By BECKY KISER Hays Post

Discussion about a potential common alcohol consumption area in downtown Hays will continue during Thursday's city commission work session.

Commissioners first talked about the idea at their <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/8b222c8f-4665-4812-9b19-d40f55f24721">June 6 work session</a>. Areas of consideration included Seventh Street to 13th Street and Fort to Oak or Walnut to Oak in order to include Taco Shop and The Golden Q.&nbsp;

State law previously required roads within a common consumption area to be blocked to vehicle traffic.&nbsp;

The requirement was modified July 1 and now areas need only to be posted with signage designating the boundaries and hours of operation.

The common consumption area in Old Town Wichita was referenced in the discussion for what the jurisdiction would look like for residents and businesses in downtown Hays.

Concerns about littering, access by minors, and other issues will again be discussed.

Commissioners will also get their first chance to talk about the proposed 2024 city budget and request any modifications.

The budget will be discussed at the next two work sessions as well. 

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

The complete agenda is available <a href="https://www.haysusa.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_07202023-1430">here</a>.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584721067731.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By BECKY KISER Hays PostDiscussion about a potential common alcohol consumption area in downtown Hays will continue during Thursday's city commission work session.Commissioners first talked about the idea at their <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/8b222c8f-4665-4812-9b19-d40f55f24721">June 6 work session</a>. Areas of consideration included Seventh Street to 13th Street and Fort to Oak or Walnut to Oak in order to include Taco Shop and The Golden Q.&nbsp;State law previously required roads within a common consumption area to be blocked to vehicle traffic.&nbsp;The requirement was modified July 1 and now areas need only to be posted with signage designating the boundaries and hours of operation.The common consumption area in Old Town Wichita was referenced in the discussion for what the jurisdiction would look like for residents and businesses in downtown Hays.Concerns about littering, access by minors, and other issues will again be discussed.Commissioners will also get their first chance to talk about the proposed 2024 city budget and request any modifications.The budget will be discussed at the next two work sessions as well. The work session begins at 4 p.m. Thursday in Hays City Hall, 1507 Main.&nbsp;The complete agenda is available <a href="https://www.haysusa.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_07202023-1430">here</a>.&nbsp;

Common alcohol consumption areas to be discussed again by Hays city commission

This is day 13 of the Kansas Wheat Harvest Reports, brought to you by the Kansas Wheat Commission, Kansas Association of Wheat Growers, Kansas Grain and Feed Association and the Kansas Cooperative Council.

In far western Kansas, wheat harvest is well behind schedule due to weather delays that have also brought hail damage. Despite the disruptions, elevators are generally seeing a better harvest than was anticipated this spring, although hail is hindering final yields for some and test weights are declining as producers wait for conditions to dry out enough to finish cutting.&nbsp;

Harvest is still going in western Wichita County, but most producers should wrap up by the weekend across the draw area for Scott Coop, according to grain merchandiser Brinlee McNary.&nbsp;

McNary said the crop looked pretty bleak in March, but thanks to spring rains they have taken in more bushels than they expected. Combines started rolling around July 4, about 10 days behind normal, but rain delays meant most producers spent a week out of the fields before resuming cutting.&nbsp;

The wheat has been high on protein, averaging 13 percent, but test weights have been falling from initial highs due to the rain, now at 58 pounds per bushel. Producers have seen a very wide range of yields from 20 to 70 bushels per acre.&nbsp;

Overall, McNary said Scott Coop will take in about half of their five-year average. That wheat will likely stay within the United States and be sent to flour mills or Kansas gluten plants, instead of traveling south on the rail to the Gulf of Mexico for export.&nbsp;

Harvest also started at least 10 days late in Sherman County, reported Brian Linin who farms near Goodland. About half of his wheat was destroyed, with crop insurance estimates of 0.6 to 1.7 bushels per acre. Linin’s 76-year-old father can’t remember having this much trouble getting wheat up in the fall in all his years of farming.&nbsp;

Despite the initial loss, three generations still came together to run combines this year - Brian, his father Brent and his son Blair. Test weights are averaging 58.5 pounds per bushel while proteins range from 11 to 12 percent.&nbsp;

Linin's irrigated wheat is yielding 60 to 65 bushels per acre and his dryland wheat is yielding 50 to 60 bushels per acre. The range is wider than normal due to variation between heads that are not quite ripe and others that are overripe - three days ago there were still green heads in the field. Hail also hit Sherman County last week, but Linin’s wheat fields were largely spared.&nbsp;

“The only silver lining is that this wheat is this good,” Linin said, noting a big benefit from planting into stubble to set up yield potential. “The dryland fields are a big surprise.”&nbsp;

Linin will deliver his wheat to Frontier Ag or Scoular, which will go on to the domestic mill market.&nbsp;

Eric Sperber of Cornerstone Ag in Colby also noted that the Thomas County area has never started wheat harvest this late.&nbsp;The first combines finally started rolling on July 10. With high humidity, most producers can’t start cutting until early evening, but fields have finally really ripened up in the last two days.&nbsp;

He reported test weights are struggling, averaging just over 58 pounds per bushel. Overall protein is averaging 12.1 percent, but he’s seen from eight percent up to 14 percent. Recent hail did not zero out a lot of acres, but impacted fields are now yielding half of their pre-hail potential due to shattering. Yields range from 25 bushels per acre on hail-damaged fields up to 70 bushels per acre for dryland wheat.&nbsp;

Sperber said there has been a lot of variation within fields with original tillers ripening on time, followed by taller secondary tillers ripening a few days later and then suckerheads growing even taller and ripening a few days after that. Producers have faced a number of difficulties this growing season - abandoning some poor stands in the fall, battling weeds, dealing with wheat suffering from winterkill from a cold snap in December that affected wheat with poor root structure and disease pressure from rust on fields that did not have fungicide applied.&nbsp;

“It has been a challenging crop this year from planting to harvest,” Sperber said. “It’s been really weird.”

Harvest is now 50 to 60 percent complete and needs another seven days of average weather to finish up. Sperber said they need sunshine, otherwise, the current weather will mean harvest will take much longer.&nbsp;Overall, he expects they will take in about the same number of bushels as the five-year average, due to an increase in acres. He had expected more before hail struck the area.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“It’s amazing with the amount of moisture we had,” he said.&nbsp;

Harvest also has about a week left to go - if there’s no rain - for Mike Sieck near Edson in Sherman County. Harvest started on July 8 but has never really kicked into full swing because most days they cannot start until noon or later - some days as late as 4:00 in the afternoon - due to humidity and scattered rains.&nbsp;

Sieck did apply fungicide, a good decision as quite a bit of stripe rust has moved into the area in the last couple of weeks. Weeds are also a contention as they aren’t dying in the cooler weather.&nbsp;

Hail has also hit the area hard. Sieck will still harvest some of the hail-damaged fields for seed wheat, even though yields have decreased to 25 bushels per acre. His average for dryland wheat is 45 bushels per acre but ranges widely. Test weights are decent at 59 to 61 pounds per bushel and protein is excellent at 13.5 to 14.5 percent.&nbsp;

He reported WestBred’s WB 4422, a replacement for Grainfield, has done well, as have the Kansas Wheat Alliance-developed varieties - KS Providence, KS Territory and KS Hamilton. North of Bird City and St. Francis, producers caught more snow and wheat is yielding even better, some places as high as 90 bushels per acre on dryland fields.&nbsp;

With varying yields and weather delays, producers are ready to close the book on the 2023 wheat harvest. As they continue cutting, Kansas Wheat will continue to share results from the field with the next harvest report scheduled for July 20.&nbsp;Look for a special edition harvest report on the hard white wheat crop on July 19.

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 Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to share your harvest story and photos.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689774988660.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>This is day 13 of the Kansas Wheat Harvest Reports, brought to you by the Kansas Wheat Commission, Kansas Association of Wheat Growers, Kansas Grain and Feed Association and the Kansas Cooperative Council.In far western Kansas, wheat harvest is well behind schedule due to weather delays that have also brought hail damage. Despite the disruptions, elevators are generally seeing a better harvest than was anticipated this spring, although hail is hindering final yields for some and test weights are declining as producers wait for conditions to dry out enough to finish cutting.&nbsp;Harvest is still going in western Wichita County, but most producers should wrap up by the weekend across the draw area for Scott Coop, according to grain merchandiser Brinlee McNary.&nbsp;McNary said the crop looked pretty bleak in March, but thanks to spring rains they have taken in more bushels than they expected. Combines started rolling around July 4, about 10 days behind normal, but rain delays meant most producers spent a week out of the fields before resuming cutting.&nbsp;The wheat has been high on protein, averaging 13 percent, but test weights have been falling from initial highs due to the rain, now at 58 pounds per bushel. Producers have seen a very wide range of yields from 20 to 70 bushels per acre.&nbsp;Overall, McNary said Scott Coop will take in about half of their five-year average. That wheat will likely stay within the United States and be sent to flour mills or Kansas gluten plants, instead of traveling south on the rail to the Gulf of Mexico for export.&nbsp;Harvest also started at least 10 days late in Sherman County, reported Brian Linin who farms near Goodland. About half of his wheat was destroyed, with crop insurance estimates of 0.6 to 1.7 bushels per acre. Linin’s 76-year-old father can’t remember having this much trouble getting wheat up in the fall in all his years of farming.&nbsp;Despite the initial loss, three generations still came together to run combines this year - Brian, his father Brent and his son Blair. Test weights are averaging 58.5 pounds per bushel while proteins range from 11 to 12 percent.&nbsp;Linin's irrigated wheat is yielding 60 to 65 bushels per acre and his dryland wheat is yielding 50 to 60 bushels per acre. The range is wider than normal due to variation between heads that are not quite ripe and others that are overripe - three days ago there were still green heads in the field. Hail also hit Sherman County last week, but Linin’s wheat fields were largely spared.&nbsp;“The only silver lining is that this wheat is this good,” Linin said, noting a big benefit from planting into stubble to set up yield potential. “The dryland fields are a big surprise.”&nbsp;Linin will deliver his wheat to Frontier Ag or Scoular, which will go on to the domestic mill market.&nbsp;Eric Sperber of Cornerstone Ag in Colby also noted that the Thomas County area has never started wheat harvest this late.&nbsp;The first combines finally started rolling on July 10. With high humidity, most producers can’t start cutting until early evening, but fields have finally really ripened up in the last two days.&nbsp;He reported test weights are struggling, averaging just over 58 pounds per bushel. Overall protein is averaging 12.1 percent, but he’s seen from eight percent up to 14 percent. Recent hail did not zero out a lot of acres, but impacted fields are now yielding half of their pre-hail potential due to shattering. Yields range from 25 bushels per acre on hail-damaged fields up to 70 bushels per acre for dryland wheat.&nbsp;Sperber said there has been a lot of variation within fields with original tillers ripening on time, followed by taller secondary tillers ripening a few days later and then suckerheads growing even taller and ripening a few days after that. Producers have faced a number of difficulties this growing season - abandoning some poor stands in the fall, battling weeds, dealing with wheat suffering from winterkill from a cold snap in December that affected wheat with poor root structure and disease pressure from rust on fields that did not have fungicide applied.&nbsp;“It has been a challenging crop this year from planting to harvest,” Sperber said. “It’s been really weird.”Harvest is now 50 to 60 percent complete and needs another seven days of average weather to finish up. Sperber said they need sunshine, otherwise, the current weather will mean harvest will take much longer.&nbsp;Overall, he expects they will take in about the same number of bushels as the five-year average, due to an increase in acres. He had expected more before hail struck the area.&nbsp;&nbsp;“It’s amazing with the amount of moisture we had,” he said.&nbsp;Harvest also has about a week left to go - if there’s no rain - for Mike Sieck near Edson in Sherman County. Harvest started on July 8 but has never really kicked into full swing because most days they cannot start until noon or later - some days as late as 4:00 in the afternoon - due to humidity and scattered rains.&nbsp;Sieck did apply fungicide, a good decision as quite a bit of stripe rust has moved into the area in the last couple of weeks. Weeds are also a contention as they aren’t dying in the cooler weather.&nbsp;Hail has also hit the area hard. Sieck will still harvest some of the hail-damaged fields for seed wheat, even though yields have decreased to 25 bushels per acre. His average for dryland wheat is 45 bushels per acre but ranges widely. Test weights are decent at 59 to 61 pounds per bushel and protein is excellent at 13.5 to 14.5 percent.&nbsp;He reported WestBred’s WB 4422, a replacement for Grainfield, has done well, as have the Kansas Wheat Alliance-developed varieties - KS Providence, KS Territory and KS Hamilton. North of Bird City and St. Francis, producers caught more snow and wheat is yielding even better, some places as high as 90 bushels per acre on dryland fields.&nbsp;With varying yields and weather delays, producers are ready to close the book on the 2023 wheat harvest. As they continue cutting, Kansas Wheat will continue to share results from the field with the next harvest report scheduled for July 20.&nbsp;Look for a special edition harvest report on the hard white wheat crop on July 19.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 Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to share your harvest story and photos.

KANSAS WHEAT: One week of harvest left in NWKS, if it doesn't rain 

The long-awaited beginning of the water transfer process for the cities of Hays and Russell from their jointly owned R-9 Ranch in Edwards County to Ellis County begins today.

Administrative Law Judge Matthew Spurgin will hear the arguments for and against annually moving 4,800 acre-feet of water 67 miles north to the Schoenchen well field south of Hays.&nbsp;

Spurgin is the same judge who oversaw the June 20 <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/1e38ac03-293f-48f9-9bae-b23df818ed3f">public comment hearing in Hays</a>.&nbsp;

The hearing at the Hyatt Regency-Wichita could last 10 business days, through Aug. 2.&nbsp;

The judge will deliberate on the evidence and then will recommend his decision late this year or early next year to a three-person panel of state officials:

•Earl Lewis, chief engineer at the Division of Water Resources, Kansas Department of Agriculture •Connie Owen, Kansas Water Office director •Leo Henning, director of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment Division of Environment

Collin Bielser, deputy city manager, said city staff members are&nbsp;<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/6ba60233-696b-4260-a8bd-a9a413710f75">feeling very confident about the outcome</a>.&nbsp;

"We have plenty of evidence and expert witnesses that are going to testify on it.&nbsp;

"The big opposing group (Water Protection Association of Central Kansas) has said they're not opposed to the transfer. It seems everybody is okay with the transfer. It's all about how much water, and we've already committed to using less water than what we're legally entitled to for sustainability reasons.&nbsp;In Hays, of course, we feel [conservation] is important. 

"I don't think there's any doubt the transfer will actually happen. People are clearly in support of it."

An attorney for WaterPACK, several nearby landowners and the Edwards County economic development director all said during the public comment hearing that they weren't against the transfer. However, each also said they believe too much water will be leaving Edwards County.&nbsp;

There are 7,647 acre-feet of water rights for irrigation on the R9 Ranch. Standard consumptive-use calculations show 6,756 acre-feet will be available for municipal use each year.

Hays and Russell voluntarily agreed to further limit actual use to a 10-year rolling average of 4,800 acre-feet.&nbsp;

The ranch is no longer irrigated and is being returned to native grass.

The cities must prove that moving the water is beneficial to the entire state of Kansas.&nbsp;

Hays and Russell are touting the region's growing $3 billion economy.

The water transfer hearing is not open to public comments.

It can be viewed on live video conference through <a href="https://www.zoomgov.com/">www.zoomgov.com </a>using Meeting ID: 160 634 1025 and Passcode: 401857.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600183945609.png" alt="City of Hays" />
 <figcaption>City of Hays</figcaption>
 </figure>By BECKY KISER Hays PostThe long-awaited beginning of the water transfer process for the cities of Hays and Russell from their jointly owned R-9 Ranch in Edwards County to Ellis County begins today.Administrative Law Judge Matthew Spurgin will hear the arguments for and against annually moving 4,800 acre-feet of water 67 miles north to the Schoenchen well field south of Hays.&nbsp;Spurgin is the same judge who oversaw the June 20 <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/1e38ac03-293f-48f9-9bae-b23df818ed3f">public comment hearing in Hays</a>.&nbsp;The hearing at the Hyatt Regency-Wichita could last 10 business days, through Aug. 2.&nbsp;The judge will deliberate on the evidence and then will recommend his decision late this year or early next year to a three-person panel of state officials:•Earl Lewis, chief engineer at the Division of Water Resources, Kansas Department of Agriculture •Connie Owen, Kansas Water Office director •Leo Henning, director of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment Division of Environment Collin Bielser, deputy city manager, said city staff members are&nbsp;<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/6ba60233-696b-4260-a8bd-a9a413710f75">feeling very confident about the outcome</a>.&nbsp;"We have plenty of evidence and expert witnesses that are going to testify on it.&nbsp;"The big opposing group (Water Protection Association of Central Kansas) has said they're not opposed to the transfer. It seems everybody is okay with the transfer. It's all about how much water, and we've already committed to using less water than what we're legally entitled to for sustainability reasons.&nbsp;In Hays, of course, we feel [conservation] is important. "I don't think there's any doubt the transfer will actually happen. People are clearly in support of it."An attorney for WaterPACK, several nearby landowners and the Edwards County economic development director all said during the public comment hearing that they weren't against the transfer. However, each also said they believe too much water will be leaving Edwards County.&nbsp;There are 7,647 acre-feet of water rights for irrigation on the R9 Ranch. Standard consumptive-use calculations show 6,756 acre-feet will be available for municipal use each year.Hays and Russell voluntarily agreed to further limit actual use to a 10-year rolling average of 4,800 acre-feet.&nbsp;The ranch is no longer irrigated and is being returned to native grass.The cities must prove that moving the water is beneficial to the entire state of Kansas.&nbsp;Hays and Russell are touting the region's growing $3 billion economy.The water transfer hearing is not open to public comments. It can be viewed on live video conference through <a href="https://www.zoomgov.com/">www.zoomgov.com </a>using Meeting ID: 160 634 1025 and Passcode: 401857.

R-9 water transfer hearing starts today for Hays, Russell

PHILLIPS COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities stopped a driver for allegedly traveling at 100 mph this week, according to a social media report from the Phillips County Sheriff's office.

Deputies caught same driver, from Missouri, speeding on the same stretch of highway last week.

Phillips County Sheriff's deputies stopped the driver Tuesday morning east of Phillipsburg.&nbsp; Last week, the driver was given a ticket for driving 98 mph.

"This Missouri driver shouldn't have been surprised to see us east of Phillipsburg," the sheriff's office wrote. "Last week he was cited for 98 close to the same area."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689768424964.png" alt="Photo Phillips Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Photo Phillips Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>PHILLIPS COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities stopped a driver for allegedly traveling at 100 mph this week, according to a social media report from the Phillips County Sheriff's office.Deputies caught same driver, from Missouri, speeding on the same stretch of highway last week.Phillips County Sheriff's deputies stopped the driver Tuesday morning east of Phillipsburg.&nbsp; Last week, the driver was given a ticket for driving 98 mph."This Missouri driver shouldn't have been surprised to see us east of Phillipsburg," the sheriff's office wrote. "Last week he was cited for 98 close to the same area."

Driver in NW Kan. cited for 100 mph after speeding in same area last week

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

The Hays USD 489 school board accepted a grant Monday night, which will help pay for the addition of a school resource officer in the district.

The district has not had a school resource officer since December 2015 due to staffing concerns at the police department.

"We're a small agency, and we needed manpower and assistance in the patrol division," said Hays Police Chief Don Scheibler.

Departmental changes will allow that position to again be filled.

The state Safe and Secure Schools grant will provide $47,611 toward the cost for the first year for the officer.

The school district and the city of Hays will split the rest of the cost, with the school district paying 70 percent and the city paying 30 percent.

Previously the city paid the entire cost.

The grant only pays for a portion of the cost for the first year of the officer. After this school year, the city and school district will have to assume the full cost of the officer.

The officer will be based at Hays High School but will be available to respond to issues at other schools in the district, Ron Wilson, Hays superintendent, said.

When school is not in session during the summer, and during breaks, the officer will be assigned to other police duties within the city, Wilson said.

"I think this is a great thing," Wilson said. "It is something we have been making hard strides for, and we're always looking at safety and security for our schools."

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/36eec539-38f6-48f3-9633-b9b096ac1ebd">Last year, the district added a Raptor alert system, which is designed to more quickly and easily reunite parents and students in the case of disaster or evacuation.</a>

Scheibler said with the construction of the new high school and expanded campus that will be home to Hays Middle School as well, having an officer on-site had become a priority.

"Working with the school district, we were able to move that process along much faster than expected," he said.

Board member Tammy Welbrock noted the Hays school district does not have any school resource officers, whereas other school districts of similar size have as many as five.

Wilson said a school resource officer would not solve all problems.

"I want people to understand that this doesn't always prevent a tragedy by having someone with a weapon inside the school," Wilson said.

However, Wilson said he thought the officer would be able to connect with students and have a positive influence on them.

School board member Curt Vajnar applauded the addition of the school resource officer as both a board member and a parent.

"I'm happy to know someone's there just in case," he said, "and someone's there now. We're not waiting on someone in case something happens.

"As a parent, I feel good that safety is a priority for my kid at these schools."

Board member Craig Pallister said as a long-time principal, he often dealt with issues with non-custodial family members at the middle school. Having a school resource at school helped staff deal with those issues.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689001138921.png" alt="File photo" />
 <figcaption>File photo</figcaption>
 </figure><div><iframe title="USD 489 debuts new Hays High School logo" allowtransparency="true" height="300" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:300px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=nx4mb-145b888-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=300" loading="lazy" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostThe Hays USD 489 school board accepted a grant Monday night, which will help pay for the addition of a school resource officer in the district.The district has not had a school resource officer since December 2015 due to staffing concerns at the police department."We're a small agency, and we needed manpower and assistance in the patrol division," said Hays Police Chief Don Scheibler.Departmental changes will allow that position to again be filled.The state Safe and Secure Schools grant will provide $47,611 toward the cost for the first year for the officer.The school district and the city of Hays will split the rest of the cost, with the school district paying 70 percent and the city paying 30 percent.Previously the city paid the entire cost.The grant only pays for a portion of the cost for the first year of the officer. After this school year, the city and school district will have to assume the full cost of the officer.The officer will be based at Hays High School but will be available to respond to issues at other schools in the district, Ron Wilson, Hays superintendent, said.When school is not in session during the summer, and during breaks, the officer will be assigned to other police duties within the city, Wilson said."I think this is a great thing," Wilson said. "It is something we have been making hard strides for, and we're always looking at safety and security for our schools."<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/36eec539-38f6-48f3-9633-b9b096ac1ebd">Last year, the district added a Raptor alert system, which is designed to more quickly and easily reunite parents and students in the case of disaster or evacuation.</a>Scheibler said with the construction of the new high school and expanded campus that will be home to Hays Middle School as well, having an officer on-site had become a priority."Working with the school district, we were able to move that process along much faster than expected," he said.Board member Tammy Welbrock noted the Hays school district does not have any school resource officers, whereas other school districts of similar size have as many as five.Wilson said a school resource officer would not solve all problems."I want people to understand that this doesn't always prevent a tragedy by having someone with a weapon inside the school," Wilson said.However, Wilson said he thought the officer would be able to connect with students and have a positive influence on them.School board member Curt Vajnar applauded the addition of the school resource officer as both a board member and a parent."I'm happy to know someone's there just in case," he said, "and someone's there now. We're not waiting on someone in case something happens."As a parent, I feel good that safety is a priority for my kid at these schools."Board member Craig Pallister said as a long-time principal, he often dealt with issues with non-custodial family members at the middle school. Having a school resource at school helped staff deal with those issues.

Hays USD 489, city partner to hire school resource officer

The Hays Post will be publishing a series of profiles introducing the community to the 10 candidates who are running for Hays USD 489 school board.&nbsp;

Those candidates are&nbsp;David Clingan,&nbsp;James Feyerherm,&nbsp;Jayme Goetz,&nbsp;Lori Hertel,&nbsp;Craig Pallister, Allen Park, Ruth Ruder, Duff Watson,&nbsp;Dennis Wilkie and&nbsp;Derek Yarmer.

The Hays Post sent questionnaires to the candidates asking for biographical information and why they chose to run for school board.

Not enough candidates filed for the school board to require a primary. The general election will be Nov. 7. The voter registration deadline for the general election is Oct. 17.

Profession: Retired USD 489 elementary principal. I currently work as a licensed insurance agent and work for UPS part-time.

Are you an incumbent? If so, years served? &nbsp; Yes, I am currently serving the fourth year of my term.

Do you have children or grandchildren who attend Hays public school?&nbsp; Alexandria, Breanna, Brittani and Nicolas attended USD 489 schools, prek-12 grade. All four graduated from Hays High School. We were blessed to have our children in USD 489 schools continuously for 27 years.

Please give a brief bio on yourself in 100 words or less.&nbsp; I come from a family of educators. My mom was an elementary teacher and my dad was a teacher, principal and superintendent. The field of education is very important to my family.

My wife, Patti, has also been in education for 33 years.

I received a BS in Industrial Education and Elementary Education, along with my MS in Education Administration from Fort Hays State University.&nbsp; I have worked in education for over 35 years. I have served USD 489 for 31 years working as a paraprofessional, K-12 teacher, coach, migrant director, transition coordinator, and 25 years as the Washington Elementary Principal.&nbsp;

Please explain why you are running for school board in 500 words or less. It has been an honor serving on USD 489 school board for the last 3 1/2&nbsp; years.&nbsp;

Our district has seen a number of positive improvements. In the past three years, we haven’t gone to an impasse with the teachers. With the recently passed bond, the facilities are being replaced and repaired to serve the students, staff and families of our district. More teachers have been hired to help keep class size down to make it more manageable for teachers to reach each student. Another positive improvement the district has made is to reduce student fees, which helps families during these tight financial times.

For decades, the district has been a leader in technology. I will continue to support technology needs at all levels. We must give teachers the tools and training they need to prepare students to be successful at their current level so they can continue to build the skills needed.

I will continue to ask questions and learn about the budget to ensure fiscal responsibility with taxpayer dollars. It is imperative to work collaboratively with other board members to openly review and discuss all budget items and ask the question: “Does this aid in academic student achievement?”

I will strive, whenever possible, to support our local businesses in purchasing products and services. I will find ways to improve our budget through appropriate cuts from unnecessary spending, through grant writing, looking for partnerships within the community and using our own facilities to the best financial efficiency.&nbsp;

Communication is so important and can always be improved between the board, administration, teachers, parents, students, and community members. Good communication and being more transparent builds trust with all stakeholders. I will look for more opportunities for frequent and open communication.&nbsp;

Being on the board, I have learned a great deal about state statutes, policies and procedures. I have attended many conferences, workshops and meetings concerning being a board member.&nbsp;

Some of the topics include budget, school law, teacher retention and negotiations. This investment of time has been very valuable to me serving on the board. I was recently nominated and selected to be a part of a cohort group called Leadership for Tomorrow, sponsored by Kansas Association of School Boards. It consists of 24 board members, principals, superintendents, special education directors and businesses across Kansas. These 12 days of opportunities throughout the year have provided insight on topics such as new school buildings, successful school programs, school safety and partnerships that strengthen school districts.

If elected, I will continue to put “kids and families first." This is my belief, and I will refer back to this on all decisions made as a school board member.&nbsp;

My experience as an educator at all levels is to ask the question "Is it best for kids?" If the answer is yes, it can't be wrong.

It has been a privilege serving as your school board member, and with your help, it would be an honor to serve the next four years.

Hays PostThe Hays Post will be publishing a series of profiles introducing the community to the 10 candidates who are running for Hays USD 489 school board.&nbsp;Those candidates are&nbsp;David Clingan,&nbsp;James Feyerherm,&nbsp;Jayme Goetz,&nbsp;Lori Hertel,&nbsp;Craig Pallister, Allen Park, Ruth Ruder, Duff Watson,&nbsp;Dennis Wilkie and&nbsp;Derek Yarmer.The Hays Post sent questionnaires to the candidates asking for biographical information and why they chose to run for school board.Not enough candidates filed for the school board to require a primary. The general election will be Nov. 7. The voter registration deadline for the general election is Oct. 17.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689622837612.jpeg" alt="Allen Park" />
 <figcaption>Allen Park</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Allen Park</h2>Age:&nbsp; 61Profession: Retired USD 489 elementary principal. I currently work as a licensed insurance agent and work for UPS part-time.Are you an incumbent? If so, years served? &nbsp; Yes, I am currently serving the fourth year of my term.Do you have children or grandchildren who attend Hays public school?&nbsp; Alexandria, Breanna, Brittani and Nicolas attended USD 489 schools, prek-12 grade. All four graduated from Hays High School. We were blessed to have our children in USD 489 schools continuously for 27 years.Please give a brief bio on yourself in 100 words or less.&nbsp; I come from a family of educators. My mom was an elementary teacher and my dad was a teacher, principal and superintendent. The field of education is very important to my family.My wife, Patti, has also been in education for 33 years.I received a BS in Industrial Education and Elementary Education, along with my MS in Education Administration from Fort Hays State University.&nbsp; I have worked in education for over 35 years. I have served USD 489 for 31 years working as a paraprofessional, K-12 teacher, coach, migrant director, transition coordinator, and 25 years as the Washington Elementary Principal.&nbsp;Please explain why you are running for school board in 500 words or less. It has been an honor serving on USD 489 school board for the last 3 1/2&nbsp; years.&nbsp;Our district has seen a number of positive improvements. In the past three years, we haven’t gone to an impasse with the teachers. With the recently passed bond, the facilities are being replaced and repaired to serve the students, staff and families of our district. More teachers have been hired to help keep class size down to make it more manageable for teachers to reach each student. Another positive improvement the district has made is to reduce student fees, which helps families during these tight financial times.For decades, the district has been a leader in technology. I will continue to support technology needs at all levels. We must give teachers the tools and training they need to prepare students to be successful at their current level so they can continue to build the skills needed.I will continue to ask questions and learn about the budget to ensure fiscal responsibility with taxpayer dollars. It is imperative to work collaboratively with other board members to openly review and discuss all budget items and ask the question: “Does this aid in academic student achievement?”I will strive, whenever possible, to support our local businesses in purchasing products and services. I will find ways to improve our budget through appropriate cuts from unnecessary spending, through grant writing, looking for partnerships within the community and using our own facilities to the best financial efficiency.&nbsp;Communication is so important and can always be improved between the board, administration, teachers, parents, students, and community members. Good communication and being more transparent builds trust with all stakeholders. I will look for more opportunities for frequent and open communication.&nbsp;Being on the board, I have learned a great deal about state statutes, policies and procedures. I have attended many conferences, workshops and meetings concerning being a board member.&nbsp;Some of the topics include budget, school law, teacher retention and negotiations. This investment of time has been very valuable to me serving on the board. I was recently nominated and selected to be a part of a cohort group called Leadership for Tomorrow, sponsored by Kansas Association of School Boards. It consists of 24 board members, principals, superintendents, special education directors and businesses across Kansas. These 12 days of opportunities throughout the year have provided insight on topics such as new school buildings, successful school programs, school safety and partnerships that strengthen school districts.If elected, I will continue to put “kids and families first." This is my belief, and I will refer back to this on all decisions made as a school board member.&nbsp;My experience as an educator at all levels is to ask the question "Is it best for kids?" If the answer is yes, it can't be wrong.It has been a privilege serving as your school board member, and with your help, it would be an honor to serve the next four years.

Hays USD 489 school board candidate: Allen Park

TOPEKA&nbsp;–&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly announced that since its launch in July 2022, the 9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline connects notably more Kansans to mental health resources in the Lifeline’s first full year of operation. In its first year, 9-8-8 saw a 73% increase in contacts compared to the year before the implementation of the three-digit dialing code.&nbsp;&nbsp;

July 16 marked the official&nbsp;first&nbsp;anniversary of the 9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline number, which connects&nbsp;everyone in the U.S. to a national network of local and state-funded crisis centers available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to provide free and confidential support with trained crisis counselors.&nbsp;

“Investing in&nbsp;mental health&nbsp;resources like 9-8-8&nbsp;is&nbsp;critical to&nbsp;saving the lives of Kansans in crisis,”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly said.&nbsp;“These services&nbsp;make a&nbsp;positive&nbsp;impact&nbsp;by&nbsp;knocking&nbsp;down barriers and&nbsp;stigmas&nbsp;surrounding&nbsp;mental health&nbsp;and&nbsp;connecting&nbsp;people to&nbsp;necessary mental health care&nbsp;professionals and resources.”&nbsp;

National&nbsp;usage&nbsp;is&nbsp;rising&nbsp;as 9-8-8&nbsp;received&nbsp;more than 4 million&nbsp;contacts&nbsp;since&nbsp;its launch last July, according to data from Vibrant Emotional Health, the organization appointed by the federal government to oversee the line. In Kansas, that number is&nbsp;approximately 24,000&nbsp;through June this year —&nbsp;a&nbsp;73%&nbsp;increase over&nbsp;the 10-digit hotline number&nbsp;that received 13,867&nbsp;over the same period the previous year&nbsp;(July-June).&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Kelly administration’s investment in 9-8-8 has&nbsp;improved&nbsp;in-state answer rates, making Kansas one of only 12 states nationally&nbsp;to maintain a rate of 90% or better consistently. According to data from Vibrant, 9-8-8 centers in Kansas have&nbsp;held&nbsp;an in-state call-answer rate of 88% to 92% month-over-month amid increased call volume. Just a few years ago, Kansas answered about 60% of National Suicide Prevention Line (NSPL) calls in-state, with many calls rolling over to national backup centers.&nbsp;

Kansas has also performed better than its national peers on average wait times (also known as speed to answer). That rate in Kansas is 21 seconds, outpacing the national average of 35 seconds.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“The efforts of our&nbsp;state&nbsp;leadership and strategic&nbsp;community&nbsp;partners&nbsp;have&nbsp;led to the&nbsp;successful&nbsp;implementation of&nbsp;an exceptional&nbsp;mental health resource that is meeting the needs of thousands of Kansans trying to manage crisis in their daily lives,”&nbsp;KDADS Secretary Laura&nbsp;Howard said. “I think the increase in the number of contacts we’ve seen in the last year bears that out,&nbsp;and we can proudly say that every call, text,&nbsp;or chat we receive has the potential to be life-changing or&nbsp;lifesaving.”&nbsp;

Kansas Suicide Prevention Headquarters (KSPHQ) reports receiving an average of 1,230 calls each month from July 2022-June2023. An average of 15 calls, or 1.2%, per month resulted in emergency dispatch (response by emergency services for imminent risk of harm generally — though not always —with the caller’s permission). KSPHQ focuses on working collaboratively with callers to avoid emergency intervention and resolve crises during the initial contact and is equipped to connect callers to emergency service alternatives like mobile response teams and crisis-receiving facilities where available.&nbsp;&nbsp;

"KSPHQ has been so honored to provide lifesaving services throughout Kansas during this first year of 9-8-8,”&nbsp;said Monica Kurz, vp of policy &amp; prevention, KSPHQ. “The success we’ve had in delivering timely and high-quality crisis mental health support to our neighbors is a testament to the passion and dedication of our counselors and staff as well as the state's investment in crisis mental health services."&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1657909299467.png" alt="98" />
 <figcaption>98</figcaption>
 </figure>Office of GovernorTOPEKA&nbsp;–&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly announced that since its launch in July 2022, the 9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline connects notably more Kansans to mental health resources in the Lifeline’s first full year of operation. In its first year, 9-8-8 saw a 73% increase in contacts compared to the year before the implementation of the three-digit dialing code.&nbsp;&nbsp;July 16 marked the official&nbsp;first&nbsp;anniversary of the 9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline number, which connects&nbsp;everyone in the U.S. to a national network of local and state-funded crisis centers available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to provide free and confidential support with trained crisis counselors.&nbsp;“Investing in&nbsp;mental health&nbsp;resources like 9-8-8&nbsp;is&nbsp;critical to&nbsp;saving the lives of Kansans in crisis,”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly said.&nbsp;“These services&nbsp;make a&nbsp;positive&nbsp;impact&nbsp;by&nbsp;knocking&nbsp;down barriers and&nbsp;stigmas&nbsp;surrounding&nbsp;mental health&nbsp;and&nbsp;connecting&nbsp;people to&nbsp;necessary mental health care&nbsp;professionals and resources.”&nbsp;National&nbsp;usage&nbsp;is&nbsp;rising&nbsp;as 9-8-8&nbsp;received&nbsp;more than 4 million&nbsp;contacts&nbsp;since&nbsp;its launch last July, according to data from Vibrant Emotional Health, the organization appointed by the federal government to oversee the line. In Kansas, that number is&nbsp;approximately 24,000&nbsp;through June this year —&nbsp;a&nbsp;73%&nbsp;increase over&nbsp;the 10-digit hotline number&nbsp;that received 13,867&nbsp;over the same period the previous year&nbsp;(July-June).&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Kelly administration’s investment in 9-8-8 has&nbsp;improved&nbsp;in-state answer rates, making Kansas one of only 12 states nationally&nbsp;to maintain a rate of 90% or better consistently. According to data from Vibrant, 9-8-8 centers in Kansas have&nbsp;held&nbsp;an in-state call-answer rate of 88% to 92% month-over-month amid increased call volume. Just a few years ago, Kansas answered about 60% of National Suicide Prevention Line (NSPL) calls in-state, with many calls rolling over to national backup centers.&nbsp;Kansas has also performed better than its national peers on average wait times (also known as speed to answer). That rate in Kansas is 21 seconds, outpacing the national average of 35 seconds.&nbsp;&nbsp;“The efforts of our&nbsp;state&nbsp;leadership and strategic&nbsp;community&nbsp;partners&nbsp;have&nbsp;led to the&nbsp;successful&nbsp;implementation of&nbsp;an exceptional&nbsp;mental health resource that is meeting the needs of thousands of Kansans trying to manage crisis in their daily lives,”&nbsp;KDADS Secretary Laura&nbsp;Howard said. “I think the increase in the number of contacts we’ve seen in the last year bears that out,&nbsp;and we can proudly say that every call, text,&nbsp;or chat we receive has the potential to be life-changing or&nbsp;lifesaving.”&nbsp;Kansas Suicide Prevention Headquarters (KSPHQ) reports receiving an average of 1,230 calls each month from July 2022-June2023. An average of 15 calls, or 1.2%, per month resulted in emergency dispatch (response by emergency services for imminent risk of harm generally — though not always —with the caller’s permission). KSPHQ focuses on working collaboratively with callers to avoid emergency intervention and resolve crises during the initial contact and is equipped to connect callers to emergency service alternatives like mobile response teams and crisis-receiving facilities where available.&nbsp;&nbsp;"KSPHQ has been so honored to provide lifesaving services throughout Kansas during this first year of 9-8-8,”&nbsp;said Monica Kurz, vp of policy &amp; prevention, KSPHQ. “The success we’ve had in delivering timely and high-quality crisis mental health support to our neighbors is a testament to the passion and dedication of our counselors and staff as well as the state's investment in crisis mental health services."&nbsp;&nbsp;

9-8-8 suicide lifeline sees 73% more crisis contacts in Kansas' first year of operation

Pilot program Nov. 7-9 open to Kansas resident applicants for undergraduate school

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — The Kansas Board of Regents unanimously voted Tuesday to create a three-day window during November in which public colleges and universities in the state would waive undergraduate application fees for Kansas residents regardless of a person’s income or age.

The pilot project scheduled for Nov. 7-9, 2023, would attempt to address the 11.5 percentage point decline between 2014 and 2021 in the rate of Kansas high school graduates who enrolled within one year at any of more than 30 public institutions under the jurisdiction of the Board of Regents.

The free application initiative, modeled after a similar effort in Colorado, would be open to Kansas residents interested in enrolling as undergraduate students. Eligible persons would include first-time freshmen, transfer students, returning students and those seeking a second bachelor’s degree. Application fees in Kansas ranged from $25 to $40.

The Board of Regents’ pilot project wouldn’t be available to nonresident applicants nor to individuals applying to graduate school.

The project would cost state universities about $1 million annually in application fee revenue typically spent on admissions staff and enrollment management operations. University of Kansas, Wichita State University and Kansas State University would surrender more than two-thirds of that revenue total. Pittsburg State University doesn’t have an undergraduate application fee. Community colleges in Kansas don’t have a general application fee, but technical colleges do.

The pilot would likely produce more “soft” applications from people who don’t actually enroll at a public institution in Kansas, but advocates believe it could draw more students into a higher education system struggling to sustain enrollment numbers.

“What are some of the things we can do right now to remove barriers and kind of better position ourselves to have a more robust high school-to-college pipeline?” said Daniel Archer, vice president for academic affairs with the Board of Regents.

Archer said evidence of the state’s challenge could be found in statistics comparing Kansas public college enrollment in 2014 and 2021, which was during the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said 58.9 percent of Kansas high school graduates enrolled within one year at a Kansas public college or university in 2014. That percentage fell to 43.7 percent in 2021.

Comparable statistics along racial and ethnic lines in Kansas indicated Hispanic enrollment in that period plummeted from 50 percent to 31.9 percent, he said. Black enrollment crashed over those seven years from 51.5 percent to 32.7 percent, while white enrollment slid from 56.8 percent to 48.1 percent.

“Really critical, I think, to emphasize that we’re going to look at the total number of applicants as well as the total number of applicants by race and ethnicity,” Archer said.

Cynthia Lane, a member of the Board of Regents and a retired Kansas public school administrator, said the higher education board should measure the pilot project in terms of how application fees influenced prospective students. She said the experiment should be useful in the development of recruiting strategies for the state’s public universities.

The precise window established by the Board of Regents would be 12 a.m. Nov. 7 to 11:59 p.m. Nov. 9. Applications could be filled out in advance, but would need to be submitted during the three-day window.

Five years ago, Colorado started an Apply Free day for the state’s residents. It began with a one-day fee holiday in October. Marketing was conducted in English and Spanish. Residents of that state were given the opportunity to apply without charge to undergraduate programs at all state public and some private Colorado colleges and universities.

In 2020, the third year of the Colorado program, 56,800 applications were filed in a single day. That amounted to a 28 percent increase in interest compared to the program’s first year. In Colorado, 44 percent of the third-year applications were submitted by students of color and 28 percent by first-generation students. Colorado moved to a three-day window in 2021 to better deal with the avalanche of applications.

<h2>Pilot program Nov. 7-9 open to Kansas resident applicants for undergraduate school</h2><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689711918729.jpeg" alt="&nbsp;Kansas Board of Regents member Cindy Lane endorsed creation of a three-day window in November for public colleges and universities in Kansas to waive application fees for Kansas residents seeking to enroll as undergraduate students. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;Kansas Board of Regents member Cindy Lane endorsed creation of a three-day window in November for public colleges and universities in Kansas to waive application fees for Kansas residents seeking to enroll as undergraduate students. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — The Kansas Board of Regents unanimously voted Tuesday to create a three-day window during November in which public colleges and universities in the state would waive undergraduate application fees for Kansas residents regardless of a person’s income or age.The pilot project scheduled for Nov. 7-9, 2023, would attempt to address the 11.5 percentage point decline between 2014 and 2021 in the rate of Kansas high school graduates who enrolled within one year at any of more than 30 public institutions under the jurisdiction of the Board of Regents.The free application initiative, modeled after a similar effort in Colorado, would be open to Kansas residents interested in enrolling as undergraduate students. Eligible persons would include first-time freshmen, transfer students, returning students and those seeking a second bachelor’s degree. Application fees in Kansas ranged from $25 to $40.The Board of Regents’ pilot project wouldn’t be available to nonresident applicants nor to individuals applying to graduate school.The project would cost state universities about $1 million annually in application fee revenue typically spent on admissions staff and enrollment management operations. University of Kansas, Wichita State University and Kansas State University would surrender more than two-thirds of that revenue total. Pittsburg State University doesn’t have an undergraduate application fee. Community colleges in Kansas don’t have a general application fee, but technical colleges do.The pilot would likely produce more “soft” applications from people who don’t actually enroll at a public institution in Kansas, but advocates believe it could draw more students into a higher education system struggling to sustain enrollment numbers.“What are some of the things we can do right now to remove barriers and kind of better position ourselves to have a more robust high school-to-college pipeline?” said Daniel Archer, vice president for academic affairs with the Board of Regents.Archer said evidence of the state’s challenge could be found in statistics comparing Kansas public college enrollment in 2014 and 2021, which was during the COVID-19 pandemic.He said 58.9 percent of Kansas high school graduates enrolled within one year at a Kansas public college or university in 2014. That percentage fell to 43.7 percent in 2021.Comparable statistics along racial and ethnic lines in Kansas indicated Hispanic enrollment in that period plummeted from 50 percent to 31.9 percent, he said. Black enrollment crashed over those seven years from 51.5 percent to 32.7 percent, while white enrollment slid from 56.8 percent to 48.1 percent.“Really critical, I think, to emphasize that we’re going to look at the total number of applicants as well as the total number of applicants by race and ethnicity,” Archer said.Cynthia Lane, a member of the Board of Regents and a retired Kansas public school administrator, said the higher education board should measure the pilot project in terms of how application fees influenced prospective students. She said the experiment should be useful in the development of recruiting strategies for the state’s public universities.The precise window established by the Board of Regents would be 12 a.m. Nov. 7 to 11:59 p.m. Nov. 9. Applications could be filled out in advance, but would need to be submitted during the three-day window.Five years ago, Colorado started an Apply Free day for the state’s residents. It began with a one-day fee holiday in October. Marketing was conducted in English and Spanish. Residents of that state were given the opportunity to apply without charge to undergraduate programs at all state public and some private Colorado colleges and universities.In 2020, the third year of the Colorado program, 56,800 applications were filed in a single day. That amounted to a 28 percent increase in interest compared to the program’s first year. In Colorado, 44 percent of the third-year applications were submitted by students of color and 28 percent by first-generation students. Colorado moved to a three-day window in 2021 to better deal with the avalanche of applications.

Kansas Board of Regents creates 3-day free application option at public universities, colleges

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689701016774.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://hayspost.com/pages/state-farm-weather-window">For a full look at the weather forecast, click here.</a>

Three-day weather outlook

🎥 Green and Growing: Storm damage

On Wednesday, the section of Fort Street from 27th Street to 29th Street in Hays will reopen to traffic.

The city of Hays thanks you for your patience, and we apologize for any inconvenience.

For more information, call the Office of Project Management at 785-628-7350.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689710742437.jpeg" alt="Fort Street and 27th Street in Hays. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Fort Street and 27th Street in Hays. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>On Wednesday, the section of Fort Street from 27th Street to 29th Street in Hays will reopen to traffic.The city of Hays thanks you for your patience, and we apologize for any inconvenience.For more information, call the Office of Project Management at 785-628-7350.

Fort Street to reopen to traffic Wednesday

On this episode of the&nbsp;<a href="https://hayspost.com/category/post-podcast" target="_blank">Post Podcast</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://hayschamber.com/" target="_blank">Hays Chamber</a> vice president of marketing and communications Mariah Legleiter discusses the Hays Young Professionals.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<div><iframe title="Hays Young Professionals helps create connections" allowtransparency="true" height="600" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:600px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=57mby-145b86b-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=600" loading="lazy" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>On this episode of the&nbsp;<a href="https://hayspost.com/category/post-podcast" target="_blank">Post Podcast</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://hayschamber.com/" target="_blank">Hays Chamber</a> vice president of marketing and communications Mariah Legleiter discusses the Hays Young Professionals.&nbsp;&nbsp;

🎙 Post Podcast: Hays Young Professionals helps create connections

All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/category/arrests">Click here for past Hays Police Department arrest logs.</a>

---------------------------------------------------------

Ashton Lane Taylor, 36, Hays, was arrested at 6:14 a.m. July 2 on suspicion of domestic battery.

Nathan Guy Hazlewood, 26, Hays, was arrested at 11:12 p.m. July 2 on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs/alcohol, possession of a firearm while under the influence of drugs/alcohol, drug possession, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Abel Salvador Hernandez-Rodriguez, 34, Hays, was arrested at 11:25 p.m. July 2 on suspicion of drug possession and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Michael Byron Young, 61, Hays, was arrested at 9:15 p.m. July 3 on suspicion of domestic battery.

Ethan Martin Candelaria, 25, Hays, was arrested at 1:03 p.m. July 5 on suspicion of criminal carry of weapons, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana, and failure to appear.

Emilio Pena, 43, Hays, was arrested at 9:37 p.m. July 5 on suspicion of drug possession and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Chelsey Nichole Summers, 32, Hays, was arrested at 11:55 a.m. July 6 on suspicion of domestic battery, endangering a child, possession of THC, possession of a depressant, possession of drugs, possession of a stimulant and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Nathan Lee Pfeifer, 24, Hays, was arrested at 1:16 p.m. July 6 on suspicion of domestic battery.

Devany Mychal Gramly, 24, Hays, was arrested at&nbsp;1:16 p.m. July 6 on suspicion of domestic battery.

Timothy Michael Weatherbie, 47, Hays, was arrested at 7:24 p.m. July 7 on suspicion of marijuana possession, possession of drug paraphernalia, and violation of a protection from abuse order.

Bradlee Thorn Collins, 25, Hays, was arrested at 2:26 a.m. July 8 on suspicion of theft of property or services.

Ashley Marie Coats, 39, Hays, was arrested at 2:30 a.m. July 8 on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs/alcohol and transporting an open container.

Mackenzie Diane McCubbin, 29, Hays, was arrested at 11:16 a.m. July 8 on suspicion of domestic battery.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1666041529157.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.<a href="https://hayspost.com/category/arrests">Click here for past Hays Police Department arrest logs.</a>---------------------------------------------------------Ashton Lane Taylor, 36, Hays, was arrested at 6:14 a.m. July 2 on suspicion of domestic battery.Nathan Guy Hazlewood, 26, Hays, was arrested at 11:12 p.m. July 2 on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs/alcohol, possession of a firearm while under the influence of drugs/alcohol, drug possession, and possession of drug paraphernalia.Abel Salvador Hernandez-Rodriguez, 34, Hays, was arrested at 11:25 p.m. July 2 on suspicion of drug possession and possession of drug paraphernalia.Michael Byron Young, 61, Hays, was arrested at 9:15 p.m. July 3 on suspicion of domestic battery.Ethan Martin Candelaria, 25, Hays, was arrested at 1:03 p.m. July 5 on suspicion of criminal carry of weapons, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana, and failure to appear.Emilio Pena, 43, Hays, was arrested at 9:37 p.m. July 5 on suspicion of drug possession and possession of drug paraphernalia.Chelsey Nichole Summers, 32, Hays, was arrested at 11:55 a.m. July 6 on suspicion of domestic battery, endangering a child, possession of THC, possession of a depressant, possession of drugs, possession of a stimulant and possession of drug paraphernalia.Nathan Lee Pfeifer, 24, Hays, was arrested at 1:16 p.m. July 6 on suspicion of domestic battery.Devany Mychal Gramly, 24, Hays, was arrested at&nbsp;1:16 p.m. July 6 on suspicion of domestic battery.Timothy Michael Weatherbie, 47, Hays, was arrested at 7:24 p.m. July 7 on suspicion of marijuana possession, possession of drug paraphernalia, and violation of a protection from abuse order.Bradlee Thorn Collins, 25, Hays, was arrested at 2:26 a.m. July 8 on suspicion of theft of property or services.Ashley Marie Coats, 39, Hays, was arrested at 2:30 a.m. July 8 on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs/alcohol and transporting an open container.Mackenzie Diane McCubbin, 29, Hays, was arrested at 11:16 a.m. July 8 on suspicion of domestic battery.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1666041529157.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

Hays PD arrest log, July 2-8 

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

The Hays school board approved several capital improvement purchases and heard a bond construction update at its meeting Monday.

The district approved two sets of computer purchases.

The district approved&nbsp;the purchase of 30 business lab and 15 tech lab desktop machines for the Hays Middle School at a cost of $39,600.

It also approved the purchase of 80 student computers for Hays High School at a cost of $53,331.

The district has a regular rotation for purchasing computers, but the enrollment at HHS is growing, Superintendent Ron Wilson said.

This will give the high school a few spares. The district is also expecting a large eighth-grade class who will become freshmen in 2024-25, Wilson said.

The board also approved a renovation of the Hays High dish room at a cost of $53,884.

Wilson gave a brief bond update to the board on Monday.

The schematic design has been completed for the O'Loughlin Elementary School project. The architects now move on to more detailed plans.

Schematic designs are being done for the renovations of the current Hays High School, which will become the new middle school as well as the new elementary school, which will be in the former middle school building.

Wilson said officials hope those two sets of drawings will be done by the start of the school year.

The bid opening for the new high school will be Aug. 3.&nbsp;

A groundbreaking has not been set for the high school, but Wilson said he anticipates it will be in late September.

Work is ongoing on renovations and an addition at Roosevelt Elementary School.&nbsp;

Temporary classrooms at Roosevelt are being added so work can continue during the school year. The upper grades will be in those classrooms.

Although it is not part of the bond, the district is making repairs to the HVAC system at Wilson Elementary School. Once the bond is completed, Rockwell Administration Center will be closed and Wilson will be used for administration offices.&nbsp;

Wilson will be closed as an elementary school and students moved to the new elementary or other elementary schools in the district.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1664289554228.jpg" alt="" />
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 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostThe Hays school board approved several capital improvement purchases and heard a bond construction update at its meeting Monday.The district approved two sets of computer purchases.The district approved&nbsp;the purchase of 30 business lab and 15 tech lab desktop machines for the Hays Middle School at a cost of $39,600.It also approved the purchase of 80 student computers for Hays High School at a cost of $53,331.The district has a regular rotation for purchasing computers, but the enrollment at HHS is growing, Superintendent Ron Wilson said.This will give the high school a few spares. The district is also expecting a large eighth-grade class who will become freshmen in 2024-25, Wilson said.The board also approved a renovation of the Hays High dish room at a cost of $53,884.<h2>Bond update</h2>Wilson gave a brief bond update to the board on Monday.The schematic design has been completed for the O'Loughlin Elementary School project. The architects now move on to more detailed plans.Schematic designs are being done for the renovations of the current Hays High School, which will become the new middle school as well as the new elementary school, which will be in the former middle school building.Wilson said officials hope those two sets of drawings will be done by the start of the school year.The bid opening for the new high school will be Aug. 3.&nbsp;A groundbreaking has not been set for the high school, but Wilson said he anticipates it will be in late September.Work is ongoing on renovations and an addition at Roosevelt Elementary School.&nbsp;Temporary classrooms at Roosevelt are being added so work can continue during the school year. The upper grades will be in those classrooms.Although it is not part of the bond, the district is making repairs to the HVAC system at Wilson Elementary School. Once the bond is completed, Rockwell Administration Center will be closed and Wilson will be used for administration offices.&nbsp;Wilson will be closed as an elementary school and students moved to the new elementary or other elementary schools in the district.

Hays USD 489 BOE approves capital purchases, hears bond update

The Hays Police Department responded to 85 incidents July 2-8, 2023 according to the HPD activity log.&nbsp;

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 </figure>The Hays Police Department responded to 85 incidents July 2-8, 2023 according to the HPD activity log.&nbsp;<figure>
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Hays Police Dept. activity log, July 2-8

This is day 12 of the Kansas Wheat Harvest Reports, brought to you by the Kansas Wheat Commission, Kansas Association of Wheat Growers, Kansas Grain and Feed Association and the Kansas Cooperative Council.

Wheat harvest continues to be a slog with producers fighting rains and weeds to get the crop across the scale. Harvest is now 71 percent complete, well behind 98 percent last year and 94 percent for the five-year average, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) crop progress report for the week ending July 16, 2023.&nbsp;

In the far southwestern corner of the state, Morgan Walls with Elkhart Co-op reports wheat harvest in Morton County has been a drag. Weather has been inhibitive; quality has been a challenge and weeds continue to be a struggle.&nbsp;

Wheat harvest here should be wrapped up by the fourth of July, but this year that’s when the first loads hit the scales. With rain delays that have continuously deteriorated test weights, wheat harvest should finally finish by the end of the week.&nbsp;

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 </figure>Kansas WheatThis is day 12 of the Kansas Wheat Harvest Reports, brought to you by the Kansas Wheat Commission, Kansas Association of Wheat Growers, Kansas Grain and Feed Association and the Kansas Cooperative Council.Wheat harvest continues to be a slog with producers fighting rains and weeds to get the crop across the scale. Harvest is now 71 percent complete, well behind 98 percent last year and 94 percent for the five-year average, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) crop progress report for the week ending July 16, 2023.&nbsp;In the far southwestern corner of the state, Morgan Walls with Elkhart Co-op reports wheat harvest in Morton County has been a drag. Weather has been inhibitive; quality has been a challenge and weeds continue to be a struggle.&nbsp;Wheat harvest here should be wrapped up by the fourth of July, but this year that’s when the first loads hit the scales. With rain delays that have continuously deteriorated test weights, wheat harvest should finally finish by the end of the week.&nbsp;But it’s hard to gauge where harvest is at, as 70 to 75 percent of planted acres were zeroed out by crop insurance, and more acres were taken out by spotty hail in the last couple of weeks. Test weights are averaging lighter than preferred at about 58 pounds per bushel with protein ranging between 12 and 14 percent. Yields are all over the place, from five bushels an acre all the way up to a very small area that had timely moisture and is seeing averages around 70 bushels per acre.&nbsp;&nbsp;Following a busy weekend of cutting in Ness County harvest is all but done, according to Brad Cowan, general manager of CGS in Bazine. After having started cutting around June 23, producers are just tired after fighting the weeds, fighting the weather and fighting green wheat.&nbsp;Yields ranged from 15 to 55 bushels per acre with test weights averaging 59.6 pounds per bushel and average protein coming in consistently just short of 13 percent. Fields that were close, but not released by crop insurance, benefitted from a perfect two-week period of filling weather, resulting in yields at 25 to 30 bushels per acre.&nbsp;Weeds have been a continuous struggle, which means more work for the elevators. CGS will take in about the same number of bushels as last year, which is roughly half of the five-year average. That wheat will be loaded by train onto the short line and delivered to flour mills in eastern Kansas.&nbsp;Weeds are also the main struggle in Meade County, where Dave Strecker with Alliance Ag and Grain LLC reported from Fowler in the eastern part of the county. Harvest here has been going on for a long time, having started around June 27 and still only about three-quarters finished.&nbsp;Strecker said grain quality is pretty good with better than average proteins, but bushels are down dramatically due to approximately 65 percent abandonment of planted acres. There are several producers who won’t bring a single bushel of wheat to town.&nbsp;The wheat that is coming in is yielding 20 to 35 bushels per acre, compared to the 60 to 70 bushels per acre for a normal year. Overall, he estimated the area will take in a maximum of 25 percent of bushels compared to the five-year average.&nbsp;But, by this time next week, Strecker expects that all the wheat that will be harvested will be in the bin. And that’s much-needed as the corn is tasseling. He estimated only five weeks until the first load of dryland corn arrives, not a lot of time for the elevators to turn house and prepare for fall harvest.&nbsp;With triple-digit temperatures expected in coming days, producers will likely make quick harvest progress if summer storms stay away. Stay tuned as the Kansas Wheat crew continues to share results from the field with the next report scheduled for July 18.&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 Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to share your harvest story and photos.

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