Clair Anthony Cordell, 83, of Little River, Kansas, passed away October 21, 2020 at his home. He was born November 8, 1936 in Little River, the son of John and Anna Lingg Cordell. Clair was a lifetime Little River resident. 

He graduated from St. Joseph Military Academy, Hays, with the class of 1954. Clair was a maintenance foreman for Underground Storage. He was a member of Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Little River. 

He is survived by his son René Cordell of Wichita, KS; daughter, Lené Krause of Windom, KS; four grandchildren, and twelve great-grandchildren. Clair is preceded in death by his parents, John and Anna; and five siblings. 

Funeral mass will be at 10:30 A.M., Saturday, October 24, 2020 at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Little River, with Father Aaron Spexarth officiating. Burial will be at Bean Memorial Cemetery, Little River. A Parish Rosary will be said at 10:00 A.M. Saturday at the church. Visitation will be from 2:00 until 7:00 P.M., Friday, October 23, 2020 at Birzer Funeral Home, Lyons with family present from 5:00 until 7:00 P.M. 

Memorials may be given to Holy Trinity Catholic Church in care of Birzer Funeral Home, Lyons.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1603725531183.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Clair Anthony Cordell, 83, of Little River, Kansas, passed away October 21, 2020 at his home. He was born November 8, 1936 in Little River, the son of John and Anna Lingg Cordell. Clair was a lifetime Little River resident. He graduated from St. Joseph Military Academy, Hays, with the class of 1954. Clair was a maintenance foreman for Underground Storage. He was a member of Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Little River. He is survived by his son René Cordell of Wichita, KS; daughter, Lené Krause of Windom, KS; four grandchildren, and twelve great-grandchildren. Clair is preceded in death by his parents, John and Anna; and five siblings. Funeral mass will be at 10:30 A.M., Saturday, October 24, 2020 at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Little River, with Father Aaron Spexarth officiating. Burial will be at Bean Memorial Cemetery, Little River. A Parish Rosary will be said at 10:00 A.M. Saturday at the church. Visitation will be from 2:00 until 7:00 P.M., Friday, October 23, 2020 at Birzer Funeral Home, Lyons with family present from 5:00 until 7:00 P.M. Memorials may be given to Holy Trinity Catholic Church in care of Birzer Funeral Home, Lyons.&nbsp;

Clair Anthony Cordell

Eric “Ike” Halling, 68, passed away surrounded by his loving 
family,&nbsp;Thursday, October 22, 2020 at the Hays Medical Center, Hays, 
Kansas.&nbsp;

He was born November 13, 1951 to Frank and Arlene (Hertel) Halling of
 Hanston Kansas.&nbsp; He was a 1969 graduate of Hanston High School and 
attended technical school in Oklahoma.&nbsp; He was a longtime Hanston 
resident, living in Hugoton, Kansas from 2003 to 2017 before returning 
to Hanston. He was a Compressor Station Technician for Northern Natural 
Gas in Burdett and West Texas Gas in Hugoton.&nbsp;Raised on a farm, Ike’s 
lifelong love of farming and cattle was instilled at a young age. 
Sharing this passion with his children and grandchildren was the 
greatest joy of his life.

He was a member of St. Anthony Catholic Church in Hanston and Knights of Columbus Council 3218 Jetmore/Hanston.&nbsp;

On May 26, 1973 he married the love of his life, Cynthia “Cindy” Gulick at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Jetmore, Kansas.&nbsp;

Survivors include: his wife of 47 years, Cindy, Hanston; their 
children, Tim&nbsp;Halling, Hanston, Curt&nbsp;Halling&nbsp;and wife Lauren, Minneola, 
Erin Huston and husband Matt, Spearville and Carmen Nau and husband 
Brandan, Spearville; daughter-in-law,&nbsp;Rakel&nbsp;Halling, Spearville; a 
brother, Anthony&nbsp;Halling,&nbsp;Ashtown, Arkansas; 3 sisters, Joyce&nbsp;Parrott, 
Las Vegas, Nevada, Brenda&nbsp;Salmans, Rose Hill, Kansas and 
Cheryl&nbsp;Diederich&nbsp;and husband Tom, Lenora, Kansas. He is also survived by
 12 grandchildren, Ethan, Karsen and Danica Halling, Speaville; Kristen,
 Aubrey and Dawson Huston, Spearville; Addia, Bristol and Casen Nau, 
Spearville; Eric, Elizabeth and Malorie Halling, Minneola.&nbsp;

He was preceded in death by his parents,&nbsp;a son, Jim&nbsp;Halling,&nbsp;father 
and mother-in-law, Walt and Juanita Gulick&nbsp;and an infant brother, 
George&nbsp;Halling.&nbsp;

Vigil service will be at 7:00 pm Tuesday, October 27, 2020 at St. 
John the Baptist Catholic Church, Spearville.&nbsp; Funeral Mass will be at 
10:30 am Wednesday at the church with Fr. John&nbsp;Forkuoh&nbsp;presiding.&nbsp; 
Burial will follow in Pleasant Valley Cemetery, North of Bucklin.&nbsp; 
Visitation will be Tuesday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm at Ziegler Funeral 
Chapel, Dodge City.&nbsp;

The family suggests memorials to Pleasant Valley Cemetery in care of Ziegler Funeral Chapel, 1901 N. 14th&nbsp;Ave., Dodge City, Kansas 67801.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1603724971106.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Eric “Ike” Halling, 68, passed away surrounded by his loving 
family,&nbsp;Thursday, October 22, 2020 at the Hays Medical Center, Hays, 
Kansas.&nbsp;He was born November 13, 1951 to Frank and Arlene (Hertel) Halling of
 Hanston Kansas.&nbsp; He was a 1969 graduate of Hanston High School and 
attended technical school in Oklahoma.&nbsp; He was a longtime Hanston 
resident, living in Hugoton, Kansas from 2003 to 2017 before returning 
to Hanston. He was a Compressor Station Technician for Northern Natural 
Gas in Burdett and West Texas Gas in Hugoton.&nbsp;Raised on a farm, Ike’s 
lifelong love of farming and cattle was instilled at a young age. 
Sharing this passion with his children and grandchildren was the 
greatest joy of his life.He was a member of St. Anthony Catholic Church in Hanston and Knights of Columbus Council 3218 Jetmore/Hanston.&nbsp;On May 26, 1973 he married the love of his life, Cynthia “Cindy” Gulick at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Jetmore, Kansas.&nbsp;Survivors include: his wife of 47 years, Cindy, Hanston; their 
children, Tim&nbsp;Halling, Hanston, Curt&nbsp;Halling&nbsp;and wife Lauren, Minneola, 
Erin Huston and husband Matt, Spearville and Carmen Nau and husband 
Brandan, Spearville; daughter-in-law,&nbsp;Rakel&nbsp;Halling, Spearville; a 
brother, Anthony&nbsp;Halling,&nbsp;Ashtown, Arkansas; 3 sisters, Joyce&nbsp;Parrott, 
Las Vegas, Nevada, Brenda&nbsp;Salmans, Rose Hill, Kansas and 
Cheryl&nbsp;Diederich&nbsp;and husband Tom, Lenora, Kansas. He is also survived by
 12 grandchildren, Ethan, Karsen and Danica Halling, Speaville; Kristen,
 Aubrey and Dawson Huston, Spearville; Addia, Bristol and Casen Nau, 
Spearville; Eric, Elizabeth and Malorie Halling, Minneola.&nbsp;He was preceded in death by his parents,&nbsp;a son, Jim&nbsp;Halling,&nbsp;father 
and mother-in-law, Walt and Juanita Gulick&nbsp;and an infant brother, 
George&nbsp;Halling.&nbsp;Vigil service will be at 7:00 pm Tuesday, October 27, 2020 at St. 
John the Baptist Catholic Church, Spearville.&nbsp; Funeral Mass will be at 
10:30 am Wednesday at the church with Fr. John&nbsp;Forkuoh&nbsp;presiding.&nbsp; 
Burial will follow in Pleasant Valley Cemetery, North of Bucklin.&nbsp; 
Visitation will be Tuesday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm at Ziegler Funeral 
Chapel, Dodge City.&nbsp;The family suggests memorials to Pleasant Valley Cemetery in care of Ziegler Funeral Chapel, 1901 N. 14th&nbsp;Ave., Dodge City, Kansas 67801.&nbsp;

Eric 'Ike' Halling

Larry Joseph Renner, 79, died on October 22, 2020, at his home in Lane 
County, Kansas.  He was born on November 21, 1940, at Burlington, 
Colorado, the second child of Floyd &amp; Elnora (Moos) Renner.  Larry 
attended Smokey Angle Country School. 

After the family home burned down
 at Firstview the family moved to Cheyenne Wells where Larry finished 
the 8th grade at Scared Heart Catholic School. At the age of 14, he went
 to work full time. He spent the next few yeas working for local 
farmers and ranchers, breaking ad trading horses, riding saddle broncs 
at amateur and RCA rodeos and competing in wild horse races. In 1960 
Larry and his Brother David, friends Nick and Adrian Mousel rode 
horseback from Cheyenne Wells, Colorado to Cheyenne, Wyoming, to enter 
the Wild Horse Race at Cheyenne Frontier Days. Larry wrote a book about 
their adventures titled “90 Days In The Saddle”. Larry volunteered for 
the draft into the United States Army and did his basic training in San 
Antonio, Texas. He served as a Medic while stationed in Berlin, 
Germany. After his discharge he returned to Cortez, Colorado to work 
for Lynn Winbourn training horses at Wagon wheel Stables. 
He married Shirley Lynn Winbourn on December 5, 1965 at Aztec, New 
Mexico. To this union 8 children were born, Sandy, infant twins Michael
 &amp; Michelene, infant twins Joseph Lee &amp; Joseph Dee, Ira, Stella 
and Molly. The family lived on their place north of Kit Carson, 
Colorado raising cattle and horses until 1980 when Larry took a job at 
the UU Bar Ranch in Cimarron, New Mexico. The family returned to 
Cheyenne Wells in 1981 where Larry tended cattle for various cattlemen 
and ranchers in Eastern Colorado and Western Kansas. In his later years
 he moved to Jiggs, Nevada to work on the Triangle L/Rother Ranch with 
his son Ira. He loved his years working there and loved the mountains 
of Nevada. 
He is survived by Shirley Renner, his Children- Sandy (Leon Scheck) 
Renner of Dighton, Kansas, Ira (Monti) Renner of Jiggs, Nevada, Stella 
(Lee) Worley of Cheyenne Wells, Colorado and Molly (Jason) Lamb of 
Russell Springs, Kansas, 12 Grandchildren- Samantha Reinhart, Dillon, 
Ethan, Dawson, Evan, Savannah and Serenity Worley, Emily Kemp, Peggy 
Kern, Zeke Renner and Maddie and Macey Lamb, 9 Great-Grandchildren- 
Cooper, Aubree, Corbin, Suzana, Briana, Olivia, Weston, Austin &amp; Jax
 his Siblings- Murry (Carol) Renner, Rose Galli, Antionette (John) 
Eastlake, Roger (Hope) Renner and Sister-In-Laws- Virginia Renner and 
Fern Renner 
He is preceded in death by his Parents= Floyd and Elnora Renner, 
In-Laws- Lynn and Dora (Huddleston) Winbourn, 4 Infant Children- 
Michael, Michelene, Joseph Lee &amp; Joseph Dee, 2 Brothers- Jim Renner 
and David Renner, Niece- Katrina Galli, Nephew- Kit Eastlake and 
Brother-In-Laws Paul Galli. Chip Winbourn and Ted Winbourn and 
Sister-In-Law- Shelly Renner. 
Funeral Service will be at 11:00 AM MST Friday at the Fairgrounds 
Community Building in Cheyenne Wells, Colorado with Pastor Jim Brown 
officiating. Interment will be in Jiggs, Nevada. Memorials are 
suggested to Working Ranch Cowboys Foundation in care of Boomhower 
Funeral Home. Condolences may be posted at www.garnandfuneralhomes.com

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1603724866797.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Larry Joseph Renner, 79, died on October 22, 2020, at his home in Lane 
County, Kansas. He was born on November 21, 1940, at Burlington, 
Colorado, the second child of Floyd &amp; Elnora (Moos) Renner. Larry 
attended Smokey Angle Country School. After the family home burned down
 at Firstview the family moved to Cheyenne Wells where Larry finished 
the 8th grade at Scared Heart Catholic School. At the age of 14, he went
 to work full time. He spent the next few yeas working for local 
farmers and ranchers, breaking ad trading horses, riding saddle broncs 
at amateur and RCA rodeos and competing in wild horse races. In 1960 
Larry and his Brother David, friends Nick and Adrian Mousel rode 
horseback from Cheyenne Wells, Colorado to Cheyenne, Wyoming, to enter 
the Wild Horse Race at Cheyenne Frontier Days. Larry wrote a book about 
their adventures titled “90 Days In The Saddle”. Larry volunteered for 
the draft into the United States Army and did his basic training in San 
Antonio, Texas. He served as a Medic while stationed in Berlin, 
Germany. After his discharge he returned to Cortez, Colorado to work 
for Lynn Winbourn training horses at Wagon wheel Stables. 
He married Shirley Lynn Winbourn on December 5, 1965 at Aztec, New 
Mexico. To this union 8 children were born, Sandy, infant twins Michael
 &amp; Michelene, infant twins Joseph Lee &amp; Joseph Dee, Ira, Stella 
and Molly. The family lived on their place north of Kit Carson, 
Colorado raising cattle and horses until 1980 when Larry took a job at 
the UU Bar Ranch in Cimarron, New Mexico. The family returned to 
Cheyenne Wells in 1981 where Larry tended cattle for various cattlemen 
and ranchers in Eastern Colorado and Western Kansas. In his later years
 he moved to Jiggs, Nevada to work on the Triangle L/Rother Ranch with 
his son Ira. He loved his years working there and loved the mountains 
of Nevada. 
He is survived by Shirley Renner, his Children- Sandy (Leon Scheck) 
Renner of Dighton, Kansas, Ira (Monti) Renner of Jiggs, Nevada, Stella 
(Lee) Worley of Cheyenne Wells, Colorado and Molly (Jason) Lamb of 
Russell Springs, Kansas, 12 Grandchildren- Samantha Reinhart, Dillon, 
Ethan, Dawson, Evan, Savannah and Serenity Worley, Emily Kemp, Peggy 
Kern, Zeke Renner and Maddie and Macey Lamb, 9 Great-Grandchildren- 
Cooper, Aubree, Corbin, Suzana, Briana, Olivia, Weston, Austin &amp; Jax
 his Siblings- Murry (Carol) Renner, Rose Galli, Antionette (John) 
Eastlake, Roger (Hope) Renner and Sister-In-Laws- Virginia Renner and 
Fern Renner 
He is preceded in death by his Parents= Floyd and Elnora Renner, 
In-Laws- Lynn and Dora (Huddleston) Winbourn, 4 Infant Children- 
Michael, Michelene, Joseph Lee &amp; Joseph Dee, 2 Brothers- Jim Renner 
and David Renner, Niece- Katrina Galli, Nephew- Kit Eastlake and 
Brother-In-Laws Paul Galli. Chip Winbourn and Ted Winbourn and 
Sister-In-Law- Shelly Renner. 
Funeral Service will be at 11:00 AM MST Friday at the Fairgrounds 
Community Building in Cheyenne Wells, Colorado with Pastor Jim Brown 
officiating. Interment will be in Jiggs, Nevada. Memorials are 
suggested to Working Ranch Cowboys Foundation in care of Boomhower 
Funeral Home. Condolences may be posted at www.garnandfuneralhomes.com

Larry Joseph Renner

Joan Marie Mosher, 87, of Russell, Kansas, died on Thursday, October 1, 2020, at her home in Russell.

Joan was born on January 15, 1933, in Concordia, Kansas, the daughter of Clarence and Mabel (Demante) Starkey.  She grew up in Clyde, Kansas, and graduated from Clyde High School.  She met, fell in love and was united in marriage to Harold “Gene” Mosher on July 28, 1950, in Concordia, Kansas.  From this union Joan and Gene were blessed with a daughter Margaret.  Joan was a loving wife, mother and homemaker and took pride in working in her yard and flower garden.

She is survived by her loving husband, of 70 years, Gene of the home, her daughter Margaret Mosher of Salina, Kansas, and a sister Betty Lyons of Topeka, Kansas.

She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother. 

A private service will be held by the family and close friends and cremation has been selected by the family.  Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell, Kansas, is in charge of the funeral service arrangements.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1603655696726.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Joan Marie Mosher, 87, of Russell, Kansas, died on Thursday, October 1, 2020, at her home in Russell.Joan was born on January 15, 1933, in Concordia, Kansas, the daughter of Clarence and Mabel (Demante) Starkey. She grew up in Clyde, Kansas, and graduated from Clyde High School. She met, fell in love and was united in marriage to Harold “Gene” Mosher on July 28, 1950, in Concordia, Kansas. From this union Joan and Gene were blessed with a daughter Margaret. Joan was a loving wife, mother and homemaker and took pride in working in her yard and flower garden.She is survived by her loving husband, of 70 years, Gene of the home, her daughter Margaret Mosher of Salina, Kansas, and a sister Betty Lyons of Topeka, Kansas.She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother. A private service will be held by the family and close friends and cremation has been selected by the family. Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell, Kansas, is in charge of the funeral service arrangements.

Joan Marie Mosher

By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/10/26/secret-recording-exposes-three-wichita-politicians-to-demands-for-their-resignation/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Three members of the Sedgwick County Commission on Sunday denounced Republican colleague Michael O’Donnell after the <a href="https://www.kansas.com/article246669242.html">Wichita Eagle published a secret recording</a>
 of O’Donnell, a Wichita city councilman and a Kansas House member 
plotting to deceive the public about their role in a false campaign 
video accusing a Democratic candidate for mayor of sexual harassment.

Commissioners Lacey Cruse,
 David Dennis and Jim Howell made clear O’Donnell’s statements on the 
45-minute recording, including political advice to attack first and 
“avoid the truth at all expense,” made it impossible for him to continue
 serving the county.

In the at-times chaotic 
recording, made shortly before the November 2019 mayoral election and 
released to the public due to a pending lawsuit, O’Donnell said it might
 be possible to blame their sleazy campaign attack on a former Kansas 
Republican Party chairman. He also declared such coverups to be 
“standard political operations.” He expressed admiration for the good 
sense of Democrats to betray each other quietly. And, he said, there 
wasn’t a pro-life person unhappy with the assassination a decade ago of 
Wichita abortion doctor George Tiller.

“Michael O’Donnell has 
proven to be a risk and major liability to Sedgwick County,” said Cruse,
 a Democrat. “I’m not shocked by what we all heard on this tape because I
 have witnessed this type of unethical behavior for almost two years. 
I’m not willing to get in line and be quiet. This behavior is not okay 
and those who choose to be silent, those who are not willing to speak 
out about this publicly, are part of the problem.”

Howell, the GOP chairman 
of the county commission, went further and urged O’Donnell, Wichita City
 Councilman James Clendenin and Kansas House Rep. Michael Capps to 
immediately resign from public office.

“The people of Sedgwick 
county deserve representation that is ethical, above reproach and 
honest,” Howell said. “The actions of these men in the<a href="https://www.kwch.com/2020/08/28/man-behind-protect-wichita-girls-video-breaks-silence/"> ‘Protect Wichita Girls’ scandal</a> is reprehensible and embarrassing to our community.”

So far, the three Wichita 
politicians have chosen to cling to their jobs. O’Donnell is seeking 
re-election to the county commission on Nov. 3. In August, Wichita 
voters decided to end Capps’ career in the Kansas House effective in 
January. Capps was hammered in the GOP primary, receiving just 25% of 
the vote. Clendenin, a member of the city council since 2011, isn’t on 
the 2020 ballot.

In the recording, the 
three politicians and the producer of the video agreed to blame Sedgwick
 County Republican Party chairman Dalton Glasscock for orchestrating the
 commercial. They considered and rejected the idea of also fingering 
Kelly Arnold, who has served as Sedgwick County’s clerk since 2008 and 
was the Kansas GOP chairman from 2013 to 2019.

The malicious video, 
posted to Facebook and YouTube, featured unidentified women silhouetted 
against a menacing background who alleged without evidence sexual 
harassment by state legislators. The target was then-Democratic mayoral 
candidate Brandon Whipple, who by implication was accused of engaging in
 misconduct as a member of the Kansas House. In closing moments of the 
video, the women say, “Stop Brandon Whipple.”

The video was apparently 
viewed more than 400,000 times. It was traced to a New Mexico shadow 
company, Protect Wichita’s Girls LLC, that was linked to Capps.

Whipple, who said the 
video was part of a political misinformation campaign, easily won the 
November 2019 election. He defeated incumbent Republican Mayor Jeff 
Longwell by more than 10 percentage points. Longwell’s re-election was 
hampered by reports he intervened to award the new water plant contract 
for the state’s largest city to his political supporters and friends.

Shortly after the video 
began appearing online in October 2019, Whipple filed a lawsuit against 
video producer Matthew Colborn and two John Does. Colborn, who recorded 
the four-person conversation in which the coverup and misdirection was 
mapped out, was dropped from the suit in exchange for turning over the 
audio recording and other evidence to Whipple’s lawyers. The lawsuit has
 been amended to target O’Donnell, Clendenin and Capps.

Michael
 Shultz, the Wichita attorney for Colborn, said his client regretted 
participating in the underhanded assault and learned painful lessons 
about politics, relationships and business. Colborn is being scapegoated
 in the public eye by the scandal, Schultz said.

“Matthew
 was at the meeting where Michael O’Donnell, James Clendenin and Michael
 Capps planned to push the blame for this ad onto Dalton Glasscock and 
others,” Schultz said. “To protect himself, he recorded that 
conversation. We are releasing that recording now to demonstrate the 
accuracy of what Matthew has now said and to try and stop those who 
continue to attack him.”

The meeting that produced 
the secret recording was called to help Capps prepare for a 2019 radio 
interview on the video controversy with Wichita talk show host John 
Whitmer, a former Republican state legislator. Capps and O’Donnell 
sounded confident Whitmer would be sympathetic to their claims, 
asserting Whitmer was opposed to election of a Democrat as mayor and had
 a strong dislike for Glasscock.

“John, though, wants Dalton’s head. He doesn’t know how to hunt. He just wants to collect,” Capps said on the recording.

Capps, who was angry 
Glasscock had previously called for his resignation, could be heard on 
the recording practicing his talking points in advance of the radio 
interview, including: “Let me be clear to your listeners and to you 
John. I had nothing to do with the production of this video.”

O’Donnell advised Capps to
 claim firsthand knowledge that both Glasscock and Arnold spoke of plans
 designed to conceal information about who was responsible for the 
video. O’Donnell said linking the pair would deflect damage to the 
Sedgwick County Republican Party, because it would appear “more of a 
conspiracy by the party to cover itself.”

Later in the conversation,
 the group decided Arnold was too influential among Sedgwick County 
Republicans to accuse of misconduct. Backlash from Arnold could get out 
of hand, so they agreed Glasscock would be framed alone. They also 
agreed it would be useful to place responsibility at Glasscock’s feet if
 the Republican mayor lost the campaign to Whipple.

“Nobody questions Kelly 
(Arnold) being an ultra-party guy, a conservative,” O’Donnell said. “I 
just think naming him in this deal will bring added scrutiny that we, 
particularly James (Clendenin) and I don’t need.”

Clendenin, the Wichita 
city council member, said labeling Arnold as a responsible party could 
open an unsavory two-front political conflict. He also predicted 
maneuvering their way out of the Whipple video scandal by boxing in 
Glasscock wouldn’t “go as smoothly as we’re talking about it right now.”

“This is not an ideal 
narrative,” Capps said. “I’m going to accept the fact that it is not. 
But I’m also looking at this purely from a business/political 
perspective. That it’s either our necks or his.”

“I’m always learned in 
politics,” O’Donnell said, “it’s always avoid the truth at all expense. 
Right? And, just go on the attack.”

O’Donnell at several 
points in the recording recommended they each be vague when pointing 
fingers at other people, because specifics could come back to haunt them
 if a lawsuit went to the discovery stage or a trial.

In 2018, O’Donnell was 
indicted on federal charges that included 23 counts of wire fraud and 
three counts of money laundering. The allegations of campaign finance 
misconduct related to his campaign for the Kansas Senate and O’Donnell’s
 decision to write a series of checks from a campaign account to 
friends. He was acquitted last year of 21 counts and the jury couldn’t 
reach a verdict on five counts. He described the trial as the worst 
experience of his life.

“I don’t think we’re all 
culpable like for a lawsuit or something,” O’Donnell said on the audio 
recording, “but what I think — I just don’t ever want it to get into 
discovery mode.”

The
 Kansas Democratic Party jumped into the fray with a photograph of 
O’Donnell standing next to U.S. Rep. Roger Marshall, a Republican in a 
tight race for U.S. Senate against Democratic Kansas Sen. Barbara 
Bollier.

“What
 games are Roger Marshall and Michael O’Donnell playing?” the Democrats 
claimed Kansans deserved to know. “Does Roger Marshall stand by his 
‘friend’ Michael O’Donnell’s actions?”

As if there wasn’t enough drama in Whipple’s life, a Wichita musician and retired firefighter was <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/17/us/wichita-kansas-mayor-mask-arrest-trnd/index.html">arrested Oct. 16 on suspicion of threatening to kidnap and kill the mayor</a> due to frustration with the city’s COVID-19 mask ordinance.

Tim Carpenter has reported on Kansas for 35 years. He covered the Capitol for 16 years at the Topeka Capital-Journal and previously worked for the Lawrence Journal-World and United Press International.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1603722521631.png" alt="From left: Sedgwick County Commissioner Michael O'Donnell, Kansas House Rep. Michael Capps and Wichita City Councilman James Clendenin. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>From left: Sedgwick County Commissioner Michael O'Donnell, Kansas House Rep. Michael Capps and Wichita City Councilman James Clendenin. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/10/26/secret-recording-exposes-three-wichita-politicians-to-demands-for-their-resignation/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Three members of the Sedgwick County Commission on Sunday denounced Republican colleague Michael O’Donnell after the <a href="https://www.kansas.com/article246669242.html">Wichita Eagle published a secret recording</a>
 of O’Donnell, a Wichita city councilman and a Kansas House member 
plotting to deceive the public about their role in a false campaign 
video accusing a Democratic candidate for mayor of sexual harassment.Commissioners Lacey Cruse,
 David Dennis and Jim Howell made clear O’Donnell’s statements on the 
45-minute recording, including political advice to attack first and 
“avoid the truth at all expense,” made it impossible for him to continue
 serving the county.In the at-times chaotic 
recording, made shortly before the November 2019 mayoral election and 
released to the public due to a pending lawsuit, O’Donnell said it might
 be possible to blame their sleazy campaign attack on a former Kansas 
Republican Party chairman. He also declared such coverups to be 
“standard political operations.” He expressed admiration for the good 
sense of Democrats to betray each other quietly. And, he said, there 
wasn’t a pro-life person unhappy with the assassination a decade ago of 
Wichita abortion doctor George Tiller.“Michael O’Donnell has 
proven to be a risk and major liability to Sedgwick County,” said Cruse,
 a Democrat. “I’m not shocked by what we all heard on this tape because I
 have witnessed this type of unethical behavior for almost two years. 
I’m not willing to get in line and be quiet. This behavior is not okay 
and those who choose to be silent, those who are not willing to speak 
out about this publicly, are part of the problem.”Howell, the GOP chairman 
of the county commission, went further and urged O’Donnell, Wichita City
 Councilman James Clendenin and Kansas House Rep. Michael Capps to 
immediately resign from public office.“The people of Sedgwick 
county deserve representation that is ethical, above reproach and 
honest,” Howell said. “The actions of these men in the<a href="https://www.kwch.com/2020/08/28/man-behind-protect-wichita-girls-video-breaks-silence/"> ‘Protect Wichita Girls’ scandal</a> is reprehensible and embarrassing to our community.”So far, the three Wichita 
politicians have chosen to cling to their jobs. O’Donnell is seeking 
re-election to the county commission on Nov. 3. In August, Wichita 
voters decided to end Capps’ career in the Kansas House effective in 
January. Capps was hammered in the GOP primary, receiving just 25% of 
the vote. Clendenin, a member of the city council since 2011, isn’t on 
the 2020 ballot.<h2>The blame game</h2>In the recording, the 
three politicians and the producer of the video agreed to blame Sedgwick
 County Republican Party chairman Dalton Glasscock for orchestrating the
 commercial. They considered and rejected the idea of also fingering 
Kelly Arnold, who has served as Sedgwick County’s clerk since 2008 and 
was the Kansas GOP chairman from 2013 to 2019.The malicious video, 
posted to Facebook and YouTube, featured unidentified women silhouetted 
against a menacing background who alleged without evidence sexual 
harassment by state legislators. The target was then-Democratic mayoral 
candidate Brandon Whipple, who by implication was accused of engaging in
 misconduct as a member of the Kansas House. In closing moments of the 
video, the women say, “Stop Brandon Whipple.”The video was apparently 
viewed more than 400,000 times. It was traced to a New Mexico shadow 
company, Protect Wichita’s Girls LLC, that was linked to Capps.Whipple, who said the 
video was part of a political misinformation campaign, easily won the 
November 2019 election. He defeated incumbent Republican Mayor Jeff 
Longwell by more than 10 percentage points. Longwell’s re-election was 
hampered by reports he intervened to award the new water plant contract 
for the state’s largest city to his political supporters and friends.Shortly after the video 
began appearing online in October 2019, Whipple filed a lawsuit against 
video producer Matthew Colborn and two John Does. Colborn, who recorded 
the four-person conversation in which the coverup and misdirection was 
mapped out, was dropped from the suit in exchange for turning over the 
audio recording and other evidence to Whipple’s lawyers. The lawsuit has
 been amended to target O’Donnell, Clendenin and Capps.Michael
 Shultz, the Wichita attorney for Colborn, said his client regretted 
participating in the underhanded assault and learned painful lessons 
about politics, relationships and business. Colborn is being scapegoated
 in the public eye by the scandal, Schultz said. 
“Matthew
 was at the meeting where Michael O’Donnell, James Clendenin and Michael
 Capps planned to push the blame for this ad onto Dalton Glasscock and 
others,” Schultz said. “To protect himself, he recorded that 
conversation. We are releasing that recording now to demonstrate the 
accuracy of what Matthew has now said and to try and stop those who 
continue to attack him.”<h2>‘Dalton’s head’</h2>The meeting that produced 
the secret recording was called to help Capps prepare for a 2019 radio 
interview on the video controversy with Wichita talk show host John 
Whitmer, a former Republican state legislator. Capps and O’Donnell 
sounded confident Whitmer would be sympathetic to their claims, 
asserting Whitmer was opposed to election of a Democrat as mayor and had
 a strong dislike for Glasscock.“John, though, wants Dalton’s head. He doesn’t know how to hunt. He just wants to collect,” Capps said on the recording.Capps, who was angry 
Glasscock had previously called for his resignation, could be heard on 
the recording practicing his talking points in advance of the radio 
interview, including: “Let me be clear to your listeners and to you 
John. I had nothing to do with the production of this video.”O’Donnell advised Capps to
 claim firsthand knowledge that both Glasscock and Arnold spoke of plans
 designed to conceal information about who was responsible for the 
video. O’Donnell said linking the pair would deflect damage to the 
Sedgwick County Republican Party, because it would appear “more of a 
conspiracy by the party to cover itself.”Later in the conversation,
 the group decided Arnold was too influential among Sedgwick County 
Republicans to accuse of misconduct. Backlash from Arnold could get out 
of hand, so they agreed Glasscock would be framed alone. They also 
agreed it would be useful to place responsibility at Glasscock’s feet if
 the Republican mayor lost the campaign to Whipple.“Nobody questions Kelly 
(Arnold) being an ultra-party guy, a conservative,” O’Donnell said. “I 
just think naming him in this deal will bring added scrutiny that we, 
particularly James (Clendenin) and I don’t need.”<h2>Narrative not ideal</h2>Clendenin, the Wichita 
city council member, said labeling Arnold as a responsible party could 
open an unsavory two-front political conflict. He also predicted 
maneuvering their way out of the Whipple video scandal by boxing in 
Glasscock wouldn’t “go as smoothly as we’re talking about it right now.”“This is not an ideal 
narrative,” Capps said. “I’m going to accept the fact that it is not. 
But I’m also looking at this purely from a business/political 
perspective. That it’s either our necks or his.”“I’m always learned in 
politics,” O’Donnell said, “it’s always avoid the truth at all expense. 
Right? And, just go on the attack.”O’Donnell at several 
points in the recording recommended they each be vague when pointing 
fingers at other people, because specifics could come back to haunt them
 if a lawsuit went to the discovery stage or a trial.In 2018, O’Donnell was 
indicted on federal charges that included 23 counts of wire fraud and 
three counts of money laundering. The allegations of campaign finance 
misconduct related to his campaign for the Kansas Senate and O’Donnell’s
 decision to write a series of checks from a campaign account to 
friends. He was acquitted last year of 21 counts and the jury couldn’t 
reach a verdict on five counts. He described the trial as the worst 
experience of his life.“I don’t think we’re all 
culpable like for a lawsuit or something,” O’Donnell said on the audio 
recording, “but what I think — I just don’t ever want it to get into 
discovery mode.”The
 Kansas Democratic Party jumped into the fray with a photograph of 
O’Donnell standing next to U.S. Rep. Roger Marshall, a Republican in a 
tight race for U.S. Senate against Democratic Kansas Sen. Barbara 
Bollier.“What
 games are Roger Marshall and Michael O’Donnell playing?” the Democrats 
claimed Kansans deserved to know. “Does Roger Marshall stand by his 
‘friend’ Michael O’Donnell’s actions?”As if there wasn’t enough drama in Whipple’s life, a Wichita musician and retired firefighter was <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/17/us/wichita-kansas-mayor-mask-arrest-trnd/index.html">arrested Oct. 16 on suspicion of threatening to kidnap and kill the mayor</a> due to frustration with the city’s COVID-19 mask ordinance.Tim Carpenter has reported on Kansas for 35 years. He covered the Capitol for 16 years at the Topeka Capital-Journal and previously worked for the Lawrence Journal-World and United Press International.&nbsp;

Resignation demands after recording exposes three Wichita politicians

Yvonne J. Spangler, 93, died on Friday, October 23, 2020, at Park Lane 
Nursing Home in Scott City. She was born on August 16, 1927, at Park 
City, Utah, the daughter of Oliver &amp; Maude (Clevenger) Ziegler. She 
married James R. Spangler on February 7, 1946, at Scott City. He died on
 September 14, 2014. 
Yvonne grew up in Lake City, Colorado and graduated from Gunnison High 
School. After her marriage she moved to Scott City and she and her 
husband owned and operated Jim Spangler Trucking and also owned Spangler
 Retail Liquor. She was a member of St Joseph Catholic Church of Scott 
City, Altar Society and the Club One Hundred Dance Group. She enjoyed 
dancing, crocheting and baking. She was preceded in death by her 
Parents, Husband, 3 Brothers- David Ziegler, Sanford Ziegler and Bill 
Ziegler and Sister- Mary Ellen Ziegler. 
She is survived by her Children- Les &amp; Mary Ann Spangler of Scott 
City, Danny &amp; Mona Spangler of Scott City, Lynette &amp; Bill Payne 
of Pueblo, Colorado, Shane &amp; Shauna Spangler of Lamar, Colorado and 
Yvette &amp; Greg Mills of Scott City, 9 Grandchildren and 5 
Great-Grandchildren. 
Rosary Service will be at 6:00 PM Tuesday and Funeral Mass at 10:30 AM 
Wednesday at St Joseph Catholic Church with Rev Augustine Owusu as 
Celebrant. Burial will be in Scott County Cemetery.

Memorials are 
suggested to Park Lane Nursing Home or St Joseph Catholic Church in care
 of Garnand Funeral Home.  

Condolences may be posted at 
www.garnandfuneralhomes.com&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1603720531210.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Yvonne J. Spangler, 93, died on Friday, October 23, 2020, at Park Lane 
Nursing Home in Scott City. She was born on August 16, 1927, at Park 
City, Utah, the daughter of Oliver &amp; Maude (Clevenger) Ziegler. She 
married James R. Spangler on February 7, 1946, at Scott City. He died on
 September 14, 2014. 
Yvonne grew up in Lake City, Colorado and graduated from Gunnison High 
School. After her marriage she moved to Scott City and she and her 
husband owned and operated Jim Spangler Trucking and also owned Spangler
 Retail Liquor. She was a member of St Joseph Catholic Church of Scott 
City, Altar Society and the Club One Hundred Dance Group. She enjoyed 
dancing, crocheting and baking. She was preceded in death by her 
Parents, Husband, 3 Brothers- David Ziegler, Sanford Ziegler and Bill 
Ziegler and Sister- Mary Ellen Ziegler. 
She is survived by her Children- Les &amp; Mary Ann Spangler of Scott 
City, Danny &amp; Mona Spangler of Scott City, Lynette &amp; Bill Payne 
of Pueblo, Colorado, Shane &amp; Shauna Spangler of Lamar, Colorado and 
Yvette &amp; Greg Mills of Scott City, 9 Grandchildren and 5 
Great-Grandchildren. 
Rosary Service will be at 6:00 PM Tuesday and Funeral Mass at 10:30 AM 
Wednesday at St Joseph Catholic Church with Rev Augustine Owusu as 
Celebrant. Burial will be in Scott County Cemetery. Memorials are 
suggested to Park Lane Nursing Home or St Joseph Catholic Church in care
 of Garnand Funeral Home. Condolences may be posted at 
www.garnandfuneralhomes.com&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

Yvonne J. Spangler

Kirk J. Hecker, age 58, of Prescott, Arizona, (formerly of Oakley, 
Kansas), passed away on October 15, 2020 at the Yavapai Regional Medical
 Center, Prescott, Arizona.

Kirk was born on August 21, 1962 in Colby, Kansas, to James Jerome 
and Noralee Marie (Schwebach) Hecker. He attended Oakley High School and
 was a ranch hand and farmer. Kirk was a church member of Living 
Waters.&nbsp;

Kirk is survived by his brothers: Dan Hecker (Jennifer) of Hays and 
Chris Hecker (Karla) of Hays, his sisters: Lori Denning (Joe) of 
Monument, CO. and Sara Van Eaton (Paul) of Oakley and many nieces, 
nephews, and cousins.&nbsp;

Arrangements with Kennedy-Koster Funeral Home, 217 Freeman Ave., P.O. Box 221, Oakley, KS&nbsp; 67748

Sign the online Guest Book at www.kennedykosterfh.com

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1603720471029.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Kirk J. Hecker, age 58, of Prescott, Arizona, (formerly of Oakley, 
Kansas), passed away on October 15, 2020 at the Yavapai Regional Medical
 Center, Prescott, Arizona.Kirk was born on August 21, 1962 in Colby, Kansas, to James Jerome 
and Noralee Marie (Schwebach) Hecker. He attended Oakley High School and
 was a ranch hand and farmer. Kirk was a church member of Living 
Waters.&nbsp;Kirk is survived by his brothers: Dan Hecker (Jennifer) of Hays and 
Chris Hecker (Karla) of Hays, his sisters: Lori Denning (Joe) of 
Monument, CO. and Sara Van Eaton (Paul) of Oakley and many nieces, 
nephews, and cousins.&nbsp;A private family service is planned.Arrangements with Kennedy-Koster Funeral Home, 217 Freeman Ave., P.O. Box 221, Oakley, KS&nbsp; 67748Sign the online Guest Book at www.kennedykosterfh.com

Kirk J. Hecker

Roland D. Kesler passed away October 
21, 2020, at Gove County Medical Center, Quinter, Kansas.&nbsp; He was born 
February 4, 1927, on the family farm southwest of Quinter to Walter 
Benjamin and Ruth Marie (Miller) Kesler.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Roland attended grade school at the 
Fairview School.&nbsp; He graduated from Quinter High School with the class 
of 1944.&nbsp; Roland enrolled with McPherson College that Fall.&nbsp; At the end 
of the semester, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy for the duration of the 
war.&nbsp;&nbsp;

He married Valetta Mae Folkers on 
February 24, 1952.&nbsp; To this union were born four sons, Daryl of 
WaKeeney, Rex of Houston, Texas, Gary of Ottawa, and Lynn of St. Cloud, 
Florida.&nbsp; They all survive him.&nbsp; Roland then became Postmaster of 
Quinter Post Office in 1959 and served until 1987.

Roland and Valetta then began the 
years of “Snowbirds” in Tucson, Arizona for 3 years, then McAllen, Texas
 for 25 years.&nbsp; During the years from 1990 to 2009, the fall months were
 spent volunteering at SERRV in New Windsor, Maryland.&nbsp; He found it 
difficult to describe the pleasure of volunteering.&nbsp; He enjoyed many 
evenings playing winter volleyball and playing softball in the 
summertime.&nbsp; They enjoyed playing cards and many games in McAllen and in
 the later years.

Other survivors include his 
grandchildren, Jeff and Tara Kesler, McKenzie and Thiago Baby, Grady and
 Jessica Kesler, Brice and Whitney Kesler, Lucas Kesler, Catherine 
Kesler, Quinton Kesler; and six great-grandchildren, Matthew Kesler, 
Emma Kesler, Aubrey Kesler, Connor Kesler, Garret Kesler, and Kobe 
Long.&nbsp; Also surviving are step grandchildren, Jordan Long, Chris and 
Cory Long, Charissa Castellanos, and Brittany Abbott; and sisters, Doris
 Metzler of Bridgewater, Virginia, and Carol Hess of Fort Wayne, 
Indiana.&nbsp; He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Sylvan 
Kesler; and sisters, Lera Kesler and Vivian Norton.

Memorial services will take place at a later date.&nbsp; Cremation was chosen.&nbsp;&nbsp;

In lieu of flowers, memorial 
contributions may be made to Quinter Church of The Brethren or the 
Quinter Senior Citizen’s Center.&nbsp; Donations made to the organization may
 be sent to Schmitt Funeral Home, 901 S. Main, Quinter, KS&nbsp; 67752.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1603720270990.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Roland D. Kesler passed away October 
21, 2020, at Gove County Medical Center, Quinter, Kansas.&nbsp; He was born 
February 4, 1927, on the family farm southwest of Quinter to Walter 
Benjamin and Ruth Marie (Miller) Kesler.&nbsp;&nbsp;Roland attended grade school at the 
Fairview School.&nbsp; He graduated from Quinter High School with the class 
of 1944.&nbsp; Roland enrolled with McPherson College that Fall.&nbsp; At the end 
of the semester, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy for the duration of the 
war.&nbsp;&nbsp;He married Valetta Mae Folkers on 
February 24, 1952.&nbsp; To this union were born four sons, Daryl of 
WaKeeney, Rex of Houston, Texas, Gary of Ottawa, and Lynn of St. Cloud, 
Florida.&nbsp; They all survive him.&nbsp; Roland then became Postmaster of 
Quinter Post Office in 1959 and served until 1987.Roland and Valetta then began the 
years of “Snowbirds” in Tucson, Arizona for 3 years, then McAllen, Texas
 for 25 years.&nbsp; During the years from 1990 to 2009, the fall months were
 spent volunteering at SERRV in New Windsor, Maryland.&nbsp; He found it 
difficult to describe the pleasure of volunteering.&nbsp; He enjoyed many 
evenings playing winter volleyball and playing softball in the 
summertime.&nbsp; They enjoyed playing cards and many games in McAllen and in
 the later years.Other survivors include his 
grandchildren, Jeff and Tara Kesler, McKenzie and Thiago Baby, Grady and
 Jessica Kesler, Brice and Whitney Kesler, Lucas Kesler, Catherine 
Kesler, Quinton Kesler; and six great-grandchildren, Matthew Kesler, 
Emma Kesler, Aubrey Kesler, Connor Kesler, Garret Kesler, and Kobe 
Long.&nbsp; Also surviving are step grandchildren, Jordan Long, Chris and 
Cory Long, Charissa Castellanos, and Brittany Abbott; and sisters, Doris
 Metzler of Bridgewater, Virginia, and Carol Hess of Fort Wayne, 
Indiana.&nbsp; He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Sylvan 
Kesler; and sisters, Lera Kesler and Vivian Norton.Memorial services will take place at a later date.&nbsp; Cremation was chosen.&nbsp;&nbsp;In lieu of flowers, memorial 
contributions may be made to Quinter Church of The Brethren or the 
Quinter Senior Citizen’s Center.&nbsp; Donations made to the organization may
 be sent to Schmitt Funeral Home, 901 S. Main, Quinter, KS&nbsp; 67752.

Roland D. Kesler

KANSAS CITY (AP) —Preslie Paur breaks down in tears when she thinks of her state’s refusal to mandate face masks.

The South Salt Lake City, Utah, woman can’t work at her special education job due to an autoimmune disease. Her husband, also a special ed teacher, recently quit because his school district would not allow him to work remotely to protect her and their 5-year-old son, who has asthma.

“I feel forgotten,” Paur said. “We’re living in a world we no longer fit in. We did everything right. We went to college, we got jobs, we tried to give back to our community, and now our community is not giving back to us. And I’m very scared.”

As President Donald Trump barnstorms the swing states, often downplaying the coronavirus pandemic before largely unmasked crowds, the nation continues to lurch toward what his opponent Joe Biden, citing health experts, warned will be a “dark winter” of disease and death.

White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows told CNN on Sunday that “we’re not going to control the pandemic.” Asked why, he said it’s “because it is a contagious virus just like the flu.”

Vice President Mike Pence will continue campaigning despite his chief of staff testing positive for COVID-19. His office said Pence and his wife both tested negative for the virus Sunday.

About half of U.S. states have seen their highest daily infection numbers so far at some point in October, and the country as a whole came very close to back-to-back record daily infection rates on Friday and Saturday.

Data from Johns Hopkins University shows that 83,718 new cases were reported Saturday, just shy of the 83,757 infections reported Friday. Before that, the most cases reported in the United States on a single day had been 77,362, on July 16.

The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington, which federal health officials have used as a source for their pandemic projections, currently forecasts that the U.S. COVID-19 death toll could exceed 318,000 by Jan. 1.

As of Sunday, there were more than 8.6 million confirmed infections in the U.S., with deaths climbing to over 225,000, according to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center.

At least seven states — Alaska, Colorado, Illinois, Michigan, New Mexico, Ohio and Oklahoma — saw record high infection levels Saturday. And some Northeastern states hit hard in the spring are seeing numbers bounce back; New Jersey’s toll of 1,909 new infections Saturday was the most it had seen in a day since early May.

The virus also is surging in the Mountain West, especially Idaho and Utah.

In Twin Falls, Idaho, new data suggest that 1 in 24 residents has contracted the coronavirus, said Dr. Joshua Kern, vice president of medical affairs at St. Luke’s Magic Valley Medical Center. Amid a crush of new cases, the hospital brought in nurses from Boise, scaled back elective surgery and, as of Friday, stopped admitting pediatric patients.

“It’s gotten kind of out of hand,” Kern told The Associated Press. “We’ve had something like a third of our total COVID cases in our community in the last two to three weeks. There are a lot of parts of the state suffering under the same burden.”

Kern said Twin Falls had been lulled into complacency after months of relatively low numbers, adding “going back to school was the signal to our communities that we can get back to normal.”

“It’s like the community said, ‘Oh, good. It’s over. We can party again,’ and we saw the virus increase,” he said. “This week, we went to the coffee shop to get pastries for our group, and it was closed because of COVID. And we knew that the week before, they had been in there unmasked.”

Mark Chidichimo, a retired FBI agent, said his sister, brother-in-law, brother, nephew and 92-year-old father in Idaho have all been diagnosed with COVID-19 in the last three weeks.

Chidichimo, who lives in New Jersey, had nothing but praise for St. Luke’s in Twin Falls, but said his brother was told that if he needed hospitalization, he’d be sent to Seattle, more than 600 miles away.

“Hey, Idaho. This is coming from someone who has been there, done that: You really want to avoid this if you can,” he said. “It’s going to be really bad, and I pray to God that none of my family members have to be hospitalized. Because if they do, I don’t know if they’ll survive.”

After months of improvement, parts of Europe are going back into lockdown or ramping up restrictions again amid a spike in infections. Italy imposed at least a month of new restrictions across the country on Sunday, insisting that people outdoors wear masks, shutting down gyms, pools and movie theaters, and putting an early curfew on cafes and restaurants.

German Health Minister Jens Spahn, who tested positive Wednesday, pleaded with citizens to wear masks as the virus spikes across the country and hospital ICUs are filling up again.

“Please continue to help and don’t listen to those who play down (coronavirus),” he said. “It is serious.”

In New Mexico, which reported record numbers of additional COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in recent days, more than 350 doctors, nurses and other health care professionals signed a letter imploring residents to stay home as much as possible, wear masks and limit large gatherings to help prevent another wave of “lonely deaths.”

“Please help health care professionals help you,” said the letter, posted on the state Department of Health’s website. “Help us protect you. Help us ensure that we have the resources to treat the sick and care for the dying.”

On Saturday, New Mexico officials reported 875 new cases and five additional deaths, increasing the state’s totals to 41,040 cases and 965 deaths. The number of COVID-19 hospitalizations increased to 264, up from a record 229 on Friday, which topped the previous high of 223 from mid-May.

Paur, whose brother and his girlfriend both recently tested positive for the virus, is worried about them, and herself.

“People need to know that our lives are on the line,” the Utah woman said. "We’re running out of money really fast.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1603360957118.png" alt="Kansas Governor Laura Kelly said Wednesday that she will speak with House and Senate leaders to develop a bipartisan mask requirement&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Kansas Governor Laura Kelly said Wednesday that she will speak with House and Senate leaders to develop a bipartisan mask requirement&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) —Preslie Paur breaks down in tears when she thinks of her state’s refusal to mandate face masks.The South Salt Lake City, Utah, woman can’t work at her special education job due to an autoimmune disease. Her husband, also a special ed teacher, recently quit because his school district would not allow him to work remotely to protect her and their 5-year-old son, who has asthma.“I feel forgotten,” Paur said. “We’re living in a world we no longer fit in. We did everything right. We went to college, we got jobs, we tried to give back to our community, and now our community is not giving back to us. And I’m very scared.”As President Donald Trump barnstorms the swing states, often downplaying the coronavirus pandemic before largely unmasked crowds, the nation continues to lurch toward what his opponent Joe Biden, citing health experts, warned will be a “dark winter” of disease and death.White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows told CNN on Sunday that “we’re not going to control the pandemic.” Asked why, he said it’s “because it is a contagious virus just like the flu.”Vice President Mike Pence will continue campaigning despite his chief of staff testing positive for COVID-19. His office said Pence and his wife both tested negative for the virus Sunday.About half of U.S. states have seen their highest daily infection numbers so far at some point in October, and the country as a whole came very close to back-to-back record daily infection rates on Friday and Saturday.Data from Johns Hopkins University shows that 83,718 new cases were reported Saturday, just shy of the 83,757 infections reported Friday. Before that, the most cases reported in the United States on a single day had been 77,362, on July 16.The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington, which federal health officials have used as a source for their pandemic projections, currently forecasts that the U.S. COVID-19 death toll could exceed 318,000 by Jan. 1.As of Sunday, there were more than 8.6 million confirmed infections in the U.S., with deaths climbing to over 225,000, according to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center.At least seven states — Alaska, Colorado, Illinois, Michigan, New Mexico, Ohio and Oklahoma — saw record high infection levels Saturday. And some Northeastern states hit hard in the spring are seeing numbers bounce back; New Jersey’s toll of 1,909 new infections Saturday was the most it had seen in a day since early May.The virus also is surging in the Mountain West, especially Idaho and Utah.In Twin Falls, Idaho, new data suggest that 1 in 24 residents has contracted the coronavirus, said Dr. Joshua Kern, vice president of medical affairs at St. Luke’s Magic Valley Medical Center. Amid a crush of new cases, the hospital brought in nurses from Boise, scaled back elective surgery and, as of Friday, stopped admitting pediatric patients.“It’s gotten kind of out of hand,” Kern told The Associated Press. “We’ve had something like a third of our total COVID cases in our community in the last two to three weeks. There are a lot of parts of the state suffering under the same burden.”Kern said Twin Falls had been lulled into complacency after months of relatively low numbers, adding “going back to school was the signal to our communities that we can get back to normal.”“It’s like the community said, ‘Oh, good. It’s over. We can party again,’ and we saw the virus increase,” he said. “This week, we went to the coffee shop to get pastries for our group, and it was closed because of COVID. And we knew that the week before, they had been in there unmasked.”Mark Chidichimo, a retired FBI agent, said his sister, brother-in-law, brother, nephew and 92-year-old father in Idaho have all been diagnosed with COVID-19 in the last three weeks.Chidichimo, who lives in New Jersey, had nothing but praise for St. Luke’s in Twin Falls, but said his brother was told that if he needed hospitalization, he’d be sent to Seattle, more than 600 miles away.“Hey, Idaho. This is coming from someone who has been there, done that: You really want to avoid this if you can,” he said. “It’s going to be really bad, and I pray to God that none of my family members have to be hospitalized. Because if they do, I don’t know if they’ll survive.”After months of improvement, parts of Europe are going back into lockdown or ramping up restrictions again amid a spike in infections. Italy imposed at least a month of new restrictions across the country on Sunday, insisting that people outdoors wear masks, shutting down gyms, pools and movie theaters, and putting an early curfew on cafes and restaurants.German Health Minister Jens Spahn, who tested positive Wednesday, pleaded with citizens to wear masks as the virus spikes across the country and hospital ICUs are filling up again.“Please continue to help and don’t listen to those who play down (coronavirus),” he said. “It is serious.”In New Mexico, which reported record numbers of additional COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in recent days, more than 350 doctors, nurses and other health care professionals signed a letter imploring residents to stay home as much as possible, wear masks and limit large gatherings to help prevent another wave of “lonely deaths.”“Please help health care professionals help you,” said the letter, posted on the state Department of Health’s website. “Help us protect you. Help us ensure that we have the resources to treat the sick and care for the dying.”On Saturday, New Mexico officials reported 875 new cases and five additional deaths, increasing the state’s totals to 41,040 cases and 965 deaths. The number of COVID-19 hospitalizations increased to 264, up from a record 229 on Friday, which topped the previous high of 223 from mid-May.Paur, whose brother and his girlfriend both recently tested positive for the virus, is worried about them, and herself.“People need to know that our lives are on the line,” the Utah woman said. "We’re running out of money really fast.”—-

Fear and anxiety spike in virus hot spots across US

KANSAS CITY (AP) — When a flotilla of pontoon and fishing boats decked out with “Trump 2020” flags cruised past him this summer, Dale Fullenkamp got an idea.

“I figured I don’t have a boat, but I do have a tractor,” he said.

Soon he was leading nearly 300 combines and tractors pulling hay wagons and manure spreaders through the western Ohio village of Fort Recovery, one of many parades nationwide organized by a swell of grassroots supporters for President Donald Trump.

“I’ve never done anything like this before,” said Fullenkamp, a 19-year-old who graduated from high school just last spring. “I thought it’d be just me and my buddies.”

These Trump parades — whether by boat, pickup truck or tractor — have become a show of strength for the president’s supporters and a way to make themselves visible in a year when the coronavirus pandemic has upended traditional campaigning and put a stop to huge arena rallies and picnic fundraisers.

Thousands of cars, minivans and motorcycles on Saturday jammed the interstate circling Cincinnati and many more road rallies were held around the U.S. Another dozen are on tap for the campaign’s final week in Ohio alone.

Campaign strategists and analysts say the parades are a reflection of the president’s populist appeal, but they have varying thoughts on whether they will help his chances of winning.

Some think they’re revealing an underestimated amount of enthusiasm for the president and buoying his fans in the face of polls showing him trailing in many battleground states, while others dismiss the parades as window dressing.

“They are enthusiastic in ways I haven’t seen,” said Pennsylvania-based Republican political strategist Charles Gerow. “These are people who feel they haven’t been taking seriously, and they want to make a strong and visible statement.”

Trump campaign officials say they’ve had almost no involvement in the parades, but they gleefully point out that their Democratic opponents aren’t seeing the same groundswell when it comes to parades for Joe Biden — much like Trump himself likes to mock and contrast the size of his rallies with Biden’s socially distanced gatherings.

Campaign field offices have seen that the parades are bringing in new volunteers to help with get-out-the-vote efforts, said Daniel Lusheck, a spokesman for the Trump campaign in Ohio.

“It’s very organic in nature, but it’s really driving the enthusiasm on the ground,” he said.

Trump, too,&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/1264714221469732864?lang=en" target="_blank">has noticed</a>, saying at a rally in Florida this summer that “nobody has seen anything like it, ever. And we have that in many other states with boaters and bikers and everybody.”

Parades and marches in the streets have had a place in American politics since the nation’s earliest days. Once a staple of campaigning in the 1800s, they eventually gave way to more effective ways of reaching the masses.

But campaigns big and small have been challenged to come up with anything clever this year because of the limitations imposed by the pandemic, said Brandon Scholz, a veteran GOP strategist in Wisconsin.

He thinks the parades are good for keeping Trump’s core supporters engaged but doubts they’re driving votes.

And they do get a lot of attention although it’s not always positive — like the time in September when five boats sank during a Trump rally on a lake near Austin, Texas.

David Niven, a University of Cincinnati political scientist, agreed that the parades aren’t about spreading the message as much as they are reassuring the president’s backers with “a sea of Trump flags whether they’re on the road or the river.”

“If this were a normal election year we would have stadium rallies. There’d be so many different outlets for people to express themselves,” he said. “In the world of COVID, it’s bumper stickers, tweets and boat parades.”

There’s definitely a high school pep rally feel to the Trump parades, with participants flying their colors and chanting in unison.

In eastern Tennessee, spectators in mid-October lined a 4-mile stretch of road through the town of Rutledge to cheer dozens of tractors, antique cars, motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles decorated with flags and banners celebrating the conservative cause.

“It was bigger than any Christmas parade we ever had,” said Mike Cameron, Grainger County’s GOP chairman. “And that’s the biggest thing that happens in Rutledge.”

Biden’s supporters have countered with a few car rallies of their own, but his campaign has stayed away from such events to avoid spreading the virus, running an almost&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/c9b1ac944e8e759de99ced3a5ff90022">entirely virtual strategy&nbsp;</a>of reaching voters. The difference has been notable to Trump’s fans who are hosting and attending the parades.

“It’s really got to deject the other side,” said Blaise Greco, who organized a Trump parade near Hazleton, Pennsylvania, that drew more than 400 cars and motorcycles in early October. “Where’s their enthusiasm? Where’s their flags? Where’s their cars?”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1603708455076.png" alt="Rolling rally for President Trump Saturday in Topeka -photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Rolling rally for President Trump Saturday in Topeka -photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — When a flotilla of pontoon and fishing boats decked out with “Trump 2020” flags cruised past him this summer, Dale Fullenkamp got an idea.“I figured I don’t have a boat, but I do have a tractor,” he said.Soon he was leading nearly 300 combines and tractors pulling hay wagons and manure spreaders through the western Ohio village of Fort Recovery, one of many parades nationwide organized by a swell of grassroots supporters for President Donald Trump.“I’ve never done anything like this before,” said Fullenkamp, a 19-year-old who graduated from high school just last spring. “I thought it’d be just me and my buddies.”These Trump parades — whether by boat, pickup truck or tractor — have become a show of strength for the president’s supporters and a way to make themselves visible in a year when the coronavirus pandemic has upended traditional campaigning and put a stop to huge arena rallies and picnic fundraisers.Thousands of cars, minivans and motorcycles on Saturday jammed the interstate circling Cincinnati and many more road rallies were held around the U.S. Another dozen are on tap for the campaign’s final week in Ohio alone.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1603708561348.png" alt="A pro Trump rally Sunday in Leavenworth -photo courtesy Rep. Roger Marshall" />
 <figcaption>A pro Trump rally Sunday in Leavenworth -photo courtesy Rep. Roger Marshall</figcaption>
 </figure>Campaign strategists and analysts say the parades are a reflection of the president’s populist appeal, but they have varying thoughts on whether they will help his chances of winning.Some think they’re revealing an underestimated amount of enthusiasm for the president and buoying his fans in the face of polls showing him trailing in many battleground states, while others dismiss the parades as window dressing.“They are enthusiastic in ways I haven’t seen,” said Pennsylvania-based Republican political strategist Charles Gerow. “These are people who feel they haven’t been taking seriously, and they want to make a strong and visible statement.”Trump campaign officials say they’ve had almost no involvement in the parades, but they gleefully point out that their Democratic opponents aren’t seeing the same groundswell when it comes to parades for Joe Biden — much like Trump himself likes to mock and contrast the size of his rallies with Biden’s socially distanced gatherings.Campaign field offices have seen that the parades are bringing in new volunteers to help with get-out-the-vote efforts, said Daniel Lusheck, a spokesman for the Trump campaign in Ohio.“It’s very organic in nature, but it’s really driving the enthusiasm on the ground,” he said.Trump, too,&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/1264714221469732864?lang=en" target="_blank">has noticed</a>, saying at a rally in Florida this summer that “nobody has seen anything like it, ever. And we have that in many other states with boaters and bikers and everybody.”Parades and marches in the streets have had a place in American politics since the nation’s earliest days. Once a staple of campaigning in the 1800s, they eventually gave way to more effective ways of reaching the masses.But campaigns big and small have been challenged to come up with anything clever this year because of the limitations imposed by the pandemic, said Brandon Scholz, a veteran GOP strategist in Wisconsin.He thinks the parades are good for keeping Trump’s core supporters engaged but doubts they’re driving votes.And they do get a lot of attention although it’s not always positive — like the time in September when five boats sank during a Trump rally on a lake near Austin, Texas.David Niven, a University of Cincinnati political scientist, agreed that the parades aren’t about spreading the message as much as they are reassuring the president’s backers with “a sea of Trump flags whether they’re on the road or the river.”“If this were a normal election year we would have stadium rallies. There’d be so many different outlets for people to express themselves,” he said. “In the world of COVID, it’s bumper stickers, tweets and boat parades.”There’s definitely a high school pep rally feel to the Trump parades, with participants flying their colors and chanting in unison.In eastern Tennessee, spectators in mid-October lined a 4-mile stretch of road through the town of Rutledge to cheer dozens of tractors, antique cars, motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles decorated with flags and banners celebrating the conservative cause.“It was bigger than any Christmas parade we ever had,” said Mike Cameron, Grainger County’s GOP chairman. “And that’s the biggest thing that happens in Rutledge.”Biden’s supporters have countered with a few car rallies of their own, but his campaign has stayed away from such events to avoid spreading the virus, running an almost&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/c9b1ac944e8e759de99ced3a5ff90022">entirely virtual strategy&nbsp;</a>of reaching voters. The difference has been notable to Trump’s fans who are hosting and attending the parades.“It’s really got to deject the other side,” said Blaise Greco, who organized a Trump parade near Hazleton, Pennsylvania, that drew more than 400 cars and motorcycles in early October. “Where’s their enthusiasm? Where’s their flags? Where’s their cars?”

Road rallies in Kansas, boat parades buoy Trump, supporters

DENVER (AP) — On a freezing afternoon in the snow, Patrick Mahomes barely broke a sweat.

The Kansas City Chiefs routed the Broncos 43-16 for their 10th consecutive win over Denver despite failing to convert a single third down (0-for-8) and getting just 200 yards and at touchdown from their star quarterback.

The Chiefs got a pick-6, a kickoff return for a TD, two rushing TDs, including one from his backup, and three field goals to more than make up for Mahomes’ pedestrian numbers.

“I deal with him every day and all he wants to do is win,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. “It’s crazy. You know how he’s wired. But that’s what’s real every day. He wants to rip your heart out when he’s out there playing. He wants to do well and do all that. But when other people are scoring, he’s jumping up and down, likewise. He just wants to win. That’s the beauty of him.”

“Whenever you feel like you don’t play a great game offensively and you win by 27 it’s a good feeling,” Mahomes said. “A win’s a win.”

“I can play a whole lot better, and I’m going to,” said Broncos QB Drew Lock, who threw for 254 yards with no TDs and two interceptions.

Mahomes completed 15 of 23 passes but said he only worries about results, not statistics.

“A young Patrick would’ve probably tried to force it and thrown a ball and maybe made a bad interception or something like that,” Mahomes said, relaying a conversation he had with teammate Tyrann Mathieu. “Whereas, now, seeing the way the defense was playing and knowing it’s not there, just kind of either taking the sack or not completing the pass and throwing it away” is the way to go.

“You have to learn ways to win in this league,” Mahomes said. “It’s not always going to be 400 passing yards or 200 rushing yards or whatever it is. It’s going to be finding ways to win. I think this team is doing a great job of doing that.”

The Chiefs (6-1) found other ways to dominate Denver (2-4) on a snowy afternoon that began with a temperature of 14 degrees at kickoff, the coldest October game in Broncos history.

Kansas City took a 24-9 halftime lead even though Mahomes completed just one pass in the second quarter and had only 99 yards through the air in the first half.

Mahomes finally extended his NFL-leading streak to 17 consecutive games with a touchdown throw when he hit Tyreek Hill from 10 yards to make it 37-9 with 11 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.

Mahomes’ lone TD throw followed the Chiefs’ fourth takeaway, an interception by Mathieu when rookie KJ Hamler let Lock’s pass bounce off him and right into the arms of the Chiefs star safety.

A week after the Chiefs ran more times than they threw it for the first time in Reid’s eight seasons in Kansas City, it was K.C.’s ground game, special teams and defense that did the damage in Denver in the NFL’s first snow game of 2020.

In the first half, the Chiefs scored touchdowns on Byron Pringle’s 102--yard kickoff return&nbsp;and Daniel Sorensen’s 50-yard interception return&nbsp;to go with Clyde Edwards-Helaire’s 11-yard run in which he broke five tackles.

“You’re not going to beat a team like Kansas City doing that,” lamented Broncos coach Vic Fangio, whose team has been outscored 96-25 in three games against the Chiefs.

Edwards-Hilaire carved his way through a wall of Denver defenders to open the scoring on a snowy, freezing afternoon.

Running up the middle, the rookie plowed through linebacker Alexander Johnson and defensive backs Kareem Jackson, Bryce Callahan, Justin Simmons and Michael Ojemudia like a bowling ball knocking down pins.

The Broncos responded with Lock’s first career touchdown, from 2 yards, but Brandon McManus missed the extra point, leaving Kansas City ahead 7-6, and the Chiefs would never trail.

This game marked the first time running backs Melvin Gordon and Phillip Lindsay were both healthy since the opener, but Lindsay went out with a concussion just before halftime after gaining 79 yards on nine carries. He didn’t return.

Gordon, who missed last week’s win at New England with strep throat a few days after his arrest for driving under the influence, scored a touchdown but turned the ball over twice, including on a failed flea flicker&nbsp;on Denver’s first drive of the second half.

Frank Clark recovered the loose ball, leading to a field goal and a 27-9 lead.

Le'Veon Bell ran six times for 39 yards in his Chiefs debut, and Edwards-Helaire had 46 yards on eight carries.

Lock gave Broncos fans a scare on a scramble, falling awkwardly when his left knee brace got caught in the grass.

“That was weird. I’ve worn that brace for three years now and never once has that happened to me,” Lock said. “I tried to stand up and the brace was locked, so that’s why I had to fall back down. Because if I was to keep trying to stand up, both ends of that brace were going to cut me.”

Broncos: Lindsay (concussion), DL Shelby Harris (wrist), WR Tim Patrick (hamstring), DL Mike Purcell (foot) and DE Derrek Tuszka (hamstring).

Broncos: Host Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday.

DENVER (AP) — On a freezing afternoon in the snow, Patrick Mahomes barely broke a sweat.The Kansas City Chiefs routed the Broncos 43-16 for their 10th consecutive win over Denver despite failing to convert a single third down (0-for-8) and getting just 200 yards and at touchdown from their star quarterback.The Chiefs got a pick-6, a kickoff return for a TD, two rushing TDs, including one from his backup, and three field goals to more than make up for Mahomes’ pedestrian numbers.“I deal with him every day and all he wants to do is win,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. “It’s crazy. You know how he’s wired. But that’s what’s real every day. He wants to rip your heart out when he’s out there playing. He wants to do well and do all that. But when other people are scoring, he’s jumping up and down, likewise. He just wants to win. That’s the beauty of him.”“Whenever you feel like you don’t play a great game offensively and you win by 27 it’s a good feeling,” Mahomes said. “A win’s a win.”And for Denver, a loss is a loss. Again.“I can play a whole lot better, and I’m going to,” said Broncos QB Drew Lock, who threw for 254 yards with no TDs and two interceptions.Mahomes completed 15 of 23 passes but said he only worries about results, not statistics.“A young Patrick would’ve probably tried to force it and thrown a ball and maybe made a bad interception or something like that,” Mahomes said, relaying a conversation he had with teammate Tyrann Mathieu. “Whereas, now, seeing the way the defense was playing and knowing it’s not there, just kind of either taking the sack or not completing the pass and throwing it away” is the way to go.“You have to learn ways to win in this league,” Mahomes said. “It’s not always going to be 400 passing yards or 200 rushing yards or whatever it is. It’s going to be finding ways to win. I think this team is doing a great job of doing that.”The Chiefs (6-1) found other ways to dominate Denver (2-4) on a snowy afternoon that began with a temperature of 14 degrees at kickoff, the coldest October game in Broncos history.Kansas City took a 24-9 halftime lead even though Mahomes completed just one pass in the second quarter and had only 99 yards through the air in the first half.Mahomes finally extended his NFL-leading streak to 17 consecutive games with a touchdown throw when he hit Tyreek Hill from 10 yards to make it 37-9 with 11 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.Mahomes’ lone TD throw followed the Chiefs’ fourth takeaway, an interception by Mathieu when rookie KJ Hamler let Lock’s pass bounce off him and right into the arms of the Chiefs star safety.A week after the Chiefs ran more times than they threw it for the first time in Reid’s eight seasons in Kansas City, it was K.C.’s ground game, special teams and defense that did the damage in Denver in the NFL’s first snow game of 2020.In the first half, the Chiefs scored touchdowns on Byron Pringle’s 102--yard kickoff return&nbsp;and Daniel Sorensen’s 50-yard interception return&nbsp;to go with Clyde Edwards-Helaire’s 11-yard run in which he broke five tackles.“You’re not going to beat a team like Kansas City doing that,” lamented Broncos coach Vic Fangio, whose team has been outscored 96-25 in three games against the Chiefs.Edwards-Hilaire carved his way through a wall of Denver defenders to open the scoring on a snowy, freezing afternoon.Running up the middle, the rookie plowed through linebacker Alexander Johnson and defensive backs Kareem Jackson, Bryce Callahan, Justin Simmons and Michael Ojemudia like a bowling ball knocking down pins.The Broncos responded with Lock’s first career touchdown, from 2 yards, but Brandon McManus missed the extra point, leaving Kansas City ahead 7-6, and the Chiefs would never trail.1-2 PUNCH:This game marked the first time running backs Melvin Gordon and Phillip Lindsay were both healthy since the opener, but Lindsay went out with a concussion just before halftime after gaining 79 yards on nine carries. He didn’t return.Gordon, who missed last week’s win at New England with strep throat a few days after his arrest for driving under the influence, scored a touchdown but turned the ball over twice, including on a failed flea flicker&nbsp;on Denver’s first drive of the second half.Frank Clark recovered the loose ball, leading to a field goal and a 27-9 lead.BELL TOLLSLe'Veon Bell ran six times for 39 yards in his Chiefs debut, and Edwards-Helaire had 46 yards on eight carries.LOCK SCARELock gave Broncos fans a scare on a scramble, falling awkwardly when his left knee brace got caught in the grass.“That was weird. I’ve worn that brace for three years now and never once has that happened to me,” Lock said. “I tried to stand up and the brace was locked, so that’s why I had to fall back down. Because if I was to keep trying to stand up, both ends of that brace were going to cut me.”INJURIESChiefs: none.Broncos: Lindsay (concussion), DL Shelby Harris (wrist), WR Tim Patrick (hamstring), DL Mike Purcell (foot) and DE Derrek Tuszka (hamstring).UP NEXT:Chiefs: Host New York Jets on Sunday.Broncos: Host Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday.

🏈 Chiefs rout Broncos as Mahomes barely breaks a sweat

SEDGWICK COUNTY — A Kansas man arrested Oct. 18 in connection with a violent attack on woman made his first court appearance in the case this week.

Deadrian Burns, 30, Wichita, is charged with&nbsp;aggravated kidnapping, 2 counts of aggravated battery, 2 counts of aggravated domestic battery, aggravated endangering a child, criminal threat, and a misdemeanor count of battery, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

Just after 11:30 p.m. October 18, police responded to an assault call at a residence in the 5100 block of East New Jersey Drive in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson. 

Upon arrival, officers located 30-year-old Deadrian Burns physically fighting with a 44-year-old man outside of the residence. 

Police also contacted a 25-year-old&nbsp; woman after she locked herself in a vehicle with her two-month-old son. EMS transported the 25-year-old and her 2-month-old to a local hospital with serious injuries, according to Davidson.

The investigation revealed that Burns, his 25-year-old ex-girlfriend, and her 44-year-old family member were at the residence celebrating a birthday. Burns and the 44-year-old man left together to go to a store. While at the store, they got into a verbal argument, and the 44-year-old left, leaving Burns behind. Burns walked back to the residence and assaulted the 25-year-old woman, threatened her, and strangled her to the point of unconsciousness. He also dropped the 2-month-old on the ground outside.

Burns then called the 44-year-old and threatened to harm the 25-year-old if he did not return to the house. When he arrived, the two physically fought while the woman locked herself in a vehicle and called 911.

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a man after a violent attack on a woman.

Just after 11:30 p.m. Sunday, police responded to an assault call at a residence in the 5100 block of East New Jersey Drive in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson. 

Police arrested Burns on requested charges of&nbsp;attempted first-degree murder and aggravated battery.&nbsp; He remains jailed on a $100,000 bond, according to<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1533/DRAFT-COVID-19-Vaccination-Plan-for-Kansas-Version11-10162020"> online jail records.</a>

The case will be presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1603225539777.png" alt="Burns-photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Burns-photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY — A Kansas man arrested Oct. 18 in connection with a violent attack on woman made his first court appearance in the case this week.Deadrian Burns, 30, Wichita, is charged with&nbsp;aggravated kidnapping, 2 counts of aggravated battery, 2 counts of aggravated domestic battery, aggravated endangering a child, criminal threat, and a misdemeanor count of battery, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.Just after 11:30 p.m. October 18, police responded to an assault call at a residence in the 5100 block of East New Jersey Drive in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson. Upon arrival, officers located 30-year-old Deadrian Burns physically fighting with a 44-year-old man outside of the residence. Police also contacted a 25-year-old&nbsp; woman after she locked herself in a vehicle with her two-month-old son. EMS transported the 25-year-old and her 2-month-old to a local hospital with serious injuries, according to Davidson.The investigation revealed that Burns, his 25-year-old ex-girlfriend, and her 44-year-old family member were at the residence celebrating a birthday. Burns and the 44-year-old man left together to go to a store. While at the store, they got into a verbal argument, and the 44-year-old left, leaving Burns behind. Burns walked back to the residence and assaulted the 25-year-old woman, threatened her, and strangled her to the point of unconsciousness. He also dropped the 2-month-old on the ground outside.Burns then called the 44-year-old and threatened to harm the 25-year-old if he did not return to the house. When he arrived, the two physically fought while the woman locked herself in a vehicle and called 911.------SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a man after a violent attack on a woman.Just after 11:30 p.m. Sunday, police responded to an assault call at a residence in the 5100 block of East New Jersey Drive in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson. Upon arrival, officers located 30-year-old Deadrian Burns physically fighting with a 44-year-old man outside of the residence. Police also contacted a 25-year-old&nbsp; woman after she locked herself in a vehicle with her two-month-old son. EMS transported the 25-year-old and her 2-month-old to a local hospital with serious injuries, according to Davidson.The investigation revealed that Burns, his 25-year-old ex-girlfriend, and her 44-year-old family member were at the residence celebrating a birthday. Burns and the 44-year-old man left together to go to a store. While at the store, they got into a verbal argument, and the 44-year-old left, leaving Burns behind. Burns walked back to the residence and assaulted the 25-year-old woman, threatened her, and strangled her to the point of unconsciousness. He also dropped the 2-month-old on the ground outside.Burns then called the 44-year-old and threatened to harm the 25-year-old if he did not return to the house. When he arrived, the two physically fought while the woman locked herself in a vehicle and called 911.Police arrested Burns on requested charges of&nbsp;attempted first-degree murder and aggravated battery.&nbsp; He remains jailed on a $100,000 bond, according to<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1533/DRAFT-COVID-19-Vaccination-Plan-for-Kansas-Version11-10162020"> online jail records.</a>The case will be presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office.

Kan. man charged for violent attack on woman, infant

David E. Keller, 59, passed away Saturday, October 10, 2020, at the Andbe Home, Norton, KS. There are no services planned at this time.

David E. Keller, 59, passed away Saturday, October 10, 2020, at the Andbe Home, Norton, KS. There are no services planned at this time.

David E. Keller

Shirley J. Wallen, 78, passed away Wednesday, October 21, 2020, at the Osborne County Memorial Hospital, Osborne, KS. Services are pending with All Faiths Funeral Chapel.

Shirley J. Wallen, 78, passed away Wednesday, October 21, 2020, at the Osborne County Memorial Hospital, Osborne, KS. Services are pending with All Faiths Funeral Chapel.

Shirley J. Wallen

Donna Lea Hale, age 93, of Norton, passed away October 24, 2020, at the Andbe Home.  

A full obituary and funeral service information is pending with Enfield Funeral Home.

Donna Lea Hale, age 93, of Norton, passed away October 24, 2020, at the Andbe Home. A full obituary and funeral service information is pending with Enfield Funeral Home.

Donna Lea Hale

E. Kay LeBeau, age 78, of Norton, passed away October 22, 2020, at the Andbe Home.

Visitation for Kay will be Tuesday, October 27, 2020, from 5 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the Enfield Funeral Home in Norton.  A rosary service will be held Tuesday evening at 7:00 p.m. also at the funeral home.  Graveside service and interment will be Wednesday, October 28th, at 2:00 p.m. at the Norton Cemetery.  Memorials have been established to the Norton Public Library and St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church.  

A full obituary is pending with Enfield Funeral Home.

E. Kay LeBeau, age 78, of Norton, passed away October 22, 2020, at the Andbe Home.Visitation for Kay will be Tuesday, October 27, 2020, from 5 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the Enfield Funeral Home in Norton. A rosary service will be held Tuesday evening at 7:00 p.m. also at the funeral home. Graveside service and interment will be Wednesday, October 28th, at 2:00 p.m. at the Norton Cemetery. Memorials have been established to the Norton Public Library and St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church. A full obituary is pending with Enfield Funeral Home.

E. Kay LeBeau

Sylvia Carolee (Johnson) Thomas, 89, died at the Gove County Long Term 
Care in Quinter, Kansas, on Friday, October 23, 2020. She was born near 
Sharon Springs, Kansas to Charles and Iola Johnson. She was the youngest
 of five living siblings; two sisters died before she was born. Sylvia 
grew up mostly in Colorado and Kansas, and she attended school in Hoxie.
 She also attended Lincoln Bible College in Illinois. 
 Sylvia loved children, and was never far away from them. One of her 
most meaningful experiences as a young adult was working at a children’s
 home in Tennessee. She often referred to the things she saw and the 
lessons she learned there. In fact, she named one of her daughters after
 a girl at the orphanage. 
 Although she said she would not marry a farmer, that is just what 
she did on October 19, 1958, when she married Dean Leroy Thomas of 
Hoxie. The couple lived on the farm southeast of Hoxie. Sylvia stayed 
at home with the children, and later worked in the Hoxie Grade School as
 a cook for several years. 
 Sylvia was an active and devout Christian. During her life, she 
attended the Christian Church, the Church of Christ, and also Mt. 
Pleasant Baptist Church, where she was a member at the time of her 
death. She cooked and baked for countless funeral dinners, weddings, and
 pot lucks. Additionally, she was involved in the Eastern Star for 
several years. Raising three girls was a full time job, but she found 
time to sew, garden, read, play board games, visit the neighbors, and 
grow beautiful house plants. Sylvia was a dear, trusted friend to many.
 She loved to sing and had a beautiful voice. She sang hymns and 
popular songs, and often led singing at church camps or Vacation Bible 
School. 
 Sylvia is preceded in death by her husband Dean; parents Charles and
 Iola Johnson; brothers Charles, Ray, and Jay; and sisters Ruby 
(Johnson) Harrison, Ethel (Johnson) Clear, Wilma and Ruth Johnson.
 She is survived by her three daughters Carolyn (Howard) Nelson; 
Bonnie Galloway; and Linda (Dean) Cranston; grandchildren Melissa (Kelo)
 Turner, Jeremy Freeman, Joshua (Miranda) Freeman, Caleb (Alli) 
Galloway, Lexus Hooks, Jessica Mecham, and Samantha Mecham; 
great-grandchildren Jadyn Ware, Ava Thomas, Kayla Thomas, Kortlyn 
Turner, Leilani Freeman, Brooke Lynn Freeman, Josiah Freeman, Isaiah 
Burns, Tristan Williams, and Wesley Hopkins, as well as nieces, nephews,
 cousins, and friends. 
 A funeral service is planned for Saturday, November 7, at 11:00 a.m.
 at the Mickey Leopold Funeral Home in Hoxie, Kansas. Visitation will be
 held Friday, November 6, 2020 from 3:00 P.M. until 6:00 P.M. at the 
Funeral Home. Words of comfort may be left at 
www.mickeyleopoldfuneral.com

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1603655282311.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Sylvia Carolee (Johnson) Thomas, 89, died at the Gove County Long Term 
Care in Quinter, Kansas, on Friday, October 23, 2020. She was born near 
Sharon Springs, Kansas to Charles and Iola Johnson. She was the youngest
 of five living siblings; two sisters died before she was born. Sylvia 
grew up mostly in Colorado and Kansas, and she attended school in Hoxie.
 She also attended Lincoln Bible College in Illinois. 
 Sylvia loved children, and was never far away from them. One of her 
most meaningful experiences as a young adult was working at a children’s
 home in Tennessee. She often referred to the things she saw and the 
lessons she learned there. In fact, she named one of her daughters after
 a girl at the orphanage. 
 Although she said she would not marry a farmer, that is just what 
she did on October 19, 1958, when she married Dean Leroy Thomas of 
Hoxie. The couple lived on the farm southeast of Hoxie. Sylvia stayed 
at home with the children, and later worked in the Hoxie Grade School as
 a cook for several years. 
 Sylvia was an active and devout Christian. During her life, she 
attended the Christian Church, the Church of Christ, and also Mt. 
Pleasant Baptist Church, where she was a member at the time of her 
death. She cooked and baked for countless funeral dinners, weddings, and
 pot lucks. Additionally, she was involved in the Eastern Star for 
several years. Raising three girls was a full time job, but she found 
time to sew, garden, read, play board games, visit the neighbors, and 
grow beautiful house plants. Sylvia was a dear, trusted friend to many.
 She loved to sing and had a beautiful voice. She sang hymns and 
popular songs, and often led singing at church camps or Vacation Bible 
School. 
 Sylvia is preceded in death by her husband Dean; parents Charles and
 Iola Johnson; brothers Charles, Ray, and Jay; and sisters Ruby 
(Johnson) Harrison, Ethel (Johnson) Clear, Wilma and Ruth Johnson.
 She is survived by her three daughters Carolyn (Howard) Nelson; 
Bonnie Galloway; and Linda (Dean) Cranston; grandchildren Melissa (Kelo)
 Turner, Jeremy Freeman, Joshua (Miranda) Freeman, Caleb (Alli) 
Galloway, Lexus Hooks, Jessica Mecham, and Samantha Mecham; 
great-grandchildren Jadyn Ware, Ava Thomas, Kayla Thomas, Kortlyn 
Turner, Leilani Freeman, Brooke Lynn Freeman, Josiah Freeman, Isaiah 
Burns, Tristan Williams, and Wesley Hopkins, as well as nieces, nephews,
 cousins, and friends. 
 A funeral service is planned for Saturday, November 7, at 11:00 a.m.
 at the Mickey Leopold Funeral Home in Hoxie, Kansas. Visitation will be
 held Friday, November 6, 2020 from 3:00 P.M. until 6:00 P.M. at the 
Funeral Home. Words of comfort may be left at 
www.mickeyleopoldfuneral.com

Sylvia Carolee (Johnson) Thomas

By JIM MCLEAN <a href="https://www.kcur.org/politics-elections-and-government/2020-10-21/a-fear-of-the-other-party-fuels-culture-war-in-kansas-u-s-senate-race">Kansaas News Service</a>

EL DORADO, Kansas — The culture war issues that are polarizing
 national politics are also front and center in Kansas’ U.S. Senate 
contest: race, guns, abortion, climate change.

Supporters of 
Republican candidate Roger Marshall fear a wave of Democratic victories 
will trigger radical changes in the nation’s economy and culture; that 
capitalism will give way to socialism, undocumented immigrants will 
stream across the U.S.-Mexico border and individual liberties will be 
threatened.

Voters who favor Democratic candidate Barbara Bollier 
talk with similar alarm about what might happen if President Donald 
Trump wins a second term and Republicans keep their Senate majority — 
further erosion of democratic institutions and dire consequences for 
failing to act on climate change and long-neglected racial issues.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1603312925401.png" alt="El Dorado resident Hal Neukirch (right) attends an Oct. 3 rally for U.S. Senate candidate Roger Marshall and other Republican candidates. Jim McLean / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>El Dorado resident Hal Neukirch (right) attends an Oct. 3 rally for U.S. Senate candidate Roger Marshall and other Republican candidates. Jim McLean / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>By JIM MCLEAN <a href="https://www.kcur.org/politics-elections-and-government/2020-10-21/a-fear-of-the-other-party-fuels-culture-war-in-kansas-u-s-senate-race">Kansaas News Service</a>EL DORADO, Kansas — The culture war issues that are polarizing
 national politics are also front and center in Kansas’ U.S. Senate 
contest: race, guns, abortion, climate change.Supporters of 
Republican candidate Roger Marshall fear a wave of Democratic victories 
will trigger radical changes in the nation’s economy and culture; that 
capitalism will give way to socialism, undocumented immigrants will 
stream across the U.S.-Mexico border and individual liberties will be 
threatened.Voters who favor Democratic candidate Barbara Bollier 
talk with similar alarm about what might happen if President Donald 
Trump wins a second term and Republicans keep their Senate majority — 
further erosion of democratic institutions and dire consequences for 
failing to act on climate change and long-neglected racial issues.“No
 other Western democracy is remotely as polarized as America,” said 
Mugambi Jouet, an assistant law professor at Canada’s McGill University 
and author of the book, “Exceptional America: What Divides Americans 
From the World and From Each Other.”<h2>High stakes</h2>A Democrat hasn’t won a U.S. Senate race in Kansas since the Great Depression, but <a href="https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/polls/kansas/" target="_blank">several recent polls</a> suggest this year’s contest could be close.Marshall,
 a two-term congressman from western Kansas, is urging GOP voters to 
close ranks behind him, warning them that the Kansas race could 
determine whether Republicans keep their Senate majority.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600877579297.png" alt="The Kansas News Service is a local partner with ProPublica's Electionland collaboration." />
 <figcaption>The Kansas News Service is a local partner with ProPublica's Electionland collaboration.</figcaption>
 </figure>At an early October event in El Dorado, he rallied his base by 
ticking through a list of “radical” changes that he believes Democrats 
would make if given the opportunity.“They want to take away our freedoms of speech, our freedoms of religion,” Marshall said.Continuing
 down a list of hot-button issues, he said they also want to “take away 
our Second Amendment” and lift all restrictions on late-term abortions.“But I’m going up there to stop all that from happening,” he said.Bollier,
 a state senator from the Kansas City suburbs who switched parties in 
2018, is instead hoping to capitalize on voter frustration with 
Washington, D.C., and promising to bridge the partisan divide.“I’m
 not interested in the big political fights that get us nowhere,” 
Bollier said in a speech after winning the Democratic nomination in 
August. “I’m going to roll up my sleeves, find partners across the aisle
 … and simply find ways to get things done.”That’s easier said 
than done given that much of what she supports — expanding the 
Affordable Care Act and making changes to immigration policy and police 
departments — will likely encounter stiff opposition from Republicans.<h2>Divide widening</h2>Surveys
 from the Pew Research Center show divisions between Republicans and 
Democrats on a range of fundamental political values deepened during 
Trump’s presidency, surpassing once-record levels reached during Barack 
Obama’s two terms.The vast majority of Republicans and Democrats,
 81% of respondents in both parties, have unfavorable views of the other
 side, according to a <a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2017/10/05/the-partisan-divide-on-political-values-grows-even-wider/" target="_blank">2017 Pew report.</a>
 That same survey showed Americans were increasingly less likely to 
interact with people who held different political views or to seek out 
information that challenged their beliefs.Entrenched mindsets 
tied to the principles of individual liberty and religious freedom are 
contributing factors, said Jouet, the author of the book on 
polarization. They reinforce what he says is an anti-intellectual 
undercurrent that flows through American politics, which in recent 
decades has become stronger with the growth of Christian fundamentalism.“Religion plays a much more important role in American politics than in other western democracies,” he said.About 40 percent of Americans self-identify as evangelicals, according to a<a href="https://news.gallup.com/opinion/polling-matters/235208/things-know-evangelicals-america.aspx" target="_blank"> 2018 Gallup Poll.</a><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1603313030746.png" alt="Marian Stevens shows her support for President Donald Trump at an Oct. 7 rally in Overland Park, Kansas, for U.S. Senate candidate Roger Marshall and other Republicans. Jim McLean" />
 <figcaption>Marian Stevens shows her support for President Donald Trump at an Oct. 7 rally in Overland Park, Kansas, for U.S. Senate candidate Roger Marshall and other Republicans. Jim McLean</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Voters’ concerns</h2>Hal Neukirch stood out at the 
Republican rally in El Dorado. Wearing a bright red “Kansas for Trump” 
hat, the retired aerospace worker said he’s backing the president even 
though it’s cost him friends — including one he’s known for 50 years — 
because he believes a Trump defeat would trigger “a massive swing to … 
socialism.”“Some people have their heads in the sand to think that we wouldn’t go that way,” he said, “but I truly believe we will.”At
 a GOP tour stop in Overland Park, Marian Stevens said she supports 
Trump because God chose him to “save this country.” His defeat, she 
said, would trigger the “end times”“It would mean this country is asking to be removed from God’s grace and he would take his arms from around us,” Stevens said.Democrats,
 independents and a smattering of moderate Republicans at a Bollier 
rally in Salina had different concerns if Trump is re-elected and 
Democrats don’t gain enough power in Congress to check him."I 
think our democracy is on the line," said Dee Williamston, a district 
leader for the United Methodist Church in Kansas. "Hands down, this is 
the most important election in the 21st century."Williamston is 
Black, and pushed Bollier on whether she supports the Black Lives Matter
 movement and efforts to change policing. And overall, Williamston said,
 if Trump wins a second term, she believes there would be further 
attacks on voting rights and policies aimed at ending racial inequities.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1603313073801.png" alt="Dee Williamston (left) listens to Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Barbara Bollier at a Sept. 26 rally in Salina. Jim McLean" />
 <figcaption>Dee Williamston (left) listens to Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Barbara Bollier at a Sept. 26 rally in Salina. Jim McLean</figcaption>
 </figure>“They have their head in the sand when it comes to issues around 
race, power and privilege,” Williamston said, referring to the president
 and Republicans in Congress.But Marshall, whose father was the 
police chief of El Dorado for 25 years, decries “the violence” that he 
said Black Lives Matter protests triggered in some U.S. cities. In an 
interview, he said systemic racism and police violence against people of
 color might be a problem in some parts of the country, but not in 
Kansas.“I don’t see that,” he said. “I just really, really don’t.”There’s
 yet another divisive issue, brought back into the forefront with the 
U.S. Supreme Court nomination hearings, and that’s abortion. Pam 
McIntyre, a Bollier supporter from Salina, is concerned the Senate race 
could turn on the issue.“I have some friends that are literally 
one-issue voters,” McIntyre said. “I try so desperately to get them to 
see that pro-life is so much more than just birthing a baby.”Marshall, who is a retired obstetrician, and Republican political action committees are attacking Bollier in campaign ads for<a href="https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/key-votes/119434/barbara-bollier/2/abortion" target="_blank"> voting against a 2015 measure</a> to ban a relatively rare procedure known as a dilation and evacuation abortion.That
 measure was struck down in 2019 by the Kansas Supreme Court when it 
ruled that Kansans have a constitutional right to an abortion. And the 
Kansas House narrowly rejected a <a href="https://www.kcur.org/government/2020-02-07/four-kansas-republicans-stopped-their-partys-anti-abortion-bill-but-gop-says-its-not-over" target="_blank">proposed amendment </a>in the 2020 session that would have added language Constitution stating that there is no state right to abortion.Bollier
 has consistently voted to protect Kansans’ abortion rights, saying 
women should be free to make their own choices in consultation with 
their doctors. A retired anesthesiologist, she also said it would have 
been malpractice for her to support an unconstitutional bill.Jim McLean is the senior correspondent for the Kansas News Service. You can reach him on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/jmcleanks?lang=en" target="_blank">@jmcleanks</a> or email jim@kcur.org.