More than 5,000 inmates, 975 prison staff have tested positive for the coronavirus

BY NOMIN IJIYEDIIN <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-12-21/kansas-prisons-have-some-of-the-highest-covid-19-infection-rates-in-the-country">Kansas News Service</a>

Leoti Masterson hasn’t seen her son, Jeff, since March. She used to 
visit him at the Winfield Correctional Facility once a week to play 
cards, reminisce and pray together, sometimes for hours at a time.

But
 when the pandemic started, Kansas prisons stopped allowing visitors as a
 coronavirus precaution. Now, Masterson makes do with daily phone calls 
no longer than 20 minutes.

“He’s my closest family member,” Masterson said. “So, yeah, this is hard.”

Yet
 suspending visits hasn’t kept the coronavirus from Kansas prisons. It 
was first detected at the Lansing Correctional Facility in early April. 
Cases have been found in staff and inmates at nearly every facility 
since.

More than 5,000 <a href="https://www.doc.ks.gov/kdoc-coronavirus-updates/kdoc-covid-19-status" target="_blank">inmates have tested positive</a>.
 The nonprofit news website The Marshall Project, which takes a critical
 look at the country’s criminal justice system, says that puts Kansas 
among the states with <a href="https://www.themarshallproject.org/2020/05/01/a-state-by-state-look-at-coronavirus-in-prisons" target="_blank">the highest infection rates</a> in its prisons.

Out of roughly 2,800 prison workers in Kansas, 975 have tested positive for the virus. Twelve inmates and three <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-05-12/family-says-lansing-correctional-facility-worker-died-this-week-from-covid-19" target="_blank">staff members have died</a>. Meanwhile, Kansas has yet to respond to requests to release inmates to reduce their chance of getting sick.

The Kansas Department of Corrections has instituted some <a href="https://www.doc.ks.gov/kdoc-coronavirus-updates" target="_blank">policy changes</a>
 to prevent the spread of the virus, including quarantining all positive
 inmates at Lansing, which has newer buildings with better ventilation.

The agency has also given cloth masks to all inmates and staff and tried various social distancing measures at prisons.

Still,
 some staff and inmates have said such measures are either ineffective 
or hard to enforce. And like other prison systems, the corrections 
department has not stopped transferring inmates between facilities.

Meanwhile,
 advocates for incarcerated people continue to say that releasing 
prisoners would alleviate some of the close quarters where it spreads 
most quickly — protecting both those inmates and the surrounding 
communities where staff live.

Corrections officials declined 
multiple requests for interviews and did not answer emailed questions. 
But in a statement, spokesperson Randy Bowman said the department was 
working closely with public health officials.

“We continue to 
coordinate our response to COVID-19 with officials at the Kansas 
Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) to ensure all mitigation 
efforts are consistent with current public health practices,” Bowman 
said in an email.

Jeff Masterson, 
Leoti Masterson’s son, said he tested positive for the virus in August 
and was moved from Winfield to Lansing. In emails and letters, he said 
that inmates don’t always wear masks properly and some quarantined at 
Lansing claimed they no longer had symptoms even if they were still 
feeling sick.

“Everyone wants out of there and back to their relative normal,” Masterson said. “So inmates work the system.”

Masterson
 was moved back to Winfield after about two weeks. In early December, he
 was transferred to the Larned Correctional Mental Health Facility.

At
 Winfield, where he usually serves his sentence, Masterson said the 
dining hall was closed, but inmates sit near each other to eat in 
residential areas. They have access to soap in bathrooms, but hand 
sanitizer, paper towels, bleach and vinegar are banned. Recreation is 
separated by floor, although he says people typically don’t wear masks 
and there are no social distancing rules.

People in other prisons 
have reported a similar lack of distancing. Mari Flowers, the mother of a
 woman in the Topeka Correctional Facility, said her daughter has been 
quarantined in a tent in the prison’s laundry room since she began her 
sentence at the end of October.

“They put these women in an impossible situation,” Flowers said. “They can’t even make it inside the prison.”

Flowers
 said her daughter, Jordan Fuller, had been tested for COVID nine times.
 Fuller’s quarantine has started over four times. Flowers said the 
prison was waiting for every new arrival to the prison — dozens of women
 — to all test negative at the same time before letting them into the 
main prison buildings.

“They don’t deserve to be treated that way.
 They’re already in a bad place. They put themselves there and they know
 that,” Flowers said. “But I just feel they need to take better care of 
these people.”

The corrections department did not respond to 
questions about the facility. The Topeka prison did not return a request
 for comment.

Jon-Wesley O’Hara is a corrections officer at 
Topeka, the state’s only women’s prison. Enforcing pandemic precautions 
is difficult, he said, now that the prison has been relaxing 
disciplinary measures that can sometimes delay early releases for good 
behavior. He said officers are left with little recourse when inmates 
refuse to wear masks.

“It is up to us to try to mitigate their 
decisions as much as possible,” O’Hara said. “We need to take this a lot
 more seriously.”

Kansas prisons have struggled with 
understaffing, which the pandemic has exacerbated. Officers have to miss
 work because they’re quarantining, taking care of children or working 
at other prisons that need the help. The ones who are left sometimes 
have to pull double shifts that can last as long as 16 hours. O’Hara 
said.

The corrections department offers extra pay for officers in 
COVID-positive units, but O’Hara said that for some employees, that 
extra money is approaching the state’s <a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2019_20/statute/075_000_0000_chapter/075_037_0000_article/075_037_0105_section/075_037_0105_k/" target="_blank">statutory limit</a> for employee merit pay.

“This is a hard job,” he said. “It gets harder every day, and this is just another level of stress.”

When
 O’Hara’s roommate, who also works at the prison, tested positive for 
COVID, they had to stay home from work. O’Hara said he had to call his 
ex-wife to tell her he couldn’t see his children for Thanksgiving.

“That
 is the hardest thing in the world to not be able to see your kids,” he 
said. “You will never be able to replace that in-person contact.”

Throughout
 the pandemic, criminal justice activists have advocated for the 
widespread release of people from prisons, jails and detention centers 
as the only effective way to socially distance. Jails and prisons in 
California, Michigan, New Jersey and other states <a href="https://www.prisonpolicy.org/virus/virusresponse.html" target="_blank">released thousands of people</a> over the course of the year.

In April, the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-04-30/kansas-prisons-are-fighting-a-lawsuit-to-release-prisoners-to-reduce-covid-19-spread" target="_blank">filed a lawsuit</a> to compel Kansas prisons to do the same. Leavenworth County Judge David King <a href="https://www.kshb.com/news/coronavirus/leavenworth-county-judge-tosses-lawsuit-on-inmate-safety-at-kansas-prisons" target="_blank">dismissed the suit</a>. Gov. Laura Kelly’s office approved the <a href="https://www.ksnt.com/news/local-news/six-inmates-released-from-kansas-prisons-amid-coronavirus-outbreak/" target="_blank">release of only six people</a> in May.

Since
 then, the ACLU says it has filed more than 90 clemency applications for
 Kansas prisoners with the state’s prisoner review board. About 30 of 
them are waiting for a decision from Kelly, but the applications haven’t
 been denied or approved. The organization still maintains that release 
is the best solution for COVID spread in prisons.

“The only way to
 make sure that the transmission rates go down,” said ACLU legal 
director Lauren Bonds, “is to make sure that people in prisons can 
observe the same protocols that we’re being told to observe out here in 
the community.”

Bonds said many of the clemency applications are 
for people who have a short time remaining on their sentences or have 
jobs, housing and family waiting for them on the outside. Their release,
 she said, could also mean reducing community spread in towns where many
 of the residents work at prisons.

“The consequences ... are not limited to what will happen to inmates,” Bonds said. “This is a community health issue.”

In an email, a Kelly spokesman said the governor is still considering the requests.

“The
 Governor will consider every clemency request after she receives a full
 process of developing facts and with input from those affected,” he 
said in an email.

Nomin Ujiyediin reports on criminal justice 
and social welfare for the Kansas News Service. You can email her at 
nomin@kcur.org and follow her on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/nominuj" target="_blank">@NominUJ</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1608569950323.png" alt="The Topeka Correctional Facility has seen 58 staff members and 48 inmates come down with the virus. Nomin Ujiyediin / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>The Topeka Correctional Facility has seen 58 staff members and 48 inmates come down with the virus. Nomin Ujiyediin / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>More than 5,000 inmates, 975 prison staff have tested positive for the coronavirus</h2>BY NOMIN IJIYEDIIN <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-12-21/kansas-prisons-have-some-of-the-highest-covid-19-infection-rates-in-the-country">Kansas News Service</a>Leoti Masterson hasn’t seen her son, Jeff, since March. She used to 
visit him at the Winfield Correctional Facility once a week to play 
cards, reminisce and pray together, sometimes for hours at a time.But
 when the pandemic started, Kansas prisons stopped allowing visitors as a
 coronavirus precaution. Now, Masterson makes do with daily phone calls 
no longer than 20 minutes.“He’s my closest family member,” Masterson said. “So, yeah, this is hard.”Yet
 suspending visits hasn’t kept the coronavirus from Kansas prisons. It 
was first detected at the Lansing Correctional Facility in early April. 
Cases have been found in staff and inmates at nearly every facility 
since.More than 5,000 <a href="https://www.doc.ks.gov/kdoc-coronavirus-updates/kdoc-covid-19-status" target="_blank">inmates have tested positive</a>.
 The nonprofit news website The Marshall Project, which takes a critical
 look at the country’s criminal justice system, says that puts Kansas 
among the states with <a href="https://www.themarshallproject.org/2020/05/01/a-state-by-state-look-at-coronavirus-in-prisons" target="_blank">the highest infection rates</a> in its prisons.Out of roughly 2,800 prison workers in Kansas, 975 have tested positive for the virus. Twelve inmates and three <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-05-12/family-says-lansing-correctional-facility-worker-died-this-week-from-covid-19" target="_blank">staff members have died</a>. Meanwhile, Kansas has yet to respond to requests to release inmates to reduce their chance of getting sick.The Kansas Department of Corrections has instituted some <a href="https://www.doc.ks.gov/kdoc-coronavirus-updates" target="_blank">policy changes</a>
 to prevent the spread of the virus, including quarantining all positive
 inmates at Lansing, which has newer buildings with better ventilation.The agency has also given cloth masks to all inmates and staff and tried various social distancing measures at prisons.Still,
 some staff and inmates have said such measures are either ineffective 
or hard to enforce. And like other prison systems, the corrections 
department has not stopped transferring inmates between facilities.Meanwhile,
 advocates for incarcerated people continue to say that releasing 
prisoners would alleviate some of the close quarters where it spreads 
most quickly — protecting both those inmates and the surrounding 
communities where staff live.Corrections officials declined 
multiple requests for interviews and did not answer emailed questions. 
But in a statement, spokesperson Randy Bowman said the department was 
working closely with public health officials.“We continue to 
coordinate our response to COVID-19 with officials at the Kansas 
Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) to ensure all mitigation 
efforts are consistent with current public health practices,” Bowman 
said in an email.<h2>Social distancing</h2>Jeff Masterson, 
Leoti Masterson’s son, said he tested positive for the virus in August 
and was moved from Winfield to Lansing. In emails and letters, he said 
that inmates don’t always wear masks properly and some quarantined at 
Lansing claimed they no longer had symptoms even if they were still 
feeling sick.“Everyone wants out of there and back to their relative normal,” Masterson said. “So inmates work the system.”Masterson
 was moved back to Winfield after about two weeks. In early December, he
 was transferred to the Larned Correctional Mental Health Facility.At
 Winfield, where he usually serves his sentence, Masterson said the 
dining hall was closed, but inmates sit near each other to eat in 
residential areas. They have access to soap in bathrooms, but hand 
sanitizer, paper towels, bleach and vinegar are banned. Recreation is 
separated by floor, although he says people typically don’t wear masks 
and there are no social distancing rules.People in other prisons 
have reported a similar lack of distancing. Mari Flowers, the mother of a
 woman in the Topeka Correctional Facility, said her daughter has been 
quarantined in a tent in the prison’s laundry room since she began her 
sentence at the end of October.“They put these women in an impossible situation,” Flowers said. “They can’t even make it inside the prison.”Flowers
 said her daughter, Jordan Fuller, had been tested for COVID nine times.
 Fuller’s quarantine has started over four times. Flowers said the 
prison was waiting for every new arrival to the prison — dozens of women
 — to all test negative at the same time before letting them into the 
main prison buildings.“They don’t deserve to be treated that way.
 They’re already in a bad place. They put themselves there and they know
 that,” Flowers said. “But I just feel they need to take better care of 
these people.”The corrections department did not respond to 
questions about the facility. The Topeka prison did not return a request
 for comment.Jon-Wesley O’Hara is a corrections officer at 
Topeka, the state’s only women’s prison. Enforcing pandemic precautions 
is difficult, he said, now that the prison has been relaxing 
disciplinary measures that can sometimes delay early releases for good 
behavior. He said officers are left with little recourse when inmates 
refuse to wear masks.“It is up to us to try to mitigate their 
decisions as much as possible,” O’Hara said. “We need to take this a lot
 more seriously.”Kansas prisons have struggled with 
understaffing, which the pandemic has exacerbated. Officers have to miss
 work because they’re quarantining, taking care of children or working 
at other prisons that need the help. The ones who are left sometimes 
have to pull double shifts that can last as long as 16 hours. O’Hara 
said.The corrections department offers extra pay for officers in 
COVID-positive units, but O’Hara said that for some employees, that 
extra money is approaching the state’s <a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2019_20/statute/075_000_0000_chapter/075_037_0000_article/075_037_0105_section/075_037_0105_k/" target="_blank">statutory limit</a> for employee merit pay.“This is a hard job,” he said. “It gets harder every day, and this is just another level of stress.”When
 O’Hara’s roommate, who also works at the prison, tested positive for 
COVID, they had to stay home from work. O’Hara said he had to call his 
ex-wife to tell her he couldn’t see his children for Thanksgiving.“That
 is the hardest thing in the world to not be able to see your kids,” he 
said. “You will never be able to replace that in-person contact.”<h2>Clemency</h2>Throughout
 the pandemic, criminal justice activists have advocated for the 
widespread release of people from prisons, jails and detention centers 
as the only effective way to socially distance. Jails and prisons in 
California, Michigan, New Jersey and other states <a href="https://www.prisonpolicy.org/virus/virusresponse.html" target="_blank">released thousands of people</a> over the course of the year.In April, the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-04-30/kansas-prisons-are-fighting-a-lawsuit-to-release-prisoners-to-reduce-covid-19-spread" target="_blank">filed a lawsuit</a> to compel Kansas prisons to do the same. Leavenworth County Judge David King <a href="https://www.kshb.com/news/coronavirus/leavenworth-county-judge-tosses-lawsuit-on-inmate-safety-at-kansas-prisons" target="_blank">dismissed the suit</a>. Gov. Laura Kelly’s office approved the <a href="https://www.ksnt.com/news/local-news/six-inmates-released-from-kansas-prisons-amid-coronavirus-outbreak/" target="_blank">release of only six people</a> in May.Since
 then, the ACLU says it has filed more than 90 clemency applications for
 Kansas prisoners with the state’s prisoner review board. About 30 of 
them are waiting for a decision from Kelly, but the applications haven’t
 been denied or approved. The organization still maintains that release 
is the best solution for COVID spread in prisons.“The only way to
 make sure that the transmission rates go down,” said ACLU legal 
director Lauren Bonds, “is to make sure that people in prisons can 
observe the same protocols that we’re being told to observe out here in 
the community.”Bonds said many of the clemency applications are 
for people who have a short time remaining on their sentences or have 
jobs, housing and family waiting for them on the outside. Their release,
 she said, could also mean reducing community spread in towns where many
 of the residents work at prisons.“The consequences ... are not limited to what will happen to inmates,” Bonds said. “This is a community health issue.”In an email, a Kelly spokesman said the governor is still considering the requests.“The
 Governor will consider every clemency request after she receives a full
 process of developing facts and with input from those affected,” he 
said in an email.Nomin Ujiyediin reports on criminal justice 
and social welfare for the Kansas News Service. You can email her at 
nomin@kcur.org and follow her on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/nominuj" target="_blank">@NominUJ</a>.

Kan. prisons have some of the highest COVID-19 infection rates in US

O'FALLON, Mo. (AP) — Missouri's only abortion clinic will be able to keep operating after a state government administrator decided Friday that the health department was wrong not to renew the license of the Planned Parenthood facility in St. Louis.

Missouri Administrative Hearing Commissioner Sreenivasa Rao Dandamudi’s decision means Missouri will not become the first state without a functioning abortion clinic since 1974, the year after the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision.

“In over 4,000 abortions provided since 2018, the Department has only identified two causes to deny its license,” Dandamudi wrote, adding that Planned Parenthood has “substantially complied” with state law.

“Therefore, Planned Parenthood is entitled to renewal of its abortion facility license,” Dandamudi wrote.

It wasn’t immediately clear whether the state would ask a court to overturn the decision. A spokesman for the attorney general's office, which is defending the health department's decision in court, said the office was “reviewing the ruling and deciding on next steps.”

An email message seeking comment from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services was not immediately returned. A spokeswoman for Planned Parenthood said the organization will comment later Friday.

The state health department has been at odds with Planned Parenthood’s St. Louis clinic since March 2019, after an inspection turned up four instances of what the state called “failed abortions.” Planned Parenthood countered that the allegations were a ploy to end abortions in Missouri, a conservative state with a decidedly anti-abortion governor in Republican Mike Parson.

The state refused to renew the clinic's license in June 2019 and Planned Parenthood challenged the effort, leading to an administrative hearing in October.

During the hearing the state’s health director, Dr. Randall Williams, called the problems “imminently fixable,” but it wasn’t clear if the state and Planned Parenthood have since negotiated.

The hearing drew considerable attention after Williams revealed that his agency tracked the menstrual cycles of Planned Parenthood patients as part of its oversight of the clinic. Williams testified that an investigator made a spreadsheet at his request that included the dates of patients' last periods. He said the goal was to find women who needed multiple procedures to complete an abortion.

Yamelsie Rodriguez, president and CEO of Reproductive Health Services of Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region, called the move "deeply disturbing."

Wrangling over the license began when an investigator involved in a March 2019 inspection found that a woman had undergone an abortion that took five attempts to complete. William Koebel, director of the section of the health department responsible for abortion clinic licensing, testified that the clinic failed to provide a "complication report."

That led the health department to launch an investigation of other instances where women underwent multiple procedures to complete an abortion, Koebel said.

As part of that investigation, the state obtained the medical records of women who had abortions at the clinic. They found four who required multiple procedures, including one in which the physician apparently missed that a woman was pregnant with twins. The woman underwent two procedures five weeks apart.

Planned Parenthood officials contend the state "cherry-picked" a handful of difficult cases out of thousands of otherwise successful abortions. They have accused the state of using the licensing process as a tool to eliminate abortions.

Missouri is among several states to pass new restrictions on abortions in the hope that the increasingly conservative U.S. Supreme Court will eventually overturn Roe v. Wade. Parson signed legislation in May banning abortions at or beyond eight weeks of pregnancy, with exceptions for medical emergencies but not for rape or incest. The law is on hold while a legal challenge plays out in court.

While closing the clinic would have huge symbolic meaning, the practical impact on Missouri women seeking abortions would be minimized by the fact that Planned Parenthood last year built a new abortion clinic just across the Mississippi River from St. Louis in Fairview Heights, Illinois. Another clinic is in Granite City, Illinois, another St. Louis suburb.

Yet another clinic operates in Overland Park, Kansas, a Kansas City suburb just 2 miles from the state line.

O'FALLON, Mo. (AP) — Missouri's only abortion clinic will be able to keep operating after a state government administrator decided Friday that the health department was wrong not to renew the license of the Planned Parenthood facility in St. Louis.Missouri Administrative Hearing Commissioner Sreenivasa Rao Dandamudi’s decision means Missouri will not become the first state without a functioning abortion clinic since 1974, the year after the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision.“In over 4,000 abortions provided since 2018, the Department has only identified two causes to deny its license,” Dandamudi wrote, adding that Planned Parenthood has “substantially complied” with state law.“Therefore, Planned Parenthood is entitled to renewal of its abortion facility license,” Dandamudi wrote.It wasn’t immediately clear whether the state would ask a court to overturn the decision. A spokesman for the attorney general's office, which is defending the health department's decision in court, said the office was “reviewing the ruling and deciding on next steps.”An email message seeking comment from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services was not immediately returned. A spokeswoman for Planned Parenthood said the organization will comment later Friday.The state health department has been at odds with Planned Parenthood’s St. Louis clinic since March 2019, after an inspection turned up four instances of what the state called “failed abortions.” Planned Parenthood countered that the allegations were a ploy to end abortions in Missouri, a conservative state with a decidedly anti-abortion governor in Republican Mike Parson.The state refused to renew the clinic's license in June 2019 and Planned Parenthood challenged the effort, leading to an administrative hearing in October.During the hearing the state’s health director, Dr. Randall Williams, called the problems “imminently fixable,” but it wasn’t clear if the state and Planned Parenthood have since negotiated.The hearing drew considerable attention after Williams revealed that his agency tracked the menstrual cycles of Planned Parenthood patients as part of its oversight of the clinic. Williams testified that an investigator made a spreadsheet at his request that included the dates of patients' last periods. He said the goal was to find women who needed multiple procedures to complete an abortion.Yamelsie Rodriguez, president and CEO of Reproductive Health Services of Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region, called the move "deeply disturbing."Wrangling over the license began when an investigator involved in a March 2019 inspection found that a woman had undergone an abortion that took five attempts to complete. William Koebel, director of the section of the health department responsible for abortion clinic licensing, testified that the clinic failed to provide a "complication report."That led the health department to launch an investigation of other instances where women underwent multiple procedures to complete an abortion, Koebel said.As part of that investigation, the state obtained the medical records of women who had abortions at the clinic. They found four who required multiple procedures, including one in which the physician apparently missed that a woman was pregnant with twins. The woman underwent two procedures five weeks apart.Planned Parenthood officials contend the state "cherry-picked" a handful of difficult cases out of thousands of otherwise successful abortions. They have accused the state of using the licensing process as a tool to eliminate abortions.Missouri is among several states to pass new restrictions on abortions in the hope that the increasingly conservative U.S. Supreme Court will eventually overturn Roe v. Wade. Parson signed legislation in May banning abortions at or beyond eight weeks of pregnancy, with exceptions for medical emergencies but not for rape or incest. The law is on hold while a legal challenge plays out in court.While closing the clinic would have huge symbolic meaning, the practical impact on Missouri women seeking abortions would be minimized by the fact that Planned Parenthood last year built a new abortion clinic just across the Mississippi River from St. Louis in Fairview Heights, Illinois. Another clinic is in Granite City, Illinois, another St. Louis suburb.Yet another clinic operates in Overland Park, Kansas, a Kansas City suburb just 2 miles from the state line.___

Ruling: Missouri's last abortion clinic stays open

Betty Marie Stoecker, age 98, of Oakley, passed away on May 20, 2020 at 
the Logan County Senior Living, Oakley.&nbsp; She was born on April 30, 1922 
in El Dorado, Kansas to Emil Lehmann and Gladys (Hale) Lehmann.&nbsp; She was
 a bank teller at Farmers State Bank and a homemaker.&nbsp; Betty married 
Lawrence C. Stoecker on October 14, 1951 in Oakley.

Betty was a member of the Oakley United Methodist Church and United Methodist Women.

She
 is survived by children:&nbsp; David Tripp and wife, Rita, of Leawood, 
Marianne Schmitt and husband, Mike, of Hiawatha, and Gary Stoecker and 
wife, Mary, of Oakley, seven grandchildren, and four great 
grandchildren.

Betty was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Lawrence in 2007, and a brother, Emil Lehman, Jr.

Visitation:&nbsp;
 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, May 29, 2020 at the Oakley United 
Methodist Church.&nbsp; Distancing protocol will be followed.&nbsp; A private 
service is planned for the immediate family with Pastor Dan Hutton, 
officiating.&nbsp; Interment will be in the Oakley Cemetery.&nbsp; Memorials:&nbsp; 
Oakley United Methodist Church and Logan County Senior Living can be 
sent to Kennedy-Koster Funeral Home, P.O. Box 221, Oakley, KS&nbsp; 67748.

Online Guestbook:&nbsp; www.kennedykosterfh.com

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1590522919197.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Betty Marie Stoecker, age 98, of Oakley, passed away on May 20, 2020 at 
the Logan County Senior Living, Oakley.&nbsp; She was born on April 30, 1922 
in El Dorado, Kansas to Emil Lehmann and Gladys (Hale) Lehmann.&nbsp; She was
 a bank teller at Farmers State Bank and a homemaker.&nbsp; Betty married 
Lawrence C. Stoecker on October 14, 1951 in Oakley.Betty was a member of the Oakley United Methodist Church and United Methodist Women.She
 is survived by children:&nbsp; David Tripp and wife, Rita, of Leawood, 
Marianne Schmitt and husband, Mike, of Hiawatha, and Gary Stoecker and 
wife, Mary, of Oakley, seven grandchildren, and four great 
grandchildren.Betty was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Lawrence in 2007, and a brother, Emil Lehman, Jr.Visitation:&nbsp;
 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, May 29, 2020 at the Oakley United 
Methodist Church.&nbsp; Distancing protocol will be followed.&nbsp; A private 
service is planned for the immediate family with Pastor Dan Hutton, 
officiating.&nbsp; Interment will be in the Oakley Cemetery.&nbsp; Memorials:&nbsp; 
Oakley United Methodist Church and Logan County Senior Living can be 
sent to Kennedy-Koster Funeral Home, P.O. Box 221, Oakley, KS&nbsp; 67748.Online Guestbook:&nbsp; www.kennedykosterfh.com

Betty Marie Stoecker

Deanna Sue Vincent, 79, passed away on Sunday, May 24, 2020, at Via Christi St. Francis Medical Center in Wichita, Kan. 

Deanna was born on October 30, 1940, to Vivian Theron and Adeline Faye (Brandon) Bryant. Deanna and Robert “Bob”Eugene Vincent were married in Hoisington, Kan., on December 23, 1956, celebrating 63 years of marriage together.

Click <a href="https://www.bryantfh.net/obituary/deanna-vincent">HERE</a> for service details.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1590500005764.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Deanna Sue Vincent, 79, passed away on Sunday, May 24, 2020, at Via Christi St. Francis Medical Center in Wichita, Kan. Deanna was born on October 30, 1940, to Vivian Theron and Adeline Faye (Brandon) Bryant. Deanna and Robert “Bob”Eugene Vincent were married in Hoisington, Kan., on December 23, 1956, celebrating 63 years of marriage together.Click <a href="https://www.bryantfh.net/obituary/deanna-vincent">HERE</a> for service details.

Deanna Sue Vincent

The Downtown Hays Market operated by Downtown Hays Development Corporation, is an essential service and will be opening as scheduled for the season on May 30.

The market is open 7:30 to 11 a.m. Saturdays May through October inside the 10th Street Pavilion between Main and Oak Streets.

“DHDC has put significant thought into the safety of the DHM customers and vendors during a time when everyone is prioritizing the health of their loved ones above all,” Allie Glidewell director of events and operations said. “We have been on the phone with other market directors, the police department, and health department to make sure we open safely and successfully.”

In response to public health direction, DHDC has incorporated a few safety recommendations for guests to follow.

Hand washing stations will be available under the pavilion so vendors and customers can wash their hands frequently without walking to the nearby restroom facilities.

Vendors will be required to wear masks during these first weeks of operation. Customers are encouraged to wear a mask and observe social distancing by remaining 6 feet apart from other guests and vendors.

Consider using credit and debit over cash. Finally, customers should allow vendors to handle merchandise, even if you intend to purchase the product.

Out of state vendors will not be allowed to sell at the 2020 market. The market staff is also keeping an eye on high-risk counties and limiting vendors from those areas as well.

“An unfortunate safety precaution is that we will not be serving free coffee from Breathe Coffee House at this time,” Glidewell said. “We encourage you to make Breathe your first stop to grab a cup of joe before coming to see us.”

To help accommodate customers who might not be ready to interact with the public, DHM will be offering a drive-through system for its customers. Three stalls in the parking lot just to the west of the pavilion will be reserved for this service.

Customers can call the market and vendors prior to arriving to place their order. Orders will then be brought to their cars. Customers can also just pull up and let the market manager know their order, provide payment, and remain in their vehicle while the order is filled.

Glidewell said expect many of your favorite vendors at the market again this year. Fresh produce as well as meat, cheese and bread will be available.

While there are necessary implementations, DHM is excited to open and provide an essential service. This year, the market will further benefit the Hays community by accepting Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

“We are so excited to offer SNAP as a service of the Downtown Hays Market,” Sara Bloom, DHDC executive director, said. “It’s actually something we’ve been trying to offer for some time and thanks to Allie it’s a reality. She was able to find the correct path and even secure a grant that allowed us to receive the necessary equipment for free.”

The grant was received from MarketLink. MarketLink is the National Association of Farmers Market Nutrition Program’s (NAFMNP) complete solution for electronic payments at farmers markets nationwide.

The mission is to cultivate opportunities for consumers to buy fresh produce from local growers. MarketLink is a long-term vision of sustainability for farmers and markets through a broader customer base, increased sales, and profitability. The grant provided upwards of $5,000 in equipment and waived fees to the DHM.

SNAP is a government program provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture that helps to end food insecurity in communities across America.

“DHDC understands how tight income has become for many families in Hays. We are proud to introduce such a great program into our downtown community as more families are unsure of how to put fresh and wholesome food on their tables” said Glidewell.

If you are already a part of the SNAP program, it will be simple to use your SNAP EBT Card at the Market. Bring your SNAP EBT Card to the DHM Information Booth before you shop to redeem Market tokens. 

These tokens can be spent at vendor booths who sell products including: meats, cheese, eggs, honey, fruits, veggies and more. If you would like to apply for the SNAP program, visit <a href="http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap">www.fns.usda.gov/snap</a> to determine the eligibility of you or your family.

“With everything that has happened in the last few months there is an excitement about the opening of the market that there hasn’t been before,” Bloom said. “There’s always some excitement, but it’s kind of just off the charts right now. We are expecting new vendors, familiar and loved vendors, amazing products and just a wonderful time gathering — from a safe distance — once again.”

The market is still accepting applications for vendors. Information on how to become a vendor can be found on the <a href="https://www.downtownhays.com/downtown-hays-market">DHDC website</a>. You can also follow the market on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/DowntownHaysMarket/">Facebook</a>.&nbsp;

Glidewell said she hopes to plan special markets days such as children's crafts. Those events are still in the planning stages and will be announced at a later date.

K-State offers advice on farmer's market shopping

Experts at K-State offered the following advice for shopping at farmer's market this season.

“Shopping at farmers’markets is a great way to get healthy fruits, vegetables and other foods while supporting localfarmers,” said Londa Nwadike, who has a joint extension appointment with K-State Research and Extension and the University of Missouri.

Yet, shopping at the farmers’ market during the COVID-19 pandemic requires some extra precautions, Nwadike said

Be prepared.&nbsp;Call the market or check its website or social media pages to see which vendors and items will be available.

“Give yourself extra time,” Nwadike said. “Shopping might take longer with extra safety measures in place, as many Kansas farmers’ markets have updated their procedures to provide extra safety to customers and vendors. Make a list so you can efficiently find the items you need.”

Before entering the&nbsp;market,&nbsp;remind yourself to avoid touching your face and cellphone. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends wearing a mask or other cloth face covering when in places where social distancing can be difficult.

“Make sure to use a designated entry point when going in,” Nwadike said. “The farmers’ market may have established separate entrances and exits to avoid bottlenecks of people coming and going.”

Choose items with your eyes, not your hands.&nbsp;Let vendors handle the products you select. Stay at least 6 feet away from other people as much as possible.

“You want to avoid standing shoulder-to-shoulder with other customers while examining items,” Nwadike said. “Be patient and courteous while people ahead of you complete their purchases.”

Avoid using cash when possible.Many vendors and markets accept debit, credit and EBT/SNAP cards.

Make use of hand washing stations or hand sanitizer.&nbsp;The CDC recommends hand washing with soap and water, but if hand washing is not available, hand sanitizer can also be used.

For now, resist the temptation to socialize while shopping.

“Farmers’markets are normally a place to enjoy the atmosphere and visit with the vendors and other friends, but right now, farmers’ markets are importantly a source of food and a way to support local farmers,” Nwadike said.

Consider sending just one household member to the market at this time.

Wash all produce before eating.“Even though there is currently no evidence that COVID-19 has been transmitted through food or food packaging, it is always important to use good food safety practices, which will help control foodborne illness as well as COVID-19,” Nwadike said. “That means washing the whole produce, even if you don’t eat the peel. Wash items such as cantaloupe and potatoes with a produce brush.”

Nwadike said commercial produce washes have not been shown to be more effective than water from the kitchen faucet.

“All the research shows that clean, running water is the best way for consumers to wash produce,” she said.

If you’re running multiple errands, Nwadike also recommends making the farmers’ market your last stop to minimize the amount of time perishable foods sit in the car.

Safety recommendations change regularly. For the most current information on the spread of COVID-19 and the government’s response, consumers should contact their local or state health department or the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/" target="_blank">U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention</a>.

K-State Research and Extension also has a large number of resources on the website,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/foodsafety/topics/covid19.html" target="_blank">Food Safety and COVID-19</a>.

Cristina Janney&nbsp;of the Hays Post and K-State Research and Extension&nbsp; contributed to this story.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1588881103313.jpeg" alt="The Downtown Hays Market will be open 7:30 to 11 a.m. Saturdays at the 10th Street Pavilion starting Saturday." />
 <figcaption>The Downtown Hays Market will be open 7:30 to 11 a.m. Saturdays at the 10th Street Pavilion starting Saturday.</figcaption>
 </figure>DHDCThe Downtown Hays Market operated by Downtown Hays Development Corporation, is an essential service and will be opening as scheduled for the season on May 30.The market is open 7:30 to 11 a.m. Saturdays May through October inside the 10th Street Pavilion between Main and Oak Streets.“DHDC has put significant thought into the safety of the DHM customers and vendors during a time when everyone is prioritizing the health of their loved ones above all,” Allie Glidewell director of events and operations said. “We have been on the phone with other market directors, the police department, and health department to make sure we open safely and successfully.”In response to public health direction, DHDC has incorporated a few safety recommendations for guests to follow.Hand washing stations will be available under the pavilion so vendors and customers can wash their hands frequently without walking to the nearby restroom facilities.Vendors will be required to wear masks during these first weeks of operation. Customers are encouraged to wear a mask and observe social distancing by remaining 6 feet apart from other guests and vendors.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1588881298182.jpeg" alt="Downtown Hays Market vendor" />
 <figcaption>Downtown Hays Market vendor</figcaption>
 </figure>Consider using credit and debit over cash. Finally, customers should allow vendors to handle merchandise, even if you intend to purchase the product.Out of state vendors will not be allowed to sell at the 2020 market. The market staff is also keeping an eye on high-risk counties and limiting vendors from those areas as well.“An unfortunate safety precaution is that we will not be serving free coffee from Breathe Coffee House at this time,” Glidewell said. “We encourage you to make Breathe your first stop to grab a cup of joe before coming to see us.”To help accommodate customers who might not be ready to interact with the public, DHM will be offering a drive-through system for its customers. Three stalls in the parking lot just to the west of the pavilion will be reserved for this service.Customers can call the market and vendors prior to arriving to place their order. Orders will then be brought to their cars. Customers can also just pull up and let the market manager know their order, provide payment, and remain in their vehicle while the order is filled.Glidewell said expect many of your favorite vendors at the market again this year. Fresh produce as well as meat, cheese and bread will be available.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1588825247313.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>SNAPWhile there are necessary implementations, DHM is excited to open and provide an essential service. This year, the market will further benefit the Hays community by accepting Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).“We are so excited to offer SNAP as a service of the Downtown Hays Market,” Sara Bloom, DHDC executive director, said. “It’s actually something we’ve been trying to offer for some time and thanks to Allie it’s a reality. She was able to find the correct path and even secure a grant that allowed us to receive the necessary equipment for free.”The grant was received from MarketLink. MarketLink is the National Association of Farmers Market Nutrition Program’s (NAFMNP) complete solution for electronic payments at farmers markets nationwide.The mission is to cultivate opportunities for consumers to buy fresh produce from local growers. MarketLink is a long-term vision of sustainability for farmers and markets through a broader customer base, increased sales, and profitability. The grant provided upwards of $5,000 in equipment and waived fees to the DHM.SNAP is a government program provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture that helps to end food insecurity in communities across America.“DHDC understands how tight income has become for many families in Hays. We are proud to introduce such a great program into our downtown community as more families are unsure of how to put fresh and wholesome food on their tables” said Glidewell.If you are already a part of the SNAP program, it will be simple to use your SNAP EBT Card at the Market. Bring your SNAP EBT Card to the DHM Information Booth before you shop to redeem Market tokens. These tokens can be spent at vendor booths who sell products including: meats, cheese, eggs, honey, fruits, veggies and more. If you would like to apply for the SNAP program, visit <a href="http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap">www.fns.usda.gov/snap</a> to determine the eligibility of you or your family.“With everything that has happened in the last few months there is an excitement about the opening of the market that there hasn’t been before,” Bloom said. “There’s always some excitement, but it’s kind of just off the charts right now. We are expecting new vendors, familiar and loved vendors, amazing products and just a wonderful time gathering — from a safe distance — once again.”The market is still accepting applications for vendors. Information on how to become a vendor can be found on the <a href="https://www.downtownhays.com/downtown-hays-market">DHDC website</a>. You can also follow the market on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/DowntownHaysMarket/">Facebook</a>.&nbsp;Glidewell said she hopes to plan special markets days such as children's crafts. Those events are still in the planning stages and will be announced at a later date.<h2>K-State offers advice on farmer's market shopping</h2>Experts at K-State offered the following advice for shopping at farmer's market this season.“Shopping at farmers’markets is a great way to get healthy fruits, vegetables and other foods while supporting localfarmers,” said Londa Nwadike, who has a joint extension appointment with K-State Research and Extension and the University of Missouri.Yet, shopping at the farmers’ market during the COVID-19 pandemic requires some extra precautions, Nwadike saidBe prepared.&nbsp;Call the market or check its website or social media pages to see which vendors and items will be available.“Give yourself extra time,” Nwadike said. “Shopping might take longer with extra safety measures in place, as many Kansas farmers’ markets have updated their procedures to provide extra safety to customers and vendors. Make a list so you can efficiently find the items you need.”Before entering the&nbsp;market,&nbsp;remind yourself to avoid touching your face and cellphone. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends wearing a mask or other cloth face covering when in places where social distancing can be difficult.“Make sure to use a designated entry point when going in,” Nwadike said. “The farmers’ market may have established separate entrances and exits to avoid bottlenecks of people coming and going.”Choose items with your eyes, not your hands.&nbsp;Let vendors handle the products you select. Stay at least 6 feet away from other people as much as possible.“You want to avoid standing shoulder-to-shoulder with other customers while examining items,” Nwadike said. “Be patient and courteous while people ahead of you complete their purchases.”Avoid using cash when possible.Many vendors and markets accept debit, credit and EBT/SNAP cards.Make use of hand washing stations or hand sanitizer.&nbsp;The CDC recommends hand washing with soap and water, but if hand washing is not available, hand sanitizer can also be used.For now, resist the temptation to socialize while shopping.“Farmers’markets are normally a place to enjoy the atmosphere and visit with the vendors and other friends, but right now, farmers’ markets are importantly a source of food and a way to support local farmers,” Nwadike said. Consider sending just one household member to the market at this time.Wash all produce before eating.“Even though there is currently no evidence that COVID-19 has been transmitted through food or food packaging, it is always important to use good food safety practices, which will help control foodborne illness as well as COVID-19,” Nwadike said. “That means washing the whole produce, even if you don’t eat the peel. Wash items such as cantaloupe and potatoes with a produce brush.” Nwadike said commercial produce washes have not been shown to be more effective than water from the kitchen faucet.“All the research shows that clean, running water is the best way for consumers to wash produce,” she said.If you’re running multiple errands, Nwadike also recommends making the farmers’ market your last stop to minimize the amount of time perishable foods sit in the car.Safety recommendations change regularly. For the most current information on the spread of COVID-19 and the government’s response, consumers should contact their local or state health department or the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/" target="_blank">U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention</a>.K-State Research and Extension also has a large number of resources on the website,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/foodsafety/topics/covid19.html" target="_blank">Food Safety and COVID-19</a>.Cristina Janney&nbsp;of the Hays Post and K-State Research and Extension&nbsp; contributed to this story.&nbsp;

Downtown Hays Market to open with COVID-19 precautions Saturday

Delbert Earl Ostrom, of Plainvile, passed away on Thursday, May 21, 2020
 at the Hays Medical Center following a brief illness, at the age of 86.
 He was born in Neosho, Missouri on October 31, 1933 to Lola (Hawes) 
Ostrom. He later moved to Concordia, Kansas when his mother married 
Edward Ostrom. He attended schools in Concordia and graduated from 
Concordia High School.


Delbert married Charlotte Ann Ball on November 21, 1954 at the 
Baptist Church in Concordia. He farmed for several years before moving 
to Plainville in 1957 to work in the oil fields where he worked for 
Brown Bros. Well Service for a number of years before buying the 
business. He retired in 1998 and he and Charlotte traveled spending 18 
winters in Arizona.


He loved bicycling and participated in the Biking Across Kansas 
several years and Ride the Rockies in Colorado. He earned his pilot’s 
license and flew his own plane on vacations as well as flying to Texas 
for parts and service equipment for his well business. He was also an 
avid computer and camera geek.


Delbert is survived by his wife Charlotte of the home in Plainville;
 sons, Mike (Peggy) Ostrom of Homer, AK, Terry (Joy) Ostrom of Derby, 
KS, and Curtis (Adel) Ostrom of Mt. Holly, NC; daughters, Karen Moeder 
of Oakley, KS, and Jo (Burl) Ward of West Dundee, IL; brother, Larry 
(Phyllis) of Concordia, KS; sister-in-law, Sue (Daryl) Gum of Concordia,
 KS; son-in-law, Mike Simon of Plainville; thirteen grandchildren; 
twenty-two great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.


He is preceded in death by his parents, Edward and Lola Ostrom; 
daughter, Marilyn Simon; brother, Wesley Ostrom; son-in-law, John 
Moeder; daughter-in-law, Kay Ostrom; and brother-in-law, David Ball.


A Memorial Service will be held on Wednesday, May 27, 2020 at 10:00 
AM at the Plainville First Christian Church. There will be no 
visitation.


Memorials are suggested to First Christian Church or Plainville 
Public Library and may be sent in care of Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home,
 320 SW 2nd St., Plainville, KS 67663.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1590187706335.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Delbert Earl Ostrom, of Plainvile, passed away on Thursday, May 21, 2020
 at the Hays Medical Center following a brief illness, at the age of 86.
 He was born in Neosho, Missouri on October 31, 1933 to Lola (Hawes) 
Ostrom. He later moved to Concordia, Kansas when his mother married 
Edward Ostrom. He attended schools in Concordia and graduated from 
Concordia High School.
Delbert married Charlotte Ann Ball on November 21, 1954 at the 
Baptist Church in Concordia. He farmed for several years before moving 
to Plainville in 1957 to work in the oil fields where he worked for 
Brown Bros. Well Service for a number of years before buying the 
business. He retired in 1998 and he and Charlotte traveled spending 18 
winters in Arizona.
He loved bicycling and participated in the Biking Across Kansas 
several years and Ride the Rockies in Colorado. He earned his pilot’s 
license and flew his own plane on vacations as well as flying to Texas 
for parts and service equipment for his well business. He was also an 
avid computer and camera geek.
Delbert is survived by his wife Charlotte of the home in Plainville;
 sons, Mike (Peggy) Ostrom of Homer, AK, Terry (Joy) Ostrom of Derby, 
KS, and Curtis (Adel) Ostrom of Mt. Holly, NC; daughters, Karen Moeder 
of Oakley, KS, and Jo (Burl) Ward of West Dundee, IL; brother, Larry 
(Phyllis) of Concordia, KS; sister-in-law, Sue (Daryl) Gum of Concordia,
 KS; son-in-law, Mike Simon of Plainville; thirteen grandchildren; 
twenty-two great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Edward and Lola Ostrom; 
daughter, Marilyn Simon; brother, Wesley Ostrom; son-in-law, John 
Moeder; daughter-in-law, Kay Ostrom; and brother-in-law, David Ball.
A Memorial Service will be held on Wednesday, May 27, 2020 at 10:00 
AM at the Plainville First Christian Church. There will be no 
visitation.
Memorials are suggested to First Christian Church or Plainville 
Public Library and may be sent in care of Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home,
 320 SW 2nd St., Plainville, KS 67663.

Delbert Earl Ostrom

KFMA data showed 9% net farm income increase from previous year

MANHATTAN – Kansas net farm income rose again in 2019, largely owing to government support payments meant to buffer the effect of trade disputes amid lackluster commodity prices, according to the annual summary by the Kansas Farm Management Association.

Net farm income among KFMA members averaged $110,380 in 2019, up from $101,274 a year earlier and well above the five-year average of $66,336. Net farm income has risen every year since 2015 when income plummeted to a historically low $6,744.&nbsp;

The data were compiled for the&nbsp;<a href="https://agmanager.info/kfma/whole-farm-analysis/kfma-executive-summary/2019-executive-summary">2019 KFMA Executive Summary</a>. Although not all farms are KFMA members, the numbers serve as a barometer of Kansas agriculture in any given year.

“We are continuing in a period of tight margins and cash flow constraints as we move forward into 2020,” said Kevin Herbel, KFMA executive director.

“It’s difficult to think back just a few months to before the changes brought into our lives by COVID-19,” Herbel said. “As 2019 ended, none of us had any thought of PPP or EIDL loans, or that additional unknowns and complications would impact trade agreements and influence domestic markets,” referring to financial programs designed to help small businesses, including farmers caught up in the effects of the pandemic.

“Strong yields in many parts of the state were a significant factor in 2019,” he said, citing good dryland fall crop yields in northwest and north central Kansas and impressive wheat yields in southwest areas.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Similar to a year earlier, however, the increase in 2019 net farm income was primarily linked to crop insurance and government payments made to farmers to offset the disruptive effects of trade disputes with other countries that began pre-COVID-19. The total of all government payments received by KFMA farms last year was more than 70% of net farm income. Without those payments, the 2019 average net farm income would have been $30,361 per farm.

“It just indicates the importance of a strong safety net program that allows farmers to keep producing in order to help feed the world,” said Mark Dikeman, KFMA associate director.

Farms in four areas of the state showed stronger net farm income compared with 2018. However, net farm income in south central and southeast Kansas fell compared to the prior year, at least partially because of more precipitation than usual during the critical planting and growing seasons.

Net farm income in northwest Kansas averaged $127,244 versus $116,077 a year earlier; southwest averaged $188,051 versus $153,660; north central averaged $109,961 versus $76,238; south central $70,566 versus $99,709; northeast $109,768 versus $60,944; and southeast $111,310 versus $136,916.

The KFMA summary breaks down data by type of farm, for example average dryland crop, cow herd, crops and beef. It provides comparisons against the previous four years in categories such as value of livestock produced, value of farm production, depreciation, number of workers, crop production costs/crop acre, and family living expenses.

“To get a true picture of 2019, you have to look at the fall of 2018,” said Brian Manny, KFMA economist in south central Kansas, adding that the area experienced one of the wettest Octobers in history during the normal wheat planting time that year.

Will Feldkamp, KFMA economist in north central Kansas said that area had “phenomenal wheat yields” and good soybean yields last year.

“We’re used to getting a lot of rain but had more than usual in 2019. Crops were planted late because of it,” said Dillon Rapp, KFMA economist in southeast Kansas, one of the areas where net farm income slipped from a year earlier.

In addition to this year’s weather challenges and ongoing trade issues, COVID-19 lends even more uncertainty to the financial picture for Kansas farms, Herbel said. He encourages farmers, whether KFMA members or not, to use the KFMA data as a benchmark against their own farms to identify strengths and weaknesses.

“There is much producers can’t control, but there are things they can control,” Herbel said. “A good set of records will help identify production costs, can provide a starting point for market planning, and can help a farm manager understand their farm business better than anyone else. The investment of time into this process is important to manage today’s economic environment successfully.”

More information about the KFMA is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.agmanager.info/kfma">available online</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575655356437.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><h2>KFMA data showed 9% net farm income increase from previous year</h2>K-State Research &amp; ExtensionMANHATTAN – Kansas net farm income rose again in 2019, largely owing to government support payments meant to buffer the effect of trade disputes amid lackluster commodity prices, according to the annual summary by the Kansas Farm Management Association.Net farm income among KFMA members averaged $110,380 in 2019, up from $101,274 a year earlier and well above the five-year average of $66,336. Net farm income has risen every year since 2015 when income plummeted to a historically low $6,744.&nbsp;The data were compiled for the&nbsp;<a href="https://agmanager.info/kfma/whole-farm-analysis/kfma-executive-summary/2019-executive-summary">2019 KFMA Executive Summary</a>. Although not all farms are KFMA members, the numbers serve as a barometer of Kansas agriculture in any given year.“We are continuing in a period of tight margins and cash flow constraints as we move forward into 2020,” said Kevin Herbel, KFMA executive director.“It’s difficult to think back just a few months to before the changes brought into our lives by COVID-19,” Herbel said. “As 2019 ended, none of us had any thought of PPP or EIDL loans, or that additional unknowns and complications would impact trade agreements and influence domestic markets,” referring to financial programs designed to help small businesses, including farmers caught up in the effects of the pandemic.“Strong yields in many parts of the state were a significant factor in 2019,” he said, citing good dryland fall crop yields in northwest and north central Kansas and impressive wheat yields in southwest areas.&nbsp;&nbsp;Similar to a year earlier, however, the increase in 2019 net farm income was primarily linked to crop insurance and government payments made to farmers to offset the disruptive effects of trade disputes with other countries that began pre-COVID-19. The total of all government payments received by KFMA farms last year was more than 70% of net farm income. Without those payments, the 2019 average net farm income would have been $30,361 per farm.“It just indicates the importance of a strong safety net program that allows farmers to keep producing in order to help feed the world,” said Mark Dikeman, KFMA associate director.Farms in four areas of the state showed stronger net farm income compared with 2018. However, net farm income in south central and southeast Kansas fell compared to the prior year, at least partially because of more precipitation than usual during the critical planting and growing seasons.Net farm income in northwest Kansas averaged $127,244 versus $116,077 a year earlier; southwest averaged $188,051 versus $153,660; north central averaged $109,961 versus $76,238; south central $70,566 versus $99,709; northeast $109,768 versus $60,944; and southeast $111,310 versus $136,916.The KFMA summary breaks down data by type of farm, for example average dryland crop, cow herd, crops and beef. It provides comparisons against the previous four years in categories such as value of livestock produced, value of farm production, depreciation, number of workers, crop production costs/crop acre, and family living expenses.“To get a true picture of 2019, you have to look at the fall of 2018,” said Brian Manny, KFMA economist in south central Kansas, adding that the area experienced one of the wettest Octobers in history during the normal wheat planting time that year.Will Feldkamp, KFMA economist in north central Kansas said that area had “phenomenal wheat yields” and good soybean yields last year.“We’re used to getting a lot of rain but had more than usual in 2019. Crops were planted late because of it,” said Dillon Rapp, KFMA economist in southeast Kansas, one of the areas where net farm income slipped from a year earlier.In addition to this year’s weather challenges and ongoing trade issues, COVID-19 lends even more uncertainty to the financial picture for Kansas farms, Herbel said. He encourages farmers, whether KFMA members or not, to use the KFMA data as a benchmark against their own farms to identify strengths and weaknesses.“There is much producers can’t control, but there are things they can control,” Herbel said. “A good set of records will help identify production costs, can provide a starting point for market planning, and can help a farm manager understand their farm business better than anyone else. The investment of time into this process is important to manage today’s economic environment successfully.”More information about the KFMA is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.agmanager.info/kfma">available online</a>.

Kan. net farm income rose in 2019; government support again a big factor

Mark L. Schartz, 95, passed away May 20, 2020 at his home in Larned.

He was born October 17, 1924 in Ellinwood to Nicholas John and Margaret Meyeres Schartz.

He was a resident of Ellinwood, Cimarron, Belpre, and following 
retirement, Larned. He was a farmer. He was a member of Sacred Heart 
Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus and the VFW, all of Larned. He 
served in the United States Army Air Force, 8th Air Force 306th Bombardment Group, based in Thurleigh Bedfordshire in South Central England.

On January 26, 1949 he married Betty L. Henning at Belpre. She preceded him in death on February 23, 2017.

Survivors include: four sons, David Schartz, Belpre, Carl (Pam) 
Schartz, Corinth, Texas, Stephen (Sara) Schartz, Cimarron, Brian 
Schartz, Dodge City; four daughters, Marian Reynolds, Wichita, Donna 
Woods, Cimarron, Bernice (David) Rebein, Dodge City, Rita (Bill) 
Hommertzheim, Cimarron; twenty grandchildren, and eighteen great 
grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Betty; Son-in-law,
 Rusty Woods; three brothers, Art Schartz, Bill Schartz, August Schartz;
 three sisters, Cecilia Piller, Irene Schartz, and Wilma Zeigler.

Due to COVID-19, a private family funeral mass will be 10:00 a.m. 
Tuesday, May 26, 2020 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Larned, with 
Father Bernard Felix presiding. Public live stream via Facebook at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/beckwithmortuary">www.facebook.com/beckwithmortuary</a>.
 Visitation will be 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with a vigil at 7:00 p.m. on 
Monday, May 25, 2020, with both held at Beckwith Mortuary, Larned. 
Burial will be in Belpre Catholic Cemetery, Belpre, with military 
graveside rites.

Memorials may be given to Sacred Heart Catholic Church in care of 
Beckwith Mortuary, PO Box 477, Larned, KS 67550. Condolences may be left
 at www.beckwithmortuary.com

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1590155172859.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Mark L. Schartz, 95, passed away May 20, 2020 at his home in Larned.He was born October 17, 1924 in Ellinwood to Nicholas John and Margaret Meyeres Schartz.He was a resident of Ellinwood, Cimarron, Belpre, and following 
retirement, Larned. He was a farmer. He was a member of Sacred Heart 
Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus and the VFW, all of Larned. He 
served in the United States Army Air Force, 8th Air Force 306th Bombardment Group, based in Thurleigh Bedfordshire in South Central England.On January 26, 1949 he married Betty L. Henning at Belpre. She preceded him in death on February 23, 2017.Survivors include: four sons, David Schartz, Belpre, Carl (Pam) 
Schartz, Corinth, Texas, Stephen (Sara) Schartz, Cimarron, Brian 
Schartz, Dodge City; four daughters, Marian Reynolds, Wichita, Donna 
Woods, Cimarron, Bernice (David) Rebein, Dodge City, Rita (Bill) 
Hommertzheim, Cimarron; twenty grandchildren, and eighteen great 
grandchildren.He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Betty; Son-in-law,
 Rusty Woods; three brothers, Art Schartz, Bill Schartz, August Schartz;
 three sisters, Cecilia Piller, Irene Schartz, and Wilma Zeigler.Due to COVID-19, a private family funeral mass will be 10:00 a.m. 
Tuesday, May 26, 2020 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Larned, with 
Father Bernard Felix presiding. Public live stream via Facebook at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/beckwithmortuary">www.facebook.com/beckwithmortuary</a>.
 Visitation will be 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with a vigil at 7:00 p.m. on 
Monday, May 25, 2020, with both held at Beckwith Mortuary, Larned. 
Burial will be in Belpre Catholic Cemetery, Belpre, with military 
graveside rites.Memorials may be given to Sacred Heart Catholic Church in care of 
Beckwith Mortuary, PO Box 477, Larned, KS 67550. Condolences may be left
 at www.beckwithmortuary.com

Mark L. Schartz

Lorene E. Cornwell, 82, passed away Tuesday, May 19, 2020 at SunPorch of Smith County, Smith Center, KS.

  Lorene
 was born July 19, 1937 in Smith Center, KS, the daughter of Arthur and 
Frieda (Frieling) Lehmann.&nbsp; On October 10, 1959 she married Harold 
Cornwell in the American Lutheran Church, Smith Center, KS.

  She was preceded in death by her husband Harold in 1999 and her parents.

  Lorene
 is survived by a son Garen Cornwell of Smith Center; a daughter Carol 
Phipps of Wichita; five grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

  Graveside
 services will be held at 11:30 a.m., Friday, May 22, 2020 at Fairview 
Cemetery, Smith Center, with Pastor Lorna Paulus officiating.&nbsp; 
Visitation will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Thursday, May 21, 
2020 with family present from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at All Faiths 
Funeral Chapel, 113 S. Madison St., Smith Center, KS&nbsp; 66967.&nbsp; Memorials 
may be given to the Lorene E. Cornwell Memorial Fund and sent in care of
 the funeral chapel.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1590031427302.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Lorene E. Cornwell, 82, passed away Tuesday, May 19, 2020 at SunPorch of Smith County, Smith Center, KS. Lorene
 was born July 19, 1937 in Smith Center, KS, the daughter of Arthur and 
Frieda (Frieling) Lehmann.&nbsp; On October 10, 1959 she married Harold 
Cornwell in the American Lutheran Church, Smith Center, KS. She was preceded in death by her husband Harold in 1999 and her parents. Lorene
 is survived by a son Garen Cornwell of Smith Center; a daughter Carol 
Phipps of Wichita; five grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Graveside
 services will be held at 11:30 a.m., Friday, May 22, 2020 at Fairview 
Cemetery, Smith Center, with Pastor Lorna Paulus officiating.&nbsp; 
Visitation will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Thursday, May 21, 
2020 with family present from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at All Faiths 
Funeral Chapel, 113 S. Madison St., Smith Center, KS&nbsp; 66967.&nbsp; Memorials 
may be given to the Lorene E. Cornwell Memorial Fund and sent in care of
 the funeral chapel.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Lorene E. Cornwell

BONNE TERRE, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri man was put to death by lethal injection Tuesday for fatally stabbing an 81-year-old woman nearly three decades ago, the first U.S. execution since the coronavirus pandemic took hold.

Walter Barton, 64, had long maintained he was innocent of killing Gladys Kuehler, and his case was tied up for years due to appeals, mistrials and two overturned convictions. His fate was sealed when neither the courts nor Gov. Mike Parson intervened.

Barton breathed heavily five times after the lethal drug entered his body Tuesday evening, then suddenly stopped. In his final statement released prior to his execution, Barton said: “I, Walter ”Arkie” Barton, am innocent and they are executing an innocent man!!”

Concerns related to the coronavirus caused several states to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/059fba5d4602b5f7eb8dd04adb3fd393">postpone or cancel executions</a>&nbsp;over the past 2 ½ months. Until Tuesday, no one had been executed in the U.S. since&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/510bd98355f49724cc3b343faa4c066e">Nathaniel Woods was put to death</a>&nbsp;in Alabama on March 5. Ohio, Tennessee and Texas were among states calling off executions.

The last execution in Texas, the nation’s busiest capital punishment state, was Feb. 6. Seven executions that were scheduled since then have been delayed.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/984c818a009a7a9064719584abf01402">Six of the delays</a>&nbsp;had some connection to the pandemic while the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/040867450a648073c26697371176afa2">seventh</a>&nbsp;was related to claims that a death row inmate is intellectually disabled.

Barton’s attorney, Fred Duchardt Jr., and attorneys for death row inmates in the other states argued that the pandemic prevented them from safely conducting thorough investigations for clemency petitions and last-minute appeals. They said they were unable to secure records or conduct interviews due to closures.

Attorneys also expressed concerns about interacting with individuals and possibly being exposed to the virus, and they worried that the close proximity of witnesses and staff at executions could lead to spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.

Barton was executed in Bonne Terre, Missouri, about 60 miles (97 kilometers) south of St. Louis, at a prison that has no confirmed cases of the virus. Strict protocols were in place to protect workers and visitors from exposure to the coronavirus.

Everyone entering the prison had their temperatures checked. Face coverings were required, and the prison provided masks and gloves for those who didn’t have them.

Six state witnesses — a reporter for a Springfield television station, an Associated Press reporter and four department of corrections employees — waited in a room together for about an hour prior the execution. All six were masked. At one point, four department of corrections officials, including Director Anne Precythe and three other officials, briefly entered. They did not wear facial protection. The witness waiting room was about 300 square feet.

Facial protection was not required under Parson's statewide reopening that began May 4, but social distancing has been encouraged since the pandemic began. Parson has called the decision to wear a mask a personal choice. In fact, Parson has appeared in public without a mask.

In the execution witness room, all six state witness and two corrections officers wore masks, but Jeff Norman, director of adult institutions, did not.

But several employees clocking in and out for the day, without masks, came into the same room used by media prior to and after the execution. They remained more than six feet away from the lone reporter in the media room at the time.

Witnesses were divided into three rooms. Those witnesses include an Associated Press reporter and other journalists and state witnesses, and people there to support Barton. No relatives or other supporters of the victim attended.

Barton often spent time at the mobile home park that Kuehler operated. He was with her granddaughter and a neighbor on the evening of Oct. 9, 1991, when they found her dead in her bedroom.

Police noticed what appeared to be blood stains on Barton’s clothing, and DNA tests confirmed it was Kuehler’s. Barton said the stains must have occurred when he pulled Kuehler’s granddaughter away from the body. The granddaughter first confirmed that account, but testified that Barton never came into the bedroom. A blood spatter expert at Barton’s trial said the three small stains likely resulted from the “impact” of the knife.

In new court filings, Duchardt cited the findings of Lawrence Renner, who examined Barton’s clothing and boots. Renner concluded the killer would have had far more blood stains.

Duchardt said three jurors recently signed affidavits calling Renner’s determination “compelling” and saying it would have affected their deliberations. The jury foreman said, based on the evidence, he would have been “uncomfortable” recommending the death penalty.

The last execution in Texas, the nation’s busiest capital punishment state, was Feb. 6. Seven executions that were scheduled since then have been delayed. Six of the delays had some connection to the pandemic while the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/040867450a648073c26697371176afa2">seventh</a>&nbsp;was related to claims that a death row inmate is intellectually disabled.

The next execution in Texas is set for June 16. Officials have instituted a process requiring witnesses to be be subject to the same screening required of prison employees before entering the facility, Texas Department of Criminal Justice spokesman Jeremy Desel said. The screening involves questions based on potential exposure to the coronavirus and health inquiries.

Texas’ death chamber is not a heavy traffic area and is isolated from all parts of the prison in Huntsville, and it is constantly cleaned, Desel said.

O'FALLON, Mo. (AP) — The pause in U.S. executions during the coronavirus pandemic likely will end Tuesday with the scheduled lethal injection of a Missouri inmate for slaying an elderly woman nearly three decades ago.

Walter Barton, 64, would be the first person executed in the U.S. since Nathaniel Woods was put to death in Alabama on March 5. Soon after that, efforts to limit the spread of the coronavirus shut down the U.S. economy and led to strict limits on social distancing, including inside prisons. Three states have put aside executions over the past 2 ½ months.

Republican Missouri Gov. Mike Parson said Monday that he had not heard anything to make him reconsider the execution, which he said would “move forward as scheduled.” A federal appeals court on Sunday overturned a 30-day stay of execution granted by a judge two days earlier. Barton's attorney has asked for a stay from the U.S. Supreme Court.

Gladys Kuehler operated a mobile home park in the town of Ozark, Missouri, near Springfield. In October 1991 she was found dead in her bedroom. She had been beaten, sexually assaulted and stabbed more than 50 times.

Barton has long said he was innocent, and his case has been tied up for years due to appeals, mistrials and two overturned convictions.

Other states, including Ohio, Tennessee and Texas, have postponed executions after attorneys argued that pandemic-related closures prevented them from securing records or conducting interviews for clemency petitions and court appeals.

Attorneys also expressed concerns about interacting with individuals and possibly being exposed to the virus. And, they've argued that the execution process, which includes placing prison workers and witnesses in close proximity to each other, could lead to spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.

There have been no confirmed cases of the virus in the prison housing Missouri's execution chamber in Bonne Terre, about 60 mile south of St. Louis.

Missouri Department of Corrections spokeswoman Karen Pojmann said everyone entering the prison will have their temperatures checked and will be offered face coverings. Witnesses will be divided into three rooms. Those witnesses include an Associated Press reporter and other journalists and state witnesses, and people there to support Barton. No relatives or other supporters of the victim plan to attend, Pojmann said.

Barton often spent time at the mobile home park that Kuehler operated. He was with her granddaughter and a neighbor on the evening of Oct. 9, 1991, when they found Kuehler dead in her bedroom.

Police noticed what appeared to be blood stains on Barton’s clothing, and DNA tests later confirmed it was Kuehler’s. Barton said the stains must have occurred when he pulled Kuehler’s granddaughter away from the body. The granddaughter first confirmed that account but testified that Barton never came into the bedroom. A blood spatter expert at Barton’s trial said the three small stains likely resulted from the “impact” of the knife.

In recent court filings, Barton's attorney, Fred Duchardt Jr., cited the findings of another blood spatter expert. Lawrence Renner examined Barton’s clothing and boots and concluded the killer would have had far more blood stains.

Duchardt said three jurors recently signed affidavits calling Renner’s determination “compelling” and saying it would have affected their deliberations. The jury foreman said that based on the new evidence, he would have been “uncomfortable” recommending the death penalty.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582060521986.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Walter BartonBONNE TERRE, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri man was put to death by lethal injection Tuesday for fatally stabbing an 81-year-old woman nearly three decades ago, the first U.S. execution since the coronavirus pandemic took hold.Walter Barton, 64, had long maintained he was innocent of killing Gladys Kuehler, and his case was tied up for years due to appeals, mistrials and two overturned convictions. His fate was sealed when neither the courts nor Gov. Mike Parson intervened.Barton breathed heavily five times after the lethal drug entered his body Tuesday evening, then suddenly stopped. In his final statement released prior to his execution, Barton said: “I, Walter ”Arkie” Barton, am innocent and they are executing an innocent man!!”Concerns related to the coronavirus caused several states to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/059fba5d4602b5f7eb8dd04adb3fd393">postpone or cancel executions</a>&nbsp;over the past 2 ½ months. Until Tuesday, no one had been executed in the U.S. since&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/510bd98355f49724cc3b343faa4c066e">Nathaniel Woods was put to death</a>&nbsp;in Alabama on March 5. Ohio, Tennessee and Texas were among states calling off executions.The last execution in Texas, the nation’s busiest capital punishment state, was Feb. 6. Seven executions that were scheduled since then have been delayed.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/984c818a009a7a9064719584abf01402">Six of the delays</a>&nbsp;had some connection to the pandemic while the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/040867450a648073c26697371176afa2">seventh</a>&nbsp;was related to claims that a death row inmate is intellectually disabled.Barton’s attorney, Fred Duchardt Jr., and attorneys for death row inmates in the other states argued that the pandemic prevented them from safely conducting thorough investigations for clemency petitions and last-minute appeals. They said they were unable to secure records or conduct interviews due to closures.Attorneys also expressed concerns about interacting with individuals and possibly being exposed to the virus, and they worried that the close proximity of witnesses and staff at executions could lead to spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.Barton was executed in Bonne Terre, Missouri, about 60 miles (97 kilometers) south of St. Louis, at a prison that has no confirmed cases of the virus. Strict protocols were in place to protect workers and visitors from exposure to the coronavirus.Everyone entering the prison had their temperatures checked. Face coverings were required, and the prison provided masks and gloves for those who didn’t have them.Six state witnesses — a reporter for a Springfield television station, an Associated Press reporter and four department of corrections employees — waited in a room together for about an hour prior the execution. All six were masked. At one point, four department of corrections officials, including Director Anne Precythe and three other officials, briefly entered. They did not wear facial protection. The witness waiting room was about 300 square feet.Facial protection was not required under Parson's statewide reopening that began May 4, but social distancing has been encouraged since the pandemic began. Parson has called the decision to wear a mask a personal choice. In fact, Parson has appeared in public without a mask.In the execution witness room, all six state witness and two corrections officers wore masks, but Jeff Norman, director of adult institutions, did not.But several employees clocking in and out for the day, without masks, came into the same room used by media prior to and after the execution. They remained more than six feet away from the lone reporter in the media room at the time.Witnesses were divided into three rooms. Those witnesses include an Associated Press reporter and other journalists and state witnesses, and people there to support Barton. No relatives or other supporters of the victim attended.Barton often spent time at the mobile home park that Kuehler operated. He was with her granddaughter and a neighbor on the evening of Oct. 9, 1991, when they found her dead in her bedroom.Police noticed what appeared to be blood stains on Barton’s clothing, and DNA tests confirmed it was Kuehler’s. Barton said the stains must have occurred when he pulled Kuehler’s granddaughter away from the body. The granddaughter first confirmed that account, but testified that Barton never came into the bedroom. A blood spatter expert at Barton’s trial said the three small stains likely resulted from the “impact” of the knife.In new court filings, Duchardt cited the findings of Lawrence Renner, who examined Barton’s clothing and boots. Renner concluded the killer would have had far more blood stains.Duchardt said three jurors recently signed affidavits calling Renner’s determination “compelling” and saying it would have affected their deliberations. The jury foreman said, based on the evidence, he would have been “uncomfortable” recommending the death penalty.The last execution in Texas, the nation’s busiest capital punishment state, was Feb. 6. Seven executions that were scheduled since then have been delayed. Six of the delays had some connection to the pandemic while the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/040867450a648073c26697371176afa2">seventh</a>&nbsp;was related to claims that a death row inmate is intellectually disabled.The next execution in Texas is set for June 16. Officials have instituted a process requiring witnesses to be be subject to the same screening required of prison employees before entering the facility, Texas Department of Criminal Justice spokesman Jeremy Desel said. The screening involves questions based on potential exposure to the coronavirus and health inquiries.Texas’ death chamber is not a heavy traffic area and is isolated from all parts of the prison in Huntsville, and it is constantly cleaned, Desel said.___O'FALLON, Mo. (AP) — The pause in U.S. executions during the coronavirus pandemic likely will end Tuesday with the scheduled lethal injection of a Missouri inmate for slaying an elderly woman nearly three decades ago.Walter Barton, 64, would be the first person executed in the U.S. since Nathaniel Woods was put to death in Alabama on March 5. Soon after that, efforts to limit the spread of the coronavirus shut down the U.S. economy and led to strict limits on social distancing, including inside prisons. Three states have put aside executions over the past 2 ½ months.Republican Missouri Gov. Mike Parson said Monday that he had not heard anything to make him reconsider the execution, which he said would “move forward as scheduled.” A federal appeals court on Sunday overturned a 30-day stay of execution granted by a judge two days earlier. Barton's attorney has asked for a stay from the U.S. Supreme Court.Gladys Kuehler operated a mobile home park in the town of Ozark, Missouri, near Springfield. In October 1991 she was found dead in her bedroom. She had been beaten, sexually assaulted and stabbed more than 50 times.Barton has long said he was innocent, and his case has been tied up for years due to appeals, mistrials and two overturned convictions.Other states, including Ohio, Tennessee and Texas, have postponed executions after attorneys argued that pandemic-related closures prevented them from securing records or conducting interviews for clemency petitions and court appeals.Attorneys also expressed concerns about interacting with individuals and possibly being exposed to the virus. And, they've argued that the execution process, which includes placing prison workers and witnesses in close proximity to each other, could lead to spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.There have been no confirmed cases of the virus in the prison housing Missouri's execution chamber in Bonne Terre, about 60 mile south of St. Louis.Missouri Department of Corrections spokeswoman Karen Pojmann said everyone entering the prison will have their temperatures checked and will be offered face coverings. Witnesses will be divided into three rooms. Those witnesses include an Associated Press reporter and other journalists and state witnesses, and people there to support Barton. No relatives or other supporters of the victim plan to attend, Pojmann said.Barton often spent time at the mobile home park that Kuehler operated. He was with her granddaughter and a neighbor on the evening of Oct. 9, 1991, when they found Kuehler dead in her bedroom.Police noticed what appeared to be blood stains on Barton’s clothing, and DNA tests later confirmed it was Kuehler’s. Barton said the stains must have occurred when he pulled Kuehler’s granddaughter away from the body. The granddaughter first confirmed that account but testified that Barton never came into the bedroom. A blood spatter expert at Barton’s trial said the three small stains likely resulted from the “impact” of the knife.In recent court filings, Barton's attorney, Fred Duchardt Jr., cited the findings of another blood spatter expert. Lawrence Renner examined Barton’s clothing and boots and concluded the killer would have had far more blood stains.Duchardt said three jurors recently signed affidavits calling Renner’s determination “compelling” and saying it would have affected their deliberations. The jury foreman said that based on the new evidence, he would have been “uncomfortable” recommending the death penalty.“I don't know how anybody could look at the evidence now and convict him,” Duchardt said.The last execution in Texas, the nation’s busiest capital punishment state, was Feb. 6. Seven executions that were scheduled since then have been delayed. Six of the delays had some connection to the pandemic while the seventh was related to claims that a death row inmate is intellectually disabled.The next execution in Texas is set for June 16. Officials have instituted a process requiring witnesses to be be subject to the same screening required of prison employees before entering the facility, Texas Department of Criminal Justice spokesman Jeremy Desel said. The screening involves questions based on potential exposure to the coronavirus and health inquiries.Texas’ death chamber is not a heavy traffic area and is isolated from all parts of the prison in Huntsville, and it is constantly cleaned, Desel said.___