By TONY GUERRERO Hays Post

The Victoria Recreation Commission is betting on recreation to help grow the city, starting with a pickleball court.

Victoria Recreation Commission Board President Sean Rodger said discussions about building a court grew out of the sport’s rising popularity.

"It is literally the hottest sport in America right now. They're building courts everywhere," Rodger said.

The commission announced on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1877f9ce6s/">Facebook</a>, in partnership with USD 432, construction of a court by Mid-American Courtworks of Wichita is expected to begin this summer.

Rodger said the court’s location is still being discussed, but one area under heavy consideration is next to Victoria Elementary School, near the tennis, basketball and volleyball courts. 

"I'd like to tie all that together with a pickleball court and have a really nice facility for more recreational opportunities for our community in one spot," he said.

Rodger said the court will be designed to minimize cracking and increase durability, with construction expected to begin about June.&nbsp;A completion date has not yet been set.

In addition, the commission is undertaking a secondary project to resurface and repaint the outdoor basketball court near the elementary school. This includes painting lines consistent with indoor court standards.

The pickleball court project received a $3,000 grant from the Heartland Community Foundation. Rodger said he is pursuing additional grants to fund a second court.

"I definitely have some opportunities to, hopefully, get a little more funding. Maybe instead of one, we can, hopefully, get two. It'd be awesome," he said.

Rodger said he hopes to add fencing and lighting to the courts, along with a maroon-and-gold color scheme to match Victoria High School's colors.

Rodger said Victoria has shown interest in pickleball through temporary gym setups and community play nights, which drew strong participation.

He said his long-term vision is to host pickleball events and tournaments, and eventually to develop a community recreation facility.

"I'm looking to grow the town through a different way, and that's through recreation," Rodger said. "It's a sport that's attractive to such a wide range of people. I also hope to jump-start many other projects as well."

You can follow the recreation commission on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/victoriareccomm">Facebook</a>.

Victoria looks to pickleball to grow community recreation

The Ellis County Commission will have a work session at 8:30 a.m. on Monday.

The commission will receive updates on bond projects, such as the law enforcement center, Ellis emergency services building, courthouse HVAC system and administration building fan coil units.

The commission will also discuss long-term budget considerations, including the 2030 sales tax sunset, a potential transient guest tax and other 2027 budget items.

Other business • Community improvement district&nbsp; • Discussion of roads regarding right of way • Fireworks • Ellis County Health Department update • 2026 annual commission retreat topics

You can view the full agenda <a href="https://www.ellisco.net/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_01262026-725">here</a>.

Ellis County Commission to hear updates on bond projects

By&nbsp;TAMARA ROBERTSON Cottonwood Extension District

Beyond developing skills in the barn or on the Shooting Sports range, other 4-H projects provide opportunities to learn responsibility, leadership, and life lessons.

Audrey Yarmer finds joy in raising and showing poultry through the 4-H program. “My favorite part of the poultry project is spending time caring for my chickens and watching them free-range in the yard,” Yarmer said. Showing poultry has helped her birds become calmer and more trusting, strengthening the bond between exhibitor and animal. Yarmer carefully prepares her birds for shows by washing their feet, shanks, and vent areas with water and a toothbrush, along with spot-cleaning feathers as needed. “I also put a little Vaseline on their feet, shanks, and combs to make them shine,” she explained. One fun fact she has learned through the project is simple but memorable: “Chickens love cheese.” Beyond animal care, the poultry project has helped Yarmer grow as a leader. Managing expenses taught her financial responsibility, especially during her time serving as her club’s treasurer.

Cannon Vajnar’s 4-H experience centers around the Entomology project, focusing on honeybees, a project that blends agriculture, science, and community outreach. What began with just two hives has grown to more than ten hives across multiple locations. “The bee project has taught me a lot about hive management, bee health, and honey production,” Vajnar said. He has shared his knowledge by presenting demonstration talks at 4-H Days, creating posters, and educating elementary students about the importance of pollinators. At the end of the year, he records his accomplishments and challenges in his entomology record book. In addition, Vajnar and his father sell and deliver honey to customers throughout the Hays area, teaching him entrepreneurship and customer service.

Kaylee Schumacher has grown significantly through her involvement in the 4-H Foods and Nutrition project, learning that preparation and organization are just as important as the recipe itself. When she first began, she would gather ingredients as she went, but with experience she learned to measure and set everything out before baking to stay efficient and avoid mistakes. “Getting everything ready before I start makes baking less stressful and helps me stay organized,” Schumacher said. One of her most memorable moments came in 2023 when her angel food cake earned Grand Champion Foods at the fair. Recreating the cake for the sale proved challenging due to extreme summer heat, causing the delicate cake to stick and lose its top crust when flipped, an experience she now laughs about and remembers fondly as a bonding moment with her mom. Beyond baking skills, Schumacher says the project helped her become more organized in everyday life, even inspiring her to use a planner for schoolwork and deadlines. She believes this habit will benefit her well beyond 4-H, including in college and future careers.

Each of these project areas highlights how 4-H helps members develop valuable life skills such as patience, responsibility, leadership, and communication in different ways. Whether working in the kitchen to perfect a loaf of bread or in the barn completing a daily hair-care routine for a heifer, 4-H projects encourage youth to learn by doing while making lasting memories and meaningful impacts in their communities. Join these 4-H members and cheer them on at the Ellis County Fair, July 12–17, 2026.

Tamara Robertson is the 4-H Youth Development Agent with Kansas State Extension, in the Cottonwood Extension District. For more information on this article or other 4-H Youth Development resources, email Tamara at tarobertson@ksu.edu or call Cottonwood Extension District – Ellis County Office at 785-628-9430.

Kansas State University is an equal opportunity provider and employer. All Kansas State University Extension educational programs and materials available without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, or disability.

ROBERTSON: 4-H project experiences part 2

On this episode of the Hays Post Podcast, Becky Kiser, news reporter, talks about the upcoming building expansion project at the Hays Arts Council with Chandler Reich, executive director and Brittney Squire, board member.&nbsp;

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/a0344c2a-b851-4bbf-8a8d-2332e0d0c006">SEE MORE AT:&nbsp; Construction to begin at Hays Arts Council in February</a>.

🎙 Expansion project at Hays Arts Council requires temporary relocation of office 

By STEVE GILLILAND Explore Outdoor Kansas

In an 1892 football game against its arch rival Yale, Harvard unveiled a football formation called the “flying wedge” also known as the “flying V.” In this formation, the entire team lined up in a V-shaped wedge around the player with the ball and headed down the field. 

The logic was that no defender could reach the ball carrier until the players forming the sides of the wedge were knocked out of the way, which was difficult to do since the V-shape allowed each player to help the man in front of and behind him. 

Although illegal to use in football today, the flying V is still the basis of many football plays. It is the most common and most effective formation used in the game of rugby, it is still used by military tank and armored units, and the flying V was a play used by the Mighty Ducks hockey team in the popular Disney movies.

Each fall here in Inman, KS, USA, the skies fill with honking geese leaving the nearby wetlands heading for local wheat and stalk fields to feed. For days there will be so many in fields within ear shot of town that their squawking fills the air even when no geese can be seen. 

It’s like an old-World War II movie where wave after wave of fighter planes and bombers cover the sky. The Vs of geese are all shapes and sizes; some perfectly shaped, some haphazard, some fly straight as an arrow, some meander back and forth across the sky like weeds in a stream, and some seem so close together it’s hard to tell where one V stops and the next starts. But they all had one thing in common; they flew in some sort of V formation.

Several years ago, while thinking about the dynamics of this flying formation, I contacted Helen Hands, who was then a Kansas Dept of Wildlife and Parks biologist, who shared with me from her wealth of knowledge as the waterfowl specialist at Cheyene Bottoms.

One theory suggests that this V-formation is nothing more than a way for the birds to stay in better visual contact with each other and to avoid losing stragglers as the flock covers the vast distance required during annual migration.

The more widely accepted explanation deals with aerodynamics. It seems everything that flies, be it beast or machine, produces some amount of turbulence with its wings, known as “upwash” and “downwash,” causing “drag” as it moves through the air. 

However, a second set of wings correctly positioned behind and to one side of the first, benefits from a reduction in drag caused by that set of wings in front of it. We know this as “drafting,” a ploy used by racecar drivers to reduce the drag on their own car, thus using less fuel. What I didn’t know is that in a wedge of flying geese, each bird benefits slightly from the bird behind it also.

A link on the website www.aerospaceweb.com explains the aerodynamics involved in a V of flying geese. As commonly thought, the front bird as leader of the pack, works harder than the ones behind it. However, according to this website, each bird helps dissipate the turbulence caused by the bird in front of it, so the leader as well as each subsequent bird also gets some help from those behind it. This means that in actuality, the back two birds work harder than most of the flock since they have no followers.&nbsp;

The bottom line is that birds flying this way don’t flap their wings as hard or as often, their muscles work less and their heart rates are slower than birds flying solo. Research shows that a group of 25 or more birds in a V formation can fly 70% farther than if flying alone.

We have all noticed that the lead bird in a wedge of geese changes periodically and is replaced by another. This website suggests that the trailing two birds do the same since they also work a little harder than most. 

Helen told me the timing of these replacements is probably determined by the age and physical fitness of the individual geese plus wind speed and direction, among other factors. She said that migrating geese often travel as family groups, the pair and their offspring from that year, so the number of geese in any particular V is possibly determined by the size of certain family groups traveling together.

Once again, as usual, it appears that God’s creatures had this flying V thing figured out long before even Harvard, and furthermore, judging from what I see as I gaze skyward around here each fall, it’s still legal for geese to use it! 

By the way, do you know why one side of a V of geese is always longer than the other? That’s because there are more geese on that side!

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

Explore Kansas Outdoors: Drafting, goose-style

ELLIS — Friends of the Ellis Public Library in Ellis, KS will host “Children of the Promised Land,” a presentation and discussion by Angela Bates on Feb. 1 at 3:00pm at the Ellis Public Library, 907 Washington St. 

Members of the community are invited to attend the free program. 

Contact the library at 785-726-3464 or any Friends board member for more information. The program is made possible by Humanities Kansas.

Nicodemus, a small, unincorporated town in Graham County, is the only remaining western town established by African Americans during the Reconstruction Period following the Civil War. Black homesteaders settled the town, which today is a national historic site. This pictorial history explores the unique experience of mothers and their children in Nicodemus, some of whom were the first members of their families born free.

Bates is the executive director and past president of the Nicodemus Historical Society. She presents educational programs across the nation covering Nicodemus, Exodusters and black towns in the West, Buffalo Soldiers, and black women in the West.

“My great uncle, Henry Williams, was the first baby born in Nicodemus just a month after my great-grandmother Emma arrived with the first group of settlers in 1877,” said Bates. “He was one of the first in his generation born on the free soils of Kansas. He represents the many children of his generation that were reared by parents who were former slaves.”

For more information about “Children of the Promised Land” in Ellis contact the Ellis Public Library at 785-726-3464 or visit their <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ellispubliclibrary">Facebook page Ellis Public Library</a>.

“Children of the Promised Land” is part of Humanities Kansas's Speakers Bureau and “21st Century Civics,” a collection of resources that invite Kansans to participate in community discussions and learn more about the history of American democracy and the shared responsibilities of citizenship. “21st Century Civics” is made possible with support from “A More Perfect Union: America at 250,” an initiative of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Nicodemus' 'Children of The Promised Land' discussion at Ellis Public Library

Mason’s Mourning Light, a Hays-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit serving families across Western Kansas, will host its&nbsp;3rd Annual Bowling Bingo&nbsp;fundraiser on&nbsp;Saturday, March 28, 2026, from&nbsp;2:00–4:00 PM&nbsp;at&nbsp;Playdium Bowl in Russell, Kansas.

Bowling Bingo is a relaxed, family-friendly event that combines casual bowling challenges with the fun of bingo. Participants complete bowling activities to fill their bingo cards, earning prize entries along the way. The event is designed to be inclusive and non-competitive, focusing on connection, laughter, and community.

The afternoon will include food and drinks, a bar available for purchase, prizes, and a silent auction open throughout the event. All ages are welcome.

This fundraiser marks&nbsp;Mason’s Mourning Light’s first event of 2026, with all proceeds supporting families navigating pregnancy loss, infant loss, and infertility. The organization provides free, personalized care packages and supportive resources to families during some of life’s most difficult moments.

Event Details: What:&nbsp;3rd Annual Bowling Bingo When:&nbsp;Saturday, March 28, 2026 | 2:00–4:00 PM Where:&nbsp;Playdium Bowl, Russell, KS

Ticket Pricing: Advance Purchase: • $25 per individual • $100 family package (up to 6 bowlers)

At the Door: • $30 per individual • $125 family package

Tickets and additional information are available at:<a target="_blank" href="https://givebutter.com/c/bowlwithMML">https://givebutter.com/c/bowlwithMML</a>

Mason’s Mourning Light serves families across Western Kansas by offering comfort, fostering connection, and creating a safe space for healing after loss. Community support through events like Bowling Bingo helps ensure these services remain free and accessible to families in need.

Mason’s Mourning Light announces 3rd-annual bowling bingo fundraiser

By&nbsp;RUSSELL ARBEN FOX Insight Kansas

Seven months from now, on August 6, 2026, Kansas voters will see on their primary ballots an&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://legiscan.com/KS/text/SCR1611/2025">amendment to the state constitution</a>&nbsp;that they can vote “yes” or “no” on:

The citizens of Kansas who are qualified electors shall elect the justices of the supreme court. The rules applicable for such elections and the designation of position numbers shall be provided by law.

The supporters of this amendment—primarily the Republican caucus in the Kansas legislature, as they were the ones who pushed to get the amendment on the ballot, but also conservative organizations like Americans for Prosperity and the Kansas Policy Institute—insist that their aim,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/committees/ctte_s_fed_st_1/documents/testimony/20250225_02.pdf">in the words of Senate President Ty Masterson</a>, is to “shine the light of democracy” on the selection of state Supreme Court justices, a process that is currently, “veiled by a commission.”

Kansans love the idea of transparency and choice, at least in principle. But when it comes to extending that idea to the judiciary, this claim sometimes confuses people. 

Since those who serve as justices on the U.S. Supreme Court are, like every judge on the federal level, appointed for life rather than elected, it seems perfectly normal to many to see the judicial branch as entirely apolitical, so much so that I occasionally have students who are first-time voters ask worryingly as to why retention votes for state judges show up on their ballots. (When I tell them that Thomas Jefferson, responding to the unavoidably political nature of some Supreme Court decisions, was sympathetic to the idea that the House of Representatives should elect the justices rather than the president appointing them, they get even more perplexed.)

In truth, once one embraces the idea of a supposedly independent judiciary to interpret the law, every system for determining who will serve as those judges is a complicated compromise.

Kansas’s system for state judges is not unique, but it is a relatively rare combination of merit (nomination by a judicial commission, appointment by governor) and voting (elections to stay in office at the end of one’s term). 

It’s an approach shared, in one form or another, by 17 other states. Not that straightforward elections are employed by all the rest; only 21 states allow voters to choose their state Supreme Court justices directly. 

Ultimately, the methods of choosing justices, on any court level,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.brennancenter.org/judicial-selection-map">vary greatly from state to state</a>—and there is&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://effectivegov.uchicago.edu/primers/elected-vs-appointed-judges">no clear evidence that one method is always better</a>&nbsp;in terms of judicial trust, fairness, and accountability than any other.

Former Kansas Chief Justice Lawton Nuss is one of those who has&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/12/22/former-kansas-supreme-court-chief-justice-joins-national-alliance-to-promote-rule-of-law/">criticized the amendment</a>, calling the election of state Supreme Court justices a “<a target="_blank" href="https://otter.ai/u/P3HZPcfw2TmylZONJMx4UT-MuIs?utm_source=copy_url">really bad idea</a>.”

He is joined by numerous state organizations, many of which point out that the arguments for the amendment made by the Republican majority in Topeka often just focused on electing judges who would overturn past rulings on abortion and education, rather than principled concerns about democracy.

I would just add that it’s important to note that the amendment says nothing about the “rules” of the “elections” that “shall be provided by law.” Most of the states that hold elections for their state justices require those elections to be nonpartisan. Others require them to be held by district throughout the state. 

Without any such language, one should probably assume that whatever elections emerge from the amendment will be state-wide, majority-driven, and partisan. Something to keep in mind before next summer’s vote.

Dr. Russell Arben Fox teaches politics at Friends University in Wichita.

Insight Kansas: On state supreme court justices, and how to choose them

<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

Latest cancellations and delays

Join the United Way of Ellis County for a special Dueling Pianos fundraiser and party with a purpose!

Enjoy&nbsp;a request-driven show where two&nbsp;talented&nbsp;pianists battle it out, playing&nbsp;all your&nbsp;favorites&nbsp;from classic rock to modern hits, ensuring a night of non-stop singing, laughing and fun!&nbsp;

Best of all, every ticket&nbsp;purchased&nbsp;goes directly to supporting vital community programs offered by our 15 non-profit partner agencies here in Ellis County.&nbsp;A&nbsp;great night out for an even greater cause!&nbsp;

This benefit event will take place on Saturday, February 7 at the Ellis County Fairgrounds,&nbsp;Unrein Building, 1344 Fairground Road, Hays.&nbsp;Doors open at&nbsp;6:00&nbsp;p.m.;&nbsp;dinner&nbsp;catered by&nbsp;Thirsty’s&nbsp;at 6:30 p.m.; pianos at 8 p.m.&nbsp;Those enjoying the pianos only may enter at 7:30 p.m.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Purchase your tickets&nbsp;now online at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/dueling-pianos-12?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExV2J4WmRrQVJVRXR6OHVSeXNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR5VT-DQtW63JqEFEafPNPRLn8dmOqyJAiyJ6xScOwneh9S2EuW5jQrpmZQOpQ_aem_8l26WJoc12s-o3VElCMdAw">https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/dueling-pianos-12 </a>or&nbsp;<a href="https://www.liveunited.us/">www.liveunited.us</a>.&nbsp; &nbsp;

For more information, contact Janelle VanKooten, United Way of Ellis County executive director, at 785-628-8281 or director@liveunited.us.

A big thanks to our sponsors including&nbsp;

PREMIERE SPONSORS &nbsp;M &amp; D Excavating&nbsp;&nbsp; Commerce Bank&nbsp; Nex-Tech &nbsp; EVENT SUPPORTERS Golden Belt Bank Midwest Energy Car Zone Doghouse Liquor Emprise Bank Northwestern Printers Astra Bank PoPt! SILENT AUCTION DONOR Genuine Appliance&nbsp; Auto World Creekside Resort The Niche Chris Schmidt Ashley Furniture&nbsp; Nex-Tech Wireless Second Wind IV&nbsp; Jaren Kanak Dylan Dreiling

UNITED WAY OF ELLIS COUNTY PARTNER AGENCIES&nbsp; Big Brothers Big Sisters Ellis County&nbsp; Cancer Council of Ellis County CASA Court-Appointed Special Advocates CPRF Cerebral Palsy Research Foundation Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas First Call for Help Habitat for Humanity of Ellis County Hays Senior Center High Plains Mental Health Center Options Domestic &amp; Sexual Violence Services PACT&nbsp;Parents and Teachers Together Salvation Army St. Michael's Episcopal Church Western Kansas Association on Concerns of the Disabled Western KS Child Advocacy Center

🎙 Dueling Pianos fundraiser February 7 for United Way of Ellis County  

BUNKER HILL –&nbsp;Smoky Hills PBS has received a&nbsp;stabilization grant&nbsp;from the&nbsp;Public Media Bridge Fund, providing critical financial support following the loss of federal funding last year, which&nbsp;resulted in a nearly 52% reduction in its operating budget.&nbsp; This grant will help ensure continued service to rural communities in central and western Kansas.

Smoky Hills PBS is one of 115 public media stations nationwide to receive funding through this initiative. The grants were awarded to stations facing the greatest financial challenges, particularly those serving&nbsp;rural and underserved areas. For many of these communities, local public media stations are the&nbsp;only source of local news, educational programming, and community storytelling.

“For many of the communities we serve, Smoky Hills PBS is more than a television station - we’re a connection point,” said Betsy Schwien, general manager of Smoky Hills PBS. “This funding helps us continue showing up for our viewers with reliable service, local stories, and educational programming that reflects and supports rural Kansas.”

·&nbsp; Expenses related to Transmitter repairs and maintenance to ensure reliable access to Smoky Hills PBS across a large rural coverage area.

·&nbsp; Programming costs that allow the station to continue offering trusted PBS content and locally relevant programs.

·&nbsp; Equipment upgrades of productions, helping maintain a high-quality coverage of local events, public affairs, and community-focused programming.

These investments will help stabilize operations and strengthen the station’s ability to serve viewers today while preparing for the future.

“We are deeply grateful for the support of the Public Media Bridge Fund,” said Helen Hands, Smoky Hills PBS board member. “This grant is a significant step forward for Smoky Hills PBS, but our work isn’t finished here. The continued support of our viewers is what will help keep Smoky Hills PBS strong for generations to come.”

The Public Media Bridge Fund is a strategic philanthropic initiative of Public Media Company (PMC), a nonpartisan nonprofit organization. For more than 20 years, PMC has helped local public and independent media organizations expand their service and impact, strengthen their communities, and secure their long-term sustainability.

Funds from the Public Media Bridge Fund are intended to stabilize operations and preserve essential services for stations navigating unprecedented financial disruption, allowing them to remain a trusted, local presence for the communities they serve.

For more information about Smoky Hills PBS and how you can support its mission, please visit&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://smokyhillspbs.org/">SmokyHillsPBS.org</a>, call 1-800-337-4788, or follow the station on social media (<a href="https://www.facebook.com/SmokyHillsPBS">@SmokyHillsPBS</a>).

Smoky Hills PBS receives essential grant from Public Media Bridge Fund

BUNKER HILL – Smoky Hills PBS is proud to announce the award of a generous grant from the Beach Family Foundation, providing vital support for educational initiatives, local storytelling, and expanded digital access across central and western Kansas.

The grant will directly support several key Smoky Hills PBS programs and services, including the PBS KIDS Writers Contest, the Share A Story early literacy summer program, locally produced content, and the Smoky Hills PBS mobile app.

“These funds will have a meaningful and immediate impact on the families and communities we serve,” said Betsy Schwien, Smoky Hills PBS general manager. “Support from the Beach Family Foundation helps ensure that children have access to educational opportunities, local stories continue to be told, and viewers across our large coverage area can connect with Smoky Hills PBS wherever they are.”

Smoky Hills PBS serves 71 counties in central and western Kansas, providing free, accessible programming that educates, informs, and inspires viewers of all ages. Educational outreach programs like the PBS KIDS Writers Contest and Share A Story encourage creativity, literacy, and a lifelong love of learning, while local productions highlight the people, history, and culture of the region.

The Beach Family Foundation’s investment also supports Smoky Hills PBS’s digital platforms, including its mobile app, helping ensure audiences can access trusted public media content on their preferred devices.

Beach Family Foundation awards grant to support Smoky Hills PBS

Phillipsburg Chamber and Main Street

PHILLIPSBURG — Phillipsburg Chamber and Main Street invites you to the Winter Bluegrass Bash Saturday, Feb. 14 at the Huck Boyd Center in Phillipsburg.

It's a perfect Valentine's date night. Enjoy appetizers and a cash bar at 6 p.m. At 7 p.m., the bluegrass concert starts with Breanne Stone and 80 Proof Alice.&nbsp;

Tickets: • $30 per person or $50 per couple • After Feb. 1: $40 per person or $60 per couple

Visit the Phillipsburg Chamber and Main Street <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/748250354445972">Facebook page</a> for more info or call Phillips County CVB at 785-543-2321.

Phillipsburg Winter Bluegrass Bash tickets available now

&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

In its commitment to supporting the mental well-being of students from pre-kindergarten through college, the FHSU Department of Advanced Education Program will present the Olliff Family Educational Symposium on Thursday, Feb. 5. This virtual event will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

The symposium will feature a keynote address by Will Stutterheim, M.S., LCP, from the Department of Psychology at FHSU. 

Titled “Fields of Stress: The Hidden Mental Health Burden on America’s Agricultural Heartland,” the presentation will focus on a critical, yet often overlooked challenge – the mental well-being of those within the agricultural community. Given the vital role agriculture plays in western Kansas, this session will provide essential insights for educators and mental health professionals supporting individuals from farming and ranching backgrounds.

Will Stutterheim is an instructor at FHSU with more than 20 years of experience in mental health therapy and education. Having grown up on a multi-generational farm in northwest Kansas, Stutterheim brings a deeply personal perspective to his clinical expertise. After 13 years as a therapist in the rural farming community of Phillipsburg, he specializes in helping families navigate the unique stressors of agricultural life.

His presentation will focus on agriculture, stress, and mental health, as well as skills and strategies to support individuals struggling with their mental health.

Registration is available at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=u001.EWtdXdo3nx3t8ZlvSfKX0ZpfNdjkVHLvPZyvGz2cNpY3nlYvkJIBR07h8FDQEdTmZnWy_1ix3pnygukYWZfKiCJpm8BsHsayWXlw0ucteiDEo46fRc0p9DVWJmv2prlqkbHR6S2dsrJiXPEopagJAn55fgrGOya21Ubchf288oY8AFP4iYaBJwhylwdd5l9F7UOfOqq9UCDR9oz8qLOLS-2Fr-2Bz5dQeVrtHtUaiHUIafhjAdlgkG-2FGXK0oOIJHxe8IFkbvimXlSLYAoBdl-2FnCjh-2BVWk-2BvDr5dkcHT7BoXDe-2BlKWvw1BTZdZ5LYkBbCXrqJBLyMaMGE-2FkkacNZhi4YPmCF6lnM4vfWeZ23CbEqvCQBWDbEFf9SrfFwJ2gpnTt8xBAJGEYY3k7ECF0QNHLTxwm25iFzCGz-2Bgkgfrx4qLhdoJV31wXIO2clW5Pp0ylTwHqroDl">https://forms.gle/Qe6p7egzEmfbYtxj7</a>

The Zoom link will be sent to all registered participants two days prior to the symposium.

Hidden mental health burden on America’s agricultural heartland topic at FHSU Feb. 5

Government surplus commodities will be distributed in Hays at&nbsp;

Unite Free Shelves (iInside The Gamers Guild) 200 E. 8th&nbsp;Street, Hays, on Tue., Jan. 27 from&nbsp;7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. Commodities will be distributed on a first-come-first-serve basis until we run out.

Doors will not open until 7:30 a.m.&nbsp;

To be eligible for commodities, your household’s total monthly income must be below:

$2,413&nbsp; &nbsp;Household of one $3,261&nbsp; &nbsp;Household of two $4,109&nbsp; Household of three $4,957&nbsp;Household of four $5,805&nbsp;&nbsp;Household of five $6,653&nbsp; Household of six $7,501&nbsp; &nbsp;Household of seven $8,349&nbsp;Household of eight *Add&nbsp;$848&nbsp;for each additional family member after eight

Commodities included in this distribution are anticipated to be applesauce, black beans, tomato soup, vegetable soup, frozen strawberries, garbanzo beans, dehydrated potatoes, raisins, peanut butter, pasta, and Great Northern beans.

Contact Brandon Nimz, Unite Ministry Leader, with any questions at 785-259-2539.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Government surplus commodities distribution in Hays Jan. 27

Cold weather won’t cool the savings in Downtown Hays this week. The Winter Indoor Sidewalk Sale returns Thursday through Saturday,&nbsp;January 22–24, inviting shoppers to explore warm, welcoming storefronts filled with special discounts and end-of-season deals.

Downtown retailers will offer sidewalk-sale-style pricing inside their shops, featuring seasonal markdowns on winter apparel, home décor, books, gifts, and unique one-of-a-kind items. The sale provides an opportunity to shop local while discovering new favorites throughout the district.

“This event is a fun way for businesses to beat the winter blues and welcome the community in with deals that are as cool as the temps,” said&nbsp;Lee Ann June, executive director of The Bricks in Downtown Hays.

The Winter Indoor Sidewalk Sale supports local retailers during the winter season and encourages residents to shop small while enjoying the charm of Downtown Hays. Hours vary by business, and shoppers are encouraged to check with individual stores for details.

For a list of participating businesses and updates throughout the sale, follow&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/DowntownHays">@DowntownHays</a>&nbsp;on social media.

Winter Indoor Sidewalk Sale brings hot deals to Downtown Hays

DOUGAS COUNTY —It was supposed to be a traffic stop, but the driver didn’t – and ended up crashing into five parked cars and narrowly escaping serious injury of his own and that of his passenger, according to a social media report from police in Lawrence.

Just after 1:30a.m. Jan. 21, a&nbsp; patrol officer noticed a car run through a red light at a high rate of speed at 11th and Tennessee in Lawrence. The officer activated his lights, but the driver didn’t stop.  The car continued south on Tennessee at more than 50 miles per hour until he wasn’t able to navigate the lanes and swiped through five parked cars.

He crashed near 19th Street, got out, and ran. Officers caught up with him between nearby houses.  His passenger was trapped in the wreckage.  Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical responded to get the passenger out of the crumpled metal.  Both the driver and the passenger refused further medical treatment.

The 22-year-old driver, whose name was not released, was booked into the Douglas County Correctional Facility suspected of several crimes including Possession of Drugs, Possession of a Firearm under the Influence, Driving Under the Influence, Flee and Elude, and additional traffic violations.&nbsp;

Kan. driver left passenger in wreckage after police chase, crash

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after a chase and arrest with a stolen vehicle.

Just before&nbsp;&nbsp;1:30 a.m. Jan. 22, a sheriff's deputy attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a gray 2025 Ford SUV, that was recently reported stolen through the City of Topeka, near Interstate 70&nbsp; and SE Adams Street, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.

 The driver refused to stop and initiated a pursuit. The vehicle pursuit ended in the 1900 block of South Kansas Avenue and the driver fled the scene on foot. A K-9 Unit located the suspect exiting a nearby creek and wooded area. He was taken into custody without further incident.

Joshua S. Bessette, 45, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Jail on requested charges of Flee or attempt to elude; operate a stolen vehicle, Possession of stolen property; value $25,000 to $100,000 and Interference with LEO; knowingly flee by means other than motor vehicle for felony case.

Sheriff's K9 helps track down Kansas stolen car suspect 

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — American rock climber Alex Honnold ascended the Taipei 101 skyscraper on Sunday without any ropes or protective equipment.

Cheers erupted from a street-level crowd as he reached the top of the spire of the 508-meter (1,667-foot) tower about 90 minutes after he started. Wearing a red short-sleeve shirt, Honnold waved his arms back and forth over his head.

“It was like what a view, it’s incredible, what a beautiful day,” he said afterward. “It was very windy, so I was like, don’t fall off the spire. I was trying to balance nicely. But it was, what an incredible position, what a beautiful way to see Taipei.”

Honnold, known for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/movies-travel-ff106c6b8ad54702bdcaab40988b0ad7">his ropeless ascent</a>&nbsp;up Yosemite National Park’s El Capitan, climbed up one corner of Taipei 101 using small L-shaped outcroppings as footholds. Periodically, he had to maneuver around and clamber up the sides of large ornamental structures that jut out from the tower, pulling himself up with his bare hands.

The building has 101 floors, with the hardest part being the 64 floors of the middle section — the “bamboo boxes” that give the building its signature look. Divided into eight, each segment has eight floors of steep, overhanging climbing followed by balconies, where he took short rests as he made his way upward.

Honnold's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/alex-honnold-taipei-101-climb-netflix-0709f4d062923a09ff6da3786131fdd0">free solo climb of the iconic building</a>&nbsp;in Taiwan's capital city was broadcast live on Netflix with a 10-second delay. The ascent, originally scheduled for Saturday, was delayed for 24 hours due to rain.

Having a cheering crowd was unusual and a bit unnerving at first for Honnold, whose climbs are usually in remote areas.

“When I was leaving the ground, you're like oh it’s kind of intense, there’s so many people watching,” he said. “But then honestly, they’re all wishing me well. I mean basically it just makes the whole experience feel almost more festive, all these nice people are out supporting me and having a good time.”

The climb drew both excitement and concern over the ethical implications of attempting such a high-risk endeavor on live broadcast.

Honnold isn't the first climber to ascend Taipei 101, but he is the first to do so without a rope. French rock climber Alain Robert scaled the building on Christmas Day in 2004 as part of the grand opening of what was then the world’s tallest building.

Associated Press video journalist Taijing Wu and writer Ken Moritsugu in Beijing contributed.

American rock climber reaches top of Taipei 101 skyscraper without ropes

It’s been a year since a measles outbreak began in West Texas, and international health authorities say they will meet in April to determine if the U.S. has lost its measles-free designation.

Experts fear the vaccine-preventable virus has regained a foothold and that the U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/canada-loses-measles-elimination-status-1ac3a4bdc7546fac5d8e111bf5196e1e">may soon follow Canada</a>&nbsp;in losing the achievement of having eliminated it.

The reevaluation is largely symbolic and hinges on whether a single measles chain has spread uninterrupted within the U.S. for at least 12 months.

Public health scientists around the country are investigating whether the now-ended Texas outbreak is linked to active ones in Utah, Arizona and South Carolina. But doctors and scientists say the U.S. — and North America overall — has a measles problem, regardless of the decision.

“It is really a question of semantics,” said Dr. Jonathan Temte, a Wisconsin family physician who helped certify the U.S. was measles-free in 2000. “The bottom line is the conditions are sufficient to allow this many cases to occur. And that gets back to de-emphasizing a safe and effective vaccine.”

Last year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed 2,144 measles cases across 44 states —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-us-texas-mmr-vaccine-rfk-144ed193e13de675a750e52a505423e9">the most since 1991</a>&nbsp;— and nearly 50 separate outbreaks.

The problem has been years in the making, as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vaccination-rates-cdc-kindergarten-0d261546a130dc256735d7b1ff8c6a5f">fewer kids</a>&nbsp;get routine vaccines due to parental waivers, health care access issues and rampant disinformation. More recently, Trump administration health officials have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vaccine-safety-mmr-autism-rfk-hepatitis-20d3122d7a9a339cd8447a347bd49928">questioned</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cdc-autism-vaccines-7b1890f626dd5921fafd00fdd1e6425a">sown doubt</a>&nbsp;about the established safety of vaccines at an unprecedented level while also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-vaccines-funding-cuts-5785985d6b74024b0502f6a2fc1576e2">defunding local efforts</a>&nbsp;to improve vaccination rates.

“The most important thing that we can do is to make sure the people who aren’t vaccinated get vaccinated,” said Jennifer Nuzzo, director of Brown University’s Pandemic Center. “We have not issued a clear enough message about that.”

Local

Region

Sports

Announcements