An obituary is pending with Koons-Russell Funeral Home.

Click <a href="https://www.koonsrussellfuneralhome.com/obituary/Angela-Benavides">HERE</a> for service details.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1641305328335.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>October 2, 1980 ~ January 2, 2022An obituary is pending with Koons-Russell Funeral Home.Click <a href="https://www.koonsrussellfuneralhome.com/obituary/Angela-Benavides">HERE</a> for service details.

Angela Benavides

KANSAS CITY– A Mexican national was sentenced in federal court Thursday for his role in a conspiracy that distributed more than 2,600 kilograms of cocaine in the Kansas City metropolitan area, according to the United State's Attorney.

Jesus Salvador Campoy-Estrada, also known as “Chava” and “Chavita,” 27, of Kansas City, Kansas, was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips to 12 years in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Campoy-Estrada to forfeit to the government $12,150,000, which represents the proceeds of illegal drug trafficking.

On Dec. 19, 2019, Campoy-Estrada pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and one count of money laundering. He is the final defendant among 13 defendants to be sentenced in this case.

When Campoy-Estrada was arrested, law enforcement searched his residence and found $111,995 that he admitted was illicit drug proceeds, marijuana, a drug ledger, and a loaded XD 9mm semi-automatic handgun.

Campoy-Estrada was a primary organizer in a drug-trafficking organization that distributed substantial amounts of cocaine from Mexico in the Kansas City metropolitan area from October 2013 to Nov. 15, 2018. Campoy-Estrada admitted that he was personally responsible for the distribution of well in excess of 450 kilograms of cocaine during his involvement with the larger conspiracy. At one point, he distributed approximately 10 to 20 kilograms of cocaine each week.

Campoy-Estrada obtained substantial sums of money from his involvement in the drug-trafficking conspiracy, which he converted to other forms of property, such as real estate, in an effort to conceal the illicit nature of the drug proceeds.

Campoy-Estrada received cocaine from the leader of the conspiracy, co-defendant Jose Luis Armendariz-Rascon, also known as “Uncle” or “Rambo,” 41, of Kansas City, Kan. Campoy-Estrada then sold cocaine to other cocaine dealers, including co-defendant Howard Christopher Walters, also known as “Chris,” 44, of Lee’s Summit, Missouri. Investigators intercepted several telephone calls in which Campoy-Estrada and Walters discussed the sale of multiple kilograms of cocaine to Walters. Law enforcement also intercepted many other wire and electronic communications between Campoy-Estrada and persons he sold cocaine to during the course of the conspiracy.

Armendariz-Rascon was sentenced on May 21, 2021, to 15 years in federal prison without parole. Walters was sentenced on April 21, 2021, to 25 years in federal prison without parole after pleading guilty to his role in the drug-trafficking conspiracy. The court also ordered Armendariz-Rascon to forfeit to the government more than $56 million, which represents the proceeds of illegal drug trafficking.

Armendariz-Rascon was in charge of coordinating the transportation of loads of cocaine from the El Paso, Texas, area to the Kansas City metropolitan area for distribution. Armendariz-Rascon would then coordinate the collection of bulk cash that was sent back to El Paso as payment for the cocaine.

Otilio Zaragoza-Navarrette, 65, of El Paso, delivered cocaine to Jose Armendariz-Rascon as well as to Campoy-Estrada and Miguel Armendariz-Rascon, 33, a citizen of Mexico residing in Olathe, Kan. Zaragoza-Navarrette and Miguel Armendariz-Rascon have pleaded guilty and been sentenced.

Zaragoza-Navarette also transported illicit drug proceeds from the drug-trafficking organization back to Texas and/or to Mexico. Zaragoza-Navarrette hid the cocaine and/or the cash proceeds inside of five-gallon gas cans and anti-freeze jugs on his commercial semi-tractor trailer. In one instance, law enforcement officers seized nearly $500,000 from Zaragoza-Navarrette, who was transferring the illicit drug proceeds in an operation orchestrated by Armendariz-Rascon.

KANSAS CITY– A Mexican national was sentenced in federal court Thursday for his role in a conspiracy that distributed more than 2,600 kilograms of cocaine in the Kansas City metropolitan area, according to the United State's Attorney.Jesus Salvador Campoy-Estrada, also known as “Chava” and “Chavita,” 27, of Kansas City, Kansas, was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips to 12 years in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Campoy-Estrada to forfeit to the government $12,150,000, which represents the proceeds of illegal drug trafficking.On Dec. 19, 2019, Campoy-Estrada pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and one count of money laundering. He is the final defendant among 13 defendants to be sentenced in this case.When Campoy-Estrada was arrested, law enforcement searched his residence and found $111,995 that he admitted was illicit drug proceeds, marijuana, a drug ledger, and a loaded XD 9mm semi-automatic handgun.Campoy-Estrada was a primary organizer in a drug-trafficking organization that distributed substantial amounts of cocaine from Mexico in the Kansas City metropolitan area from October 2013 to Nov. 15, 2018. Campoy-Estrada admitted that he was personally responsible for the distribution of well in excess of 450 kilograms of cocaine during his involvement with the larger conspiracy. At one point, he distributed approximately 10 to 20 kilograms of cocaine each week.Campoy-Estrada obtained substantial sums of money from his involvement in the drug-trafficking conspiracy, which he converted to other forms of property, such as real estate, in an effort to conceal the illicit nature of the drug proceeds.Campoy-Estrada received cocaine from the leader of the conspiracy, co-defendant Jose Luis Armendariz-Rascon, also known as “Uncle” or “Rambo,” 41, of Kansas City, Kan. Campoy-Estrada then sold cocaine to other cocaine dealers, including co-defendant Howard Christopher Walters, also known as “Chris,” 44, of Lee’s Summit, Missouri. Investigators intercepted several telephone calls in which Campoy-Estrada and Walters discussed the sale of multiple kilograms of cocaine to Walters. Law enforcement also intercepted many other wire and electronic communications between Campoy-Estrada and persons he sold cocaine to during the course of the conspiracy.Armendariz-Rascon was sentenced on May 21, 2021, to 15 years in federal prison without parole. Walters was sentenced on April 21, 2021, to 25 years in federal prison without parole after pleading guilty to his role in the drug-trafficking conspiracy. The court also ordered Armendariz-Rascon to forfeit to the government more than $56 million, which represents the proceeds of illegal drug trafficking.Armendariz-Rascon was in charge of coordinating the transportation of loads of cocaine from the El Paso, Texas, area to the Kansas City metropolitan area for distribution. Armendariz-Rascon would then coordinate the collection of bulk cash that was sent back to El Paso as payment for the cocaine.Otilio Zaragoza-Navarrette, 65, of El Paso, delivered cocaine to Jose Armendariz-Rascon as well as to Campoy-Estrada and Miguel Armendariz-Rascon, 33, a citizen of Mexico residing in Olathe, Kan. Zaragoza-Navarrette and Miguel Armendariz-Rascon have pleaded guilty and been sentenced.Zaragoza-Navarette also transported illicit drug proceeds from the drug-trafficking organization back to Texas and/or to Mexico. Zaragoza-Navarrette hid the cocaine and/or the cash proceeds inside of five-gallon gas cans and anti-freeze jugs on his commercial semi-tractor trailer. In one instance, law enforcement officers seized nearly $500,000 from Zaragoza-Navarrette, who was transferring the illicit drug proceeds in an operation orchestrated by Armendariz-Rascon.

Mexican national ran large KC-area cocaine distribution organization

Eloise Dolezal, 94, went to be with her Lord and Savior on December 
31, 2021, at the University Of Kansas Health System - Great Bend Campus.
 She was born on June 27, 1927 at Rural Stafford Co. to Edwin &amp; 
Lydia (Dirks) Grow. She married Ralph James Dolezal on June 3, 1948 at 
Great Bend.&nbsp;&nbsp; He died October 1, 2018.

A lifetime area resident, Eloise was a homemaker who had previously 
worked as a sales clerk in the home improvement department at Sears. She
 was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Great Bend. She enjoyed 
crafting, sewing and gardening.

Survivors include, a son, William Dolezal, Sr. and wife Joleen of 
Beatrice, Neb.; a daughter, Dianne Willesden and husband Bob of Great 
Bend; a sister, Anna Marie Holt of Kansas City, Mo.; a sister in law, 
Laura Reiser of Great Bend; six grandchildren, William Dolezal, Jr., 
Brian Ewing, Brandy Gaddis and husband Mark, Tiffany Nily and husband 
David, Aimee Faris and husband Bill and Robert Willesden III; sixteen 
great grandchildren; six great great grandchildren; and many nieces and 
nephews who called her Aunt Do. She was preceded in death by her 
parents; a son, Randy Dolezal; an infant brother, Edwin "Sonny" Grow; a 
sister, Evelyn Wallen; and a granddaughter, Destiny Dolezal.

Visitation will be held from Noon to 8:00 p.m., Thursday, January 6, 
2022, at Bryant Funeral Home, with family to received friends from 4:00 
to 6:00 p.m. Funeral service will be held at 3:00 p.m., Friday, January 
7, 2022, with Pastor Dwight Dozier presiding. Interment will be in the 
Great Bend Cemetery. 

Memorials have been designated to Trinity Lutheran 
Church or Alzheimer's Association, in care of Bryant Funeral Home.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1641334268713.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Eloise Dolezal, 94, went to be with her Lord and Savior on December 
31, 2021, at the University Of Kansas Health System - Great Bend Campus.
 She was born on June 27, 1927 at Rural Stafford Co. to Edwin &amp; 
Lydia (Dirks) Grow. She married Ralph James Dolezal on June 3, 1948 at 
Great Bend.&nbsp;&nbsp; He died October 1, 2018.A lifetime area resident, Eloise was a homemaker who had previously 
worked as a sales clerk in the home improvement department at Sears. She
 was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Great Bend. She enjoyed 
crafting, sewing and gardening.Survivors include, a son, William Dolezal, Sr. and wife Joleen of 
Beatrice, Neb.; a daughter, Dianne Willesden and husband Bob of Great 
Bend; a sister, Anna Marie Holt of Kansas City, Mo.; a sister in law, 
Laura Reiser of Great Bend; six grandchildren, William Dolezal, Jr., 
Brian Ewing, Brandy Gaddis and husband Mark, Tiffany Nily and husband 
David, Aimee Faris and husband Bill and Robert Willesden III; sixteen 
great grandchildren; six great great grandchildren; and many nieces and 
nephews who called her Aunt Do. She was preceded in death by her 
parents; a son, Randy Dolezal; an infant brother, Edwin "Sonny" Grow; a 
sister, Evelyn Wallen; and a granddaughter, Destiny Dolezal.Visitation will be held from Noon to 8:00 p.m., Thursday, January 6, 
2022, at Bryant Funeral Home, with family to received friends from 4:00 
to 6:00 p.m. Funeral service will be held at 3:00 p.m., Friday, January 
7, 2022, with Pastor Dwight Dozier presiding. Interment will be in the 
Great Bend Cemetery. Memorials have been designated to Trinity Lutheran 
Church or Alzheimer's Association, in care of Bryant Funeral Home.

Eloise Dolezal

Frank M. Petersen, 95, passed away peacefully on January 1, 2022, in 
Garden City, Kansas. He was born October 19, 1926, in Lead, South 
Dakota, the son of Soren &amp; Helen (Gavin) Petersen. 
Frank grew up in Garden City, graduating from Garden City High school in
 1944. He was a World War II Veteran, having served his country in the 
United States Navy from 1944 to 1946 aboard the aircraft carrier USS 
Vella (CVE-111). 
He married the love of his life, Martha (Marty) Crosson, on July 9, 
1960. From this union four children were born: Brent, Joe, Nanci &amp;
 Ann. Frank &amp; Marty loved time spent with their family. Married 55
 wonderful years, Marty passed away on November 13, 2015. 
He was a devoted husband, proud father and longtime resident of Garden 
City. In 1955 Frank started as a press operator at the The Garden City 
Telegram. After 22 years, he retired in 1977 as press foreman to work 
full-time at the family business, Petersen Printing. After retirement,&nbsp; Frank continued to help out at the print shop. He also delivered 
newspapers to area towns for The Garden City Telegram and was a parts 
courier for American Implement. 
He is survived by two sons, Brent Petersen and wife Celeste of Garden 
City, Joe Petersen of Plainville; two daughters, Nanci Koster and 
husband Chad of Garden City, Ann Haberly and husband Brian of Wichita; 
12 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren. Two sisters, Catherine Brady 
of Wichita and Patricia Honaker of Longmont, CO; one brother, James 
Petersen of Iowa City, Iowa. 
He is preceded in death by his parents; his wife; two brothers, John 
Petersen and Jim Petersen; and two grandchildren, Luke Haberly and Mia 
Haberly. 
A vigil service and rosary will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, January 
07, 2022, at St. Dominic Catholic Church in Garden City. Funeral Mass 
will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, January 08 also at St. Dominic 
Catholic Church with Rev. Warren Stecklein as Celebrant. The Funeral 
Mass may also be viewed on Facebook Live on the Garnand Funeral Home 
Facebook page. Burial will follow at Valley View Cemetery in Garden 
City with military rites conducted by the United States Navy Honor Guard
 and American Legion District 8 Honor Guard. 
It was Frank’s wish that any memorial tributes be made to Kansas Honor 
Flight or St. Dominic Catholic Church, both in care of Garnand Funeral 
Home, 412 N. 7th St., Garden City, Kansas 67846.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1641327715958.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Frank M. Petersen, 95, passed away peacefully on January 1, 2022, in 
Garden City, Kansas. He was born October 19, 1926, in Lead, South 
Dakota, the son of Soren &amp; Helen (Gavin) Petersen. 
Frank grew up in Garden City, graduating from Garden City High school in
 1944. He was a World War II Veteran, having served his country in the 
United States Navy from 1944 to 1946 aboard the aircraft carrier USS 
Vella (CVE-111). 
He married the love of his life, Martha (Marty) Crosson, on July 9, 
1960. From this union four children were born: Brent, Joe, Nanci &amp;
 Ann. Frank &amp; Marty loved time spent with their family. Married 55
 wonderful years, Marty passed away on November 13, 2015. 
He was a devoted husband, proud father and longtime resident of Garden 
City. In 1955 Frank started as a press operator at the The Garden City 
Telegram. After 22 years, he retired in 1977 as press foreman to work 
full-time at the family business, Petersen Printing. After retirement,&nbsp; Frank continued to help out at the print shop. He also delivered 
newspapers to area towns for The Garden City Telegram and was a parts 
courier for American Implement. 
He is survived by two sons, Brent Petersen and wife Celeste of Garden 
City, Joe Petersen of Plainville; two daughters, Nanci Koster and 
husband Chad of Garden City, Ann Haberly and husband Brian of Wichita; 
12 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren. Two sisters, Catherine Brady 
of Wichita and Patricia Honaker of Longmont, CO; one brother, James 
Petersen of Iowa City, Iowa. 
He is preceded in death by his parents; his wife; two brothers, John 
Petersen and Jim Petersen; and two grandchildren, Luke Haberly and Mia 
Haberly. 
A vigil service and rosary will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, January 
07, 2022, at St. Dominic Catholic Church in Garden City. Funeral Mass 
will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, January 08 also at St. Dominic 
Catholic Church with Rev. Warren Stecklein as Celebrant. The Funeral 
Mass may also be viewed on Facebook Live on the Garnand Funeral Home 
Facebook page. Burial will follow at Valley View Cemetery in Garden 
City with military rites conducted by the United States Navy Honor Guard
 and American Legion District 8 Honor Guard. 
It was Frank’s wish that any memorial tributes be made to Kansas Honor 
Flight or St. Dominic Catholic Church, both in care of Garnand Funeral 
Home, 412 N. 7th St., Garden City, Kansas 67846.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

Frank M. Petersen

Beverly L. Kindler was born on the family farm near Esbon, Kansas on 
October 29, 1930 to Edna (Willson) and Glenn E. Kindler. She attended 
grade school at Mount Zion #127 a one room school house one mile north 
of the farm. She graduated from Lebanon High School in 1948. While at 
home on the farm, she was a 10 year 4-H member of the Westside Winners 
Club. She received many 4-H awards. In 1948, she was a Rock Island 
Railway winner, traveling by train to Chicago for the National 4-H Club 
Congress. 
 Besides 4-H projects in cooking, sewing and other home economics, 
she raised baby beef along with her sisters. Her parents gave the girls
 their first calves but after the fair when the calves were sold the 
girls bought the calves for the next year and put extra money in their 
college fund. Beverly showed cattle in Wichita and the American Royal 
in Kansas City. Through her 4-H experience she decided to become a home
 economist.
 She attended college at Kansas State University from 1948 to 1952 
graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics. Beverly
 was able to travel from the farm to the K-State campus via the 
Continental bus line since the family farm was on Highway 36. 
 In August 1952, she was hired as the home economist in Decatur County
 where she stayed for 8 years. She transferred to Norton County in the 
summer of 1960. Some of her fondest memories were the county fairs. 
 In 1966 she was awarded a JC Penney Fellowship to attend Michigan 
State University where she received a Masters of Arts Degree in 1967. 
After finishing her degree, she returned to Norton to her extension job.
 She served as an officer for many years at both the state and national
 level of home economists including National President in 1979. In 1988
 she received the distinguished service award of Epsilon Sigma Phi a 
national extension fraternity. In 1989 she was recognized as the 
outstanding home economist in Kansas. She attended the majority of 
national meetings starting in 1958 until her final one in 2016, 
traveling to all 50 states except for Hawaii, Alaska and Alabama. Each 
time she returned home to Norton, she felt proud to be from Kansas.
 She retired in 1994 after serving as a home economist professional 
for 42 years. On her retirement day celebration, Beverly told the 
attendees to never stop learning. After retirement she continued 
working with 4-H organizations as a volunteer and judging at many county
 fairs and the Kansas State Fair. 
 In addition to 4-H she was involved in many clubs including P. E. O,
 Mid-Century Federated Club, United Methodist Women’s organization and 
the Heritage Quilt Club. She volunteered in the Norton community for 
numerous organizations and causes. 
 Beverly had many hobbies and many friends. When she celebrated her 
90th birthday in 2020 she received more than 200 cards from far and 
near. She was blessed to have so many wonderful experiences and 
friends. Beverly was preceded in death by her parents, her sister 
Shirley Reynolds, her brothers-in-law Kenneth Reynolds and Merlin 
Alexander, her niece Linda Gleason and grand nephew Jeffrey Gleason. 
She is survived by her sister Virginia Alexander of Esbon, nephews Larry
 (Mary Beth) Reynolds and Jim Gleason, nieces Kathy Atkins and her 
husband Dave, Deanne Alexander and Tammy Alexander along with many other
 relatives and friends.

Click <a href="https://www.rfmortuaries.com/obituaries/Beverly-Louise-Kindler?obId=23558226#/celebrationWall">HERE</a> for service details.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1641327482179.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Beverly L. Kindler was born on the family farm near Esbon, Kansas on 
October 29, 1930 to Edna (Willson) and Glenn E. Kindler. She attended 
grade school at Mount Zion #127 a one room school house one mile north 
of the farm. She graduated from Lebanon High School in 1948. While at 
home on the farm, she was a 10 year 4-H member of the Westside Winners 
Club. She received many 4-H awards. In 1948, she was a Rock Island 
Railway winner, traveling by train to Chicago for the National 4-H Club 
Congress. 
 Besides 4-H projects in cooking, sewing and other home economics, 
she raised baby beef along with her sisters. Her parents gave the girls
 their first calves but after the fair when the calves were sold the 
girls bought the calves for the next year and put extra money in their 
college fund. Beverly showed cattle in Wichita and the American Royal 
in Kansas City. Through her 4-H experience she decided to become a home
 economist.
 She attended college at Kansas State University from 1948 to 1952 
graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics. Beverly
 was able to travel from the farm to the K-State campus via the 
Continental bus line since the family farm was on Highway 36. 
 In August 1952, she was hired as the home economist in Decatur County
 where she stayed for 8 years. She transferred to Norton County in the 
summer of 1960. Some of her fondest memories were the county fairs. 
 In 1966 she was awarded a JC Penney Fellowship to attend Michigan 
State University where she received a Masters of Arts Degree in 1967. 
After finishing her degree, she returned to Norton to her extension job.
 She served as an officer for many years at both the state and national
 level of home economists including National President in 1979. In 1988
 she received the distinguished service award of Epsilon Sigma Phi a 
national extension fraternity. In 1989 she was recognized as the 
outstanding home economist in Kansas. She attended the majority of 
national meetings starting in 1958 until her final one in 2016, 
traveling to all 50 states except for Hawaii, Alaska and Alabama. Each 
time she returned home to Norton, she felt proud to be from Kansas.
 She retired in 1994 after serving as a home economist professional 
for 42 years. On her retirement day celebration, Beverly told the 
attendees to never stop learning. After retirement she continued 
working with 4-H organizations as a volunteer and judging at many county
 fairs and the Kansas State Fair. 
 In addition to 4-H she was involved in many clubs including P. E. O,
 Mid-Century Federated Club, United Methodist Women’s organization and 
the Heritage Quilt Club. She volunteered in the Norton community for 
numerous organizations and causes. 
 Beverly had many hobbies and many friends. When she celebrated her 
90th birthday in 2020 she received more than 200 cards from far and 
near. She was blessed to have so many wonderful experiences and 
friends. Beverly was preceded in death by her parents, her sister 
Shirley Reynolds, her brothers-in-law Kenneth Reynolds and Merlin 
Alexander, her niece Linda Gleason and grand nephew Jeffrey Gleason. 
She is survived by her sister Virginia Alexander of Esbon, nephews Larry
 (Mary Beth) Reynolds and Jim Gleason, nieces Kathy Atkins and her 
husband Dave, Deanne Alexander and Tammy Alexander along with many other
 relatives and friends.Click <a href="https://www.rfmortuaries.com/obituaries/Beverly-Louise-Kindler?obId=23558226#/celebrationWall">HERE</a> for service details.

Beverly Louise Kindler

WASHINGTON (AP) — A record 4.5 million American workers quit their jobs in November, a sign of confidence and more evidence that the U.S. job market is bouncing back strongly from last year's coronavirus recession.

The Labor Department also reported Tuesday that employers posted 10.6 million job openings in November, down from 11.1 million in October but still high by historical standards.

Employers hired 6.7 million people in November, up from 6.5 million in October, the Labor Department reported Tuesday in its monthly Jobs Openings and Labor Turnover Survey.

The job market has bounced back from last year’s brief but intense coronavirus recession. When COVID hit, governments ordered lockdowns, consumers stayed home and many businesses closed or cut hours. Employers slashed more than 22 million jobs in March and April 2020, and the unemployment rate rocketed to 14.8%.

But massive government spending — and eventually the rollout of vaccines — brought the economy back. Employers have added 18.5 million jobs since April 2020, still leaving the U.S. still 3.9 million jobs short of what it had before the pandemic. The December jobs report, out Friday, is expected to show that the economy generated almost 393,000 more jobs this month, according to a survey by the data firm FactSet.

The unemployment rate has fallen to 4.2%, close to what economists consider full employment.

By PAUL WISEMAN, AP Economics WriterWASHINGTON (AP) — A record 4.5 million American workers quit their jobs in November, a sign of confidence and more evidence that the U.S. job market is bouncing back strongly from last year's coronavirus recession.The Labor Department also reported Tuesday that employers posted 10.6 million job openings in November, down from 11.1 million in October but still high by historical standards.Employers hired 6.7 million people in November, up from 6.5 million in October, the Labor Department reported Tuesday in its monthly Jobs Openings and Labor Turnover Survey.The job market has bounced back from last year’s brief but intense coronavirus recession. When COVID hit, governments ordered lockdowns, consumers stayed home and many businesses closed or cut hours. Employers slashed more than 22 million jobs in March and April 2020, and the unemployment rate rocketed to 14.8%.But massive government spending — and eventually the rollout of vaccines — brought the economy back. Employers have added 18.5 million jobs since April 2020, still leaving the U.S. still 3.9 million jobs short of what it had before the pandemic. The December jobs report, out Friday, is expected to show that the economy generated almost 393,000 more jobs this month, according to a survey by the data firm FactSet.The unemployment rate has fallen to 4.2%, close to what economists consider full employment.

A record 4.5 million Americans quit their jobs in November

Anita (Wasinger) Lang, age 86 of Victoria, Kansas died Saturday, January 1, 2022, at the Good Samaritan Society of Hays Care Center.

She was born February 26, 1935, at Hays, Kansas to Ludwig and Veronica (Ruder) Wasinger. She married Vitus F. Lang on October 1, 1956 in Hays, Kansas.

Anita was a homemaker, a member of The Basilica of St. Fidelis, Victoria Daughters of Isabella, Christian Mothers and was a volunteer on the St. Fidelis funeral dinner committee.&nbsp; She completed the Salina Diocese catechism courses and was a religion teacher at Victoria for over 15 years.&nbsp; Anita grew up in Hays and was a graduate of Girls Catholic High School.&nbsp; Anita enjoyed her dogs and cats, bowling, bingo, puzzles and picking blackberries.&nbsp;

Survivors include her husband, Vitus F. Lang, of the home; her daughters, Laurie Lang and husband, Al, Shawnee, KS; Janet Frank and husband, Leon, Hays, KS; Karen Cruce and husband, Steve, Dewey, OK; her son David Lang, Topeka, KS; one sister-in-law, Virginia Wasinger, Hays, KS; nine grandchildren; and 18 great grandchildren.

Anita was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Lubin Wasinger and Julius Wasinger; and one sister, Julianna Scheck. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 A.M. Thursday, January 6, 2022, at The Basilica of St. Fidelis, Victoria, Kansas with Father Curtis Carlson O.F.M. Cap. officiating.&nbsp; Burial in Saint Fidelis Cemetery, Victoria, Kansas.

A vigil service with a Daughters of Isabella and Christian Mothers rosary will be at 7:00 P.M. Wednesday, at Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary, 412 Main Street, Victoria, Kansas 67671.

Visitation will be from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. Wednesday, at Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary, and from 9:00 to 10:00 A.M. Thursday, at The Basilica of St. Fidelis.

The family suggests memorials to The Basilica of St. Fidelis, Good Samaritan Society of Hays or Hospice of Hays Medical Center made payable to the organization in care of the mortuary.

Condolences can be sent via e-mail to <a href="mailto:clinesmortuary@eaglecom.net">clinesmortuary@eaglecom.net</a> or can be left at guest book at <a href="http://www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com">www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1641311540647.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Anita (Wasinger) Lang, age 86 of Victoria, Kansas died Saturday, January 1, 2022, at the Good Samaritan Society of Hays Care Center.She was born February 26, 1935, at Hays, Kansas to Ludwig and Veronica (Ruder) Wasinger. She married Vitus F. Lang on October 1, 1956 in Hays, Kansas.Anita was a homemaker, a member of The Basilica of St. Fidelis, Victoria Daughters of Isabella, Christian Mothers and was a volunteer on the St. Fidelis funeral dinner committee.&nbsp; She completed the Salina Diocese catechism courses and was a religion teacher at Victoria for over 15 years.&nbsp; Anita grew up in Hays and was a graduate of Girls Catholic High School.&nbsp; Anita enjoyed her dogs and cats, bowling, bingo, puzzles and picking blackberries.&nbsp;Survivors include her husband, Vitus F. Lang, of the home; her daughters, Laurie Lang and husband, Al, Shawnee, KS; Janet Frank and husband, Leon, Hays, KS; Karen Cruce and husband, Steve, Dewey, OK; her son David Lang, Topeka, KS; one sister-in-law, Virginia Wasinger, Hays, KS; nine grandchildren; and 18 great grandchildren.Anita was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Lubin Wasinger and Julius Wasinger; and one sister, Julianna Scheck. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 A.M. Thursday, January 6, 2022, at The Basilica of St. Fidelis, Victoria, Kansas with Father Curtis Carlson O.F.M. Cap. officiating.&nbsp; Burial in Saint Fidelis Cemetery, Victoria, Kansas.A vigil service with a Daughters of Isabella and Christian Mothers rosary will be at 7:00 P.M. Wednesday, at Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary, 412 Main Street, Victoria, Kansas 67671.Visitation will be from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. Wednesday, at Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary, and from 9:00 to 10:00 A.M. Thursday, at The Basilica of St. Fidelis.The family suggests memorials to The Basilica of St. Fidelis, Good Samaritan Society of Hays or Hospice of Hays Medical Center made payable to the organization in care of the mortuary.Condolences can be sent via e-mail to <a href="mailto:clinesmortuary@eaglecom.net">clinesmortuary@eaglecom.net</a> or can be left at guest book at <a href="http://www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com">www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com</a>

Anita (Wasinger) Lang

Phillipsburg resident Linda D. Edwards passed away Sunday, January 
2, 2022, at the Hays Medical Center in Hays, KS at the age of 71.

She was born October 5, 1950, in Fort Benton, Montana, the daughter of Leland J. and Ruth Adeline (Davies) Edwards.

Linda was united in marriage to Glen “Ike” Edwards on August 8, 1971, in Downs, KS.&nbsp;

Survivors include her husband Ike of Phillipsburg; sons Tim of 
Phillipsburg and Matt and wife Wendy of Des Moines, Iowa; daughter 
Sammie Pinkal and husband Kyle of Wilcox, NE; a brother Ronald Juilfs of
 Sardinia, Ohio; sisters Katherine Henry and husband Jessie of Harrison,
 Ohio, Bonnie Edwards and husband John of Cawker City, KS, and Rita 
Martin of Downs, KS; along with 11 Grandchildren.

Cremation was planned.&nbsp; Memorial services are pending at this time.

Phillipsburg resident Linda D. Edwards passed away Sunday, January 
2, 2022, at the Hays Medical Center in Hays, KS at the age of 71.She was born October 5, 1950, in Fort Benton, Montana, the daughter of Leland J. and Ruth Adeline (Davies) Edwards.Linda was united in marriage to Glen “Ike” Edwards on August 8, 1971, in Downs, KS.&nbsp;Survivors include her husband Ike of Phillipsburg; sons Tim of 
Phillipsburg and Matt and wife Wendy of Des Moines, Iowa; daughter 
Sammie Pinkal and husband Kyle of Wilcox, NE; a brother Ronald Juilfs of
 Sardinia, Ohio; sisters Katherine Henry and husband Jessie of Harrison,
 Ohio, Bonnie Edwards and husband John of Cawker City, KS, and Rita 
Martin of Downs, KS; along with 11 Grandchildren.Cremation was planned.&nbsp; Memorial services are pending at this time.

Linda D. Edwards

Oil posted its biggest annual price advance since 2009 as vaccination roll-outs ramped up economies and spurred consumption, while crude production returned at a more moderate pace. Bloomberg reported West Texas Intermediate crude prices rose 55% for the biggest year-to-date gain in over a decade. Brent, the global benchmark, rose 50%, the largest gain since 2016. US crude also finished the year with the longest run of consecutive quarterly price increases since 1983.&nbsp; Kansas Common crude at CHS in McPherson dropped nearly two dollars on Friday to end the year at $65.50 [["sixty-five fifty"]] per barrel. That's up $9.75 from the first of the month, and up nearly twenty dollars from a year ago. The average price for the month of December was just over $61.71 [["sixty-one seventy-one"]] per barrel, compared to just over $68 in November and a little over $37 in December of last year. Kansas operators this year will nearly double the number of wells spudded last year. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service reported 1,080 wells were drilled during the first 51 weeks of the year, compared to only 563 at the same time last year. That's an increase of nearly 92%. The number of active operators searching for oil and gas in Kansas this year is now up to 240, an increase of nearly 38% over the same period last year. The government last week reported a drop in domestic crude inventories of 3.6 million barrels. At 420 million barrels, US stockpiles are about seven percent below the five year average for this time of year. The Energy Information Administration says gasoline inventories dropped by 1.5 million barrels, and are about six percent below the five-year average. EIA said US Operators pumped nearly 11.9 million barrels of crude oil per day during the week through December 24. That’s a production increase of more than 330,000 barrels per day over the week before, and 877,000 barrels per day more than the same week last year. Regulators in Kansas approved 36 new drilling permits last week. That's 1,182 so far this year. Out of 15 new permits in western Kansas, one was in Barton County and two were in Russell County. There are 21 new permits in eastern Kansas. In the last weekly completions tally of the year, over twenty percent of the completed oil wells in Kansas were dry holes. The year-to-date total of 959 newly-completed wells included 199 dry holes. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service reports 27 new completions statewide last week, including one each in Barton and Ellis counties. One barometer of future oil production is the number of wells that are drilled but not yet completed, or DUC wells. Such wells can be used to bring crude into production quickly. The Energy Information Administration tracks DUCs in the nation's seven major shale plays each month. In November the total dropped by 226 wells. All seven shale regions showed lower DUC numbers, with the Permian basin down 105 wells from October. Oil-by-rail traffic was down for the week and for the year. The Association of American Railroads reported 10,398 tankers hauling petroleum or petroleum products for the week through December 18. That's down 316 carloads from the week before, and 11 percent lower than a year earlier. Canadian shippers moved 8,533 tanker carloads, which is up slightly for the week but down about six percent compared to a year earlier. Authorities in Colorado have passed sweeping new regulations that could cost operators in the patch tens of millions of dollars each year. The Colorado Air Quality Control Commission this month passed the new regs in order to comply with the state's emissions goals. The stat's Air Pollution Control Division is imposing stringent requirements to capture and dispose of byproducts without allowing the gasses to escape into the atmosphere. They want the industry to reduce emissions compared to 2005 levels by 36% in four years and 60% by the year 2030. The move is expected to cost energy producers $59 million to $142 million a year.&nbsp; Having called a dirge for the merger, the pipeline company must pay the piper. That colorful turn of phrase from a judge in Delaware finalized a very expensive ruling for oil pipeline giant Energy Transfer LP. The company must pay $410 million for scuttling a $33 billion merger with rival Williams Companies over a tax flaw in the deal. According to reporting from Bloomberg last week, Energy Transfer is required to pay what's called a break-up fee under the terms of the merger agreement. The 95-page ruling from Delaware Chancery Court Judge Sam Glasscock III ends a more than five-year dispute over the deal. Mexico plans to end crude oil exports in 2023 as part of a strategy by the new government to reach self-sufficiency in domestic fuels. The state-owned oil company Pemex will reduce crude exports to 435,000 barrels per day next year, before phasing them out entirely the following year. The move is part of a drive to expand Mexico's domestic production of fuels, instead of sending its oil abroad and importing costly refined products like gasoline and diesel. Mexico currently buys most of its fuel from U.S. refiners. Five years after it was created Norway's Aker BP is about to become a major North Sea player, and the second-largest producer on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. The company is buying Lundin Energy for ten billion dollars. The deal makes Aker BP Norway's second biggest producer, behind only state-owned Equinor. The combined companies will pump the equivalent of about 400,000 barrels of oil a day, more than some OPEC members. Another announcement marked good news for Aker-BP and great news for Maersk Drilling, which secures a five-year, $1 billion contract for two drilling rigs. Aker-BP will deploy the rigs in the North Sea off the shore of Norway. The new contract is worth all of last year's revenues reported by Maersk, which posted losses in four of the five prior years.

By JOHN P. TRETBAROil posted its biggest annual price advance since 2009 as vaccination roll-outs ramped up economies and spurred consumption, while crude production returned at a more moderate pace. Bloomberg reported West Texas Intermediate crude prices rose 55% for the biggest year-to-date gain in over a decade. Brent, the global benchmark, rose 50%, the largest gain since 2016. US crude also finished the year with the longest run of consecutive quarterly price increases since 1983.&nbsp; Kansas Common crude at CHS in McPherson dropped nearly two dollars on Friday to end the year at $65.50 [["sixty-five fifty"]] per barrel. That's up $9.75 from the first of the month, and up nearly twenty dollars from a year ago. The average price for the month of December was just over $61.71 [["sixty-one seventy-one"]] per barrel, compared to just over $68 in November and a little over $37 in December of last year. Kansas operators this year will nearly double the number of wells spudded last year. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service reported 1,080 wells were drilled during the first 51 weeks of the year, compared to only 563 at the same time last year. That's an increase of nearly 92%. The number of active operators searching for oil and gas in Kansas this year is now up to 240, an increase of nearly 38% over the same period last year. The government last week reported a drop in domestic crude inventories of 3.6 million barrels. At 420 million barrels, US stockpiles are about seven percent below the five year average for this time of year. The Energy Information Administration says gasoline inventories dropped by 1.5 million barrels, and are about six percent below the five-year average. EIA said US Operators pumped nearly 11.9 million barrels of crude oil per day during the week through December 24. That’s a production increase of more than 330,000 barrels per day over the week before, and 877,000 barrels per day more than the same week last year. Regulators in Kansas approved 36 new drilling permits last week. That's 1,182 so far this year. Out of 15 new permits in western Kansas, one was in Barton County and two were in Russell County. There are 21 new permits in eastern Kansas. In the last weekly completions tally of the year, over twenty percent of the completed oil wells in Kansas were dry holes. The year-to-date total of 959 newly-completed wells included 199 dry holes. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service reports 27 new completions statewide last week, including one each in Barton and Ellis counties. One barometer of future oil production is the number of wells that are drilled but not yet completed, or DUC wells. Such wells can be used to bring crude into production quickly. The Energy Information Administration tracks DUCs in the nation's seven major shale plays each month. In November the total dropped by 226 wells. All seven shale regions showed lower DUC numbers, with the Permian basin down 105 wells from October. Oil-by-rail traffic was down for the week and for the year. The Association of American Railroads reported 10,398 tankers hauling petroleum or petroleum products for the week through December 18. That's down 316 carloads from the week before, and 11 percent lower than a year earlier. Canadian shippers moved 8,533 tanker carloads, which is up slightly for the week but down about six percent compared to a year earlier. Authorities in Colorado have passed sweeping new regulations that could cost operators in the patch tens of millions of dollars each year. The Colorado Air Quality Control Commission this month passed the new regs in order to comply with the state's emissions goals. The stat's Air Pollution Control Division is imposing stringent requirements to capture and dispose of byproducts without allowing the gasses to escape into the atmosphere. They want the industry to reduce emissions compared to 2005 levels by 36% in four years and 60% by the year 2030. The move is expected to cost energy producers $59 million to $142 million a year.&nbsp; Having called a dirge for the merger, the pipeline company must pay the piper. That colorful turn of phrase from a judge in Delaware finalized a very expensive ruling for oil pipeline giant Energy Transfer LP. The company must pay $410 million for scuttling a $33 billion merger with rival Williams Companies over a tax flaw in the deal. According to reporting from Bloomberg last week, Energy Transfer is required to pay what's called a break-up fee under the terms of the merger agreement. The 95-page ruling from Delaware Chancery Court Judge Sam Glasscock III ends a more than five-year dispute over the deal. Mexico plans to end crude oil exports in 2023 as part of a strategy by the new government to reach self-sufficiency in domestic fuels. The state-owned oil company Pemex will reduce crude exports to 435,000 barrels per day next year, before phasing them out entirely the following year. The move is part of a drive to expand Mexico's domestic production of fuels, instead of sending its oil abroad and importing costly refined products like gasoline and diesel. Mexico currently buys most of its fuel from U.S. refiners. Five years after it was created Norway's Aker BP is about to become a major North Sea player, and the second-largest producer on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. The company is buying Lundin Energy for ten billion dollars. The deal makes Aker BP Norway's second biggest producer, behind only state-owned Equinor. The combined companies will pump the equivalent of about 400,000 barrels of oil a day, more than some OPEC members. Another announcement marked good news for Aker-BP and great news for Maersk Drilling, which secures a five-year, $1 billion contract for two drilling rigs. Aker-BP will deploy the rigs in the North Sea off the shore of Norway. The new contract is worth all of last year's revenues reported by Maersk, which posted losses in four of the five prior years.

News From the Oil Patch: 2021 was a good year for oil prices

Gary J. Weathers, 67, passed away on December 28, 2021 in Salina, 
Kan. He was born on July 24, 1954, in Great Bend, Kan., to Winton and 
Winifred (Watson) Weathers. He is survived by two children, Mollie 
Weathers and Miles Weathers, both of Salina; three sisters-in-law, Mary 
Kohr (Mike), of Norwood Young America, Minn., Mardella Chambers 
(Blaine), and Betsy Beadleston, both of Salina; nieces, Meaghan Urban 
(Michael), and Jodie Platz, both of Kansas City, Kan.; nephew, Matthew 
Kohr, of Norwood Young America, Minn.; and grandchildren, Winifred Lea 
Bounsombath, Angelina Maybrier, and Wade Pugh, all of Salina, and 
Charley Robinson, of Kansas City, Mo.

Gary grew up in Salina and graduated from Salina South High School in
 1972. He married Nancy Beadleston on October 1, 1983 at the University 
United Methodist Church in Salina. With the marriage came two children, 
Mollie and Miles. Gary worked for many years as a fabricator/machinist. 
He finished his working career as a print press operator for the Salina 
Journal. In retirement he took care of his ailing wife, Nancy, until her
 passing, and then took up her role in helping to watch his grandchild, 
Winifred. Having many hobbies through the years, Gary was known to enjoy
 his motorcycle, being a Deadhead, the Community Theater, cycling, and 
anything to do with history. Through the community theater he was 
introduced to the Salina Mennonite Church where his was baptized and 
remained an active member. Always the first to offer help or to show up 
randomly with something he saw that made him think of you, Gary always 
hoped that the world would find peace and everyone would stop fighting.

A celebration of life gathering will be held on Friday, January 7, 
2022 from 4 – 8 p.m, at Ryan Mortuary, Salina. Memorials may be made to 
donor’s choice, left in care of the mortuary. For more information or to
 leave online condolences visit www.ryanmortuary.com.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1641241604924.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Gary J. Weathers, 67, passed away on December 28, 2021 in Salina, 
Kan. He was born on July 24, 1954, in Great Bend, Kan., to Winton and 
Winifred (Watson) Weathers. He is survived by two children, Mollie 
Weathers and Miles Weathers, both of Salina; three sisters-in-law, Mary 
Kohr (Mike), of Norwood Young America, Minn., Mardella Chambers 
(Blaine), and Betsy Beadleston, both of Salina; nieces, Meaghan Urban 
(Michael), and Jodie Platz, both of Kansas City, Kan.; nephew, Matthew 
Kohr, of Norwood Young America, Minn.; and grandchildren, Winifred Lea 
Bounsombath, Angelina Maybrier, and Wade Pugh, all of Salina, and 
Charley Robinson, of Kansas City, Mo.Gary grew up in Salina and graduated from Salina South High School in
 1972. He married Nancy Beadleston on October 1, 1983 at the University 
United Methodist Church in Salina. With the marriage came two children, 
Mollie and Miles. Gary worked for many years as a fabricator/machinist. 
He finished his working career as a print press operator for the Salina 
Journal. In retirement he took care of his ailing wife, Nancy, until her
 passing, and then took up her role in helping to watch his grandchild, 
Winifred. Having many hobbies through the years, Gary was known to enjoy
 his motorcycle, being a Deadhead, the Community Theater, cycling, and 
anything to do with history. Through the community theater he was 
introduced to the Salina Mennonite Church where his was baptized and 
remained an active member. Always the first to offer help or to show up 
randomly with something he saw that made him think of you, Gary always 
hoped that the world would find peace and everyone would stop fighting.A celebration of life gathering will be held on Friday, January 7, 
2022 from 4 – 8 p.m, at Ryan Mortuary, Salina. Memorials may be made to 
donor’s choice, left in care of the mortuary. For more information or to
 leave online condolences visit www.ryanmortuary.com.

Gary J. Weathers

Keith Wendell Mull, 98, passed away January 2, 2022, at Country Place Senior Living in Larned.

He was born October 29, 1923, in Great Bend, the son of John and Vida Unruh Mull.

A lifetime area resident he was a farmer/stockman, building two 
commercial feed lots. Keith was a 1941 Graduate of Pawnee Rock High 
School and later attended Emporia State University, Denver University, 
and Kansas State University. He served in the United States Army during 
World War II in the European Theatre. He was a Farm Bureau Leader of the
 Year and a Larned Rotary Club Paul Harris Fellow; a member of New 
Jerusalem Church, Pawnee Rock, Prairie Arts Unlimited, and a member of 
the Kansas Livestock Association for fifty years. He served on the 
Pawnee Rock School Board, Farm Service Board, River Township Board, 
First National Bank Board of Directors, National Cattleman Association 
Committee, 4-H Club Leader, Pawnee County Republican Party Leader, BCCC 
Endowment Board, New Jerusalem Church Urbana College Board of Trustees, 
Urbana, OH, Pawnee County Environmental Task Force, Larned Recreation 
Commission, CKMC Foundation Board, and Kansas State University Endowment
 Board.

On December 27, 1945, he married Marian E. Schmitt in Pawnee Rock; she preceded him in death on October 19, 2005.

Survivors include: a daughter, Jeanine (Brad) Haynes, Westfield, IN; 
four grandchildren, Jennifer (Walter) Ladwig, London, England, John 
Mull, Wichita, Jason (Terri) Haynes, Goshen, KY, Robyn (Brian) Kavanagh,
 Carmel, IN and Doug Harter, Pawnee Rock; ten great grandchildren, Ava 
Mull, Pratt, Chase Harter, Lewis, Walter and William Ladwig, London, 
England, Gabe and Maddy Mull, Larned, Avery and Ben Haynes, Goshen, KY, 
and Jameson and Emily Kavanagh, Carmel IN.

He was preceded in death by: his parents; his wife; a brother, 
Charles Mull; son and daughter-in-law, Glenn and Elaine Mull; 
granddaughter, Amy Harter; and great granddaughter, Samantha Harter.

Funeral service will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday, January 8, 2022, at First
 Presbyterian Church, Larned, with Pastor Jane Siebert and Pastor Bill 
Stapleton presiding. Visitation will be 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Friday, 
January 7, 2022, at Beckwith Mortuary with family present from 6:00 p.m. 
to 8:00 p.m. Burial will be in the Pawnee Rock Cemetery, Pawnee Rock 
with military graveside rites.

Memorials may be given to Pawnee County 4-H Foundation, Santa Fe 
Trail Center, or Pawnee Valley Community Hospital in care of Beckwith 
Mortuary, PO Box 477, Larned, Kansas 67550.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1641241528105.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Keith Wendell Mull, 98, passed away January 2, 2022, at Country Place Senior Living in Larned.He was born October 29, 1923, in Great Bend, the son of John and Vida Unruh Mull.A lifetime area resident he was a farmer/stockman, building two 
commercial feed lots. Keith was a 1941 Graduate of Pawnee Rock High 
School and later attended Emporia State University, Denver University, 
and Kansas State University. He served in the United States Army during 
World War II in the European Theatre. He was a Farm Bureau Leader of the
 Year and a Larned Rotary Club Paul Harris Fellow; a member of New 
Jerusalem Church, Pawnee Rock, Prairie Arts Unlimited, and a member of 
the Kansas Livestock Association for fifty years. He served on the 
Pawnee Rock School Board, Farm Service Board, River Township Board, 
First National Bank Board of Directors, National Cattleman Association 
Committee, 4-H Club Leader, Pawnee County Republican Party Leader, BCCC 
Endowment Board, New Jerusalem Church Urbana College Board of Trustees, 
Urbana, OH, Pawnee County Environmental Task Force, Larned Recreation 
Commission, CKMC Foundation Board, and Kansas State University Endowment
 Board.On December 27, 1945, he married Marian E. Schmitt in Pawnee Rock; she preceded him in death on October 19, 2005.Survivors include: a daughter, Jeanine (Brad) Haynes, Westfield, IN; 
four grandchildren, Jennifer (Walter) Ladwig, London, England, John 
Mull, Wichita, Jason (Terri) Haynes, Goshen, KY, Robyn (Brian) Kavanagh,
 Carmel, IN and Doug Harter, Pawnee Rock; ten great grandchildren, Ava 
Mull, Pratt, Chase Harter, Lewis, Walter and William Ladwig, London, 
England, Gabe and Maddy Mull, Larned, Avery and Ben Haynes, Goshen, KY, 
and Jameson and Emily Kavanagh, Carmel IN.He was preceded in death by: his parents; his wife; a brother, 
Charles Mull; son and daughter-in-law, Glenn and Elaine Mull; 
granddaughter, Amy Harter; and great granddaughter, Samantha Harter.Funeral service will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday, January 8, 2022, at First
 Presbyterian Church, Larned, with Pastor Jane Siebert and Pastor Bill 
Stapleton presiding. Visitation will be 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Friday, 
January 7, 2022, at Beckwith Mortuary with family present from 6:00 p.m. 
to 8:00 p.m. Burial will be in the Pawnee Rock Cemetery, Pawnee Rock 
with military graveside rites.Memorials may be given to Pawnee County 4-H Foundation, Santa Fe 
Trail Center, or Pawnee Valley Community Hospital in care of Beckwith 
Mortuary, PO Box 477, Larned, Kansas 67550.&nbsp;

Keith Wendell Mull

Each year, I like to look back and create a “Top 10 list” in David Letterman style. The list, roughly in chronological order, is certainly not all-encompassing – there are great stories and good news every day at Fort Hays State University. However, it does provide a means of looking back and recounting some of the many blessings we enjoyed in 2021. So, in keeping with tradition, here is my top 10 list for 2021.&nbsp;

March brought the exciting news that beginning fall of 2021, thanks to the generosity of the Schmidt Foundation, five students would receive full-ride scholarships to FHSU. The Schmidt Foundation Scholarship includes 30 hours of tuition and fees for fall and spring courses, books, and room and board over a period of four years. Each year, five students will be selected – so in the fall of 2024, we will have 20 Schmidt Foundation scholars on campus.&nbsp;

Speaking of outstanding students, we were enamored with the accomplishments of Brynn Wooten, a sophomore from Westminster, Colo., who was named a 2021 Barry Goldwater Scholar in May. This nationally competitive scholarship will fully fund her final two years of undergraduate study. Brynn’s passion for science, especially paleobiology, began at a very young age as a visitor to the Sternberg Museum of Natural History. During her college search process, she learned of Sternberg Museum’s affiliation with Fort Hays State and immediately decided she wanted to become a Tiger. Brynn is the first FHSU student to receive this prestigious award.

The return to in-person commencement ceremonies was definitely a highlight of 2021. The thrill of having students once again walk across the commencement stage was fantastic. Hats off to the planning committee that thoughtfully balanced honoring our students and their families with best practices for health and safety.

In June, the Kansas Board of Regents approved our new 2022 regional tuition for on-campus students. Fort Hays State doubled down on its commitment to providing quality accessible education by making the bold move to redefine the meaning of regional on-campus tuition. We now offer the equivalent of in-state tuition to students from Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming. I can’t wait to welcome more students home to Hays, America!

Over the summer, we celebrated the accomplishments of two student-athletes: basketball standout Whitney Randall received the MIAA Women’s Winter Student-Athlete-of-the-Year Award, and pole vaulter Ryan Stanley earned the MIAA Men’s Spring Student-Athlete-of-the-Year Award after claiming the NCAA Division II national championship in the pole vault. Extraordinary accomplishments for both student-athletes. Tiger proud!

Fully returning to face-to-face classes and a myriad of student activities, from football to theatre, was a spectacular high point in fall 2021.

In August, we dedicated the Schmidt Foundation Center for Art and Design. I especially loved listening to the personal stories about Bob and Pat Schmidt, who enjoyed nearly 69 years of married life together before Pat passed away in 2015 and Bob in 2017. The couple was known for their love of FHSU and their philanthropic support. With a generous $2.5 million gift, the Schmidt Foundation has carried on Bob’s and Pat's legacy and their love for education, the arts, and Fort Hays State by naming a building after them – a building with which the couple would have been enamored.

Speaking of extraordinary generosity, September concluded our Journey campaign. The Journey campaign kicked off Homecoming of 2016 with a goal of raising $100 million in support of FHSU and its students over a five-year period. Those years flew by, and not only was that ambitious goal reached – it was surpassed. The Journey campaign raised a total of $112,769,457!

In October, the university hosted a ribbon-cutting event for the Fischli-Wills Center for Student Success. Similar to the Center for Art and Design, this celebration honored two extraordinary individuals, the late Richard Fischli and Dolores Wills-Fischli. Richard and Dolores began their journey with Fort Hays State as two rural Kansas kids pursuing a college education. Both earned bachelor's and master's degrees from FHSU in the 1950s, then moved to southern California. Upon retiring from their careers in education, the Fischlis moved back home to Logan, Kansas. Today, this impressive new facility has become a reality thanks to a $5 million gift from the Fischlis’ estate. Although the generous couple is no longer with us, their legacy of impacting students will continue to live on at Fort Hays State.

Given our focus on improving the lives, our Criminal Justice Department chair, Dr. Tamara Lynn – in partnership with Chief of University Police, Ed Howell – put together a de-escalation center. With the invaluable assistance of U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, FHSU began our Thanksgiving break by celebrating a $1.25 million federal grant for the training center. Fort Hays State’s regional training center will train police on how to de-escalate potentially dangerous situations using a psychological approach. The training provided by FHSU places the university at the forefront of this vital law enforcement training initiative.

And while I have mentioned 10 items, like that extra cookie in a baker’s dozen, I must add how excited I am, that at the writing of this column, both our men and women’s basketball teams were undefeated, and our women were ranked No. 1 in the NCAA Division II coaches poll. Perhaps this is a foreshadowing of what will appear in my 2022 Top 10 list.

I end 2021 and begin 2022 by expressing my deepest gratitude to our faculty and staff for their resilience and innovation, never losing sight of our enduring commitment to caring for our students. Simply put, our faculty and staff rose to the challenge in 2021 and continued to deliver robust support services and outstanding teaching and learning experiences in thoughtful, impactful, and personal ways. I also thank our students for having faith in Fort Hays State University and working together to create an environment of respect and kindness.

Happy New Year to you and yours – and to FHSU!&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575301942236.jpeg" alt="Dr. Tisa Mason, FHSU president" />
 <figcaption>Dr. Tisa Mason, FHSU president</figcaption>
 </figure>Each year, I like to look back and create a “Top 10 list” in David Letterman style. The list, roughly in chronological order, is certainly not all-encompassing – there are great stories and good news every day at Fort Hays State University. However, it does provide a means of looking back and recounting some of the many blessings we enjoyed in 2021. So, in keeping with tradition, here is my top 10 list for 2021.&nbsp;March brought the exciting news that beginning fall of 2021, thanks to the generosity of the Schmidt Foundation, five students would receive full-ride scholarships to FHSU. The Schmidt Foundation Scholarship includes 30 hours of tuition and fees for fall and spring courses, books, and room and board over a period of four years. Each year, five students will be selected – so in the fall of 2024, we will have 20 Schmidt Foundation scholars on campus.&nbsp;Speaking of outstanding students, we were enamored with the accomplishments of Brynn Wooten, a sophomore from Westminster, Colo., who was named a 2021 Barry Goldwater Scholar in May. This nationally competitive scholarship will fully fund her final two years of undergraduate study. Brynn’s passion for science, especially paleobiology, began at a very young age as a visitor to the Sternberg Museum of Natural History. During her college search process, she learned of Sternberg Museum’s affiliation with Fort Hays State and immediately decided she wanted to become a Tiger. Brynn is the first FHSU student to receive this prestigious award.The return to in-person commencement ceremonies was definitely a highlight of 2021. The thrill of having students once again walk across the commencement stage was fantastic. Hats off to the planning committee that thoughtfully balanced honoring our students and their families with best practices for health and safety.In June, the Kansas Board of Regents approved our new 2022 regional tuition for on-campus students. Fort Hays State doubled down on its commitment to providing quality accessible education by making the bold move to redefine the meaning of regional on-campus tuition. We now offer the equivalent of in-state tuition to students from Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming. I can’t wait to welcome more students home to Hays, America!Over the summer, we celebrated the accomplishments of two student-athletes: basketball standout Whitney Randall received the MIAA Women’s Winter Student-Athlete-of-the-Year Award, and pole vaulter Ryan Stanley earned the MIAA Men’s Spring Student-Athlete-of-the-Year Award after claiming the NCAA Division II national championship in the pole vault. Extraordinary accomplishments for both student-athletes. Tiger proud!Fully returning to face-to-face classes and a myriad of student activities, from football to theatre, was a spectacular high point in fall 2021.In August, we dedicated the Schmidt Foundation Center for Art and Design. I especially loved listening to the personal stories about Bob and Pat Schmidt, who enjoyed nearly 69 years of married life together before Pat passed away in 2015 and Bob in 2017. The couple was known for their love of FHSU and their philanthropic support. With a generous $2.5 million gift, the Schmidt Foundation has carried on Bob’s and Pat's legacy and their love for education, the arts, and Fort Hays State by naming a building after them – a building with which the couple would have been enamored.Speaking of extraordinary generosity, September concluded our Journey campaign. The Journey campaign kicked off Homecoming of 2016 with a goal of raising $100 million in support of FHSU and its students over a five-year period. Those years flew by, and not only was that ambitious goal reached – it was surpassed. The Journey campaign raised a total of $112,769,457!In October, the university hosted a ribbon-cutting event for the Fischli-Wills Center for Student Success. Similar to the Center for Art and Design, this celebration honored two extraordinary individuals, the late Richard Fischli and Dolores Wills-Fischli. Richard and Dolores began their journey with Fort Hays State as two rural Kansas kids pursuing a college education. Both earned bachelor's and master's degrees from FHSU in the 1950s, then moved to southern California. Upon retiring from their careers in education, the Fischlis moved back home to Logan, Kansas. Today, this impressive new facility has become a reality thanks to a $5 million gift from the Fischlis’ estate. Although the generous couple is no longer with us, their legacy of impacting students will continue to live on at Fort Hays State.Given our focus on improving the lives, our Criminal Justice Department chair, Dr. Tamara Lynn – in partnership with Chief of University Police, Ed Howell – put together a de-escalation center. With the invaluable assistance of U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, FHSU began our Thanksgiving break by celebrating a $1.25 million federal grant for the training center. Fort Hays State’s regional training center will train police on how to de-escalate potentially dangerous situations using a psychological approach. The training provided by FHSU places the university at the forefront of this vital law enforcement training initiative.And while I have mentioned 10 items, like that extra cookie in a baker’s dozen, I must add how excited I am, that at the writing of this column, both our men and women’s basketball teams were undefeated, and our women were ranked No. 1 in the NCAA Division II coaches poll. Perhaps this is a foreshadowing of what will appear in my 2022 Top 10 list.I end 2021 and begin 2022 by expressing my deepest gratitude to our faculty and staff for their resilience and innovation, never losing sight of our enduring commitment to caring for our students. Simply put, our faculty and staff rose to the challenge in 2021 and continued to deliver robust support services and outstanding teaching and learning experiences in thoughtful, impactful, and personal ways. I also thank our students for having faith in Fort Hays State University and working together to create an environment of respect and kindness.Happy New Year to you and yours – and to FHSU!&nbsp;

MASON: Top 10 list brimming with good news

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a burglary.

On Thursday morning, police were dispatched to the 300 block of SE 21st Street in Topeka on the citizen report of an overnight burglary to a business captured on video, according to Lt. Shane Hilton.

Officers, going off of the suspect vehicle description,&nbsp;located the vehicle behind another business on SW Topeka Boulevard. The occupant identified as&nbsp;Curtis Callarman, 43, of Topeka, was questioned and taken into custody without incident.

Callarman, 43, of Topeka, was booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of burglary, according to Hilton.

In October, police arrested Callarman in the 3800 block of SW Topeka Blvd. in connection with Burglary and Theft from businesses in the Topeka area.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640894137857.png" alt="Callarman photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Callarman photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a burglary.On Thursday morning, police were dispatched to the 300 block of SE 21st Street in Topeka on the citizen report of an overnight burglary to a business captured on video, according to Lt. Shane Hilton.Officers, going off of the suspect vehicle description,&nbsp;located the vehicle behind another business on SW Topeka Boulevard. The occupant identified as&nbsp;Curtis Callarman, 43, of Topeka, was questioned and taken into custody without incident.Callarman, 43, of Topeka, was booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of burglary, according to Hilton.In October, police arrested Callarman in the 3800 block of SW Topeka Blvd. in connection with Burglary and Theft from businesses in the Topeka area.

Police use video of Kan. business burglary to track down suspect

CHICAGO (AP) — States and the federal government carried out 11 executions this year, the fewest since 1988, as support for the death penalty has continued to decline.

That’s according to an&nbsp;<a href="https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/facts-and-research/dpic-reports/dpic-year-end-reports/the-death-penalty-in-2021-year-end-report" target="_blank">annual report on the death penalty </a>&nbsp;which was also sharply critical of the Supreme Court and its role in green-lighting executions. Three of the death sentences were carried out in January during&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-death-penalty-legacy-838932ac2b665b42373309336d130f56">an unprecedented run of federal executions</a>&nbsp;that ended days before President Donald Trump left office. Annual executions have steadily declined since peaking at 98 in 1999.

Pandemic-related disruptions partly accounted for the low number of executions this year — though 2021 marked the seventh consecutive year when there were fewer than 30 executions and fewer than 50 new death sentences, the report said.

The federal death penalty was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-executions-government-and-politics-9daf230ef2257b901cb0dfeeeb60be44">put on hold in June&nbsp;</a>by Attorney General Merrick Garland, well short of the permanent abolition activists hoped for when Joe Biden&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-joe-biden-executions-health-coronavirus-pandemic-67ed5dd28d92f11629310ddb7590357a">became the first sitting U.S. president</a>&nbsp;to have openly opposed the death penalty. State executions continue despite growing numbers of Americans opposed to the death penalty.

The report from the Death Penalty Information Center said far from representing the “worst of the worst,” 10 of the 11 prisoners executed this year had “significant impairments,” including IQs in the intellectually disabled range.

Many cases were tainted by poor legal representation at trial and jurisdictions engaging in “shocking conduct” to thwart judicial review of credible constitutional claims, the report said.

“As death-penalty usage continues to erode, its flaws become even more evident,” the report from the Washington, D.C.-based center said.

The report also noted the three conservative appointments to the Supreme Court by Trump and said the justices demonstrated “deep hostility to stays of execution,” denying or lifting every stay of execution requested — other than a few on religious grounds that inmates should have fuller access to spiritual advisers.

The report also noted how some death-penalty states scrambled for alternative execution methods after pharmaceutical companies restricted access to drugs once widely used for lethal injections. It highlighted Arizona’s proposal this year to use&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-joe-biden-executions-health-coronavirus-pandemic-67ed5dd28d92f11629310ddb7590357a"></a><a href="https://apnews.com/article/arizona-executions-business-health-government-and-politics-c3f67a6ec65959fea817b4c3193bb15e">the same cyanide hydrogen gas</a>&nbsp;deployed by Nazis to kill Jews.

Support for the death penalty, meanwhile, has plummeted from a high of 80% in 1994 to 54% this year, according to a 2021 Gallup poll cited in the report. Since the mid-1990s, opposition has risen from under 20% to around 45% now.

States also continue to rescind death penalty laws.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/virginia-to-end-death-penalty-ralph-northam-0a5b51f2e4458a0600bce6b75e6389bd">Virginia, once a prolific executioner, did so in March</a>, bringing the number of states to have abolished the death penalty to 23. Three, including California, have moratoriums on executions.

Executions have been increasingly concentrated in a few Southern states. Texas executed three inmates and Oklahoma two in 2021. Alabama, Mississippi and Missouri each executed one. The Trump administration executed three. The last, Dustin Higgs, was executed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-wildlife-coronavirus-pandemic-crime-terre-haute-28e44cc5c026dc16472751bbde0ead50">five days before Joe Biden’s inauguration</a>. The federal executions brought the year’s total to 11.

Trump’s Justice Department executed 10 federal prisoners in 2020, ending a 17-year hiatus&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/public-health-prisons-health-coronavirus-pandemic-executions-ac5afd6c1df5b8acbeece712830e6469">as COVID raged through prisons</a>. States suspended their death penalty programs during the height of the pandemic.

— Seven states imposed 18 new death sentences in 2021 — tying a record low. Alabama and Oklahoma imposed four each. California and Texas both imposed three. Florida imposed two and Nebraska and Tennessee one each.

— Six of the 11 inmates executed in 2021 were Black. Black and Hispanic defendants made up more than 60% of the death sentences imposed this year.

— Some 2,500 prisoners remain on state death rows. Some 50 are left on federal death row at a Terre Haute, Indiana, prison after the Trump executions reduced their numbers by nearly a quarter.

The Justice Department’s June order halted federal executions while it reviewed Trump-era practices. The Biden administration also withdrew notices of intent to seek the death penalty in several cases. But the administration did still keep pressing for death sentences for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/religion-crime-courts-south-carolina-hate-crimes-0db104e0c60baaa954d9833daccaf6b4">white supremacist Dylann Roof</a>, convicted in the 2015 slayings of nine members of a Black congregation in South Carolina, and for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-supreme-court-sports-dzhokhar-tsarnaev-boston-bombings-ad5f5d675c401d55ec27b54d9e3ef202">Boston Marathon bomber</a>&nbsp;Dzhokhar Tsarnaev.

Despite&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/federal-death-row-inmates-talk-biden-executions-6381ed8b3e821a34a6b6ade6bb3375c0">a campaign pledge to decisively end executions</a>, Biden hasn’t addressed the issue publicly as president. The report noted he hasn’t backed legislation to strike the death penalty from U.S. statutes. Activists fear federal executions could restart if Trump were to run again for president and win a second term or if another capital punishment advocate becomes president.

The report spotlighted several individual executions.

It described Oklahoma’s execution of John Grant on Oct. 28 as “botched.” The 60-year-old, convicted in the 1998 slaying of a prison cafeteria worker, repeatedly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-supreme-court-prisons-executions-oklahoma-oklahoma-attorney-generals-office-6e5eedd1956a38f83db96187651f145c">convulsed and vomited</a>&nbsp;after his lethal injection. Oklahoma’s Department of Corrections said the execution occurred “without complication.”

The report also pointed to the May 19 Texas execution of Quintin Jones, 41, convicted of killing his great aunt in 1999. It proceeded&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-executions-lifestyle-747fc8994706df9dee9e64909c464b99">without media witnesses</a>, the first time since Texas resumed capital punishment in 1982 that no journalist was present. Officials blamed a failure to bring in reporters waiting nearby on miscommunication.

Two death row inmates were exonerated in 2021, both in Mississippi. One, Eddie Lee Howard Jr., who is Black, was freed after spending&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/race-and-ethnicity-mississippi-crime-f13826a919f192108cba4502f965d4ef">26 years on death row&nbsp;</a>after debunked bite-mark testimony and DNA evidence cleared him in the 1992 rape and killing of an 84-year-old white woman.

Those exonerations bring the total number of exonerees out of more than 9,600 death sentences since the early 1970s to 186, the report said.

That figure, it added, “revealed that the American death-penalty system is even more frighteningly unreliable than was previously understood.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1621882682950.png" alt="Ernest Johnson was executed in October for killing three workers while robbing a Missouri convenience store in 1994-photo MODOC" />
 <figcaption>Ernest Johnson was executed in October for killing three workers while robbing a Missouri convenience store in 1994-photo MODOC</figcaption>
 </figure>CHICAGO (AP) — States and the federal government carried out 11 executions this year, the fewest since 1988, as support for the death penalty has continued to decline.That’s according to an&nbsp;<a href="https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/facts-and-research/dpic-reports/dpic-year-end-reports/the-death-penalty-in-2021-year-end-report" target="_blank">annual report on the death penalty </a>&nbsp;which was also sharply critical of the Supreme Court and its role in green-lighting executions. Three of the death sentences were carried out in January during&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-death-penalty-legacy-838932ac2b665b42373309336d130f56">an unprecedented run of federal executions</a>&nbsp;that ended days before President Donald Trump left office. Annual executions have steadily declined since peaking at 98 in 1999.Pandemic-related disruptions partly accounted for the low number of executions this year — though 2021 marked the seventh consecutive year when there were fewer than 30 executions and fewer than 50 new death sentences, the report said.The federal death penalty was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-executions-government-and-politics-9daf230ef2257b901cb0dfeeeb60be44">put on hold in June&nbsp;</a>by Attorney General Merrick Garland, well short of the permanent abolition activists hoped for when Joe Biden&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-joe-biden-executions-health-coronavirus-pandemic-67ed5dd28d92f11629310ddb7590357a">became the first sitting U.S. president</a>&nbsp;to have openly opposed the death penalty. State executions continue despite growing numbers of Americans opposed to the death penalty.The report from the Death Penalty Information Center said far from representing the “worst of the worst,” 10 of the 11 prisoners executed this year had “significant impairments,” including IQs in the intellectually disabled range.Many cases were tainted by poor legal representation at trial and jurisdictions engaging in “shocking conduct” to thwart judicial review of credible constitutional claims, the report said.“As death-penalty usage continues to erode, its flaws become even more evident,” the report from the Washington, D.C.-based center said.The report also noted the three conservative appointments to the Supreme Court by Trump and said the justices demonstrated “deep hostility to stays of execution,” denying or lifting every stay of execution requested — other than a few on religious grounds that inmates should have fuller access to spiritual advisers.The report also noted how some death-penalty states scrambled for alternative execution methods after pharmaceutical companies restricted access to drugs once widely used for lethal injections. It highlighted Arizona’s proposal this year to use&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-joe-biden-executions-health-coronavirus-pandemic-67ed5dd28d92f11629310ddb7590357a"></a><a href="https://apnews.com/article/arizona-executions-business-health-government-and-politics-c3f67a6ec65959fea817b4c3193bb15e">the same cyanide hydrogen gas</a>&nbsp;deployed by Nazis to kill Jews.Support for the death penalty, meanwhile, has plummeted from a high of 80% in 1994 to 54% this year, according to a 2021 Gallup poll cited in the report. Since the mid-1990s, opposition has risen from under 20% to around 45% now.States also continue to rescind death penalty laws.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/virginia-to-end-death-penalty-ralph-northam-0a5b51f2e4458a0600bce6b75e6389bd">Virginia, once a prolific executioner, did so in March</a>, bringing the number of states to have abolished the death penalty to 23. Three, including California, have moratoriums on executions.Executions have been increasingly concentrated in a few Southern states. Texas executed three inmates and Oklahoma two in 2021. Alabama, Mississippi and Missouri each executed one. The Trump administration executed three. The last, Dustin Higgs, was executed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-wildlife-coronavirus-pandemic-crime-terre-haute-28e44cc5c026dc16472751bbde0ead50">five days before Joe Biden’s inauguration</a>. The federal executions brought the year’s total to 11.Trump’s Justice Department executed 10 federal prisoners in 2020, ending a 17-year hiatus&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/public-health-prisons-health-coronavirus-pandemic-executions-ac5afd6c1df5b8acbeece712830e6469">as COVID raged through prisons</a>. States suspended their death penalty programs during the height of the pandemic.Among other report highlights:— Seven states imposed 18 new death sentences in 2021 — tying a record low. Alabama and Oklahoma imposed four each. California and Texas both imposed three. Florida imposed two and Nebraska and Tennessee one each.— Six of the 11 inmates executed in 2021 were Black. Black and Hispanic defendants made up more than 60% of the death sentences imposed this year.— Some 2,500 prisoners remain on state death rows. Some 50 are left on federal death row at a Terre Haute, Indiana, prison after the Trump executions reduced their numbers by nearly a quarter.The Justice Department’s June order halted federal executions while it reviewed Trump-era practices. The Biden administration also withdrew notices of intent to seek the death penalty in several cases. But the administration did still keep pressing for death sentences for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/religion-crime-courts-south-carolina-hate-crimes-0db104e0c60baaa954d9833daccaf6b4">white supremacist Dylann Roof</a>, convicted in the 2015 slayings of nine members of a Black congregation in South Carolina, and for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-supreme-court-sports-dzhokhar-tsarnaev-boston-bombings-ad5f5d675c401d55ec27b54d9e3ef202">Boston Marathon bomber</a>&nbsp;Dzhokhar Tsarnaev.Despite&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/federal-death-row-inmates-talk-biden-executions-6381ed8b3e821a34a6b6ade6bb3375c0">a campaign pledge to decisively end executions</a>, Biden hasn’t addressed the issue publicly as president. The report noted he hasn’t backed legislation to strike the death penalty from U.S. statutes. Activists fear federal executions could restart if Trump were to run again for president and win a second term or if another capital punishment advocate becomes president.The report spotlighted several individual executions.It described Oklahoma’s execution of John Grant on Oct. 28 as “botched.” The 60-year-old, convicted in the 1998 slaying of a prison cafeteria worker, repeatedly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-supreme-court-prisons-executions-oklahoma-oklahoma-attorney-generals-office-6e5eedd1956a38f83db96187651f145c">convulsed and vomited</a>&nbsp;after his lethal injection. Oklahoma’s Department of Corrections said the execution occurred “without complication.”The report also pointed to the May 19 Texas execution of Quintin Jones, 41, convicted of killing his great aunt in 1999. It proceeded&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-executions-lifestyle-747fc8994706df9dee9e64909c464b99">without media witnesses</a>, the first time since Texas resumed capital punishment in 1982 that no journalist was present. Officials blamed a failure to bring in reporters waiting nearby on miscommunication.Two death row inmates were exonerated in 2021, both in Mississippi. One, Eddie Lee Howard Jr., who is Black, was freed after spending&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/race-and-ethnicity-mississippi-crime-f13826a919f192108cba4502f965d4ef">26 years on death row&nbsp;</a>after debunked bite-mark testimony and DNA evidence cleared him in the 1992 rape and killing of an 84-year-old white woman.Those exonerations bring the total number of exonerees out of more than 9,600 death sentences since the early 1970s to 186, the report said.That figure, it added, “revealed that the American death-penalty system is even more frighteningly unreliable than was previously understood.”

Report: 11 executions in 2021 mark three-decade low

Dorothy Lucille Yowell, age 94, of 
Mesquite, Texas, formerly of Ellis, Kansas, passed away November 16, 2021,&nbsp; in Mesquite. She was born May 20, 1927, in Hays, Kansas, to Nicholas and 
Anna Heroneme. On January 15, 1946, she married Clyde Yowell in Ellis. He
 preceded her in death on October 24, 1994.

Dorothy was a farm wife and also worked
 at Travenol in Hays for several years. She had been a member of St. 
Mary's Catholic Church in Ellis and St. Jerome Catholic Church in 
Phoenix, Arizona.&nbsp; She spent many years volunteering at the Society of 
St. Vincent de Paul in Phoenix. She was a beloved mother, grandmother 
and great grandmother.

Those left to cherish her memory are 
her daughters, Victoria Larson and Claudia Schroer; a son, Paul Yowell; 
grandchildren, Rich Wellbrock, Monica Hafif, Brook Schroer, Nathan 
Yowell, Sarah Williams and Kelsey Yowell; great grandchildren, Griffin 
Wellbrock, Madeline Wellbrock, Jack Hafif, Freida Hafif, Lillian 
Schroer, Brenden Schroer, Jackson Williams and Addison Williams, as well
 as numerous extended family and friends who will miss her dearly.

Memorial services will be 10:00 AM with
 visitation 9:00 AM until service time on Saturday, January 8, 2022 at 
Brock's-Keithley Funeral Chapel and Crematory 2509 Vine Hays, KS 67601.

In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial donations to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul @ svdpusa.org in her memory.

Condolences may be left by guest book at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or by email at keithleyfuneralhomes@gmail.com.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1641061874680.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Dorothy Lucille Yowell, age 94, of 
Mesquite, Texas, formerly of Ellis, Kansas, passed away November 16, 2021,&nbsp; in Mesquite. She was born May 20, 1927, in Hays, Kansas, to Nicholas and 
Anna Heroneme. On January 15, 1946, she married Clyde Yowell in Ellis. He
 preceded her in death on October 24, 1994.Dorothy was a farm wife and also worked
 at Travenol in Hays for several years. She had been a member of St. 
Mary's Catholic Church in Ellis and St. Jerome Catholic Church in 
Phoenix, Arizona.&nbsp; She spent many years volunteering at the Society of 
St. Vincent de Paul in Phoenix. She was a beloved mother, grandmother 
and great grandmother.Those left to cherish her memory are 
her daughters, Victoria Larson and Claudia Schroer; a son, Paul Yowell; 
grandchildren, Rich Wellbrock, Monica Hafif, Brook Schroer, Nathan 
Yowell, Sarah Williams and Kelsey Yowell; great grandchildren, Griffin 
Wellbrock, Madeline Wellbrock, Jack Hafif, Freida Hafif, Lillian 
Schroer, Brenden Schroer, Jackson Williams and Addison Williams, as well
 as numerous extended family and friends who will miss her dearly.Memorial services will be 10:00 AM with
 visitation 9:00 AM until service time on Saturday, January 8, 2022 at 
Brock's-Keithley Funeral Chapel and Crematory 2509 Vine Hays, KS 67601.In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial donations to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul @ svdpusa.org in her memory.Condolences may be left by guest book at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or by email at keithleyfuneralhomes@gmail.com.

Dorothy Lucille Yowell

By DANA GENTRY <a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/holidays-are-no-holiday-amazon%C2%A0">States Newsroom</a>

It’s called ‘peak season’ – the time 
of year when 10-hour days for some of the nation’s more than one 
million Amazon employees extend into eleven-hour shifts packed into a 
backbreaking blur of six-day work weeks.

“They work us like crazy with hardly any days off, especially during the holidays. They
 don’t care about the safety of their employees,” says Johnny Acejo, who
 spent five years employed at an Amazon facility in Phoenix.&nbsp;

Amazon declined to answer the majority of questions posed for this story.

Unwinding after a long shift while 
facing the prospect of doing it again involves video games, booze, or 
weed, according to about a dozen employees interviewed by the Current. 
Others turn to the sleep aid Unisom, purchased online from Amazon.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“They literally keep track of your 
restroom time,” Acejo says of a scanner worn by employees that allows 
Amazon to track their movements. “I took five minutes in the restroom 
because I had real bad stomach pains and I was throwing up. I got a 
write up. All they care about is the numbers.”

Ecommerce sales in the U.S. topped $800 billion in the last year. As of October, Amazon owned 41% of the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/274255/market-share-of-the-leading-retailers-in-us-e-commerce/">market share</a>, followed by Walmart at 6%, according to Statista.

Amazon’s net income for the twelve months ending September 30, 2021 was $26.263 billion, up&nbsp; 51.14% year-to-year.

Amazon is the second largest employer
 in the U.S. (behind Walmart) with more than a million workers. Amazon 
employs more than 10,500 Nevadans at more than a dozen warehouses, 
distribution facilities, and fulfillment centers throughout the state, 
mostly in Southern Nevada.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

“Amazon is changing the nature of 
work in our country,” says a resolution passed by the International 
Brotherhood of Teamsters last summer, which noted the company “presents 
an existential threat to the standards we have set” in Teamster-related 
industries Amazon has disrupted, such as parcel delivery, freight, food 
distribution, and movie production.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

The resolution says the union 
“recognizes that there is no clearer example of how America is failing 
the working class than Amazon. From its start as a book retailer, Amazon
 has grown to become an ecommerce giant and has disrupted industry after
 industry and displaced hundreds of thousands of jobs.”

“Amazon is very rightly worried that 
if one fulfillment center were to organize and unionize, it could start a
 domino reaction that would cause all others to fall in line,” says 
Avery, a former Amazon worker and host of the podcast The Amazon.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

“Amazon exploits its employees, 
contractors, and employees of contractors via: wage theft, fraudulent 
classification, intense production quotas, dehumanizing work 
environments, unsafe workplaces and production standards, low wages, 
high turnover, no voice on the job, lack of job security and outsourced 
jobs,” says the Teamsters’ resolution.&nbsp;

But the union’s effort to organize Amazon workers appears stalled.&nbsp;

“We are not discussing specific locations or strategies at this time,” said a national spokesperson for the Teamsters.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Members of local Teamsters chapters 
say they’re unaware of any efforts to unionize Amazon workers in Nevada,
 as is a spokeswoman for the AFL-CIO of Nevada.

For the last two decades, Amazon has deflected union overtures – most recently in Bessemer, Alabama, when it turned back the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, which represents poultry plant workers in that state.

Last month, a judge <a target="_blank" href="https://www.theverge.com/2021/11/29/22565851/amazon-bessemer-union-vote-nlrb-appeal-overturned-second-election">ruled</a> Amazon interfered in the vote and ordered a do-over.&nbsp;

“I’d say the ability to organize is a
 slim chance due to attrition, union busters, and Amazon’s brazen 
ability to not break but obliterate labor law with little to no 
consequences,” says Avery of The Amazon podcast. “Every chip is stacked 
against the workers and through pure grit a large number of them are 
still fighting the good fight.”

“Organizing is hard due to the fact 
that no one stays,” he says. “Union organizers at Bessemer estimated 
they lost 60 ‘yes’ ballots a day due to attrition and Amazon’s ability 
to legally prolong the organizing attempt. People simply don’t stay in a
 shit hole long.”

A group of Whole Foods employees unsuccessfully <a target="_blank" href="https://techcrunch.com/2018/09/06/whole-foods-workers-seek-to-unionize-says-amazon-is-exploiting-our-dedication/#:~:text=Since%20the%20Amazon%20acquisition%2C%20several%20hundred%20Whole%20Foods,have%20saved%20millionsas%20a%20result%20of%20the%20shake-up.">attempted to organize </a>in
 2018 after Amazon laid off several hundred employees and increased the 
cost of doing business for suppliers, according to the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/new-era-at-amazons-whole-foods-grates-on-some-suppliers-employees-1530526964">Wall Street Journa</a>l, when it purchased the grocery chain for $13.7 billion in 2017.

“Amazon won’t allow that because it 
will cost them more in the long run,” said one Whole Foods delivery 
driver in San Diego who asked not to be named. Paying union dues will 
just be a burden to workers, she fears.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

In February, Amazon <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2021/02/amazon-pay-617-million-settle-ftc-charges-it-withheld-some">agreed</a> to pay $61.7 million to settle charges leveled by the FTC that it withheld tips from its delivery drivers. Another <a target="_blank" href="https://www.classaction.org/news/amazon-illegally-withheld-tips-from-flex-drivers-class-action-claims">suit </a>with similar allegations followed within days.

“We do not believe unions are in the 
best interest of our customers, our shareholders, or most importantly, 
our associates,” says an anti-union <a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRpwVwFxyk4">vide</a>o
 produced by Amazon for its employees. “Our business model is built upon
 speed, innovation, and customer obsession—things that are generally not
 associated with union. When we lose sight of those critical focus areas
 we jeopardize everyone’s job security: yours, mine, and the 
associates’.”

“Does your Chair take comfort in the 
outcome of the recent union vote in Bessemer? No, he doesn’t,” Jeff 
Bezos wrote earlier this year in his 2020 <a target="_blank" href="https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/company-news/2020-letter-to-shareholders?utm_source=social&amp;utm_medium=tw&amp;utm_term=amznnews&amp;utm_content=2020shareholderletter&amp;linkId=116261313">letter</a> to shareholders. “I think we need to do a better job for our employees.”&nbsp;

Bezos went on to say that even though
 the vote was in Amazon’s favor, “it’s clear to me that we need a better
 vision for how we create value for employees – a vision for their 
success.”

Bezos rejected the notion that Amazon
 employees are “desperate souls and treated as robots. That’s not 
accurate. They’re sophisticated and thoughtful people who have options 
for where to work. When we survey fulfillment center employees, 94% say 
they would recommend Amazon to a friend as a place to work.”

Avery, host of The Amazon podcast, says job satisfaction is elusive at an Amazon fulfillment center.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“Satisfaction isn’t near what most 
people get from a job at Amazon, it’d be hard to be satisfied when 
Amazon averages a 150% turnover rate and near double the average of 
serious accidents in the workplace,” he says.

He’s referring to a Washington Post 
investigation that revealed Amazon reported twice as many accidents to 
OSHA as other warehouse and storage companies.&nbsp;&nbsp;

OSHA is currently investigating the 
storm-related deaths this month of half a dozen Amazon employees at an 
Indiana warehouse.&nbsp; Some employees say they were not allowed to leave 
the warehouse to seek shelter.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“As soon as there was a tornado 
warning, the team took immediate action to move to shelter in place 
locations,” Amazon spokeswoman Alisa Carroll told the Current via 
email.&nbsp;

“When a site is made aware of a 
tornado warning in the area, all employees are notified and directed to 
move to a designated and marked shelter in place location,” she said. 
“This is the safest approach to ensure no one is on the road or outside 
during a tornado.”

Carroll said the site got warnings 
between 8:06 and 8:16, and “leaders directed people on site to 
immediately take shelter. At 8:27, the tornado struck the building.”

Validated OSHA complaints from 
Amazon’s Nevada workers the last year range from safety concerns, some 
resulting from a reduced workforce certain days of the week, to 
violations of COVID protocols.

“Scanners and carts used by employees
 for order picking are not being sanitized after being used,” says one 
complaint to OSHA, echoed frequently by workers interviewed 
nationwide.&nbsp;&nbsp;

But the most common complaint from Amazon workers in Nevada was the heat.&nbsp;&nbsp;

A complaint of “poor air quality” prompted an OSHA inspection of DLV 7, a facility in North Las Vegas ,on April 27.

“There is poor air quality in the 
workplace. The air filters are dirty,” says the complaint. “It is very 
hot in the building. Employees are experiencing headaches due to the 
heat and wearing a mask.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

“Employees in the warehouse are not 
provided with enough water or rest and are being potentially exposed to 
heat stress related illness,” says a complaint that brought OSHA to DLV 2
 on Alexander Rd. in North Las Vegas on June 1. “The warehouse fans are 
operational but are not providing adequate airflow for the given volume 
of the warehouse.”&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

“Inside the warehouse employees are 
exposed to heat stress,” says a complaint that resulted in an inspection
 of LAS 1 on Bermuda Rd. in Henderson on June 22. “There is only one fan
 and no air-conditioning in the building.”

On June 28, inspectors visited the 
LAS 7 fulfillment center on Tropical Pkwy. in North Las Vegas,&nbsp; after 
receiving complaints that employees were “experiencing heat issues since
 the summer began due to the lack of air conditioning on the south end 
of the warehouse. Operation managers have advised that fans would be 
installed at each station throughout the warehouse however that has yet 
to occur for all stations. It is warm on the north side of the 
warehouse, but it is hot on the south side of the warehouse.”&nbsp;

OSHA records say the complaint was resolved.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“Employees are working under heat 
stress up to 100 degrees inside the establishment,” says a complaint 
filed in July by a worker at LAS 1 in Henderson. “The employer does not 
allow employees to use the fans in the trailers. The fans are locked up 
and employees that unlock the fans face retaliation including 
termination.”

The same substantiated complaint says
 workers “are rarely able to take breaks during their shifts. Employees 
typically do not receive any breaks during their shifts.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

Amazon is among hundreds of companies
 that have agreed to pay a statutorily approved average wage and certain
 benefits to be eligible for incentives to do business in Nevada.&nbsp;&nbsp;

In 2014, the state ponied up a 
combination of incentives and tax abatements expected to save Amazon 
$1.365 million over the course of several years, while generating a 
projected $393 in economic impact for every dollar of abated tax.&nbsp;

“The proposed plan will bring a new non-sort operation to the Reno area. The state incentive program is a critical factor in the company’s decision for this expansion,” Amazon said in its proposal.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The company noted the majority of 
jobs would pay under the $20.62 per hour dictated by Nevada law to 
qualify a firm for the abatements.

“500 of the 600 positions will make 
an annual wage of $29,100 ($14/hr at 40 hrs/week). Of the remaining 100,
 50 will earn $41,600/yr ($20/hr) and the other 50 is above the 
statewide wage requirement,” its proposal said.

Companies that receive abatements are
 audited after two years and again after five years, according to Greg 
Bortolin, spokesman for the Governor’s Office of Economic Development.&nbsp;

“The company projections in 2014 
estimated they would produce 600 jobs at an average wage of $16.50 per 
hour and make a capital expenditure of $10 million,” he said via email. 
“The audit findings found they created 533 jobs at an average wage of 
$23.37 per hour and made a capital expenditure of $15,295,110.”

A second <a target="_blank" href="https://www.diversifynevada.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Amazon.com_.kydc_Board_Packet_4.pdf">contract</a>
 with Amazon in 2016 bestowed benefits valued at $1.8 million on Amazon 
in return for building and operating a warehouse in Clark County.&nbsp; The 
company estimated the economic impact at $707 for every dollar of tax 
revenue sacrificed by the government.&nbsp;

“The
 company projections in 2016 estimated they would produce 1,000 jobs at 
an average wage of $14.64 per hour and make a capital expenditure of $18
 million,” says Bortolin. “The audit findings found they created 704 
jobs at an average wage of $52.63 and made a capital expenditure of 
$7,439,082.”

Both the jobs and wages generated were in compliance with the abatements, Bortolin says.

When Amazon was looking for a second national headquarters, then-Gov. Brian Sandoval <a target="_blank" href="https://www.reviewjournal.com/business/100-free-acres-in-las-vegas-part-of-bid-for-amazons-2nd-hq/">offered </a>to pony up $800 million in incentives toward the effort.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Avery of The Amazon podcast says the 
idea behind subsidies that employees “would reinvest all of their 
paycheck back into the city via housing and taxes and just going 
downtown to buy stuff,” is questionable. “In reality, it’s hard to say 
that that would happen. Those employees work for Amazon. They have the 
biggest company store known to man where anything can arrive to them 
faster than ever, no matter how much subsidizing is done.”

Why does a company valued near $2 trillion need public money from the states where it does business?&nbsp;

Nevada Democratic state Sen. Dina Neal attempted in 2019 to create a legislative committee to oversee incentives and abatements.&nbsp; Gov. Steve Sisolak vetoed the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.leg.state.nv.us/App/NELIS/REL/80th2019/Bill/6857/Overview">bill</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The state’s arrangement with Amazon 
has put it at odds with its own interests, as it incentivizes higher 
wages from private employers while failing to invest in its own critical
 workforce.&nbsp;

In a letter to Sisolak in October, 
the Governor’s Committee on Behavioral Health lamented that pay for 
“…front line staff working with the intellectually disabled and 
psychiatrically ill adults is far below that of large local employers 
such as Amazon and Walmart,” the Current <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nevadacurrent.com/2021/10/14/sisolak-asked-to-make-mental-health-worker-pay-competitive-with-other-local-employers/">reported</a>.&nbsp;

While Amazon offers subsidies to 
employees to cover part of a health plan for workers who can purchase 
through an exchange, it has the most workers of any Nevada employer 
enrolled in Medicaid – 3,648 employees and 4,244 dependents at a cost of
 $ 21,326,448 in 2020, according to a<a target="_blank" href="https://dhhs.nv.gov/uploadedFiles/dhhsnvgov/content/Programs/Office_of_Analytics/Nevada%20Medicaid%20Recipients%20Employed%20by%20Employers%20with%2050%20or%20More%20Employees%20SFY%202020%20SB%20366.pdf"> state report</a>.&nbsp;

U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders <a target="_blank" href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/3410#:~:text=Stop%20Bad%20Employers%20by%20Zeroing%20Out%20Subsidies%20Act,employees%20on%20business%20days%20during%20the%20preceding%20year.">attempted</a>
 unsuccessfully in 2018 to impose a tax on companies with 500 employees 
“equal to the amount of federal benefits received by their low wage 
workers.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640715507348.png" alt="An Amazon employee in a fulfillment center. (Amazon press photo)" />
 <figcaption>An Amazon employee in a fulfillment center. (Amazon press photo)</figcaption>
 </figure>By DANA GENTRY <a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/holidays-are-no-holiday-amazon%C2%A0">States Newsroom</a>It’s called ‘peak season’ – the time 
of year when 10-hour days for some of the nation’s more than one 
million Amazon employees extend into eleven-hour shifts packed into a 
backbreaking blur of six-day work weeks.“They work us like crazy with hardly any days off, especially during the holidays. They
 don’t care about the safety of their employees,” says Johnny Acejo, who
 spent five years employed at an Amazon facility in Phoenix.&nbsp;Amazon declined to answer the majority of questions posed for this story.Unwinding after a long shift while 
facing the prospect of doing it again involves video games, booze, or 
weed, according to about a dozen employees interviewed by the Current. 
Others turn to the sleep aid Unisom, purchased online from Amazon.&nbsp;&nbsp;The job is consuming.&nbsp;&nbsp;“They literally keep track of your 
restroom time,” Acejo says of a scanner worn by employees that allows 
Amazon to track their movements. “I took five minutes in the restroom 
because I had real bad stomach pains and I was throwing up. I got a 
write up. All they care about is the numbers.”The numbers are good.&nbsp;Ecommerce sales in the U.S. topped $800 billion in the last year. As of October, Amazon owned 41% of the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/274255/market-share-of-the-leading-retailers-in-us-e-commerce/">market share</a>, followed by Walmart at 6%, according to Statista.Amazon’s net income for the twelve months ending September 30, 2021 was $26.263 billion, up&nbsp; 51.14% year-to-year.Amazon is the second largest employer
 in the U.S. (behind Walmart) with more than a million workers. Amazon 
employs more than 10,500 Nevadans at more than a dozen warehouses, 
distribution facilities, and fulfillment centers throughout the state, 
mostly in Southern Nevada.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2>Union no</h2>“Amazon is changing the nature of 
work in our country,” says a resolution passed by the International 
Brotherhood of Teamsters last summer, which noted the company “presents 
an existential threat to the standards we have set” in Teamster-related 
industries Amazon has disrupted, such as parcel delivery, freight, food 
distribution, and movie production.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The resolution says the union 
“recognizes that there is no clearer example of how America is failing 
the working class than Amazon. From its start as a book retailer, Amazon
 has grown to become an ecommerce giant and has disrupted industry after
 industry and displaced hundreds of thousands of jobs.”“Amazon is very rightly worried that 
if one fulfillment center were to organize and unionize, it could start a
 domino reaction that would cause all others to fall in line,” says 
Avery, a former Amazon worker and host of the podcast The Amazon.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“Amazon exploits its employees, 
contractors, and employees of contractors via: wage theft, fraudulent 
classification, intense production quotas, dehumanizing work 
environments, unsafe workplaces and production standards, low wages, 
high turnover, no voice on the job, lack of job security and outsourced 
jobs,” says the Teamsters’ resolution.&nbsp;But the union’s effort to organize Amazon workers appears stalled.&nbsp;“We are not discussing specific locations or strategies at this time,” said a national spokesperson for the Teamsters.&nbsp;&nbsp;Members of local Teamsters chapters 
say they’re unaware of any efforts to unionize Amazon workers in Nevada,
 as is a spokeswoman for the AFL-CIO of Nevada.For the last two decades, Amazon has deflected union overtures – most recently in Bessemer, Alabama, when it turned back the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, which represents poultry plant workers in that state.Last month, a judge <a target="_blank" href="https://www.theverge.com/2021/11/29/22565851/amazon-bessemer-union-vote-nlrb-appeal-overturned-second-election">ruled</a> Amazon interfered in the vote and ordered a do-over.&nbsp;“I’d say the ability to organize is a
 slim chance due to attrition, union busters, and Amazon’s brazen 
ability to not break but obliterate labor law with little to no 
consequences,” says Avery of The Amazon podcast. “Every chip is stacked 
against the workers and through pure grit a large number of them are 
still fighting the good fight.”“Organizing is hard due to the fact 
that no one stays,” he says. “Union organizers at Bessemer estimated 
they lost 60 ‘yes’ ballots a day due to attrition and Amazon’s ability 
to legally prolong the organizing attempt. People simply don’t stay in a
 shit hole long.”A group of Whole Foods employees unsuccessfully <a target="_blank" href="https://techcrunch.com/2018/09/06/whole-foods-workers-seek-to-unionize-says-amazon-is-exploiting-our-dedication/#:~:text=Since%20the%20Amazon%20acquisition%2C%20several%20hundred%20Whole%20Foods,have%20saved%20millionsas%20a%20result%20of%20the%20shake-up.">attempted to organize </a>in
 2018 after Amazon laid off several hundred employees and increased the 
cost of doing business for suppliers, according to the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/new-era-at-amazons-whole-foods-grates-on-some-suppliers-employees-1530526964">Wall Street Journa</a>l, when it purchased the grocery chain for $13.7 billion in 2017.“Amazon won’t allow that because it 
will cost them more in the long run,” said one Whole Foods delivery 
driver in San Diego who asked not to be named. Paying union dues will 
just be a burden to workers, she fears.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In February, Amazon <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2021/02/amazon-pay-617-million-settle-ftc-charges-it-withheld-some">agreed</a> to pay $61.7 million to settle charges leveled by the FTC that it withheld tips from its delivery drivers. Another <a target="_blank" href="https://www.classaction.org/news/amazon-illegally-withheld-tips-from-flex-drivers-class-action-claims">suit </a>with similar allegations followed within days.“We do not believe unions are in the 
best interest of our customers, our shareholders, or most importantly, 
our associates,” says an anti-union <a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRpwVwFxyk4">vide</a>o
 produced by Amazon for its employees. “Our business model is built upon
 speed, innovation, and customer obsession—things that are generally not
 associated with union. When we lose sight of those critical focus areas
 we jeopardize everyone’s job security: yours, mine, and the 
associates’.”“Does your Chair take comfort in the 
outcome of the recent union vote in Bessemer? No, he doesn’t,” Jeff 
Bezos wrote earlier this year in his 2020 <a target="_blank" href="https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/company-news/2020-letter-to-shareholders?utm_source=social&amp;utm_medium=tw&amp;utm_term=amznnews&amp;utm_content=2020shareholderletter&amp;linkId=116261313">letter</a> to shareholders. “I think we need to do a better job for our employees.”&nbsp;Bezos went on to say that even though
 the vote was in Amazon’s favor, “it’s clear to me that we need a better
 vision for how we create value for employees – a vision for their 
success.”Bezos rejected the notion that Amazon
 employees are “desperate souls and treated as robots. That’s not 
accurate. They’re sophisticated and thoughtful people who have options 
for where to work. When we survey fulfillment center employees, 94% say 
they would recommend Amazon to a friend as a place to work.”Avery, host of The Amazon podcast, says job satisfaction is elusive at an Amazon fulfillment center.&nbsp;&nbsp;“Satisfaction isn’t near what most 
people get from a job at Amazon, it’d be hard to be satisfied when 
Amazon averages a 150% turnover rate and near double the average of 
serious accidents in the workplace,” he says.He’s referring to a Washington Post 
investigation that revealed Amazon reported twice as many accidents to 
OSHA as other warehouse and storage companies.&nbsp;&nbsp;OSHA is currently investigating the 
storm-related deaths this month of half a dozen Amazon employees at an 
Indiana warehouse.&nbsp; Some employees say they were not allowed to leave 
the warehouse to seek shelter.&nbsp;&nbsp;“As soon as there was a tornado 
warning, the team took immediate action to move to shelter in place 
locations,” Amazon spokeswoman Alisa Carroll told the Current via 
email.&nbsp;“When a site is made aware of a 
tornado warning in the area, all employees are notified and directed to 
move to a designated and marked shelter in place location,” she said. 
“This is the safest approach to ensure no one is on the road or outside 
during a tornado.”Carroll said the site got warnings 
between 8:06 and 8:16, and “leaders directed people on site to 
immediately take shelter. At 8:27, the tornado struck the building.”Validated OSHA complaints from 
Amazon’s Nevada workers the last year range from safety concerns, some 
resulting from a reduced workforce certain days of the week, to 
violations of COVID protocols.“Scanners and carts used by employees
 for order picking are not being sanitized after being used,” says one 
complaint to OSHA, echoed frequently by workers interviewed 
nationwide.&nbsp;&nbsp;But the most common complaint from Amazon workers in Nevada was the heat.&nbsp;&nbsp;A complaint of “poor air quality” prompted an OSHA inspection of DLV 7, a facility in North Las Vegas ,on April 27.“There is poor air quality in the 
workplace. The air filters are dirty,” says the complaint. “It is very 
hot in the building. Employees are experiencing headaches due to the 
heat and wearing a mask.”&nbsp;&nbsp;“Employees in the warehouse are not 
provided with enough water or rest and are being potentially exposed to 
heat stress related illness,” says a complaint that brought OSHA to DLV 2
 on Alexander Rd. in North Las Vegas on June 1. “The warehouse fans are 
operational but are not providing adequate airflow for the given volume 
of the warehouse.”&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“Inside the warehouse employees are 
exposed to heat stress,” says a complaint that resulted in an inspection
 of LAS 1 on Bermuda Rd. in Henderson on June 22. “There is only one fan
 and no air-conditioning in the building.”On June 28, inspectors visited the 
LAS 7 fulfillment center on Tropical Pkwy. in North Las Vegas,&nbsp; after 
receiving complaints that employees were “experiencing heat issues since
 the summer began due to the lack of air conditioning on the south end 
of the warehouse. Operation managers have advised that fans would be 
installed at each station throughout the warehouse however that has yet 
to occur for all stations. It is warm on the north side of the 
warehouse, but it is hot on the south side of the warehouse.”&nbsp;OSHA records say the complaint was resolved.&nbsp;&nbsp;“Employees are working under heat 
stress up to 100 degrees inside the establishment,” says a complaint 
filed in July by a worker at LAS 1 in Henderson. “The employer does not 
allow employees to use the fans in the trailers. The fans are locked up 
and employees that unlock the fans face retaliation including 
termination.”The same substantiated complaint says
 workers “are rarely able to take breaks during their shifts. Employees 
typically do not receive any breaks during their shifts.”&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2>Paying for the privilege</h2>Amazon is among hundreds of companies
 that have agreed to pay a statutorily approved average wage and certain
 benefits to be eligible for incentives to do business in Nevada.&nbsp;&nbsp;In 2014, the state ponied up a 
combination of incentives and tax abatements expected to save Amazon 
$1.365 million over the course of several years, while generating a 
projected $393 in economic impact for every dollar of abated tax.&nbsp;“The proposed plan will bring a new non-sort operation to the Reno area. The state incentive program is a critical factor in the company’s decision for this expansion,” Amazon said in its proposal.&nbsp;&nbsp;The company noted the majority of 
jobs would pay under the $20.62 per hour dictated by Nevada law to 
qualify a firm for the abatements.“500 of the 600 positions will make 
an annual wage of $29,100 ($14/hr at 40 hrs/week). Of the remaining 100,
 50 will earn $41,600/yr ($20/hr) and the other 50 is above the 
statewide wage requirement,” its proposal said.Companies that receive abatements are
 audited after two years and again after five years, according to Greg 
Bortolin, spokesman for the Governor’s Office of Economic Development.&nbsp;“The company projections in 2014 
estimated they would produce 600 jobs at an average wage of $16.50 per 
hour and make a capital expenditure of $10 million,” he said via email. 
“The audit findings found they created 533 jobs at an average wage of 
$23.37 per hour and made a capital expenditure of $15,295,110.”A second <a target="_blank" href="https://www.diversifynevada.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Amazon.com_.kydc_Board_Packet_4.pdf">contract</a>
 with Amazon in 2016 bestowed benefits valued at $1.8 million on Amazon 
in return for building and operating a warehouse in Clark County.&nbsp; The 
company estimated the economic impact at $707 for every dollar of tax 
revenue sacrificed by the government.&nbsp;“The
 company projections in 2016 estimated they would produce 1,000 jobs at 
an average wage of $14.64 per hour and make a capital expenditure of $18
 million,” says Bortolin. “The audit findings found they created 704 
jobs at an average wage of $52.63 and made a capital expenditure of 
$7,439,082.”Both the jobs and wages generated were in compliance with the abatements, Bortolin says.When Amazon was looking for a second national headquarters, then-Gov. Brian Sandoval <a target="_blank" href="https://www.reviewjournal.com/business/100-free-acres-in-las-vegas-part-of-bid-for-amazons-2nd-hq/">offered </a>to pony up $800 million in incentives toward the effort.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Avery of The Amazon podcast says the 
idea behind subsidies that employees “would reinvest all of their 
paycheck back into the city via housing and taxes and just going 
downtown to buy stuff,” is questionable. “In reality, it’s hard to say 
that that would happen. Those employees work for Amazon. They have the 
biggest company store known to man where anything can arrive to them 
faster than ever, no matter how much subsidizing is done.”Why does a company valued near $2 trillion need public money from the states where it does business?&nbsp;Nevada Democratic state Sen. Dina Neal attempted in 2019 to create a legislative committee to oversee incentives and abatements.&nbsp; Gov. Steve Sisolak vetoed the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.leg.state.nv.us/App/NELIS/REL/80th2019/Bill/6857/Overview">bill</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;The state’s arrangement with Amazon 
has put it at odds with its own interests, as it incentivizes higher 
wages from private employers while failing to invest in its own critical
 workforce.&nbsp;In a letter to Sisolak in October, 
the Governor’s Committee on Behavioral Health lamented that pay for 
“…front line staff working with the intellectually disabled and 
psychiatrically ill adults is far below that of large local employers 
such as Amazon and Walmart,” the Current <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nevadacurrent.com/2021/10/14/sisolak-asked-to-make-mental-health-worker-pay-competitive-with-other-local-employers/">reported</a>.&nbsp;While Amazon offers subsidies to 
employees to cover part of a health plan for workers who can purchase 
through an exchange, it has the most workers of any Nevada employer 
enrolled in Medicaid – 3,648 employees and 4,244 dependents at a cost of
 $ 21,326,448 in 2020, according to a<a target="_blank" href="https://dhhs.nv.gov/uploadedFiles/dhhsnvgov/content/Programs/Office_of_Analytics/Nevada%20Medicaid%20Recipients%20Employed%20by%20Employers%20with%2050%20or%20More%20Employees%20SFY%202020%20SB%20366.pdf"> state report</a>.&nbsp;U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders <a target="_blank" href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/3410#:~:text=Stop%20Bad%20Employers%20by%20Zeroing%20Out%20Subsidies%20Act,employees%20on%20business%20days%20during%20the%20preceding%20year.">attempted</a>
 unsuccessfully in 2018 to impose a tax on companies with 500 employees 
“equal to the amount of federal benefits received by their low wage 
workers.”

The holidays are no holiday at Amazon 

KANSAS CITY— Jackson County judge sentenced Jason Cook to six years in prison for the fatal Jan. 21, 2019 shooting of 23-year-old Cameron Douglas, according to the Jackson County attorney's office.

According to court records filed Dec. 21, Kansas City police were dispatched on Jan. 21, 2019, to the 5300 block of Oak Leaf Drive in Kansas City on a reported shooting. 

Officers found the Douglas deceased on the front stoop of an apartment building. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640200512228.png" alt="Cook-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Cook-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY— Jackson County judge sentenced Jason Cook to six years in prison for the fatal Jan. 21, 2019 shooting of 23-year-old Cameron Douglas, according to the Jackson County attorney's office.According to court records filed Dec. 21, Kansas City police were dispatched on Jan. 21, 2019, to the 5300 block of Oak Leaf Drive in Kansas City on a reported shooting. Officers found the Douglas deceased on the front stoop of an apartment building. Eight shell casings were found at the scene. Surveillance video showed an encounter between Douglas and the Coo.Douglas turned to walk away, but stopped and turned back toward the Cook. Douglas had his hands in his pockets. Cook began shooting. Douglas ran and the Cook continued firing before he fled.The prosecutor's office charged the defendant with Murder 2nd Degree and Armed Criminal Action, but the jury in October convicted him of the lesser charge of Involuntary Manslaughter and Armed Criminal Action. Prosecutors requested the judge order the maximum penalty of six years for those convictions.