dark skies while returning to their Louisville home from Denver International Airport after being away for the holidays. As they were sitting on the bus going toward Boulder, Angstman recalled instantly leaving clear blue skies and entering clouds of brown and yellow smoke.“The wind rocked the bus so hard that I thought the bus would tip,” she wrote in a message to The Associated Press.The visibility was so poor that the bus had to pull over and they waited a half-hour until a regional transit authority van escorted them to a turnaround on the highway. There she saw four separate fires burning in bushes across the freeway, she said.“The sky was dark, dark brown, and the dirt was blowing in swirls across the sidewalk like snakes,” she said.Angstman later ended up evacuating, getting in a car with her husband and driving northeast without knowing where they would end up.Vignesh Kasinath, an assistant professor of biochemistry at the University of Colorado in Boulder, evacuated from a neighborhood in Superior with his wife and her parents. Kasinath said the family was overwhelmed because of the sudden evacuation warning and anxious from the chaos while trying to leave.“It’s only because I am active on Twitter I came to know about this,” said Kasinath, who said he did not receive an official evacuation notice from authorities.The fires prompted Gov. Jared Polis to declare a state of a emergency, allowing the state to access disaster emergency funds.The evacuations come as climate change is making&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/climate-climate-change-science-environment-and-nature-935be069af34aad472074d42097af85e">weather more extreme</a>&nbsp;and wildfires more frequent and destructive, scientists say. A&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ut-state-wire-az-state-wire-id-state-wire-or-state-wire-nv-state-wire-d1f130f8826ef57c74db611e959937ac">historic drought</a>&nbsp;and heat waves have made wildfires harder to fight in the U.S. West.Ninety percent of Boulder County is in severe or extreme drought, and hasn’t seen substantial rainfall since mid-summer.“With any snow on the ground, this absolutely would not have happened in the way that it did,” said snow hydrologist Keith Musselman, who was at home when the fire broke out not far away.Musselman said this severe fire risk can be expected in September and October following a dry summer, but the lack of any precipitation – snow or rain – this late in the season is highly unusual.The National Weather Service predicts up to a foot of snow could fall tomorrow in Boulder, and that moisture would bring substantial relief, Musselman said.____

Wildfires near Denver burn hundreds of homes, force evacuations

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Supreme Court has upheld the first-degree murder conviction of a Topeka man over a fatal road rage shooting more than five years ago. 

The court on Thursday rejected arguments from an attorney for Andre Clark Rhoiney Jr., that the prosecutor made improper statements during closing arguments. 

The shooting of 28-year-old Michael Stadler occurred in October 2016, when Rhoiney was 23. According to trial testimony, Rhoiney fired two shots at a van that Stadler was in after people in the two vehicles had exchanged words and rude gestures. 

A Shawnee County judge sentenced Rhoiney to life plus 13 months in prison, with no chance for parole for 25 years.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640890816132.png" alt="Rhoiney following his initial arrest in the case" />
 <figcaption>Rhoiney following his initial arrest in the case</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Supreme Court has upheld the first-degree murder conviction of a Topeka man over a fatal road rage shooting more than five years ago. The court on Thursday rejected arguments from an attorney for Andre Clark Rhoiney Jr., that the prosecutor made improper statements during closing arguments. The shooting of 28-year-old Michael Stadler occurred in October 2016, when Rhoiney was 23. According to trial testimony, Rhoiney fired two shots at a van that Stadler was in after people in the two vehicles had exchanged words and rude gestures. A Shawnee County judge sentenced Rhoiney to life plus 13 months in prison, with no chance for parole for 25 years.

Kansas court upholds murder conviction over road rage death

Boyd M. Bland, 75, of Gove, Kansas, passed away on December 28, 2021. &nbsp; Boyd was born in Hays, Kansas, on October 3, 1946, to Kenneth C. and Elsie Mae (Tindal) Bland.

Boyd graduated from Gove Rural High School in 1964.&nbsp; He attended Asbury College in Wilmore, Kentucky, before graduating from Fort Hays State University.&nbsp;

Boyd married Karen Ann Herl on September 12, 1972.&nbsp; The couple made their home near Gove for their 49 years of marriage. &nbsp;

Boyd was a 4th generation Gove County farmer and stockman.&nbsp; He partnered with his father in 1968 to form Bland Custom Harvesting, an endeavor he took great personal pride in for more than 30 years.&nbsp; The individuals he harvested wheat, corn, and milo for started as customers but became lifelong friends.&nbsp;

In 1976 he achieved one of his childhood dreams by earning his private pilot’s license.&nbsp; He thoroughly enjoyed every chance he got to take up his Cessna Skyhawk – N12247.

Boyd is survived by his wife, Karen; two daughters Jennifer (Jon) Novak of Oketo, Kansas, and Jessica (Dennis) Ferguson of Hampton, Nebraska; a son Jamie (Misty) Bland of Gove; sister Barbara (Darrell) Zimmerman of Mulvane, Kansas.&nbsp; He is also survived by eight grandchildren in whom he took great delight:&nbsp; Shayla and Brandon Novak, Grant, Lofton, and Kenley Ferguson, Haelie, Auston, and Kelsie Bland. &nbsp;

He was preceded in death by his parents and an infant son, Boyd M. Bland, Jr.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 AM, Monday, January 3, 2022, at Gove Community Bible Church, with Pastor Chris Thomas officiating. Burial will follow at Gove Cemetery, with lunch served at the church fellowship hall immediately after.

Visitation will be from 5 -7 PM, Sunday January 2, 2022, at Schmitt Funeral Home, Quinter. &nbsp;

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to Gove Community Bible Church or Gove County Historical Association.&nbsp; Donations may be sent to Schmitt Funeral Home, 901 Main St. Quinter, Kansas, 67752.

Condolences may be left for the family by visiting www.schmittfuneral.com

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640902103708.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Boyd M. Bland, 75, of Gove, Kansas, passed away on December 28, 2021. &nbsp; Boyd was born in Hays, Kansas, on October 3, 1946, to Kenneth C. and Elsie Mae (Tindal) Bland.Boyd graduated from Gove Rural High School in 1964.&nbsp; He attended Asbury College in Wilmore, Kentucky, before graduating from Fort Hays State University.&nbsp;Boyd married Karen Ann Herl on September 12, 1972.&nbsp; The couple made their home near Gove for their 49 years of marriage. &nbsp;Boyd was a 4th generation Gove County farmer and stockman.&nbsp; He partnered with his father in 1968 to form Bland Custom Harvesting, an endeavor he took great personal pride in for more than 30 years.&nbsp; The individuals he harvested wheat, corn, and milo for started as customers but became lifelong friends.&nbsp;In 1976 he achieved one of his childhood dreams by earning his private pilot’s license.&nbsp; He thoroughly enjoyed every chance he got to take up his Cessna Skyhawk – N12247.Boyd is survived by his wife, Karen; two daughters Jennifer (Jon) Novak of Oketo, Kansas, and Jessica (Dennis) Ferguson of Hampton, Nebraska; a son Jamie (Misty) Bland of Gove; sister Barbara (Darrell) Zimmerman of Mulvane, Kansas.&nbsp; He is also survived by eight grandchildren in whom he took great delight:&nbsp; Shayla and Brandon Novak, Grant, Lofton, and Kenley Ferguson, Haelie, Auston, and Kelsie Bland. &nbsp;He was preceded in death by his parents and an infant son, Boyd M. Bland, Jr.Funeral services will be held at 10:30 AM, Monday, January 3, 2022, at Gove Community Bible Church, with Pastor Chris Thomas officiating. Burial will follow at Gove Cemetery, with lunch served at the church fellowship hall immediately after.Visitation will be from 5 -7 PM, Sunday January 2, 2022, at Schmitt Funeral Home, Quinter. &nbsp;In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to Gove Community Bible Church or Gove County Historical Association.&nbsp; Donations may be sent to Schmitt Funeral Home, 901 Main St. Quinter, Kansas, 67752.Condolences may be left for the family by visiting www.schmittfuneral.com

Boyd M. Bland

Mary L. Paul, age 81, of Hays, Kansas died Tuesday, December 28, 2021, at Hays Medical Center, Hays, Kansas.

She was born January 12, 1940, at Agra, Kansas to Ole William and 
Myrtle Hazel (Perkins) Bennett.&nbsp; She married William D. Paul on October 
6, 1963, in Weskan, Kansas.

She worked at the Hays Public Library in the Children’s Department and 
Storytime for over 25 years.&nbsp; She grew up on a farm at Agra, Kansas and 
was a graduate of Agra High School.&nbsp; Mary attended Kansas Wesleyan 
College and Fort Hays State College earning a Bachelor’s Degree.&nbsp; Mary 
moved to Hays in 1973 until moving to Salina in 2010, and the last three
 years she lived at Via Christi Village in Hays.&nbsp; She was a member of 
the First United Methodist Church and the Eastern Star.&nbsp; Mary enjoyed 
baking, sewing, and flower gardening.

Survivors include her daughter, Lisa Paul D.V.M., Urbana, IL; her son, 
Mike Paul and wife, Melinda, Salina, KS; her sister, Shirley Hoch, 
Logan, Ks; her grandchildren, Kaitlyn Paul, Dodge City, KS; Kalene 
Gormley and husband, Steven, Hays, KS; Kendale Paul, Salina, KS.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; brother, Dale 
Bennett; sister Connie Hoch; brothers-in-law, Wesley Hoch and Ernie 
Hoch; and two great grandchildren.

Services will be 3:00 P.M. Friday, December 31, 2021, at 
Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary of Hays, 1919 East 22nd Street, Hays, Kansas 
67601 with Rev. Troy Miller officiating.

Burial will be at Fort Hays Memorial Gardens Cemetery, Hays, Kansas.

Visitation is from 2:00 to 3:00 P.M. Friday, at Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary of Hays.

The family suggests memorials to Hays Public Library-Children’s Department or Stephen Ministry in care of the mortuary.

Condolences can be sent via e-mail to clinesmortuary@eaglecom.net or 
can be left at guest book at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640873572526.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Mary L. Paul, age 81, of Hays, Kansas died Tuesday, December 28, 2021, at Hays Medical Center, Hays, Kansas.She was born January 12, 1940, at Agra, Kansas to Ole William and 
Myrtle Hazel (Perkins) Bennett.&nbsp; She married William D. Paul on October 
6, 1963, in Weskan, Kansas.She worked at the Hays Public Library in the Children’s Department and 
Storytime for over 25 years.&nbsp; She grew up on a farm at Agra, Kansas and 
was a graduate of Agra High School.&nbsp; Mary attended Kansas Wesleyan 
College and Fort Hays State College earning a Bachelor’s Degree.&nbsp; Mary 
moved to Hays in 1973 until moving to Salina in 2010, and the last three
 years she lived at Via Christi Village in Hays.&nbsp; She was a member of 
the First United Methodist Church and the Eastern Star.&nbsp; Mary enjoyed 
baking, sewing, and flower gardening.Survivors include her daughter, Lisa Paul D.V.M., Urbana, IL; her son, 
Mike Paul and wife, Melinda, Salina, KS; her sister, Shirley Hoch, 
Logan, Ks; her grandchildren, Kaitlyn Paul, Dodge City, KS; Kalene 
Gormley and husband, Steven, Hays, KS; Kendale Paul, Salina, KS.She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; brother, Dale 
Bennett; sister Connie Hoch; brothers-in-law, Wesley Hoch and Ernie 
Hoch; and two great grandchildren.Services will be 3:00 P.M. Friday, December 31, 2021, at 
Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary of Hays, 1919 East 22nd Street, Hays, Kansas 
67601 with Rev. Troy Miller officiating.Burial will be at Fort Hays Memorial Gardens Cemetery, Hays, Kansas.Visitation is from 2:00 to 3:00 P.M. Friday, at Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary of Hays.The family suggests memorials to Hays Public Library-Children’s Department or Stephen Ministry in care of the mortuary.Condolences can be sent via e-mail to clinesmortuary@eaglecom.net or 
can be left at guest book at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com

Mary L. Paul

Kansas crude prices head toward the end of the year on a high note. Kansas Common crude at CHS in McPherson was fetching $65.75 per barrel on Monday. That's up $10 per barrel from the first of the month, and $27 per barrel higher than at the first of the year. Drilling at several well sites in our area was shut down for the holiday, or for fire protection, and are expected resume after the first of the year. Quite a few drillers reached total depth and shut down prior to the holiday. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service reports 17 active rigs in eastern Kansas last week, which is unchanged, and 26 active drilling rigs west of Wichita, which is down one. Regulators in Kansas approved 36 new drilling permits last week. That's 1,182 so far this year. Out of 15 new permits in western Kansas, one was in Barton County and two were in Russell County. There are 21 new permits in eastern Kansas. In the last weekly completions tally of the year, over twenty percent of the completed oil wells in Kansas were dry holes. The year-to-date total of 959 newly-completed wells included 199 dry holes. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service reports 27 new completions statewide last week, including one each in Barton and Ellis counties. The government reported a big dip in U.S. crude-oil inventories. The Energy Information Administration said stockpiles dropped by nearly five million barrels to 423.6 million. EIA said inventories are currently about eight percent below the five-year average for this time of year. Production and imports were both down for the week. EIA said U.S. output averaged just over 11.5 million barrels per day. That's down about 200,000 barrels per day from a week earlier, but it's up nearly half a million barrels a day from the same week a year ago. U.S. refiners imported an average of 6.2 million barrels per day, down about a quarter million barrels per day. Imports over the past four weeks were 12 percent higher than during the same four-week period last year. A huge gift from Harold Hamm and his company Continental Resources will help create the Hamm Institute for American Energy at Oklahoma State University. The center will host authors, speakers, energy summits and leadership meetings. It will include a state-of-the-art laboratory featuring wells drilled below the building and eventually will feature an interactive museum. The initial funding will be a gift of $25 million from the Harold Hamm Foundation and $25 million from Continental Resources. A trade group in Texas reports a continuing boom in oil-patch employment there. Citing government data, the Texas Independent Producers and Royalty Owners Association reported Texas 185,800 people had jobs in exploration and production, an increase of 2,400 jobs from their revised October numbers, and the seventh consecutive month of job growth for the industry since April.&nbsp; Those job numbers are up 24,800 positions from a year earlier. A Houston-based oil company and two subsidiaries were indicted last week for that crude-oil spill off the coast of Southern California back in October.&nbsp; Prosecutors say the spill was caused in part by failing to properly act when alarms repeatedly alerted workers to a pipeline rupture. Amplify Energy Corp. and its companies that operate several oil rigs and a pipeline off Long Beach were charged by a federal grand jury with a single misdemeanor count of illegally discharging oil. Investigators believe the pipeline was weakened when a cargo ship’s anchor snagged it, several months before it ultimately ruptured, spilling up to about 25,000 gallons of crude oil in the ocean. Elections in Libya may not go on as scheduled, but that country's national oil company still hopes to ramp up crude production by an additional 100,000 barrels per day by next summer. That would raise output in the war-torn nation to 1.4 million barrels per day. The country's top energy official said if they cannot pass a national budget they may reach out to private Libyan or foreign companies to develop fields and boost output. The Energy Minister told Bloomberg News they hope to top two million barrels per day within two or three years, but acknowledged they have to form a government first, and there were signs an election scheduled this week might not take place.

By JOHN P. TRETBARKansas crude prices head toward the end of the year on a high note. Kansas Common crude at CHS in McPherson was fetching $65.75 per barrel on Monday. That's up $10 per barrel from the first of the month, and $27 per barrel higher than at the first of the year. Drilling at several well sites in our area was shut down for the holiday, or for fire protection, and are expected resume after the first of the year. Quite a few drillers reached total depth and shut down prior to the holiday. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service reports 17 active rigs in eastern Kansas last week, which is unchanged, and 26 active drilling rigs west of Wichita, which is down one. Regulators in Kansas approved 36 new drilling permits last week. That's 1,182 so far this year. Out of 15 new permits in western Kansas, one was in Barton County and two were in Russell County. There are 21 new permits in eastern Kansas. In the last weekly completions tally of the year, over twenty percent of the completed oil wells in Kansas were dry holes. The year-to-date total of 959 newly-completed wells included 199 dry holes. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service reports 27 new completions statewide last week, including one each in Barton and Ellis counties. The government reported a big dip in U.S. crude-oil inventories. The Energy Information Administration said stockpiles dropped by nearly five million barrels to 423.6 million. EIA said inventories are currently about eight percent below the five-year average for this time of year. Production and imports were both down for the week. EIA said U.S. output averaged just over 11.5 million barrels per day. That's down about 200,000 barrels per day from a week earlier, but it's up nearly half a million barrels a day from the same week a year ago. U.S. refiners imported an average of 6.2 million barrels per day, down about a quarter million barrels per day. Imports over the past four weeks were 12 percent higher than during the same four-week period last year. A huge gift from Harold Hamm and his company Continental Resources will help create the Hamm Institute for American Energy at Oklahoma State University. The center will host authors, speakers, energy summits and leadership meetings. It will include a state-of-the-art laboratory featuring wells drilled below the building and eventually will feature an interactive museum. The initial funding will be a gift of $25 million from the Harold Hamm Foundation and $25 million from Continental Resources. A trade group in Texas reports a continuing boom in oil-patch employment there. Citing government data, the Texas Independent Producers and Royalty Owners Association reported Texas 185,800 people had jobs in exploration and production, an increase of 2,400 jobs from their revised October numbers, and the seventh consecutive month of job growth for the industry since April.&nbsp; Those job numbers are up 24,800 positions from a year earlier. A Houston-based oil company and two subsidiaries were indicted last week for that crude-oil spill off the coast of Southern California back in October.&nbsp; Prosecutors say the spill was caused in part by failing to properly act when alarms repeatedly alerted workers to a pipeline rupture. Amplify Energy Corp. and its companies that operate several oil rigs and a pipeline off Long Beach were charged by a federal grand jury with a single misdemeanor count of illegally discharging oil. Investigators believe the pipeline was weakened when a cargo ship’s anchor snagged it, several months before it ultimately ruptured, spilling up to about 25,000 gallons of crude oil in the ocean. Elections in Libya may not go on as scheduled, but that country's national oil company still hopes to ramp up crude production by an additional 100,000 barrels per day by next summer. That would raise output in the war-torn nation to 1.4 million barrels per day. The country's top energy official said if they cannot pass a national budget they may reach out to private Libyan or foreign companies to develop fields and boost output. The Energy Minister told Bloomberg News they hope to top two million barrels per day within two or three years, but acknowledged they have to form a government first, and there were signs an election scheduled this week might not take place.

News From the Oil Patch: Kan. crude prices end 2021 on high note

Dorothy Jean Doty, 90, passed away on December 27, 2021, at 
Diversicare of Larned. She was born on December 31, 1930, at Manhattan, 
Kansas, to Clarence Levi &amp; Anna Belle (Marken) Cobler. On May 5, 
1951, she married Ernest Richard Doty in Great Bend, Kansas. He died on 
October 13, 1993.

Dorothy was a Great Bend resident and homemaker. She loved 
all animals and was passionate about taking care and feeding stray cats,
 reading, watching soap operas, and spending time with family, the 
grandkids, and especially the great-grands.

Survivors include one daughter, Wanda (Ron) Heine of Great Bend; one 
sister, Lucille Haines of Great Bend; five grandchildren, Kim (Cecil) 
Petrie, Chris (Kathi) Heine, Jeff (Ann) Heine, Rick (Janelle) Heine, 
Brent (Megan) Heine; seventeen great-grandchildren; and many 
great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; six
 brothers including a twin brother, Donald Cobler; and four sisters.

Visitation will take place on Sunday, January 2, 2022, from 1:00 p.m.
 to 8:00 p.m. at Bryant Funeral Home with family receiving friends from 
3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Funeral Service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Monday,
 January 3, 2022, at Bryant Funeral Home with Pastor Michael Munz 
presiding. Interment will follow at Great Bend Cemetery. Memorials can 
be made to the Golden Belt Humane Society or Great Bend Public Library, 
in care of Bryant Funeral Home.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640795287040.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Dorothy Jean Doty, 90, passed away on December 27, 2021, at 
Diversicare of Larned. She was born on December 31, 1930, at Manhattan, 
Kansas, to Clarence Levi &amp; Anna Belle (Marken) Cobler. On May 5, 
1951, she married Ernest Richard Doty in Great Bend, Kansas. He died on 
October 13, 1993.Dorothy was a Great Bend resident and homemaker. She loved 
all animals and was passionate about taking care and feeding stray cats,
 reading, watching soap operas, and spending time with family, the 
grandkids, and especially the great-grands.Survivors include one daughter, Wanda (Ron) Heine of Great Bend; one 
sister, Lucille Haines of Great Bend; five grandchildren, Kim (Cecil) 
Petrie, Chris (Kathi) Heine, Jeff (Ann) Heine, Rick (Janelle) Heine, 
Brent (Megan) Heine; seventeen great-grandchildren; and many 
great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; six
 brothers including a twin brother, Donald Cobler; and four sisters.Visitation will take place on Sunday, January 2, 2022, from 1:00 p.m.
 to 8:00 p.m. at Bryant Funeral Home with family receiving friends from 
3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Funeral Service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Monday,
 January 3, 2022, at Bryant Funeral Home with Pastor Michael Munz 
presiding. Interment will follow at Great Bend Cemetery. Memorials can 
be made to the Golden Belt Humane Society or Great Bend Public Library, 
in care of Bryant Funeral Home.

Dorothy Jean Doty

Cherie Michelle Belford, 65, passed away on December 27, 2021 at 
Clara Barton Hospital, Hoisington. She was born on October 12, 1956 to 
A. Neal &amp; Opal (Mellies) Reichel. Cherie married Lawrence Belford on
 October 15, 1983 at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Great Bend, 
Kansas. They were inseparable through their years of marriage.

Mrs. Belford was a Hoisington, Kansas resident. She worked for 43 
years at Superior Essex as a Quality Tester. She enjoyed hunting, 
cooking, bowling, butchering/processing meat, and spending time with 
family especially the grandkids.

Survivors include, her husband, Lawrence of the home; two sons, Shawn
 Marvin and Tyler Marvin both of Great Bend; three daughters, Sandra 
(Anthony) Hopkins of Ellinwood, Heather Whisnant of Topeka, and Kendra 
Belford of Apple Valley, California; one sister, Charlotte (Phil) 
Brenning of Keller, TX; two brothers: Joel (Terry) Reichel of Alexander,
 KS, Jody (Seth Munter) Reichel of Oakland, CA; fifteen grandchildren, 
Devin, Emily, Brianna, Alexis, Kody, Madison, Kaden, Dietrich, Rae, 
Trace, Kali, Rella, Kinley, Creed; and two great-grandchildren, Zayl and
 Phreya. She is preceded in death by her parents.

Visitation will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Sunday, January 
2, 2022, at Bryant Funeral Home with the family receiving friends from 
4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on 
Monday, January 3, 2022, at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church with Father
 Kola presiding. Interment will follow at St. John the Evangelist 
cemetery. Memorials have been designated to Barton County Relay for 
Life, in care of Bryant Funeral Home.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640795250258.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Cherie Michelle Belford, 65, passed away on December 27, 2021 at 
Clara Barton Hospital, Hoisington. She was born on October 12, 1956 to 
A. Neal &amp; Opal (Mellies) Reichel. Cherie married Lawrence Belford on
 October 15, 1983 at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Great Bend, 
Kansas. They were inseparable through their years of marriage.Mrs. Belford was a Hoisington, Kansas resident. She worked for 43 
years at Superior Essex as a Quality Tester. She enjoyed hunting, 
cooking, bowling, butchering/processing meat, and spending time with 
family especially the grandkids.Survivors include, her husband, Lawrence of the home; two sons, Shawn
 Marvin and Tyler Marvin both of Great Bend; three daughters, Sandra 
(Anthony) Hopkins of Ellinwood, Heather Whisnant of Topeka, and Kendra 
Belford of Apple Valley, California; one sister, Charlotte (Phil) 
Brenning of Keller, TX; two brothers: Joel (Terry) Reichel of Alexander,
 KS, Jody (Seth Munter) Reichel of Oakland, CA; fifteen grandchildren, 
Devin, Emily, Brianna, Alexis, Kody, Madison, Kaden, Dietrich, Rae, 
Trace, Kali, Rella, Kinley, Creed; and two great-grandchildren, Zayl and
 Phreya. She is preceded in death by her parents.Visitation will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Sunday, January 
2, 2022, at Bryant Funeral Home with the family receiving friends from 
4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on 
Monday, January 3, 2022, at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church with Father
 Kola presiding. Interment will follow at St. John the Evangelist 
cemetery. Memorials have been designated to Barton County Relay for 
Life, in care of Bryant Funeral Home.

Cherie Michelle Belford

Despite a busy year at the Hays Fire Department, Chief Ryan
Hagans said he thought the year went well.

“It was another great year at the fire department,” Hagans said.

As far as emergency responses, he said the department was
dispatched to just a little more than 2,600 calls in 2021 — about seven calls per
day.

&nbsp;“It’s been a busy
year on the call volume,” Hagans said, “but to be expected to like everything
else, and we expect the numbers to go up over the years.”

Those calls included fires in the city, but also, he said
the department is proud to assist Ellis County Emergency Medical Services.

“We run hand-in-hand with Ellis County EMS, which is a great
partnership for us and for the community,” Hagans said, noting firefighters
are also trained EMTs and can assist as needed.

&nbsp;During the year, the
department benefited from the purchasing of new equipment that will assist the
department with fighting fires well into the future.

“We did have a couple of additions to our fleet this year. We were able to add in a little 300-gallon grass fire unit. That's something that
his fire department hasn’t had for a long time,” Hagans said.

The new equipment is self-contained, is similar to equipment
used by the Ellis County Rural Fire Department and will allow quicker response times
to grass fires.

A pickup was also purchased that will transport the
department’s mobile air supply.

“So, if we do have a long structure fire or something, we can
fill up our air bottles. Instead of bringing them back to the station, we just
pull this pickup up and just refill everything out there on scene handy,”
Hagans said. 

Along with the new trucks, he said some of the department’s radio
equipment was also upgraded. 

“We're just trying to keep up with what's available out
there,” Hagans said, “so we have the best that we can afford to have.”

A part of that communication equipment that is used to increase
department efficiencies are iPads that have replaced pen-and-paper business inspections.

“Some of the stuff we don't have to go back and revisit the
businesses. They can just send us a picture of anything they had to fix in an
email,” Hagans said. “It saves us time and saves them time.”

Equipment aside, he said the department also spent
significant resources this year on continuing training for the department.

“We do a lot of training for all different types of
emergencies,” Hagans said. “So far, the guys have logged over 9,200 hours of
training this year.”

While some of that training occurs locally, he said members
of the department also traveled for advanced training and were able to bring
those skills back to Hays to be shared with other members of the department.

“That works out very, very well for us,” Hagans said.

For the local training, Hagans said the department’s new
training facility has allowed for more complex training scenarios. 

“There's a three-story drill tower out there made out of
Conex boxes,” Hagans said. “We use one Conex box for a live burn training.”

Once completed, the ongoing construction of an on-site
classroom will allow for even more training opportunities.

“We've partnered up with NCK Tech and Fort Hays to construct
a classroom out there,” Hagans said. “So that project is moving along with the
classroom. Hopefully, here next year, we'll be able to get that completed, and
it'll be able to host different types of trainings out there. [It will be] open to
different fire departments throughout the state and have some classes.”

Also looking ahead to next year, Hagans said the Front Door
Fridays program will continue, giving area residents an opportunity to interact
with department members and explore their equipment.

“It's kind of an open house event if you want to just call
it that,” he said. “We started running that May through October on like the
third Friday of the month from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. That has been great. We had so
many people, I think it was September or October maybe, we had 100
people show up. Bring family, bring your kids and let them crawl around.”

It’s a fun way for the department to show their
appreciation for a supportive community.

“The community support that we received this year and over the
past years has been just great,” Hagans said. 

<div><iframe title="Hays Fire Department wraps busy year; looks ahead to 2022" 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=tyiw6-11615c4-pb&from=pb6admin&square=1&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=ffffff&btn-skin=3267a3&size=300" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
</div>By JAMES BELL Hays PostDespite a busy year at the Hays Fire Department, Chief Ryan
Hagans said he thought the year went well.“It was another great year at the fire department,” Hagans said.As far as emergency responses, he said the department was
dispatched to just a little more than 2,600 calls in 2021 — about seven calls per
day.&nbsp;“It’s been a busy
year on the call volume,” Hagans said, “but to be expected to like everything
else, and we expect the numbers to go up over the years.”Those calls included fires in the city, but also, he said
the department is proud to assist Ellis County Emergency Medical Services.“We run hand-in-hand with Ellis County EMS, which is a great
partnership for us and for the community,” Hagans said, noting firefighters
are also trained EMTs and can assist as needed.&nbsp;During the year, the
department benefited from the purchasing of new equipment that will assist the
department with fighting fires well into the future.“We did have a couple of additions to our fleet this year. We were able to add in a little 300-gallon grass fire unit. That's something that
his fire department hasn’t had for a long time,” Hagans said.The new equipment is self-contained, is similar to equipment
used by the Ellis County Rural Fire Department and will allow quicker response times
to grass fires.A pickup was also purchased that will transport the
department’s mobile air supply.“So, if we do have a long structure fire or something, we can
fill up our air bottles. Instead of bringing them back to the station, we just
pull this pickup up and just refill everything out there on scene handy,”
Hagans said. Along with the new trucks, he said some of the department’s radio
equipment was also upgraded. “We're just trying to keep up with what's available out
there,” Hagans said, “so we have the best that we can afford to have.”A part of that communication equipment that is used to increase
department efficiencies are iPads that have replaced pen-and-paper business inspections.“Some of the stuff we don't have to go back and revisit the
businesses. They can just send us a picture of anything they had to fix in an
email,” Hagans said. “It saves us time and saves them time.”Equipment aside, he said the department also spent
significant resources this year on continuing training for the department.“We do a lot of training for all different types of
emergencies,” Hagans said. “So far, the guys have logged over 9,200 hours of
training this year.”While some of that training occurs locally, he said members
of the department also traveled for advanced training and were able to bring
those skills back to Hays to be shared with other members of the department.“That works out very, very well for us,” Hagans said.For the local training, Hagans said the department’s new
training facility has allowed for more complex training scenarios. “There's a three-story drill tower out there made out of
Conex boxes,” Hagans said. “We use one Conex box for a live burn training.”Once completed, the ongoing construction of an on-site
classroom will allow for even more training opportunities.“We've partnered up with NCK Tech and Fort Hays to construct
a classroom out there,” Hagans said. “So that project is moving along with the
classroom. Hopefully, here next year, we'll be able to get that completed, and
it'll be able to host different types of trainings out there. [It will be] open to
different fire departments throughout the state and have some classes.”Also looking ahead to next year, Hagans said the Front Door
Fridays program will continue, giving area residents an opportunity to interact
with department members and explore their equipment.“It's kind of an open house event if you want to just call
it that,” he said. “We started running that May through October on like the
third Friday of the month from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. That has been great. We had so
many people, I think it was September or October maybe, we had 100
people show up. Bring family, bring your kids and let them crawl around.”It’s a fun way for the department to show their
appreciation for a supportive community.“The community support that we received this year and over the
past years has been just great,” Hagans said.

🎙Hays Fire Department wraps busy year, looks ahead to 2022

Beth Anne Merklein, 58, of Oregon, Missouri, passed away on December 
21, 2021, at Mosaic Life Care Hospital in St. Joseph, Missouri, with 
family and close friends by her side. She was born on April 18, 1963, to
 Leland Duane and Phyllis (Stutterheim) Merklein at Phillipsburg, 
Kansas.

Beth spent her childhood on the farm in rural Phillips County. 
She was baptized and confirmed at the Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 
Stuttgart, KS. &nbsp;After graduating from Phillipsburg High 
School in 1981 she went on to study at Cloud County Community College, 
Concordia, KS, graduating in 1983 with an Associate of Science Degree in
 Travel and Tourism. After graduation, she began her career working for a
 large travel agency in Kansas City, MO; which eventually led her across
 the country working in that capacity for National Cattleman’s 
Association in Denver, Colorado and then advancing to providing travel 
services for the Mars Family and their companies. Being in the travel 
industry allowed Beth to explore her desire to travel and through her 
many travels she had adventurous tales to share with many when she 
returned. 

Through her marriage to David Baker she had two boys; Wyatt and Sam. &nbsp;Over the last 20 years she has been busy working and raising her boys. &nbsp;In
 October of 2020 Beth took the position as an Office Assistant working 
for the University of Missouri Extension Office for Holt County. This 
job allowed her flexibility to care for her boys and be close to home. &nbsp;She loved her family and her friends including Mandy and John Elifrits and family of Oregon, MO. 

Beth was preceded in death by the recent passing of her father Leland Duane Merklein. &nbsp;Survivors
 include her sons Wyatt and Sam Baker of the home, mother Phyllis 
Merklein of Prairie View, KS, siblings Susan Warner and husband Charlie 
of Cimarron, KS, Matt Merklein and wife Kelly of Dallas, TX, Denise 
Kaufmann and husband Robb of Southlake, TX, Janna Newman and husband 
Ryan of Gold Canyon, AZ. Along with many nieces and nephews and two 
great nephews and a host of friends. &nbsp;She will be greatly missed.

Celebration of Life service will be held at Chamberlain Funeral Home, 100 W. George St, Oregon, MO 64473, Wednesday, December 29, 2021, from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM with a short service at 6:30 PM. &nbsp;On
 January 15, 2022, from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM, a receiving by Beth’s family
 will take place at Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, 1115 2nd St., Phillipsburg, KS 67661. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Memorials for the care of Beth’s children can be sent in care 
of the Chamberlain Funeral Home, P.O. Box 408, 100 W. George St., 
Oregon, MO, 64473. &nbsp;Thoughts and memories may be shared in the online guest book at <a href="http://www.chamberlainfuneral.com">www.chamberlainfuneral.com</a><a href="https://www.chamberlainfuneral.com"> or www.olliffboeve.com</a>. Beth’s family would like to extend their appreciation for the help and support she received during this journey. &nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640701003302.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Beth Anne Merklein, 58, of Oregon, Missouri, passed away on December 
21, 2021, at Mosaic Life Care Hospital in St. Joseph, Missouri, with 
family and close friends by her side. She was born on April 18, 1963, to
 Leland Duane and Phyllis (Stutterheim) Merklein at Phillipsburg, 
Kansas.Beth spent her childhood on the farm in rural Phillips County. 
She was baptized and confirmed at the Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 
Stuttgart, KS. &nbsp;After graduating from Phillipsburg High 
School in 1981 she went on to study at Cloud County Community College, 
Concordia, KS, graduating in 1983 with an Associate of Science Degree in
 Travel and Tourism. After graduation, she began her career working for a
 large travel agency in Kansas City, MO; which eventually led her across
 the country working in that capacity for National Cattleman’s 
Association in Denver, Colorado and then advancing to providing travel 
services for the Mars Family and their companies. Being in the travel 
industry allowed Beth to explore her desire to travel and through her 
many travels she had adventurous tales to share with many when she 
returned. Through her marriage to David Baker she had two boys; Wyatt and Sam. &nbsp;Over the last 20 years she has been busy working and raising her boys. &nbsp;In
 October of 2020 Beth took the position as an Office Assistant working 
for the University of Missouri Extension Office for Holt County. This 
job allowed her flexibility to care for her boys and be close to home. &nbsp;She loved her family and her friends including Mandy and John Elifrits and family of Oregon, MO. Beth was preceded in death by the recent passing of her father Leland Duane Merklein. &nbsp;Survivors
 include her sons Wyatt and Sam Baker of the home, mother Phyllis 
Merklein of Prairie View, KS, siblings Susan Warner and husband Charlie 
of Cimarron, KS, Matt Merklein and wife Kelly of Dallas, TX, Denise 
Kaufmann and husband Robb of Southlake, TX, Janna Newman and husband 
Ryan of Gold Canyon, AZ. Along with many nieces and nephews and two 
great nephews and a host of friends. &nbsp;She will be greatly missed.Celebration of Life service will be held at Chamberlain Funeral Home, 100 W. George St, Oregon, MO 64473, Wednesday, December 29, 2021, from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM with a short service at 6:30 PM. &nbsp;On
 January 15, 2022, from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM, a receiving by Beth’s family
 will take place at Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, 1115 2nd St., Phillipsburg, KS 67661. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Memorials for the care of Beth’s children can be sent in care 
of the Chamberlain Funeral Home, P.O. Box 408, 100 W. George St., 
Oregon, MO, 64473. &nbsp;Thoughts and memories may be shared in the online guest book at <a href="http://www.chamberlainfuneral.com">www.chamberlainfuneral.com</a><a href="https://www.chamberlainfuneral.com"> or www.olliffboeve.com</a>. Beth’s family would like to extend their appreciation for the help and support she received during this journey. &nbsp;

Beth Anne Merklein

Florence Rose Ritter Meitl Thompson, 93, of Hoxie, died Tuesday, 
December 21, 2021, at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney, NE. She 
was born December 10, 1928, to Philomena (Minnie) and Bernard (Ben) 
Ritter at the family farm. She was the first born of identical twins and
 the sixth child out of eleven children. She, her twin, Sister Delores, 
and their siblings grew up on the family farm west of Dresden.
 Florence attended Leoville Grade and High School, graduating in May 
1946. After graduation, she worked for several families in the area. On 
May 9, 1950, she married Elmer Meitl at the Immaculate Conception Church
 in Leoville. They settled on a farm south and east of Dresden, along 
the Sheridan-Decatur County line. To this union, eight children were 
born, of which daughter Rose (December 5, 1952) only lived less than a 
day. Elmer passed away October 6, 1976. As a farm wife, she helped with 
the outside activities related to the farm.
 After Elmer’s passing, Florence took over as the regular driver of 
the Hoxie school bus route until she moved to Hoxie on March 29, 1982. 
She then worked at the First Insurance Agency, Inc. On August 30, 1985, 
Florence married Thomas (Tom) Thompson at St. Frances Church in Hoxie. 
They traveled with their camper as well as on bus trips. Tom passed away
 on May 29, 2000. 
 Florence enjoyed being involved in her church, both in Leoville and
 Hoxie. She liked working with wood and created many things for her 
home. She operated the Thrift Shop in Leoville and worked at the Swap 
Shop in Hoxie for several years. She loved her flowers and plants. She 
also machine quilted, finishing many quilts for friends and neighbors.
 Florence was preceded in death by her parents; husbands Elmer Meitl 
and Thomas Thompson; brothers Cletus, Raymond, Seraphim, Francis, 
Sylvester, Victor and Dennis Ritter; sister Alfreda Colling; and 
daughter Rose.
 Florence is survived by her children: Regina (John) Johnson of 
Colby, Jerry (Velma) Meitl of Basehor, KS, Ken (Karen) Meitl of 
Washington, IL., Thomas Meitl of Midland, TX., Carol (Jimmy) Stewart of 
Hoxie; Conrad (Jan) Meitl of Greeley, Co., and Andrew (Cynthia) Meitl 
of Abilene, TX.; her fifteen grandchildren, twenty-three great 
grandchildren and one great-great grandson. She is also survived by two
 sisters, Sister Dolores Ritter and Bernadine Spresser. 
 She relied on her faith to get her through the many trials of her life.
 A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Tuesday, December 28, 2021, 
10:30 A.M. at the St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church in Hoxie, Kansas. A
 lunch will follow the service in the St. Frances Cabrini Social Hall. 
Following the lunch, interment will follow in the Calvary Cemetery in 
Leoville, Kansas at approximately 1:15 PM. A visitation will be held 
Monday, December 27, 2021, from 1:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. Family will 
receive friends from 5:30 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. The Vigil service will 
follow the visitation, starting at 7:00 P.M. Visitation and Vigil 
Service will be at the Mickey-Leopold Funeral Home, Hoxie, Kansas. 
Memorials are suggested to the Sheridan County Benefit Walk or Masses 
and may be sent in care of Mickey-Leopold Funeral Home, PO Box 987, 
Hoxie, Kansas 67740.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640634963590.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Florence Rose Ritter Meitl Thompson, 93, of Hoxie, died Tuesday, 
December 21, 2021, at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney, NE. She 
was born December 10, 1928, to Philomena (Minnie) and Bernard (Ben) 
Ritter at the family farm. She was the first born of identical twins and
 the sixth child out of eleven children. She, her twin, Sister Delores, 
and their siblings grew up on the family farm west of Dresden.
 Florence attended Leoville Grade and High School, graduating in May 
1946. After graduation, she worked for several families in the area. On 
May 9, 1950, she married Elmer Meitl at the Immaculate Conception Church
 in Leoville. They settled on a farm south and east of Dresden, along 
the Sheridan-Decatur County line. To this union, eight children were 
born, of which daughter Rose (December 5, 1952) only lived less than a 
day. Elmer passed away October 6, 1976. As a farm wife, she helped with 
the outside activities related to the farm.
 After Elmer’s passing, Florence took over as the regular driver of 
the Hoxie school bus route until she moved to Hoxie on March 29, 1982. 
She then worked at the First Insurance Agency, Inc. On August 30, 1985, 
Florence married Thomas (Tom) Thompson at St. Frances Church in Hoxie. 
They traveled with their camper as well as on bus trips. Tom passed away
 on May 29, 2000. 
 Florence enjoyed being involved in her church, both in Leoville and
 Hoxie. She liked working with wood and created many things for her 
home. She operated the Thrift Shop in Leoville and worked at the Swap 
Shop in Hoxie for several years. She loved her flowers and plants. She 
also machine quilted, finishing many quilts for friends and neighbors.
 Florence was preceded in death by her parents; husbands Elmer Meitl 
and Thomas Thompson; brothers Cletus, Raymond, Seraphim, Francis, 
Sylvester, Victor and Dennis Ritter; sister Alfreda Colling; and 
daughter Rose.
 Florence is survived by her children: Regina (John) Johnson of 
Colby, Jerry (Velma) Meitl of Basehor, KS, Ken (Karen) Meitl of 
Washington, IL., Thomas Meitl of Midland, TX., Carol (Jimmy) Stewart of 
Hoxie; Conrad (Jan) Meitl of Greeley, Co., and Andrew (Cynthia) Meitl 
of Abilene, TX.; her fifteen grandchildren, twenty-three great 
grandchildren and one great-great grandson. She is also survived by two
 sisters, Sister Dolores Ritter and Bernadine Spresser. 
 She relied on her faith to get her through the many trials of her life.
 A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Tuesday, December 28, 2021, 
10:30 A.M. at the St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church in Hoxie, Kansas. A
 lunch will follow the service in the St. Frances Cabrini Social Hall. 
Following the lunch, interment will follow in the Calvary Cemetery in 
Leoville, Kansas at approximately 1:15 PM. A visitation will be held 
Monday, December 27, 2021, from 1:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. Family will 
receive friends from 5:30 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. The Vigil service will 
follow the visitation, starting at 7:00 P.M. Visitation and Vigil 
Service will be at the Mickey-Leopold Funeral Home, Hoxie, Kansas. 
Memorials are suggested to the Sheridan County Benefit Walk or Masses 
and may be sent in care of Mickey-Leopold Funeral Home, PO Box 987, 
Hoxie, Kansas 67740.

Florence Rose Thompson

Retha Loree Petrie, age 94, of Oakley, passed away on December 16, 2021,&nbsp; at the Citizen's Medical Center, Colby.&nbsp; She was born to Jesse and 
Adelia (Ottken) Roberts on October 30, 1927, in Oakley.&nbsp; Retha married 
Neal Petrie on November 12, 1949, in Kansas City, Kansas and two children
 were born, Janis and Gary. Retha was preceded in death by parents, Jesse and Adelia, and husband, Neal, who passed away on November 24, 2016. Retha
 is survived by her daughter, Janis Petrie, of Brandon, OR, son, Gary 
and his wife, Cindy, of Everett, PA, a granddaughter, Katelyn and her 
husband Derek Dibert, and great grandchildren, Warren (Hoss) and Reid 
(Little Joe) all of Bedford, PA. Retha was a kind and loving 
mother who was the heart of her small family.&nbsp; She was intent to leave a
 legacy of her life in the gifts to her family. &nbsp;These gifts were the 
love expressed in planting trees, creating quilts, crafting toys and 
furniture for children and grandchildren and so many other acts of 
kindness. &nbsp;Her character was forged as a child growing up during the 
great depression, but she was always reliably gently and kind to all 
people and animals. She was a self-effacing and humble person, 
but also a solid, reliable friend. &nbsp;She had an adventuresome spirit and 
loved life. She is now rewarded and reunited with past friends and 
family in a peaceful new place. A visitation is planned on 
Sunday, December 19, from 5 - to 8 pm&nbsp;at Kennedy-Koster Funeral Home.&nbsp; 
The funeral service will be at 10:00 AM on Monday, December 20, 2021, at 
the funeral home, Oakley, with Pastor Bob Kelly officiating.&nbsp; Interment 
will follow in the Oakley Cemetery.&nbsp;

Memorials to the charity of the 
donor's choice may be sent in care of Kennedy-Koster Funeral Home, P.O. 
Box 221, Oakley, KS&nbsp; 67748.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640634887194.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Retha Loree Petrie, age 94, of Oakley, passed away on December 16, 2021,&nbsp; at the Citizen's Medical Center, Colby.&nbsp; She was born to Jesse and 
Adelia (Ottken) Roberts on October 30, 1927, in Oakley.&nbsp; Retha married 
Neal Petrie on November 12, 1949, in Kansas City, Kansas and two children
 were born, Janis and Gary. Retha was preceded in death by parents, Jesse and Adelia, and husband, Neal, who passed away on November 24, 2016. Retha
 is survived by her daughter, Janis Petrie, of Brandon, OR, son, Gary 
and his wife, Cindy, of Everett, PA, a granddaughter, Katelyn and her 
husband Derek Dibert, and great grandchildren, Warren (Hoss) and Reid 
(Little Joe) all of Bedford, PA. Retha was a kind and loving 
mother who was the heart of her small family.&nbsp; She was intent to leave a
 legacy of her life in the gifts to her family. &nbsp;These gifts were the 
love expressed in planting trees, creating quilts, crafting toys and 
furniture for children and grandchildren and so many other acts of 
kindness. &nbsp;Her character was forged as a child growing up during the 
great depression, but she was always reliably gently and kind to all 
people and animals. She was a self-effacing and humble person, 
but also a solid, reliable friend. &nbsp;She had an adventuresome spirit and 
loved life. She is now rewarded and reunited with past friends and 
family in a peaceful new place. A visitation is planned on 
Sunday, December 19, from 5 - to 8 pm&nbsp;at Kennedy-Koster Funeral Home.&nbsp; 
The funeral service will be at 10:00 AM on Monday, December 20, 2021, at 
the funeral home, Oakley, with Pastor Bob Kelly officiating.&nbsp; Interment 
will follow in the Oakley Cemetery.&nbsp; Memorials to the charity of the 
donor's choice may be sent in care of Kennedy-Koster Funeral Home, P.O. 
Box 221, Oakley, KS&nbsp; 67748.

Retha Loree Petrie

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly spent 18 months&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-and-politics-ks-state-wire-kansas-coronavirus-pandemic-health-7302d46eef675734fe1343f2640236f9">sparring with Kansas’ legislative Republicans</a>&nbsp;over COVID-19 measures. In the early days of the pandemic she imposed and then extended a stay-at-home order, issued a brief statewide mask mandate and tried to limit in-person worship services – all while meeting growls of GOP protest.

Then in November, two days after Republican Glenn Youngkin defeated Democrat Terry McAuliffe to become governor of reliably blue Virginia, Kelly expressed her first opposition to Democratic President Joe Biden’s vaccine mandates. A couple weeks later, she&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-joe-biden-business-health-religion-822d31ed5cd6cdca053f21f4a9a965d9">signed a bill</a>&nbsp;aimed at helping Kansas workers resist vaccine mandates, a proposal that even the GOP-friendly Kansas Chamber of Commerce opposed.

As Democrats shook their heads, Kelly’s moves signaled her efforts to appeal to moderate Republican and GOP-leaning independent voters who she will need to win a tough reelection race in a heavily Republican state next year.

Like Democratic governors in Michigan and Wisconsin, Kelly will try to win a second term against midterm political headwinds blowing in Republicans’ favor. But she’s trying it in a state former President Donald Trump carried twice and where Republicans, energized in opposition to Biden’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-health-coronavirus-pandemic-26bace6485d88ad1ae3ef2aea60fbb65">vaccine mandates</a>, look likely to avoid a serious primary fight.

Her attempt to stake out ground in the political center has irritated some fellow Democrats in the short term. But others argue the tactic could work for her if she also hammers home a message that Kansas now has a stable budget and its public schools are considered fully funded.

“What Democrats need to remember is that she’s doing that to try to win reelection,” said Mike Swenson, who has worked as a Democratic strategist and consultant in the Kansas City area for over four decades.

He added: “We can appeal to the moderates — absolutely.”

Kelly said throughout the pandemic that she would follow science in addressing it. But Republican lawmakers used their legislative supermajorities to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/56291b90279c36bafb21087cdc845c8a">force her to accept</a>&nbsp;more local control over decisions about requiring masks and restricting businesses — a move that allowed many communities to reject recommendations from public health officials. She weathered their criticism for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/public-health-prisons-kansas-coronavirus-pandemic-2ab2cdda2657d74e5dac4645e3660691">making prison inmates an early priority</a>&nbsp;for vaccines.

And so she surprised some Democrats and liberal activists by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-joe-biden-health-kansas-topeka-86d570bbf1eb4376a5e7b519c4cb4903">publicly questioning</a>&nbsp;Biden’s vaccine mandates and quickly signing&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li_2021s/b2021s/measures/documents/ccrb_hb2001_02_0000.pdf" target="_blank">Republicans’ bill.&nbsp;</a>The new law provides unemployment benefits if workers lose jobs for refusing shots and allows them to claim religious exemptions, no questions asked.

Also, to some Democrats, she seemed closer to Republican leaders: Multiple Democratic lawmakers said they learned of her plans to sign the bill from GOP colleagues’ gloating texts.

“It’s a huge, huge gamble,” said Christopher Reeves, a Kansas City-area consultant and former Democratic National Committee member.

She signed the measure less than a week after the state health department’s head abruptly resigned. Dr. Lee Norman was visible early in the coronavirus pandemic, appearing with Kelly at news conferences, often wearing a white lab coat. Internal emails showed an internal conflict this past summer over pandemic messaging, and Norman also recently said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-public-health-kansas-topeka-6ab3969aafde6d360cbd11f9eeba3564">Kelly’s administration ousted him</a>&nbsp;because of COVID-19 politics.

Kelly positioning herself in the political center on vaccines contrasts with her strong support for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tn-state-wire-us-news-womens-rights-courts-constitutions-22946ef8ed04d62a3360a7af4b635868">abortion access</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-government-and-politics-321b19c681fe78be837bde945c0f6aa4">LGBTQ rights.</a>

Kelly said during a recent Associated Press interview that her decision-making isn’t driven by “what voters it’s going to keep in my camp.” She cited major bipartisan legislation on school funding and transportation funding as examples of her approach.

“It’s the only way to govern and govern well,” she said.

Even as Kelly and GOP lawmakers sparred early in the pandemic, she praised Trump’s response to outbreaks in meatpacking plants enough that he later said she was doing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/af4b08e27e49ddbcfb0e1ca9765d236a">a “fantastic job”</a>&nbsp;in handling the pandemic.

Environmental issues provide another example of appealing to Republican-minded voters. Her administration resisted Biden administration efforts to preserve the lesser prairie chicken’s habitat, which raises concerns that agriculture and energy production will be restricted. Kelly’s administration has also been skeptical of Biden’s push to preserve 30% of the nation’s land by 2030, which critics call a land grab.

In addition, after forming a racial justice commission after the Minnesota killing of George Floyd last year, she didn’t intervene this year when its proposals&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/legislature-kansas-city-kansas-coronavirus-pandemic-death-of-george-floyd-6fa82522e516c9fa53ebf412dfb060f7">stalled in the Legislature.</a>

And on Wednesday, Kelly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-personal-taxes-kansas-topeka-state-taxes-9c8e53d13a10b9bdd113db8a64be5d52">proposed giving a one-time $250 rebate</a>&nbsp;to every Kansas resident who filed a state income tax return last year, with $500 going to married couples who file jointly. The move came after Kelly vetoed three GOP proposals for permanent income tax cuts in three years, calling those measures fiscally irresponsible.

“It’s just the reality of being a Democratic governor in Kansas,” said Bob Beatty, a Washburn University of Topeka political scientist. “You have to be in the middle and sometimes you have to be in the middle-right.”

While Democrats haven’t won a U.S. Senate race in Kansas in nearly 90 years, they’ve been successful in trading the governor’s office back and forth with Republicans over the past half-century.

Swenson said the formula is “simple”: Run up votes in the state’s 10 most populous counties and avoid losing the other 95 by too much. Kelly essentially followed that path to victory in 2018.

It also helped Kelly in 2018 that her GOP foe was polarizing conservative Trump ally Kris Kobach, whose&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/c51d18affef34e919d63c19612d767f2">take-no-prisoners style</a>&nbsp;alienated moderate voters. Kelly’s expected Republican opponent next year is Derek Schmidt, the state’s three-term attorney general.

Schmidt is running as an anti-abortion, small-government attorney general, but&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ks-state-wire-kansas-election-2020-government-and-politics-e30db29af1d52723292a6549c20a4477">in the mold</a>&nbsp;of Kansas Republicans like former U.S. Sen.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/275216bff11a438fafb4435c02319876">Pat Roberts</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bob-dole-dead-kansas-republican-737084f4e606c10a33a15384fbe05967">the late Bob Dole</a>&nbsp;— pragmatic enough to avoid alienating moderates.

Kelly prepared for 2022 by hiring a reelection campaign manager who in 2020 led Democrats’ successful effort to flip a Republican congressional seat&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-virus-outbreak-bob-barr-rob-woodall-health-b16dde57b3fd89770ff416484e16af29">in Georgia.</a>&nbsp;Shelbi Dantic was also the deputy campaign manager in Montana for U.S. Sen. Jon Tester when he was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/6b8b324c23f9470d89c402e35e22a717">narrowly&nbsp;</a>reelected in 2018.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1634130978150.png" alt="Gov. Laura Kelly and Dr. Jill Biden met for lunch during the First Lady's trip to Kansas in mid October-photo courtesy office of the First Lady." />
 <figcaption>Gov. Laura Kelly and Dr. Jill Biden met for lunch during the First Lady's trip to Kansas in mid October-photo courtesy office of the First Lady.</figcaption>
 </figure> By JOHN HANNATOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly spent 18 months&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-and-politics-ks-state-wire-kansas-coronavirus-pandemic-health-7302d46eef675734fe1343f2640236f9">sparring with Kansas’ legislative Republicans</a>&nbsp;over COVID-19 measures. In the early days of the pandemic she imposed and then extended a stay-at-home order, issued a brief statewide mask mandate and tried to limit in-person worship services – all while meeting growls of GOP protest.Then in November, two days after Republican Glenn Youngkin defeated Democrat Terry McAuliffe to become governor of reliably blue Virginia, Kelly expressed her first opposition to Democratic President Joe Biden’s vaccine mandates. A couple weeks later, she&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-joe-biden-business-health-religion-822d31ed5cd6cdca053f21f4a9a965d9">signed a bill</a>&nbsp;aimed at helping Kansas workers resist vaccine mandates, a proposal that even the GOP-friendly Kansas Chamber of Commerce opposed.As Democrats shook their heads, Kelly’s moves signaled her efforts to appeal to moderate Republican and GOP-leaning independent voters who she will need to win a tough reelection race in a heavily Republican state next year.Like Democratic governors in Michigan and Wisconsin, Kelly will try to win a second term against midterm political headwinds blowing in Republicans’ favor. But she’s trying it in a state former President Donald Trump carried twice and where Republicans, energized in opposition to Biden’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-health-coronavirus-pandemic-26bace6485d88ad1ae3ef2aea60fbb65">vaccine mandates</a>, look likely to avoid a serious primary fight.Her attempt to stake out ground in the political center has irritated some fellow Democrats in the short term. But others argue the tactic could work for her if she also hammers home a message that Kansas now has a stable budget and its public schools are considered fully funded.“What Democrats need to remember is that she’s doing that to try to win reelection,” said Mike Swenson, who has worked as a Democratic strategist and consultant in the Kansas City area for over four decades.He added: “We can appeal to the moderates — absolutely.”Kelly said throughout the pandemic that she would follow science in addressing it. But Republican lawmakers used their legislative supermajorities to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/56291b90279c36bafb21087cdc845c8a">force her to accept</a>&nbsp;more local control over decisions about requiring masks and restricting businesses — a move that allowed many communities to reject recommendations from public health officials. She weathered their criticism for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/public-health-prisons-kansas-coronavirus-pandemic-2ab2cdda2657d74e5dac4645e3660691">making prison inmates an early priority</a>&nbsp;for vaccines.And so she surprised some Democrats and liberal activists by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-joe-biden-health-kansas-topeka-86d570bbf1eb4376a5e7b519c4cb4903">publicly questioning</a>&nbsp;Biden’s vaccine mandates and quickly signing&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li_2021s/b2021s/measures/documents/ccrb_hb2001_02_0000.pdf" target="_blank">Republicans’ bill.&nbsp;</a>The new law provides unemployment benefits if workers lose jobs for refusing shots and allows them to claim religious exemptions, no questions asked.Also, to some Democrats, she seemed closer to Republican leaders: Multiple Democratic lawmakers said they learned of her plans to sign the bill from GOP colleagues’ gloating texts.“It’s a huge, huge gamble,” said Christopher Reeves, a Kansas City-area consultant and former Democratic National Committee member.She signed the measure less than a week after the state health department’s head abruptly resigned. Dr. Lee Norman was visible early in the coronavirus pandemic, appearing with Kelly at news conferences, often wearing a white lab coat. Internal emails showed an internal conflict this past summer over pandemic messaging, and Norman also recently said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-public-health-kansas-topeka-6ab3969aafde6d360cbd11f9eeba3564">Kelly’s administration ousted him</a>&nbsp;because of COVID-19 politics.Kelly positioning herself in the political center on vaccines contrasts with her strong support for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tn-state-wire-us-news-womens-rights-courts-constitutions-22946ef8ed04d62a3360a7af4b635868">abortion access</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-government-and-politics-321b19c681fe78be837bde945c0f6aa4">LGBTQ rights.</a>Kelly said during a recent Associated Press interview that her decision-making isn’t driven by “what voters it’s going to keep in my camp.” She cited major bipartisan legislation on school funding and transportation funding as examples of her approach.“It’s the only way to govern and govern well,” she said.Even as Kelly and GOP lawmakers sparred early in the pandemic, she praised Trump’s response to outbreaks in meatpacking plants enough that he later said she was doing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/af4b08e27e49ddbcfb0e1ca9765d236a">a “fantastic job”</a>&nbsp;in handling the pandemic.Environmental issues provide another example of appealing to Republican-minded voters. Her administration resisted Biden administration efforts to preserve the lesser prairie chicken’s habitat, which raises concerns that agriculture and energy production will be restricted. Kelly’s administration has also been skeptical of Biden’s push to preserve 30% of the nation’s land by 2030, which critics call a land grab.In addition, after forming a racial justice commission after the Minnesota killing of George Floyd last year, she didn’t intervene this year when its proposals&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/legislature-kansas-city-kansas-coronavirus-pandemic-death-of-george-floyd-6fa82522e516c9fa53ebf412dfb060f7">stalled in the Legislature.</a>And on Wednesday, Kelly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-personal-taxes-kansas-topeka-state-taxes-9c8e53d13a10b9bdd113db8a64be5d52">proposed giving a one-time $250 rebate</a>&nbsp;to every Kansas resident who filed a state income tax return last year, with $500 going to married couples who file jointly. The move came after Kelly vetoed three GOP proposals for permanent income tax cuts in three years, calling those measures fiscally irresponsible.“It’s just the reality of being a Democratic governor in Kansas,” said Bob Beatty, a Washburn University of Topeka political scientist. “You have to be in the middle and sometimes you have to be in the middle-right.”While Democrats haven’t won a U.S. Senate race in Kansas in nearly 90 years, they’ve been successful in trading the governor’s office back and forth with Republicans over the past half-century.Swenson said the formula is “simple”: Run up votes in the state’s 10 most populous counties and avoid losing the other 95 by too much. Kelly essentially followed that path to victory in 2018.It also helped Kelly in 2018 that her GOP foe was polarizing conservative Trump ally Kris Kobach, whose&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/c51d18affef34e919d63c19612d767f2">take-no-prisoners style</a>&nbsp;alienated moderate voters. Kelly’s expected Republican opponent next year is Derek Schmidt, the state’s three-term attorney general.Schmidt is running as an anti-abortion, small-government attorney general, but&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ks-state-wire-kansas-election-2020-government-and-politics-e30db29af1d52723292a6549c20a4477">in the mold</a>&nbsp;of Kansas Republicans like former U.S. Sen.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/275216bff11a438fafb4435c02319876">Pat Roberts</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bob-dole-dead-kansas-republican-737084f4e606c10a33a15384fbe05967">the late Bob Dole</a>&nbsp;— pragmatic enough to avoid alienating moderates.Kelly prepared for 2022 by hiring a reelection campaign manager who in 2020 led Democrats’ successful effort to flip a Republican congressional seat&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-virus-outbreak-bob-barr-rob-woodall-health-b16dde57b3fd89770ff416484e16af29">in Georgia.</a>&nbsp;Shelbi Dantic was also the deputy campaign manager in Montana for U.S. Sen. Jon Tester when he was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/6b8b324c23f9470d89c402e35e22a717">narrowly&nbsp;</a>reelected in 2018.___

Kansas governor breaks with Biden in appeal to GOP voters

Rev. Dr. Gary L. Winget, 74, passed away December 24, 2021 at Salina Regional Health Center, Salina, Kansas.&nbsp;

He was born February 16, 1947 in Dodge City, KS, the son of James L. 
and Roberta O. Whipple Winget. He graduated from Hanston High School in 
1965, Sterling College in 1969 and furthered his education by earning 
his Doctorate of Divinity.

He was a member of the First Southern Baptist Church, Larned.&nbsp; Gary 
was a faithful minister to several churches including; First Baptist 
Church and Hanston Mennonite Church, both of Hanston, KS, First Baptist 
Church, Dodge City, KS, First Baptist Church, Holdrege, NE, Wellsville 
Baptist Church, Wellsville, KS, Harmony Baptist Church, Johnstown, OH 
and First Baptist Church of Kennett Square, PA.&nbsp; He worked at Hanston 
Insurance Agency and served as a Hanston State Bank board member.

On May 31, 1969, he married Marilyn Sue Hogue in Topeka, KS.&nbsp; She 
passed away February 18, 2018.&nbsp; On October 11, 2020, he married Janice 
Halling in Salina, KS.&nbsp; She survives.

Other survivors include: two sons, Shawn (Lynn) Winget, Long Beach, 
CA, Jason (Harmony) Winget, Ellinwood, KS; two daughters, Shannon (Mark)
 Slattery, Larned, KS, Melanie (Frank) Ishimura, Pittsburg, KS; fourteen
 grandchildren, Riann, Ashleigh, Micah (Grace), Jeremiah (Abigail), 
Jason Seth, Hannah, Ricky, Christopher, Christian, Summer, Macy, Jordan,
 Brendan, Camden and one great grandson on the way.

Funeral Service will be 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, December 29, 2021 at 
First Baptist Church, Hanston with Pastor Jason Winget and Pastor Mark 
Slattery presiding.&nbsp; Visitation will be from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, 
December 27, 2021 at Beckwith Mortuary, Larned and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. 
Tuesday, December 28, 2021 at Beckwith Funeral Home, Jetmore.&nbsp; Burial 
will be in the Fairmount Cemetery, Jetmore, KS.

Memorials may be given to First Southern Baptist Church, Larned or 
UUMC Breaking Bread, Salina, in care of Beckwith Mortuary, Box 477 
Larned, KS 67550.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640579582345.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Rev. Dr. Gary L. Winget, 74, passed away December 24, 2021 at Salina Regional Health Center, Salina, Kansas.&nbsp;He was born February 16, 1947 in Dodge City, KS, the son of James L. 
and Roberta O. Whipple Winget. He graduated from Hanston High School in 
1965, Sterling College in 1969 and furthered his education by earning 
his Doctorate of Divinity.He was a member of the First Southern Baptist Church, Larned.&nbsp; Gary 
was a faithful minister to several churches including; First Baptist 
Church and Hanston Mennonite Church, both of Hanston, KS, First Baptist 
Church, Dodge City, KS, First Baptist Church, Holdrege, NE, Wellsville 
Baptist Church, Wellsville, KS, Harmony Baptist Church, Johnstown, OH 
and First Baptist Church of Kennett Square, PA.&nbsp; He worked at Hanston 
Insurance Agency and served as a Hanston State Bank board member.On May 31, 1969, he married Marilyn Sue Hogue in Topeka, KS.&nbsp; She 
passed away February 18, 2018.&nbsp; On October 11, 2020, he married Janice 
Halling in Salina, KS.&nbsp; She survives.Other survivors include: two sons, Shawn (Lynn) Winget, Long Beach, 
CA, Jason (Harmony) Winget, Ellinwood, KS; two daughters, Shannon (Mark)
 Slattery, Larned, KS, Melanie (Frank) Ishimura, Pittsburg, KS; fourteen
 grandchildren, Riann, Ashleigh, Micah (Grace), Jeremiah (Abigail), 
Jason Seth, Hannah, Ricky, Christopher, Christian, Summer, Macy, Jordan,
 Brendan, Camden and one great grandson on the way.Funeral Service will be 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, December 29, 2021 at 
First Baptist Church, Hanston with Pastor Jason Winget and Pastor Mark 
Slattery presiding.&nbsp; Visitation will be from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, 
December 27, 2021 at Beckwith Mortuary, Larned and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. 
Tuesday, December 28, 2021 at Beckwith Funeral Home, Jetmore.&nbsp; Burial 
will be in the Fairmount Cemetery, Jetmore, KS.Memorials may be given to First Southern Baptist Church, Larned or 
UUMC Breaking Bread, Salina, in care of Beckwith Mortuary, Box 477 
Larned, KS 67550.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Rev. Dr. Gary L. Winget

Leland Wegele, 89, passed away on December 23, 2021, at his home in 
Otis, Kansas. He was born on January 3, 1932 to Jacob and Pauline 
(Bitter) Wegele. He married Joyce Karst on October 23, 1955 in 
Milberger, Kansas. She survives.

A lifetime resident of Otis and a “jack-of-all-trades”, Leland was a 
farmer, welder, and carpenter. He was a member of Trinity Lutheran 
Church in Great Bend and the Great Bend Wood Carvers Club. Leland 
especially enjoyed spending time with his family.

He is survived by a son, Richard (Miya) Wegele of Pleasant View, 
Arizona; daughter Paula (Steve) Storm and Leann Wegele, all of Albert, 
Kansas; grandchildren Michael (Michele) Gowans, Morgan Wegele, Jackson 
Linenberg, Sam (Tara) Storm, and Kelly (Derrick) Heuer; and many 
great-grandkids. He is preceded in death by his parents and three 
brothers, Albert, Ernest, and Paul.

Visitation will take place on Tuesday, December 28, 2021, from Noon 
to 8:00 p.m. at Bryant Funeral Home, with family receiving friends from 
6:00 to 7:00 p.m. Funeral service will be 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, December 
29, 2021, at Bryant Funeral Home with Chaplain Jeffrey Owen presiding. 
Internment will take place in Fairview Cemetery, Galatia, Kansas, with 
Military Rites conducted by Ft. Riley Honor Guard.&nbsp; Memorials can be 
made to Trinity Lutheran Church in Great Bend, St. Paul Lutheran Church 
in Galatia, or Kindred Hospice, in care of Bryant Funeral Home.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640579251244.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Leland Wegele, 89, passed away on December 23, 2021, at his home in 
Otis, Kansas. He was born on January 3, 1932 to Jacob and Pauline 
(Bitter) Wegele. He married Joyce Karst on October 23, 1955 in 
Milberger, Kansas. She survives.A lifetime resident of Otis and a “jack-of-all-trades”, Leland was a 
farmer, welder, and carpenter. He was a member of Trinity Lutheran 
Church in Great Bend and the Great Bend Wood Carvers Club. Leland 
especially enjoyed spending time with his family.He is survived by a son, Richard (Miya) Wegele of Pleasant View, 
Arizona; daughter Paula (Steve) Storm and Leann Wegele, all of Albert, 
Kansas; grandchildren Michael (Michele) Gowans, Morgan Wegele, Jackson 
Linenberg, Sam (Tara) Storm, and Kelly (Derrick) Heuer; and many 
great-grandkids. He is preceded in death by his parents and three 
brothers, Albert, Ernest, and Paul.Visitation will take place on Tuesday, December 28, 2021, from Noon 
to 8:00 p.m. at Bryant Funeral Home, with family receiving friends from 
6:00 to 7:00 p.m. Funeral service will be 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, December 
29, 2021, at Bryant Funeral Home with Chaplain Jeffrey Owen presiding. 
Internment will take place in Fairview Cemetery, Galatia, Kansas, with 
Military Rites conducted by Ft. Riley Honor Guard.&nbsp; Memorials can be 
made to Trinity Lutheran Church in Great Bend, St. Paul Lutheran Church 
in Galatia, or Kindred Hospice, in care of Bryant Funeral Home.

Leland Wegele

When Westminster United Methodist Church in Houston resumed in-person services late last year, after a seven-month halt due to COVID-19, there were Sundays when only three worshippers showed up, according to the pastor, Meredith Mills.

Since then, attendance has inched back up, but it’s still only about half the pre-pandemic turnout of 160 or 170, Mills estimates.

“It’s frustrating,” she said. “People just seem to want to leave home less these days.”

Some houses of worship are faring better than Mills’ church, some worse. Polls by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research shows how dramatically church attendance fell during the worst of the pandemic last year, even as many say they are now returning to regular service attendance.

Among mainline Protestants, just 1% said in a May 2020 poll that they were attending in-person services at least once a week. In the new poll, 14% say they’re doing so now, compared to 16% who say they did in 2019.

Among evangelical Protestants, 37% now say they are attending services in person at least weekly, while 42% said they did that in 2019. In the May 2020 poll, just 11% said they were attending services in person that often.

Among Catholics, 26% attend in person at least weekly now, compared with 30% in 2019. In the 2020 poll, conducted as many bishops temporarily waived the obligation for weekly Mass attendance, just 5% were worshipping in person at least weekly.

At St. Ambrose Catholic Parish in Brunswick, Ohio, the six services each weekend drew a total of about 3,800 worshippers before the pandemic, according to the pastor, Bob Stec. Current weekend attendance is about 2,800, Stec says, with 1,600 or more households joining online worship.

Elsewhere, churches large and small have taken hits in attendance.

John Elkins, teaching pastor at Sovereign Grace Fellowship in Brazoria, Texas, says 25 to 30 people have attended services recently, down from around 50 before the pandemic.

“For some, I was not political enough,” he said via email. “Some wanted more activities, some just stopped going to church.”

Sovereign Grace, a Southern Baptist church, had never offered online worship before the pandemic. When in-person worship was halted for a month in 2020, leaving online worship as the only option, Elkins said he did more crisis counseling for congregation members than ever before.

At the much larger First Church of God in Columbus, Ohio, there was a near-total halt to in-person worship between March 2020 and September of this year. On two Sundays in September 2020, worshippers were invited back to the church to test the feasibility of in-person services.

“But it was obvious they were still uncomfortable -- they came dressed like they were working at Chernobyl,” said the senior pastor, Bishop Timothy Clarke, evoking hazmat suits appropriate for confronting a nuclear disaster.

Pre-pandemic, the predominantly African American church held three services each weekend, including one on Saturday evenings, with average total attendance of 2,500. Now there’s a single service on Sunday, and only 500 worshippers – with masks and proof of vaccination -- are allowed into a sanctuary that can seat more than 1,500.

The return to in-person worship “gives us a sense of connection and community,” Clarke said. “But you also have safety.”

At All Saints’ Episcopal Church in the New York City borough of Brooklyn, average Sunday attendance dropped from about 140 pre-pandemic to as low as 30 before climbing back, reaching 120 earlier this month. The Rev. Steven Paulikas credits a mandatory mask policy.

“Mask wearing puts people at ease about their health and allows them to do what people come to church to do -- worship God,” he said.

Attendance is down sharply from pre-pandemic levels at St. Barnabas Lutheran Church in Cary, Illinois, which halted in-person, indoor worship for more than six months in 2020. Instead it held drive-in services in the parking lot.

Before the pandemic, about 115 people would attend one of two services offered on Sundays, said the pastor, Sarah Wilson. Now there’s one service, and attendance is down by more than half.

“Some families are still nervous about being in a room with others, even though most people attending are vaccinated and we require masks,” she said. “Other people have re-ordered their priorities and worship isn’t one of them.”

Friendswood United Methodist Church, in the Houston suburbs, has endured not only COVID-19 disruptions but also flooding during a winter storm last February that rendered the sanctuary unusable. It just reopened for services this month, said the pastor, Jim Bass.

Pre-pandemic, Friendswoods’ Sunday services would draw about 900 worshippers; Bass was pleased that about 650 gathered when the sanctuary reopened for high-energy, music-filled services on Dec. 5.

However, he said average attendance has been only half of that during most of the pandemic, creating a $400,000 shortfall in expected giving.

Like many houses of worship, Friendswood offered online services as an alternative to in-person attendance. He considers them a mixed blessing -- a plus for elderly congregation members worried about their health, but a disincentive for others who are increasingly disconnected from the church.

“They’ve become spectators,” Bass said.

At Temple Beth El in Charlotte, North Carolina, Rabbi Asher Knight was elated that recent Hannukah celebrations drew about 300 people in person. Overall, attendance now is roughly half of pre-pandemic levels, but an improvement over periods earlier this year when only a handful of worshippers appeared.

“It was demoralizing and painful to lead worship with virtually no one present,” he said. “But in October and November, people got the booster and their children got vaccinated and they slowly started coming back.”

In September, amid a surge in COVID cases, Temple Judea in Coral Gables, Florida, observed the Jewish High Holy Days with no in-person services. So the sanctuary wouldn’t look so empty for online services, Rabbi Judith Siegal and her staff filled it with cardboard cutouts of congregation members, including children and pets.

In-person worship has now resumed, and the range of weekly attendance – 75 to 125 people – is close to pre-pandemic levels.

“We’re still wearing masks, and the seating is still spread out,” Siegal said. “But our members love it.”

By DAVID CRARY, Associated PressWhen Westminster United Methodist Church in Houston resumed in-person services late last year, after a seven-month halt due to COVID-19, there were Sundays when only three worshippers showed up, according to the pastor, Meredith Mills.Since then, attendance has inched back up, but it’s still only about half the pre-pandemic turnout of 160 or 170, Mills estimates.“It’s frustrating,” she said. “People just seem to want to leave home less these days.”Some houses of worship are faring better than Mills’ church, some worse. Polls by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research shows how dramatically church attendance fell during the worst of the pandemic last year, even as many say they are now returning to regular service attendance.Among mainline Protestants, just 1% said in a May 2020 poll that they were attending in-person services at least once a week. In the new poll, 14% say they’re doing so now, compared to 16% who say they did in 2019.Among evangelical Protestants, 37% now say they are attending services in person at least weekly, while 42% said they did that in 2019. In the May 2020 poll, just 11% said they were attending services in person that often.Among Catholics, 26% attend in person at least weekly now, compared with 30% in 2019. In the 2020 poll, conducted as many bishops temporarily waived the obligation for weekly Mass attendance, just 5% were worshipping in person at least weekly.At St. Ambrose Catholic Parish in Brunswick, Ohio, the six services each weekend drew a total of about 3,800 worshippers before the pandemic, according to the pastor, Bob Stec. Current weekend attendance is about 2,800, Stec says, with 1,600 or more households joining online worship.Elsewhere, churches large and small have taken hits in attendance.John Elkins, teaching pastor at Sovereign Grace Fellowship in Brazoria, Texas, says 25 to 30 people have attended services recently, down from around 50 before the pandemic.“For some, I was not political enough,” he said via email. “Some wanted more activities, some just stopped going to church.”Sovereign Grace, a Southern Baptist church, had never offered online worship before the pandemic. When in-person worship was halted for a month in 2020, leaving online worship as the only option, Elkins said he did more crisis counseling for congregation members than ever before.At the much larger First Church of God in Columbus, Ohio, there was a near-total halt to in-person worship between March 2020 and September of this year. On two Sundays in September 2020, worshippers were invited back to the church to test the feasibility of in-person services.“But it was obvious they were still uncomfortable -- they came dressed like they were working at Chernobyl,” said the senior pastor, Bishop Timothy Clarke, evoking hazmat suits appropriate for confronting a nuclear disaster.Pre-pandemic, the predominantly African American church held three services each weekend, including one on Saturday evenings, with average total attendance of 2,500. Now there’s a single service on Sunday, and only 500 worshippers – with masks and proof of vaccination -- are allowed into a sanctuary that can seat more than 1,500.The return to in-person worship “gives us a sense of connection and community,” Clarke said. “But you also have safety.”At All Saints’ Episcopal Church in the New York City borough of Brooklyn, average Sunday attendance dropped from about 140 pre-pandemic to as low as 30 before climbing back, reaching 120 earlier this month. The Rev. Steven Paulikas credits a mandatory mask policy.“Mask wearing puts people at ease about their health and allows them to do what people come to church to do -- worship God,” he said.Attendance is down sharply from pre-pandemic levels at St. Barnabas Lutheran Church in Cary, Illinois, which halted in-person, indoor worship for more than six months in 2020. Instead it held drive-in services in the parking lot.Before the pandemic, about 115 people would attend one of two services offered on Sundays, said the pastor, Sarah Wilson. Now there’s one service, and attendance is down by more than half.“Some families are still nervous about being in a room with others, even though most people attending are vaccinated and we require masks,” she said. “Other people have re-ordered their priorities and worship isn’t one of them.”Friendswood United Methodist Church, in the Houston suburbs, has endured not only COVID-19 disruptions but also flooding during a winter storm last February that rendered the sanctuary unusable. It just reopened for services this month, said the pastor, Jim Bass.Pre-pandemic, Friendswoods’ Sunday services would draw about 900 worshippers; Bass was pleased that about 650 gathered when the sanctuary reopened for high-energy, music-filled services on Dec. 5.However, he said average attendance has been only half of that during most of the pandemic, creating a $400,000 shortfall in expected giving.Like many houses of worship, Friendswood offered online services as an alternative to in-person attendance. He considers them a mixed blessing -- a plus for elderly congregation members worried about their health, but a disincentive for others who are increasingly disconnected from the church.“They’ve become spectators,” Bass said.At Temple Beth El in Charlotte, North Carolina, Rabbi Asher Knight was elated that recent Hannukah celebrations drew about 300 people in person. Overall, attendance now is roughly half of pre-pandemic levels, but an improvement over periods earlier this year when only a handful of worshippers appeared.“It was demoralizing and painful to lead worship with virtually no one present,” he said. “But in October and November, people got the booster and their children got vaccinated and they slowly started coming back.”In September, amid a surge in COVID cases, Temple Judea in Coral Gables, Florida, observed the Jewish High Holy Days with no in-person services. So the sanctuary wouldn’t look so empty for online services, Rabbi Judith Siegal and her staff filled it with cardboard cutouts of congregation members, including children and pets.In-person worship has now resumed, and the range of weekly attendance – 75 to 125 people – is close to pre-pandemic levels.“We’re still wearing masks, and the seating is still spread out,” Siegal said. “But our members love it.”Among Christians, the option of worshipping online has been embraced by many evangelical Protestants, according to the AP-NORC poll. About 3 in 10 have livestreamed services at least weekly in recent months, compared with about 1 in 10 Catholics or mainline Protestants.Three-quarters of evangelical Protestants say they pray privately at least weekly, compared with roughly half of mainline Protestants and Catholics, the poll found.Roughly a quarter of evangelical Protestants say they’ve recently talked by phone or video conference with a religious or spiritual leader at least a few times a month, compared with about 1 in 10 mainline Protestants and Catholics.Some faith leaders, such as Meredith Mills, see some positives, such as more energy in the church, even with fewer worshippers.“The ones showing up right now are the people who really want to be there,” she said. “There’s a lot of joy in the room Sunday mornings. It’s one of the reasons that, despite everything, I still love my job.”___