TOPEKA&nbsp;– Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland have announced that nearly $10 million has been awarded to 26 recipients for training and workforce development initiatives in high-demand and high-wage industries. Funding was made available through the Delivering Residents and Workforce (DRAW) program, which was launched by Commerce earlier this year. The Department of Commerce received 50 applications, with requests totaling over $24 million.

“As Kansas continues to attract transformative economic development projects,” Toland said, “it is vital our state’s talent pipeline receives the right training to build out the skillsets needed to enjoy successful careers in these targeted sectors. The DRAW program is laser-focused on the state’s most critical positions.”

The funds were designated by the Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas (SPARK) Executive Committee and approved by the State Finance Council to provide impactful capital projects that spur regional economic development in high-demand and high-wage industries, such as healthcare, education and technology-based businesses.

“It is a priority for the Legislature that these&nbsp;vacant high-demand, high-wage jobs are filled by Kansans whenever possible,”&nbsp;Senate President Ty Masterson said.

DRAW applications included investments in mobile workforce training providers, healthcare providers, education providers, technology-based businesses and employers working with the blind, visually or hearing impaired, or persons with disabilities. Additional applications were accepted by those employers designated by the Kansas Department of Labor as hiring high-demand and high-wage positions, such as accountants, welders, sales managers and computer systems analysts.

Recipients will use funds towards construction of on-site training facilities and service expansions, third-party and vendor training costs on machinery and equipment, machinery and equipment used for training, salaries directly related to training, course development costs and services for development of in-house training, marketing, communication and activities to attract talent from out-of-state. Awardees will have two years to complete their projects and utilize all awarded funds.

“The SPARK Committee wanted to prioritize Kansas workers who could fill the jobs not only of today but in the future,”&nbsp;House Speaker Daniel Hawkins said. “The DRAW program uniquely supports our vision.”

Great Plains of Smith County, Inc., Smith Center - $74,850 OCCK, Inc., Concordia - $65,887 Ogallala Commons, Inc., Plainville - $276,563 Republic County Hospital, Belleville - $64,385 Valley Hope Association, Norton - $181,908

For a complete list of DRAW grant recipients and more information about the program, click&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmthbnNhc2NvbW1lcmNlLmdvdi9kcmF3LyIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMzA2MjAuNzg1MDc0MzEifQ.zA7vxJR5mdUJxmqvOS-nxllb3Cq32kT86rdGm-mSzl8/s/1303161001/br/206490537238-l" target="_blank">here</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1687290648564.jpeg" alt="Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>KDCTOPEKA&nbsp;– Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland have announced that nearly $10 million has been awarded to 26 recipients for training and workforce development initiatives in high-demand and high-wage industries. Funding was made available through the Delivering Residents and Workforce (DRAW) program, which was launched by Commerce earlier this year. The Department of Commerce received 50 applications, with requests totaling over $24 million.“As Kansas continues to attract transformative economic development projects,” Toland said, “it is vital our state’s talent pipeline receives the right training to build out the skillsets needed to enjoy successful careers in these targeted sectors. The DRAW program is laser-focused on the state’s most critical positions.”The funds were designated by the Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas (SPARK) Executive Committee and approved by the State Finance Council to provide impactful capital projects that spur regional economic development in high-demand and high-wage industries, such as healthcare, education and technology-based businesses.“It is a priority for the Legislature that these&nbsp;vacant high-demand, high-wage jobs are filled by Kansans whenever possible,”&nbsp;Senate President Ty Masterson said.DRAW applications included investments in mobile workforce training providers, healthcare providers, education providers, technology-based businesses and employers working with the blind, visually or hearing impaired, or persons with disabilities. Additional applications were accepted by those employers designated by the Kansas Department of Labor as hiring high-demand and high-wage positions, such as accountants, welders, sales managers and computer systems analysts.Recipients will use funds towards construction of on-site training facilities and service expansions, third-party and vendor training costs on machinery and equipment, machinery and equipment used for training, salaries directly related to training, course development costs and services for development of in-house training, marketing, communication and activities to attract talent from out-of-state. Awardees will have two years to complete their projects and utilize all awarded funds.“The SPARK Committee wanted to prioritize Kansas workers who could fill the jobs not only of today but in the future,”&nbsp;House Speaker Daniel Hawkins said. “The DRAW program uniquely supports our vision.”Area grant recipients include:&nbsp;Great Plains of Smith County, Inc., Smith Center - $74,850 OCCK, Inc., Concordia - $65,887 Ogallala Commons, Inc., Plainville - $276,563 Republic County Hospital, Belleville - $64,385 Valley Hope Association, Norton - $181,908 For a complete list of DRAW grant recipients and more information about the program, click&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmthbnNhc2NvbW1lcmNlLmdvdi9kcmF3LyIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMzA2MjAuNzg1MDc0MzEifQ.zA7vxJR5mdUJxmqvOS-nxllb3Cq32kT86rdGm-mSzl8/s/1303161001/br/206490537238-l" target="_blank">here</a>.

Regional businesses among grants for high-demand workforce development 

Hays-based Sunflower Electric Power Corp. will develop, own and operate a 20-megawatt solar energy project near Russell. 

In January 2022, Sunflower announced its plans to add a second solar facility to its generation portfolio and has since selected a developer and project structure for the Sunflower Electric Solar @ Russell project.

Sunflower is a cooperatively operated wholesale generation and transmission utility serving seven member distribution utilities with a fuel-diverse electric generating mix that includes traditional and renewable resources.

Sunflower is the sole off-taker on the 20-megawatt J<a href="https://eaglepost.netlify.app/dashboard/hays/posts/5ea04a45eb7f1705360329c7">ohnson Corner Solar Project</a> (JCSP), which it co-developed with the National Renewables Cooperative Organization (NRCO) prior to the project coming online in April 2020. The JCSP is currently the largest operating commercial solar facility in Kansas. It will be matched in size in January 2025 with the expected commercial operation of the Russell solar facility.

Sunflower is partnering with DEPCOM Power to design and construct the Russell project, which will produce approximately 53,000 megawatt hours annually, a total that constitutes 1% of the Sunflower system’s total energy needs. The facility, which will be located on 140 acres three miles east of Russell, will have approximately 45,000 solar panels on a single-axis solar tracking system.

Solar energy is desirable because it is available during peak energy use, which aids in ensuring affordability and reliability. The project near Russell will also reduce or eliminate the cost of expensive transmission upgrades due to its interconnection location on the bulk electric grid.

“Each energy generation resource type has benefits, so Sunflower supports an all-of-the-above approach to our generation portfolio,” said Corey Linville, Sunflower vice president, power supply and delivery. “Solar resources produce energy during the hottest days of the year when our system experiences its highest demand. The declining cost of utility-scale solar energy, combined with available tax credits and the opportunity to mitigate transmission costs, will further benefit Sunflower’s members and those they serve.”

Sunflower is again working with NRCO on this project. Sunflower is a founder and member-owner of NRCO, an organization which was formed by electric cooperatives from across the country to develop and deploy renewable energy resources.

“As a member-owned cooperative, we make every decision with the best interest of our members in mind,” said Tom Ruth, general manager of Western Cooperative Electric, which serves in parts of Russell County. “We analyze and consider new technologies to determine if&nbsp;and when they add value to our system and, ultimately, to those we serve. This is definitely the right time and place for the Sunflower Electric Solar @ Russell project.”

DEPCOM is currently in the design and material procurement phase of the project. Construction is expected to begin in the fall of 2023 and last approximately one year.

“DEPCOM Power is proud to partner with Sunflower Electric Power Corporation on the design and construction of this project,” said Robert Wanless, DEPCOM vice president of business development. “This project will be constructed using tier-one solar PV technology, including bi-facial solar panels; single-axis tracker racking; and centralized inverter/transformers platforms. Kansas is an important market for DEPCOM, with our parent company being headquartered in Wichita. Over the next two years, this project will create hundreds of local jobs.”

About Sunflower Electric Power Corporation

Sunflower Electric Power Corporation, established in 1957, is a regional wholesale generation and transmission supplier dedicated to serving its members by providing reliable power at the lowest possible cost consistent with sound business and cooperative practices. Sunflower’s member cooperatives include Lane-Scott Electric Cooperative, Inc., Dighton; Pioneer Electric Cooperative, Inc., Ulysses; Prairie Land Electric Cooperative, Inc., Norton; The Victory Electric Cooperative Association, Inc., Dodge City; Western Cooperative Electric Association, Inc., WaKeeney; and Wheatland Electric Cooperative, Inc., Scott City, Kan. Southern Pioneer Electric Company, Ulysses, is also a member of Sunflower. For more information, visit <a href="https://sunflower.net/">sunflower.net</a>.

Electric Western Cooperative Electric Association is a member-owned cooperative headquartered in WaKeeney, Kansas. Established in 1945, Western now serves more than 12,000 meters and maintains over 4,000 miles of power lines across western and central Kansas. Together, with our members' help, Western Co-op is committed to building a stronger rural America. For more information about Western, visit <a href="https://www.westerncoop.com/">www.westerncoop.com</a>.

About National Renewables Cooperative Organization

Formed in 2008 by 21 cooperatives, NRCO aims to increase access to cost-effective renewable energy resources for electric cooperatives around the country. NRCO provides full origination and development services for its owner-members and cooperative customers, with nearly one gigawatt of wind and solar projects completed to date including 59 cooperative-run community solar farms. For more information, visit <a href="https://nrco.coop/">nrco.coop</a>.

DEPCOM Power, a Koch Engineered Solutions company, is a leading energy solutions partner for the utility solar and broader energy industries providing project development support, engineering, procurement and construction (EPC), energy storage, repowering and operations and maintenance services. DEPCOM Power leverages a highly experienced team of conventional and renewable EPC power industry veterans. Uniquely bankable energy services are designed to deliver the lowest cost of energy and highest rate of return. For more information visit, <a href="https://www.depcompower.com/">depcompower.com</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1687555691086.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Sunflower ElectricHays-based Sunflower Electric Power Corp. will develop, own and operate a 20-megawatt solar energy project near Russell. In January 2022, Sunflower announced its plans to add a second solar facility to its generation portfolio and has since selected a developer and project structure for the Sunflower Electric Solar @ Russell project.Sunflower is a cooperatively operated wholesale generation and transmission utility serving seven member distribution utilities with a fuel-diverse electric generating mix that includes traditional and renewable resources.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1687555779367.jpeg" alt="Sunflower&nbsp; Electric Johnson Corner solar project. Courtesy photo&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Sunflower&nbsp; Electric Johnson Corner solar project. Courtesy photo&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>Sunflower is the sole off-taker on the 20-megawatt J<a href="https://eaglepost.netlify.app/dashboard/hays/posts/5ea04a45eb7f1705360329c7">ohnson Corner Solar Project</a> (JCSP), which it co-developed with the National Renewables Cooperative Organization (NRCO) prior to the project coming online in April 2020. The JCSP is currently the largest operating commercial solar facility in Kansas. It will be matched in size in January 2025 with the expected commercial operation of the Russell solar facility.Sunflower is partnering with DEPCOM Power to design and construct the Russell project, which will produce approximately 53,000 megawatt hours annually, a total that constitutes 1% of the Sunflower system’s total energy needs. The facility, which will be located on 140 acres three miles east of Russell, will have approximately 45,000 solar panels on a single-axis solar tracking system.Solar energy is desirable because it is available during peak energy use, which aids in ensuring affordability and reliability. The project near Russell will also reduce or eliminate the cost of expensive transmission upgrades due to its interconnection location on the bulk electric grid.“Each energy generation resource type has benefits, so Sunflower supports an all-of-the-above approach to our generation portfolio,” said Corey Linville, Sunflower vice president, power supply and delivery. “Solar resources produce energy during the hottest days of the year when our system experiences its highest demand. The declining cost of utility-scale solar energy, combined with available tax credits and the opportunity to mitigate transmission costs, will further benefit Sunflower’s members and those they serve.”Sunflower is again working with NRCO on this project. Sunflower is a founder and member-owner of NRCO, an organization which was formed by electric cooperatives from across the country to develop and deploy renewable energy resources.“As a member-owned cooperative, we make every decision with the best interest of our members in mind,” said Tom Ruth, general manager of Western Cooperative Electric, which serves in parts of Russell County. “We analyze and consider new technologies to determine if&nbsp;and when they add value to our system and, ultimately, to those we serve. This is definitely the right time and place for the Sunflower Electric Solar @ Russell project.”DEPCOM is currently in the design and material procurement phase of the project. Construction is expected to begin in the fall of 2023 and last approximately one year.“DEPCOM Power is proud to partner with Sunflower Electric Power Corporation on the design and construction of this project,” said Robert Wanless, DEPCOM vice president of business development. “This project will be constructed using tier-one solar PV technology, including bi-facial solar panels; single-axis tracker racking; and centralized inverter/transformers platforms. Kansas is an important market for DEPCOM, with our parent company being headquartered in Wichita. Over the next two years, this project will create hundreds of local jobs.”About Sunflower Electric Power Corporation Sunflower Electric Power Corporation, established in 1957, is a regional wholesale generation and transmission supplier dedicated to serving its members by providing reliable power at the lowest possible cost consistent with sound business and cooperative practices. Sunflower’s member cooperatives include Lane-Scott Electric Cooperative, Inc., Dighton; Pioneer Electric Cooperative, Inc., Ulysses; Prairie Land Electric Cooperative, Inc., Norton; The Victory Electric Cooperative Association, Inc., Dodge City; Western Cooperative Electric Association, Inc., WaKeeney; and Wheatland Electric Cooperative, Inc., Scott City, Kan. Southern Pioneer Electric Company, Ulysses, is also a member of Sunflower. For more information, visit <a href="https://sunflower.net/">sunflower.net</a>.About Western Cooperative Electric Western Cooperative Electric Association is a member-owned cooperative headquartered in WaKeeney, Kansas. Established in 1945, Western now serves more than 12,000 meters and maintains over 4,000 miles of power lines across western and central Kansas. Together, with our members' help, Western Co-op is committed to building a stronger rural America. For more information about Western, visit <a href="https://www.westerncoop.com/">www.westerncoop.com</a>.About National Renewables Cooperative OrganizationFormed in 2008 by 21 cooperatives, NRCO aims to increase access to cost-effective renewable energy resources for electric cooperatives around the country. NRCO provides full origination and development services for its owner-members and cooperative customers, with nearly one gigawatt of wind and solar projects completed to date including 59 cooperative-run community solar farms. For more information, visit <a href="https://nrco.coop/">nrco.coop</a>.About DEPCOM Power DEPCOM Power, a Koch Engineered Solutions company, is a leading energy solutions partner for the utility solar and broader energy industries providing project development support, engineering, procurement and construction (EPC), energy storage, repowering and operations and maintenance services. DEPCOM Power leverages a highly experienced team of conventional and renewable EPC power industry veterans. Uniquely bankable energy services are designed to deliver the lowest cost of energy and highest rate of return. For more information visit, <a href="https://www.depcompower.com/">depcompower.com</a>.

Russell area to be site of second Sunflower Electric Power Corporation solar project

By BECKY KISER Hays Post

"Happy with the turnout and happy with the comments from the Hays and Russell participants," is how Toby Dougherty, Hays city manager, described last week's public comment hearing for the cities' R9 Ranch water project in Edwards County.&nbsp;

Mayor Shaun Musil commended Dougherty and other city staff for their work leading up to the hearing at Fort Hays State University before Kansas Administrative Law Judge Matthew Spurgin.

"It was nice to hear both sides of the story. Some of it was maybe a little stretched, the truth, we believe, but that's why we have [the hearing]," Musil said.

The audience of about 100 people was much bigger than Vice-Mayor Sandy Jacobs anticipated.

"I appreciate the citizens speaking on our behalf," she said.&nbsp;

Jacobs also said she found it "hard to see the other side."

"We're not doing anything outside the law. We're going beyond what the state statute requires. We own the land. We're not taking anything from anybody.&nbsp;

"I get a little testy about that, especially when we've made the concessions we have with the amount of water we're going to take out."

"It's not like some big shadow entity is coming in and taking the water," said Mason Ruder, commissioner.&nbsp;

"It's staying right here in the region, right here in western Kansas where people need it."

The R9 Ranch water case involving the cities of Hays and Russell has been <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/1e38ac03-293f-48f9-9bae-b23df818ed3f">remanded back to district court by the Kansas Supreme Court</a>.

An appeal by the Water Protection Association of Central Kansas, commonly known as Water PACK, was filed June 20 prior to the public comments hearing in Hays that night.

The <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/638c3683-a450-42d8-acd9-f583297185a1">formal public hearing is still scheduled to begin July 19</a> in Wichita and last for 10 days.

Dougherty is out of his office and is prepping for the hearing alongside the Wichita attorneys representing Hays and Russell.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Deputy City Manager Collin Bielser will oversee city business until the hearing ends.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1687797054807.jpeg" alt="Toby Dougherty, Hays city manager, delivers remarks at the June 20 public comment hearing for the R9 Ranch long-term water supply project for Hays and Russell. Photos and video by Becky Kiser/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Toby Dougherty, Hays city manager, delivers remarks at the June 20 public comment hearing for the R9 Ranch long-term water supply project for Hays and Russell. Photos and video by Becky Kiser/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>By BECKY KISER Hays Post"Happy with the turnout and happy with the comments from the Hays and Russell participants," is how Toby Dougherty, Hays city manager, described last week's public comment hearing for the cities' R9 Ranch water project in Edwards County.&nbsp;Mayor Shaun Musil commended Dougherty and other city staff for their work leading up to the hearing at Fort Hays State University before Kansas Administrative Law Judge Matthew Spurgin."It was nice to hear both sides of the story. Some of it was maybe a little stretched, the truth, we believe, but that's why we have [the hearing]," Musil said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1687797321591.jpeg" alt="Edwards County farmer Richard Wenstrom owns land adjacent to the R9 Ranch. He said he's not against the water transfer but believes the law is not being followed correctly and too much water will be taken from Edwards County. Photo by Becky Kiser/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Edwards County farmer Richard Wenstrom owns land adjacent to the R9 Ranch. He said he's not against the water transfer but believes the law is not being followed correctly and too much water will be taken from Edwards County. Photo by Becky Kiser/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>The audience of about 100 people was much bigger than Vice-Mayor Sandy Jacobs anticipated."I appreciate the citizens speaking on our behalf," she said.&nbsp;Jacobs also said she found it "hard to see the other side.""We're not doing anything outside the law. We're going beyond what the state statute requires. We own the land. We're not taking anything from anybody.&nbsp;"I get a little testy about that, especially when we've made the concessions we have with the amount of water we're going to take out."<div><div style="position:relative;overflow:hidden;padding-bottom:56.25%"><iframe src="https://cdn.jwplayer.com/players/V0uhktF9-P46diVCW.html" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" title="R9 Recap" style="position:absolute;" allowfullscreen></iframe></div></div>"It's not like some big shadow entity is coming in and taking the water," said Mason Ruder, commissioner.&nbsp;"It's staying right here in the region, right here in western Kansas where people need it."The R9 Ranch water case involving the cities of Hays and Russell has been <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/1e38ac03-293f-48f9-9bae-b23df818ed3f">remanded back to district court by the Kansas Supreme Court</a>.An appeal by the Water Protection Association of Central Kansas, commonly known as Water PACK, was filed June 20 prior to the public comments hearing in Hays that night.The <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/638c3683-a450-42d8-acd9-f583297185a1">formal public hearing is still scheduled to begin July 19</a> in Wichita and last for 10 days.Dougherty is out of his office and is prepping for the hearing alongside the Wichita attorneys representing Hays and Russell.&nbsp;&nbsp;Deputy City Manager Collin Bielser will oversee city business until the hearing ends.&nbsp;

🎥City commissioners pleased with support shown at R9 Ranch public comments hearing    

By MICHELLE BERAN Cottonwood Extension District

This week I had several of our 4-H Ambassadors assist me in preparing some publicity for the Barton County Fair. Natalie Williams and the Barton Country 4-H Ambassadors invite you to check out "Country Pride, County Wide at the Barton County Fair" happening July 5-9.

You can check out the full schedule for our many upcoming activities at the Barton County Fair at <a href="https://www.bartoncountyfair.com/">bartoncountyfair.com</a>.

Pre-fair events start with the fashion revue, fiber arts, and clothing construction judging on June 29. Jayla Wyant hopes that you will check out the results from these events during the fair dates July 5-9. We have a lot of creative 4-H members who have learned new skills all year and look forward sharing them with you.

Jonas Kern is one of the Barton County 4-H Ambassadors and reminds you that much of the 4-H judging will be completed on Wednesday, July 5th, and in the evening, we’ll hold our annual youth rally in the ring in Expo III. Thursday, July 6, we’ll start off our day with the Business Appreciation Breakfast and Chamber Coffee. All are welcome, and be sure to check out all of the great foods, photography, woodworking, entomology exhibits and much more.

Livestock shows are a regular part of many county fairs. Parker Dicks and the Barton County Ambassadors invite you to check out the swine show on Thursday at 9 a.m., horse halter classes on Thursday at 3 p.m., bucket calf show on Thursday at 6 p.m., the sheep and goat show on Friday at starting at 8 a.m., the beef show on Friday at 5 p.m., and the horse show on Saturday at 8 a.m.. Round Robin is an event where the top showman of each species compete against one another for the overall best showman or woman. Round Robin has been moved to Saturday, July 8 at 4 p.m.

As the Cottonwood Extension District 4-H Agent in Barton County I want to say thank you to the Barton County Fair Association, the Friends of the Fair group, and superintendents for their countless hours! We also want to express our appreciation to the fair and award sponsors.

Come share our Country Pride, County Wide July 5th -9th at the Barton County Fair!

Michelle Beran is the 4-H Youth Development Agent in the Cottonwood Extension District. For more information on this article or other 4-H Youth Development resources, email Michelle at mberan@ksu.edu or call Cottonwood Extension District – Barton Office at 620-793-1910.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668179445671.jpeg" alt="Michelle Beran is the 4-H Youth Development Agent in the Cottonwood Extension District.&nbsp; Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Michelle Beran is the 4-H Youth Development Agent in the Cottonwood Extension District.&nbsp; Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By MICHELLE BERAN Cottonwood Extension DistrictThis week I had several of our 4-H Ambassadors assist me in preparing some publicity for the Barton County Fair. Natalie Williams and the Barton Country 4-H Ambassadors invite you to check out "Country Pride, County Wide at the Barton County Fair" happening July 5-9.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1687551665761.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure> You can check out the full schedule for our many upcoming activities at the Barton County Fair at <a href="https://www.bartoncountyfair.com/">bartoncountyfair.com</a>.Pre-fair events start with the fashion revue, fiber arts, and clothing construction judging on June 29. Jayla Wyant hopes that you will check out the results from these events during the fair dates July 5-9. We have a lot of creative 4-H members who have learned new skills all year and look forward sharing them with you.Jonas Kern is one of the Barton County 4-H Ambassadors and reminds you that much of the 4-H judging will be completed on Wednesday, July 5th, and in the evening, we’ll hold our annual youth rally in the ring in Expo III. Thursday, July 6, we’ll start off our day with the Business Appreciation Breakfast and Chamber Coffee. All are welcome, and be sure to check out all of the great foods, photography, woodworking, entomology exhibits and much more.Livestock shows are a regular part of many county fairs. Parker Dicks and the Barton County Ambassadors invite you to check out the swine show on Thursday at 9 a.m., horse halter classes on Thursday at 3 p.m., bucket calf show on Thursday at 6 p.m., the sheep and goat show on Friday at starting at 8 a.m., the beef show on Friday at 5 p.m., and the horse show on Saturday at 8 a.m.. Round Robin is an event where the top showman of each species compete against one another for the overall best showman or woman. Round Robin has been moved to Saturday, July 8 at 4 p.m.As the Cottonwood Extension District 4-H Agent in Barton County I want to say thank you to the Barton County Fair Association, the Friends of the Fair group, and superintendents for their countless hours! We also want to express our appreciation to the fair and award sponsors.Come share our Country Pride, County Wide July 5th -9th at the Barton County Fair!Michelle Beran is the 4-H Youth Development Agent in the Cottonwood Extension District. For more information on this article or other 4-H Youth Development resources, email Michelle at mberan@ksu.edu or call Cottonwood Extension District – Barton Office at 620-793-1910.

BERAN: It’s just about fair week in Barton County

<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/2023/6/1687801484725.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

According to <a href="https://hayslibrary.evanced.info/signup/Calendar/eventcalendar.asp?et=8,32" target="_blank">its website</a>, Hays Public Library offers plenty of activities for pre-K and elementary school-aged kids in the children’s department. Something else it offers? A large wall display featuring books about sexuality.&nbsp;

Examples include “<a href="https://tlc.hayslibrary.org/?config=bookmobile#section=resource&amp;resourceid=933458082&amp;currentIndex=0&amp;view=fullDetailsDetailsTab" target="_blank">Trans+: Love, Sex, Romance, and Being You</a>,” which purports to be an “uncensored guide for teens who are transgender, nonbinary, gender-nonconforming, or gender-fluid.” It also provides advice on “relationships, sex, and life as a trans or nonbinary individual.” Keep in mind, this is featured in an area of the library where many patrons are a decade below the age of consent.&nbsp;

What you won’t find, however, are books like “Johnny the Walrus” or “Elephants Are Not Birds,” both of which encourage children to accept their bodies as they are. While this message has always been valuable, it has become even more important in recent years. That’s evident from the growing number of young detransitioners—individuals who underwent “gender affirming care” as minors, only to later realize they made an irreversible mistake.&nbsp;

One of them is Kayla Lovdahl, an 18-year-old old California woman who is suing the Kaiser Foundation Hospitals and four doctors for removing her breasts when she was just 13. The New York Post&nbsp;<a href="https://nypost.com/2023/06/17/woman-sues-hospital-for-removing-her-breasts-when-she-was-13-years-old/" target="_blank">quotes</a>&nbsp;her lawsuit as alleging that “they essentially handed Kayla the prescription pad, and allowed her naïve, emotional, childish, rollercoaster of feelings to dictate the so-called ‘treatment’ that she would receive.”

Meanwhile, fellow teenage detransitioner Chloe Cole <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/media/former-trans-kid-shares-pain-suffering-mutilating-gender-affirming-care-ive-gotten-no-help" target="_blank">recounted</a>&nbsp;to Fox News in February how she was put on puberty blockers and testosterone at 13 before undergoing a double mastectomy at 15.&nbsp;

"Because of the testosterone, I have permanent changes to my bone structure that cannot be reversed,” she said. “And I have issues with my urinary tract, but I'm not sure whether I'll be able to conceive a child or be able to safely carry to term or to birth. And because of the mastectomy, I'll never be able to breastfeed."

Stories like theirs illustrate why so many parents have grown increasingly worried about radical gender ideology. It also makes clear why some are no longer comfortable with sending their kids to the library. Because while it claims to be a place “for the entire community,” those of us who want to protect our children clearly aren’t welcome.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Adam Peters, Ellis County Republican Party Chairman

Editor's note: Letters to the editor to the Hays Post must meet certain criteria for publication. They must be signed by an individual, contain factual information, be on a topic of local concern and be from someone in the local area. They must not have vulgar content or contain personal attacks.

Letters or questions on the letter policy can be submitted to admin@hayspost.com

According to <a href="https://hayslibrary.evanced.info/signup/Calendar/eventcalendar.asp?et=8,32" target="_blank">its website</a>, Hays Public Library offers plenty of activities for pre-K and elementary school-aged kids in the children’s department. Something else it offers? A large wall display featuring books about sexuality.&nbsp;Examples include “<a href="https://tlc.hayslibrary.org/?config=bookmobile#section=resource&amp;resourceid=933458082&amp;currentIndex=0&amp;view=fullDetailsDetailsTab" target="_blank">Trans+: Love, Sex, Romance, and Being You</a>,” which purports to be an “uncensored guide for teens who are transgender, nonbinary, gender-nonconforming, or gender-fluid.” It also provides advice on “relationships, sex, and life as a trans or nonbinary individual.” Keep in mind, this is featured in an area of the library where many patrons are a decade below the age of consent.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582312931775.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>What you won’t find, however, are books like “Johnny the Walrus” or “Elephants Are Not Birds,” both of which encourage children to accept their bodies as they are. While this message has always been valuable, it has become even more important in recent years. That’s evident from the growing number of young detransitioners—individuals who underwent “gender affirming care” as minors, only to later realize they made an irreversible mistake.&nbsp;One of them is Kayla Lovdahl, an 18-year-old old California woman who is suing the Kaiser Foundation Hospitals and four doctors for removing her breasts when she was just 13. The New York Post&nbsp;<a href="https://nypost.com/2023/06/17/woman-sues-hospital-for-removing-her-breasts-when-she-was-13-years-old/" target="_blank">quotes</a>&nbsp;her lawsuit as alleging that “they essentially handed Kayla the prescription pad, and allowed her naïve, emotional, childish, rollercoaster of feelings to dictate the so-called ‘treatment’ that she would receive.”Meanwhile, fellow teenage detransitioner Chloe Cole <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/media/former-trans-kid-shares-pain-suffering-mutilating-gender-affirming-care-ive-gotten-no-help" target="_blank">recounted</a>&nbsp;to Fox News in February how she was put on puberty blockers and testosterone at 13 before undergoing a double mastectomy at 15.&nbsp;"Because of the testosterone, I have permanent changes to my bone structure that cannot be reversed,” she said. “And I have issues with my urinary tract, but I'm not sure whether I'll be able to conceive a child or be able to safely carry to term or to birth. And because of the mastectomy, I'll never be able to breastfeed."Stories like theirs illustrate why so many parents have grown increasingly worried about radical gender ideology. It also makes clear why some are no longer comfortable with sending their kids to the library. Because while it claims to be a place “for the entire community,” those of us who want to protect our children clearly aren’t welcome.&nbsp;&nbsp;Adam Peters, Ellis County Republican Party ChairmanEditor's note: Letters to the editor to the Hays Post must meet certain criteria for publication. They must be signed by an individual, contain factual information, be on a topic of local concern and be from someone in the local area. They must not have vulgar content or contain personal attacks.Letters or questions on the letter policy can be submitted to admin@hayspost.com

Letter to the Editor: GOP chairman challenges Hays Public Library's pride display

By JOHN P. TRETBAR Eagle Communications

Business is booming in the Texas oil patch, and so is job growth. Officials say oil-and-gas production employment in the Lone Star State surged by 6,900 jobs last month. According to the Texas Workforce Commission that's the highest single month of job growth in 33 years of reporting. The so-called "upstream" employment in Texas is now over 200,000 workers for the first time in more than three years. U.S. crude-oil imports, inventories and production are all dropping. The Energy Information Administration reported a slight drop in U.S. crude production last week, to just over 12.2 million barrels per day. That's down 200,000 barrels per day from a week earlier, and up 200,000 barrels per day from a year ago. Commercial crude inventories dropped by 3.8 million barrels from a week earlier, to just over 463 million barrels as of June 16. The Energy Information Administration says stockpiles are about equal to the five-year seasonal average. Imports dropped by 200-thousand barrels per day to 6.2 million. Energy Information Administration said the four-week rolling average shows imports up more than two percent from a year ago. Kansas regulators okayed 12 new drilling locations across the state last week, with six in western Kansas, including one new permit in Stafford County. That's 634 permits for new locations so far this year, compared to 759 last year at this time.&nbsp; Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service reports 28 new well-completions across Kansas. The list of 14 in western Kansas includes two completions in Barton County, one in Ellis County and two in Stafford County. Operators have spudded 634 wells in Kansas so far this year, down 16 percent from a year ago, with total footage drilled down more then 25 percent. The Kansas Rig Count from Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service is down seven percent from a week ago and 25% from a year ago. The count west of Wichita was down four at 26 active rigs. Crude production growth in New Mexico leads all other states. A report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration notes that half of the production growth nationwide last year came from New Mexico.&nbsp; According to the Energy Information Administration, New Mexico set a record for annual output of 1.6 million barrels per day last year, second best in the nation. The state's March output was over 1.8 million barrels per day. Texas leads the way with nearly five and a half million barrels per day. At number-three, North Dakota produces about 1.1 million barrels per day. Output in Kansas averages about 77,000 barrels per day. Chinese imports of Russian oil last month reached the highest level since the invasion of Ukraine more than a year ago. The Moscow Times reports overall trade between the two countries reached a record $190 billion year. The report cites customs data showing China's imports of Russian crude in May more than doubled those just before the invasion in February of last year. Green incentives on the West Coast appear to be having an impact, as biofuels begin to displace petroleum-based diesel fuels. The Energy Information Administration says consumption of diesel, as measured by product supplied, decreased to its lowest level since 2002 last year and continues to decline this year. The Energy Information Administration says the primary cause for the decline is the parallel rise of biofuels and renewable diesel, thanks to clean-fuel programs offering incentives for their use. The government forecasts a continuing drop in petro-diesel deliveries as the use of the renewable variety continues to grow.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1684775008059.jpeg" alt="Photo by Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN P. TRETBAR Eagle CommunicationsBusiness is booming in the Texas oil patch, and so is job growth. Officials say oil-and-gas production employment in the Lone Star State surged by 6,900 jobs last month. According to the Texas Workforce Commission that's the highest single month of job growth in 33 years of reporting. The so-called "upstream" employment in Texas is now over 200,000 workers for the first time in more than three years. U.S. crude-oil imports, inventories and production are all dropping. The Energy Information Administration reported a slight drop in U.S. crude production last week, to just over 12.2 million barrels per day. That's down 200,000 barrels per day from a week earlier, and up 200,000 barrels per day from a year ago. Commercial crude inventories dropped by 3.8 million barrels from a week earlier, to just over 463 million barrels as of June 16. The Energy Information Administration says stockpiles are about equal to the five-year seasonal average. Imports dropped by 200-thousand barrels per day to 6.2 million. Energy Information Administration said the four-week rolling average shows imports up more than two percent from a year ago. Kansas regulators okayed 12 new drilling locations across the state last week, with six in western Kansas, including one new permit in Stafford County. That's 634 permits for new locations so far this year, compared to 759 last year at this time.&nbsp; Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service reports 28 new well-completions across Kansas. The list of 14 in western Kansas includes two completions in Barton County, one in Ellis County and two in Stafford County. Operators have spudded 634 wells in Kansas so far this year, down 16 percent from a year ago, with total footage drilled down more then 25 percent. The Kansas Rig Count from Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service is down seven percent from a week ago and 25% from a year ago. The count west of Wichita was down four at 26 active rigs. Crude production growth in New Mexico leads all other states. A report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration notes that half of the production growth nationwide last year came from New Mexico.&nbsp; According to the Energy Information Administration, New Mexico set a record for annual output of 1.6 million barrels per day last year, second best in the nation. The state's March output was over 1.8 million barrels per day. Texas leads the way with nearly five and a half million barrels per day. At number-three, North Dakota produces about 1.1 million barrels per day. Output in Kansas averages about 77,000 barrels per day. Chinese imports of Russian oil last month reached the highest level since the invasion of Ukraine more than a year ago. The Moscow Times reports overall trade between the two countries reached a record $190 billion year. The report cites customs data showing China's imports of Russian crude in May more than doubled those just before the invasion in February of last year. Green incentives on the West Coast appear to be having an impact, as biofuels begin to displace petroleum-based diesel fuels. The Energy Information Administration says consumption of diesel, as measured by product supplied, decreased to its lowest level since 2002 last year and continues to decline this year. The Energy Information Administration says the primary cause for the decline is the parallel rise of biofuels and renewable diesel, thanks to clean-fuel programs offering incentives for their use. The government forecasts a continuing drop in petro-diesel deliveries as the use of the renewable variety continues to grow.&nbsp;&nbsp;

News from the Oil Patch: Business is booming in the (Texas) patch

On this episode of the&nbsp;<a href="https://postpodcast.podbean.com/">Post Podcast</a>,&nbsp;Hays Post reporter Becky Kiser discusses the ongoing fight over the water rights from the R9 ranch with city manager Toby Dougherty and city commissioner Mason Ruder.

<div><iframe title="Fight over water from the R9 ranch continues" 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=auztt-143f452-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;Hays Post reporter Becky Kiser discusses the ongoing fight over the water rights from the R9 ranch with city manager Toby Dougherty and city commissioner Mason Ruder.

🎙 Post Podcast: Fight over water from the R9 ranch continues

At 1:47 a.m. Sunday, the Hays Police Department received a report of a shooting in the 1000 block of East Eighth&nbsp;Street, Hays. The caller went on to report that a male had been shot in the neck and was on the ground. 

Emergency responders were dispatched and upon arriving, officers from the Hays Police Department contacted the gunshot victim and began giving medical care until Ellis County Emergency Services personnel arrived and took over the medical care.

The gunshot victim was taken by ambulance to the Hays Medical Center where he succumbed to his injury. The gunshot victim was 63-year-old Larry D. Braun, Ellis County resident.

The shooter, 40-year-old Keith A. Ostrom of Hays, was arrested at the scene for second-degree murder. Ostrom is currently being held in the Ellis County jail and is considered innocent until proven guilty by a court of law.

At 1:47 a.m. Sunday, the Hays Police Department received a report of a shooting in the 1000 block of East Eighth&nbsp;St., Hays.

The caller went on to report that a male had been shot in the neck and was on the ground.

Emergency responders were dispatched and upon arriving officers from the Hays Police Department made contact with the gunshot victim and began giving medical care until Ellis County Emergency Services personnel arrived and took over the medical care.

The gunshot victim was taken by ambulance to the Hays Medical Center where he succumbed to his injury and died.

The decedent’s name is not being released at this time.

The Hays Police Department has one person in custody and there are no other suspects involved.

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation’s Crime Scene Response Team is assisting the Hays Police Department with the investigation. &nbsp;

Hays Police DepartmentAt 1:47 a.m. Sunday, the Hays Police Department received a report of a shooting in the 1000 block of East Eighth&nbsp;Street, Hays. The caller went on to report that a male had been shot in the neck and was on the ground. Emergency responders were dispatched and upon arriving, officers from the Hays Police Department contacted the gunshot victim and began giving medical care until Ellis County Emergency Services personnel arrived and took over the medical care.The gunshot victim was taken by ambulance to the Hays Medical Center where he succumbed to his injury. The gunshot victim was 63-year-old Larry D. Braun, Ellis County resident.The shooter, 40-year-old Keith A. Ostrom of Hays, was arrested at the scene for second-degree murder. Ostrom is currently being held in the Ellis County jail and is considered innocent until proven guilty by a court of law.-----Hays Police DepartmentAt 1:47 a.m. Sunday, the Hays Police Department received a report of a shooting in the 1000 block of East Eighth&nbsp;St., Hays.The caller went on to report that a male had been shot in the neck and was on the ground.Emergency responders were dispatched and upon arriving officers from the Hays Police Department made contact with the gunshot victim and began giving medical care until Ellis County Emergency Services personnel arrived and took over the medical care.The gunshot victim was taken by ambulance to the Hays Medical Center where he succumbed to his injury and died.The decedent’s name is not being released at this time.The Hays Police Department has one person in custody and there are no other suspects involved.The Kansas Bureau of Investigation’s Crime Scene Response Team is assisting the Hays Police Department with the investigation. &nbsp;

Police release names of victim, suspect in Sunday Hays shooting

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/b71b406b-5c71-44d8-aab5-1d3ed1b63ee1">In response to Ms. Meier’s editorial that appeared on June 15.</a> The need to have greater building efficiency for USD 112 is at the heart of closing a building for the district.

Much has been stated about transporting students, older buildings, utility costs and other factors, but at the end of the day, there are simply not enough students at Wilson Junior Senior High School to continue to support fully staffing a building with certified and classified personnel. 

Last year, Wilson Junior Senior High School had only 63 students for six grade levels. This averages to 10 students per grade level. Those students brought in roughly 305,298 in BASE state aid funding.

However, to educate these students with certified teachers and an administrator, and provide coaches and sponsors for activities the district spent 528,491 in payroll. These payroll figures were obtained from an open record request for district payroll figures for all USD 112 employees.

Rural 1A districts can not afford to financially operate two high schools when payroll expenses are a district’s largest expenditure. For every hundred dollars a public school district brings in for revenue, $90 of that goes back out to pay personnel. This is common to all Kansas school districts large or small, rural or urban. That is why payroll efficiency is important for district financial health and long-term sustainability. 

Moreover, there comes a time when small is too small for students' achievement and growth. The state of Kansas commissioned a study on school size and consolidation from the independent firm of Augenblick and Myers which concluded that the minimum enrollment for a high school to achieve the ideal range of academic programs for students as well as extracurricular offerings was 260.

USD 112 by merging into one high school would come close to achieving this number and being able to offer the highest quality academic and extracurricular offerings for students.

Ms. Meier asked why Covid federal ESSR monies were not used to keep Wilson Junior Senior High School open. These monies can only be used by districts for certain categories such as loss of learning due to the pandemic, improved air quality or school safety. They can not be used to pay salaries of general employees for day-to-day expenses. Moreover, this would only be a band-aid solution as it would do nothing to fix the real problem at Wilson Junior Senior High School of low enrollment that continues to decline.

All Covid monies have to be used in 2024 or they must be returned. Using these funds does not fix the problem after 2024 and would only temporarily keep a building open. Also, Ms. Meier stated the district website and social media sites favor Central Plains over Wilson. Actually, those sites take both Oiler and Dragon mascots and merge them together to show unity as a district. This has been used as the graphic on these pages for several years.

Most egregiously, Ms. Meier stated there are pay inequities for teaching staff in buildings which unfairly target Wilson teachers. Certified teachers are placed on a district salary schedule, which is negotiated by one Wilson teacher and one Central Plains teacher and the Board of Education each year. This negotiated agreement and salary schedule is a legally binding contract. To imply the Board of Education is not following this legally binding contract without offering any proof, is grossly unfair to all parties involved, and borders on libelous content.

Accurate data and factual information are important, please visit unitedusd112.com or Facebook United USD 112. 

RELATED STORIES: <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/1ca616ba-d515-45ec-a6db-ff83cd076127">Petition to disorganize USD 112 filed Tuesday morning</a>

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/650866ad-be2b-4d84-8a28-bf21f90d331c">Wilson High School supporters not going down without a fight</a>

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/b71b406b-5c71-44d8-aab5-1d3ed1b63ee1">In response to Ms. Meier’s editorial that appeared on June 15.</a> The need to have greater building efficiency for USD 112 is at the heart of closing a building for the district.Much has been stated about transporting students, older buildings, utility costs and other factors, but at the end of the day, there are simply not enough students at Wilson Junior Senior High School to continue to support fully staffing a building with certified and classified personnel. Last year, Wilson Junior Senior High School had only 63 students for six grade levels. This averages to 10 students per grade level. Those students brought in roughly 305,298 in BASE state aid funding.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582312931775.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>However, to educate these students with certified teachers and an administrator, and provide coaches and sponsors for activities the district spent 528,491 in payroll. These payroll figures were obtained from an open record request for district payroll figures for all USD 112 employees.Rural 1A districts can not afford to financially operate two high schools when payroll expenses are a district’s largest expenditure. For every hundred dollars a public school district brings in for revenue, $90 of that goes back out to pay personnel. This is common to all Kansas school districts large or small, rural or urban. That is why payroll efficiency is important for district financial health and long-term sustainability. Moreover, there comes a time when small is too small for students' achievement and growth. The state of Kansas commissioned a study on school size and consolidation from the independent firm of Augenblick and Myers which concluded that the minimum enrollment for a high school to achieve the ideal range of academic programs for students as well as extracurricular offerings was 260.USD 112 by merging into one high school would come close to achieving this number and being able to offer the highest quality academic and extracurricular offerings for students.Ms. Meier asked why Covid federal ESSR monies were not used to keep Wilson Junior Senior High School open. These monies can only be used by districts for certain categories such as loss of learning due to the pandemic, improved air quality or school safety. They can not be used to pay salaries of general employees for day-to-day expenses. Moreover, this would only be a band-aid solution as it would do nothing to fix the real problem at Wilson Junior Senior High School of low enrollment that continues to decline.All Covid monies have to be used in 2024 or they must be returned. Using these funds does not fix the problem after 2024 and would only temporarily keep a building open. Also, Ms. Meier stated the district website and social media sites favor Central Plains over Wilson. Actually, those sites take both Oiler and Dragon mascots and merge them together to show unity as a district. This has been used as the graphic on these pages for several years.Most egregiously, Ms. Meier stated there are pay inequities for teaching staff in buildings which unfairly target Wilson teachers. Certified teachers are placed on a district salary schedule, which is negotiated by one Wilson teacher and one Central Plains teacher and the Board of Education each year. This negotiated agreement and salary schedule is a legally binding contract. To imply the Board of Education is not following this legally binding contract without offering any proof, is grossly unfair to all parties involved, and borders on libelous content.Accurate data and factual information are important, please visit unitedusd112.com or Facebook United USD 112. — Denise Schmidt, ClaflinRELATED STORIES: <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/1ca616ba-d515-45ec-a6db-ff83cd076127">Petition to disorganize USD 112 filed Tuesday morning</a><a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/650866ad-be2b-4d84-8a28-bf21f90d331c">Wilson High School supporters not going down without a fight</a>

Letter to Editor: Writer offers reasons for Wilson school closing

Emergency responders were dispatched and upon arriving officers from the Hays Police Department made contact with the gunshot victim and began giving medical care until Ellis County Emergency Services personnel arrived and took over the medical care. 

Hays Police DepartmentAt 1:47 a.m. Sunday, the Hays Police Department received a report of a shooting in the 1000 block of East Eighth&nbsp;St., Hays.The caller went on to report that a male had been shot in the neck and was on the ground.Emergency responders were dispatched and upon arriving officers from the Hays Police Department made contact with the gunshot victim and began giving medical care until Ellis County Emergency Services personnel arrived and took over the medical care. The gunshot victim was taken by ambulance to the Hays Medical Center where he succumbed to his injury and died.The decedent’s name is not being released at this time.The Hays Police Department has one person in custody and there are no other suspects involved.The Kansas Bureau of Investigation’s Crime Scene Response Team is assisting the Hays Police Department with the investigation. &nbsp;

Shooting outside Hays bar leaves person dead

You may leave northwest
Kansas, but northwest Kansas can’t leave you.

Nashville-based
singer/songwriter and Ellis County native Blaine Younger has recently explored
his time growing up in the area with his latest song Heartland.

“I grew up right there in
Victoria, Kansas, went to school there,” Younger said. 

Being involved with music his
entire life, he explored the region, taking the stage at “every bar and county
fair and festival,” including Wild West Fest and Country Stampede.

But much like the person
longed for in Heartland, Younger felt compelled to follow his dreams and
pursue opportunities elsewhere.

“We are out here. And it is a
big deal to be out here,” Younger said. “And I'm learning and surrounded by the
greatest musicians and songwriters in the world every day. And it's pretty
cool.”

While his focus has been on
songwriting, he took to performing Heartland himself, marking his
first release in 13 years.

“People ask me, ‘Why are you
releasing music now?’” Younger said. “I think deep down every songwriter is
still an artist, and they want to say things and say things their way and the
way they would portray it and emote it. So that still is more exciting to me.”

But while he still performs and
writes music, he continues chasing the goal of one day having a song he wrote rise
to the top of the hit county charts.

“We're getting there and
meeting a lot of people that I would never thought and playing a lot of places
that I've never thought I'd play in my life,” Younger said.

“They're both equally great,
but I just had more success so far on the artist side, and that is fun.”

While there may be more opportunities
in Nashville, he retains a life similar to the one he knew growing up, living
in a quiet city suburb.

“I still
crave small-town livin’ and simple life,” Younger said. “It's different, but
they both have their perks. Being out here, you're so plugged into the industry,
and you really do feel like you're three minutes, or a song away, from maybe a change
in your life. You've got those connections, and you're showing your face and
networking in the clubs.”

“But as
far as personal living, I have a family now. And we're lucky to be out in a
cool suburb of Nashville, and we love it out here. But I still do prefer the
small-town simple living over the city life for sure.”

He reflects
on that small-town life with Heartland.

“I just
thought of the kind of play on words, ‘When are you going to let your heart
land,’ and it started there. And then I just started strumming,” Younger said. “The
first line is ‘When you coming back to the hometown?’ 

“It
comes off as a love song and this guy in the middle of Kansas wondering, you
know his love ran off to chase her dreams and it's like, ‘When are you going to
come back because I do think we belong together.’ And he's very hopeful that
one day she'll come back.”

But the
song also has a deeper message for those like him that have left their hometown
to achieve their goals.

“I think
the inspiration was more like ‘Man, go chase your dream and do all you can,’”
Younger said. “It's tough out here. There are highs and lows. But no matter
what happens, you're inspiring somebody. You're making somebody smile. And if
it doesn't work out, there's always a place back home where people love you,
family and friends. And there's always another place to land.”

Musically
the song is a mix of Mellencamp, Steve Earle and Red Dirt Country.

It “rocks
pretty good, but it's still got a country lyric too, and a good story,” Younger
said.

He hopes his story helps
inspire others to take the leap.

For him,
Nashville connections may help build a songwriting career, but for those
looking to perform, artists now have an avenue to “hit it” anywhere, he said.

“These
days, everybody's doing it on their own,” Younger said. “Especially with social
media, and just about getting out and promoting yourself and playing and getting
in front of people and writing great music and pushing your song. So, I almost
think it can be done no matter where you are these days.”

“If
there's any songwriters or musicians back home, it's all possible. You just got
to go get it,” Younger said.

To hear Heartland visit <a href="https://onerpm.link/934622213335">onerpm.link/934622213335</a>.

Younger can also be found on social media, including <a href="https://www.facebook.com/blaineyoungermusic/">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/blaineyoungermusic/">Instagram.</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660754177628.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1687548235682.jpeg" alt="Blaine Younger (Courtesy photo)" />
 <figcaption>Blaine Younger (Courtesy photo)</figcaption>
 </figure>By JAMES BELL Hays PostYou may leave northwest
Kansas, but northwest Kansas can’t leave you.Nashville-based
singer/songwriter and Ellis County native Blaine Younger has recently explored
his time growing up in the area with his latest song Heartland.“I grew up right there in
Victoria, Kansas, went to school there,” Younger said. Being involved with music his
entire life, he explored the region, taking the stage at “every bar and county
fair and festival,” including Wild West Fest and Country Stampede.<div><iframe title="Ellis Co. native brings heartland sound to Nashville" 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=tayb8-143e6e3-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>But much like the person
longed for in Heartland, Younger felt compelled to follow his dreams and
pursue opportunities elsewhere.“We are out here. And it is a
big deal to be out here,” Younger said. “And I'm learning and surrounded by the
greatest musicians and songwriters in the world every day. And it's pretty
cool.”While his focus has been on
songwriting, he took to performing Heartland himself, marking his
first release in 13 years. “People ask me, ‘Why are you
releasing music now?’” Younger said. “I think deep down every songwriter is
still an artist, and they want to say things and say things their way and the
way they would portray it and emote it. So that still is more exciting to me.”But while he still performs and
writes music, he continues chasing the goal of one day having a song he wrote rise
to the top of the hit county charts.“We're getting there and
meeting a lot of people that I would never thought and playing a lot of places
that I've never thought I'd play in my life,” Younger said.“They're both equally great,
but I just had more success so far on the artist side, and that is fun.”While there may be more opportunities
in Nashville, he retains a life similar to the one he knew growing up, living
in a quiet city suburb.“I still
crave small-town livin’ and simple life,” Younger said. “It's different, but
they both have their perks. Being out here, you're so plugged into the industry,
and you really do feel like you're three minutes, or a song away, from maybe a change
in your life. You've got those connections, and you're showing your face and
networking in the clubs.”“But as
far as personal living, I have a family now. And we're lucky to be out in a
cool suburb of Nashville, and we love it out here. But I still do prefer the
small-town simple living over the city life for sure.”He reflects
on that small-town life with Heartland. <div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Q443XlGVlVM" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>“I just
thought of the kind of play on words, ‘When are you going to let your heart
land,’ and it started there. And then I just started strumming,” Younger said. “The
first line is ‘When you coming back to the hometown?’ “It
comes off as a love song and this guy in the middle of Kansas wondering, you
know his love ran off to chase her dreams and it's like, ‘When are you going to
come back because I do think we belong together.’ And he's very hopeful that
one day she'll come back.”But the
song also has a deeper message for those like him that have left their hometown
to achieve their goals.“I think
the inspiration was more like ‘Man, go chase your dream and do all you can,’”
Younger said. “It's tough out here. There are highs and lows. But no matter
what happens, you're inspiring somebody. You're making somebody smile. And if
it doesn't work out, there's always a place back home where people love you,
family and friends. And there's always another place to land.”Musically
the song is a mix of Mellencamp, Steve Earle and Red Dirt Country.It “rocks
pretty good, but it's still got a country lyric too, and a good story,” Younger
said.He hopes his story helps
inspire others to take the leap.For him,
Nashville connections may help build a songwriting career, but for those
looking to perform, artists now have an avenue to “hit it” anywhere, he said.“These
days, everybody's doing it on their own,” Younger said. “Especially with social
media, and just about getting out and promoting yourself and playing and getting
in front of people and writing great music and pushing your song. So, I almost
think it can be done no matter where you are these days.”“If
there's any songwriters or musicians back home, it's all possible. You just got
to go get it,” Younger said.To hear Heartland visit <a href="https://onerpm.link/934622213335">onerpm.link/934622213335</a>. Younger can also be found on social media, including <a href="https://www.facebook.com/blaineyoungermusic/">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/blaineyoungermusic/">Instagram.</a><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1687548221445.jpeg" alt="Blaine Younger&nbsp; (Courtesy photo)" />
 <figcaption>Blaine Younger&nbsp; (Courtesy photo)</figcaption>
 </figure>

🎙 NWester: Ellis County native brings 'Heartland' sound to Nashville

It was an agenda of routine items for the Hays city commission last week.

Commissioners approved an ordinance and resolution for the sale and delivery of $455,000 in general obligation bonds series 2023-A for&nbsp;creating the King’s Gate 2nd Addition Special Assessment District. 

King’s Gate 2nd Addition is more commonly referred to as Royal Court and is in the northwest corner of the city, directly across the street from the new fire station. 

The project was structured for the city to construct the improvements, and then levy special assessments against the property in the benefit district. The special assessment revenue received by the city would then be used to repay general obligation bonds issued by the city to fund the cost of the projects.

Given the small size and term of 20 years, the&nbsp;issue will be a private placement with several local banks interested.&nbsp;

Final versions of the ordinance and resolution, as well as final payment terms on the bonds, will be made available by Stifel, Nicolaus &amp; Company, the city's financial adviser, and Gilmore Bell, the city's bond counsel, after the sale of the bonds.&nbsp;

Also approved was annual renewal of the city's property and liability insurance coverage with Midwest Public Risk a cost of $349,930. The amount is a 20 percent increase from the last period.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Insurance Planning, Hays, provides oversight for the city as the insurance broker.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Commissioners also voted to purchase a new compost turner and water tank for $78,830 from&nbsp;Midwest Bio-Systems, Inc., Tampico, Ill. The equipment is used for turning grass and other yard waste during the composting process at the city's compost site.

Mayoral appointment recommendations were approved.&nbsp;

Audrey Mercer will serve a three-year term on the&nbsp;Hays Convention and Visitors Bureau&nbsp;Advisory Committee while&nbsp;Gracemary Melvin will serve a four-year term on the Hays Housing Authority Board.&nbsp;

Commissioner Reese Barrick was absent from the meeting.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1687792780497.jpeg" alt="Hays city commissioners listen Thursday to information about a bond issue for King’s Gate 2nd Addition Special Assessment District. Photo by Becky Kiser/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Hays city commissioners listen Thursday to information about a bond issue for King’s Gate 2nd Addition Special Assessment District. Photo by Becky Kiser/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>By BECKY KISER Hays PostIt was an agenda of routine items for the Hays city commission last week.Commissioners approved an ordinance and resolution for the sale and delivery of $455,000 in general obligation bonds series 2023-A for&nbsp;creating the King’s Gate 2nd Addition Special Assessment District. King’s Gate 2nd Addition is more commonly referred to as Royal Court and is in the northwest corner of the city, directly across the street from the new fire station. The project was structured for the city to construct the improvements, and then levy special assessments against the property in the benefit district. The special assessment revenue received by the city would then be used to repay general obligation bonds issued by the city to fund the cost of the projects.Given the small size and term of 20 years, the&nbsp;issue will be a private placement with several local banks interested.&nbsp;Final versions of the ordinance and resolution, as well as final payment terms on the bonds, will be made available by Stifel, Nicolaus &amp; Company, the city's financial adviser, and Gilmore Bell, the city's bond counsel, after the sale of the bonds.&nbsp;Also approved was annual renewal of the city's property and liability insurance coverage with Midwest Public Risk a cost of $349,930. The amount is a 20 percent increase from the last period.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;Insurance Planning, Hays, provides oversight for the city as the insurance broker.&nbsp;&nbsp;Commissioners also voted to purchase a new compost turner and water tank for $78,830 from&nbsp;Midwest Bio-Systems, Inc., Tampico, Ill. The equipment is used for turning grass and other yard waste during the composting process at the city's compost site.Mayoral appointment recommendations were approved.&nbsp; Audrey Mercer will serve a three-year term on the&nbsp;Hays Convention and Visitors Bureau&nbsp;Advisory Committee while&nbsp;Gracemary Melvin will serve a four-year term on the Hays Housing Authority Board.&nbsp;Commissioner Reese Barrick was absent from the meeting.&nbsp;

Commission approves bond issue sale, insurance renewal for city of Hays

Some officials have called Emporia State, reeling from layoffs and program upheaval, a test case for approach

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/rmipro/">RACHEL MIPRO</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — The state Board of Regents unveiled a plan to identify and potentially chop academic programs they deem underperforming at all six of the state’s public universities, in what some warn could be a repeat of the contentious layoffs at Emporia State University.&nbsp;

Starting this summer, Regents staff will make a list of undergraduate academic programs that are more than five years old and fall short of two or more of the board’s chosen metrics for the University of Kansas, Kansas State University, Wichita State University, Emporia State University, Fort Hays State University and Pittsburg State University.&nbsp;

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/6490bbfa-d4d8-4d7b-b490-2ffad4c755ce">RELATED STORY: FHSU provost: No faculty cuts planned in light of college reorganization</a>

Daniel Archer, vice president of student affairs with KBOR, said the focus on undergraduate programs was partly due to declining enrollment in a June 14 presentation.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/4d1305d2-d547-4286-b892-d233575130d9">RELATED STORY: FHSU enrollment down 8%; NCK-Tech enrollment at five-year high</a>

“We’re diving into really a deep dive here into the undergraduate programs here,” Archer said. “Part of that’s because that’s where we lost youth. If you look at our enrollment declines, there’s been a greater impact on the undergraduate population.”

But Michael DeCesare, a senior program officer for American Association of University Professors, said “it would be a travesty” for the process used at Emporia State “to spread across the entire system.”

Program performance standards will include having 25 or more students enrolled in the program, producing more than 10 graduates from the program, having 51 percent or more of graduates working in the region after graduation and student return on investment. That return will be evaluated by having a salary of $38,050 or higher, a number determined by the five-year post graduation median salary for 2022.&nbsp;

In September, the Board of Academic Affairs Standing Committee will review the list of programs before turning the program list over to universities. The schools will have three options: axing the underperforming program, merging the undergraduate program with another program in a cost-effective way or to making an action plan for the program, buying it three years.

By March of 2024, all state universities will give their decisions to the committee, which will make the final call on whether the undergraduate program in question should be phased out, merged or put on an action plan. Over the following years, the universities will give reviews on the program’s progress and effectiveness.&nbsp;

Regents spokesman Matt Keith said the board used input from academic affairs leaders across the state universities in making the revised process.&nbsp;

“The Regents and state university leaders recognized that the process needed strengthening and began a thorough academic portfolio review last year,” Keith said. “Following the completion of that review earlier this year, the Board Academic Affairs Standing Committee worked with the state university provosts to revise the academic program review process and better align it with the Board’s strategic plan.”&nbsp;

Tanya Gonzalez, interim associate provost for institutional effectiveness at Kansas State University, said the review process was aligned well with the university’s pre-existing internal review process.&nbsp;

“Some advantages to KBOR’s updated program review process is that it asks institutions to develop meaningful processes for their internal review; make data-driven decisions; share those processes and outcomes with the Regents; and use program review success stories to external stakeholders,” Gonzalez said.&nbsp;

But others point to Emporia State’s realignment plan as an example of what could happen when the Regents are involved with program decisions.&nbsp;The university fired nearly three dozen faculty members,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/09/13/emporia-state-university-is-about-to-suspend-tenure-heres-why-you-should-care/">including those with tenure</a>, and eliminated English, journalism and other programs in 2022 due to programs not meeting certain metrics.&nbsp;

ESU also recently announced plans to merge several departments and programs, including merging the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences into their new School of Science &amp; Mathematics.&nbsp;

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/3998b4da-514c-41d4-8ae5-33aa6416fe49">Students and faculty raised concerns about consolidation at FHSU within the College of Art, Humanities and Social Sciences in spring 2022. However, that consolidation was completed as scheduled the following fall.</a>

The American Association of University Professors&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/aaup_EmporiaState_Final.pdf">investigation</a>&nbsp;found&nbsp; the actions taken by ESU president Ken Hush with&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/09/14/emporia-state-receives-green-light-to-move-rapidly-with-faculty-program-realignment/">the KBOR support</a>&nbsp;were little more than an attack on academic freedom. The investigation concluded university administrators and Kansas Board of Regents members&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/05/01/emporia-state-university-kansas-board-of-regents-members-unfit-to-lead-investigation-finds/">are “unfit to lead.</a>”

Former ESU English professor Rachelle Smith, who worked at ESU for 28 years before her job was eliminated, said she and her colleagues saw the Regents’ actions at ESU as a test case.&nbsp;

“I’m not surprised that KBOR has come out with this decision,”&nbsp; Smith said. “We wondered and suspected that ESU was just the beginning of what would happen with the other regional schools in the state.”&nbsp;

Smith, who taught courses in indigenous literature and science fiction during her last semester at ESU, believed the firings and department dissolving were the result of political pressures due to a significant faction within the GOP-controlled state Legislature that disapproves of diversity and multicultural teaching.&nbsp;

She said the review process could be a convenient way for institutions to get rid of any curriculum they didn’t want taught.&nbsp;

“The individual institutions themselves can use that as an opportunity to get rid of people that they don’t want and to get rid of programs that they don’t want and to ensure that research goes in directions that they want,” Smith said.&nbsp;

DeCesare, who served as one of the ESU investigators for AAUPP, said it was difficult to trust the Regents’ intentions with other public universities. DeCesare said a board that had already “abused power in the recent past” shouldn’t be judging other academic programs.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“It was the board, as the report says, that initiated the process that assaulted tenure and imperiled academic freedom at ESU,” DeCesare said.

He warned that the bipartisan nine-person board, all of whom were appointed by Gov. Laura Kelly, could be prone to political pressures.&nbsp;

“When educators don’t make decisions anymore about what education looks like, and when those decisions are in the hands of presidents and provosts and governing board members instead, it just kind of begs for to create a system that is ripe for political interference, political pressure, ideological interference, and all kinds of things that have no place in an institution of higher education,” Decesare said.

For Smith, the timing of the review process is suspicious.&nbsp;

“I don’t think it is innocuous,” Smith said. “I think that the current board is working hand in hand with the state Legislature to enact political goals of a conservative nature.”

<h2>Some officials have called Emporia State, reeling from layoffs and program upheaval, a test case for approach</h2><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1687538649089.jpeg" alt="&nbsp;The Kansas Board of Regents unveiled an academic review process in June for all the public universities in the state. Some worry this could lead to situations such as the Emporia State University firings, where tenured staff and long-standing programs were cut abruptly. (Mason Hart for Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;The Kansas Board of Regents unveiled an academic review process in June for all the public universities in the state. Some worry this could lead to situations such as the Emporia State University firings, where tenured staff and long-standing programs were cut abruptly. (Mason Hart for Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/rmipro/">RACHEL MIPRO</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — The state Board of Regents unveiled a plan to identify and potentially chop academic programs they deem underperforming at all six of the state’s public universities, in what some warn could be a repeat of the contentious layoffs at Emporia State University.&nbsp;Starting this summer, Regents staff will make a list of undergraduate academic programs that are more than five years old and fall short of two or more of the board’s chosen metrics for the University of Kansas, Kansas State University, Wichita State University, Emporia State University, Fort Hays State University and Pittsburg State University.&nbsp;<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/6490bbfa-d4d8-4d7b-b490-2ffad4c755ce">RELATED STORY: FHSU provost: No faculty cuts planned in light of college reorganization</a>Daniel Archer, vice president of student affairs with KBOR, said the focus on undergraduate programs was partly due to declining enrollment in a June 14 presentation.<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/4d1305d2-d547-4286-b892-d233575130d9">RELATED STORY: FHSU enrollment down 8%; NCK-Tech enrollment at five-year high</a>“We’re diving into really a deep dive here into the undergraduate programs here,” Archer said. “Part of that’s because that’s where we lost youth. If you look at our enrollment declines, there’s been a greater impact on the undergraduate population.”But Michael DeCesare, a senior program officer for American Association of University Professors, said “it would be a travesty” for the process used at Emporia State “to spread across the entire system.”Program performance standards will include having 25 or more students enrolled in the program, producing more than 10 graduates from the program, having 51 percent or more of graduates working in the region after graduation and student return on investment. That return will be evaluated by having a salary of $38,050 or higher, a number determined by the five-year post graduation median salary for 2022.&nbsp;In September, the Board of Academic Affairs Standing Committee will review the list of programs before turning the program list over to universities. The schools will have three options: axing the underperforming program, merging the undergraduate program with another program in a cost-effective way or to making an action plan for the program, buying it three years.By March of 2024, all state universities will give their decisions to the committee, which will make the final call on whether the undergraduate program in question should be phased out, merged or put on an action plan. Over the following years, the universities will give reviews on the program’s progress and effectiveness.&nbsp;Regents spokesman Matt Keith said the board used input from academic affairs leaders across the state universities in making the revised process.&nbsp;“The Regents and state university leaders recognized that the process needed strengthening and began a thorough academic portfolio review last year,” Keith said. “Following the completion of that review earlier this year, the Board Academic Affairs Standing Committee worked with the state university provosts to revise the academic program review process and better align it with the Board’s strategic plan.”&nbsp;Tanya Gonzalez, interim associate provost for institutional effectiveness at Kansas State University, said the review process was aligned well with the university’s pre-existing internal review process.&nbsp;“Some advantages to KBOR’s updated program review process is that it asks institutions to develop meaningful processes for their internal review; make data-driven decisions; share those processes and outcomes with the Regents; and use program review success stories to external stakeholders,” Gonzalez said.&nbsp;But others point to Emporia State’s realignment plan as an example of what could happen when the Regents are involved with program decisions.&nbsp;The university fired nearly three dozen faculty members,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/09/13/emporia-state-university-is-about-to-suspend-tenure-heres-why-you-should-care/">including those with tenure</a>, and eliminated English, journalism and other programs in 2022 due to programs not meeting certain metrics.&nbsp;ESU also recently announced plans to merge several departments and programs, including merging the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences into their new School of Science &amp; Mathematics.&nbsp;<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/3998b4da-514c-41d4-8ae5-33aa6416fe49">Students and faculty raised concerns about consolidation at FHSU within the College of Art, Humanities and Social Sciences in spring 2022. However, that consolidation was completed as scheduled the following fall.</a>The American Association of University Professors&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/aaup_EmporiaState_Final.pdf">investigation</a>&nbsp;found&nbsp; the actions taken by ESU president Ken Hush with&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/09/14/emporia-state-receives-green-light-to-move-rapidly-with-faculty-program-realignment/">the KBOR support</a>&nbsp;were little more than an attack on academic freedom. The investigation concluded university administrators and Kansas Board of Regents members&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/05/01/emporia-state-university-kansas-board-of-regents-members-unfit-to-lead-investigation-finds/">are “unfit to lead.</a>”Former ESU English professor Rachelle Smith, who worked at ESU for 28 years before her job was eliminated, said she and her colleagues saw the Regents’ actions at ESU as a test case.&nbsp;“I’m not surprised that KBOR has come out with this decision,”&nbsp; Smith said. “We wondered and suspected that ESU was just the beginning of what would happen with the other regional schools in the state.”&nbsp;Smith, who taught courses in indigenous literature and science fiction during her last semester at ESU, believed the firings and department dissolving were the result of political pressures due to a significant faction within the GOP-controlled state Legislature that disapproves of diversity and multicultural teaching.&nbsp;She said the review process could be a convenient way for institutions to get rid of any curriculum they didn’t want taught.&nbsp;“The individual institutions themselves can use that as an opportunity to get rid of people that they don’t want and to get rid of programs that they don’t want and to ensure that research goes in directions that they want,” Smith said.&nbsp;DeCesare, who served as one of the ESU investigators for AAUPP, said it was difficult to trust the Regents’ intentions with other public universities. DeCesare said a board that had already “abused power in the recent past” shouldn’t be judging other academic programs.&nbsp;&nbsp;“It was the board, as the report says, that initiated the process that assaulted tenure and imperiled academic freedom at ESU,” DeCesare said.He warned that the bipartisan nine-person board, all of whom were appointed by Gov. Laura Kelly, could be prone to political pressures.&nbsp;“When educators don’t make decisions anymore about what education looks like, and when those decisions are in the hands of presidents and provosts and governing board members instead, it just kind of begs for to create a system that is ripe for political interference, political pressure, ideological interference, and all kinds of things that have no place in an institution of higher education,” Decesare said.For Smith, the timing of the review process is suspicious.&nbsp;“I don’t think it is innocuous,” Smith said. “I think that the current board is working hand in hand with the state Legislature to enact political goals of a conservative nature.”

‘I don’t think it’s innocuous’: Kansas Board of Regents’ process scrutinizes academic programs

Visitors to Sternberg Museum in Hays may have noticed several large, bright yellow structures at the entrance of the nature trail located just west of the main facility, 3000 Sternberg Drive.

“The Bee Project” is currently on exhibit and it features bees made from found and recycled objects. Presented by artist Elena Smyrniotis, “The Bee Project” focuses on the importance of pollinators and challenges visitors to participate in the exhibit by making their own bees from found and recycled objects.

The number of bees on the structures will soon multiply as the museum plans a July 1 workshop at which participants will create their own bee sculptures from recycled and found materials, mostly plastic and metals. The structures will remain in place until August.

The free workshop, which is designed to be a family activity for both parents and kids, is scheduled from 10 a.m.-noon. The program will be led by Sternberg education and outreach director Ian Trevethan.

Visitors are encouraged to bring their own recycled and found materials, and the museum will have some materials on hand as well. Materials can include aluminum cans, plastic containers, discarded toys, flyswatters, etc.

“Basically anything that can be used for a bee’s body and wings,” Trevethan said.

At the conclusion of the activity, participants will write their names on their bees and return to the exhibit to attach them to the structures.

“It’s a very thoughtful exhibit in which people take discarded and found objects and create something from those objects,” Trevethan said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1687447895051.jpeg" alt="'The Bee Project' at the Sternberg Museum of Natural History's nature trail. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>'The Bee Project' at the Sternberg Museum of Natural History's nature trail. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>SubmittedVisitors to Sternberg Museum in Hays may have noticed several large, bright yellow structures at the entrance of the nature trail located just west of the main facility, 3000 Sternberg Drive.“The Bee Project” is currently on exhibit and it features bees made from found and recycled objects. Presented by artist Elena Smyrniotis, “The Bee Project” focuses on the importance of pollinators and challenges visitors to participate in the exhibit by making their own bees from found and recycled objects.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1687447872461.jpeg" alt="Artist Elena Smyrniotis installs more bees for her project. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Artist Elena Smyrniotis installs more bees for her project. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>The number of bees on the structures will soon multiply as the museum plans a July 1 workshop at which participants will create their own bee sculptures from recycled and found materials, mostly plastic and metals. The structures will remain in place until August.The free workshop, which is designed to be a family activity for both parents and kids, is scheduled from 10 a.m.-noon. The program will be led by Sternberg education and outreach director Ian Trevethan.Visitors are encouraged to bring their own recycled and found materials, and the museum will have some materials on hand as well. Materials can include aluminum cans, plastic containers, discarded toys, flyswatters, etc.“Basically anything that can be used for a bee’s body and wings,” Trevethan said.At the conclusion of the activity, participants will write their names on their bees and return to the exhibit to attach them to the structures.“It’s a very thoughtful exhibit in which people take discarded and found objects and create something from those objects,” Trevethan said.

Sternberg Museum plans bee-making workshop for July 1

The Schmidt Foundation has awarded $75,000 in grant funding to High Plains Mental Health Center for the purpose of expanding behavioral health workforce throughout northwest Kansas. 

The two-year funding will provide generous scholarships for six staff members beginning master’s level curriculum at Fort Hays State University. They will provide outpatient therapy services at High Plains following graduation.

Nationwide, a chronic shortage of behavioral health professionals has made it difficult for agencies to keep pace with increasing needs for mental health and substance use disorder services. The challenges are often exacerbated in rural areas, but High Plains has had previous success with efforts to “grow our own” workforce, said Walt Hill, executive director.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1687533934287.jpeg" alt="Kaley Conner and Walt Hill, High Plains Mental Health Center, Hays, accept a $75,000 grant from the Schmidt Foundation represented by Gary Shorman (center) for expansion of the behavioral health workforce in northwest Kansas. Courtesy photo.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Kaley Conner and Walt Hill, High Plains Mental Health Center, Hays, accept a $75,000 grant from the Schmidt Foundation represented by Gary Shorman (center) for expansion of the behavioral health workforce in northwest Kansas. Courtesy photo.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>HPMCHThe Schmidt Foundation has awarded $75,000 in grant funding to High Plains Mental Health Center for the purpose of expanding behavioral health workforce throughout northwest Kansas. The two-year funding will provide generous scholarships for six staff members beginning master’s level curriculum at Fort Hays State University. They will provide outpatient therapy services at High Plains following graduation.Nationwide, a chronic shortage of behavioral health professionals has made it difficult for agencies to keep pace with increasing needs for mental health and substance use disorder services. The challenges are often exacerbated in rural areas, but High Plains has had previous success with efforts to “grow our own” workforce, said Walt Hill, executive director.“We are incredibly grateful for the Schmidt Foundation’s generous and long-standing support of community mental health services,” Hill said. “This program will invest in six bright, young professionals who will further their education, advance their careers, and then put their skills to good use serving the people of Northwest Kansas.”All six staff members are currently employed as recovery specialists and will continue employment at High Plains while they complete the two-year advanced curriculum at FHSU. Four of the six students will be entering the master’s of social work program, while the other two plan to complete their master of science degree in clinical mental health counseling. Five of the staff are currently based in Hays, while one will be based in the Colby Branch Office. The scholarship funding is contingent on their attendance at Fort Hays State University, in support of the region’s only four-year university.When the two-year grant program concludes, High Plains will add six in-person outpatient therapists to staff, significantly increasing capacity for mental health services in northwest Kansas. Nationally, early evidence suggests more adults and more youth are seeking treatment for behavioral health concerns following the Covid-19 pandemic. As stigma lessens around mental illness, that also is a likely reason why more people are seeking help -- and that is a welcome change, Hill said.“Mental illness is real, diagnosable and treatable illness. It’s common. High Plains Mental Health Center served a record number of individuals in 2022 and is on track to have another very busy year in 2023,” Hill said. “Expanding workforce is necessary to keep pace with increasing demand and to continue our efforts to grow in becoming a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic, one of the first in the state of Kansas.

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