By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

The Hays school board is set to approve bids for two HVAC projects at its meeting at 6:30 p.m. Monday at the Rockwell Administration Center.

Both of the projects were bid through the Greenbush Education Service Center Purchasing Cooperative, a state program that guarantees preferential pricing to schools.

The cost of the O'Loughlin Elementary School project is about $1.28 million.

The Wilson Elementary School HVAC replacement was approved in October. However, school officials are requesting a change order so the system will be better suited to meet the needs of the building when it becomes the district administrative office.

Cost of the Wilson project will be $2.4 million.

The district has struggled to fill paraprofessional positions for the functional life skills and Westisde programs. These students generally need more assistance than other students in the special education program.

School officials are proposing increasing pay by $1 for paras for these programs. This proposal will raise the starting wage of paraeducators in these programs to $13.06 per hour.

The special education co-op has 61 employees who would be covered by the proposal. The change will cost the co-op about $35,000 for the rest of the school year.

The board also will consider Kansas Association of School Boards policy revision recommendations and the appointment of members to the teacher negotiations team.

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostThe Hays school board is set to approve bids for two HVAC projects at its meeting at 6:30 p.m. Monday at the Rockwell Administration Center. Both of the projects were bid through the Greenbush Education Service Center Purchasing Cooperative, a state program that guarantees preferential pricing to schools.The cost of the O'Loughlin Elementary School project is about $1.28 million.The Wilson Elementary School HVAC replacement was approved in October. However, school officials are requesting a change order so the system will be better suited to meet the needs of the building when it becomes the district administrative office.Cost of the Wilson project will be $2.4 million.<h2>Special education raises</h2>The district has struggled to fill paraprofessional positions for the functional life skills and Westisde programs. These students generally need more assistance than other students in the special education program.School officials are proposing increasing pay by $1 for paras for these programs. This proposal will raise the starting wage of paraeducators in these programs to $13.06 per hour.The special education co-op has 61 employees who would be covered by the proposal. The change will cost the co-op about $35,000 for the rest of the school year.The board also will consider Kansas Association of School Boards policy revision recommendations and the appointment of members to the teacher negotiations team.

Hays USD 489 school board to consider HVAC bids Monday

I’ve got the perfect New Year’s resolution for Kansas legislators: no more lobbyist-authored bills.

Last year, Kansas lawmaking was marked by two dramatic “fails,” both involving lobbyist-authored acts.&nbsp; One of them failed, the other passed, and both were problematic.

First came anti-abortion “Value Them Both” amendment, sent to the voters by the Legislature and rejected by 18 percentage points in August.&nbsp; Closely watched nationally and even overseas, the campaign and contained many controversies, including its confusing ballot language.&nbsp; “VTB” opponents even suggested that the language was&nbsp;deliberately&nbsp;confusing—highly legalistic and not clear at all about the amendment’s intent, which was to authorize the Kansas Legislature to criminalize abortion in nearly all circumstances, which they had the votes and the plans to do, perhaps even calling themselves into special session right after the vote, had it passed.

Oddly, the amendment itself was not written by the Kansas Legislative Research Department (KLRD).&nbsp; Despite making major changes to the state constitution, legislators allowed two anti-abortion interest groups to write the ballot language.&nbsp; By contrast, the staff of the KLRD are nonpartisan professionals.&nbsp; The bills, bill summaries and other proposals they write are not based upon their own, personal political views.&nbsp; Rather, KLRD staff draft legislation as requested by legislators.&nbsp; Not lobbyists or politicians, KLRD are experienced experts in the state constitution, existing federal, state and local laws, court rulings, laws in other states, and other background needed to write good legislation.&nbsp; With so much at stake this summer, why did the legislators ignore the KLRD and have interest groups draft the amendment instead?

Lobbyist-authored bills cause even more problems when they pass.&nbsp; Last year’s authorization of sports betting illustrates this perfectly.&nbsp; An exposé by the&nbsp;New York Times&nbsp;illustrated these problems.&nbsp; Not only were key legislators showed with gifts, but a provision was slipped into the provision that has resulted in Kansans reaping almost none of the promised tax revenue so far.&nbsp; This “carry over” provision allows the gambling companies to write off the costs of offering free bets to get new customers hooked on their product.&nbsp; It also allows them to carry forth these losses to future years.&nbsp; The&nbsp;NYT&nbsp;reporter found that the whole bill was in fact written by the gambling industry.&nbsp; Had it been drafted by the KLRD, they easily could have red-flagged this loophole.&nbsp; In September and October, the two largest online sports betting providers paid less than $42,000 in state taxes on $247&nbsp;million&nbsp;of activity.&nbsp; This figure started to rise later in the year, but is still paltry compared to what the state could have collected.&nbsp; A similar bill failed to pass in Missouri— not due to the public interest, but because of infighting among pro-betting interest groups.

Speaking of Missouri, another bill that passed there last year illustrates the depths to which these lobbyist-authored bills can sink.&nbsp; By making it a crime to sleep on public land without authorization, Missouri essentially criminalized homelessness—without providing any additional support for affordable housing.&nbsp; This awful bill was literally&nbsp;cut and pasted off the Internet&nbsp;by its sponsor—and the interest group that posted it was not even in-state.

Kansas and other states employ nonpartisan professionals to draft legislation, for a reason.&nbsp; The debacles here and in neighboring states last year all point to the same conclusion:&nbsp; legislators should resolve right now not to propose or pass any lobbyist-written legislation in 2023 or afterwards.

Michael Smith is a professor at Emporia State University.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1639601062071.jpeg" alt="Michael Smith is a professor at Emporia State University." />
 <figcaption>Michael Smith is a professor at Emporia State University.</figcaption>
 </figure>I’ve got the perfect New Year’s resolution for Kansas legislators: no more lobbyist-authored bills.Last year, Kansas lawmaking was marked by two dramatic “fails,” both involving lobbyist-authored acts.&nbsp; One of them failed, the other passed, and both were problematic.First came anti-abortion “Value Them Both” amendment, sent to the voters by the Legislature and rejected by 18 percentage points in August.&nbsp; Closely watched nationally and even overseas, the campaign and contained many controversies, including its confusing ballot language.&nbsp; “VTB” opponents even suggested that the language was&nbsp;deliberately&nbsp;confusing—highly legalistic and not clear at all about the amendment’s intent, which was to authorize the Kansas Legislature to criminalize abortion in nearly all circumstances, which they had the votes and the plans to do, perhaps even calling themselves into special session right after the vote, had it passed.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575913663048.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Oddly, the amendment itself was not written by the Kansas Legislative Research Department (KLRD).&nbsp; Despite making major changes to the state constitution, legislators allowed two anti-abortion interest groups to write the ballot language.&nbsp; By contrast, the staff of the KLRD are nonpartisan professionals.&nbsp; The bills, bill summaries and other proposals they write are not based upon their own, personal political views.&nbsp; Rather, KLRD staff draft legislation as requested by legislators.&nbsp; Not lobbyists or politicians, KLRD are experienced experts in the state constitution, existing federal, state and local laws, court rulings, laws in other states, and other background needed to write good legislation.&nbsp; With so much at stake this summer, why did the legislators ignore the KLRD and have interest groups draft the amendment instead?Lobbyist-authored bills cause even more problems when they pass.&nbsp; Last year’s authorization of sports betting illustrates this perfectly.&nbsp; An exposé by the&nbsp;New York Times&nbsp;illustrated these problems.&nbsp; Not only were key legislators showed with gifts, but a provision was slipped into the provision that has resulted in Kansans reaping almost none of the promised tax revenue so far.&nbsp; This “carry over” provision allows the gambling companies to write off the costs of offering free bets to get new customers hooked on their product.&nbsp; It also allows them to carry forth these losses to future years.&nbsp; The&nbsp;NYT&nbsp;reporter found that the whole bill was in fact written by the gambling industry.&nbsp; Had it been drafted by the KLRD, they easily could have red-flagged this loophole.&nbsp; In September and October, the two largest online sports betting providers paid less than $42,000 in state taxes on $247&nbsp;million&nbsp;of activity.&nbsp; This figure started to rise later in the year, but is still paltry compared to what the state could have collected.&nbsp; A similar bill failed to pass in Missouri— not due to the public interest, but because of infighting among pro-betting interest groups.Speaking of Missouri, another bill that passed there last year illustrates the depths to which these lobbyist-authored bills can sink.&nbsp; By making it a crime to sleep on public land without authorization, Missouri essentially criminalized homelessness—without providing any additional support for affordable housing.&nbsp; This awful bill was literally&nbsp;cut and pasted off the Internet&nbsp;by its sponsor—and the interest group that posted it was not even in-state.Kansas and other states employ nonpartisan professionals to draft legislation, for a reason.&nbsp; The debacles here and in neighboring states last year all point to the same conclusion:&nbsp; legislators should resolve right now not to propose or pass any lobbyist-written legislation in 2023 or afterwards.Michael Smith is a professor at Emporia State University.

INSIGHT KANSAS: No more lobbyist-written bills

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden said Thursday the U.S. would immediately begin turning away Cubans, Haitians and Nicaraguans who cross the border from Mexico illegally, his boldest move yet to confront the arrivals of migrants that have spiraled since he took office two years ago.

(Click below to watch the President's comments)

The new rules expand on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-health-venezuela-caribbean-united-states-d251abc69009e89447cdddf058c162e7">an existing effort to stop Venezuelans</a>&nbsp;attempting to enter the U.S., which began in October and led to a dramatic drop in Venezuelans coming to the southern border. Together, they represent a major change to immigration rules that will stand even if the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/title-42-immigration-limits-supreme-court-updates-0494c30834fad66ce9c6057ea1605d89">Supreme Court ends a Trump-era public health</a>&nbsp;law that allows U.S. authorities to turn away asylum-seekers.

“Do not, do not just show up at the border,” Biden said as he announced the changes, even as he acknowledged the hardships that lead many families to make the dangerous journey north.

“Stay where you are and apply legally from there,” he advised.

Biden made the announcement just days before a planned visit to El Paso, Texas, on Sunday for his first trip to the southern border as president. From there, he will travel on to Mexico City to meet with North American leaders on Monday and Tuesday.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-donald-trump-ap-top-news-guatemala-politics-23f6b9a087e841188c5484cd5cf04f3d">Homeland Security officials said they would begin</a>&nbsp;denying asylum to those who circumvent legal pathways and do not first ask for asylum in the country they traveled through en route to the U.S.

Instead, the U.S. will accept 30,000 people per month from the four nations for two years and offer the ability to work legally, as long as they come legally, have eligible sponsors and pass vetting and background checks. Border crossings by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-mexico-john-roberts-9620ffd2acea851c5a6957eab0af763e">migrants from those four nations</a>&nbsp;have risen most sharply, with no easy way to quickly return them to their home countries.

“This new process is orderly,” Biden said. “It’s safe and humane, and it works.”

The move, while not unexpected, drew swift criticism from asylum and immigration advocates, who have had a rocky relationship with the president.

“President Biden correctly recognized today that seeking asylum is a legal right and spoke sympathetically about people fleeing persecution," said Jonathan Blazer, the American Civil Liberties Union’s director of border strategies. “But the plan he announced further ties his administration to the poisonous anti-immigrant policies of the Trump era instead of restoring fair access to asylum protections.”

Even with the health law restrictions in place, the president has seen the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-mexico-us-customs-and-border-protection-cuba-immigration-8fbba5bde9afca3f404eaa96bcfd136a">numbers of migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border</a>&nbsp;rise dramatically during his two years in office; there were more than 2.38 million stops during the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, the first time the number topped 2 million. The administration has struggled to clamp down on crossings, reluctant to take hard-line measures that would resemble those of the Trump administration.

That’s resulted in relentless criticism from Republicans who say the Democratic president is ineffective on border security, and the newly minted Republican House majority has promised congressional investigations on the matter.

The new policy could result in 360,000 people from these four nations lawfully entering the U.S. in a year, a huge number. But far more people from those countries have been attempting to cross into the U.S. on foot, by boat or swimming; migrants from those four countries were stopped 82,286 times in November alone.

Enyer Valbuena, a Venezuelan who was living in Tijuana, Mexico, after crossing the border illegally, said Thursday’s announcement came as no surprise but a blow nonetheless.

“This was coming. It’s getting more difficult all the time,” he said by text message.

Some Venezuelans waiting on Mexico’s border with the U.S. have been talking among themselves if Canada is an option, Valbuena said. He had been waiting for the outcome of the pandemic-related asylum ban before trying to enter the U.S. again and is seeking asylum in Mexico, which offers a much better future than Venezuela.

“If it becomes more difficult (to reach the U.S.), the best path is to get papers in Mexico,” said Valbuena, who currently works at a Tijuana factory.

Mexico has agreed to accept up to 30,000 migrants each month from the four countries who attempt to walk or swim across the U.S.-Mexico border and are turned back. Normally, these migrants would be returned to their country of origin, but the U.S. can not easily send back people from those four countries for a variety of reasons that include relations with the governments there.

Anyone coming to the U.S. is allowed to claim asylum, regardless of how they crossed the border, and migrants seeking a better life in the U.S. often pay smugglers the equivalent of thousands of dollars to deliver them across the dangerous Darien Gap.

But the requirements for granting asylum are narrow, and only about 30% of applications are granted. That has created a system in which migrants try to cross between ports of entry and are allowed into the U.S. to wait out their cases. But there is a 2 million-case immigration court backlog, so cases often are not heard for years.

The only lasting way to change the system is through Congress, but a bipartisan congressional effort on new immigration laws failed shortly before&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-house-control-79475a4fc11e4375cd0dded651b9eede">Republicans took the House majority.</a>

“The actions we’re announcing will make things better, but will not fix the border problem completely," Biden said, in pressing lawmakers to act.

Under then-President Donald Trump, the U.S. required asylum seekers to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mexico-immigration-government-and-politics-5c7bb29c829d7f0711b23f9beb18755d">wait across the border in Mexico</a>. But clogs in the immigration system created long delays, leading to fetid, dangerous camps over the border where migrants were forced to wait. That system was ended under Biden, and the migrants who are returned to Mexico under the new rules will not be eligible for asylum.

Biden will also triple the number of refugees accepted to the U.S. from the Western Hemisphere, to 20,000 from Latin America and Caribbean, over the next two years. Refugees and asylum-seekers have to meet the same criteria to be allowed into the country, but they arrive through different means.

Border officials are also creating an online appointment portal to help reduce wait times at U.S. ports of entry for those coming legally. It will allow people to set up an appointment to come and ask to be allowed into the country.

At the U.S.-Mexico border, migrants have been denied a chance to seek asylum 2.5 million times since March 2020 under the Title 42 restrictions, introduced as an emergency health measure by Trump to prevent the spread of COVID-19. But there always has been criticism that the restrictions were used as a pretext by the Republican to seal off the border.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-covid-health-mexico-united-states-e9c70f098e0ec0ed7d2403f7cce4a30f">Biden moved to end the Title 42 restrictions</a>, and Republicans sued to keep them. The U.S. Supreme Court has kept the rules in place for now. White House officials say they still believe the restrictions should end, but they maintain they can continue to turn away migrants under immigration law.

The four nationalities that Biden addressed Thursday now make up the majority of those crossing the border illegally. Cubans, who are leaving the island nation in their largest numbers in six decades, were stopped 34,675 times at the U.S. border with Mexico in November, up 21% from October. Nicaraguans, a large reason why El Paso has become the busiest corridor for illegal crossings, were stopped 34,209 times in November, up 65% from October.

But Venezuelans were seen far less at the border after Mexico agreed on Oct. 12 to begin accepting those expelled from the United States. They were stopped 7,931 times, down 64% from October.

Venezuelans have said the changes have been difficult, particularly with finding a sponsor who has the financial resources to demonstrate the ability to support them. And even if they find a sponsor, sometimes they delay their arrival because they don’t have the economic resources to pay for the flight to the U.S. For some, the Venezuelan passport that they need has expired, and they cannot afford to pay for the renewal.

Spagat reported from San Diego. Associated Press writers Rebecca Santana in Washington and Gisela Salomon in Miami contributed to this report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1672938289244.png" alt="President Biden made the announcement just days before a planned visit to El Paso, Texas, on Sunday-White House photo" />
 <figcaption>President Biden made the announcement just days before a planned visit to El Paso, Texas, on Sunday-White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden said Thursday the U.S. would immediately begin turning away Cubans, Haitians and Nicaraguans who cross the border from Mexico illegally, his boldest move yet to confront the arrivals of migrants that have spiraled since he took office two years ago.(Click below to watch the President's comments)<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FWhiteHouse%2Fvideos%2F669572838202564%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=1" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>The new rules expand on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-health-venezuela-caribbean-united-states-d251abc69009e89447cdddf058c162e7">an existing effort to stop Venezuelans</a>&nbsp;attempting to enter the U.S., which began in October and led to a dramatic drop in Venezuelans coming to the southern border. Together, they represent a major change to immigration rules that will stand even if the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/title-42-immigration-limits-supreme-court-updates-0494c30834fad66ce9c6057ea1605d89">Supreme Court ends a Trump-era public health</a>&nbsp;law that allows U.S. authorities to turn away asylum-seekers.“Do not, do not just show up at the border,” Biden said as he announced the changes, even as he acknowledged the hardships that lead many families to make the dangerous journey north.“Stay where you are and apply legally from there,” he advised.Biden made the announcement just days before a planned visit to El Paso, Texas, on Sunday for his first trip to the southern border as president. From there, he will travel on to Mexico City to meet with North American leaders on Monday and Tuesday.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-donald-trump-ap-top-news-guatemala-politics-23f6b9a087e841188c5484cd5cf04f3d">Homeland Security officials said they would begin</a>&nbsp;denying asylum to those who circumvent legal pathways and do not first ask for asylum in the country they traveled through en route to the U.S.Instead, the U.S. will accept 30,000 people per month from the four nations for two years and offer the ability to work legally, as long as they come legally, have eligible sponsors and pass vetting and background checks. Border crossings by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-mexico-john-roberts-9620ffd2acea851c5a6957eab0af763e">migrants from those four nations</a>&nbsp;have risen most sharply, with no easy way to quickly return them to their home countries.“This new process is orderly,” Biden said. “It’s safe and humane, and it works.”The move, while not unexpected, drew swift criticism from asylum and immigration advocates, who have had a rocky relationship with the president.“President Biden correctly recognized today that seeking asylum is a legal right and spoke sympathetically about people fleeing persecution," said Jonathan Blazer, the American Civil Liberties Union’s director of border strategies. “But the plan he announced further ties his administration to the poisonous anti-immigrant policies of the Trump era instead of restoring fair access to asylum protections.”Even with the health law restrictions in place, the president has seen the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-mexico-us-customs-and-border-protection-cuba-immigration-8fbba5bde9afca3f404eaa96bcfd136a">numbers of migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border</a>&nbsp;rise dramatically during his two years in office; there were more than 2.38 million stops during the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, the first time the number topped 2 million. The administration has struggled to clamp down on crossings, reluctant to take hard-line measures that would resemble those of the Trump administration.That’s resulted in relentless criticism from Republicans who say the Democratic president is ineffective on border security, and the newly minted Republican House majority has promised congressional investigations on the matter.The new policy could result in 360,000 people from these four nations lawfully entering the U.S. in a year, a huge number. But far more people from those countries have been attempting to cross into the U.S. on foot, by boat or swimming; migrants from those four countries were stopped 82,286 times in November alone.Enyer Valbuena, a Venezuelan who was living in Tijuana, Mexico, after crossing the border illegally, said Thursday’s announcement came as no surprise but a blow nonetheless.“This was coming. It’s getting more difficult all the time,” he said by text message.Some Venezuelans waiting on Mexico’s border with the U.S. have been talking among themselves if Canada is an option, Valbuena said. He had been waiting for the outcome of the pandemic-related asylum ban before trying to enter the U.S. again and is seeking asylum in Mexico, which offers a much better future than Venezuela.“If it becomes more difficult (to reach the U.S.), the best path is to get papers in Mexico,” said Valbuena, who currently works at a Tijuana factory.Mexico has agreed to accept up to 30,000 migrants each month from the four countries who attempt to walk or swim across the U.S.-Mexico border and are turned back. Normally, these migrants would be returned to their country of origin, but the U.S. can not easily send back people from those four countries for a variety of reasons that include relations with the governments there.Anyone coming to the U.S. is allowed to claim asylum, regardless of how they crossed the border, and migrants seeking a better life in the U.S. often pay smugglers the equivalent of thousands of dollars to deliver them across the dangerous Darien Gap.But the requirements for granting asylum are narrow, and only about 30% of applications are granted. That has created a system in which migrants try to cross between ports of entry and are allowed into the U.S. to wait out their cases. But there is a 2 million-case immigration court backlog, so cases often are not heard for years.The only lasting way to change the system is through Congress, but a bipartisan congressional effort on new immigration laws failed shortly before&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-house-control-79475a4fc11e4375cd0dded651b9eede">Republicans took the House majority.</a>“The actions we’re announcing will make things better, but will not fix the border problem completely," Biden said, in pressing lawmakers to act.Under then-President Donald Trump, the U.S. required asylum seekers to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mexico-immigration-government-and-politics-5c7bb29c829d7f0711b23f9beb18755d">wait across the border in Mexico</a>. But clogs in the immigration system created long delays, leading to fetid, dangerous camps over the border where migrants were forced to wait. That system was ended under Biden, and the migrants who are returned to Mexico under the new rules will not be eligible for asylum.Biden will also triple the number of refugees accepted to the U.S. from the Western Hemisphere, to 20,000 from Latin America and Caribbean, over the next two years. Refugees and asylum-seekers have to meet the same criteria to be allowed into the country, but they arrive through different means.Border officials are also creating an online appointment portal to help reduce wait times at U.S. ports of entry for those coming legally. It will allow people to set up an appointment to come and ask to be allowed into the country.At the U.S.-Mexico border, migrants have been denied a chance to seek asylum 2.5 million times since March 2020 under the Title 42 restrictions, introduced as an emergency health measure by Trump to prevent the spread of COVID-19. But there always has been criticism that the restrictions were used as a pretext by the Republican to seal off the border.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-covid-health-mexico-united-states-e9c70f098e0ec0ed7d2403f7cce4a30f">Biden moved to end the Title 42 restrictions</a>, and Republicans sued to keep them. The U.S. Supreme Court has kept the rules in place for now. White House officials say they still believe the restrictions should end, but they maintain they can continue to turn away migrants under immigration law.The four nationalities that Biden addressed Thursday now make up the majority of those crossing the border illegally. Cubans, who are leaving the island nation in their largest numbers in six decades, were stopped 34,675 times at the U.S. border with Mexico in November, up 21% from October. Nicaraguans, a large reason why El Paso has become the busiest corridor for illegal crossings, were stopped 34,209 times in November, up 65% from October.But Venezuelans were seen far less at the border after Mexico agreed on Oct. 12 to begin accepting those expelled from the United States. They were stopped 7,931 times, down 64% from October.Venezuelans have said the changes have been difficult, particularly with finding a sponsor who has the financial resources to demonstrate the ability to support them. And even if they find a sponsor, sometimes they delay their arrival because they don’t have the economic resources to pay for the flight to the U.S. For some, the Venezuelan passport that they need has expired, and they cannot afford to pay for the renewal.___Spagat reported from San Diego. Associated Press writers Rebecca Santana in Washington and Gisela Salomon in Miami contributed to this report.

🎥Biden to migrants: Do not just show up at the border

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho police pieced together DNA evidence, cellphone data and surveillance video to charge a criminology graduate student with the November slaying of four University of Idaho undergraduates, according to an <a href="https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/23564673/122922-affidavit-exhibit-a-statement-of-brett-payne_redacted.pdf">affidavit</a> unsealed Thursday.

<a href="https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/23564673/122922-affidavit-exhibit-a-statement-of-brett-payne_redacted.pdf">Click here to read </a>the full&nbsp;unsealed affidavit, which explains the basis for Kohberger's arrest,&nbsp;

The <a href="https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/23564673/122922-affidavit-exhibit-a-statement-of-brett-payne_redacted.pdf">affidavit</a> says DNA matching that of 28-year-old Bryan Kohberger was found on a knife sheath recovered at the crime scene, just a short drive across the state border where he is a criminal justice&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/university-of-idaho-students-killings-arrest-b3b1ffd8138827f0bdad16d20e17cf83">doctoral student at Washington State University.</a>

The affidavit also says that a cellphone belonging to Kohberger was near the victims’ home on a dozen occasions prior to the killings, and that while it was apparently turned off around the time of the early-morning attack, cell tower data place his phone in that region of Idaho shortly afterwards.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/idaho-indiana-crime-b3f0d08e8d750a602429cc728e9a639e">Kohberger made his first appearance</a>&nbsp;Thursday in an Idaho court, where he faces four charges of first-degree murder. He did not enter a plea, and was ordered held without bail.

The affidavit details a chilling encounter between one of the victims' surviving roommates and a masked intruder the night of the stabbings in Moscow, Idaho. But many questions remain unanswered, including whether Kohberger and any of the victims knew each other, and why police weren’t alerted until nearly eight hours after the killings likely occurred.

Traces of DNA from a lone male later determined to be Kohberger were found on the button of a leather knife sheath found in the rental home where the victims were killed, according to the affidavit written by Brett Payne, a police corporal in Moscow. Investigators later closely matched the DNA on the sheath to DNA found in trash taken from Kohberger’s parents’ home in Pennsylvania, where he was arrested last week.

The sheath had a U.S. Marine Corps insignia on it, though there's no record of Kohberger having served in the military.

The attack that occurred in the early morning hours of an off-campus home had spread fear throughout the university and surrounding area for weeks, as authorities seemed stumped by the brutal stabbings.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/idaho-boise-1c4c6ada3ef434d9b81d5b3717c00f2a">Investigators made a breakthrough, however, after searching for a white sedan</a>&nbsp;that was seen near the crime scene around the time of the killings.

Surveillance footage captured near the off-campus house showed that a white sedan — later identified as a Hyundai Elantra — drove by the home three times in the early morning hours of Nov. 13, returning a fourth time at about 4:04 a.m. The car was next spotted on surveillance cameras leaving the victims home 16 minutes later “at a high rate of speed,” according to the affidavit. The same car was later spotted on a different camera headed toward Pullman, Washington — the town where Washington State University and Kohberger’s apartment are located.

The affidavit connects some of the dots between the surveillance footage and cellphone data. Kohberger’s phone pinged communications towers in the region at the same time and in the same areas that the white Elantra was seen driving in the hours after the killings, the affidavit says.

The cellphone data included another chilling detail, the affidavit said: It pinged a cell tower near the victims’ neighborhood hours after the attack, around 9 a.m.

Latah County prosecutors have said they believe Kohberger broke into the home with the intention of killing the victims: Kaylee Goncalves, 21; Madison Mogen, 21; Xana Kernodle, 20; and Ethan Chapin, 20. But investigators have made no public statements about a possible motive, or whether any weapons have been found.

Two other housemates were at home during the Nov. 13 killings, but were not physically harmed.

One of the uninjured housemates told investigators that she was awoken by noises at about 4 a.m., and thought she heard another housemate say something like, “there’s someone here.” She looked outside her bedroom and didn’t see anything. Later she thought she heard crying coming from Kernodle’s room and looked outside again. That’s when she said she heard a male voice say something to the effect of, “it’s OK, I’m going to help you,” according to the affidavit.

She later opened her door a third time and saw a masked man in black clothing whom she did not recognize walking toward her and stood in “frozen shock” as he walked past her toward a sliding glass door, the affidavit said. She went back in her room and locked the door.

Investigators believe the suspect then left the home. The document does not say what happened next at the home, or why police were not alerted for several more hours.

Mental health experts say common physiological responses to frightening or traumatic experiences include an urge to fight, an urge to flee, or an urge to freeze.

Location data from Kohberger’s cellphone showed he had traveled to the area of the victims’ residence at least a dozen times between late June and the night of the killings, authorities said.

Those apparent visits to the victims’ neighborhood all occurred late in the evening or in the early morning, the affidavit said. Investigators also obtained location data from the night of the killings, showing that Kohberger’s phone was near his home in Pullman until about 2:42 a.m.

Five minutes later, the phone started using cellular resources located southeast of the home -- consistent with Kohberger traveling south, the affidavit said. There was no other location data available from the phone until 4:48 a.m. — from a cellphone tower south of Moscow — suggesting Kohberger may have turned his phone off during the attack, the affidavit said.

At that point, the phone began taking a roundabout route back to Pullman, traveling south to Genesee, Idaho, then west to Uniontown, Washington and north to Pullman just before 5:30 a.m. -- around the same time the white sedan showed up on surveillance cameras in town.

An FBI expert identified the vehicle as a 2011-2016 Hyundai Elantra; Kohberger was driving a 2015 white Elantra during traffic stops in August and in October, the affidavit said.

At the time,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/videos-605ac2becd6f449a848add3d6ce63828">Kohberger's vehicle had a Pennsylvania license plate</a>&nbsp;and was registered in that state. That registration was set to expire on Nov. 30, however. On Nov. 18 — five days after the killings — Kohberger registered the car in the state of Washington, getting a new license plate.

Kohberger had applied to become an intern with the Pullman Police Department sometime in the fall of 2022, writing in his application essay that he wanted to help rural law enforcement agencies collect and analyze technical data in public safety operations, according to the affidavit. The document does not say if Kohberger was granted the internship.

The Pullman Police Department did not immediately respond to a message from The Associated Press asking if Kohberger ever became an intern with the department.

During Thursday's court hearing, Kohberger appeared with his attorney in an orange jumpsuit and remained silent while the magistrate ordered him not to have contact with the victims’ families. His next hearing was set for Jan. 12.

Some of Goncalves' family members attended the hearing.

“It's obviously an emotional time for the family, seeing the defendant for the first time,” the Goncalves family attorney, Shanon Gray, said outside the courthouse. “This is the beginning of the criminal justice system and the family will be here for the long haul.”

Kohberger's defense attorney, Anne Taylor, did not respond to a request for comment on Thursday. A magistrate judge has placed the attorneys and others involved in the case under a sweeping gag order barring them from talking publicly about the case.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1672924870681.png" alt="Kohberger-photo Latah Co." />
 <figcaption>Kohberger-photo Latah Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho police pieced together DNA evidence, cellphone data and surveillance video to charge a criminology graduate student with the November slaying of four University of Idaho undergraduates, according to an <a href="https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/23564673/122922-affidavit-exhibit-a-statement-of-brett-payne_redacted.pdf">affidavit</a> unsealed Thursday.<a href="https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/23564673/122922-affidavit-exhibit-a-statement-of-brett-payne_redacted.pdf">Click here to read </a>the full&nbsp;unsealed affidavit, which explains the basis for Kohberger's arrest,&nbsp;The <a href="https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/23564673/122922-affidavit-exhibit-a-statement-of-brett-payne_redacted.pdf">affidavit</a> says DNA matching that of 28-year-old Bryan Kohberger was found on a knife sheath recovered at the crime scene, just a short drive across the state border where he is a criminal justice&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/university-of-idaho-students-killings-arrest-b3b1ffd8138827f0bdad16d20e17cf83">doctoral student at Washington State University.</a>The affidavit also says that a cellphone belonging to Kohberger was near the victims’ home on a dozen occasions prior to the killings, and that while it was apparently turned off around the time of the early-morning attack, cell tower data place his phone in that region of Idaho shortly afterwards.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/idaho-indiana-crime-b3f0d08e8d750a602429cc728e9a639e">Kohberger made his first appearance</a>&nbsp;Thursday in an Idaho court, where he faces four charges of first-degree murder. He did not enter a plea, and was ordered held without bail.The affidavit details a chilling encounter between one of the victims' surviving roommates and a masked intruder the night of the stabbings in Moscow, Idaho. But many questions remain unanswered, including whether Kohberger and any of the victims knew each other, and why police weren’t alerted until nearly eight hours after the killings likely occurred.Traces of DNA from a lone male later determined to be Kohberger were found on the button of a leather knife sheath found in the rental home where the victims were killed, according to the affidavit written by Brett Payne, a police corporal in Moscow. Investigators later closely matched the DNA on the sheath to DNA found in trash taken from Kohberger’s parents’ home in Pennsylvania, where he was arrested last week.The sheath had a U.S. Marine Corps insignia on it, though there's no record of Kohberger having served in the military.The attack that occurred in the early morning hours of an off-campus home had spread fear throughout the university and surrounding area for weeks, as authorities seemed stumped by the brutal stabbings.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/idaho-boise-1c4c6ada3ef434d9b81d5b3717c00f2a">Investigators made a breakthrough, however, after searching for a white sedan</a>&nbsp;that was seen near the crime scene around the time of the killings.Surveillance footage captured near the off-campus house showed that a white sedan — later identified as a Hyundai Elantra — drove by the home three times in the early morning hours of Nov. 13, returning a fourth time at about 4:04 a.m. The car was next spotted on surveillance cameras leaving the victims home 16 minutes later “at a high rate of speed,” according to the affidavit. The same car was later spotted on a different camera headed toward Pullman, Washington — the town where Washington State University and Kohberger’s apartment are located.The affidavit connects some of the dots between the surveillance footage and cellphone data. Kohberger’s phone pinged communications towers in the region at the same time and in the same areas that the white Elantra was seen driving in the hours after the killings, the affidavit says.The cellphone data included another chilling detail, the affidavit said: It pinged a cell tower near the victims’ neighborhood hours after the attack, around 9 a.m.Latah County prosecutors have said they believe Kohberger broke into the home with the intention of killing the victims: Kaylee Goncalves, 21; Madison Mogen, 21; Xana Kernodle, 20; and Ethan Chapin, 20. But investigators have made no public statements about a possible motive, or whether any weapons have been found.Two other housemates were at home during the Nov. 13 killings, but were not physically harmed.One of the uninjured housemates told investigators that she was awoken by noises at about 4 a.m., and thought she heard another housemate say something like, “there’s someone here.” She looked outside her bedroom and didn’t see anything. Later she thought she heard crying coming from Kernodle’s room and looked outside again. That’s when she said she heard a male voice say something to the effect of, “it’s OK, I’m going to help you,” according to the affidavit.She later opened her door a third time and saw a masked man in black clothing whom she did not recognize walking toward her and stood in “frozen shock” as he walked past her toward a sliding glass door, the affidavit said. She went back in her room and locked the door.Investigators believe the suspect then left the home. The document does not say what happened next at the home, or why police were not alerted for several more hours.Mental health experts say common physiological responses to frightening or traumatic experiences include an urge to fight, an urge to flee, or an urge to freeze.Location data from Kohberger’s cellphone showed he had traveled to the area of the victims’ residence at least a dozen times between late June and the night of the killings, authorities said.Those apparent visits to the victims’ neighborhood all occurred late in the evening or in the early morning, the affidavit said. Investigators also obtained location data from the night of the killings, showing that Kohberger’s phone was near his home in Pullman until about 2:42 a.m.Five minutes later, the phone started using cellular resources located southeast of the home -- consistent with Kohberger traveling south, the affidavit said. There was no other location data available from the phone until 4:48 a.m. — from a cellphone tower south of Moscow — suggesting Kohberger may have turned his phone off during the attack, the affidavit said.At that point, the phone began taking a roundabout route back to Pullman, traveling south to Genesee, Idaho, then west to Uniontown, Washington and north to Pullman just before 5:30 a.m. -- around the same time the white sedan showed up on surveillance cameras in town.An FBI expert identified the vehicle as a 2011-2016 Hyundai Elantra; Kohberger was driving a 2015 white Elantra during traffic stops in August and in October, the affidavit said.At the time,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/videos-605ac2becd6f449a848add3d6ce63828">Kohberger's vehicle had a Pennsylvania license plate</a>&nbsp;and was registered in that state. That registration was set to expire on Nov. 30, however. On Nov. 18 — five days after the killings — Kohberger registered the car in the state of Washington, getting a new license plate.Kohberger had applied to become an intern with the Pullman Police Department sometime in the fall of 2022, writing in his application essay that he wanted to help rural law enforcement agencies collect and analyze technical data in public safety operations, according to the affidavit. The document does not say if Kohberger was granted the internship.The Pullman Police Department did not immediately respond to a message from The Associated Press asking if Kohberger ever became an intern with the department.During Thursday's court hearing, Kohberger appeared with his attorney in an orange jumpsuit and remained silent while the magistrate ordered him not to have contact with the victims’ families. His next hearing was set for Jan. 12.Some of Goncalves' family members attended the hearing.“It's obviously an emotional time for the family, seeing the defendant for the first time,” the Goncalves family attorney, Shanon Gray, said outside the courthouse. “This is the beginning of the criminal justice system and the family will be here for the long haul.”Kohberger's defense attorney, Anne Taylor, did not respond to a request for comment on Thursday. A magistrate judge has placed the attorneys and others involved in the case under a sweeping gag order barring them from talking publicly about the case.___

Read the full police affidavit in the Idaho college murders

Mary M. Cripe, 91, died on Tuesday, December 27, 2022, at Citizen’s 
Health. A resident of Colby since 1974, she was born on October 23, 
1931, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to Thompson H. Everingham and Mary 
Elder Everingham. 
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Jack Cripe; brother Thompson Everingham and her sister Dorothy Call. 
She is survived by her son John Pavlovic of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and by two grandsons. 
Mary’s Antiques and Gifts was a thriving business in Colby for 20 years.
 Mary closed the store when Jack died in 1995 but continued the business
 through consignment shops. 
She traveled often, had many friends and was loved for her sense of humor, kind nature, and welcoming attitude toward all. 
A graveside service was January 4, 2023, at Beulah 
Cemetery in Colby, KS. For information or condolences, visit 
www.baalmannmortuary.com&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

Mary M. Cripe, 91, died on Tuesday, December 27, 2022, at Citizen’s 
Health. A resident of Colby since 1974, she was born on October 23, 
1931, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to Thompson H. Everingham and Mary 
Elder Everingham. 
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Jack Cripe; brother Thompson Everingham and her sister Dorothy Call. 
She is survived by her son John Pavlovic of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and by two grandsons. 
Mary’s Antiques and Gifts was a thriving business in Colby for 20 years.
 Mary closed the store when Jack died in 1995 but continued the business
 through consignment shops. 
She traveled often, had many friends and was loved for her sense of humor, kind nature, and welcoming attitude toward all. 
A graveside service was January 4, 2023, at Beulah 
Cemetery in Colby, KS. For information or condolences, visit 
www.baalmannmortuary.com&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

Mary M. Cripe

Imelda Mae “Millie” Karlin, 88, Hays, passed away on January 3, 2023, at Via Christi Village in Hays.&nbsp;

She was born May 23, 1934, in Ellis, 
Kansas, the daughter of Florian and Clara (Rohleder) Engel.&nbsp; On October 
24, 1955, she was united in marriage to Marvin Karlin at St. Mary’s 
Catholic Church in Ellis.&nbsp; He preceded her in death on January 9, 1993.&nbsp;
 Millie worked at Farm Bureau Insurance Company for 25 years and then 
for USDA Rural Development office for 27 years, retiring in 2001.&nbsp; She 
kept active and social in various community organizations throughout her
 lifetime, serving on the Parish Council and as a Perpetual Adorer at 
Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish.&nbsp; She was a member of the Daughters of 
Isabella Circle #254 for 65 years and was selected as the Kansas 
Daughter of the Year in 2002.&nbsp; Millie was active in the local chapter of
 AARP where she enjoyed many lively conversations and made new friends, 
and was named Woman of the Year in the Hays Business and Professional 
Women’s Club, coordinating the Jerry Lewis Telethon at the Hays Mall and
 forming lifelong friendships.&nbsp; She was most proud of being a Senior 
Companion for over 21 years, helping numerous seniors and their families
 remain in their homes.&nbsp;

Millie had an incredible work ethic and
 when she wasn’t working or volunteering, she loved traveling to see her
 daughters and grandchildren.&nbsp; She was also very proud to be an Ellis 
native and a 1951 graduate of Ellis High School.&nbsp; Her heart always beat a
 “little bit faster” she said when she entered the city limits of Ellis.

Millie is survived by two daughters, 
Beth Malatin (Mike) of Enid, OK and Mary Akagi (Brett) of Lenexa, KS; 
two sisters, Norma Sander of Great Bend and Elgerine Gross of Hays; four
 grandchildren, Mikaela and Meredith Malatin and Kyler and Cameron 
Akagi.

She was preceded in death by her 
parents, her husband Marvin, by three brothers, Clayton, Darrell, and 
Verlin (Butch) Engel, and by one sister, Phyllis Stuart.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 
10:00 am on Saturday, January 7, 2023, at Immaculate Heart of Mary 
Catholic Church, Hays.&nbsp; Burial will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery.&nbsp; 
Visitation will be from 5:00 pm until 8:00 on Friday and from 9:00 am 
until 9:45 on Saturday, all at the Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home.&nbsp; A
 Daughters of Isabella rosary will be at 5:30 and a parish vigil service
 will be at 6:30, both on Friday at the funeral home.&nbsp; 

In lieu of 
flowers, the family suggests memorials in Millie’s memory to the Senior 
Companions at FHSU or to Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church.&nbsp; 
Condolences and memories of Millie may be shared with the family at <a href="http://www.haysmemorial.com">www.haysmemorial.com</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1672928159147.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Imelda Mae “Millie” Karlin, 88, Hays, passed away on January 3, 2023, at Via Christi Village in Hays.&nbsp;She was born May 23, 1934, in Ellis, 
Kansas, the daughter of Florian and Clara (Rohleder) Engel.&nbsp; On October 
24, 1955, she was united in marriage to Marvin Karlin at St. Mary’s 
Catholic Church in Ellis.&nbsp; He preceded her in death on January 9, 1993.&nbsp;
 Millie worked at Farm Bureau Insurance Company for 25 years and then 
for USDA Rural Development office for 27 years, retiring in 2001.&nbsp; She 
kept active and social in various community organizations throughout her
 lifetime, serving on the Parish Council and as a Perpetual Adorer at 
Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish.&nbsp; She was a member of the Daughters of 
Isabella Circle #254 for 65 years and was selected as the Kansas 
Daughter of the Year in 2002.&nbsp; Millie was active in the local chapter of
 AARP where she enjoyed many lively conversations and made new friends, 
and was named Woman of the Year in the Hays Business and Professional 
Women’s Club, coordinating the Jerry Lewis Telethon at the Hays Mall and
 forming lifelong friendships.&nbsp; She was most proud of being a Senior 
Companion for over 21 years, helping numerous seniors and their families
 remain in their homes.&nbsp;Millie had an incredible work ethic and
 when she wasn’t working or volunteering, she loved traveling to see her
 daughters and grandchildren.&nbsp; She was also very proud to be an Ellis 
native and a 1951 graduate of Ellis High School.&nbsp; Her heart always beat a
 “little bit faster” she said when she entered the city limits of Ellis.Millie is survived by two daughters, 
Beth Malatin (Mike) of Enid, OK and Mary Akagi (Brett) of Lenexa, KS; 
two sisters, Norma Sander of Great Bend and Elgerine Gross of Hays; four
 grandchildren, Mikaela and Meredith Malatin and Kyler and Cameron 
Akagi.She was preceded in death by her 
parents, her husband Marvin, by three brothers, Clayton, Darrell, and 
Verlin (Butch) Engel, and by one sister, Phyllis Stuart.Mass of Christian Burial will be at 
10:00 am on Saturday, January 7, 2023, at Immaculate Heart of Mary 
Catholic Church, Hays.&nbsp; Burial will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery.&nbsp; 
Visitation will be from 5:00 pm until 8:00 on Friday and from 9:00 am 
until 9:45 on Saturday, all at the Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home.&nbsp; A
 Daughters of Isabella rosary will be at 5:30 and a parish vigil service
 will be at 6:30, both on Friday at the funeral home.&nbsp; In lieu of 
flowers, the family suggests memorials in Millie’s memory to the Senior 
Companions at FHSU or to Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church.&nbsp; 
Condolences and memories of Millie may be shared with the family at <a href="http://www.haysmemorial.com">www.haysmemorial.com</a>

Imelda Mae 'Millie' Karlin

Marilyn Jolene (Rousey) Walker, age 92 was called to rest on January 3rd, 2023, at the WEL-Life Assisted Living in Ogallala, NE Marilyn, the only child of Orla (pronounced Or-lay) and Helen (Ruettimann) Rousey was born October 6th, 1930 at Hamlet, NE. &nbsp;She attended grade school in Hamlet and attended High school at Wauneta, NE graduating with the class of 1948. Marilyn attended and earned a teaching certificate from Kearney State 
Teachers College, now known as University of Nebraska at Kearney. She 
taught 3 years at rural schools in Hayes County. On December 23, 
1951, she married Frank Priest in the Hamlet Union Church. Four children
 were born to this union. Eldon Delynn, Gerald Eugene, Jolene Rose and 
Orla Jean. During these years they moved often with their work of 
construction. Living in several towns in Nebraska plus the states of 
Colorado, South Dakota, Texas, Kansas, Oklahoma and Tennessee. Her 
husband lost his life in their trailer house fire in 1959 at Bogue, KS. 
Marilyn and children moved back to Hamlet NE to be near family and 
friends. Marilyn married L.E. “Oney” Walker, on February 19th, 1965,&nbsp; in the Methodist Church in Culbertson, NE and making their home in 
Hamlet, NE. In May of 1971, Marilyn took the position at the Hamlet
 Post Office and served as Postmaster for 25 and ½ years, retiring in 
1997. Also during those years, she and Oney owned and operated the 
“Walker’s Service” in Hamlet for 11 years. Marilyn was a member of 
the Hamlet Union Church; A Charter and Life Member of the V.F.W. Ladies 
Auxiliary at Palisade, NE; A member of the American Legion Auxiliary in 
Wauneta, NE. Served on the Meadow Lawn Cemetery Board for nearly 37 
years. Marilyn moved to Ogallala, NE in March of 1999 to live closer to her daughter, Orla and family. 
 Preceding her in death: son, Eldon, being 7 weeks shy of his third 
birthday in March of 1957; daughter, Jolene Heldenbrand in May of 2007; 
husband, Frank Priest in January of 1959, her father, O.H. Rousey in 
February of 1968; her mother, Helen Rousey in February of 1991; her 
husband, L.E. Walker in October of 1987; Step-son, Clyde “Junior” Walker
 in May 2006; her Aunt, Pauline Haenfler in September of 2009 and 
husband Edward “Ed” Haenfler in December of 2006. A very dear Aunt,
 Rosa Ruettimann, in April of 1980 who Marilyn said was her second 
mother. Plus, many other Aunt’s, Uncle’s and relatives. Survivors include: son, Gerald (Cheryl) Priest of Julesburg, CO; 
daughter Orla (Ron) Kitt of Ogallala, NE; son-in-law, Rick (Lee Ann) 
Heldenbrand of Lincoln, NE.

5 granddaughter’s, Brandie Kitt 
(Jarrod) Curtis of Ogallala, NE; Marcie Kitt (Jason) Houghtelling of 
Cambridge, NE; Jessie Heldenbrand of Lincoln, NE; Elie Heldenbrand 
(Billy) Stovall all of Lincoln NE; Abbie Heldenbrand (Matt) Doran of 
Boone, IA; &nbsp;Great Grandchildren, Eric Heldenbrand, Brye, Cole and 
Rynn Stovall, Kylie, Jace and Lainey Doran, Tai Le and Jessa Curtis, 
Kyrie, Colbie and Cici Houghtelling. Many other relatives and friends. 
 Funeral Services will be held on Monday morning, January 9, 2023, 11:00
 A.M. (Central Time) at the Hamlet Union Church, Hamlet, Nebraska, with 
Pastor Nathan Witt officiating. Interment will follow in the Meadow Lawn
 Cemetery, Hamlet, NE. Visitation will be held Sunday afternoon, 
January 8, 2023, 2:00 P.M.-6:00 P.M. (Mountain Time) at Liewer Funeral 
Home, Wauneta, Nebraska. A memorial, In Marilyn’s Memory, has been suggested to the Walker Family for a future designation. Online condolences may be left at liewerfuneralhome.com&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1672924836208.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Marilyn Jolene (Rousey) Walker, age 92 was called to rest on January 3rd, 2023, at the WEL-Life Assisted Living in Ogallala, NE Marilyn, the only child of Orla (pronounced Or-lay) and Helen (Ruettimann) Rousey was born October 6th, 1930 at Hamlet, NE. &nbsp;She attended grade school in Hamlet and attended High school at Wauneta, NE graduating with the class of 1948. Marilyn attended and earned a teaching certificate from Kearney State 
Teachers College, now known as University of Nebraska at Kearney. She 
taught 3 years at rural schools in Hayes County. On December 23, 
1951, she married Frank Priest in the Hamlet Union Church. Four children
 were born to this union. Eldon Delynn, Gerald Eugene, Jolene Rose and 
Orla Jean. During these years they moved often with their work of 
construction. Living in several towns in Nebraska plus the states of 
Colorado, South Dakota, Texas, Kansas, Oklahoma and Tennessee. Her 
husband lost his life in their trailer house fire in 1959 at Bogue, KS. 
Marilyn and children moved back to Hamlet NE to be near family and 
friends. Marilyn married L.E. “Oney” Walker, on February 19th, 1965,&nbsp; in the Methodist Church in Culbertson, NE and making their home in 
Hamlet, NE. In May of 1971, Marilyn took the position at the Hamlet
 Post Office and served as Postmaster for 25 and ½ years, retiring in 
1997. Also during those years, she and Oney owned and operated the 
“Walker’s Service” in Hamlet for 11 years. Marilyn was a member of 
the Hamlet Union Church; A Charter and Life Member of the V.F.W. Ladies 
Auxiliary at Palisade, NE; A member of the American Legion Auxiliary in 
Wauneta, NE. Served on the Meadow Lawn Cemetery Board for nearly 37 
years. Marilyn moved to Ogallala, NE in March of 1999 to live closer to her daughter, Orla and family. 
 Preceding her in death: son, Eldon, being 7 weeks shy of his third 
birthday in March of 1957; daughter, Jolene Heldenbrand in May of 2007; 
husband, Frank Priest in January of 1959, her father, O.H. Rousey in 
February of 1968; her mother, Helen Rousey in February of 1991; her 
husband, L.E. Walker in October of 1987; Step-son, Clyde “Junior” Walker
 in May 2006; her Aunt, Pauline Haenfler in September of 2009 and 
husband Edward “Ed” Haenfler in December of 2006. A very dear Aunt,
 Rosa Ruettimann, in April of 1980 who Marilyn said was her second 
mother. Plus, many other Aunt’s, Uncle’s and relatives. Survivors include: son, Gerald (Cheryl) Priest of Julesburg, CO; 
daughter Orla (Ron) Kitt of Ogallala, NE; son-in-law, Rick (Lee Ann) 
Heldenbrand of Lincoln, NE.5 granddaughter’s, Brandie Kitt 
(Jarrod) Curtis of Ogallala, NE; Marcie Kitt (Jason) Houghtelling of 
Cambridge, NE; Jessie Heldenbrand of Lincoln, NE; Elie Heldenbrand 
(Billy) Stovall all of Lincoln NE; Abbie Heldenbrand (Matt) Doran of 
Boone, IA; &nbsp;Great Grandchildren, Eric Heldenbrand, Brye, Cole and 
Rynn Stovall, Kylie, Jace and Lainey Doran, Tai Le and Jessa Curtis, 
Kyrie, Colbie and Cici Houghtelling. Many other relatives and friends. 
 Funeral Services will be held on Monday morning, January 9, 2023, 11:00
 A.M. (Central Time) at the Hamlet Union Church, Hamlet, Nebraska, with 
Pastor Nathan Witt officiating. Interment will follow in the Meadow Lawn
 Cemetery, Hamlet, NE. Visitation will be held Sunday afternoon, 
January 8, 2023, 2:00 P.M.-6:00 P.M. (Mountain Time) at Liewer Funeral 
Home, Wauneta, Nebraska. A memorial, In Marilyn’s Memory, has been suggested to the Walker Family for a future designation. Online condolences may be left at liewerfuneralhome.com&nbsp;

Marilyn Jolene (Rousey) Walker

Members of St. Michael's Episcopal Church had a simple idea — they wanted to feed people.

Nothing fancy — just a couple of dozen spaghetti dinners are served from 6:30 to 7 p.m. every Thursday night with no questions asked. 

Individuals or families — up to five people per car — can drive through the church parking lot, 2900 Canal Blvd., for a free meal, which also includes fresh fruit or vegetables, a roll and a cookie.

Any food that is not given out on Thursday nights goes into the fridge and is delivered as a noon meal to First Call for Help, a Hays agency that helps needy individuals and families.

Wyatt Morrell, Feeding Hays volunteer, said often people are waiting in line on Friday for the meals to arrive. She said she suspects transportation is an issue and some can't make it to the church on Thursday nights.

The food for the Thursday night dinners is either donated or paid for by local sponsors. A local family donates the meat from their own animals. The program is run completely by volunteers.

Donations for the meals are not required. The program will accept donations for meals, but all of those funds go to the Hays USD 489 nutrition program to pay for meals for students whose families may need help but may not qualify for free meals.

"I had heard on the radio that parents were going to have to pay for meals again this year, and I thought how awful that must be for two years not to have to come up with meals and then have to again," Morrell said.

"I brought it up to my pastor and said this is what I want to do is feed a free meal every Thursday and ask for donations and those donations go to student lunches."

The program has been up and running since October. The program has donated more than $300 to the USD 489 school lunch program.

"Our goal is that parents shouldn't have to worry too much about money for food for their kids," they said.

Morrell said the program has served all types of people, including elderly individuals who would not otherwise have a hot meal and people who were short on cash at the end of a pay period. 

"The cutest response was from a guy who saw the signs and came in and asked if it was real," Morrell said. "He did a little dance in the parking lot.

"We've had other people who have come and given us their last dollar. If that's the case, we always try to get them to keep that money. They're just so grateful. We've had other people who came and said 'I'm just so glad I don't have to cook tonight.'"

The volunteer crew is small — five to seven people per night — but the meal is so simple it only takes them about an hour and a half to prep and distribute the meals.

Morrell said the biggest challenge has been getting the word out to the community.

Businesses, individuals or organizations that are interested in sponsoring meals or donating food can do so by emailing Morrell at <a href="mailto:whitneymorrell88@gmail.com">whitneymorrell88@gmail.com</a> or contact St. Michael's Episcopal Church at 785-628-8442.

You can also follow the program through <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/2047485065448690">Facebook</a>. If the weather is inclement, meals will not be served. Check Facebook for updates.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1672778084341.jpeg" alt="Feeding Hays volunteer Brooke McCormick dishes out spaghetti for free dinners as volunteers Abby Gergick, left, and Wyatt Morrell, look on. Free spaghetti dinners are offered from 6:30 to 7 p.m. every Thursday night at St. Micahel's Episcopal Church in Hays. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post " />
 <figcaption>Feeding Hays volunteer Brooke McCormick dishes out spaghetti for free dinners as volunteers Abby Gergick, left, and Wyatt Morrell, look on. Free spaghetti dinners are offered from 6:30 to 7 p.m. every Thursday night at St. Micahel's Episcopal Church in Hays. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post </figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostMembers of St. Michael's Episcopal Church had a simple idea — they wanted to feed people.Nothing fancy — just a couple of dozen spaghetti dinners are served from 6:30 to 7 p.m. every Thursday night with no questions asked. Individuals or families — up to five people per car — can drive through the church parking lot, 2900 Canal Blvd., for a free meal, which also includes fresh fruit or vegetables, a roll and a cookie. Any food that is not given out on Thursday nights goes into the fridge and is delivered as a noon meal to First Call for Help, a Hays agency that helps needy individuals and families.Wyatt Morrell, Feeding Hays volunteer, said often people are waiting in line on Friday for the meals to arrive. She said she suspects transportation is an issue and some can't make it to the church on Thursday nights.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1672778325846.jpeg" alt="St. Micahel's Episcopal Church offers free spaghetti dinners every Thursday night at the church. Donations are accepted, but not required. Extra food goes to First Call for Help on Fridays. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post " />
 <figcaption>St. Micahel's Episcopal Church offers free spaghetti dinners every Thursday night at the church. Donations are accepted, but not required. Extra food goes to First Call for Help on Fridays. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post </figcaption>
 </figure>The food for the Thursday night dinners is either donated or paid for by local sponsors. A local family donates the meat from their own animals. The program is run completely by volunteers.Donations for the meals are not required. The program will accept donations for meals, but all of those funds go to the Hays USD 489 nutrition program to pay for meals for students whose families may need help but may not qualify for free meals."I had heard on the radio that parents were going to have to pay for meals again this year, and I thought how awful that must be for two years not to have to come up with meals and then have to again," Morrell said. "I brought it up to my pastor and said this is what I want to do is feed a free meal every Thursday and ask for donations and those donations go to student lunches." The program has been up and running since October. The program has donated more than $300 to the USD 489 school lunch program.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1672778444646.jpeg" alt="Feeding Hays is a mission of St. Micahel's Episcopal Church in Hays. Any donations made for the meals go to the Hays USD 489 school lunch program to help feed children in need. " />
 <figcaption>Feeding Hays is a mission of St. Micahel's Episcopal Church in Hays. Any donations made for the meals go to the Hays USD 489 school lunch program to help feed children in need. </figcaption>
 </figure>"Our goal is that parents shouldn't have to worry too much about money for food for their kids," they said. Morrell said the program has served all types of people, including elderly individuals who would not otherwise have a hot meal and people who were short on cash at the end of a pay period. "The cutest response was from a guy who saw the signs and came in and asked if it was real," Morrell said. "He did a little dance in the parking lot."We've had other people who have come and given us their last dollar. If that's the case, we always try to get them to keep that money. They're just so grateful. We've had other people who came and said 'I'm just so glad I don't have to cook tonight.'" The volunteer crew is small — five to seven people per night — but the meal is so simple it only takes them about an hour and a half to prep and distribute the meals.Morrell said the biggest challenge has been getting the word out to the community.Businesses, individuals or organizations that are interested in sponsoring meals or donating food can do so by emailing Morrell at <a href="mailto:whitneymorrell88@gmail.com">whitneymorrell88@gmail.com</a> or contact St. Michael's Episcopal Church at 785-628-8442.You can also follow the program through <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/2047485065448690">Facebook</a>. If the weather is inclement, meals will not be served. Check Facebook for updates.

Hays church offers free Thursday night spaghetti dinners

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs activated wide receiver Mecole Hardman from injured reserve on Wednesday, less than an hour before the deadline to decide whether to place him on the active roster or end his season, though it's unclear whether he will play this weekend in Las Vegas.

Hardman has not played since Week 9 because of an abdominal injury. He was designated to return on Dec. 14, opening a three-week window in which he could practice. And the Chiefs were optimistic that he could play in last Sunday's win over Denver until Hardman experienced what coach Andy Reid called “a setback” during practice.

The Chiefs cleared roster space for Hardman by waiving backup offensive lineman Geron Christian.

The AFC West champions will no doubt get a boost from Hardman, one of the fastest wide receivers in the league, who had scored five touchdowns — three through the air and two on the ground — in the three games prior to his injury.

In fact, they have hardly played with their full complement of wide receivers because JuJu Smith-Schuster missed a game to concussion protocol and Kadarius Toney was out with a hamstring injury shortly after his trade from the Giants.

Still, the high-flying Chiefs are No. 1 in the league in scoring (29.1 points per game), total offense (417.7 yards), passing yards (305.1) and yards per play (6.4). They're also second in third down conversion rate, their red zone touchdown rate and sacks allowed, and they are one of the least-penalized teams in the league.

The Chiefs also made a couple of practice squad moves Wednesday, signing former Kansas defensive tackle Daniel Wise and releasing wide receiver Brian Edwards. Wise appeared in 17 games for the Commanders the past two seasons.

The Chiefs, who at 13-3 are a half-game ahead of Buffalo for the best record in the AFC, play the Raiders on Saturday night in their regular-season finale. The Bills, who hold a tiebreaker over Kansas City after their head-to-head win in October, play the Patriots on Sunday, though it remains unclear whether their game against Cincinnati will be completed.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs activated wide receiver Mecole Hardman from injured reserve on Wednesday, less than an hour before the deadline to decide whether to place him on the active roster or end his season, though it's unclear whether he will play this weekend in Las Vegas.Hardman has not played since Week 9 because of an abdominal injury. He was designated to return on Dec. 14, opening a three-week window in which he could practice. And the Chiefs were optimistic that he could play in last Sunday's win over Denver until Hardman experienced what coach Andy Reid called “a setback” during practice.The Chiefs cleared roster space for Hardman by waiving backup offensive lineman Geron Christian.The AFC West champions will no doubt get a boost from Hardman, one of the fastest wide receivers in the league, who had scored five touchdowns — three through the air and two on the ground — in the three games prior to his injury.In fact, they have hardly played with their full complement of wide receivers because JuJu Smith-Schuster missed a game to concussion protocol and Kadarius Toney was out with a hamstring injury shortly after his trade from the Giants.Still, the high-flying Chiefs are No. 1 in the league in scoring (29.1 points per game), total offense (417.7 yards), passing yards (305.1) and yards per play (6.4). They're also second in third down conversion rate, their red zone touchdown rate and sacks allowed, and they are one of the least-penalized teams in the league.The Chiefs also made a couple of practice squad moves Wednesday, signing former Kansas defensive tackle Daniel Wise and releasing wide receiver Brian Edwards. Wise appeared in 17 games for the Commanders the past two seasons.The Chiefs, who at 13-3 are a half-game ahead of Buffalo for the best record in the AFC, play the Raiders on Saturday night in their regular-season finale. The Bills, who hold a tiebreaker over Kansas City after their head-to-head win in October, play the Patriots on Sunday, though it remains unclear whether their game against Cincinnati will be completed.

🏈 Chiefs activate WR Mecole Hardman off injured reserve

Scott Lee Henry, of Salina, KS, passed peacefully on December 7, 2022,&nbsp; at the age of 59. He was born October 30, 1963, in Great Bend, KS.

Scott grew up in Salina, KS, graduating from Salina High School 
South. He worked for many years at Tony’s Pizza in the warehouse and 
parts room.&nbsp; Later Scott worked for Stryten Manufacturing in the parts 
department. Scott was a loyal and hardworking employee.

Scott’s love was fishing, and he spent many nights on a fishing 
bank.&nbsp; As a country music fan, he looked forward to attending the 
Country Stampede several years in a row.

He is survived by his mother Carolyn Gage and his stepfather, Dwight 
Gage; two sisters, Brenda Henry and Wendy (David) Sommers; step brother,
 Robert (Melanie) Gage; and his nieces and nephew, Amie Sommers, Nathan 
Gage, and Alisha Gage.

He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Robert and 
Louise Olmstead; step grandparents, Leonard and Olive Gage; and father, 
Ralph Henry.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, January 21, 2023, at First Baptist Church, 843 Lewis Ave, Salina, KS.

Memorials may be made to Hope Lodge, Kansas City, MO, care of Ryan Mortuary, Salina.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670700134548.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Scott Lee Henry, of Salina, KS, passed peacefully on December 7, 2022,&nbsp; at the age of 59. He was born October 30, 1963, in Great Bend, KS.Scott grew up in Salina, KS, graduating from Salina High School 
South. He worked for many years at Tony’s Pizza in the warehouse and 
parts room.&nbsp; Later Scott worked for Stryten Manufacturing in the parts 
department. Scott was a loyal and hardworking employee.Scott’s love was fishing, and he spent many nights on a fishing 
bank.&nbsp; As a country music fan, he looked forward to attending the 
Country Stampede several years in a row.He is survived by his mother Carolyn Gage and his stepfather, Dwight 
Gage; two sisters, Brenda Henry and Wendy (David) Sommers; step brother,
 Robert (Melanie) Gage; and his nieces and nephew, Amie Sommers, Nathan 
Gage, and Alisha Gage.He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Robert and 
Louise Olmstead; step grandparents, Leonard and Olive Gage; and father, 
Ralph Henry.A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, January 21, 2023, at First Baptist Church, 843 Lewis Ave, Salina, KS.Memorials may be made to Hope Lodge, Kansas City, MO, care of Ryan Mortuary, Salina.

Scott Lee Henry

Jerita&nbsp;O’Bryan, age 82, passed away Thursday, December 29th, 2022, at Hays Medical Center. She was born October 28th, 1940, in Shreveport, Louisiana, to Estell Horn.

Jerita&nbsp;attended Mount Carmel High School in Florien, LA. She wore many hats throughout her life. She was a military wife for 38 years, moving frequently with each endeavor, always landing on her feet and ready to make the next place home for her family. She worked many jobs from being a stay-at-home mom, cashier, clerk, grade school secretary, and retired from the City of Hugoton as a power plant operator of 19 years.

On April 30th, 1956, she married her husband of 57 years, Lonnie Irvin O’Bryan, in Sabine Parish, Louisiana, who passed away on November 10th, 2013. During their marriage, they had three children, Lonnie (Buddy), Tracy and Kerry.

Jerita&nbsp;loved her flower garden, planting trees, birds (especially cardinals), doing ceramics, sewing, and crocheting&nbsp;afghans&nbsp;for her family. She also supported animal rescue and 4-H.

In her later years,&nbsp;Jerita’s&nbsp;retirement was spent selflessly raising an unexpected second family of three very young grandchildren with her husband, taking very little time for herself. They moved to Wakefield, Kansas in 2003, with a view of Milford Lake, which her grandchildren very much enjoyed as they grew up and went to school.

In May of 2021, she moved to western Kansas to be closer to family and to have the help she needed along the way, as she finally admitted she could no longer do it alone. She was preceded in death by her mother, Estell, husband Lonnie and granddaughter Karly&nbsp;Werry.

Jerita&nbsp;is survived by three children, son Lonnie O’Bryan &amp; wife Dona of Carlton, daughter Tracy Noel &amp; husband Vincent of Gove, and son Kerry O’Bryan of Shelbina. Seven grandchildren, Sean O’Bryan &amp; wife Jeanine; Zane O’Bryan &amp; wife Rosalie; Devin O’Bryan &amp; wife Mariah, Ruby Noel,&nbsp;Ivee&nbsp;Noel, Gillian O’Bryan, and&nbsp;Shoshannah&nbsp;Estell; and seven great-grandchildren, Cora &amp; Adrian&nbsp;Werry; Seven &amp; Silas O’Bryan;&nbsp;Dreyson&nbsp;Noel-Harvey; Alyssa &amp; Julius O’Bryan.

No Services were requested. In inurnment at a later date at the WaKeeney Veterans Cemetery in WaKeeney, KS

Memorial contributions are suggested to Wakefield Public Library, 205 3rd St, Wakefield, KS 67487, or Faithful Friends Cemetery, 1442 Barn Road, Solomon, KS 67480. &nbsp;Donations may be sent to Schmitt Funeral Home, 336 North 12th&nbsp;Street, WaKeeney, KS, 67672&nbsp;

Condolences may be left for the family by visiting www.schmittfuneral.com&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1672784967640.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Jerita&nbsp;O’Bryan, age 82, passed away Thursday, December 29th, 2022, at Hays Medical Center. She was born October 28th, 1940, in Shreveport, Louisiana, to Estell Horn.Jerita&nbsp;attended Mount Carmel High School in Florien, LA. She wore many hats throughout her life. She was a military wife for 38 years, moving frequently with each endeavor, always landing on her feet and ready to make the next place home for her family. She worked many jobs from being a stay-at-home mom, cashier, clerk, grade school secretary, and retired from the City of Hugoton as a power plant operator of 19 years.On April 30th, 1956, she married her husband of 57 years, Lonnie Irvin O’Bryan, in Sabine Parish, Louisiana, who passed away on November 10th, 2013. During their marriage, they had three children, Lonnie (Buddy), Tracy and Kerry.Jerita&nbsp;loved her flower garden, planting trees, birds (especially cardinals), doing ceramics, sewing, and crocheting&nbsp;afghans&nbsp;for her family. She also supported animal rescue and 4-H.In her later years,&nbsp;Jerita’s&nbsp;retirement was spent selflessly raising an unexpected second family of three very young grandchildren with her husband, taking very little time for herself. They moved to Wakefield, Kansas in 2003, with a view of Milford Lake, which her grandchildren very much enjoyed as they grew up and went to school.In May of 2021, she moved to western Kansas to be closer to family and to have the help she needed along the way, as she finally admitted she could no longer do it alone. She was preceded in death by her mother, Estell, husband Lonnie and granddaughter Karly&nbsp;Werry.Jerita&nbsp;is survived by three children, son Lonnie O’Bryan &amp; wife Dona of Carlton, daughter Tracy Noel &amp; husband Vincent of Gove, and son Kerry O’Bryan of Shelbina. Seven grandchildren, Sean O’Bryan &amp; wife Jeanine; Zane O’Bryan &amp; wife Rosalie; Devin O’Bryan &amp; wife Mariah, Ruby Noel,&nbsp;Ivee&nbsp;Noel, Gillian O’Bryan, and&nbsp;Shoshannah&nbsp;Estell; and seven great-grandchildren, Cora &amp; Adrian&nbsp;Werry; Seven &amp; Silas O’Bryan;&nbsp;Dreyson&nbsp;Noel-Harvey; Alyssa &amp; Julius O’Bryan.No Services were requested. In inurnment at a later date at the WaKeeney Veterans Cemetery in WaKeeney, KSMemorial contributions are suggested to Wakefield Public Library, 205 3rd St, Wakefield, KS 67487, or Faithful Friends Cemetery, 1442 Barn Road, Solomon, KS 67480. &nbsp;Donations may be sent to Schmitt Funeral Home, 336 North 12th&nbsp;Street, WaKeeney, KS, 67672&nbsp;Condolences may be left for the family by visiting www.schmittfuneral.com&nbsp;

Jerita O’Bryan

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs began practicing Tuesday for their regular-season finale against the Las Vegas Raiders, which could ultimately earn the AFC West champions the No. 1 playoff seed in the conference in an unprecedented situation for the NFL.

Just as the Chiefs were warming up, the league announced that Week 18 games would be played as scheduled, including Kansas City's visit to Las Vegas on Saturday.

But the league also said the Bills-Bengals game from Monday night, which was suspended when Buffalo safety Damar Hamlin went into cardiac arrest, would not be resumed this week.

The Bills, who are 12-3 and beat Kansas City in their head-to-head matchup, needed to beat the Bengals to keep pace with the Chiefs (13-3) for the best record in the AFC, and with it the top seed and lone first-round postseason bye.

Chiefs coach Andy Reid and quarterback Patrick Mahomes were scheduled to speak to reporters Tuesday, but the team pushed back their availability out of respect for Hamlin, who remains in critical condition in a Cincinnati hospital.

They are now scheduled to address reporters on Wednesday.

Mahomes was among many Chiefs players who tweeted they were “praying hard” for Hamlin, who collapsed after making a tackle in the first quarter of Monday night's game. Hamlin was surrounded by team and independent medical staff within seconds, and along with local paramedics, they spent about 20 minutes providing emergency care on the field.

The Bills said that Hamlin's heartbeat was restored before the 24-year-old safety was transferred by ambulance to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, where he remained sedated in the intensive care unit Tuesday.

The Chiefs tweeted they were “sending thoughts and prayers to @HamlinIsland and the @BuffaloBills,” while Frank Clark offered “prayers for Damar” and fellow defensive end Carlos Dunlap tweeted it was “bigger than ball at this point.”

Chiefs wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling tweeted: “Man I hope he’s OK man. We risk our lives daily for this game. And y’all take that ... for granted. Send as many prayers up for him. Lord protect him.”

In a letter sent from Roger Goodell to all teams, and obtained by The Associated Press, the NFL commissioner said: “We advised Buffalo and Cincinnati that last night’s game will not be resumed this week. No decision has been made regarding the possible resumption of the game at a later date and we have not announced any changes to this weekend’s schedule.

“We will promptly advise all clubs of any decisions that are made regarding these matters,” Goodell said.

If the Bills-Bengals game is not completed, and each team is left with a 16-game regular season, it could cost Buffalo the No. 1 seed — even though it beat the Chiefs in October. The Bills are scheduled to play the Patriots on Sunday, but if Kansas City beats the Raiders a day earlier, Buffalo could finish no better than a half-game behind the Chiefs in the standings.

The Bengals, who also beat the Chiefs, would win the AFC North and lock in the No. 3 seed with a win over Baltimore on Sunday.

Not that anyone was worried about the playoffs Tuesday. The focus across the league remained on Hamlin's well-being.

“Please please please be okay,” Chiefs safety Justin Reid tweeted.

NOTES: Chiefs LG Joe Thuney (ankle) and WR Skyy Moore (hand) watched practice from the sideline Tuesday, but did not participate in the portion open to reporters. Both were hurt in last Sunday's win over Denver. Cornerback L'Jarius Sneed (hip) was not seen on the field. ... WR Mecole Hardman was at practice. The Chiefs hoped he would play against the Broncos before a setback in his recovery from an abdominal injury. They must activate him Wednesday or place him on season-ending injured reserve. ... The Chiefs placed practice squad WR Cornell Powell on the injured list and resigned RB Jerrion Ealy.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs began practicing Tuesday for their regular-season finale against the Las Vegas Raiders, which could ultimately earn the AFC West champions the No. 1 playoff seed in the conference in an unprecedented situation for the NFL.Just as the Chiefs were warming up, the league announced that Week 18 games would be played as scheduled, including Kansas City's visit to Las Vegas on Saturday.But the league also said the Bills-Bengals game from Monday night, which was suspended when Buffalo safety Damar Hamlin went into cardiac arrest, would not be resumed this week.The Bills, who are 12-3 and beat Kansas City in their head-to-head matchup, needed to beat the Bengals to keep pace with the Chiefs (13-3) for the best record in the AFC, and with it the top seed and lone first-round postseason bye.Chiefs coach Andy Reid and quarterback Patrick Mahomes were scheduled to speak to reporters Tuesday, but the team pushed back their availability out of respect for Hamlin, who remains in critical condition in a Cincinnati hospital.They are now scheduled to address reporters on Wednesday.Mahomes was among many Chiefs players who tweeted they were “praying hard” for Hamlin, who collapsed after making a tackle in the first quarter of Monday night's game. Hamlin was surrounded by team and independent medical staff within seconds, and along with local paramedics, they spent about 20 minutes providing emergency care on the field.The Bills said that Hamlin's heartbeat was restored before the 24-year-old safety was transferred by ambulance to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, where he remained sedated in the intensive care unit Tuesday.The Chiefs tweeted they were “sending thoughts and prayers to @HamlinIsland and the @BuffaloBills,” while Frank Clark offered “prayers for Damar” and fellow defensive end Carlos Dunlap tweeted it was “bigger than ball at this point.”Chiefs wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling tweeted: “Man I hope he’s OK man. We risk our lives daily for this game. And y’all take that ... for granted. Send as many prayers up for him. Lord protect him.”In a letter sent from Roger Goodell to all teams, and obtained by The Associated Press, the NFL commissioner said: “We advised Buffalo and Cincinnati that last night’s game will not be resumed this week. No decision has been made regarding the possible resumption of the game at a later date and we have not announced any changes to this weekend’s schedule.“We will promptly advise all clubs of any decisions that are made regarding these matters,” Goodell said.If the Bills-Bengals game is not completed, and each team is left with a 16-game regular season, it could cost Buffalo the No. 1 seed — even though it beat the Chiefs in October. The Bills are scheduled to play the Patriots on Sunday, but if Kansas City beats the Raiders a day earlier, Buffalo could finish no better than a half-game behind the Chiefs in the standings.The Bengals, who also beat the Chiefs, would win the AFC North and lock in the No. 3 seed with a win over Baltimore on Sunday.Not that anyone was worried about the playoffs Tuesday. The focus across the league remained on Hamlin's well-being.“Please please please be okay,” Chiefs safety Justin Reid tweeted.NOTES: Chiefs LG Joe Thuney (ankle) and WR Skyy Moore (hand) watched practice from the sideline Tuesday, but did not participate in the portion open to reporters. Both were hurt in last Sunday's win over Denver. Cornerback L'Jarius Sneed (hip) was not seen on the field. ... WR Mecole Hardman was at practice. The Chiefs hoped he would play against the Broncos before a setback in his recovery from an abdominal injury. They must activate him Wednesday or place him on season-ending injured reserve. ... The Chiefs placed practice squad WR Cornell Powell on the injured list and resigned RB Jerrion Ealy.

🏈 Chiefs begin prep with Week 18 set to go on as scheduled

Dorothy Lea (Wagner) Voss, 85, passed away December 31, 2022, at the 
Graham County Hospital in Hill City.  She was born October 26, 1937, at 
her home in rural Graham County, Kansas, to Russell and Lila Grace 
(Crawford) Wagner.  She was the middle of five children. Dorothy 
graduated from Edmond High School in 1955.  After attending Kansas 
University for one year, Dorothy moved back to Graham County and 
accepted a position with the Graham County ASC office.  She continued to
 work there for a short time after she was married.

Dorothy
 met the love of her life and lifelong companion, Norman Voss and were 
married June 10, 1962.  Norman and Dorothy lived in several homes on Bow
 Creek before settling on their farm near Densmore, Kansas in 1974. 
Dorothy was a great supporter of her husband and was always willing to 
lend a hand wherever it might be needed. In 1989, Norman decided to go 
back into the ministry.  They served in Sydney, Iowa, Circleville, 
Kansas, and Colby, Kansas before retiring in Plainville, Kansas.  In 
2006, they moved back to the family farm and lived there until 2021 when
 they moved to Bogue, Kansas.

Dorothy was a wonderful wife, 
mother, sister and daughter who was always there when her family needed 
her.  She never met a stranger and will leave a huge gap in our hearts 
and lives.  Family was the most important aspect of her life. She loved 
deeply and instilled good values, work ethics and importance of family. 
 Her beautiful smile was contagious. She taught her children and 
grandchildren gardening, cooking, sewing and had the patience of gold. 
Dorothy made special decorated cakes and favorite meals for each of her 
children’s birthdays.  That tradition was so special it was carried on 
by her children.  She hosted many family and friend gatherings, often on
 the spur of the moment, and made each one a special occasion.  She was 
an amazing baker and often had special treats fresh out of the oven when
 the family arrived, or kids got home from school.  Homemade ice cream 
with chocolate cake became a family tradition for special events and 
sometimes for no reason at all.  She was proud of her huge vegetable 
garden and her flower garden.  She usually had “help” from her kitties 
while gardening.  She spent countless hours with her grandchildren 
reading books, playing games, making pies, teaching them to sew and so 
much more. She made each grandchild a quilt and also crocheted intricate
 Christmas ornaments for her grandchildren every year which will always 
hold wonderful memories.  She had a special bond with her puppy, Buddy, 
who was nearly always by her side.

Dorothy is survived 
by her husband, Norman, son Wayne and Kellie Voss of Hays, Kansas, 
daughter Martha and Tony Stutterheim of Scottsdale, Arizona and daughter
 Paula and Rob Amerine of Chandler, Arizona; nine grandchildren: Allen 
Voss, Luke Amerine, Rachel (Nick) Dooley, Aaron Voss, Jordon Voss, 
Matthew Amerine, Valerie Stutterheim, Joshua Amerine, Ethan Voss, 
great-grandson John Voss and two sisters: Lila Dumcum and Rosalie 
Merriman. She was preceded in death by her parents Russell and Lila; 
brother, David Wagner; sister Beulah Holmess; and grandson Ian 
Stutterheim.

Dorothy was a strong Christian who dearly loved the 
Lord.   To her we say, “Thank you for the warm smiles, big hugs and all 
the love anyone could give!”

Click <a href="https://www.stinemetzfh.com/obituaries/Dorothy-Lea--Voss?obId=26812306#/obituaryInfo">HERE</a> for service details.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1672771840279.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Dorothy Lea (Wagner) Voss, 85, passed away December 31, 2022, at the 
Graham County Hospital in Hill City. She was born October 26, 1937, at 
her home in rural Graham County, Kansas, to Russell and Lila Grace 
(Crawford) Wagner. She was the middle of five children. Dorothy 
graduated from Edmond High School in 1955. After attending Kansas 
University for one year, Dorothy moved back to Graham County and 
accepted a position with the Graham County ASC office. She continued to
 work there for a short time after she was married.Dorothy
 met the love of her life and lifelong companion, Norman Voss and were 
married June 10, 1962. Norman and Dorothy lived in several homes on Bow
 Creek before settling on their farm near Densmore, Kansas in 1974. 
Dorothy was a great supporter of her husband and was always willing to 
lend a hand wherever it might be needed. In 1989, Norman decided to go 
back into the ministry. They served in Sydney, Iowa, Circleville, 
Kansas, and Colby, Kansas before retiring in Plainville, Kansas. In 
2006, they moved back to the family farm and lived there until 2021 when
 they moved to Bogue, Kansas.Dorothy was a wonderful wife, 
mother, sister and daughter who was always there when her family needed 
her. She never met a stranger and will leave a huge gap in our hearts 
and lives. Family was the most important aspect of her life. She loved 
deeply and instilled good values, work ethics and importance of family. 
 Her beautiful smile was contagious. She taught her children and 
grandchildren gardening, cooking, sewing and had the patience of gold. 
Dorothy made special decorated cakes and favorite meals for each of her 
children’s birthdays. That tradition was so special it was carried on 
by her children. She hosted many family and friend gatherings, often on
 the spur of the moment, and made each one a special occasion. She was 
an amazing baker and often had special treats fresh out of the oven when
 the family arrived, or kids got home from school. Homemade ice cream 
with chocolate cake became a family tradition for special events and 
sometimes for no reason at all. She was proud of her huge vegetable 
garden and her flower garden. She usually had “help” from her kitties 
while gardening. She spent countless hours with her grandchildren 
reading books, playing games, making pies, teaching them to sew and so 
much more. She made each grandchild a quilt and also crocheted intricate
 Christmas ornaments for her grandchildren every year which will always 
hold wonderful memories. She had a special bond with her puppy, Buddy, 
who was nearly always by her side.Dorothy is survived 
by her husband, Norman, son Wayne and Kellie Voss of Hays, Kansas, 
daughter Martha and Tony Stutterheim of Scottsdale, Arizona and daughter
 Paula and Rob Amerine of Chandler, Arizona; nine grandchildren: Allen 
Voss, Luke Amerine, Rachel (Nick) Dooley, Aaron Voss, Jordon Voss, 
Matthew Amerine, Valerie Stutterheim, Joshua Amerine, Ethan Voss, 
great-grandson John Voss and two sisters: Lila Dumcum and Rosalie 
Merriman. She was preceded in death by her parents Russell and Lila; 
brother, David Wagner; sister Beulah Holmess; and grandson Ian 
Stutterheim.Dorothy was a strong Christian who dearly loved the 
Lord. To her we say, “Thank you for the warm smiles, big hugs and all 
the love anyone could give!”Click <a href="https://www.stinemetzfh.com/obituaries/Dorothy-Lea--Voss?obId=26812306#/obituaryInfo">HERE</a> for service details.

Dorothy Lea (Wagner) Voss

The operator of the Keystone Pipeline on Thursday restarted the leg of the system that spilled thousands of barrels of heavy crude in north-central Kansas.

TC Energy announced that after repairs, inspections and testing, and a controlled restart on Thursday, the Keystone system is "...operational to all delivery points." The company said it will operate what it calls the Cushing Extension through Kansas at reduced pressure and with additional risk-mitigation measures under plans approved by the &nbsp;U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). As of Friday morning the company said it had recovered 10,637 barrels of oil, out of an estimated 14,000 barrels spilled from the pipe after the rupture Dec. 8. Water, soil and metallurgical testing continue, but regulators have been slow to release details of the investigation into the Keystone Pipeline spill in Washington County. Despite media reports suggesting contamination downstream of the containment zone, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment is holding off on releasing the results of its water testing in the area saying they need more data to establish benchmarks for analysis.

The agency's director of communications and legislative affairs Matt Lara said in an e-mail response his agency has preliminary water data samples but needs more sampling and other information before a promised release to the public. Lara says there have been no reports from farmers in the area of wells showing contamination. Free well testing is available through the pipeline operator. &nbsp; KDHE is not currently testing soil in the area. Lara said the company removed the layer of topsoil that had oil "staining." TC Energy’s environmental consultant will collect soil samples from the spill area to confirm that all contaminated soil has been removed, according to KDHE. The PHMSA continues its probe into the cause of the spill, including metals testing on the section of pipeline that ruptured. TC Energy was operating the Keystone Pipeline at a dramatically increased flow-rate just prior to the rupture and spill in Kansas. The Energy Consultant Wood-Mackenzie confirmed broadcast reports that flows to the Midwest jumped to almost 650,000 barrels per day on the night of the rupture, up from a baseline of 622,000 barrels per day. The company said in October it would raise flows to test the system's operational efficiency.

In an email response to our request for comment, the company replied "At the time of the incident, the pipeline was operating within its design and regulatory approval requirements." Russia banned the sale of its oil and petroleum products to countries that put a cap on the price. The Kremlin is trying to undermine one of many sanctions prompted by the invasion of Ukraine. The G-7 countries want to bar the shipping, financing or insuring of seaborne Russian crude unless it is sold for $60 a barrel or less. Russia is also preparing to cut production early next year, according to its oil minister. Winter weather has dramatically curtailed crude output from the No. 3 producing state in the country. S&amp;P Global reports current production in North Dakota of about 650,000 to 700,000 barrels per day, down from 1.12 million barrels per day in September and October. A blizzard on Dec. 19 shut in more than 400,000 barrels per day of production, and more shut-ins occurred the following week. U.S. crude production drops below 12 million barrels per day for the first time in eight weeks and only the third time since June. The Energy Information Administration reports U.S. output of 11.954 million barrels per day for the week through Dec. 23, down 196,000 barrels per day from the week before. EIA reports crude imports of 6.3 million barrels per day for the week, up 433,000 barrels per day from the week before. The four-week average is down 3.8 percent from a year ago. The government said domestic crude-oil inventories increased last week by 700,000 barrels to 419 million barrels as of Dec. 23. Stockpiles are about 6 percent below the five-year average for this time of year. Marathon Oil Corporation completed a big bucks acquisition first announced in November. Ensign Natural Resources will reap a total cash consideration of $3 billion. In return, Marathon takes over assets in the Eagle Ford basin of South Texas which they predict will deliver more than 22,000 barrels of oil per day. Crude prices Friday were up slightly. The benchmark Nymex contract was trading for $78.87 per barrel. London Brent was a few cents over $84. Kansas crude prices dropped 75 cents on Thursday, with Kansas Common crude fetching $68.75 per barrel at CHS in McPherson. That's about $3 less than at the start of the month, and about $3 more than at the start of the year. Just as you start driving less, pump prices plummet. According to the latest numbers from the government, gasoline stockpiles dropped by 3.1 million barrels last week. The Energy Information Administration says gasoline inventories are about 4 percent below the five-year seasonal average. But, regular gasoline prices continue to drop, down to $3.17 a gallon nationwide (Dec. 30). It's going for $2.79 across Kansas. Going into the holiday weekend we spotted anywhere from $2.79 to $2.89 per gallon locally. Diesel Inventories increased 300,000 barrels last week but remain about 7 percent below the five-year seasonal average. Diesel deliveries are down almost 7 percent from a year ago. U.S. and statewide diesel-fuel prices remain above $4 per gallon.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1672424966920.jpeg" alt="Excavated and repaired section of the Cushing Extension in Washington County, Kansas. Photo courtesy of TC Energy" />
 <figcaption>Excavated and repaired section of the Cushing Extension in Washington County, Kansas. Photo courtesy of TC Energy</figcaption>
 </figure>By John P. TretbarThe operator of the Keystone Pipeline on Thursday restarted the leg of the system that spilled thousands of barrels of heavy crude in north-central Kansas.TC Energy announced that after repairs, inspections and testing, and a controlled restart on Thursday, the Keystone system is "...operational to all delivery points." The company said it will operate what it calls the Cushing Extension through Kansas at reduced pressure and with additional risk-mitigation measures under plans approved by the &nbsp;U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). As of Friday morning the company said it had recovered 10,637 barrels of oil, out of an estimated 14,000 barrels spilled from the pipe after the rupture Dec. 8. Water, soil and metallurgical testing continue, but regulators have been slow to release details of the investigation into the Keystone Pipeline spill in Washington County. Despite media reports suggesting contamination downstream of the containment zone, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment is holding off on releasing the results of its water testing in the area saying they need more data to establish benchmarks for analysis.The agency's director of communications and legislative affairs Matt Lara said in an e-mail response his agency has preliminary water data samples but needs more sampling and other information before a promised release to the public. Lara says there have been no reports from farmers in the area of wells showing contamination. Free well testing is available through the pipeline operator. &nbsp; KDHE is not currently testing soil in the area. Lara said the company removed the layer of topsoil that had oil "staining." TC Energy’s environmental consultant will collect soil samples from the spill area to confirm that all contaminated soil has been removed, according to KDHE. The PHMSA continues its probe into the cause of the spill, including metals testing on the section of pipeline that ruptured. TC Energy was operating the Keystone Pipeline at a dramatically increased flow-rate just prior to the rupture and spill in Kansas. The Energy Consultant Wood-Mackenzie confirmed broadcast reports that flows to the Midwest jumped to almost 650,000 barrels per day on the night of the rupture, up from a baseline of 622,000 barrels per day. The company said in October it would raise flows to test the system's operational efficiency.In an email response to our request for comment, the company replied "At the time of the incident, the pipeline was operating within its design and regulatory approval requirements." Russia banned the sale of its oil and petroleum products to countries that put a cap on the price. The Kremlin is trying to undermine one of many sanctions prompted by the invasion of Ukraine. The G-7 countries want to bar the shipping, financing or insuring of seaborne Russian crude unless it is sold for $60 a barrel or less. Russia is also preparing to cut production early next year, according to its oil minister. Winter weather has dramatically curtailed crude output from the No. 3 producing state in the country. S&amp;P Global reports current production in North Dakota of about 650,000 to 700,000 barrels per day, down from 1.12 million barrels per day in September and October. A blizzard on Dec. 19 shut in more than 400,000 barrels per day of production, and more shut-ins occurred the following week. U.S. crude production drops below 12 million barrels per day for the first time in eight weeks and only the third time since June. The Energy Information Administration reports U.S. output of 11.954 million barrels per day for the week through Dec. 23, down 196,000 barrels per day from the week before. EIA reports crude imports of 6.3 million barrels per day for the week, up 433,000 barrels per day from the week before. The four-week average is down 3.8 percent from a year ago. The government said domestic crude-oil inventories increased last week by 700,000 barrels to 419 million barrels as of Dec. 23. Stockpiles are about 6 percent below the five-year average for this time of year. Marathon Oil Corporation completed a big bucks acquisition first announced in November. Ensign Natural Resources will reap a total cash consideration of $3 billion. In return, Marathon takes over assets in the Eagle Ford basin of South Texas which they predict will deliver more than 22,000 barrels of oil per day. Crude prices Friday were up slightly. The benchmark Nymex contract was trading for $78.87 per barrel. London Brent was a few cents over $84. Kansas crude prices dropped 75 cents on Thursday, with Kansas Common crude fetching $68.75 per barrel at CHS in McPherson. That's about $3 less than at the start of the month, and about $3 more than at the start of the year. Just as you start driving less, pump prices plummet. According to the latest numbers from the government, gasoline stockpiles dropped by 3.1 million barrels last week. The Energy Information Administration says gasoline inventories are about 4 percent below the five-year seasonal average. But, regular gasoline prices continue to drop, down to $3.17 a gallon nationwide (Dec. 30). It's going for $2.79 across Kansas. Going into the holiday weekend we spotted anywhere from $2.79 to $2.89 per gallon locally. Diesel Inventories increased 300,000 barrels last week but remain about 7 percent below the five-year seasonal average. Diesel deliveries are down almost 7 percent from a year ago. U.S. and statewide diesel-fuel prices remain above $4 per gallon.

News from the Oil Patch: Keystone restarts pipeline

A collaborative construction project between the students in the Fort Hays State University applied technology classes and the city of Hays began recently and will resume in the spring.

A <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/4873ceef-376c-4ecf-b16e-1c6ba7a78986">permanent outdoor story time space and performance stage</a>&nbsp;for children is being built in Seven Hills Optimist Park, 33rd and Hillcrest.&nbsp;

The project is the brainchild of the Leadership Hays Class of 2021 in collaboration with the Hays Public Library, city of Hays, Hays Chamber and FHSU.&nbsp;

It will be completed during the spring semester, Asstistant City Manager Collin Bielser recently reported to the city commission.&nbsp;

The area is next to the ARC Park, where city parks department employees are installing playground donor recognition plaques.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The parks department has also been busy transplanting more than 100 trees from the city tree nursery to Kiwanis Park, Glassman Park, Speier baseball and softball complexes, the Bickle/Schmidt Sports Complex, and along the new eastside multi-use path.&nbsp;

Bielser also said work continues on the south Vine Street reconstruction between 13th Street and the U.S. Highway 183 bypass/city limits intersection.

"The main lane or driving lane of pavement has all been completed," Bielser said. "However, there is still some intersection work at 12th Street, curb and sidewalk replacement remaining.&nbsp;

Temporary pavement markings will be installed for the winter before warmer weather in the spring will allow permanent markings to be installed.&nbsp;

The contractor for the Kansas Department of Transportation project, Smoky Hill Construction of Salina, missed the substantial completion date in late October because of a manpower shortage.&nbsp;

"They are in liquidated damages, as you know," Bielser reminded commissioners.

 "KDOT is not allowing a winter shutdown on this project."

For more project reports from city departments, click on the video below.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1672352630255.jpeg" alt="FHSU applied technology students smooth cement in the story time space being built in Seven Hills Park. Students in spring semester classes will finish the project when the weather warms. Photos courtesy city of Hays" />
 <figcaption>FHSU applied technology students smooth cement in the story time space being built in Seven Hills Park. Students in spring semester classes will finish the project when the weather warms. Photos courtesy city of Hays</figcaption>
 </figure>By BECKY KISER Hay PostA collaborative construction project between the students in the Fort Hays State University applied technology classes and the city of Hays began recently and will resume in the spring.A <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/4873ceef-376c-4ecf-b16e-1c6ba7a78986">permanent outdoor story time space and performance stage</a>&nbsp;for children is being built in Seven Hills Optimist Park, 33rd and Hillcrest.&nbsp;The project is the brainchild of the Leadership Hays Class of 2021 in collaboration with the Hays Public Library, city of Hays, Hays Chamber and FHSU.&nbsp;It will be completed during the spring semester, Asstistant City Manager Collin Bielser recently reported to the city commission.&nbsp;The area is next to the ARC Park, where city parks department employees are installing playground donor recognition plaques.&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1672354675994.jpeg" alt="Hays Parks Department employees have planted more than 100 trees at local parks this fall. Photos courtesy city of Hays" />
 <figcaption>Hays Parks Department employees have planted more than 100 trees at local parks this fall. Photos courtesy city of Hays</figcaption>
 </figure>The parks department has also been busy transplanting more than 100 trees from the city tree nursery to Kiwanis Park, Glassman Park, Speier baseball and softball complexes, the Bickle/Schmidt Sports Complex, and along the new eastside multi-use path.&nbsp;Bielser also said work continues on the south Vine Street reconstruction between 13th Street and the U.S. Highway 183 bypass/city limits intersection.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1672357074721.jpeg" alt="South Vine Street is under reconstruction between just south of 13th Street south to the U.S. Highway 183 bypass. Photos courtesy city of Hays" />
 <figcaption>South Vine Street is under reconstruction between just south of 13th Street south to the U.S. Highway 183 bypass. Photos courtesy city of Hays</figcaption>
 </figure>"The main lane or driving lane of pavement has all been completed," Bielser said. "However, there is still some intersection work at 12th Street, curb and sidewalk replacement remaining.&nbsp;Temporary pavement markings will be installed for the winter before warmer weather in the spring will allow permanent markings to be installed.&nbsp;The contractor for the Kansas Department of Transportation project, Smoky Hill Construction of Salina, missed the substantial completion date in late October because of a manpower shortage.&nbsp;"They are in liquidated damages, as you know," Bielser reminded commissioners. "KDOT is not allowing a winter shutdown on this project."For more project reports from city departments, click on the video below.<div><div style="position:relative; overflow:hidden; padding-bottom:56.25%"><iframe src="https://cdn.jwplayer.com/players/2UyRHZOA-P46diVCW.html" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" title="Dec Progress Report" style="position:absolute;" allowfullscreen></iframe></div></div>