WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today encouraged taxpayers who missed the April tax-filing deadline to file a tax return as soon as they can.

The IRS offers different&nbsp;resources to help those who may&nbsp;be unable to pay their tax bill in total. Those who missed the deadline to file but owe taxes should file quickly to minimize penalties and interest.

Taxpayers should keep in mind that payments are still due by the April 15 deadline, even if they requested an extension of time to file a tax return. An extension to file is not an extension to pay.

File and pay amount owed to reduce penalties and interest

Taxpayers who still owe taxes should file their tax return and pay any taxes owed quickly to reduce penalties and interest. Until the balance is paid in full,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/interest">interest</a>&nbsp;and penalties accrue on taxes owed.

Even if a taxpayer can't afford to immediately pay the full amount of taxes owed, they should still file a tax return and pay as much as possible. This reduces interest and penalties on the outstanding amount and may help avoid a possible late-filing penalty.

There are options for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/options-for-taxpayers-who-need-help-paying-their-tax-bill">taxpayers who owe the IRS but cannot afford to pay</a>. For more information see the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/penalties">penalties page</a>&nbsp;on IRS.gov.

Taxpayers may qualify for penalty relief if they have filed and paid timely for the past three years and meet other important requirements, including paying or arranging to pay any tax due. For more information, see the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/penalty-relief-due-to-first-time-abate-or-other-administrative-waiver">first-time penalty abatement</a>&nbsp;page on IRS.gov.

A quick, easy way for individuals to pay taxes owed securely is through&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/direct-pay">IRS Direct Pay</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/pay-your-taxes-by-debit-or-credit-card">debit or credit card or digital wallet</a>, or their&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/your-online-account">IRS Online Account</a>. Taxpayers may also&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/online-payment-agreement-application">apply online for a payment plan (including an installment agreement)</a>.

Those who pay electronically get immediate confirmation after submitting payment. The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/eftps-the-electronic-federal-tax-payment-system">Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS)</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/direct-pay">Direct Pay</a>&nbsp;allow taxpayers to receive payment email notifications. Find more payment options on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments">IRS.gov/payments</a>.

Some taxpayers automatically qualify for extra time to file and pay taxes due without penalties and interest, including:

–&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Taxpayers in certain disaster areas. There’s no need for these taxpayers to submit an extension; extra time is granted automatically due to the disaster. Information on the most recent tax relief for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/tax-relief-in-disaster-situations">disaster situations</a>&nbsp;is available on the IRS website.

–&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/us-citizens-and-resident-aliens-abroad">U.S. citizens and resident aliens</a>&nbsp;who live and work outside of the United States and Puerto Rico get an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/us-citizens-and-resident-aliens-abroad-automatic-2-month-extension-of-time-to-file">automatic two-month</a>&nbsp;extension to file their tax returns. This year they have until June 17 to file. However, tax payments are still due April 15 or interest will be charged.

–&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Members of the military on duty outside the United States and Puerto Rico. Details are available in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p3.pdf">Publication 3, Armed Forces’ Tax Guide</a>.

–&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Those serving in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/military/combat-zones">combat zones</a>&nbsp;have up to 180 days after they leave the combat zone to file returns and pay any taxes due.

Owed a refund? Don’t overlook filing a tax return; 2020 unclaimed refund deadline May 17

Taxpayers who choose not to file a return because they don't earn enough to meet the filing requirement may miss out on receiving a refund due to potential refundable tax credits. Some examples are the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/earned-income-tax-credit-eitc">Earned Income Tax Credit</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-schedule-8812-form-1040">Child Tax Credit</a>. Taxpayers sometimes fail to file a tax return and claim a refund for these credits and others for which they may be eligible.

There's no penalty for filing after the April 15 deadline if a refund is due. However, taxpayers due a refund should still consider filing as soon as possible. Every year, the IRS estimates that there are nearly a million taxpayers potentially due refund money who failed to file prior year tax returns.

For taxpayers who didn’t file a 2020 tax return, time is running out to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/time-running-out-to-claim-1-billion-in-refunds-for-tax-year-2020-taxpayers-face-may-17-deadline">claim those refunds</a>. The deadline to file 2020 returns is May 17, 2024.

Taxpayers still needing to file for tax year 2023 are encouraged to use electronic filing options including IRS&nbsp;<a href="https://apps.irs.gov/app/freeFile">Free File</a>, which is available on IRS.gov through Oct. 20 to prepare and file 2023 tax returns electronically.

Taxpayers can track their refund using the&nbsp;“<a href="https://www.irs.gov/wheres-my-refund">Where's My Refund?</a>”&nbsp;tool on IRS.gov,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/irs2goapp">IRS2Go</a>&nbsp;or by calling the automated refund hotline at 800-829-1954. To use the tool, taxpayers need the primary Social Security number on the tax return, the filing status and the expected refund amount. The refund status information updates once daily, usually overnight, so there's no need to check more frequently.

<a>Selecting a trusted tax professional</a>

Taxpayers who still need to file a return may wish to consult a tax preparer. The IRS has resources to help taxpayers&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/tax-professionals/choosing-a-tax-professional">choose a tax professional</a>. Tools like the&nbsp;<a href="https://irs.treasury.gov/rpo/rpo.jsf">Directory of Federal Tax Return Preparers with Credentials and Select Qualifications</a>&nbsp;allows taxpayers to find tax return preparers who have completed IRS requirements for the Annual Filing Season Program or who hold a professional credential recognized by the IRS.

Taxpayers have fundamental rights under the law that protect them when interacting with the IRS. The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/taxpayer-bill-of-rights">Taxpayer Bill of Rights</a>&nbsp;divides them in 10 categories. IRS&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p1.pdf">Publication 1, Your Rights as a Taxpayer</a>, reiterates these rights along with the agency's obligation to protect them.

IRSWASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today encouraged taxpayers who missed the April tax-filing deadline to file a tax return as soon as they can.The IRS offers different&nbsp;resources to help those who may&nbsp;be unable to pay their tax bill in total. Those who missed the deadline to file but owe taxes should file quickly to minimize penalties and interest.Taxpayers should keep in mind that payments are still due by the April 15 deadline, even if they requested an extension of time to file a tax return. An extension to file is not an extension to pay.File and pay amount owed to reduce penalties and interestTaxpayers who still owe taxes should file their tax return and pay any taxes owed quickly to reduce penalties and interest. Until the balance is paid in full,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/interest">interest</a>&nbsp;and penalties accrue on taxes owed.Even if a taxpayer can't afford to immediately pay the full amount of taxes owed, they should still file a tax return and pay as much as possible. This reduces interest and penalties on the outstanding amount and may help avoid a possible late-filing penalty.There are options for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/options-for-taxpayers-who-need-help-paying-their-tax-bill">taxpayers who owe the IRS but cannot afford to pay</a>. For more information see the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/penalties">penalties page</a>&nbsp;on IRS.gov.Taxpayers may qualify for penalty relief if they have filed and paid timely for the past three years and meet other important requirements, including paying or arranging to pay any tax due. For more information, see the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/penalty-relief-due-to-first-time-abate-or-other-administrative-waiver">first-time penalty abatement</a>&nbsp;page on IRS.gov.Electronically pay taxes owedA quick, easy way for individuals to pay taxes owed securely is through&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/direct-pay">IRS Direct Pay</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/pay-your-taxes-by-debit-or-credit-card">debit or credit card or digital wallet</a>, or their&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/your-online-account">IRS Online Account</a>. Taxpayers may also&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/online-payment-agreement-application">apply online for a payment plan (including an installment agreement)</a>.Those who pay electronically get immediate confirmation after submitting payment. The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/eftps-the-electronic-federal-tax-payment-system">Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS)</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/direct-pay">Direct Pay</a>&nbsp;allow taxpayers to receive payment email notifications. Find more payment options on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments">IRS.gov/payments</a>.Some taxpayers automatically qualify for extra time to file and pay taxes due without penalties and interest, including:–&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Taxpayers in certain disaster areas. There’s no need for these taxpayers to submit an extension; extra time is granted automatically due to the disaster. Information on the most recent tax relief for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/tax-relief-in-disaster-situations">disaster situations</a>&nbsp;is available on the IRS website.–&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/us-citizens-and-resident-aliens-abroad">U.S. citizens and resident aliens</a>&nbsp;who live and work outside of the United States and Puerto Rico get an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/us-citizens-and-resident-aliens-abroad-automatic-2-month-extension-of-time-to-file">automatic two-month</a>&nbsp;extension to file their tax returns. This year they have until June 17 to file. However, tax payments are still due April 15 or interest will be charged.–&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Members of the military on duty outside the United States and Puerto Rico. Details are available in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p3.pdf">Publication 3, Armed Forces’ Tax Guide</a>.–&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Those serving in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/military/combat-zones">combat zones</a>&nbsp;have up to 180 days after they leave the combat zone to file returns and pay any taxes due.Owed a refund? Don’t overlook filing a tax return; 2020 unclaimed refund deadline May 17Taxpayers who choose not to file a return because they don't earn enough to meet the filing requirement may miss out on receiving a refund due to potential refundable tax credits. Some examples are the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/earned-income-tax-credit-eitc">Earned Income Tax Credit</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-schedule-8812-form-1040">Child Tax Credit</a>. Taxpayers sometimes fail to file a tax return and claim a refund for these credits and others for which they may be eligible.There's no penalty for filing after the April 15 deadline if a refund is due. However, taxpayers due a refund should still consider filing as soon as possible. Every year, the IRS estimates that there are nearly a million taxpayers potentially due refund money who failed to file prior year tax returns.For taxpayers who didn’t file a 2020 tax return, time is running out to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/time-running-out-to-claim-1-billion-in-refunds-for-tax-year-2020-taxpayers-face-may-17-deadline">claim those refunds</a>. The deadline to file 2020 returns is May 17, 2024.Taxpayers still needing to file for tax year 2023 are encouraged to use electronic filing options including IRS&nbsp;<a href="https://apps.irs.gov/app/freeFile">Free File</a>, which is available on IRS.gov through Oct. 20 to prepare and file 2023 tax returns electronically.Taxpayers can track their refund using the&nbsp;“<a href="https://www.irs.gov/wheres-my-refund">Where's My Refund?</a>”&nbsp;tool on IRS.gov,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/irs2goapp">IRS2Go</a>&nbsp;or by calling the automated refund hotline at 800-829-1954. To use the tool, taxpayers need the primary Social Security number on the tax return, the filing status and the expected refund amount. The refund status information updates once daily, usually overnight, so there's no need to check more frequently.<a>Selecting a trusted tax professional</a>Taxpayers who still need to file a return may wish to consult a tax preparer. The IRS has resources to help taxpayers&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/tax-professionals/choosing-a-tax-professional">choose a tax professional</a>. Tools like the&nbsp;<a href="https://irs.treasury.gov/rpo/rpo.jsf">Directory of Federal Tax Return Preparers with Credentials and Select Qualifications</a>&nbsp;allows taxpayers to find tax return preparers who have completed IRS requirements for the Annual Filing Season Program or who hold a professional credential recognized by the IRS.Taxpayer Bill of RightsTaxpayers have fundamental rights under the law that protect them when interacting with the IRS. The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/taxpayer-bill-of-rights">Taxpayer Bill of Rights</a>&nbsp;divides them in 10 categories. IRS&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p1.pdf">Publication 1, Your Rights as a Taxpayer</a>, reiterates these rights along with the agency's obligation to protect them.

Missed the April tax-filing deadline? File quickly to avoid penalties and interest; those owed a refund also shouldn’t forget to file

The Fort Hays State Rodeo was April 11-13 in Hays.

The Fort Hays State Rodeo was April 11-13 in Hays.Photos by Jeff Leiker/Hays Post<figure>
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📷 Photo gallery: 2024 FHSU rodeo

TMP-Marian vs Hoisington Tuesday, April 23 – 4:00 p.m. Hays, Kan. - TMP Field

Radio: KHAZ (99.5) <a href="https://99kzcountry.com/">CLICK HERE TO LISTEN</a> Video: TMP-Marian Sports Network<a href="https://vcloud.hudl.com/broadcast/embed/1053515"> CLICK HERE TO WATCH ($)</a>

The TMP-Marian Monarchs hosts the Hoisington Cardinals Tuesday afternoon in a non-conference doubleheader.

The Monarchs have won five straight and the Cardinals have won four straight.&nbsp;

First pitch of the first game of the doubleheader is set for 4 p.m. with the second game to follow from TMP Field on the Monarchs Sports Network.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575411582384.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>TMP-Marian vs Hoisington Tuesday, April 23 – 4:00 p.m. Hays, Kan. - TMP FieldRadio: KHAZ (99.5) <a href="https://99kzcountry.com/">CLICK HERE TO LISTEN</a> Video: TMP-Marian Sports Network<a href="https://vcloud.hudl.com/broadcast/embed/1053515"> CLICK HERE TO WATCH ($)</a>The TMP-Marian Monarchs hosts the Hoisington Cardinals Tuesday afternoon in a non-conference doubleheader.The Monarchs have won five straight and the Cardinals have won four straight.&nbsp;First pitch of the first game of the doubleheader is set for 4 p.m. with the second game to follow from TMP Field on the Monarchs Sports Network.

🥎🎥 WATCH LIVE Thomas More Prep-Marian vs Hoisington

BARTON COUNTY —With zero to low visibility, a&nbsp;Russell USD 407  activity bus was involved in an accident Tuesday morning, according to Barton County Sheriff Brian Bellendir.

 The bus was transporting the Russell/Victoria baseball team to Liberal for a doubleheader.

The accident occurred on Northwest 30 Avenue, north Northwest 50 Road, in Barton County. Law enforcement blocked off Northwest 30 Avenue from Northwest 50 Road and north. No injuries have been reported.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713889135840.jpeg" alt="Photo by Mike Courson, Great Bend Post" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Mike Courson, Great Bend Post</figcaption>
 </figure>BARTON COUNTY —With zero to low visibility, a&nbsp;Russell USD 407 activity bus was involved in an accident Tuesday morning, according to Barton County Sheriff Brian Bellendir. The bus was transporting the Russell/Victoria baseball team to Liberal for a doubleheader.The accident occurred on Northwest 30 Avenue, north Northwest 50 Road, in Barton County. Law enforcement blocked off Northwest 30 Avenue from Northwest 50 Road and north. No injuries have been reported.

Russell school bus with baseball team involved in crash

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

The Hays USD 489 school board voted Monday night to change the Hays Middle School mascot to the Indians.

The Indians have long been the mascot for Hays High School.

The district is undergoing a $143 million bond issue. A new high school is being built, and the current high school, which is on the same campus, will be renovated to serve as the new middle school.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/b03de214-a1e1-44df-8ea5-f597e5e62646">In 2022, the district formed a committee to evaluate the mascot for the new high school. The school board voted to keep Hays High's mascot as the Indians. They also voted to change the middle school colors to gold and maroon to match the high school colors.</a>

In 2022, a majority of community members said in a survey they supported the Indian mascot and the HMS and HHS mascots being the same.

Although uniting the mascots was discussed at that time, the change did not pass.

A survey issued to HMS staff last week also indicated a majority—41 out of 57 staff members—supported the HMS and HHS mascots being unified as the Indians.

Two weeks ago, board member Jayme Goetz asked the board to reconsider the question of the HMS mascot.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/2094db0e-7cc3-4a04-bcfa-33b1348bce18">SEE RELATED STORY: Hays USD 489 BOE discusses changing middle school mascot to Indians</a>

"I think based on these survey results and based on the overwhelming support I have received, I would be in favor of proceeding as one entity as one mascot, one unity," Goetz said.

After a brief discussion on Monday, the board voted 5-2 to change the middle school mascot to the Indians. Board members Meagan Zampieri-Lillpopp and Ken Brooks voted against the motion.

Board member Ruth Ruder said the logo is no longer an Indian headdress but an arrowhead with an H.

"I say we move forward now so coaches and teachers can move forward with where our district is heading, and we move away from this moving forward. One unit, one unity, one campus," Ruder said.

The HMS athletic director told the board members at their last meeting he was under a deadline to order uniforms for the next school year.

Zampieri-Lillpopp said the surveys indicated a number of people supported having the same mascot at both schools, but not necessarily the Indian mascot.

"As we are moving into trauma-informed models in a number of our schools, understanding historical and generation trauma imposed on people who were here before we were is very important," Zampieri-Lillpopp said.

She also said she thought it was inappropriate to bring the mascot issue to the board again when the board had previously voted on it. She said no new information was presented to warrant a reconsideration.

Board member Curt Vajanr said the issue failed last year in a tie 3-3 vote because a board member was absent. All seven board members were present last night.

Two members of the public spoke against the mascot change during the public comment session at the beginning of the meeting.

Anna Towns of Hays spoke against having the Indians as a district mascot for the second meeting in a row.

Towns read from a University of Kansas blog that quoted research by Stephanie Fryberg, PhD, about the negative effects of Native American mascots on young Native Americans.

According to the research, Native American mascots lowered self-esteem,  academic goals, and sense of community worth and increased suicidal ideation and depression among Native American youth.

The research also showed exposure to Native American mascots resulted in increases in white college students discriminating against all people of color.&nbsp;

"Americans need to ask themselves why they want to hold onto something, especially if science tells us that it's harmful to that group," Towns said.

Cheryl Duffy of Hays also spoke against the use of the Indian mascot.

Duffy said the Kansas Board of Education recommended in November 2022 that all schools in the state abandon native American mascots in the next five years.

The American Psychological Association recommended against the use of Native American mascots in 2005. The National Congress of American Indians, which represents hundreds of tribes and millions of individuals, has also denounced the use of Native American mascots.

"Either we care about them, or we don't," Duffy said of Native American young people.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689953330396.jpeg" alt="Hays High and Hays Middle schools' new logo." />
 <figcaption>Hays High and Hays Middle schools' new logo.</figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostThe Hays USD 489 school board voted Monday night to change the Hays Middle School mascot to the Indians.The Indians have long been the mascot for Hays High School.The district is undergoing a $143 million bond issue. A new high school is being built, and the current high school, which is on the same campus, will be renovated to serve as the new middle school.<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/b03de214-a1e1-44df-8ea5-f597e5e62646">In 2022, the district formed a committee to evaluate the mascot for the new high school. The school board voted to keep Hays High's mascot as the Indians. They also voted to change the middle school colors to gold and maroon to match the high school colors.</a>In 2022, a majority of community members said in a survey they supported the Indian mascot and the HMS and HHS mascots being the same.Although uniting the mascots was discussed at that time, the change did not pass.A survey issued to HMS staff last week also indicated a majority—41 out of 57 staff members—supported the HMS and HHS mascots being unified as the Indians.Two weeks ago, board member Jayme Goetz asked the board to reconsider the question of the HMS mascot.<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/2094db0e-7cc3-4a04-bcfa-33b1348bce18">SEE RELATED STORY: Hays USD 489 BOE discusses changing middle school mascot to Indians</a>"I think based on these survey results and based on the overwhelming support I have received, I would be in favor of proceeding as one entity as one mascot, one unity," Goetz said.After a brief discussion on Monday, the board voted 5-2 to change the middle school mascot to the Indians. Board members Meagan Zampieri-Lillpopp and Ken Brooks voted against the motion.Board member Ruth Ruder said the logo is no longer an Indian headdress but an arrowhead with an H."I say we move forward now so coaches and teachers can move forward with where our district is heading, and we move away from this moving forward. One unit, one unity, one campus," Ruder said.The HMS athletic director told the board members at their last meeting he was under a deadline to order uniforms for the next school year.Zampieri-Lillpopp said the surveys indicated a number of people supported having the same mascot at both schools, but not necessarily the Indian mascot."As we are moving into trauma-informed models in a number of our schools, understanding historical and generation trauma imposed on people who were here before we were is very important," Zampieri-Lillpopp said.She also said she thought it was inappropriate to bring the mascot issue to the board again when the board had previously voted on it. She said no new information was presented to warrant a reconsideration.Board member Curt Vajanr said the issue failed last year in a tie 3-3 vote because a board member was absent. All seven board members were present last night.Two members of the public spoke against the mascot change during the public comment session at the beginning of the meeting.Anna Towns of Hays spoke against having the Indians as a district mascot for the second meeting in a row.Towns read from a University of Kansas blog that quoted research by Stephanie Fryberg, PhD, about the negative effects of Native American mascots on young Native Americans.According to the research, Native American mascots lowered self-esteem, academic goals, and sense of community worth and increased suicidal ideation and depression among Native American youth.The research also showed exposure to Native American mascots resulted in increases in white college students discriminating against all people of color.&nbsp;"Americans need to ask themselves why they want to hold onto something, especially if science tells us that it's harmful to that group," Towns said.Cheryl Duffy of Hays also spoke against the use of the Indian mascot.Duffy said the Kansas Board of Education recommended in November 2022 that all schools in the state abandon native American mascots in the next five years.The American Psychological Association recommended against the use of Native American mascots in 2005. The National Congress of American Indians, which represents hundreds of tribes and millions of individuals, has also denounced the use of Native American mascots."Either we care about them, or we don't," Duffy said of Native American young people.

Hays USD 489 BOE votes to change Hays Middle School mascot to Indians

Beginning Monday, April 29 at 8 a.m., Hays city crews will begin utility work on the 13th Street center lane near General Custer Road. 

The center lane will be closed during the week; however, the outer lanes will remain open. 

Repairs are expected to be completed by the end of the day on Friday, May 3.

The city of Hays regrets any inconvenience this may cause to the public. &nbsp;If there are any questions, call the Office of Project Management at 785-628-7350.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584473406560.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>City of HaysBeginning Monday, April 29 at 8 a.m., Hays city crews will begin utility work on the 13th Street center lane near General Custer Road. The center lane will be closed during the week; however, the outer lanes will remain open. Repairs are expected to be completed by the end of the day on Friday, May 3.The city of Hays regrets any inconvenience this may cause to the public. &nbsp;If there are any questions, call the Office of Project Management at 785-628-7350.

13th, General Custer streets to undergo utility work in Hays

Congrats to today's Cash Grab Winner, Sophia Sanders of Hays!

She heard the code word on 101.9 The Bull.

Listen in at 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m. of 3 p.m. on 96.9 KFIX, 103.3 KJLS, 101.9 The Bull, 99.5 KZ Country, or 94.3 KAYS Monday through Friday during the month of April for your chance to win.&nbsp;

<div><div data-ss-embed="promotion" data-opguid="f5362c39-df44-4e81-b56c-102dd4f4505a" data-routing="hash" data-script="rmszwm"></div>
<script defer src="https://embed-1036377.secondstreetapp.com/Scripts/dist/embed.js" data-ss-script="rmszwm">/**/</script></div>Congrats to today's Cash Grab Winner, Sophia Sanders of Hays!She heard the code word on 101.9 The Bull.Listen in at 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m. of 3 p.m. on 96.9 KFIX, 103.3 KJLS, 101.9 The Bull, 99.5 KZ Country, or 94.3 KAYS Monday through Friday during the month of April for your chance to win.&nbsp;

Tuesday's Cash Grab winner is....

Beginning Wednesday, crews will begin working on the Hays waterlines starting on 11th Street, between Walnut and Ash. &nbsp;The crews will then begin working north on Walnut Street to 17th Street.

 J Corp will be using the depot area on 10th and Walnut for temporary staging and storage of materials. 

During this project, please do not park on the north side of 11th Street.

 Any residents affected by this project will be notified by the contractor for any interruption of services.

The city of Hays regrets any inconvenience this may cause to the public. If there are any questions, call the Office of Project Management at 785-628-7350 or the contractor, J Corp, at 785-628-8101.

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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584721067731.jpeg" alt="" />
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 </figure>City of HaysBeginning Wednesday, crews will begin working on the Hays waterlines starting on 11th Street, between Walnut and Ash. &nbsp;The crews will then begin working north on Walnut Street to 17th Street. J Corp will be using the depot area on 10th and Walnut for temporary staging and storage of materials. During this project, please do not park on the north side of 11th Street. Any residents affected by this project will be notified by the contractor for any interruption of services.The city of Hays regrets any inconvenience this may cause to the public. If there are any questions, call the Office of Project Management at 785-628-7350 or the contractor, J Corp, at 785-628-8101.

Hays' 2024 waterline project starts Wednesday

On Monday, crews began placing new pavement markings on 41st Street, between Hall Street and the Highway 183 Bypass in Hays.

 This project also includes painting crosswalks and the turn lanes to the north and east at the intersection of 41st and Hall. 

It is anticipated that the work will be completed by the end of the day on Friday. 

The traveling public should use caution and, if possible, avoid this area.

The City of Hays regrets any inconvenience this may cause to the public. If there are any questions, please call the Office of Project Management at 785-628-7350 or the contractor, Heartland Traffic Services at 913- 428-2575.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584473406560.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>City of HaysOn Monday, crews began placing new pavement markings on 41st Street, between Hall Street and the Highway 183 Bypass in Hays. This project also includes painting crosswalks and the turn lanes to the north and east at the intersection of 41st and Hall. It is anticipated that the work will be completed by the end of the day on Friday. The traveling public should use caution and, if possible, avoid this area.The City of Hays regrets any inconvenience this may cause to the public. If there are any questions, please call the Office of Project Management at 785-628-7350 or the contractor, Heartland Traffic Services at 913- 428-2575.

Pavement markings underway on 41st Street in Hays

By BECKY KISER Hays Post

There's a new fire station in northwest Hays, but you may not notice it.

And that's just fine with Fire Chief Ryan Hagans.

The exterior of the single-story building located at&nbsp;1732 W. 41st&nbsp;St. was intentionally designed to blend in with the new houses in the nearby neighborhood.

"Great work by PWC, our general contractor, and all the local vendors. Those guys just did an outstanding job of putting this place together," Hagans said Monday afternoon following a 'hose uncoupling' ceremony hosted by The Chamber in Hays.

Instead of a ribbon cutting, Hagans and Mayor Shaun Musil jointly uncoupled a bright red fire hose to signal the official opening of the new fire station.

"You guys deserve this. Our community deserves this," said Musil.

The project cost was slightly less than $6 million.

"This wouldn't have been possible for us without the Ellis County Commission when the sales tax passed for the emergency management center," he said.&nbsp;

"The city was able to use its share of that money to build this."

Also joining the ceremony were Vice-Mayor Sandy Jacobs and Commissioner Mason Ruder, City Manager Toby Dougherty and Deputy City Manager Collin Bielser.&nbsp;

"Our architect HFG out of Wichita designed a fabulous building," Hagans said. "They listened to us rather well on what we wanted, took our input and mixed their expertise, and created this lovely facility."

Tours were offered by Hagans and other firefighters.

Living quarters for the three on-duty firefighters are home-like. They'll spend a lot of time in the 12,000 sq. ft. facility during their shifts which are 24 hours on, 48 hours off.&nbsp;

There's a large well-equipped kitchen, workout room, administrative staff offices, and even an outdoor patio.

Sleeping quarters and shower/restroom facilities are more private, and there are lots of windows.

The third fire station was established to ensure short response times to emergencies as the city continues to develop to the northwest. 

"For the last 20 years, the city has grown north and northwest. ... Look at the number of houses just across 41st Street that have been developed in the last 20 years," Hagans said.

"This gives us access to north of I-70 quicker. We've got the bypass to get on. We can actually get to the airport quicker from here than downtown. We can get to Hays High and the hospital in about the same time.&nbsp;&nbsp;

"We can take arterial streets instead of neighborhood streets from here to get to where we need to go."

Fire department staff will be split between the new location and the&nbsp; downtown fire station at 1507 Main.&nbsp;

The new station is now headquarters for the fire department and also houses the city's IT servers.

Fire station No. 2 is located at the Hays Regional Airport and is staffed according to the commercial flight schedule.

Tours of the new fire station will be offered throughout the spring.

For information, call the Hays Fire Department at 785-628-7330.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713825414923.jpeg" alt="Hays Fire Chief Ryan Hagans and Mayor Shaun Musil perform the official fire hose uncoupling to celebrate Monday's opening of the city's third fire station. Photos and video by Becky Kiser/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Hays Fire Chief Ryan Hagans and Mayor Shaun Musil perform the official fire hose uncoupling to celebrate Monday's opening of the city's third fire station. Photos and video by Becky Kiser/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>By BECKY KISER Hays PostThere's a new fire station in northwest Hays, but you may not notice it.And that's just fine with Fire Chief Ryan Hagans.The exterior of the single-story building located at&nbsp;1732 W. 41st&nbsp;St. was intentionally designed to blend in with the new houses in the nearby neighborhood."Great work by PWC, our general contractor, and all the local vendors. Those guys just did an outstanding job of putting this place together," Hagans said Monday afternoon following a 'hose uncoupling' ceremony hosted by The Chamber in Hays.<div><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zATwkDBOF6w" title="New Hays fire station" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>Instead of a ribbon cutting, Hagans and Mayor Shaun Musil jointly uncoupled a bright red fire hose to signal the official opening of the new fire station."You guys deserve this. Our community deserves this," said Musil.The project cost was slightly less than $6 million."This wouldn't have been possible for us without the Ellis County Commission when the sales tax passed for the emergency management center," he said.&nbsp; "The city was able to use its share of that money to build this."Also joining the ceremony were Vice-Mayor Sandy Jacobs and Commissioner Mason Ruder, City Manager Toby Dougherty and Deputy City Manager Collin Bielser.&nbsp;"Our architect HFG out of Wichita designed a fabulous building," Hagans said. "They listened to us rather well on what we wanted, took our input and mixed their expertise, and created this lovely facility."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713826670808.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713826771100.jpeg" alt="Fire Station No. 3 kitchen. Photo by Becky Kiser/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Fire Station No. 3 kitchen. Photo by Becky Kiser/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713826976176.jpeg" alt="Recliners in the living area. Photo by Becky Kiser/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Recliners in the living area. Photo by Becky Kiser/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713827116797.jpeg" alt="Bay area of Hays Fire Station No. 3. Photo by Becky Kiser/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Bay area of Hays Fire Station No. 3. Photo by Becky Kiser/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713827538543.jpeg" alt="Bunker gear. Photo by Becky Kiser/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Bunker gear. Photo by Becky Kiser/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713827675808.jpeg" alt="Operations area of Fire Station No. 3. Photo by Becky Kiser/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Operations area of Fire Station No. 3. Photo by Becky Kiser/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>Tours were offered by Hagans and other firefighters.Living quarters for the three on-duty firefighters are home-like. They'll spend a lot of time in the 12,000 sq. ft. facility during their shifts which are 24 hours on, 48 hours off.&nbsp;There's a large well-equipped kitchen, workout room, administrative staff offices, and even an outdoor patio.Sleeping quarters and shower/restroom facilities are more private, and there are lots of windows.The third fire station was established to ensure short response times to emergencies as the city continues to develop to the northwest. "For the last 20 years, the city has grown north and northwest. ... Look at the number of houses just across 41st Street that have been developed in the last 20 years," Hagans said."This gives us access to north of I-70 quicker. We've got the bypass to get on. We can actually get to the airport quicker from here than downtown. We can get to Hays High and the hospital in about the same time.&nbsp;&nbsp;"We can take arterial streets instead of neighborhood streets from here to get to where we need to go."Fire department staff will be split between the new location and the&nbsp; downtown fire station at 1507 Main.&nbsp;The new station is now headquarters for the fire department and also houses the city's IT servers.Fire station No. 2 is located at the Hays Regional Airport and is staffed according to the commercial flight schedule.Tours of the new fire station will be offered throughout the spring.For information, call the Hays Fire Department at 785-628-7330.

🎥New fire station opens in fastest growing area of Hays

Having a polling place on campus, an area of town with a high population concentration, will be convenient for voters in that precinct, and encourage civic participation from the campus community. That is exactly the point that LOCAL voters have been trying to communicate for at least the last six years. It is also the point that the recent Hays Post article <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/3a3f06a1-6b07-45c6-bf3c-8b76f4d564d7">“ACLU presents Ellis Co. Clerk petition”</a> and the county clerk herself are missing.

In this most recent effort, the students Madison Albers and Grace McCord, working with the American Democracy Project, have presented County Clerk Bobbi Dreiling and the Ellis County Commission with information about other Kansas Board of Regents (KBOR) schools that support this claim.

The most recent example, Wichita State University, saw a nearly 20% increase in voter turnout after they put a polling place on their campus. Dreiling complained about comparisons to the University of Kansas in Lawrence. However, their on-campus students-to-total-population ratio is 24%, while FHSU’s is 17%.

That’s only a 6% [sic] difference and is not an unreasonable comparison. Yes, KU is a much larger school, but Lawrence is also a much larger town. The increase in voter participation at other KBOR universities with a polling place on campus means it is realistic to expect that adding a polling place to the FHSU campus would empower students to get registered locally and take a more active role in civic engagement, subsequently increasing voter turnout in that precinct.

Last year, Albers and McCord went above and beyond to find a place on campus that would meet all of Dreiling’s ever-changing requirements, secure the support of University Police (to address traffic concerns), garner bipartisan support from campus Democratic and Republican clubs, and have the Student Government on board to provide poll workers for the campus polling place.

When Dreiling further pushed back against the Memorial Union as a polling place (due to the distance to the polling location from the front entrance—even though she is legally required to provide curbside voting for those with limited mobility), these students worked to get commitments from Gross Memorial Coliseum/Cuningham Hall, including consideration of sporting event schedules and special elections, and met every demand Dreiling had made.

Despite all this, and in the middle of these discussions, Dreiling chose to move the polling place from 601 Main St. to a location 16 blocks away in the middle of other voting precincts.

It would have made more sense to move that polling place to somewhere within that precinct—such as the FHSU campus. Dreiling closed two polling places, 601 Main St. and 2900 Canal Blvd. That means she could have opened two new polling places while incurring the same cost, using the same machinery, poll workers, etc.

There was no reason to choose to only open the Messiah Lutheran Church location and discontinue talks with the American Democracy Project about a polling location on campus.

The fact that Dreiling is more willing to consider reopening the 601 Main St. location than to open a polling place on campus is difficult to comprehend.

The county clerk’s continued insistence on falling back on the failures of prior clerks to bring a polling place to campus for “good reason, [because] the feasibility is not there” proves that she has not taken seriously the work of these students, who have met her every obstacle with a solution, proving that the feasibility is there.

Ellis County deserves to have a clerk who wants as many citizens as possible to engage with this community and as many voters as possible to participate in elections.

 This petition, along with our continued willingness to encourage County Clerk Dreiling to do the right thing, shows that there is support for this polling location.

This continued response of putting barriers in place and not meeting the voters where they are is a significant failure of leadership on Dreiling’s part. When Dreiling asserts that she has not heard from any other Ellis County citizens aside from us, that is simply not true.

She, in fact, received dozens of emails from locals last year in support of our efforts. She responded to those emails and made public claims of being personally attacked [read, held accountable for her actions], so she has previously acknowledged interactions with other Ellis County voters—we are not sure why she would deny them now.

Furthermore, letters of support from various campus entities such as Student Government, Faculty Senate, Campus Community Collaborative (3C), and Staff Senate were forwarded to Dreiling. President Tisa Mason has also publicly voiced her support of Albers’ and McCord’s efforts.

If Dreiling has reached out to FHSU students about a voter registration drive on campus, she has not contacted Albers or McCord to coordinate.

 We have an opportunity to educate young voters about the importance of civic engagement and to encourage voter registration and commitment to this community. 

Students living in Hays can register to vote in Ellis County during their time in Hays. At every turn, people in Ellis County ask why we can’t get young people to stay here and start their lives.

When Dreiling herself makes statements like “whether it be students or ACTUAL residents of Ellis County,” she is telling those students that they are not part of this community, that their voices don’t matter, and that she couldn’t care less if they got involved. Why would they ever choose to stay? 

— Anna Towns and Anniston Weber, both of Hays

Having a polling place on campus, an area of town with a high population concentration, will be convenient for voters in that precinct, and encourage civic participation from the campus community. That is exactly the point that LOCAL voters have been trying to communicate for at least the last six years. It is also the point that the recent Hays Post article <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/3a3f06a1-6b07-45c6-bf3c-8b76f4d564d7">“ACLU presents Ellis Co. Clerk petition”</a> and the county clerk herself are missing.In this most recent effort, the students Madison Albers and Grace McCord, working with the American Democracy Project, have presented County Clerk Bobbi Dreiling and the Ellis County Commission with information about other Kansas Board of Regents (KBOR) schools that support this claim.The most recent example, Wichita State University, saw a nearly 20% increase in voter turnout after they put a polling place on their campus. Dreiling complained about comparisons to the University of Kansas in Lawrence. However, their on-campus students-to-total-population ratio is 24%, while FHSU’s is 17%.That’s only a 6% [sic] difference and is not an unreasonable comparison. Yes, KU is a much larger school, but Lawrence is also a much larger town. The increase in voter participation at other KBOR universities with a polling place on campus means it is realistic to expect that adding a polling place to the FHSU campus would empower students to get registered locally and take a more active role in civic engagement, subsequently increasing voter turnout in that precinct.Last year, Albers and McCord went above and beyond to find a place on campus that would meet all of Dreiling’s ever-changing requirements, secure the support of University Police (to address traffic concerns), garner bipartisan support from campus Democratic and Republican clubs, and have the Student Government on board to provide poll workers for the campus polling place.When Dreiling further pushed back against the Memorial Union as a polling place (due to the distance to the polling location from the front entrance—even though she is legally required to provide curbside voting for those with limited mobility), these students worked to get commitments from Gross Memorial Coliseum/Cuningham Hall, including consideration of sporting event schedules and special elections, and met every demand Dreiling had made.Despite all this, and in the middle of these discussions, Dreiling chose to move the polling place from 601 Main St. to a location 16 blocks away in the middle of other voting precincts.It would have made more sense to move that polling place to somewhere within that precinct—such as the FHSU campus. Dreiling closed two polling places, 601 Main St. and 2900 Canal Blvd. That means she could have opened two new polling places while incurring the same cost, using the same machinery, poll workers, etc.There was no reason to choose to only open the Messiah Lutheran Church location and discontinue talks with the American Democracy Project about a polling location on campus.The fact that Dreiling is more willing to consider reopening the 601 Main St. location than to open a polling place on campus is difficult to comprehend.The county clerk’s continued insistence on falling back on the failures of prior clerks to bring a polling place to campus for “good reason, [because] the feasibility is not there” proves that she has not taken seriously the work of these students, who have met her every obstacle with a solution, proving that the feasibility is there.Ellis County deserves to have a clerk who wants as many citizens as possible to engage with this community and as many voters as possible to participate in elections. This petition, along with our continued willingness to encourage County Clerk Dreiling to do the right thing, shows that there is support for this polling location.This continued response of putting barriers in place and not meeting the voters where they are is a significant failure of leadership on Dreiling’s part. When Dreiling asserts that she has not heard from any other Ellis County citizens aside from us, that is simply not true.She, in fact, received dozens of emails from locals last year in support of our efforts. She responded to those emails and made public claims of being personally attacked [read, held accountable for her actions], so she has previously acknowledged interactions with other Ellis County voters—we are not sure why she would deny them now.Furthermore, letters of support from various campus entities such as Student Government, Faculty Senate, Campus Community Collaborative (3C), and Staff Senate were forwarded to Dreiling. President Tisa Mason has also publicly voiced her support of Albers’ and McCord’s efforts.If Dreiling has reached out to FHSU students about a voter registration drive on campus, she has not contacted Albers or McCord to coordinate. We have an opportunity to educate young voters about the importance of civic engagement and to encourage voter registration and commitment to this community. Students living in Hays can register to vote in Ellis County during their time in Hays. At every turn, people in Ellis County ask why we can’t get young people to stay here and start their lives.When Dreiling herself makes statements like “whether it be students or ACTUAL residents of Ellis County,” she is telling those students that they are not part of this community, that their voices don’t matter, and that she couldn’t care less if they got involved. Why would they ever choose to stay? — Anna Towns and Anniston Weber, both of Hays

Letter: FHSU Polling Place: Possibility, Promise, Opportunity

Northwest Kansas Area Agency on Aging to host Information Day in Hays

DOWNS—Get ready to step into the enchanting realm of storytelling at the upcoming Kansas Storytelling Festival in Downs, Kansas! Scheduled for April 26 and 27, this extraordinary event promises a weekend filled with laughter, wonder, and connection.

Professional Storyteller Dianna Waite, from Salina, Kansas, describes the festival experience: "The Kansas Storytelling Festival in Downs gets better and better every year. As the stories unfold, the audience and tellers grow closer together, learning that our stories are universal and connect us all."

Set in the warm and welcoming community of Downs in north central Kansas, this festival offers an intimate setting where attendees can forge meaningful connections. "The community of Downs is warm and welcoming," adds Waite, "The crowds are small enough to allow everyone to share their stories with each other and the five featured tellers. It is a weekend-long hug!"

“As a Master Storyteller, witnessing the joy of eyes lighting up, hearing bursts of unguarded laughter, and seeing the heartfelt connections forged among the audience are truly rewards of storytelling,” said Kenneth Lee.

You can purchase your festival admission buttons online and pick them up at registration, 507 S Morgan Ave., one door north of the Downs Memorial Hall.

For more information and to purchase admission buttons, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansasstorytellingfestival.com/">https://www.kansasstorytellingfestival.com/</a>.

SubmittedDOWNS—Get ready to step into the enchanting realm of storytelling at the upcoming Kansas Storytelling Festival in Downs, Kansas! Scheduled for April 26 and 27, this extraordinary event promises a weekend filled with laughter, wonder, and connection.Professional Storyteller Dianna Waite, from Salina, Kansas, describes the festival experience: "The Kansas Storytelling Festival in Downs gets better and better every year. As the stories unfold, the audience and tellers grow closer together, learning that our stories are universal and connect us all."Set in the warm and welcoming community of Downs in north central Kansas, this festival offers an intimate setting where attendees can forge meaningful connections. "The community of Downs is warm and welcoming," adds Waite, "The crowds are small enough to allow everyone to share their stories with each other and the five featured tellers. It is a weekend-long hug!"“As a Master Storyteller, witnessing the joy of eyes lighting up, hearing bursts of unguarded laughter, and seeing the heartfelt connections forged among the audience are truly rewards of storytelling,” said Kenneth Lee.You can purchase your festival admission buttons online and pick them up at registration, 507 S Morgan Ave., one door north of the Downs Memorial Hall.For more information and to purchase admission buttons, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansasstorytellingfestival.com/">https://www.kansasstorytellingfestival.com/</a>.

Experience the magic of storytelling at the Kansas Storytelling Festival in Downs

<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/2024/4/1713824543808.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

Per Ellis County
Resolution 2017-4, the Ellis County Fire Department is announcing the
implementation of a temporary burn ban in all the unincorporated areas of Ellis
County effective Monday, April 22. 

While in a burn ban, this limits the open
burning of garden/yard debris, pastures, ditches or other materials. However, normal household
trash can still be burnt in a barrel with a protected screened cover.

The burn ban is being implemented due to the increasing temperatures, lower levels of humidity, and a long spell without significant
measurable moisture throughout the entire county.

It is hopeful a significant amount of moisture
will blanket Ellis County in the coming weeks. If so, an
announcement will be made when the ban is lifted.

As always,
if anyone ever questions if a fire is about
to become out of control,
or may see a potential fire,
please call 911 immediately to get emergency personnel to respond as quickly as
possible.

Ellis County&nbsp;Per Ellis County
Resolution 2017-4, the Ellis County Fire Department is announcing the
implementation of a temporary burn ban in all the unincorporated areas of Ellis
County effective Monday, April 22. While in a burn ban, this limits the open
burning of garden/yard debris, pastures, ditches or other materials. However, normal household
trash can still be burnt in a barrel with a protected screened cover.The burn ban is being implemented due to the increasing temperatures, lower levels of humidity, and a long spell without significant
measurable moisture throughout the entire county.It is hopeful a significant amount of moisture
will blanket Ellis County in the coming weeks. If so, an
announcement will be made when the ban is lifted.As always,
if anyone ever questions if a fire is about
to become out of control,
or may see a potential fire,
please call 911 immediately to get emergency personnel to respond as quickly as
possible.

Ellis County burn ban in effect Monday

The Hays USD 489 school board will hear an update on the renovation/addition plans for O'Loughlin Elementary School at 6:30 tonight at the Rockwell Administration Center.

This project is part of a $143 million bond that is ongoing in the district.

The board will also hear a report on asbestos abatement at Hays Middle School and O'Loughlin. That work is planned for this summer.

The board will again discuss the mascot for Hays Middle School. The school's current mascot is the Falcons. However, several board members said at their last meeting they favored making the HMS mascot the Indians to match the Hays High School mascot.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/2094db0e-7cc3-4a04-bcfa-33b1348bce18">SEE RELATED STORY: Hays USD BOE discusses changing middle school mascot to Indians</a>

When the bond work is complete, Hays will have a new high school, and the current high school will be remodeled into a new middle school. Both schools will be on the current high school campus on 13th Street.

The board also will have a budget hearing to approve an amended budget.

The district unexpectedly received an increase in at-risk aid due to an increase in the number of full-time students receiving free lunches. The revised budget will allow the district to spend the additional funds it has received.

Additional funds will be transferred to and increase authority in K-12 at-risk and pre-K at-risk funds and will help offset costs associated with at-risk services and programming.

The board will consider business services restructuring. The reorganization will result in a reduction of one full-time position.

Board members will hear an update on the restructuring of student social-emotional supports and resources from Lindy McDaniel, special education co-op assistant director

The board also will consider approval of non-resident student capacity.

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostThe Hays USD 489 school board will hear an update on the renovation/addition plans for O'Loughlin Elementary School at 6:30 tonight at the Rockwell Administration Center.This project is part of a $143 million bond that is ongoing in the district.The board will also hear a report on asbestos abatement at Hays Middle School and O'Loughlin. That work is planned for this summer.The board will again discuss the mascot for Hays Middle School. The school's current mascot is the Falcons. However, several board members said at their last meeting they favored making the HMS mascot the Indians to match the Hays High School mascot.<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/2094db0e-7cc3-4a04-bcfa-33b1348bce18">SEE RELATED STORY: Hays USD BOE discusses changing middle school mascot to Indians</a>When the bond work is complete, Hays will have a new high school, and the current high school will be remodeled into a new middle school. Both schools will be on the current high school campus on 13th Street.The board also will have a budget hearing to approve an amended budget.The district unexpectedly received an increase in at-risk aid due to an increase in the number of full-time students receiving free lunches. The revised budget will allow the district to spend the additional funds it has received.Additional funds will be transferred to and increase authority in K-12 at-risk and pre-K at-risk funds and will help offset costs associated with at-risk services and programming.The board will consider business services restructuring. The reorganization will result in a reduction of one full-time position.Board members will hear an update on the restructuring of student social-emotional supports and resources from Lindy McDaniel, special education co-op assistant directorThe board also will consider approval of non-resident student capacity.

Hays USD 489 BOE to discuss renovation plans for O'Loughlin Elementary

By JOHN P. TRETBAR Eagle Communications

Common crude at CHS in McPherson rose half a dollar on Friday to $73.50 per barrel. That's down half a dollar from the first of the month, but more than ten dollars a barrel higher than at the first of the year, and four dollars higher than a year ago. Futures prices in New York dropped to their lowest level since March last week, but were up slightly on Monday, trading over $83 a barrel by midday. London Brent was fetching $87 a barrel by lunchtime Monday.

The Rotary Rig Count from Baker Hughes is up five oil rigs but down three gas rigs. The count in Texas was up two, Oklahoma was up one, and New Mexico was down one. The weekly total is down 136 rigs from a year ago.

The Kansas Rig Count from Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service is up two rigs east of Wichita at 14 rigs either scheduled, moving to, or currently on site. The count in western Kansas is unchanged at 17 active drilling rigs. The tally is up seven percent from a month ago, but down nine percent from last year at this time.

Operators across Kansas completed 22 wells last week, with two in Barton County out of 15 in western Kansas. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service reports 354 completions so far this year across the state, compared to 546 a year ago at this time.

Regulators in Kansas approved 16 new drilling locations. Ten of those are west of Wichita including new permits in Russell and Stafford counties. That's 256 new drilling locations statewide so far this year, compared to 370 a year ago.

The government reported the fourth increase in domestic crude inventories in four weeks.&nbsp; A weekly report from the Energy Information Administration shows commercial inventories of 460 million barrels as of April 12th. Stockpiles remain about one percent below the five-year average for this time of year. Inventories in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve rose an additional 600,000 barrels, according to the Energy Information Administration  report. Commercial supplies are up nearly 15 million barrels since March 15.

Domestic crude production averaged 13,131,000 barrels per day last week, down 5,000 barrels per day from the week before, but up 800,000 barrels per day from a year ago. Four-week average production is down about 2,000 barrels per day for the week, but is more than a million barrels a day higher than a year ago.

The Biden Administration has raised royalty rates for oil-and-gas drilling on public lands for the first time in a century. The Interior Department raised royalty rates for oil drilling by more than one third, to 16.67%, in accordance with the sweeping 2022 climate law approved by Congress. The new rule also raises the minimum bond that drillers must pay to $150,000 from $10,000.

Oil patch drilling and business activity has contracted for the fifth straight quarter, and could drop more this year according to respondents to a survey by the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. Kansas is not alone in lackluster results of late: Oklahoma, Colorado and northern New Mexico showed declines in oil and gas activity. The survey included responses from 33 firms operating in the Midwest, the Rockies and parts of New Mexico. More than 75% of respondents agreed that consolidation will lead to more cautious production growth.

China, the world’s largest buyer of foreign crude, imported 11.3 million barrels per day last year. According to customs data, that’s 10% more than the year before. A new government report notes refiners in China imported record volumes to support rising petrochemical and transportation-fuel needs. Russia, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq were China’s main sources. Russia topped the list last year after offering steep discounts prompted by international sanctions.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1684775008059.jpeg" alt="Photo courtesy Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN P. TRETBAR Eagle Communications Common crude at CHS in McPherson rose half a dollar on Friday to $73.50 per barrel. That's down half a dollar from the first of the month, but more than ten dollars a barrel higher than at the first of the year, and four dollars higher than a year ago. Futures prices in New York dropped to their lowest level since March last week, but were up slightly on Monday, trading over $83 a barrel by midday. London Brent was fetching $87 a barrel by lunchtime Monday.The Rotary Rig Count from Baker Hughes is up five oil rigs but down three gas rigs. The count in Texas was up two, Oklahoma was up one, and New Mexico was down one. The weekly total is down 136 rigs from a year ago.The Kansas Rig Count from Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service is up two rigs east of Wichita at 14 rigs either scheduled, moving to, or currently on site. The count in western Kansas is unchanged at 17 active drilling rigs. The tally is up seven percent from a month ago, but down nine percent from last year at this time.Operators across Kansas completed 22 wells last week, with two in Barton County out of 15 in western Kansas. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service reports 354 completions so far this year across the state, compared to 546 a year ago at this time.Regulators in Kansas approved 16 new drilling locations. Ten of those are west of Wichita including new permits in Russell and Stafford counties. That's 256 new drilling locations statewide so far this year, compared to 370 a year ago.The government reported the fourth increase in domestic crude inventories in four weeks.&nbsp; A weekly report from the Energy Information Administration shows commercial inventories of 460 million barrels as of April 12th. Stockpiles remain about one percent below the five-year average for this time of year. Inventories in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve rose an additional 600,000 barrels, according to the Energy Information Administration report. Commercial supplies are up nearly 15 million barrels since March 15.Domestic crude production averaged 13,131,000 barrels per day last week, down 5,000 barrels per day from the week before, but up 800,000 barrels per day from a year ago. Four-week average production is down about 2,000 barrels per day for the week, but is more than a million barrels a day higher than a year ago.The Biden Administration has raised royalty rates for oil-and-gas drilling on public lands for the first time in a century. The Interior Department raised royalty rates for oil drilling by more than one third, to 16.67%, in accordance with the sweeping 2022 climate law approved by Congress. The new rule also raises the minimum bond that drillers must pay to $150,000 from $10,000.Oil patch drilling and business activity has contracted for the fifth straight quarter, and could drop more this year according to respondents to a survey by the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. Kansas is not alone in lackluster results of late: Oklahoma, Colorado and northern New Mexico showed declines in oil and gas activity. The survey included responses from 33 firms operating in the Midwest, the Rockies and parts of New Mexico. More than 75% of respondents agreed that consolidation will lead to more cautious production growth.China, the world’s largest buyer of foreign crude, imported 11.3 million barrels per day last year. According to customs data, that’s 10% more than the year before. A new government report notes refiners in China imported record volumes to support rising petrochemical and transportation-fuel needs. Russia, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq were China’s main sources. Russia topped the list last year after offering steep discounts prompted by international sanctions.

News from the Oil Patch: Royalty rates raised for drilling on public lands

A man accused of rape and criminal sodomy was found not guilty in Ellis County District Court on Friday.

The defendant, Michael “Mikey” Schmidt was originally charged with one count of rape and one count of aggravated criminal sodomy, which were filed by Robert A. Anderson Jr., Ellis County attorney, on Nov. 7, 2022.

Both charges alleged that Michael P. Schmidt committed sexual acts on or about March 17, 2021. The victim in the case alleged that she was incapable of giving consent due to the effects of alcoholic beverages or drugs.

She also alleged that her condition was known by or reasonably apparent to the defendant at the time.

An amended complaint was filed on April 8 in which the state alleged the same two charges but included alternative means under which count two was committed by the defendant. While only charged with two counts, because of the alternatives, the jury considered four counts.

A jury trial was conducted&nbsp;Tuesday through Friday in the Ellis County District Court in Hays.

The defendant, Michael “Mikey” Schmidt, was represented by Mark Hartman and Tricia Bath of Edmonds &amp; Bath, Leawood. The Ellis County Attorney Robert A. Anderson Jr represented the State of Kansas. The judge presiding over the case was Thomas J. Drees, district court judge of the 23rd Judicial District.

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostA man accused of rape and criminal sodomy was found not guilty in Ellis County District Court on Friday.The defendant, Michael “Mikey” Schmidt was originally charged with one count of rape and one count of aggravated criminal sodomy, which were filed by Robert A. Anderson Jr., Ellis County attorney, on Nov. 7, 2022.Both charges alleged that Michael P. Schmidt committed sexual acts on or about March 17, 2021. The victim in the case alleged that she was incapable of giving consent due to the effects of alcoholic beverages or drugs.She also alleged that her condition was known by or reasonably apparent to the defendant at the time.An amended complaint was filed on April 8 in which the state alleged the same two charges but included alternative means under which count two was committed by the defendant. While only charged with two counts, because of the alternatives, the jury considered four counts.A jury trial was conducted&nbsp;Tuesday through Friday in the Ellis County District Court in Hays.The defendant, Michael “Mikey” Schmidt, was represented by Mark Hartman and Tricia Bath of Edmonds &amp; Bath, Leawood. The Ellis County Attorney Robert A. Anderson Jr represented the State of Kansas. The judge presiding over the case was Thomas J. Drees, district court judge of the 23rd Judicial District.“The State was never alleging that the defendant had committed a violent or forcible sexual crime. Perhaps this is an oversimplification, but this case was a ‘too drunk to consent’ case," Anderson said.One of the main issues in dispute was whether the victim was incapable of consenting due to the effects of alcoholic beverages or drugs, Anderson said.For that reason, the jury was tasked with giving meaning to the phrase "incapable of giving consent due to the effect of alcoholic beverage or drug" and then applying the facts to the standard they set, Anderson said.Additionally, the jury was permitted to consider the defendant’s level of intoxication, in particular as it related to whether the victim's condition was known to him or whether the condition was reasonably apparent to him, Anderson said.

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