By BECKY KISER Hays Post

It's been more than a year since&nbsp;the carrier at Hays Regional Airport, SkyWest Airlines, <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/349480c6-6e76-4e69-b11c-60bd8a239018">filed notice with the U.S. Department of Transportation it would terminate service</a> in 90 days in 29 cities across the country, including Hays, Salina, Dodge City and Liberal.

The decision was made due to an ongoing shortage of pilots, exacerbated by the pandemic with its near shutdown of air travel, and a growing number of captains reaching the mandatory retirement age of 65.

DOT immediately issued a hold-in order for SkyWest to stay in Hays.

The airport has <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/0eeb6e0a-febc-4e2c-bc3b-bf05d0eca649">continued to operate with SkyWest</a> since then.

Multiple small communities served by SkyWest, which has the&nbsp; Essential Air Service federal contracts in those rural areas, are encouraging DOT to approve an option offered by SkyWest.

The Utah-based company asked DOT for permission to operate new flights under less-restrictive charter-airline rules if it limits jet planes to 30 seats.

However, DOT has taken no action on the application for commuter authority since it was filed in September 2022. 

But it has done so with other carriers, according to&nbsp;Wade Steel, chief commercial officer of SkyWest, Inc.&nbsp;

"Very frustrating," is how Jamie Salter, airport director, describes the situation.

Salter said the city of Haysand other communities served by SkyWest support approval of the application and believe it would help to alleviate the pilot shortage SkyWest Airlines is facing.

"SkyWest Charter would be able to utilize Part 135 pilots who do not face the mandatory retirement at age 65 as do Part 121 pilots. (SkyWest Airlines operates in the form of a 121 certificate.) Part 135 pilots must pass FAA physical exams twice yearly to ensure fitness," Salter said.

From a safety perspective, Part 135 pilots are those who retired from flying Boeing 787 Dreamliners internationally (for example) with 20,000 to 30,000 hours of flight time, she said.

Salter, Steel, and airport representatives from&nbsp;Salina, Dodge City, Liberal, Fort Dodge, Iowa, and Mason City, Iowa, recently held a virtual press conference in support of the SkyWest Charter commuter authority authorization.&nbsp;

"SWC goes above and beyond the safety standards required for commuter authority by only utilizing pilots who hold FAA Airline Transport Pilot licenses in both seats of the flight deck – a commitment no other operator with DOT commuter authority has made," Steel said.

"The fact that SkyWest Charter’s application for commuter authority was submitted nearly a year ago and has yet to receive a response is particularly frustrating as there are other commuter carriers operating the same type of service with similar aircraft as proposed by SWC in various parts of the country, but at a lesser safety standard than SWC will apply," Salter said.

Although Steel said SkyWest Charter would surpass other charter operators in pilot training, rest rules and other safety practices, airline unions are fighting the request.

The Air Line Pilots Association is one of those opposed.

Corey Keller, director of public works for Dodge City, said the group is trying to "mislead the application process to show more bargaining power for its pilots. If there's less pilots in the system, it means more bargaining power."

Salter has been very happy with the performance of SkyWest at the Hays airport.

"They've done what they said. They're very reputable," she said Thursday.

She also noted there have been no disruptions in the flight service. An evening flight to Denver will change Saturday to arrive early in the afternoon at 12:11 p.m.

Hays' Essential Air Service contract with the U.S. Department of Transportation and SkyWest ends next year on July 31, 2024.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1609799151484.jpeg" alt="A SkyWest jet at the Hays Regional Airport. Photo by City of Hays" />
 <figcaption>A SkyWest jet at the Hays Regional Airport. Photo by City of Hays</figcaption>
 </figure>By BECKY KISER Hays PostIt's been more than a year since&nbsp;the carrier at Hays Regional Airport, SkyWest Airlines, <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/349480c6-6e76-4e69-b11c-60bd8a239018">filed notice with the U.S. Department of Transportation it would terminate service</a> in 90 days in 29 cities across the country, including Hays, Salina, Dodge City and Liberal.The decision was made due to an ongoing shortage of pilots, exacerbated by the pandemic with its near shutdown of air travel, and a growing number of captains reaching the mandatory retirement age of 65.DOT immediately issued a hold-in order for SkyWest to stay in Hays.The airport has <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/0eeb6e0a-febc-4e2c-bc3b-bf05d0eca649">continued to operate with SkyWest</a> since then.Multiple small communities served by SkyWest, which has the&nbsp; Essential Air Service federal contracts in those rural areas, are encouraging DOT to approve an option offered by SkyWest.The Utah-based company asked DOT for permission to operate new flights under less-restrictive charter-airline rules if it limits jet planes to 30 seats.However, DOT has taken no action on the application for commuter authority since it was filed in September 2022. But it has done so with other carriers, according to&nbsp;Wade Steel, chief commercial officer of SkyWest, Inc.&nbsp;"Very frustrating," is how Jamie Salter, airport director, describes the situation.Salter said the city of Haysand other communities served by SkyWest support approval of the application and believe it would help to alleviate the pilot shortage SkyWest Airlines is facing."SkyWest Charter would be able to utilize Part 135 pilots who do not face the mandatory retirement at age 65 as do Part 121 pilots. (SkyWest Airlines operates in the form of a 121 certificate.) Part 135 pilots must pass FAA physical exams twice yearly to ensure fitness," Salter said.From a safety perspective, Part 135 pilots are those who retired from flying Boeing 787 Dreamliners internationally (for example) with 20,000 to 30,000 hours of flight time, she said.Salter, Steel, and airport representatives from&nbsp;Salina, Dodge City, Liberal, Fort Dodge, Iowa, and Mason City, Iowa, recently held a virtual press conference in support of the SkyWest Charter commuter authority authorization.&nbsp;<div><div style="position:relative;overflow:hidden;padding-bottom:56.25%"><iframe src="https://cdn.jwplayer.com/players/NpPvXV6a-P46diVCW.html" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" title="Swc" style="position:absolute;" allowfullscreen></iframe></div></div>"SWC goes above and beyond the safety standards required for commuter authority by only utilizing pilots who hold FAA Airline Transport Pilot licenses in both seats of the flight deck – a commitment no other operator with DOT commuter authority has made," Steel said."The fact that SkyWest Charter’s application for commuter authority was submitted nearly a year ago and has yet to receive a response is particularly frustrating as there are other commuter carriers operating the same type of service with similar aircraft as proposed by SWC in various parts of the country, but at a lesser safety standard than SWC will apply," Salter said.Although Steel said SkyWest Charter would surpass other charter operators in pilot training, rest rules and other safety practices, airline unions are fighting the request.The Air Line Pilots Association is one of those opposed.Corey Keller, director of public works for Dodge City, said the group is trying to "mislead the application process to show more bargaining power for its pilots. If there's less pilots in the system, it means more bargaining power."Salter has been very happy with the performance of SkyWest at the Hays airport."They've done what they said. They're very reputable," she said Thursday.She also noted there have been no disruptions in the flight service. An evening flight to Denver will change Saturday to arrive early in the afternoon at 12:11 p.m.Hays' Essential Air Service contract with the U.S. Department of Transportation and SkyWest ends next year on July 31, 2024.

🎥 Hays airport carrier SkyWest awaits OK for charter flights from USDOT

TOPEKA - The Kansas Department of Transportation announces approved bids for state highway construction and maintenance projects. The letting took place June 21, 2023, in Topeka. Some of the bids may include multiple projects that have been bundled based on proximity and type of work.

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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1688046043635.jpeg" alt="Photo by Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>KDOT&nbsp;TOPEKA - The Kansas Department of Transportation announces approved bids for state highway construction and maintenance projects. The letting took place June 21, 2023, in Topeka. Some of the bids may include multiple projects that have been bundled based on proximity and type of work.<figure>
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KDOT announces approved June bids in northwest Kansas

In Ellis County, the discharge of fireworks in the unincorporated areas of the county will be allowed from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. July 2 to 4.

Ellis County will have the same fireworks discharge dates and times as the city of Hays. See city fireworks rules below.

Permitted dates and hours to discharge fireworks in the city of Ellis are 8 a.m. to midnight July 3 through 5:

Fireworks can be discharged in the Victoria city limits July 4 only from 8 a.m. until midnight.

Hays PostIn Ellis County, the discharge of fireworks in the unincorporated areas of the county will be allowed from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. July 2 to 4.Ellis County will have the same fireworks discharge dates and times as the city of Hays. See city fireworks rules below.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1687976435047.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><h2>City of Ellis</h2>Permitted dates and hours to discharge fireworks in the city of Ellis are 8 a.m. to midnight July 3 through 5: <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1688140389660.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Victoria</h2>Fireworks can be discharged in the Victoria city limits July 4 only from 8 a.m. until midnight.

Hays, Ellis, Victoria, Ellis County set fireworks discharge rules

By MONIQUE KOERNER KSRE Cottonwood District

Hearing the words “what a kind, compassionate child you’ve raised” is often one of the greatest compliments a parent can receive as they turn their young person out into the world.

The foundation for this empathy, says Kansas State University child development specialist Bradford Wiles, happens early in life.

“Children start to figure out that other people have different beliefs, thoughts and desires other than their own at about the age of three,” Wiles said. “This is a crucial time to teach them to appreciate and enjoy other people’s perspectives.”

Before that, he said children can recognize differences in the way people dress or skin color, but they don’t have any opinions — positive or negative — about that.

“As children grow up, they are exposed to our family, regional and local community cultures, and if your family culture is one of acceptance and embracing others, children will pick up on that,” Wiles said.

Embracing others ties to the skill of empathy, Wiles said.

“Empathy is being able to appreciate and understand someone else’s perspective; it’s putting yourself in their place, which is different than sympathy where you feel bad for others,” Wiles said. “Empathy is also different than tolerating something unpalatable.”

He cited the example of how when sitting in a waiting room a person might tolerate overhearing a cell phone conversation, but those who can empathize have an appreciation for what is being discussed in that conversation even if it is something that they personally don’t have an experience with.

And children who learn empathy at a young age often grow into adults who can navigate social situations and perform well as members of a team, Wiles said.

“Research has shown that people who express empathy are able to better work with other people to solve problems in the workforce,” he said.

“It starts with family modeling; if you have friends from diverse backgrounds, make sure your children interact with them and it isn’t just people of different cultures,” Wiles said. “In the U.S. there tends to be a lack of empathy for people who are low income. For some, the perception is that poor people don’t work hard, and while that may be true for a small subset, the vast majority are working hard to maintain a level of poverty.”

To help children cross those cultures Wiles encourages parents to demonstrate empathy by volunteering in the community or in school where children can see them engaging with others and modeling that all people have worth, even if they are different.

“Through volunteer work, parents can demonstrate to children that all people have value, and they are richer for those interactions,” Wiles said.

Another way to model empathy is to expose children to a wide range of books and have family discussions about the story, Wiles said. He explains that through books, children can be exposed to characters who are developmentally delayed or physically challenged, come from another culture or are from a different social class, among other differences.

“One of the best things about books is that the characters provide early opportunities for a parent to facilitate a discussion with the child by asking ‘What do you think that character is thinking about?’ and that forces the child to engage in the process of empathy,” Wiles said.

More information on child development is available online from K-State Research and Extension.

Monique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at 785-628-9430 or moniquek@ksu.edu.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668522176561.png" alt="Monique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension, Cottonwood District. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Monique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension, Cottonwood District. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By MONIQUE KOERNER KSRE Cottonwood DistrictHearing the words “what a kind, compassionate child you’ve raised” is often one of the greatest compliments a parent can receive as they turn their young person out into the world.The foundation for this empathy, says Kansas State University child development specialist Bradford Wiles, happens early in life.“Children start to figure out that other people have different beliefs, thoughts and desires other than their own at about the age of three,” Wiles said. “This is a crucial time to teach them to appreciate and enjoy other people’s perspectives.”Before that, he said children can recognize differences in the way people dress or skin color, but they don’t have any opinions — positive or negative — about that.“As children grow up, they are exposed to our family, regional and local community cultures, and if your family culture is one of acceptance and embracing others, children will pick up on that,” Wiles said.Embracing others ties to the skill of empathy, Wiles said.“Empathy is being able to appreciate and understand someone else’s perspective; it’s putting yourself in their place, which is different than sympathy where you feel bad for others,” Wiles said. “Empathy is also different than tolerating something unpalatable.”He cited the example of how when sitting in a waiting room a person might tolerate overhearing a cell phone conversation, but those who can empathize have an appreciation for what is being discussed in that conversation even if it is something that they personally don’t have an experience with.And children who learn empathy at a young age often grow into adults who can navigate social situations and perform well as members of a team, Wiles said.“Research has shown that people who express empathy are able to better work with other people to solve problems in the workforce,” he said.So how is empathy developed?“It starts with family modeling; if you have friends from diverse backgrounds, make sure your children interact with them and it isn’t just people of different cultures,” Wiles said. “In the U.S. there tends to be a lack of empathy for people who are low income. For some, the perception is that poor people don’t work hard, and while that may be true for a small subset, the vast majority are working hard to maintain a level of poverty.”To help children cross those cultures Wiles encourages parents to demonstrate empathy by volunteering in the community or in school where children can see them engaging with others and modeling that all people have worth, even if they are different.“Through volunteer work, parents can demonstrate to children that all people have value, and they are richer for those interactions,” Wiles said.Another way to model empathy is to expose children to a wide range of books and have family discussions about the story, Wiles said. He explains that through books, children can be exposed to characters who are developmentally delayed or physically challenged, come from another culture or are from a different social class, among other differences.“One of the best things about books is that the characters provide early opportunities for a parent to facilitate a discussion with the child by asking ‘What do you think that character is thinking about?’ and that forces the child to engage in the process of empathy,” Wiles said.More information on child development is available online from K-State Research and Extension.Monique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at 785-628-9430 or moniquek@ksu.edu.

KOERNER: Help young children develop empathy

<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

Visit the Wild West Festival today for a chance to sign up to become a finalist to win the Keystone UTV from Hays Post and Eagle Radio.

The following location will be on Friday, July 7 at Discount Smokes on Vine in Hays.

Watch the Hays Post and listen to 101.9 The Bull, KAYS 1400 AM, 94.3 FM,&nbsp;99.5 KHAZ, 103.3 KJLS and 96.9 KFIX for more locations and chances to enter to become a UTV finalist.

If you would like the&nbsp; Keystone Light UTV to come to your business, call 785-259-8000.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1687975419918.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Visit the Wild West Festival today for a chance to sign up to become a finalist to win the Keystone UTV from Hays Post and Eagle Radio.The following location will be on Friday, July 7 at Discount Smokes on Vine in Hays.Watch the Hays Post and listen to 101.9 The Bull, KAYS 1400 AM, 94.3 FM,&nbsp;99.5 KHAZ, 103.3 KJLS and 96.9 KFIX for more locations and chances to enter to become a UTV finalist.If you would like the&nbsp; Keystone Light UTV to come to your business, call 785-259-8000.

Sign up for Keystone UTV giveaway at Wild West Fest today

The Hays Police Department responded to 89&nbsp; incidents June 11-17, 2023 according to the HPD activity log.&nbsp;

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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1666041529157.jpeg" alt="" />
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 </figure>The Hays Police Department responded to 89&nbsp; incidents June 11-17, 2023 according to the HPD activity log.&nbsp;<figure>
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Hays PD activity log, June 11-17   

A small town native hailing from the flint hills of Kansas, Savanna Chestnut's voice is as clear and country as the prairie sky she grew up under and her songwriting&nbsp;reflects her heartfelt, no-frills character, according to her website.

Her love for performing started in her grandparent's bar on karaoke night when she was a little girl and has since taken her all across the country. From dive bars, fairs, festivals and rodeos, to season 20 of The Voice on NBC where she was chosen by Blake Shelton, Savanna has won over audiences with her unique, yet nostalgic country style, the website said&nbsp;

Savanna has won multiple songwriting contests and has been nominated for Female Vocalist of the Year at the Rocky Mountain Country music awards four times, according to her website. She has shared the stage with acts such as Gary Allan, Eli Young Band, Reckless Kelly, Granger Smith, Tanya Tucker, Jason Boland, Ned Ledoux and many others. She has three studio albums of original music available on all streaming platforms.&nbsp;

Her goal is to connect with and comfort as many people as possible with her music. In her words,

"Country music has always been my shoulder to lean on, no matter what. I can always relate to it, and always rely on it. That's how I want my songs to be for others. Just honest, genuine, country music."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1688047698775.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>A small town native hailing from the flint hills of Kansas, Savanna Chestnut's voice is as clear and country as the prairie sky she grew up under and her songwriting&nbsp;reflects her heartfelt, no-frills character, according to her website.Her latest song is "Horses and Hearts."Her love for performing started in her grandparent's bar on karaoke night when she was a little girl and has since taken her all across the country. From dive bars, fairs, festivals and rodeos, to season 20 of The Voice on NBC where she was chosen by Blake Shelton, Savanna has won over audiences with her unique, yet nostalgic country style, the website said&nbsp;Savanna has won multiple songwriting contests and has been nominated for Female Vocalist of the Year at the Rocky Mountain Country music awards four times, according to her website. She has shared the stage with acts such as Gary Allan, Eli Young Band, Reckless Kelly, Granger Smith, Tanya Tucker, Jason Boland, Ned Ledoux and many others. She has three studio albums of original music available on all streaming platforms.&nbsp;Her goal is to connect with and comfort as many people as possible with her music. In her words,"Country music has always been my shoulder to lean on, no matter what. I can always relate to it, and always rely on it. That's how I want my songs to be for others. Just honest, genuine, country music."

Wild West Festival announces change in opening act for Friday

The Morning Blend's Summer Music Showdown is underway! Listen in Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. on&nbsp;<a href="https://radio.securenetsystems.net/cwa/KAYS">94.3 FM/1400 AM KAYS</a> to hear today's selections

Each Friday through the month of July, one lucky voter will win a Date Night package, including an appetizer, two dinners and a dessert to share from the&nbsp;<a href="https://paisleypear.net/">Paisley Pear Wine Bar, Bistro and Market.</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1687537524742.jpeg" alt="" />
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 </figure><h2>Which song is best!?</h2>The Morning Blend's Summer Music Showdown is underway! Listen in Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. on&nbsp;<a href="https://radio.securenetsystems.net/cwa/KAYS">94.3 FM/1400 AM KAYS</a> to hear today's selections <h2>Vote for your favorites below</h2><div>  <script src="https://embed-994691.secondstreetapp.com/Scripts/dist/embed.js" data-ss-embed="promotion" data-opguid="2a18b3c4-bfb5-45a7-83a8-8daad66e11af" data-routing="hash">/**/</script></div>Each Friday through the month of July, one lucky voter will win a Date Night package, including an appetizer, two dinners and a dessert to share from the&nbsp;<a href="https://paisleypear.net/">Paisley Pear Wine Bar, Bistro and Market.</a><figure>
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KAYS Summer Music Showdown underway

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

The Kansas Early Childhood Transition Task Force was in Hays Wednesday to discuss how Kansas can better meet children's and family's needs.

Child care funding and oversight are very fragmented in the Kansas government. The task force has been directed to evaluate if child care needs to be under the oversight of a single agency in Kansas in order to reduce duplication and bureaucratic complexity for families and providers.&nbsp;

The listening session in Hays was one of a series across the state of Kansas. The board room at Rockwell Administration Center was filled to capacity Wednesday with about 40 people broken into eight groups.

Each group was asked to discuss three questions: • What are the challenges, gaps or barriers your community has faced? • What services and programs are working and are bright spots? • How would you evaluate the state's efficiency in providing support to you and your community?

Participants expressed concern about a gap between what child care providers charge and what some families can pay.&nbsp; Families should be paying no more than 7 percent of their income for child care, according to a staff member from Child Care Aware.

Jennifer Hecker, an Ellis County Child Care Task Force member, said although cost is a challenge for many families, wages for child care providers remain low. This has resulted in child care workers leaving the profession in droves, she said.

Child care providers have been able to receive pandemic sustainability funding, but that is now ending.

Brett Schmidt, owner of Learning Cross Child Care in Hays, said he is concerned as that pandemic funding disappears, communities like Hays will see a sharp decrease in providers.

Mason Ruder is a Hays city commissioner and his wife runs a child care home. During the pandemic, all providers participating in the Children and Adult Care Food Program received the same level of funding.&nbsp;

With the end of the pandemic, that funding has gone back to a tiered system. Tori Ruder, Ruder's wife, is now receiving less food funding even though food prices have increased significantly.

Infant care is not sustainable in for-profit models, Schmidt said. This has led to extreme shortages in most communities in the state. The state requires small staff-to-infant ratios, which drive up costs.

The going rate for care for an infant is $1,000 per month.&nbsp;

Group members also expressed concerns about a lack of care for children with disabilities or mental health issues. Care is also lacking for parents who do shift work.

The inability to find quality child care spills over into the workforce, participants said.

When a child care home closes because of illness, a worker may have to take a leave of absence to care for a child. Workers who can't find or afford child care, including potential paraprofessional educators, nurses and teachers have to remove themselves from the workforce to take care of their children, a participant said.

The participants pointed out some bright spots in the child care system. Some of these included intergenerational child care programs, the Ellis County Child Care Task Force, cooperative programs with businesses to provide child care and new professional development opportunities for child care providers.

The participants gave the facilitators multiple suggestions on how state oversight could be improved.

Participants said opening a new child care center or home was a lengthy process that required approval of multiple officials.

They said the Kansas Department of Health and Environment website is difficult to navigate.

Although some participants said the background check system had become easier, but others said it historically had been a slow and expensive process.&nbsp;

One participant said she needed three different background checks for her job.

One of the facilitators said because different certifications have different requirements, they can't use the same background checks for each certification.

Kyle Carlin, director of the West Central Kansas Special Education Cooperative, said each funding source has different requirements. This results in more administrative costs for the entities that receive the funding.

Sarah Wasinger, facilitator for the Ellis County Child Care Task Force, said applications for state funding have had short turnaround times. She also expressed frustration that the criteria for the programs have been changed in the middle of the application process.

Hecker also added grant funds are often based on population, which means rural areas of the state are left out.

"We can't compete body-wise," she said. "I would hope that they could look a square mileage."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1687990159785.jpeg" alt="Participants from across the region met in Hays on Wednesday to discuss child care. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Participants from across the region met in Hays on Wednesday to discuss child care. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostThe Kansas Early Childhood Transition Task Force was in Hays Wednesday to discuss how Kansas can better meet children's and family's needs.Child care funding and oversight are very fragmented in the Kansas government. The task force has been directed to evaluate if child care needs to be under the oversight of a single agency in Kansas in order to reduce duplication and bureaucratic complexity for families and providers.&nbsp;The listening session in Hays was one of a series across the state of Kansas. The board room at Rockwell Administration Center was filled to capacity Wednesday with about 40 people broken into eight groups.Each group was asked to discuss three questions: • What are the challenges, gaps or barriers your community has faced? • What services and programs are working and are bright spots? • How would you evaluate the state's efficiency in providing support to you and your community?Participants expressed concern about a gap between what child care providers charge and what some families can pay.&nbsp; Families should be paying no more than 7 percent of their income for child care, according to a staff member from Child Care Aware.Jennifer Hecker, an Ellis County Child Care Task Force member, said although cost is a challenge for many families, wages for child care providers remain low. This has resulted in child care workers leaving the profession in droves, she said.Child care providers have been able to receive pandemic sustainability funding, but that is now ending.Brett Schmidt, owner of Learning Cross Child Care in Hays, said he is concerned as that pandemic funding disappears, communities like Hays will see a sharp decrease in providers.Mason Ruder is a Hays city commissioner and his wife runs a child care home. During the pandemic, all providers participating in the Children and Adult Care Food Program received the same level of funding.&nbsp;With the end of the pandemic, that funding has gone back to a tiered system. Tori Ruder, Ruder's wife, is now receiving less food funding even though food prices have increased significantly.Infant care is not sustainable in for-profit models, Schmidt said. This has led to extreme shortages in most communities in the state. The state requires small staff-to-infant ratios, which drive up costs.The going rate for care for an infant is $1,000 per month.&nbsp;Group members also expressed concerns about a lack of care for children with disabilities or mental health issues. Care is also lacking for parents who do shift work.The inability to find quality child care spills over into the workforce, participants said.When a child care home closes because of illness, a worker may have to take a leave of absence to care for a child. Workers who can't find or afford child care, including potential paraprofessional educators, nurses and teachers have to remove themselves from the workforce to take care of their children, a participant said.The participants pointed out some bright spots in the child care system. Some of these included intergenerational child care programs, the Ellis County Child Care Task Force, cooperative programs with businesses to provide child care and new professional development opportunities for child care providers.The participants gave the facilitators multiple suggestions on how state oversight could be improved.Participants said opening a new child care center or home was a lengthy process that required approval of multiple officials.They said the Kansas Department of Health and Environment website is difficult to navigate.Although some participants said the background check system had become easier, but others said it historically had been a slow and expensive process.&nbsp;One participant said she needed three different background checks for her job.One of the facilitators said because different certifications have different requirements, they can't use the same background checks for each certification.Kyle Carlin, director of the West Central Kansas Special Education Cooperative, said each funding source has different requirements. This results in more administrative costs for the entities that receive the funding.Sarah Wasinger, facilitator for the Ellis County Child Care Task Force, said applications for state funding have had short turnaround times. She also expressed frustration that the criteria for the programs have been changed in the middle of the application process.Hecker also added grant funds are often based on population, which means rural areas of the state are left out."We can't compete body-wise," she said. "I would hope that they could look a square mileage."

Child care listening tour participants say state oversight cumbersome

TOPEKA&nbsp;– Governor Laura Kelly and the Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund have announced funding awards to 52 statewide organizations, including six in northwest Kansas, for the purpose of creating new, sustainable, high-quality licensed child care slots across the state and accelerating capacity-building in support of families, businesses, and economic development. 

These grants are part of the Child Care Capacity Accelerator grant program, which was designed to advance the rapid development of additional child care slots statewide. The program will provide $43,593,294 in grant funding, which will create 4,211 new child care slots across the state.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/7088919e-ce0f-4d79-bc10-76c91ede19b9">The Grove Child Care project, which is being spearheaded by Grow Hays, received $170,000 of a $2 million application.</a>

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/09ac3361-ef7e-4078-a540-b0cfafaf1bc5">The Grove will be a housing project at the corner of 27th and Canterbury in Hays.</a>&nbsp;

A child care center and senior center is proposed as part of the project. The child care center could serve up to 77 children from infant to preschool. The slots would be open to the public. The project does not have a completion date.

“We must also harness the economic potential of these investments by ensuring that families and communities have the support needed to fully participate in our growing economy,” Kelly said.&nbsp;“By providing this critical funding, communities across the state are receiving the much-needed support to open or expand child care facilities that will increase access to care for families and support the healthy development of our youngest Kansans.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Child Care Capacity Accelerator grant program braids together funding from four sources: $20 million in SPARK funding from the State Fiscal Recovery Fund in the American Rescue Plan approved by the SPARK Executive Committee and State Finance Council, $20 million in federal Child Care Development Block Grant ARPA Discretionary funds provided by the Department for Children and Families, $1 million from the federal Preschool Development Birth—five planning grant funds (PDG B-5), and a gift of $2.5 million provided in collaboration with the Patterson Family Foundation.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Child Care Capacity Accelerator represents a significant investment in child care and early learning to support economic development, create new jobs with better compensation for early educators, and support workforce participation for families with young children. 

Unique to this program is the ability to use SPARK funds to support new construction and facility improvements—which is generally not allowed under other federal funding support for child care. The gift from the Patterson Family Foundation will allow us to add construction to further expand capacity. The funds will support major start-up operational needs such as expanded staffing, training, furniture, and equipment.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“Kansas has wide-ranging challenges related to child care availability, that differ depending on where you live. We are excited to distribute resources to a diverse set of grantees to help accelerate access to child care”&nbsp;said&nbsp;Melissa Rooker, executive director of the Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund.&nbsp;“Having funding sources that allow for construction and major renovation is a game-changer. We look forward to helping guide these projects to completion and hope the success of these efforts provide Kansas families more options for safe, high-quality child care. This will benefit the workforce of today as we nurture and care for our children, who will become the workforce of tomorrow.”&nbsp;

The grants were awarded based upon a competitive request for proposal process that yielded 105 applications totaling over $117 million.&nbsp;Grantees were required to identify at least 25% matching funds from other sources. The grant period begins July 1, 2023, and extends through September 2026.&nbsp;

A subset of 16 communities have also been selected to participate as an&nbsp;Innovation Communities&nbsp;Cohort, to document and facilitate statewide distribution of successful strategies and lessons learned to help us identify and scale effective and transformative approaches statewide. The bonus funding for this program is provided in part through the PDG B-5 funds.&nbsp;&nbsp;

A complete list of Accelerator grantees can be accessed at&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYWxsaW5mb3JrYW5zYXNraWRzLm9yZy9hY2NlbGVyYXRvci8iLCJidWxsZXRpbl9pZCI6IjIwMjMwNjI3Ljc4ODYzNTIxIn0.wkK-97_SvcXzK7Z6xKflmULmMfcpUAVtSI4FxSapcN4/s/1303161001/br/209400652619-l" target="_blank">allinforkansaskids.org/accelerator</a>&nbsp;

A map of each awarded project can be found&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDIsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vZ292ZXJub3Iua2Fuc2FzLmdvdi93cC1jb250ZW50L3VwbG9hZHMvMjAyMy8wNi9DQ0NBLUFsbC5wbmciLCJidWxsZXRpbl9pZCI6IjIwMjMwNjI3Ljc4ODYzNTIxIn0.-EPCqYR2ymGIbH4TFw6D9JelPVvKsvYSuFXEuBeHPc8/s/1303161001/br/209400652619-l" target="_blank">here</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1687946203632.png" alt="Child Care Capacity Accelerator grantees in northwest Kansas." />
 <figcaption>Child Care Capacity Accelerator grantees in northwest Kansas.</figcaption>
 </figure>Office of the GovernorTOPEKA&nbsp;– Governor Laura Kelly and the Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund have announced funding awards to 52 statewide organizations, including six in northwest Kansas, for the purpose of creating new, sustainable, high-quality licensed child care slots across the state and accelerating capacity-building in support of families, businesses, and economic development. These grants are part of the Child Care Capacity Accelerator grant program, which was designed to advance the rapid development of additional child care slots statewide. The program will provide $43,593,294 in grant funding, which will create 4,211 new child care slots across the state.&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/7088919e-ce0f-4d79-bc10-76c91ede19b9">The Grove Child Care project, which is being spearheaded by Grow Hays, received $170,000 of a $2 million application.</a><a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/09ac3361-ef7e-4078-a540-b0cfafaf1bc5">The Grove will be a housing project at the corner of 27th and Canterbury in Hays.</a>&nbsp;A child care center and senior center is proposed as part of the project. The child care center could serve up to 77 children from infant to preschool. The slots would be open to the public. The project does not have a completion date.“We must also harness the economic potential of these investments by ensuring that families and communities have the support needed to fully participate in our growing economy,” Kelly said.&nbsp;“By providing this critical funding, communities across the state are receiving the much-needed support to open or expand child care facilities that will increase access to care for families and support the healthy development of our youngest Kansans.”&nbsp;&nbsp;The Child Care Capacity Accelerator grant program braids together funding from four sources: $20 million in SPARK funding from the State Fiscal Recovery Fund in the American Rescue Plan approved by the SPARK Executive Committee and State Finance Council, $20 million in federal Child Care Development Block Grant ARPA Discretionary funds provided by the Department for Children and Families, $1 million from the federal Preschool Development Birth—five planning grant funds (PDG B-5), and a gift of $2.5 million provided in collaboration with the Patterson Family Foundation.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Child Care Capacity Accelerator represents a significant investment in child care and early learning to support economic development, create new jobs with better compensation for early educators, and support workforce participation for families with young children. Unique to this program is the ability to use SPARK funds to support new construction and facility improvements—which is generally not allowed under other federal funding support for child care. The gift from the Patterson Family Foundation will allow us to add construction to further expand capacity. The funds will support major start-up operational needs such as expanded staffing, training, furniture, and equipment.&nbsp;&nbsp;“Kansas has wide-ranging challenges related to child care availability, that differ depending on where you live. We are excited to distribute resources to a diverse set of grantees to help accelerate access to child care”&nbsp;said&nbsp;Melissa Rooker, executive director of the Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund.&nbsp;“Having funding sources that allow for construction and major renovation is a game-changer. We look forward to helping guide these projects to completion and hope the success of these efforts provide Kansas families more options for safe, high-quality child care. This will benefit the workforce of today as we nurture and care for our children, who will become the workforce of tomorrow.”&nbsp;The grants were awarded based upon a competitive request for proposal process that yielded 105 applications totaling over $117 million.&nbsp;Grantees were required to identify at least 25% matching funds from other sources. The grant period begins July 1, 2023, and extends through September 2026.&nbsp;A subset of 16 communities have also been selected to participate as an&nbsp;Innovation Communities&nbsp;Cohort, to document and facilitate statewide distribution of successful strategies and lessons learned to help us identify and scale effective and transformative approaches statewide. The bonus funding for this program is provided in part through the PDG B-5 funds.&nbsp;&nbsp;A complete list of Accelerator grantees can be accessed at&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYWxsaW5mb3JrYW5zYXNraWRzLm9yZy9hY2NlbGVyYXRvci8iLCJidWxsZXRpbl9pZCI6IjIwMjMwNjI3Ljc4ODYzNTIxIn0.wkK-97_SvcXzK7Z6xKflmULmMfcpUAVtSI4FxSapcN4/s/1303161001/br/209400652619-l" target="_blank">allinforkansaskids.org/accelerator</a>&nbsp;A map of each awarded project can be found&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDIsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vZ292ZXJub3Iua2Fuc2FzLmdvdi93cC1jb250ZW50L3VwbG9hZHMvMjAyMy8wNi9DQ0NBLUFsbC5wbmciLCJidWxsZXRpbl9pZCI6IjIwMjMwNjI3Ljc4ODYzNTIxIn0.-EPCqYR2ymGIbH4TFw6D9JelPVvKsvYSuFXEuBeHPc8/s/1303161001/br/209400652619-l" target="_blank">here</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Grove in Hays among state grantees for new child care centers

Bond has been set for a man charged in the shooting death of a man outside of a Hays bar early Sunday morning.

40-year-old Keith A. Ostrom of Hays, was arrested outside of the Horseshoe Bar in the 1000 block of East Eighth Street in Hays.

Ostrom was arrested on a charge of second-degree murder in the death of&nbsp;63-year-old Larry D. Braun, Ellis County resident. Braun was taken Sunday to Hays Medical Center where he succumbed to his injuries.

Ostrom's bond has been set at $200,000. As of Wednesday morning, he remained in custody at the Ellis County Detention Center.

Hays Police Chief Don Scheibler said the case is still under investigation but has been referred to the Ellis County Attorney.

Law enforcement officials have released no further details what may have led to the shooting.

No further court dates had been set as of Wednesday.

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostBond has been set for a man charged in the shooting death of a man outside of a Hays bar early Sunday morning.40-year-old Keith A. Ostrom of Hays, was arrested outside of the Horseshoe Bar in the 1000 block of East Eighth Street in Hays.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1687978043263.jpeg" alt="Keith Ostrom. Photo courtesy of Ellis County Sheriff's Department" />
 <figcaption>Keith Ostrom. Photo courtesy of Ellis County Sheriff's Department</figcaption>
 </figure>Ostrom was arrested on a charge of second-degree murder in the death of&nbsp;63-year-old Larry D. Braun, Ellis County resident. Braun was taken Sunday to Hays Medical Center where he succumbed to his injuries.Ostrom's bond has been set at $200,000. As of Wednesday morning, he remained in custody at the Ellis County Detention Center.Hays Police Chief Don Scheibler said the case is still under investigation but has been referred to the Ellis County Attorney.Law enforcement officials have released no further details what may have led to the shooting.No further court dates had been set as of Wednesday.

Bond set for Hays shooting suspect

The ARC Park lemonade stand challenge has 19 stands signed up. The stands will be today and Friday in Hays and the surrounding area.

For those who may not be able to stop by a stand but want to donate toward that stand, the ARC Park has set up an online donation form as well: <a href="https://givebutter.com/qGQx9W?fbclid=IwAR1o6XbLSTxVNizU5sZNqKY9uBLPHQN0qoehPIXTXNEtYXXi__UW05OqMWo" target="_blank">https://givebutter.com/qGQx9W</a>.

 Just select the stand you want to donate to and the amount you wish to donate. This will count toward that stand's total money raised.

A full list of registered stands are below.

The ARC Park lemonade stand challenge has 19 stands signed up. The stands will be today and Friday in Hays and the surrounding area.For those who may not be able to stop by a stand but want to donate toward that stand, the ARC Park has set up an online donation form as well: <a href="https://givebutter.com/qGQx9W?fbclid=IwAR1o6XbLSTxVNizU5sZNqKY9uBLPHQN0qoehPIXTXNEtYXXi__UW05OqMWo" target="_blank">https://givebutter.com/qGQx9W</a>. Just select the stand you want to donate to and the amount you wish to donate. This will count toward that stand's total money raised.A full list of registered stands are below.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1687967789069.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

ARC Park Lemonade Stand Challenge set for today, Friday

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1687988801726.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>

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/ff53f4a1-c018-4ba0-93ca-a2ae6d89da78">Check out a story on the headliners here.</a>

This year's annual&nbsp;<a href="https://wildwestfestival.com/">Wild West Festival</a>, which will be June 29 through July 4, is again filled with star-studded performances.

Headliners include country acts Chris Janson on Thursday and Jackson Dean on Friday. Ashley Cooke will open for Janson and Shane Profitt will open for Dean. Saturday is the festival's traditional rock night with AC/DC tribute band Hells Bells opening for Arch Allies.

Ticket prices have increased this year. VIP tickets will be $200. Advance general admission tickets for all three nights are $30 and single-night general admission tickets at the gate are $35. Tickets can be purchased now. You can find a link on the&nbsp;<a href="https://wildwestfestival.com/tickets/">festival website</a>. You can also follow the festival on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/wildwestfestival">Facebook</a>.

General admission tickets can be purchased at all three Hays Cervs locations and both Hays Dillons locations. Both VIP and general admission tickets can be purchased at the Hays Welcome Center at 2700 Vine in Hays.

The parade will be at 10 a.m. July 1 in downtown Hays. The theme is "America for You and Me in 2023."

Fireworks will be on Tuesday night, July 4.

<div><div style="position:relative;overflow:hidden;padding-bottom:56.25%"><iframe src="https://cdn.jwplayer.com/players/5ocOrnvY-KcBmu4K3.html" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" title="Wild West Fest Vmp" style="position:absolute;" allowfullscreen></iframe></div></div><a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/ff53f4a1-c018-4ba0-93ca-a2ae6d89da78">Check out a story on the headliners here.</a>This year's annual&nbsp;<a href="https://wildwestfestival.com/">Wild West Festival</a>, which will be June 29 through July 4, is again filled with star-studded performances.Headliners include country acts Chris Janson on Thursday and Jackson Dean on Friday. Ashley Cooke will open for Janson and Shane Profitt will open for Dean. Saturday is the festival's traditional rock night with AC/DC tribute band Hells Bells opening for Arch Allies.Ticket prices have increased this year. VIP tickets will be $200. Advance general admission tickets for all three nights are $30 and single-night general admission tickets at the gate are $35. Tickets can be purchased now. You can find a link on the&nbsp;<a href="https://wildwestfestival.com/tickets/">festival website</a>. You can also follow the festival on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/wildwestfestival">Facebook</a>.General admission tickets can be purchased at all three Hays Cervs locations and both Hays Dillons locations. Both VIP and general admission tickets can be purchased at the Hays Welcome Center at 2700 Vine in Hays.The parade will be at 10 a.m. July 1 in downtown Hays. The theme is "America for You and Me in 2023."Fireworks will be on Tuesday night, July 4.

🎥 SPONSORED: Wild West Festival set to kickoff today

LINCOLN, NE - Kiersten Ashley Goertzen of Hays has been named to the Deans' List at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for the spring semester of the 2022-23 academic year.

Goertzen, a sophomore majoring in music education, was named to the Dean's List for the Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts.

More than 6,400 students at Nebraska were named to the Deans' List for the spring semester.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1613595470156.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>News releaseLINCOLN, NE - Kiersten Ashley Goertzen of Hays has been named to the Deans' List at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for the spring semester of the 2022-23 academic year.Goertzen, a sophomore majoring in music education, was named to the Dean's List for the Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts.More than 6,400 students at Nebraska were named to the Deans' List for the spring semester.

Hays resident named to spring Deans' List at Nebraska

The Ellis County Fire Department will be conducting a live fire training exercise at 1135 280th just east of the Hays Regional Airport. The training will be conducted Wednesday evening from approximately 6:00 p.m. through 9:00 p.m. 

In coordination of the land/property owner, the house at this address will be burnt down for the training. 

Multiple Ellis County Fire Department fire apparatus and personnel will be on scene for training during the event throughout the evening. The debris from the home will be left to smolder and burn throughout the evening hours, and it will be monitored by fire department personnel.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1687983317011.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>ECFDThe Ellis County Fire Department will be conducting a live fire training exercise at 1135 280th just east of the Hays Regional Airport. The training will be conducted Wednesday evening from approximately 6:00 p.m. through 9:00 p.m. In coordination of the land/property owner, the house at this address will be burnt down for the training. Multiple Ellis County Fire Department fire apparatus and personnel will be on scene for training during the event throughout the evening. The debris from the home will be left to smolder and burn throughout the evening hours, and it will be monitored by fire department personnel.&nbsp;

Abandoned house is site of fire training Wed. night for Ellis County Fire Department

On this episode of the&nbsp;<a href="https://postpodcast.podbean.com/">Post Podcast</a>,&nbsp;Cottonwood Extension District agents Monique Koerner and Tamara Robertson discuss the 2023 Ellis County Fair.

<div><iframe title="Ellis County Fair preparations underway" allowtransparency="true" height="450" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=2hi39-1441672-pb&from=pb6admin&square=1&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=f6f6f6&font-color=auto&logo_link=podcast_page&btn-skin=3267a3&size=450" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>On this episode of the&nbsp;<a href="https://postpodcast.podbean.com/">Post Podcast</a>,&nbsp;Cottonwood Extension District agents Monique Koerner and Tamara Robertson discuss the 2023 Ellis County Fair.

🎙 Post Podcast: Ellis County Fair preparations underway

THOMAS COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just before 8:30a.m. Tuesday in Thomas County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2008 Ford F150 driven by&nbsp; Melvin A.&nbsp;Garcia Medina, 40, Honduras, was eastbound on U.S. 24 four and one half miles southeast of Colby.

The driver attempted to pass a 1997 Chrysler LHS driven by Fernando Martinez, 53, Colby in the westbound lane. The Chrysler was turning left into a private driveway.&nbsp; The pickup struck the car on the drivers side.

EMS transported Martinez to Citizen's Medical Center.&nbsp;Garcia Medina was not injured.&nbsp; Martinez was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

THOMAS COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just before 8:30a.m. Tuesday in Thomas County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2008 Ford F150 driven by&nbsp; Melvin A.&nbsp;Garcia Medina, 40, Honduras, was eastbound on U.S. 24 four and one half miles southeast of Colby.The driver attempted to pass a 1997 Chrysler LHS driven by Fernando Martinez, 53, Colby in the westbound lane. The Chrysler was turning left into a private driveway.&nbsp; The pickup struck the car on the drivers side.EMS transported Martinez to Citizen's Medical Center.&nbsp;Garcia Medina was not injured.&nbsp; Martinez was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

NW Kansas man hospitalized after 2-vehicle crash

Partial Main Street closure for Wild West Festival 

TOPEKA –&nbsp;The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has rescinded a boil water advisory for the Phillips County Rural Water District 1 public water supply system located in Phillips County. The advisory was issued due to low pressure in the distribution system.&nbsp; Failure to maintain adequate pressure may result in loss of chlorine residuals and bacterial contamination.

Public water suppliers in Kansas take all measures necessary to notify customers quickly after a system failure or shutdown. Regardless of whether it’s the supplier or KDHE that announces a boil water advisory, KDHE will issue the rescind order following testing at a certified laboratory.

Laboratory testing samples collected from the Phillips County Rural Water District 1 indicate no evidence of bacteriological contamination and all other conditions that placed the system at risk of contamination are deemed by KDHE officials to be resolved. &nbsp;

For consumer questions, please contact the water system at: 785-540-4051 or you may call KDHE at 785-296-5514. For consumer information please visit KDHE’s PWS Consumer Information webpage:&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDAsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmtkaGUua3MuZ292LzQ2OC9Db25zdW1lci1JbmZvcm1hdGlvbi1SZWdhcmRpbmctYS1EaXNydXB0P3V0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1nb3ZkZWxpdmVyeSIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMzA2MjguNzg5MDY3NTEifQ.ydponht60hGIqD7fJTMR4YUQugor_Kv_17IESr5xsMc/s/1305913623/br/210312672710-l" target="_blank">kdhe.ks.gov/waterdisruption</a>.

KDHETOPEKA –&nbsp;The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has rescinded a boil water advisory for the Phillips County Rural Water District 1 public water supply system located in Phillips County. The advisory was issued due to low pressure in the distribution system.&nbsp; Failure to maintain adequate pressure may result in loss of chlorine residuals and bacterial contamination.Public water suppliers in Kansas take all measures necessary to notify customers quickly after a system failure or shutdown. Regardless of whether it’s the supplier or KDHE that announces a boil water advisory, KDHE will issue the rescind order following testing at a certified laboratory.Laboratory testing samples collected from the Phillips County Rural Water District 1 indicate no evidence of bacteriological contamination and all other conditions that placed the system at risk of contamination are deemed by KDHE officials to be resolved. &nbsp;For consumer questions, please contact the water system at: 785-540-4051 or you may call KDHE at 785-296-5514. For consumer information please visit KDHE’s PWS Consumer Information webpage:&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDAsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmtkaGUua3MuZ292LzQ2OC9Db25zdW1lci1JbmZvcm1hdGlvbi1SZWdhcmRpbmctYS1EaXNydXB0P3V0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1nb3ZkZWxpdmVyeSIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMzA2MjguNzg5MDY3NTEifQ.ydponht60hGIqD7fJTMR4YUQugor_Kv_17IESr5xsMc/s/1305913623/br/210312672710-l" target="_blank">kdhe.ks.gov/waterdisruption</a>.Cover photo courtesy of Pixabay.

Boil water advisory rescinded for Phillips County Rural Water District 1, Phillips County

By JULIA DEBES Kansas Wheat

This is day 6 of the Kansas Wheat Harvest Reports, brought to you by the Kansas Wheat Commission, Kansas Association of Wheat Growers, Kansas&nbsp;Grain and Feed Association and the Kansas Cooperative Council.

Harvest continues to march across the state, moving into areas with higher abandonment, variability and pressure to get crops cut as unwelcome weeds take over short, thin stands.

Industry reports have indicated that early quality data from south central and central Kansas are showing good quality, with 60 pound test weights and above average proteins.

Troy Presley from CoMark Equity Alliance reported harvest began on June 8 and is now 50 percent complete. He expects the group’s approximately 75 locations in Kansas will take in about 40 to 45 percent of a normal crop. Yields range as low as five bushels per acre up to 40 bushels per acre, with anomalies in the 50s.&nbsp;

“There is still a lot to be determined in terms of abandonment, with all the weeds coming in,” he said.&nbsp;

The volatility in yields is due to farming practices and the previously planted crop. Overall test weights are averaging above 60 pounds per bushel and proteins are also much higher than average, with some variation.&nbsp;

This year’s challenges don’t end once the wheat is in the bin. Presley explained the group is also dealing with the inverted market environment, storage issues stemming from higher dockage from weeds, the logistics of the on-again, off-again harvest and trying to forecast whether farmers will sell now or store for later.&nbsp;

Weeds are also causing issues in central Kansas, but Dale Younker didn’t have any wheat of his own to harvest in northern Rush and southern Ellis counties. All of his winter wheat was appraised between 1.5 to 3 bushels per acre, so they terminated the entire crop and planted everything back to grain sorghum.&nbsp;

That wheat was appraised before any rain fell, so some fields could have yielded better. Short-term droughts are typical for this area in central Kansas, but he explained this dry spell goes back to fall 2021.&nbsp;

“I’ve been at this for 30 plus years, that I’ve been farming on my own,” Younker said. “And I do not remember a time when we were so dry for so long.”&nbsp;

Younker and his crew did break out the harvest equipment to help out a neighbor, cutting a few fields northeast of La Crosse from Saturday afternoon to Monday afternoon. Yields were down significantly with one field making around 20 bushels per acre and the other in the low 30s. Test weights were a little down at 58.5 to 59 pounds per bushel.&nbsp;

The area has been receiving some rain since the first week of May but is either still in D4 (exceptional) drought or just out of it. As a result, Younker’s grain sorghum was planted in decent conditions, but more rain will be needed to take that next crop to harvest.&nbsp;

“That’s what we’re shooting for, that’s why we didn’t hesitate to put milo behind this failed wheat,” he explained. “That weather pattern is going to shift. And with the rains we did have, we had some good moisture to get that milo up and going and off to a good start.”&nbsp;

Far eastern Kansas farmers said they feel very fortunate to have received moisture earlier throughout the growing season, unlike producers in the western two-thirds of the state. Harvest should wrap up by the end of this week in Franklin County, according to Clark Wenger, general manager/CEO of Ottawa Coop. The area planted twice as many wheat acres this year and combined with an uncommon set of great growing conditions, the harvest is better than expected.

Area producers brought in a few loads on June 15, but harvest didn’t take off until June 19. Both HRW and SRW are planted in this area, about 30 percent soft to 70 percent hard. Yields for HRW are coming in up to 60 to 70 bushels per acre, with test weights at 60 to 61 pounds per bushel and proteins between 9 and 12 percent.&nbsp;

The 2023 Harvest Report is brought to you by the Kansas Wheat Commission, Kansas Association of Wheat Growers, Kansas Grain and Feed Association and the Kansas Cooperative Council. To follow along with harvest updates on Twitter, use #wheatharvest23. Tag us at @kansaswheat on&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001RcEH3aKZfJGoQxfiDY7WYUZ9RbCgxqmoDuHRx1Khz8c07PzsdLLTb8Wr2b3zy2ucbBhAOlgF_rrGsudnMcBtqyBVdIEA0-fsnORSsCtVZxKlcmrWMpQQBUq4toxT_WpE_9DiplTCG29V8SakB-JK7y19nF-1cJl7&amp;c=62hFw2tQxt453fC6hhlEqglsOIMvYoveWHhtEND95u4Hy0BS_GjfQw==&amp;ch=XzzdZ-9R1Tstr38UdJK5c47HmZR4OyAL8YorfuybFipQhvV0OX6MGQ==" target="_blank">Facebook</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001RcEH3aKZfJGoQxfiDY7WYUZ9RbCgxqmoDuHRx1Khz8c07PzsdLLTb3qzhNVTISQLzM2qCi1N6lHIzfQ6lNbOcCzcZkORMeDl92gXs6b3rFxr7Z68-9UIfp5mxzdu-28_kkNsoyMR2sZ52mBld-7ibXroQNbCT4VH&amp;c=62hFw2tQxt453fC6hhlEqglsOIMvYoveWHhtEND95u4Hy0BS_GjfQw==&amp;ch=XzzdZ-9R1Tstr38UdJK5c47HmZR4OyAL8YorfuybFipQhvV0OX6MGQ==" target="_blank">Instagram</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001RcEH3aKZfJGoQxfiDY7WYUZ9RbCgxqmoDuHRx1Khz8c07PzsdLLTb8l0_OOXlVTINtWzwzVXQwBpWAu9A4pT4O8lUnuF2L6oipurEdP81b8bWeir1SeMdaCEfQ6Eked61Z0PvxUgKHf4RlzkqSuJ1Zx_4N1catdE&amp;c=62hFw2tQxt453fC6hhlEqglsOIMvYoveWHhtEND95u4Hy0BS_GjfQw==&amp;ch=XzzdZ-9R1Tstr38UdJK5c47HmZR4OyAL8YorfuybFipQhvV0OX6MGQ==" target="_blank">Twitter</a>&nbsp;to share your harvest story and photos.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1687944108340.png" alt="Harvest Report Day 6, Kansas Wheat" />
 <figcaption>Harvest Report Day 6, Kansas Wheat</figcaption>
 </figure>By JULIA DEBES Kansas WheatThis is day 6 of the Kansas Wheat Harvest Reports, brought to you by the Kansas Wheat Commission, Kansas Association of Wheat Growers, Kansas&nbsp;Grain and Feed Association and the Kansas Cooperative Council.Harvest continues to march across the state, moving into areas with higher abandonment, variability and pressure to get crops cut as unwelcome weeds take over short, thin stands.Industry reports have indicated that early quality data from south central and central Kansas are showing good quality, with 60 pound test weights and above average proteins.Troy Presley from CoMark Equity Alliance reported harvest began on June 8 and is now 50 percent complete. He expects the group’s approximately 75 locations in Kansas will take in about 40 to 45 percent of a normal crop. Yields range as low as five bushels per acre up to 40 bushels per acre, with anomalies in the 50s.&nbsp;“There is still a lot to be determined in terms of abandonment, with all the weeds coming in,” he said.&nbsp;The volatility in yields is due to farming practices and the previously planted crop. Overall test weights are averaging above 60 pounds per bushel and proteins are also much higher than average, with some variation.&nbsp;This year’s challenges don’t end once the wheat is in the bin. Presley explained the group is also dealing with the inverted market environment, storage issues stemming from higher dockage from weeds, the logistics of the on-again, off-again harvest and trying to forecast whether farmers will sell now or store for later.&nbsp;Weeds are also causing issues in central Kansas, but Dale Younker didn’t have any wheat of his own to harvest in northern Rush and southern Ellis counties. All of his winter wheat was appraised between 1.5 to 3 bushels per acre, so they terminated the entire crop and planted everything back to grain sorghum.&nbsp;That wheat was appraised before any rain fell, so some fields could have yielded better. Short-term droughts are typical for this area in central Kansas, but he explained this dry spell goes back to fall 2021.&nbsp;“I’ve been at this for 30 plus years, that I’ve been farming on my own,” Younker said. “And I do not remember a time when we were so dry for so long.”&nbsp;Younker and his crew did break out the harvest equipment to help out a neighbor, cutting a few fields northeast of La Crosse from Saturday afternoon to Monday afternoon. Yields were down significantly with one field making around 20 bushels per acre and the other in the low 30s. Test weights were a little down at 58.5 to 59 pounds per bushel.&nbsp;The area has been receiving some rain since the first week of May but is either still in D4 (exceptional) drought or just out of it. As a result, Younker’s grain sorghum was planted in decent conditions, but more rain will be needed to take that next crop to harvest.&nbsp;“That’s what we’re shooting for, that’s why we didn’t hesitate to put milo behind this failed wheat,” he explained. “That weather pattern is going to shift. And with the rains we did have, we had some good moisture to get that milo up and going and off to a good start.”&nbsp;Far eastern Kansas farmers said they feel very fortunate to have received moisture earlier throughout the growing season, unlike producers in the western two-thirds of the state. Harvest should wrap up by the end of this week in Franklin County, according to Clark Wenger, general manager/CEO of Ottawa Coop. The area planted twice as many wheat acres this year and combined with an uncommon set of great growing conditions, the harvest is better than expected.Area producers brought in a few loads on June 15, but harvest didn’t take off until June 19. Both HRW and SRW are planted in this area, about 30 percent soft to 70 percent hard. Yields for HRW are coming in up to 60 to 70 bushels per acre, with test weights at 60 to 61 pounds per bushel and proteins between 9 and 12 percent.&nbsp;The 2023 Harvest Report is brought to you by the Kansas Wheat Commission, Kansas Association of Wheat Growers, Kansas Grain and Feed Association and the Kansas Cooperative Council. To follow along with harvest updates on Twitter, use #wheatharvest23. Tag us at @kansaswheat on&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001RcEH3aKZfJGoQxfiDY7WYUZ9RbCgxqmoDuHRx1Khz8c07PzsdLLTb8Wr2b3zy2ucbBhAOlgF_rrGsudnMcBtqyBVdIEA0-fsnORSsCtVZxKlcmrWMpQQBUq4toxT_WpE_9DiplTCG29V8SakB-JK7y19nF-1cJl7&amp;c=62hFw2tQxt453fC6hhlEqglsOIMvYoveWHhtEND95u4Hy0BS_GjfQw==&amp;ch=XzzdZ-9R1Tstr38UdJK5c47HmZR4OyAL8YorfuybFipQhvV0OX6MGQ==" target="_blank">Facebook</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001RcEH3aKZfJGoQxfiDY7WYUZ9RbCgxqmoDuHRx1Khz8c07PzsdLLTb3qzhNVTISQLzM2qCi1N6lHIzfQ6lNbOcCzcZkORMeDl92gXs6b3rFxr7Z68-9UIfp5mxzdu-28_kkNsoyMR2sZ52mBld-7ibXroQNbCT4VH&amp;c=62hFw2tQxt453fC6hhlEqglsOIMvYoveWHhtEND95u4Hy0BS_GjfQw==&amp;ch=XzzdZ-9R1Tstr38UdJK5c47HmZR4OyAL8YorfuybFipQhvV0OX6MGQ==" target="_blank">Instagram</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001RcEH3aKZfJGoQxfiDY7WYUZ9RbCgxqmoDuHRx1Khz8c07PzsdLLTb8l0_OOXlVTINtWzwzVXQwBpWAu9A4pT4O8lUnuF2L6oipurEdP81b8bWeir1SeMdaCEfQ6Eked61Z0PvxUgKHf4RlzkqSuJ1Zx_4N1catdE&amp;c=62hFw2tQxt453fC6hhlEqglsOIMvYoveWHhtEND95u4Hy0BS_GjfQw==&amp;ch=XzzdZ-9R1Tstr38UdJK5c47HmZR4OyAL8YorfuybFipQhvV0OX6MGQ==" target="_blank">Twitter</a>&nbsp;to share your harvest story and photos.

Day 6, Kansas Wheat Harvest Report

A Rooks County Sheriff's officer was on a routine patrol in June. He did not know that day he would be called upon to be someone's hero.

The officer was called to an accident scene on the morning of June 9 on Washington Avenue near the Rooks County Health Center in Plainville.&nbsp;

The officer, who wished to remain anonymous, spotted a fire in the ditch.

Upon further investigation, he found a pickup truck in flames. He grabbed his fire extinguisher out of his cruiser and ran toward the pickup truck. The driver's side of the pickup was closed, so the officer assumed there was someone trapped in the truck.

The officer rushed to the vehicle and tested the door handle to make sure it was not too hot to open. He opened the door to the burning truck.

By TONY GUERRERO Hays Post A Rooks County Sheriff's officer was on a routine patrol in June. He did not know that day he would be called upon to be someone's hero.The officer was called to an accident scene on the morning of June 9 on Washington Avenue near the Rooks County Health Center in Plainville.&nbsp;The officer, who wished to remain anonymous, spotted a fire in the ditch.Upon further investigation, he found a pickup truck in flames. He grabbed his fire extinguisher out of his cruiser and ran toward the pickup truck. The driver's side of the pickup was closed, so the officer assumed there was someone trapped in the truck.The officer rushed to the vehicle and tested the door handle to make sure it was not too hot to open. He opened the door to the burning truck.The officer was able to remove the driver from the burning vehicle and onto the roadway before it filled with flames. During the emergency, the officer was fortunate to receive help from nurses from the nearby hospital who heard screams at the scene and acted quickly to help move them away to safety.The officer said the driver was stunned by the accident and could not understand what was happening.The officer said the most challenging aspect of the rescue was getting the victim out of the ditch because of the driver’s inability to process the situation.“I don’t think he was comprehending what was happening at that time because he wouldn’t let go of the steering wheel so I had to forcefully pull him out of the vehicle,” the officer said.As the car continued to burn, the officer went back to check if there was a passenger in the pickup. The flames were too intense to get close enough to check the car for a passenger.The officer said this was difficult emotionally, because as the car continued to burn, he did not know if there was someone else in the vehicle he could not reach.Fortunately, after the blaze was extinguished, officials found no one else had been in the vehicle.&nbsp;The driver was released from the hospital later that evening with no major injuries.&nbsp;The officer was able to make the rescue and neither he nor the nurses who assisted him were injured.It’s unknown why the vehicle caught fire after the driver went off the roadway.&nbsp;The officer is a military veteran and said his military training helped him on the day of the accident.Although the officer saved someone's life that day, he was humble about his actions.“There’s that fine line between helping somebody and potentially getting yourself hurt and in most situations," he said. "I think anybody is going to put themselves at risk to potentially save somebody else's life. “To me, it was just a natural reaction. It wasn’t anything I guess you could say was extraordinary. The situation was extraordinary, but the actions I believe would be common reactions to the situation.”

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