By JOHN P. TRETBAR Eagle Media

NYMEX crude futures prices dropped more than a dollar Monday, with the April contract for light sweet crude ending the day at sixty-eight thirty-seven ($68.37) per barrel, the lowest settlement price since early December. Prices were another dollar lower in morning trading Tuesday. WTI was trading below $67 a barrel while London Brent hovered a few cents over $70.

Crude production in the United States returned to the top ten last week. The Energy Information Administration reports output of 13,502,000 barrels per day, the best weekly report since early January and the ninth-highest tally ever.

The Energy Information Administration reports commercial crude inventories are down more than two million barrels to just over 430 million as of February 21. That's the first weekly decline in stockpiles in a month. Inventories are down about four percent from a year ago and about four percent below the five-year seasonal average.

The Kansas Corporation Commission reports 54 new intent-to-drill notices across Kansas in February, or 119 so far this year, compared to 144 through February last year. Regulators report four new intents in Stafford County, which makes six so far this year. Finney County adds three intents, or 12 so far this year.

Kansas regulators approved eight new drilling permits last week, all in western Kansas, including three in Stafford County and two in Finney County. Kansas operators completed 19 wells last week, with nine in eastern Kansas, and ten west of Wichita, including two in Barton County and one in Ellis County.

Independent Oil and Gas Service reports 15 active drilling rigs in Kansas, with four in the eastern half of the state, which is up one from a week ago, and eleven in western Kansas, a weekly increase of two rigs. That's a 25% increase for the week, but it's down nearly 12% from last month and more than 21% lower than a year ago. 

Drilling was underway on a lease in Barton County, and four new wells in Finney County.

The government reports crude oil imports of 5.9 million barrels a day last week, up 98,000 barrels a day from the week before. Crude imports are down about 3,000 barrels a day from the four-week average. Crude exports averaged nearly 4.2 million barrels a day last week, down more than a thousand barrels from the four week average. 

The U.S. is a net petroleum exporter thanks to product exports of more than five million barrels a day.

Two energy providers in Oklahoma set the stage for a massive civil lawsuit over Winter Storm Uri. 

Two firms accused in Oklahoma of fraud and price fixing during the storm three years ago are denying the allegations. The filings set the stage for a massive discovery process and civil trial. Last month, an Osage County judge denied a motion to dismiss or move the case. Symmetry Energy and a group referred to as Enable Entities have now filed court documents denying wrongdoing. 

The Oklahoma Attorney General's lawsuit accuses the companies of manipulating natural gas supplies before and during the storm. They're accused of denying access in Oklahoma to natural gas supplies and instead selling those supplies for a huge markup on the spot market.

ConocoPhillips will sell its interests in the Gulf of Mexico Ursa and Europa fields to Shell for $735 million, both companies confirmed today. Analysts say ConocoPhillips continues to divest non-core assets, while Shell hopes to strengthen its deep-water portfolio.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1685114004842.jpg" alt="Photo by Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN P. TRETBAR Eagle Media NYMEX crude futures prices dropped more than a dollar Monday, with the April contract for light sweet crude ending the day at sixty-eight thirty-seven ($68.37) per barrel, the lowest settlement price since early December. Prices were another dollar lower in morning trading Tuesday. WTI was trading below $67 a barrel while London Brent hovered a few cents over $70.Crude production in the United States returned to the top ten last week. The Energy Information Administration reports output of 13,502,000 barrels per day, the best weekly report since early January and the ninth-highest tally ever.The Energy Information Administration reports commercial crude inventories are down more than two million barrels to just over 430 million as of February 21. That's the first weekly decline in stockpiles in a month. Inventories are down about four percent from a year ago and about four percent below the five-year seasonal average.The Kansas Corporation Commission reports 54 new intent-to-drill notices across Kansas in February, or 119 so far this year, compared to 144 through February last year. Regulators report four new intents in Stafford County, which makes six so far this year. Finney County adds three intents, or 12 so far this year.Kansas regulators approved eight new drilling permits last week, all in western Kansas, including three in Stafford County and two in Finney County. Kansas operators completed 19 wells last week, with nine in eastern Kansas, and ten west of Wichita, including two in Barton County and one in Ellis County. Independent Oil and Gas Service reports 15 active drilling rigs in Kansas, with four in the eastern half of the state, which is up one from a week ago, and eleven in western Kansas, a weekly increase of two rigs. That's a 25% increase for the week, but it's down nearly 12% from last month and more than 21% lower than a year ago. Drilling was underway on a lease in Barton County, and four new wells in Finney County.The government reports crude oil imports of 5.9 million barrels a day last week, up 98,000 barrels a day from the week before. Crude imports are down about 3,000 barrels a day from the four-week average. Crude exports averaged nearly 4.2 million barrels a day last week, down more than a thousand barrels from the four week average. The U.S. is a net petroleum exporter thanks to product exports of more than five million barrels a day.Two energy providers in Oklahoma set the stage for a massive civil lawsuit over Winter Storm Uri. Two firms accused in Oklahoma of fraud and price fixing during the storm three years ago are denying the allegations. The filings set the stage for a massive discovery process and civil trial. Last month, an Osage County judge denied a motion to dismiss or move the case. Symmetry Energy and a group referred to as Enable Entities have now filed court documents denying wrongdoing. The Oklahoma Attorney General's lawsuit accuses the companies of manipulating natural gas supplies before and during the storm. They're accused of denying access in Oklahoma to natural gas supplies and instead selling those supplies for a huge markup on the spot market.ConocoPhillips will sell its interests in the Gulf of Mexico Ursa and Europa fields to Shell for $735 million, both companies confirmed today. Analysts say ConocoPhillips continues to divest non-core assets, while Shell hopes to strengthen its deep-water portfolio.&nbsp;&nbsp;

News From the Oil Patch: Crude prices In freefall

Two weeks ago, my wife was fired from her job with the federal government. We were playing a board game and having a beer when her phone rang. A colleague asked if she had “got the email.”

Having left her work phone at the office, she had no way of knowing. We bundled into the car and raced across town. After a few minutes inside, she emerged from her office and gave me a thumbs-down as she walked toward the car.

“Fired,” she said, clicking her seatbelt into place.

Unbeknownst to us, tens of thousands of probationary federal employees — those within their first one to two years of service — had received the same email that evening.

The message itself was blank, just a Word document attached with five short paragraphs. The fourth read:

“The Agency finds, based on your performance, that you have not demonstrated that your further employment at the Agency would be in the public interest.”

If the suddenness of the firing and its financial impact weren’t enough, the baseless claim of poor performance added insult to injury.

My wife was an archaeologist working out of Hays under the National Resource and Conservation Services wing of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It was a dream job and one she had worked and studied for years to achieve. She engaged with Native American tribal groups, local communities, and farmers to ensure the preservation of cultural resources across the plains.

I suspect a lot of people might think that the federal government has no business employing archaeologists, but their work is vital. They document and protect irreplaceable cultural heritage — not just Indigenous histories but also the lives of the settlers and pioneers who shaped the landscape we live on today. They ensure that historical sites and artifacts, from ancient campsites to century-old homesteads, are not lost to development or neglect.

But it wasn’t just archaeologists who were fired. Biologists, soil scientists, water conservation specialists, public health workers and forest service employees were all swept away in the same mass termination. One commenter on a subreddit dedicated to the recently fired employees voiced his frustration with the new administration’s priorities :

“I know I’ll bounce back and land another job. I am grateful that I’m young and that I have support, and I’ll be OK. The thing I can’t get over is that the richest man in the world directed my firing. I make $50k a year and work to keep drinking water safe. The richest man in the world decided that was an expense too great for the American taxpayer.”

Compensation for the entire federal workforce made up just 4.3% of the federal budget in 2024. If the entire federal workforce was eliminated today it would barely put a dent in our national debt, which sits at $36 trillion. This comes alongside plans for further tax cuts from the Trump administration. Some analysts suggest these cuts could add as much as $4.8 trillion to the national debt in the next decade.

Given the relatively minor impact that these job cuts will have on U.S. spending, it is frustrating and vexing to see jubilant celebrations at the elimination of jobs that protect and preserve history, national parks, drinking water, soil health, forests, and environmental and public safety.

The fact that Elon Musk and DOGE chose to begin their scrutinization of government expenditures here rather than starting with the Defense Department and programs like the F-35 fighter jet — a decade behind schedule and $183 billion over budget — speaks volumes.

There is a naive belief that the private sector will absorb responsibility for these services. It is dubious. Many federal agencies exist to preserve and protect history, health, and nature. The private sector lacks sufficient incentive to care for these areas or, worse, has incentives to disregard them.

My wife’s (former) agency, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, was established in 1935 as the Soil Conservation Service in response to the Dust Bowl. Its primary goal was to help farmers and landowners implement practices that prevent soil erosion, improve land productivity, and promote sustainable agriculture. Over the years, the agency expanded its focus to include water conservation, wildlife habitat preservation, and more recently the preservation of cultural resources through archeology.

Small farms and ranches across the state of Kansas appear to be struggling to adapt to new changes in federal funding, while large corporate farms stand poised to absorb them. As the NRCS hemorrhages employees and funding, I wonder which private firm plans to step in to mitigate the effects of soil erosion, nutrient runoff and water contamination? Which start-up company will emerge to look after waterfowl and other wildlife?

My wife and three close friends are among those who were fired without notice and without severance. My wife and I will be OK. We have a strong support network, and while we may have to sell our house, we will find a way through this. Other friends of ours are single or have children and are far more reliant on this one job for their financial security. They will feel the impact of this shock for years to come.

As close friends tighten their belts, prepare to move back in with their families or sell their homes, Elon Musk appeared at the CPAC conference in Washington with a chrome-plated chainsaw, a celebratory talisman of the evisceration of the federal workforce.

The callous indifference to the struggles of fired civil servants and the history, nature, wildlife and people that they work to protect should be an affront to every reasonable American.

Sam Foglesong is a scholar of African Studies and a writer who lives in Hays.&nbsp;Through its opinion section, Kansas Reflector works to amplify the voices of people who are affected by public policies or excluded from public debate. Find information, including how to submit your own commentary,&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/submit-opinion/">here</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741102365726.png" alt="Elon Musk arrives on Jan. 20, 2025, in the U.S. Capitol rotunda in Washington, D.C., for the inauguration of President Donald Trump. (Pool photo by Kenny Holston/Getty Images)" />
 <figcaption>Elon Musk arrives on Jan. 20, 2025, in the U.S. Capitol rotunda in Washington, D.C., for the inauguration of President Donald Trump. (Pool photo by Kenny Holston/Getty Images)</figcaption>
 </figure>Kansas ReflectorTwo weeks ago, my wife was fired from her job with the federal government. We were playing a board game and having a beer when her phone rang. A colleague asked if she had “got the email.”Having left her work phone at the office, she had no way of knowing. We bundled into the car and raced across town. After a few minutes inside, she emerged from her office and gave me a thumbs-down as she walked toward the car.“Fired,” she said, clicking her seatbelt into place.Unbeknownst to us, tens of thousands of probationary federal employees — those within their first one to two years of service — had received the same email that evening.The message itself was blank, just a Word document attached with five short paragraphs. The fourth read:“The Agency finds, based on your performance, that you have not demonstrated that your further employment at the Agency would be in the public interest.”If the suddenness of the firing and its financial impact weren’t enough, the baseless claim of poor performance added insult to injury.My wife was an archaeologist working out of Hays under the National Resource and Conservation Services wing of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It was a dream job and one she had worked and studied for years to achieve. She engaged with Native American tribal groups, local communities, and farmers to ensure the preservation of cultural resources across the plains.I suspect a lot of people might think that the federal government has no business employing archaeologists, but their work is vital. They document and protect irreplaceable cultural heritage — not just Indigenous histories but also the lives of the settlers and pioneers who shaped the landscape we live on today. They ensure that historical sites and artifacts, from ancient campsites to century-old homesteads, are not lost to development or neglect.But it wasn’t just archaeologists who were fired. Biologists, soil scientists, water conservation specialists, public health workers and forest service employees were all swept away in the same mass termination. One commenter on a subreddit dedicated to the recently fired employees voiced his frustration with the new administration’s priorities :“I know I’ll bounce back and land another job. I am grateful that I’m young and that I have support, and I’ll be OK. The thing I can’t get over is that the richest man in the world directed my firing. I make $50k a year and work to keep drinking water safe. The richest man in the world decided that was an expense too great for the American taxpayer.”Compensation for the entire federal workforce made up just 4.3% of the federal budget in 2024. If the entire federal workforce was eliminated today it would barely put a dent in our national debt, which sits at $36 trillion. This comes alongside plans for further tax cuts from the Trump administration. Some analysts suggest these cuts could add as much as $4.8 trillion to the national debt in the next decade.Given the relatively minor impact that these job cuts will have on U.S. spending, it is frustrating and vexing to see jubilant celebrations at the elimination of jobs that protect and preserve history, national parks, drinking water, soil health, forests, and environmental and public safety.The fact that Elon Musk and DOGE chose to begin their scrutinization of government expenditures here rather than starting with the Defense Department and programs like the F-35 fighter jet — a decade behind schedule and $183 billion over budget — speaks volumes.There is a naive belief that the private sector will absorb responsibility for these services. It is dubious. Many federal agencies exist to preserve and protect history, health, and nature. The private sector lacks sufficient incentive to care for these areas or, worse, has incentives to disregard them.My wife’s (former) agency, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, was established in 1935 as the Soil Conservation Service in response to the Dust Bowl. Its primary goal was to help farmers and landowners implement practices that prevent soil erosion, improve land productivity, and promote sustainable agriculture. Over the years, the agency expanded its focus to include water conservation, wildlife habitat preservation, and more recently the preservation of cultural resources through archeology.Small farms and ranches across the state of Kansas appear to be struggling to adapt to new changes in federal funding, while large corporate farms stand poised to absorb them. As the NRCS hemorrhages employees and funding, I wonder which private firm plans to step in to mitigate the effects of soil erosion, nutrient runoff and water contamination? Which start-up company will emerge to look after waterfowl and other wildlife?My wife and three close friends are among those who were fired without notice and without severance. My wife and I will be OK. We have a strong support network, and while we may have to sell our house, we will find a way through this. Other friends of ours are single or have children and are far more reliant on this one job for their financial security. They will feel the impact of this shock for years to come.As close friends tighten their belts, prepare to move back in with their families or sell their homes, Elon Musk appeared at the CPAC conference in Washington with a chrome-plated chainsaw, a celebratory talisman of the evisceration of the federal workforce.The callous indifference to the struggles of fired civil servants and the history, nature, wildlife and people that they work to protect should be an affront to every reasonable American.Sam Foglesong is a scholar of African Studies and a writer who lives in Hays.&nbsp;Through its opinion section, Kansas Reflector works to amplify the voices of people who are affected by public policies or excluded from public debate. Find information, including how to submit your own commentary,&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/submit-opinion/">here</a>.

Opinion: Here’s the latest from Hays: Elon Musk fired my wife

TREGO COUNTY —If you’re driving through Trego County Tuesday, you are going to encounter blowing dust, according to a social media report from KHP Trooper Tod Heilman. 

Slow down and turn your headlights on. Kansas law requires headlights if the visibility is less than 1,000 ft.&nbsp;

TREGO COUNTY —If you’re driving through Trego County Tuesday, you are going to encounter blowing dust, according to a social media report from KHP Trooper Tod Heilman. <div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">If you’re driving through Trego County this morning, you’re going to encounter blowing dust. Slow down and turn your headlights on. KS law requires headlights if the visibility is less than 1,000 ft. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KSwx?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KSwx</a> <a href="https://t.co/N3jDCS1US8">pic.twitter.com/N3jDCS1US8</a>&mdash; Trooper Tod (@TrooperTodKHP) <a href="https://twitter.com/TrooperTodKHP/status/1896951067822404016?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 4, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Slow down and turn your headlights on. Kansas law requires headlights if the visibility is less than 1,000 ft.&nbsp;

KHP: Drivers encounter blowing dust in northwest Kansas

By BECKY KISER Hays Post

Ellis County, along with all of western Kansas is under a high wind warning today from noon until midnight. 

The National Weather Service in Dodge City is forecasting northwest wind of 35 to 45 mph with gusts up to 65 mph and patchy blowing dust. Dangerous and rapid visibility changes can occur around open agricultural fields.

Travel will be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. Damaging winds may blow down trees and power lines.

The chance of rain mixed with snow is 70 percent into tonight with snow accumulation of less than one-half inch.&nbsp;

Monday's high temperature should reach into the upper 40s by 11 a.m. and then begin to fall into the 30s.

The <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/10c7c223-39a2-4a5b-9558-61150448c1fb">three-day weather forecast</a> calls for warming daytime highs.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741102276026.png" alt="Image by Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Image by Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By BECKY KISER Hays PostEllis County, along with all of western Kansas is under a high wind warning today from noon until midnight. The National Weather Service in Dodge City is forecasting northwest wind of 35 to 45 mph with gusts up to 65 mph and patchy blowing dust. Dangerous and rapid visibility changes can occur around open agricultural fields.Travel will be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. Damaging winds may blow down trees and power lines.The chance of rain mixed with snow is 70 percent into tonight with snow accumulation of less than one-half inch.&nbsp;Monday's high temperature should reach into the upper 40s by 11 a.m. and then begin to fall into the 30s.The <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/10c7c223-39a2-4a5b-9558-61150448c1fb">three-day weather forecast</a> calls for warming daytime highs.

Wind, rain, snow will make for a wild weather day in Hays

By DIANE GASPER-O’BRIEN Special to Hays Post

Every good sports story has a beginning and an ending.

This year’s Hays High School girls’ basketball team is currently in the middle of its story.

At 20-0, the Indians are the top seed in the Class 5A West Sub-State heading into tonight’s postseason action.

The Indians host Great Bend in first-round action at 6:00 for the chance to play in Friday night’s sub-state championship.

Two victories on their home floor this week will thrust the Indians them into the pinnacle of Kansas high school basketball – the state tournament.

That’s an ending for which Coach Len Melvin and his team are aiming.

But how did the Indians get here – at the high point of a high school athlete’s career?

The real beginning of this story was more than 20 years ago across town on the hardwood of Hays Middle School, then known as Felten Middle School, where Melvin coached the boys’ eighth-grade&nbsp; basketball team.

But for now, let’s look at the beginning of the Indians’ current successful run.

Melvin is the father of three daughters, and his oldest, Aspen, was a sophomore when he took over the head job of the HHS girls’ program five years ago.

He was the Indians’ third coach in four years, and they had gone 6-15 the year before he started.

He came in knowing the first year or two could be tough. But he knew he had to start somewhere to establish some consistency.

The Indians went 6-15 again in Melvin’s first year, then welcomed freshman standout Molly Martin to the program the next year when they went 13-9.

Martin made the starting five her freshman year and had four fellow classmates join her on varsity over the next three years and enjoyed winning seasons every year.

This is a special group that had been playing basketball together since they were in second grade.

Under Melvin’s guidance, that quintet helped the Indians win the Western Athletic Conference last year and finished 16-6 overall while advancing to their third consecutive sub-state championship game.

This season, another freshman phenom joined the team. Jenna Schmeidler, a 5-6 point guard, leads the team in scoring with an average of 16 points a game. &nbsp;

Led by those five seniors, and a solid core in the other three classes, the Indians have given fans plenty to cheer about this season.

Hays High opened the season on a high note by winning the Hays City Shoot-Out.

Then there was the thrilling, 74-72 overtime victory over Wellington in the semifinals of the Orange and Black Shootout in Colby, their coach’s hometown. Both state-ranked teams entered the game with perfect 10-0 records, and the win made believers out of a lot of people, including Melvin’s players.

“That’s when the girls really started thinking maybe we are pretty decent,” Melvin said.

They continued rolling through their conference undefeated.&nbsp;

As the victories piled up for Hays High, so too did attendance at home games.

Fans packed the gym on Feb. 21 to witness Martin score her 1,000th career point – the first player to do so under Melvin and only the third one in the history of the HHS girls’ program. She said she feels prepared for college after playing under Melvin for four years.

“He just really cares about us not only as players but as people and wants us to do the best we are capable of,” said Martin, who has signed to play for Ottawa University next year.

Buoyed by a loud student section last Friday, the Indians celebrated their undefeated regular season in style with a convincing 67-23 victory over rival Great Bend.

It was the final regular-season game in that gym for the Indians, who will play their 2025-26 season next door at the new Hays High building, and it was standing-room only.

“That was amazing,” Melvin said of the crowd. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen that many fans in there.”

Well, he has helped bring them there, according to Mark Watts, one of his assistant coaches.

To help spark interest in the girls’ program, Melvin started an activity where the Indians host a youth girls’ team before home games.

“We bring them in for pizza, and they get to watch us warm up and sit behind our bench,” Melvin said. “I think it’s gone over well.”

Watts, the grandfather of the Hays High staff who has coached basketball and golf (boys and girls) for more than four decades at his alma mater, agreed.

“The interest in girls’ basketball at Hays High has grown tremendously,” Watts said. “Coach Melvin has done it right.”

Watts and another long-time coach, Matt Brooks, are Melvin’s top assistants on varsity. Brandon Maska, one of Melvin’s assistants on that 2003 undefeated Felten Middle School team, coaches the B-team. Haley Wolf, a former college player at Fort Hays State, gets them started as the C-team coach.

“It was important for me to go find a great coaching staff,” Melvin said. “I don’t know if the girls understand what a great staff we have. We are super blessed.”

The Indians’ B- and C-team each only lost one game this season, finishing with a combined 26-2 record.

Along the way, Melvin got to coach daughter Aspen for three years. His middle daughter, Willow, didn’t play basketball, but his youngest, Lynden, is a basketball player. She is an eighth-grader who will don the Indian uniform next year.

Now, back to where this all began, when a young Coach Melvin was just beginning his third year as head coach for the Felten Middle School boys’ program.

Back then, Felten only offered interscholastic basketball to students for one year, so many athletes played on travel teams until they reached their eighth-grade year.

Believing that every kid should get a chance at trying school ball, Melvin didn’t make cuts, and 45 players showed up for practice that fall.

So he formed an A- and B-team along with two C-teams, with the C-teams alternating each game on their schedule. And every player got to suit up and represent his school.

All four teams went undefeated and finished the season with an impressive cumulative record of 45-0.&nbsp;

Players from that team and even some parents of some of those players still keep in touch with Melvin today.

“He related to the players as individuals and took a group of individuals and formed a good team,” said Jason Ball, one of the A-team starters during that special season for Felten.

“He instilled a work ethic in practice that carried through to games,” Ball continued. “We never thought about going 45-0. We just took one game at a time, and when we strung it all together, that’s what we got.”

Melvin, a popular teacher and coach at Felten, got out of teaching not long after that season. He is now marketing director for the nationally acclaimed Hays Academy of Hair Design, where his wife, Summer, is co-owner.

He coached a variety of sports off and on at Hays High over the years before coming back full time in 2020, when this year’s seniors were eighth-graders.

“Our girls could go watch games as eighth-graders and knew what to expect the next year when they got to high school,” said Jamie Dreher, mother of senior Riley Dreher. “Hats off to Coach Melvin. He took over at a difficult time in the program. With all the coaching changes, this year probably wouldn’t have looked like this if he hadn’t come on board.”

And Dreher should know. She came to Hays to play basketball for the Fort Hays State University women’s team, fresh off a standout multi-sport career at tradition-rich Baileyville-B&amp;B High School in northeast Kansas. After finishing second at the Class 1A state basketball tourney her junior year, Baileyville won it all her senior year.

Dreher met her future husband, local Tiger baseball standout Dustin Dreher, while at FHSU. They married and stayed in Hays to raise their family of four athletes.

Dad coached their three boys, and Mom got the privilege of coaching their only daughter – at a young age. And she knew exactly what kind of players she was looking for.

“I’m really competitive, and I’d sit in the stands and scope out players,” Jamie Dreher said with a laugh. “I had Molly on a (Hays Recreation) softball team. I saw that she was an aggressive kid, and I thought that would translate to basketball. Then in third grade, Kenlee (Winter) showed up to one of our tryouts in a boot because she had hurt her foot. She did the drills in a boot. I was impressed.”

She also recruited current seniors Katie Linenberger and Jaysa Roa as youngsters, and those five have been together ever since.

Dreher coached that team through sixth grade before handing them over to their coach at Hays Middle School, who coincidentally by then was her husband.

Dreher said that besides athletic ability, this class possesses something maybe even more valuable.

“You always hope as an athlete you can put aside any differences you might have with teammates and form a solid team,” she said. “But these girls don’t have any differences. They genuinely enjoy being around each other and care about each other.”

That type of team unity can go a long way – oftentimes deep into March.

“We accomplished our goals so far, to win the regular-season tournaments,” Melvin said.&nbsp; “Now we’re all 0-0. After this week, we want to be 2-0, and you’re playing with house money at state.”

The last time the HHS girls’ program advanced to state was in 1996, the year right after the Indians’ best-ever finish at state (second) and the year Melvin was a senior in high school at Colby.

Ball, for one, will tell this group of youngsters that they will remember this special season for the rest of their lives – for many reasons.

Maybe they will look back 20-some years down the road and remember what their high school coach’s influence has had on their lives.

Ball said he has called on some of the lessons he learned from Melvin, ones that stretch way beyond the basketball gym.

He went on to start for three years for Hays High basketball, then played for the FHSU Tigers while earning a bachelor’s degree in accounting and a master’s in business administration. He is now chief financial officer for the FHSU Foundation.

“Coach Melvin is a great mentor for our young players and prepares them for life outside of basketball,” Ball said.

And how could one ask for a better ending to a good sports story than that?

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741038834337.jpeg" alt="One of the Hays High girls’ basketball team’s many celebrations this season occurred in February when senior Molly Martin, bottom left, scored her 1,000 career point. Photo by Gina Johnson" />
 <figcaption>One of the Hays High girls’ basketball team’s many celebrations this season occurred in February when senior Molly Martin, bottom left, scored her 1,000 career point. Photo by Gina Johnson</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741100894243.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By DIANE GASPER-O’BRIEN Special to Hays PostEvery good sports story has a beginning and an ending.This year’s Hays High School girls’ basketball team is currently in the middle of its story.At 20-0, the Indians are the top seed in the Class 5A West Sub-State heading into tonight’s postseason action.The Indians host Great Bend in first-round action at 6:00 for the chance to play in Friday night’s sub-state championship.Two victories on their home floor this week will thrust the Indians them into the pinnacle of Kansas high school basketball – the state tournament.That’s an ending for which Coach Len Melvin and his team are aiming.But how did the Indians get here – at the high point of a high school athlete’s career?The real beginning of this story was more than 20 years ago across town on the hardwood of Hays Middle School, then known as Felten Middle School, where Melvin coached the boys’ eighth-grade&nbsp; basketball team.But for now, let’s look at the beginning of the Indians’ current successful run.Melvin is the father of three daughters, and his oldest, Aspen, was a sophomore when he took over the head job of the HHS girls’ program five years ago.He was the Indians’ third coach in four years, and they had gone 6-15 the year before he started.He came in knowing the first year or two could be tough. But he knew he had to start somewhere to establish some consistency.The Indians went 6-15 again in Melvin’s first year, then welcomed freshman standout Molly Martin to the program the next year when they went 13-9.Martin made the starting five her freshman year and had four fellow classmates join her on varsity over the next three years and enjoyed winning seasons every year.This is a special group that had been playing basketball together since they were in second grade.Under Melvin’s guidance, that quintet helped the Indians win the Western Athletic Conference last year and finished 16-6 overall while advancing to their third consecutive sub-state championship game.This season, another freshman phenom joined the team. Jenna Schmeidler, a 5-6 point guard, leads the team in scoring with an average of 16 points a game. &nbsp;Led by those five seniors, and a solid core in the other three classes, the Indians have given fans plenty to cheer about this season.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741038894919.jpeg" alt="This year’s seniors for the Hays High girls’ basketball team, who have been playing together since second grade, are from left: Kenlee Winter, Molly Martin, Katie Linenberger, Jaysa Roa and Riley Dreher. Photo by Gina Johnson" />
 <figcaption>This year’s seniors for the Hays High girls’ basketball team, who have been playing together since second grade, are from left: Kenlee Winter, Molly Martin, Katie Linenberger, Jaysa Roa and Riley Dreher. Photo by Gina Johnson</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>A magical season</h2>Hays High opened the season on a high note by winning the Hays City Shoot-Out.Then there was the thrilling, 74-72 overtime victory over Wellington in the semifinals of the Orange and Black Shootout in Colby, their coach’s hometown. Both state-ranked teams entered the game with perfect 10-0 records, and the win made believers out of a lot of people, including Melvin’s players.“That’s when the girls really started thinking maybe we are pretty decent,” Melvin said.Indeed.They continued rolling through their conference undefeated.&nbsp;As the victories piled up for Hays High, so too did attendance at home games.Fans packed the gym on Feb. 21 to witness Martin score her 1,000th career point – the first player to do so under Melvin and only the third one in the history of the HHS girls’ program. She said she feels prepared for college after playing under Melvin for four years.“He just really cares about us not only as players but as people and wants us to do the best we are capable of,” said Martin, who has signed to play for Ottawa University next year.Buoyed by a loud student section last Friday, the Indians celebrated their undefeated regular season in style with a convincing 67-23 victory over rival Great Bend.It was the final regular-season game in that gym for the Indians, who will play their 2025-26 season next door at the new Hays High building, and it was standing-room only.“That was amazing,” Melvin said of the crowd. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen that many fans in there.”Well, he has helped bring them there, according to Mark Watts, one of his assistant coaches.To help spark interest in the girls’ program, Melvin started an activity where the Indians host a youth girls’ team before home games.“We bring them in for pizza, and they get to watch us warm up and sit behind our bench,” Melvin said. “I think it’s gone over well.”Watts, the grandfather of the Hays High staff who has coached basketball and golf (boys and girls) for more than four decades at his alma mater, agreed.“The interest in girls’ basketball at Hays High has grown tremendously,” Watts said. “Coach Melvin has done it right.”Watts and another long-time coach, Matt Brooks, are Melvin’s top assistants on varsity. Brandon Maska, one of Melvin’s assistants on that 2003 undefeated Felten Middle School team, coaches the B-team. Haley Wolf, a former college player at Fort Hays State, gets them started as the C-team coach.“It was important for me to go find a great coaching staff,” Melvin said. “I don’t know if the girls understand what a great staff we have. We are super blessed.”The Indians’ B- and C-team each only lost one game this season, finishing with a combined 26-2 record.Along the way, Melvin got to coach daughter Aspen for three years. His middle daughter, Willow, didn’t play basketball, but his youngest, Lynden, is a basketball player. She is an eighth-grader who will don the Indian uniform next year.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741038929331.jpeg" alt="Hays High Coach Len Melvin gives senior Molly Martin a hug after she scored her 1,000 career point earlier this season while pointing out all her supporters to her. Photo by Gina Johnson" />
 <figcaption>Hays High Coach Len Melvin gives senior Molly Martin a hug after she scored her 1,000 career point earlier this season while pointing out all her supporters to her. Photo by Gina Johnson</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>In the beginning</h2>Now, back to where this all began, when a young Coach Melvin was just beginning his third year as head coach for the Felten Middle School boys’ program.Back then, Felten only offered interscholastic basketball to students for one year, so many athletes played on travel teams until they reached their eighth-grade year.Believing that every kid should get a chance at trying school ball, Melvin didn’t make cuts, and 45 players showed up for practice that fall.So he formed an A- and B-team along with two C-teams, with the C-teams alternating each game on their schedule. And every player got to suit up and represent his school.All four teams went undefeated and finished the season with an impressive cumulative record of 45-0.&nbsp;Players from that team and even some parents of some of those players still keep in touch with Melvin today.“He related to the players as individuals and took a group of individuals and formed a good team,” said Jason Ball, one of the A-team starters during that special season for Felten.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741038969500.jpeg" alt="Len Melvin, far right, head coach for the Hays High girls’ basketball program, and his staff, from left: Mark Watts, Matt Brooks, Brandon Maska and Haley Wolf. Photo by Gina Johnson" />
 <figcaption>Len Melvin, far right, head coach for the Hays High girls’ basketball program, and his staff, from left: Mark Watts, Matt Brooks, Brandon Maska and Haley Wolf. Photo by Gina Johnson</figcaption>
 </figure>“He instilled a work ethic in practice that carried through to games,” Ball continued. “We never thought about going 45-0. We just took one game at a time, and when we strung it all together, that’s what we got.”Melvin, a popular teacher and coach at Felten, got out of teaching not long after that season. He is now marketing director for the nationally acclaimed Hays Academy of Hair Design, where his wife, Summer, is co-owner.He coached a variety of sports off and on at Hays High over the years before coming back full time in 2020, when this year’s seniors were eighth-graders.“Our girls could go watch games as eighth-graders and knew what to expect the next year when they got to high school,” said Jamie Dreher, mother of senior Riley Dreher. “Hats off to Coach Melvin. He took over at a difficult time in the program. With all the coaching changes, this year probably wouldn’t have looked like this if he hadn’t come on board.”And Dreher should know. She came to Hays to play basketball for the Fort Hays State University women’s team, fresh off a standout multi-sport career at tradition-rich Baileyville-B&amp;B High School in northeast Kansas. After finishing second at the Class 1A state basketball tourney her junior year, Baileyville won it all her senior year.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741039135733.jpeg" alt="A local newspaper story on one of Melvin’s first teams back in 2003, when the four teams in his Felten Middle School program went a combined 45-0. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>A local newspaper story on one of Melvin’s first teams back in 2003, when the four teams in his Felten Middle School program went a combined 45-0. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>A sign of things to come</h2>Dreher met her future husband, local Tiger baseball standout Dustin Dreher, while at FHSU. They married and stayed in Hays to raise their family of four athletes.Dad coached their three boys, and Mom got the privilege of coaching their only daughter – at a young age. And she knew exactly what kind of players she was looking for.“I’m really competitive, and I’d sit in the stands and scope out players,” Jamie Dreher said with a laugh. “I had Molly on a (Hays Recreation) softball team. I saw that she was an aggressive kid, and I thought that would translate to basketball. Then in third grade, Kenlee (Winter) showed up to one of our tryouts in a boot because she had hurt her foot. She did the drills in a boot. I was impressed.”She also recruited current seniors Katie Linenberger and Jaysa Roa as youngsters, and those five have been together ever since.Dreher coached that team through sixth grade before handing them over to their coach at Hays Middle School, who coincidentally by then was her husband.Dreher said that besides athletic ability, this class possesses something maybe even more valuable.“You always hope as an athlete you can put aside any differences you might have with teammates and form a solid team,” she said. “But these girls don’t have any differences. They genuinely enjoy being around each other and care about each other.”That type of team unity can go a long way – oftentimes deep into March.“We accomplished our goals so far, to win the regular-season tournaments,” Melvin said.&nbsp; “Now we’re all 0-0. After this week, we want to be 2-0, and you’re playing with house money at state.”The last time the HHS girls’ program advanced to state was in 1996, the year right after the Indians’ best-ever finish at state (second) and the year Melvin was a senior in high school at Colby.Ball, for one, will tell this group of youngsters that they will remember this special season for the rest of their lives – for many reasons.Maybe they will look back 20-some years down the road and remember what their high school coach’s influence has had on their lives.Ball said he has called on some of the lessons he learned from Melvin, ones that stretch way beyond the basketball gym.He went on to start for three years for Hays High basketball, then played for the FHSU Tigers while earning a bachelor’s degree in accounting and a master’s in business administration. He is now chief financial officer for the FHSU Foundation.“Coach Melvin is a great mentor for our young players and prepares them for life outside of basketball,” Ball said.And how could one ask for a better ending to a good sports story than that?

NWester: Coach Melvin restoring winning culture to HHS girls’ basketball program 

HaysMed is honored to have been chosen by the Kansas Hospital Association (KHA) to feature in a special presentation highlighting the critical role of Respiratory Therapists during the 2025 Virtual Health Career Day held on January 30.

 This event is part of KHA’s ongoing effort to educate and inspire the next generation of healthcare professionals and successfully attracted over 4,200 high school and college students from across Kansas, offering them an insight into the vital positions within healthcare.

The presentation included a comprehensive video that provided viewers with an insider look at a typical day for a respiratory therapist at HaysMed. 

This was complemented by a recorded live question and answer session, where HaysMed's Cardiopulmonary Manager, Hunter Bell, alongside Brian Pfannenstiel, director of Critical Care, discussed their experiences and responded to questions from participants. This session provided an understanding of the demands and rewards associated with frontline patient care. 

The full video is accessible online and can be viewed via the following link: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-g3FZD6lIY&amp;list=PLm2bSIR2iAxysRs53NJl2oo7W0oE7kecD&amp;index=3">https://bit.ly/3XastGQ</a>.

HaysMed prides itself on being more than just a healthcare institution; it is a community committed to nurturing and training future healthcare professionals.

The Kansas Hospital Association also provides a platform rich with resources available at <a href="https://happyinhealthcare.org/">happyinhealthcare.org</a>.

For further details from the KHA 2025 Virtual Health Career Day and to explore other career-focused materials, please visit: <a href="https://www.kha-net.org/CriticalIssues/HealthCareWorkforce/HealthCareers/health-care-virtual-career-day-resources/">https://bit.ly/4branq9</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740611909292.jpeg" alt="&nbsp;HaysMed Cardiopulmonary Manager, Hunter Bell (left) and HaysMed Director of Critical Care, Brian Pfannenstiel (right). Photo by HaysMed" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;HaysMed Cardiopulmonary Manager, Hunter Bell (left) and HaysMed Director of Critical Care, Brian Pfannenstiel (right). Photo by HaysMed</figcaption>
 </figure>HaysMedHaysMed is honored to have been chosen by the Kansas Hospital Association (KHA) to feature in a special presentation highlighting the critical role of Respiratory Therapists during the 2025 Virtual Health Career Day held on January 30. This event is part of KHA’s ongoing effort to educate and inspire the next generation of healthcare professionals and successfully attracted over 4,200 high school and college students from across Kansas, offering them an insight into the vital positions within healthcare.The presentation included a comprehensive video that provided viewers with an insider look at a typical day for a respiratory therapist at HaysMed. This was complemented by a recorded live question and answer session, where HaysMed's Cardiopulmonary Manager, Hunter Bell, alongside Brian Pfannenstiel, director of Critical Care, discussed their experiences and responded to questions from participants. This session provided an understanding of the demands and rewards associated with frontline patient care. The full video is accessible online and can be viewed via the following link: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-g3FZD6lIY&amp;list=PLm2bSIR2iAxysRs53NJl2oo7W0oE7kecD&amp;index=3">https://bit.ly/3XastGQ</a>.HaysMed prides itself on being more than just a healthcare institution; it is a community committed to nurturing and training future healthcare professionals.The Kansas Hospital Association also provides a platform rich with resources available at <a href="https://happyinhealthcare.org/">happyinhealthcare.org</a>. For further details from the KHA 2025 Virtual Health Career Day and to explore other career-focused materials, please visit: <a href="https://www.kha-net.org/CriticalIssues/HealthCareWorkforce/HealthCareers/health-care-virtual-career-day-resources/">https://bit.ly/4branq9</a>.

HaysMed respiratory therapy featured on KHA Virtual Health Career Day

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740594482199.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Courtney-Spalding Chapter DAR

DAR/SAR genealogy workshop scheduled for March 15

What’s not to like about walking? It’s free. It’s easy to do, and it’s not just easy on joints but it also keeps them lubricated and flexible. There’s no question that walking is good for you. 

A University of Tennessee study found that women who walked had less body fat than those who didn’t walk. It also lowers the risk of blood clots, since the calf acts as a venous pump, contracting and pumping blood from the feet and legs back to the heart, reducing the load on the heart. 

In addition to being an easy aerobic exercise, walking is good for you in many other ways:&nbsp;

1.  Improve Circulation Walking wards off heart disease, brings up the heart rate, lowers blood pressure and strengthens the heart. Post-menopausal women who walk just one to two miles a day can lower their blood pressure by nearly 11 points in 24 weeks. Women who walk 30 minutes a day can reduce their risk of stroke by 20%, and by 40% when they stepped up the pace, according to researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston.&nbsp;

2.  Shore Up Your Bones Walking can stop the loss of bone mass for those with osteoporosis, according to Michael A. Schwartz, MD, of Plancher Orthopedics &amp; Sports Medicine in New York. In fact, one study of post-menopausal women found that 30 minutes of walking each day reduced their risk of hip fractures by 40%.&nbsp;

3.  Enjoy a Longer Life &nbsp;Research finds that people who exercise regularly in their fifties and sixties are 35% less likely to die over the next eight years than their non-walking counterparts. That number shoots up to 45% less likely for those who have underlying health conditions.&nbsp; 4.  Lighten Your Mood&nbsp; Walking releases natural painkilling endorphins to the body – one of the emotional benefits of exercise. A California State University, Long Beach, study showed that the more steps people took during the day, the better their moods were. &nbsp;

5.  Lose Weight &nbsp;A brisk 30-minute walk burns 200 calories. Over time, calories burned can lead to pounds dropped.&nbsp;

6.  Strengthen Muscles &nbsp;Walking tones your leg and abdominal muscles – and even arm muscles if you pump them as you walk. This increases your range of motion, shifting the pressure and weight from your joints to your muscles.&nbsp;

7.  Improve Sleep Studies found that women ages 50 to 75 who took one-hour morning walks were more likely to have less insomnia than women who didn’t walk.&nbsp;

8.  Support Your Joints The majority of joint cartilage has no direct blood supply. It gets its nutrition from joint fluid that circulates as we move. Movement and compression from walking “squishes” the cartilage, bringing oxygen and nutrients into the area. &nbsp;

9.  Improve Your Breathing When you are walking, your breathing rate increases, causing oxygen to travel faster through bloodstream, helping to eliminate waste products and improve your energy level and the ability to heal.

10.  Slow Down Mental Decline A study of 6,000 women ages 65 and older found that age-related memory decline was lower in those who walked more. According to the University of California, San Francisco, study, women walking 2.5 miles per day had a 17% decline in memory compared to a 25% decline in women who walked less than a half-mile per week.&nbsp;

11.  Lower Alzheimer's Risk A study from the University of Virginia Health System in Charlottesville found that men between the ages of 71 and 93 who walked more than a quarter of a mile per day had half the incidence of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease than those who walked less.&nbsp;

12.  Do More for Longer Aerobic walking and resistance exercise programs may reduce the incidence of disability in the activities of daily living for people who are older than 65 and have symptomatic osteoarthritis, a study published in the Journal of Clinical Outcomes Management found.&nbsp;

Source: Arthritis Foundation&nbsp;

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 <a href="mailto:moniquek@ksu.edu" target="_blank">moniquek@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;

<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. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Monique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension Cottonwood District. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>What’s not to like about walking? It’s free. It’s easy to do, and it’s not just easy on joints but it also keeps them lubricated and flexible. There’s no question that walking is good for you. A University of Tennessee study found that women who walked had less body fat than those who didn’t walk. It also lowers the risk of blood clots, since the calf acts as a venous pump, contracting and pumping blood from the feet and legs back to the heart, reducing the load on the heart. In addition to being an easy aerobic exercise, walking is good for you in many other ways:&nbsp;1.  Improve Circulation Walking wards off heart disease, brings up the heart rate, lowers blood pressure and strengthens the heart. Post-menopausal women who walk just one to two miles a day can lower their blood pressure by nearly 11 points in 24 weeks. Women who walk 30 minutes a day can reduce their risk of stroke by 20%, and by 40% when they stepped up the pace, according to researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston.&nbsp;2.  Shore Up Your Bones Walking can stop the loss of bone mass for those with osteoporosis, according to Michael A. Schwartz, MD, of Plancher Orthopedics &amp; Sports Medicine in New York. In fact, one study of post-menopausal women found that 30 minutes of walking each day reduced their risk of hip fractures by 40%.&nbsp;3.  Enjoy a Longer Life &nbsp;Research finds that people who exercise regularly in their fifties and sixties are 35% less likely to die over the next eight years than their non-walking counterparts. That number shoots up to 45% less likely for those who have underlying health conditions.&nbsp; 4.  Lighten Your Mood&nbsp; Walking releases natural painkilling endorphins to the body – one of the emotional benefits of exercise. A California State University, Long Beach, study showed that the more steps people took during the day, the better their moods were. &nbsp;5.  Lose Weight &nbsp;A brisk 30-minute walk burns 200 calories. Over time, calories burned can lead to pounds dropped.&nbsp;6.  Strengthen Muscles &nbsp;Walking tones your leg and abdominal muscles – and even arm muscles if you pump them as you walk. This increases your range of motion, shifting the pressure and weight from your joints to your muscles.&nbsp;7.  Improve Sleep Studies found that women ages 50 to 75 who took one-hour morning walks were more likely to have less insomnia than women who didn’t walk.&nbsp;8.  Support Your Joints The majority of joint cartilage has no direct blood supply. It gets its nutrition from joint fluid that circulates as we move. Movement and compression from walking “squishes” the cartilage, bringing oxygen and nutrients into the area. &nbsp;9.  Improve Your Breathing When you are walking, your breathing rate increases, causing oxygen to travel faster through bloodstream, helping to eliminate waste products and improve your energy level and the ability to heal. 10.  Slow Down Mental Decline A study of 6,000 women ages 65 and older found that age-related memory decline was lower in those who walked more. According to the University of California, San Francisco, study, women walking 2.5 miles per day had a 17% decline in memory compared to a 25% decline in women who walked less than a half-mile per week.&nbsp;11.  Lower Alzheimer's Risk A study from the University of Virginia Health System in Charlottesville found that men between the ages of 71 and 93 who walked more than a quarter of a mile per day had half the incidence of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease than those who walked less.&nbsp;12.  Do More for Longer Aerobic walking and resistance exercise programs may reduce the incidence of disability in the activities of daily living for people who are older than 65 and have symptomatic osteoarthritis, a study published in the Journal of Clinical Outcomes Management found.&nbsp;Source: Arthritis Foundation&nbsp;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 <a href="mailto:moniquek@ksu.edu" target="_blank">moniquek@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;.&nbsp;

KOERNER: 12 Benefits of Walking 

<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/2025/3/1741011985861.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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741109201559.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>

WPAA COLBY — Western Plains Arts Association is excited to have back to western Kansas “After Midnight” from Colorado. Their performance will be held March 16 at 3 p.m. at the Cultural Arts Center on the campus of Colby Community College in Colby.&nbsp;

You will be welcomed to the world of After Midnight, where timeless melodies, innovative arrangements, and soulful rhythms transport you to the golden age of jazz!

Based in the heart of Denver, After Midnight is a collection of seasoned musicians dedicated to delivering captivating performances that celebrate the essence of jazz. With a repertoire spanning classic standards, original compositions, swing, blues, and Latin jazz, this versatile ensemble brings a touch of sophistication and joy to any event.

Admission to this program is by WPAA season ticket or tickets can be purchased at the door.&nbsp; 

This program is made possible through the generosity of area businesses, individual donors, the Thomas County Community Foundation and a grant from the Dane Hansen Foundation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741106401815.png" alt="'After Midnight' will perform March 16 in Colby. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>'After Midnight' will perform March 16 in Colby. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WPAA COLBY — Western Plains Arts Association is excited to have back to western Kansas “After Midnight” from Colorado. Their performance will be held March 16 at 3 p.m. at the Cultural Arts Center on the campus of Colby Community College in Colby.&nbsp;You will be welcomed to the world of After Midnight, where timeless melodies, innovative arrangements, and soulful rhythms transport you to the golden age of jazz!Based in the heart of Denver, After Midnight is a collection of seasoned musicians dedicated to delivering captivating performances that celebrate the essence of jazz. With a repertoire spanning classic standards, original compositions, swing, blues, and Latin jazz, this versatile ensemble brings a touch of sophistication and joy to any event.Admission to this program is by WPAA season ticket or tickets can be purchased at the door.&nbsp; This program is made possible through the generosity of area businesses, individual donors, the Thomas County Community Foundation and a grant from the Dane Hansen Foundation.

'After Midnight' to return to northwest Kansas for March 16 performance

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

The Hays USD 489 school board has a work session scheduled for 6:30 p.m. today at the Rockwell Administration Center.

• Bond cash flow • Hays High School tennis courts • Accreditation action plan 2.0 • State screen time report • K-12 iPads • Special education co-op update • Board elections • Project manager

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostThe Hays USD 489 school board has a work session scheduled for 6:30 p.m. today at the Rockwell Administration Center.The following topics will be discussed:• Bond cash flow • Hays High School tennis courts • Accreditation action plan 2.0 • State screen time report • K-12 iPads • Special education co-op update • Board elections • Project manager

Hays USD 489 sets work session for tonight

By TONY GUERRERO Hays Post

The Ellis County Commission will formally appoint a new Ellis County Health Director during the Ellis County Commission meeting at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday.

Ellis County Health Director Melissa Miller was selected after a search process that involved reviewing multiple applicants. She began working with the health department on Feb. 24.

Kerry McCue has been serving as the part-time health director and assisting Miller. He will continue to provide support until March 13.

The county commission is considering approving road repairs and improvements for 48th Street, Vineyard Road and Commerce Parkway by contracting with Bettis Asphalt &amp; Construction.

The county plans to piggyback off the Kansas Department of Transportation contract for the U.S. Highway 183 mill and overlay project to reduce costs.

Northwest Homeland Security project update

Ellis County is receiving funding from the Northwest Home Security Council for multiple emergency response improvements.

Lyle Pantle, Ellis County emergency manager, will discuss with the commissioners these enhancements to increase the county's emergency response capabilities and preparedness.

The commission is considering approving a bid from APAC Kansas Inc. to produce cold mix asphalt for the 2025 asphalt maintenance plan. The material will be used for road overlays and patching to maintain county roadways.

The Ellis County Road and Bridge Division will request approval to purchase a used 2021 Caterpillar excavator to improve road and drainage maintenance.&nbsp;

The commission will consider a lot split request for land in Hays from Platinum Group owner Adam Pray.

You can view the full agenda <a href="https://www.ellisco.net/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03042025-658">here</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1684183971486.png" alt="Ellis County" />
 <figcaption>Ellis County</figcaption>
 </figure>By TONY GUERRERO Hays PostThe Ellis County Commission will formally appoint a new Ellis County Health Director during the Ellis County Commission meeting at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday.Ellis County Health Director Melissa Miller was selected after a search process that involved reviewing multiple applicants. She began working with the health department on Feb. 24.Kerry McCue has been serving as the part-time health director and assisting Miller. He will continue to provide support until March 13.<h2>Road repairs</h2>The county commission is considering approving road repairs and improvements for 48th Street, Vineyard Road and Commerce Parkway by contracting with Bettis Asphalt &amp; Construction.The county plans to piggyback off the Kansas Department of Transportation contract for the U.S. Highway 183 mill and overlay project to reduce costs.<h2>Northwest Homeland Security project update</h2>Ellis County is receiving funding from the Northwest Home Security Council for multiple emergency response improvements.Lyle Pantle, Ellis County emergency manager, will discuss with the commissioners these enhancements to increase the county's emergency response capabilities and preparedness.<h2>Other business</h2>The commission is considering approving a bid from APAC Kansas Inc. to produce cold mix asphalt for the 2025 asphalt maintenance plan. The material will be used for road overlays and patching to maintain county roadways.The Ellis County Road and Bridge Division will request approval to purchase a used 2021 Caterpillar excavator to improve road and drainage maintenance.&nbsp;The commission will consider a lot split request for land in Hays from Platinum Group owner Adam Pray.You can view the full agenda <a href="https://www.ellisco.net/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03042025-658">here</a>.

Ellis County Commission to appoint new health director

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See other items the Eagle On-Line Auction at Hays Post. Bidding ends Sunday.

If you would like to get in on the action of this year’s online auction, click on the link below.&nbsp;

Dive into a digital treasure trove of savings with the Eagle Radio Online Auction!

<a href="https://hayspost.com/pages/eagle-radio-auction-descriptions-of-items">Click here&nbsp;to get registered, view items and bid.</a>

Bid now on an expansive collection ranging from home essentials to tantalizing restaurant gift cards, and valuable services from esteemed local companies and save.

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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1742579288311.jpeg" alt="" />
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 </figure><h2>Lifetime Dental Care</h2><h2>Invisalign</h2>The Invisalign program from Lifetime Dental Care offers comfort, convenience and confidence while straightening your teeth using trays that are virtually invisible. The Invisalign program Includes office consultation, trays, photos, x-rays, aligners, whitening program and more. Invisalign works great for both adults and teens. Your new smile is waiting. Get started today! www.lifetimedentalcare.com. THIS OFFER NOT VALID WITH ANY OTHER SPECIAL OFFER Retail Price: $6,000 Current Bid: $2,000See other items the Eagle On-Line Auction at Hays Post. Bidding ends Sunday. If you would like to get in on the action of this year’s online auction, click on the link below.&nbsp;Dive into a digital treasure trove of savings with the Eagle Radio Online Auction!<a href="https://hayspost.com/pages/eagle-radio-auction-descriptions-of-items">Click here&nbsp;to get registered, view items and bid.</a>Bid now on an expansive collection ranging from home essentials to tantalizing restaurant gift cards, and valuable services from esteemed local companies and save.

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Ellis County Jail bookings: Feb. 23-March 1, 2025

Ellis County Sheriff's activity log: Feb. 23-March 1, 2025

Reporter Cristina Janney speaks with Beth Hansen and Pam Dreiling about Early Childhood Connections preschool on this episode of the Hays Post Podcast.

<div><iframe title="Post Podcast: Early Childhood Connections - Preschool Program" 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=fzbwx-181ee31-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 Beth Hansen and Pam Dreiling about Early Childhood Connections preschool on this episode of the Hays Post Podcast.

🎙 Post Podcast: Enrollment open for Early Childhood Connections preschool

By&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/author/blaise-mesa/">BLAISE MESA</a> <a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/02/25/kansas-property-tax-where-do-tax-cuts-stand-so-far/?utm_source=ActiveCampaign&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_content=Free%20stories%20from%20The%20Beacon&amp;utm_campaign=Republishing%20email%2022525">The Beacon</a>

Debbie Detmer has a lot of memories in her house. She’s lived there 40 years and raised three children in it.&nbsp;

Detmer is retired now and lives on a fixed income in Johnson County. She hasn’t done any work on her house, yet she pays more in property taxes each year. The bill is rising so much it’s becoming too much to manage.&nbsp;

Last year, she paid $100 more a month and this year she is paying $50 more a month in property taxes. That’s before her homeowner’s insurance goes up because a more expensive house means more expensive insurance.&nbsp;

Her property taxes are making her choose between paying for taxes or other essentials — compromising her retirement.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740674336360.jpeg" alt="Lawmakers may be hashing out how to provide tax relief, but there is bipartisan consensus on the need to address property taxes. Photo by Niko Schmidt / The Beacon" />
 <figcaption>Lawmakers may be hashing out how to provide tax relief, but there is bipartisan consensus on the need to address property taxes. Photo by Niko Schmidt / The Beacon</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/author/blaise-mesa/">BLAISE MESA</a> <a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/02/25/kansas-property-tax-where-do-tax-cuts-stand-so-far/?utm_source=ActiveCampaign&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_content=Free%20stories%20from%20The%20Beacon&amp;utm_campaign=Republishing%20email%2022525">The Beacon</a>Debbie Detmer has a lot of memories in her house. She’s lived there 40 years and raised three children in it.&nbsp;Detmer is retired now and lives on a fixed income in Johnson County. She hasn’t done any work on her house, yet she pays more in property taxes each year. The bill is rising so much it’s becoming too much to manage.&nbsp;Last year, she paid $100 more a month and this year she is paying $50 more a month in property taxes. That’s before her homeowner’s insurance goes up because a more expensive house means more expensive insurance.&nbsp;Her property taxes are making her choose between paying for taxes or other essentials — compromising her retirement.&nbsp;“You keep turning the heat down. You keep (it) hotter in the summer,” she said. “You just got to cut back.”&nbsp;<h2>Lawmakers have multiple tax proposals&nbsp;</h2>Kansas lawmakers are trying to ease the property tax burden, but&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/02/21/new-kansas-laws-lawmakers-advance-dozens-of-bills/">halfway through the session</a>&nbsp;it doesn’t look like there’s consensus on how to do so.&nbsp;Constitutional amendments on property taxes have headlined the tax cut debate so far.The Senate passed a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/scr1603/">3% cap on valuation increases</a>. Property taxes could increase more than 3% in a year, but the appraised value of a home would be capped at 3% unless it was renovated or qualifies for other exemptions.The House has a similar proposal that would use a rolling average of a home’s value, likely a six-year rolling average.Both ideas would need to be approved by voters.&nbsp;The Senate’s proposal passed with more than a two-thirds majority. But the House hasn’t acted on its&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/hcr5011/">valuation cap proposal</a>.&nbsp;House Committee on Taxation chair Rep. Adam Smith, a Weskan Republican, said these constitutional amendments are gimmicks that don’t provide real relief. He isn’t alone. Some Senate Republicans voted against the 3% cap and almost every Senate Democrat opposed it.&nbsp;Senate Minority Leader Dinah Sykes, a Lenexa Democrat, said this is California tax policy that shouldn’t come to Kansas.&nbsp;Senate Democrats have instead proposed&nbsp;<a href="https://kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/sb217/">increasing property tax exemptions</a>&nbsp;from $75,000 to $125,000. Democrats will also get a hearing on a bill expanding “<a href="https://kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/sb215/">the property tax rebate program</a>&nbsp;for seniors and disabled veterans by excluding Social Security payments from the definition of household income and increasing the household income and appraised value thresholds for eligibility related to increased property tax homestead claims.”&nbsp;Sen. Stephen Owens, a Hesston Republican, has another idea. He tried to amend the 3% cap during an early February floor debate to tie tax increases with inflation. Property taxes could only rise with the rate of inflation. Taxing bodies could still raise taxes higher than inflation, but that would require voters to approve of the increase.&nbsp;Owens’ amendment failed.&nbsp;“We certainly cannot predict the actions of the other chamber,” Owens said during the Senate debate. “It is generally assumed that (<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/scr1603/">this constitutional amendment</a>) is not the final product. If this is not the final product, we want to go in with the strongest position possible on truly giving our taxpayers a tax break.”&nbsp;<h2>Debate over passed plans</h2>Concern about a 3% cap is simple. Capping the appraised value doesn’t stop governing bodies from just raising property taxes anyway. Agricultural associations and business lobbyists also worry that capping residential valuations would then shift more tax burden to farms and businesses.&nbsp;Sen. Caryn Tyson, a Parker Republican, is the chair of the Senate Committee on Assessment and Taxation. She is leading the push to pass the constitutional amendment. She disagrees that her 3% cap does nothing. She’s looked back at decades of tax rates and has seen valuations jump. Had the cap been in place, those valuations would not have jumped as high and those homeowners would pay less in property taxes.&nbsp;The property tax cap also would start based on 2022 home values. That would cap property tax increases before a recent surge in valuations.Tyson said she’s seen someone’s property tax rise even though they did no work on their house. The price jumped because their neighbor renovated their home. The current system doesn’t work, she said.&nbsp;“We are not inventing the wheel here,” Tyson said at a past debate. “We have looked to other states to see what to model after.”For Detmer, the homeowner on a fixed income, property tax relief needs to come soon. She might have to move, and depending where she buys, that could mean moving farther away from her grandchildren.&nbsp;Property taxes mean cutting back, Detmer said. But she’s annoyed that the county government doesn’t cut back as hard as she does.&nbsp;“When I bought it, I had no intention of moving,” Detmer said. “I raised my family here. I have no intentions of going anywhere unless (taxes) force me out.”

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