Sharon B. Langer, 66, Hays, died Thursday, October 22, 2020, at HaysMed.

She was born February 26, 1954, in Hays,
 the daughter of Alfred and Catherine (Nusbaum) Wasinger. &nbsp;Sharon worked
 in environmental services and health care for Hadley Hospital and later
 for HaysMed.

Survivors include two brothers: Tom 
Wasinger and wife Rita of Hays and Alfred Wasinger, Jr. of Tuttle, OK,&nbsp; and twelve nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her 
parents, two brothers: Norman Gene and Roger Wasinger, one sister: 
Louise Walters, and one sister-in-law: Vida Wasinger.

A private graveside service will be in 
St. Joseph Cemetery. &nbsp;Memorials are suggested to the family to assist 
with costs, payable to Kelly Cole, in care of Hays Memorial Chapel 
Funeral Home. &nbsp;Condolences and memories of Sharon may be shared with the
 family at www.haysmemorial.com

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1603995378934.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Sharon B. Langer, 66, Hays, died Thursday, October 22, 2020, at HaysMed.She was born February 26, 1954, in Hays,
 the daughter of Alfred and Catherine (Nusbaum) Wasinger. &nbsp;Sharon worked
 in environmental services and health care for Hadley Hospital and later
 for HaysMed.Survivors include two brothers: Tom 
Wasinger and wife Rita of Hays and Alfred Wasinger, Jr. of Tuttle, OK,&nbsp; and twelve nieces and nephews.She was preceded in death by her 
parents, two brothers: Norman Gene and Roger Wasinger, one sister: 
Louise Walters, and one sister-in-law: Vida Wasinger.A private graveside service will be in 
St. Joseph Cemetery. &nbsp;Memorials are suggested to the family to assist 
with costs, payable to Kelly Cole, in care of Hays Memorial Chapel 
Funeral Home. &nbsp;Condolences and memories of Sharon may be shared with the
 family at www.haysmemorial.com

Sharon B. Langer

John Arlin Keeler, 79, passed away October 28, 2020, at his home in 
Great Bend. He was born June 25, 1941, at Great Bend, to Claude Leo 
Keeler, Sr. &amp; Iva Mary (Wetig) Keeler. He married Beverly Kuhn and 
they later divorced.

A Great Bend resident since 1972, John previously lived in Liberal, 
Russell, and Hutchinson. He was a tree crew foreman for Mid West Energy,
 retiring in 2000. He was a member of Prince of Peace Parish in Great 
Bend. John loved to hunt and fish, garden and do yard work, and in his 
younger years, was a motorcycle enthusiast.

Survivors include, three sons, Scott Keeler and wife Amy, Mike Keeler
 and wife Melissa, and Kevin Keeler, all of Great Bend; six brothers, 
Claude L. Keeler, Jr., Donald Keeler, Charles Keeler, and Larry Keeler, 
all of Great Bend, Ivan Keeler of Colorado City, Colo., and Marvin 
Keeler of Salina; and two sisters, Connie Eilts, and Marilyn 
Luenberger-Frank, both of Great Bend; and two grandchildren, Mason 
Keeler, and Kylynn Keeler. He was preceded in death by his parents; and 
two brothers, Darrel Keeler and Eldon Keeler.

Visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m., Monday, 
November 2, 2020 at Bryant Funeral Home, with family to receive friends 
from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Graveside Service will be held at 11:00 
a.m., Tuesday, November 3, 2020, at St. Francis Xavier Cemetery, Seward,
 with Father Don Bedore presiding. Memorials are suggested to Prince of 
Peace Parish, in care of Bryant Funeral Home.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1603994726182.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>John Arlin Keeler, 79, passed away October 28, 2020, at his home in 
Great Bend. He was born June 25, 1941, at Great Bend, to Claude Leo 
Keeler, Sr. &amp; Iva Mary (Wetig) Keeler. He married Beverly Kuhn and 
they later divorced.A Great Bend resident since 1972, John previously lived in Liberal, 
Russell, and Hutchinson. He was a tree crew foreman for Mid West Energy,
 retiring in 2000. He was a member of Prince of Peace Parish in Great 
Bend. John loved to hunt and fish, garden and do yard work, and in his 
younger years, was a motorcycle enthusiast.Survivors include, three sons, Scott Keeler and wife Amy, Mike Keeler
 and wife Melissa, and Kevin Keeler, all of Great Bend; six brothers, 
Claude L. Keeler, Jr., Donald Keeler, Charles Keeler, and Larry Keeler, 
all of Great Bend, Ivan Keeler of Colorado City, Colo., and Marvin 
Keeler of Salina; and two sisters, Connie Eilts, and Marilyn 
Luenberger-Frank, both of Great Bend; and two grandchildren, Mason 
Keeler, and Kylynn Keeler. He was preceded in death by his parents; and 
two brothers, Darrel Keeler and Eldon Keeler.Visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m., Monday, 
November 2, 2020 at Bryant Funeral Home, with family to receive friends 
from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Graveside Service will be held at 11:00 
a.m., Tuesday, November 3, 2020, at St. Francis Xavier Cemetery, Seward,
 with Father Don Bedore presiding. Memorials are suggested to Prince of 
Peace Parish, in care of Bryant Funeral Home.

John Arlin Keeler

Mary R. (Erbert) Kuhn, 98, Hays, died Thursday, October 29, 2020, at HaysMed.

She was born July 25, 1922, in Ellis, 
the daughter of Engelbert and Regina (Geschwentner) Erbert.&nbsp; Mary 
attended Ellis schools and worked at Erbert Hotel, Cottage Hotel, and at
 Ellis Bakery.&nbsp; After raising her children, she worked at Sweetbriars 
Dress Shop and also at Four Seasons Dress Shop, both in Hays.&nbsp; On 
November 18, 1947, she was united in marriage to Gilbert N. Kuhn at St. 
Mary’s Catholic Church in Ellis, and they celebrated nearly 57 years of 
marriage before he preceded her in death on October 26, 2004.&nbsp; They 
lived in Victoria and later moved to Hays in May of 1960.&nbsp; She was a 
member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church.&nbsp; Mary made wedding 
flowers and wedding and birthday cakes.&nbsp; She also made quilts, crafts 
and clothes for her grandchildren.

Survivors include two sons: Don Kuhn 
and Keith Kuhn and wife Connie, both of Hays, a daughter: Marian Light 
and husband Fred of Kansas City, MO, a brother: Joseph Erbert and wife 
Arlene of Ellis, a sister: Shirley Pitner and husband Ralph of Hays, 
seven grandchildren: Claire Albert of Dodge City, KS, Neil Kuhn of Hays,
 Scott Kuhn and wife Cassi of Topeka, Taylor Kuhn and wife Viktoria of 
Leavenworth, Katie Kuhn of Salina, Bethany Kuhn of Gas City, IN, and 
Nicholas Light and wife Alanna of East Flat Rock, NC, and five great 
grandchildren: Anika, Trevor, and Kolby Albert of Dodge City, KS and 
Adeline and Klaus Kuhn of Leavenworth.

She was preceded in death by her 
parents, her husband Gilbert, and two sisters: Rose Erbert and Bertha 
Bieker and husband Albert.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 
10:00 am on Monday, November 2, 2020 at Immaculate Heart of Mary 
Catholic Church with Fr. Nick Parker officiating.&nbsp; Private family burial
 will be in St. Joseph Cemetery.&nbsp; Visitation will be from 5:00 pm until 
7:00 on Sunday and from 9:00 am until 9:45 on Monday, all at Hays 
Memorial Chapel Funeral Home.&nbsp; A vigil service and rosary will be at 
6:30 pm on Sunday at the funeral home.&nbsp; The family is requesting that 
attendees wear masks and practice social distancing for the public 
services.&nbsp; 

Memorials are suggested to Immaculate Heart of Mary Church or
 for masses.&nbsp; Condolences and memories of Mary may be shared with the 
family at www.haysmemorial.com&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1603995251312.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Mary R. (Erbert) Kuhn, 98, Hays, died Thursday, October 29, 2020, at HaysMed.She was born July 25, 1922, in Ellis, 
the daughter of Engelbert and Regina (Geschwentner) Erbert.&nbsp; Mary 
attended Ellis schools and worked at Erbert Hotel, Cottage Hotel, and at
 Ellis Bakery.&nbsp; After raising her children, she worked at Sweetbriars 
Dress Shop and also at Four Seasons Dress Shop, both in Hays.&nbsp; On 
November 18, 1947, she was united in marriage to Gilbert N. Kuhn at St. 
Mary’s Catholic Church in Ellis, and they celebrated nearly 57 years of 
marriage before he preceded her in death on October 26, 2004.&nbsp; They 
lived in Victoria and later moved to Hays in May of 1960.&nbsp; She was a 
member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church.&nbsp; Mary made wedding 
flowers and wedding and birthday cakes.&nbsp; She also made quilts, crafts 
and clothes for her grandchildren.Survivors include two sons: Don Kuhn 
and Keith Kuhn and wife Connie, both of Hays, a daughter: Marian Light 
and husband Fred of Kansas City, MO, a brother: Joseph Erbert and wife 
Arlene of Ellis, a sister: Shirley Pitner and husband Ralph of Hays, 
seven grandchildren: Claire Albert of Dodge City, KS, Neil Kuhn of Hays,
 Scott Kuhn and wife Cassi of Topeka, Taylor Kuhn and wife Viktoria of 
Leavenworth, Katie Kuhn of Salina, Bethany Kuhn of Gas City, IN, and 
Nicholas Light and wife Alanna of East Flat Rock, NC, and five great 
grandchildren: Anika, Trevor, and Kolby Albert of Dodge City, KS and 
Adeline and Klaus Kuhn of Leavenworth.She was preceded in death by her 
parents, her husband Gilbert, and two sisters: Rose Erbert and Bertha 
Bieker and husband Albert.Mass of Christian Burial will be at 
10:00 am on Monday, November 2, 2020 at Immaculate Heart of Mary 
Catholic Church with Fr. Nick Parker officiating.&nbsp; Private family burial
 will be in St. Joseph Cemetery.&nbsp; Visitation will be from 5:00 pm until 
7:00 on Sunday and from 9:00 am until 9:45 on Monday, all at Hays 
Memorial Chapel Funeral Home.&nbsp; A vigil service and rosary will be at 
6:30 pm on Sunday at the funeral home.&nbsp; The family is requesting that 
attendees wear masks and practice social distancing for the public 
services.&nbsp; Memorials are suggested to Immaculate Heart of Mary Church or
 for masses.&nbsp; Condolences and memories of Mary may be shared with the 
family at www.haysmemorial.com&nbsp;

Mary R. (Erbert) Kuhn

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Kansas man accused in the death of a woman whose body was found at a motel made his first court appearance in the case Tuesday.

Ricky Hollins, Jr., 40, Wichita, was charged with&nbsp;first-degree murder and buying sexual relations, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office. 

Just after 10a.m. October 22, police responded to a call of an unresponsive woman in a room at the Budget Motel in the 1300 Block of South Broad in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson.&nbsp;&nbsp;A staff member of the motel located&nbsp;33-year-old Stephanie Duran of Wichita in the room and called the police.

She was pronounced dead at the scene. The following evening, police arrested and booked Hollins into the Sedgwick County Jail, according to online jail records. He remains jailed on $200,000 bond.&nbsp;

Kansas Department of Corrections records show Hollins has prior drug convictions.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1603833413290.png" alt="Hollins photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Hollins photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—Kansas man accused in the death of a woman whose body was found at a motel made his first court appearance in the case Tuesday.Ricky Hollins, Jr., 40, Wichita, was charged with&nbsp;first-degree murder and buying sexual relations, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office. Just after 10a.m. October 22, police responded to a call of an unresponsive woman in a room at the Budget Motel in the 1300 Block of South Broad in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson.&nbsp;&nbsp;A staff member of the motel located&nbsp;33-year-old Stephanie Duran of Wichita in the room and called the police.She was pronounced dead at the scene. The following evening, police arrested and booked Hollins into the Sedgwick County Jail, according to online jail records. He remains jailed on $200,000 bond.&nbsp;Kansas Department of Corrections records show Hollins has prior drug convictions.

Kan. man charged for woman's murder while buying sex

Kansas City (AP) —&nbsp; The new surge of the coronavirus was evident on Thursday, with record hospitalizations in St. Louis and Columbia, and the Kansas City metropolitan area experiencing its worst month ever for COVID-19 deaths.

The number of coronavirus deaths in the metro Kansas City area, which includes Kansas City as well as counties in Missouri and Kansas, was at 176 in October, the most of any month since the onset of the pandemic.

Deaths in the region have risen sharply during the fall. The metro area recorded 80 deaths in August but 172 in September.

“We would predict that November will be worse than October,” Kansas City Health Department Director Rex Archer told the Star. “December’s going to be worse than November and January’s going to be worse than December. We will continue to set records.”

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services' COVID-19 dashboard shows Missouri had the seventh-highest number of per capita deaths over the past seven days, and the 12th highest number of new cases per capita. The statewide positivity rate of 11.6% is more than twice the World Health Organization's 5% benchmark for reopening.

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/6b46885a2495c6b6e9503cd2a549fda2">allowed the state to reopen</a>&nbsp;in mid-June. He has urged Missourians to take personal responsibility in preventing the spread of the virus, but there is no statewide mandate for masks or social distancing. Many local jurisdictions have implemented their own requirements.

Kansas City (AP) —&nbsp; The new surge of the coronavirus was evident on Thursday, with record hospitalizations in St. Louis and Columbia, and the Kansas City metropolitan area experiencing its worst month ever for COVID-19 deaths.The number of coronavirus deaths in the metro Kansas City area, which includes Kansas City as well as counties in Missouri and Kansas, was at 176 in October, the most of any month since the onset of the pandemic.Deaths in the region have risen sharply during the fall. The metro area recorded 80 deaths in August but 172 in September.“We would predict that November will be worse than October,” Kansas City Health Department Director Rex Archer told the Star. “December’s going to be worse than November and January’s going to be worse than December. We will continue to set records.”The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services' COVID-19 dashboard shows Missouri had the seventh-highest number of per capita deaths over the past seven days, and the 12th highest number of new cases per capita. The statewide positivity rate of 11.6% is more than twice the World Health Organization's 5% benchmark for reopening.Missouri Gov. Mike Parson&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/6b46885a2495c6b6e9503cd2a549fda2">allowed the state to reopen</a>&nbsp;in mid-June. He has urged Missourians to take personal responsibility in preventing the spread of the virus, but there is no statewide mandate for masks or social distancing. Many local jurisdictions have implemented their own requirements.

KC-area experiencing  worst month for COVID-19 deaths

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Federal agencies warned that cybercriminals are&nbsp;<a href="https://us-cert.cisa.gov/ncas/alerts/aa20-302a" target="_blank">unleashing a wave of data-scrambling extortion attempts</a>&nbsp;against the U.S. healthcare system designed to lock up hospital information systems, which could hurt patient care just as nationwide cases of COVID-19 are spiking.

In a joint alert Wednesday, the FBI and two federal agencies warned that they had “credible information of an increased and imminent cybercrime threat to U.S. hospitals and healthcare providers.” The alert said malicious groups are targeting the sector with attacks that produce “data theft and disruption of healthcare services.”

The cyberattacks involve ransomware, which scrambles data into gibberish that can only be unlocked with software keys provided once targets pay up. Independent security experts say it has already hobbled at least five U.S. hospitals this week, and could potentially impact hundreds more.

The offensive by a Russian-speaking criminal gang coincides with the U.S. presidential election, although there is no immediate indication they were motivated by anything but profit. “We are experiencing the most significant cyber security threat we’ve ever seen in the United States,” Charles Carmakal, chief technical officer of the cybersecurity firm Mandiant, said in a statement.

Alex Holden, CEO of Hold Security, which has been closely tracking the ransomware in question for more than a year, agreed that the unfolding offensive is unprecedented in magnitude for the U.S. given its timing in the heat of a contentions presidential election and the worst global pandemic in a century.

The federal alert was co-authored by the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Health and Human Services.

The cybercriminals launching the attacks use a strain of ransomware known as Ryuk, which is seeded through a network of zombie computers called Trickbot that Microsoft&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-malware-elections-crime-cybercrime-913ee5d56affa97fc5d9c639c4a284ab">began trying to counter</a>&nbsp;earlier in October. U.S. Cyber Command has also reportedly taken action against Trickbot. While Microsoft has had considerable success knocking its command-and-control servers offline through legal action, analysts say criminals have still been finding ways to spread Ryuk.

The U.S. has seen a plague of ransomware over the past 18 months or so, with major cities from Baltimore to Atlanta hit and local governments and schools hit especially hard.

In September, a ransomware attack&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/media-archive-21ebb97dc7b9e2a7c06244069a35b7e6">hobbled all 250 U.S. facilities</a>&nbsp;of the hospital chain Universal Health Services, forcing doctors and nurses to rely on paper and pencil for record-keeping and slowing lab work. Employees described chaotic conditions impeding patient care, including mounting emergency room waits and the failure of wireless vital-signs monitoring equipment.

Also in September, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-hacking-europe-cf8f8eee1adcec69bcc864f2c4308c94">first known fatality related to ransomware</a>&nbsp;occurred in Duesseldorf, Germany, when an IT system failure forced a critically ill patient to be routed to a hospital in another city.

Holden said he alerted federal law enforcement Friday after monitoring infection attempts at a number of hospitals, some of which may have beaten back infections. The FBI did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

He said the group was demanding ransoms well above $10 million per target and that criminals involved on the dark web were discussing plans to try to infect more than 400 hospitals, clinics and other medical facilities.

“One of the comments from the bad guys is that they are expecting to cause panic and, no, they are not hitting election systems,” Holden said. “They are hitting where it hurts even more and they know it.” U.S. officials have repeatedly expressed concern about major ransomware attacks affecting the presidential election, even if the criminals are motivated chiefly by profit.

Mandiant’s Carmakal identified the criminal gang as UNC1878, saying “it is deliberately targeting and disrupting U.S. hospitals, forcing them to divert patients to other healthcare providers” and producing prolonged delays in critical care.

He called the eastern European group “one of most brazen, heartless, and disruptive threat actors I’ve observed over my career.”

While no one has proven suspected ties between the Russian government and gangs that use the Trickbot platform, Holden said he has “no doubt that the Russian government is aware of this operation — of terrorism, really.” He said dozens of different criminal groups use Ryuk, paying its architects a cut.

Dmitri Alperovitch, co-founder and former chief technical officer of the cybersecurity firm Crowdstrike, said there are “certainly lot of connections between Russian cyber criminals and the state,” with Kremlin-employed hackers sometimes moonlighting as cyber criminals.

Neither Holden nor Carmakal would identify the affected hospitals. Four healthcare institutions have been reported hit by ransomware so far this week, three belonging to the St. Lawrence County Health System in upstate New York and the Sky Lakes Medical Center in Klamath Falls, Oregon.

Sky Lakes acknowledged the ransomware attack in an online statement, saying it had no evidence that patient information was compromised. It said emergency and urgent care “remain available” The St. Lawrence system did not immediately return phone calls seeking comment.

Increasingly, ransomware criminals are stealing data from their targets before encrypting networks, using it for extortion. They often sow the malware weeks before activating it, waiting for moments when they believe they can extract the highest payments, said Brett Callow, an analyst at the cybersecurity firm Emsisoft.

A total of 59 U.S. healthcare providers/systems have been impacted by ransomware in 2020, disrupting patient care at up to 510 facilities, Callow said.

Carmakal said Mandiant had provided Microsoft on Wednesday with as much detail as it could&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fireeye.com/blog/threat-research/2020/10/kegtap-and-singlemalt-with-a-ransomware-chaser.html" target="_blank">about the thr</a>eat so it could distribute details to its customers. A Microsoft spokesman had no immediate comment.

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Federal agencies warned that cybercriminals are&nbsp;<a href="https://us-cert.cisa.gov/ncas/alerts/aa20-302a" target="_blank">unleashing a wave of data-scrambling extortion attempts</a>&nbsp;against the U.S. healthcare system designed to lock up hospital information systems, which could hurt patient care just as nationwide cases of COVID-19 are spiking.In a joint alert Wednesday, the FBI and two federal agencies warned that they had “credible information of an increased and imminent cybercrime threat to U.S. hospitals and healthcare providers.” The alert said malicious groups are targeting the sector with attacks that produce “data theft and disruption of healthcare services.”The cyberattacks involve ransomware, which scrambles data into gibberish that can only be unlocked with software keys provided once targets pay up. Independent security experts say it has already hobbled at least five U.S. hospitals this week, and could potentially impact hundreds more.The offensive by a Russian-speaking criminal gang coincides with the U.S. presidential election, although there is no immediate indication they were motivated by anything but profit. “We are experiencing the most significant cyber security threat we’ve ever seen in the United States,” Charles Carmakal, chief technical officer of the cybersecurity firm Mandiant, said in a statement.Alex Holden, CEO of Hold Security, which has been closely tracking the ransomware in question for more than a year, agreed that the unfolding offensive is unprecedented in magnitude for the U.S. given its timing in the heat of a contentions presidential election and the worst global pandemic in a century.The federal alert was co-authored by the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Health and Human Services.The cybercriminals launching the attacks use a strain of ransomware known as Ryuk, which is seeded through a network of zombie computers called Trickbot that Microsoft&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-malware-elections-crime-cybercrime-913ee5d56affa97fc5d9c639c4a284ab">began trying to counter</a>&nbsp;earlier in October. U.S. Cyber Command has also reportedly taken action against Trickbot. While Microsoft has had considerable success knocking its command-and-control servers offline through legal action, analysts say criminals have still been finding ways to spread Ryuk.The U.S. has seen a plague of ransomware over the past 18 months or so, with major cities from Baltimore to Atlanta hit and local governments and schools hit especially hard.In September, a ransomware attack&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/media-archive-21ebb97dc7b9e2a7c06244069a35b7e6">hobbled all 250 U.S. facilities</a>&nbsp;of the hospital chain Universal Health Services, forcing doctors and nurses to rely on paper and pencil for record-keeping and slowing lab work. Employees described chaotic conditions impeding patient care, including mounting emergency room waits and the failure of wireless vital-signs monitoring equipment.Also in September, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-hacking-europe-cf8f8eee1adcec69bcc864f2c4308c94">first known fatality related to ransomware</a>&nbsp;occurred in Duesseldorf, Germany, when an IT system failure forced a critically ill patient to be routed to a hospital in another city.Holden said he alerted federal law enforcement Friday after monitoring infection attempts at a number of hospitals, some of which may have beaten back infections. The FBI did not immediately respond to a request for comment.He said the group was demanding ransoms well above $10 million per target and that criminals involved on the dark web were discussing plans to try to infect more than 400 hospitals, clinics and other medical facilities.“One of the comments from the bad guys is that they are expecting to cause panic and, no, they are not hitting election systems,” Holden said. “They are hitting where it hurts even more and they know it.” U.S. officials have repeatedly expressed concern about major ransomware attacks affecting the presidential election, even if the criminals are motivated chiefly by profit.Mandiant’s Carmakal identified the criminal gang as UNC1878, saying “it is deliberately targeting and disrupting U.S. hospitals, forcing them to divert patients to other healthcare providers” and producing prolonged delays in critical care.He called the eastern European group “one of most brazen, heartless, and disruptive threat actors I’ve observed over my career.”While no one has proven suspected ties between the Russian government and gangs that use the Trickbot platform, Holden said he has “no doubt that the Russian government is aware of this operation — of terrorism, really.” He said dozens of different criminal groups use Ryuk, paying its architects a cut.Dmitri Alperovitch, co-founder and former chief technical officer of the cybersecurity firm Crowdstrike, said there are “certainly lot of connections between Russian cyber criminals and the state,” with Kremlin-employed hackers sometimes moonlighting as cyber criminals.Neither Holden nor Carmakal would identify the affected hospitals. Four healthcare institutions have been reported hit by ransomware so far this week, three belonging to the St. Lawrence County Health System in upstate New York and the Sky Lakes Medical Center in Klamath Falls, Oregon.Sky Lakes acknowledged the ransomware attack in an online statement, saying it had no evidence that patient information was compromised. It said emergency and urgent care “remain available” The St. Lawrence system did not immediately return phone calls seeking comment.Increasingly, ransomware criminals are stealing data from their targets before encrypting networks, using it for extortion. They often sow the malware weeks before activating it, waiting for moments when they believe they can extract the highest payments, said Brett Callow, an analyst at the cybersecurity firm Emsisoft.A total of 59 U.S. healthcare providers/systems have been impacted by ransomware in 2020, disrupting patient care at up to 510 facilities, Callow said.Carmakal said Mandiant had provided Microsoft on Wednesday with as much detail as it could&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fireeye.com/blog/threat-research/2020/10/kegtap-and-singlemalt-with-a-ransomware-chaser.html" target="_blank">about the thr</a>eat so it could distribute details to its customers. A Microsoft spokesman had no immediate comment.—-

FBI warns of cyberattack on U.S. hospitals, facilities

Elizabeth Huegel, fondly called Bette, 78, of York, Nebraska died on 
October 23, 2020 at Tiffany Square in Grand Island, Nebraska.&nbsp; Bette was
 born in Russell, Kansas on May 29, 1942 to her loving parents, George 
and Vivian Baxter.&nbsp; George was the business teacher and football coach 
at Russell High School and Vivian taught calculus at Fort Hays State. Bette
 graduated from Russell, Kansas High School and then graduated from 
Kansas State University.&nbsp; After graduation, Bette moved to Denver, 
Colorado and was an oil and gas buyer and marketer for Shell Oil and 
then Permian Oil for 28 years.&nbsp; She married Dick Huegel in 1978 and 
assisted him in his career as an antique watch and clock specialist - 
buying, selling, collecting, and fixing.&nbsp; Dick and Bette moved to York, 
Nebraska, Dick’s hometown, in 2000 to assist Dick’s mother.&nbsp; Bette and 
Dick loved York and spent many happy years there. Bette was the 
family historian and did a great deal of research and writing on the 
Baxter family history.&nbsp; She still found time to do the New York Times 
and the LA Times crossword puzzles every day.&nbsp; Left to cherish 
her memory and remember her great wit and bountiful kindness are her 
brother and sister-in-law, James and Gail Baxter; step-daughter Brenda 
Vogel and husband Ron, step-son Charles Huegel, step-granddaughter, 
Hailey Vogel, niece Laura Harrison and husband Scott and sons Elliott 
and Grant, niece Suzanne Baxter and husband Andrew Slopsema, and niece 
Sue Schutte and husband Alan, cousin and caregiver, Liana Steele and 
husband Roger Steele, and other cousins and many lifelong friends.&nbsp; She 
was preceded in death by her parents, husband in 2009, and sister, 
Virginia Baxter Wright of Washington, D.C. in 2015. There are no
 services scheduled at this time. Cremation. No viewing or visitation. 
Private inurnment at Greenwood Cemetery, York. A memorial scholarship 
will be set up for Elizabeth Baxter Huegel at the Russell High School 
Foundation.&nbsp; Memorials may be sent to Liana Steele at PO Box 5104 Grand 
Island, Nebraska 68802. <a href="mailto:metz@metzmortuary.com">Condolences may be emailed to Metz Mortuary</a>.&nbsp;Messages will be given to the family.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1603981134261.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Elizabeth Huegel, fondly called Bette, 78, of York, Nebraska died on 
October 23, 2020 at Tiffany Square in Grand Island, Nebraska.&nbsp; Bette was
 born in Russell, Kansas on May 29, 1942 to her loving parents, George 
and Vivian Baxter.&nbsp; George was the business teacher and football coach 
at Russell High School and Vivian taught calculus at Fort Hays State. Bette
 graduated from Russell, Kansas High School and then graduated from 
Kansas State University.&nbsp; After graduation, Bette moved to Denver, 
Colorado and was an oil and gas buyer and marketer for Shell Oil and 
then Permian Oil for 28 years.&nbsp; She married Dick Huegel in 1978 and 
assisted him in his career as an antique watch and clock specialist - 
buying, selling, collecting, and fixing.&nbsp; Dick and Bette moved to York, 
Nebraska, Dick’s hometown, in 2000 to assist Dick’s mother.&nbsp; Bette and 
Dick loved York and spent many happy years there. Bette was the 
family historian and did a great deal of research and writing on the 
Baxter family history.&nbsp; She still found time to do the New York Times 
and the LA Times crossword puzzles every day.&nbsp; Left to cherish 
her memory and remember her great wit and bountiful kindness are her 
brother and sister-in-law, James and Gail Baxter; step-daughter Brenda 
Vogel and husband Ron, step-son Charles Huegel, step-granddaughter, 
Hailey Vogel, niece Laura Harrison and husband Scott and sons Elliott 
and Grant, niece Suzanne Baxter and husband Andrew Slopsema, and niece 
Sue Schutte and husband Alan, cousin and caregiver, Liana Steele and 
husband Roger Steele, and other cousins and many lifelong friends.&nbsp; She 
was preceded in death by her parents, husband in 2009, and sister, 
Virginia Baxter Wright of Washington, D.C. in 2015. There are no
 services scheduled at this time. Cremation. No viewing or visitation. 
Private inurnment at Greenwood Cemetery, York. A memorial scholarship 
will be set up for Elizabeth Baxter Huegel at the Russell High School 
Foundation.&nbsp; Memorials may be sent to Liana Steele at PO Box 5104 Grand 
Island, Nebraska 68802. <a href="mailto:metz@metzmortuary.com">Condolences may be emailed to Metz Mortuary</a>.&nbsp;Messages will be given to the family.

Elizabeth 'Bette' Huegel

Ervin L. Kuhlman, 86, passed away Wednesday, October 28, 2020 at Trego-Lemke Memorial Hospital, WaKeeney, KS.

Arrangements are pending with All Faiths Funeral Chapel.

Ervin L. Kuhlman, 86, passed away Wednesday, October 28, 2020 at Trego-Lemke Memorial Hospital, WaKeeney, KS.Arrangements are pending with All Faiths Funeral Chapel.

Ervin L. Kuhlman

Kenneth Eugene Tygart, age 90, passed away peacefully on October 21, 
2020 at Topside Manor in Goodland.&nbsp; He was born March 7, 1930.&nbsp; &nbsp; Ken 
loved spending time with his family, fishing, hunting, golf and cooking.
 Dad will be greatly missed.&nbsp;

He was preceded in death by his devoted wife Gladys.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Ken is survived by his five children; Harold (Kristy), Larry (Kathy),
 Mary (Terry), Sheila ( Terry), Dana, and step daughter's, Katherine 
(Mark ) Mary Ken has numerous grand children and great grand children.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1603978233111.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Kenneth Eugene Tygart, age 90, passed away peacefully on October 21, 
2020 at Topside Manor in Goodland.&nbsp; He was born March 7, 1930.&nbsp; &nbsp; Ken 
loved spending time with his family, fishing, hunting, golf and cooking.
 Dad will be greatly missed.&nbsp;He was preceded in death by his devoted wife Gladys.&nbsp; &nbsp;Ken is survived by his five children; Harold (Kristy), Larry (Kathy),
 Mary (Terry), Sheila ( Terry), Dana, and step daughter's, Katherine 
(Mark ) Mary Ken has numerous grand children and great grand children.Private services are planned.

Kenneth E. Tygart

WICHITA — As Halloween 2020 approaches, KDHE Secretary Dr. Lee Norman wore his Colonel Sanders outfit and offered some ideas on things that you can do to celebrate safely, get creative and have fun.

In addition, AAA Kansas is raising concern for a dangerous traffic safety trifecta – increased pedestrian activity, drunk driving, and drowsy driving – all of which converge this Halloween weekend. The ghostly holiday falls on a Saturday this year, followed a few short hours later by “falling back” at the end of Daylight Saving Time (DST) at 2:00 a.m. Sunday, November 1.

Halloween festivities amid the COVID-19 pandemic will likely look different for many communities, parents, trick-or-treaters, and party goers. Traditional indoor activities, like costume parties for children and adults, can move outside in small, socially distanced settings. However those planning to celebrate should not lose sight of safety first.

A scare in good fun is expected on Halloween, but AAA Kansas warns, not when it comes to child pedestrian safety.

Creative costumes, trick-or-treating and bags full of goodies are top Halloween priorities, but safety often becomes an afterthought. Excited trick-or-treaters can forget about safety, so drivers, party-goers and parents must be even more alert, as the risk of kids being injured by moving vehicles increases.

“With an increased risk of pedestrian crashes on Halloween night, AAA Kansas urges parents to take the time to make trick-or-treaters and their costumes safer and more visible to motorists,” said Shawn Steward, AAA Kansas spokesman.&nbsp; “In addition, motorists must eliminate distractions, slow down and watch for children, as well as have a completely sober designated driver if drinking is part of a Halloween celebration.”Halloween is also a statistically dangerous night for drunk driving. The combination of drinking and increased pedestrian traffic on Halloween is a deadly combination. AAA and the&nbsp;National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHSTA) found that:

WICHITA — As Halloween 2020 approaches, KDHE Secretary Dr. Lee Norman wore his Colonel Sanders outfit and offered some ideas on things that you can do to celebrate safely, get creative and have fun.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">I love Halloween, and there are things that we can do to celebrate safely this holiday season. Get creative and have fun. Follow your county&#39;s guidelines, and find more ideas on our website: <a href="https://t.co/7KEvXPCPa6">https://t.co/7KEvXPCPa6</a>. <a href="https://t.co/E8fnwszBQy">pic.twitter.com/E8fnwszBQy</a>&mdash; Lee Norman (@SecNorman) <a href="https://twitter.com/SecNorman/status/1320748334852747264?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 26, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>In addition, AAA Kansas is raising concern for a dangerous traffic safety trifecta – increased pedestrian activity, drunk driving, and drowsy driving – all of which converge this Halloween weekend. The ghostly holiday falls on a Saturday this year, followed a few short hours later by “falling back” at the end of Daylight Saving Time (DST) at 2:00 a.m. Sunday, November 1.Halloween festivities amid the COVID-19 pandemic will likely look different for many communities, parents, trick-or-treaters, and party goers. Traditional indoor activities, like costume parties for children and adults, can move outside in small, socially distanced settings. However those planning to celebrate should not lose sight of safety first.A scare in good fun is expected on Halloween, but AAA Kansas warns, not when it comes to child pedestrian safety.<ul>
 <li>According to Safe Kids Worldwide,&nbsp;children are more than twice as likely to be hit by a car and killed on Halloween as any other day of the year.</li><li>The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that&nbsp;Halloween is consistently one of the top three days of the year for pedestrian injuries and fatalities.</li>
 </ul>Creative costumes, trick-or-treating and bags full of goodies are top Halloween priorities, but safety often becomes an afterthought. Excited trick-or-treaters can forget about safety, so drivers, party-goers and parents must be even more alert, as the risk of kids being injured by moving vehicles increases.“With an increased risk of pedestrian crashes on Halloween night, AAA Kansas urges parents to take the time to make trick-or-treaters and their costumes safer and more visible to motorists,” said Shawn Steward, AAA Kansas spokesman.&nbsp; “In addition, motorists must eliminate distractions, slow down and watch for children, as well as have a completely sober designated driver if drinking is part of a Halloween celebration.”Halloween is also a statistically dangerous night for drunk driving. The combination of drinking and increased pedestrian traffic on Halloween is a deadly combination. AAA and the&nbsp;National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHSTA) found that:<ul>
 <li>One-fourth of all pedestrian deaths ranging in age from 5-14 occurred in the four days leading up to Halloween (October 28-31) in 2017.</li><li>On Halloween night 2017, 89 people were fatally injured in a traffic crash, with 13 percent involving alcohol.</li><li>In 2017, more than half of pedestrian fatalities on Halloween occurred with the pedestrian outside of a marked crosswalk.</li><li>From 2013 – 2017, 158 people were killed in drunk-driving crashes on Halloween night (NHTSA)</li><li>From 2013 - 2017, 22 percent of pedestrian fatalities on Halloween night involved a drunk driver. (NHTSA)</li><li>During that period, 42 percent of all people killed in motor vehicle crashes on Halloween night were in crashes involving a drunk driver. (NHTSA)</li>
 </ul><h2>AAA Halloween Safety TipsMotorists</h2><ul>
 <li>Do not use your phone while behind the wheel, so you can focus on the road and trick-or-treaters.</li><li>Slow down in residential neighborhoods and obey all traffic signs and signals. Drive at least 5 mph below the posted speed limit to give yourself extra time to react to children who may dart into the street. Broaden your scanning by looking for children left and right into yards and on front porches.</li><li>Look for children crossing the street. They may not be paying attention to traffic and may cross the street mid-block or between parked cars.</li><li>Carefully enter and exit driveways and alleys, taking extra care if you are backing up or turning.</li><li>Turn your headlights on to make yourself more visible – even in the daylight.</li>
 </ul><figure>
 <img src="https://us.vocuspr.com/Publish/523962/vcsPRAsset_523962_94848_e6aa352c-2292-413f-b873-8720597d00e4_0.jpg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Parents</h2><ul>
 <li>Make sure Halloween costumes are flame-retardant and light in color to improve visibility.</li><li>Be bright at night – have trick-or-treaters use glow sticks or wear retro-reflective tape on costumes and on treat buckets.</li><li>Ensure disguises don’t obstruct vision and avoid full facemasks.</li><li>Create face masks that coordinate with costumes rather than regular costume masks.&nbsp; This won’t obstruct vision and follows health and safety guidelines for COVID-19.</li><li>&nbsp;Instead, use nontoxic face paint. Also, watch the length of billowy costumes to help avoid tripping.</li><li>Ensure any props are flexible and blunt-tipped to avoid injury from tripping or horseplay.</li><li>Ask an adult or older child to supervise children under age 12.</li><li>Instruct children to travel only in familiar areas and along established routes.</li><li>Teach children to stop only at well-lit houses and to never to enter a stranger’s home or garage.</li><li>Review trick-or-treating safety precautions, including pedestrian and traffic safety rules.</li>
 </ul><h2>Trick-or-Treaters</h2><ul>
 <li>Stay on sidewalks and avoid walking in streets if possible.</li><li>If there are no sidewalks, walk on the left side of the road, facing traffic.</li><li>Look both ways and listen for traffic before crossing the street.</li><li>Watch for cars turning or backing up.</li><li>Cross streets only at the corner, using traffic signals and crosswalks, and never cross between parked vehicles or mid-block.</li><li>Trick-or-treat in a group if someone older cannot go with you.</li><li>Tell your parents where you are going.</li><li>Carry a flashlight containing fresh batteries. Never shine flashlights into the eyes of oncoming drivers.</li>
 </ul><h2>Party Goers</h2><ul>
 <li>Arrange a safe ride home and/or designate a driver before partaking in any festivities.</li><li>Always designate a sober driver.</li><li>If you are drunk, take a taxi or ride share service, call a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation.</li><li>Before leaving for a party, load ride share apps or put numbers of local cab companies or your designated driver(s) into your phone.</li><li>Walking impaired can be as dangerous as drunk driving. Designate a sober friend to walk you home.</li><li>If you see a drunk driver on the road, contact local law enforcement.</li><li>If you know someone who is about to drive or ride impaired, take their keys and help them make safe travel arrangements to where they are going.</li>
 </ul>

🎥 Halloween weekend safety tips from Dr. Lee Norman

Virgil Nickolas Wasinger, age 88, of Hays, Kansas passed away October 20, 2020, at Hays Medical Center. He was born November 19, 1931, on the farm north of Hays to Nick J. and Mary (Wittman) Wasinger. On February 11, 1988, he married Marilyn S. (Fury) in Hays. She preceded him in death January 15, 2019. Virgil was an electrician and motor rewind specialist owning his own business, Wasinger Electric Machinery. Virgil was a US Navy veteran serving in Korean War as a RM2- Radio Operator. He was a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, Hays VFW, Hays Bowling League, and the Rohr Jacobs Lake Association. Virgil is survived by step daughters, Cyd McElhaney of Anadarko, OK, Lynne Van Dyke of Zurich, KS, Barbara Goetz of LaCrosse, KS, Eldena Monroe of Berryton, KS, Glenda Pearson of Ord, NE; a step son: Jerry Schrock of Emporia, KS, a brother, Eddie Wasinger of Buffalo Grove, IL and a sister, Bernita Degenhardt of Great Bend, KS. As well as numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Gayle (Stice) Wasinger, wife, Brothers, Marion Wasinger and Alvin Wasinger, and Sisters, Leona Sander, Georgina Sander, Marcella Berens and Lorraine Wolf. Funeral services will be 1 PM Thursday, October 29, 2020 at Brock’s-Keithley Funeral Chapel and Crematory 2509 Vine Hays, KS. 67601. Services will be live streamed via the Keithley Funeral Homes Facebook page. Inurnment with military honors at the Kansas State Veterans’ Cemetery at WaKeeney courtesy of the Hays VFW Honor Guard. Memorial contributions suggested to the Hays VFW. Condolences may be sent by guest book at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com/">www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com</a>&nbsp;or by email at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:keithleyfuneralhomes@gmail.com">keithleyfuneralhomes@gmail.com</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1603490309757.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Virgil Nickolas Wasinger, age 88, of Hays, Kansas passed away October 20, 2020, at Hays Medical Center. He was born November 19, 1931, on the farm north of Hays to Nick J. and Mary (Wittman) Wasinger. On February 11, 1988, he married Marilyn S. (Fury) in Hays. She preceded him in death January 15, 2019. Virgil was an electrician and motor rewind specialist owning his own business, Wasinger Electric Machinery. Virgil was a US Navy veteran serving in Korean War as a RM2- Radio Operator. He was a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, Hays VFW, Hays Bowling League, and the Rohr Jacobs Lake Association. Virgil is survived by step daughters, Cyd McElhaney of Anadarko, OK, Lynne Van Dyke of Zurich, KS, Barbara Goetz of LaCrosse, KS, Eldena Monroe of Berryton, KS, Glenda Pearson of Ord, NE; a step son: Jerry Schrock of Emporia, KS, a brother, Eddie Wasinger of Buffalo Grove, IL and a sister, Bernita Degenhardt of Great Bend, KS. As well as numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Gayle (Stice) Wasinger, wife, Brothers, Marion Wasinger and Alvin Wasinger, and Sisters, Leona Sander, Georgina Sander, Marcella Berens and Lorraine Wolf. Funeral services will be 1 PM Thursday, October 29, 2020 at Brock’s-Keithley Funeral Chapel and Crematory 2509 Vine Hays, KS. 67601. Services will be live streamed via the Keithley Funeral Homes Facebook page. Inurnment with military honors at the Kansas State Veterans’ Cemetery at WaKeeney courtesy of the Hays VFW Honor Guard. Memorial contributions suggested to the Hays VFW. Condolences may be sent by guest book at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com/">www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com</a>&nbsp;or by email at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:keithleyfuneralhomes@gmail.com">keithleyfuneralhomes@gmail.com</a>

Virgil Nickolas Wasinger

Ronald D. Miller, age 85, of Scottsbluff, Neb., passed away on Sunday, October
 25, 2020. Cremation has taken place. Online condolences may be made 
by viewing Ronald’s memorial page at <a href="https://memorials.bridgmanfuneralhome.com/ronald-miller/4374413/obituary.php">www.bridgmanfuneralhome.com</a>. 
Bridgman Funeral Home and Cremation Services is entrusted with 
arrangements. 
 Ronald Dewayne Miller was born on May 16, 1935 in Hope, Kansas to 
Edna and Gordon Miller. A child of the Great Depression, Ron’s youth 
growing up on the family farm led to a life-long love of the land and 
family that wove itself though out his lifetime. 
 That enthusiasm for the land led him to Fort Hays State, where he 
majored in soil sciences, receiving a bachelor’s degree and becoming the
 inaugural recipient of the Bush Gross Award, in recognition of 
outstanding athletics, scholarship and leadership. Following 
graduation, he took a job as a range scientist with the Bureau of Indian
 Affairs in South Dakota, where he met the other love of his life, 
Sonjia Anne Moul, of Gettysburg, S.D. They married in Dec. 1959, and 
raised daughter, Wendy, and son, Scott, before moving to Scottsbluff, 
Neb. in 1970. 
 Ronald became a local business owner, operating Miller Farm Home 
Oil Service, and when his children were in school, Ronald and his wife 
were involved in numerous organizations supporting local education and 
youth sports. Ronald kept a hand in the agriculture industry by 
supporting local youth involved in FFA and 4-H. 
 Ronald ultimately returned full-time to his love of the land, crop 
advising through Whole Farm Environmental Living Energy Services and 
promoting the advantages of healthy soil in crop production. He also 
continued to operate the family farm in Kansas, which he used as his own
 laboratory to experiment with different methods and materials to 
improve the life in the land. 
 Ronald’s family was always an important part of his life, and with 
his wife Sonjia, they reveled in the years of their grandchildren from 
Wendy and Steve Getzfrid, Stosh, Maggie and Emma, as the trio grew up. 
As those children became older, they reveled in the activities and 
family brought into their lives through Scott’s marriage to Polly Crist 
and her local extended family; son Brian, nieces and nephews Jesse, 
Justin and Tyler Baird, and Jada Ellsworth. And they even found some 
time for themselves, with frequent trips for casino gambling – what he 
lost at cards (usually), she almost always made up and then some with 
the slot machines. 
 Ron is survived by his sister Marylyn, daughter, Wendy (Steve) 
Getzfrid, grandchildren Stosh (Whitney), Maggie, Emma (Logan Bovill) 
Getzfrid, son Scott (Polly) Miller and their extended family. 
 He is preceded in death by his wife, Sonjia and his parents.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1603919533054.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Ronald D. Miller, age 85, of Scottsbluff, Neb., passed away on Sunday, October
 25, 2020. Cremation has taken place. Online condolences may be made 
by viewing Ronald’s memorial page at <a href="https://memorials.bridgmanfuneralhome.com/ronald-miller/4374413/obituary.php">www.bridgmanfuneralhome.com</a>. 
Bridgman Funeral Home and Cremation Services is entrusted with 
arrangements. 
 Ronald Dewayne Miller was born on May 16, 1935 in Hope, Kansas to 
Edna and Gordon Miller. A child of the Great Depression, Ron’s youth 
growing up on the family farm led to a life-long love of the land and 
family that wove itself though out his lifetime. 
 That enthusiasm for the land led him to Fort Hays State, where he 
majored in soil sciences, receiving a bachelor’s degree and becoming the
 inaugural recipient of the Bush Gross Award, in recognition of 
outstanding athletics, scholarship and leadership. Following 
graduation, he took a job as a range scientist with the Bureau of Indian
 Affairs in South Dakota, where he met the other love of his life, 
Sonjia Anne Moul, of Gettysburg, S.D. They married in Dec. 1959, and 
raised daughter, Wendy, and son, Scott, before moving to Scottsbluff, 
Neb. in 1970. 
 Ronald became a local business owner, operating Miller Farm Home 
Oil Service, and when his children were in school, Ronald and his wife 
were involved in numerous organizations supporting local education and 
youth sports. Ronald kept a hand in the agriculture industry by 
supporting local youth involved in FFA and 4-H. 
 Ronald ultimately returned full-time to his love of the land, crop 
advising through Whole Farm Environmental Living Energy Services and 
promoting the advantages of healthy soil in crop production. He also 
continued to operate the family farm in Kansas, which he used as his own
 laboratory to experiment with different methods and materials to 
improve the life in the land. 
 Ronald’s family was always an important part of his life, and with 
his wife Sonjia, they reveled in the years of their grandchildren from 
Wendy and Steve Getzfrid, Stosh, Maggie and Emma, as the trio grew up. 
As those children became older, they reveled in the activities and 
family brought into their lives through Scott’s marriage to Polly Crist 
and her local extended family; son Brian, nieces and nephews Jesse, 
Justin and Tyler Baird, and Jada Ellsworth. And they even found some 
time for themselves, with frequent trips for casino gambling – what he 
lost at cards (usually), she almost always made up and then some with 
the slot machines. 
 Ron is survived by his sister Marylyn, daughter, Wendy (Steve) 
Getzfrid, grandchildren Stosh (Whitney), Maggie, Emma (Logan Bovill) 
Getzfrid, son Scott (Polly) Miller and their extended family. 
 He is preceded in death by his wife, Sonjia and his parents.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

Ronald D. Miller

Robert Francis Kinderknecht passed away Sunday evening, October 25, 2020, at his home in Sheridan County, near Park, Kansas, at the age of 83.&nbsp; Bob was born on September 9, 1937, the 12th child of Alex and Anna (Bollig) Kinderknecht in Sheridan County, near Park, Kansas.&nbsp; After graduating from Park Rural High School in 1956, he enlisted in the United States Army and proudly served in Korea.

He married Virginia Billinger on September 12, 1959 and to this union three children were welcomed to the family.&nbsp; Bob worked at Midwest Coop and Heinrich Feeds Elevator in Grainfield, KS for many years before making farming his full-time job.&nbsp; Over the years, he nurtured numerous baby calves that he would mix milk bottles for morning and night, tended the fields around the homestead, and was willing to lend a helping hand to any neighbor in need.

Bob was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Park, Kansas.&nbsp; His greatest enjoyment and blessings were his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, they made him very proud.&nbsp; He and Virginia would attend the grandchildren’s school events, ball games, music concerts, wherever the location.&nbsp; He enjoyed his Polka music and never went anywhere without his four-legged campaign, Tuff.

Survivors include: his high school sweetheart, Virginia; three children, Lisa and husband Larry Cox, Ellis, KS, Larry Kinderknecht, Quinter, KS, and Don Kinderknecht, Seattle, WA; two grandchildren Emily and husband Jordan Mattheyer, and Ethan and wife Britny Cox, all of Ellis; and two great-grandchildren, Mason Mattheyer and Malloy Cox; a sister, Thelma, and husband Gilbert Wildeman of Park; many nieces and nephews and other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; six brothers, Julius, Eugene, Marvin, Cletus, Virgil and Charles; two sisters, Dorothy Waldman and Esther Mader and three infant sisters.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, October 31, 2020, at 10:30am, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Park, Kansas.&nbsp; Burial will follow the service in the Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery in Park with military honors. A rosary will begin at 10:00am at the church.&nbsp; The family requests those in attendance to please wear masks and practice social distancing. &nbsp;

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Sacred Heart Catholic Church or masses and may be sent to Schmitt Funeral Home, 901 South Main St. Quinter, Kansas 67752.

Condolences may be left for the family by visiting www.schmittfuneral.com

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1603918883186.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Robert Francis Kinderknecht passed away Sunday evening, October 25, 2020, at his home in Sheridan County, near Park, Kansas, at the age of 83.&nbsp; Bob was born on September 9, 1937, the 12th child of Alex and Anna (Bollig) Kinderknecht in Sheridan County, near Park, Kansas.&nbsp; After graduating from Park Rural High School in 1956, he enlisted in the United States Army and proudly served in Korea.He married Virginia Billinger on September 12, 1959 and to this union three children were welcomed to the family.&nbsp; Bob worked at Midwest Coop and Heinrich Feeds Elevator in Grainfield, KS for many years before making farming his full-time job.&nbsp; Over the years, he nurtured numerous baby calves that he would mix milk bottles for morning and night, tended the fields around the homestead, and was willing to lend a helping hand to any neighbor in need.Bob was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Park, Kansas.&nbsp; His greatest enjoyment and blessings were his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, they made him very proud.&nbsp; He and Virginia would attend the grandchildren’s school events, ball games, music concerts, wherever the location.&nbsp; He enjoyed his Polka music and never went anywhere without his four-legged campaign, Tuff.Survivors include: his high school sweetheart, Virginia; three children, Lisa and husband Larry Cox, Ellis, KS, Larry Kinderknecht, Quinter, KS, and Don Kinderknecht, Seattle, WA; two grandchildren Emily and husband Jordan Mattheyer, and Ethan and wife Britny Cox, all of Ellis; and two great-grandchildren, Mason Mattheyer and Malloy Cox; a sister, Thelma, and husband Gilbert Wildeman of Park; many nieces and nephews and other relatives and friends.He was preceded in death by his parents; six brothers, Julius, Eugene, Marvin, Cletus, Virgil and Charles; two sisters, Dorothy Waldman and Esther Mader and three infant sisters.A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, October 31, 2020, at 10:30am, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Park, Kansas.&nbsp; Burial will follow the service in the Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery in Park with military honors. A rosary will begin at 10:00am at the church.&nbsp; The family requests those in attendance to please wear masks and practice social distancing. &nbsp;In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Sacred Heart Catholic Church or masses and may be sent to Schmitt Funeral Home, 901 South Main St. Quinter, Kansas 67752.Condolences may be left for the family by visiting www.schmittfuneral.com

Robert 'Bob' Kinderknecht

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly held a press conference Wednesday to give an update regarding COVID-19 in Kansas and to announce the framework for Kansas’ new Unified Testing Strategy.

The governor's office released a copy of her comments.

On Tuesday, I brought together a bipartisan group of legislators to ask whether they would support my efforts to call a special session for emergency legislation to implement a statewide mask requirement. I convened the meeting because, as we have discussed previously, case rates and hospitalizations are spiking in counties that opted out of my July mask order, and today Kansas surpassed 1,000 total COVID-19 deaths. To put this into context: the state did not reach five hundred COVID deaths until September, roughly six months after the pandemic began. It took a little over six weeks for another 500 Kansans to die. Yesterday’s call was productive, and I believe both sides were acting in what they felt were the best interests of the State of Kansas. I began the conversation by asking Legislative leadership to reconvene in a special session to pass bi-partisan legislation to restore my ability to require mask wearing across Kansas. In response, Republican leaders asked if - before calling a special session - I would consider a strategy of reaching out to local leaders to implement their own mask requirements. I agreed, with the stipulation that Legislative leaders, in conjunction with their caucuses, reach out with me to county and city leadership, as well as stakeholder groups, and that we move as quickly as possible. We can’t afford to wait another moment to begin this process. I have directed my staff to put all our energy into this strategy. However, if we are unable to convince communities to voluntarily implement a mask mandate, I will move expeditiously to find another way to implement a statewide mask requirement. Now on to the numbers update. Since Monday, Kansas has reported 3,369 positive COVID-19 cases and 31 new deaths.    This brings us to a total of 82,045 cases, 3,752 hospitalizations, and it is with deep sadness that I say we have reached 1,007 deaths. I offer my sincere condolences to the family, friends, and loved ones of those who have succumbed to COVID-19. In acknowledgement of their losses, today I ordered flags to be flown at half-staff statewide effective immediately until sundown, Friday, October 30, 2020. Though case numbers I shared moments ago offer some insight into Kansas’ current pandemic response, they do not tell the full story of how the virus is moving through our state. So, before I move into today’s announcement, I want to give a brief recap on what we have learned since my COVID update last Wednesday. Last week, our state’s seven-day rolling average test positivity rate was 10.54% percent - which is just above the 10 percent threshold recommended to open schools and businesses. On Monday, for the third week in a row, Kansas broke the record for the highest number of new cases of any reporting period at nearly 2,500 – which we broke again today at over 3,300. Hospitals - particularly in our rural areas - continue to see increasing numbers of COVID-19 patients, putting a strain on bed capacity and staff. Though case numbers in Kansas may be increasing, as always, there is still time to turn our virus response around. We are learning more every day about the effectiveness of COVID-19 mitigation strategies and public health guidelines - especially mask use. A study conducted by researchers at the University of Kansas found that counties with mask mandates have effectively stopped virus transmission from increasing. Counties with no mandate have seen infection rates climb. A report from the institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington showed that strict adherence to mask orders could save 130,000 American lives by the end of February. If not, United States death toll could reach 500,000 in that time. It’s clear that until a vaccine is available and widely deployed, mask usage is one our most important strategies for keeping Kansas schools and businesses open. But masks are just one piece.

We must also increase testing capacity, isolate those who test positive, identify those who have been in close contact, and communicate the importance of quarantining to keep our communities safe. This brings me to the framework for our new Unified Testing Strategy. Over the last four weeks, a team at the Kansas Department of Health and Environment - under the direction of Special Advisor to the Governor Marci Nielsen, PhD - has been working diligently to develop this strategy in a way that fits Kansas. Broadly speaking, the new strategy identifies where Kansas currently stands, and paints a picture of where we need to go - and how we can get there. To give some background: Since the pandemic began, local and state public health departments have largely focused their efforts on testing only those who have symptoms of COVID-19, or testing in areas where outbreaks are occurring. We have made great strides in improving outbreak response over the past several months. However, to effectively locate the virus in our communities, keep Kansans safe, keep kids in school, and keep our businesses open, we must do more. We need to expand testing to include regular screening for the virus before it spreads. That’s what the new Unified Testing Strategy will allow us to do. It will coordinate both public and private COVID-19 testing efforts across Kansas to allow for broader routine screening in places like schools and nursing homes, to stop community spread before it starts. With the investment of SPARK funding which was recently competitively bid and will soon be announced, we can nearly double the amount of testing we are doing in Kansas by years end. That will move us from a total of 600,000 COVID-19 tests to date, to more than one million by the end of 2020. We will also expand beyond the types of testing we are conducting from just diagnostic to screening and surveillance. KDHE will be working with our partners in the private sector to expand labs and supplies, enhance data and reporting, provide support for isolation and quarantine, and increase our public communications about controlling the virus’ spread. This is especially important for populations at high risk, but also for businesses across the state worried about keeping their workforces safe and their doors open. A unified testing strategy will be resource intensive, but will help us to save lives and rebuild our economy. The graph behind me visually demonstrates how this will work. For those populations at the highest risk, located in the green section, state and local public health officials will continue to investigate outbreaks, but also regularly screen for the virus and isolate those who test positive. For populations at medium risk, in the blue band, health officials will once again continue to investigate outbreaks but also use surveillance testing - which uses methods like testing wastewater for signs of COVID-19. Through the new strategy we have also cast a wider net when it comes to accessing information and resources for our COVID-19 response. If you recall, I recently announced that Kansas had joined the Rockefeller Foundation COVID-19 Testing Solutions Group. Today I am pleased to report that Kansas is now part of collaborative effort funded by the National Institutes of Health to improve COVID-19 testing for underserved and vulnerable populations. The University of Kansas Medical Center is one of 32 institutions across the United States that will focus on increased testing in populations disproportionately affected by the pandemic. Referred to as the Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics (RADx) initiative, 10 counties will be working with a KUMC research team to build a learning collaborative that will help support our most vulnerable populations and help inform the work of Kansas’ unified testing strategy. I know that oftentimes when we think of testing, we may not consider the whole picture. We only think about the test itself and receiving the results on our phones afterward. But there is so much more for our public health officials to consider. We need comprehensive, accurate data that health officials can analyze to determine our most vulnerable populations or locations so that the state can respond accordingly.

We need access to labs that have sufficient testing capacity. We need reliable transportation to move samples from health facilities to labs, where they can be tested for COVID-19. The Unified Testing Strategy has all of that in mind, and more. Through this approach we can work together with local health departments to analyze what we have, what we need, and how we can get it. Last week I visited Salon Chemistry in Wichita to learn more about the owners’ COVID-19 mitigation strategies and commend them for their diligent efforts to keep Kansans safe.&nbsp;

While I was there, we talked about how hard it was for them when virus spread required my administration to close certain businesses last Spring. At that time, our state did not have access to sufficient testing supplies or PPE to ensure customers and employees could stay safe. We had little understanding of how the virus spreads, or how it manifested. We have learned a lot over the past several months.

With that evolving knowledge and understanding, with a unified testing strategy, we can provide businesses like Salon Chemistry with absolute certainty that they will be able to continue operation this winter and beyond. Adding the Unified Testing Strategy to our tool box, along with universal mask usage, social distancing, and avoidance of mass gatherings, we can contain this virus and give our scientists time to develop a vaccine that will allow us to resume our normal activities.

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly held a press conference Wednesday to give an update regarding COVID-19 in Kansas and to announce the framework for Kansas’ new Unified Testing Strategy.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FGovLauraKelly%2Fvideos%2F982826705547591%2F&show_text=false&width=560" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>The governor's office released a copy of her comments.On Tuesday, I brought together a bipartisan group of legislators to ask whether they would support my efforts to call a special session for emergency legislation to implement a statewide mask requirement. I convened the meeting because, as we have discussed previously, case rates and hospitalizations are spiking in counties that opted out of my July mask order, and today Kansas surpassed 1,000 total COVID-19 deaths. To put this into context: the state did not reach five hundred COVID deaths until September, roughly six months after the pandemic began. It took a little over six weeks for another 500 Kansans to die. Yesterday’s call was productive, and I believe both sides were acting in what they felt were the best interests of the State of Kansas. I began the conversation by asking Legislative leadership to reconvene in a special session to pass bi-partisan legislation to restore my ability to require mask wearing across Kansas. In response, Republican leaders asked if - before calling a special session - I would consider a strategy of reaching out to local leaders to implement their own mask requirements. I agreed, with the stipulation that Legislative leaders, in conjunction with their caucuses, reach out with me to county and city leadership, as well as stakeholder groups, and that we move as quickly as possible. We can’t afford to wait another moment to begin this process. I have directed my staff to put all our energy into this strategy. However, if we are unable to convince communities to voluntarily implement a mask mandate, I will move expeditiously to find another way to implement a statewide mask requirement. Now on to the numbers update. Since Monday, Kansas has reported 3,369 positive COVID-19 cases and 31 new deaths.    This brings us to a total of 82,045 cases, 3,752 hospitalizations, and it is with deep sadness that I say we have reached 1,007 deaths. I offer my sincere condolences to the family, friends, and loved ones of those who have succumbed to COVID-19. In acknowledgement of their losses, today I ordered flags to be flown at half-staff statewide effective immediately until sundown, Friday, October 30, 2020. Though case numbers I shared moments ago offer some insight into Kansas’ current pandemic response, they do not tell the full story of how the virus is moving through our state. So, before I move into today’s announcement, I want to give a brief recap on what we have learned since my COVID update last Wednesday. Last week, our state’s seven-day rolling average test positivity rate was 10.54% percent - which is just above the 10 percent threshold recommended to open schools and businesses. On Monday, for the third week in a row, Kansas broke the record for the highest number of new cases of any reporting period at nearly 2,500 – which we broke again today at over 3,300. Hospitals - particularly in our rural areas - continue to see increasing numbers of COVID-19 patients, putting a strain on bed capacity and staff. Though case numbers in Kansas may be increasing, as always, there is still time to turn our virus response around. We are learning more every day about the effectiveness of COVID-19 mitigation strategies and public health guidelines - especially mask use. A study conducted by researchers at the University of Kansas found that counties with mask mandates have effectively stopped virus transmission from increasing. Counties with no mandate have seen infection rates climb. A report from the institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington showed that strict adherence to mask orders could save 130,000 American lives by the end of February. If not, United States death toll could reach 500,000 in that time. It’s clear that until a vaccine is available and widely deployed, mask usage is one our most important strategies for keeping Kansas schools and businesses open. But masks are just one piece.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1603905113410.png" alt="Wednesday Oct. 28, 2020 KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>Wednesday Oct. 28, 2020 KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure>We must also increase testing capacity, isolate those who test positive, identify those who have been in close contact, and communicate the importance of quarantining to keep our communities safe. This brings me to the framework for our new Unified Testing Strategy. Over the last four weeks, a team at the Kansas Department of Health and Environment - under the direction of Special Advisor to the Governor Marci Nielsen, PhD - has been working diligently to develop this strategy in a way that fits Kansas. Broadly speaking, the new strategy identifies where Kansas currently stands, and paints a picture of where we need to go - and how we can get there. To give some background: Since the pandemic began, local and state public health departments have largely focused their efforts on testing only those who have symptoms of COVID-19, or testing in areas where outbreaks are occurring. We have made great strides in improving outbreak response over the past several months. However, to effectively locate the virus in our communities, keep Kansans safe, keep kids in school, and keep our businesses open, we must do more. We need to expand testing to include regular screening for the virus before it spreads. That’s what the new Unified Testing Strategy will allow us to do. It will coordinate both public and private COVID-19 testing efforts across Kansas to allow for broader routine screening in places like schools and nursing homes, to stop community spread before it starts. With the investment of SPARK funding which was recently competitively bid and will soon be announced, we can nearly double the amount of testing we are doing in Kansas by years end. That will move us from a total of 600,000 COVID-19 tests to date, to more than one million by the end of 2020. We will also expand beyond the types of testing we are conducting from just diagnostic to screening and surveillance. KDHE will be working with our partners in the private sector to expand labs and supplies, enhance data and reporting, provide support for isolation and quarantine, and increase our public communications about controlling the virus’ spread. This is especially important for populations at high risk, but also for businesses across the state worried about keeping their workforces safe and their doors open. A unified testing strategy will be resource intensive, but will help us to save lives and rebuild our economy. The graph behind me visually demonstrates how this will work. For those populations at the highest risk, located in the green section, state and local public health officials will continue to investigate outbreaks, but also regularly screen for the virus and isolate those who test positive. For populations at medium risk, in the blue band, health officials will once again continue to investigate outbreaks but also use surveillance testing - which uses methods like testing wastewater for signs of COVID-19. Through the new strategy we have also cast a wider net when it comes to accessing information and resources for our COVID-19 response. If you recall, I recently announced that Kansas had joined the Rockefeller Foundation COVID-19 Testing Solutions Group. Today I am pleased to report that Kansas is now part of collaborative effort funded by the National Institutes of Health to improve COVID-19 testing for underserved and vulnerable populations. The University of Kansas Medical Center is one of 32 institutions across the United States that will focus on increased testing in populations disproportionately affected by the pandemic. Referred to as the Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics (RADx) initiative, 10 counties will be working with a KUMC research team to build a learning collaborative that will help support our most vulnerable populations and help inform the work of Kansas’ unified testing strategy. I know that oftentimes when we think of testing, we may not consider the whole picture. We only think about the test itself and receiving the results on our phones afterward. But there is so much more for our public health officials to consider. We need comprehensive, accurate data that health officials can analyze to determine our most vulnerable populations or locations so that the state can respond accordingly.We need access to labs that have sufficient testing capacity. We need reliable transportation to move samples from health facilities to labs, where they can be tested for COVID-19. The Unified Testing Strategy has all of that in mind, and more. Through this approach we can work together with local health departments to analyze what we have, what we need, and how we can get it. Last week I visited Salon Chemistry in Wichita to learn more about the owners’ COVID-19 mitigation strategies and commend them for their diligent efforts to keep Kansans safe.&nbsp;While I was there, we talked about how hard it was for them when virus spread required my administration to close certain businesses last Spring. At that time, our state did not have access to sufficient testing supplies or PPE to ensure customers and employees could stay safe. We had little understanding of how the virus spreads, or how it manifested. We have learned a lot over the past several months.With that evolving knowledge and understanding, with a unified testing strategy, we can provide businesses like Salon Chemistry with absolute certainty that they will be able to continue operation this winter and beyond. Adding the Unified Testing Strategy to our tool box, along with universal mask usage, social distancing, and avoidance of mass gatherings, we can contain this virus and give our scientists time to develop a vaccine that will allow us to resume our normal activities.

🎥 Gov. on framework for unified virus testing in Kansas

Thelma Fay Hoover, age 77, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, October 27, 2020, at the Scott County Hospital in Scott City, Kansas.  She was born on December 30, 1942, in Stonington, Colorado, the daughter of James Wesley and Eva Fern Crissman Howard. 

 A resident of Scott City, Kansas since 1970 moving from Colorado Springs, Colorado, she was in housekeeping and had worked at Park Lane Nursing Home for 38 years before retiring in 2011.

She was a member of the Immanuel Southern Baptist Church in Scott City, Kansas and Women on Mission.

On October 1, 1960, she married Ellis Harold Hoover in Clayton, New Mexico.  He passed away on April 5, 2011, in Scott City, Kansas.

Survivors include: Two Daughters - Tracy &amp; Jeff Wasinger of Scott City, Kansas, Sheila &amp; Mark Ellis of Scott City, Kansas, One Sister - Kay Day of Dighton, Kansas, Eight Grandchildren - Chad &amp; Danea Wasinger of Scott City, Kansas, Jerek Wasinger of Scott City, Kansas, Jenna &amp; Devin Wackerla of Scott City, Kansas, Leighton Wasinger of Scott City, Kansas, Brittan Ellis of Scott City, Kansas, Tomas Ellis of Garden City, Kansas, Kulver and Leiken Ellis of Scott City, Kansas, and Lucas &amp; Emelie Ellis of Scott City, Kansas.

She was preceded in death by her Parents, Two Brothers - James Wesley Howard Jr., Elmer Clinton Howard, Two Sisters - Naomi Fern Howard, and Bernice May Torrontegui.

Graveside Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, October 30, 2020 at the Scott County Cemetery in Scott City, Kansas with Bill Murphy &amp; Joe Richardson presiding.

Burial will be in the Scott County Cemetery in Scott City, Kansas.

Memorials In Lieu Of Flowers may be written to the Fay Hoover Memorial Fund in care of Price &amp; Sons Funeral Homes.

Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. Thursday and 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Friday at Price &amp; Sons Funeral Home in Scott City, Kansas.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1603916168100.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Thelma Fay Hoover, age 77, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, October 27, 2020, at the Scott County Hospital in Scott City, Kansas. She was born on December 30, 1942, in Stonington, Colorado, the daughter of James Wesley and Eva Fern Crissman Howard. A resident of Scott City, Kansas since 1970 moving from Colorado Springs, Colorado, she was in housekeeping and had worked at Park Lane Nursing Home for 38 years before retiring in 2011.She was a member of the Immanuel Southern Baptist Church in Scott City, Kansas and Women on Mission.On October 1, 1960, she married Ellis Harold Hoover in Clayton, New Mexico. He passed away on April 5, 2011, in Scott City, Kansas.Survivors include: Two Daughters - Tracy &amp; Jeff Wasinger of Scott City, Kansas, Sheila &amp; Mark Ellis of Scott City, Kansas, One Sister - Kay Day of Dighton, Kansas, Eight Grandchildren - Chad &amp; Danea Wasinger of Scott City, Kansas, Jerek Wasinger of Scott City, Kansas, Jenna &amp; Devin Wackerla of Scott City, Kansas, Leighton Wasinger of Scott City, Kansas, Brittan Ellis of Scott City, Kansas, Tomas Ellis of Garden City, Kansas, Kulver and Leiken Ellis of Scott City, Kansas, and Lucas &amp; Emelie Ellis of Scott City, Kansas.She was preceded in death by her Parents, Two Brothers - James Wesley Howard Jr., Elmer Clinton Howard, Two Sisters - Naomi Fern Howard, and Bernice May Torrontegui.Graveside Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, October 30, 2020 at the Scott County Cemetery in Scott City, Kansas with Bill Murphy &amp; Joe Richardson presiding.Burial will be in the Scott County Cemetery in Scott City, Kansas.Memorials In Lieu Of Flowers may be written to the Fay Hoover Memorial Fund in care of Price &amp; Sons Funeral Homes.Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. Thursday and 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Friday at Price &amp; Sons Funeral Home in Scott City, Kansas.

Thelma Fay Hoover

Wednesday, December 16th, 1925-Tuesday, October 27th, 2020

An obituary is pending with Baalmann Mortuary.

Click <a href="https://memorials.baalmannmortuary.com/edwin-huelsmann/4374497/index.php">HERE</a> for service details.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1603908505117.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Wednesday, December 16th, 1925-Tuesday, October 27th, 2020An obituary is pending with Baalmann Mortuary.Click <a href="https://memorials.baalmannmortuary.com/edwin-huelsmann/4374497/index.php">HERE</a> for service details.

Edwin A. Huelsmann

Nancy “Bunny” Wright, age 77, of Ellis, Kansas, passed away Monday, October 26, 2020, at Hays Medical Center. She was born November 19, 1942, in Holton, Kansas, to Glenn D. and Vivian (Hallauer) Mapes. She graduated from Natoma High School in 1960. She completed floral classes in the early '60s. &nbsp;Nancy was a florist throughout her life.&nbsp; Her first shop was in Natoma.&nbsp; Nancy worked as an administrative assistant in the oil industry for 10 years before returning to her passion as a florist. She owned and operated the Ellis Flower Shop for over 20 years. During that time she was a member of the Kansas State Floral Association where she received many awards including a Master Designer Award and later was a member of their board. Nancy was a Rainbow Girl and later in the Order of Eastern Star for several years.&nbsp; She was heavily involved in the Ellis community where she served on the Chrysler Boyhood Home Board, Alpha Rho, Epsilon Sigma Alpha, VFW Auxiliary. Nancy was instrumental in starting up the Ellis Main Street Association and served as a founding member. Nancy is survived by two sons, Glenn (Diane) Wright of Grand Junction, CO and Kenneth (Ginnie) Wright of Cunningham, KS; a daughter, Alisa (Carl) Grauerholz of Ellis; two sisters, Mary Kay (Gene) Buinger of Aubrey, TX and Kerry Moore of North Augusta, SC; a brother-in-law, Ken Patry of Plattsmouth, NE; grandchildren, Jereme Hermann, Andrea (Josh) Hayes, Jake (Hannah) Wright, Julie (Jason) Schmidt, Christina Wright, Kaitlyn (Tyler) Swarthout, Harley Wright, John Lehner, Kassi Brown, Mackenzie Wright and her great grandchildren, Nevaeh, Skyler and Braelynn. She was preceded in death by her parents and a sister, Jerry Patry, and a brother-in-law, Richard Moore. Funeral services will be 2:30&nbsp;PM Friday, October 30, 2020, at Brock's-Keithley Funeral Chapel and Crematory, 2509 Vine, Hays, KS 67601. Burial will follow in the Natoma City Cemetery. Visitation will be Friday 1 PM until service time at the funeral chapel. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Chrysler Boyhood Home in Ellis. Condolences may be left by guest book at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com/">www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com</a>&nbsp;or by email at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:keithleyfuneralhomes@gmail.com">keithleyfuneralhomes@gmail.com</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1603906033894.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Nancy “Bunny” Wright, age 77, of Ellis, Kansas, passed away Monday, October 26, 2020, at Hays Medical Center. She was born November 19, 1942, in Holton, Kansas, to Glenn D. and Vivian (Hallauer) Mapes. She graduated from Natoma High School in 1960. She completed floral classes in the early '60s. &nbsp;Nancy was a florist throughout her life.&nbsp; Her first shop was in Natoma.&nbsp; Nancy worked as an administrative assistant in the oil industry for 10 years before returning to her passion as a florist. She owned and operated the Ellis Flower Shop for over 20 years. During that time she was a member of the Kansas State Floral Association where she received many awards including a Master Designer Award and later was a member of their board. Nancy was a Rainbow Girl and later in the Order of Eastern Star for several years.&nbsp; She was heavily involved in the Ellis community where she served on the Chrysler Boyhood Home Board, Alpha Rho, Epsilon Sigma Alpha, VFW Auxiliary. Nancy was instrumental in starting up the Ellis Main Street Association and served as a founding member. Nancy is survived by two sons, Glenn (Diane) Wright of Grand Junction, CO and Kenneth (Ginnie) Wright of Cunningham, KS; a daughter, Alisa (Carl) Grauerholz of Ellis; two sisters, Mary Kay (Gene) Buinger of Aubrey, TX and Kerry Moore of North Augusta, SC; a brother-in-law, Ken Patry of Plattsmouth, NE; grandchildren, Jereme Hermann, Andrea (Josh) Hayes, Jake (Hannah) Wright, Julie (Jason) Schmidt, Christina Wright, Kaitlyn (Tyler) Swarthout, Harley Wright, John Lehner, Kassi Brown, Mackenzie Wright and her great grandchildren, Nevaeh, Skyler and Braelynn. She was preceded in death by her parents and a sister, Jerry Patry, and a brother-in-law, Richard Moore. Funeral services will be 2:30&nbsp;PM Friday, October 30, 2020, at Brock's-Keithley Funeral Chapel and Crematory, 2509 Vine, Hays, KS 67601. Burial will follow in the Natoma City Cemetery. Visitation will be Friday 1 PM until service time at the funeral chapel. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Chrysler Boyhood Home in Ellis. Condolences may be left by guest book at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com/">www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com</a>&nbsp;or by email at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:keithleyfuneralhomes@gmail.com">keithleyfuneralhomes@gmail.com</a>

Nancy 'Bunny' Wright

Friday, January 3rd, 1936-Tuesday, October 27th, 2020

An obituary and services are pending with Baalmann Mortuary.

Friday, January 3rd, 1936-Tuesday, October 27th, 2020An obituary and services are pending with Baalmann Mortuary.

Leslie Roger Crusch

Thyra M. (Scharff) DeMarco, 87, of Russell, KS passed away Thursday, 
October 22, 2020, at Parkview Care Center in Osborne, KS. &nbsp;On July 6, 
1933, Thyra was born to William &amp; Emma (Wobb) Scharff in Coroapolis,
 PA.

She graduated from Coroapolis High School in 1951 in Coroapolis, PA. 
&nbsp;She&nbsp;later married Frank A. DeMarco in 1960 &amp; to this union 3 
children were born. &nbsp;Thyra &amp; her family moved to Russell, KS in 1968
 where she lived, worked &amp; raised her family.

Thyra retired in 2010 from Klema IGA where she worked for 38 years.

She was a Born Again Christian &amp; attended the Bible Baptist 
Church in Russell&nbsp;for many years &amp; embraced &amp; loved the people 
there as her extended family.

Thyra (also known as the World's Greatest Steeler Fan by all who knew
 her) was much loved by family &amp; friends. &nbsp;She was a devoted mother 
&amp; friend.

She was preceded in death by her parents, 2 brothers &amp; 5 sisters.

Thyra is survived by sons: Anthony (Dana) DeMarco of Wichita, KS; 
Michael of Russell, KS; daughter: Doris (Steve) Waugh of Osborne, KS; 3 
grandchildren &amp; 5 great-grandchildren; sister: Emma (Bob) Bishop of 
Indiana.

Click <a href="https://www.clarkgashawfh.com/obituary/Thyra-DeMarco">HERE</a> for service details.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1603899749160.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Thyra M. (Scharff) DeMarco, 87, of Russell, KS passed away Thursday, 
October 22, 2020, at Parkview Care Center in Osborne, KS. &nbsp;On July 6, 
1933, Thyra was born to William &amp; Emma (Wobb) Scharff in Coroapolis,
 PA.She graduated from Coroapolis High School in 1951 in Coroapolis, PA. 
&nbsp;She&nbsp;later married Frank A. DeMarco in 1960 &amp; to this union 3 
children were born. &nbsp;Thyra &amp; her family moved to Russell, KS in 1968
 where she lived, worked &amp; raised her family.Thyra retired in 2010 from Klema IGA where she worked for 38 years.She was a Born Again Christian &amp; attended the Bible Baptist 
Church in Russell&nbsp;for many years &amp; embraced &amp; loved the people 
there as her extended family.Thyra (also known as the World's Greatest Steeler Fan by all who knew
 her) was much loved by family &amp; friends. &nbsp;She was a devoted mother 
&amp; friend.She was preceded in death by her parents, 2 brothers &amp; 5 sisters.Thyra is survived by sons: Anthony (Dana) DeMarco of Wichita, KS; 
Michael of Russell, KS; daughter: Doris (Steve) Waugh of Osborne, KS; 3 
grandchildren &amp; 5 great-grandchildren; sister: Emma (Bob) Bishop of 
Indiana.Click <a href="https://www.clarkgashawfh.com/obituary/Thyra-DeMarco">HERE</a> for service details.

Thyra M. (Scharff) DeMarco

Robert Dale Howard, 66, passed away Saturday, October 24, 2020, at 
his home in Amarillo, Texas.&nbsp; He was born July 10, 1954, in Great Bend, 
Kansas, the son of Bobby and Helen (Nickerson) Howard.&nbsp; He was united in
 marriage to Jane Johnson on October 9, 1977.&nbsp; They later divorced.&nbsp;

Robert was a longtime resident of Great Bend, Kansas before moving to
 Las Vegas, Nevada in 2005 and Amarillo, Texas in 2016.&nbsp; Robert worked 
for Snap-On Tools, before becoming a truck driver and then the manager 
of Wonderland RV Park.&nbsp; Robert enjoyed hunting and sports, but what he 
loved the most, was spending time with family and friends, especially 
his children and grandchildren.&nbsp;

Survivors include, a son, Bart Howard and wife Brooke of Amarillo, 
Texas; two brothers, Darrell Howard and wife Donna of Cottonwood, 
Arizona, and Russell Howard and wife Ramona of Larned, Kansas; three 
sisters, Elizabeth Rahm and husband David of Cottonwood, Arizona, 
Barbara Weber of Okeene, Oklahoma, Sharon Poirior and husband Paul of 
Wichita, Kansas; and three grandchildren, Hadley, Jax and Cohen Howard 
of Amarillo, Texas.&nbsp; He was preceded in death by his parents; and a son,
 Mason Howard.

Cremation has taken place and the family will greet friends from 
10:30 a.m. until service time at 11:00 a.m., Monday, November 2, 2020, 
at Bryant Funeral Home.&nbsp; Burial will follow at Great Bend Cemetery.&nbsp; 
Memorials are suggested to the American Foundation for Suicide 
Prevention, in care of Bryant Funeral Home. 

Robert Dale Howard, 66, passed away Saturday, October 24, 2020, at 
his home in Amarillo, Texas.&nbsp; He was born July 10, 1954, in Great Bend, 
Kansas, the son of Bobby and Helen (Nickerson) Howard.&nbsp; He was united in
 marriage to Jane Johnson on October 9, 1977.&nbsp; They later divorced.&nbsp;Robert was a longtime resident of Great Bend, Kansas before moving to
 Las Vegas, Nevada in 2005 and Amarillo, Texas in 2016.&nbsp; Robert worked 
for Snap-On Tools, before becoming a truck driver and then the manager 
of Wonderland RV Park.&nbsp; Robert enjoyed hunting and sports, but what he 
loved the most, was spending time with family and friends, especially 
his children and grandchildren.&nbsp;Survivors include, a son, Bart Howard and wife Brooke of Amarillo, 
Texas; two brothers, Darrell Howard and wife Donna of Cottonwood, 
Arizona, and Russell Howard and wife Ramona of Larned, Kansas; three 
sisters, Elizabeth Rahm and husband David of Cottonwood, Arizona, 
Barbara Weber of Okeene, Oklahoma, Sharon Poirior and husband Paul of 
Wichita, Kansas; and three grandchildren, Hadley, Jax and Cohen Howard 
of Amarillo, Texas.&nbsp; He was preceded in death by his parents; and a son,
 Mason Howard.Cremation has taken place and the family will greet friends from 
10:30 a.m. until service time at 11:00 a.m., Monday, November 2, 2020, 
at Bryant Funeral Home.&nbsp; Burial will follow at Great Bend Cemetery.&nbsp; 
Memorials are suggested to the American Foundation for Suicide 
Prevention, in care of Bryant Funeral Home.

Robert Dale Howard

KANSAS CITY (AP) — The Kansas City area over the past week recorded its highest number of deaths over a one-week period, with more than 80 people dying from COVID-19.

Missouri is among several states across the U.S. seeing a spike in confirmed cases and hospitalizations related to the coronavirus. The state health department on Tuesday announced 1,695 additional confirmed cases and 28 more deaths. The state has reported 172,717 cases and 2,838 deaths since the pandemic began.

Hospitalizations statewide remain high, with 1,407 people in Missouri hospitals with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 illnesses as of Saturday, the most recent date available.

&nbsp;Kansas City along with Jackson, Clay and Platte counties in Missouri and Johnson and Wyandotte counties in Kansas has recorded 735 deaths since the pandemic began. But The most recent seven-day period was the most deadly.

The health department reported 81 deaths for the period of Oct. 20-26, and 163 deaths since the start of October.

“We are now what looks like moving into our third wave of this outbreak and that’s very, very concerning,” said Rex Archer, director of the Kansas City Health Department. “We’re very concerned about this surge and as we move more and more indoors, this is going to become even more problematic.”

KANSAS CITY (AP) — The Kansas City area over the past week recorded its highest number of deaths over a one-week period, with more than 80 people dying from COVID-19.Missouri is among several states across the U.S. seeing a spike in confirmed cases and hospitalizations related to the coronavirus. The state health department on Tuesday announced 1,695 additional confirmed cases and 28 more deaths. The state has reported 172,717 cases and 2,838 deaths since the pandemic began.Hospitalizations statewide remain high, with 1,407 people in Missouri hospitals with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 illnesses as of Saturday, the most recent date available.&nbsp;Kansas City along with Jackson, Clay and Platte counties in Missouri and Johnson and Wyandotte counties in Kansas has recorded 735 deaths since the pandemic began. But The most recent seven-day period was the most deadly.The health department reported 81 deaths for the period of Oct. 20-26, and 163 deaths since the start of October.“We are now what looks like moving into our third wave of this outbreak and that’s very, very concerning,” said Rex Archer, director of the Kansas City Health Department. “We’re very concerned about this surge and as we move more and more indoors, this is going to become even more problematic.”

Kansas City sees record number of virus deaths 

Francis Andrew Younger, 79, passed away
 Saturday, October 24, 2020, at Clear Creek Care Center in Westminster, 
Co.&nbsp; He was a longtime resident of Syracuse, KS.&nbsp;

To friends and family, he was known as Frank.

He was born October 18, 1941, in 
Victoria, Kansas, the son of Andrew and Elizabeth (Mermis) Younger. 
Frank was the youngest of eight siblings.&nbsp; While growing up he helped 
work the family farm and was active in sports: rotating between 
football, basketball and baseball. As was the case with each of his 
older brothers, Frank displayed the most talent and passion at baseball;
 he had a reputation as a crafty pitcher, and threw a number of 
no-hitter games while playing in the local leagues around Hays, Kansas.

Frank joined the Kansas National Guard 
after High School and attended Fort Hays State University.&nbsp; He later 
settled in Salina, Kansas, after finding employment at Beech Aircraft. 
&nbsp;It was in Salina that he would also meet his future wife, Carla 
(Pfefferkorn) Younger, and they would have three children: Lori, 
Rebecca, and Matthew.

After the Beech plant closed in 1981, 
he moved his family to Syracuse, Kansas, where he became a proud 
employee of the Kansas Department of Transportation for the next 24 
years. &nbsp;Frank began his employment with KDOT as an Equipment Operator, 
and advanced to the position of Engineering Technician before retiring 
in 2007.

He also gave a total of 23 years of honorable service to the Kansas National Guard, retiring in 2001.

Frank was an active member of St. 
Raphael’s Catholic Church, where he was also a longtime member of the 
Syracuse council of the Knights of Columbus.&nbsp; He was involved in the 
Syracuse Lions Club, and for many years was a reliable and proud 
participant in the Syracuse Veterans Day parade. &nbsp;

In his spare time, he enjoyed gardening
 and woodworking. He remained an avid sports fan and spectator his 
entire life, with KU and KSU being among his favorite teams.&nbsp; His 
weekend routine always revolved around being free at game time.

Francis was preceded in death by his 
parents, two brothers; Ralph Younger and Cletus Younger and his wife 
Rose, three sisters; Irene Linenberger and husband Paul, Bernice 
McMillan and husband Don, and Marilyn Prewo.&nbsp;

He is survived by his wife; Carla 
(Pfefferkorn) Younger of Overland Park, KS, two daughters; Lori Strella 
and husband Scott of Olathe, KS, and Rebecca Malleck and husband Tony of
 Henderson, CO, &nbsp;one son; Matthew Younger of Rogers, AR, three 
granddaughters; Ashley Strella of Wichita, KS and Abby Strella and Ava 
Strella of Olathe, KS, one brother; Nathan Younger of Commerce City, Co,
 one sister; Geraldine Ruder of Hays, KS, and one brother-in-law; Tom 
Prewo of Hays, KS.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 
10:00 am on Friday, October 30, 2020 at The Basilica of St. Fidelis in 
Victoria with Fr. James Moster officiating. &nbsp;Visitation will be from 
5:00 pm until 7:00 on Thursday at Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home in 
Hays and from 9:00 am until 9:45 on Friday at The Basilica.&nbsp; A vigil 
service and rosary will be at 6:30 pm on Thursday at the funeral home.&nbsp; 
Inurnment with military honors by the Hays VFW Post #9076 Honor Guard 
will be in St. Fidelis Cemetery at a later date.&nbsp; Memorials are 
suggested to the Knights of Columbus Annual Appeal.&nbsp; Condolences and 
memories of Frank may be shared with the family at www.haysmemorial.com

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1603820690697.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Francis Andrew Younger, 79, passed away
 Saturday, October 24, 2020, at Clear Creek Care Center in Westminster, 
Co.&nbsp; He was a longtime resident of Syracuse, KS.&nbsp;To friends and family, he was known as Frank.He was born October 18, 1941, in 
Victoria, Kansas, the son of Andrew and Elizabeth (Mermis) Younger. 
Frank was the youngest of eight siblings.&nbsp; While growing up he helped 
work the family farm and was active in sports: rotating between 
football, basketball and baseball. As was the case with each of his 
older brothers, Frank displayed the most talent and passion at baseball;
 he had a reputation as a crafty pitcher, and threw a number of 
no-hitter games while playing in the local leagues around Hays, Kansas.Frank joined the Kansas National Guard 
after High School and attended Fort Hays State University.&nbsp; He later 
settled in Salina, Kansas, after finding employment at Beech Aircraft. 
&nbsp;It was in Salina that he would also meet his future wife, Carla 
(Pfefferkorn) Younger, and they would have three children: Lori, 
Rebecca, and Matthew.After the Beech plant closed in 1981, 
he moved his family to Syracuse, Kansas, where he became a proud 
employee of the Kansas Department of Transportation for the next 24 
years. &nbsp;Frank began his employment with KDOT as an Equipment Operator, 
and advanced to the position of Engineering Technician before retiring 
in 2007.He also gave a total of 23 years of honorable service to the Kansas National Guard, retiring in 2001.Frank was an active member of St. 
Raphael’s Catholic Church, where he was also a longtime member of the 
Syracuse council of the Knights of Columbus.&nbsp; He was involved in the 
Syracuse Lions Club, and for many years was a reliable and proud 
participant in the Syracuse Veterans Day parade. &nbsp;In his spare time, he enjoyed gardening
 and woodworking. He remained an avid sports fan and spectator his 
entire life, with KU and KSU being among his favorite teams.&nbsp; His 
weekend routine always revolved around being free at game time.Francis was preceded in death by his 
parents, two brothers; Ralph Younger and Cletus Younger and his wife 
Rose, three sisters; Irene Linenberger and husband Paul, Bernice 
McMillan and husband Don, and Marilyn Prewo.&nbsp;He is survived by his wife; Carla 
(Pfefferkorn) Younger of Overland Park, KS, two daughters; Lori Strella 
and husband Scott of Olathe, KS, and Rebecca Malleck and husband Tony of
 Henderson, CO, &nbsp;one son; Matthew Younger of Rogers, AR, three 
granddaughters; Ashley Strella of Wichita, KS and Abby Strella and Ava 
Strella of Olathe, KS, one brother; Nathan Younger of Commerce City, Co,
 one sister; Geraldine Ruder of Hays, KS, and one brother-in-law; Tom 
Prewo of Hays, KS.Mass of Christian Burial will be at 
10:00 am on Friday, October 30, 2020 at The Basilica of St. Fidelis in 
Victoria with Fr. James Moster officiating. &nbsp;Visitation will be from 
5:00 pm until 7:00 on Thursday at Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home in 
Hays and from 9:00 am until 9:45 on Friday at The Basilica.&nbsp; A vigil 
service and rosary will be at 6:30 pm on Thursday at the funeral home.&nbsp; 
Inurnment with military honors by the Hays VFW Post #9076 Honor Guard 
will be in St. Fidelis Cemetery at a later date.&nbsp; Memorials are 
suggested to the Knights of Columbus Annual Appeal.&nbsp; Condolences and 
memories of Frank may be shared with the family at www.haysmemorial.com

Francis A. 'Frank' Younger

The National Weather Service is calling for a slight chance of freezing rain overnight Tuesday — with more winter weather on the way Wednesday and Thursday.&nbsp;

Precipitation will move northward overnight, beginning as snow, then changing to rain or sleet by sunrise Wednesday morning. The NWS is calling for a 50 percent chance of rain or freezing rain Wednesday morning, increasing to 80 percent in the afternoon. As temperatures fall after sunrise, precipitation is expected to change to snow – with a half-inch of new snow possible.

On Thursday, there is a 60 percent chance of rain or snow before noon, tapering off to 30 percent as the day progresses. Skies are expected to clear Thursday evening.

Icy conditions are expected to to be primary hazard from the front.

A high temperature of 48 on Thursday and a low of 26 on Tuesday night is projected.

Check Hays Post and tune into your Eagle Radio of Hays stations for&nbsp; the latest on cancellations and delays.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1603824770702.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The National Weather Service is calling for a slight chance of freezing rain overnight Tuesday — with more winter weather on the way Wednesday and Thursday.&nbsp;Precipitation will move northward overnight, beginning as snow, then changing to rain or sleet by sunrise Wednesday morning. The NWS is calling for a 50 percent chance of rain or freezing rain Wednesday morning, increasing to 80 percent in the afternoon. As temperatures fall after sunrise, precipitation is expected to change to snow – with a half-inch of new snow possible.On Thursday, there is a 60 percent chance of rain or snow before noon, tapering off to 30 percent as the day progresses. Skies are expected to clear Thursday evening.Icy conditions are expected to to be primary hazard from the front.A high temperature of 48 on Thursday and a low of 26 on Tuesday night is projected.Check Hays Post and tune into your Eagle Radio of Hays stations for&nbsp; the latest on cancellations and delays.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Cold and cloudy overnight as freezing rain pushes out of Oklahoma into far southern counties into the morning hours, mainly impacting areas south of the Hwy 400/54 corridors. <a href="https://t.co/LyXgBpSeq9">pic.twitter.com/LyXgBpSeq9</a>&mdash; NWS Dodge City (@NWSDodgeCity) <a href="https://twitter.com/NWSDodgeCity/status/1321152454466117634?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 27, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> </div>

NWS: More wintry weather moving into the area

Ronald “Ron” Lynn Drake, 63, passed away October 26, 2020, at the 
University Of Kansas Health System - Great Bend Campus. He was born July
 17, 1957, at Farmington, New Mexico, to John &amp; Mary (Campbell) 
Drake. He was married to Marcia Kite for 32 years and they later 
divorced. He married Dana Scothorn July 10, 2010 at Great Bend. She 
survives.

A lifetime Great Bend resident, Ron was the owner of Drake’s Lawn 
Service for over 40 years. He was an avid hunter, a great cook, he loved
 to play all different sports, tell stories, and was an Elvis fan. He 
knew how to put a smile on your face and especially loved spending time 
with his family and grandchildren.

Survivors include, his wife Dana Drake, and son, Jace Drake, both of 
the home; two daughters, Alicia Mong and husband Bryan of Sand Springs, 
Okla., and Melissa “Rooney” Edmonson and husband Jesse of Hutchinson; 
two stepsons, Justin Scothorn of Great Bend, and Jonathan Scothorn of 
Hutchinson; a brother, John Drake and wife Sandy of Lakeland, Fla.; and 
five grandchildren, Madison Galemore and husband Jerry, Alexis "Lexy" 
Montoya and fiancé Jacob Stanley, Raylynn Mong, Aaron Edmonson, and 
Austin Edmonson. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Thursday, 
October 29, 2020, at Bryant Funeral Home, with family to receive friends
 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Funeral Service will be held at 3:00 p.m., 
Friday, October 30, 2020, at Bryant Funeral Home, with Pastor Amy Foster
 presiding. Interment will be in the Great Bend Cemetery. In lieu of 
flowers, the family suggests memorials be made to the Jace Drake 
Education Fund, in care of Bryant Funeral Home.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1603820723963.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Ronald “Ron” Lynn Drake, 63, passed away October 26, 2020, at the 
University Of Kansas Health System - Great Bend Campus. He was born July
 17, 1957, at Farmington, New Mexico, to John &amp; Mary (Campbell) 
Drake. He was married to Marcia Kite for 32 years and they later 
divorced. He married Dana Scothorn July 10, 2010 at Great Bend. She 
survives.A lifetime Great Bend resident, Ron was the owner of Drake’s Lawn 
Service for over 40 years. He was an avid hunter, a great cook, he loved
 to play all different sports, tell stories, and was an Elvis fan. He 
knew how to put a smile on your face and especially loved spending time 
with his family and grandchildren.Survivors include, his wife Dana Drake, and son, Jace Drake, both of 
the home; two daughters, Alicia Mong and husband Bryan of Sand Springs, 
Okla., and Melissa “Rooney” Edmonson and husband Jesse of Hutchinson; 
two stepsons, Justin Scothorn of Great Bend, and Jonathan Scothorn of 
Hutchinson; a brother, John Drake and wife Sandy of Lakeland, Fla.; and 
five grandchildren, Madison Galemore and husband Jerry, Alexis "Lexy" 
Montoya and fiancé Jacob Stanley, Raylynn Mong, Aaron Edmonson, and 
Austin Edmonson. He was preceded in death by his parents.Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Thursday, 
October 29, 2020, at Bryant Funeral Home, with family to receive friends
 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Funeral Service will be held at 3:00 p.m., 
Friday, October 30, 2020, at Bryant Funeral Home, with Pastor Amy Foster
 presiding. Interment will be in the Great Bend Cemetery. In lieu of 
flowers, the family suggests memorials be made to the Jace Drake 
Education Fund, in care of Bryant Funeral Home.

Ronald 'Ron' Lynn Drake

Billie Jean Keck, 93, of Colby, died Friday, October 23, 2020, at 
Citizens Medical Center. 

She was born May 10, 1927, in Spearville, KS, 
to Ray and Esther (Glaze) Railing. Billie graduated from Dodge City 
Senior High in 1945 and then attended Dodge City Community College. On 
November 28, 1948, she married Bill Keck in Dodge City. 

Billie was a 
homemaker until the family moved to Colby in 1969. After an extensive 
building remodel, Bill and Billie owned and operated the Gambles store 
and Colby True Value in downtown Colby. In 1994 they sold the store to 
their son David. In her free time, Billie enjoyed sewing, playing games, 
most of all Bridge with friends, and gardening. She especially loved 
playing games with her family. She was a member of the Colby United 
Methodist Church. 
Billie was preceded in death by her parents; husband Bill and son Mike; and sister Deane Turley. 
She is survived by her sons, Alan (Linda), Venice, FL and David (Terri),
 of Colby; brother, Larry (Carrol) Railing, Ocala, FL; grandchildren, 
Kari Keck, Casey (Jessica) Keck, Stacy Keck, Colter Keck and Kaylee 
(Seth) Hennes and great grandson Aidan Keck. 
Services are pending at this time.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1603820615343.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Billie Jean Keck, 93, of Colby, died Friday, October 23, 2020, at 
Citizens Medical Center. She was born May 10, 1927, in Spearville, KS, 
to Ray and Esther (Glaze) Railing. Billie graduated from Dodge City 
Senior High in 1945 and then attended Dodge City Community College. On 
November 28, 1948, she married Bill Keck in Dodge City. Billie was a 
homemaker until the family moved to Colby in 1969. After an extensive 
building remodel, Bill and Billie owned and operated the Gambles store 
and Colby True Value in downtown Colby. In 1994 they sold the store to 
their son David. In her free time, Billie enjoyed sewing, playing games, 
most of all Bridge with friends, and gardening. She especially loved 
playing games with her family. She was a member of the Colby United 
Methodist Church. 
Billie was preceded in death by her parents; husband Bill and son Mike; and sister Deane Turley. 
She is survived by her sons, Alan (Linda), Venice, FL and David (Terri),
 of Colby; brother, Larry (Carrol) Railing, Ocala, FL; grandchildren, 
Kari Keck, Casey (Jessica) Keck, Stacy Keck, Colter Keck and Kaylee 
(Seth) Hennes and great grandson Aidan Keck. 
Services are pending at this time.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;