By COLE REIF Great Bend Post

After more than 48 years working on south Main Street in Hoisington, Wayne
Kaiser has decided the timing is right to retire. Kaiser will retire at the end
of the year and Kaiser’s Total Service Station is up for sale. 

Wayne’s father
opened the car service shop in 1963 and Wayne began working for his dad after
high school in 1973. 
"I was not a college-type person, and college was not real big back in 1973 when I graduated," said Kaiser. "My dad always wanted me to go to the railroad, but I said I wanted to stay here. Later on, when he upgraded everything with tanks I just stayed here." 
Wayne took over ownership of the service station in 1995.

Heavily involved with
the community, Kaiser was named the 2020 Hoisington Citizen of the Year through
the local chamber of commerce. 
"I made a lot of good friends and met a lot of interesting people working here," said Kaiser. "I really enjoyed what I did. It will not be easy to give it up." 
Kaiser said he has already received interest in the shop at 652 South Main
Street, including two younger gentleman from Hoisington wanting to purchase the property.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Kaiser to retire, Hoisington service station up for sale

Eli Young Band Ticket Giveaway

Show Us your Lights Photo Contest Presented by Waters Hardware 

Turkey Day Dinner Giveaway - Winner 

The Shop at Home for the Holidays $10,000 Shopping starts Friday, October 15th!&nbsp;

Instant Finalist Days (Subject to Change)&nbsp;

Shop at Home For The Holidays $10,000 Shopping Spree 

If you are a Grade School age Kid in the Barton County Area we want to know how you make a difference! You could win a "I Make A Difference" T-shirt and be qualified to win T-shirts for you entire Class! Tune into "Mornings with Shannon" on 100.7 Eagle Country at 7:20 A.M. Monday Morning to hear the lasted T-shirt winners!

100.7 Eagle Country I Make a Difference Contest 

Great Bend City Council meeting Dec. 6 6:30 p.m. City Hall council chambers

The council meeting will be livestreamed for public to view on the city council Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/gbcitycouncil/.

C. Recognition of Visitors or Announcements &nbsp; &nbsp;The public is free to comment on items not listed on the agenda. Comments should be limited to three minutes. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 1. Service Awards: Human Resources Director Randy Keasling will present the service awards to employees.

&nbsp; &nbsp;1. Councilmember Reports

&nbsp; &nbsp;2. Administrator's Update

&nbsp; &nbsp;3. Economic Development Report

&nbsp; &nbsp;4. Police Station Bond Issuance Ordinance &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The governing body will need to pass an ordinance authorizing the issuance of General Obligation Bonds for the new police station. Bids will be accepted until 11 a.m. on Dec. 6.

&nbsp; &nbsp;5. Police Station Bond Details Resolution &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The governing body will need to pass a resolution authorizing the form and details of the general obligation bonds.

&nbsp; &nbsp;7. Master Fee Schedule &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The city's executive team desires to implement an annual review of all fees that the city charges to ensure that they remain current and relevant.

&nbsp; &nbsp;8. Senior Center Bathroom Remodel &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Great Bend advertised for bids to remodel the bathrooms in the city-owned building that houses the Great Bend Senior Center to make them ADA compliant. The city received one bid from Brentwood Builders in the amount of $58,456.

&nbsp; &nbsp;9. Executive Session &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The governing body would like to recess to executive session to discuss an individual employee's performance pursuant to nonelected personnel.

Following the meeting, the city council will conduct a work session to discuss public safety retirement.

Great Bend City Council meeting agenda (12/6)

I am often asked what exactly is “K-State Research and Extension” and about the Cottonwood Extension District. Those are great questions and I hope that I can answer for you.

K-State Research and Extension is a statewide network of educators sharing unbiased, research-based information and expertise on issues important to Kansas.

K-State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a partner in the nationwide land-grant system of universities that was created in the 1860s to educate people from all walks of life and to generate and distribute useful public knowledge. K-State scientists and extension faculty can draw on the expertise and accumulated studies and discoveries of the land-grant system, other universities, state and federal agencies, and industry. Headquartered on campus in Manhattan, K-State Research and Extension includes statewide county or district extension offices, research centers, and experiment fields supported by county, state, federal, and private funds.

It is dedicated to a safe, sustainable, competitive food and fiber system and to strong, healthy communities, families, and youth through integrated research, analysis and education.

With 131 years of research and 104 years of extension, K-State Research and Extension has been improving the quality of life and standard of living for Kansans for a century. Research completed is used by extension agents and others to help solve community issues.

This integrated system connects the university to every county through locally based educators who serve as sources of objective information. The Cottonwood Extension District was established July 1, 2017 and includes Barton and Ellis counties. An extension district addresses the changing demographics in Kansas as well as providing the ability for extension agents to be more specialized in their programming while providing education to a broader audience. Each county continues to have an office with access to research and educational opportunities in all program areas. There are currently seven extension agents across the

Cottonwood Extension District covering crop production, livestock production, family and consumer science, family and community wellness, horticulture, and positive youth development.

If you have questions about what Extension can do for you? Give us a call! Quite a few years ago, I had a co-worker get cheese dip on his favorite tie and our first call was to Donna at the Extension Office to see what the best cleaning options were! Our ag agents can provide a wealth of information about improving production processes; family and community wellness agents provide educational opportunities for our communities to improve their health on physical, mental, and emotional levels. 4-H Youth Development agents are active with school, after-school, library, and recreation center programs in addition to traditional 4-H club activities!

Keep learning. Keep showing grace and kindness.

Michelle Beran is the 4-H and Youth Development Agent in the Cottonwood Extension District – Barton County office. For more information on this article or other 4-H and Youth Development related questions, email Michelle at mberan@ksu.edu or call 620-793-1910.

BERAN: K-State Research & Extension history

It is your chance to win! View the Contests page on Great Bend Post to see what contests/giveaways are currently being promoted. View the page by clicking <a href="https://greatbendpost.com/category/contests">HERE</a>!

Eagle Radio CONTESTS

The Barton Community College Foundation donates about 1,500 candy bars to brighten the holidays for residents at&nbsp;Ellsworth Correctional Facility&nbsp;and&nbsp;Larned Correctional Mental Health Facility&nbsp;each year, a tradition that has spanned a decade. 

The college partners with the&nbsp;Kansas Department of Corrections&nbsp;to offer educational opportunities at the facilities to improve the odds that once residents leave the facility they’ll become productive members of society. Otherwise, a large percentage are likely to return to prison again, a cycle known as recidivism. 

The Foundation plays a big part by raising funds for private scholarships to help the residents pay for classes. Learn more about how Barton is helping to break this cycle at bartonccc.edu/breakthecycle.

Barton Foundation sends candy to inmates

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has&nbsp;amended its travel quarantine&nbsp;list&nbsp;to remove the countries of&nbsp;Barbados, Croatia, Faroe Islands and Georgia.&nbsp;The&nbsp;countries of&nbsp;Belgium, Czechia, Jersey, Liechtenstein,&nbsp;Netherlands&nbsp;and Slovakia&nbsp;have&nbsp;been added to the travel&nbsp;quarantine list.&nbsp;An unvaccinated individual should quarantine if they meet the following criteria:&nbsp;

The travel and mass gathering quarantine period is seven days with a negative test result or 10 days without testing, with release from quarantine on Day 8 and Day 11, respectively. Further information on quarantine periods can be found on KDHE’s&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDAsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMTEyMDIuNDk2OTM2NDEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5jb3JvbmF2aXJ1cy5rZGhla3MuZ292L0RvY3VtZW50Q2VudGVyL1ZpZXcvMTY0MC9TaG9ydGVuZWQtUXVhcmFudGluZS1HdWlkYW5jZS1QREYtLTEyLTgtMjA_YmlkSWQ9JnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1nb3ZkZWxpdmVyeSJ9.dakWvbHmFThZHAL153puZkInrhjgrOHLa-_5CmZ9wgA/s/1305943097/br/122202838483-l" target="_blank">website</a>.

For those traveling internationally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is requiring testing within three days of flights into the U.S.&nbsp;For further information on this and other requirements, visit&nbsp;their&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMTEyMDIuNDk2OTM2NDEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5jZGMuZ292L2Nvcm9uYXZpcnVzLzIwMTktbmNvdi90cmF2ZWxlcnMvaW5kZXguaHRtbD91dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9Z292ZGVsaXZlcnkifQ.X2MAe7oV-FWfRhtFxk6omVHQrKKh3km93iIz9rO95Zg/s/1305943097/br/122202838483-l" target="_blank">website</a>.

For those who are fully vaccinated (meaning it has been greater than two weeks since they completed their vaccinations) they are not required to quarantine regarding travel or mass gatherings if they meet all of the following criteria:

Persons who do not meet the above criteria should continue to follow current quarantine guidance for travel or mass gatherings.

Additionally, people with previous COVID-19 disease are not required to quarantine following travel if they meet all of the following criteria:

Persons who do not meet all three of the above criteria should continue to follow current quarantine guidance for travel.

The travel quarantine list is determined using a formula to evaluate new cases over a two-week period, then adjusted for population size to provide a case rate per 100,000 population. This provides a number that can then be compared to the rate in Kansas. Locations with significantly higher rates -- approximately 3x higher -- are added to the list.

For more information on COVID-19, please visit the KDHE website at&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDIsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMTEyMDIuNDk2OTM2NDEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwOi8vd3d3LmtkaGUua3MuZ292L2Nvcm9uYXZpcnVzP3V0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1nb3ZkZWxpdmVyeSJ9.H-x1Ka_RsjBqesouhmpqDP6v9GO4qnBMmrAYckMqc3c/s/1305943097/br/122202838483-l" target="_blank">kdhe.ks.gov/coronavirus</a>.

KDHE amends travel & exposure related quarantine list

Barton Men 74 Coffeyville 48 ; Coffeyville Women 78 Barton 72

Bringing the Great Bend zoo to you

The Barton Community College basketball teams host Coffeyville Saturday, Dec. 4.

The women's game at the Kirkman Center in Great Bend begins at 2 p.m. and the men's contest follows at 4 p.m.

Follow along on 104.3 FM or online by clicking <a href="https://streamdb7web.securenetsystems.net/ce/index.cfm?stationCallSign=kvgbfm2">HERE</a>.

🎧LISTEN LIVE: Barton Cougar 🏀 vs Coffeyville

Click&nbsp;<a href="https://greatbendpost.com/category/obituaries" target="_blank">HERE&nbsp;</a>to view the most recent obituaries and service times from our funeral home partners.

Great Bend Post is honored to publish full obituaries and photos at no cost to families.

﻿Funeral homes and families can send notices to <a href="mailto:kencarpenter@eagleradio.net">ken.carpenter@eagleradio.net</a>.

Recent Obituaries

It’s a two-minute recap of the headlines that broke this past week in the Golden Belt.

Eagle Radio's News Week in Review

Team Scores 1. Newton 217.0 2. Bishop Carroll 175.5 3. Rose Hill 155.0 4. Great Bend 149.5 5. Valley Center 149.00 6. Douglas 117.0 7. Andover Central 81.0 8. Salina South 69.0 9. Wichita Heights 15.0

195: Brody Schnoebelen (Great Bend) - 3rd

Panthers take 4th at Valley Center December Pools

Kansas State dumped offensive coordinator Courtney Messingham and tights ends coach Jason Ray on Friday.

Wildcats coach Chris Klieman said the two assistant coaches, whose contracts were due to expire in February, would not be retained for the bowl season. Kansas State finished 7-5 and should learn its bowl destination on Sunday.

Former Heisman Trophy finalist Collin Klein, who had been working with Kansas State quarterbacks, will serve as the interim offensive coordinator for the bowl game. It’s unclear whether he will be considered for the full-time job.

“These were very difficult decisions to make as both are great coaches and friends — Jason since our time at North Dakota State, and Courtney, who I have known since we were young,” Klieman said in a statement. “However, I feel like this is in the best interest of our program moving forward.”

The Wildcats started 3-0 and briefly reached the Top 25 before an injury to quarterback Skylar Thompson began a four-game skid. But fueled by a defense that emerged as one of the best in the Big 12, the Wildcats proceeded to rip off four more wins to qualify for a bowl game, only for their offense to go haywire in two more losses.

The offense has been a problem point for Kansas State since Klieman arrived from North Dakota State two years ago. He brought along Messingham, who was his offensive coordinator there and had once been the coordinator at Iowa State, but his run-heavy scheme that dominated the lower-level Missouri Valley Conference didn’t translate well to the Big 12.

The Wildcats also have struggled to develop players on the offensive side of the ball. Thompson will be lost to graduation after playing his sixth season, and understudies Will Howard and Jaren Lewis have been underwhelming.

“We appreciate the efforts of Courtney and Jason during their time in Manhattan and wish them well,” Klieman said.

K-State parts with assistant coaches Messingham, Ray

TMP 60 Great Bend 58; Hays Girls 41 Great Bend 32

Thursday 12/2 Olathe West 60 Hugoton 37 Lawrence Free State 62 Great Bend 35 Hays 69 TMP 36 Friday 12/3 Lawrence Free State 75 TMP 23 Hugoton 62 Great Bend 57 Hays 63 Olathe West 44 Saturday 12/4 12:45 - 4th Place Game - Great Bend vs TMP (HMS) 2:30 - 3rd Place Game - Olathe West vs Hugoton (HHS) 6:00 - Championship Game - Hays vs Lawrence Free State (HHS)

Thursday 12/2 Olathe West 48 Hugoton 31 TMP 42 Hays 37 Fort Smith Northside 56 Great Bend 21 Friday 12/3 Fort Smith Northside 55 Hays 31 Olathe West 54 TMP 28 Hugoton 58 Great Bend 39 Saturday 12/4 11:00- 4th Place Game - Great Bend vs Hays (HMS) 2:30 - 3rd Place Game - TMP vs Hugoton (HMS) 4:15- Championship Game -&nbsp; Olathe West vs Fort Smith Northside (HHS)

2021 Hays City Shootout Scores and Schedule

NEW YORK (AP) — New building or old, Kansas looked right at home in the Big Apple again.

Christian Braun had a career-high 31 points, Ochai Agbaji scored 23 and the No. 8 Jayhawks emphatically turned back a second-half charge to beat St. John’s 95-75 on Friday night in the first basketball game at UBS Arena.

Senior forward David McCormack, off to a slow start this season, was a force inside with 15 points and 13 rebounds for the Jayhawks (6-1), who have bounced back from a one-point loss to Dayton last week with consecutive double-digit wins.

“It’s really important,” Agbaji said. “These preseason games mean a lot. Kind of practicing for conference road games, and when we have rough stretches like that. You know, winning on the road and responding to big crowds like this.”

It was Kansas’ second victory in New York this season after opening with an 87-74 win over Michigan State on Nov. 9 in the Champions Classic at venerable Madison Square Garden.

Remy Martin added 12 points and five assists, and the Jayhawks clamped down on defense in the final 10 minutes of a game that was part of the annual Big East-Big 12 Battle.

Julian Champagnie scored all but four of his 24 points after halftime for the Red Storm (5-2), who were facing their first ranked opponent this season in a matchup of programs rich in history that met for the 1952 NCAA title.

“We just know we’re not there yet,” coach Mike Anderson said.

Posh Alexander and Dylan Addae-Wusu each scored 16 for St. John’s, which was playing less than 8 miles from campus before a crowd of 9,769.

Kansas traveled about 1,270 miles — and has more wins in the glimmering new arena than the NHL team it houses.

Depleted by COVID-19 absences, the New York Islanders are 0-4-1 in their $1.1 billion home that opened two weeks ago at Belmont Park.

“It’s a great venue,” Jayhawks coach Bill Self said, smiling. “And one thing I do like, you know, we’re from the Midwest, we think our fans can get rowdy. But fans up here can probably be a little more pointed with some personal comments. So I thought that was actually fun to be around that, too.”

Self and players on both teams mentioned how slick the floor was, though, with the hardwood sitting above the ice.

“I’m sure that’ll be corrected,” Self said.

Champagnie said it was the reason he changed sneakers.

“The building was cool. It reminded me a lot of The Garden, just without the same history,” he said.

Champagnie drained his first five 3-point attempts in the second half as St. John’s whittled a 13-point halftime deficit to three on two occasions.

But then Agbaji responded with a 3 and a putback, and Kansas used an 11-0 spurt to take command for good.

“We did much better when they cut it to three, because we didn’t guard anybody until they cut it to three,” Self said. “I thought we did some good things. But it was a good way to close the game.”

St. John’s went almost five minutes without a point and nearly eight minutes without a basket as the Jayhawks pulled away.

“We went through one of those moments that we talk about that we can’t have,” Champagnie said. “One of those dull moments.”

Kansas: The loss to Dayton on a buzzer-beater in Florida last week dropped the Jayhawks four spots in the AP poll, but they rebounded with a 96-83 win over Iona on Sunday in Orlando. Self is still toying with a deep rotation and demanding better defense. Kansas has used at least 11 players in all seven games.

St. John’s: With a deep roster featuring two stars back from last season’s surprising 16-11 squad in Champagnie and Alexander, the Red Storm have legitimate NCAA Tournament aspirations after getting picked fourth in the Big East coaches’ poll. But they’re still melding five accomplished Division I transfers with three returnees, and have barely squeezed by at home lately against some of the weak competition that makes up a soft nonconference schedule. St. John’s lost by two at Indiana last month and this was probably its only other opportunity for a significant resume boost outside the Big East.

Alexander appeared to be hobbled at times by the lower right leg injury that caused him to miss a game on Nov. 23.

“He said it was cramps,” Anderson said. “We’ll monitor that.”

Braun shot 10 of 16 from the field and 9 for 10 from the free throw line. He had eight rebounds, four assists and three steals. “He’s climbing up some draft boards,” Self said. ... Kansas led for 38:40 and dominated down low. The Jayhawks outrebounded the Red Storm 47-29, outscored them 48-24 in the paint and compiled a 24-6 advantage in second-chance points. ... Agbaji went 5 for 9 from 3-point range and grabbed seven boards. ... Anderson and Alexander, who bumped into an official, were whistled for successive technical fouls on one sequence late in the game. Braun made all four free throws.

Kansas assistant Norm Roberts was the head coach at St. John’s from 2004-10, going 81-101 in six seasons without an NCAA Tournament berth. ... The only appearance for St. John’s in the national championship game was an 80-63 loss to Clyde Lovellette and Kansas in 1952 as Phog Allen coached the Jayhawks to their first of three NCAA titles. ... Kansas redshirt Kyle Cuffe Jr., a freshman guard from Harlem in New York City, is the son of the former St. John’s power forward. Kyle Cuffe Sr. played for the Johnnies from 2000-04 and averaged 11.2 points and 7.2 rebounds as a senior. “Definitely supporting my son and Kansas but I bleed red storm,” he posted Thursday on Twitter. ... St. John’s freshman O’Mar Stanley is from Overland Park, Kansas. ... Kansas leads the all-time series 9-5. It was the first meeting between the schools since November 2000 at Madison Square Garden. Kansas has the second-most wins among major college basketball programs, while St. John’s ranks ninth.

Kansas: Will host UTEP on Tuesday night in Kansas City, Missouri, before renewing an old border rivalry with Missouri on Dec. 11 at Allen Fieldhouse.

St. John’s: Back on campus Sunday night to face New York City foe Fordham in the 89th meeting of a series that dates to 1909. St. John’s is 18-0 against the Rams at Carnesecca Arena/Alumni Hall.

Braun leads No. 8 Kansas past St. John’s 95-75 at new arena

Saturday 12/4 10:00AM&nbsp;1590/95.5 FM - Big 12 Championship - Oklahoma St. vs Baylor 11:00AM KBGL - Hays City Shootout - Great Bend Girls vs Hays 12:45PM KBGL -&nbsp;Hays City Shootout - Great Bend Boys vs TMP 1:45PM B104 - College Basketball - Coffeyville Men and Women @ Barton 6:00PM 1590/95.5 FM - ACC Championship - Pitt vs Wake Forest Sunday 12/5 3:00PM 1590/95.5 FM - NFL - Baltimore Ravens @ Pittsburgh Steelers 6:00PM B104 - Chiefs Football - Denver Broncos @ Kansas City Monday 12/6 4:45PM KBGL - Keady Classic - Larned Girls vs Kinsley 6:30PM KBGL - Keady Classic - Larned Boys vs Kinsley Tuesday 12/7 4:15PM KHOK- Keady Classic - Hoisington Girls vs Bucklin 6:00PM KHOK - Keady Classic - Hoisington Boys vs Bucklin&nbsp; 6:30PM KBGL - College Basketball - Kansas vs UTEP 5:30PM 1590/95.5 FM - Jimmy V Classic - Tennessee vs Texas Tech 8:00PM 1590/95.5 FM - Jimmy V Classic - Syracuse vs Villanova Wednesday 12/8 5:15PM B104 - College Basketball - Cloud County Men and Women @ Barton Thursday 12/9 TBA - Larned and Hoisington @ Keady Classic - TBA Friday 12/10 5:45PM B104 - High School Basketball - Junction City @ Great Bend TBA - Larned and Hoisington @ Keady Classic - TBA&nbsp;&nbsp; Saturday 12/11 TBA - Larned and Hoisington @ Keady Classic - TBA&nbsp; 1:30PM B-104 - College Basketball - Missouri @ Kansas 1:45PM B104 - College Basketball - Barton Men and Women @ Pratt Sunday 12/12 11:00AM B104 - Chiefs Football - Las Vegas Raiders @ Kansas City 3:00PM 1590/95.5 FM - NFL - TBA Monday 12/13 5:15PM B104 - College Basketball - Butler Men and Women @ Barton Tuesday 12/14 5:45PM B014 - High School Basketball - Great Bend @ Larned 5:45PM KBGL - High School Basketball - Great Bend @ Larned 5:45PM KHOK - High School Basketball - Hoisington @ Hays

Eagle Radio and Hull Broadcasting PBP Schedule

Flint Hills Christian 49, Hutchinson Central Christian 19

Metro Academy 53, Lee's Summit Community Christian, Mo. 43

Wichita Sunrise 64, Oak Hill Academy, Va. 61

Christ Preparatory Academy 49, Heartland Christian 46

Friday Statewide Scores

Hugoton Boys 62 Great Bend 57; Hugoton Girls 58 Great Bend 39

Pratt Boys 62 Larned 21; Pratt Girls 51 Larned 23

Hoisington Boys 68 Central Plains 26; Central Plains Girls 54 Hoisington 34

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A registered Kansas sex offender accused in violent knife attack made his first court appearance on Thursday. Jeffrey Elam, 27, was charged with attempted 2nd degree murder, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

 His next court date is 12/9/21.  The case has been assigned to Judge Christopher Magana.  Mr. Elam’s bond is $500,000.

Just after 11:30p.m. November 28,&nbsp; police responded to reports of a stabbing in the 100 block of North St. Francis in Wichita, according to a social media report from police.

When officers arrived, they located a 22-year-old woman with a stab wound to her abdomen. 

EMS transported her to an area hospital for treatment of serious but non-life-threatening injuries. The investigation revealed the victim was walking to her vehicle and was approached and stabbed by a suspect later identified as Elam, who fled northbound through the alley. Police released a security camera video of him and made an arrest the following night.

Elam has previous convictions for aggravated indecent liberties with a child and is a registered Kansas sex offender, according to the KBI&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kbi.ks.gov/registeredoffender/OffenderDetails.aspx?Display=Main&amp;Id=28419">offender registry</a>. The&nbsp;crimes occurred in Wichita in 2012 and 2013 and included a 5-year-old victim. A jury convicted him of the crimes in 2014. Elam is due back in court December 9. He remains jailed on a bond is $500,000.

Kansas sex offender charged in knife attack on woman

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Country musician Stonewall Jackson, who sang on the Grand Ole Opry for more than 50 years and had No. 1 hits with “Waterloo” and others, died Saturday after a long battle with vascular dementia. He was 89.

The Opry,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-television-theater-tennessee-nashville-744bbb278ee3bd98eba87bf3cf633ab6">the longest-running radio show in history,&nbsp;</a>announced Jackson’s death in a news release.

Jackson, a guitarist, performed on the Opry beginning in 1956 and was still appearing on the show in 2010. His real name was Stonewall, after Confederate Gen. Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson.

According to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wsmv.com/news/longtime-country-singer-stonewall-jackson-dies-at-89/article_be5e03c0-5545-11ec-ac21-efa846c5812d.html" target="_blank">WSMV-TV,</a>&nbsp;the late Porter Wagoner would introduce Stonewall on his show by saying he came to the Opry “with a heart full of love and a sack full of songs.”

“Waterloo” was a hit on the country and pop charts in 1959. His other hits, mostly in the 1960s, included “Don’t Be Angry,” “B.J. the D.J,” “Why I’m Walkin’,” “A Wound Time Can’t Erase” and “I Washed My Hands in Muddy Water.”

In 1971, he recorded his version of Lobo’s “Me and You and a Dog Named Boo.”

Over the course of his career, Jackson landed 44 singles on the Billboard country chart.

In 2008, at age 75, he settled a federal age discrimination lawsuit against the Opry. He claimed Opry officials had cut back his appearances starting in 1998, and sought $10 million in compensatory damages and $10 million in punitive damages. Terms of the settlement were not disclosed.

Jackson was born in eastern North Carolina and was raised on a south Georgia farm.

Jackson’s mentor in his early career was country legend Ernest Tubb, who bought him his first stage clothes and hired him as his opening act. He was presented with the Ernest Tubb Memorial Award in 1997 for his contributions to country music, according to the Grand Ole Opry website.

In 1991, he privately published his autobiography, “From the Bottom Up.”

Grand Ole Opry country singer Stonewall Jackson dies at 89

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas man has been acquitted on all charges related to the death of his 4-year-old granddaughter from carbon monoxide poisoning.

A Shawnee County jury on Friday acquitted 58-year-old Timothy Wayne Funk Sr. of three charges, including first-degree murder. He was charged after his granddaughter, Brandy Funk, of Beatrice, Nebraska, died in July 2019 at her grandfather's home in Silver Lake.

Court records show Timothy Funk acknowledged he left a generator running in the house’s garage with its door shut while he was watching the girl and another granddaughter, who survived.

He said he didn't intend to leave the door closed for as long as he did.

Kan. man acquitted in 4-year-old granddaughter's death

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — President Joe Biden will visit Kansas City Wednesday to promote the recently passed infrastructure law. The White House on Saturday did not announce the exact location of Biden's visit. 

It is his first time in Kansas City as president but he visited the area in March 2020 as he campaigned for the Democratic presidential nomination.

 Biden signed the $1 trillion infrastructure bill on Nov. 15. It contains money for roads, bridges, broadband, water systems and a shift to electrical vehicles.

President Biden scheduled to visit Kansas City next week

HARPER COUNTY –&nbsp;The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) is investigating an officer-involved shooting that occurred Friday evening at an apartment complex in Harper, Kansas.

Just after 3:30 p.m. Friday, a citizen called police to report a man who was observed damaging property at the apartment complex at 1123 Jefferson Street in Harper, according to a media release from the KBI.

 When an officer from the Harper Police Department arrived he attempted to make contact with the subject who was standing in the doorway of his apartment. As the officer approached the man, later identified as Kenneth E. Smith, 61, of Harper, tried to slam the door on the officer. The officer caught the door and pushed his way inside the apartment.

Preliminary information indicates that as the officer entered he observed that Smith was armed with a knife. A physical struggle occurred. During the altercation the officer sprayed pepper spray at Smith. The struggle continued until Smith advanced toward the officer with the knife. The officer fired one shot which struck Smith in the right arm.

The officer attempted to create distance from Smith by backing out of the apartment. Smith then locked the apartment door. Officers from the Harper Police Department and deputies from the Harper County Sheriff’s Office responded and forced entry into the apartment. They engaged in another short struggle with Smith while taking him into custody.

EMS responded and transported Smith to a local hospital for treatment of the non-life threatening gunshot wound. He was then transferred to Wesley Medical Center in Wichita where he underwent surgery. Smith is currently in good and stable condition. No law enforcement officers were injured during this incident.

The KBI will conduct a thorough and independent investigation into this shooting. Once completed the findings will be turned over to the Harper County Attorney for review.&nbsp;

KBI: Man injured after knife fight, officer-involved shooting 

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Wyandotte County authorities have identified the suspect in two shootings that left a child dead and two other people injured before he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The sheriff's office said 38-year-old Keith Johnson Jr. is believed to have shot his girlfriend at Welborn Park in Kansas City, Kansas, on Wednesday. 

He then went to his home and barricaded himself inside. When officers eventually entered the home, they found Johnson and 7-year-old Cariya Reed dead from gunshot wounds. A 3-year-old boy was also shot. The boy and  Johnson's girlfriend remain hospitalized in critical condition.

Sheriff IDs 7-year-old, suspect killed in shooting at Kan. home

By BLAISE MESA <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2021-12-01/the-kansas-prison-staff-shortage-means-lansing-inmates-wont-be-able-to-see-their-families">Kansas News Service</a>

TOPEKA — Dana Aguilar is preparing to see her son in person for what could be the last time for months.

Her
 son is an inmate at the Lansing Correctional Facility, where an ongoing
 staff shortage has triggered an indefinite halt to in-person visits 
starting Dec. 6.

“I’ve been in denial,” Aguilar said. “I’m gonna 
keep trying to schedule. ... I’ll just go out there and show up until 
they tell me I’m not allowed or the doors are locked.”

Job vacancies at state prisons have doubled since summer and <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2021-11-09/the-people-running-kansas-prisons-have-never-seen-a-staffing-crisis-this-bad" target="_blank">workers are taking on mandatory overtime just to keep facilities operational.</a>
 Kansas Department of Corrections Secretary Jeff Zmuda said in a letter 
to residents and family that staff have continued to leave the 
department and Lansing “simply cannot continue to staff” visitations.

Medium and maximum housing units will also be locked down from 6 p.m. through 6 a.m. everyday.

“We
 heard clearly from many of you how difficult the suspension of 
in-person was upon residents and families during the height of the 
coronavirus pandemic,” Zmuda said in the letter. “I expect that will be 
the same again, and we wish that we could have at least made it through 
the holiday season before this became necessary. Regrettably we cannot.”

Aguilar
 plans to call and video chat with her son, but those are more expensive
 and she finds them less fulfilling than in-person visits. She said her 
son is more depressed after hearing the news.

“I’m hoping that he 
reaches out for help,” Aguilar said. “He’s really bummed out about it. 
They don’t give an end date, it’s just the looming (feeling of) how long
 is this going to go on?”

She didn’t see her son for almost a year
 because the pandemic prevented in-person visitation. Aguilar was 
planning to see her son on Christmas, but that likely won’t happen.

“I
 feel like I’m being punished,” she said. “I’m just really going to be 
glad when this is all over and we (can) put this behind us because I 
never want to go through this again. It's really stressful.”

Gov. 
Laura Kelly announced on Nov. 23 that state prison staff would get 
temporary raises and some employees would get one-time $3,500 bonuses, 
but that was after prison and union officials said staffing was the 
worst they had ever seen.

Kelly’s plan also proposed a base pay 
increase to state prison employees and 24/7 nursing staff that could 
cost $18 million over the next two years.

Sarah LaFrenz, president
 of the Kansas Organization of State Employees union, applauded Kelly’s 
plan. But she said action needs to be taken immediately.

In the 
past month, two correctional officers at the Lansing prison were injured
 in attacks. LaFrenz blamed the staff shortage for the incidents. Each 
of the corrections officers was watching over 100 inmates on their own.

“Clearly,
 the administrators of Lansing Correctional Facility have made no 
changes to ensure the safety of the state employees that work at that 
facility,” LaFrenz said. “We have heard no reports of staffing changes, 
policy updates or any other measures to alleviate the dangerous 
conditions at Lansing.”

Blaise Mesa reports on criminal justice
 and social services for the Kansas News Service in Topeka. You can 
follow him on Twitter @Blaise_Mesa or email him at blaise@kcur.org.

Kan. prison staff shortage means inmates won't be able to see family

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden looked out over an audience of government scientists and framed his latest&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-joe-biden-health-d25ca8f275eca6fb04155891248e76c1">plan for fighting COVID-19</a>&nbsp;as an opportunity to at last put an end to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-joe-biden-business-health-5b62c8e442ea495c58ed51d9f50d7c0d">divisiveness over the virus</a>, calling the politicization of the issue a “sad, sad commentary.”

Some people “on the other team,” he said Thursday, were threatening to hold up&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-business-health-congress-aa30e5922cb6650e9235b0a66813b2f4">government spending</a>&nbsp;and endangering the nation’s credit out of pique over vaccination requirements.

It was a quick aside in a Biden speech that otherwise struck a largely bipartisan tone. But it served as fresh evidence that after taking it on the chin for months, Biden and his allies are increasingly willing to hit back, casting Republicans as the true obstacle to the nation’s recovery from the pandemic.

The Democratic president’s efforts to confront&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic">the coronavirus</a>&nbsp;have long attracted a litany of fiery statements, legal challenges and more than a few barbs from his predecessor. But&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-wins-white-house-ap-fd58df73aa677acb74fce2a69adb71f9">Biden was elected</a>&nbsp;on the promise of depoliticizing the virus response and following the science, so responding in kind wasn’t seen as an option early on.

Biden aides in the early months of his presidency pressed him to ignore criticism from Republicans, arguing that responding would further inject politics into the vaccination campaign and harm his all-out effort to get Americans to roll up their sleeves.

But now, as public patience wears thin amid&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/omicron-variant-anime-convention-new-york-minnesota-a343c1d0bcc6e59f8696491443f704db">the emergence of the new omicron variant</a>&nbsp;and some GOP lawmakers’ threats to shut down the government over vaccine requirements, the White House and its allies are seizing on what they see as a political opening.

“It’s clear that Republicans have decided that the fate of the Biden presidency is tied to COVID,” said Democratic communications strategist Eric Schultz, who worked in the Obama White House. “And Republicans have chosen to be on the side of the virus.”

With most Americans now vaccinated, the White House is less worried about turning people off with such political talk. Biden aides now doubt that some of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-science-health-government-and-politics-coronavirus-pandemic-36ea18ee3a3397da7edd5b8249f0e477">the stubborn holdouts</a>&nbsp;-- more than 40 million adults -- will get a vaccine for any reason short of their employers requiring it, minimizing the risk of backlash.

Biden did pop out a dig in August as some Republican governors moved to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-health-education-coronavirus-pandemic-1aba40b697a210a65356269c916780d4">block mask mandates in schools</a>.

“If you aren’t going to fight COVID-19, at least get out of the way of everyone else who is trying,” he said. “You know, we’re not going to sit by as governors try to block and intimidate educators protecting our children.”

More recently, Biden aides have grown more willing to openly condemn Republican lawmakers they view as obstacles to his efforts to control the pandemic.

“These supporters of the former president are advocating for shutting the federal government down so that 20% of the public who are refusing to get vaccinated or tested can be free to infect their coworkers, our children, filling hospitals — that is what they are advocating for,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said at briefing this week. “They want to shut the government down in order to advocate for people to assert that on society. So, I don’t think that should be lost on us.”

Privately, White House officials have been even more direct, accusing Republicans of advocating policies that would extend the pandemic, close schools and cost more lives.

Some Republican lawmakers, for their part, have pitched their opposition to the vaccine mandates as looking out for constituents being forced to choose between a shot and a job, although Biden’s order offers a test-out alternative for most private sector employees. The lawmakers are seeking legislation that would prevent agencies from receiving funding to enforce the mandates.

“I have heard from hundreds of Utahns, in recent days, who are concerned about losing their jobs — losing their jobs not just in general, not just in the abstract, but specifically due to these mandates,” said Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah.

Democrats are portraying the vaccine mandates as critical to protecting the health of Americans during a pandemic, describing the Republican efforts as “anti-vaccine.”

“How do they explain to the public that they are shutting down government because they don’t want people to get vaccinated?” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Thursday when the fate of a government spending bill was uncertain. “Why don’t you go ask them? This is so silly.”

Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer warned that if Republicans were to block the funding bill, “It will be a Republican anti-vaccine shutdown.”

The Senate did later Thursday approve a stopgap spending bill to avoid a short-term shutdown after leaders defused the standoff over vaccine mandates.

Biden’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic has long been a strong point in his public approval ratings, but it has slipped in recent months as the delta variant raged and cases and deaths increased. More than 780,000 Americans have now died from COVID-19.

An October AP-NORC poll found that 54% of Americans said they approved of Biden’s job on the pandemic, higher than his approval rating overall and much higher than approval of his handling of the economy, at 48% and 41%, respectively.

Still, as recently as July, before the delta variant struck, 66% had approved of Biden on COVID-19 and 59% approved of his job performance overall.

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