Braden “Bubba” Ford Higdon passed away on Tuesday, June 16, 2021 in rural Rooks County, Kansas at the age of 23.

He was born in Hays, Kansas to Misty (Jenkins) and Brad Higdon on September 22, 1997. Braden grew up in Stockton and attended Plainville High School where he graduated with the Class of 2016. He then attended Pratt Community College and later transferred to NCK Tech where he graduated in 2019 with a degree in Automotive Technology.

Bill Van Schuyver, age 59, passed away on Thursday, June 10, 2021 at his home in Omaha, Nebraska.

He was born on June 26, 1961 to Aud and Betty (Mason) Van Schuyver in Perryton, Texas.

Bill grew up in Plainville, Kansas where he attended Plainville High School and graduated with the class of 1979. He furthered his education at Fort Hays State and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with the class of 1983.

“It is a truth universally accepted that a farmer in want of good conversation must remark on the weather.” For anyone who is not a fan of Jane Austen, I should explain that the previous statement is a bit of a play on the opening of her famous novel “Pride & Prejudice.”

You picked the green beans, snapped, washed and blanched them. Now for processing them for winter. You get the pressure canner out, check the jars, wash and sterilize them. The flats and rings have been washed and readied for putting on the jar. You’ve read the pressure canner instructions and the USDA Complete Guide to Home Canning recipe for green beans. You know Phillips County altitude is 2000 feet and so you need to process the pint jar of green beans at 11 lbs for 20 minutes.