WASHINGTON, D.C. — Starting November 20, every U.S. household can again place an order to receive four more free COVID-19 rapid tests delivered directly to their home. If you didn’t order tests since the program reopened in September, the site will let you place two orders for a total of eight tests. Order your test kits through&nbsp;<a href="https://www.covid.gov/tests">COVIDtests.gov</a>. Orders will ship free starting the week of November 27, 2023.

The kits will include&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/coronavirus-covid-19-and-medical-devices/home-otc-covid-19-diagnostic-tests#list">instructions on how to verify extended expiration dates</a>.&nbsp;Many kits have had their expiration dates extended beyond what may be printed on the packaging.

You don’t have to pay for shipping, and you’ll never be asked for a credit card or bank account number. You only need to give a name and shipping address. If you’d like an email confirmation and delivery updates from the U.S. Postal Service, you can submit your email address.&nbsp;

Anyone who asks for more information than that is a scammer.&nbsp;So, remember:

• Only go to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.covidtests.gov/" target="_blank">COVIDtests.gov</a>&nbsp;to order your free test kits from the federal government. When you click to order, you’ll be redirected to&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/now-leaving?external_url=https%3A%2F%2Fspecial.usps.com%2Ftestkits&amp;back_url=https%3A%2F%2Fconsumer.ftc.gov%2Fconsumer-alerts%2F2022%2F01%2Fits-official-get-free-covid-test-kits-covidtestsgov" target="_blank">special.usps.com/testkits</a>. If you’re following a link from a news story, double-check the URL that shows in your browser’s address bar.&nbsp;

•&nbsp; No one will call, text, or email you from the federal government to ask for your information to “help” you order free kits. Don’t give out your credit card, bank account, or Social Security number. Do not respond. Instead, report it to the FTC at&nbsp;<a href="https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/#/" target="_blank">ReportFraud.ftc.gov</a>.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1700669159105.png" alt="Federal Trade Commission" />
 <figcaption>Federal Trade Commission</figcaption>
 </figure>FTCWASHINGTON, D.C. — Starting November 20, every U.S. household can again place an order to receive four more free COVID-19 rapid tests delivered directly to their home. If you didn’t order tests since the program reopened in September, the site will let you place two orders for a total of eight tests. Order your test kits through&nbsp;<a href="https://www.covid.gov/tests">COVIDtests.gov</a>. Orders will ship free starting the week of November 27, 2023.The kits will include&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/coronavirus-covid-19-and-medical-devices/home-otc-covid-19-diagnostic-tests#list">instructions on how to verify extended expiration dates</a>.&nbsp;Many kits have had their expiration dates extended beyond what may be printed on the packaging.You don’t have to pay for shipping, and you’ll never be asked for a credit card or bank account number. You only need to give a name and shipping address. If you’d like an email confirmation and delivery updates from the U.S. Postal Service, you can submit your email address.&nbsp;Anyone who asks for more information than that is a scammer.&nbsp;So, remember:• Only go to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.covidtests.gov/" target="_blank">COVIDtests.gov</a>&nbsp;to order your free test kits from the federal government. When you click to order, you’ll be redirected to&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/now-leaving?external_url=https%3A%2F%2Fspecial.usps.com%2Ftestkits&amp;back_url=https%3A%2F%2Fconsumer.ftc.gov%2Fconsumer-alerts%2F2022%2F01%2Fits-official-get-free-covid-test-kits-covidtestsgov" target="_blank">special.usps.com/testkits</a>. If you’re following a link from a news story, double-check the URL that shows in your browser’s address bar.&nbsp;•&nbsp; No one will call, text, or email you from the federal government to ask for your information to “help” you order free kits. Don’t give out your credit card, bank account, or Social Security number. Do not respond. Instead, report it to the FTC at&nbsp;<a href="https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/#/" target="_blank">ReportFraud.ftc.gov</a>.&nbsp;

Free COVID test kits are back: Here’s how to get yours

<a href="https://hayspost.com/pages/state-farm-weather-window">For a full look at the weather forecast, click here.</a>

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 </figure><a href="https://hayspost.com/pages/state-farm-weather-window">For a full look at the weather forecast, click here.</a>

Three-day weather outlook

Victoria Coalition sets holiday tours for Dec. 9, 10

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Ellis County Jail booking Nov. 22-Nov. 26

ELLIS COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just before 8a.m. Monday in Ellis County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2008 Ford Escape driven by Austin Kyle&nbsp;Starks, 26, Hutchinson, was&nbsp;southbound on Commerce Parkway at Interstate 70.

The SUV struck a 2015 Lexus RX350 driven by Carter Ridgely&nbsp;Harrison, 77, Prairie Village, who was exiting and traveling across. Vehicle one struck vehicle two.

EMS transported Starks to Hays Medical Center.&nbsp;Harrison and a passenger were not injured. All three were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

ELLIS COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just before 8a.m. Monday in Ellis County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2008 Ford Escape driven by Austin Kyle&nbsp;Starks, 26, Hutchinson, was&nbsp;southbound on Commerce Parkway at Interstate 70.The SUV struck a 2015 Lexus RX350 driven by Carter Ridgely&nbsp;Harrison, 77, Prairie Village, who was exiting and traveling across. Vehicle one struck vehicle two.EMS transported Starks to Hays Medical Center.&nbsp;Harrison and a passenger were not injured. All three were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

Kansas man hospitalized after 2-vehicle crash

In New York, Friday's settlement of $75.54 per barrel for light sweet crude was down $1.56 on the day. That's a weekly loss of more than 30 cents despite gains of up to $2 a barrel during the week.

Current prices are $10 lower than a month ago. By lunchtime Monday, Nymex crude was trading below $75 a barrel. London Brent was below $81 a barrel at midday.

The government said U.S. crude inventories rose by nearly 9 million barrels to just over 448 million barrels as of Nov. 17. That's about 1 percent below the five-year average for this time of year, but the highest stockpile total since July.

EIA said domestic crude imports rose to 6.5 million barrels per day. The four-week average is up almost 2 percent over the same four weeks a year ago. U.S. crude production dipped slightly last week, but it was still among the best weeks ever at 13,214,000 barrels per day.

The tally from the Energy Information Administration is 19,000 barrels per day lower than a week ago, and just over 1 million barrels per day higher than the same week a year ago. Output has exceeded 13.2 million barrels per day for each of the last seven weeks.

Monthly production reports in Kansas offer a mixed comparison to last year, which was the second-worst, and in some counties the worst, on record.

Statewide output in July was down from June. The one-month and cumulative tally are both down from last year. Records maintained by the Kansas Geological Survey show a continuing downward trend-line from the state's leading producer Ellis County.

Last year's annual total in Ellis County was the worst ever. July output is up from June but down from a year ago.&nbsp;Last year's output in Barton County topped the previous two years but had not yet reached pre-pandemic levels, according to KGS. Production in Barton County in July was down from June but up from July of last year.

Russell County's output through July was up from a year ago, but July production was down from a month earlier. Stafford County production was down from June and well below a year ago.

Independent&nbsp;Oil&nbsp;&amp; Gas Service reports 1,196 new wells spudded in Kansas so far this year, which is down more than 22 percent from a year ago.&nbsp; Total footage is down more than 25 percent.

There are 18 new drilling permits on file. The year-to-date total of 1,189 new drilling locations lags behind last year by 22 percent. Operators completed 26 wells last week. That includes one in Ellis County out of 21 west of Wichita.

Independent&nbsp;Oil&nbsp;&amp; Gas Service reports 1,551 completed wells so far this year, up by 98 wells from a year ago. Rig Counts are up across the country and across the state. The Kansas Rig Count from Independent&nbsp;Oil&nbsp;&amp; Gas Service is up 10 percent from a week ago, with 19 active drilling rigs in eastern Kansas, up two, and 24 west of Wichita, which is also up two. That count is up 10.3 percent from last week and 22 percent higher than a month ago, but 17.3 percent lower than the same week last year.

The weekly Rotary Rig Count from Baker Hughes shows 622 active rigs nationwide, up three gas rigs. The count in Louisiana was up two rigs. Texas was up one rig, while Colorado and New Mexico were each down one.

Operators in the No. 3 crude-producing state increased output by more than 4 percent in September. The North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources reported an average output of 1.28 million barrels per day, up by more than 54,000 barrels per day from August. The state's operators also set new records for the second month in a row for both natural gas production and the gas-capture rate at&nbsp;oil&nbsp;wells.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1592848084586.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>John P. TretbarIn New York, Friday's settlement of $75.54 per barrel for light sweet crude was down $1.56 on the day. That's a weekly loss of more than 30 cents despite gains of up to $2 a barrel during the week.Current prices are $10 lower than a month ago. By lunchtime Monday, Nymex crude was trading below $75 a barrel. London Brent was below $81 a barrel at midday.The government said U.S. crude inventories rose by nearly 9 million barrels to just over 448 million barrels as of Nov. 17. That's about 1 percent below the five-year average for this time of year, but the highest stockpile total since July.EIA said domestic crude imports rose to 6.5 million barrels per day. The four-week average is up almost 2 percent over the same four weeks a year ago. U.S. crude production dipped slightly last week, but it was still among the best weeks ever at 13,214,000 barrels per day.The tally from the Energy Information Administration is 19,000 barrels per day lower than a week ago, and just over 1 million barrels per day higher than the same week a year ago. Output has exceeded 13.2 million barrels per day for each of the last seven weeks.Monthly production reports in Kansas offer a mixed comparison to last year, which was the second-worst, and in some counties the worst, on record.Statewide output in July was down from June. The one-month and cumulative tally are both down from last year. Records maintained by the Kansas Geological Survey show a continuing downward trend-line from the state's leading producer Ellis County.Last year's annual total in Ellis County was the worst ever. July output is up from June but down from a year ago.&nbsp;Last year's output in Barton County topped the previous two years but had not yet reached pre-pandemic levels, according to KGS. Production in Barton County in July was down from June but up from July of last year.Russell County's output through July was up from a year ago, but July production was down from a month earlier. Stafford County production was down from June and well below a year ago.Independent&nbsp;Oil&nbsp;&amp; Gas Service reports 1,196 new wells spudded in Kansas so far this year, which is down more than 22 percent from a year ago.&nbsp; Total footage is down more than 25 percent.There are 18 new drilling permits on file. The year-to-date total of 1,189 new drilling locations lags behind last year by 22 percent. Operators completed 26 wells last week. That includes one in Ellis County out of 21 west of Wichita.Independent&nbsp;Oil&nbsp;&amp; Gas Service reports 1,551 completed wells so far this year, up by 98 wells from a year ago. Rig Counts are up across the country and across the state. The Kansas Rig Count from Independent&nbsp;Oil&nbsp;&amp; Gas Service is up 10 percent from a week ago, with 19 active drilling rigs in eastern Kansas, up two, and 24 west of Wichita, which is also up two. That count is up 10.3 percent from last week and 22 percent higher than a month ago, but 17.3 percent lower than the same week last year.The weekly Rotary Rig Count from Baker Hughes shows 622 active rigs nationwide, up three gas rigs. The count in Louisiana was up two rigs. Texas was up one rig, while Colorado and New Mexico were each down one.Operators in the No. 3 crude-producing state increased output by more than 4 percent in September. The North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources reported an average output of 1.28 million barrels per day, up by more than 54,000 barrels per day from August. The state's operators also set new records for the second month in a row for both natural gas production and the gas-capture rate at&nbsp;oil&nbsp;wells.

Rising inventories fuel dropping prices

SALINE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are working to positively identify the body of a man found in Saline County last week.&nbsp; It is believed to be&nbsp; 20-year-old Jessi J. Herbst from Lacrosse, according to Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan.

On Nov. 22, the Saline County Sheriff's Office reported to the 6000 block of State Street, where a passerby noticed a black Dodge pickup crashed in the trees near the road, according to Soldan.

The truck was traveling westbound on State Street when it left the roadway and crashed into the trees. "Turns out the vehicle had been in the trees for some time," Soldan said. "There was a body found out there."

Deputies found human remains near the wreck, and until now, dense foliage hid the scene from view. The truck belonged to&nbsp; Herbst who was last seen this summer.

"He was reported back in July as a missing person — possibly endangered, he was possibly suicidal," Soldan said. The individual was likely Herbst, but an autopsy report will confirm the identity.

SALINE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are working to positively identify the body of a man found in Saline County last week.&nbsp; It is believed to be&nbsp; 20-year-old Jessi J. Herbst from Lacrosse, according to Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan.On Nov. 22, the Saline County Sheriff's Office reported to the 6000 block of State Street, where a passerby noticed a black Dodge pickup crashed in the trees near the road, according to Soldan.The truck was traveling westbound on State Street when it left the roadway and crashed into the trees. "Turns out the vehicle had been in the trees for some time," Soldan said. "There was a body found out there."Deputies found human remains near the wreck, and until now, dense foliage hid the scene from view. The truck belonged to&nbsp; Herbst who was last seen this summer."He was reported back in July as a missing person — possibly endangered, he was possibly suicidal," Soldan said. The individual was likely Herbst, but an autopsy report will confirm the identity.

Sheriff: Body found likely missing 20-year-old Rush Co. man

On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with 2023 Motorcycle Cannonball winner Todd Cameron.

<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LGqQhSwz_Ag?si=_bHSPpRELuqeGxjv" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with 2023 Motorcycle Cannonball winner Todd Cameron.

🎤 Forward Ever: 2023 Motorcycle Cannonball winner Todd Cameron

By TONY GUERRERO Hays Post

Triple Eight Equine in Hays has introduced a water treadmill to enhance the well-being of horses.

The Hays business, 1380 Toulon Ave., includes a 120-by-80-foot indoor riding arena, a horse hotel and a wash bay.

The AquaPacer Plus by Husdon Aquatic Systems is the latest equipment to be introduced by the Equine Center.

Co-owner Brian Lang said the water treadmill is uncommon as there's a limited amount of them available in the nation, let alone in the state.&nbsp;&nbsp;

"This is a unique machine so now people don't have to go to Oklahoma, Texas or Kentucky for that type of rehab. They can do it in Kansas," he said.

Center Manager Shelly Macumber has dedicated her entire life to working with horses and has certification in massage and rehabilitation therapy.

Macumber said the machine could benefit the well-being of horses in a variety of ways such as muscle building and helping them stay fit, especially in chilly winter months.

"When we're conditioning them, we don't just use the treadmill," she said. "We also do corrective exercising, massage and a bunch of different therapies that we combine together for a package depending on the horse."

The treadmill's water levels can be adjusted to better accommodate horses. A lower water level increases difficulty, requiring the horse to step out, while a higher water level can alleviate any injuries by reducing the weight on their legs.

The AquaPacer Plus can assist horses in ways that they typically wouldn't experience during usual runs.

"By adjusting the different heights of the water, you're working different areas of the body and different muscles that don't necessarily get worked when riding, depending on what it is that the rider does with them," Macumber said.

Additional benefits the AquaPacer can bring to horses are improved balance and restoring muscle in the back for older horses.&nbsp;

There are various reasons why horses may get injured. Macumber recommends that riders reduce this risk by consulting with a trainer or their veterinarian.

Triple Eight Equine began offering riding lessons last October for beginners, intermediate and advanced riders in one-on-one sessions.

Macumber suggests riders can start riding lessons at the equine center from the age of 7 and older. Horses are available for an extra fee of $5 for those without their own.

"It's been really fun to have different ages and different riding skills out here," Macumber said.&nbsp;

Beginner and intermediate lessons teach essential horsemanship skills, including effective communication and mastering various gaits, along with basics in gymkhana, barrels and poles.

Advanced lessons focus on advanced maneuvers, including flying lead changes, lateral movement and competitive preparation techniques.

Lang said Triple Eight Equine places a strong emphasis on involving young people and guiding them through the essentials of horse riding.

"When you look at the young kids that are involved with horses, it does take work to teach them. We focus on that quite a bit," Land said.

Macumber said parents frequently become interested in horse riding, despite initially bringing their kids to lessons.

"The horse community is like family, and all the family is involved," she said. "The parents are there, and sometimes they get to ride, and you get grandparents out supporting. It's a really good family event."

Children frequently engage in therapeutic sessions by grooming, bathing and gaining knowledge about horses, rather than riding them.

Counselors have reached out to Triple Eight Equine to arrange plans for therapeutic riding in the facility's indoor arena.

"We have a couple of people in the community who are working on getting that started so we can bring in anybody from the community," Macumber said.

In the works is a horse hotel with 24 stalls. Bunk rooms, a bathroom, a shower, a kitchen and laundry appliances will also be available to anyone traveling through the area with their horse.

"It's hard to find a place to stay with your horse," Macumber said.

Two conference rooms are available for rent with Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, presentation capabilities, and HDMI cables. Room capacities are 21 and 24.&nbsp;

Macumber encourages veterinarians to reach out to Triple Eight Equine to collaborate on horse rehabilitation efforts.

"At any time, if a veterinarian from anywhere is interested in coming and visiting the facility, they can contact us," she said.

For more information on Triple Eight Equine Center and the services they provide, click <a href="https://www.triple8equinecenter.com/copy-of-services">here</a>.

You can also follow Triple Eight Equine on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/triple8equinecenter/">Facebook</a>&nbsp;for updates and future events. Learn more about lessons by calling 785-639-5876 or emailing&nbsp;triple8equinecenter@gmail.com.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1700691779849.jpeg" alt="AquaPacer Plus Treadmill at the Triple Eight Equine Center. Photo by Tony Guerrero/HaysPost" />
 <figcaption>AquaPacer Plus Treadmill at the Triple Eight Equine Center. Photo by Tony Guerrero/HaysPost</figcaption>
 </figure>By TONY GUERRERO Hays PostTriple Eight Equine in Hays has introduced a water treadmill to enhance the well-being of horses.The Hays business, 1380 Toulon Ave., includes a 120-by-80-foot indoor riding arena, a horse hotel and a wash bay.The AquaPacer Plus by Husdon Aquatic Systems is the latest equipment to be introduced by the Equine Center.Co-owner Brian Lang said the water treadmill is uncommon as there's a limited amount of them available in the nation, let alone in the state.&nbsp;&nbsp;"This is a unique machine so now people don't have to go to Oklahoma, Texas or Kentucky for that type of rehab. They can do it in Kansas," he said.Center Manager Shelly Macumber has dedicated her entire life to working with horses and has certification in massage and rehabilitation therapy.Macumber said the machine could benefit the well-being of horses in a variety of ways such as muscle building and helping them stay fit, especially in chilly winter months."When we're conditioning them, we don't just use the treadmill," she said. "We also do corrective exercising, massage and a bunch of different therapies that we combine together for a package depending on the horse."The treadmill's water levels can be adjusted to better accommodate horses. A lower water level increases difficulty, requiring the horse to step out, while a higher water level can alleviate any injuries by reducing the weight on their legs.The AquaPacer Plus can assist horses in ways that they typically wouldn't experience during usual runs."By adjusting the different heights of the water, you're working different areas of the body and different muscles that don't necessarily get worked when riding, depending on what it is that the rider does with them," Macumber said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1700691880729.jpeg" alt="The AquaPacer Plus by Hudson Aquatic Systems at the Triple Eight Equine Center. Photo By Tony Guerrero/HaysPost" />
 <figcaption>The AquaPacer Plus by Hudson Aquatic Systems at the Triple Eight Equine Center. Photo By Tony Guerrero/HaysPost</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1700692007675.jpeg" alt="Inside the AquaPacer Plus treadmill. Photo By Tony Guerrero/HaysPost" />
 <figcaption>Inside the AquaPacer Plus treadmill. Photo By Tony Guerrero/HaysPost</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1700692075853.jpeg" alt="A horse inside the Aqua Pacer at the Triple Eight Equine Center. Courtesy Photo." />
 <figcaption>A horse inside the Aqua Pacer at the Triple Eight Equine Center. Courtesy Photo.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1700692309870.jpeg" alt="A horse inside the Aqua Pacer with water at the Triple Eight Equine Center. Courtesy Photo." />
 <figcaption>A horse inside the Aqua Pacer with water at the Triple Eight Equine Center. Courtesy Photo.</figcaption>
 </figure>Additional benefits the AquaPacer can bring to horses are improved balance and restoring muscle in the back for older horses.&nbsp;There are various reasons why horses may get injured. Macumber recommends that riders reduce this risk by consulting with a trainer or their veterinarian.Triple Eight Equine began offering riding lessons last October for beginners, intermediate and advanced riders in one-on-one sessions.Macumber suggests riders can start riding lessons at the equine center from the age of 7 and older. Horses are available for an extra fee of $5 for those without their own."It's been really fun to have different ages and different riding skills out here," Macumber said.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1700692371704.jpeg" alt="Rider on a horse in the indoor arena. Courtesy Photo." />
 <figcaption>Rider on a horse in the indoor arena. Courtesy Photo.</figcaption>
 </figure>Beginner and intermediate lessons teach essential horsemanship skills, including effective communication and mastering various gaits, along with basics in gymkhana, barrels and poles.Advanced lessons focus on advanced maneuvers, including flying lead changes, lateral movement and competitive preparation techniques.Lang said Triple Eight Equine places a strong emphasis on involving young people and guiding them through the essentials of horse riding."When you look at the young kids that are involved with horses, it does take work to teach them. We focus on that quite a bit," Land said.Macumber said parents frequently become interested in horse riding, despite initially bringing their kids to lessons."The horse community is like family, and all the family is involved," she said. "The parents are there, and sometimes they get to ride, and you get grandparents out supporting. It's a really good family event."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1700692516973.jpeg" alt="The indoor arena at the Triple Eight Equine Center. Photo By Tony Guerrero/HaysPost" />
 <figcaption>The indoor arena at the Triple Eight Equine Center. Photo By Tony Guerrero/HaysPost</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1700692606860.jpeg" alt="A lounge that overlooks the indoor arena at the Triple Eight Equine Center. Photo By Tony Guerrero/Hays Post." />
 <figcaption>A lounge that overlooks the indoor arena at the Triple Eight Equine Center. Photo By Tony Guerrero/Hays Post.</figcaption>
 </figure>Children frequently engage in therapeutic sessions by grooming, bathing and gaining knowledge about horses, rather than riding them.Counselors have reached out to Triple Eight Equine to arrange plans for therapeutic riding in the facility's indoor arena."We have a couple of people in the community who are working on getting that started so we can bring in anybody from the community," Macumber said.In the works is a horse hotel with 24 stalls. Bunk rooms, a bathroom, a shower, a kitchen and laundry appliances will also be available to anyone traveling through the area with their horse."It's hard to find a place to stay with your horse," Macumber said.Two conference rooms are available for rent with Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, presentation capabilities, and HDMI cables. Room capacities are 21 and 24.&nbsp;Macumber encourages veterinarians to reach out to Triple Eight Equine to collaborate on horse rehabilitation efforts."At any time, if a veterinarian from anywhere is interested in coming and visiting the facility, they can contact us," she said.For more information on Triple Eight Equine Center and the services they provide, click <a href="https://www.triple8equinecenter.com/copy-of-services">here</a>.You can also follow Triple Eight Equine on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/triple8equinecenter/">Facebook</a>&nbsp;for updates and future events. Learn more about lessons by calling 785-639-5876 or emailing&nbsp;triple8equinecenter@gmail.com.

Hays' Triple Eight Equine introduces water treadmill for horses 

Hays resident Ken Windholz has been elected to serve a two-year term as president of the NAMI Kansas board of directors. 

Windholz is a licensed psychotherapist and a lecturer in the Department of Psychology at Fort Hays State University. He also currently serves as the president of the Kansas Association of Master's in Psychology and as a faculty adviser for the NAMI On Campus organization at Fort Hays State University, the only student-run NAMI organization in Kansas. 

Windholz may be better known as the public address announcer for Fort Hays State University athletic events and the Hays Larks Collegiate summer baseball program.

NAMI Kansas is a state-wide organization of the National Alliance on Mental Illness – a self-help, membership association of individuals living with mental illness, their family members and friends, and is dedicated to improving the lives of those affected by mental illnesses. NAMI provides leadership and works in partnership with local affiliates to ensure peer support, family support, advocacy and education.

 The local NAMI Hays affiliate has recently expanded to include outreach, education and support to surrounding counties and is now known as NAMI Golden Plains.

Windholz has served on the NAMI Kansas Board of Directors since 2022 and has been involved with the local organization since 2014.

 “Over the years, I’ve learned so much about the incredible work that the NAMI National organization and NAMI Kansas does by working through their network of local affiliates to serve the mental health needs for those whose voices are least likely to be heard. I’ve become very passionate about representing the NAMI mission and its goals,” Windholz said. 

“It’s humbling and deeply gratifying to serve the mental health needs of so many folks through this incredible grassroots organization,” he added.

NAMI advocates at the county, state and national levels for non-discriminatory access to quality healthcare, housing, education and employment for people with mental illness. 

“Even though our research-based understanding of mental illness and its causes has grown by leaps and bounds over the past couple of decades, there’s still the lingering stigma in much of the public eye about even the most basic facts regarding mental health conditions. People with mental illness are often feared, misunderstood and even victimized. NAMI seeks to eliminate the stigma of mental illness by educating the public and to support those who are suffering or in crisis,” Windholz said.

Historically, NAMI has been at the forefront of advocacy efforts for increased funding for research into the causes and treatment of mental illness.

 “Like so many other health related conditions, the key to effective mental illness treatment lies in making an early and accurate diagnosis and providing effective evidence based interventions that include psychotherapy, targeted medications, and wide ranging support services for individuals and families. Everyone deserves those opportunities to lead a life worth living,” Windholz said. 

Ultimately, NAMI envisions a day when mental illness prevention or a cure is found.

NAMI Golden Plains, the local NAMI affiliate, is located at Oak Plaza, 103C E. 27th St. in Hays and serves Ellis, Graham, Lane, Ness, Rooks, Rush and Trego counties. 

Groups include a NAMI Connection Support Group and NAMI Family Support Group. Each group meets two times per month.

 Information about NAMI Golden Plains and the support services that are offered is available by email at namigoldenplains@namikansas.org or by calling Laura Allen, the affiliate chair at 785-259-6859.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1700662953548.jpeg" alt="Kenneth Windholz (Courtesy photo)" />
 <figcaption>Kenneth Windholz (Courtesy photo)</figcaption>
 </figure>News releaseHays resident Ken Windholz has been elected to serve a two-year term as president of the NAMI Kansas board of directors. Windholz is a licensed psychotherapist and a lecturer in the Department of Psychology at Fort Hays State University. He also currently serves as the president of the Kansas Association of Master's in Psychology and as a faculty adviser for the NAMI On Campus organization at Fort Hays State University, the only student-run NAMI organization in Kansas. Windholz may be better known as the public address announcer for Fort Hays State University athletic events and the Hays Larks Collegiate summer baseball program.NAMI Kansas is a state-wide organization of the National Alliance on Mental Illness – a self-help, membership association of individuals living with mental illness, their family members and friends, and is dedicated to improving the lives of those affected by mental illnesses. NAMI provides leadership and works in partnership with local affiliates to ensure peer support, family support, advocacy and education. The local NAMI Hays affiliate has recently expanded to include outreach, education and support to surrounding counties and is now known as NAMI Golden Plains.Windholz has served on the NAMI Kansas Board of Directors since 2022 and has been involved with the local organization since 2014. “Over the years, I’ve learned so much about the incredible work that the NAMI National organization and NAMI Kansas does by working through their network of local affiliates to serve the mental health needs for those whose voices are least likely to be heard. I’ve become very passionate about representing the NAMI mission and its goals,” Windholz said. “It’s humbling and deeply gratifying to serve the mental health needs of so many folks through this incredible grassroots organization,” he added.NAMI advocates at the county, state and national levels for non-discriminatory access to quality healthcare, housing, education and employment for people with mental illness. “Even though our research-based understanding of mental illness and its causes has grown by leaps and bounds over the past couple of decades, there’s still the lingering stigma in much of the public eye about even the most basic facts regarding mental health conditions. People with mental illness are often feared, misunderstood and even victimized. NAMI seeks to eliminate the stigma of mental illness by educating the public and to support those who are suffering or in crisis,” Windholz said.Historically, NAMI has been at the forefront of advocacy efforts for increased funding for research into the causes and treatment of mental illness. “Like so many other health related conditions, the key to effective mental illness treatment lies in making an early and accurate diagnosis and providing effective evidence based interventions that include psychotherapy, targeted medications, and wide ranging support services for individuals and families. Everyone deserves those opportunities to lead a life worth living,” Windholz said. Ultimately, NAMI envisions a day when mental illness prevention or a cure is found.NAMI Golden Plains, the local NAMI affiliate, is located at Oak Plaza, 103C E. 27th St. in Hays and serves Ellis, Graham, Lane, Ness, Rooks, Rush and Trego counties. Groups include a NAMI Connection Support Group and NAMI Family Support Group. Each group meets two times per month. Information about NAMI Golden Plains and the support services that are offered is available by email at namigoldenplains@namikansas.org or by calling Laura Allen, the affiliate chair at 785-259-6859.

Hays resident elected president of NAMI Kansas board of directors

Need a holly-jolly tune or two to kick off the winter season? The Hays Symphony is bringing back its signature set of classic carols. With no shortage of merriment, the musicians are excited to promote the Hays Symphony’s free Holiday Pops Concert, a high-spirited event which will be held on Saturday, December 2, at 7:30 p.m. in the FHSU Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center.

“This December, we are bringing back our Holiday Pops concert,” said Brian Buckstead, director of the Hays Symphony. “We’re featuring some of your favorite sounds of the season—and a few musical surprises as well.”

Included in the festive concert repertoire are arrangements of beloved favorites like jazzy “White Christmas,” sweeping “Greensleeves,” and exuberant “Carol of the Bells.” What makes the&nbsp;line-up especially unique is Director Buckstead’s decision to sprinkle in melodies from Robert Wendel’s A Classical Christmas Suite throughout the program. With their dance-like strings and playful winds, Wendel’s orchestral takes on “We Three Kings,” “Jingle Bells,” and “Little Drummer Boy” are sure to charm and delight listeners of all ages.

After the concert, attendees are invited to enjoy desserts and mingle with the musicians at the post-concert reception in the lobby. The evening’s dessert reception is sponsored by a generous donation from Astra Bank of Hays and catered by Gella’s.

Last year, the Hays Symphony rang in the season with the FHSU choir ensembles at the Department of Music and Theatre’s annual Cathedral Christmas Concert held in Victoria, Kansas. From sweet and cheery arrangements to soulful and sentimental pieces, the orchestra spotlighted its talented players at this evening of ancient airs and carols.

Whether celebrating musical joy in a cathedral or an auditorium, it is around this chilly time of year that the Hays Symphony’s musicians are reminded of how fortunate they are to be providing a wide variety of live music for the region. Thanks to the orchestra’s supporters, which are listed on the symphony’s website, the symphony can continue to offer its concerts free of charge. Along with the gift of music, the musicians send their best holiday wishes to the community.

Free tickets to the concert are available on the symphony’s website at <a href="https://www.hayssymphony.org/">hayssymphony.org</a>. Concert-goers can stay up to date with events and activities by following the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/HaysSymphony">Hays Symphony’s Facebook </a>and Instagram pages.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1700492949730.png" alt="Unsplash" />
 <figcaption>Unsplash</figcaption>
 </figure>Hays SymphonyNeed a holly-jolly tune or two to kick off the winter season? The Hays Symphony is bringing back its signature set of classic carols. With no shortage of merriment, the musicians are excited to promote the Hays Symphony’s free Holiday Pops Concert, a high-spirited event which will be held on Saturday, December 2, at 7:30 p.m. in the FHSU Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center.“This December, we are bringing back our Holiday Pops concert,” said Brian Buckstead, director of the Hays Symphony. “We’re featuring some of your favorite sounds of the season—and a few musical surprises as well.”Included in the festive concert repertoire are arrangements of beloved favorites like jazzy “White Christmas,” sweeping “Greensleeves,” and exuberant “Carol of the Bells.” What makes the&nbsp;line-up especially unique is Director Buckstead’s decision to sprinkle in melodies from Robert Wendel’s A Classical Christmas Suite throughout the program. With their dance-like strings and playful winds, Wendel’s orchestral takes on “We Three Kings,” “Jingle Bells,” and “Little Drummer Boy” are sure to charm and delight listeners of all ages.<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HnVFUhzsXSo?si=KVFg27b5XwlwxtSt" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>After the concert, attendees are invited to enjoy desserts and mingle with the musicians at the post-concert reception in the lobby. The evening’s dessert reception is sponsored by a generous donation from Astra Bank of Hays and catered by Gella’s.Last year, the Hays Symphony rang in the season with the FHSU choir ensembles at the Department of Music and Theatre’s annual Cathedral Christmas Concert held in Victoria, Kansas. From sweet and cheery arrangements to soulful and sentimental pieces, the orchestra spotlighted its talented players at this evening of ancient airs and carols.Whether celebrating musical joy in a cathedral or an auditorium, it is around this chilly time of year that the Hays Symphony’s musicians are reminded of how fortunate they are to be providing a wide variety of live music for the region. Thanks to the orchestra’s supporters, which are listed on the symphony’s website, the symphony can continue to offer its concerts free of charge. Along with the gift of music, the musicians send their best holiday wishes to the community.Free tickets to the concert are available on the symphony’s website at <a href="https://www.hayssymphony.org/">hayssymphony.org</a>. Concert-goers can stay up to date with events and activities by following the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/HaysSymphony">Hays Symphony’s Facebook </a>and Instagram pages.

Hays Symphony brings back iconic 'Holiday Pops' concert

Government surplus commodities will be distributed in Hays at Unite Free Store (inside The Gamers Guild), 200 E. 8th Street, on Wednesday, Nov. 29 from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m.&nbsp;Doors will not open until 7:30 a.m.

Commodities will be distributed on a first-come-first-serve basis until gone.

To be eligible for commodities, a household's total monthly income must be below:

$1,580 Household of one $2,137 Household of two $2,694 Household of three $3,250 Household of four $3,807 Household of five $4,364 Household of six $4,921 Household of seven $5,478 Household of eight *Add $557 for each additional family member after eight

Commodities included in this distribution are anticipated to be: diced tomatoes, rice, potato slices, canned salmon, shredded cheese, red kidney beans, walnut pieces, dried cherries, ground beef, medium grain rice, refried beans, canned pumpkin, mixed vegetables, sweet cherries, and chicken leg quarters.&nbsp;

Contact Brandon Nimz, Unite Ministry Leader, with any questions at 785-259-2539.&nbsp;

&nbsp; Future commodity distribution times will be posted at:&nbsp;(<a href="http://unitehays.com/index.php/hays-commodity-distribution/" target="_blank">https://unitehays.com/index.php/hays-commodity-distribution/</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1700494055087.jpeg" alt="Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>SubmittedGovernment surplus commodities will be distributed in Hays at Unite Free Store (inside The Gamers Guild), 200 E. 8th Street, on Wednesday, Nov. 29 from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m.&nbsp;Doors will not open until 7:30 a.m.Commodities will be distributed on a first-come-first-serve basis until gone.To be eligible for commodities, a household's total monthly income must be below:$1,580 Household of one $2,137 Household of two $2,694 Household of three $3,250 Household of four $3,807 Household of five $4,364 Household of six $4,921 Household of seven $5,478 Household of eight *Add $557 for each additional family member after eight Commodities included in this distribution are anticipated to be: diced tomatoes, rice, potato slices, canned salmon, shredded cheese, red kidney beans, walnut pieces, dried cherries, ground beef, medium grain rice, refried beans, canned pumpkin, mixed vegetables, sweet cherries, and chicken leg quarters.&nbsp;Contact Brandon Nimz, Unite Ministry Leader, with any questions at 785-259-2539.&nbsp;&nbsp; Future commodity distribution times will be posted at:&nbsp;(<a href="http://unitehays.com/index.php/hays-commodity-distribution/" target="_blank">https://unitehays.com/index.php/hays-commodity-distribution/</a>

Food commodities to be distributed Nov. 29 in Hays

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1700861445158.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://hayspost.com/pages/state-farm-weather-window">For a full look at the weather forecast, click here.</a>

I like retirement, but I miss interacting with the seniors at the nursing home where I worked the last 12 years of my working career. Many of them were hunters, fishermen and trappers and it was great fun listening to their stories. One such fishing story comes to mind, since a group of fellas from church just brought back enough striped bass fillets from Lake Texoma for a church-wide fish fry.

As I walked the halls of the nursing home that day, I remember being hailed by Nora Jane Schmidt, asking if I’d seen the picture of her big fish. Now, Nora Jane was no stranger to the business end of a fishing rod. She grew up southeast of Buhler, Kansas and remembers fishing in the Arkansas River as a little girl. She and her sisters would fish for carp with cane poles and dough balls her mom made for them. She doesn’t remember ever catching much, but the seeds were sown for her love of fishing. For years after she was grown and gone, she and her sisters still took their mom to the river to chase carp every chance they got. Mom liked to catch carp because they fought so hard. Nora Jane and her late husband Elmer fished in Canada every year they were married and made innumerable trips to Lake Texoma and to local reservoirs over the years.

To celebrate recent retirements among her kids, a Schmidt family fishing trip was organized for the first week of May, 2015 at Beaver Lake, tucked into the Ozark Mountains of northwest Arkansas. The Schmidts are a competitive crew and still have a Schmidt family pheasant hunt each year on opening day of pheasant season where prizes are awarded for things like the most birds killed and the longest tail feather. With that as the standard, the family got trophies for the first fish caught, the most fish caught and of course the biggest fish caught on that trip.

Two guides and two boats were reserved for each day, and the first morning everyone met the guides at the dock at six a.m., divided up four to each boat and headed out. It was a full hour boat ride to where they fished that first morning, and Nora Jane remembers thinking as they sped across the lake “I didn’t pay all this money just for a boat ride!” When they arrived at the guides chosen spot, two rods per person were baited with live shad, the rods put into rod holders that lined the sides of each boat, and the wait began.

During the next couple hours Nora Jane caught a nice seven-pound striped bass and remembers thinking “My, that’s a big fish.” Around ten o’clock with only a couple more small fish caught by the group, a fish hammered the bait on one of Nora Jane’s rods. Their guide could tell immediately it was big and told everyone else in the boat to pull their lines to give her the entire boat to play the fish. With line zipping from the reel and the rod bent double until the tip nearly touched the water, she needed the guide’s help to even get the rod out of the holder so she could start reeling. She would gain line and pull the fish closer, then the reel would sing as&nbsp;the fish stripped line from it and headed for parts unknown. Back and forth they went as each tried to wear-down the other. Finally, twenty minutes later as she stood exhausted on the opposite back corner of the boat from where she first hooked the fish, the guide netted her monstrous twenty-five-pound striped bass!

As the Schmidt family fishing trip came to an end, Nora Jane, then eighty-eight-years-old and matriarch of the Schmidt family, took home the trophies for both the biggest fish and for the most fish caught on the trip.

We spend lots of time and energy attempting to get and to keep today’s youth interested in the outdoors, and rightly so. But we must also remember our elders who instilled in us the love of fishing, hunting and the outdoors that we have today. 

Steve Gilliland, Inman, can be contacted by email at&nbsp;stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574696211722.png" alt="Steve Gilliland" />
 <figcaption>Steve Gilliland</figcaption>
 </figure>I like retirement, but I miss interacting with the seniors at the nursing home where I worked the last 12 years of my working career. Many of them were hunters, fishermen and trappers and it was great fun listening to their stories. One such fishing story comes to mind, since a group of fellas from church just brought back enough striped bass fillets from Lake Texoma for a church-wide fish fry.As I walked the halls of the nursing home that day, I remember being hailed by Nora Jane Schmidt, asking if I’d seen the picture of her big fish. Now, Nora Jane was no stranger to the business end of a fishing rod. She grew up southeast of Buhler, Kansas and remembers fishing in the Arkansas River as a little girl. She and her sisters would fish for carp with cane poles and dough balls her mom made for them. She doesn’t remember ever catching much, but the seeds were sown for her love of fishing. For years after she was grown and gone, she and her sisters still took their mom to the river to chase carp every chance they got. Mom liked to catch carp because they fought so hard. Nora Jane and her late husband Elmer fished in Canada every year they were married and made innumerable trips to Lake Texoma and to local reservoirs over the years.To celebrate recent retirements among her kids, a Schmidt family fishing trip was organized for the first week of May, 2015 at Beaver Lake, tucked into the Ozark Mountains of northwest Arkansas. The Schmidts are a competitive crew and still have a Schmidt family pheasant hunt each year on opening day of pheasant season where prizes are awarded for things like the most birds killed and the longest tail feather. With that as the standard, the family got trophies for the first fish caught, the most fish caught and of course the biggest fish caught on that trip.Two guides and two boats were reserved for each day, and the first morning everyone met the guides at the dock at six a.m., divided up four to each boat and headed out. It was a full hour boat ride to where they fished that first morning, and Nora Jane remembers thinking as they sped across the lake “I didn’t pay all this money just for a boat ride!” When they arrived at the guides chosen spot, two rods per person were baited with live shad, the rods put into rod holders that lined the sides of each boat, and the wait began.During the next couple hours Nora Jane caught a nice seven-pound striped bass and remembers thinking “My, that’s a big fish.” Around ten o’clock with only a couple more small fish caught by the group, a fish hammered the bait on one of Nora Jane’s rods. Their guide could tell immediately it was big and told everyone else in the boat to pull their lines to give her the entire boat to play the fish. With line zipping from the reel and the rod bent double until the tip nearly touched the water, she needed the guide’s help to even get the rod out of the holder so she could start reeling. She would gain line and pull the fish closer, then the reel would sing as&nbsp;the fish stripped line from it and headed for parts unknown. Back and forth they went as each tried to wear-down the other. Finally, twenty minutes later as she stood exhausted on the opposite back corner of the boat from where she first hooked the fish, the guide netted her monstrous twenty-five-pound striped bass!As the Schmidt family fishing trip came to an end, Nora Jane, then eighty-eight-years-old and matriarch of the Schmidt family, took home the trophies for both the biggest fish and for the most fish caught on the trip.We spend lots of time and energy attempting to get and to keep today’s youth interested in the outdoors, and rightly so. But we must also remember our elders who instilled in us the love of fishing, hunting and the outdoors that we have today. Continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors!Steve Gilliland, Inman, can be contacted by email at&nbsp;stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.

Exploring Kansas Outdoors: Move over boys and let her show you how it’s done

By RANDY GONZALES Special to the Hays Post

Jason Jones thought it would be a fun trip down memory lane.

Jones, who coached track and field at Norton Community High School for 21 years, accumulated dozens of team shirts through the years.

Shortly before school started this past fall, Jones decided to wear a different team shirt or jacket to school every day.

“I thought it might be fun to put them on and wear them again, maybe spark a little conversation among former athletes,” said Jones, who teaches English at the school. “I have pretty strong memories attached to each and every shirt. It’s been fun to pull them out again, put them on.”

Jones was an assistant coach for the track and field team for four years, then was head coach for 17 seasons before deciding to step down from coaching following the 2023 spring season. His girls’ team won the state championship in 2008, and his boys’ squad won it all in 2016.

In addition to being a fun project, wearing a different shirt each day from years gone by elicited a different emotion from Jones.

“It’s kind of a way to have fun for me and provide closure to my coaching career,” Jones said. “It’s been good to re-live those memories.”

Jones, now 47, might have been a little surprised that he was still able to slip into each shirt.

“I have been able to get them all on,” he said. “(But) they don’t fit like they used to.”

Jones walked the hallways in an old shirt for the first time on Sept. 4. He wore his girls’ Class 3A state championship shirt in September and then donned the boys’ state title shirt a couple of weeks ago.

Jones said every season he would get both a coach’s shirt and a team shirt designed by that year’s seniors. In addition, there was state-meet clothing each year.

Jones knew as the holidays approached, he was reaching the end of the line to wear a different shirt each day.

Jones pulled on his 50th and final shirt on Tuesday. He thought he had a shirt for every year, but after checking his closet, he found he was missing a few years.

“I’ve got multiple shirts for every year, but I don’t have them all,” he said.

Jones doesn’t have a favorite shirt but he knew which one to wear last. It’s from the 2020 season that was canceled due to COVID-19.

“We had a meeting right before the shutdown,” Jones said. “That was a great group of kids, a lot of talent. I was really looking forward to that season.”

With that 2020 season canceled, Jones still wanted his athletes to experience team bonding.

“Every day there was a scheduled track meet we didn’t get to compete in, we did a crazy, funny post (on social media),” Jones said. “We did that the whole spring.”

Jones joined his athletes in posting photos, including some with his son, Carter, and his daughter, Courtney, who both would have been on the team that spring.

Staci Montgomery, also an English teacher at Norton, liked Jones’ shirt idea from the very beginning and said she thought the photos needed to be put on social media so former athletes could see them.

Montgomery would dutifully post the photos on Facebook for Jones.

“Jason’s life passion is not just track but being connected with his athletes,” Montgomery said. “He spends an enormous amount of time being invested in their lives, not just their track lives. I just thought it would be great if everybody knew how important this was to him, and how important they were to him.”

Montgomery said Jones’ shirt idea caught fire around the school and has become popular among students and teachers alike.

“I laughed, told him he was getting a cult following,” Montgomery said. “I wish it could go on. I really want to do something with those shirts.”

There has been talk of turning the shirts into a quilt, but Jones wasn’t so sure because then he wouldn’t be able to wear them again.

“I’m kind of sad it’s over with,” Montgomery said.&nbsp;“It’s been really fun to do every day.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1700680489719.jpeg" alt="Norton Community High School track and field coach Jason Jones shows off the front and back of one of his Bluejay team shirts he wore each day this fall. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Norton Community High School track and field coach Jason Jones shows off the front and back of one of his Bluejay team shirts he wore each day this fall. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1700680730977.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By RANDY GONZALES Special to the Hays PostJason Jones thought it would be a fun trip down memory lane.Jones, who coached track and field at Norton Community High School for 21 years, accumulated dozens of team shirts through the years.Shortly before school started this past fall, Jones decided to wear a different team shirt or jacket to school every day.“I thought it might be fun to put them on and wear them again, maybe spark a little conversation among former athletes,” said Jones, who teaches English at the school. “I have pretty strong memories attached to each and every shirt. It’s been fun to pull them out again, put them on.”Jones was an assistant coach for the track and field team for four years, then was head coach for 17 seasons before deciding to step down from coaching following the 2023 spring season. His girls’ team won the state championship in 2008, and his boys’ squad won it all in 2016.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1700680569161.png" alt="Norton track and field coach Jason Jones shows off one of his team shirts he has worn through the years as coach. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Norton track and field coach Jason Jones shows off one of his team shirts he has worn through the years as coach. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>In addition to being a fun project, wearing a different shirt each day from years gone by elicited a different emotion from Jones.“It’s kind of a way to have fun for me and provide closure to my coaching career,” Jones said. “It’s been good to re-live those memories.”Jones, now 47, might have been a little surprised that he was still able to slip into each shirt.“I have been able to get them all on,” he said. “(But) they don’t fit like they used to.”Jones walked the hallways in an old shirt for the first time on Sept. 4. He wore his girls’ Class 3A state championship shirt in September and then donned the boys’ state title shirt a couple of weeks ago.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1700680623595.png" alt="Norton coaches also wore jackets supporting their teams. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Norton coaches also wore jackets supporting their teams. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>Jones said every season he would get both a coach’s shirt and a team shirt designed by that year’s seniors. In addition, there was state-meet clothing each year.Jones knew as the holidays approached, he was reaching the end of the line to wear a different shirt each day.Jones pulled on his 50th and final shirt on Tuesday. He thought he had a shirt for every year, but after checking his closet, he found he was missing a few years.“I’ve got multiple shirts for every year, but I don’t have them all,” he said.Jones doesn’t have a favorite shirt but he knew which one to wear last. It’s from the 2020 season that was canceled due to COVID-19.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1700680651994.png" alt="Jones points to an inspirational saying while wearing one of his team sweatshirts he has collected through the years. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Jones points to an inspirational saying while wearing one of his team sweatshirts he has collected through the years. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>“We had a meeting right before the shutdown,” Jones said. “That was a great group of kids, a lot of talent. I was really looking forward to that season.”With that 2020 season canceled, Jones still wanted his athletes to experience team bonding.“Every day there was a scheduled track meet we didn’t get to compete in, we did a crazy, funny post (on social media),” Jones said. “We did that the whole spring.”Jones joined his athletes in posting photos, including some with his son, Carter, and his daughter, Courtney, who both would have been on the team that spring.Staci Montgomery, also an English teacher at Norton, liked Jones’ shirt idea from the very beginning and said she thought the photos needed to be put on social media so former athletes could see them.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1700680690762.png" alt="Jones is with fellow teacher Staci Montgomery, who posted Facebook this fall Jones’ shirt choice of the day. Courtesy photo&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Jones is with fellow teacher Staci Montgomery, who posted Facebook this fall Jones’ shirt choice of the day. Courtesy photo&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>Montgomery would dutifully post the photos on Facebook for Jones.“Jason’s life passion is not just track but being connected with his athletes,” Montgomery said. “He spends an enormous amount of time being invested in their lives, not just their track lives. I just thought it would be great if everybody knew how important this was to him, and how important they were to him.”Montgomery said Jones’ shirt idea caught fire around the school and has become popular among students and teachers alike.“I laughed, told him he was getting a cult following,” Montgomery said. “I wish it could go on. I really want to do something with those shirts.”There has been talk of turning the shirts into a quilt, but Jones wasn’t so sure because then he wouldn’t be able to wear them again.“I’m kind of sad it’s over with,” Montgomery said.&nbsp;“It’s been really fun to do every day.”

NWester: Former Norton coach still proudly sporting Bluejay apparel

The Sunflower Chapter of the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia wishes to invite
you to their annual Christmas dinner on Dec. 10 at the
Kennedy Middle School (enter the basement cafeteria from the west side behind
St. Joseph’s Church).

The festivities will begin at noon with a
catered meal of roast beef, mashed potatoes and gravy, chicken and noodles,
green beans, corn, dinner roll, and dessert. 

The cost per ticket is $20 for adults (age 13 and older) $10 for children (age 6 to 12) Free for (age 5 and younger)

Reservations must be made by 10 p.m. Nov. 30. Please contact Cynthia Stone at 785-893-1431 by text or call
(leave message with your name) or email her at <a href="mailto:gtzstone@sbcglobal.net">gtzstone@sbcglobal.net</a>.

Payment is made at the door by cash or check. There
will be door prize drawings and every meal ticket can be entered to win.

Guest speaker Brent Mai, Dean of Libraries at
Wichita State University, will present on the churches in Russia. 

The Ellis County Historical Society will set up
the exhibit “Insights Into Religion,” which showcases the churches in Russia. 

The Hays High School German Club will have tables
displaying “Celebrations of German Traditions” to share and discuss with
attendees.

Please bring your family and friends for an
afternoon of fun and fellowship sharing Volga German heritage, including visits
with Der Belsnikle and Christkind.&nbsp; 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1700603345466.jpg" alt="Photo courtesy of Pixabay." />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy of Pixabay.</figcaption>
 </figure>Ellis County Historical SocietyFroehliche Weihnachten!The Sunflower Chapter of the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia wishes to invite
you to their annual Christmas dinner on Dec. 10 at the
Kennedy Middle School (enter the basement cafeteria from the west side behind
St. Joseph’s Church).The festivities will begin at noon with a
catered meal of roast beef, mashed potatoes and gravy, chicken and noodles,
green beans, corn, dinner roll, and dessert. The cost per ticket is $20 for adults (age 13 and older) $10 for children (age 6 to 12) Free for (age 5 and younger)Reservations must be made by 10 p.m. Nov. 30. Please contact Cynthia Stone at 785-893-1431 by text or call
(leave message with your name) or email her at <a href="mailto:gtzstone@sbcglobal.net">gtzstone@sbcglobal.net</a>. Payment is made at the door by cash or check. There
will be door prize drawings and every meal ticket can be entered to win.Guest speaker Brent Mai, Dean of Libraries at
Wichita State University, will present on the churches in Russia. The Ellis County Historical Society will set up
the exhibit “Insights Into Religion,” which showcases the churches in Russia. The Hays High School German Club will have tables
displaying “Celebrations of German Traditions” to share and discuss with
attendees.Please bring your family and friends for an
afternoon of fun and fellowship sharing Volga German heritage, including visits
with Der Belsnikle and Christkind.&nbsp;

Germans from Russia annual Christmas dinner set for Dec. 10

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1700601977727.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Submitted

Enjoy the Cowboy Christmas Poetry Gathering in Stockton on Dec. 10

While over 80% of the land area across Kansas qualifies as rural, the population of our state—which is mostly concentrated in about 10 of the state’s 105 counties--is increasingly urban, something which geographers and political leaders and others have been aware of for decades.

This urban-rural divide creates all sorts of long-term problems, especially since the state as whole is growing very slowly, both economically and in terms of population, meaning that even as Kansans gradually become more urban and more diverse, patterns of rural conservatism nonetheless continue to dominate our politics.

But there are upsides to the pervasiveness of Kansas’s rural self-understanding. Among them is the fact that many urban Kansans, motivated by concerns over the sustainability of our food systems, and reminded of the possibilities for healthy food production in every empty rural acre around our cities they see, are becoming leaders in small-scale agricultural innovation.

That’s not to say that Kansas is likely to turn into a Vermont or an Oregon anytime soon, with their long counter-cultural history of well-funded farmers markets, food co-ops, and state-supported local agriculture initiatives. Farming and food production in Kansas remains very much the domain of big agricultural operators and the national Farm Bill subsidies which undergird them.

Still, if one pays attention, the innovations of urban gardeners and local farmers across the state is attracting the attention and support of food sustainability visionaries (and the governmental and private programs which support them) from across the nation. 

In Salina, the Land Institute has spent decades developing kernza, a perennial grain. This environmentally friendly relative of wheat may finally be finding its financial legs—partly due to small batches being grown for distillers in towns throughout Kansas, Colorado, and elsewhere, who looking to bring a new flavor of whiskey to the market.

In Lawrence, Maseualkualli Farms has become a pioneer in the Peoples’ Century Farm project, sharing food and providing workshops, particularly with and for lower-income and non-White neighborhoods, upending and diversifying the usual farming model.

In Ottawa, gardeners fought—with the surprising assistance of the normally business-friendly Kansas Policy Institute—to change zoning codes and other rules which stand in the way, as they do in too many towns, of a flourishing economy in locally produced honey, fruits, and more.

Of course, these and hundreds of other local successes across the state in making Kansas’s food systems more diverse and resilient face many obstacles, one of which is the frequent resistance to composting which exists throughout America’s HOAs and its suburban neighborhoods generally.

With food waste--and the methane it releases--being such a major factor in the impact landfills have on climate change, getting county and city governments to support community composting stations (including educating people about comparatively easily controlled smell or pest&nbsp;problems they are too often associated with) is not only a smart way to mitigate the heat sinks that urban areas create, but would also be a major step towards helping many backyard gardeners up their game, and join the low-key, small-scale revolution in urban agriculture taking place across the state.

This Thanksgiving week, many celebrators will give thanks for food produced in the rural parts of Kansas. But let’s remember to also be thankful this holiday for the many urban Kansans who, wanting to make our food systems more environmentally sustainable, and inspired by the fertile land all around us, are finding new ways to bring healthy, local food into our cities as well.

Dr. Russell Arben Fox teaches politics at Friends University in Wichita.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586443443315.jpeg" alt="Dr. Russell Arben Fox teaches politics at Friends University in Wichita.&nbsp;Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Dr. Russell Arben Fox teaches politics at Friends University in Wichita.&nbsp;Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>While over 80% of the land area across Kansas qualifies as rural, the population of our state—which is mostly concentrated in about 10 of the state’s 105 counties--is increasingly urban, something which geographers and political leaders and others have been aware of for decades.This urban-rural divide creates all sorts of long-term problems, especially since the state as whole is growing very slowly, both economically and in terms of population, meaning that even as Kansans gradually become more urban and more diverse, patterns of rural conservatism nonetheless continue to dominate our politics.But there are upsides to the pervasiveness of Kansas’s rural self-understanding. Among them is the fact that many urban Kansans, motivated by concerns over the sustainability of our food systems, and reminded of the possibilities for healthy food production in every empty rural acre around our cities they see, are becoming leaders in small-scale agricultural innovation.That’s not to say that Kansas is likely to turn into a Vermont or an Oregon anytime soon, with their long counter-cultural history of well-funded farmers markets, food co-ops, and state-supported local agriculture initiatives. Farming and food production in Kansas remains very much the domain of big agricultural operators and the national Farm Bill subsidies which undergird them.Still, if one pays attention, the innovations of urban gardeners and local farmers across the state is attracting the attention and support of food sustainability visionaries (and the governmental and private programs which support them) from across the nation. For example:In Salina, the Land Institute has spent decades developing kernza, a perennial grain. This environmentally friendly relative of wheat may finally be finding its financial legs—partly due to small batches being grown for distillers in towns throughout Kansas, Colorado, and elsewhere, who looking to bring a new flavor of whiskey to the market.In Lawrence, Maseualkualli Farms has become a pioneer in the Peoples’ Century Farm project, sharing food and providing workshops, particularly with and for lower-income and non-White neighborhoods, upending and diversifying the usual farming model.In Ottawa, gardeners fought—with the surprising assistance of the normally business-friendly Kansas Policy Institute—to change zoning codes and other rules which stand in the way, as they do in too many towns, of a flourishing economy in locally produced honey, fruits, and more.Of course, these and hundreds of other local successes across the state in making Kansas’s food systems more diverse and resilient face many obstacles, one of which is the frequent resistance to composting which exists throughout America’s HOAs and its suburban neighborhoods generally.With food waste--and the methane it releases--being such a major factor in the impact landfills have on climate change, getting county and city governments to support community composting stations (including educating people about comparatively easily controlled smell or pest&nbsp;problems they are too often associated with) is not only a smart way to mitigate the heat sinks that urban areas create, but would also be a major step towards helping many backyard gardeners up their game, and join the low-key, small-scale revolution in urban agriculture taking place across the state.This Thanksgiving week, many celebrators will give thanks for food produced in the rural parts of Kansas. But let’s remember to also be thankful this holiday for the many urban Kansans who, wanting to make our food systems more environmentally sustainable, and inspired by the fertile land all around us, are finding new ways to bring healthy, local food into our cities as well.Dr. Russell Arben Fox teaches politics at Friends University in Wichita.

Insight Kansas: Being thankful for Kansas’s Urban Farming Revolution

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1700861401512.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://hayspost.com/pages/state-farm-weather-window">For a full look at the weather forecast, click here.</a>

KHP: Speed a factor in accidents on NW Kan. highways

By BECKY KISER Hays Post

Pickleball, which has become increasingly popular in the United States, has been around since 1965, and more courts continue to be added, including in Hays.&nbsp;

Pickleball was invented on Bainbridge Island, near Seattle, Wash., by three dads whose kids were bored with their usual summertime activities, according to the <a href="https://usapickleball.org/">USA Pickleball website</a>.

In Hays, pickleball players can enjoy their sport indoors on public courts at the Hays Recreation Center and outdoors in Municipal Park.&nbsp;

"I think the reason it's popular is because people of all ages can play it," said Roger Bixenman, Hays Recreation Commission superintendent.

"It's good exercise, especially for seniors 55 and older. It's pretty popular with retired folks.&nbsp;

"It's not like basketball, where as you get a little older, you can't really run up and down the court and keep up with the young guys and gals.&nbsp;

"It's a lot easier on the body to play, and fun, obviously."

The number of players nationwide has jumped from 3.9 million players in 2019 to 8.9 million players, according to the&nbsp; most recent figures, Bixenman said.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1700863105331.jpeg" alt="Pickleball court closeup. Photo by Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Pickleball court closeup. Photo by Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By BECKY KISER Hays PostPickleball, which has become increasingly popular in the United States, has been around since 1965, and more courts continue to be added, including in Hays.&nbsp;Pickleball was invented on Bainbridge Island, near Seattle, Wash., by three dads whose kids were bored with their usual summertime activities, according to the <a href="https://usapickleball.org/">USA Pickleball website</a>.In Hays, pickleball players can enjoy their sport indoors on public courts at the Hays Recreation Center and outdoors in Municipal Park.&nbsp;"I think the reason it's popular is because people of all ages can play it," said Roger Bixenman, Hays Recreation Commission superintendent."It's good exercise, especially for seniors 55 and older. It's pretty popular with retired folks.&nbsp;"It's not like basketball, where as you get a little older, you can't really run up and down the court and keep up with the young guys and gals.&nbsp;"It's a lot easier on the body to play, and fun, obviously."<div><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Y7vCdC3k9Sg" title="Pickleball popularity" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>The number of players nationwide has jumped from 3.9 million players in 2019 to 8.9 million players, according to the&nbsp; most recent figures, Bixenman said.&nbsp;"It's also a social thing, get out socially and play, get a little bit of exercise."Or you can get a lot of exercise, as Kelli Karlin of Hays does.&nbsp;She's been playing about four years.Some friends of Karlin's in an exercise class she attended regularly at the Rec Center convinced her to try pickleball.Karlin tried it out with another friend and "we absolutely loved it. It's like we were addicted right away. We went to Wichita that weekend and bought ourselves paddles, pickleball shoes, the whole nine yards."Karlin wanted the high end-specialty equipment. The court shoes help prevent injuries."Probably because of the age that plays pickleball. We're all older. A lot of falls can occur. We've had a broken hip. We've had broken wrists," she said."It is a very competitive game."But it doesn't have to be super competitive. There are all levels of players at the recreation center.Micki Armstrong, Hays, has been playing since the first of the year, a "newbie" according to pickleball rules. Armstrong's friend in Topeka finally convinced her to pick up the game.&nbsp;"I retired, my schedule kind of freed up so I decided to try it."She plays on the center's open courts on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, sometimes Fridays, "with whoever is here.""It's a social thing for me," said the former high school tennis player.&nbsp;Bixenman describes pickleball as a combination of tennis, ping pong and badminton, played on a 40 by 20-foot court.&nbsp;"It's kind of lined out like a tennis court but it's a lot smaller," he said.The plastic ball resembles a wiffle ball, which is perforated. There are all types of paddles available for purchase, resembling a racquetball paddle.The equipment "is pretty inexpensive. I think that's also why people like playing pickleball because you don't have a whole lot of money invested in it."There is a total of six pickleball courts in the Hays Recreation Center's three gyms.&nbsp;Most games are played during open gym hours between 8:30 and 11 a.m. with other groups coming in the afternoon.Drop-in pickleball is offered from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Wednesdays with a charge of $1 per player.Sunday morning drop-in pickleball from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. was started recently with all six courts available for use at a cost of $2 per player.The Hays Recreation Commission has also hosted tournament play.&nbsp;Teams can be women-only, men-only or co-ed."Gym space is not always ideal," Karlin said, "because there are so many people that enjoy the game of pickleball that we wish we had more pickleball courts available in our community."Karlin prefers playing outdoors at the city's courts but the weather doesn't always cooperate.&nbsp;A request from local players for more courts in Municipal Park prompted the Hays City Commission to add the expense of&nbsp;restriping another tennis court into two temporary pickleball courts next year. The $8,000 will come from the&nbsp;special parks and recreation fund. Across the country, there are nationally sanctioned professional events with play aired on ESPN television. Kansas City and Wichita host sanctioned tournaments."They're teaching it in schools at a younger age," Bixenman said. "I think pickleball is here to stay just because of the wide variety of ages that can play it."&nbsp;

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