Gerald J. “Jerry” Von&nbsp;Feldt, age 83, passed away Tuesday, January 24, 2023,&nbsp;at Hays Medical Center Hays, Kansas.

He was born August 3, 1939,&nbsp;on the family farm south of Victoria, Kansas&nbsp;to John J. and Irene (Herl) Von&nbsp;Feldt. &nbsp;He married Harriett&nbsp;(VonLintel) on October 17, 1959, at&nbsp;Victoria,&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Kansas.

He was a full-time farmer since 1959 until he retired in 2006. &nbsp;In his early years Jerry worked at Rome Furniture Store, Schmidtberger Construction both of Victoria, and was a substitute mail carrier. &nbsp;He was a member of The Basilica of Saint Fidelis,&nbsp;and&nbsp;St.&nbsp;Fidelis Knights of Columbus. &nbsp;He was a former member of the St. Fidelis Church Committee, Victoria City Council, and Victoria Volunteer Fire Department.&nbsp;

He loved to watch his kids and grandkids participate in sports, and activities. Beside his wife, his family was the love of his life.&nbsp;

Survivors include his wife, Harriett, of the home; his children, Gerald Von&nbsp;Feldt&nbsp;Jr.&nbsp;and wife, Anita,&nbsp;Frisco,&nbsp;TX; Beverly Scheck and husband, Tim,&nbsp;Prosper, TX;&nbsp;Sherry Sanders and husband, Ivan, Hays, KS; Dale Von&nbsp;Feldt and wife, Judy,&nbsp;Olathe, KS;&nbsp;his brothers, Jim VonFeldt and wife Connie, Victoria, KS; John Von&nbsp;Feldt Jr. and wife, Lita, Victoria, KS; his sisters, Darlene Weigel,&nbsp;Hays, KS;&nbsp;Diane Ruder and husband, Jerry, Hays, KS;&nbsp;his grandchildren, Joseph Sanders; Jacob Sanders (Jordyn); Jay Sander (Sophia); Jarrett Sanders (Megan); Sarah Keckonen (Andrew); Kelsei Graham (Jason); Tyler Scheck (Natalie); Tara Lester (Brody);Kiel Von Feldt (Abi); Hunter Von Feldt&nbsp;(Dallas); Nicholas Von Feldt; Brianna Freeman( Dakota); Bailey Von Feldt;&nbsp;his 25 great grandchildren; and three great grandchildren on the way.

Jerry was preceded in death by his parents; and his twins infant great granddaughters, Tamika&nbsp;and Camille Sanders.&nbsp;

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 A.M. Saturday, January 28, 2023, at The Basilica of Saint Fidelis, Victoria, Kansas with Father James Moster O.F.M. Cap. officiating.&nbsp;

Burial will be in Saint Fidelis Cemetery, Victoria, Kansas.

A vigil service and Knights of Columbus rosary will be at 6:30 P.M. Friday, at the Basilica of Saint Fidelis. &nbsp;

Visitation will be from 5:30 to 8:00 P.M. Friday, and from 9:00 to 10:00 A.M. Saturday, at The Basilica of Saint Fidelis.

The family suggests memorials made payable to: The Basilica of Saint Fidelis in care of&nbsp;the mortuary.

Services are entrusted to&nbsp;Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary, 412 Main Street, Victoria, Kansas 67671.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Condolences can be sent via e-mail to&nbsp;<a href="mailto:clinesmortuary@eaglecom.net">clinesmortuary@eaglecom.net</a>&nbsp;or can be left at guestbook at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com/">www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com</a>&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1674682162504.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Gerald J. “Jerry” Von&nbsp;Feldt, age 83, passed away Tuesday, January 24, 2023,&nbsp;at Hays Medical Center Hays, Kansas.He was born August 3, 1939,&nbsp;on the family farm south of Victoria, Kansas&nbsp;to John J. and Irene (Herl) Von&nbsp;Feldt. &nbsp;He married Harriett&nbsp;(VonLintel) on October 17, 1959, at&nbsp;Victoria,&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Kansas.He was a full-time farmer since 1959 until he retired in 2006. &nbsp;In his early years Jerry worked at Rome Furniture Store, Schmidtberger Construction both of Victoria, and was a substitute mail carrier. &nbsp;He was a member of The Basilica of Saint Fidelis,&nbsp;and&nbsp;St.&nbsp;Fidelis Knights of Columbus. &nbsp;He was a former member of the St. Fidelis Church Committee, Victoria City Council, and Victoria Volunteer Fire Department.&nbsp;He loved to watch his kids and grandkids participate in sports, and activities. Beside his wife, his family was the love of his life.&nbsp;Survivors include his wife, Harriett, of the home; his children, Gerald Von&nbsp;Feldt&nbsp;Jr.&nbsp;and wife, Anita,&nbsp;Frisco,&nbsp;TX; Beverly Scheck and husband, Tim,&nbsp;Prosper, TX;&nbsp;Sherry Sanders and husband, Ivan, Hays, KS; Dale Von&nbsp;Feldt and wife, Judy,&nbsp;Olathe, KS;&nbsp;his brothers, Jim VonFeldt and wife Connie, Victoria, KS; John Von&nbsp;Feldt Jr. and wife, Lita, Victoria, KS; his sisters, Darlene Weigel,&nbsp;Hays, KS;&nbsp;Diane Ruder and husband, Jerry, Hays, KS;&nbsp;his grandchildren, Joseph Sanders; Jacob Sanders (Jordyn); Jay Sander (Sophia); Jarrett Sanders (Megan); Sarah Keckonen (Andrew); Kelsei Graham (Jason); Tyler Scheck (Natalie); Tara Lester (Brody);Kiel Von Feldt (Abi); Hunter Von Feldt&nbsp;(Dallas); Nicholas Von Feldt; Brianna Freeman( Dakota); Bailey Von Feldt;&nbsp;his 25 great grandchildren; and three great grandchildren on the way.Jerry was preceded in death by his parents; and his twins infant great granddaughters, Tamika&nbsp;and Camille Sanders.&nbsp;Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 A.M. Saturday, January 28, 2023, at The Basilica of Saint Fidelis, Victoria, Kansas with Father James Moster O.F.M. Cap. officiating.&nbsp;Burial will be in Saint Fidelis Cemetery, Victoria, Kansas.A vigil service and Knights of Columbus rosary will be at 6:30 P.M. Friday, at the Basilica of Saint Fidelis. &nbsp;Visitation will be from 5:30 to 8:00 P.M. Friday, and from 9:00 to 10:00 A.M. Saturday, at The Basilica of Saint Fidelis.The family suggests memorials made payable to: The Basilica of Saint Fidelis in care of&nbsp;the mortuary.Services are entrusted to&nbsp;Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary, 412 Main Street, Victoria, Kansas 67671.&nbsp;&nbsp;Condolences can be sent via e-mail to&nbsp;<a href="mailto:clinesmortuary@eaglecom.net">clinesmortuary@eaglecom.net</a>&nbsp;or can be left at guestbook at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com/">www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com</a>&nbsp;

Gerald J. 'Jerry' Von Feldt

HUTCHINSON, Kan. —&nbsp;<a href="http://www.hutchinsonfox.com/home" target="_blank">Hutchinson’s Historic Fox Theatre</a> announced on Jan. 24, seminal six-time Platinum rockers Blues Traveler will be in Hutchinson for their 2023 tour on April 25. &nbsp;

Hot
 off the heels of their successful 2022 35th Anniversary Tour, Blue 
Traveller&nbsp;announced a series of 2023 shows to coincide with the 
impending release of their Live and Acoustic: Fall of 1997 limited 
edition, double EP in spring 2023. &nbsp;

The spring tour will kick off
 at the Fox Theatre in Hutchinson and run through the end of May, 
culminating at the Flying Monkey on Wednesday, May 24 in Plymouth, New 
Hampshire. &nbsp;

During the shows, the band will perform a large 
catalogue of songs spanning more than three decades and 14 hit albums. 
These include&nbsp;the iconic four, which went six-times Platinum and spawned
 the definitive “Run-Around,” which garnered the band’s first Grammy® 
Award.&nbsp;

Audiences can also expect to hear the band’s 
Billboard-topping smash singles like “Hook” and “But Anyway,” as well as
 their new, jam-infused renditions of some of their favorite classic 
blues songs, originally recorded by artists such as Aretha Franklin, 
Freddie King, Big Mama Thornton, and Little Willie John.&nbsp;

Blues 
Traveler will also be promoting their forthcoming spring 2023 release of
 Live and Acoustic: Fall of 1997, which is a selection of highlights 
from the ensemble’s legendary tour, 25 years ago. &nbsp;

The 25th 
anniversary limited edition double LP will include unreleased, 
remastered material from the initial two-track soundboard recordings. &nbsp;

Among
 the tracks on the upcoming drop are fan favorites and some of the 
band’s best-known material like “Run-Around,” “But Anyway” and “The 
Mountains Win Again,” interspersed with several deep cuts.&nbsp;

The 
tour that spawned the album came after the success of Blues Traveler’s 
October 1997 performance at Neil Young’s Bridge School benefit, where 
the band delivered two entirely acoustic shows. Inspired by the magic 
they created, the group integrated mini acoustic sets between their 
first and second electric frames during their 1997 Fall tour.&nbsp;

“This
 EXCLUSIVE limited-edition double LP is a selection of many of the 
highlights from our legendary 1997 fall tour that produced the only 
acoustic sets that the original line up of Blues Traveler, including our
 beloved friend and bassist, Bobby Sheehan ever played on tour,” Chan 
Kinchla, guitarist, said. “These previously unheard and uncirculated 
tracks are remastered from the original 2-track soundboard recordings 
for the ultimate Blues Traveler live and acoustic experience.”&nbsp;

Live
 and Acoustic: Fall of 1997 captures moments from the band’s historic 
acoustic performances, with the release doubling as a 25th anniversary 
celebration of the ensemble’s late 90s live delivery. &nbsp;

The forthcoming LP is available on limited edition colored vinyl via Experience Vinyl at <a href="https://experiencevinyl.com/" target="_blank">experiencevinyl.com</a>.&nbsp;

Tickets
 for Blues Traveler’s Fox Theatre performance on Tuesday, April 25, will
 go on sale for current Fox members and season subscribers on Thursday, 
Jan. 26 at 9 a.m. Then all tickets will go on sale Friday, Jan. 27 at 9 
a.m.&nbsp;

Tickets are available online at <a href="http://www.hutchinsonfox.com/" target="_blank">hutchinsonfox.com</a>, by phone at 877-FOX-SHOW, or at the Fox Theatre Box Office located&nbsp;18 East 1st Ave. &nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671835265952.jpeg" alt="Blues Traveler will kick off their spring tour at the Fox Theatre in April. [Photo: Judd Weil] " />
 <figcaption>Blues Traveler will kick off their spring tour at the Fox Theatre in April. [Photo: Judd Weil] </figcaption>
 </figure>HUTCHINSON, Kan. —&nbsp;<a href="http://www.hutchinsonfox.com/home" target="_blank">Hutchinson’s Historic Fox Theatre</a> announced on Jan. 24, seminal six-time Platinum rockers Blues Traveler will be in Hutchinson for their 2023 tour on April 25. &nbsp;Hot
 off the heels of their successful 2022 35th Anniversary Tour, Blue 
Traveller&nbsp;announced a series of 2023 shows to coincide with the 
impending release of their Live and Acoustic: Fall of 1997 limited 
edition, double EP in spring 2023. &nbsp;The spring tour will kick off
 at the Fox Theatre in Hutchinson and run through the end of May, 
culminating at the Flying Monkey on Wednesday, May 24 in Plymouth, New 
Hampshire. &nbsp;During the shows, the band will perform a large 
catalogue of songs spanning more than three decades and 14 hit albums. 
These include&nbsp;the iconic four, which went six-times Platinum and spawned
 the definitive “Run-Around,” which garnered the band’s first Grammy® 
Award.&nbsp;Audiences can also expect to hear the band’s 
Billboard-topping smash singles like “Hook” and “But Anyway,” as well as
 their new, jam-infused renditions of some of their favorite classic 
blues songs, originally recorded by artists such as Aretha Franklin, 
Freddie King, Big Mama Thornton, and Little Willie John.&nbsp;Blues 
Traveler will also be promoting their forthcoming spring 2023 release of
 Live and Acoustic: Fall of 1997, which is a selection of highlights 
from the ensemble’s legendary tour, 25 years ago. &nbsp;The 25th 
anniversary limited edition double LP will include unreleased, 
remastered material from the initial two-track soundboard recordings. &nbsp;Among
 the tracks on the upcoming drop are fan favorites and some of the 
band’s best-known material like “Run-Around,” “But Anyway” and “The 
Mountains Win Again,” interspersed with several deep cuts.&nbsp;The 
tour that spawned the album came after the success of Blues Traveler’s 
October 1997 performance at Neil Young’s Bridge School benefit, where 
the band delivered two entirely acoustic shows. Inspired by the magic 
they created, the group integrated mini acoustic sets between their 
first and second electric frames during their 1997 Fall tour.&nbsp;“This
 EXCLUSIVE limited-edition double LP is a selection of many of the 
highlights from our legendary 1997 fall tour that produced the only 
acoustic sets that the original line up of Blues Traveler, including our
 beloved friend and bassist, Bobby Sheehan ever played on tour,” Chan 
Kinchla, guitarist, said. “These previously unheard and uncirculated 
tracks are remastered from the original 2-track soundboard recordings 
for the ultimate Blues Traveler live and acoustic experience.”&nbsp;Live
 and Acoustic: Fall of 1997 captures moments from the band’s historic 
acoustic performances, with the release doubling as a 25th anniversary 
celebration of the ensemble’s late 90s live delivery. &nbsp;The forthcoming LP is available on limited edition colored vinyl via Experience Vinyl at <a href="https://experiencevinyl.com/" target="_blank">experiencevinyl.com</a>.&nbsp;Tickets
 for Blues Traveler’s Fox Theatre performance on Tuesday, April 25, will
 go on sale for current Fox members and season subscribers on Thursday, 
Jan. 26 at 9 a.m. Then all tickets will go on sale Friday, Jan. 27 at 9 
a.m.&nbsp;Tickets are available online at <a href="http://www.hutchinsonfox.com/" target="_blank">hutchinsonfox.com</a>, by phone at 877-FOX-SHOW, or at the Fox Theatre Box Office located&nbsp;18 East 1st Ave. &nbsp;

Blues Traveler announces date in Hutchinson

<a href="https://crick-christiansfuneralhome.com/tribute/details/1043/Joan-Gillberg/obituary.html#tribute-start">https://crick-christiansfuneralhome.com/tribute/details/1043/Joan-Gillberg/obituary.html#tribute-start</a>

Roseline J. "Joan" Gillberg, 94, formerly of Lindsborg, died Saturday, January 21, 2023 at Brookdale of McPherson, Ks.    Joan was born October 7, 1928 in McPherson, KS to the late Harold A. and the late Beulah N. (Cooper) Malm.  

     Joan graduated high school and then married Dwight Irwin Gillberg, on July 17, 1949 in Lindsborg, Kansas. 

Joan was a dedicated wife, mother, and homemaker.  She was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church, Lindsborg.

     Survivors include her children Joyce Huber (Jim) of Lindsborg, KS Dennis Gillberg (Janice) of Salina, KS; Reva Jean Purcell (Larry) of McPherson, Ks; Rebecca Vanderhoof (Dale) of Larned, KS; and Ellen Peck (Gordon) of McPherson, KS; nine grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and two great-great grandchildren; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family members.

     Joan is preceded in death by her parents; husband Dwight; brother Dean Malm; and grandson Nathaniel Huber.

     Visitation with the family will be Thursday, January 26 from 5 p.m.- 7 p.m. at Crick-Christians Funeral Home, 103 N. Washington, Lindsborg.

     A memorial service will be held 10:30 a.m. on Friday, January 27 at Trinity United Methodist Church, Lindsborg, KS. Private family interment of the urn will take place at Bridgeport Cemetery.

     Memorials may be made to TACOL or Gentiva Hospice. Memorials may be sent in care of Crick-Christians Funeral Home, 103 N. Washington, Lindsborg, KS 67456.

<h2>Joan Gillberg, formerly of Lindsborg</h2><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1674656370953.jpeg" alt="Joan Gillberg" />
 <figcaption>Joan Gillberg</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://crick-christiansfuneralhome.com/tribute/details/1043/Joan-Gillberg/obituary.html#tribute-start">https://crick-christiansfuneralhome.com/tribute/details/1043/Joan-Gillberg/obituary.html#tribute-start</a>October 7, 1928 - January 21, 2023Roseline J. "Joan" Gillberg, 94, formerly of Lindsborg, died Saturday, January 21, 2023 at Brookdale of McPherson, Ks. Joan was born October 7, 1928 in McPherson, KS to the late Harold A. and the late Beulah N. (Cooper) Malm. Joan graduated high school and then married Dwight Irwin Gillberg, on July 17, 1949 in Lindsborg, Kansas. Joan was a dedicated wife, mother, and homemaker. She was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church, Lindsborg. Survivors include her children Joyce Huber (Jim) of Lindsborg, KS Dennis Gillberg (Janice) of Salina, KS; Reva Jean Purcell (Larry) of McPherson, Ks; Rebecca Vanderhoof (Dale) of Larned, KS; and Ellen Peck (Gordon) of McPherson, KS; nine grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and two great-great grandchildren; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family members. Joan is preceded in death by her parents; husband Dwight; brother Dean Malm; and grandson Nathaniel Huber. Visitation with the family will be Thursday, January 26 from 5 p.m.- 7 p.m. at Crick-Christians Funeral Home, 103 N. Washington, Lindsborg. A memorial service will be held 10:30 a.m. on Friday, January 27 at Trinity United Methodist Church, Lindsborg, KS. Private family interment of the urn will take place at Bridgeport Cemetery. Memorials may be made to TACOL or Gentiva Hospice. Memorials may be sent in care of Crick-Christians Funeral Home, 103 N. Washington, Lindsborg, KS 67456.

Joan Gillberg

Amber Marie Heigert, 41, of Paxico, Ks, passed away at her home 
following a brief battle with cancer on Saturday January 21, 2023, 
surrounded by her family.

Amber was born October 10, 1981, in 
Manhattan, KS to Daniel and Penny Zeller. She attended schools in 
Paxico, Baileyville, and Seneca, KS. She graduated from Nemaha Valley 
High School in 2000. Following graduation, she attended Cloud County 
Community College.

The 1998 county fair is where Amber met the 
love of her life, Anthony Heigert. They were united in marriage on 
August 11, 2007. Two children, Henry and Madelyn, were born to this 
union.

In 2000 Anthony and Amber purchased their family farm. 
Amber spent her days doing exactly what she loved, raising her two 
children. Her children brought so much joy to her life, she was always 
there at their class parties, sporting events and school plays. She 
always had the biggest smile when talking about her children's 
achievements. Amber also was a substitute rural mail carrier for 10 
years while also helping run the family beef cattle operation.

Amber
 loved cooking and baking; her husband says her favorite hobby was 
grocery shopping. Amber loved to host her friends and family at her 
home. She enjoyed the outdoors. Any given day you could find Amber in 
the cattle barn, petting the baby calves, spending time going on gator 
rides, camping, and playing cards with her family.

Amber was 
preceded in death by her mother, Penny Lee Hasenkamp on November 19, 
2021; grandparents: Glen Hasenkamp (2021), Anna Gehrt (2021) Shirley 
Hasenkamp (2022), William and Anita Evans, Donald and Edna Zeller; and 
her uncle and aunt, Robert and Sharlot Barr.

Amber is survived by 
her husband Anthony, her children Henry (19), Madelyn (17) and her fur 
baby Bruno of the home; her father Daniel (Lisa) Zeller Paxico, KS; dad 
Glen Lee Hasenkamp, Seneca, KS; her sister Amy (Keiron) Butler, 
Hartselle, Al, her brother Andrew (Shawn) Zeller, St. George, KS; her 
in-laws, Thomas and Joyce Heigert, Paxico, KS; sisters-in-law Michelle 
(David) Stuhlsatz, Paxico, KS, Lisa (Kieth) Boetel, Omaha, NE, Lori 
Dickman, Hays, KS, brother-in-law Michael (Heather) Heigert, Manhattan, 
KS; 27 nieces and nephews and one great niece; and her dear friends the 
Spellman’s, the Morrill’s, Janice Stevens, and Richard Kolde.

Visitation
 and Funeral services will be held At Immanuel Faith Community Church 
(25043 Wells Creek Rd, Belvue, Ks). The Visitation will be Friday, January
 27, from 5:00-7:00 p.m.&nbsp; Funeral services will be held Saturday, January 28, at 10:30 a.m. with the procession following to the burial site on the
 family farm. There will be a meal at the Immanuel Faith Community 
Church following the burial.

Memorial Contributions are suggested 
to the Amber Heigert Memorial Fund. Contributions may be sent in care of
 the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Avenue, 
Manhattan, Kansas 66502.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1674590865620.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Amber Marie Heigert, 41, of Paxico, Ks, passed away at her home 
following a brief battle with cancer on Saturday January 21, 2023, 
surrounded by her family.Amber was born October 10, 1981, in 
Manhattan, KS to Daniel and Penny Zeller. She attended schools in 
Paxico, Baileyville, and Seneca, KS. She graduated from Nemaha Valley 
High School in 2000. Following graduation, she attended Cloud County 
Community College.The 1998 county fair is where Amber met the 
love of her life, Anthony Heigert. They were united in marriage on 
August 11, 2007. Two children, Henry and Madelyn, were born to this 
union.In 2000 Anthony and Amber purchased their family farm. 
Amber spent her days doing exactly what she loved, raising her two 
children. Her children brought so much joy to her life, she was always 
there at their class parties, sporting events and school plays. She 
always had the biggest smile when talking about her children's 
achievements. Amber also was a substitute rural mail carrier for 10 
years while also helping run the family beef cattle operation.Amber
 loved cooking and baking; her husband says her favorite hobby was 
grocery shopping. Amber loved to host her friends and family at her 
home. She enjoyed the outdoors. Any given day you could find Amber in 
the cattle barn, petting the baby calves, spending time going on gator 
rides, camping, and playing cards with her family.Amber was 
preceded in death by her mother, Penny Lee Hasenkamp on November 19, 
2021; grandparents: Glen Hasenkamp (2021), Anna Gehrt (2021) Shirley 
Hasenkamp (2022), William and Anita Evans, Donald and Edna Zeller; and 
her uncle and aunt, Robert and Sharlot Barr.Amber is survived by 
her husband Anthony, her children Henry (19), Madelyn (17) and her fur 
baby Bruno of the home; her father Daniel (Lisa) Zeller Paxico, KS; dad 
Glen Lee Hasenkamp, Seneca, KS; her sister Amy (Keiron) Butler, 
Hartselle, Al, her brother Andrew (Shawn) Zeller, St. George, KS; her 
in-laws, Thomas and Joyce Heigert, Paxico, KS; sisters-in-law Michelle 
(David) Stuhlsatz, Paxico, KS, Lisa (Kieth) Boetel, Omaha, NE, Lori 
Dickman, Hays, KS, brother-in-law Michael (Heather) Heigert, Manhattan, 
KS; 27 nieces and nephews and one great niece; and her dear friends the 
Spellman’s, the Morrill’s, Janice Stevens, and Richard Kolde.Visitation
 and Funeral services will be held At Immanuel Faith Community Church 
(25043 Wells Creek Rd, Belvue, Ks). The Visitation will be Friday, January
 27, from 5:00-7:00 p.m.&nbsp; Funeral services will be held Saturday, January 28, at 10:30 a.m. with the procession following to the burial site on the
 family farm. There will be a meal at the Immanuel Faith Community 
Church following the burial.Memorial Contributions are suggested 
to the Amber Heigert Memorial Fund. Contributions may be sent in care of
 the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Avenue, 
Manhattan, Kansas 66502.

Amber Marie Heigert

NEW YORK (AP) — Documents with classified markings were discovered in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/michael-pence">former Vice President Mike Pence</a>&nbsp;'s Indiana residence last week, his lawyer says, the latest in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-politics-united-states-government-us-federal-bureau-of-investigation-donald-trump-ba4bfb9855f01ca2a66e732025b34973">a string of recoveries</a>&nbsp;of papers meant to be treated with utmost sensitivity from the homes of current and former top U.S. officials.

“A small number of documents,” taken into FBI custody last Thursday, “were inadvertently boxed and transported" to the former vice president's home at the end of the last administration, Pence's lawyer, Greg Jacob, wrote in a letter to the National Archives shared with The Associated Press.

He said that Pence had been “unaware of the existence of sensitive or classified documents at his personal residence” until a search last week and that he “understands the high importance of protecting sensitive and classified information” and stands ready to cooperate with "any appropriate inquiry.”

The revelation came as the Department of Justice was already investigating the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-politics-delaware-0827b59ee141b33af95023377713e075">discovery of documents with classification markings</a>&nbsp;in President Joe Biden's home in Delaware and his former Washington office, as well as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-mar-a-lago-government-and-politics-9e8d683afe87389407950af7ccfdbdd6">former President Donald Trump's Florida estate</a>. Democrat Biden has indicated he will seek reelection, Republican Trump is already a declared candidate, and Pence has been exploring a possible 2024 campaign that would put him in direct competition against Trump, his former boss.

The newest discovery thrusts Pence, who had previously insisted that he followed stringent protocols regarding classified documents, into the debate over the handling of secret materials by officials who have served in the highest ranks of government.

Trump is currently under criminal investigation after roughly 300 documents with classified markings, including at the top secret level, were discovered at his Mar-a-Lago. Officials are trying to determine whether Trump or anyone else should be charged with illegal possession of those records or with trying to obstruct the months-long criminal investigation. Biden is also subject to a special counsel investigation after classified documents from his time as a senator and in the Obama administration were found at his properties.

Trump, who denies any wrongdoing, reacted to the new development on his social media site: “Mike Pence is an innocent man. He never did anything knowingly dishonest in his life. Leave him alone!!!” Trump and Pence have clashed over Pence's refusal to go along with Trump's efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

While a very different case, the Pence development could bolster the arguments of Trump and Biden, who have sought to downplay the significance of the discoveries at their homes. The presence of secret documents at all three men's residences further underscores&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-politics-us-national-security-council-donald-trump-united-states-government-e8c56297702daf253b9e0fcb45e17b6c">the federal government’s unwieldy system</a>&nbsp;for storing and protecting the millions of classified documents it produces every year.

Pence’s lawyer, Jacob, said in his letter that the former vice president had “engaged outside counsel, with experience in handling classified documents" to review records stored at his home on Jan. 16 “out of an abundance of caution” amid the uproar over the discovery of documents at Biden's home.

Jacob said the Pence documents with classification markings were immediately secured in a locked safe. FBI agents visited the residence the night of Jan. 19 at 9:30 p.m. to collect the documents that had been secured, according to a follow-up letter from the lawyer dated Jan. 22. Pence was in Washington for an event at the time.

A total of four boxes containing copies of administration papers —- two in which “a small number” of papers bearing classified markings were found, and two containing “courtesy copies of vice presidential papers” — were discovered, according to the letter. Arrangements were made to deliver those boxes to the National Archives Monday.

Congressional leaders were notified of the discovery by Pence's team on Tuesday.

The boxes, according to a Pence aide, were not kept in a secure location, but were taped shut and were not believed to have been opened since they were packed. The former vice president's staff also searched the Washington office of his advocacy group last week and did not discover additional documents, according to the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the search.

Material found in the boxes came mostly from Pence's Naval Observatory vice presidential residence, the packing of which would not have been handled by the vice president's office or its lawyers. Other material came from a West Wing office drawer, the person said.

The National Archives declined to comment on the discovery. A Justice Department spokesman also declined to comment, and a lawyer for Pence did not immediately respond to an email seeking elaboration.

Pence&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-mar-a-lago-iowa-classified-information-merrick-garland-94814cb950a2a9f89dc0c54aec46ce7c">told the Associated Press in August</a>&nbsp;that he did not take any classified information with him when he left office.

Asked directly if he had retained any such information, he said, “No, not to my knowledge.”

In an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.foxbusiness.com/media/mike-pence-troubled-reports-bidens-alleged-mishandling-of-classified-docs-known-before-election">interview this month with Fox Business</a>, Pence described a “very formal process” used by his office to handle classified information as well as the steps taken by his lawyers to ensure none was taken with him.

“Before we left the White House, the attorneys on my staff went through all the documents at both the White House and our offices there and at the vice president’s residence to ensure that any documents that needed to be turned over to the National Archives, including classified documents, were turned over. So we went through a very careful process in that regard," Pence said.

On Capitol Hill, members of the Senate intelligence committee expressed incredulity over the mishandling of documents by top U.S. officials.

Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas noted that classified documents are only moved out of the committee’s offices in locked bags.

“In my book, it’s never permissible to take classified documents outside of a secure facility" except by a secure means of transport between such facilities, he said.

House Intelligence Chairman Mike Turner, a Republican, said he planned to request a formal intelligence review and damage assessment.

And Republican Sen. Rick Scott of Florida, another potential 2024 candidate, said, “I don’t know how anybody ends up with classified documents. ... I mean, every classified document I’ve ever seen has a big ‘Classified’ on it."

Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and a senior member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, pointed to broader concerns with the classification system, complaining that it “is at the point where there is so much out there it is hard to determine what ought to be classified, and then it is hard to determine what should be declassified.”

Meanwhile, some Republicans pressed for a search of former President Barack Obama's personal records.

An Obama spokesperson referred to a 2022 statement from the National Archives that said the agency took control of all of his records after he left office and “is not aware of any missing boxes of presidential records from the Obama administration."

Representatives of former presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton and former Vice President Dick Cheney said all of their classified records had been turned over to NARA upon leaving the White House.

Mike Pompeo, who served as Trump's secretary of state and is mulling his own 2024 GOP presidential bid, told the AP in August that he had not taken any any classified material with him after leaving the administration.

But he told Fox News channel Tuesday, “When you’re in the executive branch, you have these documents in your home. One can imagine a note getting someplace, getting stuck. I suspect that may be what happened."

NEW YORK (AP) — Documents with classified markings were discovered in former Vice President Mike Pence's Indiana home last week, his lawyer told the National Archives in a letter — the latest in a string of discoveries of confidential information in private residences.

The records "appear to be a small number of documents bearing classified markings that were inadvertently boxed and transported to the personal home of the former vice president at the end of the last administration," Pence's lawyer, Greg Jacob, wrote in the letter shared with The Associated Press.

He said that Pence “engaged outside counsel, with experience in handling classified documents, to review records stored in his personal home after it became public that documents with classified markings were found in President Joe Biden's Wilmington residence.

The Justice Department already is using special counsels to investigate the presence of documents with classification markings taken from the Florida estate of former President Donald Trump and from Biden’s home and former Washington office. The department says roughly 300 documents marked classified, including at the top-secret level, were taken from Mar-a-Lago, and officials are trying to determine whether Trump or anyone else should be charged with illegal possession of those records or with trying to obstruct the months-long criminal investigation.

Pence's lawyer said in his letter that the former vice president “was unaware of the existence of sensitive or classified documents at his personal residence” and "understands the high importance of protecting sensitive and classified information and stands ready and willing to cooperate fully with the National Archives and any appropriate inquiry.”

Jacob said that Pence immediately secured the documents that were discovered in a locked safe. And according to a follow-up letter from the lawyer dated Jan. 22, FBI agents visited Pence's residence to collect the documents.

A Justice Department spokesman declined to comment Tuesday, and a lawyer for Pence did not immediately respond to an email seeking elaboration.

In a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.foxbusiness.com/media/mike-pence-troubled-reports-bidens-alleged-mishandling-of-classified-docs-known-before-election">January interview with Fox Business</a>, Pence described a “very formal process” used by his office to handle classified information as well as the steps taken by his lawyers to ensure none was taken with him.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668696327219.png" alt="In October, former Vice President Mike Pence made a campaign appearance in Wichita for Derek Schmidt." />
 <figcaption>In October, former Vice President Mike Pence made a campaign appearance in Wichita for Derek Schmidt.</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — Documents with classified markings were discovered in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/michael-pence">former Vice President Mike Pence</a>&nbsp;'s Indiana residence last week, his lawyer says, the latest in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-politics-united-states-government-us-federal-bureau-of-investigation-donald-trump-ba4bfb9855f01ca2a66e732025b34973">a string of recoveries</a>&nbsp;of papers meant to be treated with utmost sensitivity from the homes of current and former top U.S. officials.“A small number of documents,” taken into FBI custody last Thursday, “were inadvertently boxed and transported" to the former vice president's home at the end of the last administration, Pence's lawyer, Greg Jacob, wrote in a letter to the National Archives shared with The Associated Press.He said that Pence had been “unaware of the existence of sensitive or classified documents at his personal residence” until a search last week and that he “understands the high importance of protecting sensitive and classified information” and stands ready to cooperate with "any appropriate inquiry.”The revelation came as the Department of Justice was already investigating the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-politics-delaware-0827b59ee141b33af95023377713e075">discovery of documents with classification markings</a>&nbsp;in President Joe Biden's home in Delaware and his former Washington office, as well as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-mar-a-lago-government-and-politics-9e8d683afe87389407950af7ccfdbdd6">former President Donald Trump's Florida estate</a>. Democrat Biden has indicated he will seek reelection, Republican Trump is already a declared candidate, and Pence has been exploring a possible 2024 campaign that would put him in direct competition against Trump, his former boss.The newest discovery thrusts Pence, who had previously insisted that he followed stringent protocols regarding classified documents, into the debate over the handling of secret materials by officials who have served in the highest ranks of government.Trump is currently under criminal investigation after roughly 300 documents with classified markings, including at the top secret level, were discovered at his Mar-a-Lago. Officials are trying to determine whether Trump or anyone else should be charged with illegal possession of those records or with trying to obstruct the months-long criminal investigation. Biden is also subject to a special counsel investigation after classified documents from his time as a senator and in the Obama administration were found at his properties.Trump, who denies any wrongdoing, reacted to the new development on his social media site: “Mike Pence is an innocent man. He never did anything knowingly dishonest in his life. Leave him alone!!!” Trump and Pence have clashed over Pence's refusal to go along with Trump's efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election.While a very different case, the Pence development could bolster the arguments of Trump and Biden, who have sought to downplay the significance of the discoveries at their homes. The presence of secret documents at all three men's residences further underscores&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-politics-us-national-security-council-donald-trump-united-states-government-e8c56297702daf253b9e0fcb45e17b6c">the federal government’s unwieldy system</a>&nbsp;for storing and protecting the millions of classified documents it produces every year.Pence’s lawyer, Jacob, said in his letter that the former vice president had “engaged outside counsel, with experience in handling classified documents" to review records stored at his home on Jan. 16 “out of an abundance of caution” amid the uproar over the discovery of documents at Biden's home.Jacob said the Pence documents with classification markings were immediately secured in a locked safe. FBI agents visited the residence the night of Jan. 19 at 9:30 p.m. to collect the documents that had been secured, according to a follow-up letter from the lawyer dated Jan. 22. Pence was in Washington for an event at the time.A total of four boxes containing copies of administration papers —- two in which “a small number” of papers bearing classified markings were found, and two containing “courtesy copies of vice presidential papers” — were discovered, according to the letter. Arrangements were made to deliver those boxes to the National Archives Monday.Congressional leaders were notified of the discovery by Pence's team on Tuesday.The boxes, according to a Pence aide, were not kept in a secure location, but were taped shut and were not believed to have been opened since they were packed. The former vice president's staff also searched the Washington office of his advocacy group last week and did not discover additional documents, according to the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the search.Material found in the boxes came mostly from Pence's Naval Observatory vice presidential residence, the packing of which would not have been handled by the vice president's office or its lawyers. Other material came from a West Wing office drawer, the person said.The National Archives declined to comment on the discovery. A Justice Department spokesman also declined to comment, and a lawyer for Pence did not immediately respond to an email seeking elaboration.Pence&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-mar-a-lago-iowa-classified-information-merrick-garland-94814cb950a2a9f89dc0c54aec46ce7c">told the Associated Press in August</a>&nbsp;that he did not take any classified information with him when he left office.Asked directly if he had retained any such information, he said, “No, not to my knowledge.”In an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.foxbusiness.com/media/mike-pence-troubled-reports-bidens-alleged-mishandling-of-classified-docs-known-before-election">interview this month with Fox Business</a>, Pence described a “very formal process” used by his office to handle classified information as well as the steps taken by his lawyers to ensure none was taken with him.“Before we left the White House, the attorneys on my staff went through all the documents at both the White House and our offices there and at the vice president’s residence to ensure that any documents that needed to be turned over to the National Archives, including classified documents, were turned over. So we went through a very careful process in that regard," Pence said.On Capitol Hill, members of the Senate intelligence committee expressed incredulity over the mishandling of documents by top U.S. officials.Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas noted that classified documents are only moved out of the committee’s offices in locked bags.“In my book, it’s never permissible to take classified documents outside of a secure facility" except by a secure means of transport between such facilities, he said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668434923044.png" alt="In November, the former Vice President released his autobiography" />
 <figcaption>In November, the former Vice President released his autobiography</figcaption>
 </figure>House Intelligence Chairman Mike Turner, a Republican, said he planned to request a formal intelligence review and damage assessment.And Republican Sen. Rick Scott of Florida, another potential 2024 candidate, said, “I don’t know how anybody ends up with classified documents. ... I mean, every classified document I’ve ever seen has a big ‘Classified’ on it."Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and a senior member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, pointed to broader concerns with the classification system, complaining that it “is at the point where there is so much out there it is hard to determine what ought to be classified, and then it is hard to determine what should be declassified.”Meanwhile, some Republicans pressed for a search of former President Barack Obama's personal records.An Obama spokesperson referred to a 2022 statement from the National Archives that said the agency took control of all of his records after he left office and “is not aware of any missing boxes of presidential records from the Obama administration."Representatives of former presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton and former Vice President Dick Cheney said all of their classified records had been turned over to NARA upon leaving the White House.Mike Pompeo, who served as Trump's secretary of state and is mulling his own 2024 GOP presidential bid, told the AP in August that he had not taken any any classified material with him after leaving the administration.But he told Fox News channel Tuesday, “When you’re in the executive branch, you have these documents in your home. One can imagine a note getting someplace, getting stuck. I suspect that may be what happened."___NEW YORK (AP) — Documents with classified markings were discovered in former Vice President Mike Pence's Indiana home last week, his lawyer told the National Archives in a letter — the latest in a string of discoveries of confidential information in private residences.The records "appear to be a small number of documents bearing classified markings that were inadvertently boxed and transported to the personal home of the former vice president at the end of the last administration," Pence's lawyer, Greg Jacob, wrote in the letter shared with The Associated Press.He said that Pence “engaged outside counsel, with experience in handling classified documents, to review records stored in his personal home after it became public that documents with classified markings were found in President Joe Biden's Wilmington residence.The Justice Department already is using special counsels to investigate the presence of documents with classification markings taken from the Florida estate of former President Donald Trump and from Biden’s home and former Washington office. The department says roughly 300 documents marked classified, including at the top-secret level, were taken from Mar-a-Lago, and officials are trying to determine whether Trump or anyone else should be charged with illegal possession of those records or with trying to obstruct the months-long criminal investigation.Pence's lawyer said in his letter that the former vice president “was unaware of the existence of sensitive or classified documents at his personal residence” and "understands the high importance of protecting sensitive and classified information and stands ready and willing to cooperate fully with the National Archives and any appropriate inquiry.”Jacob said that Pence immediately secured the documents that were discovered in a locked safe. And according to a follow-up letter from the lawyer dated Jan. 22, FBI agents visited Pence's residence to collect the documents.A Justice Department spokesman declined to comment Tuesday, and a lawyer for Pence did not immediately respond to an email seeking elaboration.Pence&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-mar-a-lago-iowa-classified-information-merrick-garland-94814cb950a2a9f89dc0c54aec46ce7c">told the Associated Press in August</a>&nbsp;that he did not take any classified information with him when he left office.Asked directly if he had retained any such information, he said, “No, not to my knowledge.”In a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.foxbusiness.com/media/mike-pence-troubled-reports-bidens-alleged-mishandling-of-classified-docs-known-before-election">January interview with Fox Business</a>, Pence described a “very formal process” used by his office to handle classified information as well as the steps taken by his lawyers to ensure none was taken with him.“Before we left the White House, the attorneys on my staff went through all the documents at both the White House and our offices there and at the vice president’s residence to ensure that any documents that needed to be turned over to the National Archives, including classified documents, were turned over. So we went through a very careful process in that regard," Pence said.

Lawyer: Classified documents found at Mike Pence's home

Betty Ruth Tauscher, 92, passed away January 24, 2023, at Diversicare of Larned.

She was born October 14, 1930, in Beaver, Kansas, the daughter of Nick P. and Marie Hoeffner Meyeres.

A longtime area resident she was an administrative assistant at St. 
Joseph Memorial Hospital for twenty-four years. She was a member of 
Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Sacred Heart Altar Society, a Dominican 
Associate since 1994, communion minister, song leader, and communion 
minister to the homebound. She was also director of the Windchimes Vocal
 Group, secretary of the Welcome Inn Senior Center, and secretary of the
 diabetes support group.

Survivors include: three sons, Michael (Dyann) Tauscher, David (Rick)
 Tauscher, Overland Park, Rocky (Andrea) Tauscher, Larned; two daughters
 Cindy Tauscher, Garfield, and Barbara Sebo, Smithville, Missouri; 
brother, John (Ida) Meyeres, Bazine; two sisters, Florence (Tony) 
Malsom, Great Bend, Leona (Ed) Zorn, Colorado Springs, Colorado; four 
grandchildren, Erica Tauscher, Alec Tauscher, Zachary Sebo, Trevor Sebo;
 six great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by: her parents; son, Dennis Leon Tauscher;
 daughter, Christine Annette Tauscher; and brother, Norman Meyeres.

Funeral mass will be 10:00 a.m. Monday, January 30, 2023, at Sacred 
Heart Catholic Church with Father Bernard Felix presiding. Visitation 
will be 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Sunday, January 29, 2023, with a rosary 
and vigil at 7:00 p.m. at Beckwith Mortuary, Larned. Burial will be in 
the Larned Cemetery, Larned, Kansas.

Memorials may be given to Sacred Heart Catholic Church or the Welcome
 Inn Senior Center in care of Beckwith Mortuary, PO Box 477, Larned, 
Kansas 67550.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1674581707096.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Betty Ruth Tauscher, 92, passed away January 24, 2023, at Diversicare of Larned.She was born October 14, 1930, in Beaver, Kansas, the daughter of Nick P. and Marie Hoeffner Meyeres.A longtime area resident she was an administrative assistant at St. 
Joseph Memorial Hospital for twenty-four years. She was a member of 
Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Sacred Heart Altar Society, a Dominican 
Associate since 1994, communion minister, song leader, and communion 
minister to the homebound. She was also director of the Windchimes Vocal
 Group, secretary of the Welcome Inn Senior Center, and secretary of the
 diabetes support group.Survivors include: three sons, Michael (Dyann) Tauscher, David (Rick)
 Tauscher, Overland Park, Rocky (Andrea) Tauscher, Larned; two daughters
 Cindy Tauscher, Garfield, and Barbara Sebo, Smithville, Missouri; 
brother, John (Ida) Meyeres, Bazine; two sisters, Florence (Tony) 
Malsom, Great Bend, Leona (Ed) Zorn, Colorado Springs, Colorado; four 
grandchildren, Erica Tauscher, Alec Tauscher, Zachary Sebo, Trevor Sebo;
 six great grandchildren.She was preceded in death by: her parents; son, Dennis Leon Tauscher;
 daughter, Christine Annette Tauscher; and brother, Norman Meyeres.Funeral mass will be 10:00 a.m. Monday, January 30, 2023, at Sacred 
Heart Catholic Church with Father Bernard Felix presiding. Visitation 
will be 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Sunday, January 29, 2023, with a rosary 
and vigil at 7:00 p.m. at Beckwith Mortuary, Larned. Burial will be in 
the Larned Cemetery, Larned, Kansas.Memorials may be given to Sacred Heart Catholic Church or the Welcome
 Inn Senior Center in care of Beckwith Mortuary, PO Box 477, Larned, 
Kansas 67550.

Betty Ruth Tauscher

By BECKY KISER Hays Post

Following discussions at previous meetings, Hays USD 489 school board members Monday night unanimously approved a $1.35 million project for a full conversion of the Hays High School football field from grass to field turf, along with installation of a new digital lighting system.

The conversion will be done by Mammoth Construction, Meriden, through the Greenbush State Purchasing Cooperative.

Facility improvements will begin this spring at Hays High as part of the $1.43 million bond issue approved by school district patrons last year. The work will remove the school's current football practice field as well as soccer fields.

"We, of course, have a football playing facility across the parking lot," said Ron Wilson, superintendent. "It's not necessarily set up for soccer."&nbsp;

By converting it to a turf field, "we could utilize it for football practices and some varsity games, as well as soccer practices and soccer contests."

The new facility will also feature a field lighting system, which Hays High currently does not have.&nbsp;

Jeremy Capo of Mammoth Construction told the board the turf project has a full eight-year warranty. "Many of our systems stay in the ground 10-11 years," Capo said.

The district will also be purchasing the equipment needed for maintaining the turf surface weekly and as needed. The agreement calls for Mammoth to perform the maintenance and grooming the first two years as Hays workers are trained to take over after that.

The target date for completion is August 1, according to Wilson.

"There's a huge benefit in saving water for our community which values conservation," Wilson said.&nbsp;&nbsp;

"Basically, building an athletic complex with fields out there is the goal throughout this bond issue. It would be difficult for us to maintain grass fields for all these different sports.

"Turf is going to conserve water but it's also going to give us a surface we can pound the heck out of and not have to worry about bare spots."

Lease terms for the turf project will be approved at the next meeting.

Board members also unanimously approved a scope and sequence review of curriculum changes that will be implemented in the 2023-24 academic year.

No longer would every student be required to take chemistry. Instead, it will become one elective among additional course offerings in science and also in English language arts, giving students more choices of classes and in career pathways.

AP courses, found to be somewhat "limiting and binding," will change to Honors level classes.

Staff members proposed all the new electives and are already qualified to teach those classes. There is no additional financial cost in adding the courses.

"I really like the flexibility and the wide range that is presented within this curriculum, allowing the students to make their own decisions and express their interests, instead of us always telling them what they have to do all the time," said Lori Hertel, board member.&nbsp;

"To have the teachers wanting to do something different because they see it's going to help the kids go in different directions is so very positive," said board president Craig Pallister, who praised the administration and curriculum committee for their work. "The teachers are the experts. They know where they need to be going at this level."

The first reading of an update to the West Central Kansas Special Education Cooperative was reviewed by Kyle Carlin, director of special education.&nbsp;

The WCKSEC cooperative agreement is being updated to include Russell USD 407 for the 2024-25 school year.&nbsp;

As recommended by the Kansas State Department of Education, the cooperative agreement will reflect required elements and non-required elements will be moved to a bylaws document, the WCKSEC Administrative Procedural Handbook.

The current agreement was written in 1989. A vote on both documents will be made later in the year.

The superintendent's report by Wilson focused on Gov. Laura Kelly's recommendations for education funding in her proposed budget.

 "The governor has been very supportive of education," Wilson said at the start.

Among Kelly's recommendations are an increase in base state aid this year, estimated at a 4 to 5% total increase; phasing in $75 million over five years for special education funding; adding another $1 million to Safe and Secure Schools; adding $3 million to the mental health initiative; and requiring the legislature to make the state payment to schools in June.

Wilson is keeping his eye on a proposed bill he believes would have a negative impact on USD 489.

House Bill 2048 would expand the private school tax credit to 100% of a donation. The limit would be increased to $20 million.&nbsp;

"We see large corporations taking advantage of this. 

"The problem is it's creating a two-tiered system where private schools that don't have to take everyone would be getting public funds to educate, where we're going to educate anyone who's in our boundaries. Not a good bill. It would really be a detriment to our district and many others in the state."

House Bill 2040 could add a positive impact by adding a provision in the finance formula allowing current year enrollment to be used for funding. Currently, only the higher enrollment of the previous two years can be used. Wilson said the district has seen a small enrollment growth, and this "gives us an opportunity to take advantage of those funds in the current year and not have to wait another year."

Wilson concluded his report by reminding the board the next rebranding meeting for Hays High is Feb. 15.&nbsp;

* Approved a $91,000 bid from Sunflower Restaurant Supply for the purchase of seven pieces of food service equipment financed through the National School Lunch Program School Equipment Grants. * Voted 6-1 to extend the five district level administrator contracts to 2024-25. Allen Park voted no.&nbsp;&nbsp; * Approved the 2023-24 school calendar. * Heard and approved the 2022 district financial audit from Melissa Rome of Adams-Brown, Hays. * Approved the second reading of Kansas Association of School Boards recommended policy revisions which are aimed at offering alternatives for students and designing classes to keep students engaged. * Heard from Chris Hipp, assistant superintendent, about renewal of the KERMP contract, which could include up to a 20% increase in the property insurance premium. Hipp also noted the school district has received its first monthly share&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; - $320,000 for October 2022 - from the Hays city sales tax&nbsp; &nbsp;approved by voters to help fund the school bond issue. * Recessed into a 15-minute executive session for discussion of non-elected personnel. No action was taken.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1674530504933.jpeg" alt="Jeremy Capo and Bob Horton (at right), Mammoth Construction, Meriden, discuss the new Hays High School field turf project with USD 489 board members Monday night. Video and images courtesy Hays High Tribe Broadcasting." />
 <figcaption>Jeremy Capo and Bob Horton (at right), Mammoth Construction, Meriden, discuss the new Hays High School field turf project with USD 489 board members Monday night. Video and images courtesy Hays High Tribe Broadcasting.</figcaption>
 </figure>By BECKY KISER Hays PostFollowing discussions at previous meetings, Hays USD 489 school board members Monday night unanimously approved a $1.35 million project for a full conversion of the Hays High School football field from grass to field turf, along with installation of a new digital lighting system.The conversion will be done by Mammoth Construction, Meriden, through the Greenbush State Purchasing Cooperative.Facility improvements will begin this spring at Hays High as part of the $1.43 million bond issue approved by school district patrons last year. The work will remove the school's current football practice field as well as soccer fields."We, of course, have a football playing facility across the parking lot," said Ron Wilson, superintendent. "It's not necessarily set up for soccer."&nbsp;By converting it to a turf field, "we could utilize it for football practices and some varsity games, as well as soccer practices and soccer contests."The new facility will also feature a field lighting system, which Hays High currently does not have.&nbsp;Jeremy Capo of Mammoth Construction told the board the turf project has a full eight-year warranty. "Many of our systems stay in the ground 10-11 years," Capo said.The district will also be purchasing the equipment needed for maintaining the turf surface weekly and as needed. The agreement calls for Mammoth to perform the maintenance and grooming the first two years as Hays workers are trained to take over after that.The target date for completion is August 1, according to Wilson.The change will also conserve water.<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2D69YjqhtNM?clip=UgkxW3Zr-K2hDslYkNniSN-xSmsPIsENuf1k&amp;clipt=EMX_2gEYkMfdAQ" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>"There's a huge benefit in saving water for our community which values conservation," Wilson said.&nbsp;&nbsp;"Basically, building an athletic complex with fields out there is the goal throughout this bond issue. It would be difficult for us to maintain grass fields for all these different sports."Turf is going to conserve water but it's also going to give us a surface we can pound the heck out of and not have to worry about bare spots."Lease terms for the turf project will be approved at the next meeting.Board members also unanimously approved a scope and sequence review of curriculum changes that will be implemented in the 2023-24 academic year.No longer would every student be required to take chemistry. Instead, it will become one elective among additional course offerings in science and also in English language arts, giving students more choices of classes and in career pathways.AP courses, found to be somewhat "limiting and binding," will change to Honors level classes.Staff members proposed all the new electives and are already qualified to teach those classes. There is no additional financial cost in adding the courses.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1674550715653.jpeg" alt="Craig Pallister, Hays school board chairman and member Lori Hertel like the flexibility and forward thinking of curriculum changes approved for Hays High.&nbsp;Video and images courtesy Hays High Tribe Broadcasting." />
 <figcaption>Craig Pallister, Hays school board chairman and member Lori Hertel like the flexibility and forward thinking of curriculum changes approved for Hays High.&nbsp;Video and images courtesy Hays High Tribe Broadcasting.</figcaption>
 </figure>"I really like the flexibility and the wide range that is presented within this curriculum, allowing the students to make their own decisions and express their interests, instead of us always telling them what they have to do all the time," said Lori Hertel, board member.&nbsp;"To have the teachers wanting to do something different because they see it's going to help the kids go in different directions is so very positive," said board president Craig Pallister, who praised the administration and curriculum committee for their work. "The teachers are the experts. They know where they need to be going at this level."The first reading of an update to the West Central Kansas Special Education Cooperative was reviewed by Kyle Carlin, director of special education.&nbsp;The WCKSEC cooperative agreement is being updated to include Russell USD 407 for the 2024-25 school year.&nbsp;As recommended by the Kansas State Department of Education, the cooperative agreement will reflect required elements and non-required elements will be moved to a bylaws document, the WCKSEC Administrative Procedural Handbook.The current agreement was written in 1989. A vote on both documents will be made later in the year.The superintendent's report by Wilson focused on Gov. Laura Kelly's recommendations for education funding in her proposed budget. "The governor has been very supportive of education," Wilson said at the start.Among Kelly's recommendations are an increase in base state aid this year, estimated at a 4 to 5% total increase; phasing in $75 million over five years for special education funding; adding another $1 million to Safe and Secure Schools; adding $3 million to the mental health initiative; and requiring the legislature to make the state payment to schools in June.Wilson is keeping his eye on a proposed bill he believes would have a negative impact on USD 489.House Bill 2048 would expand the private school tax credit to 100% of a donation. The limit would be increased to $20 million.&nbsp;"We see large corporations taking advantage of this. "The problem is it's creating a two-tiered system where private schools that don't have to take everyone would be getting public funds to educate, where we're going to educate anyone who's in our boundaries. Not a good bill. It would really be a detriment to our district and many others in the state."House Bill 2040 could add a positive impact by adding a provision in the finance formula allowing current year enrollment to be used for funding. Currently, only the higher enrollment of the previous two years can be used. Wilson said the district has seen a small enrollment growth, and this "gives us an opportunity to take advantage of those funds in the current year and not have to wait another year."Wilson concluded his report by reminding the board the next rebranding meeting for Hays High is Feb. 15.&nbsp;In other business, the board:&nbsp;* Approved a $91,000 bid from Sunflower Restaurant Supply for the purchase of seven pieces of food service equipment financed through the National School Lunch Program School Equipment Grants. * Voted 6-1 to extend the five district level administrator contracts to 2024-25. Allen Park voted no.&nbsp;&nbsp; * Approved the 2023-24 school calendar. * Heard and approved the 2022 district financial audit from Melissa Rome of Adams-Brown, Hays. * Approved the second reading of Kansas Association of School Boards recommended policy revisions which are aimed at offering alternatives for students and designing classes to keep students engaged. * Heard from Chris Hipp, assistant superintendent, about renewal of the KERMP contract, which could include up to a 20% increase in the property insurance premium. Hipp also noted the school district has received its first monthly share&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; - $320,000 for October 2022 - from the Hays city sales tax&nbsp; &nbsp;approved by voters to help fund the school bond issue. * Recessed into a 15-minute executive session for discussion of non-elected personnel. No action was taken.

🎥USD 489 approves Hays High football/soccer field upgrade 

Kansas crude prices are the highest in nearly two months. Kansas Common crude at CHS starts the week at $71.50 per barrel, the highest price in McPherson since December 1, 2022.&nbsp; Susan Duffy was chosen to chair the Kansas Corporation Commission. This is her second term leading the state's energy and infrastructure regulator, after leading the three-member panel beginning in January, 2020. Duffy was appointed to the Commission in March of 2019 by Kansas Governor Laura Kelly. So far this year, operators in Kansas have spudded 54 wells, down slightly from a year ago. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service says drilling was underway Friday on leases in Barton and Russell counties. Operators were preparing to spud new wells in Barton, Ellis and Stafford counties. New drilling permits in Kansas have nearly doubled in the last week. Kansas regulators okayed 41 new drilling locations, with 17 west of Wichita, including one in Ellis County, one in Russell County, and three in Stafford County. Operators completed 27 wells in Kansas last week; 126 so far this year. The government reported a spike in crude inventories, up 8.4 million barrels to 448 million as of January 13. That's about three percent above the five-year seasonal average. The Energy Information Administration says US Operators pumped 12.1 million barrels of crude per day last week, down 95,000 barrels from the week before, but up nearly half a million barrels per day from a year ago. US crude imports average 6.9 million barrels per day, an increase of more than half a million barrels per day from the week before. Four-week average imports are down 1.1% from a year ago. Weekly government tallies show gasoline deliveries down nearly five percent from a year ago, while diesel deliveries were down nearly ten percent. Diesel inventories dropped nearly two million barrels and are about 20% below the five-year average. National gasoline prices are up a dime from a week ago to an average of t$3.37 per gallon. Diesel prices dropped slightly from last week, but remain a dollar a gallon higher than a year ago.&nbsp; The feds are stepping back from efforts to rein in air pollution in the nation's top-producing oil patch. Last summer the EPA announced an active effort to designate the Permian Basin of Texas and New Mexico to be in violation of ozone standards. That move would have required substantial reforms in oil and gas operations. But the agency's new annual agenda the active effort became a pending one, effectively moving it to the back burner. Crude output in North Dakota dropped a little over two percent in November. The number-three producing state pumped just under 1.1 million barrels per day, down from 1.12 million the month before. The state's Department of Mineral Resources noted a slight improvement in the gas-capture rate. Operators reduced flaring and venting to just five percent of the natural gas produced at North Dakota oil wells. After a long string of declines, the US inventory of oil wells drilled but uncompleted has gone up for the second month in a row. DUCs are used as a barometer for the nation's shale producers' ability to quickly raise production by completing wells. The Energy Information Administration says the DUC tally for December was up 40 wells from November and up 60 wells from October. Most of the increases were in Wyoming and Louisiana in the Niobrara and Haynesville shale plays. The top energy firms in the West are expected to rake in a combined record annual profit when fourth quarter earnings are announced beginning later this month. Citing industry analysts, Reuters projects total earnings of $199 billion for BP, Chevron, Exxon Mobil, Shell and Total. The report suggests earnings for this year will drop to $158 billion, still well above the previous record. The companies have also cut their debt to a combined $100 billion, a 15-year low, and delivered unprecedented dividends and share buybacks. An energy CEO is urging his colleagues to cut natural gas production to tame a cascade in prices. An unusually warm winter here and abroad is slashing global gas demand. After dropping seven percent last week, prices were down by half from last month, and 23% lower year over year. In an interview with Bloomberg, the CEO of Chesapeake Energy urged his peers to scale back production in order to avoid a repeat of the years-long shale bust that started in late 2014.

By JOHN P. TRETBARKansas crude prices are the highest in nearly two months. Kansas Common crude at CHS starts the week at $71.50 per barrel, the highest price in McPherson since December 1, 2022.&nbsp; Susan Duffy was chosen to chair the Kansas Corporation Commission. This is her second term leading the state's energy and infrastructure regulator, after leading the three-member panel beginning in January, 2020. Duffy was appointed to the Commission in March of 2019 by Kansas Governor Laura Kelly. So far this year, operators in Kansas have spudded 54 wells, down slightly from a year ago. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service says drilling was underway Friday on leases in Barton and Russell counties. Operators were preparing to spud new wells in Barton, Ellis and Stafford counties. New drilling permits in Kansas have nearly doubled in the last week. Kansas regulators okayed 41 new drilling locations, with 17 west of Wichita, including one in Ellis County, one in Russell County, and three in Stafford County. Operators completed 27 wells in Kansas last week; 126 so far this year. The government reported a spike in crude inventories, up 8.4 million barrels to 448 million as of January 13. That's about three percent above the five-year seasonal average. The Energy Information Administration says US Operators pumped 12.1 million barrels of crude per day last week, down 95,000 barrels from the week before, but up nearly half a million barrels per day from a year ago. US crude imports average 6.9 million barrels per day, an increase of more than half a million barrels per day from the week before. Four-week average imports are down 1.1% from a year ago. Weekly government tallies show gasoline deliveries down nearly five percent from a year ago, while diesel deliveries were down nearly ten percent. Diesel inventories dropped nearly two million barrels and are about 20% below the five-year average. National gasoline prices are up a dime from a week ago to an average of t$3.37 per gallon. Diesel prices dropped slightly from last week, but remain a dollar a gallon higher than a year ago.&nbsp; The feds are stepping back from efforts to rein in air pollution in the nation's top-producing oil patch. Last summer the EPA announced an active effort to designate the Permian Basin of Texas and New Mexico to be in violation of ozone standards. That move would have required substantial reforms in oil and gas operations. But the agency's new annual agenda the active effort became a pending one, effectively moving it to the back burner. Crude output in North Dakota dropped a little over two percent in November. The number-three producing state pumped just under 1.1 million barrels per day, down from 1.12 million the month before. The state's Department of Mineral Resources noted a slight improvement in the gas-capture rate. Operators reduced flaring and venting to just five percent of the natural gas produced at North Dakota oil wells. After a long string of declines, the US inventory of oil wells drilled but uncompleted has gone up for the second month in a row. DUCs are used as a barometer for the nation's shale producers' ability to quickly raise production by completing wells. The Energy Information Administration says the DUC tally for December was up 40 wells from November and up 60 wells from October. Most of the increases were in Wyoming and Louisiana in the Niobrara and Haynesville shale plays. The top energy firms in the West are expected to rake in a combined record annual profit when fourth quarter earnings are announced beginning later this month. Citing industry analysts, Reuters projects total earnings of $199 billion for BP, Chevron, Exxon Mobil, Shell and Total. The report suggests earnings for this year will drop to $158 billion, still well above the previous record. The companies have also cut their debt to a combined $100 billion, a 15-year low, and delivered unprecedented dividends and share buybacks. An energy CEO is urging his colleagues to cut natural gas production to tame a cascade in prices. An unusually warm winter here and abroad is slashing global gas demand. After dropping seven percent last week, prices were down by half from last month, and 23% lower year over year. In an interview with Bloomberg, the CEO of Chesapeake Energy urged his peers to scale back production in order to avoid a repeat of the years-long shale bust that started in late 2014.

News From the Oil Patch: Kansas prices reach two-month high

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department and eight states sued Google
 on Tuesday, alleging that its dominance in digital advertising harms 
competition.

The government alleges that Google’s plan to assert 
dominance has been to “neutralize or eliminate” rivals through 
acquisitions and to force advertisers to use its products by making it 
difficult to use competitors’ products.

The antitrust suit was 
filed in federal court in Alexandria, Virginia. Attorney General Merrick
 Garland was expected to discuss it at a news conference later Tuesday.

The
 department's suit accuses Google of unlawfully monopolizing the way ads
 are served online by excluding competitors. This includes its 2008 
acquisition of DoubleClick, a dominant ad server, and subsequent rollout
 of technology that locks in the split-second bidding process for ads 
that get served on Web pages.

At minimum, the lawsuit wants Google
 to split off its advertising business — its ad manager suite and ad 
exchange — as well as “any additional structural relief as needed to 
cure any anticompetitive harm."

Google's ad manager lets large 
publishers who have significant direct sales manage their 
advertisements. The ad exchange is a real-time marketplace to buy and 
sell online display ads.

Representatives for Alphabet Inc., 
Google’s parent company, said the suit “doubles down on a flawed 
argument that would slow innovation, raise advertising fees, and make it
 harder for thousands of small businesses and publishers to grow.”

The
 lawsuit says the DoubleClick acquisition “vaulted Google into a 
commanding position over the tools publishers use to sell advertising 
opportunities,” and “set the stage for Google’s later exclusionary 
conduct across the ad tech industry.”

Google, according to the 
lawsuit, recognized that publishers rarely switch online ad severs 
because of the cost and risks of doing so, and “positioned itself to 
function simultaneously as buyer, seller, and auctioneer of digital 
display advertising.”

Dina Srinivasan, a Yale University fellow 
and adtech expert, said the lawsuit is “huge” because it aligns the 
entire nation — state and federal governments — in a bipartisan legal 
offensive against Google.

This is the latest legal action taken 
against Google by either the Justice Department or local state 
governments. In October 2020, for instance, the Trump administration and
 eleven state attorneys general sued Google for violating antitrust 
laws, alleging anticompetitive practices in the search and search 
advertising markets.

Many legal experts consider the lawsuits 
against Google to be the most significant anti-trust action against a 
U.S. business since the 1970s when a DOJ lawsuit led to the breakup of 
AT&amp;T. Srinivasan said the Google suit filed Tuesday is even more 
ambitious than the DOJ’s 1998 anti-trust suit against Microsoft because 
it attacks three alleged monopolies - “the sell-side, exchange, and 
buy-side of the largest electronically traded markets in the world by 
volume. That is a big deal.”

The Microsoft suit objected primarily
 to the company’s bundling of its Explorer browser with the Windows 
operating system. Although a judge initially ordered Microsoft to break 
up into smaller companies a 2001 settlement permitted it to stay whole.

The
 latest lawsuit in essence aligns the Biden administration and new 
states with the 35 states and District of Colombia that sued Google in 
December 2020 over the exact same issues.

The U.S. antitrust suits
 against Google represent a delayed acknowledgment of what European 
regulators have long been complaining about. They have spent the past 
several years trying to crack down on Google, mostly with huge fines, to
 little noticeable effect so far.

The states taking part in the 
suit include California, Virginia, Connecticut, Colorado, New Jersey, 
New York, Rhode Island and Tennessee.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department and eight states sued Google
 on Tuesday, alleging that its dominance in digital advertising harms 
competition.The government alleges that Google’s plan to assert 
dominance has been to “neutralize or eliminate” rivals through 
acquisitions and to force advertisers to use its products by making it 
difficult to use competitors’ products.The antitrust suit was 
filed in federal court in Alexandria, Virginia. Attorney General Merrick
 Garland was expected to discuss it at a news conference later Tuesday.The
 department's suit accuses Google of unlawfully monopolizing the way ads
 are served online by excluding competitors. This includes its 2008 
acquisition of DoubleClick, a dominant ad server, and subsequent rollout
 of technology that locks in the split-second bidding process for ads 
that get served on Web pages.At minimum, the lawsuit wants Google
 to split off its advertising business — its ad manager suite and ad 
exchange — as well as “any additional structural relief as needed to 
cure any anticompetitive harm."Google's ad manager lets large 
publishers who have significant direct sales manage their 
advertisements. The ad exchange is a real-time marketplace to buy and 
sell online display ads.Representatives for Alphabet Inc., 
Google’s parent company, said the suit “doubles down on a flawed 
argument that would slow innovation, raise advertising fees, and make it
 harder for thousands of small businesses and publishers to grow.”The
 lawsuit says the DoubleClick acquisition “vaulted Google into a 
commanding position over the tools publishers use to sell advertising 
opportunities,” and “set the stage for Google’s later exclusionary 
conduct across the ad tech industry.”Google, according to the 
lawsuit, recognized that publishers rarely switch online ad severs 
because of the cost and risks of doing so, and “positioned itself to 
function simultaneously as buyer, seller, and auctioneer of digital 
display advertising.”Dina Srinivasan, a Yale University fellow 
and adtech expert, said the lawsuit is “huge” because it aligns the 
entire nation — state and federal governments — in a bipartisan legal 
offensive against Google.This is the latest legal action taken 
against Google by either the Justice Department or local state 
governments. In October 2020, for instance, the Trump administration and
 eleven state attorneys general sued Google for violating antitrust 
laws, alleging anticompetitive practices in the search and search 
advertising markets.Many legal experts consider the lawsuits 
against Google to be the most significant anti-trust action against a 
U.S. business since the 1970s when a DOJ lawsuit led to the breakup of 
AT&amp;T. Srinivasan said the Google suit filed Tuesday is even more 
ambitious than the DOJ’s 1998 anti-trust suit against Microsoft because 
it attacks three alleged monopolies - “the sell-side, exchange, and 
buy-side of the largest electronically traded markets in the world by 
volume. That is a big deal.”The Microsoft suit objected primarily
 to the company’s bundling of its Explorer browser with the Windows 
operating system. Although a judge initially ordered Microsoft to break 
up into smaller companies a 2001 settlement permitted it to stay whole.The
 latest lawsuit in essence aligns the Biden administration and new 
states with the 35 states and District of Colombia that sued Google in 
December 2020 over the exact same issues.The U.S. antitrust suits
 against Google represent a delayed acknowledgment of what European 
regulators have long been complaining about. They have spent the past 
several years trying to crack down on Google, mostly with huge fines, to
 little noticeable effect so far.The states taking part in the 
suit include California, Virginia, Connecticut, Colorado, New Jersey, 
New York, Rhode Island and Tennessee.

Justice Dept. sues Google over digital advertising dominance

By NICK GOSNELL Hutch Post

HUTCHINSON —Over two dozen public school districts in Kansas currently operate on a 4-day week.&nbsp;


Nickerson-South Hutchinson USD 309 Superintendent Curtis Nightingale 
said his district is looking at what four-day school weeks might look 
like in future years.

"We actually put a committee together in 
October and started just looking at the research out there, as it 
relates to student achievement, applications, in terms of that retention
 and recruitment of staff, etc. We're at least looking at it. We've had a
 couple of community meetings, we've done surveys and we've got another 
community survey out right now, that we're collecting data."

It isn't really about saving money, all things considered.

"A
 lot of districts went to four day weeks because they considered it a 
cost savings for the district," Nightingale said. "In reality, that cost
 savings is kind of non-existent. You might be saving one to two percent
 when you consider bus routes and bus fuel. Realistically, we're not 
going to turn the heat down. We're not going to turn the cooling down on
 that one day of the week and save a lot of money."

The one thing that such a schedule might do is help with staffing.

"If
 I was offering you a job and you had to decide between two places to 
work and this place is five days a week and this place over here you get
 a three day weekend every week, I think that would give the edge to 
that four day schedule. Obviously, recruiting and retaining staff is a 
huge piece of this." No final decisions have been made on the subject at this point.

According to the Kansas Department of Education schools in USD 103-Cheylin, 200-Greeley County, 205-Bluestem, 212-Northern Valley, 216-Deerfield, 217-Rolla, 220-Ashland, 225-Fowler, 242-Weskan, 245-So. Coffey County, 275-Triplains, 282-West Elk, 283-Elk Valley, 284-Chase County, 300-Comanche County, 314-Brewster, 382-Pratt, 390-Hamilton, 399-Natoma, 462-Central, 468-Healy, 471-Dexter, 474-Haviland, 494-Syracuse and 505-Chetopa, St. Paul operate on a 4-day week.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1628266388485.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By NICK GOSNELL Hutch PostHUTCHINSON —Over two dozen public school districts in Kansas currently operate on a 4-day week.&nbsp;
Nickerson-South Hutchinson USD 309 Superintendent Curtis Nightingale 
said his district is looking at what four-day school weeks might look 
like in future years."We actually put a committee together in 
October and started just looking at the research out there, as it 
relates to student achievement, applications, in terms of that retention
 and recruitment of staff, etc. We're at least looking at it. We've had a
 couple of community meetings, we've done surveys and we've got another 
community survey out right now, that we're collecting data."It isn't really about saving money, all things considered."A
 lot of districts went to four day weeks because they considered it a 
cost savings for the district," Nightingale said. "In reality, that cost
 savings is kind of non-existent. You might be saving one to two percent
 when you consider bus routes and bus fuel. Realistically, we're not 
going to turn the heat down. We're not going to turn the cooling down on
 that one day of the week and save a lot of money."The one thing that such a schedule might do is help with staffing."If
 I was offering you a job and you had to decide between two places to 
work and this place is five days a week and this place over here you get
 a three day weekend every week, I think that would give the edge to 
that four day schedule. Obviously, recruiting and retaining staff is a 
huge piece of this." No final decisions have been made on the subject at this point.According to the Kansas Department of Education schools in USD 103-Cheylin, 200-Greeley County, 205-Bluestem, 212-Northern Valley, 216-Deerfield, 217-Rolla, 220-Ashland, 225-Fowler, 242-Weskan, 245-So. Coffey County, 275-Triplains, 282-West Elk, 283-Elk Valley, 284-Chase County, 300-Comanche County, 314-Brewster, 382-Pratt, 390-Hamilton, 399-Natoma, 462-Central, 468-Healy, 471-Dexter, 474-Haviland, 494-Syracuse and 505-Chetopa, St. Paul operate on a 4-day week.

Another Kan. school district considering 4-day school week

Leroy Hugh Green, age 95 of Hays, Kansas, formerly of&nbsp;Norton and Great Bend,&nbsp;passed away on Sunday, January 22, 2023,&nbsp;at Via Christi Village Care Center, Hays, Kansas.

He was born January 14, 1928, in Beaver County, Oklahoma, near the town of Knowles on the farm where he grew up to Earl “Sonny” and Leona (Nichols) Green. &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Leroy&nbsp;graduated from high school in 1946 from Gate, Oklahoma.&nbsp;&nbsp;He attended college at Central State University in Edmond, Oklahoma, from 1947 until he was drafted into the Army in September 1950.&nbsp;He served for two years as a laboratory technician and then became an active reservist until 1956.&nbsp;

While in the Army, stationed at Fort Lewis in Tacoma, Washington, he met his wife Leona (Messer) Green of 68 years. They were married October 6, 1951, and began their family. &nbsp;She preceded him in death on February 29, 2020.

After his honorable discharge from the Army, he worked and attended the University of Pugot Sound in Tacoma and completed his Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration in August 1954. &nbsp;The following summer he was invited to move back to Gate, Oklahoma and was offered a teaching and coaching position. &nbsp;They moved to Edmond, Oklahoma, a year later where he taught math and attended Central State University and he earned his Master’s of Teaching in Business Administration. &nbsp;&nbsp;For the next twenty years he worked as a Superintendent of Schools at three different school districts in Kansas (Englewood, Cullison and Jennings).&nbsp;While in Jennings, he also farmed and raised cattle which he was very passionate about.

In 1978, they moved to Norton and he opened the Green Insurance Agency and continued to raise a few cattle and pigs.&nbsp;&nbsp;Leroy sold the agency in 1993 but continued to raise a few animals until moving to Great Bend in 1996 where he and Leona continued with their passion of dancing and they became R-Ver’s.&nbsp;They enjoyed time at the lake and attending dances around the area.

Survivors include his sons,&nbsp;Mike Green&nbsp;and wife,&nbsp;Beverly,&nbsp;Maumelle,&nbsp;AR;&nbsp;Kevin Green&nbsp;and wife,&nbsp;Lisa,&nbsp;Victoria, KS;&nbsp;Keith Green&nbsp;and wife,&nbsp;Donna,&nbsp;Hays, KS;&nbsp;Kerry Green&nbsp;and wife,&nbsp;Hope,&nbsp;Jennings, KS;&nbsp;his&nbsp;daughters,&nbsp;Karen Beal&nbsp;and husband,&nbsp;Brett, Wichita, KS;Kim Green,&nbsp;Colorado Springs, CO;&nbsp;his sister-in-law, Idell Green, Laverne, OK;&nbsp;his&nbsp;16 grandchildren, and&nbsp;his&nbsp;23 great-grandchildren.&nbsp;&nbsp;

He was preceded in death by his parents, Earl Leroy “Sonny” and Leona (Nichols) Green,&nbsp;his&nbsp;son,&nbsp;Dennis Patrick Green,&nbsp;his&nbsp;brother,&nbsp;Charles Green;&nbsp;and&nbsp;his&nbsp;sister,&nbsp;LaDora &nbsp;Callaway.

A private family inurnment will be held at a later date.

In Lieu of flowers the family suggests&nbsp;memorials&nbsp;to&nbsp;North Central Kansas Technical College Hays, Kansas / Nursing Program&nbsp;in care of the mortuary.

Services are entrusted to&nbsp;Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary of Hays,&nbsp;1919 East&nbsp;22nd &nbsp;Street,&nbsp;Hays, Kansas 67601.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1674506340529.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Leroy Hugh Green, age 95 of Hays, Kansas, formerly of&nbsp;Norton and Great Bend,&nbsp;passed away on Sunday, January 22, 2023,&nbsp;at Via Christi Village Care Center, Hays, Kansas.He was born January 14, 1928, in Beaver County, Oklahoma, near the town of Knowles on the farm where he grew up to Earl “Sonny” and Leona (Nichols) Green. &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;Leroy&nbsp;graduated from high school in 1946 from Gate, Oklahoma.&nbsp;&nbsp;He attended college at Central State University in Edmond, Oklahoma, from 1947 until he was drafted into the Army in September 1950.&nbsp;He served for two years as a laboratory technician and then became an active reservist until 1956.&nbsp;While in the Army, stationed at Fort Lewis in Tacoma, Washington, he met his wife Leona (Messer) Green of 68 years. They were married October 6, 1951, and began their family. &nbsp;She preceded him in death on February 29, 2020.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1674506460195.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>After his honorable discharge from the Army, he worked and attended the University of Pugot Sound in Tacoma and completed his Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration in August 1954. &nbsp;The following summer he was invited to move back to Gate, Oklahoma and was offered a teaching and coaching position. &nbsp;They moved to Edmond, Oklahoma, a year later where he taught math and attended Central State University and he earned his Master’s of Teaching in Business Administration. &nbsp;&nbsp;For the next twenty years he worked as a Superintendent of Schools at three different school districts in Kansas (Englewood, Cullison and Jennings).&nbsp;While in Jennings, he also farmed and raised cattle which he was very passionate about.In 1978, they moved to Norton and he opened the Green Insurance Agency and continued to raise a few cattle and pigs.&nbsp;&nbsp;Leroy sold the agency in 1993 but continued to raise a few animals until moving to Great Bend in 1996 where he and Leona continued with their passion of dancing and they became R-Ver’s.&nbsp;They enjoyed time at the lake and attending dances around the area.Survivors include his sons,&nbsp;Mike Green&nbsp;and wife,&nbsp;Beverly,&nbsp;Maumelle,&nbsp;AR;&nbsp;Kevin Green&nbsp;and wife,&nbsp;Lisa,&nbsp;Victoria, KS;&nbsp;Keith Green&nbsp;and wife,&nbsp;Donna,&nbsp;Hays, KS;&nbsp;Kerry Green&nbsp;and wife,&nbsp;Hope,&nbsp;Jennings, KS;&nbsp;his&nbsp;daughters,&nbsp;Karen Beal&nbsp;and husband,&nbsp;Brett, Wichita, KS;Kim Green,&nbsp;Colorado Springs, CO;&nbsp;his sister-in-law, Idell Green, Laverne, OK;&nbsp;his&nbsp;16 grandchildren, and&nbsp;his&nbsp;23 great-grandchildren.&nbsp;&nbsp;He was preceded in death by his parents, Earl Leroy “Sonny” and Leona (Nichols) Green,&nbsp;his&nbsp;son,&nbsp;Dennis Patrick Green,&nbsp;his&nbsp;brother,&nbsp;Charles Green;&nbsp;and&nbsp;his&nbsp;sister,&nbsp;LaDora &nbsp;Callaway.A private family inurnment will be held at a later date.In Lieu of flowers the family suggests&nbsp;memorials&nbsp;to&nbsp;North Central Kansas Technical College Hays, Kansas / Nursing Program&nbsp;in care of the mortuary.Services are entrusted to&nbsp;Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary of Hays,&nbsp;1919 East&nbsp;22nd &nbsp;Street,&nbsp;Hays, Kansas 67601.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;Condolences can be sent via e-mail to&nbsp;<a href="mailto:clinesmortuary@eaglecom.net">clinesmortuary@eaglecom.net</a>&nbsp;or can be left at guestbook at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com/">www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com</a>&nbsp;

Leroy Hugh Green

James R. “Jim” Pfister, 91, passed away on January 22, 2023. He was 
born on October 19, 1931, in Great Bend, Kansas. On November 22, 1952, 
he married Madalyn Saunders. They raised five children in Raymond, 
Kansas.

Jim was a lifetime resident of Kansas and a third-generation mason. 
He continued Pfister Masonry with his brother, Jerry. Their quality of 
work was recognized throughout the state with numerous jobs in Great 
Bend.

His love of the outdoors was next to none. A lifetime member of Ducks
 Unlimited and a NRA Golden Eagle, Jim’s favorite sport was hunting 
coyotes with greyhounds. He was an avid raccoon hunter and Plott Hound 
historian and was nominated by the American Plott Association to the 
American Plott Hunters Hall of Fame. Jim wrote numerous articles on the 
breed for the Full Cry and American Plott Association magazines. He rode
 his last mule at the age of 81, while hunting raccoons with his 
lifetime friend, George Weber. A famous quote of his while being 
questioned by hunting friends was “Boys, I am getting old and running 
out of lies."

He is survived by four daughters, Vicki Wood and husband, Dale, of 
Great Bend, Kansas, Valorie Rosinski and husband, Mike, of Great Bend, 
Kansas, Vencette MacLaren of Lincoln, Nebraska, and Vivian “Joan” 
Pfister of Great Bend, Kansas; fourteen grandchildren, Richard Doll and 
wife, Jean, Amy Gosnell, Kristina Johnson, Natalie Hoke and husband, 
Craig, Angela Miles, Kevin Duntz and wife, Candace, Becky Lazatin and 
husband, Doug, Jessica Fitzgerald and husband, Nic, John Currall and 
wife, Rocio, Melissa Keller and husband, Joel, Lauren Faulks and 
husband, Bodie, Nathan Barta and wife, Dani, Billy Pfister and wife, 
Kylie, and Jami Downing and husband, Isaac; nineteen 
great-grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. He is preceeded in death 
by his wife, Madalyn; son, Jimmy; parents, Daniel and Lora (Riggen) 
Pfister; and brother, Jerry Pfister.

There will be no visitation as cremation has taken place. Funeral 
service will be held at 3:00 p.m. Saturday, February 4, 2023, at Bryant 
Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Daniel Vandenburg presiding. 

In lieu of 
flowers, memorials have been designated to the Jim Pfister Memorial 
Fund, in care of Bryant Funeral Home.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1674503458429.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>James R. “Jim” Pfister, 91, passed away on January 22, 2023. He was 
born on October 19, 1931, in Great Bend, Kansas. On November 22, 1952, 
he married Madalyn Saunders. They raised five children in Raymond, 
Kansas.Jim was a lifetime resident of Kansas and a third-generation mason. 
He continued Pfister Masonry with his brother, Jerry. Their quality of 
work was recognized throughout the state with numerous jobs in Great 
Bend.His love of the outdoors was next to none. A lifetime member of Ducks
 Unlimited and a NRA Golden Eagle, Jim’s favorite sport was hunting 
coyotes with greyhounds. He was an avid raccoon hunter and Plott Hound 
historian and was nominated by the American Plott Association to the 
American Plott Hunters Hall of Fame. Jim wrote numerous articles on the 
breed for the Full Cry and American Plott Association magazines. He rode
 his last mule at the age of 81, while hunting raccoons with his 
lifetime friend, George Weber. A famous quote of his while being 
questioned by hunting friends was “Boys, I am getting old and running 
out of lies."He is survived by four daughters, Vicki Wood and husband, Dale, of 
Great Bend, Kansas, Valorie Rosinski and husband, Mike, of Great Bend, 
Kansas, Vencette MacLaren of Lincoln, Nebraska, and Vivian “Joan” 
Pfister of Great Bend, Kansas; fourteen grandchildren, Richard Doll and 
wife, Jean, Amy Gosnell, Kristina Johnson, Natalie Hoke and husband, 
Craig, Angela Miles, Kevin Duntz and wife, Candace, Becky Lazatin and 
husband, Doug, Jessica Fitzgerald and husband, Nic, John Currall and 
wife, Rocio, Melissa Keller and husband, Joel, Lauren Faulks and 
husband, Bodie, Nathan Barta and wife, Dani, Billy Pfister and wife, 
Kylie, and Jami Downing and husband, Isaac; nineteen 
great-grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. He is preceeded in death 
by his wife, Madalyn; son, Jimmy; parents, Daniel and Lora (Riggen) 
Pfister; and brother, Jerry Pfister.There will be no visitation as cremation has taken place. Funeral 
service will be held at 3:00 p.m. Saturday, February 4, 2023, at Bryant 
Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Daniel Vandenburg presiding. In lieu of 
flowers, memorials have been designated to the Jim Pfister Memorial 
Fund, in care of Bryant Funeral Home.

James R. 'Jim' Pfister

By MIKE COURSON Great Bend Post

Good, 
old-fashioned detective work. That's how Barton County Sheriff Brian 
Bellendir described the recent arrest on a 42-year-old murder in the 
county. Bellendir shared some more details of the investigation of the 
crime during an appearance on the "County Edition" show on KVGB 1590 
AM/95.5 FM.

"In 1981 and 82, these guys, the original 
investigators, were real close, but they just couldn't quite shove it 
over the edge," he said. "There's been a change in attitudes in how you 
investigate these sorts of things. My guys were able to get some more 
information that helped clear up some stuff."

Bellendir was just a
 senior in high school in January 1980 when Mary Robin Walter was found 
shot in a now-defunct trailer park west of Great Bend. Investigators at 
the time developed a suspect, but the case eventually went cold, and the
 case files remained in a file cabinet as Bellendir began his tenure at 
the sheriff's office.

Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and Det. 
Sgt. Adam Hales was forced out of work for approximately two weeks in 
April 2022. He returned to light duty and asked Bellendir if he could 
reexamine the case.

"I actually chuckled and said, 'Good luck. You
 and every other detective that's ever worked in this office,'" 
Bellendir said. "I've seen this thing come and go since the early 
1980s."

As lead investigator, Hales was joined by detectives David
 Paden, Bryan Volkel, and Alex Lomas, as well as Patrol Sgt. Travis 
Doze. Together, they pieced together the files.

"The biggest problem we ran into, guys would make copies of a 
statement and then, instead of keeping that out of the case, it got 
mixed back in with the case," said Bellendir. "I had one guy in the 
detective division, that's all he did was make a comprehensive - we're 
talking 3-ring binders, four inches thick - that have the documents and 
the interviews, and all the material that is relevant to that case."

Bellendir
 said the department lucked out with no new major cases that might have 
forced the old investigation onto the back burner. Instead, the 
detectives made their case and presented it to the Barton County 
Attorney's Office in October 2022. On Dec. 8, 68-year-old Steven Hanks 
of Burden was arrested without incident on charges of second-degree 
murder.

Investigators held a press conference on the case the 
following day, and Bellendir said, that too, has resulted in more 
details about the case.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670617705007.jpeg" alt="Barton County Sheriff Brian Bellendir a Dec. 9 press conference." />
 <figcaption>Barton County Sheriff Brian Bellendir a Dec. 9 press conference.</figcaption>
 </figure>By MIKE COURSON Great Bend PostGood, 
old-fashioned detective work. That's how Barton County Sheriff Brian 
Bellendir described the recent arrest on a 42-year-old murder in the 
county. Bellendir shared some more details of the investigation of the 
crime during an appearance on the "County Edition" show on KVGB 1590 
AM/95.5 FM."In 1981 and 82, these guys, the original 
investigators, were real close, but they just couldn't quite shove it 
over the edge," he said. "There's been a change in attitudes in how you 
investigate these sorts of things. My guys were able to get some more 
information that helped clear up some stuff."Bellendir was just a
 senior in high school in January 1980 when Mary Robin Walter was found 
shot in a now-defunct trailer park west of Great Bend. Investigators at 
the time developed a suspect, but the case eventually went cold, and the
 case files remained in a file cabinet as Bellendir began his tenure at 
the sheriff's office.Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and Det. 
Sgt. Adam Hales was forced out of work for approximately two weeks in 
April 2022. He returned to light duty and asked Bellendir if he could 
reexamine the case."I actually chuckled and said, 'Good luck. You
 and every other detective that's ever worked in this office,'" 
Bellendir said. "I've seen this thing come and go since the early 
1980s."As lead investigator, Hales was joined by detectives David
 Paden, Bryan Volkel, and Alex Lomas, as well as Patrol Sgt. Travis 
Doze. Together, they pieced together the files.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670609613326.jpeg" alt="Hanks" />
 <figcaption>Hanks</figcaption>
 </figure>"The biggest problem we ran into, guys would make copies of a 
statement and then, instead of keeping that out of the case, it got 
mixed back in with the case," said Bellendir. "I had one guy in the 
detective division, that's all he did was make a comprehensive - we're 
talking 3-ring binders, four inches thick - that have the documents and 
the interviews, and all the material that is relevant to that case."Bellendir
 said the department lucked out with no new major cases that might have 
forced the old investigation onto the back burner. Instead, the 
detectives made their case and presented it to the Barton County 
Attorney's Office in October 2022. On Dec. 8, 68-year-old Steven Hanks 
of Burden was arrested without incident on charges of second-degree 
murder.Investigators held a press conference on the case the 
following day, and Bellendir said, that too, has resulted in more 
details about the case."People saw that press release, and we had
 at least two, they weren't witnesses to the crime, but they were 
witnesses that had information about the case," he said. "They had been 
interviewed back in the 1980s, but the interviews either weren't 
recorded or written down, or they were lost over time."Hanks 
remains incarcerated in the Barton County jail awaiting trial. The case 
is scheduled for a review hearing in the Barton County District Court on
 Jan. 26 at 8 a.m.