Shannon Titus, 53, Colby passed away October 2, 2023 when her heart of gold stopped beating. She was in the ICU at Presbyterian St. Luke's Hospital in Denver. She was born July 3, 1970 to Carl Joe and Laura Lorraine Robinson in Phillipsburg, Kansas. 

Shannon is survived by her children Laural Titus and Christian Smith Titus of Colby, her father Carl Joe (Barb) Robinson, Clayton and her siblings Shawn( Karen Coleman) Robinson, Wichita, Nancy (Ronda) Robinson, Colby, Laurie Long and Tyler Robinson, both of Clayton. Shannon left behind many nephews, nieces, family and friends.

Shannon was preceded in death by her mother Laura Lorraine Robinson and her grandparents Raymond and Ruth Robinson and Clifford and Evelyn Shaw.

Shannon was well known and loved from her many years of employment and living in the Colby community. She will be greatly missed for her sense of humor and concern for others.

Respects can be paid during her Celebration of Life Saturday, October 21 at noon held at the Wesleyan Church, 320 W. Pine St., Colby.&nbsp;

All donations and flowers are thankfully welcome. Donations can be sent to Shannon's sister Laurie Long at 335 W. 6th St., Colby,Ks 67701 for Shannon's final expenses and her children.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<h2>Shannon Titus, Colby</h2><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1696958282503.jpeg" alt="Shannon Titus" />
 <figcaption>Shannon Titus</figcaption>
 </figure>July 3, 1970 - October 2, 2023Shannon Titus, 53, Colby passed away October 2, 2023 when her heart of gold stopped beating. She was in the ICU at Presbyterian St. Luke's Hospital in Denver. She was born July 3, 1970 to Carl Joe and Laura Lorraine Robinson in Phillipsburg, Kansas. Shannon is survived by her children Laural Titus and Christian Smith Titus of Colby, her father Carl Joe (Barb) Robinson, Clayton and her siblings Shawn( Karen Coleman) Robinson, Wichita, Nancy (Ronda) Robinson, Colby, Laurie Long and Tyler Robinson, both of Clayton. Shannon left behind many nephews, nieces, family and friends.Shannon was preceded in death by her mother Laura Lorraine Robinson and her grandparents Raymond and Ruth Robinson and Clifford and Evelyn Shaw.Shannon was well known and loved from her many years of employment and living in the Colby community. She will be greatly missed for her sense of humor and concern for others.Respects can be paid during her Celebration of Life Saturday, October 21 at noon held at the Wesleyan Church, 320 W. Pine St., Colby.&nbsp;All donations and flowers are thankfully welcome. Donations can be sent to Shannon's sister Laurie Long at 335 W. 6th St., Colby,Ks 67701 for Shannon's final expenses and her children.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Shannon Titus

Somer Patterson Chalfant, born on August 12, 1978, in Phillipsburg, to Laurence and Vicki Patterson, passed away peacefully in her sleep from natural causes on Oct. 3, 2023. She was known for her love, compassion, and unwavering dedication to helping others.

Somer had a deep passion for literature and enjoyed writing poetry. She was a skilled cook, delighting in preparing meals for her loved ones. Somer was a strong advocate for women and those facing substance abuse or abusive situations.

In her youth, she was an active member of 4-H, showcasing her art and showing animals in various activities. She also engaged in high school sports, was a member of the amendment choir, and participated in cheerleading and dance. After high school, Somer earned both a bachelor's and master's degree in English from Kansas State University and played a pivotal role in starting the International Admissions program there as the assistant director of international admissions.

Somer's impact extended globally when she became the Director of International Admissions at The University of Kansas. She promoted education to students worldwide, traveling to China, India, Vietnam, and many other countries fostering global educational opportunities for students from diverse backgrounds.

In addition to her other academic pursuits, Somer was in the process of earning her doctorate in education from The University of Kansas, showcasing her commitment to learning and helping others.

In her personal life, Somer was a loving wife to Bryan Chalfant and a dedicated mother to her two sons, Noah and Jude Chalfant. She always prioritized her children's needs, singing about their chunky thighs as babies and doing whatever she could to make them laugh and smile. Her nurturing spirit also extended to her many nieces and nephews, whom she loved dearly, rocking them to sleep, playing with them, laughing with them, and crying with them during tough times.

Somer will be remembered for her selflessness, leaving a lasting legacy in the hearts of her husband Bryan Chalfant of Lawrence, her children Noah and Jude Chalfant of Lawrence, her mother Vicki Patterson of Phillipsburg, and her brothers, Lance (Aubrey) of Hutchinson, and Lane (Sarah) Patterson of Hays, as well as in the hearts of all who knew and loved her.

She was preceded in death by her father Laurence Patterson, her aunt, whom she was very close to, Beverly Lethem Davis, and her mother-in-law, Anita Chalfant.&nbsp;

Somer had confided in her husband that she wished to be cremated upon passing. A memorial service will be held Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, at 10 a.m. in the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel with Pastor Jay Brandon officiating. &nbsp;The service will be streamed live on the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel Facebook page. Burial will follow in the Fairview Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts are suggested to the following organizations:

- [Willow Women’s Shelter (Lawrence, Kansas)](<a href="https://www.willowdvcenter.org/donate">https://www.willowdvcenter.org/donate</a>)

- [Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center (Lawrence, Kansas)](<a href="https://bertnash.org/donate/">https://bertnash.org/donate/</a>)

- [Boys &amp; Girls Club of Hutchinson, Kansas](<a href="https://bgchutch.com/donate/">https://bgchutch.com/donate/</a>)

Your contributions will support causes that were dear to Somer's heart and continue her legacy of helping others.

<h2>Somer Chalfant, formerly of Phillipsburg</h2>August 12, 1978 - October 3, 2023Somer Patterson Chalfant, born on August 12, 1978, in Phillipsburg, to Laurence and Vicki Patterson, passed away peacefully in her sleep from natural causes on Oct. 3, 2023. She was known for her love, compassion, and unwavering dedication to helping others.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1696956373962.png" alt="Somer Chalfant" />
 <figcaption>Somer Chalfant</figcaption>
 </figure>Somer had a deep passion for literature and enjoyed writing poetry. She was a skilled cook, delighting in preparing meals for her loved ones. Somer was a strong advocate for women and those facing substance abuse or abusive situations.In her youth, she was an active member of 4-H, showcasing her art and showing animals in various activities. She also engaged in high school sports, was a member of the amendment choir, and participated in cheerleading and dance. After high school, Somer earned both a bachelor's and master's degree in English from Kansas State University and played a pivotal role in starting the International Admissions program there as the assistant director of international admissions.Somer's impact extended globally when she became the Director of International Admissions at The University of Kansas. She promoted education to students worldwide, traveling to China, India, Vietnam, and many other countries fostering global educational opportunities for students from diverse backgrounds.In addition to her other academic pursuits, Somer was in the process of earning her doctorate in education from The University of Kansas, showcasing her commitment to learning and helping others.In her personal life, Somer was a loving wife to Bryan Chalfant and a dedicated mother to her two sons, Noah and Jude Chalfant. She always prioritized her children's needs, singing about their chunky thighs as babies and doing whatever she could to make them laugh and smile. Her nurturing spirit also extended to her many nieces and nephews, whom she loved dearly, rocking them to sleep, playing with them, laughing with them, and crying with them during tough times.Somer will be remembered for her selflessness, leaving a lasting legacy in the hearts of her husband Bryan Chalfant of Lawrence, her children Noah and Jude Chalfant of Lawrence, her mother Vicki Patterson of Phillipsburg, and her brothers, Lance (Aubrey) of Hutchinson, and Lane (Sarah) Patterson of Hays, as well as in the hearts of all who knew and loved her.She was preceded in death by her father Laurence Patterson, her aunt, whom she was very close to, Beverly Lethem Davis, and her mother-in-law, Anita Chalfant.&nbsp;Somer had confided in her husband that she wished to be cremated upon passing. A memorial service will be held Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, at 10 a.m. in the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel with Pastor Jay Brandon officiating. &nbsp;The service will be streamed live on the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel Facebook page. Burial will follow in the Fairview Cemetery.In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts are suggested to the following organizations:- [Willow Women’s Shelter (Lawrence, Kansas)](<a href="https://www.willowdvcenter.org/donate">https://www.willowdvcenter.org/donate</a>)- [Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center (Lawrence, Kansas)](<a href="https://bertnash.org/donate/">https://bertnash.org/donate/</a>)- [Boys &amp; Girls Club of Hutchinson, Kansas](<a href="https://bgchutch.com/donate/">https://bgchutch.com/donate/</a>)Your contributions will support causes that were dear to Somer's heart and continue her legacy of helping others.

Somer Chalfant

Roberta Jean Rogers, 71, passed away September 27, 2023, at her home near Hudson, Kansas surrounded by her loving family.

Roberta was born on March 3, 1952, in Bremerton, Washington, to Robert and Jean (Nivert) Bentley. &nbsp;

On January 12, 1974, she married Bob Rogers in Kansas City, Kansas.

Roberta grew up mostly in Kansas City, where she met her future husband. &nbsp;After marrying, they lived in the Kansas City area; Houston, Texas; Salina, and finally, rural Hudson. &nbsp;

She retired as the trust operations officer for Advantage Trust Company in Salina.

Roberta found delight in seeing others enjoying her amazing cooking. &nbsp;She volunteered her cooking talents to raise funds for Project Salina, a cause near to her heart. &nbsp;She also shared her passion for cooking, reading, and creative art projects with her family, many of whom still have painted or cross-stitched shirts in their closets. &nbsp;She spent many enjoyable evenings watching movies with her family, often hiding her eyes behind the TV remote during suspenseful parts.

Roberta is survived by her husband Bob; children Rebecca (Mark) Popp of Hudson; Sarah (Andrew) Applegarth of Salina; and Stephen (Pam) Rogers of Elk Grove, CA; grandchildren Donovan Applegarth, Evan Applegarth, Bryson Rogers, and Avery Popp; twin brother Robert (Suzanne) Bentley of Overland Park; and sister Mary Julo of Gladstone, MO. &nbsp;

She was proceeded in death by her parents.

Visitation for family and friends will be held in Salina from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. on Friday, October 20, 2023, at Roselawn Funeral Home, 1423 E. Crawford St. and in Overland Park from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. on Friday, October 27, 2023, at Johnson County Memorial Gardens, 11200 Metcalf Ave.

The family suggests memorials to Project Salina, P.O. Box 2861, Salina, KS 67402-2861.

To send a flower arrangement or to plant trees in memory of&nbsp;Roberta Jean Rogers, please&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.bryantfh.net/obituary/roberta-rogers/flowers?campaign=obituaryThemed-flowers-textLink-obitText">click here to visit our Sympathy Store</a>.

<h2>Roberta Jean Rogers, rural Hudson</h2><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1696945838014.png" alt="Roberta Jean Rogers" />
 <figcaption>Roberta Jean Rogers</figcaption>
 </figure>March 3, 1952 - September 27, 2023Roberta Jean Rogers, 71, passed away September 27, 2023, at her home near Hudson, Kansas surrounded by her loving family.Roberta was born on March 3, 1952, in Bremerton, Washington, to Robert and Jean (Nivert) Bentley. &nbsp;On January 12, 1974, she married Bob Rogers in Kansas City, Kansas.Roberta grew up mostly in Kansas City, where she met her future husband. &nbsp;After marrying, they lived in the Kansas City area; Houston, Texas; Salina, and finally, rural Hudson. &nbsp;She retired as the trust operations officer for Advantage Trust Company in Salina.Roberta found delight in seeing others enjoying her amazing cooking. &nbsp;She volunteered her cooking talents to raise funds for Project Salina, a cause near to her heart. &nbsp;She also shared her passion for cooking, reading, and creative art projects with her family, many of whom still have painted or cross-stitched shirts in their closets. &nbsp;She spent many enjoyable evenings watching movies with her family, often hiding her eyes behind the TV remote during suspenseful parts.Roberta is survived by her husband Bob; children Rebecca (Mark) Popp of Hudson; Sarah (Andrew) Applegarth of Salina; and Stephen (Pam) Rogers of Elk Grove, CA; grandchildren Donovan Applegarth, Evan Applegarth, Bryson Rogers, and Avery Popp; twin brother Robert (Suzanne) Bentley of Overland Park; and sister Mary Julo of Gladstone, MO. &nbsp;She was proceeded in death by her parents.Visitation for family and friends will be held in Salina from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. on Friday, October 20, 2023, at Roselawn Funeral Home, 1423 E. Crawford St. and in Overland Park from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. on Friday, October 27, 2023, at Johnson County Memorial Gardens, 11200 Metcalf Ave.The family suggests memorials to Project Salina, P.O. Box 2861, Salina, KS 67402-2861.To send a flower arrangement or to plant trees in memory of&nbsp;Roberta Jean Rogers, please&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.bryantfh.net/obituary/roberta-rogers/flowers?campaign=obituaryThemed-flowers-textLink-obitText">click here to visit our Sympathy Store</a>.

Roberta Jean Rogers

WASHINGTON (AP) —Missouri Senator Josh Hawley reported Monday that he learned a Missouri native, a musician, wife and mother, was among those killed by Hamas terrorists in Israel, along with her husband. Officials have released no additional details.

&nbsp;The U.S. has already begun delivering critically needed munitions and military equipment to Israel, the White House said Monday, as the Pentagon reviews its inventories to see what else can be sent quickly to boost its ally in the four-day-old war&nbsp;with Hamas.

John Kirby, a spokesman for the National Security Council, confirmed Monday evening that the first batch of military aid in the wake of the violent assault by Hamas militants is “making its way” to Israel.

The delivery came as President Joe Biden prepared to give formal remarks on the attacks from the White House on Tuesday afternoon, after he confirmed that at least 11 Americans were killed in the violence over the weekend.

“We fully expect there will be additional requests for security assistance for Israel as they continue to expend munitions in this fight,” Kirby said. "We will stay in lockstep with them, making sure that we’re filling their needs as best we can and as fast as we can.”

Also on Monday, a senior Defense Department official warned that the U.S. is closely watching Hezbollah and other Iranian-backed groups, noting that the decision to shift American ships in the region was to deter any of these groups from entering or expanding the conflict against Israel. The official briefed reporters on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive shipments.

The official said the U.S. is “flooding the zone” with calls and other messages so that extremist groups and other nations know they should not question America's commitment to supporting the defense of Israel. The official, however, would not comment on whether U.S. military forces would be used at all, and Kirby later emphasized that “there is no intention to put U.S. boots on the ground.”

Meanwhile, Kirby said U.S. officials have yet to identify a direct link from the Hamas militants who executed this weekend's deadly attacks to Iran itself, although the country has a “degree of complicity” considering its long support for the group.

While the Pentagon official said the U.S. has the ability to supply weapons to Ukraine and Israel and maintain security for America, the rapid delivery of munitions to the new war has raised concerns.

Army Secretary Christine Wormuth said Congress must pass more funding quickly for the U.S. to be able to give both Israel and Ukraine the weapons and munitions they both now need.

“The intent is to lean forward in support of Israel,” she said. "But in particular with munitions and the ability to support Israel and Ukraine simultaneously, additional funding is needed to increase our capacity to expand production and then also pay for the munitions themselves.”

At the White House, officials were more cautious, emphasizing that the U.S. government has existing funding to support Israel for the time being. But it was becoming clear that the administration is now facing potentially competing requests from Israel and Ukraine for additional weaponry.

“If we need — and it's an ‘if’, but — if we need to go back to Capitol Hill for additional funding support for Israel, we will absolutely do that," Kirby said. Referring to Israel and Ukraine, he added, “We are a large enough, big enough, economically viable and vibrant enough country to be able to support both.”

On Capitol Hill, both Republican and Democratic lawmakers expressed support for Israel, although immediate congressional action was virtually impossible with the House remaining without a speaker and the Senate out of Washington until next week. Also uncertain is whether the debate over further assistance to Ukraine, which is opposed by a group of hard-right Republicans, will complicate efforts to pass assistance for Israel.

Wormuth, speaking at the annual Association of the United States Army conference in Washington, said the administration is still “in the early stage of the process of evaluating our ability to support what the IDF needs,” referring to the Israel Defense Forces. She did not provide details, but Doug Bush, the Army's assistant secretary for acquisition, told reporters at the conference that conversations are underway about what the U.S. can provide. He said it likely will be a wide range of equipment, from small arms to sophisticated munitions.

Most of the weaponry sent already to help Ukraine has come from Army stocks and defense contractors at a rate that has challenged the global supply chain, and while the Army has recently ramped up production of some critical lines, such as 155 mm ammunition for howitzers, they are not yet at full speed.

With a new ground offensive in Gaza imminent following the Saturday surprise attack by Hamas, Army officials said Monday they were concerned about the ability to meet additional demand for ground munitions and Congress needed to act quickly to provide help in time.

In addition to the 11 American citizens whose deaths Biden confirmed, an undetermined number remain unaccounted for. It was not yet clear if the missing are dead, in hiding, or had been taken hostage.

Biden said the U.S. believes it is likely that American citizens may be among those being held hostage by Hamas, but officials are working to confirm that.

“I have directed my team to work with their Israeli counterparts on every aspect of the hostage crisis, including sharing intelligence and deploying experts from across the United States government to consult with and advise Israeli counterparts on hostage recovery efforts,” Biden said in a statement.

To underscore U.S. solidarity with Israel, the White House was lit in the blue and white colors of the Israeli flag on Monday night.

The attack by Hamas and Israel's retaliation&nbsp;<a href="https://interactives.ap.org/embeds/DHsmN/8/">have left more than 1,600 dead and thousands wounded on both sides</a>.

In the aftermath of the Hamas attack, the White House has asked Senate leaders to fast track confirmation of President Joe Biden’s nominee to be the next ambassador to Israel, former Obama-era Treasury Secretary and White House chief of staff Jack Lew, according to a U.S. official who was not authorized to comment publicly and requested anonymity. The White House has received assurances that the Senate Foreign Relations Committee will push forward hearings for Lew, the official added. The U.S. has been without an ambassador since the departure of Ambassador Tom Nides in July.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Sunday he has ordered the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.airlant.usff.navy.mil/cvn78/">Ford carrier strike group</a>&nbsp;to sail to the Eastern Mediterranean to be ready to assist Israel. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-nato-norfolk-atlantic-ocean-us-navy-58217f23b761574fde9fb1adc8422aee">USS Gerald R. Ford</a>, the Navy’s newest and most advanced&nbsp;<a href="https://www.airlant.usff.navy.mil/cvn78/">aircraft carrier</a>, and its approximately 5,000 sailors and deck of warplanes will be accompanied by cruisers and destroyers in a show of force that is meant to be ready to respond to anything, from possibly interdicting additional weapons from reaching Hamas and conducting surveillance.

The senior Defense Department official said worries about Hezbollah opening a second front of violence against Israel was the main reason for moving the ships to the Eastern Mediterranean. The official said the U.S. is deeply concerned Hezbollah and other Iranian-backed groups will make the wrong decision to try to “pile on” and widen the war.

The Norfolk, Virginia-based carrier strike group already was in the Mediterranean. Last week it was conducting naval exercises with Italy in the Ionian Sea. The carrier is in its first full deployment.

Humanitarian groups are scrambling to assist civilians caught in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-hamas-airstrikes-hostages-bf6c42f84526c4d9416978c8effd932a">war between Israel and Hamas</a>&nbsp;and determine what aid operations are still safe to continue — efforts that are being complicated by an intensified blockade of Gaza and ongoing fighting.

Two days after Hamas militants went on a rampage that took the world by surprise, Israel increased airstrikes on Gaza and blocked off food, fuel and other supplies from going into the territory, a move that raised concerns at the United Nations and among aid groups operating in the area home to 2.3 million people. Hamas, in turn, pledged to kill Israelis it abducted if the country’s military bombs civilian targets in Gaza without warning.

Hundreds of people have been killed and thousands wounded on both sides, and aid groups operating in the region say there are needs both in Gaza and Israel.

More than 2 tons of medical supplies from the Egyptian Red Crescent have been sent to Gaza and efforts are underway to organize food and other deliveries, according to an Egyptian military official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the press. But the United Nations and other aid groups are pleading for more access to help Palestinians who find themselves in the middle of intense fighting.

Doctors Without Borders, which is still operating in Gaza, has to rely on supplies it already has inside the territory because it can’t bring any more in, said Emmanuel Massart, a deputy desk coordinator with the organization in Brussels.

The group — which says it only runs programs in Palestinian areas since Israel has strong emergency and health services — reported Monday that it provided treatments to more than 50 people following airstrikes at the Jabalia refugee camp located north of Gaza City. In addition to helping patients in Gaza, it said it was donating medical supplies to other clinics and hospitals, which have become overcrowded with patients and are experiencing shortages of drugs and fuel that can be used for generators.

If Doctors Without Borders is not able to resupply fairly quickly, Massart said, it will run out of supplies it can use to operate on patients who might be wounded. He also said since the facilities the organization uses are running on generators due to the low supply of electricity, cutting off fuel will present a “huge problem.”

“If there is no fuel anymore, there is no medical facilities anymore because we cannot run our medical facility without the energy,” Massart said.

The war has also been deeply disruptive to work Mercy Corps has been doing to provide people in Gaza with necessities like food and water, said Arnaud Quemin, the Middle East regional director for the organization. Right now, he said the team on the ground is trying to find a scenario that would enable them to get back to work. The blockade of food and other supplies into Gaza is a major worry.

“We are very concerned with the way things are going at this point because it looks like it’s going to get worse – very soon,” Quemin said. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-hamas-airstrikes-hostages-4377e096f62bf535bebcdff38cf16049">sealing of Gaza</a>, he said, will create “humanitarian needs very quickly.”

Governments have also been weighing how to respond.

As the fighting intensified, the European Union on late Monday reversed an earlier announcement by an EU commissioner that the bloc was “immediately” suspending aid for Palestinian authorities. Instead, the 27-nation group said it would urgently review the assistance it provides in the wake of Hamas’ attacks on Israel. Two European countries — Germany and Austria — said they were suspending development aid for Palestinian areas.

Meanwhile, some organizations are stepping up aid efforts in Israel, which has seen displacement because of the violence.

Naomi Adler, CEO of Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of America, said a trauma center in Jerusalem that’s owned by the organization is treating wounded Israeli soldiers and civilians. About 90% of the patients in the center right now are soldiers, who are typically the first to be brought in for traumatic injuries, Adler said. But the center also accepts anyone who’s wounded or injured in the country.

The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, a Jewish humanitarian organization, said on Sunday that it was activating its emergency response team in Israel, where it runs programs to support people with disabilities, the elderly and children and families who’ve been impacted by the war and prior conflicts. The organization said it was working with its partners, including in the Israeli government, to address what it called an unprecedented emergency.

JDC’s CEO Ariel Zwang said among other things the nonprofit is helping teachers, social workers and other caregivers provide support to those who’ve suffered trauma and tragedies from the events of the past few days. She said it will help nursey teachers, for example, explain to children why some of their classmates are suddenly missing.

“If you’re a teacher now, if you know the children are traumatized, you need special skills and special training in order to manage what you’re experiencing and provide for the emotional needs, which are extraordinary at this time, of your youngest charges,” Zwang said.

One organization that helps Palestinian children is shifting its focus, too. Steve Sosebee, the president of Palestine Children’s Relief Fund, a U.S.-based charity that helps children in need travel to the U.S. for medical treatment, said given the war, the fund is now looking away from long-term programs and toward more urgent needs for food, medication, clothing and other types of basic humanitarian aid. But like others, he noted the blockade and security risks to its Gaza staff makes it more challenging to do that.

“There are no areas of security, there are no safe havens,” Sosebee said. “And therefore, it’s very difficult for us to be out in the field providing humanitarian aid when there are no safe places from the constant bombing and attacks that are taking place over the last 72 hours.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1696938143887.png" alt="The White House lit up blue and white Monday night as a symbol of the United States’ enduring support and solidarity with the people of Israel in the wake of the horrific terrorist attacks committed by Hamas.-courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>The White House lit up blue and white Monday night as a symbol of the United States’ enduring support and solidarity with the people of Israel in the wake of the horrific terrorist attacks committed by Hamas.-courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —Missouri Senator Josh Hawley reported Monday that he learned a Missouri native, a musician, wife and mother, was among those killed by Hamas terrorists in Israel, along with her husband. Officials have released no additional details.&nbsp;The U.S. has already begun delivering critically needed munitions and military equipment to Israel, the White House said Monday, as the Pentagon reviews its inventories to see what else can be sent quickly to boost its ally in the four-day-old war&nbsp;with Hamas.John Kirby, a spokesman for the National Security Council, confirmed Monday evening that the first batch of military aid in the wake of the violent assault by Hamas militants is “making its way” to Israel.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">As we continue to account for the horrors of the terrorist assault against Israel this weekend and the hundreds of civilians murdered, we are seeing the immense scale and reach of this tragedy. Sadly, we now know that at least 11 American citizens were among those killed. <a href="https://t.co/64GmhuoRob">pic.twitter.com/64GmhuoRob</a>&mdash; President Biden (@POTUS) <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS/status/1711491436011504088?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 9, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The delivery came as President Joe Biden prepared to give formal remarks on the attacks from the White House on Tuesday afternoon, after he confirmed that at least 11 Americans were killed in the violence over the weekend.“We fully expect there will be additional requests for security assistance for Israel as they continue to expend munitions in this fight,” Kirby said. "We will stay in lockstep with them, making sure that we’re filling their needs as best we can and as fast as we can.”Also on Monday, a senior Defense Department official warned that the U.S. is closely watching Hezbollah and other Iranian-backed groups, noting that the decision to shift American ships in the region was to deter any of these groups from entering or expanding the conflict against Israel. The official briefed reporters on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive shipments.The official said the U.S. is “flooding the zone” with calls and other messages so that extremist groups and other nations know they should not question America's commitment to supporting the defense of Israel. The official, however, would not comment on whether U.S. military forces would be used at all, and Kirby later emphasized that “there is no intention to put U.S. boots on the ground.”Meanwhile, Kirby said U.S. officials have yet to identify a direct link from the Hamas militants who executed this weekend's deadly attacks to Iran itself, although the country has a “degree of complicity” considering its long support for the group.While the Pentagon official said the U.S. has the ability to supply weapons to Ukraine and Israel and maintain security for America, the rapid delivery of munitions to the new war has raised concerns.Army Secretary Christine Wormuth said Congress must pass more funding quickly for the U.S. to be able to give both Israel and Ukraine the weapons and munitions they both now need.“The intent is to lean forward in support of Israel,” she said. "But in particular with munitions and the ability to support Israel and Ukraine simultaneously, additional funding is needed to increase our capacity to expand production and then also pay for the munitions themselves.”At the White House, officials were more cautious, emphasizing that the U.S. government has existing funding to support Israel for the time being. But it was becoming clear that the administration is now facing potentially competing requests from Israel and Ukraine for additional weaponry.“If we need — and it's an ‘if’, but — if we need to go back to Capitol Hill for additional funding support for Israel, we will absolutely do that," Kirby said. Referring to Israel and Ukraine, he added, “We are a large enough, big enough, economically viable and vibrant enough country to be able to support both.”On Capitol Hill, both Republican and Democratic lawmakers expressed support for Israel, although immediate congressional action was virtually impossible with the House remaining without a speaker and the Senate out of Washington until next week. Also uncertain is whether the debate over further assistance to Ukraine, which is opposed by a group of hard-right Republicans, will complicate efforts to pass assistance for Israel.Wormuth, speaking at the annual Association of the United States Army conference in Washington, said the administration is still “in the early stage of the process of evaluating our ability to support what the IDF needs,” referring to the Israel Defense Forces. She did not provide details, but Doug Bush, the Army's assistant secretary for acquisition, told reporters at the conference that conversations are underway about what the U.S. can provide. He said it likely will be a wide range of equipment, from small arms to sophisticated munitions.Most of the weaponry sent already to help Ukraine has come from Army stocks and defense contractors at a rate that has challenged the global supply chain, and while the Army has recently ramped up production of some critical lines, such as 155 mm ammunition for howitzers, they are not yet at full speed.With a new ground offensive in Gaza imminent following the Saturday surprise attack by Hamas, Army officials said Monday they were concerned about the ability to meet additional demand for ground munitions and Congress needed to act quickly to provide help in time.In addition to the 11 American citizens whose deaths Biden confirmed, an undetermined number remain unaccounted for. It was not yet clear if the missing are dead, in hiding, or had been taken hostage.Biden said the U.S. believes it is likely that American citizens may be among those being held hostage by Hamas, but officials are working to confirm that.“I have directed my team to work with their Israeli counterparts on every aspect of the hostage crisis, including sharing intelligence and deploying experts from across the United States government to consult with and advise Israeli counterparts on hostage recovery efforts,” Biden said in a statement.To underscore U.S. solidarity with Israel, the White House was lit in the blue and white colors of the Israeli flag on Monday night.The attack by Hamas and Israel's retaliation&nbsp;<a href="https://interactives.ap.org/embeds/DHsmN/8/">have left more than 1,600 dead and thousands wounded on both sides</a>.In the aftermath of the Hamas attack, the White House has asked Senate leaders to fast track confirmation of President Joe Biden’s nominee to be the next ambassador to Israel, former Obama-era Treasury Secretary and White House chief of staff Jack Lew, according to a U.S. official who was not authorized to comment publicly and requested anonymity. The White House has received assurances that the Senate Foreign Relations Committee will push forward hearings for Lew, the official added. The U.S. has been without an ambassador since the departure of Ambassador Tom Nides in July.Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Sunday he has ordered the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.airlant.usff.navy.mil/cvn78/">Ford carrier strike group</a>&nbsp;to sail to the Eastern Mediterranean to be ready to assist Israel. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-nato-norfolk-atlantic-ocean-us-navy-58217f23b761574fde9fb1adc8422aee">USS Gerald R. Ford</a>, the Navy’s newest and most advanced&nbsp;<a href="https://www.airlant.usff.navy.mil/cvn78/">aircraft carrier</a>, and its approximately 5,000 sailors and deck of warplanes will be accompanied by cruisers and destroyers in a show of force that is meant to be ready to respond to anything, from possibly interdicting additional weapons from reaching Hamas and conducting surveillance.The senior Defense Department official said worries about Hezbollah opening a second front of violence against Israel was the main reason for moving the ships to the Eastern Mediterranean. The official said the U.S. is deeply concerned Hezbollah and other Iranian-backed groups will make the wrong decision to try to “pile on” and widen the war.The Norfolk, Virginia-based carrier strike group already was in the Mediterranean. Last week it was conducting naval exercises with Italy in the Ionian Sea. The carrier is in its first full deployment._____ Humanitarian groups are scrambling to assist civilians caught in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-hamas-airstrikes-hostages-bf6c42f84526c4d9416978c8effd932a">war between Israel and Hamas</a>&nbsp;and determine what aid operations are still safe to continue — efforts that are being complicated by an intensified blockade of Gaza and ongoing fighting.Two days after Hamas militants went on a rampage that took the world by surprise, Israel increased airstrikes on Gaza and blocked off food, fuel and other supplies from going into the territory, a move that raised concerns at the United Nations and among aid groups operating in the area home to 2.3 million people. Hamas, in turn, pledged to kill Israelis it abducted if the country’s military bombs civilian targets in Gaza without warning.Hundreds of people have been killed and thousands wounded on both sides, and aid groups operating in the region say there are needs both in Gaza and Israel.More than 2 tons of medical supplies from the Egyptian Red Crescent have been sent to Gaza and efforts are underway to organize food and other deliveries, according to an Egyptian military official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the press. But the United Nations and other aid groups are pleading for more access to help Palestinians who find themselves in the middle of intense fighting.Doctors Without Borders, which is still operating in Gaza, has to rely on supplies it already has inside the territory because it can’t bring any more in, said Emmanuel Massart, a deputy desk coordinator with the organization in Brussels.The group — which says it only runs programs in Palestinian areas since Israel has strong emergency and health services — reported Monday that it provided treatments to more than 50 people following airstrikes at the Jabalia refugee camp located north of Gaza City. In addition to helping patients in Gaza, it said it was donating medical supplies to other clinics and hospitals, which have become overcrowded with patients and are experiencing shortages of drugs and fuel that can be used for generators.If Doctors Without Borders is not able to resupply fairly quickly, Massart said, it will run out of supplies it can use to operate on patients who might be wounded. He also said since the facilities the organization uses are running on generators due to the low supply of electricity, cutting off fuel will present a “huge problem.”“If there is no fuel anymore, there is no medical facilities anymore because we cannot run our medical facility without the energy,” Massart said.The war has also been deeply disruptive to work Mercy Corps has been doing to provide people in Gaza with necessities like food and water, said Arnaud Quemin, the Middle East regional director for the organization. Right now, he said the team on the ground is trying to find a scenario that would enable them to get back to work. The blockade of food and other supplies into Gaza is a major worry.“We are very concerned with the way things are going at this point because it looks like it’s going to get worse – very soon,” Quemin said. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-hamas-airstrikes-hostages-4377e096f62bf535bebcdff38cf16049">sealing of Gaza</a>, he said, will create “humanitarian needs very quickly.”Governments have also been weighing how to respond.As the fighting intensified, the European Union on late Monday reversed an earlier announcement by an EU commissioner that the bloc was “immediately” suspending aid for Palestinian authorities. Instead, the 27-nation group said it would urgently review the assistance it provides in the wake of Hamas’ attacks on Israel. Two European countries — Germany and Austria — said they were suspending development aid for Palestinian areas.Meanwhile, some organizations are stepping up aid efforts in Israel, which has seen displacement because of the violence.Naomi Adler, CEO of Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of America, said a trauma center in Jerusalem that’s owned by the organization is treating wounded Israeli soldiers and civilians. About 90% of the patients in the center right now are soldiers, who are typically the first to be brought in for traumatic injuries, Adler said. But the center also accepts anyone who’s wounded or injured in the country.The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, a Jewish humanitarian organization, said on Sunday that it was activating its emergency response team in Israel, where it runs programs to support people with disabilities, the elderly and children and families who’ve been impacted by the war and prior conflicts. The organization said it was working with its partners, including in the Israeli government, to address what it called an unprecedented emergency.JDC’s CEO Ariel Zwang said among other things the nonprofit is helping teachers, social workers and other caregivers provide support to those who’ve suffered trauma and tragedies from the events of the past few days. She said it will help nursey teachers, for example, explain to children why some of their classmates are suddenly missing.“If you’re a teacher now, if you know the children are traumatized, you need special skills and special training in order to manage what you’re experiencing and provide for the emotional needs, which are extraordinary at this time, of your youngest charges,” Zwang said.One organization that helps Palestinian children is shifting its focus, too. Steve Sosebee, the president of Palestine Children’s Relief Fund, a U.S.-based charity that helps children in need travel to the U.S. for medical treatment, said given the war, the fund is now looking away from long-term programs and toward more urgent needs for food, medication, clothing and other types of basic humanitarian aid. But like others, he noted the blockade and security risks to its Gaza staff makes it more challenging to do that.“There are no areas of security, there are no safe havens,” Sosebee said. “And therefore, it’s very difficult for us to be out in the field providing humanitarian aid when there are no safe places from the constant bombing and attacks that are taking place over the last 72 hours.”

Senator: Missouri native among those killed by terrorists in Israel

Celebrate National Fossil Day with FREE ADMISSION to the Sternberg Museum of Natural History, 3000 Sternberg Drive, Hays, on Sunday, October 15. 

National Fossil Day was started by the National Park Service as an annual celebration held to highlight the scientific and educational value of paleontology and the importance of preserving fossils for future generations.

This year’s theme at the Sternberg Museum is “Dinosaurs of Kansas” with special displays and activities from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. You can explore the dinosaur fossil record of Kansas, find out why dinosaur fossils are so rare here, and hear about ongoing dinosaur research at the Museum. You can even learn more about the Kansas dinosaurs still around today!

This is a free event with dinosaur-themed displays, activities, and crafts appropriate for all ages.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1696517727537.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Sternberg MuseumCelebrate National Fossil Day with FREE ADMISSION to the Sternberg Museum of Natural History, 3000 Sternberg Drive, Hays, on Sunday, October 15. National Fossil Day was started by the National Park Service as an annual celebration held to highlight the scientific and educational value of paleontology and the importance of preserving fossils for future generations.This year’s theme at the Sternberg Museum is “Dinosaurs of Kansas” with special displays and activities from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. You can explore the dinosaur fossil record of Kansas, find out why dinosaur fossils are so rare here, and hear about ongoing dinosaur research at the Museum. You can even learn more about the Kansas dinosaurs still around today!This is a free event with dinosaur-themed displays, activities, and crafts appropriate for all ages.

Free admission to Sternberg Museum in Hays on National Fossil Day, Oct. 15

The Hays City Commission and USD 489 candidate election forum is set for October 17th at Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center on Fort Hays State University’s campus. 

Candidates for the Hays City Commission will open the forum at 6 p.m. and conclude by 7 p.m. After a 15-minute intercession including refreshments, USD 489 school board candidates will take the stage at 7:15 and will conclude no later than 9 p.m.

In a partnership with the American Democracy Project, FHSU Student Government Association, FHSU Docking Institute of Public Affairs, Tiger Media Network, and The Chamber in Hays, Kansas, this election forum provides voters in the city of Hays and USD 489 district boundaries the opportunity to learn about each of the candidates and their stances on important community issues. 

This event is sponsored by Midwest Energy and The Hays Daily News.

“The American Democracy Project (ADP) is excited to help bring this forum to the Hays community and FHSU students. ADP is a university-wide initiative designed to prepare the next generation of informed, engaged citizens for our democracy. The goal of the American Democracy Project is to produce university graduates who are committed to being active citizens in their communities with civic knowledge, skills, and values,” said Grace McCord, student co-coordinator of ADP.&nbsp; “This forum provides our students with the opportunity to be civically and politically engaged in the democratic process. One of the best ways we can contribute to democracy is by being well-informed voters.”

“We hope voters take this opportunity to become more informed ahead of the November election by attending these two forums to hear directly from both Hays city commission candidates and USD 489 school board candidates on a variety of topics relevant to serving in these elected positions,” said Brett Zollinger, director of the FHSU Docking Institute of Public Affairs.

President/CEO of The Chamber in Hays Sarah Wasinger expressed, “Advocacy, accelerating business connections, and community advancement are at the forefront&nbsp;of our daily efforts. One of the best ways we can accomplish that mission is by providing an outlet for the community to educate themselves on candidates seeking office at the local, state, and national level. Our elected officials play an integral role in providing a positive quality of life for Ellis County residents, so we encourage the entire voting community to participate in this educational process.”

To submit questions in advance of the forum, email sarah@hayschamber.com or njschwien@fhsu.edu.

Those unable to attend the event in person are encouraged to catch the livestream or replay the direct link at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTIXUNR_XQP7TX183o_vxCw

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1667956838477.png" alt="File photo by Becky Kiser/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>File photo by Becky Kiser/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>Hays ChamberThe Hays City Commission and USD 489 candidate election forum is set for October 17th at Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center on Fort Hays State University’s campus. Candidates for the Hays City Commission will open the forum at 6 p.m. and conclude by 7 p.m. After a 15-minute intercession including refreshments, USD 489 school board candidates will take the stage at 7:15 and will conclude no later than 9 p.m.In a partnership with the American Democracy Project, FHSU Student Government Association, FHSU Docking Institute of Public Affairs, Tiger Media Network, and The Chamber in Hays, Kansas, this election forum provides voters in the city of Hays and USD 489 district boundaries the opportunity to learn about each of the candidates and their stances on important community issues. This event is sponsored by Midwest Energy and The Hays Daily News.“The American Democracy Project (ADP) is excited to help bring this forum to the Hays community and FHSU students. ADP is a university-wide initiative designed to prepare the next generation of informed, engaged citizens for our democracy. The goal of the American Democracy Project is to produce university graduates who are committed to being active citizens in their communities with civic knowledge, skills, and values,” said Grace McCord, student co-coordinator of ADP.&nbsp; “This forum provides our students with the opportunity to be civically and politically engaged in the democratic process. One of the best ways we can contribute to democracy is by being well-informed voters.”“We hope voters take this opportunity to become more informed ahead of the November election by attending these two forums to hear directly from both Hays city commission candidates and USD 489 school board candidates on a variety of topics relevant to serving in these elected positions,” said Brett Zollinger, director of the FHSU Docking Institute of Public Affairs.President/CEO of The Chamber in Hays Sarah Wasinger expressed, “Advocacy, accelerating business connections, and community advancement are at the forefront&nbsp;of our daily efforts. One of the best ways we can accomplish that mission is by providing an outlet for the community to educate themselves on candidates seeking office at the local, state, and national level. Our elected officials play an integral role in providing a positive quality of life for Ellis County residents, so we encourage the entire voting community to participate in this educational process.”To submit questions in advance of the forum, email sarah@hayschamber.com or njschwien@fhsu.edu.Those unable to attend the event in person are encouraged to catch the livestream or replay the direct link at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTIXUNR_XQP7TX183o_vxCw

Hays' fall election forum set for Oct. 17

Long Island resident, Doris Hammond, passed away October 4, 2023 at the Colonial Villa Nursing Home in Alma, NE at the age of 101. &nbsp;She was born June 5, 1922 in Norton County, KS, the daughter of John and Gladys (Hall) Vincent.

Survivors include her sons Gary, Tim and Craig of Long Island and Mark of Windermere, FL; her brother Dale Vincent of Long Island; 15 grandchildren; and 17 great grandchildren.

Cremation was chosen. &nbsp;A graveside service will be held Sat., October 14 at 3:30 p.m. in the Long Island Cemetery with Pastor Ted Stapleton officiating. &nbsp;Following the service there will be a luncheon at the Long Island Methodist Church where the family will greet friends.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Long Island Community Building or the Alma Fire &amp; Rescue.

<h2>Doris Hammond, Long Island</h2>June 5, 1922 - October 4, 2023Long Island resident, Doris Hammond, passed away October 4, 2023 at the Colonial Villa Nursing Home in Alma, NE at the age of 101. &nbsp;She was born June 5, 1922 in Norton County, KS, the daughter of John and Gladys (Hall) Vincent.Survivors include her sons Gary, Tim and Craig of Long Island and Mark of Windermere, FL; her brother Dale Vincent of Long Island; 15 grandchildren; and 17 great grandchildren.Cremation was chosen. &nbsp;A graveside service will be held Sat., October 14 at 3:30 p.m. in the Long Island Cemetery with Pastor Ted Stapleton officiating. &nbsp;Following the service there will be a luncheon at the Long Island Methodist Church where the family will greet friends.Memorial contributions may be made to the Long Island Community Building or the Alma Fire &amp; Rescue.

Doris Hammond

Bronwyn Hunt Nonnamaker, age 53, passed away at his home on Thursday, October 5, 2023, in Scott City, Kansas. He was born on October 10, 1969, in Scott City, Kansas, the son of Glenn and Pauline Hunt Nonnamaker. 

He resided in Scott City for the majority of his life. Bronwyn attended technical college and was a motorcycle mechanic.&nbsp;

He was a member of the First Christian Church.&nbsp;

Survivors include his mother Pauline Baysinger of Scott City, Kansas, brother Derek Nonnamaker of Scott City, Kansas, and sister&nbsp; Bridget Nonnamaker of Scott City, Kansas.

He was preceded in death by his father Glenn Nonnamaker, and brother - Glenn Nonnamaker.

Memorials in lieu of flowers may be written to the Bronwyn Hunt Nonnamaker memorial fund in care of Price &amp; Sons Funeral Home, P.O. Box 553, Scott City, Kansas, 67871.

To order&nbsp;<a href="https://manage2.tukioswebsites.com/o/v2/trees/e82c0a33-0a29-46c7-968b-93c0f24eadfc" target="_blank">memorial trees</a>&nbsp;or send flowers to the family in memory of Bronwyn Hunt Nonnamaker, please visit our&nbsp;<a href="https://manage2.tukioswebsites.com/orders/v2/flowers/e82c0a33-0a29-46c7-968b-93c0f24eadfc" target="_blank">flower store</a>.

<h2>Bronwyn Hunt Nonnamaker, Scott City</h2><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1696867746115.jpeg" alt="Bronwyn Hunt Nonnamaker" />
 <figcaption>Bronwyn Hunt Nonnamaker</figcaption>
 </figure>October 10, 1969 - October 5, 2023Bronwyn Hunt Nonnamaker, age 53, passed away at his home on Thursday, October 5, 2023, in Scott City, Kansas. He was born on October 10, 1969, in Scott City, Kansas, the son of Glenn and Pauline Hunt Nonnamaker. He resided in Scott City for the majority of his life. Bronwyn attended technical college and was a motorcycle mechanic.&nbsp;He was a member of the First Christian Church.&nbsp;Survivors include his mother Pauline Baysinger of Scott City, Kansas, brother Derek Nonnamaker of Scott City, Kansas, and sister&nbsp; Bridget Nonnamaker of Scott City, Kansas.He was preceded in death by his father Glenn Nonnamaker, and brother - Glenn Nonnamaker.Memorials in lieu of flowers may be written to the Bronwyn Hunt Nonnamaker memorial fund in care of Price &amp; Sons Funeral Home, P.O. Box 553, Scott City, Kansas, 67871.There will be no calling times.To order&nbsp;<a href="https://manage2.tukioswebsites.com/o/v2/trees/e82c0a33-0a29-46c7-968b-93c0f24eadfc" target="_blank">memorial trees</a>&nbsp;or send flowers to the family in memory of Bronwyn Hunt Nonnamaker, please visit our&nbsp;<a href="https://manage2.tukioswebsites.com/orders/v2/flowers/e82c0a33-0a29-46c7-968b-93c0f24eadfc" target="_blank">flower store</a>.

Bronwyn Hunt Nonnamaker

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement have located the body of a missing Kansas City man.

On Saturday morning, a property owner north of Mosby, Missouri, discovered a vehicle on his property and alerted the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, according to a social media report from Cameron Police.

 When deputies arrived on scene, they discovered a body, later identified as 61 year-old Roger Hunt, a short distance from the vehicle. Hunt was reported missing last week to Kansas City, Kansas police by family who told police he returned to his home in Kansas City on October 2 around 7a.m. after getting off work. but then left again sometime before 1p.m..

 He had not been heard from since.The death remains under investigation by the Clay County Sheriff’s office, but at this time, foul play does not appear to have been a factor in his death.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1696799312337.png" alt="Roger Hunt-photo KCPD" />
 <figcaption>Roger Hunt-photo KCPD</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement have located the body of a missing Kansas City man.On Saturday morning, a property owner north of Mosby, Missouri, discovered a vehicle on his property and alerted the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, according to a social media report from Cameron Police. When deputies arrived on scene, they discovered a body, later identified as 61 year-old Roger Hunt, a short distance from the vehicle. Hunt was reported missing last week to Kansas City, Kansas police by family who told police he returned to his home in Kansas City on October 2 around 7a.m. after getting off work. but then left again sometime before 1p.m.. He had not been heard from since.The death remains under investigation by the Clay County Sheriff’s office, but at this time, foul play does not appear to have been a factor in his death.

Police ID body as missing Kansas City man

Wilma Catherine Unrein, 91, Hays, passed away after a short illness on Saturday, October 7, 2023 at Rock Regional Hospital in Derby.

She was born October 23, 1931 in Munjor, the daughter of Nick and Katie (Unrein) Leiker. 

She was united in marriage to Joseph D. Unrein, Sr. on June 25, 1951 in Hays, and they celebrated nearly 58 years of marriage before he preceded her in death on April 24, 2009. 

She was a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, Daughters of Isabella, the Eagles, and Hays American Legion Auxiliary. 

Wilma spent her life in Hays as a homemaker, finding her greatest joy in raising her eight children. She loved her family, especially her great grandchildren who called her GG. She enjoyed bingo, playing cards, watching sports, needlepoint, embroidery, and was a talented seamstress. She was an excellent cook and baker, making amazing snickerdoodle cookies, pies, bierocks, and delicious fried chicken. Wilma always had food and desserts ready to give to family and friends, and loved teaching her daughters and grandchildren how to cook and bake.

Survivors include her four sons, Joe Unrein, Jr. and wife Patti of Hays, Curt Unrein and wife Pam of Topeka, Steve Unrein and fiancé Diane Garcia of Hays, and Dave Unrein and wife Bella of Wichita, four daughters, Cindi Moses and husband Woody of Topeka, Gloria Lewis and husband Barry of Wichita, Arlene Creel and husband Mitch of Garden Ridge, TX, and Linda Jacobs and husband Bill of Derby, 13 grandchildren, Jamie Geist (Jamie), Travis Unrein (Leslie), Lance Unrein (Renae), Amanda Britz (Carl), Jodi Lewis (Matt), Jeff Unrein (Amanda), Brandon Unrein, Joshua Unrein, Chad Unrein (Heather), Brett Unrein (Mandy), Melinda Chadwell (Will), Jon Jacobs (Katie), and Matt Jacobs (Kristina), 28 great-grandchildren, one great-great grandson, and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Joseph, three brothers, five sisters, a granddaughter, Katina Wakefield, and a grandson, Cody Lewis.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, October 13, 2023 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, with Fr. Nick Parker officiating. Burial will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 on Thursday and from 9:00 a.m. until 9:45 on Friday, all at Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home. A Daughters of Isabella rosary will be at 5:30 p.m. followed by a vigil service at 6:30, both on Thursday at the funeral home. 

Memorials are suggested to Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church or for masses. 

Condolences and memories of Wilma may be left for her family at www.haysmemorial.com.

<h2>Wilma Catherine Unrein, Hays</h2><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1696713712275.png" alt="Wilma Catherine Unrein" />
 <figcaption>Wilma Catherine Unrein</figcaption>
 </figure>October 23, 1931 - October 7, 2023Wilma Catherine Unrein, 91, Hays, passed away after a short illness on Saturday, October 7, 2023 at Rock Regional Hospital in Derby.She was born October 23, 1931 in Munjor, the daughter of Nick and Katie (Unrein) Leiker. She was united in marriage to Joseph D. Unrein, Sr. on June 25, 1951 in Hays, and they celebrated nearly 58 years of marriage before he preceded her in death on April 24, 2009. She was a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, Daughters of Isabella, the Eagles, and Hays American Legion Auxiliary. Wilma spent her life in Hays as a homemaker, finding her greatest joy in raising her eight children. She loved her family, especially her great grandchildren who called her GG. She enjoyed bingo, playing cards, watching sports, needlepoint, embroidery, and was a talented seamstress. She was an excellent cook and baker, making amazing snickerdoodle cookies, pies, bierocks, and delicious fried chicken. Wilma always had food and desserts ready to give to family and friends, and loved teaching her daughters and grandchildren how to cook and bake.Survivors include her four sons, Joe Unrein, Jr. and wife Patti of Hays, Curt Unrein and wife Pam of Topeka, Steve Unrein and fiancé Diane Garcia of Hays, and Dave Unrein and wife Bella of Wichita, four daughters, Cindi Moses and husband Woody of Topeka, Gloria Lewis and husband Barry of Wichita, Arlene Creel and husband Mitch of Garden Ridge, TX, and Linda Jacobs and husband Bill of Derby, 13 grandchildren, Jamie Geist (Jamie), Travis Unrein (Leslie), Lance Unrein (Renae), Amanda Britz (Carl), Jodi Lewis (Matt), Jeff Unrein (Amanda), Brandon Unrein, Joshua Unrein, Chad Unrein (Heather), Brett Unrein (Mandy), Melinda Chadwell (Will), Jon Jacobs (Katie), and Matt Jacobs (Kristina), 28 great-grandchildren, one great-great grandson, and numerous nieces and nephews.She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Joseph, three brothers, five sisters, a granddaughter, Katina Wakefield, and a grandson, Cody Lewis.Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, October 13, 2023 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, with Fr. Nick Parker officiating. Burial will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 on Thursday and from 9:00 a.m. until 9:45 on Friday, all at Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home. A Daughters of Isabella rosary will be at 5:30 p.m. followed by a vigil service at 6:30, both on Thursday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church or for masses. Condolences and memories of Wilma may be left for her family at www.haysmemorial.com.

Wilma Catherine Unrein

TOPEKA –&nbsp;The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has issued a boil water advisory for the city of Smith Center public water supply system located in Smith County.

Customers should observe the following precautions until further notice:

The advisory took effect on October 8 and will remain in effect until the conditions that placed the system at risk of bacterial contamination are resolved. KDHE officials issued the advisory because of a line break resulting in a loss of pressure in the distribution system.&nbsp; Failure to maintain adequate pressure may result in a loss of chlorine residuals and bacterial contamination.&nbsp;

Regardless of whether the public water supplier or Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) announced a boil water advisory, only KDHE can issue the rescind order following testing at a certified laboratory.

For consumer questions, please contact the water system at 785-282-3812, or KDHE at 785-296-5514. For consumer information please visit KDHE’s PWS Consumer Information webpage:&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmtkaGUua3MuZ292LzQ2OC9Db25zdW1lci1JbmZvcm1hdGlvbi1SZWdhcmRpbmctYS1EaXNydXB0P3V0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1nb3ZkZWxpdmVyeSIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMzEwMDkuODM3NzQ0NTEifQ.TK-5eWksBbhq_ye9BcJjBpto-3g6Ph8R5_UV3IXyRpo/s/1305913623/br/227618867951-l" target="_blank">kdhe.ks.gov/waterdisruption</a>

Restaurants and other food establishments that have questions about the impact of the boil water advisory on their business can contact the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s food safety &amp; lodging program at&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="mailto:kda.fsl@ks.gov">kda.fsl@ks.gov</a>&nbsp;or call 785-564-6767.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689197509660.jpeg" alt="Photo by Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>KDHETOPEKA –&nbsp;The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has issued a boil water advisory for the city of Smith Center public water supply system located in Smith County.Customers should observe the following precautions until further notice:<ul>
 <li>Boil water for one minute prior to drinking or food preparation or use bottled water.</li><li>Dispose of ice cubes and do not use ice from a household automatic icemaker.</li><li>If your tap water appears dirty, flush the water lines by letting the water run until it clears.</li><li>Disinfect dishes and other food contact surfaces by immersion for at least one minute in clean tap water that contains one teaspoon of unscented household bleach per gallon of water.</li><li>Water used for bathing does not generally need to be boiled. Supervision of children is necessary while bathing so that water is not ingested. Persons with cuts or severe rashes may wish to consult their physicians.</li>
 </ul>The advisory took effect on October 8 and will remain in effect until the conditions that placed the system at risk of bacterial contamination are resolved. KDHE officials issued the advisory because of a line break resulting in a loss of pressure in the distribution system.&nbsp; Failure to maintain adequate pressure may result in a loss of chlorine residuals and bacterial contamination.&nbsp;Regardless of whether the public water supplier or Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) announced a boil water advisory, only KDHE can issue the rescind order following testing at a certified laboratory.For consumer questions, please contact the water system at 785-282-3812, or KDHE at 785-296-5514. For consumer information please visit KDHE’s PWS Consumer Information webpage:&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmtkaGUua3MuZ292LzQ2OC9Db25zdW1lci1JbmZvcm1hdGlvbi1SZWdhcmRpbmctYS1EaXNydXB0P3V0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1nb3ZkZWxpdmVyeSIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMzEwMDkuODM3NzQ0NTEifQ.TK-5eWksBbhq_ye9BcJjBpto-3g6Ph8R5_UV3IXyRpo/s/1305913623/br/227618867951-l" target="_blank">kdhe.ks.gov/waterdisruption</a>Restaurants and other food establishments that have questions about the impact of the boil water advisory on their business can contact the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s food safety &amp; lodging program at&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="mailto:kda.fsl@ks.gov">kda.fsl@ks.gov</a>&nbsp;or call 785-564-6767.

Boil water advisory issued for Smith Center by KDHE

WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Sunday he has ordered the Ford carrier strike group to sail to the Eastern Mediterranean to be ready to assist Israel after the surprise attack by Hamas that has left more than 1,000 dead and thousands wounded on both sides.

The USS Gerald R. Ford and its approximately 5,000 sailors and deck of warplanes will be accompanied by cruisers and destroyers in a show of force that is meant to be ready to respond to anything, from possibly interdicting additional weapons from reaching Hamas and conducting surveillance.

The large deployment, which also includes a host of ships and warplanes, underscores the concern that the United States has in trying to deter the conflict from growing. The Israeli government formally declared war Sunday and gave the green light for “significant military steps” to retaliate against Hamas.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the U.S. was trying to verify reports that several Americans were killed and some were taken captive by Hamas.

Along with the Ford the U.S. is sending the cruiser USS Normandy, destroyers USS Thomas Hudner, USS Ramage, USS Carney, and USS Roosevelt and the U.S. is augmenting Air Force F-35, F-15, F-16, and A-10 fighter aircraft squadrons in the region.

“The U.S. maintains ready forces globally to further reinforce this deterrence posture if required,” Austin said in a statement.

In addition, the Biden administration “will be rapidly providing the Israel Defense Forces with additional equipment and resources, including munitions. The first security assistance will begin moving today and arriving in the coming days,” Austin said.

The Norfolk, Virginia-based carrier strike group( was already in the Mediterranean. Last week it was conducting naval exercises with Italy in the Ionian Sea. It’s the United States newest and most advanced aircraft carrier and this is its first full deployment.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1696803172229.png" alt="The USS Gerald R. Ford and its approximately 5,000 sailors and deck of warplanes will be accompanied by cruisers and destroyers in a show of force that is meant to be ready to respond to anything, from possibly interdicting additional weapons from reaching Hamas and conducting surveillance.-photo U.S. Central Command" />
 <figcaption>The USS Gerald R. Ford and its approximately 5,000 sailors and deck of warplanes will be accompanied by cruisers and destroyers in a show of force that is meant to be ready to respond to anything, from possibly interdicting additional weapons from reaching Hamas and conducting surveillance.-photo U.S. Central Command</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Sunday he has ordered the Ford carrier strike group to sail to the Eastern Mediterranean to be ready to assist Israel after the surprise attack by Hamas that has left more than 1,000 dead and thousands wounded on both sides.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Strengthening our joint force posture, in addition to the materiel support—including munitions—that we will rapidly provide to Israel, underscores the United States’ ironclad support for Israel.&mdash; Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III (@SecDef) <a href="https://twitter.com/SecDef/status/1711075334827675754?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 8, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The USS Gerald R. Ford and its approximately 5,000 sailors and deck of warplanes will be accompanied by cruisers and destroyers in a show of force that is meant to be ready to respond to anything, from possibly interdicting additional weapons from reaching Hamas and conducting surveillance.The large deployment, which also includes a host of ships and warplanes, underscores the concern that the United States has in trying to deter the conflict from growing. The Israeli government formally declared war Sunday and gave the green light for “significant military steps” to retaliate against Hamas.Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the U.S. was trying to verify reports that several Americans were killed and some were taken captive by Hamas.Along with the Ford the U.S. is sending the cruiser USS Normandy, destroyers USS Thomas Hudner, USS Ramage, USS Carney, and USS Roosevelt and the U.S. is augmenting Air Force F-35, F-15, F-16, and A-10 fighter aircraft squadrons in the region.“The U.S. maintains ready forces globally to further reinforce this deterrence posture if required,” Austin said in a statement.In addition, the Biden administration “will be rapidly providing the Israel Defense Forces with additional equipment and resources, including munitions. The first security assistance will begin moving today and arriving in the coming days,” Austin said.The Norfolk, Virginia-based carrier strike group( was already in the Mediterranean. Last week it was conducting naval exercises with Italy in the Ionian Sea. It’s the United States newest and most advanced aircraft carrier and this is its first full deployment.

 US sending warships, weapons to support Israel

HaysMed proudly joins the nation in recognizing October as Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention Month. This month serves as a critical reminder of our collective responsibility to raise awareness about relationship abuse and support those impacted by it. President Joseph Biden's proclamation of October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month underscores the importance of this issue, emphasizing that everyone deserves a healthy relationship and there are people who can help.

At HaysMed, we believe in the power of education and specialized care to combat the effects of domestic violence. 

To this end, we are pleased to highlight our team of specially trained forensic nurses who play a vital role in addressing this pressing issue. These dedicated professionals possess the knowledge and expertise necessary to decrease the healthcare consequences of violence, improve patient recovery, and lower healthcare costs.

The Forensic Program at HaysMed is a resource for individuals and families impacted by violence in Ellis County and surrounding communities. By offering specialized care and support, our team ensures that survivors receive the compassionate and comprehensive attention they deserve. This commitment to quality care sets HaysMed apart as a trusted resource in the fight against domestic violence.

One of the key advantages of HaysMed is the accessibility of our specially trained forensic nurses. They provide critical care without the need for survivors to travel long distances for the services they require. This accessibility ensures that individuals affected by domestic violence can access the help they need right here in our community.

HaysMed recognizes that prevention through coordinated response and accountability is essential in our communities. We are firmly committed to supporting survivors and fostering an environment where everyone feels safe. In line with our dedication to education, we encourage individuals to learn more about domestic violence by visiting <a href="https://www.thehotline.org/">https://www.thehotline.org/</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1696348920180.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>HaysMedHaysMed proudly joins the nation in recognizing October as Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention Month. This month serves as a critical reminder of our collective responsibility to raise awareness about relationship abuse and support those impacted by it. President Joseph Biden's proclamation of October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month underscores the importance of this issue, emphasizing that everyone deserves a healthy relationship and there are people who can help.At HaysMed, we believe in the power of education and specialized care to combat the effects of domestic violence. To this end, we are pleased to highlight our team of specially trained forensic nurses who play a vital role in addressing this pressing issue. These dedicated professionals possess the knowledge and expertise necessary to decrease the healthcare consequences of violence, improve patient recovery, and lower healthcare costs.The Forensic Program at HaysMed is a resource for individuals and families impacted by violence in Ellis County and surrounding communities. By offering specialized care and support, our team ensures that survivors receive the compassionate and comprehensive attention they deserve. This commitment to quality care sets HaysMed apart as a trusted resource in the fight against domestic violence.One of the key advantages of HaysMed is the accessibility of our specially trained forensic nurses. They provide critical care without the need for survivors to travel long distances for the services they require. This accessibility ensures that individuals affected by domestic violence can access the help they need right here in our community.HaysMed recognizes that prevention through coordinated response and accountability is essential in our communities. We are firmly committed to supporting survivors and fostering an environment where everyone feels safe. In line with our dedication to education, we encourage individuals to learn more about domestic violence by visiting <a href="https://www.thehotline.org/">https://www.thehotline.org/</a>.

HaysMed recognizes October as Domestic Violence Awareness, Prevention Month

As the calendar turns over to October it reminds me of Breast Cancer Awareness month and cooler weather. 

It is very likely that you or someone you know has been affected by breast cancer. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in the United States breast cancer is the second most common cancer in women after skin cancer. Cancer is also one of the leading causes of death in the United States, ranking second only after heart disease. One in every four deaths is due to cancer. While there are a lot of risks for cancer that are outside of our control, such as our genetics, gender, and age, there are many lifestyle choices we can make to reduce risk.

First, achieve and maintain a healthy weight. I know! Easier said than done. This is especially important as we get older. Two other choices that can help lower risk for breast cancer, as well as achieve a healthy weight, is to eat a diet rich in whole foods such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains and get plenty of exercise. Avoiding alcohol or consuming one drink or less per day will also lower your risk of breast cancer. Sometimes making healthy choices can seem overwhelming, especially when life gets stressful. Start small and build on what you are able to accomplish. Perhaps just pick one thing you would like to change and work on that for a few weeks or months.

While breast cancer risk increases as we age and those over age 50 are at increased risk, there are some things that younger women can do in addition to healthy lifestyle choices listed above. Having children and breastfeeding can help protect yourself from breast cancer. When women are pregnant and breastfeeding their hormone levels are different which can reduce risk of breast cancer later on in life. There is a dose response effect as well, the longer you breastfeed, the lower your risk of breast cancer. This may be a real motivation for some women to breastfeed their children or maybe the motivation to keep going when the baby wakes up again in the middle of the night. Remembering that there are benefits for you, mom, that may help you stay strong and not give up.

Here at the Cottonwood Extension District we want to give you the education and tools to help you lead a better, healthier life. We have resources and tools to share with you. We are your partner to a healthier lifestyle.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668522152076.jpeg" alt="Monique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension , Cottonwood District. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Monique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension , Cottonwood District. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>As the calendar turns over to October it reminds me of Breast Cancer Awareness month and cooler weather. It is very likely that you or someone you know has been affected by breast cancer. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in the United States breast cancer is the second most common cancer in women after skin cancer. Cancer is also one of the leading causes of death in the United States, ranking second only after heart disease. One in every four deaths is due to cancer. While there are a lot of risks for cancer that are outside of our control, such as our genetics, gender, and age, there are many lifestyle choices we can make to reduce risk.First, achieve and maintain a healthy weight. I know! Easier said than done. This is especially important as we get older. Two other choices that can help lower risk for breast cancer, as well as achieve a healthy weight, is to eat a diet rich in whole foods such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains and get plenty of exercise. Avoiding alcohol or consuming one drink or less per day will also lower your risk of breast cancer. Sometimes making healthy choices can seem overwhelming, especially when life gets stressful. Start small and build on what you are able to accomplish. Perhaps just pick one thing you would like to change and work on that for a few weeks or months.While breast cancer risk increases as we age and those over age 50 are at increased risk, there are some things that younger women can do in addition to healthy lifestyle choices listed above. Having children and breastfeeding can help protect yourself from breast cancer. When women are pregnant and breastfeeding their hormone levels are different which can reduce risk of breast cancer later on in life. There is a dose response effect as well, the longer you breastfeed, the lower your risk of breast cancer. This may be a real motivation for some women to breastfeed their children or maybe the motivation to keep going when the baby wakes up again in the middle of the night. Remembering that there are benefits for you, mom, that may help you stay strong and not give up.Here at the Cottonwood Extension District we want to give you the education and tools to help you lead a better, healthier life. We have resources and tools to share with you. We are your partner to a healthier lifestyle.

KOERNER: Breast cancer and how to lower your risk

DETROIT (AP) — Union workers at Mack Trucks went on strike Monday after voting down a tentative five-year contract agreement that negotiators had reached with the company.

The United Auto Workers said 4,000 unionized workers walked out at 7 a.m., adding to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/auto-workers-strike-ford-general-motors-stellantis-5f185f6615a1b3690af744641508c8e2">labor turmoil in the industry</a>&nbsp;that has ensnared all three big Detroit automakers.

With those workers joining picket lines, the total number of UAW members that are on strike now exceeds 30,000 across 22 states, the union said Monday.

Union President Shawn Fain said in a letter to Mack parent company Volvo Trucks that 73% of workers voted against the deal in results counted on Sunday.

The UAW represents Mack workers in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Florida. Union leaders had reached a tentative agreement on the deal on Oct. 1.

UAW Locals 171, 677, 1247, 2301, and 2420 in UAW Region 8 and Region 9 represent workers at Mack Trucks in Macungie and Middletown, Pennsylvania; Hagerstown and Baltimore, Maryland; and Jacksonville, Florida.

The deal negotiators had reached with Mack just over a week ago included a 19% pay raise over the life of the contract with 10% upon ratification. There also was a $3,500 ratification bonus, no increase in weekly health care contributions, increased annual lump sum payments for retirees and a $1,000 annual 401(k) lump sum to offset health care costs for employees who don’t get health insurance after retirement.

Fain said in his letter to Volvo Trucks' head of labor relations that employees working early Monday would exit the factories after performing tasks needed to prevent damage to company equipment.

Fain wrote that UAW members and workers across the country are seeking their fair share in wages and benefits.

The company and union are still apart on work schedules, health and safety, pensions, health care, prescription drug coverage, overtime and other issues, he wrote.

The contract may have been sunk by high expectations Fain has set in bargaining with Detroit’s three automakers. In those talks, the UAW has asked for 36% raises over four years, while Ford has offered 23% and the other two firms are at 20%.

“I’m inspired to see UAW members at Mack Trucks holding out for a better deal, and ready to stand up and walk off the job to win it,” Fain said in a prepared statement. “The members have the final say, and it’s their solidarity and organization that will win a fair contract at Mack.”

Mack Trucks President Stephen Roy said in a statement Sunday night that the company is “surprised and disappointed” that the union chose to strike. The union, he wrote, called the tentative agreement a record for the heavy truck industry. “We trust that other stakeholders also appreciate that our market, business and competitive set are very different from those of the passenger car makers,” the statement said.

Mack, he wrote, is part of the only heavy truck manufacturing group that assembles all of its vehicles and engines for North America in the U.S., competing against trucks built in lower-cost countries.

The company is committed to collective bargaining and is confident both sides will reach a deal that delivers competitive wages and benefits while safeguarding the company’s future, the statement said.

The UAW went on strike at selected factories run by automakers General Motors, Ford and Jeep maker Stellantis on Sept. 15. It started with one assembly plant for each company, then spread to 38 GM and Stellantis parts warehouses. Two additional assembly plants at Ford and GM were added later.

DETROIT (AP) — Union workers at Mack Trucks have voted down a tentative five-year contract agreement reached with the company and plan to strike at 7 a.m. Monday, the United Auto Workers union says.

The UAW represents about 4,000 Mack workers in three states. Union leaders had reached a tentative agreement on the deal on Oct. 1.

The deal included a 19% pay raise over the life of the contract with 10% upon ratification. There also was a $3,500 ratification bonus, no increase in weekly health care contributions, increased annual lump sum payments for retirees and a $1,000 annual 401(k) lump sum to offset health care costs for employees who don’t get health insurance after retirement.

Fain said in his letter to Volvo Trucks’ head of labor relations that employees working early Monday will exit the factories after performing tasks needed to prevent damage to company equipment.

The workers are in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Florida.

Fain wrote that UAW members and workers across the country are seeking their fair share in wages and benefits. “The union remains committed to exploring all options for reaching an agreement, but we clearly are not there yet.”

On Friday, the union decided not to expand the strikes to any more plants for the time being after GM agreed to bring its electric vehicle battery factories into the UAW’s national contract, assuring that they’ll be unionized. The union also reported progress with all three automakers.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1696847042061.png" alt="The UAW represents about 4,000 Mack workers in three states." />
 <figcaption>The UAW represents about 4,000 Mack workers in three states.</figcaption>
 </figure>DETROIT (AP) — Union workers at Mack Trucks went on strike Monday after voting down a tentative five-year contract agreement that negotiators had reached with the company.The United Auto Workers said 4,000 unionized workers walked out at 7 a.m., adding to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/auto-workers-strike-ford-general-motors-stellantis-5f185f6615a1b3690af744641508c8e2">labor turmoil in the industry</a>&nbsp;that has ensnared all three big Detroit automakers.With those workers joining picket lines, the total number of UAW members that are on strike now exceeds 30,000 across 22 states, the union said Monday.Union President Shawn Fain said in a letter to Mack parent company Volvo Trucks that 73% of workers voted against the deal in results counted on Sunday.The UAW represents Mack workers in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Florida. Union leaders had reached a tentative agreement on the deal on Oct. 1.UAW Locals 171, 677, 1247, 2301, and 2420 in UAW Region 8 and Region 9 represent workers at Mack Trucks in Macungie and Middletown, Pennsylvania; Hagerstown and Baltimore, Maryland; and Jacksonville, Florida.The deal negotiators had reached with Mack just over a week ago included a 19% pay raise over the life of the contract with 10% upon ratification. There also was a $3,500 ratification bonus, no increase in weekly health care contributions, increased annual lump sum payments for retirees and a $1,000 annual 401(k) lump sum to offset health care costs for employees who don’t get health insurance after retirement.Fain said in his letter to Volvo Trucks' head of labor relations that employees working early Monday would exit the factories after performing tasks needed to prevent damage to company equipment.Fain wrote that UAW members and workers across the country are seeking their fair share in wages and benefits.The company and union are still apart on work schedules, health and safety, pensions, health care, prescription drug coverage, overtime and other issues, he wrote.The contract may have been sunk by high expectations Fain has set in bargaining with Detroit’s three automakers. In those talks, the UAW has asked for 36% raises over four years, while Ford has offered 23% and the other two firms are at 20%.“I’m inspired to see UAW members at Mack Trucks holding out for a better deal, and ready to stand up and walk off the job to win it,” Fain said in a prepared statement. “The members have the final say, and it’s their solidarity and organization that will win a fair contract at Mack.”Mack Trucks President Stephen Roy said in a statement Sunday night that the company is “surprised and disappointed” that the union chose to strike. The union, he wrote, called the tentative agreement a record for the heavy truck industry. “We trust that other stakeholders also appreciate that our market, business and competitive set are very different from those of the passenger car makers,” the statement said.Mack, he wrote, is part of the only heavy truck manufacturing group that assembles all of its vehicles and engines for North America in the U.S., competing against trucks built in lower-cost countries.The company is committed to collective bargaining and is confident both sides will reach a deal that delivers competitive wages and benefits while safeguarding the company’s future, the statement said.The UAW went on strike at selected factories run by automakers General Motors, Ford and Jeep maker Stellantis on Sept. 15. It started with one assembly plant for each company, then spread to 38 GM and Stellantis parts warehouses. Two additional assembly plants at Ford and GM were added later.---------------DETROIT (AP) — Union workers at Mack Trucks have voted down a tentative five-year contract agreement reached with the company and plan to strike at 7 a.m. Monday, the United Auto Workers union says.Union President Shawn Fain said in a letter to Mack parent company Volvo Trucks that 73% of workers voted against the deal in results counted on Sunday.The UAW represents about 4,000 Mack workers in three states. Union leaders had reached a tentative agreement on the deal on Oct. 1.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">BREAKING: 4,000 UAW members at Mack Trucks have voted to REJECT a tentative agreement, and will STRIKE at 7 am on Monday. &quot;I&#39;m inspired to see UAW members at Mack holding out for a better deal, and ready to stand up and walk off the job to win it,&quot; said UAW President Shawn Fain. <a href="https://t.co/YFYfqikSMh">pic.twitter.com/YFYfqikSMh</a>&mdash; UAW (@UAW) <a href="https://twitter.com/UAW/status/1711186526153900080?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 9, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The deal included a 19% pay raise over the life of the contract with 10% upon ratification. There also was a $3,500 ratification bonus, no increase in weekly health care contributions, increased annual lump sum payments for retirees and a $1,000 annual 401(k) lump sum to offset health care costs for employees who don’t get health insurance after retirement.Fain said in his letter to Volvo Trucks’ head of labor relations that employees working early Monday will exit the factories after performing tasks needed to prevent damage to company equipment.The workers are in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Florida.Fain wrote that UAW members and workers across the country are seeking their fair share in wages and benefits. “The union remains committed to exploring all options for reaching an agreement, but we clearly are not there yet.”The company and union are still apart on work schedules, health and safety, pensions, health care, prescription drug coverage, overtime and other issues, he wrote.The contract may have been sunk by high expectations Fain has set in bargaining with Detroit’s three automakers. In those talks, the UAW has asked for 36% raises over four years, while Ford has offered 23% and the other two firms are at 20%.Mack Trucks President Stephen Roy said in a statement Sunday night that the company is “surprised and disappointed” that the union chose to strike. The union, he wrote, called the tentative agreement a record for the heavy truck industry. “We trust that other stakeholders also appreciate that our market, business and competitive set are very different from those of the passenger car makers,” the statement said.Mack, he wrote, is part of the only heavy truck manufacturing group that assembles all of its vehicles and engines for North America in the U.S., competing against trucks built in lower-cost countries.The company is committed to collective bargaining and is confident both sides will reach a deal that delivers competitive wages and benefits while safeguarding the company’s future, the statement said.The UAW went on strike at selected factories run by automakers General Motors, Ford and Jeep maker Stellantis on Sept. 15. It started with one assembly plant for each company, then spread to 38 GM and Stellantis parts warehouses. Two additional assembly plants at Ford and GM were added later.On Friday, the union decided not to expand the strikes to any more plants for the time being after GM agreed to bring its electric vehicle battery factories into the UAW’s national contract, assuring that they’ll be unionized. The union also reported progress with all three automakers.

Workers at Mack Trucks go on strike after rejecting contract deal

WASHINGTON (AP) — Updated&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-vaccines-coronavirus-234f27c74438fb4812a014dbd98ddbde">COVID-19 vaccines</a>&nbsp;may be getting a little easier for adults to find but they’re still frustratingly scarce for young children. Health officials said Thursday the kid shots have started shipping — and reminded most everyone to get a fall flu shot too.

About 2 million Americans have gotten the new COVID-19 shot in the&nbsp; weeks since its approval despite&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-vaccine-delays-cdc-moderna-pfizer-ba66d06cbcc31ba4b22d60e93d3d5024">early barriers from insurance companies</a>&nbsp;and other glitches, according to the Department of Health and Human Services.

For the first time, the U.S. has vaccines to fight a trio of viruses that cause fall and winter misery. But health officials worry that shot fatigue and hassles in getting them will leave too many people needlessly unprotected.

“We need to use them,” Dr. Mandy Cohen, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said Thursday. “Right now is the right time.”

A flu vaccination and that updated COVID-19 shot are urged for just about everyone, starting with babies as young as 6 months.

Also this year, a vaccine against another scary virus called RSV is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rsv-vaccine-adults-gsk-pfizer-cdc-virus-592dcd5ae36cdbec8c003511f5fd27f0">recommended for people 60 and older</a>&nbsp;and for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rsv-vaccine-infants-cdc-e30abab0c84ab22ddddc4963dad7c0ad">certain pregnant women</a>. And for babies,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rsv-babies-drug-cdc-astrazeneca-sanofi-shot-c03b72aaa51e59176cfa3feb3ceac06c">a vaccinelike medicine</a>&nbsp;to guard against that respiratory syncytial virus is expected to arrive next month.

“These vaccines may not be perfect in being able to prevent absolutely every infection with these illnesses, but they turn a wild infection into a milder one,” said Dr. William Schaffner of Vanderbilt University and the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases.

This year’s vaccine is updated to protect against newer versions of the constantly evolving coronavirus. Already there’s been a late summer jump in infections, hospitalizations and deaths. And so far the new vaccine recipe appears to be a good match to the variants currently circulating.

Protection against COVID-19, whether from vaccination or from an earlier infection, wanes over time — and most Americans haven’t had a vaccine dose in about a year. Everyone 5 and older will need just one shot this fall even if they’ve never had a prior vaccination, while younger children may need additional doses depending on their vaccination and infection history.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1672157207598.jpg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Updated&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-vaccines-coronavirus-234f27c74438fb4812a014dbd98ddbde">COVID-19 vaccines</a>&nbsp;may be getting a little easier for adults to find but they’re still frustratingly scarce for young children. Health officials said Thursday the kid shots have started shipping — and reminded most everyone to get a fall flu shot too.About 2 million Americans have gotten the new COVID-19 shot in the&nbsp; weeks since its approval despite&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-vaccine-delays-cdc-moderna-pfizer-ba66d06cbcc31ba4b22d60e93d3d5024">early barriers from insurance companies</a>&nbsp;and other glitches, according to the Department of Health and Human Services.For the first time, the U.S. has vaccines to fight a trio of viruses that cause fall and winter misery. But health officials worry that shot fatigue and hassles in getting them will leave too many people needlessly unprotected.“We need to use them,” Dr. Mandy Cohen, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said Thursday. “Right now is the right time.”A flu vaccination and that updated COVID-19 shot are urged for just about everyone, starting with babies as young as 6 months.Also this year, a vaccine against another scary virus called RSV is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rsv-vaccine-adults-gsk-pfizer-cdc-virus-592dcd5ae36cdbec8c003511f5fd27f0">recommended for people 60 and older</a>&nbsp;and for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rsv-vaccine-infants-cdc-e30abab0c84ab22ddddc4963dad7c0ad">certain pregnant women</a>. And for babies,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rsv-babies-drug-cdc-astrazeneca-sanofi-shot-c03b72aaa51e59176cfa3feb3ceac06c">a vaccinelike medicine</a>&nbsp;to guard against that respiratory syncytial virus is expected to arrive next month.“These vaccines may not be perfect in being able to prevent absolutely every infection with these illnesses, but they turn a wild infection into a milder one,” said Dr. William Schaffner of Vanderbilt University and the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases.Some things to know:WHY DO I NEED ANOTHER COVID-19 SHOT?This year’s vaccine is updated to protect against newer versions of the constantly evolving coronavirus. Already there’s been a late summer jump in infections, hospitalizations and deaths. And so far the new vaccine recipe appears to be a good match to the variants currently circulating.Protection against COVID-19, whether from vaccination or from an earlier infection, wanes over time — and most Americans haven’t had a vaccine dose in about a year. Everyone 5 and older will need just one shot this fall even if they’ve never had a prior vaccination, while younger children may need additional doses depending on their vaccination and infection history.HOW HARD IS IT TO FIND COVID-19 SHOTS?The rollout's start has been messy. This time the government isn't buying and distributing shots for free. Now drugstores, doctors' offices and other providers had to place their own orders, and sometimes canceled appointments if supplies didn't arrive in time. Some people had to wait for their insurance companies to update the billing codes needed to cover them or risk paying out of pocket.Manufacturers Pfizer and Moderna have shipped millions of doses, and say there’s plenty of supply — and in recent days, more appointments have started opening, at least for people 12 and older. In a Wednesday meeting, insurance companies told HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra they've largely resolved the paperwork issues blocking some patients' vaccinations.The shots are supposed to be provided free in-network to the insured. For the uninsured or underinsured, CDC has opened what it's calling a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/programs/bridge/index.html">“bridge”</a>&nbsp;program to provide free shots at certain sites.WHY CAN’T PARENTS FIND COVID-19 SHOTS FOR YOUNGER KIDS?Adult doses got shipped first, CDC’s Cohen said. Doses for the under-12 set have begun shipping, and “the supply is filling out,” she said.Drugstore chain CVS said its doses for ages 5 and older began arriving last week, although supplies vary by location, while its MinuteClinic locations anticipate opening appointments for tots as young as 18 months in the coming days.As for pediatricians, they’ve had to guess how many doses to buy up-front while waiting to learn how much insurance companies would reimburse them for each shot, said Dr. Jesse Hackell of the American Academy of Pediatrics. He said early parent demand is heartening but that pediatricians expect to spend lots of time this fall explaining to hesitant families how important COVID-19 vaccination is even for healthy children.In Redmond, Washington, Ania Mitros got herself, her husband and her 13-year-old vaccinated pretty easily but despite calls to multiple pharmacies and clinics can't find anyone to tell her when shots for her 8- and 11-year-old will be available. “There need to be clear expectations,” she said.WHAT ABOUT FLU VACCINE?Fewer Americans got a flu vaccine last year than before the coronavirus pandemic –- a discouraging gap that CDC hopes to reverse.People need a flu vaccine every fall because influenza also mutates each year. Like with COVID-19, flu is most dangerous to older adults, the very young and people with weak immune systems, lung, heart or other chronic health problems, or who are pregnant.There are multiple kinds of flu vaccines, including a nasal spray version for certain younger people. More important, three kinds are specifically recommended for seniors because they do a better job revving up an older adult’s immune system.CAN I GET A FLU SHOT AND COVID-19 SHOT AT THE SAME TIME?Yes, although one in each arm might be more comfortable.WHO NEEDS THE NEW RSV VACCINE?RSV is a cold-like nuisance for most people, and not as well-known as the flu. But RSV packs hospitals every winter and kills several hundred tots and thousands of seniors. The CDC says already, RSV cases are rising in the Southeast.RSV vaccines from GSK and Pfizer are approved for adults 60 and older.Drugstores have adequate supplies but some seniors are reporting hurdles such as requirements to get a prescription. That’s because the CDC recommended that seniors talk with their doctors about the new vaccine. Cohen said it was meant just for education about a virus that people may not know much about.“We want folks to ... get access to the vaccine as quickly as possible,” she said.WHAT ABOUT BABIES AND RSV?The FDA also has approved Pfizer’s RSV vaccine to be given late in pregnancy so moms-to-be pass virus-fighting antibodies to their fetuses, offering some protection at birth. The CDC is recommending that pregnancy vaccinations be offered between September and January, when RSV tends to be most common.There's no vaccine for children but babies whose mothers didn't get vaccinated in pregnancy may get&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rsv-babies-drug-cdc-astrazeneca-sanofi-shot-c03b72aaa51e59176cfa3feb3ceac06c">an injection of lab-made antibodies</a>&nbsp;to guard against RSV. Called Beyfortus, the one-dose shot from Sanofi and AstraZeneca is different than a vaccine, which teaches the body to make its own infection-fighting antibodies, but is similarly protective. Cohen said it should be available in October.___