TOPEKA - Projects that promote safety, improve access or mobility and update transportation technology can receive financial assistance in a new Innovative Technology Program created by the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT).

All transportation modes and technologies are eligible. Non-governmental applications will also be considered.

“As a leader in UAS, it’s important that we implement new technologies safely. Citizens at Local Consult meetings across the state last year stressed the need for technology opportunities to better position Kansas for the future,” said Secretary Julie Lorenz. “This program will help both rural and urban areas of the state improve the transportation system.”&nbsp;

An informational webinar about the program will take place at 10: 30 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 3. To participate, the webinar link is&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fattendee.gotowebinar.com%2Fregister%2F9091955517133125391&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7Cfe76383ead884ac07f6408d845091f25%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637335252836570994&amp;sdata=vbgPv9FwOLfyKAoRtW5q432VEGRbtbwQCYxoX0ADoW0%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/9091955517133125391</a>

The program has $3 million per fiscal year available. A minimum of 25% non-state cash match is required, and additional consideration will be given to applications that contribute more.

The deadline for applications is Sept. 18 and selected projects will be announced in late October. Click&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ksdot.org%2FAssets%2Fwwwksdotorg%2Fbureaus%2FdivInnovTech%2FFY21_Innovative_Technology_Fact_Sheet.pdf%3FInnovative%2BTechnology%2BFact%2BSheet&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7Cfe76383ead884ac07f6408d845091f25%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637335252836580954&amp;sdata=ONrH%2BufCKZndBn6gAKCbn8eDp%2FredXSBg7SD0IXHu7c%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">here</a>&nbsp;for a facts sheet, or&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ksdot.org%2FAssets%2Fwwwksdotorg%2Fbureaus%2FdivInnovTech%2FFY21_Innovative_Tech_Program_Application.pdf%3FKDOT_Innovative_Technology_Program_Application_Form_2020&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7Cfe76383ead884ac07f6408d845091f25%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637335252836580954&amp;sdata=ejG0T6xYq6lO1bElfdCREcizixIeyQcXRLtJ0GVEPbI%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">here</a>&nbsp;for an application.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598020277973.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>KDOTTOPEKA - Projects that promote safety, improve access or mobility and update transportation technology can receive financial assistance in a new Innovative Technology Program created by the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT).All transportation modes and technologies are eligible. Non-governmental applications will also be considered.“As a leader in UAS, it’s important that we implement new technologies safely. Citizens at Local Consult meetings across the state last year stressed the need for technology opportunities to better position Kansas for the future,” said Secretary Julie Lorenz. “This program will help both rural and urban areas of the state improve the transportation system.”&nbsp;An informational webinar about the program will take place at 10: 30 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 3. To participate, the webinar link is&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fattendee.gotowebinar.com%2Fregister%2F9091955517133125391&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7Cfe76383ead884ac07f6408d845091f25%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637335252836570994&amp;sdata=vbgPv9FwOLfyKAoRtW5q432VEGRbtbwQCYxoX0ADoW0%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/9091955517133125391</a>The program has $3 million per fiscal year available. A minimum of 25% non-state cash match is required, and additional consideration will be given to applications that contribute more.The deadline for applications is Sept. 18 and selected projects will be announced in late October. Click&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ksdot.org%2FAssets%2Fwwwksdotorg%2Fbureaus%2FdivInnovTech%2FFY21_Innovative_Technology_Fact_Sheet.pdf%3FInnovative%2BTechnology%2BFact%2BSheet&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7Cfe76383ead884ac07f6408d845091f25%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637335252836580954&amp;sdata=ONrH%2BufCKZndBn6gAKCbn8eDp%2FredXSBg7SD0IXHu7c%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">here</a>&nbsp;for a facts sheet, or&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ksdot.org%2FAssets%2Fwwwksdotorg%2Fbureaus%2FdivInnovTech%2FFY21_Innovative_Tech_Program_Application.pdf%3FKDOT_Innovative_Technology_Program_Application_Form_2020&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7Cfe76383ead884ac07f6408d845091f25%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637335252836580954&amp;sdata=ejG0T6xYq6lO1bElfdCREcizixIeyQcXRLtJ0GVEPbI%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">here</a>&nbsp;for an application.

New transportation technology program funding available

TOPEKA - Kansans are invited to
attend the Kansas Rural Center’s (KRC) “Future of Farming and Food” Town Hall
virtual meetings this summer and early fall. Four meetings will facilitate
discussion on local/regional food system resiliency, rural revitalization, climate
and energy, and farm to school. 

Each town hall will be hosted on Zoom
from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on the following dates:

August 27 - Local and Regional Food System
Resilience 

September 10&nbsp;
- Rural Revitalization 

Registration is required to receive the
meeting links.&nbsp; Registration can be found
at<a href="http://www.kansasruralcenter.org/"> </a><a href="https://kansasruralcenter.org/2020townhalls/">www.kansasruralcenter.org/2020townhalls/</a>.

The Town Halls will offer opportunities
to share information and community dialogue on the unique challenges or
opportunities communities face in each topic area, within the context of an
election year and the new realities of responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

These come at a time when Kansans are
thinking about resiliency and what the future will look like. The ways in which
we farm and get food to our plates and our capacity to work together as
communities will be critical - perhaps now more than ever. 

Based on dialogue and feedback from Town
Hall participants last summer, KRC identified components of a shared vision for
the future and developed a report and recommendations for a more resilient
food, farm and energy future. The recommendations&nbsp; focus on&nbsp;
four areas: Local/Regional Food and Agriculture; Rural Revitalization;
Water, Conservation and the Environment; and Energy.&nbsp; A free copy of the <a href="https://kansasruralcenter.org/krc-future-of-farming-food-town-hall-summary-recommendations-available/">report can be found on KRC’s website</a>.

This year's Town Halls will build on the
visions and ideas outlined in the report and recommendations.&nbsp; “We want to revisit what we learned from
folks last year because we are all living in a much different world and many of
our priorities have shifted.” says Natalie Fullerton, KRC Assistant Director.
“We want people to come away from the meetings with a better understanding of
common concerns, goals and reasons for hope.” 

Each Town Hall meeting will feature a
pre-recorded farm or local foods industry virtual tour shared ahead of
time.&nbsp; During the Town Halls a panel of
leaders will share new and old challenges and visions for how we come together
to strengthen our resilience around each topic.&nbsp;
Attendees will then have time to ask questions, respond to the
panelists, and share their experiences or opinions about the issues addressed
in order to help identify what is needed to advance opportunities in their
communities and/or the region. 

KRC has just begun a two-year Farm to
School project which includes the opportunity to provide space for community
dialogue on what the project entails and how members of the community can
support it. The final Town Hall will invite panelists who are part of
successful farm to school programs to share the unique ways their schools and
communities connect kids to fresh local food.&nbsp;


As the November election nears, the Town
Halls will also provide an opportunity to explore questions to be asking
candidates and ways to ensure that&nbsp; voter
tools are accessible to everyone.&nbsp; “As we
have seen in the past and are seeing currently, elections have consequences on
our food and ag landscape,” says Fullerton.&nbsp;
“Civic engagement is very much an important part of the conversation
when thinking about future resiliency.” 

If you have other questions or want to
register, contact Ryan Goertzen-Regier at <a href="mailto:ryangr@kansasruralcenter.org">ryangr@kansasruralcenter.org</a> or
call 866-579-5469.

The town halls are part of KRC’s
Integrated Voter Engagement project, funded by the Kansas Health Foundation and
Farm to School project, funded by USDA. The projects aim to improve economic,
community, environmental, and human health in Kansas by strengthening civic
engagement and public policy support that better incorporates Kansas farms and
communities into the state’s healthy food supply chain.&nbsp; 

The mission of KRC, founded in 1979,
is to promote the long-term health of the land and its people through
community-based research, education, and advocacy that advances an economically
viable, ecologically sound, and socially just food and farming system in
Kansas. For more information, visit kansasruralcenter.org.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597849268455.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>KRCTOPEKA - Kansans are invited to
attend the Kansas Rural Center’s (KRC) “Future of Farming and Food” Town Hall
virtual meetings this summer and early fall. Four meetings will facilitate
discussion on local/regional food system resiliency, rural revitalization, climate
and energy, and farm to school. Each town hall will be hosted on Zoom
from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on the following dates:August 27 - Local and Regional Food System
Resilience September 10&nbsp;
- Rural Revitalization September 24 - Climate and EnergyOctober 8 - Farm to School Registration is required to receive the
meeting links.&nbsp; Registration can be found
at<a href="http://www.kansasruralcenter.org/"> </a><a href="https://kansasruralcenter.org/2020townhalls/">www.kansasruralcenter.org/2020townhalls/</a>.The Town Halls will offer opportunities
to share information and community dialogue on the unique challenges or
opportunities communities face in each topic area, within the context of an
election year and the new realities of responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. These come at a time when Kansans are
thinking about resiliency and what the future will look like. The ways in which
we farm and get food to our plates and our capacity to work together as
communities will be critical - perhaps now more than ever. Based on dialogue and feedback from Town
Hall participants last summer, KRC identified components of a shared vision for
the future and developed a report and recommendations for a more resilient
food, farm and energy future. The recommendations&nbsp; focus on&nbsp;
four areas: Local/Regional Food and Agriculture; Rural Revitalization;
Water, Conservation and the Environment; and Energy.&nbsp; A free copy of the <a href="https://kansasruralcenter.org/krc-future-of-farming-food-town-hall-summary-recommendations-available/">report can be found on KRC’s website</a>. This year's Town Halls will build on the
visions and ideas outlined in the report and recommendations.&nbsp; “We want to revisit what we learned from
folks last year because we are all living in a much different world and many of
our priorities have shifted.” says Natalie Fullerton, KRC Assistant Director.
“We want people to come away from the meetings with a better understanding of
common concerns, goals and reasons for hope.” Each Town Hall meeting will feature a
pre-recorded farm or local foods industry virtual tour shared ahead of
time.&nbsp; During the Town Halls a panel of
leaders will share new and old challenges and visions for how we come together
to strengthen our resilience around each topic.&nbsp;
Attendees will then have time to ask questions, respond to the
panelists, and share their experiences or opinions about the issues addressed
in order to help identify what is needed to advance opportunities in their
communities and/or the region. KRC has just begun a two-year Farm to
School project which includes the opportunity to provide space for community
dialogue on what the project entails and how members of the community can
support it. The final Town Hall will invite panelists who are part of
successful farm to school programs to share the unique ways their schools and
communities connect kids to fresh local food.&nbsp;
As the November election nears, the Town
Halls will also provide an opportunity to explore questions to be asking
candidates and ways to ensure that&nbsp; voter
tools are accessible to everyone.&nbsp; “As we
have seen in the past and are seeing currently, elections have consequences on
our food and ag landscape,” says Fullerton.&nbsp;
“Civic engagement is very much an important part of the conversation
when thinking about future resiliency.” Registration is required to receive the
meeting links.&nbsp; Registration can be found
at<a href="http://www.kansasruralcenter.org/"> </a><a href="https://kansasruralcenter.org/2020townhalls/">www.kansasruralcenter.org/2020townhalls/</a>.If you have other questions or want to
register, contact Ryan Goertzen-Regier at <a href="mailto:ryangr@kansasruralcenter.org">ryangr@kansasruralcenter.org</a> or
call 866-579-5469.The town halls are part of KRC’s
Integrated Voter Engagement project, funded by the Kansas Health Foundation and
Farm to School project, funded by USDA. The projects aim to improve economic,
community, environmental, and human health in Kansas by strengthening civic
engagement and public policy support that better incorporates Kansas farms and
communities into the state’s healthy food supply chain.&nbsp; The mission of KRC, founded in 1979,
is to promote the long-term health of the land and its people through
community-based research, education, and advocacy that advances an economically
viable, ecologically sound, and socially just food and farming system in
Kansas. For more information, visit kansasruralcenter.org.

Kansas Rural Center to host online future of farming and food town halls

Darrell Wayne Yott, 62, died August 19, 2020, at his home in rural 
Olmitz, Kansas.&nbsp; He was born July 8, 1958, in Louisville, Kentucky, the 
son of Emmitt A. “Sonny” and Inola S. (Johnston) Yott.&nbsp; Darrell 
graduated from Hoisington High School in 1976 and then later received 
his associate degree from Barton County Community College. He served in 
the United States Army as a Specialist 4 from 1976 to 1979.&nbsp;

A longtime Barton County resident, he was an oil field driller with 
Southwind Drilling.&nbsp; He also owned his own flooring business, Darrell’s 
Custom Floors. Darrell was good man with a zest for life.&nbsp; He loved his 
many friends and family. He also loved a good game of horseshoes and 
sponsored the DD Horseshoe Tournament. He was an avid hunter and 
sportsman, and loved playing pool, ping pong, darts, and bowling.

On June 8, 1976, he married Rebecca Cannon, and they later divorced.&nbsp;
 He then married Laura Hendon on October 4, 2017, in Great Bend, 
Kansas.&nbsp; She survives.

Other survivors include; son, David Yott of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; 
and daughters, Theresa Yott and spouse Thomas Wise of Hoisington, and 
Dietre Stevenson of Olmitz; four grandchildren, Tyler Duerksen, Dylan W.
 Yott, Dayne W. Yott, and Deryk W. Yott.

Memorial service will be 10:00 a.m., Saturday, August 29, 2020, at 
Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, with Ron Bailey presiding.&nbsp; Friends may 
sign the book 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, cremation has 
taken place.

Memorials are suggested to Golden Belt Community Foundation in care 
of Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, PO Box 146, Hoisington, KS 67544.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598040697387.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Darrell Wayne Yott, 62, died August 19, 2020, at his home in rural 
Olmitz, Kansas.&nbsp; He was born July 8, 1958, in Louisville, Kentucky, the 
son of Emmitt A. “Sonny” and Inola S. (Johnston) Yott.&nbsp; Darrell 
graduated from Hoisington High School in 1976 and then later received 
his associate degree from Barton County Community College. He served in 
the United States Army as a Specialist 4 from 1976 to 1979.&nbsp;A longtime Barton County resident, he was an oil field driller with 
Southwind Drilling.&nbsp; He also owned his own flooring business, Darrell’s 
Custom Floors. Darrell was good man with a zest for life.&nbsp; He loved his 
many friends and family. He also loved a good game of horseshoes and 
sponsored the DD Horseshoe Tournament. He was an avid hunter and 
sportsman, and loved playing pool, ping pong, darts, and bowling.On June 8, 1976, he married Rebecca Cannon, and they later divorced.&nbsp;
 He then married Laura Hendon on October 4, 2017, in Great Bend, 
Kansas.&nbsp; She survives.Other survivors include; son, David Yott of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; 
and daughters, Theresa Yott and spouse Thomas Wise of Hoisington, and 
Dietre Stevenson of Olmitz; four grandchildren, Tyler Duerksen, Dylan W.
 Yott, Dayne W. Yott, and Deryk W. Yott.Memorial service will be 10:00 a.m., Saturday, August 29, 2020, at 
Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, with Ron Bailey presiding.&nbsp; Friends may 
sign the book 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, cremation has 
taken place.Memorials are suggested to Golden Belt Community Foundation in care 
of Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, PO Box 146, Hoisington, KS 67544.

Darrell Wayne Yott

Prairie View, KS resident Wayne K. Rupke passed away Tuesday, 
August 18, 2020, at the Norton County Hospital, Norton, KS at the age of 
76.

He was born October 9, 1943, in Norton, KS the son of Walter J. and 
Freda L. (Schemper) Rupke. He graduated from high school in Prairie 
View.&nbsp; &nbsp;He went on to graduate from Fort Hays University with a degree 
in Industrial Arts.

Wayne was a part of the last draft for the Vietnam War in 1969 and served in the US Army.

Following his discharge he attended Northwest Kansas Technical College in Goodland and completed the plumbing program.

He began working for the State of Kansas at the Hospital for 
handicapped in Norton in the maintenance department and continued when 
it became the Norton Corrections Facility. He later retired after 34 
years there.

He met his wife at a Western Auto store in Norton and was later 
united in marriage to Leeta JoAnn Michael on April 28, 1979, at the 
Luctor Christian Reformed Church.

They were blessed with two children. Wayne loved to travel and 
enjoyed many trips with his wife as a result of her sales for a company 
she worked with at the time. She survives.

Wayne used his education to remodel and add onto his home In Prairie 
View and his plumbing knowledge served many of the folks in his 
hometown.

Wayne suffered the last ten years with complications from West Niles 
virus; later contracting diabetes and a heart condition which was 
determined to be a result of his service in Vietnam. Wayne was not a man
 who complained, but suffered much. In recent months he lost some of his
 toes and endured much discomfort. He is finally with no pain. We will 
miss him.

Wayne is survived by his wife JoAnn of the home in Prairie View, his 
son Vance M. Rupke of Jennings, KS; daughter, Emma A. Rupke of Topeka, 
KS; two sisters, Shirley (Art) Henrickson of Logan, KS and Wanda (Doug) 
Rahjes of Kensington, KS, many cousins, nephews and nieces.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, August 22, 2020
 at the Prairie View Reformed Church, Prairie View, KS, with Pastor Lew 
VanDerWege officiating.&nbsp; The services will be streamed live on the 
Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel FaceBook page.&nbsp; Burial with military honors
 will follow in the Prairie View Cemetery.

Wayne will lie in state from noon until 9 p.m. Thursday, 9 a.m. to 9 
p.m. Friday with the family receiving friends Friday evening from 7 p.m.
 until 8 p.m. all at the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, 1115 2nd St., Phillipsburg, KS&nbsp; 67661.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Prairie View Cemetery Fund.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598026874097.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Prairie View, KS resident Wayne K. Rupke passed away Tuesday, 
August 18, 2020, at the Norton County Hospital, Norton, KS at the age of 
76.He was born October 9, 1943, in Norton, KS the son of Walter J. and 
Freda L. (Schemper) Rupke. He graduated from high school in Prairie 
View.&nbsp; &nbsp;He went on to graduate from Fort Hays University with a degree 
in Industrial Arts.Wayne was a part of the last draft for the Vietnam War in 1969 and served in the US Army.Following his discharge he attended Northwest Kansas Technical College in Goodland and completed the plumbing program.He began working for the State of Kansas at the Hospital for 
handicapped in Norton in the maintenance department and continued when 
it became the Norton Corrections Facility. He later retired after 34 
years there.He met his wife at a Western Auto store in Norton and was later 
united in marriage to Leeta JoAnn Michael on April 28, 1979, at the 
Luctor Christian Reformed Church.They were blessed with two children. Wayne loved to travel and 
enjoyed many trips with his wife as a result of her sales for a company 
she worked with at the time. She survives.Wayne used his education to remodel and add onto his home In Prairie 
View and his plumbing knowledge served many of the folks in his 
hometown.Wayne suffered the last ten years with complications from West Niles 
virus; later contracting diabetes and a heart condition which was 
determined to be a result of his service in Vietnam. Wayne was not a man
 who complained, but suffered much. In recent months he lost some of his
 toes and endured much discomfort. He is finally with no pain. We will 
miss him.Wayne is survived by his wife JoAnn of the home in Prairie View, his 
son Vance M. Rupke of Jennings, KS; daughter, Emma A. Rupke of Topeka, 
KS; two sisters, Shirley (Art) Henrickson of Logan, KS and Wanda (Doug) 
Rahjes of Kensington, KS, many cousins, nephews and nieces.Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, August 22, 2020
 at the Prairie View Reformed Church, Prairie View, KS, with Pastor Lew 
VanDerWege officiating.&nbsp; The services will be streamed live on the 
Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel FaceBook page.&nbsp; Burial with military honors
 will follow in the Prairie View Cemetery.Wayne will lie in state from noon until 9 p.m. Thursday, 9 a.m. to 9 
p.m. Friday with the family receiving friends Friday evening from 7 p.m.
 until 8 p.m. all at the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, 1115 2nd St., Phillipsburg, KS&nbsp; 67661.Memorial contributions may be made to the Prairie View Cemetery Fund.

Wayne K. Rupke

A Kansas State University agricultural economist has completed an exhaustive study on hedging cattle prices, which he says could help producers manage their economic risks – perhaps especially so in times of crisis.

Brian Coffey looked at the average price of steers and heifers sold in Kansas between 2010 and June 2020 to determine if hedging – a strategy to lock in prices using futures markets – is a reliable strategy for selling live cattle.

“One thing that came out of this will be surprising to a lot of people,” Coffey said. “If we look just at the average price that live cattle would have been sold for from 2010 to 2020, the hedged prices are lower, but they are only 48 cents per hundredweight (cwt) lower than unhedged sales, on average. In other words, the risk-management benefits of hedging come at a fairly lower cost per hundredweight, on average.

“A lot of times, people have in mind that to get the risk-management benefit of hedging, you take a pretty big hit on expected average returns. But over the long term, we’re just not seeing that.”

Hedging helps to protect against adverse price changes in the markets by allowing a producer who is feeding cattle to establish an approximate selling price now and be protected if prices decline by the time they market those animals later.

“In given weeks or months, you can definitely give up potential gains in some of those extreme times when cash prices rally unexpectedly,” Coffey said. “But you also avoid extreme losses in weeks or months when cash prices decline unexpectedly.”

Coffey notes that more detailed information on hedging is available at&nbsp;<a href="https://agmanager.info/">AgManager.info</a>, a website managed by the K-State Department of Agricultural Economics.

In his study, Coffey assumed a feeding period of 160 days while comparing what a producer might have earned on live cattle sales had they hedged those sales instead.

“Basically what I assumed was that a producer would hedge cattle immediately upon placement, then immediately lift the hedge when those live cattle are priced or sold,” he said. “It’s a very disciplined and systematic hedging routine.”

While he found a slight average-price decrease when hedging during normal times, Coffey said hedging can provide huge benefits when disaster hits the industry – such as has happened twice in the past year.

In Fall 2019, a fire destroyed a packing plant owned by Tyson Fresh Meats in Holcomb, Kansas, which had a daily capacity of 6,000 head – or about 6% of the United States’ slaughter capacity.

Coffey compared live cattle prices for 23 weeks, between July and October 2019 to see what impact hedging would have had on producers’ profits.

“What I saw was the hedged price, on average, was about $10 per cwt higher,” he said. “If someone was marketing fed cattle week after week through that same time period, having those cattle hedged was worth an extra $10 per cwt higher.”

Put another way, the average weekly value of gain for hedged cattle was $123 higher per head than for unhedged cattle.

More recently, Coffey also looked at the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, comparing prices between February 2020 and the end of June. Again, hedging proved to be a successful strategy during crisis.

“The hedged value of gain averaged about $221 per head higher,” Coffey said.

“The take-home lesson from both of those instances,” he said, “is that hedging can protect from scenarios that can, frankly, end a business. Hedging protects against catastrophic losses.”

Coffey’s full report, titled&nbsp;Hedging Kansas Live Cattle: A Summary of Outcomes over the Past 10 Years, is&nbsp;<a href="https://agmanager.info/">available online at Agmanager.info</a>.

Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact her by e-mail at aboor@ksu.edu or calling 620-793-1910.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1592579538317.png" alt="Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District." />
 <figcaption>Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District.</figcaption>
 </figure>A Kansas State University agricultural economist has completed an exhaustive study on hedging cattle prices, which he says could help producers manage their economic risks – perhaps especially so in times of crisis.Brian Coffey looked at the average price of steers and heifers sold in Kansas between 2010 and June 2020 to determine if hedging – a strategy to lock in prices using futures markets – is a reliable strategy for selling live cattle.“One thing that came out of this will be surprising to a lot of people,” Coffey said. “If we look just at the average price that live cattle would have been sold for from 2010 to 2020, the hedged prices are lower, but they are only 48 cents per hundredweight (cwt) lower than unhedged sales, on average. In other words, the risk-management benefits of hedging come at a fairly lower cost per hundredweight, on average.“A lot of times, people have in mind that to get the risk-management benefit of hedging, you take a pretty big hit on expected average returns. But over the long term, we’re just not seeing that.”Hedging helps to protect against adverse price changes in the markets by allowing a producer who is feeding cattle to establish an approximate selling price now and be protected if prices decline by the time they market those animals later.“In given weeks or months, you can definitely give up potential gains in some of those extreme times when cash prices rally unexpectedly,” Coffey said. “But you also avoid extreme losses in weeks or months when cash prices decline unexpectedly.”Coffey notes that more detailed information on hedging is available at&nbsp;<a href="https://agmanager.info/">AgManager.info</a>, a website managed by the K-State Department of Agricultural Economics.In his study, Coffey assumed a feeding period of 160 days while comparing what a producer might have earned on live cattle sales had they hedged those sales instead.“Basically what I assumed was that a producer would hedge cattle immediately upon placement, then immediately lift the hedge when those live cattle are priced or sold,” he said. “It’s a very disciplined and systematic hedging routine.”While he found a slight average-price decrease when hedging during normal times, Coffey said hedging can provide huge benefits when disaster hits the industry – such as has happened twice in the past year.In Fall 2019, a fire destroyed a packing plant owned by Tyson Fresh Meats in Holcomb, Kansas, which had a daily capacity of 6,000 head – or about 6% of the United States’ slaughter capacity.Coffey compared live cattle prices for 23 weeks, between July and October 2019 to see what impact hedging would have had on producers’ profits.“What I saw was the hedged price, on average, was about $10 per cwt higher,” he said. “If someone was marketing fed cattle week after week through that same time period, having those cattle hedged was worth an extra $10 per cwt higher.”Put another way, the average weekly value of gain for hedged cattle was $123 higher per head than for unhedged cattle.More recently, Coffey also looked at the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, comparing prices between February 2020 and the end of June. Again, hedging proved to be a successful strategy during crisis.“The hedged value of gain averaged about $221 per head higher,” Coffey said.“The take-home lesson from both of those instances,” he said, “is that hedging can protect from scenarios that can, frankly, end a business. Hedging protects against catastrophic losses.”Coffey’s full report, titled&nbsp;Hedging Kansas Live Cattle: A Summary of Outcomes over the Past 10 Years, is&nbsp;<a href="https://agmanager.info/">available online at Agmanager.info</a>.Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact her by e-mail at aboor@ksu.edu or calling 620-793-1910.

BOOR: Hedging cattle prices

Therese Marie (Kinderknecht) Hoag, age 
52, of Hays, KS passed away on June 4, 2020 at Hays Medical Center. She 
was born October 17, 1968 in Hays to Donald and Virginia (Legleiter) 
Kinderknecht. She attended Hays High School.

She is survived by a daughter, Sierra 
Hoag; two grandsons, Colton and Chase; sisters, Sue Erbacher (Pody), 
Dana Schmidt (John) both of Hays Kimberly Farber (Alan) Commerce City, 
CO; brothers, Carl Kinderknecht, Hays and John Kinderknecht, Hutchinson,
 KS.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Debbra Kinderknecht; brothers, Michael and Marty Kinderknecht.

Private burial took place at St. 
Joseph’s Cemetery Hays with Brock's-Keithley Funeral Chapel and 
Crematory 2509 Vine Street Hays, Kansas 67601.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597932291355.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Therese Marie (Kinderknecht) Hoag, age 
52, of Hays, KS passed away on June 4, 2020 at Hays Medical Center. She 
was born October 17, 1968 in Hays to Donald and Virginia (Legleiter) 
Kinderknecht. She attended Hays High School.She is survived by a daughter, Sierra 
Hoag; two grandsons, Colton and Chase; sisters, Sue Erbacher (Pody), 
Dana Schmidt (John) both of Hays Kimberly Farber (Alan) Commerce City, 
CO; brothers, Carl Kinderknecht, Hays and John Kinderknecht, Hutchinson,
 KS.She was preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Debbra Kinderknecht; brothers, Michael and Marty Kinderknecht.Private burial took place at St. 
Joseph’s Cemetery Hays with Brock's-Keithley Funeral Chapel and 
Crematory 2509 Vine Street Hays, Kansas 67601.Condolences may be left by guest book at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or by email at keithleyfuneralhomes@gmail.com

Therese M. Hoag

Mary Ann Heyen, 83, was called home to heaven on August 16, 2020 at 
her home surrounded by her family. She will be welcomed by her late 
husband, Meryle. Born March 15, 1937 to Jim (postmaster in St John) and 
Jennie Owen (teacher in Missouri) in Great Bend, Kansas during a snow 
storm. Her grandfather, C.A. Brown, donated a tract of land which is now
 known as the baseball park, swimming pool, shelter house, football 
field and Brown Park.

Mary Ann graduated in 1957 from St John High School, a 5th generation
 graduate. After high school Mary Ann went to college in Emporia, Ks and
 Gulf Port, Mississippi and studied nursing. In college she loved 
fencing and won many medals and trophies for her efforts. Mary Ann loved
 life and in the summer of 1956 worked at the North Pole in Colorado, at
 their grand opening as "Little Bo Peep" and an elf.

She married Meryle Heyen on October 18, 1958 at the Methodist Church 
in St John. Later she and Meryle joined the Church of Christ in 
Stafford. She belonged to the Modern Homemakers in Stafford, Great Bend 
Petroleum Club, she was a 50 year member (Golden Girl) of PEO in St 
John, and was a member of numerous bridge clubs in St John, Stafford, 
Great Bend, and Woodland Park Colorado.

Her hobbies were rock gathering in the mountains, estate and garage 
sales, collecting cut glass, old fruit jars, and barb wire. She loved 
going to Cripple Creek with her bridge friends and her niece Cappy and 
Sam. The love of her life besides Meryle were her dogs and 
great-grandchildren.

Survived by daughter Brenda Heyen of St John, grandchildren Erika 
Bebee and companion, Derek Jones, and Jaime Heyen. Great grandchildren 
Jadance Heyen, Jakobus "Kobi" Heyen, Elvin Jones, Colt Heyen and 
Remington Becker all of St John. Extended grandchildren, Leah Getty (Kip
 Ward, spouse), Travis Getty (Jamie Getty, spouse) and Heath Getty all 
of St John. Extended great grandchildren Hunter, Colton, and Addi Ward, 
Reese Getty, and Shyanna Rittel. She was proceeded in death by her 
parents, Jim and Jennie Owen, Brothers, Jimmy Phelps and Jack Brown 
Owen, three great grandchildren, Noah, Bjorn, and Luka and extended son 
Leonard Getty.

Visitation will be held from Noon to 9:00 p.m., Friday, August, 21, 
2020, at Bryant Funeral Home, with family to receive friends from 5:00 
to 7:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held Saturday, August 22, 2020, at
 2:00 p.m., at Bryant Funeral Home, located at 1425 Patton Road, Great 
Bend, Kansas. Graveside services will follow in St. John. Memorials are 
suggested to the Great Grandchildren’s Education Fund, in care of Bryant
 Funeral Home.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597932441177.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Mary Ann Heyen, 83, was called home to heaven on August 16, 2020 at 
her home surrounded by her family. She will be welcomed by her late 
husband, Meryle. Born March 15, 1937 to Jim (postmaster in St John) and 
Jennie Owen (teacher in Missouri) in Great Bend, Kansas during a snow 
storm. Her grandfather, C.A. Brown, donated a tract of land which is now
 known as the baseball park, swimming pool, shelter house, football 
field and Brown Park.Mary Ann graduated in 1957 from St John High School, a 5th generation
 graduate. After high school Mary Ann went to college in Emporia, Ks and
 Gulf Port, Mississippi and studied nursing. In college she loved 
fencing and won many medals and trophies for her efforts. Mary Ann loved
 life and in the summer of 1956 worked at the North Pole in Colorado, at
 their grand opening as "Little Bo Peep" and an elf.She married Meryle Heyen on October 18, 1958 at the Methodist Church 
in St John. Later she and Meryle joined the Church of Christ in 
Stafford. She belonged to the Modern Homemakers in Stafford, Great Bend 
Petroleum Club, she was a 50 year member (Golden Girl) of PEO in St 
John, and was a member of numerous bridge clubs in St John, Stafford, 
Great Bend, and Woodland Park Colorado.Her hobbies were rock gathering in the mountains, estate and garage 
sales, collecting cut glass, old fruit jars, and barb wire. She loved 
going to Cripple Creek with her bridge friends and her niece Cappy and 
Sam. The love of her life besides Meryle were her dogs and 
great-grandchildren.Survived by daughter Brenda Heyen of St John, grandchildren Erika 
Bebee and companion, Derek Jones, and Jaime Heyen. Great grandchildren 
Jadance Heyen, Jakobus "Kobi" Heyen, Elvin Jones, Colt Heyen and 
Remington Becker all of St John. Extended grandchildren, Leah Getty (Kip
 Ward, spouse), Travis Getty (Jamie Getty, spouse) and Heath Getty all 
of St John. Extended great grandchildren Hunter, Colton, and Addi Ward, 
Reese Getty, and Shyanna Rittel. She was proceeded in death by her 
parents, Jim and Jennie Owen, Brothers, Jimmy Phelps and Jack Brown 
Owen, three great grandchildren, Noah, Bjorn, and Luka and extended son 
Leonard Getty.Visitation will be held from Noon to 9:00 p.m., Friday, August, 21, 
2020, at Bryant Funeral Home, with family to receive friends from 5:00 
to 7:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held Saturday, August 22, 2020, at
 2:00 p.m., at Bryant Funeral Home, located at 1425 Patton Road, Great 
Bend, Kansas. Graveside services will follow in St. John. Memorials are 
suggested to the Great Grandchildren’s Education Fund, in care of Bryant
 Funeral Home.

Mary Ann Heyen

Wichita City League schools have canceled all non-league games and will play a league-only schedule for fall sports in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

GWAL athletic director J Means told the Wichita Eagle that a decision&nbsp;whether to play any games is coming Thursday.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The decision leaves Hays High with two less football games.

The Indians were to open their season September 4th at
Wichita East then host Wichita Northwest October 23rd. 

The decision does not affect Hays High's game game at Maize South on October 15th since they are not in the Greater Wichita Athletic League.

Tuesday's decision by the GWAL leaves other WAC teams without games.

Dodge City lost three games and now has only one scheduled through their first four weeks of the season. Liberal lost three and Garden City lost two.

The move also affects the Hays High boys soccer team who was scheduled to play in the now canceled Wichita South Titan Classic.&nbsp;

HHS tweeted out Tuesday night that they are trying to find replacement games and has already scheduled Salina Central on September 9th in Hays.

Wichita City League schools have canceled all non-league games and will play a league-only schedule for fall sports in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.GWAL athletic director J Means told the Wichita Eagle that a decision&nbsp;whether to play any games is coming Thursday.&nbsp;&nbsp;The decision leaves Hays High with two less football games.The Indians were to open their season September 4th at
Wichita East then host Wichita Northwest October 23rd. The decision does not affect Hays High's game game at Maize South on October 15th since they are not in the Greater Wichita Athletic League.Tuesday's decision by the GWAL leaves other WAC teams without games.Dodge City lost three games and now has only one scheduled through their first four weeks of the season. Liberal lost three and Garden City lost two.The move also affects the Hays High boys soccer team who was scheduled to play in the now canceled Wichita South Titan Classic.&nbsp;HHS tweeted out Tuesday night that they are trying to find replacement games and has already scheduled Salina Central on September 9th in Hays.

Hays High football loses two games

Philip Dale Davis died on August 13,2020. He was born October 24, 1931 
to George and Gaynell (Fuerstock) Davis and was the youngest of nine 
children. He was preceded in death by his parents; his beloved wife, 
Jody; brothers, Harlan, Donald, and Harold and sisters, Vida 
Arimintrout, Thelma Davis, Elizabeth “Betty Lou” Mudgett, and Shirley 
Gregory. 
Phil’s interest in horses began at a very young age while helping his 
uncle on the farm where he learned to drive a team of horses. In 1940, 
after his father was killed in a farm accident, the family moved to 
Greeley, where an owner of a horse barn recognized Phil’s talent which 
led to his first job with the Remount Ranch in Cheyenne, Wyoming, after 
he graduated from High School in 1950. 
In August of 1952, his cowboy ways had to be put on hold as he was 
drafted into the Army during the Korean War. Phil served in the HQ 
Company 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment and was released from 
active duty in August of 1954. He was placed in the Army Reserves and 
later Honorably Discharged. 
Upon returning home, Phil went back to work for the Remount Ranch, 
deciding shortly after that he needed to increase his knowledge of 
cattle and horses. So, Phil and his best friend, Joe Maldonado, left to 
travel and work on several different ranches from Arizona to Montana. 
On June 14, 1956, he met Jody Redman, the blonde that would forever 
change his life. They married on November 1, 1958, in Fort Collins, 
Colorado. This union, by a small miracle, produced one child the 
following year, a daughter, Julie Dawn. Phil and Jody moved to Elbert 
County, in 1958, where they would spend the rest of their lives. They 
celebrated 57 years of marriage before she died in 2015. 
Phil’s first job upon moving was for the John Ewing Company where he was
 hired to manage a herd of yearlings, band of broad mares, and to their 
surprise a band of sheep. In 1968, Phil went to A.I. school and life on 
the ranch soon changed as all efforts were focused on building a 
cow-calf purebred Charolais herd. Out of this effort came a prize herd 
of cattle as well as Phil’s passion to become the best A.I. technician. 
Phil, along with others from Elbert county were pioneers in the cattle 
industry as artificial insemination changed the landscape. After 12 
years, his skill landed Phil his second and final job in Elbert County 
with Rob Brown from Throckmorton, Texas. 
Phil and Jody helped Rob establish Brown Simmental Breeders which later 
became the RA Brown Ranch. Their program resulted in many award-winning 
cows and a very prominent Simmental breeding program. With Jody by his 
side, keeping records, Phil managed the place like it was his own and 
success was achieved. Phil’s conception rate as an A.I. technician was a
 solid 97% during his time on the ranch. Phil and Jody were part of what
 became known as the RA Brown Legacy. After many years of success and 
accolades with the ranch, Phil retired after 40 years. 
One thing a person might overlook was Phil’s ability on a horse. He had a
 talent for breaking colts and by the time he was finished they were cow
 horses. You had better be paying attention while riding a horse he 
trained or else you would find yourself on the ground like a few of his 
daughter’s suitors. All of the cattle work was done using horses and 
just because he carried a rope didn’t mean he always used it. Phil was 
simply a great herdsman, horseman, and the cowboy that always rode for 
the brand. 
Phil was also active in the Douglas-Elbert County Livestock Association 
and the Elbert County Fair Board for over 35 years, where he served as 
the President of the fair board for several years. While President of 
the fair board he helped to obtain the money used to build the livestock
 arena and the ag building. You would always find him supporting Jody 
with her many volunteer organizations and activities. 
He is survived by his daughter, Julie (Walt) Marble of Atwood, KS; two 
grandchildren, Echo (Jacob) Hagler of Atwood, KS and Chance (Michelle) 
Marble of Brewster, KS; adopted grandson, Ethan (Whitney) Smith, of 
Colby, KS; his brother, Marvin of Sinclair, WY; three great 
grandchildren, Emma, Ben, and Ella Hagler of Atwood, KS; as well as 
numerous cousins, nephews, nieces, and a multitude of extended family 
and friends. 
Memorial Service will 10:00 a.m., Friday 21, 2020, Agate Church, Agate, 
CO. A private Inurnment will be held at later date. In lieu of flower 
memorials are suggested to help defray funeral costs in care of Baalmann
 Mortuary, PO Box 391, Colby KS.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597596442709.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Philip Dale Davis died on August 13,2020. He was born October 24, 1931 
to George and Gaynell (Fuerstock) Davis and was the youngest of nine 
children. He was preceded in death by his parents; his beloved wife, 
Jody; brothers, Harlan, Donald, and Harold and sisters, Vida 
Arimintrout, Thelma Davis, Elizabeth “Betty Lou” Mudgett, and Shirley 
Gregory. 
Phil’s interest in horses began at a very young age while helping his 
uncle on the farm where he learned to drive a team of horses. In 1940, 
after his father was killed in a farm accident, the family moved to 
Greeley, where an owner of a horse barn recognized Phil’s talent which 
led to his first job with the Remount Ranch in Cheyenne, Wyoming, after 
he graduated from High School in 1950. 
In August of 1952, his cowboy ways had to be put on hold as he was 
drafted into the Army during the Korean War. Phil served in the HQ 
Company 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment and was released from 
active duty in August of 1954. He was placed in the Army Reserves and 
later Honorably Discharged. 
Upon returning home, Phil went back to work for the Remount Ranch, 
deciding shortly after that he needed to increase his knowledge of 
cattle and horses. So, Phil and his best friend, Joe Maldonado, left to 
travel and work on several different ranches from Arizona to Montana. 
On June 14, 1956, he met Jody Redman, the blonde that would forever 
change his life. They married on November 1, 1958, in Fort Collins, 
Colorado. This union, by a small miracle, produced one child the 
following year, a daughter, Julie Dawn. Phil and Jody moved to Elbert 
County, in 1958, where they would spend the rest of their lives. They 
celebrated 57 years of marriage before she died in 2015. 
Phil’s first job upon moving was for the John Ewing Company where he was
 hired to manage a herd of yearlings, band of broad mares, and to their 
surprise a band of sheep. In 1968, Phil went to A.I. school and life on 
the ranch soon changed as all efforts were focused on building a 
cow-calf purebred Charolais herd. Out of this effort came a prize herd 
of cattle as well as Phil’s passion to become the best A.I. technician. 
Phil, along with others from Elbert county were pioneers in the cattle 
industry as artificial insemination changed the landscape. After 12 
years, his skill landed Phil his second and final job in Elbert County 
with Rob Brown from Throckmorton, Texas. 
Phil and Jody helped Rob establish Brown Simmental Breeders which later 
became the RA Brown Ranch. Their program resulted in many award-winning 
cows and a very prominent Simmental breeding program. With Jody by his 
side, keeping records, Phil managed the place like it was his own and 
success was achieved. Phil’s conception rate as an A.I. technician was a
 solid 97% during his time on the ranch. Phil and Jody were part of what
 became known as the RA Brown Legacy. After many years of success and 
accolades with the ranch, Phil retired after 40 years. 
One thing a person might overlook was Phil’s ability on a horse. He had a
 talent for breaking colts and by the time he was finished they were cow
 horses. You had better be paying attention while riding a horse he 
trained or else you would find yourself on the ground like a few of his 
daughter’s suitors. All of the cattle work was done using horses and 
just because he carried a rope didn’t mean he always used it. Phil was 
simply a great herdsman, horseman, and the cowboy that always rode for 
the brand. 
Phil was also active in the Douglas-Elbert County Livestock Association 
and the Elbert County Fair Board for over 35 years, where he served as 
the President of the fair board for several years. While President of 
the fair board he helped to obtain the money used to build the livestock
 arena and the ag building. You would always find him supporting Jody 
with her many volunteer organizations and activities. 
He is survived by his daughter, Julie (Walt) Marble of Atwood, KS; two 
grandchildren, Echo (Jacob) Hagler of Atwood, KS and Chance (Michelle) 
Marble of Brewster, KS; adopted grandson, Ethan (Whitney) Smith, of 
Colby, KS; his brother, Marvin of Sinclair, WY; three great 
grandchildren, Emma, Ben, and Ella Hagler of Atwood, KS; as well as 
numerous cousins, nephews, nieces, and a multitude of extended family 
and friends. 
Memorial Service will 10:00 a.m., Friday 21, 2020, Agate Church, Agate, 
CO. A private Inurnment will be held at later date. In lieu of flower 
memorials are suggested to help defray funeral costs in care of Baalmann
 Mortuary, PO Box 391, Colby KS.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Philip Dale 'Phil' Davis

Divine Mercy Radio will hold two appreciation banquets this year with limited people due to the coronavirus. The appreciation banquet is held each year to thank those who support this non-commercial radio station.

The banquet in Hays will be held Sept. 12, in the Little Theatre of Holy Family Elementary, 1800 Milner. Since Divine Mercy Radio began broadcasting in the Lindsborg/Salina areas in June, a second banquet will be held Sept. 13 in the Hall of Bishops at Sacred Heart Cathedral, 118 N. Ninth, Salina. Both banquets will begin at 6 p.m. with a social hour.

Dr. Ray Guarendi, a clinical psychologist with a popular radio and television show on the Eternal Word Television Network, will be the featured speaker. The title of his talk is “Laughter: The Sanity of Families.” Dr. Ray is known for his comical, yet serious approach to parenting with common sense. He will have the audience laughing and coming away more confident about their own parenting and grandparenting skills.

Tickets are $55 if ordered before Aug. 20.&nbsp; After Aug. 20, the tickets are $60. No tickets can be sold after Sept. 4. To order tickets, go to dvmercy.com and click on the 10th Annual Appreciation Banquet tab.&nbsp;

Divine Mercy Radio began broadcasting on 88.1, KVDM in Hays in December of 2010. A second station began broadcasting on 88.1, KRTT in Great Bend in February of 2015. A third station began broadcasting in Lindsborg/Salina on 101.7, KJDM in June of 2020.&nbsp; Currently, Divine Mercy Radio is building a 25,000-watt station in Hays that will be known as 105.7, KMDG. This should be completed by October. At that time, the 2,500-watt KVDM station in Hays will begin broadcasting radio classics.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597420727234.jpeg" alt="Dr. Ray Guarendi" />
 <figcaption>Dr. Ray Guarendi</figcaption>
 </figure>SubmittedDivine Mercy Radio will hold two appreciation banquets this year with limited people due to the coronavirus. The appreciation banquet is held each year to thank those who support this non-commercial radio station.The banquet in Hays will be held Sept. 12, in the Little Theatre of Holy Family Elementary, 1800 Milner. Since Divine Mercy Radio began broadcasting in the Lindsborg/Salina areas in June, a second banquet will be held Sept. 13 in the Hall of Bishops at Sacred Heart Cathedral, 118 N. Ninth, Salina. Both banquets will begin at 6 p.m. with a social hour.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597420806468.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Dr. Ray Guarendi, a clinical psychologist with a popular radio and television show on the Eternal Word Television Network, will be the featured speaker. The title of his talk is “Laughter: The Sanity of Families.” Dr. Ray is known for his comical, yet serious approach to parenting with common sense. He will have the audience laughing and coming away more confident about their own parenting and grandparenting skills.Tickets are $55 if ordered before Aug. 20.&nbsp; After Aug. 20, the tickets are $60. No tickets can be sold after Sept. 4. To order tickets, go to dvmercy.com and click on the 10th Annual Appreciation Banquet tab.&nbsp;Divine Mercy Radio began broadcasting on 88.1, KVDM in Hays in December of 2010. A second station began broadcasting on 88.1, KRTT in Great Bend in February of 2015. A third station began broadcasting in Lindsborg/Salina on 101.7, KJDM in June of 2020.&nbsp; Currently, Divine Mercy Radio is building a 25,000-watt station in Hays that will be known as 105.7, KMDG. This should be completed by October. At that time, the 2,500-watt KVDM station in Hays will begin broadcasting radio classics.Divine Mercy Radio is an EWTN affiliate.

Divine Mercy banquet plans underway in Hays, Salina

Roger Dale Batson, 81, of Hays, KS, went home to be with Our Lord on August 13th, 2020.

Roger was born on February 5th, 1939 to
 Virgil and Sylvia (Hargis) Batson in Coffeyville, KS. As a child, he 
excelled in school and played basketball and baseball on his school’s 
varsity teams.&nbsp; After graduating from Coffeyville High School in 1957, 
he went on to serve in the US Army for three years and achieved the rank
 of Sergeant prior to his honorable discharge.

Roger and his wife Margie Newton were 
married on October 14, 1961, in Parsons, KS. They went on to have two 
children, Lori and Lance. They raised their family in both Manhattan and
 Hays, KS.&nbsp;

After his military service, Roger began
 his career in the banking industry which lasted for over 40 years.&nbsp; He 
started his banking career at Union National Bank and Kansas State Bank 
in Manhattan, KS. He was President at First National Bank in Hays, KS, 
and Chillicothe State Bank in Chillicothe, MO.&nbsp; Roger was very involved 
in the communities in which he lived, being a member of many civic 
organizations, including serving as president for the Kansas Jaycees.

After retiring in 2004, Roger and 
Margie moved to Bella Vista, AR, and in 2013 they finally returned home 
to Hays, KS.&nbsp; In addition to being a dedicated and loving Father, Roger 
spent his time volunteering at church and Hays Medical Center, playing 
golf, and cheering on the Kansas State Wildcats. His pride and joy was 
his five grandchildren and two great grandchildren. He held an 
unwavering faith in God, which he shared with those who surrounded him. 
He is survived by his wife, Margie; his two children, Lori Vitztum and 
husband Mike of Hays, KS, Lance Batson and wife Cindy of Fort Worth, 
TX.&nbsp; He is also survived by five grandchildren, Haylee Glassman and 
husband Matt of Fairfield, CT, Katee Vitztum of Hays, KS, Blake Batson 
of Dallas, TX, Alex Batson of Manhattan, KS, and Elizabeth Batson of 
Fort Worth, TX; two great grandchildren, Isabelle and Jude Glassman. 
Surviving relatives include sister and brother in-laws, Mike and Carolyn
 Newmaster, Ottawa, KS, Bob Hizey, Augusta, KS, Bill &amp; Carolyn 
Newton, Las Cruces, NM, and Frank &amp; Evelyn Washburn, Guide Rock, 
NE.&nbsp;

He was preceded in death by his parents Virgil and Sylvia Batson, sister-in laws, Virginia Hizey and Jane Washburn.&nbsp;

Funeral services will be 10:00 AM 
Wednesday, August 19, 2020 at Cornerstone Southern Baptist Church 1605 
East 29th Hays, KS 67601. Private family inurnment with military honors 
will be in the Kansas Veterans’ Cemetery in WaKeeney, Kansas

Memorials are suggested to HAYSMED 
Volunteers and Hays Public Library Foundation and may be sent in care of
 Brock’s-Keithley Funeral Chapel and Crematory 2509 Vine Hays, KS 
67601.&nbsp;

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”&nbsp; &nbsp;Timothy 4:7

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597670072079.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Roger Dale Batson, 81, of Hays, KS, went home to be with Our Lord on August 13th, 2020.Roger was born on February 5th, 1939 to
 Virgil and Sylvia (Hargis) Batson in Coffeyville, KS. As a child, he 
excelled in school and played basketball and baseball on his school’s 
varsity teams.&nbsp; After graduating from Coffeyville High School in 1957, 
he went on to serve in the US Army for three years and achieved the rank
 of Sergeant prior to his honorable discharge.Roger and his wife Margie Newton were 
married on October 14, 1961, in Parsons, KS. They went on to have two 
children, Lori and Lance. They raised their family in both Manhattan and
 Hays, KS.&nbsp;After his military service, Roger began
 his career in the banking industry which lasted for over 40 years.&nbsp; He 
started his banking career at Union National Bank and Kansas State Bank 
in Manhattan, KS. He was President at First National Bank in Hays, KS, 
and Chillicothe State Bank in Chillicothe, MO.&nbsp; Roger was very involved 
in the communities in which he lived, being a member of many civic 
organizations, including serving as president for the Kansas Jaycees.After retiring in 2004, Roger and 
Margie moved to Bella Vista, AR, and in 2013 they finally returned home 
to Hays, KS.&nbsp; In addition to being a dedicated and loving Father, Roger 
spent his time volunteering at church and Hays Medical Center, playing 
golf, and cheering on the Kansas State Wildcats. His pride and joy was 
his five grandchildren and two great grandchildren. He held an 
unwavering faith in God, which he shared with those who surrounded him. 
He is survived by his wife, Margie; his two children, Lori Vitztum and 
husband Mike of Hays, KS, Lance Batson and wife Cindy of Fort Worth, 
TX.&nbsp; He is also survived by five grandchildren, Haylee Glassman and 
husband Matt of Fairfield, CT, Katee Vitztum of Hays, KS, Blake Batson 
of Dallas, TX, Alex Batson of Manhattan, KS, and Elizabeth Batson of 
Fort Worth, TX; two great grandchildren, Isabelle and Jude Glassman. 
Surviving relatives include sister and brother in-laws, Mike and Carolyn
 Newmaster, Ottawa, KS, Bob Hizey, Augusta, KS, Bill &amp; Carolyn 
Newton, Las Cruces, NM, and Frank &amp; Evelyn Washburn, Guide Rock, 
NE.&nbsp;He was preceded in death by his parents Virgil and Sylvia Batson, sister-in laws, Virginia Hizey and Jane Washburn.&nbsp;Funeral services will be 10:00 AM 
Wednesday, August 19, 2020 at Cornerstone Southern Baptist Church 1605 
East 29th Hays, KS 67601. Private family inurnment with military honors 
will be in the Kansas Veterans’ Cemetery in WaKeeney, KansasMemorials are suggested to HAYSMED 
Volunteers and Hays Public Library Foundation and may be sent in care of
 Brock’s-Keithley Funeral Chapel and Crematory 2509 Vine Hays, KS 
67601.&nbsp;“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”&nbsp; &nbsp;Timothy 4:7Condolences may be left by guest book at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or by email at keithleyfuneralhomes@gmail.com

Roger Dale Batson

Leo Frederick Frenzl, 96, died August 15, 2020, at Riverbend Assisted
 Living, Great Bend, Kansas. He was born February 11, 1924, on the 
family farm near Odin, the son of Hugo and Mathilda (Hoeffner) Frenzl.

Lee was a lifetime resident of the Odin area. He was a member of Holy
 Family Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus Council #2630 of 
Odin, Kansas.

On October 5, 1949, he married Delores Frances Schneider at St. Ann 
Catholic Church, Olmitz, Kansas. She passed away on August 2, 2018.

They lived and worked on their farm near Odin, where they resided for
 65 years. They had a love of attending auctions where they made many 
friends and Lee found materials for his numerous projects. He had a 
reputation for using found materials to create toys and small sculptures
 such as his well-known "sparkplug airplanes".

He is survived by many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his son, Gerald Frenzl; his parents; five
 brothers, Frank, Joseph, August, Lawrence, and William Frenzl; and five
 sisters, Marie Meyeres, Teresa Wondra, Viola Meyeres, Gertrude Hickel, 
and Dorothy Reif.

Friends may call 12:00 noon until 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, August 18, 2020,
 with a Knights of Columbus Rosary at 7:00 p.m., all at Nicholson-Ricke 
Funeral Home in Hoisington.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 a.m. Wednesday, August 19, 2020, 
at Holy Family Catholic Church in Odin, Kansas, with Father Don Bedore 
presiding. Burial will follow in Holy Family Cemetery, Odin. The family 
encourages those attending to wear masks and social distance.

Memorials may be made to the Holy Family Cemetery Fund in care of 
Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, PO Box 146, Hoisington, KS 67544.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597670128914.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Leo Frederick Frenzl, 96, died August 15, 2020, at Riverbend Assisted
 Living, Great Bend, Kansas. He was born February 11, 1924, on the 
family farm near Odin, the son of Hugo and Mathilda (Hoeffner) Frenzl.Lee was a lifetime resident of the Odin area. He was a member of Holy
 Family Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus Council #2630 of 
Odin, Kansas.On October 5, 1949, he married Delores Frances Schneider at St. Ann 
Catholic Church, Olmitz, Kansas. She passed away on August 2, 2018.They lived and worked on their farm near Odin, where they resided for
 65 years. They had a love of attending auctions where they made many 
friends and Lee found materials for his numerous projects. He had a 
reputation for using found materials to create toys and small sculptures
 such as his well-known "sparkplug airplanes".He is survived by many nieces and nephews.He was preceded in death by his son, Gerald Frenzl; his parents; five
 brothers, Frank, Joseph, August, Lawrence, and William Frenzl; and five
 sisters, Marie Meyeres, Teresa Wondra, Viola Meyeres, Gertrude Hickel, 
and Dorothy Reif.Friends may call 12:00 noon until 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, August 18, 2020,
 with a Knights of Columbus Rosary at 7:00 p.m., all at Nicholson-Ricke 
Funeral Home in Hoisington.Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 a.m. Wednesday, August 19, 2020, 
at Holy Family Catholic Church in Odin, Kansas, with Father Don Bedore 
presiding. Burial will follow in Holy Family Cemetery, Odin. The family 
encourages those attending to wear masks and social distance.Memorials may be made to the Holy Family Cemetery Fund in care of 
Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, PO Box 146, Hoisington, KS 67544.

Leo Frederick Frenzl

Jack C. Metz, 76, passed away Wednesday, August 12, 2020 at Osborne County Memorial Hospital, Osborne, KS. 
 Jack was born October 25, 1943 in Beloit, KS, the son of William M. 
and Jacqueline L. (Stephenson) Metz.&nbsp; He married Nancy Thompson on 
August 1, 1971 in Downs, KS.&nbsp; Jack’s motto was “Live Free, Die Free.” He was preceded in death by his parents. 
 Jack is survived by his wife Nancy Metz of Osborne; two sons, Jack 
(Pam) Metz Jr. of Hutchinson, Warren (Diana) Metz of Mio, MI; 
half-brother Steve; half-sister Martha; six grandchildren and 16 ½ 
great-grandchildren.&nbsp; Graveside services will be held at 
10:30 a.m., Monday, August 17, 2020 at North Oak Creek Cemetery, Smith 
County, KS, with Pastor Dave Hardy officiating.&nbsp; Memorials may be given 
to Osborne Country Club or First Christian Church of Downs, KS, and can 
be sent in care of All Faiths Funeral Chapel, 113 S. Madison St., Smith 
Center, KS&nbsp; 66967.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597596676094.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Jack C. Metz, 76, passed away Wednesday, August 12, 2020 at Osborne County Memorial Hospital, Osborne, KS. 
 Jack was born October 25, 1943 in Beloit, KS, the son of William M. 
and Jacqueline L. (Stephenson) Metz.&nbsp; He married Nancy Thompson on 
August 1, 1971 in Downs, KS.&nbsp; Jack’s motto was “Live Free, Die Free.” He was preceded in death by his parents. 
 Jack is survived by his wife Nancy Metz of Osborne; two sons, Jack 
(Pam) Metz Jr. of Hutchinson, Warren (Diana) Metz of Mio, MI; 
half-brother Steve; half-sister Martha; six grandchildren and 16 ½ 
great-grandchildren.&nbsp; Graveside services will be held at 
10:30 a.m., Monday, August 17, 2020 at North Oak Creek Cemetery, Smith 
County, KS, with Pastor Dave Hardy officiating.&nbsp; Memorials may be given 
to Osborne Country Club or First Christian Church of Downs, KS, and can 
be sent in care of All Faiths Funeral Chapel, 113 S. Madison St., Smith 
Center, KS&nbsp; 66967.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Jack Metz

Isabell Hainke, 98, of Russell, Kansas, died on Monday, August 10, 2020, at her home in Russell, Kansas.

Isabell was born on October 13, 1921, in Durham, England to Richard and Isabell Danby.  She grew up in Durham and graduated high school.  After high school she joined the Royal Army Air Force in England during World War II.  While in the military, she met, fell in love and was united in marriage to Raymond G. Hainke on January 26, 1946, in Durham, England.  From this union Isabell and Raymond were blessed with four children; Gloria, Rita, Virginia and Gary.  After the war, they raised their family and made their home in Russell, Kansas, where she worked at Abco as a spot welder.  She was a longtime member of St. John Lutheran Church in Russell.  She enjoyed gardening, casino trips, cooking, keeping her home clean and tidy and spending time with her family.  Most of all she enjoyed seeing and playing with her grandkids and great grandkids. 

Surviving family include her daughters Gloria Deem and husband Ronald from Issaquah, Washington, Rita Hainke of Kansas City, Missouri and Virginia Arend of Topeka, Kansas and son Gary Hanke and wife Shareen of Wichita, Kansas; grandkids Brandon Hainke, James and Casey Arend, Dalton and Jenna Hainke; and 7 great grandkids. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Raymond on April 25, 2001 and several brothers and sisters.

A graveside service to celebrate Isabell’s life will be held at a later date.  Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell, Kansas, is in charge of the funeral service arrangements.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597596589468.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Isabell Hainke, 98, of Russell, Kansas, died on Monday, August 10, 2020, at her home in Russell, Kansas.Isabell was born on October 13, 1921, in Durham, England to Richard and Isabell Danby. She grew up in Durham and graduated high school. After high school she joined the Royal Army Air Force in England during World War II. While in the military, she met, fell in love and was united in marriage to Raymond G. Hainke on January 26, 1946, in Durham, England. From this union Isabell and Raymond were blessed with four children; Gloria, Rita, Virginia and Gary. After the war, they raised their family and made their home in Russell, Kansas, where she worked at Abco as a spot welder. She was a longtime member of St. John Lutheran Church in Russell. She enjoyed gardening, casino trips, cooking, keeping her home clean and tidy and spending time with her family. Most of all she enjoyed seeing and playing with her grandkids and great grandkids. Surviving family include her daughters Gloria Deem and husband Ronald from Issaquah, Washington, Rita Hainke of Kansas City, Missouri and Virginia Arend of Topeka, Kansas and son Gary Hanke and wife Shareen of Wichita, Kansas; grandkids Brandon Hainke, James and Casey Arend, Dalton and Jenna Hainke; and 7 great grandkids. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Raymond on April 25, 2001 and several brothers and sisters.A graveside service to celebrate Isabell’s life will be held at a later date. Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell, Kansas, is in charge of the funeral service arrangements.

Isabell Hainke

It has been a very challenging summer when it comes to controlling weeds in fallow and wheat stubble fields.  While timely rains have been great for fall crops, they have made staying ahead of the weeds very difficult. About the time you get ready to do an herbicide application it rains again keeping the sprayer out of the field for a few more days. 

For producers using tillage to control weeds its even been worse.  In many parts of the state there has been very few days where field conditions have been dry enough to do any sort of tillage operation.  If a rain occurred shortly after the field was worked the weeds just re-rooted and kept growing.

Combine that with a growing list of weeds that are now resistant to several different types of herbicides it makes you wonder if we’ll ever get a handle on effective weed control in these fallow cropping systems.   

One weed control strategy that many times gets overlooked, and certainly underutilized, is planting cover crops during the fallow periods of the rotation.  

Cover crops provide weed management benefits in several different ways.  Many small seeded weed species, like kochia, palmer amaranth and other pigweed species need sunlight for seedlings to emerge. Living cover crops, or the residue that is left after it is terminated, reduces the sunlight reaching the soil surface thus reducing the number of weeds that come up.  Cover crops also compete with weeds for moisture, nutrients and sunlight keeping the weeds in a weak, easy to kill condition, or preventing them from coming up at all.  Some cover crop species, like rye and some brassicas, control weeds through a process called allelopathy.  This is where decaying residue release chemicals that inhibit the germination of weed seeds.  

Here are a few strategies to consider when utilizing cover crops for weed suppression in dryland cropping systems.

* Know what your problem weeds are and get the cover crops well established before those weeds emerge.  For western Kansas most of the time those weeds are going to be kochia and palmer amaranth.  Kochia comes up early in the spring, so to get ahead of this weed a cover crop needs to be planted as soon as possible after the fall crops are harvested or very early in the spring.  If time allows a fall seeding is the preferred method, but once it gets to about October 25th, I would delay the planting to early spring in mid to late February.  

* Select species that grow aggressively and shade the ground quickly and provide a mat  biomass on the soil surface once the cover crop is terminated.  For a late fall or early spring planting cereal grains like rye, triticale, barley, oats and wheat work well.  For a summer mix that is planted after wheat harvest, forage sorghums, sorghum sudans and millets are good species to use.  Brassicas like turnips and radishes can also provide a fair amount of biomass before freezing out.  

* Take advantage of the allelopathy effect some species, like rye provide.  This process works like using a preemergent herbicide.  Once the cover crop is terminated, chemicals are released from the decomposing plant residue that inhibit weeds seeds from germinating.  This works well in controlling palmer amaranth when terminating a cereal grain cover crop right around the time it is heading in early to mid-May.  

* Terminate the cover crop early if there is a persistent dry period and the long-term weather forecast is not favorable for adequate moisture to replenish the soil profile.  The key to making cover crops work in these dryland fallow systems is for the cover crop to utilize the moisture we would lose anyway through evaporation, runoff and transpiration through weeds, but still leave adequate soil moisture for the next cash crop.  

* Always look at the economic side of things and compare your current weed control cost and what it will cost to incorporate cover crops into your system.  Herbicide applications can get pricey and many times don’t work well.  Multiple tillage operations can also add up to a substantial amount of money.  

Cover crops can help with weed suppression, but they are not a “silver bullet.” They are just another tool in the toolbox, that along with other weed control measures, can help in controlling weeds more effectively.  

Dale Younker is a Soil Health Specialist at the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Services office in Jetmore.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1593956642758.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>It has been a very challenging summer when it comes to controlling weeds in fallow and wheat stubble fields. While timely rains have been great for fall crops, they have made staying ahead of the weeds very difficult. About the time you get ready to do an herbicide application it rains again keeping the sprayer out of the field for a few more days. For producers using tillage to control weeds its even been worse. In many parts of the state there has been very few days where field conditions have been dry enough to do any sort of tillage operation. If a rain occurred shortly after the field was worked the weeds just re-rooted and kept growing.Combine that with a growing list of weeds that are now resistant to several different types of herbicides it makes you wonder if we’ll ever get a handle on effective weed control in these fallow cropping systems. One weed control strategy that many times gets overlooked, and certainly underutilized, is planting cover crops during the fallow periods of the rotation. Cover crops provide weed management benefits in several different ways. Many small seeded weed species, like kochia, palmer amaranth and other pigweed species need sunlight for seedlings to emerge. Living cover crops, or the residue that is left after it is terminated, reduces the sunlight reaching the soil surface thus reducing the number of weeds that come up. Cover crops also compete with weeds for moisture, nutrients and sunlight keeping the weeds in a weak, easy to kill condition, or preventing them from coming up at all. Some cover crop species, like rye and some brassicas, control weeds through a process called allelopathy. This is where decaying residue release chemicals that inhibit the germination of weed seeds. Here are a few strategies to consider when utilizing cover crops for weed suppression in dryland cropping systems.* Know what your problem weeds are and get the cover crops well established before those weeds emerge. For western Kansas most of the time those weeds are going to be kochia and palmer amaranth. Kochia comes up early in the spring, so to get ahead of this weed a cover crop needs to be planted as soon as possible after the fall crops are harvested or very early in the spring. If time allows a fall seeding is the preferred method, but once it gets to about October 25th, I would delay the planting to early spring in mid to late February. * Select species that grow aggressively and shade the ground quickly and provide a mat biomass on the soil surface once the cover crop is terminated. For a late fall or early spring planting cereal grains like rye, triticale, barley, oats and wheat work well. For a summer mix that is planted after wheat harvest, forage sorghums, sorghum sudans and millets are good species to use. Brassicas like turnips and radishes can also provide a fair amount of biomass before freezing out. * Take advantage of the allelopathy effect some species, like rye provide. This process works like using a preemergent herbicide. Once the cover crop is terminated, chemicals are released from the decomposing plant residue that inhibit weeds seeds from germinating. This works well in controlling palmer amaranth when terminating a cereal grain cover crop right around the time it is heading in early to mid-May. * Terminate the cover crop early if there is a persistent dry period and the long-term weather forecast is not favorable for adequate moisture to replenish the soil profile. The key to making cover crops work in these dryland fallow systems is for the cover crop to utilize the moisture we would lose anyway through evaporation, runoff and transpiration through weeds, but still leave adequate soil moisture for the next cash crop. * Always look at the economic side of things and compare your current weed control cost and what it will cost to incorporate cover crops into your system. Herbicide applications can get pricey and many times don’t work well. Multiple tillage operations can also add up to a substantial amount of money. Cover crops can help with weed suppression, but they are not a “silver bullet.” They are just another tool in the toolbox, that along with other weed control measures, can help in controlling weeds more effectively. Dale Younker is a Soil Health Specialist at the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Services office in Jetmore.&nbsp;

YOUNKER: Using cover crops for weed suppression

WASHINGTON (AP) — No, Russia isn’t having a Sputnik moment.

The announcement this week by Russian President Vladimir Putin that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/fcda62ad992db414d65f23b2adb78e44">his country was the first to approve a coronavirus vaccine</a>&nbsp;did not provoke the awe and wonder of the Soviet Union’s launch of the first satellite into orbit in 1957. Instead, it was met by doubts about the science and safety.

But the claim underscored how, like the space race, the competition to have the first vaccine is about international rivalries as well as science. The first nation to develop a way to defeat the novel coronavirus will achieve a kind of moonshot victory and the global status that goes along with it.

That’s valuable to Putin, whose popularity at home has declined amid a stagnant economy and the ravages of the virus outbreak.

“To be the first one out of the block with a coronavirus vaccine would be a real — pardon the pun — shot in the arm for the Kremlin,” said Timothy Frye, a political science professor at Columbia University who specializes in post-Soviet politics.

Russia is not alone in viewing a vaccine in this light. China, where the virus first emerged, has also raced to make progress on a vaccine.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/93a7be6c6ac427e6211074ab9cfc9dbc">A state-owned Chinese company is boasting</a>&nbsp;that its employees, including top executives, received experimental shots even before the government approved testing in people.

President Donald Trump, whose handling of the coronavirus pandemic has put his political fate in grave jeopardy,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/7cc45cdcb3e53515b8ff4304a4ae5c06">is hoping to get credit for his administration’s aggressive push for a vaccine,&nbsp;</a>ideally one that arrives before Election Day in November.

It’s far from clear at this point whether Putin has beaten Trump to this medical milestone.

Putin said the Health Ministry gave its approval after the vaccine, named “Sputnik V,” underwent the necessary tests. He said one of his two adult daughters had been inoculated. “We should be grateful to those who have taken this first step, which is very important for our country and the whole world,” he said.

No proof was offered and scientists in Russia warned that more testing would be necessary to establish it is safe and effective. Nonetheless, officials said vaccination of doctors could start as early as this month and mass vaccination may begin as early as October.

Scientists around the world have been cautioning that even if vaccine candidates are proven to work, it will take even more time to tell how long the protection will last.

“It’s a too early stage to truly assess whether it’s going to be effective, whether it’s going to work or not,” said Dr. Michael Head, senior research fellow in global health at the University of Southampton.

It was also too soon to dismiss the Russian claim out of hand.

The country, though economically dependent on the export of natural resources, does have a history of achievement in science, medicine and aerospace — including becoming the first to put a person into space, in 1961.

“It is possible that they concentrated and could do this,” said Daniel Fried, a retired senior U.S. diplomat. “I’m not scoffing at it, but it doesn’t mean that the Russian economy is advanced.”

A vaccine would be the kind of significant achievement that would elevate Putin at home and in the international community.

“They would love to be able to claim credit because the first country to develop the vaccine will gain enormous prestige,” said Fried, a former assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs who is now a distinguished fellow at the Atlantic Council.

It’s also possible Russia had help. The U.S., Britain and Canada l&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/47797e89ddb470b3244fae3a799481c5">ast month accused hackers working for Russian intelligence of trying to steal information&nbsp;</a>about a coronavirus vaccine from academic and pharmaceutical research institutions.

In any case, the public is eager for a vaccine as global deaths from the virus surpass 730,000. Some say they would even welcome one from Russia, provided it passes muster with the Food and Drug Administration, which approves vaccines used in the U.S., and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which recommends who should receive them.

“I can’t take it anymore. I’m getting crazy,” said Fernanda Henderson, as she strapped her infant into a car seat at a park in the Maryland suburbs of Washington for a break from quarantining at home. “I don’t think the CDC or the FDA would approve something that is not going to work.”

But to Vesna Jezic, a 79-year-old native of Croatia and immunologist who was taking her grandchildren to the same park, the suspiciously fast progress on the vaccine announced by Putin was reason to be doubtful. “You can imagine we don’t trust anything that comes from Russia,” she said.

The Russian president may face similar doubts at home. Frye noted a 2018 Gallup Poll that showed the former Soviet countries have some of the highest rates of anti-vaccination sentiment in the world.

“If it turns out not to work, it would be a real black eye,” he said.

WASHINGTON (AP) — No, Russia isn’t having a Sputnik moment.The announcement this week by Russian President Vladimir Putin that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/fcda62ad992db414d65f23b2adb78e44">his country was the first to approve a coronavirus vaccine</a>&nbsp;did not provoke the awe and wonder of the Soviet Union’s launch of the first satellite into orbit in 1957. Instead, it was met by doubts about the science and safety.But the claim underscored how, like the space race, the competition to have the first vaccine is about international rivalries as well as science. The first nation to develop a way to defeat the novel coronavirus will achieve a kind of moonshot victory and the global status that goes along with it.That’s valuable to Putin, whose popularity at home has declined amid a stagnant economy and the ravages of the virus outbreak.“To be the first one out of the block with a coronavirus vaccine would be a real — pardon the pun — shot in the arm for the Kremlin,” said Timothy Frye, a political science professor at Columbia University who specializes in post-Soviet politics.Russia is not alone in viewing a vaccine in this light. China, where the virus first emerged, has also raced to make progress on a vaccine.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/93a7be6c6ac427e6211074ab9cfc9dbc">A state-owned Chinese company is boasting</a>&nbsp;that its employees, including top executives, received experimental shots even before the government approved testing in people.President Donald Trump, whose handling of the coronavirus pandemic has put his political fate in grave jeopardy,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/7cc45cdcb3e53515b8ff4304a4ae5c06">is hoping to get credit for his administration’s aggressive push for a vaccine,&nbsp;</a>ideally one that arrives before Election Day in November.It’s far from clear at this point whether Putin has beaten Trump to this medical milestone.Putin said the Health Ministry gave its approval after the vaccine, named “Sputnik V,” underwent the necessary tests. He said one of his two adult daughters had been inoculated. “We should be grateful to those who have taken this first step, which is very important for our country and the whole world,” he said.No proof was offered and scientists in Russia warned that more testing would be necessary to establish it is safe and effective. Nonetheless, officials said vaccination of doctors could start as early as this month and mass vaccination may begin as early as October.Scientists around the world have been cautioning that even if vaccine candidates are proven to work, it will take even more time to tell how long the protection will last.“It’s a too early stage to truly assess whether it’s going to be effective, whether it’s going to work or not,” said Dr. Michael Head, senior research fellow in global health at the University of Southampton.It was also too soon to dismiss the Russian claim out of hand.The country, though economically dependent on the export of natural resources, does have a history of achievement in science, medicine and aerospace — including becoming the first to put a person into space, in 1961.“It is possible that they concentrated and could do this,” said Daniel Fried, a retired senior U.S. diplomat. “I’m not scoffing at it, but it doesn’t mean that the Russian economy is advanced.”A vaccine would be the kind of significant achievement that would elevate Putin at home and in the international community.“They would love to be able to claim credit because the first country to develop the vaccine will gain enormous prestige,” said Fried, a former assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs who is now a distinguished fellow at the Atlantic Council.It’s also possible Russia had help. The U.S., Britain and Canada l&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/47797e89ddb470b3244fae3a799481c5">ast month accused hackers working for Russian intelligence of trying to steal information&nbsp;</a>about a coronavirus vaccine from academic and pharmaceutical research institutions.In any case, the public is eager for a vaccine as global deaths from the virus surpass 730,000. Some say they would even welcome one from Russia, provided it passes muster with the Food and Drug Administration, which approves vaccines used in the U.S., and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which recommends who should receive them.“I can’t take it anymore. I’m getting crazy,” said Fernanda Henderson, as she strapped her infant into a car seat at a park in the Maryland suburbs of Washington for a break from quarantining at home. “I don’t think the CDC or the FDA would approve something that is not going to work.”But to Vesna Jezic, a 79-year-old native of Croatia and immunologist who was taking her grandchildren to the same park, the suspiciously fast progress on the vaccine announced by Putin was reason to be doubtful. “You can imagine we don’t trust anything that comes from Russia,” she said.The Russian president may face similar doubts at home. Frye noted a 2018 Gallup Poll that showed the former Soviet countries have some of the highest rates of anti-vaccination sentiment in the world.“If it turns out not to work, it would be a real black eye,” he said.___

Science, politics tied up in global race for a vaccine

Vernon Delmer Roberts passed away at Whispering Pines in Norton, Kansas, August 10, 2020.  Vernon was born to Ralph and Lela Ann Roberts on October 9, 1921, in Norton County, and grew up on a farm in Belle Plaine Township.

Vernon attended schools in Norton County and worked briefly for the Conservation Corp before enlisting in the United States Army during World War II.  He survived the landing at Normandy and the Battle of the Bulge with Gen. Patton's 3rd Army, and remained in Europe with the Army of Occupation through 1945.

Following his discharge from the military, Vernon returned to Norton County where he began working for the Kansas Department of Transportation as an engineering technician.  He also became a skilled licensed land surveyor, a job he continued to enjoy after retirement from his occupation with the State of Kansas. 

Vernon married Donna Maxine Madden on August 17, 1963.  They had a marriage of nearly 56 years.  Donna passed away on March 7, 2019.  Vernon loved country music, travels to the Ozarks and Branson, Missouri, reading and a lively conversation.  He belonged to the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Norton Christian Church. 

Survivors include his nephews and nieces: Roberta Goldsberry, Steve Fisher, Melissa Delimont, Gary Sebelius, Doug Sebelius, Dan Archibald, Jeff Roberts, Stan Roberts and Joni Danielson, and a sister-in-law, Beverly Roberts. 

Vernon was preceded in death by his siblings: Nelda Fisher, Bette Sebelius, Loene Archibald and Don Roberts; and a nephew, Mike Archibald.

FUNERAL SERVICE – Friday, August 21, 2020

PLACE – Enfield Funeral Home – 215 W. Main – Norton, KS

INTERMENT – Norton Cemetery – Norton, KS

MEMORIAL – Harmonson-Redd American Legion Post 63

Vernon Delmer Roberts passed away at Whispering Pines in Norton, Kansas, August 10, 2020. Vernon was born to Ralph and Lela Ann Roberts on October 9, 1921, in Norton County, and grew up on a farm in Belle Plaine Township.Vernon attended schools in Norton County and worked briefly for the Conservation Corp before enlisting in the United States Army during World War II. He survived the landing at Normandy and the Battle of the Bulge with Gen. Patton's 3rd Army, and remained in Europe with the Army of Occupation through 1945.Following his discharge from the military, Vernon returned to Norton County where he began working for the Kansas Department of Transportation as an engineering technician. He also became a skilled licensed land surveyor, a job he continued to enjoy after retirement from his occupation with the State of Kansas. Vernon married Donna Maxine Madden on August 17, 1963. They had a marriage of nearly 56 years. Donna passed away on March 7, 2019. Vernon loved country music, travels to the Ozarks and Branson, Missouri, reading and a lively conversation. He belonged to the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Norton Christian Church. Survivors include his nephews and nieces: Roberta Goldsberry, Steve Fisher, Melissa Delimont, Gary Sebelius, Doug Sebelius, Dan Archibald, Jeff Roberts, Stan Roberts and Joni Danielson, and a sister-in-law, Beverly Roberts. Vernon was preceded in death by his siblings: Nelda Fisher, Bette Sebelius, Loene Archibald and Don Roberts; and a nephew, Mike Archibald.FUNERAL SERVICE – Friday, August 21, 2020PLACE – Enfield Funeral Home – 215 W. Main – Norton, KSINTERMENT – Norton Cemetery – Norton, KSMEMORIAL – Harmonson-Redd American Legion Post 63

Vernon Delmer Roberts

Mary Ellen “Jill” Herres, 94, passed away Wednesday, August 13, 2020,
 in Hoisington. She was born in White Hall, Illinois, to Dr. Hans 
William and Marian (Winn) Broberg. Jill was a resident of Hoisington, 
Kansas.

Jill was a member of Delta Delta Delta sorority at Kansas State 
University where she met her future husband, James Edward “Eddie” 
Herres. She graduated from K-State in 1947 and moved to San Francisco, 
California, to work. She and Eddie were married on October 18, 1947, in 
Carmel-By-The-Sea, California. They moved back to Hoisington where Eddie
 was born and raised and she became an active member of the community.

An avid reader, Jill was a long time Board member of the 
Hoisington Library. She loved animals, especially dogs, and had some 
very special pets. She enjoyed playing golf and attending local 
concerts, theater and events; she traveled to Europe and Asia. She 
remained involved with Delta Delta Delta and really enjoyed her PEO 
sisters and their good times.

She was passionate about her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

She and Eddie raised two children, Blake E. Herres, DDS, of 
Hoisington, and Kim A. Herres, of Atlanta, GA. They survive and will 
miss her so very much. She was a wonderful and loving mother and wife 
and so much fun! Young and old enjoyed her company and she had friends 
of all ages and all walks of life. All who knew her will miss this very 
special person who loved life and lived it to its fullest.

Jill is survived by; her children, Blake and Kim; and her sister, 
Elizabeth Bowers (Shannon) of Sun City West, AZ; grandchildren, Addie 
Baird (Zach), Sarah Linsner (Kevin) and Hannah Herres; eight great 
grandchildren; and two nieces and two nephews. She was preceded in death
 by her parents and her brother, Dr. William Broberg, of Hoisington

Cremation has been chosen. Services will be private, immediate 
family only. Friends may sign the book 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday at the 
funeral home.

Memorials may be given to the Clara Barton Hospital Foundation, 
the Hoisington Library, or the Golden Belt Humane Society, in care of 
Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, PO Box 146, Hoisington, KS 67544.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597508339746.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Mary Ellen “Jill” Herres, 94, passed away Wednesday, August 13, 2020,
 in Hoisington. She was born in White Hall, Illinois, to Dr. Hans 
William and Marian (Winn) Broberg. Jill was a resident of Hoisington, 
Kansas.Jill was a member of Delta Delta Delta sorority at Kansas State 
University where she met her future husband, James Edward “Eddie” 
Herres. She graduated from K-State in 1947 and moved to San Francisco, 
California, to work. She and Eddie were married on October 18, 1947, in 
Carmel-By-The-Sea, California. They moved back to Hoisington where Eddie
 was born and raised and she became an active member of the community.An avid reader, Jill was a long time Board member of the 
Hoisington Library. She loved animals, especially dogs, and had some 
very special pets. She enjoyed playing golf and attending local 
concerts, theater and events; she traveled to Europe and Asia. She 
remained involved with Delta Delta Delta and really enjoyed her PEO 
sisters and their good times.She was passionate about her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.She and Eddie raised two children, Blake E. Herres, DDS, of 
Hoisington, and Kim A. Herres, of Atlanta, GA. They survive and will 
miss her so very much. She was a wonderful and loving mother and wife 
and so much fun! Young and old enjoyed her company and she had friends 
of all ages and all walks of life. All who knew her will miss this very 
special person who loved life and lived it to its fullest.Jill is survived by; her children, Blake and Kim; and her sister, 
Elizabeth Bowers (Shannon) of Sun City West, AZ; grandchildren, Addie 
Baird (Zach), Sarah Linsner (Kevin) and Hannah Herres; eight great 
grandchildren; and two nieces and two nephews. She was preceded in death
 by her parents and her brother, Dr. William Broberg, of HoisingtonCremation has been chosen. Services will be private, immediate 
family only. Friends may sign the book 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday at the 
funeral home.Memorials may be given to the Clara Barton Hospital Foundation, 
the Hoisington Library, or the Golden Belt Humane Society, in care of 
Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, PO Box 146, Hoisington, KS 67544.

Mary Ellen 'Jill' Herres

	School is getting ready to start in some format, so kids from pre-school to graduate school will be adjusting to a new routine. But what about you? Are you a life-long learner? Moms and dads, grandmas and grandpas are never too old to learn something new. I don’t mean you have to enroll in a formal class, complete with a syllabus and a final exam. I’m talking about the many classes offered in our community through our Extension offices, 4-H and Youth programs, or recreation centers.

	I received word earlier this week that K-State Research &amp; Extension Administration has approved a protocol for offering the Stay Strong Stay Healthy program in our community. I am so excited to be able to offer this 8-week program at the Great Bend Activity Center beginning September 1st.&nbsp; The natural aging process offers challenges to many people. While we know from listening to the news and our personal experiences, staying active is a key component in maintaining or regaining health. But if you have noticed that your strength, flexibility or balance isn’t what it used to be you may want to consider signing up for Stay Strong, Stay Healthy.&nbsp; SSSH is designed to increase an aging adult’s access to a safe, structured, and effective strength training program. Over 8 weeks, participants learn exercises to improve their strength, flexibility, and balance. During each session, a prescribed set of 8 upper and lower body strengthening exercises are done along with warm-ups and cool-down stretches. Participants are made to feel comfortable regardless of their current fitness level so they can safely participate and gradually build the strength beneficial to health.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1593016082485.png" alt="Donna Krug is the Family &amp; Consumer Science Agent and District Director for K-State Research &amp; Extension – Cottonwood District." />
 <figcaption>Donna Krug is the Family &amp; Consumer Science Agent and District Director for K-State Research &amp; Extension – Cottonwood District.</figcaption>
 </figure>	School is getting ready to start in some format, so kids from pre-school to graduate school will be adjusting to a new routine. But what about you? Are you a life-long learner? Moms and dads, grandmas and grandpas are never too old to learn something new. I don’t mean you have to enroll in a formal class, complete with a syllabus and a final exam. I’m talking about the many classes offered in our community through our Extension offices, 4-H and Youth programs, or recreation centers.	I received word earlier this week that K-State Research &amp; Extension Administration has approved a protocol for offering the Stay Strong Stay Healthy program in our community. I am so excited to be able to offer this 8-week program at the Great Bend Activity Center beginning September 1st.&nbsp; The natural aging process offers challenges to many people. While we know from listening to the news and our personal experiences, staying active is a key component in maintaining or regaining health. But if you have noticed that your strength, flexibility or balance isn’t what it used to be you may want to consider signing up for Stay Strong, Stay Healthy.&nbsp; SSSH is designed to increase an aging adult’s access to a safe, structured, and effective strength training program. Over 8 weeks, participants learn exercises to improve their strength, flexibility, and balance. During each session, a prescribed set of 8 upper and lower body strengthening exercises are done along with warm-ups and cool-down stretches. Participants are made to feel comfortable regardless of their current fitness level so they can safely participate and gradually build the strength beneficial to health.The 8-week program is set to begin Tuesday, September 1st and ends Thursday, October 22nd. It meets Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 – 11 am at the Great Bend Activity Center, 2715 18th Street. The registration fee is $20 and may be paid at the Cottonwood Extension District – Great Bend office, 1800 12th Street, by August 25th. The class size is limited and we will pay close attention to disinfecting chairs that are used in the class. When you register we will schedule a time for a short pre-assessment to be completed.Call me if you have any questions about the “Stay Strong, Stay Healthy” workshop.&nbsp;Donna Krug is the Family &amp; Consumer Science Agent and District Director for K-State Research &amp; Extension – Cottonwood District.&nbsp; You may reach her at: (620)793-1910 or <a href="mailto:dkrug@ksu.edu">dkrug@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;