The U.S. Supreme Court has set the stage for new battles about 
government funding for private religious schools. By ruling that state 
governments choosing to subsidize private education must offer equal 
treatment to religious and secular schools, at least in the context of 
vouchers and tax credits, the court has put in place new obstacles for 
advocates who say taxpayer money should never fund religious education —
 even indirectly.

On June 30, the U.S. Supreme Court <a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/19pdf/18-1195_g314.pdf" target="_blank">ruled</a>
 in Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue that a “no-aid” clause of 
the Montana Constitution — which bars even indirect government aid to a 
school “controlled in whole or in part by any church, sect, or 
denomination” — violates the Free Exercise Clause of the U.S. 
Constitution. According to the court, the no-aid clause of the Montana 
Constitution cannot prohibit indirect state funding for religious 
schools (e.g. through vouchers or tax credits) purely because of the 
schools’ religious “status.”

Chief Justice John Roberts, writing for the court, 
explained: “A state need not subsidize private education. But once a 
state decides to do so, it cannot disqualify some private schools solely
 because they are religious.”

The court based its opinion in Espinoza on a 2017 case, Trinity Lutheran Church of Columbia, Inc. v. Comer. In <a href="https://www.oyez.org/cases/2016/15-577" target="_blank">that case</a>,
 a church-owned preschool in Missouri was barred from a state-funded 
grant program that helped non-profits resurface playgrounds. The court 
ruled that Missouri discriminated against the church-owned preschool 
“simply because of what it is — a church.” Such status-based 
discrimination did not stand up to strict scrutiny.

Importantly, the majority in Trinity Lutheran and in Espinoza referred to court precedent in <a href="https://www.oyez.org/cases/2003/02-1315" target="_blank">yet another case</a>, Locke v. Davey (2003), which upheld limitations on certain religious uses for state funds. In Locke, Joshua Davey
 was denied a state-funded scholarship because he wanted to use the 
funds to support his ministerial training. The court reasoned that 
Washington State excluded Davey because of how he intended to use the money, not just because of his status as a religious person.

Given the court’s decisions in Espinoza, Trinity Lutheran and Locke, 
those who oppose even indirect government funding for religious schools 
might adopt one or more of three legal and legislative strategies — all 
of which face serious obstacles.

First, state lawmakers could stop subsidizing all private schools, 
religious or not. Public school supporters — including some religious 
freedom advocates, like the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious 
Liberty’s <a href="https://twitter.com/AmandaTylerBJC/status/1279045687724904451" target="_blank">Amanda Tyler</a>
 — would likely welcome challenges to vouchers and tax subsidy programs,
 which indirectly support private education. Religious conservatives and
 “school choice” advocates, including U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, would vehemently oppose such a move.

Second, legislators might propose laws or constitutional amendments 
that prohibit the use of state funds for devotional religious 
instruction. Such laws and amendments might pass the muster of previous 
court decisions by limiting how religious institutions use government
 funds rather than limiting access to state funds purely on the basis of
 religious status. However, it is not yet clear whether such strategies 
will succeed before this court. In his concurring opinion in Espinoza, Justice Neil Gorsuch
 questions the distinction between denials of funds based on religious 
status versus religious use. He writes: “[I]t is not as if the First 
Amendment cares.” Justice Sonia Sotomayor might reply, 
as in her Espinoza dissent, that such an interpretation of the Free 
Exercise Clause “risks reading the Establishment Clause out of the 
Constitution.”

Third, policymakers might try to limit state funding to schools that 
do not abide by neutral antidiscrimination laws. For example, by denying
 federal funding to any schools that <a href="https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/know.html" target="_blank">discriminate</a> on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability or age, policymakers might try to block the flow of funds to <a href="https://twitter.com/rklein90/status/1277972937463586820" target="_blank">private</a>
 religious schools that bar LGBTQ or special needs students. Perhaps 
foreshadowing future challenges to government-subsidized religious 
education, groups opposing the Espinoza decision — like Americans United
 for Separation of Church and State — have already released <a href="https://www.au.org/media/press-releases/supreme-court-decision-in-espinoza-v-montana-corrupts-foundational-principle" target="_blank">statements</a> pointing out discriminatory policies among some religious schools.

There is some evidence to think this last strategy might be 
successful. In a case decided in February 2020, a state advisory 
committee in Maryland barred a private Christian school, Bethel 
Christian Academy, from a voucher program because the school violated 
the program’s antidiscrimination policies. A federal judge in February <a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/education/bs-md-bethel-lawsuit-vouchers-maryland-20200207-eqcoz7vxkvhezkdyvgze42smuq-story.html" target="_blank">sided</a> with the Maryland state officials.

But in its July 8 decision in <a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/19pdf/19-267_1an2.pdf" target="_blank">Our Lady of Guadalupe School v. Morrissey-Berru</a>, the court interpreted the <a href="https://www.freedomforum.org/2020/05/28/should-courts-decide-who-is-a-religious-minister-do-they-have-a-choice/" target="_blank">ministerial exception</a>
 to mean that antidiscrimination laws do not protect “members of the 
school staff who were entrusted most directly with the responsibility of
 educating their students in the faith” and who “guide their students, 
by word and deed, toward the goal of living their lives in accordance 
with the faith.” In his dissent in the Espinoza decision, Justice Stephen Breyer
 explicitly argues that the subsidy in question in Espinoza will pay for
 the salaries of teachers and administrators who are classified as 
“ministers” — and therefore exempt religious schools from 
antidiscrimination laws that prohibit hiring or firing based on factors 
including age or disability.

How and whether the decision in Our Lady of Guadalupe School relates 
to enforcement of antidiscrimination laws in the context of school 
funding remains to be seen. For that, and many other reasons, it is not 
yet clear which strategies lawyers and legislators will use to fight 
upcoming battles against government funding of religious schools. But 
one thing is certain: the war over government funding of private 
religious education will continue.

Benjamin P. Marcus is religious literacy specialist at the Religious Freedom Center of the Freedom Forum. His email address is: <a href="mailto:bmarcus@freedomforum.org" target="_blank">bmarcus@freedomforum.org</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1588964297688.png" alt="Benjamin P. Marcus is religious literacy specialist at the Religious Freedom Center of the Freedom Forum. " />
 <figcaption>Benjamin P. Marcus is religious literacy specialist at the Religious Freedom Center of the Freedom Forum. </figcaption>
 </figure>The U.S. Supreme Court has set the stage for new battles about 
government funding for private religious schools. By ruling that state 
governments choosing to subsidize private education must offer equal 
treatment to religious and secular schools, at least in the context of 
vouchers and tax credits, the court has put in place new obstacles for 
advocates who say taxpayer money should never fund religious education —
 even indirectly.On June 30, the U.S. Supreme Court <a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/19pdf/18-1195_g314.pdf" target="_blank">ruled</a>
 in Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue that a “no-aid” clause of 
the Montana Constitution — which bars even indirect government aid to a 
school “controlled in whole or in part by any church, sect, or 
denomination” — violates the Free Exercise Clause of the U.S. 
Constitution. According to the court, the no-aid clause of the Montana 
Constitution cannot prohibit indirect state funding for religious 
schools (e.g. through vouchers or tax credits) purely because of the 
schools’ religious “status.”Chief Justice John Roberts, writing for the court, 
explained: “A state need not subsidize private education. But once a 
state decides to do so, it cannot disqualify some private schools solely
 because they are religious.”The court based its opinion in Espinoza on a 2017 case, Trinity Lutheran Church of Columbia, Inc. v. Comer. In <a href="https://www.oyez.org/cases/2016/15-577" target="_blank">that case</a>,
 a church-owned preschool in Missouri was barred from a state-funded 
grant program that helped non-profits resurface playgrounds. The court 
ruled that Missouri discriminated against the church-owned preschool 
“simply because of what it is — a church.” Such status-based 
discrimination did not stand up to strict scrutiny.Importantly, the majority in Trinity Lutheran and in Espinoza referred to court precedent in <a href="https://www.oyez.org/cases/2003/02-1315" target="_blank">yet another case</a>, Locke v. Davey (2003), which upheld limitations on certain religious uses for state funds. In Locke, Joshua Davey
 was denied a state-funded scholarship because he wanted to use the 
funds to support his ministerial training. The court reasoned that 
Washington State excluded Davey because of how he intended to use the money, not just because of his status as a religious person.Given the court’s decisions in Espinoza, Trinity Lutheran and Locke, 
those who oppose even indirect government funding for religious schools 
might adopt one or more of three legal and legislative strategies — all 
of which face serious obstacles.First, state lawmakers could stop subsidizing all private schools, 
religious or not. Public school supporters — including some religious 
freedom advocates, like the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious 
Liberty’s <a href="https://twitter.com/AmandaTylerBJC/status/1279045687724904451" target="_blank">Amanda Tyler</a>
 — would likely welcome challenges to vouchers and tax subsidy programs,
 which indirectly support private education. Religious conservatives and
 “school choice” advocates, including U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, would vehemently oppose such a move.Second, legislators might propose laws or constitutional amendments 
that prohibit the use of state funds for devotional religious 
instruction. Such laws and amendments might pass the muster of previous 
court decisions by limiting how religious institutions use government
 funds rather than limiting access to state funds purely on the basis of
 religious status. However, it is not yet clear whether such strategies 
will succeed before this court. In his concurring opinion in Espinoza, Justice Neil Gorsuch
 questions the distinction between denials of funds based on religious 
status versus religious use. He writes: “[I]t is not as if the First 
Amendment cares.” Justice Sonia Sotomayor might reply, 
as in her Espinoza dissent, that such an interpretation of the Free 
Exercise Clause “risks reading the Establishment Clause out of the 
Constitution.”Third, policymakers might try to limit state funding to schools that 
do not abide by neutral antidiscrimination laws. For example, by denying
 federal funding to any schools that <a href="https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/know.html" target="_blank">discriminate</a> on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability or age, policymakers might try to block the flow of funds to <a href="https://twitter.com/rklein90/status/1277972937463586820" target="_blank">private</a>
 religious schools that bar LGBTQ or special needs students. Perhaps 
foreshadowing future challenges to government-subsidized religious 
education, groups opposing the Espinoza decision — like Americans United
 for Separation of Church and State — have already released <a href="https://www.au.org/media/press-releases/supreme-court-decision-in-espinoza-v-montana-corrupts-foundational-principle" target="_blank">statements</a> pointing out discriminatory policies among some religious schools.There is some evidence to think this last strategy might be 
successful. In a case decided in February 2020, a state advisory 
committee in Maryland barred a private Christian school, Bethel 
Christian Academy, from a voucher program because the school violated 
the program’s antidiscrimination policies. A federal judge in February <a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/education/bs-md-bethel-lawsuit-vouchers-maryland-20200207-eqcoz7vxkvhezkdyvgze42smuq-story.html" target="_blank">sided</a> with the Maryland state officials.But in its July 8 decision in <a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/19pdf/19-267_1an2.pdf" target="_blank">Our Lady of Guadalupe School v. Morrissey-Berru</a>, the court interpreted the <a href="https://www.freedomforum.org/2020/05/28/should-courts-decide-who-is-a-religious-minister-do-they-have-a-choice/" target="_blank">ministerial exception</a>
 to mean that antidiscrimination laws do not protect “members of the 
school staff who were entrusted most directly with the responsibility of
 educating their students in the faith” and who “guide their students, 
by word and deed, toward the goal of living their lives in accordance 
with the faith.” In his dissent in the Espinoza decision, Justice Stephen Breyer
 explicitly argues that the subsidy in question in Espinoza will pay for
 the salaries of teachers and administrators who are classified as 
“ministers” — and therefore exempt religious schools from 
antidiscrimination laws that prohibit hiring or firing based on factors 
including age or disability.How and whether the decision in Our Lady of Guadalupe School relates 
to enforcement of antidiscrimination laws in the context of school 
funding remains to be seen. For that, and many other reasons, it is not 
yet clear which strategies lawyers and legislators will use to fight 
upcoming battles against government funding of religious schools. But 
one thing is certain: the war over government funding of private 
religious education will continue.Benjamin P. Marcus is religious literacy specialist at the Religious Freedom Center of the Freedom Forum. His email address is: <a href="mailto:bmarcus@freedomforum.org" target="_blank">bmarcus@freedomforum.org</a>.

FIRST FIVE: The next battle against government funding in religious schools?

The Ellis County Ministerial Alliance has partnered with Hays Post to bring you Encouraging Words, a series of messages from Ellis County faith leaders.

<figure>
 <iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BryHsOIx5Sk"></iframe>
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The Ellis County Ministerial Alliance has partnered with Hays Post to bring you Encouraging Words, a series of messages from Ellis County faith leaders.

🎥 Encouraging Words: Deacon Ken Billinger

By RON WILSON Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development

The aroma of new-mown hay. The smell of baking bread. The sweet scent of lavender.&nbsp;&nbsp;These fragrances can connect with our senses in compelling ways. Today we’ll learn about a remarkable Kansas company which is infusing these fragrances into their soy-based candles and connecting with customers nationwide.

Scott and Jennie Andersen are the founders and co-owners of the Kansas Earth and Sky Candle Company. Jennie grew up at Ellinwood and went to the University of Kansas, where she met and married Scott. Due to his father’s business career, Scott and his family had lived in several cities around the nation before coming to Kansas City. “I was a kid from the suburbs,” Scott said.

Scott earned a graphic design degree at KU and went to work for a company in the Kansas City area. He also did design work on the side through his own business, Forcefield Design.

Then Jennie’s parents asked if they would consider moving to Ellinwood to live in their large farmhouse. Ultimately, Scott and Jennie made the move. They now have two children, ages seven and five.

Scott continued his design business from there. The company offers design services for websites, branding and logos, marketing, album art, merchandise and clothing. His company’s website is<a href="http://www.forcefielddesign.com/">www.forcefielddesign.com</a>.

“One day,” Scott said, “my wife showed me a cool candle online, and asked what I thought about getting it. I said, ‘I think I could make that.’” He did some research, got some equipment and made her a candle. It was fun, so he made candles for other family members for Christmas. The candles were so well received that this became a business. “We work as a team,” Scott said of himself and Jennie.

They weren’t sure what to name their business, but knew they wanted to use natural fragrances that related to their life in Kansas. “We wanted to highlight our small-town life,” Scott said. The business name they chose is Kansas Earth and Sky Candle Company.

“I had lived in Connecticut just before moving to Kansas City, and my buddies were giving me grief about coming to Kansas,” Scott said. “Then I got here, and it’s much bigger. The Flint Hills are awesome, and it’s amazing to me how epic western Kansas is.”

The Andersens used natural soy oil as a base for their hand-poured candles and added various fragrances. The business began to grow.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“We were pouring candles in our bedroom and it got too crowded with kids and cats,” Scott said. He and Jennie rented an old, historic building on Main Street in downtown Ellinwood. They later purchased and renovated the building, which was known as the Cyclone Building.

Today, the Kansas Earth and Sky Candle Company produces natural soy candles, soy wax melts, room spray, and lip balm. “A lot of candle companies use paraffin which is made from petroleum,” Scott said. “Our candles are made from soybeans which grow in Kansas, and they burn twice as long,” he said. “We want to be sustainable so we recycle boxes and use natural products wherever we can,” he said.

The company offers candles with home-grown fragrances such as Greener Pastures, Sunwashed Apricot, Prairie Wildflower, Sweet Clover and Alfalfa, Lavender Honey, Fresh Baked, Country Clothesline and more. The candles are poured in the back of the building where the Andersens also host candle-making classes. The front of the building is a studio gallery which features local artists. Products are sold online as well.

Kansas Earth and Sky products have gone all over North America and overseas. One wholesale account is in New Hampshire. That’s impressive for a business in a rural community such as Ellinwood, population 1,969 people. Now, that’s rural.

“We’d love to bring more people to Ellinwood,” Scott said. “It has historic underground tunnels, lots of antique stories, and good restaurants.”

For more information, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kansasearthandskycandle.com/">www.kansasearthandskycandle.com</a>.

Now we can enjoy the scent of new-mown hay or baking bread anytime we want, just by lighting a candle. We salute Scott and Jennie Andersen for their creative entrepreneurship. Their ideas make a lot of scents.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1594215647623.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By RON WILSON Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural DevelopmentThe aroma of new-mown hay. The smell of baking bread. The sweet scent of lavender.&nbsp;&nbsp;These fragrances can connect with our senses in compelling ways. Today we’ll learn about a remarkable Kansas company which is infusing these fragrances into their soy-based candles and connecting with customers nationwide.Scott and Jennie Andersen are the founders and co-owners of the Kansas Earth and Sky Candle Company. Jennie grew up at Ellinwood and went to the University of Kansas, where she met and married Scott. Due to his father’s business career, Scott and his family had lived in several cities around the nation before coming to Kansas City. “I was a kid from the suburbs,” Scott said.Scott earned a graphic design degree at KU and went to work for a company in the Kansas City area. He also did design work on the side through his own business, Forcefield Design.Then Jennie’s parents asked if they would consider moving to Ellinwood to live in their large farmhouse. Ultimately, Scott and Jennie made the move. They now have two children, ages seven and five.Scott continued his design business from there. The company offers design services for websites, branding and logos, marketing, album art, merchandise and clothing. His company’s website is<a href="http://www.forcefielddesign.com/">www.forcefielddesign.com</a>.“One day,” Scott said, “my wife showed me a cool candle online, and asked what I thought about getting it. I said, ‘I think I could make that.’” He did some research, got some equipment and made her a candle. It was fun, so he made candles for other family members for Christmas. The candles were so well received that this became a business. “We work as a team,” Scott said of himself and Jennie.They weren’t sure what to name their business, but knew they wanted to use natural fragrances that related to their life in Kansas. “We wanted to highlight our small-town life,” Scott said. The business name they chose is Kansas Earth and Sky Candle Company.“I had lived in Connecticut just before moving to Kansas City, and my buddies were giving me grief about coming to Kansas,” Scott said. “Then I got here, and it’s much bigger. The Flint Hills are awesome, and it’s amazing to me how epic western Kansas is.”The Andersens used natural soy oil as a base for their hand-poured candles and added various fragrances. The business began to grow.&nbsp;&nbsp;“We were pouring candles in our bedroom and it got too crowded with kids and cats,” Scott said. He and Jennie rented an old, historic building on Main Street in downtown Ellinwood. They later purchased and renovated the building, which was known as the Cyclone Building.Today, the Kansas Earth and Sky Candle Company produces natural soy candles, soy wax melts, room spray, and lip balm. “A lot of candle companies use paraffin which is made from petroleum,” Scott said. “Our candles are made from soybeans which grow in Kansas, and they burn twice as long,” he said. “We want to be sustainable so we recycle boxes and use natural products wherever we can,” he said.The company offers candles with home-grown fragrances such as Greener Pastures, Sunwashed Apricot, Prairie Wildflower, Sweet Clover and Alfalfa, Lavender Honey, Fresh Baked, Country Clothesline and more. The candles are poured in the back of the building where the Andersens also host candle-making classes. The front of the building is a studio gallery which features local artists. Products are sold online as well.Kansas Earth and Sky products have gone all over North America and overseas. One wholesale account is in New Hampshire. That’s impressive for a business in a rural community such as Ellinwood, population 1,969 people. Now, that’s rural.“We’d love to bring more people to Ellinwood,” Scott said. “It has historic underground tunnels, lots of antique stories, and good restaurants.”For more information, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kansasearthandskycandle.com/">www.kansasearthandskycandle.com</a>.Now we can enjoy the scent of new-mown hay or baking bread anytime we want, just by lighting a candle. We salute Scott and Jennie Andersen for their creative entrepreneurship. Their ideas make a lot of scents.

Now That’s Rural: Scott Andersen, Kansas Earth and Sky Candle Co.

Beginning at 7 a.m. Monday, the north leg of the intersection of 7th and Oak Street (700 block of Oak) will be closed to through traffic for pavement repairs in Hays. 

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

The city of Hays regrets any inconvenience this may cause to the public. If there are any questions, please call the Public Works Department at 628-7350.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/8/1564769656525.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>City of HaysBeginning at 7 a.m. Monday, the north leg of the intersection of 7th and Oak Street (700 block of Oak) will be closed to through traffic for pavement repairs in Hays. Repairs are expected to be completed by the end of the day on Friday. The city of Hays regrets any inconvenience this may cause to the public. If there are any questions, please call the Public Works Department at 628-7350.

Portion of Oak Street closed this week for repairs

Three-day weather outlook

BUNKER HILL –&nbsp;The <a href="https://www.thomascountycommunityfoundation.com/">Thomas County Community Foundation</a> has awarded Smoky Hills PBS a grant for $1,000.&nbsp;

The grant will support Smoky Hills PBS’ literacy leadership initiative in Thomas County:

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Support of children’s programming on Smoky Hills PBS ·&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Support the book distribution program that will provide books to children in head start and early head start programs in Thomas County

“We are thrilled that we once again are able to add to children’s home libraries in Thomas County,” said Larry Calvery, general manager of Smoky Hills PBS. “Educating the youth within our area is just one of the many important things we do for the folks within our viewing area!”

The TCCF Foundation was established in 2001 to support their growing community with funds necessary to keep its agencies and schools alive. 

Serving as a catalyst for community action, the Foundation continues to serve as a central hub in northwest Kansas helping their friends and neighbors carry out their philanthropic intentions.

Smoky Hills PBS serves 71 counties in central and western Kansas.&nbsp;More information on Smoky Hills PBS and its programs and projects are available at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.smokyhillspbs.org/" target="_blank">www.SmokyHillsPBS.org</a>&nbsp;or by calling 1-800-337-4788.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1589894008864.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>SHPBSBUNKER HILL –&nbsp;The <a href="https://www.thomascountycommunityfoundation.com/">Thomas County Community Foundation</a> has awarded Smoky Hills PBS a grant for $1,000.&nbsp;The grant will support Smoky Hills PBS’ literacy leadership initiative in Thomas County:·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Support of children’s programming on Smoky Hills PBS ·&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Support the book distribution program that will provide books to children in head start and early head start programs in Thomas County“We are thrilled that we once again are able to add to children’s home libraries in Thomas County,” said Larry Calvery, general manager of Smoky Hills PBS. “Educating the youth within our area is just one of the many important things we do for the folks within our viewing area!”The TCCF Foundation was established in 2001 to support their growing community with funds necessary to keep its agencies and schools alive. Serving as a catalyst for community action, the Foundation continues to serve as a central hub in northwest Kansas helping their friends and neighbors carry out their philanthropic intentions.Smoky Hills PBS serves 71 counties in central and western Kansas.&nbsp;More information on Smoky Hills PBS and its programs and projects are available at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.smokyhillspbs.org/" target="_blank">www.SmokyHillsPBS.org</a>&nbsp;or by calling 1-800-337-4788.

Thomas Co. Community Foundation provides grant to SHPBS

LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas Department of Theatre &amp; Dance recognized 78 students as recipients of its year-end awards and scholarships, totaling nearly $200,000 in financial support.

“We are thankful for the many generous alumni and friends whose donations help our students pay bills, alleviate stress and open doors to future opportunities. Our year-end awards and scholarships give us a chance to celebrate some of our students’ many stellar accomplishments and make a real difference in helping them achieve their goals,” said Henry Bial, professor and department chair.

The department has more than three dozen named scholarships and awards given out each year. The Kilty Kane Award, the highest award that can be given in recognition of outstanding contributions made to the University Theatre by a student leaving the program, was presented to Elsa Bernauer, who completed her bachelor's degree in theatre performance. The Kuhlke Humanitarian Award was presented to Lusie Cuskey, who completed her doctorate in theatre studies.

The Elizabeth Sherbon Award, the highest award that can be given in recognition of a student in the dance program, was presented to Maya Gold, now a junior in dance.

Scholarship and award recipients are as follows:

&nbsp; &nbsp;Jordyn Manhart, Hays; Jump Start Award

·&nbsp;&nbsp; Taylor Teel, Hays; Loren Kennedy Traineeship

·&nbsp;&nbsp; Ashley Ebner, Shawnee; Patricia Joyce Ellis Scholarship

·&nbsp;&nbsp; Aubrey McGettrick, Wichita; Patricia Joyce Ellis Scholarship

·&nbsp;&nbsp; Beth Roth, Jetmore; Donald and Betty Dixon Scholarship in Theatre

·&nbsp;&nbsp; Bradley Mathewson, Topeka; Theatre Departmental Scholarship

·&nbsp;&nbsp; Cassandra Ludlum, Topeka; New Theatre Guild Dennis D. Hennessy &amp; Richard Carothers Scholarship

·&nbsp;&nbsp; Chris Pendry, Lawrence; Gerhard Zuther Memorial Award for Dramatic Scriptwriting, Richard Kelton Memorial Scholarship, Loren Kennedy Traineeship

·&nbsp;&nbsp; David Ruis Fisher, Lawrence; Ethel Hinds Burch Outstanding GTA in Theatre Award

·&nbsp;&nbsp; Devan Ryan, Lawrence; Theatre Departmental Scholarship

·&nbsp;&nbsp; Dominique Waller, Shawnee; Jack B. Wright Award

·&nbsp;&nbsp; Elijah Olson, Hiawatha; Patricia Joyce Ellis Scholarship

·&nbsp;&nbsp; Ella Galbraith, Wichita; Patricia Joyce Ellis Scholarship, Loren Kennedy Traineeship

·&nbsp;&nbsp; Elsa Bernauer, Leawood; Kilty Kane Award

·&nbsp;&nbsp; Gabrielle Smith, Lansing; New Theatre Guild Dodie&nbsp;Myers Brown&nbsp;Scholarship, Loren Kennedy Traineeship, Theatre Departmental Scholarship

·&nbsp;&nbsp; Grace DiVilbiss, Lawrence; Janet Hamburg Dance Scholarship

·&nbsp;&nbsp; Hollyanna Mathews, Overland Park; Laura Louise Pryor Award

·&nbsp;&nbsp; India MacDonald, Topeka; Charles “Buddy” Rogers Scholarship

·&nbsp;&nbsp; Jacob Reitz, Seneca; Social Activism Award

·&nbsp;&nbsp; Jake Gillespie, Paola; New Theatre Guild Jacqueline and Curt&nbsp;Stokes&nbsp;Scholarship

·&nbsp;&nbsp; Jillian Wilson, Chanute; Donald and Betty Dixon Scholarship in Theatre

·&nbsp;&nbsp; John Rohr, Arkansas City; Ethel Hinds Burch Outstanding New GTA in Theatre Award

·&nbsp;&nbsp; Kaitlyn Tossie, Lawrence; Ethel Hinds Burch Outstanding GTA in Theatre Award, Susan Tisdall Niven Scholarship

·&nbsp;&nbsp; Kalen Stockton, Lawrence; New Theatre Guild Don Knotts Scholarship, Loren Kennedy Traineeship

·&nbsp;&nbsp; Kara Stobie, Overland Park; Julie Damron-Dittmer Scholarship, Kari Wahlgren Theatre Scholarship

·&nbsp;&nbsp; Kate Smeltzer, Prairie Village; Brian Ten Eyck Davis Award

·&nbsp;&nbsp; Kayleigh Shaffer, Olathe; Glenn Bickle Award

·&nbsp;&nbsp; Kennedy Brandenburg, Wichita; Adah Clarke Hagan Scholarship in Theatre

·&nbsp;&nbsp; McKenzie Needham, Andover; Stephanie Ann Smith Memorial Scholarship

·&nbsp;&nbsp; Michael Ostermann, Lawrence; Patricia Joyce Ellis Scholarship

·&nbsp;&nbsp; Olivia Young, Clay Center; Donald and Betty Dixon Scholarship in Theatre

·&nbsp;&nbsp; Paul-Michael Johnson, Emporia; Margaret Bushong and Suzanne Calvin Scholarship, Loren Kennedy Coordinator

·&nbsp;&nbsp; Petricia Hall, Salina; Claire Reinhold Scholarship

·&nbsp;&nbsp; Samantha Gotskind, Overland Park; Charles “Buddy” Rogers Scholarship

·&nbsp;&nbsp; Shayna Phillips, Lawrence; Patricia Joyce Ellis Scholarship

·&nbsp;&nbsp; Sydney Morrison, Manhattan; Elizabeth Sherbon Scholarship

·&nbsp;&nbsp; Sydney White, Lawrence; KU Dance Scholarship

·&nbsp;&nbsp; Sydney Ebner, Shawnee; KU Dance and Harry B. Craig Dance Scholarship

·&nbsp;&nbsp; Taylor Cheek, Louisburg; Barbara Nordling Dance Scholarship

·&nbsp;&nbsp; Tehreem Chaudhry, Lawrence; Friends of the Theatre Scholarship

·&nbsp;&nbsp; Teylor Hendrix, Louisburg; Harry B Craig Dance Scholarship

·&nbsp;&nbsp; Timmia Feldman Hearn, Lawrence; Ethel Hinds Burch Outstanding New GTA in Theatre Award

·&nbsp;&nbsp; Trevor Rodgers, Olathe; Alexis and Craig Stevens Performing Arts Scholarship

·&nbsp;&nbsp; Victoria Smith, Altamont; Allen Crafton Scholarship, Patricia Joyce Ellis Scholarship

·&nbsp; &nbsp;Hazel Youngquist, Perry, John David Lentz Memorial Scholarship

·&nbsp;&nbsp; Allie Thaman, Kirkwood, Missouri; Jump Start Award

·&nbsp;&nbsp; Alyssa Kendrick, Chesterfield, Missouri; Edna Bulkeley Dance Scholarship

·&nbsp;&nbsp; Arie Vasquez, Linn Creek, Missouri; KU Dance and Juanita Strait Scholarship

·&nbsp;&nbsp; Daryn Hill, St. Louis; KU Dance and Lee Family Scholarship in Dance

·&nbsp;&nbsp; Julie Turner, Lee’s Summit, Missouri; Theatre Departmental Scholarship

·&nbsp;&nbsp; Mary Spencer, Stotts City, Missouri; Charles “Buddy” Rogers Scholarship

·&nbsp;&nbsp; Matthew O’Brien, Kirkwood, Missouri; Shirley and Tom P. Rea Memorial Award

·&nbsp;&nbsp; Molly Robinson, Chesterfield, Missouri; Patricia Joyce Ellis Scholarship

·&nbsp;&nbsp; Rachel Bundstein, Kansas City, Missouri; Moxie Talent Agency Scholarship, Sally Six Hersh Scholarship

·&nbsp;&nbsp; Stella Garibaldi, Kansas City, Missouri; Jon T. Eicholtz and Barbara Eden Acting Scholarship

·&nbsp;&nbsp; Alex Hunt, Farmington, Minnesota; Janet Hamburg Dance Scholarship

·&nbsp;&nbsp; Alysha Griffin, Appling, Georgia; Joseph R. Roach Dissertation Award, Gerhard Zuther Memorial Award for Dramatic Scriptwriting

·&nbsp;&nbsp; Annalee Larsen, Papillion, Nebraska; Lee Family Scholarship in Dance and Loren Kennedy Traineeship

·&nbsp;&nbsp; Annie St. John, Waukee, Iowa; Elizabeth Sherbon &amp; Patricia Joyce Ellis Scholarships

·&nbsp;&nbsp; Bailey Dobbins, Edmonds, Washington; Charles “Buddy” Rogers Scholarship

·&nbsp;&nbsp; Chloe Ryan, Sapulpa, Oklahoma; Claire Reinhold Scholarship

·&nbsp;&nbsp; Cicely Stevenson, Nauvoo, Illinois; KU Dance Scholarship

·&nbsp;&nbsp; Denniel Correa, Arecibo, Puerto Rico; Adah Clarke Hagan Scholarship

·&nbsp;&nbsp; Grace Josin, Medina, Minnesota; Lee Family Scholarship in Dance, Loren Kennedy Traineeship

·&nbsp;&nbsp; Grace Stephan, Davenport, Iowa; Janet Hamburg Dance Scholarship

·&nbsp;&nbsp; Hanah Glimpse, Phoenix; David E. Blackwell Scholarship

·&nbsp;&nbsp; Jenny Sledge Harris, Annapolis, Maryland; Susan Tisdall Niven Scholarship

·&nbsp;&nbsp; Jessica Myrick, Grayslake, Illinois; Dorothy and Benjamin Glick Theatre Scholarship

·&nbsp;&nbsp; Katherine Patz, Tulsa, Oklahoma; New Theater Guild William and Penny Gamm Scholarship, Loren Kennedy Traineeship

·&nbsp;&nbsp; Lusie Cuskey, Louisville, Kentucky; Kuhlke Humanitarian Award

·&nbsp;&nbsp; Maricela Alaniz, Oceanside, California; Charles “Buddy” Rogers Scholarship

·&nbsp;&nbsp; Maura Corder, Pittsburgh; Loren Kennedy Scholarship

·&nbsp;&nbsp; Maya Gold, Vernon Hill, Illinois; Elizabeth Sherbon Award

·&nbsp;&nbsp; Olivia Johnson, Clive, Iowa; Janet Hamburg Dance Scholarship

·&nbsp;&nbsp; Olivia Pennell, Sherman, Illinois; Patricia Joyce Ellis Scholarship

·&nbsp;&nbsp; Princess de Marco, Chicago; Janet Hamburg Dance Scholarship

·&nbsp;&nbsp; Rory Sweedler, Louisville, Colorado; KU Dance &amp; Bernadette Robinson Scholarships

·&nbsp;&nbsp; Ryan Speert, Oak Park, California; Loren Kennedy Scholarship

The Department of Theatre &amp; Dance is one of three departments in the School of the Arts. As part of the KU College of Liberal Arts &amp; Sciences, the School of the Arts offers fresh possibilities for collaboration between the arts and the humanities, sciences, social sciences, international and interdisciplinary studies. For more information on the Department of Theatre &amp; Dance, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://theatredance.ku.edu/">theatredance.ku.edu</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The University of Kansas is a major comprehensive research and teaching university. The university's mission is to lift students and society by educating leaders, building healthy communities and making discoveries that change the world. The KU News Service is the central public relations office for the Lawrence campus.

<a href="mailto:kunews@ku.edu">kunews@ku.edu</a>&nbsp;| 1450 Jayhawk Blvd., Suite 37, Lawrence, KS 66045

LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas Department of Theatre &amp; Dance recognized 78 students as recipients of its year-end awards and scholarships, totaling nearly $200,000 in financial support.“We are thankful for the many generous alumni and friends whose donations help our students pay bills, alleviate stress and open doors to future opportunities. Our year-end awards and scholarships give us a chance to celebrate some of our students’ many stellar accomplishments and make a real difference in helping them achieve their goals,” said Henry Bial, professor and department chair.The department has more than three dozen named scholarships and awards given out each year. The Kilty Kane Award, the highest award that can be given in recognition of outstanding contributions made to the University Theatre by a student leaving the program, was presented to Elsa Bernauer, who completed her bachelor's degree in theatre performance. The Kuhlke Humanitarian Award was presented to Lusie Cuskey, who completed her doctorate in theatre studies.The Elizabeth Sherbon Award, the highest award that can be given in recognition of a student in the dance program, was presented to Maya Gold, now a junior in dance.Scholarship and award recipients are as follows:Local students:&nbsp; &nbsp;Jordyn Manhart, Hays; Jump Start Award·&nbsp;&nbsp; Taylor Teel, Hays; Loren Kennedy TraineeshipKansas·&nbsp;&nbsp; Ashley Ebner, Shawnee; Patricia Joyce Ellis Scholarship·&nbsp;&nbsp; Aubrey McGettrick, Wichita; Patricia Joyce Ellis Scholarship·&nbsp;&nbsp; Beth Roth, Jetmore; Donald and Betty Dixon Scholarship in Theatre·&nbsp;&nbsp; Bradley Mathewson, Topeka; Theatre Departmental Scholarship·&nbsp;&nbsp; Cassandra Ludlum, Topeka; New Theatre Guild Dennis D. Hennessy &amp; Richard Carothers Scholarship·&nbsp;&nbsp; Chris Pendry, Lawrence; Gerhard Zuther Memorial Award for Dramatic Scriptwriting, Richard Kelton Memorial Scholarship, Loren Kennedy Traineeship·&nbsp;&nbsp; David Ruis Fisher, Lawrence; Ethel Hinds Burch Outstanding GTA in Theatre Award·&nbsp;&nbsp; Devan Ryan, Lawrence; Theatre Departmental Scholarship·&nbsp;&nbsp; Dominique Waller, Shawnee; Jack B. Wright Award·&nbsp;&nbsp; Elijah Olson, Hiawatha; Patricia Joyce Ellis Scholarship·&nbsp;&nbsp; Ella Galbraith, Wichita; Patricia Joyce Ellis Scholarship, Loren Kennedy Traineeship·&nbsp;&nbsp; Elsa Bernauer, Leawood; Kilty Kane Award·&nbsp;&nbsp; Gabrielle Smith, Lansing; New Theatre Guild Dodie&nbsp;Myers Brown&nbsp;Scholarship, Loren Kennedy Traineeship, Theatre Departmental Scholarship·&nbsp;&nbsp; Grace DiVilbiss, Lawrence; Janet Hamburg Dance Scholarship·&nbsp;&nbsp; Hollyanna Mathews, Overland Park; Laura Louise Pryor Award·&nbsp;&nbsp; India MacDonald, Topeka; Charles “Buddy” Rogers Scholarship·&nbsp;&nbsp; Jacob Reitz, Seneca; Social Activism Award·&nbsp;&nbsp; Jake Gillespie, Paola; New Theatre Guild Jacqueline and Curt&nbsp;Stokes&nbsp;Scholarship·&nbsp;&nbsp; Jillian Wilson, Chanute; Donald and Betty Dixon Scholarship in Theatre·&nbsp;&nbsp; John Rohr, Arkansas City; Ethel Hinds Burch Outstanding New GTA in Theatre Award·&nbsp;&nbsp; Kaitlyn Tossie, Lawrence; Ethel Hinds Burch Outstanding GTA in Theatre Award, Susan Tisdall Niven Scholarship·&nbsp;&nbsp; Kalen Stockton, Lawrence; New Theatre Guild Don Knotts Scholarship, Loren Kennedy Traineeship·&nbsp;&nbsp; Kara Stobie, Overland Park; Julie Damron-Dittmer Scholarship, Kari Wahlgren Theatre Scholarship·&nbsp;&nbsp; Kate Smeltzer, Prairie Village; Brian Ten Eyck Davis Award·&nbsp;&nbsp; Kayleigh Shaffer, Olathe; Glenn Bickle Award·&nbsp;&nbsp; Kennedy Brandenburg, Wichita; Adah Clarke Hagan Scholarship in Theatre·&nbsp;&nbsp; McKenzie Needham, Andover; Stephanie Ann Smith Memorial Scholarship·&nbsp;&nbsp; Michael Ostermann, Lawrence; Patricia Joyce Ellis Scholarship·&nbsp;&nbsp; Olivia Young, Clay Center; Donald and Betty Dixon Scholarship in Theatre·&nbsp;&nbsp; Paul-Michael Johnson, Emporia; Margaret Bushong and Suzanne Calvin Scholarship, Loren Kennedy Coordinator·&nbsp;&nbsp; Petricia Hall, Salina; Claire Reinhold Scholarship·&nbsp;&nbsp; Samantha Gotskind, Overland Park; Charles “Buddy” Rogers Scholarship·&nbsp;&nbsp; Shayna Phillips, Lawrence; Patricia Joyce Ellis Scholarship·&nbsp;&nbsp; Sydney Morrison, Manhattan; Elizabeth Sherbon Scholarship·&nbsp;&nbsp; Sydney White, Lawrence; KU Dance Scholarship·&nbsp;&nbsp; Sydney Ebner, Shawnee; KU Dance and Harry B. Craig Dance Scholarship·&nbsp;&nbsp; Taylor Cheek, Louisburg; Barbara Nordling Dance Scholarship·&nbsp;&nbsp; Tehreem Chaudhry, Lawrence; Friends of the Theatre Scholarship·&nbsp;&nbsp; Teylor Hendrix, Louisburg; Harry B Craig Dance Scholarship·&nbsp;&nbsp; Timmia Feldman Hearn, Lawrence; Ethel Hinds Burch Outstanding New GTA in Theatre Award·&nbsp;&nbsp; Trevor Rodgers, Olathe; Alexis and Craig Stevens Performing Arts Scholarship·&nbsp;&nbsp; Victoria Smith, Altamont; Allen Crafton Scholarship, Patricia Joyce Ellis Scholarship·&nbsp; &nbsp;Hazel Youngquist, Perry, John David Lentz Memorial ScholarshipMissouri·&nbsp;&nbsp; Allie Thaman, Kirkwood, Missouri; Jump Start Award·&nbsp;&nbsp; Alyssa Kendrick, Chesterfield, Missouri; Edna Bulkeley Dance Scholarship·&nbsp;&nbsp; Arie Vasquez, Linn Creek, Missouri; KU Dance and Juanita Strait Scholarship·&nbsp;&nbsp; Daryn Hill, St. Louis; KU Dance and Lee Family Scholarship in Dance·&nbsp;&nbsp; Julie Turner, Lee’s Summit, Missouri; Theatre Departmental Scholarship·&nbsp;&nbsp; Mary Spencer, Stotts City, Missouri; Charles “Buddy” Rogers Scholarship·&nbsp;&nbsp; Matthew O’Brien, Kirkwood, Missouri; Shirley and Tom P. Rea Memorial Award·&nbsp;&nbsp; Molly Robinson, Chesterfield, Missouri; Patricia Joyce Ellis Scholarship·&nbsp;&nbsp; Rachel Bundstein, Kansas City, Missouri; Moxie Talent Agency Scholarship, Sally Six Hersh Scholarship·&nbsp;&nbsp; Stella Garibaldi, Kansas City, Missouri; Jon T. Eicholtz and Barbara Eden Acting ScholarshipOther states and countries·&nbsp;&nbsp; Alex Hunt, Farmington, Minnesota; Janet Hamburg Dance Scholarship·&nbsp;&nbsp; Alysha Griffin, Appling, Georgia; Joseph R. Roach Dissertation Award, Gerhard Zuther Memorial Award for Dramatic Scriptwriting·&nbsp;&nbsp; Annalee Larsen, Papillion, Nebraska; Lee Family Scholarship in Dance and Loren Kennedy Traineeship·&nbsp;&nbsp; Annie St. John, Waukee, Iowa; Elizabeth Sherbon &amp; Patricia Joyce Ellis Scholarships·&nbsp;&nbsp; Bailey Dobbins, Edmonds, Washington; Charles “Buddy” Rogers Scholarship·&nbsp;&nbsp; Chloe Ryan, Sapulpa, Oklahoma; Claire Reinhold Scholarship·&nbsp;&nbsp; Cicely Stevenson, Nauvoo, Illinois; KU Dance Scholarship·&nbsp;&nbsp; Denniel Correa, Arecibo, Puerto Rico; Adah Clarke Hagan Scholarship·&nbsp;&nbsp; Grace Josin, Medina, Minnesota; Lee Family Scholarship in Dance, Loren Kennedy Traineeship·&nbsp;&nbsp; Grace Stephan, Davenport, Iowa; Janet Hamburg Dance Scholarship·&nbsp;&nbsp; Hanah Glimpse, Phoenix; David E. Blackwell Scholarship·&nbsp;&nbsp; Jenny Sledge Harris, Annapolis, Maryland; Susan Tisdall Niven Scholarship·&nbsp;&nbsp; Jessica Myrick, Grayslake, Illinois; Dorothy and Benjamin Glick Theatre Scholarship·&nbsp;&nbsp; Katherine Patz, Tulsa, Oklahoma; New Theater Guild William and Penny Gamm Scholarship, Loren Kennedy Traineeship·&nbsp;&nbsp; Lusie Cuskey, Louisville, Kentucky; Kuhlke Humanitarian Award·&nbsp;&nbsp; Maricela Alaniz, Oceanside, California; Charles “Buddy” Rogers Scholarship·&nbsp;&nbsp; Maura Corder, Pittsburgh; Loren Kennedy Scholarship·&nbsp;&nbsp; Maya Gold, Vernon Hill, Illinois; Elizabeth Sherbon Award·&nbsp;&nbsp; Olivia Johnson, Clive, Iowa; Janet Hamburg Dance Scholarship·&nbsp;&nbsp; Olivia Pennell, Sherman, Illinois; Patricia Joyce Ellis Scholarship·&nbsp;&nbsp; Princess de Marco, Chicago; Janet Hamburg Dance Scholarship·&nbsp;&nbsp; Rory Sweedler, Louisville, Colorado; KU Dance &amp; Bernadette Robinson Scholarships·&nbsp;&nbsp; Ryan Speert, Oak Park, California; Loren Kennedy ScholarshipThe Department of Theatre &amp; Dance is one of three departments in the School of the Arts. As part of the KU College of Liberal Arts &amp; Sciences, the School of the Arts offers fresh possibilities for collaboration between the arts and the humanities, sciences, social sciences, international and interdisciplinary studies. For more information on the Department of Theatre &amp; Dance, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://theatredance.ku.edu/">theatredance.ku.edu</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;The University of Kansas is a major comprehensive research and teaching university. The university's mission is to lift students and society by educating leaders, building healthy communities and making discoveries that change the world. The KU News Service is the central public relations office for the Lawrence campus.<a href="mailto:kunews@ku.edu">kunews@ku.edu</a>&nbsp;| 1450 Jayhawk Blvd., Suite 37, Lawrence, KS 66045

KU Department of Theatre, Dance names 2020 award winners

The Kansas News Service, with the help of <a href="https://www.americaamplified.org/">America Amplified</a>, is looking 
to talk to residents of Hays, Atwood and the surrounding areas about 
what they like about their communities and what could be better, what 
brings them joy and what brings them down. We don’t know your community,
 but you do. And by listening to you, you’ll help the Kansas News 
Service do more informed reporting that matters to all of Kansas – not 
just in the towns with public radio stations. Hays Post and 
Eagle Radio of Hays invite area residents to volunteer to have a short, 
candid discussion with our partners at the Kansas News Service about the
 issues that matter to you. These discussions are not necessarily for stories, but to help northwest Kansas have a voice in the coverage of issues in the coming months and beyond.

To LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD, simply fill out the form 
below.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1593547329910.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Kansas News ServiceThe Kansas News Service, with the help of <a href="https://www.americaamplified.org/">America Amplified</a>, is looking 
to talk to residents of Hays, Atwood and the surrounding areas about 
what they like about their communities and what could be better, what 
brings them joy and what brings them down. We don’t know your community,
 but you do. And by listening to you, you’ll help the Kansas News 
Service do more informed reporting that matters to all of Kansas – not 
just in the towns with public radio stations. Hays Post and 
Eagle Radio of Hays invite area residents to volunteer to have a short, 
candid discussion with our partners at the Kansas News Service about the
 issues that matter to you. These discussions are not necessarily for stories, but to help northwest Kansas have a voice in the coverage of issues in the coming months and beyond. To LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD, simply fill out the form 
below.<div><iframe src="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf7H17KZ22WqiJP8SnG-BrTofJ_QEMGtQDFuoBpDhc03U0EUw/viewform?embedded=true" width="640" height="1119" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0">Loading…</iframe></div><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1593553014104.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

Kansas News Service wants to hear from NW Kansans

Crops like wheat, corn and sorghum remain the perennial favorites for ag producers across Kansas, but recent studies by the Kansas State Agricultural Research Station suggest adding a forage crop into a crop rotation can be beneficial to producers and the land in western Kansas.

Forage crops are already a large part of agriculture in Kansas, according to&nbsp;Bob Gillen, K-State Agriculture Research Center department head, but outside factors are generating interest into expanded use.

"Forage production is really important in Kansas,"&nbsp;Gillen said. "Kansas ranks sixth in the United States in total hay production."

Almost 2 million acres of Kansas farmland is used each year in forage production, he said, ranking it fifth in acres used by crop type in the state.

"You think about corn, wheat, sorghum, grain sorghum, but then right behind that are our annual forages," Gillen said. "So they are really important to Kansas agriculture."

Despite a large amount of forage crop production, research often focuses on the more well-known grain crops, Gillen said, but the availability of water for irrigation is pushing research into forage crops.

"We felt like there was a need there and we are trying to meet that," Gillen said.

"Forage production is important for the western Kansas region’s livestock and dairy industries and has become increasingly important as irrigation-well capacity declines," <a href="https://newprairiepress.org/kaesrr/vol5/iss7/5/">according to a study published last fall.</a>

"That's been a big focus we have been working on for six or seven years," Gillen said.

"Forages are actually a more resilient crop than grain production," he said, due to the ability to grow with less water — a common condition of Kansas fields.

"With forages, we almost always have enough precipitation to grow that stock and leaves," Gillen said.&nbsp;

Outside of water concerns, the goal of recent studies into forage production is to give producers more options, especially as grain prices have remained low and beef production continues to increase.

The recent studies looked at how forage production fits into crop rotations or how it can replace a regular rotation with all forage.

And it may be a better financial option for producers.

While historically grain crops have been "king" in Kansas due to their higher value, Gillen said, in recent years producers have been in a slump where grain crops are not as valuable.

"It allows us diversification where a producer can feed in a different kind of crop," Gillen said.

The research also found by adding a forage crop into a field rotation soil health can be improved.

Crop diversification can also give more flexibility to herbicide and weed management, Gillen said.&nbsp;

With that in mind, variety testing has also been an important part of recent research. Last year, 77 hay varieties were tested and 87 silage varieties, Gillen said.

"That gives the producers a neutral party look," he said.

"It gives another avenue, it gives another possibility," Gillen said. "That's what we are about, trying to give producers as many different options as we can to try to meet the variable weather in western Kansas and the variable marketing conditions."

<a href="https://newprairiepress.org/kaesrr/vol5/iss7/">The most recent studies published by the center can be found by clicking here.&nbsp;</a>

<div><iframe title="Adding forage crops found to be beneficial to area ag producers" height="122" width="100%" style="border: none;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/media/player/ysknd-e2aab9?from=yiiadmin&download=1&version=1&skin=3&btn-skin=101&auto=1&share=1&fonts=Helvetica&download=1&rtl=0&pbad=1"></iframe></div>By JAMES BELL Hays PostCrops like wheat, corn and sorghum remain the perennial favorites for ag producers across Kansas, but recent studies by the Kansas State Agricultural Research Station suggest adding a forage crop into a crop rotation can be beneficial to producers and the land in western Kansas.Forage crops are already a large part of agriculture in Kansas, according to&nbsp;Bob Gillen, K-State Agriculture Research Center department head, but outside factors are generating interest into expanded use."Forage production is really important in Kansas,"&nbsp;Gillen said. "Kansas ranks sixth in the United States in total hay production."Almost 2 million acres of Kansas farmland is used each year in forage production, he said, ranking it fifth in acres used by crop type in the state."You think about corn, wheat, sorghum, grain sorghum, but then right behind that are our annual forages," Gillen said. "So they are really important to Kansas agriculture."Despite a large amount of forage crop production, research often focuses on the more well-known grain crops, Gillen said, but the availability of water for irrigation is pushing research into forage crops."We felt like there was a need there and we are trying to meet that," Gillen said."Forage production is important for the western Kansas region’s livestock and dairy industries and has become increasingly important as irrigation-well capacity declines," <a href="https://newprairiepress.org/kaesrr/vol5/iss7/5/">according to a study published last fall.</a>"That's been a big focus we have been working on for six or seven years," Gillen said."Forages are actually a more resilient crop than grain production," he said, due to the ability to grow with less water — a common condition of Kansas fields."With forages, we almost always have enough precipitation to grow that stock and leaves," Gillen said.&nbsp;Outside of water concerns, the goal of recent studies into forage production is to give producers more options, especially as grain prices have remained low and beef production continues to increase.The recent studies looked at how forage production fits into crop rotations or how it can replace a regular rotation with all forage.And it may be a better financial option for producers.While historically grain crops have been "king" in Kansas due to their higher value, Gillen said, in recent years producers have been in a slump where grain crops are not as valuable."It allows us diversification where a producer can feed in a different kind of crop," Gillen said.The research also found by adding a forage crop into a field rotation soil health can be improved.Crop diversification can also give more flexibility to herbicide and weed management, Gillen said.&nbsp;With that in mind, variety testing has also been an important part of recent research. Last year, 77 hay varieties were tested and 87 silage varieties, Gillen said."That gives the producers a neutral party look," he said."It gives another avenue, it gives another possibility," Gillen said. "That's what we are about, trying to give producers as many different options as we can to try to meet the variable weather in western Kansas and the variable marketing conditions."<a href="https://newprairiepress.org/kaesrr/vol5/iss7/">The most recent studies published by the center can be found by clicking here.&nbsp;</a>

KSU Ag Research Center shows benefits of a forage-crop rotation

By DIANE GASPER-O'BRIEN&nbsp; FHSU University Relations and Marketing&nbsp; Her love of reading helped build a foundation that eventually resulted in a degree in library science. Her passion for learning brought Dr. Sherry Crow back to her roots.&nbsp; A graduate of Fort Hays State University, Crow took over last month as chair of the Advanced Education Programs at her alma mater.&nbsp; It’s a journey that comes full circle for Crow, who was born in western Kansas, moved to Hays at age 9, attended Hays public schools, then decided to continue her education across town at FHSU.&nbsp; After Crow earned her master's degree in Library Science, and a Ph.D. in Library and Information Management from Emporia State University, she and her husband, Steve, moved several times in conjunction with his career in the pharmaceutical industry. That gave Crow the opportunity to work in a variety of school and public libraries around the country.&nbsp; Crow has authored and/or co-authored five books and 21 peer-reviewed articles. Her latest work – a textbook in many library science programs and staple in most university libraries across the country – is the fifth edition of Information Literacy and Information Skills Instruction: New Directions for School Libraries. She co-authored the book with her mentor from Emporia State, Nancy Thomas, and colleagues Judy Henning and Jean Donham. It is described by the publisher as “exploring the ways in which today's Internet-savvy young people view and use information to complete school assignments and make sense of everyday life.”&nbsp; Before coming to FHSU, Crow spent the past 12 years as a professor at the University of Nebraska-Kearney, where she also served four years as an associate dean in the College of Education and helped lead its teacher education department through accreditation.&nbsp; She learned about the opening at Fort Hays State from a colleague at an accreditation conference last spring and decided to check it out. Not only did the position intrigue Crow, but her mother, 92-year-old Rosemary Hillman, still lives in Hays, as does her daughter, Sarah Eiden, and her family.&nbsp; “This was a chance to get closer to family, and I am really excited about this job,” Crow said. “There is a wonderful variety of programs in AEP. As the chair, I will teach graduate level students and lead faculty, and that fits my skill set. It all made sense to me. It’s a great next step. I’m ready for this challenge.”&nbsp; A career in education was a natural fit for Crow, whose parents both taught in one-room schoolhouses. Both her older brothers were teachers as well. All were FHSU graduates.&nbsp; Crow likes to tell the story of starting college early in life. As a 5-year-old, she would often attend class with her mother, who was taking continuing education classes at FHSU. So it was no surprise that she chose elementary education as her major. However, her first job out of college introduced her to the wonderful world of libraries. She served as the children’s librarian at the Hays Public Library for four years, and she was hooked.&nbsp; While books can take readers anywhere, Crow learned that working in the library profession can, too. After years of sharing her knowledge in several different states, her love of teaching is bringing her back home. &nbsp;&nbsp; “One of the reasons I came back to Hays is that Fort Hays State is nimble; it is innovative,” she said, using as an example how FHSU has grown consistently the last several years because of its quality online component.&nbsp; “Fort Hays State has just blossomed, and that’s innovation,” she said, “thinking outside of our own borders and not settling for the way we’ve done things in the past.”&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1594221769685.jpeg" alt="Dr. Sherry Crow" />
 <figcaption>Dr. Sherry Crow</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1594390312562.jpeg" alt="Dr. Sherry Crow, new chair of Advanced Education Programs at Fort Hays State University, sets up her home library in Hays." />
 <figcaption>Dr. Sherry Crow, new chair of Advanced Education Programs at Fort Hays State University, sets up her home library in Hays.</figcaption>
 </figure>By DIANE GASPER-O'BRIEN&nbsp; FHSU University Relations and Marketing&nbsp; Her love of reading helped build a foundation that eventually resulted in a degree in library science. Her passion for learning brought Dr. Sherry Crow back to her roots.&nbsp; A graduate of Fort Hays State University, Crow took over last month as chair of the Advanced Education Programs at her alma mater.&nbsp; It’s a journey that comes full circle for Crow, who was born in western Kansas, moved to Hays at age 9, attended Hays public schools, then decided to continue her education across town at FHSU.&nbsp; After Crow earned her master's degree in Library Science, and a Ph.D. in Library and Information Management from Emporia State University, she and her husband, Steve, moved several times in conjunction with his career in the pharmaceutical industry. That gave Crow the opportunity to work in a variety of school and public libraries around the country.&nbsp; Crow has authored and/or co-authored five books and 21 peer-reviewed articles. Her latest work – a textbook in many library science programs and staple in most university libraries across the country – is the fifth edition of Information Literacy and Information Skills Instruction: New Directions for School Libraries. She co-authored the book with her mentor from Emporia State, Nancy Thomas, and colleagues Judy Henning and Jean Donham. It is described by the publisher as “exploring the ways in which today's Internet-savvy young people view and use information to complete school assignments and make sense of everyday life.”&nbsp; Before coming to FHSU, Crow spent the past 12 years as a professor at the University of Nebraska-Kearney, where she also served four years as an associate dean in the College of Education and helped lead its teacher education department through accreditation.&nbsp; She learned about the opening at Fort Hays State from a colleague at an accreditation conference last spring and decided to check it out. Not only did the position intrigue Crow, but her mother, 92-year-old Rosemary Hillman, still lives in Hays, as does her daughter, Sarah Eiden, and her family.&nbsp; “This was a chance to get closer to family, and I am really excited about this job,” Crow said. “There is a wonderful variety of programs in AEP. As the chair, I will teach graduate level students and lead faculty, and that fits my skill set. It all made sense to me. It’s a great next step. I’m ready for this challenge.”&nbsp; A career in education was a natural fit for Crow, whose parents both taught in one-room schoolhouses. Both her older brothers were teachers as well. All were FHSU graduates.&nbsp; Crow likes to tell the story of starting college early in life. As a 5-year-old, she would often attend class with her mother, who was taking continuing education classes at FHSU. So it was no surprise that she chose elementary education as her major. However, her first job out of college introduced her to the wonderful world of libraries. She served as the children’s librarian at the Hays Public Library for four years, and she was hooked.&nbsp; While books can take readers anywhere, Crow learned that working in the library profession can, too. After years of sharing her knowledge in several different states, her love of teaching is bringing her back home. &nbsp;&nbsp; “One of the reasons I came back to Hays is that Fort Hays State is nimble; it is innovative,” she said, using as an example how FHSU has grown consistently the last several years because of its quality online component.&nbsp; “Fort Hays State has just blossomed, and that’s innovation,” she said, “thinking outside of our own borders and not settling for the way we’ve done things in the past.”&nbsp;

Journey comes full circle for new FHSU chair

By LISA HERMAN Norton Telegram

In 1970, Dick and Mary Beth Boyd purchased the Norton Daily Telegram and Wilson Carter Printers, Inc. from Howard and Iona Wilson. A few years into his ownership of the newspaper, Dick arrived home from the office one evening and gathered the family around the table. “What’s different about today’s paper?” he asked Mary Beth and the couple’s two children, Larry and Rebecca (Becky), as he proudly displayed a copy of that day’s edition next to a copy of the previous day’s publication. 

After a game of “spot the difference," Dick pointed out he had changed the typeface of the word “daily” to the iconic italicized version that would go on to grace the Norton Daily Telegram’s masthead for many years to come. “See how the letters are slanted...it shows we’re moving forward and things are happening in Norton,” he explained. From this early memory, Larry and Becky realized their father approached life with a forward-thinking mentality, instilling in them the importance of thinking positive and focusing on maintaining a can-do attitude. In the Boyd household, the word “can’t” was not acceptable. In fact, both Larry and Becky recently recalled the evening their father brought the family’s dictionary to the dining room table and crossed out the word “can’t”. “That word is no longer in our vocabulary,” he explained.&nbsp;

That positive, can-do approach perhaps is what many will remember most when they reflect back on the career and life of Dick Boyd. A fourth-generation newspaperman, he held dear his family, his friends, his country, his Christian faith, and the community of Norton. Embracing the Boyd family philosophy that his uncle McDill “Huck” Boyd instilled in him, Dick believed that community service is the rent we pay for life on this earth and he was devoted to maintaining that outlook for all the days of his community-minded career.

The son of Frank W. “Bus” and Mary Folwell (Dexter) Boyd, Richard Dexter “Dick” Boyd was born on December 12, 1936, in Concordia, Kan. Dick and his three siblings grew up in Mankato, Kan., where “Bus” and Mary owned and published the Jewell County Record. Dick was a fullback and linebacker for the Mankato High School Cougars, and his athleticism earned him a full-ride scholarship to play football for Kansas State University following his graduation from Mankato High School in 1955. While at K-State, Dick was a two-year letterman in football and he was voted “Most Inspirational Player” by his football teammates during his senior year. He was also a member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity and the Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC).&nbsp;

After graduating from K-State with a degree in technical journalism in 1959, Dick married the love of his life, Mary Beth Brooks, on August 15, 1959, in Concordia. Later that year, Dick entered the United States Army as a Second Lieutenant and was stationed at bases in Fayetteville, N.C., Baltimore, Md., and Columbus, Ga. over a two and a half year period. During that time, he also realized his dream of coaching football. As the head coach, Dick led the football team to a co-championship of the Fort Bragg (North Carolina) League in 1961.&nbsp;

Following his military service, the Boyds relocated to Phillipsburg, Kan. in 1962 where Dick went to work with his uncle, McDill “Huck” Boyd, at the Phillips County Review. For eight years, Dick served as the advertising manager, reporter, and photographer. In 1968, he received an award for “Best Advertising Idea” from the National Newspaper Association. While living in Phillipsburg, Dick and Mary Beth welcomed their first child, Larry, and welcomed their daughter, Becky, a few years later.&nbsp;

In 1970, the Boyds moved to Norton after Dick and Mary Beth purchased the Norton Daily Telegram and Wilson Carter Printers, Inc. from Howard and Iona Wilson. At that time, the Norton Daily Telegram had a circulation of 3,365 in a county population of 7,227. By 1982, however, the county’s population had dropped to 6,500 but the circulation of the Telegram had increased to 3,613. The Norton Daily Telegram had the largest circulation in the nation among counties the size of Norton as a result of its coverage outside of Norton County, which included the communities of Almena, Densmore, Edmond, Jennings, Lenora, Logan, Long Island, Norcatur, and Prairie View. The Telegram also provided coverage of the surrounding communities of Beaver City (Nebraska), Hill City, Oberlin, Phillipsburg, and Wilsonville (Nebraska).

In the early 1970s, the Norton Daily Telegram was printed six days a week. News stories came into the office on an Associated Press machine, which fed in local, state, and world news 24 hours per day. Long before the idea of computer layout was introduced, the Telegram’s newspaper pages were put together on layout sheets in Composition. Everything was cut and paste, and all the copy used to be run through a hot wax machine before being pasted on the layout sheets. Using a compugraphic phototypesetting machine, each line of type had to be separate, using codes to determine the size and width in picas, a typographic unit of measurement.&nbsp;

“In his days as editor, he liked to be the one to lay out the front page each day and this often kept the staff at the Telegram waiting,” Dick’s daughter, Becky, recalls. “His attention to detail was the root cause of this.” It was typical for Dick to stay up all night writing stories and printing pictures. After coming home to grab a few hours of sleep, he would return to the office between 10 and 11 a.m. to put the front page together. “He would decide where all the stories and pictures would go with the compositional considerations of a true artist,” Becky said.&nbsp;

In his earlier years of ownership of the Telegram, Larry says his father displayed quickness and dexterity on the keys of his Underwood typewriter as he wrote thousands of stories and picture captions. “Following a night of Blue Jay sports and post-game interviews, he would return to the office with his news pad and pen, then commence to create a rhythmic rattle on that Underwood typewriter,” Larry said. “He composed the words line by line, hitting that carriage return emphatically to get to the next line down before assigning more words to the body of the story. He would write until the early morning hours.”

Throughout his career, Dick’s Underwood typewriter often went right along with him wherever there was news to be covered. As technology evolved, however, the Telegram office began transitioning to computers nearly two decades after the Boyds purchased the Norton Daily Telegram. Evolving technology was a challenge for the office at that time. For the majority of his career, Dick used an antique camera and all his notes were composed with pen and paper. Though he preferred to stick with the methods he found to work best, Dick would eventually make the transition and become familiar with using a computer instead of the Underwood typewriter.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“Often at night,” Larry added, “Dick would also develop all rolls of film taken by himself, the reporter, and the advertising manager, spending hours in the small photographic darkroom in the back of the office.” When it came to printing pictures, it was typical for multiple prints to be made as Dick always desired for the perfect lighting and contrast.&nbsp;

With his forward-thinking mentality and can-do attitude, Dick often recited the popular saying, “Fear is that little darkroom where negatives are developed.” “Those late night/early morning work sessions were part of his routine as he strived to make the Norton Daily Telegram a worthy chronicle of the events, accomplishments and achievements of the people within the Norton community and beyond,” Larry said.

For the 32 years they owned the Telegram, Dick and Mary Beth published the newspaper locally and inserts were manually stuffed into each edition by members of the Telegram staff. “Ultimately, with only 24 hours in the day, there were deadlines to make,” Becky said. When needed, Mary Beth was always helpful by stepping in to serve as a substitute news reporter, society editor, or proofreader.&nbsp;

“Throughout my childhood, Mom and Larry and I would often be called down to the Telegram to help stuff inserts into the paper in order to “make the mail”, Becky added. “Hot off the press, he [Dick] would take and stuff a huge stack of papers faster than anyone there.” Larry recalls his father’s method, which involved stuffing so fast that one paper would be falling to the pile while the next one was being stuffed. “These gestures of making every second count often worked,” Becky said. “But, of course, there were also times when we would miss the mail truck as it departed Norton.” With his can-do attitude, Dick would load up the car with mail bags and drive them to Phillipsburg, determined to pass the mail truck on the highway and have all the bags there waiting when it arrived.&nbsp;

“It takes passion to make a single second of life really mean something more than the literal passing of a second of time,” Becky said. “Athletics”, as he used to refer to all sports, taught Dick about the importance of such timing when he was young, and Becky feels her father was hard-wired thereafter to squeeze the most out of every second of the day. “In those 32 years as editor and publisher of the Norton Daily Telegram, there is no denying that he aimed to do more than was physically possible in a single day,” she said. Dick was known to be routinely late, and it was usually a case of him trying to fit in one more thing. “One more call to someone so he could finish a story or check that he had the correct spelling of a name, develop a roll of film...or three, all routine tasks which he did with great efficiency, but which sometimes spilled into the next place he wanted to be.” Mary Beth often had to explain Dick’s lateness to people by reminding them that he had needed to be in two places at once. “He was always on his way to do something for someone else,” Becky added.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Dick truly loved Norton, Becky says, and he loved the people here and across the state of Kansas. She can recall many times when the family would be out of town together and it seemed they would run into people her father knew at every turn. “He absolutely loved starting conversations with friends and strangers, too,” she said. “I think he looked for these opportunities, to be honest. In those busiest of years, Mom, Larry, and I didn’t get as much time with him as we would have liked, but we felt his passion for what he was doing and we respected his desire to make a contribution to the county that he loved.”

Becky added, “When we did have him to ourselves around the dinner table, the conversation was so often filled with praise and admiration for someone he had encountered that day. Such was his passion and deep feeling for people he often became tearful as he recounted a happy or meaningful story about someone...and these tears would soon be in all of our eyes as well, because we could feel how genuine his emotions were.”

Together, Dick and Mary Beth were the owners and publishers of the Telegram until they sold the newspaper to Steve and Cynthia Haynes in 2002 with the understanding that Dick would continue to cover local athletics. Dick continued to serve as the Telegram’s sportswriter and proofreader for another 18 years. In five decades, Dick had missed attending and covering just six Norton high school Blue Jay football games.&nbsp;

During Boyd’s ownership of the Norton Daily Telegram, the newspaper and its staff were frequently recognized with awards in the Kansas Better Newspaper and National Newspaper Association contests. In 1981, Dick received the Award for Outstanding Journalism from the Nebraska General Federation of Women’s Clubs. The Kansas Wrestling Coaches Association selected Dick as Media Person of the Year in 1992, 2000, and 2009. He was honored as the Tommy Davidson Blue Jay Booster of the Year in 2001, and later was selected as the recipient of the Kansas State High School Activities Association’s (KSHSAA) Oscar Stauffer Award for Sports Writing. Dick was nominated for that award by the Norton School District’s administrators for his dedication and for “the consistent high quality of his work”.&nbsp;

Also during his time with the Telegram, many organizations presented him with awards of appreciation for his support of their efforts, including: the Norton County Conservation District, Norton County 4-H clubs, the Norton Fire Department. U.S. Jaycees, the Norton Future Farmers of America, the Unified School District 211, the Norton Area Chamber of Commerce, the Boot Hill All-Star Basketball Classic, and the Dane G. Hansen Memorial Museum Association.

Near the end of Dick’s life, he and his wife, Mary Beth, were touched and honored to be selected as the 2020 recipients of the Huck Boyd Award for Community Journalism. The award comes from the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at K-State and the Huck Boyd National Center for Community Media in the A.Q. Miller School of Journalism and Mass Communications at Kansas State University. An awards luncheon was to be held, however it had to be cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Thankfully, the Boyd family was able to receive word about the award - one of Dick and Mary Beth’s last greatest achievements together - before Dick’s death.

Dick was an active member of the Norton First United Methodist Church and the Harmonson-Redd American Legion Post #63. He served as the president of the Norton Area Chamber of Commerce in 1974, and received an Honorary Chapter Degree from the Norton Future Farmers of America that same year. From 1970 to 1976, he served on the Valley Hope Association’s board of directors. Dick was a member of the Norton Lions Club for over 50 years, was a past member of the Norton Rotary Club, and was also involved with the Native Sons and Daughters of Kansas for a number of years, including serving on the board of officers. He served as the president in 2006. He also served his alma mater in another capacity after he was elected to the Kansas State Alumni Association board of directors.

Dick’s interest in physical fitness led to him participating in the annual Biking Across Kansas event for 12 straight summers - over 5,000 miles! In 1990, he was awarded the Biking Across Kansas Spirit Award, having been selected from among the hundreds of bicyclists who made the border-to-border trek. He loved going jogging and walking, and was always eager to keep track of how far he’d gone and how much further he needed to go to reach a milestone. “He was never willing to give up when he wanted to hit a goal,” Larry said. “He was always looking ahead.”&nbsp;

Dick was also a member of the selection committee for the Kansas Shrine Bowl All-Star Football Game for many years. The Kansas Sports Hall of Fame was very important to Dick, as he was not only voted to select those who would be inducted but he aggressively urged the Kansas Legislature to pass legislation to fund the continuance of its existence.&nbsp;

“Expressive of his desire to always have more time, he went through a long phase of telling us that he wanted to live to be 120,” Becky said. “Over the years, he loved interviewing the many centenarians of Norton County, always asking them for their secret in living to be 100. I know he wasn’t ready to depart this world yet, but I’m confident he didn’t take living to 83 for granted and felt so fortunate throughout this life that he wouldn’t have changed a thing. He certainly used his time well and touched many lives.”

In the eulogy written for his father’s memorial service, Larry Boyd reflected back on what an honor it was to have been part of his father’s career for so many years, working alongside him in the newspaper office and being with him at many events in Norton and the surrounding communities. Dick is remembered as loving his family, his friends, his country, his Christian faith, and the community of Norton with all his heart. “He loved giving credit to worthy causes and those who were in pursuit of such,” Larry wrote. “He played the game of football that he loved, with heart. He covered the Blue Jays and other area high school teams, with heart.”&nbsp;

Larry added he will miss his dad’s strong handshake. “He felt a good handshake was a sign of one’s character,” he wrote. “Those strong hands that had served him well when carrying the football as a high school fullback would later be utilized to write the pages and pages of notes on the news pads as he chronicled the events of this community for 50 years.”

On June 25, 2020, fighting against his failing health until the final breath, Dick crossed the goal line at the end of his life on this earth. “He had made a steady and strong effort to reach the end zone with time running out,” Larry wrote. “He had lowered his shoulder often, to ward off the hits as he moved forward to the goal. Always looking ahead, that was my Dad, Richard Dexter Boyd. His hands were still strong as they grasped those of Mom, Becky and I in the hospital room. Those hands that had served him so well as he used them for many years to serve others. His heart willed his body to continue on until his spirit dove forward into the end zone for one final touchdown.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1593455741372.jpeg" alt="<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/d1392513-8de2-418d-81cb-90f1f81606ae">Dick Boyd&nbsp;</a>" />
 <figcaption><a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/d1392513-8de2-418d-81cb-90f1f81606ae">Dick Boyd&nbsp;</a></figcaption>
 </figure>By LISA HERMAN Norton TelegramIn 1970, Dick and Mary Beth Boyd purchased the Norton Daily Telegram and Wilson Carter Printers, Inc. from Howard and Iona Wilson. A few years into his ownership of the newspaper, Dick arrived home from the office one evening and gathered the family around the table. “What’s different about today’s paper?” he asked Mary Beth and the couple’s two children, Larry and Rebecca (Becky), as he proudly displayed a copy of that day’s edition next to a copy of the previous day’s publication. After a game of “spot the difference," Dick pointed out he had changed the typeface of the word “daily” to the iconic italicized version that would go on to grace the Norton Daily Telegram’s masthead for many years to come. “See how the letters are slanted...it shows we’re moving forward and things are happening in Norton,” he explained. From this early memory, Larry and Becky realized their father approached life with a forward-thinking mentality, instilling in them the importance of thinking positive and focusing on maintaining a can-do attitude. In the Boyd household, the word “can’t” was not acceptable. In fact, both Larry and Becky recently recalled the evening their father brought the family’s dictionary to the dining room table and crossed out the word “can’t”. “That word is no longer in our vocabulary,” he explained.&nbsp;That positive, can-do approach perhaps is what many will remember most when they reflect back on the career and life of Dick Boyd. A fourth-generation newspaperman, he held dear his family, his friends, his country, his Christian faith, and the community of Norton. Embracing the Boyd family philosophy that his uncle McDill “Huck” Boyd instilled in him, Dick believed that community service is the rent we pay for life on this earth and he was devoted to maintaining that outlook for all the days of his community-minded career.<h2>Early Years</h2>The son of Frank W. “Bus” and Mary Folwell (Dexter) Boyd, Richard Dexter “Dick” Boyd was born on December 12, 1936, in Concordia, Kan. Dick and his three siblings grew up in Mankato, Kan., where “Bus” and Mary owned and published the Jewell County Record. Dick was a fullback and linebacker for the Mankato High School Cougars, and his athleticism earned him a full-ride scholarship to play football for Kansas State University following his graduation from Mankato High School in 1955. While at K-State, Dick was a two-year letterman in football and he was voted “Most Inspirational Player” by his football teammates during his senior year. He was also a member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity and the Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC).&nbsp;After graduating from K-State with a degree in technical journalism in 1959, Dick married the love of his life, Mary Beth Brooks, on August 15, 1959, in Concordia. Later that year, Dick entered the United States Army as a Second Lieutenant and was stationed at bases in Fayetteville, N.C., Baltimore, Md., and Columbus, Ga. over a two and a half year period. During that time, he also realized his dream of coaching football. As the head coach, Dick led the football team to a co-championship of the Fort Bragg (North Carolina) League in 1961.&nbsp;Following his military service, the Boyds relocated to Phillipsburg, Kan. in 1962 where Dick went to work with his uncle, McDill “Huck” Boyd, at the Phillips County Review. For eight years, Dick served as the advertising manager, reporter, and photographer. In 1968, he received an award for “Best Advertising Idea” from the National Newspaper Association. While living in Phillipsburg, Dick and Mary Beth welcomed their first child, Larry, and welcomed their daughter, Becky, a few years later.&nbsp;<h2>Assuming Ownership</h2>In 1970, the Boyds moved to Norton after Dick and Mary Beth purchased the Norton Daily Telegram and Wilson Carter Printers, Inc. from Howard and Iona Wilson. At that time, the Norton Daily Telegram had a circulation of 3,365 in a county population of 7,227. By 1982, however, the county’s population had dropped to 6,500 but the circulation of the Telegram had increased to 3,613. The Norton Daily Telegram had the largest circulation in the nation among counties the size of Norton as a result of its coverage outside of Norton County, which included the communities of Almena, Densmore, Edmond, Jennings, Lenora, Logan, Long Island, Norcatur, and Prairie View. The Telegram also provided coverage of the surrounding communities of Beaver City (Nebraska), Hill City, Oberlin, Phillipsburg, and Wilsonville (Nebraska).In the early 1970s, the Norton Daily Telegram was printed six days a week. News stories came into the office on an Associated Press machine, which fed in local, state, and world news 24 hours per day. Long before the idea of computer layout was introduced, the Telegram’s newspaper pages were put together on layout sheets in Composition. Everything was cut and paste, and all the copy used to be run through a hot wax machine before being pasted on the layout sheets. Using a compugraphic phototypesetting machine, each line of type had to be separate, using codes to determine the size and width in picas, a typographic unit of measurement.&nbsp;“In his days as editor, he liked to be the one to lay out the front page each day and this often kept the staff at the Telegram waiting,” Dick’s daughter, Becky, recalls. “His attention to detail was the root cause of this.” It was typical for Dick to stay up all night writing stories and printing pictures. After coming home to grab a few hours of sleep, he would return to the office between 10 and 11 a.m. to put the front page together. “He would decide where all the stories and pictures would go with the compositional considerations of a true artist,” Becky said.&nbsp;In his earlier years of ownership of the Telegram, Larry says his father displayed quickness and dexterity on the keys of his Underwood typewriter as he wrote thousands of stories and picture captions. “Following a night of Blue Jay sports and post-game interviews, he would return to the office with his news pad and pen, then commence to create a rhythmic rattle on that Underwood typewriter,” Larry said. “He composed the words line by line, hitting that carriage return emphatically to get to the next line down before assigning more words to the body of the story. He would write until the early morning hours.”Throughout his career, Dick’s Underwood typewriter often went right along with him wherever there was news to be covered. As technology evolved, however, the Telegram office began transitioning to computers nearly two decades after the Boyds purchased the Norton Daily Telegram. Evolving technology was a challenge for the office at that time. For the majority of his career, Dick used an antique camera and all his notes were composed with pen and paper. Though he preferred to stick with the methods he found to work best, Dick would eventually make the transition and become familiar with using a computer instead of the Underwood typewriter.&nbsp;&nbsp;“Often at night,” Larry added, “Dick would also develop all rolls of film taken by himself, the reporter, and the advertising manager, spending hours in the small photographic darkroom in the back of the office.” When it came to printing pictures, it was typical for multiple prints to be made as Dick always desired for the perfect lighting and contrast.&nbsp;With his forward-thinking mentality and can-do attitude, Dick often recited the popular saying, “Fear is that little darkroom where negatives are developed.” “Those late night/early morning work sessions were part of his routine as he strived to make the Norton Daily Telegram a worthy chronicle of the events, accomplishments and achievements of the people within the Norton community and beyond,” Larry said.For the 32 years they owned the Telegram, Dick and Mary Beth published the newspaper locally and inserts were manually stuffed into each edition by members of the Telegram staff. “Ultimately, with only 24 hours in the day, there were deadlines to make,” Becky said. When needed, Mary Beth was always helpful by stepping in to serve as a substitute news reporter, society editor, or proofreader.&nbsp;“Throughout my childhood, Mom and Larry and I would often be called down to the Telegram to help stuff inserts into the paper in order to “make the mail”, Becky added. “Hot off the press, he [Dick] would take and stuff a huge stack of papers faster than anyone there.” Larry recalls his father’s method, which involved stuffing so fast that one paper would be falling to the pile while the next one was being stuffed. “These gestures of making every second count often worked,” Becky said. “But, of course, there were also times when we would miss the mail truck as it departed Norton.” With his can-do attitude, Dick would load up the car with mail bags and drive them to Phillipsburg, determined to pass the mail truck on the highway and have all the bags there waiting when it arrived.&nbsp;<h2>Timing</h2>“It takes passion to make a single second of life really mean something more than the literal passing of a second of time,” Becky said. “Athletics”, as he used to refer to all sports, taught Dick about the importance of such timing when he was young, and Becky feels her father was hard-wired thereafter to squeeze the most out of every second of the day. “In those 32 years as editor and publisher of the Norton Daily Telegram, there is no denying that he aimed to do more than was physically possible in a single day,” she said. Dick was known to be routinely late, and it was usually a case of him trying to fit in one more thing. “One more call to someone so he could finish a story or check that he had the correct spelling of a name, develop a roll of film...or three, all routine tasks which he did with great efficiency, but which sometimes spilled into the next place he wanted to be.” Mary Beth often had to explain Dick’s lateness to people by reminding them that he had needed to be in two places at once. “He was always on his way to do something for someone else,” Becky added.&nbsp;&nbsp;Dick truly loved Norton, Becky says, and he loved the people here and across the state of Kansas. She can recall many times when the family would be out of town together and it seemed they would run into people her father knew at every turn. “He absolutely loved starting conversations with friends and strangers, too,” she said. “I think he looked for these opportunities, to be honest. In those busiest of years, Mom, Larry, and I didn’t get as much time with him as we would have liked, but we felt his passion for what he was doing and we respected his desire to make a contribution to the county that he loved.”Becky added, “When we did have him to ourselves around the dinner table, the conversation was so often filled with praise and admiration for someone he had encountered that day. Such was his passion and deep feeling for people he often became tearful as he recounted a happy or meaningful story about someone...and these tears would soon be in all of our eyes as well, because we could feel how genuine his emotions were.”Together, Dick and Mary Beth were the owners and publishers of the Telegram until they sold the newspaper to Steve and Cynthia Haynes in 2002 with the understanding that Dick would continue to cover local athletics. Dick continued to serve as the Telegram’s sportswriter and proofreader for another 18 years. In five decades, Dick had missed attending and covering just six Norton high school Blue Jay football games.&nbsp;<h2>A Remarkable Career</h2>During Boyd’s ownership of the Norton Daily Telegram, the newspaper and its staff were frequently recognized with awards in the Kansas Better Newspaper and National Newspaper Association contests. In 1981, Dick received the Award for Outstanding Journalism from the Nebraska General Federation of Women’s Clubs. The Kansas Wrestling Coaches Association selected Dick as Media Person of the Year in 1992, 2000, and 2009. He was honored as the Tommy Davidson Blue Jay Booster of the Year in 2001, and later was selected as the recipient of the Kansas State High School Activities Association’s (KSHSAA) Oscar Stauffer Award for Sports Writing. Dick was nominated for that award by the Norton School District’s administrators for his dedication and for “the consistent high quality of his work”.&nbsp;Also during his time with the Telegram, many organizations presented him with awards of appreciation for his support of their efforts, including: the Norton County Conservation District, Norton County 4-H clubs, the Norton Fire Department. U.S. Jaycees, the Norton Future Farmers of America, the Unified School District 211, the Norton Area Chamber of Commerce, the Boot Hill All-Star Basketball Classic, and the Dane G. Hansen Memorial Museum Association.Near the end of Dick’s life, he and his wife, Mary Beth, were touched and honored to be selected as the 2020 recipients of the Huck Boyd Award for Community Journalism. The award comes from the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at K-State and the Huck Boyd National Center for Community Media in the A.Q. Miller School of Journalism and Mass Communications at Kansas State University. An awards luncheon was to be held, however it had to be cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Thankfully, the Boyd family was able to receive word about the award - one of Dick and Mary Beth’s last greatest achievements together - before Dick’s death.<h2>A Well-Lived Life</h2>Dick was an active member of the Norton First United Methodist Church and the Harmonson-Redd American Legion Post #63. He served as the president of the Norton Area Chamber of Commerce in 1974, and received an Honorary Chapter Degree from the Norton Future Farmers of America that same year. From 1970 to 1976, he served on the Valley Hope Association’s board of directors. Dick was a member of the Norton Lions Club for over 50 years, was a past member of the Norton Rotary Club, and was also involved with the Native Sons and Daughters of Kansas for a number of years, including serving on the board of officers. He served as the president in 2006. He also served his alma mater in another capacity after he was elected to the Kansas State Alumni Association board of directors.Dick’s interest in physical fitness led to him participating in the annual Biking Across Kansas event for 12 straight summers - over 5,000 miles! In 1990, he was awarded the Biking Across Kansas Spirit Award, having been selected from among the hundreds of bicyclists who made the border-to-border trek. He loved going jogging and walking, and was always eager to keep track of how far he’d gone and how much further he needed to go to reach a milestone. “He was never willing to give up when he wanted to hit a goal,” Larry said. “He was always looking ahead.”&nbsp;Dick was also a member of the selection committee for the Kansas Shrine Bowl All-Star Football Game for many years. The Kansas Sports Hall of Fame was very important to Dick, as he was not only voted to select those who would be inducted but he aggressively urged the Kansas Legislature to pass legislation to fund the continuance of its existence.&nbsp;<h2>Reflections</h2>“Expressive of his desire to always have more time, he went through a long phase of telling us that he wanted to live to be 120,” Becky said. “Over the years, he loved interviewing the many centenarians of Norton County, always asking them for their secret in living to be 100. I know he wasn’t ready to depart this world yet, but I’m confident he didn’t take living to 83 for granted and felt so fortunate throughout this life that he wouldn’t have changed a thing. He certainly used his time well and touched many lives.”In the eulogy written for his father’s memorial service, Larry Boyd reflected back on what an honor it was to have been part of his father’s career for so many years, working alongside him in the newspaper office and being with him at many events in Norton and the surrounding communities. Dick is remembered as loving his family, his friends, his country, his Christian faith, and the community of Norton with all his heart. “He loved giving credit to worthy causes and those who were in pursuit of such,” Larry wrote. “He played the game of football that he loved, with heart. He covered the Blue Jays and other area high school teams, with heart.”&nbsp;Larry added he will miss his dad’s strong handshake. “He felt a good handshake was a sign of one’s character,” he wrote. “Those strong hands that had served him well when carrying the football as a high school fullback would later be utilized to write the pages and pages of notes on the news pads as he chronicled the events of this community for 50 years.”On June 25, 2020, fighting against his failing health until the final breath, Dick crossed the goal line at the end of his life on this earth. “He had made a steady and strong effort to reach the end zone with time running out,” Larry wrote. “He had lowered his shoulder often, to ward off the hits as he moved forward to the goal. Always looking ahead, that was my Dad, Richard Dexter Boyd. His hands were still strong as they grasped those of Mom, Becky and I in the hospital room. Those hands that had served him so well as he used them for many years to serve others. His heart willed his body to continue on until his spirit dove forward into the end zone for one final touchdown.”Published with permission