By TONY GUERRERO Hays Post

Local Republican legislators discussed several issues regarding education and a bill impacting transgender people.

Kansas Sen. Rick Billinger, R-Goodland and Rep. Ken Rahjes, R-Agra, spoke to attendees at the Hays Public Library. Rep. Barb Wasinger, R-Hays, was absent due to family matters.

Billinger said special education is important, but acknowledged it is not fully funded. He said lawmakers are considering adding between $5 million and $10 million this year, which would push total funding above $611 million.

"I don't want to blame anyone in particular, but the federal government is not putting in their percentage. The state's putting in a larger percentage than the feds are. Our funding is limited," Billinger said.

Billinger said $26.7 million has been budgeted to increase wages for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Proposal to restrict school lunches

Billinger was asked whether he would oppose a proposal to limit food assistance for students based on their parents’ income and how it could affect USD 489, which provides free meals to students, including during the summer.

Billinger said lawmakers do not want children to go hungry and that districts such as USD 489 may continue providing meals if they have the resources available.

Cutting higher education funding and its impact on Fort Hays State University

The panel was asked who benefits from cutting higher education appropriations, referencing a House bill and a Senate bill, given that it disproportionately affects FHSU.

Billinger said deficit reduction is necessary, noting the state spent $705 million more than it collected last year.

"Naturally, the biggest part of our budget is K-12 education, higher education and human services. That's 86% of the budget. When you're looking at reducing things, that's the way it works," he said.

Billinger said two-year community and technical colleges have received an additional $75 million over the past six years. He added that the Senate’s version of the bill does not reduce funding for FHSU, while the House bill does cut funding intended to offset the university’s lower per-student funding.

Rahjes said some House members believe taxpayers benefit from the proposed cuts. He said he does not support underfunding higher education and that it could have negative economic impacts.

"I'm a past chair of higher ED. I was basically told to stay out of the way. If I got in the way, then what I advocated for would be made sure to be cut," Rahjes said.

The panel was asked whether they oppose <a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/hb2428/">House Bill 2428</a>, which would require the Board of Regents to establish curricula so that students are not required to take DEI or critical race theory-related courses at postsecondary institutions.

Billinger said he was not familiar with the bill. Rahjes said, "I'm sure I probably voted for 2428."

An attendee said Rahjes should be fully aware of the measures he votes on and that it is inappropriate to support legislation he does not understand or recall.

Arguments between Rahjes and the attendee followed.&nbsp;

"I think what is happening is it's giving the opportunity for teachers to teach, but also for students to make sure they're not bullied one way or the other. It could be reverse bullying," Rahjes said.

The bill would also require universities to incorporate specific programs for freshmen on free expression and free speech.

Institutions would be required to post materials related to gender identity, DEI and critical race theory on their websites for public access.

The panel was asked why <a href="https://kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/sb244/">Senate Bill 244</a>, which invalidates and reissues driver's licenses and birth certificates to reflect a person's biological sex at birth when necessary, took effect immediately&nbsp;without allowing time for individuals to obtain updated identification.

"As far as that taken effect immediately, that may have been a little bit of an oversight because I don't think that was the intent," Billinger said.

Rahjes said enforcement has varied locally and that the bill followed the standard legislative process. The panel was also asked why a driver’s license is required for voting.

Rahjes said if county clerks received proper training, proposed bills such as requiring a driver's license would not be needed.

An attendee responded, saying training county clerks has nothing to do with the Senate Bill 244 and criticized it as unconstitutional.

The bill also requires public buildings to designate public restrooms and locker rooms for use by only one sex. The bill defines gender as biological sex at birth for purposes of state law and establishes criminal and civil penalties for violation.&nbsp;

The panel was asked how they would encourage transgender residents in their districts to stay in Kansas after the passage of Senate Bill 244.

"I think people are going to live where they want to live and I think policy does have something to do with that," Billinger said.

"You're welcome to live where you want," Rahjes said. "We have a transgender legislator. They're in my committee. I treat them with the same respect I do anyone."

Rahjes said the bill followed the legislative process, including debate, veto and override procedures. He acknowledged the issue is divisive and noted a <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2026/02/27/trans-men-file-lawsuit-over-kansas-law-that-restricts-bathroom-use-and-invalidates-drivers-licenses/">pending lawsuit filed by two transgender men from Lawrence.</a>

Capping property tax and reinvestment housing incentive districts

The panel was asked for their positions on a proposed 3% cap on property tax increases, with concerns that it represents state overreach and could harm local infrastructure.

Billinger said he voted in favor of the cap because he supports property tax relief. However, he doubts that the cap will achieve its intended purpose.

"We'll see what happens. We need to work on reducing property taxes and our local county commissions are doing their best. They had the same type of increases in expenses at the county level as we do at the state level," he said.

Rahjes said he voted no because the Senate refused to bring a tax bill forward for consideration last year. In response, lawmakers voted no to "send a message."

Regarding Reinvestment Housing Incentive Districts, Rahjes said he does not yet have a clear answer on how programs like RHIDs would function if property taxes were eliminated.

"There are a couple of plans out there to eliminate property taxes altogether and go with either a luxury tax or a use tax. Programs that are directly tied to property taxes are going to have to be reviewed," he said.

Rahjes and Billinger highlighted a proposal from Sen. Michael Murphy, R-Sylvia, that would eliminate property taxes and replace the estimated $6.6 billion in revenue with a consumption tax.

"You'd still have the regular sales tax, but the way [Murphy] put the bill together, he used AI to come up with figures. I'm not sure if the figures are correct, but I like the concept," Billinger said. "If the numbers could be justified to work, I don't think I would mind paying a little extra on the consumption tax."

The panel was asked whether the state has made commitments it may not be able to fulfill as lawmakers aim to reduce the deficit to about $200 million per year over the next three years. The overall goal was also questioned due to its high amount.

"Our commitment is that about 87% of our budget is between K-12 education, higher education and human services. If we have to have this amount of funding, we have to have it. No debate," Billinger said.

He also highlights revenue losses from eliminating the food sales tax and payments to the Panasonic project, which total around $120 million, as contributing to budget pressure.

Rahjes said waste, fraud and abuse in state spending are being examined.

"Overall, they'll continue to be a tightening, you'll continue to see a reduction, and probably see no new programs unless there's some way to take it somewhere else and pay for it. We'll see where the economy goes," he said.

The final Legislative Coffee is set for 8:30 a.m. on March 28 at the Hays Public Library, 1205 Main St.

Local legislators discuss education, transgender bill

By&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/dale-hogg/">DALE HOGG</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2026/02/25/kansas-homeowners-carry-bigger-tax-burden-than-commercial-property-owners/">Kansas Reflector</a>

GREAT BEND — A yawning gap between surging home values and stagnant commercial assessments has fueled a significant shift in the Kansas property tax burden, forcing homeowners to shoulder a larger share of government needs, state and local officials say.

Driven by an overheated residential market and decades of commercial exemptions, a flip in the tax base has left families paying the lion’s share for schools, roads and emergency services.

Despite commercial property being taxed at more than double the rate of residential property, Rep. Adam Smith, a Weskan Republican and chair of the House Taxation Committee, said the “sheer velocity” of home price increases has outpaced the higher commercial rate.

“Value is whatever you are willing to pay for it,” Smith said.

Sean Robertson, Saline County appraiser and legislative liaison for the Kansas County Appraisers Association, said that residential and commercial property tax burdens shifted toward businesses after changes that began 40 years ago.

In 1985, the Legislature authorized a statewide reappraisal of all real estate properties. New valuations were set for 1989.

“Most properties at that time had not been revalued for many years, and sometimes decades, which created horrible inequities between similar properties in terms of valuation and taxes,” Robertson said.

Kansans passed a constitutional amendment by popular vote in 1990 that set the tax rate for residential properties at 11.5% of appraised value and the rate for commercial properties at 25%.

Although there are other property classifications — including agricultural, nonprofit, vacant and utility — residential and commercial are the largest revenue drivers by a wide margin.

“Once the dust settled” from these changes, Robertson said, residential property owners in 1997 paid 38% of total statewide property taxes while other classifications, primarily commercial, accounted for the remaining 62%.

“Over the past 30-plus years, though, those percentages have changed dramatically,” Robertson said.

In 2024, residential property owners paid 57% of all property taxes while commercial and other property owners paid 43%.

Three factors caused this shift, Robertson said.

“First, exempting properties from paying taxes does not simply absolve those properties from paying taxes,” he said. “Exemptions cause a shift of property tax responsibility onto other properties which are not exempted.”

In 2006, any newly acquired commercial or industrial machinery and equipment was exempted from property tax. This pushed commercial property owners to purchase new equipment that would then be exempt going forward.

Barton County Commissioner Barb Esfeld, the county’s former appraiser of 30 years, said the Kansas Legislature has systematically removed items from tax rolls, including certain business machinery, boats and personal property, often to attract new business.

“What they’ve done is taken that pie and put more of it on real estate and residential,” Esfeld said. “Residential feels it the most because it’s not income-generating.”

Commercial properties built with Industrial Revenue Bonds or given economic development exemptions by local boards can be avoid property taxes for up to 10 years.&nbsp;

“Although these exemptions are useful economic incentive tools that can be beneficial to a community in the long run, they remove possible revenue streams that pay for public services and transfer the tax burden to other property types for a period,” Robertson said.

Second, commercial properties are often given special considerations. For example, he said, if a commercial property has its value reduced as part of a hearing with the county appraiser or the Kansas Board of Tax Appeals, that value is maintained for an additional two years.

“This does not apply to residential properties that get a valuation reduced through the same process,” Robertson said. “That combination results in a wide swath of statutorily stagnant commercial values.”

Finally, home sale prices — driven by low supply, high demand, increased cost of building materials and low interest rates — have increased nearly 100% in the past eight years, from a median sale price of $159,000 in 2016 to $305,000 in 2024.

At the same time, commercial loan values (a measure of commercial sales activity) have increased by half that margin.

“The short version is that the market value of residential properties is rising at a much faster rate than the market value of commercial properties,” Robertson said.

“There have been two things in recent years that have kept the disparity between residential and commercial taxes at a relative minimum,” Robertson said.&nbsp;

In 2024, the median appraised valuation of residential properties for taxation purposes was lower than the median sale price in all 105 Kansas counties. So, despite still rising values, counties in Kansas are undervaluing residential properties, on the whole, compared to sale prices.

Additionally, there is an exemption of up to $172.50 currently taken off the property tax bill for every residential property in Kansas. This is an increase of the $46 exemption taken off each residential tax bill as recently as 2021.

“Without these two realities, residential property owners in Kansas would be paying an even greater share of taxes compared to commercial property owners than they already do,” he said. “This trend does not need to continue, though.”

Most of the solutions for narrowing the disparity between residential and commercial property taxes require legislative or constitutional changes, Robertson said.

Raising the exemption for residential properties from $172.50 would help reduce residential taxes, and, therefore, narrow the difference. Targeted circuit breakers or means-testing could be introduced to provide residential property owners with rebates or refunds.

“Also, a lower assessment rate for residential properties could be applied,” Robertson said. “A cousin to that approach is the Gallagher Amendment, which was used in Colorado for many years.”

This method (before its repeal in 2020) made it a requirement for residential properties to pay no more than 45% of the total property taxes in the state. This required a recalculation of the residential assessment rate each year, but kept the balance between residential and commercial taxes even.

In an effort to curb the effect of rising market values, Kansas lawmakers have proposed the Cap Assessed Value Protection Amendment, Esfeld said. This constitutional change would limit annual property tax assessment increases to 3% for most real estate and residential mobile homes beginning in 2027.

To address recent market volatility, the measure includes a look-back provision that would cap 2027 assessments at no more than 3% above their 2022 levels, effectively rolling back significant valuation spikes seen during the COVID-19 pandemic.

While the cap would generally remain in place even after a property is sold, exceptions would be made for new construction, major improvements or assessment errors.

Critics like Esfeld argue the amendment is a superficial solution to a deeper systemic problem.

Because local government budgets for essential services are relatively fixed, Esfeld warns that capping valuations will simply force a mathematical spike in the mill levy to cover the funding gap. She said that the real issue is an eroding tax base caused by decades of state-level exemptions, which have steadily shifted the overall tax burden onto homeowners.

She said the cap acts as a “Band-Aid on a bleeding ulcer” that may offer temporary relief while potentially destabilizing local government funding and penalizing economic growth.

Also, by looking back to 2022 and its lower values for the 2027 tax year, it won’t take long before many properties are extremely undervalued, Smith said. That would lead to a painful correction for taxpayers, similar to the mass statewide reappraisal in the late 1980s.

This was a massive and costly undertaking designed to ensure all properties were valued at their fair market value. Today, state statute requires that appraisals remain within 10% of market value.

“We don’t want to go back to then,” Smith said.

Currently, the state collects 20 mills on each tax bill for school funding, Robertson said.&nbsp;

“It may be possible, depending on the courts’ interpretation of how a school funding plan is administered, to eliminate that portion of the property tax bill for Kansans and fund schools through some other mechanism” he said.

That would lower the tax rate on every property tax bill in Kansas by a significant amount.

“On the local level, budget equals tax. It is no more complicated than that; reducing a budget is the only way to reduce taxes,” Robertson said. But, here is the rub — reducing a budget at the local level likely means reducing or eliminating services.”

However, “citizens like police protection, fire protection, ambulance services, roads that are passable, parks that are clean, etc.,” he said. “What are citizens willing to forego in favor of lower taxes? That is a question that can only be answered by local taxing authority boards and their constituents.”

Ultimately, “it comes down to growth,” Smith said.&nbsp;“We have to grow our valuation. It’s a matter of economic development.”

Esfeld suggested that true relief would require a more drastic reduction in mill levies, perhaps supported by state-level sales tax transfers, rather than capping appraisals.

“I keep thinking that is the answer,” Esfeld said. “The only thing that would keep this from being a problem is new construction.”

This would include homes, businesses and industrial expansion. Not only would such construction spread the property tax burden out, but it would also generate sales taxes and hospitality taxes, she said.

Esfeld noted that even though the proposed cap looks back to 2022, properties that saw improvements between then and now would not qualify. This would remove any incentive for new building.

“Economic development might as well go out the window,” she said. “It penalizes growth.”

Kansas homeowners carry bigger tax burden than commercial property owners

By&nbsp;ALEXANDRA MIDDLEWOOD and BRIAN AMOS Insight Kansas

As political scientists who study Kansas politics, election administration, and political participation—and as the coauthors of a recent statistical analysis of Kansas’ special elections—we are compelled to speak out against Kansas House Bill 2503.

The bill would repeal the state’s 1983 Mail Ballot Election Act and prohibit municipalities from conducting all-mail elections. This proposal is not merely a matter of administrative preference; it runs directly counter to what the data tell us about how Kansans, especially rural Kansans, participate in our democracy.

In our research on 39 Kansas special elections conducted in 2024 and 2025, we examined turnout under two different systems: traditional in-person elections and elections conducted entirely by mail. These contests, often focused on school bond issues or local tax proposals, represent some of the most consequential—but also least visible—governance decisions affecting Kansas communities.

When elections were conducted entirely by mail, turnout increased dramatically. After carefully matching rural and urban voters on demographics, party registration, and turnout history, we estimated that all-mail elections increased the probability of voting by 21.7 percentage points.

This is not a marginal difference. It is a structural one.

Just as important, the rural-urban turnout gap nearly disappeared. In traditionally administered elections, rural voters were 3.5 points less likely to participate than urban voters. But when provided an all-mail system, the rural-urban gap shrank to less than one percentage point.

In other words: all-mail elections do exactly what legislators claim to value—they promote equitable participation across all geographic regions of our state.

The data is clear: rural Kansans benefit from all-mail elections. The explanation is straightforward: voting is not costless, and those costs fall disproportionately on rural residents.

Rural Kansans often travel long distances to a polling location, rely on deteriorating roads and minimal public transportation, and live in jurisdictions that struggle to maintain sufficient polling places and staff. Political science research has long shown that even modest increases in the&nbsp;time or effort required to vote depress turnout. 

Put simply, rural Kansans face bigger hurdles when it comes to voting, and all-mail elections help remove those barriers.

Kansas has long embraced local control, particularly in election administration for special elections. County clerks and school districts understand their communities’ needs far better than legislators in Topeka. When local jurisdictions choose all-mail elections, they do so because it is the most accessible, cost-effective, and logistically feasible option.

HB 2503 would eliminate that choice. It strips local autonomy and silences rural voices.

If adopted, rural Kansans—who already face higher barriers to participation—would be pushed back into a system that statistically depresses their turnout. It is difficult to read the evidence and see this bill as anything other than a step backward for democratic participation in our state.

We argue that evidence, not assumptions, should drive Kansas’ election policy.

Much of the public debate around voting by mail has relied on speculation or rhetoric. But the state legislature need not speculate. 

We have Kansas data on Kansas voters in Kansas elections and the findings are clear. 

All-mail elections increase turnout. They mitigate geographic inequities. They ensure rural voters can make their voices heard on school funding, infrastructure, and public investments that directly affect their communities.

Lawmakers may disagree on many issues, but they should not ignore empirical evidence—especially when that evidence is produced by researchers in their own state examining their own elections.

As political scientists and Kansans, our conclusion is clear: HB 2503 would harm the very communities it claims to represent. If we are committed to a democratic process that includes all corners of Kansas—urban and rural alike—we must preserve municipalities’ ability to hold all-mail elections.

The Senate should reject House Bill 2503. Rural Kansans deserve better. They deserve a voting system grounded in evidence, not ideology.

Alexandra Middlewood and Brian Amos are associate professors of political science at Wichita State University. They co-founded IKE Lab in 2023 to offer data and analysis on Kansas elections.

Insight Kansas: Kansas HB 2503 ignores what our research shows about rural voters

The Ellis County Fire Department (ECFD) is proud to announce it has been officially recognized as a Gold Helmet Department for its participation in the National Firefighter Registry (NFR) for Cancer. This honor places the ECFD as the 100th leading fire department in the nation dedicated to understanding and eliminating one of the greatest health threats in the fire service today, cancer.

We extend a heartfelt thank you to Rusty Lindsay, Company #5 Chief, whose leadership and dedication have been vital in introducing the NFR for Cancer to our department. He has initiated this effort for each fire department in Ellis County, but also in other departments in western Kansas.

Managed by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), the NFR for Cancer is the largest initiative focused on researching and mitigating cancer risks among firefighters. There are currently 111 departments participating in the registery, with a total of 42,729 firefighters enrolled. Kansas alone boasts 1,141 firefighters, ranking 5th in participation in the United States. The ECFD was the first volunteer fire department to achieve this recognition in Kansas.

By joining the registry, Ellis County firefighters are contributing essential data needed to develop better safeguards, improved personal protective equipment (PPE), and establish more effective prevention strategies. Participation in the NFR for Cancer is open to all U.S. firefighters, regardless of their department type (career or volunteer), status (active or retired), cancer history, or length of service. Participation is also completely voluntary.

For more information on the NFR for Cancer and how it is helping to save lives, we encourage everyone to visit: <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/firefighters/registry/index.html">https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/firefighters/registry/index.html</a>.

Ellis County Fire Department recognized as gold helmet department for efforts in cancer prevention

&nbsp;Fort Hays State University Sociology Program

The Fort Hays State University Sociology Program recently partnered with Ana’s Gift to support children in Ellis County experiencing difficult situations by collecting stuffed animals. This semester, the program invited the community to participate, and friends near and far showed up in a big way, delivering and mailing more than 150 stuffed animals to Rarick Hall, each one ready to offer a meaningful source of comfort.

Ana’s Gift began when 16-year-old Ana Hertel set out with a heartfelt mission: to provide stuffed animals to children navigating challenging circumstances. Though Ana passed away shortly after starting the effort, her vision lives on through her parents, Lori and Stan Hertel, and Ana’s Gift.

Each semester, Dr. Lori Hertel is a guest speaker in Dr. Kate McGonigal’s Sociology of Death and Dying class at FHSU, sharing her story and the work of Ana’s Gift. Students are invited to participate in the drive by donating a stuffed animal for children facing frightening situations, such as riding in an ambulance, to offer comfort in their most difficult moments.

“I’m struck by how many people took part in supporting Ana’s Gift during this drive,” McGonigal said. “It’s truly a community effort with students, faculty, staff, and supporters beyond campus all coming together to carry forward Ana’s mission.”

Ana Hertel’s mission of kindness continues to ripple through classrooms, campus hallways, and the broader Ellis County community. With each animal donated, Ana’s legacy of spreading joy remains very much alive, and the FHSU Sociology Program is grateful for the continued support that makes the effort possible to comfort Ellis County children. &nbsp;

For more information on how to help Ellis County children in crisis through Ana's Gift, please contact Lori Hertel at 785-650-1344.&nbsp;&nbsp;

FHSU Sociology Program teams up with Ana’s Gift for stuffed animal drive

<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

Ellis County Commission to consider updating minimum road design standards

Ellis County Sheriff's activity log: Feb. 22-28, 2026

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

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If you have questions, please contact Scarlett Deutscher at 785-301-2211.&nbsp;

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Recent obituaries, how to submit an obituary

World Water Day is an annual observance focusing on the importance of water. 

To celebrate, the city of Hays and the KSU Big Creek Middle Smoky Hill River Watersheds are once again partnering to host a World Water Day Fun Fest from 10 a.m. to noon on Thursday, March 19 at the Sternberg Museum of Natural History. 

Get to know and understand the importance of water with fun, hands-on, "water-related" activities and displays for kids of all ages. This free event is open to all, and all are welcome.

Looking for something fun to do during spring break? Help celebrate World Water Day and the importance of water by planning to attend the World Water Day Fun Fest on March 19.

World Water Day Fun Fest set for March 19

&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

Fort Hays State University Online invites prospective students to explore their future during the annual Online Open House on Tuesday, March 10, from 4:30 to 6 p.m. CDT. This virtual, drop-in event is designed for prospective undergraduate and graduate students interested in either on-campus or online programs.

Participants can customize their experience by joining specific sessions that align with their unique academic and career goals.

• Live Department Presentations: Live sessions with faculty from Nursing, Psychology, Allied Health, Teacher Education, Leadership, History, and more. • Financial Aid Workshop: Expert guidance on applying for and securing aid. • Student Success Resources: Explore tutoring, career services, and health and wellness support. • Admissions Access: Get real-time answers on the application and enrollment process for all FHSU programs.

Scholarship Opportunities: All attendees will be entered into a scholarship drawing and may participate in the FHSU Discovery Quest Challenge for additional opportunities to earn scholarships toward their FHSU education.

Register today to reserve your spot: <a target="_blank" href="https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=u001.EWtdXdo3nx3t8ZlvSfKX0WVLClchqhJLUqQ6ybWXU0wg82py6NDKQIJ5hKhkFDVH4Pj-2FzMBsOmmTK7oROoJqyA-3D-3DBieP_ai5o7a2ztpywqx-2FSZEU1mC0k3plQ2hEmdQsqZCH-2FtSbSauz5CcYpHe7spQkrAj9oonHh7oZcNejpOknRccnjIjZMGdEhGHfAV483rKzz8fnp4deE4QqIJyNQYFQ-2FHopn-2F0pTN4PYUWJbjrfB2K0rl9sYs2ikk7ghQ8m0kzjVj0xzgKtevcDGjwHcuKlmBtX51e8m1bxlrEZMZQUzXAVXQ7w7lkyplYdav5Z8GZnUjDHOgYzekB75moiCOtyEacqu8I9IglkOhiQirn0H5FeL74zYjwyoXHVZWCGlhydaZLu-2FxZuBXHACrkoPGgib9XghY8j6Z0PdzKwI-2BDiF3mj7ELLa6pk9z027kwsnZF82TpTFUNN7wB38AFxkua605QO2">https://www.fhsu.edu/online/open-house/</a>

Fort Hays State University Online open house event

By ALICIA BOOR Cottonwood Extension District

Dr. Cassandra Olds, professor of entomology at Kansas State University, is presenting a program on insect control for livestock in March. 

The program will be held at the Barton County Extension office at 3007 10th Street, Great Bend, on Thursday, March 12. The program will start at 9 a.m. with doughnuts and run about an hour.

Dr. Olds is an expert in control of common livestock pests including flies, and ticks among others.

Topics covered during the program include:

1. Determining which flies your livestock have a problem with

2.       Why flies develop resistance to insecticides

3.       What can you do to slow the spread of resistance within fly populations

4.       Developing an integrated pest management program

An RSVP is appreciated, but not necessary for the refreshments. Please email or call Alicia Boor at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:aboor@ksu.edu">aboor@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;or 785-628-9430 to RSVP.

Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact her by e-mail at aboor@ksu.edu or calling 620-793-1910.

BOOR: Program on insect control for livestock coming up in March

Starting Tuesday, March 3, until further notice, Fort Street from 27th to 22nd in Hays will be undergoing roadwork improvements. 

South bound single lane traffic will continue with periods of temporary closure during the rehabilitation process. 

Please be cautious when traveling Fort Street between 27th &amp; 22nd as there will be construction traffic and activities in this area. 

The City of Hays regrets any inconvenience this may cause to the public. If there are any questions, please call the Public Works Department at 785-628-7350.

Portion of Fort Street in Hays narrowed to one lane for reconstruction 

The Fort Hays State University Criminal Justice Program will host its 8th annual Criminal Justice Career Fair on Monday, March 2, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the Fort Hays Ballroom, Memorial Union.

The event brings together a wide range of agencies and organizations representing law enforcement, court administration and court services, corrections, community corrections, mental health services, advocacy organizations, family services, and related professional fields.

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