An obituary is pending with Bateman Funeral Home.

Click <a href="https://www.batemanfuneral.com/obituary/Rita-Welle">HERE</a> for service details.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1659192720152.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>October 19, 1921 ~ July 29, 2022An obituary is pending with Bateman Funeral Home.Click <a href="https://www.batemanfuneral.com/obituary/Rita-Welle">HERE</a> for service details.

Rita Louise (Sponsel) Welle

Mary Ann McMurry, 89, passed away on July 27, 2022, at the Grisell 
Memorial Hospital in Ransom, Kansas.&nbsp; She was born on October 10, 1932,&nbsp; in Ransom, Kansas, the daughter of Clyde and Martha (Jaehde) Willour.

A Memorial Service will be held on August 27, 2022, at Praise 
Fellowship Church.&nbsp; More details will be released as they are arranged.

Memorial contributions may be given to the Praise Fellowship Church.

Mary Ann McMurry, 89, passed away on July 27, 2022, at the Grisell 
Memorial Hospital in Ransom, Kansas.&nbsp; She was born on October 10, 1932,&nbsp; in Ransom, Kansas, the daughter of Clyde and Martha (Jaehde) Willour.A Memorial Service will be held on August 27, 2022, at Praise 
Fellowship Church.&nbsp; More details will be released as they are arranged.Memorial contributions may be given to the Praise Fellowship Church.

Mary Ann McMurry

Leland L. Kincaid, 86, died Tuesday, July 26, 2022, at St. Catherine Hospital, Garden City.

He was born April 10, 1936, at Jennings, Kansas, the son of Melvin 
Russell and Wanita (Annon) Kincaid.&nbsp; He graduated from Jennings High 
School in 1954, Dodge City Community College in 1956, Fort Hays State in
 1962 and Northwestern State in Alva, Oklahoma in 1968 where he received
 his Master's in Education.&nbsp; He was in the education field for 41 years, 
the last 22 years as Principal of Sunnyside Elementary School in Dodge 
City, retiring in 1995.

He was a member of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Dodge City.

On October 27, 1956, he married Lorraine Faye Stegman at Sacred Heart 
Cathedral in Dodge City.&nbsp; She preceded him in death on March 19, 2018.

Survivors include: 3 sons, Jeff Kincaid and wife Susan, Windsor, 
Colorado, Chad Kincaid and wife Mary, Dodge City and Brad Kincaid and 
wife Linda, Wichita; 10 grandchildren; 24 great grandchildren; and a 
step-sister, Charlotte Cox, Doyline, Louisiana.

He was also preceded in death by his parents; 2 step-mothers, Jane 
Kincaid and Violet Kincaid; 2 step-sisters, Lucille Foster and Dona 
Mrstick, a grandson, Mike Kincaid and a great granddaughter, Aubrey 
McNeill.

Vigil service will be at 7:00 pm Wednesday, August 3, 2022, at the 
Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Dodge City.&nbsp; Funeral Mass will be at
 10:00 am Thursday, August 4, 2022, at the church with Fr. John Stang 
presiding.&nbsp; Burial will follow in Greencrest Memorial Gardens, Dodge 
City.&nbsp; Visitation will be Wednesday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm at Ziegler 
Funeral Chapel, Dodge City.

The family suggests memorials to the Sacred Heart School Endowment in care of Ziegler Funeral Chapel, 1901 N. 14th Ave., Dodge City, Kansas 67801.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658951349366.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Leland L. Kincaid, 86, died Tuesday, July 26, 2022, at St. Catherine Hospital, Garden City.He was born April 10, 1936, at Jennings, Kansas, the son of Melvin 
Russell and Wanita (Annon) Kincaid.&nbsp; He graduated from Jennings High 
School in 1954, Dodge City Community College in 1956, Fort Hays State in
 1962 and Northwestern State in Alva, Oklahoma in 1968 where he received
 his Master's in Education.&nbsp; He was in the education field for 41 years, 
the last 22 years as Principal of Sunnyside Elementary School in Dodge 
City, retiring in 1995.He was a member of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Dodge City.On October 27, 1956, he married Lorraine Faye Stegman at Sacred Heart 
Cathedral in Dodge City.&nbsp; She preceded him in death on March 19, 2018.Survivors include: 3 sons, Jeff Kincaid and wife Susan, Windsor, 
Colorado, Chad Kincaid and wife Mary, Dodge City and Brad Kincaid and 
wife Linda, Wichita; 10 grandchildren; 24 great grandchildren; and a 
step-sister, Charlotte Cox, Doyline, Louisiana.He was also preceded in death by his parents; 2 step-mothers, Jane 
Kincaid and Violet Kincaid; 2 step-sisters, Lucille Foster and Dona 
Mrstick, a grandson, Mike Kincaid and a great granddaughter, Aubrey 
McNeill.Vigil service will be at 7:00 pm Wednesday, August 3, 2022, at the 
Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Dodge City.&nbsp; Funeral Mass will be at
 10:00 am Thursday, August 4, 2022, at the church with Fr. John Stang 
presiding.&nbsp; Burial will follow in Greencrest Memorial Gardens, Dodge 
City.&nbsp; Visitation will be Wednesday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm at Ziegler 
Funeral Chapel, Dodge City.The family suggests memorials to the Sacred Heart School Endowment in care of Ziegler Funeral Chapel, 1901 N. 14th Ave., Dodge City, Kansas 67801.&nbsp;

Leland L. Kincaid

Thomas A. Nulton, 93, died July 23, 2022 at Locust Grove Village in 
La Crosse, Kan. He was born January 7, 1929, at Hays, Kan., the son of 
Charles and Ruby (Bourdette) Nulton.&nbsp; He married Phyllis Wikoff October 
21, 1951, in Hays. She passed away March 23, 2012.&nbsp; Mr. Nulton worked 
for Producers Gas Equities Inc. of Hays and was promoted in 1967 as the 
area superintendent of the Susank division which later became a part of 
MidWest Energy.&nbsp; Tom retired from MidWest Energy in 1994 and dedicated 
himself to pursuing his lifelong love of art.&nbsp; He was a Hoisington 
resident from 1967 until his death.

While he was a talented artist in numerous media, his passion 
became wood carving, and he created many exceptional pieces until his 
health forced him to stop. Tom loved the outdoors, wildlife and bird 
watching, hunting, fishing, and camping.&nbsp; He loved telling stories and 
had many friends who never failed to listen. Mr. Nulton was a member of 
First United Methodist Church, Hoisington.

Survivors include his sons, Rick Nulton and his wife Darlene, 
Hoisington; and Mike Nulton and his wife Susie, Fort Garland, Col.; two 
sisters, Norma Thoman and her husband Dean, Colorado Springs, Col., and 
Audrey LaRue of Hays; six grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and 
four great-great-grandchildren.&nbsp; He was preceded in death by his 
parents, his wife Phyllis of 60 years, two brothers, and three sisters.

Memorial service will be at 10:30 a.m., Monday, August 1, 2022, 
at First United Methodist Church, Hoisington, with The Rev. Daniel 
Vandenburg and the Honorable Ron Bailey presiding. There will be no 
visitation as cremation has taken place.&nbsp; Inurnment will be at a later 
date at Ft. Hays Memorial Gardens, Hays.&nbsp; 

In lieu of flowers, the family
 requests memorials to either the Clara Barton Foundation or GPS Kids 
Club of Hoisington, in care of Nicholson Ricke Funeral Home, PO Box 146,
 Hoisington, KS&nbsp; 67544.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658842796273.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Thomas A. Nulton, 93, died July 23, 2022 at Locust Grove Village in 
La Crosse, Kan. He was born January 7, 1929, at Hays, Kan., the son of 
Charles and Ruby (Bourdette) Nulton.&nbsp; He married Phyllis Wikoff October 
21, 1951, in Hays. She passed away March 23, 2012.&nbsp; Mr. Nulton worked 
for Producers Gas Equities Inc. of Hays and was promoted in 1967 as the 
area superintendent of the Susank division which later became a part of 
MidWest Energy.&nbsp; Tom retired from MidWest Energy in 1994 and dedicated 
himself to pursuing his lifelong love of art.&nbsp; He was a Hoisington 
resident from 1967 until his death.While he was a talented artist in numerous media, his passion 
became wood carving, and he created many exceptional pieces until his 
health forced him to stop. Tom loved the outdoors, wildlife and bird 
watching, hunting, fishing, and camping.&nbsp; He loved telling stories and 
had many friends who never failed to listen. Mr. Nulton was a member of 
First United Methodist Church, Hoisington.Survivors include his sons, Rick Nulton and his wife Darlene, 
Hoisington; and Mike Nulton and his wife Susie, Fort Garland, Col.; two 
sisters, Norma Thoman and her husband Dean, Colorado Springs, Col., and 
Audrey LaRue of Hays; six grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and 
four great-great-grandchildren.&nbsp; He was preceded in death by his 
parents, his wife Phyllis of 60 years, two brothers, and three sisters.Memorial service will be at 10:30 a.m., Monday, August 1, 2022, 
at First United Methodist Church, Hoisington, with The Rev. Daniel 
Vandenburg and the Honorable Ron Bailey presiding. There will be no 
visitation as cremation has taken place.&nbsp; Inurnment will be at a later 
date at Ft. Hays Memorial Gardens, Hays.&nbsp; In lieu of flowers, the family
 requests memorials to either the Clara Barton Foundation or GPS Kids 
Club of Hoisington, in care of Nicholson Ricke Funeral Home, PO Box 146,
 Hoisington, KS&nbsp; 67544.

Thomas A. Nulton

Duane Sack, 85, passed away on July 23, 2022, at Medicalodges of 
Great Bend, Great Bend, Kan. He was born on October 19, 1936, in Virgil,
 Kan., to Leroy &amp; Florence (Owens) Sack. Duane married Donis 
Lindquist and they later divorced. He later married Betty (Drake) Miller
 on October 10, 1983, in Great Bend. She died on May 28, 2022.

A Great Bend resident since 1982 coming from Bunker Hill, Duane 
worked as a pumper for Shields Oil. He was a member of the Prince of 
Peace Parish and a 50 year member Masonic Lodge in Russell, and was an 
avid golfer.

Survivors include one son, David (Laina) Sack of Phoenix, Ariz.; 
three stepchildren, Robert Miller of Shawnee, Kan., Cathy Peacock of Las
 Vegas, Nev., and Pam Finley of Great Bend, Kan.; nine grandchildren; 
fifteen great-grandchildren; and one sister, Gail Williams of Russell, 
Kan. He was preceded in death by his wife; a daughter, Debbie Sack; and a
 grandson, Wesley Turnball.

Visitation will take place on Thursday, July 28, 2022, from noon to 
8:00 p.m. at Bryant Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 10:30
 a.m. on Friday, July 29, 2022, at Bryant Funeral Home with Father 
Aneesh Parappanattu presiding. Interment will follow at Great Bend 
Cemetery. 

Memorials have been designated to the Lake Barton Golf Club or
 Great Bend High School to benefit the golf teams, in care of Bryant 
Funeral Home.

Duane Sack, 85, passed away on July 23, 2022, at Medicalodges of 
Great Bend, Great Bend, Kan. He was born on October 19, 1936, in Virgil,
 Kan., to Leroy &amp; Florence (Owens) Sack. Duane married Donis 
Lindquist and they later divorced. He later married Betty (Drake) Miller
 on October 10, 1983, in Great Bend. She died on May 28, 2022.A Great Bend resident since 1982 coming from Bunker Hill, Duane 
worked as a pumper for Shields Oil. He was a member of the Prince of 
Peace Parish and a 50 year member Masonic Lodge in Russell, and was an 
avid golfer.Survivors include one son, David (Laina) Sack of Phoenix, Ariz.; 
three stepchildren, Robert Miller of Shawnee, Kan., Cathy Peacock of Las
 Vegas, Nev., and Pam Finley of Great Bend, Kan.; nine grandchildren; 
fifteen great-grandchildren; and one sister, Gail Williams of Russell, 
Kan. He was preceded in death by his wife; a daughter, Debbie Sack; and a
 grandson, Wesley Turnball.Visitation will take place on Thursday, July 28, 2022, from noon to 
8:00 p.m. at Bryant Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 10:30
 a.m. on Friday, July 29, 2022, at Bryant Funeral Home with Father 
Aneesh Parappanattu presiding. Interment will follow at Great Bend 
Cemetery. Memorials have been designated to the Lake Barton Golf Club or
 Great Bend High School to benefit the golf teams, in care of Bryant 
Funeral Home.

Duane Sack

Mary Doris (Zimmerman) Reitcheck, 84, passed away Thursday, July 21, 
2022, at her daughter’s home in rural Smith County, Kansas. She was born
 October 10, 1937, in a sod house in rural Sheridan County, Kansas, to 
Peter D. and Mary Edna (Slaven) Zimmerman. She graduated from Selden 
High School with the Class of 1955. On October 26, 1961, she married 
Leroy Blaise Reitcheck at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Selden, 
Kansas.
 Mary lived her entire life in Sheridan County Kansas. She was a 
lifelong devout member of St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church and St. 
Frances Altar Society. She was also involved in her community through 
Hoxie Rotary, National Association of Retired Federal Employees (NARFE) 
and the Red Hats. 
 In her younger years, she worked as a telephone operator and for the
 Sheridan County Extension Service. In 1960 she began her career at the
 Sheridan County Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation 
Service/Farm Service Agency where she remained for 36 years. During her
 tenure at ASCS/FSA she became the County Executive Director in 1981. 
She was one of the first women in the state to have this title. She 
retired in November 1996. She enjoyed her mission serving the farmers 
of Sheridan County. Not one to sit still, she went on to work at The 
Country Cottage, Mahanna Pharmacy, St. Frances Catholic Church and 
Woofter Pump and Well. She finally decided at age 78 it was time to 
give up working the 9-to-5 gig. 
 In her spare time, Mary kept herself occupied by helping her husband
 Leroy on the farm, milking cows, preparing the fields, bringing in the 
crops and whatever else needed done on the farm. She continued 
assisting her son Leroy Jr. with farm work after the death of her 
husband. In addition, she filled her time through the years raising and
 harvesting a large garden which helped feed her family. Mary was also 
known for her cooking skills. She was the queen of gravy-making. Pies 
were always ready just in time for company, in addition to homemade 
candy and tea-time tassies, among other goodies. That is, unless one of 
her children found her stash ahead of time. She also kept her children 
busy at Christmastime delivering warm homemade caramel rolls to 
neighbors. 
 Mary could accomplish more in a 24-hour day than most could begin to
 think of. Her hands were never at rest. You could hear the hum of 
her sewing machine in the wee morning hours, working on matching dresses
 for her daughters that would be finished just in time for the coming 
holiday.
 Mary was a loving, caring person to those she came in contact with. 
 She always warmed your heart with a smile, even to the very end. Even 
though Mary worked at many tasks, her greatest accomplishment is the 
priceless legacy of the importance of faith and family. Her life 
revolved around both. They are what she lived and breathed for. Her 
faith was simple, she just believed. She led a life of sacrifice, 
serving her family and others. Mary lived and taught by example in 
everything she did. When her health began to fail, she always managed 
to find the strength for conversation with those around her, or to take 
several phone calls from her children in a single evening. Even though 
her mind was not always clear she never forgot her Lord, even to the end
 with prayers on her lips and a rosary in her hand surrounded by her 
family as she slipped away to her heavenly home.
 Mary is survived by her children Leroy Reitcheck Jr. and wife Julie 
of Hoxie, Kansas; daughters, Annette Wingerson and husband Steve of 
Smith Center, Kansas, Kayleen Sparks and husband Bryan of Papillion, 
Nebraska, Kimberly Schaffer and husband Troy of Wichita, Kansas, Jayne 
Turner and fiancé Craig Rose of Olathe, Kansas; 12 grandchildren, 
Katelyn Reitcheck, Alexis Wright and husband Lance, Landon Wingerson, 
Sienna Wingerson, Jordan Sparks, Ian Sparks, Devin Sparks, Carter 
Schaffer, Jaxon Schaffer, Braxton Schaffer, Mia Turner, Nash Turner; 
great grandchildren Joseph Lance Wright, Jeremiah Wright, Laramie 
Wright, Laynie Wright; brother, David Zimmerman; sisters, Linda Brown 
and husband Bill of Kansas City, Kansas and Betty Scripsick and husband 
Ron of Pittsburgh, Kansas; brother-in-law Gary Reitcheck and wife Sandy;
 sisters-in-law Anna Rose Givens, Margaret Ritter, Delores Koerperich 
and a host of nieces and nephews.
 She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Leroy; son Steven;
 grandson Ashton Turner; brothers Donald Zimmerman, Ronald Zimmerman; 
sisters Edna Whitehair and Diane Zimmerman, and many friends and 
relatives.&nbsp;

Click <a href="https://www.mickeyleopoldfuneral.com/obituaries/Mary-Doris-Zimmerman-Reitcheck?obId=25422865#/celebrationWall">HERE</a> for service details.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658780230940.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Mary Doris (Zimmerman) Reitcheck, 84, passed away Thursday, July 21, 
2022, at her daughter’s home in rural Smith County, Kansas. She was born
 October 10, 1937, in a sod house in rural Sheridan County, Kansas, to 
Peter D. and Mary Edna (Slaven) Zimmerman. She graduated from Selden 
High School with the Class of 1955. On October 26, 1961, she married 
Leroy Blaise Reitcheck at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Selden, 
Kansas.
 Mary lived her entire life in Sheridan County Kansas. She was a 
lifelong devout member of St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church and St. 
Frances Altar Society. She was also involved in her community through 
Hoxie Rotary, National Association of Retired Federal Employees (NARFE) 
and the Red Hats. 
 In her younger years, she worked as a telephone operator and for the
 Sheridan County Extension Service. In 1960 she began her career at the
 Sheridan County Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation 
Service/Farm Service Agency where she remained for 36 years. During her
 tenure at ASCS/FSA she became the County Executive Director in 1981. 
She was one of the first women in the state to have this title. She 
retired in November 1996. She enjoyed her mission serving the farmers 
of Sheridan County. Not one to sit still, she went on to work at The 
Country Cottage, Mahanna Pharmacy, St. Frances Catholic Church and 
Woofter Pump and Well. She finally decided at age 78 it was time to 
give up working the 9-to-5 gig. 
 In her spare time, Mary kept herself occupied by helping her husband
 Leroy on the farm, milking cows, preparing the fields, bringing in the 
crops and whatever else needed done on the farm. She continued 
assisting her son Leroy Jr. with farm work after the death of her 
husband. In addition, she filled her time through the years raising and
 harvesting a large garden which helped feed her family. Mary was also 
known for her cooking skills. She was the queen of gravy-making. Pies 
were always ready just in time for company, in addition to homemade 
candy and tea-time tassies, among other goodies. That is, unless one of 
her children found her stash ahead of time. She also kept her children 
busy at Christmastime delivering warm homemade caramel rolls to 
neighbors. 
 Mary could accomplish more in a 24-hour day than most could begin to
 think of. Her hands were never at rest. You could hear the hum of 
her sewing machine in the wee morning hours, working on matching dresses
 for her daughters that would be finished just in time for the coming 
holiday.
 Mary was a loving, caring person to those she came in contact with. 
 She always warmed your heart with a smile, even to the very end. Even 
though Mary worked at many tasks, her greatest accomplishment is the 
priceless legacy of the importance of faith and family. Her life 
revolved around both. They are what she lived and breathed for. Her 
faith was simple, she just believed. She led a life of sacrifice, 
serving her family and others. Mary lived and taught by example in 
everything she did. When her health began to fail, she always managed 
to find the strength for conversation with those around her, or to take 
several phone calls from her children in a single evening. Even though 
her mind was not always clear she never forgot her Lord, even to the end
 with prayers on her lips and a rosary in her hand surrounded by her 
family as she slipped away to her heavenly home.
 Mary is survived by her children Leroy Reitcheck Jr. and wife Julie 
of Hoxie, Kansas; daughters, Annette Wingerson and husband Steve of 
Smith Center, Kansas, Kayleen Sparks and husband Bryan of Papillion, 
Nebraska, Kimberly Schaffer and husband Troy of Wichita, Kansas, Jayne 
Turner and fiancé Craig Rose of Olathe, Kansas; 12 grandchildren, 
Katelyn Reitcheck, Alexis Wright and husband Lance, Landon Wingerson, 
Sienna Wingerson, Jordan Sparks, Ian Sparks, Devin Sparks, Carter 
Schaffer, Jaxon Schaffer, Braxton Schaffer, Mia Turner, Nash Turner; 
great grandchildren Joseph Lance Wright, Jeremiah Wright, Laramie 
Wright, Laynie Wright; brother, David Zimmerman; sisters, Linda Brown 
and husband Bill of Kansas City, Kansas and Betty Scripsick and husband 
Ron of Pittsburgh, Kansas; brother-in-law Gary Reitcheck and wife Sandy;
 sisters-in-law Anna Rose Givens, Margaret Ritter, Delores Koerperich 
and a host of nieces and nephews.
 She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Leroy; son Steven;
 grandson Ashton Turner; brothers Donald Zimmerman, Ronald Zimmerman; 
sisters Edna Whitehair and Diane Zimmerman, and many friends and 
relatives.&nbsp;Click <a href="https://www.mickeyleopoldfuneral.com/obituaries/Mary-Doris-Zimmerman-Reitcheck?obId=25422865#/celebrationWall">HERE</a> for service details.

Mary Doris (Zimmerman) Reitcheck

Carolyn Kirgis Johnson passed away July 24, 2022, at the Phillips 
County Hospital after suffering for decades with Multiple Sclerosis.&nbsp; 
She was born August 8, 1960, in Beloit, KS, the daughter of Robert &amp; 
Doris (Aronis) Kirgis.

She grew up on the farm in Mitchell County.&nbsp; She preferred being 
inside cooking while her two older sisters, Connie &amp; Catherine 
worked outside with their parents.&nbsp; She graduated from Beloit High 
School where she enjoyed being a part of all the musical activities; 
band, vocal &amp; school musicals were just a part of her busy 
schedule.&nbsp; She was a head cheerleader for the state winning Trojans 
&amp; was honored to wear the homecoming crown.

She continued her education at Colby Community College, then 
transferred to Kansas State University where she received her BA.&nbsp; She 
then selected the Salina Vocational Technical School to become a dental 
assistant for Dr. Jerry Lundgren DDS.&nbsp; She was proud to say that her 
entire college years were financed through her participation in the Miss
 America franchise system.&nbsp; She held many titles &amp; made many 
lifelong friends all over the 50 states.

In July 1985, she became Miss Kansas &amp; represented her state in 
Atlantic City, NJ.&nbsp; Her road to Miss America was aided by so many 
wonderful people that coached &amp; encouraged the Hog Farmer’s Daughter
 to Stand Proud &amp; Sing Loud!&nbsp; As her family mourns her passing their
 hearts are warmed by the outpouring of Love coming in from all 
directions.

In October of 1987, Carolyn was united in marriage to Perry Dale 
Johnson at the Salemsborg Lutheran Church in Smolan, KS.&nbsp; The welcomed 
their son, Chaddlee Dale on November 10, 1990.&nbsp; He grew up playing 
baseball just like his dad.&nbsp; The marriage was saddened by the infant 
losses of Chander Kirgis Johnson &amp; Allison Kaylinn Johnson.&nbsp; It was 
during these difficult years that Carolyn Jo was diagnosed with Multiple
 Sclerosis.&nbsp; In the early stages she was able to sing at benefits &amp; 
work for the foundation, but her health deteriorated quickly &amp; at 
the time of her passing she had been in the Phillips County Retirement 
Center over 18 years.

Left to mourn her passing is her son, Chadd Johnson of Abliene, KS; 
her mother, Doris Kirgis of Beloit, KS; sisters, Connie &amp; Jerry Cox 
of Long Island, KS &amp; Catherine &amp; Clayton Cox of Norton, KS; 9 
nieces &amp; nephews &amp; 35 great nieces &amp; nephews.&nbsp; They will be 
joining her many caring friends across the state of Kansas!

Through this loss, we’ve learned that God understands our pain. He 
doesn’t always fix it; sometimes he just sits with us &amp; lets us lean
 on him while the grief comes.&nbsp; We cling to the promise to be made whole
 once again &amp; reunited with our loved ones in Heaven!

A memorial service will be held on Thursday, July 28, 2022, at 1:30 
p.m. in the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, Phillipsburg, with Pastor 
Becky Saddler officiating.&nbsp; The service will be streamed live on the 
Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel Facebook page.&nbsp; A graveside service will be
 held at 4:00 p.m. in the Elmwood Cemetery in Beloit.&nbsp;

Memorial contributions may be made to the Phillips County Retirement Center of the Beloit First Christian Church Youth Group.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658779948144.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Carolyn Kirgis Johnson passed away July 24, 2022, at the Phillips 
County Hospital after suffering for decades with Multiple Sclerosis.&nbsp; 
She was born August 8, 1960, in Beloit, KS, the daughter of Robert &amp; 
Doris (Aronis) Kirgis.She grew up on the farm in Mitchell County.&nbsp; She preferred being 
inside cooking while her two older sisters, Connie &amp; Catherine 
worked outside with their parents.&nbsp; She graduated from Beloit High 
School where she enjoyed being a part of all the musical activities; 
band, vocal &amp; school musicals were just a part of her busy 
schedule.&nbsp; She was a head cheerleader for the state winning Trojans 
&amp; was honored to wear the homecoming crown.She continued her education at Colby Community College, then 
transferred to Kansas State University where she received her BA.&nbsp; She 
then selected the Salina Vocational Technical School to become a dental 
assistant for Dr. Jerry Lundgren DDS.&nbsp; She was proud to say that her 
entire college years were financed through her participation in the Miss
 America franchise system.&nbsp; She held many titles &amp; made many 
lifelong friends all over the 50 states.In July 1985, she became Miss Kansas &amp; represented her state in 
Atlantic City, NJ.&nbsp; Her road to Miss America was aided by so many 
wonderful people that coached &amp; encouraged the Hog Farmer’s Daughter
 to Stand Proud &amp; Sing Loud!&nbsp; As her family mourns her passing their
 hearts are warmed by the outpouring of Love coming in from all 
directions.In October of 1987, Carolyn was united in marriage to Perry Dale 
Johnson at the Salemsborg Lutheran Church in Smolan, KS.&nbsp; The welcomed 
their son, Chaddlee Dale on November 10, 1990.&nbsp; He grew up playing 
baseball just like his dad.&nbsp; The marriage was saddened by the infant 
losses of Chander Kirgis Johnson &amp; Allison Kaylinn Johnson.&nbsp; It was 
during these difficult years that Carolyn Jo was diagnosed with Multiple
 Sclerosis.&nbsp; In the early stages she was able to sing at benefits &amp; 
work for the foundation, but her health deteriorated quickly &amp; at 
the time of her passing she had been in the Phillips County Retirement 
Center over 18 years.Left to mourn her passing is her son, Chadd Johnson of Abliene, KS; 
her mother, Doris Kirgis of Beloit, KS; sisters, Connie &amp; Jerry Cox 
of Long Island, KS &amp; Catherine &amp; Clayton Cox of Norton, KS; 9 
nieces &amp; nephews &amp; 35 great nieces &amp; nephews.&nbsp; They will be 
joining her many caring friends across the state of Kansas!Through this loss, we’ve learned that God understands our pain. He 
doesn’t always fix it; sometimes he just sits with us &amp; lets us lean
 on him while the grief comes.&nbsp; We cling to the promise to be made whole
 once again &amp; reunited with our loved ones in Heaven!A memorial service will be held on Thursday, July 28, 2022, at 1:30 
p.m. in the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, Phillipsburg, with Pastor 
Becky Saddler officiating.&nbsp; The service will be streamed live on the 
Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel Facebook page.&nbsp; A graveside service will be
 held at 4:00 p.m. in the Elmwood Cemetery in Beloit.&nbsp;Memorial contributions may be made to the Phillips County Retirement Center of the Beloit First Christian Church Youth Group.

Carolyn Kirgis Johnson

N. Bryant Andrews Jr., 75, of McPherson, KS, passed away peacefully on Saturday, July 23, 2022, at McPherson Health &amp; Rehab.&nbsp; He worked in the grain business and retail paint industry.

Bryant was born on August 5, 1946, in Hastings, NE, the son of Neil Bryant Andrews, Sr. and Donna Mae (Marymee) Andrews.&nbsp; He graduated high school from Hastings, NE in 1964 and attended the University of Nebraska.&nbsp; Bryant was united in marriage to Susan Holt on October 15, 1965, and this union was blessed with two sons, Todd and Tyson.&nbsp; On July 19, 1975, he married Jennifer Zuellner, and this union was blessed with three children, Selena, Kim, and Geoff.

Survivors include: four children, Todd Andrews (Kristy) of Las Vegas, NV, Selena Andrews (Ed Webb) of McPherson, KS, Kim Seib (Cody) of Hays, KS, and Geoff Andrews (Valerie) of Salina, KS; brothers, Stephen Andrews (Ann) of Montevideo, MN, Bradley Andrews of Waverly, NE, and Scott Andrews of Waverly, NE; aunt, Delores Eades of Wichita, KS; and seven grandchildren, Andrew Costello, Jonah Clarke, Elijah Clarke, Reid Andrews, Sutton Seib, Holdyn Seib, and Hudson Seib.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a son, Tyson Andrews.

A graveside service will be held at 10:00 AM, Saturday, August 6, 2022, at East Lawn Cemetery in Bladen, NE.

Memorial donations may be payable to Selena Andrews to help cover funeral costs in care of Stockham Family Funeral Home, 205 North Chestnut, McPherson, KS 67460.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Personal condolences may be sent to the family at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.stockhamfamily.com/">www.stockhamfamily.com</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658778524979.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>N. Bryant Andrews Jr., 75, of McPherson, KS, passed away peacefully on Saturday, July 23, 2022, at McPherson Health &amp; Rehab.&nbsp; He worked in the grain business and retail paint industry.Bryant was born on August 5, 1946, in Hastings, NE, the son of Neil Bryant Andrews, Sr. and Donna Mae (Marymee) Andrews.&nbsp; He graduated high school from Hastings, NE in 1964 and attended the University of Nebraska.&nbsp; Bryant was united in marriage to Susan Holt on October 15, 1965, and this union was blessed with two sons, Todd and Tyson.&nbsp; On July 19, 1975, he married Jennifer Zuellner, and this union was blessed with three children, Selena, Kim, and Geoff.Survivors include: four children, Todd Andrews (Kristy) of Las Vegas, NV, Selena Andrews (Ed Webb) of McPherson, KS, Kim Seib (Cody) of Hays, KS, and Geoff Andrews (Valerie) of Salina, KS; brothers, Stephen Andrews (Ann) of Montevideo, MN, Bradley Andrews of Waverly, NE, and Scott Andrews of Waverly, NE; aunt, Delores Eades of Wichita, KS; and seven grandchildren, Andrew Costello, Jonah Clarke, Elijah Clarke, Reid Andrews, Sutton Seib, Holdyn Seib, and Hudson Seib.He was preceded in death by his parents and a son, Tyson Andrews.A graveside service will be held at 10:00 AM, Saturday, August 6, 2022, at East Lawn Cemetery in Bladen, NE.Memorial donations may be payable to Selena Andrews to help cover funeral costs in care of Stockham Family Funeral Home, 205 North Chestnut, McPherson, KS 67460.&nbsp;&nbsp;Personal condolences may be sent to the family at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.stockhamfamily.com/">www.stockhamfamily.com</a>.

N. Bryant Andrews Jr.

HAYS, Kan. - Fort Hays State cross country/track and field
head coach Dr. Jason McCullough has announced a nationwide schedule for the
2022-23 season. The Tigers will compete in eight states across all four time
zones in the continental United States during the upcoming season.

The cross country season kicks off on September 1 at the
Terry Masterson Twilight (Hutchinson, Kan.) before the Tigers travel to the
highly competitive Southern Stampede (Joplin, Mo.) on September 18. Fort Hays
State will battle another tough field at the Gans Creek Classic (Columbia, Mo.)
on September 30 hosted by SEC member Missouri before wrapping up the regular
season on October 15 at the Trojan Invite (Colby, Kan.).

The championship phase of the fall season begins in
Jefferson City, Mo. as Lincoln plays host to the MIAA Championships on November
5. The Tigers will then return to Joplin, Mo. for the NCAA Division II Central
Region Championships on November 19 with a trip to University Place, Wash. and
the NCAA Division II Championships (Dec. 3) on the line.

While the distance runners hope to wrap up their season at
the national race in Washington in early December, the indoor track and field
team will begin its season that same weekend at the UNK Pre-Holiday Classic
(Dec. 2, Kearney, Neb.). The Tigers will compete once more before wrapping up
the semester at the highly competitive Boo Rogers Combined Events and Crimson
&amp; Gold Invitational (Dec. 9-10, Pittsburg, Kan.). The Tigers broke seven
school records and achieved 23 NCAA provisional qualifying marks last season at
the Plaster Center on the campus of Pittsburg State.

After the calendar turns to 2023, the track and field
programs will take a tour of indoor facilities in Kansas at the Washburn Rust
Buster (Jan. 21, Topeka), the Jayhawk Classic (Jan. 27, Lawrence) and the Herm
Wilson Invitational (Feb. 3-4, Wichita) before returning to Pittsburg State for
the highly anticipated Gorilla Classic (Feb. 10-11). The regular season
concludes the following week with a trip to the Bob Devaney Sports Center for
the Nebraska Tune-Up (Feb. 17, Lincoln, Neb.). The Tigers will then travel to
Pittsburg a third time for the MIAA Indoor Championships (Feb. 24-26) before heading
to the east coast in Virginia Beach, Va. for the NCAA Division II Indoor
Championships (March 10-11) at the Virginia Beach Sports Center.

The outdoor season is slated to begin in late March before
concluding with the NCAA Division II Outdoor Championships at the CSU Pueblo
ThunderBowl in Pueblo, Colo. May 25-27. The Tigers will host the annual FHSU
Alex Francis Classic late in the regular season on April 28 at the FHSU Track
and Field Facility. Other regional competition in the spring includes trips to
Wichita State (April 7-8), Nebraska-Kearney (April 1 and 15, May 13), and host
of the 2024 and 2026 NCAA Division II Outdoor Championships, Emporia State
(March 24-25, April 22).

Outside of those regional competitions, the Tigers are
planning trips to California and Texas for marquee events in pursuit of NCAA
qualifying marks and school records. In 2022, trips to these two states
produced seven school records, 17 NCAA Provisional marks and 15 FHSU DII era
top 10 performances. The Tigers plan to make their inaugural trip to the highly
acclaimed Stanford Invitational at the Cobb Track &amp; Angell Field in Palo
Alto, Calif. March 24-25. Fort Hays State will return to the Bay Area the
following week the following week (March 30-April 1) to compete in San Francisco
State's Mike Fanelli Classic, doing so for the first time since 2015. The
Tigers will also send athletes to Austin, Texas that week (March 29-April 1)
for the prestigious 95th Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays at Mike A. Myers
Stadium on Texas' campus, doing so for the second year in a row.

The Tigers will return to southern California two weeks
later, competing at three different venues between April 12-15. Fort Hays State
will compete in Long Beach, Calif. at the Pacific Coast Intercollegiate (April
13) and Beach Invitational (April 14-15) at the Jack Rose Track on the campus
of Long Beach State. The Tigers will also attend the historically famous 63rd
Mt. SAC Relays (April 12-15) at Hilmer Lodge Stadium in Walnut Calif., hosted
by Mt. San Antonio Community College presented by Nike. Additional Tiger
student-athletes will compete at the prominent Bryan Clay Invitational (April
13-15) at Cougar Athletic Stadium hosted by Azusa Pacific in Azusa, Calif.

After hosting the Alex Francis Classic in late April, the
Tigers will head off to Jefferson City, Mo. for the MIAA Outdoor Championships
as Lincoln once again assumes hosting duties May 5-7.

Fort Hays State returns an impressive crop of athletes that
includes two national champions, 11 All-Americans, 14 NCAA Championship meet
participants, 15 All-MIAA performers and 30 MIAA Championship meet scorers
while adding a recruiting class that includes multiple high school state
champions, medalists and junior college All-Americans.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658491951913.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU AthleticsHAYS, Kan. - Fort Hays State cross country/track and field
head coach Dr. Jason McCullough has announced a nationwide schedule for the
2022-23 season. The Tigers will compete in eight states across all four time
zones in the continental United States during the upcoming season.The cross country season kicks off on September 1 at the
Terry Masterson Twilight (Hutchinson, Kan.) before the Tigers travel to the
highly competitive Southern Stampede (Joplin, Mo.) on September 18. Fort Hays
State will battle another tough field at the Gans Creek Classic (Columbia, Mo.)
on September 30 hosted by SEC member Missouri before wrapping up the regular
season on October 15 at the Trojan Invite (Colby, Kan.).The championship phase of the fall season begins in
Jefferson City, Mo. as Lincoln plays host to the MIAA Championships on November
5. The Tigers will then return to Joplin, Mo. for the NCAA Division II Central
Region Championships on November 19 with a trip to University Place, Wash. and
the NCAA Division II Championships (Dec. 3) on the line.While the distance runners hope to wrap up their season at
the national race in Washington in early December, the indoor track and field
team will begin its season that same weekend at the UNK Pre-Holiday Classic
(Dec. 2, Kearney, Neb.). The Tigers will compete once more before wrapping up
the semester at the highly competitive Boo Rogers Combined Events and Crimson
&amp; Gold Invitational (Dec. 9-10, Pittsburg, Kan.). The Tigers broke seven
school records and achieved 23 NCAA provisional qualifying marks last season at
the Plaster Center on the campus of Pittsburg State.After the calendar turns to 2023, the track and field
programs will take a tour of indoor facilities in Kansas at the Washburn Rust
Buster (Jan. 21, Topeka), the Jayhawk Classic (Jan. 27, Lawrence) and the Herm
Wilson Invitational (Feb. 3-4, Wichita) before returning to Pittsburg State for
the highly anticipated Gorilla Classic (Feb. 10-11). The regular season
concludes the following week with a trip to the Bob Devaney Sports Center for
the Nebraska Tune-Up (Feb. 17, Lincoln, Neb.). The Tigers will then travel to
Pittsburg a third time for the MIAA Indoor Championships (Feb. 24-26) before heading
to the east coast in Virginia Beach, Va. for the NCAA Division II Indoor
Championships (March 10-11) at the Virginia Beach Sports Center.The outdoor season is slated to begin in late March before
concluding with the NCAA Division II Outdoor Championships at the CSU Pueblo
ThunderBowl in Pueblo, Colo. May 25-27. The Tigers will host the annual FHSU
Alex Francis Classic late in the regular season on April 28 at the FHSU Track
and Field Facility. Other regional competition in the spring includes trips to
Wichita State (April 7-8), Nebraska-Kearney (April 1 and 15, May 13), and host
of the 2024 and 2026 NCAA Division II Outdoor Championships, Emporia State
(March 24-25, April 22).Outside of those regional competitions, the Tigers are
planning trips to California and Texas for marquee events in pursuit of NCAA
qualifying marks and school records. In 2022, trips to these two states
produced seven school records, 17 NCAA Provisional marks and 15 FHSU DII era
top 10 performances. The Tigers plan to make their inaugural trip to the highly
acclaimed Stanford Invitational at the Cobb Track &amp; Angell Field in Palo
Alto, Calif. March 24-25. Fort Hays State will return to the Bay Area the
following week the following week (March 30-April 1) to compete in San Francisco
State's Mike Fanelli Classic, doing so for the first time since 2015. The
Tigers will also send athletes to Austin, Texas that week (March 29-April 1)
for the prestigious 95th Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays at Mike A. Myers
Stadium on Texas' campus, doing so for the second year in a row.The Tigers will return to southern California two weeks
later, competing at three different venues between April 12-15. Fort Hays State
will compete in Long Beach, Calif. at the Pacific Coast Intercollegiate (April
13) and Beach Invitational (April 14-15) at the Jack Rose Track on the campus
of Long Beach State. The Tigers will also attend the historically famous 63rd
Mt. SAC Relays (April 12-15) at Hilmer Lodge Stadium in Walnut Calif., hosted
by Mt. San Antonio Community College presented by Nike. Additional Tiger
student-athletes will compete at the prominent Bryan Clay Invitational (April
13-15) at Cougar Athletic Stadium hosted by Azusa Pacific in Azusa, Calif.After hosting the Alex Francis Classic in late April, the
Tigers will head off to Jefferson City, Mo. for the MIAA Outdoor Championships
as Lincoln once again assumes hosting duties May 5-7.Fort Hays State returns an impressive crop of athletes that
includes two national champions, 11 All-Americans, 14 NCAA Championship meet
participants, 15 All-MIAA performers and 30 MIAA Championship meet scorers
while adding a recruiting class that includes multiple high school state
champions, medalists and junior college All-Americans.

👟FHSU track announces nationwide schedule for 2022-23 season

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday and is isolating with “very mild symptoms," the White House said, as new variants of the highly contagious virus challenge the nation's efforts to get back to normal after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic">two and a half years of pandemic.</a>

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Biden had begun taking Paxlovid</a>, an antiviral drug designed to reduce the severity of the disease. He was isolating in the family quarters of the White House and “continuing to carry out all of his duties fully,” she said.

Biden’s physician, Dr. Kevin O’Connor,&nbsp;said in a letter that Biden had a runny nose and “fatigue, with an occasional dry cough, which started yesterday evening.”

Biden himself said in a video posted on Twitter: “I really appreciate your inquiries and concerns. But I’m doing well, getting a lot of work done.“

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-covid-business-health-united-states-762d03274aac3b09c78dc70b81354d59">Biden, 79, is fully vaccinated, after getting two doses of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine shortly before taking office,</a>&nbsp;a first booster shot in September and an additional dose March 30. The president will isolate for five days and can return to his usual activities after a negative test, White House COVID-19 coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha told reporters at a briefing.

Jean-Pierre described the president's symptoms as "very mild" and said Biden had been in contact with members of the White House staff by phone and would participate in his planned meetings “via phone and Zoom from the residence.”

Asked where Biden might have contracted the virus, Jean-Pierre said, ”I don't think that matters." She later clarified that to say the White House was focused on how feeling and would engage in contact tracing.

In the video that Biden recorded outdoors to tell the world he was OK, the videographer stood six feet away and wore an N95 mask, Jean-Pierre said. The president will stop taking his anti-blood clot and cholesterol medications while receiving Paxlovid.

The White House took steps to show that the president was busy working despite his diagnosis, with Biden tweeting out a picture of himself making calls from the treaty room of the White House.

The president spoke by phone to lawmakers in Pennsylvania to apologize for having to cancel his planned trip Thursday to the city of Wilkes-Barre&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-police-pennsylvania-wilkes-barre-c3d8e3ee5190adde35b1b7932a47dc4b">to promote his crime prevention plans.</a>&nbsp;Biden also called South Carolina Rep. Jim Clyburn to wish him a happy birthday and congratulate him on receiving an award from the NAACP.

Dr. O'Connor wrote in his letter about the president's treatment plan: “I anticipate that he will respond favorably” to Paxlovid “as most maximally protected patients do.”

Jean-Pierre said Biden had tested negative on Tuesday and would stay isolated until he tests negative again.

White House chief of staff Ron Klain said in a letter obtained by The Associated Press that “all close contacts of the president” will be informed of Biden's positive test “per standard protocol.”

"We have said for some time that there was a substantial possibility that the president – like anyone else – could get COVID, and we have prepared for this possibility," Klain wrote to White House staff. "We are now executing on our plan so that the president can continue to work seamlessly from the Residence."

First lady Jill Biden, speaking to reporters as she arrived for a school visit in Detroit, said she'd just gotten off the phone with her husband.

“He’s doing fine,” she said. "He’s feeling good.”

The first lady, who was wearing a mask, said she tested negative earlier in the day. She will keep her full schedule in Michigan and Georgia on Thursday, though she will be following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on masking and distancing, said Michael LaRosa, her spokesperson.

The president spent much of last week&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-biden-africa-israel-iran-ba943ceaceb78d17cf50c64511ba6db4">in Israel and Saudi Arabia.</a>&nbsp;White House officials had told reporters that Biden planned to minimize contact during the trip, yet as soon as he exited Air Force One on July 13, he was fist-bumping, handshaking and even was seen in an occasional hug. The CDC says symptoms can appear two to 14 days after exposure to the virus.

Biden has had a minimal public schedule after returning from Saudi Arabia late on Saturday night, attending church the next day and helping to welcome Ukraine's first lady Olena Zelenska to the White House on Tuesday. The president traveled to Massachusetts on Wednesday to promote efforts to combat climate change.

Up to this point, Biden’s ability to avoid the virus seemed to defy the odds, even with the testing procedures in place for those expected to be in close contact with him. Prior waves of the virus swept through Washington’s political class, infecting Vice President Kamala Harris, Cabinet members, White House staffers and lawmakers. Biden has increasingly stepped up his travel schedule and resumed holding large indoor events where not everyone is tested.

A White House official said Harris tested negative for COVID-19. She was last with the president on Tuesday and spoke with him on the phone Thursday morning. Harris planned to remain masked on the guidance of the White House medical team.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she hoped that Biden's positive test for the virus would cause more Americans to get vaccinated and boosted because "none of us is immune from it, including the president of the United States, and we really have to be careful.”

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell on Twitter wished the president "a speedy recovery.”

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-health-rochelle-walensky-centers-for-disease-control-and-prevention-government-politics-0bd2ccf19f1c27379f312b9edf5f3634">Top White House officials in recent months have been matter-of-fact about the likelihood of the president getting COVID</a>, a measure of how ingrained the virus has become in society — and of its diminished threat for those who are up to date on their vaccinations and with access to treatments.

When administered within five days of symptoms appearing, Paxlovid, produced by drugmaker Pfizer, has been proven to bring about a 90% reduction in hospitalizations and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-covid-death-toll-one-million-7cefbd8c3185fd970fd073386e442317">deaths among patients most likely to get severe disease.</a>

Biden is far from the first world leader — and not the first U.S. president — to get the coronavirus, which has infected British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, French President Emmanuel Macron and more than a dozen other leaders and high-ranking officials globally.

When Biden’s predecessor,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-donald-trump-ap-top-news-elections-virus-outbreak-7fece2838ff7a9bd91ccf5ac287348b3">Donald Trump, contracted the disease in October 2020,</a>&nbsp;vaccines were not available and treatment options were limited and less advanced. After being diagnosed at the White House, Trump was given an experimental antibody treatment and steroids after his blood oxygen levels fell dangerously low. He was hospitalized at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for three days

After more than two years and over a million deaths in the U.S., the virus is still killing an average of 353 people a day here., according to the CDC. The unvaccinated are at far greater risk, more than twice as likely to test positive and nine times as likely to die from the virus as those who have received at least a primary dose of the vaccines, according to the public health agency.

The highly transmissible omicron variant is the dominant strain in the U.S., but scientists say it poses a lower risk for severe illness to those who are up to date on their vaccinations. Omicron's BA.5 sub-strain, believed to be even more contagious, now makes up more than 65% of U.S. cases.

The coronavirus pandemic helped put Biden in the White House, as he pledged to handle COVID-19 better than his predecessor. After he had initial months of success surging the nation’s supply and availability of vaccines, the virus became a worse problem as he struggled to stay ahead of the unpredictable disease.

As cases sharply declined earlier this year, Biden highlighted his administration’s efforts to end the pandemic and help the nation regain a sense of normalcy. He said in his March 1 State of the Union address, “It’s time for Americans to get back to work and fill our great downtowns again.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday, underscoring the persistence of the highly contagious virus as new variants challenge the nation's efforts to resume normalcy after two and a half years of pandemic disruptions.

White House Press Secretary<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/07/21/statement-from-press-secretary-karine-jean-pierre/"> Karine Jean-Pierre said that</a> Biden was experiencing “mild symptoms" and has begun taking Paxlovid, an antiviral drug designed to reduce the severity of the disease.

She said Biden “will isolate at the White House and will continue to carry out all of his duties fully during that time. He has been in contact with members of the White House staff by phone this morning, and will participate in his planned meetings at the White House this morning via phone and Zoom from the residence.”

Biden, 79, is fully vaccinated, after getting two doses of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine shortly before taking office, a first booster shot in September and an additional dose March 30.

Top White House officials in recent months have been matter-of-fact about the likelihood of the president getting COVID, a measure of how engrained the virus has become in society — and of its diminished threat for those who are up to date on their vaccinations and with access to treatments.

When administered within five days of symptoms appearing, Paxlovid, produced by drugmaker Pfizer, has been proven to bring about a 90% reduction in hospitalizations and deaths among patients most likely to get severe disease.

In an April 30 speech to more than 2,600 attendees at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, Biden acknowledged the risks of attending large events, but said it was worthwhile to attend.

“I know there are questions about whether we should gather here tonight because of COVID,” he said. “Well, we’re here to show the country that we’re getting through this pandemic.”

When Biden’s predecessor, President Donald Trump, contracted the disease in October 2020, it was a far different time. Vaccines were not available and treatment options were limited and less advanced. After being diagnosed with COVID-19 at the White House, Trump was given an experimental antibody treatment and steroids after his blood oxygen levels fell dangerously low. He was hospitalized at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for three days

While much of the world has resumed normal rhythms after the early lockdowns to control spikes in cases and deaths, the virus still serves as a disrupter in daily life as people are forced to change plans, isolate and calculate the risks of taking part in various activities.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday and is isolating with “very mild symptoms," the White House said, as new variants of the highly contagious virus challenge the nation's efforts to get back to normal after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic">two and a half years of pandemic.</a><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">An update from me: <a href="https://t.co/L2oCR0uUTu">pic.twitter.com/L2oCR0uUTu</a>&mdash; President Biden (@POTUS) <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS/status/1550179049598861314?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 21, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Biden had begun taking Paxlovid</a>, an antiviral drug designed to reduce the severity of the disease. He was isolating in the family quarters of the White House and “continuing to carry out all of his duties fully,” she said.Biden’s physician, Dr. Kevin O’Connor,&nbsp;said in a letter that Biden had a runny nose and “fatigue, with an occasional dry cough, which started yesterday evening.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658416889840.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Biden himself said in a video posted on Twitter: “I really appreciate your inquiries and concerns. But I’m doing well, getting a lot of work done.“<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-covid-business-health-united-states-762d03274aac3b09c78dc70b81354d59">Biden, 79, is fully vaccinated, after getting two doses of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine shortly before taking office,</a>&nbsp;a first booster shot in September and an additional dose March 30. The president will isolate for five days and can return to his usual activities after a negative test, White House COVID-19 coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha told reporters at a briefing.Jean-Pierre described the president's symptoms as "very mild" and said Biden had been in contact with members of the White House staff by phone and would participate in his planned meetings “via phone and Zoom from the residence.”Asked where Biden might have contracted the virus, Jean-Pierre said, ”I don't think that matters." She later clarified that to say the White House was focused on how feeling and would engage in contact tracing.In the video that Biden recorded outdoors to tell the world he was OK, the videographer stood six feet away and wore an N95 mask, Jean-Pierre said. The president will stop taking his anti-blood clot and cholesterol medications while receiving Paxlovid.The White House took steps to show that the president was busy working despite his diagnosis, with Biden tweeting out a picture of himself making calls from the treaty room of the White House.The president spoke by phone to lawmakers in Pennsylvania to apologize for having to cancel his planned trip Thursday to the city of Wilkes-Barre&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-police-pennsylvania-wilkes-barre-c3d8e3ee5190adde35b1b7932a47dc4b">to promote his crime prevention plans.</a>&nbsp;Biden also called South Carolina Rep. Jim Clyburn to wish him a happy birthday and congratulate him on receiving an award from the NAACP.Dr. O'Connor wrote in his letter about the president's treatment plan: “I anticipate that he will respond favorably” to Paxlovid “as most maximally protected patients do.”Jean-Pierre said Biden had tested negative on Tuesday and would stay isolated until he tests negative again.White House chief of staff Ron Klain said in a letter obtained by The Associated Press that “all close contacts of the president” will be informed of Biden's positive test “per standard protocol.”"We have said for some time that there was a substantial possibility that the president – like anyone else – could get COVID, and we have prepared for this possibility," Klain wrote to White House staff. "We are now executing on our plan so that the president can continue to work seamlessly from the Residence."First lady Jill Biden, speaking to reporters as she arrived for a school visit in Detroit, said she'd just gotten off the phone with her husband.“He’s doing fine,” she said. "He’s feeling good.”The first lady, who was wearing a mask, said she tested negative earlier in the day. She will keep her full schedule in Michigan and Georgia on Thursday, though she will be following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on masking and distancing, said Michael LaRosa, her spokesperson.The president spent much of last week&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-biden-africa-israel-iran-ba943ceaceb78d17cf50c64511ba6db4">in Israel and Saudi Arabia.</a>&nbsp;White House officials had told reporters that Biden planned to minimize contact during the trip, yet as soon as he exited Air Force One on July 13, he was fist-bumping, handshaking and even was seen in an occasional hug. The CDC says symptoms can appear two to 14 days after exposure to the virus.Biden has had a minimal public schedule after returning from Saudi Arabia late on Saturday night, attending church the next day and helping to welcome Ukraine's first lady Olena Zelenska to the White House on Tuesday. The president traveled to Massachusetts on Wednesday to promote efforts to combat climate change.Up to this point, Biden’s ability to avoid the virus seemed to defy the odds, even with the testing procedures in place for those expected to be in close contact with him. Prior waves of the virus swept through Washington’s political class, infecting Vice President Kamala Harris, Cabinet members, White House staffers and lawmakers. Biden has increasingly stepped up his travel schedule and resumed holding large indoor events where not everyone is tested.A White House official said Harris tested negative for COVID-19. She was last with the president on Tuesday and spoke with him on the phone Thursday morning. Harris planned to remain masked on the guidance of the White House medical team.House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she hoped that Biden's positive test for the virus would cause more Americans to get vaccinated and boosted because "none of us is immune from it, including the president of the United States, and we really have to be careful.”Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell on Twitter wished the president "a speedy recovery.”<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-health-rochelle-walensky-centers-for-disease-control-and-prevention-government-politics-0bd2ccf19f1c27379f312b9edf5f3634">Top White House officials in recent months have been matter-of-fact about the likelihood of the president getting COVID</a>, a measure of how ingrained the virus has become in society — and of its diminished threat for those who are up to date on their vaccinations and with access to treatments.When administered within five days of symptoms appearing, Paxlovid, produced by drugmaker Pfizer, has been proven to bring about a 90% reduction in hospitalizations and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-covid-death-toll-one-million-7cefbd8c3185fd970fd073386e442317">deaths among patients most likely to get severe disease.</a>Biden is far from the first world leader — and not the first U.S. president — to get the coronavirus, which has infected British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, French President Emmanuel Macron and more than a dozen other leaders and high-ranking officials globally.When Biden’s predecessor,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-donald-trump-ap-top-news-elections-virus-outbreak-7fece2838ff7a9bd91ccf5ac287348b3">Donald Trump, contracted the disease in October 2020,</a>&nbsp;vaccines were not available and treatment options were limited and less advanced. After being diagnosed at the White House, Trump was given an experimental antibody treatment and steroids after his blood oxygen levels fell dangerously low. He was hospitalized at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for three daysAfter more than two years and over a million deaths in the U.S., the virus is still killing an average of 353 people a day here., according to the CDC. The unvaccinated are at far greater risk, more than twice as likely to test positive and nine times as likely to die from the virus as those who have received at least a primary dose of the vaccines, according to the public health agency.The highly transmissible omicron variant is the dominant strain in the U.S., but scientists say it poses a lower risk for severe illness to those who are up to date on their vaccinations. Omicron's BA.5 sub-strain, believed to be even more contagious, now makes up more than 65% of U.S. cases.The coronavirus pandemic helped put Biden in the White House, as he pledged to handle COVID-19 better than his predecessor. After he had initial months of success surging the nation’s supply and availability of vaccines, the virus became a worse problem as he struggled to stay ahead of the unpredictable disease.As cases sharply declined earlier this year, Biden highlighted his administration’s efforts to end the pandemic and help the nation regain a sense of normalcy. He said in his March 1 State of the Union address, “It’s time for Americans to get back to work and fill our great downtowns again.”------<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658413817667.png" alt="President Biden at Brayton Point in Massachusetts on Wednesday-White House photo" />
 <figcaption>President Biden at Brayton Point in Massachusetts on Wednesday-White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday, underscoring the persistence of the highly contagious virus as new variants challenge the nation's efforts to resume normalcy after two and a half years of pandemic disruptions.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658416889840.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>White House Press Secretary<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/07/21/statement-from-press-secretary-karine-jean-pierre/"> Karine Jean-Pierre said that</a> Biden was experiencing “mild symptoms" and has begun taking Paxlovid, an antiviral drug designed to reduce the severity of the disease.She said Biden “will isolate at the White House and will continue to carry out all of his duties fully during that time. He has been in contact with members of the White House staff by phone this morning, and will participate in his planned meetings at the White House this morning via phone and Zoom from the residence.”Biden, 79, is fully vaccinated, after getting two doses of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine shortly before taking office, a first booster shot in September and an additional dose March 30.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Praying and hoping for a speedy recovery for the President.&mdash; Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) <a href="https://twitter.com/RogerMarshallMD/status/1550129798235635713?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 21, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Up to this point, Biden’s ability to avoid the virus seemed to defy the odds, even with the testing procedures in place for those expected to be in close contact with him. Prior waves of the virus swept through Washington’s political class, infecting Vice President Kamala Harris, Cabinet members, White House staffers and lawmakers. Biden has increasingly stepped up his travel schedule and resumed holding large indoor events where not everyone is tested.Top White House officials in recent months have been matter-of-fact about the likelihood of the president getting COVID, a measure of how engrained the virus has become in society — and of its diminished threat for those who are up to date on their vaccinations and with access to treatments.When administered within five days of symptoms appearing, Paxlovid, produced by drugmaker Pfizer, has been proven to bring about a 90% reduction in hospitalizations and deaths among patients most likely to get severe disease.In an April 30 speech to more than 2,600 attendees at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, Biden acknowledged the risks of attending large events, but said it was worthwhile to attend.“I know there are questions about whether we should gather here tonight because of COVID,” he said. “Well, we’re here to show the country that we’re getting through this pandemic.”Biden is far from the first world leader — and not the first U.S. president — to get the coronavirus, which has infected British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, French President Emmanuel Macron and more than a dozen other leaders and high-ranking officials globally.When Biden’s predecessor, President Donald Trump, contracted the disease in October 2020, it was a far different time. Vaccines were not available and treatment options were limited and less advanced. After being diagnosed with COVID-19 at the White House, Trump was given an experimental antibody treatment and steroids after his blood oxygen levels fell dangerously low. He was hospitalized at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for three daysWhile much of the world has resumed normal rhythms after the early lockdowns to control spikes in cases and deaths, the virus still serves as a disrupter in daily life as people are forced to change plans, isolate and calculate the risks of taking part in various activities.

🎥 Biden talks about his positive COVID test: Going to be OK

Cheryl Urbanek, 79, of Colby, died Monday, July 18, 2022, in Colby. She 
was born September 19, 1943, in Stafford, Kansas, to Howard and Verda 
(Staley) Jimison. She graduated from Lorraine High School in 1961 and on
 October 17, 1964, she married James Urbanek. 
She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Larry Jimison, James
 Jimison, and Michael Jimison, and sister, Cathy Preston. 
She is survived by her husband, James of Colby; children, Jamie (Paul) 
Heskett, of Oakley, KS; and Mitch Urbanek, of Plainville, KS; brother, 
Kyle (Debbie) Jimison, of Bushton, KS; seven grandchildren; 10 great 
grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. 
There will be no visitation. A Rosary will be held at 9:00 a.m. followed
 by a Funeral Mass at 10:00 a.m., Friday, July 22, 2022, at Sacred Heart
 Catholic Church, in Colby, with burial in Beulah Cemetery, Colby.

Memorials may be made to the Northwest Kansas Foundation for Hope, and 
sent in care of Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box 391, Colby, KS 67701.  Online 
condolences: www.baalmannmortuary.com.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658422999358.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Cheryl Urbanek, 79, of Colby, died Monday, July 18, 2022, in Colby. She 
was born September 19, 1943, in Stafford, Kansas, to Howard and Verda 
(Staley) Jimison. She graduated from Lorraine High School in 1961 and on
 October 17, 1964, she married James Urbanek. 
She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Larry Jimison, James
 Jimison, and Michael Jimison, and sister, Cathy Preston. 
She is survived by her husband, James of Colby; children, Jamie (Paul) 
Heskett, of Oakley, KS; and Mitch Urbanek, of Plainville, KS; brother, 
Kyle (Debbie) Jimison, of Bushton, KS; seven grandchildren; 10 great 
grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. 
There will be no visitation. A Rosary will be held at 9:00 a.m. followed
 by a Funeral Mass at 10:00 a.m., Friday, July 22, 2022, at Sacred Heart
 Catholic Church, in Colby, with burial in Beulah Cemetery, Colby. Memorials may be made to the Northwest Kansas Foundation for Hope, and 
sent in care of Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box 391, Colby, KS 67701. Online 
condolences: www.baalmannmortuary.com.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

Cheryl Kay Urbanek (Jimison)

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22LOLITA%20C.%20BALDOR%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By LOLITA C. BALDOR Associated Press</a>

WASHINGTON (AP) — When&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-tom-cruise-jerry-bruckheimer-california-74bbbb5552c75cb268ae8298e4fe1379">“Top Gun: Maverick”</a>&nbsp;roared into theaters in late May, the Air Force was ready.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-movies-north-america-steven-spielberg-bb005f1efd6a5de2ef40acd4c588214e">smash hit movie</a>&nbsp;may feature Tom Cruise as Pete “Maverick” Mitchell,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/top-gun-maverick-film-review-dfe987ecf3250c3f0103da09b3dc76dc">a hotshot Navy aviator</a>, but to much of the movie-going public, the distinction between Air Force and Navy fighter jets is lost. So Air Force recruiters struggling to meet their enlistment goals took boxes of free mugs and lanyards, and fanned out to movie theaters for the premiere, determined to capitalize on the jet-fueled excitement surrounding the film.

These are tough times for military recruiters. With COVID-19 complicating their work and low unemployment reducing the number of potential recruits, all services are having problems finding young people who want to join and can meet the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.goarmy.com/how-to-join/requirements.html#:~:text=Enlisted%20Soldiers,-Enlisted%20Soldiers%20are&amp;text=Age%3A%20Between%2017%2D35%20years,high%20school%20graduate%20or%20equivalent">physical, mental and moral requirements.</a>

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-politics-health-army-dc5db721e3270e0e92a0210daa890860">The Army especially is struggling</a>. On Tuesday, it said it will cut the total number of soldiers it expects to have in the force over the next two years. If those trends continue, that could present challenges as it tries to meet future national security and warfighting missions.

The situation is somewhat less dire for the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps. Leaders of those branches say they hope to meet or just slightly miss their recruiting goals for this year. But they say they will have to dip into their pool of delayed entry applicants, which will put them behind as they begin the next recruiting year.

So recruiters are offering bigger bonuses and other incentives to those who sign up. And they are seizing on the boost that Hollywood may offer – such as the buzz over the sequel to the 1986 hit “Top Gun.”

“When the original ‘Top Gun’ was released, the Navy and Air Force received a pretty good recruiting bump,” said Maj. Gen. Edward Thomas, head of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.recruiting.af.mil/">Air Force Recruiting Service.</a>&nbsp;"Frankly, we hope people get excited all over again about what we do. Whether they want to aim high or fly Navy, we just want them to come join us. We want them to be excited about military service.”

The Air Force said it usually goes into each year with about 25% of its recruiting goal already locked in, but this year will have about half of that. The Navy and Marine Corps often have as much as 50% of their goals at the start of the year, but also will see their percentage slashed.

Gen. Eric Smith, assistant commandant of the Marine Corps., said the Marines are focusing more on retention than recruiting. He said the Marine Corps “will make or come very close to making” its recruiting goals this year, but at the expense of the 2023 pool. And when recruits have less time to prepare before reporting to boot camp, more fail to complete their training, he said.

The situation is more dire for the Army, which a top general says faces “unprecedented challenges” in recruitments.

Gen. Joseph Martin, vice chief of staff for the Army, said the service will have a total force of 466,400 this year, down from the expected 476,000. It could end 2023 with between 445,000 and 452,000 soldiers, depending on how well recruiting and retention go.

With just 2 1/2 months to go in the budget year ending Sept. 30, the Army has met just 50% of its recruiting goal of 60,000 soldiers, and based on those trends will likely miss that goal by nearly 25% as of Oct. 1.

An array of factors has made recruiting more difficult across the services.

Two years of the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered schools and other large public events that the military relies on to meet young people face to face.

The low unemployment rate means fewer people are looking for jobs. Private companies often pay more and are more nimble in responding to a tight labor market by raising salaries. Military salaries vary widely and are determined by Congress.

Across the country, fewer people are familiar with the military. Many do not know anyone who served and do not have bases in their regions. As political and cultural divisions over race, abortion, vaccines and other issues tear through the nation,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-technology-health-government-and-politics-new-york-cfb56a95aec23dddbabcf3ebbe839f05">trust in the government</a>&nbsp;— including the military — has declined.

At the same time, only about 23% of young adults are physically, mentally and morally qualified to serve without receiving some type of waiver. Moral behavior issues include drug use, gang ties or a criminal record.

“We look at it as the toughest recruiting environment that we’ve had in decades,” said Rear Adm. Lex Walker, who heads Navy Recruiting Command. “Companies are also offering great pay, they’re offering sign-on bonuses, help with college. They’re offering many of the same benefits the Navy has historically used to recruit."

One short-term solution is money. The Air Force and Navy commanders both said they had to request more money for bonuses this year as they began to see the recruiting struggle worsen.

For the first time in a decade, the Air Force approved two rounds of additional bonuses this budget year. Last October the service budgeted $17.5 million for enlistment bonuses, but in April service leaders added another $14 million, and in July they put in $7 million more.

The Navy, said Walker, has also increased bonuses by about $100 million. It also has also relaxed some restrictions to make it possible to enlist some who may not have qualified before. He said the Navy expanded its waiver policy for some prior marijuana use and for tattoos — allowing recruits to have visible ones in more places, such as the neck. A new pilot program allows single parents with up to two children over a year old to seek a waiver to enlist as long as the recruits have someone who can care for the children in case of a deployment.

The recruiting officials also said it's crucial to increase the public's awareness of the military and the benefits available for serving. They said recruiters and all members of the military need to get out into their communities, connect with people and tell their stories.

Air Force Sgt. Eric Way did just that at the Regal Cinema in Waterford, Connecticut, during the premiere of “Top Gun: Maverick." Standing in the lobby, surrounded by Air Force swag and banners, he captured the attention of a 22-year-old from Old Lyme, who later told him the movie convinced him that he should enlist.

Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Gervacio Maldonado, who helped organize the New England recruiting campaign centered on the movie’s premiere, said recruiters spoke to the young man before the film and gave him social media information to contact them later.

It worked. The man has already done his first interview.

Maldonado said the man later told a recruiter that he had been debating the enlistment idea for some time and said that "after watching the movie, that was my tipping point and I want to start the process.”

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22LOLITA%20C.%20BALDOR%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By LOLITA C. BALDOR Associated Press</a>WASHINGTON (AP) — When&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-tom-cruise-jerry-bruckheimer-california-74bbbb5552c75cb268ae8298e4fe1379">“Top Gun: Maverick”</a>&nbsp;roared into theaters in late May, the Air Force was ready.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-movies-north-america-steven-spielberg-bb005f1efd6a5de2ef40acd4c588214e">smash hit movie</a>&nbsp;may feature Tom Cruise as Pete “Maverick” Mitchell,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/top-gun-maverick-film-review-dfe987ecf3250c3f0103da09b3dc76dc">a hotshot Navy aviator</a>, but to much of the movie-going public, the distinction between Air Force and Navy fighter jets is lost. So Air Force recruiters struggling to meet their enlistment goals took boxes of free mugs and lanyards, and fanned out to movie theaters for the premiere, determined to capitalize on the jet-fueled excitement surrounding the film.These are tough times for military recruiters. With COVID-19 complicating their work and low unemployment reducing the number of potential recruits, all services are having problems finding young people who want to join and can meet the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.goarmy.com/how-to-join/requirements.html#:~:text=Enlisted%20Soldiers,-Enlisted%20Soldiers%20are&amp;text=Age%3A%20Between%2017%2D35%20years,high%20school%20graduate%20or%20equivalent">physical, mental and moral requirements.</a><a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-politics-health-army-dc5db721e3270e0e92a0210daa890860">The Army especially is struggling</a>. On Tuesday, it said it will cut the total number of soldiers it expects to have in the force over the next two years. If those trends continue, that could present challenges as it tries to meet future national security and warfighting missions.The situation is somewhat less dire for the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps. Leaders of those branches say they hope to meet or just slightly miss their recruiting goals for this year. But they say they will have to dip into their pool of delayed entry applicants, which will put them behind as they begin the next recruiting year.So recruiters are offering bigger bonuses and other incentives to those who sign up. And they are seizing on the boost that Hollywood may offer – such as the buzz over the sequel to the 1986 hit “Top Gun.”“When the original ‘Top Gun’ was released, the Navy and Air Force received a pretty good recruiting bump,” said Maj. Gen. Edward Thomas, head of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.recruiting.af.mil/">Air Force Recruiting Service.</a>&nbsp;"Frankly, we hope people get excited all over again about what we do. Whether they want to aim high or fly Navy, we just want them to come join us. We want them to be excited about military service.”The Air Force said it usually goes into each year with about 25% of its recruiting goal already locked in, but this year will have about half of that. The Navy and Marine Corps often have as much as 50% of their goals at the start of the year, but also will see their percentage slashed.Gen. Eric Smith, assistant commandant of the Marine Corps., said the Marines are focusing more on retention than recruiting. He said the Marine Corps “will make or come very close to making” its recruiting goals this year, but at the expense of the 2023 pool. And when recruits have less time to prepare before reporting to boot camp, more fail to complete their training, he said.The situation is more dire for the Army, which a top general says faces “unprecedented challenges” in recruitments.Gen. Joseph Martin, vice chief of staff for the Army, said the service will have a total force of 466,400 this year, down from the expected 476,000. It could end 2023 with between 445,000 and 452,000 soldiers, depending on how well recruiting and retention go.With just 2 1/2 months to go in the budget year ending Sept. 30, the Army has met just 50% of its recruiting goal of 60,000 soldiers, and based on those trends will likely miss that goal by nearly 25% as of Oct. 1.An array of factors has made recruiting more difficult across the services.Two years of the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered schools and other large public events that the military relies on to meet young people face to face.The low unemployment rate means fewer people are looking for jobs. Private companies often pay more and are more nimble in responding to a tight labor market by raising salaries. Military salaries vary widely and are determined by Congress.Across the country, fewer people are familiar with the military. Many do not know anyone who served and do not have bases in their regions. As political and cultural divisions over race, abortion, vaccines and other issues tear through the nation,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-technology-health-government-and-politics-new-york-cfb56a95aec23dddbabcf3ebbe839f05">trust in the government</a>&nbsp;— including the military — has declined.At the same time, only about 23% of young adults are physically, mentally and morally qualified to serve without receiving some type of waiver. Moral behavior issues include drug use, gang ties or a criminal record.“We look at it as the toughest recruiting environment that we’ve had in decades,” said Rear Adm. Lex Walker, who heads Navy Recruiting Command. “Companies are also offering great pay, they’re offering sign-on bonuses, help with college. They’re offering many of the same benefits the Navy has historically used to recruit."One short-term solution is money. The Air Force and Navy commanders both said they had to request more money for bonuses this year as they began to see the recruiting struggle worsen.For the first time in a decade, the Air Force approved two rounds of additional bonuses this budget year. Last October the service budgeted $17.5 million for enlistment bonuses, but in April service leaders added another $14 million, and in July they put in $7 million more.The Navy, said Walker, has also increased bonuses by about $100 million. It also has also relaxed some restrictions to make it possible to enlist some who may not have qualified before. He said the Navy expanded its waiver policy for some prior marijuana use and for tattoos — allowing recruits to have visible ones in more places, such as the neck. A new pilot program allows single parents with up to two children over a year old to seek a waiver to enlist as long as the recruits have someone who can care for the children in case of a deployment.The recruiting officials also said it's crucial to increase the public's awareness of the military and the benefits available for serving. They said recruiters and all members of the military need to get out into their communities, connect with people and tell their stories.Air Force Sgt. Eric Way did just that at the Regal Cinema in Waterford, Connecticut, during the premiere of “Top Gun: Maverick." Standing in the lobby, surrounded by Air Force swag and banners, he captured the attention of a 22-year-old from Old Lyme, who later told him the movie convinced him that he should enlist.Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Gervacio Maldonado, who helped organize the New England recruiting campaign centered on the movie’s premiere, said recruiters spoke to the young man before the film and gave him social media information to contact them later.It worked. The man has already done his first interview.Maldonado said the man later told a recruiter that he had been debating the enlistment idea for some time and said that "after watching the movie, that was my tipping point and I want to start the process.”

As recruiters struggle, Air Force seeks lift from 'Top Gun'

Agnes Finger, 94, Passed away July 20, 2022, at Country Living Senior Plus, Larned.

Agnes Vondracek was born October 24, 1927, at Timken, Kansas, the 
daughter of Joseph A. and Ludmila Pechanec Vondracek.&nbsp; She attended the 
Timken Grade School, Bison High School, graduating with the class of 
1945.&nbsp; She also attended Fort Hays State College. Agnes taught in the 
Timken Grade School for the years of 1946 and 1947.&nbsp; She worked in the 
Farmers and Merchants State Bank of La Crosse for a short period of time
 before her marriage.

Leonard A. Finger and Agnes Vondracek were married on May 11, 1948, 
in the Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Timken, Kansas.&nbsp; This was in a 
double wedding ceremony with Helen Pechanec, Agnes’ cousin, and 
Leonard’s brother, Marvin.&nbsp; Father Emil J. Kapaun, who later was a 
Korean War Chaplain, was Pastor of the Timken Parish and witnessed their
 marriage as well as Father Norbert Staab of Larned, and Father Frank 
Huslig of La Crosse, assisting.

Leonard and Agnes began their married life on the Finger home place 
north of Larned before moving to a farm eleven miles west of Larned in 
1950 that was to be their home for the next 50 years before retiring to 
Larned.&nbsp; Agnes enjoyed gardening, yard work, refinishing furniture, 
researching family history and quilting.&nbsp; Working with young people was 
also her joy and she was the Tiny Toilers 4-H club foods leader for many
 years when her daughters were in 4-H.&nbsp; She taught religious education 
classes for her church and formerly served on the Education Committee as
 well as the Endowment Board.&nbsp; She served on the Pawnee County 4-H 
Foundation and assisted with the 4-H Fair and later with the Pawnee 
County Open Fair.&nbsp; She felt privileged to visit the homebound members of
 her church and was active on the Funeral Dinner Group of the Altar 
Society for many years.

Survivors include three sons: Mark and wife Jonnie, Lawrence, Greg, 
Garfield; Tom and wife, Connie, Augusta; son-in-law, Dave Vickery, 
daughters Margaret and husband Lee Scheufler, Sterling; Susan Latimore, 
Larned; Julie and husband Scott Borchardt, Walpole, Massachusetts.&nbsp; 
Nineteen grandchildren and twenty-two great-grandchildren.&nbsp;

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Leonard, her 
two brothers Frank and Rudy and their wives, her daughter Mary Ellen, 
daughter-in-law Jennifer Otte Finger and a grandson Garrett Finger.

Funeral Mass will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday, July 23, 2022, at Sacred 
Heart Catholic Church with Father Bernard Felix presiding.&nbsp; Vigil 
service and Rosary will be 7:00 p.m. Friday, July 22nd, at 
Beckwith Mortuary.&nbsp; Visitation will be 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Friday 
with family present from 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. at Beckwith Mortuary.&nbsp; 
Burial will be in the Larned Cemetery, Larned, Kansas.

Memorials may be given to Sacred Heart Catholic Church or the Pawnee 
County 4-H Foundation, both in care of Beckwith Mortuary, P.O. Box 477, 
Larned, KS 67550.&nbsp; Personal condolences may be left at <a href="http://www.beckwithmortuary.com">www.beckwithmortuary.com</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658354684758.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Agnes Finger, 94, Passed away July 20, 2022, at Country Living Senior Plus, Larned.Agnes Vondracek was born October 24, 1927, at Timken, Kansas, the 
daughter of Joseph A. and Ludmila Pechanec Vondracek.&nbsp; She attended the 
Timken Grade School, Bison High School, graduating with the class of 
1945.&nbsp; She also attended Fort Hays State College. Agnes taught in the 
Timken Grade School for the years of 1946 and 1947.&nbsp; She worked in the 
Farmers and Merchants State Bank of La Crosse for a short period of time
 before her marriage.Leonard A. Finger and Agnes Vondracek were married on May 11, 1948, 
in the Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Timken, Kansas.&nbsp; This was in a 
double wedding ceremony with Helen Pechanec, Agnes’ cousin, and 
Leonard’s brother, Marvin.&nbsp; Father Emil J. Kapaun, who later was a 
Korean War Chaplain, was Pastor of the Timken Parish and witnessed their
 marriage as well as Father Norbert Staab of Larned, and Father Frank 
Huslig of La Crosse, assisting.Leonard and Agnes began their married life on the Finger home place 
north of Larned before moving to a farm eleven miles west of Larned in 
1950 that was to be their home for the next 50 years before retiring to 
Larned.&nbsp; Agnes enjoyed gardening, yard work, refinishing furniture, 
researching family history and quilting.&nbsp; Working with young people was 
also her joy and she was the Tiny Toilers 4-H club foods leader for many
 years when her daughters were in 4-H.&nbsp; She taught religious education 
classes for her church and formerly served on the Education Committee as
 well as the Endowment Board.&nbsp; She served on the Pawnee County 4-H 
Foundation and assisted with the 4-H Fair and later with the Pawnee 
County Open Fair.&nbsp; She felt privileged to visit the homebound members of
 her church and was active on the Funeral Dinner Group of the Altar 
Society for many years.Survivors include three sons: Mark and wife Jonnie, Lawrence, Greg, 
Garfield; Tom and wife, Connie, Augusta; son-in-law, Dave Vickery, 
daughters Margaret and husband Lee Scheufler, Sterling; Susan Latimore, 
Larned; Julie and husband Scott Borchardt, Walpole, Massachusetts.&nbsp; 
Nineteen grandchildren and twenty-two great-grandchildren.&nbsp;She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Leonard, her 
two brothers Frank and Rudy and their wives, her daughter Mary Ellen, 
daughter-in-law Jennifer Otte Finger and a grandson Garrett Finger.Funeral Mass will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday, July 23, 2022, at Sacred 
Heart Catholic Church with Father Bernard Felix presiding.&nbsp; Vigil 
service and Rosary will be 7:00 p.m. Friday, July 22nd, at 
Beckwith Mortuary.&nbsp; Visitation will be 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Friday 
with family present from 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. at Beckwith Mortuary.&nbsp; 
Burial will be in the Larned Cemetery, Larned, Kansas.Memorials may be given to Sacred Heart Catholic Church or the Pawnee 
County 4-H Foundation, both in care of Beckwith Mortuary, P.O. Box 477, 
Larned, KS 67550.&nbsp; Personal condolences may be left at <a href="http://www.beckwithmortuary.com">www.beckwithmortuary.com</a>.

Agnes Finger

By COLE REIF <a href="https://greatbendpost.com">Great Bend Post</a>

GREAT BEND — Housing Opportunities Inc. publicly announced last October a new
housing development that was going to create a four-phase project directly east
of The University of Kansas Health System – Great Bend Campus and south of
Walmart.

HOI announced receiving nearly $6 million from the Kansas
 Housing Resources Corporation for the project, referred to as Cambridge
 Park. 
Phase one of the development includes a 28-unit, low-income project that would
give Sunflower Diversified Services first rights to rent the apartments for
their clients. Sunflower helps children and adults with developmental disabilities. 
HOI purchased 24 acres of land from a group of local doctors that currently
sits out of city limits. Receiving funds and tax credits from the Kansas
Housing Resources Corporation, HOI recognized the tax rebate program is more
beneficial to stay within the county and not be annexed into Great Bend city
limits.&nbsp;

HOI Executive Director Callie Miller said HOI is
 not opposed to being annexed into the city limits but would prefer to 
stay in the township.

At a Great Bend City Council work session 
Monday night, there was question from the city council on developing 
housing from HOI, which receives discounted tax rates, meaning the city 
or county would not receive the full amount of property taxes.

Currently,
 the property is zoned for agriculture and brings in approximately 
$2,500 from property taxes each year. Once developed, the first phase of
 the project would generate more than $14,000 in property taxes if the 
lot is annexed into the city. A large pond used for drainage, roughly 
eight acres, would also collect taxes.

Miller discussed possibly tapping into the city’s utilities. One pushback
Miller received was a housing study for Great Bend showed more low-income
housing was not needed, but moderate-income housing was. "The 
moderate-income roles are a lot different," said Miller. "We can apply 
for and administer the low-income awards all on our own. Moderate income
 is required to go through a city or a county and you're capped at 
$600,000. It's not enough for an entire project. We may get two 
buildings out of that. We'd have to secure some other financing to make 
it work."

Miller noted potentially turning the second and third phases of development on the property into moderate-income housing. 
Another issue, is the lift station nearby the property pumping sewage
that the Cambridge Park development would need to connect to.
With a good portion of the west side of Great Bend connected to this lift station,
city officials were not certain the station could withstand the new
development. Great Bend agreed to spend $8,000 for a controller to be placed on
the pump to perform a study on its usage. 
Sunflower Interim Executive Director Shelby Zuniga said by Sunflower clients
moving into the low-income complex, the move would free up 15 rental houses in
town, including two large group homes on Eisenhower Avenue. 
"In the group home setting, the homes we own right now are two-story," 
said Zuniga. "A lot of the individuals are wheelchair bound. Having new 
facilities on one level is a huge benefit. The other homes in the 
community, some of the clients are living in very substandard 
conditions."

If Sunflower clients do not fill all the occupancies, other low-income qualifying community members could rent the units. The parties left the work session Monday night waiting to find out results from
the sanitary sewer study for the lift station.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

Listen below to the full discussion from the Great Bend City Council work session on HOI Cambridge Park on July 18.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658350787153.jpeg" alt="Twenty-four acres, east of The University of Kansas Health System - Great Bend Campus, is planned to turn into low-income housing developed by Housing Opportunities Inc." />
 <figcaption>Twenty-four acres, east of The University of Kansas Health System - Great Bend Campus, is planned to turn into low-income housing developed by Housing Opportunities Inc.</figcaption>
 </figure>By COLE REIF <a href="https://greatbendpost.com">Great Bend Post</a>GREAT BEND — Housing Opportunities Inc. publicly announced last October a new
housing development that was going to create a four-phase project directly east
of The University of Kansas Health System – Great Bend Campus and south of
Walmart.HOI announced receiving nearly $6 million from the Kansas
 Housing Resources Corporation for the project, referred to as Cambridge
 Park. 
Phase one of the development includes a 28-unit, low-income project that would
give Sunflower Diversified Services first rights to rent the apartments for
their clients. Sunflower helps children and adults with developmental disabilities. 
HOI purchased 24 acres of land from a group of local doctors that currently
sits out of city limits. Receiving funds and tax credits from the Kansas
Housing Resources Corporation, HOI recognized the tax rebate program is more
beneficial to stay within the county and not be annexed into Great Bend city
limits.&nbsp;HOI Executive Director Callie Miller said HOI is
 not opposed to being annexed into the city limits but would prefer to 
stay in the township.At a Great Bend City Council work session 
Monday night, there was question from the city council on developing 
housing from HOI, which receives discounted tax rates, meaning the city 
or county would not receive the full amount of property taxes.Currently,
 the property is zoned for agriculture and brings in approximately 
$2,500 from property taxes each year. Once developed, the first phase of
 the project would generate more than $14,000 in property taxes if the 
lot is annexed into the city. A large pond used for drainage, roughly 
eight acres, would also collect taxes.Miller discussed possibly tapping into the city’s utilities. One pushback
Miller received was a housing study for Great Bend showed more low-income
housing was not needed, but moderate-income housing was. "The 
moderate-income roles are a lot different," said Miller. "We can apply 
for and administer the low-income awards all on our own. Moderate income
 is required to go through a city or a county and you're capped at 
$600,000. It's not enough for an entire project. We may get two 
buildings out of that. We'd have to secure some other financing to make 
it work."Miller noted potentially turning the second and third phases of development on the property into moderate-income housing. 
Another issue, is the lift station nearby the property pumping sewage
that the Cambridge Park development would need to connect to.
With a good portion of the west side of Great Bend connected to this lift station,
city officials were not certain the station could withstand the new
development. Great Bend agreed to spend $8,000 for a controller to be placed on
the pump to perform a study on its usage. 
Sunflower Interim Executive Director Shelby Zuniga said by Sunflower clients
moving into the low-income complex, the move would free up 15 rental houses in
town, including two large group homes on Eisenhower Avenue. 
"In the group home setting, the homes we own right now are two-story," 
said Zuniga. "A lot of the individuals are wheelchair bound. Having new 
facilities on one level is a huge benefit. The other homes in the 
community, some of the clients are living in very substandard 
conditions."If Sunflower clients do not fill all the occupancies, other low-income qualifying community members could rent the units. The parties left the work session Monday night waiting to find out results from
the sanitary sewer study for the lift station.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Listen below to the full discussion from the Great Bend City Council work session on HOI Cambridge Park on July 18.<div><iframe width="100%" height="265" src="https://clyp.it/vqllh0n4/widget" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>

🎧Questions arise for low-income housing project in Great Bend

Holly Lynn Pommerehn, 42, departed this life July 15, 2022, in Wichita, 
Kansas. She was born December 25, 1979, in Hoxie, Kansas. She grew up 
surrounded with love from her parents, James and Kris (Beynon) 
Pommerehn, and her younger siblings: sister, Rebecca and brother, 
Jeffrey. They had a close bond that has lasted through the years. Like 
most, Holly engaged in wrestling with her sister and “fighting like 
siblings," to watching Jeffrey, usually with friends that he irritated 
to no end.  It was this type of bond Holly also had with her parents. 
Dad was constantly saving her from “the biggest spiders." And mom always
 trying to get her to play inside. 

But that was seldom where Holly 
wanted to be. She was an outdoor girl. Holly loved swimming, spending 
time at the lake, and car rides to Watertown, South Dakota to see 
family. On these trips she tested her parent’s patience, not stopping 
until their buttons were pushed. In later years she enjoyed camping any 
time she could get away. Although Holly loved spending time outdoors, 
she was always particular about her beautiful hair. In fact, before her 
flight to Wichita she told Ryan that all she needed to take was her 
shampoo.
 	Holly attended Hill City Grade and Middle School and graduated from
 Hill City High School. While in high school she participated in band, 
volleyball, track, and was the wrestling manager. She enjoyed playing 
softball during the summer. Throughout high school she worked at the 
Graham County Hospital as a nurse’s aide. For most of her life after 
high school she worked as a retail clerk.
 	October 13, 2001, Holly married William Ashbaugh and the couple had
 two daughters: Jacelynn and Braelynn. They later divorced. Holly met 
Joel Lemon, and they were married September 18, 2010. Joel adopted 
Holly’s daughters. In 2020, their marriage ended.
 	Holly’s daughters were her world and the joy of her life. She 
made each Christmas and birthday so very special. Holly was the mother 
all her daughter’s friends wished they had. At Christmas she made 
reindeer food with the girls which included oatmeal and lots of glitter.
 One Christmas the girls were surprised with new bikes. Holly barricaded
 their bedroom door so they would find them when they got up. Random 
texts and notes on their mirror were always a reminder of her love and 
constant support. 
 	Holly was preceded in death by her grandparents: Joyce McIntyre and
 Cleona and Gale “Boomer” Pommerehn.

Left to cherish her memory include 
her parents, Kris and James Pommerehn of Hill City; her significant 
other, Ryan Shaw of Oakley, Kansas; two daughters: Braelynn Lemon (Brent 
Kelley) of Hill City and Jacelynn Lemon of Bogue; a granddaughter Elly 
Kelley; her sister Rebecca Wilkie (Jesse) of Hays; her brother Jeffrey 
Pommerehn (Caci) of Hays; one nephew and three nieces. Although Holly is
 no longer with us, she will live forever in the hearts of those who 
loved her.&nbsp;

Click <a href="https://www.stinemetzfh.com/obituaries/Holly-Lynn-Pommerehn?obId=25373930#/obituaryInfo">HERE</a> for service details.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658347548940.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Holly Lynn Pommerehn, 42, departed this life July 15, 2022, in Wichita, 
Kansas. She was born December 25, 1979, in Hoxie, Kansas. She grew up 
surrounded with love from her parents, James and Kris (Beynon) 
Pommerehn, and her younger siblings: sister, Rebecca and brother, 
Jeffrey. They had a close bond that has lasted through the years. Like 
most, Holly engaged in wrestling with her sister and “fighting like 
siblings," to watching Jeffrey, usually with friends that he irritated 
to no end. It was this type of bond Holly also had with her parents. 
Dad was constantly saving her from “the biggest spiders." And mom always
 trying to get her to play inside. But that was seldom where Holly 
wanted to be. She was an outdoor girl. Holly loved swimming, spending 
time at the lake, and car rides to Watertown, South Dakota to see 
family. On these trips she tested her parent’s patience, not stopping 
until their buttons were pushed. In later years she enjoyed camping any 
time she could get away. Although Holly loved spending time outdoors, 
she was always particular about her beautiful hair. In fact, before her 
flight to Wichita she told Ryan that all she needed to take was her 
shampoo.
 	Holly attended Hill City Grade and Middle School and graduated from
 Hill City High School. While in high school she participated in band, 
volleyball, track, and was the wrestling manager. She enjoyed playing 
softball during the summer. Throughout high school she worked at the 
Graham County Hospital as a nurse’s aide. For most of her life after 
high school she worked as a retail clerk.
 	October 13, 2001, Holly married William Ashbaugh and the couple had
 two daughters: Jacelynn and Braelynn. They later divorced. Holly met 
Joel Lemon, and they were married September 18, 2010. Joel adopted 
Holly’s daughters. In 2020, their marriage ended.
 	Holly’s daughters were her world and the joy of her life. She 
made each Christmas and birthday so very special. Holly was the mother 
all her daughter’s friends wished they had. At Christmas she made 
reindeer food with the girls which included oatmeal and lots of glitter.
 One Christmas the girls were surprised with new bikes. Holly barricaded
 their bedroom door so they would find them when they got up. Random 
texts and notes on their mirror were always a reminder of her love and 
constant support. 
 	Holly was preceded in death by her grandparents: Joyce McIntyre and
 Cleona and Gale “Boomer” Pommerehn. Left to cherish her memory include 
her parents, Kris and James Pommerehn of Hill City; her significant 
other, Ryan Shaw of Oakley, Kansas; two daughters: Braelynn Lemon (Brent 
Kelley) of Hill City and Jacelynn Lemon of Bogue; a granddaughter Elly 
Kelley; her sister Rebecca Wilkie (Jesse) of Hays; her brother Jeffrey 
Pommerehn (Caci) of Hays; one nephew and three nieces. Although Holly is
 no longer with us, she will live forever in the hearts of those who 
loved her.&nbsp;Click <a href="https://www.stinemetzfh.com/obituaries/Holly-Lynn-Pommerehn?obId=25373930#/obituaryInfo">HERE</a> for service details.

Holly Lynn Pommerehn

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission is sending payments
 to 244,745 consumers in the U.S. and abroad who were defrauded by the 
Next-Gen sweepstakes scheme that affected consumers in dozens of 
countries, including the United States and Canada.

In total, the FTC is returning almost $25 million to affected consumers including many seniors. The FTC is sending:

The deadline for 
consumers to cash their checks or claim their PayPal payments is October
 17, 2022. Debit cards have a two-year expiration date and can be 
reissued without charge. Recipients
 who have questions about their refund should contact the refund 
administrator, Rust Consulting, at 1-833-721-2728 or 1-612-509-2644 or 
admin@nextgenrefund.com. The Commission never requires people to pay 
money or provide account information to get a refund.<a></a>

The FTC’s <a href="http://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/cases/next-gen_amended_complaint_9-25-18.pdf">2018 complaint</a> against <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/legal-library/browse/cases-proceedings/172-3133-x180023-next-gen-inc">the Next-Gen defendants</a>, filed jointly with the State of Missouri,
 charged Kevin Brandes, William Graham, C. Floyd Anderson, and 
corporations under their control with sending tens of millions of 
deceptive personalized mailers to consumers around the world since 2013.
 The defendants’ mailers falsely told recipients they had won or were 
likely to win a substantial cash prize, as much as $2 million, in 
exchange for a fee ranging from $9.00 to $139.99. Many consumers, 
including seniors, paid the defendants several times before realizing 
they had been scammed, according to the complaint.

The FTC appreciates the 
support provided in this case by the U.K. National Trading Standards 
Scams Team and our other international partners. Their assistance 
contributed to the success of the FTC’s case and helped ensure that 
victims worldwide benefit from this refund program. The FTC relied on 
key provisions of the U.S. SAFE WEB Act, which allows the FTC to share 
information with foreign counterparts to combat deceptive and unfair 
practices that cross national borders.

The FTC’s <a href="http://www.ftc.gov/now-leaving?external_url=https%3A%2F%2Fpublic.tableau.com%2Fprofile%2Ffederal.trade.commission%23!%2Fvizhome%2FRefunds_15797958402020%2FRefundsbyCase&amp;back_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ftc.gov%2Fnews-events%2Fnews%2Fpress-releases%2F2022%2F06%2Ffederal-trade-commission-returns-more-54-million-consumers">interactive dashboards for refund data</a>&nbsp;provide
 country and state level data about refunds in FTC cases. In 2021, 
Commission actions led to more than $472 million in refunds to consumers
 across the country, but these refunds were the result of cases resolved
 before the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2021 that the Commission lacks 
authority under Section 13(b) to seek monetary relief in federal court 
going forward. The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2021/04/ftc-asks-congress-pass-legislation-reviving-agencys-authority">Commission has urged Congress</a>&nbsp;to restore the Commission’s ability to get money back for consumers.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1619632629588.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>FTCThe U.S. Federal Trade Commission is sending payments
 to 244,745 consumers in the U.S. and abroad who were defrauded by the 
Next-Gen sweepstakes scheme that affected consumers in dozens of 
countries, including the United States and Canada.In total, the FTC is returning almost $25 million to affected consumers including many seniors. The FTC is sending:<ul>
 <li>221,687 checks totaling $19,180,753 to U.S. and Canadian consumers;</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>3,516 prepaid Mastercard debit cards totaling $631,322 to 
consumers in the United Kingdom, which will be hand-delivered by U.K. 
National Trading Standards, a consumer protection and business 
safeguards organization; and</li><li>19,542 letters to consumers in 
more than 50 different countries explaining how they can claim their 
payments via PayPal, which total $4,696,242.</li>
 </ul>The deadline for 
consumers to cash their checks or claim their PayPal payments is October
 17, 2022. Debit cards have a two-year expiration date and can be 
reissued without charge. Recipients
 who have questions about their refund should contact the refund 
administrator, Rust Consulting, at 1-833-721-2728 or 1-612-509-2644 or 
admin@nextgenrefund.com. The Commission never requires people to pay 
money or provide account information to get a refund.<a></a>The FTC’s <a href="http://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/cases/next-gen_amended_complaint_9-25-18.pdf">2018 complaint</a> against <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/legal-library/browse/cases-proceedings/172-3133-x180023-next-gen-inc">the Next-Gen defendants</a>, filed jointly with the State of Missouri,
 charged Kevin Brandes, William Graham, C. Floyd Anderson, and 
corporations under their control with sending tens of millions of 
deceptive personalized mailers to consumers around the world since 2013.
 The defendants’ mailers falsely told recipients they had won or were 
likely to win a substantial cash prize, as much as $2 million, in 
exchange for a fee ranging from $9.00 to $139.99. Many consumers, 
including seniors, paid the defendants several times before realizing 
they had been scammed, according to the complaint.The FTC appreciates the 
support provided in this case by the U.K. National Trading Standards 
Scams Team and our other international partners. Their assistance 
contributed to the success of the FTC’s case and helped ensure that 
victims worldwide benefit from this refund program. The FTC relied on 
key provisions of the U.S. SAFE WEB Act, which allows the FTC to share 
information with foreign counterparts to combat deceptive and unfair 
practices that cross national borders.The FTC’s <a href="http://www.ftc.gov/now-leaving?external_url=https%3A%2F%2Fpublic.tableau.com%2Fprofile%2Ffederal.trade.commission%23!%2Fvizhome%2FRefunds_15797958402020%2FRefundsbyCase&amp;back_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ftc.gov%2Fnews-events%2Fnews%2Fpress-releases%2F2022%2F06%2Ffederal-trade-commission-returns-more-54-million-consumers">interactive dashboards for refund data</a>&nbsp;provide
 country and state level data about refunds in FTC cases. In 2021, 
Commission actions led to more than $472 million in refunds to consumers
 across the country, but these refunds were the result of cases resolved
 before the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2021 that the Commission lacks 
authority under Section 13(b) to seek monetary relief in federal court 
going forward. The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2021/04/ftc-asks-congress-pass-legislation-reviving-agencys-authority">Commission has urged Congress</a>&nbsp;to restore the Commission’s ability to get money back for consumers.

FTC: Sweepstakes scheme victims being sent $25M worldwide

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service is reminding the estimated 
19 million taxpayers who requested an extension to file their 2021 tax 
return that they don't have to wait until mid-October to file. If a 
taxpayer has all the necessary information to file an accurate return, 
they can file electronically at any time before the October deadline and
 avoid a last-minute rush to file.

Taxpayers who requested more time to file an accurate return have 
until October 17, 2022. Those who have what they need to file, however, 
should file as soon as possible to avoid delays in processing their 
return.

Taxpayers who have questions can get help with most tax issues online or by phone. The IRS.gov website has free and easy to use <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/telephone-assistance">online tools and resources</a>
 to help taxpayers get answers 24 hours a day. Voice bots help callers 
navigate interactive voice responses to simple payment or notice 
questions, and quickly get responses to <a href="https://www.irs.gov/faqs">Frequently Asked Questions</a>.

The <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/ita">Interactive Tax Assistant</a>
 is a tool that provides answers to several tax law questions specific 
to individual circumstances based on input. It can determine if an 
individual must file a tax return, their filing status, if they can 
claim a dependent, if an income type is taxable, and their eligibility 
to claim a credit or deduct certain expenses.

The IRS advises individuals who still need to file a 2021 tax return to&nbsp;file electronically&nbsp;and, if due a refund, to choose&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/refunds/get-your-refund-faster-tell-irs-to-direct-deposit-your-refund-to-one-two-or-three-accounts">direct deposit</a>.

Filing electronically is fast, accurate and secure, and when an 
individual chooses direct deposit, their refund goes directly from the 
IRS into their bank or financial account getting them their refund in 
the fastest time possible. If they have a prepaid debit card, they may 
be able to have their refund applied to the card by providing the 
account and routing number to the IRS. The IRS processes most e-filed 
returns and issues direct deposit refunds in less than 21 days.

Eligible individuals can use the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free">IRS Free File program</a>
 to prepare and file their 2021 federal tax return for free. Taxpayers 
can choose the brand-name tax preparation software company that is best 
for them. Some even offer free state tax return preparation. Those who 
earned more than $73,000 have the option to use <a href="https://www.irs.gov/e-file-providers/free-file-fillable-forms">IRS Free File Fillable Forms</a>.

<a href="https://www.militaryonesource.mil/miltax-software/">MilTax online software</a>&nbsp;is
 also available for members of the military and certain veterans, 
regardless of income. This software is offered through the Department of
 Defense. Eligible taxpayers can use MilTax to prepare and 
electronically file their federal tax returns and up to three state 
returns for free.

The IRS's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program offers free 
basic tax return preparation to people who generally make $58,000 or 
less and people with disabilities or limited English-speaking taxpayers.
 While the majority of these sites are only open through the end of the 
filing season, taxpayers can use the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/free-tax-return-preparation-for-qualifying-taxpayers">VITA Site Locator</a> tool to see if there's a community-based site staffed by IRS-trained and certified volunteers still open near them.

There are also various types of tax return preparers who can help, 
including certified public accountants, enrolled agents, attorneys and 
others who don't have a professional credential.

Taxpayers should <a href="https://www.irs.gov/tax-professionals/choosing-a-tax-professional">choose a tax preparer</a> wisely. For individuals who want help with their taxes, the IRS <a href="https://irs.treasury.gov/rpo/rpo.jsf">online directory</a> can assist in finding a tax professional in their area.

The IRS sends correspondence to a taxpayer's last known address, 
usually the address from their most recently filed tax return. If the 
taxpayer moves and does not send a change of address to the IRS, they 
may not receive an IRS notice and could miss the deadline to respond.

There's no penalty for not filing a return if due a refund, but 
there's also no statute of limitations for assessing and collecting 
taxes due if no return has been filed.

Interest is charged on any tax not paid by the April due date and 
will accrue until paid in full. Individual taxpayers are charged the 
federal short-term interest rate plus 3 percentage points, currently 5% 
per year, compounded daily. Penalties will accrue for each month tax 
remains unpaid until maxed out at 25% of the unpaid tax.

Submitting a tax return and paying any amount owed as soon as possible can help taxpayers avoid further interest and penalties.

Taxpayers who owe taxes can review all <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments">payment options online</a>. These include paying taxes through an <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/your-online-account">Online Account</a> with <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/direct-pay">IRS Direct Pay</a> or paying by <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/pay-your-taxes-by-debit-or-credit-card">debit card, credit card or digital wallet</a>. The IRS has <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/what-if-i-cant-pay-my-taxes">options for people who can't pay their taxes</a>, including <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/online-payment-agreement-application">applying for a payment plan</a> on IRS.gov.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service is reminding the estimated 
19 million taxpayers who requested an extension to file their 2021 tax 
return that they don't have to wait until mid-October to file. If a 
taxpayer has all the necessary information to file an accurate return, 
they can file electronically at any time before the October deadline and
 avoid a last-minute rush to file.Taxpayers who requested more time to file an accurate return have 
until October 17, 2022. Those who have what they need to file, however, 
should file as soon as possible to avoid delays in processing their 
return.Taxpayers who have questions can get help with most tax issues online or by phone. The IRS.gov website has free and easy to use <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/telephone-assistance">online tools and resources</a>
 to help taxpayers get answers 24 hours a day. Voice bots help callers 
navigate interactive voice responses to simple payment or notice 
questions, and quickly get responses to <a href="https://www.irs.gov/faqs">Frequently Asked Questions</a>.The <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/ita">Interactive Tax Assistant</a>
 is a tool that provides answers to several tax law questions specific 
to individual circumstances based on input. It can determine if an 
individual must file a tax return, their filing status, if they can 
claim a dependent, if an income type is taxable, and their eligibility 
to claim a credit or deduct certain expenses.<h2>Electronic filing options</h2>The IRS advises individuals who still need to file a 2021 tax return to&nbsp;file electronically&nbsp;and, if due a refund, to choose&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/refunds/get-your-refund-faster-tell-irs-to-direct-deposit-your-refund-to-one-two-or-three-accounts">direct deposit</a>.Filing electronically is fast, accurate and secure, and when an 
individual chooses direct deposit, their refund goes directly from the 
IRS into their bank or financial account getting them their refund in 
the fastest time possible. If they have a prepaid debit card, they may 
be able to have their refund applied to the card by providing the 
account and routing number to the IRS. The IRS processes most e-filed 
returns and issues direct deposit refunds in less than 21 days.Eligible individuals can use the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free">IRS Free File program</a>
 to prepare and file their 2021 federal tax return for free. Taxpayers 
can choose the brand-name tax preparation software company that is best 
for them. Some even offer free state tax return preparation. Those who 
earned more than $73,000 have the option to use <a href="https://www.irs.gov/e-file-providers/free-file-fillable-forms">IRS Free File Fillable Forms</a>.<a href="https://www.militaryonesource.mil/miltax-software/">MilTax online software</a>&nbsp;is
 also available for members of the military and certain veterans, 
regardless of income. This software is offered through the Department of
 Defense. Eligible taxpayers can use MilTax to prepare and 
electronically file their federal tax returns and up to three state 
returns for free.<h2>Volunteer Income Tax Assistance</h2>The IRS's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program offers free 
basic tax return preparation to people who generally make $58,000 or 
less and people with disabilities or limited English-speaking taxpayers.
 While the majority of these sites are only open through the end of the 
filing season, taxpayers can use the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/free-tax-return-preparation-for-qualifying-taxpayers">VITA Site Locator</a> tool to see if there's a community-based site staffed by IRS-trained and certified volunteers still open near them.<h2>Tax professionals</h2>There are also various types of tax return preparers who can help, 
including certified public accountants, enrolled agents, attorneys and 
others who don't have a professional credential.Taxpayers should <a href="https://www.irs.gov/tax-professionals/choosing-a-tax-professional">choose a tax preparer</a> wisely. For individuals who want help with their taxes, the IRS <a href="https://irs.treasury.gov/rpo/rpo.jsf">online directory</a> can assist in finding a tax professional in their area.<h2>Get current on taxes</h2>The IRS sends correspondence to a taxpayer's last known address, 
usually the address from their most recently filed tax return. If the 
taxpayer moves and does not send a change of address to the IRS, they 
may not receive an IRS notice and could miss the deadline to respond.There's no penalty for not filing a return if due a refund, but 
there's also no statute of limitations for assessing and collecting 
taxes due if no return has been filed.Interest is charged on any tax not paid by the April due date and 
will accrue until paid in full. Individual taxpayers are charged the 
federal short-term interest rate plus 3 percentage points, currently 5% 
per year, compounded daily. Penalties will accrue for each month tax 
remains unpaid until maxed out at 25% of the unpaid tax.Submitting a tax return and paying any amount owed as soon as possible can help taxpayers avoid further interest and penalties.Taxpayers who owe taxes can review all <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments">payment options online</a>. These include paying taxes through an <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/your-online-account">Online Account</a> with <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/direct-pay">IRS Direct Pay</a> or paying by <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/pay-your-taxes-by-debit-or-credit-card">debit card, credit card or digital wallet</a>. The IRS has <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/what-if-i-cant-pay-my-taxes">options for people who can't pay their taxes</a>, including <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/online-payment-agreement-application">applying for a payment plan</a> on IRS.gov.

File a federal tax extension? Don't wait until Oct. 17, IRS urges

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22MARK%20PRATT%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By MARK PRATT Associated Press</a>

The company that makes some of the world's most iconic board games including Scrabble, Monopoly, and Clue is developing a new one based on Wordle, the obsessively popular digital word-guessing game.

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22MARK%20PRATT%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By MARK PRATT Associated Press</a>The company that makes some of the world's most iconic board games including Scrabble, Monopoly, and Clue is developing a new one based on Wordle, the obsessively popular digital word-guessing game.Hasbro Inc. and The New York Times —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-york-times-buys-wordle-c1e77bd65f21464f98f8cf4246457d6b">which purchased Wordle earlier this year</a>&nbsp;— announced Thursday that Wordle: The Party Game will be available for purchase in North America in October, with preorders already being accepted.“Since Wordle burst onto the scene, it’s undoubtedly been a staple in social and pop culture vocabulary,” Adam Biehl, Pawtucket, Rhode Island-based Hasbro's general manager of gaming said in a statement. “We’re beyond thrilled to work with New York Times Games to bring our gaming worlds together and extend Wordle in new ways.”In the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/games/wordle/index.html">free online version</a>, players get six tries to guess a five-letter word with only the previous guess providing clues.The appeal is its ease of play. Start by typing in a five-letter word. If a square turns green, it's the right letter in the right place. If it turns yellow, the letter is in the word but in the incorrect spot. Gray squares mean the letters are not in that day's word.The drawback is that it can only be played once per day.The board game will give players the opportunity to play against others, and play as much as they want.One player picks a random five-letter word, and the others try to guess it.There will also be multiple play options, including classic, fast, timed, or teams, Hasbro and New York Times Games said.Wordle was created by Josh Wardle, a Brooklyn software engineer. He originally made it for his partner, but released it to the public in October. On Nov. 1, only 90 people had played it. Within two months, that number had grown to 300,000 as the addictive phenomenon spread rapidly on social media.New York Times Games announced in January that it had purchased the game for an undisclosed price it described as the “low-seven figures,” and it now has millions of players per day.“Wordle truly brought us all together and that’s what makes it so special," said Jonathan Knight, head of Games for The New York Times.