October 31, 1938
 -
 July 3, 2021

An obituary and services are pending with Plumer Overlease Funeral Homes.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1625448272513.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>October 31, 1938
 -
 July 3, 2021 An obituary and services are pending with Plumer Overlease Funeral Homes.

Rosa Lee Whitmer

By SARAH KLEINER and TAYLOR JOHNSTON of the Center for Public Integrity and MICHAEL CASEY of The Associated Press

Before the pandemic hit, Jacqueline Bartley, a mother of two girls and a boy, had a comfortable life. Then the 41-year-old lost her job at American Airlines, quickly spent her savings and found herself months behind on the $1,350-a-month home she rented. Until then she had never missed a rent payment.

Bartley, of Durham, North Carolina, turned to the state's rental assistance program and was relieved in January to be awarded $8,100. But she says her landlord refused the money after she rejected his request to amend her two-year lease to a shorter period. The program required landlords to honor leases, among other conditions, to get the money.

She turned to a second program launched this month by the state and again was approved. Last week, she learned her landlord had accepted nearly $20,000 for back rent and three months of future payments, and agreed to dismiss his eviction lawsuit.

The news means she won't be forced from her home after the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/eviction-ban-extended-biden-coronavirus-9e7c4dc97c49cbb42a1ecb55b06e3b4c">federal eviction moratorium</a>&nbsp;ends July 31. But the waiting and uncertainty meant months of stress.

“It’s been crazy especially when you have children in school,” Bartley said. “It’s pretty much been going by a whim. OK, am I going to have somewhere to go each month?”

Millions have found themselves in situations similar to Bartley's,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-ms-state-wire-ap-top-news-ok-state-wire-ga-state-wire-833d91877e2f0fa913c5258978a9e83c">facing possible eviction</a>&nbsp;despite bold promises by governors to help renters after Congress passed the sweeping CARES Act in March 2020.

Nationwide,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pandemics-new-york-andrew-cuomo-coronavirus-pandemic-us-news-bfbf0744510d50a1e173247ee5f9ba1b">state leaders set aside</a>&nbsp;at least $2.6 billion from the CARES Act’s Coronavirus Relief Fund to prop up struggling renters, but a year later more than $425 million of that — or 16% — hadn't made it into the pockets of tenants or their landlords, according to an investigation by the Center for Public Integrity and The Associated Press.

“It’s mind-boggling,” said Anne Kat Alexander, a project manager with Princeton University’s Eviction Lab. “I knew there were problems but that’s a huge amount of money not to be disbursed in a timely manner.”

Like many state leaders, North Carolina's Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper pledged to roll out an ambitious program last year offering tens of millions of dollars in federal aid that would help cover unpaid rent.

But it took months to get up and running and stopped accepting applications just weeks after it finally opened in October due to overwhelming demand. The 20 nonprofits designated to distribute the money often lacked the capacity to get it out quickly.

Then, faced with the Republican-controlled Legislature's takeover of CARES Act spending in January, the state had less money to award applicants. It eventually spent $133 million of a promised $167 million — far short of what some housing advocates say is needed.

“We knew the money would not be enough. There were too many people who needed rental assistance,” said Pamela Atwood, director of housing policy at the North Carolina Housing Coalition. “There was a lot of poor execution in rolling out that first program and it caused a lot of inefficiency.”

Tens of billions of dollars more in rental assistance have been delivered to states from the federal government in 2021, but that has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/eviction-moratorium-rental-assistance-coronavirus-bd0947fe93b72c88305629a6608602ee">slow to be disbursed</a>, too.

With the first round of funds in 2020, bureaucracy was not the only problem. Politics also played a role, with a handful of states, many led by Republicans and with a history of weak tenant protections, offering little to no assistance.

Then, there was the often onerous application process and an end-of-the-year federal deadline for spending the money, extended so late that some states had already pulled funding to use on other expenses. Some landlords refused to participate over restrictions that meant they could not evict a tenant who fell behind again after the assistance. Tenants sometimes short-changed themselves by filing incomplete applications.

Congress' sweeping 2020 CARES Act sent billions of dollars to states and some local governments. But it didn’t mandate that any money be spent on rental assistance, leaving it to states to create their own programs and set the rules.

According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition’s database of rent relief programs in 2020, Georgia, West Virginia and Tennessee, all run by Republican governors, chose not to set up statewide rent-relief programs that year, despite having higher than average historic eviction rates. South Carolina allocated less than $14 per renter-occupied household.

Georgia’s Department of Community Affairs tried to set up a rental assistance program with funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in the fall of 2020, but when it became clear that a separate, larger amount of money would be coming from the U.S. Department of Treasury in 2021, the program stalled, said Susan Reif, housing unit director for Georgia Legal Services Program and director of the Eviction Prevention Project.

Still, many states did scramble into action, creating massive programs to keep families in their homes — the safest place to shelter during the coronavirus pandemic. By the summer of 2020, state and local government officials launched about 530 rental assistance programs, setting aside at least $4.3 billion from various sources.

Several states were praised for programs that ran well. Illinois, Indiana, Oregon and Washington state were among more than a dozen that reported distributing every dollar of the rental assistance set aside from the Coronavirus Relief Fund by March 31.

The Center for Public Integrity surveyed about 70 state and local agencies that the National Low Income Housing Coalition identified as having set aside Coronavirus Relief Fund money for rent help in 2020. About $1 out of every $6 of that $2.6 billion wound up getting spent on other COVID-19-related expenses, such as protective equipment, police officers' salaries and small-business loans.

Some states also spent millions of dollars setting up their programs, including North Carolina, which allocated around $20 million on administrative costs, and Hawaii, which spent $8 million. In the case of Hawaii, much of that went to help nonprofits scale up and rent space. The state also spent money on a software system in an effort to prevent fraud.

Diane Yentel, executive director of the National Low Income Housing Coalition, said last year’s funding challenges led Congress to earmark nearly $47 billion specifically for emergency rental assistance in December and March.

“The previous funds, the vast majority of them, were very flexible and had a broad set of allowable uses," of which eviction prevention was just one, said Yentel, whose group has been tracking rental assistance programs.

“Some states and cities carved out some of those funds for eviction prevention and to create emergency rental assistance programs," she said. "But many didn’t or many didn’t set aside enough.”

Among the biggest challenges was states' failure to spend what they had allocated.

The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency received $150 million to help renters, but returned about $96 million to the state treasury, which plugged holes in the state’s public safety budget. The Florida Housing Finance Corporation earmarked $250 million for rental assistance but returned about $99 million to the state treasury to be spent on other programs. Eighty-three percent of Montana’s $50 million set aside for rental assistance went back to the state. New York ended up spending only $47.5 million of the $100 million promised for rental assistance.

New York's 2020 rent-relief program “was set up to fail,” said Ellen Davidson, a staff attorney at Legal Aid Society in New York. “It was a program that really punished people. There was a real intention to make sure people didn’t do better in being hurt by COVID, so if they were struggling before, they should be struggling after.”

Tenants had to prove they were “rent-burdened” before the pandemic to qualify for rent relief in 2020, though eventually that stipulation was removed.

Hawaii spent around $71 million of the $100 million initially promised, though an analysis by the Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice found the state spent the most per capita, at $44.50. Still, the Legislature set a late December deadline for the spending, which meant the remaining $29 million had to be redirected to the state’s unemployment insurance trust fund.

“It would have been better to base the ending of the program on the CARES Act spending deadline with whatever extensions were enacted, because ultimately the deadline was extended,” said Gavin Thornton, the center’s executive director. “If that had been done, the program would have continued, and landlords and tenants would have been able to continue to access those funds, which were certainly needed.”

Smaller cities and counties were affected too. In Marion County, Florida, none of the $1 million set aside for renters from the Coronavirus Relief Fund ever made it to people who needed it because the United Way of Marion County, which administered the funds, didn’t have enough workers to process applications, said Scot Quintel, the organization’s president. The United Way was able to distribute rent assistance from another source, but the Coronavirus Relief Fund money went back to the city for other COVID-19-related expenses.

“It’s just horrifying how ill-prepared some states were,” said Alexander, of the Eviction Lab. “Some places made it work and some places didn’t, which demonstrates that the places that didn’t probably could have.”

In Athens, Georgia, Dylyn Price said she got about $5,800 in rental assistance but that may not prevent her from losing her home. After her pay and hours at a fast food restaurant were cut, eviction notices started arriving in early 2020. They haven’t let up.

Price received rental assistance from the Ark, a nonprofit administering funds from the CARES Act on behalf of the city of Athens, but the assistance ended earlier this year. Price’s landlord has refused to renew her lease, which is expected to expire Wednesday.

She fears having to live, once again, in a homeless shelter with her 14-year-old son.

“It’s a very nauseating and uncomfortable situation to be in,” Price said.

Casey reported from Boston, Kleiner reported from Washington, D.C., and Johnston reported from Brook Park, Ohio. Casey can be reached at mcasey@ap.org. Follow him on Twitter at @mcasey1. Kleiner can be reached at skleiner@publicintegrity.org. Follow her on Twitter at @bysarahkleiner.

By SARAH KLEINER and TAYLOR JOHNSTON of the Center for Public Integrity and MICHAEL CASEY of The Associated PressBefore the pandemic hit, Jacqueline Bartley, a mother of two girls and a boy, had a comfortable life. Then the 41-year-old lost her job at American Airlines, quickly spent her savings and found herself months behind on the $1,350-a-month home she rented. Until then she had never missed a rent payment.Bartley, of Durham, North Carolina, turned to the state's rental assistance program and was relieved in January to be awarded $8,100. But she says her landlord refused the money after she rejected his request to amend her two-year lease to a shorter period. The program required landlords to honor leases, among other conditions, to get the money.She turned to a second program launched this month by the state and again was approved. Last week, she learned her landlord had accepted nearly $20,000 for back rent and three months of future payments, and agreed to dismiss his eviction lawsuit.The news means she won't be forced from her home after the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/eviction-ban-extended-biden-coronavirus-9e7c4dc97c49cbb42a1ecb55b06e3b4c">federal eviction moratorium</a>&nbsp;ends July 31. But the waiting and uncertainty meant months of stress.“It’s been crazy especially when you have children in school,” Bartley said. “It’s pretty much been going by a whim. OK, am I going to have somewhere to go each month?”Millions have found themselves in situations similar to Bartley's,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-ms-state-wire-ap-top-news-ok-state-wire-ga-state-wire-833d91877e2f0fa913c5258978a9e83c">facing possible eviction</a>&nbsp;despite bold promises by governors to help renters after Congress passed the sweeping CARES Act in March 2020.Nationwide,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pandemics-new-york-andrew-cuomo-coronavirus-pandemic-us-news-bfbf0744510d50a1e173247ee5f9ba1b">state leaders set aside</a>&nbsp;at least $2.6 billion from the CARES Act’s Coronavirus Relief Fund to prop up struggling renters, but a year later more than $425 million of that — or 16% — hadn't made it into the pockets of tenants or their landlords, according to an investigation by the Center for Public Integrity and The Associated Press.“It’s mind-boggling,” said Anne Kat Alexander, a project manager with Princeton University’s Eviction Lab. “I knew there were problems but that’s a huge amount of money not to be disbursed in a timely manner.”Like many state leaders, North Carolina's Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper pledged to roll out an ambitious program last year offering tens of millions of dollars in federal aid that would help cover unpaid rent.But it took months to get up and running and stopped accepting applications just weeks after it finally opened in October due to overwhelming demand. The 20 nonprofits designated to distribute the money often lacked the capacity to get it out quickly.Then, faced with the Republican-controlled Legislature's takeover of CARES Act spending in January, the state had less money to award applicants. It eventually spent $133 million of a promised $167 million — far short of what some housing advocates say is needed.“We knew the money would not be enough. There were too many people who needed rental assistance,” said Pamela Atwood, director of housing policy at the North Carolina Housing Coalition. “There was a lot of poor execution in rolling out that first program and it caused a lot of inefficiency.”Tens of billions of dollars more in rental assistance have been delivered to states from the federal government in 2021, but that has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/eviction-moratorium-rental-assistance-coronavirus-bd0947fe93b72c88305629a6608602ee">slow to be disbursed</a>, too.With the first round of funds in 2020, bureaucracy was not the only problem. Politics also played a role, with a handful of states, many led by Republicans and with a history of weak tenant protections, offering little to no assistance.Then, there was the often onerous application process and an end-of-the-year federal deadline for spending the money, extended so late that some states had already pulled funding to use on other expenses. Some landlords refused to participate over restrictions that meant they could not evict a tenant who fell behind again after the assistance. Tenants sometimes short-changed themselves by filing incomplete applications.Congress' sweeping 2020 CARES Act sent billions of dollars to states and some local governments. But it didn’t mandate that any money be spent on rental assistance, leaving it to states to create their own programs and set the rules.According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition’s database of rent relief programs in 2020, Georgia, West Virginia and Tennessee, all run by Republican governors, chose not to set up statewide rent-relief programs that year, despite having higher than average historic eviction rates. South Carolina allocated less than $14 per renter-occupied household.Georgia’s Department of Community Affairs tried to set up a rental assistance program with funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in the fall of 2020, but when it became clear that a separate, larger amount of money would be coming from the U.S. Department of Treasury in 2021, the program stalled, said Susan Reif, housing unit director for Georgia Legal Services Program and director of the Eviction Prevention Project.Still, many states did scramble into action, creating massive programs to keep families in their homes — the safest place to shelter during the coronavirus pandemic. By the summer of 2020, state and local government officials launched about 530 rental assistance programs, setting aside at least $4.3 billion from various sources.Several states were praised for programs that ran well. Illinois, Indiana, Oregon and Washington state were among more than a dozen that reported distributing every dollar of the rental assistance set aside from the Coronavirus Relief Fund by March 31.The Center for Public Integrity surveyed about 70 state and local agencies that the National Low Income Housing Coalition identified as having set aside Coronavirus Relief Fund money for rent help in 2020. About $1 out of every $6 of that $2.6 billion wound up getting spent on other COVID-19-related expenses, such as protective equipment, police officers' salaries and small-business loans.Some states also spent millions of dollars setting up their programs, including North Carolina, which allocated around $20 million on administrative costs, and Hawaii, which spent $8 million. In the case of Hawaii, much of that went to help nonprofits scale up and rent space. The state also spent money on a software system in an effort to prevent fraud.Diane Yentel, executive director of the National Low Income Housing Coalition, said last year’s funding challenges led Congress to earmark nearly $47 billion specifically for emergency rental assistance in December and March.“The previous funds, the vast majority of them, were very flexible and had a broad set of allowable uses," of which eviction prevention was just one, said Yentel, whose group has been tracking rental assistance programs.“Some states and cities carved out some of those funds for eviction prevention and to create emergency rental assistance programs," she said. "But many didn’t or many didn’t set aside enough.”Among the biggest challenges was states' failure to spend what they had allocated.The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency received $150 million to help renters, but returned about $96 million to the state treasury, which plugged holes in the state’s public safety budget. The Florida Housing Finance Corporation earmarked $250 million for rental assistance but returned about $99 million to the state treasury to be spent on other programs. Eighty-three percent of Montana’s $50 million set aside for rental assistance went back to the state. New York ended up spending only $47.5 million of the $100 million promised for rental assistance.New York's 2020 rent-relief program “was set up to fail,” said Ellen Davidson, a staff attorney at Legal Aid Society in New York. “It was a program that really punished people. There was a real intention to make sure people didn’t do better in being hurt by COVID, so if they were struggling before, they should be struggling after.”Tenants had to prove they were “rent-burdened” before the pandemic to qualify for rent relief in 2020, though eventually that stipulation was removed.Hawaii spent around $71 million of the $100 million initially promised, though an analysis by the Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice found the state spent the most per capita, at $44.50. Still, the Legislature set a late December deadline for the spending, which meant the remaining $29 million had to be redirected to the state’s unemployment insurance trust fund.“It would have been better to base the ending of the program on the CARES Act spending deadline with whatever extensions were enacted, because ultimately the deadline was extended,” said Gavin Thornton, the center’s executive director. “If that had been done, the program would have continued, and landlords and tenants would have been able to continue to access those funds, which were certainly needed.”Smaller cities and counties were affected too. In Marion County, Florida, none of the $1 million set aside for renters from the Coronavirus Relief Fund ever made it to people who needed it because the United Way of Marion County, which administered the funds, didn’t have enough workers to process applications, said Scot Quintel, the organization’s president. The United Way was able to distribute rent assistance from another source, but the Coronavirus Relief Fund money went back to the city for other COVID-19-related expenses.“It’s just horrifying how ill-prepared some states were,” said Alexander, of the Eviction Lab. “Some places made it work and some places didn’t, which demonstrates that the places that didn’t probably could have.”In Athens, Georgia, Dylyn Price said she got about $5,800 in rental assistance but that may not prevent her from losing her home. After her pay and hours at a fast food restaurant were cut, eviction notices started arriving in early 2020. They haven’t let up.Price received rental assistance from the Ark, a nonprofit administering funds from the CARES Act on behalf of the city of Athens, but the assistance ended earlier this year. Price’s landlord has refused to renew her lease, which is expected to expire Wednesday.She fears having to live, once again, in a homeless shelter with her 14-year-old son.“It’s a very nauseating and uncomfortable situation to be in,” Price said.___Casey reported from Boston, Kleiner reported from Washington, D.C., and Johnston reported from Brook Park, Ohio. Casey can be reached at mcasey@ap.org. Follow him on Twitter at @mcasey1. Kleiner can be reached at skleiner@publicintegrity.org. Follow her on Twitter at @bysarahkleiner.——

Rental assistance fell victim to politics, bureaucracy

Ronald “Ron” Lee Schmidt Sr., 62, passed away June 30, 2021, at his 
home in Great Bend. He was born October 14, 1958, at Colby, to Wilmer 
&amp; LaVona (Senger) Schmidt. He married Dorothy Lee Tijerina October 
14, 1976, at Garden City. She died August 13, 2007.

A Great Bend resident for over 30 years, Ron was a laborer for Great 
Bend Packing. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, yard work and collecting 
Indian related items. He especially loved spending time with his family.

Survivors include, his children, Christie Flores and husband Victor 
of Great Bend, Mistie Schmidt of Wichita, Scottie Schmidt and fiancé 
Marcy Reeves of Great Bend, Ronnie Schmidt, Jr. and wife Angaleen of 
Russell, Monte Schmidt and wife Misti of Enid, Okla., Lacy Schneweis and
 husband Blake of Wichita, Chancy Schmidt, and Cody Schmidt and wife 
Kami, all of Great Bend, and Natch Carassco of Garden City; a brother, 
Steven Schmidt and wife Christina; three sisters, Bonnie Standley and 
husband Mark of Wichita, Susan Burleson of Dallas, Tex., and Marilyn 
Reynolds and husband Kenny of Holcomb; twenty-three grandchildren; and 
five great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; his 
wife, Dorothy Schmidt; and a brother, David Schmidt.

The family will receive friends from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m., Saturday, 
July 3, 2021, at Bryant Funeral Home. Visitation will be held from 1:00 
to 5:00 p.m., Sunday, July 4, 2021, at Bryant Funeral Home. Funeral 
Service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Monday, July 5, 2021, at Bryant 
Funeral Home, with Pastor Larry Schumacher presiding. Interment will be 
in Golden Belt Memorial Park, Great Bend. 

Memorials have been designated
 to the Ronald Schmidt Funeral Expense Fund, in care of Bryant Funeral 
Home.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1625228955470.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Ronald “Ron” Lee Schmidt Sr., 62, passed away June 30, 2021, at his 
home in Great Bend. He was born October 14, 1958, at Colby, to Wilmer 
&amp; LaVona (Senger) Schmidt. He married Dorothy Lee Tijerina October 
14, 1976, at Garden City. She died August 13, 2007.A Great Bend resident for over 30 years, Ron was a laborer for Great 
Bend Packing. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, yard work and collecting 
Indian related items. He especially loved spending time with his family.Survivors include, his children, Christie Flores and husband Victor 
of Great Bend, Mistie Schmidt of Wichita, Scottie Schmidt and fiancé 
Marcy Reeves of Great Bend, Ronnie Schmidt, Jr. and wife Angaleen of 
Russell, Monte Schmidt and wife Misti of Enid, Okla., Lacy Schneweis and
 husband Blake of Wichita, Chancy Schmidt, and Cody Schmidt and wife 
Kami, all of Great Bend, and Natch Carassco of Garden City; a brother, 
Steven Schmidt and wife Christina; three sisters, Bonnie Standley and 
husband Mark of Wichita, Susan Burleson of Dallas, Tex., and Marilyn 
Reynolds and husband Kenny of Holcomb; twenty-three grandchildren; and 
five great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; his 
wife, Dorothy Schmidt; and a brother, David Schmidt.The family will receive friends from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m., Saturday, 
July 3, 2021, at Bryant Funeral Home. Visitation will be held from 1:00 
to 5:00 p.m., Sunday, July 4, 2021, at Bryant Funeral Home. Funeral 
Service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Monday, July 5, 2021, at Bryant 
Funeral Home, with Pastor Larry Schumacher presiding. Interment will be 
in Golden Belt Memorial Park, Great Bend. Memorials have been designated
 to the Ronald Schmidt Funeral Expense Fund, in care of Bryant Funeral 
Home.

Ronald 'Ron' Lee Schmidt Sr.

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today upgraded a key online
 tool to enable families to quickly and easily update their bank account
 information so they can receive their monthly Child Tax Credit payment.

The bank account update feature was added to the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/child-tax-credit-update-portal">Child Tax Credit Update Portal</a>,
 available only on IRS.gov. Any updates made by August&nbsp;2 will apply to 
the August&nbsp;13 payment and all subsequent monthly payments for the rest 
of 2021.

Families will receive their July 15 payment by direct deposit in the 
bank account currently on file with the IRS. Those who are not enrolled 
for direct deposit will receive a check. The IRS encourages people 
without current bank account information to use the tool to update their
 information so they can get the payments sooner.

The IRS also urges people to be on the lookout for scams related to 
the Child Tax Credit. People who need to update their bank account 
information should go directly to the IRS.gov site and not click on 
links received by email, text or phone.

First, families should use the Child Tax Credit Update Portal to 
confirm their eligibility for the payments. If eligible, the tool will 
also indicate whether they are enrolled to receive their payments by 
direct deposit.

If so, it will list the full bank routing number and the last four 
digits of their account number. This is the account that will receive 
their July 15 payment, and if they don't change the account, all future 
payments will go there as well.

Next, if they choose, they can change the bank account receiving the 
payment starting with the August&nbsp;13 payment. They can do that by 
updating the routing number and account number and indicating whether it
 is a savings or checking account. Note that only one account number is 
permitted for each recipient—that is, the entire payment must be direct 
deposited in only one account.

How to switch from paper check to direct deposit

If the Update Portal shows that a family is eligible to receive 
payments but not enrolled to receive direct deposits, they will receive a
 check each month. If they want to switch to receiving their payments by
 direct deposit, they can use the tool to add their bank account 
information. They do that by entering their bank routing number and 
account number and indicating whether it is a savings or checking 
account.

The IRS urges any family receiving checks to consider switching to 
direct deposit. With direct deposit, families can access their money 
more quickly. Direct deposit removes the time, worry and expense of 
cashing a check. In addition, direct deposit eliminates the chance of a 
lost, stolen or undelivered check.

Even after payments begin, families can stop all future monthly 
payments if they choose. They do that by using the unenroll feature in 
the Child Tax Credit Update Portal. Eligible families who make this 
choice will still receive the rest of their Child Tax Credit as a lump 
sum when they file their 2021 federal income tax return next year.

To stop all payments starting in August and the rest of 2021, they must unenroll by August&nbsp;2, 2021.

For more information about the unenrollment process, including a schedule of deadlines for each monthly payment, see <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/2021-child-tax-credit-and-advance-child-tax-credit-payments-topic-j-unenrolling-from-advance-payments">Topic J</a> of the Child Tax Credit FAQs on IRS.gov.

Instead of receiving these advance payments, some families may prefer
 to wait until the end of the year and receive the entire credit as a 
refund when they file their 2021 return. The Child Tax Credit Update 
Portal enables these families to quickly and easily do that.

The unenroll feature can also be helpful to any family that no longer
 qualifies for the Child Tax Credit or believes they will not qualify 
when they file their 2021 return. This could happen if, for example:

What is the Child Tax Credit Update Portal?

The Child Tax Credit Update Portal is a secure, password-protected 
tool, available to any eligible family with internet access and a smart 
phone or computer. It is designed to enable them to manage their Child 
Tax Credit accounts. Right now, this includes updating their bank 
account information with the IRS or unenrolling from monthly payments. 
Soon, it will allow people to check on the status of their payments. 
Later this year, the tool will also enable them to make other status 
updates and be available in Spanish.

To access the Child Tax Credit Update Portal, a person must first 
verify their identity. If a person has an existing IRS username or an <a href="https://sa.www4.irs.gov/secureaccess/ui/?TYPE=33554433&amp;REALMOID=06-0005eaac-e22a-10b8-928e-7c2b0ad00000&amp;GUID=&amp;SMAUTHREASON=0&amp;METHOD=GET&amp;SMAGENTNAME=-SM-u0ktItgVFneUJDzkQ7tjvLYXyclDooCJJ7%2bjXGjg3YC5id2x9riHE98hoVgd1BBv&amp;TARGET=-SM-http%3a%2f%2fsa%2ewww4%2eirs%2egov%2fctc%2f">ID.me</a>
 account with a verified identity, they can use those accounts to easily
 sign in. People without an existing account will be asked to verify 
their identity with a form of photo identification using ID.me, a 
trusted third party for the IRS. Identity verification is an important 
safeguard and will protect the user's account from identity theft.

Anyone who lacks internet access or otherwise cannot use the online 
tool may unenroll by contacting the IRS at the phone number included in 
the outreach letter they received from the IRS.

In general, monthly payments will go to eligible families who:

An eligible family who took any of these steps does not need to do anything else to get their payments.

Normally, the IRS will calculate the advance payment based on the 
2020 income tax return. If that return is not available, either because 
it has not yet been filed or it has not yet been processed, the IRS is 
instead determining the payment using the 2019 tax return.

Eligible families will receive advance payments, either by direct 
deposit or check. Each payment will be up to $300 per month for each 
child under age 6 and up to $250 per month for each child ages 6 through
 17. The IRS will issue advance Child Tax Credit payments on these 
dates: July 15, August&nbsp;13, September&nbsp;15, October&nbsp;15, November&nbsp;15 and 
December&nbsp;15.

Tax returns processed by June 28 will be reflected in the first batch of monthly payments scheduled for July 15.

Taxpayers will also receive several letters related to the Child Tax 
Credit. In the next few weeks, letters are going to eligible families 
who filed either a 2019 or 2020 federal income tax return or who used 
the Non-Filers tool on IRS.gov to register for an Economic Impact 
Payment. The letters will confirm their eligibility, the amount of 
payments they'll receive and that the payments begin July 15. Families 
who receive these letters do not need to take any further action. The 
personalized letters follow up on the Advance Child Tax Credit <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-sending-letters-to-more-than-36-million-families-who-may-qualify-for-monthly-child-tax-credits-payments-start-july-15">Outreach Letter</a>, sent in early- and mid-June, to every family who appeared to qualify for the advance payments.

The IRS has created a special <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/advance-child-tax-credit-payments-in-2021">Advance Child Tax Credit 2021</a> page, designed to provide the most up-to-date information about the credit and the advance payments.

Among other things, it provides direct links to the Child Tax Credit 
Update Portal, as well as two other online tools −the Non-filer Sign-up 
Tool and the Child Tax Credit Eligibility Assistant, a set of frequently
 asked questions and other useful resources.

The American Rescue Plan raised the maximum Child Tax Credit in 2021 
to $3,600 for children under the age of 6 and to $3,000 per child for 
children ages 6 through 17. Before 2021, the credit was worth up to 
$2,000 per eligible child.

The new maximum credit is available to taxpayers with a modified adjusted gross income (AGI) of:

For most people, modified AGI is the amount shown on Line 11 of 
their 2020 Form 1040 or 1040-SR. Above these income thresholds, the 
extra amount above the original $2,000 credit — either $1,000 or $1,600 
per child — is reduced by $50 for every $1,000 in modified AGI. In 
addition, the credit is fully refundable for 2021. This means that 
eligible families can get it, even if they owe no federal income tax. 
Before this year, the refundable portion was limited to $1,400 per 
child.

For the most up-to-date information on the Child Tax Credit and advance payments, visit <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/advance-child-tax-credit-payments-in-2021">Advance Child Tax Credit Payments in 2021</a>.

IRSWASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today upgraded a key online
 tool to enable families to quickly and easily update their bank account
 information so they can receive their monthly Child Tax Credit payment.The bank account update feature was added to the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/child-tax-credit-update-portal">Child Tax Credit Update Portal</a>,
 available only on IRS.gov. Any updates made by August&nbsp;2 will apply to 
the August&nbsp;13 payment and all subsequent monthly payments for the rest 
of 2021.Families will receive their July 15 payment by direct deposit in the 
bank account currently on file with the IRS. Those who are not enrolled 
for direct deposit will receive a check. The IRS encourages people 
without current bank account information to use the tool to update their
 information so they can get the payments sooner.The IRS also urges people to be on the lookout for scams related to 
the Child Tax Credit. People who need to update their bank account 
information should go directly to the IRS.gov site and not click on 
links received by email, text or phone.<h2>How to update direct deposit information</h2>First, families should use the Child Tax Credit Update Portal to 
confirm their eligibility for the payments. If eligible, the tool will 
also indicate whether they are enrolled to receive their payments by 
direct deposit.If so, it will list the full bank routing number and the last four 
digits of their account number. This is the account that will receive 
their July 15 payment, and if they don't change the account, all future 
payments will go there as well.Next, if they choose, they can change the bank account receiving the 
payment starting with the August&nbsp;13 payment. They can do that by 
updating the routing number and account number and indicating whether it
 is a savings or checking account. Note that only one account number is 
permitted for each recipient—that is, the entire payment must be direct 
deposited in only one account.<h2>How to switch from paper check to direct deposit</h2>If the Update Portal shows that a family is eligible to receive 
payments but not enrolled to receive direct deposits, they will receive a
 check each month. If they want to switch to receiving their payments by
 direct deposit, they can use the tool to add their bank account 
information. They do that by entering their bank routing number and 
account number and indicating whether it is a savings or checking 
account.The IRS urges any family receiving checks to consider switching to 
direct deposit. With direct deposit, families can access their money 
more quickly. Direct deposit removes the time, worry and expense of 
cashing a check. In addition, direct deposit eliminates the chance of a 
lost, stolen or undelivered check.<h2>Families can stop payments anytime</h2>Even after payments begin, families can stop all future monthly 
payments if they choose. They do that by using the unenroll feature in 
the Child Tax Credit Update Portal. Eligible families who make this 
choice will still receive the rest of their Child Tax Credit as a lump 
sum when they file their 2021 federal income tax return next year.To stop all payments starting in August and the rest of 2021, they must unenroll by August&nbsp;2, 2021.For more information about the unenrollment process, including a schedule of deadlines for each monthly payment, see <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/2021-child-tax-credit-and-advance-child-tax-credit-payments-topic-j-unenrolling-from-advance-payments">Topic J</a> of the Child Tax Credit FAQs on IRS.gov.<h2>Who should unenroll?</h2>Instead of receiving these advance payments, some families may prefer
 to wait until the end of the year and receive the entire credit as a 
refund when they file their 2021 return. The Child Tax Credit Update 
Portal enables these families to quickly and easily do that.The unenroll feature can also be helpful to any family that no longer
 qualifies for the Child Tax Credit or believes they will not qualify 
when they file their 2021 return. This could happen if, for example:<ul>
 <li>Their income in 2021 is too high to qualify them for the credit.</li><li>Someone else (an ex-spouse or another family member, for example) 
qualifies to claim their child or children as dependents in 2021.</li><li>Their main home was outside of the United States for more than half of 2021.</li>
 </ul><h2>What is the Child Tax Credit Update Portal?</h2>The Child Tax Credit Update Portal is a secure, password-protected 
tool, available to any eligible family with internet access and a smart 
phone or computer. It is designed to enable them to manage their Child 
Tax Credit accounts. Right now, this includes updating their bank 
account information with the IRS or unenrolling from monthly payments. 
Soon, it will allow people to check on the status of their payments. 
Later this year, the tool will also enable them to make other status 
updates and be available in Spanish.To access the Child Tax Credit Update Portal, a person must first 
verify their identity. If a person has an existing IRS username or an <a href="https://sa.www4.irs.gov/secureaccess/ui/?TYPE=33554433&amp;REALMOID=06-0005eaac-e22a-10b8-928e-7c2b0ad00000&amp;GUID=&amp;SMAUTHREASON=0&amp;METHOD=GET&amp;SMAGENTNAME=-SM-u0ktItgVFneUJDzkQ7tjvLYXyclDooCJJ7%2bjXGjg3YC5id2x9riHE98hoVgd1BBv&amp;TARGET=-SM-http%3a%2f%2fsa%2ewww4%2eirs%2egov%2fctc%2f">ID.me</a>
 account with a verified identity, they can use those accounts to easily
 sign in. People without an existing account will be asked to verify 
their identity with a form of photo identification using ID.me, a 
trusted third party for the IRS. Identity verification is an important 
safeguard and will protect the user's account from identity theft.Anyone who lacks internet access or otherwise cannot use the online 
tool may unenroll by contacting the IRS at the phone number included in 
the outreach letter they received from the IRS.<h2>Who is getting a monthly payment?</h2>In general, monthly payments will go to eligible families who:<ul>
 <li>Filed either a 2019 or 2020 federal income tax return.</li><li>Used the Non-Filers tool on IRS.gov in 2020 to register for an Economic Impact Payment.</li><li>Registered for the advance Child Tax Credit this year using the new Non-Filer Sign-up Tool on IRS.gov.</li>
 </ul>An eligible family who took any of these steps does not need to do anything else to get their payments.Normally, the IRS will calculate the advance payment based on the 
2020 income tax return. If that return is not available, either because 
it has not yet been filed or it has not yet been processed, the IRS is 
instead determining the payment using the 2019 tax return.Eligible families will receive advance payments, either by direct 
deposit or check. Each payment will be up to $300 per month for each 
child under age 6 and up to $250 per month for each child ages 6 through
 17. The IRS will issue advance Child Tax Credit payments on these 
dates: July 15, August&nbsp;13, September&nbsp;15, October&nbsp;15, November&nbsp;15 and 
December&nbsp;15.Tax returns processed by June 28 will be reflected in the first batch of monthly payments scheduled for July 15.<h2>Taxpayers will receive several letters</h2>Taxpayers will also receive several letters related to the Child Tax 
Credit. In the next few weeks, letters are going to eligible families 
who filed either a 2019 or 2020 federal income tax return or who used 
the Non-Filers tool on IRS.gov to register for an Economic Impact 
Payment. The letters will confirm their eligibility, the amount of 
payments they'll receive and that the payments begin July 15. Families 
who receive these letters do not need to take any further action. The 
personalized letters follow up on the Advance Child Tax Credit <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-sending-letters-to-more-than-36-million-families-who-may-qualify-for-monthly-child-tax-credits-payments-start-july-15">Outreach Letter</a>, sent in early- and mid-June, to every family who appeared to qualify for the advance payments.<h2>Child Tax Credit 2021</h2>The IRS has created a special <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/advance-child-tax-credit-payments-in-2021">Advance Child Tax Credit 2021</a> page, designed to provide the most up-to-date information about the credit and the advance payments.Among other things, it provides direct links to the Child Tax Credit 
Update Portal, as well as two other online tools −the Non-filer Sign-up 
Tool and the Child Tax Credit Eligibility Assistant, a set of frequently
 asked questions and other useful resources.<h2>Child Tax Credit changes</h2>The American Rescue Plan raised the maximum Child Tax Credit in 2021 
to $3,600 for children under the age of 6 and to $3,000 per child for 
children ages 6 through 17. Before 2021, the credit was worth up to 
$2,000 per eligible child.The new maximum credit is available to taxpayers with a modified adjusted gross income (AGI) of:<ul>
 <li>$75,000 or less for singles,</li><li>$112,500 or less for heads of household and</li><li>$150,000 or less for married couples filing a joint return and qualified widows and widowers.</li>
 </ul>For most people, modified AGI is the amount shown on Line 11 of 
their 2020 Form 1040 or 1040-SR. Above these income thresholds, the 
extra amount above the original $2,000 credit — either $1,000 or $1,600 
per child — is reduced by $50 for every $1,000 in modified AGI. In 
addition, the credit is fully refundable for 2021. This means that 
eligible families can get it, even if they owe no federal income tax. 
Before this year, the refundable portion was limited to $1,400 per 
child.For the most up-to-date information on the Child Tax Credit and advance payments, visit <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/advance-child-tax-credit-payments-in-2021">Advance Child Tax Credit Payments in 2021</a>.

Families receiving Child Tax Credit payments can now update direct deposit info

In the loving care of his family, Arvon John Marcotte, age 85 of 
Nebraska City passed away on Sunday, June 13, 2021, at his daughter’s 
home in Omaha.

Arvon was born on November 24, 1935, to John J. and Rosa A. 
(Balthazor) Marcotte at their home in Zurich, KS. He was the youngest of
 eight children. Throughout childhood he enjoyed serving daily mass, 
fishing with his father, and developing his love of sports. He graduated
 from Palco High School in Palco, KS with the class of 1953.&nbsp; Arvon 
entered the United States Army on November 13, 1958, where he traveled 
Europe as a baseball pitcher for NACOM, proudly serving his country, 
until his honorable discharge on October 21, 1960.

On August 25, 1962, Arvon was united in marriage to the love of his 
life, Luella Marie Pfeifer in Damar, KS. They were blessed with four 
children: Karla, Jeff, Mark and Janelle.&nbsp; Arvon and Lu moved to Nebraska
 City in 1974. In Nebraska City, Arvon owned and operated Farmers Bank, 
served a term as president of Nebraska Bankers Association, and retired 
from banking in 2015 after a career of nearly 60 years.

Although Arvon cherished his banking career, his greatest love was 
his family. Arvon had an immense capacity for love. He was kind, 
patient, generous, friendly and honest.&nbsp;

He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Lu Marcotte of Nebraska City;
 children:&nbsp; Karla Townley (Joseph) of Omaha, NE, Jeff Marcotte (Anne) of
 Omaha, NE, Mark Marcotte (Rosie) of Bellevue, NE and Janelle Gress 
(Mike) of Nebraska City; 13 grandchildren:&nbsp; Claire, Annie (Matt), Ellen,
 Mary, James, Lizzy, Johnny, Joe, Emily, Renee, Matt, Tom and Alex; 
sister Gloria Hamel (Gary) of El Dorado, KS; sister-in-law Marietta 
Marcotte of Hartford, AR; sisters and brothers-in-law:&nbsp; Virginia Roberts
 (Jerry) of Liberal, KS, Donna Bealby (Steve) of Kansas City, MO, Leon 
Pfeifer of Lake Havasu, AZ, Alan Pfeifer of Hays, KS and Mona Belleau 
(Sam) of Norman, OK; many nieces, nephews and other family and friends.

Arvon was preceded in death by his parents and siblings and their 
spouses:&nbsp; Victor Marcotte (Josephine), LaVerne Stephen (Adrian), Leroy 
Marcotte (Joyce), Delmar Marcotte (Marge), Elaine Ferland (Archie) and 
Idris Marcotte.

A Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, June 18, 2021, at
 St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Nebraska City with Fr. Michael McCabe 
officiating.&nbsp; Burial will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Nebraska City
 with Military Honors conducted by the Nebraska Army National Guard 
Funeral Honors Detail.

The family will greet friends from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on 
Thursday, June 17, 2021 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church.&nbsp; A Rosary will be
 recited at 7:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to St. Mary’s Catholic 
Church Endowment Fund, Lourdes Central Catholic Endowment Fund, Nebraska
 City Fire and Rescue, Nebraska City Food Bank or the Donor’s Favorite 
Charity.

Remembrances may be left at www.gudefuneralhomes.com.

Gude Mortuary in Nebraska City is in charge of arrangements.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1625173507551.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>In the loving care of his family, Arvon John Marcotte, age 85 of 
Nebraska City passed away on Sunday, June 13, 2021, at his daughter’s 
home in Omaha.Arvon was born on November 24, 1935, to John J. and Rosa A. 
(Balthazor) Marcotte at their home in Zurich, KS. He was the youngest of
 eight children. Throughout childhood he enjoyed serving daily mass, 
fishing with his father, and developing his love of sports. He graduated
 from Palco High School in Palco, KS with the class of 1953.&nbsp; Arvon 
entered the United States Army on November 13, 1958, where he traveled 
Europe as a baseball pitcher for NACOM, proudly serving his country, 
until his honorable discharge on October 21, 1960.On August 25, 1962, Arvon was united in marriage to the love of his 
life, Luella Marie Pfeifer in Damar, KS. They were blessed with four 
children: Karla, Jeff, Mark and Janelle.&nbsp; Arvon and Lu moved to Nebraska
 City in 1974. In Nebraska City, Arvon owned and operated Farmers Bank, 
served a term as president of Nebraska Bankers Association, and retired 
from banking in 2015 after a career of nearly 60 years.Although Arvon cherished his banking career, his greatest love was 
his family. Arvon had an immense capacity for love. He was kind, 
patient, generous, friendly and honest.&nbsp;He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Lu Marcotte of Nebraska City;
 children:&nbsp; Karla Townley (Joseph) of Omaha, NE, Jeff Marcotte (Anne) of
 Omaha, NE, Mark Marcotte (Rosie) of Bellevue, NE and Janelle Gress 
(Mike) of Nebraska City; 13 grandchildren:&nbsp; Claire, Annie (Matt), Ellen,
 Mary, James, Lizzy, Johnny, Joe, Emily, Renee, Matt, Tom and Alex; 
sister Gloria Hamel (Gary) of El Dorado, KS; sister-in-law Marietta 
Marcotte of Hartford, AR; sisters and brothers-in-law:&nbsp; Virginia Roberts
 (Jerry) of Liberal, KS, Donna Bealby (Steve) of Kansas City, MO, Leon 
Pfeifer of Lake Havasu, AZ, Alan Pfeifer of Hays, KS and Mona Belleau 
(Sam) of Norman, OK; many nieces, nephews and other family and friends.Arvon was preceded in death by his parents and siblings and their 
spouses:&nbsp; Victor Marcotte (Josephine), LaVerne Stephen (Adrian), Leroy 
Marcotte (Joyce), Delmar Marcotte (Marge), Elaine Ferland (Archie) and 
Idris Marcotte.A Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, June 18, 2021, at
 St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Nebraska City with Fr. Michael McCabe 
officiating.&nbsp; Burial will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Nebraska City
 with Military Honors conducted by the Nebraska Army National Guard 
Funeral Honors Detail.The family will greet friends from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on 
Thursday, June 17, 2021 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church.&nbsp; A Rosary will be
 recited at 7:00 p.m.In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to St. Mary’s Catholic 
Church Endowment Fund, Lourdes Central Catholic Endowment Fund, Nebraska
 City Fire and Rescue, Nebraska City Food Bank or the Donor’s Favorite 
Charity.Remembrances may be left at www.gudefuneralhomes.com.Gude Mortuary in Nebraska City is in charge of arrangements.

Arvon John Marcotte

Yoshie Ellis, age 77 years, of Great Bend, Kansas, passed away on June 22, 2021, at her home in Great Bend.&nbsp; Yoshie was born on October 19, 1943, at Osaka, Japan to Kiyoshi and Kuneno Hamana.&nbsp; She was united in marriage to Walter “Holly” Ellis on March 11, 1963, at Fukuoka, Japan and the couple lived in Hawaii, Chicago, and Portland, Oregon before moving to Great Bend in 1978.&nbsp; Her husband “Holly” preceded her in death on July 24, 2006.&nbsp; Yoshie loved to read and go see movies at the theater, and thoroughly enjoyed going to casinos.

Survivors include three nephews:&nbsp; J.L. (and wife Cindy) Ellis of Salina, Kansas, Darrell Ellis of Great Bend, Kansas, and Todd (and wife June) Ellis of Great Bend, Kansas; two nieces:&nbsp; Judy Johnson and Nancy Closky, both of Goose Creek, South Carolina; many great nieces and nephews; one brother-in-law Gary Ellis of Great Bend, Kansas.&nbsp; Yoshie was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and one sister.

Funeral Services will be held at Charter Funerals in Great Bend, Kansas at 2:00 PM on Tuesday, July 6, 2021 with Pastor Larry J. Schumacher officiating.&nbsp; Visitation will be for two hours prior to the service (12:00 Noon to 2:00 PM). Interment will follow in the Great Bend City Cemetery North in Great Bend.&nbsp; Memorials may be directed to the American Cancer Society.

Yoshie Ellis, age 77 years, of Great Bend, Kansas, passed away on June 22, 2021, at her home in Great Bend.&nbsp; Yoshie was born on October 19, 1943, at Osaka, Japan to Kiyoshi and Kuneno Hamana.&nbsp; She was united in marriage to Walter “Holly” Ellis on March 11, 1963, at Fukuoka, Japan and the couple lived in Hawaii, Chicago, and Portland, Oregon before moving to Great Bend in 1978.&nbsp; Her husband “Holly” preceded her in death on July 24, 2006.&nbsp; Yoshie loved to read and go see movies at the theater, and thoroughly enjoyed going to casinos.Survivors include three nephews:&nbsp; J.L. (and wife Cindy) Ellis of Salina, Kansas, Darrell Ellis of Great Bend, Kansas, and Todd (and wife June) Ellis of Great Bend, Kansas; two nieces:&nbsp; Judy Johnson and Nancy Closky, both of Goose Creek, South Carolina; many great nieces and nephews; one brother-in-law Gary Ellis of Great Bend, Kansas.&nbsp; Yoshie was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and one sister.Funeral Services will be held at Charter Funerals in Great Bend, Kansas at 2:00 PM on Tuesday, July 6, 2021 with Pastor Larry J. Schumacher officiating.&nbsp; Visitation will be for two hours prior to the service (12:00 Noon to 2:00 PM). Interment will follow in the Great Bend City Cemetery North in Great Bend.&nbsp; Memorials may be directed to the American Cancer Society.

Yoshie Ellis

Rita Joanne Lillard, was born to Kenneth and Janice (Stackhouse) Coker on August 1, 1956, in Hoisington, KS.&nbsp;

Rita married David 
LaMonte Lillard on March 03, 1974. They raised their two children, 
LaMonte &amp; Virginia “Jenni”, in her home town of Hoisington, KS, 
where she worked in the nursing home rising in the ranks until she 
earned her Associates degree of Nursing from Barton County Community 
College and began work as a Registered Nurse. They later moved to 
Houston, TX, where David and his brother George started Discovery 
Systems Computer Company, and Rita worked as the primary book keeper, as
 well as continuing to work as a nurse. David was the love of her life, 
married for 47 years, they shared a strong Christian faith and they 
enjoyed many activities together, including traveling, going to 
restaurants, and attending the Airshow. Above all Rita whole heartedly 
loved her family, especially her two children and four grandchildren, 
and of course her animals. Her grandchildren loved her hugs, and the 
adventures they went on, even if it was just a trip out for ice cream. 
They loved her Easter baskets, and blowing bubbles together, and her 
cooking, especially her ham, baked beans, and deviled eggs.

She passed away on June 20, 2021, at 9:25 a.m. at the age of 64 being murdered, along with her daughter.

She is survived by her
 husband, David Lillard of the home; her son, LaMonte Lillard (Crystal) 
Katy, TX; her grandchildren, Anja, John, Clara, and Emma Lillard; her 
brothers, Keith Coker, Hoisington, KS, and Richard Coker (Deanna) 
Hutchinson, KS; her sisters, Cheryl Coker, Hutchinson, KS, and Nancy 
Shives (Ronnie), Hoisington, KS; a brother-in-law, George Lillard 
(Jeanette) Houston, TX; her sisters-in-law, Deloise Paris, Greenville, 
TX, and Sylvia Mauldin, Ft. Worth, TX; and many beloved nieces and 
nephews, and grand-nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her 
daughter, Virginia Lillard; her parent; a brother, Gerald Coker; and 
brothers-in-law, Gerald Lillard, and Pete Paris.

Virginia “Jenni” Lillian Lillard, was born to David &amp; Rita (Coker) Lillard on October 16, 1981, in Great Bend, KS.&nbsp;

She grew up in 
Hoisington, KS, before her family moved to Houston, TX, where she 
graduated high school. She had a strong love of animals from a very 
young age, so after high school she attended Bel-Rea Institute of Animal
 Technology in Denver. She worked as a Veterinary Technician for many 
years, before deciding that she also wanted to “be the boss” so she 
decided to get her Bachelor of Administration from Strayer University 
where she graduated Suma Cum Laude! Jenni devoted her life’s work to 
helping animals wherever she went, and was known as “The Cat Whisperer.”
 She was a loving friend, daughter, sister and Aunt, and her nieces and 
nephew adored her. She had a strong Christian faith, which showed not 
only in her deep love of her family and animals, but also in how she 
cared for the owners of her patients. She was as soft hearted as she was
 strong minded, and those that loved her admired her for her fierceness,
 honesty, and compassion.

She passed away on June 20, 2021, at 9:25 a.m. at the age of 39 being murdered, along with her mother.

She is survived by her
 father, David Lillard, Houston, TX; a brother, LaMonte Lillard 
(Crystal) Katy, TX; her nieces, Anja, Clara, and Emma Lillard; a nephew,
 John Lillard; her uncles, George Lillard (Jeanette) Houston, TX, 
Richard Coker (Deanna) Hutchinson, KS, and Keith Coker, Hoisington, KS; 
her aunts, Deloise Paris, Greenville, TX, Sylvia Mauldin, Ft. Worth, TX,
 Cheryl Coker, Hutchinson, KS, and Nancy Shives (Ronnie), Hoisington, 
KS; and many beloved cousins. She was preceded in death by her mother, 
Rita Joanne Lillard; her grandparents, Kenneth &amp; Janice Coker and 
George P Lillard II, &amp; Evora Jean Smith; and her uncles, Gerald 
Coker, Gerald Lillard, and Pete Paris.

Cremation has taken 
place and the family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., 
Friday, July 9, 2021, at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, 415 N. Main St., 
Hoisington, KS 67544. Memorial Services will be held at 10:00 a.m., July
 10, 2021 at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, with Pastor Chris Lehew 
presiding. Ashes will be inurned at Claflin Cemetery, Claflin, KS. 
Memorials may be given to the Hoisington Veterinary Hospital Stray 
Animal Fund, in the name of Rita &amp; Virginia “Jenni” Lillard, in care
 of Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1625061320701.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Rita Joanne Lillard, was born to Kenneth and Janice (Stackhouse) Coker on August 1, 1956, in Hoisington, KS.&nbsp;Rita married David 
LaMonte Lillard on March 03, 1974. They raised their two children, 
LaMonte &amp; Virginia “Jenni”, in her home town of Hoisington, KS, 
where she worked in the nursing home rising in the ranks until she 
earned her Associates degree of Nursing from Barton County Community 
College and began work as a Registered Nurse. They later moved to 
Houston, TX, where David and his brother George started Discovery 
Systems Computer Company, and Rita worked as the primary book keeper, as
 well as continuing to work as a nurse. David was the love of her life, 
married for 47 years, they shared a strong Christian faith and they 
enjoyed many activities together, including traveling, going to 
restaurants, and attending the Airshow. Above all Rita whole heartedly 
loved her family, especially her two children and four grandchildren, 
and of course her animals. Her grandchildren loved her hugs, and the 
adventures they went on, even if it was just a trip out for ice cream. 
They loved her Easter baskets, and blowing bubbles together, and her 
cooking, especially her ham, baked beans, and deviled eggs.She passed away on June 20, 2021, at 9:25 a.m. at the age of 64 being murdered, along with her daughter.She is survived by her
 husband, David Lillard of the home; her son, LaMonte Lillard (Crystal) 
Katy, TX; her grandchildren, Anja, John, Clara, and Emma Lillard; her 
brothers, Keith Coker, Hoisington, KS, and Richard Coker (Deanna) 
Hutchinson, KS; her sisters, Cheryl Coker, Hutchinson, KS, and Nancy 
Shives (Ronnie), Hoisington, KS; a brother-in-law, George Lillard 
(Jeanette) Houston, TX; her sisters-in-law, Deloise Paris, Greenville, 
TX, and Sylvia Mauldin, Ft. Worth, TX; and many beloved nieces and 
nephews, and grand-nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her 
daughter, Virginia Lillard; her parent; a brother, Gerald Coker; and 
brothers-in-law, Gerald Lillard, and Pete Paris.Virginia “Jenni” Lillian Lillard, was born to David &amp; Rita (Coker) Lillard on October 16, 1981, in Great Bend, KS.&nbsp;She grew up in 
Hoisington, KS, before her family moved to Houston, TX, where she 
graduated high school. She had a strong love of animals from a very 
young age, so after high school she attended Bel-Rea Institute of Animal
 Technology in Denver. She worked as a Veterinary Technician for many 
years, before deciding that she also wanted to “be the boss” so she 
decided to get her Bachelor of Administration from Strayer University 
where she graduated Suma Cum Laude! Jenni devoted her life’s work to 
helping animals wherever she went, and was known as “The Cat Whisperer.”
 She was a loving friend, daughter, sister and Aunt, and her nieces and 
nephew adored her. She had a strong Christian faith, which showed not 
only in her deep love of her family and animals, but also in how she 
cared for the owners of her patients. She was as soft hearted as she was
 strong minded, and those that loved her admired her for her fierceness,
 honesty, and compassion.She passed away on June 20, 2021, at 9:25 a.m. at the age of 39 being murdered, along with her mother.She is survived by her
 father, David Lillard, Houston, TX; a brother, LaMonte Lillard 
(Crystal) Katy, TX; her nieces, Anja, Clara, and Emma Lillard; a nephew,
 John Lillard; her uncles, George Lillard (Jeanette) Houston, TX, 
Richard Coker (Deanna) Hutchinson, KS, and Keith Coker, Hoisington, KS; 
her aunts, Deloise Paris, Greenville, TX, Sylvia Mauldin, Ft. Worth, TX,
 Cheryl Coker, Hutchinson, KS, and Nancy Shives (Ronnie), Hoisington, 
KS; and many beloved cousins. She was preceded in death by her mother, 
Rita Joanne Lillard; her grandparents, Kenneth &amp; Janice Coker and 
George P Lillard II, &amp; Evora Jean Smith; and her uncles, Gerald 
Coker, Gerald Lillard, and Pete Paris.Cremation has taken 
place and the family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., 
Friday, July 9, 2021, at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, 415 N. Main St., 
Hoisington, KS 67544. Memorial Services will be held at 10:00 a.m., July
 10, 2021 at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, with Pastor Chris Lehew 
presiding. Ashes will be inurned at Claflin Cemetery, Claflin, KS. 
Memorials may be given to the Hoisington Veterinary Hospital Stray 
Animal Fund, in the name of Rita &amp; Virginia “Jenni” Lillard, in care
 of Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home.

 Rita and Virginia Lillard

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Missouri Supreme Court on Tuesday set an October execution date for Ernest Lee Johnson, who was convicted of killing three people at a Missouri convenience store 27 years ago.

The order set the execution for 6 p.m. Oct. 5 at the state prison in Bonne Terre. It would be the state's first execution since convicted killer Walter Barton was put to death in May 2020.

Johnson, 60, had asked that his execution be carried out by firing squad, but the U.S. Supreme Court last month refused to consider his appeal. The court left in place a lower court ruling that could allow him to be executed by injection. Missouri law does not authorize execution by firing squad.

Johnson has argued that Missouri’s lethal injection drug, pentobarbital, could trigger seizures because of a brain condition. Johnson still has part of a benign tumor in his brain.

Johnson was convicted of three counts of first-degree murder in the 1994 deaths of Mary Bratcher, Mable Scruggs, and Fred Jones, employees of a Casey’s convenience store in Columbia.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1621882682950.png" alt="Johnson, 60, had asked that his execution be carried out by firing squad-photo MODOC&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Johnson, 60, had asked that his execution be carried out by firing squad-photo MODOC&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Missouri Supreme Court on Tuesday set an October execution date for Ernest Lee Johnson, who was convicted of killing three people at a Missouri convenience store 27 years ago.The order set the execution for 6 p.m. Oct. 5 at the state prison in Bonne Terre. It would be the state's first execution since convicted killer Walter Barton was put to death in May 2020.Johnson, 60, had asked that his execution be carried out by firing squad, but the U.S. Supreme Court last month refused to consider his appeal. The court left in place a lower court ruling that could allow him to be executed by injection. Missouri law does not authorize execution by firing squad.Johnson has argued that Missouri’s lethal injection drug, pentobarbital, could trigger seizures because of a brain condition. Johnson still has part of a benign tumor in his brain.Johnson was convicted of three counts of first-degree murder in the 1994 deaths of Mary Bratcher, Mable Scruggs, and Fred Jones, employees of a Casey’s convenience store in Columbia.

Execution date set for man convicted of triple murder

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man was sentenced to prison Monday for a shooting death at motel in the fall of 2018.&nbsp;

&nbsp;District Judge Bruce Brown sentenced Cory Bentley, 25 of Wichita, to over 46-years in prison&nbsp; for the shooting death of Jackie Jerome, 43 of Wichita, according to Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett.

In October of 2018, Bentley shot Jerome&nbsp;in the parking lot of the Delux Inn at 8401 W. Kellogg in Wichita. He died of multiple gunshot wounds.

On May 14, 2021, Bentley pled guilty to second degree murder. In addition to the prison sentenceJudge Brown ordered Bentley to pay $759.50 for the funeral of Jerome and $500 in expenses to Mr. Jerome’s son who travelled from Iowa after learning of his father’s murder.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1624915468710.png" alt="Bentley photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Bentley photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man was sentenced to prison Monday for a shooting death at motel in the fall of 2018.&nbsp;&nbsp;District Judge Bruce Brown sentenced Cory Bentley, 25 of Wichita, to over 46-years in prison&nbsp; for the shooting death of Jackie Jerome, 43 of Wichita, according to Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett.In October of 2018, Bentley shot Jerome&nbsp;in the parking lot of the Delux Inn at 8401 W. Kellogg in Wichita. He died of multiple gunshot wounds.On May 14, 2021, Bentley pled guilty to second degree murder. In addition to the prison sentenceJudge Brown ordered Bentley to pay $759.50 for the funeral of Jerome and $500 in expenses to Mr. Jerome’s son who travelled from Iowa after learning of his father’s murder.

Judge: Kan. man must also pay for murder victim's funeral

Pauline M. Irsik, 104, passed away from natural causes on Monday, June 28,&nbsp; at the home of her oldest granddaughter Michele Irsik Flax, Hays, 
Kansas. She was surrounded by her loved ones. 
Pauline Mabel Allen was born October 24, 1916, in Howell, Kansas. She was
 preceded in death by her husband Steve Irsik in 1999 and granddaughter 
Annie Irsik in 2008. 
She was also was predeceased by her siblings Horace Allen, Lester Allen, Edna Reynolds, Donald Allen and Eldred Johnson . 
Throughout her lifetime, Pauline witnessed great changes to our world 
including, a woman’s right to vote, Lindbergh's non-stop Atlantic 
flight, the Wall St. Crash and Great depression, devastating wars, moon 
landings and 19 U.S. Presidents. 
Pauline attended High School in Dodge City and later attended Dodge City
 Community College and graduated with an Associates of Arts degree in 
1937. She taught at Royal Country school with seven students and earned 
$60 a month. 
Pauline dated Steve Irsik in 1942 until he left for the military in 
1943. He mailed her engagement ring from boot camp and she didn't see 
him again until 1946. Two weeks after he returned from the war, they 
were married on January 21, 1946. Steve passed away just days shy of 
their 53rd wedding anniversary. 
She was a loving and devoted Mother and Grandmother. She is survived by: Steve Irsik Jr. And wife Kay of Sante Fe, New Mexico, Mike Irsik and 
wife Debbie of Emporia, Kansas, Max Irsik and wife Linda of Flagler 
Beach, Florida, Robert Irsik and wife Ellen of Ingalls, Kansas and Ron 
Irsik and wife Tricia of Columbus, Ohio. 14 grandchildren and 21 great 
grandchildren. 
She was an inspiration to all with her profound faith. She believed “Be 
patriotic Americans and trust in God. We owe him praise every day.” 
Pauline enjoyed quilting, art, gardening, playing bridge, music and 
dance. She led an incredible life and loved camping, hiking and 
traveling. 
She has begun her most beautiful journey to date. 
Her service will take place on Thursday July 1st, 10:30 am at the St. 
Dominic Catholic Church, Garden City, Kansas. Graveside dedication to 
follow at Valley View Cemetery in Garden City. There will be no calling
 hours. 
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Catholic Charities 
of Southwest Kansas, in care of Garnand Funeral Home, 412 N 7th street, 
Garden City, KS 67846.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1624984258798.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Pauline M. Irsik, 104, passed away from natural causes on Monday, June 28,&nbsp; at the home of her oldest granddaughter Michele Irsik Flax, Hays, 
Kansas. She was surrounded by her loved ones. 
Pauline Mabel Allen was born October 24, 1916, in Howell, Kansas. She was
 preceded in death by her husband Steve Irsik in 1999 and granddaughter 
Annie Irsik in 2008. 
She was also was predeceased by her siblings Horace Allen, Lester Allen, Edna Reynolds, Donald Allen and Eldred Johnson . 
Throughout her lifetime, Pauline witnessed great changes to our world 
including, a woman’s right to vote, Lindbergh's non-stop Atlantic 
flight, the Wall St. Crash and Great depression, devastating wars, moon 
landings and 19 U.S. Presidents. 
Pauline attended High School in Dodge City and later attended Dodge City
 Community College and graduated with an Associates of Arts degree in 
1937. She taught at Royal Country school with seven students and earned 
$60 a month. 
Pauline dated Steve Irsik in 1942 until he left for the military in 
1943. He mailed her engagement ring from boot camp and she didn't see 
him again until 1946. Two weeks after he returned from the war, they 
were married on January 21, 1946. Steve passed away just days shy of 
their 53rd wedding anniversary. 
She was a loving and devoted Mother and Grandmother. She is survived by: Steve Irsik Jr. And wife Kay of Sante Fe, New Mexico, Mike Irsik and 
wife Debbie of Emporia, Kansas, Max Irsik and wife Linda of Flagler 
Beach, Florida, Robert Irsik and wife Ellen of Ingalls, Kansas and Ron 
Irsik and wife Tricia of Columbus, Ohio. 14 grandchildren and 21 great 
grandchildren. 
She was an inspiration to all with her profound faith. She believed “Be 
patriotic Americans and trust in God. We owe him praise every day.” 
Pauline enjoyed quilting, art, gardening, playing bridge, music and 
dance. She led an incredible life and loved camping, hiking and 
traveling. 
She has begun her most beautiful journey to date. 
Her service will take place on Thursday July 1st, 10:30 am at the St. 
Dominic Catholic Church, Garden City, Kansas. Graveside dedication to 
follow at Valley View Cemetery in Garden City. There will be no calling
 hours. 
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Catholic Charities 
of Southwest Kansas, in care of Garnand Funeral Home, 412 N 7th street, 
Garden City, KS 67846.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

Pauline M. Irsik

Phillipsburg resident Terry Lynn Gitchel passed away unexpectedly
 Saturday, June 26, 2021, in Phillips County, KS at the age of 64.

Terry was born April 25, 1957, in Phillipsburg, KS the son of Melvin Roy and Anna Louise (Johnson) Gitchel.

He was united in marriage to Donna Kaye Schumacher on October 23, 1982, in Phillipsburg.&nbsp; She survives.

Other survivors include his three daughters Tara Burnham and husband 
Robin of Arvada, CO, Karma Steelsmith and husband Ron of Phillipsburg, 
and Shelby Thomas and husband Andrew of Lawrence, KS; a niece, who was 
like his daughter, Kimberly Krebs of Atwood, KS; nine grandchildren 
&nbsp;Kennedy (Burnham) Burris and husband Brian, Wyatt, Tehya, Garyn, and 
Edwyn Burnham, Kihyna, Kameron, Kymber, and Kendryck Steelsmith; four 
brothers Ralph, Roy, and Rick and wife Sharolyn all of Phillipsburg and 
Don of Hays; and three sisters, Merry Reeh of Oberlin, KS, Sandra 
Johnson and husband Dennis of Agra, KS, and Susan Lacey and husband 
“Bean” of Kenai, AK.

Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, July 5, 2021 in the 
Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, Phillipsburg.&nbsp; Burial will follow in the 
Fairview Cemetery, Phillipsburg.

Terry will lie in state from noon until 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday 
with the family receiving friends Sunday afternoon from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
 all in the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, Phillipsburg.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Phillipsburg Little Kids 
Softball and Baseball Programs or the Phillipsburg High School 
Amendment.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1624912870260.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Phillipsburg resident Terry Lynn Gitchel passed away unexpectedly
 Saturday, June 26, 2021, in Phillips County, KS at the age of 64.Terry was born April 25, 1957, in Phillipsburg, KS the son of Melvin Roy and Anna Louise (Johnson) Gitchel.He was united in marriage to Donna Kaye Schumacher on October 23, 1982, in Phillipsburg.&nbsp; She survives.Other survivors include his three daughters Tara Burnham and husband 
Robin of Arvada, CO, Karma Steelsmith and husband Ron of Phillipsburg, 
and Shelby Thomas and husband Andrew of Lawrence, KS; a niece, who was 
like his daughter, Kimberly Krebs of Atwood, KS; nine grandchildren 
&nbsp;Kennedy (Burnham) Burris and husband Brian, Wyatt, Tehya, Garyn, and 
Edwyn Burnham, Kihyna, Kameron, Kymber, and Kendryck Steelsmith; four 
brothers Ralph, Roy, and Rick and wife Sharolyn all of Phillipsburg and 
Don of Hays; and three sisters, Merry Reeh of Oberlin, KS, Sandra 
Johnson and husband Dennis of Agra, KS, and Susan Lacey and husband 
“Bean” of Kenai, AK.Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, July 5, 2021 in the 
Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, Phillipsburg.&nbsp; Burial will follow in the 
Fairview Cemetery, Phillipsburg.Terry will lie in state from noon until 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday 
with the family receiving friends Sunday afternoon from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
 all in the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, Phillipsburg.Memorial contributions may be made to the Phillipsburg Little Kids 
Softball and Baseball Programs or the Phillipsburg High School 
Amendment.

Terry Lynn Gitchel

Esther Irene Rassette, 93, of Russell, Kansas, died on Thursday, June
 24, 2021, at the Russell Regional Hospital in Russell, Kansas.

Esther was born on May 27, 1928, in rural Russell County, Kansas, the
 daughter of Alexander (A.D.) and Mollie (Weimaster) Schultz.&nbsp; She was 
raised in the Lutheran Church.&nbsp; She grew up in the Russell and 
Hoisington, Kansas, area and graduated from Hoisington High School.&nbsp; She
 met, fell in love and was united in marriage to William J. “Bill” 
Rassette on October 17, 1948, in Russell.&nbsp; From this union Esther and 
Bill were blessed with a son Eugene.&nbsp; The family moved to Georgetown, 
Colorado in the early 1960’S after purchasing the Herringbone Cabin 
Motel and restaurant.&nbsp; In 1978 they retired and returned to Russell, 
Kansas.&nbsp; She worked hard as a fulltime wife and homemaker.&nbsp; She enjoyed 
crocheting, cooking, playing pitch, watching sports on television and 
traveling across America and over seas.

She is survived by her daughter in-law Maggie Rassette of Abilene, 
Kansas and 4 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren: Matt (Rene) 
Rassette – children Nina and Elijah of Minneapolis, MN, Abigail (Neil) 
Endicott and daughter Georgia, Katherine (Jay) Pankratz and children 
Maggie, Sophie and Penelope of Portland, OR, Emily (Chris) Campbell and 
children Sydney and Aulay.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Bill on October 17,
 2006, son Eugene Rassette September 04, 2002, brothers Willie Schultz, 
Julius Schultz and sister Gladys (Schultz) Shadley. A graveside 
celebration of Esther’s life will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Friday, July 
02, 2021, at the Russell City Cemetery in Russell, Kansas.&nbsp; Visitation 
will be from 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. on Thursday, July 01, 2021, at the 
mortuary.&nbsp; Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell, Kansas, is in 
charge of the funeral service arrangements.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1624830900810.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Esther Irene Rassette, 93, of Russell, Kansas, died on Thursday, June
 24, 2021, at the Russell Regional Hospital in Russell, Kansas.Esther was born on May 27, 1928, in rural Russell County, Kansas, the
 daughter of Alexander (A.D.) and Mollie (Weimaster) Schultz.&nbsp; She was 
raised in the Lutheran Church.&nbsp; She grew up in the Russell and 
Hoisington, Kansas, area and graduated from Hoisington High School.&nbsp; She
 met, fell in love and was united in marriage to William J. “Bill” 
Rassette on October 17, 1948, in Russell.&nbsp; From this union Esther and 
Bill were blessed with a son Eugene.&nbsp; The family moved to Georgetown, 
Colorado in the early 1960’S after purchasing the Herringbone Cabin 
Motel and restaurant.&nbsp; In 1978 they retired and returned to Russell, 
Kansas.&nbsp; She worked hard as a fulltime wife and homemaker.&nbsp; She enjoyed 
crocheting, cooking, playing pitch, watching sports on television and 
traveling across America and over seas.She is survived by her daughter in-law Maggie Rassette of Abilene, 
Kansas and 4 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren: Matt (Rene) 
Rassette – children Nina and Elijah of Minneapolis, MN, Abigail (Neil) 
Endicott and daughter Georgia, Katherine (Jay) Pankratz and children 
Maggie, Sophie and Penelope of Portland, OR, Emily (Chris) Campbell and 
children Sydney and Aulay.She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Bill on October 17,
 2006, son Eugene Rassette September 04, 2002, brothers Willie Schultz, 
Julius Schultz and sister Gladys (Schultz) Shadley. A graveside 
celebration of Esther’s life will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Friday, July 
02, 2021, at the Russell City Cemetery in Russell, Kansas.&nbsp; Visitation 
will be from 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. on Thursday, July 01, 2021, at the 
mortuary.&nbsp; Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell, Kansas, is in 
charge of the funeral service arrangements.

Esther I. Rassette

&nbsp;It is almost time to redistrict Kansas.&nbsp;&nbsp;This means using 2020 Census data to create new districts for the Kansas House, Kansas Senate, and U.S. Congress.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Ten years ago, the process was a mess.&nbsp;&nbsp;Unfortunately, no reforms were put in place afterwards.&nbsp;&nbsp;The detailed Census data will be ready later this year--but will lawmakers be ready?

In 2012, Kansas won the dubious distinction of being the last state in the U.S. to complete its Congressional districts.&nbsp;&nbsp;Despite having only four to draw, the Kansas Legislature could not agree on a map, forcing the federal courts to intervene and draw the districts themselves.&nbsp;&nbsp;By contrast, California’s nonpartisan citizens commissions had already completed their first set of districts drawn under a new system championed by former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger--53 U.S. House Districts, plus the ones for both houses of the state General Assembly.

What was the problem here?&nbsp;&nbsp;First, Kansas has an archaic system in which the state legislature draws the maps with no oversight except the Governor’s veto.&nbsp;&nbsp;Not only do they draw the Congressional districts, they also draw the ones for the statehouse itself--a classic “fox guarding the chicken house” scenario.&nbsp;&nbsp;Kansas’ Legislature is only in session for about four months per year (January-April) meaning that this will require either a special session or doing it at the last minute.&nbsp;&nbsp;By early 2022, many other states will have already finalized their districts.

Many states do this better.&nbsp;&nbsp;In Iowa, a bipartisan commission draws the districts.&nbsp;&nbsp;The commission has an equal number of Democrats and Republicans, they cannot look at political data, and they cannot split counties on the Congressional map. Also, the state legislature cannot redraw their maps.&nbsp;&nbsp;In Missouri, the General Assembly redraws Congressional districts, but a balanced, bipartisan commission redraws the ones for the General Assembly itself.&nbsp;&nbsp;As in Iowa, that commission has an equal number of appointments from Democrats and Republicans.&nbsp;&nbsp;In Missouri, ties are broken by a three-judge panel.&nbsp;&nbsp;Missouri also has its veto session in October, which makes this a good time to schedule a special session at about the same time to begin the redistricting process.&nbsp;&nbsp;By contrast, Kansas’ veto session is immediately after the regular session and is popularly referred to as the “wrap up session” instead.

In 2012, Kansas legislators deadlocked because they were worried about moving Manhattan from the 2nd to the “Big First” district.&nbsp;&nbsp;Lawmakers did not want firebrand Congressman Tim Huelskamp responsible for federal funding to the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF) project, which brought substantial money and jobs into Manhattan.&nbsp;&nbsp;Manhattan got moved anyway, but by the Courts, not the Legislature.&nbsp;&nbsp;Hueslkamp and former 2nd District Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins are no longer in office, but the Court-drawn districts remain.

With no reforms to the redistricting process, Kansas may face another mess.&nbsp;&nbsp;To be fair, legislative committees will of course have hearings around the state and review many drafts, but the maps may still end up getting finalized at the last minute, on the floors of the house and senate.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also, partisan Republican influencers from out of state may force Kansas Republicans to ram through Congressional maps splitting up the state in weird ways, particularly Johnson County.&nbsp;&nbsp;This would be an attempt to remove Democratic Congresswoman Sharice Davids from office.&nbsp;&nbsp;Democrats gerrymander too, but that does not make it right.

Voters need to hold Kansas politicians accountable during this next round of redistricting.&nbsp;&nbsp;Not only that, the process itself needs to be reformed.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579108824567.jpeg" alt="Michael Smith is a professor at Emporia State University." />
 <figcaption>Michael Smith is a professor at Emporia State University.</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;It is almost time to redistrict Kansas.&nbsp;&nbsp;This means using 2020 Census data to create new districts for the Kansas House, Kansas Senate, and U.S. Congress.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Ten years ago, the process was a mess.&nbsp;&nbsp;Unfortunately, no reforms were put in place afterwards.&nbsp;&nbsp;The detailed Census data will be ready later this year--but will lawmakers be ready?In 2012, Kansas won the dubious distinction of being the last state in the U.S. to complete its Congressional districts.&nbsp;&nbsp;Despite having only four to draw, the Kansas Legislature could not agree on a map, forcing the federal courts to intervene and draw the districts themselves.&nbsp;&nbsp;By contrast, California’s nonpartisan citizens commissions had already completed their first set of districts drawn under a new system championed by former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger--53 U.S. House Districts, plus the ones for both houses of the state General Assembly.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575913663048.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>What was the problem here?&nbsp;&nbsp;First, Kansas has an archaic system in which the state legislature draws the maps with no oversight except the Governor’s veto.&nbsp;&nbsp;Not only do they draw the Congressional districts, they also draw the ones for the statehouse itself--a classic “fox guarding the chicken house” scenario.&nbsp;&nbsp;Kansas’ Legislature is only in session for about four months per year (January-April) meaning that this will require either a special session or doing it at the last minute.&nbsp;&nbsp;By early 2022, many other states will have already finalized their districts.Many states do this better.&nbsp;&nbsp;In Iowa, a bipartisan commission draws the districts.&nbsp;&nbsp;The commission has an equal number of Democrats and Republicans, they cannot look at political data, and they cannot split counties on the Congressional map. Also, the state legislature cannot redraw their maps.&nbsp;&nbsp;In Missouri, the General Assembly redraws Congressional districts, but a balanced, bipartisan commission redraws the ones for the General Assembly itself.&nbsp;&nbsp;As in Iowa, that commission has an equal number of appointments from Democrats and Republicans.&nbsp;&nbsp;In Missouri, ties are broken by a three-judge panel.&nbsp;&nbsp;Missouri also has its veto session in October, which makes this a good time to schedule a special session at about the same time to begin the redistricting process.&nbsp;&nbsp;By contrast, Kansas’ veto session is immediately after the regular session and is popularly referred to as the “wrap up session” instead.In 2012, Kansas legislators deadlocked because they were worried about moving Manhattan from the 2nd to the “Big First” district.&nbsp;&nbsp;Lawmakers did not want firebrand Congressman Tim Huelskamp responsible for federal funding to the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF) project, which brought substantial money and jobs into Manhattan.&nbsp;&nbsp;Manhattan got moved anyway, but by the Courts, not the Legislature.&nbsp;&nbsp;Hueslkamp and former 2nd District Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins are no longer in office, but the Court-drawn districts remain.With no reforms to the redistricting process, Kansas may face another mess.&nbsp;&nbsp;To be fair, legislative committees will of course have hearings around the state and review many drafts, but the maps may still end up getting finalized at the last minute, on the floors of the house and senate.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also, partisan Republican influencers from out of state may force Kansas Republicans to ram through Congressional maps splitting up the state in weird ways, particularly Johnson County.&nbsp;&nbsp;This would be an attempt to remove Democratic Congresswoman Sharice Davids from office.&nbsp;&nbsp;Democrats gerrymander too, but that does not make it right.Voters need to hold Kansas politicians accountable during this next round of redistricting.&nbsp;&nbsp;Not only that, the process itself needs to be reformed.

INSIGHT KANSAS: Time to reform redistricting process

Dorothy J. Yarnell passed away on Thursday June 24, 2021 at Parkview 
Care Center in Osborne, Ks. at the age of 90. &nbsp;She was born on October 
23, 1930 in Osborne to Ancil and Dorothy May (Quillen) Ives. 
&nbsp;Dorothy&nbsp;graduated from Woodston High School in 1948.&nbsp; She later married
 Delbert Yarnell on June 18 1950&nbsp;and to this union two children were 
born - Sheryl and Micheal. Dorothy and Delbert shared 51 yrs. together.&nbsp;

Except for a few years away from Osborne, Dorothy lived almost all of
 her life in Osborne, Ks. &nbsp;She and Delbert managed the Camalot Inn for a
 couple of years but the majority of her work was as a devoted store 
clerk at Duckwalls. &nbsp;

Dorothy is preceded is death by her parents, three&nbsp;siblings and her 
husband Delbert in 2001. &nbsp;She is survived by her daughter Sheryl (Bob) 
Gorsuch of Osborne and son Mike of Osborne, 2 grandchildren - Lacy 
(Curtis) Holtman&nbsp;and Jeremy, &nbsp;2 great-grandchildren, Amelia and 
Charlotte and brothers Roger &amp; Larry Ives.

<a href="https://www.clarkgashawfh.com/obituary/Dorothy-Yarnell">Clark-Gashaw Mortuary</a> is in charge of arrangements.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1624748816990.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Dorothy J. Yarnell passed away on Thursday June 24, 2021 at Parkview 
Care Center in Osborne, Ks. at the age of 90. &nbsp;She was born on October 
23, 1930 in Osborne to Ancil and Dorothy May (Quillen) Ives. 
&nbsp;Dorothy&nbsp;graduated from Woodston High School in 1948.&nbsp; She later married
 Delbert Yarnell on June 18 1950&nbsp;and to this union two children were 
born - Sheryl and Micheal. Dorothy and Delbert shared 51 yrs. together.&nbsp;Except for a few years away from Osborne, Dorothy lived almost all of
 her life in Osborne, Ks. &nbsp;She and Delbert managed the Camalot Inn for a
 couple of years but the majority of her work was as a devoted store 
clerk at Duckwalls. &nbsp;Dorothy is preceded is death by her parents, three&nbsp;siblings and her 
husband Delbert in 2001. &nbsp;She is survived by her daughter Sheryl (Bob) 
Gorsuch of Osborne and son Mike of Osborne, 2 grandchildren - Lacy 
(Curtis) Holtman&nbsp;and Jeremy, &nbsp;2 great-grandchildren, Amelia and 
Charlotte and brothers Roger &amp; Larry Ives.<a href="https://www.clarkgashawfh.com/obituary/Dorothy-Yarnell">Clark-Gashaw Mortuary</a> is in charge of arrangements.

Dorothy J. Yarnell

Sarah A. (Travis) Wilson, 88, passed away Tuesday June 22, 2021, at her home in rural Abilene. She was born July 30, 1932, in Minneapolis, KS to John and Leloa (Bainbridge) Travis. Sarah graduated from Minneapolis High School, attended Brown Mackie Business College, Salina, and worked at Montgomery Wards in the office and later at Long McArthur Ford Company.

On October 2, 1953, she married Edwin W. “Ed” Wilson in Salina. They shared 64 years of marriage before he preceded her in death on January 21, 2018. Together they farmed in rural Carlton before retiring to rural Abilene in 1992.

Sarah loved her family deeply and was the mastermind of family gatherings. She hosted many family and holiday celebrations for her children, extended family, and neighbors and she made each one a special occasion. Her happiest days were when her family was visiting. She was an amazing baker and always made sure her grandchildren were spoiled with her special cookies, pies and cinnamon rolls.

Each summer you could witness Sarah’s love of nature. She spent many hours growing flowers, gardening and taking care of her yard. Her bird feeders were always full so she could watch her birds. She especially enjoyed seeing a particular red cardinal that she said was Dad look after her from Heaven. Sarah also enjoyed quilting and making gifts for her family. Each grandchild and great-grandchild received a quilt when they were born and also when they graduated from High School and her children have many of her works of art displayed in their homes. Collecting Dolls also gave her great joy.

During Sarah’s retirement years she was rarely still. She volunteered as an American Red Cross Gray Lady for many years as well as serving on the Card and Craft Committees at the Memorial Hospital in Abilene. Many summers were spent as part of the cooking crew in the Cabin at the Dickinson County Historical Pioneer Camp. She also served several years in the Mt. Pleasant Evangelical Presbyterian Church kitchen organizing funeral dinners.

She is proceed in death by her husband Ed, daughter, Barbara Jo at age 6 of meningitis, Son, John Walter at age 20 of Muscular Dystrophy, and great-grandson Nolan Matthew Petersen, 7 months and a sister Betty Gray of Cocoa Beach, Florida.

Survivors include three sons, Jeff and wife Susan of Carlton, Mitch and wife Denise of Abilene, Mike and wife Karen of Carlton; daughter, Kellie Voss and husband Wayne of Hays. 15 grandchildren, Michelle (Lance) Miller, Angela (Matt) Petersen, Shannon Wilson (John Goddard), Amanda (Brian) Pope, Courtney Wilson, Janay (Dylan) Crosson, Dustin Wilson, Brian Wilson, Eric (Kelsey) Wilson, Kristy Wilson, Keven Wilson, Allen, Aaron, Jordan and Ethan Voss; 11 great-grandchildren, Aubrey and Vance Miller; Willa and Crosby Petersen; Klayton and Violet Pope; Grady, Lincoln and Reagyn Crosson, Lane Wilson and John Voss, a sister-in law, Carol Hansen of Salina and many nieces and nephews.

Services for Sarah will be 10:00 am Tuesday, June 29, 2021 at the Mt. Pleasant Evangelical Presbyterian Church with Reverend Mark Stanger officiating.&nbsp; Her final resting place will be in the Greenlawn Cemetery.&nbsp; Sarah's family will&nbsp; receive friends from 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm Monday evening at the Danner Funeral Home.&nbsp; Memorial contributions may be made to the Muscular Dystrophy Association or to the Gideons and may be sent in care of the Danner Funeral Home, 501 N. Buckeye, Abilene, Kansas 67410.&nbsp; Condolences may be sent to the family at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.dannerfuneralhome.net/">www.dannerfuneralhome.net</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1624639671521.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Sarah A. (Travis) Wilson, 88, passed away Tuesday June 22, 2021, at her home in rural Abilene. She was born July 30, 1932, in Minneapolis, KS to John and Leloa (Bainbridge) Travis. Sarah graduated from Minneapolis High School, attended Brown Mackie Business College, Salina, and worked at Montgomery Wards in the office and later at Long McArthur Ford Company.On October 2, 1953, she married Edwin W. “Ed” Wilson in Salina. They shared 64 years of marriage before he preceded her in death on January 21, 2018. Together they farmed in rural Carlton before retiring to rural Abilene in 1992.Sarah loved her family deeply and was the mastermind of family gatherings. She hosted many family and holiday celebrations for her children, extended family, and neighbors and she made each one a special occasion. Her happiest days were when her family was visiting. She was an amazing baker and always made sure her grandchildren were spoiled with her special cookies, pies and cinnamon rolls.Each summer you could witness Sarah’s love of nature. She spent many hours growing flowers, gardening and taking care of her yard. Her bird feeders were always full so she could watch her birds. She especially enjoyed seeing a particular red cardinal that she said was Dad look after her from Heaven. Sarah also enjoyed quilting and making gifts for her family. Each grandchild and great-grandchild received a quilt when they were born and also when they graduated from High School and her children have many of her works of art displayed in their homes. Collecting Dolls also gave her great joy.During Sarah’s retirement years she was rarely still. She volunteered as an American Red Cross Gray Lady for many years as well as serving on the Card and Craft Committees at the Memorial Hospital in Abilene. Many summers were spent as part of the cooking crew in the Cabin at the Dickinson County Historical Pioneer Camp. She also served several years in the Mt. Pleasant Evangelical Presbyterian Church kitchen organizing funeral dinners.She is proceed in death by her husband Ed, daughter, Barbara Jo at age 6 of meningitis, Son, John Walter at age 20 of Muscular Dystrophy, and great-grandson Nolan Matthew Petersen, 7 months and a sister Betty Gray of Cocoa Beach, Florida.Survivors include three sons, Jeff and wife Susan of Carlton, Mitch and wife Denise of Abilene, Mike and wife Karen of Carlton; daughter, Kellie Voss and husband Wayne of Hays. 15 grandchildren, Michelle (Lance) Miller, Angela (Matt) Petersen, Shannon Wilson (John Goddard), Amanda (Brian) Pope, Courtney Wilson, Janay (Dylan) Crosson, Dustin Wilson, Brian Wilson, Eric (Kelsey) Wilson, Kristy Wilson, Keven Wilson, Allen, Aaron, Jordan and Ethan Voss; 11 great-grandchildren, Aubrey and Vance Miller; Willa and Crosby Petersen; Klayton and Violet Pope; Grady, Lincoln and Reagyn Crosson, Lane Wilson and John Voss, a sister-in law, Carol Hansen of Salina and many nieces and nephews.Services for Sarah will be 10:00 am Tuesday, June 29, 2021 at the Mt. Pleasant Evangelical Presbyterian Church with Reverend Mark Stanger officiating.&nbsp; Her final resting place will be in the Greenlawn Cemetery.&nbsp; Sarah's family will&nbsp; receive friends from 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm Monday evening at the Danner Funeral Home.&nbsp; Memorial contributions may be made to the Muscular Dystrophy Association or to the Gideons and may be sent in care of the Danner Funeral Home, 501 N. Buckeye, Abilene, Kansas 67410.&nbsp; Condolences may be sent to the family at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.dannerfuneralhome.net/">www.dannerfuneralhome.net</a>.

Sarah A. (Travis) Wilson

Wheat farmers adore the hot dry weather during wheat harvest, as it dries the crop and allows for harvesting without worrying about wet spots in fields. But, along with extended periods of hot dry weather often come blue-green algae blooms at lake and reservoirs.&nbsp; I know all you K State fans love your “Royal Purple”, and KU fans adore your red and blue, and those colors are just the ticket to adorn T shirts, umbrellas and ball caps in support of your chosen team. But when the waters of your favorite lake take on those same colors, lookout!&nbsp;

Welcome to algae bloom season again in Kansas. This period of summer runs from May through October, the months sporting the longest days of sunlight and the warmest water temperatures, and unfortunately this time frame also encompasses the three holidays when our lakes are used the most, Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day. Blue-Green Algae are bacteria with a scientific name as long as a yardstick, that exist naturally in rivers, lakes and ponds and all aquatic ecosystems here in Kansas. When certain conditions align, such as exceptionally high nutrient content in the water, and long hot days with lots of sunlight, those bacteria can reproduce more rapidly than usual, causing a dense growth of algae known as “a bloom.” Some algae blooms are harmless, but when the blooming organisms contain toxins, noxious chemicals or pathogens in levels harmful to humans and animals, it is declared to be a “Harmful Algae Bloom,” and warnings or advisories are issued by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, (KDHE.) These blue-green algae blooms can be blue, bright green, brown or even red, and may look like foam or a thick frothy slurry. Some blooms, however may not even affect the appearance of the water.&nbsp;

When KDHE receives notice from anyone that a harmful algae bloom is noticed or suspected, they take water samples at the most frequently used locations at the site, such as swim beaches and boat docks. The samples are analyzed, and according to the density of the algae found, either a Public Health Watch or a Public Health Warning is issued for that water impoundment.&nbsp;

&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; A Public Health Watch

There are no current public health watches for any Kansas lakes.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

Public Health Watches are currently in effect at the following lakes; Big Hill Lake in Labette County, Milford Lake Zone “C” in Geary County and South Lake in Johnson County. Public Health Warnings are currently in effect at Big Eleven Lake in Wyandotte County, Jerry Ivey Pond in Saline County, Keith Sebelius Reservoir in Norton County, both Marion County Lake and Marion County Reservoir in Marion County, Melvern Outlet Pond in Osage County and Webster Reservoir in Rooks County. Keep abreast of current algae watches and warnings on www.ksoutdoors.com.&nbsp;

Health effects can occur when surface scum or water containing high levels of blue-green algal toxins are swallowed or have contact with exposed skin, or when airborne droplets containing toxins are inhaled while swimming, boating or skiing. Most people report the effects as “allergic” type reactions like intestinal or respiratory problems or skin irritations. Animal reactions may range from general weakness and lethargy, to vomiting, diarrhea, difficulty breathing or even convulsion. Algae blooms don’t usually envelope an entire lake, so places can still be found to fish on lakes under blue-green algae watches and warnings, and according to the folks in-the-know at the Kansas Dept of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism, fish caught from affected lakes can still be safely eaten, just wash the meat thoroughly.&nbsp; My friend used to say “Everybody always tells me – Cheer up, things could be worse. So, I cheered up, and sure enough – things got worse!” Sorry to say that health warnings at area lakes because of toxic algae blooms will probably get more numerous before they get better. I guess your options are to sell the boat, skis and fishing poles, or just drive a little farther to a lake where no warnings exist, and continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors!

Steve Gilliland, Inman, can be contacted by email at stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574696211722.png" alt="Steve&nbsp;Gilliland" />
 <figcaption>Steve&nbsp;Gilliland</figcaption>
 </figure>Wheat farmers adore the hot dry weather during wheat harvest, as it dries the crop and allows for harvesting without worrying about wet spots in fields. But, along with extended periods of hot dry weather often come blue-green algae blooms at lake and reservoirs.&nbsp; I know all you K State fans love your “Royal Purple”, and KU fans adore your red and blue, and those colors are just the ticket to adorn T shirts, umbrellas and ball caps in support of your chosen team. But when the waters of your favorite lake take on those same colors, lookout!&nbsp;Welcome to algae bloom season again in Kansas. This period of summer runs from May through October, the months sporting the longest days of sunlight and the warmest water temperatures, and unfortunately this time frame also encompasses the three holidays when our lakes are used the most, Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day. Blue-Green Algae are bacteria with a scientific name as long as a yardstick, that exist naturally in rivers, lakes and ponds and all aquatic ecosystems here in Kansas. When certain conditions align, such as exceptionally high nutrient content in the water, and long hot days with lots of sunlight, those bacteria can reproduce more rapidly than usual, causing a dense growth of algae known as “a bloom.” Some algae blooms are harmless, but when the blooming organisms contain toxins, noxious chemicals or pathogens in levels harmful to humans and animals, it is declared to be a “Harmful Algae Bloom,” and warnings or advisories are issued by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, (KDHE.) These blue-green algae blooms can be blue, bright green, brown or even red, and may look like foam or a thick frothy slurry. Some blooms, however may not even affect the appearance of the water.&nbsp;When KDHE receives notice from anyone that a harmful algae bloom is noticed or suspected, they take water samples at the most frequently used locations at the site, such as swim beaches and boat docks. The samples are analyzed, and according to the density of the algae found, either a Public Health Watch or a Public Health Warning is issued for that water impoundment.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; A Public Health Watch<ul>
 <li>Notifies the public that a hazardous condition MAY exist</li><li>Signs MAY be posted at all public access locations</li><li>Water MAY be unsafe for humans/animals</li><li>Contact with the water is discouraged&nbsp; &nbsp;</li>
 </ul>There are no current public health watches for any Kansas lakes.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;A Public Health Warning<ul>
 <li>Notifies the public that condition ARE unsafe</li><li>Signs WILL be posted at public access locations</li><li>Contact with the water SHOULD NOT OCCUR</li>
 </ul>Public Health Watches are currently in effect at the following lakes; Big Hill Lake in Labette County, Milford Lake Zone “C” in Geary County and South Lake in Johnson County. Public Health Warnings are currently in effect at Big Eleven Lake in Wyandotte County, Jerry Ivey Pond in Saline County, Keith Sebelius Reservoir in Norton County, both Marion County Lake and Marion County Reservoir in Marion County, Melvern Outlet Pond in Osage County and Webster Reservoir in Rooks County. Keep abreast of current algae watches and warnings on www.ksoutdoors.com.&nbsp;Health effects can occur when surface scum or water containing high levels of blue-green algal toxins are swallowed or have contact with exposed skin, or when airborne droplets containing toxins are inhaled while swimming, boating or skiing. Most people report the effects as “allergic” type reactions like intestinal or respiratory problems or skin irritations. Animal reactions may range from general weakness and lethargy, to vomiting, diarrhea, difficulty breathing or even convulsion. Algae blooms don’t usually envelope an entire lake, so places can still be found to fish on lakes under blue-green algae watches and warnings, and according to the folks in-the-know at the Kansas Dept of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism, fish caught from affected lakes can still be safely eaten, just wash the meat thoroughly.&nbsp; My friend used to say “Everybody always tells me – Cheer up, things could be worse. So, I cheered up, and sure enough – things got worse!” Sorry to say that health warnings at area lakes because of toxic algae blooms will probably get more numerous before they get better. I guess your options are to sell the boat, skis and fishing poles, or just drive a little farther to a lake where no warnings exist, and continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors!Steve Gilliland, Inman, can be contacted by email at stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.

Exploring Kansas Outdoors: Oh, that bloomin’ algae!

WASHINGTON — The Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service
 today urged families to take advantage of a special online tool that 
can help them determine whether they qualify for the Child Tax Credit 
and the special monthly advance payments beginning on July 15.

Available exclusively on IRS.gov, the new <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/advance-child-tax-credit-eligibility-assistant">Child Tax Credit Eligibility Assistant</a>,
 launched earlier this week, is interactive and easy to use. By 
answering a series of questions about themselves and their family 
members, a parent or other family member can quickly determine whether 
they qualify for the credit.

Though anyone can use this tool, it may be particularly useful to 
families who don't normally file a federal tax return and have not yet 
filed either a 2019 or 2020 tax return. Often, these are people who 
receive little or no income, including those experiencing homelessness, 
low income households, and other underserved groups. Using this tool can
 help them decide whether they should take the next step and register 
for the Child Tax Credit payments on another new IRS tool unveiled 
earlier this week.

"This new tool provides an important first step to help people 
understand if they qualify for the Child Tax Credit, which is especially
 important for those who don't normally file a tax return," said IRS 
Commissioner Chuck Rettig. "The eligibility assistant works in concert 
with other features on IRS.gov to help people receive this important 
credit. The IRS is working hard to deliver the expanded Child Tax 
Credit, and we will be rolling out additional help for taxpayers in the 
near future. Where possible, please help us help others by distributing 
CTC information in your communities."

To help people understand and receive this benefit, the IRS has created a special Advance Child Tax Credit 2021 page at <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/advance-child-tax-credit-payments-in-2021">IRS.gov/childtaxcredit2021</a>
 designed to provide the most up-to-date information about the credit 
and the advance payments. Among other things, the page already features a
 link to both the Non-filer Sign-up Tool, and the Child Tax Credit 
Eligibility Assistant, along with a third tool launched earlier this 
week—the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/tax-professionals/accessibility-guide-for-child-tax-credit-update-portal">Child Tax Credit Update Portal</a>.

The Child Tax Credit Eligibility Assistant does not request any 
personally-identifiable information (PII) for any family member. For 
that reason, its results are not an official determination by the IRS. 
Though the results are reliable, if the questions are answered 
accurately, they should be considered preliminary. Neither the answers 
supplied by the user, nor the results, are retained by the IRS.

After checking the Eligibility Assistant, Non-filer Sign-Up Tool is available to help those who don't normally file tax returns

The online Non-filer Sign-Up Tool is designed to help eligible 
families who don't normally file tax returns register for the monthly 
Advance Child Tax Credit payments.

This tool, an update of last year's IRS Economic Impact Payment 
Non-filers tool, is also designed to help eligible individuals who don't
 normally file tax returns register for the $1,400 third round of 
Economic Impact Payments (also known as stimulus checks) and claim the 
Recovery Rebate Credit for any amount of the first two rounds of 
Economic Impact Payments they may have missed.

Developed in partnership with Intuit and delivered through the Free 
File Alliance, this tool provides a free and easy way for eligible 
people who don't make enough income to have an income tax return-filing 
obligation to provide the IRS the basic information needed to figure and
 issue their Advance Child Tax Credit payments. This includes name, 
address, and social security numbers. This also enables them to provide 
information about their qualifying children age 17 and under, their 
other dependents, and their direct deposit bank information so the IRS 
can quickly and easily deposit the payments directly into their checking
 or savings account. It is available only on IRS.gov.

The Non-filer Sign-Up tool should not be used by anyone who has already filed a 2019 or 2020 federal income tax return.

Eligible families who already filed or plan to file 2019 or 2020 
income tax returns should not use the Non-filer Sign-Up Tool. Once the 
IRS processes their 2019 or 2020 tax return, the information will be 
used to determine eligibility and issue advance payments.

Families who want to claim other tax benefits, such as the Earned 
Income Tax Credit for low-and moderate-income families, should not use 
this tool and instead file a regular tax return. For them, the fastest 
and easiest way to file a return is the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free">Free File</a> system, available only on IRS.gov.

The IRS urges everyone to be on the lookout for scams related to both
 Advance Child Tax Credit payments and Economic Impact Payments. The IRS
 emphasized that the only way to get either of these benefits is by 
either filing a tax return with the IRS or registering online through 
the Non-filer Sign-up Tool, exclusively on IRS.gov. Any other option is a
 scam.

Watch out for scams using email, phone calls or texts related to the 
payments. Remember, the IRS never sends unsolicited electronic 
communications asking anyone to open attachments or visit a 
non-governmental web site.

Earlier this week, Treasury and IRS launched another useful tool, the
 Child Tax Credit Update Portal. Initially, this tool only enables 
anyone who has been determined to be eligible for advance payments to 
see that they are eligible and unenroll from (opt out of) the advance 
payment program. Later, it will allow people to check on the status of 
their payments and make updates to their information, including their 
bank account information. Later this year, the tool will also be 
available in Spanish.

The IRS urges community groups, non-profits, associations, education 
organizations and anyone else with connections to people with children 
to share this critical information about the Advance Child Tax Credit as
 well as other important benefits. Among other things, the IRS is 
already working closely with its community partners to ensure wide 
access to the Non-filer Sign-up Tool and the Child Tax Credit Update 
Portal. The agency is also providing additional materials and 
information that can be easily shared by social media, email and other 
methods.

The expanded and newly-advanceable Child Tax Credit was authorized by
 the American Rescue Plan Act, enacted in March. Normally, the IRS will 
calculate the payment based on a family's 2020 tax return, including 
those who use the Non-filer Sign-up Tool. If that return is not 
available because it has not yet been filed or is still being processed,
 the IRS will instead determine the initial payment amounts using the 
2019 return or the information entered using the Non-filers tool that 
was available in 2020.

The payment will be up to $300 per month for each child under age 6 and up to $250 per month for each child age 6 through 17.

To make sure families have easy access to their money, the IRS will 
issue these payments by direct deposit, as long as correct banking 
information has previously been provided to the IRS. Otherwise, people 
should watch their mail around July 15 for their mailed payment. The 
dates for the Advance Child Tax Credit payments are July 15, August&nbsp;13, 
September&nbsp;15, October&nbsp;15, November&nbsp;15, and December&nbsp;15.

For more information, visit <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/advance-child-tax-credit-payments-in-2021">IRS.gov/childtaxcredit2021</a>, or read <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/2021-child-tax-credit-and-advance-child-tax-credit-payments-frequently-asked-questions">FAQs on the 2021 Child Tax Credit and Advance Child Tax Credit Payments</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON — The Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service
 today urged families to take advantage of a special online tool that 
can help them determine whether they qualify for the Child Tax Credit 
and the special monthly advance payments beginning on July 15.Available exclusively on IRS.gov, the new <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/advance-child-tax-credit-eligibility-assistant">Child Tax Credit Eligibility Assistant</a>,
 launched earlier this week, is interactive and easy to use. By 
answering a series of questions about themselves and their family 
members, a parent or other family member can quickly determine whether 
they qualify for the credit.Though anyone can use this tool, it may be particularly useful to 
families who don't normally file a federal tax return and have not yet 
filed either a 2019 or 2020 tax return. Often, these are people who 
receive little or no income, including those experiencing homelessness, 
low income households, and other underserved groups. Using this tool can
 help them decide whether they should take the next step and register 
for the Child Tax Credit payments on another new IRS tool unveiled 
earlier this week."This new tool provides an important first step to help people 
understand if they qualify for the Child Tax Credit, which is especially
 important for those who don't normally file a tax return," said IRS 
Commissioner Chuck Rettig. "The eligibility assistant works in concert 
with other features on IRS.gov to help people receive this important 
credit. The IRS is working hard to deliver the expanded Child Tax 
Credit, and we will be rolling out additional help for taxpayers in the 
near future. Where possible, please help us help others by distributing 
CTC information in your communities."To help people understand and receive this benefit, the IRS has created a special Advance Child Tax Credit 2021 page at <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/advance-child-tax-credit-payments-in-2021">IRS.gov/childtaxcredit2021</a>
 designed to provide the most up-to-date information about the credit 
and the advance payments. Among other things, the page already features a
 link to both the Non-filer Sign-up Tool, and the Child Tax Credit 
Eligibility Assistant, along with a third tool launched earlier this 
week—the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/tax-professionals/accessibility-guide-for-child-tax-credit-update-portal">Child Tax Credit Update Portal</a>.The Child Tax Credit Eligibility Assistant does not request any 
personally-identifiable information (PII) for any family member. For 
that reason, its results are not an official determination by the IRS. 
Though the results are reliable, if the questions are answered 
accurately, they should be considered preliminary. Neither the answers 
supplied by the user, nor the results, are retained by the IRS.<h2>After checking the Eligibility Assistant, Non-filer Sign-Up Tool is available to help those who don't normally file tax returns</h2>The online Non-filer Sign-Up Tool is designed to help eligible 
families who don't normally file tax returns register for the monthly 
Advance Child Tax Credit payments.This tool, an update of last year's IRS Economic Impact Payment 
Non-filers tool, is also designed to help eligible individuals who don't
 normally file tax returns register for the $1,400 third round of 
Economic Impact Payments (also known as stimulus checks) and claim the 
Recovery Rebate Credit for any amount of the first two rounds of 
Economic Impact Payments they may have missed.Developed in partnership with Intuit and delivered through the Free 
File Alliance, this tool provides a free and easy way for eligible 
people who don't make enough income to have an income tax return-filing 
obligation to provide the IRS the basic information needed to figure and
 issue their Advance Child Tax Credit payments. This includes name, 
address, and social security numbers. This also enables them to provide 
information about their qualifying children age 17 and under, their 
other dependents, and their direct deposit bank information so the IRS 
can quickly and easily deposit the payments directly into their checking
 or savings account. It is available only on IRS.gov.The Non-filer Sign-Up tool should not be used by anyone who has already filed a 2019 or 2020 federal income tax return.<h2>No action needed by most other families</h2>Eligible families who already filed or plan to file 2019 or 2020 
income tax returns should not use the Non-filer Sign-Up Tool. Once the 
IRS processes their 2019 or 2020 tax return, the information will be 
used to determine eligibility and issue advance payments.Families who want to claim other tax benefits, such as the Earned 
Income Tax Credit for low-and moderate-income families, should not use 
this tool and instead file a regular tax return. For them, the fastest 
and easiest way to file a return is the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free">Free File</a> system, available only on IRS.gov.<h2>Watch out for scams</h2>The IRS urges everyone to be on the lookout for scams related to both
 Advance Child Tax Credit payments and Economic Impact Payments. The IRS
 emphasized that the only way to get either of these benefits is by 
either filing a tax return with the IRS or registering online through 
the Non-filer Sign-up Tool, exclusively on IRS.gov. Any other option is a
 scam.Watch out for scams using email, phone calls or texts related to the 
payments. Remember, the IRS never sends unsolicited electronic 
communications asking anyone to open attachments or visit a 
non-governmental web site.<h2>Child Tax Credit Update Portal</h2>Earlier this week, Treasury and IRS launched another useful tool, the
 Child Tax Credit Update Portal. Initially, this tool only enables 
anyone who has been determined to be eligible for advance payments to 
see that they are eligible and unenroll from (opt out of) the advance 
payment program. Later, it will allow people to check on the status of 
their payments and make updates to their information, including their 
bank account information. Later this year, the tool will also be 
available in Spanish.<h2>Community partners can help</h2>The IRS urges community groups, non-profits, associations, education 
organizations and anyone else with connections to people with children 
to share this critical information about the Advance Child Tax Credit as
 well as other important benefits. Among other things, the IRS is 
already working closely with its community partners to ensure wide 
access to the Non-filer Sign-up Tool and the Child Tax Credit Update 
Portal. The agency is also providing additional materials and 
information that can be easily shared by social media, email and other 
methods.<h2>About the Advance Child Tax Credit</h2>The expanded and newly-advanceable Child Tax Credit was authorized by
 the American Rescue Plan Act, enacted in March. Normally, the IRS will 
calculate the payment based on a family's 2020 tax return, including 
those who use the Non-filer Sign-up Tool. If that return is not 
available because it has not yet been filed or is still being processed,
 the IRS will instead determine the initial payment amounts using the 
2019 return or the information entered using the Non-filers tool that 
was available in 2020.The payment will be up to $300 per month for each child under age 6 and up to $250 per month for each child age 6 through 17.To make sure families have easy access to their money, the IRS will 
issue these payments by direct deposit, as long as correct banking 
information has previously been provided to the IRS. Otherwise, people 
should watch their mail around July 15 for their mailed payment. The 
dates for the Advance Child Tax Credit payments are July 15, August&nbsp;13, 
September&nbsp;15, October&nbsp;15, November&nbsp;15, and December&nbsp;15.For more information, visit <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/advance-child-tax-credit-payments-in-2021">IRS.gov/childtaxcredit2021</a>, or read <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/2021-child-tax-credit-and-advance-child-tax-credit-payments-frequently-asked-questions">FAQs on the 2021 Child Tax Credit and Advance Child Tax Credit Payments</a>.