The legal group says low-income people are disproportionately affected by the cost of bail and calls for using no-cash bail for nonviolent crimes. But President Donald Trump argues it's leading to a rise in crime.

By DYLAN LYSEN <a href="https://www.kcur.org/politics-elections-and-government/2025-09-16/kansas-aclu-says-cash-bail-is-hurting-low-income-residents-but-trump-wants-to-require-it">KCUR</a>

In a recent study, the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas asks people to imagine a Wichita-area husband and wife raising a daughter who are living paycheck to paycheck.

In this scenario, the family has a household income of $5,600 a month. Rent is $1,000 a month, which is the average cost in that area. The family also needs to pay fluctuating costs for utilities, groceries, phone bills and other expenses.

But the father of this family is arrested for felony possession of marijuana. He is held in the Sedgwick County Jail and given a $2,500 bond for release.

The ACLU of Kansas argues that the family can’t afford the cost of that bail. So the father could remain in jail on suspicion of a nonviolent crime for months, which also takes away nearly half of the family's household income. With now only $3,000 of income a month, it is virtually impossible for the family to pay for the father’s release.

Meanwhile, a wealthy person accused of the same crime may be able to afford that bail price and be released from jail the same day they are arrested.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aclukansas.org/publications/price-freedom-bail-sedgwick-county/" target="_blank">ACLU of Kansas study</a>&nbsp;found that low-income residents in Sedgwick County are disproportionately affected by cash bail. Micah Kubic, executive director for the group, said that creates an unfair justice system that brings additional punishment for low-income offenders.

“There's something really unfair about a two-tiered system of justice,” Kubic said, “where folks get treated differently, have different outcomes based on whether they have money or whether they don't.”

Standard bail requires a person in custody to pay the entire cost up front as collateral for their release from jail. The money is refunded when their case is resolved and they appear at all their required court dates.

They may also use a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.attorneytmorton.com/frequently-asked-criminal-defense-questions/how-do-jail-bail-bonds-work-for-kansas-crimes" target="_blank">standard bond</a>, which is a private agreement with a bondsman to cover the up front cost. A bondsman will often charge a non-refundable 10% fee to pay for the bail with an agreement that the person in custody will pay the full amount if they fail to appear at their court dates.

ACLU of Kansas is calling for expanding the use of no-cash bail. That’s when a suspected offender is released from jail without paying a bail amount, but promises a judge overseeing their case that they will show up for their court dates, or else face a fine and additional charges.

Enacting bail reform to make cashless bail standard for nonviolent crimes in Kansas will likely be an uphill battle because the conversation among conservative political leaders is trending the other direction.

President Donald Trump is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-signs-orders-aimed-ending-cashless-bail-policies-2025-08-25/" target="_blank">calling for the elimination of cashless bail nationwide</a>. He argues that cashless bail lets criminals back out onto the streets and that’s leading to more crime.

But criminal justice reform advocates dispute those claims and suggest cashless bail actually decreases crime without unfairly punishing low-income people.

The ACLU of Kansas study, which looked at arrest and crime data of Sedgwick County in 2023 and 2024, showed the vast majority of arrests in the county were for nonviolent crimes.

The study also found that the most common bail cost is $1,000 and the average is $1,500. The average monthly income of Sedgwick County residents is roughly $3,000. So an arrest for a single drug offense would come with an upfront cost that is one-third of their monthly income.

Kubic said inmates forced to post bail are being punished before they are ever convicted of a crime. They either must pay such a relatively high bail cost or remain in jail until their case is resolved. That could also be a form of punishment because staying in jail means they may lose jobs, be evicted for failing to pay rent or leave their children without supervision.

“That harms all of us,” Kubic said. “It doesn’t improve outcomes and it makes communities weaker.”

An ACLU of Kansas study found that low-income people are disproportionately affected by cash bail because they can't afford the upfront cost and can end up in jail for months.

The study specifically recommends the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office enact a policy to request own-recognizance bonds for non-person misdemeanor and felony cases, which are nonviolent crimes.

But Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett said it’s not as simple as the study makes it seem.

He told the Kansas News Service in an email that bail is set by a judge, not the District Attorney’s office. He said a prosecutor can provide information to the judge about the defendant and request certain bail terms, but a judge ultimately decides.

Sedgwick County also has a bail schedule that lists a standard cost for certain low-level crimes, like disorderly conduct. Bennett said a majority of the crimes in that list uses cashless bail, so the accused offender is released without paying anything.

Bennett also noted that bail is determined by many factors, such as whether the suspect has a criminal history. He said someone with prior convictions would be facing a higher sentence if they are convicted again. He said nearly 70% of people charged with a new crime have a prior felony conviction.

“These prior convictions constitute the person’s criminal history and will obviously impact the amount of bond the Judge requires,” he said.

While the ACLU of Kansas study specifically looked at Sedgwick County, Kubic said these income-disparity issues are likely happening across the state. He said district attorneys across Kansas could request a judge to use cashless bail for nonviolent crimes more often to help address income disparity in justice.

Representatives for the Kansas County and District Attorneys Association declined to comment on the study and the ACLU of Kansas recommendation for cashless bail.

Meanwhile, the days of cashless bail in other parts of the country may be numbered.

As part of the federal take over of law enforcement in Washington, D.C., Trump signed an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/08/taking-steps-to-end-cashless-bail-to-protect-americans/" target="_blank">executive order</a>&nbsp;ending cashless bail there. He also wants Congress to pass legislation banning it throughout the country.

However, it’s unclear if Congress can enact a nationwide ban on cashless bail. R Street Institute, a conservative think tank focused on limited government,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rstreet.org/commentary/why-federal-repeal-of-no-cash-bail-laws-would-be-unconstitutional-and-bad-policy/" target="_blank">suggests that such a ban is unconstitutional</a>.

Kubic argues bail policy is better left to states.

“It is disrespectful to state and local officials — regardless of party, regardless of ideology — and their ability to do what is best for their constituents,” Kubic said.

Still, Trump argues cashless bail lets criminals out of jail without consequences and leads to increased crime rates. He also claimed, without citing specific instances, jurisdictions with cashless bail like Chicago are letting accused murderers out of jail.

“Somebody murders somebody and they are out on no-cash bail before the day is out,” Trump said&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/live/vcS3wkDf4MU?si=X0z1fy0V8YvqV3C7&amp;t=705" target="_blank">during an August press conference</a>. "We’re going to end that.”

The Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania, Trump’s alma mater, called that claim misleading. In a post on its&nbsp;<a href="https://www.factcheck.org/2025/08/trumps-distortions-on-cashless-bail/" target="_blank">fact checking website</a>, the center noted that some states that have enacted cashless bail have exceptions for violent felonies and murder. It also said it’s “exceedingly rare” that a judge has let a murder suspect out of jail before trial without cash bail.

The Bail Project, a criminal justice reform group that supports cashless bail nationwide, directly disputes Trump’s assertion that bail reform leads to rising crime. The group notes&nbsp;<a href="https://bailproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/How-Real-Bail-Reform-Creates-a-Safer-America.pdf" target="_blank">crime rates</a>&nbsp;fell in New Jersey and Illinois after both states enacted cashless bail systems.

The group also points to a 2024 study by the Brennan Center for Justices showing crime is not increasing because of cashless bail.

That study looked at crime rates from 33 jurisdictions across the country that have enacted bail reform. The study concluded that there is no evidence connecting increased or decreased crime rates to cashless bail.

A Brennan Center for Justice study found jurisdictions that enacted bail reform, like cashless bail, did not see a rise in crime.

Ames Grawert, who co-authored the study, told the Kansas News Services that crime rates rise and fall for many different reasons, but cashless bail is not statistically proven to be related.

“It would be surprising,” Grawert said, “if there was a single policy lever that elected officials or judges could pull to change crime rates at the drop of a hat.”

Additionally, crime rates continue to fall nationally after spiking during the COVID-19 pandemic.

FBI data shows violent crime rates continued to fall this year after rising by 30% during the pandemic,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fbi-crime-statistics-report-e785a5a970597f2ebf78ea093baeaa28" target="_blank">according to the Associated Press</a>. The crime rates also fell to near pre-pandemic levels in 2022.

Grawert said communities that want to lower crime rates should consider boosting social support programs, like increased access to mental health services.

However, he said cash bail still poses the issue of unequal justice.

“A lot of people agree, even across party lines,” Grawert said, “that wealth shouldn't be what decides whether someone walks free or spends the time that they have before trial in detention.”

Dylan Lysen reports on social services and criminal justice for the Kansas News Service. You can email him at dlysen@kcur.org.

The Kansas News Service is a collaboration of KCUR, Kansas Public Radio, KMUW and High Plains Public Radio focused on health, the social determinants of health and their connection to public policy.

Kansas ACLU says cash bail is hurting low-income residents; Trump wants to require it

FHSU daily crime log: Sept. 12-18, 2025

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Reporter Cristina Janney speaks with Nancy Jeter of Women Who Lead about the Out of Darkness suicide prevention walk and other projects on this episode of the Hays Post Podcast.

🎙 Post Podcast: Women Who Lead, Out of Darkness walk

Small Kansas high schools are switching to six-man football to keep their teams alive, while their towns’ populations shrink. And state high school sports officials think it’s a trend that will likely grow.

By CALEN MOORE <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/2025-09-05/six-man-football-in-kansas-is-keeping-the-friday-night-lights-on-for-rural-towns">KMUW</a>

INGALLS, Kansas —&nbsp;On the edge of town next to the railroad tracks, the sound of pads crunch and whistles echo. A train chugs by toward the grain elevator that backdrops the football field that features only a handful of players. And a bulldog painted on the town’s water tower watches over them.

High school football season is approaching, and this is what many rural Kansas towns feel like this time of year. Even if they are like Ingalls, a community with a population of less than 300.

“When I first drove into town, you see Ingalls Bulldogs everywhere,” Ingalls Head Coach Logan Hernandez said. ”The pride the town of this size has for its team, it runs deep.”

But it’s getting harder to field a football team year after year.

More towns across western Kansas are adopting six-man football, a version of football with smaller teams to help keep the sport alive.

Six-man football is a high-flying and high-scoring game that only has six players on the field for each team, opposed to the usual 11. Smaller schools usually resort to eight-man or six-man football when enrollment is low and there are only a few students who want to play.

One of the Bulldog’s offensive weapons breaks a tackle before finding some open field.

Back in 2021, the Kansas State High School Activities Association voted to officially sanction six-man football with 15 teams taking the field that year. Last season it grew to 23 teams in Kansas. This season the KSHSAA expects similar numbers.

But each season it can fluctuate, with some towns having smaller classes and then bigger classes the next year.

Mark Lentz, assistant executive director for the KSHSAA, said keeping the football team going gives small towns a chance to bring their community together.

“When you play a varsity game on a Friday night, that's what's going on in town,” Lentz said. “And that's what we want to keep and we want schools to thrive and communities to thrive and have that opportunity.”

This is Hernandez's first year as a head coach and first year coaching six-man football.

“There’s a lot of adapting, the rules are a bit different, when I first watched the tape I had to count because I thought surely there wasn’t enough guys on the field,” Hernandez said.

A train whizzes by the field while the team practices. Coach Logan Hernandez keeps running through their plays without stopping.

The Bulldogs are coming off a successful 9-2 season. Hernandez is getting his team ready to kickoff the season against the Triplains/Brewster Titans.

They are an example of the lengths rural schools will go to keep the Friday night lights on for their communities. Triplains High School in Winona combined programs with Brewster High School to form a team.

Bucklin High School in southern Kansas also joined forces with Ashland High School’s team this year to give their students an opportunity to play.

“These towns, they're kind of away from everybody, and with schools consolidating, if they couldn't play, that'd be a real big issue,” Hernandez said.

But that doesn’t stop them from getting creative to keep the tradition alive for their towns and their youth.

Six-man football is heavy on offense and scoring. Take Golden Plains High School in Rexford, Kansas, for example. Last season, the team played in games with scores of 82-45, 62-16 and 58-0.

The game is played on a slightly shorter field of 80 yards opposed to the standard 100 yards. And unlike standard football rules, everyone including linemen are eligible to catch a pass, leading to wildly entertaining plays.

“A lot of teams of this size don’t have anyone real big on their team, so it’s more about speed,” Hernandez said. “When you see a running back break off a 60-yard run you drew up, it’s hard to contain your excitement.”

Lentz said more small towns that are shrinking may soon get in on that excitement.

About&nbsp;<a href="https://sentinelksmo.org/u-s-census-data-details-kansas-population-loss/" target="_blank">three out of four counties</a>&nbsp;in Kansas lost population from 2020 to 2022. There’s not a lot of entertainment or amenities in small towns in the High Plains, but high school football remains a gathering opportunity for these communities.

The practice field in Ingalls sits on the edge of town. A lot of rural towns like this are keeping football alive with six-man teams.

And for the teens growing up there, six-man allows them to pursue the game they love and receive opportunities despite their rural surroundings, Lentz said.

“It's just an opportunity for smaller schools who don't have the enrollment, or may not have a lot of boys in their school to play the game of football,” Lentz said.

KSHSAA this year raised the maximum enrollment threshold so more small schools could join the program. Before only schools with less than 55 students could drop down to six-man football, but now the maximum is 65 students.

Lentz believes that in the upcoming seasons, Kansas might see several more teams join the trend to keep a consistent team together. He said KSHSAA hopes in the next few years the state will have up to 32 teams playing in that division.

“I'm not saying the community is going to shut down if they don't have a football team,” Lentz said. “But, you want the community involved in your school, and football's part of that school.”

Calen Moore covers western Kansas for High Plains Public Radio and the Kansas News Service. You can email him at&nbsp;cmoore@hppr.org.

Six-man football in Kansas is keeping the Friday night lights on for rural towns

Fort Hays State University’s new hybrid pre-licensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program opened its inaugural semester this fall, welcoming its first cohort of 10 students.

The program offers a flexible combination of online and face-to-face learning experiences, with theory-based courses delivered online and synchronous class sessions allowing for real-time interaction with instructors and classmates. Lab and clinical experiences are bundled together, enabling students to make fewer trips to Hays while still receiving hands-on training.

“We are excited to offer this type of nursing education to students who are place-bound due to either work or family commitments,” said Tanya Smith, assistant chair of FHSU’s nursing department. “While the program maintains its quality and rigor, having the ability to complete the coursework required on the student’s time schedule instead of a structured schedule has been beneficial to the students in this program.”

For many students, this format provides an accessible path to a nursing degree while balancing life’s many responsibilities.

“This program allows me to work my 8-5 job and still have time to do homework after, versus being on campus all day and having to find an evening job,” said Gabrielle De Waal, an LPN at a clinic in Hays who is also planning a spring wedding. “It definitely is more flexible.”

Angelica Garcia, another member of the inaugural cohort, said the program allows her to focus on raising her son at home.

“I would rather raise my boy with my husband and avoid daycare,” she said. “Everything I would make would go straight to daycare. It’s just so expensive.”

Other students shared how the program’s structure fits into their busy lives:

• Andrea Hensley, Overland Park, a mother of three who also works two jobs, said she applied after hearing about the program through a client at her spa. “If I get in, I’m doing it,” she recalled telling her husband. “And here I am.” • Janine Van Niekerk, Arapahoe, Neb., a mother of six, called the program “a blessing,” adding, “I previously looked into a traditional BSN, but I couldn’t commit to five days a week. Online is easier to manage.”

During the fall semester, hybrid students spend three to four days on campus and two to three days in a senior living community, with the remainder of coursework online. While students say online learning requires discipline and self-motivation, they also praised the accessibility and responsiveness of their instructors.

Dr. Jenny Manry, chair of the Department of Nursing, said she is ecstatic about the hybrid program.

“We are excited that this program will benefit students and their local communities,” she said. “By educating students in place, we will impact the healthcare in the communities where they reside.”

Admission to the hybrid program occurs once per year, beginning each fall. The application deadline is Feb. 1, 2026. Applications will be accepted until the cohort is filled.

For more information or to apply, contact: Dr. Tanya Smith, Coordinator of the BSN Program Email:&nbsp;tlsmith17@fhsu.edu

FHSU launches hybrid nursing program with first cohort of students

Heartland Community Foundation

The Heartland Community Foundation, dedicated to supporting Ellis, Rooks, and Trego counties, is excited to announce the opening of its fall grant cycle. Applications can be submitted online until 11:59 p.m. on Saturday, November 15, 2025. A total of over $150,000 in funding is available.

This grant cycle aims to support local initiatives that fulfill one or more of the following goals:

• Directly benefiting communities in Ellis, Rooks, or Trego counties. • Enhancing the quality of life for individuals and expanding the capacity or outreach of applying organizations through programs, projects, or capital improvements. • Providing seed funding to kickstart new projects, programs, or organizations that will serve the community

Funding this cycle is made possible by the Legacy Funds of Ellis, Rooks, and Trego counties, along with contributions from the Dane G. Hansen Community Grant Fund, the Heartland Healthy Living Fund, and the Heartland Area Action Fund. 

Two new funds will also be making their first grant distributions this fall: the Hays Optimist Friends of Youth Fund will support projects that benefit youth or are youth-led, while the Trego County Enhancement Fund will support projects that promote economic development in Trego County.

Eligible projects must be based in Ellis, Rooks, or Trego counties and will undergo a competitive evaluation process. Nonprofit organizations, government entities, educational institutions, and churches are all encouraged to apply. All applications must be submitted online by the deadline&nbsp;of 11:59 p.m. on November 15. Detailed funding criteria and the application form can be found at <a href="https://heartlandcommunityfoundation.org/grants/">https://heartlandcommunityfoundation.org/grants/</a>

For further inquiries, please reach out to Sarah Meitner, executive director, at 785-621-4090, Savannah Downing, Trego Development Director, at 785-743-3270, or Deanna Hammerschmidt, Rooks Development Director, at 785-688-5098.

You can easily make a charitable gift by clicking the GIVE ONLINE button.

To learn more about the Heartland Community Foundation, make a donation to one of our managed funds, or apply for a grant, please visit <a href="https://heartlandcommunityfoundation.org/">www.heartlandcommunityfoundation.org</a>.&nbsp;

Stay updated on our latest news, grantee stories, and featured funds by following us on Facebook at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/HeartlandCF">https://www.facebook.com/HeartlandCF</a>.

Heartland Community Foundation accepting grant applications through Nov. 15

By KAREN MADORIN Hays Post

My Grandma marveled at changes she experienced starting with her birth in 1909. She lived through WW I and II, Korea, and Viet Nam. During childhood, she saw her home electrified and plumbed. When her family got a wall phone, they marveled. She talked about their first motorized vehicle and the joy of riding in airconditioned comfort decades later. Refrigeration changed cooking practices as did the advent of gas and electric stoves. She didn’t have a TV til the 60s, but she appreciated watching Walter Cronkite deliver news. Saturday night was not complete til she enjoyed Lawrence Welk before she studied the next day’s Sunday school lesson. Colorization improved Lawrence. She loved his co-stars’ bright dresses and suits.

I relished her childhood stories. From her dad driving a steam engine through Colorado mountains to tales of horse drawn carriages and wagons, they fascinated me. She described her mom’s delicious meals cooked on a wood stove, bathing in stove-heated water in a tin tub, and scrubbing laundry in it as well. She had one of her family’s kerosene lanterns, and I could imagine her lighting it as darkness descended. While she made it sound cozy, she let me know she appreciated modern improvements like electricity, air conditioners and forced air furnaces, hot and cold running water, washing machines and dryers, and her programmable oven that began baking before she came home for lunch.

What she saw as miracles, I take for granted. However, she didn’t live long enough for smart phones to not only connect her to the world but also deliver information at a touch and track appointments or provide weather warnings. On the other hand, she didn’t have to figure out what to do when it, her computer, or her Smart TV didn’t work.

Those issues aggravate us as we age. As digital immigrants who used computers for work, both of us feel like travelers in foreign territory when they don’t perform. While we appreciate advantages technology offers, we find ourselves in stress city when it doesn’t work.

Recently, we faced repeated challenges starting when our Fire Stick quit. We discovered we&nbsp;

didn’t have a business in town to call for onsite help after we failed to properly install that device Thank goodness, a savvy neighbor walked us through the step we’d missed and reconnected us to favorite programs.

Not long after we got the TV operating, our 4-year-old phone decided to go geriatric and prevent us from hearing incoming callers. Off to a treasured phone company employee to update phones. That went fine until a glitch in the I Phone program prevented us from getting texts and emails. Who knew how dependent we’d become on instant communication. It took our patient and tenacious tech 3 days to connect all the dots so our new phones performed properly. She had 10 years of trouble shooting under her belt that allowed her to solve the problem. We couldn’t begin to figure out what to do.

In addition to recruiting electricians, plumbers, carpenters, carpet layers, and car mechanics, communities need to encourage local tech wizards to stay in town. For a while yet, a generation of digital immigrants with limited vocabulary wander a foreign land needing professional guidance.

We haven’t seen the change my grandma did, but we’ve experienced enough we need expert direction with current technology. Tech Wizards, open a consulting business in your hometown. Customers await!

MADORIN: The times—they are a’changing

<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

First Care Clinic, Inc. is excited to welcome Ashley Alonso, nurse practitioner, to our dedicated medical team. Ashley will be seeing patients at First Care Clinic Express Care, located at 1301 Main Street in Hays, where she will treat patients with acute, non-emergency issues such as minor illnesses, infections, and injuries.

Ashley brings experience in family medicine and urgent care, and a passion for providing high-quality, patient-centered care. She earned her master of science degree with a family nurse practitioner concentration from the University of Central Missouri.

First Care Clinic CEO Eric Flax stated, “We are very excited to have Ashley join our clinic! As someone who grew up in Hays, her decision to return home and care for this community speaks volumes about her character and dedication. We are fortunate to have her on our team.”

“We are proud to welcome Ashley to our Express Care team,” said Medical Director Dr. Christine Fisher. “Express Care is an important resource for our patients who need quick access to treatment for unexpected illnesses and minor injuries. Ashley’s knowledge and compassion will help us continue to deliver the high-quality, timely care that our community depends on.”

Express Care is located at the corner of 13th and Main, in Hays. Operating hours are Monday through Friday 7:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. To schedule, patients can call First Care Clinic at 785-621-4990.

First Care Clinic accepts all major insurances, and a sliding fee scale discount is available to those who qualify.

ABOUT FIRST CARE CLINIC, INC.

First Care Clinic is a federally qualified health center, with over ninety employees across their three locations in Hays, providing services for people of all ages, regardless of a patient’s ability to pay. They provide family medicine, express care, pharmaceutical, behavioral health, and family dentistry services.

First Care Clinic welcomes all patients and accepts all major insurances. A sliding fee scale discount is also available to those who qualify. Patients can request an appointment at firstcareclinic.com or by calling First Care Clinic a 785-621-4990.

ARC Park upgrades, bison sculpture plans to come before Hays City Commission

Tasty fundraiser for Hays Area Children's Center; order by Sept. 24

GRAINFIELD — A craft fair will be held Saturday, Sept. 20 at the historic Grainfield Opera House, 296 Main Street, Grainfield, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

There will be many vendors with a variety of crafts and lunch is available.

Craft fair Saturday at historic Grainfield Opera House

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

Special thanks to <a href="https://www.visithays.com/183/Events">The Hays Convention and Visitors Bureau</a> and<a href="https://www.fhsu.edu/"> Fort Hays State University</a> for their contributions to the community calendar.

Community Calendar

Smith Center's Old Settlers' Day is Sept. 27

The Hays Symphony Orchestra will continue its season with an evening of rich and resonant string music with, “Fall Classics: Simply Strings.”

The free performance will take place at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 20, within St. Joseph Catholic Church, 215 W. 13th St.

Under the direction of Benjamin Cline, the orchestra’s string sections will be featured exclusively, performing a diverse program that spans from the Baroque era to the 21st century.

The concert is designed to highlight the versatility, power, and profound beauty of the string family, offering a unique auditory experience for the community.

The selection of St. Joseph Catholic Church as the venue was a deliberate choice to enhance the all-strings repertoire.

Its soaring architecture and resonant acoustics provide an ideal environment for the nuanced tones of violins, violas, cellos, and basses to flourish, Cline said.

“Presenting a strings-only concert is a wonderful way to focus on the core sound and emotional heart of the orchestra,” he said. “The repertoire for ‘Simply Strings’ is a journey through time and texture. We are creating an intimate yet powerful atmosphere, and the magnificent acoustics of St. Joseph’s will amplify every subtle detail, making the music a truly immersive experience for our audience.”

The program will begin with Francesco Geminiani’s vibrant Concerto Grosso, Op. 5, No. 12, famously known as “La Folia.” Based on a centuries-old Portuguese folk tune, this Baroque masterpiece is a thrilling set of variations that showcases the technical brilliance and dynamic interplay between the string sections.

The concert then moves to contemporary works, beginning with “Anthem and Chorale for Strings” by Spanish-American cellist and composer Andrea Casarrubios. This modern piece explores a rich palette of harmonic&nbsp;colors, contrasting stately, hymn-like passages with moments of sweeping, anthem-like grandeur, reflecting a deep emotional landscape.

Following this is “Três Pequenas Variações” (“Three Small Variations”) by the Brazilian-American composer Clarice Assad. Known for fusing elements of Brazilian popular music, jazz, and classical traditions, Assad’s work promises to be a rhythmically engaging and melodically inventive exploration of a central theme.

The program also features “Eventide” by American composer Chris Pilsner. A beautifully lyrical and atmospheric piece, “Eventide” evokes the serene and contemplative mood of twilight. Its lush harmonies and soaring melodies have made it a favorite among modern string orchestra compositions.

“This program demonstrates the incredible evolution of string writing,” Cline said. “We have the fiery virtuosity of Geminiani’s Baroque variations set against the deeply personal and modern voices of Casarrubios, Assad, and Pilsner. Each piece tells its own story, but together they paint a comprehensive picture of what a string orchestra can achieve. It’s a showcase of passion, reflection, and pure sonic beauty.”

The evening will conclude with Ralph Vaughan Williams’s magnificent Concerto Grosso. A giant of 20th-century English music, Vaughan Williams composed this piece with a unique structure intended to involve players of all skill levels. The work divides the orchestra into a professional-level solo group (Concertino), the main orchestral body (Tutti), and a third group for beginners (Ad Lib), all weaving together to create a full, glorious sound. This structure embodies the spirit of community music-making, making it a fitting finale for the Hays Symphony, which itself is a blend of faculty, community, and student musicians.

“The Vaughan Williams piece is a celebration of collaboration,” Cline said. “It reflects our own orchestra’s mission of bringing together musicians from different backgrounds, from our university faculty to talented local players and dedicated students, to create something beautiful for our community. It’s a powerful statement about the unifying force of music.” 

Free tickets for “Fall Classics: Simply Strings” are available online at <a href="https://www.hayssymphony.org/">hayssymphony.org</a>.

Hays Symphony to present ‘Fall Classics: Simply Strings’ Sept. 20

Craft boutique benefit for Your Voice Through Cancer on Oct. 4

Hays Catholic Schools (Thomas More Prep-Marian and Holy Family Elementary) will proudly celebrate the 100th anniversary of Homecoming this September, marking a century of tradition, community, and faith. The milestone event will honor generations of alumni, students, faculty, and families who have carried forward the spirit of Catholic education in Hays since 1908.

“This centennial celebration is not only about looking back at our history,” said Travis Grizzell, advancement director for Hays Catholic Schools, “it’s about giving thanks for the generations who built this community of faith and excellence, and recommitting ourselves to the future of Catholic education in Hays. The cornerstone represents the faith and commitment of those who literally laid the foundation for our beautiful building on this historic campus. The fact that Hays Catholic Schools is here 100 years later speaks volumes about our dedicated alumni and faith community.”

Homecoming Week Schedule of Events <a target="_blank" href="https://www.tmp-m.org/o/tmpm/page/homecoming">https://www.tmp-m.org/o/tmpm/page/homecoming</a>

Monday, Sep. 15 at&nbsp;9:30 a.m.&nbsp;– All-School Mass: Students, faculty, and staff gather for a Mass to open Homecoming week.

Tuesday, Sep. 16 – Float building Day: Each class gathers at its float construction site to prepare for Friday’s parade.

Wednesday, Sep. 17 – Halftime Rehearsal: Band and Homecoming royalty candidates rehearse at Fort Hays State University’s Lewis Field.

Thursday, Sep. 18 – A pep rally will be held at Al Billinger Fieldhouse&nbsp;at 2:30 p.m. to close the school day.&nbsp;Beginning at 7 p.m., a bonfire, blessing, and candidate introductions will take place on campus, with food trucks and snowcones available for students, families, and community members.

Friday, Sep. 19 – Morning: Alumni and guests are invited to tour the TMP-Marian campus.

10:00 a.m.: A Hays Chamber Ribbon Cutting ceremony will commemorate the 100th anniversary of the school’s cornerstone setting and the first Hays Catholic Schools Homecoming in 1925.

5:30 p.m.: Homecoming Parade, beginning at the TMP-Marian campus and traveling down Main Street. Parade entry form&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://form.jotform.com/251625567433157">https://form.jotform.com/251625567433157</a>

Evening: Halftime of the football game will feature the crowning of Homecoming royalty, recognition of Homecoming Grand Marshals, and presentation of the Point of Light Award and Distinguished Alumni Awards.

Saturday, Sep. 20 at 11 a.m.&nbsp;– Morning: A Mass for deceased alumni will be held in the Marian Chapel.

Noon: The traditional Dutch Lunch will be served in the TMP-Marian Dining Hall, offering fellowship and reunion among generations of alumni.

For more information, please contact the TMP-Marian Advancement Office at 785-625-9434 or advancement@tmpmarian.org.

Hays Catholic Schools to celebrate 100th anniversary of homecoming

The Bricks is wrapping up its Brick-by-Brick Campaign. Community members and businesses have one last opportunity to leave a lasting legacy in Downtown Hays before the September 30 deadline to purchase an engraved brick or limestone block for the new Shed Project.

The Shed Project will be a new storage and service facility adjacent to the Downtown Hays Pavilion. This addition is designed to secure event equipment, serve concessions, and host the Downtown Hays Market Manager’s station during community favorites such as the Downtown Hays Market, Christmas Magic on Main Street, and Wines &amp; Steins. Once complete, the Shed will provide much-needed support for year-round events that bring vibrancy and connection to The Bricks.

“We are very excited about this enhancement to Union Pacific Park, one of our most visible and well utilized contributions to Downtown. While events are just part of what we do, last year they brought over 15,000 people to the heart of our community. This project meets an immediate need for those initiatives and the functionality of the pavilion, while staying true to the beautiful architecture of the original railroad depot. None of this progress is possible without the support of our community!,” said Andrew Taylor, board chair of The Bricks (operating as the Downtown Hays Development Corporation, or DHDC).

To participate, visit The Bricks office at 1200 Main Street, Suite 102 in Downtown Hays, or reach out online at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://www.downtownhays.com/">www.DowntownHays.com</a>/pavilion-shed-project. For logo submissions (limestone block donors only), email your file and contact details to&nbsp;<a href="mailto:thebricks@downtownhays.com">thebricks@downtownhays.com</a>.

“This campaign is about more than bricks and mortar,” said Lee Ann June, Executive Director at The Bricks. “It’s about the community who believes in Downtown Hays and wants to see it thrive for generations to come.”

The Brick by Brick Campaign officially closes on September 30, 2025. Don’t miss your chance to engrave your name, your business, or your family into the story of The Bricks.

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