Douglas John Wolters, 74, of Atwood, KS, died Saturday, April 23, 2022, at the Good Samaritan Center, Atwood. 
A visitation will be held Friday, April 29, 2022, from 5 to 7 p.m. at 
Baalmann Mortuary, Atwood. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., 
Saturday, April 30, at Redeemer Lutheran Church, Atwood. Burial will 
follow in Fairview Cemetery, Atwood. Memorials may be made to God’s 
Little Saints Preschool or Rawlins County Hospital and sent in care of 
Baalmann Mortuary, P.O. Box 391, Colby, KS, 67701. 
Douglas John Wolters was born October 17, 1947 in St. Francis, Kansas, 
the first child of Clarence John and Dorothy (Schmidt) Wolters. 
Doug was baptized at the Trinity Lutheran Church parsonage north of 
Ludell by his maternal grandfather, Pastor John Schmidt. Doug was later
 confirmed in the Lutheran faith at Grace Lutheran Church in Atwood. 
Doug later became a member of Redeemer Lutheran Church, Atwood. 
Doug attended the Queen of Driftwood Country School, District 96, 
located nine miles north and a mile west of Atwood, first through eighth
 grades, walking the 1.5 miles in good weather. He then attended Atwood
 Community High School, graduating with the class of 1965, the largest 
in its history. Doug attended Kansas State University, Manhattan, 
earning a bachelor’s degree in Animal Science in January, 1970. He was a
 member of Beta Sigma Psi Lutheran fraternity at KSU. Doug enlisted in 
the National Guard, serving from January to May of 1970, followed by six
 years on reserve status. 
In his last semester at KSU, Doug met Pattie Lucille Bohn, of Eskridge, 
Kansas. On December 27, 1970, Pattie and Doug were united in marriage at
 First Lutheran Church in Manhattan, KS. They returned to the family 
farm and dairy in Atwood, residing at the Rosie Reuber farm four miles 
north of Atwood. In May, 1978, they moved into the new home across the 
road from the family farm, which they had constructed themselves with 
some assistance from family. 
Doug and Pattie welcomed their first son, Joshua John, on December 4th, 
1973. Their second son, Matthew Wyatt, was born November 19, 1979. 
In 1993, they became sole owners of Wolters Farms, Inc. In the fall of 
1995, the dairy herd was sold. Doug and Pattie continued to grow grain 
crops on the farm, spanning a total of 50 years actively farming until 
transitioning the farm to the next generation. 
Doug was actively involved in his community, church and agricultural 
organizations. He served as Elder of Grace Lutheran Church and 
President, Trustee and Elder of Redeemer Lutheran Church. Boards he 
served on include Atwood Coop &amp; Equity, Lutheran Church Missouri 
Synod-Kansas District, Rawlins County Extension Council (he was chairman
 for several years), and Co-Bank. Along with Pattie, Doug served as a 
4-H community leader and was a member of Atwood FFA backers, though he 
was never a member of 4-H or FFA in his youth. 
He was preceded in death by his parents and brother-in-law Edward Schmidtke. 
Survivors include his wife, Pattie, of the home; sons and 
daughters-in-law, Joshua Wolters (Lisa) and Matthew Wolters (Donelle), 
all of Atwood; grandchildren Ryan Wolters and Kaitlyn Wolters, 
Manhattan, KS, Henry Wolters and Elise Wolters of Atwood; sibling, 
Richard Wolters (Cathy), Liberal, KS, Beverly Schmidtke, Morristown, MN,
 Mark Wolters (Brenda), Atwood, and John Wolters (Jo) of Manhattan, KS; 
and many nieces and nephews.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650901747696.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Douglas John Wolters, 74, of Atwood, KS, died Saturday, April 23, 2022, at the Good Samaritan Center, Atwood. 
A visitation will be held Friday, April 29, 2022, from 5 to 7 p.m. at 
Baalmann Mortuary, Atwood. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., 
Saturday, April 30, at Redeemer Lutheran Church, Atwood. Burial will 
follow in Fairview Cemetery, Atwood. Memorials may be made to God’s 
Little Saints Preschool or Rawlins County Hospital and sent in care of 
Baalmann Mortuary, P.O. Box 391, Colby, KS, 67701. 
Douglas John Wolters was born October 17, 1947 in St. Francis, Kansas, 
the first child of Clarence John and Dorothy (Schmidt) Wolters. 
Doug was baptized at the Trinity Lutheran Church parsonage north of 
Ludell by his maternal grandfather, Pastor John Schmidt. Doug was later
 confirmed in the Lutheran faith at Grace Lutheran Church in Atwood. 
Doug later became a member of Redeemer Lutheran Church, Atwood. 
Doug attended the Queen of Driftwood Country School, District 96, 
located nine miles north and a mile west of Atwood, first through eighth
 grades, walking the 1.5 miles in good weather. He then attended Atwood
 Community High School, graduating with the class of 1965, the largest 
in its history. Doug attended Kansas State University, Manhattan, 
earning a bachelor’s degree in Animal Science in January, 1970. He was a
 member of Beta Sigma Psi Lutheran fraternity at KSU. Doug enlisted in 
the National Guard, serving from January to May of 1970, followed by six
 years on reserve status. 
In his last semester at KSU, Doug met Pattie Lucille Bohn, of Eskridge, 
Kansas. On December 27, 1970, Pattie and Doug were united in marriage at
 First Lutheran Church in Manhattan, KS. They returned to the family 
farm and dairy in Atwood, residing at the Rosie Reuber farm four miles 
north of Atwood. In May, 1978, they moved into the new home across the 
road from the family farm, which they had constructed themselves with 
some assistance from family. 
Doug and Pattie welcomed their first son, Joshua John, on December 4th, 
1973. Their second son, Matthew Wyatt, was born November 19, 1979. 
In 1993, they became sole owners of Wolters Farms, Inc. In the fall of 
1995, the dairy herd was sold. Doug and Pattie continued to grow grain 
crops on the farm, spanning a total of 50 years actively farming until 
transitioning the farm to the next generation. 
Doug was actively involved in his community, church and agricultural 
organizations. He served as Elder of Grace Lutheran Church and 
President, Trustee and Elder of Redeemer Lutheran Church. Boards he 
served on include Atwood Coop &amp; Equity, Lutheran Church Missouri 
Synod-Kansas District, Rawlins County Extension Council (he was chairman
 for several years), and Co-Bank. Along with Pattie, Doug served as a 
4-H community leader and was a member of Atwood FFA backers, though he 
was never a member of 4-H or FFA in his youth. 
He was preceded in death by his parents and brother-in-law Edward Schmidtke. 
Survivors include his wife, Pattie, of the home; sons and 
daughters-in-law, Joshua Wolters (Lisa) and Matthew Wolters (Donelle), 
all of Atwood; grandchildren Ryan Wolters and Kaitlyn Wolters, 
Manhattan, KS, Henry Wolters and Elise Wolters of Atwood; sibling, 
Richard Wolters (Cathy), Liberal, KS, Beverly Schmidtke, Morristown, MN,
 Mark Wolters (Brenda), Atwood, and John Wolters (Jo) of Manhattan, KS; 
and many nieces and nephews.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

Douglas John Wolters

Connie R. Pennington, age 55, of Goodland passed away Saturday, April 23, 2022, at her home in Goodland.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Connie was born on January 14, 1967, to Marlin and Ruby (Bateman) 
Phifer in Goodland.&nbsp; She grew up and went to school in Goodland and 
graduated from Goodland High School in 1985.&nbsp;&nbsp;

On October 21, 2005, she married Tony Pennington in Goodland.&nbsp; Connie
 worked as a waitress and cook at many restaurants in Goodland and 
Sharon Springs.&nbsp; Connie enjoyed her dogs and cats, and dearly loved 
spending time with her family and friends, especially her 
grandchildren.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Connie is preceded in death by grandparents, parents, Marlin and Ruby and her cousin, Diane Mowry.&nbsp;&nbsp;

She is survived by her husband, Tony; sons, RJ Phifer and Randy 
(Danielle) Cochran of Norcatur, KS; stepchildren, Dustin (Ashley) 
Pennington of Oklahoma City, OK and Jennifer (Zach) Pennington of 
Goodland.&nbsp; Grandchildren, Robert Traxel, Raiden and Dezirae Phifer, 
Anthony and Kathrine Whitten; sister, Deb (Kent) Brown of Oberlin; 
brother, Lonnie (Amy) Phifer of Hammond, IN; brother, Danny Phifer of 
Phoenix, AZ; sisters, Melody Okeson of Grand Junction, CO and Kathy Noel
 of Logan, KS; and many more family and friends.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Memorials may be designated to Connie Pennington Memorial Fund and 
may be left at the services or sent in care of Bateman Funeral 
Home,&nbsp;P.O. Box 278, Goodland, Kansas 67735. For information and online 
condolences visit&nbsp;www.batemanfuneral.com.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650896356580.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Connie R. Pennington, age 55, of Goodland passed away Saturday, April 23, 2022, at her home in Goodland.&nbsp;&nbsp;Connie was born on January 14, 1967, to Marlin and Ruby (Bateman) 
Phifer in Goodland.&nbsp; She grew up and went to school in Goodland and 
graduated from Goodland High School in 1985.&nbsp;&nbsp;On October 21, 2005, she married Tony Pennington in Goodland.&nbsp; Connie
 worked as a waitress and cook at many restaurants in Goodland and 
Sharon Springs.&nbsp; Connie enjoyed her dogs and cats, and dearly loved 
spending time with her family and friends, especially her 
grandchildren.&nbsp;&nbsp;Connie is preceded in death by grandparents, parents, Marlin and Ruby and her cousin, Diane Mowry.&nbsp;&nbsp;She is survived by her husband, Tony; sons, RJ Phifer and Randy 
(Danielle) Cochran of Norcatur, KS; stepchildren, Dustin (Ashley) 
Pennington of Oklahoma City, OK and Jennifer (Zach) Pennington of 
Goodland.&nbsp; Grandchildren, Robert Traxel, Raiden and Dezirae Phifer, 
Anthony and Kathrine Whitten; sister, Deb (Kent) Brown of Oberlin; 
brother, Lonnie (Amy) Phifer of Hammond, IN; brother, Danny Phifer of 
Phoenix, AZ; sisters, Melody Okeson of Grand Junction, CO and Kathy Noel
 of Logan, KS; and many more family and friends.&nbsp;&nbsp;Memorials may be designated to Connie Pennington Memorial Fund and 
may be left at the services or sent in care of Bateman Funeral 
Home,&nbsp;P.O. Box 278, Goodland, Kansas 67735. For information and online 
condolences visit&nbsp;www.batemanfuneral.com.Click <a href="https://www.batemanfuneral.com/obituary/Connie-Pennington">HERE</a> for service details.

Connie R. Pennington

Beverly Fitzhugh, 75, of Excelsior Springs, MO, died and went to be with the Lord Jesus Christ on April 13, 2022. She died at home after a relatively short battle with lung cancer.

Bev was born October 19, 1946, in Norton, KS, to Jim and Doris Jean Fitzhugh.

She is survived by three brothers, David Fitzhugh, Rodney Fitzhugh, and Mike Fitzhugh, and one sister, Peggy Vertiz; two children, Robert (Bob) Fitzpatrick and Deena Province; eight grandchildren, Lewie, Shay, Sadie, Sarah, Eli, Emerson, Alexis (deceased), Amanda; and four great-grandchildren.

Bev was a devout Christian and a faithful member of the Excelsior Springs Church until the day of her death. She ran a photography business from 1968 until 2010 when she had to quit for health reasons.&nbsp; For a hobby, she enjoyed doing needle work including cross-stitch and crocheting.

She will be sorely missed by her family, church, friends, and fellow residents at The Oaks.

Funeral services were April 15, 2022, at the Bross &amp; Spidle Funeral Home in Excelsior Springs, MO.&nbsp;

Memorial contributions are suggested to ASPCA (<a href="https://www.aspca.org/" target="_blank">www.aspca.org</a>).

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650819324329.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Beverly Fitzhugh, 75, of Excelsior Springs, MO, died and went to be with the Lord Jesus Christ on April 13, 2022. She died at home after a relatively short battle with lung cancer.Bev was born October 19, 1946, in Norton, KS, to Jim and Doris Jean Fitzhugh.She is survived by three brothers, David Fitzhugh, Rodney Fitzhugh, and Mike Fitzhugh, and one sister, Peggy Vertiz; two children, Robert (Bob) Fitzpatrick and Deena Province; eight grandchildren, Lewie, Shay, Sadie, Sarah, Eli, Emerson, Alexis (deceased), Amanda; and four great-grandchildren.Bev was a devout Christian and a faithful member of the Excelsior Springs Church until the day of her death. She ran a photography business from 1968 until 2010 when she had to quit for health reasons.&nbsp; For a hobby, she enjoyed doing needle work including cross-stitch and crocheting.She will be sorely missed by her family, church, friends, and fellow residents at The Oaks.Funeral services were April 15, 2022, at the Bross &amp; Spidle Funeral Home in Excelsior Springs, MO.&nbsp;Memorial contributions are suggested to ASPCA (<a href="https://www.aspca.org/" target="_blank">www.aspca.org</a>).

Beverly Fitzhugh

Rosamary “Jo” Joyce Gregor was a caring wife, mother, grandmother, 
sister and friend. She left this world suddenly on Monday, April 18, 
2022, at the age of 74. She was surrounded by family at Saint Luke’s 
Heart Center in Kansas City, Missouri. She was born on October 31st, 
1947, in Syracuse, KS. She was the daughter of Thomas Whalen and Evelyn 
“E.I.” Whalen. Jo married James Jacob “J.J.” Gregor on September 20, 
1975 in Leoti, KS. He died on February 18th, of 2013. 
She spent all of her school years at Leoti and graduated from Leoti with
 a high school diploma with the class of 1965. She attended college 
before marrying J.J. Gregor and moving to Pendennis, KS. There she spent
 her time working for the First State Bank of Healy as a bank clerk and 
retired in 2015 as the Assistant Cashier after working there for over 30
 years. She also served on the board for Lane County Library and The 
American Legion Auxiliary. 
Survived by her two sons – Jason James Gregor of Lees Summit, MO and 
Josh Whalen Gregor and his wife Lauren of Shawnee, KS. She was a proud 
grandma to Logan and Reagan Gregor. She is also survived by one sister 
and two brothers – Penny (Greg) Smith of San Antonio, TX, Rex (Patti) 
and Major (Cheryl) Whalen of Leoti, KS. She was proceeded in death by 
her parents and her husband. She enjoyed spending time outdoors working 
in her garden and watching butterflies and birds. She always loved 
cheering on her Kansas Jayhawks and was ecstatic seeing them win another
 National Championship. Her loving smile will be missed. 
Memorial Service will be at 10:30 AM Thursday, April 28 at First Baptist
 Church in Scott City with Rev Kyle Evans officiating. Burial at a 
later date will be in Whiterock Cemetery in Pendennis.

 Memorial are 
suggested to Lane County Library or Scott County Library in care of 
Boomhower Funeral Home.  Condolences may be posted at 
www.garnandfuneralhomes.com

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650817292066.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Rosamary “Jo” Joyce Gregor was a caring wife, mother, grandmother, 
sister and friend. She left this world suddenly on Monday, April 18, 
2022, at the age of 74. She was surrounded by family at Saint Luke’s 
Heart Center in Kansas City, Missouri. She was born on October 31st, 
1947, in Syracuse, KS. She was the daughter of Thomas Whalen and Evelyn 
“E.I.” Whalen. Jo married James Jacob “J.J.” Gregor on September 20, 
1975 in Leoti, KS. He died on February 18th, of 2013. 
She spent all of her school years at Leoti and graduated from Leoti with
 a high school diploma with the class of 1965. She attended college 
before marrying J.J. Gregor and moving to Pendennis, KS. There she spent
 her time working for the First State Bank of Healy as a bank clerk and 
retired in 2015 as the Assistant Cashier after working there for over 30
 years. She also served on the board for Lane County Library and The 
American Legion Auxiliary. 
Survived by her two sons – Jason James Gregor of Lees Summit, MO and 
Josh Whalen Gregor and his wife Lauren of Shawnee, KS. She was a proud 
grandma to Logan and Reagan Gregor. She is also survived by one sister 
and two brothers – Penny (Greg) Smith of San Antonio, TX, Rex (Patti) 
and Major (Cheryl) Whalen of Leoti, KS. She was proceeded in death by 
her parents and her husband. She enjoyed spending time outdoors working 
in her garden and watching butterflies and birds. She always loved 
cheering on her Kansas Jayhawks and was ecstatic seeing them win another
 National Championship. Her loving smile will be missed. 
Memorial Service will be at 10:30 AM Thursday, April 28 at First Baptist
 Church in Scott City with Rev Kyle Evans officiating. Burial at a 
later date will be in Whiterock Cemetery in Pendennis. Memorial are 
suggested to Lane County Library or Scott County Library in care of 
Boomhower Funeral Home. Condolences may be posted at 
www.garnandfuneralhomes.com

Rosamary 'Jo' Joyce Gregor

Groups, state agencies with interest in trail projects to attend

TOPEKA, Kan. –&nbsp;All trails lead to Topeka and the Sunflower Foundation Nonprofit Center, which next week is set to host a one-day learning opportunity for trail builders and enthusiasts, as well as groups, agencies and other stakeholders from around Kansas with an interest in the development and use of public trails.

Powered by Trails: Day of Learning @ the Powerhouse, will be 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 27, at the Powerhouse Education Center on the Sunflower campus, 5820 SW Sixth Ave., in Topeka. The Powerhouse, which specializes in holding events for nonprofit organizations, has been holding events since October 2021. This will be the first event hosted by Sunflower at the new center.

The event will include expert speakers, discussions, networking and the sharing of ideas related to trail projects and their benefits to the health, well-being and vitality of communities. It also serves as the culmination of a 14-week program in which trail-building groups from around the state learned advanced strategies for trail user assessment, economic impact analysis, and messaging and communications around the value of trails.

The Sunflower-led Trail Champion Cohort (TCC) program, which began in January and continued into the spring, provided participants with virtual and in-person learning opportunities, one-on-one coaching and networking with state agencies and nonprofit organizations. The TCC consisted of 16 groups from around the state representing such sectors as local government, business, health, community improvement, advocacy, and under-represented populations in their respective communities.

Since it began in 2005, the Sunflower Trails program has partnered with and invested in communities, nonprofits and schools to help build, expand, enhance or connect Kansas trails.

“Sunflower Trails has been a hallmark program for the past 17 years,” said Billie Hall, president and CEO of Sunflower Foundation. “Public trails can be a powerful strategy in providing safe, accessible venues for outdoor physical activity, as well as the ability to connect with nature and community – all elements that contribute to better health and well-being. It is very fitting that trail champions from across the state should join one of the first events at Powerhouse.”

The following groups participated in the TCC: Ad Astra Trail Collective, Independence; Columbus Trails Committee; Friends of Lawrence Area Trails; KCK Heritage Trail/Groundwork NRG, Kansas City, Kan.; Kansas Alliance for Wetlands and Streams; Friends of the River/Friends of Land Institute, Salina; Liberal Area Coalition for Families; Lindsborg/Meadowlark Trail, McPherson County; Manhattan/Flint Hills Coalition; Osawatomie Trails Task Force; RISE Cowley County; Topeka/Shawnee Co/Kanza Trails; Special Olympics Kansas; Thrive Allen County; Topside Trails, Goodland; and Wichita/Prairie Travelers.

The TCC, designed to expand participants’ knowledge and connections so they can better champion trails in their communities, included opportunities for participants to engage with state agencies and nonprofits that have potential to partner with trail groups.

“The primary goal of the TCC is to provide high-level training and information to benefit and grow trail-oriented projects,” said Elizabeth Burger, Sunflower senior program officer. “While building the trail is clearly the first step, there are opportunities to advance this work through assessment, analysis and messaging. Trails can provide many economic and quality of life benefits, and we want to position communities to generate and provide that data in ways that are relevant to decision-makers and residents.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

Sunflower Foundation worked with Michele Archie and The Harbinger Consultancy, a group nationally known for its integrated approach to community and economic development, to develop the TCC curriculum. Topics included community benefits of trails and assessing their economic impact, how to survey trail users, telling your trail’s story through social media and other messaging, communicating the value of trails to external stakeholders, and how to effectively recruit volunteers.

Archie, co-chair of the National Geotourism Council, will be speaking virtually at the Powered by Trails event. Her presentation is titled&nbsp;“Using Trail Data to Change Bodies, Hearts and Minds.”&nbsp;

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Amy Camp, founder of Cycle Forward, a consulting agency that supports trail communities across the United States and Canada, will virtually present “Cultivating a Trail Town State of Mind.”

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Mike Goodwin, of the Kansas Trails Council and Get Outdoors Kansas, will speak about the “Trail in a Box,” a mobile toolbox with everything a group needs to create a nature trail.

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Dustin Gale and Kayla Savage, of the Kansas Department of Commerce, will provide an overview of funding available to trail groups.

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A resource roundtable to connect participants with various state agencies and nonprofits.

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A session on increasing accessibility to trails to underserved populations.

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Each TCC group will highlight ongoing trail work in their respective community.

The event is free and open to all TCC team members. Other participants and trail champions who were not part of the TCC have been invited to participate or speak at the event. Registration for the event is closed.

To date, the Sunflower Trails Program has partnered on more than 210 trail projects in almost 80 counties.

“During COVID, we have learned just how important access to the outdoors and trails could be for not only physical but mental health,” Burger said. “To this end, we strive to create a culture of trails that supports their use by everyone, regardless of age, ability, income or background.”&nbsp;

For more information on the Sunflower Trails program and the Powered by Trails event, contact Burger at<a href="mailto:eburger@sunflowerfoundation.org">eburger@sunflowerfoundation.org</a>&nbsp;or 785-232-3000, or visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.sunflowerfoundation.org/">www.sunflowerfoundation.org</a>.

ABOUT SUNFLOWER FOUNDATION Sunflower Foundation was established in 2000 as a statewide health philanthropy with a mission to serve as a catalyst for improving the health of all Kansans. The foundation believes that a thriving, sustainable nonprofit sector contributes to healthy communities, and we are committed to investing in mission-aligned nonprofits through grants, education, advocacy, collaborative learning and capacity building. To learn more, visit the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.sunflowerfoundation.org/">Sunflower Foundation website</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650660020137.jpeg" alt="Photo courtesy Sunflower Foundation" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Sunflower Foundation</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Groups, state agencies with interest in trail projects to attend</h2>Sunflower FoundationTOPEKA, Kan. –&nbsp;All trails lead to Topeka and the Sunflower Foundation Nonprofit Center, which next week is set to host a one-day learning opportunity for trail builders and enthusiasts, as well as groups, agencies and other stakeholders from around Kansas with an interest in the development and use of public trails.Powered by Trails: Day of Learning @ the Powerhouse, will be 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 27, at the Powerhouse Education Center on the Sunflower campus, 5820 SW Sixth Ave., in Topeka. The Powerhouse, which specializes in holding events for nonprofit organizations, has been holding events since October 2021. This will be the first event hosted by Sunflower at the new center.The event will include expert speakers, discussions, networking and the sharing of ideas related to trail projects and their benefits to the health, well-being and vitality of communities. It also serves as the culmination of a 14-week program in which trail-building groups from around the state learned advanced strategies for trail user assessment, economic impact analysis, and messaging and communications around the value of trails.The Sunflower-led Trail Champion Cohort (TCC) program, which began in January and continued into the spring, provided participants with virtual and in-person learning opportunities, one-on-one coaching and networking with state agencies and nonprofit organizations. The TCC consisted of 16 groups from around the state representing such sectors as local government, business, health, community improvement, advocacy, and under-represented populations in their respective communities.Since it began in 2005, the Sunflower Trails program has partnered with and invested in communities, nonprofits and schools to help build, expand, enhance or connect Kansas trails.“Sunflower Trails has been a hallmark program for the past 17 years,” said Billie Hall, president and CEO of Sunflower Foundation. “Public trails can be a powerful strategy in providing safe, accessible venues for outdoor physical activity, as well as the ability to connect with nature and community – all elements that contribute to better health and well-being. It is very fitting that trail champions from across the state should join one of the first events at Powerhouse.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650660053788.jpeg" alt="Photo courtesy Sunflower Foundation" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Sunflower Foundation</figcaption>
 </figure>The following groups participated in the TCC: Ad Astra Trail Collective, Independence; Columbus Trails Committee; Friends of Lawrence Area Trails; KCK Heritage Trail/Groundwork NRG, Kansas City, Kan.; Kansas Alliance for Wetlands and Streams; Friends of the River/Friends of Land Institute, Salina; Liberal Area Coalition for Families; Lindsborg/Meadowlark Trail, McPherson County; Manhattan/Flint Hills Coalition; Osawatomie Trails Task Force; RISE Cowley County; Topeka/Shawnee Co/Kanza Trails; Special Olympics Kansas; Thrive Allen County; Topside Trails, Goodland; and Wichita/Prairie Travelers.The TCC, designed to expand participants’ knowledge and connections so they can better champion trails in their communities, included opportunities for participants to engage with state agencies and nonprofits that have potential to partner with trail groups.“The primary goal of the TCC is to provide high-level training and information to benefit and grow trail-oriented projects,” said Elizabeth Burger, Sunflower senior program officer. “While building the trail is clearly the first step, there are opportunities to advance this work through assessment, analysis and messaging. Trails can provide many economic and quality of life benefits, and we want to position communities to generate and provide that data in ways that are relevant to decision-makers and residents.”&nbsp;&nbsp;Sunflower Foundation worked with Michele Archie and The Harbinger Consultancy, a group nationally known for its integrated approach to community and economic development, to develop the TCC curriculum. Topics included community benefits of trails and assessing their economic impact, how to survey trail users, telling your trail’s story through social media and other messaging, communicating the value of trails to external stakeholders, and how to effectively recruit volunteers.Archie, co-chair of the National Geotourism Council, will be speaking virtually at the Powered by Trails event. Her presentation is titled&nbsp;“Using Trail Data to Change Bodies, Hearts and Minds.”&nbsp;Other speakers and sessions include:·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Amy Camp, founder of Cycle Forward, a consulting agency that supports trail communities across the United States and Canada, will virtually present “Cultivating a Trail Town State of Mind.”·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Mike Goodwin, of the Kansas Trails Council and Get Outdoors Kansas, will speak about the “Trail in a Box,” a mobile toolbox with everything a group needs to create a nature trail.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Dustin Gale and Kayla Savage, of the Kansas Department of Commerce, will provide an overview of funding available to trail groups.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A resource roundtable to connect participants with various state agencies and nonprofits.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A session on increasing accessibility to trails to underserved populations.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Each TCC group will highlight ongoing trail work in their respective community.The event is free and open to all TCC team members. Other participants and trail champions who were not part of the TCC have been invited to participate or speak at the event. Registration for the event is closed.To date, the Sunflower Trails Program has partnered on more than 210 trail projects in almost 80 counties.“During COVID, we have learned just how important access to the outdoors and trails could be for not only physical but mental health,” Burger said. “To this end, we strive to create a culture of trails that supports their use by everyone, regardless of age, ability, income or background.”&nbsp;For more information on the Sunflower Trails program and the Powered by Trails event, contact Burger at<a href="mailto:eburger@sunflowerfoundation.org">eburger@sunflowerfoundation.org</a>&nbsp;or 785-232-3000, or visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.sunflowerfoundation.org/">www.sunflowerfoundation.org</a>.ABOUT SUNFLOWER FOUNDATION Sunflower Foundation was established in 2000 as a statewide health philanthropy with a mission to serve as a catalyst for improving the health of all Kansans. The foundation believes that a thriving, sustainable nonprofit sector contributes to healthy communities, and we are committed to investing in mission-aligned nonprofits through grants, education, advocacy, collaborative learning and capacity building. To learn more, visit the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.sunflowerfoundation.org/">Sunflower Foundation website</a>.

Sunflower Foundation hosting Powered by Trails event

KANSAS CITY (AP) — When the coronavirus pandemic first hit the U.S., sales of window coverings at Halcyon Shades quickly went dark. So the suburban St. Louis business did what hundreds of other small manufacturers did: It pivoted to make protective supplies, with help from an $870,000 government grant.

But things haven't worked out as planned. The company quit making face shields because it wasn't profitable. It still hasn't sold a single N95 mask because of struggles to get equipment, materials and regulatory approval.

“So far, it has been a net drain of funds and resources and energy," Halcyon Shades owner Jim Schmersahl said.

Many companies that began producing personal protective equipment with patriotic optimism have scaled back, shut down or given up, according to an Associated Press analysis based on numerous interviews with manufacturers. Some already have sold equipment they bought with state government grants.

As COVID-19 was stressing hospitals and shuttering businesses in 2020, elected officials&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-news-ap-top-news-in-state-wire-az-state-wire-virus-outbreak-af1e380ee4445b32d13edef8035efb22">touted the need to boost U.S. production</a>&nbsp;of protective gear: “All this stuff should be made in the United States and not in China,” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said in remarks echoed by others.

Yet many manufacturers who answered the call have faced logistical hurdles, regulatory rejections, slumping demand and fierce competition from foreign suppliers. On April 1, Florida-based American Surgical Mask Co. became one of the latest to close.

“I’m just done with the fight,” CEO Matt Brandman told the AP.

After the initial scramble for PPE subsided, many industry newcomers faced difficulty selling products. Government agencies sometimes wanted huge quantities at tough-to-meet deadlines. Hospital systems tended to contract with established suppliers. Retail sales waned after every virus surge.

“At the end of the day, when everybody said they wanted American-made, nobody’s buying, not even the state,” said Tony Blogumas, vice president of Green Resources Consulting, a rural Missouri firm that received an $800,000 state grant but has sold only a few thousand masks. “We’re kind of upset about the whole situation.”

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson also is disappointed. His administration divided $20 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds among 48 businesses for the production of masks, gowns, sanitizer and other supplies. Parson hoped to seed a permanent field of manufacturers.

“I’m still a firm believer in that — that we need to be making PPE here in this state,” Parson said. “Unfortunately, a lot of entities went right back to where they were getting it before.”

The onset of the pandemic revealed that the U.S. was highly dependent on foreign countries for protective gear. When&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-news-ap-top-news-wa-state-wire-sd-state-wire-virus-outbreak-6d9382c1e8ee36f9ed1a4dfe7815ceb1">China limited exports</a>&nbsp;because of its own battle against COVID-19,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-local-governments-ap-top-news-health-understanding-the-outbreak-a464316e25560d393bd07a021b7e81ba">U.S. stockpiles plummeted</a>. Prices skyrocketed as federal officials, governors and health care systems&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/medical-equipment-il-state-wire-ny-state-wire-va-state-wire-virus-outbreak-829280426e49dfdf7f2cb1be4b0cfe05">competed for supplies</a>.

Though federal stockpiles have been replenished, shriveling domestic production has raised concerns that state governments, medical facilities and others could again get stuck scrambling for gear during a future pandemic.

The AP identified more than $125 million in grants to spur production of pandemic supplies made to over 300 business in 10 states — Alabama, Hawaii, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, New York and Ohio. It’s possible that grants were awarded in additional states, but there is no central clearinghouse to track them.

In November 2020, Alabama awarded one of the single largest grants — nearly $10.6 million from federal pandemic relief funds — to HomTex Inc. The company was to equip a new Selma facility to make 250 million surgical masks and 45 million N95 masks annually. The plant returned $1.8 million of the state grant and has yet to make anything due to a lack of customers.

“I can’t produce product that I can’t sell,” HomTex President Jeremy Wootten said.

Other companies also had trouble living up to political hype.

In October 2020, New York announced eight grants that then-Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul, now the governor, said were "a model for how we build back better for the post-pandemic future.” Those included $800,000 for newly formed Altor Safety and $1 million for startup firm NYPPE.

But NYPPE's equipment wasn't ready until February 2021, by which time the market had changed, President Connor Knapp said.

So Knapp tapped the brakes on his plans. NYPPE still hasn't sold any N95 masks because it lacks regulatory approval. It just recently scaled up production of surgical masks, after obtaining a U.S. Food and Drug Administration certification that came with its purchase of Altor Safety.

Some PPE manufacturers point to federal regulations as part of the reason for their struggles. Three-ply masks need FDA approval to be marketed for medical use — an important designation for building a long-term customer base.

That process can be time-consuming. Facing delays, Angstrom Manufacturing in Missouri ended up buying another business that already had FDA approval, President Chris Carron said. By then, it was fall 2021 — a year after it received a state grant.

Companies need approval from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health to market products as N95 respirators, which filter at least 95% of airborne particles.

During the first two years of the pandemic, NIOSH approved 30 new manufacturers — more than seven times the typical number during a similar pre-pandemic period, according to agency data. Some applications remain pending, while numerous others were denied.

Halcyon Shades' N95 certification was rejected in October because its samples didn't have head straps attached. While the company works on another application, its equipment sits idle inside the clear plastic-sheet walls of a “clean room” specially built to shield materials from airborne contaminants. Partially finished masks remain paused on a conveyor belt, waiting to be deposited into a cardboard box.

Without federal approval, "we’re just dead in the water,” said Schmersahl, the company owner.

Progress reports filed with the Missouri Department of Economic Development show that nearly all its PPE grant recipients faced challenges by July 2021, especially with sales.

Patriot Medical Devices, which received $750,000 from Missouri, hired nearly 100 people as it cranked out millions of masks during a COVID-19 surge in late 2020 and early 2021, CEO Rick Needham said. Fewer than 10 employees remain.

“We felt it was our patriotic duty to do something to help solve the problem,” Needham said. But, he added, “It’s frankly a little bit of a dysfunctional business model at this point.”

Ohio awarded $20.8 million to 73 businesses to manufacture pandemic-related supplies, according to state data. Of 60 businesses that complied with a recent reporting deadline, more than one-third no longer produced PPE by the end of 2021.

Cleveland Veteran Business Solutions, which received a $500,000 grant to get into the PPE business, made about 5 million surgical masks beginning in August 2020. It ultimately halted production in the face of cheaper imports and sold its machines this year, co-founder Taner Eren said.

“It was surprising and disappointing strategically that there wasn’t support for a local PPE manufacturing industry," Eren said.

The business was among several dozen that banded together to form the American Mask Manufacturer's Association with the goal of sustaining the industry. The group's membership has dwindled as more and more go out of business.

Association organizers say the industry has reached a critical point. They want the federal government to treat PPE manufacturers like the nation's defense industry — entering into long-term contracts to perpetually replenish a stockpile for future pandemics or emergencies.

“If the federal government doesn’t come in and help support the U.S. manufacturing base, it’s almost certainly going to go back to China, and we’ll be just as vulnerable as we were in early 2020 and 2019,” said Brent Dillie, the association chairman and co-founder of Premium-PPE, a Virginia manufacturer started during the pandemic that has shed about two-thirds of its roughly 300 employees.

Infrastructure legislation signed by President Joe Biden took a step toward bolstering domestic suppliers. Effective in February, it required new contracts for PPE purchased by the departments of Health and Human Services, Homeland Security and Veterans Affairs to run for at least two years and be awarded to U.S. producers — unless there’s not sufficient quantity and quality at market prices.

The health and veterans departments said they haven’t bought anything yet. Homeland Security hasn’t answered the AP’s questions. Documents show the government solicited bids due Dec. 6 for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/21579308-federal-surgical-mask-solicitation">up to 381 million U.S.-made surgical masks</a>&nbsp;over three years for its stockpile. No deal has been announced.

Other documents show the government is looking to contract with three major suppliers — 3M, Moldex, and Owens &amp; Minor — for a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/21526226-federal-n95-contract-justification">total of $115 million in U.S-made N95 masks&nbsp;</a>over three years. A justification document says noncompetitive contracts are necessary to preserve capacity for future coronavirus surges or emergencies.

The Biden administration also formed a task force of experts from federal agencies, health care providers, PPE manufacturers and distributors to develop a national strategy for ensuring a “resilient public health supply chain.” Its work is expected to extend for years.

Some manufacturers said they can't wait long for a federal life preserver.

Dentec Safety Specialists is wrapping up a contract to supply 125,000 rubber reusable respirators and 500,000 filtration cartridges from its Kansas facility for the national stockpile, said President Claudio Dente. It needs more orders soon to prevent layoffs, he said.

“I thought that COVID would really change the mindset of the people, the governments and manufacturing," Dente said. But he added: “The general marketplace is reverting back to their old ways -- meaning looking to buy product from China."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1593789172033.jpeg" alt="CDC image" />
 <figcaption>CDC image</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — When the coronavirus pandemic first hit the U.S., sales of window coverings at Halcyon Shades quickly went dark. So the suburban St. Louis business did what hundreds of other small manufacturers did: It pivoted to make protective supplies, with help from an $870,000 government grant.But things haven't worked out as planned. The company quit making face shields because it wasn't profitable. It still hasn't sold a single N95 mask because of struggles to get equipment, materials and regulatory approval.“So far, it has been a net drain of funds and resources and energy," Halcyon Shades owner Jim Schmersahl said.Many companies that began producing personal protective equipment with patriotic optimism have scaled back, shut down or given up, according to an Associated Press analysis based on numerous interviews with manufacturers. Some already have sold equipment they bought with state government grants.As COVID-19 was stressing hospitals and shuttering businesses in 2020, elected officials&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-news-ap-top-news-in-state-wire-az-state-wire-virus-outbreak-af1e380ee4445b32d13edef8035efb22">touted the need to boost U.S. production</a>&nbsp;of protective gear: “All this stuff should be made in the United States and not in China,” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said in remarks echoed by others.Yet many manufacturers who answered the call have faced logistical hurdles, regulatory rejections, slumping demand and fierce competition from foreign suppliers. On April 1, Florida-based American Surgical Mask Co. became one of the latest to close.“I’m just done with the fight,” CEO Matt Brandman told the AP.After the initial scramble for PPE subsided, many industry newcomers faced difficulty selling products. Government agencies sometimes wanted huge quantities at tough-to-meet deadlines. Hospital systems tended to contract with established suppliers. Retail sales waned after every virus surge.“At the end of the day, when everybody said they wanted American-made, nobody’s buying, not even the state,” said Tony Blogumas, vice president of Green Resources Consulting, a rural Missouri firm that received an $800,000 state grant but has sold only a few thousand masks. “We’re kind of upset about the whole situation.”Missouri Gov. Mike Parson also is disappointed. His administration divided $20 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds among 48 businesses for the production of masks, gowns, sanitizer and other supplies. Parson hoped to seed a permanent field of manufacturers.“I’m still a firm believer in that — that we need to be making PPE here in this state,” Parson said. “Unfortunately, a lot of entities went right back to where they were getting it before.”The onset of the pandemic revealed that the U.S. was highly dependent on foreign countries for protective gear. When&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-news-ap-top-news-wa-state-wire-sd-state-wire-virus-outbreak-6d9382c1e8ee36f9ed1a4dfe7815ceb1">China limited exports</a>&nbsp;because of its own battle against COVID-19,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-local-governments-ap-top-news-health-understanding-the-outbreak-a464316e25560d393bd07a021b7e81ba">U.S. stockpiles plummeted</a>. Prices skyrocketed as federal officials, governors and health care systems&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/medical-equipment-il-state-wire-ny-state-wire-va-state-wire-virus-outbreak-829280426e49dfdf7f2cb1be4b0cfe05">competed for supplies</a>.Though federal stockpiles have been replenished, shriveling domestic production has raised concerns that state governments, medical facilities and others could again get stuck scrambling for gear during a future pandemic.The AP identified more than $125 million in grants to spur production of pandemic supplies made to over 300 business in 10 states — Alabama, Hawaii, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, New York and Ohio. It’s possible that grants were awarded in additional states, but there is no central clearinghouse to track them.In November 2020, Alabama awarded one of the single largest grants — nearly $10.6 million from federal pandemic relief funds — to HomTex Inc. The company was to equip a new Selma facility to make 250 million surgical masks and 45 million N95 masks annually. The plant returned $1.8 million of the state grant and has yet to make anything due to a lack of customers.“I can’t produce product that I can’t sell,” HomTex President Jeremy Wootten said.Other companies also had trouble living up to political hype.In October 2020, New York announced eight grants that then-Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul, now the governor, said were "a model for how we build back better for the post-pandemic future.” Those included $800,000 for newly formed Altor Safety and $1 million for startup firm NYPPE.But NYPPE's equipment wasn't ready until February 2021, by which time the market had changed, President Connor Knapp said.So Knapp tapped the brakes on his plans. NYPPE still hasn't sold any N95 masks because it lacks regulatory approval. It just recently scaled up production of surgical masks, after obtaining a U.S. Food and Drug Administration certification that came with its purchase of Altor Safety.Some PPE manufacturers point to federal regulations as part of the reason for their struggles. Three-ply masks need FDA approval to be marketed for medical use — an important designation for building a long-term customer base.That process can be time-consuming. Facing delays, Angstrom Manufacturing in Missouri ended up buying another business that already had FDA approval, President Chris Carron said. By then, it was fall 2021 — a year after it received a state grant.Companies need approval from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health to market products as N95 respirators, which filter at least 95% of airborne particles.During the first two years of the pandemic, NIOSH approved 30 new manufacturers — more than seven times the typical number during a similar pre-pandemic period, according to agency data. Some applications remain pending, while numerous others were denied.Halcyon Shades' N95 certification was rejected in October because its samples didn't have head straps attached. While the company works on another application, its equipment sits idle inside the clear plastic-sheet walls of a “clean room” specially built to shield materials from airborne contaminants. Partially finished masks remain paused on a conveyor belt, waiting to be deposited into a cardboard box.Without federal approval, "we’re just dead in the water,” said Schmersahl, the company owner.Progress reports filed with the Missouri Department of Economic Development show that nearly all its PPE grant recipients faced challenges by July 2021, especially with sales.Patriot Medical Devices, which received $750,000 from Missouri, hired nearly 100 people as it cranked out millions of masks during a COVID-19 surge in late 2020 and early 2021, CEO Rick Needham said. Fewer than 10 employees remain.“We felt it was our patriotic duty to do something to help solve the problem,” Needham said. But, he added, “It’s frankly a little bit of a dysfunctional business model at this point.”Ohio awarded $20.8 million to 73 businesses to manufacture pandemic-related supplies, according to state data. Of 60 businesses that complied with a recent reporting deadline, more than one-third no longer produced PPE by the end of 2021.Cleveland Veteran Business Solutions, which received a $500,000 grant to get into the PPE business, made about 5 million surgical masks beginning in August 2020. It ultimately halted production in the face of cheaper imports and sold its machines this year, co-founder Taner Eren said.“It was surprising and disappointing strategically that there wasn’t support for a local PPE manufacturing industry," Eren said.The business was among several dozen that banded together to form the American Mask Manufacturer's Association with the goal of sustaining the industry. The group's membership has dwindled as more and more go out of business.Association organizers say the industry has reached a critical point. They want the federal government to treat PPE manufacturers like the nation's defense industry — entering into long-term contracts to perpetually replenish a stockpile for future pandemics or emergencies.“If the federal government doesn’t come in and help support the U.S. manufacturing base, it’s almost certainly going to go back to China, and we’ll be just as vulnerable as we were in early 2020 and 2019,” said Brent Dillie, the association chairman and co-founder of Premium-PPE, a Virginia manufacturer started during the pandemic that has shed about two-thirds of its roughly 300 employees.Infrastructure legislation signed by President Joe Biden took a step toward bolstering domestic suppliers. Effective in February, it required new contracts for PPE purchased by the departments of Health and Human Services, Homeland Security and Veterans Affairs to run for at least two years and be awarded to U.S. producers — unless there’s not sufficient quantity and quality at market prices.The health and veterans departments said they haven’t bought anything yet. Homeland Security hasn’t answered the AP’s questions. Documents show the government solicited bids due Dec. 6 for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/21579308-federal-surgical-mask-solicitation">up to 381 million U.S.-made surgical masks</a>&nbsp;over three years for its stockpile. No deal has been announced.Other documents show the government is looking to contract with three major suppliers — 3M, Moldex, and Owens &amp; Minor — for a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/21526226-federal-n95-contract-justification">total of $115 million in U.S-made N95 masks&nbsp;</a>over three years. A justification document says noncompetitive contracts are necessary to preserve capacity for future coronavirus surges or emergencies.The Biden administration also formed a task force of experts from federal agencies, health care providers, PPE manufacturers and distributors to develop a national strategy for ensuring a “resilient public health supply chain.” Its work is expected to extend for years.Some manufacturers said they can't wait long for a federal life preserver.Dentec Safety Specialists is wrapping up a contract to supply 125,000 rubber reusable respirators and 500,000 filtration cartridges from its Kansas facility for the national stockpile, said President Claudio Dente. It needs more orders soon to prevent layoffs, he said.“I thought that COVID would really change the mindset of the people, the governments and manufacturing," Dente said. But he added: “The general marketplace is reverting back to their old ways -- meaning looking to buy product from China."

Efforts to make protective medical gear in US falling flat

By RON WILSON Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development&nbsp;&nbsp;

From hay to historic buildings -- and parts to pies -- Craig Stertz is involved in his rural community. He is what we call a ruralpreneur, an entrepreneur taking on multiple projects in his small town.&nbsp;

Craig and MaryAnn Stertz are ruralpreneurs in Lincoln, Kansas. Craig was born in Lincoln before his family moved to Belleville. Nine years later, the family moved back to Lincoln where Craig’s father founded Lincoln Farm Supply.&nbsp;

Craig followed his dad into the family business, which he owns today along with his brother Terry and partner Darrell Oetting. Craig also met and married MaryAnn, who works in the county treasurer’s office. He is in his second term as president of the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce.&nbsp;

Lincoln Farm Supply provides new and used equipment, parts and repairs for farm operations in north central Kansas. The company is a dealer for multiple lines of farm equipment.&nbsp;

In response to customer needs, hay handling has become a specialty of Lincoln Farm Supply. “A combine or a planter gets used one time a year, but hay equipment might get used 4-5 times a year,” Craig said. Equipment has changed to include the making and stacking of giant square bales, and even treating the hay by steaming it.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“At one time, we were the largest big square baler dealer in four states,” Craig said.&nbsp;&nbsp;Access to the Internet has also made a difference. “It extends your reach,” he said. “The other day I got a call from a guy in Oregon who bales rice straw and he wanted some of our equipment.”&nbsp;

In order to complement the farm store, Craig co-located an auto parts business with Lincoln Farm Supply. “That makes good use of our parts guys’ time when it’s slow during the winter months. It also brings new people in the door,” Craig said.&nbsp;

One of MaryAnn’s clients owned an old stone building downtown. After the owner’s husband passed, the building sat empty for years and was deteriorating. The woman decided to sell it rather than see it torn down.&nbsp;

“MaryAnn came home and told me, `We don’t want a hole in downtown,’” Craig said.&nbsp;&nbsp;Craig and MaryAnn bought and remodeled the building. “It was 2 ½ years of working nights and weekends, and MaryAnn was working side by side with me,” Craig said. “We had to tear out a lot of rotten wood, but we put it back the way it was.”&nbsp;

It looks great. Now a coffee shop is on the first floor and the upstairs is an Airbnb.&nbsp;

Craig also explored investing in food businesses. “Mostly I followed my stomach,” he said. He considered out-of-state companies that make salsa and barbecue sauce before he considered MarCon Pies.&nbsp;

As we have previously profiled, MarCon Pies in Marysville produces handcrafted pies for the wholesale market and fundraisers. The company is named for the original bakers, Marilyn and Connie, who started the business.&nbsp;

In 2020, Craig and MaryAnn bought MarCon Pies and moved the business to Lincoln, where it is housed in another building that Craig and MaryAnn bought on Main Street.&nbsp;

In addition to wholesaling pies to retail outlets, MarCon partners with local churches, athletic teams, community foundations and K-12 schools to sell pies as fundraisers.&nbsp;

Using heirloom recipes and delicious ingredients, MarCon produces pies in flavors such as apple, apricot, blackberry, blueberry, cherry, peach and strawberry rhubarb. No-sugar-added options are available in apple, cherry and peach. Pecan and pumpkin pies are available in April and in October through December.&nbsp;

Craig tries to encourage other businesses in town to have an Internet presence. “You can have a Main Street business, but if you also sell online, you can generate additional revenue from outside the community,” he said.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

It’s great to find this ruralpreneur in the rural community of Lincoln, population 1,297 people. Now, that’s rural.&nbsp;

For more information on Craig’s businesses, see&nbsp;<a href="http://www.lincolnfarmsupply.com/">www.lincolnfarmsupply.com</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="http://www.marconpies.com/">www.marconpies.com</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

From pies to parts, from historic buildings to hay, we salute Craig and MaryAnn Stertz for making a difference with their local investment. They demonstrate commitment to their community.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650461762773.png" alt="MaryAnn and Craig Stertz" />
 <figcaption>MaryAnn and Craig Stertz</figcaption>
 </figure>By RON WILSON Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development&nbsp;&nbsp;From hay to historic buildings -- and parts to pies -- Craig Stertz is involved in his rural community. He is what we call a ruralpreneur, an entrepreneur taking on multiple projects in his small town.&nbsp;Craig and MaryAnn Stertz are ruralpreneurs in Lincoln, Kansas. Craig was born in Lincoln before his family moved to Belleville. Nine years later, the family moved back to Lincoln where Craig’s father founded Lincoln Farm Supply.&nbsp;Craig followed his dad into the family business, which he owns today along with his brother Terry and partner Darrell Oetting. Craig also met and married MaryAnn, who works in the county treasurer’s office. He is in his second term as president of the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce.&nbsp;Lincoln Farm Supply provides new and used equipment, parts and repairs for farm operations in north central Kansas. The company is a dealer for multiple lines of farm equipment.&nbsp;In response to customer needs, hay handling has become a specialty of Lincoln Farm Supply. “A combine or a planter gets used one time a year, but hay equipment might get used 4-5 times a year,” Craig said. Equipment has changed to include the making and stacking of giant square bales, and even treating the hay by steaming it.&nbsp;&nbsp;“At one time, we were the largest big square baler dealer in four states,” Craig said.&nbsp;&nbsp;Access to the Internet has also made a difference. “It extends your reach,” he said. “The other day I got a call from a guy in Oregon who bales rice straw and he wanted some of our equipment.”&nbsp;In order to complement the farm store, Craig co-located an auto parts business with Lincoln Farm Supply. “That makes good use of our parts guys’ time when it’s slow during the winter months. It also brings new people in the door,” Craig said.&nbsp;One of MaryAnn’s clients owned an old stone building downtown. After the owner’s husband passed, the building sat empty for years and was deteriorating. The woman decided to sell it rather than see it torn down.&nbsp;“MaryAnn came home and told me, `We don’t want a hole in downtown,’” Craig said.&nbsp;&nbsp;Craig and MaryAnn bought and remodeled the building. “It was 2 ½ years of working nights and weekends, and MaryAnn was working side by side with me,” Craig said. “We had to tear out a lot of rotten wood, but we put it back the way it was.”&nbsp;It looks great. Now a coffee shop is on the first floor and the upstairs is an Airbnb.&nbsp;Craig also explored investing in food businesses. “Mostly I followed my stomach,” he said. He considered out-of-state companies that make salsa and barbecue sauce before he considered MarCon Pies.&nbsp;As we have previously profiled, MarCon Pies in Marysville produces handcrafted pies for the wholesale market and fundraisers. The company is named for the original bakers, Marilyn and Connie, who started the business.&nbsp;In 2020, Craig and MaryAnn bought MarCon Pies and moved the business to Lincoln, where it is housed in another building that Craig and MaryAnn bought on Main Street.&nbsp;In addition to wholesaling pies to retail outlets, MarCon partners with local churches, athletic teams, community foundations and K-12 schools to sell pies as fundraisers.&nbsp;Using heirloom recipes and delicious ingredients, MarCon produces pies in flavors such as apple, apricot, blackberry, blueberry, cherry, peach and strawberry rhubarb. No-sugar-added options are available in apple, cherry and peach. Pecan and pumpkin pies are available in April and in October through December.&nbsp;Craig tries to encourage other businesses in town to have an Internet presence. “You can have a Main Street business, but if you also sell online, you can generate additional revenue from outside the community,” he said.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;It’s great to find this ruralpreneur in the rural community of Lincoln, population 1,297 people. Now, that’s rural.&nbsp;For more information on Craig’s businesses, see&nbsp;<a href="http://www.lincolnfarmsupply.com/">www.lincolnfarmsupply.com</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="http://www.marconpies.com/">www.marconpies.com</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;From pies to parts, from historic buildings to hay, we salute Craig and MaryAnn Stertz for making a difference with their local investment. They demonstrate commitment to their community.&nbsp;

Now That’s Rural: Craig and MaryAnn Stertz, Lincoln

DOUGLAS COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating an October 2021 aggravated robbery and burglary where a handgun was used have made an arrest.

On Wednesday, the U.S. Marshals Service located 25-year-old Wesley James Tolbert in Lawrence, according to the Douglas County Sheriff.

He was taken into custody about 10 a.m. before being turned over to Sheriff’s Office deputies who booked him into the Douglas County Jail on the outstanding warrant.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650622299866.png" alt="Tolbert-photo Douglas County" />
 <figcaption>Tolbert-photo Douglas County</figcaption>
 </figure>DOUGLAS COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating an October 2021 aggravated robbery and burglary where a handgun was used have made an arrest.On Wednesday, the U.S. Marshals Service located 25-year-old Wesley James Tolbert in Lawrence, according to the Douglas County Sheriff.He was taken into custody about 10 a.m. before being turned over to Sheriff’s Office deputies who booked him into the Douglas County Jail on the outstanding warrant.

U.S. Marshals capture Kan. burglary suspect 7 months after crime

On Sunday, October 3, 1926, a baby girl, Eda Louise, was born to Freida,
 nee Schlicher, Motsenbocker and Claude Motsenbocker. They lived on the 
Hoccott Farm, one mile West and one mile North of Hoxie, Kansas. Our 
Lord had Louise join him in heaven on April 20, 2022.
 She was baptized at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hoxie, Kansas when she
 was two weeks old. She confirmed her faith in the Triune God in 1940 in
 the same church.
 The family moved six times in Sheridan and Rooks Counties by the 
time she was six years old, settling 2 ½ miles East of Seguin. Louise 
attended school at Fairview District # 43, Immanuel Lutheran School in 
Sheridan County and St. John’s Lutheran School, Orange County, 
California.
 She graduated from Sheridan Community High School in 1944. Louise 
continued her education at Fort Hays State University and Colby 
Community College. She taught for three years in Sheridan County 
Schools.
 Louise married Karl W. Berndt on January 2, 1947, at Calvary 
Lutheran Church in Yuma, Arizona. They were married for 56 years. They 
became the parents of three children, Janelle, Kristine, and Welton. 
Louise often said that her children were her ‘desserts’ in life.
 Karl and Louise operated K &amp; L Farms in Hoxie for 50 years. They
 moved to Quinter, Kansas in 1997 and became members of Bethlehem 
Lutheran Church in Wakeeney, Kansas.
 The importance of the Triune God, family, country, and education 
were of utmost importance along with honesty and kindness. The value of 
time well-spent included her church in teaching Sunday School, Vacation 
Bible School, and Weekday classes. She also enjoyed sewing for her 
children, knitting, reading and politics.
 The major parts of her employment were developing, assisting, and 
implementing programs for individuals with health and special needs 
including The Northwest Kansas Association for Retarded Citizens, Inc; 
The Kansas Association for Retarded Citizens, Inc; The Arthritis 
Foundation, and The American Cancer Society.
 Throughout the years she volunteered her time and expertise with 
numerous organizations and programs including Girl Scouts; SCHS/Hoxie 
High School Alumni Association; Developmental Services of Northwest 
Kansas; Northwest Kansas Association for Retarded Citizen; Senior 
Companion Program at Gove County Medical Center, Long Term Care; and 
Foster Grandparent Program at Quinter Elementary School and Tender 
Hearts Child Care Center at Gove County Medical Center. 
 Louise was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Karl; her 
son, Welton; her granddaughter, Karen Lynn Lewis; two brothers and three
 sisters. She is survived by her children, Janelle Mulvenon (Steve), 
Sparks, Nevada, and Kristine Lewis (Tim), Franklin, North Carolina. 
Grandchildren are Tracie Lewis, Overland Park, Kansas; Tad Lewis 
(Suzanne), Columbia, South Carolina; Andy Lewis, Wichita, Kansas; Ryan 
Mulvenon (Kristen), Falls Church, Virginia, and Morgan Mulvenon Tuttle 
(Gary), Novato, California. Great grandchildren are Aidan, Thomas, and 
Mary Elise Lewis, Columbia, South Carolina and Owen David Tuttle, 
Novato, California. 
 A Funeral Service is planned for Monday, April 25, 2022, 11:00 A.M.,
 at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Wakeeney, Kansas. A lunch will be 
held at the church following the service. Interment will be in the 
Lutheran Cemetery in Rural Sheridan County at approximately 2:30 P.M. 
Visitation will be held Sunday, April 24, 2022, at the Mickey-Leopold 
Funeral Home, Hoxie, Kansas from 3:00 P.M. until 5:00 P.M. with family 
receiving friends from 3:00 P.M. from 5:00 P.M. A second visitation will
 be held at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Wakeeney, Kansas, Monday, 
April 25, 2022, from 9:30 A.M. until 10:45 A.M. Memorials gifts may be 
designated to Prairie Faith Health Ministry, Quinter Elementary 
School-Pre-K Classroom, and Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas.
 John 6: 39-40 -This is the will of the Father who sent me, that of 
all He has given me I should lose nothing but should raise it up at the 
last day. And this is the will of Him who sent me, everyone who sees the
 Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life. 
 Memorials gifts may be designated to Prairie Faith Health Ministry, 
Quinter Elementary School-Pre-K Classroom, and Developmental Services of
 Northwest Kansas.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650574680014.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>On Sunday, October 3, 1926, a baby girl, Eda Louise, was born to Freida,
 nee Schlicher, Motsenbocker and Claude Motsenbocker. They lived on the 
Hoccott Farm, one mile West and one mile North of Hoxie, Kansas. Our 
Lord had Louise join him in heaven on April 20, 2022.
 She was baptized at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hoxie, Kansas when she
 was two weeks old. She confirmed her faith in the Triune God in 1940 in
 the same church.
 The family moved six times in Sheridan and Rooks Counties by the 
time she was six years old, settling 2 ½ miles East of Seguin. Louise 
attended school at Fairview District # 43, Immanuel Lutheran School in 
Sheridan County and St. John’s Lutheran School, Orange County, 
California.
 She graduated from Sheridan Community High School in 1944. Louise 
continued her education at Fort Hays State University and Colby 
Community College. She taught for three years in Sheridan County 
Schools.
 Louise married Karl W. Berndt on January 2, 1947, at Calvary 
Lutheran Church in Yuma, Arizona. They were married for 56 years. They 
became the parents of three children, Janelle, Kristine, and Welton. 
Louise often said that her children were her ‘desserts’ in life.
 Karl and Louise operated K &amp; L Farms in Hoxie for 50 years. They
 moved to Quinter, Kansas in 1997 and became members of Bethlehem 
Lutheran Church in Wakeeney, Kansas.
 The importance of the Triune God, family, country, and education 
were of utmost importance along with honesty and kindness. The value of 
time well-spent included her church in teaching Sunday School, Vacation 
Bible School, and Weekday classes. She also enjoyed sewing for her 
children, knitting, reading and politics.
 The major parts of her employment were developing, assisting, and 
implementing programs for individuals with health and special needs 
including The Northwest Kansas Association for Retarded Citizens, Inc; 
The Kansas Association for Retarded Citizens, Inc; The Arthritis 
Foundation, and The American Cancer Society.
 Throughout the years she volunteered her time and expertise with 
numerous organizations and programs including Girl Scouts; SCHS/Hoxie 
High School Alumni Association; Developmental Services of Northwest 
Kansas; Northwest Kansas Association for Retarded Citizen; Senior 
Companion Program at Gove County Medical Center, Long Term Care; and 
Foster Grandparent Program at Quinter Elementary School and Tender 
Hearts Child Care Center at Gove County Medical Center. 
 Louise was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Karl; her 
son, Welton; her granddaughter, Karen Lynn Lewis; two brothers and three
 sisters. She is survived by her children, Janelle Mulvenon (Steve), 
Sparks, Nevada, and Kristine Lewis (Tim), Franklin, North Carolina. 
Grandchildren are Tracie Lewis, Overland Park, Kansas; Tad Lewis 
(Suzanne), Columbia, South Carolina; Andy Lewis, Wichita, Kansas; Ryan 
Mulvenon (Kristen), Falls Church, Virginia, and Morgan Mulvenon Tuttle 
(Gary), Novato, California. Great grandchildren are Aidan, Thomas, and 
Mary Elise Lewis, Columbia, South Carolina and Owen David Tuttle, 
Novato, California. 
 A Funeral Service is planned for Monday, April 25, 2022, 11:00 A.M.,
 at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Wakeeney, Kansas. A lunch will be 
held at the church following the service. Interment will be in the 
Lutheran Cemetery in Rural Sheridan County at approximately 2:30 P.M. 
Visitation will be held Sunday, April 24, 2022, at the Mickey-Leopold 
Funeral Home, Hoxie, Kansas from 3:00 P.M. until 5:00 P.M. with family 
receiving friends from 3:00 P.M. from 5:00 P.M. A second visitation will
 be held at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Wakeeney, Kansas, Monday, 
April 25, 2022, from 9:30 A.M. until 10:45 A.M. Memorials gifts may be 
designated to Prairie Faith Health Ministry, Quinter Elementary 
School-Pre-K Classroom, and Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas.
 John 6: 39-40 -This is the will of the Father who sent me, that of 
all He has given me I should lose nothing but should raise it up at the 
last day. And this is the will of Him who sent me, everyone who sees the
 Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life. 
 Memorials gifts may be designated to Prairie Faith Health Ministry, 
Quinter Elementary School-Pre-K Classroom, and Developmental Services of
 Northwest Kansas.&nbsp;

Eda Louise (Berndt) Mostsenbocker

Sharron
 Kay Thompson, 80, went to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on
 Tuesday, April 19, 2022. She was born August 26, 1941, in Beloit to 
Garold A. and Evlynn J. (Horesky) Sanborn.

Sharron
 and Myron Arthur Thompson were united in marriage on October 21, 1962, 
in Hill City. Sharron was a daycare operator and was a strong advocate 
for children with disabilities and she hosted a support group for many 
years. Sharron loved with all of her heart. She had a way of being 
empathetic to all of your worries and concerns. She could insert herself
 into your world and either offer advice or simply listen. All who came 
into contact with her could look into her eyes and see just how much she
 cared about you. Sharron would celebrate or cry with you, whichever was
 appropriate. All her life she had a heartfelt desire to “help” - no 
matter what it was

So,
 if you were a sister, child, grandchild, niece, nephew, or a cousin, 
and last but not least even a friend - for all who came in contact with 
her or had the privilege of sharing time with her – we are all better 
for it&nbsp;

She was preceded in death by her husband, Art, on November 6, 2016; and sisters, Mary Lou Stegman and Barbara Sandell.

Sharron
 is survived by her sons, Kevin Thompson and his wife Traci, and Kelly 
Thompson; sisters, Saundra Anderson and Nancy Moden; and grandchildren, 
Brik, Cooper, Cherish, and Caitlyn Thompson.

Funeral
 services will be 10:00 A.M., Monday, April 25, at Wilson Family Funeral 
Home, Minneapolis. Burial will be in the Delphos Cemetery. Visitation 
will be from 2:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M. Sunday at the funeral home where the
 family will receive friends from 4-6. 

Memorials may be made to Sharron 
K. Thompson Memorial Fund, to be designated later, and left in care of 
Wilson Family Funeral Home, 405 Argyle Ave., Minneapolis, KS 67467.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650561036171.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Sharron
 Kay Thompson, 80, went to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on
 Tuesday, April 19, 2022. She was born August 26, 1941, in Beloit to 
Garold A. and Evlynn J. (Horesky) Sanborn.Sharron
 and Myron Arthur Thompson were united in marriage on October 21, 1962, 
in Hill City. Sharron was a daycare operator and was a strong advocate 
for children with disabilities and she hosted a support group for many 
years. Sharron loved with all of her heart. She had a way of being 
empathetic to all of your worries and concerns. She could insert herself
 into your world and either offer advice or simply listen. All who came 
into contact with her could look into her eyes and see just how much she
 cared about you. Sharron would celebrate or cry with you, whichever was
 appropriate. All her life she had a heartfelt desire to “help” - no 
matter what it wasSo,
 if you were a sister, child, grandchild, niece, nephew, or a cousin, 
and last but not least even a friend - for all who came in contact with 
her or had the privilege of sharing time with her – we are all better 
for it&nbsp;She was preceded in death by her husband, Art, on November 6, 2016; and sisters, Mary Lou Stegman and Barbara Sandell.Sharron
 is survived by her sons, Kevin Thompson and his wife Traci, and Kelly 
Thompson; sisters, Saundra Anderson and Nancy Moden; and grandchildren, 
Brik, Cooper, Cherish, and Caitlyn Thompson.Funeral
 services will be 10:00 A.M., Monday, April 25, at Wilson Family Funeral 
Home, Minneapolis. Burial will be in the Delphos Cemetery. Visitation 
will be from 2:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M. Sunday at the funeral home where the
 family will receive friends from 4-6. Memorials may be made to Sharron 
K. Thompson Memorial Fund, to be designated later, and left in care of 
Wilson Family Funeral Home, 405 Argyle Ave., Minneapolis, KS 67467.

Sharron Kay Thompson

Ella Mae Ward Schulze was born October 15, 1926, to Ned Donald “Hap” Ward
 and Anna Marie (Miller) Ward in her parents’ rural farm home in 
Gothenburg, NE. Ella Mae grew up with four brothers, Donald, Fred, 
Scott, and John. She passed away on April 19, 2022, at Whispering Pines,
 Norton, KS at the age of 95.
 Ella Mae attended Antelope Rural School. Because of sickness, Ella 
Mae had to repeat first grade, but made that year up by completing 5th 
and 6th grade in one year. The family moved to Gothenburg where Ella 
Mae graduated from Gothenburg High School with the Class of 1944. 
During her junior and senior years of high school, she was a part of the
 Work Study program, working as a bookkeeper for Swanson Oil. 
Immediately after graduation, Ella Mae car pooled to Lexington, NE where
 she worked for the Wartime Rations Board. Even though she was only 
eighteen, Ella Mae became the office manager over five other employees. 
 Later she transferred to North Platte, NE, to work for the Civilian 
Rations Board. When that office closed, she went to work in the office 
of Crawford Electric as a secretary, traveling with the office to 
wherever construction was taking place in Kansas and Nebraska.
 She met Glenn Schulze at the Norton office when she came down the 
stairs to deliver a message to his boss. On April 7, 1950, Glenn and 
Ella Mae exchanged their vows at the Methodist Church Parsonage in 
Columbus, NE, making their home in North Platte, NE. In 1951, Glenn and
 Ella Mae moved back to the family farm in Norton after the death of 
Glenn’s brother. In 1959, they purchased a farm closer to Norton where 
they would live for over 60 years and raise four children.
 Ella Mae was an extraordinary farmer’s wife to Glenn and mother to 
their four children. Gardening and canning, processing chickens, taking
 meals to the harvest field, cooking and baking ensured that her family 
was well taken care of for many years. She served over 25 years in the 
nursery at the Norton Christian Church. Ella Mae had the magic touch 
with children, especially babies. She loved to play card games with 
neighbors and grandchildren. She threw endless baseballs at the bat of a
 waiting grandchild. Ella Mae’s chicken and noodles will be missed at 
family gatherings. Ella Mae was active in her church circle, Vitaband 
exercise classes, EHU, FHA, and 4-H. Reading, embroidery, and watching 
“Jeopardy” and “Wheel of Fortune” were favorite hobbies in her later 
years. In the 1960s, Ella Mae began working at the local sale barns and
 auction company, eventually becoming the office manager for Norton 
Livestock Auction for many years. She was proud of the fact she was 
heterochromic, having one blue eye and one brown eye.
 Glenn and Ella Mae were privileged to live on their family farm 
until May 2020 when they entered the Andbe Home after Ella Mae fell, 
breaking a hip. A second broken hip and COVID delayed Ella Mae’s 
reunion with Glenn after he relocated to Whispering Pines. In August 
2021, Ella Mae and Glenn were reunited and were able to celebrate their 
72nd wedding anniversary before Ella Mae’s death.
 Surviving are husband, Glenn, a son Timothy (Mary) Schulze of 
Norton, KS, daughters LuAnn Walters of Hays, KS, Glenda (Bob) Susnik of 
Pittsburg, KS and Roberta (Jeff) Cramer of Leawood, KS, brother John 
(Karen) Ward of Roseville, CA, and sister-in-law Mary Ward of 
Gothenburg, NE. She is also survived by thirteen grandchildren and 
fourteen great grandchildren. 
 Preceding her in death were her parents, brothers Don, Scott, and Fred and son-in-law Robert Walters.
 A memorial service will be held at a future date. Memorial 
contributions may be made to Norton Christian Church or Whispering 
Pines, Norton, KS and may be sent in care of Plumer-Gobber Funeral Home,
 215 W. Main Street, Norton, KS 67654. Condolences may be left at 
www.plumergobber.com&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650560790743.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Ella Mae Ward Schulze was born October 15, 1926, to Ned Donald “Hap” Ward
 and Anna Marie (Miller) Ward in her parents’ rural farm home in 
Gothenburg, NE. Ella Mae grew up with four brothers, Donald, Fred, 
Scott, and John. She passed away on April 19, 2022, at Whispering Pines,
 Norton, KS at the age of 95.
 Ella Mae attended Antelope Rural School. Because of sickness, Ella 
Mae had to repeat first grade, but made that year up by completing 5th 
and 6th grade in one year. The family moved to Gothenburg where Ella 
Mae graduated from Gothenburg High School with the Class of 1944. 
During her junior and senior years of high school, she was a part of the
 Work Study program, working as a bookkeeper for Swanson Oil. 
Immediately after graduation, Ella Mae car pooled to Lexington, NE where
 she worked for the Wartime Rations Board. Even though she was only 
eighteen, Ella Mae became the office manager over five other employees. 
 Later she transferred to North Platte, NE, to work for the Civilian 
Rations Board. When that office closed, she went to work in the office 
of Crawford Electric as a secretary, traveling with the office to 
wherever construction was taking place in Kansas and Nebraska.
 She met Glenn Schulze at the Norton office when she came down the 
stairs to deliver a message to his boss. On April 7, 1950, Glenn and 
Ella Mae exchanged their vows at the Methodist Church Parsonage in 
Columbus, NE, making their home in North Platte, NE. In 1951, Glenn and
 Ella Mae moved back to the family farm in Norton after the death of 
Glenn’s brother. In 1959, they purchased a farm closer to Norton where 
they would live for over 60 years and raise four children.
 Ella Mae was an extraordinary farmer’s wife to Glenn and mother to 
their four children. Gardening and canning, processing chickens, taking
 meals to the harvest field, cooking and baking ensured that her family 
was well taken care of for many years. She served over 25 years in the 
nursery at the Norton Christian Church. Ella Mae had the magic touch 
with children, especially babies. She loved to play card games with 
neighbors and grandchildren. She threw endless baseballs at the bat of a
 waiting grandchild. Ella Mae’s chicken and noodles will be missed at 
family gatherings. Ella Mae was active in her church circle, Vitaband 
exercise classes, EHU, FHA, and 4-H. Reading, embroidery, and watching 
“Jeopardy” and “Wheel of Fortune” were favorite hobbies in her later 
years. In the 1960s, Ella Mae began working at the local sale barns and
 auction company, eventually becoming the office manager for Norton 
Livestock Auction for many years. She was proud of the fact she was 
heterochromic, having one blue eye and one brown eye.
 Glenn and Ella Mae were privileged to live on their family farm 
until May 2020 when they entered the Andbe Home after Ella Mae fell, 
breaking a hip. A second broken hip and COVID delayed Ella Mae’s 
reunion with Glenn after he relocated to Whispering Pines. In August 
2021, Ella Mae and Glenn were reunited and were able to celebrate their 
72nd wedding anniversary before Ella Mae’s death.
 Surviving are husband, Glenn, a son Timothy (Mary) Schulze of 
Norton, KS, daughters LuAnn Walters of Hays, KS, Glenda (Bob) Susnik of 
Pittsburg, KS and Roberta (Jeff) Cramer of Leawood, KS, brother John 
(Karen) Ward of Roseville, CA, and sister-in-law Mary Ward of 
Gothenburg, NE. She is also survived by thirteen grandchildren and 
fourteen great grandchildren. 
 Preceding her in death were her parents, brothers Don, Scott, and Fred and son-in-law Robert Walters.
 A memorial service will be held at a future date. Memorial 
contributions may be made to Norton Christian Church or Whispering 
Pines, Norton, KS and may be sent in care of Plumer-Gobber Funeral Home,
 215 W. Main Street, Norton, KS 67654. Condolences may be left at 
www.plumergobber.com&nbsp;

Ella Mae Ward Schulze

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service encourages taxpayers who 
missed Monday's April 18 tax-filing deadline to file as soon as 
possible. While taxpayers due a refund receive no penalty for filing 
late, those who owe and missed the deadline without requesting an 
extension should file quickly to limit penalties and interest.

Families who don't owe taxes to the IRS can still file their 2021 tax
 return and claim the Child Tax Credit for the 2021 tax year at any 
point until April 15, 2025, without any penalty. This year also marks 
the first time in history that many families with children in Puerto 
Rico will be eligible to claim the Child Tax Credit, which has been 
expanded to provide up to $3,600 per child.

Some taxpayers automatically qualify for extra time to file and pay taxes due without penalties and interest, including:

Some people may choose not to file a tax return because they didn't 
earn enough money to be required to file. But they may miss out on 
receiving a refund. The only way to get a refund is to file a tax 
return. There's no penalty for filing after the April 18 deadline if a 
refund is due. Taxpayers are encouraged to use electronic filing options
 including IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free">Free File</a> which is available on IRS.gov through October 17 to prepare and file 2021 tax returns electronically.

While most tax credits can be used to reduce the tax owed, there are a
 few credits that allow taxpayers to receive money beyond what they owe.
 The most common examples of these refundable credits are the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/earned-income-tax-credit-eitc">Earned Income Tax Credit</a>, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/child-and-dependent-care-credit-information">Child and Dependent Care Credit</a> and <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/ita/does-my-childdependent-qualify-for-the-child-tax-credit-or-the-credit-for-other-dependents">Child Tax Credit</a>.
 Those who don't usually file and didn't qualify for a third-round 
Economic Impact Payment or got less than the full amount may be eligible
 to claim the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/recovery-rebate-credit">2021 Recovery Rebate Credit</a>
 when they file their 2021 tax return. Taxpayers often fail to file a 
tax return and claim a refund for these credits and others for which 
they may be eligible.

Generally, the IRS issues nine out of 10 refunds in less than 21 days
 for taxpayers who e-file and choose direct deposit. However, it's 
possible a tax return may require <a href="https://www.irs.gov/refunds/tax-season-refund-frequently-asked-questions">additional review</a> or take longer. The IRS processes paper tax returns in the order they are received.

Taxpayers can track their refund using the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/refunds">Where's My Refund?</a> tool on IRS.gov, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs2goapp">IRS2Go</a> or by calling the automated refund hotline at <a href="tel:800-829-1954">800-829-1954</a>.
 Taxpayers need the primary Social Security number on the tax return, 
the filing status and the expected refund amount. The refund status 
information updates once daily, usually overnight, so there's no need to
 check more frequently.

Taxpayers should file their tax return and pay any taxes they owe as 
soon as possible to reduce penalties and interest. An extension to file 
is not an extension to pay. An extension to file provides an additional 
six months with a new filing deadline of October 17. Penalties and 
interest apply to taxes owed after April 18 and interest is charged on 
tax and penalties until the balance is <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments">paid in full</a>.

Filing and paying as much as possible is key because the late-filing penalty and late-payment penalty add up quickly.

Even if a taxpayer can't afford to immediately pay the full amount of
 taxes owed, they should still file a tax return to reduce possible 
delayed filing penalties. The IRS offers a variety of options for <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/what-if-i-cant-pay-my-taxes">taxpayers who owe the IRS but cannot afford to pay</a>.

Usually, the failure to file penalty is 5% of the tax owed for each 
month or part of a month that a tax return is late, up to five months, 
reduced by the failure to pay penalty amount for any month where both 
penalties apply. If a return is filed more than 60 days after the due 
date, the minimum penalty is either $435 or 100% of the unpaid tax, 
whichever is less.

The failure to pay penalty rate is generally 0.5% of unpaid tax owed 
for each month or part of a month until the tax is fully paid or until 
25% is reached. The rate is subject to change. For more information see 
the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/penalties">Penalties</a> page on IRS.gov.

Taxpayers may qualify for penalty relief if they have filed and paid 
timely for the past three years and meet other important requirements, 
including paying or arranging to pay any tax due. For more information, 
see the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/penalty-relief-due-to-first-time-penalty-abatement-or-other-administrative-waiver">first time penalty abatement</a> page on IRS.gov.

Pay taxes due electronically on IRS.gov/payments

Those who owe taxes can pay quickly and securely via their <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/your-online-account">Online Account</a>, IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/direct-pay">Direct Pay</a>, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/pay-your-taxes-by-debit-or-credit-card">debit or credit card or digital wallet</a>, or they can <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/online-payment-agreement-application">apply online for a payment plan (including an installment agreement)</a>. Taxpayers paying electronically receive immediate confirmation when they submit their payment. With <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/direct-pay">Direct Pay</a> and the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/eftps-the-electronic-federal-tax-payment-system">Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS)</a>, taxpayers can receive email notifications about their payments.

The IRS offers tips to help taxpayers <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/tips-to-help-people-choose-a-reputable-tax-preparer">choose a Tax Professional</a> to assist in tax return preparation.

The <a href="https://irs.treasury.gov/rpo/rpo.jsf">Directory of Federal Tax Return Preparers with Credentials and Select Qualifications</a>
 can help taxpayers find tax return preparers who hold a professional 
credential recognized by the IRS or who have completed IRS requirements 
for the Annual Filing Season Program.

Taxpayers have fundamental rights under the law that protect them when they interact with the IRS. The <a href="https://www.irs.gov/taxpayer-bill-of-rights">Taxpayer Bill of Rights</a> presents these rights in 10 categories. IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-1">Publication 1, Your Rights as a Taxpayer</a>, highlights these rights and the agency's obligation to protect them.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service encourages taxpayers who 
missed Monday's April 18 tax-filing deadline to file as soon as 
possible. While taxpayers due a refund receive no penalty for filing 
late, those who owe and missed the deadline without requesting an 
extension should file quickly to limit penalties and interest.Families who don't owe taxes to the IRS can still file their 2021 tax
 return and claim the Child Tax Credit for the 2021 tax year at any 
point until April 15, 2025, without any penalty. This year also marks 
the first time in history that many families with children in Puerto 
Rico will be eligible to claim the Child Tax Credit, which has been 
expanded to provide up to $3,600 per child.Some taxpayers automatically qualify for extra time to file and pay taxes due without penalties and interest, including:<ul>
 <li>Members of the military who served or are currently serving in a combat zone. They may qualify for an <a href="https://www.irs.gov/publications/p3#en_US_2021_publink100050111">additional extension of at least 180 days</a> to file and pay taxes.</li><li>Support personnel in combat zones or a contingency operation in support of the Armed Forces. They may also <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/extension-of-deadlines-combat-zone-service">qualify for a filing and payment extension</a> of at least 180 days.</li><li>Taxpayers outside the United States. U.S. citizens
 and resident aliens who live and work outside the U.S. and Puerto Rico,
 including military members on duty who don't qualify for the combat 
zone extension, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-54">may qualify for a 2-month filing and payment extension</a>.</li><li>Some disaster victims. Those who qualify have <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/tax-relief-in-disaster-situations">more time to file and pay</a> what they owe.</li>
 </ul><h2>File without penalty to get a tax refund</h2>Some people may choose not to file a tax return because they didn't 
earn enough money to be required to file. But they may miss out on 
receiving a refund. The only way to get a refund is to file a tax 
return. There's no penalty for filing after the April 18 deadline if a 
refund is due. Taxpayers are encouraged to use electronic filing options
 including IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free">Free File</a> which is available on IRS.gov through October 17 to prepare and file 2021 tax returns electronically.While most tax credits can be used to reduce the tax owed, there are a
 few credits that allow taxpayers to receive money beyond what they owe.
 The most common examples of these refundable credits are the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/earned-income-tax-credit-eitc">Earned Income Tax Credit</a>, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/child-and-dependent-care-credit-information">Child and Dependent Care Credit</a> and <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/ita/does-my-childdependent-qualify-for-the-child-tax-credit-or-the-credit-for-other-dependents">Child Tax Credit</a>.
 Those who don't usually file and didn't qualify for a third-round 
Economic Impact Payment or got less than the full amount may be eligible
 to claim the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/recovery-rebate-credit">2021 Recovery Rebate Credit</a>
 when they file their 2021 tax return. Taxpayers often fail to file a 
tax return and claim a refund for these credits and others for which 
they may be eligible.Generally, the IRS issues nine out of 10 refunds in less than 21 days
 for taxpayers who e-file and choose direct deposit. However, it's 
possible a tax return may require <a href="https://www.irs.gov/refunds/tax-season-refund-frequently-asked-questions">additional review</a> or take longer. The IRS processes paper tax returns in the order they are received.Taxpayers can track their refund using the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/refunds">Where's My Refund?</a> tool on IRS.gov, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs2goapp">IRS2Go</a> or by calling the automated refund hotline at <a href="tel:800-829-1954">800-829-1954</a>.
 Taxpayers need the primary Social Security number on the tax return, 
the filing status and the expected refund amount. The refund status 
information updates once daily, usually overnight, so there's no need to
 check more frequently.<h2>File to reduce penalties and interest</h2>Taxpayers should file their tax return and pay any taxes they owe as 
soon as possible to reduce penalties and interest. An extension to file 
is not an extension to pay. An extension to file provides an additional 
six months with a new filing deadline of October 17. Penalties and 
interest apply to taxes owed after April 18 and interest is charged on 
tax and penalties until the balance is <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments">paid in full</a>.Filing and paying as much as possible is key because the late-filing penalty and late-payment penalty add up quickly.Even if a taxpayer can't afford to immediately pay the full amount of
 taxes owed, they should still file a tax return to reduce possible 
delayed filing penalties. The IRS offers a variety of options for <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/what-if-i-cant-pay-my-taxes">taxpayers who owe the IRS but cannot afford to pay</a>.Usually, the failure to file penalty is 5% of the tax owed for each 
month or part of a month that a tax return is late, up to five months, 
reduced by the failure to pay penalty amount for any month where both 
penalties apply. If a return is filed more than 60 days after the due 
date, the minimum penalty is either $435 or 100% of the unpaid tax, 
whichever is less.The failure to pay penalty rate is generally 0.5% of unpaid tax owed 
for each month or part of a month until the tax is fully paid or until 
25% is reached. The rate is subject to change. For more information see 
the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/penalties">Penalties</a> page on IRS.gov.Taxpayers may qualify for penalty relief if they have filed and paid 
timely for the past three years and meet other important requirements, 
including paying or arranging to pay any tax due. For more information, 
see the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/penalty-relief-due-to-first-time-penalty-abatement-or-other-administrative-waiver">first time penalty abatement</a> page on IRS.gov.<h2>Pay taxes due electronically on IRS.gov/payments</h2>Those who owe taxes can pay quickly and securely via their <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/your-online-account">Online Account</a>, IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/direct-pay">Direct Pay</a>, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/pay-your-taxes-by-debit-or-credit-card">debit or credit card or digital wallet</a>, or they can <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/online-payment-agreement-application">apply online for a payment plan (including an installment agreement)</a>. Taxpayers paying electronically receive immediate confirmation when they submit their payment. With <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/direct-pay">Direct Pay</a> and the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/eftps-the-electronic-federal-tax-payment-system">Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS)</a>, taxpayers can receive email notifications about their payments.<h2>Selecting a tax professional</h2>The IRS offers tips to help taxpayers <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/tips-to-help-people-choose-a-reputable-tax-preparer">choose a Tax Professional</a> to assist in tax return preparation.The <a href="https://irs.treasury.gov/rpo/rpo.jsf">Directory of Federal Tax Return Preparers with Credentials and Select Qualifications</a>
 can help taxpayers find tax return preparers who hold a professional 
credential recognized by the IRS or who have completed IRS requirements 
for the Annual Filing Season Program.<h2>Taxpayer Bill of Rights</h2>Taxpayers have fundamental rights under the law that protect them when they interact with the IRS. The <a href="https://www.irs.gov/taxpayer-bill-of-rights">Taxpayer Bill of Rights</a> presents these rights in 10 categories. IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-1">Publication 1, Your Rights as a Taxpayer</a>, highlights these rights and the agency's obligation to protect them.

Missed the tax deadline? File now to limit penalties, claim Child Tax Credit

By SUZANNE PEREZ <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/education/2022-04-18/suburban-school-officials-predict-chaos-if-kansas-lets-out-of-district-students-transfer-freely">Kansas News Service</a>

WICHITA, Kansas — Kansas stands on the verge of letting students attend any public school — regardless of where they live.

Conservatives
 love the plan. They say it would give poor families stuck in failing 
school districts a chance at a life-changing escape.

But school 
administrators running well-heeled suburban districts already are taking
 measures to demonstrate their classrooms are full — the one exception 
the proposed change would allow from barring students who want to 
transfer into a district they don’t live in.

They say they have 
little choice if they’re going to protect their taxpayers from the cost 
of teaching a flood of students they’re not prepared for and who come 
with needs they can’t afford to accommodate.

“We believe in 
neighborhood schools,” said Brett White, superintendent of Andover 
schools east of Wichita. “The open borders would just throw into chaos 
what's an established policy.”

Open enrollment proposals passed in both <a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/vote_view/je_20220323102801_716700/" target="_blank">the Kansas House</a> and <a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/sb455/" target="_blank">Senate</a> before lawmakers left for their spring break this month. They echo measures in more than two dozen other states where <a href="https://schoolchoiceweek.com/public-school-transfer/" target="_blank">public school transfers are seen as a hallmark of school choice</a>.

If a compromise bill is approved, here’s how it likely would work:

By
 January 2023, every Kansas school district would be required to 
establish enrollment capacity limits by grade level and school building.
 By May 1, districts would determine the number of open seats at each 
grade level and would publish them by June 1.

Students could apply
 to districts outside their residential area — if the other district has
 space. If there are more requests than open seats, districts would use a
 random lottery to fill them. In October, the process would begin again 
for the spring semester.

That allows school districts to determine
 their own enrollment and capacity levels — and to go on record saying 
they can’t take in more students.

“They would determine if there 
was any room at the inn,” said Republican Sen. Molly Baumgardner, chair 
of the Senate Education Committee.

Districts wouldn’t have to 
accept students with histories of absenteeism, suspensions or 
expulsions. But they could not deny students based on a disability or 
special-education status.

The state’s portion of education funding would follow the student to the new district.

Republican
 Rep. Sean Tarwater, a member of the House K-12 Budget Committee who 
supports open enrollment, said boundaries based on a student’s address 
create academic segregation.

“One of the things that we hear is … 
‘Why doesn’t the student just move into a better district if they want a
 better school?’ Unfortunately, homes or apartments in some of the 
better districts are unattainable for most of the families that live in 
the districts that might be failing,” Tarwater said. “This bill simply 
allows those children to have a choice and a chance.”

Supporters point to <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/2021-11-23/test-scores-show-kansas-students-fell-further-behind-during-pandemic" target="_blank">declining test scores</a> as evidence of struggling districts — and the nearby schools they might flee to.

In Kansas City, Kansas, for instance, <a href="https://ksreportcard.ksde.org/assessment_results.aspx?org_no=D0500&amp;rptType=2" target="_blank">more than two-thirds of students scored below grade level in math</a> last spring. In nearby Blue Valley, <a href="https://ksreportcard.ksde.org/assessment_results.aspx?org_no=D0229&amp;rptType=2" target="_blank">only 16% scored below grade level</a> — half the state average.

At Heights High School in northeast Wichita, <a href="https://ksreportcard.ksde.org/assessment_results.aspx?org_no=D0259&amp;bldg_no=1846&amp;rptType=1" target="_blank">more than 72% of students scored below grade level</a> in math. At Andover Central High School, about 15 miles away in a different district, only <a href="https://ksreportcard.ksde.org/assessment_results.aspx?org_no=D0385&amp;bldg_no=5186&amp;rptType=1" target="_blank">22% scored below grade level</a>.

But
 the open enrollment proposal doesn’t require districts to provide 
transportation for transfer students. So opponents say only wealthier 
parents will take advantage of the option, snagging any available spots 
in high-achieving districts because they can afford to drive their kids 
to school.

That could leave struggling urban districts in even 
worse shape, critics say, with a greater percentage of high-need 
students and less state funding.

“This bill creates two tiers,” 
said Sen. Cindy Holsher, a Democrat from Overland Park. “We have 
children (whose) parents have the means to get them maybe an hour away 
to another school. But there are a number of children in districts who 
don’t have that advantage.”

Many suburban superintendents oppose 
open enrollment in part because they say local taxpayers shouldn’t have 
to subsidize out-of-district students.

“Blue Valley is among the 
highest-performing districts in Kansas — indeed competing nationally — 
and, as such, would find our districts overwhelmed with requests from 
non-residents,” Blue Valley Superintendent Tonya Merrigan said in <a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/committees/ctte_s_ed_1/documents/testimony/20220308_09.pdf" target="_blank">written testimony to the Senate Education Committee</a>.

“Without
 intending to sound elitist, it is nonetheless true that housing costs 
in our districts often provide a check on resident student growth.”

In
 Andover, some residents complained on social media that an influx of 
outside students would increase traffic and pollution and deteriorate 
the district’s sense of community.

Sen. Renee Erickson, a Wichita Republican, called those arguments elitist.

“Based
 on what the superintendents said, I think it’s very clear,” Erickson 
said. “‘We want our high socioeconomic status to remain. We’re born on 
third and think we hit a triple, and we don’t want anyone interfering 
with that.’”

Under the House bill, districts would get to define 
the term “capacity” and set their own capacity limits. The Kansas State 
Board of Education would audit only one district each year to determine 
whether they complied with the law.

About 20,000 Kansas students 
currently attend schools outside their district. More than 90% of 
districts reported accepting at least some out-of-district students. 
Andover, for example, allows children of full-time district employees to
 enroll in Andover schools regardless of where they live.

White, 
the Andover superintendent, said open enrollment would be a logistical 
nightmare. He said it’s hard enough to predict enrollment trends within 
his district, which has grown steadily for the past decade.

Setting
 new capacity guidelines, handling applications and then readjusting for
 latecomers — possibly having to hire additional teachers just before 
school starts — would be an unnecessary burden, White said.

“We have a system that works,” he said. “Why would Topeka want to create a whole new bureaucracy for us at the local level?”

Suzanne Perez reports on education for KMUW in Wichita and the Kansas News Service. You can follow her on Twitter @SuzPerezICT.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650376535786.png" alt="Substitute teacher Serle McNeil leads an algebra class at Andover High School. Andover leaders say opening enrollment to out-of-district students would strain the district's resources. Suzanne Perez / KMUW" />
 <figcaption>Substitute teacher Serle McNeil leads an algebra class at Andover High School. Andover leaders say opening enrollment to out-of-district students would strain the district's resources. Suzanne Perez / KMUW</figcaption>
 </figure>By SUZANNE PEREZ <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/education/2022-04-18/suburban-school-officials-predict-chaos-if-kansas-lets-out-of-district-students-transfer-freely">Kansas News Service</a>WICHITA, Kansas — Kansas stands on the verge of letting students attend any public school — regardless of where they live.Conservatives
 love the plan. They say it would give poor families stuck in failing 
school districts a chance at a life-changing escape.But school 
administrators running well-heeled suburban districts already are taking
 measures to demonstrate their classrooms are full — the one exception 
the proposed change would allow from barring students who want to 
transfer into a district they don’t live in.They say they have 
little choice if they’re going to protect their taxpayers from the cost 
of teaching a flood of students they’re not prepared for and who come 
with needs they can’t afford to accommodate.“We believe in 
neighborhood schools,” said Brett White, superintendent of Andover 
schools east of Wichita. “The open borders would just throw into chaos 
what's an established policy.”Open enrollment proposals passed in both <a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/vote_view/je_20220323102801_716700/" target="_blank">the Kansas House</a> and <a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/sb455/" target="_blank">Senate</a> before lawmakers left for their spring break this month. They echo measures in more than two dozen other states where <a href="https://schoolchoiceweek.com/public-school-transfer/" target="_blank">public school transfers are seen as a hallmark of school choice</a>.If a compromise bill is approved, here’s how it likely would work:By
 January 2023, every Kansas school district would be required to 
establish enrollment capacity limits by grade level and school building.
 By May 1, districts would determine the number of open seats at each 
grade level and would publish them by June 1.Students could apply
 to districts outside their residential area — if the other district has
 space. If there are more requests than open seats, districts would use a
 random lottery to fill them. In October, the process would begin again 
for the spring semester.That allows school districts to determine
 their own enrollment and capacity levels — and to go on record saying 
they can’t take in more students.“They would determine if there 
was any room at the inn,” said Republican Sen. Molly Baumgardner, chair 
of the Senate Education Committee.Districts wouldn’t have to 
accept students with histories of absenteeism, suspensions or 
expulsions. But they could not deny students based on a disability or 
special-education status.The state’s portion of education funding would follow the student to the new district.Republican
 Rep. Sean Tarwater, a member of the House K-12 Budget Committee who 
supports open enrollment, said boundaries based on a student’s address 
create academic segregation.“One of the things that we hear is … 
‘Why doesn’t the student just move into a better district if they want a
 better school?’ Unfortunately, homes or apartments in some of the 
better districts are unattainable for most of the families that live in 
the districts that might be failing,” Tarwater said. “This bill simply 
allows those children to have a choice and a chance.”Supporters point to <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/2021-11-23/test-scores-show-kansas-students-fell-further-behind-during-pandemic" target="_blank">declining test scores</a> as evidence of struggling districts — and the nearby schools they might flee to.In Kansas City, Kansas, for instance, <a href="https://ksreportcard.ksde.org/assessment_results.aspx?org_no=D0500&amp;rptType=2" target="_blank">more than two-thirds of students scored below grade level in math</a> last spring. In nearby Blue Valley, <a href="https://ksreportcard.ksde.org/assessment_results.aspx?org_no=D0229&amp;rptType=2" target="_blank">only 16% scored below grade level</a> — half the state average.At Heights High School in northeast Wichita, <a href="https://ksreportcard.ksde.org/assessment_results.aspx?org_no=D0259&amp;bldg_no=1846&amp;rptType=1" target="_blank">more than 72% of students scored below grade level</a> in math. At Andover Central High School, about 15 miles away in a different district, only <a href="https://ksreportcard.ksde.org/assessment_results.aspx?org_no=D0385&amp;bldg_no=5186&amp;rptType=1" target="_blank">22% scored below grade level</a>.But
 the open enrollment proposal doesn’t require districts to provide 
transportation for transfer students. So opponents say only wealthier 
parents will take advantage of the option, snagging any available spots 
in high-achieving districts because they can afford to drive their kids 
to school.That could leave struggling urban districts in even 
worse shape, critics say, with a greater percentage of high-need 
students and less state funding.“This bill creates two tiers,” 
said Sen. Cindy Holsher, a Democrat from Overland Park. “We have 
children (whose) parents have the means to get them maybe an hour away 
to another school. But there are a number of children in districts who 
don’t have that advantage.”Many suburban superintendents oppose 
open enrollment in part because they say local taxpayers shouldn’t have 
to subsidize out-of-district students.“Blue Valley is among the 
highest-performing districts in Kansas — indeed competing nationally — 
and, as such, would find our districts overwhelmed with requests from 
non-residents,” Blue Valley Superintendent Tonya Merrigan said in <a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/committees/ctte_s_ed_1/documents/testimony/20220308_09.pdf" target="_blank">written testimony to the Senate Education Committee</a>.“Without
 intending to sound elitist, it is nonetheless true that housing costs 
in our districts often provide a check on resident student growth.”In
 Andover, some residents complained on social media that an influx of 
outside students would increase traffic and pollution and deteriorate 
the district’s sense of community.Sen. Renee Erickson, a Wichita Republican, called those arguments elitist.“Based
 on what the superintendents said, I think it’s very clear,” Erickson 
said. “‘We want our high socioeconomic status to remain. We’re born on 
third and think we hit a triple, and we don’t want anyone interfering 
with that.’”Under the House bill, districts would get to define 
the term “capacity” and set their own capacity limits. The Kansas State 
Board of Education would audit only one district each year to determine 
whether they complied with the law.About 20,000 Kansas students 
currently attend schools outside their district. More than 90% of 
districts reported accepting at least some out-of-district students. 
Andover, for example, allows children of full-time district employees to
 enroll in Andover schools regardless of where they live.White, 
the Andover superintendent, said open enrollment would be a logistical 
nightmare. He said it’s hard enough to predict enrollment trends within 
his district, which has grown steadily for the past decade.Setting
 new capacity guidelines, handling applications and then readjusting for
 latecomers — possibly having to hire additional teachers just before 
school starts — would be an unnecessary burden, White said.“We have a system that works,” he said. “Why would Topeka want to create a whole new bureaucracy for us at the local level?”Suzanne Perez reports on education for KMUW in Wichita and the Kansas News Service. You can follow her on Twitter @SuzPerezICT.

School officials: 'Chaos’ if Kansas lets students transfer freely

SUMNER COUNTY– A&nbsp; Kansas man has been convicted of voluntary manslaughter in connection with the disappearance and death of a Sedgwick County woman in April 2020, according to Kansas Attorney General&nbsp;Derek Schmidt.

Robert Bruce Mans Jr., 50, of Wichita, entered a no contest plea in Marion County District Court to one count of voluntary manslaughter and one count of aggravated battery. Senior Judge Mark S. Braun accepted the plea and scheduled Mans to be sentenced on May 23.

Mans was convicted for the death of Shalan Niccole Gannon, 27, of Wichita. Authorities allege Gannon was killed on or about April 8, 2020. She was reported missing on April 11, and her body was found in June 2020 in the Ninnescah River in rural Sumner County. Mans was formally charged in October 2020.

The case was investigated by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, the Wichita Police Department, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, the Marion Police Department, the Butler County Sheriff’s Office, and the Sumner County Sheriff’s Office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591985077348.png" alt="Shalan Niccole Gannon photo KBI" />
 <figcaption>Shalan Niccole Gannon photo KBI</figcaption>
 </figure>SUMNER COUNTY– A&nbsp; Kansas man has been convicted of voluntary manslaughter in connection with the disappearance and death of a Sedgwick County woman in April 2020, according to Kansas Attorney General&nbsp;Derek Schmidt.Robert Bruce Mans Jr., 50, of Wichita, entered a no contest plea in Marion County District Court to one count of voluntary manslaughter and one count of aggravated battery. Senior Judge Mark S. Braun accepted the plea and scheduled Mans to be sentenced on May 23.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1604005781596.png" alt="Mans has previous convictions for burglary, theft and aggravated robbery, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections. He is being held in the Marion County, Kansas jail." />
 <figcaption>Mans has previous convictions for burglary, theft and aggravated robbery, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections. He is being held in the Marion County, Kansas jail.</figcaption>
 </figure>Mans was convicted for the death of Shalan Niccole Gannon, 27, of Wichita. Authorities allege Gannon was killed on or about April 8, 2020. She was reported missing on April 11, and her body was found in June 2020 in the Ninnescah River in rural Sumner County. Mans was formally charged in October 2020.The case was investigated by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, the Wichita Police Department, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, the Marion Police Department, the Butler County Sheriff’s Office, and the Sumner County Sheriff’s Office.

Man guilty in death of Kan. woman whose body was found in river

Willard F. Renfro Jr., 77, passed away April 17, 2022, at Harry 
Hynes Hospice in Wichita. He was born on January 24, 1945, in Great 
Bend, to Willard F. Renfro Sr. and Juanita Renfro-Berry. He married 
Linda Ann Churchill on March 16, 1963, at Great Bend.&nbsp; She died on 
October 9, 2012.

A lifetime Great Bend resident, Willy worked at the Great Bend Cemetery for many years.

Survivors include, his son and daughter in law, Travis and Heidi 
Renfro of Shawnee; and two grandchildren, Samantha Renfro and Blake 
Renfro. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Linda Ann 
Renfro; a son, Grant Kemper Renfro; and his brother, Danny Renfro.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650376000246.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Willard F. Renfro Jr., 77, passed away April 17, 2022, at Harry 
Hynes Hospice in Wichita. He was born on January 24, 1945, in Great 
Bend, to Willard F. Renfro Sr. and Juanita Renfro-Berry. He married 
Linda Ann Churchill on March 16, 1963, at Great Bend.&nbsp; She died on 
October 9, 2012.A lifetime Great Bend resident, Willy worked at the Great Bend Cemetery for many years.Survivors include, his son and daughter in law, Travis and Heidi 
Renfro of Shawnee; and two grandchildren, Samantha Renfro and Blake 
Renfro. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Linda Ann 
Renfro; a son, Grant Kemper Renfro; and his brother, Danny Renfro.Visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Wednesday, April
 20, 2022, at Bryant Funeral Home, with family to receive friends from 
6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Funeral Service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, 
April 21, 2022, at Bryant Funeral Home, with Pastor Joseph Smeragliuolo 
presiding. Interment will be in the Great Bend Cemetery.