The Federal Trade Commission’s 
first-ever report on e-cigarette products paints a disturbing picture of
 surging e-cigarette sales and advertising that are likely to damage the
 health of America’s youth.

The report, which is based on 
industry data provided for the years 2015 to 2018, shows that total 
e-cigarette sales, including both disposable units and those using 
changeable cartridges, increased more than six-fold from $304.2 million 
to $2.06 billion in those three years alone. The sales of fruit and 
other flavored e-cigarette cartridges preferred by youth increased 
seven-fold over that time, and nicotine concentrations in disposable 
e-cigarette products also increased. 

“The Commission’s inaugural e-cigarette 
report paints a disturbing picture, especially with e-cigarettes driving
 an unprecedented increase in youth use of tobacco products,” said 
Samuel Levine, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “The
 data show that this increase coincided with dramatic spikes in the 
market share of flavored products, higher concentrations of nicotine, 
and an industry attempt to evade a ban on free sampling.”

In October 2019, <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2019/10/ftc-study-e-cigarette-manufacturers-sales-advertising-promotional">the Commission issued identical orders under Section 6(b) of the FTC Act</a> to six of the largest domestic e-cigarette manufacturers:

While the FTC has collected information on 
traditional cigarette and smokeless tobacco sales and advertising 
expenditures for many years, this was the first time it sought 
information related to e-cigarettes. The orders asked about e-cigarette 
sales and advertising and promotional activities for 2015 to 2018. The 
report issued today presents an aggregated and anonymized summary of the
 information the six companies provided to the Commission.

Total Sales. The data collected show a dramatic increase in <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2022/03/federal-trade-commissions-first-report-e-cigarette-sales-advertising-reveals-disturbing-trends">e-cigarette </a>sales
 in general between 2015 and 2018 (from $304.2 million to $2.06 billion,
 respectively), as well as a similarly dramatic increase in the sales of
 cartridge e-cigarette systems such as Juul’s. The companies sold $260 
million worth of such cartridge systems in 2015, with sales growing to 
$1.969 billion in just three years.

Flavored E-Cigarette Sales.
 In addition, the FTC found that there was a large shift in sales from 
tobacco-flavored e-cigarette products to fruit, candy, and dessert 
flavors. For example, tobacco-flavored e-cigarette cartridges sales 
dropped from 47.2% of those sold or given away in 2015 to 21% in 2018, 
while the sale of “other” flavored cartridges tripled in that time, 
increasing from 13.8% in 2015 to 42.1% in 2018.

Of those other flavored cartridges, 
fruit-flavored cartridges were the most popular, with sales increasing 
600% from 4.7% of all cartridges sold in 2015 to 29.7% in 2018. Similar 
increases were seen in the sale of candy and dessert-flavored 
cartridges, as well as the sale of disposable e-cigarettes with these 
flavors.

The report concludes that “the 
dramatic increase in flavored products raises serious concerns that such
 products might have maintained or increased youth use of e-cigarette 
products.” It notes that a 2018 survey of high school students 
nationwide found that more than two-thirds of e-cigarette users used 
flavored products and that research shows that young people identify 
flavors as a primary reason they use e-cigarettes. 

This was a significant increase from 
2016, when a national survey of high school and middle school students 
found that just 31% said that the availability of “flavors such as mint,
 candy, fruit, or chocolate” was the primary reason they used 
e-cigarettes. In addition, 81% of adolescents said they used flavors the
 first time they tried e-cigarettes. 

Increasing Nicotine Concentration.
 The report also reveals a large increase in the concentration of 
nicotine in disposable e-cigarettes sold between 2015 and 2018. In 2015,
 disposable products on average contained 25 mg of nicotine per ml of 
e-liquid. This concentration increased nearly 60% to 39.5 mg/ml in 2018,
 increasing their addictiveness. Cartridge-based e-cigarettes contained 
even higher nicotine concentrations, with the most popular products 
having concentrations between 51 and 61 mg/ml, while the sale of 
nicotine-free cartridges was negligible.

The report stated that, “Increased use of e-cigarette <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2022/03/federal-trade-commissions-first-report-e-cigarette-sales-advertising-reveals-disturbing-trends">products with high nicotine concentrations </a>raises
 serious public health and safety concerns for users . . . including 
youth and young adults, who are uniquely at risk for long-term, 
long-lasting effects, including nicotine addiction, from exposing their 
developing brains to nicotine.”

Advertising and Promotion.
 Finally, the report provides detailed information on advertising and 
promotional expenditures by domestic e-cigarettes manufacturers between 
2015 and 2018. The Commission found that spending on advertising and 
promotion more than tripled in three years, from $197.8 million in 2015 
to $643.6 million in 2018. The Commission stated that “the increased 
advertising and promotion raise public health concerns,” as public 
health authorities have concluded that e-cigarette advertising exposure 
is one of several factors that has contributed to the recent surge in 
youth e-cigarette use.

The report finds that spending on 
free or deeply discounted e-cigarette products more than doubled between
 2015 and 2018, with some companies evading the FDA’s 2016 ban on free 
e-cigarette samples by offering products for $1 or a similar amount. 

The report also states that price 
discounts paid to retailers or wholesalers to reduce the price of 
e-cigarettes to consumers increased 14-fold between 2015 and 2018, and 
spending on celebrity endorsers, social media influencers, brand 
ambassadors, and others to promote e-cigarettes products increased even 
more – nearly 15-fold during those three years. 

The Commission vote approving issuance of the FTC’s E-Cigarette Report was 4-0.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1619632629588.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>FTCThe Federal Trade Commission’s 
first-ever report on e-cigarette products paints a disturbing picture of
 surging e-cigarette sales and advertising that are likely to damage the
 health of America’s youth.The report, which is based on 
industry data provided for the years 2015 to 2018, shows that total 
e-cigarette sales, including both disposable units and those using 
changeable cartridges, increased more than six-fold from $304.2 million 
to $2.06 billion in those three years alone. The sales of fruit and 
other flavored e-cigarette cartridges preferred by youth increased 
seven-fold over that time, and nicotine concentrations in disposable 
e-cigarette products also increased. “The Commission’s inaugural e-cigarette 
report paints a disturbing picture, especially with e-cigarettes driving
 an unprecedented increase in youth use of tobacco products,” said 
Samuel Levine, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “The
 data show that this increase coincided with dramatic spikes in the 
market share of flavored products, higher concentrations of nicotine, 
and an industry attempt to evade a ban on free sampling.”BackgroundIn October 2019, <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2019/10/ftc-study-e-cigarette-manufacturers-sales-advertising-promotional">the Commission issued identical orders under Section 6(b) of the FTC Act</a> to six of the largest domestic e-cigarette manufacturers: <ul>
 <li>Fontem US, Inc.; </li><li>JUUL Labs, Inc. </li><li>Logic Technology Development LLC; </li><li>NJOY, LLC; </li><li>Nu Mark LLC; and</li><li>R.J. Reynolds Vapor Company. </li>
 </ul>While the FTC has collected information on 
traditional cigarette and smokeless tobacco sales and advertising 
expenditures for many years, this was the first time it sought 
information related to e-cigarettes. The orders asked about e-cigarette 
sales and advertising and promotional activities for 2015 to 2018. The 
report issued today presents an aggregated and anonymized summary of the
 information the six companies provided to the Commission.Key FindingsTotal Sales. The data collected show a dramatic increase in <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2022/03/federal-trade-commissions-first-report-e-cigarette-sales-advertising-reveals-disturbing-trends">e-cigarette </a>sales
 in general between 2015 and 2018 (from $304.2 million to $2.06 billion,
 respectively), as well as a similarly dramatic increase in the sales of
 cartridge e-cigarette systems such as Juul’s. The companies sold $260 
million worth of such cartridge systems in 2015, with sales growing to 
$1.969 billion in just three years.Flavored E-Cigarette Sales.
 In addition, the FTC found that there was a large shift in sales from 
tobacco-flavored e-cigarette products to fruit, candy, and dessert 
flavors. For example, tobacco-flavored e-cigarette cartridges sales 
dropped from 47.2% of those sold or given away in 2015 to 21% in 2018, 
while the sale of “other” flavored cartridges tripled in that time, 
increasing from 13.8% in 2015 to 42.1% in 2018. Of those other flavored cartridges, 
fruit-flavored cartridges were the most popular, with sales increasing 
600% from 4.7% of all cartridges sold in 2015 to 29.7% in 2018. Similar 
increases were seen in the sale of candy and dessert-flavored 
cartridges, as well as the sale of disposable e-cigarettes with these 
flavors.The report concludes that “the 
dramatic increase in flavored products raises serious concerns that such
 products might have maintained or increased youth use of e-cigarette 
products.” It notes that a 2018 survey of high school students 
nationwide found that more than two-thirds of e-cigarette users used 
flavored products and that research shows that young people identify 
flavors as a primary reason they use e-cigarettes. This was a significant increase from 
2016, when a national survey of high school and middle school students 
found that just 31% said that the availability of “flavors such as mint,
 candy, fruit, or chocolate” was the primary reason they used 
e-cigarettes. In addition, 81% of adolescents said they used flavors the
 first time they tried e-cigarettes. Increasing Nicotine Concentration.
 The report also reveals a large increase in the concentration of 
nicotine in disposable e-cigarettes sold between 2015 and 2018. In 2015,
 disposable products on average contained 25 mg of nicotine per ml of 
e-liquid. This concentration increased nearly 60% to 39.5 mg/ml in 2018,
 increasing their addictiveness. Cartridge-based e-cigarettes contained 
even higher nicotine concentrations, with the most popular products 
having concentrations between 51 and 61 mg/ml, while the sale of 
nicotine-free cartridges was negligible. The report stated that, “Increased use of e-cigarette <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2022/03/federal-trade-commissions-first-report-e-cigarette-sales-advertising-reveals-disturbing-trends">products with high nicotine concentrations </a>raises
 serious public health and safety concerns for users . . . including 
youth and young adults, who are uniquely at risk for long-term, 
long-lasting effects, including nicotine addiction, from exposing their 
developing brains to nicotine.”Advertising and Promotion.
 Finally, the report provides detailed information on advertising and 
promotional expenditures by domestic e-cigarettes manufacturers between 
2015 and 2018. The Commission found that spending on advertising and 
promotion more than tripled in three years, from $197.8 million in 2015 
to $643.6 million in 2018. The Commission stated that “the increased 
advertising and promotion raise public health concerns,” as public 
health authorities have concluded that e-cigarette advertising exposure 
is one of several factors that has contributed to the recent surge in 
youth e-cigarette use. The report finds that spending on 
free or deeply discounted e-cigarette products more than doubled between
 2015 and 2018, with some companies evading the FDA’s 2016 ban on free 
e-cigarette samples by offering products for $1 or a similar amount. The report also states that price 
discounts paid to retailers or wholesalers to reduce the price of 
e-cigarettes to consumers increased 14-fold between 2015 and 2018, and 
spending on celebrity endorsers, social media influencers, brand 
ambassadors, and others to promote e-cigarettes products increased even 
more – nearly 15-fold during those three years. The Commission vote approving issuance of the FTC’s E-Cigarette Report was 4-0.Cover image courtesy Pixabay

FTC: Disturbing trends surround vape sales, advertising on youngsters

Catherine Renee Deterding, age 39, of Rexford passed away Saturday, March 12, 2022, at Citizen Medical Center in Colby.&nbsp;

Cathy was born October 6, 1982, to Vernon and Rhonda (Eby) Lovins in 
Great Bend, Kansas.&nbsp; She grew up and went to school in Goodland, 
graduating from Goodland High School in 2002.&nbsp; She attended the 
Northwest Kansas Technical College Cosmetology and Computer Graphics 
programs.&nbsp; She worked as a CNA at Wheatridge Acres.&nbsp;

Cathy enjoyed outdoor activities and spending time with her family and friends.&nbsp;

She is preceded in death by her parents; grandfather, George Eby; and uncle, Stan Eby.

Cathy is survived by her significant other Adam Ball of Rexford, KS; 
sons, Logan Mathew and Jaxson Nathaniel Deterding of Goodland, KS; 
daughter, Aaliyah Jean-Lynn Frost; sisters, Veronica (David) Wilson of 
Hill City, KS, Sarah (Josh) Lovins of Rexford, KS, Kayla (Dustin) 
Valenti of Goodland, KS and Jillian (Doug) Eddleman of Goodland, KS; 
brother, Vernon (Evann) Lovins of Goodland, KS; grandmother, Verna Eby 
of Goodland, KS; and many more family and friends.&nbsp;

Celebration of Life will be Saturday, April 9, 2022, at Henry Hall in 
Brewster at 2 p.m. CT.&nbsp; Memorials may be designated to Catherine 
Deterding Memorial Fund and may be left at the service or sent in care 
of Bateman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 278, Goodland, Kansas 67735. For 
information and online condolences visit&nbsp;www.batemanfuneral.com

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1647348378480.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Catherine Renee Deterding, age 39, of Rexford passed away Saturday, March 12, 2022, at Citizen Medical Center in Colby.&nbsp;Cathy was born October 6, 1982, to Vernon and Rhonda (Eby) Lovins in 
Great Bend, Kansas.&nbsp; She grew up and went to school in Goodland, 
graduating from Goodland High School in 2002.&nbsp; She attended the 
Northwest Kansas Technical College Cosmetology and Computer Graphics 
programs.&nbsp; She worked as a CNA at Wheatridge Acres.&nbsp;Cathy enjoyed outdoor activities and spending time with her family and friends.&nbsp;She is preceded in death by her parents; grandfather, George Eby; and uncle, Stan Eby.Cathy is survived by her significant other Adam Ball of Rexford, KS; 
sons, Logan Mathew and Jaxson Nathaniel Deterding of Goodland, KS; 
daughter, Aaliyah Jean-Lynn Frost; sisters, Veronica (David) Wilson of 
Hill City, KS, Sarah (Josh) Lovins of Rexford, KS, Kayla (Dustin) 
Valenti of Goodland, KS and Jillian (Doug) Eddleman of Goodland, KS; 
brother, Vernon (Evann) Lovins of Goodland, KS; grandmother, Verna Eby 
of Goodland, KS; and many more family and friends.&nbsp;Celebration of Life will be Saturday, April 9, 2022, at Henry Hall in 
Brewster at 2 p.m. CT.&nbsp; Memorials may be designated to Catherine 
Deterding Memorial Fund and may be left at the service or sent in care 
of Bateman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 278, Goodland, Kansas 67735. For 
information and online condolences visit&nbsp;www.batemanfuneral.com

Catherine Renee Deterding

Adam Wayne Paschall, 48,&nbsp;passed away on Thursday, March 10, 2022, in Colorado. &nbsp;

Adam was born&nbsp;in Kansas City,&nbsp;MO&nbsp;to the&nbsp;late Gerald Paschall and Teresa Brown. &nbsp;He was&nbsp;the oldest of ten&nbsp;growing up in Tennessee.

He was a United States Army Veteran and served from 1993-1999, and has been currently working for Schutte Farms.

He met Joy Braun&nbsp;in October of 2013 and has been residing in Goodland since. &nbsp;As Adam told many people, “He met the love of his life." In his spare time, he enjoyed&nbsp;reading, watching movies, and loved watching sports, especially during this time with March Madness. &nbsp;He was a passionate Tennessee Titans fan and he was loyal to the University of Tennessee. He could be found on weeknights and weekends watching Luke in his many activities.&nbsp;&nbsp;Many would see him at the park on walks and playing ball with his 3 loyal best friends, Tripp, Bishop and&nbsp;Jango.

He is preceded in death by his father Gerald Paschall. &nbsp;He is survived by&nbsp;his loving partner Joy, and step son&nbsp;Luke Braun, daughters Madison Thomas and son of Colorado, Marissa Thomas of Colorado, mother Teresa Brown&nbsp;and step father Todd Brown&nbsp;of Tennessee,&nbsp;brothers&nbsp;Joshua (Miko) Paschall, Daniel Paschall, Jarrad (Miranda) Paschall, Tyler Paschall, Luke (Lauren) Paschall, Judd Paschall, and Canaan Paschall, and a sister Lakota&nbsp;Paschall.

Memorial services will be held on Friday, March 18, 2022, at 11:00 AM MT at Koons-Russell Funeral Home in Goodland with Pastor Caleb Miles officiating.

Memorial contributions may be designated to the Adam&nbsp;PaschallMemorial Fund and may be left at the services or mailed to Koons-Russell Funeral Home, 211 N. Main Ave., Goodland, KS 67735.

Online condolences to the family may be left at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.koonsrussellfuneralhome.com/">www.koonsrussellfuneralhome.com</a>.&nbsp;

Services have been entrusted to Koons-Russell Funeral Home in Goodland.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1647271529076.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Adam Wayne Paschall, 48,&nbsp;passed away on Thursday, March 10, 2022, in Colorado. &nbsp;Adam was born&nbsp;in Kansas City,&nbsp;MO&nbsp;to the&nbsp;late Gerald Paschall and Teresa Brown. &nbsp;He was&nbsp;the oldest of ten&nbsp;growing up in Tennessee.He was a United States Army Veteran and served from 1993-1999, and has been currently working for Schutte Farms.He met Joy Braun&nbsp;in October of 2013 and has been residing in Goodland since. &nbsp;As Adam told many people, “He met the love of his life." In his spare time, he enjoyed&nbsp;reading, watching movies, and loved watching sports, especially during this time with March Madness. &nbsp;He was a passionate Tennessee Titans fan and he was loyal to the University of Tennessee. He could be found on weeknights and weekends watching Luke in his many activities.&nbsp;&nbsp;Many would see him at the park on walks and playing ball with his 3 loyal best friends, Tripp, Bishop and&nbsp;Jango.He is preceded in death by his father Gerald Paschall. &nbsp;He is survived by&nbsp;his loving partner Joy, and step son&nbsp;Luke Braun, daughters Madison Thomas and son of Colorado, Marissa Thomas of Colorado, mother Teresa Brown&nbsp;and step father Todd Brown&nbsp;of Tennessee,&nbsp;brothers&nbsp;Joshua (Miko) Paschall, Daniel Paschall, Jarrad (Miranda) Paschall, Tyler Paschall, Luke (Lauren) Paschall, Judd Paschall, and Canaan Paschall, and a sister Lakota&nbsp;Paschall.Memorial services will be held on Friday, March 18, 2022, at 11:00 AM MT at Koons-Russell Funeral Home in Goodland with Pastor Caleb Miles officiating.Memorial contributions may be designated to the Adam&nbsp;PaschallMemorial Fund and may be left at the services or mailed to Koons-Russell Funeral Home, 211 N. Main Ave., Goodland, KS 67735.Online condolences to the family may be left at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.koonsrussellfuneralhome.com/">www.koonsrussellfuneralhome.com</a>.&nbsp;Services have been entrusted to Koons-Russell Funeral Home in Goodland.

Adam Wayne Paschall

Senate Committees continued to review bills which have been sent over from the House and we had two days of General Orders last week in the Senate.&nbsp; As we work though committee bills on the floor, we will also begin to have&nbsp;Conference Committee reports to vote on as well.&nbsp; A Conference Committee is a small, bipartisan and bicameral committee that works to smooth out the differences between the House’s and Senate’s version of a similar bill. Once the Conference Committee comes to a compromise, the committee’s version of the bill will be sent to both the House and the Senate for a final vote, before advancing the bill to the Governor’s desk.&nbsp;

The Senate confirmed the appointments of Angela Coble - a Plainville native - to the Kansas Court of Appeals and Janet Stanek as Secretary of the Kansas Department of Health &amp; Environment.

SB282&nbsp;offers a series of tax credits in addition to property tax relief for Kansans. The components of the bill included:

Aviation Tax Credit -&nbsp;the bill would allow employers whose principal business activity involves the aviation sector to receive a nonrefundable income tax credit.

Kansas Housing Investor Tax Credit Act&nbsp;- the purpose of HITCA is to bring housing investment dollars to communities lacking adequate&nbsp;housing, and that development of housing will complement economic development of rural and urban areas.&nbsp;

Kansas Affordable Housing Tax Credit Act (AHTCA) -&nbsp;the bill would create tax credits for individual, person, firm, corporation, or other entity owning an interest in a “qualified development” and subject to applicable Kansas taxes.&nbsp; Qualified developments would be low-income housing projects which are located in Kansas and determined by Kansas Housing Resources Corporation to be eligible for a federal tax credit.

Teacher Classroom Supplies Tax Credit -&nbsp;the bill would create an individual income tax credit for public or private school teachers residing in Kansas equal to the taxpayer’s expenditures for school and classroom supplies during the tax year.&nbsp;The credit would be effective beginning in tax year 2022 and would be limited to $250 per year.

Homestead Property Tax Refund Claims -&nbsp;the bill would provide for refund claims to be paid to claimants for the amount by which the claimant’s residential property tax exceeds the amount of the claimants’ property tax in the claimant’s base year.&nbsp;Claimants would be required to be at least 65 years old or a disabled veteran, reside in a homestead with an appraised value of $350,000 or less for the entire year, and have a household income of $50,000 or less.

<a>Residential Property Tax Exemption</a><a>&nbsp;-&nbsp;</a>the bill would increase the amount of the residential exemption from the 20 mill uniform statewide school finance property tax levy from $20,000 of valuation to $65,000 of valuation beginning in tax year.&nbsp;SB 282 passed the Senate 33-4.

<a href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/sb523/" target="_blank">SB 523</a>&nbsp;would authorize the transfer of $1.0 billion from the State General Fund (SGF) to the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System (KPERS) Trust Fund in four scheduled payments. Of that amount, $600.0 million would be transferred in FY 2022 in two installments—$300.0 million on the effective date of the bill and $300.0 million on June 1, 2022. The remaining $400.0 million would be transferred in FY 2023 in two installments, both subject to approval from the State Finance Council—$200.0 million on October 1, 2022, and $200.0 million on January 1, 2023.&nbsp;SB 523 passed the Senate 28-12.

<a href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/sb479/" target="_blank">SB 479</a>&nbsp;would require the Capitol Preservation Committee to approve plans to place a permanent memorial in the state capitol commemorating the work of Kansas suffragists toward achieving the right of women to vote in Kansas and the passage of the 19th amendment to the U.S. Constitution.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;SB 479 passed 40-0.

<a href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/hb2591/" target="_blank">HB 2591</a>&nbsp;would repeal the statute that authorizes quarterly $100,000 State General Fund and $200,000 Conservation Fee Fund transfers to the Abandoned Oil and Gas Well Fund in the Kansas Corporation Commission.&nbsp;&nbsp;HB 2591 passed 40-0.

<a href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/sb326/" target="_blank">SB 326</a>&nbsp;would create an income tax credit for any Class II or III railroad or any owner or lessee of rail siding located on or adjacent to a Class II or III railroad for tax years 2022 through 2031 equal to 50 percent of the qualified track maintenance expenditures paid or incurred during the taxable year for track located in the state of Kansas.&nbsp;&nbsp;SB 326 passed 29-7-4.

<a href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/sb276/" target="_blank">SB 276</a>&nbsp;prohibit blindness from being a determinant factor for denial or restriction of legal custody, residency, or parenting time when it is determined to otherwise be in the best interest of a child.&nbsp;SB 276 passed 40-0.

<a href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/hb2075/" target="_blank">HB 2075</a>&nbsp;would amend a provision governing the venue of agency adoptions in the Kansas Adoption and Relinquishment Act to allow such adoption proceedings to take place in a county where the Department for Children and Families (DCF) or subcontracting agency has an office when the State or a department of the State is the adoption agency.&nbsp;&nbsp;HB 2075 passed 34-0-6.

<a href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/hb2237/" target="_blank">HB 2237</a>&nbsp;would amend law related to the Rural Opportunity Zone (ROZ) student loan repayment program and the child day care services income tax credit.&nbsp; The bill would extend the sunset on the ROZ student loan repayment program to July 1, 2026 and would also extend the sunset on the income tax credit and reporting requirements for the Secretary of Commerce to January 1, 2027. The bill also would expand the eligibility for the ROZ income tax credit to include individuals who move to a ROZ on or after July 1, 2021, and prior to January 1, 2026, from a metropolitan county within Kansas, which would be defined to be Douglas, Johnson, Leavenworth, Sedgwick, Shawnee, and Wyandotte counties. The bill also would also allow any income or privilege taxpayer to claim the child day care services credit and would permit taxpayers to claim 50 percent of expenditures paid to an organization providing childcare to the taxpayer’s employees beginning in tax year 2021. Current law limits the credit to corporation income taxpayers and does not permit the credit for payments made to organizations.&nbsp;HB 2237 passed the Senate 32-5-3.

<a href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/hb2329/" target="_blank">HB 2329</a>&nbsp;would modify the list of entities that are subject to Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) rules and regulations adopted to ensure conformity with the federal Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act.&nbsp;&nbsp;HB 2329 passe the Senate 40-0.

<a href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/hb2594/" target="_blank">HB 2594</a>&nbsp;would create an exemption in law related to vehicle identification number (VIN) offenses for antique vehicles.&nbsp;&nbsp;HB 2594 passe the Senate 40-0.

<a href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/hb2057/" target="_blank">S Sub for HB 2057</a>&nbsp;would enact the Kansas Assistance Animals in Housing Act. The bill would allow a housing provider, upon receiving a request for exemption from the housing provider’s pet policy for the purpose of housing an assistance animal, to require the requestor provide reliable documentation of the disability-related need for the animal. The housing provider would be prohibited from requiring documentation if the requestor’s need is readily apparent or already known to the housing provider. S Sub for HB 2057 passed 29-6-3.

<a href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/hb2279/" target="_blank">S Sub. for HB 2279</a>&nbsp;expands access to APRNs by amending provisions in the Kansas Nurse Practice Act governing the licensure of advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) to allow an APRN to prescribe drugs without a written protocol as authorized by a responsible physician, maintain the scope of practice defined currently in law and be regulated by the state Board of Nursing, require an APRN to maintain malpractice insurance, and require national certification for initial licensure as an APRN.&nbsp;&nbsp;S Sub for HB 2279 passed the Senate 30-7-1.

<a href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/hb2231/" target="_blank">HB 2231</a>&nbsp;would exclude from the definition of the crime of conducting a pyramid promotional scheme plans and operations in which participants give consideration in return for the right to receive compensation based upon purchases, provided that the plan or operation does not cause “inventory loading.” The bill would define “inventory loading” to mean the requirement or encouragement by a plan or operation to have an independent salesperson purchase inventory in an amount that exceeds the amount the salesperson can expect to resell or to use or consume in a reasonable time period.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;HB 2231 passed 36-0-2.

<a href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/hb2560/" target="_blank">HB 2560</a>&nbsp;would extend the sunset for the Water Right Transition Assistance Program (WTAP) from July 1, 2022, to July 1, 2030, and extend the sunset for various existing fees of the Pesticide and Fertilizer Program within the Kansas Department of Agriculture (KDA) from July 1, 2023, to July 1, 2028.&nbsp;&nbsp;HB 2560 passed the Senate 36-4.

<a href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/sb418/" target="_blank">SB 418</a>&nbsp;specifies the Governor, the Secretary of State, and any other officer in the executive branch could not enter into a consent decree or other agreement with any state or federal court or any agreement with any other party regarding the enforcement of election law or the alteration of any election procedure without specific approval by the Legislature. If the Legislature is not in session when such agreement is submitted for review, the bill would require approval be sought from the LCC.&nbsp;&nbsp;SB 418 passed the Senate 28-12.

<a href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/sb439/" target="_blank">SB 439</a>&nbsp;would allow a county election officer to remove a registered voter from the registration list if such registrant has had no election-related activity for any four-calendar year period, or if the registrant has failed to respond to a confirmation notice sent by the county election&nbsp;

officer.&nbsp;&nbsp;SB 439 passed the Senate 33-6.

<a href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/hb2387/" target="_blank">HB 2387</a>&nbsp;would create the crime of operating an aircraft under the influence, provide for testing related to the crime, and repeal current statutes prohibiting the operation of aircraft under influence of alcohol or drugs and providing for related testing.&nbsp;HB 2387 passed the Senate 40-0.

<a href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/hb2361/" target="_blank">S Sub for HB 2361</a>&nbsp;would create law requiring the Kansas Supreme Court to adopt rules for establishment and operation of specialty court programs within the State.&nbsp; It defines “specialty court” to mean a district court program that uses therapeutic or problem-solving procedures to address underlying factors that may be contributing to a person’s involvement in the judicial system, including, but not limited to, mental illness or drug, alcohol, or other addictions.&nbsp;S Sub for HB 2361 passed the Senate 38-1.

<a href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/sb506/" target="_blank">SB 506</a>&nbsp;authorizes a Kansas Down syndrome awareness distinctive license plate for issuance on or after January 1, 2023, for use on a passenger vehicle or truck registered for a gross weight of 20,000 pounds or less. The bill would authorize the North Central Kansas Down Syndrome Society to authorize the use of its logo to be affixed on these license plates.&nbsp;SB 506 passed the Senate 40-0.

Full texts of the bills and supplemental notes as well as the Final Action vote on these measures can be found at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/" target="_blank">www.kslegislature.org</a>.&nbsp;

<a>PAGES FOR THE SENATE – March 9</a>

Gabriel and Taryn Paulino from Bennington; Dreyton Hughes from Phillipsburg, and Allison Rhea from Kensington spent the day with us in the Capitol where they ran errands for the Senators, attended Committee hearings, had lunch with me, and toured the capitol.

This month I will be conducting numerous legislative townhalls throughout the 36th Kansas Senate District. On Saturday, March 19, Representative Lisa Moser, Senator Dennis Pyle, and I have a Legislative Forum scheduled for 9 AM at Landoll Lanes.&nbsp; On Thursday, March 24, Representative Troy Waymaster and I will be starting the day in&nbsp;Mankato&nbsp;at 8:30 AM.&nbsp; We will then have a townhall in&nbsp;Smith Center&nbsp;at 10 AM.&nbsp; In the afternoon, we will then move to&nbsp;Osborne&nbsp;for a scheduled townhall at 1 PM; and then move on to&nbsp;Paradise&nbsp;United Methodist Church for one scheduled at 3 PM.&nbsp; On Saturday, March 26, Representative Waymaster, Representative Susan Concannon, and I will be conducting a townhall at Violette’s Coffee Shop in&nbsp;Lincoln&nbsp;at 9 AM.

WATCH AND LISTEN TO THE KANSAS LEGISLATURE

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_0NO-Pb96CFABvxDwXAq8A?view_as=subscriber" target="_blank">Kansas Legislature YouTube</a>&nbsp;– Here you can follow the legislature live as it happens, or access archives of past sessions and committee meetings.

<a href="http://sg001-harmony.sliq.net/00287/Harmony/en/View/Calendar/" target="_blank">Kansas Legislature Audio</a>&nbsp;– Here you can listen in on session or committees when they are in session, or access prior committee meetings, as well.

Kansas Legislature website –&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/" target="_blank">www.kslegislature.org</a>&nbsp;- has extensive information on legislators, committees, bills, and past sessions.

Thank you for all of your calls, emails, and letters regarding your thoughts and concerns about happenings in Kansas. I always encourage you to stay informed of the issues under consideration by the Kansas Legislature. Committee schedules, bills, and other helpful information can be easily accessed through the legislature’s website at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/">www.kslegislature.org</a>. You are also able to ‘listen in live’ at this website to current committees and also past hearings. Please do not hesitate to contact me with your thoughts, concerns, and suggestions. An email is the best at this point in the session.

Senator Elaine Bowers Kansas State Capitol Building Room 223-E 300 SW 10th St. <a href="mailto:elaine.bowers@senate.ks.gov" target="_blank">elaine.bowers@senate.ks.gov</a> 785-296-7389 <a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/">www.kslegislature.org</a>

Elaine Bowers, R-Concordia, is senator of the 36th District in Kansas which includes:

* Cloud, Jewell, Lincoln, Mitchell, Osborne, Ottawa, Republic, Rooks, Russell,&nbsp;Smith and Washington Counties * Marshall County: Cities: Blue Rapids, Marysville, Oketo and Waterville;&nbsp;Townships: Blue Rapids, Blue Rapids City, Cottage Hill, Elm Creek,&nbsp;Herkimer, Logan, Marysville, Oketo, Walnut and Waterville * Phillips County: Cities: Agra, Glade, Kirwin and Phillipsburg;&nbsp;Townships: Arcade, Bow Creek, Crystal Deer Creek, Freedom,&nbsp;Glenwood, Greenwood, Kirwin, Phillipsburg, Plum,&nbsp;Rushville, Solomon(part), Sumner,&nbsp;Valley and Walnut

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644853578448.jpeg" alt="State Sen. Elaine Bowers, R-Concordia, 36th Dist." />
 <figcaption>State Sen. Elaine Bowers, R-Concordia, 36th Dist.</figcaption>
 </figure>MARCH 14, 2022 TOPEKASENATE HIGHLIGHTSSenate Committees continued to review bills which have been sent over from the House and we had two days of General Orders last week in the Senate.&nbsp; As we work though committee bills on the floor, we will also begin to have&nbsp;Conference Committee reports to vote on as well.&nbsp; A Conference Committee is a small, bipartisan and bicameral committee that works to smooth out the differences between the House’s and Senate’s version of a similar bill. Once the Conference Committee comes to a compromise, the committee’s version of the bill will be sent to both the House and the Senate for a final vote, before advancing the bill to the Governor’s desk.&nbsp;SENATE FLOOR ACTIONThe Senate confirmed the appointments of Angela Coble - a Plainville native - to the Kansas Court of Appeals and Janet Stanek as Secretary of the Kansas Department of Health &amp; Environment.SB282&nbsp;offers a series of tax credits in addition to property tax relief for Kansans. The components of the bill included:Aviation Tax Credit -&nbsp;the bill would allow employers whose principal business activity involves the aviation sector to receive a nonrefundable income tax credit.Kansas Housing Investor Tax Credit Act&nbsp;- the purpose of HITCA is to bring housing investment dollars to communities lacking adequate&nbsp;housing, and that development of housing will complement economic development of rural and urban areas.&nbsp;Kansas Affordable Housing Tax Credit Act (AHTCA) -&nbsp;the bill would create tax credits for individual, person, firm, corporation, or other entity owning an interest in a “qualified development” and subject to applicable Kansas taxes.&nbsp; Qualified developments would be low-income housing projects which are located in Kansas and determined by Kansas Housing Resources Corporation to be eligible for a federal tax credit.Teacher Classroom Supplies Tax Credit -&nbsp;the bill would create an individual income tax credit for public or private school teachers residing in Kansas equal to the taxpayer’s expenditures for school and classroom supplies during the tax year.&nbsp;The credit would be effective beginning in tax year 2022 and would be limited to $250 per year.Homestead Property Tax Refund Claims -&nbsp;the bill would provide for refund claims to be paid to claimants for the amount by which the claimant’s residential property tax exceeds the amount of the claimants’ property tax in the claimant’s base year.&nbsp;Claimants would be required to be at least 65 years old or a disabled veteran, reside in a homestead with an appraised value of $350,000 or less for the entire year, and have a household income of $50,000 or less.<a>Residential Property Tax Exemption</a><a>&nbsp;-&nbsp;</a>the bill would increase the amount of the residential exemption from the 20 mill uniform statewide school finance property tax levy from $20,000 of valuation to $65,000 of valuation beginning in tax year.&nbsp;SB 282 passed the Senate 33-4.<a href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/sb523/" target="_blank">SB 523</a>&nbsp;would authorize the transfer of $1.0 billion from the State General Fund (SGF) to the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System (KPERS) Trust Fund in four scheduled payments. Of that amount, $600.0 million would be transferred in FY 2022 in two installments—$300.0 million on the effective date of the bill and $300.0 million on June 1, 2022. The remaining $400.0 million would be transferred in FY 2023 in two installments, both subject to approval from the State Finance Council—$200.0 million on October 1, 2022, and $200.0 million on January 1, 2023.&nbsp;SB 523 passed the Senate 28-12.<a href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/sb479/" target="_blank">SB 479</a>&nbsp;would require the Capitol Preservation Committee to approve plans to place a permanent memorial in the state capitol commemorating the work of Kansas suffragists toward achieving the right of women to vote in Kansas and the passage of the 19th amendment to the U.S. Constitution.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;SB 479 passed 40-0.<a href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/hb2591/" target="_blank">HB 2591</a>&nbsp;would repeal the statute that authorizes quarterly $100,000 State General Fund and $200,000 Conservation Fee Fund transfers to the Abandoned Oil and Gas Well Fund in the Kansas Corporation Commission.&nbsp;&nbsp;HB 2591 passed 40-0.<a href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/sb326/" target="_blank">SB 326</a>&nbsp;would create an income tax credit for any Class II or III railroad or any owner or lessee of rail siding located on or adjacent to a Class II or III railroad for tax years 2022 through 2031 equal to 50 percent of the qualified track maintenance expenditures paid or incurred during the taxable year for track located in the state of Kansas.&nbsp;&nbsp;SB 326 passed 29-7-4.<a href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/sb276/" target="_blank">SB 276</a>&nbsp;prohibit blindness from being a determinant factor for denial or restriction of legal custody, residency, or parenting time when it is determined to otherwise be in the best interest of a child.&nbsp;SB 276 passed 40-0.<a href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/hb2075/" target="_blank">HB 2075</a>&nbsp;would amend a provision governing the venue of agency adoptions in the Kansas Adoption and Relinquishment Act to allow such adoption proceedings to take place in a county where the Department for Children and Families (DCF) or subcontracting agency has an office when the State or a department of the State is the adoption agency.&nbsp;&nbsp;HB 2075 passed 34-0-6.<a href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/hb2237/" target="_blank">HB 2237</a>&nbsp;would amend law related to the Rural Opportunity Zone (ROZ) student loan repayment program and the child day care services income tax credit.&nbsp; The bill would extend the sunset on the ROZ student loan repayment program to July 1, 2026 and would also extend the sunset on the income tax credit and reporting requirements for the Secretary of Commerce to January 1, 2027. The bill also would expand the eligibility for the ROZ income tax credit to include individuals who move to a ROZ on or after July 1, 2021, and prior to January 1, 2026, from a metropolitan county within Kansas, which would be defined to be Douglas, Johnson, Leavenworth, Sedgwick, Shawnee, and Wyandotte counties. The bill also would also allow any income or privilege taxpayer to claim the child day care services credit and would permit taxpayers to claim 50 percent of expenditures paid to an organization providing childcare to the taxpayer’s employees beginning in tax year 2021. Current law limits the credit to corporation income taxpayers and does not permit the credit for payments made to organizations.&nbsp;HB 2237 passed the Senate 32-5-3.<a href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/hb2329/" target="_blank">HB 2329</a>&nbsp;would modify the list of entities that are subject to Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) rules and regulations adopted to ensure conformity with the federal Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act.&nbsp;&nbsp;HB 2329 passe the Senate 40-0.<a href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/hb2594/" target="_blank">HB 2594</a>&nbsp;would create an exemption in law related to vehicle identification number (VIN) offenses for antique vehicles.&nbsp;&nbsp;HB 2594 passe the Senate 40-0.<a href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/hb2057/" target="_blank">S Sub for HB 2057</a>&nbsp;would enact the Kansas Assistance Animals in Housing Act. The bill would allow a housing provider, upon receiving a request for exemption from the housing provider’s pet policy for the purpose of housing an assistance animal, to require the requestor provide reliable documentation of the disability-related need for the animal. The housing provider would be prohibited from requiring documentation if the requestor’s need is readily apparent or already known to the housing provider. S Sub for HB 2057 passed 29-6-3.<a href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/hb2279/" target="_blank">S Sub. for HB 2279</a>&nbsp;expands access to APRNs by amending provisions in the Kansas Nurse Practice Act governing the licensure of advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) to allow an APRN to prescribe drugs without a written protocol as authorized by a responsible physician, maintain the scope of practice defined currently in law and be regulated by the state Board of Nursing, require an APRN to maintain malpractice insurance, and require national certification for initial licensure as an APRN.&nbsp;&nbsp;S Sub for HB 2279 passed the Senate 30-7-1.<a href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/hb2231/" target="_blank">HB 2231</a>&nbsp;would exclude from the definition of the crime of conducting a pyramid promotional scheme plans and operations in which participants give consideration in return for the right to receive compensation based upon purchases, provided that the plan or operation does not cause “inventory loading.” The bill would define “inventory loading” to mean the requirement or encouragement by a plan or operation to have an independent salesperson purchase inventory in an amount that exceeds the amount the salesperson can expect to resell or to use or consume in a reasonable time period.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;HB 2231 passed 36-0-2.<a href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/hb2560/" target="_blank">HB 2560</a>&nbsp;would extend the sunset for the Water Right Transition Assistance Program (WTAP) from July 1, 2022, to July 1, 2030, and extend the sunset for various existing fees of the Pesticide and Fertilizer Program within the Kansas Department of Agriculture (KDA) from July 1, 2023, to July 1, 2028.&nbsp;&nbsp;HB 2560 passed the Senate 36-4.<a href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/sb418/" target="_blank">SB 418</a>&nbsp;specifies the Governor, the Secretary of State, and any other officer in the executive branch could not enter into a consent decree or other agreement with any state or federal court or any agreement with any other party regarding the enforcement of election law or the alteration of any election procedure without specific approval by the Legislature. If the Legislature is not in session when such agreement is submitted for review, the bill would require approval be sought from the LCC.&nbsp;&nbsp;SB 418 passed the Senate 28-12.<a href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/sb439/" target="_blank">SB 439</a>&nbsp;would allow a county election officer to remove a registered voter from the registration list if such registrant has had no election-related activity for any four-calendar year period, or if the registrant has failed to respond to a confirmation notice sent by the county election&nbsp;

officer.&nbsp;&nbsp;SB 439 passed the Senate 33-6.<a href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/hb2387/" target="_blank">HB 2387</a>&nbsp;would create the crime of operating an aircraft under the influence, provide for testing related to the crime, and repeal current statutes prohibiting the operation of aircraft under influence of alcohol or drugs and providing for related testing.&nbsp;HB 2387 passed the Senate 40-0.<a href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/hb2361/" target="_blank">S Sub for HB 2361</a>&nbsp;would create law requiring the Kansas Supreme Court to adopt rules for establishment and operation of specialty court programs within the State.&nbsp; It defines “specialty court” to mean a district court program that uses therapeutic or problem-solving procedures to address underlying factors that may be contributing to a person’s involvement in the judicial system, including, but not limited to, mental illness or drug, alcohol, or other addictions.&nbsp;S Sub for HB 2361 passed the Senate 38-1.<a href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/sb506/" target="_blank">SB 506</a>&nbsp;authorizes a Kansas Down syndrome awareness distinctive license plate for issuance on or after January 1, 2023, for use on a passenger vehicle or truck registered for a gross weight of 20,000 pounds or less. The bill would authorize the North Central Kansas Down Syndrome Society to authorize the use of its logo to be affixed on these license plates.&nbsp;SB 506 passed the Senate 40-0.Full texts of the bills and supplemental notes as well as the Final Action vote on these measures can be found at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/" target="_blank">www.kslegislature.org</a>.&nbsp; <a>PAGES FOR THE SENATE – March 9</a>Gabriel and Taryn Paulino from Bennington; Dreyton Hughes from Phillipsburg, and Allison Rhea from Kensington spent the day with us in the Capitol where they ran errands for the Senators, attended Committee hearings, had lunch with me, and toured the capitol.<a>LEGISLATIVE TOWNHALLS</a>This month I will be conducting numerous legislative townhalls throughout the 36th Kansas Senate District. On Saturday, March 19, Representative Lisa Moser, Senator Dennis Pyle, and I have a Legislative Forum scheduled for 9 AM at Landoll Lanes.&nbsp; On Thursday, March 24, Representative Troy Waymaster and I will be starting the day in&nbsp;Mankato&nbsp;at 8:30 AM.&nbsp; We will then have a townhall in&nbsp;Smith Center&nbsp;at 10 AM.&nbsp; In the afternoon, we will then move to&nbsp;Osborne&nbsp;for a scheduled townhall at 1 PM; and then move on to&nbsp;Paradise&nbsp;United Methodist Church for one scheduled at 3 PM.&nbsp; On Saturday, March 26, Representative Waymaster, Representative Susan Concannon, and I will be conducting a townhall at Violette’s Coffee Shop in&nbsp;Lincoln&nbsp;at 9 AM.WATCH AND LISTEN TO THE KANSAS LEGISLATURE<a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_0NO-Pb96CFABvxDwXAq8A?view_as=subscriber" target="_blank">Kansas Legislature YouTube</a>&nbsp;– Here you can follow the legislature live as it happens, or access archives of past sessions and committee meetings.<a href="http://sg001-harmony.sliq.net/00287/Harmony/en/View/Calendar/" target="_blank">Kansas Legislature Audio</a>&nbsp;– Here you can listen in on session or committees when they are in session, or access prior committee meetings, as well.Kansas Legislature website –&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/" target="_blank">www.kslegislature.org</a>&nbsp;- has extensive information on legislators, committees, bills, and past sessions.Thank you for all of your calls, emails, and letters regarding your thoughts and concerns about happenings in Kansas. I always encourage you to stay informed of the issues under consideration by the Kansas Legislature. Committee schedules, bills, and other helpful information can be easily accessed through the legislature’s website at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/">www.kslegislature.org</a>. You are also able to ‘listen in live’ at this website to current committees and also past hearings. Please do not hesitate to contact me with your thoughts, concerns, and suggestions. An email is the best at this point in the session.Thank you for the honor of serving you!Senator Elaine Bowers Kansas State Capitol Building Room 223-E 300 SW 10th St. <a href="mailto:elaine.bowers@senate.ks.gov" target="_blank">elaine.bowers@senate.ks.gov</a> 785-296-7389 <a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/">www.kslegislature.org</a>Elaine Bowers, R-Concordia, is senator of the 36th District in Kansas which includes:* Cloud, Jewell, Lincoln, Mitchell, Osborne, Ottawa, Republic, Rooks, Russell,&nbsp;Smith and Washington Counties * Marshall County: Cities: Blue Rapids, Marysville, Oketo and Waterville;&nbsp;Townships: Blue Rapids, Blue Rapids City, Cottage Hill, Elm Creek,&nbsp;Herkimer, Logan, Marysville, Oketo, Walnut and Waterville * Phillips County: Cities: Agra, Glade, Kirwin and Phillipsburg;&nbsp;Townships: Arcade, Bow Creek, Crystal Deer Creek, Freedom,&nbsp;Glenwood, Greenwood, Kirwin, Phillipsburg, Plum,&nbsp;Rushville, Solomon(part), Sumner,&nbsp;Valley and Walnut

BOWERS: 2022 Senate Scene, Week Nine

Senator Rick Billinger&nbsp;Newsletter March 14, 2022

TOPEKA - Last week we passed the budget out of Ways and Means. On Tuesday debate will be held on the Senate floor to pass said budget. Next week I will let you know the highlights of the budget passed out of the Senate.

The Senate confirmed Janet Stanek as Secretary of Kansas Department of Health and Environment and Angela Coble to the Kansas Court of Appeals.

It is fiscally responsible to use one-time money to pay off debt. Given the influx of federal funds, Republicans are leading the effort to reduce the state’s debt and meet our obligation to retirees. SB523 passed the Senate and will authorize the transfer of $1.0 billion from the State General Fund to the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System (KPERS) Trust fund in four scheduled payments. Of that amount, $600 million would be transferred in FY 2022 in two installments - $300.0 million on the effective date of the bill and $300.0 million on June 1, 2022. The remaining $400.0 million would be $200.0 million on October 1, 2022, and $200.0 million on January 1, 2023, with the State Finance Council’s approval after reviewing the State’s financial position.

A tax package was approved by the Senate, which offers a series of tax credits in addition to property tax relief for Kansans. The components include:

*Aviation Tax Credit which will allow employers whose principal business activity involves the aviation sector to receive a nonrefundable income tax credit beginning, tax year 2023, for tuition or certain program specific course-fee reimbursements paid to a full-time “qualified employee,” as defined by the bill, who has graduated from an accredited engineering or technology undergraduate or graduate degree program, an associate of applied science degree program, or career technical program.

*Kansas Housing Investor Tax Credit is to facilitate investment in suitable housing that will support the growth of communities lacking housing by attracting new employees, residents and families and will support the development and expansion of businesses that are job and wealth creating enterprises.

*Kansas Affordable Housing Tax Credit Act will create tax credits for individual, person, firm, corporation or other entity owning as interest in a “qualified development” and subject to applicable Kansas taxes. Qualified developments would be low-income housing projects.

*Teacher Classroom Supplies Tax Credits will create an individual income tax credit for public or private school teachers residing in Kansas equal to the taxpayer’s expenditures for school and classroom supplies during the year. The credit would be effective beginning in tax year 2022 and would be limited to $250 per year.

*Homestead Property Tax Refund Claims will provide for refund claims to be paid to claimants who are at least 65 years old or a disabled veteran, reside in a homestead with an appraisal value of $350,000 or less for the entire year, and have a household income of $50,000 or less. The $50,000 amount would be annually adjusted by the cost of living.

*Residential Property Tax Exemption will increase the amount of the residential exemption from the 20 mills uniform statewide school finance property tax levy from $20,000 of valuation to $65,000 of valuation beginning in tax year 2022 and provide for the amount to be increased in future tax years according to the average percentage change in statewide residential real property for the preceding 10 tax years.

I am honored and grateful to represent the 40th Senate District in Kansas. Please do not hesitate to contact me by email: rick.billinger@senate.ks.gov or call me with your questions or concerns, my office number is 785 296-7399 or my cell is 785 899-4700. If you are in Topeka, stop by my office at 545-S.

Rick Billingr, R-Goodland, is the 40th district senator which includes:

Cheyenne, Decatur, Ellis, Gove, Graham, Logan, Norton, Rawlins,&nbsp;Sheridan, Sherman, Thomas, Trego and Wallace Counties Phillips County: Cities: Logan, Long Island, Prairie View, Speed;&nbsp;Townships: Beaver, Belmont, Dayton, Granite, Logan, Long Island, Mound, Plainview, Prairie View,&nbsp;Solomon(part) and Towanda

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644852447177.jpeg" alt="State Sen. Rick Billinger, R-Goodland, 40th Dist." />
 <figcaption>State Sen. Rick Billinger, R-Goodland, 40th Dist.</figcaption>
 </figure>Senator Rick Billinger&nbsp;Newsletter March 14, 2022 TOPEKA - Last week we passed the budget out of Ways and Means. On Tuesday debate will be held on the Senate floor to pass said budget. Next week I will let you know the highlights of the budget passed out of the Senate.The Senate confirmed Janet Stanek as Secretary of Kansas Department of Health and Environment and Angela Coble to the Kansas Court of Appeals.It is fiscally responsible to use one-time money to pay off debt. Given the influx of federal funds, Republicans are leading the effort to reduce the state’s debt and meet our obligation to retirees. SB523 passed the Senate and will authorize the transfer of $1.0 billion from the State General Fund to the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System (KPERS) Trust fund in four scheduled payments. Of that amount, $600 million would be transferred in FY 2022 in two installments - $300.0 million on the effective date of the bill and $300.0 million on June 1, 2022. The remaining $400.0 million would be $200.0 million on October 1, 2022, and $200.0 million on January 1, 2023, with the State Finance Council’s approval after reviewing the State’s financial position.A tax package was approved by the Senate, which offers a series of tax credits in addition to property tax relief for Kansans. The components include:*Aviation Tax Credit which will allow employers whose principal business activity involves the aviation sector to receive a nonrefundable income tax credit beginning, tax year 2023, for tuition or certain program specific course-fee reimbursements paid to a full-time “qualified employee,” as defined by the bill, who has graduated from an accredited engineering or technology undergraduate or graduate degree program, an associate of applied science degree program, or career technical program.*Kansas Housing Investor Tax Credit is to facilitate investment in suitable housing that will support the growth of communities lacking housing by attracting new employees, residents and families and will support the development and expansion of businesses that are job and wealth creating enterprises.*Kansas Affordable Housing Tax Credit Act will create tax credits for individual, person, firm, corporation or other entity owning as interest in a “qualified development” and subject to applicable Kansas taxes. Qualified developments would be low-income housing projects.*Teacher Classroom Supplies Tax Credits will create an individual income tax credit for public or private school teachers residing in Kansas equal to the taxpayer’s expenditures for school and classroom supplies during the year. The credit would be effective beginning in tax year 2022 and would be limited to $250 per year.*Homestead Property Tax Refund Claims will provide for refund claims to be paid to claimants who are at least 65 years old or a disabled veteran, reside in a homestead with an appraisal value of $350,000 or less for the entire year, and have a household income of $50,000 or less. The $50,000 amount would be annually adjusted by the cost of living.*Residential Property Tax Exemption will increase the amount of the residential exemption from the 20 mills uniform statewide school finance property tax levy from $20,000 of valuation to $65,000 of valuation beginning in tax year 2022 and provide for the amount to be increased in future tax years according to the average percentage change in statewide residential real property for the preceding 10 tax years.I am honored and grateful to represent the 40th Senate District in Kansas. Please do not hesitate to contact me by email: rick.billinger@senate.ks.gov or call me with your questions or concerns, my office number is 785 296-7399 or my cell is 785 899-4700. If you are in Topeka, stop by my office at 545-S.Rick Billingr, R-Goodland, is the 40th district senator which includes:Cheyenne, Decatur, Ellis, Gove, Graham, Logan, Norton, Rawlins,&nbsp;Sheridan, Sherman, Thomas, Trego and Wallace Counties Phillips County: Cities: Logan, Long Island, Prairie View, Speed;&nbsp;Townships: Beaver, Belmont, Dayton, Granite, Logan, Long Island, Mound, Plainview, Prairie View,&nbsp;Solomon(part) and Towanda

BILLINGER: Senate Update, March 14, 2022

October 6, 1982 ~ March 12, 2022&nbsp;

An obituary and services are pending with Bateman Funeral Home.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1647194247765.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>October 6, 1982 ~ March 12, 2022&nbsp;An obituary and services are pending with Bateman Funeral Home.

Catherine Renee (Lovins) Deterding

BAGHDAD (AP) — As many as 12 missiles struck Iraq’s northern city of Irbil on Sunday near the U.S. consulate, Iraqi security officials said. A U.S. defense official said missiles had been launched at the city from neighboring Iran.

No injuries were reported. Officials in Iraq and the U.S. gave different accounts of the strike and the damage it caused. A second U.S. official said there was no damage at any U.S. government facility and that there was no indication the target was the consulate building, which is new and currently unoccupied.

An Iraqi official in Baghdad at first said several missiles had hit the U.S. consulate and that it was the target of the attack. Later, Lawk Ghafari, the head of Kurdistan’s foreign media office, said none of the missiles hit the U.S. facility but that areas around the compound had been hit by the missiles.

The U.S. defense official said it was still not certain exactly how many missiles were fired and exactly where they landed. Neither U.S. official was authorized to discuss the event by name and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

The Iraqi security officials said there were no immediate report of casualties from the attack, which they said occurred shortly after midnight and caused material damage in the area. They spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations.

One of the Iraqi officials said the ballistic missiles were fired from Iran, without elaborating. The U.S. officials could not confirm the type of missile.

The second U.S. official said the incident was being investigated by the government of Iraq and the Kurdish Regional Government. The U.S. condemned what it called an “outrageous attack against Iraqi sovereignty and display of violence,” the official said in a statement.

The attack came several days after an Israeli strike near Damascus, Syria, killed two members of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard. Iran’s foreign ministry strongly condemned the attack Wednesday and vowed revenge.

On Sunday, Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency quoted Iraqi media acknowledging the attacks in Irbil, without saying where they originated.

Satellite broadcast channel Kurdistan24, which is located near the U.S. consulate, went on air from their studio shortly after the attack, showing shattered glass and debris on their studio floor.

A security statement said Irbil was targeted “with a number of missiles” early Sunday, adding that security forces were investigating the incident and would release more details later.

The attack came as negotiations in Vienna over Tehran’s tattered nuclear deal hit a “pause” over Russian demands about sanctions targeting Moscow over its war on Ukraine.

The top U.S. commander for the Middle East has repeatedly warned about the increasing threats of attacks from Iran and Iranian-back militias on troops and allies in Iraq and Syria.

In an interview with The Associated Press in December, Marine Gen. Frank McKenzie said that while U.S. forces in Iraq have shifted to a non-combat role, Iran and its proxies still want all American troops to leave the country. As a result, he said, that may trigger more attacks.’

The Biden administration decided last July to end the U.S. combat mission in Iraq by Dec. 31, and U.S. forces gradually moved to an advisory role last year. The troops will still provide air support and other military aid for Iraq’s fight against the Islamic State.

The U.S. presence in Iraq has long been a flash point for Tehran, but tensions spiked after a January 2020 U.S. drone strike near the Baghdad airport killed a top Iranian general. In retaliation, Iran launched a barrage of missiles at al-Asad airbase, where U.S. troops were stationed. More than 100 service members suffered traumatic brain injuries in the blasts.

More recently, Iranian proxies are believed responsible for an assassination attempt late last year on Iraq’s Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi.

And officials have said they believe Iran was behind the October drone attack at the military outpost in southern Syria where American troops are based. No U.S. personnel were killed or injured in the attack.

Al-Kadhimi tweeted: “The aggression which targeted the dear city of Irbil and spread fear amongst its inhabitants is an attack on the security of our people.”

Masrour Barzani, prime minister of the semi-autonomous Kurdish-controlled region, condemned the attack. In a Facebook post, he said Irbil “will not bow to the cowards who carried out the terrorist attack.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/9/1569028961864.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>BAGHDAD (AP) — As many as 12 missiles struck Iraq’s northern city of Irbil on Sunday near the U.S. consulate, Iraqi security officials said. A U.S. defense official said missiles had been launched at the city from neighboring Iran.No injuries were reported. Officials in Iraq and the U.S. gave different accounts of the strike and the damage it caused. A second U.S. official said there was no damage at any U.S. government facility and that there was no indication the target was the consulate building, which is new and currently unoccupied.An Iraqi official in Baghdad at first said several missiles had hit the U.S. consulate and that it was the target of the attack. Later, Lawk Ghafari, the head of Kurdistan’s foreign media office, said none of the missiles hit the U.S. facility but that areas around the compound had been hit by the missiles.The U.S. defense official said it was still not certain exactly how many missiles were fired and exactly where they landed. Neither U.S. official was authorized to discuss the event by name and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.The Iraqi security officials said there were no immediate report of casualties from the attack, which they said occurred shortly after midnight and caused material damage in the area. They spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations.One of the Iraqi officials said the ballistic missiles were fired from Iran, without elaborating. The U.S. officials could not confirm the type of missile.The second U.S. official said the incident was being investigated by the government of Iraq and the Kurdish Regional Government. The U.S. condemned what it called an “outrageous attack against Iraqi sovereignty and display of violence,” the official said in a statement.The attack came several days after an Israeli strike near Damascus, Syria, killed two members of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard. Iran’s foreign ministry strongly condemned the attack Wednesday and vowed revenge.On Sunday, Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency quoted Iraqi media acknowledging the attacks in Irbil, without saying where they originated.Satellite broadcast channel Kurdistan24, which is located near the U.S. consulate, went on air from their studio shortly after the attack, showing shattered glass and debris on their studio floor.A security statement said Irbil was targeted “with a number of missiles” early Sunday, adding that security forces were investigating the incident and would release more details later.The attack came as negotiations in Vienna over Tehran’s tattered nuclear deal hit a “pause” over Russian demands about sanctions targeting Moscow over its war on Ukraine.The top U.S. commander for the Middle East has repeatedly warned about the increasing threats of attacks from Iran and Iranian-back militias on troops and allies in Iraq and Syria.In an interview with The Associated Press in December, Marine Gen. Frank McKenzie said that while U.S. forces in Iraq have shifted to a non-combat role, Iran and its proxies still want all American troops to leave the country. As a result, he said, that may trigger more attacks.’The Biden administration decided last July to end the U.S. combat mission in Iraq by Dec. 31, and U.S. forces gradually moved to an advisory role last year. The troops will still provide air support and other military aid for Iraq’s fight against the Islamic State.The U.S. presence in Iraq has long been a flash point for Tehran, but tensions spiked after a January 2020 U.S. drone strike near the Baghdad airport killed a top Iranian general. In retaliation, Iran launched a barrage of missiles at al-Asad airbase, where U.S. troops were stationed. More than 100 service members suffered traumatic brain injuries in the blasts.More recently, Iranian proxies are believed responsible for an assassination attempt late last year on Iraq’s Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi.And officials have said they believe Iran was behind the October drone attack at the military outpost in southern Syria where American troops are based. No U.S. personnel were killed or injured in the attack.Al-Kadhimi tweeted: “The aggression which targeted the dear city of Irbil and spread fear amongst its inhabitants is an attack on the security of our people.”Masrour Barzani, prime minister of the semi-autonomous Kurdish-controlled region, condemned the attack. In a Facebook post, he said Irbil “will not bow to the cowards who carried out the terrorist attack.”___

Iranian missile attack hits near U.S. Consulate in Iraq

TOPEKA — The Kansas Chamber announced its 2022 Leadership Kansas class, which includes two Hays residents.

Sara Bloom is executive director of the Downtown Hays Development Corporation. Schamra&nbsp;Detherage is vice-president of human resources for Midwest Energy.&nbsp;

As one of the oldest and most prestigious statewide leadership programs in the country, Leadership Kansas, or LK, is focused on developing and motivating Kansas leaders from across the state.

Kansas Chamber President and CEO Alan Cobb said the Kansas Chamber is excited to welcome the newest Leadership Kansas class — a great representation of the state's demographics.

"Leadership Kansas has a long history of fostering greater awareness and understanding of statewide economic, business, and political issues. The program helps develop our state leaders to make Kansas a stronger and more vibrant business engine," said Cobb. "Graduates of the LK program have gone on to take on key leadership roles at the local, state, and national levels."

Leadership Kansas received more than 600 nominations for the 2022 program. After a thorough&nbsp;and thoughtful application and selection process, the selection committee chose 40 individuals for the 2022 class.&nbsp;

The committee and the Leadership Kansas Board of Advisors make every effort to ensure the class reflects the state in regard to geographic, ethnic, occupational, and gender diversity.&nbsp;

The program begins in April with an orientation session in Lawrence and ends with graduation in October after the completion of seven sessions.

The other cities the 2022 class will visit for this year's program include Garden City, Liberal, Overland Park, Olathe, Lenexa, Kansas City, KS, Leavenworth, Hays, Pittsburg, Hutchinson, Wichita, El Dorado, Manhattan, and Topeka.&nbsp;

&nbsp;Throughout the seven-month program, the class interacts with a variety of experts and community leaders through three-day educational training sessions. The diverse discussion topics include business, education, agriculture, public policy, societal health, economic development, and government. 

<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001Sf9se_i4qbVqJukPShgGEr4Nmqh1clDdLiGORCe6bCpGlvS5DxMcRssbUDkMwnJmn53pVlTiNmyw3IQqk-Oqj8hWhFoi-fYWPcclDWnIXawdMa-0J6tENl1Ob7h01TYi1TKkNy6OH4R0IbgsrjDekz9He0w7V7RKiFxHj98gtRM7qsGlzYwKzWs37ozrWEDG30Mf1dGXbiMtU44t_vLmR48tMLDXfflUSAJj-mAxILo=&amp;c=6QSTGopWa-01_ZnrU2hIsuGGwtqY_tV_qBbU4IS6CW3I2Lfrh2ejkA==&amp;ch=LE6dEBnanBUi7e9wv7iOcG2IRHV7LB11_4yJylpfosuixEH40R8PcA==" target="_blank">Click here</a>&nbsp;to see a complete list of the 2022 Leadership Kansas class.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1583264003733.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Leadership KansasTOPEKA — The Kansas Chamber announced its 2022 Leadership Kansas class, which includes two Hays residents.Sara Bloom is executive director of the Downtown Hays Development Corporation. Schamra&nbsp;Detherage is vice-president of human resources for Midwest Energy.&nbsp;As one of the oldest and most prestigious statewide leadership programs in the country, Leadership Kansas, or LK, is focused on developing and motivating Kansas leaders from across the state.Kansas Chamber President and CEO Alan Cobb said the Kansas Chamber is excited to welcome the newest Leadership Kansas class — a great representation of the state's demographics. "Leadership Kansas has a long history of fostering greater awareness and understanding of statewide economic, business, and political issues. The program helps develop our state leaders to make Kansas a stronger and more vibrant business engine," said Cobb. "Graduates of the LK program have gone on to take on key leadership roles at the local, state, and national levels."Leadership Kansas received more than 600 nominations for the 2022 program. After a thorough&nbsp;and thoughtful application and selection process, the selection committee chose 40 individuals for the 2022 class.&nbsp;The committee and the Leadership Kansas Board of Advisors make every effort to ensure the class reflects the state in regard to geographic, ethnic, occupational, and gender diversity.&nbsp;The program begins in April with an orientation session in Lawrence and ends with graduation in October after the completion of seven sessions. The other cities the 2022 class will visit for this year's program include Garden City, Liberal, Overland Park, Olathe, Lenexa, Kansas City, KS, Leavenworth, Hays, Pittsburg, Hutchinson, Wichita, El Dorado, Manhattan, and Topeka.&nbsp;&nbsp;Throughout the seven-month program, the class interacts with a variety of experts and community leaders through three-day educational training sessions. The diverse discussion topics include business, education, agriculture, public policy, societal health, economic development, and government. <a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001Sf9se_i4qbVqJukPShgGEr4Nmqh1clDdLiGORCe6bCpGlvS5DxMcRssbUDkMwnJmn53pVlTiNmyw3IQqk-Oqj8hWhFoi-fYWPcclDWnIXawdMa-0J6tENl1Ob7h01TYi1TKkNy6OH4R0IbgsrjDekz9He0w7V7RKiFxHj98gtRM7qsGlzYwKzWs37ozrWEDG30Mf1dGXbiMtU44t_vLmR48tMLDXfflUSAJj-mAxILo=&amp;c=6QSTGopWa-01_ZnrU2hIsuGGwtqY_tV_qBbU4IS6CW3I2Lfrh2ejkA==&amp;ch=LE6dEBnanBUi7e9wv7iOcG2IRHV7LB11_4yJylpfosuixEH40R8PcA==" target="_blank">Click here</a>&nbsp;to see a complete list of the 2022 Leadership Kansas class.&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1646692689952.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1646692731323.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

Two Hays residents selected for 2022 Leadership Kansas class

Evelyn Ada “Bum” Goll, 97, of Phillipsburg, died on Friday, 
March 4, 2022, at her daughter and son-in-law’s home in Phillipsburg.

 Memorial services will be on Saturday, March 26, at 10:30 at Zion Lutheran Church in Phillipsburg with Pastor Lee Bennight officiating.&nbsp; Bum and her husband, Burnell, will be laid to rest at Olive Branch Cemetery near Kensington following the luncheon and fellowship. 

Evelyn Ada Madison was born on July 27, 1924, to William 
“Mackie” and Jessie (Christoffersen) Madison in Phillips County, KS.&nbsp; 
Her formative years were in Pudville where she attended the Gooder 
School and got her nickname Bum. Evelyn graduated from 
Kensington High School with the Class of 1944. Bum attended her 75th 
Class Reunion in 2019 where she was the oldest Goldbug in attendance.

Bum worked for Rietzke’s Grocery Store and Waite’s Sundrie in Kensington.&nbsp;
 She and Cleo Dressel were united in marriage on December 21, 1946.&nbsp; 
Cleo died on April 24, 1953.&nbsp; Bum and Burnell were married on August 18,
 1955, in an outdoor ceremony by the parsonage of St. John’s Lutheran 
Church in Kensington.&nbsp; Bum played in a softball game that afternoon 
hitting a home run to win the game for her team. They celebrated 65 
Years of Marriage Together in 2020.

Bum and Burnell moved to Pueblo, CO, for Burnell to attend Union Pacific Railroad Telegraph School.&nbsp; Their son Micheal Elwin “Mike”
 was born on March 11,1957.&nbsp; The Golls moved back to Kensington until 
Burnell began working for CRA, Inc. Refinery and the family moved to 
Phillipsburg.&nbsp; On May 13, 1959, their daughter Michela
 Jean “Mick” was born.&nbsp; Evelyn was baptized with her daughter, 
confirmed, and became a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Phillipsburg 
on March 26, 1961.

Bum was the ultimate full time loving Mom.&nbsp; 
She and Burnell enjoyed watching sports and following their children and
 grandchildren as they participated in many activities. She enjoyed 
spending time with her family and cooking for them. Playing Pokeno or 
cards with her friends, going to Bingo, and sharing a visit over a cup 
of coffee were highlights of her day. Bum was athletic and played 
softball and tennis through the years. She loved walking every day and 
playing Word Search.&nbsp; She and Burnell enjoyed hunting, fishing, and 
camping.&nbsp; Her faith in God and her family were very important to her. 
She was so proud to become a Great Grandma to Brooklyn Elizabeth and 
Bailey Samantha.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Evelyn and Burnell became residents of Phillips County 
Retirement Center on October 1, 2020.&nbsp; Bum joined Burnell so he did not 
have to quarantine by himself due to COVID.&nbsp; As fate would have it, 
Burnell died of COVID on January 6, 2021.&nbsp; On January 14, Bum moved in 
with her daughter, Mick, and son-in-law, Joel,
 for which she was so grateful. They shared many hours reminiscing about
 family, recipes, ball games—you name it. Bum enjoyed it when Mike, 
Brenda, and family came to visit as well as their video phone calls. She
 was always smiling.

Survivors include her two children, Micheal (Brenda) Goll of 
Salina, KS, and Michela (Joel) Hiesterman of Phillipsburg, KS; her 
sister, Carrie “Nette” Philbrick of Sidney, NE; three grandsons, 
Chandler (Carissa) Brass of Stockton, KS, Connor (Mary Claire) Brass of 
North Kansas City, MO, Spencer Brass of Los Angeles, CA, and two great 
granddaughters, Brooklyn and Bailey Brass of Stockton, KS; 
brother-in-law &amp; sister-in-law; Lawrence and Kay Goll of Blue Hill, NE,
 along with nieces, nephews, family and friends, and the Hospice 
personnel that were so good to Bum. She will be dearly missed by all 
those that knew and loved her.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Burnell, first husband, Cleo, her parents, sister, Kathleen “Kassie” Bronson, and infant brother, Merval Madison.&nbsp;In-Laws: Walter “Fat” Bronson, Charles “Chuck” Philbrick, Myrnah and Eldon Ratliff, Naomi and Don Seibrass, and Lloyd and Luetta Dressel.

The Family has chosen Hospice Services, Inc. for their memorial. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1646946307871.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Evelyn Ada “Bum” Goll, 97, of Phillipsburg, died on Friday, 
March 4, 2022, at her daughter and son-in-law’s home in Phillipsburg. Memorial services will be on Saturday, March 26, at 10:30 at Zion Lutheran Church in Phillipsburg with Pastor Lee Bennight officiating.&nbsp; Bum and her husband, Burnell, will be laid to rest at Olive Branch Cemetery near Kensington following the luncheon and fellowship. Evelyn Ada Madison was born on July 27, 1924, to William 
“Mackie” and Jessie (Christoffersen) Madison in Phillips County, KS.&nbsp; 
Her formative years were in Pudville where she attended the Gooder 
School and got her nickname Bum. Evelyn graduated from 
Kensington High School with the Class of 1944. Bum attended her 75th 
Class Reunion in 2019 where she was the oldest Goldbug in attendance.Bum worked for Rietzke’s Grocery Store and Waite’s Sundrie in Kensington.&nbsp;
 She and Cleo Dressel were united in marriage on December 21, 1946.&nbsp; 
Cleo died on April 24, 1953.&nbsp; Bum and Burnell were married on August 18,
 1955, in an outdoor ceremony by the parsonage of St. John’s Lutheran 
Church in Kensington.&nbsp; Bum played in a softball game that afternoon 
hitting a home run to win the game for her team. They celebrated 65 
Years of Marriage Together in 2020.Bum and Burnell moved to Pueblo, CO, for Burnell to attend Union Pacific Railroad Telegraph School.&nbsp; Their son Micheal Elwin “Mike”
 was born on March 11,1957.&nbsp; The Golls moved back to Kensington until 
Burnell began working for CRA, Inc. Refinery and the family moved to 
Phillipsburg.&nbsp; On May 13, 1959, their daughter Michela
 Jean “Mick” was born.&nbsp; Evelyn was baptized with her daughter, 
confirmed, and became a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Phillipsburg 
on March 26, 1961.Bum was the ultimate full time loving Mom.&nbsp; 
She and Burnell enjoyed watching sports and following their children and
 grandchildren as they participated in many activities. She enjoyed 
spending time with her family and cooking for them. Playing Pokeno or 
cards with her friends, going to Bingo, and sharing a visit over a cup 
of coffee were highlights of her day. Bum was athletic and played 
softball and tennis through the years. She loved walking every day and 
playing Word Search.&nbsp; She and Burnell enjoyed hunting, fishing, and 
camping.&nbsp; Her faith in God and her family were very important to her. 
She was so proud to become a Great Grandma to Brooklyn Elizabeth and 
Bailey Samantha.&nbsp;&nbsp;Evelyn and Burnell became residents of Phillips County 
Retirement Center on October 1, 2020.&nbsp; Bum joined Burnell so he did not 
have to quarantine by himself due to COVID.&nbsp; As fate would have it, 
Burnell died of COVID on January 6, 2021.&nbsp; On January 14, Bum moved in 
with her daughter, Mick, and son-in-law, Joel,
 for which she was so grateful. They shared many hours reminiscing about
 family, recipes, ball games—you name it. Bum enjoyed it when Mike, 
Brenda, and family came to visit as well as their video phone calls. She
 was always smiling.Survivors include her two children, Micheal (Brenda) Goll of 
Salina, KS, and Michela (Joel) Hiesterman of Phillipsburg, KS; her 
sister, Carrie “Nette” Philbrick of Sidney, NE; three grandsons, 
Chandler (Carissa) Brass of Stockton, KS, Connor (Mary Claire) Brass of 
North Kansas City, MO, Spencer Brass of Los Angeles, CA, and two great 
granddaughters, Brooklyn and Bailey Brass of Stockton, KS; 
brother-in-law &amp; sister-in-law; Lawrence and Kay Goll of Blue Hill, NE,
 along with nieces, nephews, family and friends, and the Hospice 
personnel that were so good to Bum. She will be dearly missed by all 
those that knew and loved her.She was preceded in death by her husband, Burnell, first husband, Cleo, her parents, sister, Kathleen “Kassie” Bronson, and infant brother, Merval Madison.&nbsp;In-Laws: Walter “Fat” Bronson, Charles “Chuck” Philbrick, Myrnah and Eldon Ratliff, Naomi and Don Seibrass, and Lloyd and Luetta Dressel.The Family has chosen Hospice Services, Inc. for their memorial.

Evelyn Ada 'Bum' Goll

Blanche Elizabeth Zerr, 91, of Grainfield, died Monday, March 7, 2022, 
at the Gove County Medical Center Long Term Care, in Quinter, KS. She 
was born during the dirty thirties, on October 31, 1930, in Hill City, 
KS, and was the first born of Joseph and Elizabeth (Dinkel) Richmeier. 
She grew up in St. Peter, KS and attended St. Anthony’s Catholic School 
there, where she learned her prayers and received her sacraments. After 
the 8th grade, at age 12, Blanche was sent to live with a group of young
 girls at a convent in Topeka, KS, where she worked at a hospital and 
sent the money she earned home to help support her family. Blanche was 
homesick, so after six months she was transferred to Hays, KS, to be 
closer to her family. She lived and worked there until she was 17. 
In May of 1947, Blanche met Peter C. Zerr at the wedding of Clem and 
Pauline Zerr. On November 16, 1948, shortly after Blanche turned 18, 
they were married in the basement of St. Anthony’s School, in St. Peter,
 because the church was being rebuilt. Blanche fondly recalled her and 
Peter praying together with both of their parents before the wedding. 
The couple continued to carry on the faith to their own family. They 
were blessed with five children (though they initially both wanted 14). 
Blanche was a true model for her family in the way she lived her 
Catholic faith, following the 10 commandments, praying, and sharing her 
devotion for the rosary. 
Blanche was an excellent farm wife. She was hard working and always 
filled in wherever she was needed. She milked the dairy cows, raised a 
large garden, cooked full meals for her family and the hired hands, all 
while maintaining the household and attending all her children’s events.
 She loved spending time with her family on Sundays, going to church and
 attending get-togethers. Blanche lived for her children and later her 
grandchildren and was always there to support them in their endeavors. 
She was a member of the Go-Getters EHU, Hackberry Hoppers, Grainfield 
Tri S Federated Women’s Club, Immaculate Conception Altar Society and 
later the St. Agnes Ladies. 
Blanche was preceded in death by her parents; husband Peter; son Keith 
Zerr; daughter-in-law Karen Zerr and sisters, Luella Kinderknecht, 
Carmella Jones and Clarita Kollhoff. 
She is survived by her sons, Dennis Zerr, of Garden City, KS, Kevin Zerr
 (Peggy Huelsman), of Perry, KS and Darren (Sherri) Zerr, of Baldwin 
City, KS; daughter Lynette (Terry) Steinbrecher, of Denver, CO; 
daughter-in-law Jacky Zerr; sister Eileen Bellairs; brothers, Edwin and 
Larry Richmeier; ten grandchildren, Chad Zerr, Mike (Tiffany) Zerr, 
Christopher (Ines) Wildeman, Kelly Steinbrecher, Gregory (Casi) 
Wildeman, Jordan Zerr, Jason (Whitney) Zerr, Kenton (Jennifer) Zerr, 
Kaitlyn (Keaton) Knott and Kirsten Zerr (fiancé Collin Schmidt) and 11 
great grandchildren. 
Visitation will be from 5-7:00 p.m., with a Rosary at 7:00 p.m., 
followed by a Vigil, Friday, March 11, 2022, at the St. Agnes Religious 
Education Center, in Grainfield. Funeral Mass is 10:00 a.m. Saturday, 
March 12, 2022, at St. Agnes Catholic Church, Grainfield, with burial in
 the Grainfield City Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the St. Agnes 
Church or the Grainfield American Legion and sent in care of Baalmann 
Mortuary, PO Box 204, Oakley, KS 67748. 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/2022/3/1646937690038.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Blanche Elizabeth Zerr, 91, of Grainfield, died Monday, March 7, 2022, 
at the Gove County Medical Center Long Term Care, in Quinter, KS. She 
was born during the dirty thirties, on October 31, 1930, in Hill City, 
KS, and was the first born of Joseph and Elizabeth (Dinkel) Richmeier. 
She grew up in St. Peter, KS and attended St. Anthony’s Catholic School 
there, where she learned her prayers and received her sacraments. After 
the 8th grade, at age 12, Blanche was sent to live with a group of young
 girls at a convent in Topeka, KS, where she worked at a hospital and 
sent the money she earned home to help support her family. Blanche was 
homesick, so after six months she was transferred to Hays, KS, to be 
closer to her family. She lived and worked there until she was 17. 
In May of 1947, Blanche met Peter C. Zerr at the wedding of Clem and 
Pauline Zerr. On November 16, 1948, shortly after Blanche turned 18, 
they were married in the basement of St. Anthony’s School, in St. Peter,
 because the church was being rebuilt. Blanche fondly recalled her and 
Peter praying together with both of their parents before the wedding. 
The couple continued to carry on the faith to their own family. They 
were blessed with five children (though they initially both wanted 14). 
Blanche was a true model for her family in the way she lived her 
Catholic faith, following the 10 commandments, praying, and sharing her 
devotion for the rosary. 
Blanche was an excellent farm wife. She was hard working and always 
filled in wherever she was needed. She milked the dairy cows, raised a 
large garden, cooked full meals for her family and the hired hands, all 
while maintaining the household and attending all her children’s events.
 She loved spending time with her family on Sundays, going to church and
 attending get-togethers. Blanche lived for her children and later her 
grandchildren and was always there to support them in their endeavors. 
She was a member of the Go-Getters EHU, Hackberry Hoppers, Grainfield 
Tri S Federated Women’s Club, Immaculate Conception Altar Society and 
later the St. Agnes Ladies. 
Blanche was preceded in death by her parents; husband Peter; son Keith 
Zerr; daughter-in-law Karen Zerr and sisters, Luella Kinderknecht, 
Carmella Jones and Clarita Kollhoff. 
She is survived by her sons, Dennis Zerr, of Garden City, KS, Kevin Zerr
 (Peggy Huelsman), of Perry, KS and Darren (Sherri) Zerr, of Baldwin 
City, KS; daughter Lynette (Terry) Steinbrecher, of Denver, CO; 
daughter-in-law Jacky Zerr; sister Eileen Bellairs; brothers, Edwin and 
Larry Richmeier; ten grandchildren, Chad Zerr, Mike (Tiffany) Zerr, 
Christopher (Ines) Wildeman, Kelly Steinbrecher, Gregory (Casi) 
Wildeman, Jordan Zerr, Jason (Whitney) Zerr, Kenton (Jennifer) Zerr, 
Kaitlyn (Keaton) Knott and Kirsten Zerr (fiancé Collin Schmidt) and 11 
great grandchildren. 
Visitation will be from 5-7:00 p.m., with a Rosary at 7:00 p.m., 
followed by a Vigil, Friday, March 11, 2022, at the St. Agnes Religious 
Education Center, in Grainfield. Funeral Mass is 10:00 a.m. Saturday, 
March 12, 2022, at St. Agnes Catholic Church, Grainfield, with burial in
 the Grainfield City Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the St. Agnes 
Church or the Grainfield American Legion and sent in care of Baalmann 
Mortuary, PO Box 204, Oakley, KS 67748. For information or condolences 
visit www.baalmannmortuary.com&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

Blanche Elizabeth Zerr

Patricia Coker, 78, died March 6, 2022, at Research Medical Center in 
Kansas City, Missouri. She was born on February 4, 1944, at Loretta, 
Kansas, the daughter of Severin Sr. and Adeline (Befort) Werth.

She married Donald Coker on April 18, 1964 in Schoenchen, Kansas. He 
preceded her in death on October 10, 2007. Mrs. Coker enjoyed knitting 
and gardening and shopping in her spare time. She loved spending time 
with her family.

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

She is survived by two daughters Carrie Koehn and husband Doyle of 
Montezuma; Tammie Spire and husband Richard of Belton, Missouri as well,
 as two sisters Darlene Williams of Olathe, Kansas; Sharon Unrein of 
Louisberg, Kansas and one brother Severin Werth Jr and companion 
Marjorie Dansel of Hays, Kansas. She is also survived by four 
grandchildren and ten great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband Donald Coker.

Funeral Mass will be held at Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe on 
Saturday March 12, 2022, at 10:00 AM with Fr. Rudin Din presiding.&nbsp; 
Burial will follow at St. Andrew's Cemetery in Wright. Visitation will 
be held at Swaim Funeral Chapel on Friday, March 11, 2022, from 12:00 PM 
to 4:00 PM. Vigil service will be held at 7:00 PM Friday, March 11, 2022,&nbsp; at Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe. 

Memorials are suggested to St. 
Andrews Cemetery Fund in care of the funeral home.&nbsp; Thoughts and 
memories may be shared in the online guest book at 
www.swaimfuneralhome.com.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1646867145891.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Patricia Coker, 78, died March 6, 2022, at Research Medical Center in 
Kansas City, Missouri. She was born on February 4, 1944, at Loretta, 
Kansas, the daughter of Severin Sr. and Adeline (Befort) Werth.She married Donald Coker on April 18, 1964 in Schoenchen, Kansas. He 
preceded her in death on October 10, 2007. Mrs. Coker enjoyed knitting 
and gardening and shopping in her spare time. She loved spending time 
with her family.She was a member of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe of Dodge City.She is survived by two daughters Carrie Koehn and husband Doyle of 
Montezuma; Tammie Spire and husband Richard of Belton, Missouri as well,
 as two sisters Darlene Williams of Olathe, Kansas; Sharon Unrein of 
Louisberg, Kansas and one brother Severin Werth Jr and companion 
Marjorie Dansel of Hays, Kansas. She is also survived by four 
grandchildren and ten great grandchildren.She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband Donald Coker.Funeral Mass will be held at Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe on 
Saturday March 12, 2022, at 10:00 AM with Fr. Rudin Din presiding.&nbsp; 
Burial will follow at St. Andrew's Cemetery in Wright. Visitation will 
be held at Swaim Funeral Chapel on Friday, March 11, 2022, from 12:00 PM 
to 4:00 PM. Vigil service will be held at 7:00 PM Friday, March 11, 2022,&nbsp; at Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Memorials are suggested to St. 
Andrews Cemetery Fund in care of the funeral home.&nbsp; Thoughts and 
memories may be shared in the online guest book at 
www.swaimfuneralhome.com.&nbsp;

Patricia Coker

Paul D. Berkley, 91, formerly of Downs, passed away March 6, 2022.  He was born October 5, 1930, on a farm near Tescott, the son of H.J. and Paulina (Boller) Berkley. 

He is preceded in death by his wife, JoAnn in 2015; three brothers, Robert Berkley, Jack Berkley, Jerry Berkley, and sister, Arliene Matthews.

Paul is survived by his son Bill Berkley (Claudia) of Downs, Mary Berkley (Eryn and her daughter, Marian) of Salina; grandchildren Bradley Berkley (Lindy), Brandon Berkley (Laura) and Cara Filipski (Jon); great grandchildren, Bauer, Braden, Alexander, Carter and Lauren Berkley, Carsyn, Colby, Berkley Kate Filipski; brothers, Hal (Eleanor), Don (Pat), and Mike (Debbie); sisters-in-law, Lila Berkley and Eleanor Berkley and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held Friday, March 11, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. at the United Methodist Church, Downs.  No Visitation.  Burial will be at the Franklin Cemetery, Tescott, at 2:30 p.m. on Friday afternoon.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be given to the Downs Senior Center and the United Methodist Church in care of Domoney Funeral Home, PO Box 127, Downs, KS 67437.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1646857576170.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Paul D. Berkley, 91, formerly of Downs, passed away March 6, 2022. He was born October 5, 1930, on a farm near Tescott, the son of H.J. and Paulina (Boller) Berkley. He was a retired banker and lawyer.He is preceded in death by his wife, JoAnn in 2015; three brothers, Robert Berkley, Jack Berkley, Jerry Berkley, and sister, Arliene Matthews.Paul is survived by his son Bill Berkley (Claudia) of Downs, Mary Berkley (Eryn and her daughter, Marian) of Salina; grandchildren Bradley Berkley (Lindy), Brandon Berkley (Laura) and Cara Filipski (Jon); great grandchildren, Bauer, Braden, Alexander, Carter and Lauren Berkley, Carsyn, Colby, Berkley Kate Filipski; brothers, Hal (Eleanor), Don (Pat), and Mike (Debbie); sisters-in-law, Lila Berkley and Eleanor Berkley and many nieces and nephews.Funeral services will be held Friday, March 11, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. at the United Methodist Church, Downs. No Visitation. Burial will be at the Franklin Cemetery, Tescott, at 2:30 p.m. on Friday afternoon. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be given to the Downs Senior Center and the United Methodist Church in care of Domoney Funeral Home, PO Box 127, Downs, KS 67437.

Paul D. Berkley

Rosa's service will be available as a Zoom Meeting at 1:00 p.m., March 
9, 2022. Anyone who wishes to may join the meeting. It must be viewed at
 this time because it won't be recorded for viewing later. The Zoom 
meeting information is:
 844 4645 8584
 778062 
 Rosa Lee Stokes, 97, died in Hays, Kansas, March 1, 2022. She was 
born April 18, 1924, to Schuyler and Mary (Cannon) Jones in Rural Graham 
County, Kansas. She grew up with 12 brothers and sisters. In October 1969, Rosa married Oliver Stokes in Denver, Colorado. 
 		Rosa loved gardening, cooking, quilting, sewing, and taking care 
of others. She was an extremely hard worker. She was an assertive, 
strong-willed loving soul. When Rosa spoke, everyone listened! She had
 no problem speaking her mind. But then she would turn right around and 
nurture you.
 		Everything Rosa cooked (fried chicken, deep fried turkey, deep 
fried catfish, fresh pies, yummy cobblers, homemade ice cream; the list 
goes on and on!) All of it was made with so much love. Even if you 
didn’t want to eat you had to, because you never wanted to disappoint 
Rosa. And, with bellies full she’d give you more!
 		There are so many memories of life around Rosa, but here are a few. 
 Terry and Kim Ryines recalled a time when they, their children as 
well as other young ones and family members, visited Aunt Rosa at her 
home in Nicodemus. They decided to deep fry a turkey and catfish. Rosa
 deep fried the turkey first with all it’s seasonings and then the 
catfish. Cousin Thomas said prior to eating Rosa’s catfish that he 
didn’t like catfish. Well, after eating at least four pieces of that 
catfish, he declared, “Well, I guess I like catfish now!”
 		Another wonderful memory of Rosa involved go-carts. Terry and Kim
 thought of a time when they took go-carts to Aunt Rosa’s home for the 
little kids. Rosa said she hated those go-carts. She called them, 
“Do-do Bugs."&nbsp; But after a while…there goes Rosa driving on of those 
“Do-do Bugs” and having a ball! But that’s not all. The kids drove 
those go-carts down into the town of Nicodemus. Well, the town Sheriff 
(Freddie Switzer) pulled them over and gave them flags and badges. He 
made them honorary deputies! After which they stopped by every house in
 town and introduced themselves as the new deputies in town! Aunt 
Shirley has fond memories of the times that she and Aunt Ethel 
(affectionately referred to as the twins by Rosa) worked as waitresses 
for Rosa at the Nicodemus restaurant. She recalls all the laughter, 
the good times, and the mischievousness that went on. Sometimes until 
5:00 A.M., and, oh how they terrorized Sheriff Switzer!
 		Rosa was a true matriarch for the family. She brought generations
 together. The younger generations were made to feel comfortable and 
loved around Rosa. And, you’d better not come to Kansas without 
visiting Rosa!
 She loved Jehovah God and His Son Jesus Christ! And, following in 
the footsteps of our Lord Jesus Christ, she would feed anyone and 
everyone. 
 		She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Oliver; 
siblings: Freeman, Lawrence, Kenneth, Helen, Elizabeth, Alta, Oletha and
 Margaret.
 		Rosa is survived by her daughter, Norma Lois Willis of Garden 
Grove, California; four grandchildren: Vanessa, Margo, Rayford and 
Karrita; nine great grandchildren: Rochelle, Raquel, Tiara, Timmara, 
Joel, Latifah, Azia, Kiara and Jahquon; nine great-great grandchildren; 
as well as many, many nieces and nephews. Her surviving siblings are: 
Justina Johnson of Houston, Texas, Ethel Johnson of Kansas City, 
Missouri, Francis Jones of Hill City, Shirley Ryines of Colorado 
Springs, Colorado. 
 All Loving Her Very Dearly!&nbsp;

Click <a href="https://www.stinemetzfh.com/obituaries/Rosa-Lee-Stokes?obId=24176573#/obituaryInfo">HERE</a> for service details.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1646692718558.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Rosa's service will be available as a Zoom Meeting at 1:00 p.m., March 
9, 2022. Anyone who wishes to may join the meeting. It must be viewed at
 this time because it won't be recorded for viewing later. The Zoom 
meeting information is:
 844 4645 8584
 778062 
 Rosa Lee Stokes, 97, died in Hays, Kansas, March 1, 2022. She was 
born April 18, 1924, to Schuyler and Mary (Cannon) Jones in Rural Graham 
County, Kansas. She grew up with 12 brothers and sisters. In October 1969, Rosa married Oliver Stokes in Denver, Colorado. 
 		Rosa loved gardening, cooking, quilting, sewing, and taking care 
of others. She was an extremely hard worker. She was an assertive, 
strong-willed loving soul. When Rosa spoke, everyone listened! She had
 no problem speaking her mind. But then she would turn right around and 
nurture you.
 		Everything Rosa cooked (fried chicken, deep fried turkey, deep 
fried catfish, fresh pies, yummy cobblers, homemade ice cream; the list 
goes on and on!) All of it was made with so much love. Even if you 
didn’t want to eat you had to, because you never wanted to disappoint 
Rosa. And, with bellies full she’d give you more!
 		There are so many memories of life around Rosa, but here are a few. 
 Terry and Kim Ryines recalled a time when they, their children as 
well as other young ones and family members, visited Aunt Rosa at her 
home in Nicodemus. They decided to deep fry a turkey and catfish. Rosa
 deep fried the turkey first with all it’s seasonings and then the 
catfish. Cousin Thomas said prior to eating Rosa’s catfish that he 
didn’t like catfish. Well, after eating at least four pieces of that 
catfish, he declared, “Well, I guess I like catfish now!”
 		Another wonderful memory of Rosa involved go-carts. Terry and Kim
 thought of a time when they took go-carts to Aunt Rosa’s home for the 
little kids. Rosa said she hated those go-carts. She called them, 
“Do-do Bugs."&nbsp; But after a while…there goes Rosa driving on of those 
“Do-do Bugs” and having a ball! But that’s not all. The kids drove 
those go-carts down into the town of Nicodemus. Well, the town Sheriff 
(Freddie Switzer) pulled them over and gave them flags and badges. He 
made them honorary deputies! After which they stopped by every house in
 town and introduced themselves as the new deputies in town! Aunt 
Shirley has fond memories of the times that she and Aunt Ethel 
(affectionately referred to as the twins by Rosa) worked as waitresses 
for Rosa at the Nicodemus restaurant. She recalls all the laughter, 
the good times, and the mischievousness that went on. Sometimes until 
5:00 A.M., and, oh how they terrorized Sheriff Switzer!
 		Rosa was a true matriarch for the family. She brought generations
 together. The younger generations were made to feel comfortable and 
loved around Rosa. And, you’d better not come to Kansas without 
visiting Rosa!
 She loved Jehovah God and His Son Jesus Christ! And, following in 
the footsteps of our Lord Jesus Christ, she would feed anyone and 
everyone. 
 		She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Oliver; 
siblings: Freeman, Lawrence, Kenneth, Helen, Elizabeth, Alta, Oletha and
 Margaret.
 		Rosa is survived by her daughter, Norma Lois Willis of Garden 
Grove, California; four grandchildren: Vanessa, Margo, Rayford and 
Karrita; nine great grandchildren: Rochelle, Raquel, Tiara, Timmara, 
Joel, Latifah, Azia, Kiara and Jahquon; nine great-great grandchildren; 
as well as many, many nieces and nephews. Her surviving siblings are: 
Justina Johnson of Houston, Texas, Ethel Johnson of Kansas City, 
Missouri, Francis Jones of Hill City, Shirley Ryines of Colorado 
Springs, Colorado. 
 All Loving Her Very Dearly!&nbsp; Click <a href="https://www.stinemetzfh.com/obituaries/Rosa-Lee-Stokes?obId=24176573#/obituaryInfo">HERE</a> for service details.

Rosa Lee Stokes

Friday, October 31st, 1930-Monday, March 7th, 2022

An obituary is pending with Baalmann Mortuary.

Click <a href="https://memorials.baalmannmortuary.com/blanche-zerr/4874102/index.php">HERE</a> for service details.

Friday, October 31st, 1930-Monday, March 7th, 2022An obituary is pending with Baalmann Mortuary.Click <a href="https://memorials.baalmannmortuary.com/blanche-zerr/4874102/index.php">HERE</a> for service details.

Blanche E. Zerr (Richmeier)

Betty M. Volz, 94, died Sunday, March 6, 2022, at Reflections Living of Dodge City.

She was born December 1, 1927, at Wamego, Kansas, the daughter of 
Clarence Albert and Clara (McKown) Tanner.&nbsp; She moved to Dodge City in 
August 1946 from Wamego, and from 1946 to 1957 worked as a billing clerk
 for Kansas Power and Light.&nbsp; On November 8, 1952, she married William 
“Bill” Volz at St. Mary, Kansas.&nbsp; He preceded her in death on October 
10, 2012.

She was a member of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe and Altar Society in Dodge City as well as numerous card clubs.

Survivors include: her son, Tim Volz and wife Jackie, Dodge City; her
 daughter, Tama Hanson and husband Lynn, Pawnee Rock; 4 grandchildren, 
Kylie Keller and husband Kevin, Brooks Hanson and fiancé Meghann 
Winkler, Dustin Volz and wife Natalie and Brandon Volz and wife Sydney; 
and 3 great grandchildren, Vail Volz, Miles Volz and Brexley Volz.

She was also preceded in death by her parents, 8 brothers, Wilber, 
John William, Ronald, Dale, Argel, Harold, Charles and Darrell Tanner 
and 4 sisters, Alice Davenport, Mary Turner, Lucille Frazier and Dorothy
 Judy.

Vigil service will be at 7:00 pm Thursday, March 10, 2022, at Ziegler 
Funeral Chapel, Dodge City.&nbsp; Funeral Mass will be at 10:00 am Friday at 
the Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe with Fr. Rudin Din presiding.&nbsp; 
Burial will follow in Greencrest Memorial Gardens, Dodge City.&nbsp; 
Visitation will be Thursday from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm at Ziegler Funeral 
Chapel.

The family suggests memorials to the Cathedral of Our Lady of 
Guadalupe or Hospice of the Prairie both in care of Ziegler Funeral 
Chapel, 1901 N. 14th Ave., Dodge City, Kansas 67801.&nbsp;

Betty M. Volz, 94, died Sunday, March 6, 2022, at Reflections Living of Dodge City.She was born December 1, 1927, at Wamego, Kansas, the daughter of 
Clarence Albert and Clara (McKown) Tanner.&nbsp; She moved to Dodge City in 
August 1946 from Wamego, and from 1946 to 1957 worked as a billing clerk
 for Kansas Power and Light.&nbsp; On November 8, 1952, she married William 
“Bill” Volz at St. Mary, Kansas.&nbsp; He preceded her in death on October 
10, 2012.She was a member of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe and Altar Society in Dodge City as well as numerous card clubs.Survivors include: her son, Tim Volz and wife Jackie, Dodge City; her
 daughter, Tama Hanson and husband Lynn, Pawnee Rock; 4 grandchildren, 
Kylie Keller and husband Kevin, Brooks Hanson and fiancé Meghann 
Winkler, Dustin Volz and wife Natalie and Brandon Volz and wife Sydney; 
and 3 great grandchildren, Vail Volz, Miles Volz and Brexley Volz.She was also preceded in death by her parents, 8 brothers, Wilber, 
John William, Ronald, Dale, Argel, Harold, Charles and Darrell Tanner 
and 4 sisters, Alice Davenport, Mary Turner, Lucille Frazier and Dorothy
 Judy.Vigil service will be at 7:00 pm Thursday, March 10, 2022, at Ziegler 
Funeral Chapel, Dodge City.&nbsp; Funeral Mass will be at 10:00 am Friday at 
the Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe with Fr. Rudin Din presiding.&nbsp; 
Burial will follow in Greencrest Memorial Gardens, Dodge City.&nbsp; 
Visitation will be Thursday from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm at Ziegler Funeral 
Chapel.The family suggests memorials to the Cathedral of Our Lady of 
Guadalupe or Hospice of the Prairie both in care of Ziegler Funeral 
Chapel, 1901 N. 14th Ave., Dodge City, Kansas 67801.&nbsp;

Betty M. Volz

Virginia was born April 13, 1923, in Sharon Springs. Kansas, and died there on March 2, 2022. She&nbsp;was&nbsp;a resident of&nbsp;Wallace County Community Care Center&nbsp;for the last several years. The family wishes to thank John Kennedy and his staff for the tremendous care she received, especially considering the recent challenges from COVID and staff shortages.&nbsp;

Virginia was born to Howard and Nina Bates, following a brother (Warren), and in 1930, the family moved to a farm south of Sharon Springs. They survived the “Dirty '30s” and moved back into town in 1944. She had attended WCHS and graduated in 1940 as valedictorian of her class. She attended Hutchinson Business School for a short time and returned home to work as an assistant cashier at the People’s State Bank.&nbsp;

On October 2, 1946, Virginia married Charles “Irish”&nbsp;McNerny. They had two children, Nancy and Matt.&nbsp;They&nbsp;lived on&nbsp;Ferlen&nbsp;Avenue from 1948. Virginia&nbsp;belonged to the United Methodist Church, serving as treasurer many years. She was also a member of the VFW Auxiliary. She worked again at the Peoples State Bank in the 1960’s and 1970’s.&nbsp;

Virginia is survived by her son Matt (Michele) of Denver, CO and daughter Nancy Wells (Bill) of Helena, MT; two grandchildren: Jennifer&nbsp;Wampler&nbsp;(Terry) of Alta, Wyoming and Eric Wells (Emily) of Boise, Idaho; two great grandchildren: Charlie and Henry Wells of Boise; and&nbsp;manynephews and nieces and their families. &nbsp;Ione&nbsp;McNerny&nbsp;Brown of Sharon Springs was Virginia’s high school classmate and sister-in-law and friend for over 85 years. Virginia will be buried next to Irish in the Sharon Springs Cemetery.&nbsp;

A memorial service will be held later this year.&nbsp;

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the&nbsp;Sharon Springs&nbsp;United Methodist Church or the&nbsp;Wallace County Community&nbsp;Care Center and may be sent to Koons-Russell Funeral Home, 211 N. Main Ave., Goodland, KS 67735.

Online condolences for the family may be left at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.koonsrussellfuneralhome.com/">www.koonsrussellfuneralhome.com</a>.

Services have been entrusted to Koons-Russell Funeral Home in Sharon Springs, KS.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1646674051018.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Virginia was born April 13, 1923, in Sharon Springs. Kansas, and died there on March 2, 2022. She&nbsp;was&nbsp;a resident of&nbsp;Wallace County Community Care Center&nbsp;for the last several years. The family wishes to thank John Kennedy and his staff for the tremendous care she received, especially considering the recent challenges from COVID and staff shortages.&nbsp;Virginia was born to Howard and Nina Bates, following a brother (Warren), and in 1930, the family moved to a farm south of Sharon Springs. They survived the “Dirty '30s” and moved back into town in 1944. She had attended WCHS and graduated in 1940 as valedictorian of her class. She attended Hutchinson Business School for a short time and returned home to work as an assistant cashier at the People’s State Bank.&nbsp;On October 2, 1946, Virginia married Charles “Irish”&nbsp;McNerny. They had two children, Nancy and Matt.&nbsp;They&nbsp;lived on&nbsp;Ferlen&nbsp;Avenue from 1948. Virginia&nbsp;belonged to the United Methodist Church, serving as treasurer many years. She was also a member of the VFW Auxiliary. She worked again at the Peoples State Bank in the 1960’s and 1970’s.&nbsp;Virginia is survived by her son Matt (Michele) of Denver, CO and daughter Nancy Wells (Bill) of Helena, MT; two grandchildren: Jennifer&nbsp;Wampler&nbsp;(Terry) of Alta, Wyoming and Eric Wells (Emily) of Boise, Idaho; two great grandchildren: Charlie and Henry Wells of Boise; and&nbsp;manynephews and nieces and their families. &nbsp;Ione&nbsp;McNerny&nbsp;Brown of Sharon Springs was Virginia’s high school classmate and sister-in-law and friend for over 85 years. Virginia will be buried next to Irish in the Sharon Springs Cemetery.&nbsp;A memorial service will be held later this year.&nbsp;In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the&nbsp;Sharon Springs&nbsp;United Methodist Church or the&nbsp;Wallace County Community&nbsp;Care Center and may be sent to Koons-Russell Funeral Home, 211 N. Main Ave., Goodland, KS 67735.Online condolences for the family may be left at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.koonsrussellfuneralhome.com/">www.koonsrussellfuneralhome.com</a>.Services have been entrusted to Koons-Russell Funeral Home in Sharon Springs, KS.

Virginia McNerny

Tony Alan Wolters, 55, of Osborne, KS passed away on Sunday, 
September 5, 2021, at the Colby Medical Center of Colby, KS. &nbsp;He was born
 on October 5, 1965, in Smith Center, KS to John L. &amp; Arlene B. 
(Pletcher) Wolters of Portis, KS.

Tony grew up in&nbsp;Portis, KS. 
&nbsp;He graduated from Osborne High School in 1984. &nbsp;Tony attended Fort Hays
 State College, and graduated from Beloit Vo-Tech.&nbsp;Tony has lived his 
whole life in the Portis/Osborne area.

Tony met and married 
Anita Seller in August of 1985 &amp;&nbsp;to this union 2 children were born.
 &nbsp;Tony enjoyed watching his children grow and attending their different 
sport events through school.

Tony has worked as a farmer/rancher
 all his working life.&nbsp; He was a faithful member of the Grace Brethren 
Church of Portis, KS all his life. &nbsp;Tony didn't know a stranger. &nbsp;He 
also was quite a shooting enthusiast &amp; participated in many local 
area shooting competitions. &nbsp;Cycling was another favorite activity Tony 
loved to do.

Tony was preceded in death by his father, John in 1989 and a brother, Christopher in 2008.

Tony
 is survived by his mother, Arlene of Portis, KS; wife, Anita of 
Osborne, KS; son: Miles (Jessica) of Salina, KS; daughter: Jeni (Josh) 
Farrell of Derby, KS; sister: Shari (Nate) Brown&nbsp;of Osborne, KS; 
brother: Curt (Joni) of Portis, KS; along with a host of other family 
and friends.

Click <a href="https://www.rfmortuaries.com/obituaries/Tony-Alan-Wolters?obId=23506666#/celebrationWall">HERE</a> for service details.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1646661238215.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Tony Alan Wolters, 55, of Osborne, KS passed away on Sunday, 
September 5, 2021, at the Colby Medical Center of Colby, KS. &nbsp;He was born
 on October 5, 1965, in Smith Center, KS to John L. &amp; Arlene B. 
(Pletcher) Wolters of Portis, KS.Tony grew up in&nbsp;Portis, KS. 
&nbsp;He graduated from Osborne High School in 1984. &nbsp;Tony attended Fort Hays
 State College, and graduated from Beloit Vo-Tech.&nbsp;Tony has lived his 
whole life in the Portis/Osborne area.Tony met and married 
Anita Seller in August of 1985 &amp;&nbsp;to this union 2 children were born.
 &nbsp;Tony enjoyed watching his children grow and attending their different 
sport events through school.Tony has worked as a farmer/rancher
 all his working life.&nbsp; He was a faithful member of the Grace Brethren 
Church of Portis, KS all his life. &nbsp;Tony didn't know a stranger. &nbsp;He 
also was quite a shooting enthusiast &amp; participated in many local 
area shooting competitions. &nbsp;Cycling was another favorite activity Tony 
loved to do.Tony was preceded in death by his father, John in 1989 and a brother, Christopher in 2008.Tony
 is survived by his mother, Arlene of Portis, KS; wife, Anita of 
Osborne, KS; son: Miles (Jessica) of Salina, KS; daughter: Jeni (Josh) 
Farrell of Derby, KS; sister: Shari (Nate) Brown&nbsp;of Osborne, KS; 
brother: Curt (Joni) of Portis, KS; along with a host of other family 
and friends.Click <a href="https://www.rfmortuaries.com/obituaries/Tony-Alan-Wolters?obId=23506666#/celebrationWall">HERE</a> for service details.