Dec. 20 is the deadline for the first half of taxes for 2021.

If the first half of real estate taxes are not paid by Dec. 20 nine percent&nbsp;interest per annum will be charged.

If the first half of the personal property taxes are not paid by Dec. 20 full payment is due, plus four percent interest per annum.

Effective Jan. 1, 10 percent interest will be charged to taxpayers with aggregated delinquency of over $10,000 on personal property.

Effective Jan. 1, 15 percent interest will be charged to taxpayers with aggregated delinquency of over $10,000 on real estate.

Call 785-628-9465 for all your real estate, personal property and oil tax information.

Ellis County TreasurerDec. 20 is the deadline for the first half of taxes for 2021.If the first half of real estate taxes are not paid by Dec. 20 nine percent&nbsp;interest per annum will be charged.If the first half of the personal property taxes are not paid by Dec. 20 full payment is due, plus four percent interest per annum.Effective Jan. 1, 10 percent interest will be charged to taxpayers with aggregated delinquency of over $10,000 on personal property.Effective Jan. 1, 15 percent interest will be charged to taxpayers with aggregated delinquency of over $10,000 on real estate.Call 785-628-9465 for all your real estate, personal property and oil tax information.

Ellis County tax deadline approaching

COLBY — The next Third Thursday art gallery walk will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Dec. 16 at four locations in Colby. Art will be displayed at the Colby Community College Cultural Arts Center, Jonas Gallery, Nicole's School of Dance, and Orange.

At the CCC gallery, Will Bradley will provide entertainment on the piano. Artwork will be displayed by Tammy Weber of Goodland, McCook's Lucas Kotschwar, and Amy Warfield and Matt Miller from Hays.

Music at the Jonas Gallery will be provided by the Engel and Dethrage Trio to complement art from Hannah Lindo. At Orange., pieces designed by Fort Hays State University professor of sculpture Tobias Flores will be displayed.

Admission is free. Refreshments will be served at each location.&nbsp;

For more information, contact Rebel Mahieu at (785) 460-5459.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1611227923055.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>CCCCOLBY — The next Third Thursday art gallery walk will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Dec. 16 at four locations in Colby. Art will be displayed at the Colby Community College Cultural Arts Center, Jonas Gallery, Nicole's School of Dance, and Orange.At the CCC gallery, Will Bradley will provide entertainment on the piano. Artwork will be displayed by Tammy Weber of Goodland, McCook's Lucas Kotschwar, and Amy Warfield and Matt Miller from Hays.Music at the Jonas Gallery will be provided by the Engel and Dethrage Trio to complement art from Hannah Lindo. At Orange., pieces designed by Fort Hays State University professor of sculpture Tobias Flores will be displayed.Admission is free. Refreshments will be served at each location.&nbsp;For more information, contact Rebel Mahieu at (785) 460-5459.

Colby Community College art gallery walk scheduled

Center for Life Experience sponsors Celebration of Light

The Ellis County Planning and Zoning meeting scheduled for Dec. 15 has been canceled.

The next meeting is tentatively set for Jan. 26.

The Ellis County Planning and Zoning meeting scheduled for Dec. 15 has been canceled.The next meeting is tentatively set for Jan. 26.

Ellis County Planning, Zoning meeting canceled

The 12th annual Community Christmas Dinner will be held on Christmas Day, Dec. 25, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the VFW in Hays,22nd and Vine. 

The Christmas meal will consist of roast beef, ham, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, corn, and a dinner roll. The Christmas meal is donated and prepared by the men of the VFW, who give their time Christmas Day, and prior, to prepare the meal. The dinner is free to the community, with donations accepted. Donations are in turn given to organizations in Hays that reach the community.&nbsp; With&nbsp;the busyness that often comes during the holiday seasons, Christmas can quickly become about something other than it's true purpose. The Community Christmas Dinner began with the vision to bring the community of Hays together to enjoy a Christmas meal, and to return to the true reason for the season — celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. The Community Christmas Dinner offers a time to refocus on the birth of Christ, and it allows people to experience the love of Christ through a Christmas meal, served by the&nbsp;community to the community.&nbsp;

Service also extends&nbsp;beyond the walls of the VFW through the delivery of meals to those who are unable to make it to the dinner. The Community Christmas Dinner stands upon the scripture that “Love never fails” (1 Corinthians 13:8), and God has proven year after year for this to be true with the Community Christmas Dinner, thanks to Christ’s leading and the community members volunteering their time each year.

For those wishing to&nbsp;volunteer, volunteer opportunities will be available on Christmas Day prior to the meal, during the meal, and after in decorating and cleaning the VFW Hall. Volunteer opportunities can&nbsp;include directing traffic, filling to-go boxes for delivery, greeting community members, filling and providing drinks, assisting with carrying plates, clearing tables, cutting desserts, delivering meals, washing dishes, cleaning after the event, and other miscellaneous tasks that arise.&nbsp;Desserts&nbsp;for the meal are also provided by community members, and these remain needed at this time. 

For community members who cannot make it to the dinner and would like meal&nbsp;delivery, or who would like to deliver take-out to homebound individuals, contact using the information below. If wishing to volunteer, provide desserts, or make a&nbsp;donation, also use the following contact information: <a href="tel:785-625-5528" target="_blank">785-625-5528</a>&nbsp;(thru 12/16/21)&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="tel:785-259-9735" target="_blank">785-259-9735</a>email:&nbsp;<a href="mailto:communitychristmasdinner@gmail.com" target="_blank">communitychristmasdinner@gmail.com</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1639148833544.jpeg" alt="Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>News releaseThe 12th annual Community Christmas Dinner will be held on Christmas Day, Dec. 25, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the VFW in Hays,22nd and Vine. The Christmas meal will consist of roast beef, ham, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, corn, and a dinner roll. The Christmas meal is donated and prepared by the men of the VFW, who give their time Christmas Day, and prior, to prepare the meal. The dinner is free to the community, with donations accepted. Donations are in turn given to organizations in Hays that reach the community.&nbsp; With&nbsp;the busyness that often comes during the holiday seasons, Christmas can quickly become about something other than it's true purpose. The Community Christmas Dinner began with the vision to bring the community of Hays together to enjoy a Christmas meal, and to return to the true reason for the season — celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. The Community Christmas Dinner offers a time to refocus on the birth of Christ, and it allows people to experience the love of Christ through a Christmas meal, served by the&nbsp;community to the community.&nbsp;Service also extends&nbsp;beyond the walls of the VFW through the delivery of meals to those who are unable to make it to the dinner. The Community Christmas Dinner stands upon the scripture that “Love never fails” (1 Corinthians 13:8), and God has proven year after year for this to be true with the Community Christmas Dinner, thanks to Christ’s leading and the community members volunteering their time each year.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1639148864934.jpeg" alt="Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>For those wishing to&nbsp;volunteer, volunteer opportunities will be available on Christmas Day prior to the meal, during the meal, and after in decorating and cleaning the VFW Hall. Volunteer opportunities can&nbsp;include directing traffic, filling to-go boxes for delivery, greeting community members, filling and providing drinks, assisting with carrying plates, clearing tables, cutting desserts, delivering meals, washing dishes, cleaning after the event, and other miscellaneous tasks that arise.&nbsp;Desserts&nbsp;for the meal are also provided by community members, and these remain needed at this time. For community members who cannot make it to the dinner and would like meal&nbsp;delivery, or who would like to deliver take-out to homebound individuals, contact using the information below. If wishing to volunteer, provide desserts, or make a&nbsp;donation, also use the following contact information: <a href="tel:785-625-5528" target="_blank">785-625-5528</a>&nbsp;(thru 12/16/21)&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="tel:785-259-9735" target="_blank">785-259-9735</a>email:&nbsp;<a href="mailto:communitychristmasdinner@gmail.com" target="_blank">communitychristmasdinner@gmail.com</a>

12th Community Christmas Dinner scheduled in Hays

LOGAN — The Hansen Museum in Logan has announced&nbsp;Ubuhle Women: Beadwork and the Art of Independence, a spectacular overview of a new form of bead art, the ndwango (“cloth”), developed by a community of women living and working together in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The plain black fabric that serves as a foundation for the Ubuhle women’s exquisite beadwork is reminiscent of the Xhosa headscarves and skirts that many of them wore growing up. By stretching this textile like a canvas, the artists use colored Czech glass beads to transform the flat cloth into a contemporary art form of remarkable visual depth. Using skills handed down through generations and working in their own unique style “directly from the soul” (in the words of artist Ntombephi Ntobela), the women create abstract as well as figurative subjects for their ndwangos. Ubuhle Women is on view at the Hansen Museum through Jan. 23.

Ubuhle means “beauty” in the Xhosa and Zulu languages and well describes the shimmering quality of light on glass that for the Xhosa people has a special spiritual significance. From a distance, each panel of the ndwango seems to present a continuous surface; but as the viewer moves closer and each tiny individual bead catches the light, the meticulous skill and labor that went into each work—the sheer scale of ambition—becomes stunningly apparent. A single panel can take more than 10 months to complete.

Migration has defined the history of modern South Africa. The late-19th-century discovery of gold and diamonds—and, to a lesser extent, the cultivation of sugar cane—transfigured South African society with its demands for a large, flexible workforce of able men. As workers left their homesteads in rural areas to earn cash salaries, traditional social systems based on direct production from the land began to change. Low pay and harsh working conditions forced many cane cutters to live apart from their wives and families for up to nine months of the year, which led to a breakdown of family life and traditional values.&nbsp; Ubuhle was conceived in response to this social and cultural transformation. Established in 1999 by two women—Ntombephi “Induna” Ntobela and Bev Gibson—on a former sugar plantation in KwaZulu-Natal, Ubuhle began as a way of creating employment for rural women by combining traditional skills and making them profitable. By incorporating a skill that many local women already had—beadwork, a customary form of artistic expression for generations of South African women—and teaching it to those who did not, they began to provide women with a private source of income and a route to financial independence.&nbsp;

Since 2006, the Ubuhle community has lost five artists to HIV/AIDS and other illnesses, nearly halving the number of active artists. Many of the ndwangos thus function as memorials to Ubuhle sisters who have lost their lives. Remembering the dead is a key motivation for the creation of many of these artworks, and it imbues them with a spiritual significance. 
 
Due to the slow, meticulous process of creating a ndwango, the act of beading itself becomes a form of therapy: a way of setting down the issues that are closest to the artists’ hearts; a way of grieving; and a place to encode feelings and memories. In a sense—through their presence in the artist’s thoughts during the act of creation—the deceased enter the very fabric of the work, and so the ndwango becomes a site of memory.&nbsp;

Ubuhle Women: Beadwork and the Art of Independence was developed by the Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum, Washington, DC, in cooperation with Curators Bev Gibson, Ubuhle Beads, and James Green, and is organized for tour by International Arts &amp; Artists, Washington, DC.

Click <a href="https://www.artsandartists.org/exhibitions/ubuhle-women/#tour-schedule">HERE</a> for updated tour dates.

The Ubuhle community exists today due mainly to the determination of two women, Bev Gibson and Ntombephi Ntobela, who co-founded Ubuhle in 1999. Ntombephi is a master beader from the Eastern Cape whose tremendous skill, both as artist and teacher, has been the foundation block of this community. Ntombephi is known as “Induna,” which means “leader,” a term of great respect in South Africa. The title also suggests the responsibility she feels for the community as guardian of its future. Bev herself does not bead, but she has created the space for Ubuhle artists to explore, experiment, and transform the traditional art form. Bev has also been an indomitable source of energy and persistence in the emergence of Ubuhle’s growing vision. She and Ntombephi each bring their own unique skills to the establishment of the community, and it is largely thanks to them that these works exist at all.

International Arts &amp; Artists in Washington, DC, is a nonprofit arts service organization dedicated to increasing cross-cultural understanding and exposure to the arts internationally, through exhibitions, programs and services to artists, arts institutions and the public. Visit <a href="http://www.artsandartists.org">www.artsandartists.org</a>

The Hansen Museum is open Monday through Friday 9-12 &amp; 1-4; Saturdays 9-12 &amp; 1-5; Sundays &amp; Holidays 1-5. We are closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. The Museum is handicapped accessible, and admission is always free thanks to the generous support of the Dane G. Hansen Foundation. For more information or if you have questions, please contact us at 785-689-4846 or visit our website at hansenmuseum.org.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1638896302079.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>News releaseLOGAN — The Hansen Museum in Logan has announced&nbsp;Ubuhle Women: Beadwork and the Art of Independence, a spectacular overview of a new form of bead art, the ndwango (“cloth”), developed by a community of women living and working together in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The plain black fabric that serves as a foundation for the Ubuhle women’s exquisite beadwork is reminiscent of the Xhosa headscarves and skirts that many of them wore growing up. By stretching this textile like a canvas, the artists use colored Czech glass beads to transform the flat cloth into a contemporary art form of remarkable visual depth. Using skills handed down through generations and working in their own unique style “directly from the soul” (in the words of artist Ntombephi Ntobela), the women create abstract as well as figurative subjects for their ndwangos. Ubuhle Women is on view at the Hansen Museum through Jan. 23.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1638896318686.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Ubuhle means “beauty” in the Xhosa and Zulu languages and well describes the shimmering quality of light on glass that for the Xhosa people has a special spiritual significance. From a distance, each panel of the ndwango seems to present a continuous surface; but as the viewer moves closer and each tiny individual bead catches the light, the meticulous skill and labor that went into each work—the sheer scale of ambition—becomes stunningly apparent. A single panel can take more than 10 months to complete.Migration has defined the history of modern South Africa. The late-19th-century discovery of gold and diamonds—and, to a lesser extent, the cultivation of sugar cane—transfigured South African society with its demands for a large, flexible workforce of able men. As workers left their homesteads in rural areas to earn cash salaries, traditional social systems based on direct production from the land began to change. Low pay and harsh working conditions forced many cane cutters to live apart from their wives and families for up to nine months of the year, which led to a breakdown of family life and traditional values.&nbsp; Ubuhle was conceived in response to this social and cultural transformation. Established in 1999 by two women—Ntombephi “Induna” Ntobela and Bev Gibson—on a former sugar plantation in KwaZulu-Natal, Ubuhle began as a way of creating employment for rural women by combining traditional skills and making them profitable. By incorporating a skill that many local women already had—beadwork, a customary form of artistic expression for generations of South African women—and teaching it to those who did not, they began to provide women with a private source of income and a route to financial independence.&nbsp;Since 2006, the Ubuhle community has lost five artists to HIV/AIDS and other illnesses, nearly halving the number of active artists. Many of the ndwangos thus function as memorials to Ubuhle sisters who have lost their lives. Remembering the dead is a key motivation for the creation of many of these artworks, and it imbues them with a spiritual significance. 
 
Due to the slow, meticulous process of creating a ndwango, the act of beading itself becomes a form of therapy: a way of setting down the issues that are closest to the artists’ hearts; a way of grieving; and a place to encode feelings and memories. In a sense—through their presence in the artist’s thoughts during the act of creation—the deceased enter the very fabric of the work, and so the ndwango becomes a site of memory.&nbsp;Ubuhle Women: Beadwork and the Art of Independence was developed by the Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum, Washington, DC, in cooperation with Curators Bev Gibson, Ubuhle Beads, and James Green, and is organized for tour by International Arts &amp; Artists, Washington, DC.Click <a href="https://www.artsandartists.org/exhibitions/ubuhle-women/#tour-schedule">HERE</a> for updated tour dates.The Ubuhle community exists today due mainly to the determination of two women, Bev Gibson and Ntombephi Ntobela, who co-founded Ubuhle in 1999. Ntombephi is a master beader from the Eastern Cape whose tremendous skill, both as artist and teacher, has been the foundation block of this community. Ntombephi is known as “Induna,” which means “leader,” a term of great respect in South Africa. The title also suggests the responsibility she feels for the community as guardian of its future. Bev herself does not bead, but she has created the space for Ubuhle artists to explore, experiment, and transform the traditional art form. Bev has also been an indomitable source of energy and persistence in the emergence of Ubuhle’s growing vision. She and Ntombephi each bring their own unique skills to the establishment of the community, and it is largely thanks to them that these works exist at all.International Arts &amp; Artists in Washington, DC, is a nonprofit arts service organization dedicated to increasing cross-cultural understanding and exposure to the arts internationally, through exhibitions, programs and services to artists, arts institutions and the public. Visit <a href="http://www.artsandartists.org">www.artsandartists.org</a>The Hansen Museum is open Monday through Friday 9-12 &amp; 1-4; Saturdays 9-12 &amp; 1-5; Sundays &amp; Holidays 1-5. We are closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. The Museum is handicapped accessible, and admission is always free thanks to the generous support of the Dane G. Hansen Foundation. For more information or if you have questions, please contact us at 785-689-4846 or visit our website at hansenmuseum.org.

Hansen Museum hosts display of African bead art

The December 16 Hays city commission work session has been canceled.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584721067731.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>City of HaysThe December 16 Hays city commission work session has been canceled.

Hays City Commission cancels Dec. 16 work session

BUNKER HILL — The annual PBS KIDS Writer’s Contest is now underway. The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.smokyhillspbs.org/kids/pbs-kids-writers-contest/" target="_blank">PBS KIDS Writers Contest</a>&nbsp;is designed to promote the advancement of children’s literacy skills through hands-on, active learning.&nbsp; The contest&nbsp;empowers children in grades K-3 to celebrate creativity and build literacy skills by writing and illustrating their very own stories.&nbsp;

“Smoky Hills PBS is committed to helping children build valuable literacy skills through fun, hands-on opportunities to express their creativity and explore their imagination,” said Haley Gagnon,&nbsp;Special Events Coordinator of Smoky Hills PBS.&nbsp; “The PBS KIDS Writer’s Contest is a great way for children to use their imaginations by writing their own story and illustrating their own story.&nbsp; It’s amazing to see the ideas these young children come up with.”

Starting now, children in central and western Kansas can submit their entries to the Smoky Hills PBS KIDS Writers Contest by mailing their original story, along with an entry form, to Smoky Hills PBS.&nbsp; SHPBS will select local winners and award prizes and trophies in the spring of 2022.&nbsp; Additionally, local winners will be highlighted on&nbsp;<a href="http://smokyhillspbs.org/">SmokyHillsPBS.org</a>&nbsp;and their stories will be featured in a special presentation of contest winners.&nbsp; This special presentation of winners will be shown on air and online.&nbsp;&nbsp;The deadline to submit stories is March 4.

For more information on entry rules and contest resources, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.smokyhillspbs.org/" target="_blank">SmokyHillsPBS.org</a>.

Thank you to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.equitybank.com/">Equity Bank</a>&nbsp;for making this year's 2022 PBS KIDS Writers Contest possible.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1578663876107.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>BUNKER HILL — The annual PBS KIDS Writer’s Contest is now underway. The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.smokyhillspbs.org/kids/pbs-kids-writers-contest/" target="_blank">PBS KIDS Writers Contest</a>&nbsp;is designed to promote the advancement of children’s literacy skills through hands-on, active learning.&nbsp; The contest&nbsp;empowers children in grades K-3 to celebrate creativity and build literacy skills by writing and illustrating their very own stories.&nbsp;“Smoky Hills PBS is committed to helping children build valuable literacy skills through fun, hands-on opportunities to express their creativity and explore their imagination,” said Haley Gagnon,&nbsp;Special Events Coordinator of Smoky Hills PBS.&nbsp; “The PBS KIDS Writer’s Contest is a great way for children to use their imaginations by writing their own story and illustrating their own story.&nbsp; It’s amazing to see the ideas these young children come up with.”How the Contest WorksStarting now, children in central and western Kansas can submit their entries to the Smoky Hills PBS KIDS Writers Contest by mailing their original story, along with an entry form, to Smoky Hills PBS.&nbsp; SHPBS will select local winners and award prizes and trophies in the spring of 2022.&nbsp; Additionally, local winners will be highlighted on&nbsp;<a href="http://smokyhillspbs.org/">SmokyHillsPBS.org</a>&nbsp;and their stories will be featured in a special presentation of contest winners.&nbsp; This special presentation of winners will be shown on air and online.&nbsp;&nbsp;The deadline to submit stories is March 4.For more information on entry rules and contest resources, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.smokyhillspbs.org/" target="_blank">SmokyHillsPBS.org</a>.Thank you to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.equitybank.com/">Equity Bank</a>&nbsp;for making this year's 2022 PBS KIDS Writers Contest possible.— Submitted

Smoky Hills PBS announces annual PBS KIDS Writers Contest

VICTORIA — Last year, because of COVID-19, the annual “Christmas Cathedral Concert” was canceled. But this year it is back. The traditional favorite will take place at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 12, at the Basilica of St. Fidelis in Victoria.

Director Terry Crull said the free concert would feature the Fort Hays Singers, Fort Hays State University Concert Choir, and Smoky Hill Chorale, all directed by Crull and accompanied by pianist Pam McGowne.

Also featured will be the Hays High School Chamber Singers, under the direction of Alex Underwood; the Sterling High School Choir, under the direction of Clark Comley; and the FHSU Brass Ensemble, conducted by Peter Lillpopp.

Soloists will include Tom Meagher on organ, Kay Werth on oboe, Bradley Dawson on trumpet, Renetta Dawson on French horn, and vocalist Ivalah Allen.

Crull said the audience would be invited to join the performers on three favorite Christmas carols. Attendees are encouraged to arrive early.

News releaseVICTORIA — Last year, because of COVID-19, the annual “Christmas Cathedral Concert” was canceled. But this year it is back. The traditional favorite will take place at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 12, at the Basilica of St. Fidelis in Victoria.Director Terry Crull said the free concert would feature the Fort Hays Singers, Fort Hays State University Concert Choir, and Smoky Hill Chorale, all directed by Crull and accompanied by pianist Pam McGowne.Also featured will be the Hays High School Chamber Singers, under the direction of Alex Underwood; the Sterling High School Choir, under the direction of Clark Comley; and the FHSU Brass Ensemble, conducted by Peter Lillpopp.Soloists will include Tom Meagher on organ, Kay Werth on oboe, Bradley Dawson on trumpet, Renetta Dawson on French horn, and vocalist Ivalah Allen.Crull said the audience would be invited to join the performers on three favorite Christmas carols. Attendees are encouraged to arrive early.

Christmas Cathedral Concert returns to St. Fidelis in 2021

VINCENT — The “Little Town of Bethlehem” Nativity at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Vincent will be open for visitation on Sundays Dec. 12 and 19, as well as Christmas Day.  All times are 1 to 5 p.m. 

  Other appointment times can be made to visit the Nativity by calling Carol Freitag at 785-735-9282. 

  Began in 1927, the Nativity has become a worldwide representation of Christmas featuring rocks and figurines from all 50 states and 105 countries. A live flowing river with sheep, shepherds and various animals dot the scene.  Rocks  from the Holy Land are unique to the Nativity.  Also featured are rocks from places of war our soldiers fought to pay tribute to those servicemen who could not be home for Christmas over the years.  Most rocks are origin labeled. 

 St. Boniface Catholic Church is located 5.5 miles south of Victoria and 2 miles east.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1638811469996.jpeg" alt="Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>VINCENT — The “Little Town of Bethlehem” Nativity at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Vincent will be open for visitation on Sundays Dec. 12 and 19, as well as Christmas Day. All times are 1 to 5 p.m. Other appointment times can be made to visit the Nativity by calling Carol Freitag at 785-735-9282. Began in 1927, the Nativity has become a worldwide representation of Christmas featuring rocks and figurines from all 50 states and 105 countries. A live flowing river with sheep, shepherds and various animals dot the scene. Rocks from the Holy Land are unique to the Nativity. Also featured are rocks from places of war our soldiers fought to pay tribute to those servicemen who could not be home for Christmas over the years. Most rocks are origin labeled. St. Boniface Catholic Church is located 5.5 miles south of Victoria and 2 miles east.&nbsp;

St. Boniface 'Little Town of Bethlehem' opens this month

Hays Optimists host blood drive as Red Cross faces blood emergency 

COLBY — The Colby/Thomas County Chamber of Commerce shares that Tami Clymer, who has served as the president/CEO since 2016, has announced her resignation due to her husband’s illness. She plans to remain as active as she can during the transition, aiding the chamber board of directors with their search until they are able to find a permanent replacement.

During Clymer’s tenure, the chamber has seen growth with member enrollment, participation, and benefits, including the launch of a chamber-offered insurance program. Clymer has been an active part of many community conversations and endeavors, as well as with the chamber industry at a state and regional level.&nbsp;

“Under Tami Clymer’s leadership, the chamber has become a stronger entity impacting the local economy and the lives of so many,” said Board Chair Kaylin Wiens. “While we are sad she will be leaving this role, we understand it is in her best interest. We wish only the best to her and her family.”

In addition to Tami’s resignation, Wiens also noted a change with the interim leadership.&nbsp;

“In August, we hired Tammy Wellbrock to serve as interim president/CEO to help with office coverage during Tami Clymer’s absence for the remainder of the year. Tammy Wellbrock may continue to assist us on individual projects, but she will no longer serve in the interim capacity after December.

“The chamber board is appreciative of the leadership provided by both professionals, and they are leaving a strong organization founded on a successful past. Now our focus is to hire a new individual who can continue leading our chamber forward.”

The chamber board is accepting applications for the president/CEO until the position is filled. For a complete job description, contact Wiens at kpwiens@abtbank.com. Resumes, along with three references, can be sent to: 
Kaylin Wiens 
Chamber Board President 
650 N. Grant Ave. 
Colby, KS 67701

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1638800777972.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>News releaseCOLBY — The Colby/Thomas County Chamber of Commerce shares that Tami Clymer, who has served as the president/CEO since 2016, has announced her resignation due to her husband’s illness. She plans to remain as active as she can during the transition, aiding the chamber board of directors with their search until they are able to find a permanent replacement.During Clymer’s tenure, the chamber has seen growth with member enrollment, participation, and benefits, including the launch of a chamber-offered insurance program. Clymer has been an active part of many community conversations and endeavors, as well as with the chamber industry at a state and regional level.&nbsp;“Under Tami Clymer’s leadership, the chamber has become a stronger entity impacting the local economy and the lives of so many,” said Board Chair Kaylin Wiens. “While we are sad she will be leaving this role, we understand it is in her best interest. We wish only the best to her and her family.”In addition to Tami’s resignation, Wiens also noted a change with the interim leadership.&nbsp;“In August, we hired Tammy Wellbrock to serve as interim president/CEO to help with office coverage during Tami Clymer’s absence for the remainder of the year. Tammy Wellbrock may continue to assist us on individual projects, but she will no longer serve in the interim capacity after December.“The chamber board is appreciative of the leadership provided by both professionals, and they are leaving a strong organization founded on a successful past. Now our focus is to hire a new individual who can continue leading our chamber forward.”The chamber board is accepting applications for the president/CEO until the position is filled. For a complete job description, contact Wiens at kpwiens@abtbank.com. Resumes, along with three references, can be sent to: 
Kaylin Wiens 
Chamber Board President 
650 N. Grant Ave. 
Colby, KS 67701

Colby/Thomas CO. chamber to begin president/CEO search

Optimist Club sponsors Wednesday blood drive at Sternberg Museum

RUSSELL — Experience the true spirit of Christmas during the Live Drive-Thru Nativity presented by the middle and high school youth of St. John Lutheran Church, Russell. The nativity will bring Christ’s birth to life by using actors and animals. The drive-through aspect will make it convenient for people to experience.

“This is an easy way for people to come and see the nativity while they stay in the warmth of their car,” said Charlie Krug, St. John 425 Youth member. “The whole family can experience the Christmas story together.”

The Live Drive-Thru Nativity will be presented in the parking lot of Russell Livestock Commission, 720 S. Fossil, on Sunday, Dec. 19. Community members are invited to drive through the nativity scene between 6:30 and 8:00 pm. Once you enter the parking lot, be sure and open your windows to enjoy reflective Christmas music.

Kelvie Reeves, St. John 425 Youth member, is one of many volunteers organizing the event. 

“This live Nativity presentation is our gift to the community,” Reeves said. “We hope this small event will bring the spirit of hope, peace and joy to all.”

Although there is no admission fee, a freewill offering will be collected. The 425 Youth are fundraising for a upcoming trip to Manhattan to visit the KSU Campus Ministry and participate in a service project.

For more information, contact St. John Lutheran Church at 785-483-5358.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1638468950336.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>SubmittedRUSSELL — Experience the true spirit of Christmas during the Live Drive-Thru Nativity presented by the middle and high school youth of St. John Lutheran Church, Russell. The nativity will bring Christ’s birth to life by using actors and animals. The drive-through aspect will make it convenient for people to experience.“This is an easy way for people to come and see the nativity while they stay in the warmth of their car,” said Charlie Krug, St. John 425 Youth member. “The whole family can experience the Christmas story together.”The Live Drive-Thru Nativity will be presented in the parking lot of Russell Livestock Commission, 720 S. Fossil, on Sunday, Dec. 19. Community members are invited to drive through the nativity scene between 6:30 and 8:00 pm. Once you enter the parking lot, be sure and open your windows to enjoy reflective Christmas music.Kelvie Reeves, St. John 425 Youth member, is one of many volunteers organizing the event. “This live Nativity presentation is our gift to the community,” Reeves said. “We hope this small event will bring the spirit of hope, peace and joy to all.”Although there is no admission fee, a freewill offering will be collected. The 425 Youth are fundraising for a upcoming trip to Manhattan to visit the KSU Campus Ministry and participate in a service project.For more information, contact St. John Lutheran Church at 785-483-5358.

Live drive-through Nativity this month in Russell

CVB: Community Events in Hays during December

Celebrate Frost Fest with the Hays Public Library on Dec. 18. The library will host a variety of activities throughout the day.

The fun will begin with a come-and-go breakfast with Santa from 9 to 11 a.m. in the Schmidt Gallery. Registration is not required for the breakfast. Santa will be available for pictures, and he’ll read to the kids at 10 a.m. in the children’s area.&nbsp;

In the afternoon, there will be craft projects and pictures with Chilly the Penguin from 1 to 4 p.m. The group TX3 will perform holiday music from 2 to 3 p.m. The library will close at 5 p.m. and then reopen at 5:30 p.m. to serve hot cocoa in the lobby until the parade begins at 6 p.m.. The library will remain open during the parade.

Find out more about this and other library programs at&nbsp;<a href="http://hayslibrary.org/">hayslibrary.org</a>&nbsp;or by calling 785-625-9014.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1578606002336.jpeg" alt="Hays Public Library HPL January 2020-2.jpg" />
 <figcaption>Hays Public Library HPL January 2020-2.jpg</figcaption>
 </figure>HPLCelebrate Frost Fest with the Hays Public Library on Dec. 18. The library will host a variety of activities throughout the day.The fun will begin with a come-and-go breakfast with Santa from 9 to 11 a.m. in the Schmidt Gallery. Registration is not required for the breakfast. Santa will be available for pictures, and he’ll read to the kids at 10 a.m. in the children’s area.&nbsp;In the afternoon, there will be craft projects and pictures with Chilly the Penguin from 1 to 4 p.m. The group TX3 will perform holiday music from 2 to 3 p.m. The library will close at 5 p.m. and then reopen at 5:30 p.m. to serve hot cocoa in the lobby until the parade begins at 6 p.m.. The library will remain open during the parade.Find out more about this and other library programs at&nbsp;<a href="http://hayslibrary.org/">hayslibrary.org</a>&nbsp;or by calling 785-625-9014.

Frost Fest activities planned at Hays Public Library

Workshops can help growers meet federal requirements&nbsp;

MANHATTAN – A series of online and in-person workshops scheduled for early 2022 will help Kansas growers sell safer produce while also opening new opportunities to sell their goods, said a Kansas State University food safety specialist.&nbsp;

Londa Nwadike, who holds a joint extension appointment with K-State and the University of Missouri, said some larger Kansas fruit, vegetable and herb growers have a regulatory requirement to attend training under the Food Safety Modernization Act.&nbsp;

“However, any Kansas grower who is selling produce will benefit from attending these training sessions because they will be able to sell safer produce, which is in the best interest of the produce grower,” Nwadike said. “Growers will also have a chance to meet other growers and learn from each other.”&nbsp;

The workshops, she added, cover practical, risk-based assessments for growing safer produce.&nbsp;

The schedule of FSMA Produce Safety Grower Training sessions in Kansas include:&nbsp;

K-State and the University of Missouri also are offering FSMA Produce Safety annual supervisor training at the following times and locations:&nbsp;&nbsp;

“Some produce buyers – grocery stores, distributors, schools and others – may require that the produce they purchase is certified according to Good Agricultural Practices (known as GAPs),” Nwadike said. “Therefore, if a grower wants to sell to those markets, which are usually more lucrative and stable, they will need to be GAP certified.”&nbsp;

K-State is offering online training to assist growers in getting GAP certified and to develop a food safety plan on Feb 14 from 2-4 p.m. More information and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/foodsafety/produce/index.html">registration is available online</a>.This training costs $5.&nbsp;&nbsp;

All other training sessions are free. More information is available online at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/foodsafety/produce">https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/foodsafety/produce</a>&nbsp;

K-State Research and Extension has been providing produce safety training in Kansas since 2017. “These trainings,” Nwadike said, “have enabled produce growers to comply with federal produce safety regulations. They have also enabled Kansas growers to sell safer produce, hopefully reducing the number of foodborne illnesses caused by Kansas-grown produce.”&nbsp;

In addition, Nwadike said K-State Research and Extension continues to provide Kansas produce growers free microbial water testing. Visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/foodsafety/produce/testing.html">https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/foodsafety/produce/testing.html</a>&nbsp;for details. This testing is provided by a grant from USDA.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Kansas Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration are key partners in K-State’s produce safety outreach, according to Nwadike, enabling the state’s extension service to hire a full time produce safety associate who provides technical assistance and on-farm visits.&nbsp;

The Kansas Farmers Union also provides scholarships to cover the remaining costs of training. Those interested in cost-share funding for GAP certification may contact Nwadike at<a href="mailto:lnwadike@ksu.edu">lnwadike@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;for more information.&nbsp;

<h2>Workshops can help growers meet federal requirements&nbsp;</h2>K-State Research and ExtensionMANHATTAN – A series of online and in-person workshops scheduled for early 2022 will help Kansas growers sell safer produce while also opening new opportunities to sell their goods, said a Kansas State University food safety specialist.&nbsp;Londa Nwadike, who holds a joint extension appointment with K-State and the University of Missouri, said some larger Kansas fruit, vegetable and herb growers have a regulatory requirement to attend training under the Food Safety Modernization Act.&nbsp;“However, any Kansas grower who is selling produce will benefit from attending these training sessions because they will be able to sell safer produce, which is in the best interest of the produce grower,” Nwadike said. “Growers will also have a chance to meet other growers and learn from each other.”&nbsp;The workshops, she added, cover practical, risk-based assessments for growing safer produce.&nbsp;The schedule of FSMA Produce Safety Grower Training sessions in Kansas include:&nbsp; <ul>
 <li>Jan. 25 and 27 (1 p.m. to 5 p.m.) – online only.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/fsma-produce-safety-grower-training-remote-delivery-tickets-207991617527">Registration is available online.</a>&nbsp;</li><li>Feb. 9 (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) – Olathe.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/foodsafety/produce">More information is available online.</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>Feb. 18 (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) – Wichita.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/foodsafety/produce">More information is available online.</a>&nbsp;</li>
 </ul>K-State and the University of Missouri also are offering FSMA Produce Safety annual supervisor training at the following times and locations:&nbsp;&nbsp; <ul>
 <li>Jan. 18 (2 p.m. to 4 p.m.) – Olathe.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/fsma-produce-safety-grower-training-remote-delivery-tickets-207991617527">Registration is available online.</a>&nbsp;</li><li>Jan. 21 (2 p.m. to 4 p.m.) – Online only.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/foodsafety/produce">More information is available online.</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>Feb. 17 (2 p.m. to 4 p.m.) – Wichita.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/foodsafety/produce">More information is available online.</a>&nbsp;</li>
 </ul>“Some produce buyers – grocery stores, distributors, schools and others – may require that the produce they purchase is certified according to Good Agricultural Practices (known as GAPs),” Nwadike said. “Therefore, if a grower wants to sell to those markets, which are usually more lucrative and stable, they will need to be GAP certified.”&nbsp;K-State is offering online training to assist growers in getting GAP certified and to develop a food safety plan on Feb 14 from 2-4 p.m. More information and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/foodsafety/produce/index.html">registration is available online</a>.This training costs $5.&nbsp;&nbsp;All other training sessions are free. More information is available online at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/foodsafety/produce">https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/foodsafety/produce</a>&nbsp;K-State Research and Extension has been providing produce safety training in Kansas since 2017. “These trainings,” Nwadike said, “have enabled produce growers to comply with federal produce safety regulations. They have also enabled Kansas growers to sell safer produce, hopefully reducing the number of foodborne illnesses caused by Kansas-grown produce.”&nbsp;In addition, Nwadike said K-State Research and Extension continues to provide Kansas produce growers free microbial water testing. Visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/foodsafety/produce/testing.html">https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/foodsafety/produce/testing.html</a>&nbsp;for details. This testing is provided by a grant from USDA.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Kansas Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration are key partners in K-State’s produce safety outreach, according to Nwadike, enabling the state’s extension service to hire a full time produce safety associate who provides technical assistance and on-farm visits.&nbsp;The Kansas Farmers Union also provides scholarships to cover the remaining costs of training. Those interested in cost-share funding for GAP certification may contact Nwadike at<a href="mailto:lnwadike@ksu.edu">lnwadike@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;for more information.&nbsp;

Free training for Kan. produce growers set for early 2022 

20th annual Chocolate Festival set for Saturday in Alton

Come and enjoy “Enormous,” MFA Thesis Exhibition in sculpture by artist Wendy Tan.

This exhibition is on the Fort Hays State University campus in the Moss-Thorns Gallery of Art and Patricia A. Schmidt Gallery lobby and will be open through Dec. 17.

The gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays-Fridays. A reception will be in conjunction with the Winter Gallery Walk from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

Stop in during this reception to talk to with the artist, view the amazing work on display, and have some light refreshments as well.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1638292071123.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>SubmittedCome and enjoy “Enormous,” MFA Thesis Exhibition in sculpture by artist Wendy Tan.This exhibition is on the Fort Hays State University campus in the Moss-Thorns Gallery of Art and Patricia A. Schmidt Gallery lobby and will be open through Dec. 17.The gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays-Fridays. A reception will be in conjunction with the Winter Gallery Walk from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.Stop in during this reception to talk to with the artist, view the amazing work on display, and have some light refreshments as well.

Tan's MFA reception for 'Enormous' Saturday at Moss-Thorns Gallery

Fort Hays State University Plymouth Schoolhouse annual Christmas Open House is this afternoon (Nov. 30) from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.&nbsp;

Come and enjoy Christmas from the past in the one-room school. Refreshments provided.

Sponsored by the FHSU Science and Mathematics Education Institute.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1638286405494.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>FHSUFort Hays State University Plymouth Schoolhouse annual Christmas Open House is this afternoon (Nov. 30) from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.&nbsp;Come and enjoy Christmas from the past in the one-room school. Refreshments provided.Free and open to the public.Sponsored by the FHSU Science and Mathematics Education Institute.

One-room Plymouth Schoolhouse at FHSU celebrates Christmas open house today

Community USD 489 bond forum set for Dec. 15

TOPEKA — The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has issued a boil water advisory for the city of Schoenchen water supply system located in Ellis County. This advisory is not related to COVID-19.

Customers should observe the following precautions until fu­rther notice:

The advisory took effect on November 29, 2021 and will remain in effect until the conditions that placed the system at risk of bacterial contamination are resolved. KDHE issued the advisory because of a loss of pressure in the distribution system due to a water main break. Failure to maintain pressure can lead to a loss of chlorine residual levels and may result in bacterial contamination.

Regardless of whether the public water supplier or KDHE announced a boil water advisory, only KDHE can issue the rescind order following testing at a certified laboratory.

For consumer questions, contact the water system or KDHE at 785-296-5514. For consumer information, visit <a href="http://www.kdheks.gov/pws/emergencyresponse/water_disruption.htm">KDHE’s PWS Consumer Information webpage.</a>

KDHETOPEKA — The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has issued a boil water advisory for the city of Schoenchen water supply system located in Ellis County. This advisory is not related to COVID-19.Customers should observe the following precautions until fu­rther notice:<ul>
 <li>If your tap water appears dirty, flush the water lines by letting the water run until it clears.</li><li>Boil water for one minute prior to drinking or food preparation or use bottled water.</li><li>Dispose of ice cubes and do not use ice from a household automatic ice maker.</li><li>Disinfect dishes and other food contact surfaces by immersion for at least one minute in clean tap water that contains one teaspoon of unscented household bleach per gallon of water.</li><li>Water used for bathing does not generally need to be boiled. Supervision of children is necessary while bathing so that water is not ingested. Persons with cuts or severe rashes may wish to consult their physicians.</li>
 </ul>The advisory took effect on November 29, 2021 and will remain in effect until the conditions that placed the system at risk of bacterial contamination are resolved. KDHE issued the advisory because of a loss of pressure in the distribution system due to a water main break. Failure to maintain pressure can lead to a loss of chlorine residual levels and may result in bacterial contamination.Regardless of whether the public water supplier or KDHE announced a boil water advisory, only KDHE can issue the rescind order following testing at a certified laboratory.For consumer questions, contact the water system or KDHE at 785-296-5514. For consumer information, visit <a href="http://www.kdheks.gov/pws/emergencyresponse/water_disruption.htm">KDHE’s PWS Consumer Information webpage.</a>

KDHE: Boil order issued for Schoenchen

Click <a href="https://hayspost.com/category/obituaries?utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=direct&amp;utm_campaign=hayspost_obituary_category">HERE</a> for the most recent obituaries and service times from our funeral home partners.

Hays Post is honored to publish full obituaries at no cost to families. Funeral homes can send notices to <a href="http://admin@hayspost.com">admin@hayspost.com</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1592402847947.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Click <a href="https://hayspost.com/category/obituaries?utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=direct&amp;utm_campaign=hayspost_obituary_category">HERE</a> for the most recent obituaries and service times from our funeral home partners.Hays Post is honored to publish full obituaries at no cost to families. Funeral homes can send notices to <a href="http://admin@hayspost.com">admin@hayspost.com</a>.<div><div id="adslot-23353113719" class="emp-ad" style="text-align:center"><script type="text/javascript">if (!window.AdButler){(function(){var s = document.createElement("script"); s.async = true; s.type = "text/javascript";s.src = 'https://ads.empowerlocal.co/app.js';var n = document.getElementsByTagName("script")[0]; n.parentNode.insertBefore(s, n);}());}</script><script type="text/javascript">var EmpowerDiv = document.querySelector('#adslot-23353113719').parentNode.clientWidth;var EmpowerPlace = EmpowerDiv >= 300 ? 520638 : 520638;var EmpowerSize = EmpowerDiv >= 300 ? [300,250] : [300,250];var AdButler = AdButler || {}; AdButler.ads = AdButler.ads || [];var abkw = window.abkw || '';var emppmt = window.emppmt || 0;document.write('<'+'div id="placement_'+EmpowerPlace+'_'+emppmt+'"></'+'div>');AdButler.ads.push({handler: function(opt){ AdButler.register(181918, EmpowerPlace, EmpowerSize, 'placement_'+EmpowerPlace+'_'+opt.place, opt); }, opt: { place: emppmt++, keywords: abkw, domain: 'ads.empowerlocal.co', click:'CLICK_MACRO_PLACEHOLDER' }});</script></div></div>

Recent obituaries

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Results of Kan. housing assessment to be discussed in Hays 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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