On Friday, July 14, 2023, a contractor for the city of Hays will begin layout for restriping the pavement markings from the current four-lane configuration to three lanes on Canterbury Drive between 13th&nbsp;and 27th&nbsp;Streets. &nbsp;

Traffic may be pushed to the outside lanes while the contractor is working in the inside lanes. &nbsp;

While there may be some restriction of traffic, Canterbury will remain open and access to all residences and businesses will be maintained. &nbsp;

Work will take approximately one week to complete, weather pending. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Questions may be directed to the City of Hays Public Works Department at 785-628-7350. &nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689285405847.png" alt="City of Hays" />
 <figcaption>City of Hays</figcaption>
 </figure>City of HaysOn Friday, July 14, 2023, a contractor for the city of Hays will begin layout for restriping the pavement markings from the current four-lane configuration to three lanes on Canterbury Drive between 13th&nbsp;and 27th&nbsp;Streets. &nbsp;Traffic may be pushed to the outside lanes while the contractor is working in the inside lanes. &nbsp;While there may be some restriction of traffic, Canterbury will remain open and access to all residences and businesses will be maintained. &nbsp;Work will take approximately one week to complete, weather pending. &nbsp;&nbsp;Questions may be directed to the City of Hays Public Works Department at 785-628-7350. &nbsp;

Canterbury Drive lane diet restriping begins Friday in Hays

On Friday, July 14th, 2023, at approximately 9:00 a.m., the new roundabout at the intersection of&nbsp;27th Street and Canterbury&nbsp;will be complete and open to public traffic. &nbsp;

Please remember these tips when navigating a roundabout:

Questions may be directed to the City of Hays Public Works Department at 785-628-7350.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689285753883.png" alt="City of Hays&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>City of Hays&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>City of HaysOn Friday, July 14th, 2023, at approximately 9:00 a.m., the new roundabout at the intersection of&nbsp;27th Street and Canterbury&nbsp;will be complete and open to public traffic. &nbsp;Please remember these tips when navigating a roundabout:<ul>
 <li>Slow down when approaching the roundabout.</li><li>Look left before entering the roundabout and yield to motorists in the roundabout.</li><li>You do not need to stop before entering the roundabout if the vehicular path is clear.</li><li>Do not stop once in the roundabout, except to avoid an accident or pedestrian. &nbsp;Motorists in the roundabout have the right of way.</li><li>Use your turn signal indicators.</li><li>Do not be distracted. &nbsp; Pay attention to other drivers and watch for pedestrians.</li>
 </ul>Questions may be directed to the City of Hays Public Works Department at 785-628-7350.

New Hays roundabout at 27th St. and Canterbury opens Friday

TOPEKA –&nbsp;The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has issued a boil water advisory for the city of Smith Center&nbsp;public water supply system located in Smith&nbsp;County.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Customers should observe the following precautions until further notice:&nbsp;

The advisory took effect on&nbsp;July 12,&nbsp;2023,&nbsp;and will remain in effect until the conditions that placed the system at risk of bacterial contamination are resolved.&nbsp;KDHE&nbsp;officials issued&nbsp;the advisory because&nbsp;of a line break resulting in a loss of pressure in the system.  Failure to maintain adequate pressure may result in a loss of chlorine residuals and bacterial contamination. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Regardless of whether the public water supplier or Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE)&nbsp;announced a boil water advisory, only KDHE can issue the rescind order following testing at a certified laboratory.&nbsp;

For consumer questions, please contact the water system at 785-282-3812&nbsp;or KDHE at 785-296-5514. For consumer information please visit KDHE’s PWS Consumer Information webpage:&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDAsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmtkaGUua3MuZ292LzQ2OC9Db25zdW1lci1JbmZvcm1hdGlvbi1SZWdhcmRpbmctYS1EaXNydXB0P3V0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1nb3ZkZWxpdmVyeSIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMzA3MTIuNzk1NzI4MjEifQ.VQHT04QAV07yKOggnlW3pMd7xs67SCDQ7nG3DMAGE9w/s/1305913623/br/222557692351-l" target="_blank">kdhe.ks.gov/waterdisruption</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;

Restaurants and other food establishments that have questions about the impact of the boil water advisory on their business can contact the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s food safety &amp; lodging program at&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="mailto:kda.fsl@ks.gov">kda.fsl@ks.gov</a>&nbsp;or call 785-564-6767.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689197825593.png" alt="Photo by Unsplash" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Unsplash</figcaption>
 </figure>KDHETOPEKA –&nbsp;The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has issued a boil water advisory for the city of Smith Center&nbsp;public water supply system located in Smith&nbsp;County.&nbsp;&nbsp;Customers should observe the following precautions until further notice:&nbsp;<ul>
 <li>Boil water for one minute prior to drinking or food preparation or use bottled water.&nbsp;</li><li>Dispose of ice cubes and do not use ice from a household automatic icemaker.&nbsp;</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>If your tap water appears dirty, flush the water lines by letting the water run until it clears.&nbsp;</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.&nbsp;</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.&nbsp;</li>
 </ul>The advisory took effect on&nbsp;July 12,&nbsp;2023,&nbsp;and will remain in effect until the conditions that placed the system at risk of bacterial contamination are resolved.&nbsp;KDHE&nbsp;officials issued&nbsp;the advisory because&nbsp;of a line break resulting in a loss of pressure in the system.  Failure to maintain adequate pressure may result in a loss of chlorine residuals and bacterial contamination. &nbsp;&nbsp;Regardless of whether the public water supplier or Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE)&nbsp;announced a boil water advisory, only KDHE can issue the rescind order following testing at a certified laboratory.&nbsp;For consumer questions, please contact the water system at 785-282-3812&nbsp;or KDHE at 785-296-5514. For consumer information please visit KDHE’s PWS Consumer Information webpage:&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDAsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmtkaGUua3MuZ292LzQ2OC9Db25zdW1lci1JbmZvcm1hdGlvbi1SZWdhcmRpbmctYS1EaXNydXB0P3V0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1nb3ZkZWxpdmVyeSIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMzA3MTIuNzk1NzI4MjEifQ.VQHT04QAV07yKOggnlW3pMd7xs67SCDQ7nG3DMAGE9w/s/1305913623/br/222557692351-l" target="_blank">kdhe.ks.gov/waterdisruption</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;Restaurants and other food establishments that have questions about the impact of the boil water advisory on their business can contact the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s food safety &amp; lodging program at&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="mailto:kda.fsl@ks.gov">kda.fsl@ks.gov</a>&nbsp;or call 785-564-6767.&nbsp;

KDHE issues boil water advisory for Smith Center

MANHATTAN — Throughout the state, there are outstanding Kansans who make tremendous contributions to Kansas agriculture. Nominate one of those outstanding Kansans to be recognized as one of the 2023 Kansas Ag Heroes at this summer’s Ag Growth Summit.

Each year, the Kansas Department of Agriculture honors remarkable Kansans and share the stories of their outstanding service from across the Kansas agriculture community. Kansas Ag Heroes was established as a way to recognize those in the agriculture industry who went above and beyond to serve others and better their community.

KDA encourages you to nominate any individual, family, or business in Kansas agriculture which you feel provided a notable contribution to the agriculture industry or their community as a whole this year. 

Nominations will be accepted through August 11. The nomination instructions can be found at&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDAsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHA6Ly93d3cuYWdyaWN1bHR1cmUua3MuZ292L0FnSGVyb2VzP3V0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1nb3ZkZWxpdmVyeSIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMzA3MTIuNzk1NDU4MDEifQ.CXd1uPDMQhEHqNJ7cQI4B-hhSBxVQ41aHwnpA7ay1ok/s/1377890594/br/222533604247-l" target="_blank">www.agriculture.ks.gov/AgHeroes</a>.

KDA leadership will review each nomination and will recognize a select number of agriculture heroes during the Kansas Governor’s Summit on Agricultural Growth in Manhattan on Aug. 17.

For questions about the Kansas Agricultural Heroes nomination process, please contact Auburn Wassberg at 785-564-6799 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:Auburn.B.Wassberg@ks.gov">Auburn.B.Wassberg@ks.gov</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689175568777.jpeg" alt="Photo by Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>KDAMANHATTAN — Throughout the state, there are outstanding Kansans who make tremendous contributions to Kansas agriculture. Nominate one of those outstanding Kansans to be recognized as one of the 2023 Kansas Ag Heroes at this summer’s Ag Growth Summit.Each year, the Kansas Department of Agriculture honors remarkable Kansans and share the stories of their outstanding service from across the Kansas agriculture community. Kansas Ag Heroes was established as a way to recognize those in the agriculture industry who went above and beyond to serve others and better their community.KDA encourages you to nominate any individual, family, or business in Kansas agriculture which you feel provided a notable contribution to the agriculture industry or their community as a whole this year. Nominations will be accepted through August 11. The nomination instructions can be found at&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDAsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHA6Ly93d3cuYWdyaWN1bHR1cmUua3MuZ292L0FnSGVyb2VzP3V0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1nb3ZkZWxpdmVyeSIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMzA3MTIuNzk1NDU4MDEifQ.CXd1uPDMQhEHqNJ7cQI4B-hhSBxVQ41aHwnpA7ay1ok/s/1377890594/br/222533604247-l" target="_blank">www.agriculture.ks.gov/AgHeroes</a>.KDA leadership will review each nomination and will recognize a select number of agriculture heroes during the Kansas Governor’s Summit on Agricultural Growth in Manhattan on Aug. 17.For questions about the Kansas Agricultural Heroes nomination process, please contact Auburn Wassberg at 785-564-6799 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:Auburn.B.Wassberg@ks.gov">Auburn.B.Wassberg@ks.gov</a>.

KDA Seeks Nominations for Kansas Ag Heroes

The Hays Police Department will be conducting training on July 11th and 12th between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. at the Hays Middle School, 201 West 29th Street.

Police officers will be training to rapidly enter a school in the event of a crisis. 

This training is being done with great care and safety. As a home or business owner, you may see law enforcement officers move through your area. There is no need to be alarmed. The officers are merely conducting a realistic training exercise and there is no danger to the community. 

If you have any questions or concerns, you may contact the on-site supervisor, Sgt. Brandon Hauptman, or Chief Don Scheibler at 785-625-1030. Thank you for your cooperation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1616441255200.jpeg" alt="Hays Police Department training. File photo by James Bell/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Hays Police Department training. File photo by James Bell/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>HPDThe Hays Police Department will be conducting training on July 11th and 12th between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. at the Hays Middle School, 201 West 29th Street.Police officers will be training to rapidly enter a school in the event of a crisis. This training is being done with great care and safety. As a home or business owner, you may see law enforcement officers move through your area. There is no need to be alarmed. The officers are merely conducting a realistic training exercise and there is no danger to the community. If you have any questions or concerns, you may contact the on-site supervisor, Sgt. Brandon Hauptman, or Chief Don Scheibler at 785-625-1030. Thank you for your cooperation.

Active shooter training at Hays Middle School Tue. and Wed.

The Peterson Farm Bros are scheduled to perform Thursday, July 13th, 2023 during the Trego County Fair.

The concert is hosted by Trego Hospital Endowment Foundation, Inc.

During a break for our performers, Cargill will make a presentation to Trego Hospital Endowment, Inc. for the "TCLMH Renovation &amp; Expansion Project."

“I’m 100 percent using my major and everything I learned in college,” Greg Peterson said. “When I was in college, I did not think that was going to be the case. I’m literally using everything I learned in college in my current professional life.”

Peterson, who graduated from Kansas State University in 2013, earned a bachelor's degree in agriculture communications and journalism, with a minor in music performance. While a junior at K-State, Peterson presented a project idea to his brothers, Nathan and Kendal, who were still in school at Southeast of Saline High School.

“I came up with the Farming and I Grow It parody when I was at a Sonic drive-in with a couple of friends and I’m Sexy and I Know It came on the radio,” Peterson said. “I took that idea home and shared it with Nathan and Kendal when they were still in high school.”

Peterson had made a few other videos prior to the music video parody, featuring activity on the farm and music videos he had recorded.

“I had a few other videos before,” Peterson said. “Just a few simple things. That’s where I learned to edit and make music videos. I’m kind of the one who does all the behind the scene work producing, editing and communicating.”

During ag communication classes at K-State, the content was often focused on brainstorming ways to communicate about the agriculture industry. Peterson’s experience creating simple videos provided the foundation for the idea to use music and make a music video to communicate about agriculture.

“I grew up attending Southeast of Saline, and people always knew we were farm kids, and we were always talking about farming,” Peterson said. “We tried to break some of the stereotypes, maybe that farming was boring or stereotypical things of what farmers would wear or how they would look.”

Creating a parody, and developing new lyrics to an already popular tune, dates back to Southeast of Saline days, also.

“I wrote a parody for English 11 to She’s My Cherry Pie about Henry David Thoreau,” Peterson said. “I’ve been doing it since I was a little kid. It is something that just comes naturally.”

By June of 2012, Peterson had taken his idea from the Sonic Drive-In, and developed the lyrics to the parody I’m Farming and I Grow It, a music video promoting agriculture, that was released on June 25, 2012. The video featured Peterson and his brothers, with their little sister, Laura, behind the camera.

“It got five million views in a week,” Peterson said. “That was the first time we tried to communicate anything about agriculture beyond our friends, and it definitely surpassed our wildest dreams.”

The day the video was released, Peterson went to work in the field, taking his lunch with him. Nathan and Kendal were eating lunch at home, watching the computer tally the views on YouTube, where the music video was released.

“They called and said, ‘Dude, you need to get in here. This video is blowing up,’” Peterson said. “It got up to 20,000 views that next day. We had talked about how many views we would get. We said maybe we will hit 50,000 in the next few years, that was our benchmark. We hit 50,000 in 48 hours.”

According to Peterson, farming came to a standstill that week, as media requests kept coming in. Peterson estimates that he did over 20 interviews in one day, with KSN, KWCH and KAKE in their barn yard all at once, interviewing one brother at a time in different locations on the property.

“Videos go viral all the time now,” Peterson said. “In 2012, there just wasn’t much video content out there, and that was kind of what created the media drive. I have no idea how they got my phone number, because it wasn’t posted anywhere.”

In addition to local, regional and state media, the Peterson Farm Bros were approached by the national media when I’m Farming and I Grow It went viral.

“We got called by Good Morning America first, and they wanted us to dance on their show with the original artists,” Peterson said. “We were uncomfortable with that, so we said no. Looking back, that was a crazy thing to say no.”

Then, Fox and Friends called, and requested a talk show interview.

“They flew us out to New York City and put us up for the night,” Peterson said. “That was an exciting opportunity.”

As the summer of 2012 wound down, Peterson prepared to return back to K-State to complete his senior year, while brother, Nathan, anticipated his first year at K-State as a freshman.

“I made a few random videos in the fall, and we made Farmer Style in December over Christmas break,” Peterson said. “We filmed it in two days, and it wasn’t as finely tuned. We were just trying to get on the Gangnum Style trend. That trend was to create a parody, or dance the Gangnum Style dance. Everybody was talking about Gangnum Style for, like, two months.”

According to Peterson, the Peterson Farm Bros parody video to Gangnum Style, titled Farmer Style, was one of the top five parodies of Gangnum Style.

“Farmer Style has over 18 million views,” Peterson said. “I’m Farming and I Grow It went viral because it was the first of its kind, a parody rap song about farming. I lot of people shared it that are in agriculture. Farmer Style went twice as fast as I’m Farming and I Grow It. It wasn’t circulated as much in the ag community, so it really bridged the gap into urban audiences.”

Since its release, the I’m Farming and I Grow It parody music video, created by the Peterson Farm Bros, has received more than 12 million views. The Farmer Style parody video has more than 18 million views.

“We had so many comments on Farmer Style, where you could tell that people had never seen information about farming in their life,” Peterson said. “It exposed us to the idea that there are a lot of people who really don’t know anything about agriculture. We realized there needs to be some education, beyond just entertainment.”

According to Peterson, the Peterson Farm Bros did not set out to make a bunch of parody videos and educational videos until Farmer Style went viral.

“When both of them went viral, we saw this was a platform,” Peterson said. “I was still in school, so I don’t think we really got started posting content until I graduated and I was home full-time working on the farm. Then, I started making videos a little more consistently.”

According to Peterson, Facebook became the main platform for the Peterson Farm Bros to share videos, with their Facebook page jumping to 100,000 followers pretty quickly.

“For probably five years, we posted videos to YouTube and shared to Facebook,” Peterson said. “Then, they quit getting along. Once Facebook got video, we started uploading to both.”

Videos posted on Facebook would go viral, and Peterson would often post pictures of what he was doing on the farm that day with a caption. Followers would often post comments in the discussion threads, and Peterson would answer questions about agriculture.

“Ever since, that has been just as much what we are doing as the entertainment - the education and answering people’s questions,” Peterson said. “A lot of people had questions just about our farming operation and how it worked, what crops we raised and how we took care of our cattle. There were a lot of misconceptions too … like ‘I’ve heard farmers do this’ or ‘Our food isn’t healthy because of this.’ We spend a lot of time dedicated to answering people’s questions.”

To leverage time, Peterson came up with a blog system, involving answers to some of the more frequently asked questions the Peterson Farm Bros received.

“When the questions would come up, I would refer them to the blog,” Peterson said. “That way we weren’t typing out long comments, multiple times that said the same thing.”

10 years of innovative ag communications

“About every four to six months we do a new parody, because they are such a huge undertaking,” Peterson said. “Sometimes we want to do a parody to a song, but I can’t come up with lyrics to the whole thing. That’s where some medleys come in.”

In April of 2013, the Peterson Farm Bros partnered with the Kansas Department of Agriculture to promote the new From the Land of Kansas trademark program, publishing a YMCA parody titled From the Land of Kansas. This video was followed by a Fresh Prince of Bel-Air parody, titled A Fresh Breath of Farm Air, published in June of 2013. The 10 year collection of videos on the Peterson Farm Bros YouTube channel includes 24 parody music videos, some original songs produced by Peterson and Thomas Cook out of Wichita, Christmas carols family sing alongs and many educational videos focused on work completed on the farm.

“I will write lyrics in a matter of hours or days,” Peterson said. “I wait for the inspiration to hit, and then it comes together. I write a lot of parody lyrics sitting in the tractor seat, or sometimes I will kind of woodshed the lyrics sitting at my desk at home if I really need to get it done.”

Before any filming is done, ideally the Peterson Farm Bros record the audio in Peterson’s recording studio set up in his home.

“When we are filming, we have that audio playing, and we lips sync to our own voices,” Peterson said. “You can’t really record outside in the Kansas wind live. That doesn’t really work.”

Sometimes, when time is limited, the Peterson Farm Bros just memorize the lyrics, and film without audio.

“We’ve gone and filmed scenes multiple times where Nathan and Kendal didn’t even know their audio yet, and I would just tell them the words, and we would film them saying the words,”Peterson said.

The next step Peterson accomplishes in the process of producing a video for the Peterson Farm Bros is story boarding, marking out the scenes he expects to include in each video.

“In our early videos, we wouldn’t really story board,” Peterson said. “We would just mess around until we had filled the video. In our first few videos, our sister was 11 or 12-years-old, and she would sit behind the tripod and she was the one who filmed our videos.”

The video filming is mainly done on an iPhone, with the I’m Farming and I Grow It video filmed on an iPod touch.

“That really dates that first video,” Peterson said. “I think I got an iPhone that start of my senior year of college. Once our sister, Laura, got into high school, we would put the phone on a tripod and let it go.”

Once the audio is recorded and video is filmed, Peterson uses Garage Band to edit audio and iMovie to edit video.

“I’d bought a MacBook Pro my freshman year of college,” Peterson said. “I learned by trial and error, just messing around. By my junior year, I knew pretty much everything I wanted to do on that software.”

The finished product is then uploaded to Facebook and YouTube. Peterson has dabbled with TikTok, posting Farm Life videos to TikTok. The posts have received over three million views, and the Peterson Farm Bros have over 100,000 followers on TikTok.

“TikTok is a totally different language for me,” Peterson said. “That is a young person’s social media game. I’m doing my best to learn it, but we’ve maybe been a little slow to move over to TikTok. If you want to be successful at TikTok, you need to be posting everyday and keep that content relevant. We have enough social media responsibility, we can’t justify that.”

Plus, for the Peterson Farm Bros, YouTube and Facebook are paying the bills.

“We have ads on our videos,” Peterson said. “We get a deal from YouTube and Facebook every month, split three ways. It’s not like we can quit farming. It is worth the time to create all those videos. We don’t make money off the parodies, because they are copyrighted, but the vlogs of what we are doing on the farm, that don’t have music. We make money on those.”

Ten years after I’m Farming and I Grow It, all three Peterson Farm Bros have graduated from high school and Kansas State University, as has their little sister, Laura. Nathan majored in ag technology management, and manages anything on the farm that is technology including GPS and monitors in the equipment helping with precision agriculture practices. Kendal majored in animal science, focusing on the livestock portion of the diversified farming operation located outside of Assaria, where the Peterson Farm Bros videos are shot. In addition to farming, Peterson has coordinated speaking engagements and performances.

“I would say for the last nine years, I’ve been a speaker,” Peterson said. “It’s definitely a hybrid of speaking and performing. It’s almost always half speaking and half entertaining, with speaking in between the songs on a certain subject. It’s advocating on agriculture.”

Peterson speaks at between 50-60 events each year, with the most speaking gigs in one year being 80. Nathan and Kendal average between 30-40 speaking gigs in a year, alternating who comes so that one brother continues working on the farm.

In addition to earning degrees and finding their role in the family farming operation with their parents, David and Marla Peterson, all three Peterson Farm Bros have gotten married, and each have at least one daughter; Kendal has two. Little sister Laura got married, and moved to Nebraska.

“All of our kids are young,” Peterson said. “Things have changed more in the last two years than at any other time since we started doing videos. We are trying to find a new balance between farming time, family time, video time and performing time. It’s still trying to work itself out.” Visit their website at: petersonfarmbrothers.com.

Sponsors and a BIG Thank You to: Cargill, American Family Insurance, Deines Construction, 24/7, BTI, Nutrien, Farm Bureau Insurance, Coffeyville Resources, and Medline.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689005914740.png" alt="Peterson Farm Bros (Courtesy photo)" />
 <figcaption>Peterson Farm Bros (Courtesy photo)</figcaption>
 </figure>SubmittedThe Peterson Farm Bros are scheduled to perform Thursday, July 13th, 2023 during the Trego County Fair.The concert is hosted by Trego Hospital Endowment Foundation, Inc.During a break for our performers, Cargill will make a presentation to Trego Hospital Endowment, Inc. for the "TCLMH Renovation &amp; Expansion Project."“I’m 100 percent using my major and everything I learned in college,” Greg Peterson said. “When I was in college, I did not think that was going to be the case. I’m literally using everything I learned in college in my current professional life.”Peterson, who graduated from Kansas State University in 2013, earned a bachelor's degree in agriculture communications and journalism, with a minor in music performance. While a junior at K-State, Peterson presented a project idea to his brothers, Nathan and Kendal, who were still in school at Southeast of Saline High School.“I came up with the Farming and I Grow It parody when I was at a Sonic drive-in with a couple of friends and I’m Sexy and I Know It came on the radio,” Peterson said. “I took that idea home and shared it with Nathan and Kendal when they were still in high school.”Peterson had made a few other videos prior to the music video parody, featuring activity on the farm and music videos he had recorded.“I had a few other videos before,” Peterson said. “Just a few simple things. That’s where I learned to edit and make music videos. I’m kind of the one who does all the behind the scene work producing, editing and communicating.”During ag communication classes at K-State, the content was often focused on brainstorming ways to communicate about the agriculture industry. Peterson’s experience creating simple videos provided the foundation for the idea to use music and make a music video to communicate about agriculture.“I grew up attending Southeast of Saline, and people always knew we were farm kids, and we were always talking about farming,” Peterson said. “We tried to break some of the stereotypes, maybe that farming was boring or stereotypical things of what farmers would wear or how they would look.”Creating a parody, and developing new lyrics to an already popular tune, dates back to Southeast of Saline days, also.“I wrote a parody for English 11 to She’s My Cherry Pie about Henry David Thoreau,” Peterson said. “I’ve been doing it since I was a little kid. It is something that just comes naturally.”By June of 2012, Peterson had taken his idea from the Sonic Drive-In, and developed the lyrics to the parody I’m Farming and I Grow It, a music video promoting agriculture, that was released on June 25, 2012. The video featured Peterson and his brothers, with their little sister, Laura, behind the camera.“It got five million views in a week,” Peterson said. “That was the first time we tried to communicate anything about agriculture beyond our friends, and it definitely surpassed our wildest dreams.”The day the video was released, Peterson went to work in the field, taking his lunch with him. Nathan and Kendal were eating lunch at home, watching the computer tally the views on YouTube, where the music video was released.“They called and said, ‘Dude, you need to get in here. This video is blowing up,’” Peterson said. “It got up to 20,000 views that next day. We had talked about how many views we would get. We said maybe we will hit 50,000 in the next few years, that was our benchmark. We hit 50,000 in 48 hours.”According to Peterson, farming came to a standstill that week, as media requests kept coming in. Peterson estimates that he did over 20 interviews in one day, with KSN, KWCH and KAKE in their barn yard all at once, interviewing one brother at a time in different locations on the property.“Videos go viral all the time now,” Peterson said. “In 2012, there just wasn’t much video content out there, and that was kind of what created the media drive. I have no idea how they got my phone number, because it wasn’t posted anywhere.”In addition to local, regional and state media, the Peterson Farm Bros were approached by the national media when I’m Farming and I Grow It went viral.“We got called by Good Morning America first, and they wanted us to dance on their show with the original artists,” Peterson said. “We were uncomfortable with that, so we said no. Looking back, that was a crazy thing to say no.”Then, Fox and Friends called, and requested a talk show interview.“They flew us out to New York City and put us up for the night,” Peterson said. “That was an exciting opportunity.”As the summer of 2012 wound down, Peterson prepared to return back to K-State to complete his senior year, while brother, Nathan, anticipated his first year at K-State as a freshman.“I made a few random videos in the fall, and we made Farmer Style in December over Christmas break,” Peterson said. “We filmed it in two days, and it wasn’t as finely tuned. We were just trying to get on the Gangnum Style trend. That trend was to create a parody, or dance the Gangnum Style dance. Everybody was talking about Gangnum Style for, like, two months.”According to Peterson, the Peterson Farm Bros parody video to Gangnum Style, titled Farmer Style, was one of the top five parodies of Gangnum Style.“Farmer Style has over 18 million views,” Peterson said. “I’m Farming and I Grow It went viral because it was the first of its kind, a parody rap song about farming. I lot of people shared it that are in agriculture. Farmer Style went twice as fast as I’m Farming and I Grow It. It wasn’t circulated as much in the ag community, so it really bridged the gap into urban audiences.”Since its release, the I’m Farming and I Grow It parody music video, created by the Peterson Farm Bros, has received more than 12 million views. The Farmer Style parody video has more than 18 million views.“We had so many comments on Farmer Style, where you could tell that people had never seen information about farming in their life,” Peterson said. “It exposed us to the idea that there are a lot of people who really don’t know anything about agriculture. We realized there needs to be some education, beyond just entertainment.”According to Peterson, the Peterson Farm Bros did not set out to make a bunch of parody videos and educational videos until Farmer Style went viral.“When both of them went viral, we saw this was a platform,” Peterson said. “I was still in school, so I don’t think we really got started posting content until I graduated and I was home full-time working on the farm. Then, I started making videos a little more consistently.”According to Peterson, Facebook became the main platform for the Peterson Farm Bros to share videos, with their Facebook page jumping to 100,000 followers pretty quickly.“For probably five years, we posted videos to YouTube and shared to Facebook,” Peterson said. “Then, they quit getting along. Once Facebook got video, we started uploading to both.”Videos posted on Facebook would go viral, and Peterson would often post pictures of what he was doing on the farm that day with a caption. Followers would often post comments in the discussion threads, and Peterson would answer questions about agriculture.“Ever since, that has been just as much what we are doing as the entertainment - the education and answering people’s questions,” Peterson said. “A lot of people had questions just about our farming operation and how it worked, what crops we raised and how we took care of our cattle. There were a lot of misconceptions too … like ‘I’ve heard farmers do this’ or ‘Our food isn’t healthy because of this.’ We spend a lot of time dedicated to answering people’s questions.”To leverage time, Peterson came up with a blog system, involving answers to some of the more frequently asked questions the Peterson Farm Bros received.“When the questions would come up, I would refer them to the blog,” Peterson said. “That way we weren’t typing out long comments, multiple times that said the same thing.”10 years of innovative ag communications“About every four to six months we do a new parody, because they are such a huge undertaking,” Peterson said. “Sometimes we want to do a parody to a song, but I can’t come up with lyrics to the whole thing. That’s where some medleys come in.”In April of 2013, the Peterson Farm Bros partnered with the Kansas Department of Agriculture to promote the new From the Land of Kansas trademark program, publishing a YMCA parody titled From the Land of Kansas. This video was followed by a Fresh Prince of Bel-Air parody, titled A Fresh Breath of Farm Air, published in June of 2013. The 10 year collection of videos on the Peterson Farm Bros YouTube channel includes 24 parody music videos, some original songs produced by Peterson and Thomas Cook out of Wichita, Christmas carols family sing alongs and many educational videos focused on work completed on the farm.“I will write lyrics in a matter of hours or days,” Peterson said. “I wait for the inspiration to hit, and then it comes together. I write a lot of parody lyrics sitting in the tractor seat, or sometimes I will kind of woodshed the lyrics sitting at my desk at home if I really need to get it done.”Before any filming is done, ideally the Peterson Farm Bros record the audio in Peterson’s recording studio set up in his home.“When we are filming, we have that audio playing, and we lips sync to our own voices,” Peterson said. “You can’t really record outside in the Kansas wind live. That doesn’t really work.”Sometimes, when time is limited, the Peterson Farm Bros just memorize the lyrics, and film without audio.“We’ve gone and filmed scenes multiple times where Nathan and Kendal didn’t even know their audio yet, and I would just tell them the words, and we would film them saying the words,”Peterson said.The next step Peterson accomplishes in the process of producing a video for the Peterson Farm Bros is story boarding, marking out the scenes he expects to include in each video.“In our early videos, we wouldn’t really story board,” Peterson said. “We would just mess around until we had filled the video. In our first few videos, our sister was 11 or 12-years-old, and she would sit behind the tripod and she was the one who filmed our videos.”The video filming is mainly done on an iPhone, with the I’m Farming and I Grow It video filmed on an iPod touch.“That really dates that first video,” Peterson said. “I think I got an iPhone that start of my senior year of college. Once our sister, Laura, got into high school, we would put the phone on a tripod and let it go.”Once the audio is recorded and video is filmed, Peterson uses Garage Band to edit audio and iMovie to edit video.“I’d bought a MacBook Pro my freshman year of college,” Peterson said. “I learned by trial and error, just messing around. By my junior year, I knew pretty much everything I wanted to do on that software.”The finished product is then uploaded to Facebook and YouTube. Peterson has dabbled with TikTok, posting Farm Life videos to TikTok. The posts have received over three million views, and the Peterson Farm Bros have over 100,000 followers on TikTok.“TikTok is a totally different language for me,” Peterson said. “That is a young person’s social media game. I’m doing my best to learn it, but we’ve maybe been a little slow to move over to TikTok. If you want to be successful at TikTok, you need to be posting everyday and keep that content relevant. We have enough social media responsibility, we can’t justify that.”Plus, for the Peterson Farm Bros, YouTube and Facebook are paying the bills.“We have ads on our videos,” Peterson said. “We get a deal from YouTube and Facebook every month, split three ways. It’s not like we can quit farming. It is worth the time to create all those videos. We don’t make money off the parodies, because they are copyrighted, but the vlogs of what we are doing on the farm, that don’t have music. We make money on those.”Ten years after I’m Farming and I Grow It, all three Peterson Farm Bros have graduated from high school and Kansas State University, as has their little sister, Laura. Nathan majored in ag technology management, and manages anything on the farm that is technology including GPS and monitors in the equipment helping with precision agriculture practices. Kendal majored in animal science, focusing on the livestock portion of the diversified farming operation located outside of Assaria, where the Peterson Farm Bros videos are shot. In addition to farming, Peterson has coordinated speaking engagements and performances.“I would say for the last nine years, I’ve been a speaker,” Peterson said. “It’s definitely a hybrid of speaking and performing. It’s almost always half speaking and half entertaining, with speaking in between the songs on a certain subject. It’s advocating on agriculture.”Peterson speaks at between 50-60 events each year, with the most speaking gigs in one year being 80. Nathan and Kendal average between 30-40 speaking gigs in a year, alternating who comes so that one brother continues working on the farm.In addition to earning degrees and finding their role in the family farming operation with their parents, David and Marla Peterson, all three Peterson Farm Bros have gotten married, and each have at least one daughter; Kendal has two. Little sister Laura got married, and moved to Nebraska.“All of our kids are young,” Peterson said. “Things have changed more in the last two years than at any other time since we started doing videos. We are trying to find a new balance between farming time, family time, video time and performing time. It’s still trying to work itself out.” Visit their website at: petersonfarmbrothers.com.Sponsors and a BIG Thank You to: Cargill, American Family Insurance, Deines Construction, 24/7, BTI, Nutrien, Farm Bureau Insurance, Coffeyville Resources, and Medline.

Peterson Farm Bros to perform concert July 13 at Trego Co. Fair

Beginning Tuesday, July 11th at 7:00 a.m. and continuing through Wednesday, July 12th at 5:00 p.m., the Hays street locations indicated on the above map attached will be receiving seal coating applications. 

Please make sure that any vehicles parked on the street at the indicated locations are moved prior to 7:00 a.m. 

The city of Hays regrets any inconvenience this may cause to the public. 

If there are any questions, please call Circle C Paving at 316-794-5070 or the Office of Project Management at 785-628-7350.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689023426291.png" alt="Hays seal coat projects for Tuesday and Wednesday. City of Hays" />
 <figcaption>Hays seal coat projects for Tuesday and Wednesday. City of Hays</figcaption>
 </figure>City of HaysBeginning Tuesday, July 11th at 7:00 a.m. and continuing through Wednesday, July 12th at 5:00 p.m., the Hays street locations indicated on the above map attached will be receiving seal coating applications. Please make sure that any vehicles parked on the street at the indicated locations are moved prior to 7:00 a.m. The city of Hays regrets any inconvenience this may cause to the public. If there are any questions, please call Circle C Paving at 316-794-5070 or the Office of Project Management at 785-628-7350.

Street sealing continues today, Wednesday in northwest Hays

Palco car show July 15 to benefit McKenna Youth & Activity Center

The city of Hays has hired T&amp;T Builders to remove and replace portions of MacArthur Road between 20th and 22nd Street.  That portion of MacArthur will be closed starting at 8:00 a.m. on July 10 for pavement removal and replacement.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584721067731.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>City of HaysThe city of Hays has hired T&amp;T Builders to remove and replace portions of MacArthur Road between 20th and 22nd Street. That portion of MacArthur will be closed starting at 8:00 a.m. on July 10 for pavement removal and replacement.

Portion of MacArthur Rd. closed for replacement project in Hays

The Ellis County Public Works Road &amp; Bridge Division is
announcing that an asphalt overlay project will be take place on Schoenchen
Road, starting at Highway 183, going west. 

This area will be closed to through traffic beginning on
Tuesday, July 11. 

The estimated completion date is Friday, July 14, pending
weather conditions. 

Please direct any questions to the Ellis County Public Works
Road and Bridge Division at 785-628-9455. 

Your cooperation during this project is appreciated.

Ellis County Public WorksThe Ellis County Public Works Road &amp; Bridge Division is
announcing that an asphalt overlay project will be take place on Schoenchen
Road, starting at Highway 183, going west. This area will be closed to through traffic beginning on
Tuesday, July 11. The estimated completion date is Friday, July 14, pending
weather conditions. Please direct any questions to the Ellis County Public Works
Road and Bridge Division at 785-628-9455. Your cooperation during this project is appreciated.

Road construction on Schoenchen Road begins Tuesday

The Ellis County Public Works Road &amp; Bridge Division is
announcing that an asphalt overlay project will be taking place in the 1800 and
1900 blocks of Victoria Road between Commerce Parkway and Toulon Avenue. 

This area will be closed to through traffic beginning at
7:30a.m. on Monday, July 10th, and will remain closed until the project is
completed. The estimated completion date is Thursday, July 13th, pending
weather conditions. 

Motorists traveling in the affected closure area should use
alternate routes of travel until the project is completed. 

Please direct any questions to the Ellis County Public Works
Road &amp; Bridge Division at 785-628-9455. 

Ellis County Public WorksThe Ellis County Public Works Road &amp; Bridge Division is
announcing that an asphalt overlay project will be taking place in the 1800 and
1900 blocks of Victoria Road between Commerce Parkway and Toulon Avenue. This area will be closed to through traffic beginning at
7:30a.m. on Monday, July 10th, and will remain closed until the project is
completed. The estimated completion date is Thursday, July 13th, pending
weather conditions. Motorists traveling in the affected closure area should use
alternate routes of travel until the project is completed. Please direct any questions to the Ellis County Public Works
Road &amp; Bridge Division at 785-628-9455. Your cooperation during this project is appreciated.

Road construction on Victoria Road begins Monday

GREAT BEND - The Shafer Art Gallery at Barton Community College will unveil its next exhibit “Reclaimed Creations,” by Sayaka Ganz, with a reception at 6:30 p.m. July 7, featuring a screening of a video about the artist, comments by the director, and light refreshments. The exhibit runs through August 12. Admission is free.

Gallery Director Dave Barnes said Ganz creates animals and sea fauna using reclaimed plastic objects. These castoffs are used like brush strokes. She describes her style as “3D impressionism.”&nbsp; Sculptures in the exhibition include animals in motion which are rich in color and energy and create an illusion of realistic form.

“We have been waiting for this exhibit a couple of years now and are very excited to finally be able to share it with our Barton County patrons,” Barnes said. “We love to show work that appeals to everyone, and this exhibit is delightful. It is a must-see summer visit for the whole family.”

Ganz was born in Yokohama, Japan and grew up living in Japan, Brazil, and Hong Kong. She received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Indiana University, Bloomington, and a master of fine arts degree in sculpture from Bowling Green State University in Ohio. Ganz was the subject of a video entitled “SAYAKA GANZ: Danz Della Natura,” which was produced by the Hermann Geiger Foundation and is available&nbsp;<a href="https://player.vimeo.com/video/62684324" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">here</a>.&nbsp;

“My work is about perceiving harmony, even in situations that appear chaotic from the inside,” she said. “When observing my sculptures up close, one might see gaps, holes, and items being held on only by small points; step away, however, and the sculptures reveal the harmony created when the objects are aligned to the same general (but not identical) direction. Similarly, it is important to gain perspective by stepping back from current problems and looking at the larger picture. Then one can perceive the beauty and patterns that exist.”

The Shafer Gallery is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is always free. For more information, contact Barnes at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:barnesd@bartonccc.edu">barnesd@bartonccc.edu</a>&nbsp;or (620) 792-9342.

The Tour of Sayaka Ganz Reclaimed Creations is produced by David J. Wagner, L.L.C., David J. Wagner, Ph.D., Curator/Tour Director.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1688046659041.jpeg" alt="Artwork by&nbsp;&nbsp; Sayaka Ganz. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Artwork by&nbsp;&nbsp; Sayaka Ganz. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By JOE VINDUSKA BCC GREAT BEND - The Shafer Art Gallery at Barton Community College will unveil its next exhibit “Reclaimed Creations,” by Sayaka Ganz, with a reception at 6:30 p.m. July 7, featuring a screening of a video about the artist, comments by the director, and light refreshments. The exhibit runs through August 12. Admission is free.Gallery Director Dave Barnes said Ganz creates animals and sea fauna using reclaimed plastic objects. These castoffs are used like brush strokes. She describes her style as “3D impressionism.”&nbsp; Sculptures in the exhibition include animals in motion which are rich in color and energy and create an illusion of realistic form.“We have been waiting for this exhibit a couple of years now and are very excited to finally be able to share it with our Barton County patrons,” Barnes said. “We love to show work that appeals to everyone, and this exhibit is delightful. It is a must-see summer visit for the whole family.”Ganz was born in Yokohama, Japan and grew up living in Japan, Brazil, and Hong Kong. She received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Indiana University, Bloomington, and a master of fine arts degree in sculpture from Bowling Green State University in Ohio. Ganz was the subject of a video entitled “SAYAKA GANZ: Danz Della Natura,” which was produced by the Hermann Geiger Foundation and is available&nbsp;<a href="https://player.vimeo.com/video/62684324" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">here</a>.&nbsp;“My work is about perceiving harmony, even in situations that appear chaotic from the inside,” she said. “When observing my sculptures up close, one might see gaps, holes, and items being held on only by small points; step away, however, and the sculptures reveal the harmony created when the objects are aligned to the same general (but not identical) direction. Similarly, it is important to gain perspective by stepping back from current problems and looking at the larger picture. Then one can perceive the beauty and patterns that exist.”The Shafer Gallery is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is always free. For more information, contact Barnes at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:barnesd@bartonccc.edu">barnesd@bartonccc.edu</a>&nbsp;or (620) 792-9342.The Tour of Sayaka Ganz Reclaimed Creations is produced by David J. Wagner, L.L.C., David J. Wagner, Ph.D., Curator/Tour Director.&nbsp;

BCC to host reception July 7 for “Reclaimed Creations” art exhibit by Sayaka Ganz

ELLIS - Sheridan State Fishing Lake, a 42-acre public fishing impoundment located approximately 11 miles east of Hoxie, KS on U.S. HWY 24, is owned and managed by Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks. The lake has provided quality fishing opportunities over the years. But, degradation of fish habitat and undesirable ecological interactions within and among fish species has resulted in an unbalanced fish community that currently offers limited quality angling opportunities.

Lake renovation is a conventional fisheries management action affording the opportunity for large-scale fish habitat enhancement and profound fish community restructuring. KDWP has begun the process of renovating the&nbsp; and specific actions planned are; fish community eradication and reestablishment, lake basin sediment removal and reshaping, fish habitat installation and enhancement, and shoreline erosion protection.

To facilitate renovation, the lake will be de-watered during July 2023 and kept dry into 2024. Coincident with dewatering, the lake will be opened to public fish salvage. The salvage will liberalize methods of take and remove fish harvest regulations enabling anglers maximum utilization of the existing fish population prior to eradication.&nbsp; The department will also salvage desirable sportfish from Sheridan State Fishing Lake and translocate them to other waters in western Kansas.

Once the lake is sufficiently dry to allow operation of excavation equipment, sediment removal and basin reshaping will occur. Sediment removal will increase lake volume and depth which will reduce the probability of excessive aquatic vegetation growth, increase&nbsp;water clarity, remove excess nutrients, and increase physical space for fish habitation. Lake basin reshaping will increase fish habitat availability by increasing diversity of bottom topography.

Upon completion of sediment removal and basin reshaping, rock piles and reefs accented with whole trees will be installed in strategic areas to increase fish habitat availability and diversity. Some sediment will be used to construct additional fishing piers to improve angling access. And the dam face and shorelines prone to wave action will be rip-rapped to protect from erosion and increase shoreline fish habitat availability.

Renovation is expected to be complete by 2025, but unforeseen weather and other complications may extend the operation. Once renovation is complete and the lake is allowed to begin refilling, KDWP will stock forage and sportfish to reestablish a quality angling opportunity in northwest Kansas.

KDWP management staff will hold a public information meeting regarding the SDSL renovation project at the Hoxie High School Auditorium, 1625 Queen Ave., Hoxie, KS 67740 on July 6, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. All interested parties are encouraged to attend.

For more information contact Dave Spalsbury, district fisheries biologist at 785-726-3212.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1688161346423.jpeg" alt="Sheridan State Fishing Lake near Hoxie. Photo by Kansas Tourism" />
 <figcaption>Sheridan State Fishing Lake near Hoxie. Photo by Kansas Tourism</figcaption>
 </figure>By DAVE SPALSBURY KDWPELLIS - Sheridan State Fishing Lake, a 42-acre public fishing impoundment located approximately 11 miles east of Hoxie, KS on U.S. HWY 24, is owned and managed by Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks. The lake has provided quality fishing opportunities over the years. But, degradation of fish habitat and undesirable ecological interactions within and among fish species has resulted in an unbalanced fish community that currently offers limited quality angling opportunities.Lake renovation is a conventional fisheries management action affording the opportunity for large-scale fish habitat enhancement and profound fish community restructuring. KDWP has begun the process of renovating the&nbsp; and specific actions planned are; fish community eradication and reestablishment, lake basin sediment removal and reshaping, fish habitat installation and enhancement, and shoreline erosion protection.To facilitate renovation, the lake will be de-watered during July 2023 and kept dry into 2024. Coincident with dewatering, the lake will be opened to public fish salvage. The salvage will liberalize methods of take and remove fish harvest regulations enabling anglers maximum utilization of the existing fish population prior to eradication.&nbsp; The department will also salvage desirable sportfish from Sheridan State Fishing Lake and translocate them to other waters in western Kansas.Once the lake is sufficiently dry to allow operation of excavation equipment, sediment removal and basin reshaping will occur. Sediment removal will increase lake volume and depth which will reduce the probability of excessive aquatic vegetation growth, increase&nbsp;water clarity, remove excess nutrients, and increase physical space for fish habitation. Lake basin reshaping will increase fish habitat availability by increasing diversity of bottom topography.Upon completion of sediment removal and basin reshaping, rock piles and reefs accented with whole trees will be installed in strategic areas to increase fish habitat availability and diversity. Some sediment will be used to construct additional fishing piers to improve angling access. And the dam face and shorelines prone to wave action will be rip-rapped to protect from erosion and increase shoreline fish habitat availability.Renovation is expected to be complete by 2025, but unforeseen weather and other complications may extend the operation. Once renovation is complete and the lake is allowed to begin refilling, KDWP will stock forage and sportfish to reestablish a quality angling opportunity in northwest Kansas.KDWP management staff will hold a public information meeting regarding the SDSL renovation project at the Hoxie High School Auditorium, 1625 Queen Ave., Hoxie, KS 67740 on July 6, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. All interested parties are encouraged to attend.For more information contact Dave Spalsbury, district fisheries biologist at 785-726-3212.

Sheridan State Fishing Lake to be renovated; meeting July 6

By LINN ANN HUNTINGTON CFLE

Children do not grieve in the same way that adults do. That has been the experience of Ann G. Leiker, a retired social worker, who has spent more than 30 years helping people, including children, deal with grief and loss.

A free event is coming up on Saturday, July 22, to help children deal with the loss of a special person in their life. That person could be a sibling, parent, other family&nbsp;&nbsp;member, special teacher, or friend.

The “Summer Healing Kids’ Hearts Event” will take place from 4 to 7:30 p.m. at the Hays Aquatic Park, Fourth and Main in Hays.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Center for Life Experience, Inc., in Hays is sponsoring the event, which is open to children ages 6 through 11.

Leiker, who chaired the organizing committee, said, “Children express their grief more through their actions than words. They don’t have a lot of the language yet to express their grief adequately.

“So children often express their grief through creative, artistic behaviors,” she said. “Or, they may retreat into silence because they don’t want to upset their parents, who are dealing with grief themselves.

“Children are the forgotten mourners,” Leiker said. “It’s not deliberate on a family’s part. The family is just so overwhelmed by grief themselves.”

&nbsp;This event is designed to “allow time for children to bond with other children who have experienced a loss,” Leiker said.

Pre-registration is required by calling the center at (785) 259-6859 by Friday, July 14. Space is limited to 20 children.

Family members must check-in their children at 4 p.m. at the pavilion behind the Aquatic Park. If they wish, family members may return at 5:30 p.m. for a free taco dinner, sharing time, and swimming, Leiker said.

For children and family members who have pre-registered, a free taco bar dinner will be provided at 5:30 p.m. in the pavilion. The taco bar is being donated by Taco Grande in Hays. Registered children and family members&nbsp;will have time to swim in the pool afterwards.

The Center for Life Experience first started sponsoring a spring daylong “Healing Kids’ Hearts Retreat” in 2016. Over the years, the retreats have drawn children from across Central and Western Kansas. This is the first time the center has sponsored a shorter summer event for children. Leiker said next year’s retreat for children will be held in March 2024.

“Kids need to know what healthy grieving is. They can take their memories and create things—turn them into ways to honor their loved one,” she said.

In addition to Taco Grande, Leiker expressed her appreciation to the following for their help with the event: Hays Recreation Commission, volunteers with HaysMed Hospice, and ITC Great Plains, LLC.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675817232243.jpeg" alt="Healing Kids' Hearts file photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Healing Kids' Hearts file photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>By LINN ANN HUNTINGTON CFLEChildren do not grieve in the same way that adults do. That has been the experience of Ann G. Leiker, a retired social worker, who has spent more than 30 years helping people, including children, deal with grief and loss.A free event is coming up on Saturday, July 22, to help children deal with the loss of a special person in their life. That person could be a sibling, parent, other family&nbsp;&nbsp;member, special teacher, or friend.The “Summer Healing Kids’ Hearts Event” will take place from 4 to 7:30 p.m. at the Hays Aquatic Park, Fourth and Main in Hays.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Center for Life Experience, Inc., in Hays is sponsoring the event, which is open to children ages 6 through 11.Leiker, who chaired the organizing committee, said, “Children express their grief more through their actions than words. They don’t have a lot of the language yet to express their grief adequately.“So children often express their grief through creative, artistic behaviors,” she said. “Or, they may retreat into silence because they don’t want to upset their parents, who are dealing with grief themselves.“Children are the forgotten mourners,” Leiker said. “It’s not deliberate on a family’s part. The family is just so overwhelmed by grief themselves.”&nbsp;This event is designed to “allow time for children to bond with other children who have experienced a loss,” Leiker said.Pre-registration is required by calling the center at (785) 259-6859 by Friday, July 14. Space is limited to 20 children.Family members must check-in their children at 4 p.m. at the pavilion behind the Aquatic Park. If they wish, family members may return at 5:30 p.m. for a free taco dinner, sharing time, and swimming, Leiker said.For children and family members who have pre-registered, a free taco bar dinner will be provided at 5:30 p.m. in the pavilion. The taco bar is being donated by Taco Grande in Hays. Registered children and family members&nbsp;will have time to swim in the pool afterwards.The Center for Life Experience first started sponsoring a spring daylong “Healing Kids’ Hearts Retreat” in 2016. Over the years, the retreats have drawn children from across Central and Western Kansas. This is the first time the center has sponsored a shorter summer event for children. Leiker said next year’s retreat for children will be held in March 2024.“Kids need to know what healthy grieving is. They can take their memories and create things—turn them into ways to honor their loved one,” she said.In addition to Taco Grande, Leiker expressed her appreciation to the following for their help with the event: Hays Recreation Commission, volunteers with HaysMed Hospice, and ITC Great Plains, LLC.

Upcoming event designed to help area children deal with grief

Free snow cone day July 27 courtesy Genoa Healthcare in Hays

Join Eagle Radio of Hays for a trip to Branson, Mo., during a beautiful time to visit the Ozarks and&nbsp;see some of the best shows Branson has to offer.

Questions? Call Scarlett at 785-301-2211.

5:30 p.m.&nbsp; &nbsp;Paula Deen's Family Resturant

10:00 a.m.&nbsp;Cassandre' Voice of Angel Christmas Spectacular at the Hughes Brothers Theater 2:00 p.m. Daniel O’Donnell at the Mansion Theater 5:45 p.m.&nbsp; &nbsp;Uptown Cafe 7:30 p.m.&nbsp;Queen Esther at the Sight and Sound Theater

10:00 a.m.&nbsp; &nbsp;Sanders Family Christmas at the Little Opry Theater After the morning show lunch on own at Pickin’ Porch and Branson Craft Mall 3:00 p.m. Comedy Jamboree at Grand Country Music Hall 5:30 p.m. Dinner at Grand Country Buffet 7:30 p.m. Hughes Christmas Show at the Hughes Brothers Theater

8:00 a.m.&nbsp; Leave Branson and travel home with a few favorite stops along the way&nbsp; home&nbsp;way.

Arrive back in Hays at approximately 7 p.m.

We will be staying at the beautiful Stone Castle in Branson, Mo. It is a wonderful hotel with great amenities such as a full hot breakfast daily, elevators, indoor corridors, two pools and hot tubs, sun deck, mini fridge and much more.&nbsp;

This trip includes three nights lodging, baggage handling, roundtrip bus transportation, breakfast at hotel, three meals, six shows, all taxes, bus driver tip, and all gratuities on the above items. Lunch is on your own each day on the trip.&nbsp;Single $1,175, Double $1,025, Triple $985 and $950 Quad Occupancy.

All the above times are starting show times. All times will be updated at the time of trip.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1685631894574.jpeg" alt="" />
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 </figure>November 6-9, 2023Join Eagle Radio of Hays for a trip to Branson, Mo., during a beautiful time to visit the Ozarks and&nbsp;see some of the best shows Branson has to offer.Questions? Call Scarlett at 785-301-2211.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1685631939815.jpeg" alt="" />
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 </figure>Monday, November 6, 20235:30 p.m.&nbsp; &nbsp;Paula Deen's Family Resturant<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1685631960704.jpeg" alt="" />
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 </figure>Tuesday, November 7, 202310:00 a.m.&nbsp;Cassandre' Voice of Angel Christmas Spectacular at the Hughes Brothers Theater 2:00 p.m. Daniel O’Donnell at the Mansion Theater 5:45 p.m.&nbsp; &nbsp;Uptown Cafe 7:30 p.m.&nbsp;Queen Esther at the Sight and Sound Theater<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1685631977842.jpeg" alt="" />
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 </figure>Wednesday, November 8, 202310:00 a.m.&nbsp; &nbsp;Sanders Family Christmas at the Little Opry Theater After the morning show lunch on own at Pickin’ Porch and Branson Craft Mall 3:00 p.m. Comedy Jamboree at Grand Country Music Hall 5:30 p.m. Dinner at Grand Country Buffet 7:30 p.m. Hughes Christmas Show at the Hughes Brothers Theater<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1685631998094.jpeg" alt="" />
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 </figure>Thursday, November 9, 20238:00 a.m.&nbsp; Leave Branson and travel home with a few favorite stops along the way&nbsp; home&nbsp;way.Arrive back in Hays at approximately 7 p.m.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1685632015896.jpeg" alt="" />
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 </figure>We will be staying at the beautiful Stone Castle in Branson, Mo. It is a wonderful hotel with great amenities such as a full hot breakfast daily, elevators, indoor corridors, two pools and hot tubs, sun deck, mini fridge and much more.&nbsp;This trip includes three nights lodging, baggage handling, roundtrip bus transportation, breakfast at hotel, three meals, six shows, all taxes, bus driver tip, and all gratuities on the above items. Lunch is on your own each day on the trip.&nbsp;Single $1,175, Double $1,025, Triple $985 and $950 Quad Occupancy.All the above times are starting show times. All times will be updated at the time of trip.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1651612718830.jpeg" alt="" />
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Eagle Radio of Hays: Branson 2023

Due to the upcoming holiday July 4th, there will be no trash collection on Tuesday. Trash and recycling collection normally scheduled on Tuesday will be picked up on Monday along with the normal Monday collection. 

Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday collections will be picked up on their normal days.

Although collections may not occur on your normal day, collections will be completed during the week. &nbsp;It is anticipated that heavy volumes of refuse/recycling will be encountered around the holidays. &nbsp;Please make sure your refuse and recycling are out by 7:00 a.m., and keep in mind that the trucks have no set time schedule.

City of Hays customers that may have any questions regarding this notice should contact the Solid Waste Division of the Public Works Department at 785-628-7350.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1605721681274.jpeg" alt="File photo by Becky Kiser/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>File photo by Becky Kiser/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>City of HaysDue to the upcoming holiday July 4th, there will be no trash collection on Tuesday. Trash and recycling collection normally scheduled on Tuesday will be picked up on Monday along with the normal Monday collection. Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday collections will be picked up on their normal days.Although collections may not occur on your normal day, collections will be completed during the week. &nbsp;It is anticipated that heavy volumes of refuse/recycling will be encountered around the holidays. &nbsp;Please make sure your refuse and recycling are out by 7:00 a.m., and keep in mind that the trucks have no set time schedule.City of Hays customers that may have any questions regarding this notice should contact the Solid Waste Division of the Public Works Department at 785-628-7350.

Tuesday's trash/recycle collection moved to Monday in Hays for holiday schedule

FORT LARNED NHS -&nbsp;Join us on Tuesday, July 4, for a July Fourth celebration at the fort.

Just like today, the soldiers and civilians at remote frontier posts looked forward to celebrating our nation’s birthday. To celebrate this year’s Fourth of July Fort Larned is presenting special programs on Tuesday, July 4, along with staff and volunteer in period clothing in the buildings.

10:00 a.m.– Blacksmith Demonstration 11:00 a.m. – Firing Demonstration with Small Arms and the Howitzer 12:00 p.m. – Noon salute to the flag (per 1861 US Army orders) 1:00 p.m. – The Cannoneer’s Hop: Learn the steps of loading a cannon in this hands-on program (Sorry: no firing included) 2:00 p.m. – Firing Demonstration with Small Arms and the Howitzer 3:00 p.m. – Buffalo Soldiers at Fort Larned 4:30 p.m. – Flag Retreat (traditional Army flag lowering ceremony)

Please keep in mind that programs and events are subject to change due to staffing or weather.

Fort Larned National Historic Site is located six miles west of Larned on Kansas Highway 156. You can find information about visiting on the internet at <a href="https://www.nps.gov/fols/index.htm">www.nps.gov/fols</a>, by calling 620-285-6911, or emailing fols_internet@nps.gov.

For information on area tourism partners, lodging, dining, and community services go to <a href="https://www.larnedks.org/">www.larnedks.org</a> or call 620-285-6916.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675269532908.jpeg" alt="Fort Larned National Historic Site. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Fort Larned National Historic Site. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>SubmittedFORT LARNED NHS -&nbsp;Join us on Tuesday, July 4, for a July Fourth celebration at the fort.Just like today, the soldiers and civilians at remote frontier posts looked forward to celebrating our nation’s birthday. To celebrate this year’s Fourth of July Fort Larned is presenting special programs on Tuesday, July 4, along with staff and volunteer in period clothing in the buildings.10:00 a.m.– Blacksmith Demonstration 11:00 a.m. – Firing Demonstration with Small Arms and the Howitzer 12:00 p.m. – Noon salute to the flag (per 1861 US Army orders) 1:00 p.m. – The Cannoneer’s Hop: Learn the steps of loading a cannon in this hands-on program (Sorry: no firing included) 2:00 p.m. – Firing Demonstration with Small Arms and the Howitzer 3:00 p.m. – Buffalo Soldiers at Fort Larned 4:30 p.m. – Flag Retreat (traditional Army flag lowering ceremony) Please keep in mind that programs and events are subject to change due to staffing or weather.Fort Larned National Historic Site is located six miles west of Larned on Kansas Highway 156. You can find information about visiting on the internet at <a href="https://www.nps.gov/fols/index.htm">www.nps.gov/fols</a>, by calling 620-285-6911, or emailing fols_internet@nps.gov. For information on area tourism partners, lodging, dining, and community services go to <a href="https://www.larnedks.org/">www.larnedks.org</a> or call 620-285-6916.

Celebrate July 4th history at Fort Larned

TOPEKA –&nbsp;The Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks have issued a public health advisory update due to blue-green algae.&nbsp;

A harmful algal bloom may look like foam, scum or paint floating on the water and be colored blue, bright green, brown or red. Blooms can develop rapidly; if the water appears suspicious or there is decaying algae on the shore, avoid contact and keep dogs away. These toxins can be absorbed by ingestion, inhalation of aerosols and even skin contact.  Symptoms vary depending upon the type of exposure (e.g. direct contact, ingestion, inhalation) but can include rash, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, sore throat, and headache. If you, or your dog, come into contact with algae rinse the area with clean, fresh water. 

Suspected HAB-related health incidents, whether human or animal, regardless of season, should be reported at&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDAsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmtkaGUua3MuZ292LzExNjMvUmVwb3J0LWFuLUlsbG5lc3Mtb3ItSGVhbHRoLUluY2lkZW50P3V0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1nb3ZkZWxpdmVyeSIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMzA2MDguNzc5NjkyNzEifQ.zm78G1BIZKhol0mBwh6Xh8QkZpaTLAFFINlKsncY11c/s/1305913542/br/204529235551-l" target="_blank">kdhe.ks.gov/1163</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1611168397124.jpg" alt="Photo by Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>KDHETOPEKA –&nbsp;The Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks have issued a public health advisory update due to blue-green algae.&nbsp;A harmful algal bloom may look like foam, scum or paint floating on the water and be colored blue, bright green, brown or red. Blooms can develop rapidly; if the water appears suspicious or there is decaying algae on the shore, avoid contact and keep dogs away. These toxins can be absorbed by ingestion, inhalation of aerosols and even skin contact.  Symptoms vary depending upon the type of exposure (e.g. direct contact, ingestion, inhalation) but can include rash, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, sore throat, and headache. If you, or your dog, come into contact with algae rinse the area with clean, fresh water. Suspected HAB-related health incidents, whether human or animal, regardless of season, should be reported at&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDAsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmtkaGUua3MuZ292LzExNjMvUmVwb3J0LWFuLUlsbG5lc3Mtb3ItSGVhbHRoLUluY2lkZW50P3V0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1nb3ZkZWxpdmVyeSIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMzA2MDguNzc5NjkyNzEifQ.zm78G1BIZKhol0mBwh6Xh8QkZpaTLAFFINlKsncY11c/s/1305913542/br/204529235551-l" target="_blank">kdhe.ks.gov/1163</a>.Active Advisories&nbsp;Warning&nbsp;<ul>
 <li>Harvey County East Lake, Harvey County</li><li>Lake Afton, Sedgwick County&nbsp;</li><li>Marion Lake (Reservoir), Marion County</li><li>Webster Lake (Reservoir), Rooks County&nbsp;</li>
 </ul>Watch<ul>
 <li>Augusta Santa Fe Lake, Butler County</li><li>Dorner Park Lake, Sedgwick County&nbsp;</li><li>Lovewell Lake (Reservoir), Jewell County (Lowered June 29)</li><li>Strowbridge Reservoir (Carbondale East Lake), Osage County (Added June 29)</li>
 </ul>Lifted<ul>
 <li>Cedar Lake, Johnson County (Lifted June 29)</li><li>Lake Parsons, Neosho County (Lifted June 29)</li><li>Wellington Lake, Sumner County (Lifted June 29)</li>
 </ul>

KDHE: Webster Lake still in warning for blue-green algae

July events in Osborne County

Various city streets in northwest Hays will receive a seal coat Friday, June 30.

Seal coat is spray applied in two coats with a dry time of two to three hours per pass, so the streets being sealed will be temporarily closed during this time. 

On the date scheduled for treatment, all cars need to be moved from the street by 8:00 a.m. Streets being sealed will be closed from approximately 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Access can be achieved in cases of emergency. Parking on adjacent streets is recommended during the daytime. Parking in driveways is okay if you DO NOT plan on moving the vehicle between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. 

The seal coat treatment should not be driven on until it has set up (dried). It will stain surfaces such as concrete, carpet, or flooring if tracked from construction areas. 

Please have all lawn watering devices turned off the evening before the scheduled date. 

Please help keep the streets clean and dry for a smooth and lasting project. 

Traffic control will be set in areas of work being completed and picked up by the end of the work day. 

If there are any questions, please call the Office of Project Management at 785-628-7350 or Circle C Paving at 316-794-5070. 

You may also find a complete map of the 2023 street maintenance projects&nbsp;<a href="https://www.haysusa.com/DocumentCenter/View/5867/2023-Street-Maintenance-Contract" target="_blank">here</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1688116386758.png" alt="Streets in northwest Hays to receive a seal coat Friday. City of Hays" />
 <figcaption>Streets in northwest Hays to receive a seal coat Friday. City of Hays</figcaption>
 </figure>City of HaysVarious city streets in northwest Hays will receive a seal coat Friday, June 30.Seal coat is spray applied in two coats with a dry time of two to three hours per pass, so the streets being sealed will be temporarily closed during this time. On the date scheduled for treatment, all cars need to be moved from the street by 8:00 a.m. Streets being sealed will be closed from approximately 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Access can be achieved in cases of emergency. Parking on adjacent streets is recommended during the daytime. Parking in driveways is okay if you DO NOT plan on moving the vehicle between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. The seal coat treatment should not be driven on until it has set up (dried). It will stain surfaces such as concrete, carpet, or flooring if tracked from construction areas. Please have all lawn watering devices turned off the evening before the scheduled date. Please help keep the streets clean and dry for a smooth and lasting project. Traffic control will be set in areas of work being completed and picked up by the end of the work day. The city of Hays regrets any inconvenience this may cause to the public. If there are any questions, please call the Office of Project Management at 785-628-7350 or Circle C Paving at 316-794-5070. You may also find a complete map of the 2023 street maintenance projects&nbsp;<a href="https://www.haysusa.com/DocumentCenter/View/5867/2023-Street-Maintenance-Contract" target="_blank">here</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

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