The <a href="https://haysartscouncil.org/">Hays
Arts Council </a>will once again offer summer art classes to area youth, with
classes scheduled through June and July.

“We've
got our theater class starting the first week in June,” Brenda Meder, executive director, said. “They'll culminate after two weeks with a performance, plenty of
room in those classes yet, and those are the only theater classes we're
offering for that age group.”

Two Acting
and the Theater sessions are for ages 8-11 and 11-14 and will run June 5-8 and June 12-16, kicking off the classes.

“So, if
you're interested in your young person, especially those that have just come
out of Famous Figures, those are a few of them, who we've seen signing up for
this, please check into that,” Meder said.

Another performance-based
class is set for July 10-13; however, registration for Acting It Out has
already been filled, according to the council’s website.

But various
artistic disciplines will follow, with classes featuring visual arts, fashion
and more.

“Some
things that will be more, sort of art education lessons, some things that'll
just be the free expression of arts and crafts and having the opportunity to
just paint or just create or just get your hands into the paper mâché or
whatever it might be, but a good variety of those things,” Meder said.

Those
classes run from one-day sessions to a series of days.

“We've
got several sessions of a two-hour a day, to two-day workshops, two hours a day,”
Meder said. “We know that in the times that we're in now, kids are very mobile
in the summer. And they don't always have big periods to commit to a week or
two weeklong class, or they come and visit grandma and grandpa or their cousins
for short periods of time. So, we threw those in.

“It's
just a great way to get lots of arts and crafts fun and not just be in and out
real fast. And they're not drop-ins, they are scheduled organized classes.”

Students
will learn more than just painting basics in the scheduled painting classes.

“Instead
of just learning all that sort of traditional sort of clean and very
representational methods, (we will be) playing around with some unusual
painting forms…so they're going to get a little art history, or the very kind
of unencumbered style of like Pollock with the paint and doing some of those
different kinds of projects and styles of painting.”

The
annual favorite Call of the Wild class is also set to return, allowing
participants to learn about animals with hands on experiences from the
collection at Sternberg Museum and use that as a basis for artistic endeavors.

And
around the Fourth of July, patriotism will be on display.

“We've
got a one-day class right before the Fourth of July called Red, White and Blue,”
Meder said. “So, anybody that's in town that Monday, visiting family, or is
here, it's a great class to just go let's plug something in for that little
bridge between Tuesday's Fourth of July activities, our Paper Doll Fashion Fun
class again, which is the coolest thing.

To
engage as many students as possible, Meder said the council works to keep costs
low.

“There are
no extra taxes, there are no extra supplies, we want to be able to pay our
instructors, something that's at least not disrespectful, but nobody's getting
rich on these,” Meder said.

“We want
them to work with decent quality materials, depending on what the class is,”
Meder said. “So, we have a lot of behind-the-scenes expenses, but we keep the
classes very affordable and decently sized.

“And so
it's a really good experience. And it's not just drop-in, and it's not
glorified babysitting. There really are planned, detailed, organized projects
within the idea that the kids will be kids ..."

The schedule,
class availability and registration form are on the <a href="https://haysartscouncil.org/summer-classes">Hays Arts Council</a>’s website.

Along
with the Summer Arts Classes, the council is preparing for the upcoming Summer
Art Walk, set for June 16.

“That
one will be on a Friday night, it will be at least a three-hour Artwalk,” Meder
said. “I'm already getting emails and information from folks who want to be on
the Artwalk.”

“If you
want to be on the Arts Council as a location, as an artist who says I've always
wanted to set up for something like that, there is no fee. It's not a difficult
process. We can even help if you need easels and pedestals or whether tabletop
or standing. We can even assist with things like that.”

She said
she can also help artists contact area businesses that want to participate.

The
Hays Young Professionals are again planning activities in the downtown pavilion to
accompany the event, she said.

“Get in
touch with me within the next couple of weeks if it's something you want to
participate in. If not, just keep watching so that you won't miss the fun when
that one gets closer,” Meder said.

The Hays Arts Council can be reached at 785-625-7522. You can also follow the council on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063746254684">Facebook</a>.&nbsp;

🎙 Hays Arts Council preparing for Summer Art Classes, Art Walk 

HAYS The Memorial Day observation in Hays will be at 10 a.m. Monday, May 29 at Veterans Memorial Park, 15th and Haney.

The service will be jointly presented by American Legion Post 173, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9076, Marine Corps League, American Legion Auxiliary, and the Sons of the American Legion.&nbsp;

The program will include music by Kiley Moritz, flag raising by the Marine Corps League, laying of the memorial wreath by the American Legion Auxiliary, roll call ready by members of various military organizations, a tribute to Memorial Day by Army Col. Allen Schmidt (Ret.), and conclude with a rifle salute and "Taps."

ELLIS&nbsp; Flags placed Sunday, May 28 at 3 p.m. on veterans' graves starting at St. Mary's, then Mt. Hope&nbsp; Ellis VFW Post 9139 services Monday, May 29 at * 9 a.m. at&nbsp;St. John's Lutheran Church&nbsp;(10 miles north of Ellis) * 9:30 a.m. St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery&nbsp; * 10 a.m. on Big Creek Bridge on Washington Street * 10:30 a.m. in Veterans Memorial Park * 11:30 a.m. at Mt. Hope Cemetery

WAKEENEY KANSAS VETERANS' CEMETERY Kansas Veterans’ Cemetery at WaKeeney,&nbsp;403 South 13th, will host its&nbsp;18th annual Memorial Day service at 10 a.m.&nbsp; Monday, May 29.

Guest speaker is retired U.S. Army veterinarian Fr. Richard Daise, Hays.&nbsp;

* Marine Corps League E.A. Schumacher Detachment * WaKeeney VFW * Cavalry Re-enactment Troop (under the direction of Jake Bauer) * American Legion Riders * Punishers M.C. * Hays High Plains Chapter Barbershop Chorus * WaKeeney VFW Auxiliary (Peggy White and MaDonna Richeson)

"Taps" will be played by Trego Community High School Band member Gage Hilmes.&nbsp;Bagpipes will be played by Rev. Randy Gibbs. WAKEENEY CITY CEMETERY Please join us at 9 a.m. under the large flag. * Welcome by Ranita Deines, city council president * Invocation and message by Robbie Hernandez, Generations Church * Honor Guard by American Legion and VFW members * "Taps" by Cpt. Travis Phillips, Kansas Highway Patrol * Benediction by&nbsp;Robbie Hernandez, Generations Church

RUSSELL Russell VFW Post 6240 at Russell City Cemetery at 10 a.m., Monday, May 29

BUNKER HILL&nbsp; Russell VFW Post 6240 at Bunker Hill Cemetery at 11 a.m., Monday, May 29 &nbsp;

DORRANCE Dorrance American Legion Post 334 at Dorrance City Cemetery at 10 a.m., Monday, May 29

GORHAM Russell VFW Post 6240 at Russell City Cemetery at 9 a.m., Monday, May 29

LUCAS Lucas American Legion Post 267 and Sons of the Legion service at Lucas City Cemetery at 10:30 a.m., Monday, May 29

LURAY Luray American Legion Rouner Post 309 service at Luray City Cemetery at 11 a.m., Monday, May 29

PARADISE American Legion Natoma Post 109 service at Paradise Mt. Hermon Cemetery, at 10:30 a.m., Monday, May 29

WALDO Luray American Legion Rouner Post 309 service at Grand Center Cemetery, at 10 a.m.,&nbsp;&nbsp;Monday, May 29

Area Memorial Day observances

Hays Area Children's Center fundraiser McTeacher's Night is May 31 

Due to the observance of the Memorial Day on May 29th, refuse/recycling route collection schedules will be altered as follows: Monday, May 29th and Tuesday, May 30th will be picked up on Tuesday, May 30th, 2023. 

Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday routes will be picked up at the regular time.

Although collections may not occur on your normal day, collections will be completed during the week. 

It is anticipated that heavy volumes of refuse/recycling will be encountered around the holidays. Please make sure your refuse and recycling are out by 7:00 a.m., and keep in mind that the trucks have no set time schedule.

City of Hays customers that may have any questions regarding this notice should contact the Solid Waste Division of the Public Works Department at 628-7350.

Refuse/recycling collections change for holiday weekend

&nbsp;Submit events to&nbsp;<a href="mailto:admin@hayspost.com">admin@hayspost.com</a>. Cover photo courtesy Pixabay

Community Calendar

TOPEKA –&nbsp;The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has announced that the Kansas Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (KSFMNP) is increasing the value of coupons for low-income seniors from $35 to $50. The coupons are given out on a first-come, first-serve basis. 

Seniors can apply&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDAsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmtkaGUua3MuZ292L0ltYWdlUmVwb3NpdG9yeS9Eb2N1bWVudD9kb2N1bWVudElkPTkyNjcmdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWdvdmRlbGl2ZXJ5IiwiYnVsbGV0aW5faWQiOiIyMDIzMDUyMy43NzE2MDE1MSJ9.16cb9kD7q2nkwY9Doy5WAfkodrVxJdTUkWx0IZ61lmM/s/1305913623/br/203575333806-l" target="_blank">at local distribution agencies</a>, including the Cottonwood Extension District office, 601 Main, Hays, between Thursday, June 1 and Friday, September 15, 2023, or until benefits are gone.

The coupons will be sent at once and available in $5 increments. These coupons can be redeemed from authorized vendors at participating farmers' markets, which will be identified with signage showing they are authorized to accept the coupons.

Seniors are eligible if they complete an application and are 60 years or older or at least 55 years old and a member of an Indian Tribal Organization. Eligible seniors must also have an annual gross household income (before taxes are withheld) at or below 185% of the federal poverty level.

Eligible foods to purchase with the KSFMNP coupons from authorized farmers at participating farmers markets are defined as fresh, nutritious, unprepared, locally grown fruits, vegetables, locally produced honey and cut herbs produced in Kansas under normal growing conditions.

“The KSFMNP helps support Kansas seniors and our local Kansas farmers at farmers markets,” said&nbsp;Courtney Koenig, KSFMNP coordinator. “The program is great because it brings new people to the markets, increases sales for farmers and provides nutritious foods to people who need it.” &nbsp;

Seniors can find more information on the KSFMNP coupons by visiting the&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHA6Ly93d3cua2RoZS5rcy5nb3YvMTA1Mz91dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9Z292ZGVsaXZlcnkiLCJidWxsZXRpbl9pZCI6IjIwMjMwNTIzLjc3MTYwMTUxIn0.BKLw6s8Z4b0pZG53zCHlciDXd-9ryjt_L05NtcCwlhw/s/1305913623/br/203575333806-l" target="_blank">KSFMNP website</a>.

Sign up at Cottonwood Extension for KS Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program

<a href="https://postpodcast.podbean.com/">For more about the Post Podcast, including a full list of episodes and episode transcripts click here.</a>

🎙 The latest from the Post Podcast

City of Hays offices will be closed on Monday, May 29, 2023, in observance of the Memorial Day holiday.

City of Hays offices closed on Memorial Day

TOPEKA&nbsp;– Lieutenant Governor and Department of Commerce Secretary David Toland has announced the call for nominations for the 2023 Minority Enterprise Development Week Awards. These annual awards, now in their 38th&nbsp;year at Commerce, are just one way the agency acknowledges and observes the growing impact minority- and women-led companies have on the entire Kansas economy.

“Part of our job is to ensure we are taking ample time to highlight and celebrate the remarkable businesses and businesspeople that are integral to our state’s growth,” Toland&nbsp;said.&nbsp;“Intentionally acknowledging minority- and women-owned businesses allows us to recognize the valuable contributions they make throughout Kansas.” 

Presented by the Department of Commerce’s Office of Minority and Women Business Development, awards are given in the following categories:

To nominate a business or person (self-nominations accepted), click&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmthbnNhc2NvbW1lcmNlLmdvdi9wcm9ncmFtL2J1c2luZXNzLWluY2VudGl2ZXMtYW5kLXNlcnZpY2VzL213LWRldmVsb3BtZW50L21lZC13ZWVrLyIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMzA1MjUuNzcyODc4NTEifQ.ImtA6gtpgi66YC5dWQlHDld8TMd8RuUA2AQVZb2AIlQ/s/1303161001/br/203733980248-l" target="_blank">here</a>. Nominations will be accepted through June 22, 2023.&nbsp;

The office will recognize all nominees and winners at a special event this fall. Details will be announced at a later date.

“Minority- and women-owned businesses are essential to the growth and development of the Kansas economy, and this special awards ceremony will honor the tremendous accomplishments of these amazing entrepreneurs in our state,”&nbsp;Director of the Office of Minority and Women Business Development Rhonda Harris said.&nbsp;“We encourage everyone to submit a nomination of a minority- and/or woman-owned business, advocate or young entrepreneur who are truly making a difference in their communities.”

The awards coincide with national MED Week, during which more than 9.2 million minority business enterprises are recognized for their significant role in the U.S. economy. Minority- and women-owned businesses generate more than $1.8 trillion in revenue.&nbsp;They create jobs that not only sustain the individual worker, but contribute to the economic security of their families, and the economic vitality of their communities and nation.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Kansas Office of Minority and Women Business Development also certifies businesses with designations of Minority Business Enterprise , Woman Business Enterprise and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise. Certified companies are eligible to participate in public and private procurement and contracting opportunities where diversity goals have been established, and for business-related financial assistance programs.&nbsp;

To learn more about the Office of Minority and Women Business Development, click&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDIsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmthbnNhc2NvbW1lcmNlLmdvdi9wcm9ncmFtL2J1c2luZXNzLWluY2VudGl2ZXMtYW5kLXNlcnZpY2VzL213LWRldmVsb3BtZW50LyIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMzA1MjUuNzcyODc4NTEifQ.F4bmxESmIhPC5YBHkA8XKW4jsVTXe7B91XUUCrI9r-o/s/1303161001/br/203733980248-l" target="_blank">here</a>.

Nominations open for minority business awards from KS Dept. of Commerce

Entries open for Ellis County United Way golf tourney June 16

Cathy’s Breads, a home-based micro-bakery in Hays, will be holding a Summer Solstice Tasting Party on Wednesday, June 21st, at Regeena’s Flowers &amp; Events, 1013 Main. 

The event, which is part of the business’s 10th&nbsp;anniversary celebration, will be a benefit for the Alzheimer's Association.

“Several years ago, we held a similar tasting event at Regeena’s, and it was wildly popular,” said Cathy Drabkin, owner of Cathy’s Breads. “Sandy, Norman and I have been wanting to repeat it, and this seemed like the perfect time,” Drabkin said of the Regeena’s owners. “What better way to spend the longest day of the year, than sampling delicious baked goods, visiting with friends, and enjoying the beauty of Regeena’s.”

The summer solstice tasting event will feature two dozen different samples of artisan breads and fine-crafted sweets, Cathy’s Breads’ signature products. While some offerings will be what Drabkin refers to as “Cathy’s classics,” much of what will be available for sampling during the hour and a half party will be new creations.

“I really love researching breads and desserts, exploring different cultures through their foods, experimenting with new techniques,” said Drabkin. “This event allows me to share some of my new discoveries with the whole community, while benefiting an important organization.” Drabkin chose the Alzheimer's Association after her father died of the disease this past November.

While the menu is still evolving, some of the newer items will include:&nbsp;Pink Peppercorn &amp; Parmesan Country Loaf, Blueberry Sourdough, Kyiv Buckwheat Loaf, Helsinki Buttermilk Rye, Cocoa Zebra Loaf, Opera Cake, Mango-Ginger Danish, Rhubarb Bakewell Danish, Strawberry Bostock, and Meyer Lemon&nbsp;Marmalade&nbsp;Spitzbuben.

There will be two tasting sessions offered: one from 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., and the other from 5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Each session is limited to 50 people. Tickets are $20 per person for the tasting. In addition, guests have the option of reserving a take-home loaf for an additional $10 donation, or a mixed box of sweets for an additional $25 donation. All of the ticket and product sales are being donated to the&nbsp;Alzheimer's Association.

Tickets, which go on sale on May 20th, may be purchased through the Cathy’s Breads website at&nbsp;<a href="http://cathysbreads.com/" target="_blank">cathysbreads.com</a>&nbsp;or by visiting Regeena’s Flowers &amp; Events.

Additional details can be found at the <a href="https://www.cathysbreads.com/">website</a>, or by contacting Cathy directly at <a href="mailto:cathy@cathysbreads.com" target="_blank">cathy@cathysbreads.com</a>&nbsp;or 785-639-3060.

Cathy’s Breads tasting party in Hays to benefit Alzheimer's Association

2022-23 Ellis Jr. High and High School 2nd semester honor rolls

Kansas Reflector: Weeklong series to examine influence of religious beliefs on policy decisions at Statehouse

In secret recording, GOP official warns public schools will ‘weaponize those children against you’

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/rmipro/">RACHEL MIPRO</a> Kansas Reflector

TOPEKA — Adam Peters, GOP chairman in Ellis County, draws a parallel between the average Kansas fourth-grader and Janissaries of the 16th century Ottoman feudal system.

The Ottoman empire ripped Christian children from their parents, raised the children as Muslims and turned them into elite warriors, sometimes sending them back to fight their own families.

Speaking at a March 2 meeting of Republicans in Hutchinson, Peters pointed to a “political fertility gap.” Counties that voted for Donald Trump in 2020&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.aei.org/articles/the-conservative-fertility-advantage/">have higher birth rates</a>, but liberals are educating the kids, he said.

“This is why the critical theorists, these people, don’t need to go through the trouble of having children,” Peters said. “They’ll leave that job to you. You can have the children, and then just like the Ottomans, they’ll weaponize those children against you, right? Just like the Janissaries, they can go in and take them when they’re young, bring them back, indoctrinate them, forget everything that you ever taught them. And then when the time is right, they send them back to come after you.”

Peters’ comments were secretly recorded and shared with Kansas Reflector. They resemble a broader view embraced by Republican legislators who worry about the influence of “woke ideology” in public schools.

At the beginning of the year, Republican legislative leaders said they would&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/01/10/kansas-gop-rails-against-woke-agenda-will-work-toward-stricter-abortion-rules/">fight to protect Kansas children</a>&nbsp;from a “sexualized woke agenda” and “woke ideology” in public schools, even as they struggled to define those phrases. Their proposed legislation included a transgender student athlete ban,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/04/05/between-laughter-and-cursing-kansas-house-overrides-veto-of-transgender-sports-ban/">which they passed</a>, a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/04/27/kansas-lawmakers-polish-plan-to-fully-fund-public-schools-revive-voucher-program/">voucher program</a>&nbsp;that would have funneled tens of millions of tax dollars to faith-based private schools, and&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/02/23/parental-rights-bill-panned-by-educators-gains-traction-in-kansas-house/">parental rights</a>&nbsp;legislation.

Peters told Reno County Republicans in March that the root of this culture war was based in Marxism, with critical race theory, critical gender theory and queer theory taught in public schools. Peters said teachers who are advancing these theories needed to be stopped.

“If you go to most public schools, the majority of teachers there are not on TikTok talking about how white people are a disease or about how they belong to one of 19 different genders,” Peters said. “Most people are on board with this, but there’s a small radical group that are pushing you. So if you can create a hostile environment for them and make it clear that they’ll be held accountable for this, they will either move on or they’ll stop doing what they’re doing.”

He praised legislation drafted by Wichita Republican Rep. Patrick Penn that would allow parents to sue teachers for introducing undesirable ideas and make them liable for damages starting at $10,000. Penn didn’t formally introduce the legislation during this year’s session.

Rep. Michael Murphy, R-Sylvia, said during the meeting at Riverside Baptist Church in Hutchinson that Republicans had found a sneaky way to prevent critical race theory from being taught to public school kids.

He was referring to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/hb2236/">a bill that would allow parents</a>&nbsp;to opt their children out of any lesson they find objectionable, and declared that parents should have the sole “moral or religious training of their children.”

“It’s&nbsp;kind of a slick little way of doing it,” Murphy said.

Gov. Laura Kelly vetoed the bill, however, and the House failed to override her veto in late April.

During legislative debate on the bill, Rep. Susan Estes, R-Wichita, pointed to a teacher asking a student about their preferred name and pronouns as an example of situations the bill was meant to prevent.

Legislators throughout this year’s session repeatedly sounded alarms about the supposed “indoctrination” of children in public schools.

Rep. Pat Proctor, R-Leavenworth, published a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/03/07/kansas-state-representative-calls-rainbow-drawings-proof-of-indoctrination-at-leavenworth-school/">fourth-grader’s rainbow drawing</a>&nbsp;without permission in his February newsletter. Proctor said the rainbow was proof of a “radical, woke agenda” and that he believed students in the school had been influenced into creating LGBTQ content.

In January, Rep. Ron Bryce, R-Coffeyville,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/hb2152/">introduced legislation</a>&nbsp;that would require public K-12 schools and universities to “prominently display in a conspicuous place” the national motto, “In God We Trust.” The bill would require the words to be in a large font size on an easily readable poster or framed image that is at least 11 inches wide by 14 inches high, and is the central focus of the&nbsp; display.

Rep. Kristey Williams, R-Augusta, pushed a school voucher program that would allow students who already attend private religious schools to receive about $5,000 apiece in public funding. Williams defended the measure as a way to help children access religious education.

“There are some kids that do need Jesus first, before they care about science and math,” Williams said&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/03/20/kansas-lawmaker-tells-concerned-augusta-community-educators-some-kids-do-need-jesus-first/">at a March 19 forum</a>&nbsp;in Augusta.

Officials from Catholic and Christian schools testified in favor of her unregulated voucher program.

“With accountability to the Lord, the Board of Trustees, Parents, and to an accreditation agency — there are more than adequate controls to ensure that schools fulfill their mission by offering a Biblical worldview education for their students,” said John Walker, superintendent of Central Christian School in Hutchinson, in Feb. 2 written testimony.

Williams’ voucher proposal died in the last days of the legislative session, but lawmakers adopted a<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/04/28/kansas-legislature-approves-k-12-education-budget-with-private-school-benefits/">&nbsp;K-12 education budget</a>&nbsp;that would expand&nbsp;a private school tax credit and allows private school students to participate in public school sports and other activities.

Critics said these provisions are intended to draw students away from public schools and into private, often religious, schools.

“I’ll tell you one thing that’s missing in our society, and you won’t find it, generally, openly in public schools, and that’s the spiritual perspective,” Williams said during the March forum in Augusta. “If a parent believes having Jesus with their education is important, they can do that. There’s a God-sized hole in a lot of people’s hearts.”

In an interview for this series, Rep. Tobias Schlingensiepen, a Topeka Democrat and pastor, mocked Williams’ comment.

“That’s a big hole, if it’s a God-sized hole,” Schlingensiepen said. “How big is God? That’s the question.”

Rabbi Moti Rieber, executive director of Kansas Interfaith Action, said most people support public education.

“Christian conservatives do not because they think it’s undermining their parental authority,” Rieber said in an interview for this series. “It interferes with the ability to have good policy, it interferes with the ability to actually care for people and it also privileges a certain way of understanding the world. Hierarchies — men on top, white people on top, Christians on top — are natural and they should not only be accepted, they should be supported. That’s not the way I look at the world.”

At the meeting of Republicans in March, Reno County Commissioner John Whitesel said Republicans need to fill school boards with candidates who will “put God back into our schools.”

“I will tell you, if you get into this fight, they will hate you,” Whitesel said. “You will get threats. It’s not an easy fight, but you know something? We’ve got God on our side, and nothing they can do will be able to hurt us if he doesn’t let it.”

Whitesel said it didn’t matter if candidates know anything about education. They just have to be willing to “put yourself on the line.”

“As parents,” he said, “we’ve gotta stand up. We’ve gotta protect our kids.”

“If my kid gets in trouble because he stands up to critical theory or he stands up to anything in the school that he knows is right and he gets in trouble for it, I’m giving him 50 bucks,” Whitesel said. “We need parents to enable their children to do the right thing.”

Church and state: Kansas Republicans justify private school handouts with fear of ‘woke ideology’

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

Sen. Roger Marshall was in Hays Friday morning to meet with community officials and business leaders.

Some of the topics the group discussed included health care, energy, broadband and wireless service.

Shae Veach, vice president of regional operations&nbsp;at&nbsp;Hays Medical Center, said the hospital has been as busy as ever.&nbsp;

Pharmaceutical costs are through the roof, Veach said. The hospital does not benefit from the 340B program, which provides financial help to hospitals serving vulnerable communities to manage rising prescription drug costs.

Large, wealthy hospitals are qualifying for the program, but HaysMed is not, Veach said. Marshall said he would try to address that issue in Washington.

Labor costs and supply costs have increased as a result of inflation.

The cost of providing services is going up much faster than reimbursement rates, he said.

"We are not the gas station where we can just increase our costs. That is what we get from Medicare and Medicaid, Blue Cross and Blue Shield, and third-party payers," he said.

Veach also talked about the addition of its child care facility, which will open this fall, and the need for housing to recruit and retain employees.

Eric Flax, CEO First Care Clinic, said the clinic's new pharmacy, which is set to open soon at 13th and Main in Hays, will qualify for the&nbsp;340B program.

First Care already provides sliding-scale fees for patients for medical, dental and behavioral health services. This will be extended to the pharmacy when it opens, Flax said.

Flax said First Care also struggles to find qualified employees to do the front-line work, including dentists, behavioral health professionals and nurses.

Marshall said Medicaid is so broken, and it will never be the solution to providing health care to those in need. He said federally qualified health clinics, which includes First Care Clinic, are a better solution.

Marshall said a Senate committee that he is on was able to advance legislation that would limit pharmacy benefit managers.

"They take 84 cents of every dollar for a prescription," Marshall said. ... "There's three of them. They control 90 percent of the market. They are vertically integrated. They own the insurance company, the pharmacy, the retail pharmacy, and now they are owning the doctors and caregivers as well."

"It's the most horrible thing I have ever seen in health care," he said.&nbsp;

Ron Nelson of Dowing Nelson Oil said he did not like the White House's move to release oil from the strategic petroleum reserve.

He said he also opposes the listing of the lesser prairie chicken as a threatened species. This could affect the ability of oil producers to drill wells in the prairie chickens' prime breeding ground. Marshall has also opposed the listing.

"We don't need any more rules and regulations," Nelson said.

Pat Parke, Midwest Energy CEO, said the utility's inability to procure transformers is slowing local development. He said it is taking up to two years to receive the transformers.

"The manufacturing companies are reluctant to increase their production capacity now if it's going to be obsolete in three years," he said.

Parke said recommended the Department of Energy wait to change its standards so the manufacturers can receive a return on their investment.

He also said anything that supports housing, child care, or rural health care helps Midwest Energy recruit.

He recommended student loan forgiveness for engineers. Although he said he is a Republican, he thought the federal government should rethink its position on immigration. He suggested immigrants could be helpful in dealing with the severe worker shortages in rural Kansas.&nbsp;

Although he did not mention immigration, Toby Dougherty,&nbsp;Hays city manager, also mentioned the need for more workers in Hays.

Parke said he would also like Kansas farmers to have opportunities to be a part of carbon sequestration.

He said although Midwest Energy has taken advantage of renewable energy, saving its customers millions of dollars, fossil fuels still need to be part of the energy system to maintain grid reliability.

As coal plants age out of the system, utilities are relying more on natural gas. However, the natural gas industry is deregulated.

He pointed to power issues in Texas during the winter of 2021.

"We don't have good coordination of electric and natural gas industries in this nation," he said.

Marshall said he sees modular reactors,&nbsp; which are defined as nuclear reactors generally 300 MWe equivalent or less, as a viable energy solution for Kansas in the future.&nbsp;

Jimmy Todd, Nex-Tech CEO, also talked about issues the company was having with the supply chain.

Although the company has laid fiber, the electronic elements that connect users are wearing out and are in need of replacement. Nex-Tech is struggling to obtain parts that are manufactured overseas.

Todd said companies from outside of the state have received federal funds to expand rural broadband but haven't done anything in Kansas.

"They are creating Swiss cheese out of opportunities to expand the network. That makes it very difficult to make a business case for building ..."

He said he was concerned the latest round of funding is not going to go where it is truly needed.

Aaron Gillespie, Nex-Tech Wireless COO, said Nex-Tech is struggling against large companies like Verizon and AT&amp;T that have hugely exaggerated their 5G maps.

Gillespie said they had 2.3 million challenges to Verizon and AT&amp;T's maps.

"We are spending a ton of time and talent to drive our footprint," he said

"Our goal is to make sure that rural residents have equivalent technology to their counterparts," Gillespie added.

However, Todd said he has been on a federal committee that has made recommendations to the FCC and USDA on precision ag, and none of their recommendations have been implemented.

Sen. Marshall hears local concerns on federal policy on health care, energy, tech

<a href="https://hayspost.com/pages/state-farm-weather-window">For a full look at the weather forecast, click here.</a>

Three-day weather outlook

Icon Structures is partnering with GLMV Architects and Advancing Barton County Childcare (ABCC) on their new Childcare Facility located in Great Bend.

Icon Structures will be bidding on this project between May 31 and June 14.

Any and all interested bidders should reach out to Shawn Edwards with Icon Structures at 316-687-9960 for further questions. 

The project is anticipated to be completed in the early spring of 2024.

WaKeeney high school students graduate from NWKTC welding program

By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT Hays Post

A Kansas man who was determined to have a blood alcohol
level three times the legal limit when he caused an <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/68c9e77c-e955-4260-ace7-bb86a410daee">injury accident</a>&nbsp;on
Interstate 70 in Ellis County last year pleaded no contest to a pair of felony
charges Wednesday in Ellis County District Court.

Sergio Torres-Ramirez, 61, Wichita, was initially charged
with driving under the influence of alcohol, a misdemeanor, and three felony
counts of aggravated battery while driving under the influence.

According to court documents, the Kansas Highway Patrol was
alerted to a driver that was swerving all over the road and failing to maintain
his lane on the afternoon of Oct. 21, 2022.

When a highway patrol trooper attempted to stop the vehicle,
about a mile east of Walker, the vehicle left the road and collided
with a vehicle parked on the side of the road.

Torres-Ramirez was identified as the driver of the vehicle.

He was taken to Hays Medical Center for treatment of minor
injuries and a blood sample was taken. According to evidence presented in Ellis
County District Court, Torres-Ramirez had a blood alcohol level of 0.28.

A teenage female passenger inside the car hit by Torres-Ramirez
and two females who were standing outside, near the parked vehicle, were all
injured and taken to Hays Medical Center.

As a result of a plea agreement, the state elected to dismiss
the misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence and one of the felony
aggravated battery while DUI charges.

He pleaded no contest Wednesday and was found guilty on two
felony counts of aggravated battery while DUI.

According to Kansas Sentencing Guidelines, Torres-Ramirez
faces between seven and 23 months in prison. Because of his criminal history, the sentence is presumptive probation. The plea agreement calls for 18 months of probation.

Kansas man pleads no contest in DUI crash that injured 3

On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with Eber Phelps about the Habitat for Humanity program.

🎤 Forward Ever: Eber Phelps discusses Habitat for Humanity

By AVERY OSEN Associated Press

KANSAS CITY, Mo (AP) — Lane Thomas opened the game with a home run, Corey Dickerson's three-run shot highlighted an eight-run sixth inning and Luis Garcia had six hits as the Washington Nationals outslugged the Kansas City Royals 12-10 on Friday night.

The eight-run inning was the largest scoring inning in Nationals' history and came against Kansas City's Jordan Lyles and Josh Staumont. Lyles (0-9) allowed five earned runs in five innings, giving up six hits and three walks with two strikeouts.

The 34-year-old Dickerson, in his 11th big league season, has eight hits and has two homers and seven RBIs since being called up on May 17.

Washington (22-29) led 9-2 when its half of the sixth was over, helped by RBIs from Garcia (two RBIs) and Joey Meneses off of Staumont, who gave up four earned runs in one-third of an inning.

The Royals (15-37) scored the next six runs, highlighted by a Bobby Witt Jr.'s three-run homer off Erasmo Ramirez in the seventh, cutting the lead to 9-8. Witt also homered in the sixth inning for his second career multi-homer game and a career-high with five RBIs.

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