Why do we put candles on the top of a birthday cake? Because it’s too hard to put them on the bottom.

Why do we put candles on the top of a birthday cake? Because it’s too hard to put them on the bottom.

KZ Country Cheesy Joke of the Day 12/27/24

<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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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1735058330071.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>

Three-day weather outlook

On this episode of the Post Podcast, Hays Post reporter Becky Kiser speaks with Jessica Phelan, assistant professor in the Fort Hays State University Department of Health and Human Performance about numerous health benefits of vegetables in our diets.&nbsp;

<div><iframe title="Post Podcast: Vegetables. Love 'em or hate 'em, they're great for you." allowtransparency="true" height="150" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:150px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=8c6x7-178070f-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=auto&logo_link=podcast_page&btn-skin=60a0c8&size=315" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>On this episode of the Post Podcast, Hays Post reporter Becky Kiser speaks with Jessica Phelan, assistant professor in the Fort Hays State University Department of Health and Human Performance about numerous health benefits of vegetables in our diets.&nbsp;

🎙 Post Podcast: Vegetables. Love 'em or hate 'em, they're great for you.

What did the old tom cat say when he saw two mice on roller skates? Meals on wheels!

What did the old tom cat say when he saw two mice on roller skates? Meals on wheels!

KZ Country Cheesy Joke of the Day 12/26/24

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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>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734978823468.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>

On this episode of the Post Podcast, Hays Post reporter Becky Kiser speaks with Hays Arts Council Executive Director Brenda Meder about the HAC capital campaign, For the HeART of Hays.

<div><iframe title="Post Podcast: 'The Art of Bread' is part of Hays Arts Council's capital campaign" allowtransparency="true" height="150" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:150px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=kwf54-178075c-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=auto&logo_link=podcast_page&btn-skin=60a0c8&size=315" loading="lazy"></iframe</div>On this episode of the Post Podcast, Hays Post reporter Becky Kiser speaks with Hays Arts Council Executive Director Brenda Meder about the HAC capital campaign, For the HeART of Hays.

🎙Post Podcast: 'The Art of Bread' is part of Hays Arts Council's capital campaign 

What did the gingerbread man put on his bed?A cookie sheet!

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

As the holiday season winds down, many households face the question: what to do with the Christmas tree and holiday greenery? Instead of sending them to the landfill, consider recycling them! Repurposing your tree and greenery is an eco-friendly way to give them a second life while benefiting your garden, wildlife, or community.

Here are some practical and creative ways to recycle your Christmas tree and greenery:

1. Turn It in to Mulch Most natural Christmas trees can be chipped into mulch, which is excellent for garden beds and pathways. If you have access to a chipper, you can do this yourself. Otherwise, check with your local recycling center or municipal services—many communities offer free tree chipping programs.

2. Create Habitat for Wildlife Place your tree in your yard or garden to create shelter for birds and small animals during the winter months. You can even decorate it with birdseed ornaments, suet, or peanut butter-coated pinecones to provide food for wildlife.

3. Compost the Greenery Cut branches and greenery can be added to your compost pile or used as a base layer. The needles are rich in carbon and can help balance the compost's nitrogen content. Keep in mind that large branches should be trimmed down for easier decomposition.

4. Protect Your Plants Lay trimmed branches over perennial beds to help insulate them during the cold months. The branches can act as a natural mulch, protecting plants from harsh winter temperatures.

5. Check Local Recycling Programs Many communities have specific programs for tree and greenery recycling. Some cities collect trees curbside for recycling into mulch or erosion control products. Contact your local solid waste department or extension office for details.

6. Use It for Erosion Control In some areas, recycled Christmas trees are used for erosion control in wetlands or along riverbanks. These trees help stabilize soil and provide a natural barrier against erosion.

Don’t Burn It Indoors: Dry trees are highly flammable and can create a fire hazard. They also produce creosote, which can build up in your chimney.

Remove All Decorations: Before recycling, ensure all ornaments, tinsel, and lights are removed to prevent contamination.

Avoid Artificial Trees: Artificial trees cannot be recycled and should be reused or donated if in good condition.

Recycling your tree or greenery is a simple step that can have a big impact on the environment. By giving your holiday decorations a sustainable farewell, you can enjoy the spirit of the season while also taking care of our planet.

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

K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity employer and provider. Kansas State University, County Extension Councils, Extension Districts, and U.S. Department of Agriculture Cooperating.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734975524540.jpg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>As the holiday season winds down, many households face the question: what to do with the Christmas tree and holiday greenery? Instead of sending them to the landfill, consider recycling them! Repurposing your tree and greenery is an eco-friendly way to give them a second life while benefiting your garden, wildlife, or community.Here are some practical and creative ways to recycle your Christmas tree and greenery:1. Turn It in to Mulch Most natural Christmas trees can be chipped into mulch, which is excellent for garden beds and pathways. If you have access to a chipper, you can do this yourself. Otherwise, check with your local recycling center or municipal services—many communities offer free tree chipping programs.2. Create Habitat for Wildlife Place your tree in your yard or garden to create shelter for birds and small animals during the winter months. You can even decorate it with birdseed ornaments, suet, or peanut butter-coated pinecones to provide food for wildlife.3. Compost the Greenery Cut branches and greenery can be added to your compost pile or used as a base layer. The needles are rich in carbon and can help balance the compost's nitrogen content. Keep in mind that large branches should be trimmed down for easier decomposition.4. Protect Your Plants Lay trimmed branches over perennial beds to help insulate them during the cold months. The branches can act as a natural mulch, protecting plants from harsh winter temperatures.5. Check Local Recycling Programs Many communities have specific programs for tree and greenery recycling. Some cities collect trees curbside for recycling into mulch or erosion control products. Contact your local solid waste department or extension office for details.6. Use It for Erosion Control In some areas, recycled Christmas trees are used for erosion control in wetlands or along riverbanks. These trees help stabilize soil and provide a natural barrier against erosion.Avoid These MistakesDon’t Burn It Indoors: Dry trees are highly flammable and can create a fire hazard. They also produce creosote, which can build up in your chimney.Remove All Decorations: Before recycling, ensure all ornaments, tinsel, and lights are removed to prevent contamination.Avoid Artificial Trees: Artificial trees cannot be recycled and should be reused or donated if in good condition.Recycling your tree or greenery is a simple step that can have a big impact on the environment. By giving your holiday decorations a sustainable farewell, you can enjoy the spirit of the season while also taking care of our planet.Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact her by e-mail at aboor@ksu.edu or calling 620-793-1910K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity employer and provider. Kansas State University, County Extension Councils, Extension Districts, and U.S. Department of Agriculture Cooperating.

How to recycle your Christmas tree, holiday greenery

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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734978558386.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>

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

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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>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734813578082.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 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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 </figure><a href="https://hayspost.com/pages/state-farm-weather-window">For a full look at the weather forecast, click here.</a>

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

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

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734556577052.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>

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

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734475487139.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>

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734385215099.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>

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;

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