A horse walks into a bar. The bartender says, “Hey.” The horse replies, “Sure.”&nbsp;

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A horse walks into a bar. The bartender says, “Hey.” The horse replies, “Sure.”&nbsp;Join fans of 99 KZ Country on Facebook:<a href="http://www.facebook.com/99KZCountry">http://www.facebook.com/99KZCountry</a>

KZ Country Cheesy Joke of the Day 07/31/23

OK, I’m officially fed-up with weathermen and news anchors telling me that statistics show overwhelmingly that human beings are happiest during the summer. Those of you that know us at all are aware that Joyce and I absolutely hate the heat of summer. My dad was just the opposite; in weather like we’ve had the last week, he would have had windows open and MAYBE the ceiling fan going, but certainly not the AC. I keep thinking that as I get older, I’ll get more of his love for the heat. But nope, the older I get, the worse I hate it. I feel tired and drug-out by mid-morning, have absolutely zero energy, and the only joy I get from days like this is the fact that it will be dark again in a few hours and I can just go to bed. The Kansas summer heat is the main reason we no longer have a boat. Once it got hot, which often coincides with some of the summer’s best fishing, the boat sat in the shed. I heard that a local popcorn farm has erected a giant dome over all this year’s popcorn fields to contain all the popcorn that is popping right on the stalks. They now call their farm the Jiffy Pop Farm.

We’ve all heard the usual one-liners about how hot it is, but here are a few new ones I’ve come up with.

It’s so hot that a woman in the McDonalds drive-thru intentionally spilled her coffee in her lap to cool off.

It’s so hot that the beggar sitting outside Walmart today had a sign that read “Will work for shade.”

It’s so hot that beer guts and big butts no longer keep people from wearing shorts.

It’s so hot that CRP now stands for Crispy Rotational Pasture.

it’s so hot that congress actually have to take their hands out of OUR pockets to fan themselves.

There was a knock at the door the other day, and when I opened it there stood someone I’ve never met before asking if they could stick their head in our freezer for a couple minutes.

It’s so hot that the camels at the Sedgwick Co. Zoo want transferred to the Sahara Desert where it’s cooler.

It’s so hot that my niece’s pigs are complaining about sweating like humans.

I’m going to ask that the next time someone plans a pandemic, they wait till summer so I couldn’t care less about leavin’ the house anyway.

It’s so hot that just today I saw a fire hydrant chasing a dog, hoping to get peed-on.

It so hot today that all the artificial flowers at the cemetery are dying.

And finally, its so hot that professional hockey teams are considering playing on rollerblades this year because the ice won’t freeze.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574696211722.png" alt="Steve Gilliland" />
 <figcaption>Steve Gilliland</figcaption>
 </figure>OK, I’m officially fed-up with weathermen and news anchors telling me that statistics show overwhelmingly that human beings are happiest during the summer. Those of you that know us at all are aware that Joyce and I absolutely hate the heat of summer. My dad was just the opposite; in weather like we’ve had the last week, he would have had windows open and MAYBE the ceiling fan going, but certainly not the AC. I keep thinking that as I get older, I’ll get more of his love for the heat. But nope, the older I get, the worse I hate it. I feel tired and drug-out by mid-morning, have absolutely zero energy, and the only joy I get from days like this is the fact that it will be dark again in a few hours and I can just go to bed. The Kansas summer heat is the main reason we no longer have a boat. Once it got hot, which often coincides with some of the summer’s best fishing, the boat sat in the shed. I heard that a local popcorn farm has erected a giant dome over all this year’s popcorn fields to contain all the popcorn that is popping right on the stalks. They now call their farm the Jiffy Pop Farm.We’ve all heard the usual one-liners about how hot it is, but here are a few new ones I’ve come up with.It’s so hot that a woman in the McDonalds drive-thru intentionally spilled her coffee in her lap to cool off.It’s so hot that the beggar sitting outside Walmart today had a sign that read “Will work for shade.”It’s so hot that beer guts and big butts no longer keep people from wearing shorts.It’s so hot that CRP now stands for Crispy Rotational Pasture.it’s so hot that congress actually have to take their hands out of OUR pockets to fan themselves.There was a knock at the door the other day, and when I opened it there stood someone I’ve never met before asking if they could stick their head in our freezer for a couple minutes.It’s so hot that the camels at the Sedgwick Co. Zoo want transferred to the Sahara Desert where it’s cooler.It’s so hot that my niece’s pigs are complaining about sweating like humans.I’m going to ask that the next time someone plans a pandemic, they wait till summer so I couldn’t care less about leavin’ the house anyway.It’s so hot that just today I saw a fire hydrant chasing a dog, hoping to get peed-on.It so hot today that all the artificial flowers at the cemetery are dying.And finally, its so hot that professional hockey teams are considering playing on rollerblades this year because the ice won’t freeze.Continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors.Steve can be contacted by email at stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.

Exploring Outdoors Kansas: It’s So Hot that….

An intern asked another intern if she was planning to sign up for the company’s 401(k). “I’m considering it, ” replied the second intern. Later, the first intern approached their supervisor looking concerned. “I did the math,” she said, “and 401K is almost 250 miles. She’ll never make it!”

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An intern asked another intern if she was planning to sign up for the company’s 401(k). “I’m considering it, ” replied the second intern. Later, the first intern approached their supervisor looking concerned. “I did the math,” she said, “and 401K is almost 250 miles. She’ll never make it!”Join fans of KZ Country on Facebook:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.facebook.com/99KZCountry" target="_blank">http://www.facebook.com/99KZCountry</a>

KZ Country Cheesy Joke of the Day 07/28/23

How do you repair a broken tomato? With tomato paste!

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KZ Country Cheesy Joke of the Day 07/27/23



It's so hot... I bought a loaf of bread and before I got home it was toast!

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It's so hot... I bought a loaf of bread and before I got home it was toast!
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KZ Country Cheesy Joke of the Day 07/26/23

On this episode of the&nbsp;<a href="https://postpodcast.podbean.com/">Post Podcast</a>,&nbsp;The Morning Blend's Jeff Leiker speaks with Buzz the Entertainer about his upcoming Hays performance.

<div><iframe title="Buzz the Entertainer set to perform in Hays Aug. 5" 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=9gft4-146451b-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=f6f6f6&font-color=auto&logo_link=podcast_page&btn-skin=3267a3&size=315" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>On this episode of the&nbsp;<a href="https://postpodcast.podbean.com/">Post Podcast</a>,&nbsp;The Morning Blend's Jeff Leiker speaks with Buzz the Entertainer about his upcoming Hays performance.

🎙 Post Podcast: Buzz the Entertainer set to perform in Hays Aug. 5

Why did the barber win the race?Because he took a short cut.&nbsp;Join fans of KZ Country on Facebook:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.facebook.com/99KZCountry" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">http://www.facebook.com/99KZCountry</a>

KZ Country Cheesy Joke of the Day 07/25/23

By JAMES BELL 
Hays Post

They may be “crazy, kooky and goofy,”
but Travis Grizzell, director of The Hays Community Theatre's production of&nbsp;The Addams Family, a new musical comedy, said
they have been a staple of pop culture for decades not because of their
peculiar antics, but rather what they share with the audience.

“They have the same problems
the rest of us have with all our strange, kooky families,” he said.

And as the world awaits the release of the recently
announced next season of the popular Netflix show Wednesday, local
performers will bring the family to life at 7 p.m. July 27, 28 and 29 in the Beach/Schmidt
Performing Arts Center on the Fort Hays State University campus.

“It's the good old Addams
Family, but as many iterations of the Addams Family as there are, this is a new
one for the musical,” Grizzell said.

The story follows the oldest
daughter, Wednesday, after falling in love and looking to get married “despite
her best efforts,” he said. 

“They are all scared to tell
mom (Morticia), and so the plot revolves around her boyfriend and her and
(father) Gomez trying to skirt around this marriage issue.”

“It's characters that
multiple generations now love, in new circumstances and some musical and dance
numbers too,” Grizzell said.

Bringing the show together are
performers and cast members from all walks of life volunteering their time,
some new and some seasoned veterans of the organization.

“And they're an absolutely
phenomenal group,” Grizzell said. They are talented…they are gamers, and they are
hilarious. They get the humor, they play off each other well, the chemistry is
good, and it's going to be a fun show.”

The show is family-friendly
but will be enjoyable for young and old alike.

“It's good family fun, but
there's a little ‘wink,’ a little adult humor there,” Grizzell said.

And with the staying power in
pop culture and the large cast, he said he expects a good turnout.

“With the old TV show and the
early '90s movies, which are the best, and the new animated series and then the Wednesday
series on Netflix, there's every generation you can think of that has been
exposed to the Addams Family,” Grizzell said. “It's got name recognition.”

The theatre also keeps the
price low, $15, to help everyone in the community experience performances
featuring their neighbors, family and friends.

“You can come see people you
might recognize in a really different way,” Grizzell said.

That familiarity is part of
the “novelty” of community theatre.

“It's ‘Oh,
that's my teacher up there. Oh, my gosh, that's my plumber. That's my banker.
Oh, the guy from the radio booth. He's doing sound, or I know her, she's my dance
teacher,’ you see all walks of life,” Grizzell said.

And
while it may be a diverse group of community members, one thing brings them all
together.

“They are
like-minded, and they like creating something," Grizzell said. "They see the benefit of giving
performance opportunities and artistic outlets."

Tickets are available at the door or online on the Hays Community Theatre website,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hctks.com/">hctks.com.</a>

Direction:&nbsp;Travis Grizzell Assistant Director:&nbsp;Pamela Grizzell Musical Direction:&nbsp;Madelyn Seiler

Gomez Addams&nbsp;– Jerrett Leiker Morticia Addams&nbsp;– Codi Fenwick Uncle Fester&nbsp;– Andy Stanton Grandma&nbsp;– Jerri Ann Leiker Wednesday Addams&nbsp;– Natalie Loftus Pugsley Addams&nbsp;– Jack Stoecklein Lurch&nbsp;– Jeseph Barnes Mal Beineke&nbsp;– Quinton McGuire Alice Beineke&nbsp;– Maggie Brull Lucas Beineke&nbsp;– Lane Werth Caveman&nbsp;– Avery Koehn Pirate&nbsp;– Jazmine Lynd Pilgrim&nbsp;– Breanna Seiler Puritan&nbsp;– Kendra Ryan Prisoner&nbsp;– Caitlyn Sahlfeld Knight&nbsp;– Shiloh Gaschler Princess&nbsp;– Scarlett Wittkorn Egyptian&nbsp;– Victoria Heimann Cousin It&nbsp;– Zachary Leiker Barbershop Crooner&nbsp;– Zachariah Hurd William Shakespeare&nbsp;– Adam Conkey Mardi Gras Dancer&nbsp;– Olivia Werth Conquistador&nbsp;– Gene Stramel Flapper Girl&nbsp;– Kiki Gonzales Elizabethan Woman&nbsp;– Ella Fenwick&nbsp; Marie Antoinette&nbsp;– Claire Nickerson WWII Soldier&nbsp;– Connor Werth Musketeer&nbsp;– Madicyn Urban 1910 Motorist&nbsp;– Allison Goertzen German Polka Dancer&nbsp;– Brooke Leiker Capuchin Priest&nbsp;– Rose Windholz Nun&nbsp;– Alexis Ryan Saloon Girl&nbsp;– Maggie Baalmann Fisherman&nbsp;– Rowen Johnson Safari Guide&nbsp;– Kendall Seiler Ballerina&nbsp;– Savannah Wittkorn Colonial Girl&nbsp;– Gracie Long Cowgirl&nbsp;– Gracelyn Inlow French Revolutionary&nbsp;– Kati Davis-Abbott Miner&nbsp;- Kennedy Smith Spanish Dancer&nbsp;- Elizabeth Noble

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1690253062445.jpeg" alt="Photo by James Bell" />
 <figcaption>Photo by James Bell</figcaption>
 </figure>By JAMES BELL 
Hays PostThey may be “crazy, kooky and goofy,”
but Travis Grizzell, director of The Hays Community Theatre's production of&nbsp;The Addams Family, a new musical comedy, said
they have been a staple of pop culture for decades not because of their
peculiar antics, but rather what they share with the audience.“They have the same problems
the rest of us have with all our strange, kooky families,” he said.And as the world awaits the release of the recently
announced next season of the popular Netflix show Wednesday, local
performers will bring the family to life at 7 p.m. July 27, 28 and 29 in the Beach/Schmidt
Performing Arts Center on the Fort Hays State University campus.<div><iframe title="Hays Community Theatre to present ‘The Addams Family’ a new musical comedy" 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=7y85c-14630b7-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=f6f6f6&font-color=auto&logo_link=podcast_page&btn-skin=3267a3&size=315" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>“It's the good old Addams
Family, but as many iterations of the Addams Family as there are, this is a new
one for the musical,” Grizzell said.The story follows the oldest
daughter, Wednesday, after falling in love and looking to get married “despite
her best efforts,” he said. “They are all scared to tell
mom (Morticia), and so the plot revolves around her boyfriend and her and
(father) Gomez trying to skirt around this marriage issue.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1690253468300.jpeg" alt="Photo by James Bell" />
 <figcaption>Photo by James Bell</figcaption>
 </figure>“It's characters that
multiple generations now love, in new circumstances and some musical and dance
numbers too,” Grizzell said.Bringing the show together are
performers and cast members from all walks of life volunteering their time,
some new and some seasoned veterans of the organization.“And they're an absolutely
phenomenal group,” Grizzell said. They are talented…they are gamers, and they are
hilarious. They get the humor, they play off each other well, the chemistry is
good, and it's going to be a fun show.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1690253491252.jpeg" alt="Photo by James Bell" />
 <figcaption>Photo by James Bell</figcaption>
 </figure>The show is family-friendly
but will be enjoyable for young and old alike.“It's good family fun, but
there's a little ‘wink,’ a little adult humor there,” Grizzell said.And with the staying power in
pop culture and the large cast, he said he expects a good turnout.“With the old TV show and the
early '90s movies, which are the best, and the new animated series and then the Wednesday
series on Netflix, there's every generation you can think of that has been
exposed to the Addams Family,” Grizzell said. “It's got name recognition.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1690253512910.jpeg" alt="Photo by James Bell" />
 <figcaption>Photo by James Bell</figcaption>
 </figure>The theatre also keeps the
price low, $15, to help everyone in the community experience performances
featuring their neighbors, family and friends.“You can come see people you
might recognize in a really different way,” Grizzell said.That familiarity is part of
the “novelty” of community theatre.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1690253535940.jpeg" alt="Photo by James Bell" />
 <figcaption>Photo by James Bell</figcaption>
 </figure>“It's ‘Oh,
that's my teacher up there. Oh, my gosh, that's my plumber. That's my banker.
Oh, the guy from the radio booth. He's doing sound, or I know her, she's my dance
teacher,’ you see all walks of life,” Grizzell said.And
while it may be a diverse group of community members, one thing brings them all
together.“They are
like-minded, and they like creating something," Grizzell said. "They see the benefit of giving
performance opportunities and artistic outlets."Tickets are available at the door or online on the Hays Community Theatre website,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hctks.com/">hctks.com.</a><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1690253558630.jpeg" alt="Photo by James Bell" />
 <figcaption>Photo by James Bell</figcaption>
 </figure>Cast:Direction:&nbsp;Travis Grizzell Assistant Director:&nbsp;Pamela Grizzell Musical Direction:&nbsp;Madelyn SeilerGomez Addams&nbsp;– Jerrett Leiker Morticia Addams&nbsp;– Codi Fenwick Uncle Fester&nbsp;– Andy Stanton Grandma&nbsp;– Jerri Ann Leiker Wednesday Addams&nbsp;– Natalie Loftus Pugsley Addams&nbsp;– Jack Stoecklein Lurch&nbsp;– Jeseph Barnes Mal Beineke&nbsp;– Quinton McGuire Alice Beineke&nbsp;– Maggie Brull Lucas Beineke&nbsp;– Lane Werth Caveman&nbsp;– Avery Koehn Pirate&nbsp;– Jazmine Lynd Pilgrim&nbsp;– Breanna Seiler Puritan&nbsp;– Kendra Ryan Prisoner&nbsp;– Caitlyn Sahlfeld Knight&nbsp;– Shiloh Gaschler Princess&nbsp;– Scarlett Wittkorn Egyptian&nbsp;– Victoria Heimann Cousin It&nbsp;– Zachary Leiker Barbershop Crooner&nbsp;– Zachariah Hurd William Shakespeare&nbsp;– Adam Conkey Mardi Gras Dancer&nbsp;– Olivia Werth Conquistador&nbsp;– Gene Stramel Flapper Girl&nbsp;– Kiki Gonzales Elizabethan Woman&nbsp;– Ella Fenwick&nbsp; Marie Antoinette&nbsp;– Claire Nickerson WWII Soldier&nbsp;– Connor Werth Musketeer&nbsp;– Madicyn Urban 1910 Motorist&nbsp;– Allison Goertzen German Polka Dancer&nbsp;– Brooke Leiker Capuchin Priest&nbsp;– Rose Windholz Nun&nbsp;– Alexis Ryan Saloon Girl&nbsp;– Maggie Baalmann Fisherman&nbsp;– Rowen Johnson Safari Guide&nbsp;– Kendall Seiler Ballerina&nbsp;– Savannah Wittkorn Colonial Girl&nbsp;– Gracie Long Cowgirl&nbsp;– Gracelyn Inlow French Revolutionary&nbsp;– Kati Davis-Abbott Miner&nbsp;- Kennedy Smith Spanish Dancer&nbsp;- Elizabeth Noble

🎙 Hays Community Theatre to present ‘The Addams Family,’ a new musical comedy

LOS ANGELES (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jason-aldean">Jason Aldean</a>&nbsp;'s “Try That in a Small Town” is experiencing exponential growth following&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jason-aldean-try-that-small-town-video-b164d61b0293318cefc4538206464ced">controversy over its music video</a>.

“Try That in a Small Town,” which was released in May, debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 this week just behind&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bts-beyond-story-book-review-8ac9f997817252d43bb9753de0e1c8e6">BTS’s Jung Kook</a>&nbsp;solo single “Seven,”&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2023-song-of-summer-predictions-411d7738986212bb7ffb06e8f3893408">featuring Latto</a>. The track experienced the biggest sales week for a country song in over 10 years.

According to Luminate, the song hit 11.7 million on-demand audio and video streams between July 14 and 20, marking a 1,000% increase from the previous week. Prior to the music video release on July 14, the track accounted for 987,000 streams in the U.S.

Digital song sales increased from 1,000 to 228,000, in those same weeks, respectively.

The music video for the song lasted just one weekend on Country Music Television before the network pulled it in response to an outcry over its setting and lyrics. When the network removed the video from its rotation, it had 350,000 views on YouTube. Now that number is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1_RKu-ESCY">now over 16 million</a>, and it is the No. 1 trending video under the “music” category.

In the visual, Aldean — who has been awarded country music&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/d941899353c345d99116f3088e4c29af">artist of the decade</a>&nbsp;by the Academy of Country Music — performs in front of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFl4tmi8cbE">Maury County Courthouse</a>&nbsp;in Columbia, Tennessee. It is the site of the 1946 Columbia race riot and the 1927 mob lynching of an 18-year-old Black teenager named Henry Choate.

Aldean’s video received fervent criticism online, with some claiming the visual is a “dog whistle” and others labeling it&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/19/arts/music/jason-aldean-try-that-in-a-small-town-cmt.html">“pro-lynching.”</a>

“There is not a single lyric in the song that references race or points to it- and there isn’t a single video clip that isn’t real news footage -and while I can try and respect others to have their own interpretation of a song with music- this one goes too far,” Aldean wrote in a tweet posted Tuesday.

“Cuss out a cop, spit in his face / Stomp on the flag and light it up / Yeah, ya think you’re tough,” Aldean sings on the track, written by Neil Thrasher, Kurt Allison, Tully Kennedy, and Kelley Lovelace. “Got a gun that my granddad gave me / They say one day they’re gonna round up / Well, that (expletive) might fly in the city, good luck / Try that in a small town.”

On Friday, July 21, while performing at Cincinnati's Riverbend Music Center, Aldean addressed the audience with “Cancel culture is a thing... which means try and ruin your life, ruin everything. One thing I saw this week was a bunch of country music fans that could see through a lot of the bulls---, all right?", according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dispatch.com/story/entertainment/2023/07/23/jason-aldean-defends-try-that-in-a-small-town-in-cincinnati-ohio/70452887007/">“The Columbus Dispatch.”</a>

For those wondering if he would play the song live, he said, “The answer is simple. The people have spoken and you guys spoke very, very loudly,” he said, before launching into the song.

LOS ANGELES (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jason-aldean">Jason Aldean</a>&nbsp;'s “Try That in a Small Town” is experiencing exponential growth following&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jason-aldean-try-that-small-town-video-b164d61b0293318cefc4538206464ced">controversy over its music video</a>.“Try That in a Small Town,” which was released in May, debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 this week just behind&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bts-beyond-story-book-review-8ac9f997817252d43bb9753de0e1c8e6">BTS’s Jung Kook</a>&nbsp;solo single “Seven,”&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2023-song-of-summer-predictions-411d7738986212bb7ffb06e8f3893408">featuring Latto</a>. The track experienced the biggest sales week for a country song in over 10 years.According to Luminate, the song hit 11.7 million on-demand audio and video streams between July 14 and 20, marking a 1,000% increase from the previous week. Prior to the music video release on July 14, the track accounted for 987,000 streams in the U.S.Digital song sales increased from 1,000 to 228,000, in those same weeks, respectively.The music video for the song lasted just one weekend on Country Music Television before the network pulled it in response to an outcry over its setting and lyrics. When the network removed the video from its rotation, it had 350,000 views on YouTube. Now that number is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1_RKu-ESCY">now over 16 million</a>, and it is the No. 1 trending video under the “music” category.In the visual, Aldean — who has been awarded country music&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/d941899353c345d99116f3088e4c29af">artist of the decade</a>&nbsp;by the Academy of Country Music — performs in front of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFl4tmi8cbE">Maury County Courthouse</a>&nbsp;in Columbia, Tennessee. It is the site of the 1946 Columbia race riot and the 1927 mob lynching of an 18-year-old Black teenager named Henry Choate.Aldean’s video received fervent criticism online, with some claiming the visual is a “dog whistle” and others labeling it&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/19/arts/music/jason-aldean-try-that-in-a-small-town-cmt.html">“pro-lynching.”</a>“There is not a single lyric in the song that references race or points to it- and there isn’t a single video clip that isn’t real news footage -and while I can try and respect others to have their own interpretation of a song with music- this one goes too far,” Aldean wrote in a tweet posted Tuesday.“Cuss out a cop, spit in his face / Stomp on the flag and light it up / Yeah, ya think you’re tough,” Aldean sings on the track, written by Neil Thrasher, Kurt Allison, Tully Kennedy, and Kelley Lovelace. “Got a gun that my granddad gave me / They say one day they’re gonna round up / Well, that (expletive) might fly in the city, good luck / Try that in a small town.”On Friday, July 21, while performing at Cincinnati's Riverbend Music Center, Aldean addressed the audience with “Cancel culture is a thing... which means try and ruin your life, ruin everything. One thing I saw this week was a bunch of country music fans that could see through a lot of the bulls---, all right?", according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dispatch.com/story/entertainment/2023/07/23/jason-aldean-defends-try-that-in-a-small-town-in-cincinnati-ohio/70452887007/">“The Columbus Dispatch.”</a>For those wondering if he would play the song live, he said, “The answer is simple. The people have spoken and you guys spoke very, very loudly,” he said, before launching into the song.

Jason Aldean's 'Try That in a Small Town' rockets to No. 2 on charts after controversy

Why should you never trust stairs? They’re always up to something.

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Why should you never trust stairs? They’re always up to something.&nbsp;Join fans of KZ Country on Facebook:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.facebook.com/99KZCountry" target="_blank">http://www.facebook.com/99KZCountry</a>

KZ Country Cheesy Joke of the Day 07/24/23

On this episode of the&nbsp;<a href="https://postpodcast.podbean.com/">Post Podcast</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://haysartscouncil.org/" target="_blank">Hays Arts Council</a> executive director Brenda Meder discusses current happenings at the Hays Arts Center as preparations begin for the Fall Art Walk.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<div><iframe title="Hays Arts Council begins Fall Art Walk preparations" 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=kztav-145fed2-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=f6f6f6&font-color=auto&logo_link=podcast_page&btn-skin=3267a3&size=315" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>On this episode of the&nbsp;<a href="https://postpodcast.podbean.com/">Post Podcast</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://haysartscouncil.org/" target="_blank">Hays Arts Council</a> executive director Brenda Meder discusses current happenings at the Hays Arts Center as preparations begin for the Fall Art Walk.&nbsp;&nbsp;

🎙 Post Podcast: Hays Arts Council begins Fall Art Walk preparations

Jay Harris, K-State Cottonwood Extension District director,
recently added new responsibilities to his position after accepting the duties
of Horticulture Agent filling the long-time role for the first time in two
years.

He said the district board of directors were “pretty excited”
to have someone in the position after they were unable to fill the job with an
outside hire.

In the new job, Harris will serve the community with their
questions on trees, lawns and gardens.

He will also serve as the coordinator for the Extension Master Gardener Program. The program
has been serving area residents since 1996.

“Master gardeners do a lot of
good things for the public,” Harris said. “These are volunteers that take the
time to do some pretty extensive training.”

The next round of training is
set to begin in September.

“The
biggest thing is being there for people,” Harris said.

Since
assuming the position, he said he has been educating residents on their
trees in the midst of the ongoing excessive drought.

“We've
been in such a drought for a couple of years,” Harris said. “And even though
we've been getting rain, our trees are so far behind in the growth they're
showing dead spots and some fertility issues.”

The
Master Gardener program also maintains demonstration gardens throughout the
area. 

There are
two located at the Ag Experiment Station and one at the Old Fort Hays, he said.

Year-round the program helps residents with questions and provides assistance to all
types of horticulture issues with participants required to complete 40 hours of
volunteer service the first year and 20 each year after.

“The
volunteer service needs to be educational,” Harris said. “It's not truly labor
hours going out and working in the gardens. It is actually helping do some of
the educational part of extensions’ goal and our mission.”

Two
upcoming events will highlight that educational mission.

Today Iris Day will be during Bazaar on the Bricks. They will be providing Iris
bulbs for a suggested donation of $1.

On Aug.
23, the Master Gardeners will conduct a garden tour from 5 to 7:30 p.m. in conjunction with the
Hays Art Council’s Fall Art Walk at the demonstration gardens and at their
perennial garden at the district office at 601 Main.

It is a “good way for the
public to come out and see what Master Gardeners are doing,” Harris said.

Following
the events in September, training for the newest Master Gardeners will begin and
include people from all walks of life, Harris said.

“They do this extensive
training,” he said, in order to help out people with all sorts of questions and
assist with projects throughout the community.

To become a Master Gardner,
Harris said requirements include a high school diploma a desire to “get their
hands dirty” and “a love of gardening.” 

For more information about the Master Gardner program, visit the Cottonwood Extension District's website,<a href="https://cottonwood.k-state.edu/lawn-garden/MasterGardeners.html">&nbsp;cottonwood.k-state.edu</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689958422362.jpeg" alt="Photo by James Bell/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Photo by James Bell/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>By JAMES BELL 
Hays PostJay Harris, K-State Cottonwood Extension District director,
recently added new responsibilities to his position after accepting the duties
of Horticulture Agent filling the long-time role for the first time in two
years.He said the district board of directors were “pretty excited”
to have someone in the position after they were unable to fill the job with an
outside hire.In the new job, Harris will serve the community with their
questions on trees, lawns and gardens.<div><iframe title="Cottonwood director assumes horticulture agent, Master Gardener coordinator position" allowtransparency="true" height="300" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:300px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=5ewcw-145ed33-pb&from=pb6admin&square=1&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=f6f6f6&font-color=auto&logo_link=podcast_page&btn-skin=3267a3&size=300" loading="lazy" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>He will also serve as the coordinator for the Extension Master Gardener Program. The program
has been serving area residents since 1996.“Master gardeners do a lot of
good things for the public,” Harris said. “These are volunteers that take the
time to do some pretty extensive training.”The next round of training is
set to begin in September.“The
biggest thing is being there for people,” Harris said.Since
assuming the position, he said he has been educating residents on their
trees in the midst of the ongoing excessive drought.“We've
been in such a drought for a couple of years,” Harris said. “And even though
we've been getting rain, our trees are so far behind in the growth they're
showing dead spots and some fertility issues.”The
Master Gardener program also maintains demonstration gardens throughout the
area. There are
two located at the Ag Experiment Station and one at the Old Fort Hays, he said.Year-round the program helps residents with questions and provides assistance to all
types of horticulture issues with participants required to complete 40 hours of
volunteer service the first year and 20 each year after.“The
volunteer service needs to be educational,” Harris said. “It's not truly labor
hours going out and working in the gardens. It is actually helping do some of
the educational part of extensions’ goal and our mission.”Two
upcoming events will highlight that educational mission.Today Iris Day will be during Bazaar on the Bricks. They will be providing Iris
bulbs for a suggested donation of $1.On Aug.
23, the Master Gardeners will conduct a garden tour from 5 to 7:30 p.m. in conjunction with the
Hays Art Council’s Fall Art Walk at the demonstration gardens and at their
perennial garden at the district office at 601 Main.It is a “good way for the
public to come out and see what Master Gardeners are doing,” Harris said.An ice cream truck also will be on site.Following
the events in September, training for the newest Master Gardeners will begin and
include people from all walks of life, Harris said.“They do this extensive
training,” he said, in order to help out people with all sorts of questions and
assist with projects throughout the community.To become a Master Gardner,
Harris said requirements include a high school diploma a desire to “get their
hands dirty” and “a love of gardening.” For more information about the Master Gardner program, visit the Cottonwood Extension District's website,<a href="https://cottonwood.k-state.edu/lawn-garden/MasterGardeners.html">&nbsp;cottonwood.k-state.edu</a>.

🎙 Cottonwood director assumes horticulture agent, Master Gardener coordinator position

A horse walks into a bar. The bartender says “Why the long fa...” when suddenly the horse cuts him off.

"I’ve heard that a million times,' says the horse. Everywhere I go. Ha, ha. Why the long face?"

"Oh, I’m sorry to hear that," Says the bartender. "Other than that, How’s your life?"

A horse walks into a bar. The bartender says “Why the long fa...” when suddenly the horse cuts him off."I’ve heard that a million times,' says the horse. Everywhere I go. Ha, ha. Why the long face?""Oh, I’m sorry to hear that," Says the bartender. "Other than that, How’s your life?"The horse replies with, "Stable."
Join fans of KZ Country on Facebook:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.facebook.com/99KZCountry" target="_blank">http://www.facebook.com/99KZCountry</a>

KZ Country Cheesy Joke of the Day 07/21/23

On this episode of the&nbsp;<a href="https://postpodcast.podbean.com/">Post Podcast</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fhsu.edu/hhp/faculty-and-staff/" target="_blank">Fort Hays State University's Jessica Phelan</a>&nbsp;discusses dietary guidelines and nutrition tips with The Morning Blend's Jeff Leiker.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<div><iframe title="Making sense of dietary guidelines and nutrition" allowtransparency="true" height="600" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:600px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=i45dd-145eaeb-pb&from=pb6admin&square=1&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=f6f6f6&font-color=auto&logo_link=podcast_page&btn-skin=3267a3&size=600" loading="lazy" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>On this episode of the&nbsp;<a href="https://postpodcast.podbean.com/">Post Podcast</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fhsu.edu/hhp/faculty-and-staff/" target="_blank">Fort Hays State University's Jessica Phelan</a>&nbsp;discusses dietary guidelines and nutrition tips with The Morning Blend's Jeff Leiker.&nbsp;&nbsp;

🎙 Post Podcast: Making sense of dietary guidelines and nutrition

NASHVILLE (AP) —Country music star&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jason-aldean">Jason Aldean</a>&nbsp;'s latest <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1_RKu-ESCY&amp;t=10s">music video</a> for “Try That In A Small Town," lasted just one weekend on Country Music Television before the network pulled it in response to an outcry over its setting and lyrics.

In the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1_RKu-ESCY&amp;t=10s">video</a>, Aldean — who has been awarded country music&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/d941899353c345d99116f3088e4c29af">artist of the decade</a>&nbsp;by the Academy of Country Music — performs in front of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFl4tmi8cbE">Maury County Courthouse</a>&nbsp;in Columbia, Tennessee. This is the site of the 1946 Columbia race riot and the 1927 mob lynching of an 18-year-old Black teenager named Henry Choate.

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1_RKu-ESCY&amp;t=10s">Aldean's video,</a> which was released last Friday, has received fervent criticism online, with some claiming the visual is a&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/laurkatrad/status/1680777937686077443">“dog whistle”</a>&nbsp;and others labeling it&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/19/arts/music/jason-aldean-try-that-in-a-small-town-cmt.html">“pro-lynching.”</a>

Interspersed between performance footage of Aldean are news clips of violent riots and flag burnings. A Fox News chyron reads: “State of emergency declared in Georgia."

“Cuss out a cop, spit in his face / Stomp on the flag and light it up / Yeah, ya think you’re tough,” Aldean, who is from Macon, Georgia, sings. "Got a gun that my granddad gave me / They say one day they’re gonna round up / Well, that shit might fly in the city, good luck / Try that in a small town."

“There is not a single lyric in the song that references race or points to it- and there isn’t a single <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1_RKu-ESCY&amp;t=10s">video clip</a> that isn’t real news footage -and while I can try and respect others to have their own interpretation of a song with music- this one goes too far,” Aldean wrote in a tweet posted Tuesday.

The production company behind <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1_RKu-ESCY&amp;t=10s">the video</a>, Tacklebox, said in a statement Wednesday that it picked a ”popular filming location outside of Nashville” that had been used on numerous productions, including holiday films starring Tanya Tucker and one starring Mario Lopez and Jana Kramer.

“Any alternative narrative suggesting the music video's location decision is false," the company said, adding that Aldean did not choose the location.

Aldean has long identified as conservative, and has been&nbsp;<a href="https://countrynow.com/jason-aldean-and-brittany-aldean-ring-in-new-year-with-donald-trump-at-mar-a-lago-party-dream-night/">a vocal supporter</a>&nbsp;of former President Donald Trump. “My political views have never been something I’ve hidden from,” he tweeted Tuesday.

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1_RKu-ESCY&amp;t=10s">The video</a> and its subsequent removal from CMT quickly blew up into one of the periodic culture war clashes, with several conservative figures speaking out in favor of Aldean — including Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem and Colorado Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert.

This isn't the first time Aldean has been at the center of controversy. In 2015, he made headlines for dressing as rapper Lil Wayne as a Halloween costume,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/613b0120a905418684fd0ab09cc83fce">wearing blackface makeup</a>&nbsp;and a wig with dreadlocks.

In 2017, the country singer was on stage at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-jason-aldean-las-vegas-mass-shooting-30c3bca1b28e616b8560818ee89a5917">the Route 91 Festival</a>&nbsp;in Las Vegas during the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history. Over the years, Aldean has given conflicting statements about his stance on U.S. gun laws, though his music celebrates gun ownership.

“It’s too easy to get guns, first and foremost,” he told The Associated Press after the Las Vegas shooting. “When you can walk in somewhere and you can get one in 5 minutes, do a background check that takes 5 minutes, like how in-depth is that background check? Those are the issues I have. It’s not necessarily the guns themselves or that I don’t think people should have guns. I have a lot of them.”

“In the past 24 hours I have been accused of releasing a pro-lynching song (a song that has been out since May) and was subject to the comparison that I (direct quote) was not too pleased with the nationwide BLM protests," Aldean said on Twitter Tuesday. "These references are not only meritless, but dangerous."

A CMT spokesperson did not immediately respond to AP's request for comment.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689875863323.png" alt="Image from the video" />
 <figcaption>Image from the video</figcaption>
 </figure>NASHVILLE (AP) —Country music star&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jason-aldean">Jason Aldean</a>&nbsp;'s latest <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1_RKu-ESCY&amp;t=10s">music video</a> for “Try That In A Small Town," lasted just one weekend on Country Music Television before the network pulled it in response to an outcry over its setting and lyrics.In the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1_RKu-ESCY&amp;t=10s">video</a>, Aldean — who has been awarded country music&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/d941899353c345d99116f3088e4c29af">artist of the decade</a>&nbsp;by the Academy of Country Music — performs in front of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFl4tmi8cbE">Maury County Courthouse</a>&nbsp;in Columbia, Tennessee. This is the site of the 1946 Columbia race riot and the 1927 mob lynching of an 18-year-old Black teenager named Henry Choate.<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1_RKu-ESCY&amp;t=10s">Aldean's video,</a> which was released last Friday, has received fervent criticism online, with some claiming the visual is a&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/laurkatrad/status/1680777937686077443">“dog whistle”</a>&nbsp;and others labeling it&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/19/arts/music/jason-aldean-try-that-in-a-small-town-cmt.html">“pro-lynching.”</a>Interspersed between performance footage of Aldean are news clips of violent riots and flag burnings. A Fox News chyron reads: “State of emergency declared in Georgia."“Cuss out a cop, spit in his face / Stomp on the flag and light it up / Yeah, ya think you’re tough,” Aldean, who is from Macon, Georgia, sings. "Got a gun that my granddad gave me / They say one day they’re gonna round up / Well, that shit might fly in the city, good luck / Try that in a small town."“There is not a single lyric in the song that references race or points to it- and there isn’t a single <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1_RKu-ESCY&amp;t=10s">video clip</a> that isn’t real news footage -and while I can try and respect others to have their own interpretation of a song with music- this one goes too far,” Aldean wrote in a tweet posted Tuesday.The production company behind <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1_RKu-ESCY&amp;t=10s">the video</a>, Tacklebox, said in a statement Wednesday that it picked a ”popular filming location outside of Nashville” that had been used on numerous productions, including holiday films starring Tanya Tucker and one starring Mario Lopez and Jana Kramer.“Any alternative narrative suggesting the music video's location decision is false," the company said, adding that Aldean did not choose the location.Aldean has long identified as conservative, and has been&nbsp;<a href="https://countrynow.com/jason-aldean-and-brittany-aldean-ring-in-new-year-with-donald-trump-at-mar-a-lago-party-dream-night/">a vocal supporter</a>&nbsp;of former President Donald Trump. “My political views have never been something I’ve hidden from,” he tweeted Tuesday.<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1_RKu-ESCY&amp;t=10s">The video</a> and its subsequent removal from CMT quickly blew up into one of the periodic culture war clashes, with several conservative figures speaking out in favor of Aldean — including Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem and Colorado Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert.This isn't the first time Aldean has been at the center of controversy. In 2015, he made headlines for dressing as rapper Lil Wayne as a Halloween costume,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/613b0120a905418684fd0ab09cc83fce">wearing blackface makeup</a>&nbsp;and a wig with dreadlocks.In 2017, the country singer was on stage at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-jason-aldean-las-vegas-mass-shooting-30c3bca1b28e616b8560818ee89a5917">the Route 91 Festival</a>&nbsp;in Las Vegas during the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history. Over the years, Aldean has given conflicting statements about his stance on U.S. gun laws, though his music celebrates gun ownership.“It’s too easy to get guns, first and foremost,” he told The Associated Press after the Las Vegas shooting. “When you can walk in somewhere and you can get one in 5 minutes, do a background check that takes 5 minutes, like how in-depth is that background check? Those are the issues I have. It’s not necessarily the guns themselves or that I don’t think people should have guns. I have a lot of them.”“In the past 24 hours I have been accused of releasing a pro-lynching song (a song that has been out since May) and was subject to the comparison that I (direct quote) was not too pleased with the nationwide BLM protests," Aldean said on Twitter Tuesday. "These references are not only meritless, but dangerous."A CMT spokesperson did not immediately respond to AP's request for comment.

Jason Aldean music video lasted 1 week on country music network

What do you call a very old ant? An antique!

What do you call a very old ant? An antique!Join fans of KZ Country on Facebook:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.facebook.com/99KZCountry" target="_blank">http://www.facebook.com/99KZCountry</a>

KZ Country Cheesy Joke of the Day 07/20/23

I took the shell off of my racing snail, thinking it would make him faster. But if anything, it made him more sluggish.

I took the shell off of my racing snail, thinking it would make him faster. But if anything, it made him more sluggish.&nbsp;Join fans of KZ Country on Facebook:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.facebook.com/99KZCountry" target="_blank">http://www.facebook.com/99KZCountry</a>

KZ Country Cheesy Joke of the Day 07/19/23

How do you keep a skunk from smelling? Hold its nose.

How do you keep a skunk from smelling? Hold its nose.Join fans of KZ Country on Facebook:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.facebook.com/99KZCountry" target="_blank">http://www.facebook.com/99KZCountry</a>

KZ Country Cheesy Joke of the Day 07/18/23

What did the duck say when it bought lipstick? Put it on my bill.

What did the duck say when it bought lipstick? Put it on my bill.Join fans of KZ Country on Facebook:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.facebook.com/99KZCountry" target="_blank">http://www.facebook.com/99KZCountry</a>

KZ Country Cheesy Joke of the Day 07/17/23

On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with Melinda Merrill on&nbsp;Wilson's Czech Festival.

For more information about the 2023 Czech Fest, including a full calendar of events, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://wilsonczechfest.com/">wilsonczechfest.com.</a>

-The original version of this identified Melinda Merrill as Director of the Czech Festival.&nbsp; The festival has wonderful volunteer committee that is co-chaired by Susan Kriley and Kate Schiermeyer. 

<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1JfYJm30qLA" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with Melinda Merrill on&nbsp;Wilson's Czech Festival.For more information about the 2023 Czech Fest, including a full calendar of events, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://wilsonczechfest.com/">wilsonczechfest.com.</a>-The original version of this identified Melinda Merrill as Director of the Czech Festival.&nbsp; The festival has wonderful volunteer committee that is co-chaired by Susan Kriley and Kate Schiermeyer.

Correction: Forward Ever: Melinda Merrill on Wilson's Czech Fest 

One Sunday morning, a preacher told his congregation, “Everyone who wants to go to heaven, come down to the front!” The whole church came forward except one man. Thinking that maybe the man hadn’t heard him, the preacher repeated the invitation. Again, the man just sat there. “Sir,” said the preacher, “don’t you want to go to heaven when you die?” The man replied, “Oh, when I die! I thought you were getting a group ready to go right now.”

One Sunday morning, a preacher told his congregation, “Everyone who wants to go to heaven, come down to the front!” The whole church came forward except one man. Thinking that maybe the man hadn’t heard him, the preacher repeated the invitation. Again, the man just sat there. “Sir,” said the preacher, “don’t you want to go to heaven when you die?” The man replied, “Oh, when I die! I thought you were getting a group ready to go right now.”Join fans of KZ Country on Facebook:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.facebook.com/99KZCountry" target="_blank">http://www.facebook.com/99KZCountry</a>

KZ Country Cheesy Joke of the Day 07/12/23

A young man was about to play golf when an old gentleman shuffled onto the tee and asked if he could accompany him. Eventually on the 9th fairway the young man found himself with a tough shot. There was a large pine tree directly between his ball and the green. The old man said, “You know, when I was your age I’d hit the ball right over that tree.” With that challenge placed before him, the youngster swung hard and hit the ball, which smacked solidly into the tree and dropped to the ground about one foot from where it had started. The old man remarked, “Of course, when I was your age that tree was only 3 feet tall.”

A young man was about to play golf when an old gentleman shuffled onto the tee and asked if he could accompany him. Eventually on the 9th fairway the young man found himself with a tough shot. There was a large pine tree directly between his ball and the green. The old man said, “You know, when I was your age I’d hit the ball right over that tree.” With that challenge placed before him, the youngster swung hard and hit the ball, which smacked solidly into the tree and dropped to the ground about one foot from where it had started. The old man remarked, “Of course, when I was your age that tree was only 3 feet tall.”Join fans of KZ Country on Facebook:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.facebook.com/99KZCountry" target="_blank">http://www.facebook.com/99KZCountry</a>

KZ Country Cheesy Joke of the Day 07/11/23

Fred calls his plumber. “Can you please come fix my kitchen sink again?” The plumber replied, “You know, Fred, I’m always at your disposal.”

Fred calls his plumber. “Can you please come fix my kitchen sink again?” The plumber replied, “You know, Fred, I’m always at your disposal.”Join fans of 99 KZ Country on Facebook:<a href="http://www.facebook.com/99KZCountry">http://www.facebook.com/99KZCountry</a>

KZ Country Cheesy Joke of the Day 07/10/23

On Friday, July 14, the Ad Astra Music Festival kicks off its 10th season with a recital by Elisa Sunshine and Matthew Piatt at St. John Lutheran Church in Russell.

The first weekend is rounded out by two performances of the Pulitzer-Prize-winning musical, "Next to Normal," in concert at the Elks Lodge in Russell on July 15 at 16.

The opening recital, Sunshine + Piatt features Victoria-native and Ad Astra regular, Matthew Piatt at the piano.&nbsp;Piatt is an assistant conductor and coach primarily at San Francisco Opera, and has assisted at The Metropolitan Opera for the last two years and at Chicago Lyric Opera for many years before that. To open the season, Matthew invited his friend, Elisa Sunshine, a New York-based soprano and former Adler Fellow at San Francisco Opera to join him for a fantastic evening of art songs and arias from the past and present. It is part of the festival’s chamber music series, where tickets are $10.

To finish out the weekend, the festival is producing two performances of "Next to Normal," in concert. The show opened on Broadway in 2009 and won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama the year prior. The deeply moving story focuses on a family processing grief and mental illness. It’s rated PG-13 for language and drug use, and might be heavy for those who struggle with mental health.

The festival has assembled a cast that includes knock-out Broadway veterans Julie Foldesi and Trey Ellett, two Kansas college students Noah Svaty and Mary Little, 2023 Hays High School graduate and Chicago-bound Seth Tripp, and Russell-native and NYC-based actor, Nathan Hilger. The show is directed by Hays-based playwright Catherine Trieschmann with technical direction by Terrance Volden, costumes by Dalee Werth, and music direction by New York pianist, Connor Doran. "Next to Normal," in concert, is part of the festival’s mainstage series and tickets are $20.

Season tickets and individual tickets, performance information, performer bios, and ways to get involved are all on the festival’s website: www.adastramusicfestival.org.

SubmittedOn Friday, July 14, the Ad Astra Music Festival kicks off its 10th season with a recital by Elisa Sunshine and Matthew Piatt at St. John Lutheran Church in Russell.The first weekend is rounded out by two performances of the Pulitzer-Prize-winning musical, "Next to Normal," in concert at the Elks Lodge in Russell on July 15 at 16.The opening recital, Sunshine + Piatt features Victoria-native and Ad Astra regular, Matthew Piatt at the piano.&nbsp;Piatt is an assistant conductor and coach primarily at San Francisco Opera, and has assisted at The Metropolitan Opera for the last two years and at Chicago Lyric Opera for many years before that. To open the season, Matthew invited his friend, Elisa Sunshine, a New York-based soprano and former Adler Fellow at San Francisco Opera to join him for a fantastic evening of art songs and arias from the past and present. It is part of the festival’s chamber music series, where tickets are $10.To finish out the weekend, the festival is producing two performances of "Next to Normal," in concert. The show opened on Broadway in 2009 and won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama the year prior. The deeply moving story focuses on a family processing grief and mental illness. It’s rated PG-13 for language and drug use, and might be heavy for those who struggle with mental health.The festival has assembled a cast that includes knock-out Broadway veterans Julie Foldesi and Trey Ellett, two Kansas college students Noah Svaty and Mary Little, 2023 Hays High School graduate and Chicago-bound Seth Tripp, and Russell-native and NYC-based actor, Nathan Hilger. The show is directed by Hays-based playwright Catherine Trieschmann with technical direction by Terrance Volden, costumes by Dalee Werth, and music direction by New York pianist, Connor Doran. "Next to Normal," in concert, is part of the festival’s mainstage series and tickets are $20.Season tickets and individual tickets, performance information, performer bios, and ways to get involved are all on the festival’s website: www.adastramusicfestival.org.

Ad Astra Music Festival announces week 1 performances

Community fair 8 a.m. to  3 p.m. July&nbsp;22 at Big Creek Crossing

Hosted by the Ellis County Health Department. There will be drawings for prizes, food trucks, NW KS Area Agency on Aging Options Dept. for Families and Children, Ellis County Clerk- to answer all of your voting questions, High Plains Mental Health, Ellis County Health Dept.-check your blood pressure, Hays Public Library and St. Francis Community Services Hays Senior Center Brookdale Hays.

Summer Healing Kids' Hearts 4 to 7:30 p.m. July&nbsp;22 at theHays Aquatic Park

Registration DEADLINE is JULY 14. Now accepting applications for participating children (ages 6-11) and adult volunteers.

<div><iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/1558479871&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509" title="Eagle Radio" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Eagle Radio</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509/melissa-dixon-july-hays-events" title="Melissa Dixon July Hays Events" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Melissa Dixon July Hays Events</a></div></div><figure>
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 </figure>Community fair 8 a.m. to  3 p.m. July&nbsp;22 at Big Creek CrossingHosted by the Ellis County Health Department. There will be drawings for prizes, food trucks, NW KS Area Agency on Aging Options Dept. for Families and Children, Ellis County Clerk- to answer all of your voting questions, High Plains Mental Health, Ellis County Health Dept.-check your blood pressure, Hays Public Library and St. Francis Community Services Hays Senior Center Brookdale Hays.Summer Healing Kids' Hearts 4 to 7:30 p.m. July&nbsp;22 at theHays Aquatic ParkRegistration DEADLINE is JULY 14. Now accepting applications for participating children (ages 6-11) and adult volunteers.

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