Jeane Carol Laizure Smith, 94, of Manhattan, KS, passed away on August 
10, 2022. Jeane was born July 9, 1928, in Gorham, Kansas, to the late 
Clarence and Nellie Laizure.
 Jeane married the love of her life, Donald Smith, on October 31, 
1948. She retired from Kansas State University in December 1987 
performing accountant work for several departments. Jeane and Don made 
their home primarily in Hays and Norton, until moving to Manhattan in 
1968. Jeane graduated from Hays High School and attended Ft. Hays State 
University and graduated from Kansas State University. Jeane and Don 
were avid RVers and were members of the Man-Kan Campers Club. Jeane and 
Don were snowbirds enjoying winters in Mission, Texas with their 
friends. Happy Birthday, grandma, as Jeane was known to her children 
and grandchildren, always called on their birthdays singing the song in 
her wonderful voice. Jeane loved the traditions and preparations for all
 holidays which the family will cherish forever.
 Jeane followed Don, her husband of 72 years, in death. She is 
survived by: her son; Richard "Dick" (Kimberly Briggs) Smith of Lenexa, 
KS; daughters, Linda Smith (Timothy) Duncan of Fort Collins, CO; and 
Janet Smith (Tad) Wicker of Norton, KS; nine grandchildren; Charisse 
Wilson (Larry) Powell, Laura Duncan, Mandy Welch, Bethany Wicker, Matt 
(Crissy) Duncan, Elizabeth Smith (Scott) Hammack, Karen Duncan (Dennis 
Bigelow), Christina Smith (Brian) Geiger, and William (Kelly) Smith; 17 
great-grandchildren; Sam, Miles, Jack, Henry, Adam, Lizzie, Charlie, 
Moira, Leylen, Toren, Timothy, Trent, Grace, Jacob, Jenna, Ethan, and 
Elias; a sister; Karen Laizure Frydendall, brothers and sisters in law. 
“Aunt Jeannie” is survived lovingly by numerous nieces and nephews.
 Jeane's deep love for her entire family and total devotion to her 
husband Don will be remembered by all. Jeane is preceded in death by 
her parents, four sisters, and one brother.
 The visitation will be held on August 20, 2022, between the hours of
 9:00 and 10:30 am. A private graveside service will follow. A luncheon
 will be served at the American Legion. Arrive after 10:30 and lunch 
will be served at 12. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to 
the Friends of Tuttle Creek State Park, Inc.

Carlson's Irvin-Parkview Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660759045342.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Jeane Carol Laizure Smith, 94, of Manhattan, KS, passed away on August 
10, 2022. Jeane was born July 9, 1928, in Gorham, Kansas, to the late 
Clarence and Nellie Laizure.
 Jeane married the love of her life, Donald Smith, on October 31, 
1948. She retired from Kansas State University in December 1987 
performing accountant work for several departments. Jeane and Don made 
their home primarily in Hays and Norton, until moving to Manhattan in 
1968. Jeane graduated from Hays High School and attended Ft. Hays State 
University and graduated from Kansas State University. Jeane and Don 
were avid RVers and were members of the Man-Kan Campers Club. Jeane and 
Don were snowbirds enjoying winters in Mission, Texas with their 
friends. Happy Birthday, grandma, as Jeane was known to her children 
and grandchildren, always called on their birthdays singing the song in 
her wonderful voice. Jeane loved the traditions and preparations for all
 holidays which the family will cherish forever.
 Jeane followed Don, her husband of 72 years, in death. She is 
survived by: her son; Richard "Dick" (Kimberly Briggs) Smith of Lenexa, 
KS; daughters, Linda Smith (Timothy) Duncan of Fort Collins, CO; and 
Janet Smith (Tad) Wicker of Norton, KS; nine grandchildren; Charisse 
Wilson (Larry) Powell, Laura Duncan, Mandy Welch, Bethany Wicker, Matt 
(Crissy) Duncan, Elizabeth Smith (Scott) Hammack, Karen Duncan (Dennis 
Bigelow), Christina Smith (Brian) Geiger, and William (Kelly) Smith; 17 
great-grandchildren; Sam, Miles, Jack, Henry, Adam, Lizzie, Charlie, 
Moira, Leylen, Toren, Timothy, Trent, Grace, Jacob, Jenna, Ethan, and 
Elias; a sister; Karen Laizure Frydendall, brothers and sisters in law. 
“Aunt Jeannie” is survived lovingly by numerous nieces and nephews.
 Jeane's deep love for her entire family and total devotion to her 
husband Don will be remembered by all. Jeane is preceded in death by 
her parents, four sisters, and one brother.
 The visitation will be held on August 20, 2022, between the hours of
 9:00 and 10:30 am. A private graveside service will follow. A luncheon
 will be served at the American Legion. Arrive after 10:30 and lunch 
will be served at 12. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to 
the Friends of Tuttle Creek State Park, Inc.Carlson's Irvin-Parkview Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Jeane Carol Laizure Smith

James Anthony Nevins, 43, of Salina, Kansas, passed away Saturday, August 6, in Moundridge, Kansas. 
 James was born in Hutchinson, Kansas on January 17, 1979, a son of 
Donald Ray Nevins, of Mankato, Kansas and the late Carolyn D. (Barnes) 
Cashman.
 On October 20, 2008, James married Sadetthong “Sally” Keopine in Salina, Kansas.
 James was a triplet and liked to play jokes on people by pretending 
to be one of the other triplet brothers. He was also an avid Raiders 
football fan and loved fishing and camping. James was a retired member 
of the Army National Guard and served two deployments to Iraq. James 
had many ventures through the years but his most successful endeavors 
were Trade Craft Clothing line and MJ Tackle. Above all, along with 
the Lord, his wife and kids were his ultimate mission in life. 
 He was preceded in death by his mother, Carolyn; grandparents, Helen
 and Paul Barnes; grandparents, Carl and Arnetta Nevins and 
father-in-law, Khamvane Sayasing.
 James is survived by his wife, Sadetthong “Sally” Nevins, daughter, 
Brandy Archer (Kyle) of Girard, Kansas; two sons, Christian and Jayden 
Nevins of Salina, Kansas; brothers, Mark Nevins (Melinda) of Hoxie, 
Kansas and Matthew Nevins (Penny) of Concordia, Kansas; sisters, 
Jennifer Severson (Todd) of Racine, Wisconsin and Melissa Poe (Kara) of 
Hutchinson, Kansas; uncles, David Nevins of Hutchinson, Kansas and Kevin
 Nevins of Wichita, Kansas; and aunt, Traci Nevins of Russell, Kansas.
 Visitation will be held 10:00 am - 2:00 pm, Thursday, August 18, at
 Carlson - Geisendorf Funeral Home &amp; Crematory in Salina, Kansas.
 Funeral service will be held at 2:00 pm, Thursday, August 18, at the funeral home with Pastor Keith Akers officiating.
 Burial will be held at 1:00 pm, Thursday, August 25, at Mt. Olive Cemetery, Bogue, Kansas.
 Donations may be made to Sadetthong Nevins for expenses, in care of the funeral home.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660740286773.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>James Anthony Nevins, 43, of Salina, Kansas, passed away Saturday, August 6, in Moundridge, Kansas. 
 James was born in Hutchinson, Kansas on January 17, 1979, a son of 
Donald Ray Nevins, of Mankato, Kansas and the late Carolyn D. (Barnes) 
Cashman.
 On October 20, 2008, James married Sadetthong “Sally” Keopine in Salina, Kansas.
 James was a triplet and liked to play jokes on people by pretending 
to be one of the other triplet brothers. He was also an avid Raiders 
football fan and loved fishing and camping. James was a retired member 
of the Army National Guard and served two deployments to Iraq. James 
had many ventures through the years but his most successful endeavors 
were Trade Craft Clothing line and MJ Tackle. Above all, along with 
the Lord, his wife and kids were his ultimate mission in life. 
 He was preceded in death by his mother, Carolyn; grandparents, Helen
 and Paul Barnes; grandparents, Carl and Arnetta Nevins and 
father-in-law, Khamvane Sayasing.
 James is survived by his wife, Sadetthong “Sally” Nevins, daughter, 
Brandy Archer (Kyle) of Girard, Kansas; two sons, Christian and Jayden 
Nevins of Salina, Kansas; brothers, Mark Nevins (Melinda) of Hoxie, 
Kansas and Matthew Nevins (Penny) of Concordia, Kansas; sisters, 
Jennifer Severson (Todd) of Racine, Wisconsin and Melissa Poe (Kara) of 
Hutchinson, Kansas; uncles, David Nevins of Hutchinson, Kansas and Kevin
 Nevins of Wichita, Kansas; and aunt, Traci Nevins of Russell, Kansas.
 Visitation will be held 10:00 am - 2:00 pm, Thursday, August 18, at
 Carlson - Geisendorf Funeral Home &amp; Crematory in Salina, Kansas.
 Funeral service will be held at 2:00 pm, Thursday, August 18, at the funeral home with Pastor Keith Akers officiating.
 Burial will be held at 1:00 pm, Thursday, August 25, at Mt. Olive Cemetery, Bogue, Kansas.
 Donations may be made to Sadetthong Nevins for expenses, in care of the funeral home.&nbsp;&nbsp;

James Anthony Nevins

Steve W. Gossman, age 72, passed away on Tuesday, August 16, 2022, at
 his home in Scott City, Kansas.&nbsp; He was born on May 4, 1950, in Garden 
City, Kansas, the son of Charles and Irene Withorn Gossman.&nbsp; A resident 
of Scott County, Kansas since 1984 moving from the family farm in Finney
 County, Kansas, he was a retired truck driver and farmer.

He was of the Christian faith and was a Boy Scout Leader.

On October 10, 1977, he married Veta Oyler in Eads, Colorado.&nbsp; She survives.

Survivors include his Wife - Veta Gossman of Scott City, Kansas, 
Three Sons - Clint &amp; Anne Gossman of Scott City, Kansas, Justin 
&amp; Tasha Gossman of Scott City, Kansas, Tyler Gossman of Salina, 
Kansas, Two Daughters - Charlotte Latta of Scott City, Kansas, Laura 
Hickert of Scott City, Kansas,&nbsp; One Brother - Gerald &amp; Norma Gossman
 of Garden City, Kansas, Twenty One Grandchildren, and Nine Great 
Grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his Parents, One Son - Jeremy Gossman, and Two Brothers - Larry Gossman and Garry Gossman.

Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 p.m, Friday, August 19, 2022, 
at the First Baptist Church in Scott City, Kansas with Pastor Don 
Williams presiding.&nbsp; Funeral services will be live streamed starting at 
1:55 p.m. at www.priceandsons.com.

Visitation will be from 2:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, and 
10:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. Thursday at Price &amp; Sons Funeral Home, 
401 S. Washington St., Scott City, Kansas, 67871.

Memorials in Lieu Of Flowers may be written to the Steve Gossman 
Memorial Fund in care of Price &amp; Sons Funeral Home, PO Box 553, 
Scott City, Kansas, 67871.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660740077405.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Steve W. Gossman, age 72, passed away on Tuesday, August 16, 2022, at
 his home in Scott City, Kansas.&nbsp; He was born on May 4, 1950, in Garden 
City, Kansas, the son of Charles and Irene Withorn Gossman.&nbsp; A resident 
of Scott County, Kansas since 1984 moving from the family farm in Finney
 County, Kansas, he was a retired truck driver and farmer.He was of the Christian faith and was a Boy Scout Leader.On October 10, 1977, he married Veta Oyler in Eads, Colorado.&nbsp; She survives.Survivors include his Wife - Veta Gossman of Scott City, Kansas, 
Three Sons - Clint &amp; Anne Gossman of Scott City, Kansas, Justin 
&amp; Tasha Gossman of Scott City, Kansas, Tyler Gossman of Salina, 
Kansas, Two Daughters - Charlotte Latta of Scott City, Kansas, Laura 
Hickert of Scott City, Kansas,&nbsp; One Brother - Gerald &amp; Norma Gossman
 of Garden City, Kansas, Twenty One Grandchildren, and Nine Great 
Grandchildren.He was preceded in death by his Parents, One Son - Jeremy Gossman, and Two Brothers - Larry Gossman and Garry Gossman.Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 p.m, Friday, August 19, 2022, 
at the First Baptist Church in Scott City, Kansas with Pastor Don 
Williams presiding.&nbsp; Funeral services will be live streamed starting at 
1:55 p.m. at www.priceandsons.com.Visitation will be from 2:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, and 
10:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. Thursday at Price &amp; Sons Funeral Home, 
401 S. Washington St., Scott City, Kansas, 67871.Memorials in Lieu Of Flowers may be written to the Steve Gossman 
Memorial Fund in care of Price &amp; Sons Funeral Home, PO Box 553, 
Scott City, Kansas, 67871.

Steve W. Gossman

By NICK GOLTZ <a href="https://theconversation.com/from-watering-via-ice-cubes-to-spritzing-with-hydrogen-peroxide-4-misguided-plant-health-trends-on-social-media-184423">The Conversation</a>

The internet is full of advice on just about everything, including plant care.

As the <a href="https://plant.lab.uconn.edu/">director of a plant diagnostic laboratory</a>
 and expert on plant medicine, I help people manage their plants’ 
health. Here are four trends I’ve seen online recently that have stood 
out as being especially misleading or potentially damaging to plants.

Watering orchids and other plants with ice cubes

Multiple sites claim ice cubes can be used to give orchids a “just 
right” amount of water. The fact is tropical plants hate cold 
temperatures. Leaving <a href="http://www.ladybug.uconn.edu/FactSheets/house-plants---growing-.php">ice near an orchid’s roots may damage them</a>.

Nearly all houseplants, including orchids, will prefer lukewarm or 
room temperature water, about 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees 
Celsius). Use fact sheets from educational institutions and reputable 
organizations to determine the correct amount of water and watering 
schedule for the types of plants you’re growing, and then set a reminder
 on your phone. 

Use a potting medium that drains well and quickly. For orchids, <a href="https://www.aos.org/orchids/orchid-care/what-is-the-best-potting-media.aspx">a mix of bark chips and sphagnum moss is much better</a> than 100% soil or coco coir.

Many campaigns have sprung up recently promoting “<a href="https://beecityusa.org/no-mow-may/">No Mow May</a>.”
 The idea is to delay regular mowing for the month of May to provide 
more feeding sites for pollinators, which are trying to shore up 
calories after their winter hibernation.

Unfortunately, this practice usually does not benefit pollinators and could damage your lawn’s health. Here’s why:

Mowing more than 30% of a grass leaf at once is never a good idea. 
Grasses depend on their blades to photosynthesize and meet their energy 
needs. When more than 30% is lost at once, the plants may not have 
enough remaining leaf surface area to photosynthesize properly.

Overgrown lawns have overgrown root systems, which require more energy. Failure to provide it leads to <a href="https://hgic.clemson.edu/mowing-height-matters/">increased susceptibility to disease</a>, poor water management and potential collapse. Such damage is pretty much unavoidable after a monthlong “no mow” period.

Few lawns actually contain enough flowers to be beneficial to 
pollinators, anyway. For many people, the “perfect lawn” is an 
unwavering green carpet. But that uniformity is useless to bees and 
other pollinators that require <a href="https://www.epa.gov/pollinator-protection/what-you-can-do-protect-honey-bees-and-other-pollinators">pollen and nectar that other plants can provide</a>.

It’s great to <a href="https://www.epa.gov/pollinator-protection/what-you-can-do-protect-honey-bees-and-other-pollinators">prioritize pollinator health</a>,
 but the “no mow” trend is best implemented in prairie, field and 
wetland environments, where there is a lot of plant diversity and 
flowering plants.

If you’re looking to support pollinator health in your own yard, <a href="https://www.nwf.org/NativePlantFinder">plant native wildflowers</a>
 that pollinators will actually want to visit. Most require less water 
and management compared to grass lawns. Replace your entire lawn or even
 a small strip. Any amount of lawn replaced is beneficial – and will 
save you water and money.

Make sure not to mow the wildflowers until they’ve finished 
flowering. A wildflower patch usually only needs to be cut once or twice
 a year. Mowing after the last frost in early spring will spread the 
previous year’s seeds and <a href="https://extension.psu.edu/planting-pollinator-friendly-gardens">provide a home for insects to spend the winter</a>.

Using hydrogen peroxide to ‘cure’ plant diseases

Hydrogen peroxide <a href="https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Hydrogen-peroxide">does sterilize surfaces and can reduce bacteria and some fungi</a>.
 But the rapid reaction that gives hydrogen peroxide its sterilizing 
properties occurs almost immediately after coming in contact with other 
compounds. This does not permit hydrogen peroxide to move throughout a 
plant.

So most pathogens – the organisms that cause disease – will not be 
affected if they are in a plant’s tissues rather than on its exterior. 
Applying hydrogen peroxide excessively or improperly may even <a href="https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Hydrogen-peroxide">make plant health issues worse</a> by drying surfaces and killing beneficial microbes.

While there is certainly a time and place for sterilizing surfaces in
 plant care – like with your pruners and propagation tools – the best 
defense against plant diseases is proper care. 

Water your plants only when necessary and provide proper light and 
nutrition. Research what your plant likes best from educational 
institutions or other reputable sources. Routine pruning to increase 
airflow, proper plant spacing, avoiding single-crop planting and crop 
rotation are just some examples of chemical-free techniques to <a href="https://ipm.cahnr.uconn.edu/">reduce plant stress and decrease disease susceptibility</a>.

Many apps exist that use photographs submitted by the user to identify plant diseases and offer solutions. 

The truth is, to diagnose most plant diseases, a scientist needs to 
culture plant tissue to correctly identify pathogens. Only after an 
accurate diagnosis <a href="https://apsjournals.apsnet.org/journal/pdis">can they recommend management solutions</a>.
 I have a pretty strong opinion here, since disease identification is 
what I do every day. Plant symptoms that accompany one disease may be 
practically identical to those of another.

For example, herbicide exposure, viruses, insect feeding and fungal 
infections can all cause twisted and deformed leaves. To properly 
diagnose an issue, the plant’s own history, location, site history, time
 of year and other factors need to be considered before I can take a 
guess as to what may be contributing to symptoms. 

Don’t rely on an app to guess at what disease your plant may have – 
and don’t act on bogus recommendations. Instead, reach out to your local
 university diagnostic lab or extension office for support. 

Not sure where to go? Start with the <a href="https://www.npdn.org/lab_directory">National Plant Diagnostic Network’s lab directory</a>.
 Many, including mine, offer free consultations and recommendations. If 
you end up submitting a sample to a diagnostic lab, most are affordable –
 my lab’s fee is US$20 – and will be worthwhile, especially when you 
consider the cost of replacing the plant with something that could 
eventually have the same issue.

Nick Goltz is an Assistant Extension Educator and Director at the UConn Plant Diagnostic Laboratory, University of Connecticut.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660678338783.jpg" alt="Image courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By NICK GOLTZ <a href="https://theconversation.com/from-watering-via-ice-cubes-to-spritzing-with-hydrogen-peroxide-4-misguided-plant-health-trends-on-social-media-184423">The Conversation</a>The internet is full of advice on just about everything, including plant care.As the <a href="https://plant.lab.uconn.edu/">director of a plant diagnostic laboratory</a>
 and expert on plant medicine, I help people manage their plants’ 
health. Here are four trends I’ve seen online recently that have stood 
out as being especially misleading or potentially damaging to plants. <h2>Watering orchids and other plants with ice cubes</h2>Multiple sites claim ice cubes can be used to give orchids a “just 
right” amount of water. The fact is tropical plants hate cold 
temperatures. Leaving <a href="http://www.ladybug.uconn.edu/FactSheets/house-plants---growing-.php">ice near an orchid’s roots may damage them</a>.<figure>
 <iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_AA2Kt72DQg"></iframe>
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Nearly all houseplants, including orchids, will prefer lukewarm or 
room temperature water, about 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees 
Celsius). Use fact sheets from educational institutions and reputable 
organizations to determine the correct amount of water and watering 
schedule for the types of plants you’re growing, and then set a reminder
 on your phone. Use a potting medium that drains well and quickly. For orchids, <a href="https://www.aos.org/orchids/orchid-care/what-is-the-best-potting-media.aspx">a mix of bark chips and sphagnum moss is much better</a> than 100% soil or coco coir. <h2>‘No Mow May’</h2>Many campaigns have sprung up recently promoting “<a href="https://beecityusa.org/no-mow-may/">No Mow May</a>.”
 The idea is to delay regular mowing for the month of May to provide 
more feeding sites for pollinators, which are trying to shore up 
calories after their winter hibernation.Unfortunately, this practice usually does not benefit pollinators and could damage your lawn’s health. Here’s why:Mowing more than 30% of a grass leaf at once is never a good idea. 
Grasses depend on their blades to photosynthesize and meet their energy 
needs. When more than 30% is lost at once, the plants may not have 
enough remaining leaf surface area to photosynthesize properly.Overgrown lawns have overgrown root systems, which require more energy. Failure to provide it leads to <a href="https://hgic.clemson.edu/mowing-height-matters/">increased susceptibility to disease</a>, poor water management and potential collapse. Such damage is pretty much unavoidable after a monthlong “no mow” period. Few lawns actually contain enough flowers to be beneficial to 
pollinators, anyway. For many people, the “perfect lawn” is an 
unwavering green carpet. But that uniformity is useless to bees and 
other pollinators that require <a href="https://www.epa.gov/pollinator-protection/what-you-can-do-protect-honey-bees-and-other-pollinators">pollen and nectar that other plants can provide</a>. It’s great to <a href="https://www.epa.gov/pollinator-protection/what-you-can-do-protect-honey-bees-and-other-pollinators">prioritize pollinator health</a>,
 but the “no mow” trend is best implemented in prairie, field and 
wetland environments, where there is a lot of plant diversity and 
flowering plants. If you’re looking to support pollinator health in your own yard, <a href="https://www.nwf.org/NativePlantFinder">plant native wildflowers</a>
 that pollinators will actually want to visit. Most require less water 
and management compared to grass lawns. Replace your entire lawn or even
 a small strip. Any amount of lawn replaced is beneficial – and will 
save you water and money. Make sure not to mow the wildflowers until they’ve finished 
flowering. A wildflower patch usually only needs to be cut once or twice
 a year. Mowing after the last frost in early spring will spread the 
previous year’s seeds and <a href="https://extension.psu.edu/planting-pollinator-friendly-gardens">provide a home for insects to spend the winter</a>. <h2>Using hydrogen peroxide to ‘cure’ plant diseases</h2><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Hydrogen Peroxide can easily get rid of plant roots, fungal diseases, and powdery mildew when used with water.<a href="https://t.co/HwTg2A61JN">https://t.co/HwTg2A61JN</a> … <a href="https://t.co/mizXs37omq">pic.twitter.com/mizXs37omq</a>&mdash; Nature Bring (@naturebring651) <a href="https://twitter.com/naturebring651/status/917613551988097024?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 10, 2017</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> </div>Hydrogen peroxide <a href="https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Hydrogen-peroxide">does sterilize surfaces and can reduce bacteria and some fungi</a>.
 But the rapid reaction that gives hydrogen peroxide its sterilizing 
properties occurs almost immediately after coming in contact with other 
compounds. This does not permit hydrogen peroxide to move throughout a 
plant.So most pathogens – the organisms that cause disease – will not be 
affected if they are in a plant’s tissues rather than on its exterior. 
Applying hydrogen peroxide excessively or improperly may even <a href="https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Hydrogen-peroxide">make plant health issues worse</a> by drying surfaces and killing beneficial microbes. While there is certainly a time and place for sterilizing surfaces in
 plant care – like with your pruners and propagation tools – the best 
defense against plant diseases is proper care. Water your plants only when necessary and provide proper light and 
nutrition. Research what your plant likes best from educational 
institutions or other reputable sources. Routine pruning to increase 
airflow, proper plant spacing, avoiding single-crop planting and crop 
rotation are just some examples of chemical-free techniques to <a href="https://ipm.cahnr.uconn.edu/">reduce plant stress and decrease disease susceptibility</a>.<h2>Diagnosing diseases using phone apps</h2>Many apps exist that use photographs submitted by the user to identify plant diseases and offer solutions. The truth is, to diagnose most plant diseases, a scientist needs to 
culture plant tissue to correctly identify pathogens. Only after an 
accurate diagnosis <a href="https://apsjournals.apsnet.org/journal/pdis">can they recommend management solutions</a>.
 I have a pretty strong opinion here, since disease identification is 
what I do every day. Plant symptoms that accompany one disease may be 
practically identical to those of another. For example, herbicide exposure, viruses, insect feeding and fungal 
infections can all cause twisted and deformed leaves. To properly 
diagnose an issue, the plant’s own history, location, site history, time
 of year and other factors need to be considered before I can take a 
guess as to what may be contributing to symptoms. Don’t rely on an app to guess at what disease your plant may have – 
and don’t act on bogus recommendations. Instead, reach out to your local
 university diagnostic lab or extension office for support. Not sure where to go? Start with the <a href="https://www.npdn.org/lab_directory">National Plant Diagnostic Network’s lab directory</a>.
 Many, including mine, offer free consultations and recommendations. If 
you end up submitting a sample to a diagnostic lab, most are affordable –
 my lab’s fee is US$20 – and will be worthwhile, especially when you 
consider the cost of replacing the plant with something that could 
eventually have the same issue.Nick Goltz is an Assistant Extension Educator and Director at the UConn Plant Diagnostic Laboratory, University of Connecticut.<div><iframe src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/184423/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-advanced" width="1" height="1"></iframe></div>

🎥 Four misguided plant health trends on social media

WASHINGTON (AP) — Millions of Americans will be able to buy hearing aids without a prescription later this fall, under a long-awaited rule finalized Tuesday.

The Food and Drug Administration said the new regulation cuts red tape by creating a new class of hearing aids that don't require a medical exam, a prescription and other specialty evaluations. The devices will be sold online or over-the-counter at pharmacies and other retail stores.

The devices are intended for adults with mild to moderate hearing problems. The FDA estimates that nearly 30 million adults could potentially benefit from hearing aids, but only about one-fifth of people with hearing problems use the devices currently.

“Today’s action by the FDA represents a significant milestone in making hearing aids more cost-effective and accessible,” Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, told reporters Tuesday.

The FDA first&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-business-health-0908cbc7cfc2ee95cbc507128d5688eb">proposed the rule</a>&nbsp;last year and it will take effect in mid-October. The move follows years of pressure from medical experts and consumer advocates to make the devices cheaper and easier to get.

Cost is a big obstacle now. Americans can pay more than $5,000 for a hearing aid, between the device itself and fitting services. Insurance coverage is limited and Medicare doesn’t pay for hearing aids, only diagnostic tests.

“The requirement to see a specialist was not only a burden and an annoyance for many consumers but it actually created a competitive barrier to entry,” said Brian Deese, a White House economics adviser.

Deese cited government estimates that Americans could eventually save as much as $2,800 per pair. But FDA officials cautioned against predicting the size of savings or how quickly they might arrive, noting much will depend on when manufacturers launch products and how they price them.

“It’s very hard to predict exactly what we’ll see and when," said Dr. Jeffrey Shuren, the FDA's medical device chief.

Shuren said officials expect to see increased competition from new manufacturers as well as new products from existing hearing aid makers.

The new over-the-counter status won't apply to devices for more severe hearing loss, which will remain prescription only.

Consumer electronic companies for years have produced lower-cost “personal sound amplification” devices, but they do not undergo FDA review and U.S. regulations bar them from being marketed as hearing aids. The new rule makes explicit that those devices are not alternatives to FDA-vetted hearing aids.

The FDA said it changed several parts of its initial proposal in response to public comments, including clarifying how the rule will impact state regulations.

Tuesday’s announcement follows prodding from medical committees and Congress, which in 2017 instructed the agency to lay out a plan for over-the-counter hearing devices.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1643639422459.jpg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Millions of Americans will be able to buy hearing aids without a prescription later this fall, under a long-awaited rule finalized Tuesday.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">For millions, hearing aids and the doctor’s visit to get them are too expensive. That&#39;s why I called on the FDA to make them available over the counter. Today, they did just that. This action will increase competition and lower the price of a pair by nearly $3,000.&mdash; President Biden (@POTUS) <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS/status/1559555583027675136?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 16, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The Food and Drug Administration said the new regulation cuts red tape by creating a new class of hearing aids that don't require a medical exam, a prescription and other specialty evaluations. The devices will be sold online or over-the-counter at pharmacies and other retail stores.The devices are intended for adults with mild to moderate hearing problems. The FDA estimates that nearly 30 million adults could potentially benefit from hearing aids, but only about one-fifth of people with hearing problems use the devices currently.“Today’s action by the FDA represents a significant milestone in making hearing aids more cost-effective and accessible,” Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, told reporters Tuesday.The FDA first&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-business-health-0908cbc7cfc2ee95cbc507128d5688eb">proposed the rule</a>&nbsp;last year and it will take effect in mid-October. The move follows years of pressure from medical experts and consumer advocates to make the devices cheaper and easier to get.Cost is a big obstacle now. Americans can pay more than $5,000 for a hearing aid, between the device itself and fitting services. Insurance coverage is limited and Medicare doesn’t pay for hearing aids, only diagnostic tests.“The requirement to see a specialist was not only a burden and an annoyance for many consumers but it actually created a competitive barrier to entry,” said Brian Deese, a White House economics adviser.Deese cited government estimates that Americans could eventually save as much as $2,800 per pair. But FDA officials cautioned against predicting the size of savings or how quickly they might arrive, noting much will depend on when manufacturers launch products and how they price them.“It’s very hard to predict exactly what we’ll see and when," said Dr. Jeffrey Shuren, the FDA's medical device chief.Shuren said officials expect to see increased competition from new manufacturers as well as new products from existing hearing aid makers.The new over-the-counter status won't apply to devices for more severe hearing loss, which will remain prescription only.Consumer electronic companies for years have produced lower-cost “personal sound amplification” devices, but they do not undergo FDA review and U.S. regulations bar them from being marketed as hearing aids. The new rule makes explicit that those devices are not alternatives to FDA-vetted hearing aids.The FDA said it changed several parts of its initial proposal in response to public comments, including clarifying how the rule will impact state regulations.Tuesday’s announcement follows prodding from medical committees and Congress, which in 2017 instructed the agency to lay out a plan for over-the-counter hearing devices.___

Over-the-counter hearing aids expected this fall in US

Janice Marie Smith, 79, passed away on August 15, 2022, at Hays 
Medical Center, Hays, Kansas. She was born on October 1, 1942, at Great 
Bend, Kan., to Vernie &amp; Aldeen (Morgret) Cates. On March 6, 1965, 
Janice married Gary Smith in Great Bend. He passed away on May 11, 2021.

A lifetime Great Bend resident, Janice graduated from Great Bend 
High School in 1960. Prior to retirement, she worked as a bookkeeper at 
Gibson’s Discount Center, Anthony’s Clothing, and Golden Belt Home 
Health and Hospice. She was a member of Encounter Church and loved 
crafting.

Survivors include two sons, Michael (Jo) Smith of Great Bend, and 
Christopher (Stephanie) Smith of St. John; two sisters, Judy Bullard of 
Great Bend and Sharon Cates of Topeka; ten grandchildren, Presley, 
Delaney, Addison, Hallie, Dakota, Alyson, Hunter, Ava, Elizabeth, 
Andrea; four great-grandchildren, Rylie, Zayne, Laney and Molly; and a 
daughter-in-law, Dee Ann Smith of Hoisington. She is preceded in death 
by her husband; a son, Gary “Bubba” Smith; step-son, Ricky Smith; 
brother, Dale Cates; and nephew, Daniel Cates.

There will be no visitation as cremation has taken place. Funeral 
Service will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, August 19, 2022, at 
Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, with Pastor Dwight Dozier presiding. 
Inurnment will follow at Hoisington City Cemetery. 

Memorials have been 
designated to Gary "Bubba" Smith Memorial Scholarship Fund, in care of 
Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, PO Box 146, Hoisington, KS 67544.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660668749864.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Janice Marie Smith, 79, passed away on August 15, 2022, at Hays 
Medical Center, Hays, Kansas. She was born on October 1, 1942, at Great 
Bend, Kan., to Vernie &amp; Aldeen (Morgret) Cates. On March 6, 1965, 
Janice married Gary Smith in Great Bend. He passed away on May 11, 2021.A lifetime Great Bend resident, Janice graduated from Great Bend 
High School in 1960. Prior to retirement, she worked as a bookkeeper at 
Gibson’s Discount Center, Anthony’s Clothing, and Golden Belt Home 
Health and Hospice. She was a member of Encounter Church and loved 
crafting.Survivors include two sons, Michael (Jo) Smith of Great Bend, and 
Christopher (Stephanie) Smith of St. John; two sisters, Judy Bullard of 
Great Bend and Sharon Cates of Topeka; ten grandchildren, Presley, 
Delaney, Addison, Hallie, Dakota, Alyson, Hunter, Ava, Elizabeth, 
Andrea; four great-grandchildren, Rylie, Zayne, Laney and Molly; and a 
daughter-in-law, Dee Ann Smith of Hoisington. She is preceded in death 
by her husband; a son, Gary “Bubba” Smith; step-son, Ricky Smith; 
brother, Dale Cates; and nephew, Daniel Cates.There will be no visitation as cremation has taken place. Funeral 
Service will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, August 19, 2022, at 
Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, with Pastor Dwight Dozier presiding. 
Inurnment will follow at Hoisington City Cemetery. Memorials have been 
designated to Gary "Bubba" Smith Memorial Scholarship Fund, in care of 
Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, PO Box 146, Hoisington, KS 67544.

Janice Marie Smith

By GERARD WELLBROCK Hays Post

HAYS – Ted Hessing hasn’t played a down in a real football
game since 2019. The Fort Hays State right offensive guard suffered a knee
injury in a scrimmage during the COVID season of 2020 and missed all of last
season. Hessing is now healthy and ready to make a return to the Tigers starting
lineup, however he says his return hasn’t always been easy.

“Every day coming back was like a struggle.” Hessing said. “Lunges,
all of that rehab, over a year rehab it was just a mental battle.”

The senior from Stuart, Florida played two seasons at Arizona
Western CC before transferring to FHSU and says he tried to make the best of not
being able to play last season.

“I was definitely trying eleveate everyone’s game around me.”
Hessing said. “Like the little things that coach (Jeff) Bryant can harp on
every single time because there’s so many kids. Definitely want to harp on the little
things and develop the next set of players that are going to be playing in
games.”

The Tigers return three starters from last season’s offensive
line in center Senituli Teuhema, left tackle Pat Kelly and right tackle
Kristopher Stroughter. Kelly hopes his return can help the offensive line be one
of the dominant forces on the team.

“The past couple of years we haven’t run the ball like wanted
to, we were relying on throwing the ball more on third downs. This is the year that
it’s third and three we want to run it down their throat and really prove a
point and run out the clock instead of getting an incompletion and the clock
stopping.” Hessing said.

&nbsp;One of the ways
Hessing says the Tigers offensive line can get their swag back is through
physical play.

“All about being physical is a mindset. You can’t step on the
field without thinking of being physical first. If you’re not physical that’s
when you get hurt and that’s when bad stuff happens, that’s when the defense is
going to make plays on your o-line.”

Hessing and the rest of the Tigers looking to get back to
their winning ways after finishing 5-6 season a year ago, their first losing
season since 2012. 

“Everybody has got to step up and do their job and not worry
about the guy next to you.” Hessing said. “You got to trust the guy next to you
and do your job, trust the play calls from the coaches and trust the coaching
points during practice.” Hessing said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660651665544.jpeg" alt="FHSU's Ted Hessing lines up for a play at Central Missouri during the 2019 season. (Courtesy FHSU Athletics, Ryan Prickett)" />
 <figcaption>FHSU's Ted Hessing lines up for a play at Central Missouri during the 2019 season. (Courtesy FHSU Athletics, Ryan Prickett)</figcaption>
 </figure>By GERARD WELLBROCK Hays PostHAYS – Ted Hessing hasn’t played a down in a real football
game since 2019. The Fort Hays State right offensive guard suffered a knee
injury in a scrimmage during the COVID season of 2020 and missed all of last
season. Hessing is now healthy and ready to make a return to the Tigers starting
lineup, however he says his return hasn’t always been easy.“Every day coming back was like a struggle.” Hessing said. “Lunges,
all of that rehab, over a year rehab it was just a mental battle.”<div><iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/1325108815&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509" title="Eagle Radio" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Eagle Radio</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509/ted-hessing-081022" title="Ted Hessing 081022" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Ted Hessing 081022</a></div></div>The senior from Stuart, Florida played two seasons at Arizona
Western CC before transferring to FHSU and says he tried to make the best of not
being able to play last season.“I was definitely trying eleveate everyone’s game around me.”
Hessing said. “Like the little things that coach (Jeff) Bryant can harp on
every single time because there’s so many kids. Definitely want to harp on the little
things and develop the next set of players that are going to be playing in
games.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660651864192.jpeg" alt="Hessing congratulates Layne Bieberle following a catch during vs. Nebraska-Kearney&nbsp; on October 6, 2019 at Lewis Field. (Courtesy FHSU Athletics, Allie Schweizer)" />
 <figcaption>Hessing congratulates Layne Bieberle following a catch during vs. Nebraska-Kearney&nbsp; on October 6, 2019 at Lewis Field. (Courtesy FHSU Athletics, Allie Schweizer)</figcaption>
 </figure>The Tigers return three starters from last season’s offensive
line in center Senituli Teuhema, left tackle Pat Kelly and right tackle
Kristopher Stroughter. Kelly hopes his return can help the offensive line be one
of the dominant forces on the team.“The past couple of years we haven’t run the ball like wanted
to, we were relying on throwing the ball more on third downs. This is the year that
it’s third and three we want to run it down their throat and really prove a
point and run out the clock instead of getting an incompletion and the clock
stopping.” Hessing said.&nbsp;One of the ways
Hessing says the Tigers offensive line can get their swag back is through
physical play.“All about being physical is a mindset. You can’t step on the
field without thinking of being physical first. If you’re not physical that’s
when you get hurt and that’s when bad stuff happens, that’s when the defense is
going to make plays on your o-line.”Hessing and the rest of the Tigers looking to get back to
their winning ways after finishing 5-6 season a year ago, their first losing
season since 2012. “Everybody has got to step up and do their job and not worry
about the guy next to you.” Hessing said. “You got to trust the guy next to you
and do your job, trust the play calls from the coaches and trust the coaching
points during practice.” Hessing said.

🏈 FHSU's Hessing excited to return following injury

There will be an archery draw for 40 deer hunting permits on Aug. 27th on the front lawn of the Milford Lake Corps of Engineers Office, 5203 N. Highway, K-57 Highway on the south end of the Milford Dam.

Registration will begin at 8:30 a.m. and the draw for a hunting location is set for 9:30 a.m.

--Milford Fish Hatchery 1 permit, Former K-State Lease 4, East Rolling Hills Park 2, West Rolling Hills Park 5 permits, Curtis Creek Park 10, School Creek Park 10, South Timber Creek Park 2 permits, North Timber Creek Park 4 and Farnum Creek Park 2 permits.

According to the Corps all hunters must be present, and a Photo Id is required to register. Crossbows will not be allowed except for disabled hunters, &amp; mentor youth, which is an option at some locations.

Dates for these hunting opportunities begin October 1 and many extend through December 31, 2022. For additional information on these hunting opportunities contact the Milford Lake Corps of Engineers office at 785-238-5714, x3754.

By Dewey TerrillJC PostThere will be an archery draw for 40 deer hunting permits on Aug. 27th on the front lawn of the Milford Lake Corps of Engineers Office, 5203 N. Highway, K-57 Highway on the south end of the Milford Dam.Registration will begin at 8:30 a.m. and the draw for a hunting location is set for 9:30 a.m.Hunting locations and permits include:--Milford Fish Hatchery 1 permit, Former K-State Lease 4, East Rolling Hills Park 2, West Rolling Hills Park 5 permits, Curtis Creek Park 10, School Creek Park 10, South Timber Creek Park 2 permits, North Timber Creek Park 4 and Farnum Creek Park 2 permits.According to the Corps all hunters must be present, and a Photo Id is required to register. Crossbows will not be allowed except for disabled hunters, &amp; mentor youth, which is an option at some locations.Dates for these hunting opportunities begin October 1 and many extend through December 31, 2022. For additional information on these hunting opportunities contact the Milford Lake Corps of Engineers office at 785-238-5714, x3754.

Milford Lake Corps of Engineers will conduct an archery draw

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today announced that 
interest rates will increase for the calendar quarter beginning October 
1, 2022.

For individuals, the rate for overpayments and underpayments will be 
6% per year, compounded daily, up from 5% for the quarter that began on 
July 1. Here is a complete list of the new rates:

Under the Internal Revenue Code, the rate of interest is 
determined on a quarterly basis. For taxpayers other than corporations, 
the overpayment and underpayment rate is the federal short-term rate 
plus 3 percentage points.

Generally, for a corporation, the underpayment rate is the federal 
short-term rate plus 3 percentage points, and the overpayment rate is 
the federal short-term rate plus 2 percentage points. The rate for large
 corporate underpayments is the federal short-term rate plus 5 
percentage points. The rate on the portion of a corporate overpayment of
 tax exceeding $10,000 for a taxable period is the federal short-term 
rate plus one-half (0.5) of a percentage point.

The interest rates announced today are computed from the federal short-term rate determined during July 2022.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today announced that 
interest rates will increase for the calendar quarter beginning October 
1, 2022.For individuals, the rate for overpayments and underpayments will be 
6% per year, compounded daily, up from 5% for the quarter that began on 
July 1. Here is a complete list of the new rates:<ul>
 <li>6% for overpayments (3.5% for corporations). (payments made in excess of the amount owed)</li><li>3.5% for the portion of a corporate overpayment exceeding $10,000.</li><li>6% for underpayments. (taxes owed but not fully paid)</li><li>8% for large corporate underpayments.&nbsp;</li>
 </ul>Under the Internal Revenue Code, the rate of interest is 
determined on a quarterly basis. For taxpayers other than corporations, 
the overpayment and underpayment rate is the federal short-term rate 
plus 3 percentage points.Generally, for a corporation, the underpayment rate is the federal 
short-term rate plus 3 percentage points, and the overpayment rate is 
the federal short-term rate plus 2 percentage points. The rate for large
 corporate underpayments is the federal short-term rate plus 5 
percentage points. The rate on the portion of a corporate overpayment of
 tax exceeding $10,000 for a taxable period is the federal short-term 
rate plus one-half (0.5) of a percentage point.The interest rates announced today are computed from the federal short-term rate determined during July 2022.&nbsp;

IRS announces interest rate hikes for fourth quarter of 2022

KANSAS CITY—A Mexican national was sentenced to 100 months in prison last week in connection to an international drug ring that distributed large quantities of methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, and marijuana from Mexico in the Kansas City area, according to the United State's Attorney.

According to court documents, in January 2021, Aron Rodriguez- Posada, 48, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.

In October 2019, the Kansas Highway Patrol stopped a car hauler in Meade, Kansas, to conduct a vehicle inspection. With consent to search, a trooper located approximately 35 pounds of methamphetamine in the gas tank of one of the vehicles utilizing a scope. 

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) then conducted a controlled delivery of the methamphetamine. Federal agents arrested Rodriguez-Posada as well as Jovany Medina, 24, of Kansas City after the men took possession of the vehicle.

In July 2022, Medina was sentenced to 144 months in prison after pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.

Rodriquez-Posada also pled guilty to one count of unlawful reentry subsequent to removal after admitting to returning to United States after being removed for illegal entry in 2014.

KANSAS CITY—A Mexican national was sentenced to 100 months in prison last week in connection to an international drug ring that distributed large quantities of methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, and marijuana from Mexico in the Kansas City area, according to the United State's Attorney.According to court documents, in January 2021, Aron Rodriguez- Posada, 48, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.In October 2019, the Kansas Highway Patrol stopped a car hauler in Meade, Kansas, to conduct a vehicle inspection. With consent to search, a trooper located approximately 35 pounds of methamphetamine in the gas tank of one of the vehicles utilizing a scope. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) then conducted a controlled delivery of the methamphetamine. Federal agents arrested Rodriguez-Posada as well as Jovany Medina, 24, of Kansas City after the men took possession of the vehicle.In July 2022, Medina was sentenced to 144 months in prison after pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.Rodriquez-Posada also pled guilty to one count of unlawful reentry subsequent to removal after admitting to returning to United States after being removed for illegal entry in 2014.

 KHP found 35 pounds of meth in vehicle's gas tank 

Fort Hays State University’s Department of Criminal Justice was recently awarded an additional $1.5 million to expand operations of the Central Region De-escalation Training Center. This marks the department's second major federal grant award over the past year. In October 2021, the program was awarded an initial $1.25 million grant.&nbsp;

FHSU hosts one of several regional training centers within a national network under the direction of the National De-escalation Training Center (NDTC). The de-escalation training model used by center instructors expands the law enforcement officers’ ability to interact with the people they serve and defuse potential situations that otherwise may escalate into the use of force.&nbsp;

The most recent grant funding source comes from the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) under the Byrne Discretionary Community Project Grants program. This program supports projects that improve the functioning of the criminal justice system.&nbsp;

The Department of Criminal Justice plans to use this new funding to:

“We would like to thank Senator Jerry Moran for his continued support of Fort Hays State University’s regional training center,” said Dr. Tamara Lynn, chair of the Department of Criminal Justice and director of the Regional De-escalation Training Center.&nbsp;

“The efforts of U.S. Senator Jerry Moran and his staff have been invaluable in securing the essential funding that drove the rapid expansion of the regional de-escalation training center at Fort Hays State University. Without Senator Moran’s support, we would not be able to train law enforcement officers in advanced de-escalation to improve encounters with citizens while also advancing community policing initiatives,”.&nbsp;

For more information about the Regional De-escalation Training Center at FHSU, go to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fhsu.edu/criminaljustice/regional-training-center">https://www.fhsu.edu/criminaljustice/regional-training-center</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660073187285.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU University CommunicationsFort Hays State University’s Department of Criminal Justice was recently awarded an additional $1.5 million to expand operations of the Central Region De-escalation Training Center. This marks the department's second major federal grant award over the past year. In October 2021, the program was awarded an initial $1.25 million grant.&nbsp;FHSU hosts one of several regional training centers within a national network under the direction of the National De-escalation Training Center (NDTC). The de-escalation training model used by center instructors expands the law enforcement officers’ ability to interact with the people they serve and defuse potential situations that otherwise may escalate into the use of force.&nbsp;The most recent grant funding source comes from the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) under the Byrne Discretionary Community Project Grants program. This program supports projects that improve the functioning of the criminal justice system.&nbsp;The Department of Criminal Justice plans to use this new funding to:<ul>
 <li>Expand the number of law enforcement officers trained in de-escalation, both via online and in-person coursework</li><li>Grow the program’s research capabilities to advance de-escalation as an evidence-based practice</li><li>Host a research and training conference to disseminate lessons learned and best practices</li><li>Support the national network of de-escalation training centers with targeted investments that will drive long-term viability</li><li>Launch a comprehensive advertising campaign to increase the visibility of the center and increase the number of agency training partners</li><li>Establish a prominent location on campus for the center’s offices and training spaces</li>
 </ul>“We would like to thank Senator Jerry Moran for his continued support of Fort Hays State University’s regional training center,” said Dr. Tamara Lynn, chair of the Department of Criminal Justice and director of the Regional De-escalation Training Center.&nbsp;“The efforts of U.S. Senator Jerry Moran and his staff have been invaluable in securing the essential funding that drove the rapid expansion of the regional de-escalation training center at Fort Hays State University. Without Senator Moran’s support, we would not be able to train law enforcement officers in advanced de-escalation to improve encounters with citizens while also advancing community policing initiatives,”.&nbsp;For more information about the Regional De-escalation Training Center at FHSU, go to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fhsu.edu/criminaljustice/regional-training-center">https://www.fhsu.edu/criminaljustice/regional-training-center</a>

Federal grant drives FHSU de-escalation training center expansion

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Tony Gonsolin took a no-hit try into the seventh inning and the Los Angeles Dodgers won their 11th straight game, beating the Kansas City Royals 8-3 Friday night.

Gonsolin (14-1) tied Atlanta’s Kyle Wright for the NL wins lead. The Dodgers, with the best record in the majors, broke open the game on Trayce Thompson’s three-run homer in the eighth.

“Tony was good,” manager Dave Roberts said. “I think it helped that this was a very aggressive ballclub. They were aggressive in the zone."

“I thought in the sixth or seventh inning he hit a wall. The slider started to get up there and he couldn’t get the split to have the depth. I felt he had enough," he said.

Gonsolin did not allow a baserunner until issuing a one-out walk to Kyle Isbel in the sixth, when the game was still scoreless. He didn’t give up a hit until Vinnie Pasquantino’s one-out single in the seventh.

Overall, Gonsolin permitted two hits in 6 2/3 innings.

“It was pretty solid,” Gonsolin said. “I felt like I was throwing a lot of strikes early with everything, which was nice to see. They were swinging a lot, so I kept the pitch count down. I got some soft contact and the guys made some good plays.”

Josh Staumont (3-2) lost in relief, allowing five runs on four hits and a walk, without recording an out.

Royals starter Daniel Lynch gave up just two hits in five scoreless innings. A high pitch count was his undoing as he threw 105 and walked four.

Lynch escaped a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the fifth when he got Trea Turner to foul out, struck out Freddie Freeman and retired Will Smith on a flyball.

The Dodgers scored five times in the seventh after loading the bases with no outs on singles by pinch-hitter Gavin Lux and Thompson and a walk to Mookie Betts. Turner hit a two-run single, Freeman followed with an RBI double, and a wild pitch and Justin Turner’s sacrifice fly made it 5-0.

“I just felt with those guys there was no panic. Two innings later to have that same situation with those hitters, that’s an easy bet to take. Trea came through and opened up the floodgates," he said.

Trea Turner was relieved to have made amends.

“It felt good,” he said. “The first one was a little frustrating because I felt like I had a pretty good at-bat (in the fifth). I just kept fouling pitches off, but I couldn’t move one forward."

“It was nice to come through a couple of innings later and get the job done," he said.

Michael A. Taylor doubled home a run in the Kansas City seventh. Salvador Perez added a two-run homer in the eighth.

Dodgers C Austin Barnes was placed on the family emergency list. ... C Tony Wolters was selected from Triple-A Oklahoma City. ... INF Rylan Bannon was designated for assignment.

Dodgers 3B Max Muncy and DH Justin Turner switched prior to Friday’s game, because Muncy was hit in the right hand by a one-hopper that resulted in an infield single and came out of Wednesday’s game. Muncy still hit seventh in the lineup but didn’t play in the field. … LHP Clayton Kershaw, who has been on the 10-day injured list since Aug. 5 with lower back pain, played catch Thursday in Los Angeles and will continue to play catch each day in Kansas City. He got an epidural soon after the injury, and he said Friday that his back is feeling better. He said he doesn’t have a set time to return, but “we’ll definitely have enough time before October.”

The teams continue the three-game series Saturday evening. The Dodgers will start LHP Andrew Heaney (1-0, 0.64 ERA), while the Royals will hand the ball to RHP Brad Keller (6-12, 4.45 ERA).

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Tony Gonsolin took a no-hit try into the seventh inning and the Los Angeles Dodgers won their 11th straight game, beating the Kansas City Royals 8-3 Friday night.Gonsolin (14-1) tied Atlanta’s Kyle Wright for the NL wins lead. The Dodgers, with the best record in the majors, broke open the game on Trayce Thompson’s three-run homer in the eighth.“Tony was good,” manager Dave Roberts said. “I think it helped that this was a very aggressive ballclub. They were aggressive in the zone."“I thought in the sixth or seventh inning he hit a wall. The slider started to get up there and he couldn’t get the split to have the depth. I felt he had enough," he said.Gonsolin did not allow a baserunner until issuing a one-out walk to Kyle Isbel in the sixth, when the game was still scoreless. He didn’t give up a hit until Vinnie Pasquantino’s one-out single in the seventh.Overall, Gonsolin permitted two hits in 6 2/3 innings.“It was pretty solid,” Gonsolin said. “I felt like I was throwing a lot of strikes early with everything, which was nice to see. They were swinging a lot, so I kept the pitch count down. I got some soft contact and the guys made some good plays.”Josh Staumont (3-2) lost in relief, allowing five runs on four hits and a walk, without recording an out.Royals starter Daniel Lynch gave up just two hits in five scoreless innings. A high pitch count was his undoing as he threw 105 and walked four.Lynch escaped a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the fifth when he got Trea Turner to foul out, struck out Freddie Freeman and retired Will Smith on a flyball.The Dodgers scored five times in the seventh after loading the bases with no outs on singles by pinch-hitter Gavin Lux and Thompson and a walk to Mookie Betts. Turner hit a two-run single, Freeman followed with an RBI double, and a wild pitch and Justin Turner’s sacrifice fly made it 5-0.“I just felt with those guys there was no panic. Two innings later to have that same situation with those hitters, that’s an easy bet to take. Trea came through and opened up the floodgates," he said.Trea Turner was relieved to have made amends.“It felt good,” he said. “The first one was a little frustrating because I felt like I had a pretty good at-bat (in the fifth). I just kept fouling pitches off, but I couldn’t move one forward."“It was nice to come through a couple of innings later and get the job done," he said.Michael A. Taylor doubled home a run in the Kansas City seventh. Salvador Perez added a two-run homer in the eighth.TRANSACTIONSDodgers C Austin Barnes was placed on the family emergency list. ... C Tony Wolters was selected from Triple-A Oklahoma City. ... INF Rylan Bannon was designated for assignment.TRAINER’S ROOMDodgers 3B Max Muncy and DH Justin Turner switched prior to Friday’s game, because Muncy was hit in the right hand by a one-hopper that resulted in an infield single and came out of Wednesday’s game. Muncy still hit seventh in the lineup but didn’t play in the field. … LHP Clayton Kershaw, who has been on the 10-day injured list since Aug. 5 with lower back pain, played catch Thursday in Los Angeles and will continue to play catch each day in Kansas City. He got an epidural soon after the injury, and he said Friday that his back is feeling better. He said he doesn’t have a set time to return, but “we’ll definitely have enough time before October.”UP NEXTThe teams continue the three-game series Saturday evening. The Dodgers will start LHP Andrew Heaney (1-0, 0.64 ERA), while the Royals will hand the ball to RHP Brad Keller (6-12, 4.45 ERA).

⚾ Gonsolin, Dodgers win 11th in a row, break away from Royals

Jesse Dwain West, age 29, passed away on Thursday, August 11, 2022, 
in Leoti, Kansas. He was born on August 30, 1992, in Tribune, Kansas. A 
loving husband and father, he lived nearly his entire life in the 
community and was known as a jokester and life of the party. He served 
in the National Guard for over 10 years and was employed by Seaboard in 
Leoti, Kansas.

On October 23, 2016, Jesse married Paige Summers in Leoti, Kansas. She survives.

Survivors include his wife, his children, Michael, Lucas, and Reign 
West of Leoti, Kansas, his mother, Sarah Pitzer, his grandparents Doris 
&amp; Gene Langdon, his “mom” Kim Billinger, one brother Daniel &amp; 
Alannah West of Leoti, Kansas, two sisters, Amber Snell of Leoti, 
Kansas, Hollie Snell of Watkins Falls, New York, one brother/nephew 
Bently Guilfoyle of Leoti, Kansas, his father and mother-in-law, Richard
 &amp; Patty Summers of Colby, Kansas, sister-in-law Amanda &amp; Jeff 
Hollenhors of Colby, Kansas, sister-in-law Stephanie &amp; Blake Steiert
 of Welford, South Carolina and many extended family members.

He was preceded in death by his uncle, Frank Langdon, and cousins Greg Martinez III, Curtis Anderson, and Daune Snyder.

A memorial service will be held at Christ Covenant Presbyterian 
Church in Leoti, Kansas on Friday, August 19, 2022, at 10:00 A.M. with 
pastor Stephen Morefield presiding.

Memorials in lieu of flowers may be given to the Jesse West Memorial 
fund in care of Price and Sons Funeral Home, PO Box 161, Leoti, KS 
67861.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660325517366.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Jesse Dwain West, age 29, passed away on Thursday, August 11, 2022, 
in Leoti, Kansas. He was born on August 30, 1992, in Tribune, Kansas. A 
loving husband and father, he lived nearly his entire life in the 
community and was known as a jokester and life of the party. He served 
in the National Guard for over 10 years and was employed by Seaboard in 
Leoti, Kansas.On October 23, 2016, Jesse married Paige Summers in Leoti, Kansas. She survives.Survivors include his wife, his children, Michael, Lucas, and Reign 
West of Leoti, Kansas, his mother, Sarah Pitzer, his grandparents Doris 
&amp; Gene Langdon, his “mom” Kim Billinger, one brother Daniel &amp; 
Alannah West of Leoti, Kansas, two sisters, Amber Snell of Leoti, 
Kansas, Hollie Snell of Watkins Falls, New York, one brother/nephew 
Bently Guilfoyle of Leoti, Kansas, his father and mother-in-law, Richard
 &amp; Patty Summers of Colby, Kansas, sister-in-law Amanda &amp; Jeff 
Hollenhors of Colby, Kansas, sister-in-law Stephanie &amp; Blake Steiert
 of Welford, South Carolina and many extended family members.He was preceded in death by his uncle, Frank Langdon, and cousins Greg Martinez III, Curtis Anderson, and Daune Snyder.A memorial service will be held at Christ Covenant Presbyterian 
Church in Leoti, Kansas on Friday, August 19, 2022, at 10:00 A.M. with 
pastor Stephen Morefield presiding.Interment will be at a later date.Memorials in lieu of flowers may be given to the Jesse West Memorial 
fund in care of Price and Sons Funeral Home, PO Box 161, Leoti, KS 
67861.

Jesse Dwain West

By SHERMAN SMITH <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/08/12/kansas-foster-care-provider-suing-former-leaders-for-alleged-financial-misconduct/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — The former CEO, chief 
counsel and IT director for Saint Francis Ministries used their 
positions to enrich themselves and their friends as the charity neared 
financial insolvency, according to allegations made in state and federal
 lawsuits.

The Salina-based foster care provider in court documents accused the 
trinity of overbilling for IT and legal services and misusing company 
funds to support a lavish lifestyle. <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/08/11/fbi-seizing-bank-deposits-in-alleged-10-million-fraud-of-kansas-foster-care-provider-saint-francis-ministries/">Federal authorities identified $10.73 million in fraudulent billing</a> for IT services and moved to seize bank accounts.

Meanwhile, the former CEO filed a counterclaim against Saint Francis 
officials for alleged defamation based on quotes and documented evidence
 reported by Kansas Reflector.

The legal fallout raises questions about the level of care the 
organization provides to foster children, as well as renewed interest in
 examining whether taxpayer funds should be repaid to state agencies in 
Kansas and Nebraska.

Teresa Woody, litigation director for Kansas Appleseed, said it was 
appalling that millions of dollars meant to provide foster care went out
 the door and were not accounted for. Kansas Appleseed <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/08/20/judge-orders-kansas-to-pay-nearly-2-3-million-in-legal-fees-and-expenses-in-child-welfare-lawsuit/">settled a lawsuit last year</a> to require improvements in the foster care system, which is administered by the Kansas Department for Children and Families.

“I think DCF should look at all this and take a very hard look at 
whether they’re an appropriate entity to be trying to help foster 
children in Kansas,” Woody said.

Saint Francis Ministries quietly filed a civil lawsuit in January in 
Saline County District Court against its former CEO, Robert “Father 
Bobby” Smith, IT director William Whymark, chief counsel David Schaffer,
 and the law firm where Schaffer worked in Chicago. The lawsuit 
identifies Schaffer as Smith’s friend and Whymark’s brother. Saint 
Francis is seeking repayment for legal malpractice and breach of 
fiduciary duties.

The former Saint Francis leadership resigned in November 2020 after a
 newly hired financial officer alerted the board to alleged financial 
misconduct.

They worked together to place their own financial interests above the
 nonprofit, failed to disclose conflicts of interest, misappropriated 
resources, overbilled for services, and concealed material facts, Saint 
Francis claimed in an amended complaint filed Aug. 5.

Accusations made in state and federal court documents are consistent with an internal investigation, <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/12/20/kansas-foster-care-leader-charged-469k-to-credit-cards-hid-financial-losses/">first reported by Kansas Reflector in December 2020</a>, and <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/12/23/audit-of-kansas-foster-care-provider-scrutinizes-financial-controls-it-costs-ceo-travel-ppp-loan/">an audit released by DCF</a> in December 2021.

Smith, an Episcopal priest, began working as CEO for Saint Francis in
 July 2014. Smith hired Schaffer as chief counsel in October 2014. 
Schaffer, according to the lawsuit filed in Saline County, urged Saint 
Francis to hire his brother to provide IT services, even though Schaffer
 knew Whymark wasn’t qualified for the job.

Smith charged $442,276.17 to Saint Francis credit cards between 2017 
and 2020, mostly funding “lavish meals, entertainment, travel and gifts 
for him and his family,” the lawsuit said. He also spent $57,125.42 in 
Saint Francis funds to pay for travel, “the majority of which had no 
legitimate business purpose or was grossly excessive.”

The lawsuit reveals previously undisclosed allegations against Schaffer.

The attorney billed Saint Francis for more than $1 million in legal 
fees between June 2015 and June 2019 through his law firm. He billed 
Saint Francis for an additional $500,000 between February 2018 and 
October 2020 that was paid to him personally. There were at least eight 
months in which Schaffer billed Saint Francis both through his law firm 
and as an individual.

According to the lawsuit, the legal fees were “grossly excessive for 
the services they allegedly performed, but Schaffer knew the invoices 
would be approved and paid by his friend.” The state audit last year 
said Smith approved expenses within minutes of receiving them.

Schaffer allegedly outsourced hundreds of thousands of dollars in 
legal work to friends and lawyers at other firms that should have been 
performed by him.

Schaffer allegedly billed Saint Francis for legal fees on matters 
unrelated to his job as general counsel. When Schaffer gave a deposition
 in May 2019 in a case brought against his former law firm by its former
 landlord, he directed his attorneys to bill Saint Francis for $6,000. 
Schaffer then approved the payment in his capacity as general counsel 
for Saint Francis.

Schaffer allegedly billed Saint Francis nearly $4,000 for moving and 
storage expenses for office furniture in his Chicago law practice.

Between June 2019 and October 2020, Schaffer allegedly charged about 
$60,000 on a Saint Francis company credit card. Many of the charges, 
Saint Francis said in its lawsuit, served no legitimate business 
purpose.

Saint Francis employed Schaffer’s brother, Whymark, as its chief 
information officer and paid Whymark’s company, WMK Research, more than 
$11 million between January 2018 and February 2021.

“WMK’s services were grossly deficient and overpriced,” Saint Francis said in its lawsuit.

Saint Francis paid WMK more than $6 million to build a software 
system that failed to function. Whymark outsourced most of the work 
without telling Saint Francis, according to federal and state court 
documents, while inflating the cost of actual services. When the IT 
system crashed in the fall of 2019, Whymark wiped the hard drives on the
 crashed server, claiming it was necessary to reuse the server. At the 
time, Saint Francis was in the middle of a financial audit.

“The crash halted the audit for months and delayed the discovery of 
defendants’ self-dealing,” Saint Francis said in its lawsuit.

Saint Francis estimated it overpaid in excess of $7 million to WMK, 
and the cost to repair WMK’s work was estimated at $3.2 million.

Federal authorities, in a court filing Aug. 1, moved to seize more 
than $700,000 in cash held in three bank accounts controlled by Whymark.
 The action was based on an FBI investigation that found probable cause 
to believe Whymark, of Mount Kisco, New York, ripped off Saint Francis 
for $10.73 million.

An interim financial officer warned Smith and Schaffer in January 
2020 that Saint Francis was in dire financial condition and could be 
completely out of cash by March 2020.

The Saint Francis lawsuit said Smith and Schaffer never disclosed the financial condition to their board of directors.

The organization avoided financial collapse because it received the 
maximum $10 million loan through the federal Paycheck Protection 
Program. A state auditor later discovered the organization wasn’t 
eligible for the loan, although it was forgiven anyway by the Small 
Business Administration.

The lawsuit said Smith and Schaffer were advised to reserve funds 
from the PPP loan to gain liquidity. Instead, Schaffer allegedly said 
the obligations to his brother’s company would be taken care of first.

The organization’s financial hardships were complicated by winning <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/01/25/kansas-foster-care-provider-asks-nebraska-for-immediate-funding-boost-to-maintain-services/">a severely underbid contract</a> in 2019 to provide foster care services in the Omaha, Nebraska, area. The state of Nebraska <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/12/14/kansas-foster-care-provider-agrees-to-leave-nebraska-after-months-of-scrutiny/">severed ties with Saint Francis</a> earlier this year because of extensive performance problems.

Nebraska Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh, who <a target="_blank" href="https://www.noiseomaha.com/news-now/2021/3/24/investigative-committee-approved-to-review-foster-care-management-group-and-involved-nebraska-state-government-departmentsnbspnbspnbsp?rq=cavanaugh">spearheaded an investigation</a> into her state’s dealings with Saint Francis, said the revelations in court filings were upsetting.

“I think you can draw a correlation between defrauding the 
organization and the outcomes that are coming out,” Cavanaugh said. “I 
mean, any organization is only as good as its weakest link, as people 
say, and if you have this toxic, corrupt mentality at the very top of 
the organization, then you’re not going to be a high-performing, 
high-quality organization. It doesn’t matter how many wonderful people 
you hire underneath that person. That’s where you’re starting from. 
That’s the cornerstone of the organization, and that toxicity and that 
lack of integrity in the work that you’re doing will trickle down.”

Cavanaugh said Saint Francis was short staffed in Nebraska and had a 
high turnover rate. Employees didn’t receive adequate training. As a 
result, children ended up in the system longer than they should have, 
and there were concerns about the accuracy of caseworker reports.

Cavanaugh also said it was time to “revisit the conversation” about 
whether Nebraska should recoup money the state invested in Saint 
Francis.

“We clearly were defrauded, and I think the children of Nebraska 
deserve us to advocate on their behalf,” Cavanaugh said. “By not going 
after the money, not going after the people that ultimately hurt these 
children, I think it’s us just continuing to fail these children.”

In March of this year, Smith filed a counterclaim for defamation by 
current Saint Francis leadership for “numerous false and defamatory 
statements” made about Smith and his wife in reports published by Kansas
 Reflector.

Smith said his former employer “knowingly and/or recklessly provided”
 an internal investigation report to Kansas Reflector, which published 
articles based on “unsubstantiated, false and defamatory statements” 
made within the investigation report.

“Smith has been suffered economic, reputational damages, personal 
humiliation, mental anguish, and loss of consortium damages,” the 
counterclaim said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660312960289.png" alt="The Salina-based Saint Francis Ministries, which provides foster care services, sued its former leadership in January for alleged legal malpractice and breach of fiduciary duties. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>The Salina-based Saint Francis Ministries, which provides foster care services, sued its former leadership in January for alleged legal malpractice and breach of fiduciary duties. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By SHERMAN SMITH <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/08/12/kansas-foster-care-provider-suing-former-leaders-for-alleged-financial-misconduct/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — The former CEO, chief 
counsel and IT director for Saint Francis Ministries used their 
positions to enrich themselves and their friends as the charity neared 
financial insolvency, according to allegations made in state and federal
 lawsuits.The Salina-based foster care provider in court documents accused the 
trinity of overbilling for IT and legal services and misusing company 
funds to support a lavish lifestyle. <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/08/11/fbi-seizing-bank-deposits-in-alleged-10-million-fraud-of-kansas-foster-care-provider-saint-francis-ministries/">Federal authorities identified $10.73 million in fraudulent billing</a> for IT services and moved to seize bank accounts.Meanwhile, the former CEO filed a counterclaim against Saint Francis 
officials for alleged defamation based on quotes and documented evidence
 reported by Kansas Reflector.The legal fallout raises questions about the level of care the 
organization provides to foster children, as well as renewed interest in
 examining whether taxpayer funds should be repaid to state agencies in 
Kansas and Nebraska.Teresa Woody, litigation director for Kansas Appleseed, said it was 
appalling that millions of dollars meant to provide foster care went out
 the door and were not accounted for. Kansas Appleseed <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/08/20/judge-orders-kansas-to-pay-nearly-2-3-million-in-legal-fees-and-expenses-in-child-welfare-lawsuit/">settled a lawsuit last year</a> to require improvements in the foster care system, which is administered by the Kansas Department for Children and Families.“I think DCF should look at all this and take a very hard look at 
whether they’re an appropriate entity to be trying to help foster 
children in Kansas,” Woody said.Saint Francis Ministries quietly filed a civil lawsuit in January in 
Saline County District Court against its former CEO, Robert “Father 
Bobby” Smith, IT director William Whymark, chief counsel David Schaffer,
 and the law firm where Schaffer worked in Chicago. The lawsuit 
identifies Schaffer as Smith’s friend and Whymark’s brother. Saint 
Francis is seeking repayment for legal malpractice and breach of 
fiduciary duties.<h2>The accusations</h2>The former Saint Francis leadership resigned in November 2020 after a
 newly hired financial officer alerted the board to alleged financial 
misconduct.They worked together to place their own financial interests above the
 nonprofit, failed to disclose conflicts of interest, misappropriated 
resources, overbilled for services, and concealed material facts, Saint 
Francis claimed in an amended complaint filed Aug. 5.Accusations made in state and federal court documents are consistent with an internal investigation, <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/12/20/kansas-foster-care-leader-charged-469k-to-credit-cards-hid-financial-losses/">first reported by Kansas Reflector in December 2020</a>, and <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/12/23/audit-of-kansas-foster-care-provider-scrutinizes-financial-controls-it-costs-ceo-travel-ppp-loan/">an audit released by DCF</a> in December 2021.Smith, an Episcopal priest, began working as CEO for Saint Francis in
 July 2014. Smith hired Schaffer as chief counsel in October 2014. 
Schaffer, according to the lawsuit filed in Saline County, urged Saint 
Francis to hire his brother to provide IT services, even though Schaffer
 knew Whymark wasn’t qualified for the job.Smith charged $442,276.17 to Saint Francis credit cards between 2017 
and 2020, mostly funding “lavish meals, entertainment, travel and gifts 
for him and his family,” the lawsuit said. He also spent $57,125.42 in 
Saint Francis funds to pay for travel, “the majority of which had no 
legitimate business purpose or was grossly excessive.”The lawsuit reveals previously undisclosed allegations against Schaffer.The attorney billed Saint Francis for more than $1 million in legal 
fees between June 2015 and June 2019 through his law firm. He billed 
Saint Francis for an additional $500,000 between February 2018 and 
October 2020 that was paid to him personally. There were at least eight 
months in which Schaffer billed Saint Francis both through his law firm 
and as an individual.According to the lawsuit, the legal fees were “grossly excessive for 
the services they allegedly performed, but Schaffer knew the invoices 
would be approved and paid by his friend.” The state audit last year 
said Smith approved expenses within minutes of receiving them.Schaffer allegedly outsourced hundreds of thousands of dollars in 
legal work to friends and lawyers at other firms that should have been 
performed by him.Schaffer allegedly billed Saint Francis for legal fees on matters 
unrelated to his job as general counsel. When Schaffer gave a deposition
 in May 2019 in a case brought against his former law firm by its former
 landlord, he directed his attorneys to bill Saint Francis for $6,000. 
Schaffer then approved the payment in his capacity as general counsel 
for Saint Francis.Schaffer allegedly billed Saint Francis nearly $4,000 for moving and 
storage expenses for office furniture in his Chicago law practice.Between June 2019 and October 2020, Schaffer allegedly charged about 
$60,000 on a Saint Francis company credit card. Many of the charges, 
Saint Francis said in its lawsuit, served no legitimate business 
purpose.<h2>IT problems</h2>Saint Francis employed Schaffer’s brother, Whymark, as its chief 
information officer and paid Whymark’s company, WMK Research, more than 
$11 million between January 2018 and February 2021.“WMK’s services were grossly deficient and overpriced,” Saint Francis said in its lawsuit.Saint Francis paid WMK more than $6 million to build a software 
system that failed to function. Whymark outsourced most of the work 
without telling Saint Francis, according to federal and state court 
documents, while inflating the cost of actual services. When the IT 
system crashed in the fall of 2019, Whymark wiped the hard drives on the
 crashed server, claiming it was necessary to reuse the server. At the 
time, Saint Francis was in the middle of a financial audit.“The crash halted the audit for months and delayed the discovery of 
defendants’ self-dealing,” Saint Francis said in its lawsuit.Saint Francis estimated it overpaid in excess of $7 million to WMK, 
and the cost to repair WMK’s work was estimated at $3.2 million.Federal authorities, in a court filing Aug. 1, moved to seize more 
than $700,000 in cash held in three bank accounts controlled by Whymark.
 The action was based on an FBI investigation that found probable cause 
to believe Whymark, of Mount Kisco, New York, ripped off Saint Francis 
for $10.73 million.<h2>Financial ruin</h2>An interim financial officer warned Smith and Schaffer in January 
2020 that Saint Francis was in dire financial condition and could be 
completely out of cash by March 2020.The Saint Francis lawsuit said Smith and Schaffer never disclosed the financial condition to their board of directors.The organization avoided financial collapse because it received the 
maximum $10 million loan through the federal Paycheck Protection 
Program. A state auditor later discovered the organization wasn’t 
eligible for the loan, although it was forgiven anyway by the Small 
Business Administration.The lawsuit said Smith and Schaffer were advised to reserve funds 
from the PPP loan to gain liquidity. Instead, Schaffer allegedly said 
the obligations to his brother’s company would be taken care of first.The organization’s financial hardships were complicated by winning <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/01/25/kansas-foster-care-provider-asks-nebraska-for-immediate-funding-boost-to-maintain-services/">a severely underbid contract</a> in 2019 to provide foster care services in the Omaha, Nebraska, area. The state of Nebraska <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/12/14/kansas-foster-care-provider-agrees-to-leave-nebraska-after-months-of-scrutiny/">severed ties with Saint Francis</a> earlier this year because of extensive performance problems.<h2>Nebraska impact</h2>Nebraska Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh, who <a target="_blank" href="https://www.noiseomaha.com/news-now/2021/3/24/investigative-committee-approved-to-review-foster-care-management-group-and-involved-nebraska-state-government-departmentsnbspnbspnbsp?rq=cavanaugh">spearheaded an investigation</a> into her state’s dealings with Saint Francis, said the revelations in court filings were upsetting.“I think you can draw a correlation between defrauding the 
organization and the outcomes that are coming out,” Cavanaugh said. “I 
mean, any organization is only as good as its weakest link, as people 
say, and if you have this toxic, corrupt mentality at the very top of 
the organization, then you’re not going to be a high-performing, 
high-quality organization. It doesn’t matter how many wonderful people 
you hire underneath that person. That’s where you’re starting from. 
That’s the cornerstone of the organization, and that toxicity and that 
lack of integrity in the work that you’re doing will trickle down.”Cavanaugh said Saint Francis was short staffed in Nebraska and had a 
high turnover rate. Employees didn’t receive adequate training. As a 
result, children ended up in the system longer than they should have, 
and there were concerns about the accuracy of caseworker reports.Cavanaugh also said it was time to “revisit the conversation” about 
whether Nebraska should recoup money the state invested in Saint 
Francis.“We clearly were defrauded, and I think the children of Nebraska 
deserve us to advocate on their behalf,” Cavanaugh said. “By not going 
after the money, not going after the people that ultimately hurt these 
children, I think it’s us just continuing to fail these children.”<h2>Counterclaim</h2>In March of this year, Smith filed a counterclaim for defamation by 
current Saint Francis leadership for “numerous false and defamatory 
statements” made about Smith and his wife in reports published by Kansas
 Reflector.Smith said his former employer “knowingly and/or recklessly provided”
 an internal investigation report to Kansas Reflector, which published 
articles based on “unsubstantiated, false and defamatory statements” 
made within the investigation report.“Smith has been suffered economic, reputational damages, personal 
humiliation, mental anguish, and loss of consortium damages,” the 
counterclaim said.

Saint Francis Ministries suit alleges financial mismanagement

Carol Jean Heller, 90, of Salina, Kan., passed away on Wednesday, 
August 10, 2022. She was born on October 2, 1931, in Norton County, 
Kan., to Curtis and Elizabeth (Lathrop) Kelly.

Carol graduated nursing school in 1952 from St. Luke’s Hospital, 
Kansas City. On November 8, 1953, she and Donald Max Heller were united 
in marriage in Norton.

Carol is survived by her daughters, Marlene Edwards (Dennis), 
Sundance, Wyo., Marilyn Rose (Paul), Palmetto, Fla., and Martha Smith, 
Salina; four grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her parents, and husband, Don.

A private service and burial will be held at Gypsum Hill Cemetery, Salina.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Carol Heller Trust, 
for a nursing scholarship, care of Ryan Mortuary, 137 N 8th St., Salina, 
KS 67401.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660311176306.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Carol Jean Heller, 90, of Salina, Kan., passed away on Wednesday, 
August 10, 2022. She was born on October 2, 1931, in Norton County, 
Kan., to Curtis and Elizabeth (Lathrop) Kelly.Carol graduated nursing school in 1952 from St. Luke’s Hospital, 
Kansas City. On November 8, 1953, she and Donald Max Heller were united 
in marriage in Norton.Carol is survived by her daughters, Marlene Edwards (Dennis), 
Sundance, Wyo., Marilyn Rose (Paul), Palmetto, Fla., and Martha Smith, 
Salina; four grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.She is preceded in death by her parents, and husband, Don.A private service and burial will be held at Gypsum Hill Cemetery, Salina.In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Carol Heller Trust, 
for a nursing scholarship, care of Ryan Mortuary, 137 N 8th St., Salina, 
KS 67401.

Carol Jean Heller

By KAREN CAMPBELL <a href="https://www.hppr.org/hppr-arts-culture-history/2022-08-11/hpprs-david-condos-wins-national-murrow-award-for-his-coverage-of-western-kansas">Kansas News Service</a>

David Condos, a reporter for High Plains Public Radio and the Kansas 
News Service, has won a National Edward R. Murrow Award — one of the 
most prestigious prizes in broadcast journalism — for his coverage of 
western Kansas, its ongoing problems with water, its history of racism 
and how meatpacking transformed the region. 

Condos won the award 
for Excellence in Writing and was selected as the national winner from 
among this year's regional Murrow award recipients across the country.

Condos is a reporter based in Hays for High Plains Public Radio and 
the Kansas News Service, which is a statewide collaboration of public 
radio newsrooms. This is the first-ever national Murrow award for HPPR 
in the station’s 42-year history. 

The Radio Television Digital 
News Association (RTDNA) recognized his work for three stories written 
and reported in western Kansas: 

<a href="https://www.hppr.org/people/david-condos" target="_blank">See all of David Condos' reporting</a>.

“A national organization recognized what’s obvious to people in 
Kansas, that David is a talented and serious journalist,” said Scott 
Canon, the managing editor of the Kansas News Service. “His work has 
brought important stories to a statewide and national audience. David’s 
ability to report complicated stories in easily digestible ways is a 
rare thing.”


The award was given based on “excellence in writing that conveys the 
feeling and significance of events to the listener or viewer.” The 
Murrow Awards are among the most prestigious in news, recognizing the 
importance and impact of journalism as a service to the community.


Condos took home<a href="https://www.hppr.org/hppr-arts-culture-history/2022-06-01/david-condos-hpprs-kansas-news-service-reporter-honored-at-2022-edward-r-murrow-awards" target="_blank"> three regional Edward R. Murrow Awards earlier this year.</a>

Additionally, he received two national awards from the Public Media 
Journalists Association (PMJA): First place in Enterprise reporting for 
his series on racism in Kansas, “Race in the Free State,” and second 
place in Photojournalism for his <a href="https://www.hppr.org/hppr-news/2021-12-11/russell-kansas-bids-farewell-to-its-most-favorite-son-bob-dole" target="_blank">photo of Elizabeth Dole</a> at the funeral of former U.S. Sen. Bob Dole.

Condos will be recognized alongside all of the national Murrow award winners at the RTDNA’s gala in New York City in October. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660312247035.png" alt="Condos" />
 <figcaption>Condos</figcaption>
 </figure>By KAREN CAMPBELL <a href="https://www.hppr.org/hppr-arts-culture-history/2022-08-11/hpprs-david-condos-wins-national-murrow-award-for-his-coverage-of-western-kansas">Kansas News Service</a>David Condos, a reporter for High Plains Public Radio and the Kansas 
News Service, has won a National Edward R. Murrow Award — one of the 
most prestigious prizes in broadcast journalism — for his coverage of 
western Kansas, its ongoing problems with water, its history of racism 
and how meatpacking transformed the region. Condos won the award 
for Excellence in Writing and was selected as the national winner from 
among this year's regional Murrow award recipients across the country.Condos is a reporter based in Hays for High Plains Public Radio and 
the Kansas News Service, which is a statewide collaboration of public 
radio newsrooms. This is the first-ever national Murrow award for HPPR 
in the station’s 42-year history. The Radio Television Digital 
News Association (RTDNA) recognized his work for three stories written 
and reported in western Kansas: <ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.hppr.org/hppr-news/2021-03-02/what-the-history-of-noose-road-tells-us-about-kansas-race-and-the-lynchings-of-black-men" target="_blank">What The History Of 'Noose Road' Tells Us About Kansas, Race And The Lynchings Of Black Men</a></li><li><a href="https://www.hppr.org/hppr-news/2021-05-05/farmers-trying-to-save-the-ogallala-aquifer-face-tension-from-peers-but-their-profits-are-improving" target="_blank">Farmers Trying To Save The Ogallala Aquifer Face Tension From Peers, But Their Profits Are Improving</a></li><li><a href="https://www.hppr.org/hppr-news/2021-10-25/how-a-meatpacking-plant-changed-one-kansas-town-40-years-ago-and-left-a-colorado-community-behind" target="_blank">How a meatpacking plant changed one Kansas town 40 years ago and left a Colorado community behind</a> </li>
 </ul><a href="https://www.hppr.org/people/david-condos" target="_blank">See all of David Condos' reporting</a>. 
“A national organization recognized what’s obvious to people in 
Kansas, that David is a talented and serious journalist,” said Scott 
Canon, the managing editor of the Kansas News Service. “His work has 
brought important stories to a statewide and national audience. David’s 
ability to report complicated stories in easily digestible ways is a 
rare thing.”
The award was given based on “excellence in writing that conveys the 
feeling and significance of events to the listener or viewer.” The 
Murrow Awards are among the most prestigious in news, recognizing the 
importance and impact of journalism as a service to the community.
Condos took home<a href="https://www.hppr.org/hppr-arts-culture-history/2022-06-01/david-condos-hpprs-kansas-news-service-reporter-honored-at-2022-edward-r-murrow-awards" target="_blank"> three regional Edward R. Murrow Awards earlier this year.</a> Additionally, he received two national awards from the Public Media 
Journalists Association (PMJA): First place in Enterprise reporting for 
his series on racism in Kansas, “Race in the Free State,” and second 
place in Photojournalism for his <a href="https://www.hppr.org/hppr-news/2021-12-11/russell-kansas-bids-farewell-to-its-most-favorite-son-bob-dole" target="_blank">photo of Elizabeth Dole</a> at the funeral of former U.S. Sen. Bob Dole.
Condos will be recognized alongside all of the national Murrow award winners at the RTDNA’s gala in New York City in October. <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660312331200.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>