M. June Wick, 90, died on Friday, January 22, 2021, in Arvada, Colorado. 
 She was born on February 25, 1930, in Lane County the daughter of Joseph
 Earl &amp; Jennie Pearl (Torson) McGowan. She married Howard D. Wick 
on October 17, 1948, at Dighton. He died on October 29, 2017. 
June graduated from Dighton High School in 1948. She was a lifelong 
Dighton resident. She assisted her husband in the operating of Wick 
Grain, handling grain, feed and fertilizer. She was a member of First 
Christian Church of Dighton and Country Quilters. 
She is survived by her Son- Daniel R. &amp; Darnel Wick of Dighton, 
Daughter- Jendee Wick of Arvada, Colorado, 5 Grandchildren and 9 
Great-Grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her Husband, Parents, 2
 Brothers- and 2 Sisters 
Funeral Service will be at 2:00 PM Saturday at First Christian Church 
with Pastor Steve Payne officiating. Burial will be in Dighton Memorial
 Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to First Christian Church in care of
 Boomhower Funeral Home. Friends may call from Noon to 8:00 PM Friday 
at Boomhower Funeral Home. Condolences may be posted at 
www.garnandfuneralhomes.com&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1611606928528.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>M. June Wick, 90, died on Friday, January 22, 2021, in Arvada, Colorado. 
 She was born on February 25, 1930, in Lane County the daughter of Joseph
 Earl &amp; Jennie Pearl (Torson) McGowan. She married Howard D. Wick 
on October 17, 1948, at Dighton. He died on October 29, 2017. 
June graduated from Dighton High School in 1948. She was a lifelong 
Dighton resident. She assisted her husband in the operating of Wick 
Grain, handling grain, feed and fertilizer. She was a member of First 
Christian Church of Dighton and Country Quilters. 
She is survived by her Son- Daniel R. &amp; Darnel Wick of Dighton, 
Daughter- Jendee Wick of Arvada, Colorado, 5 Grandchildren and 9 
Great-Grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her Husband, Parents, 2
 Brothers- and 2 Sisters 
Funeral Service will be at 2:00 PM Saturday at First Christian Church 
with Pastor Steve Payne officiating. Burial will be in Dighton Memorial
 Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to First Christian Church in care of
 Boomhower Funeral Home. Friends may call from Noon to 8:00 PM Friday 
at Boomhower Funeral Home. Condolences may be posted at 
www.garnandfuneralhomes.com&nbsp;

M. June Wick

Alice Ann (White) Denk, 82, formerly of Hill City Kansas passed away 
peacefully in Lindsborg, Kansas, January 18, 2021. Born Alice Ann White 
July 27, 1938, in Studley, Kansas to Elsie and Robert White. She was the
 ninth child of ten children. She graduated from Hoxie High School in 
1955. 
 	She was the loving wife of Alvin Frances Denk. The couple was 
married October 10, 1959. Alvin passed away March 11, 2007. Alice and 
Alvin were the proud parents of two sons: John and James. The family 
lived in Hill City and operated A and A Gambles there and were invested 
in the community. 
 	Alice was a woman of faith, family and service. She wore many 
occupational hats in her life: bookkeeper, secretary, EMT, and nurses’ 
aide, but her life-long love of art was always part of her identity. 
Sharing her talents in service and love for her family, friends, and 
community was Alice’s core. She contributed by establishing parks, 
planting trees, and gifting holiday art and decorations to the Hill City
 Park. She was instrumental in establishing the Emergency Medical 
Service (EMS) of Graham County. She was also a devoted member of the 
Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish and served many funeral dinners as a 
leader of the Altar Society. 
 	Family meant everything to Alice. She cherished her moments with 
her grandchildren and looked forward to every visit. She and Alvin 
visited both their children and grandchildren regularly, and she 
cherished their visits, admitting that she even hated cleaning her 
windows that were covered in little handprints. She stayed close with 
them throughout her long and well-lived life. 
 	Alice was preceded in death by her husband, Alvin; her parents, bob
 and Elsie White; brothers Fred, Ted and Bob; sisters: Rosa Doris Brock,
 Kay Rueschhoff, Frances Keith, and Dorothy Taylor. 
 	She is survived by her sons and their wives: John and Laurie Denk, 
of Lindsborg, Jim and Janet Denk, of Matthews, North Carolina; 
grandchildren: Connor Denk (Kathrine Berry), and great grandson Liam 
Denk of Lindsborg, Claire Denk of Mishawaka, Indiana, David Denk of Las 
Vegas, Nevada, and Alison (Ali) Denk of Charlotte, North Carolina; 
sisters: Ramona Ball and Elizabeth Legere. 
 	We will miss Alice but know she is feeding her beloved birds and loving us all.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1611513288972.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Alice Ann (White) Denk, 82, formerly of Hill City Kansas passed away 
peacefully in Lindsborg, Kansas, January 18, 2021. Born Alice Ann White 
July 27, 1938, in Studley, Kansas to Elsie and Robert White. She was the
 ninth child of ten children. She graduated from Hoxie High School in 
1955. 
 	She was the loving wife of Alvin Frances Denk. The couple was 
married October 10, 1959. Alvin passed away March 11, 2007. Alice and 
Alvin were the proud parents of two sons: John and James. The family 
lived in Hill City and operated A and A Gambles there and were invested 
in the community. 
 	Alice was a woman of faith, family and service. She wore many 
occupational hats in her life: bookkeeper, secretary, EMT, and nurses’ 
aide, but her life-long love of art was always part of her identity. 
Sharing her talents in service and love for her family, friends, and 
community was Alice’s core. She contributed by establishing parks, 
planting trees, and gifting holiday art and decorations to the Hill City
 Park. She was instrumental in establishing the Emergency Medical 
Service (EMS) of Graham County. She was also a devoted member of the 
Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish and served many funeral dinners as a 
leader of the Altar Society. 
 	Family meant everything to Alice. She cherished her moments with 
her grandchildren and looked forward to every visit. She and Alvin 
visited both their children and grandchildren regularly, and she 
cherished their visits, admitting that she even hated cleaning her 
windows that were covered in little handprints. She stayed close with 
them throughout her long and well-lived life. 
 	Alice was preceded in death by her husband, Alvin; her parents, bob
 and Elsie White; brothers Fred, Ted and Bob; sisters: Rosa Doris Brock,
 Kay Rueschhoff, Frances Keith, and Dorothy Taylor. 
 	She is survived by her sons and their wives: John and Laurie Denk, 
of Lindsborg, Jim and Janet Denk, of Matthews, North Carolina; 
grandchildren: Connor Denk (Kathrine Berry), and great grandson Liam 
Denk of Lindsborg, Claire Denk of Mishawaka, Indiana, David Denk of Las 
Vegas, Nevada, and Alison (Ali) Denk of Charlotte, North Carolina; 
sisters: Ramona Ball and Elizabeth Legere. 
 	We will miss Alice but know she is feeding her beloved birds and loving us all.&nbsp;

Alice Ann (White) Denk

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — One winning ticket was sold in Michigan for the $1 billion Mega Millions jackpot, making it the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-news-7c3e9ed1096d6adac44327a470710800">third-largest lottery prize</a>&nbsp;in U.S. history.

The winning numbers drawn Friday are: 4, 26, 42, 50, 60 and a Mega Ball of 24. The winning ticket was purchased at a Kroger store in Novi, Michigan — a city about 8 miles (13 kilometers) northwest of Detroit — according to the Michigan Lottery website.

The Mega Millions top prize had been growing since Sept. 15, when a winning ticket was sold in Wisconsin. The lottery’s next estimated jackpot is $20 million.

Friday night’s drawing comes two days after a ticket sold in Maryland matched all six numbers drawn and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/powerball-jackpot-winner-731-million-d968eb177fa0c89547ccff73d0997abe">won a $731.1 million Powerball</a>&nbsp;jackpot.

Only two lottery prizes in the U.S. have been larger than Friday’s jackpot. Three tickets for a $1.586 billion Powerball jackpot were sold in January 2016, and one winning ticket sold for a $1.537 billion Mega Millions jackpot in October 2018.

The jackpot figures refer to amounts if a winner opts for an annuity, paid in 30 annual installments. Most winners choose a cash prize, which for the Mega Millions jackpot is $739.6 million.

The odds of winning a Mega Millions jackpot are incredibly steep at one in 302.5 million.

The game is played in 45 states including Kansas and Missouri as well as Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1611410040393.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — One winning ticket was sold in Michigan for the $1 billion Mega Millions jackpot, making it the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-news-7c3e9ed1096d6adac44327a470710800">third-largest lottery prize</a>&nbsp;in U.S. history.The winning numbers drawn Friday are: 4, 26, 42, 50, 60 and a Mega Ball of 24. The winning ticket was purchased at a Kroger store in Novi, Michigan — a city about 8 miles (13 kilometers) northwest of Detroit — according to the Michigan Lottery website.The Mega Millions top prize had been growing since Sept. 15, when a winning ticket was sold in Wisconsin. The lottery’s next estimated jackpot is $20 million.Friday night’s drawing comes two days after a ticket sold in Maryland matched all six numbers drawn and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/powerball-jackpot-winner-731-million-d968eb177fa0c89547ccff73d0997abe">won a $731.1 million Powerball</a>&nbsp;jackpot.Only two lottery prizes in the U.S. have been larger than Friday’s jackpot. Three tickets for a $1.586 billion Powerball jackpot were sold in January 2016, and one winning ticket sold for a $1.537 billion Mega Millions jackpot in October 2018.The jackpot figures refer to amounts if a winner opts for an annuity, paid in 30 annual installments. Most winners choose a cash prize, which for the Mega Millions jackpot is $739.6 million.The odds of winning a Mega Millions jackpot are incredibly steep at one in 302.5 million.The game is played in 45 states including Kansas and Missouri as well as Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

1 winner of Mega Millions $1B prize; 3rd largest ever in US

By CELIA LLOPIS-JEPSEN <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2021-01-20/kansas-pharmacies-hire-and-train-more-workers-to-help-rollout-covid-19-vaccines-faster">Kansas News Service</a>

Hundreds, potentially thousands, of pharmacy workers could inject vaccines into the arms of Kansans in the coming months.

New
 rules, at least for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic, now let an 
additional class of workers vaccinate more people faster.

Pharmacists could already give shots. But in Kansas, the pharmacy technicians that work alongside them couldn’t.

That changed <a href="https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2020/10/21/trump-administration-takes-action-further-expand-access-vaccines-covid-19-tests.html" target="_blank">in the fall</a>
 with new federal regulations that let technicians give vaccinations. A 
few states already allowed that before the pandemic, but many 
pharmacists across the country saw the expanding role of techs as a 
threat to their jobs.

As supplies of coronavirus vaccine increase,
 Kansas counts on pharmacies to help get it to the broader public. For 
now, the state remains in <a href="https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/157/Availability" target="_blank">Phase One</a>
 of distribution, focused on health care workers and nursing home 
residents. Drug stores still don’t know when they will receive vaccine 
stock.

Pharmacy techs help manage inventory, fill pill bottles, unpack orders, schedule appointments.

Their
 role has come to involve more training and more tasks over the years. 
In 2017, a few dozen technicians in Idaho became the first in the 
country to start giving vaccines. Within half a year they gave <a href="https://www.pharmacytimes.com/publications/supplements/2019/march2019/an-update-on-technicians-as-immunizers" target="_blank">1,000 shots</a>.

By the time the pandemic hit, <a href="https://www.pharmacist.com/article/pharmacy-technicians-gear-immunize#:~:text=States%20that%20currently%20permit%20pharmacy,Island%2C%20Utah%2C%20and%20Nevada." target="_blank">a handful of states</a> had followed Idaho’s path. The goal was to free up pharmacists from some of their most routine tasks.

Pharmacists
 in the retail world are notoriously busy. They struggle to find time 
for the kind of conversations with patients that can tease out important
 health issues before they escalate. In the worst cases, an 
investigation by <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/31/health/pharmacists-medication-errors.html" target="_blank">The New York Times</a> found, excessive workloads can lead to prescription-filling errors.

By
 contrast, pharmacists with more time have more conversations with 
patients. That’s when they could learn that a medication has one of 
their customers feeling dizzy, and that another one hasn’t gotten his 
pneumonia shot yet.

“If you look at your average pharmacist” in 
retail, Washington State University pharmacotherapy professor Kimberly 
McKeirnan said, “they’re using such a small portion of the education 
that they have.”

McKeirnan developed <a href="https://pharmacy.wsu.edu/pharmacy-technician-immunization-training/" target="_blank">the training</a> for the first technicians in Idaho to give immunizations. That led later to a <a href="https://www.pharmacist.com/pharmacy-based-immunization-administration-pharmacy-technicians-0" target="_blank">nationally recognized certification</a> program.

The idea has stoked controversy. In recent years, the increasing ranks of newly minted pharmacists compared to <a href="https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/pharmacists.htm#:~:text=in%20May%202019.-,Job%20Outlook,percent%20from%202019%20to%202029." target="_blank">shrinking</a> job opportunities for them alarmed many in the field.

<a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1NSIGxMrdQeojIQtKusz29uyfQr9MhctQamcsiyhHFqc/edit" target="_blank">They warned</a>
 of the toll it would take on career and salary prospects for people who
 spent years in graduate school incurring hefty student debts.

Some
 pharmacists worried that simultaneously expanding the role of 
technicians could take the pressure off retailers to hire more 
pharmacists, whose salaries can cost more than three times as much. 
Others embraced the help of technicians with extra training as valuable 
support.

McKeirnan notes that technicians must work alongside 
pharmacists, who remain the clinical experts. For pharmacists, she sees a
 chance to get the time they need to work with customers at length. For 
technicians, she sees a door to growth and higher pay.

“They kind 
of hit a pay ceiling often at some point,” she said. “And then, maybe 
with the exception of just general cost of living adjustments, there’s 
not room to advance.”

In Kansas, the average <a href="https://klic.dol.ks.gov/gsipub/index.asp?docid=795" target="_blank">technician’s pay</a> comes out to about $34,000 a year.

It
 remains unclear, though, whether pharmacies in Kansas and elsewhere 
will raise the pay for technicians who complete training to give shots 
or do other new tasks.

CVS Health, for example, hasn’t committed 
to raising the pay of its technicians who join the massive immunization 
effort. That company says nearly 10,000 of its technicians have started 
or completed the training.

That includes more than 50 pharmacy techs for CVS in Kansas, where the chain operates about as many stores.

In Lawrence, technician Shawn Yang jumped at the chance to help administer the shots that could help stop this pandemic.

“It was an easy decision,” said Yang, who has worked for CVS for six years. “I definitely wanted to get vaccine-certified.”

The store where he works already gets loads of phone calls from people wondering how and when they can get immunized.

Yang
 sees a chance to help in a way that was previously closed to him. He is
 working through an American Pharmacists Association program that trains
 techs to give shots with pharmacist supervision.

Nate Burrell, a 
CVS pharmacist who oversees the pharmacy teams at 18 stores in Kansas 
and Missouri, wants at least two workers with the extra training at each
 of those sites.

“We know that they’re going to really be a huge asset,” Burrell said.

Drug stores have been on <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-12-22/coronavirus-vaccines-are-coming-to-nursing-homes-soon-but-family-visits-likely-remain-months-away" target="_blank">a hiring spree</a>
 for months, snapping up more pharmacists, nurses and technicians as 
coronavirus testing rolled out, flu season arrived and clinical trials 
on COVID-19 vaccines progressed.

Extra hands proved even more 
important when the federal government turned to pharmacies — primarily 
Walgreens and CVS — to send vaccination teams into <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-12-22/coronavirus-vaccines-are-coming-to-nursing-homes-soon-but-family-visits-likely-remain-months-away" target="_blank">nursing homes</a>, an effort that started last month (and that some say has <a href="https://khn.org/news/article/cvs-and-walgreens-under-fire-for-slow-pace-of-vaccination-in-nursing-homes/" target="_blank">moved too slowly</a>).

In October, CVS alone said it needed an extra 10,000 pharmacy technicians nationwide. That hiring continues.

Celia
 Llopis-Jepsen reports on consumer health and education for the Kansas 
News Service. You can follow her on Twitter @celia_LJ or email her at 
celia@kcur.org.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1611179732999.png" alt="New federal rules aim to help pharmacies give the COVID-19 vaccine to more people faster. Carlos Moreno / KCUR" />
 <figcaption>New federal rules aim to help pharmacies give the COVID-19 vaccine to more people faster. Carlos Moreno / KCUR</figcaption>
 </figure>By CELIA LLOPIS-JEPSEN <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2021-01-20/kansas-pharmacies-hire-and-train-more-workers-to-help-rollout-covid-19-vaccines-faster">Kansas News Service</a>Hundreds, potentially thousands, of pharmacy workers could inject vaccines into the arms of Kansans in the coming months.New
 rules, at least for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic, now let an 
additional class of workers vaccinate more people faster.Pharmacists could already give shots. But in Kansas, the pharmacy technicians that work alongside them couldn’t.That changed <a href="https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2020/10/21/trump-administration-takes-action-further-expand-access-vaccines-covid-19-tests.html" target="_blank">in the fall</a>
 with new federal regulations that let technicians give vaccinations. A 
few states already allowed that before the pandemic, but many 
pharmacists across the country saw the expanding role of techs as a 
threat to their jobs.As supplies of coronavirus vaccine increase,
 Kansas counts on pharmacies to help get it to the broader public. For 
now, the state remains in <a href="https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/157/Availability" target="_blank">Phase One</a>
 of distribution, focused on health care workers and nursing home 
residents. Drug stores still don’t know when they will receive vaccine 
stock.<h2>Expanding role for techs</h2>Pharmacy techs help manage inventory, fill pill bottles, unpack orders, schedule appointments.Their
 role has come to involve more training and more tasks over the years. 
In 2017, a few dozen technicians in Idaho became the first in the 
country to start giving vaccines. Within half a year they gave <a href="https://www.pharmacytimes.com/publications/supplements/2019/march2019/an-update-on-technicians-as-immunizers" target="_blank">1,000 shots</a>.By the time the pandemic hit, <a href="https://www.pharmacist.com/article/pharmacy-technicians-gear-immunize#:~:text=States%20that%20currently%20permit%20pharmacy,Island%2C%20Utah%2C%20and%20Nevada." target="_blank">a handful of states</a> had followed Idaho’s path. The goal was to free up pharmacists from some of their most routine tasks.Pharmacists
 in the retail world are notoriously busy. They struggle to find time 
for the kind of conversations with patients that can tease out important
 health issues before they escalate. In the worst cases, an 
investigation by <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/31/health/pharmacists-medication-errors.html" target="_blank">The New York Times</a> found, excessive workloads can lead to prescription-filling errors.By
 contrast, pharmacists with more time have more conversations with 
patients. That’s when they could learn that a medication has one of 
their customers feeling dizzy, and that another one hasn’t gotten his 
pneumonia shot yet.“If you look at your average pharmacist” in 
retail, Washington State University pharmacotherapy professor Kimberly 
McKeirnan said, “they’re using such a small portion of the education 
that they have.”McKeirnan developed <a href="https://pharmacy.wsu.edu/pharmacy-technician-immunization-training/" target="_blank">the training</a> for the first technicians in Idaho to give immunizations. That led later to a <a href="https://www.pharmacist.com/pharmacy-based-immunization-administration-pharmacy-technicians-0" target="_blank">nationally recognized certification</a> program.<h2>Job market changes</h2>The idea has stoked controversy. In recent years, the increasing ranks of newly minted pharmacists compared to <a href="https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/pharmacists.htm#:~:text=in%20May%202019.-,Job%20Outlook,percent%20from%202019%20to%202029." target="_blank">shrinking</a> job opportunities for them alarmed many in the field.<a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1NSIGxMrdQeojIQtKusz29uyfQr9MhctQamcsiyhHFqc/edit" target="_blank">They warned</a>
 of the toll it would take on career and salary prospects for people who
 spent years in graduate school incurring hefty student debts.Some
 pharmacists worried that simultaneously expanding the role of 
technicians could take the pressure off retailers to hire more 
pharmacists, whose salaries can cost more than three times as much. 
Others embraced the help of technicians with extra training as valuable 
support.McKeirnan notes that technicians must work alongside 
pharmacists, who remain the clinical experts. For pharmacists, she sees a
 chance to get the time they need to work with customers at length. For 
technicians, she sees a door to growth and higher pay.“They kind 
of hit a pay ceiling often at some point,” she said. “And then, maybe 
with the exception of just general cost of living adjustments, there’s 
not room to advance.”In Kansas, the average <a href="https://klic.dol.ks.gov/gsipub/index.asp?docid=795" target="_blank">technician’s pay</a> comes out to about $34,000 a year.It
 remains unclear, though, whether pharmacies in Kansas and elsewhere 
will raise the pay for technicians who complete training to give shots 
or do other new tasks.CVS Health, for example, hasn’t committed 
to raising the pay of its technicians who join the massive immunization 
effort. That company says nearly 10,000 of its technicians have started 
or completed the training.<h2>Preparing for the rollout</h2>That includes more than 50 pharmacy techs for CVS in Kansas, where the chain operates about as many stores.In Lawrence, technician Shawn Yang jumped at the chance to help administer the shots that could help stop this pandemic.“It was an easy decision,” said Yang, who has worked for CVS for six years. “I definitely wanted to get vaccine-certified.”The store where he works already gets loads of phone calls from people wondering how and when they can get immunized.Yang
 sees a chance to help in a way that was previously closed to him. He is
 working through an American Pharmacists Association program that trains
 techs to give shots with pharmacist supervision.Nate Burrell, a 
CVS pharmacist who oversees the pharmacy teams at 18 stores in Kansas 
and Missouri, wants at least two workers with the extra training at each
 of those sites.“We know that they’re going to really be a huge asset,” Burrell said.Drug stores have been on <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-12-22/coronavirus-vaccines-are-coming-to-nursing-homes-soon-but-family-visits-likely-remain-months-away" target="_blank">a hiring spree</a>
 for months, snapping up more pharmacists, nurses and technicians as 
coronavirus testing rolled out, flu season arrived and clinical trials 
on COVID-19 vaccines progressed.Extra hands proved even more 
important when the federal government turned to pharmacies — primarily 
Walgreens and CVS — to send vaccination teams into <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-12-22/coronavirus-vaccines-are-coming-to-nursing-homes-soon-but-family-visits-likely-remain-months-away" target="_blank">nursing homes</a>, an effort that started last month (and that some say has <a href="https://khn.org/news/article/cvs-and-walgreens-under-fire-for-slow-pace-of-vaccination-in-nursing-homes/" target="_blank">moved too slowly</a>).In October, CVS alone said it needed an extra 10,000 pharmacy technicians nationwide. That hiring continues.Celia
 Llopis-Jepsen reports on consumer health and education for the Kansas 
News Service. You can follow her on Twitter @celia_LJ or email her at 
celia@kcur.org.

Kan. pharmacies hire, train more workers to speed vaccine rollout

The Fort Hays State University Foundation announced Friday the selection of Jason Ball as its new chief financial officer. Ball has served as director of development for the university's fundraising arm since 2018 and looks forward to taking his role with the FHSU Foundation to the next level.

Ball earned both his bachelor’s degree in accounting and his master of business administration degree from Fort Hays State University and was a member of the Tiger men’s basketball team from 2008-2013.

Current CFO Francine Hestermann plans to retire in October 2021 following a successful tenure of more than two decades. Ball will work, learn and train alongside Hestermann with the title of CFO-Elect for a number of months before taking on the official title of CFO in October.

“I am honored and grateful to serve in this role alongside our FHSU Foundation accounting and finance team,” Ball said. “The strength and expertise of this team can be attributed to the success that Francine has had over the past 23 years. I look forward to helping ensure that future generations of Tigers and the university benefit from the incredible philanthropy that exists within the Fort Hays State community.”

The FHSU Foundation has seen a great amount of growth and change throughout Hestermann’s tenure as chief financial officer. Net assets for the FHSU Foundation have grown from $21 million to more than $127 million to date, and its staff has grown from seven employees to 21.

“I’m pleased that Jason Ball has been selected to fill the role of chief financial officer, and I look forward to working closely with him&nbsp;for several months before retiring and closing out this incredible chapter of my life,” Hestermann said.

Ball is a third generation Tiger and is thankful for the great impact that FHSU has had on his life. He is excited to give back in this new role and to enable future generations to enjoy the same great opportunities that he had.

“On behalf of the staff, the search committee and the Board of Trustees, I want to welcome Jason Ball to his new role – and thank Francine for her tireless commitment to excellence,”&nbsp;said Jason Williby, president and CEO of the FHSU Foundation.&nbsp;“Francine’s longevity as the CFO has been key to our success over the last 23 years. While Francine and Jason will work side by side until October, today’s announcement marks a passing of the torch. I am excited for the impact that philanthropy will have on the future of FHSU and our students.”

Currently in the capstone year of its&nbsp;Journey&nbsp;campaign – with a goal of raising $100 million by Homecoming 2021 – the FHSU Foundation continues to be humbled by the generosity of its Fort Hays State alumni and donors. Ball will be responsible for&nbsp;providing leadership and vision for all financial operations, financial management services and reporting for both internal and external constituencies. In addition, he will be accountable for administration of the endowment, financial analysis and the implementation of financial policies and all accounting practices.

To learn more about the FHSU Foundation, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=-2BFJoAhsjp8losQfY8t-2BZtDSAKvxVcchtfV1543l0Kpl6aRGqIctSqa6Magmpvb7gPZPr_r-2BDMsuWuYVmb7-2F1Mu1QL1I-2FJ8-2BHR91nNNNGTTc38Ah0CWayiZL-2BkhdmA3sx0XGnG-2FN1jk6rVQRO9vN7U5rFC-2BcXi909IOPAdkr3SvXFdyn3Ag1h6-2F-2B6atf0vMUKxRgZ-2Be27hN4v0Inuf4CVxGwC0gEXxgQbzDswoG8gnCAPVOaQhGKk8CQNleGLbSGg-2FgybfLlpY2tDDivIGJeVycNerprsdhU5eBTwp1ppZMcAX6AxySpNpJwMmw3EwnkLCjp1DvjsccTsMOf7Vlc3SPEU26cU3I1-2FhJb4MgS2OCSMO25RLjewpRKH0wlJgqDU1ETut1-2FQRLTM-2FkNcYKKF4DaGz0dI1oG3DUop7IBx31ifPtKofA032pn-2ByADiIWENvb6pgnsvSN35b2c69Z-2FGTRj8PGQ-3D-3D">https://foundation.fhsu.edu</a>&nbsp;or contact its offices at 785-628-5620 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:foundation@fhsu.edu">foundation@fhsu.edu</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1611353061841.jpeg" alt="Jason Ball" />
 <figcaption>Jason Ball</figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU University RelationsThe Fort Hays State University Foundation announced Friday the selection of Jason Ball as its new chief financial officer. Ball has served as director of development for the university's fundraising arm since 2018 and looks forward to taking his role with the FHSU Foundation to the next level.Ball earned both his bachelor’s degree in accounting and his master of business administration degree from Fort Hays State University and was a member of the Tiger men’s basketball team from 2008-2013.Current CFO Francine Hestermann plans to retire in October 2021 following a successful tenure of more than two decades. Ball will work, learn and train alongside Hestermann with the title of CFO-Elect for a number of months before taking on the official title of CFO in October.“I am honored and grateful to serve in this role alongside our FHSU Foundation accounting and finance team,” Ball said. “The strength and expertise of this team can be attributed to the success that Francine has had over the past 23 years. I look forward to helping ensure that future generations of Tigers and the university benefit from the incredible philanthropy that exists within the Fort Hays State community.”The FHSU Foundation has seen a great amount of growth and change throughout Hestermann’s tenure as chief financial officer. Net assets for the FHSU Foundation have grown from $21 million to more than $127 million to date, and its staff has grown from seven employees to 21.“I’m pleased that Jason Ball has been selected to fill the role of chief financial officer, and I look forward to working closely with him&nbsp;for several months before retiring and closing out this incredible chapter of my life,” Hestermann said.Ball is a third generation Tiger and is thankful for the great impact that FHSU has had on his life. He is excited to give back in this new role and to enable future generations to enjoy the same great opportunities that he had.“On behalf of the staff, the search committee and the Board of Trustees, I want to welcome Jason Ball to his new role – and thank Francine for her tireless commitment to excellence,”&nbsp;said Jason Williby, president and CEO of the FHSU Foundation.&nbsp;“Francine’s longevity as the CFO has been key to our success over the last 23 years. While Francine and Jason will work side by side until October, today’s announcement marks a passing of the torch. I am excited for the impact that philanthropy will have on the future of FHSU and our students.”Currently in the capstone year of its&nbsp;Journey&nbsp;campaign – with a goal of raising $100 million by Homecoming 2021 – the FHSU Foundation continues to be humbled by the generosity of its Fort Hays State alumni and donors. Ball will be responsible for&nbsp;providing leadership and vision for all financial operations, financial management services and reporting for both internal and external constituencies. In addition, he will be accountable for administration of the endowment, financial analysis and the implementation of financial policies and all accounting practices.To learn more about the FHSU Foundation, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=-2BFJoAhsjp8losQfY8t-2BZtDSAKvxVcchtfV1543l0Kpl6aRGqIctSqa6Magmpvb7gPZPr_r-2BDMsuWuYVmb7-2F1Mu1QL1I-2FJ8-2BHR91nNNNGTTc38Ah0CWayiZL-2BkhdmA3sx0XGnG-2FN1jk6rVQRO9vN7U5rFC-2BcXi909IOPAdkr3SvXFdyn3Ag1h6-2F-2B6atf0vMUKxRgZ-2Be27hN4v0Inuf4CVxGwC0gEXxgQbzDswoG8gnCAPVOaQhGKk8CQNleGLbSGg-2FgybfLlpY2tDDivIGJeVycNerprsdhU5eBTwp1ppZMcAX6AxySpNpJwMmw3EwnkLCjp1DvjsccTsMOf7Vlc3SPEU26cU3I1-2FhJb4MgS2OCSMO25RLjewpRKH0wlJgqDU1ETut1-2FQRLTM-2FkNcYKKF4DaGz0dI1oG3DUop7IBx31ifPtKofA032pn-2ByADiIWENvb6pgnsvSN35b2c69Z-2FGTRj8PGQ-3D-3D">https://foundation.fhsu.edu</a>&nbsp;or contact its offices at 785-628-5620 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:foundation@fhsu.edu">foundation@fhsu.edu</a>.

Ball named new Fort Hays State Foundation CFO

Due to high sales, officials in the states participating in the Mega Millions Lotto game have increased the estimated jackpot amount for the Friday drawing to $1 billion or $739.6 million with the cash option selected.

The Mega Millions jackpot starts at $20 million and continues to grow each drawing until it is won. There have been 36 consecutive Mega Millions drawings since September 18 without a jackpot winner. This run has grown the estimated jackpot for the Friday drawing to the second largest jackpot in Mega Millions history.

The largest Mega Millions jackpot on record occurred in October 2018 when one ticket was sold in South Carolina for a $1.537 billion jackpot.

Mega Millions jackpot winners have two options for collecting their payment: 30 annuity payments or one cash payment at present value. The annuity option provides annual payments that increase each year. The present cash value is less than the advertised jackpot, which is based on the 29-year annuity option. Winning Mega Millions numbers are announced every Tuesday and Friday at 10:00 p.m. Central Time and posted at the Nebraska Lottery website,&nbsp;<a href="http://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=vO6EBHxkBWuJBNyAXsok8lanxZTLSIUtoqiCqDUXCtE5cxf-2BQZLCrDZWRG-2BD-2BdnZj241_f5CCQS0N95iO0XGkG5jjbwFPcyVdNsE7ynqorsRVxhOi2A2KVJqJgpwSdOopdwB9t4D9LWTP99krvREf42zUykodJoYUQSV-2F1k4Z8ao-2FaDJph9ZkfVXZjxwvtNcdHNFGDuEzQVY-2FvW5rpj9XqVioV01zwRPkI2Z56of03D03DXp10GW7bOY4Ca6qP8d5C-2BfAekKNK60B0Qw-2BJ1d2rDT3oD9naSksFNlwZBrMDbJmvEh2cgbiSBMcilV65lxXhADwqCv4jp2W5ychopTx2l5BO3T9xv9HOk11MtvkWvpm9yjh29pN4V8I3hv3rnBaIA1wFth1ri8sF6aOyNEaemHNBnZvuMZekZ1r6GhXhfJSbdjXKOQ0qRW9yKUxyw5B0b68lVtvb0OtVsiMEAab5m3G5UFweyqVoX7karm5E3spbW8-3D" target="_blank">nelottery.com</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1611335960997.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Due to high sales, officials in the states participating in the Mega Millions Lotto game have increased the estimated jackpot amount for the Friday drawing to $1 billion or $739.6 million with the cash option selected.The Mega Millions jackpot starts at $20 million and continues to grow each drawing until it is won. There have been 36 consecutive Mega Millions drawings since September 18 without a jackpot winner. This run has grown the estimated jackpot for the Friday drawing to the second largest jackpot in Mega Millions history.The largest Mega Millions jackpot on record occurred in October 2018 when one ticket was sold in South Carolina for a $1.537 billion jackpot.Mega Millions jackpot winners have two options for collecting their payment: 30 annuity payments or one cash payment at present value. The annuity option provides annual payments that increase each year. The present cash value is less than the advertised jackpot, which is based on the 29-year annuity option. Winning Mega Millions numbers are announced every Tuesday and Friday at 10:00 p.m. Central Time and posted at the Nebraska Lottery website,&nbsp;<a href="http://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=vO6EBHxkBWuJBNyAXsok8lanxZTLSIUtoqiCqDUXCtE5cxf-2BQZLCrDZWRG-2BD-2BdnZj241_f5CCQS0N95iO0XGkG5jjbwFPcyVdNsE7ynqorsRVxhOi2A2KVJqJgpwSdOopdwB9t4D9LWTP99krvREf42zUykodJoYUQSV-2F1k4Z8ao-2FaDJph9ZkfVXZjxwvtNcdHNFGDuEzQVY-2FvW5rpj9XqVioV01zwRPkI2Z56of03D03DXp10GW7bOY4Ca6qP8d5C-2BfAekKNK60B0Qw-2BJ1d2rDT3oD9naSksFNlwZBrMDbJmvEh2cgbiSBMcilV65lxXhADwqCv4jp2W5ychopTx2l5BO3T9xv9HOk11MtvkWvpm9yjh29pN4V8I3hv3rnBaIA1wFth1ri8sF6aOyNEaemHNBnZvuMZekZ1r6GhXhfJSbdjXKOQ0qRW9yKUxyw5B0b68lVtvb0OtVsiMEAab5m3G5UFweyqVoX7karm5E3spbW8-3D" target="_blank">nelottery.com</a>.

Mega Millions jackpot for tonight's drawing at $1 billion

KANSAS CITY (AP) — New restrictions caused a sharp drop in the number of women who had abortions at Missouri's only provider last year but the clinic has not stopped performing the procedure, Planned Parenthood said.

Officials with Reproductive Health Services of Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region were rejecting an assertion by Operation Rescue, an anti-abortion Christian organization, that Missouri has become the first state to no longer provide abortions.

No surgical abortions were performed at the clinic in December, with only seven in November, Planned Parenthood said, compared with nine and five during those months in 2019.

The Missouri Department of Health and Human Services said 39 surgical abortions occurred in Missouri from Jan. 1 through Nov. 15, 2020. In 2019, the total number was 1,362.

Dr. Colleen McNicholas, a Planned Parenthood chief medical officer, said the number of abortions performed at the St. Louis clinic has dropped since a clinic opened 18 miles (28 kilometers) away in Fairview Heights, Illinois, in October 2019. Patients at that clinic can avoid Missouri’s 72-hour mandatory waiting period, which requires two appointments three days apart to receive an abortion.

“For some people, the additional 18 miles from our St. Louis facility to the Illinois facility is a manageable distance, especially when you reflect on the number of barriers that we can eliminate in accessing care in Illinois versus in Missouri,” McNicholas said. “However, it’s not an option for everybody.”

Patients also are limiting the number of appointments and travel because of concerns about the coronavirus pandemic, she said.

More patients are also seeking medication abortions, which the St. Louis facility has not provided in more than two years because of Missouri’s requirement that patients wanting that procedure must undergo a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/5f8e84f913ea69f9b424d59dc47d5ab2">pelvic exam</a>. The mandatory pelvic exam is at odds with guidelines set by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

The clinic's website tells people wanting to schedule an abortion they can visit the Illinois clinic to receive an abortion in one visit but that the procedure is still offered in St. Louis.

It is not the first time that Operation Rescue has claimed the St. Louis facility is no longer providing abortions. In March, the organization said on its website that someone pretending to be a patient called the clinic and was not allowed to book an appointment there.

At the time, few surgical abortions were being provided in St. Louis because the clinic was fighting the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services’ refusal to renew its license. A state administrative commission&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/9f1a51759fb33d229170c73986ccb252">later ruled</a>&nbsp;the health department wrongfully denied the renewal.

Currently, Planned Parenthood is fighting a law passed in May 2019 to ban abortion after eight weeks gestation. A district court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/down-syndrome-health-abortion-us-supreme-court-st-louis-c846b5b33db75b2f81a9163d40e5ca80">ruling&nbsp;</a>that prevents the law from being enforced is currently before the 8th U.S. Court of Appeals.

KANSAS CITY (AP) — New restrictions caused a sharp drop in the number of women who had abortions at Missouri's only provider last year but the clinic has not stopped performing the procedure, Planned Parenthood said.Officials with Reproductive Health Services of Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region were rejecting an assertion by Operation Rescue, an anti-abortion Christian organization, that Missouri has become the first state to no longer provide abortions.No surgical abortions were performed at the clinic in December, with only seven in November, Planned Parenthood said, compared with nine and five during those months in 2019.The Missouri Department of Health and Human Services said 39 surgical abortions occurred in Missouri from Jan. 1 through Nov. 15, 2020. In 2019, the total number was 1,362.Dr. Colleen McNicholas, a Planned Parenthood chief medical officer, said the number of abortions performed at the St. Louis clinic has dropped since a clinic opened 18 miles (28 kilometers) away in Fairview Heights, Illinois, in October 2019. Patients at that clinic can avoid Missouri’s 72-hour mandatory waiting period, which requires two appointments three days apart to receive an abortion.“For some people, the additional 18 miles from our St. Louis facility to the Illinois facility is a manageable distance, especially when you reflect on the number of barriers that we can eliminate in accessing care in Illinois versus in Missouri,” McNicholas said. “However, it’s not an option for everybody.”Patients also are limiting the number of appointments and travel because of concerns about the coronavirus pandemic, she said.More patients are also seeking medication abortions, which the St. Louis facility has not provided in more than two years because of Missouri’s requirement that patients wanting that procedure must undergo a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/5f8e84f913ea69f9b424d59dc47d5ab2">pelvic exam</a>. The mandatory pelvic exam is at odds with guidelines set by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.The clinic's website tells people wanting to schedule an abortion they can visit the Illinois clinic to receive an abortion in one visit but that the procedure is still offered in St. Louis.It is not the first time that Operation Rescue has claimed the St. Louis facility is no longer providing abortions. In March, the organization said on its website that someone pretending to be a patient called the clinic and was not allowed to book an appointment there.At the time, few surgical abortions were being provided in St. Louis because the clinic was fighting the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services’ refusal to renew its license. A state administrative commission&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/9f1a51759fb33d229170c73986ccb252">later ruled</a>&nbsp;the health department wrongfully denied the renewal.Currently, Planned Parenthood is fighting a law passed in May 2019 to ban abortion after eight weeks gestation. A district court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/down-syndrome-health-abortion-us-supreme-court-st-louis-c846b5b33db75b2f81a9163d40e5ca80">ruling&nbsp;</a>that prevents the law from being enforced is currently before the 8th U.S. Court of Appeals.

Number of abortions drops in Missouri because of regulations

Oura Lee Swart was born on June, 14 1936, in the family home on the 
Northwest Kansas wheat and cattle farm as the 13th of 14 children born 
to his parents, George Martin Swart and Zula May Gilkerson Swart. He 
died on January 17, 2021, in Fort Payne, Alabama. 
Lee's early days were spent at the family farm in Gove County, North 
Western Kansas, where he was born and during the winters of 1937- 1940 
at the Swart family's winter home located in a citrus grove near Donna, 
Hidalgo County, Texas. Unlike some of his older brothers and sisters Lee
 did not have to attend a one room country school, rather he received 
his grade and high school education at the Grinnell Rural School System.
 He graduated as the top student from his grade school and served as 
Class President three out of four high school years graduating in 1954. 
Following high school he chose to attend Kansas State College (now 
Kansas State University) for three years and then transferred to the 
University of Kansas for the final two years where he received a 
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration-Accounting. At KU, on the
 day of graduation he was also commissioned as a second lieutenant in 
the United States Army Ordnance Corps and was privileged to have his 
mother pin on his second lieutenant gold bars after being sworn in the 
Army. 
Not being immediately required to report in the Army for duty Lee chose 
employment with Ford Motor Company in Kansas City as a Cost Accountant. 
After a short stint with Ford he was ordered into active duty with 
United States Army Ordnance Corps at Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Maryland,
 where he began what was to become a full twenty year career in the 
Regular Army. His first army career assignment was with the 9' Ordnance 
Company in Western Germany, where he worked for three years with the 
U.S. Army's nuclear weapons and missile depot (1960-1963). Following 
this interesting assignment, Lee was assigned to the V Armored Division 
at Fort Hood, Texas (1963-1964), where he served as the battalion 
adjutant and commander of companies B and D of the 124' Maintenance 
Battalion, however, within two years he was transferred to duty with the
 Military Assistance Command Vietnam serving as the Ordnance Advisor to 
the Vietnamese 7th Infantry Division (1964-1965), located at MyTho in 
the South Vietnamese Delta. 
After a short stint at the Ordnance School attending the Ordnance 
Officer Career Course (1966) Lee was transferred to Tucson, Arizona, 
where he served as an Assistant Professor in the R.O.T.C. Department at 
the University of Arizona (1966-1969). After working with the cadets for
 three years he was transferred to the 5' U. S. Army Headquarters 
located at Fort Sheridan north of Chicago, Illinois, where he worked 
with the development of the new Army's Anti-ballistic Defense System. 
This interesting assignment was followed by another year assignment in 
South Vietnam at the Inventory Control System Vietnam located at Long 
Bin, South Vietnam, working to keep the supplies moving for all of the 
U.S. Armed Forces, Australian Forces and Korean Forces (1969-1970), 
located in the Theater. Then came the assignment to the Army's Missile 
and Munitions School located at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, (1972-1974) 
serving as the Director of Supply and later Maintenance Directorate 
Another good assignment came with a return to the U. S. Army, Europe 
located at Miesau, West Germany, with an assignment to command the 9' 
Ordnance Company and later to be the Executive Officer and Deputy 
Commander of the 72"d Ordnance Battalion (1974-1977) again storing and 
maintaining the U. S. Army's stockpile of nuclear weapons arriving in or
 departing the European Theatre. Lee lived in a large apartment at 
Hutschenhausenerstrasse 17, in Miesau, about a mile from his office. 
This was a great place to entertain fellow officers and their spouses. 
On returning to the states in 1974 he was assigned to the 548th Supply 
&amp; Support Battalion located at Fort McClellan, Alabama, where Lee 
served his last assignment in the U.S. Army. On October 1, 1979, after 
serving 20 Years, one month and one day Lee retired as a Major from the 
U. S. Army in a ceremony presided over by Major General Mary Elizabeth 
Clarke, the Commanding General of Fort McClellan and only, the very 
first, female officer to ever be promoted to Major General. Lee chose to
 be free to enjoy his retirement. Now after forty some years into his 
retirement Lee has enjoyed years of travel here in the states and in 
Europe. A trip for a long visit with family and friends in Kansas, many 
long tourist type trips in the U.S. and in Europe were common traveling 
with his special friend, Rod Hildreth. These trips enabled Lee to 
complete his visits to each of the fifty states and 36 foreign 
countries. 
Life has been good; and the wheat and com crops have been bountiful. On 
visits to Oakley in Northwestern Kansas, a visit to his property was 
always an enjoyment with his grand-nephew Randy Swart driving him from 
one end of his family holdings to the other in his pickup. 
Lee joined a few special organizations starting with his lifelong 
membership in the Grinnell United Methodist Church where he was baptized
 as an infant and confirmed while in Grade School. Other organizations 
he joined in was the Grinnell Masonic Lodge now the Oakley Masonic Lodge
 #253 joining in 1959 over sixty years ago, the Valley of Leavenworth, 
Kansas, Scottish Rite 32 degree and the Isis Masonic Shrine Temple, 
Salina, Kansas. Lee also was a member of the Eastern Star, Radiant 
Chapter #229, Atwood, Kansas. Lee was active with the National Society 
of the Sons of the American Revolution where he served on many 
committees and as Vice President General and National Trustee and the 
Alabama State Society of the SAR where he served on many committees and 
as President. He greatly assisted in forming of the Little River 
Chapter, SAR, in 1989, and was to serve as chairman of many committees 
and as chapter president for Little River Chapter. In addition he was a 
member of the National Society of the Sons of the Revolution and, was 
the recipient of the "Minuteman" Award for his long and active 
involvement in the National Society of the SAR. He was also a member of 
the Sovereign Military Order of the Temple of Jerusalem (SMOTJ) and as a
 member of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War. While living 
atop Lookout Mountain near Fort Payne, Alabama, he became a member of 
the Fort Payne First Baptist Church. 
Lee is survived by his older sister, Ethel Elizabeth Swart Smoots of Gig
 Harbor, Washington, and his older brother, Lloyd Robert Swart of 
Oakley, Kansas, and sisters-in-law Norma Lee Swart and Geraldine 
Marguerite Lintel Swart and brother-in-law Allan Louis Burns along with a
 multitude of nieces and nephews and grand nieces and nephews and great 
grand nieces and nephews along with one great great grandniece. A 
special friend and partner of over forty years, Rod Hildreth, also 
survives. 
Lee was preceded by his parents, George Martin Swart (1888-1973) and 
Zula May Gilkerson Swart (1893-1969), five brothers, Martin Wilbert 
Swart (Mary Alma Hoover &amp; Mayetta Bell Evans Decker), Alfred L Swart
 (Barbara Eloise Yale &amp; Janice Edith Lessing Nelson), 1LT Ernest 
Gilbert Swart, Don Melvin Swart, John Marvin Swart and six sisters, 
Captain Dorothy Lucile Swart Tatum (John Merle Tatum), Georgia May 
Swart, Jessie Lou Swart Park (Aubrey Glen "Cub" Park), Bettie Jean Swart
 Burns, Gladys Louise Swart Rowley (Carl Robert Rowley), Carol Ann 
Swart, sister-in-law, Betty Jane Durham Swart and bother-in-law, Roy 
Edward Smoots. 
Services were held on Tuesday, January 19, 2021 at the First Baptist 
Church, Fort Payne, Alabama, with the Reverend Doctor Pat McFadden, the 
Pastor Doctor Marshall Henderson, and the Reverend Doctor Bart Hildreth 
conducting. Wilson Funeral Home and Crematory of Fort Payne, Alabama was
 in charge of arrangements. Online guestbook: www.wilsonfhinc.com 
At the conclusion of these services, Lee's remains were transferred to 
Oakley, Kansas, where a private family service was held at 11:00 a.m. 
Saturday, January 23, 2021, at the Oakley United Methodist Church, with 
burial in his family plot in the Oakley City Cemetery. Baalmann 
Mortuary, Oakley handled these services. www.baalmannmortuary.com&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1611086576296.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Oura Lee Swart was born on June, 14 1936, in the family home on the 
Northwest Kansas wheat and cattle farm as the 13th of 14 children born 
to his parents, George Martin Swart and Zula May Gilkerson Swart. He 
died on January 17, 2021, in Fort Payne, Alabama. 
Lee's early days were spent at the family farm in Gove County, North 
Western Kansas, where he was born and during the winters of 1937- 1940 
at the Swart family's winter home located in a citrus grove near Donna, 
Hidalgo County, Texas. Unlike some of his older brothers and sisters Lee
 did not have to attend a one room country school, rather he received 
his grade and high school education at the Grinnell Rural School System.
 He graduated as the top student from his grade school and served as 
Class President three out of four high school years graduating in 1954. 
Following high school he chose to attend Kansas State College (now 
Kansas State University) for three years and then transferred to the 
University of Kansas for the final two years where he received a 
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration-Accounting. At KU, on the
 day of graduation he was also commissioned as a second lieutenant in 
the United States Army Ordnance Corps and was privileged to have his 
mother pin on his second lieutenant gold bars after being sworn in the 
Army. 
Not being immediately required to report in the Army for duty Lee chose 
employment with Ford Motor Company in Kansas City as a Cost Accountant. 
After a short stint with Ford he was ordered into active duty with 
United States Army Ordnance Corps at Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Maryland,
 where he began what was to become a full twenty year career in the 
Regular Army. His first army career assignment was with the 9' Ordnance 
Company in Western Germany, where he worked for three years with the 
U.S. Army's nuclear weapons and missile depot (1960-1963). Following 
this interesting assignment, Lee was assigned to the V Armored Division 
at Fort Hood, Texas (1963-1964), where he served as the battalion 
adjutant and commander of companies B and D of the 124' Maintenance 
Battalion, however, within two years he was transferred to duty with the
 Military Assistance Command Vietnam serving as the Ordnance Advisor to 
the Vietnamese 7th Infantry Division (1964-1965), located at MyTho in 
the South Vietnamese Delta. 
After a short stint at the Ordnance School attending the Ordnance 
Officer Career Course (1966) Lee was transferred to Tucson, Arizona, 
where he served as an Assistant Professor in the R.O.T.C. Department at 
the University of Arizona (1966-1969). After working with the cadets for
 three years he was transferred to the 5' U. S. Army Headquarters 
located at Fort Sheridan north of Chicago, Illinois, where he worked 
with the development of the new Army's Anti-ballistic Defense System. 
This interesting assignment was followed by another year assignment in 
South Vietnam at the Inventory Control System Vietnam located at Long 
Bin, South Vietnam, working to keep the supplies moving for all of the 
U.S. Armed Forces, Australian Forces and Korean Forces (1969-1970), 
located in the Theater. Then came the assignment to the Army's Missile 
and Munitions School located at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, (1972-1974) 
serving as the Director of Supply and later Maintenance Directorate 
Another good assignment came with a return to the U. S. Army, Europe 
located at Miesau, West Germany, with an assignment to command the 9' 
Ordnance Company and later to be the Executive Officer and Deputy 
Commander of the 72"d Ordnance Battalion (1974-1977) again storing and 
maintaining the U. S. Army's stockpile of nuclear weapons arriving in or
 departing the European Theatre. Lee lived in a large apartment at 
Hutschenhausenerstrasse 17, in Miesau, about a mile from his office. 
This was a great place to entertain fellow officers and their spouses. 
On returning to the states in 1974 he was assigned to the 548th Supply 
&amp; Support Battalion located at Fort McClellan, Alabama, where Lee 
served his last assignment in the U.S. Army. On October 1, 1979, after 
serving 20 Years, one month and one day Lee retired as a Major from the 
U. S. Army in a ceremony presided over by Major General Mary Elizabeth 
Clarke, the Commanding General of Fort McClellan and only, the very 
first, female officer to ever be promoted to Major General. Lee chose to
 be free to enjoy his retirement. Now after forty some years into his 
retirement Lee has enjoyed years of travel here in the states and in 
Europe. A trip for a long visit with family and friends in Kansas, many 
long tourist type trips in the U.S. and in Europe were common traveling 
with his special friend, Rod Hildreth. These trips enabled Lee to 
complete his visits to each of the fifty states and 36 foreign 
countries. 
Life has been good; and the wheat and com crops have been bountiful. On 
visits to Oakley in Northwestern Kansas, a visit to his property was 
always an enjoyment with his grand-nephew Randy Swart driving him from 
one end of his family holdings to the other in his pickup. 
Lee joined a few special organizations starting with his lifelong 
membership in the Grinnell United Methodist Church where he was baptized
 as an infant and confirmed while in Grade School. Other organizations 
he joined in was the Grinnell Masonic Lodge now the Oakley Masonic Lodge
 #253 joining in 1959 over sixty years ago, the Valley of Leavenworth, 
Kansas, Scottish Rite 32 degree and the Isis Masonic Shrine Temple, 
Salina, Kansas. Lee also was a member of the Eastern Star, Radiant 
Chapter #229, Atwood, Kansas. Lee was active with the National Society 
of the Sons of the American Revolution where he served on many 
committees and as Vice President General and National Trustee and the 
Alabama State Society of the SAR where he served on many committees and 
as President. He greatly assisted in forming of the Little River 
Chapter, SAR, in 1989, and was to serve as chairman of many committees 
and as chapter president for Little River Chapter. In addition he was a 
member of the National Society of the Sons of the Revolution and, was 
the recipient of the "Minuteman" Award for his long and active 
involvement in the National Society of the SAR. He was also a member of 
the Sovereign Military Order of the Temple of Jerusalem (SMOTJ) and as a
 member of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War. While living 
atop Lookout Mountain near Fort Payne, Alabama, he became a member of 
the Fort Payne First Baptist Church. 
Lee is survived by his older sister, Ethel Elizabeth Swart Smoots of Gig
 Harbor, Washington, and his older brother, Lloyd Robert Swart of 
Oakley, Kansas, and sisters-in-law Norma Lee Swart and Geraldine 
Marguerite Lintel Swart and brother-in-law Allan Louis Burns along with a
 multitude of nieces and nephews and grand nieces and nephews and great 
grand nieces and nephews along with one great great grandniece. A 
special friend and partner of over forty years, Rod Hildreth, also 
survives. 
Lee was preceded by his parents, George Martin Swart (1888-1973) and 
Zula May Gilkerson Swart (1893-1969), five brothers, Martin Wilbert 
Swart (Mary Alma Hoover &amp; Mayetta Bell Evans Decker), Alfred L Swart
 (Barbara Eloise Yale &amp; Janice Edith Lessing Nelson), 1LT Ernest 
Gilbert Swart, Don Melvin Swart, John Marvin Swart and six sisters, 
Captain Dorothy Lucile Swart Tatum (John Merle Tatum), Georgia May 
Swart, Jessie Lou Swart Park (Aubrey Glen "Cub" Park), Bettie Jean Swart
 Burns, Gladys Louise Swart Rowley (Carl Robert Rowley), Carol Ann 
Swart, sister-in-law, Betty Jane Durham Swart and bother-in-law, Roy 
Edward Smoots. 
Services were held on Tuesday, January 19, 2021 at the First Baptist 
Church, Fort Payne, Alabama, with the Reverend Doctor Pat McFadden, the 
Pastor Doctor Marshall Henderson, and the Reverend Doctor Bart Hildreth 
conducting. Wilson Funeral Home and Crematory of Fort Payne, Alabama was
 in charge of arrangements. Online guestbook: www.wilsonfhinc.com 
At the conclusion of these services, Lee's remains were transferred to 
Oakley, Kansas, where a private family service was held at 11:00 a.m. 
Saturday, January 23, 2021, at the Oakley United Methodist Church, with 
burial in his family plot in the Oakley City Cemetery. Baalmann 
Mortuary, Oakley handled these services. www.baalmannmortuary.com&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

Oura Lee Swart

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump pardoned former chief strategist Steve Bannon as part of a flurry of clemency action in the final hours of his White House term that benefited more than 140 people, including rap performers, ex-members of Congress and other allies of him and his family.

<a href="https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefings-statements/statement-press-secretary-regarding-executive-grants-clemency-012021/">Click here to see a </a>list of those granted clemency

The last-minute clemency, announced Wednesday morning, follows separate waves of pardons over the past month for Trump associates convicted in the FBI’s Russia investigation as well as for the father of his son-in-law. Taken together, the actions underscore the president’s willingness, all the way through his four years in the White House, to flex his constitutional powers in ways that defy convention and explicitly aid his friends and supporters.

To be sure, the latest list was heavily populated by more conventional candidates whose cases had been championed by criminal justice activists. One man who has spent nearly 24 years in prison on drug and weapons charges but had shown exemplary behavior behind bars had his sentence commuted, as did a former Marine sentenced in 2000 in connection with a cocaine conviction.

But the names of prominent Trump allies nonetheless stood out.

Besides Bannon, other pardon recipients included Elliott Broidy, a Republican fundraiser who pleaded guilty last fall in a scheme to lobby the Trump administration to drop an investigation into the looting of a Malaysian wealth fund, and Ken Kurson, a friend of Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner who was charged last October with cyberstalking during a heated divorce.

Bannon’s pardon was especially notable given that the prosecution was still in its early stages and any trial was months away. Whereas pardon recipients are conventionally thought of as defendants who have faced justice, often by having served at least some prison time, the pardon nullifies the prosecution and effectively eliminates any prospect for punishment.

“Steve Bannon is getting a pardon from Trump after defrauding Trump’s own supporters into paying for a wall that Trump promised Mexico would pay for,” Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff said on Twitter. “And if that all sounds crazy, that’s because it is. Thank God we have only 12 more hours of this den of thieves.”

And while other presidents have issued controversial pardons at the ends of their administration, perhaps no commander in chief has so enjoyed using the clemency authority to benefit not only friends and acquaintances but also celebrity defendants and those championed by allies.

Wednesday’s list includes its share of high-profile defendants. Among them were rappers Lil Wayne and Kodak Black, both convicted in Florida on weapons charges. Wayne, whose real name is Dwayne Michael Carter, has frequently expressed support for Trump and recently met with the president on criminal justice issues. Others on the list included Death Row Records co-founder Michael Harris and New York art dealer and collector Hillel Nahmad.

Other pardon recipients include former Rep. Rick Renzi, an Arizona Republican who served three years for corruption, money laundering and other charges, and former Rep. Duke Cunningham of California, who was convicted of accepting $2.4 million in bribes from defense contractors. Cunningham, who was released from prison in 2013, received a conditional pardon.

Trump also commuted the prison sentence of former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, who has served about seven years behind bars for a racketeering and bribery scheme.

Bannon has been charged with duping thousands of donors who believed their money would be used to fulfill Trump’s chief campaign promise to build a wall along the southern border. Instead, he allegedly diverted over a million dollars, paying a salary to one campaign official and personal expenses for himself.

Bannon did not respond to questions Tuesday.

Trump has already pardoned a slew of longtime associates and supporters, including his former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort; Charles Kushner, the father of his son-in-law; his longtime friend and adviser Roger Stone; and his former national security adviser Michael Flynn.

A voice of nationalist, outsider conservatism, Bannon — who served in the Navy and worked at Goldman Sachs and as a Hollywood producer before turning to politics — led the conservative Breitbart News before being tapped to serve as chief executive officer of Trump’s 2016 campaign in its critical final months.

He later served as chief strategist to the president during the turbulent early days of Trump’s administration and was at the forefront of many of its most contentious policies, including its travel ban on several majority-Muslim countries.

But Bannon, who clashed with other top advisers, was pushed out after less than a year. And his split with Trump deepened after he was quoted in a 2018 book making critical remarks about some of Trump’s adult children. Bannon apologized and soon stepped down as chairman of Breitbart. He and Trump have recently reconciled.

In August, he was pulled from a luxury yacht off the coast of Connecticut and brought before a judge in Manhattan, where he pleaded not guilty. When he emerged from the courthouse, Bannon tore off his mask, smiled and waved to news cameras. As he went to a waiting vehicle, he shouted, “This entire fiasco is to stop people who want to build the wall.”

The organizers of the “We Build The Wall” group portrayed themselves as eager to help the president build a “big beautiful” barrier along the U.S.-Mexico border, as he promised during the 2016 campaign. They raised more than $25 million from thousands of donors and pledged that 100% of the money would be used for the project.

But according to the criminal charges, much of the money never made it to the wall. Instead, it was used to line the pockets of group members, including Bannon.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1611150194519.png" alt="President Trump and the First Lady arrive at Joint Base Andrews prior to leaving Washington Wednesday morning-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>President Trump and the First Lady arrive at Joint Base Andrews prior to leaving Washington Wednesday morning-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump pardoned former chief strategist Steve Bannon as part of a flurry of clemency action in the final hours of his White House term that benefited more than 140 people, including rap performers, ex-members of Congress and other allies of him and his family.<a href="https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefings-statements/statement-press-secretary-regarding-executive-grants-clemency-012021/">Click here to see a </a>list of those granted clemencyThe last-minute clemency, announced Wednesday morning, follows separate waves of pardons over the past month for Trump associates convicted in the FBI’s Russia investigation as well as for the father of his son-in-law. Taken together, the actions underscore the president’s willingness, all the way through his four years in the White House, to flex his constitutional powers in ways that defy convention and explicitly aid his friends and supporters.To be sure, the latest list was heavily populated by more conventional candidates whose cases had been championed by criminal justice activists. One man who has spent nearly 24 years in prison on drug and weapons charges but had shown exemplary behavior behind bars had his sentence commuted, as did a former Marine sentenced in 2000 in connection with a cocaine conviction.But the names of prominent Trump allies nonetheless stood out.Besides Bannon, other pardon recipients included Elliott Broidy, a Republican fundraiser who pleaded guilty last fall in a scheme to lobby the Trump administration to drop an investigation into the looting of a Malaysian wealth fund, and Ken Kurson, a friend of Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner who was charged last October with cyberstalking during a heated divorce.Bannon’s pardon was especially notable given that the prosecution was still in its early stages and any trial was months away. Whereas pardon recipients are conventionally thought of as defendants who have faced justice, often by having served at least some prison time, the pardon nullifies the prosecution and effectively eliminates any prospect for punishment.“Steve Bannon is getting a pardon from Trump after defrauding Trump’s own supporters into paying for a wall that Trump promised Mexico would pay for,” Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff said on Twitter. “And if that all sounds crazy, that’s because it is. Thank God we have only 12 more hours of this den of thieves.”And while other presidents have issued controversial pardons at the ends of their administration, perhaps no commander in chief has so enjoyed using the clemency authority to benefit not only friends and acquaintances but also celebrity defendants and those championed by allies.Wednesday’s list includes its share of high-profile defendants. Among them were rappers Lil Wayne and Kodak Black, both convicted in Florida on weapons charges. Wayne, whose real name is Dwayne Michael Carter, has frequently expressed support for Trump and recently met with the president on criminal justice issues. Others on the list included Death Row Records co-founder Michael Harris and New York art dealer and collector Hillel Nahmad.Other pardon recipients include former Rep. Rick Renzi, an Arizona Republican who served three years for corruption, money laundering and other charges, and former Rep. Duke Cunningham of California, who was convicted of accepting $2.4 million in bribes from defense contractors. Cunningham, who was released from prison in 2013, received a conditional pardon.Trump also commuted the prison sentence of former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, who has served about seven years behind bars for a racketeering and bribery scheme.Bannon has been charged with duping thousands of donors who believed their money would be used to fulfill Trump’s chief campaign promise to build a wall along the southern border. Instead, he allegedly diverted over a million dollars, paying a salary to one campaign official and personal expenses for himself.Bannon did not respond to questions Tuesday.Trump has already pardoned a slew of longtime associates and supporters, including his former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort; Charles Kushner, the father of his son-in-law; his longtime friend and adviser Roger Stone; and his former national security adviser Michael Flynn.A voice of nationalist, outsider conservatism, Bannon — who served in the Navy and worked at Goldman Sachs and as a Hollywood producer before turning to politics — led the conservative Breitbart News before being tapped to serve as chief executive officer of Trump’s 2016 campaign in its critical final months.He later served as chief strategist to the president during the turbulent early days of Trump’s administration and was at the forefront of many of its most contentious policies, including its travel ban on several majority-Muslim countries.But Bannon, who clashed with other top advisers, was pushed out after less than a year. And his split with Trump deepened after he was quoted in a 2018 book making critical remarks about some of Trump’s adult children. Bannon apologized and soon stepped down as chairman of Breitbart. He and Trump have recently reconciled.In August, he was pulled from a luxury yacht off the coast of Connecticut and brought before a judge in Manhattan, where he pleaded not guilty. When he emerged from the courthouse, Bannon tore off his mask, smiled and waved to news cameras. As he went to a waiting vehicle, he shouted, “This entire fiasco is to stop people who want to build the wall.”The organizers of the “We Build The Wall” group portrayed themselves as eager to help the president build a “big beautiful” barrier along the U.S.-Mexico border, as he promised during the 2016 campaign. They raised more than $25 million from thousands of donors and pledged that 100% of the money would be used for the project.But according to the criminal charges, much of the money never made it to the wall. Instead, it was used to line the pockets of group members, including Bannon.___

See who Trump pardoned on final day as President

Francis "Frank" Gatschet, 85, of Manhattan, KS, passed away Friday, January 8, 2021. Frank was born in Hays, Kansas on October 4, 1935, to the late Agnes
 (Brull) and George Gatschet. He grew up in the farming community with
 hordes of neighborhood kids, serving his church and trying to stay 
ahead of getting caught from whatever the almost daily bout of mischief 
he would create.
 Frank graduated from St. Joseph's Military Academy, Hays, KS, in 
1953. He enlisted in the Air Force and served as a staff sergeant and 
air-force jet mechanic instructor during the Korean War. Stationed at 
Lowry Air Force Base in Denver, Colorado, he laid eyes on the most 
petite, prettiest creature he had ever seen, a nursing student, Amy 
Hudson. They married in Denver on December 29, 1959. Shortly thereafter,
 they moved to Hays where Frank obtained a business degree from Fort 
Hays State University. 
 He started working for Duckwall Stores and moved his young family of
 four to Pratt, Kansas in 1964, then to Hutchinson, in 1966, where they 
grew their family to seven children. Frank managed the Hutchinson 
Duckwall store for six years, then was promoted to manager of Duckwall’s
 larger discount store format, Alco, in Newton. Therefor less than a 
year, Alco asked Frank to move to Roswell, New Mexico, to take on an 
even bigger project there. Frank flew to Roswell on several occasions 
to check out the town and the store there. While considering yet 
another move, he and Amy were disappointed that there were no Catholic 
schools in Roswell. In anticipation of their move, they purchased 
religious texts and Baltimore Catechism books so that Amy could continue
 their children’s formation of the faith that she and Frank treasured. 
At the last minute, Frank found work at another retail company, 
TG&amp;Y, and moved the family to Wichita instead. Enter child number 
eight. He soon was recruited by a maverick entrepreneur from Arkansas, 
Sam Walton, who was building a fledgling retail chain called Walmart. 
With seven children, it was a scary proposition to jump ship of an 
established company into the unknown waters of this new startup. He took
 a 40% pay cut as a TG&amp;Y store manager to manager trainee as he 
entered the Walmart manager training program. He and his family trekked 
to Rolla, Missouri. About 18 months later, Walmart charged Frank with 
opening a new store in Pittsburg, Kansas. Success there brought more 
opportunity and more responsibility, tasked in turning around a 
struggling Walmart store in Junction City, bringing on yet another 
relocation. This time, instead of moving to Junction City, he planted 
his family in Manhattan, with his eye on the prize of managing Walmart 
Store #35 in Manhattan, Kansas. There, the last two of his 10 children 
were born. Frank and Amy called Manhattan home. Frank mentored hundreds 
of Walmart associates. He took pride in hiring K-State students. They 
proved to be a loyal, productive, smart workforce. After about 10 years,
 Frank was promoted to district manager of Northeast Kansas. He was 
offered many executive-level promotions above district manager. 
Accepting any one of them over the years would have required yet another
 relocation. Frank planted his feet firmly in Manhattan. It was where 
he wanted his family to grow.
 Frank fell in love with Kansas State University, especially the 
Pride of Wildcat Land, the K-State Marching Band, where his oldest 
daughter, Teri, was a flag girl. He and then-Band Director Phil Hewitt 
became good friends. In the late 1970s, Frank single-handedly raised 
over $100,000 for new band uniforms. He did so by selling to local 
businesses upscale, custom purple and gold clocks. The clocks featured a
 caricature of Willie the Wildcat in a marching band uniform, designed 
by his daughter, Amy. Frank loved playing the K-State marching band’s 
albums, waving his hands at the stereo as if directing imaginary 
musicians and keeping time to Wabash Cannonball. 
 Frank couldn’t wait for a good, old-fashioned snowstorm! He would 
dawn his snowsuit and break out the snowblower to clear the sidewalks on
 both sides of his entire block, and sometimes as far as the sidewalks 
on the next block over, which led straight to Seven Dolors Catholic 
Church providing a safe passageway for his wife to trek to daily Mass. 
He was proud of his house, which he fondly called Pierre Manor, open to 
any friend, neighbor kid, relative, and sometimes people just down on 
their luck. He seemed happiest at Christmas when the house burst at the 
seams with kids and grandkids, countless gifts, and boundless joy.
 Frank retired from Walmart in 1995. He held a few part-time jobs to 
keep him busy and out of Amy’s way. He delivered cars for Briggs Auto 
Group. Mostly, in retirement, Frank liked to spend time at home. He 
tended his lawn, in perpetual pursuit of the moles that menaced his 
front yard. He was a member of the American Legion, Knights of Columbus,
 and a faithful member of Seven Dolors Catholic Church. 
 Frank is preceded in death by his wife, Amy (Hudson) Gatschet, granddaughter Isabella Gatschet, and sister, Jeanne Winter. 
 Francis is survived by six daughters; Teri (Kelvin) Belin of 
Manhattan, KS; Amy Jo (Randy) Carlson of Lawrence, KS; Mary Lynn 
(Enrique Leon) Gatschet of Coronado, CA; Renee (Jarod) Allerheilegen of 
Medina, MN; Christy (Matthew) Russell of Otego, NY; Diana (Jeremy Short)
 Gatschet of Brooklyn, NY; four sons; Fr. Fred Gatschet of Salina, KS; 
Tom (Katherine) Gatschet of Topeka, KS; Charlie (Kathy) Gatschet of 
Olathe, KS; and Joe Gatschet of Pascagoula, MS. 
 Francis is also survived by 23 grandchildren; and brothers, Tom, Paul, and George Gatschet of Hays, KS. 
 Visitation will be on Tuesday, January 12, 2021, at 9:00 a.m. at the
 Seven Dolors Catholic Church followed by Rosary at 9:30 a.m. and Mass 
at 10:00 a.m. Interment will follow at Sunrise Cemetery, Manhattan, 
Kansas. Due to limited space from COVID-19 protocols, services will be 
live-streamed. 
 The Services will be lived streamed on our Facebook page <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Funeral-Service---Cemetery/Carlsons-Irvin-Parkview-Funeral-Home-Cremation-125095364277630/">HERE</a>.&nbsp; Friends are invited to send their memorial donations to the Seven Dolors Catholic Church 731 Pierre Manhattan, KS 66502.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1611151595313.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Francis "Frank" Gatschet, 85, of Manhattan, KS, passed away Friday, January 8, 2021. Frank was born in Hays, Kansas on October 4, 1935, to the late Agnes
 (Brull) and George Gatschet. He grew up in the farming community with
 hordes of neighborhood kids, serving his church and trying to stay 
ahead of getting caught from whatever the almost daily bout of mischief 
he would create.
 Frank graduated from St. Joseph's Military Academy, Hays, KS, in 
1953. He enlisted in the Air Force and served as a staff sergeant and 
air-force jet mechanic instructor during the Korean War. Stationed at 
Lowry Air Force Base in Denver, Colorado, he laid eyes on the most 
petite, prettiest creature he had ever seen, a nursing student, Amy 
Hudson. They married in Denver on December 29, 1959. Shortly thereafter,
 they moved to Hays where Frank obtained a business degree from Fort 
Hays State University. 
 He started working for Duckwall Stores and moved his young family of
 four to Pratt, Kansas in 1964, then to Hutchinson, in 1966, where they 
grew their family to seven children. Frank managed the Hutchinson 
Duckwall store for six years, then was promoted to manager of Duckwall’s
 larger discount store format, Alco, in Newton. Therefor less than a 
year, Alco asked Frank to move to Roswell, New Mexico, to take on an 
even bigger project there. Frank flew to Roswell on several occasions 
to check out the town and the store there. While considering yet 
another move, he and Amy were disappointed that there were no Catholic 
schools in Roswell. In anticipation of their move, they purchased 
religious texts and Baltimore Catechism books so that Amy could continue
 their children’s formation of the faith that she and Frank treasured. 
At the last minute, Frank found work at another retail company, 
TG&amp;Y, and moved the family to Wichita instead. Enter child number 
eight. He soon was recruited by a maverick entrepreneur from Arkansas, 
Sam Walton, who was building a fledgling retail chain called Walmart. 
With seven children, it was a scary proposition to jump ship of an 
established company into the unknown waters of this new startup. He took
 a 40% pay cut as a TG&amp;Y store manager to manager trainee as he 
entered the Walmart manager training program. He and his family trekked 
to Rolla, Missouri. About 18 months later, Walmart charged Frank with 
opening a new store in Pittsburg, Kansas. Success there brought more 
opportunity and more responsibility, tasked in turning around a 
struggling Walmart store in Junction City, bringing on yet another 
relocation. This time, instead of moving to Junction City, he planted 
his family in Manhattan, with his eye on the prize of managing Walmart 
Store #35 in Manhattan, Kansas. There, the last two of his 10 children 
were born. Frank and Amy called Manhattan home. Frank mentored hundreds 
of Walmart associates. He took pride in hiring K-State students. They 
proved to be a loyal, productive, smart workforce. After about 10 years,
 Frank was promoted to district manager of Northeast Kansas. He was 
offered many executive-level promotions above district manager. 
Accepting any one of them over the years would have required yet another
 relocation. Frank planted his feet firmly in Manhattan. It was where 
he wanted his family to grow.
 Frank fell in love with Kansas State University, especially the 
Pride of Wildcat Land, the K-State Marching Band, where his oldest 
daughter, Teri, was a flag girl. He and then-Band Director Phil Hewitt 
became good friends. In the late 1970s, Frank single-handedly raised 
over $100,000 for new band uniforms. He did so by selling to local 
businesses upscale, custom purple and gold clocks. The clocks featured a
 caricature of Willie the Wildcat in a marching band uniform, designed 
by his daughter, Amy. Frank loved playing the K-State marching band’s 
albums, waving his hands at the stereo as if directing imaginary 
musicians and keeping time to Wabash Cannonball. 
 Frank couldn’t wait for a good, old-fashioned snowstorm! He would 
dawn his snowsuit and break out the snowblower to clear the sidewalks on
 both sides of his entire block, and sometimes as far as the sidewalks 
on the next block over, which led straight to Seven Dolors Catholic 
Church providing a safe passageway for his wife to trek to daily Mass. 
He was proud of his house, which he fondly called Pierre Manor, open to 
any friend, neighbor kid, relative, and sometimes people just down on 
their luck. He seemed happiest at Christmas when the house burst at the 
seams with kids and grandkids, countless gifts, and boundless joy.
 Frank retired from Walmart in 1995. He held a few part-time jobs to 
keep him busy and out of Amy’s way. He delivered cars for Briggs Auto 
Group. Mostly, in retirement, Frank liked to spend time at home. He 
tended his lawn, in perpetual pursuit of the moles that menaced his 
front yard. He was a member of the American Legion, Knights of Columbus,
 and a faithful member of Seven Dolors Catholic Church. 
 Frank is preceded in death by his wife, Amy (Hudson) Gatschet, granddaughter Isabella Gatschet, and sister, Jeanne Winter. 
 Francis is survived by six daughters; Teri (Kelvin) Belin of 
Manhattan, KS; Amy Jo (Randy) Carlson of Lawrence, KS; Mary Lynn 
(Enrique Leon) Gatschet of Coronado, CA; Renee (Jarod) Allerheilegen of 
Medina, MN; Christy (Matthew) Russell of Otego, NY; Diana (Jeremy Short)
 Gatschet of Brooklyn, NY; four sons; Fr. Fred Gatschet of Salina, KS; 
Tom (Katherine) Gatschet of Topeka, KS; Charlie (Kathy) Gatschet of 
Olathe, KS; and Joe Gatschet of Pascagoula, MS. 
 Francis is also survived by 23 grandchildren; and brothers, Tom, Paul, and George Gatschet of Hays, KS. 
 Visitation will be on Tuesday, January 12, 2021, at 9:00 a.m. at the
 Seven Dolors Catholic Church followed by Rosary at 9:30 a.m. and Mass 
at 10:00 a.m. Interment will follow at Sunrise Cemetery, Manhattan, 
Kansas. Due to limited space from COVID-19 protocols, services will be 
live-streamed. 
 The Services will be lived streamed on our Facebook page <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Funeral-Service---Cemetery/Carlsons-Irvin-Parkview-Funeral-Home-Cremation-125095364277630/">HERE</a>.&nbsp; Friends are invited to send their memorial donations to the Seven Dolors Catholic Church 731 Pierre Manhattan, KS 66502.

Francis 'Frank' Gatschet

Loretta P. Johnson, "Lory Williams," 73, died on Sunday, January 17, 
2021, a Wesley Medical Center in Wichita. She was born on July 22, 1947 
at Las Animas, Colorado the daughter of Lawrence &amp; Etta (Wertz) 
Clayton. 
Loretta graduated from McClave High School in McClave, Colorado. She had
 also attended the Kansas City School of Music and the Cliff Mann 
Accordion School in Kansas City. She was part of an Accordion Group that
 played for Eleanor Roosevelt. 
After graduating high school, she married Don Morlan. To this union was 
born two children, Lorie and Barrett. She later married Roy L. Johnson 
on October 30, 1987 at Little Rock, Arkansas. 
Known by her radio name, Lory Williams, she started her radio 
broadcasting career in Lamar, Colorado. She also worked in Boonville, 
Missouri; Oberlin, Kansas; Hays, Kansas; and Pueblo, Colorado. In 1986 
she moved to Garden City and was the Farm Director and Farm Broadcaster 
for KBUF and KKJQ. 
She faithfully attended The Church of The Brethren in Garden City. She 
was a member of the National Association of Farm Broadcasters. She 
received many honors and awards from the NAFB thru the years. She loved 
and lived the rural life and was involved in rodeos, saddle club events,
 4-H, Beef Empire Days. She served as a Judge at the Kansas Rodeo Queen 
Pageant for many years. She was heavily involved in her favorite 
charity, Miles of Smiles, which is a therapeutic riding program located 
in Garden City. In her earlier years she also ran 10K and 5K runs. 
She is survived by her Husband- Roy Johnson, Daughter- Lorie Westbrook, 
Son-Barrett Morlan, both of Burkburnett, Texas, Mother- Etta Clayton of 
Hasty, Colorado; 3 Sisters- Cheryl (Lee) Baldwin of Quinter, Vicki 
(Wayne) Burgess of Hasty, Colorado and Valerie (Tim) Noecker of McClave,
 Colorado; 5 Grandchildren and 11 Great-Grandchildren. She was preceded 
in death by her Father. 
Funeral Service will be at 10:30 AM(CST) Thursday at Church of The 
Brethren in Garden City with Rev. Bob Bates and Von Hunn officiating. 
Graveside Service will be at 3:00 PM (MT) at McClave Cemetery in 
McClave, Colorado. Friends may call from Noon to 8:00 PM Wednesday at 
Garnand Funeral Home in Garden City. Memorial contributions may be made 
to Miles of Smiles or The National Association of Farm Broadcasters in 
care of Garnand Funeral Home. Condolences may be posted at 
www.garnandfuneralhomes.com

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1611086731704.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Loretta P. Johnson, "Lory Williams," 73, died on Sunday, January 17, 
2021, a Wesley Medical Center in Wichita. She was born on July 22, 1947 
at Las Animas, Colorado the daughter of Lawrence &amp; Etta (Wertz) 
Clayton. 
Loretta graduated from McClave High School in McClave, Colorado. She had
 also attended the Kansas City School of Music and the Cliff Mann 
Accordion School in Kansas City. She was part of an Accordion Group that
 played for Eleanor Roosevelt. 
After graduating high school, she married Don Morlan. To this union was 
born two children, Lorie and Barrett. She later married Roy L. Johnson 
on October 30, 1987 at Little Rock, Arkansas. 
Known by her radio name, Lory Williams, she started her radio 
broadcasting career in Lamar, Colorado. She also worked in Boonville, 
Missouri; Oberlin, Kansas; Hays, Kansas; and Pueblo, Colorado. In 1986 
she moved to Garden City and was the Farm Director and Farm Broadcaster 
for KBUF and KKJQ. 
She faithfully attended The Church of The Brethren in Garden City. She 
was a member of the National Association of Farm Broadcasters. She 
received many honors and awards from the NAFB thru the years. She loved 
and lived the rural life and was involved in rodeos, saddle club events,
 4-H, Beef Empire Days. She served as a Judge at the Kansas Rodeo Queen 
Pageant for many years. She was heavily involved in her favorite 
charity, Miles of Smiles, which is a therapeutic riding program located 
in Garden City. In her earlier years she also ran 10K and 5K runs. 
She is survived by her Husband- Roy Johnson, Daughter- Lorie Westbrook, 
Son-Barrett Morlan, both of Burkburnett, Texas, Mother- Etta Clayton of 
Hasty, Colorado; 3 Sisters- Cheryl (Lee) Baldwin of Quinter, Vicki 
(Wayne) Burgess of Hasty, Colorado and Valerie (Tim) Noecker of McClave,
 Colorado; 5 Grandchildren and 11 Great-Grandchildren. She was preceded 
in death by her Father. 
Funeral Service will be at 10:30 AM(CST) Thursday at Church of The 
Brethren in Garden City with Rev. Bob Bates and Von Hunn officiating. 
Graveside Service will be at 3:00 PM (MT) at McClave Cemetery in 
McClave, Colorado. Friends may call from Noon to 8:00 PM Wednesday at 
Garnand Funeral Home in Garden City. Memorial contributions may be made 
to Miles of Smiles or The National Association of Farm Broadcasters in 
care of Garnand Funeral Home. Condolences may be posted at 
www.garnandfuneralhomes.com

Loretta P. Johnson, 'Lory Williams'

Terrance "Terry" Kohl passed away on 
Wednesday, January 13, 2021, at Trego County Lemke Memorial Hospital.&nbsp; He
 was born October 29, 1940, to Paul and Mary (Luea) Hays, Kansas.

Terry became a CPA in 1968 and was a 
member of the American Institute, DC, Maryland and Kansas Society of 
CPA'S.&nbsp; He maintained an office in DC then in Bethesda Maryland before 
relocating to Ellis where he opened an office and worked until he 
retired to Hilton Head South Carolina.&nbsp; He returned to Ellis and 
continued to farm! He was a farmer at heart. &nbsp;He had worked in a camera 
store and enjoyed singing.&nbsp; He was in the Air Force Reserves for ten 
years, member of Rock Creek K of C, Bethesda Rotary and Yakima Park 
Singers.

He is survived by his brother Lavern (Margo), Springfield, MO and multiple nieces and nephews.&nbsp;

He was preceded in death by his wife, parents and a sister, Arlene.

Services will be held at 10:00 AM, 
Wednesday, January 20, 2021, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Ellis, 
interment will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Ellis with military 
honors courtesy of joint VFW Honor Guard of both Hays and Ellis.

In lieu of flowers donations are 
suggested to St. Mary’s Church. Donations made payable to the 
organization may be sent to Brock’s~Keithley Funeral Chapel and 
Crematory, 2509 Vine, Hays, KS, 67601.

Condolences may be left by guest book at <a href="http://www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com/">www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com</a> or by email at keithleyfuneralhomes@gmail.com

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1610725867174.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Terrance "Terry" Kohl passed away on 
Wednesday, January 13, 2021, at Trego County Lemke Memorial Hospital.&nbsp; He
 was born October 29, 1940, to Paul and Mary (Luea) Hays, Kansas.Terry became a CPA in 1968 and was a 
member of the American Institute, DC, Maryland and Kansas Society of 
CPA'S.&nbsp; He maintained an office in DC then in Bethesda Maryland before 
relocating to Ellis where he opened an office and worked until he 
retired to Hilton Head South Carolina.&nbsp; He returned to Ellis and 
continued to farm! He was a farmer at heart. &nbsp;He had worked in a camera 
store and enjoyed singing.&nbsp; He was in the Air Force Reserves for ten 
years, member of Rock Creek K of C, Bethesda Rotary and Yakima Park 
Singers.He is survived by his brother Lavern (Margo), Springfield, MO and multiple nieces and nephews.&nbsp;He was preceded in death by his wife, parents and a sister, Arlene.Services will be held at 10:00 AM, 
Wednesday, January 20, 2021, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Ellis, 
interment will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Ellis with military 
honors courtesy of joint VFW Honor Guard of both Hays and Ellis.In lieu of flowers donations are 
suggested to St. Mary’s Church. Donations made payable to the 
organization may be sent to Brock’s~Keithley Funeral Chapel and 
Crematory, 2509 Vine, Hays, KS, 67601.Condolences may be left by guest book at <a href="http://www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com/">www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com</a> or by email at keithleyfuneralhomes@gmail.com

Terrance L. Kohl

Victor Fisher, of Hays, Kansas, age 95, passed away on Saturday, January 9th, 2021, at Hays Medical Center in Hays, Kansas.&nbsp; He was born December 17, 1925, in Hyacinth, Kansas.&nbsp; He graduated from Grosser School.&nbsp; He married Lillian Schmeidler on October 12, 1949, they recently celebrated 71 years of marriage.

Victor was a lifelong resident of Hays, Kansas.&nbsp; He was a veteran of the US Army serving in WWII in the Asiatic Pacific Theater Operations from 1944 to 1946.&nbsp; When he returned home he went to work for Eddie Benoit Construction, and then as a carpenter for Bieker and Associates.&nbsp; He was a self-employed finish carpenter in the Hays area, building many homes, doing finish work and cabinetry.&nbsp; He worked at High Quality Low Cost gas station at 17th and Main.&nbsp; After retirement he worked at Dillons for 20 years.&nbsp; He loved gardening, playing cards, bowling, good conversation, listening to polka music, old television programs, watching the CHIEFS win their games.&nbsp; He also loved telling stories of the mischief he and his siblings got into while growing up.&nbsp; He loved German food and a good pickle pimento sandwich.&nbsp; He will be missed.

Survivors include his wife, Lillian Fisher of the home, seven sons, Jerome of Ellis, Ernest (Mary Beth), Norman, Stephen (Vickie) all of Hays, Aloysius (Karen) of Oak Harbor, WA; William (Angela) of Holcomb, KS; and Craig of Castle Pines, Colorado; four daughters, Cecilia Heikkila of Great Bend, Joan (Kent) Ficken, Christine (Kevin) Holzmeister and Theresa Fisher all of Hays; one sister, Dolores (Virgil) Pfannenstiel of Antonino; sisters in law Josephine Fisher and Diane Fisher, both of Hays; as well as 16 grandchildren, 30 great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father Zacheus Fisher, mother, Monica Rupp Fisher; brothers, Edwin, Alvin (Anna Mary), Ralph, Francis, Cyril (Alice), sisters, Agnes (Rudolph) Waldschmidt, Georgine (Louis) Jacobs, Rita Mae (John) Giebler, and son in law Lee Heikkila.

Due to COVID-19 concerns if you have a cough, fever or are not feeling well, please use our e-mail or on-line guestbook to share your condolences.&nbsp; Social distancing and wearing masks are suggested by family at the visitation and funeral services.

Services will be at 10:00 AM, Friday January 22, 2021, at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, Hays, KS.&nbsp; Burial will follow in St. Josephs’ Catholic cemetery with military honors courtesy of the Hays VFW Honor Guard.

Visitation will be Friday, January 22, 2021, from 8-9:30 at Brocks~Keithley Funeral Home and Chapel.

Memorials are suggested to Victor Fisher Memorial Fund made payable to Lillian Fisher and/or Hospice at HaysMed.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1610555066915.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Victor Fisher, of Hays, Kansas, age 95, passed away on Saturday, January 9th, 2021, at Hays Medical Center in Hays, Kansas.&nbsp; He was born December 17, 1925, in Hyacinth, Kansas.&nbsp; He graduated from Grosser School.&nbsp; He married Lillian Schmeidler on October 12, 1949, they recently celebrated 71 years of marriage.Victor was a lifelong resident of Hays, Kansas.&nbsp; He was a veteran of the US Army serving in WWII in the Asiatic Pacific Theater Operations from 1944 to 1946.&nbsp; When he returned home he went to work for Eddie Benoit Construction, and then as a carpenter for Bieker and Associates.&nbsp; He was a self-employed finish carpenter in the Hays area, building many homes, doing finish work and cabinetry.&nbsp; He worked at High Quality Low Cost gas station at 17th and Main.&nbsp; After retirement he worked at Dillons for 20 years.&nbsp; He loved gardening, playing cards, bowling, good conversation, listening to polka music, old television programs, watching the CHIEFS win their games.&nbsp; He also loved telling stories of the mischief he and his siblings got into while growing up.&nbsp; He loved German food and a good pickle pimento sandwich.&nbsp; He will be missed.Survivors include his wife, Lillian Fisher of the home, seven sons, Jerome of Ellis, Ernest (Mary Beth), Norman, Stephen (Vickie) all of Hays, Aloysius (Karen) of Oak Harbor, WA; William (Angela) of Holcomb, KS; and Craig of Castle Pines, Colorado; four daughters, Cecilia Heikkila of Great Bend, Joan (Kent) Ficken, Christine (Kevin) Holzmeister and Theresa Fisher all of Hays; one sister, Dolores (Virgil) Pfannenstiel of Antonino; sisters in law Josephine Fisher and Diane Fisher, both of Hays; as well as 16 grandchildren, 30 great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.He was preceded in death by his father Zacheus Fisher, mother, Monica Rupp Fisher; brothers, Edwin, Alvin (Anna Mary), Ralph, Francis, Cyril (Alice), sisters, Agnes (Rudolph) Waldschmidt, Georgine (Louis) Jacobs, Rita Mae (John) Giebler, and son in law Lee Heikkila.Due to COVID-19 concerns if you have a cough, fever or are not feeling well, please use our e-mail or on-line guestbook to share your condolences.&nbsp; Social distancing and wearing masks are suggested by family at the visitation and funeral services.Services will be at 10:00 AM, Friday January 22, 2021, at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, Hays, KS.&nbsp; Burial will follow in St. Josephs’ Catholic cemetery with military honors courtesy of the Hays VFW Honor Guard.Visitation will be Friday, January 22, 2021, from 8-9:30 at Brocks~Keithley Funeral Home and Chapel.Memorials are suggested to Victor Fisher Memorial Fund made payable to Lillian Fisher and/or Hospice at HaysMed.Condolences may be left by guest book at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com/">www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com</a>&nbsp;or by email at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:keithleyfuneralhomes@gmail.com">keithleyfuneralhomes@gmail.com</a>.

Victor Fisher

Russell “Rusty” Jay McDowell passed away on January 15, 2021 at Wesley 
Medical Center in Wichita, KS, at the age of 66. He was born on October 
27, 1954 to Garold and Colista (Price) McDowell in Smith Center, KS. He 
married Linda (Walters) McDowell in Hays, KS on September 18, 1982. They
 were blessed with three sons: Stuart, Bryce, and Brock.
 Rusty grew up in Kirwin, KS. He graduated from Eastern Heights High 
School with the Class of 1972 and attended North Central Kansas 
Technical College in Beloit, KS. He then worked as a contract pumper in 
the oilfield for 20 years and also farmed and had cattle. Rusty enjoyed 
farming and cattle, fishing, camping, and going to the lake, and he 
loved to spend time with his family and grandkids. 
 Rusty is survived by his wife Linda of the home in Plainville; sons,
 Stuart McDowell of Mulvane, KS, Bryce McDowell of Plainville, and Brock
 (Jill) McDowell of Plainville; brother, Kevin (Linda) McDowell of Agra;
 sisters, Pat (Larry) Brunow of St. Francis, KS, Sherry (Terry) 
Griffiths of Lincoln, NE, and Anita Hiler of Henderson, KY; 
sister-in-law, Connie McDowell of Highland Ranch, CO; 7 grandchildren 
(plus one on the way), Brooke and Mercedes McDowell, Bradyn, Brynlee, 
Mason, and Caden McDowell, and Jaxon McDowell and Chase (on the way); 
and 2 great-grandchildren, Cooper and Thea Pater. 
 He is preceded in death by his parents, Garold and Colista McDowell;
 brothers, Neal McDowell and Gene McDowell; and brother-in-law, Mel 
Hiler. 
 Always willing to help someone out, Rusty was a kind-hearted man who
 worked hard, enjoyed life and cherished his family and friends. 
Although he was taken from us far too soon, we know that those we 
enjoyed and loved, we can never lose, for all that we love deeply 
becomes a part of us. We can smile because he lived and left us with 
cherished memories that will live forever in our hearts. He will be 
greatly missed and remembered in love.
 A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, January 21, 
2021, at 10:00 a.m. at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Plainville, 
KS. Burial will follow at the St. Severin Cemetery. Visitation will be 
held on Wednesday 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with a family Rosary at 7:00 
p.m. at the funeral home in Plainville. The service will be 
livestreamed. 
 Memorials are suggested to Sacred Heart Catholic Church and may be 
sent in care of Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home, 320 SW 2nd, Plainville, 
KS 67663.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1610986578549.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Russell “Rusty” Jay McDowell passed away on January 15, 2021 at Wesley 
Medical Center in Wichita, KS, at the age of 66. He was born on October 
27, 1954 to Garold and Colista (Price) McDowell in Smith Center, KS. He 
married Linda (Walters) McDowell in Hays, KS on September 18, 1982. They
 were blessed with three sons: Stuart, Bryce, and Brock.
 Rusty grew up in Kirwin, KS. He graduated from Eastern Heights High 
School with the Class of 1972 and attended North Central Kansas 
Technical College in Beloit, KS. He then worked as a contract pumper in 
the oilfield for 20 years and also farmed and had cattle. Rusty enjoyed 
farming and cattle, fishing, camping, and going to the lake, and he 
loved to spend time with his family and grandkids. 
 Rusty is survived by his wife Linda of the home in Plainville; sons,
 Stuart McDowell of Mulvane, KS, Bryce McDowell of Plainville, and Brock
 (Jill) McDowell of Plainville; brother, Kevin (Linda) McDowell of Agra;
 sisters, Pat (Larry) Brunow of St. Francis, KS, Sherry (Terry) 
Griffiths of Lincoln, NE, and Anita Hiler of Henderson, KY; 
sister-in-law, Connie McDowell of Highland Ranch, CO; 7 grandchildren 
(plus one on the way), Brooke and Mercedes McDowell, Bradyn, Brynlee, 
Mason, and Caden McDowell, and Jaxon McDowell and Chase (on the way); 
and 2 great-grandchildren, Cooper and Thea Pater. 
 He is preceded in death by his parents, Garold and Colista McDowell;
 brothers, Neal McDowell and Gene McDowell; and brother-in-law, Mel 
Hiler. 
 Always willing to help someone out, Rusty was a kind-hearted man who
 worked hard, enjoyed life and cherished his family and friends. 
Although he was taken from us far too soon, we know that those we 
enjoyed and loved, we can never lose, for all that we love deeply 
becomes a part of us. We can smile because he lived and left us with 
cherished memories that will live forever in our hearts. He will be 
greatly missed and remembered in love.
 A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, January 21, 
2021, at 10:00 a.m. at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Plainville, 
KS. Burial will follow at the St. Severin Cemetery. Visitation will be 
held on Wednesday 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with a family Rosary at 7:00 
p.m. at the funeral home in Plainville. The service will be 
livestreamed. 
 Memorials are suggested to Sacred Heart Catholic Church and may be 
sent in care of Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home, 320 SW 2nd, Plainville, 
KS 67663.

Russell 'Rusty' Jay McDowell

Glenda Marie Albright was the 6th child born to Tom and Ruth Albright, 
on October 8, 1947, in Holton, KS. At that time the family lived and 
farmed near Whiting, KS. In 1952, her parents purchased a far NW of 
Colby, KS and moved the family “out west.” 
Glenda’s schooling began in the 1st grade and she clearly remembered 
riding the school bus, which occasionally got stuck in the mud. She 
graduated high school in 1965, having been active in choir and 4-H. 
Following high school, she attended Colby Community College part time 
for 2 years, then moved into her first apartment in town. 
Her first job was at Murphy”s Café, in Colby, and she eventually moved 
into her career at Citizens Medical Center, as a dietary aid, where she 
loved her work and the people. Glenda was hard-working and loyal, 
retiring after 30 years. 
She enjoyed visiting family, bus trips, reading mysteries, needlework, 
crafts, some TV and outings for dinner. Her favorite companion was her 
cat “Prissy”. 
Glenda was a member of the Colby United Methodist Church, participating 
in worship and bible study. She also belonged to “After Five”, a 
Christian women’s group and the local Business Professional Women’s 
organization. Her greatest bible study work was completing the Menninger
 Bible Study Course and the Disciple Bible Study Course. 
Prairie Senior Living Complex became her home in 2007, where she was 
blessed with many friends and activities until her passing, on January 
13, 2021, at the age of 73. Glenda was a treasure to all who knew her. 
Her family was very important to her and in return, they loved her very 
much. She had a strong faith in Jesus Christ and was a gentle and sweet 
soul, that never uttered a word of complaint or criticism since the day 
she was born. 
Glenda was preceded in death by her parents, Tom and Ruth Albright; 
brothers, Tom and Merle Albright and sisters, Carol Stuart-Baily and 
infant Kay Eileen. 
She is survived by her sisters, Janice Kinsley and Melanie Wetzel; brother Ben Albright and many nieces, nephews and friends. 
Visitation is 4:30-6:00 p.m. Sunday, January 17, 2021, at Baalmann 
Mortuary, Colby. Funeral Service is 10:30 a.m. Monday, January 18, 2021,
 at the Colby United Methodist Church with burial in Beulah Cemetery. 
Memorials are suggested to the church and may be sent in care of 
Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box 391, Colby, KS 67701. For information or 
condolences visit www.baalmannmortuary.com&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1610907445336.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Glenda Marie Albright was the 6th child born to Tom and Ruth Albright, 
on October 8, 1947, in Holton, KS. At that time the family lived and 
farmed near Whiting, KS. In 1952, her parents purchased a far NW of 
Colby, KS and moved the family “out west.” 
Glenda’s schooling began in the 1st grade and she clearly remembered 
riding the school bus, which occasionally got stuck in the mud. She 
graduated high school in 1965, having been active in choir and 4-H. 
Following high school, she attended Colby Community College part time 
for 2 years, then moved into her first apartment in town. 
Her first job was at Murphy”s Café, in Colby, and she eventually moved 
into her career at Citizens Medical Center, as a dietary aid, where she 
loved her work and the people. Glenda was hard-working and loyal, 
retiring after 30 years. 
She enjoyed visiting family, bus trips, reading mysteries, needlework, 
crafts, some TV and outings for dinner. Her favorite companion was her 
cat “Prissy”. 
Glenda was a member of the Colby United Methodist Church, participating 
in worship and bible study. She also belonged to “After Five”, a 
Christian women’s group and the local Business Professional Women’s 
organization. Her greatest bible study work was completing the Menninger
 Bible Study Course and the Disciple Bible Study Course. 
Prairie Senior Living Complex became her home in 2007, where she was 
blessed with many friends and activities until her passing, on January 
13, 2021, at the age of 73. Glenda was a treasure to all who knew her. 
Her family was very important to her and in return, they loved her very 
much. She had a strong faith in Jesus Christ and was a gentle and sweet 
soul, that never uttered a word of complaint or criticism since the day 
she was born. 
Glenda was preceded in death by her parents, Tom and Ruth Albright; 
brothers, Tom and Merle Albright and sisters, Carol Stuart-Baily and 
infant Kay Eileen. 
She is survived by her sisters, Janice Kinsley and Melanie Wetzel; brother Ben Albright and many nieces, nephews and friends. 
Visitation is 4:30-6:00 p.m. Sunday, January 17, 2021, at Baalmann 
Mortuary, Colby. Funeral Service is 10:30 a.m. Monday, January 18, 2021,
 at the Colby United Methodist Church with burial in Beulah Cemetery. 
Memorials are suggested to the church and may be sent in care of 
Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box 391, Colby, KS 67701. For information or 
condolences visit www.baalmannmortuary.com&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

Glenda M .Albright

By JULIE APPLEBY <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2021-01-14/private-practice-doctors-patients-wonder-when-its-their-turn-for-the-covid-19-vaccine">Kaiser Health News</a>

Dr. Andrew Carroll — a family doctor in Chandler, Arizona — wants to 
help his patients get immunized against covid, so he paid more than 
$4,000 to buy an ultra-low-temperature freezer from eBay needed to store
 the Pfizer vaccine.

But he’s not sure he’ll get a chance to use 
it, given health officials have so far not said when private doctor’s 
offices will get vaccine.

Not
 only are doctors having trouble getting vaccine for patients, but many 
of the community-based physicians and medical staff that aren’t employed
 by hospitals or health systems also report mixed results in getting 
inoculated. Some have had their shots, yet others are still waiting, 
even though health workers providing direct care to patients are in the 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s top-priority group.

Many
 of these doctors say they don’t know when — or if — they will get doses
 for their patients, which will soon become a bigger issue as states 
attempt to vaccinate more people.

“The reason that’s important is 
patients trust their doctors when it comes to the vaccine,” said 
Carroll, who has complained on social media that his county hasn’t yet 
released plans on how primary care doctors will be brought into the 
loop.

Collectively, physicians in the county could vaccinate 
thousands of patients a day, he said, and might draw some who would 
otherwise be hesitant if they had to go to a large hospital, a 
fairground or another central site.

His concern comes as, 
nationally, the rollout of the vaccine is off to a slower start than 
expected, lagging far behind the initial goal of giving 20 million doses
 before the new year.

But Dr. Jen Brull, a family practice doctor 
in Plainville, Kansas, said her rural area has made good progress on the
 first phase of vaccinations, crediting close working relationships 
formed well before the pandemic.

This fall, before any doses 
became available, the local hospital, the health department and 
physician offices coordinated a sign-up list for medical workers who 
wanted the vaccine. So, when their county, with a population of 5,000, 
got its first 70 doses, they were ready to go. Another 80 doses came a 
week later.

“We’ll be able to vaccinate almost all the health care-associated folks who wanted it in the county” Brull said recently

Dr.
 Jason Goldman, an internist in Coral Springs, Florida, said he was able
 to get vaccinated at a local hospital that received the bulk of 
vaccines in his county and oversaw distribution.

In the weeks since, however, he said several of his front-line staff members still “don’t have access to the vaccine.”

Additionally,
 “a tremendous number” of patients are calling his office because 
Florida has relaxed distribution guidelines to include anyone over age 
65, Goldman said, asking when they can get the vaccine. He’s applied to 
officials about distributing the vaccines through his practice but has 
heard nothing back.

Patients “are frustrated that they do not have
 clear answers and that I am not being given clear answers to provide 
them,” he said. “We have no choice but to direct them to the health 
department and some of the hospital systems.”

Another troubling 
point for Goldman, who served as a liaison between the American College 
of Physicians and the expert panel drawing up the CDC distribution 
guidelines, is the tremendous variation in how those recommendations are
 being implemented in the states.

The CDC <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/recommendations-process.html" target="_blank">recommends</a>
 several phases, with front-line health care workers and nursing home 
residents and staff in the initial group. Then, in the second part of 
that phase, come people over 75 and non-health care front-line workers, 
which could include first responders, teachers and other designated 
essential workers.

States have the flexibility to design their own
 rollout schedule and priority groups. Florida, for example, is offering
 doses to anyone 65 and up. In some counties, older folks were told 
vaccines were available on a first-come, first-served basis, a move that
 has resulted in long lines.

“To say right now, 65-plus, when you 
haven’t even appropriately vaccinated all the health care workers, is 
negating the phasing,” said Goldman. “There needs to be a national 
standard. We have those guidelines. We need to come up with some 
oversight.”

On Thursday, the American Hospital Association echoed 
that concern in a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Alex 
Azar. Hospitals — along with health departments and large pharmacy 
chains — are doing the bulk of the vaccinations.

Calling for additional coordination by federal officials, the <a href="https://www.aha.org/system/files/media/file/2021/01/aha-hhs-leadership-actions-needed-expedite-administration-covid-19-vaccines-lettetr-1-7-20.pdf" target="_blank">letter</a>
 outlined what it would take to reach the goal of vaccinating 75% of 
Americans by the end of May: 1.8 million vaccinations every day. Noting 
there are 64 different rollout plans from states, cities and other 
jurisdictions, the letter asked whether HHS has “assessed whether these 
plans, taken as a whole, are capable of achieving this level of 
vaccination?”

Lack of direct national 
support or strategy means each county is essentially on its own, with 
success or failure affected by available resources and the experience of
 local officials. Most state and local health departments are 
underfunded and are under intense pressure because of the surging 
pandemic.

Still, the success of vaccination efforts depends on planning, preparation and clear communication.

In
 Lorain County, Ohio, population 310,000, local officials started 
practicing in October, said Mark Adams, deputy health commissioner. They
 set up mass vaccination clinics for influenza to study what would be 
needed for a covid vaccination effort. How many staff? What would the 
traffic flow be like? Could patients be kept 6 feet apart?

“That 
gave us an idea of what is good, what is bad and what needs to change,” 
said Adams, who has had previous experience coordinating mass 
vaccination efforts at a county level.

So, when the county got its
 first shipment of 500 doses Dec. 21, Adams had his plan ready. He 
called the fire chiefs to invite all emergency medical technicians and 
affiliated personnel to an ad hoc vaccination center set up at a large 
entertainment venue staffed by his health department. Upon arrival, 
people were greeted at the door and directed to spaced-apart “lanes” 
where they would get their shots, then to a monitoring area where they 
could wait for 15 minutes to make sure they didn’t have a reaction.

Right
 after Christmas, another 400 doses arrived — and the makeshift clinic 
opened again. This time, doses went to community-based physicians, 
dentists and other hands-on medical practitioners, 600 of whom had 
previously signed up. (Hospital workers and nursing home staff and 
residents are getting their vaccinations through their own 
institutions.)

As they move into the next phase — recipients 
include residents over 80, people with developmental disorders and 
school staff — the challenges will grow, he said. The county plans a 
multipronged approach to notify people when it’s their turn, including 
use of a website, the local media, churches, other organizations and 
word-of-mouth.

Adams shares the concerns of medical providers 
nationwide: He gets only two days’ notice of how many doses he’s going 
to receive and, at the current pace of 400 or 500 doses a week, it’s 
going to take a while before most residents in the county have a chance 
to get a shot, including the estimated 33,000 people 65 and older.

With
 10 nurses, his clinic can inject about 1,200 people a day. But many 
other health professionals have volunteered to administer the shots if 
he gets more doses.

“If I were to run three clinics, five days a 
week, I could do 15,000 vaccinations a week,” Adams said. “With all the 
volunteers, I could do almost six clinics, or 30,000 a week.”

Still,
 for those in the last public group, those age 18 and up without 
underlying medical conditions, “it could be summer,” Adams said.

<a href="http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/" target="_blank">Kaiser Health News</a>&nbsp;is a national health policy news service. It is an editorially independent program of the <a href="http://www.kff.org/" target="_blank">Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation</a> which is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente.

By JULIE APPLEBY <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2021-01-14/private-practice-doctors-patients-wonder-when-its-their-turn-for-the-covid-19-vaccine">Kaiser Health News</a>Dr. Andrew Carroll — a family doctor in Chandler, Arizona — wants to 
help his patients get immunized against covid, so he paid more than 
$4,000 to buy an ultra-low-temperature freezer from eBay needed to store
 the Pfizer vaccine.But he’s not sure he’ll get a chance to use 
it, given health officials have so far not said when private doctor’s 
offices will get vaccine.“I’m really angry,” said Carroll.Not
 only are doctors having trouble getting vaccine for patients, but many 
of the community-based physicians and medical staff that aren’t employed
 by hospitals or health systems also report mixed results in getting 
inoculated. Some have had their shots, yet others are still waiting, 
even though health workers providing direct care to patients are in the 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s top-priority group.Many
 of these doctors say they don’t know when — or if — they will get doses
 for their patients, which will soon become a bigger issue as states 
attempt to vaccinate more people.“The reason that’s important is 
patients trust their doctors when it comes to the vaccine,” said 
Carroll, who has complained on social media that his county hasn’t yet 
released plans on how primary care doctors will be brought into the 
loop.Collectively, physicians in the county could vaccinate 
thousands of patients a day, he said, and might draw some who would 
otherwise be hesitant if they had to go to a large hospital, a 
fairground or another central site.His concern comes as, 
nationally, the rollout of the vaccine is off to a slower start than 
expected, lagging far behind the initial goal of giving 20 million doses
 before the new year.But Dr. Jen Brull, a family practice doctor 
in Plainville, Kansas, said her rural area has made good progress on the
 first phase of vaccinations, crediting close working relationships 
formed well before the pandemic.This fall, before any doses 
became available, the local hospital, the health department and 
physician offices coordinated a sign-up list for medical workers who 
wanted the vaccine. So, when their county, with a population of 5,000, 
got its first 70 doses, they were ready to go. Another 80 doses came a 
week later.“We’ll be able to vaccinate almost all the health care-associated folks who wanted it in the county” Brull said recently<h2>Gaps in the Rollout</h2>But that’s not the case everywhere.Dr.
 Jason Goldman, an internist in Coral Springs, Florida, said he was able
 to get vaccinated at a local hospital that received the bulk of 
vaccines in his county and oversaw distribution.In the weeks since, however, he said several of his front-line staff members still “don’t have access to the vaccine.”Additionally,
 “a tremendous number” of patients are calling his office because 
Florida has relaxed distribution guidelines to include anyone over age 
65, Goldman said, asking when they can get the vaccine. He’s applied to 
officials about distributing the vaccines through his practice but has 
heard nothing back.Patients “are frustrated that they do not have
 clear answers and that I am not being given clear answers to provide 
them,” he said. “We have no choice but to direct them to the health 
department and some of the hospital systems.”Another troubling 
point for Goldman, who served as a liaison between the American College 
of Physicians and the expert panel drawing up the CDC distribution 
guidelines, is the tremendous variation in how those recommendations are
 being implemented in the states.The CDC <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/recommendations-process.html" target="_blank">recommends</a>
 several phases, with front-line health care workers and nursing home 
residents and staff in the initial group. Then, in the second part of 
that phase, come people over 75 and non-health care front-line workers, 
which could include first responders, teachers and other designated 
essential workers.States have the flexibility to design their own
 rollout schedule and priority groups. Florida, for example, is offering
 doses to anyone 65 and up. In some counties, older folks were told 
vaccines were available on a first-come, first-served basis, a move that
 has resulted in long lines.“To say right now, 65-plus, when you 
haven’t even appropriately vaccinated all the health care workers, is 
negating the phasing,” said Goldman. “There needs to be a national 
standard. We have those guidelines. We need to come up with some 
oversight.”On Thursday, the American Hospital Association echoed 
that concern in a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Alex 
Azar. Hospitals — along with health departments and large pharmacy 
chains — are doing the bulk of the vaccinations.Calling for additional coordination by federal officials, the <a href="https://www.aha.org/system/files/media/file/2021/01/aha-hhs-leadership-actions-needed-expedite-administration-covid-19-vaccines-lettetr-1-7-20.pdf" target="_blank">letter</a>
 outlined what it would take to reach the goal of vaccinating 75% of 
Americans by the end of May: 1.8 million vaccinations every day. Noting 
there are 64 different rollout plans from states, cities and other 
jurisdictions, the letter asked whether HHS has “assessed whether these 
plans, taken as a whole, are capable of achieving this level of 
vaccination?”<h2>Making It Work</h2>Lack of direct national 
support or strategy means each county is essentially on its own, with 
success or failure affected by available resources and the experience of
 local officials. Most state and local health departments are 
underfunded and are under intense pressure because of the surging 
pandemic.Still, the success of vaccination efforts depends on planning, preparation and clear communication.In
 Lorain County, Ohio, population 310,000, local officials started 
practicing in October, said Mark Adams, deputy health commissioner. They
 set up mass vaccination clinics for influenza to study what would be 
needed for a covid vaccination effort. How many staff? What would the 
traffic flow be like? Could patients be kept 6 feet apart?“That 
gave us an idea of what is good, what is bad and what needs to change,” 
said Adams, who has had previous experience coordinating mass 
vaccination efforts at a county level.So, when the county got its
 first shipment of 500 doses Dec. 21, Adams had his plan ready. He 
called the fire chiefs to invite all emergency medical technicians and 
affiliated personnel to an ad hoc vaccination center set up at a large 
entertainment venue staffed by his health department. Upon arrival, 
people were greeted at the door and directed to spaced-apart “lanes” 
where they would get their shots, then to a monitoring area where they 
could wait for 15 minutes to make sure they didn’t have a reaction.Right
 after Christmas, another 400 doses arrived — and the makeshift clinic 
opened again. This time, doses went to community-based physicians, 
dentists and other hands-on medical practitioners, 600 of whom had 
previously signed up. (Hospital workers and nursing home staff and 
residents are getting their vaccinations through their own 
institutions.)As they move into the next phase — recipients 
include residents over 80, people with developmental disorders and 
school staff — the challenges will grow, he said. The county plans a 
multipronged approach to notify people when it’s their turn, including 
use of a website, the local media, churches, other organizations and 
word-of-mouth.Adams shares the concerns of medical providers 
nationwide: He gets only two days’ notice of how many doses he’s going 
to receive and, at the current pace of 400 or 500 doses a week, it’s 
going to take a while before most residents in the county have a chance 
to get a shot, including the estimated 33,000 people 65 and older.With
 10 nurses, his clinic can inject about 1,200 people a day. But many 
other health professionals have volunteered to administer the shots if 
he gets more doses.“If I were to run three clinics, five days a 
week, I could do 15,000 vaccinations a week,” Adams said. “With all the 
volunteers, I could do almost six clinics, or 30,000 a week.”Still,
 for those in the last public group, those age 18 and up without 
underlying medical conditions, “it could be summer,” Adams said.<a href="http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/" target="_blank">Kaiser Health News</a>&nbsp;is a national health policy news service. It is an editorially independent program of the <a href="http://www.kff.org/" target="_blank">Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation</a> which is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente.

Private practice docs, patients wonder when it’s their turn for vaccine 

Emery R. Schmidt, 93, Catharine, Kansas, died Friday, January 15, 2021, at his home.

He was born February 28, 1927, in 
Catharine, the son of Adolph J. and Anna (Staab) Schmidt. &nbsp;He attended 
St. Catherine Grade School where he graduated as an 8th grader. &nbsp;After 
he completed schooling, he farmed full-time with his father, eventually 
taking over the family farm in 1974. &nbsp;In 2002, he was a recipient of the
 Kansas Farm Bureau Century Farm Family Award. &nbsp;On October 10, 1959, he 
was united in marriage to Shirley Pfeifer at St. Joseph Catholic Church 
in Hays. &nbsp;They celebrated 61 years of marriage. 

He was a farmer whose 
crops included wheat and milo, and he raised cattle. &nbsp;In his earlier 
years, he raised poultry and milked cows, taking the eggs and cream to a
 grocery store in Hays and trading them for groceries. &nbsp;In addition to 
farming, Emery enjoyed butchering hogs and making German sausages, 
watching games shows, and spending time on the computer looking at the 
markets, the weather, playing games and browsing his wife’s Facebook to 
stay up on happenings in his families’ lives.&nbsp; He spent time studying 
the genealogy of families of Catharine, storytelling of growing up in 
the early days on the farm, completing word searches, and was a Kansas 
City Royals and Chiefs fan. &nbsp;Most of all, he loved his family and 
spending time with his grandchildren and great grandchildren. &nbsp;He was a 
member of the St. Catherine Catholic Church and was a Third-Degree 
Knight of the St. Catherine Council.

Survivors include his wife Shirley of 
Catharine, two sons: Greg (Pam) Schmidt and Mike (Ann) Schmidt, all of 
Catharine, two daughters: Jackie (Tim) Jones of Hays and Lisa (Allen) 
Stouffer of Leavenworth, two brothers: Adolph (DeAnn) Schmidt and Gerald
 (Elaine) Schmidt, all of Hays, a sister: Cora Dortland of Gorham, two 
brothers-in-law: Maynard Evans of Hays and Verlin Pfeifer of Hill City, 
five sisters-in-law: Rosie Schmidt of Hays, Mary (Rick) Vogt of Chicago,
 IL, Sheila (Tim) Thompson of Westwood, Rebecca (David) Tolemy of 
Bloomingdale, IL, and Sandy Pfeifer of Covington, PA, 12 grandchildren: 
Eric (Kelli) Schmidt, Ryan (Jennifer) Schmidt, John (Aubrey) Jones, 
Rachel (Scott) VonFeldt, Niki (Tony) Smith, Casey (Nathan) Wendel, Erin 
(Ryan) Sims, Kyle Schmidt, Carly Schmidt, Shelby Stouffer, Lucas (Megan)
 Stouffer, and Michael Schmidt, 18 great grandchildren: Catherine, 
Evelyn, Sophia, Jace, Elon, Mason, and Colby Schmidt, Cooper and Georgia
 Jones, Camri, Kaden, and Konnor VonFeldt, Emma and Julie Smith, Clayton
 and Tyler Wendel, Emerie Stouffer, and Olivia Sims, and numerous nieces
 and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his 
parents, four brothers: Celly, Herbert, Alfred, Elmer J. Schmidt, and an
 infant brother: Elmer Schmidt, three sisters: Cyrilla Evans, Fidelia 
Rome, and Irene Dinkel, four brothers-in-law: Wilfred Rome, Ray Dinkel, 
Everett Dortland, and Pat Pfeifer, and four sisters-in-law: Esther and 
Frances Schmidt and Lillian and Ginger Pfeifer.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 
10:00 am on Tuesday, January 19, 2021, at St. Catherine Catholic Church 
in Catharine. &nbsp;Burial will follow in St. Catherine Cemetery. Visitation 
will be from 5:00 until 8:00 pm on Monday and from 8:30 until 9:30 am on
 Tuesday, all at Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home. &nbsp;A vigil service 
will be at 6:30 pm followed by a Knights of Columbus rosary, both on 
Monday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to St. Catherine 
Church or to the St. Catherine Cemetery Fund. &nbsp;Condolences and memories 
of Emery may be shared with the family at www.haysmemorial.com

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1610829305784.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Emery R. Schmidt, 93, Catharine, Kansas, died Friday, January 15, 2021, at his home.He was born February 28, 1927, in 
Catharine, the son of Adolph J. and Anna (Staab) Schmidt. &nbsp;He attended 
St. Catherine Grade School where he graduated as an 8th grader. &nbsp;After 
he completed schooling, he farmed full-time with his father, eventually 
taking over the family farm in 1974. &nbsp;In 2002, he was a recipient of the
 Kansas Farm Bureau Century Farm Family Award. &nbsp;On October 10, 1959, he 
was united in marriage to Shirley Pfeifer at St. Joseph Catholic Church 
in Hays. &nbsp;They celebrated 61 years of marriage. He was a farmer whose 
crops included wheat and milo, and he raised cattle. &nbsp;In his earlier 
years, he raised poultry and milked cows, taking the eggs and cream to a
 grocery store in Hays and trading them for groceries. &nbsp;In addition to 
farming, Emery enjoyed butchering hogs and making German sausages, 
watching games shows, and spending time on the computer looking at the 
markets, the weather, playing games and browsing his wife’s Facebook to 
stay up on happenings in his families’ lives.&nbsp; He spent time studying 
the genealogy of families of Catharine, storytelling of growing up in 
the early days on the farm, completing word searches, and was a Kansas 
City Royals and Chiefs fan. &nbsp;Most of all, he loved his family and 
spending time with his grandchildren and great grandchildren. &nbsp;He was a 
member of the St. Catherine Catholic Church and was a Third-Degree 
Knight of the St. Catherine Council.Survivors include his wife Shirley of 
Catharine, two sons: Greg (Pam) Schmidt and Mike (Ann) Schmidt, all of 
Catharine, two daughters: Jackie (Tim) Jones of Hays and Lisa (Allen) 
Stouffer of Leavenworth, two brothers: Adolph (DeAnn) Schmidt and Gerald
 (Elaine) Schmidt, all of Hays, a sister: Cora Dortland of Gorham, two 
brothers-in-law: Maynard Evans of Hays and Verlin Pfeifer of Hill City, 
five sisters-in-law: Rosie Schmidt of Hays, Mary (Rick) Vogt of Chicago,
 IL, Sheila (Tim) Thompson of Westwood, Rebecca (David) Tolemy of 
Bloomingdale, IL, and Sandy Pfeifer of Covington, PA, 12 grandchildren: 
Eric (Kelli) Schmidt, Ryan (Jennifer) Schmidt, John (Aubrey) Jones, 
Rachel (Scott) VonFeldt, Niki (Tony) Smith, Casey (Nathan) Wendel, Erin 
(Ryan) Sims, Kyle Schmidt, Carly Schmidt, Shelby Stouffer, Lucas (Megan)
 Stouffer, and Michael Schmidt, 18 great grandchildren: Catherine, 
Evelyn, Sophia, Jace, Elon, Mason, and Colby Schmidt, Cooper and Georgia
 Jones, Camri, Kaden, and Konnor VonFeldt, Emma and Julie Smith, Clayton
 and Tyler Wendel, Emerie Stouffer, and Olivia Sims, and numerous nieces
 and nephews.He was preceded in death by his 
parents, four brothers: Celly, Herbert, Alfred, Elmer J. Schmidt, and an
 infant brother: Elmer Schmidt, three sisters: Cyrilla Evans, Fidelia 
Rome, and Irene Dinkel, four brothers-in-law: Wilfred Rome, Ray Dinkel, 
Everett Dortland, and Pat Pfeifer, and four sisters-in-law: Esther and 
Frances Schmidt and Lillian and Ginger Pfeifer.Mass of Christian Burial will be at 
10:00 am on Tuesday, January 19, 2021, at St. Catherine Catholic Church 
in Catharine. &nbsp;Burial will follow in St. Catherine Cemetery. Visitation 
will be from 5:00 until 8:00 pm on Monday and from 8:30 until 9:30 am on
 Tuesday, all at Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home. &nbsp;A vigil service 
will be at 6:30 pm followed by a Knights of Columbus rosary, both on 
Monday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to St. Catherine 
Church or to the St. Catherine Cemetery Fund. &nbsp;Condolences and memories 
of Emery may be shared with the family at www.haysmemorial.com

Emery R. Schmidt

Loretta K. Small passed away on Thursday, January 14, 2021, at the Wilson
 Care and Rehabilitation Center in Wilson, KS, at the age of 51. She was
 born on October 2, 1969, to Jesse and Melba (Kindlesparger) Whitmer in 
Ellsworth, Kansas. 
 Loretta was a lifetime resident of Wilson. She attended Wilson High 
School and graduated with the Class of 1987. She went on to receive her 
Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood Development from Barton Community 
College in 1990. She then returned home to Wilson and married Jerry 
Small at the United Methodist Church in Wilson in 1990. She loved 
spending time with Jerry, and anything outdoors such as hunting, 
fishing, or being at the lake.

Loretta started work for Eschbaugh 
Advertising as a Screen Press Operator and later went to work for her 
husband’s Smoky Hill Body Shop. Loretta beat Hodgkin’s Disease but was 
in a debilitating boat wreck in 2002 that left her disabled and took 
Jerry’s life. Although the wreck left her paralyzed, it didn’t dull her 
shine. She could tell you exactly how she felt with her expressions. She
 never ceased to smile when younger children were around or let her 
family know that she loved their company. 
 Loretta leaves behind her siblings, Patty Miller of Wilson, Jeanetta
 (Albert) Schendel of Baldwin City, KS, Terry (Debbie) Whitmer of 
Wilson, Leroy (Sue) Whitmer of Halstead, KS, and Nelson Whitmer of 
Wilson.
 She joins in paradise her parents, Jesse and Melba Whitmer; husband,
 Jerry Small; brother, Robert Whitmer; a niece, Michelle Whitmer; 
nephews, Michael and Danny Whitmer; brother-in-law, Fred Miller; and 
sisters-in-law, Carol Whitmer and Kathy Whitmer.
 There will be private family services. Visitation will be open to 
the public on Saturday, January 16, 2021, from 5 PM until 7 PM at 
Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home in Wilson. Masks are encouraged upon entry
 to the funeral home.
 Memorials are suggested to the Wilson Care and Rehab and may be sent
 in care of Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home, PO BOX 533, Wilson, KS 67490.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1610742382673.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Loretta K. Small passed away on Thursday, January 14, 2021, at the Wilson
 Care and Rehabilitation Center in Wilson, KS, at the age of 51. She was
 born on October 2, 1969, to Jesse and Melba (Kindlesparger) Whitmer in 
Ellsworth, Kansas. 
 Loretta was a lifetime resident of Wilson. She attended Wilson High 
School and graduated with the Class of 1987. She went on to receive her 
Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood Development from Barton Community 
College in 1990. She then returned home to Wilson and married Jerry 
Small at the United Methodist Church in Wilson in 1990. She loved 
spending time with Jerry, and anything outdoors such as hunting, 
fishing, or being at the lake. Loretta started work for Eschbaugh 
Advertising as a Screen Press Operator and later went to work for her 
husband’s Smoky Hill Body Shop. Loretta beat Hodgkin’s Disease but was 
in a debilitating boat wreck in 2002 that left her disabled and took 
Jerry’s life. Although the wreck left her paralyzed, it didn’t dull her 
shine. She could tell you exactly how she felt with her expressions. She
 never ceased to smile when younger children were around or let her 
family know that she loved their company. 
 Loretta leaves behind her siblings, Patty Miller of Wilson, Jeanetta
 (Albert) Schendel of Baldwin City, KS, Terry (Debbie) Whitmer of 
Wilson, Leroy (Sue) Whitmer of Halstead, KS, and Nelson Whitmer of 
Wilson.
 She joins in paradise her parents, Jesse and Melba Whitmer; husband,
 Jerry Small; brother, Robert Whitmer; a niece, Michelle Whitmer; 
nephews, Michael and Danny Whitmer; brother-in-law, Fred Miller; and 
sisters-in-law, Carol Whitmer and Kathy Whitmer.
 There will be private family services. Visitation will be open to 
the public on Saturday, January 16, 2021, from 5 PM until 7 PM at 
Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home in Wilson. Masks are encouraged upon entry
 to the funeral home.
 Memorials are suggested to the Wilson Care and Rehab and may be sent
 in care of Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home, PO BOX 533, Wilson, KS 67490.

Loretta K. Small 

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court ordered this week that women must visit a doctor’s office, hospital or clinic in person to obtain an abortion pill during the COVID-19 pandemic, though similar rules for other drugs have been suspended during the public health emergency.

Days before President Donald Trump leaves office, the justices granted a Trump administration appeal to be able to enforce a longstanding rule on getting the abortion pill, mifepristone. The pill need not be taken in the presence of medical professionals.

The court split 6-3, with the liberal justices in dissent. The new administration could put the in-person requirement on hold after Joe Biden takes office on Jan. 20.

A federal judge had suspended the rule since July because of the coronavirus, in response to a lawsuit from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and other groups.

U.S. District Judge Theodore Chuang affirmed the suspension of the rule in December, saying public health risks for patients had increased as COVID-19 cases soared.

The Food and Drug Administration approved mifepristone to be used in combination with a second drug, misoprostol, to end an early pregnancy or manage a miscarriage.

The administration has suspended similar in-person visits for other drugs, including opioids in some cases, but refused to relax the rules for getting the abortion pill.

In October, the Supreme Court allowed women to continue getting the abortion pill by mail but deferred any substantive ruling. Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas said they would have granted the administration’s request then.

At the time, there were only eight justices on the court, as Justice Amy Coney Barrett had been nominated, but not yet confirmed. Barrett took the seat of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died in September.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court ordered this week that women must visit a doctor’s office, hospital or clinic in person to obtain an abortion pill during the COVID-19 pandemic, though similar rules for other drugs have been suspended during the public health emergency.Days before President Donald Trump leaves office, the justices granted a Trump administration appeal to be able to enforce a longstanding rule on getting the abortion pill, mifepristone. The pill need not be taken in the presence of medical professionals.The court split 6-3, with the liberal justices in dissent. The new administration could put the in-person requirement on hold after Joe Biden takes office on Jan. 20.A federal judge had suspended the rule since July because of the coronavirus, in response to a lawsuit from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and other groups.U.S. District Judge Theodore Chuang affirmed the suspension of the rule in December, saying public health risks for patients had increased as COVID-19 cases soared.The Food and Drug Administration approved mifepristone to be used in combination with a second drug, misoprostol, to end an early pregnancy or manage a miscarriage.The administration has suspended similar in-person visits for other drugs, including opioids in some cases, but refused to relax the rules for getting the abortion pill.In October, the Supreme Court allowed women to continue getting the abortion pill by mail but deferred any substantive ruling. Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas said they would have granted the administration’s request then.At the time, there were only eight justices on the court, as Justice Amy Coney Barrett had been nominated, but not yet confirmed. Barrett took the seat of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died in September.

Justices: Women must obtain abortion pill in person

Nellie LaPlant, age 90, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, January 
12, 2021, at the Parklane Nursing Home in Scott City, Kansas. She was 
born on April 18, 1930, in Enid, Oklahoma, the daughter of Hugh and Monta
 Embree Simmons. She had been a resident of Scott City since 2005 having
 moved from Garden City, Kansas and worked in retail sales.

Nellie was a member of the First Christian Church of Scott City, Kansas.

On May 26, 1946, Nellie married Olin LaPlant in Enid, Oklahoma. Olin 
and Nellie moved to a farm near Hereford, Texas shortly after they were 
married and their five children were born in Texas.&nbsp; In 1957, the family
 moved to Liberal Kansas and opened LaPlant Carpet and Tile in 1970 
until a fire destroyed the business in 1987. Olin passed away on October
 17, 1989 in Wichita, Kansas.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1610721518929.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Nellie LaPlant, age 90, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, January 
12, 2021, at the Parklane Nursing Home in Scott City, Kansas. She was 
born on April 18, 1930, in Enid, Oklahoma, the daughter of Hugh and Monta
 Embree Simmons. She had been a resident of Scott City since 2005 having
 moved from Garden City, Kansas and worked in retail sales.Nellie was a member of the First Christian Church of Scott City, Kansas.On May 26, 1946, Nellie married Olin LaPlant in Enid, Oklahoma. Olin 
and Nellie moved to a farm near Hereford, Texas shortly after they were 
married and their five children were born in Texas.&nbsp; In 1957, the family
 moved to Liberal Kansas and opened LaPlant Carpet and Tile in 1970 
until a fire destroyed the business in 1987. Olin passed away on October
 17, 1989 in Wichita, Kansas.Survivors include her children: Linda and Paul Smith of Ogden, UT, 
Mary and Jerry Watson of Topeka, Kansas, Larry LaPlant of Aransas Pass, 
Texas, and Dennis LaPlant of Corpus Christi, Texas, ten grandchildren, 
19 great grandchildren, and five, great great grandchildren.She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, two brothers, 
Harry Simmons and Hugh B. Simmons, Jr., and one infant son, David 
LaPlant.Private graveside services will be held at the Ames Cemetery in Ames,
 Oklahoma.&nbsp; A Celebration Of Life will be held at a later date in Enid, 
Oklahoma.