Gerald Lee “Jerry” Hoffman, 77, 
originally from Hays, Kansas, died October 2, 2020 in his sleep at his 
home in Evergreen, Colorado.

He was born August 1, 1943 at home in 
Hays, the son of John and Agnes (Carlin) Hoffman.&nbsp; He was a graduate of 
Hays High School in 1961 and a graduate of Fort Hays Kansas State 
College, earning a B.S. degree in chemistry in 1965 and an M.S. degree 
in chemistry in 1966.&nbsp; After leaving Hays, he went on to earn a Ph.D. 
degree in chemistry in 1971 from the University of Hawaii.&nbsp; On September
 4, 1971, he married Eva Jernigan in Houston, Texas.&nbsp; He is survived by 
his wife of 49 years.&nbsp; He worked as a post-doctoral fellow at the 
University of Rhode Island, as a research chemist at EPA in 
Narragansett, Rhode Island, and for the U.S. Geological Survey in the 
Denver, Colorado area.&nbsp;

While in high school he worked several 
jobs; doing maintenance work on a motel near the airport, at a bakery 
shop, and at a gas station.&nbsp; He was a frequent visitor to the old Hays 
Public Library and ran track.&nbsp; While in college, he worked at the KSU 
Experiment Station and was well known for dropping in on his sisters at 
supper time.&nbsp; They figured out easily.&nbsp; He wasn’t exactly subtle.&nbsp; 
Although he worked hard, he also played hard.&nbsp; His first love was an old
 car, which he souped up.&nbsp; He and his brother Larry built themselves a 
boat in the Hays High shop.&nbsp; Then they and a cousin, Gary Feltis, took 
the boat out to cruise on Big Creek.&nbsp; Jerry was also a founding father 
of the high school fraternity known as the ‘Old Codgers’.&nbsp; Their secret 
greeting, not much of a secret, was a pounding on the chest with a 
cough.&nbsp; It was their sarcastic answer to the ‘Young Turks’, a clique of 
jocks.&nbsp; By the time they graduated, the ‘Old Codgers’ had risen to 
prominence, the hippest of the hip.&nbsp;

Jerry was determined to continue his 
education, but the local draft board had a completely different plan in 
mind.&nbsp; They classified Jerry 1A even though he had several graduate 
school offers.&nbsp; Jerry appealed the decision to the state board and they 
ruled in Jerry’s favor, overruling the local board.&nbsp; This did not go 
over well.&nbsp; For years afterwards, the local draft board would send Jerry
 an annual letter.&nbsp; First, they accused Jerry of fleeing the United 
States by going to the University of Hawaii.&nbsp; By this time, Hawaii had 
been a state for several years.&nbsp; Then, they wanted him to tell them what
 made his education special.&nbsp; It seemed that every year, professors at 
the university would write letters on his behalf.&nbsp; Although he had 
obvious intellectual capacity and was serious about science, he was 
well-rounded, well-read, and could get along with most everyone.&nbsp; He 
looked at life with a sense of humor.

There will be no funeral service.&nbsp; 
Instead, Jerry’s family and friends are hosting a picnic with fried 
chicken and the fixings from 12:00 noon until 3:00 pm on Saturday, July 
17, 2021 at East Frontier Park in Hays.&nbsp; Just bring your favorite Jerry 
stories.&nbsp; Jerry will be there in spirit because he lives in our hearts 
and memories.&nbsp; Condolences and memories of Jerry may be shared with the 
family at www.haysmemorial.com &nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1625856347733.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Gerald Lee “Jerry” Hoffman, 77, 
originally from Hays, Kansas, died October 2, 2020 in his sleep at his 
home in Evergreen, Colorado.He was born August 1, 1943 at home in 
Hays, the son of John and Agnes (Carlin) Hoffman.&nbsp; He was a graduate of 
Hays High School in 1961 and a graduate of Fort Hays Kansas State 
College, earning a B.S. degree in chemistry in 1965 and an M.S. degree 
in chemistry in 1966.&nbsp; After leaving Hays, he went on to earn a Ph.D. 
degree in chemistry in 1971 from the University of Hawaii.&nbsp; On September
 4, 1971, he married Eva Jernigan in Houston, Texas.&nbsp; He is survived by 
his wife of 49 years.&nbsp; He worked as a post-doctoral fellow at the 
University of Rhode Island, as a research chemist at EPA in 
Narragansett, Rhode Island, and for the U.S. Geological Survey in the 
Denver, Colorado area.&nbsp;While in high school he worked several 
jobs; doing maintenance work on a motel near the airport, at a bakery 
shop, and at a gas station.&nbsp; He was a frequent visitor to the old Hays 
Public Library and ran track.&nbsp; While in college, he worked at the KSU 
Experiment Station and was well known for dropping in on his sisters at 
supper time.&nbsp; They figured out easily.&nbsp; He wasn’t exactly subtle.&nbsp; 
Although he worked hard, he also played hard.&nbsp; His first love was an old
 car, which he souped up.&nbsp; He and his brother Larry built themselves a 
boat in the Hays High shop.&nbsp; Then they and a cousin, Gary Feltis, took 
the boat out to cruise on Big Creek.&nbsp; Jerry was also a founding father 
of the high school fraternity known as the ‘Old Codgers’.&nbsp; Their secret 
greeting, not much of a secret, was a pounding on the chest with a 
cough.&nbsp; It was their sarcastic answer to the ‘Young Turks’, a clique of 
jocks.&nbsp; By the time they graduated, the ‘Old Codgers’ had risen to 
prominence, the hippest of the hip.&nbsp;Jerry was determined to continue his 
education, but the local draft board had a completely different plan in 
mind.&nbsp; They classified Jerry 1A even though he had several graduate 
school offers.&nbsp; Jerry appealed the decision to the state board and they 
ruled in Jerry’s favor, overruling the local board.&nbsp; This did not go 
over well.&nbsp; For years afterwards, the local draft board would send Jerry
 an annual letter.&nbsp; First, they accused Jerry of fleeing the United 
States by going to the University of Hawaii.&nbsp; By this time, Hawaii had 
been a state for several years.&nbsp; Then, they wanted him to tell them what
 made his education special.&nbsp; It seemed that every year, professors at 
the university would write letters on his behalf.&nbsp; Although he had 
obvious intellectual capacity and was serious about science, he was 
well-rounded, well-read, and could get along with most everyone.&nbsp; He 
looked at life with a sense of humor.There will be no funeral service.&nbsp; 
Instead, Jerry’s family and friends are hosting a picnic with fried 
chicken and the fixings from 12:00 noon until 3:00 pm on Saturday, July 
17, 2021 at East Frontier Park in Hays.&nbsp; Just bring your favorite Jerry 
stories.&nbsp; Jerry will be there in spirit because he lives in our hearts 
and memories.&nbsp; Condolences and memories of Jerry may be shared with the 
family at www.haysmemorial.com &nbsp;&nbsp;

Gerald Lee 'Jerry' Hoffman

John Ronald&nbsp;Squire, age 87, died on Tuesday, July 6, 2021, at the St. 
Catherine Hospital in Garden City, Kansas.&nbsp; He was born on July 3, 2021,&nbsp; in Syracuse, Kansas, the son of William A and Rosa Fulton Squire.

He was a member of the Bible Christian Church in Garden City, Kansas.&nbsp; Ron worked for the Kansas Department of Water Resources.

After graduation of high school Ron worked on the family farm before serving his country in the United States Army.

He was united in marriage to Lola Brownlee on June 9, 1957, at the 
Burdett Methodist Church in Burdett, Kansas.&nbsp; She preceded him in death 
on October 19, 2019.

Sister Nell (Junior) Lewis of Vernel, Utah

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, two sisters and one brother.

Graveside services will be held at 11 am MST at the Syracuse Cemetery in Syracuse, Kansas.

Visitation will be held on Friday, July 9, 2021, from 10-8 CST at Price &amp; Sons Funeral Home of Garden City, Kansas.

Memorials are suggested to the Bible Christian Church or Garden 
Valley Retirement Village in care of Price &amp; Sons Funeral Home, 620 
N. Main St. Garden City, Kansas 67846.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1625777130556.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>John Ronald&nbsp;Squire, age 87, died on Tuesday, July 6, 2021, at the St. 
Catherine Hospital in Garden City, Kansas.&nbsp; He was born on July 3, 2021,&nbsp; in Syracuse, Kansas, the son of William A and Rosa Fulton Squire.He was a member of the Bible Christian Church in Garden City, Kansas.&nbsp; Ron worked for the Kansas Department of Water Resources.After graduation of high school Ron worked on the family farm before serving his country in the United States Army.He was united in marriage to Lola Brownlee on June 9, 1957, at the 
Burdett Methodist Church in Burdett, Kansas.&nbsp; She preceded him in death 
on October 19, 2019.Survivors include:Sister Nell (Junior) Lewis of Vernel, UtahMany Nieces and Nephews.He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, two sisters and one brother.Graveside services will be held at 11 am MST at the Syracuse Cemetery in Syracuse, Kansas.Visitation will be held on Friday, July 9, 2021, from 10-8 CST at Price &amp; Sons Funeral Home of Garden City, Kansas.Memorials are suggested to the Bible Christian Church or Garden 
Valley Retirement Village in care of Price &amp; Sons Funeral Home, 620 
N. Main St. Garden City, Kansas 67846.

John Ronald Squire

Rosita Mae (Herman) Augustine, age 79, 
passed away Saturday, May 29, 2021, in Greeley, CO. She was born October 
6, 1941, in Hays, KS to August and Mary (Kisner) Herman Sr. She attended 
Ellis High School and married the love of her life Robert Augustine on 
June 7, 1958, in Ellis at St. Mary’s Catholic Church.

Rosita was a homemaker who loved 
cooking and baking. She enjoyed playing cards especially pinochle and 
spending time with her family. Rosita was a member of St. Mary’s 
Catholic Church.

Those left to cherish her memory are 
her five children: Stacy Befort (Steve), Ellis, KS; Robert 
(Bob) Augustine Jr. (Dorreen), Marlow, Buckinghamshire, England; Donna 
Behring (Craig); Flower Mound, TX; Lonny Augustine (Tina), Eaton, CO; 
and Kevin Augustine (Kathy), Billings MT; two brothers, George Herman of
 Abilene and Kenneth Herman(Ruth)of Topeka; 15 grandchildren and 11 
great grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her husband
 of 44 years, her parents; a granddaughter; Chanel Augustine, 
great-grandson; Kash Dreiling; four brothers, Marvin, Paul, Ralph, and 
Augie Herman Jr. and three sisters, Mary Ryder, Matilda Markos and Ann 
Whitney.

Memorial Mass will be held at 2:00 p.m.
 on Saturday, July 10, 2021 at St. Mary's Catholic Church 703 Monroe 
Street in Ellis, Kansas. She will be laid to rest next to her husband in
 a private family burial at St. Mary's Cemetery in Ellis.

Memorial to be decided at a later date with memorial or cards mailed to:&nbsp;Keithley Funeral Homes P.O. Box 86&nbsp;Hays, KS 67601

Condolences may be left by guest book at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or by email at keithleyfuneralhomes@gmail.com

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1625682597733.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Rosita Mae (Herman) Augustine, age 79, 
passed away Saturday, May 29, 2021, in Greeley, CO. She was born October 
6, 1941, in Hays, KS to August and Mary (Kisner) Herman Sr. She attended 
Ellis High School and married the love of her life Robert Augustine on 
June 7, 1958, in Ellis at St. Mary’s Catholic Church.Rosita was a homemaker who loved 
cooking and baking. She enjoyed playing cards especially pinochle and 
spending time with her family. Rosita was a member of St. Mary’s 
Catholic Church.Those left to cherish her memory are 
her five children: Stacy Befort (Steve), Ellis, KS; Robert 
(Bob) Augustine Jr. (Dorreen), Marlow, Buckinghamshire, England; Donna 
Behring (Craig); Flower Mound, TX; Lonny Augustine (Tina), Eaton, CO; 
and Kevin Augustine (Kathy), Billings MT; two brothers, George Herman of
 Abilene and Kenneth Herman(Ruth)of Topeka; 15 grandchildren and 11 
great grandchildren.She is preceded in death by her husband
 of 44 years, her parents; a granddaughter; Chanel Augustine, 
great-grandson; Kash Dreiling; four brothers, Marvin, Paul, Ralph, and 
Augie Herman Jr. and three sisters, Mary Ryder, Matilda Markos and Ann 
Whitney.Memorial Mass will be held at 2:00 p.m.
 on Saturday, July 10, 2021 at St. Mary's Catholic Church 703 Monroe 
Street in Ellis, Kansas. She will be laid to rest next to her husband in
 a private family burial at St. Mary's Cemetery in Ellis.Memorial to be decided at a later date with memorial or cards mailed to:&nbsp;Keithley Funeral Homes P.O. Box 86&nbsp;Hays, KS 67601Condolences may be left by guest book at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or by email at keithleyfuneralhomes@gmail.com

Rosita Mae Augustine

Donna Sue Richard, 63, passed away on July 4, 2021, at her home in 
Ness City, Kansas.&nbsp; She was born on October 6, 1957, in Pratt, Kansas 
the daughter of Kenneth and Patty (Black) Coley.

Donna worked in the cafeteria for USD 303.&nbsp; She loved serving the 
students.&nbsp; She also enjoyed talking with people and service food&nbsp; at the
 concession stand at the WaKeeney Mini-Speedway.&nbsp; On December 19th, 
1976, she married Gary Richard in Alba, Oklahoma.

Donnia is survived by her husband, Gary; sons, Terry Brady of 
Phoenix, Arizona and Christopher Richard of Springhill, Kansas; 
daughter, Christina Bostick of Oberlin, Kansas; three siblings,&nbsp; 
Charlie, Robin Ann, and Kathy; eight grandchildren, including: 
Leviathan, Candiss, Cimarron, Karissa, Becky, Katy, and Patty Jo; and 
two great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents and 
one sister, Sandy Countryman .

Funeral service will be on Saturday, July 10, 2021, 10:00 a.m. at 
Fitzgerald Funeral Home, Ness City.&nbsp; Burial in the Ness City Cemetery.&nbsp; 
Viewing will be at Fitzgerald Funeral Home on Friday, July 9 from 9:00 
a.m. until 8:00 p.m. with visitation from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m..

Memorial contributions may be given to the USD 303.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1625580164115.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Donna Sue Richard, 63, passed away on July 4, 2021, at her home in 
Ness City, Kansas.&nbsp; She was born on October 6, 1957, in Pratt, Kansas 
the daughter of Kenneth and Patty (Black) Coley.Donna worked in the cafeteria for USD 303.&nbsp; She loved serving the 
students.&nbsp; She also enjoyed talking with people and service food&nbsp; at the
 concession stand at the WaKeeney Mini-Speedway.&nbsp; On December 19th, 
1976, she married Gary Richard in Alba, Oklahoma.Donnia is survived by her husband, Gary; sons, Terry Brady of 
Phoenix, Arizona and Christopher Richard of Springhill, Kansas; 
daughter, Christina Bostick of Oberlin, Kansas; three siblings,&nbsp; 
Charlie, Robin Ann, and Kathy; eight grandchildren, including: 
Leviathan, Candiss, Cimarron, Karissa, Becky, Katy, and Patty Jo; and 
two great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents and 
one sister, Sandy Countryman .Funeral service will be on Saturday, July 10, 2021, 10:00 a.m. at 
Fitzgerald Funeral Home, Ness City.&nbsp; Burial in the Ness City Cemetery.&nbsp; 
Viewing will be at Fitzgerald Funeral Home on Friday, July 9 from 9:00 
a.m. until 8:00 p.m. with visitation from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m..Memorial contributions may be given to the USD 303.

Donna Sue Richard

MISSION, Kansas (AP) — The number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients jumped by nearly 27% over the Fourth of July weekend in a hard-hit area of Missouri where immunization rates are low, leading to a temporary ventilator shortfall and a public call for help from respiratory therapists.

The Delta variant, first identified in India, is spreading rapidly, straining hospitals in Springfield and raising fresh fears that the situation could soon grow worse as holiday gatherings seed fresh cases. Missouri leads the nation with the most new cases per capita in the past 14 days.

As of Monday, CoxHealth and the city’s other hospital, Mercy Springfield, were treating 213 COVID-19 patients, up from 168 on Friday. As recently as May 24, the two hospitals had just 31 patients.

“After what we’ve seen in the last month everyone is just holding their breath, especially after a holiday weekend like this, knowing that there were large gatherings,” said Erik Frederick, the chief administrative officer of Mercy Springfield.

Many communities that held off on Fourth of July festivities last year held them this year.

Republican Gov. Mike Parson&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/GovParsonMO/s" target="_blank">tweeted&nbsp;</a>a picture of himself at a fireworks celebration in the tourist town of Branson, a large crowd behind him. In the surrounding county, just 29.3% of residents have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine shot, state data shows. That is below the state rate of 44.7% and the national rate of 54.7% but not unlike several other southwest Missouri communities. Some have vaccination rates in the teens.

Parson last week&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mo-state-wire-michael-brown-coronavirus-pandemic-health-6fbc3d85f5305ffdb048f62ff7d94e19">urged&nbsp;</a>people to get vaccinated. But he has consistently declined to enact restrictions to control the spread of the virus, instead asking residents to take “personal responsibility.” Missouri never had a mask mandate, and Parson signed a law last month placing limits on public health restrictions and barring governments from requiring proof of vaccination to use public facilities and transportation.

His communication staff didn’t immediately return an email Monday from The Associated Press. Nor did the spokeswoman for the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.

CoxHealth in Springfield has been transferring out four or five patients a day for the past week to 10 days as it tries to bring in more traveling nurses to help, said Ashley Kimberling Casad, vice president of clinical services at the hospital.

“Our projections are only showing us continuing to go up,” she said, noting that positivity rates are spiking. “We generally see an increase in hospitalizations about two weeks after big events, so knowing it was the holiday weekend and probably lots of people spent time with family and friends and with our vaccination rates so low, we are going to expect that in two weeks it gets really, really busy.”

The situation is complication because the hospital has only about one-third of the 280 traveling nurses it had at the peak of the winter surge and is working through a backlog of patients who deferred routine care during the surge. That means it can’t handle as many COVID-19 patients as it once could.

Kimberling Casad said traveling nurses are also now harder to come by.

“They worked really hard all winter and spring and made good money so they want to take off this summer and get to spend it with their family and have fun, so we have a lot of positions posted for traveling nurses, but we are just having a harder time getting them in,” she said.

So far, Mercy Springfield has been able to avoid transfers, but the situation worsened so quickly that it ran out of ventilators at one point over the weekend and had to borrow more, said Frederick.

“Luckily we got some in before we had another patient come in who required it so we were able to keep moving and have a surplus on hand should we need it, because we escalated ventilators very quickly,” he said. “We went from the 30s to the 40s to almost 50 over about 72 hours.”

In a&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/CAOMercySGF/status/1412075853111042060" target="_blank">tweet,&nbsp;</a>he urged any respiratory therapist to “call us.”

Frederick said projections show its patient count continuing to climb through early August before the numbers gradually begin to fall slowly through October.

“We just never thought we would be back here,” he said, adding: “Unfortunately we are living in a region where the vaccine has not been adopted. It has not been accepted and here we are with hospitals full of COVID patients.”

ADVERTISEMENTTrending on AP News<a href="https://apnews.com/article/africa-olympic-games-2020-tokyo-olympics-sports-c11b5fba248c03ea6ddd7e7089818eb0">Semenya misses Tokyo, may be forced out of Olympics for good</a><a href="https://apnews.com/article/surfside-building-collapse-teen-rescued-683461b0ab759fb950729cf90fe5761e">Tale of rescue after falling several floors in Fla. collapse</a><a href="https://apnews.com/article/hawaii-19836928230df90d765c9ae4f7dfc76a">Pilot minutes before ocean crash: ‘It doesn’t look good’</a><a href="https://popup.taboola.com/en/?template=colorbox&amp;utm_source=associatedpress-apnews&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=organic-thumbnails-rr:Right%20Rail%20Thumbnails:" target="_blank">by Taboola</a>ADVERTISEMENT

MISSION, Kansas (AP) — The number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients jumped by nearly 27% over the Fourth of July weekend in a hard-hit area of Missouri where immunization rates are low, leading to a temporary ventilator shortfall and a public call for help from respiratory therapists.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">115 COVID+ <a href="https://twitter.com/MercySGF?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MercySGF</a>. Running almost 50 vents now. We are expanding to 2nd COVID ICU and a 2nd step down. Physicians, nurses and respiratory therapists are tired. Heck everyone is tired. Travel RN’s coming this week. Physician support being arranged. If you’re a RT, call us.&mdash; Erik Frederick (@CAOMercySGF) <a href="https://twitter.com/CAOMercySGF/status/1412075853111042060?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 5, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The Delta variant, first identified in India, is spreading rapidly, straining hospitals in Springfield and raising fresh fears that the situation could soon grow worse as holiday gatherings seed fresh cases. Missouri leads the nation with the most new cases per capita in the past 14 days.As of Monday, CoxHealth and the city’s other hospital, Mercy Springfield, were treating 213 COVID-19 patients, up from 168 on Friday. As recently as May 24, the two hospitals had just 31 patients.“After what we’ve seen in the last month everyone is just holding their breath, especially after a holiday weekend like this, knowing that there were large gatherings,” said Erik Frederick, the chief administrative officer of Mercy Springfield.Many communities that held off on Fourth of July festivities last year held them this year.Republican Gov. Mike Parson&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/GovParsonMO/s" target="_blank">tweeted&nbsp;</a>a picture of himself at a fireworks celebration in the tourist town of Branson, a large crowd behind him. In the surrounding county, just 29.3% of residents have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine shot, state data shows. That is below the state rate of 44.7% and the national rate of 54.7% but not unlike several other southwest Missouri communities. Some have vaccination rates in the teens.Parson last week&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mo-state-wire-michael-brown-coronavirus-pandemic-health-6fbc3d85f5305ffdb048f62ff7d94e19">urged&nbsp;</a>people to get vaccinated. But he has consistently declined to enact restrictions to control the spread of the virus, instead asking residents to take “personal responsibility.” Missouri never had a mask mandate, and Parson signed a law last month placing limits on public health restrictions and barring governments from requiring proof of vaccination to use public facilities and transportation.His communication staff didn’t immediately return an email Monday from The Associated Press. Nor did the spokeswoman for the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.CoxHealth in Springfield has been transferring out four or five patients a day for the past week to 10 days as it tries to bring in more traveling nurses to help, said Ashley Kimberling Casad, vice president of clinical services at the hospital.“Our projections are only showing us continuing to go up,” she said, noting that positivity rates are spiking. “We generally see an increase in hospitalizations about two weeks after big events, so knowing it was the holiday weekend and probably lots of people spent time with family and friends and with our vaccination rates so low, we are going to expect that in two weeks it gets really, really busy.”The situation is complication because the hospital has only about one-third of the 280 traveling nurses it had at the peak of the winter surge and is working through a backlog of patients who deferred routine care during the surge. That means it can’t handle as many COVID-19 patients as it once could.Kimberling Casad said traveling nurses are also now harder to come by.“They worked really hard all winter and spring and made good money so they want to take off this summer and get to spend it with their family and have fun, so we have a lot of positions posted for traveling nurses, but we are just having a harder time getting them in,” she said.So far, Mercy Springfield has been able to avoid transfers, but the situation worsened so quickly that it ran out of ventilators at one point over the weekend and had to borrow more, said Frederick.“Luckily we got some in before we had another patient come in who required it so we were able to keep moving and have a surplus on hand should we need it, because we escalated ventilators very quickly,” he said. “We went from the 30s to the 40s to almost 50 over about 72 hours.”In a&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/CAOMercySGF/status/1412075853111042060" target="_blank">tweet,&nbsp;</a>he urged any respiratory therapist to “call us.”Frederick said projections show its patient count continuing to climb through early August before the numbers gradually begin to fall slowly through October.“We just never thought we would be back here,” he said, adding: “Unfortunately we are living in a region where the vaccine has not been adopted. It has not been accepted and here we are with hospitals full of COVID patients.”ADVERTISEMENTTrending on AP News<a href="https://apnews.com/article/africa-olympic-games-2020-tokyo-olympics-sports-c11b5fba248c03ea6ddd7e7089818eb0">Semenya misses Tokyo, may be forced out of Olympics for good</a><a href="https://apnews.com/article/surfside-building-collapse-teen-rescued-683461b0ab759fb950729cf90fe5761e">Tale of rescue after falling several floors in Fla. collapse</a><a href="https://apnews.com/article/hawaii-19836928230df90d765c9ae4f7dfc76a">Pilot minutes before ocean crash: ‘It doesn’t look good’</a><a href="https://popup.taboola.com/en/?template=colorbox&amp;utm_source=associatedpress-apnews&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=organic-thumbnails-rr:Right%20Rail%20Thumbnails:" target="_blank">by Taboola</a>ADVERTISEMENT

Ventilator shortage: Missouri COVID hospitalizations spike

By BECKY KISER Hays Post

Hays city commissioners got their first look at the draft
2022 budget during their work session Thursday night. The mill levy will remain at
25 mills according to Toby Dougherty, city manager, even as three more city employees
will be hired next year.

"The biggest part of the allocation increases in the operating budgets are the salaries," Dougherty said. "We are making investments in our personnel this year."&nbsp;&nbsp;

The budget contains a two percent programmed step increase and three percent cost-of-living increase for all city employees.

The number of employees will increase from 181 - where it has remained since 2011 - to 184.

The city will hire another IT technician, an airport maintenance
worker, and a parks maintenance worker.

Sales tax revenues, which make up most of the general operating fund, were not down&nbsp;as drastically during last year's coronavirus pandemic as officials had feared.

They're back up in 2021, nine percent year-to-date.

"We're looking at sales tax revenues up two percent on top of that in 2022," Dougherty told commissioners. The city's share of the recently adopted Ellis County sales tax will be about $825,000.&nbsp;

Those dollars contribute most of the revenue to the general fund which pays for things such as police and fire protection, parks, sports complex,&nbsp; golf course, swimming pool, social services and economic development.

Grow Hays, the city's economic development arm, will see its budget increased to $180,000 from $100,000 as directed by city commissioners during a discussion earlier this year.&nbsp;

Still cautious of the COVID environment, Dougherty and Finance Director Kim Rupp plan to keep the unreserved fund balance a little higher than usual next year.

"Just in case we happen to see a sharp revenue reduction that we weren't planning or expecting because of things going on nationwide, we would have little bit of a buffer built into it so that we can absorb that."&nbsp;

Commission policy requires the city to carry a 10 percent unreserved balance in the general fund.&nbsp;

The city's total assessed valuation is up four percent.

"As usual, the budget is balanced and reserves are funded," Dougherty emphasized.&nbsp;

Other highlights in the 2022 budget include purchase of new municipal court records software and an additional $50,000 allocation for fuel due to rising prices.

One of the largest capital improvement projects scheduled for 2022 is $2.85 million dollars for reconstruction of south Vine Street from 13th to the Highway 183 Bypass.

Due to changes in state legislation, the city budget calendar is elongated this year by a month. The public hearing will be held September 9 and the approved budget submitted to the Ellis County Clerk on October 1.

Commissioners will continue reviewing the draft budget during work sessions on July 15 and August 5 and 19.

The <a href="https://www.haysusa.com/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/154">2022 draft budget</a> is available on the city's website.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1625279663425.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By BECKY KISER Hays PostHays city commissioners got their first look at the draft
2022 budget during their work session Thursday night. The mill levy will remain at
25 mills according to Toby Dougherty, city manager, even as three more city employees
will be hired next year."The biggest part of the allocation increases in the operating budgets are the salaries," Dougherty said. "We are making investments in our personnel this year."&nbsp;&nbsp;The budget contains a two percent programmed step increase and three percent cost-of-living increase for all city employees.The number of employees will increase from 181 - where it has remained since 2011 - to 184.The city will hire another IT technician, an airport maintenance
worker, and a parks maintenance worker.Sales tax revenues, which make up most of the general operating fund, were not down&nbsp;as drastically during last year's coronavirus pandemic as officials had feared.They're back up in 2021, nine percent year-to-date."We're looking at sales tax revenues up two percent on top of that in 2022," Dougherty told commissioners. The city's share of the recently adopted Ellis County sales tax will be about $825,000.&nbsp;Those dollars contribute most of the revenue to the general fund which pays for things such as police and fire protection, parks, sports complex,&nbsp; golf course, swimming pool, social services and economic development.Grow Hays, the city's economic development arm, will see its budget increased to $180,000 from $100,000 as directed by city commissioners during a discussion earlier this year.&nbsp;Still cautious of the COVID environment, Dougherty and Finance Director Kim Rupp plan to keep the unreserved fund balance a little higher than usual next year."Just in case we happen to see a sharp revenue reduction that we weren't planning or expecting because of things going on nationwide, we would have little bit of a buffer built into it so that we can absorb that."&nbsp;Commission policy requires the city to carry a 10 percent unreserved balance in the general fund.&nbsp;The city's total assessed valuation is up four percent."As usual, the budget is balanced and reserves are funded," Dougherty emphasized.&nbsp;<figure>
 <iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yOu2NmvChvM"></iframe>
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Other highlights in the 2022 budget include purchase of new municipal court records software and an additional $50,000 allocation for fuel due to rising prices.One of the largest capital improvement projects scheduled for 2022 is $2.85 million dollars for reconstruction of south Vine Street from 13th to the Highway 183 Bypass.Due to changes in state legislation, the city budget calendar is elongated this year by a month. The public hearing will be held September 9 and the approved budget submitted to the Ellis County Clerk on October 1.Commissioners will continue reviewing the draft budget during work sessions on July 15 and August 5 and 19.The <a href="https://www.haysusa.com/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/154">2022 draft budget</a> is available on the city's website.&nbsp;

🎥 City manager: 'We are making investments in our personnel in 2022' 

October 31, 1938
 -
 July 3, 2021

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

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

Rosa Lee Whitmer

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rental assistance fell victim to politics, bureaucracy

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ronald 'Ron' Lee Schmidt Sr.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How to switch from paper check to direct deposit

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What is the Child Tax Credit Update Portal?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Remembrances may be left at www.gudefuneralhomes.com.

Gude Mortuary in Nebraska City is in charge of arrangements.

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

Arvon John Marcotte

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

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

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

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

Yoshie Ellis

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 Rita and Virginia Lillard

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

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

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

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

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

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

Execution date set for man convicted of triple murder

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

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

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