KANSAS CITY(AP) — Tina Morton recently faced a choice: Pay bills — or buy a birthday gift for a child? Derrisa Green is falling further behind on rent. Sylvia Soliz has had her electricity cut off.

Unemployment has forced aching decisions on millions of Americans and their families in the face of a rampaging viral pandemic that has closed shops and restaurants, paralyzed travel and left millions jobless for months. Now, their predicaments stand to grow bleaker yet if Congress fails to extend two unemployment programs that are set to expire the day after Christmas.

If no agreement is reached in negotiations&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/momentum-growing-covid-19-relief-392eb300276f9df7303c64cc4e45cf0e">taking place on Capitol Hill,</a>&nbsp;more than 9 million people will lose federal jobless aid that averages about $320 a week and that typically serves as their only source of income.

Green, 39, and her husband are among them. An end to their unemployment benefits would force them to keep missing rent payments on their home in Dyer, Indiana, near Chicago. The couple have eight children. Green's husband is a self-employed truck driver whose business disappeared when the pandemic erupted in the spring. Only in October did he start to pick up occasional work.

He now receives about $235 a week in unemployment aid. Even so, “all of our bills are late,” Green said. They’ve received several shutoff notices from utilities before managing to pay just before service was to be cut off.

“That’s really scary," Green said, "because what are we going to do when we lose the unemployment money?”

The end of jobless aid is approaching at an especially perilous time. Job growth&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pandemics-health-coronavirus-pandemic-economy-17b58d8673d61754b5a85da3e53d5a07">slowed sharply in November,&nbsp;</a>and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/arizona-coronavirus-pandemic-nevada-2308b917aa4466845c1ad123fa34561f">the resurgence of viral cases&nbsp;</a>appears to be out of control across the country.

Even with the prospect of an effective vaccine being widely distributed in coming months, economists say the picture will worsen before it improves. Many foresee a net loss of jobs in December for the first time since April.

On Friday, President-elect Joe Biden&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-travel-health-coronavirus-pandemic-holiday-travel-51cac6ad45b2f7093984c7eae7c43529">called on Congress</a>&nbsp;to quickly approve&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ap-top-news-coronavirus-pandemic-local-governments-bills-mitch-mcconnell-197485a0ec4c80a18409c2cef99dd998">a bipartisan $908 billion package</a>&nbsp;that would establish a $300-a-week jobless benefit as well as send aid to states and localities, help schools and universities, revive subsidies for businesses and support transit systems and airlines. Details are still being worked out, but the outlines of a final bill could emerge soon.

More than 20 million people are now receiving unemployment benefits. More than half are beneficiaries of two programs that were part of rescue aid legislation Congress enacted in March. One program made self-employed and contract workers eligible for jobless aid for the first time and provided 39 weeks of support. The other program supplied 13 weeks of extended benefits to the 26 weeks that most states provide.

About 9.1 million who are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pandemics-jobless-claims-unemployment-coronavirus-pandemic-united-states-a9abee07cc3eb7246e7e3c8603430a49">receiving aid from those programs</a>&nbsp;will be cut off Dec. 26, according to a report from the Century Foundation. An additional 4.4 million are expected to exhaust all 39 weeks by year's end. If Congress agrees to provide more weeks of aid and to revive both programs, those beneficiaries could keep receiving aid next year.

That would be a life-saver for Sylvia Soliz who lives in Corpus Christi, Texas. Soliz, 36, who still owes part of her rent for November and December, has received an eviction notice. She's also just had her electricity cut off.

Back in March, Soliz was laid off from her job as a nurse's assistant at a senior living facility. She's now receiving $414 in jobless aid every two weeks. With four children, it doesn't go very far.

“The day I get it, it’s already gone because my kids need so many things,” Soliz said. “Of course, I have to pay a portion to whatever bill I have, so that way I can stretch it out. But every time another check comes in, it’s another bill.”

Soliz is applying for a new job, and she checks in with her old employer. So far, no luck. She also worries about contracting COVID-19. Soliz is hopeful that Congress will agree to provide more aid, but she feels “they are basically gambling with us."

A cutoff of jobless benefits now, with so many millions of Americans still receiving the aid, would be unusually early compared with previous recessions. In the aftermath of the Great Recession of 2008-2009, the government extended unemployment benefits to 99 weeks, and the additional aid lasted through 2013. When that program ended, about 1.3 million people lost benefits — a small fraction of the number who would lose jobless aid this time.

Other government protections will&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-pandemics-coronavirus-pandemic-education-student-loans-e287c7fe6d44de94e08981899d973a91">also expire at the end of this year</a>, including a federal moratorium on evictions for renters. A suspension of payments on federal student loans will&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/financial-markets-coronavirus-pandemic-student-loans-fdba50ad8d575b627284563a62aa6a5e">expire at the end of January.</a>

“I am very afraid of people facing homelessness — that’s our top concern," said Andrew Stettner, a senior fellow at the Century Foundation. “It’s a terrible unforced policy error to make. It will slow the recovery that we’re having by cutting off these benefits so early.”

About one in six renters in the United States are behind on their rent, according to a survey from the Census Bureau. And 12% of adults say their families didn't have enough to eat at some point in the past week, the survey found. That's up from just 3.7% in 2019, according to the left-leaning&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbpp.org/research/poverty-and-inequality/tracking-the-covid-19-recessions-effects-on-food-housing-and">Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.</a>

A wrenching set of choices has confronted Keli Paaske, who lives in the Kansas City area. Since being furloughed in the spring from her sales job at a company that makes fire doors, Paaske, 56, has cut back her grocery budget. She thought she'd be called back once the virus waned. But when her boss phoned in August, it was with a different message: Her job had been eliminated.

Paaske had hesitated to spend $360 needed to euthanize her 15-year old dog, who had a brain tumor, before going through with it. Without unemployment aid, Paaske isn't sure how she would manage. She may seek financial help from her parents, who are in their 80s, something she has resisted doing. If she doesn't find a job by March, she said, she'll stop leasing her car.

Across the country, a cutoff of jobless aid would disproportionately affect Black Americans, according to data from the Century Foundation. About 18% of unemployment aid recipients are Black, the Foundation said, though Black Americans make up just 12% of the workforce. More than 57% of recipients are white. Nearly 13% are Latino. (There is no demographic data on about one-fifth of recipients.)

Tina Morton used to clean houses near where she lives in Winchester, Kentucky. But there’s been little work since the pandemic struck. Like many other single mothers, she has struggled with the need to find another job while simultaneously caring for children — a son and two nephews she has custody of — who are attending school online at home.

“Single parents cannot go out here and ... just find any job," said Morton, 39. “We’ve got our kids here that are stuck at home.”

Last week, Morton had to choose between paying a phone bill and buying one of her nephews a birthday present. (She got him a present). If her jobless aid ends, she expects to face painful decisions.

She's particularly worried about her two nephews.

“That’s what hurts me the most,” she said. “My job is to give them more — give them better than where they came from.”

KANSAS CITY(AP) — Tina Morton recently faced a choice: Pay bills — or buy a birthday gift for a child? Derrisa Green is falling further behind on rent. Sylvia Soliz has had her electricity cut off.Unemployment has forced aching decisions on millions of Americans and their families in the face of a rampaging viral pandemic that has closed shops and restaurants, paralyzed travel and left millions jobless for months. Now, their predicaments stand to grow bleaker yet if Congress fails to extend two unemployment programs that are set to expire the day after Christmas.If no agreement is reached in negotiations&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/momentum-growing-covid-19-relief-392eb300276f9df7303c64cc4e45cf0e">taking place on Capitol Hill,</a>&nbsp;more than 9 million people will lose federal jobless aid that averages about $320 a week and that typically serves as their only source of income.Green, 39, and her husband are among them. An end to their unemployment benefits would force them to keep missing rent payments on their home in Dyer, Indiana, near Chicago. The couple have eight children. Green's husband is a self-employed truck driver whose business disappeared when the pandemic erupted in the spring. Only in October did he start to pick up occasional work.He now receives about $235 a week in unemployment aid. Even so, “all of our bills are late,” Green said. They’ve received several shutoff notices from utilities before managing to pay just before service was to be cut off.“That’s really scary," Green said, "because what are we going to do when we lose the unemployment money?”The end of jobless aid is approaching at an especially perilous time. Job growth&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pandemics-health-coronavirus-pandemic-economy-17b58d8673d61754b5a85da3e53d5a07">slowed sharply in November,&nbsp;</a>and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/arizona-coronavirus-pandemic-nevada-2308b917aa4466845c1ad123fa34561f">the resurgence of viral cases&nbsp;</a>appears to be out of control across the country.Even with the prospect of an effective vaccine being widely distributed in coming months, economists say the picture will worsen before it improves. Many foresee a net loss of jobs in December for the first time since April.On Friday, President-elect Joe Biden&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-travel-health-coronavirus-pandemic-holiday-travel-51cac6ad45b2f7093984c7eae7c43529">called on Congress</a>&nbsp;to quickly approve&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ap-top-news-coronavirus-pandemic-local-governments-bills-mitch-mcconnell-197485a0ec4c80a18409c2cef99dd998">a bipartisan $908 billion package</a>&nbsp;that would establish a $300-a-week jobless benefit as well as send aid to states and localities, help schools and universities, revive subsidies for businesses and support transit systems and airlines. Details are still being worked out, but the outlines of a final bill could emerge soon.More than 20 million people are now receiving unemployment benefits. More than half are beneficiaries of two programs that were part of rescue aid legislation Congress enacted in March. One program made self-employed and contract workers eligible for jobless aid for the first time and provided 39 weeks of support. The other program supplied 13 weeks of extended benefits to the 26 weeks that most states provide.About 9.1 million who are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pandemics-jobless-claims-unemployment-coronavirus-pandemic-united-states-a9abee07cc3eb7246e7e3c8603430a49">receiving aid from those programs</a>&nbsp;will be cut off Dec. 26, according to a report from the Century Foundation. An additional 4.4 million are expected to exhaust all 39 weeks by year's end. If Congress agrees to provide more weeks of aid and to revive both programs, those beneficiaries could keep receiving aid next year.That would be a life-saver for Sylvia Soliz who lives in Corpus Christi, Texas. Soliz, 36, who still owes part of her rent for November and December, has received an eviction notice. She's also just had her electricity cut off.Back in March, Soliz was laid off from her job as a nurse's assistant at a senior living facility. She's now receiving $414 in jobless aid every two weeks. With four children, it doesn't go very far.“The day I get it, it’s already gone because my kids need so many things,” Soliz said. “Of course, I have to pay a portion to whatever bill I have, so that way I can stretch it out. But every time another check comes in, it’s another bill.”Soliz is applying for a new job, and she checks in with her old employer. So far, no luck. She also worries about contracting COVID-19. Soliz is hopeful that Congress will agree to provide more aid, but she feels “they are basically gambling with us."A cutoff of jobless benefits now, with so many millions of Americans still receiving the aid, would be unusually early compared with previous recessions. In the aftermath of the Great Recession of 2008-2009, the government extended unemployment benefits to 99 weeks, and the additional aid lasted through 2013. When that program ended, about 1.3 million people lost benefits — a small fraction of the number who would lose jobless aid this time.Other government protections will&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-pandemics-coronavirus-pandemic-education-student-loans-e287c7fe6d44de94e08981899d973a91">also expire at the end of this year</a>, including a federal moratorium on evictions for renters. A suspension of payments on federal student loans will&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/financial-markets-coronavirus-pandemic-student-loans-fdba50ad8d575b627284563a62aa6a5e">expire at the end of January.</a>“I am very afraid of people facing homelessness — that’s our top concern," said Andrew Stettner, a senior fellow at the Century Foundation. “It’s a terrible unforced policy error to make. It will slow the recovery that we’re having by cutting off these benefits so early.”About one in six renters in the United States are behind on their rent, according to a survey from the Census Bureau. And 12% of adults say their families didn't have enough to eat at some point in the past week, the survey found. That's up from just 3.7% in 2019, according to the left-leaning&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbpp.org/research/poverty-and-inequality/tracking-the-covid-19-recessions-effects-on-food-housing-and">Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.</a>A wrenching set of choices has confronted Keli Paaske, who lives in the Kansas City area. Since being furloughed in the spring from her sales job at a company that makes fire doors, Paaske, 56, has cut back her grocery budget. She thought she'd be called back once the virus waned. But when her boss phoned in August, it was with a different message: Her job had been eliminated.Paaske had hesitated to spend $360 needed to euthanize her 15-year old dog, who had a brain tumor, before going through with it. Without unemployment aid, Paaske isn't sure how she would manage. She may seek financial help from her parents, who are in their 80s, something she has resisted doing. If she doesn't find a job by March, she said, she'll stop leasing her car.Across the country, a cutoff of jobless aid would disproportionately affect Black Americans, according to data from the Century Foundation. About 18% of unemployment aid recipients are Black, the Foundation said, though Black Americans make up just 12% of the workforce. More than 57% of recipients are white. Nearly 13% are Latino. (There is no demographic data on about one-fifth of recipients.)Tina Morton used to clean houses near where she lives in Winchester, Kentucky. But there’s been little work since the pandemic struck. Like many other single mothers, she has struggled with the need to find another job while simultaneously caring for children — a son and two nephews she has custody of — who are attending school online at home.“Single parents cannot go out here and ... just find any job," said Morton, 39. “We’ve got our kids here that are stuck at home.”Last week, Morton had to choose between paying a phone bill and buying one of her nephews a birthday present. (She got him a present). If her jobless aid ends, she expects to face painful decisions.She's particularly worried about her two nephews.“That’s what hurts me the most,” she said. “My job is to give them more — give them better than where they came from.”

A bleak outlook for millions facing cutoff of US jobless aid

Jeanetta Rose Deutsch, 78, passed away December 7, 2020, at Salina 
Regional Health Center. &nbsp;Her death is not COVID-related. She was born on
 October 31, 1942, Hoisington, to Bryan &amp; Sadie (Kaufman) Stalcup. 
She married Harold U. Brack and they later divorced. She then married 
Clarence Deutsch on February 26, 1979, and they later divorced.

Living in Great Bend for the last 30 years, Jeanetta previously lived
 in Hoisington. She attended First Assembly of God Church in Great Bend.
 She was a traveling OB nurse, with over 20 years of experience, having 
traveled to all 50 states. Jeanetta loved her travel nursing career, and
 enjoyed collecting lighthouses, candles and sea shells.

Survivors include, a son, Harold Dean Brack of Hutchinson; three 
daughters, Cynthia Rose Brack of Ellinwood, Alina Annette Hinson and 
husband Greg of Great Bend, and Diana Doreen "Dee" Mead and husband 
Kenny of Hoisington; a step daughter, Ruth Ellen Joiner of Great Bend; 
two sisters, Darlene Benedick and husband George of Decatur, Tex., and 
Janis Brack of Great Bend; nine grandchildren, Angel, Steven, Sara, 
Seth, Miranda, Amy, Daniel, Samantha, and Gabe; and eighteen great 
grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, 
Glenn Stalcup and Farrell Stalcup; and a sister, Lorraine Miller.

Family visitation will be held from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., Sunday, 
December 13, 2020, at Bryant Funeral Home. Memorial service will be held
 at 10:30 a.m., Monday, December 14, 2020, at First Assembly of God 
Church in Great Bend, with Pastor Dwight Dozier presiding. Masks and 
social distancing are required. Inurnment will be in the Hoisington 
Cemetery. 

Memorials have been designated to the Jeanetta Deutsch Funeral
 Expense Fund or the Sadie Stalcup Scholarship at Clara Barton 
Foundation, in care of Bryant Funeral Home.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1607381827717.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Jeanetta Rose Deutsch, 78, passed away December 7, 2020, at Salina 
Regional Health Center. &nbsp;Her death is not COVID-related. She was born on
 October 31, 1942, Hoisington, to Bryan &amp; Sadie (Kaufman) Stalcup. 
She married Harold U. Brack and they later divorced. She then married 
Clarence Deutsch on February 26, 1979, and they later divorced.Living in Great Bend for the last 30 years, Jeanetta previously lived
 in Hoisington. She attended First Assembly of God Church in Great Bend.
 She was a traveling OB nurse, with over 20 years of experience, having 
traveled to all 50 states. Jeanetta loved her travel nursing career, and
 enjoyed collecting lighthouses, candles and sea shells.Survivors include, a son, Harold Dean Brack of Hutchinson; three 
daughters, Cynthia Rose Brack of Ellinwood, Alina Annette Hinson and 
husband Greg of Great Bend, and Diana Doreen "Dee" Mead and husband 
Kenny of Hoisington; a step daughter, Ruth Ellen Joiner of Great Bend; 
two sisters, Darlene Benedick and husband George of Decatur, Tex., and 
Janis Brack of Great Bend; nine grandchildren, Angel, Steven, Sara, 
Seth, Miranda, Amy, Daniel, Samantha, and Gabe; and eighteen great 
grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, 
Glenn Stalcup and Farrell Stalcup; and a sister, Lorraine Miller.Family visitation will be held from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., Sunday, 
December 13, 2020, at Bryant Funeral Home. Memorial service will be held
 at 10:30 a.m., Monday, December 14, 2020, at First Assembly of God 
Church in Great Bend, with Pastor Dwight Dozier presiding. Masks and 
social distancing are required. Inurnment will be in the Hoisington 
Cemetery. Memorials have been designated to the Jeanetta Deutsch Funeral
 Expense Fund or the Sadie Stalcup Scholarship at Clara Barton 
Foundation, in care of Bryant Funeral Home.

Jeanetta Rose Deutsch

Harm Lipton Briery, 96, 0f Hoxie, Kansas, died Saturday December 5, 2020, at the Sheridan County Health Complex Long Term Care Unit, Hoxie, 
Kansas. 

Harm was born on November 17, 1924 to Lester W. and Hazel C. 
(Crum) Briery. Harm attended Hoxie Grade School and Sheridan 
Community High School graduating with the class of 1942. He attended 
college for one year, and in the Fall of 1943 Harm enlisted in the US 
Army. By 1944, he was on a Troop Ship to New Guinea where he was 
permanently assigned to the 6th Infantry Division as a Machine Gunner. 
The 6th Infantry division was sent to Manila. While Harm was on a 
perimeter outpost in the foothills, he was wounded by the Japanese. 
After his recovery, he was reclassified as non-combative. He returned 
to the United States Christmas Eve 1945 and discharged January 1946. On
 October 13, 1946, in Kanarado, Kansas Harm married Cleo Hatten. They 
lived most of their lives in Hoxie, Kansas where they raised a family of
 four children.
 Harm and his father, Les, built and ran the Play described as a good
 clean place where people could come in and relax and enjoy an evening 
of fun. The north side of the Play was a barber shop and shower room 
and the south side housed a lunch counter and recreation parlor. Les 
and Harm were both Barbers and worked out of the shop. This building, 
which is now the Bottle Kap Studios, is owned by Harm’s great-nephew, 
Karl Pratt. Besides eventually owning the Play, Harm was a Barber and 
rural mail carrier. He was one of the individuals who brought cable TV 
to Hoxie in the 80s, founding the cable company. Harm would do most 
anything, but his main hobby was fishing. He was a member of American 
Legion, Grinnell VFW, and Hoxie Elks. Harm was a member of the Honor 
Flight that visited Washington, D.C. October 7-9, 2009. On Saturday, 
October 16, 2019, Harm was honored with a Quilt of Valor to honor his 
service to the United States. Above all, he loved his family very much. 
 Harm lived a long and storied life.
 Harm is survived by his children, Ronald Briery (Georgia ) of 
Norton, Pamela Bryant (Fred) of Bellevue, Washington, Debra Briery of 
Kerrville, Texas, and Rick Briery (Diane) of Corvallis, Montana; six 
grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews; and 
friends.
 He was preceded in death by wife, Cleo; his parents, Lester and Hazel Briery;&nbsp; brothers, Howard ”Bud” Briery and Lester Dean Briery; and sisters, 
Helen Pratt and Harriet Neal.
 A funeral service is planned for Thursday, December 10, 2020, 10:30 
A.M., at the Mickey-Leopold Funeral Home. Interment will immediately 
follow the service in the Hoxie City Cemetery. The Grinnell VFW Post 
#2864 and Kansas Army National Guard will provide Military Honors . 
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, December 9, 2020 from Noon until
 6:00 P.M. The funeral and visitation are open to all who wish to 
attend. The family thanks you for wearing a mask to the funeral.

 
Memorials are suggested to the Sheridan County Amusement Company-Hoxie 
or the Hoxie Main Street Arts Council.  Memorials may be sent in care of
 Mickey-Leopold Funeral Home, PO Box 987, Hoxie, Kansas 67740.  Words of
 Comfort may be left at www.mickeyleopoldfuneral.com.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1607349863018.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Harm Lipton Briery, 96, 0f Hoxie, Kansas, died Saturday December 5, 2020, at the Sheridan County Health Complex Long Term Care Unit, Hoxie, 
Kansas. Harm was born on November 17, 1924 to Lester W. and Hazel C. 
(Crum) Briery. Harm attended Hoxie Grade School and Sheridan 
Community High School graduating with the class of 1942. He attended 
college for one year, and in the Fall of 1943 Harm enlisted in the US 
Army. By 1944, he was on a Troop Ship to New Guinea where he was 
permanently assigned to the 6th Infantry Division as a Machine Gunner. 
The 6th Infantry division was sent to Manila. While Harm was on a 
perimeter outpost in the foothills, he was wounded by the Japanese. 
After his recovery, he was reclassified as non-combative. He returned 
to the United States Christmas Eve 1945 and discharged January 1946. On
 October 13, 1946, in Kanarado, Kansas Harm married Cleo Hatten. They 
lived most of their lives in Hoxie, Kansas where they raised a family of
 four children.
 Harm and his father, Les, built and ran the Play described as a good
 clean place where people could come in and relax and enjoy an evening 
of fun. The north side of the Play was a barber shop and shower room 
and the south side housed a lunch counter and recreation parlor. Les 
and Harm were both Barbers and worked out of the shop. This building, 
which is now the Bottle Kap Studios, is owned by Harm’s great-nephew, 
Karl Pratt. Besides eventually owning the Play, Harm was a Barber and 
rural mail carrier. He was one of the individuals who brought cable TV 
to Hoxie in the 80s, founding the cable company. Harm would do most 
anything, but his main hobby was fishing. He was a member of American 
Legion, Grinnell VFW, and Hoxie Elks. Harm was a member of the Honor 
Flight that visited Washington, D.C. October 7-9, 2009. On Saturday, 
October 16, 2019, Harm was honored with a Quilt of Valor to honor his 
service to the United States. Above all, he loved his family very much. 
 Harm lived a long and storied life.
 Harm is survived by his children, Ronald Briery (Georgia ) of 
Norton, Pamela Bryant (Fred) of Bellevue, Washington, Debra Briery of 
Kerrville, Texas, and Rick Briery (Diane) of Corvallis, Montana; six 
grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews; and 
friends.
 He was preceded in death by wife, Cleo; his parents, Lester and Hazel Briery;&nbsp; brothers, Howard ”Bud” Briery and Lester Dean Briery; and sisters, 
Helen Pratt and Harriet Neal.
 A funeral service is planned for Thursday, December 10, 2020, 10:30 
A.M., at the Mickey-Leopold Funeral Home. Interment will immediately 
follow the service in the Hoxie City Cemetery. The Grinnell VFW Post 
#2864 and Kansas Army National Guard will provide Military Honors . 
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, December 9, 2020 from Noon until
 6:00 P.M. The funeral and visitation are open to all who wish to 
attend. The family thanks you for wearing a mask to the funeral. 
Memorials are suggested to the Sheridan County Amusement Company-Hoxie 
or the Hoxie Main Street Arts Council. Memorials may be sent in care of
 Mickey-Leopold Funeral Home, PO Box 987, Hoxie, Kansas 67740. Words of
 Comfort may be left at www.mickeyleopoldfuneral.com.

Harm Lipton Briery

By SAM ZEFF <a href="https://www.kcur.org/sports/2020-12-06/lawsuit-filed-in-death-of-kansas-college-football-player">Kansas News Service</a>

The family of a New Jersey teenager who died from exertional heat 
stroke after a grueling football workout at Garden City Community 
Community College (GCCC) in 2018 has sued the medical personnel who 
responded to the emergency call for help. 

The lawsuit was filed 
in late October in Finney County District Court and accuses the 
ambulance crew, the hospital and the emergency department doctor of 
medical negligence. All of the defendants, the suit alleges, departed 
"from prevailing professional standard(s) of care" when treating 
Bradforth.

According to the lawsuit, the EMS crew, who worked for 
Finney County, failed to "measure Braeden's core body temperature" and 
did not "timely and properly cool Braeden" by failing to use ice packs, 
cold water or provide him with air conditioning on the ride to the 
hospital. 

Using ice packs or cold water is recognized by experts as the best way to lower the core body temperature. 

"The
 fastest way to decrease body temperature is to remove clothes and 
equipment and immerse the body (trunk and extremities) into a pool or 
tub of cold water," the <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC164365/" target="_blank">National Athletic Trainers' Association says in the Journal of Athletic Training.</a>

The
 lawsuit also accused the emergency department doctor at St. Catherine 
Hospital in Garden City of failing to timely treat Bradforth or get him 
to a specialist.

<a href="https://www.kcur.org/2020-08-02/despite-settlement-family-of-kansas-football-player-who-died-after-practice-is-sad-every-morning" target="_blank">The family settled with GCCC for $500,000 in August without filing a lawsuit. </a>
 This is the first time the family has gone to court. "We are exploring 
all events leading up to Braeden’s death, including what happened with 
EMS and the hospital,” Bradforth's mother Joanne Atkins-Ingram told 
KCUR.

<a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2019-02-17/monday-in-jersey-tuesday-in-garden-city-wednesday-dead-after-a-football-practice-in-kansas" target="_blank">Bradforth had been at GCCC just one day when former head coach Jeff Sims</a>
 forced him to run 36, 50-yard sprints. “That’s a do-or-die drill,” 
former University of Oklahoma football team doctor Randy Eichner told 
KCUR at the time. “That is reckless endangerment.”

<a href="https://www.kcur.org/sports/2020-12-03/coach-at-the-center-of-the-death-of-a-kansas-college-football-player-fired-from-missouri-southern" target="_blank">Sims was fired from his new job at Missouri Southern State University (MSSU) Wednesday after just two years in Joplin.</a>
 The university has refused to say if Sims was fired for cause or 
without cause. If MSSU simply parted ways with Sims, he would 
contractually be owed $90,000.

 St. Catherine is owned by Centura 
Health in Colorado. "Centura Health is not able to offer a comment at 
this time," spokesman Kevin Massey said in an email to KCUR.

The 
ambulance crew worked for the county. "Finney County has no comment on 
that matter at this time," spokeswoman Sara McClure said in an email.

You can contact Sam Zeff on Twitter @samzeff or email at sam@kcur.org.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1607354101143.png" alt="The family of Braeden Bradforth, pictured here with his mother, alleges medical personnel did not adhere to "professional standards" during the crucial final minutes of his life. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>The family of Braeden Bradforth, pictured here with his mother, alleges medical personnel did not adhere to "professional standards" during the crucial final minutes of his life. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By SAM ZEFF <a href="https://www.kcur.org/sports/2020-12-06/lawsuit-filed-in-death-of-kansas-college-football-player">Kansas News Service</a>The family of a New Jersey teenager who died from exertional heat 
stroke after a grueling football workout at Garden City Community 
Community College (GCCC) in 2018 has sued the medical personnel who 
responded to the emergency call for help. The lawsuit was filed 
in late October in Finney County District Court and accuses the 
ambulance crew, the hospital and the emergency department doctor of 
medical negligence. All of the defendants, the suit alleges, departed 
"from prevailing professional standard(s) of care" when treating 
Bradforth.According to the lawsuit, the EMS crew, who worked for 
Finney County, failed to "measure Braeden's core body temperature" and 
did not "timely and properly cool Braeden" by failing to use ice packs, 
cold water or provide him with air conditioning on the ride to the 
hospital. Using ice packs or cold water is recognized by experts as the best way to lower the core body temperature. "The
 fastest way to decrease body temperature is to remove clothes and 
equipment and immerse the body (trunk and extremities) into a pool or 
tub of cold water," the <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC164365/" target="_blank">National Athletic Trainers' Association says in the Journal of Athletic Training.</a>The
 lawsuit also accused the emergency department doctor at St. Catherine 
Hospital in Garden City of failing to timely treat Bradforth or get him 
to a specialist.<a href="https://www.kcur.org/2020-08-02/despite-settlement-family-of-kansas-football-player-who-died-after-practice-is-sad-every-morning" target="_blank">The family settled with GCCC for $500,000 in August without filing a lawsuit. </a>
 This is the first time the family has gone to court. "We are exploring 
all events leading up to Braeden’s death, including what happened with 
EMS and the hospital,” Bradforth's mother Joanne Atkins-Ingram told 
KCUR.<a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2019-02-17/monday-in-jersey-tuesday-in-garden-city-wednesday-dead-after-a-football-practice-in-kansas" target="_blank">Bradforth had been at GCCC just one day when former head coach Jeff Sims</a>
 forced him to run 36, 50-yard sprints. “That’s a do-or-die drill,” 
former University of Oklahoma football team doctor Randy Eichner told 
KCUR at the time. “That is reckless endangerment.”<a href="https://www.kcur.org/sports/2020-12-03/coach-at-the-center-of-the-death-of-a-kansas-college-football-player-fired-from-missouri-southern" target="_blank">Sims was fired from his new job at Missouri Southern State University (MSSU) Wednesday after just two years in Joplin.</a>
 The university has refused to say if Sims was fired for cause or 
without cause. If MSSU simply parted ways with Sims, he would 
contractually be owed $90,000. St. Catherine is owned by Centura 
Health in Colorado. "Centura Health is not able to offer a comment at 
this time," spokesman Kevin Massey said in an email to KCUR.The 
ambulance crew worked for the county. "Finney County has no comment on 
that matter at this time," spokeswoman Sara McClure said in an email.You can contact Sam Zeff on Twitter @samzeff or email at sam@kcur.org.&nbsp;

Lawsuit filed in death of Kansas college football player 

Russell D. Allen, age 84, passed away on Friday, December 4, 2020 at 
the Delaware Highlands Assisted Living in Kansas City, Kansas. He was 
born on November 10, 1936 in Scott City, Kansas, the son of Robert Paul 
and Cordelia Farr Allen. A lifetime resident of Scott County, Kansas, he
 was a Construction Contractor and also worked for KN Energy until 
retirement.

He was a member of the United Methodist Church in Scott City, Kansas 
and was a veteran of the US Marine Corp. Russell loved being surrounded 
by his son, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

On November 13, 1960 he married Margie L. Beeson in Scott City, 
Kansas. She passed away on October 8, 2018 in Kansas City, Missouri.

Survivors Include her One Son - Troy &amp; Christy Allen of Kansas 
City, Kansas, One Sister - Judy Erskin of Dighton, Kansas, One Sister In
 Law - Dee Allen of Weslaco, Texas, One Grandson - Jeff &amp; Marie 
Allen of Scott City, Kansas, One Granddaughter - Ashley Allen of Kansas 
City, Kansas and 4 Great Grandchildren - Adon`Dre, Kadence, Dominic and 
Kenna.

He was preceded in death by his Parents, Wife, Two Brothers - Merlin Allen, Keith Ray and One Sister - Mary Clark.

Memorial Services will be held later this week. Please check back for
 more details. Burial will be in the Scott County Cemetery in Scott 
City, Kansas.

Memorials may be given to the Russell Allen Memorial Fund in care of Price &amp; Sons Funeral Homes.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1607350073459.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Russell D. Allen, age 84, passed away on Friday, December 4, 2020 at 
the Delaware Highlands Assisted Living in Kansas City, Kansas. He was 
born on November 10, 1936 in Scott City, Kansas, the son of Robert Paul 
and Cordelia Farr Allen. A lifetime resident of Scott County, Kansas, he
 was a Construction Contractor and also worked for KN Energy until 
retirement.He was a member of the United Methodist Church in Scott City, Kansas 
and was a veteran of the US Marine Corp. Russell loved being surrounded 
by his son, grandchildren and great grandchildren.On November 13, 1960 he married Margie L. Beeson in Scott City, 
Kansas. She passed away on October 8, 2018 in Kansas City, Missouri.Survivors Include her One Son - Troy &amp; Christy Allen of Kansas 
City, Kansas, One Sister - Judy Erskin of Dighton, Kansas, One Sister In
 Law - Dee Allen of Weslaco, Texas, One Grandson - Jeff &amp; Marie 
Allen of Scott City, Kansas, One Granddaughter - Ashley Allen of Kansas 
City, Kansas and 4 Great Grandchildren - Adon`Dre, Kadence, Dominic and 
Kenna.He was preceded in death by his Parents, Wife, Two Brothers - Merlin Allen, Keith Ray and One Sister - Mary Clark.Memorial Services will be held later this week. Please check back for
 more details. Burial will be in the Scott County Cemetery in Scott 
City, Kansas.Memorials may be given to the Russell Allen Memorial Fund in care of Price &amp; Sons Funeral Homes.There will be no calling times.

Russell D. Allen

Leland Francis Paul “Lee” Schaffer, 69, Liebenthal, Kansas, passed 
away Wednesday, December 2, 2020, at The University Of Kansas Hospital, 
Kansas City, Kansas, from health related issues.

Lee was born February 24, 1951, in Hays, Kansas, the son of Michael 
C. and Juanita A. (Urban) Schaffer.&nbsp; After attending La Crosse High 
School, La Crosse, Kansas, he moved to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and then
 Dallas, Texas, and worked in construction. He met and wed his kids' 
mother, DeNiece Fallwell, and had Johnathan Schaffer and Amy Schaffer.

In 1975, Lee returned to Kansas, and after working at the La Crosse 
Furniture Factory in La Crosse, Kansas, began his career as a journeyman
 lineman for Midwest Energy moving to Hanston, Kansas, in 1980.&nbsp; In 
1992, Lee met Jan Campbell, the art teacher in Jetmore, Kansas. Jan and 
Lee married on horseback in Westmoreland, Kansas, Jan's hometown, on 
October 26th, 1993.&nbsp; Lee left Midwest Energy in 1995 to start Schaffer 
Trucking as owner/operator for several years. His next adventure and 
true love was taking over the Schaffer family farm, enjoying many 
successful years.

After retiring in 2017, Lee spent his time supporting the farm and passing on the tradition to Gregory Schaffer, his nephew.

Survivors include:&nbsp; his wife, Jan Schaffer; one son, John Schaffer; 
one daughter, Amy Schaffer-Wilson (Wade); three grandchildren, Madeline 
Schaffer, Jackson Schaffer, and Levi Schaffer, one brother, Harvey 
Schaffer (Laurie); and one sister, Donna Herrman (James); and many 
nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and one brother, Roy Michael Schaffer.

Church visitation will be Thursday, December 10, 2020, from 9:00 A.M.
 to 9:50 A.M. at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Liebenthal, Kansas.

Funeral service will be Thursday, December 10, 2020, at 10:00 A.M. at
 St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Liebenthal, Kansas, with Father Stephen 
Dabanka officiating.&nbsp; Interment will be in St. Joseph’s Cemetery, 
Liebenthal, Kansas.

Social distancing is recommended. The family is requesting all visitation and service attendees wear masks.

Due to Covid 19, if you have a fever, cough, or are not feeling well,&nbsp;please send condolences via the on line guestbook, or mail.

In lieu of flowers or plants, the family requests memorials to the 
Humane Society of the High Plains, 2050 East US Highway 40, Hays, 
Kansas&nbsp; 67601.

Condolences or remembrances may be left for the family at www.janousekfuneralhome.com.

Arrangements were by Janousek Funeral Home, 719 Pine Street, P O Box 550, La Crosse, Kansas 67548, 785/222-2517

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1607349904575.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Leland Francis Paul “Lee” Schaffer, 69, Liebenthal, Kansas, passed 
away Wednesday, December 2, 2020, at The University Of Kansas Hospital, 
Kansas City, Kansas, from health related issues.Lee was born February 24, 1951, in Hays, Kansas, the son of Michael 
C. and Juanita A. (Urban) Schaffer.&nbsp; After attending La Crosse High 
School, La Crosse, Kansas, he moved to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and then
 Dallas, Texas, and worked in construction. He met and wed his kids' 
mother, DeNiece Fallwell, and had Johnathan Schaffer and Amy Schaffer.In 1975, Lee returned to Kansas, and after working at the La Crosse 
Furniture Factory in La Crosse, Kansas, began his career as a journeyman
 lineman for Midwest Energy moving to Hanston, Kansas, in 1980.&nbsp; In 
1992, Lee met Jan Campbell, the art teacher in Jetmore, Kansas. Jan and 
Lee married on horseback in Westmoreland, Kansas, Jan's hometown, on 
October 26th, 1993.&nbsp; Lee left Midwest Energy in 1995 to start Schaffer 
Trucking as owner/operator for several years. His next adventure and 
true love was taking over the Schaffer family farm, enjoying many 
successful years.After retiring in 2017, Lee spent his time supporting the farm and passing on the tradition to Gregory Schaffer, his nephew.Survivors include:&nbsp; his wife, Jan Schaffer; one son, John Schaffer; 
one daughter, Amy Schaffer-Wilson (Wade); three grandchildren, Madeline 
Schaffer, Jackson Schaffer, and Levi Schaffer, one brother, Harvey 
Schaffer (Laurie); and one sister, Donna Herrman (James); and many 
nieces and nephews.He was preceded in death by his parents; and one brother, Roy Michael Schaffer.Church visitation will be Thursday, December 10, 2020, from 9:00 A.M.
 to 9:50 A.M. at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Liebenthal, Kansas.Funeral service will be Thursday, December 10, 2020, at 10:00 A.M. at
 St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Liebenthal, Kansas, with Father Stephen 
Dabanka officiating.&nbsp; Interment will be in St. Joseph’s Cemetery, 
Liebenthal, Kansas.Social distancing is recommended. The family is requesting all visitation and service attendees wear masks.Due to Covid 19, if you have a fever, cough, or are not feeling well,&nbsp;please send condolences via the on line guestbook, or mail.In lieu of flowers or plants, the family requests memorials to the 
Humane Society of the High Plains, 2050 East US Highway 40, Hays, 
Kansas&nbsp; 67601.Condolences or remembrances may be left for the family at www.janousekfuneralhome.com.Arrangements were by Janousek Funeral Home, 719 Pine Street, P O Box 550, La Crosse, Kansas 67548, 785/222-2517

Leland Francis Paul 'Lee' Schaffer

WICHITA, KAN.&nbsp;– A Kansas man was sentenced Thursday to 10 years in federal prison for methamphetamine trafficking, according to U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister.

Danny Del Real, 31, Dodge City, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of distributing methamphetamine.

In October 2018, a confidential informant working with the Dodge City Police Department paid Del Real $5,000 to purchase approximately a pound of methamphetamine. When tested, the package contained the equivalent of about eight-tenths of a pound of pure methamphetamine.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1607033626001.png" alt="Del Real photo Ford Co." />
 <figcaption>Del Real photo Ford Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, KAN.&nbsp;– A Kansas man was sentenced Thursday to 10 years in federal prison for methamphetamine trafficking, according to U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister.Danny Del Real, 31, Dodge City, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of distributing methamphetamine.In October 2018, a confidential informant working with the Dodge City Police Department paid Del Real $5,000 to purchase approximately a pound of methamphetamine. When tested, the package contained the equivalent of about eight-tenths of a pound of pure methamphetamine.

Confidential informant led to Kansas man's drug arrest

Mary Ann Pool, 93, Otis, Kansas, passed away Friday, December 4, 2020, at her home.

Mary Ann was born October 6, 1927, in Wichita, Kansas, the daughter 
of Charles B. and Maryann Melinda “Millie” (Armstrong) Jenkins.&nbsp; She was
 a resident of Rush County, Kansas, for 65+ years, moving from 
Phillipsburg, Kansas.&nbsp; A 1945 graduate of Phillipsburg High School, 
Phillipsburg, Kansas, she worked for Case Implement, Ochs Inc., and the 
Otis State Bank, all of Otis, Kansas, before her retirement.

She was a member of the United Methodist Church, United Methodist 
Women, Otis Community Library, Otis City Council, Lions Club, all of 
Otis, Kansas.&nbsp; Mary Ann was also a Girl Scout leader, Den Mother for the
 Cub Scouts, and active in numerous community services.

Mary Ann enjoyed socializing and playing cards with friends.&nbsp; She 
enjoyed being in her back yard, “Her Happy Place”, and took great pride 
in her family and community.&nbsp; She also loved watching her KU Jayhawks 
basketball team.

On June 8, 1952, she married Vayne E. Pool at Phillipsburg, Kansas.&nbsp; He preceded her in death April 25, 1967.

Survivors include:&nbsp; one son, Jim Charles Pool (Shelley), Omaha, 
Nebraska; two daughters, Janece L. Pool, Sellersburg, Indiana, and 
Jolene K. Welch (Mike), Wichita Falls, Texas; five grandchildren, 
Jennifer Renner (Rich), Wichita Falls, Texas, Jason Newhall (Renee), 
Little Elm, Texas, Jamie Wilson (Chip), Austin, Texas, Weston Pool 
(Jamie), Omaha, Nebraska, and Aaron Pool, Omaha, Nebraska; and six great
 grandchildren, Addison and Grant Renner, Riley and Kendall Newhall, and
 Kaylee and Mia Wilson.

She was preceded in death by her parents; four brothers, Eddie 
Jenkins, Boyd Jenkins, Paul Jenkins, and Robert Jenkins; and one sister,
 Alice McBroom.

The family is hosting a come and go celebration of Mary Ann’s life 
Wednesday, December 9, 2020, from 4:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M. at her home in 
Otis, Kansas.

A private family inurnment will be in Fairview Cemetery, Phillipsburg, Kansas.

The family is requesting all Celebration of Life attendees wear masks.

Due to COVID-19, if you have a fever, cough, or are not feeling well,&nbsp;please send condolences via the on line guestbook, or mail.

In lieu of flowers or plants, the family requests memorials to Golden
 Belt Home Health &amp; Hospice, Great Bend, Kansas, or Father 
Flanagan’s Boys’ Home, Boys Town, Nebraska.

Arrangements were by Janousek Funeral Home, 719 Pine Street, P O Box 550, La Crosse, Kansas 67548, 785/222-2517.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1607279111855.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Mary Ann Pool, 93, Otis, Kansas, passed away Friday, December 4, 2020, at her home.Mary Ann was born October 6, 1927, in Wichita, Kansas, the daughter 
of Charles B. and Maryann Melinda “Millie” (Armstrong) Jenkins.&nbsp; She was
 a resident of Rush County, Kansas, for 65+ years, moving from 
Phillipsburg, Kansas.&nbsp; A 1945 graduate of Phillipsburg High School, 
Phillipsburg, Kansas, she worked for Case Implement, Ochs Inc., and the 
Otis State Bank, all of Otis, Kansas, before her retirement.She was a member of the United Methodist Church, United Methodist 
Women, Otis Community Library, Otis City Council, Lions Club, all of 
Otis, Kansas.&nbsp; Mary Ann was also a Girl Scout leader, Den Mother for the
 Cub Scouts, and active in numerous community services.Mary Ann enjoyed socializing and playing cards with friends.&nbsp; She 
enjoyed being in her back yard, “Her Happy Place”, and took great pride 
in her family and community.&nbsp; She also loved watching her KU Jayhawks 
basketball team.On June 8, 1952, she married Vayne E. Pool at Phillipsburg, Kansas.&nbsp; He preceded her in death April 25, 1967.Survivors include:&nbsp; one son, Jim Charles Pool (Shelley), Omaha, 
Nebraska; two daughters, Janece L. Pool, Sellersburg, Indiana, and 
Jolene K. Welch (Mike), Wichita Falls, Texas; five grandchildren, 
Jennifer Renner (Rich), Wichita Falls, Texas, Jason Newhall (Renee), 
Little Elm, Texas, Jamie Wilson (Chip), Austin, Texas, Weston Pool 
(Jamie), Omaha, Nebraska, and Aaron Pool, Omaha, Nebraska; and six great
 grandchildren, Addison and Grant Renner, Riley and Kendall Newhall, and
 Kaylee and Mia Wilson.She was preceded in death by her parents; four brothers, Eddie 
Jenkins, Boyd Jenkins, Paul Jenkins, and Robert Jenkins; and one sister,
 Alice McBroom.The family is hosting a come and go celebration of Mary Ann’s life 
Wednesday, December 9, 2020, from 4:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M. at her home in 
Otis, Kansas.A private family inurnment will be in Fairview Cemetery, Phillipsburg, Kansas.Social distancing is recommended.The family is requesting all Celebration of Life attendees wear masks.Due to COVID-19, if you have a fever, cough, or are not feeling well,&nbsp;please send condolences via the on line guestbook, or mail.In lieu of flowers or plants, the family requests memorials to Golden
 Belt Home Health &amp; Hospice, Great Bend, Kansas, or Father 
Flanagan’s Boys’ Home, Boys Town, Nebraska.Condolences or remembrances may be left for the family at www.janousekfuneralhome.com.Arrangements were by Janousek Funeral Home, 719 Pine Street, P O Box 550, La Crosse, Kansas 67548, 785/222-2517.

Mary Ann Pool

SEATTLE (AP) — Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson has vowed to fight the rapid sale of the National Archives facility in Seattle in court, saying it’s “outrageous” that there wasn’t more public notice given about an Oct. 1 meeting where federal officials fast-tracked the process.

The 10-acre site contains the history of 272 federally recognized tribes, including drafts of many tribal treaties, and only a tiny fraction of the material has been digitized, The Seattle Times&nbsp;<a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/sale-of-seattle-national-archives-property-rushed-ferguson-suing/">reported</a>&nbsp;Saturday.

The trove of documents is important to members of Pacific Northwest and Alaskan tribes, who will now have to travel hundreds of miles to Southern California or Kansas City to view them.

The five-member federal Public Buildings Reform Board made the decision to close the facility in January after it concluded that the 73-year-old building had “a deferred maintenance backlog of $2.5 million,” and that its annual maintenance costs were $357,000.

Under an accelerated timeline determined at the October meeting, a real estate contract will be awarded this month and the property will be sold by spring. The archives will be moved to facilities in Riverside, California, and Kansas City, Missouri.

Ferguson told the newspaper Friday that he was disgusted by the lack of transparency in the process and plans to sue “anyone in the decision-making in the sale of the property.”

His office is already in the midst of another lawsuit over the archives, this one over documents it has yet to receive.

“It’s the most common courtesy to give heads up to our office, or to the public. It’s outrageous," he said.

The archives here has about a million boxes of documents and is the repository of all federal records generated in the Pacific Northwest, and includes military, land, court, tax and census papers.

Already, the National Archives facility in Anchorage was closed in 2016, and those millions of documents went to Seattle. Now those seeking Alaska records would have to travel even farther.

Yakama Nation Chairman Delano Saluskin said “this is the first I heard” about the Oct. 1 virtual meeting. It was held by the little-known, five-person Public Buildings Reform Board, charged with finding excess federal property and putting it up for bids.

Jeromy Sullivan, chairman of the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe, said he first heard of the Oct. 1 meeting when Ferguson sent out an email Friday.

Adam Bodner, executive director or the buildings board, said the public meeting was listed on the agency’s website, the Federal Register and that congressional offices and “different subcommittee staff” were informed.

Ferguson’s office said the plan was listed simply as an “update” on the board’s website and was listed under such an obscure title that almost no one not directly involved would have realized its importance.

The facility was one of 12 surplus properties identified by the board. The original plan was to sell them individually but the board also voted in that meeting to sell the properties as a “portfolio” due to the pandemic and a challenging real estate market.

Ferguson’s office is already involved in one lawsuit against three federal agencies filed under the federal public records law asking for documents on the decision to sell the Seattle property.

On Friday, his office asked a federal court in Seattle for permission to file a summary judgment that would force the three agencies to turn over documents.

The agencies has asked the court to delay their response until March, he said, but under the new timeline the property will likely already be sold by then.

Some U.S. lawmakers also slammed the decision and expressed hope that President-elect Joe Biden's administration will intervene.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1607264514991.png" alt="Photo courtesy National Archives" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy National Archives</figcaption>
 </figure>SEATTLE (AP) — Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson has vowed to fight the rapid sale of the National Archives facility in Seattle in court, saying it’s “outrageous” that there wasn’t more public notice given about an Oct. 1 meeting where federal officials fast-tracked the process.The 10-acre site contains the history of 272 federally recognized tribes, including drafts of many tribal treaties, and only a tiny fraction of the material has been digitized, The Seattle Times&nbsp;<a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/sale-of-seattle-national-archives-property-rushed-ferguson-suing/">reported</a>&nbsp;Saturday. The trove of documents is important to members of Pacific Northwest and Alaskan tribes, who will now have to travel hundreds of miles to Southern California or Kansas City to view them.The five-member federal Public Buildings Reform Board made the decision to close the facility in January after it concluded that the 73-year-old building had “a deferred maintenance backlog of $2.5 million,” and that its annual maintenance costs were $357,000.Under an accelerated timeline determined at the October meeting, a real estate contract will be awarded this month and the property will be sold by spring. The archives will be moved to facilities in Riverside, California, and Kansas City, Missouri.Ferguson told the newspaper Friday that he was disgusted by the lack of transparency in the process and plans to sue “anyone in the decision-making in the sale of the property.”His office is already in the midst of another lawsuit over the archives, this one over documents it has yet to receive.“It’s the most common courtesy to give heads up to our office, or to the public. It’s outrageous," he said.The archives here has about a million boxes of documents and is the repository of all federal records generated in the Pacific Northwest, and includes military, land, court, tax and census papers.Already, the National Archives facility in Anchorage was closed in 2016, and those millions of documents went to Seattle. Now those seeking Alaska records would have to travel even farther.Yakama Nation Chairman Delano Saluskin said “this is the first I heard” about the Oct. 1 virtual meeting. It was held by the little-known, five-person Public Buildings Reform Board, charged with finding excess federal property and putting it up for bids.Jeromy Sullivan, chairman of the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe, said he first heard of the Oct. 1 meeting when Ferguson sent out an email Friday.Adam Bodner, executive director or the buildings board, said the public meeting was listed on the agency’s website, the Federal Register and that congressional offices and “different subcommittee staff” were informed.Ferguson’s office said the plan was listed simply as an “update” on the board’s website and was listed under such an obscure title that almost no one not directly involved would have realized its importance.The facility was one of 12 surplus properties identified by the board. The original plan was to sell them individually but the board also voted in that meeting to sell the properties as a “portfolio” due to the pandemic and a challenging real estate market.Ferguson’s office is already involved in one lawsuit against three federal agencies filed under the federal public records law asking for documents on the decision to sell the Seattle property.On Friday, his office asked a federal court in Seattle for permission to file a summary judgment that would force the three agencies to turn over documents.The agencies has asked the court to delay their response until March, he said, but under the new timeline the property will likely already be sold by then.Some U.S. lawmakers also slammed the decision and expressed hope that President-elect Joe Biden's administration will intervene.

Lawsuit could delay move of archive documents to Kansas City

Fay Laverne (Gregory) Pejsha, age 87, died on December 1, 2020, at her 
home in Jacksonville, Arkansas. Fay was born on January 24, 1933, in 
Ellsworth, Kansas to the late Wilmer A. and Olga (Schwartzel) Gregory.

She was a 1950 graduate of Ellsworth High School, Ellsworth, Kansas.
 Fay married Laudie C. Pejsha in Ellsworth, Kansas on October 29, 1955. 
They moved to Jacksonville, Arkansas in 1958 where Laudie joined the Air
 Force and was stationed at the Little Rock Air Force Base in 
Jacksonville, Arkansas. Fay worked in the retail grocery business as a 
meat wrapper for 59 years. She also worked at Chambers Drug Store.
 Fay loved being outdoors working in her vegetable garden and tending to her flowers.
 In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her 
husband, Laudie (P.J.) Pejsha on June 10, 1996; sisters, Judy Gregory of
 Ellsworth, Dorothy Ptacek of Wilson, Ona Dupes of Gypsum, and Ester 
Snowball of Salina; and brother, Larry Gregory of Ellsworth. 
 Survivors include brother, George (Janice) Gregory of Clay Center; 
20 nieces and nephews, Dan Besthorn, Alma (Mattas) Deutsch, Anita 
(Dupes) Preston, Greg Dupes, Judy (Dupes) Kobetich, Ona (Dupes) Hough, 
Ralph Dupes, Ruth (Dupes) Howell, Steven Dupes, Daron Gregory, Troy 
Gregory, Wilma (Mattas) Olds, Larry Ptacek, Maurice Ptacek, Melvin 
Ptacek, Michael Ptacek, Tom Ptacek, Leslie Snowball, Perry Snowball, and
 Wendy Snowball; and good friends Dowel Harrson and Bobby and Tiah 
Phillips.
 A visitation will be held at Moores Funeral Home in Jacksonville, Arkansas, Sunday, December 6th, 3-7 pm.
 A funeral service will be held at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church, 
Wilson, Kansas, Wednesday, December 9th at 10:30 a.m. with burial in the
 Wilson Catholic Cemetery.
 Memorials are suggested to St. Wenceslaus Council of Catholic Women 
or donor’s choice and may be sent in care of Plumer-Overlease Funeral 
Home, PO Box 533, Wilson, KS 67490.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1607186472532.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Fay Laverne (Gregory) Pejsha, age 87, died on December 1, 2020, at her 
home in Jacksonville, Arkansas. Fay was born on January 24, 1933, in 
Ellsworth, Kansas to the late Wilmer A. and Olga (Schwartzel) Gregory.
 She was a 1950 graduate of Ellsworth High School, Ellsworth, Kansas.
 Fay married Laudie C. Pejsha in Ellsworth, Kansas on October 29, 1955. 
They moved to Jacksonville, Arkansas in 1958 where Laudie joined the Air
 Force and was stationed at the Little Rock Air Force Base in 
Jacksonville, Arkansas. Fay worked in the retail grocery business as a 
meat wrapper for 59 years. She also worked at Chambers Drug Store.
 Fay loved being outdoors working in her vegetable garden and tending to her flowers.
 In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her 
husband, Laudie (P.J.) Pejsha on June 10, 1996; sisters, Judy Gregory of
 Ellsworth, Dorothy Ptacek of Wilson, Ona Dupes of Gypsum, and Ester 
Snowball of Salina; and brother, Larry Gregory of Ellsworth. 
 Survivors include brother, George (Janice) Gregory of Clay Center; 
20 nieces and nephews, Dan Besthorn, Alma (Mattas) Deutsch, Anita 
(Dupes) Preston, Greg Dupes, Judy (Dupes) Kobetich, Ona (Dupes) Hough, 
Ralph Dupes, Ruth (Dupes) Howell, Steven Dupes, Daron Gregory, Troy 
Gregory, Wilma (Mattas) Olds, Larry Ptacek, Maurice Ptacek, Melvin 
Ptacek, Michael Ptacek, Tom Ptacek, Leslie Snowball, Perry Snowball, and
 Wendy Snowball; and good friends Dowel Harrson and Bobby and Tiah 
Phillips.
 A visitation will be held at Moores Funeral Home in Jacksonville, Arkansas, Sunday, December 6th, 3-7 pm.
 A funeral service will be held at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church, 
Wilson, Kansas, Wednesday, December 9th at 10:30 a.m. with burial in the
 Wilson Catholic Cemetery.
 Memorials are suggested to St. Wenceslaus Council of Catholic Women 
or donor’s choice and may be sent in care of Plumer-Overlease Funeral 
Home, PO Box 533, Wilson, KS 67490.

Fay L. Pejsha

By TREY DANIEL Georgia Rights, Responsibility, Respect Project

The practice of Religious Freedom, like most other spheres of human 
activity, has been radically affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

Recently more than <a href="https://abc11.com/united-house-of-prayer-for-all-people-charlotte-covid-19-church/8128891/" target="_blank">200 COVID-19 cases and 12 deaths were linked to a church</a>
 in Charlotte, N.C., which held large gatherings over a week in early 
October reportedly without enforcing proper coronavirus safety 
precautions.

This is not the first time such an outbreak has been identified. 
Other significant COVID-19 outbreaks have been traced to religious 
services, including <a href="https://people.com/health/49-cases-of-coronavirus-so-far-linked-to-small-church-event-in-maine/" target="_blank">one at a Maine church</a> and <a href="https://people.com/health/40-members-alabama-church-get-coronavirus-after-revival/" target="_blank">another in Alabama</a>.
 This is the first time, however, that linkage was disclosed after a 
Supreme Court decision last week that turned back new COVID-19 
restrictions on places of worship in New York state.

In last week’s decision, just moments before midnight on Thanksgiving Eve, the Supreme Court — including newly confirmed Justice Amy Coney Barrett
 — considered a challenge by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn to 
pandemic restrictions on religious gatherings. The 5-4 decision blocked 
orders imposed by New York state that sharply limited the number of 
attendees at religious services because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The unsigned opinion asserted that the orders violated the Free 
Exercise Clause of the First Amendment because they “single out houses 
of worship for especially harsh treatment.” Hardware stores, 
acupuncturists and liquor stores were among establishments immune from 
similar restrictions.

As coronavirus cases continue to surge throughout the country, many 
of us are being asked to follow stricter guidelines, including travel 
restrictions, banning of contact sports and wearing a mask.

Should these same guidelines be placed on religious organizations? Will the decision in the <a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/20pdf/20a87_4g15.pdf" target="_blank">Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn, N.Y. v. Cuomo</a> change the course on religion cases, now that conservative Barrett has replaced the late liberal Ruth Bader Ginsburg? Does the decision give free rein to religious organizations to ignore government regulations of all kinds?

Tracking the issue in a series of orders and legal rulings in Kentucky gives us much to examine. On Nov. 18, Gov. Andy Beshear
 issued a temporary school-related restraining order and unveiled new 
restrictions that, if approved, could apply until mid-December for 
restaurants, bars, gyms, offices, indoor gatherings, weddings and 
funerals.

An executive order was then signed by Beshear requiring all schools 
to halt in-person classes starting Nov. 23, allowing elementary schools 
to reopen after Dec. 7 if their county is not in the state’s “red zone,”
 with middle and high schools unable to reopen until after Jan. 4.

Two days later, Attorney General Daniel Cameron’s 
office joined a lawsuit filed by Danville Christian Academy, which took 
issue with the orders applying to private, religious schools in 
Kentucky. The lawsuit sought a temporary restraining order.

<a href="https://www.wkyt.com/2020/11/26/judge-rules-kentuckys-religious-schools-can-have-in-person-classes/" target="_blank">U.S. District Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove</a>
 ruled that religious and private schools were exempt because the order 
“infringes on their constitutional rights.” However, the U.S Court of 
Appeals for the Sixth Circuit <a href="https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/education/2020/11/29/kentucky-coronavirus-appeals-court-ruling-religious-schools/6436082002/" target="_blank">struck down that temporary restraining order</a>,
 saying the Beshear order is broadly applicable and does not 
discriminate against a certain group. They also say they are “not in a 
position to second-guess the governor’s determination regarding the 
health and safety of the commonwealth at this point in time.”

Cameron, tweeting after the Court of Appeals’ decision, called it 
“frightening that the governor believes he can suspend religious 
liberty.”

Cameron continued, “We’re disappointed with the Sixth Circuit’s 
ruling allowing the governor to close religious schools, but we’re 
already hard at work to take this matter to the U.S. Supreme Court. The 
governor is not above the law and we urge him to drop this ill-conceived
 appeal and to halt his attacks on religious freedom.”

One thing seems to be certain, whether it is New York, Kentucky or 
North Carolina — the U.S. Supreme Court will be busy sorting out all of 
these matters as COVID-19 cases continue to rise during the holiday 
season.

When the Supreme Court faced similar pandemic cases before Ginsburg 
died, the court ruled in favor of restrictions. Given Barrett’s 
background and testimony at her confirmation hearings, it’s clear she 
will be a protector of religious causes — perhaps tilting the scales 
long-term in such cases. But at what cost?

Trey Daniel is the education manager of the Georgia Rights, 
Responsibility, Respect Project, an education initiative of the 
Religious Freedom Center. His email address is: <a href="mailto:tdaniel@freedomforum.org" target="_blank">tdaniel@freedomforum.org.</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1596246031094.jpeg" alt="Freedom Forum Georgia 3Rs.jpg" />
 <figcaption>Freedom Forum Georgia 3Rs.jpg</figcaption>
 </figure>By TREY DANIEL Georgia Rights, Responsibility, Respect Project The practice of Religious Freedom, like most other spheres of human 
activity, has been radically affected by the coronavirus pandemic.Recently more than <a href="https://abc11.com/united-house-of-prayer-for-all-people-charlotte-covid-19-church/8128891/" target="_blank">200 COVID-19 cases and 12 deaths were linked to a church</a>
 in Charlotte, N.C., which held large gatherings over a week in early 
October reportedly without enforcing proper coronavirus safety 
precautions.This is not the first time such an outbreak has been identified. 
Other significant COVID-19 outbreaks have been traced to religious 
services, including <a href="https://people.com/health/49-cases-of-coronavirus-so-far-linked-to-small-church-event-in-maine/" target="_blank">one at a Maine church</a> and <a href="https://people.com/health/40-members-alabama-church-get-coronavirus-after-revival/" target="_blank">another in Alabama</a>.
 This is the first time, however, that linkage was disclosed after a 
Supreme Court decision last week that turned back new COVID-19 
restrictions on places of worship in New York state.In last week’s decision, just moments before midnight on Thanksgiving Eve, the Supreme Court — including newly confirmed Justice Amy Coney Barrett
 — considered a challenge by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn to 
pandemic restrictions on religious gatherings. The 5-4 decision blocked 
orders imposed by New York state that sharply limited the number of 
attendees at religious services because of the COVID-19 pandemic.The unsigned opinion asserted that the orders violated the Free 
Exercise Clause of the First Amendment because they “single out houses 
of worship for especially harsh treatment.” Hardware stores, 
acupuncturists and liquor stores were among establishments immune from 
similar restrictions.As coronavirus cases continue to surge throughout the country, many 
of us are being asked to follow stricter guidelines, including travel 
restrictions, banning of contact sports and wearing a mask.Should these same guidelines be placed on religious organizations? Will the decision in the <a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/20pdf/20a87_4g15.pdf" target="_blank">Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn, N.Y. v. Cuomo</a> change the course on religion cases, now that conservative Barrett has replaced the late liberal Ruth Bader Ginsburg? Does the decision give free rein to religious organizations to ignore government regulations of all kinds?Tracking the issue in a series of orders and legal rulings in Kentucky gives us much to examine. On Nov. 18, Gov. Andy Beshear
 issued a temporary school-related restraining order and unveiled new 
restrictions that, if approved, could apply until mid-December for 
restaurants, bars, gyms, offices, indoor gatherings, weddings and 
funerals.An executive order was then signed by Beshear requiring all schools 
to halt in-person classes starting Nov. 23, allowing elementary schools 
to reopen after Dec. 7 if their county is not in the state’s “red zone,”
 with middle and high schools unable to reopen until after Jan. 4.Two days later, Attorney General Daniel Cameron’s 
office joined a lawsuit filed by Danville Christian Academy, which took 
issue with the orders applying to private, religious schools in 
Kentucky. The lawsuit sought a temporary restraining order.<a href="https://www.wkyt.com/2020/11/26/judge-rules-kentuckys-religious-schools-can-have-in-person-classes/" target="_blank">U.S. District Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove</a>
 ruled that religious and private schools were exempt because the order 
“infringes on their constitutional rights.” However, the U.S Court of 
Appeals for the Sixth Circuit <a href="https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/education/2020/11/29/kentucky-coronavirus-appeals-court-ruling-religious-schools/6436082002/" target="_blank">struck down that temporary restraining order</a>,
 saying the Beshear order is broadly applicable and does not 
discriminate against a certain group. They also say they are “not in a 
position to second-guess the governor’s determination regarding the 
health and safety of the commonwealth at this point in time.”Cameron, tweeting after the Court of Appeals’ decision, called it 
“frightening that the governor believes he can suspend religious 
liberty.”Cameron continued, “We’re disappointed with the Sixth Circuit’s 
ruling allowing the governor to close religious schools, but we’re 
already hard at work to take this matter to the U.S. Supreme Court. The 
governor is not above the law and we urge him to drop this ill-conceived
 appeal and to halt his attacks on religious freedom.”One thing seems to be certain, whether it is New York, Kentucky or 
North Carolina — the U.S. Supreme Court will be busy sorting out all of 
these matters as COVID-19 cases continue to rise during the holiday 
season.When the Supreme Court faced similar pandemic cases before Ginsburg 
died, the court ruled in favor of restrictions. Given Barrett’s 
background and testimony at her confirmation hearings, it’s clear she 
will be a protector of religious causes — perhaps tilting the scales 
long-term in such cases. But at what cost?Trey Daniel is the education manager of the Georgia Rights, 
Responsibility, Respect Project, an education initiative of the 
Religious Freedom Center. His email address is: <a href="mailto:tdaniel@freedomforum.org" target="_blank">tdaniel@freedomforum.org.</a>

FIRST FIVE: Religious freedom in the age of a global pandemic

SHARON SPRINGS — Eric Starns has accepted the position of general manager overseeing the western Kansas ag retail locations that are part of CHS United Plains Ag and the CHS locations based out of Quinter, Kan. Before starting this new role on Nov. 16, Starns had been the grain division manager at CHS United Plains Ag.

Starns has been with CHS since March 2010, when he joined the company as location manager in Sharon Springs, managing the shuttle loader facility there. He then moved into the role of grain merchandiser for CHS United Plains Ag in April 2013, becoming grain division manager in October 2014.

“Eric knows this area well and understands the unique challenges facing the agriculture industry in western Kansas,” said Alan Peter, board chair for the CHS United Plains Ag Producer Board.

He grew up on a family farm near Brewster and graduated from Fort Hays State University in 2001.

“Eric will bring a detailed focus to customer service as he works with the local producer board and leadership team to lead day-to-day operations,” Peter said. “He will also work closely with CHS employees and the producer board to create strategic plans and bring forth solutions that will benefit farmers and ranchers in western Kansas and southeastern Colorado.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1606762152718.jpeg" alt="Eric Starns is the general manager for CHS United Plains Ag and the CHS ag retail locations based out of Quinter, Kansas, as of Nov. 16." />
 <figcaption>Eric Starns is the general manager for CHS United Plains Ag and the CHS ag retail locations based out of Quinter, Kansas, as of Nov. 16.</figcaption>
 </figure>SubmittedSHARON SPRINGS — Eric Starns has accepted the position of general manager overseeing the western Kansas ag retail locations that are part of CHS United Plains Ag and the CHS locations based out of Quinter, Kan. Before starting this new role on Nov. 16, Starns had been the grain division manager at CHS United Plains Ag.Starns has been with CHS since March 2010, when he joined the company as location manager in Sharon Springs, managing the shuttle loader facility there. He then moved into the role of grain merchandiser for CHS United Plains Ag in April 2013, becoming grain division manager in October 2014.“Eric knows this area well and understands the unique challenges facing the agriculture industry in western Kansas,” said Alan Peter, board chair for the CHS United Plains Ag Producer Board.He grew up on a family farm near Brewster and graduated from Fort Hays State University in 2001.“Eric will bring a detailed focus to customer service as he works with the local producer board and leadership team to lead day-to-day operations,” Peter said. “He will also work closely with CHS employees and the producer board to create strategic plans and bring forth solutions that will benefit farmers and ranchers in western Kansas and southeastern Colorado.”

FHSU grad named GM for western Kansas CHS ag retail locations

Longtime Kanorado, KS resident Manuela Aguirre, 75, passed away peacefully surrounded by family at her home in Kanorado on Tuesday, December 1, 2020.

Manuela was born on October 31, 1945, in Mathis, Texas, to Manuel and Victoria (Rodriguez) Garcia.&nbsp; She was one of five children. &nbsp;

Manuela grew up in Texas and on July 15, 1966, she married Jose Aguirre, and to this union, 9 children were born; Efrain, Raquel, Maria, Joe, Rosie, Christina, Emily, John and Yolanda.

Manuela enjoyed raising her children and spending time with her family.&nbsp; She also enjoyed playing bingo, cooking and working in her yard.

Preceding her in death were her parents, her husband Jose, three sisters; Rosa, Lucia, and Juanita, one brother Ramon, one son John Judas Aguirre and three grandchildren; Danny Aguirre, Annadella Pacheco and Jose Aguirre, III.

She is survived by her children Efrain Aguirre of Goodland, KS, Raquel Gonzalez of Burlington, CO, Maria Aguirre of Goodland, KS, Joe (Olevia) Aguirre of Kanorado, KS, Rosie (Octavio) Gonzalez of Kanorado, KS, Christina Ledesma of Ft. Worth, TX, Emily (Rogelio) Bustillos of Scott City, KS and Yolanda Ledesma of Denver, CO.&nbsp; She is also survived by 34 grandchildren, 39 great grandchildren and 5 great great grandchildren.

Funeral services for Manuela will be held on Saturday, December 5, 2020, at 10:30 AM MT at Koons-Russell Funeral Home in Goodland with Father David Micheal officiating.&nbsp; Burial will follow in the Kanorado Cemetery, Kanorado, KS.

Visitation will be held on Friday, December 4, 2020, from 5:00 to 8:00 PM MT at Koons-Russell Funeral Home in Goodland.

Memorial contributions may be designated to the Manuela Aguirre Memorial Fund and may be left at the services or mailed to Koons-Russell Funeral Home, 211 N. Main Ave., Goodland, KS 67735.

Online condolences for the family may be left at <a href="http://www.koonsrussellfuneralhome.com">www.koonsrussellfuneralhome.com</a>.

Funeral services have been entrusted to Koons-Russell Funeral Home in Goodland.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1607010787951.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Longtime Kanorado, KS resident Manuela Aguirre, 75, passed away peacefully surrounded by family at her home in Kanorado on Tuesday, December 1, 2020.Manuela was born on October 31, 1945, in Mathis, Texas, to Manuel and Victoria (Rodriguez) Garcia.&nbsp; She was one of five children. &nbsp;Manuela grew up in Texas and on July 15, 1966, she married Jose Aguirre, and to this union, 9 children were born; Efrain, Raquel, Maria, Joe, Rosie, Christina, Emily, John and Yolanda.Manuela enjoyed raising her children and spending time with her family.&nbsp; She also enjoyed playing bingo, cooking and working in her yard.Preceding her in death were her parents, her husband Jose, three sisters; Rosa, Lucia, and Juanita, one brother Ramon, one son John Judas Aguirre and three grandchildren; Danny Aguirre, Annadella Pacheco and Jose Aguirre, III.She is survived by her children Efrain Aguirre of Goodland, KS, Raquel Gonzalez of Burlington, CO, Maria Aguirre of Goodland, KS, Joe (Olevia) Aguirre of Kanorado, KS, Rosie (Octavio) Gonzalez of Kanorado, KS, Christina Ledesma of Ft. Worth, TX, Emily (Rogelio) Bustillos of Scott City, KS and Yolanda Ledesma of Denver, CO.&nbsp; She is also survived by 34 grandchildren, 39 great grandchildren and 5 great great grandchildren.Funeral services for Manuela will be held on Saturday, December 5, 2020, at 10:30 AM MT at Koons-Russell Funeral Home in Goodland with Father David Micheal officiating.&nbsp; Burial will follow in the Kanorado Cemetery, Kanorado, KS.Visitation will be held on Friday, December 4, 2020, from 5:00 to 8:00 PM MT at Koons-Russell Funeral Home in Goodland.Memorial contributions may be designated to the Manuela Aguirre Memorial Fund and may be left at the services or mailed to Koons-Russell Funeral Home, 211 N. Main Ave., Goodland, KS 67735.Online condolences for the family may be left at <a href="http://www.koonsrussellfuneralhome.com">www.koonsrussellfuneralhome.com</a>.Funeral services have been entrusted to Koons-Russell Funeral Home in Goodland.

Manuela (Garcia) Aguirre

By CELIA LLOPIS-JEPSEN <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-12-02/its-becoming-increasingly-hard-to-find-a-nursing-home-in-kansas-where-coronavirus-hasnt-shown-up">Kansas News Service</a>

Dozens of Kansas nursing homes still wait three days to a week for <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-11-16/testing-bottlenecks-again-gripping-u-s-with-coronavirus-surging" target="_blank">overwhelmed labs</a> to tell them if their residents have COVID-19.

As of mid-November, 30 facilities had less than a week’s worth of <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2020/local/news/n-95-shortage-covid/?no_nav=true&amp;p9w22b2p=b2p22p9w00098&amp;tid=a_classic-iphone" target="_blank">N95 masks</a> on hand. Another 100-plus didn’t have enough nurses.

Nine months into a pandemic that has proven most deadly to <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/covid-data/investigations-discovery/hospitalization-death-by-age.html" target="_blank">older people</a>, Kansas nursing homes tell federal regulators they’re still struggling to get the basic tools of defense.

Perhaps
 most disturbing of all — as the virus rages in cities, suburbs and 
rural towns — nursing homes simply can’t keep coronavirus out. Two-thirds of them have had confirmed cases among their residents.

Things
 were bad enough in August and September, when Kansas long-term care 
facilities were fighting around 40 to 60 active coronavirus outbreaks 
(meaning two or more cases) at any given time.

October and November brought <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-11-16/kansas-hospitals-seek-help-from-nearby-states-but-the-whole-midwest-is-struggling-with-a-covid-surge" target="_blank">a vicious surge</a> of the disease. Now, in early December, facilities are dealing with more than 200 ongoing outbreaks.

That
 escalation brought the virus to the Centennial Homestead in rural 
Washington County along the border with Nebraska. Centennial had managed
 to keep the disease out. Until late October.

“Once it’s in your 
building, you beat yourself up,” said Haely Ordoyne, who co-owns and 
runs the 30-bed home. “How could this happen? How did it get in? Where 
did we go wrong?”

And that followed months of isolation and constant fear of a potential outbreak.

“You
 have PTSD in residents and in their families,” she said. “And I 
guarantee that my staff has some form of PTSD after this is all said and
 done.”

Centennial gets five out of five stars on the federal 
government’s nursing home rating, with two low-level citations on its 
last annual inspection, compared to a national average of eight.

In July, a federal inspection found Centennial was following best practices to control infections amid the ongoing pandemic.

During
 the summer months, about one in five Kansas nursing homes didn’t have 
enough nurses. Now, a third of them are in that boat.

Even outbreaks that don’t infect residents sideline employees who need to go into quarantine.

Meanwhile, nursing homes experiencing outbreaks need more staff — not less — to maintain strict separation of their “COVID” and “non-COVID” wings.

“Every
 day is tooth-and-nail” trying to bring in enough workers, Ordoyne said.
 That means finding temporary workers willing to drive in, usually from 
other counties.

Like many nursing homes, Centennial turned to 
temporary staffing agencies for help. But they can charge four times the
 normal going rate.

“We’re not just bleeding,” Ordoyne said. “We are hemorrhaging.”

Nursing homes received federal stimulus funds to help, but part of the problem is they don’t know when that money will run out.

The holidays risk spurring even wider community spread. That could fuel yet more outbreaks and sideline more workers.

Meanwhile, problems that nursing homes hoped would be resolved months ago haven’t gone away.

High-quality coronavirus testing can run upward of $100 a pop. <a href="https://khn.org/news/n95-mask-stockpile-orders-hurt-nursing-homes-small-providers/" target="_blank">Gloves and other protective gear</a> continue to sell for several times what they cost before the pandemic.

“The
 last couple of months, the shortage has been on gloves,” said Debra 
Harmon Zehr, who heads the nonprofit nursing home association, 
LeadingAge Kansas. “Three months ago it was hospital gowns.”

“It’s
 sporadic,” she said. Just when it seems the pipeline is fixed, a 
different item becomes scarce. “And you think, ‘Well, that wasn't a 
problem a week ago.’”

<a href="https://khn.org/news/n95-mask-stockpile-orders-hurt-nursing-homes-small-providers/" target="_blank">Kaiser Health News</a>
 reports the problem remains especially acute for small health care 
providers, who struggle to compete with major health systems stockpiling
 supplies.

To Zehr, it drives home the nation’s poor preparation for a pandemic, for which older people are paying the dearest price.

“When
 it actually happened, any (government) plans that had been made and any
 systems that were supposedly put in place failed miserably,” she said.

Coronavirus
 is now so widespread in Kansas that almost every nursing home in the 
state has to test its workers twice weekly for the virus. Federal 
regulations require it.

Workers <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03141-3" target="_blank">without any symptoms</a> can unwittingly carry the coronavirus into nursing homes.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services sent out <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-09-18/kansas-nursing-homes-still-waiting-on-coronavirus-testing-gear-from-the-feds-and-cant-afford-labs" target="_blank">small machines</a>
 for on-site testing. But as of mid-November, two dozen Kansas nursing 
homes told regulators they still don’t have any such device or enough 
supplies to use it.

Regardless, those machines — and, more recently, federal shipments of <a href="https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/scientists-are-racing-to-develop-paper-based-tests-for-covid-19-180975640/" target="_blank">paperstrip COVID tests</a> that don’t require electronic hardware — are only used until a coronavirus case has been confirmed in a building.

At that point, nursing homes turn to outside labs for <a href="https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/coronavirus-disease-2019-testing-basics" target="_blank">PCR tests</a>, a far more sensitive tool that long-term care facilities can’t afford on a daily basis.

But
 from the start of the pandemic, high demand backlogged the labs that 
conduct PCR tests. That led to long waits for results. Forty-one nursing
 homes in Kansas say they still wait three to seven days for results 
when they test residents.

Centennial is one of them. It’s had to wait between three and five days for results.

It
 sent samples hours away to a major lab in the Kansas City area after 
its on-site rapid tests uncovered a single asymptomatic case. The PCR 
tests revealed several more cases among people who had tested negative 
with rapid tests.

Soon people started showing symptoms. Ultimately, 18 residents and 18 workers tested positive. Four residents have died.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1606943297876.png" alt="Samples undergo coronavirus testing at a lab that usually turns results within 24 hours. Nine months into the pandemic, dozens of Kansas nursing homes are still struggling with access to fast testing. Celia Llopis-Jepsen / Kansas News Service " />
 <figcaption>Samples undergo coronavirus testing at a lab that usually turns results within 24 hours. Nine months into the pandemic, dozens of Kansas nursing homes are still struggling with access to fast testing. Celia Llopis-Jepsen / Kansas News Service </figcaption>
 </figure>By CELIA LLOPIS-JEPSEN <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-12-02/its-becoming-increasingly-hard-to-find-a-nursing-home-in-kansas-where-coronavirus-hasnt-shown-up">Kansas News Service</a>Dozens of Kansas nursing homes still wait three days to a week for <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-11-16/testing-bottlenecks-again-gripping-u-s-with-coronavirus-surging" target="_blank">overwhelmed labs</a> to tell them if their residents have COVID-19.As of mid-November, 30 facilities had less than a week’s worth of <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2020/local/news/n-95-shortage-covid/?no_nav=true&amp;p9w22b2p=b2p22p9w00098&amp;tid=a_classic-iphone" target="_blank">N95 masks</a> on hand. Another 100-plus didn’t have enough nurses.Nine months into a pandemic that has proven most deadly to <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/covid-data/investigations-discovery/hospitalization-death-by-age.html" target="_blank">older people</a>, Kansas nursing homes tell federal regulators they’re still struggling to get the basic tools of defense.Perhaps
 most disturbing of all — as the virus rages in cities, suburbs and 
rural towns — nursing homes simply can’t keep coronavirus out. Two-thirds of them have had confirmed cases among their residents.Things
 were bad enough in August and September, when Kansas long-term care 
facilities were fighting around 40 to 60 active coronavirus outbreaks 
(meaning two or more cases) at any given time.October and November brought <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-11-16/kansas-hospitals-seek-help-from-nearby-states-but-the-whole-midwest-is-struggling-with-a-covid-surge" target="_blank">a vicious surge</a> of the disease. Now, in early December, facilities are dealing with more than 200 ongoing outbreaks.That
 escalation brought the virus to the Centennial Homestead in rural 
Washington County along the border with Nebraska. Centennial had managed
 to keep the disease out. Until late October.“Once it’s in your 
building, you beat yourself up,” said Haely Ordoyne, who co-owns and 
runs the 30-bed home. “How could this happen? How did it get in? Where 
did we go wrong?”And that followed months of isolation and constant fear of a potential outbreak.“You
 have PTSD in residents and in their families,” she said. “And I 
guarantee that my staff has some form of PTSD after this is all said and
 done.”Centennial gets five out of five stars on the federal 
government’s nursing home rating, with two low-level citations on its 
last annual inspection, compared to a national average of eight.In July, a federal inspection found Centennial was following best practices to control infections amid the ongoing pandemic.<h2>Sidelined by the virus</h2>During
 the summer months, about one in five Kansas nursing homes didn’t have 
enough nurses. Now, a third of them are in that boat.Even outbreaks that don’t infect residents sideline employees who need to go into quarantine.Meanwhile, nursing homes experiencing outbreaks need more staff — not less — to maintain strict separation of their “COVID” and “non-COVID” wings.“Every
 day is tooth-and-nail” trying to bring in enough workers, Ordoyne said.
 That means finding temporary workers willing to drive in, usually from 
other counties.Like many nursing homes, Centennial turned to 
temporary staffing agencies for help. But they can charge four times the
 normal going rate.“We’re not just bleeding,” Ordoyne said. “We are hemorrhaging.”Nursing homes received federal stimulus funds to help, but part of the problem is they don’t know when that money will run out.The holidays risk spurring even wider community spread. That could fuel yet more outbreaks and sideline more workers.Meanwhile, problems that nursing homes hoped would be resolved months ago haven’t gone away.High-quality coronavirus testing can run upward of $100 a pop. <a href="https://khn.org/news/n95-mask-stockpile-orders-hurt-nursing-homes-small-providers/" target="_blank">Gloves and other protective gear</a> continue to sell for several times what they cost before the pandemic.“The
 last couple of months, the shortage has been on gloves,” said Debra 
Harmon Zehr, who heads the nonprofit nursing home association, 
LeadingAge Kansas. “Three months ago it was hospital gowns.”“It’s
 sporadic,” she said. Just when it seems the pipeline is fixed, a 
different item becomes scarce. “And you think, ‘Well, that wasn't a 
problem a week ago.’”<a href="https://khn.org/news/n95-mask-stockpile-orders-hurt-nursing-homes-small-providers/" target="_blank">Kaiser Health News</a>
 reports the problem remains especially acute for small health care 
providers, who struggle to compete with major health systems stockpiling
 supplies.To Zehr, it drives home the nation’s poor preparation for a pandemic, for which older people are paying the dearest price.“When
 it actually happened, any (government) plans that had been made and any
 systems that were supposedly put in place failed miserably,” she said.<h2>Testing conundrum</h2>Coronavirus
 is now so widespread in Kansas that almost every nursing home in the 
state has to test its workers twice weekly for the virus. Federal 
regulations require it.Workers <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03141-3" target="_blank">without any symptoms</a> can unwittingly carry the coronavirus into nursing homes.The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services sent out <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-09-18/kansas-nursing-homes-still-waiting-on-coronavirus-testing-gear-from-the-feds-and-cant-afford-labs" target="_blank">small machines</a>
 for on-site testing. But as of mid-November, two dozen Kansas nursing 
homes told regulators they still don’t have any such device or enough 
supplies to use it.Regardless, those machines — and, more recently, federal shipments of <a href="https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/scientists-are-racing-to-develop-paper-based-tests-for-covid-19-180975640/" target="_blank">paperstrip COVID tests</a> that don’t require electronic hardware — are only used until a coronavirus case has been confirmed in a building.At that point, nursing homes turn to outside labs for <a href="https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/coronavirus-disease-2019-testing-basics" target="_blank">PCR tests</a>, a far more sensitive tool that long-term care facilities can’t afford on a daily basis.But
 from the start of the pandemic, high demand backlogged the labs that 
conduct PCR tests. That led to long waits for results. Forty-one nursing
 homes in Kansas say they still wait three to seven days for results 
when they test residents.Centennial is one of them. It’s had to wait between three and five days for results.It
 sent samples hours away to a major lab in the Kansas City area after 
its on-site rapid tests uncovered a single asymptomatic case. The PCR 
tests revealed several more cases among people who had tested negative 
with rapid tests.Soon people started showing symptoms. Ultimately, 18 residents and 18 workers tested positive. Four residents have died.The
 state recently began helping more nursing homes with PCR testing, but 
it’s unclear how far that program funded with federal stimulus dollars 
will stretch.Statewide, the more than 200 ongoing COVID-19 outbreaks in Kansas long-term care facilities have taken 360 lives so far.Combined
 with other outbreaks that have already ended, the virus’ toll in 
nursing homes and similar facilities makes up more than 750 of the 
nearly <a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas" target="_blank">1,700 pandemic deaths</a> in Kansas.Celia
 Llopis-Jepsen reports on consumer health and education for the Kansas 
News Service. You can follow her on Twitter @celia_LJ or email her at 
celia@kcur.org.