Reporter Cristina Janney speaks with Doug Williams of Grow Hays about the structure and mission of Grow Hays on this episode of the Hays Post Podcast.

<div><iframe title="Post Podcast: Grow Hays" allowtransparency="true" height="300" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:300px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?from=embed&i=jtjiy-1820f56-pb&square=1&share=1&download=1&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=auto&rtl=0&logo_link=podcast_page&btn-skin=60a0c8&size=300" loading="lazy" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>Reporter Cristina Janney speaks with Doug Williams of Grow Hays about the structure and mission of Grow Hays on this episode of the Hays Post Podcast.

🎙 Post Podcast: Doug Williams: What is Grow Hays?

LOGAN COUNTY—Many voters across the country are confused, some are angry and are showing up at town hall events to ask what President Donald Trump and Elon Musk are doing.&nbsp;

Kansas U.S. Senator Roger Marshall hosted a town hall to visit with voters on Saturday morning at the Logan County Hospital,&nbsp;211 Cherry Avenue in Oakley.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Senator answered questions on budget cuts, layoffs and funding freezes from a somewhat hostile crowd and according to a video taken by Colin McRoberts, Marshall left the event before it was finished.

Marshall, who posts more on social media than most members of the United States Senate, has been quiet on the app since Friday.&nbsp; He didn't use social media to promote the town hall in Oakley and asked a staffer to offer a response to those who suggested he left early.

The Senator's web site does not show where Marshall will hold future town hall events.  The Senate is adjourned until 3:00pm on Monday when they will hold a confirmation vote on  Linda  McMahon for Education Secretary.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1740919102880.png" alt="Image from the video by Colin McRoberts went viral" />
 <figcaption>Image from the video by Colin McRoberts went viral</figcaption>
 </figure>LOGAN COUNTY—Many voters across the country are confused, some are angry and are showing up at town hall events to ask what President Donald Trump and Elon Musk are doing.&nbsp;Kansas U.S. Senator Roger Marshall hosted a town hall to visit with voters on Saturday morning at the Logan County Hospital,&nbsp;211 Cherry Avenue in Oakley.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Senator answered questions on budget cuts, layoffs and funding freezes from a somewhat hostile crowd and according to a video taken by Colin McRoberts, Marshall left the event before it was finished.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Must watch video: <a href="https://twitter.com/RogerMarshallMD?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RogerMarshallMD</a> stands up and leaves his own town hall meeting today after being asked why Republicans think it’s acceptable for DOGE to be firing Veterans. <a href="https://t.co/ErNJbYPy1Z">pic.twitter.com/ErNJbYPy1Z</a>&mdash; Matt McDermott (@mattmfm) <a href="https://twitter.com/mattmfm/status/1895904839437316595?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 1, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Marshall, who posts more on social media than most members of the United States Senate, has been quiet on the app since Friday.&nbsp; He didn't use social media to promote the town hall in Oakley and asked a staffer to offer a response to those who suggested he left early.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Brent Robertson, Chief of Staff to Senator Roger Marshall, released the following statement in response to the town hall hosted by <a href="https://twitter.com/RogerMarshallMD?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RogerMarshallMD</a> in Oakley, KS today: <a href="https://t.co/JPQfDLh54N">pic.twitter.com/JPQfDLh54N</a>&mdash; Emily Flower (@_emily_flower) <a href="https://twitter.com/_emily_flower/status/1896043930598412594?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 2, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The Senator's web site does not show where Marshall will hold future town hall events. The Senate is adjourned until 3:00pm on Monday when they will hold a confirmation vote on Linda McMahon for Education Secretary.

🎥Kan. U.S. Senator's staff responds after town hall video goes viral

Show me a Midwesterner who doesn’t have some sort of love-hate relationship with snow, and I’ll show you the rock they have lived under. 

It seems as though a person either love it or hates it, and for some of us, it depends upon the day. 

It’s hard to explain how something that makes the landscape suddenly seem so sparkling clean and pure can turn on you in an instant and ruin your day. 

I was reminded last week how much I love to watch snow fall and how beautiful it makes everything it touches, but also how much I hate removing it from my driveway.

 I’m kind of a purist, in that I believe God put it there and I don’t want to shovel it and take away any satisfaction He might get from taking it away himself! Yes, to the traveler, home owner, maintenance man and commuter, snow is often an unwelcome inconvenience. To the outdoorsman, however, snow opens up a whole new world of opportunities.

For the outdoors photographer or painter there is no other canvas that compares to an outdoor scene sporting a fresh snowfall. Suddenly, as if by magic, the mundane becomes majestic, the drab becomes dynamic and the everyday becomes extraordinary. Outdoor spots we pass daily with no recognition suddenly become scenes from a calendar. Like the lava lamps of days gone by, the look of the landscape slowly changes from hour to hour with the wind.

Obviously, skiers and snowboarders live for fresh snow. After an overnight snowfall, hills too steep to climb become mere carnival rides beneath their feet. Cross-country skiers can, in one day, see country it would take them several days to see on foot without the snow. And let’s not forget the farmers. Around one foot of snow equals one inch of rain and snow supposedly brings with it good nutrients too, so after a couple dry years like we’ve had, all this snow is more than welcome for our Kansas wheat and alfalfa.

Hunters and trappers can benefit greatly from a fresh snowfall. Tracks of deer, coyotes, bobcats and other game animals are tough to spot in our often-dry Kansas soil, so trying to learn their movement patterns can rely on being fortunate enough to see the animals themselves. 

Remember going to dances back-in-the-day when your hand was stamped with a mark that only showed up under a special “black light?” That mark was there the whole time but only became visible when put under the light. Just like the black light, snow suddenly shows tracks of wildlife that have been traveling those same paths for months, but leaving no visible signs.

After a significant snowfall a few years ago, I spent time scouting an area I still had yet to trap. It was a soybean stubble field along the river where my wife harvested her first deer several years before. Besides hordes of deer tracks, I followed two sets of bobcat tracks as they meandered back and forth across the field and between several freshly made brush piles. 

I tracked a coyote for several hundred yards and was able to observe exactly how it related to certain land features. I followed coyote tracks on a frozen drainage ditch and could see where it had stopped to nose around under logs and other attractions. Its tracks showed me cattle trails it had traveled along the steep banks and where it had entered and left the ditch. Closing my eyes, I could almost see these animals as they left the footprints that held my attention.

So, the next time it snows, or before this current snow all melts, after you’ve shoveled the driveway, cleaned the walks, swept the deck and cursed the weatherman, grab your camera or walking stick and head for the woods. It will definitely influence your relationship with the “white stuff” as you continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574696211722.png" alt="Steve Gilliland. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Steve Gilliland. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>Show me a Midwesterner who doesn’t have some sort of love-hate relationship with snow, and I’ll show you the rock they have lived under. It seems as though a person either love it or hates it, and for some of us, it depends upon the day. It’s hard to explain how something that makes the landscape suddenly seem so sparkling clean and pure can turn on you in an instant and ruin your day. I was reminded last week how much I love to watch snow fall and how beautiful it makes everything it touches, but also how much I hate removing it from my driveway. I’m kind of a purist, in that I believe God put it there and I don’t want to shovel it and take away any satisfaction He might get from taking it away himself! Yes, to the traveler, home owner, maintenance man and commuter, snow is often an unwelcome inconvenience. To the outdoorsman, however, snow opens up a whole new world of opportunities.For the outdoors photographer or painter there is no other canvas that compares to an outdoor scene sporting a fresh snowfall. Suddenly, as if by magic, the mundane becomes majestic, the drab becomes dynamic and the everyday becomes extraordinary. Outdoor spots we pass daily with no recognition suddenly become scenes from a calendar. Like the lava lamps of days gone by, the look of the landscape slowly changes from hour to hour with the wind.Obviously, skiers and snowboarders live for fresh snow. After an overnight snowfall, hills too steep to climb become mere carnival rides beneath their feet. Cross-country skiers can, in one day, see country it would take them several days to see on foot without the snow. And let’s not forget the farmers. Around one foot of snow equals one inch of rain and snow supposedly brings with it good nutrients too, so after a couple dry years like we’ve had, all this snow is more than welcome for our Kansas wheat and alfalfa.Hunters and trappers can benefit greatly from a fresh snowfall. Tracks of deer, coyotes, bobcats and other game animals are tough to spot in our often-dry Kansas soil, so trying to learn their movement patterns can rely on being fortunate enough to see the animals themselves. Remember going to dances back-in-the-day when your hand was stamped with a mark that only showed up under a special “black light?” That mark was there the whole time but only became visible when put under the light. Just like the black light, snow suddenly shows tracks of wildlife that have been traveling those same paths for months, but leaving no visible signs.After a significant snowfall a few years ago, I spent time scouting an area I still had yet to trap. It was a soybean stubble field along the river where my wife harvested her first deer several years before. Besides hordes of deer tracks, I followed two sets of bobcat tracks as they meandered back and forth across the field and between several freshly made brush piles. I tracked a coyote for several hundred yards and was able to observe exactly how it related to certain land features. I followed coyote tracks on a frozen drainage ditch and could see where it had stopped to nose around under logs and other attractions. Its tracks showed me cattle trails it had traveled along the steep banks and where it had entered and left the ditch. Closing my eyes, I could almost see these animals as they left the footprints that held my attention.So, the next time it snows, or before this current snow all melts, after you’ve shoveled the driveway, cleaned the walks, swept the deck and cursed the weatherman, grab your camera or walking stick and head for the woods. It will definitely influence your relationship with the “white stuff” as you continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors.Steve can be contacted by email at stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.

Explore Kansas Outdoors: Snow. Love it or hate it

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

The most extensive database on Vietnam War causalities was the passion of a man from Hays.

The late Richard Coffelt, a longtime Hays attorney, spent years and his own money researching and amassing the <a href="https://www.coffeltdatabase.org/">Coffelt Database</a>, which is now available for free through the National Archives.

Although others contributed to the database and Coffelt wanted the record source named something more accessible, the database was named in honor of him.

Jo Ann Jennings, Coffelt's wife, recounted information about the database during a lecture at the Hays VFW on Feb. 16.

Coffelt was a U.S. Army veteran who served during the Korean War. He had no connection with the Vietnam War.

However, in 1980, he became acquainted with the mother of&nbsp;Gary Lee Binder of Hays. Gary Binder, who served with the Navy, was killed in action in 1967 in Vietnam, and Coffelt wanted to learn more about the circumstances of Binder's death.

Jennings explained this was before the rise of personal computing and Google, which meant hours spent at libraries, especially the&nbsp;Presidential Library of Lyndon Baines Johnson in Austin, Texas. She said she spent many vacations accompanying Richard on research trips, sometimes at his side in study rooms.

Johnson sent a letter of condolence to every family of a service member killed in Vietnam during his administration. Those letters included the unit numbers of the service members, which made them valuable in Coffelt's research.

Jennings said Richard spent countless hours taking notes on yellow legal pads.

Coffelt saw the need to connect soldiers with other soldiers. The men who served wanted to know what had happened to their buddies.

Jennings said Coffelt was interested in working on the research because the federal government didn't keep track of the units the men who were killed in action were from.

He said having a unit designation was the most important thing to know if you wanted to know what happened to your friend.

“I felt that if I just looked long enough, hard enough, I would hit the mother lode,” Coffelt was quoted as saying in a story published in the February 2012 edition of the VVA Veteran magazine. 

“I still felt that there had to be some government source that would have all this information. It became kind of a game to try and locate the information in some government repository somewhere.”

In 1993-94, after PCs had become commonplace, Tom Holloway (Emory University, Atlanta) changed the landscape by obtaining the Department of Defense's casualty database and the Army Adjutant General's database in digital form, according to the database's website.

"Using the university's mainframe computers to read the reel-to-reel computer tapes,&nbsp;Holloway integrated the two databases and converted the information into a commonly used small-computer format. The "Holloway Database" effectively became the public's sole source of information regarding all American Vietnam dead," the database website said.

The database website said that in the late 1990s, others joined Coffelt's effort, contributing information and collating the collected material into digital form using the Holloway database as a baseline, the database said.

"The additional resources allowed the project's scope to expand to include units of assignment information for all service branches," according to the database's website. "In 2002, an early version of the Coffelt Database was deeded to the National Archives, which made it available online as a searchable database," the database said.

Jennings said Coffelt amassed a library that filled a room floor to ceiling with more than 300 books on Vietnam. She said her husband had read every book.

She said her husband had an almost photographic memory of the information. She recalled a person from Australia writing Coffelt, asking him if he might know what happened to his uncle.&nbsp;

Without the need to look at any source, Coffelt was able to write him a page of the entire account of the battle in which the man's uncle was killed and what happened in that battle.

"He had super-detailed information just from his remembrance," Jennings said.

A Vietnam veteran who worked on the database with Coffelt spoke at his funeral and said, "Richard knew more about what happened in Vietnam than any soldier that was there, and he wasn't there."

Today, the database contains more than 60,000 names and more than 1 million pieces of information. Gary L. Noller, Co. B, 1/46th Infantry, Vietnam 1970-71, called the database a gift to and for Vietnam veterans and their families.

He said in a letter on the database, often, the child or grandchild of a Vietnam casualty wishes to contact a veteran who served with their deceased family member.

Prior to the Coffelt Database, a search of this kind was often overwhelming. The official record listed casualties by unit at the division or brigade level,&nbsp;Noller said in his letter.

Coffelt's research expanded the casualty database to list the company and battalion-level casualties, Noller said.

"This effectively reduced the search for a veteran from a magnitude of 1 in 10,000 to 1 in 100. It can be said that the Coffelt Database made the search at least 100 times easier to conduct,"&nbsp;Noller said.

Vietnam veteran Dick Arnold worked on the database with Coffelt.&nbsp;

In a 2011 letter published on the database's website, he said, "I consider my participation in the creation and continued improvement of The Coffelt Database to be one of the proudest parts of my life. I also consider it a singular honor to have known and worked with Richard these last few years. All of us Vietnam veterans owe him a huge debt ..."

Although Coffelt and the others who contributed to the database were offered money to privatize the data, Coffelt and his fellow researchers insisted the database remain a free, open-source of information, Jennings said.

By 2009, Coffelt developed Lewy body dementia. He died on Jan. 25, 2012.

Hays VVA Chapter 939&nbsp;dedicated a plaque at the Hays Regional Airport to honor Coffelt's work in creating the database.

Not only is the Coffelt database still available and in use today. But a story on the database sparked an unlikely friendship between Jennings and a WWII veteran who read a story on the database in a veterans magazine.

Frank Malizia, who was 92 at the time, read that story and recognized Hays as a familiar place. He had been stationed in Great Bend during the war and was familiar with Hays and Ellis County. This led him to contact Jennings.

Read more on Malizia and Jennings' long friendship and correspondents at&nbsp;<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/74f5a4c8-b37b-458a-b1a8-ddb7a744b869">NWester: WWII soldier laid to rest next to 'love of his life' in Antonino</a>.

You can access the Coffelt Database online for free. <a href="https://www.coffeltdatabase.org/">Click here for a link</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740519011452.png" alt="Richard Coffelt. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Richard Coffelt. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post The most extensive database on Vietnam War causalities was the passion of a man from Hays.The late Richard Coffelt, a longtime Hays attorney, spent years and his own money researching and amassing the <a href="https://www.coffeltdatabase.org/">Coffelt Database</a>, which is now available for free through the National Archives.Although others contributed to the database and Coffelt wanted the record source named something more accessible, the database was named in honor of him.Jo Ann Jennings, Coffelt's wife, recounted information about the database during a lecture at the Hays VFW on Feb. 16.Coffelt was a U.S. Army veteran who served during the Korean War. He had no connection with the Vietnam War.However, in 1980, he became acquainted with the mother of&nbsp;Gary Lee Binder of Hays. Gary Binder, who served with the Navy, was killed in action in 1967 in Vietnam, and Coffelt wanted to learn more about the circumstances of Binder's death.Jennings explained this was before the rise of personal computing and Google, which meant hours spent at libraries, especially the&nbsp;Presidential Library of Lyndon Baines Johnson in Austin, Texas. She said she spent many vacations accompanying Richard on research trips, sometimes at his side in study rooms.Johnson sent a letter of condolence to every family of a service member killed in Vietnam during his administration. Those letters included the unit numbers of the service members, which made them valuable in Coffelt's research.Jennings said Richard spent countless hours taking notes on yellow legal pads.Coffelt saw the need to connect soldiers with other soldiers. The men who served wanted to know what had happened to their buddies.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740519068072.png" alt="Richard Coffelt when he was in the service. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Richard Coffelt when he was in the service. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>Jennings said Coffelt was interested in working on the research because the federal government didn't keep track of the units the men who were killed in action were from.He said having a unit designation was the most important thing to know if you wanted to know what happened to your friend.“I felt that if I just looked long enough, hard enough, I would hit the mother lode,” Coffelt was quoted as saying in a story published in the February 2012 edition of the VVA Veteran magazine. “I still felt that there had to be some government source that would have all this information. It became kind of a game to try and locate the information in some government repository somewhere.”In 1993-94, after PCs had become commonplace, Tom Holloway (Emory University, Atlanta) changed the landscape by obtaining the Department of Defense's casualty database and the Army Adjutant General's database in digital form, according to the database's website."Using the university's mainframe computers to read the reel-to-reel computer tapes,&nbsp;Holloway integrated the two databases and converted the information into a commonly used small-computer format. The "Holloway Database" effectively became the public's sole source of information regarding all American Vietnam dead," the database website said.The database website said that in the late 1990s, others joined Coffelt's effort, contributing information and collating the collected material into digital form using the Holloway database as a baseline, the database said."The additional resources allowed the project's scope to expand to include units of assignment information for all service branches," according to the database's website. "In 2002, an early version of the Coffelt Database was deeded to the National Archives, which made it available online as a searchable database," the database said.Jennings said Coffelt amassed a library that filled a room floor to ceiling with more than 300 books on Vietnam. She said her husband had read every book.She said her husband had an almost photographic memory of the information. She recalled a person from Australia writing Coffelt, asking him if he might know what happened to his uncle.&nbsp;Without the need to look at any source, Coffelt was able to write him a page of the entire account of the battle in which the man's uncle was killed and what happened in that battle."He had super-detailed information just from his remembrance," Jennings said.A Vietnam veteran who worked on the database with Coffelt spoke at his funeral and said, "Richard knew more about what happened in Vietnam than any soldier that was there, and he wasn't there."Today, the database contains more than 60,000 names and more than 1 million pieces of information. Gary L. Noller, Co. B, 1/46th Infantry, Vietnam 1970-71, called the database a gift to and for Vietnam veterans and their families.He said in a letter on the database, often, the child or grandchild of a Vietnam casualty wishes to contact a veteran who served with their deceased family member.Prior to the Coffelt Database, a search of this kind was often overwhelming. The official record listed casualties by unit at the division or brigade level,&nbsp;Noller said in his letter.Coffelt's research expanded the casualty database to list the company and battalion-level casualties, Noller said."This effectively reduced the search for a veteran from a magnitude of 1 in 10,000 to 1 in 100. It can be said that the Coffelt Database made the search at least 100 times easier to conduct,"&nbsp;Noller said.Vietnam veteran Dick Arnold worked on the database with Coffelt.&nbsp;In a 2011 letter published on the database's website, he said, "I consider my participation in the creation and continued improvement of The Coffelt Database to be one of the proudest parts of my life. I also consider it a singular honor to have known and worked with Richard these last few years. All of us Vietnam veterans owe him a huge debt ..."Although Coffelt and the others who contributed to the database were offered money to privatize the data, Coffelt and his fellow researchers insisted the database remain a free, open-source of information, Jennings said.By 2009, Coffelt developed Lewy body dementia. He died on Jan. 25, 2012.Hays VVA Chapter 939&nbsp;dedicated a plaque at the Hays Regional Airport to honor Coffelt's work in creating the database.Not only is the Coffelt database still available and in use today. But a story on the database sparked an unlikely friendship between Jennings and a WWII veteran who read a story on the database in a veterans magazine.Frank Malizia, who was 92 at the time, read that story and recognized Hays as a familiar place. He had been stationed in Great Bend during the war and was familiar with Hays and Ellis County. This led him to contact Jennings.Read more on Malizia and Jennings' long friendship and correspondents at&nbsp;<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/74f5a4c8-b37b-458a-b1a8-ddb7a744b869">NWester: WWII soldier laid to rest next to 'love of his life' in Antonino</a>.You can access the Coffelt Database online for free. <a href="https://www.coffeltdatabase.org/">Click here for a link</a>.

Coffelt Database on Americans killed in Vietnam was passion of Hays attorney

By&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/annaclairevollers/">ANNA CLAIRE VOLLERS</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/23/gop-led-lawsuit-that-could-dismantle-disability-protections-draws-public-backlash/">Kansas Reflector</a>

<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/annaclairevollers/"></a>A push by Republican attorneys general in 17 states to strike down part of a federal law that protects disabled people from discrimination has prompted an outcry from advocates, parents and some local officials.

The GOP-led lawsuit targets certain protections for transgender people. But some experts warn it has the potential to weaken federal protections for all people with disabilities.

Texas GOP Attorney General Ken Paxton&nbsp;<a href="https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/sites/default/files/images/press/HHS%20Rehabilitation%20Act%20Complaint%20Filestamped.pdf" target="_blank">sued</a>&nbsp;the federal government in September over the Biden administration’s addition of a gender identity-related disorder to the disabilities protected under a section of a 1973 federal law.

Republican attorneys general from 16 other states joined the lawsuit: Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah and West Virginia.

But the AGs face a growing public backlash that stems from conflicting messages about what the lawsuit would actually do.

“The disability community is outraged and scared,” said Charlotte Cravins, a Baton Rouge, Louisiana, attorney whose 1-year-old son has Down syndrome and is blind in one eye.

Cravins and other parents and advocates point to parts of the lawsuit in which the plaintiffs ask the court to find an entire section of the law unconstitutional. If the court agrees, they think it would allow schools, workplaces, hospitals and other entities to refuse to provide accommodations they’ve been required to provide for the past 50 years.

“It would affect so many people that every person in our state — really, in our country — should be concerned,” Cravins said. “If they can erase protections for disabled children, then who’s next?”

The provision in question, Section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, prohibits entities that receive federal funding from discriminating based on disability. For example, the law prohibits hospitals from denying organ transplants to people because they have a disability. It requires schools to allow deaf students to use speech-to-text technology. The law covers a wide range of disabilities, including vision and hearing impairments, autism, diabetes, Down syndrome, dyslexia and ADHD.

Last May, the Biden administration issued a rule that added to the covered disabilities “gender dysphoria,” the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/gender-dysphoria/symptoms-causes/syc-20475255" target="_blank">psychological distress</a>&nbsp;that people may experience when their gender identity doesn’t match their sex assigned at birth. Gender dysphoria is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/gender-dysphoria/what-is-gender-dysphoria" target="_blank">defined</a>&nbsp;in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.

In recent days, national disability rights groups — including the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.acb.org/lawsuit-brought-against-section-504" target="_blank">American Council of the Blind</a>, the&nbsp;<a href="https://ndss.org/news/take-action-protect-section-504-and-civil-rights-people-disabilities" target="_blank">National Down Syndrome Society</a>, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nad.org/2025/02/14/nad-coo-kelby-brick-esq-discusses-recent-attacks-on-section-504/" target="_blank">National Association of the Deaf</a>&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<a href="https://dredf.org/protect-504/" target="_blank">Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund</a>&nbsp;— have encouraged the public to speak out, sparking a surge of activity on social media and calls to state lawmakers.

Despite the public backlash, some state AGs are digging in their heels.

Georgia Republican Attorney General Chris Carr insists the lawsuit wouldn’t affect existing disability protections. Instead, he said, it merely aims to reverse the Biden administration’s addition of gender dysphoria to the law’s protected disabilities.

“The constitutionality of 504 was never in question,” Carr said in a statement to Stateline. “We are fighting one woke policy added by Biden for virtue signaling.”

He said most Georgians don’t believe gender dysphoria should be treated as an eligible disability “as if it’s the same as Down syndrome or dyslexia or autism.”

Arkansas Republican Attorney General Tim Griffin issued a&nbsp;<a href="https://arkansasag.gov/news-release/litigation-update-griffin-and-16-other-ags-fight-to-stop-biden-era-attempt-to-categorize-gender-dysphoria-as-a-disability/#:~:text=The%20lawsuit%20does,before%20May%202024." target="_blank">statement</a>&nbsp;last week claiming that if the states win the lawsuit, “regulations would go back to what they were” before gender dysphoria was added to the law. He said that a ruling declaring Section 504 unconstitutional would only mean the federal government couldn’t revoke funding over a failure to comply with the part of the law protecting gender dysphoria.

But Erwin Chemerinsky, a constitutional law expert and the dean of the UC Berkeley School of Law, wrote in an email that the lawsuit clearly asks the court to declare the entirety of Section 504 unconstitutional. He called the request “truly stunning.”

The lawsuit is currently&nbsp;<a href="https://arkansasag.gov/news-release/litigation-update-griffin-and-16-other-ags-fight-to-stop-biden-era-attempt-to-categorize-gender-dysphoria-as-a-disability/" target="_blank">on hold</a>. Shortly after President Donald Trump took office on Jan. 20, the parties in the case agreed to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69200578/state-of-texas-v-becerra/" target="_blank">pause</a>&nbsp;litigation while the new administration&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.txnd.395028/gov.uscourts.txnd.395028.43.0_1.pdf" target="_blank">reevaluates</a>&nbsp;the federal government’s position. Status reports are due to a judge later this month. Some of the AGs involved in the lawsuit, including Georgia’s Carr and West Virginia Republican Attorney General J.B. McCuskey, have&nbsp;<a href="https://wvrecord.com/stories/669770173-mccuskey-s-office-says-lawsuit-to-change-federal-disability-law-likely-will-be-dismissed-soon#:~:text=%E2%80%9CThis%20lawsuit%20has%20been%20stayed%20and%20will%20likely%20be%20dismissed%20in%20the%20very%20near%20future%20because%20we%20anticipate%20that%20the%20Trump%20administration%20is%20going%20to%20do%20away%20with%20the%20disputed%20language%20%E2%80%93%20reassuring%20families%20that%20their%20plans%20and%20funding%20will%20remain%20to%20care%20for%20their%20children.%E2%80%9D" target="_blank">said</a>&nbsp;they expect the Trump administration to reverse the Biden rule. That could cause the AGs’ lawsuit to be dropped.

Meanwhile, as public pressure escalates, some AGs are distancing themselves from the suit.

South Carolina Republican Attorney General Alan Wilson said in a statement last week that Trump’s Jan. 20&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/defending-women-from-gender-ideology-extremism-and-restoring-biological-truth-to-the-federal-government/" target="_blank">executive order</a>&nbsp;stating that “it is the policy of the United States to recognize two sexes, male and female”&nbsp;<a href="https://www.scag.gov/about-the-office/news/attorney-general-alan-wilson-fully-supports-section-504-school-accommodations-for-children/" target="_blank">resolved his concerns</a>. “Our mission is complete,” Wilson said. Some&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/Able_SC/status/1890419005891969032" target="_blank">advocates</a>&nbsp;understood his statement to mean he might withdraw South Carolina from the lawsuit.

However, a spokesperson for his office told Stateline that South Carolina would not be withdrawing from the lawsuit, but would be filing a notice with the court this week to clarify that the state is not asking for Section 504 to be declared unconstitutional.

Utah Republican Attorney General Derek Brown said in a&nbsp;<a href="https://attorneygeneral.utah.gov/2025/02/14/office-of-the-utah-attorney-general-expresses-support-for-section-504-accommodations/" target="_blank">statement</a>&nbsp;that Utah joined the lawsuit before he took office and that he doesn’t think Section 504 will be invalidated because “the Trump administration will soon withdraw the regulation” that added gender dysphoria to the list of disabilities.

The AGs&nbsp;<a href="https://arkansasag.gov/news-release/litigation-update-griffin-and-16-other-ags-fight-to-stop-biden-era-attempt-to-categorize-gender-dysphoria-as-a-disability/" target="_blank">argue</a>&nbsp;that established federal law does not consider gender identity disorders to be disabilities. They say allowing the Biden rule to remain in place would let the government withhold federal funding from schools unless they allow transgender students to compete in sports or use locker rooms that match their gender identity.

Cravins, the Louisiana attorney and mother, sent a letter this week to Louisiana Republican Attorney General Liz Murrill, asking her to drop Louisiana from the lawsuit.

Murrill&nbsp;<a href="https://aglizmurrill.com/Article/240" target="_blank">issued a statement</a>&nbsp;Wednesday expressing support for people with disabilities and saying her office is “actively seeking a resolution with the Trump administration” to withdraw the Biden rule while keeping the law’s previous protections intact.

Cravins said her son depends on Section 504 protections to access specialized therapies, and will rely on those protections even more as he approaches school age. Section 504 will help ensure he receives access to vision-related support, therapy and other accommodations in school.

Cravins believes the AGs that signed onto the lawsuit aren’t being honest about its potential impact to protections for all people with disabilities.

“For them to say one thing and the lawsuit to say another, I can’t imagine it’s anything other than them being disingenuous with their constituents,” she said.

Ryan Renaud, a school board representative for one of the largest public school districts in Alabama, said a concerned parent who also is an attorney contacted him last week, after reading a story about Alabama Republican Attorney General Steve Marshall joining the lawsuit. More calls soon followed.

“We’ve been hearing from dozens of parents in the last couple of days,” Renaud told Stateline. Without Section 504 protections, he said, students could lose access to a wide range of accommodations, from classroom aides to extra time to take tests.

The impacts could extend beyond what most people think of when they think of special education, he said.

“This includes students with ADHD, heart disease, depression, visual impairment, diabetes,” Renaud said. “Accommodations that come with those health concerns also fall under 504 plan protection.

“When a student doesn’t have those accommodations, they become less secure in class and teachers are less able to manage their classrooms.”

He’s also worried that the funding from the U.S. Department of Education that helps pay for those accommodations could vanish if federal law no longer requires them. Trump has vowed to dismantle the agency.

“We spend on average $30 million a year or more on special education, and more than a quarter of that is provided by the federal government,” he said. “If [accommodations] aren’t federally protected and the Department of Education doesn’t have the authority to disburse the funds, we have to assume we’d have to pick up that slack through local or state funding.

“And it’s hard to believe Alabama would cough up tens or hundreds of millions of dollars to supplement these costs.”

Last year, the U.S. Department of Education reported that&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ed.gov/media/document/crdc-student-disabilities-snapshotpdf-21420.pdf#:~:text=There%20were%20a%20total%20of,served%20only%20under%20Section%20504." target="_blank">1.6 million students</a>&nbsp;with disabilities were served under Section 504 nationwide during the 2020-2021 school year.

Stateline, a States Newsroom affiliate, produced&nbsp;<a href="https://stateline.org/2025/02/20/gop-led-lawsuit-that-could-dismantle-disability-protections-draws-public-backlash/" target="_blank">this story</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740496280933.jpeg" alt="Charlotte Cravins, left, attends an event with her husband, Calvin Bell, and their children, infant son Landry Bell and daughter Lyric Bell. Landry was born with Down syndrome and is blind in one eye. Charlotte is worried that a lawsuit challenging part of a 50-year-old federal disability rights law could remove protections for children with disabilities, like Landry. (Submitted by Charlotte Cravins)" />
 <figcaption>Charlotte Cravins, left, attends an event with her husband, Calvin Bell, and their children, infant son Landry Bell and daughter Lyric Bell. Landry was born with Down syndrome and is blind in one eye. Charlotte is worried that a lawsuit challenging part of a 50-year-old federal disability rights law could remove protections for children with disabilities, like Landry. (Submitted by Charlotte Cravins)</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/annaclairevollers/">ANNA CLAIRE VOLLERS</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/23/gop-led-lawsuit-that-could-dismantle-disability-protections-draws-public-backlash/">Kansas Reflector</a><a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/annaclairevollers/"></a>A push by Republican attorneys general in 17 states to strike down part of a federal law that protects disabled people from discrimination has prompted an outcry from advocates, parents and some local officials.The GOP-led lawsuit targets certain protections for transgender people. But some experts warn it has the potential to weaken federal protections for all people with disabilities.Texas GOP Attorney General Ken Paxton&nbsp;<a href="https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/sites/default/files/images/press/HHS%20Rehabilitation%20Act%20Complaint%20Filestamped.pdf" target="_blank">sued</a>&nbsp;the federal government in September over the Biden administration’s addition of a gender identity-related disorder to the disabilities protected under a section of a 1973 federal law.Republican attorneys general from 16 other states joined the lawsuit: Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah and West Virginia.But the AGs face a growing public backlash that stems from conflicting messages about what the lawsuit would actually do.“The disability community is outraged and scared,” said Charlotte Cravins, a Baton Rouge, Louisiana, attorney whose 1-year-old son has Down syndrome and is blind in one eye.Cravins and other parents and advocates point to parts of the lawsuit in which the plaintiffs ask the court to find an entire section of the law unconstitutional. If the court agrees, they think it would allow schools, workplaces, hospitals and other entities to refuse to provide accommodations they’ve been required to provide for the past 50 years.“It would affect so many people that every person in our state — really, in our country — should be concerned,” Cravins said. “If they can erase protections for disabled children, then who’s next?”The provision in question, Section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, prohibits entities that receive federal funding from discriminating based on disability. For example, the law prohibits hospitals from denying organ transplants to people because they have a disability. It requires schools to allow deaf students to use speech-to-text technology. The law covers a wide range of disabilities, including vision and hearing impairments, autism, diabetes, Down syndrome, dyslexia and ADHD.Last May, the Biden administration issued a rule that added to the covered disabilities “gender dysphoria,” the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/gender-dysphoria/symptoms-causes/syc-20475255" target="_blank">psychological distress</a>&nbsp;that people may experience when their gender identity doesn’t match their sex assigned at birth. Gender dysphoria is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/gender-dysphoria/what-is-gender-dysphoria" target="_blank">defined</a>&nbsp;in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.In recent days, national disability rights groups — including the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.acb.org/lawsuit-brought-against-section-504" target="_blank">American Council of the Blind</a>, the&nbsp;<a href="https://ndss.org/news/take-action-protect-section-504-and-civil-rights-people-disabilities" target="_blank">National Down Syndrome Society</a>, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nad.org/2025/02/14/nad-coo-kelby-brick-esq-discusses-recent-attacks-on-section-504/" target="_blank">National Association of the Deaf</a>&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<a href="https://dredf.org/protect-504/" target="_blank">Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund</a>&nbsp;— have encouraged the public to speak out, sparking a surge of activity on social media and calls to state lawmakers.<h2>AGs respond</h2>Despite the public backlash, some state AGs are digging in their heels.<figure>
 <img src="https://kansasreflector.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/AG-Carr.jpg" alt="Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr speaks at a campaign event on Sept. 9, 2022, in Gwinnett, Georgia. Photo by Megan Varner/Getty Images" />
 <figcaption>Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr speaks at a campaign event on Sept. 9, 2022, in Gwinnett, Georgia. Photo by Megan Varner/Getty Images</figcaption>
 </figure>Georgia Republican Attorney General Chris Carr insists the lawsuit wouldn’t affect existing disability protections. Instead, he said, it merely aims to reverse the Biden administration’s addition of gender dysphoria to the law’s protected disabilities.“The constitutionality of 504 was never in question,” Carr said in a statement to Stateline. “We are fighting one woke policy added by Biden for virtue signaling.”He said most Georgians don’t believe gender dysphoria should be treated as an eligible disability “as if it’s the same as Down syndrome or dyslexia or autism.”Arkansas Republican Attorney General Tim Griffin issued a&nbsp;<a href="https://arkansasag.gov/news-release/litigation-update-griffin-and-16-other-ags-fight-to-stop-biden-era-attempt-to-categorize-gender-dysphoria-as-a-disability/#:~:text=The%20lawsuit%20does,before%20May%202024." target="_blank">statement</a>&nbsp;last week claiming that if the states win the lawsuit, “regulations would go back to what they were” before gender dysphoria was added to the law. He said that a ruling declaring Section 504 unconstitutional would only mean the federal government couldn’t revoke funding over a failure to comply with the part of the law protecting gender dysphoria.But Erwin Chemerinsky, a constitutional law expert and the dean of the UC Berkeley School of Law, wrote in an email that the lawsuit clearly asks the court to declare the entirety of Section 504 unconstitutional. He called the request “truly stunning.”The lawsuit is currently&nbsp;<a href="https://arkansasag.gov/news-release/litigation-update-griffin-and-16-other-ags-fight-to-stop-biden-era-attempt-to-categorize-gender-dysphoria-as-a-disability/" target="_blank">on hold</a>. Shortly after President Donald Trump took office on Jan. 20, the parties in the case agreed to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69200578/state-of-texas-v-becerra/" target="_blank">pause</a>&nbsp;litigation while the new administration&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.txnd.395028/gov.uscourts.txnd.395028.43.0_1.pdf" target="_blank">reevaluates</a>&nbsp;the federal government’s position. Status reports are due to a judge later this month. Some of the AGs involved in the lawsuit, including Georgia’s Carr and West Virginia Republican Attorney General J.B. McCuskey, have&nbsp;<a href="https://wvrecord.com/stories/669770173-mccuskey-s-office-says-lawsuit-to-change-federal-disability-law-likely-will-be-dismissed-soon#:~:text=%E2%80%9CThis%20lawsuit%20has%20been%20stayed%20and%20will%20likely%20be%20dismissed%20in%20the%20very%20near%20future%20because%20we%20anticipate%20that%20the%20Trump%20administration%20is%20going%20to%20do%20away%20with%20the%20disputed%20language%20%E2%80%93%20reassuring%20families%20that%20their%20plans%20and%20funding%20will%20remain%20to%20care%20for%20their%20children.%E2%80%9D" target="_blank">said</a>&nbsp;they expect the Trump administration to reverse the Biden rule. That could cause the AGs’ lawsuit to be dropped.Meanwhile, as public pressure escalates, some AGs are distancing themselves from the suit.South Carolina Republican Attorney General Alan Wilson said in a statement last week that Trump’s Jan. 20&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/defending-women-from-gender-ideology-extremism-and-restoring-biological-truth-to-the-federal-government/" target="_blank">executive order</a>&nbsp;stating that “it is the policy of the United States to recognize two sexes, male and female”&nbsp;<a href="https://www.scag.gov/about-the-office/news/attorney-general-alan-wilson-fully-supports-section-504-school-accommodations-for-children/" target="_blank">resolved his concerns</a>. “Our mission is complete,” Wilson said. Some&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/Able_SC/status/1890419005891969032" target="_blank">advocates</a>&nbsp;understood his statement to mean he might withdraw South Carolina from the lawsuit.However, a spokesperson for his office told Stateline that South Carolina would not be withdrawing from the lawsuit, but would be filing a notice with the court this week to clarify that the state is not asking for Section 504 to be declared unconstitutional.Utah Republican Attorney General Derek Brown said in a&nbsp;<a href="https://attorneygeneral.utah.gov/2025/02/14/office-of-the-utah-attorney-general-expresses-support-for-section-504-accommodations/" target="_blank">statement</a>&nbsp;that Utah joined the lawsuit before he took office and that he doesn’t think Section 504 will be invalidated because “the Trump administration will soon withdraw the regulation” that added gender dysphoria to the list of disabilities.The AGs&nbsp;<a href="https://arkansasag.gov/news-release/litigation-update-griffin-and-16-other-ags-fight-to-stop-biden-era-attempt-to-categorize-gender-dysphoria-as-a-disability/" target="_blank">argue</a>&nbsp;that established federal law does not consider gender identity disorders to be disabilities. They say allowing the Biden rule to remain in place would let the government withhold federal funding from schools unless they allow transgender students to compete in sports or use locker rooms that match their gender identity.<h2>Grassroots efforts</h2>Cravins, the Louisiana attorney and mother, sent a letter this week to Louisiana Republican Attorney General Liz Murrill, asking her to drop Louisiana from the lawsuit.Murrill&nbsp;<a href="https://aglizmurrill.com/Article/240" target="_blank">issued a statement</a>&nbsp;Wednesday expressing support for people with disabilities and saying her office is “actively seeking a resolution with the Trump administration” to withdraw the Biden rule while keeping the law’s previous protections intact.Cravins said her son depends on Section 504 protections to access specialized therapies, and will rely on those protections even more as he approaches school age. Section 504 will help ensure he receives access to vision-related support, therapy and other accommodations in school.Cravins believes the AGs that signed onto the lawsuit aren’t being honest about its potential impact to protections for all people with disabilities.“For them to say one thing and the lawsuit to say another, I can’t imagine it’s anything other than them being disingenuous with their constituents,” she said.Ryan Renaud, a school board representative for one of the largest public school districts in Alabama, said a concerned parent who also is an attorney contacted him last week, after reading a story about Alabama Republican Attorney General Steve Marshall joining the lawsuit. More calls soon followed.“We’ve been hearing from dozens of parents in the last couple of days,” Renaud told Stateline. Without Section 504 protections, he said, students could lose access to a wide range of accommodations, from classroom aides to extra time to take tests.The impacts could extend beyond what most people think of when they think of special education, he said.“This includes students with ADHD, heart disease, depression, visual impairment, diabetes,” Renaud said. “Accommodations that come with those health concerns also fall under 504 plan protection.“When a student doesn’t have those accommodations, they become less secure in class and teachers are less able to manage their classrooms.”He’s also worried that the funding from the U.S. Department of Education that helps pay for those accommodations could vanish if federal law no longer requires them. Trump has vowed to dismantle the agency.“We spend on average $30 million a year or more on special education, and more than a quarter of that is provided by the federal government,” he said. “If [accommodations] aren’t federally protected and the Department of Education doesn’t have the authority to disburse the funds, we have to assume we’d have to pick up that slack through local or state funding.“And it’s hard to believe Alabama would cough up tens or hundreds of millions of dollars to supplement these costs.”Last year, the U.S. Department of Education reported that&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ed.gov/media/document/crdc-student-disabilities-snapshotpdf-21420.pdf#:~:text=There%20were%20a%20total%20of,served%20only%20under%20Section%20504." target="_blank">1.6 million students</a>&nbsp;with disabilities were served under Section 504 nationwide during the 2020-2021 school year.Stateline, a States Newsroom affiliate, produced&nbsp;<a href="https://stateline.org/2025/02/20/gop-led-lawsuit-that-could-dismantle-disability-protections-draws-public-backlash/" target="_blank">this story</a>.

GOP-led lawsuit that could dismantle disability protections draws public backlash

The USD 489 Preschool is designed to meet the growing demand for additional quality preschool education for our community. 

This self-funding preschool classroom will be taught by a certified elementary teacher and assisted by a para-educator. 

Research studies conclude that instruction from a certified teacher leads to high-quality and better outcomes for a 3 and 4 year old. 

The preschool teacher’s verbal directions, physical assistance and questioning, help children improve their skills and knowledge. To meet individual student needs, the teacher’s expertise enhances observations and instruction. 

The primary focus for the instructional day will include both cognitive and social skills. Fine motor skills, gross motor skills as well as music, art and academic readiness skills will be a part of our preschool curriculum. 

The USD 489 preschool sessions will follow the current USD 489 calendar and will run five days per week.&nbsp;

Preschool Highlights Requirements to enroll: • Proof of current immunization • Proof of current physical&nbsp;

Class is size is limited to 16 students per session.&nbsp;Morning session is 8:00-10 :30 a.m. Monday-Friday.&nbsp;Afternoon session is 12:00-2:30 p.m. Monday- Friday.

For further information or to request a registration form, please contact&nbsp;Tina Albers, preschool teacher, at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:tkalbers@usd489.com" target="_blank">tkalbers@usd489.com</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740502143722.jpeg" alt="Photo by Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>USD 489 Preschool&nbsp;The USD 489 Preschool is designed to meet the growing demand for additional quality preschool education for our community. This self-funding preschool classroom will be taught by a certified elementary teacher and assisted by a para-educator. Research studies conclude that instruction from a certified teacher leads to high-quality and better outcomes for a 3 and 4 year old. The preschool teacher’s verbal directions, physical assistance and questioning, help children improve their skills and knowledge. To meet individual student needs, the teacher’s expertise enhances observations and instruction. The primary focus for the instructional day will include both cognitive and social skills. Fine motor skills, gross motor skills as well as music, art and academic readiness skills will be a part of our preschool curriculum. The USD 489 preschool sessions will follow the current USD 489 calendar and will run five days per week.&nbsp;Preschool Highlights Requirements to enroll: • Proof of current immunization • Proof of current physical&nbsp;Class is size is limited to 16 students per session.&nbsp;Morning session is 8:00-10 :30 a.m. Monday-Friday.&nbsp;Afternoon session is 12:00-2:30 p.m. Monday- Friday.For further information or to request a registration form, please contact&nbsp;Tina Albers, preschool teacher, at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:tkalbers@usd489.com" target="_blank">tkalbers@usd489.com</a>.

USD 489 preschool to be offered

Fort Hays State University hosted the annual regional Science Olympiad. Nearly 100 students from 11 Kansas schools, three middle and eight high schools, braved the cold weather to compete.

The top three finishers in each of the regional events received medals, and students achieving qualifying scores were invited to compete at the state event in April at Wichita State University.

The Science Olympiad is a competition involving a wide variety of contests in science and technology coordinated by faculty and students in several departments at the university. This year, representatives from FHSU departments of mathematics, biological sciences, chemistry, geosciences, physics, and the college of education came together to coordinate this event.

Competitions are divided into two divisions (division B for middle schools and division C for high schools). This year’s school winners include:

“The Science Olympiad at FHSU is more than just a competition; it’s an opportunity for young minds to explore their passion for science, engage in hands-on problem-solving, and be inspired by real-world applications of STEM,” said Dr. Soumya Bhoumik, professor of mathematics. “It also provides a platform to test them at the regional level so that they are better prepared for the state or national level. It’s a privilege for us to host this event and support the next generation of innovators.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740594285402.jpeg" alt="FHSU Science Olympiad high school participants compete in one of the robot challenges. Photo courtesy FHSU" />
 <figcaption>FHSU Science Olympiad high school participants compete in one of the robot challenges. Photo courtesy FHSU</figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU University Relations Fort Hays State University hosted the annual regional Science Olympiad. Nearly 100 students from 11 Kansas schools, three middle and eight high schools, braved the cold weather to compete.The top three finishers in each of the regional events received medals, and students achieving qualifying scores were invited to compete at the state event in April at Wichita State University.The Science Olympiad is a competition involving a wide variety of contests in science and technology coordinated by faculty and students in several departments at the university. This year, representatives from FHSU departments of mathematics, biological sciences, chemistry, geosciences, physics, and the college of education came together to coordinate this event.Competitions are divided into two divisions (division B for middle schools and division C for high schools). This year’s school winners include:Division B<ul>
 <li>Third Place – Skyline</li><li>Second Place – Minneapolis</li><li>First Place – Hill City</li>
 </ul>Division C<ul>
 <li>Third Place – Palco</li><li>Second Place – Sacred Heart</li><li>First Place – Goodland</li>
 </ul>“The Science Olympiad at FHSU is more than just a competition; it’s an opportunity for young minds to explore their passion for science, engage in hands-on problem-solving, and be inspired by real-world applications of STEM,” said Dr. Soumya Bhoumik, professor of mathematics. “It also provides a platform to test them at the regional level so that they are better prepared for the state or national level. It’s a privilege for us to host this event and support the next generation of innovators.”

Area high schools place in FHSU Science Olympiad

The world of medicine is ever-evolving, and with that, so are the procedures used to preserve heart health. Top-tier medical professionals, like HaysMed’s Interventional Cardiologist Dr. Travis Haneke, represent the innovation of new techniques here at HaysMed using less invasive methods in areas of heart health such as a Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO) Closure.

A PFO is a small hole in the heart that should close after birth but remains open in about 25% of the population. While often harmless, it can increase the risk of strokes, migraines, and other complications if blood clots pass through it to the brain.

In 2024, 33-year-old Amanda Balinski suddenly experienced vision loss, grey spots, and vertigo, severely impacting her daily life. Looking back, Amanda had long suffered from migraines, vision issues, and heart palpitations, often dismissed as anxiety or routine health concerns. Fortunately, a coworker recognized the signs of a stroke, prompting her urgent transport to HaysMed’s ER, where Dr. Aaron Pfeifer’s quick action and a CT scan confirmed the stroke diagnosis. She emphasizes the importance of advocating for one’s health, especially for women whose symptoms are frequently overlooked.

Due to her stroke history, Amanda was a candidate for PFO closure. On November 18, 2024, Dr. Travis Haneke and his team at the DeBakey Heart Institute guided a catheter through a vein in her leg to insert a small implant that permanently sealed the hole, reducing her risk of future strokes and avoiding the need for open heart surgery.

“Closing a PFO is a crucial step in reducing the risk of future strokes, especially for patients who have already experienced one,” said Dr. Travis Haneke of HaysMed. “Strokes can be profoundly disabling, impacting a person’s ability to live independently and enjoy life. By addressing the underlying cause, we not only protect patients from potential complications but also give them peace of mind and a healthier future.”

Following the procedure, Amanda made a full recovery, resuming normal activities without palpitations or lingering symptoms. Amanda and her husband said they are incredibly grateful to Dr. Haneke and the entire HaysMed catheterization lab team’s support and care.

Her husband, Josh Anderson, shared, “I just hope hearing Amanda’s story will help others seek help sooner. We’ve had a wonderful experience.”

The American College of Cardiology estimates that one in four adults has a PFO, yet many remain undiagnosed. Dr. Haneke’s work reflects HaysMed’s commitment to bringing advanced cardiac care to rural Kansas, ensuring local patients receive life-changing treatment close to home.

If you or a loved one have concerns about stroke risk or heart-related symptoms, consult with HaysMed’s DeBakey Heart Institute. With specialists like Dr. Haneke, cutting-edge heart care is more accessible than ever.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740772043227.jpeg" alt="Dr. Travis Haneke and Amanda Balinski. Courtesy Photo" />
 <figcaption>Dr. Travis Haneke and Amanda Balinski. Courtesy Photo</figcaption>
 </figure>HaysMedThe world of medicine is ever-evolving, and with that, so are the procedures used to preserve heart health. Top-tier medical professionals, like HaysMed’s Interventional Cardiologist Dr. Travis Haneke, represent the innovation of new techniques here at HaysMed using less invasive methods in areas of heart health such as a Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO) Closure.<h2>Understanding PFOs</h2>A PFO is a small hole in the heart that should close after birth but remains open in about 25% of the population. While often harmless, it can increase the risk of strokes, migraines, and other complications if blood clots pass through it to the brain.<h2>Amanda’s Story</h2>In 2024, 33-year-old Amanda Balinski suddenly experienced vision loss, grey spots, and vertigo, severely impacting her daily life. Looking back, Amanda had long suffered from migraines, vision issues, and heart palpitations, often dismissed as anxiety or routine health concerns. Fortunately, a coworker recognized the signs of a stroke, prompting her urgent transport to HaysMed’s ER, where Dr. Aaron Pfeifer’s quick action and a CT scan confirmed the stroke diagnosis. She emphasizes the importance of advocating for one’s health, especially for women whose symptoms are frequently overlooked.<h2>Dr. Haneke’s Expertise in PFO Closure</h2>Due to her stroke history, Amanda was a candidate for PFO closure. On November 18, 2024, Dr. Travis Haneke and his team at the DeBakey Heart Institute guided a catheter through a vein in her leg to insert a small implant that permanently sealed the hole, reducing her risk of future strokes and avoiding the need for open heart surgery.“Closing a PFO is a crucial step in reducing the risk of future strokes, especially for patients who have already experienced one,” said Dr. Travis Haneke of HaysMed. “Strokes can be profoundly disabling, impacting a person’s ability to live independently and enjoy life. By addressing the underlying cause, we not only protect patients from potential complications but also give them peace of mind and a healthier future.”Following the procedure, Amanda made a full recovery, resuming normal activities without palpitations or lingering symptoms. Amanda and her husband said they are incredibly grateful to Dr. Haneke and the entire HaysMed catheterization lab team’s support and care.Her husband, Josh Anderson, shared, “I just hope hearing Amanda’s story will help others seek help sooner. We’ve had a wonderful experience.”<h2>Raising Awareness About PFOs</h2>The American College of Cardiology estimates that one in four adults has a PFO, yet many remain undiagnosed. Dr. Haneke’s work reflects HaysMed’s commitment to bringing advanced cardiac care to rural Kansas, ensuring local patients receive life-changing treatment close to home.If you or a loved one have concerns about stroke risk or heart-related symptoms, consult with HaysMed’s DeBakey Heart Institute. With specialists like Dr. Haneke, cutting-edge heart care is more accessible than ever.

HaysMed doctor leads cardiac procedure

<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/2025/2/1740753676958.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

HOLY FAMILY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL NOTES WEEK OF March 3 – 7, 2025

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

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS…. SCHOOLS YOU CAN BELIEVE IN!

--March 3 • Memorial of St. Katharine Drexel. Today is Ed Specialist Appreciation Day! We appreciate the specialists who work with our students every day to help them learn and grow! School counselor, Mrs. Kat Hadley, school psychologist, Mrs. Devann Fischer, Title I Reading Teacher, Mrs. Amy Woydziak, Speech Teachers: Mrs. Jordan Patterson, Ms. Angie Meagher and Mrs. Amy Sterling. We thank them for the knowledge and expertise that they share each day to help our students! • KA will have Ag in the Classroom visitors at 12:15 p.m. • Happy Birthday to Mrs. Amy Lucio (Ms. Lu), 1A Teacher.

--March 4 • Memorial of St. Casimir. • It’s Shrove Tuesday, and this afternoon we have our pancake races at 2:30 p.m. on the playground blacktop. 4th graders will be racing, but all are invited to come watch! Students could all wear an apron today to celebrate Shrove Tuesday! Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent. We hope you take the time to think about how you can grow closer to God during the Lenten season, through prayer, almsgiving and fasting!

--March 5 • Ash Wednesday – Mass was this morning at IHM. • Today, and on Fridays during Lent, there will be no cookies sold at lunch; we also won’t have guests on Fridays so that we can observe “Silent Fridays” during Lent; that means we will have to remain quiet during lunch time! These are just a few small sacrifices that we can make as a school! • This week is National Severe Weather Awareness Week, and the Kansas State-Wide Tornado Drill is happening today at lunch -- but here at Holy Family, we are going to do our tornado drill following announcements soon! • Sr. Rose Marie will visit 4th grade at 2:00 p.m. • Joyful Noise for 5th grade will be at 2:45 p.m. • Happy Birthday to Archer Haskett, PK3, &amp; Mrs. Jill Windholz, SPED Teacher.

--March 6 • TMP students will visit class 1A today. • There will also be Saint Presentations for K-5th in the classrooms between 8:45-9:15am • Sr. Rose Marie will visit 5th grade at 2:30 p.m.

--March 7 • Memorial of St. Perpetua and St. Felicity, Martyrs. • End of Qtr. 3. • First Friday Prayer Circles are this morning; we will come over the intercom in a little bit to get those started. • Golden Belt Bank will visit 5th grade in STREAM class today from 10:30-11:30. &nbsp;• Stations of the Cross at IHM this afternoon – classes can start walking over at 2:35 p.m. • Greetings to Carson Rome, 1B, Kambree Werner, 5B, Lawson Scheutz, 1A, Mrs. Delaney Ziegelmeier, 2A Teacher, and Fr. Damian, who will celebrate a birthday this weekend.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737555085782.png" alt="Holy Family Elementary School, Hays. File photo/Hays Post&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Holy Family Elementary School, Hays. File photo/Hays Post&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>HFEHOLY FAMILY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL NOTES WEEK OF March 3 – 7, 2025THE SUCCESSES OF TOMORROW BEGIN TODAY, CATHOLIC EDUCATION IS A LIFETIME ADVANTAGE!CATHOLIC SCHOOLS…. SCHOOLS YOU CAN BELIEVE IN!MONDAY--March 3 • Memorial of St. Katharine Drexel. Today is Ed Specialist Appreciation Day! We appreciate the specialists who work with our students every day to help them learn and grow! School counselor, Mrs. Kat Hadley, school psychologist, Mrs. Devann Fischer, Title I Reading Teacher, Mrs. Amy Woydziak, Speech Teachers: Mrs. Jordan Patterson, Ms. Angie Meagher and Mrs. Amy Sterling. We thank them for the knowledge and expertise that they share each day to help our students! • KA will have Ag in the Classroom visitors at 12:15 p.m. • Happy Birthday to Mrs. Amy Lucio (Ms. Lu), 1A Teacher.TUESDAY--March 4 • Memorial of St. Casimir. • It’s Shrove Tuesday, and this afternoon we have our pancake races at 2:30 p.m. on the playground blacktop. 4th graders will be racing, but all are invited to come watch! Students could all wear an apron today to celebrate Shrove Tuesday! Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent. We hope you take the time to think about how you can grow closer to God during the Lenten season, through prayer, almsgiving and fasting!WEDNESDAY--March 5 • Ash Wednesday – Mass was this morning at IHM. • Today, and on Fridays during Lent, there will be no cookies sold at lunch; we also won’t have guests on Fridays so that we can observe “Silent Fridays” during Lent; that means we will have to remain quiet during lunch time! These are just a few small sacrifices that we can make as a school! • This week is National Severe Weather Awareness Week, and the Kansas State-Wide Tornado Drill is happening today at lunch -- but here at Holy Family, we are going to do our tornado drill following announcements soon! • Sr. Rose Marie will visit 4th grade at 2:00 p.m. • Joyful Noise for 5th grade will be at 2:45 p.m. • Happy Birthday to Archer Haskett, PK3, &amp; Mrs. Jill Windholz, SPED Teacher.THURSDAY--March 6 • TMP students will visit class 1A today. • There will also be Saint Presentations for K-5th in the classrooms between 8:45-9:15am • Sr. Rose Marie will visit 5th grade at 2:30 p.m.FRIDAY--March 7 • Memorial of St. Perpetua and St. Felicity, Martyrs. • End of Qtr. 3. • First Friday Prayer Circles are this morning; we will come over the intercom in a little bit to get those started. • Golden Belt Bank will visit 5th grade in STREAM class today from 10:30-11:30. &nbsp;• Stations of the Cross at IHM this afternoon – classes can start walking over at 2:35 p.m. • Greetings to Carson Rome, 1B, Kambree Werner, 5B, Lawson Scheutz, 1A, Mrs. Delaney Ziegelmeier, 2A Teacher, and Fr. Damian, who will celebrate a birthday this weekend.

Holy Family Elementary School notes, March 3-7

THOMAS COUNTY—One person died in an accident just before 9a.m. Saturday in Thomas County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2015 Ford F-250 driven by&nbsp; &nbsp;Leonardo&nbsp; Gonzalez, 51, Wheat Ridge, Colorado, and a 2011 Ford Ranger driven by Jane&nbsp;Nutting, 69, WaKeeney, were westbound on Interstate 70 just west of the Oakley exit.&nbsp;

Both vehicles were in the driving lane. The F250 was approaching the Ford Ranger and moved into the passing lane. The driver of the Ford Ranger attempted to make an illegal U turn, according to the KHP.&nbsp; The F250 struck the Ford Ranger. Both vehicles came to a rest in the median.

Nutting was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to&nbsp; Baalmann Mortuary.&nbsp; EMS transported Gonzalez to the hospital in Oakley. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

THOMAS COUNTY—One person died in an accident just before 9a.m. Saturday in Thomas County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2015 Ford F-250 driven by&nbsp; &nbsp;Leonardo&nbsp; Gonzalez, 51, Wheat Ridge, Colorado, and a 2011 Ford Ranger driven by Jane&nbsp;Nutting, 69, WaKeeney, were westbound on Interstate 70 just west of the Oakley exit.&nbsp;Both vehicles were in the driving lane. The F250 was approaching the Ford Ranger and moved into the passing lane. The driver of the Ford Ranger attempted to make an illegal U turn, according to the KHP.&nbsp; The F250 struck the Ford Ranger. Both vehicles came to a rest in the median.Nutting was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to&nbsp; Baalmann Mortuary.&nbsp; EMS transported Gonzalez to the hospital in Oakley. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

NW Kansas woman dies after crash during u-turn on I-70

TREGO —Law enforcement in northwest Kansas captured a suspect wanted for a double-homicide in Wisconsin.

On Saturdau, the WaKeeney Police Department while working traffic, stopped a vehicle who did not stop for a stop sign, according to a media release from Police Chief Michael Romero.

Police learned vehicle was stolen out of Wisconsin.  The Trego County Sheriffs Office responded to back&nbsp; up police as well as another member from the WaKeeney Police Department.

  Information from the Wisconsin sheriffs office was that the person driving this vehicle could be armed with a handgun. The subject was taken into custody with no further incident. The subject was identified and found out to be a juvenile wanted out of Wisconsin in connection with a double homicide.

 The juvenile did have items in the vehicle that were consistent with the information police had received from the Wisconsin sheriffs office. 

All evidence was recovered by the WaKeeney Police Department and is being held for the Wisconsin sheriffs office. The subject is being held in a juvenile detention center, and is awaiting extradition.

TREGO —Law enforcement in northwest Kansas captured a suspect wanted for a double-homicide in Wisconsin.On Saturdau, the WaKeeney Police Department while working traffic, stopped a vehicle who did not stop for a stop sign, according to a media release from Police Chief Michael Romero.Police learned vehicle was stolen out of Wisconsin. The Trego County Sheriffs Office responded to back&nbsp; up police as well as another member from the WaKeeney Police Department. Information from the Wisconsin sheriffs office was that the person driving this vehicle could be armed with a handgun. The subject was taken into custody with no further incident. The subject was identified and found out to be a juvenile wanted out of Wisconsin in connection with a double homicide. The juvenile did have items in the vehicle that were consistent with the information police had received from the Wisconsin sheriffs office. All evidence was recovered by the WaKeeney Police Department and is being held for the Wisconsin sheriffs office. The subject is being held in a juvenile detention center, and is awaiting extradition.

Juvenile wanted for double-homicide captured in NW Kansas

CHEYENNE COUNTY—A northwest Kansas man died in an accident just after 4a.m. Saturday in Cheyenne County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2014 Ford F150 driven by&nbsp; Lane&nbsp;Hoffman, 28, St. Francis, was westbound on U.S. 36 just west of County Road 16.

The pickup crossed the center line and collided with an eastbound 1997 Peterbilt semi driven by James&nbsp;Hutchison, 61, Ralston, Oklahoma.

EMS transported Hoffman to a hospital in Denver where he was pronounced deceased.&nbsp;Hutchison was not injured. Hoffman was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

CHEYENNE COUNTY—A northwest Kansas man died in an accident just after 4a.m. Saturday in Cheyenne County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2014 Ford F150 driven by&nbsp; Lane&nbsp;Hoffman, 28, St. Francis, was westbound on U.S. 36 just west of County Road 16.The pickup crossed the center line and collided with an eastbound 1997 Peterbilt semi driven by James&nbsp;Hutchison, 61, Ralston, Oklahoma.EMS transported Hoffman to a hospital in Denver where he was pronounced deceased.&nbsp;Hutchison was not injured. Hoffman was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

NW Kansas man dies after pickup, semi crash

Jeff Leiker with Eagle Radio chats with Adam Conkey from Historic Fort Hays about The Buffalo Soldier and Nicodemus.

<div><iframe title="Post Podcast: Fort Hays Historic Site - The Buffalo Soldier and Nicodemus" allowtransparency="true" height="300" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:300px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?from=embed&i=mb45n-1816c45-pb&square=1&share=1&download=1&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=auto&rtl=0&logo_link=podcast_page&btn-skin=60a0c8&size=300" loading="lazy" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>Jeff Leiker with Eagle Radio chats with Adam Conkey from Historic Fort Hays about The Buffalo Soldier and Nicodemus.

🎙 Post Podcast: The Buffalo Soldiers, Nicodemus

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

Jessica Normandin, a Hays native, wasn't sure she was going to make it as a child care provider as she was starting out.

"The first four months, I questioned myself," she said.

"I was a mom. I was a parent. When you add a whole bunch of other kids, it's different. You have to figure it out,"&nbsp;Normandin said.

However, the in-home provider has been in the business for more than 20 years.

Normandin, 44, was nominated for the February Child Care Champion Award by Dana Stanton, member of the Child Care Task Force of Ellis County.

Normandin and her husband knew they wanted to have four children. Knowing what child care costs, opening her own child care was a way to stay home with her kids, be her own boss and make child care for her children affordable.

Her children have long since outgrown child care. They are 16 through 26. Her youngest is a Hays High School student.

"We were able to spend plenty of time with them," Normandin said. "They were able to play and make new friends. We had lots of fun stuff to do because of the day care."

She said she continued as a child care provider after her children entered school because she said she enjoyed being home, being her own boss and working with small children.

Normandin usually does not take babies. Most of her children are 3 to 5. During the summer, she takes some school-age children.

 She is not a licensed preschool but follows a pre-K curriculum.

The walls of her child care, which is in a remodeled addition to her home, are covered with brightly colored cutouts and posters depicting numbers, letters, colors, shapes and days of the month.

Normandin said she thinks children greatly benefit from building skills like numbers and shapes before kindergarten.

"I think the more repetition they get going with the kids, the more they know and the more they retain once they get to kindergarten," she said. "It makes their job a little easier if they have a good baseline."

Normandin also has toys that help the children develop fine motor skills and playground equipment that helps them develop gross motor skills.

"We really enjoy going outside. I really encourage them to get creative on their own," she said. "All the fine motor stuff, I leave them open-ended so they can create what they want."

She said she appreciates having a section of her home dedicated to child care and separate from her family's living space.&nbsp;

The child care rooms are child-proofed and made for the children, Normandin said.

This helps her concentrate on the aspects she loves about being a child care provider.

"I love getting to watch how much they learn and how much they grow in the time that they come," Normandin said. "I make each of my kids a scrapbook. Typically, I have them for a two-year span. It's neat to see where they started with me and how much they grew and learned within that two years."

Normandin said her greatest challenge recently has been filing her openings. Last year, there was a shift in the local child care industry as new centers opened.

She said it's difficult for in-home child care providers to adjust to those changes when they depend on staying full to pay their bills.

However, Normandin said her child care is full at this time.

Her advice to new providers is not to give up.

"Kids can be challenging at times, but there's always better times coming. Once you get in the routine of how you are going to keep everything going, it's better," she said.

Someone needs a diaper change. Someone needs a drink. Someone needs a toy. The children are pulling you in all different directions, she said.

"Once you get a clear routine established, they know what to expect,"&nbsp;Normandin said. "They know what they can and they can't do. It just seems the day goes better when everyone knows the expectations, routine and what's going to happen next."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740695956869.jpeg" alt="Jessica Normandin, February's Child Care Champion, with one of her child care group's. Courtey photo" />
 <figcaption>Jessica Normandin, February's Child Care Champion, with one of her child care group's. Courtey photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostJessica Normandin, a Hays native, wasn't sure she was going to make it as a child care provider as she was starting out."The first four months, I questioned myself," she said."I was a mom. I was a parent. When you add a whole bunch of other kids, it's different. You have to figure it out,"&nbsp;Normandin said.However, the in-home provider has been in the business for more than 20 years.Normandin, 44, was nominated for the February Child Care Champion Award by Dana Stanton, member of the Child Care Task Force of Ellis County.Normandin and her husband knew they wanted to have four children. Knowing what child care costs, opening her own child care was a way to stay home with her kids, be her own boss and make child care for her children affordable.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740696038700.jpeg" alt="Jessica Normandin, February's Child Care Champion, with one of her child care groups. Courtey photo" />
 <figcaption>Jessica Normandin, February's Child Care Champion, with one of her child care groups. Courtey photo</figcaption>
 </figure>Her children have long since outgrown child care. They are 16 through 26. Her youngest is a Hays High School student."We were able to spend plenty of time with them," Normandin said. "They were able to play and make new friends. We had lots of fun stuff to do because of the day care."She said she continued as a child care provider after her children entered school because she said she enjoyed being home, being her own boss and working with small children.Normandin usually does not take babies. Most of her children are 3 to 5. During the summer, she takes some school-age children. She is not a licensed preschool but follows a pre-K curriculum.The walls of her child care, which is in a remodeled addition to her home, are covered with brightly colored cutouts and posters depicting numbers, letters, colors, shapes and days of the month.Normandin said she thinks children greatly benefit from building skills like numbers and shapes before kindergarten."I think the more repetition they get going with the kids, the more they know and the more they retain once they get to kindergarten," she said. "It makes their job a little easier if they have a good baseline."Normandin also has toys that help the children develop fine motor skills and playground equipment that helps them develop gross motor skills."We really enjoy going outside. I really encourage them to get creative on their own," she said. "All the fine motor stuff, I leave them open-ended so they can create what they want."She said she appreciates having a section of her home dedicated to child care and separate from her family's living space.&nbsp;The child care rooms are child-proofed and made for the children, Normandin said.This helps her concentrate on the aspects she loves about being a child care provider."I love getting to watch how much they learn and how much they grow in the time that they come," Normandin said. "I make each of my kids a scrapbook. Typically, I have them for a two-year span. It's neat to see where they started with me and how much they grew and learned within that two years."Normandin said her greatest challenge recently has been filing her openings. Last year, there was a shift in the local child care industry as new centers opened.She said it's difficult for in-home child care providers to adjust to those changes when they depend on staying full to pay their bills.However, Normandin said her child care is full at this time.Her advice to new providers is not to give up."Kids can be challenging at times, but there's always better times coming. Once you get in the routine of how you are going to keep everything going, it's better," she said.Someone needs a diaper change. Someone needs a drink. Someone needs a toy. The children are pulling you in all different directions, she said."Once you get a clear routine established, they know what to expect,"&nbsp;Normandin said. "They know what they can and they can't do. It just seems the day goes better when everyone knows the expectations, routine and what's going to happen next."

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