Professional academic advisors from FHSU were recognized during the Kansas Academic Advising Network (KAAN) annual advising conference at the University of Kansas in September.

Becky Newell, a professional advisor at the Werth College of Science, Technology, and Mathematics, was selected for the 2024 KAAN Supportive Advisor Award. The award winner exemplifies a commitment to advising and advocates for students and advisors. 

Newell, who has served as a professional advisor since 2017, has also been recognized at FHSU with the Werth College of Science, Technology, and Mathematics Advisor Award and the 2024 FHSU Edmund Shearer Advisor Award.

At the conference, Ashley Wetzel, a professional advisor in the College of Health and Behavioral Sciences, and Whitney Whitaker, Chair of Psychology, presented on&nbsp;Centralized Advising and Faculty Mentoring at FHSU: Benefits, Challenges, and Future Direction.

Ashley Wetzel was elected as the new treasurer for the KAAN Steering Committee for 2024-2026. She joins Nikki Brown and six other advisors from across higher education in Kansas.

Brown, assistant director of the Academic Advising and Career Exploration Center, completed her term as KAAN Chair, moved into the Past Chair role, and will host the 2025 Kansas Academic Advising Network Conference at FHSU. 

In October, Brown, together with Patricia Griffin, director of AACE, presented a two-hour pre-conference workshop at the NACADA Annual Conference in Pittsburgh, Penn.

FHSU currently has 23 undergraduate professional advisors and four graduate professional advisors. It began its transition to college-based professional advising for undergraduate students in 2021. 

FHSU’s advising program was reviewed by NACADA: The Global Community for Academic Advising in January of 2024. The review found the program to have a strong ethos of care and coordinated support for student success.

“The transition to undergraduate professional advisors has paired well with the addition of faculty mentoring students,” Griffin said. “Students can benefit from more support and access to opportunities as a FHSU student. This ties into Goal Theme 2 Student Success of the Strategic Plan to&nbsp;‘create opportunities for all students and empower them to identify, evaluate, and achieve their goals while becoming engaged global citizens.’”

More information about academic advising at FHSU is available at:&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=u001.EWtdXdo3nx3t8ZlvSfKX0W2EM4rxdpqpPEwGhOo5r-2BulqkOQcr7pGIJfq0hVfkl-2Ffyx9PXXAqDW-2BaHI-2BKGSzkQ-3D-3D97Nq_1ix3pnygukYWZfKiCJpm8BsHsayWXlw0ucteiDEo46fRc0p9DVWJmv2prlqkbHR6S2dsrJiXPEopagJAn55fgrGOya21Ubchf288oY8AFP4iYaBJwhylwdd5l9F7UOfOnbvmz8jSGQqVqmmrvzpoIKtXk-2BAV2bLjyKzQGzKmZ33hr0i5o-2BAAa8odR2XORVkJ7sMR7-2BHSydRxR1K6Q-2BHWpw8aE3q8cWhXY9GUOgdUztZ51qbiMnenn2-2FmJqHoS0SWfP-2FaCusuvbyh5mWC80Jh0eMqVz3nfyThYduEhoHZ4mqWoubbmUD267JWresE1Ox-2B6nq1t86oNlUYycTuJH6qIl7FLxlSoZjXWeY0Zru79MWfb1-2BhIrpVFx5Xy6GQs893">https://www.fhsu.edu/academic-advising/</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731426356828.jpeg" alt="Becky Newell&nbsp;was selected for the 2024 KAAN Supportive Advisor Award. Photo courtesy Fort Hays State University." />
 <figcaption>Becky Newell&nbsp;was selected for the 2024 KAAN Supportive Advisor Award. Photo courtesy Fort Hays State University.</figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU University RelationsProfessional academic advisors from FHSU were recognized during the Kansas Academic Advising Network (KAAN) annual advising conference at the University of Kansas in September.Becky Newell, a professional advisor at the Werth College of Science, Technology, and Mathematics, was selected for the 2024 KAAN Supportive Advisor Award. The award winner exemplifies a commitment to advising and advocates for students and advisors. Newell, who has served as a professional advisor since 2017, has also been recognized at FHSU with the Werth College of Science, Technology, and Mathematics Advisor Award and the 2024 FHSU Edmund Shearer Advisor Award.At the conference, Ashley Wetzel, a professional advisor in the College of Health and Behavioral Sciences, and Whitney Whitaker, Chair of Psychology, presented on&nbsp;Centralized Advising and Faculty Mentoring at FHSU: Benefits, Challenges, and Future Direction.Ashley Wetzel was elected as the new treasurer for the KAAN Steering Committee for 2024-2026. She joins Nikki Brown and six other advisors from across higher education in Kansas.Brown, assistant director of the Academic Advising and Career Exploration Center, completed her term as KAAN Chair, moved into the Past Chair role, and will host the 2025 Kansas Academic Advising Network Conference at FHSU. In October, Brown, together with Patricia Griffin, director of AACE, presented a two-hour pre-conference workshop at the NACADA Annual Conference in Pittsburgh, Penn.FHSU currently has 23 undergraduate professional advisors and four graduate professional advisors. It began its transition to college-based professional advising for undergraduate students in 2021. FHSU’s advising program was reviewed by NACADA: The Global Community for Academic Advising in January of 2024. The review found the program to have a strong ethos of care and coordinated support for student success.“The transition to undergraduate professional advisors has paired well with the addition of faculty mentoring students,” Griffin said. “Students can benefit from more support and access to opportunities as a FHSU student. This ties into Goal Theme 2 Student Success of the Strategic Plan to&nbsp;‘create opportunities for all students and empower them to identify, evaluate, and achieve their goals while becoming engaged global citizens.’”More information about academic advising at FHSU is available at:&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=u001.EWtdXdo3nx3t8ZlvSfKX0W2EM4rxdpqpPEwGhOo5r-2BulqkOQcr7pGIJfq0hVfkl-2Ffyx9PXXAqDW-2BaHI-2BKGSzkQ-3D-3D97Nq_1ix3pnygukYWZfKiCJpm8BsHsayWXlw0ucteiDEo46fRc0p9DVWJmv2prlqkbHR6S2dsrJiXPEopagJAn55fgrGOya21Ubchf288oY8AFP4iYaBJwhylwdd5l9F7UOfOnbvmz8jSGQqVqmmrvzpoIKtXk-2BAV2bLjyKzQGzKmZ33hr0i5o-2BAAa8odR2XORVkJ7sMR7-2BHSydRxR1K6Q-2BHWpw8aE3q8cWhXY9GUOgdUztZ51qbiMnenn2-2FmJqHoS0SWfP-2FaCusuvbyh5mWC80Jh0eMqVz3nfyThYduEhoHZ4mqWoubbmUD267JWresE1Ox-2B6nq1t86oNlUYycTuJH6qIl7FLxlSoZjXWeY0Zru79MWfb1-2BhIrpVFx5Xy6GQs893">https://www.fhsu.edu/academic-advising/</a>

FHSU student advisors make an impact at annual KAAN conference

Hays High School will present a powerful and thought-provoking play that dramatizes a significant historical event in American history.

“Radium Girls,” a play by D.W. Gregory, tells the true story of a group of female factory workers who fought for justice against U.S. Radium, a large factory in Orange, NJ. It will be presented at 7 p.m. on Nov. 14-16 at 12th Street Auditorium.

“The Radium Girls were a group of young women who painted watch dials with paint containing radium during the early 20th century,” said director Bill Gasper. “Their work led to radiation poisoning, numerous health issues and death. Their subsequent court case was among the first in which a company was held responsible for the health and safety of its employees.”

Gasper said the origins of the story date back to 1903 when Marie Curie, her husband Pierre, and Henri Becquerel were awarded the Nobel Prize for their work on radioactivity. Shortly thereafter, radium was considered a miracle cure, and Madame Curie was an international celebrity.

U.S. Radium developed a luminous radium paint that dials painters applied to watch faces, among other products. The key ingredient was about one million times more active than uranium. Initially, the painter’s fine brush was rinsed in a glass of water, but the water was soon taken away and the painters were instructed to “point” their brushes in their mouths. Although the young women began to fall ill, company executives urged doctors to attribute causes other than radiation poisoning.

“Upon seeing the play, I was immediately impressed by the courage and determination shown by the young women who took legal action against their employer,” Gasper said. “Although such action was probably frowned upon during that time, they pushed forward, and as a result of their actions, many workplace safety regulations were established.

“The overall messages of greed, worker exploitation, corruption and the resulting grief also captured my attention. I found it particularly upsetting how the company tried to delay court proceedings in hopes that the plaintiffs would die before a settlement was reached.”

Gasper said the play's structure is well-conceived, with a series of short scenes taking place at various locations. A pair of newspaper reporters appear throughout the show and provide brief news reports to narrate the sequence of events.

Overall, there are 28 students involved in the production, 25 of whom appear on stage.

“We have a very talented cast and crew who have worked hard to bring to life this story of courage, resilience and the importance of standing up for what is right,” Gasper said. “It has been a popular story and play throughout the United States, and I’m pleased to have the opportunity to bring it to Hays.”

General admission tickets are $8 and can be purchased at the door or at <a href="https://www.ticketsource.us/hays-high-school">https://www.ticketsource.us/hays-high-school</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731362780561.png" alt="Because management believed too much radium was being wasted, company supervisor Alma MacNeil (Alisha Rose Windholz) tells dial painters Grace Fryer (Jordan Aschenbrenner), Katherine Schaub (Addy Brull) and Irene Rudolph (Alexis Ryan) that they could no longer use water and rags to “point” their brushes. Instead, they were instructed to use their mouths, thus ingesting the harmful chemical.&nbsp;Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Because management believed too much radium was being wasted, company supervisor Alma MacNeil (Alisha Rose Windholz) tells dial painters Grace Fryer (Jordan Aschenbrenner), Katherine Schaub (Addy Brull) and Irene Rudolph (Alexis Ryan) that they could no longer use water and rags to “point” their brushes. Instead, they were instructed to use their mouths, thus ingesting the harmful chemical.&nbsp;Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure><div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JcDePkpExeQ?si=pzp1NrtmlvXEL7Ww" 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>SubmittedHays High School will present a powerful and thought-provoking play that dramatizes a significant historical event in American history.“Radium Girls,” a play by D.W. Gregory, tells the true story of a group of female factory workers who fought for justice against U.S. Radium, a large factory in Orange, NJ. It will be presented at 7 p.m. on Nov. 14-16 at 12th Street Auditorium.“The Radium Girls were a group of young women who painted watch dials with paint containing radium during the early 20th century,” said director Bill Gasper. “Their work led to radiation poisoning, numerous health issues and death. Their subsequent court case was among the first in which a company was held responsible for the health and safety of its employees.”Gasper said the origins of the story date back to 1903 when Marie Curie, her husband Pierre, and Henri Becquerel were awarded the Nobel Prize for their work on radioactivity. Shortly thereafter, radium was considered a miracle cure, and Madame Curie was an international celebrity.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731363110292.png" alt="U.S. Radium Vice President Charlotte Lee (Katelyn Willemsen) listens as President Arthur Roeder (Oscar Flores) shares his vision concerning the company’s expanded use of radium in products other than luminous watch dials. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>U.S. Radium Vice President Charlotte Lee (Katelyn Willemsen) listens as President Arthur Roeder (Oscar Flores) shares his vision concerning the company’s expanded use of radium in products other than luminous watch dials. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>U.S. Radium developed a luminous radium paint that dials painters applied to watch faces, among other products. The key ingredient was about one million times more active than uranium. Initially, the painter’s fine brush was rinsed in a glass of water, but the water was soon taken away and the painters were instructed to “point” their brushes in their mouths. Although the young women began to fall ill, company executives urged doctors to attribute causes other than radiation poisoning.“Upon seeing the play, I was immediately impressed by the courage and determination shown by the young women who took legal action against their employer,” Gasper said. “Although such action was probably frowned upon during that time, they pushed forward, and as a result of their actions, many workplace safety regulations were established.“The overall messages of greed, worker exploitation, corruption and the resulting grief also captured my attention. I found it particularly upsetting how the company tried to delay court proceedings in hopes that the plaintiffs would die before a settlement was reached.”Gasper said the play's structure is well-conceived, with a series of short scenes taking place at various locations. A pair of newspaper reporters appear throughout the show and provide brief news reports to narrate the sequence of events.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731363136274.png" alt="Central characters who appear throughout the play are a pair of reporters (Liza Bergman and Allison Goertzen), who through their interviews and news reports help drive the storyline. Here they receive a testimonial from Mrs. Michaels (Juliet Gross) about the wonders of radium-infused water.&nbsp;Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Central characters who appear throughout the play are a pair of reporters (Liza Bergman and Allison Goertzen), who through their interviews and news reports help drive the storyline. Here they receive a testimonial from Mrs. Michaels (Juliet Gross) about the wonders of radium-infused water.&nbsp;Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>Overall, there are 28 students involved in the production, 25 of whom appear on stage.“We have a very talented cast and crew who have worked hard to bring to life this story of courage, resilience and the importance of standing up for what is right,” Gasper said. “It has been a popular story and play throughout the United States, and I’m pleased to have the opportunity to bring it to Hays.”General admission tickets are $8 and can be purchased at the door or at <a href="https://www.ticketsource.us/hays-high-school">https://www.ticketsource.us/hays-high-school</a>.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731363166859.png" alt="Dial painter Grace Fryer (Jordan Aschenbrenner) receives disturbing news from her dentist, Dr. Josephine Knef (Clare Tholstrup), that her jawbone is decaying. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Dial painter Grace Fryer (Jordan Aschenbrenner) receives disturbing news from her dentist, Dr. Josephine Knef (Clare Tholstrup), that her jawbone is decaying. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731363259175.png" alt="“Radium Girls” features a large cast and crew of 28 students. The play will be performed at 7 p.m. on Nov. 14-16 at 12th Street Auditorium. General admission tickets are $8 and can be purchased at the door or online.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>“Radium Girls” features a large cast and crew of 28 students. The play will be performed at 7 p.m. on Nov. 14-16 at 12th Street Auditorium. General admission tickets are $8 and can be purchased at the door or online.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731363205159.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

Hays High students to stage ‘Radium Girls,’ historical drama about courage, justice

&nbsp;By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

Roosevelt Elementary School staff members will move into the school's new addition on Nov. 25 and 26.

Students are set to move into the new space on Dec. 2, the Monday after Thanksgiving.

The district has set an open house and ribbon cutting for 5:30 p.m. Dec. 2 at the school.

This week, the contractors plan to finish their punch list and complete the final cleaning.

At the new high school site, work is continuing to enclose areas of the building so construction can continue during the winter months. Structural steel is going up in area F. Metal wall panels have been installed in area A.

Turf also has been installed at the high school softball fields.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731427513970.png" alt="New entrance for Roosevelt Elementary School. The new addition will open on Dec. 2. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>New entrance for Roosevelt Elementary School. The new addition will open on Dec. 2. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostRoosevelt Elementary School staff members will move into the school's new addition on Nov. 25 and 26.Students are set to move into the new space on Dec. 2, the Monday after Thanksgiving.The district has set an open house and ribbon cutting for 5:30 p.m. Dec. 2 at the school.This week, the contractors plan to finish their punch list and complete the final cleaning.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731427887916.png" alt="Structural steel being installed at the new Hays High School site. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Structural steel being installed at the new Hays High School site. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>At the new high school site, work is continuing to enclose areas of the building so construction can continue during the winter months. Structural steel is going up in area F. Metal wall panels have been installed in area A.Turf also has been installed at the high school softball fields.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731427960231.png" alt="Work at the new Hays High School site. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Work at the new Hays High School site. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731428570375.png" alt="Concrete flooring has been poured at the new Hays High School site. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Concrete flooring has been poured at the new Hays High School site. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731428037947.png" alt="New turf has been installed at the Hays High softball fields. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>New turf has been installed at the Hays High softball fields. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>

Roosevelt Elementary addition to open Dec. 2

The Center for Life Experience (CFLE), a grief support organization, has closed its office in Hays. But it is still offering grief support services. Its grief support group is continuing to meet, just in a new location, and the group’s annual tree dedication remembering children is coming up Nov. 23.

Two of CFLE’s grief support groups have combined. That combined group will begin meeting at its new location, the Hays Senior Center, 2450 E. Eighth St., beginning on Thursday, Nov. 21, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. It will continue to meet there the third Thursday of every month.

The group welcomes any adult who has lost a child of any age, including miscarriages and stillbirths. While many members are parents, the group also welcomes grandparents, aunts, uncles, teachers, etc.

The group also welcomes any adult who has lost another adult in their life, such as a spouse, parent, sibling, friend, etc.

Kate McGonigal, Ph.D., who teaches in the Sociology Department at Fort Hays State University, is continuing as the facilitator for this group. Among the classes that McGonigal teaches at FHSU is Death &amp; Dying.

Another traditional event coming up is the “Healing Hearts Memorial Tree Dedication,” which will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 23, at the Hays Public Library.

At this event, grief support group members place ornaments on a special Christmas tree remembering children they have lost. Each child’s name is read aloud as the ornaments are placed on the tree.

The public is welcome to attend this event. Individuals may simply watch, or they may bring their own special ornaments to remember a child they have lost. The group will provide a free ornament to anyone who wants one.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731088997092.jpg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>SubmittedThe Center for Life Experience (CFLE), a grief support organization, has closed its office in Hays. But it is still offering grief support services. Its grief support group is continuing to meet, just in a new location, and the group’s annual tree dedication remembering children is coming up Nov. 23.Two of CFLE’s grief support groups have combined. That combined group will begin meeting at its new location, the Hays Senior Center, 2450 E. Eighth St., beginning on Thursday, Nov. 21, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. It will continue to meet there the third Thursday of every month.The group welcomes any adult who has lost a child of any age, including miscarriages and stillbirths. While many members are parents, the group also welcomes grandparents, aunts, uncles, teachers, etc.The group also welcomes any adult who has lost another adult in their life, such as a spouse, parent, sibling, friend, etc.Kate McGonigal, Ph.D., who teaches in the Sociology Department at Fort Hays State University, is continuing as the facilitator for this group. Among the classes that McGonigal teaches at FHSU is Death &amp; Dying.Another traditional event coming up is the “Healing Hearts Memorial Tree Dedication,” which will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 23, at the Hays Public Library.At this event, grief support group members place ornaments on a special Christmas tree remembering children they have lost. Each child’s name is read aloud as the ornaments are placed on the tree.The public is welcome to attend this event. Individuals may simply watch, or they may bring their own special ornaments to remember a child they have lost. The group will provide a free ornament to anyone who wants one.

Grief support group plans meeting, tree dedication

By BECKY KISER Hays Post

Hays city commissioners will vote on whether to approve movement on three development projects at their Thursday meeting. 

The projects are a proposed 136-unit apartment complex at&nbsp;Wheatland Ave. and&nbsp;East 22nd St., the $4.7 million rebuild and update of CERVS convenience store and fuel station at 3701 Vine, and the new Hays police and municipal court facility at 1100 Fort St.

DP Management, Omaha, Nebraska, <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/9b48785c-3a24-4822-98d6-e65e8cffd204">presented its housing plan at last week's work session</a>. The&nbsp;complex is going to cost $22 million for phase one, and $9.8 million for phase 2.

The developer is asking the city for a resolution of support in an application for a&nbsp;$650,000 moderate-income housing grant from the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation. Only local governments with populations less than 60,000 may apply for the grant funds.

As part of the proposed “Victory Village” apartment complex, 48 units would be market-rate housing, while 88 units would be low-income housing. DP Management is also asking Ellis County to submit an application for the low-income housing tax credits program.&nbsp;

A public hearing will be conducted Thursday on CERVS' request to impose a 1.5% community improvement district (CID) sales tax on the project site. The developer estimates the sales tax would generate about $895,000 for eligible expenses during the maximum 22-year term of the CID.&nbsp;

Following the public hearing, commissioners will vote on an ordinance establishing the district, levying the sales tax when the work begins, and approve the development agreement with the city.

City staff is also recommending the commission authorize City Manager Toby Dougherty to enter into a $182,000 agreement with PWC, Inc., Hays, for Phase 1 services related to the police station/municipal court facility design-build project.

Preliminary design is almost ready to begin for the $8 million renovation of the existing Astra Bank building, 1100 Fort, for the police and court facility, which has been sharing space at the Ellis County Law Enforcement Center, 105 W. 12th, since 1976.

Planning for such a new location has been underway for the last two years.

The complete Nov. 14 agenda is available <a href="https://www.haysusa.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_11142024-1510">here</a>.

The meeting begins at 4 p.m. in Hays City Hall, 1507 Main.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731431753100.jpeg" alt="Hays city commissioners during the Nov. 7 work session. Commissioner Reese Barrick was absent. Photo by Becky Kiser/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Hays city commissioners during the Nov. 7 work session. Commissioner Reese Barrick was absent. Photo by Becky Kiser/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>By BECKY KISER Hays PostHays city commissioners will vote on whether to approve movement on three development projects at their Thursday meeting. The projects are a proposed 136-unit apartment complex at&nbsp;Wheatland Ave. and&nbsp;East 22nd St., the $4.7 million rebuild and update of CERVS convenience store and fuel station at 3701 Vine, and the new Hays police and municipal court facility at 1100 Fort St.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731099505711.png" alt="Victory Village, Norfolk, Nebraska, is similar to what is being proposed for Hays. Photo courtesy DP Management." />
 <figcaption>Victory Village, Norfolk, Nebraska, is similar to what is being proposed for Hays. Photo courtesy DP Management.</figcaption>
 </figure>DP Management, Omaha, Nebraska, <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/9b48785c-3a24-4822-98d6-e65e8cffd204">presented its housing plan at last week's work session</a>. The&nbsp;complex is going to cost $22 million for phase one, and $9.8 million for phase 2.The developer is asking the city for a resolution of support in an application for a&nbsp;$650,000 moderate-income housing grant from the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation. Only local governments with populations less than 60,000 may apply for the grant funds.As part of the proposed “Victory Village” apartment complex, 48 units would be market-rate housing, while 88 units would be low-income housing. DP Management is also asking Ellis County to submit an application for the low-income housing tax credits program.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1728058506970.png" alt="CERVS, 3701 Vine, Hays. City of Hays" />
 <figcaption>CERVS, 3701 Vine, Hays. City of Hays</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731431499607.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>A public hearing will be conducted Thursday on CERVS' request to impose a 1.5% community improvement district (CID) sales tax on the project site. The developer estimates the sales tax would generate about $895,000 for eligible expenses during the maximum 22-year term of the CID.&nbsp;Following the public hearing, commissioners will vote on an ordinance establishing the district, levying the sales tax when the work begins, and approve the development agreement with the city.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713964499400.jpeg" alt="The city plans to remodel the existing Astra Bank, 1100 Fort, as the new Hays police station and municipal court facility. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>The city plans to remodel the existing Astra Bank, 1100 Fort, as the new Hays police station and municipal court facility. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>City staff is also recommending the commission authorize City Manager Toby Dougherty to enter into a $182,000 agreement with PWC, Inc., Hays, for Phase 1 services related to the police station/municipal court facility design-build project.Preliminary design is almost ready to begin for the $8 million renovation of the existing Astra Bank building, 1100 Fort, for the police and court facility, which has been sharing space at the Ellis County Law Enforcement Center, 105 W. 12th, since 1976.Planning for such a new location has been underway for the last two years.The complete Nov. 14 agenda is available <a href="https://www.haysusa.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_11142024-1510">here</a>.The meeting begins at 4 p.m. in Hays City Hall, 1507 Main.&nbsp;

Hays city commissioners to vote on grant for 136-unit housing addition

<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/2024/11/1731437715194.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

Grow Hays will host the 2024 Youth Entrepreneur Challenge on Wednesday at the Fort Hays State University Robbins Center, FHSU Campus.

The competition is for student-created, managed and owned ventures. Starting at 9 a.m., students from TMP-Marion, Hays High and Ellis High School will showcase their trade show booths in the Eagle Communications Hall. The public is invited to view the trade show where students may sell their goods. We ask the public to vote for the best trade show

The Ellis County event is part of the 2024-2025 Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge (YEC) Series thanks to support from NetWork Kansas and the E-Community Partnership, the Kansas State University Center for the Advancement of Entrepreneurship and is to promote entrepreneurship and small business development in Kansas.

The local competition is also made possible via Fort Hays State University and The Robert E. Schmidt Foundation. The competition is for student-created, managed, and owned ventures.

Prizes totaling $1,800 will be awarded. Local sponsors Midwest Energy (Best Trade Show), Sunflower Electric (People’s Choice), Nex-Generation Round Up for Youth (Ready to Launch) and Fort Hays State University (Entrepreneur of the Year) will award an additional $800 in prize money.

For more information on the Ellis County Youth Entrepreneur Competition, contact Grow Hays’ James Robben at 785-628-3102 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:james@growhays.com">james@growhays.com</a>.

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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731442839145.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Grow HaysGrow Hays will host the 2024 Youth Entrepreneur Challenge on Wednesday at the Fort Hays State University Robbins Center, FHSU Campus.The competition is for student-created, managed and owned ventures. Starting at 9 a.m., students from TMP-Marion, Hays High and Ellis High School will showcase their trade show booths in the Eagle Communications Hall. The public is invited to view the trade show where students may sell their goods. We ask the public to vote for the best trade showThe Ellis County event is part of the 2024-2025 Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge (YEC) Series thanks to support from NetWork Kansas and the E-Community Partnership, the Kansas State University Center for the Advancement of Entrepreneurship and is to promote entrepreneurship and small business development in Kansas.The local competition is also made possible via Fort Hays State University and The Robert E. Schmidt Foundation. The competition is for student-created, managed, and owned ventures.Prizes totaling $1,800 will be awarded. Local sponsors Midwest Energy (Best Trade Show), Sunflower Electric (People’s Choice), Nex-Generation Round Up for Youth (Ready to Launch) and Fort Hays State University (Entrepreneur of the Year) will award an additional $800 in prize money.For more information on the Ellis County Youth Entrepreneur Competition, contact Grow Hays’ James Robben at 785-628-3102 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:james@growhays.com">james@growhays.com</a>.

Grow Hays to hosts 2024 Youth Entrepreneur Challenge Wednesday

Staffing agency nurses at Larned, Osawatomie cost $60 million annually

TOPEKA — The staffing shortage at Kansas’ psychiatric hospitals in Larned and Osawatomie prompted budget requests of more than $60 million to continue filling the health-care gap with private contract nurses.

The state’s inability to hire a sustainable workforce of registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, certified nurse aides and patient care support staff at the two state hospitals has generated bipartisan frustration in the Kansas Legislature.

The challenge has been most acute at Larned State Hospital, which would need $43 million annually to continue receiving the services of about 200 contract staff. The Osawatomie State Hospital requested $23 million for the same purpose.

“We’ve tried everything, but you just can’t force people to go there to work,” said Rep. Will Carpenter, an El Dorado Republican on the Legislature’s interim budget committee. “It’s a question I have no answer for.”

Democratic Rep. Henry Helgerson of Eastborough said: “After four or five years of going down the same path, I’ve lost my patience. We have to do something more radical.”

House Speaker Dan Hawkins, R-Wichita, said it was time the Legislature to form a separate committee to look into alternatives to embedding tens of millions of dollars annually in the state budget for nurses provided by private agencies. Employing contract nurses costs the hospitals an estimated 2.5 times the cost of hiring a state worker to do the same job.

The state has committed about $70 million to construction of a 50-bed psychiatric hospital in southwest Wichita that could be expanded to 100 beds. That decision has come under scrutiny after a lobbyists for owner of the former Riverside Hospital complex in Wichita suggested the state buy and renovate the old hospital for use as the psychiatric hospital.

In March, the overall job vacancy rate at Larned stood at 45%, while the shortage at Osawatomie was 37%. However, vacancies among nursing staff at Larned reached 69%.

Staffing problems have driven interest at the statehouse in outsourcing to private companies all responsibility for managing the state hospitals serving people in mental health crisis as well as sex offenders placed indefinitely in Larned’s treatment program after serving prison sentences. The number of sexual predators at Larned has expanded to about 230.

“It’s huge and growing by the year,” Carpenter said. “I don’t want to be responsible for letting these folks out.”

The nursing shortage conversation occurred Friday during the first of five meetings by the newly formed 2024 Special Committee on Budget Process and Development. The GOP-inspired committee plans to depart from tradition by introducing its own draft of the state budget in January at opening of the annual legislative session. For many years, the Legislature has worked from blueprints offered by governors.

Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly has been working on her version of the budget. It’s expected her spending priorities would differ from those of a Republican-dominated budget committee.

Rep. Kristey Williams, R-Augusta, said the Legislature had to take the lead in sorting out state budget issues. She expressed disdain for tarnishing the process with horse trading behind closed doors at the Capitol.

“The executive branch is not in charge of the budget,” Williams said. “Tension is good when you have three branches of government.”

The 21-member committee plans to consider budget enhancement requests from 26 state agencies amounting to more than $1.2 billion in additional spending in the upcoming fiscal year. The roster included $272 million for the Kansas Board of Regents and $105 million for the Kansas State Department of Education. The list included $450 million to replace Hutchinson Correctional Facility.

During the initial meeting, the majority decided to sidestep the topic of state employee salary increases. The regular House and Senate budget committees will consider compensation issues as well as recommendations from the special budget committee during the 2025 session.

The next meeting of the budget panel won’t occur until after Nov. 20 when the state was scheduled to release an updated snapshot of the state’s revenue stream.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731433403233.png" alt="Coldwater Republican Rep. Kyle Hoffman, right, comments during the latest meeting of the Kansas Legislature’s special budget committee. The panel is expected to meet four more times before submitting its own proposed state government budget to the Legislature in January. Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly will also make budget recommendations. (Kansas Reflector screen capture of Kansas Legislature video)" />
 <figcaption>Coldwater Republican Rep. Kyle Hoffman, right, comments during the latest meeting of the Kansas Legislature’s special budget committee. The panel is expected to meet four more times before submitting its own proposed state government budget to the Legislature in January. Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly will also make budget recommendations. (Kansas Reflector screen capture of Kansas Legislature video)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Staffing agency nurses at Larned, Osawatomie cost $60 million annually</h2>TOPEKA — The staffing shortage at Kansas’ psychiatric hospitals in Larned and Osawatomie prompted budget requests of more than $60 million to continue filling the health-care gap with private contract nurses.The state’s inability to hire a sustainable workforce of registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, certified nurse aides and patient care support staff at the two state hospitals has generated bipartisan frustration in the Kansas Legislature.The challenge has been most acute at Larned State Hospital, which would need $43 million annually to continue receiving the services of about 200 contract staff. The Osawatomie State Hospital requested $23 million for the same purpose.“We’ve tried everything, but you just can’t force people to go there to work,” said Rep. Will Carpenter, an El Dorado Republican on the Legislature’s interim budget committee. “It’s a question I have no answer for.”Democratic Rep. Henry Helgerson of Eastborough said: “After four or five years of going down the same path, I’ve lost my patience. We have to do something more radical.”House Speaker Dan Hawkins, R-Wichita, said it was time the Legislature to form a separate committee to look into alternatives to embedding tens of millions of dollars annually in the state budget for nurses provided by private agencies. Employing contract nurses costs the hospitals an estimated 2.5 times the cost of hiring a state worker to do the same job.The state has committed about $70 million to construction of a 50-bed psychiatric hospital in southwest Wichita that could be expanded to 100 beds. That decision has come under scrutiny after a lobbyists for owner of the former Riverside Hospital complex in Wichita suggested the state buy and renovate the old hospital for use as the psychiatric hospital.In March, the overall job vacancy rate at Larned stood at 45%, while the shortage at Osawatomie was 37%. However, vacancies among nursing staff at Larned reached 69%.Staffing problems have driven interest at the statehouse in outsourcing to private companies all responsibility for managing the state hospitals serving people in mental health crisis as well as sex offenders placed indefinitely in Larned’s treatment program after serving prison sentences. The number of sexual predators at Larned has expanded to about 230.“It’s huge and growing by the year,” Carpenter said. “I don’t want to be responsible for letting these folks out.”The nursing shortage conversation occurred Friday during the first of five meetings by the newly formed 2024 Special Committee on Budget Process and Development. The GOP-inspired committee plans to depart from tradition by introducing its own draft of the state budget in January at opening of the annual legislative session. For many years, the Legislature has worked from blueprints offered by governors.Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly has been working on her version of the budget. It’s expected her spending priorities would differ from those of a Republican-dominated budget committee.Rep. Kristey Williams, R-Augusta, said the Legislature had to take the lead in sorting out state budget issues. She expressed disdain for tarnishing the process with horse trading behind closed doors at the Capitol.“The executive branch is not in charge of the budget,” Williams said. “Tension is good when you have three branches of government.”The 21-member committee plans to consider budget enhancement requests from 26 state agencies amounting to more than $1.2 billion in additional spending in the upcoming fiscal year. The roster included $272 million for the Kansas Board of Regents and $105 million for the Kansas State Department of Education. The list included $450 million to replace Hutchinson Correctional Facility.During the initial meeting, the majority decided to sidestep the topic of state employee salary increases. The regular House and Senate budget committees will consider compensation issues as well as recommendations from the special budget committee during the 2025 session.The next meeting of the budget panel won’t occur until after Nov. 20 when the state was scheduled to release an updated snapshot of the state’s revenue stream.

Kansas lawmakers anxious about psychiatric hospital nursing shortage; Larned vacancies 69%

By JOHN P. TRETBAR Eagle Media

The latest crude production reporting in Kansas shows another statewide decline in output, and a shakeup in the county rankings.&nbsp;

Last year saw the lowest production totals since record-keeping began in Kansas, and the state is currently lagging behind that pace. 

The Kansas Geological Survey reports production through July of 15.6 million barrels statewide, down half a million barrels year over year. Most county totals dropped as well.

Ellis County reached 1.21 million barrels through July, down about 60,000 barrels year-over-year. Finney County passes Haskell County to take the number two spot, with total production over 930,000 barrels. That's up more than 100,000 barrels from the total a year ago.

Haskell County notched 857,000 barrels, down from 976,000 a year ago. Barton County produced 828,251 barrels, compared to nearly 870,000 last year. Russell County also dropped, pumping 756,000 barrels, down from 780,000 at this time last year. In Stafford County, operators extracted nearly 505,000 barrels, down 22,000 barrels from a year ago.

The Kansas Rig Count from Independent Oil and Gas Service is unchanged after a spike last week, with 15 active drilling rigs east of Wichita and 19 in western Kansas. The tally is up 17% from a month ago, but down nearly six percent from last year at this time.&nbsp; 

Drilling continued Monday on a lease in Barton County, a lease in Ellis County, and two leases in Finney County.

The Rotary Rig Count from Baker Hughes is unchanged from a week ago at 585 rigs. 

There were some changes from state to state, with Louisiana dropping by three rigs, Oklahoma adding two, Pennsylvania and Wyoming up one apiece and Colorado down one. The breakout for horizontal drilling is up three, vertical drops by two rigs and directional is down by one.

Kansas regulators report 163 new intent-to-drill notices in October. That's 1,034 new intents so far this year, down about 150 filings from the first ten months of last year. Barton County reports five new intents in October and 31 through October. Ellis County adds four for a year-to-date total of 14.&nbsp; With none to add in Russell County, the annual total remains at eight, and Stafford County inches up to 17 new intents so far this year, with three filed last month.

Last week, the state okayed 24 new drilling locations, with seven in western Kansas, including one in Barton County and one in Ellis County. That's 985 new drilling permits so far this year, compared to 1,140 new permits a year ago.

Independent Oil and Gas Service reports 46 completed wells across Kansas last week, 1,137 so far this year. That's down from 1,485 a year ago. There are 28 newly-completed wells in eastern Kansas and 18 west of Wichita, including three in Barton County, one in Russell County and one in Stafford County.

U.S. crude production dropped by about seven thousand barrels a day, but according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, output remained above 13.5 million for a fourth consecutive week, reaching the third highest weekly average ever. 

Cumulative production so far this year is up nearly six percent from the same tally a year ago, topping 13.2 million daily barrels for only the second time in history.

U.S. crude imports outpaced exports by more than three million barrels a day last week. Product exports topped imports by more than six million. Crude exports dropped by nearly 1.5 million daily barrels, for a weekly average of 2.85 million barrels per day. That's about a million barrels a day less than the four-week seasonal average, and two million less than the same four weeks last year. 

U.S. crude imports averaged 6.24 million barrels a day, up nearly half a million barrels a day from a week ago, and exceeding the four-week seasonal average by nearly a quarter million daily barrels.

Commercial crude inventories rose by more than two million barrels to 427.7 million barrels as of November 1. The Energy Information Administration says stockpiles are about five percent below the five-year average for this time of year. 

The Energy Department took delivery on 1.4 million barrels of crude for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve last week, pushing the dip stick up to 427.7 million barrels. Strategic stockpiles are up more than ten percent from a year ago.&nbsp; Since April, the government has added 23.2 million barrels, at prices about $20 a barrel cheaper than what they sold it for back in 2022.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1684775008059.jpeg" alt="Photo by Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN P. TRETBAR Eagle MediaThe latest crude production reporting in Kansas shows another statewide decline in output, and a shakeup in the county rankings.&nbsp;Last year saw the lowest production totals since record-keeping began in Kansas, and the state is currently lagging behind that pace. The Kansas Geological Survey reports production through July of 15.6 million barrels statewide, down half a million barrels year over year. Most county totals dropped as well.Ellis County reached 1.21 million barrels through July, down about 60,000 barrels year-over-year. Finney County passes Haskell County to take the number two spot, with total production over 930,000 barrels. That's up more than 100,000 barrels from the total a year ago.Haskell County notched 857,000 barrels, down from 976,000 a year ago. Barton County produced 828,251 barrels, compared to nearly 870,000 last year. Russell County also dropped, pumping 756,000 barrels, down from 780,000 at this time last year. In Stafford County, operators extracted nearly 505,000 barrels, down 22,000 barrels from a year ago.The Kansas Rig Count from Independent Oil and Gas Service is unchanged after a spike last week, with 15 active drilling rigs east of Wichita and 19 in western Kansas. The tally is up 17% from a month ago, but down nearly six percent from last year at this time.&nbsp; Drilling continued Monday on a lease in Barton County, a lease in Ellis County, and two leases in Finney County.The Rotary Rig Count from Baker Hughes is unchanged from a week ago at 585 rigs. There were some changes from state to state, with Louisiana dropping by three rigs, Oklahoma adding two, Pennsylvania and Wyoming up one apiece and Colorado down one. The breakout for horizontal drilling is up three, vertical drops by two rigs and directional is down by one.Kansas regulators report 163 new intent-to-drill notices in October. That's 1,034 new intents so far this year, down about 150 filings from the first ten months of last year. Barton County reports five new intents in October and 31 through October. Ellis County adds four for a year-to-date total of 14.&nbsp; With none to add in Russell County, the annual total remains at eight, and Stafford County inches up to 17 new intents so far this year, with three filed last month.Last week, the state okayed 24 new drilling locations, with seven in western Kansas, including one in Barton County and one in Ellis County. That's 985 new drilling permits so far this year, compared to 1,140 new permits a year ago.Independent Oil and Gas Service reports 46 completed wells across Kansas last week, 1,137 so far this year. That's down from 1,485 a year ago. There are 28 newly-completed wells in eastern Kansas and 18 west of Wichita, including three in Barton County, one in Russell County and one in Stafford County.U.S. crude production dropped by about seven thousand barrels a day, but according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, output remained above 13.5 million for a fourth consecutive week, reaching the third highest weekly average ever. Cumulative production so far this year is up nearly six percent from the same tally a year ago, topping 13.2 million daily barrels for only the second time in history.U.S. crude imports outpaced exports by more than three million barrels a day last week. Product exports topped imports by more than six million. Crude exports dropped by nearly 1.5 million daily barrels, for a weekly average of 2.85 million barrels per day. That's about a million barrels a day less than the four-week seasonal average, and two million less than the same four weeks last year. U.S. crude imports averaged 6.24 million barrels a day, up nearly half a million barrels a day from a week ago, and exceeding the four-week seasonal average by nearly a quarter million daily barrels.Commercial crude inventories rose by more than two million barrels to 427.7 million barrels as of November 1. The Energy Information Administration says stockpiles are about five percent below the five-year average for this time of year. The Energy Department took delivery on 1.4 million barrels of crude for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve last week, pushing the dip stick up to 427.7 million barrels. Strategic stockpiles are up more than ten percent from a year ago.&nbsp; Since April, the government has added 23.2 million barrels, at prices about $20 a barrel cheaper than what they sold it for back in 2022.&nbsp;&nbsp;

News from the Oil Patch: County crude production rankings shift; Ellis Co. remains at top

United Wireless Arena, managed by VenuWorks, is excited to announce that country music legend, CLINT BLACK will be coming to Dodge City on Saturday, February 8th with his 35th Anniversary of Killin’ Time tour. Doors will open at 6:30 PM on February 8th and Clint Black will take the stage at 7:30 PM.

Country icon Clint Black, one of the truest traditionalists in music over the last three decades, will celebrate the 35th anniversary of his debut album, Killin’ Time, on tour in 2024. A true triple threat singer/guitarist/songwriter, Black has sold more than twenty million records, written and recorded twenty-two #1 singles, and has been awarded nearly two dozen gold and platinum awards, a GRAMMY, and numerous CMA, ACM, and American Music Awards. He’s a member of the Grand Ole Opry and has been honored with stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the Nashville Walk of Fame. His musical style encompasses traditional country, honky-tonk, and Western swing. From the beginning, Black’s biggest influences were Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, and especially Merle Haggard, to whom his smooth baritone voice was initially compared. One-fourth of country music’s storied Class of 1989, Clint Black's meteoric rise began with Killin’ Time, which produced five consecutive number-one singles on the Billboard Hot Country charts. His break-out success put Black on a fast track to super-stardom.

Eventually, Black’s wide-spread appeal and his own creative curiosity led him into the world of acting where he earned roles in dozens of TV shows and feature films including Maverick, Anger Management, The Larry Sanders Show, and many others. The fifth season of his own talk show, Talking in Circles is currently airing on Circle TV and was awarded “Best Talk Show” in Cynopsis Media’s Best of the Best and Rising Star Awards. This year Clint received the Poet’s Award at the ACM Honors, an award given to the most remarkable and enduring talents in country music songwriting. Now, Black revisits the album that started it all, Killin’ Time, with a special world tour that kicked off with three sold-out dates at the renowned Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN, and continues through 2025.

Tickets for Clint Black’s 35th Anniversary of Killin Time will go on sale Friday, October 25th at 10:00 AM CST. Tickets can be purchased at the United Wireless Arena box office or online through Ticketmaster.com. Ticket prices are $45, $55, or $69 for reserved seating depending on location, plus applicable fees and taxes. United Wireless Arena is an exclusive Ticketmaster facility and cannot guarantee tickets purchased as resale or through a third-party vendor. Doors will open one hour before showtime. Handicapped accessible seating must be arranged directly through the United Wireless Arena Ticket Office. United Wireless Arena has a clear bag policy in place. Please check our website for more details

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731361110846.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>SubmittedUnited Wireless Arena, managed by VenuWorks, is excited to announce that country music legend, CLINT BLACK will be coming to Dodge City on Saturday, February 8th with his 35th Anniversary of Killin’ Time tour. Doors will open at 6:30 PM on February 8th and Clint Black will take the stage at 7:30 PM.Country icon Clint Black, one of the truest traditionalists in music over the last three decades, will celebrate the 35th anniversary of his debut album, Killin’ Time, on tour in 2024. A true triple threat singer/guitarist/songwriter, Black has sold more than twenty million records, written and recorded twenty-two #1 singles, and has been awarded nearly two dozen gold and platinum awards, a GRAMMY, and numerous CMA, ACM, and American Music Awards. He’s a member of the Grand Ole Opry and has been honored with stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the Nashville Walk of Fame. His musical style encompasses traditional country, honky-tonk, and Western swing. From the beginning, Black’s biggest influences were Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, and especially Merle Haggard, to whom his smooth baritone voice was initially compared. One-fourth of country music’s storied Class of 1989, Clint Black's meteoric rise began with Killin’ Time, which produced five consecutive number-one singles on the Billboard Hot Country charts. His break-out success put Black on a fast track to super-stardom.Eventually, Black’s wide-spread appeal and his own creative curiosity led him into the world of acting where he earned roles in dozens of TV shows and feature films including Maverick, Anger Management, The Larry Sanders Show, and many others. The fifth season of his own talk show, Talking in Circles is currently airing on Circle TV and was awarded “Best Talk Show” in Cynopsis Media’s Best of the Best and Rising Star Awards. This year Clint received the Poet’s Award at the ACM Honors, an award given to the most remarkable and enduring talents in country music songwriting. Now, Black revisits the album that started it all, Killin’ Time, with a special world tour that kicked off with three sold-out dates at the renowned Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN, and continues through 2025.Tickets for Clint Black’s 35th Anniversary of Killin Time will go on sale Friday, October 25th at 10:00 AM CST. Tickets can be purchased at the United Wireless Arena box office or online through Ticketmaster.com. Ticket prices are $45, $55, or $69 for reserved seating depending on location, plus applicable fees and taxes. United Wireless Arena is an exclusive Ticketmaster facility and cannot guarantee tickets purchased as resale or through a third-party vendor. Doors will open one hour before showtime. Handicapped accessible seating must be arranged directly through the United Wireless Arena Ticket Office. United Wireless Arena has a clear bag policy in place. Please check our website for more details

Clint Black’s 35th anniversary tour includes Dodge City in 2025

Hays Arts Council presents Arty Party tonight

Home 4 Holidays carnival tonight; event to benefit First Call for Help

By TONY GUERRERO Hays Post

The Hays VFW honored all who served on Veterans Day with a ceremony filled with patriotism and deep respect for veterans of foreign wars.

On Monday, the ceremony at VFW Post 9076 featured the raising of the colors, a rifle squad, guest speakers and musical tributes.

After the Pledge of Allegiance and an opening prayer, Senior Vice Commander Joe Devine began the morning by explaining the holiday's significance.

“Veterans Day is a rich tradition in the United States and here in Hays. The men and women of the VFW and auxiliary are proud to honor our veterans and those serving today,” Devine said.

The ceremony featured guest speaker Colonel Gregory Akers, a retired United States Marine Corps officer and Fort Hays State University graduate who served 29 years in various Marine Corps roles.

His service took him to Africa, Japan, Afghanistan, Russia and various parts of Europe.

“Veterans Day is when we celebrate all those who have served in the uniform, living and deceased,” Akers said.

Akers provided an in-depth look at the history of Veterans Day, originally called Armistice Day, to commemorate the end of World War I on Nov. 11, 1918.

After World War II, Congress broadened the holiday to honor all American veterans, officially renaming it Veterans Day in 1945.

“Not all federal holidays are observed in such a fashion,” Akers said. “Veterans raised their right hand and swore an oath to the constitution to defend the nation against foreign and domestic enemies. It is a social contract with the American people which, in some cases, cost their lives.”

Veterans often struggle with feelings of isolation and loneliness as they cope with psychological scars like PTSD, even with support from friends and family.

Akers listed other challenges, such as homelessness, suicide and substance abuse, which made it difficult for veterans to reintegrate into society after serving their country.

"We as a nation have an obligation to take care of these men and women. This is a call to action on your part," he said. "How we treat veterans following their service is critical for the future of our military and the nation's security."

Akers said Kansas is home to roughly 150,000 veterans, with 30% facing some level of disability. In Ellis County, about six World War II veterans remain.

Akers concluded by thanking the VFW post for its dedication to honoring veterans until their final rest.

At the ceremony, High School student Mariella Dreiling was honored as the local winner of the Voice of Democracy scholarship program, receiving a $500 scholarship from Fort Hays VFW Post 9076.

Dreiling read her essay in response to the question, "Is America today our forefathers' vision?" She discussed current challenges like voter apathy, media bias and the decline of moral values.

Dreiling said the answer to this question is no. However, the core principles upon which the United States was founded still hold and deserve recognition, she said.

“United States citizens must respect and abide by the Constitution and Bill of Rights. We must appreciate and strive to maintain what our forefathers accomplished in making America the greatest nation on Earth,” she said.

The event concluded with a flag-folding ritual, in which the flag was folded 13 times to honor veterans, the nation and the values cherished by Americans.

Bob Dreiling provided music throughout the ceremony. A luncheon was provided afterward for attendees.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731363789621.jpeg" alt="Senior Vice Commander Joe Devine speaking to veterans at VFW Post 9076 in Hays for Veterans Days. Photo By Tony Guerrero/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Senior Vice Commander Joe Devine speaking to veterans at VFW Post 9076 in Hays for Veterans Days. Photo By Tony Guerrero/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>By TONY GUERRERO Hays PostThe Hays VFW honored all who served on Veterans Day with a ceremony filled with patriotism and deep respect for veterans of foreign wars.On Monday, the ceremony at VFW Post 9076 featured the raising of the colors, a rifle squad, guest speakers and musical tributes.After the Pledge of Allegiance and an opening prayer, Senior Vice Commander Joe Devine began the morning by explaining the holiday's significance.“Veterans Day is a rich tradition in the United States and here in Hays. The men and women of the VFW and auxiliary are proud to honor our veterans and those serving today,” Devine said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731363821415.jpeg" alt="A rifle squad of veterans lined up outside the VFW Post 9076 in Hays for the flag-raising ceremony. Photo By Tony Guerrero/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>A rifle squad of veterans lined up outside the VFW Post 9076 in Hays for the flag-raising ceremony. Photo By Tony Guerrero/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731363881606.jpeg" alt="A rifle squad of veterans firing their rifles outside the VFW Post 9076 in Hays for the flag-raising ceremony. Photo By Tony Guerrero/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>A rifle squad of veterans firing their rifles outside the VFW Post 9076 in Hays for the flag-raising ceremony. Photo By Tony Guerrero/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731363925254.jpeg" alt="Colonel Gregory Akers speaking at the VFW Post 9076 in Hays on Veterans Day. Photo By Tony Guerrero/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Colonel Gregory Akers speaking at the VFW Post 9076 in Hays on Veterans Day. Photo By Tony Guerrero/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>The ceremony featured guest speaker Colonel Gregory Akers, a retired United States Marine Corps officer and Fort Hays State University graduate who served 29 years in various Marine Corps roles.His service took him to Africa, Japan, Afghanistan, Russia and various parts of Europe.“Veterans Day is when we celebrate all those who have served in the uniform, living and deceased,” Akers said.Akers provided an in-depth look at the history of Veterans Day, originally called Armistice Day, to commemorate the end of World War I on Nov. 11, 1918.After World War II, Congress broadened the holiday to honor all American veterans, officially renaming it Veterans Day in 1945.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731363978388.jpeg" alt="Veterans and other attendees at the&nbsp;VFW Post 9076 in Hays on Veterans Day. Photo By Tony Guerrero/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Veterans and other attendees at the&nbsp;VFW Post 9076 in Hays on Veterans Day. Photo By Tony Guerrero/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>“Not all federal holidays are observed in such a fashion,” Akers said. “Veterans raised their right hand and swore an oath to the constitution to defend the nation against foreign and domestic enemies. It is a social contract with the American people which, in some cases, cost their lives.”Veterans often struggle with feelings of isolation and loneliness as they cope with psychological scars like PTSD, even with support from friends and family.Akers listed other challenges, such as homelessness, suicide and substance abuse, which made it difficult for veterans to reintegrate into society after serving their country."We as a nation have an obligation to take care of these men and women. This is a call to action on your part," he said. "How we treat veterans following their service is critical for the future of our military and the nation's security."Akers said Kansas is home to roughly 150,000 veterans, with 30% facing some level of disability. In Ellis County, about six World War II veterans remain.Akers concluded by thanking the VFW post for its dedication to honoring veterans until their final rest.At the ceremony, High School student Mariella Dreiling was honored as the local winner of the Voice of Democracy scholarship program, receiving a $500 scholarship from Fort Hays VFW Post 9076.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731364029608.jpeg" alt="Mariella Dreiling being honored at the VFW Post&nbsp;9076 in Hays on Veterans Day. Photo By Tony Guerrero/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Mariella Dreiling being honored at the VFW Post&nbsp;9076 in Hays on Veterans Day. Photo By Tony Guerrero/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>Dreiling read her essay in response to the question, "Is America today our forefathers' vision?" She discussed current challenges like voter apathy, media bias and the decline of moral values.Dreiling said the answer to this question is no. However, the core principles upon which the United States was founded still hold and deserve recognition, she said.“United States citizens must respect and abide by the Constitution and Bill of Rights. We must appreciate and strive to maintain what our forefathers accomplished in making America the greatest nation on Earth,” she said.The event concluded with a flag-folding ritual, in which the flag was folded 13 times to honor veterans, the nation and the values cherished by Americans.Bob Dreiling provided music throughout the ceremony. A luncheon was provided afterward for attendees.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731364070157.jpeg" alt="Two veterans preparing the flag for the flag-folding ceremony at VFW Post 9076 in Hays on Veterans Day. Photo By Tony Guerrero/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Two veterans preparing the flag for the flag-folding ceremony at VFW Post 9076 in Hays on Veterans Day. Photo By Tony Guerrero/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731364103708.jpeg" alt="A thank you card for veterans at VFW Post 9076. Photo By Tony Guerrero/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>A thank you card for veterans at VFW Post 9076. Photo By Tony Guerrero/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731364159691.jpeg" alt="Multiple thank you cards for veterans at VFW Post 9076. Photo By Tony Guerrero/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Multiple thank you cards for veterans at VFW Post 9076. Photo By Tony Guerrero/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731364130120.jpeg" alt="A thank you card for veterans at VFW Post 9076. Photo By Tony Guerrero/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>A thank you card for veterans at VFW Post 9076. Photo By Tony Guerrero/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>

Hays VFW honors local veterans in a Veterans Day ceremony

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

The Hays USD 489 school board approved a contract with Enterprise on Monday night for fleet management.

Chris Hipp, assistant superintendent of business services, said the district contacted local dealership Lewis Automotive about a similar lease program. Lewis said they could not match Enterprise's plan and recommended the district use the Enterprise program.

Under the contract,&nbsp;Enterprise will manage the purchase and sale of district vehicles, except buses.

Prior to 2019, the Hays school district bought vehicles through the state bid system at steep discounts. Staff drove the vehicles until they wore out, and then they were auctioned at low prices.

Since the pandemic, that state bid system has not been available. The district has 12 Suburban SUVs, none newer than 2019.&nbsp;Its entire fleet includes 39 non-bus vehicles.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/06ea26c1-8471-4e7d-8372-64895445a845">At the board’s Oct. 21 meeting, Ken Olsen of Enterprise said the purchasing and sale program allows entities to decrease costs while operating newer, safer vehicles.</a>

New vehicles would be phased into the fleet over several years.

Both the city of Hays and Ellis County use one of Enterprise's fleet programs.

Board President Curt Vajnar said he contacted the county and other schools that use the program, and their officials spoke highly of Enterprise.

Based on its significant connections and volume, Enterprise can obtain 10 percent more than the average auction price for most of its vehicles.

Enterprise estimates the district would save almost $89,000 over 10 years using its program to purchase and sell vehicles.

Although the vehicles will be newer, Olsen said district insurance costs usually do not increase because of the improved safety features on the newer vehicles.

The district would still use local dealerships for warranty work.

Board member Allen Park said he thought Enterprise gave a good presentation but did not like how the contract was brought to the board.

He and board member Derek Yarmer said they wanted the contract to be bid.

The contract was approved on a vote of 5-2, with Park and Yarmer voting against it.

Hipp also presented the full-time equivalent audited student enrollment of 3152.4, two students within the district budget.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731376001828.jpg" alt="Photo courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostThe Hays USD 489 school board approved a contract with Enterprise on Monday night for fleet management.Chris Hipp, assistant superintendent of business services, said the district contacted local dealership Lewis Automotive about a similar lease program. Lewis said they could not match Enterprise's plan and recommended the district use the Enterprise program.Under the contract,&nbsp;Enterprise will manage the purchase and sale of district vehicles, except buses.Prior to 2019, the Hays school district bought vehicles through the state bid system at steep discounts. Staff drove the vehicles until they wore out, and then they were auctioned at low prices.Since the pandemic, that state bid system has not been available. The district has 12 Suburban SUVs, none newer than 2019.&nbsp;Its entire fleet includes 39 non-bus vehicles.<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/06ea26c1-8471-4e7d-8372-64895445a845">At the board’s Oct. 21 meeting, Ken Olsen of Enterprise said the purchasing and sale program allows entities to decrease costs while operating newer, safer vehicles.</a>New vehicles would be phased into the fleet over several years.Both the city of Hays and Ellis County use one of Enterprise's fleet programs.Board President Curt Vajnar said he contacted the county and other schools that use the program, and their officials spoke highly of Enterprise.Based on its significant connections and volume, Enterprise can obtain 10 percent more than the average auction price for most of its vehicles.Enterprise estimates the district would save almost $89,000 over 10 years using its program to purchase and sell vehicles.Although the vehicles will be newer, Olsen said district insurance costs usually do not increase because of the improved safety features on the newer vehicles.The district would still use local dealerships for warranty work.Board member Allen Park said he thought Enterprise gave a good presentation but did not like how the contract was brought to the board.He and board member Derek Yarmer said they wanted the contract to be bid.The contract was approved on a vote of 5-2, with Park and Yarmer voting against it.Hipp also presented the full-time equivalent audited student enrollment of 3152.4, two students within the district budget.

Hays USD BOE approved fleet plan contract with Enterprise

§ Hays Area Children’s Center (HACC) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) childcare facility that offers care for more than 100 children that range in age from zero to school age in our community.

§ HACC provides a high-quality educational setting with a proven curriculum beginning at age zero! We offer highly trained and certified staff to provide structured learning in a caring environment that sets children up for a successful transition to kindergarten.

§ Currently our services provide consistent care that include a large focus on learning-enriched activities. Our staff is incredibly talented and highly-trained providing fun, consistent learning in a relaxing and comfortable environment!

§ Infant care is a top need in our community and the HACC is one of the few facilities in Hays providing infant care, proudly serving up to 12 infants at a time (the largest infant capacity for centers in Ellis County).

Currently, HACC provides vital, superior childcare to numerous families in our community, and we look forward to being a trusted and high-quality provider in the future. To continue providing these needed services, we need your help!

§ As everyday expenses rise, HACC strives to maintain an affordable cost structure for our families. In the past year we have raised tuition rates twice to further cover the operating costs per child. The higher the monthly tuition rates, the less funds families have to spend in our community.

§ With the goal of the future to provide raises to sustain livable wages to our amazing staff, our current cost structure is not sustainable without outside funding and donations from community organizations who recognize the benefits of the services we provide.

§ Grant funding historically has only supported major long-needed updates to our facility and educational resources for our organization. Most of the time, grants do not cover employee payroll for administrative staff (kitchen, maintenance, etc) and other operating expenses, such as insurance, maintenance for business and computer systems/software, or costs related to regulatory and auditing requirements. HACC works hard to apply for all available grants, but not all requests are granted to us. To cover our operating costs and keep our doors open, we truly depend on our fundraising efforts to bring in donations from organizations like yours!

§ Our fundraising goal for Bright Lights for Little Tykes 2024 is $10,000.00. We are hopeful community support will assist us in reaching this goal! This event provides fundraising opportunities that can be done prior to the event or even from home for individuals that are unable to attend in person. The outreach of this event continues to grow each year!

Our main fundraiser is Bright Lights for Little Tykes. This year our event on November 23rd, 2024 will be held at The Rose Garden Banquet Hall. This year’s theme is “Bright Lights Christmas Luau”. Each ticket for the benefit will include a gourmet meal, two drink tickets, a short program, auction (along with other fundraising opportunities) and an evening of music entertainment from Complete Music.

Please consider one of the sponsorship levels for

o Kindergarten Ready- $3,000.00 donation (including in kind). This includes:

8 tickets for the Bright Lights Fundraiser ($600 value)

Full logo with a spotlight feature on flyers advertising the event

o Preschool- $1,000.00 donation (including in kind). This includes:

Recognition of business name at the event

Full logo featured on flyers advertising the event

o Toddler- $500.00 donation (including in kind). This includes:

4 tickets for the Bright Lights Fundraiser ($300 value)

Business name featured on flyers advertising the event

o Infant- $250.00 donation (including in kind). This includes:

2 tickets for the Bright Lights Fundraiser ($150 value)

Please email events@hacc.info or call 785-625-3257 with any questions. You gift can be mailed to:

Hays Area Children’s Center- Attn: Bright Lights gift

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1580941810958.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>SubmittedDid you know?§ Hays Area Children’s Center (HACC) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) childcare facility that offers care for more than 100 children that range in age from zero to school age in our community.§ HACC provides a high-quality educational setting with a proven curriculum beginning at age zero! We offer highly trained and certified staff to provide structured learning in a caring environment that sets children up for a successful transition to kindergarten.§ Currently our services provide consistent care that include a large focus on learning-enriched activities. Our staff is incredibly talented and highly-trained providing fun, consistent learning in a relaxing and comfortable environment!§ Infant care is a top need in our community and the HACC is one of the few facilities in Hays providing infant care, proudly serving up to 12 infants at a time (the largest infant capacity for centers in Ellis County).Currently, HACC provides vital, superior childcare to numerous families in our community, and we look forward to being a trusted and high-quality provider in the future. To continue providing these needed services, we need your help!§ As everyday expenses rise, HACC strives to maintain an affordable cost structure for our families. In the past year we have raised tuition rates twice to further cover the operating costs per child. The higher the monthly tuition rates, the less funds families have to spend in our community.§ With the goal of the future to provide raises to sustain livable wages to our amazing staff, our current cost structure is not sustainable without outside funding and donations from community organizations who recognize the benefits of the services we provide.§ Grant funding historically has only supported major long-needed updates to our facility and educational resources for our organization. Most of the time, grants do not cover employee payroll for administrative staff (kitchen, maintenance, etc) and other operating expenses, such as insurance, maintenance for business and computer systems/software, or costs related to regulatory and auditing requirements. HACC works hard to apply for all available grants, but not all requests are granted to us. To cover our operating costs and keep our doors open, we truly depend on our fundraising efforts to bring in donations from organizations like yours!§ Our fundraising goal for Bright Lights for Little Tykes 2024 is $10,000.00. We are hopeful community support will assist us in reaching this goal! This event provides fundraising opportunities that can be done prior to the event or even from home for individuals that are unable to attend in person. The outreach of this event continues to grow each year!Our main fundraiser is Bright Lights for Little Tykes. This year our event on November 23rd, 2024 will be held at The Rose Garden Banquet Hall. This year’s theme is “Bright Lights Christmas Luau”. Each ticket for the benefit will include a gourmet meal, two drink tickets, a short program, auction (along with other fundraising opportunities) and an evening of music entertainment from Complete Music.Please consider one of the sponsorship levels forBright Lights for Little Tykes 2024:o Kindergarten Ready- $3,000.00 donation (including in kind). This includes:8 tickets for the Bright Lights Fundraiser ($600 value)Spotlight Recognition at the EventFull logo with a spotlight feature on flyers advertising the eventTags on our Facebook page if desiredo Preschool- $1,000.00 donation (including in kind). This includes:8 tickets for the Bright Lights Fundraiser ($600 value)Recognition of business name at the eventFull logo featured on flyers advertising the evento Toddler- $500.00 donation (including in kind). This includes:4 tickets for the Bright Lights Fundraiser ($300 value)Business name featured on flyers advertising the evento Infant- $250.00 donation (including in kind). This includes:2 tickets for the Bright Lights Fundraiser ($150 value)Business name featured on flyers advertising the eventPlease email events@hacc.info or call 785-625-3257 with any questions. You gift can be mailed to:Hays Area Children’s Center- Attn: Bright Lights gift94 Lewis DriveHays, KS 67601

Hays Area Children's Center to host Bright Lights Christmas Luau

By MICHELLE BERAN Cottonwood Extension District

The 4-H year runs from October 1 through September 30 of each year. Youth select projects in October or November and work on learning new skills, improving others, and participating in related leadership and community service throughout the year.

Celebrating involvement and accomplishments is an important and fun part of this process! About 80 4-H members and their families gathered on Sunday, November 3, to share a meal, good fellowship, and celebrate 4-H members.

A committee puts together the theme and decides on the meal. They did a great job this year to Level Up with 4-H, a video game themed event! One of the families provided roasters of soup while another took care of the desserts! It was a great way to begin the evening.

One of the hallmarks of 4-H is the focus on communication skills and leadership, and both were on display as 4-H Council officers Melody Braddy, Kassie Linsner, Ailey Williams, and Jonas Kern served as our emcees for the evening.

Each 4-H club has an opportunity to share about events they participated in and to showcase the awards for their club members. It is so much fun to see each club gather with their project awards for a group photo!

In addition, there are a few special awards presented. The Key Award is for 4-H members who have demonstrated outstanding contributions in leadership, citizenship, community service, demonstrations, judging and the holding of club and county offices. In short, it recognizes 4-H members who have lived up to the high ideals expressed by the 4-H Club Pledge. Jonas Kern received his Key Award as a 10-year member of the Ellinwood Energizers and is involved in a wide variety of project areas. In particular, he was recognized at the 2024 Emerald Circle banquet, held during Discovery Days, for having the Kansas 4-H Wildlife Project Record. He is a member of the Cottonwood 4-H2O Ambassadors and presents water educational information to a wide variety of audiences. He is an active member of Junior Leaders, 4-H Ambassadors, and the 4-H Livestock Committee and has held numerous offices in all of these organizations. He is a gracious leader who is willing to listen but keep the decision-making process moving forward.

The “I Dare You” Leadership award was first offered in 1941 by the late Williams H. Danforth, founder of the Ralston Purina company in St. Louis. He challenged young people to achieve their highest potential and to influence others through lives of service. The award inspired the book, “I Dare You” written by Danforth in which he encourages a balanced life of mental, physical, social, and spiritual development as the backbone of leadership. Ailey Williams, the first recipient holds multiple leadership roles in her club, Junior Leaders, and 4-H Council. In addition, she always shows up with a smile and a “can do” attitude for any task. Melody Braddy, the second recipient, also holds multiple leadership roles across our county and is a candidate for the Kansas Youth Leadership Council this year. Her creative spark is visible in many activities and projects. Both of these young women are incredibly involved in school activities in addition to 4-H yet show up and LEAD activities! I was particularly pleased to see their commitment and engagement the last couple of years as the Visual Arts superintendents. They had a short and sharp learning curve the first year but have gained much experience in the last two years!

Our final special awards are the Friends of 4-H. The first was presented to Shane and Hayley Dicks for their many years as Busy Buzzers club leaders and advisers for the 4-H Livestock Committee and 4-H Ambassadors. The second was presented to the family of the late Frank Ochs who was a 4-H champion and cheerleader to many 4-H families. His smile and jokes in the barn will be greatly missed but we look forward to many years of involvement by his family.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668179445671.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>By MICHELLE BERAN Cottonwood Extension DistrictThe 4-H year runs from October 1 through September 30 of each year. Youth select projects in October or November and work on learning new skills, improving others, and participating in related leadership and community service throughout the year.Celebrating involvement and accomplishments is an important and fun part of this process! About 80 4-H members and their families gathered on Sunday, November 3, to share a meal, good fellowship, and celebrate 4-H members.A committee puts together the theme and decides on the meal. They did a great job this year to Level Up with 4-H, a video game themed event! One of the families provided roasters of soup while another took care of the desserts! It was a great way to begin the evening.One of the hallmarks of 4-H is the focus on communication skills and leadership, and both were on display as 4-H Council officers Melody Braddy, Kassie Linsner, Ailey Williams, and Jonas Kern served as our emcees for the evening.Each 4-H club has an opportunity to share about events they participated in and to showcase the awards for their club members. It is so much fun to see each club gather with their project awards for a group photo!In addition, there are a few special awards presented. The Key Award is for 4-H members who have demonstrated outstanding contributions in leadership, citizenship, community service, demonstrations, judging and the holding of club and county offices. In short, it recognizes 4-H members who have lived up to the high ideals expressed by the 4-H Club Pledge. Jonas Kern received his Key Award as a 10-year member of the Ellinwood Energizers and is involved in a wide variety of project areas. In particular, he was recognized at the 2024 Emerald Circle banquet, held during Discovery Days, for having the Kansas 4-H Wildlife Project Record. He is a member of the Cottonwood 4-H2O Ambassadors and presents water educational information to a wide variety of audiences. He is an active member of Junior Leaders, 4-H Ambassadors, and the 4-H Livestock Committee and has held numerous offices in all of these organizations. He is a gracious leader who is willing to listen but keep the decision-making process moving forward.The “I Dare You” Leadership award was first offered in 1941 by the late Williams H. Danforth, founder of the Ralston Purina company in St. Louis. He challenged young people to achieve their highest potential and to influence others through lives of service. The award inspired the book, “I Dare You” written by Danforth in which he encourages a balanced life of mental, physical, social, and spiritual development as the backbone of leadership. Ailey Williams, the first recipient holds multiple leadership roles in her club, Junior Leaders, and 4-H Council. In addition, she always shows up with a smile and a “can do” attitude for any task. Melody Braddy, the second recipient, also holds multiple leadership roles across our county and is a candidate for the Kansas Youth Leadership Council this year. Her creative spark is visible in many activities and projects. Both of these young women are incredibly involved in school activities in addition to 4-H yet show up and LEAD activities! I was particularly pleased to see their commitment and engagement the last couple of years as the Visual Arts superintendents. They had a short and sharp learning curve the first year but have gained much experience in the last two years!Our final special awards are the Friends of 4-H. The first was presented to Shane and Hayley Dicks for their many years as Busy Buzzers club leaders and advisers for the 4-H Livestock Committee and 4-H Ambassadors. The second was presented to the family of the late Frank Ochs who was a 4-H champion and cheerleader to many 4-H families. His smile and jokes in the barn will be greatly missed but we look forward to many years of involvement by his family.Keep learning. Keep showing grace and kindness.Michelle Beran is the 4-H Youth Development Agent in the Cottonwood Extension District. For more information on this article or other 4-H Youth Development resources, email Michelle at mberan@ksu.edu or call Cottonwood Extension District – Barton Office at 620-793-1910.