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.

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.

<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.

Willard F. Renfro Jr.

By AARON SANDERFORD <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/trump-to-stump-for-herbster-on-april-29-in-greenwood-nebraska/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

OMAHA
 — Nebraska gubernatorial candidate Charles Herbster is getting the 
Nebraska visit he sought for months from former President Donald Trump 
late in a tightening GOP race.

Trump’s
 team announced Tuesday that Trump would appear at an April 29 rally at 
I-80 Speedway in Greenwood, Nebraska, less than two weeks before the May
 10 primary election.

The invitation to the Trump rally lists Herbster as Trump’s special guest speaker.

Herbster
 had been the clear favorite in the Republican governor’s primary for 
months since securing Trump’s endorsement in October. Polling in recent 
months <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/04/18/new-poll-shows-dead-heat-in-nebraskas-gop-governors-race/">shows a tightening three-way race</a> between Herbster, University of Nebraska Regent Jim Pillen and State Sen. Brett Lindstrom.

Gov.
 Pete Ricketts has backed Pillen, and Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert has 
endorsed Lindstrom. Former State Sen. Theresa Thibodeau is also among 
those running.

This
 will be Trump’s first political rally in Nebraska since Oct. 27, 2020, 
when the president said he had rallied more than 29,000 people on the 
private side of Eppley Airfield in Omaha.

Trump
 won Nebraska’s statewide vote in 2020, but he lost an Electoral College
 vote to President Joe Biden in the Omaha-based 2nd Congressional 
District.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650390541438.png" alt="Thousands of Nebraskans wait for then-President Donald Trump to speak during an Oct. 27, 2020, rally in Omaha. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>Thousands of Nebraskans wait for then-President Donald Trump to speak during an Oct. 27, 2020, rally in Omaha. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>By AARON SANDERFORD <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/trump-to-stump-for-herbster-on-april-29-in-greenwood-nebraska/">Nebraska Examiner</a>OMAHA
 — Nebraska gubernatorial candidate Charles Herbster is getting the 
Nebraska visit he sought for months from former President Donald Trump 
late in a tightening GOP race.Trump’s
 team announced Tuesday that Trump would appear at an April 29 rally at 
I-80 Speedway in Greenwood, Nebraska, less than two weeks before the May
 10 primary election.The invitation to the Trump rally lists Herbster as Trump’s special guest speaker.Herbster
 had been the clear favorite in the Republican governor’s primary for 
months since securing Trump’s endorsement in October. Polling in recent 
months <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/04/18/new-poll-shows-dead-heat-in-nebraskas-gop-governors-race/">shows a tightening three-way race</a> between Herbster, University of Nebraska Regent Jim Pillen and State Sen. Brett Lindstrom.Gov.
 Pete Ricketts has backed Pillen, and Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert has 
endorsed Lindstrom. Former State Sen. Theresa Thibodeau is also among 
those running.This
 will be Trump’s first political rally in Nebraska since Oct. 27, 2020, 
when the president said he had rallied more than 29,000 people on the 
private side of Eppley Airfield in Omaha.Trump
 won Nebraska’s statewide vote in 2020, but he lost an Electoral College
 vote to President Joe Biden in the Omaha-based 2nd Congressional 
District.&nbsp;

Trump to stump for Nebraska gubernatorial candidate this month

Arlene Bird, 87, of Quinter, Kansas went to her heavenly home to join Jesus, her Lord and Savior, on Friday, April 15, 2022. Arlene was born on October 9,&nbsp;1934,&nbsp;at home on a farm north of Quinter, Kansas, to Samuel and Gladys Brown Coburn.&nbsp;

She grew up with two brothers, David and Sammie, and had two brothers, Gerald and Edward, who both died in infancy. She had a sister-in-law, Glenva, who was a sister in heart.

Arlene accepted Christ as her Savior at an early age&nbsp;at her mother's knee. She couldn't remember a time when she didn't pray as her mother taught her while she cuddled her. Arlene was baptized at the age of 12 and always felt God's hand on her life, leading her to help others&nbsp;and to&nbsp;pour out her heart, emotions, and gifts for others. In one of her journals&nbsp;from&nbsp;May&nbsp;1987, she wrote "The lilacs smell so sweet! They just permeate the air as one walks past. What I want my life to be to all those around me, a sweet fragrance to God." Arlene's life verse is Romans 8:28, "And we know that in all things God works&nbsp;for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

As a child, Arlene was known as being athletic, the first to be chosen for teams. She loved to read. Her favorite gifts were books, of which&nbsp;Black Beauty&nbsp;was especially memorable because it also addressed her love of horses. She told of riding her horse to school in grade school, one occasion resulting in a broken collarbone.&nbsp;

How Arlene loved animals, especially cats, enjoying many house cats and farm cats. Her favorite hideout was the haystack, and she loved jumping in the wheat in the grainery. Her favorite time of year was the fall, probably because that season held her birthday.&nbsp;

Arlene grew up feeling so cherished and was blessed to be raised near her Uncle Walter and Aunt Emma Ulrich and cousins, Gerald and Joyce. She was also very close to her other Coburn aunts and uncles who visited frequently but lived further away.&nbsp;

In high school, Arlene excelled in all her classes and enjoyed being in Kayettes, Pep Club, and&nbsp;the weekly Bible Study in the basement of the high school. Her favorite teachers taught her a love for poetry and history and to be glad she was a girl. She graduated from Quinter High School in 1952.

Arlene's parents gave her permission to marry Glenn Raymond Bird, at the age of 17, before he was to leave for Korea. They were married on a beautiful day, January 30, 1952, at her parents' home surrounded by family and close friends so her bedridden mother could participate. Arlene and Glenn were very blessed to celebrate 70 years of marriage earlier this year. After Glenn returned from the Korean War, they welcomed four children to their loving home: Glenna Rae, Melony, Scott, and Stacey.

Arlene was a farmer’s wife and a Proverbs 31 woman, establishing a welcoming and happy home, andassisting and supporting Glenn with outdoor lawn and field work and farm errands. She was known for her bountiful flower and vegetable gardens, which she shared with others, used in cooking her delicious meals, and preserved by&nbsp;canning and freezing for future needs. She always took hot meals to the harvest fields and prepared plentiful meals every day for family and farmhands. Her children remember coming home from school to homemade bread, pies, cookies, cakes, and hot glazed donuts all over the kitchen counter. A gifted&nbsp;seamstress, she sewed clothing, quilts, blankets, and more for her children, grandchildren, and friends, in addition to providing sewn items for church bazaars, etc.

Arlene loved music, teaching piano lessons to over 55 children and adults, and enjoyed praising God as a church pianist and musician in the Quinter United Methodist Church and His Place. It was a common sight to see grandchildren sitting beside Grammy as she played piano or organ. During Arlene's&nbsp;last days in the&nbsp;hospital, she enjoyed hearing her daughter-in-law Sheryl play her keyboard and her husband, children, and their spouses singing hymns and praise songs.&nbsp;

A student of God's word, Arlene taught Sunday School and Bible School, and led or participated in many church committees, boards, and retreats. She loved the United Methodist Women (UMW) and organizing the prayer chain. She also loved opening their home for Bible studies over decades. As a prayer warrior, she prayed daily with and for her family, friends, prayer buddies, and pastors. When she learned of any prayer request or need, she did not delay but immediately prayed whether on the telephone or street corner.

She was known as a leader in the community, serving as Republican Party chairwoman and hospital endowment foundation board member, among other positions. She worked to obtain contributions to support various non-profit organizations and was so generous with her time and resources.&nbsp;

The Valhalla Club was very special to Arlene as was spending time with her lifelong friends. In their earlier years, Arlene and Glenn enjoyed square dancing, playing cards, and visiting friends. In their later years, they enjoyed meeting with new and old friends at the Quinter Senior Center.&nbsp;

When those in the community prematurely lost their parents, she became their adopted mother. She made many encouraging phone calls and sent letters and cards tirelessly. The needs of others&nbsp;were always a higher priority than her own. Even through many hospital stays and until the end, her concern was always for the comfort and wellness of&nbsp;others. An inspiration to many, Arlene always had a compliment and encouraging word for everyone.&nbsp;

After Arlene's diagnosis of lupus, heart issues and other ailments, she chose to overcome and turn them into a way to encourage others with similar problems.

Arlene deeply loved and treasured time with her family. She was an active supporter of her children and their activities. Her grandchildren talk of wonderful memories of their time with Grammy–sitting on her lap reading books, enjoying cousin time, exploring Horsethief Canyon, looking for rocks and fossils, playing games, reveling in holiday times, participating in crafts and activities, coloring and hiding Easter eggs, savoring their favorite foods, shopping together, and raiding the "candy drawer."

Arlene has excelled in so many roles — as wife, mother,&nbsp;Grammy, great&nbsp;Grammy, daughter, sister, cousin, confidante, encourager, prayer warrior, teacher, student, gardener, seamstress, volunteer, leader, musician, role model, inspirer, encourager, and friend.&nbsp;She has had a full life of loving and living.&nbsp;

The compassion, generosity, patience, and kindness she extended to all she met were a perfect reflection of her loving spirit and commitment to her faith in Jesus Christ. This is best expressed in her testimony: "Through Jesus, all the dimensions of my life are richer and deeper. I am a better woman, wife, mother, grandmother. Yes, better in all dimensions of my life. Jesus walks with me always and adds LIFE to my life, for He lives. Praise God!"

Arlene is survived and will be lovingly remembered by the love of her life and husband of 70 years, Glenn, daughter Glenna Rae (Norm) Alexander of Leesburg, Florida; daughter Melony (Gary) McClure of Assaria, Kansas; son Scott (Sheryl) Bird of Quinter, Kansas; and&nbsp;daughter Stacey (Scott) Wood of Wichita, Kansas.&nbsp;She also leaves 16 adored grandchildren and 23 precious great grandchildren: Avery (Kim), Abigail, Asher, and Theodore Alexander of Lee’s Summit, Missouri; Alden (Sarah), Isaac, Lillian, Benjamin, and Jonah Alexander of Salina, Kansas; Emily (Nathan), Caleb, Micah, and Levi Watson of Port St. Lucie, Florida; Kesa, Lois Kael, Toben, Eleanor, and Thatcher Easter of Andale, Kansas; Kimber (Chris), Madeleine, and Miles Breeden&nbsp; of Wichita, Kansas; Mark (Lili)&nbsp;McClure of Topeka, Kansas; Max McClure of Podebrady,&nbsp;Czech Republic; Marissa (Jacob) Jones of Springfield, Missouri; Michaela Bird of Raleigh, North Carolina; Stephen Bird of Austin, Texas; Matthew Bird of Kansas City, Kansas; Sarah Bird of Kansas City, Kansas; Valerie (Luis), Isabella, Samuel, Aurora Alicea of Benton, Kansas; Angela (Jonathan), Jacey, Jordyn, and Morgan Lee of Wichita, Kansas; Olivia (Erik), and Blakely Harbutz of Wichita, Kansas; and Aimee (Taylor) Carter of Olathe, Kansas.&nbsp;

Arlene was preceded in death&nbsp;by her parents, Samuel and Gladys (Brown) Coburn; and brothers David, Samuel, Gerald, and Edward; and her sister-in-law Glenva Coburn.

The celebration of life will be held at 10:30 AM on Saturday, April 23, at the Quinter United Methodist&nbsp;Church, 218 W 4th St. Burial will follow at Baker Township Cemetery, Quinter, Kansas.&nbsp;

Visitation will be 5-7 PM on Friday, April 22, at Schmitt Funeral Home, 901 S. Main St., Quinter, Kansas.

Memorial contributions are suggested to Quinter United Methodist Church or Quinter Volunteer Ambulance Service. Donations may be sent to Schmitt Funeral Home, 336 North 12th, WaKeeney, KS 67672.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650300801612.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Arlene Bird, 87, of Quinter, Kansas went to her heavenly home to join Jesus, her Lord and Savior, on Friday, April 15, 2022. Arlene was born on October 9,&nbsp;1934,&nbsp;at home on a farm north of Quinter, Kansas, to Samuel and Gladys Brown Coburn.&nbsp;She grew up with two brothers, David and Sammie, and had two brothers, Gerald and Edward, who both died in infancy. She had a sister-in-law, Glenva, who was a sister in heart.Arlene accepted Christ as her Savior at an early age&nbsp;at her mother's knee. She couldn't remember a time when she didn't pray as her mother taught her while she cuddled her. Arlene was baptized at the age of 12 and always felt God's hand on her life, leading her to help others&nbsp;and to&nbsp;pour out her heart, emotions, and gifts for others. In one of her journals&nbsp;from&nbsp;May&nbsp;1987, she wrote "The lilacs smell so sweet! They just permeate the air as one walks past. What I want my life to be to all those around me, a sweet fragrance to God." Arlene's life verse is Romans 8:28, "And we know that in all things God works&nbsp;for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."As a child, Arlene was known as being athletic, the first to be chosen for teams. She loved to read. Her favorite gifts were books, of which&nbsp;Black Beauty&nbsp;was especially memorable because it also addressed her love of horses. She told of riding her horse to school in grade school, one occasion resulting in a broken collarbone.&nbsp;How Arlene loved animals, especially cats, enjoying many house cats and farm cats. Her favorite hideout was the haystack, and she loved jumping in the wheat in the grainery. Her favorite time of year was the fall, probably because that season held her birthday.&nbsp;Arlene grew up feeling so cherished and was blessed to be raised near her Uncle Walter and Aunt Emma Ulrich and cousins, Gerald and Joyce. She was also very close to her other Coburn aunts and uncles who visited frequently but lived further away.&nbsp;In high school, Arlene excelled in all her classes and enjoyed being in Kayettes, Pep Club, and&nbsp;the weekly Bible Study in the basement of the high school. Her favorite teachers taught her a love for poetry and history and to be glad she was a girl. She graduated from Quinter High School in 1952.Arlene's parents gave her permission to marry Glenn Raymond Bird, at the age of 17, before he was to leave for Korea. They were married on a beautiful day, January 30, 1952, at her parents' home surrounded by family and close friends so her bedridden mother could participate. Arlene and Glenn were very blessed to celebrate 70 years of marriage earlier this year. After Glenn returned from the Korean War, they welcomed four children to their loving home: Glenna Rae, Melony, Scott, and Stacey.Arlene was a farmer’s wife and a Proverbs 31 woman, establishing a welcoming and happy home, andassisting and supporting Glenn with outdoor lawn and field work and farm errands. She was known for her bountiful flower and vegetable gardens, which she shared with others, used in cooking her delicious meals, and preserved by&nbsp;canning and freezing for future needs. She always took hot meals to the harvest fields and prepared plentiful meals every day for family and farmhands. Her children remember coming home from school to homemade bread, pies, cookies, cakes, and hot glazed donuts all over the kitchen counter. A gifted&nbsp;seamstress, she sewed clothing, quilts, blankets, and more for her children, grandchildren, and friends, in addition to providing sewn items for church bazaars, etc.Arlene loved music, teaching piano lessons to over 55 children and adults, and enjoyed praising God as a church pianist and musician in the Quinter United Methodist Church and His Place. It was a common sight to see grandchildren sitting beside Grammy as she played piano or organ. During Arlene's&nbsp;last days in the&nbsp;hospital, she enjoyed hearing her daughter-in-law Sheryl play her keyboard and her husband, children, and their spouses singing hymns and praise songs.&nbsp;A student of God's word, Arlene taught Sunday School and Bible School, and led or participated in many church committees, boards, and retreats. She loved the United Methodist Women (UMW) and organizing the prayer chain. She also loved opening their home for Bible studies over decades. As a prayer warrior, she prayed daily with and for her family, friends, prayer buddies, and pastors. When she learned of any prayer request or need, she did not delay but immediately prayed whether on the telephone or street corner.She was known as a leader in the community, serving as Republican Party chairwoman and hospital endowment foundation board member, among other positions. She worked to obtain contributions to support various non-profit organizations and was so generous with her time and resources.&nbsp;The Valhalla Club was very special to Arlene as was spending time with her lifelong friends. In their earlier years, Arlene and Glenn enjoyed square dancing, playing cards, and visiting friends. In their later years, they enjoyed meeting with new and old friends at the Quinter Senior Center.&nbsp;When those in the community prematurely lost their parents, she became their adopted mother. She made many encouraging phone calls and sent letters and cards tirelessly. The needs of others&nbsp;were always a higher priority than her own. Even through many hospital stays and until the end, her concern was always for the comfort and wellness of&nbsp;others. An inspiration to many, Arlene always had a compliment and encouraging word for everyone.&nbsp;After Arlene's diagnosis of lupus, heart issues and other ailments, she chose to overcome and turn them into a way to encourage others with similar problems.Arlene deeply loved and treasured time with her family. She was an active supporter of her children and their activities. Her grandchildren talk of wonderful memories of their time with Grammy–sitting on her lap reading books, enjoying cousin time, exploring Horsethief Canyon, looking for rocks and fossils, playing games, reveling in holiday times, participating in crafts and activities, coloring and hiding Easter eggs, savoring their favorite foods, shopping together, and raiding the "candy drawer."Arlene has excelled in so many roles — as wife, mother,&nbsp;Grammy, great&nbsp;Grammy, daughter, sister, cousin, confidante, encourager, prayer warrior, teacher, student, gardener, seamstress, volunteer, leader, musician, role model, inspirer, encourager, and friend.&nbsp;She has had a full life of loving and living.&nbsp;The compassion, generosity, patience, and kindness she extended to all she met were a perfect reflection of her loving spirit and commitment to her faith in Jesus Christ. This is best expressed in her testimony: "Through Jesus, all the dimensions of my life are richer and deeper. I am a better woman, wife, mother, grandmother. Yes, better in all dimensions of my life. Jesus walks with me always and adds LIFE to my life, for He lives. Praise God!"Arlene is survived and will be lovingly remembered by the love of her life and husband of 70 years, Glenn, daughter Glenna Rae (Norm) Alexander of Leesburg, Florida; daughter Melony (Gary) McClure of Assaria, Kansas; son Scott (Sheryl) Bird of Quinter, Kansas; and&nbsp;daughter Stacey (Scott) Wood of Wichita, Kansas.&nbsp;She also leaves 16 adored grandchildren and 23 precious great grandchildren: Avery (Kim), Abigail, Asher, and Theodore Alexander of Lee’s Summit, Missouri; Alden (Sarah), Isaac, Lillian, Benjamin, and Jonah Alexander of Salina, Kansas; Emily (Nathan), Caleb, Micah, and Levi Watson of Port St. Lucie, Florida; Kesa, Lois Kael, Toben, Eleanor, and Thatcher Easter of Andale, Kansas; Kimber (Chris), Madeleine, and Miles Breeden&nbsp; of Wichita, Kansas; Mark (Lili)&nbsp;McClure of Topeka, Kansas; Max McClure of Podebrady,&nbsp;Czech Republic; Marissa (Jacob) Jones of Springfield, Missouri; Michaela Bird of Raleigh, North Carolina; Stephen Bird of Austin, Texas; Matthew Bird of Kansas City, Kansas; Sarah Bird of Kansas City, Kansas; Valerie (Luis), Isabella, Samuel, Aurora Alicea of Benton, Kansas; Angela (Jonathan), Jacey, Jordyn, and Morgan Lee of Wichita, Kansas; Olivia (Erik), and Blakely Harbutz of Wichita, Kansas; and Aimee (Taylor) Carter of Olathe, Kansas.&nbsp;Arlene was preceded in death&nbsp;by her parents, Samuel and Gladys (Brown) Coburn; and brothers David, Samuel, Gerald, and Edward; and her sister-in-law Glenva Coburn.The celebration of life will be held at 10:30 AM on Saturday, April 23, at the Quinter United Methodist&nbsp;Church, 218 W 4th St. Burial will follow at Baker Township Cemetery, Quinter, Kansas.&nbsp;Visitation will be 5-7 PM on Friday, April 22, at Schmitt Funeral Home, 901 S. Main St., Quinter, Kansas.Memorial contributions are suggested to Quinter United Methodist Church or Quinter Volunteer Ambulance Service. Donations may be sent to Schmitt Funeral Home, 336 North 12th, WaKeeney, KS 67672.Condolences may be left for the family by visiting&nbsp;www.schmittfuneral.com

Arlene Bird

NEW YORK (AP) — 2021 was the deadliest year in U.S. history, and new data and research are offering more insights into how it got that bad.

The main reason for the increase in deaths? COVID-19, said Robert Anderson, who oversees the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s work on death statistics.

The agency this month quietly updated its provisional death tally. It showed there were 3.465 million deaths last year, or about 80,000 more than 2020′s record-setting total.

Early last year, some experts were optimistic that 2021 would not be as bad as the first year of the pandemic — partly because effective COVID-19 vaccines had finally become available.

“We were wrong, unfortunately,” said Noreen Goldman, a Princeton University researcher.

COVID-19 deaths rose in 2021 — to more than 415,000, up from 351,000 the year before — as new coronavirus variants emerged and an unexpectedly large numbers of Americans refused to get vaccinated or were hesitant to wear masks, experts said.

The coronavirus is not solely to blame. Preliminary CDC data also shows the crude death rate for cancer rose slightly, and rates continued to increase for diabetes, chronic liver disease and stroke.

Drug overdose deaths also continued to rise. The CDC does not yet have a tally for 2021 overdose deaths, because it can take weeks of lab work and investigation to identify them. But provisional data through October suggests the nation is on track to see at least 105,000 overdose deaths in 2021 — up from 93,000 the year before.

New research showed a particularly large jump in overdose deaths among 14- to 18-year-olds.

Adolescent overdose death counts were fairly constant for most of the last decade, at around 500 a year, according to the paper published by the Journal of the American Medical Association. They almost doubled in 2020, to 954, and the researchers estimated that the total hit nearly 1,150 last year.

Joseph Friedman, a UCLA researcher who was the paper’s lead author, called the spike “unprecedented.”

Those teen overdose deaths were only around 1% of the U.S. total. But adolescents experienced a greater relative increase than the overall population, even though surveys suggest drug use among teens is down.

Experts attributed the spike to fentanyl, a highly lethal drug that has been cut into heroin for several years. More recently it’s also been pressed into counterfeit pills resembling prescription drugs that teens sometimes abuse.

The total number of U.S. deaths often increases year to year as the U.S. population grows. But 2020 and 2021 saw extraordinary jumps in death numbers and rates, due largely to the pandemic.

Those national death trends affect life expectancy — an estimate of the average number of years a baby born in a given year might expect to live.

With rare exceptions, U.S. life expectancy has reliably inched up year after year. But the CDC’s life expectancy estimate for 2020 was about 77 years — more than a year and a half lower than what it was in 2019.

The CDC has not yet reported its calculation for 2021. But Goldman and some other researchers have been making their own estimates, presented in papers that have not yet been published in peer-reviewed journals.

Those researchers think U.S. life expectancy dropped another five or six months in 2021 — putting it back to where it was 20 years ago.

A loss of more than two years of life expectancy over the last two years “is mammoth,” Goldman said.

One study looked at death data in the U.S. and 19 other high-income countries. The U.S. fared the worst.

“What happened in the U.S. is less about the variants than the levels of resistance to vaccination and the public’s rejection of practices, such as masking and mandates, to reduce viral transmission,” one of the study’s authors, Dr. Steven Woolf of Virginia Commonwealth University, said in a statement.

Some experts are skeptical that life expectancy will quickly bounce back. They worry about long-term complications of COVID-19 that may hasten the deaths of people with chronic health problems.

Preliminary — and incomplete — CDC data suggest there were at least 805,000 U.S. deaths in about the first three months of this year. That’s well below the same period last year, but higher than the comparable period in 2020.

“We may end up with a ‘new normal’ that’s a little higher than it was before,” Anderson said.

NEW YORK (AP) — 2021 was the deadliest year in U.S. history, and new data and research are offering more insights into how it got that bad.The main reason for the increase in deaths? COVID-19, said Robert Anderson, who oversees the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s work on death statistics.The agency this month quietly updated its provisional death tally. It showed there were 3.465 million deaths last year, or about 80,000 more than 2020′s record-setting total.Early last year, some experts were optimistic that 2021 would not be as bad as the first year of the pandemic — partly because effective COVID-19 vaccines had finally become available.“We were wrong, unfortunately,” said Noreen Goldman, a Princeton University researcher.COVID-19 deaths rose in 2021 — to more than 415,000, up from 351,000 the year before — as new coronavirus variants emerged and an unexpectedly large numbers of Americans refused to get vaccinated or were hesitant to wear masks, experts said.The coronavirus is not solely to blame. Preliminary CDC data also shows the crude death rate for cancer rose slightly, and rates continued to increase for diabetes, chronic liver disease and stroke.Drug overdose deaths also continued to rise. The CDC does not yet have a tally for 2021 overdose deaths, because it can take weeks of lab work and investigation to identify them. But provisional data through October suggests the nation is on track to see at least 105,000 overdose deaths in 2021 — up from 93,000 the year before.New research showed a particularly large jump in overdose deaths among 14- to 18-year-olds.Adolescent overdose death counts were fairly constant for most of the last decade, at around 500 a year, according to the paper published by the Journal of the American Medical Association. They almost doubled in 2020, to 954, and the researchers estimated that the total hit nearly 1,150 last year.Joseph Friedman, a UCLA researcher who was the paper’s lead author, called the spike “unprecedented.”Those teen overdose deaths were only around 1% of the U.S. total. But adolescents experienced a greater relative increase than the overall population, even though surveys suggest drug use among teens is down.Experts attributed the spike to fentanyl, a highly lethal drug that has been cut into heroin for several years. More recently it’s also been pressed into counterfeit pills resembling prescription drugs that teens sometimes abuse.The total number of U.S. deaths often increases year to year as the U.S. population grows. But 2020 and 2021 saw extraordinary jumps in death numbers and rates, due largely to the pandemic.Those national death trends affect life expectancy — an estimate of the average number of years a baby born in a given year might expect to live.With rare exceptions, U.S. life expectancy has reliably inched up year after year. But the CDC’s life expectancy estimate for 2020 was about 77 years — more than a year and a half lower than what it was in 2019.The CDC has not yet reported its calculation for 2021. But Goldman and some other researchers have been making their own estimates, presented in papers that have not yet been published in peer-reviewed journals.Those researchers think U.S. life expectancy dropped another five or six months in 2021 — putting it back to where it was 20 years ago.A loss of more than two years of life expectancy over the last two years “is mammoth,” Goldman said.One study looked at death data in the U.S. and 19 other high-income countries. The U.S. fared the worst.“What happened in the U.S. is less about the variants than the levels of resistance to vaccination and the public’s rejection of practices, such as masking and mandates, to reduce viral transmission,” one of the study’s authors, Dr. Steven Woolf of Virginia Commonwealth University, said in a statement.Some experts are skeptical that life expectancy will quickly bounce back. They worry about long-term complications of COVID-19 that may hasten the deaths of people with chronic health problems.Preliminary — and incomplete — CDC data suggest there were at least 805,000 U.S. deaths in about the first three months of this year. That’s well below the same period last year, but higher than the comparable period in 2020.“We may end up with a ‘new normal’ that’s a little higher than it was before,” Anderson said.___

COVID, overdoses: 2021 was the deadliest year in U.S. history

Katherine M. Sinclair Hayes, 103, passed away Friday, April 15, 2022, at Ascension Living Via Christi Village, Wichita, KS.

She was born April 12, 1919, the fourth of eight children, to John 
Alexander and Katherine Louise Deatz Sinclair in western Hodgeman County
 Kansas.

Early education was at the Laurel School; she graduated Jetmore High 
School in 1938.&nbsp; She and Will “Bill” Dawson Hayes were married September
 21, 1941 in Dodge City. He passed away October 29, 1992.

Katherine was keenly interested in genealogy and travel centered on 
researching family history.&nbsp; She was a caregiver to others in times of 
need as well as a gardener and quilter, piecing and hand quilting a 
blanket for each of her children, grandchildren and great 
grandchildren.&nbsp; Harvests from her gardens were shared with many.

Katherine was a member of the United Methodist Church, Hodgeman 
County Genealogy Society, belonged to the Four Square Homemaker’s Home 
Demonstration Club, and was a past Worthy Matron in the Order of Eastern
 Star, all of Jetmore.

Survivors include: two sons, Mike (Marceile) Hayes, Derby, KS and 
Brit (Lisa) Hayes, Jetmore, KS; two daughters, Joan Fox, Wichita, KS and
 Crystal (Gary) Hinman, Eudora, KS.&nbsp; seven grandchildren, Michelle 
Johnston, Brad Hayes, Jerad Hayes, Sarah Hinman, Wes Hinman, Kasey 
Buffo, &nbsp;Josie Hayes and twelve great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, siblings (Frances,
 Audrey, Jack, Paul, Doris, &nbsp;Don and Loren Sinclair) and one grandchild 
(Todd Carlton).

Funeral service will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 19, 2022 at United 
Methodist Church, Jetmore, with Rev. Peter Mtuamwari presiding.&nbsp; 
Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday at Beckwith Funeral 
Home, Jetmore.&nbsp; Burial will be in the Fairmount Cemetery, Jetmore.

The family would like to recognize Erin and Shakeyla of Traditions 
Hospice for their compassionate care and the help they gave us during 
this time.

In Lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Hodgeman County Long 
Term Care Center, Jetmore Library, Haun Museum or Jetmore United 
Methodist Church in care of Beckwith Funeral Home, Box 663 Jetmore, KS 
67854.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650157472544.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Katherine M. Sinclair Hayes, 103, passed away Friday, April 15, 2022, at Ascension Living Via Christi Village, Wichita, KS.She was born April 12, 1919, the fourth of eight children, to John 
Alexander and Katherine Louise Deatz Sinclair in western Hodgeman County
 Kansas.Early education was at the Laurel School; she graduated Jetmore High 
School in 1938.&nbsp; She and Will “Bill” Dawson Hayes were married September
 21, 1941 in Dodge City. He passed away October 29, 1992.Katherine was keenly interested in genealogy and travel centered on 
researching family history.&nbsp; She was a caregiver to others in times of 
need as well as a gardener and quilter, piecing and hand quilting a 
blanket for each of her children, grandchildren and great 
grandchildren.&nbsp; Harvests from her gardens were shared with many.Katherine was a member of the United Methodist Church, Hodgeman 
County Genealogy Society, belonged to the Four Square Homemaker’s Home 
Demonstration Club, and was a past Worthy Matron in the Order of Eastern
 Star, all of Jetmore.Survivors include: two sons, Mike (Marceile) Hayes, Derby, KS and 
Brit (Lisa) Hayes, Jetmore, KS; two daughters, Joan Fox, Wichita, KS and
 Crystal (Gary) Hinman, Eudora, KS.&nbsp; seven grandchildren, Michelle 
Johnston, Brad Hayes, Jerad Hayes, Sarah Hinman, Wes Hinman, Kasey 
Buffo, &nbsp;Josie Hayes and twelve great grandchildren.She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, siblings (Frances,
 Audrey, Jack, Paul, Doris, &nbsp;Don and Loren Sinclair) and one grandchild 
(Todd Carlton).Funeral service will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 19, 2022 at United 
Methodist Church, Jetmore, with Rev. Peter Mtuamwari presiding.&nbsp; 
Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday at Beckwith Funeral 
Home, Jetmore.&nbsp; Burial will be in the Fairmount Cemetery, Jetmore.The family would like to recognize Erin and Shakeyla of Traditions 
Hospice for their compassionate care and the help they gave us during 
this time.In Lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Hodgeman County Long 
Term Care Center, Jetmore Library, Haun Museum or Jetmore United 
Methodist Church in care of Beckwith Funeral Home, Box 663 Jetmore, KS 
67854.&nbsp;

Katherine M. Sinclair Hayes

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

Creek Side Resort in Hays will begin showing outdoor movies beginning this weekend. 

The outdoor films will be shown on weekends through October. They are a campground amenity. Anyone who has rented a tent or RV spot or cabin will have walk-in access to the outdoor theater.

"That's just one more addition of an amenity that we can offer to not only the community but also to our travelers off of I-70," Kac'Rae&nbsp; Patterson, resort general manager, said.

The resort is at 3301 U.S. 183 bypass, near the 157 exit of Interstate 70.

Concessions also will be offered. Movies will start approximately at dusk.

The movies will be family-oriented and will include theme nights, Patterson said. For example, the resort is planning a princess night and will encourage girls to dress as their favorite princesses and a superhero night.

The resort will typically be showing the movies two weekends in a row.

The movie area has a couple of picnic tables, but moviegoers will be encouraged to bring their own seating.

The resort will have cardboard cars for the kids to sit in and pose for pictures with.

Watch <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CreekSideHays">Creek Side's Facebook page</a> for more information on scheduled movies.

A tent site costs $15 per night. You aren't required to set up a tent if you just want to use the facilities for the evening and don't plan to spend the night, Patterson said.

RV sites cost $39 per night. Cabins cost $100 per night, depending on the weekend.

The resort has three finished cabins but is in the process of building eight more. It has 69 RV sites and 33 tent sites. Most of the RV sites have water, sewer and electrical hookups.

The resort also just opened a new clubhouse, which includes showers, laundry facilities and a fitness center.

Creek Side first opened in 2019 and has seen its business steadily grow, Patterson said.

"We've just been busier and busier," she said. "We just added additional sites."

Other amenities at the resort include a playground, dog park, gazebo, duck pond, community fire pits, propane station and horse stalls.

Sites can be booked through the <a href="https://www.creeksidehays.com/">Creek Side Resort website</a> or by calling 785-259-0927.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1649880737357.jpeg" alt="Creek Side Resort will begin showing outdoor movies as an amenity of the campground beginning this weekend. Photo by Cristina Janney / Hays Post " />
 <figcaption>Creek Side Resort will begin showing outdoor movies as an amenity of the campground beginning this weekend. Photo by Cristina Janney / Hays Post </figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostCreek Side Resort in Hays will begin showing outdoor movies beginning this weekend. The outdoor films will be shown on weekends through October. They are a campground amenity. Anyone who has rented a tent or RV spot or cabin will have walk-in access to the outdoor theater."That's just one more addition of an amenity that we can offer to not only the community but also to our travelers off of I-70," Kac'Rae&nbsp; Patterson, resort general manager, said.The resort is at 3301 U.S. 183 bypass, near the 157 exit of Interstate 70. Concessions also will be offered. Movies will start approximately at dusk. The movies will be family-oriented and will include theme nights, Patterson said. For example, the resort is planning a princess night and will encourage girls to dress as their favorite princesses and a superhero night.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1649880890977.jpeg" alt="Inside Creek Side Resort's new clubhouse. Photo by Cristina Janney / Hays Post " />
 <figcaption>Inside Creek Side Resort's new clubhouse. Photo by Cristina Janney / Hays Post </figcaption>
 </figure>The resort will typically be showing the movies two weekends in a row.The movie area has a couple of picnic tables, but moviegoers will be encouraged to bring their own seating. The resort will have cardboard cars for the kids to sit in and pose for pictures with. Watch <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CreekSideHays">Creek Side's Facebook page</a> for more information on scheduled movies. A tent site costs $15 per night. You aren't required to set up a tent if you just want to use the facilities for the evening and don't plan to spend the night, Patterson said. RV sites cost $39 per night. Cabins cost $100 per night, depending on the weekend.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1649881033608.jpeg" alt="Creek Side Resort's fitness center inside its new clubhouse. Photo by Cristina Janney / Hays Post " />
 <figcaption>Creek Side Resort's fitness center inside its new clubhouse. Photo by Cristina Janney / Hays Post </figcaption>
 </figure>The resort has three finished cabins but is in the process of building eight more. It has 69 RV sites and 33 tent sites. Most of the RV sites have water, sewer and electrical hookups. The resort also just opened a new clubhouse, which includes showers, laundry facilities and a fitness center.Creek Side first opened in 2019 and has seen its business steadily grow, Patterson said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1649881222247.jpeg" alt="Inside one of Creek Side Resort's three cabins. The resort is in the process of building eight more cabins. Courtesy photo " />
 <figcaption>Inside one of Creek Side Resort's three cabins. The resort is in the process of building eight more cabins. Courtesy photo </figcaption>
 </figure>"We've just been busier and busier," she said. "We just added additional sites."Other amenities at the resort include a playground, dog park, gazebo, duck pond, community fire pits, propane station and horse stalls. Sites can be booked through the <a href="https://www.creeksidehays.com/">Creek Side Resort website</a> or by calling 785-259-0927.

Creek Side Resort to offer outdoor movies, opens clubhouse

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas murder suspect captured by the U.S. Border Patrol <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=158988">is in jail in</a> Kansas.

On Thursday afternoon, police booked 32-year-old Patricio Gomez into the Sedgwick County Jail on <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=158988">requested charges</a> of first-degree murder, criminal possession of a firearm and a drug charges.

On March 28, U.S. Border Patrol Agents&nbsp;in the El Paso&nbsp;Sector&nbsp;arrested Gomez who was wanted for&nbsp;murder in Wichita.

The El Paso Station&nbsp;Border Patrol Agent encountered a Gomez walking along&nbsp;the south side of the Border Barrier&nbsp;near Fonseca Drive&nbsp;and Cesar E. Chavez/Border Highway, according to a media release from U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

When agents questioned the Gomez as to his citizenship, he stated that he was a U.S.&nbsp;citizen and that he had&nbsp;just&nbsp;entered the United States&nbsp;from Mexico, illegally,&nbsp;by attempting to drive his truck across the Rio Grande.&nbsp;

&nbsp;Gomez, was taken into custody, for the illegal entry,&nbsp;and transported to a Border Patrol station for further investigation.&nbsp;Record checks revealed that he had an extensive criminal history&nbsp;and an&nbsp;active&nbsp;warrant&nbsp;out of&nbsp;Wichita for&nbsp;murder.

Gomez was&nbsp;remanded to the&nbsp;custody of the&nbsp;El Paso County Sheriff’s&nbsp;Office until his extradition to Wichita.&nbsp;&nbsp;

On October 1, Wichita police issued an alert in an attempt to locate Gomez.

Just before 6:30p.m. Sept. 30, 2021. officers responded to a shooting call at a hotel in the 9400 block of East Corporate Hills.&nbsp; Upon arrival, officers located 42-year-old Michael Martinez who had been shot.&nbsp; He was pronounced deceased on the scene.

The investigation revealed&nbsp;Patricio&nbsp;along with a woman arrived at the hotel regarding an illegal drug transaction.&nbsp; During the transaction, a disturbance ensued and&nbsp;Gomez&nbsp;fired multiple shots at Martinez, striking him.&nbsp;&nbsp;Gomez&nbsp;and the woman fled the scene in a black Cadillac Escalade.

Police located the Cadillac outside of a hotel in Park City.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650038792432.png" alt="Gomez-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Gomez-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas murder suspect captured by the U.S. Border Patrol <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=158988">is in jail in</a> Kansas.On Thursday afternoon, police booked 32-year-old Patricio Gomez into the Sedgwick County Jail on <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=158988">requested charges</a> of first-degree murder, criminal possession of a firearm and a drug charges.On March 28, U.S. Border Patrol Agents&nbsp;in the El Paso&nbsp;Sector&nbsp;arrested Gomez who was wanted for&nbsp;murder in Wichita.The El Paso Station&nbsp;Border Patrol Agent encountered a Gomez walking along&nbsp;the south side of the Border Barrier&nbsp;near Fonseca Drive&nbsp;and Cesar E. Chavez/Border Highway, according to a media release from U.S. Customs and Border Protection.When agents questioned the Gomez as to his citizenship, he stated that he was a U.S.&nbsp;citizen and that he had&nbsp;just&nbsp;entered the United States&nbsp;from Mexico, illegally,&nbsp;by attempting to drive his truck across the Rio Grande.&nbsp;&nbsp;Gomez, was taken into custody, for the illegal entry,&nbsp;and transported to a Border Patrol station for further investigation.&nbsp;Record checks revealed that he had an extensive criminal history&nbsp;and an&nbsp;active&nbsp;warrant&nbsp;out of&nbsp;Wichita for&nbsp;murder.Gomez was&nbsp;remanded to the&nbsp;custody of the&nbsp;El Paso County Sheriff’s&nbsp;Office until his extradition to Wichita.&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1633117408445.png" alt="Gomez-photo Wichita Police" />
 <figcaption>Gomez-photo Wichita Police</figcaption>
 </figure>On October 1, Wichita police issued an alert in an attempt to locate Gomez.Just before 6:30p.m. Sept. 30, 2021. officers responded to a shooting call at a hotel in the 9400 block of East Corporate Hills.&nbsp; Upon arrival, officers located 42-year-old Michael Martinez who had been shot.&nbsp; He was pronounced deceased on the scene.The investigation revealed&nbsp;Patricio&nbsp;along with a woman arrived at the hotel regarding an illegal drug transaction.&nbsp; During the transaction, a disturbance ensued and&nbsp;Gomez&nbsp;fired multiple shots at Martinez, striking him.&nbsp;&nbsp;Gomez&nbsp;and the woman fled the scene in a black Cadillac Escalade.Police located the Cadillac outside of a hotel in Park City.&nbsp;

Murder suspect captured at U.S. border extradited to Kansas 

Wayne Everette Johnston, age 70, of Ellis, Kansas, passed away Wednesday, April 13, 2022, in Ellis. He was born July 17, 1951, in Goodland, Kansas to Howard and Betty (Winters) Johnston.&nbsp; On October 14, 1972, he married Marilyn Louise Boschowitzki at St. John Lutheran Church.

Wayne was a long-time roofing contractor with the family business, Johnston Roofing starting in McCracken, Kansas then to Pueblo, Colorado and ending up in Ellis. Wayne also became a farmer having taken over the family farm in rural Ellis. Wayne enjoyed fishing, Classic Hot Rods, traveling with Marilyn, and time with his granddaughter, Meredith. Wayne was an avid animal lover especially his two favorite dogs, Buddy, and Bandit.&nbsp; Wayne as his family and friends knew enjoyed a good debate, bargaining and dickering.&nbsp;

Wayne is survived by his wife, Marilyn of Ellis; a son, Lyle Johnston of Ellis; a daughter, Tina Douglas and husband John of Ellis; a brother, Don Johnston of Derby, Kansas; three sisters, Donetta McCullugh of Fairbanks, Alaska, Hope Myers of Hillsboro, Oregon and Marie Adams; and three grandchildren, Meredith Johnston of Ellis, Brody Douglas of Hampton, Virginia and Sheila Douglas of Augusta, Kansas.

Wayne was preceded in death by his parents; a half-brother, Stanley Drumwright and a sister, Ruth Jackson.

Funeral services will be&nbsp;11:00 AM Monday, April 18, 2022, at Keithley Funeral Chapel 400 E. 17th&nbsp;Ellis, Kansas.&nbsp;&nbsp;Burial will follow in Mt. Hope Cemetery.

Visitation will be Sunday from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM and Monday 10:00 AM until service time all at the funeral chapel.

A prayer service will be 6:00 PM Sunday at the funeral chapel.

Memorial contributions are suggested to be used according to the wishes of the family.

Condolences may be left by guest book at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com/">www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com</a>&nbsp;or emailed to<a href="mailto:keithleyfuneralhomes@gmail.com">keithleyfuneralhomes@gmail.com</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650054324834.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Wayne Everette Johnston, age 70, of Ellis, Kansas, passed away Wednesday, April 13, 2022, in Ellis. He was born July 17, 1951, in Goodland, Kansas to Howard and Betty (Winters) Johnston.&nbsp; On October 14, 1972, he married Marilyn Louise Boschowitzki at St. John Lutheran Church.Wayne was a long-time roofing contractor with the family business, Johnston Roofing starting in McCracken, Kansas then to Pueblo, Colorado and ending up in Ellis. Wayne also became a farmer having taken over the family farm in rural Ellis. Wayne enjoyed fishing, Classic Hot Rods, traveling with Marilyn, and time with his granddaughter, Meredith. Wayne was an avid animal lover especially his two favorite dogs, Buddy, and Bandit.&nbsp; Wayne as his family and friends knew enjoyed a good debate, bargaining and dickering.&nbsp;Wayne is survived by his wife, Marilyn of Ellis; a son, Lyle Johnston of Ellis; a daughter, Tina Douglas and husband John of Ellis; a brother, Don Johnston of Derby, Kansas; three sisters, Donetta McCullugh of Fairbanks, Alaska, Hope Myers of Hillsboro, Oregon and Marie Adams; and three grandchildren, Meredith Johnston of Ellis, Brody Douglas of Hampton, Virginia and Sheila Douglas of Augusta, Kansas.Wayne was preceded in death by his parents; a half-brother, Stanley Drumwright and a sister, Ruth Jackson.Funeral services will be&nbsp;11:00 AM Monday, April 18, 2022, at Keithley Funeral Chapel 400 E. 17th&nbsp;Ellis, Kansas.&nbsp;&nbsp;Burial will follow in Mt. Hope Cemetery.Visitation will be Sunday from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM and Monday 10:00 AM until service time all at the funeral chapel.A prayer service will be 6:00 PM Sunday at the funeral chapel.Memorial contributions are suggested to be used according to the wishes of the family.Condolences may be left by guest book at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com/">www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com</a>&nbsp;or emailed to<a href="mailto:keithleyfuneralhomes@gmail.com">keithleyfuneralhomes@gmail.com</a>

Wayne Everette Johnston

Dalton Michael Ellis, 25, of Colby, died Tuesday, April 12, 2022, at 
Swedish Medical Center, Englewood, CO. He was born October 23, 1996, in 
Colby, KS, to Gregory Ellis and Tonya Yonkey. 
Growing up, Dalton loved to help on the family farm and work with the 
cows, pigs, horses and llama. He enjoyed shooting sports and 
participated in 4-H and FFA. During the summers he worked in St. 
Francis, doing plumbing. Dalton graduated from Colby High School in 2015
 and from Northwest Kansas Technical College, in Goodland, in 2017. He 
then worked at Hoxie Implement for two years, then transferred to his 
current job, at Oakley Ag, in 2019. 
Dalton was a happy-go-lucky guy, who would do anything for you. He had a
 great sense of humor and loved going out to eat with friends. Dalton 
lived to spend time with his family and friends. 
He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Royce and Claudia Yonkey and Larry and Donna Ellis. 
He is survived by his parents; brother Paden Ellis; and numerous aunts, uncles, and friends. 
Visitation is 5-7:00 p.m. Tuesday, April 19, 2022, at Baalmann Mortuary,
 Colby. Funeral Service is 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, April 20, 2022, at the 
Colby United Methodist Church, with burial in Beulah Cemetery, Colby.


Memorials may be made to the Midwest Transplant Network or American 
Cancer Society and sent in care of Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box 391, Colby,
 KS 67701. For information or condolences visit www.baalmannmortuary.com&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650030060728.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Dalton Michael Ellis, 25, of Colby, died Tuesday, April 12, 2022, at 
Swedish Medical Center, Englewood, CO. He was born October 23, 1996, in 
Colby, KS, to Gregory Ellis and Tonya Yonkey. 
Growing up, Dalton loved to help on the family farm and work with the 
cows, pigs, horses and llama. He enjoyed shooting sports and 
participated in 4-H and FFA. During the summers he worked in St. 
Francis, doing plumbing. Dalton graduated from Colby High School in 2015
 and from Northwest Kansas Technical College, in Goodland, in 2017. He 
then worked at Hoxie Implement for two years, then transferred to his 
current job, at Oakley Ag, in 2019. 
Dalton was a happy-go-lucky guy, who would do anything for you. He had a
 great sense of humor and loved going out to eat with friends. Dalton 
lived to spend time with his family and friends. 
He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Royce and Claudia Yonkey and Larry and Donna Ellis. 
He is survived by his parents; brother Paden Ellis; and numerous aunts, uncles, and friends. 
Visitation is 5-7:00 p.m. Tuesday, April 19, 2022, at Baalmann Mortuary,
 Colby. Funeral Service is 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, April 20, 2022, at the 
Colby United Methodist Church, with burial in Beulah Cemetery, Colby. 
Memorials may be made to the Midwest Transplant Network or American 
Cancer Society and sent in care of Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box 391, Colby,
 KS 67701. For information or condolences visit www.baalmannmortuary.com&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;