By TONY GUERRERO and JAMES BELL Hays Post

Despite recent rains in Ellis County, the county and large areas of the state remain in exceptional drought.

Hays is expected to receive 3.46 inches of rain by the end of June, according to the K-State Agriculture Research Center, but has received .43 inches so far this month.

The city is supposed to have a cumulative participation average of 11.27 inches by the end of June. However, Hays has only received 6.64 inches since Jan. 1

Local communities are already facing tough decisions in the wake of the ongoing drought.

At the intersection of water conservation and economic impacts, the city of Ellis has faced concerns over water use during the ongoing drought at the Ellis Golf Club, 1301 Spruce.&nbsp;

At the city council meeting on May 15, city council members heard from Police Chief Avery Smith about a series of water violations at the club. After giving a courtesy warning they were using water in violation of city and Kansas Department of Health and Environment ordinances, they were noted to continue using water during restricted times.&nbsp;

“We need to address it, especially if we’re going to be as far behind as we are in moisture,” Smith said.&nbsp;

It was also noted sprinkler systems were running while rain was recently falling on the course.&nbsp;

City Attorney Olavee Raub said warnings are not to be given and the person responsible could immediately face criminal charges. Smith said ongoing violations could even result in a sentence that includes serving time in jail.&nbsp;

As the course generally uses effluent, rather than treated water from the city, the city is bound to KDHE regulations.&nbsp;

Smith suggested updating city ordinances.&nbsp;

“As far as the violation of the KDHE permit, we may be put in a position where if they are not going to comply with the provisions, we have no other recourse than to terminate their usage of effluent water,” Raub. “Otherwise, we are in violation of the KDHE permit, which falls back on us.”&nbsp;

After the club was made aware of the council’s observations, representatives spoke at the next city council meeting on June 5 as the council considered options that would allow water use to keep the course’s greens alive through the summer.&nbsp;

“In the drought times, the heat on the green, the grass is so small it will kill it,” said Rick Gaschler, member of the Ellis Golf Club board.&nbsp;

Raub told the council as the greens are a necessary part of the business, an exception could be carved out for the club.&nbsp;

The council will consider an updated ordinance at its next meeting on June 19.&nbsp;

Jeff Crispin, Hays director of water resources, explains the impact of the drought on Hays and what the following months will look like.

“From a drought perspective it put us into D4 exceptional drought and with any drought, that causes us to watch our water situation a lot closer,” Crispin said. 

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/e2fcc739-0eba-4196-84c8-8e33b56b1443">Water restrictions began on June 1, which restricts the public from using water outdoors between noon and 7 p.m.&nbsp;</a>

Despite the rain received in the last week, Crispin said it’ll take a lot more rainfall before Ellis County can move out of the exceptional drought but assured residents the county won’t see any more restrictions this summer.&nbsp;

“I think we’ll continue with our normal water restriction time period that we do every year. I don’t see us adding a different or separate water restriction,” Crispin said.&nbsp;

Crispin pointed out the availability of <a href="https://www.haysusa.com/566/WaterSmart-Landscaping">WaterSmart.hays.com</a>, which offers a rebate program to help lower water consumption as well as a variety of water sensors.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686234171526.png" alt="Kansas Drought Monitor as released June 8, 2023. Courtesy image." />
 <figcaption>Kansas Drought Monitor as released June 8, 2023. Courtesy image.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TONY GUERRERO and JAMES BELL Hays PostDespite recent rains in Ellis County, the county and large areas of the state remain in exceptional drought.Hays is expected to receive 3.46 inches of rain by the end of June, according to the K-State Agriculture Research Center, but has received .43 inches so far this month.The city is supposed to have a cumulative participation average of 11.27 inches by the end of June. However, Hays has only received 6.64 inches since Jan. 1Local communities are already facing tough decisions in the wake of the ongoing drought.At the intersection of water conservation and economic impacts, the city of Ellis has faced concerns over water use during the ongoing drought at the Ellis Golf Club, 1301 Spruce.&nbsp;At the city council meeting on May 15, city council members heard from Police Chief Avery Smith about a series of water violations at the club. After giving a courtesy warning they were using water in violation of city and Kansas Department of Health and Environment ordinances, they were noted to continue using water during restricted times.&nbsp;“We need to address it, especially if we’re going to be as far behind as we are in moisture,” Smith said.&nbsp;It was also noted sprinkler systems were running while rain was recently falling on the course.&nbsp;City Attorney Olavee Raub said warnings are not to be given and the person responsible could immediately face criminal charges. Smith said ongoing violations could even result in a sentence that includes serving time in jail.&nbsp;As the course generally uses effluent, rather than treated water from the city, the city is bound to KDHE regulations.&nbsp;Smith suggested updating city ordinances.&nbsp;“As far as the violation of the KDHE permit, we may be put in a position where if they are not going to comply with the provisions, we have no other recourse than to terminate their usage of effluent water,” Raub. “Otherwise, we are in violation of the KDHE permit, which falls back on us.”&nbsp;After the club was made aware of the council’s observations, representatives spoke at the next city council meeting on June 5 as the council considered options that would allow water use to keep the course’s greens alive through the summer.&nbsp;“In the drought times, the heat on the green, the grass is so small it will kill it,” said Rick Gaschler, member of the Ellis Golf Club board.&nbsp;Raub told the council as the greens are a necessary part of the business, an exception could be carved out for the club.&nbsp;The council will consider an updated ordinance at its next meeting on June 19.&nbsp;Jeff Crispin, Hays director of water resources, explains the impact of the drought on Hays and what the following months will look like.“From a drought perspective it put us into D4 exceptional drought and with any drought, that causes us to watch our water situation a lot closer,” Crispin said. <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/e2fcc739-0eba-4196-84c8-8e33b56b1443">Water restrictions began on June 1, which restricts the public from using water outdoors between noon and 7 p.m.&nbsp;</a>Despite the rain received in the last week, Crispin said it’ll take a lot more rainfall before Ellis County can move out of the exceptional drought but assured residents the county won’t see any more restrictions this summer.&nbsp;“I think we’ll continue with our normal water restriction time period that we do every year. I don’t see us adding a different or separate water restriction,” Crispin said.&nbsp;Crispin pointed out the availability of <a href="https://www.haysusa.com/566/WaterSmart-Landscaping">WaterSmart.hays.com</a>, which offers a rebate program to help lower water consumption as well as a variety of water sensors.

Exceptions drought leads to problems with Ellis Golf Club

As two students of Fort Hays State University, last summer we were alarmed to realize that while other universities in Kansas had a polling place on campus for students to easily access, ours did not. And the impact on our voting rates was evident.

It was August of 2022, and we had recently started our work as the Student Co-Coordinators of the American Democracy Project. The goal of the American Democracy Project is to produce college and university graduates who are equipped with the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and experiences they need to be informed, engaged members of their communities; we help our students gain these skills by promoting civil discourse, education, and engagement at the local, state, and national levels of government.

The lack of a polling location had a clear impact on students’ voting rates at FHSU. A 2020 report from the National Study of Learning, Voting, and Engagement produced by the Institute for Democracy and Higher Education at Tufts University showed that the national voting rate for students across all registered institutions was 66 percent. Fort Hays State University students failed to meet the national average, voting at a significantly lower rate of 62.4 percent.

When compared to other universities in Kansas, this number shows a level of low engagement on our campus that is even more troubling. Kansas State University Students vote at 67.3 percent, Wichita State University Students vote at 68.1 percent, students at Emporia vote at 70.5 percent, and the University of Kansas students vote at 71 percent. FHSU is the only Kansas Board of Regents school enrolled in the national study that does not meet the national average.

It was clear to us that a polling place on campus would make voting more accessible for students and provide us with an opportunity to improve our engagement. In the 2020 election cycle, Wichita State University had an almost 20-point increase when their on-campus polling location opened.

We saw an incredible opportunity for improvement with a clear solution. So we researched, wrote a case for support, and then worked through several approval processes at the university level to gain support for moving a polling place onto the FHSU campus. After talking with individuals who had made similar efforts before us, we came up with a plan that addressed all of the issues that had previously prevented having a polling place on campus, such as cost, safety, parking, and not having enough poll workers.

Our plan alleviated the cost issue by asking that a current polling location be moved to campus, rather than creating an entirely new polling location. Most FHSU students reside in a ward and precinct that has underperformed compared to the other wards and precincts in Hays—thus moving the polling location to a more accessible place was a simple and obvious solution to meeting the needs of registered voters in the area. Our campus is a public space, and easily accessible to both students and other residents to cast their vote.

Bringing community members onto campus did at first raise some potential security questions, but after speaking with the University Police Department, we discovered that UPD had no novel concerns for safety or for parking—and even generously offered to run traffic on election days for us.

Finally, as our proposal to move an existing location to a more accessible place would not require additional poll workers, that previously existing obstacle was addressed. Additionally, moving the location onto campus had the additional benefit of enhancing our efforts to offer students opportunities to engage in democracy. We were excited to be able to provide students with the opportunity to work at the polling station. There is so much student support on campus that we could even send student poll workers to locations in addition to FHSU around Hays.

After making sure our plan addressed all past concerns and was the best option to pursue, we began gathering support from groups on campus: the Staff Senate, Faculty Senate, Office of the President, Student Government Association, the Campus Community Collaborative, the University Police Department, multiple building managers, and other individuals and organizations.

We approached Ellis County Clerk Bobbi Dreiling with the proposal, and she seemed receptive and even went out to our proposed location, the Memorial Union, which she stated was not feasible as the location of the actual room for the poll was quite a distance for voters to access. We recommended a second location, Gross Memorial Coliseum, and she acknowledged it would have been better. Ms. Dreiling visited the Coliseum and found the space would be available for all regularly scheduled elections, but difficult to secure for special elections. In response to this concern, we proposed another part of the building, Cunningham Hall, which would be available for all elections, no matter how short the notice. However, before Ms. Dreiling returned to tour this location, she had already selected a new site for a polling station that was even further from our campus than the original location. This new location condenses two previous voting districts into one and moves the polling station further from voters on campus.

While we were disappointed with this outcome, we believe there is still an opportunity for all of us voters to continue our work to make voting more accessible on our campus at FHSU, and we call on Ms. Dreiling to consider this an ongoing and collaborative project to meet the needs of our community. One other consideration: although no site will be perfect on- or off-campus, we had hoped that the county would add to our students' learning experiences by becoming a partner in this opportunity for civic engagement between town and gown.

And if you support our proposal, we hope you’ll contact Ms. Dreiling. After all, democracy depends on each of us to keep it healthy, and it’s our responsibility as citizens and as elected officials to ensure that people’s voices are effectively represented in our elections—and that comes down to how well we can actually get to our poll. We believe that this partnership between the county and the University learning community can provide immediate electoral benefits, but equally important, sets an example for promoting citizenship for students and county residents alike.

Grace McCord and Madison Albers are students at Fort Hays State University and student co-coordinators of the American Democracy Project.

As two students of Fort Hays State University, last summer we were alarmed to realize that while other universities in Kansas had a polling place on campus for students to easily access, ours did not. And the impact on our voting rates was evident.It was August of 2022, and we had recently started our work as the Student Co-Coordinators of the American Democracy Project. The goal of the American Democracy Project is to produce college and university graduates who are equipped with the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and experiences they need to be informed, engaged members of their communities; we help our students gain these skills by promoting civil discourse, education, and engagement at the local, state, and national levels of government.The lack of a polling location had a clear impact on students’ voting rates at FHSU. A 2020 report from the National Study of Learning, Voting, and Engagement produced by the Institute for Democracy and Higher Education at Tufts University showed that the national voting rate for students across all registered institutions was 66 percent. Fort Hays State University students failed to meet the national average, voting at a significantly lower rate of 62.4 percent.When compared to other universities in Kansas, this number shows a level of low engagement on our campus that is even more troubling. Kansas State University Students vote at 67.3 percent, Wichita State University Students vote at 68.1 percent, students at Emporia vote at 70.5 percent, and the University of Kansas students vote at 71 percent. FHSU is the only Kansas Board of Regents school enrolled in the national study that does not meet the national average.It was clear to us that a polling place on campus would make voting more accessible for students and provide us with an opportunity to improve our engagement. In the 2020 election cycle, Wichita State University had an almost 20-point increase when their on-campus polling location opened.We saw an incredible opportunity for improvement with a clear solution. So we researched, wrote a case for support, and then worked through several approval processes at the university level to gain support for moving a polling place onto the FHSU campus. After talking with individuals who had made similar efforts before us, we came up with a plan that addressed all of the issues that had previously prevented having a polling place on campus, such as cost, safety, parking, and not having enough poll workers.Our plan alleviated the cost issue by asking that a current polling location be moved to campus, rather than creating an entirely new polling location. Most FHSU students reside in a ward and precinct that has underperformed compared to the other wards and precincts in Hays—thus moving the polling location to a more accessible place was a simple and obvious solution to meeting the needs of registered voters in the area. Our campus is a public space, and easily accessible to both students and other residents to cast their vote.Bringing community members onto campus did at first raise some potential security questions, but after speaking with the University Police Department, we discovered that UPD had no novel concerns for safety or for parking—and even generously offered to run traffic on election days for us.Finally, as our proposal to move an existing location to a more accessible place would not require additional poll workers, that previously existing obstacle was addressed. Additionally, moving the location onto campus had the additional benefit of enhancing our efforts to offer students opportunities to engage in democracy. We were excited to be able to provide students with the opportunity to work at the polling station. There is so much student support on campus that we could even send student poll workers to locations in addition to FHSU around Hays.After making sure our plan addressed all past concerns and was the best option to pursue, we began gathering support from groups on campus: the Staff Senate, Faculty Senate, Office of the President, Student Government Association, the Campus Community Collaborative, the University Police Department, multiple building managers, and other individuals and organizations.We approached Ellis County Clerk Bobbi Dreiling with the proposal, and she seemed receptive and even went out to our proposed location, the Memorial Union, which she stated was not feasible as the location of the actual room for the poll was quite a distance for voters to access. We recommended a second location, Gross Memorial Coliseum, and she acknowledged it would have been better. Ms. Dreiling visited the Coliseum and found the space would be available for all regularly scheduled elections, but difficult to secure for special elections. In response to this concern, we proposed another part of the building, Cunningham Hall, which would be available for all elections, no matter how short the notice. However, before Ms. Dreiling returned to tour this location, she had already selected a new site for a polling station that was even further from our campus than the original location. This new location condenses two previous voting districts into one and moves the polling station further from voters on campus.While we were disappointed with this outcome, we believe there is still an opportunity for all of us voters to continue our work to make voting more accessible on our campus at FHSU, and we call on Ms. Dreiling to consider this an ongoing and collaborative project to meet the needs of our community. One other consideration: although no site will be perfect on- or off-campus, we had hoped that the county would add to our students' learning experiences by becoming a partner in this opportunity for civic engagement between town and gown.And if you support our proposal, we hope you’ll contact Ms. Dreiling. After all, democracy depends on each of us to keep it healthy, and it’s our responsibility as citizens and as elected officials to ensure that people’s voices are effectively represented in our elections—and that comes down to how well we can actually get to our poll. We believe that this partnership between the county and the University learning community can provide immediate electoral benefits, but equally important, sets an example for promoting citizenship for students and county residents alike.Grace McCord and Madison Albers are students at Fort Hays State University and student co-coordinators of the American Democracy Project.

Letter to the Editor: Students urge Ellis County Clerk to create FHSU polling site

The Hays Larks are inviting everyone to the 14th annual Military Appreciation Night in conjunction with their game against the Denver Cougars on Saturday, June 10 at Larks Park at 7 p.m. 

 All active, reserve, and retired military personnel are specially invited to attend and will be honored on the field during pregame ceremonies. Military personnel will also be recognized after the 6th inning prior to the singing of “God Bless America."

Military personnel in attendance should check in at the east side of the grandstand by 6:45 p.m. Saturday evening.

Fans are encouraged to be in the park by 6:50 pm to show their appreciation and support for all military personnel during pregame ceremonies. 

Those ceremonies will feature recognition of all military personnel in attendance, a Color Guard, and the National Anthem sung live by Uncalled-4. 

Those in attendance will also enjoy patriotic music and a red, white, and blue-decorated park throughout the evening. 

 Flags lining the park will be provided courtesy of American Legion Riders Post #173 of Hays.

Free admission to the game will be provided courtesy of the Hays VFW Post 9076, VFW Auxiliary, and Kiwanis Club of Hays.

See you at Larks Park on June 10!  Come join the team for fantastic baseball, pay tribute to veteran, reserve, and active military personnel and enjoy an evening of inexpensive fun! 

 For more information, please contact Frank Leo, Hays Larks Manager at 785-628-6703.  

SubmittedThe Hays Larks are inviting everyone to the 14th annual Military Appreciation Night in conjunction with their game against the Denver Cougars on Saturday, June 10 at Larks Park at 7 p.m. All active, reserve, and retired military personnel are specially invited to attend and will be honored on the field during pregame ceremonies. Military personnel will also be recognized after the 6th inning prior to the singing of “God Bless America."Military personnel in attendance should check in at the east side of the grandstand by 6:45 p.m. Saturday evening.Fans are encouraged to be in the park by 6:50 pm to show their appreciation and support for all military personnel during pregame ceremonies. Those ceremonies will feature recognition of all military personnel in attendance, a Color Guard, and the National Anthem sung live by Uncalled-4. Those in attendance will also enjoy patriotic music and a red, white, and blue-decorated park throughout the evening. Flags lining the park will be provided courtesy of American Legion Riders Post #173 of Hays.Free admission to the game will be provided courtesy of the Hays VFW Post 9076, VFW Auxiliary, and Kiwanis Club of Hays.See you at Larks Park on June 10! Come join the team for fantastic baseball, pay tribute to veteran, reserve, and active military personnel and enjoy an evening of inexpensive fun! For more information, please contact Frank Leo, Hays Larks Manager at 785-628-6703.

Hays Larks' Military Appreciation Night set for June 10

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

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

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

For information on blue-green algae and reporting potential harmful algal blooms, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmtkaGUua3MuZ292Lzc3Ny9IYXJtZnVsLUFsZ2FsLUJsb29tcz91dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9Z292ZGVsaXZlcnkiLCJidWxsZXRpbl9pZCI6IjIwMjMwNjA4Ljc3OTY5MjcxIn0.g08skfs0deKM29r14jF8Luwrzk8u5dJY0M6jL2b-PJc/s/1305913542/br/204529235551-l" target="_blank">kdhe.ks.gov/HAB</a>&nbsp;and check out our&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDIsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vc3RvcnltYXBzLmFyY2dpcy5jb20vc3Rvcmllcy9jMDcwYzgwNTkyOTM0NzMwODM0YzE5NDI4MDMwMGVjYj91dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9Z292ZGVsaXZlcnkiLCJidWxsZXRpbl9pZCI6IjIwMjMwNjA4Ljc3OTY5MjcxIn0.MYzOq2qJxo2imdrL_cgmVuPoiIz4V5l-CnK8vmsNtsc/s/1305913542/br/204529235551-l" target="_blank">interactive story</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1685105826581.jpeg" alt="Algae photo by Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Algae photo by Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>KDHETOPEKA –&nbsp;The Kansas Department of Health and Environment&nbsp; and the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks have issued a public health advisory update due to blue-green algae.&nbsp;A harmful algal bloom may look like foam, scum or paint floating on the water and be colored blue, bright green, brown or red. Blooms can develop rapidly; if the water appears suspicious or there is decaying algae on the shore, avoid contact and keep dogs away. These toxins can be absorbed by ingestion, inhalation of aerosols and even skin contact.  Symptoms vary depending upon the type of exposure (e.g. direct contact, ingestion, inhalation) but can include rash, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, sore throat, and headache. If you, or your dog, come into contact with algae rinse the area with clean, fresh water. Suspected HAB-related health incidents, whether human or animal, regardless of season, should be reported at&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDAsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmtkaGUua3MuZ292LzExNjMvUmVwb3J0LWFuLUlsbG5lc3Mtb3ItSGVhbHRoLUluY2lkZW50P3V0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1nb3ZkZWxpdmVyeSIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMzA2MDguNzc5NjkyNzEifQ.zm78G1BIZKhol0mBwh6Xh8QkZpaTLAFFINlKsncY11c/s/1305913542/br/204529235551-l" target="_blank">kdhe.ks.gov/1163</a>.Active Advisories&nbsp;Warning&nbsp;<ul>
 <li>Big Eleven Lake, Wyandotte County (Added June 8)</li><li>Pomona Lake, Osage County (Added June 8)</li><li>Webster Lake, Rooks County (Added June 8)</li><li>Wellington Lake, Sumner County (Added June 8)</li><li>Mount Hope – Woodland Park Pond, Sedgwick County (Added June 8)</li>
 </ul>Watch<ul>
 <li>Augusta Santa Fe Lake, Butler County (Added June 8)</li><li>Harvey County East Lake, Harvey County (Added June 8)</li><li>Marion Lake (Reservoir), Marion County (Lowered June 8)</li><li>Milford Lake Zone A, Dickinson &amp; Geary Counties (Added June 8)</li>
 </ul>For information on blue-green algae and reporting potential harmful algal blooms, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmtkaGUua3MuZ292Lzc3Ny9IYXJtZnVsLUFsZ2FsLUJsb29tcz91dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9Z292ZGVsaXZlcnkiLCJidWxsZXRpbl9pZCI6IjIwMjMwNjA4Ljc3OTY5MjcxIn0.g08skfs0deKM29r14jF8Luwrzk8u5dJY0M6jL2b-PJc/s/1305913542/br/204529235551-l" target="_blank">kdhe.ks.gov/HAB</a>&nbsp;and check out our&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDIsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vc3RvcnltYXBzLmFyY2dpcy5jb20vc3Rvcmllcy9jMDcwYzgwNTkyOTM0NzMwODM0YzE5NDI4MDMwMGVjYj91dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9Z292ZGVsaXZlcnkiLCJidWxsZXRpbl9pZCI6IjIwMjMwNjA4Ljc3OTY5MjcxIn0.MYzOq2qJxo2imdrL_cgmVuPoiIz4V5l-CnK8vmsNtsc/s/1305913542/br/204529235551-l" target="_blank">interactive story</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Webster Lake in Rooks County under a public health algae warning 

Principal Rachel Wentling has announced she will be leaving Holy Family Elementary and Hays Catholic Schools for a position at Fort Hays State&nbsp;University.

“It is with a very heavy heart that I resign as the principal of Holy Family Elementary,&nbsp;effective July 31, 2023. After much contemplation and prayer, I have decided to take the&nbsp;next step in my professional journey&nbsp;and pursue the opportunity as the director of field experience at Fort Hays State&nbsp;University,” Wentling said.

Serving in the Hays Catholic Schools for 23 years, Wentling began as a biology teacher at Thomas More Prep-Marian in&nbsp;August 2000 and assumed the role of assistant principal in 2007. In July 2012 Wentling took the role of principal of Holy&nbsp;Family Elementary and will conclude in July 2023.

“I tend to accomplish whatever I set my mind to," she said.

After&nbsp;graduating from TMP-Marian in 1995 I knew that I wanted to return as a biology teacher. When I completed my Master’s&nbsp;of Education in Building Leadership, Holy Family Elementary was the only school I wanted to serve as principal. It has&nbsp;always been my long-term goal to return to a teacher education program in higher education to work with pre-service&nbsp;teachers after a variety of educational experiences,” Wentling said.

Wentling continued, “My time as the Holy Family principal has challenged me to grow both professionally and personally.&nbsp;I am so incredibly grateful for the extraordinary faculty and staff members I have worked with the last 11 years, my peers&nbsp;and colleagues of the Hays Catholic schools, as well as the families and students I have served. The hardest thing about&nbsp;this change is saying goodbye to the people.”

The Superintendent of the Salina Diocese Catholic Schools Geoff Andrews is working with Fr. Nick Parker, pastor of&nbsp;Immaculate Heart of Mary and the administration of HFE to fill the role of principal as soon as possible. 

“Rachel’s&nbsp;leadership will be greatly missed in our Hays Catholic Schools. Not only have I enjoyed working with Rachel, but I have also&nbsp;enjoyed the relationship we have developed as colleagues. She is going to excel in her new position with Fort Hays State&nbsp;University,” Andrews said.

Fr. Nick Parker also shared, “Rachel has made a significant difference, not only in the academic excellence of Holy&nbsp;Family Elementary but in the complete spiritual and human formation of our school community. We are grateful for her&nbsp;time here and wish her the best as she moves forward. She will definitely be missed.”

In her time with Hays Catholic Schools, Wentling has worked with Holy Family staff to update and map all curricular&nbsp;areas, expand early childhood to include 3-year-old and all-day preschool options, create energy efficiencies and indoor&nbsp;climate control with building upgrades, update crisis planning and improve life safety, implemented Virtue Based Restorative Discipline: a Catholic approach to bullying, expand and develop an administrative team to better serve the&nbsp;needs of students, and prioritize the growth of technology in all educational areas.

Wentling also oversaw two cycles of&nbsp;accreditation, participated in two strategic plans for&nbsp;the Hays Catholic schools, and lead in-person instruction during the&nbsp;COVID-19 pandemic.

Holy Family ElementaryPrincipal Rachel Wentling has announced she will be leaving Holy Family Elementary and Hays Catholic Schools for a position at Fort Hays State&nbsp;University.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686163829931.png" alt="Rachel&nbsp; Wentling" />
 <figcaption>Rachel&nbsp; Wentling</figcaption>
 </figure>“It is with a very heavy heart that I resign as the principal of Holy Family Elementary,&nbsp;effective July 31, 2023. After much contemplation and prayer, I have decided to take the&nbsp;next step in my professional journey&nbsp;and pursue the opportunity as the director of field experience at Fort Hays State&nbsp;University,” Wentling said.Serving in the Hays Catholic Schools for 23 years, Wentling began as a biology teacher at Thomas More Prep-Marian in&nbsp;August 2000 and assumed the role of assistant principal in 2007. In July 2012 Wentling took the role of principal of Holy&nbsp;Family Elementary and will conclude in July 2023.“I tend to accomplish whatever I set my mind to," she said.After&nbsp;graduating from TMP-Marian in 1995 I knew that I wanted to return as a biology teacher. When I completed my Master’s&nbsp;of Education in Building Leadership, Holy Family Elementary was the only school I wanted to serve as principal. It has&nbsp;always been my long-term goal to return to a teacher education program in higher education to work with pre-service&nbsp;teachers after a variety of educational experiences,” Wentling said.Wentling continued, “My time as the Holy Family principal has challenged me to grow both professionally and personally.&nbsp;I am so incredibly grateful for the extraordinary faculty and staff members I have worked with the last 11 years, my peers&nbsp;and colleagues of the Hays Catholic schools, as well as the families and students I have served. The hardest thing about&nbsp;this change is saying goodbye to the people.”The Superintendent of the Salina Diocese Catholic Schools Geoff Andrews is working with Fr. Nick Parker, pastor of&nbsp;Immaculate Heart of Mary and the administration of HFE to fill the role of principal as soon as possible. “Rachel’s&nbsp;leadership will be greatly missed in our Hays Catholic Schools. Not only have I enjoyed working with Rachel, but I have also&nbsp;enjoyed the relationship we have developed as colleagues. She is going to excel in her new position with Fort Hays State&nbsp;University,” Andrews said.Fr. Nick Parker also shared, “Rachel has made a significant difference, not only in the academic excellence of Holy&nbsp;Family Elementary but in the complete spiritual and human formation of our school community. We are grateful for her&nbsp;time here and wish her the best as she moves forward. She will definitely be missed.”In her time with Hays Catholic Schools, Wentling has worked with Holy Family staff to update and map all curricular&nbsp;areas, expand early childhood to include 3-year-old and all-day preschool options, create energy efficiencies and indoor&nbsp;climate control with building upgrades, update crisis planning and improve life safety, implemented Virtue Based Restorative Discipline: a Catholic approach to bullying, expand and develop an administrative team to better serve the&nbsp;needs of students, and prioritize the growth of technology in all educational areas.Wentling also oversaw two cycles of&nbsp;accreditation, participated in two strategic plans for&nbsp;the Hays Catholic schools, and lead in-person instruction during the&nbsp;COVID-19 pandemic.

Holy Family Elementary Principal Rachel Wentling resigns

A joint investigation with the Office of the State Fire Marshal, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Atwood Police Department, and the Rawlins County Sheriff's Office have completed the investigation of the fire that occurred on Monday at the Rawlins County/Atwood Jr and Sr High School.&nbsp;

The cause of the fire has been determined to be incendiary, or Arson.

Last night, two juveniles were taken into custody for this incident. 

Charges relating to this incident will be referred to the County Attorney.

Any further information will be released by the Rawlins County Attorney’s Office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686147790407.jpeg" alt="Photo courtesy Bernadette Luedke" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Bernadette Luedke</figcaption>
 </figure>Office of the State Fire MarshallA joint investigation with the Office of the State Fire Marshal, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Atwood Police Department, and the Rawlins County Sheriff's Office have completed the investigation of the fire that occurred on Monday at the Rawlins County/Atwood Jr and Sr High School.&nbsp;The cause of the fire has been determined to be incendiary, or Arson.Last night, two juveniles were taken into custody for this incident. Charges relating to this incident will be referred to the County Attorney.Any further information will be released by the Rawlins County Attorney’s Office.

Rawlins County school fire intentionally set; two arrests reported

By BECKY KISER Hays Post

Fifteen-year-old Ethan and his fellow athlete Neil got to wield the giant scissors for the Hays Chamber ribbon cutting of their No. 7 home baseball field at the Bickle-Schmidt Sports Complex Wednesday afternoon.

Ethan and Neil are both Special Olympics athletes with the Hays Buffaloes and The Arc Central Plains.

The team has access to fields 5-8 for upcoming large Special Olympics baseball and softball events.

"When the athletes come, they know field 7 is for them, but it still is available for community use," said Sarah Meitner, Arc board president.&nbsp;

Hays Buffaloes and Arc Central Plains signs are mounted on the ballfield fence and the shade structure. Another sign at the northwest parking lot directs visitors to the four-field complex used by the Special Olympians.

An inclusive baseball field had been the plan for the final phase 3 of the ARC Park in the Seven Hills Optimist Park, 3300 Hillcrest, with an escalating price tag of more than $1 million.

Then when the city of Hays decided to install artificial turf at the Bickle-Schmidt Sports Complex, "it came into question whether or not we still needed an accessible ball field if we had this facility out here," Meitner said.

The local Special Olympics athletes were "able to do a little bit of a trial last fall. ... They worked with Hays Rec and [superintendent] Roger [Bixenman] to come out and try it and it worked great."

The artificial turf provides an even and level playing field, something that is important for athletes who have a mobility challenge or utilize a walker or wheelchair.&nbsp;

"This means they'll be able to play softball or t-ball when they previously haven't been able to play because there was too much of a fall risk, or their chair couldn't move in the dirt."&nbsp;

"Even our senior athletes ... are much safer on this [turf] instead of dirt, and we do have a lot of aging athletes," said Kathy McAdoo, Arc executive director.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Some simple adaptations are made when the Special Olympics athletes are using field 7, including two home plates "so that there are no collisions at home plate," Meitner said. "And there's no raised surfaces. We can pull out the bases and put down a flat mat so there's nothing to trip over.&nbsp;

"Nothing has to change, which is even cooler. That is true inclusion," Meitner smiled, "when the adaptations have been made and everybody can play."

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/f3812872-c399-41c4-b960-d62ebe0e7f21">Phase 3 for the ARC Park has been modified</a> and fundraising is underway.

A <a href="tps://www.facebook.com/HAYS">"Lemonade Stand Challenge"&nbsp;</a>will be June 29 and 30, which has raised more than $50,000 for the park over the past three summers.&nbsp;

The park's final phase is now planned to be a multi-recreation area with permanent cornhole lanes, another picnic shelter, open green space, and a Quantis play and climb structure — the first in Kansas — for older kids.

Cornhole, a favorite sport of many people, is a new Special Olympics Kansas sport with regional and state play.

The new recreational space will also include more sensory play equipment including two pulse tennis stations and an interactive sensory mural.

CORRECTION: 8:40 a.m. -- The name of the 15-year-old Hays Buffaloes athlete has been corrected to Ethan.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686167771183.jpeg" alt="Wednesday's ribbon cutting for the Arc of the Central Plains Hays Buffaloes baseball field at Bickle-Schmidt Sports Complex was hosted by the Hays Chamber with Special Olympics athletes Ethan and Neil. Photos and video by Becky Kiser/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Wednesday's ribbon cutting for the Arc of the Central Plains Hays Buffaloes baseball field at Bickle-Schmidt Sports Complex was hosted by the Hays Chamber with Special Olympics athletes Ethan and Neil. Photos and video by Becky Kiser/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>By BECKY KISER Hays PostFifteen-year-old Ethan and his fellow athlete Neil got to wield the giant scissors for the Hays Chamber ribbon cutting of their No. 7 home baseball field at the Bickle-Schmidt Sports Complex Wednesday afternoon.Ethan and Neil are both Special Olympics athletes with the Hays Buffaloes and The Arc Central Plains.The team has access to fields 5-8 for upcoming large Special Olympics baseball and softball events."When the athletes come, they know field 7 is for them, but it still is available for community use," said Sarah Meitner, Arc board president.&nbsp;Hays Buffaloes and Arc Central Plains signs are mounted on the ballfield fence and the shade structure. Another sign at the northwest parking lot directs visitors to the four-field complex used by the Special Olympians.An inclusive baseball field had been the plan for the final phase 3 of the ARC Park in the Seven Hills Optimist Park, 3300 Hillcrest, with an escalating price tag of more than $1 million.Then when the city of Hays decided to install artificial turf at the Bickle-Schmidt Sports Complex, "it came into question whether or not we still needed an accessible ball field if we had this facility out here," Meitner said.The local Special Olympics athletes were "able to do a little bit of a trial last fall. ... They worked with Hays Rec and [superintendent] Roger [Bixenman] to come out and try it and it worked great."<div><div style="position:relative;overflow:hidden;padding-bottom:56.25%"><iframe src="https://cdn.jwplayer.com/players/cBgNnYV6-P46diVCW.html" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" title="Arc Baeball Field Ribbon Cut" style="position:absolute;" allowfullscreen></iframe></div></div>The artificial turf provides an even and level playing field, something that is important for athletes who have a mobility challenge or utilize a walker or wheelchair.&nbsp;"This means they'll be able to play softball or t-ball when they previously haven't been able to play because there was too much of a fall risk, or their chair couldn't move in the dirt."&nbsp;"Even our senior athletes ... are much safer on this [turf] instead of dirt, and we do have a lot of aging athletes," said Kathy McAdoo, Arc executive director.&nbsp; &nbsp;Some simple adaptations are made when the Special Olympics athletes are using field 7, including two home plates "so that there are no collisions at home plate," Meitner said. "And there's no raised surfaces. We can pull out the bases and put down a flat mat so there's nothing to trip over.&nbsp;"Nothing has to change, which is even cooler. That is true inclusion," Meitner smiled, "when the adaptations have been made and everybody can play."<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/f3812872-c399-41c4-b960-d62ebe0e7f21">Phase 3 for the ARC Park has been modified</a> and fundraising is underway. A <a href="tps://www.facebook.com/HAYS">"Lemonade Stand Challenge"&nbsp;</a>will be June 29 and 30, which has raised more than $50,000 for the park over the past three summers.&nbsp;The park's final phase is now planned to be a multi-recreation area with permanent cornhole lanes, another picnic shelter, open green space, and a Quantis play and climb structure — the first in Kansas — for older kids.Cornhole, a favorite sport of many people, is a new Special Olympics Kansas sport with regional and state play.The new recreational space will also include more sensory play equipment including two pulse tennis stations and an interactive sensory mural.CORRECTION: 8:40 a.m. -- The name of the 15-year-old Hays Buffaloes athlete has been corrected to Ethan.

🎥 Hays Buffaloes and other Special Olympians will 'Play Ball' at Bickle-Schmidt Sports Complex

In many areas of Kansas, prolonged drought has resulted in short wheat and thin stands. Harvesting wheat in these situations can be a challenge. Special attention needs to be given to cutting height, machine adjustments, and operator control. In short wheat, getting the heads into the combine with less straw will be a challenge. In some cases, the reel may not be able to effectively convey the wheat back from the cutter bar to the auger, nor hold it in place during cutting. Short cutting will also mean more contact potential with the ground and reduced levels of surface residue which will likely negatively impact moisture storage.

In the case of material conveyance, stripper headers, air reels, and draper headers may be a great help. The information in this article has been condensed considerably, for the full article go to our web site at www.cottonwood.ksu.edu

Stripper headers - Stripper headers allow the grain to be harvested efficiently while leaving the maximum amount of standing residue in the field. Research has shown that this preservation of wheat residue can reduce evaporative losses of water after harvest, aid in the moisture retention of snow, and improve the yields of next year’s crop.

Air reels - Air reels will also aid in the material conveyance from the cutter bar to the auger in reel-type units when crops are light or thin. These units are made in several different types including finger air reels, non-reel, and units that fit over existing reels. Examples of manufacturers are Crary (West Fargo, ND) and AWS (Mitchell, Ontario Canada).

Draper headers and flex heads - Draper headers may help with the conveyance of material since they have a very short distance between the cutterbar the conveyance belt. The ability to tip the cutterbar completely back will aid in keeping harvested crop material moving across the cutter bar and onto the belt as well as ensuring some stubble remains standing on the soil surface.

Flex heads will also help deal with the lower cutting heights and potential ground strikes. In thin wheat stands, it is even more important that sickles and guards are in good condition as there is less crop material pushing into the cutting area, which would normally help ensure cutting by worn sickles and guards.

If harvesting with a draper or flex header, maintain the cutting height as high as possible to preserve standing stubble. Typically, cutting wheat at two-thirds of its full height will result in losses of less than 0.5 percent as any missed heads contain light weight grain that will be lost as tailings during the harvesting process.

Conventional headers - For many farmers, new equipment may not be an economical choice and you may have to make do with a conventional head on your combine. In this case, adjust the reel to get the best movement of the heads from the cutter bar to the auger.

Combine adjustments - In addition to material conveyance and cutting height, lower yields and uneven crop flow may also require performing combine adjustments to the concave/rotor cage clearance, cylinder/rotor speed, and fan speed. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations.

Summary -Although this will be a rough wheat harvest for many farmers, some changes can be made to help maximize harvest efficiencies. If you have ever wanted to try an alternate header (stripper, flex-draper, etc.), this may be the year for you. For those not wanting to buy, renting may also be a viable option.

Producers in dryland production systems need to keep in mind that in very low-yielding wheat years, anything that can be done to preserve what little crop residue is present will have large impacts on evaporative losses and productivity of the next crop.

Information provided by Lucas Haag, NW Area crops specialist and Ajay Sharda, Extension agricultural engineer.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681266655144.jpeg" alt="Stacy Campbell, K-State Research and Extension Cottonwood Extension District" />
 <figcaption>Stacy Campbell, K-State Research and Extension Cottonwood Extension District</figcaption>
 </figure>In many areas of Kansas, prolonged drought has resulted in short wheat and thin stands. Harvesting wheat in these situations can be a challenge. Special attention needs to be given to cutting height, machine adjustments, and operator control. In short wheat, getting the heads into the combine with less straw will be a challenge. In some cases, the reel may not be able to effectively convey the wheat back from the cutter bar to the auger, nor hold it in place during cutting. Short cutting will also mean more contact potential with the ground and reduced levels of surface residue which will likely negatively impact moisture storage.In the case of material conveyance, stripper headers, air reels, and draper headers may be a great help. The information in this article has been condensed considerably, for the full article go to our web site at www.cottonwood.ksu.eduStripper headers - Stripper headers allow the grain to be harvested efficiently while leaving the maximum amount of standing residue in the field. Research has shown that this preservation of wheat residue can reduce evaporative losses of water after harvest, aid in the moisture retention of snow, and improve the yields of next year’s crop.Air reels - Air reels will also aid in the material conveyance from the cutter bar to the auger in reel-type units when crops are light or thin. These units are made in several different types including finger air reels, non-reel, and units that fit over existing reels. Examples of manufacturers are Crary (West Fargo, ND) and AWS (Mitchell, Ontario Canada).Draper headers and flex heads - Draper headers may help with the conveyance of material since they have a very short distance between the cutterbar the conveyance belt. The ability to tip the cutterbar completely back will aid in keeping harvested crop material moving across the cutter bar and onto the belt as well as ensuring some stubble remains standing on the soil surface.Flex heads will also help deal with the lower cutting heights and potential ground strikes. In thin wheat stands, it is even more important that sickles and guards are in good condition as there is less crop material pushing into the cutting area, which would normally help ensure cutting by worn sickles and guards.If harvesting with a draper or flex header, maintain the cutting height as high as possible to preserve standing stubble. Typically, cutting wheat at two-thirds of its full height will result in losses of less than 0.5 percent as any missed heads contain light weight grain that will be lost as tailings during the harvesting process.Conventional headers - For many farmers, new equipment may not be an economical choice and you may have to make do with a conventional head on your combine. In this case, adjust the reel to get the best movement of the heads from the cutter bar to the auger.Combine adjustments - In addition to material conveyance and cutting height, lower yields and uneven crop flow may also require performing combine adjustments to the concave/rotor cage clearance, cylinder/rotor speed, and fan speed. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations.Summary -Although this will be a rough wheat harvest for many farmers, some changes can be made to help maximize harvest efficiencies. If you have ever wanted to try an alternate header (stripper, flex-draper, etc.), this may be the year for you. For those not wanting to buy, renting may also be a viable option.Producers in dryland production systems need to keep in mind that in very low-yielding wheat years, anything that can be done to preserve what little crop residue is present will have large impacts on evaporative losses and productivity of the next crop.Information provided by Lucas Haag, NW Area crops specialist and Ajay Sharda, Extension agricultural engineer.

CAMPBELL: Considerations when harvesting short wheat

The Eagle online auction is going on right now. Save on items you use every day. 

Click <a href="https://www.rabezauction.com/gocart/main.cfm?mid=65">HERE</a> to get registered, view items and bid.

The Eagle Radio online auction — where saving money is just a click away!

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1633357447611.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The Eagle online auction is going on right now. Save on items you use every day. Click <a href="https://www.rabezauction.com/gocart/main.cfm?mid=65">HERE</a> to get registered, view items and bid.The Eagle Radio online auction — where saving money is just a click away!

Eagle Radio auction is underway!

RUSSELL — Kicking off the tenth season of the Ad Astra Music Festival, is festival favorite and Victoria-native, Matthew Piatt, in recital with San Francisco-based soprano, Elisa Sunshine at St. John Lutheran Church on Friday, July 14.

Building on the success of last year’s musical, The Fantasticks, the festival will present two performances of Next to Normal, in concert with Broadway veterans Julie Foldesi and Trey Ellett leading the cast, which includes Russell-native, Nathan Hilger, Sterling College students Mary Little and Noah Svaty, and 2023 Hays High graduate, Seth Tripp. Performances are July 15 and 16 at The Russell Elks Lodge.

The second weekend the festival dips their toes into the world of avant garde, with a mid-century modern work, Stimmung.

Written by German composer, Karlheinz Stockhausen using six voices and electronics, it explores space, sound, and connection and will be led by co-artistic director, John Irving.

On Saturday, July 22, the festival continues with the annual Jazz at the Barn featuring Russell-native Brad Dawson at Granny Mae’s Barn. 

Wrapping up the second weekend, audiences can experience the Kansas premiere of the 2022 Pulitzer Prize for Music, Navajo composer, Raven Chacon’s Voiceless Mass.

Written for organ, string quartet, clarinets, flute, and percussion, this work will be conducted by frequent festival violist and member of the Kansas City Symphony, Julius Adams.

Ad Astra will cap its 10th season with its largest-scale project to date, Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony at St. Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church. The full orchestra, chorus, and soloists will perform this famous work with a new Kansas-themed text by Catherine Treischmann. Led by first-time Ad Astra conductor Anna Lenti, with soloists Katelyn Mattson, who played Trudy Furney in the world premiere of

Our Trudy at Prairiesta, and Kyle van Schoonhoven, who made his debut at The Metropolitan Opera in April. Audiences can hear the Beethoven on Friday, July 28 and Sunday, July 30.

Ad Astra Music Festival’s founding artistic director and Russell-native, Alex Underwood, says “We knew we wanted to be ambitious for our 10th season, especially as we are coming out of our post-pandemic funk.

"This season has something for everyone: jazz, musical theatre, standard classical music, and brand new art music. The festival is unique for rural communities like Russell, and I hope that everyone gets a chance to experience at least one of the performances we’ve curated for our audiences this July.”

For more information or to get involved, check out the Ad Astra website, <a href="http://www.adastramusicfestival.org">www.adastramusicfestival.org</a>, where tickets will be on sale beginning June 15.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1581459129618.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>RUSSELL — Kicking off the tenth season of the Ad Astra Music Festival, is festival favorite and Victoria-native, Matthew Piatt, in recital with San Francisco-based soprano, Elisa Sunshine at St. John Lutheran Church on Friday, July 14.Building on the success of last year’s musical, The Fantasticks, the festival will present two performances of Next to Normal, in concert with Broadway veterans Julie Foldesi and Trey Ellett leading the cast, which includes Russell-native, Nathan Hilger, Sterling College students Mary Little and Noah Svaty, and 2023 Hays High graduate, Seth Tripp. Performances are July 15 and 16 at The Russell Elks Lodge.The second weekend the festival dips their toes into the world of avant garde, with a mid-century modern work, Stimmung.Written by German composer, Karlheinz Stockhausen using six voices and electronics, it explores space, sound, and connection and will be led by co-artistic director, John Irving.On Saturday, July 22, the festival continues with the annual Jazz at the Barn featuring Russell-native Brad Dawson at Granny Mae’s Barn. Wrapping up the second weekend, audiences can experience the Kansas premiere of the 2022 Pulitzer Prize for Music, Navajo composer, Raven Chacon’s Voiceless Mass.Written for organ, string quartet, clarinets, flute, and percussion, this work will be conducted by frequent festival violist and member of the Kansas City Symphony, Julius Adams.Ad Astra will cap its 10th season with its largest-scale project to date, Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony at St. Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church. The full orchestra, chorus, and soloists will perform this famous work with a new Kansas-themed text by Catherine Treischmann. Led by first-time Ad Astra conductor Anna Lenti, with soloists Katelyn Mattson, who played Trudy Furney in the world premiere ofOur Trudy at Prairiesta, and Kyle van Schoonhoven, who made his debut at The Metropolitan Opera in April. Audiences can hear the Beethoven on Friday, July 28 and Sunday, July 30.Ad Astra Music Festival’s founding artistic director and Russell-native, Alex Underwood, says “We knew we wanted to be ambitious for our 10th season, especially as we are coming out of our post-pandemic funk."This season has something for everyone: jazz, musical theatre, standard classical music, and brand new art music. The festival is unique for rural communities like Russell, and I hope that everyone gets a chance to experience at least one of the performances we’ve curated for our audiences this July.”For more information or to get involved, check out the Ad Astra website, <a href="http://www.adastramusicfestival.org">www.adastramusicfestival.org</a>, where tickets will be on sale beginning June 15.

Ad Astra Music Festival in Russell set for July 14-16

"The Decisive Point: White Bull’s Second Impetuous Charge" will be discussed at 2 p.m. Sunday, June 25 in the Historic Fort Hays Visitors Center. The event will be held on the 147th anniversary of the historical day.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Presenter Dennis K. Clark, better known as DK, is a veteran of a distinguished 49-year military career as a soldier, leader, associate professor, mentor and coach. During his career he has been a teacher/mentor for officers and enlisted from each of the U.S. military services as well as military officers in 97 different countries.&nbsp;

DK has deployed 163 times to numerous countries around the globe in service to our nation. Among his awards and decorations, he has been knighted five times in four different countries. 

He is a member of the VFW, the American Legion, the Company of Military Historians, and various historical societies across the Midwest. He was the secretary of the board of directors for Little Big Horn National Monument for several years. 

His academic accomplishments include degrees from The University of Tennessee, University of Maryland, Western Kentucky University, and Kansas State University where he is an Ed.D (ABD) in Educational Leadership. He is now retired and living in Lansing, KS. 

DK will share the background and the flowing action of the Battle of Little Bighorn, Sunday, June 25th, 1876. The discussion will reveal who was the catalyst that caused the when and where for the decisive point in the battle. He will unravel the mystery of how and when Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer died, as well as the impact of his death upon the Seventh U.S. Cavalry. 

Lt. Col. (R) Clark will discuss briefly a couple of military terms with which you may or may not be familiar: Center of Gravity and Decisive Point. Both the physical and psychological decisive points will be discussed. 

Key actors discussed in the presentation will include George A. Custer, Myles Keogh, George Yates, Crazy Horse, Joseph White Bull and Stanley Vestal. 

During the presentation DK will provide where he found the evidence and how he verified that the story of Custer’s demise was accurate, as well as the indisputable weight of the evidence plus the reason it has been discounted even up to today.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1685725322567.png" alt="Dennis K. Clark&nbsp; (Courtesy photo)" />
 <figcaption>Dennis K. Clark&nbsp; (Courtesy photo)</figcaption>
 </figure>SubmittedIt was Custer's date with destiny. "The Decisive Point: White Bull’s Second Impetuous Charge" will be discussed at 2 p.m. Sunday, June 25 in the Historic Fort Hays Visitors Center. The event will be held on the 147th anniversary of the historical day.&nbsp;&nbsp;Presenter Dennis K. Clark, better known as DK, is a veteran of a distinguished 49-year military career as a soldier, leader, associate professor, mentor and coach. During his career he has been a teacher/mentor for officers and enlisted from each of the U.S. military services as well as military officers in 97 different countries.&nbsp;DK has deployed 163 times to numerous countries around the globe in service to our nation. Among his awards and decorations, he has been knighted five times in four different countries. He is a member of the VFW, the American Legion, the Company of Military Historians, and various historical societies across the Midwest. He was the secretary of the board of directors for Little Big Horn National Monument for several years. His academic accomplishments include degrees from The University of Tennessee, University of Maryland, Western Kentucky University, and Kansas State University where he is an Ed.D (ABD) in Educational Leadership. He is now retired and living in Lansing, KS. DK will share the background and the flowing action of the Battle of Little Bighorn, Sunday, June 25th, 1876. The discussion will reveal who was the catalyst that caused the when and where for the decisive point in the battle. He will unravel the mystery of how and when Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer died, as well as the impact of his death upon the Seventh U.S. Cavalry. Lt. Col. (R) Clark will discuss briefly a couple of military terms with which you may or may not be familiar: Center of Gravity and Decisive Point. Both the physical and psychological decisive points will be discussed. Key actors discussed in the presentation will include George A. Custer, Myles Keogh, George Yates, Crazy Horse, Joseph White Bull and Stanley Vestal. During the presentation DK will provide where he found the evidence and how he verified that the story of Custer’s demise was accurate, as well as the indisputable weight of the evidence plus the reason it has been discounted even up to today.&nbsp;

Talk on White Bull’s second charge to be presented at Historic Fort Hays   

<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/2023/6/1686155639030.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

Click&nbsp;<a href="https://hayspost.com/category/obituaries">HERE</a>&nbsp;to view the most recent obituaries and service times from our funeral home partners.

Hays Post is honored to publish full obituaries and photos at no cost to families.

<div><a href="https://www.sunflowerbank.com/hays/"><img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1665496178318.jpeg"/></a></div>Click&nbsp;<a href="https://hayspost.com/category/obituaries">HERE</a>&nbsp;to view the most recent obituaries and service times from our funeral home partners.Hays Post is honored to publish full obituaries and photos at no cost to families.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/7/1561995642681.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

Recent obituaries and service times

MANHATTAN – Area FFA members were among the 32 Kansas students awarded $1,000 Ford Trucks/Built Ford Tough Scholarships during the fifth session of the 95th Kansas FFA Convention, May 31–June 2, 2023, on the Kansas State University campus in Manhattan. 

The Built Ford Tough FFA Scholarship Program recognizes FFA members’ talents and accomplishments while encouraging their future academic achievements. 

This year’s recipients are from: Abilene: Jensen Woodworth; Anderson County: Mallory Wheat; Buhler: Morgan Carson, Taryn Horningl; Burlington: Halle Finnerty; Canton-Galva: Brecken Pearson, Sage Toews; Central Heights: Kaden Krone; Chapman: Brayden Lexow; Cheney: Camryn DeVore; Cherryvale: Kaylee Groff; Cheylin: Rubie Yost; Clay Center: Olivia Presley; Coffeyville: Anna Powers, Morgan Way, Colby: Jayla Rush; Dodge City: Breckkyn Konecny; Ell-Saline: Meryn Came, Lani Richards; Emporia: Journey Walburn; Garden City: Baylee Hutchinson; Girard: Ainsley Viets; Goodland: Chisum Goodwin; Haven: Luke Hartung; Hays: Jalynn Weilert; Hillsboro: Alana Suderman; Hoxie: Drew Bretz; Inman: Kylie Flaming; Jayhawk-Linn: Brynn Collier; Junction City: Mikayla Dibben; Kingman: Shylla Mark; Labette County: Lakin Giager; Louisburg: Brayton Brueggen; Maize: Isabel Newberry-Rivera; Manhattan: Nissa Olsen; Marais des Cygnes Valley: Kyla Vogeler; Nemaha Central: Ella Sudbeck; North Lyon County: Kolden Ryberg; Pike Valley: Kiersten Morgan; Prairie View: Emma Chambers, Jade Chambers; Republic County: Emily Hansen; Ella Pachta; Riley County: Jacob Wendland; Riverton: Tony Hodge; Royal Valley: Cheyenne Hittle; Sabetha: Kate Beyer; Southeast of Saline: Luke Gebhardt, Taylie Hammel; Spring Hill: Peyton Sherron; St. Francis: Rian Zimbal; Wellington: Baylee Newberry&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1685628690226.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Kansas FFAMANHATTAN – Area FFA members were among the 32 Kansas students awarded $1,000 Ford Trucks/Built Ford Tough Scholarships during the fifth session of the 95th Kansas FFA Convention, May 31–June 2, 2023, on the Kansas State University campus in Manhattan. The Built Ford Tough FFA Scholarship Program recognizes FFA members’ talents and accomplishments while encouraging their future academic achievements. This year’s recipients are from: Abilene: Jensen Woodworth; Anderson County: Mallory Wheat; Buhler: Morgan Carson, Taryn Horningl; Burlington: Halle Finnerty; Canton-Galva: Brecken Pearson, Sage Toews; Central Heights: Kaden Krone; Chapman: Brayden Lexow; Cheney: Camryn DeVore; Cherryvale: Kaylee Groff; Cheylin: Rubie Yost; Clay Center: Olivia Presley; Coffeyville: Anna Powers, Morgan Way, Colby: Jayla Rush; Dodge City: Breckkyn Konecny; Ell-Saline: Meryn Came, Lani Richards; Emporia: Journey Walburn; Garden City: Baylee Hutchinson; Girard: Ainsley Viets; Goodland: Chisum Goodwin; Haven: Luke Hartung; Hays: Jalynn Weilert; Hillsboro: Alana Suderman; Hoxie: Drew Bretz; Inman: Kylie Flaming; Jayhawk-Linn: Brynn Collier; Junction City: Mikayla Dibben; Kingman: Shylla Mark; Labette County: Lakin Giager; Louisburg: Brayton Brueggen; Maize: Isabel Newberry-Rivera; Manhattan: Nissa Olsen; Marais des Cygnes Valley: Kyla Vogeler; Nemaha Central: Ella Sudbeck; North Lyon County: Kolden Ryberg; Pike Valley: Kiersten Morgan; Prairie View: Emma Chambers, Jade Chambers; Republic County: Emily Hansen; Ella Pachta; Riley County: Jacob Wendland; Riverton: Tony Hodge; Royal Valley: Cheyenne Hittle; Sabetha: Kate Beyer; Southeast of Saline: Luke Gebhardt, Taylie Hammel; Spring Hill: Peyton Sherron; St. Francis: Rian Zimbal; Wellington: Baylee Newberry&nbsp;

Scholarships awarded to area FFA members attending state convention in Manhattan

TOPEKA –&nbsp;The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has rescinded a boil water advisory for the city of Portis public water supply system in Osborne County. The advisory was issued due to low pressure in the distribution system.

Public water suppliers in Kansas take all measures necessary to notify customers quickly after a system failure or shutdown. Regardless of whether it’s the supplier or KDHE that announces a boil water advisory, KDHE will issue the rescind order following testing at a certified laboratory.

Laboratory testing samples collected from the city of Portis indicate no evidence of bacteriological contamination and all other conditions that placed the system at risk of contamination are deemed by KDHE officials to be resolved. &nbsp;

If consumers have questions, contact the water system at 758-346-4020, or you may call KDHE at 785-296-5514. For consumer information, visit KDHE’s PWS Consumer Information webpage at&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDAsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmtkaGUua3MuZ292LzQ2OC9Db25zdW1lci1JbmZvcm1hdGlvbi1SZWdhcmRpbmctYS1EaXNydXB0P3V0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1nb3ZkZWxpdmVyeSIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMzA2MDcuNzc5MDE1NzEifQ.SBcmPtpG2MduqSPtKmX731fMN2JH7-UeMBCmUpjJR8c/s/1305913623/br/204429650795-l" target="_blank">kdhe.ks.gov/waterdisruption</a>.

KDHETOPEKA –&nbsp;The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has rescinded a boil water advisory for the city of Portis public water supply system in Osborne County. The advisory was issued due to low pressure in the distribution system.Public water suppliers in Kansas take all measures necessary to notify customers quickly after a system failure or shutdown. Regardless of whether it’s the supplier or KDHE that announces a boil water advisory, KDHE will issue the rescind order following testing at a certified laboratory.Laboratory testing samples collected from the city of Portis indicate no evidence of bacteriological contamination and all other conditions that placed the system at risk of contamination are deemed by KDHE officials to be resolved. &nbsp;If consumers have questions, contact the water system at 758-346-4020, or you may call KDHE at 785-296-5514. For consumer information, visit KDHE’s PWS Consumer Information webpage at&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDAsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmtkaGUua3MuZ292LzQ2OC9Db25zdW1lci1JbmZvcm1hdGlvbi1SZWdhcmRpbmctYS1EaXNydXB0P3V0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1nb3ZkZWxpdmVyeSIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMzA2MDcuNzc5MDE1NzEifQ.SBcmPtpG2MduqSPtKmX731fMN2JH7-UeMBCmUpjJR8c/s/1305913623/br/204429650795-l" target="_blank">kdhe.ks.gov/waterdisruption</a>.Photo provided by Pixabay.

Boil water advisory rescinded for city of Portis in Osborne County

TOPEKA&nbsp;– Lieutenant Governor and Commerce Secretary David Toland has announced the recipients of the spring 2023 Historic Economic Asset Lifeline (HEAL) grants. A total of 17 projects from across the state, including Grow Hays, are receiving nearly $918,000 in matching grant funds.

The Patterson Family Foundation and Department of Commerce paired up to provide grant funding to assist rural communities in revitalizing underutilized and dilapidated downtown buildings and turn them into economic drivers in the community. A total of 30 applications were received during the spring HEAL grant round.&nbsp;

“Downtowns throughout rural Kansas act as the front doors to their communities,” Toland said.&nbsp;“Through our valued relationship with the Patterson Family Foundation, we are helping to make these districts more economically viable and productive.”

HEAL projects will fund a variety of economic drivers. A sampling of this round’s projects include: a restaurant, a brewery, a façade improvement for an existing health and wellness business, a coffee shop and bakery, upper story short-term rentals and apartments, a childcare center and a group childcare facility, a boutique hotel and lounge, a sewing shop, a market, and a community event center.

“Through multiple rounds of the HEAL program, it has been rewarding to see how different rural communities work collaboratively to display their own unique sense of place and pride,”&nbsp;Patterson Family Foundation President Lindsey Patterson Smith said. “We have enjoyed working with the Department of Commerce and its partners on a program that is creating meaningful opportunities through revitalization. It will be exciting to see these projects get implemented.”

The spring 2023 HEAL grant awardees include:

As the state’s lead economic development agency, the Kansas Department of Commerce strives to empower individuals, businesses and communities to achieve prosperity in Kansas. Commerce accomplishes its mission by developing relationships with corporations, site location consultants and stakeholders in Kansas, the nation and world. Our strong partnerships allow us to help create an environment for existing Kansas businesses to grow and foster an innovative, competitive landscape for new businesses. Through Commerce’s project successes, Kansas was awarded&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.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.5TWXrJO3b3qLJa9ieHzydq1eJNWfc7-AJ-GW80r08s8/s/1303135913/br/109392404636-l" target="_blank">Area Development Magazine’s</a>&nbsp;prestigious&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.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.K9Y9Tb0NsjacA1MsAu_7H-njrBFCuqNGN6ODZXi3nmY/s/1303135913/br/109392404636-l" target="_blank">Gold Shovel award</a>&nbsp;in 2021 and 2022, and was awarded the 2021 and 2022 Governor’s Cup by&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.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.dNNQWTpQT0szY4qD2n2LvtDSg1A0HrY6qDhbvmHjyjk/s/1303135913/br/109392404636-l" target="_blank">Site Selection Magazine</a>.

The Patterson Family Foundation is a family-led foundation extending the legacy of Neal and Jeanne Patterson to improve the rural communities through healthcare, education, economic opportunity, and beyond. Learn more about the Patterson Family Foundation and how it can help your community at&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.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.z-uXetyWakJ1tFdkfAWd7OqU7vEylZG45oVVRlW7BN8/s/1303161001/br/204249418801-l" target="_blank">https://pattersonfamilyfoundation.org/</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1577789937052.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>KDCTOPEKA&nbsp;– Lieutenant Governor and Commerce Secretary David Toland has announced the recipients of the spring 2023 Historic Economic Asset Lifeline (HEAL) grants. A total of 17 projects from across the state, including Grow Hays, are receiving nearly $918,000 in matching grant funds.The Patterson Family Foundation and Department of Commerce paired up to provide grant funding to assist rural communities in revitalizing underutilized and dilapidated downtown buildings and turn them into economic drivers in the community. A total of 30 applications were received during the spring HEAL grant round.&nbsp;“Downtowns throughout rural Kansas act as the front doors to their communities,” Toland said.&nbsp;“Through our valued relationship with the Patterson Family Foundation, we are helping to make these districts more economically viable and productive.”HEAL projects will fund a variety of economic drivers. A sampling of this round’s projects include: a restaurant, a brewery, a façade improvement for an existing health and wellness business, a coffee shop and bakery, upper story short-term rentals and apartments, a childcare center and a group childcare facility, a boutique hotel and lounge, a sewing shop, a market, and a community event center.“Through multiple rounds of the HEAL program, it has been rewarding to see how different rural communities work collaboratively to display their own unique sense of place and pride,”&nbsp;Patterson Family Foundation President Lindsey Patterson Smith said. “We have enjoyed working with the Department of Commerce and its partners on a program that is creating meaningful opportunities through revitalization. It will be exciting to see these projects get implemented.”The spring 2023 HEAL grant awardees include:<ul>
 <li>Belleville Chamber/Main Street, Republic County - $75,000</li><li>City of Halstead, Harvey County - $64,300</li><li>City of Hillsboro, Marion County - $74,999</li><li>City of Osawatomie, Miami County - $75,000</li><li>City of Spearville, Ford County - $70,000</li><li>City of Sterling, Rice County - $75,000</li><li>City of Wathena, Doniphan County - $54,520</li><li>Edwards County Economic Development (Kinsley), Edwards County - $45,599</li><li>Edwards County Economic Development (Lewis), Edwards County - $33,008</li><li>Grow Hays, Inc., Ellis County - $75,000</li><li>Grow Clay County (GCC), Clay County - $25,000</li><li>Logan County Community Foundation, Logan County - $25,000</li><li>Miltonvale Economic Revitalization Improvement Team (MERIT), Inc., Cloud County - $9,600</li><li>Ness County Chamber of Commerce, Ness County - $48,250</li><li>Point Forward, Inc., Crawford County - $75,000</li><li>Rush County Economic Development, Rush County - $17,462</li><li>South Central KS Economic Development District, Reno County - $75,000</li>
 </ul>About the Kansas Department of Commerce:As the state’s lead economic development agency, the Kansas Department of Commerce strives to empower individuals, businesses and communities to achieve prosperity in Kansas. Commerce accomplishes its mission by developing relationships with corporations, site location consultants and stakeholders in Kansas, the nation and world. Our strong partnerships allow us to help create an environment for existing Kansas businesses to grow and foster an innovative, competitive landscape for new businesses. Through Commerce’s project successes, Kansas was awarded&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMTA3MTUuNDMyNjU4NTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL2djYzAyLnNhZmVsaW5rcy5wcm90ZWN0aW9uLm91dGxvb2suY29tLz91cmw9aHR0cHMlM0ElMkYlMkZ3d3cuYXJlYWRldmVsb3BtZW50LmNvbSUyRiZkYXRhPTA0JTdDMDElN0NSYXluYS5LYXJzdCU0MGtzLmdvdiU3Q2Q3MGMyNmFhNjYxMDQ0ZGMwMjkyMDhkOTQ3YzRlNWFjJTdDZGNhZTgxMDFjOTJkNDgwY2JjNDNjNjc2MWNjY2NjNWElN0MwJTdDMCU3QzYzNzYxOTczMzI1MDgyMzM4NSU3Q1Vua25vd24lN0NUV0ZwYkdac2IzZDhleUpXSWpvaU1DNHdMakF3TURBaUxDSlFJam9pVjJsdU16SWlMQ0pCVGlJNklrMWhhV3dpTENKWFZDSTZNbjAlM0QlN0MxMDAwJnNkYXRhPW5TNHFXWTdqQyUyRk1nd0xCb0VaMUpkS25FRWxkSmRXU3FKUFhtSlQwZFhtNCUzRCZyZXNlcnZlZD0wIn0.5TWXrJO3b3qLJa9ieHzydq1eJNWfc7-AJ-GW80r08s8/s/1303135913/br/109392404636-l" target="_blank">Area Development Magazine’s</a>&nbsp;prestigious&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDIsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMTA3MTUuNDMyNjU4NTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL2djYzAyLnNhZmVsaW5rcy5wcm90ZWN0aW9uLm91dGxvb2suY29tLz91cmw9aHR0cHMlM0ElMkYlMkZ3d3cuYXJlYWRldmVsb3BtZW50LmNvbSUyRkdvbGQtU2hvdmVsLUVjb25kZXYtQXdhcmRzJTJGUTItMjAyMSUyRnJlY29nbml6ZS1uZXctc3RhdGUtYW5kLWxvY2FsLWVjb25vbWljLWRldmVsb3BtZW50LWVmZm9ydHMuc2h0bWwmZGF0YT0wNCU3QzAxJTdDUmF5bmEuS2Fyc3QlNDBrcy5nb3YlN0NkNzBjMjZhYTY2MTA0NGRjMDI5MjA4ZDk0N2M0ZTVhYyU3Q2RjYWU4MTAxYzkyZDQ4MGNiYzQzYzY3NjFjY2NjYzVhJTdDMCU3QzAlN0M2Mzc2MTk3MzMyNTA4MjMzODUlN0NVbmtub3duJTdDVFdGcGJHWnNiM2Q4ZXlKV0lqb2lNQzR3TGpBd01EQWlMQ0pRSWpvaVYybHVNeklpTENKQlRpSTZJazFoYVd3aUxDSlhWQ0k2TW4wJTNEJTdDMTAwMCZzZGF0YT0xOXBkTmxST0dtRzJRS2pNSUpTa09WczdsJTJCZ2d3OWc4MUdlVEhZdGZoOUElM0QmcmVzZXJ2ZWQ9MCJ9.K9Y9Tb0NsjacA1MsAu_7H-njrBFCuqNGN6ODZXi3nmY/s/1303135913/br/109392404636-l" target="_blank">Gold Shovel award</a>&nbsp;in 2021 and 2022, and was awarded the 2021 and 2022 Governor’s Cup by&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.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.dNNQWTpQT0szY4qD2n2LvtDSg1A0HrY6qDhbvmHjyjk/s/1303135913/br/109392404636-l" target="_blank">Site Selection Magazine</a>.About the Patterson Family Foundation:The Patterson Family Foundation is a family-led foundation extending the legacy of Neal and Jeanne Patterson to improve the rural communities through healthcare, education, economic opportunity, and beyond. Learn more about the Patterson Family Foundation and how it can help your community at&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.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.z-uXetyWakJ1tFdkfAWd7OqU7vEylZG45oVVRlW7BN8/s/1303161001/br/204249418801-l" target="_blank">https://pattersonfamilyfoundation.org/</a>

Ellis, other northwest Kan. counties receive Historic Economic Asset Lifeline grants 

By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT Hays Post

The Ellis County Commission voted Tuesday to allow the
discharge of fireworks within the unincorporated areas of the county next
month.

The commission voted 2-0 to relax a 2018 ban on the sale and
use of fireworks in the unincorporated areas of the county. Commissioner Neal Younger
was absent from the meeting.

The county’s move only affects the unincorporated areas of the
county. Each community within Ellis County has its own fireworks restrictions.

Under the resolution approved by the commission Tuesday, the
discharge of fireworks in the unincorporated areas of the county will be allowed
from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. July 2-4.

County Commissioner Michael Berges said, before the vote, he did have concerns about a change in the weather and said if the
conditions dry out, the commission still has two more meetings in June to reconsider
lifting the ban.

&nbsp;However, County Administrator and Fire Chief Darin Myers said organizations
are preparing for the holiday and a change in the county’s restrictions could
have an impact on those organizations.

Myers added even if the county restricts fireworks, the cities can
still allow them.

“It just makes the enforcement piece of it harder,” Myers said.
“Because who is shooting where and for a sheriff's deputy be at the right place at
the right time to see where it was discharged from makes it a little more
difficult.”

Commissioner Nathan Leiker said he was in favor of allowing
fireworks.

“It comes down to some self-responsibility, and people need
to understand that they're responsible for their actions,” Leiker said. “There are laws around it (and) there are all sorts of different stipulations if they don't
cause a problem or damage somebody else's property.”

Myers said there were 11 fireworks-related incidents
in 2022, 11 more than in the previous five years.

Myers said most of those incidents were on the nights the
cities hosted their fireworks displays. none of the incidents were major. There were no injuries reported.

In other business, the commission continued discussions on
the 2024 budget. They will hear from all outside agencies that receive funding from the county next week.

The commission also received an update from High Plains Mental
Health, the city of Hays on the R9 Ranch Water project, and the health department
on COVID-19 and approved a resolution to remove a set of stairs in the county administration building.

By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT Hays PostThe Ellis County Commission voted Tuesday to allow the
discharge of fireworks within the unincorporated areas of the county next
month.The commission voted 2-0 to relax a 2018 ban on the sale and
use of fireworks in the unincorporated areas of the county. Commissioner Neal Younger
was absent from the meeting.The county’s move only affects the unincorporated areas of the
county. Each community within Ellis County has its own fireworks restrictions.Under the resolution approved by the commission Tuesday, the
discharge of fireworks in the unincorporated areas of the county will be allowed
from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. July 2-4.County Commissioner Michael Berges said, before the vote, he did have concerns about a change in the weather and said if the
conditions dry out, the commission still has two more meetings in June to reconsider
lifting the ban.&nbsp;However, County Administrator and Fire Chief Darin Myers said organizations
are preparing for the holiday and a change in the county’s restrictions could
have an impact on those organizations.Myers added even if the county restricts fireworks, the cities can
still allow them.“It just makes the enforcement piece of it harder,” Myers said.
“Because who is shooting where and for a sheriff's deputy be at the right place at
the right time to see where it was discharged from makes it a little more
difficult.”Commissioner Nathan Leiker said he was in favor of allowing
fireworks.“It comes down to some self-responsibility, and people need
to understand that they're responsible for their actions,” Leiker said. “There are laws around it (and) there are all sorts of different stipulations if they don't
cause a problem or damage somebody else's property.”Myers said there were 11 fireworks-related incidents
in 2022, 11 more than in the previous five years.Myers said most of those incidents were on the nights the
cities hosted their fireworks displays. none of the incidents were major. There were no injuries reported.In other business, the commission continued discussions on
the 2024 budget. They will hear from all outside agencies that receive funding from the county next week.The commission also received an update from High Plains Mental
Health, the city of Hays on the R9 Ranch Water project, and the health department
on COVID-19 and approved a resolution to remove a set of stairs in the county administration building.

Ellis County Commission gives fireworks go ahead

During the Click It or Ticket Campaign, the Hays Police Department conducted overtime saturation patrols to aggressively enforce Kansas occupant restraint and other traffic laws. 

During the campaign, officers wrote 47 safety belt citations, one speeding citation and seven other citations and arrests, including two drug arrests. Fifty vehicle stops were made during the campaign.

We are here to enforce Kansas Traffic Laws and ultimately, to decrease unsafe driving behavior. 

If you were stopped, we hope you learned from the experience. 

If so, we have made the roads a little safer for you and those you share the road with. 

We will continue to do that because, while the 2023 Click It or Ticket campaign may be over, traffic enforcement never is.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686086826440.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Hays Police DepartmentDuring the Click It or Ticket Campaign, the Hays Police Department conducted overtime saturation patrols to aggressively enforce Kansas occupant restraint and other traffic laws. During the campaign, officers wrote 47 safety belt citations, one speeding citation and seven other citations and arrests, including two drug arrests. Fifty vehicle stops were made during the campaign.We are here to enforce Kansas Traffic Laws and ultimately, to decrease unsafe driving behavior. If you were stopped, we hope you learned from the experience. If so, we have made the roads a little safer for you and those you share the road with. We will continue to do that because, while the 2023 Click It or Ticket campaign may be over, traffic enforcement never is.<div>Several curb and gutter repairs were performed last month and workers also improved the drainage of Chetolah Creek at 22nd and General Custer in time for the spring rains.

As part of a partnership agreement with NCK Tech in Hays, students installed lighting in the north Frontier Park shelter house. 

Work continues on the Vineyard Park pond enlargement project east of Home Depot.</div>Cover image courtesy Pixabay

Seat belt saturation patrol in Hays results in 47 citations; two drug arrests

Once again, Big Creek Crossing will host a carnival in Hays,
bringing rides, food and games to the shopping center.

Moore’s Greater Shows is set to run from Thursday through Sunday in the
center’s parking lot on those evenings and will include similar amusements to
previous years’ events, said Big Creek Crossing Marketing Director Branson Hoffman.

While
the exact times and prices will be set upon the carnival’s arrival, and will be dependent on set-up time
and weather, he said they would post updates on their <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BigCreekCrossing">facebook page.</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1623189245408.jpeg" alt="File photo" />
 <figcaption>File photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By JAMES BELL Hays PostOnce again, Big Creek Crossing will host a carnival in Hays,
bringing rides, food and games to the shopping center.Moore’s Greater Shows is set to run from Thursday through Sunday in the
center’s parking lot on those evenings and will include similar amusements to
previous years’ events, said Big Creek Crossing Marketing Director Branson Hoffman.While
the exact times and prices will be set upon the carnival’s arrival, and will be dependent on set-up time
and weather, he said they would post updates on their <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BigCreekCrossing">facebook page.</a><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686072556395.jpeg" alt="Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>In
previous years, Hoffman said the times were 6 to 10 p.m. Thursday, 6 to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 5 to 10 p.m. Sunday.&nbsp;Armbands will again be available each night. <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/ff53f4a1-c018-4ba0-93ca-a2ae6d89da78">With the
loss of the Wild West Festival carnival this summer</a>, Hoffman said the
center is happy to bring one to the community.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686072566006.jpeg" alt="Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>“I would
just say it's a needed attraction,” he said. “I think this is something that
they were recently finding out. … This is the only carnival that's going to be
in Ellis County, to our knowledge. So we're excited to have something for
family fun for pretty much all ages.”“Bring
your kids, have them ride the kiddie rides, bring your teenagers, have them
ride the older rides if you don't want to do that at all, partake in the food. … So
it’s something to get out of the house, something to have fun with and have a
good time. That’s really what it boils down to.”As the only summer carnival in
Hays, Hoffman said it is a unique attraction.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686072576430.jpeg" alt="Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>This year he expects similar attractions
to previous years.“They
usually have four to six kind of teenager rides, the big rides,” Hoffman said. “They'll
have four to seven of the kiddie rides. And then in the past, they've had, you
know, plenty of food trucks with pretty much anything from your turkey legs to
your funnel cakes and all that good stuff. So we're anticipating pretty much
the same layout.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686072589336.jpeg" alt="Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>He said
they also anticipate the Ferris wheel will return and the carnival will be in a
similar location to previous years.“It
should be pretty much the same,” Hoffman said. “We're expecting them to be on
the south part of the Vine Street parking lot.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686072545461.jpeg" alt="Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>