By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

When you are a student in Kayla North's kindergarten class at Holy Family Elementary School, everything is an adventure.

This includes learning your letters with Bee-Bots, learning to draw with ArtHub or getting your giggles out with a dance from GoNoodle.

Jami Breit's son is in North's class. She nominated North for the Hays Post Teacher of the Month Award.

"Mrs. North always goes above and beyond for her students," Breit said. "All of my boys have had her, and all of them have loved her. 

"She updates the parents and keeps us actively involved in what the children are doing, which is wonderful because I think it really shows that she cares about each one of them."

Breit said North makes learning fun and is quick to adapt technology in the classroom.

"My son always comes home happy to have been at school and showing me all he has learned," Breit said. "Mrs. North has a loving heart and is always making time for the kids."

North, who's been a teacher for 12 years, said teaching kindergarten allows her to be uniquely herself.

"You can be silly. You can be serious, and they love you the same," she said.

Kindergarten-age children love to learn, North said. They love doing a simple math problems the same as they love to read or do a craft. 

"They come in and say, 'What are we doing for math today?!' 'What are we doing for reading today?!' Even if it's just a regular math lesson, they're ready to do it, and they'll go home and tell their parents about it," she said.

North is a huge fan of Dr. Seuss and incorporates a Dr. Seuss week into her lessons every year.

"I have loved Dr. Seuss as long as I can remember," North said. "My grandma had a set of Dr. Seuss books, and I can remember thumbing through them growing up ... couldn't read them yet."

When North was teaching second grade, her entire room was Dr. Seuss-themed. She had a chair she and her mother had covered in fake blue fur to represent Thing One and Thing Two. 

One of the boys in her class was having behavior problems, but he loved sitting in that blue fuzzy chair.

"He would do anything to sit in that chair," she said. ... "He's in high school now, but his mother said he still remembers that fuzzy chair."

Last year, North and her co-teacher turned the week into a series of STEM lessons, borrowing ideas from Pinterest. The kids played with kinetic sand, and North always caps off the week by dressing up as the Cat in the Hat.

The kids in North's class are learning basic coding through Bee-Bots, which are about the size of an adult palm. They are yellow and black and look like smiling bees. The kids press buttons on the bee's backs to tell them were to travel on a grid on the floor.

North incorporates reading by having a child program the Bee-Bot to go to a specific letter or rhyming word. The kids can program the Bee-Bots for multiple stops to spell words. North is ordering jackets for the Bee-Bots so they can hold pencils and the kids can use them to draw letters.

"They're getting the same material, but in a fun way," North said.

The kindergartners at Holy Family go to school for the full day. North said having brain breaks for the kids is important. She uses technology for that sometimes as well.

GoNoodle is a free app that lets the kids watch short funny videos. Many of them include funny songs or dances so the kids can be active when they can't go outside for recess or they're just getting fidgety.

&nbsp;"Sometimes we will literally just stand and shake our arms and be silly," North said.

Art Hub is a YouTube channel that was created by a dad and shows kids how to step by step draw fun images. North uses the art lessons in conjunction with the students' letters of the week. 

The children draw the images, can take pictures of the art with their iPads and then share them with their parents on a secure online account.

"I just want to show kids they can learn and have fun at the same time," North said. "I'm not normally a serious person, so I want to show the kids that it's OK to make mistakes and it's OK to have fun. I want kids to enjoy school and get the most of it as they possibly can."

Kindergarten can fun, but it also can be rough. Some of the kids come to Holy Family as kindergartners and have never been to school before. 

There's a lot more tears in kindergarten, North said. She hopes everything is good for the kids at home. Holy Family has many great families, but you never really know what is going on at home, and the kids don't know how to tell you what's wrong, she said.

"You never know when something's going on," she said. "They might come in crying, but they can't tell you why or they might start crying and you might ask them what's wrong and 'I don't know.' They just can't communicate that.

"Just having the patient. 'OK, take a minute. It'll be OK.' Take their mind off of it. We'll go for walks in the hallway. We'll do a silly dance, just something to get their mind off it. But you never know what they're going through."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637766468670.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637767185433.jpeg" alt="Hays Post's November Teacher of the Month is Kayla North, kindergarten teacher at Holy Family Elementary School. " />
 <figcaption>Hays Post's November Teacher of the Month is Kayla North, kindergarten teacher at Holy Family Elementary School. </figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostWhen you are a student in Kayla North's kindergarten class at Holy Family Elementary School, everything is an adventure.This includes learning your letters with Bee-Bots, learning to draw with ArtHub or getting your giggles out with a dance from GoNoodle.Jami Breit's son is in North's class. She nominated North for the Hays Post Teacher of the Month Award."Mrs. North always goes above and beyond for her students," Breit said. "All of my boys have had her, and all of them have loved her. "She updates the parents and keeps us actively involved in what the children are doing, which is wonderful because I think it really shows that she cares about each one of them."Breit said North makes learning fun and is quick to adapt technology in the classroom."My son always comes home happy to have been at school and showing me all he has learned," Breit said. "Mrs. North has a loving heart and is always making time for the kids."North, who's been a teacher for 12 years, said teaching kindergarten allows her to be uniquely herself."You can be silly. You can be serious, and they love you the same," she said. Kindergarten-age children love to learn, North said. They love doing a simple math problems the same as they love to read or do a craft. "They come in and say, 'What are we doing for math today?!' 'What are we doing for reading today?!' Even if it's just a regular math lesson, they're ready to do it, and they'll go home and tell their parents about it," she said. North is a huge fan of Dr. Seuss and incorporates a Dr. Seuss week into her lessons every year. "I have loved Dr. Seuss as long as I can remember," North said. "My grandma had a set of Dr. Seuss books, and I can remember thumbing through them growing up ... couldn't read them yet."When North was teaching second grade, her entire room was Dr. Seuss-themed. She had a chair she and her mother had covered in fake blue fur to represent Thing One and Thing Two. One of the boys in her class was having behavior problems, but he loved sitting in that blue fuzzy chair."He would do anything to sit in that chair," she said. ... "He's in high school now, but his mother said he still remembers that fuzzy chair." Last year, North and her co-teacher turned the week into a series of STEM lessons, borrowing ideas from Pinterest. The kids played with kinetic sand, and North always caps off the week by dressing up as the Cat in the Hat.The kids in North's class are learning basic coding through Bee-Bots, which are about the size of an adult palm. They are yellow and black and look like smiling bees. The kids press buttons on the bee's backs to tell them were to travel on a grid on the floor.North incorporates reading by having a child program the Bee-Bot to go to a specific letter or rhyming word. The kids can program the Bee-Bots for multiple stops to spell words. North is ordering jackets for the Bee-Bots so they can hold pencils and the kids can use them to draw letters."They're getting the same material, but in a fun way," North said.The kindergartners at Holy Family go to school for the full day. North said having brain breaks for the kids is important. She uses technology for that sometimes as well.GoNoodle is a free app that lets the kids watch short funny videos. Many of them include funny songs or dances so the kids can be active when they can't go outside for recess or they're just getting fidgety.&nbsp;"Sometimes we will literally just stand and shake our arms and be silly," North said. Art Hub is a YouTube channel that was created by a dad and shows kids how to step by step draw fun images. North uses the art lessons in conjunction with the students' letters of the week. The children draw the images, can take pictures of the art with their iPads and then share them with their parents on a secure online account."I just want to show kids they can learn and have fun at the same time," North said. "I'm not normally a serious person, so I want to show the kids that it's OK to make mistakes and it's OK to have fun. I want kids to enjoy school and get the most of it as they possibly can."Kindergarten can fun, but it also can be rough. Some of the kids come to Holy Family as kindergartners and have never been to school before. There's a lot more tears in kindergarten, North said. She hopes everything is good for the kids at home. Holy Family has many great families, but you never really know what is going on at home, and the kids don't know how to tell you what's wrong, she said. "You never know when something's going on," she said. "They might come in crying, but they can't tell you why or they might start crying and you might ask them what's wrong and 'I don't know.' They just can't communicate that."Just having the patient. 'OK, take a minute. It'll be OK.' Take their mind off of it. We'll go for walks in the hallway. We'll do a silly dance, just something to get their mind off it. But you never know what they're going through." <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637766468670.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>

Hays Post Teacher of the Month embraces silly of kindergarten

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<figure>
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 </figure>Click <a href="https://hayspost.com/category/obituaries?utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=direct&amp;utm_campaign=hayspost_obituary_category">HERE</a> for the most recent obituaries and service times from our funeral home partners.Hays Post is honored to publish full obituaries at no cost to families. Funeral homes can send notices to <a href="http://admin@hayspost.com">admin@hayspost.com</a>.

Recent obituaries

The successes of tomorrow begin today, Catholic education is a lifetime advantage.

Catholic schools...schools you can believe in.

SubmittedThe successes of tomorrow begin today, Catholic education is a lifetime advantage.Catholic schools...schools you can believe in.Monday<ol>
 <li>Curriculum Team Mtg. 3:40 p.m. in 5B Room.</li><li>Technology Committee Mtg. 3:45 p.m.</li>
 </ol>Tuesday<ol>
 <li>Feast of St. Andrew, Apostle.</li><li>Mass was prepared by 6B and celebrated by Fr. Rich.</li><li>This morning, our classroom advent wreaths were blessed by Fr. Rich at mass! That’s right, the Advent Season has begun.</li>
 </ol>Wednesday<ol>
 <li>Spirit Day.</li><li>Preschool has “Silly Sock Day” today! </li><li>Foundations of Education class will be observing classrooms between 12:30-1:30. </li><li>Fr. Andy will visit 5th and 6th gr. This afternoon.</li><li>Fr. Elias will visit 4th gr. This afternoon.</li><li>Admin Team. Mtg. 1:30 p.m. in Cafeteria. </li><li>All Staff Mtg. 3:40 p.m. in Library. </li>
 </ol>Thursday<ol>
 <li>Mass was prepared by 5B and celebrated by Fr. Nick. </li><li>Fr. Damian will visit 1st &amp; 2nd gr. This afternoon.</li>
 </ol>Friday<ol>
 <li>Memorial of St. Francis Xavier, Priest.</li><li>First Friday Prayer Circles – students will head to their prayer families once we start the music following announcements! </li><li>Teachers, go ahead and take attendance and lunch count at this time! </li><li>Foundations of Education class will be observing classrooms between 12:30-1:30. </li><li>Fr. Elias will visit 3rd gr. This afternoon. </li>
 </ol>

Holy Family Elementary weekly update

TOPEKA — A year-long comprehensive&nbsp;<a href="https://kshousingcorp.org/kansas-statewide-housing-needs-assessment-2021/">statewide housing needs assessment</a>—the first of its kind undertaken in 27 years—is nearing completion, and Kansans are invited to learn about preliminary findings in a series of regional community meetings. The study identifies current housing needs and growth opportunities, including goals to guide the state’s future housing development efforts.

A meeting will be held in Hays at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 7 at BriefSpace, 210 W. 10th.

“For too long, Kansas has operated without a strategic focus to guide our housing investment, hindering our state’s economic development,” said Ryan Vincent, executive director of Kansas Housing Resources Corporation. “With this information, we can develop a data-driven approach to support growth and benchmarks to track our progress.”

RDG Planning &amp; Design, an Omaha-based consultancy, conducted the in-depth study over the past year. Analysis included a series of&nbsp;71&nbsp;virtual and in-person listening sessions with more than&nbsp;425&nbsp;community participants across the state, as well as meetings with housing stakeholder groups. Consultants conducted a statewide survey of&nbsp;more than 4,400&nbsp;respondents and analyzed census data to develop a comprehensive picture of the state’s housing needs, current resources, and growth opportunities. These findings revealed several key goals to address future housing needs:

Kansans are encouraged to learn more about the study’s results and how their communities can expand housing opportunities by participating in&nbsp;<a href="https://kshousingcorp.org/kansas-statewide-housing-needs-assessment-2021/">upcoming regional sessions</a>. The full report and recommendations will be published online following the statewide tour.&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kshousingcorp.org/subscribe">Join KHRC’s mailing list</a>&nbsp;and select “Housing Needs Assessment 2021” to be notified when the full report is available.

The state’s housing study was funded and administered by the Kansas Department of Commerce’s Office of Rural Prosperity (ORP) and Kansas Housing Resources Corporation (KHRC), the state’s housing finance agency. The Office of Rural Prosperity’s Housing Work Group, an interagency team of state leaders led by KHRC Executive Director Ryan Vincent, identified a needs assessment as a crucial first step in addressing the state’s housing needs and priorities, particularly in rural and underserved areas. KHRC and ORP selected RDG to lead the study through a competitive RFP process.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615921648040.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>KHRCTOPEKA — A year-long comprehensive&nbsp;<a href="https://kshousingcorp.org/kansas-statewide-housing-needs-assessment-2021/">statewide housing needs assessment</a>—the first of its kind undertaken in 27 years—is nearing completion, and Kansans are invited to learn about preliminary findings in a series of regional community meetings. The study identifies current housing needs and growth opportunities, including goals to guide the state’s future housing development efforts.A meeting will be held in Hays at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 7 at BriefSpace, 210 W. 10th.“For too long, Kansas has operated without a strategic focus to guide our housing investment, hindering our state’s economic development,” said Ryan Vincent, executive director of Kansas Housing Resources Corporation. “With this information, we can develop a data-driven approach to support growth and benchmarks to track our progress.”RDG Planning &amp; Design, an Omaha-based consultancy, conducted the in-depth study over the past year. Analysis included a series of&nbsp;71&nbsp;virtual and in-person listening sessions with more than&nbsp;425&nbsp;community participants across the state, as well as meetings with housing stakeholder groups. Consultants conducted a statewide survey of&nbsp;more than 4,400&nbsp;respondents and analyzed census data to develop a comprehensive picture of the state’s housing needs, current resources, and growth opportunities. These findings revealed several key goals to address future housing needs:<ul>
 <li>Prioritize middle income housing</li><li>Diversify housing stock</li><li>Extend housing security</li><li>Reinvest in older housing stock, including vacant units</li><li>Address the building trades labor shortage</li><li>Extend existing human capital resources</li>
 </ul>Kansans are encouraged to learn more about the study’s results and how their communities can expand housing opportunities by participating in&nbsp;<a href="https://kshousingcorp.org/kansas-statewide-housing-needs-assessment-2021/">upcoming regional sessions</a>. The full report and recommendations will be published online following the statewide tour.&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kshousingcorp.org/subscribe">Join KHRC’s mailing list</a>&nbsp;and select “Housing Needs Assessment 2021” to be notified when the full report is available.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637798383248.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The state’s housing study was funded and administered by the Kansas Department of Commerce’s Office of Rural Prosperity (ORP) and Kansas Housing Resources Corporation (KHRC), the state’s housing finance agency. The Office of Rural Prosperity’s Housing Work Group, an interagency team of state leaders led by KHRC Executive Director Ryan Vincent, identified a needs assessment as a crucial first step in addressing the state’s housing needs and priorities, particularly in rural and underserved areas. KHRC and ORP selected RDG to lead the study through a competitive RFP process.

Results of Kan. housing assessment to be discussed in Hays 

RUSSELL - The Russell County Association of Churches (RCAOC) presented a $250.00 donation to Micky Zorn to help the newly established Russell County Toys for Tots program. These funds will be used to help fill in the gaps after toy and book donations are received and sorted.

Donations of toys and books for all ages (birth through high school) are greatly appreciated. Donations should be new and unwrapped. Donations will be accepted through Friday, December 17. Toys for Tots donation boxes are located in businesses throughout Russell County.

The Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program is a 70-year national charitable program run by the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, providing happiness and hope to less fortunate children during each Christmas holiday season. Last year the Marine Corps fulfilled the holiday hopes and dreams of 7 million less fortunate children in 792 communities nationwide. Since 1947 over 244 million children have been assisted.

For more information about the Russell County Toys for Tots, please contact Micky Zorn at 785-483-9780.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637703897405.jpeg" alt="Micky Zorn, Russell Toys For Tots coordinator and John Dumler, Russell County Association of Churches treasurer, at the&nbsp;

St. John Lutheran Church collection point. Toys may be donated through Dec. 17. (Courtesy photo)" />
 <figcaption>Micky Zorn, Russell Toys For Tots coordinator and John Dumler, Russell County Association of Churches treasurer, at the&nbsp;

St. John Lutheran Church collection point. Toys may be donated through Dec. 17. (Courtesy photo)</figcaption>
 </figure>RCAOCRUSSELL - The Russell County Association of Churches (RCAOC) presented a $250.00 donation to Micky Zorn to help the newly established Russell County Toys for Tots program. These funds will be used to help fill in the gaps after toy and book donations are received and sorted.Donations of toys and books for all ages (birth through high school) are greatly appreciated. Donations should be new and unwrapped. Donations will be accepted through Friday, December 17. Toys for Tots donation boxes are located in businesses throughout Russell County.The Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program is a 70-year national charitable program run by the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, providing happiness and hope to less fortunate children during each Christmas holiday season. Last year the Marine Corps fulfilled the holiday hopes and dreams of 7 million less fortunate children in 792 communities nationwide. Since 1947 over 244 million children have been assisted.For more information about the Russell County Toys for Tots, please contact Micky Zorn at 785-483-9780.

Russell County Toys for Tots accepts donations through Dec. 17

Submit events to admin@hayspost.com. Cover photo courtesy Pixabay.

<div><iframe title="Weekend Setlist Nov. 26, 2021" allowtransparency="true" height="150" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=y8783-113f961-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=ffffff&btn-skin=1b1b1b"></iframe></div><div><iframe src="https://calendar.google.com/calendar/embed?height=600&wkst=1&bgcolor=%23039BE5&ctz=America%2FChicago&showTitle=1&mode=AGENDA&showPrint=0&showCalendars=0&showDate=0&showNav=1&title=Hays%20Area%20Community%20Events&src=aGF5c2NvbW11bml0eWV2ZW50c2NhbGVuZGFyQGdtYWlsLmNvbQ&src=ZW4udXNhI2hvbGlkYXlAZ3JvdXAudi5jYWxlbmRhci5nb29nbGUuY29t&color=%23795548&color=%230B8043" style="border:solid 1px #777" width="400" height="600" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>Submit events to admin@hayspost.com. Cover photo courtesy Pixabay.

🎙 Weekend Setlist; Community Calendar

WAKEENEY — Author Roxie Yonkey will be signing her best-selling book "100 Things to Do in Kansas Before You Die" at The Studio 128, 128 N. Main, WaKeeney, from 3 to -4 p.m. Saturday. Buy a book at The Studio 128 or ahead of time at RoxieontheRoad.com/Shop.&nbsp;

WaKeeney, Christmas City of the High Plains, and the Kansas Veterans Cemetery are No. 40 in the book.&nbsp;

“We hope you will join us in exploring Studio 128 and the rest of downtown WaKeeney at the Christmas opening,” Yonkey said.&nbsp;

Yonkey has been writing about Kansas for over 30 years. The book "100 Things to Do in Kansas Before You Die" is her second book. In 2020, she co-authored the book "Midwest Road Trip Adventures." That book includes road trip guides for all 12 Midwest states. Yonkey wrote the Kansas chapter and the Black Hills section of the South Dakota chapter.&nbsp;

Additional signings are scheduled throughout the state. Check the schedule at RoxieontheRoad.com/signings.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637598986045.jpeg" alt="Roxie Yonkey" />
 <figcaption>Roxie Yonkey</figcaption>
 </figure>News releaseWAKEENEY — Author Roxie Yonkey will be signing her best-selling book "100 Things to Do in Kansas Before You Die" at The Studio 128, 128 N. Main, WaKeeney, from 3 to -4 p.m. Saturday. Buy a book at The Studio 128 or ahead of time at RoxieontheRoad.com/Shop.&nbsp;WaKeeney, Christmas City of the High Plains, and the Kansas Veterans Cemetery are No. 40 in the book.&nbsp;“We hope you will join us in exploring Studio 128 and the rest of downtown WaKeeney at the Christmas opening,” Yonkey said.&nbsp;Yonkey has been writing about Kansas for over 30 years. The book "100 Things to Do in Kansas Before You Die" is her second book. In 2020, she co-authored the book "Midwest Road Trip Adventures." That book includes road trip guides for all 12 Midwest states. Yonkey wrote the Kansas chapter and the Black Hills section of the South Dakota chapter.&nbsp;Additional signings are scheduled throughout the state. Check the schedule at RoxieontheRoad.com/signings.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637599030034.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

'100 Things' author will have book-signing in downtown WaKeeney

By STACY CAMPBELL Cottonwood Extension District

K-State Research and Extension and the Cottonwood District are hosting a regional Crop Pest Management School at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 723 Main Street in Great Bend on Thursday, Dec. 9. It will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The school is to aid producers, consultants and commercial applicators in identifying and managing crop disease, insect and weed problems. CEU’s for commercial applicators of 7 hours for the 1A certification along with the 1 core hour will be offered. Certified Crop Advisor Credits will also be available. &nbsp;

Several K-State Research &amp; Extension specialists will be presenting. Topics being covered are: a research update on liquid applications;&nbsp; getting the most from your herbicide applications;&nbsp; common weeds - identification and characteristics;&nbsp; identifying and controlling common corn insects;&nbsp; corn diseases – including stalk rots, bacterial leaf streak and Goss’s Wilt;&nbsp; weed research update;&nbsp; and combatting wheat diseases. &nbsp;

Cost to attend is $50, if registered by December 1. After Dec. 1, cost is $75 to pre-register or at the door.&nbsp;

Registration is requested online at&nbsp; <a href="http://www.sunflower.ksu.edu/agronomy">www.sunflower.ksu.edu/agronomy</a>&nbsp;

If needing further information, call us in Great Bend 620-793-1910 or Hays 785-628-9430.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615992626413.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By STACY CAMPBELL Cottonwood Extension DistrictK-State Research and Extension and the Cottonwood District are hosting a regional Crop Pest Management School at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 723 Main Street in Great Bend on Thursday, Dec. 9. It will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.The school is to aid producers, consultants and commercial applicators in identifying and managing crop disease, insect and weed problems. CEU’s for commercial applicators of 7 hours for the 1A certification along with the 1 core hour will be offered. Certified Crop Advisor Credits will also be available. &nbsp;Several K-State Research &amp; Extension specialists will be presenting. Topics being covered are: a research update on liquid applications;&nbsp; getting the most from your herbicide applications;&nbsp; common weeds - identification and characteristics;&nbsp; identifying and controlling common corn insects;&nbsp; corn diseases – including stalk rots, bacterial leaf streak and Goss’s Wilt;&nbsp; weed research update;&nbsp; and combatting wheat diseases. &nbsp;Cost to attend is $50, if registered by December 1. After Dec. 1, cost is $75 to pre-register or at the door.&nbsp;Registration is requested online at&nbsp; <a href="http://www.sunflower.ksu.edu/agronomy">www.sunflower.ksu.edu/agronomy</a>&nbsp;If needing further information, call us in Great Bend 620-793-1910 or Hays 785-628-9430.

Crop Pest Management School is next month in Great Bend

The new and improved Hays Post native app for iOS and Android devices is now available FREE for your mobile device.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/download">Click HERE to download from the App Store or Google Play.</a>

The new and improved Hays Post native app for iOS and Android devices is now available FREE for your mobile device.<a href="https://hayspost.com/download">Click HERE to download from the App Store or Google Play.</a><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1587155364471.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

Hays Post app available on App Store, Google Play

City of Hays offices will be closed on Thursday, November 25 and Friday, November 26 in celebration of the Thanksgiving holiday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584473406560.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>City of HaysCity of Hays offices will be closed on Thursday, November 25 and Friday, November 26 in celebration of the Thanksgiving holiday.

City offices closed Thursday and Friday for Thanksgiving holiday

STERNBERG MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY

Preschool program! Brrr, it's getting cold! How are animals going to stay warm?

Join us on Wednesday, November 24th, to find out!<a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/sternbergmuseum?__eep__=6&amp;__cft__[0]=AZWrmIV1gg8EEAPQGISbKvchZNcwtB01POppFkyN181DgAc1hyi9QErcvq7t1BqZKMpghFoISyNF2-0UkIwBKwbKCohKIPZX9Bg8YpbY6APNXOr9_m0KhiiSjJSD2u28Zgz5xBHNeyZ3OdXyLl4iJFB1GtM0W1Ysl8PEMyjuWHm99-nufRNpQo6101G06rSNwf3y-jCIto5P-PDg3_4geV43_LvvK3L62PN_Jc2Nnom-ZA&amp;__tn__=*NK-y-R">#sternbergmuseum</a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/fhsu?__eep__=6&amp;__cft__[0]=AZWrmIV1gg8EEAPQGISbKvchZNcwtB01POppFkyN181DgAc1hyi9QErcvq7t1BqZKMpghFoISyNF2-0UkIwBKwbKCohKIPZX9Bg8YpbY6APNXOr9_m0KhiiSjJSD2u28Zgz5xBHNeyZ3OdXyLl4iJFB1GtM0W1Ysl8PEMyjuWHm99-nufRNpQo6101G06rSNwf3y-jCIto5P-PDg3_4geV43_LvvK3L62PN_Jc2Nnom-ZA&amp;__tn__=*NK-y-R">#fhsu</a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/preschoolprogram?__eep__=6&amp;__cft__[0]=AZWrmIV1gg8EEAPQGISbKvchZNcwtB01POppFkyN181DgAc1hyi9QErcvq7t1BqZKMpghFoISyNF2-0UkIwBKwbKCohKIPZX9Bg8YpbY6APNXOr9_m0KhiiSjJSD2u28Zgz5xBHNeyZ3OdXyLl4iJFB1GtM0W1Ysl8PEMyjuWHm99-nufRNpQo6101G06rSNwf3y-jCIto5P-PDg3_4geV43_LvvK3L62PN_Jc2Nnom-ZA&amp;__tn__=*NK-y-R">#PreschoolProgram</a>

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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637591704607.jpeg" alt="" />
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 </figure>STERNBERG MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORYPreschool program! Brrr, it's getting cold! How are animals going to stay warm?Join us on Wednesday, November 24th, to find out!<a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/sternbergmuseum?__eep__=6&amp;__cft__[0]=AZWrmIV1gg8EEAPQGISbKvchZNcwtB01POppFkyN181DgAc1hyi9QErcvq7t1BqZKMpghFoISyNF2-0UkIwBKwbKCohKIPZX9Bg8YpbY6APNXOr9_m0KhiiSjJSD2u28Zgz5xBHNeyZ3OdXyLl4iJFB1GtM0W1Ysl8PEMyjuWHm99-nufRNpQo6101G06rSNwf3y-jCIto5P-PDg3_4geV43_LvvK3L62PN_Jc2Nnom-ZA&amp;__tn__=*NK-y-R">#sternbergmuseum</a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/fhsu?__eep__=6&amp;__cft__[0]=AZWrmIV1gg8EEAPQGISbKvchZNcwtB01POppFkyN181DgAc1hyi9QErcvq7t1BqZKMpghFoISyNF2-0UkIwBKwbKCohKIPZX9Bg8YpbY6APNXOr9_m0KhiiSjJSD2u28Zgz5xBHNeyZ3OdXyLl4iJFB1GtM0W1Ysl8PEMyjuWHm99-nufRNpQo6101G06rSNwf3y-jCIto5P-PDg3_4geV43_LvvK3L62PN_Jc2Nnom-ZA&amp;__tn__=*NK-y-R">#fhsu</a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/preschoolprogram?__eep__=6&amp;__cft__[0]=AZWrmIV1gg8EEAPQGISbKvchZNcwtB01POppFkyN181DgAc1hyi9QErcvq7t1BqZKMpghFoISyNF2-0UkIwBKwbKCohKIPZX9Bg8YpbY6APNXOr9_m0KhiiSjJSD2u28Zgz5xBHNeyZ3OdXyLl4iJFB1GtM0W1Ysl8PEMyjuWHm99-nufRNpQo6101G06rSNwf3y-jCIto5P-PDg3_4geV43_LvvK3L62PN_Jc2Nnom-ZA&amp;__tn__=*NK-y-R">#PreschoolProgram</a>

Sternberg Museum explains how wild animals prepare for cold weather

The event that will provide free dental care to children and adults will be coming to Hays on Feb. 18 and 19.

The Kansas Dental Charitable Foundation has announced Hays as a location for its free dental clinic — the Kansas Mission of Mercy. 

The event will be at the Ellis County Fairgrounds and require 400 to 500 volunteers. This will include about a 100 dentists, oral surgeons and dental hygienists, who will offer their services free of charge during the event.

Doors will open for patient registration at 5:30 a.m. each day. You do not have to provide ID, proof of income, proof of insurance, legal or residence status, or dental records to receive care.

Everyone will be required to wear a mask in the building regardless of COVID vaccination status.

Some of the services offered will include cleanings, tooth extractions and fillings, said Niki Sadler, Kansas Dental Charitable Foundation executive director.

Due to COVID, the clinic will be spacing out dental chairs a little farther than at some previous events. A similar event in Dodge City in 2020 served 822 patients and one in Wichita in 2021 served 599 patients. The total donated services in Wichita in 2021 was more than $774,000.

However, Sadler said many variables play in each year to how many patients the event can serve.

Many of those who seek care at the event have not seen a dentist in a long time, Sadler said. Many have advanced dental disease as a result, she said.

The event will be first come, first serve for adults. Internally the&nbsp; committee will work with health department and nurses for appointments for children, but the event will not turn children away. 

More information will be released through the media on making appointments when the software is in place to begin scheduling appointment. 

The event will need to raise about $160,000 in cash and in-kind donations. The Robert E. and Patricia Schmidt Foundation and the Delta Dental Foundation have already donated $50,000 each to the project.

Individuals and local businesses can donate through the Kansas Dental Charitable Foundation a<a href="http://www.ksdentalfoundation.org">t www.ksdentalfoundation.org</a>.

On Dec. 20, registration on that same website will open for volunteers. Many non-dental professional volunteers will be needed for the event, including people to serve meals to patients and other volunteers for security, set up, tear down, parking crew and patient escorts.

The event will take groups of volunteers, but each individual will need to sign up on the web portal so they can sign an event waiver.

This is the first time the Mission of Mercy has been staged in Hays. 

"Northwest Kansas and Hays are a great location and great hub," Sadler said.

Although the event gives back in the form of free dental care, the event also brings revenue into the host community in the form of hotel stays and increases sales tax revenue from other purchases volunteers and dental patients will make in the community, Sadler said.

Although most of the patients will likely come from Hays and the surrounding area, Sadler said she won't be surprised if the event drew people from as far as Colorado.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637346509792.jpeg" alt="A dentist working at a previous Kansas Mission of Mercy event. Courtesy photo " />
 <figcaption>A dentist working at a previous Kansas Mission of Mercy event. Courtesy photo </figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostThe event that will provide free dental care to children and adults will be coming to Hays on Feb. 18 and 19.The Kansas Dental Charitable Foundation has announced Hays as a location for its free dental clinic — the Kansas Mission of Mercy. The event will be at the Ellis County Fairgrounds and require 400 to 500 volunteers. This will include about a 100 dentists, oral surgeons and dental hygienists, who will offer their services free of charge during the event.Doors will open for patient registration at 5:30 a.m. each day. You do not have to provide ID, proof of income, proof of insurance, legal or residence status, or dental records to receive care.Everyone will be required to wear a mask in the building regardless of COVID vaccination status.Some of the services offered will include cleanings, tooth extractions and fillings, said Niki Sadler, Kansas Dental Charitable Foundation executive director. Due to COVID, the clinic will be spacing out dental chairs a little farther than at some previous events. A similar event in Dodge City in 2020 served 822 patients and one in Wichita in 2021 served 599 patients. The total donated services in Wichita in 2021 was more than $774,000.However, Sadler said many variables play in each year to how many patients the event can serve.Many of those who seek care at the event have not seen a dentist in a long time, Sadler said. Many have advanced dental disease as a result, she said. <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637346691008.jpeg" alt="The Kansas Mission of Mercy receives a $50,000 check from the Robert E. and Patricia Schmidt Foundation. Pictured from left are Hays Mayor Sandy Jacobs; Melissa Dixon, director for the Hays Convention and Visitors Bureau; Janet Kuhn, Hays CVB; Niki Sadler, director of the Kansas Dental Charitable Foundation; and Katie Dorweiler and Gary Shorman, representing the Schmidt Foundation. " />
 <figcaption>The Kansas Mission of Mercy receives a $50,000 check from the Robert E. and Patricia Schmidt Foundation. Pictured from left are Hays Mayor Sandy Jacobs; Melissa Dixon, director for the Hays Convention and Visitors Bureau; Janet Kuhn, Hays CVB; Niki Sadler, director of the Kansas Dental Charitable Foundation; and Katie Dorweiler and Gary Shorman, representing the Schmidt Foundation. </figcaption>
 </figure>The event will be first come, first serve for adults. Internally the&nbsp; committee will work with health department and nurses for appointments for children, but the event will not turn children away. More information will be released through the media on making appointments when the software is in place to begin scheduling appointment. The event will need to raise about $160,000 in cash and in-kind donations. The Robert E. and Patricia Schmidt Foundation and the Delta Dental Foundation have already donated $50,000 each to the project.Individuals and local businesses can donate through the Kansas Dental Charitable Foundation a<a href="http://www.ksdentalfoundation.org">t www.ksdentalfoundation.org</a>. On Dec. 20, registration on that same website will open for volunteers. Many non-dental professional volunteers will be needed for the event, including people to serve meals to patients and other volunteers for security, set up, tear down, parking crew and patient escorts.The event will take groups of volunteers, but each individual will need to sign up on the web portal so they can sign an event waiver.This is the first time the Mission of Mercy has been staged in Hays. "Northwest Kansas and Hays are a great location and great hub," Sadler said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637347193459.jpeg" alt="Dental patients are served on portable dental chairs. Courtesy photo " />
 <figcaption>Dental patients are served on portable dental chairs. Courtesy photo </figcaption>
 </figure>Although the event gives back in the form of free dental care, the event also brings revenue into the host community in the form of hotel stays and increases sales tax revenue from other purchases volunteers and dental patients will make in the community, Sadler said.Although most of the patients will likely come from Hays and the surrounding area, Sadler said she won't be surprised if the event drew people from as far as Colorado.Here are some key facts for patients<ul>
 <li>Patients should continue taking any prescription medication as directed so bring it along, so a dose is not missed should the patient have to wait a good portion of the day.</li><li>The patient will need to fill out a brief health history so bring a list of allergies, prescriptions, etc. to have this information available.</li><li>Patients do not need to bring dental records or proof of income.</li><li>Services are first come, first served and all adult patients must be able to wait in line – no appointments.</li><li>The doors will open for patient registration at&nbsp;5:30 a.m. on both Friday and Saturday (Feb 18-19) and waiting in line or determining how early to get in line, is up to the patient.&nbsp;Indoor waiting is TBD.</li><li>Parking is limited so there may be no preferential parking for handicapped patients.</li><li>The event only lets in as many patients as it will be able to treat that day and officials will then close the doors. Standing in line on Friday and not getting in does not give the patient priority the next day. It is the same process on Saturday – first come, first served.</li><li>Be prepared to wait and potentially be there all day. Even though a patient might arrive early in the morning, it could be mid-afternoon before the patient is treated.</li><li>A sack breakfast and lunch will be provided for the patients at no cost to them. Patients with diabetes or anyone else who may require an alternative diet should bring food with them.</li><li>After an X-ray and medical screening, the patient will be examined by a dentist and the patient’s greatest need will be treated. For example, if a patient needs extractions and fillings, the greatest need (probably the extractions) will be treated. The patient does have the option to come back Saturday to get the fillings, but they must wait in line again like everybody else. No line priority is given.</li><li>There is no sedation or nitrous oxide used at this event. The patient will be numbed in the area of the procedure being done using an injectable numbing agent.</li><li>No dentures or implants will be provided.</li><li>Full mouth extractions (with the exception of wisdom teeth) will be done if determined necessary by the examining dentist. The patient will be able to discuss treatment/procedure options with the dentist prior to care.</li><li>The event typically has as many volunteers as need registered prior to the event. Therefore, volunteering will not give priority or access to treatment. Registered volunteers who wish to be treated need to manage their schedule, so they can wait in line for treatment.</li><li>Minors must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian at all times.</li><li>After treatment, patients will be provided a phone number to call for follow up emergency care if they experience any problems regarding the treatment received.</li><li>Even though safe and effective coronavirus vaccines have been widely distributed, the organizers of the Kansas Mission of Mercy ask that if are sick or feeling like you are getting sick, please stay home.</li>
 </ul>

Hays event will bring free dental care to hundreds 

The Childcare Task Force of Ellis County has announced the release of its county community survey to assess the true childcare needs of Ellis County. This digital survey will close Dec. 31. Individuals and organizations wishing to participate in this survey may access it <a href="https://kstate.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6saCzCHCBiGmVpQ">HERE</a> or the QR code below.

The task force’s goal is to acquire 1,000 surveys. Once the survey results are finalized, the data will be utilized to apply for grant funding the task force will use to assist current childcare providers with their needs and incentivize new providers to begin offering childcare. Data from this survey will be shared with the public once available in January or February of 2022.

The Chamber in Hays, Kansas began organizing the Childcare Task Force of Ellis County in September 2021, after the Childcare Aware of Ellis County Point-in-Time survey identified that Ellis County has lost at least sixteen childcare providers since 2019.&nbsp;

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/3bf41c0b-99d4-4aaa-adf3-1445ac87477e">RELATED:&nbsp;🎙 As lack of child care plagues Ellis County, new task force looks for solutions</a>

Comprised of individuals, businesses, and organizations, this task force has members representing early childhood education, USD 489, USD 388, childcare centers, in-home childcare providers, Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Childcare Aware of Kansas, KSU Research and Extension and Cottonwood Extension District, HaysMed, Fort Hays State University, Grow Hays, 111th Kansas Legislative District, Heartland Community Foundation, parents, and area employers.

The next meeting for the Childcare Task Force of Ellis County will take place on December 8th at 6:00 p.m. at the Hays Welcome Center at 2700 Vine Street. For more information about this task force or to get involved in the process of addressing our county’s childcare needs, please contact Sarah Wasinger at <a href="mailto:sarah@hayschamber.com">sarah@hayschamber.com</a> or call 785-628-8201.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1634743366242.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>News releaseThe Childcare Task Force of Ellis County has announced the release of its county community survey to assess the true childcare needs of Ellis County. This digital survey will close Dec. 31. Individuals and organizations wishing to participate in this survey may access it <a href="https://kstate.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6saCzCHCBiGmVpQ">HERE</a> or the QR code below.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637593555425.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The task force’s goal is to acquire 1,000 surveys. Once the survey results are finalized, the data will be utilized to apply for grant funding the task force will use to assist current childcare providers with their needs and incentivize new providers to begin offering childcare. Data from this survey will be shared with the public once available in January or February of 2022.The Chamber in Hays, Kansas began organizing the Childcare Task Force of Ellis County in September 2021, after the Childcare Aware of Ellis County Point-in-Time survey identified that Ellis County has lost at least sixteen childcare providers since 2019.&nbsp;<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/3bf41c0b-99d4-4aaa-adf3-1445ac87477e">RELATED:&nbsp;🎙 As lack of child care plagues Ellis County, new task force looks for solutions</a>Comprised of individuals, businesses, and organizations, this task force has members representing early childhood education, USD 489, USD 388, childcare centers, in-home childcare providers, Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Childcare Aware of Kansas, KSU Research and Extension and Cottonwood Extension District, HaysMed, Fort Hays State University, Grow Hays, 111th Kansas Legislative District, Heartland Community Foundation, parents, and area employers.The next meeting for the Childcare Task Force of Ellis County will take place on December 8th at 6:00 p.m. at the Hays Welcome Center at 2700 Vine Street. For more information about this task force or to get involved in the process of addressing our county’s childcare needs, please contact Sarah Wasinger at <a href="mailto:sarah@hayschamber.com">sarah@hayschamber.com</a> or call 785-628-8201.

Childcare Task Force of Ellis County announces needs survey

NORTON —&nbsp;Norton County Community Foundation has announced the creation of the Leap of FaithE Foundation fund. Donors Kellen and Emily Jacobs have created this fund to help support the ongoing, collaborative process that is open domestic adoption.&nbsp; After adopting their daughter in 2020, Kellen and Emily decided to create the Leap of FaithE Foundation fund as a way to alleviate some of the mental and financial strain that adoption can have on both birth parents and adoptive parents. This field of interest fund held at NCCF will issue grants to help support everyone involved in the adoption journey. The fund’s mission statement reads: “Leap of FaithE strives to support all involved in the adoptive process. Rooted with a focus of weaving strong relationships with sound mental health support, our foundation wants to hold hands with all parties involved to celebrate making adoption an easier choice.” “ ‘Leave it better than you found it’&nbsp;is a motto we try to live by, whether it’s a hiking trail or humanity as a whole,” said Kellen and Emily. “After going through the adoption process and noticing a gap in the system as it relates to the birth mother’s mental health, we wanted to do something to make it better for the families who would come after us. We’re excited to partner with NCCF on this fund and help support other families through the process of adoption.” Funds will be awarded through an application process that is jointly completed by the adoptive and birth parents, furthering the open adoption relationship that the Jacobs hope will continue to grow throughout the life of the child. Financial support will be geared towards adoptive family needs and birth parents’ cost of living post-delivery, with an emphasis on providing mental health support.&nbsp; “We are honored that the Jacobs chose NCCF to house these funds,” said Tara Vance, Executive Director of Norton County Community Foundation. “We look forward to supporting their mission and seeing the lives they touch through this gift.” To learn more about the Leap of FaithE Foundation fund, please visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.nortonccf.org/leapoffaithe">www.nortonccf.org/leapoffaithe</a>. If you’d like to support this fund, contributions can be made online or sent to NCCF. &nbsp; About Norton County Community Foundation The Norton County Community Foundation was established in 1994 for the purpose of supporting local charitable activities in Norton County through endowments made to the foundation. Dedicated to serving today for tomorrow, to make our community a better place in which to live. Connect with the Norton County Community Foundation at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.nortonccf.org/">www.nortonccf.org</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637613374867.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>News releaseNORTON —&nbsp;Norton County Community Foundation has announced the creation of the Leap of FaithE Foundation fund. Donors Kellen and Emily Jacobs have created this fund to help support the ongoing, collaborative process that is open domestic adoption.&nbsp; After adopting their daughter in 2020, Kellen and Emily decided to create the Leap of FaithE Foundation fund as a way to alleviate some of the mental and financial strain that adoption can have on both birth parents and adoptive parents. This field of interest fund held at NCCF will issue grants to help support everyone involved in the adoption journey. The fund’s mission statement reads: “Leap of FaithE strives to support all involved in the adoptive process. Rooted with a focus of weaving strong relationships with sound mental health support, our foundation wants to hold hands with all parties involved to celebrate making adoption an easier choice.” “ ‘Leave it better than you found it’&nbsp;is a motto we try to live by, whether it’s a hiking trail or humanity as a whole,” said Kellen and Emily. “After going through the adoption process and noticing a gap in the system as it relates to the birth mother’s mental health, we wanted to do something to make it better for the families who would come after us. We’re excited to partner with NCCF on this fund and help support other families through the process of adoption.” Funds will be awarded through an application process that is jointly completed by the adoptive and birth parents, furthering the open adoption relationship that the Jacobs hope will continue to grow throughout the life of the child. Financial support will be geared towards adoptive family needs and birth parents’ cost of living post-delivery, with an emphasis on providing mental health support.&nbsp; “We are honored that the Jacobs chose NCCF to house these funds,” said Tara Vance, Executive Director of Norton County Community Foundation. “We look forward to supporting their mission and seeing the lives they touch through this gift.” To learn more about the Leap of FaithE Foundation fund, please visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.nortonccf.org/leapoffaithe">www.nortonccf.org/leapoffaithe</a>. If you’d like to support this fund, contributions can be made online or sent to NCCF. &nbsp; About Norton County Community Foundation The Norton County Community Foundation was established in 1994 for the purpose of supporting local charitable activities in Norton County through endowments made to the foundation. Dedicated to serving today for tomorrow, to make our community a better place in which to live. Connect with the Norton County Community Foundation at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.nortonccf.org/">www.nortonccf.org</a>.

Norton Co. foundation announces 'Leap of FaithE Foundation Fund'

Journie Hake, age 7, of Grainfield has been named as one the northwest Kansas regional winners in the 2021 Put the Brakes on Fatalities Day poster contest. The contest is sponsored annually by the Kansas Department of Transportation and other traffic safety organizations.

Hake received a bicycle from the Kansas Turnpike Authority and a helmet from Safe Kids Kansas.

The aim of the contest is to encourage children to think about traffic safety and present those ideas on posters. A total of 638 children in Kansas, ages 5 to 13, participated this year.

Put the Brakes on Fatalities Day is a nationwide initiative to improve traffic safety and decrease traffic deaths. For more information, visit <a href="file:///C:/Users/lmussman/Documents/News%20Releases/www.ksdot.org/events/PutTheBrakesOnFatalitiesDay">www.ksdot.org/events/PutTheBrakesOnFatalitiesDay.</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637353643211.jpeg" alt="Kansas Highway Patrol Trooper Tod Hileman (right) presents Journie Hake with a new bike for her winning entry in the 2021 Put the Brakes on Fatalities Day poster contect." />
 <figcaption>Kansas Highway Patrol Trooper Tod Hileman (right) presents Journie Hake with a new bike for her winning entry in the 2021 Put the Brakes on Fatalities Day poster contect.</figcaption>
 </figure>KDOTJournie Hake, age 7, of Grainfield has been named as one the northwest Kansas regional winners in the 2021 Put the Brakes on Fatalities Day poster contest. The contest is sponsored annually by the Kansas Department of Transportation and other traffic safety organizations.Hake received a bicycle from the Kansas Turnpike Authority and a helmet from Safe Kids Kansas.The aim of the contest is to encourage children to think about traffic safety and present those ideas on posters. A total of 638 children in Kansas, ages 5 to 13, participated this year.Put the Brakes on Fatalities Day is a nationwide initiative to improve traffic safety and decrease traffic deaths. For more information, visit <a href="file:///C:/Users/lmussman/Documents/News%20Releases/www.ksdot.org/events/PutTheBrakesOnFatalitiesDay">www.ksdot.org/events/PutTheBrakesOnFatalitiesDay.</a>

Grainfield youth helps 'Put the Brakes on Fatalities'

Three-day weather outlook

&nbsp;I used to be “that guy,” that when Joyce and I hunted or fished together, would snicker at the book and other entertainment she took to the deer blind or onto the boat. My logic was simple; we were there to harvest a deer or catch fish, so no other entertainment was necessary! I have since mellowed in my thinking, and a trip down memory lane reminded me of one particular morning deer hunt several years ago that God used to help reshape my attitude.&nbsp;

Naturally, after the driest summer on record, it started to rain when deer hunting and trapping seasons arrived. It had rained most of Friday night and was still drizzling at the crack of dawn Saturday morning. Ever the macho deer hunter, I still crawled from beneath my electric blanket at zero dark thirty to brave the elements. The problem was that either a lengthy drive or a long walk was required to get to all our stand spots but one, and after the amount of rain we had gotten, walking was the only option. Again, being the macho deer hunter, I’m not against a bit-of-an early morning walk, but I know each boot would have accumulated five pounds of mud and I’d have been soaked once I arrived. So, I drove to that one stand where I could park in an old farm yard and walk just behind the buildings to a nice raised stand we built atop an old fuel tank support. That took care of the mud part, but it was still raining, so instead of setting on top, I crawled beneath it and got comfortable in a camp chair.&nbsp;

The floor of the stand was about two feet above me and not completely water tight, but an occasional drip sure trumped sitting in the rain. We always hear a pair of great horned owls at this old farmstead, and this morning I got to watch and listen to them as they wound down from a night’s hunting, and geared up to snooze the day away. The first owl sat on a power pole a couple hundred yards in front of me and called to its mate that I could hear but not yet see.&nbsp; Soon the mate silently flew to the top of a tall cedar so that they were just a stone’s throw away from each other. I had no idea which owl was the male and which was the female, but the calls were very different. Both calls used the same number of syllables, but one call was higher pitched like a woman’s alto tone, and the other was more of a baritone pitch. After awhile, one owl flew off, then the other and the woods was quiet again except for the slow staccato of the drizzling rain and the “plop” made by the occasional drop dripping through the “roof” onto my vinyl vest.&nbsp;

Then came the blackbirds; probably numbering into the tens of thousands, the flying horde actually made a low, muffled roar like the wind blowing through the trees. They landed in the wheat some ways away, but like waves in a living sea of black lapping against the shore, the huge swarm was constantly on the move. Birds from one end would fly up and move to a different spot so that the assemblage appeared to crawl slowly across the field like a giant ameba. Once in the air again, the monstrous flock swirled and twirled like a Kansas twister marching across the plains.&nbsp;

In the distance I began again to hear a muffled roar like the wind slowly picking up. “Was it more blackbirds” I wondered? No, this time it was a rain shower heading toward me. It was quite a sight as a literal curtain of rain slowly crept across the field. The drone became louder and louder until it encompassed the deer stand and the occasional drip became a constant stream. I waited it out and when it had subsided some, I put my hood up and headed for the dry safety of the pickup.

Maybe these sorts of things seem to you like odd topics to write about, but not to me. I know I get so caught up and focused on shooting the deer or catching the fish that I totally miss everything around me. So, the next time you’re sitting in a deer stand or rocking with the waves on a boat in the lake, concentrate on seeing things you usually miss, then close your eyes for awhile and just listen to nature around you and learn to experience God’s marvelous creation in its entirety. Continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors!&nbsp;

Steve Gilliland, Inman, can be contacted by email at stevenrgilliland@gmail.com

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574696211722.png" alt="Steve&nbsp;Gilliland" />
 <figcaption>Steve&nbsp;Gilliland</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;I used to be “that guy,” that when Joyce and I hunted or fished together, would snicker at the book and other entertainment she took to the deer blind or onto the boat. My logic was simple; we were there to harvest a deer or catch fish, so no other entertainment was necessary! I have since mellowed in my thinking, and a trip down memory lane reminded me of one particular morning deer hunt several years ago that God used to help reshape my attitude.&nbsp;Naturally, after the driest summer on record, it started to rain when deer hunting and trapping seasons arrived. It had rained most of Friday night and was still drizzling at the crack of dawn Saturday morning. Ever the macho deer hunter, I still crawled from beneath my electric blanket at zero dark thirty to brave the elements. The problem was that either a lengthy drive or a long walk was required to get to all our stand spots but one, and after the amount of rain we had gotten, walking was the only option. Again, being the macho deer hunter, I’m not against a bit-of-an early morning walk, but I know each boot would have accumulated five pounds of mud and I’d have been soaked once I arrived. So, I drove to that one stand where I could park in an old farm yard and walk just behind the buildings to a nice raised stand we built atop an old fuel tank support. That took care of the mud part, but it was still raining, so instead of setting on top, I crawled beneath it and got comfortable in a camp chair.&nbsp;The floor of the stand was about two feet above me and not completely water tight, but an occasional drip sure trumped sitting in the rain. We always hear a pair of great horned owls at this old farmstead, and this morning I got to watch and listen to them as they wound down from a night’s hunting, and geared up to snooze the day away. The first owl sat on a power pole a couple hundred yards in front of me and called to its mate that I could hear but not yet see.&nbsp; Soon the mate silently flew to the top of a tall cedar so that they were just a stone’s throw away from each other. I had no idea which owl was the male and which was the female, but the calls were very different. Both calls used the same number of syllables, but one call was higher pitched like a woman’s alto tone, and the other was more of a baritone pitch. After awhile, one owl flew off, then the other and the woods was quiet again except for the slow staccato of the drizzling rain and the “plop” made by the occasional drop dripping through the “roof” onto my vinyl vest.&nbsp;Then came the blackbirds; probably numbering into the tens of thousands, the flying horde actually made a low, muffled roar like the wind blowing through the trees. They landed in the wheat some ways away, but like waves in a living sea of black lapping against the shore, the huge swarm was constantly on the move. Birds from one end would fly up and move to a different spot so that the assemblage appeared to crawl slowly across the field like a giant ameba. Once in the air again, the monstrous flock swirled and twirled like a Kansas twister marching across the plains.&nbsp;In the distance I began again to hear a muffled roar like the wind slowly picking up. “Was it more blackbirds” I wondered? No, this time it was a rain shower heading toward me. It was quite a sight as a literal curtain of rain slowly crept across the field. The drone became louder and louder until it encompassed the deer stand and the occasional drip became a constant stream. I waited it out and when it had subsided some, I put my hood up and headed for the dry safety of the pickup.Maybe these sorts of things seem to you like odd topics to write about, but not to me. I know I get so caught up and focused on shooting the deer or catching the fish that I totally miss everything around me. So, the next time you’re sitting in a deer stand or rocking with the waves on a boat in the lake, concentrate on seeing things you usually miss, then close your eyes for awhile and just listen to nature around you and learn to experience God’s marvelous creation in its entirety. Continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors!&nbsp;Steve Gilliland, Inman, can be contacted by email at stevenrgilliland@gmail.com

Exploring Outdoors Kansas: Sights, sounds from beneath a deer stand

At around 2:45 p.m. Sunday the Hays Fire Department was dispatched to the report of a structure fire on the 300 block of West 39th St.

Emergency responders found an active fire in a home.

Significant damage was variable as fire poured from the roof as crews secured the scene and worked to extinguish the fire.

This is a developing story, and will be updated as more information becomes available.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1638134377132.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By JAMES BELL Hays PostAt around 2:45 p.m. Sunday the Hays Fire Department was dispatched to the report of a structure fire on the 300 block of West 39th St.Emergency responders found an active fire in a home.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1638134322709.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Significant damage was variable as fire poured from the roof as crews secured the scene and worked to extinguish the fire.This is a developing story, and will be updated as more information becomes available.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1638134456163.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

Hays home damaged by fire Sunday afternoon

A longtime campus tradition is returning to Fort Hays State University.

After a drive-through ceremony last year, the FHSU family is looking forward to bringing back the in-person holiday tree-lighting ceremony in front of Sheridan Hall. The event, open to the public, is set for 5 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 30.

The university’s Dickens Carolers will perform. A variety of activities will follow the tree lighting, including crafts and cookie decorating, a coloring page contest, carriage rides, and photos with Santa Claus. The first 200 people will have the opportunity to receive a holiday-themed FHSU long-sleeved T-shirt.

The event is sponsored by the Office of Student Engagement, Fraternity and Sorority Life, the Office of the President, and Campus Intramurals.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637699467538.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU University RelationsA longtime campus tradition is returning to Fort Hays State University.After a drive-through ceremony last year, the FHSU family is looking forward to bringing back the in-person holiday tree-lighting ceremony in front of Sheridan Hall. The event, open to the public, is set for 5 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 30.The university’s Dickens Carolers will perform. A variety of activities will follow the tree lighting, including crafts and cookie decorating, a coloring page contest, carriage rides, and photos with Santa Claus. The first 200 people will have the opportunity to receive a holiday-themed FHSU long-sleeved T-shirt.The event is sponsored by the Office of Student Engagement, Fraternity and Sorority Life, the Office of the President, and Campus Intramurals.

Fort Hays State tree-lighting ceremony set for this week

DENVER (AP) — Rookie Patrick Surtain II picked off Justin Herbert twice, returning the second one 70 yards for a touchdown and sparking the Denver Broncos’ 28-7 win over the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday.

The Broncos’ big win sets up a showdown for the AFC West lead next weekend in Kansas City, where the game between Denver (6-5) and the Chiefs (7-4) already was flexed to Sunday night.

Surtain’s first interception came in the end zone on a pass intended for tight end Jared Cook early in the fourth quarter. The Broncos converted that takeaway into a touchdown when Teddy Bridgewater hit tight end Eric Saubert from 9 yards to make it 21-7.

His second one came off the hands of Austin Ekeler, who watched helplessly as Surtain cradled his second interception and sprinted down the Broncos’ jubilant sideline to push Denver’s lead to 28-7.

Denver’s defense came up big on a day the injury-riddled offense lost Bridgewater temporarily to a lower right leg injury, left tackle Calvin Anderson (knee), and left guard Dalton Risner (back).

Bridgewater returned after halftime and the Broncos closed out the win by running the ball behind a makeshift line, finishing with 147 yards rushing against the league’s leakiest run defense.

The Chargers’ first two drives of the second half consisted of two dozen plays and ate up 14 minutes, 15 seconds. Both were fruitless.

Dustin Hopkins missed his first field goal attempt with the Chargers, hooking a 52-yarder wide left after an 11-play opening drive that took 7:06.

The Broncos went three-and-out and the Chargers ate up the rest of the clock in the third quarter, when Denver had the ball for just 75 seconds. But on third down from the Broncos 23, Surtain got his first interception of Herbert.

Drew Lock replaced Bridgewater in the first half and was picked off by Derwin James Jr. when he tried to fit in a pass to a bracketed Kendall Hinton in the closing minutes of the first half. That led to Herbert’s 12-yard touchdown toss to Ekeler with 31 seconds left in the second quarter, cutting the Chargers’ deficit to 14-7 at halftime.

Cook outjumped several defenders and even a teammate or two to get both feet down on a 16-yard touchdown catch that made it 28-13 with 4:34 remaining. But the Chargers inexplicably went for 2 and the pass was incomplete.

Before getting hurt, Bridgewater’s 11-yard scramble to the right pylon put Denver ahead 7-0. When the Broncos began their next drive, they replaced Risner with Netane Muti. Bridgewater was injured when James swept through untouched on a blitz and blindsided the quarterback.

It was originally ruled a strip-sack with teammate Kyzir White recovering the loose ball for Los Angeles, but that turnover was overturned on review. Lock led the Broncos’ offense back on the field while Bridgewater was tended to on the sideline.

Joey Bosa got a strip-sack on Lock’s second snap, but receiver Tim Patrick recovered the loose ball for a first down. The Broncos went ahead 14-0 on rookie running back Javonte Williams’ 9-yard burst up the middle.

Running back Melvin Gordon gained 83 yards on 17 carries against his former team and Williams gained 54 yards on 14 runs, adding 57 yards on three catches.

With LT Garett Bolles (COVID-19) and RT Bobby Massie (ankle) out, Anderson and Cam Fleming, respectively, got the starts for Denver. ... Rookie S Caden Sterns started in place of S Kareem Jackson (neck/shoulder).

Chargers: visit the Cincinnati Bengals on Dec. 5.

Broncos: visit the Kansas City Chiefs for prime-time game Dec. 5.

DENVER (AP) — Rookie Patrick Surtain II picked off Justin Herbert twice, returning the second one 70 yards for a touchdown and sparking the Denver Broncos’ 28-7 win over the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday.The Broncos’ big win sets up a showdown for the AFC West lead next weekend in Kansas City, where the game between Denver (6-5) and the Chiefs (7-4) already was flexed to Sunday night.Surtain’s first interception came in the end zone on a pass intended for tight end Jared Cook early in the fourth quarter. The Broncos converted that takeaway into a touchdown when Teddy Bridgewater hit tight end Eric Saubert from 9 yards to make it 21-7.His second one came off the hands of Austin Ekeler, who watched helplessly as Surtain cradled his second interception and sprinted down the Broncos’ jubilant sideline to push Denver’s lead to 28-7.Denver’s defense came up big on a day the injury-riddled offense lost Bridgewater temporarily to a lower right leg injury, left tackle Calvin Anderson (knee), and left guard Dalton Risner (back).Bridgewater returned after halftime and the Broncos closed out the win by running the ball behind a makeshift line, finishing with 147 yards rushing against the league’s leakiest run defense.The Chargers’ first two drives of the second half consisted of two dozen plays and ate up 14 minutes, 15 seconds. Both were fruitless.Dustin Hopkins missed his first field goal attempt with the Chargers, hooking a 52-yarder wide left after an 11-play opening drive that took 7:06.The Broncos went three-and-out and the Chargers ate up the rest of the clock in the third quarter, when Denver had the ball for just 75 seconds. But on third down from the Broncos 23, Surtain got his first interception of Herbert.Drew Lock replaced Bridgewater in the first half and was picked off by Derwin James Jr. when he tried to fit in a pass to a bracketed Kendall Hinton in the closing minutes of the first half. That led to Herbert’s 12-yard touchdown toss to Ekeler with 31 seconds left in the second quarter, cutting the Chargers’ deficit to 14-7 at halftime.Cook outjumped several defenders and even a teammate or two to get both feet down on a 16-yard touchdown catch that made it 28-13 with 4:34 remaining. But the Chargers inexplicably went for 2 and the pass was incomplete.Before getting hurt, Bridgewater’s 11-yard scramble to the right pylon put Denver ahead 7-0. When the Broncos began their next drive, they replaced Risner with Netane Muti. Bridgewater was injured when James swept through untouched on a blitz and blindsided the quarterback.It was originally ruled a strip-sack with teammate Kyzir White recovering the loose ball for Los Angeles, but that turnover was overturned on review. Lock led the Broncos’ offense back on the field while Bridgewater was tended to on the sideline.Joey Bosa got a strip-sack on Lock’s second snap, but receiver Tim Patrick recovered the loose ball for a first down. The Broncos went ahead 14-0 on rookie running back Javonte Williams’ 9-yard burst up the middle.1-2 PUNCHRunning back Melvin Gordon gained 83 yards on 17 carries against his former team and Williams gained 54 yards on 14 runs, adding 57 yards on three catches.INJURIESWith LT Garett Bolles (COVID-19) and RT Bobby Massie (ankle) out, Anderson and Cam Fleming, respectively, got the starts for Denver. ... Rookie S Caden Sterns started in place of S Kareem Jackson (neck/shoulder).Chargers: visit the Cincinnati Bengals on Dec. 5.Broncos: visit the Kansas City Chiefs for prime-time game Dec. 5.

🏈 Surtain's pair of picks leads Broncos past Chargers

MANHATTAN, Kansas -- Markquis Nowell scored 18 points with five assists, Nijel Pack drained four 3-pointers to score 16 points and five players reached into double figures as Kansas State demolished North Dakota 84-42 on Sunday.

Mike McGuirl and Kaosi Ezeagu each scored 15 points and Mark Smith 11 for the Wildcats (3-2), who snapped a two-game skid in a big way. After losing to Power Five foes Arkansas and Illinois by identical 72-64 scores, Kansas State hit the gas pedal with a 19-1 run spanning seven minutes of the first half to sprint away from mid-major North Dakota.

The breakaway featured five 3-pointers and when McGuirl hit his second, the Wildcats were up by 20 and in control.

Kansas State made 35-of-58 field goals for 60% shooting and were 9-for-19 from beyond the arc.

Seven-foot junior Carlton Linguard played four minutes and scored two points as he eases back into the rotation after knee surgery in the spring.

Paul Bruns scored 16 points to lead North Dakota (2-5), which lost a fourth straight. Bentiu Panoam added 10 points. The Fighting Hawks shot 29% and were 3-for-31 from distance.

MANHATTAN, Kansas -- Markquis Nowell scored 18 points with five assists, Nijel Pack drained four 3-pointers to score 16 points and five players reached into double figures as Kansas State demolished North Dakota 84-42 on Sunday.Mike McGuirl and Kaosi Ezeagu each scored 15 points and Mark Smith 11 for the Wildcats (3-2), who snapped a two-game skid in a big way. After losing to Power Five foes Arkansas and Illinois by identical 72-64 scores, Kansas State hit the gas pedal with a 19-1 run spanning seven minutes of the first half to sprint away from mid-major North Dakota.The breakaway featured five 3-pointers and when McGuirl hit his second, the Wildcats were up by 20 and in control.Kansas State made 35-of-58 field goals for 60% shooting and were 9-for-19 from beyond the arc.Seven-foot junior Carlton Linguard played four minutes and scored two points as he eases back into the rotation after knee surgery in the spring.Paul Bruns scored 16 points to lead North Dakota (2-5), which lost a fourth straight. Bentiu Panoam added 10 points. The Fighting Hawks shot 29% and were 3-for-31 from distance.

🏀 K-State rolls past North Dakota

HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State moved to 4-0 overall with a 49-point win over Manhattan Christian College on Sunday (Nov. 28). For the fourth consecutive game the Tigers never trailed, pushing their streak of consecutive minutes of not trailing to 160 to open the season.

Manhattan Christian hung around early in the contest, tying the game at 13-13 midway through the first half after the Tigers had stretched their lead to seven twice. But the Tigers finished the first half on an 11-0 run to open up a 16-point lead of 40-24 at halftime. The Tigers went on to outscore the Thunder 43-10 in the second half. FHSU held MCC to just two points for the first 11:30 of the second half. MCC was just 2-of-28 from the field in the second half.

<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=6460">Kaleb Hammeke</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=6467">Quinten Rock</a>&nbsp;led the Tigers with 12 points each, while&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=6470">Nyjee Wright</a>&nbsp;also reached double figures with 10. Rock led the Tigers with six assists. The Tigers had 46 points from their bench players.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=6463">Jackson Miller</a>&nbsp;led in rebounding, doing all of his damage in the final six minutes of the game. The Tigers hit 11 3-point field goals and shot 45.6 percent overall, while limiting the Thunder to just 22.4 percent overall. Ferdinand Handy, Jr. led Manhattan Christian with eight points, while Taymont Lindsey had a team-high six rebounds.

The Tigers brought their season scoring defense average down to just 46.8 points allowed per game, which leads all NCAA divisions. The Tigers also dropped their opponent field goal percentage for the season down to 32.6 percent, which also leads NCAA Division II. The Tigers will now prepare for their MIAA opener on Wednesday (Dec. 1) at Washburn, set to follow the women's contest at 7:30 pm.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1638141178058.jpeg" alt="FHSU's Jackson Miller drives against Manhattan Christian Sunday at Gross Colisium (Courtesy FHSU Athletics, Niocole Heitmann)" />
 <figcaption>FHSU's Jackson Miller drives against Manhattan Christian Sunday at Gross Colisium (Courtesy FHSU Athletics, Niocole Heitmann)</figcaption>
 </figure>HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State moved to 4-0 overall with a 49-point win over Manhattan Christian College on Sunday (Nov. 28). For the fourth consecutive game the Tigers never trailed, pushing their streak of consecutive minutes of not trailing to 160 to open the season.<div><iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/1168393540&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509" title="Eagle Radio" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Eagle Radio</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509/11-28-21-mbb-fhsu-coach-int" title="Mark Johnson Postgame vs. Manhattan Christian (Nov 28, 2021)" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Mark Johnson Postgame vs. Manhattan Christian (Nov 28, 2021)</a></div></div>Manhattan Christian hung around early in the contest, tying the game at 13-13 midway through the first half after the Tigers had stretched their lead to seven twice. But the Tigers finished the first half on an 11-0 run to open up a 16-point lead of 40-24 at halftime. The Tigers went on to outscore the Thunder 43-10 in the second half. FHSU held MCC to just two points for the first 11:30 of the second half. MCC was just 2-of-28 from the field in the second half.<div><iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/1168391296&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509" title="Eagle Radio" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Eagle Radio</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509/11-28-21-mbb-player-int-quinton-rock" title="Quinton Rock Postgame vs. Manhattan Christian (Nov 28, 2021)" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Quinton Rock Postgame vs. Manhattan Christian (Nov 28, 2021)</a></div></div><a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=6460">Kaleb Hammeke</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=6467">Quinten Rock</a>&nbsp;led the Tigers with 12 points each, while&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=6470">Nyjee Wright</a>&nbsp;also reached double figures with 10. Rock led the Tigers with six assists. The Tigers had 46 points from their bench players.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=6463">Jackson Miller</a>&nbsp;led in rebounding, doing all of his damage in the final six minutes of the game. The Tigers hit 11 3-point field goals and shot 45.6 percent overall, while limiting the Thunder to just 22.4 percent overall. Ferdinand Handy, Jr. led Manhattan Christian with eight points, while Taymont Lindsey had a team-high six rebounds.<div><iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/1168401331&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509" title="Eagle Radio" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Eagle Radio</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509/11-28-21-mbb-fhsu-v-manhattan-christian-hilights" title="Fort Hays State MBB vs. Manhattan Christian Highlights (Nov 28, 2021)" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Fort Hays State MBB vs. Manhattan Christian Highlights (Nov 28, 2021)</a></div></div>The Tigers brought their season scoring defense average down to just 46.8 points allowed per game, which leads all NCAA divisions. The Tigers also dropped their opponent field goal percentage for the season down to 32.6 percent, which also leads NCAA Division II. The Tigers will now prepare for their MIAA opener on Wednesday (Dec. 1) at Washburn, set to follow the women's contest at 7:30 pm.&nbsp;&nbsp;FHSU Athletics

🏀 Tigers cruise past Manhattan Christian

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) — Christian Braun had 18 points and seven rebounds, Ochai Agbaji added 17 points, and No. 4 Kansas beat Iona 96-83 on Sunday in the first meeting between Hall of Fame coaches Bill Self and Rick Pitino.

David McCormack scored 13 points for Kansas (5-1). The Jayhawks were was coming off their first loss of the season, 74-73 to Dayton on a buzzer-beater in an ESPN Events Invitational semifinal on Friday.

Beating Pitino’s Iona team, which opened the tournament with a win over No. 10 Alabama, was enough to salvage third place in the tournament for Self’s Jayhawks.

“Now that I’ve faced Kansas, I’m glad we didn’t play them in all those years,” Pitino said. “I’ve always admired him. I’ve always thought he’s one of the best coaches in the game. What I admire most is, whether it’s his fast break, his offensive sets, his rebounding, he doesn’t have a weakness as a coach.”

When asked what he had to say to Pitino, a smiling Self said: “Good game and he said good game, too.”

“The way that his teams always competed on a very national high level and doing it without five-star recruits compared to the way some other people do it means they develop and they get the most out their guys,” Self said.

Iona (6-2) got 14 points apiece from Tyson Jolly and Ryan Myers. The Gaels also lost for the first time Friday, dropping a 72-65 decision to Belmont.

Both teams had five players score in double figures.

Unlike its first two games in the invitational, Kansas built a double-digit first-half advantage and held onto it, taking a 46-31 lead at the break behind 13 points from Braun.

“We didn’t accomplish the goal,” Braun said of the Jayhawks’ tournament performance. “All of us weren’t pleased. We have stuff to improve on. We’re going to do it.”

Agbaji had a dunk and Braun made a 3 during an 8-0 surge that made it 64-43 with 11 minutes left. Another long-range jumper by Braun gave Kansas a 75-52 lead 3 1/2 minutes later.

Myers, who came off the bench, had a pair of 3-pointers that helped Iona get within 80-68 with 5 minutes remaining, but the Gaels got no closer.

The Jayhawks put together first-half runs of 12-0, 10-0 and 8-0, and shot 58.8% (20 of 34). They shot 54.9% (39 of 71) overall and had 22 assists.

Iona had a pair of 4 1/2-minute scoring droughts, and turned the ball over 10 times during the opening 20 minutes.

Kansas: The Jayhawks tried to make a case to stay in the Top 10. They are 104-15 after a loss under Self since 2003-04. Kansas won its opener at the invitational 71-59 over North Texas.

Iona: The Gaels look like a squad that could reach the NCAA Tournament for the second straight season with Pitino at the helm.

“We’d like to get to the point where we have the same type of talent Kansas has,” Pitino said.

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) — Christian Braun had 18 points and seven rebounds, Ochai Agbaji added 17 points, and No. 4 Kansas beat Iona 96-83 on Sunday in the first meeting between Hall of Fame coaches Bill Self and Rick Pitino.David McCormack scored 13 points for Kansas (5-1). The Jayhawks were was coming off their first loss of the season, 74-73 to Dayton on a buzzer-beater in an ESPN Events Invitational semifinal on Friday.Beating Pitino’s Iona team, which opened the tournament with a win over No. 10 Alabama, was enough to salvage third place in the tournament for Self’s Jayhawks.“Now that I’ve faced Kansas, I’m glad we didn’t play them in all those years,” Pitino said. “I’ve always admired him. I’ve always thought he’s one of the best coaches in the game. What I admire most is, whether it’s his fast break, his offensive sets, his rebounding, he doesn’t have a weakness as a coach.”When asked what he had to say to Pitino, a smiling Self said: “Good game and he said good game, too.”“The way that his teams always competed on a very national high level and doing it without five-star recruits compared to the way some other people do it means they develop and they get the most out their guys,” Self said.Iona (6-2) got 14 points apiece from Tyson Jolly and Ryan Myers. The Gaels also lost for the first time Friday, dropping a 72-65 decision to Belmont.Both teams had five players score in double figures.Unlike its first two games in the invitational, Kansas built a double-digit first-half advantage and held onto it, taking a 46-31 lead at the break behind 13 points from Braun.“We didn’t accomplish the goal,” Braun said of the Jayhawks’ tournament performance. “All of us weren’t pleased. We have stuff to improve on. We’re going to do it.”Agbaji had a dunk and Braun made a 3 during an 8-0 surge that made it 64-43 with 11 minutes left. Another long-range jumper by Braun gave Kansas a 75-52 lead 3 1/2 minutes later.Myers, who came off the bench, had a pair of 3-pointers that helped Iona get within 80-68 with 5 minutes remaining, but the Gaels got no closer.The Jayhawks put together first-half runs of 12-0, 10-0 and 8-0, and shot 58.8% (20 of 34). They shot 54.9% (39 of 71) overall and had 22 assists.Iona had a pair of 4 1/2-minute scoring droughts, and turned the ball over 10 times during the opening 20 minutes.THE TAKEAWAYKansas: The Jayhawks tried to make a case to stay in the Top 10. They are 104-15 after a loss under Self since 2003-04. Kansas won its opener at the invitational 71-59 over North Texas.Iona: The Gaels look like a squad that could reach the NCAA Tournament for the second straight season with Pitino at the helm.“We’d like to get to the point where we have the same type of talent Kansas has,” Pitino said.UP NEXTKansas: At St. John’s on Friday night.Iona: At Marist on Wednesday night.

🏀 Self bests Pitino in 1st meeting, No. 4 Kansas tops Iona

Manhattan Christian (3-4) at Fort Hays State (3-0) Sunday, November 28 - 2 pm Hays, Kan. - Gross Memorial Coliseum Radio: KJLS (103.3-FM)

<a href="https://radio.securenetsystems.net/cwa/KJLS">LISTEN LIVE</a> Fort Hays State Men's Basketball plays the final game of its four-game homestand to open the 2021-22 season on Sunday at 2 pm. The Tigers host Manhattan Christian College in their final non-conference tune-up before entering MIAA play on Wednesday at Washburn. The Tigers are 3-0 overall, while Manhattan Christian enters at 3-4 overall. This will be the first-ever meeting between Fort Hays State and Manhattan Christian. The Thunder are members of the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA). Fort Hays State is coming off an 82-40 win over Central Christian College (Kan.) on Tuesday night. The Tigers led from start to finish in that contest and held a 53-point advantage at one point in the second half. Fort Hays State currently leads NCAA Division II in scoring defense, allowing just 51 points per game to their opponents. The Tigers have kept all three of their opponents so far this season under 60 points. They rank seventh in NCAA Division II in rebounding margin, holding a +14.7 margin through the three contests. Individually,&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=6468">Jared Vitztum</a>&nbsp;ranks 5th&nbsp;in NCAA Division II for rebounds per game (12.3) and he ranks third in defensive rebounds per game (8.7). Vitztum leads the Tigers in both points and rebounding, averaging 12.3 per game in both categories.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=6470">Nyjee Wright</a>&nbsp;is the team leader in assists, averaging 4.0 per game, and he joins&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=6460">Kaleb Hammeke</a>&nbsp;as the two Tigers aside from Vitztum averaging double figures in scoring, each at 10.3 per game.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1638058784416.jpeg" alt="Geoff&nbsp; Hamperian (Courtesy FHSU Athletics)" />
 <figcaption>Geoff&nbsp; Hamperian (Courtesy FHSU Athletics)</figcaption>
 </figure>Manhattan Christian (3-4) at Fort Hays State (3-0) Sunday, November 28 - 2 pm Hays, Kan. - Gross Memorial Coliseum Radio: KJLS (103.3-FM)<a href="https://radio.securenetsystems.net/cwa/KJLS">LISTEN LIVE</a> Fort Hays State Men's Basketball plays the final game of its four-game homestand to open the 2021-22 season on Sunday at 2 pm. The Tigers host Manhattan Christian College in their final non-conference tune-up before entering MIAA play on Wednesday at Washburn. The Tigers are 3-0 overall, while Manhattan Christian enters at 3-4 overall. This will be the first-ever meeting between Fort Hays State and Manhattan Christian. The Thunder are members of the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA). Fort Hays State is coming off an 82-40 win over Central Christian College (Kan.) on Tuesday night. The Tigers led from start to finish in that contest and held a 53-point advantage at one point in the second half. Fort Hays State currently leads NCAA Division II in scoring defense, allowing just 51 points per game to their opponents. The Tigers have kept all three of their opponents so far this season under 60 points. They rank seventh in NCAA Division II in rebounding margin, holding a +14.7 margin through the three contests. Individually,&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=6468">Jared Vitztum</a>&nbsp;ranks 5th&nbsp;in NCAA Division II for rebounds per game (12.3) and he ranks third in defensive rebounds per game (8.7). Vitztum leads the Tigers in both points and rebounding, averaging 12.3 per game in both categories.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=6470">Nyjee Wright</a>&nbsp;is the team leader in assists, averaging 4.0 per game, and he joins&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=6460">Kaleb Hammeke</a>&nbsp;as the two Tigers aside from Vitztum averaging double figures in scoring, each at 10.3 per game.&nbsp;&nbsp;FHSU Athletics

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