By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

Police scanners across Ellis County went quiet on Monday.&nbsp;

As a part of an Ellis County public safety radio infrastructure upgrade, radio traffic will be encrypted for&nbsp;all the public safety radio channels in Ellis County, including the following agencies: Victoria Police, Victoria Fire, Fort Hays State University Police, Ellis Police, Ellis Fire, Ellis County EMS, Ellis County Fire, Ellis County Sheriff, Hays Police and the Hays Fire Department.

This means that home police scanners and scanner apps will no longer be able to pick up radio traffic from these law enforcement agencies and emergency departments.

The added layer of encryption is part of a statewide effort to protect information broadcast over public safety radios. This will make the radio traffic compliant with the Kansas Criminal Justice Information System and the Federal Bureau of Investigation requirements, according to a press release from Darin Myer, Ellis County manager.

Although the Kansas Highway Patrol is not using encryption, the agency plans to make that move in the future.

"In addition to Kansas Criminal Justice Information System, encryption also increases safety for our emergency responders, as well as it will help protect the information shared over the radio regarding members of the community," Myers said.

Myers said certain law enforcement radio traffic to this point has been limited because of the requirements on non-encrypted channels. 

 There are also Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act privacy concerns about releasing certain medical information over the radio during medical emergencies, he said.

"During an emergency response, it is our primary focus to ensure the safety of the incident scene and our personnel," Myers said.

Being able to communicate over the radio exactly what and how to operate at an incident allows better communication to all staff, he said.

Myers said encrypted traffic means criminals can't listen in to law enforcement and emergency personal activity, and those criminals can't use that information to&nbsp;create a counter plan for the emergency response.

"We also know that we need to have public information releases to inform everyone what is going on," Myers said. "It is hard to juggle these two because the faster and safer our personnel resolve an incident, the quicker the public is free of harm."

Max Kautsch, legal hotline attorney for the Kansas Press Association and Kansas Association of Broadcasters, questioned the need to encrypt all traffic.

A 2016 report in partnership with the Federal Partnership of Interoperable Communications discussed how some law enforcement agencies encrypted SWAT traffic but did not encrypt day-to-day patrol traffic. 

In many cases, emergency medical traffic is encrypted to protect patient privacy, but the report noted the importance of emergency response vehicles' ability to communicate with medical facilities.

"The press release fails to account for the negative impact encryption has on the public's right to know," Kautsch said. "Reasonable alternatives, such as delaying the scanner broadcast, could accomplish the goals stated in the press release without cutting off entirely the public's access to a traditional means of gathering information that is squarely in the public interest."

Hays Police Chief Don Scheibler said he thought the HPD was transparent and would continue to be even though the police radio traffic would be encrypted.

"I think we are very transparent about what we do," Scheibler said. "We have regular meetings with [the Hays Post.] We release information on the Hays Post. We record every conversation we have with the public. ...

"I suspect the overwhelming majority of people don't listen to the scanner."

In addition, the HPD anticipates it will be rolling out body cameras next week. The agency has had cameras in their vehicles for some time. The Ellis Sheriff's Department and Corrections also have used body cameras for years.

Victoria Police Chief Cole Dinkel said that in large-scale emergencies, the department will inform the public through social media or a media release.

Dinkel said his department is willing to start releasing police activity reports to the Hays Post. Readers can already view Hays Police Department activity and arrests, Ellis County Sheriff activity, Ellis County Jail bookings, a monthly Ellis Police summary and FHSU police reports on the Hays Post under the Arrests tab.

FHSU Police Chief Terry Pierce said he did not think encryption of police radio traffic would affect police transparency or the ability to inform the public in cases of emergency.

The university also uses an alert system called Rave to alert students and staff members of campus-related emergencies.

The city of Ellis also has an alert system, which residents can sign up for by contacting the city clerk's office.

Ellis Police Chief Avery Smith said he thought his department was transparent and would continue to be so under the new radio system.

He said he thought encryption will help keep law enforcement, victims and those who report crimes safer.

"Several times in the last several years, we have had active scenes and we are still information gathering to determine where the threats are and whether they are armed," Smith said. "People have driven by an active scene. I think this will help us do our jobs more effectively."

"Moreover, in a couple of instances, we responded to scenes. The suspects who committed crimes are there, and we can hear scanner traffic coming from their pockets. They know who is coming and how many of us are coming, who the reporting person is and the reporting person's name. I think this will make reporting parties safer."

He said he thought the privacy that encryption offers would also protect sex offense victims and make them more comfortable in reporting those crimes.

Smith said the only alternative to radio encryption would be using cell phones to transmit private information, which, as a technology, is much less reliable than radios.

A radio channel will be open to the public to help with public communications during severe weather events. This channel will be used while trained storm spotters are reporting weather as it passes through Ellis County.

This weather channel is currently used as a tactical channel, called "TAC 5." It will just be changed to be called "Weather."  It will not be encrypted so that the public can listen to the weather spotting activities and reports during severe weather, Myers said in an email to the Hays Post.

Although the directives for criminal justice information have been in place for years, Sheriff Scott Braun said the money only became available recently to upgrade the radio system.

This project was submitted as a grant request as part of the Kansas Local Safety and Security Equipment Grant Program. In late 2023, Ellis County was awarded $100,000 in assistance to help pay for the project from federal COVID relief funds.

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostPolice scanners across Ellis County went quiet on Monday.&nbsp;As a part of an Ellis County public safety radio infrastructure upgrade, radio traffic will be encrypted for&nbsp;all the public safety radio channels in Ellis County, including the following agencies: Victoria Police, Victoria Fire, Fort Hays State University Police, Ellis Police, Ellis Fire, Ellis County EMS, Ellis County Fire, Ellis County Sheriff, Hays Police and the Hays Fire Department.This means that home police scanners and scanner apps will no longer be able to pick up radio traffic from these law enforcement agencies and emergency departments.The added layer of encryption is part of a statewide effort to protect information broadcast over public safety radios. This will make the radio traffic compliant with the Kansas Criminal Justice Information System and the Federal Bureau of Investigation requirements, according to a press release from Darin Myer, Ellis County manager.Although the Kansas Highway Patrol is not using encryption, the agency plans to make that move in the future."In addition to Kansas Criminal Justice Information System, encryption also increases safety for our emergency responders, as well as it will help protect the information shared over the radio regarding members of the community," Myers said.Myers said certain law enforcement radio traffic to this point has been limited because of the requirements on non-encrypted channels. There are also Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act privacy concerns about releasing certain medical information over the radio during medical emergencies, he said."During an emergency response, it is our primary focus to ensure the safety of the incident scene and our personnel," Myers said.Being able to communicate over the radio exactly what and how to operate at an incident allows better communication to all staff, he said.Myers said encrypted traffic means criminals can't listen in to law enforcement and emergency personal activity, and those criminals can't use that information to&nbsp;create a counter plan for the emergency response."We also know that we need to have public information releases to inform everyone what is going on," Myers said. "It is hard to juggle these two because the faster and safer our personnel resolve an incident, the quicker the public is free of harm."Max Kautsch, legal hotline attorney for the Kansas Press Association and Kansas Association of Broadcasters, questioned the need to encrypt all traffic.A 2016 report in partnership with the Federal Partnership of Interoperable Communications discussed how some law enforcement agencies encrypted SWAT traffic but did not encrypt day-to-day patrol traffic. In many cases, emergency medical traffic is encrypted to protect patient privacy, but the report noted the importance of emergency response vehicles' ability to communicate with medical facilities."The press release fails to account for the negative impact encryption has on the public's right to know," Kautsch said. "Reasonable alternatives, such as delaying the scanner broadcast, could accomplish the goals stated in the press release without cutting off entirely the public's access to a traditional means of gathering information that is squarely in the public interest."Hays Police Chief Don Scheibler said he thought the HPD was transparent and would continue to be even though the police radio traffic would be encrypted."I think we are very transparent about what we do," Scheibler said. "We have regular meetings with [the Hays Post.] We release information on the Hays Post. We record every conversation we have with the public. ..."I suspect the overwhelming majority of people don't listen to the scanner."In addition, the HPD anticipates it will be rolling out body cameras next week. The agency has had cameras in their vehicles for some time. The Ellis Sheriff's Department and Corrections also have used body cameras for years.Victoria Police Chief Cole Dinkel said that in large-scale emergencies, the department will inform the public through social media or a media release.Dinkel said his department is willing to start releasing police activity reports to the Hays Post. Readers can already view Hays Police Department activity and arrests, Ellis County Sheriff activity, Ellis County Jail bookings, a monthly Ellis Police summary and FHSU police reports on the Hays Post under the Arrests tab.FHSU Police Chief Terry Pierce said he did not think encryption of police radio traffic would affect police transparency or the ability to inform the public in cases of emergency.The university also uses an alert system called Rave to alert students and staff members of campus-related emergencies.The city of Ellis also has an alert system, which residents can sign up for by contacting the city clerk's office.Ellis Police Chief Avery Smith said he thought his department was transparent and would continue to be so under the new radio system.He said he thought encryption will help keep law enforcement, victims and those who report crimes safer."Several times in the last several years, we have had active scenes and we are still information gathering to determine where the threats are and whether they are armed," Smith said. "People have driven by an active scene. I think this will help us do our jobs more effectively.""Moreover, in a couple of instances, we responded to scenes. The suspects who committed crimes are there, and we can hear scanner traffic coming from their pockets. They know who is coming and how many of us are coming, who the reporting person is and the reporting person's name. I think this will make reporting parties safer."He said he thought the privacy that encryption offers would also protect sex offense victims and make them more comfortable in reporting those crimes.Smith said the only alternative to radio encryption would be using cell phones to transmit private information, which, as a technology, is much less reliable than radios.A radio channel will be open to the public to help with public communications during severe weather events. This channel will be used while trained storm spotters are reporting weather as it passes through Ellis County.This weather channel is currently used as a tactical channel, called "TAC 5." It will just be changed to be called "Weather." It will not be encrypted so that the public can listen to the weather spotting activities and reports during severe weather, Myers said in an email to the Hays Post.Although the directives for criminal justice information have been in place for years, Sheriff Scott Braun said the money only became available recently to upgrade the radio system.This project was submitted as a grant request as part of the Kansas Local Safety and Security Equipment Grant Program. In late 2023, Ellis County was awarded $100,000 in assistance to help pay for the project from federal COVID relief funds.

Ellis County police scanners go mute; agencies argue they will continue to be transparent

COLBY -- The Colby Community College registrar's office released the names of students who earned a place on the President's and Vice President's honor rolls for the spring 2024 semester. The individuals completed at least 12 credit hours with no failing grades.

The President's Honor Roll includes 106 students with a 4.0 grade point average. Fifty-eight students on the Vice President's Honor Roll had GPAs between 3.75 and 3.99.

Names are listed by hometown or country, as indicated by the student.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Alexander:&nbsp;Allie Seltman.&nbsp;Allen:&nbsp;Nellie Kaner.&nbsp;Aurora, Colo.:&nbsp;Hailey Buttshaw.&nbsp;Australia:&nbsp;Sophie Bennett, Jacob Van Leeuwen.&nbsp;Bogue:&nbsp;McKenzie Tremblay.&nbsp;Burdett:&nbsp;Alec Carlson.&nbsp;Burlington, Colo.:&nbsp;Alma Cordova.&nbsp;Canada:&nbsp;Anthony Chatwood, Joseph Gagnon, Raphael Ranger, Olivier Vallee, Lucas Vincent, Brooke Zinken.&nbsp;Cheyenne Wells, Colo.:&nbsp;Brock Ziegler.&nbsp;Colby:&nbsp;Baylee Alexander, Kaylyn Atkinson, Lauden Barrett, Tyler Berkgren, Sarah Berst, Hali Booi, Anna Brown, Alexa Carmichael, Kathie Chavez, Kyndel Dixon, Taden Fikan, Tabbitha Hastings, Hannah Hernandez, Kayla Jaeger, Julia Jesus, Maissane Jouen, Rilan Mackley, Oliwia Malinowska, Kaeden McCarty, Noah Rodgers, Fatoumata Singhateh, Anna Starbuck, Anna Stramel, Alexis Stupka, Talyn Sullivan, Kaitlyn Williams, Emma Wright.&nbsp;Commerce City, Colo.:&nbsp;Kaylee Higgins.&nbsp;Culbertson, Neb.:&nbsp;Lindsey Rippen.&nbsp;Deshler, Neb.:&nbsp;Lacey Schmidt.&nbsp;Dighton:&nbsp;Mackayla Miller.&nbsp;Eaton, Colo.:&nbsp;Emily Davis.&nbsp;Eudora:&nbsp;Jenna Milford.&nbsp;Firestone, Colo.:&nbsp;Emily Sauvageau.&nbsp;Ford:&nbsp;Erika Fry.&nbsp;Gardner:&nbsp;Nalleli Rollf.&nbsp;Gem:&nbsp;Rocio Flores-Pierce, Jason Malone.&nbsp;Goodland:&nbsp;Kamely Brito Brenes, Emmi Ensign.&nbsp;Grinnell:&nbsp;Jordyn Beckman.&nbsp;Hoxie:&nbsp;Jaylei Sloan.&nbsp;Hungary:&nbsp;Vivien Fehervari, Boglarka Kiss.&nbsp;Italy:&nbsp;Ilaria Micol Chiericati, Viola Giangreco.&nbsp;Jennings:&nbsp;McHaley Carter.&nbsp;Kensington:&nbsp;Alexis Holling.&nbsp;Lakewood, Colo.:&nbsp;Mia Rauzi.&nbsp;Lenora:&nbsp;Nathaniel Hamel, Arthur Turley.&nbsp;Littleton, Colo.:&nbsp;Avery Newmiller.&nbsp;Lone Tree, Colo.:&nbsp;Zach Gregory.&nbsp;Longmont, Colo.:&nbsp;Tiffani Mein.&nbsp;Madrid, Neb.:&nbsp;Kayla Shada Wid.&nbsp;Marienthal:&nbsp;Susan Koehn.&nbsp;Morgan, Utah:&nbsp;Tess Polad.&nbsp;Murphy, N.C.:&nbsp;Zane Lucksavage.&nbsp;Nashville, Tenn:&nbsp;Tara Bert.&nbsp;Norton:&nbsp;Gwenyth Quintana, Fayth Smith, Katana Walker.&nbsp;Oakley:&nbsp;Morgan Berkgren, Corbin Bockwinkel, Karli Krier.&nbsp;Olathe:&nbsp;Jax Marn.&nbsp;Park:&nbsp;Becki Sporing.&nbsp;Parker, Colo.:&nbsp;Andrew Major, Tyler Smith.&nbsp;Phillipsburg:&nbsp;Alivia Solida.&nbsp;Plainville:&nbsp;Morgan Stahl.&nbsp;Price, Utah:&nbsp;Reese Ardohain.&nbsp;Quinter:&nbsp;Dominga Perez-Perez.&nbsp;Rexford:&nbsp;Kendra Moon.&nbsp;Russell:&nbsp;Kelly Lopez.&nbsp;Saint Francis:&nbsp;CarolEve Harris, Lyden Lampe.&nbsp;Sharon Springs:&nbsp;Brookley Dinkel.&nbsp;South Hutchinson:&nbsp;Karcin Regier.&nbsp;Spain:&nbsp;Lucia Orcajo, Belen Puche Laguna.&nbsp;Spanish Fork, Utah:&nbsp;Paige Pierce.&nbsp;Sweden:&nbsp;Stella McIntyre.&nbsp;Syracuse, Utah:&nbsp;Madison Jorgensen.&nbsp;Topeka:&nbsp;Amia Alexander-Sims.&nbsp;Turkey:&nbsp;Asli Cam, Civan Catak.&nbsp;WaKeeney:&nbsp;MaKenna Flax, Annabelle Malsam, Avery Ziegler.&nbsp;Weskan:&nbsp;Trinity Aldridge.&nbsp;Williamsburg, Pa:&nbsp;Keller Metzker.

Arlington, Wash.:&nbsp;Asim Khalil.&nbsp;Arvada, Colo.:&nbsp;Sofia Valenti.&nbsp;Augusta:&nbsp;Kinleigh Haskell.&nbsp;Benkelman, Neb.:&nbsp;Mica Donohue.&nbsp;Bogue:&nbsp;Kenzie Wells.&nbsp;Breckenridge, Colo.:&nbsp;Dana Bradford.&nbsp;Canada:&nbsp;Owen Harriott, Kohle Huber, Matthew Mackenzie, Alana Proskow.&nbsp;Chapman:&nbsp;Hannah Fitzgerald.&nbsp;Colby:&nbsp;Elias Cardenas Garcia, McKenzie Carmichael, Zsofia Hardik, Zoe Krohn, Samir Palomera-Barraza, Brinley Sims, Liv Tubbs, Zebulun Wallsmith. Culbertson, Neb.: Bryan Smotherman.&nbsp;Dighton:&nbsp;Emily Wilms.&nbsp;Ford:&nbsp;Rileigh Holcomb.&nbsp;France:&nbsp;Matheo Guimene, Leandre Lahalle, Maxence Massadila.&nbsp;Gem:&nbsp;Carli Nieman.&nbsp;Glade:&nbsp;Madison Solida.&nbsp;Goodland:&nbsp;Abbigayle Rickard.&nbsp;Gove:&nbsp;Madison Zerr.&nbsp;Gypsum:&nbsp;Dylan Marks.&nbsp;Hill City:&nbsp;Shelby Wilson.&nbsp;Hoxie:&nbsp;Reagan Koster.&nbsp;Italy:&nbsp;Anna Gazzerro.&nbsp;Laramie, Wyo.:&nbsp;Kymber Stinson.&nbsp;Lenora:&nbsp;Denise Haynes.&nbsp;Lincoln, Neb.:&nbsp;Faith Mulholland.&nbsp;Lyndon:&nbsp;Mariah Smitha.&nbsp;Madrid, Neb.:&nbsp;Jace Wid.&nbsp;Mexico:&nbsp;Elizabeth Hernandez.&nbsp;Morrowville:&nbsp;Elizabeth Wright.&nbsp;North Platte, Neb.:&nbsp;Tayton Lucas.&nbsp;Northglenn, Colo.:&nbsp;Aryanna Perez.&nbsp;Norton:&nbsp;Hunter Craft, Nathaniel Craft, Lillian Hoft, Hailey Izzarelli.&nbsp;Paola:&nbsp;Joleigh Osborn.&nbsp;Plainville:&nbsp;Dayton Wallace.&nbsp;Prairie View:&nbsp;Ty Kats.&nbsp;Salina:&nbsp;Courtney McCullough.&nbsp;South Coffeyville, Okla.:&nbsp;Abigail Filson.&nbsp;Spearville:&nbsp;Mistilyn Blackburn.&nbsp;Saint Francis:&nbsp;Cutter Neitzel.&nbsp;Tribune:&nbsp;Myla Chin, Tiffany Kleymann, Payton Walk.&nbsp;Virginia Beach, Va:&nbsp;Ashley Nord.&nbsp;Winona:&nbsp;Catherine Hodges.

SubmittedCOLBY -- The Colby Community College registrar's office released the names of students who earned a place on the President's and Vice President's honor rolls for the spring 2024 semester. The individuals completed at least 12 credit hours with no failing grades.The President's Honor Roll includes 106 students with a 4.0 grade point average. Fifty-eight students on the Vice President's Honor Roll had GPAs between 3.75 and 3.99.Names are listed by hometown or country, as indicated by the student.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;President's Honor RollAlexander:&nbsp;Allie Seltman.&nbsp;Allen:&nbsp;Nellie Kaner.&nbsp;Aurora, Colo.:&nbsp;Hailey Buttshaw.&nbsp;Australia:&nbsp;Sophie Bennett, Jacob Van Leeuwen.&nbsp;Bogue:&nbsp;McKenzie Tremblay.&nbsp;Burdett:&nbsp;Alec Carlson.&nbsp;Burlington, Colo.:&nbsp;Alma Cordova.&nbsp;Canada:&nbsp;Anthony Chatwood, Joseph Gagnon, Raphael Ranger, Olivier Vallee, Lucas Vincent, Brooke Zinken.&nbsp;Cheyenne Wells, Colo.:&nbsp;Brock Ziegler.&nbsp;Colby:&nbsp;Baylee Alexander, Kaylyn Atkinson, Lauden Barrett, Tyler Berkgren, Sarah Berst, Hali Booi, Anna Brown, Alexa Carmichael, Kathie Chavez, Kyndel Dixon, Taden Fikan, Tabbitha Hastings, Hannah Hernandez, Kayla Jaeger, Julia Jesus, Maissane Jouen, Rilan Mackley, Oliwia Malinowska, Kaeden McCarty, Noah Rodgers, Fatoumata Singhateh, Anna Starbuck, Anna Stramel, Alexis Stupka, Talyn Sullivan, Kaitlyn Williams, Emma Wright.&nbsp;Commerce City, Colo.:&nbsp;Kaylee Higgins.&nbsp;Culbertson, Neb.:&nbsp;Lindsey Rippen.&nbsp;Deshler, Neb.:&nbsp;Lacey Schmidt.&nbsp;Dighton:&nbsp;Mackayla Miller.&nbsp;Eaton, Colo.:&nbsp;Emily Davis.&nbsp;Eudora:&nbsp;Jenna Milford.&nbsp;Firestone, Colo.:&nbsp;Emily Sauvageau.&nbsp;Ford:&nbsp;Erika Fry.&nbsp;Gardner:&nbsp;Nalleli Rollf.&nbsp;Gem:&nbsp;Rocio Flores-Pierce, Jason Malone.&nbsp;Goodland:&nbsp;Kamely Brito Brenes, Emmi Ensign.&nbsp;Grinnell:&nbsp;Jordyn Beckman.&nbsp;Hoxie:&nbsp;Jaylei Sloan.&nbsp;Hungary:&nbsp;Vivien Fehervari, Boglarka Kiss.&nbsp;Italy:&nbsp;Ilaria Micol Chiericati, Viola Giangreco.&nbsp;Jennings:&nbsp;McHaley Carter.&nbsp;Kensington:&nbsp;Alexis Holling.&nbsp;Lakewood, Colo.:&nbsp;Mia Rauzi.&nbsp;Lenora:&nbsp;Nathaniel Hamel, Arthur Turley.&nbsp;Littleton, Colo.:&nbsp;Avery Newmiller.&nbsp;Lone Tree, Colo.:&nbsp;Zach Gregory.&nbsp;Longmont, Colo.:&nbsp;Tiffani Mein.&nbsp;Madrid, Neb.:&nbsp;Kayla Shada Wid.&nbsp;Marienthal:&nbsp;Susan Koehn.&nbsp;Morgan, Utah:&nbsp;Tess Polad.&nbsp;Murphy, N.C.:&nbsp;Zane Lucksavage.&nbsp;Nashville, Tenn:&nbsp;Tara Bert.&nbsp;Norton:&nbsp;Gwenyth Quintana, Fayth Smith, Katana Walker.&nbsp;Oakley:&nbsp;Morgan Berkgren, Corbin Bockwinkel, Karli Krier.&nbsp;Olathe:&nbsp;Jax Marn.&nbsp;Park:&nbsp;Becki Sporing.&nbsp;Parker, Colo.:&nbsp;Andrew Major, Tyler Smith.&nbsp;Phillipsburg:&nbsp;Alivia Solida.&nbsp;Plainville:&nbsp;Morgan Stahl.&nbsp;Price, Utah:&nbsp;Reese Ardohain.&nbsp;Quinter:&nbsp;Dominga Perez-Perez.&nbsp;Rexford:&nbsp;Kendra Moon.&nbsp;Russell:&nbsp;Kelly Lopez.&nbsp;Saint Francis:&nbsp;CarolEve Harris, Lyden Lampe.&nbsp;Sharon Springs:&nbsp;Brookley Dinkel.&nbsp;South Hutchinson:&nbsp;Karcin Regier.&nbsp;Spain:&nbsp;Lucia Orcajo, Belen Puche Laguna.&nbsp;Spanish Fork, Utah:&nbsp;Paige Pierce.&nbsp;Sweden:&nbsp;Stella McIntyre.&nbsp;Syracuse, Utah:&nbsp;Madison Jorgensen.&nbsp;Topeka:&nbsp;Amia Alexander-Sims.&nbsp;Turkey:&nbsp;Asli Cam, Civan Catak.&nbsp;WaKeeney:&nbsp;MaKenna Flax, Annabelle Malsam, Avery Ziegler.&nbsp;Weskan:&nbsp;Trinity Aldridge.&nbsp;Williamsburg, Pa:&nbsp;Keller Metzker.Vice President's Honor RollArlington, Wash.:&nbsp;Asim Khalil.&nbsp;Arvada, Colo.:&nbsp;Sofia Valenti.&nbsp;Augusta:&nbsp;Kinleigh Haskell.&nbsp;Benkelman, Neb.:&nbsp;Mica Donohue.&nbsp;Bogue:&nbsp;Kenzie Wells.&nbsp;Breckenridge, Colo.:&nbsp;Dana Bradford.&nbsp;Canada:&nbsp;Owen Harriott, Kohle Huber, Matthew Mackenzie, Alana Proskow.&nbsp;Chapman:&nbsp;Hannah Fitzgerald.&nbsp;Colby:&nbsp;Elias Cardenas Garcia, McKenzie Carmichael, Zsofia Hardik, Zoe Krohn, Samir Palomera-Barraza, Brinley Sims, Liv Tubbs, Zebulun Wallsmith. Culbertson, Neb.: Bryan Smotherman.&nbsp;Dighton:&nbsp;Emily Wilms.&nbsp;Ford:&nbsp;Rileigh Holcomb.&nbsp;France:&nbsp;Matheo Guimene, Leandre Lahalle, Maxence Massadila.&nbsp;Gem:&nbsp;Carli Nieman.&nbsp;Glade:&nbsp;Madison Solida.&nbsp;Goodland:&nbsp;Abbigayle Rickard.&nbsp;Gove:&nbsp;Madison Zerr.&nbsp;Gypsum:&nbsp;Dylan Marks.&nbsp;Hill City:&nbsp;Shelby Wilson.&nbsp;Hoxie:&nbsp;Reagan Koster.&nbsp;Italy:&nbsp;Anna Gazzerro.&nbsp;Laramie, Wyo.:&nbsp;Kymber Stinson.&nbsp;Lenora:&nbsp;Denise Haynes.&nbsp;Lincoln, Neb.:&nbsp;Faith Mulholland.&nbsp;Lyndon:&nbsp;Mariah Smitha.&nbsp;Madrid, Neb.:&nbsp;Jace Wid.&nbsp;Mexico:&nbsp;Elizabeth Hernandez.&nbsp;Morrowville:&nbsp;Elizabeth Wright.&nbsp;North Platte, Neb.:&nbsp;Tayton Lucas.&nbsp;Northglenn, Colo.:&nbsp;Aryanna Perez.&nbsp;Norton:&nbsp;Hunter Craft, Nathaniel Craft, Lillian Hoft, Hailey Izzarelli.&nbsp;Paola:&nbsp;Joleigh Osborn.&nbsp;Plainville:&nbsp;Dayton Wallace.&nbsp;Prairie View:&nbsp;Ty Kats.&nbsp;Salina:&nbsp;Courtney McCullough.&nbsp;South Coffeyville, Okla.:&nbsp;Abigail Filson.&nbsp;Spearville:&nbsp;Mistilyn Blackburn.&nbsp;Saint Francis:&nbsp;Cutter Neitzel.&nbsp;Tribune:&nbsp;Myla Chin, Tiffany Kleymann, Payton Walk.&nbsp;Virginia Beach, Va:&nbsp;Ashley Nord.&nbsp;Winona:&nbsp;Catherine Hodges.

CCC recognizes 164 on honor rolls

By MONIQUE KOERNER Cottonwood Extension District

Eating healthy isn’t always easy. Expert-recommended diets often emphasize fresh, whole foods and home-cooked meals. But that can be expensive and time-consuming. Highly processed foods are often cheap and convenient. But they also tend to be high in calories, added sugar, saturated fat, and salt, and low in fiber.

Scientists are starting to learn that highly processed foods can have certain effects on your body that may make sticking to your healthy eating goals even harder. Eating too much of them may lead to weight gain and increase your risk for certain diseases, like cancer, diabetes, and obesity.

Most foods that we eat are processed to some extent—they’re modified from how they exist in nature. Chopping, grinding, drying, cooking, and freezing are all forms of food processing. Some forms of processing are good for your health. For example, cooking meat and pasteurizing milk can help prevent foodborne diseases. But if your food is processed too much, it may be harmful to your health.

Ultra-processed foods are those that have undergone the greatest level of processing. As a general rule, ultra-processed foods are those that have been made using additives, ingredients that you wouldn’t likely have in your home kitchen. These include things like hydrogenated oils, isolated proteins, and high-fructose corn syrup. Ultra-processed foods are often made using industrial processes that you can’t easily do at home.

Ultra-processed foods are designed to be low cost and have long shelf lives. They’re tasty, convenient, and ready to eat. Examples include carbonated soft drinks, chips, chicken nuggets, and sausages. Having too much of these in your diet may result in overeating and can be harmful to your health.

It’s difficult for scientists to study exactly how ultra-processed foods affect overeating. That requires carefully controlling people’s diets for weeks at a time.

But NIH metabolism researcher Dr. Kevin Hall has done just that. In a recent study, he compared calorie intake and weight gain in participants who ate a highly processed diet with those who ate a minimally

processed diet. Study participants stayed at NIH’s Metabolic Clinical Research Unit for four weeks, spending two weeks on each diet. Both diets offered the same amount of calories, sugar, fiber, fat, sodium, and carbohydrates on a daily basis. Participants could eat as much or as little as they wanted.

When people were on the diet with ultra-processed foods, they ate about 500 more calories each day. They also gained about 2 pounds on average. In contrast, when they were on the less-processed diet, they lost about 2 pounds.

The differences weren’t due to different nutrients in the overall diet. And, the participants rated the meals on both diets as equally pleasant. So why did people eat more of the diet filled with ultra-processed foods? The researchers aren’t sure.

Hall’s team is now looking at what else might be in ultra-processed foods that leads people to overeat. The brain may react differently to those foods, he says, or the gut may send out different signals after they’re digested.

The tendency for ultra-processed foods to lead to overeating may partly explain the recent rise in obesity. “But we rely on ultra-processed foods too much to get rid of them,” Hall says. “They’re tasty, they’re convenient, and it doesn’t take much time or effort or skill to prepare them.”

Hall hopes that a better understanding of what’s causing increased calorie consumption can help guide how such foods are made, or which ones people choose to eat.

“If we had ways to target problematic foods by understanding how they cause overeating, that might help manufacturers reformulate those foods so that they no longer cause problems,” says Hall. “Or it might help policymakers come up with ways to regulate potentially problematic foods.”

One way that ultra-processed foods might lead to overeating is by altering the brain. MRI scans are being used to see how ultra-processed foods affect the brain’s reward system. These are the parts of the brain that are activated by pleasure and drive us to seek it out. Studies are being done on whether a diet high in ultra-processed foods affect this system, and if the changes lead to people eating more when they’re not hungry.

If consuming ultra-processed foods and drinks might make you want more, does that mean you can get addicted to them? Right now, it’s not clear whether ultra-processed foods are addictive. But some studies suggest they might be.

“These ultra-processed, highly rewarding foods have way more in common with a cigarette than they do with an apple or an orange or black beans,” says Dr. Ashley Gearhardt, a clinical psychologist who studies overeating behaviors at the University of Michigan. “Some of the same brain circuitry turns on when we’re craving drugs as when we’re craving these ultra-processed foods.”

Gearhardt says that eating ultra-processed foods may lead to a compulsive habit. This means you have difficulty cutting back even when you want to. This is similar to what happens with addictive substances.

Addictive substances can also cause withdrawal symptoms when you stop taking them. Symptoms can include irritability, agitation, depression, and strong cravings for the substance. Gearhardt and others are

studying whether cutting back on ultra-processed foods can cause similar withdrawal symptoms. This research may help explain why eating healthier can be harder for some people.

“Right now, we tell people they should feel better if they’re eating healthier,” Gearhardt says. “But we hear a lot of people say: ‘When I start to eat healthier, I feel so irritable and agitated. My cravings are so strong that I don’t feel better. I feel worse.’”

If we recognize that these symptoms can occur, we could give people strategies to manage them, says Gearhardt. That might make it easier for people to change their eating habits. If you’re looking for ways to start eating healthier, stay tuned for next week’s article!

Monique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at: 785-628-9430 or moniquek@ksu.edu.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668522152076.jpeg" alt="Monique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District." />
 <figcaption>Monique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District.</figcaption>
 </figure>By MONIQUE KOERNER Cottonwood Extension DistrictEating healthy isn’t always easy. Expert-recommended diets often emphasize fresh, whole foods and home-cooked meals. But that can be expensive and time-consuming. Highly processed foods are often cheap and convenient. But they also tend to be high in calories, added sugar, saturated fat, and salt, and low in fiber.Scientists are starting to learn that highly processed foods can have certain effects on your body that may make sticking to your healthy eating goals even harder. Eating too much of them may lead to weight gain and increase your risk for certain diseases, like cancer, diabetes, and obesity.What Are Ultra-Processed Foods?Most foods that we eat are processed to some extent—they’re modified from how they exist in nature. Chopping, grinding, drying, cooking, and freezing are all forms of food processing. Some forms of processing are good for your health. For example, cooking meat and pasteurizing milk can help prevent foodborne diseases. But if your food is processed too much, it may be harmful to your health.Ultra-processed foods are those that have undergone the greatest level of processing. As a general rule, ultra-processed foods are those that have been made using additives, ingredients that you wouldn’t likely have in your home kitchen. These include things like hydrogenated oils, isolated proteins, and high-fructose corn syrup. Ultra-processed foods are often made using industrial processes that you can’t easily do at home.Ultra-processed foods are designed to be low cost and have long shelf lives. They’re tasty, convenient, and ready to eat. Examples include carbonated soft drinks, chips, chicken nuggets, and sausages. Having too much of these in your diet may result in overeating and can be harmful to your health.Understanding OvereatingIt’s difficult for scientists to study exactly how ultra-processed foods affect overeating. That requires carefully controlling people’s diets for weeks at a time.But NIH metabolism researcher Dr. Kevin Hall has done just that. In a recent study, he compared calorie intake and weight gain in participants who ate a highly processed diet with those who ate a minimallyprocessed diet. Study participants stayed at NIH’s Metabolic Clinical Research Unit for four weeks, spending two weeks on each diet. Both diets offered the same amount of calories, sugar, fiber, fat, sodium, and carbohydrates on a daily basis. Participants could eat as much or as little as they wanted.When people were on the diet with ultra-processed foods, they ate about 500 more calories each day. They also gained about 2 pounds on average. In contrast, when they were on the less-processed diet, they lost about 2 pounds.The differences weren’t due to different nutrients in the overall diet. And, the participants rated the meals on both diets as equally pleasant. So why did people eat more of the diet filled with ultra-processed foods? The researchers aren’t sure.Hall’s team is now looking at what else might be in ultra-processed foods that leads people to overeat. The brain may react differently to those foods, he says, or the gut may send out different signals after they’re digested.The tendency for ultra-processed foods to lead to overeating may partly explain the recent rise in obesity. “But we rely on ultra-processed foods too much to get rid of them,” Hall says. “They’re tasty, they’re convenient, and it doesn’t take much time or effort or skill to prepare them.”Hall hopes that a better understanding of what’s causing increased calorie consumption can help guide how such foods are made, or which ones people choose to eat.“If we had ways to target problematic foods by understanding how they cause overeating, that might help manufacturers reformulate those foods so that they no longer cause problems,” says Hall. “Or it might help policymakers come up with ways to regulate potentially problematic foods.”Changing the BrainOne way that ultra-processed foods might lead to overeating is by altering the brain. MRI scans are being used to see how ultra-processed foods affect the brain’s reward system. These are the parts of the brain that are activated by pleasure and drive us to seek it out. Studies are being done on whether a diet high in ultra-processed foods affect this system, and if the changes lead to people eating more when they’re not hungry.If consuming ultra-processed foods and drinks might make you want more, does that mean you can get addicted to them? Right now, it’s not clear whether ultra-processed foods are addictive. But some studies suggest they might be.“These ultra-processed, highly rewarding foods have way more in common with a cigarette than they do with an apple or an orange or black beans,” says Dr. Ashley Gearhardt, a clinical psychologist who studies overeating behaviors at the University of Michigan. “Some of the same brain circuitry turns on when we’re craving drugs as when we’re craving these ultra-processed foods.”Gearhardt says that eating ultra-processed foods may lead to a compulsive habit. This means you have difficulty cutting back even when you want to. This is similar to what happens with addictive substances.Addictive substances can also cause withdrawal symptoms when you stop taking them. Symptoms can include irritability, agitation, depression, and strong cravings for the substance. Gearhardt and others arestudying whether cutting back on ultra-processed foods can cause similar withdrawal symptoms. This research may help explain why eating healthier can be harder for some people.“Right now, we tell people they should feel better if they’re eating healthier,” Gearhardt says. “But we hear a lot of people say: ‘When I start to eat healthier, I feel so irritable and agitated. My cravings are so strong that I don’t feel better. I feel worse.’”If we recognize that these symptoms can occur, we could give people strategies to manage them, says Gearhardt. That might make it easier for people to change their eating habits. If you’re looking for ways to start eating healthier, stay tuned for next week’s article!Monique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at: 785-628-9430 or moniquek@ksu.edu.

KOERNER: Dejunking your diet

Sunflower Electric Power Corp. (Sunflower) has promoted Brian Oller to manager of maintenance.

Oller will be responsible for managing centralized maintenance of Sunflower’s generation resources. He will establish and manage strategic plans and objectives in support of Sunflower’s maintenance departments and ensure Sunflower’s generation resources are maintained within applicable permits, regulations, standards, and best practices. 

A native of Garden City, Kan., Oller attended Garden City Community College where he studied pre-engineering. With Sunflower since 2002, he served as the mechanical supervisor and was instrumental in enhancing Sunflower’s maintenance operations.

Oller has a strong mechanical and machining background and oversaw Sunflower’s vibration analysis program, earning his Category III certification from The Vibration Institute.

He was involved with a recent teardown, inspection, and repair of Sunflower’s steam turbine and generator at the Garden City Station and was instrumental in coordinating significant, maintenance-related projects for Holcomb Station’s maintenance outage. 

“I believe my experience at Sunflower has positioned me well to understand the issues we commonly encounter at our generation facilities,” Oller said. “Having the opportunity to lead a talented and dedicated team is an honor as we navigate the challenges ahead.Sunflower truly is the best place to work in SW Kansas.”

Oller and his wife, Stacy, live in Garden City. They recently welcomed their first granddaughter to the family and enjoy watching her learn and grow. He also enjoys riding motorcycles with fellow riders in their Ride and Dine group.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720283699979.png" alt="" />
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 </figure>SubmittedSunflower Electric Power Corp. (Sunflower) has promoted Brian Oller to manager of maintenance.Oller will be responsible for managing centralized maintenance of Sunflower’s generation resources. He will establish and manage strategic plans and objectives in support of Sunflower’s maintenance departments and ensure Sunflower’s generation resources are maintained within applicable permits, regulations, standards, and best practices. A native of Garden City, Kan., Oller attended Garden City Community College where he studied pre-engineering. With Sunflower since 2002, he served as the mechanical supervisor and was instrumental in enhancing Sunflower’s maintenance operations.Oller has a strong mechanical and machining background and oversaw Sunflower’s vibration analysis program, earning his Category III certification from The Vibration Institute.He was involved with a recent teardown, inspection, and repair of Sunflower’s steam turbine and generator at the Garden City Station and was instrumental in coordinating significant, maintenance-related projects for Holcomb Station’s maintenance outage. “I believe my experience at Sunflower has positioned me well to understand the issues we commonly encounter at our generation facilities,” Oller said. “Having the opportunity to lead a talented and dedicated team is an honor as we navigate the challenges ahead.Sunflower truly is the best place to work in SW Kansas.”Oller and his wife, Stacy, live in Garden City. They recently welcomed their first granddaughter to the family and enjoy watching her learn and grow. He also enjoys riding motorcycles with fellow riders in their Ride and Dine group.

Sunflower Electric Power Corp. promotes Brian Oller

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

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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720475544039.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

EMPORIA-- Scarlett Kennedy Erin Nowlin of Victoria, Kansas, was one of over 550 students who graduated from Emporia State University in May 2024.

Nowlin graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Communication with a concentration in Public Relations and a minor in Marketing.

Emporia State University offers a range of academic programs through its institute and seven schools: Applied Health Sciences, Business &amp; Technology, Humanities &amp; Social Sciences, Interdisciplinary Studies, Library and Information Management &amp; Library and Archives, Science &amp; Mathematics and Visual and Performing Arts, along with The Teachers College.

As the sole public university in Kansas to be recognized as a College of Distinction for eight consecutive years, ESU stands out for its innovative education practices. It ensures accessible education by offering in-state tuition rates to full-time undergraduate students from all lower-48 United States. Additionally, full-time undergraduates benefit from flat-rate tuition - students enrolled in 12 or more credit hours with at least one credit hour on campus pay a flat rate.

For more information on how to build your future at Emporia State University, please visit&nbsp;<a href="http://email.readme.readmedia.com/ss/c/u001._-OPS4e3A9I_9r190n7YE4IEMQLe03DvzvPm0kZ3L6E/47l/SFQI6PikRsqVxTUTKqINEw/h0/h001.HULuhysWcwRlqYeUb5fyZsAfDE3WfpOHN-0HndmiYsg">www.emporia.edu</a>.

SubmittedEMPORIA-- Scarlett Kennedy Erin Nowlin of Victoria, Kansas, was one of over 550 students who graduated from Emporia State University in May 2024.Nowlin graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Communication with a concentration in Public Relations and a minor in Marketing.About Emporia State UniversityEmporia State University offers a range of academic programs through its institute and seven schools: Applied Health Sciences, Business &amp; Technology, Humanities &amp; Social Sciences, Interdisciplinary Studies, Library and Information Management &amp; Library and Archives, Science &amp; Mathematics and Visual and Performing Arts, along with The Teachers College.As the sole public university in Kansas to be recognized as a College of Distinction for eight consecutive years, ESU stands out for its innovative education practices. It ensures accessible education by offering in-state tuition rates to full-time undergraduate students from all lower-48 United States. Additionally, full-time undergraduates benefit from flat-rate tuition - students enrolled in 12 or more credit hours with at least one credit hour on campus pay a flat rate.For more information on how to build your future at Emporia State University, please visit&nbsp;<a href="http://email.readme.readmedia.com/ss/c/u001._-OPS4e3A9I_9r190n7YE4IEMQLe03DvzvPm0kZ3L6E/47l/SFQI6PikRsqVxTUTKqINEw/h0/h001.HULuhysWcwRlqYeUb5fyZsAfDE3WfpOHN-0HndmiYsg">www.emporia.edu</a>.

Victoria student graduates from Emporia State University

THOMAS COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just after 1p.m. Monday in Thomas County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2025 Freightliner semi driven by Ryan Joseph Silva, 45, Thornton, Colorado, was westbound on Interstate 70 near the Brewster exit.

The semi drifted into the passing lane and struck a 2021 Ford F150 driven by Brandon MIles&nbsp;Smith, 48, Wichita.&nbsp; After impact the pickup&nbsp;&nbsp;rotated around the semi and came to rest in the north ditch.&nbsp;

EMS transported Smith to Citizens Medical Center in Colby. Silva was not injured. Both driver were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

THOMAS COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just after 1p.m. Monday in Thomas County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2025 Freightliner semi driven by Ryan Joseph Silva, 45, Thornton, Colorado, was westbound on Interstate 70 near the Brewster exit.The semi drifted into the passing lane and struck a 2021 Ford F150 driven by Brandon MIles&nbsp;Smith, 48, Wichita.&nbsp; After impact the pickup&nbsp;&nbsp;rotated around the semi and came to rest in the north ditch.&nbsp;EMS transported Smith to Citizens Medical Center in Colby. Silva was not injured. Both driver were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

Kansas man hospitalized after semi strikes pickup on I-70

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/4aa6bbd1-8340-4dd0-8db1-6aa2a34dc235">RELATED STORY: Wild West Festival 2024: Day 3 Quiet Riot</a>

Hays was the site on Saturday of a long-anticipated reunion for two women who grew up in Florida.

Ruth Prince and Gloria Trammell met in junior high in 1969 while growing up in Miami, Florida.

The two were the closest friends until they graduated high school in 1973.

The friends lost track of each other, but recently, Prince and Trammil reconnected through classmates on Facebook.

"I put on our high school site, 'Does anyone know where Geni Trammell is? The same day I put it on, I got a return message. I found her, and I was overcome with joy, believe me," Prince said.

Prince now lives in Blackwell, Oklahoma, and Trammell lives in Denver.

The two decided they would reunite halfway between their two homes last year in Colby.

"It was a little boring," Trammell said, "because you blink your eye and you're already done."

"I searched some more, and I saw they were having a Wild Wild West Festival here in Hays," Trammell said. "I said let's meet there, so I reserved the hotel room right away.

"We bought tickets online, and we are here six hours later each."

The duo went to multiple nights of festival concerts and sat in the front row in the VIP section. They also watched the fireworks on Thursday night and attended the festival parade on Saturday.&nbsp;

"We sat in the parking lot for six hours all by ourselves," Prince said of the two taking time to talk and catch up.

The duo hugged, and Prince was almost brought to tears.

"It's like it never was ever, ever," Trammell said with a huge smile and laugh.

"We're just really happy that we found each other, and we can enjoy each other's company again," Prince said.

The two friends were the special guests of the Wild West Festival on Saturday night and were recognized before the Quiet Riot show.

The friends have been invited to attend the festival next year, and the two women said they are looking forward to coming back to Hays.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720377798433.jpeg" alt="Gloria Trammell, Denver, left, and Ruth Prince, Blackwell, Oklahoma, right, sing along at the Wild West Festival concert in Hays Friday night. The two former classmates chose Hays for a reunion after losing touch 50 years ago. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Gloria Trammell, Denver, left, and Ruth Prince, Blackwell, Oklahoma, right, sing along at the Wild West Festival concert in Hays Friday night. The two former classmates chose Hays for a reunion after losing touch 50 years ago. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/4aa6bbd1-8340-4dd0-8db1-6aa2a34dc235">RELATED STORY: Wild West Festival 2024: Day 3 Quiet Riot</a>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostHays was the site on Saturday of a long-anticipated reunion for two women who grew up in Florida.Ruth Prince and Gloria Trammell met in junior high in 1969 while growing up in Miami, Florida.The two were the closest friends until they graduated high school in 1973.The friends lost track of each other, but recently, Prince and Trammil reconnected through classmates on Facebook."I put on our high school site, 'Does anyone know where Geni Trammell is? The same day I put it on, I got a return message. I found her, and I was overcome with joy, believe me," Prince said.Prince now lives in Blackwell, Oklahoma, and Trammell lives in Denver.The two decided they would reunite halfway between their two homes last year in Colby."It was a little boring," Trammell said, "because you blink your eye and you're already done.""I searched some more, and I saw they were having a Wild Wild West Festival here in Hays," Trammell said. "I said let's meet there, so I reserved the hotel room right away."We bought tickets online, and we are here six hours later each."The duo went to multiple nights of festival concerts and sat in the front row in the VIP section. They also watched the fireworks on Thursday night and attended the festival parade on Saturday.&nbsp;"We sat in the parking lot for six hours all by ourselves," Prince said of the two taking time to talk and catch up.The duo hugged, and Prince was almost brought to tears."It's like it never was ever, ever," Trammell said with a huge smile and laugh."We're just really happy that we found each other, and we can enjoy each other's company again," Prince said.The two friends were the special guests of the Wild West Festival on Saturday night and were recognized before the Quiet Riot show.The friends have been invited to attend the festival next year, and the two women said they are looking forward to coming back to Hays.

50 years later, classmates from Miami choose Hays Wild West Festival for reunion

By JOHN P. TRETBAR Eagle Communications

The government reported the biggest weekly drop in crude stockpiles in over a year. Commercial crude inventories dropped by 12.2 million barrels last week. That marks the biggest decline in commercial stockpiles since May of last year. The Energy Information Administration reports stockpiles of 448.5 million barrels, or about four percent below the five-year seasonal average.

The weekly government inventory report shows the Department of Energy bought another 400,000 barrels for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve last week. At today's prices, that's a savings of nearly $5 million under the sale price three years ago.

Crude production returns to its record-breaking pre-winter flight plan, soaring 5% over last year. U.S. production averaged 13.24 million barrels a day in April, up from 13.17 million per day in March. The Energy Information Administration reports output hit the all-time high over 13.3 million barrels a day last December, just before a widespread winter weather event shut in production in January and February.&nbsp; April output in Texas, the top producing state, rose to 42% of the national total at over 5.6 million barrels a day.&nbsp; 

Kansas ranks 12th among crude-producing states in the latest Energy Information Administration report, with output over 75,000 barrels a day.

Weekly U.S. crude production holds steady in the lower 48 states for a third straight week. For the week through June 28, Energy Information Administration reported output in Alaska was down 27,000 barrels a day for a nationwide total just over 13.2 million barrels per day.

U.S. crude imports topped exports by more than 2 million barrels a day last week. Product exports beat imports by over 5 million. The US imported 6.5 million barrels of crude oil per day in the week through June 28, down nearly 100,000 daily barrels from the week before, and down nearly half a million barrels from a year ago. U.S. firms exported 4.4 million barrels of crude per day. Four-week average exports are up nearly half a million barrels a day from a year ago.

The weekly Rig Count from Baker Hughes is up four gas rigs for a total of 585 active drilling rigs. After last week, this is the second-lowest total in nearly three years.&nbsp; Louisiana was up three rigs for the week. Texas was up one.

The Kansas Rig Count from Independent Oil and Gas Service is up one rig in western Kansas and unchanged east of Wichita, for a total of 29 active drilling rigs. Drilling was underway Friday on two leases in Barton County.

Regulators approved 24 new drilling permits, with just two in western Kansas. That's 498 new drilling locations approved through the first half of the year, compared to 651 a year ago.

Independent Oil and Gas Service reports 28 new well completions, 13 east of Wichita and 15 in the western half of the state. That's 671 completed wells so far this year, compared to 874 through the first half of last year.

A judge halts the pause, but don't expect big liquefied natural gas export growth right away. A U.S. judge last week halted President Biden's temporary moratorium on new export licenses for liquefied natural gas. But Bloomberg reports the decision won't jump-start new export approvals any time soon. The pause affected new licenses only. The U.S. is the world’s largest exporter of liquefied natural gas and has more room to grow under existing licenses.

Conoco Phillips filed suit to block an Biden administration ban on new drilling across nearly half of the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska. The company holds leases on nearly 2 million acres within the reserve, which was established as an emergency oil supply for the U.S. Navy in 1923. The regulation won’t alter the terms of existing contracts there, or directly affect current projects including ConocoPhillips’ 600-million-barrel Willow project.

A government report suggests that aviation in the U.S. is getting close but has not yet fully returned to normal operations in the third year after the onset of the pandemic. Annual jet fuel consumption grew for the third year in a row last year, but remained about 5% below the pre-pandemic high in 2019. The Energy Information Administration reports airline passenger volumes so far this year have surpassed 2019 and are consistently higher than last year.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1684775008059.jpeg" alt="Photo by Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN P. TRETBAR Eagle Communications The government reported the biggest weekly drop in crude stockpiles in over a year. Commercial crude inventories dropped by 12.2 million barrels last week. That marks the biggest decline in commercial stockpiles since May of last year. The Energy Information Administration reports stockpiles of 448.5 million barrels, or about four percent below the five-year seasonal average.The weekly government inventory report shows the Department of Energy bought another 400,000 barrels for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve last week. At today's prices, that's a savings of nearly $5 million under the sale price three years ago.Crude production returns to its record-breaking pre-winter flight plan, soaring 5% over last year. U.S. production averaged 13.24 million barrels a day in April, up from 13.17 million per day in March. The Energy Information Administration reports output hit the all-time high over 13.3 million barrels a day last December, just before a widespread winter weather event shut in production in January and February.&nbsp; April output in Texas, the top producing state, rose to 42% of the national total at over 5.6 million barrels a day.&nbsp; Kansas ranks 12th among crude-producing states in the latest Energy Information Administration report, with output over 75,000 barrels a day.Weekly U.S. crude production holds steady in the lower 48 states for a third straight week. For the week through June 28, Energy Information Administration reported output in Alaska was down 27,000 barrels a day for a nationwide total just over 13.2 million barrels per day.U.S. crude imports topped exports by more than 2 million barrels a day last week. Product exports beat imports by over 5 million. The US imported 6.5 million barrels of crude oil per day in the week through June 28, down nearly 100,000 daily barrels from the week before, and down nearly half a million barrels from a year ago. U.S. firms exported 4.4 million barrels of crude per day. Four-week average exports are up nearly half a million barrels a day from a year ago.The weekly Rig Count from Baker Hughes is up four gas rigs for a total of 585 active drilling rigs. After last week, this is the second-lowest total in nearly three years.&nbsp; Louisiana was up three rigs for the week. Texas was up one.The Kansas Rig Count from Independent Oil and Gas Service is up one rig in western Kansas and unchanged east of Wichita, for a total of 29 active drilling rigs. Drilling was underway Friday on two leases in Barton County.Regulators approved 24 new drilling permits, with just two in western Kansas. That's 498 new drilling locations approved through the first half of the year, compared to 651 a year ago.Independent Oil and Gas Service reports 28 new well completions, 13 east of Wichita and 15 in the western half of the state. That's 671 completed wells so far this year, compared to 874 through the first half of last year.A judge halts the pause, but don't expect big liquefied natural gas export growth right away. A U.S. judge last week halted President Biden's temporary moratorium on new export licenses for liquefied natural gas. But Bloomberg reports the decision won't jump-start new export approvals any time soon. The pause affected new licenses only. The U.S. is the world’s largest exporter of liquefied natural gas and has more room to grow under existing licenses.Conoco Phillips filed suit to block an Biden administration ban on new drilling across nearly half of the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska. The company holds leases on nearly 2 million acres within the reserve, which was established as an emergency oil supply for the U.S. Navy in 1923. The regulation won’t alter the terms of existing contracts there, or directly affect current projects including ConocoPhillips’ 600-million-barrel Willow project.A government report suggests that aviation in the U.S. is getting close but has not yet fully returned to normal operations in the third year after the onset of the pandemic. Annual jet fuel consumption grew for the third year in a row last year, but remained about 5% below the pre-pandemic high in 2019. The Energy Information Administration reports airline passenger volumes so far this year have surpassed 2019 and are consistently higher than last year.

News from the Oil Patch: Biggest drop in stockpiles in over a year

&nbsp;The Ellis County Public Works Road &amp; Bridge Division is announcing that an asphalt overlay project will be taking place in the 1300 block of Antonino Road, between 220th and 230th Avenue. 

This area will be closed to through traffic beginning at 7:30 a.m. on Monday, July 8 and will remain closed until the project is completed. The estimated completion date is Tuesday, July 9, pending weather conditions. 

Motorists traveling in the affected closure area should use alternate routes of travel until the project is completed. 

Please direct any questions to the Ellis County Public Works Road &amp; Bridge Division at 785-628- 9455. Your cooperation during this project is appreciated

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1616104351249.png" alt="File photo" />
 <figcaption>File photo</figcaption>
 </figure>ELLIS COUNTY&nbsp;The Ellis County Public Works Road &amp; Bridge Division is announcing that an asphalt overlay project will be taking place in the 1300 block of Antonino Road, between 220th and 230th Avenue. This area will be closed to through traffic beginning at 7:30 a.m. on Monday, July 8 and will remain closed until the project is completed. The estimated completion date is Tuesday, July 9, pending weather conditions. Motorists traveling in the affected closure area should use alternate routes of travel until the project is completed. Please direct any questions to the Ellis County Public Works Road &amp; Bridge Division at 785-628- 9455. Your cooperation during this project is appreciated

Asphalt overlay project starts Monday on portion of Antonino Road in Ellis County

The Ellis County Sheriff's Office responded to 313 incidents June 30-July 6, 2024, according to the activity report.

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 </figure>ECSOThe Ellis County Sheriff's Office responded to 313 incidents June 30-July 6, 2024, according to the activity report.<figure>
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Ellis County Sheriff activity log, June 30-July 6, 2024

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Ellis County Jail bookings, July 1-8, 2024

The Hays Police Department responded to 72 incidents June 23-29, 2024, according to the HPD Activity Log.

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 </figure>HPDThe Hays Police Department responded to 72 incidents June 23-29, 2024, according to the HPD Activity Log.<figure>
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Hays Police Department activity log, June 23-29, 2024

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Hays Police Department arrest log, June 23-27, 2024

By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT Hays Post

The Ellis County Commission will begin discussing the
future of the Ellis County Jail at Tuesday’s commission meeting.

Last year, the commission approved a feasibility study by Justice Planners and a needs assessment for the county jail.

Currently, the facility houses 72 beds, but according to information provided ahead of Tuesday’s meeting, a 2013 assessment projected it to
have 95 beds by 2025.

Justice Planners will present the commission with the
results of their assessment.

The commission will also consider increasing the rental rate for the Schenk and Unrein Building at the fairgrounds, discuss rate increases for the Transfer Station in 2025, and vote on whether to exceed the revenue
neutral rate.

This week's agenda can be found <a href="https://www.ellisco.net/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_07092024-608">HERE</a>.

Tuesday’s meeting is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. at the Ellis
County Administrative Center, 812 Main St., Hays.

By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT Hays PostThe Ellis County Commission will begin discussing the
future of the Ellis County Jail at Tuesday’s commission meeting.Last year, the commission approved a feasibility study by Justice Planners and a needs assessment for the county jail.Currently, the facility houses 72 beds, but according to information provided ahead of Tuesday’s meeting, a 2013 assessment projected it to
have 95 beds by 2025.Justice Planners will present the commission with the
results of their assessment.The commission will also consider increasing the rental rate for the Schenk and Unrein Building at the fairgrounds, discuss rate increases for the Transfer Station in 2025, and vote on whether to exceed the revenue
neutral rate.This week's agenda can be found <a href="https://www.ellisco.net/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_07092024-608">HERE</a>.Tuesday’s meeting is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. at the Ellis
County Administrative Center, 812 Main St., Hays.

Ellis County Commission set to discuss jail future

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/b853194d-fc10-4735-bbcd-bc8e86c5b170">RELATED STORY: 50 years later, classmates from Miami choose Hays Wild West Festival for reunion</a>

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/f1cec037-5a22-4a91-9022-f52b6a71e5b8">RELATED STORY: From the beginning: Grand marshall recalls 30 years of Wild West Festival</a>

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/f3e7d822-a91b-4cef-b989-58c64905dc1d">RELATED STORY: Wild West Festival 2024 parade</a>

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/3210cfb2-5a57-4be3-9de6-1ec97a6926b6">RELATED STORY: Wild West Festival 2024 Day 2</a>

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/18281817-5cd5-4d42-b1fe-89097f6e34ad">RELATED STORY: Wild West Festival Day 1: Nate Smith</a>

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/b853194d-fc10-4735-bbcd-bc8e86c5b170">RELATED STORY: 50 years later, classmates from Miami choose Hays Wild West Festival for reunion</a><a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/f1cec037-5a22-4a91-9022-f52b6a71e5b8">RELATED STORY: From the beginning: Grand marshall recalls 30 years of Wild West Festival</a><a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/f3e7d822-a91b-4cef-b989-58c64905dc1d">RELATED STORY: Wild West Festival 2024 parade</a><a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/3210cfb2-5a57-4be3-9de6-1ec97a6926b6">RELATED STORY: Wild West Festival 2024 Day 2</a><a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/18281817-5cd5-4d42-b1fe-89097f6e34ad">RELATED STORY: Wild West Festival Day 1: Nate Smith</a><figure>
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📷 Wild West Festival 2024: Day 3 Quiet Riot

Many small businesses owners are planning on retiring soon, but finding buyers to keep the businesses going can be a challenge, especially in rural areas.

&nbsp;By Brian Beach Harvest Public Media

The town of Stratton, Nebraska, used to have two grocery stores, two barber shops and a pharmacist.

But today, most of those businesses are long gone.

Late last year the town’s lone lumberyard and hardware store closed, too, adding to the empty buildings in town.

Owner Denis League, who is in his late 60s, spent a year trying to find a buyer. Yet none of the interested buyers could make the finances work in the tiny western Nebraska community.

“You’re dealing with a pretty small base and we’re just not getting enough business here to make it interesting to anybody else, as far as anybody else wanting to buy it,” League said.

Without League Builders Supply, customers now have to drive more than an hour and a half away to the nearest lumberyard.

“The people that have been coming here are just going to have to go somewhere else,” League said. “But a lot of people have gotten used to not coming here anyway.”

More than half of business owners are 55 years or older, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s Annual Business Survey. With the youngest Baby Boomers set to reach retirement age in 2030, it’s clear small business ownership will undergo a major transition. The Exit Planning Institute found in a recent study that 75% of business owners would like to exit their businesses within the next 10 years.

“There's a silver tsunami coming,” said Renee Wiatt, a research specialist with the North Central Regional Center for Rural Development at Purdue University. “There’s basically going to be this mass exodus of that baby boomer age who are going to all be retiring in the next five to 10 years.”

That wave is likely to hit rural areas especially hard.

The village of Stratton had a population of more than 600 in 1950.

Many other towns across the rural Great Plains and the Midwest have experienced similar losses.

Young people migrating to larger cities and leaving behind aging populations are contributing to the decline, according to Ness Sandoval, a sociology professor at Saint Louis University.

“In rural areas, you tend to see more people dying than are born,” he said. “That has to do with the brain drain — young people leaving and going to college, and not necessarily coming back home.”

He grew up in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, a town of nearly 15,000 people in the state’s western panhandle.

He said things have changed since he was a kid, as most businesses in the smaller towns have closed due to competition from larger retailers.

“All these small businesses that surrounded Scottsbluff essentially are dead because they can't compete with a Walmart, they can't compete with Home Depot,” he said. “The margins are just too small.”

Sandoval said he is concerned about the future of many rural small towns as the older generation retires without young people to replace them.

“Once these Baby Boomers die and my generation, the Gen Xers die, I don’t see a lot of people moving there because they’re not the same type of communities that existed 20, 25 years ago,” he said.

Yet Wiatt of the North Central Regional Center for Rural Development said the wave of retirements could also bring opportunities, as well.

“Most businesses fail within the first five years from when they're started,” she said. “So, if there was an opportunity like that, to come into a business that’s established and try to run it, I think it's a great opportunity for these younger individuals to take some charge there,” she said.

At Advance Iowa, an organization that helps businesses with ownership succession planning, Program Manager Stacy Mullinex said there are three primary questions that need to be asked when a business owner is looking to sell their business: when they want to see, what the value of the business is and who they are going to sell to.

Mullinex said the third question is where more business owners struggle.

But through Advance Iowa, Mullinex focuses on an employee ownership model where existing business employees can be trained to own the operation.

“A lot of times, the people that already know the business really well, that already are vested in the community, they already know the consumers and they know how the business operates and runs, that’s the employees,” Mullinex said.

She advocates for the worker cooperative model, where the owner sells the business to employees and then the workers own it as a group. “It’s kind of a win-win-win of opportunity for everybody,” she said.

Mullinex said the owner wins because they are provided with a feasible buyer, the employees win through increased wealth and job satisfaction through ownership, and the local community wins by keeping a business in town.

However, for businesses with no employees to sell to, Wiatt said many business owners are working further into old age to keep their operations running.

“The retirement age is being pushed back for a lot of these farms and small businesses and family businesses,” she said. “I think it's just getting harder and harder to quit.”

In the southeast Kansas town of Moran, population 466, Marilyn Logan is adamant that she does not plan on retiring soon.

Logan, who is nearing 80 years old, is the part-owner and manager of Marmaton Market, the town’s lone grocery store.

“I'm going to be here until they wheel me out to the ambulance in my chair,” she said.

However, Logan is looking to hire someone to help her manage the grocery store and lighten her current workload of 60-to-80-hour weeks. That process hasn’t been easy.

“We need younger people, but we need younger people with skills,” she said. “We don't have people in the town that are young enough to work that have the skills to work, and they're not interested in learning.”

<h2>Many small businesses owners are planning on retiring soon, but finding buyers to keep the businesses going can be a challenge, especially in rural areas.</h2><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1719931207344.png" alt="League Builders Supply, a lumberyard and store in Stratton, Nebraska, closed at the end of 2023 after owner Denis League retired. “I’m not going to say Stratton’s going to shrivel up and die because I’m not here, but I don’t think it’s going to help anything, and I feel bad about that,” he said.&nbsp;Brian Beach/Nebraska Public Media" />
 <figcaption>League Builders Supply, a lumberyard and store in Stratton, Nebraska, closed at the end of 2023 after owner Denis League retired. “I’m not going to say Stratton’s going to shrivel up and die because I’m not here, but I don’t think it’s going to help anything, and I feel bad about that,” he said.&nbsp;Brian Beach/Nebraska Public Media</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;By Brian Beach Harvest Public MediaThe town of Stratton, Nebraska, used to have two grocery stores, two barber shops and a pharmacist.But today, most of those businesses are long gone.Late last year the town’s lone lumberyard and hardware store closed, too, adding to the empty buildings in town.Owner Denis League, who is in his late 60s, spent a year trying to find a buyer. Yet none of the interested buyers could make the finances work in the tiny western Nebraska community.“You’re dealing with a pretty small base and we’re just not getting enough business here to make it interesting to anybody else, as far as anybody else wanting to buy it,” League said.Without League Builders Supply, customers now have to drive more than an hour and a half away to the nearest lumberyard.“The people that have been coming here are just going to have to go somewhere else,” League said. “But a lot of people have gotten used to not coming here anyway.”More than half of business owners are 55 years or older, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s Annual Business Survey. With the youngest Baby Boomers set to reach retirement age in 2030, it’s clear small business ownership will undergo a major transition. The Exit Planning Institute found in a recent study that 75% of business owners would like to exit their businesses within the next 10 years.“There's a silver tsunami coming,” said Renee Wiatt, a research specialist with the North Central Regional Center for Rural Development at Purdue University. “There’s basically going to be this mass exodus of that baby boomer age who are going to all be retiring in the next five to 10 years.”That wave is likely to hit rural areas especially hard.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1719931090132.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Shrinking rural populations</h2>The village of Stratton had a population of more than 600 in 1950.Today, it’s less than half that.Many other towns across the rural Great Plains and the Midwest have experienced similar losses.Young people migrating to larger cities and leaving behind aging populations are contributing to the decline, according to Ness Sandoval, a sociology professor at Saint Louis University.“In rural areas, you tend to see more people dying than are born,” he said. “That has to do with the brain drain — young people leaving and going to college, and not necessarily coming back home.”Sandoval knows firsthand.He grew up in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, a town of nearly 15,000 people in the state’s western panhandle.He said things have changed since he was a kid, as most businesses in the smaller towns have closed due to competition from larger retailers.“All these small businesses that surrounded Scottsbluff essentially are dead because they can't compete with a Walmart, they can't compete with Home Depot,” he said. “The margins are just too small.”Sandoval said he is concerned about the future of many rural small towns as the older generation retires without young people to replace them.“Once these Baby Boomers die and my generation, the Gen Xers die, I don’t see a lot of people moving there because they’re not the same type of communities that existed 20, 25 years ago,” he said.Yet Wiatt of the North Central Regional Center for Rural Development said the wave of retirements could also bring opportunities, as well.“Most businesses fail within the first five years from when they're started,” she said. “So, if there was an opportunity like that, to come into a business that’s established and try to run it, I think it's a great opportunity for these younger individuals to take some charge there,” she said.At Advance Iowa, an organization that helps businesses with ownership succession planning, Program Manager Stacy Mullinex said there are three primary questions that need to be asked when a business owner is looking to sell their business: when they want to see, what the value of the business is and who they are going to sell to.Mullinex said the third question is where more business owners struggle.But through Advance Iowa, Mullinex focuses on an employee ownership model where existing business employees can be trained to own the operation.“A lot of times, the people that already know the business really well, that already are vested in the community, they already know the consumers and they know how the business operates and runs, that’s the employees,” Mullinex said.She advocates for the worker cooperative model, where the owner sells the business to employees and then the workers own it as a group. “It’s kind of a win-win-win of opportunity for everybody,” she said.Mullinex said the owner wins because they are provided with a feasible buyer, the employees win through increased wealth and job satisfaction through ownership, and the local community wins by keeping a business in town.However, for businesses with no employees to sell to, Wiatt said many business owners are working further into old age to keep their operations running.“The retirement age is being pushed back for a lot of these farms and small businesses and family businesses,” she said. “I think it's just getting harder and harder to quit.”<h2>Working longer</h2>In the southeast Kansas town of Moran, population 466, Marilyn Logan is adamant that she does not plan on retiring soon.Logan, who is nearing 80 years old, is the part-owner and manager of Marmaton Market, the town’s lone grocery store.“I'm going to be here until they wheel me out to the ambulance in my chair,” she said.However, Logan is looking to hire someone to help her manage the grocery store and lighten her current workload of 60-to-80-hour weeks. That process hasn’t been easy.“We need younger people, but we need younger people with skills,” she said. “We don't have people in the town that are young enough to work that have the skills to work, and they're not interested in learning.”Most young people with skills, Logan said, move to larger cities where they can earn more money.“It’s hard to find somebody with the passion to stay in a small town and work at a lower wage to make a business succeed,” she said. “It’s also tough on them to stay here too, because there’s not a lot of things for them.”At Vitale’s Italian Restaurant and Pizzeria in Macomb, Illinois, Julie Dienst said her 86-year-old mother still comes to the restaurant each day to make the pizza sauce.“She is really a driving force behind the restaurant too, so it’s a passion for her,” Dienst said.The family has been running the restaurant since 1980, and while her mother is dedicated, Dienst said she’s ready to retire, along with Dienst’s older brother.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1719931304791.png" alt="The Dienst family has run Vitale’s Italian Restaurant and Pizzeria since 1980, when Julie’s father moved from Brooklyn to buy a pizzeria in a town with more room to expand. “My dad saw it and fell in love, so we’ve been here for 44 years,” Julie said.&nbsp;Provided By Vitale’s Italian Restaurant And Pizzeria" />
 <figcaption>The Dienst family has run Vitale’s Italian Restaurant and Pizzeria since 1980, when Julie’s father moved from Brooklyn to buy a pizzeria in a town with more room to expand. “My dad saw it and fell in love, so we’ve been here for 44 years,” Julie said.&nbsp;Provided By Vitale’s Italian Restaurant And Pizzeria</figcaption>
 </figure>Two years ago, the family put the restaurant on the market. But Macomb, the home of Western Illinois University, has lost a quarter of its population and is facing a declining university enrollment.Dienst said that’s made it a challenging market.“There are already several restaurants that are empty, so having one more restaurant for sale, even though we're not closed like these other places, it's just more competition, I guess,” she said.Dienst’s father came from Brooklyn to buy a pizzeria in a town with more room to expand. Since then, she said the family restaurant has seen generations of customers come through their doors.“I’m waiting on the grandchildren of people I waited on when I was in high school,” she said. “It’s really hard to put on a price on that.”This story was produced in partnership with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/harvestpublicmedia" target="_blank">Harvest Public Media,</a>&nbsp;a collaboration of public media newsrooms in the Midwest. It reports on food systems, agriculture and rural issues.&nbsp;