WASHINGTON (AP) —Prices for U.S. consumers jumped 6.2 percent in October compared with a year earlier as surging costs for food, gas and housing left Americans grappling with the highest inflation rate since 1990.

The year-over-year increase in the consumer price index exceeded the 5.4 percent rise in September, the Labor Department reported Wednesday. From September to October, prices jumped 0.9 percent, the highest month-over-month increase since June.

Inflation is eroding the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-wages-salaries-increase-8ce98ea3bcc14c4810eb5a1111e1df49" target="_blank">strong gains in wages and salaries&nbsp;</a>that have flowed to America’s workers in recent months, creating political headaches for the Biden administration and congressional Democrats and intensifying pressure on the Federal Reserve as it considers how fast to withdraw its efforts to boost the economy.

Job gains and pay raises have been much healthier during the pandemic recovery than they were after the Great Recession roughly a decade ago. But in contrast to the years that followed that downturn, inflation is now accelerating and diminishing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-economy-prices-inflation-d98e33f5f024e5109486b70662196ed7" target="_blank">Americans’ confidence in the economy, surveys have found</a>.

Excluding the volatile food and energy categories, so-called core prices rose 0.6% in from September to October. Core prices are now up 4.6 percent compared with a year ago.

Energy costs soared 4.8 percent just from September to October, with gasoline, natural gas and heating oil surging for the same reason that many other commodities have grown more expensive: Demand has risen sharply as Americans are driving and flying more, but supplies haven’t kept up.

Economists still expect inflation to slow once supply bottlenecks are cleared and Americans shift more of their consumption back to pre-pandemic norms. As COVID-19 fades, consumers should spend more on travel, entertainment and other services and less on goods such as cars, furniture, and appliances, which would reduce pressure on supply chains.

But no one knows how long that might take. Higher inflation has persisted much longer than most economists had expected. And inflation is spreading well beyond items like appliances and new and used vehicles that are directly affected by the pandemic.

“The inflation overshoot will likely get worse before it gets better,” said Goldman Sachs economists in a research note Sunday.

For months, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell had described inflation as “transitory,” a short-term phenomenon linked to labor and supply shortages resulting from the speed with which the economy rebounded from the pandemic recession. But last week,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-business-health-economy-inflation-e4993a475b31c2e82efe788ff8b47c68" target="_blank">Powell acknowledged</a>&nbsp;that higher prices could last well into next summer.

The Fed chair announced that the central bank will start reducing the monthly bond purchases it began last year as an emergency measure to boost the economy. Investors now expect the Fed to raise its benchmark interest rate twice next year from its record-low level near zero — much earlier than they had predicted a few months ago.

Many large companies are passing on the cost of higher pay to their customers, and in some cases, consumers are paying up rather than cutting back.

To attract workers, for example, McDonald’s boosted hourly pay 10 percent to 15 percent over the past year. To help cover those higher labor costs as well as more expensive food and paper, the company said last month that it raised prices 6 percent in the July-September quarter from a year earlier. Yet even so, company sales leapt 14 percent as virus restrictions eased.

Other companies have been more cautious. One of them, Wayfair, an online furniture retailer, said last week that its costs are rising as factories in Asia have shut down amid COVID outbreaks, ports are jammed, and labor costs have surged. But the company isn’t necessarily passing along all those higher costs.

“We are in a mass-oriented business where the average customer does not have an unlimited discretionary budget,” said Michael Fleisher, Wayfair’s chief financial officer. “Inflation is rampant across the economy, and there are competing demands for their time and wallet share.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1625744811390.jpg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —Prices for U.S. consumers jumped 6.2 percent in October compared with a year earlier as surging costs for food, gas and housing left Americans grappling with the highest inflation rate since 1990.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">🚨🚨🚨 BIDENFLATION SURGES TO 31 YEAR HIGH! It’s here to stay so long as the left continues to throw gasoline on the fire with their reckless taxing, reckless borrowing, and reckless spending agenda. <a href="https://t.co/k2wDdlSKkV">https://t.co/k2wDdlSKkV</a>&mdash; Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) <a href="https://twitter.com/RogerMarshallMD/status/1458456925943762949?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 10, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The year-over-year increase in the consumer price index exceeded the 5.4 percent rise in September, the Labor Department reported Wednesday. From September to October, prices jumped 0.9 percent, the highest month-over-month increase since June.Inflation is eroding the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-wages-salaries-increase-8ce98ea3bcc14c4810eb5a1111e1df49" target="_blank">strong gains in wages and salaries&nbsp;</a>that have flowed to America’s workers in recent months, creating political headaches for the Biden administration and congressional Democrats and intensifying pressure on the Federal Reserve as it considers how fast to withdraw its efforts to boost the economy.Job gains and pay raises have been much healthier during the pandemic recovery than they were after the Great Recession roughly a decade ago. But in contrast to the years that followed that downturn, inflation is now accelerating and diminishing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-economy-prices-inflation-d98e33f5f024e5109486b70662196ed7" target="_blank">Americans’ confidence in the economy, surveys have found</a>.Excluding the volatile food and energy categories, so-called core prices rose 0.6% in from September to October. Core prices are now up 4.6 percent compared with a year ago.Energy costs soared 4.8 percent just from September to October, with gasoline, natural gas and heating oil surging for the same reason that many other commodities have grown more expensive: Demand has risen sharply as Americans are driving and flying more, but supplies haven’t kept up.Economists still expect inflation to slow once supply bottlenecks are cleared and Americans shift more of their consumption back to pre-pandemic norms. As COVID-19 fades, consumers should spend more on travel, entertainment and other services and less on goods such as cars, furniture, and appliances, which would reduce pressure on supply chains.But no one knows how long that might take. Higher inflation has persisted much longer than most economists had expected. And inflation is spreading well beyond items like appliances and new and used vehicles that are directly affected by the pandemic.“The inflation overshoot will likely get worse before it gets better,” said Goldman Sachs economists in a research note Sunday.For months, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell had described inflation as “transitory,” a short-term phenomenon linked to labor and supply shortages resulting from the speed with which the economy rebounded from the pandemic recession. But last week,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-business-health-economy-inflation-e4993a475b31c2e82efe788ff8b47c68" target="_blank">Powell acknowledged</a>&nbsp;that higher prices could last well into next summer.The Fed chair announced that the central bank will start reducing the monthly bond purchases it began last year as an emergency measure to boost the economy. Investors now expect the Fed to raise its benchmark interest rate twice next year from its record-low level near zero — much earlier than they had predicted a few months ago.Many large companies are passing on the cost of higher pay to their customers, and in some cases, consumers are paying up rather than cutting back.To attract workers, for example, McDonald’s boosted hourly pay 10 percent to 15 percent over the past year. To help cover those higher labor costs as well as more expensive food and paper, the company said last month that it raised prices 6 percent in the July-September quarter from a year earlier. Yet even so, company sales leapt 14 percent as virus restrictions eased.Other companies have been more cautious. One of them, Wayfair, an online furniture retailer, said last week that its costs are rising as factories in Asia have shut down amid COVID outbreaks, ports are jammed, and labor costs have surged. But the company isn’t necessarily passing along all those higher costs.“We are in a mass-oriented business where the average customer does not have an unlimited discretionary budget,” said Michael Fleisher, Wayfair’s chief financial officer. “Inflation is rampant across the economy, and there are competing demands for their time and wallet share.”

Kan. senator responds as U.S. inflation hits 30-year high, prices keep rising

&nbsp;By NOAH TABORDA <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/11/10/seaman-schools-keep-name-but-will-stop-associating-with-vile-klan-leader/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Seaman schools north of Topeka will keep their name but disavow their racist namesake.

Following months of contentious debate — and an election where two 
school board candidates defeated incumbents with campaigns built around 
preserving the name of a former Ku Klux Klan leader — the school board 
voted Monday to denounce all associations with Fred A. Seaman. Students who have advocated for a new name weren’t satisfied with the decision and promised to keep fighting.

Last year, student journalists at 
Seaman High School reported Seaman, who founded the district’s high 
school and was its principal from 1920 to 1931, was also the “exalted 
cyclops” of the local Klan chapter. The revelation sparked an outcry 
from many in the student body and community to change the school name.

After workshops, protests and 
community discussions, the board proposed and passed an alternative to 
what became a divisive issue in local school board elections. The 
measure condemns Seaman’s “revolting” and “vile” history and mandates 
removal of all references to the Klan leader from the district 
permanently.

“The action taken by this board 
tonight is an incremental step toward removing racism in our district,” 
said board president Keith Griffin. “By separating from Fred A. Seaman, 
this board is supporting that our community is larger than one person 
and does not support or uphold the actions of Fred A. Seaman.”

The seven-person board moved 
unanimously to approve the measure. The decision comes just days after 
Griffin and Cherie Sage lost their seats in the general election to 
Chris Travis and Donna McGinty, who supported keeping the Seaman name.

The measure also encouraged the high 
school’s museum class to create an exhibit focusing on Seaman’s 
“repulsive involvement” with the Ku Klux Klan. The suggestion was 
included to ensure knowledge of Seaman’s actions does not fade into 
history.

Before the vote, more than 40 
students, parents and concerned community members gathered in front of 
the Seaman Education Center, where the vote took place. The rallygoers 
carried signs calling for the name change.

Those on hand said the board should be responsive to the students and reject a name symbolic of hate.

“If we don’t change the name, it 
sends the message to our community and communities around us that we 
condone that hate and that we don’t stand for better,” said Olivia 
Oliva, a senior at Seaman High School.

The Unified School District 345 board
 formed a nine-person namesake committee in March. An October report 
from the committee provided information on Seaman and his history but 
did not make a recommendation.

Kayla McClenny, a senior at the high 
school, came out in solidarity with her classmates of color. She said 
students should not be forced to represent someone who caused so much 
pain for people of color in the community.

“People of color are still affected, 
even today,” McClenny said. “It’s kind of just showing they don’t really
 care about all the Klan did.”

A statement on the Rename Seaman 
Schools Facebook page after the vote expressed disappointment in the 
board’s actions. The statement noted the fight to change the name would 
not end.

“In no way is this resolution 
indicative of a caring and responsive culture,” the statement reads. 
“Those of us impacted by the racism and hatred of Seaman and the KKK 
will not be deterred.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636577318408.png" alt="More than 40 people, many of them students, gathered Monday in front of the Seaman Education Center, where board members moved to keep the name of Ku Klux Klan leader Fred A. Seaman, but strip all associations and references to him. (Thad Allton for Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>More than 40 people, many of them students, gathered Monday in front of the Seaman Education Center, where board members moved to keep the name of Ku Klux Klan leader Fred A. Seaman, but strip all associations and references to him. (Thad Allton for Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;By NOAH TABORDA <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/11/10/seaman-schools-keep-name-but-will-stop-associating-with-vile-klan-leader/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Seaman schools north of Topeka will keep their name but disavow their racist namesake.Following months of contentious debate — and an election where two 
school board candidates defeated incumbents with campaigns built around 
preserving the name of a former Ku Klux Klan leader — the school board 
voted Monday to denounce all associations with Fred A. Seaman. Students who have advocated for a new name weren’t satisfied with the decision and promised to keep fighting.Last year, student journalists at 
Seaman High School reported Seaman, who founded the district’s high 
school and was its principal from 1920 to 1931, was also the “exalted 
cyclops” of the local Klan chapter. The revelation sparked an outcry 
from many in the student body and community to change the school name.After workshops, protests and 
community discussions, the board proposed and passed an alternative to 
what became a divisive issue in local school board elections. The 
measure condemns Seaman’s “revolting” and “vile” history and mandates 
removal of all references to the Klan leader from the district 
permanently.The name, however, will remain.“The action taken by this board 
tonight is an incremental step toward removing racism in our district,” 
said board president Keith Griffin. “By separating from Fred A. Seaman, 
this board is supporting that our community is larger than one person 
and does not support or uphold the actions of Fred A. Seaman.”The seven-person board moved 
unanimously to approve the measure. The decision comes just days after 
Griffin and Cherie Sage lost their seats in the general election to 
Chris Travis and Donna McGinty, who supported keeping the Seaman name.The measure also encouraged the high 
school’s museum class to create an exhibit focusing on Seaman’s 
“repulsive involvement” with the Ku Klux Klan. The suggestion was 
included to ensure knowledge of Seaman’s actions does not fade into 
history.Before the vote, more than 40 
students, parents and concerned community members gathered in front of 
the Seaman Education Center, where the vote took place. The rallygoers 
carried signs calling for the name change.Those on hand said the board should be responsive to the students and reject a name symbolic of hate.“If we don’t change the name, it 
sends the message to our community and communities around us that we 
condone that hate and that we don’t stand for better,” said Olivia 
Oliva, a senior at Seaman High School.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636577467030.png" alt="The Rename Seaman Schools Facebook page said actions take by the board were insufficient and demonstrated a lack of inclusivity. (Thad Allton for Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>The Rename Seaman Schools Facebook page said actions take by the board were insufficient and demonstrated a lack of inclusivity. (Thad Allton for Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>The Unified School District 345 board
 formed a nine-person namesake committee in March. An October report 
from the committee provided information on Seaman and his history but 
did not make a recommendation.Kayla McClenny, a senior at the high 
school, came out in solidarity with her classmates of color. She said 
students should not be forced to represent someone who caused so much 
pain for people of color in the community.“People of color are still affected, 
even today,” McClenny said. “It’s kind of just showing they don’t really
 care about all the Klan did.”A statement on the Rename Seaman 
Schools Facebook page after the vote expressed disappointment in the 
board’s actions. The statement noted the fight to change the name would 
not end.“In no way is this resolution 
indicative of a caring and responsive culture,” the statement reads. 
“Those of us impacted by the racism and hatred of Seaman and the KKK 
will not be deterred.”

Seaman schools keep name but will stop associating with ‘vile’ Klan leader

It is with heavy 
hearts that we assemble with our memories of Betty Jean Price. After a 
grueling eight-week battle with her critical illness, it became evident 
she would not recover. Her legacy, however, shall live on in her family 
and friends forevermore. Her passing has stirred the hearts of so many; 
an outpouring of caring and love toward those she leaves behind.

Her time on earth was short. On Friday, 29 October 2021, her strength
 diminished as her illness progressed. What had been deemed stable 
critical reduced to the time is nigh. Her weary body could no longer 
fight the effects of her illness. She peacefully released her soul to 
the greater life that awaited her in the Light. She passed around 4:15pm
 with her husband Lew Price, and daughter, Polly {Paulette} Price, 
nearby.

It is the family’s desire to hold a Celebration of Life for Betty J 
Price on Saturday, 8 January 2022. Time and location are being 
finalized. Notifications will be distributed as soon as this information
 is solidified. Her wishes for inurnment shall be held at a private 
family only event.

Betty Jean Price was the firstborn daughter of Dale and Annette 
Walraven. She arrived 18 March 1952, in Hays, Ellis County, Kansas. Her 
school life was well rounded and well-traveled. Her parents relocated to
 Kimball, then Potter, Nebraska. In 1966, the family relocated one more 
time. This journey brought them to Baker, Fallon County Montana where 
she completed her high school education. Destiny intertwined two hearts 
to move forward from friends to soul mates.

Her marriage to Lew Price was held in Baker Community Church, Baker, 
Montana on 12 March 1983. They resided in Baker MT prior to moving to 
Billings, Montana where Lew attended then known as Eastern Montana 
College. Their journey continued to Washington state, and Mulvane, 
Sedgwick County Kansas. They traveled and settled in Burnsville, Dakota 
County Minnesota in 1996, where they raised their two children.

One son, Devin, married Sabrina, blessing Betty with Nova Jean Price,
 her namesake. They reside in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. A son, Cassius 
{pronounced Cass-ē-us} Llwellyn Price is expected to arrive in early 
2022. Betty will be looking in on his progress as days grow closer to 
his arrival and forevermore. One daughter, Paulette Jessie Kay Price, 
resides in West St Paul, Minnesota.

Betty Price had an outstanding musical ability which she volunteered 
and prominently displayed her expertise as Director of Music for Bethel 
85, the Job’s Daughters group attended by her daughter. She also played 
piano in her church, New Spirit UCC, Savage, Minnesota.

Her creativity extended beyond music. She received her Associate 
Degree in Graphic Design where her talents were shared as a free lance 
artist. Her artistic prowess and passion for photography was 
unmistakable. She produced remarkable photos of areas visited during 
their vacations. She also documented weddings and Bethel 85 events, to 
name a few, when asked to assist.

Most recently she touched the hearts and lives of employees and 
customers in the Custom Blinds and Drapes of JC Penney, Burnsville, 
Minnesota. Customers would ask for her, and, if unavailable, would 
return only when she was working.

An angel now resides in heaven with the loved ones who were awaiting 
her arrival, including her dogs who crossed the rainbow bridge before 
her. She is survived outside her immediate family by her sister, Deborah
 (Walraven) Wenger of Oconomowoc, Waukesha County Wisconsin. There are 
ten nieces and nephews and fourteen grandnieces and grandnephews that 
feel the impact for her passing.

Love and well-wishes reverberate through the scores of messages to Lew and Betty’s family.

… and, of course, the lives of friends she touched during her lifetime
 shall fondly speak her name, remembering her kind and loving heart.

Arrangements are in the care of <a href="https://cremationsocietyofmn.com/tribute/details/45872/Betty-Price/obituary.html">Cremation Society of Minnesota.</a>

It is with heavy 
hearts that we assemble with our memories of Betty Jean Price. After a 
grueling eight-week battle with her critical illness, it became evident 
she would not recover. Her legacy, however, shall live on in her family 
and friends forevermore. Her passing has stirred the hearts of so many; 
an outpouring of caring and love toward those she leaves behind.Her time on earth was short. On Friday, 29 October 2021, her strength
 diminished as her illness progressed. What had been deemed stable 
critical reduced to the time is nigh. Her weary body could no longer 
fight the effects of her illness. She peacefully released her soul to 
the greater life that awaited her in the Light. She passed around 4:15pm
 with her husband Lew Price, and daughter, Polly {Paulette} Price, 
nearby.It is the family’s desire to hold a Celebration of Life for Betty J 
Price on Saturday, 8 January 2022. Time and location are being 
finalized. Notifications will be distributed as soon as this information
 is solidified. Her wishes for inurnment shall be held at a private 
family only event.Betty Jean Price was the firstborn daughter of Dale and Annette 
Walraven. She arrived 18 March 1952, in Hays, Ellis County, Kansas. Her 
school life was well rounded and well-traveled. Her parents relocated to
 Kimball, then Potter, Nebraska. In 1966, the family relocated one more 
time. This journey brought them to Baker, Fallon County Montana where 
she completed her high school education. Destiny intertwined two hearts 
to move forward from friends to soul mates.Her marriage to Lew Price was held in Baker Community Church, Baker, 
Montana on 12 March 1983. They resided in Baker MT prior to moving to 
Billings, Montana where Lew attended then known as Eastern Montana 
College. Their journey continued to Washington state, and Mulvane, 
Sedgwick County Kansas. They traveled and settled in Burnsville, Dakota 
County Minnesota in 1996, where they raised their two children.One son, Devin, married Sabrina, blessing Betty with Nova Jean Price,
 her namesake. They reside in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. A son, Cassius 
{pronounced Cass-ē-us} Llwellyn Price is expected to arrive in early 
2022. Betty will be looking in on his progress as days grow closer to 
his arrival and forevermore. One daughter, Paulette Jessie Kay Price, 
resides in West St Paul, Minnesota.Betty Price had an outstanding musical ability which she volunteered 
and prominently displayed her expertise as Director of Music for Bethel 
85, the Job’s Daughters group attended by her daughter. She also played 
piano in her church, New Spirit UCC, Savage, Minnesota.Her creativity extended beyond music. She received her Associate 
Degree in Graphic Design where her talents were shared as a free lance 
artist. Her artistic prowess and passion for photography was 
unmistakable. She produced remarkable photos of areas visited during 
their vacations. She also documented weddings and Bethel 85 events, to 
name a few, when asked to assist.Most recently she touched the hearts and lives of employees and 
customers in the Custom Blinds and Drapes of JC Penney, Burnsville, 
Minnesota. Customers would ask for her, and, if unavailable, would 
return only when she was working.An angel now resides in heaven with the loved ones who were awaiting 
her arrival, including her dogs who crossed the rainbow bridge before 
her. She is survived outside her immediate family by her sister, Deborah
 (Walraven) Wenger of Oconomowoc, Waukesha County Wisconsin. There are 
ten nieces and nephews and fourteen grandnieces and grandnephews that 
feel the impact for her passing.Love and well-wishes reverberate through the scores of messages to Lew and Betty’s family.… and, of course, the lives of friends she touched during her lifetime
 shall fondly speak her name, remembering her kind and loving heart.By ~ Deborah Walraven WengerArrangements are in the care of <a href="https://cremationsocietyofmn.com/tribute/details/45872/Betty-Price/obituary.html">Cremation Society of Minnesota.</a>

Betty Jean Price

Donald Dean Schoonover, 79, passed away at the University of Kansas 
Medical Center in Kansas City, KS on the morning of Saturday, November 
6, 2021.

Don was born in Dodge City, KS on October 22, 1942, the first of four
 children to Homer and Lavergne (Ingals) Schoonover, of Kingsdown, KS. 
He graduated from Ford High School, Ford, KS in 1960. While in school, 
Don was a varsity letterman in football, basketball, and track. After 
graduating high school, he went on to study architecture at Kansas State
 University, graduating with a degree in Business in 1965.

After graduation, he joined the Marine Corps Reserve (Electronics Maintenance Company Maintenance Battalion 4th
 Marine Division) and attended basic training at Camp Pendleton, CA. Don
 began his career in the aerospace industry with the Boeing Company in 
Wichita and later in Seattle, WA where he met Mary Catharine (Cathy) 
Park. They were married at Eastminister Presbyterian Church in Wichita, 
KS.

Don and Cathy lived in Arlington, TX and Woodbridge, VA before 
returning home to Kansas to be closer to family. In 1978, Don moved to 
Larned, KS where he formed the irrigation company, Ag Systems, Inc. with
 his brother Kent, serving farmers throughout western Kansas for nearly 
40 years.

Growing up on a farm, Don valued honesty, integrity, hard work, and 
most of all he loved people. When not at “the shop," Don loved spending 
time with his four children and six grandchildren, whether on yearly 
snowmobiling trips to Colorado, cheering on his K-State Wildcats, or 
going to see his grandkids’ sporting events. Don and Cathy loved 
spending time with their three dogs and working on the house, stopping 
only to enjoy the occasional margarita together.

Don and Cathy had four children, David of Larned, Michelle (Mike) 
Daniel of Great Bend, Ashley (Scott) Taylor of Dodge City, and Jason of 
Nashville, TN along with six grandchildren, Dylan Kent, Michael Warren, 
Brady and Laura Daniel, and Dawson and Addisyn Taylor. Don is survived 
by his brother Kent (Robyn) of Littleton, CO, sister-in-law, Leslie 
Schoonover of Dodge City, and brother-in-law, Alan Steele of Ford. Don 
is preceded in death by his parents, Homer and Lavergne Schoonover, his 
brother Rod Schoonover, and his sister Linda Steele.

Funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, November 12, 
2021, at the Presbyterian Church in Kingsdown, KS with Pastor Suzie Woods
 presiding. Visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on 
Thursday, November 11, 2021, at Beckwith Mortuary in Larned, KS with 
family present from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Burial will be in the Ford 
Cemetery, Ford, KS with military graveside rites.

Memorials in lieu of flowers can be made to the Ford Cemetery Fund or
 the Presbyterian Church of Kingsdown, KS in care of Beckwith Mortuary, 
PO Box 477, Larned, KS 67550.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636467506810.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Donald Dean Schoonover, 79, passed away at the University of Kansas 
Medical Center in Kansas City, KS on the morning of Saturday, November 
6, 2021.Don was born in Dodge City, KS on October 22, 1942, the first of four
 children to Homer and Lavergne (Ingals) Schoonover, of Kingsdown, KS. 
He graduated from Ford High School, Ford, KS in 1960. While in school, 
Don was a varsity letterman in football, basketball, and track. After 
graduating high school, he went on to study architecture at Kansas State
 University, graduating with a degree in Business in 1965.After graduation, he joined the Marine Corps Reserve (Electronics Maintenance Company Maintenance Battalion 4th
 Marine Division) and attended basic training at Camp Pendleton, CA. Don
 began his career in the aerospace industry with the Boeing Company in 
Wichita and later in Seattle, WA where he met Mary Catharine (Cathy) 
Park. They were married at Eastminister Presbyterian Church in Wichita, 
KS.Don and Cathy lived in Arlington, TX and Woodbridge, VA before 
returning home to Kansas to be closer to family. In 1978, Don moved to 
Larned, KS where he formed the irrigation company, Ag Systems, Inc. with
 his brother Kent, serving farmers throughout western Kansas for nearly 
40 years.Growing up on a farm, Don valued honesty, integrity, hard work, and 
most of all he loved people. When not at “the shop," Don loved spending 
time with his four children and six grandchildren, whether on yearly 
snowmobiling trips to Colorado, cheering on his K-State Wildcats, or 
going to see his grandkids’ sporting events. Don and Cathy loved 
spending time with their three dogs and working on the house, stopping 
only to enjoy the occasional margarita together.Don and Cathy had four children, David of Larned, Michelle (Mike) 
Daniel of Great Bend, Ashley (Scott) Taylor of Dodge City, and Jason of 
Nashville, TN along with six grandchildren, Dylan Kent, Michael Warren, 
Brady and Laura Daniel, and Dawson and Addisyn Taylor. Don is survived 
by his brother Kent (Robyn) of Littleton, CO, sister-in-law, Leslie 
Schoonover of Dodge City, and brother-in-law, Alan Steele of Ford. Don 
is preceded in death by his parents, Homer and Lavergne Schoonover, his 
brother Rod Schoonover, and his sister Linda Steele.Funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, November 12, 
2021, at the Presbyterian Church in Kingsdown, KS with Pastor Suzie Woods
 presiding. Visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on 
Thursday, November 11, 2021, at Beckwith Mortuary in Larned, KS with 
family present from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Burial will be in the Ford 
Cemetery, Ford, KS with military graveside rites.Memorials in lieu of flowers can be made to the Ford Cemetery Fund or
 the Presbyterian Church of Kingsdown, KS in care of Beckwith Mortuary, 
PO Box 477, Larned, KS 67550.

Donald Dean Schoonover

Kansas Common crude at CHS in McPherson gained $2.50 on Friday and starts the week at $71.50 per barrel. That's down nearly three dollars from the beginning of the month, but it's more than $32 higher than at the beginning of the year. Observers last week reported several signs of a resurgent Kansas oil patch. The Kansas Corporation Commission Web site shows 159 new intent-to-drill notices in October, the best monthly total so far this year. That brings the year-to-date total statewide to 1,027 intents, compared to just 469 by the end of October last year. There are eight new intents on file in Barton County, one in Ellis County, two in Russell County and five in Stafford County. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service reported the tally of newly-spudded wells is up more than 146% over a year ago. The number of operators working in the state is up 35%. This week's Rig Count in Kansas shows 15 active rigs east of Wichita, down one, and 26 in Western Kansas, which is up two. Operators are about to spud a new well in Barton County and drilling is underway on a lease in Stafford County. Kansas regulators approved 39 new drilling permits last week. That brings the total number of new Kansas drilling locations so far this year to 966 compared to just 392 a year ago. There are 28 new permits in eastern Kansas, and 11 west of Wichita, including two permits in Barton County, one in Russell County and three in Stafford County. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service reports 33 newly-completed wells across Kansas, with 18 east of Wichita and one each in Ellis and Stafford counties among the 15 in Western Kansas. Operators have completed 753 wells so far this year compared to 719 through October of last year. The operator of Kansas' largest refinery reported a year-over-year increase of 35% in net income for the fiscal year. CHS reported a big increase in earnings in its agriculture segment, but a decline among its refineries. In a statement, the company said improved refinery margins were more than offset by price increases for Canadian heavy crude, and by what the company called the exceptionally high cost of renewable energy tax credits. The Kansas Geological Society recognized and named three new oil fields and one infield-wildcat discovery in Kansas last week. They are located in Gove, Haskell, Lane and Greeley counties. That makes 19 new fields identified so far this year, compared to 17 at this point last year. The OPEC-Plus export group will stay the course, adding another 400,000 barrels per day to their output for December. Delegates on Thursday disregarded demands from President Biden for faster increases. According to Bloomberg, there is growing speculation the U.S. could soon tap the Strategic Petroleum Reserve in an effort to drive down prices.&nbsp; U.S. Oil-by-rail traffic was down last month, according to a report from the Association of American Railroads. The trade group says overall rail traffic was down 2.8% last month, but petroleum shipments were down 2,495 carloads, a 6.1% decline. Weekly oil-by-rail tallies across the U.S. were down from a year ago but slightly higher than last week's report. AAR reports 9,558 tanker carloads hauling petroleum for the week through October 30th, up 14 carloads from the week before but down 6.5% from a year ago. Canadian oil-by-rail traffic is down for the week but still nearly 14% higher than a year ago. Baker Hughes reports 550 active rigs nationwide, an increase of six oil rigs. The count in Texas was up four rigs. Of the 550 active rigs being tracked this week, 492 are horizontal rigs, an increase of nine rigs. The number of active vertical drilling rigs was down four. U.S. crude inventories increased by more than three million barrels last week to just over 434 million barrels. EIA says stockpiles are about six percent below the five year average for this time of year. U.S. crude-oil production topped 11 million barrels per day for the sixth week in a row. The Energy Information Administration reports domestic output reached over 11.5 million barrels per day for the week through October 29th. That's an increase of 192,000 barrels per day from the week before, and up more than 1.1 million barrels per day over a year ago. The government reported a drop in crude imports of over 83,000 barrels per day last week, at 6.2 million barrels per day. The four week average is nearly 15% higher than during the same four-week period last year. Oil major BP now asserts that worldwide crude-oil demand has once again exceeded 100-million barrels a day, a consumption figure not seen since before the pandemic. Bloomberg reports the resurgent demand has stymied some efforts to curb emissions, pushed prices to multiyear highs, and threatens the world's economic recovery. North Dakota's biggest operator will drop more than three billion dollars to acquire a huge tract in the Permian Basin of Texas and New Mexico. Continental Resources said in a statement the new drilling rights will help generate a half-billion dollars in free cash flow next year. Continental will pay Pioneer Natural Resources $3.25 billion for 92,000 net acres in the Delaware sub-region of the Permian. Bloomberg reports the record amount of free cash flow in the U.S. shale patch is driving a return to asset sales and corporate consolidation. The government says you will spend more on heating bills this winter than you have in the last several years. The Energy Information Administration says the higher prices follow changes to energy supply and demand patterns during the pandemic. The increases will depend on the weather, and not all households will see increases. EIA's Winter Fuels Outlook predicts nearly half of US homes heated by natural gas will see their bills go up 30% or more. The report says 41% of homes with electrical heating will see increases of about six percent to their bills. Only about five percent of homes with propane heat, and about four percent of those using heating oil will see increases, but those will both be double-digit increases.

By JOHN P. TRETBARKansas Common crude at CHS in McPherson gained $2.50 on Friday and starts the week at $71.50 per barrel. That's down nearly three dollars from the beginning of the month, but it's more than $32 higher than at the beginning of the year. Observers last week reported several signs of a resurgent Kansas oil patch. The Kansas Corporation Commission Web site shows 159 new intent-to-drill notices in October, the best monthly total so far this year. That brings the year-to-date total statewide to 1,027 intents, compared to just 469 by the end of October last year. There are eight new intents on file in Barton County, one in Ellis County, two in Russell County and five in Stafford County. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service reported the tally of newly-spudded wells is up more than 146% over a year ago. The number of operators working in the state is up 35%. This week's Rig Count in Kansas shows 15 active rigs east of Wichita, down one, and 26 in Western Kansas, which is up two. Operators are about to spud a new well in Barton County and drilling is underway on a lease in Stafford County. Kansas regulators approved 39 new drilling permits last week. That brings the total number of new Kansas drilling locations so far this year to 966 compared to just 392 a year ago. There are 28 new permits in eastern Kansas, and 11 west of Wichita, including two permits in Barton County, one in Russell County and three in Stafford County. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service reports 33 newly-completed wells across Kansas, with 18 east of Wichita and one each in Ellis and Stafford counties among the 15 in Western Kansas. Operators have completed 753 wells so far this year compared to 719 through October of last year. The operator of Kansas' largest refinery reported a year-over-year increase of 35% in net income for the fiscal year. CHS reported a big increase in earnings in its agriculture segment, but a decline among its refineries. In a statement, the company said improved refinery margins were more than offset by price increases for Canadian heavy crude, and by what the company called the exceptionally high cost of renewable energy tax credits. The Kansas Geological Society recognized and named three new oil fields and one infield-wildcat discovery in Kansas last week. They are located in Gove, Haskell, Lane and Greeley counties. That makes 19 new fields identified so far this year, compared to 17 at this point last year. The OPEC-Plus export group will stay the course, adding another 400,000 barrels per day to their output for December. Delegates on Thursday disregarded demands from President Biden for faster increases. According to Bloomberg, there is growing speculation the U.S. could soon tap the Strategic Petroleum Reserve in an effort to drive down prices.&nbsp; U.S. Oil-by-rail traffic was down last month, according to a report from the Association of American Railroads. The trade group says overall rail traffic was down 2.8% last month, but petroleum shipments were down 2,495 carloads, a 6.1% decline. Weekly oil-by-rail tallies across the U.S. were down from a year ago but slightly higher than last week's report. AAR reports 9,558 tanker carloads hauling petroleum for the week through October 30th, up 14 carloads from the week before but down 6.5% from a year ago. Canadian oil-by-rail traffic is down for the week but still nearly 14% higher than a year ago. Baker Hughes reports 550 active rigs nationwide, an increase of six oil rigs. The count in Texas was up four rigs. Of the 550 active rigs being tracked this week, 492 are horizontal rigs, an increase of nine rigs. The number of active vertical drilling rigs was down four. U.S. crude inventories increased by more than three million barrels last week to just over 434 million barrels. EIA says stockpiles are about six percent below the five year average for this time of year. U.S. crude-oil production topped 11 million barrels per day for the sixth week in a row. The Energy Information Administration reports domestic output reached over 11.5 million barrels per day for the week through October 29th. That's an increase of 192,000 barrels per day from the week before, and up more than 1.1 million barrels per day over a year ago. The government reported a drop in crude imports of over 83,000 barrels per day last week, at 6.2 million barrels per day. The four week average is nearly 15% higher than during the same four-week period last year. Oil major BP now asserts that worldwide crude-oil demand has once again exceeded 100-million barrels a day, a consumption figure not seen since before the pandemic. Bloomberg reports the resurgent demand has stymied some efforts to curb emissions, pushed prices to multiyear highs, and threatens the world's economic recovery. North Dakota's biggest operator will drop more than three billion dollars to acquire a huge tract in the Permian Basin of Texas and New Mexico. Continental Resources said in a statement the new drilling rights will help generate a half-billion dollars in free cash flow next year. Continental will pay Pioneer Natural Resources $3.25 billion for 92,000 net acres in the Delaware sub-region of the Permian. Bloomberg reports the record amount of free cash flow in the U.S. shale patch is driving a return to asset sales and corporate consolidation. The government says you will spend more on heating bills this winter than you have in the last several years. The Energy Information Administration says the higher prices follow changes to energy supply and demand patterns during the pandemic. The increases will depend on the weather, and not all households will see increases. EIA's Winter Fuels Outlook predicts nearly half of US homes heated by natural gas will see their bills go up 30% or more. The report says 41% of homes with electrical heating will see increases of about six percent to their bills. Only about five percent of homes with propane heat, and about four percent of those using heating oil will see increases, but those will both be double-digit increases.

News From the Oil Patch: Higher winter heating bills on the way

ATCHISON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a stabbing last month have a suspect in custody.

Shortly after midnight on October 9 police responded to a stabbing that at a residence in the 500 block South 6th Street in Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.&nbsp;

Aa 31-year-old man had suffered a stab wound during an argument with a suspect who fled the area. EMS transported the victim to the hospital in St. Joseph, according to Wilson.

On Saturday afternoon, police located the suspect identified as 52-year-old David W. Barber in the 300 block Santa Fe in Atchison and took him into custody on a District Court warrant for aggravated battery. During that arrest, officers found he was in possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia, according to Wilson.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636384979230.png" alt="Barber-photo Atchison Co." />
 <figcaption>Barber-photo Atchison Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a stabbing last month have a suspect in custody.Shortly after midnight on October 9 police responded to a stabbing that at a residence in the 500 block South 6th Street in Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.&nbsp;Aa 31-year-old man had suffered a stab wound during an argument with a suspect who fled the area. EMS transported the victim to the hospital in St. Joseph, according to Wilson.On Saturday afternoon, police located the suspect identified as 52-year-old David W. Barber in the 300 block Santa Fe in Atchison and took him into custody on a District Court warrant for aggravated battery. During that arrest, officers found he was in possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia, according to Wilson.

Police catch suspect wanted for stabbing at Kansas home

Sheri Anne (Sextro) Heilman was born May 31, 1964, in Harlan, Iowa to
 Dave and Anne (Allstot) Sextro, and passed on to be with her Lord on 
November 7, 2021, after battling a rare form of cancer.

Following graduation from high school, Sheri attended the University 
of Northern Iowa and Drake University where she achieved her Bachelors 
and Masters degrees in English and Educational Administration. &nbsp;While 
teaching and coaching in the Titonka School District, Sheri met the love
 of her life, Carl Heilman. &nbsp;On July 27, 1990, Carl and Sheri were 
joined in holy matrimony. &nbsp; Of the many things Sheri did in her life, 
she took most pride in being a loving wife, mother, daughter, sister, 
aunt, friend and teacher. &nbsp;

While living in Iowa, Carl and Sheri welcomed the first of their four
 children,&nbsp;Brooke Anne Heilman, who was born June 15, 1991. &nbsp;A job 
opportunity led the Heilman family to Arizona, where they would reside 
for the next 10 years and would welcome their second daughter, Alissa 
Roi Heilman, born February 17, 1994. &nbsp;It was while in Arizona that Sheri
 made the move from classroom teacher to school principal. &nbsp;God’s next 
plan led the Heilmans from Arizona to Robinson, Illinois, where they 
welcomed their third child, Scott Benjamin Heilman, on October 8, 2003. 
&nbsp;It was their time in Illinois that found the Heilmans extremely busy as
 both Sheri and Carl filled their roles as school administrators and 
parents to a growing family. &nbsp;As was their habit, a final move to Great 
Bend, Kansas, brought the arrival of another baby, when Maximus Otis 
Heilman was born on January 8, 2008. &nbsp;Sheri and Carl often joked that 
they would need to stop moving to different states.

Left to honor Sheri’s memory are her husband, Carl; daughters, Brooke
 Heilman, and Alissa Buenger (Chris); and sons Scott Heilman and Maximus
 Heilman. &nbsp;Additionally are her parents Dave and Anne&nbsp;Sextro; two 
sisters, Susan Oberg (Steve), and Beth Namanny (Mike); and brother Ryan 
Sextro (Melanie). &nbsp;As well, Sheri leaves behind her mother in-law, 
Marianne Vigen Stanard; a brother in-law, Darren Vigen, and sister 
in-law Darice (Vigen) Fink; five nieces, Jaime Hanson (Matthew), Taylor 
Namanny, Logan Namanny, Taegan Fink, and Terra Fink; three nephews, 
Ethan, Lincoln, and Beckett Sextro; and great nephew, Kaden Hanson.

Those who have gone on before to make a place for Sheri include, 
maternal grandparents, Cecil and Marcella Allstot; paternal 
grandparents, Frank and Lorine Sextro; Sheri’s father in-law and partner
 in crime, Otis Vigen; a nephew, Chris Oberg; two uncles; and four 
cousins.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m., Thursday, 
November 11, 2021, at Bryant Funeral Home. A Celebration of Life 
ceremony will be held at 10:00 a.m., at Encounter Church, First Assembly
 of God, on November 12, 2021. &nbsp;Cremation has already taken place and 
Sheri’s remains will be inurned in a burial plot at a private family 
service at a later date. 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests 
memorials to be made to Scott and Max Heilman educational fund or the 
Central Kansas Dream Center, in care of Bryant Funeral Home.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636395769254.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Sheri Anne (Sextro) Heilman was born May 31, 1964, in Harlan, Iowa to
 Dave and Anne (Allstot) Sextro, and passed on to be with her Lord on 
November 7, 2021, after battling a rare form of cancer.Following graduation from high school, Sheri attended the University 
of Northern Iowa and Drake University where she achieved her Bachelors 
and Masters degrees in English and Educational Administration. &nbsp;While 
teaching and coaching in the Titonka School District, Sheri met the love
 of her life, Carl Heilman. &nbsp;On July 27, 1990, Carl and Sheri were 
joined in holy matrimony. &nbsp; Of the many things Sheri did in her life, 
she took most pride in being a loving wife, mother, daughter, sister, 
aunt, friend and teacher. &nbsp;While living in Iowa, Carl and Sheri welcomed the first of their four
 children,&nbsp;Brooke Anne Heilman, who was born June 15, 1991. &nbsp;A job 
opportunity led the Heilman family to Arizona, where they would reside 
for the next 10 years and would welcome their second daughter, Alissa 
Roi Heilman, born February 17, 1994. &nbsp;It was while in Arizona that Sheri
 made the move from classroom teacher to school principal. &nbsp;God’s next 
plan led the Heilmans from Arizona to Robinson, Illinois, where they 
welcomed their third child, Scott Benjamin Heilman, on October 8, 2003. 
&nbsp;It was their time in Illinois that found the Heilmans extremely busy as
 both Sheri and Carl filled their roles as school administrators and 
parents to a growing family. &nbsp;As was their habit, a final move to Great 
Bend, Kansas, brought the arrival of another baby, when Maximus Otis 
Heilman was born on January 8, 2008. &nbsp;Sheri and Carl often joked that 
they would need to stop moving to different states.Left to honor Sheri’s memory are her husband, Carl; daughters, Brooke
 Heilman, and Alissa Buenger (Chris); and sons Scott Heilman and Maximus
 Heilman. &nbsp;Additionally are her parents Dave and Anne&nbsp;Sextro; two 
sisters, Susan Oberg (Steve), and Beth Namanny (Mike); and brother Ryan 
Sextro (Melanie). &nbsp;As well, Sheri leaves behind her mother in-law, 
Marianne Vigen Stanard; a brother in-law, Darren Vigen, and sister 
in-law Darice (Vigen) Fink; five nieces, Jaime Hanson (Matthew), Taylor 
Namanny, Logan Namanny, Taegan Fink, and Terra Fink; three nephews, 
Ethan, Lincoln, and Beckett Sextro; and great nephew, Kaden Hanson.Those who have gone on before to make a place for Sheri include, 
maternal grandparents, Cecil and Marcella Allstot; paternal 
grandparents, Frank and Lorine Sextro; Sheri’s father in-law and partner
 in crime, Otis Vigen; a nephew, Chris Oberg; two uncles; and four 
cousins.The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m., Thursday, 
November 11, 2021, at Bryant Funeral Home. A Celebration of Life 
ceremony will be held at 10:00 a.m., at Encounter Church, First Assembly
 of God, on November 12, 2021. &nbsp;Cremation has already taken place and 
Sheri’s remains will be inurned in a burial plot at a private family 
service at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests 
memorials to be made to Scott and Max Heilman educational fund or the 
Central Kansas Dream Center, in care of Bryant Funeral Home.

Sheri Anne (Sextro) Heilman

Kathleen Joy Cassell, 93, passed away Saturday, 
November 6, 2021. She was born October 12, 1928, to Elmer Hagstrand and 
Mildred Pihl Hagstrand in Lindsborg, Kansas. Kathleen graduated from 
Marymount College in 1950.

In 1951, she married John Humbargar; they had six children: daughters 
Linda Draper, Connie Lyon, Teri Humbargar, and Jackie Sharp (all of 
Salina) and sons Michael John Humbargar (Hays) and Patrick James 
Humbargar (deceased.)

Kathleen married Joe Cassell in 1975 and worked until retirement at 
Waddles Heating and Cooling. Kathleen and Joe shared stepdaughters Joann
 and Vickie and their extended families. She was preceded in death by 
her parents, her son Patrick James, husband Joe Cassell, and two 
sisters. 
&nbsp; 
Kathleen is survived by the children listed as well as five grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and three siblings. 
&nbsp; 
Cremation was chosen. Inurnment will take place at a later date. 
Memorials in honor of Mike Humbargar may be made to DSNWK (Developmental
 Services Northwest Kansas, Hays, KS) and sent in care of Ryan Mortuary.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636395474714.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Kathleen Joy Cassell, 93, passed away Saturday, 
November 6, 2021. She was born October 12, 1928, to Elmer Hagstrand and 
Mildred Pihl Hagstrand in Lindsborg, Kansas. Kathleen graduated from 
Marymount College in 1950.In 1951, she married John Humbargar; they had six children: daughters 
Linda Draper, Connie Lyon, Teri Humbargar, and Jackie Sharp (all of 
Salina) and sons Michael John Humbargar (Hays) and Patrick James 
Humbargar (deceased.)Kathleen married Joe Cassell in 1975 and worked until retirement at 
Waddles Heating and Cooling. Kathleen and Joe shared stepdaughters Joann
 and Vickie and their extended families. She was preceded in death by 
her parents, her son Patrick James, husband Joe Cassell, and two 
sisters. 
&nbsp; 
Kathleen is survived by the children listed as well as five grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and three siblings. 
&nbsp; 
Cremation was chosen. Inurnment will take place at a later date. 
Memorials in honor of Mike Humbargar may be made to DSNWK (Developmental
 Services Northwest Kansas, Hays, KS) and sent in care of Ryan Mortuary.

Kathleen Joy Cassell

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

When Sydney Niernberger was a little girl, she set up a classroom in the family's basement where she was the bossy teacher to her younger sister.

"It's always been in me. It never wavered in me. I always wanted to be a teacher," she said.

She attended O'Loughlin Elementary School, Felten Middle School, Hays High School and then earned bachelor's and master's degrees at Fort Hays State University.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/5f1002b0-5a78-4bc4-8a1e-ec6ce00e4387">MAKE YOUR NOMINATION FOR NEXT MONTH'S TEACHER OF THE MONTH</a>

Landing a job at Hays Middle School after college was her dream. Six years later, she's still teaching sixth-grade reading and language arts in the same school she attended as a child and loving it every day.

"My roots in Hays are very important to me, and I'm very proud to be here," she said.

Niernberger was nominated for the Hays Post Teacher of the Month by Jodi Brazda.

"Ms. Niernberger made my son's transition from elementary school to middle school incredibly easy. She was always free to answer any questions we had as well as listened intently to the concerns we had throughout the transition to a new school," Brazda said.

Brazda said Niernberger has a strong work ethic, is incredibly organized and is extremely transparent with her expectations. 

"I truly believe my son's success in sixth grade was in large part to Ms. Niernberger. Not only was he on honor roll all semesters, but he matured greatly throughout his first year in middle school," Brazda said. "Without her help, I don't think he would have been as successful as he was. It's very easy for young boys to get distracted and off task, and she always managed to help him overcome both"

&nbsp;Niernberger continues to be inspired by the teachers she had when she was a student in Hays schools. She still keeps in touch with some of them and has photos hanging in her classroom of those special teachers.

Bill Maddy was Niernberger's middle school homeroom teacher.

"His care for the kids ... He made us feel so special and at home and loved," she said. "I will never forget that. Everyone loved Mr. Maddy. He was one of those very special teachers. I always wanted to be one of those teachers."

Her sixth-grade English teacher, Marilyn Engel, became her mentor when she was hired to work at Hays Middle School after graduating FHSU.

"She had this little classroom, but she made it feel so cozy. She was just the best," Niernberger said. ...

"It was very full circle," she said. "She taught me so many lessons. I could never repay her. She was definitely there for me and a very special person in my life. She means a lot to me."

Sixth grade can be tough as the students transition to a new school, but Niernberger said she thinks she's found her niche at the middle school.

"I love when people ask me what I do. I say I'm a middle school teacher and they look at me with the craziest face like 'Oh, my gosh. What's wrong with you?' I love that. They need someone there at this age," she said. ...

"I love this age, because they can be squirrelly little sixth graders, but they're so funny," she said. "Their personalities are coming out. I spend all day laughing. They thrive on that connection still with their teachers. 

Niernberger said connection with her students has to come first because kids won't learn from teachers they don't like.

"You have to take the time and intention to get to know them," she said, "to see what makes them tick and who they are."

Her heart is broken by some of the challenges her students face.

"I can't imagine being an 11- or 12-year-old and having to go through what some of them go through," she said. "If I can be that one person who can take the time to understand them and just listen to them and get to know them, I have to do that first before I can teach them something. ...

"They need that one trusted adult and that person who can be there for them, and then we can get to the reading and language arts and get them excelling in that aspect."

"Just because you work 8 to 3, that doesn't shut off," she said. "You're still thinking about your kids and what they're going through. Sometimes you're lying in bed at night worrying about one of your kids.

"Did they eat dinner tonight? Did they get fed? I hope they got picked up from school on time. That doesn't shut off. Your kids are your kids."

Despite the sleepless nights and challenges, Niernberger says she feels blessed.

"Day to day it can be hard to remember, but this is the dream that I had. It is cool that I'm living that every day. I feel very blessed because I'm young and people sometimes don't find their niche when their young off the bat," Niernberger said.

"I thank my lucky stars that I'm here every day. I love my job. I genuinely wake up every day, and I am excited to come see the kids and co-workers, and that's what keeps me going."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1635887021540.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1635887822241.jpeg" alt="Sydney Niernberger is the October Hays Post Teacher of the Month. She's a sixth-grade teacher at Hays Middle School. " />
 <figcaption>Sydney Niernberger is the October Hays Post Teacher of the Month. She's a sixth-grade teacher at Hays Middle School. </figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostWhen Sydney Niernberger was a little girl, she set up a classroom in the family's basement where she was the bossy teacher to her younger sister. "It's always been in me. It never wavered in me. I always wanted to be a teacher," she said. She attended O'Loughlin Elementary School, Felten Middle School, Hays High School and then earned bachelor's and master's degrees at Fort Hays State University.<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/5f1002b0-5a78-4bc4-8a1e-ec6ce00e4387">MAKE YOUR NOMINATION FOR NEXT MONTH'S TEACHER OF THE MONTH</a>Landing a job at Hays Middle School after college was her dream. Six years later, she's still teaching sixth-grade reading and language arts in the same school she attended as a child and loving it every day."My roots in Hays are very important to me, and I'm very proud to be here," she said.Niernberger was nominated for the Hays Post Teacher of the Month by Jodi Brazda."Ms. Niernberger made my son's transition from elementary school to middle school incredibly easy. She was always free to answer any questions we had as well as listened intently to the concerns we had throughout the transition to a new school," Brazda said.Brazda said Niernberger has a strong work ethic, is incredibly organized and is extremely transparent with her expectations. "I truly believe my son's success in sixth grade was in large part to Ms. Niernberger. Not only was he on honor roll all semesters, but he matured greatly throughout his first year in middle school," Brazda said. "Without her help, I don't think he would have been as successful as he was. It's very easy for young boys to get distracted and off task, and she always managed to help him overcome both"<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1635888198596.jpeg" alt="Sponsors Mark and Lynette Ottley of Nations Auction and Elite Realty present Sydney Niernberger, sixth-grader teacher at Hays Middle School, with the October Hays Post Teacher of the Month award. " />
 <figcaption>Sponsors Mark and Lynette Ottley of Nations Auction and Elite Realty present Sydney Niernberger, sixth-grader teacher at Hays Middle School, with the October Hays Post Teacher of the Month award. </figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;Niernberger continues to be inspired by the teachers she had when she was a student in Hays schools. She still keeps in touch with some of them and has photos hanging in her classroom of those special teachers.Bill Maddy was Niernberger's middle school homeroom teacher. "His care for the kids ... He made us feel so special and at home and loved," she said. "I will never forget that. Everyone loved Mr. Maddy. He was one of those very special teachers. I always wanted to be one of those teachers."Her sixth-grade English teacher, Marilyn Engel, became her mentor when she was hired to work at Hays Middle School after graduating FHSU. "She had this little classroom, but she made it feel so cozy. She was just the best," Niernberger said. ... "It was very full circle," she said. "She taught me so many lessons. I could never repay her. She was definitely there for me and a very special person in my life. She means a lot to me."Sixth grade can be tough as the students transition to a new school, but Niernberger said she thinks she's found her niche at the middle school. "I love when people ask me what I do. I say I'm a middle school teacher and they look at me with the craziest face like 'Oh, my gosh. What's wrong with you?' I love that. They need someone there at this age," she said. ... "I love this age, because they can be squirrelly little sixth graders, but they're so funny," she said. "Their personalities are coming out. I spend all day laughing. They thrive on that connection still with their teachers. Niernberger said connection with her students has to come first because kids won't learn from teachers they don't like."You have to take the time and intention to get to know them," she said, "to see what makes them tick and who they are." Her heart is broken by some of the challenges her students face. "I can't imagine being an 11- or 12-year-old and having to go through what some of them go through," she said. "If I can be that one person who can take the time to understand them and just listen to them and get to know them, I have to do that first before I can teach them something. ..."They need that one trusted adult and that person who can be there for them, and then we can get to the reading and language arts and get them excelling in that aspect."Some days she goes home crying. "Just because you work 8 to 3, that doesn't shut off," she said. "You're still thinking about your kids and what they're going through. Sometimes you're lying in bed at night worrying about one of your kids. "Did they eat dinner tonight? Did they get fed? I hope they got picked up from school on time. That doesn't shut off. Your kids are your kids."Despite the sleepless nights and challenges, Niernberger says she feels blessed."Day to day it can be hard to remember, but this is the dream that I had. It is cool that I'm living that every day. I feel very blessed because I'm young and people sometimes don't find their niche when their young off the bat," Niernberger said. "I thank my lucky stars that I'm here every day. I love my job. I genuinely wake up every day, and I am excited to come see the kids and co-workers, and that's what keeps me going."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1635887021540.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>

Teacher of the Month: Hays native inspired by her former Felten teachers

WASHINGTON (AP) — America’s employers accelerated their hiring last month, adding a solid 531,000 jobs, the most since July and a sign that the recovery from the pandemic recession is overcoming a virus-induced slowdown.

Friday’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/empsit.pdf" target="_blank">report from the Labor Department</a>&nbsp;also showed that the unemployment rate fell to 4.6% last month from 4.8% in September. That is a comparatively low level though still well above the pre-pandemic jobless rate of 3.5%. And the job gains in August and September weren’t as weak as initially reported: The government increased its estimate of hiring for those two months by a hefty combined 235,000 jobs.

&nbsp;The Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics said that <a href="https://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm">100,450,000 people in this </a>country were not in the labor force in October, up 38,000 from the 100,412,000 in September.

All told, the figures point to an economy that is steadily recovering from the pandemic recession, with healthy consumer spending prompting companies in nearly every industry to add workers. Though the effects of COVID-19 are still causing severe supply shortages, heightening inflation and keeping many people out of the workforce, employers are finding gradually more success in filling near&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-health-coronavirus-pandemic-economy-67a34a2e9c416155bab6af1b0e3cfcf1">record-high job postings</a>.

“This is the kind of recovery we can get when we are not sidelined by a surge in COVID cases,” said Nick Bunker, director of economic research at the employment website Indeed. “The speed of employment gains has faltered at times this year, but the underlying momentum of the U.S. labor market is quite clear.”

The better-than-expected jobs report was welcomed on Wall Street, where investors sent stocks further into record territory. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up nearly 200 points, or roughly 0.5%, in early-afternoon trading. Short-term Treasury yields rose as some investors moved up their expectations for when the Federal Reserve will begin raising interest rates. But longer-term yields dipped amid muted expectations for inflation over the long term.

By most barometers, the economic recovery appears solidly on track. Services companies in such areas as retail, banking and warehousing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-eed8d8bc81c9af0e696f80b3a4b3a68a">have reported a sharp jump in sales</a>. Sales of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/home-sales">new and existing homes surged last month</a>. And consumer confidence&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-economy-prices-inflation-consumer-confidence-661bf08bc8f529fd0ea42fbe5ebbcd77">rose in October after three straight declines</a>.

At the same time, though, the nation remains 4.2 million jobs short of the number it had before the pandemic flattened the economy in March 2020. The effects of the virus are still discouraging some people from traveling, shopping, eating out and attending entertainment venues.

In October, the pickup in hiring was spread across nearly every major industry, with only government employers reporting a job loss, mostly in education. Shipping and warehousing companies added 54,000 jobs. The battered leisure and hospitality sector, which includes, restaurants, bars, hotels and entertainment venues, gained 164,000. Manufacturers, despite their struggles with supply shortages, added 60,000, the most since June 2020.

And employers, who have been competing to fill jobs from a diminished pool of applicants, raised wages at a solid clip: Average hourly pay jumped 4.9% in October compared with a year earlier, up from 4.6% the previous month. Even a gain that strong, though, is barely keeping pace with recent surges in consumer inflation.

Those price increases pose a headwind for the economy. Higher costs for food, heating oil, rents and furniture have burdened millions of families. Prices&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-economy-consumer-spending-prices-inflation-14980a4c7cfeafe5ba9b65c577578156">rose 4.4% in September compared with 12 months earlier</a>, the sharpest such jump in three decades.

Among people who are receiving pay raises, some of the biggest beneficiaries are the record-high number of people who have been quitting jobs to take new ones. One of them is Christian Frink, who has begun work as a business analyst at a digital consulting firm. In his new job, Frink, 27, of Ferndale, Michigan, helps business clients determine the technologies they need.

Earlier this year, Frink held a marketing job but left it because, like many people during COVID, he felt burnt out. He then worked for Door Dash during the spring and summer to earn money and searched for new work. Although employers were complaining about a labor shortage, several told him they wouldn’t hire anyone without a college degree. (Frink attended college but didn’t graduate.)

This past summer, Frink took coding classes at Tech Elevator, a boot camp, and then landed his new position. Now, he’s earning 35% more than in his previous job and says he’s “blown away” that he already has health care coverage and doesn’t have to wait months to become eligible.

Yet it isn’t only job-switchers who are receiving pay raises. Chad Leibundguth, a regional director in Tampa for the Robert Half staffing agency, said the job market is the strongest for workers he has seen in his 22-year career. Before the pandemic, he said, you could fill a customer service job in Florida for $14 an hour.

“Nowadays,” he said, “you’ve got to be closer to $20 an hour, because people have options.”

Job prospects are brightening even for people who have been out of work for prolonged periods. The number of long-term unemployed — people who have been jobless for six months or more — has fallen sharply in recent months, to 2.3 million in October from 4.2 million in April. That’s still double the pre-recession total. But it’s an encouraging sign because employers are typically wary of hiring people who haven’t held jobs for an extended time.

At the same time, disparities in the job market have persisted. The Black unemployment rate was unchanged in October at 7.9%, for example, while for white workers, it fell to 4% from 4.2%. The Latino jobless rate dropped to 5.9% from 6.3%.

And though white-collar jobs in professional services like information technology, engineering and architecture are nearly back to their pre-pandemic employment levels, leisure and hospitality still has 1.4 million fewer jobs.

Hari Ravichandran, CEO of digital security provider Aura in Boston, says his 800-person company has 140 positions open, mostly in software development, and has raised pay 25% in just the past nine months.

Ravichandran is willing to hire remote workers; 170 of his staffers have never regularly worked in any of the company’s buildings. Still, hiring remains as tough as he’s ever experienced.

One disappointing note in Friday’s report is that the workforce — the number of people either working or looking for a job — was unchanged in October. That suggested that the reopening of schools in September, the waning of the virus, and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-business-lifestyle-health-indiana-d3acd668eaf6343aada03cd660055bbc">expiration of a $300-a-week federal unemployment supplement&nbsp;</a>have yet to coax many people off the sidelines of the job market in large numbers.

Drawing many people back into the workforce after recessions is typically a prolonged process. There are now 7.4 million people officially out of work — just 1.7 million more than in February 2020, before the pandemic struck the economy. Yet millions more who lost jobs during the recession have given up their job hunts, and employers might have to raise pay and benefits to draw them back in, said Aaron Sojourner, a labor economist at the University of Minnesota.

Even so, some companies still can’t find enough workers.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-business-lifestyle-health-careers-075d3b0ab89baffc5e2b9a80e11dcf34">Many parents, particularly mothers, haven’t returned to the workforce</a>&nbsp;after having left jobs during the pandemic to care for children or other relatives. Yet there was evidence of a small rebound last month: The proportion of women who were either working or looking for work rose after two months of declines.

Kourtni Graves of Detroit has been in and out of work during the pandemic because of her parenting duties. She quit an administrative assistant job a year ago because her day care had shut down, and she had to look after her 5-year old twin girls.

Graves, 27, looked for work-from-home jobs, but many employers didn’t want to provide the flexibility she needed.

“They don’t want you to have to pick up your kids from school,” particularly during a training, she said. “For me as their mom, I can’t do that.” She said the father of her children, who works in the auto industry, helps financially.

But with the girls now in kindergarten, Graves broadened her job search and this week accepted a job at a clothing store. She feels overqualified, given her seven years working in administrative jobs. But she is happy to be working.

“They’re paying pretty decent for retail,” she said. “It’s definitely been a struggle and a journey.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — America’s employers accelerated their hiring last month, adding a solid 531,000 jobs, the most since July and a sign that the recovery from the pandemic recession is overcoming a virus-induced slowdown.Friday’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/empsit.pdf" target="_blank">report from the Labor Department</a>&nbsp;also showed that the unemployment rate fell to 4.6% last month from 4.8% in September. That is a comparatively low level though still well above the pre-pandemic jobless rate of 3.5%. And the job gains in August and September weren’t as weak as initially reported: The government increased its estimate of hiring for those two months by a hefty combined 235,000 jobs.&nbsp;The Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics said that <a href="https://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm">100,450,000 people in this </a>country were not in the labor force in October, up 38,000 from the 100,412,000 in September.All told, the figures point to an economy that is steadily recovering from the pandemic recession, with healthy consumer spending prompting companies in nearly every industry to add workers. Though the effects of COVID-19 are still causing severe supply shortages, heightening inflation and keeping many people out of the workforce, employers are finding gradually more success in filling near&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-health-coronavirus-pandemic-economy-67a34a2e9c416155bab6af1b0e3cfcf1">record-high job postings</a>.“This is the kind of recovery we can get when we are not sidelined by a surge in COVID cases,” said Nick Bunker, director of economic research at the employment website Indeed. “The speed of employment gains has faltered at times this year, but the underlying momentum of the U.S. labor market is quite clear.”The better-than-expected jobs report was welcomed on Wall Street, where investors sent stocks further into record territory. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up nearly 200 points, or roughly 0.5%, in early-afternoon trading. Short-term Treasury yields rose as some investors moved up their expectations for when the Federal Reserve will begin raising interest rates. But longer-term yields dipped amid muted expectations for inflation over the long term.By most barometers, the economic recovery appears solidly on track. Services companies in such areas as retail, banking and warehousing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-eed8d8bc81c9af0e696f80b3a4b3a68a">have reported a sharp jump in sales</a>. Sales of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/home-sales">new and existing homes surged last month</a>. And consumer confidence&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-economy-prices-inflation-consumer-confidence-661bf08bc8f529fd0ea42fbe5ebbcd77">rose in October after three straight declines</a>.At the same time, though, the nation remains 4.2 million jobs short of the number it had before the pandemic flattened the economy in March 2020. The effects of the virus are still discouraging some people from traveling, shopping, eating out and attending entertainment venues.In October, the pickup in hiring was spread across nearly every major industry, with only government employers reporting a job loss, mostly in education. Shipping and warehousing companies added 54,000 jobs. The battered leisure and hospitality sector, which includes, restaurants, bars, hotels and entertainment venues, gained 164,000. Manufacturers, despite their struggles with supply shortages, added 60,000, the most since June 2020.And employers, who have been competing to fill jobs from a diminished pool of applicants, raised wages at a solid clip: Average hourly pay jumped 4.9% in October compared with a year earlier, up from 4.6% the previous month. Even a gain that strong, though, is barely keeping pace with recent surges in consumer inflation.Those price increases pose a headwind for the economy. Higher costs for food, heating oil, rents and furniture have burdened millions of families. Prices&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-economy-consumer-spending-prices-inflation-14980a4c7cfeafe5ba9b65c577578156">rose 4.4% in September compared with 12 months earlier</a>, the sharpest such jump in three decades.Among people who are receiving pay raises, some of the biggest beneficiaries are the record-high number of people who have been quitting jobs to take new ones. One of them is Christian Frink, who has begun work as a business analyst at a digital consulting firm. In his new job, Frink, 27, of Ferndale, Michigan, helps business clients determine the technologies they need.Earlier this year, Frink held a marketing job but left it because, like many people during COVID, he felt burnt out. He then worked for Door Dash during the spring and summer to earn money and searched for new work. Although employers were complaining about a labor shortage, several told him they wouldn’t hire anyone without a college degree. (Frink attended college but didn’t graduate.)This past summer, Frink took coding classes at Tech Elevator, a boot camp, and then landed his new position. Now, he’s earning 35% more than in his previous job and says he’s “blown away” that he already has health care coverage and doesn’t have to wait months to become eligible.Yet it isn’t only job-switchers who are receiving pay raises. Chad Leibundguth, a regional director in Tampa for the Robert Half staffing agency, said the job market is the strongest for workers he has seen in his 22-year career. Before the pandemic, he said, you could fill a customer service job in Florida for $14 an hour.“Nowadays,” he said, “you’ve got to be closer to $20 an hour, because people have options.”Job prospects are brightening even for people who have been out of work for prolonged periods. The number of long-term unemployed — people who have been jobless for six months or more — has fallen sharply in recent months, to 2.3 million in October from 4.2 million in April. That’s still double the pre-recession total. But it’s an encouraging sign because employers are typically wary of hiring people who haven’t held jobs for an extended time.At the same time, disparities in the job market have persisted. The Black unemployment rate was unchanged in October at 7.9%, for example, while for white workers, it fell to 4% from 4.2%. The Latino jobless rate dropped to 5.9% from 6.3%.And though white-collar jobs in professional services like information technology, engineering and architecture are nearly back to their pre-pandemic employment levels, leisure and hospitality still has 1.4 million fewer jobs.Hari Ravichandran, CEO of digital security provider Aura in Boston, says his 800-person company has 140 positions open, mostly in software development, and has raised pay 25% in just the past nine months.Ravichandran is willing to hire remote workers; 170 of his staffers have never regularly worked in any of the company’s buildings. Still, hiring remains as tough as he’s ever experienced.One disappointing note in Friday’s report is that the workforce — the number of people either working or looking for a job — was unchanged in October. That suggested that the reopening of schools in September, the waning of the virus, and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-business-lifestyle-health-indiana-d3acd668eaf6343aada03cd660055bbc">expiration of a $300-a-week federal unemployment supplement&nbsp;</a>have yet to coax many people off the sidelines of the job market in large numbers.Drawing many people back into the workforce after recessions is typically a prolonged process. There are now 7.4 million people officially out of work — just 1.7 million more than in February 2020, before the pandemic struck the economy. Yet millions more who lost jobs during the recession have given up their job hunts, and employers might have to raise pay and benefits to draw them back in, said Aaron Sojourner, a labor economist at the University of Minnesota.Even so, some companies still can’t find enough workers.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-business-lifestyle-health-careers-075d3b0ab89baffc5e2b9a80e11dcf34">Many parents, particularly mothers, haven’t returned to the workforce</a>&nbsp;after having left jobs during the pandemic to care for children or other relatives. Yet there was evidence of a small rebound last month: The proportion of women who were either working or looking for work rose after two months of declines.Kourtni Graves of Detroit has been in and out of work during the pandemic because of her parenting duties. She quit an administrative assistant job a year ago because her day care had shut down, and she had to look after her 5-year old twin girls.Graves, 27, looked for work-from-home jobs, but many employers didn’t want to provide the flexibility she needed.“They don’t want you to have to pick up your kids from school,” particularly during a training, she said. “For me as their mom, I can’t do that.” She said the father of her children, who works in the auto industry, helps financially.But with the girls now in kindergarten, Graves broadened her job search and this week accepted a job at a clothing store. She feels overqualified, given her seven years working in administrative jobs. But she is happy to be working.“They’re paying pretty decent for retail,” she said. “It’s definitely been a struggle and a journey.”

Report: Job creation roars back; 100 million in the U.S. not working

James Robert Lewis, 48 passed away November 2, 2021, at University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas.

He was born October 22, 1973, in Greensburg, KS, the son of James 
Randall and Marilyn Kay Wining Lewis; he’s been a Larned resident since 
1989 and was a truck driver.

He loved riding motorcycles and side by sides, spending time 
outdoors, fishing, shooting and always enjoyed watching movies and 
spending time with his family.

Survivors include; his father and step-mother, Randy and Linda Lewis,
 Larned; his step-dad, Ron Smith, Larned; three daughters, Macee Lewis, 
Larned, Jamie &nbsp;(Brittni) Lewis, Hoisington, Brandi Lewis, Larned; a 
sister, Wendy (Miguel) Ibarra, Larned, an uncle, Robert Wining, Wichita,
 a step-sister, Donna (Richard) Moore, Fort Worth, Texas; two 
step-brothers, Daniel (Kamlay) Davis, Liberal, Dale (Kristen) Davis, 
Salem, OR, two grandchildren, Haeven and Hazel and his niece and nephew,
 Carlos and Selena Ibarra.

He was preceded in death by; his mother, Marilyn Smith.

Service arrangements are pending and will be announced at a later date.

Memorials may be given too the James Robert Lewis Memorial fund, in care of Beckwith Mortuary, P.O. Box 477, Larned, KS 67550.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636128950167.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>James Robert Lewis, 48 passed away November 2, 2021, at University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas.He was born October 22, 1973, in Greensburg, KS, the son of James 
Randall and Marilyn Kay Wining Lewis; he’s been a Larned resident since 
1989 and was a truck driver.He loved riding motorcycles and side by sides, spending time 
outdoors, fishing, shooting and always enjoyed watching movies and 
spending time with his family.Survivors include; his father and step-mother, Randy and Linda Lewis,
 Larned; his step-dad, Ron Smith, Larned; three daughters, Macee Lewis, 
Larned, Jamie &nbsp;(Brittni) Lewis, Hoisington, Brandi Lewis, Larned; a 
sister, Wendy (Miguel) Ibarra, Larned, an uncle, Robert Wining, Wichita,
 a step-sister, Donna (Richard) Moore, Fort Worth, Texas; two 
step-brothers, Daniel (Kamlay) Davis, Liberal, Dale (Kristen) Davis, 
Salem, OR, two grandchildren, Haeven and Hazel and his niece and nephew,
 Carlos and Selena Ibarra.He was preceded in death by; his mother, Marilyn Smith.Service arrangements are pending and will be announced at a later date.Memorials may be given too the James Robert Lewis Memorial fund, in care of Beckwith Mortuary, P.O. Box 477, Larned, KS 67550.&nbsp;

James Robert Lewis

Mary Lou Schlick, age 79, passed away October 31st, 2021 at KU Medical 
Center in Kansas City, Kansas surrounded by her loving family. She was
 born August 20th, 1942 in Grainfield, KS in their family home. She grew
 up near Leoville, KS and was the third of five children, which included
 Jim Herl, Lee Herl, Bill Herl and Pat Herl.
 MaryLou graduated from Leoville Rural High School in 1961. After 
graduation, she worked at the hospital in Atwood, Kansas. She met the 
love of her life, Roger Schlick at the wedding of Elmer and Bernadine 
Rietcheck.
 On December 1st, 1962, MaryLou was united in marriage to Roger 
Schlick. They lived in Hoxie and were blessed with three children, 
daughter Sandy, son Kelly and daughter Colette. 
 MaryLou’s passions were her faith, family and her community. Roger 
and MaryLou quietly gave of their time, talent and treasure. From 
welcoming new people to town, to opening their home when someone was in 
need, to caring for the sick, Marylou always did so with her love of 
Jesus in mind and heart.
 MaryLou was a member of St. Frances Cabrini Church. She was a 
Eucharistic Minister, Rosary Leader, Sodality member, RCIA Leader, Totus
 Tuus volunteer, Prayer in Action and Bible Study Leader for the youth 
group.
 MaryLou is survived by her husband, Roger, their three children and 7
 grandchildren. Sandy Morocco (Sara) of Wichita, KS, Kelly &amp; Tracy 
Schlick (Abby &amp; Adam) of Omaha, NE and Jim &amp; Colette Dryden 
(Logan, Lexi, Lani &amp; Laci) of Wichita, KS. 
 She is proceeded in death by her parents Jack &amp; Anna Herl, brother Jim Herl and brother Lee Herl.
 A Mass of Christian Burial is planned for Monday, November 8, 2021, 
10:30 A.M., at St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church in Hoxie, Kansas. 
Interment will immediately follow the service in The St. Frances Cabrini
 Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be held at the Mickey-Leopold 
Funeral Home, Hoxie, Kansas on Sunday, November 7, 2021 from 1:00 P.M. 
until 7:00 P.M. with family receiving friends from 5:00 P.M. until 7:00 
P.M. Vigil and Rosary Service will immediately follow the visitation at
 7:00 P.M. at the Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers the family suggests 
memorials to the St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church or Sheridan County 
Benefit Walk and may be sent in care of Mickey-Leopold Funeral Home, PO 
Box 987, Hoxie, Kansas 67740. Words of comfort may be left at 
www.mickeyleopoldfuneral.com	
 Her legacy is….. she rejoiced with us in our happy times and she 
cried with us in our sorrow. Through it all and most importantly she 
definitely prayed for us.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636128887375.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Mary Lou Schlick, age 79, passed away October 31st, 2021 at KU Medical 
Center in Kansas City, Kansas surrounded by her loving family. She was
 born August 20th, 1942 in Grainfield, KS in their family home. She grew
 up near Leoville, KS and was the third of five children, which included
 Jim Herl, Lee Herl, Bill Herl and Pat Herl.
 MaryLou graduated from Leoville Rural High School in 1961. After 
graduation, she worked at the hospital in Atwood, Kansas. She met the 
love of her life, Roger Schlick at the wedding of Elmer and Bernadine 
Rietcheck.
 On December 1st, 1962, MaryLou was united in marriage to Roger 
Schlick. They lived in Hoxie and were blessed with three children, 
daughter Sandy, son Kelly and daughter Colette. 
 MaryLou’s passions were her faith, family and her community. Roger 
and MaryLou quietly gave of their time, talent and treasure. From 
welcoming new people to town, to opening their home when someone was in 
need, to caring for the sick, Marylou always did so with her love of 
Jesus in mind and heart.
 MaryLou was a member of St. Frances Cabrini Church. She was a 
Eucharistic Minister, Rosary Leader, Sodality member, RCIA Leader, Totus
 Tuus volunteer, Prayer in Action and Bible Study Leader for the youth 
group.
 MaryLou is survived by her husband, Roger, their three children and 7
 grandchildren. Sandy Morocco (Sara) of Wichita, KS, Kelly &amp; Tracy 
Schlick (Abby &amp; Adam) of Omaha, NE and Jim &amp; Colette Dryden 
(Logan, Lexi, Lani &amp; Laci) of Wichita, KS. 
 She is proceeded in death by her parents Jack &amp; Anna Herl, brother Jim Herl and brother Lee Herl.
 A Mass of Christian Burial is planned for Monday, November 8, 2021, 
10:30 A.M., at St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church in Hoxie, Kansas. 
Interment will immediately follow the service in The St. Frances Cabrini
 Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be held at the Mickey-Leopold 
Funeral Home, Hoxie, Kansas on Sunday, November 7, 2021 from 1:00 P.M. 
until 7:00 P.M. with family receiving friends from 5:00 P.M. until 7:00 
P.M. Vigil and Rosary Service will immediately follow the visitation at
 7:00 P.M. at the Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers the family suggests 
memorials to the St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church or Sheridan County 
Benefit Walk and may be sent in care of Mickey-Leopold Funeral Home, PO 
Box 987, Hoxie, Kansas 67740. Words of comfort may be left at 
www.mickeyleopoldfuneral.com	
 Her legacy is….. she rejoiced with us in our happy times and she 
cried with us in our sorrow. Through it all and most importantly she 
definitely prayed for us.

Mary Lou (Herl) Schlick

Donald Jean Hurst, 92, Hays, died Wednesday, October 27, 2021, at his home.

He was born April 9, 1929, in Rural 
Rawlins County, Kansas the son of Aubra and Hazel (Riblett) Hurst.&nbsp; He 
was a 1947 graduate of Atwood High School.&nbsp; He graduated from Fort Hays 
State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in 1957 and a Master’s Degree 
in Education and Education Administration in 1960.&nbsp; On September 1, 1951,&nbsp; he was united in marriage to Viola R. Heaton and they were married 70 
years.&nbsp; 

Don served in the U.S. Army for two years during the Korean 
Conflict.&nbsp; He taught in rural schools in Rawlins and Decatur Counties, 
and in Atwood and Hays.&nbsp; He was principal of Lincoln Elementary School 
and was then hired as the first Assistant Superintendent of Schools for 
USD 489 in 1966 and also served as the Director of K-12 Curriculum 
Development and Director of Special Education, retiring in June of 1992 
after 36 years in the district.&nbsp; He was a member of the Hays First 
United Methodist Church, a life member of the National Association of 
Elementary School Principals, and served as president of several 
organizations including the Kansas Association of Supervision and 
Curriculum Development, Hays Rotary Club, and the FHSU Chapter of Phi 
Delta Kappa education fraternity where he was a charter member.&nbsp; Don was
 a 71-year member of the Masonic Fraternity, Atwood Lodge #164.&nbsp; He 
enjoyed volunteering at the Hays Good Samaritan Society.

Survivors include his wife Viola, two 
sons: James Hurst and wife Terri, Douglas Hurst, seven daughters: 
Margaret “Jodi” Brungardt, Beverly “Jill” Schuckman, Joyce Klaus and 
husband Al, DJ Hurst, Connie Hurst-Bayless and husband Ben, Ardie Hurst,
 and Marsha Stremel and husband Cary, two sisters: Betty Beckley and 
Shirley Most, and many grandchildren, great grandchildren, and 
great-great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his 
parents, his sisters: Nellie Hurst, Euella Erickson, Florine Vernon, 
Pauline Olsen, and Nora Bearley, his brothers: John Hurst and Francis 
Hurst, and two grandchildren: Janice Schuckman and Cambry Dinkel.

Funeral services were Wednesday, 
November 3, 2021, at Hays First United Methodist Church, with Rev. Craig 
Hauschild and Matt Dumler officiating.&nbsp; Burial with Masonic Funeral 
Rites by the Atwood Masonic Lodge followed in Fort Hays Memorial 
Gardens.&nbsp; 

Memorials are suggested to the Hays First United Methodist 
Church Education Department or to the Fort Hays State University 
Education Department, in care of Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home.&nbsp; 
Condolences and memories of Don may be shared with the family at 
www.haysmemorial.com&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636128811799.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Donald Jean Hurst, 92, Hays, died Wednesday, October 27, 2021, at his home.He was born April 9, 1929, in Rural 
Rawlins County, Kansas the son of Aubra and Hazel (Riblett) Hurst.&nbsp; He 
was a 1947 graduate of Atwood High School.&nbsp; He graduated from Fort Hays 
State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in 1957 and a Master’s Degree 
in Education and Education Administration in 1960.&nbsp; On September 1, 1951,&nbsp; he was united in marriage to Viola R. Heaton and they were married 70 
years.&nbsp; Don served in the U.S. Army for two years during the Korean 
Conflict.&nbsp; He taught in rural schools in Rawlins and Decatur Counties, 
and in Atwood and Hays.&nbsp; He was principal of Lincoln Elementary School 
and was then hired as the first Assistant Superintendent of Schools for 
USD 489 in 1966 and also served as the Director of K-12 Curriculum 
Development and Director of Special Education, retiring in June of 1992 
after 36 years in the district.&nbsp; He was a member of the Hays First 
United Methodist Church, a life member of the National Association of 
Elementary School Principals, and served as president of several 
organizations including the Kansas Association of Supervision and 
Curriculum Development, Hays Rotary Club, and the FHSU Chapter of Phi 
Delta Kappa education fraternity where he was a charter member.&nbsp; Don was
 a 71-year member of the Masonic Fraternity, Atwood Lodge #164.&nbsp; He 
enjoyed volunteering at the Hays Good Samaritan Society.Survivors include his wife Viola, two 
sons: James Hurst and wife Terri, Douglas Hurst, seven daughters: 
Margaret “Jodi” Brungardt, Beverly “Jill” Schuckman, Joyce Klaus and 
husband Al, DJ Hurst, Connie Hurst-Bayless and husband Ben, Ardie Hurst,
 and Marsha Stremel and husband Cary, two sisters: Betty Beckley and 
Shirley Most, and many grandchildren, great grandchildren, and 
great-great grandchildren.He was preceded in death by his 
parents, his sisters: Nellie Hurst, Euella Erickson, Florine Vernon, 
Pauline Olsen, and Nora Bearley, his brothers: John Hurst and Francis 
Hurst, and two grandchildren: Janice Schuckman and Cambry Dinkel.Funeral services were Wednesday, 
November 3, 2021, at Hays First United Methodist Church, with Rev. Craig 
Hauschild and Matt Dumler officiating.&nbsp; Burial with Masonic Funeral 
Rites by the Atwood Masonic Lodge followed in Fort Hays Memorial 
Gardens.&nbsp; Memorials are suggested to the Hays First United Methodist 
Church Education Department or to the Fort Hays State University 
Education Department, in care of Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home.&nbsp; 
Condolences and memories of Don may be shared with the family at 
www.haysmemorial.com&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;

Donald Jean Hurst

Marietta Theresa Kamas was born on Saturday, August 14th, 1926, to Carl and Mary (Baumstimler) Koerner in Hays, Kansas. She passed away on Sunday, October 31st, 2021 in Denver, Colorado at the age of 95.

Marietta was one of three children born to Carl and Mary and 
she spent her early years in Hays, Kansas. She moved to Denver in her 
20s where she worked as a telephone operator. She met Stan Kamas 
during this time and they fell in love. They were married on March 13th,
 1949, in Denver. Together their raised four children, Tracy, Garry, 
Sherri, and Rob. In 1957, they moved to Boulder where they raised their 
family. She moved to Lafayette after her husband passed away in 1998.

Marietta was an incredibly talented cross-stitcher and won 
awards for this talent. She created hundreds of beautiful pieces for 
family and friends. Marietta was a loving mother, wife, and homemaker. 
She will be remembered for her kindness and the pieces she so carefully 
created will be cherished for many years to come.

Marietta is preceded in death by her loving husband, Stan 
Kamas; her parents, Mary and Carl Koerner of Hays, KS and Denver, CO 
respectively; her brother, Jak Koerner of Benicia, CA; her sister, 
Kathleen Hilgers of Surprise, AZ; and son-in-law, Dave Shinkle of 
Windsor, CO. 

She is survived by her daughter, Tracy (Cliff) Tuttle of 
Broomfield, CO; her son, Garry (Cheryl) Kamas of Lafayette, CO, their 
daughter, Candis (Ian) Hunter and their two sons, David and Graham; and 
their son Kyle (Ashley) Kamas and their daughters, Aurelia and Khloe; by
 her daughter, Sherri Shinkle of Windsor, CO, her children Erik Shinkle,
 Tyler Shinkle, Swoti (Eric) Wise, and Kanchana Shinkle; and by her son,
 Rob (Susie) Kamas of Longmont, CO, their children, Justin Kamas (Erin 
Rummel) and their son, Kase; Tiffany (Russ) Hebert and their son 
Stephen.

A private visitation and graveside service will be held to lay Marietta to rest.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636119217866.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Marietta Theresa Kamas was born on Saturday, August 14th, 1926, to Carl and Mary (Baumstimler) Koerner in Hays, Kansas. She passed away on Sunday, October 31st, 2021 in Denver, Colorado at the age of 95.Marietta was one of three children born to Carl and Mary and 
she spent her early years in Hays, Kansas. She moved to Denver in her 
20s where she worked as a telephone operator. She met Stan Kamas 
during this time and they fell in love. They were married on March 13th,
 1949, in Denver. Together their raised four children, Tracy, Garry, 
Sherri, and Rob. In 1957, they moved to Boulder where they raised their 
family. She moved to Lafayette after her husband passed away in 1998.Marietta was an incredibly talented cross-stitcher and won 
awards for this talent. She created hundreds of beautiful pieces for 
family and friends. Marietta was a loving mother, wife, and homemaker. 
She will be remembered for her kindness and the pieces she so carefully 
created will be cherished for many years to come.Marietta is preceded in death by her loving husband, Stan 
Kamas; her parents, Mary and Carl Koerner of Hays, KS and Denver, CO 
respectively; her brother, Jak Koerner of Benicia, CA; her sister, 
Kathleen Hilgers of Surprise, AZ; and son-in-law, Dave Shinkle of 
Windsor, CO. She is survived by her daughter, Tracy (Cliff) Tuttle of 
Broomfield, CO; her son, Garry (Cheryl) Kamas of Lafayette, CO, their 
daughter, Candis (Ian) Hunter and their two sons, David and Graham; and 
their son Kyle (Ashley) Kamas and their daughters, Aurelia and Khloe; by
 her daughter, Sherri Shinkle of Windsor, CO, her children Erik Shinkle,
 Tyler Shinkle, Swoti (Eric) Wise, and Kanchana Shinkle; and by her son,
 Rob (Susie) Kamas of Longmont, CO, their children, Justin Kamas (Erin 
Rummel) and their son, Kase; Tiffany (Russ) Hebert and their son 
Stephen.A private visitation and graveside service will be held to lay Marietta to rest.

Marietta Theresa Kamas

Total COVID admissions
for October 2021 at HaysMed, Hays

*&nbsp;56 total admissions to the hospital for COVID-19 *&nbsp;Average age 62 *&nbsp;59% male; 41% female *&nbsp;2 deaths; average age 64 *&nbsp;14 of 47 admissions were from Ellis County. *&nbsp;37 of the 47 were not vaccinated. *&nbsp;2 of the 47 were
partially vaccinated.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1628047577531.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>HaysMedTotal COVID admissions
for October 2021 at HaysMed, Hays*&nbsp;56 total admissions to the hospital for COVID-19 *&nbsp;Average age 62 *&nbsp;59% male; 41% female *&nbsp;2 deaths; average age 64 *&nbsp;14 of 47 admissions were from Ellis County. *&nbsp;37 of the 47 were not vaccinated. *&nbsp;2 of the 47 were
partially vaccinated.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1635976912809.png" alt="HaysMed" />
 <figcaption>HaysMed</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1635976932879.png" alt="HaysMed" />
 <figcaption>HaysMed</figcaption>
 </figure>

HaysMed provides COVID-19 stats for October

Walter Franklin McCormick Jr. was born November 28, 1934, in Muskogee, 
OK. He passed away October 6, 2021, in Lenora, KS at the age of 86.
 Walter married Stella Louise Porter on July 17, 1971, in Reno, NV. He
 worked as a truck driver, hauling for Hanes Industry. Walter enjoyed 
visiting family and friends before the long trips became too painful.
 Walter was preceded by his parents, wife, Stella, daughter, Debby 
Smith, sons, Johnny and Kenny Northern and siblings: Eileen, Orlen, and 
Skip. He is survived by his daughters, Donna Jones of Lenora, and Dee 
Pepper of Shawnee, OK; son, Arther Northern of Phoenix, AZ; 
grandchildren: Mathew, Crystal, BJ, Vincent, Cortina, Nichole, Dalton, 
Taylor, Ashley, Nicholas, Casey, Garrett, and Ariahne, and 10 
great-grandchildren.
 Arrangements by Plumer-Gobber Funeral Home, Norton, KS. Condolences may be left at www.plumergobber.com

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636046242886.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Walter Franklin McCormick Jr. was born November 28, 1934, in Muskogee, 
OK. He passed away October 6, 2021, in Lenora, KS at the age of 86.
 Walter married Stella Louise Porter on July 17, 1971, in Reno, NV. He
 worked as a truck driver, hauling for Hanes Industry. Walter enjoyed 
visiting family and friends before the long trips became too painful.
 Walter was preceded by his parents, wife, Stella, daughter, Debby 
Smith, sons, Johnny and Kenny Northern and siblings: Eileen, Orlen, and 
Skip. He is survived by his daughters, Donna Jones of Lenora, and Dee 
Pepper of Shawnee, OK; son, Arther Northern of Phoenix, AZ; 
grandchildren: Mathew, Crystal, BJ, Vincent, Cortina, Nichole, Dalton, 
Taylor, Ashley, Nicholas, Casey, Garrett, and Ariahne, and 10 
great-grandchildren.
 Arrangements by Plumer-Gobber Funeral Home, Norton, KS. Condolences may be left at www.plumergobber.com

Walter Franklin McCormick Jr.

BARTON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating the October 27, shooting death of 22-year-old Chase Anderson in Hoisington.

Just after 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation and Hoisington Police arrested&nbsp; 32-year-old Adam M. Sullivan of Hoisington, on requested charges of involuntary manslaughter connected to the shooting, according to a media release from the KBI.

Sullivan was already in custody at the Barton County Jail when he was arrested for the new charge.

Just after 3a.m. Oct. 27, the Hoisington Police Department received a 911 call reporting a shooting at 405 E. 2nd&nbsp;St. in Hoisington.

When officers arrived they located Anderson suffering from a gunshot wound.&nbsp; EMS arrived and attempted life-saving measures. A short time later Anderson was pronounced dead.

Preliminary information revealed that Anderson was shot in the chest with a handgun. His acquaintance, 32-year-old Adam Sullivan, of Hoisington, was also in the residence at the time of the shooting. Officers arrested him for possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was booked into the Barton County Jail.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636039970228.png" alt="Sullivan-photo Barton Co." />
 <figcaption>Sullivan-photo Barton Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>BARTON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating the October 27, shooting death of 22-year-old Chase Anderson in Hoisington.Just after 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation and Hoisington Police arrested&nbsp; 32-year-old Adam M. Sullivan of Hoisington, on requested charges of involuntary manslaughter connected to the shooting, according to a media release from the KBI.Sullivan was already in custody at the Barton County Jail when he was arrested for the new charge.Just after 3a.m. Oct. 27, the Hoisington Police Department received a 911 call reporting a shooting at 405 E. 2nd&nbsp;St. in Hoisington.When officers arrived they located Anderson suffering from a gunshot wound.&nbsp; EMS arrived and attempted life-saving measures. A short time later Anderson was pronounced dead.Preliminary information revealed that Anderson was shot in the chest with a handgun. His acquaintance, 32-year-old Adam Sullivan, of Hoisington, was also in the residence at the time of the shooting. Officers arrested him for possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was booked into the Barton County Jail.

Kan. man accused of involuntary manslaughter in fatal shooting

Patricia Ann (Stapp) Wurm, 81, was born October 13, 1940, to Forrest and 
Nadine (Leopold) Stapp in Wilsonville, NE. Later raised by her 
stepfather Alva Van Vleet and Nadine. Patricia passed away on October 
31, 2021, at Ridgewood Care and Rehab in Seward, NE. 
 She attended school in Danbury, NE. After graduation she went to 
Secretarial School in Denver. On February 2, 1961, she married Dennis 
Wurm in Danbury at the home of her parents. They moved around some but 
lived most of their married life in Oberlin, KS. 
 She was an EMT for Decatur County for many years. Pat also filled in
 at the schools and courthouse in the janitorial department, she 
volunteered at the Senior Center and drove the meal site bus before 
suffering a stroke in 2019. That’s when she moved to Ridgewood Care and 
Rehab in Seward, NE. 
 She was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Oberlin, KS for 
many years. She enjoyed going to Bible study and visiting with people. 
She liked to go dancing and put puzzles together in her spare time. She 
especially enjoyed spending time with her family. 
 She was preceded in death by her parents, stepfather, and husband, Dennis.
 Survived by her sons: Charles (Sharon) Wurm of Staplehurst, NE and 
Kevin Wurm of Hyannis, NE; brother: Robert (Sandy) Stapp of Danbury, NE;
 grandchildren: Malorie (Shane Ratkovec) Gregory of David City, NE, 
Kiefer Wurm of Lincoln, NE, Aaron Wurm of Lincoln, NE, Chris Wurm of 
Mullen, NE and Jeremiah Wurm of Mullen, NE; great grandchildren: 
Savannah Gregory, Jackson Gregory, Harley Wurm, Harper Wurm, Calista 
Ratkovec, Riley Ratkovec, Logan Ratkovec, Liliana Ratkovec and Taevyn 
Wurm.

Click <a href="https://www.paulsfh.com/obituaries/Patricia-Ann-Wurm?obId=22995922#/celebrationWall">HERE</a> for service details.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636038713367.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Patricia Ann (Stapp) Wurm, 81, was born October 13, 1940, to Forrest and 
Nadine (Leopold) Stapp in Wilsonville, NE. Later raised by her 
stepfather Alva Van Vleet and Nadine. Patricia passed away on October 
31, 2021, at Ridgewood Care and Rehab in Seward, NE. 
 She attended school in Danbury, NE. After graduation she went to 
Secretarial School in Denver. On February 2, 1961, she married Dennis 
Wurm in Danbury at the home of her parents. They moved around some but 
lived most of their married life in Oberlin, KS. 
 She was an EMT for Decatur County for many years. Pat also filled in
 at the schools and courthouse in the janitorial department, she 
volunteered at the Senior Center and drove the meal site bus before 
suffering a stroke in 2019. That’s when she moved to Ridgewood Care and 
Rehab in Seward, NE. 
 She was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Oberlin, KS for 
many years. She enjoyed going to Bible study and visiting with people. 
She liked to go dancing and put puzzles together in her spare time. She 
especially enjoyed spending time with her family. 
 She was preceded in death by her parents, stepfather, and husband, Dennis.
 Survived by her sons: Charles (Sharon) Wurm of Staplehurst, NE and 
Kevin Wurm of Hyannis, NE; brother: Robert (Sandy) Stapp of Danbury, NE;
 grandchildren: Malorie (Shane Ratkovec) Gregory of David City, NE, 
Kiefer Wurm of Lincoln, NE, Aaron Wurm of Lincoln, NE, Chris Wurm of 
Mullen, NE and Jeremiah Wurm of Mullen, NE; great grandchildren: 
Savannah Gregory, Jackson Gregory, Harley Wurm, Harper Wurm, Calista 
Ratkovec, Riley Ratkovec, Logan Ratkovec, Liliana Ratkovec and Taevyn 
Wurm.Click <a href="https://www.paulsfh.com/obituaries/Patricia-Ann-Wurm?obId=22995922#/celebrationWall">HERE</a> for service details.

Patricia Ann (Stapp) Wurm

Homer Eugene Stepanek was born to Harrison and Amelia (Kiefer) on Aug. 6, 1934, the 8th of 11 children. 
 He graduated from Buchanan High School, Troy, MO, in 1952. After 
high school, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. He has 
remained a Marine – proud of his country and the flag.
 He attended the University of MO majoring in Agriculture. He worked
 for Missouri University Extension Service for 10 years as a Balanced 
Farming and Livestock Agent.
 In 1963 he married Mary Lou Vaughn in Boonville, Mo where both were working for the University Extension Service.
 Two boys joined the family – Randy in 1964 and Rick in 1966.
 In 1972 the family moved to a small farm near Cainsville, MO where 
they engaged in raising livestock and made improvements on the family 
farm.
 In 1986 Homer and Mary Lou left Northern MO for the Navajo Indian 
Reservation. Receiving his license credentials after attending Trinity 
Bible College in Ellendale, ND, in 1990, they returned to the Navajo 
Reservation, pastoring in Gallup, NM and working at Navajo Ministries in
 Farmington, NM. For 14 years, they shared the Good News and love of 
Jesus.
 Homer had the privilege and honor of marrying his two sons – Randy and Shana Jolliff and Rick and Alice Batson.
 After returning to Missouri in 2000, he and Mary Lou settled in Easton, Mo.
 With a mission of sharing the Gospel of Jesus, he served as a 
volunteer in Corrections for 16 years at Western MO Correctional Center,
 Cameron, MO and Western Reception, Diagnostic and Correctional Center 
in St. Joseph, MO.
 Homer is survived by his wife of 58 years, Mary Lou; sons, Randy 
(Shana) Hillsboro, KS, and Rick (Alice) Easton, MO; brothers, Earl 
(Annette) Stepanek, O’Fallon, Oscar Stepanek, O’Fallon; sisters, Kitty 
Powell, Siletz, OR, Melva Huber, Troy, MO; sister-in-law, Virginia 
Stepanek, Escondido, CA, Earlene Vaughn, Maysville, Noma Vaughn, 
Maysville, MO, and Betty Vaughn, Columbia, MO; grandchildren, Heather 
Christner (Aaron) Lehigh, KS, Aaron (Hannah) Stepanek, Wichita, KS, 
Jonathan (Lindsey) Stepanek, Hays, KS, Ryan Stepanek, Newton, KS; 4 
great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
 Preceded in death by his parents, Harrison and Amelia Stepanek; 3 
brothers, Harry, Elmer and Leroy; 3 sisters, Mildred Stepanek, Ruth 
Swafford, and Virginia Harrell.
 Homer enjoyed being outdoors in God’s creation, having several 
black Lab dogs and his pet chickens that enjoyed spending time with him.
 His real passion was sharing with those he came in contact with the love that Jesus had for each who would come to Him.
 He left this world for his eternal home in heaven on October 31, 2021 at the age of 87.
 Farewell Services 10:00 A.M. Saturday, Meierhoffer Funeral Home 
&amp; Crematory. The family will gather with friends 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. 
Friday, Meierhoffer Funeral Home &amp; Crematory. In lieu of flowers, 
the family suggests donations to Four Corners Home for Children, P.O. 
Box 1230, Farmington, NM 87499. Online guest book and obituary at 
www.meierhoffer.com.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636034365622.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Homer Eugene Stepanek was born to Harrison and Amelia (Kiefer) on Aug. 6, 1934, the 8th of 11 children. 
 He graduated from Buchanan High School, Troy, MO, in 1952. After 
high school, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. He has 
remained a Marine – proud of his country and the flag.
 He attended the University of MO majoring in Agriculture. He worked
 for Missouri University Extension Service for 10 years as a Balanced 
Farming and Livestock Agent.
 In 1963 he married Mary Lou Vaughn in Boonville, Mo where both were working for the University Extension Service.
 Two boys joined the family – Randy in 1964 and Rick in 1966.
 In 1972 the family moved to a small farm near Cainsville, MO where 
they engaged in raising livestock and made improvements on the family 
farm.
 In 1986 Homer and Mary Lou left Northern MO for the Navajo Indian 
Reservation. Receiving his license credentials after attending Trinity 
Bible College in Ellendale, ND, in 1990, they returned to the Navajo 
Reservation, pastoring in Gallup, NM and working at Navajo Ministries in
 Farmington, NM. For 14 years, they shared the Good News and love of 
Jesus.
 Homer had the privilege and honor of marrying his two sons – Randy and Shana Jolliff and Rick and Alice Batson.
 After returning to Missouri in 2000, he and Mary Lou settled in Easton, Mo.
 With a mission of sharing the Gospel of Jesus, he served as a 
volunteer in Corrections for 16 years at Western MO Correctional Center,
 Cameron, MO and Western Reception, Diagnostic and Correctional Center 
in St. Joseph, MO.
 Homer is survived by his wife of 58 years, Mary Lou; sons, Randy 
(Shana) Hillsboro, KS, and Rick (Alice) Easton, MO; brothers, Earl 
(Annette) Stepanek, O’Fallon, Oscar Stepanek, O’Fallon; sisters, Kitty 
Powell, Siletz, OR, Melva Huber, Troy, MO; sister-in-law, Virginia 
Stepanek, Escondido, CA, Earlene Vaughn, Maysville, Noma Vaughn, 
Maysville, MO, and Betty Vaughn, Columbia, MO; grandchildren, Heather 
Christner (Aaron) Lehigh, KS, Aaron (Hannah) Stepanek, Wichita, KS, 
Jonathan (Lindsey) Stepanek, Hays, KS, Ryan Stepanek, Newton, KS; 4 
great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
 Preceded in death by his parents, Harrison and Amelia Stepanek; 3 
brothers, Harry, Elmer and Leroy; 3 sisters, Mildred Stepanek, Ruth 
Swafford, and Virginia Harrell.
 Homer enjoyed being outdoors in God’s creation, having several 
black Lab dogs and his pet chickens that enjoyed spending time with him.
 His real passion was sharing with those he came in contact with the love that Jesus had for each who would come to Him.
 He left this world for his eternal home in heaven on October 31, 2021 at the age of 87.
 Farewell Services 10:00 A.M. Saturday, Meierhoffer Funeral Home 
&amp; Crematory. The family will gather with friends 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. 
Friday, Meierhoffer Funeral Home &amp; Crematory. In lieu of flowers, 
the family suggests donations to Four Corners Home for Children, P.O. 
Box 1230, Farmington, NM 87499. Online guest book and obituary at 
www.meierhoffer.com.&nbsp;

Homer Eugene Stepanek

Caprice Dawn Powell, 53, was a beautiful shining ray of light that was 
called home, on October 29, 2021, to a heaven she has been destined for 
since, February 5, 1968, the day God blessed our world with her in 
Spearville. Caprice was the loving daughter of Clarke and Jane 
(Skidmore) Blake. Caprices’ final moments were spent at Western Plains 
Medical Complex in Dodge City, with her family comforting her on her 
journey to Heaven. Caprice spent most of her pre-teen years in 
Tulsa, Oklahoma, making sure that she never missed a Sunday service, 
even if it meant hopping a ride on the Joy Bus, with her little sister 
in tow, when her parents weren’t going to make it to church that Sunday.
 Caprice and her family moved to Montezuma in her teen years where she 
enjoyed a change of lifestyle from the big city and ended up graduating 
from Montezuma High School in 1986. Caprice loved the idea of teaching 
and changing the lives of children. This love and passion drove her to 
attend and graduate from St. Mary of the Plains College, where she 
majored in education. After graduating, Caprice taught middle school in 
Garden City and Topeka. Afterwards, she taught 3rd grade at Berryton 
Elementary School before realizing she wanted to return to her 
small-town roots in southwest Kansas in 2013. Caprices’ return to 
southwest Kansas fulfilled her dream of truly making the biggest impact 
in her students’ life when she was appointed as the school counselor for
 USD 476 in Copeland, later counseling at Comanche Middle School, and 
most recently Southwestern Heights. Caprice utilized her beautifully 
large heart to make such an lasting&nbsp; impression on the kids she taught, 
that numerous children wrote her thank you letters proclaiming Caprice 
as “their second mom”. Caprice did not stop her campaign to care and 
change lives when the school doors closed. She also donated her time to 
be on the board of the HEART group and The Alley in Dodge City. Caprices’
 return to southwest Kansas seemed almost divine, as she would say, when
 she was reunited with her high school sweetheart and “person”, Glen 
Powell. Caprice and her “person” were united in marriage in 2014. There 
was never a day you didn’t walk into the Powell house and didn’t feel 
the aura of love radiating from Caprice as she would greet you with the 
biggest hug and sit down with you attentively listening to every word 
you spoke to her. Caprice loved spending time with her family, so much 
so, that she would sneak photos of every single one of them, just for 
her to hold onto and reminisce on the good times. Caprice had a radiant 
smile and laugh that could light up a room, and an ability to care for 
every single person in her life when they needed it. Caprice will be 
missed so dearly by everyone she knew and feeling the love she gave the 
world will be a task that can only be complete by trying our best to 
live as she did. Caprice is survived by her husband, Glen of 
Montezuma; children, Cole Schaffer (Kaylia), Madilyn Jayne Schaffer, 
Nicholas Powell, and Victoria Powell all of Montezuma; siblings, Niki 
Beaton (Joshua) of Scott City, Dan Holyfield (Karen) of Prescott, 
Arizona, David Holyfield of Queen Creek, Arizona, Debra Calvert (Bill) 
of Tennessee, Tena Walsh of Texas, and David Harp of Washington; two 
grandsons, Wyatt and Eli Schaffer of Montezuma; and many nieces, 
nephews, and cousins. She is preceded in death by her parents and a 
niece, Janielynn. Funeral service will be held at Cross 
Connection Church in Dodge City on Thursday, November 4, 2021, at 10:30 
AM with Pastor Joshua Smith presiding. Burial will be a 2:00 PM Thursday
 at Morningside Cemetery in Montezuma. Visitation will be at Swaim 
Funeral Chapel, Montezuma on Wednesday, November 3, 2021, from noon to 
8:00 PM. Memorials are suggested to the Alley or to HEART Group in care 
of the funeral home. Thoughts and memories may be shared in the online 
guest book at www.swaimfuneralhome.com.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636046438134.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Caprice Dawn Powell, 53, was a beautiful shining ray of light that was 
called home, on October 29, 2021, to a heaven she has been destined for 
since, February 5, 1968, the day God blessed our world with her in 
Spearville. Caprice was the loving daughter of Clarke and Jane 
(Skidmore) Blake. Caprices’ final moments were spent at Western Plains 
Medical Complex in Dodge City, with her family comforting her on her 
journey to Heaven. Caprice spent most of her pre-teen years in 
Tulsa, Oklahoma, making sure that she never missed a Sunday service, 
even if it meant hopping a ride on the Joy Bus, with her little sister 
in tow, when her parents weren’t going to make it to church that Sunday.
 Caprice and her family moved to Montezuma in her teen years where she 
enjoyed a change of lifestyle from the big city and ended up graduating 
from Montezuma High School in 1986. Caprice loved the idea of teaching 
and changing the lives of children. This love and passion drove her to 
attend and graduate from St. Mary of the Plains College, where she 
majored in education. After graduating, Caprice taught middle school in 
Garden City and Topeka. Afterwards, she taught 3rd grade at Berryton 
Elementary School before realizing she wanted to return to her 
small-town roots in southwest Kansas in 2013. Caprices’ return to 
southwest Kansas fulfilled her dream of truly making the biggest impact 
in her students’ life when she was appointed as the school counselor for
 USD 476 in Copeland, later counseling at Comanche Middle School, and 
most recently Southwestern Heights. Caprice utilized her beautifully 
large heart to make such an lasting&nbsp; impression on the kids she taught, 
that numerous children wrote her thank you letters proclaiming Caprice 
as “their second mom”. Caprice did not stop her campaign to care and 
change lives when the school doors closed. She also donated her time to 
be on the board of the HEART group and The Alley in Dodge City. Caprices’
 return to southwest Kansas seemed almost divine, as she would say, when
 she was reunited with her high school sweetheart and “person”, Glen 
Powell. Caprice and her “person” were united in marriage in 2014. There 
was never a day you didn’t walk into the Powell house and didn’t feel 
the aura of love radiating from Caprice as she would greet you with the 
biggest hug and sit down with you attentively listening to every word 
you spoke to her. Caprice loved spending time with her family, so much 
so, that she would sneak photos of every single one of them, just for 
her to hold onto and reminisce on the good times. Caprice had a radiant 
smile and laugh that could light up a room, and an ability to care for 
every single person in her life when they needed it. Caprice will be 
missed so dearly by everyone she knew and feeling the love she gave the 
world will be a task that can only be complete by trying our best to 
live as she did. Caprice is survived by her husband, Glen of 
Montezuma; children, Cole Schaffer (Kaylia), Madilyn Jayne Schaffer, 
Nicholas Powell, and Victoria Powell all of Montezuma; siblings, Niki 
Beaton (Joshua) of Scott City, Dan Holyfield (Karen) of Prescott, 
Arizona, David Holyfield of Queen Creek, Arizona, Debra Calvert (Bill) 
of Tennessee, Tena Walsh of Texas, and David Harp of Washington; two 
grandsons, Wyatt and Eli Schaffer of Montezuma; and many nieces, 
nephews, and cousins. She is preceded in death by her parents and a 
niece, Janielynn. Funeral service will be held at Cross 
Connection Church in Dodge City on Thursday, November 4, 2021, at 10:30 
AM with Pastor Joshua Smith presiding. Burial will be a 2:00 PM Thursday
 at Morningside Cemetery in Montezuma. Visitation will be at Swaim 
Funeral Chapel, Montezuma on Wednesday, November 3, 2021, from noon to 
8:00 PM. Memorials are suggested to the Alley or to HEART Group in care 
of the funeral home. Thoughts and memories may be shared in the online 
guest book at www.swaimfuneralhome.com.

Caprice Dawn Powell

TOPEKA – The Kansas Volleyball Association has announced their 2021 State All Tournament Teams selected during the Kansas State High School Activities Association’s State Championships held on October 29 and 30. 

TOPEKA – The Kansas Volleyball Association has announced their 2021 State All Tournament Teams selected during the Kansas State High School Activities Association’s State Championships held on October 29 and 30. A State All Tournament Team was selected for each classification and each is comprised of 12 players.Victoria’s Kassi Weber was named to the 1A Division I team. It’s the second
time Weber’s been on the all state tournament team. Weber and the Knights finished fourth last weekend in Dodge City. Wheatland-Grinnell’s Livia
Schultz receives the same honor in 1A Division II.A complete list of the all of the All Tournament teams is listed below. Players are listed in alphabetical order.CLASS 6A&nbsp; Clara Benskin 6’1” MB SR Blue Valley North Katelynn Brogan 5’10” S/RS SR Washburn Rural Morgan Colangelo * 5’1” L SR Blue Valley West Brooklyn DeLeye ** 6’2” OH JR Washburn Rural Jasmine Dulan 5’8” OH SR Blue Valley North Elinor Engel 6’0” MB JR Shawnee Mission NW Janelle Green 5’10” S/RS SO Blue Valley North Jillian Huckabey * 6’0” S/RS SO Olathe Northwest Maliyah Johnson 5’10” OH JR Hutchinson Logan Parks 5’11” S/RS FR Blue Valley North Skyler Pierce * 6’1” OH SO Olathe Northwest Taylor Stockman * 5’11” RS SR Blue Valley West* indicates selected in previous year(s)FIRST Blue Valley North SECOND Blue Valley West THIRD Olathe Northwest FOURTH Washburn RuraCLASS 5A Drew Baxter 5’9” OH/S SR Seaman Caitlin Bishop * 5’8” S SR Lansing Kamryn Farris * 5’11” L SR Lansing Kate Frakes 6’2” MB SR Spring Hill Betsy Goodenow 6’0” RS JR St. Thomas Aquinas Brooklyn Gormley 5’11” MB SO Seaman Iyannah Jackson 6’2” MB SR Lansing Ava Martin ** 6’1” OH SR St. Thomas Aquinas Reese Messer 5’10” S FR St. James Academy Ava Spachek * 5’10” OH SO St. James Academy Olivia Mae Van Der Werff * 6’1” OH SR Lansing Rachel Ziesman 6’1” M/OH SR St. James Academy* indicates selected in previous year(s)FIRST Lansing SECOND St. James Academy THIRD St. Thomas Aquinas FOURTH Topeka-SeamanCLASS 4A Fisayo Afonja 5’10” MB SO Baldwin Annabeth Baalmann 5’9” S SR Andale Chaney Barth 5’9” OH JR Baldwin Jacqueline Corcoran 5’8” OH SO Circle Kirsten Evans * 5’8” S SR Ottawa McKenzie Fairchild * 5’10” OH JR Andale Emery Keebaugh 5’10” OH SO Ottawa Lauren Lopez 5’10” OH FR Bishop Miege Ava Martin 5’10” S SO Bishop Miege Maddie Schrandt * 5’10” OH JR Andale Emma Stottlemire 5’2” L SR Ottawa Rhian Swanson * 6’1” OH SR McPherson* indicates selected in previous year(s)FIRST Andale SECOND Ottawa THIRD Bishop Miege FOURTH Baldwin&nbsp; CLASS 3A Olivia Albers 5’10” OH SR Cheney Alex Bittner 5’7” RS/OPP SO Cheney Mylie Brown 5’8” OH SO Beloit Addison Budke 6’0” OH FR Beloit Cy Rae Campbell * 5’11” MB SO Heritage Christian Hope Duncan 5’8” OH SO Smoky Valley Addy Holthaus 5’10” OH JR Nemaha Central Olivia Lehman * 5’10” S JR Goodland Abby Rose * 6’0” MB SR Smoky Valley Jessa Rose * 5’5” L SR Heritage Christian Rachel Van Gorp * 5’7” OH SO Heritage Christian Brooklyn Wewe 5’6” S SR Cheney* indicates selected in previous year(s)FIRST Heritage Christian SECOND Cheney THIRD Smoky Valley FOURTH BeloitCLASS 2A Kori Arnold 5’4” L JR Hillsboro Bella Baker 5’7” OH JR Ellinwood Naomi Dooley 5’8” S/OPP SR Garden Plain Brooke Hammond 5’8” OH SR Garden Plain Camryn Hutchinson 5’4” S SO Smith Center Gabby Jacobs 5’10” MB/S JR Ellinwood Ashlyn Long * 5’10” OH SR Smith Center Adison Manville 5’10” MB/S SR Jefferson Co. North Madison Piva 5’9” OH SR Maranatha Christian Tallon Rentschler ** 6’0” MB SR Smith Center Sammie Saunders * 5’9” OH SR Hillsboro Lauren Schutter ** 6’1” MB SR Wabaunsee* indicates selected in previous year(s)FIRST Smith Center SECOND Hillsboro THIRD Garden Plain FOURTH EllinwoodCLASS 1A Division 1 Raegan Becker 5’7” OH JR Centralia Lily Boughfman 6’1” OH SR Little River| Bailee Cunningham 5’7” OH SR Lakeside Avery Deters ** 5’7” OH SR Centralia Oen Deters 5’6” L FR Centralia Tawney Krominga 5’9” OH JR Spearville Cameron Offerle * 5’10” OH JR Spearville Taelor Rucker 5’3” S SR Spearville Anna Stein 5’11” OPP SR Spearville Kassi Weber * 5’9” OH SR Victoria Aubrey Young 5’7” S SR Pretty Prairie Bailey Young 5’10” MB JR Pretty Prairie* indicates selected in previous year(s)FIRST Spearville| SECOND Pretty Prairie THIRD Centralia FOURTH VictoriaCLASS 1A Division 2 Ceegan Atkins * 5’9” OH JR Hanover Avery Behrends * 5’6” S SR Hanover Madison Bruna * 5’9” MB SR Hanover Saige Hadley 5’7” OH FR Lebo Brooklyn Jones * 5’8” OH JR Lebo Allison Jueneman * 5’8” OH SR Hanover Kassidy Nixon ** 5’9” MB SR Central Plains Abby Peek * 5’5” S/OH SR Lebo Audrey Peek * 5’6” MB SO Lebo Riley Thompson * 5’6” S SR Central Plains Livia Schultz * 5’10” OH SR Wheatland-Grinnell Samantha Ramsey * 5’11” OH SR Central Christian* indicates selected in previous year(s)FIRST Hanover SECOND Lebo THIRD Central Plains FOURTH Central Christian * indicates selected in previous year(s)