Q. What did the peanut butter say to the grape on Christmas?A. “‘Tis the season to be jelly!”&nbsp;&nbsp;

KZ Country Cheesy Joke of the Day 12/23/24

<a href="https://hayspost.com/pages/state-farm-weather-window">For a full look at the weather forecast, click here.</a>

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Three-day weather outlook

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The 15th Annual Community Christmas Dinner will be held on Christmas Day, Dec. 25, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the VFW, 2106 Vine St.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The dinner is sponsored by New Life Center Church and the VFW.&nbsp;&nbsp;The meal will consist of roast beef, ham, mashed potatoes and gravy, corn, a dinner roll and dessert.&nbsp;

The meal is free of charge; donations are accepted.&nbsp; Donations that are received will be given to organizations that serve and assist area residents in an effort to 'give back' all that has been given.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Community Christmas Dinner began with the vision to bring the community together for a Christmas meal, and to return to the true reason for the season - the remembrance and celebration of&nbsp;the birth of Jesus Christ.

 Christmas can quickly become overshadowed by the busyness that tends to arise with the holiday season, and focus loss regarding the true meaning.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Community Christmas Dinner offers a time to refocus on the birth of Christ, provides the opportunity for community members to serve and be served, and simply enjoy each other's company.&nbsp; 

Though Jesus is celebrated all are&nbsp;welcome regardless of personal beliefs.&nbsp;

Service also extends&nbsp;beyond the walls of the VFW through the delivery of meals to those who are homebound.&nbsp;

The Community Christmas Dinner stands upon the scripture that “Love never fails” (1 Corinthians 13:8), and has continued to be an example of this kind of love throughout the years.

Volunteer opportunities will be available on Christmas Day prior to the meal, during the meal, and&nbsp;after.&nbsp; 

Some of the opportunities include decorating, directing traffic, preparing to-go boxes for delivery, filling drinks, clearing tables, delivering meals, washing dishes, cleaning&nbsp;after&nbsp;the event, and other miscellaneous tasks that arise.&nbsp;

Desserts&nbsp;for the meal are provided by community members, and these remain needed at this time.&nbsp;

Desserts can be dropped off at the VFW Christmas morning before 10:00 or call (785) 675-1344 for other arrangements.&nbsp;

For anyone who is&nbsp;homebound&nbsp;and would like a meal&nbsp;delivered, or if wishing to&nbsp;volunteer, provide&nbsp;desserts, or make a&nbsp;donation,&nbsp;please use the following contact information: (785) 625-5528&nbsp;thru Dec. 19th and (785) 675-1344&nbsp;Dec. 20 - Dec. 24, or&nbsp; email,&nbsp;<a href="mailto:communitychristmasdinner@gmail.com">communitychristmasdinner@gmail.com</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734719353064.jpeg" alt="Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>SubmittedThe 15th Annual Community Christmas Dinner will be held on Christmas Day, Dec. 25, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the VFW, 2106 Vine St.&nbsp;&nbsp;The dinner is sponsored by New Life Center Church and the VFW.&nbsp;&nbsp;The meal will consist of roast beef, ham, mashed potatoes and gravy, corn, a dinner roll and dessert.&nbsp;The meal is free of charge; donations are accepted.&nbsp; Donations that are received will be given to organizations that serve and assist area residents in an effort to 'give back' all that has been given.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Community Christmas Dinner began with the vision to bring the community together for a Christmas meal, and to return to the true reason for the season - the remembrance and celebration of&nbsp;the birth of Jesus Christ. Christmas can quickly become overshadowed by the busyness that tends to arise with the holiday season, and focus loss regarding the true meaning.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Community Christmas Dinner offers a time to refocus on the birth of Christ, provides the opportunity for community members to serve and be served, and simply enjoy each other's company.&nbsp; Though Jesus is celebrated all are&nbsp;welcome regardless of personal beliefs.&nbsp;Service also extends&nbsp;beyond the walls of the VFW through the delivery of meals to those who are homebound.&nbsp;The Community Christmas Dinner stands upon the scripture that “Love never fails” (1 Corinthians 13:8), and has continued to be an example of this kind of love throughout the years.Volunteer opportunities will be available on Christmas Day prior to the meal, during the meal, and&nbsp;after.&nbsp; Some of the opportunities include decorating, directing traffic, preparing to-go boxes for delivery, filling drinks, clearing tables, delivering meals, washing dishes, cleaning&nbsp;after&nbsp;the event, and other miscellaneous tasks that arise.&nbsp;Desserts&nbsp;for the meal are provided by community members, and these remain needed at this time.&nbsp;Desserts can be dropped off at the VFW Christmas morning before 10:00 or call (785) 675-1344 for other arrangements.&nbsp;For anyone who is&nbsp;homebound&nbsp;and would like a meal&nbsp;delivered, or if wishing to&nbsp;volunteer, provide&nbsp;desserts, or make a&nbsp;donation,&nbsp;please use the following contact information: (785) 625-5528&nbsp;thru Dec. 19th and (785) 675-1344&nbsp;Dec. 20 - Dec. 24, or&nbsp; email,&nbsp;<a href="mailto:communitychristmasdinner@gmail.com">communitychristmasdinner@gmail.com</a>

Christmas community dinner planned

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What happens if you eat Christmas decorations?You get tinselitus!&nbsp;&nbsp;

KZ Country Cheesy Joke of the Day 12/20/24

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Why are Christmas trees such bad knitters?They are always dropping their needles.&nbsp;

KZ Country Cheesy Joke of the Day 12/19/24

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What do reindeer hang on their Christmas trees?Horn-aments!&nbsp;&nbsp;

KZ Country Cheesy Joke of the Day 12/18/24

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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734475487139.jpeg" alt=" " />
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Auditions for the Hays Community Theatre production of “Leaving Iowa” have been set for 7-9 p.m. on Dec. 18 and 19.

“Leaving Iowa is a comic and heartwarming tribute to the family vacation,” said Bill Gasper, who is taking on director responsibilities at HCT for the first time. “It is told through flashbacks as a son travels to Mount Union, Iowa, to bury his father’s ashes. During this journey, the son reflects on his life while revisiting the humor and disappointments of family road trips.”

The play features a cast ranging in size from as few as six people to as many as 28. All the characters are adults, so Gasper is looking for actors who are high school age and older.

“The casting is flexible as actors can assume one of the principal characters that appear throughout the play or take on one or more of the multi-character roles who appear during the production,” Gasper said. “Actors and audience members alike will enjoy the humorous ‘over-the-top’ scenes as well as the sentimental aspects of the play.”

Actors need only attend one evening of auditions, which will consist of each person reading a monologue specific to their gender. Several reads from the script will follow monologues. Selected reads will be dependent upon the number of people present at the audition. Audition monologues and reads can be found at <a href="https://www.hctks.com/auditions">https://www.hctks.com/auditions</a>. Interested actors should also download and fill out the audition form before their audition. All audition materials will also be available at the audition.

Rehearsals for “Leaving Iowa” will begin on Jan. 5 with performances set for Feb. 21-23 at Hays Community Theatre, 121 E. Eighth St.

Questions can be directed to Gasper at bgasper56@gmail.com.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734386068325.png" alt="Courtesy image" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy image</figcaption>
 </figure>SubmittedAuditions for the Hays Community Theatre production of “Leaving Iowa” have been set for 7-9 p.m. on Dec. 18 and 19.“Leaving Iowa is a comic and heartwarming tribute to the family vacation,” said Bill Gasper, who is taking on director responsibilities at HCT for the first time. “It is told through flashbacks as a son travels to Mount Union, Iowa, to bury his father’s ashes. During this journey, the son reflects on his life while revisiting the humor and disappointments of family road trips.”The play features a cast ranging in size from as few as six people to as many as 28. All the characters are adults, so Gasper is looking for actors who are high school age and older.“The casting is flexible as actors can assume one of the principal characters that appear throughout the play or take on one or more of the multi-character roles who appear during the production,” Gasper said. “Actors and audience members alike will enjoy the humorous ‘over-the-top’ scenes as well as the sentimental aspects of the play.”Actors need only attend one evening of auditions, which will consist of each person reading a monologue specific to their gender. Several reads from the script will follow monologues. Selected reads will be dependent upon the number of people present at the audition. Audition monologues and reads can be found at <a href="https://www.hctks.com/auditions">https://www.hctks.com/auditions</a>. Interested actors should also download and fill out the audition form before their audition. All audition materials will also be available at the audition.Rehearsals for “Leaving Iowa” will begin on Jan. 5 with performances set for Feb. 21-23 at Hays Community Theatre, 121 E. Eighth St.Questions can be directed to Gasper at bgasper56@gmail.com.

UPDATE: Auditions for 'Leaving Iowa' set for this week

How do the elves keep the North Pole so clean? They use Santatizer!

How do the elves keep the North Pole so clean? They use Santatizer!

KZ Country Cheesy Joke of the Day 12/17/24

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 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://hayspost.com/pages/state-farm-weather-window">For a full look at the weather forecast, click here.</a>

Where does Santa go to practice how to slide down chimneys?A chimnasium. What do you call a man who claps at Christmas?Santapplause.&nbsp;

KZ Country Cheesy Joke of the Day 12/16/24

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734301569526.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://hayspost.com/pages/state-farm-weather-window">For a full look at the weather forecast, click here.</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734218633924.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://hayspost.com/pages/state-farm-weather-window">For a full look at the weather forecast, click here.</a>

THE SUCCESSES OF TOMORROW BEGIN TODAY, CATHOLIC EDUCATION IS A LIFETIME ADVANTAGE.

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS….SCHOOLS YOU CAN BELIEVE IN!!!

Submitted<h2>HOLY FAMILY ELEMENTARY NEWS</h2>THE SUCCESSES OF TOMORROW BEGIN TODAY, CATHOLIC EDUCATION IS A LIFETIME ADVANTAGE.CATHOLIC SCHOOLS….SCHOOLS YOU CAN BELIEVE IN!!!Monday<ol>
 <li>1B Polar Express Day.&nbsp;</li><li>Reconciliation for students in 3rd-5th grade at 2:00 p.m. at IHM.</li>
 </ol>Tuesday<ol>
 <li>PK3-4 Christmas Celebrations.</li>
 </ol>Wednesday<ol>
 <li>Last Day of Half-Day Preschool for PK 3-4.</li>
 </ol>Friday<ol>
 <li>Hourly Staff timesheets are due to Ms. Karla in the office this morning.&nbsp;</li><li>End of Qtr. 2 and 1st Semester.&nbsp;</li><li>Last Day before Break! Half Day of School – Students will dismiss at 1!:00 a.m. today so there will not be any lunch! There is no bus services or After School Care today.</li><li>Students could wear a Christmas, red or green shirt with jeans/uniform bottoms today!</li><li>1A will have Polar Express Day and party this morning!&nbsp;</li><li>Staff Christmas Luncheon at 12:00 in the L.T.&nbsp;</li><li>Have a WONDERFUL Christmas Break and a Happy New Year!! We will see you back in 2025!!</li>
 </ol>

Holy Family Elementary weekly update

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 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://hayspost.com/pages/state-farm-weather-window">For a full look at the weather forecast, click here.</a>

By BECKY KISER Hays Post

It's the season for holiday events in Hays.&nbsp;

Janet Kuhn,&nbsp;convention sales manager at the Hays Convention and Visitors Bureau, reviews some of the December activities.

For an up-to-the-minute calendar of events, check the Hays CVB website at <a href="https://www.visithays.com/calendar.aspx">visithays.com</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733246730247.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>By BECKY KISER Hays PostIt's the season for holiday events in Hays.&nbsp;Janet Kuhn,&nbsp;convention sales manager at the Hays Convention and Visitors Bureau, reviews some of the December activities.<div><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DbEz9LZ7JOY" title="CVB dec" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733246976006.jpeg" alt="Hays Convention and Visitors Bureau" />
 <figcaption>Hays Convention and Visitors Bureau</figcaption>
 </figure>For an up-to-the-minute calendar of events, check the Hays CVB website at <a href="https://www.visithays.com/calendar.aspx">visithays.com</a>.

🎥 CVB: It's holiday time in Hays

What happens to a frog’s car when it breaks down? It gets toad away.

What happens to a frog’s car when it breaks down? It gets toad away.

KZ Country Cheesy Joke of the Day 12/13/24

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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734043227397.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://hayspost.com/pages/state-farm-weather-window">For a full look at the weather forecast, click here.</a>

The child comes home from his first day at school. His Mother asks, “Well, what did you learn today?” The kid replies, “Not enough. They want me to come back tomorrow.”

The child comes home from his first day at school. His Mother asks, “Well, what did you learn today?” The kid replies, “Not enough. They want me to come back tomorrow.”

KZ Country Cheesy Joke of the Day 12/12/24

I can’t imagine living in early times without scientific knowledge regarding the year’s shortest day and longest night, aka winter solstice. Before easy access to candles, kerosene, and electricity, this was a worrisome season. Little besides faith the sun would return comforted the ancients through increasingly long nights.

The word solstice itself comes from the Latin solstitium. Sol meant sun and stitium--stoppage. According to the Family Education Network on the Internet, the winter solstice occurs either December 21 or 22. For several days before the solstices and for several days after, it appears that time stands still. In a world bombarded with more information than it can process, it oddly reassures me to imagine, that for a moment, the sun momentarily stands in place each June and December.

It must have comforted our ancestors also. Anthropologists have found evidence that many early societies developed means to mark equinoxes and solstices. Stonehenge is one well-known example. In North America, some experts theorize Native American medicine wheels peppering our landscape may have served a similar purpose. Though I don’t recommend building a Stonehenge or a medicine wheel in the backyard, much can be said for beginning one’s day before the sun rises and making time to watch those first rays break the horizon.

Kansans have experienced some spectacular sunrises since Thanksgiving. One morning it appeared that fingers of crimson fire tore away the darkness. Other mornings reveal themselves in pastel hues gently probing their way into the eastern sky. Making a point of spending time watching sunrises and taking note of when it happens puts life in perspective. I find myself hating to sleep in. I don’t want to miss what my dad called the crack o’ dawn or the day’s shifting shadows.

In the same vein, I find it soothing to note when the sun sets on this prairie landscape. Painters, photographers, and poets recognize and celebrate the power a fiery sunset or a rosy orb gradually fading into violet darkness holds over viewers. Keeping track of evolving shadows dropping into the West connects humans to forgotten rhythms.

For those who don’t want to or can’t watch the sun rise and set, computers make it easy to track earth’s rhythms. Anyone can note sunrise and sunset times on weather pages or by installing Weather Bug on a computer.

Solstices mark a reminding, a remembering of rhythms hearts know but minds forget. They remind us to believe in rebirth. They develop faith in the unknown. They tell us darkness will descend and lengthen, but, given time and patience, longer daylight will return.

It is not a coincidence we choose to celebrate religious and secular holidays with displays of light during this dark time of year. The beckoning warmth of Christmas lights and electric candles on windowsills reminds humanity that light overcomes darkness. Stop and be still, especially at sunrise and sunset, to mark this year’s winter solstice in Hays, KS, at 3:20 a.m., December 21. Remind yourself you come from a long line of ancestors who’ve shared this experience and been blessed to celebrate nature’s rhythms.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733956896734.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>By KAREN MADORINI can’t imagine living in early times without scientific knowledge regarding the year’s shortest day and longest night, aka winter solstice. Before easy access to candles, kerosene, and electricity, this was a worrisome season. Little besides faith the sun would return comforted the ancients through increasingly long nights.The word solstice itself comes from the Latin solstitium. Sol meant sun and stitium--stoppage. According to the Family Education Network on the Internet, the winter solstice occurs either December 21 or 22. For several days before the solstices and for several days after, it appears that time stands still. In a world bombarded with more information than it can process, it oddly reassures me to imagine, that for a moment, the sun momentarily stands in place each June and December.It must have comforted our ancestors also. Anthropologists have found evidence that many early societies developed means to mark equinoxes and solstices. Stonehenge is one well-known example. In North America, some experts theorize Native American medicine wheels peppering our landscape may have served a similar purpose. Though I don’t recommend building a Stonehenge or a medicine wheel in the backyard, much can be said for beginning one’s day before the sun rises and making time to watch those first rays break the horizon.Kansans have experienced some spectacular sunrises since Thanksgiving. One morning it appeared that fingers of crimson fire tore away the darkness. Other mornings reveal themselves in pastel hues gently probing their way into the eastern sky. Making a point of spending time watching sunrises and taking note of when it happens puts life in perspective. I find myself hating to sleep in. I don’t want to miss what my dad called the crack o’ dawn or the day’s shifting shadows.In the same vein, I find it soothing to note when the sun sets on this prairie landscape. Painters, photographers, and poets recognize and celebrate the power a fiery sunset or a rosy orb gradually fading into violet darkness holds over viewers. Keeping track of evolving shadows dropping into the West connects humans to forgotten rhythms.For those who don’t want to or can’t watch the sun rise and set, computers make it easy to track earth’s rhythms. Anyone can note sunrise and sunset times on weather pages or by installing Weather Bug on a computer.Solstices mark a reminding, a remembering of rhythms hearts know but minds forget. They remind us to believe in rebirth. They develop faith in the unknown. They tell us darkness will descend and lengthen, but, given time and patience, longer daylight will return.It is not a coincidence we choose to celebrate religious and secular holidays with displays of light during this dark time of year. The beckoning warmth of Christmas lights and electric candles on windowsills reminds humanity that light overcomes darkness. Stop and be still, especially at sunrise and sunset, to mark this year’s winter solstice in Hays, KS, at 3:20 a.m., December 21. Remind yourself you come from a long line of ancestors who’ve shared this experience and been blessed to celebrate nature’s rhythms.

MADORIN: Marking winter solstice

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733956708303.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://hayspost.com/pages/state-farm-weather-window">For a full look at the weather forecast, click here.</a>

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