On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with Office of the State Fire Marshall&nbsp;Public Information Manager&nbsp;Lance Feyh about hurricane relief efforts.

<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ka8IJ-jhn2g?si=lDrxR15HO4YQn4ZK" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with Office of the State Fire Marshall&nbsp;Public Information Manager&nbsp;Lance Feyh about hurricane relief efforts.

🎤Forward Ever: Kansas Fire Marshall spokesman Lance Feyh

Hays High (4-2, 2-0 WAC) vs Great Bend (6-0, 2-0 WAC) Friday, Oct. 18 - 7 p.m. Great Bend, Kan. – Memorial Stadium

Radio:&nbsp;KFIX (96.9)&nbsp;<a href="https://radio.securenetsystems.net/cwa/KFIX">CLICK HERE TO LISTEN</a> <a href="https://mix103fm.com/"></a>Video:&nbsp;Hays High Sports Network&nbsp;<a href="https://vcloud.hudl.com/broadcast/embed/1267916">CLICK HERE TO WATCH ($)</a>

The Hays High Indians travel to Great Bend Friday night for a huge rivalry matchup with the Great Bend Panthers.&nbsp;

Hays is coming off a shutout win over Dodge City while Great Bend slipped past Liberal 14-7.

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. Live coverage includes The Hays High Sports Network and radio.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1694699014932.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Hays High (4-2, 2-0 WAC) vs Great Bend (6-0, 2-0 WAC) Friday, Oct. 18 - 7 p.m. Great Bend, Kan. – Memorial StadiumRadio:&nbsp;KFIX (96.9)&nbsp;<a href="https://radio.securenetsystems.net/cwa/KFIX">CLICK HERE TO LISTEN</a> <a href="https://mix103fm.com/"></a>Video:&nbsp;Hays High Sports Network&nbsp;<a href="https://vcloud.hudl.com/broadcast/embed/1267916">CLICK HERE TO WATCH ($)</a>The Hays High Indians travel to Great Bend Friday night for a huge rivalry matchup with the Great Bend Panthers.&nbsp;Hays is coming off a shutout win over Dodge City while Great Bend slipped past Liberal 14-7.Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. Live coverage includes The Hays High Sports Network and radio.

🏈🎥 Hays travels to Great Bend for rivalry matchup with the Panthers

Congratulations to&nbsp;Courtney Molleker of Hays, who won $500 in the third week of the Cash Grab giveaway.

Listen at 9, 11, 1, and 3 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and enter the keyword on&nbsp;<a href="https://hayspost.com/">hayspost.com</a>&nbsp;for a chance to win $500 on each Friday in October.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729276852359.jpeg" alt="Courtney Molleker, third from left, was the week three in the Cash Grab Eagle radio giveaway. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Courtney Molleker, third from left, was the week three in the Cash Grab Eagle radio giveaway. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>Congratulations to&nbsp;Courtney Molleker of Hays, who won $500 in the third week of the Cash Grab giveaway.Listen at 9, 11, 1, and 3 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and enter the keyword on&nbsp;<a href="https://hayspost.com/">hayspost.com</a>&nbsp;for a chance to win $500 on each Friday in October.&nbsp;

Cash Grab week 3 winner announced

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

4313 N. Vine St. Hays, KS 67601 785-625-4800

Live life beautifully with the Heartland six-piece rectangular table set. Crafted of rubberwood solids with cathedral white oak and birch veneers, this set features an antique white finish with a tobacco top and consists of the leg table, four ladder back side chairs, and a bench.

The leg table features a thick square-edged planked top that is anchored by heavily turned legs.

The ladder back side chairs have a padded upholstered seat in a grey linen chenille fabric with heavy-turned front legs and nylon chair glides to protect your flooring.

The bench offers a planked seat with a high-low veneer pattern for a unique effect and has heavy-turned legs with nylon chair glides.

Current Bid: $476 Retail Price: $3,899

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729115696349.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://hayspost.com/pages/eagle-radio-auction-descriptions-of-items">Click here to get registered, view items and bid.</a><h2>Wolf Furniture Galleries</h2>4313 N. Vine St. Hays, KS 67601 785-625-4800<h2>Heartland Dining Group</h2>Live life beautifully with the Heartland six-piece rectangular table set. Crafted of rubberwood solids with cathedral white oak and birch veneers, this set features an antique white finish with a tobacco top and consists of the leg table, four ladder back side chairs, and a bench. The leg table features a thick square-edged planked top that is anchored by heavily turned legs. The ladder back side chairs have a padded upholstered seat in a grey linen chenille fabric with heavy-turned front legs and nylon chair glides to protect your flooring.The bench offers a planked seat with a high-low veneer pattern for a unique effect and has heavy-turned legs with nylon chair glides.Dining table - 40” x 72”Current Bid: $476 Retail Price: $3,899

Eagle Auction: Heartland dining table set

The Ellis County unemployment rate dropped from 3% in August to 2.4% in September.&nbsp;

Trego County's jobless rate also dropped slightly to 3.5%, and Rooks County's rate fell almost a percentage point to 3.2% from 4.3% in August.

Unemployment rates for most of the region remain below 4%, with the exception of Decatur County. Many of the region's counties have very low jobless rates at less than 3%.

Preliminary estimates reported by the Labor Market Information Services division of the Kansas Department of Labor and the Bureau of Labor Statistics show a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for the state of 3.3% in September. This is unchanged from 3.3% in August and an increase from 2.6% in September 2023.

Seasonally adjusted job estimates for Kansas indicate total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 2,700 from August. Total nonfarm includes private sector and government employers. Private sector jobs&nbsp;increased by 800 over the month, while government increased by 1,900.

Since September 2023&nbsp;Kansas' seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs have increased by 19,200. This change is due to an increase of 16,500 private sector jobs and an increase of 2,700 government jobs.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729265881712.png" alt="Kansas Department of Labor" />
 <figcaption>Kansas Department of Labor</figcaption>
 </figure>Kansas Department of LaborThe Ellis County unemployment rate dropped from 3% in August to 2.4% in September.&nbsp;Trego County's jobless rate also dropped slightly to 3.5%, and Rooks County's rate fell almost a percentage point to 3.2% from 4.3% in August.Unemployment rates for most of the region remain below 4%, with the exception of Decatur County. Many of the region's counties have very low jobless rates at less than 3%.Preliminary estimates reported by the Labor Market Information Services division of the Kansas Department of Labor and the Bureau of Labor Statistics show a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for the state of 3.3% in September. This is unchanged from 3.3% in August and an increase from 2.6% in September 2023.Seasonally adjusted job estimates for Kansas indicate total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 2,700 from August. Total nonfarm includes private sector and government employers. Private sector jobs&nbsp;increased by 800 over the month, while government increased by 1,900.Since September 2023&nbsp;Kansas' seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs have increased by 19,200. This change is due to an increase of 16,500 private sector jobs and an increase of 2,700 government jobs.

Unemployment rate in Ellis County down in September

In October,&nbsp; the world's largest steam locomotive will return to Kansas. <a href="https://www.up.com/heritage/steam/schedule/index.htm">Click here </a>to additional details.

Big Boy No. 4014 will depart on the "Heartland of America Tour" on Wednesday, Aug. 28 from Cheyenne, Wyoming, and travel across nine additional states: Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas. The eight-week tour concludes in late October. No. 4014 will be on display in the following locations:&nbsp;&nbsp;

The train stops in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.up.com/heritage/steam/schedule/index.htm" target="_blank">Kansas and Missouri</a>&nbsp;are listed below.

Note: All schedule times and locations are subject to change.&nbsp;Please check back periodically for updates and be aware there is&nbsp;no public access&nbsp;to the Big Boy outside these listed stops. Overnight stops are closed to the public unless otherwise noted; afternoon arrival times&nbsp;are not available

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1623722971945.png" alt="File photo by Bryan Dennett" />
 <figcaption>File photo by Bryan Dennett</figcaption>
 </figure>In October,&nbsp; the world's largest steam locomotive will return to Kansas. <a href="https://www.up.com/heritage/steam/schedule/index.htm">Click here </a>to additional details.Big Boy No. 4014 will depart on the "Heartland of America Tour" on Wednesday, Aug. 28 from Cheyenne, Wyoming, and travel across nine additional states: Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas. The eight-week tour concludes in late October. No. 4014 will be on display in the following locations:&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723494736139.png" alt="Map Union Pacific" />
 <figcaption>Map Union Pacific</figcaption>
 </figure>The train stops in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.up.com/heritage/steam/schedule/index.htm" target="_blank">Kansas and Missouri</a>&nbsp;are listed below.Tuesday, Oct. 15<ul>
 <li>9 a.m. departure — Coffeyville, Kan. to Kansas City, Mo.</li><li>2:15 p.m. arrival; 2:45 p.m. departure — Osawatomie, Kan. (West Pacific Avenue Crossing)</li><li>6:45 p.m. arrival — Kansas City, Mo. (Union Station – 30 W. Pershing Road)</li>
 </ul>Wednesday, Oct. 16<ul>
 <li>Viewing only — Kansas City, Mo. (Union Station – 30 W. Pershing Road)</li>
 </ul>Thursday, Oct. 17<ul>
 <li>9 a.m. departure — Kansas City, Mo. to Salina Kan.</li><li>12:15 p.m. arrival; 12:45 departure — Topeka, Kan. (Great Overland Station – 701 N. Kansas Avenue)</li>
 </ul>Friday, Oct. 18<ul>
 <li>Viewing only — Salina Kan. (Salina Depot – 400 N. 13th Street)</li>
 </ul>Saturday, Oct. 19<ul>
 <li>9 a.m. departure — Salina Kan. to Hays, Kan.</li><li>11 a.m. arrival; 11:30 a.m. departure — Wilson Kan. (Avenue East Crossing)</li>
 </ul>Sunday, Oct. 20<ul>
 <li>9 a.m. departure — Hays, Kan. to Sharon Springs, Kan.</li><li>Noon arrival; 12:30 p.m. departure — Grainfield, Kan. (Main Street Crossing)</li>
 </ul>Monday, Oct. 21<ul>
 <li>9 a.m. departure — Sharon Springs, Kan. to Denver, Colo.</li>
 </ul>Note: All schedule times and locations are subject to change.&nbsp;Please check back periodically for updates and be aware there is&nbsp;no public access&nbsp;to the Big Boy outside these listed stops. Overnight stops are closed to the public unless otherwise noted; afternoon arrival times&nbsp;are not available

Union Pacific’s ‘Big Boy’ to steam into Hays this weekend

By CRISTINA JANNEY&nbsp; Hays Post

Ellis County was listed in moderate drought based on the Kansas Drought Monitor released on Thursday.

Hays has received no measurable precipitation for the month.

Hays's average rainfall for October is 1.45 inches.

Year-to-date, Hays has received 19.93 inches of precipitation, with the average by the end of October 21.38 inches.

The forecast for today is a high of 75 and windy with gusts up to 38 mph.

There's a 20 percent chance for rain before noon Saturday with a high forecast of 72.

Sunday night after 10 p.m. and Monday, a 50% chance of rain returns.&nbsp;

Sunny skies are set to return Tuesday with a high of 8o and dipping into the 70s Wednesday and Thursday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729264546590.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY&nbsp; Hays PostEllis County was listed in moderate drought based on the Kansas Drought Monitor released on Thursday.Hays has received no measurable precipitation for the month.Hays's average rainfall for October is 1.45 inches.Year-to-date, Hays has received 19.93 inches of precipitation, with the average by the end of October 21.38 inches.The forecast for today is a high of 75 and windy with gusts up to 38 mph.There's a 20 percent chance for rain before noon Saturday with a high forecast of 72.Sunday night after 10 p.m. and Monday, a 50% chance of rain returns.&nbsp;Sunny skies are set to return Tuesday with a high of 8o and dipping into the 70s Wednesday and Thursday.

Drought persists across NW Kansas, but rain in the forecast

TMP-Marian (4-2, 3-2 MCL) vs Syracuse (0-6, 0-3 HPL) Friday, Oct. 18- 6 p.m. Hays, Kan. – Lewis Field Radio:&nbsp;KHAZ (99.5)&nbsp;<a href="https://99kzcountry.com/">CLICK HERE TO LISTEN</a> <a href="https://mix103fm.com/"></a>Video:&nbsp;Monarchs Sports Network&nbsp;<a href="https://vcloud.hudl.com/broadcast/embed/1267968">CLICK HERE TO WATCH ($)</a>

The TMP-Marian Monarchs host the Syracuse Bulldogs on Senior Night Friday at Lewis Field Stadium.

The Monarchs are coming off a 28-20 win over the Oakley Plainsmen last week while the Bulldogs are coming off a 47-6 loss to Plainville.

Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. Live
coverage includes The Monarchs Sports Network and radio.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575411582384.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>TMP-Marian (4-2, 3-2 MCL) vs Syracuse (0-6, 0-3 HPL) Friday, Oct. 18- 6 p.m. Hays, Kan. – Lewis Field Radio:&nbsp;KHAZ (99.5)&nbsp;<a href="https://99kzcountry.com/">CLICK HERE TO LISTEN</a> <a href="https://mix103fm.com/"></a>Video:&nbsp;Monarchs Sports Network&nbsp;<a href="https://vcloud.hudl.com/broadcast/embed/1267968">CLICK HERE TO WATCH ($)</a>The TMP-Marian Monarchs host the Syracuse Bulldogs on Senior Night Friday at Lewis Field Stadium.The Monarchs are coming off a 28-20 win over the Oakley Plainsmen last week while the Bulldogs are coming off a 47-6 loss to Plainville.Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. Live
coverage includes The Monarchs Sports Network and radio.

🏈🎥 Monarchs host Syracuse on Senior Night

THOMAS COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just before 9:30a.m. Thursday in Thomas County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2021 GMC Canyon driven by Ken A. Christiansen, 78, Brewster, was stopped at a stop sign on County Road AA at Kansas 25 facing east.

The pickup began to enter the intersection and attempted to turn left. 

A southbound 2006 Peterbilt semi driven by Evan P&nbsp;Warren, 22, Culbertson, Nebraska, struck the front passenger side corner of pickup as it was attempting to make a sharp left U-Turn. 

After impact the pickup came to rest in a grass field to the southwest of the intersection.

EMS transported a passenger in the pickup, Janet M. Christiansen, 77, Brewster, to&nbsp;Citizen's Medical Center. The drivers were not injured. All three were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

THOMAS COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just before 9:30a.m. Thursday in Thomas County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2021 GMC Canyon driven by Ken A. Christiansen, 78, Brewster, was stopped at a stop sign on County Road AA at Kansas 25 facing east.The pickup began to enter the intersection and attempted to turn left. A southbound 2006 Peterbilt semi driven by Evan P&nbsp;Warren, 22, Culbertson, Nebraska, struck the front passenger side corner of pickup as it was attempting to make a sharp left U-Turn. After impact the pickup came to rest in a grass field to the southwest of the intersection.EMS transported a passenger in the pickup, Janet M. Christiansen, 77, Brewster, to&nbsp;Citizen's Medical Center. The drivers were not injured. All three were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

NW Kansas woman hospitalized after semi, pickup crash

On Oct. 15, HaysMed celebrated the remarkable commitment of its 2024 Service Award recipients. 

This year, 131 HaysMed Associates were recognized for reaching significant career milestones, celebrating every five years of service. HaysMed proudly acknowledges the sustained contributions of these individuals, whose dedication has profoundly impacted the community and continually improved the quality of care HaysMed offers.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1592337955905.jpeg" alt="File photo" />
 <figcaption>File photo</figcaption>
 </figure>HaysMedOn Oct. 15, HaysMed celebrated the remarkable commitment of its 2024 Service Award recipients. This year, 131 HaysMed Associates were recognized for reaching significant career milestones, celebrating every five years of service. HaysMed proudly acknowledges the sustained contributions of these individuals, whose dedication has profoundly impacted the community and continually improved the quality of care HaysMed offers.Those recognized were:50 Years:Karen HendricksonDoris Rack45 Years:Helen Windholz40 Years:Debra McLaren35 Years:Brett BakerMarla HomburgCarey LewisKaren Matal30 Years:Wanda BallAndy BeckAmy ChoitzDebbie Gross PfannenstielTina HotchkissShannon KarstConnie KinderknechtDyane ManhartMelissa RoeJim RorstromStephanie StahlDionne WerthKay WerthSusan Wilson25 Years:Tashia BeckerTodd BrungardtAndrea HarmoneySteph HowieSarah KoenigsmanDavid Lenser, MDCarol LinenbergerGarrett Roe20 Years:Christy BefortChristine BreinigAminda BrunnerSarah BussmanLaura DreesBrett JohnsonMelissa JohnsonRoss LinenbergerBridget MalirCandice NorrisJoyce PeckhamBrian PfannenstielGina RudmanJody SchmidtbergerDenise WeigelKristie WilliamsTina Zimmerman15 Years:Amanda BrungardtErin BrungardtDonna BurgessGregory DietzChelsea DowningJackie EngelLacie HaasJessica KlausAbby MorrisMichael MosshartCheryl RenzKatelyn RippeKari RyanNiki SmithAbbey StiebenMargo StraubChastity ThackerRandi Ziegler10 Years:Kelsey BelzerRobert BorthwickAlaina CunninghamMaggie DarnellRoger Dietz, MDTara DreilingKiel EmersonJessica FeldtKelli FlaxKayla Gray, MDAnne Marie HagerErin Hemphill, MDRegan KrauseMarian LindbergSarah LoewenMireya SerranoJade ThompsonKatlyn VitztumRick WindholzTammy WolfJill Zordel5 Years:Lindsay AndersonNancy BixenmanJaylea BlackAlexis ClarkeKelly ColeDeedee CrossSpencer DelgadoIrene DeWittKallyn DeWittLaurie DonovanLuann EvertPedro FloresKevin GreenDanielle HaganMadeline HoardKristin HulettVicky Kassa ToulaboeCaitlyn KinserKayla KlausDave LayTerri LenserAshleigh MabbMichelle MaestasShelby MartinKevin McCarterMark PakkebierMelanie PetzRicky RuppThomas RuppDawson SandovalMikayla ScheckMaegan ScholzSara SchulteAbby ScintoTina StaabNatalie TaylorTina TinkelNicole WaltBryce WasingerCoy WeigelShannon WerthJana ZellerLeonard ZetkoKatelyn Zimmerman

HaysMed announces 2024 Service Award recipients

The Invisalign program from Lifetime Dental Care offers comfort, convenience and confidence while straightening your teeth using trays that are virtually invisible.

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<a href="http://www.lifetimedentalcare.com">www.lifetimedentalcare.com</a>

THIS OFFER IS NOT VALID WITH ANY OTHER SPECIAL OFFER.

Current Bid: $660.00 Retail Price: $6,000.00

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729115500452.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://hayspost.com/pages/eagle-radio-auction-descriptions-of-items">Click here to get registered, view items and bid.</a><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 an office consultation, trays, photos, x-rays, aligners, a whitening program,and more. Invisalign works great for both adults and teens. Your new smile is waiting. Get started today! <a href="http://www.lifetimedentalcare.com">www.lifetimedentalcare.com</a>THIS OFFER IS NOT VALID WITH ANY OTHER SPECIAL OFFER.Current Bid: $660.00 Retail Price: $6,000.00

Eagle Auction: Invisalign teeth straightening

Fighting fires has evolved, but federal safety regulations haven’t changed for nearly half a century. Now the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has proposed new safety standards. It's great news for professional firefighters, but volunteer departments say the new rules could bog them down with expensive and irrelevant regulations.

Hundreds of US firefighters die every year, and job-related cancer is far and away the biggest killer, according to Sean DeCrane with the International Association of Fire Fighters union. He places some of the blame on outdated federal safety rules that protect firefighters, enacted in 1980.

“It’s long past due that the firefighters that are out there responding every day are provided some protection by the federal government when it comes to workplace safety,” DeCrane said.

That protection could come in the form of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s new Emergency Response standard, a proposal still under review.

“If these regulations had been in place 40 years ago, we would have saved hundreds, if not thousands, of firefighter lives,” DeCrane said. “Just from early detection of cardiovascular disease, or understanding of exposure to toxins and carcinogens, proper training, proper equipment.”

But while all of that sounds great to the professional firefighters DeCrane represents, most fire departments in the U.S. are not professional. According to the National Fire Department Registry, more than 4 out of 5 departments are all volunteer, or mostly volunteer.

And for volunteer firefighters, the added money and time necessary to comply with OSHA’s new proposals are not welcome.

OSHA’s proposal is huge — 608 pages. The agency wants to increase training requirements, require more pre-planning for emergency situations, set stricter limits on the lifespan of some firefighting equipment, and impose more rigorous health screenings for fighter fighters. Most of it would be expensive for volunteer fire departments to implement.

Take training: the proposed regulations demand 80 hours of training for firefighters. For volunteers, that means two full weeks of work, squeezed in here and there, for no money.

“If I tell some of them younger guys that, ‘Hey, you can’t spend the night with your wife and kids. You got to go to training tonight,’ they might tell me to go pump sand,” said Joel Cerny, chief of the Linwood, Nebraska, volunteer fire department.

The stepped-up inspections OSHA proposed would mean that all of Cerny’s 20-year-old fire trucks would need an annual checkup from a certified mechanic. Another big problem.

“That means I have to take the fire truck out of my district because we don't have anybody living in our district that's a certified mechanic. So then I'm taking the truck out of the district for the whole day, leaving my district unprotected,” Cerny said.

Many volunteer departments use old “turnout gear” — the helmets, jackets, pants, and boots that firefighters use — and, depending on how often a particular volunteer shows up to fight fires, that gear may not get much use. But OSHA’s proposed rule would require replacing that $4,000 suit every 10 years.

Replacing all that gear would take half a year’s budget, Cerny said.

“There’s some of them guys that maybe only put that gear on once a year and, for small towns like ours, it just doesn’t make sense,” he said.

OSHA is also calling for extensive annual physicals for firefighters, the kind that include thousands of dollars worth of tests, according to Dave Denniston, chief of the Virgil Fire Department in upstate New York.

Add up all the costs, and Denniston figured the new regulations would require a 42% budget increase for his volunteer department. He said if the rules take hold some fire departments will fold.

“There's a lot of folks that have said we'd have to close our doors,” Denniston said. “We've looked at it and said we would have to do one of two things: We would either have to greatly increase our taxes, or we would have to ignore it and just hope that something didn't happen.”

Denniston believes that if any volunteer fire departments end up governed by OSHA’s proposed regulations, trial lawyers will argue that all volunteer departments should be governed by it, and small departments will be exposed to litigation.

“There’s a ton of confusion,” Denniston said. “But that all goes, again, to the 608-page document that they put out,” he said. “One of our fears is where these things are going to get decided — they’re going to get decided in courtrooms further down the road when someone gets injured or killed.”

OSHA officials have said they never intended the proposed regulations to cover all volunteer fire departments. And, after some bi-partisan pushback led in part by Kansas Republican Sen. Jerry Moran, the agency has promised to revisit the proposal with an eye toward protecting volunteer departments from burdensome or superfluous regulations.

But Denniston is still anxious about the sweeping proposal.

And volunteer firefighters aren’t the only ones concerned. Some larger professional departments will spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to comply with the new OSHA standards, and Yucel Ors, with the National League of Cities, said municipalities and counties will have to pick up the bill.

“In a nutshell, they are an unfunded mandate on local governments,” Ors said.

The forced spending, he noted, could come just as the House of Representatives passed legislation that would lop 10% off federal grants for local fire departments.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729181263594.png" alt="Like most rural volunteer fire departments, the Natoma, Kansas, department uses old fire protection gear. Proposed OSHA rules could require Fire Chief Keith Koelling to replace it all with new gear every decade, costing tens of thousands of dollars.&nbsp;Frank Morris/KCUR/NPR" />
 <figcaption>Like most rural volunteer fire departments, the Natoma, Kansas, department uses old fire protection gear. Proposed OSHA rules could require Fire Chief Keith Koelling to replace it all with new gear every decade, costing tens of thousands of dollars.&nbsp;Frank Morris/KCUR/NPR</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Fighting fires has evolved, but federal safety regulations haven’t changed for nearly half a century. Now the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has proposed new safety standards. It's great news for professional firefighters, but volunteer departments say the new rules could bog them down with expensive and irrelevant regulations.</h2>Hundreds of US firefighters die every year, and job-related cancer is far and away the biggest killer, according to Sean DeCrane with the International Association of Fire Fighters union. He places some of the blame on outdated federal safety rules that protect firefighters, enacted in 1980.“It’s long past due that the firefighters that are out there responding every day are provided some protection by the federal government when it comes to workplace safety,” DeCrane said.That protection could come in the form of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s new Emergency Response standard, a proposal still under review.“If these regulations had been in place 40 years ago, we would have saved hundreds, if not thousands, of firefighter lives,” DeCrane said. “Just from early detection of cardiovascular disease, or understanding of exposure to toxins and carcinogens, proper training, proper equipment.”But while all of that sounds great to the professional firefighters DeCrane represents, most fire departments in the U.S. are not professional. According to the National Fire Department Registry, more than 4 out of 5 departments are all volunteer, or mostly volunteer.And for volunteer firefighters, the added money and time necessary to comply with OSHA’s new proposals are not welcome.OSHA’s proposal is huge — 608 pages. The agency wants to increase training requirements, require more pre-planning for emergency situations, set stricter limits on the lifespan of some firefighting equipment, and impose more rigorous health screenings for fighter fighters. Most of it would be expensive for volunteer fire departments to implement.Take training: the proposed regulations demand 80 hours of training for firefighters. For volunteers, that means two full weeks of work, squeezed in here and there, for no money.“If I tell some of them younger guys that, ‘Hey, you can’t spend the night with your wife and kids. You got to go to training tonight,’ they might tell me to go pump sand,” said Joel Cerny, chief of the Linwood, Nebraska, volunteer fire department.The stepped-up inspections OSHA proposed would mean that all of Cerny’s 20-year-old fire trucks would need an annual checkup from a certified mechanic. Another big problem.“That means I have to take the fire truck out of my district because we don't have anybody living in our district that's a certified mechanic. So then I'm taking the truck out of the district for the whole day, leaving my district unprotected,” Cerny said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729181412045.png" alt="Linwood, Nebraska, volunteer Fire Chief Joel Cerny said, if he tried to enforce proposed OSHA training requirements on his volunteers, some of them would tell him to "go pump sand."&nbsp;&nbsp;Frank Morris/KCUR/NPR" />
 <figcaption>Linwood, Nebraska, volunteer Fire Chief Joel Cerny said, if he tried to enforce proposed OSHA training requirements on his volunteers, some of them would tell him to "go pump sand."&nbsp;&nbsp;Frank Morris/KCUR/NPR</figcaption>
 </figure>Many volunteer departments use old “turnout gear” — the helmets, jackets, pants, and boots that firefighters use — and, depending on how often a particular volunteer shows up to fight fires, that gear may not get much use. But OSHA’s proposed rule would require replacing that $4,000 suit every 10 years.Replacing all that gear would take half a year’s budget, Cerny said.“There’s some of them guys that maybe only put that gear on once a year and, for small towns like ours, it just doesn’t make sense,” he said.OSHA is also calling for extensive annual physicals for firefighters, the kind that include thousands of dollars worth of tests, according to Dave Denniston, chief of the Virgil Fire Department in upstate New York.Add up all the costs, and Denniston figured the new regulations would require a 42% budget increase for his volunteer department. He said if the rules take hold some fire departments will fold.“There's a lot of folks that have said we'd have to close our doors,” Denniston said. “We've looked at it and said we would have to do one of two things: We would either have to greatly increase our taxes, or we would have to ignore it and just hope that something didn't happen.”Denniston believes that if any volunteer fire departments end up governed by OSHA’s proposed regulations, trial lawyers will argue that all volunteer departments should be governed by it, and small departments will be exposed to litigation.“There’s a ton of confusion,” Denniston said. “But that all goes, again, to the 608-page document that they put out,” he said. “One of our fears is where these things are going to get decided — they’re going to get decided in courtrooms further down the road when someone gets injured or killed.”OSHA officials have said they never intended the proposed regulations to cover all volunteer fire departments. And, after some bi-partisan pushback led in part by Kansas Republican Sen. Jerry Moran, the agency has promised to revisit the proposal with an eye toward protecting volunteer departments from burdensome or superfluous regulations.But Denniston is still anxious about the sweeping proposal.And volunteer firefighters aren’t the only ones concerned. Some larger professional departments will spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to comply with the new OSHA standards, and Yucel Ors, with the National League of Cities, said municipalities and counties will have to pick up the bill.“In a nutshell, they are an unfunded mandate on local governments,” Ors said.The forced spending, he noted, could come just as the House of Representatives passed legislation that would lop 10% off federal grants for local fire departments.

Volunteer firefighters worry new OSHA safety standards could shut down some rural departments

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

Republican Bobbi Dreiling is running for her second term as Ellis County Clerk.&nbsp;

Dreiling worked eight years for Donna Maskus, the previous county clerk, serving as deputy clerk.

"From day one, I was learning everything that she knew, and in the last two or three years of her last term, I was doing a lot of the duties, which would have been doing the July and November abstract, which is setting values and doing the mill levy and the revenue neutral rate. I did those all by myself," Dreiling said.

Dreiling, 61, is from Hays. She has an associate's degree from Hutchinson Community College.

"I came in with a lot of people skills because each of my jobs required me to work with a lot of people," she said.

She said she is running for county clerk to serve every constituent in Ellis County.

"I felt that at that time, I ran the first time, I could help every constituent and do a good job for them," she said.

"I'm running again because in the little less than four years since I took office, I have run a very good office. I have great office staff. I have run eight elections with perfect counts, audits and recounts."

"I knew I was ready to put in another four years and work for the people," she said.

Dreiling also shared other accomplishments as county clerk.

She helped the county consolidate its nine townships to four.&nbsp;

"It's a cost saving to the taxpayers in ballot preparations and just running a better township," she said.

She said she's tried to as much as possible maintain a neutral budget.

The clerk's office started using smaller envelopes for mail-in ballots, saving money on office supplies and postage. She also decreased the election budget by using a lease program for election poll pads.

Dreiling was the first clerk in Ellis County to prepare revenue-neutral rate mailings. She also handled the redistricting.

She implemented Saturday early voting and text/email notifications on election information.&nbsp;

Fort Hays State University polling location

Her opponent and the ACLU have criticized Dreiling for not opening a voting location on the Fort Hays State University campus.

Dreiling closed the voting location closest to FHSU, 601 Main, because of low voter turnout.

She combined that ward and precinct with another that had to be closed because of issues with Americans with Disabilities Act compliance.

The new location for both wards and precincts is Messiah Lutheran Church, 2000 Main.

"As to why I chose not to put one exactly on campus, the numbers don't show for me to allow to spend taxpayer dollars," she said.

She said about 1,650 students were living on the FHSU campus, according to FHSU. Based on the voter registration roles, 69 voters registered in Ellis County live on campus.

She said there are 268 eligible voters between 18 and 24 in Ward One, Precinct One, which includes the 69 students living on campus. An additional 171 eligible 18- to 24-year-old voters live in Ward One Precinct Two.

Both precincts that are combined at Messiah Lutheran have 1,420 eligible voters.&nbsp;

"I have 981 voters who are going to have to figure out where to go on campus, how to park on campus and finding the polling location," Dreiling said.

"I have two places centrally located, Messiah Lutheran Church and centrally located right down the street from the campus, 718 Main St.," she said.

"When I look at the numbers at the polls," she said, "I will always relook at things."

Dreiling sent an email to students who are part of the American Democracy Project that included information about voter registration deadlines, advance voting and mail ballots so that information could be shared with students. She also has added Saturday voting hours.

"I will always work with the students to let them know how easy it is to vote in Ellis County," she said.

Dreiling said she would like to send postcards to all new county residents about registering to vote, but she does not have the budget to do that.

Dreiling said she does not think there is anything she can do to increase voter turnout.

During the Hays USD 489 school bond election, two voters received incorrect ballots due to human error in the Ellis County Clerk's office.

Dreiling said two voters who were not eligible to vote on the city sales tax received ballots with that question on them. Two staff members handed those voters the wrong ballots during advance voting.

Since then, Dreiling has trained poll workers to ask voters to confirm their ballot tickets and ballots match.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/7c1c8817-1e3a-4c50-951e-895526935cf1">Dreiling was also criticized by her opponent in a Hays Post letter to the editor for removing ballot drop boxes from Victoria and Ellis.</a> A drop box remains for mail-in ballots at the Ellis County Administration Center, 718 Main.

The Kansas Secretary of State urged all local election officials to increase ballot box security after the 2020 election. This included not allowing ballots to remain in ballot boxes overnight, Dreiling said.

She said this would have required the county to pay a Republican and Democrat to retrieve keys from the Ellis County Clerk's office, unlock the boxes in the morning every day, lock the boxes in the evening and return ballots in the boxes to the Ellis County Clerk's office at night.

These procedures must be maintained for two and a half weeks before Election Day, Dreiling said.

She tested the procedures in the November 2023 election. No ballots were dropped into the Ellis or Victoria ballot boxes.

"From a budget standpoint, I found it wasn't in my budget to keep that kind of practice having those two open when they weren't utilized," Dreiling said.

Voters can still take their mail-in ballots to any polling location in the county on Election Day.

Dreiling obtained an election security grant of $6,000 to install a camera at the ballot drop box at the county administration center. The camera allows her to view the car's license plate, the driver and the ballots being dropped into the box. It has also allowed her to leave the drop box open 24/7, Dreiling said.

Part of the election security grant also went toward cameras in the ballot counting room and the room in which the election equipment is stored, Dreiling said.&nbsp;

Dreiling has an election and security processes manual that covers the steps and checks and balances during the election from the time the ballots enter the clerk's office through audits.

Dreiling also focuses on training poll workers and ensuring the accuracy of election equipment pre-and post-tests. Election officials must also perform post-election audits of a percentage of the results.

She said ballots are counted before they leave the clerk's office, and the number of ballots coming back must match.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/7c1c8817-1e3a-4c50-951e-895526935cf1">Allen also criticized Dreiling in a letter to the Hays Post for posting misinformation on her Facebook account about felons' rights to vote.</a>

After felons have completed all their obligations under their sentences, including completing parole and paying any financial commitments, they can reregister to vote.

Dreiling said clerks are required to check a statewide database to ensure people have met their obligations. She said the system is often not up to date, which is a systemwide issue.

She urged residents facing this issue to bring in their release letters from the Department of Corrections to the clerk's office when registering to vote.

Early voting will be from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Oct. 21, through noon Monday, Nov. 4.&nbsp; Saturday early voting will be from 9 a.m. to noon Nov. 2. 

Election Day will be Tuesday, Nov. 5. Vote at your regular polling location from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Watch the Hays Post for complete election results on Election night.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/90ec3907-2122-4b32-9bc1-b4199532ec34">Read a profile of Dreiling's opponent, Laura Allen, HERE.</a>

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostRepublican Bobbi Dreiling is running for her second term as Ellis County Clerk.&nbsp;Dreiling worked eight years for Donna Maskus, the previous county clerk, serving as deputy clerk."From day one, I was learning everything that she knew, and in the last two or three years of her last term, I was doing a lot of the duties, which would have been doing the July and November abstract, which is setting values and doing the mill levy and the revenue neutral rate. I did those all by myself," Dreiling said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729023458777.jpeg" alt="Bobbi Dreiling&nbsp;&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Bobbi Dreiling&nbsp;&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>Dreiling, 61, is from Hays. She has an associate's degree from Hutchinson Community College."I came in with a lot of people skills because each of my jobs required me to work with a lot of people," she said.She said she is running for county clerk to serve every constituent in Ellis County."I felt that at that time, I ran the first time, I could help every constituent and do a good job for them," she said."I'm running again because in the little less than four years since I took office, I have run a very good office. I have great office staff. I have run eight elections with perfect counts, audits and recounts.""I knew I was ready to put in another four years and work for the people," she said.<h2>Accomplishments as county clerk</h2>Dreiling also shared other accomplishments as county clerk.She helped the county consolidate its nine townships to four.&nbsp;"It's a cost saving to the taxpayers in ballot preparations and just running a better township," she said.She said she's tried to as much as possible maintain a neutral budget.The clerk's office started using smaller envelopes for mail-in ballots, saving money on office supplies and postage. She also decreased the election budget by using a lease program for election poll pads.Dreiling was the first clerk in Ellis County to prepare revenue-neutral rate mailings. She also handled the redistricting.She implemented Saturday early voting and text/email notifications on election information.&nbsp;<h2>Fort Hays State University polling location</h2>Her opponent and the ACLU have criticized Dreiling for not opening a voting location on the Fort Hays State University campus.Dreiling closed the voting location closest to FHSU, 601 Main, because of low voter turnout.She combined that ward and precinct with another that had to be closed because of issues with Americans with Disabilities Act compliance.The new location for both wards and precincts is Messiah Lutheran Church, 2000 Main."As to why I chose not to put one exactly on campus, the numbers don't show for me to allow to spend taxpayer dollars," she said.She said about 1,650 students were living on the FHSU campus, according to FHSU. Based on the voter registration roles, 69 voters registered in Ellis County live on campus.She said there are 268 eligible voters between 18 and 24 in Ward One, Precinct One, which includes the 69 students living on campus. An additional 171 eligible 18- to 24-year-old voters live in Ward One Precinct Two.Both precincts that are combined at Messiah Lutheran have 1,420 eligible voters.&nbsp;"I have 981 voters who are going to have to figure out where to go on campus, how to park on campus and finding the polling location," Dreiling said."I have two places centrally located, Messiah Lutheran Church and centrally located right down the street from the campus, 718 Main St.," she said."When I look at the numbers at the polls," she said, "I will always relook at things."Dreiling sent an email to students who are part of the American Democracy Project that included information about voter registration deadlines, advance voting and mail ballots so that information could be shared with students. She also has added Saturday voting hours."I will always work with the students to let them know how easy it is to vote in Ellis County," she said.Dreiling said she would like to send postcards to all new county residents about registering to vote, but she does not have the budget to do that.Dreiling said she does not think there is anything she can do to increase voter turnout.<h2>Incorrect ballots</h2>During the Hays USD 489 school bond election, two voters received incorrect ballots due to human error in the Ellis County Clerk's office.Dreiling said two voters who were not eligible to vote on the city sales tax received ballots with that question on them. Two staff members handed those voters the wrong ballots during advance voting.That question passed by a wide margin.Since then, Dreiling has trained poll workers to ask voters to confirm their ballot tickets and ballots match.<h2>Ballot drop boxes</h2><a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/7c1c8817-1e3a-4c50-951e-895526935cf1">Dreiling was also criticized by her opponent in a Hays Post letter to the editor for removing ballot drop boxes from Victoria and Ellis.</a> A drop box remains for mail-in ballots at the Ellis County Administration Center, 718 Main.The Kansas Secretary of State urged all local election officials to increase ballot box security after the 2020 election. This included not allowing ballots to remain in ballot boxes overnight, Dreiling said.She said this would have required the county to pay a Republican and Democrat to retrieve keys from the Ellis County Clerk's office, unlock the boxes in the morning every day, lock the boxes in the evening and return ballots in the boxes to the Ellis County Clerk's office at night.These procedures must be maintained for two and a half weeks before Election Day, Dreiling said.She tested the procedures in the November 2023 election. No ballots were dropped into the Ellis or Victoria ballot boxes."From a budget standpoint, I found it wasn't in my budget to keep that kind of practice having those two open when they weren't utilized," Dreiling said.Voters can still take their mail-in ballots to any polling location in the county on Election Day.Dreiling obtained an election security grant of $6,000 to install a camera at the ballot drop box at the county administration center. The camera allows her to view the car's license plate, the driver and the ballots being dropped into the box. It has also allowed her to leave the drop box open 24/7, Dreiling said.<h2>Election security, accuracy</h2>Part of the election security grant also went toward cameras in the ballot counting room and the room in which the election equipment is stored, Dreiling said.&nbsp;Dreiling has an election and security processes manual that covers the steps and checks and balances during the election from the time the ballots enter the clerk's office through audits.Dreiling also focuses on training poll workers and ensuring the accuracy of election equipment pre-and post-tests. Election officials must also perform post-election audits of a percentage of the results.She said ballots are counted before they leave the clerk's office, and the number of ballots coming back must match.<h2>Voting eligibility?</h2><a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/7c1c8817-1e3a-4c50-951e-895526935cf1">Allen also criticized Dreiling in a letter to the Hays Post for posting misinformation on her Facebook account about felons' rights to vote.</a>After felons have completed all their obligations under their sentences, including completing parole and paying any financial commitments, they can reregister to vote.The restoration is not automatic.Dreiling said clerks are required to check a statewide database to ensure people have met their obligations. She said the system is often not up to date, which is a systemwide issue.She urged residents facing this issue to bring in their release letters from the Department of Corrections to the clerk's office when registering to vote. <h2>When and where to vote</h2>Early voting will be from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Oct. 21, through noon Monday, Nov. 4.&nbsp; Saturday early voting will be from 9 a.m. to noon Nov. 2. Election Day will be Tuesday, Nov. 5. Vote at your regular polling location from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.Watch the Hays Post for complete election results on Election night.<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/90ec3907-2122-4b32-9bc1-b4199532ec34">Read a profile of Dreiling's opponent, Laura Allen, HERE.</a>

Republican Dreiling touts election security in run for Ellis County Clerk reelection

Democrat Laura Allen is running against Republican incumbent Bobbi Dreiling for the position of Ellis County Clerk.

Allen, 52, of Hays, ran an unsuccessful write-in campaign for clerk in 2020.

Allen most recently served as the director of the Center for Life Experience. She has also worked for the nonprofit First Call for Help of Hays.

She has a degree in business administration from Fort Hays State University.

"I have a desire to ensure there is open communication and a desire to work for and with the residents of Ellis County to make sure that their voices are heard," Allen said.

She added, "When I ran the last time, I felt the election portion of the county clerk duties — I don't feel like we see enough of."

She said this time, with the conversations around voting at Fort Hays State University and the closures of two polling locations, the communication has worsened.

The student group American Democracy Project has sought to open a polling location on the Fort Hays State University campus.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/3a3f06a1-6b07-45c6-bf3c-8b76f4d564d7">Those efforts were backed recently by the ACLU.</a>

Dreiling said she did not think the number of Ellis County registered voters living on campus warranted a polling location on campus.

She cited data from the most recent voting rolls showing that only 69 people registered to vote in Ellis County lived on campus.

The new location for both wards and precincts is Messiah Lutheran Church, 2000 Main. Dreiling said the new location is centrally located and accessible for all voters in those two precincts.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/64efa3e4-3296-4e5c-897f-8417a78e7fc3">SEE RELATED STORY:&nbsp;Republican Dreiling touts election security in run for Ellis County Clerk reelection</a>

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/1ff3108c-562d-421d-9200-395f040c2103">SEE RELATED STORY: Ellis County Clerk candidates disagree on campus polling location</a>

"I don't know if it is an absolute possibility to open a polling location on campus," Allen said. "I am sure there are a lot of things that go into that. 

"What I am sure about is that the open communication for people trying to better a process or make themselves more available to participate in the election process is something that should be encouraged."

"From what I can see, those concerns have not been heard or taken seriously," she said. "If they have, the people who have expressed those concerns have not felt like they have been heard."

Allen said she thought the groups trying to open a polling location on campus addressed all of the concerns raised about it.

She said she thought a polling location could be opened on campus through collaboration with campus groups.

Allen said the polling location in Ward One is not just about students. She lives in that ward and would prefer to vote on campus rather than at the church.

"That is not something that we were asked as people who vote in that area either," she said.

"My bigger issue is closing two polling locations and opening one," Allen said. "Regardless, I think it's a bigger issue than just the number of students who can vote on campus because most of us who live on that side of town are not against voting at Fort Hays."

Allen said she thinks the county clerk's office can do more to boost voter registration and turnout.

She said the clerk's office was not involved in a voter registration drive on the FHSU campus.

"I'm not sure why the clerk's office does not hold other registration drives," she said.&nbsp;

She added, "I think those are things that the clerk should be actively involved in."

She said the clerk should be talking to young people about the importance of registering to vote and voting.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/7c1c8817-1e3a-4c50-951e-895526935cf1">In a previous letter to the editor to the Hays Post, Allen criticized Dreiling for removing ballot drop boxes from Victoria and Ellis. </a>Dreiling cited the cost of maintaining security at those drop boxes and their lack of use as reasons for removing them.&nbsp;

Allen said she thinks the clerk's office could find both a Democrat and Republican to check the boxes daily as would be required.

Allen said she favored reinstalling the ballot drop boxes in Ellis and Victoria.

She questions if the current clerk had done enough to inform local voters about the drop boxes as an option when they were available in those two locations.

"I think it's important, and people are told, and they know each and every way they are able to vote," Allen said.

She said the clerk needs to pay attention to what the voters want in those areas.

To ensure the accuracy of ballots, Allen said she would make sure information is double-checked.

Allen said she did not think anything needed to be done to increase the security of elections.&nbsp;

"I think elections are run well," she said. "I don't think most people in Ellis County have a concern about someone tainting ballots or adding ballots or anything like that," Allen said.

She said the public could be better educated about the county clerk's duties.

"As far as the election process goes, they should be the go-to, and if anybody ever has a question about the election process or voting, they should automatically know they should go to the county clerk because that is our election official," Allen said.

Allen said voter registration and turnout could be increased in Ellis County by talking to young people about the process and encouraging them to participate in elections.

"I've raised my kids to really pay attention to elections and to vote," she said.&nbsp;

"It's one thing to go and talk to a government or civics class and explain this process and have kids ask questions as young adults who may very well may want to engage in that process and just don't know where to start," she said. ...

"I think putting it in our young people's minds before they're ready to vote and letting them know this is an important thing that we need to do, I think all of that comes back to engaging and making sure people are comfortable with the process and are able to ask questions," Allen said.

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostDemocrat Laura Allen is running against Republican incumbent Bobbi Dreiling for the position of Ellis County Clerk.Allen, 52, of Hays, ran an unsuccessful write-in campaign for clerk in 2020.Allen most recently served as the director of the Center for Life Experience. She has also worked for the nonprofit First Call for Help of Hays.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1688753467308.jpeg" alt="Laura Allen" />
 <figcaption>Laura Allen</figcaption>
 </figure>She has a degree in business administration from Fort Hays State University."I have a desire to ensure there is open communication and a desire to work for and with the residents of Ellis County to make sure that their voices are heard," Allen said.She added, "When I ran the last time, I felt the election portion of the county clerk duties — I don't feel like we see enough of."She said this time, with the conversations around voting at Fort Hays State University and the closures of two polling locations, the communication has worsened.The student group American Democracy Project has sought to open a polling location on the Fort Hays State University campus.<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/3a3f06a1-6b07-45c6-bf3c-8b76f4d564d7">Those efforts were backed recently by the ACLU.</a>Dreiling said she did not think the number of Ellis County registered voters living on campus warranted a polling location on campus.She cited data from the most recent voting rolls showing that only 69 people registered to vote in Ellis County lived on campus.Dreiling closed the voting location closest to FHSU, 601 Main, because of low voter turnout.She combined that ward and precinct with another that had to be closed because of issues with Americans with Disabilities Act compliance.The new location for both wards and precincts is Messiah Lutheran Church, 2000 Main. Dreiling said the new location is centrally located and accessible for all voters in those two precincts.<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/64efa3e4-3296-4e5c-897f-8417a78e7fc3">SEE RELATED STORY:&nbsp;Republican Dreiling touts election security in run for Ellis County Clerk reelection</a><a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/1ff3108c-562d-421d-9200-395f040c2103">SEE RELATED STORY: Ellis County Clerk candidates disagree on campus polling location</a>"I don't know if it is an absolute possibility to open a polling location on campus," Allen said. "I am sure there are a lot of things that go into that. "What I am sure about is that the open communication for people trying to better a process or make themselves more available to participate in the election process is something that should be encouraged.""From what I can see, those concerns have not been heard or taken seriously," she said. "If they have, the people who have expressed those concerns have not felt like they have been heard."Allen said she thought the groups trying to open a polling location on campus addressed all of the concerns raised about it.She said she thought a polling location could be opened on campus through collaboration with campus groups.Allen said the polling location in Ward One is not just about students. She lives in that ward and would prefer to vote on campus rather than at the church."That is not something that we were asked as people who vote in that area either," she said."My bigger issue is closing two polling locations and opening one," Allen said. "Regardless, I think it's a bigger issue than just the number of students who can vote on campus because most of us who live on that side of town are not against voting at Fort Hays."Allen said she thinks the county clerk's office can do more to boost voter registration and turnout.She said the clerk's office was not involved in a voter registration drive on the FHSU campus."I'm not sure why the clerk's office does not hold other registration drives," she said.&nbsp;She added, "I think those are things that the clerk should be actively involved in."She said the clerk should be talking to young people about the importance of registering to vote and voting.<h2>Ballot drop boxes</h2><a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/7c1c8817-1e3a-4c50-951e-895526935cf1">In a previous letter to the editor to the Hays Post, Allen criticized Dreiling for removing ballot drop boxes from Victoria and Ellis. </a>Dreiling cited the cost of maintaining security at those drop boxes and their lack of use as reasons for removing them.&nbsp;Allen said she thinks the clerk's office could find both a Democrat and Republican to check the boxes daily as would be required.Allen said she favored reinstalling the ballot drop boxes in Ellis and Victoria.She questions if the current clerk had done enough to inform local voters about the drop boxes as an option when they were available in those two locations."I think it's important, and people are told, and they know each and every way they are able to vote," Allen said.She said the clerk needs to pay attention to what the voters want in those areas.<h2>Election security, accuracy</h2>To ensure the accuracy of ballots, Allen said she would make sure information is double-checked.Allen said she did not think anything needed to be done to increase the security of elections.&nbsp;"I think elections are run well," she said. "I don't think most people in Ellis County have a concern about someone tainting ballots or adding ballots or anything like that," Allen said.She said the public could be better educated about the county clerk's duties."As far as the election process goes, they should be the go-to, and if anybody ever has a question about the election process or voting, they should automatically know they should go to the county clerk because that is our election official," Allen said.<h2>Voter turnout, registration</h2>Allen said voter registration and turnout could be increased in Ellis County by talking to young people about the process and encouraging them to participate in elections."I've raised my kids to really pay attention to elections and to vote," she said.&nbsp;"It's one thing to go and talk to a government or civics class and explain this process and have kids ask questions as young adults who may very well may want to engage in that process and just don't know where to start," she said. ..."I think putting it in our young people's minds before they're ready to vote and letting them know this is an important thing that we need to do, I think all of that comes back to engaging and making sure people are comfortable with the process and are able to ask questions," Allen said.Allen said she had no issues with the clerk's office's other processes, including calculating mill levies."I don't think we go in and change things just to change it," Allen said.Allen said that compared to the incumbent, she has a strong desire to maintain open communication with Ellis County residents."I just think my desire to make sure there's open communication and an open door and wanting people to be more involved in what's happening in Ellis County in general, I think makes a difference," Allen said.<h2>When and where to vote</h2>Early voting will be from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays starting Monday, Oct. 21, and running through noon Monday, Nov. 4. Saturday early voting will be from 9 a.m. to noon on Nov. 2.Election Day will be Tuesday, Nov. 5. Vote at your regular polling location from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Watch the Hays Post for complete election results on Election night.

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