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Turn-Key Properties Rent-Free Sweepstakes

<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/2023/2/1675440954989.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

Have you ever wondered what it was like to have a vision impairment, hearing impairment or not be able to smell or feel something? These are things that happen naturally as we age, yet few of us think about this until we are older. What if you could temporarily experience this to help understand what it is like to be an older person. We have a K-State program that can help us do just that. Gray for a Day is a simulation experience that utilizes an empathic approach to educate individuals on the age-related sensory and functional challenges that some older adults might face.

Recently, I had the opportunity to shadow Donna Krug, District 
Director and Family Consumer Science Agent, while she conducted the 
simulation with a high school class in Great Bend. The class was very 
engaged, asked questions, and were good sports while using the props to 
see what it “feels like” as we age. There are several objectives we hope
 to accomplish by presenting this program. The first is to understand 
how the senses and functional abilities can decline with age. We also 
hope to personally experience age-related sensory and functional decline
 with the simulations. By understanding the influence of sensory and 
functional decline on daily life, the hope is to encourage one to 
develop the skills necessary to effectively interact with someone who 
may be experiencing age-related sensory and functional declines. 
Finally, we hope to impart understanding that by taking steps to improve
 or maintain your health now that this will contribute to sensory and 
functional well-being in the future.

These activities work great 
with people of all ages. It can spark great conversations between old 
and young people alike. Please call or email if you are interested in 
Gray for A Day presentation for your class or organization.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668522152076.jpeg" alt="Monique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District." />
 <figcaption>Monique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District.</figcaption>
 </figure>Have you ever wondered what it was like to have a vision impairment, hearing impairment or not be able to smell or feel something? These are things that happen naturally as we age, yet few of us think about this until we are older. What if you could temporarily experience this to help understand what it is like to be an older person. We have a K-State program that can help us do just that. Gray for a Day is a simulation experience that utilizes an empathic approach to educate individuals on the age-related sensory and functional challenges that some older adults might face.Recently, I had the opportunity to shadow Donna Krug, District 
Director and Family Consumer Science Agent, while she conducted the 
simulation with a high school class in Great Bend. The class was very 
engaged, asked questions, and were good sports while using the props to 
see what it “feels like” as we age. There are several objectives we hope
 to accomplish by presenting this program. The first is to understand 
how the senses and functional abilities can decline with age. We also 
hope to personally experience age-related sensory and functional decline
 with the simulations. By understanding the influence of sensory and 
functional decline on daily life, the hope is to encourage one to 
develop the skills necessary to effectively interact with someone who 
may be experiencing age-related sensory and functional declines. 
Finally, we hope to impart understanding that by taking steps to improve
 or maintain your health now that this will contribute to sensory and 
functional well-being in the future.These activities work great 
with people of all ages. It can spark great conversations between old 
and young people alike. Please call or email if you are interested in 
Gray for A Day presentation for your class or organization.Monique
 Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State 
Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at: 
785-628-9430 or moniquek@ksu.edu.&nbsp;

KOERNER: What does it feel like to age?

Northwest Kansas Area Agency on Aging

Kansans at least 55 years old, who are looking for employment, qualify to participate in the
Older Kansans Employment Program, provided through the Northwest Kansas Area
Agency on Aging. This program is funded by the Kansas Legislature through the
Kansas Department of Commerce.

Older adults who have been out of the workforce for a while and need assistance updating a
resume, managing online applications, and improving their interview skills are perfect for the
OKEP program.


OKEP is designed to provide skills assessments, resume preparation, counseling, basic
computer and online application training, referrals, and job development and mentoring
services. Job Seekers will attend an initial appointment with an Employment Specialist in a
one-on-one setting. An assessment of needs and skills will be completed. After that the job
seeking process begins, from an updated resume to a successful interview, and finally, the
achievement of landing a job.


For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact NWKAAA at (800) 432-7422 or
(785) 628-8204.


Northwest Kansas Area Agency on AgingKansans at least 55 years old, who are looking for employment, qualify to participate in the
Older Kansans Employment Program, provided through the Northwest Kansas Area
Agency on Aging. This program is funded by the Kansas Legislature through the
Kansas Department of Commerce.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675292407194.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Older adults who have been out of the workforce for a while and need assistance updating a
resume, managing online applications, and improving their interview skills are perfect for the
OKEP program.
OKEP is designed to provide skills assessments, resume preparation, counseling, basic
computer and online application training, referrals, and job development and mentoring
services. Job Seekers will attend an initial appointment with an Employment Specialist in a
one-on-one setting. An assessment of needs and skills will be completed. After that the job
seeking process begins, from an updated resume to a successful interview, and finally, the
achievement of landing a job.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact NWKAAA at (800) 432-7422 or
(785) 628-8204.

Program offers assistance to older Kansans looking for work

On this episode of the Post Podcast Grow Hays executive director Doug Williams shares information about grant funding.

<div><iframe title="Grow Hays director discusses grant funding" 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=hx824-137f438-pb&from=pb6admin&square=1&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=auto&logo_link=podcast_page&btn-skin=3267a3&size=450" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>On this episode of the Post Podcast Grow Hays executive director Doug Williams shares information about grant funding.

🎙 Post Podcast: Grow Hays director discusses grant funding

During their annual meeting
Monday, the Ellis County Historical Society’s board of directors and trustees
heard an update from executive director Amanda Rupp.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/9db863ca-00f4-4ff7-8415-b86fbecf070e?fbclid=IwAR1oWo8muLdncz0GcxZOHBefjkBzpQrp-HkjxfzByNe43NEPGBEI7ghbdxU">After officaly taking the reigns of the
society last summer, </a>Rupp said the staff and volunteers had made significant
strides in an ongoing effort to reorganize the society’s collection and
increase community involvement.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/b9828fea-e8ae-4cb0-8cdf-fe1760f225e0">And with the accomplishments of
the last year setting an overall positive tone for the future of the society</a>,
she provided some exciting initiatives the society has planned for 2023 as they
settle back into their recently renovated office space on the lower floor of
the former Presbyterian Church on their campus at Seventh and Main that serves
as the society’s main facility.

“It was
nice to be back home,” Rupp said. “It's nice to have (Curator Adam Conkey) and
I working on the same premises.”

C<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/4b82c3c2-8654-43f3-b842-f85a8deace1b">reating an updated office space is just the first step in restoring the entire
facility to fill its mission.</a>

“At that
meeting, we got to unveil our plans for the phase two of that project that was
just to get us back home to kind of make a suitable space for people to visit,”
Rupp said.

She said
phase two is more significant in scope and will solidify the entire building to
allow continuing efforts to open the museum to the public.

“These
are not the flashy and inspiring things that people want to jump on board and
support,” Rupp said. “But these are the things that need support, and it's
probably – out of the three phases that we have going – to be the biggest
ticket part of the project.”

In phase
two, she said they would add an ADA-accessible ramp to the church's south side,
allowing access to the archives and office spaces. They also will turn a storage space near the office into a curator lab that will enable the society to
process artifacts. A new ADA-compliant bathroom also is scheduled to be created
from two smaller existing bathrooms.

The
effort also will work to restore the exterior of the church building and
replace the building’s HVAC system.

“It will
take care of the humidity problem and any issues that we have there with
artifacts,” Rupp said.

The HVAC
system replacement can be split as the current system is comprised of four units
but will cost over $600,000. She projects with the mason work, phase two
will top $850,000.

In an
effort to show their own support for the project, Rupp said the board,
reflecting the desire of the community to save the building, has already donated
over $30,000 to the effort.

“They
all decided that they're going to be all behind it, 100 percent,” she said. 

A ramp
purchase with funds from the Heartland Community Foundation that adds accessibility
to the adjacent stone church, Rupp said, also is scheduled to be installed
soon.

With the
plan outlined, she said details can be finalized while fundraising is ongoing.

“We are
in the planning stages, but we have our preliminary drawing set for the
construction part,” Rupp said. “We have the contractors ready to go for the
outside stonework. So that's all in place, just waiting our turn in the
rotation when they come back there.”

As
efforts continue on the main campus, Rupp also said work is ongoing to give the
society storage space and a satellite campus in Victoria in the former rest
home, now known as St. John’s Place.

“We are
still working on that,” Rupp said. “When it goes silent, a little bit people
assume or get a little nervous, but we are still working on that with the (Victoria
Community Coalition.) So hopefully, we will have that ready to go, and we can
then move some of our artifacts because part of that building will be storage.”

At the meeting, she announced a
gift to the society had been made that would help that project move forward.

Philanthropist
Don Bickle gave $50,000 to the society for the project, Rupp said.

“I had
been visiting with him about how the museum started and their mission back then,”
she said.“After many years of doing other things, we have earned his
support once again.”

Once the
storage space there has been secured, she said opening a gallery space would
fall into place quickly.

“I would
say within a year, we could get in there and open it,” Rupp said. 

<div><iframe title="Remodel, expansion plans discussed during Ellis County Historical Society annual meeting" allowtransparency="true" height="300" 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=c5ym8-137f4f0-pb&from=pb6admin&square=1&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=auto&logo_link=podcast_page&btn-skin=3267a3&size=300" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675445922079.jpeg" alt="Ellis County Historical Society executive director Amanda Rupp discusses future plans for the society and museum during their annual meeting." />
 <figcaption>Ellis County Historical Society executive director Amanda Rupp discusses future plans for the society and museum during their annual meeting.</figcaption>
 </figure>By James Bell Hays PostDuring their annual meeting
Monday, the Ellis County Historical Society’s board of directors and trustees
heard an update from executive director Amanda Rupp.<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/9db863ca-00f4-4ff7-8415-b86fbecf070e?fbclid=IwAR1oWo8muLdncz0GcxZOHBefjkBzpQrp-HkjxfzByNe43NEPGBEI7ghbdxU">After officaly taking the reigns of the
society last summer, </a>Rupp said the staff and volunteers had made significant
strides in an ongoing effort to reorganize the society’s collection and
increase community involvement.<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/b9828fea-e8ae-4cb0-8cdf-fe1760f225e0">And with the accomplishments of
the last year setting an overall positive tone for the future of the society</a>,
she provided some exciting initiatives the society has planned for 2023 as they
settle back into their recently renovated office space on the lower floor of
the former Presbyterian Church on their campus at Seventh and Main that serves
as the society’s main facility.“It was
nice to be back home,” Rupp said. “It's nice to have (Curator Adam Conkey) and
I working on the same premises.”C<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/4b82c3c2-8654-43f3-b842-f85a8deace1b">reating an updated office space is just the first step in restoring the entire
facility to fill its mission.</a>“At that
meeting, we got to unveil our plans for the phase two of that project that was
just to get us back home to kind of make a suitable space for people to visit,”
Rupp said.She said
phase two is more significant in scope and will solidify the entire building to
allow continuing efforts to open the museum to the public.“These
are not the flashy and inspiring things that people want to jump on board and
support,” Rupp said. “But these are the things that need support, and it's
probably – out of the three phases that we have going – to be the biggest
ticket part of the project.”In phase
two, she said they would add an ADA-accessible ramp to the church's south side,
allowing access to the archives and office spaces. They also will turn a storage space near the office into a curator lab that will enable the society to
process artifacts. A new ADA-compliant bathroom also is scheduled to be created
from two smaller existing bathrooms.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675445895494.jpeg" alt="Ellis County Historical Society leadership listens to executive director Amanda Rupp share an update on the previous year." />
 <figcaption>Ellis County Historical Society leadership listens to executive director Amanda Rupp share an update on the previous year.</figcaption>
 </figure>The
effort also will work to restore the exterior of the church building and
replace the building’s HVAC system.“It will
take care of the humidity problem and any issues that we have there with
artifacts,” Rupp said.The HVAC
system replacement can be split as the current system is comprised of four units
but will cost over $600,000. She projects with the mason work, phase two
will top $850,000.In an
effort to show their own support for the project, Rupp said the board,
reflecting the desire of the community to save the building, has already donated
over $30,000 to the effort.“They
all decided that they're going to be all behind it, 100 percent,” she said. A ramp
purchase with funds from the Heartland Community Foundation that adds accessibility
to the adjacent stone church, Rupp said, also is scheduled to be installed
soon.With the
plan outlined, she said details can be finalized while fundraising is ongoing.“We are
in the planning stages, but we have our preliminary drawing set for the
construction part,” Rupp said. “We have the contractors ready to go for the
outside stonework. So that's all in place, just waiting our turn in the
rotation when they come back there.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675445911503.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><h2>The
satellite</h2>As
efforts continue on the main campus, Rupp also said work is ongoing to give the
society storage space and a satellite campus in Victoria in the former rest
home, now known as St. John’s Place.“We are
still working on that,” Rupp said. “When it goes silent, a little bit people
assume or get a little nervous, but we are still working on that with the (Victoria
Community Coalition.) So hopefully, we will have that ready to go, and we can
then move some of our artifacts because part of that building will be storage.”At the meeting, she announced a
gift to the society had been made that would help that project move forward.Philanthropist
Don Bickle gave $50,000 to the society for the project, Rupp said.“I had
been visiting with him about how the museum started and their mission back then,”
she said.“After many years of doing other things, we have earned his
support once again.”Once the
storage space there has been secured, she said opening a gallery space would
fall into place quickly.“I would
say within a year, we could get in there and open it,” Rupp said.

🎙 Remodel, expansion plans discussed during Ellis County Historical Society annual meeting

COLBY — Colby Community College announced the names of students who earned degrees and certificates during the 2022 fall semester. Names are published by home location as indicated by the student.

Kansas residents are arranged by city, out-of-state residents are listed by city and state, and international students by country. By request, some names are not disclosed.

Beatrice, Neb.:&nbsp;Cheyenne Jurgena.&nbsp;Elgin, S.C.:&nbsp;Sierra Parmentier.&nbsp;Hutchinson:&nbsp;Alison Pierce.&nbsp;Lecompton:&nbsp;Brandon Corbin.Springdale, Ark.:&nbsp;Kimberleigh Morris.&nbsp;Topeka:&nbsp;Mayree Gracia, Alexandra Hamm.&nbsp;WaKeeney:&nbsp;Bryant Davis, Garrett Kuhn.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Bahamas:&nbsp;Kunal Bain.&nbsp;Colby:&nbsp;Daphne Baney, Hannah Infante, Geovanni Rios-Menjivar.&nbsp;Oakley:&nbsp;Melanie Engel, Jenson Schoenfeld.&nbsp;Sharon Springs:&nbsp;Kylie Ryser.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Bahamas:&nbsp;Kunal Bain.&nbsp;Colby:&nbsp;Geovanni Rios-Menjivar.&nbsp;France:&nbsp;Remi Chavenaud.&nbsp;Goodland:&nbsp;Ceara Kamla.&nbsp;Ingalls:&nbsp;Regan Ast.Joplin, Mo.:&nbsp;Michaela Jewsbury.&nbsp;Kit Carson, Colo.:&nbsp;Jordyn Weeks.&nbsp;McCook, Neb.:&nbsp;Kayla Borland.&nbsp;Oakley:&nbsp;Jenson Schoenfeld, John Stoecker.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Certificates&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Atwood:&nbsp;April Chessmore.&nbsp;Bendena:&nbsp;Emma Albers.&nbsp;Clay Center:&nbsp;Kirstyn Rohe.&nbsp;Elgin, S.C.:&nbsp;Sierra Parmentier.&nbsp;Hutchinson:Alison Pierce.&nbsp;Lecompton:&nbsp;Brandon Corbin.&nbsp;Lincoln, Neb.:&nbsp;Faith Mulholland, Clara Speer.&nbsp;Madison:&nbsp;Camille Steffes.&nbsp;Manhattan:Randi Smith.&nbsp;Middletown, Del.:&nbsp;Eden Glover.&nbsp;Paxico:&nbsp;Shelby Spradling.&nbsp;Sharon Springs:&nbsp;Kylie Ryser.&nbsp;Springdale, Ark.:Kimberleigh Morris.&nbsp;Topeka:&nbsp;Mayree Gracia, Alexandra Hamm.&nbsp;WaKeeney:&nbsp;Garrett Kuhn.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1611227923055.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Colby CCCOLBY — Colby Community College announced the names of students who earned degrees and certificates during the 2022 fall semester. Names are published by home location as indicated by the student.Kansas residents are arranged by city, out-of-state residents are listed by city and state, and international students by country. By request, some names are not disclosed.Associate of Applied ScienceBeatrice, Neb.:&nbsp;Cheyenne Jurgena.&nbsp;Elgin, S.C.:&nbsp;Sierra Parmentier.&nbsp;Hutchinson:&nbsp;Alison Pierce.&nbsp;Lecompton:&nbsp;Brandon Corbin.Springdale, Ark.:&nbsp;Kimberleigh Morris.&nbsp;Topeka:&nbsp;Mayree Gracia, Alexandra Hamm.&nbsp;WaKeeney:&nbsp;Bryant Davis, Garrett Kuhn.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Associate of ArtsBahamas:&nbsp;Kunal Bain.&nbsp;Colby:&nbsp;Daphne Baney, Hannah Infante, Geovanni Rios-Menjivar.&nbsp;Oakley:&nbsp;Melanie Engel, Jenson Schoenfeld.&nbsp;Sharon Springs:&nbsp;Kylie Ryser.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Associate of ScienceBahamas:&nbsp;Kunal Bain.&nbsp;Colby:&nbsp;Geovanni Rios-Menjivar.&nbsp;France:&nbsp;Remi Chavenaud.&nbsp;Goodland:&nbsp;Ceara Kamla.&nbsp;Ingalls:&nbsp;Regan Ast.Joplin, Mo.:&nbsp;Michaela Jewsbury.&nbsp;Kit Carson, Colo.:&nbsp;Jordyn Weeks.&nbsp;McCook, Neb.:&nbsp;Kayla Borland.&nbsp;Oakley:&nbsp;Jenson Schoenfeld, John Stoecker.&nbsp;&nbsp;Certificates&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Atwood:&nbsp;April Chessmore.&nbsp;Bendena:&nbsp;Emma Albers.&nbsp;Clay Center:&nbsp;Kirstyn Rohe.&nbsp;Elgin, S.C.:&nbsp;Sierra Parmentier.&nbsp;Hutchinson:Alison Pierce.&nbsp;Lecompton:&nbsp;Brandon Corbin.&nbsp;Lincoln, Neb.:&nbsp;Faith Mulholland, Clara Speer.&nbsp;Madison:&nbsp;Camille Steffes.&nbsp;Manhattan:Randi Smith.&nbsp;Middletown, Del.:&nbsp;Eden Glover.&nbsp;Paxico:&nbsp;Shelby Spradling.&nbsp;Sharon Springs:&nbsp;Kylie Ryser.&nbsp;Springdale, Ark.:Kimberleigh Morris.&nbsp;Topeka:&nbsp;Mayree Gracia, Alexandra Hamm.&nbsp;WaKeeney:&nbsp;Garrett Kuhn.

Colby Community College announces fall graduates

THOMAS COUNTY—Two people died in an accident just before 7p.m. Saturday in Thomas County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a&nbsp; 2014 Ram 1500 driven by Jerry G. Dewitt, 75, Prairie View, was eastbound on U.S. 83 at County Road 35.

The vehicle traveled left of center and collided with a westbound 2005 E350 driven by Casey A.&nbsp;Quagliano, 25, Colby.

Dewitt and Quagliano were pronounced dead from their injuries. EMS transported a passenger in the&nbsp; Ford identified as 24-year-old Sabryn R.&nbsp; Quagliano of Colby to Citizen's Medical Center for treatment of serious injuries. She was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP crash log.

THOMAS COUNTY—Two people died in an accident just before 7p.m. Saturday in Thomas County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a&nbsp; 2014 Ram 1500 driven by Jerry G. Dewitt, 75, Prairie View, was eastbound on U.S. 83 at County Road 35.The vehicle traveled left of center and collided with a westbound 2005 E350 driven by Casey A.&nbsp;Quagliano, 25, Colby.Dewitt and Quagliano were pronounced dead from their injuries. EMS transported a passenger in the&nbsp; Ford identified as 24-year-old Sabryn R.&nbsp; Quagliano of Colby to Citizen's Medical Center for treatment of serious injuries. She was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP crash log.

2 Kansas men dead, woman injured after pickup, van crash

Dr. Heather&nbsp;Robben, optometrist, has been practicing with Dr. Dan Schmidt since she graduated from optometry school in 2006.

Her first day of seeing patients in Hays was over 16 years ago.

During this time, she was also seeing patients in WaKeeney.

In November 2009, she purchased that practice from Dr. William Benkelman. In addition, she spent six years of patient care in Great Bend one day a week.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

In 2010, Robben married John Benkelman and they recently started their family. Since becoming a mother, Robben has decided she will only be seeing patients in WaKeeney. &nbsp;

The practice is planning for a new optometrist, Braiden Werth, to join the Hays and WaKeeney locations next year.&nbsp;

Robben said she looks forward to continuing care with her longtime patients and accepting new ones. &nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675441223869.jpeg" alt="Dr. Heather Robben with her husband, John Benkelman, and their newborn. Submitted" />
 <figcaption>Dr. Heather Robben with her husband, John Benkelman, and their newborn. Submitted</figcaption>
 </figure>SubmittedDr. Heather&nbsp;Robben, optometrist, has been practicing with Dr. Dan Schmidt since she graduated from optometry school in 2006.Her first day of seeing patients in Hays was over 16 years ago.During this time, she was also seeing patients in WaKeeney.In November 2009, she purchased that practice from Dr. William Benkelman. In addition, she spent six years of patient care in Great Bend one day a week.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In 2010, Robben married John Benkelman and they recently started their family. Since becoming a mother, Robben has decided she will only be seeing patients in WaKeeney. &nbsp;The practice is planning for a new optometrist, Braiden Werth, to join the Hays and WaKeeney locations next year.&nbsp;Robben said she looks forward to continuing care with her longtime patients and accepting new ones. &nbsp;

Optometrist Heather Robben now only seeing patients in WaKeeney 

In Native American tradition, January moons can have&nbsp;many names, including the cold moon, the moon of strong cold, the moon when limbs are broken by snow, and the frozen ground moon. Because of&nbsp;activities&nbsp;outside my&nbsp;country home&nbsp;bedroom window&nbsp;decades&nbsp;ago, I think of it as the moon when great horned owls whisper of love.​

Twenty years&nbsp;ago, I first heard a nightly serenade provided by a pair of amorous great horned owls. As I&nbsp;tried to fall asleep&nbsp;in our dark bedroom, I heard&nbsp;the male’s deeper hootsfollowed by&nbsp;the female’s slightly higher pitched responses as they courted&nbsp;in cottonwoods lining nearby&nbsp;Big Creek.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Listening as&nbsp;their romance developed&nbsp;night after night, I&nbsp;snuggled safely in the darkness of my room,&nbsp;hearing&nbsp;two&nbsp;owls&nbsp;whispering sweet nothings.&nbsp;I imagined them bowing and preening between&nbsp;their&nbsp;shushed&nbsp;sweet talk. I&nbsp;struggled&nbsp;to imagine birds better known for roles in horror movies and as harbingers of death as tender love birds, but based on this pair’s&nbsp;nocturnal&nbsp;conversations, these&nbsp;shared&nbsp;an affectionate&nbsp;nature. &nbsp;Their&nbsp;vocalizations&nbsp;continued&nbsp;well into February.&nbsp;Then evenings&nbsp;returned to normal quiet hours.&nbsp;

After several uneventful weeks, the&nbsp;courting&nbsp;dialogue assumed a&nbsp;distinctly&nbsp;family-oriented tone.&nbsp;Obviously, they nested nearby.&nbsp;I heard the female soothing fuzzy owlets with gentle noises&nbsp;similar to&nbsp;a lullaby. Her utterings put me as well as her offspring to sleep.&nbsp;If I managed to stay awake listening to her and the babes, their&nbsp;muffled&nbsp;but&nbsp;raucous&nbsp;noises finally shushed&nbsp;to&nbsp;late-winter&nbsp;silence&nbsp;sometime after midnight.

On occasion, Mama Owl’s&nbsp;youngsters&nbsp;fussed as much as mine had, and I heard them squabbling&nbsp;(the nest gets crowded as they grow). In short time,&nbsp;mama’s gentle gurglings calmed them. &nbsp;

Sometimes,&nbsp;I awakened in&nbsp;alarm when the&nbsp;lady of the house&nbsp;captured&nbsp;dinner right outsidethe&nbsp;window. After listening to more than&nbsp;one last will and testament of a&nbsp;rabbit&nbsp;the&nbsp;owl&nbsp;parents caught to feed their young, my stomach turned&nbsp;at the thought of meat so rare. The high-pitchedscreeches&nbsp;shot&nbsp;me&nbsp;straight&nbsp;out of&nbsp;deep sleep, alert to every&nbsp;outside&nbsp;sound.&nbsp;After the final&nbsp;death cry, I’d&nbsp;soon&nbsp;hear the excited&nbsp;uproar of young birds&nbsp;jostling to&nbsp;gobble&nbsp;dinner&nbsp;momma deliveredfresh off the prairie.

After&nbsp;decades, I&nbsp;value&nbsp;those&nbsp;moments&nbsp;because&nbsp;they didn’t occur year-round or&nbsp;even&nbsp;every year. That&nbsp;short-lived&nbsp;courtship&nbsp;required&nbsp;close attention&nbsp;on my part&nbsp;to&nbsp;hear&nbsp;those sweet nothings before they&nbsp;turned to&nbsp;memory.&nbsp;Ditto for listening to&nbsp;the rearing of the young. In less than&nbsp;a dozen short weeks, that new generation of hunters&nbsp;fledged,&nbsp;and their mutterings and rustlings&nbsp;vanished.

Because&nbsp;I&nbsp;eavesdropped&nbsp;long ago&nbsp;on&nbsp;a&nbsp;great horned owl courtship&nbsp;and&nbsp;nesting, I listen&nbsp;to late night noises&nbsp;each January&nbsp;and February,&nbsp;hoping&nbsp;that once again, wooing&nbsp;owls&nbsp;might&nbsp;make me privy to their love songs.&nbsp;I&nbsp;pray&nbsp;the 20x great-grands of the&nbsp;owl&nbsp;pair I&nbsp;once&nbsp;heard start&nbsp;theirfamily still raise young on the banks of Big Creek.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675357703712.jpeg" alt="Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By KAREN MADORINIn Native American tradition, January moons can have&nbsp;many names, including the cold moon, the moon of strong cold, the moon when limbs are broken by snow, and the frozen ground moon. Because of&nbsp;activities&nbsp;outside my&nbsp;country home&nbsp;bedroom window&nbsp;decades&nbsp;ago, I think of it as the moon when great horned owls whisper of love.​Twenty years&nbsp;ago, I first heard a nightly serenade provided by a pair of amorous great horned owls. As I&nbsp;tried to fall asleep&nbsp;in our dark bedroom, I heard&nbsp;the male’s deeper hootsfollowed by&nbsp;the female’s slightly higher pitched responses as they courted&nbsp;in cottonwoods lining nearby&nbsp;Big Creek.&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658158605319.jpeg" alt="Karen Madorin" />
 <figcaption>Karen Madorin</figcaption>
 </figure>Listening as&nbsp;their romance developed&nbsp;night after night, I&nbsp;snuggled safely in the darkness of my room,&nbsp;hearing&nbsp;two&nbsp;owls&nbsp;whispering sweet nothings.&nbsp;I imagined them bowing and preening between&nbsp;their&nbsp;shushed&nbsp;sweet talk. I&nbsp;struggled&nbsp;to imagine birds better known for roles in horror movies and as harbingers of death as tender love birds, but based on this pair’s&nbsp;nocturnal&nbsp;conversations, these&nbsp;shared&nbsp;an affectionate&nbsp;nature. &nbsp;Their&nbsp;vocalizations&nbsp;continued&nbsp;well into February.&nbsp;Then evenings&nbsp;returned to normal quiet hours.&nbsp;After several uneventful weeks, the&nbsp;courting&nbsp;dialogue assumed a&nbsp;distinctly&nbsp;family-oriented tone.&nbsp;Obviously, they nested nearby.&nbsp;I heard the female soothing fuzzy owlets with gentle noises&nbsp;similar to&nbsp;a lullaby. Her utterings put me as well as her offspring to sleep.&nbsp;If I managed to stay awake listening to her and the babes, their&nbsp;muffled&nbsp;but&nbsp;raucous&nbsp;noises finally shushed&nbsp;to&nbsp;late-winter&nbsp;silence&nbsp;sometime after midnight.On occasion, Mama Owl’s&nbsp;youngsters&nbsp;fussed as much as mine had, and I heard them squabbling&nbsp;(the nest gets crowded as they grow). In short time,&nbsp;mama’s gentle gurglings calmed them. &nbsp;Sometimes,&nbsp;I awakened in&nbsp;alarm when the&nbsp;lady of the house&nbsp;captured&nbsp;dinner right outsidethe&nbsp;window. After listening to more than&nbsp;one last will and testament of a&nbsp;rabbit&nbsp;the&nbsp;owl&nbsp;parents caught to feed their young, my stomach turned&nbsp;at the thought of meat so rare. The high-pitchedscreeches&nbsp;shot&nbsp;me&nbsp;straight&nbsp;out of&nbsp;deep sleep, alert to every&nbsp;outside&nbsp;sound.&nbsp;After the final&nbsp;death cry, I’d&nbsp;soon&nbsp;hear the excited&nbsp;uproar of young birds&nbsp;jostling to&nbsp;gobble&nbsp;dinner&nbsp;momma deliveredfresh off the prairie.After&nbsp;decades, I&nbsp;value&nbsp;those&nbsp;moments&nbsp;because&nbsp;they didn’t occur year-round or&nbsp;even&nbsp;every year. That&nbsp;short-lived&nbsp;courtship&nbsp;required&nbsp;close attention&nbsp;on my part&nbsp;to&nbsp;hear&nbsp;those sweet nothings before they&nbsp;turned to&nbsp;memory.&nbsp;Ditto for listening to&nbsp;the rearing of the young. In less than&nbsp;a dozen short weeks, that new generation of hunters&nbsp;fledged,&nbsp;and their mutterings and rustlings&nbsp;vanished.Because&nbsp;I&nbsp;eavesdropped&nbsp;long ago&nbsp;on&nbsp;a&nbsp;great horned owl courtship&nbsp;and&nbsp;nesting, I listen&nbsp;to late night noises&nbsp;each January&nbsp;and February,&nbsp;hoping&nbsp;that once again, wooing&nbsp;owls&nbsp;might&nbsp;make me privy to their love songs.&nbsp;I&nbsp;pray&nbsp;the 20x great-grands of the&nbsp;owl&nbsp;pair I&nbsp;once&nbsp;heard start&nbsp;theirfamily still raise young on the banks of Big Creek.&nbsp;

MADORIN: Remembering amorous owls

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675440926730.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>

By RON WILSON Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development&nbsp;

Well, maybe there wasn’t an ad that said exactly that, but when a former school building and gymnasium came for sale in his area, one young man saw the opportunity to create a sports training facility that would serve young people across the region.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Lucas and Kate Boss are the founders and owners of Performance Sports in Reading, Kansas. Both grew up in Osage City as outstanding athletes.&nbsp;

Lucas played football and earned his degree at Emporia State. Kate played basketball at Johnson County Community College, on the team that won the national women’s junior college championship in 2000. She went on to finish her education degree at Kansas State University.&nbsp;

Lucas and Kate got married and became teachers and coaches, earning their master’s degrees at Emporia State. When their first child was school age, they chose to return to the Osage City school district where they teach, coach and farm today. They especially enjoyed their involvement with youth sports and are active with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.&nbsp;

In 2019, a unique opportunity arose. After a series of school consolidations, the empty school building and gymnasium at nearby Reading was up for sale. The city of Reading had an option to buy but declined.&nbsp;

Shortly after, the Bosses committed to buy it. “It’s a God thing all the way around,” Lucas said. The building was still a beautiful and well-maintained facility. Lucas and Kate saw it as a potential training site for student athletes.&nbsp;

In 2019, they opened Performance Sports in what had been the Reading school gym.&nbsp;&nbsp;It began with a Hoops Academy for young basketball players who wanted to improve their skills.&nbsp;

When Covid hit and schools closed, Lucas and Kate moved their RV to the property and lived there temporarily. “Our kids had access to the playground and the gym,” Lucas said. Their facility would also serve for tournaments and practices.&nbsp;

While the gym was in use, the main school building was not. After other educational institutions chose not to use that space, Lucas and Kate decided to tear out the classrooms and use the building for storage.&nbsp;

“I said, `Let’s put some turf down in here so kids can work out,’” Lucas said.&nbsp;&nbsp;hat big open space has now become an ideal site for training in track and field throwing events.&nbsp;

In 2021, they opened the Track &amp; Field Throwing Academy. Jacquelyne Leffler, the former collegiate track athlete whom we have previously profiled, is one of the coaches.&nbsp;&nbsp;Athletes are traveling from as far as three hours away to train at Reading. Kids can sign up for different sessions to train for the shotput, javelin or discus.&nbsp;

Lucas and Kate have five children: Son Landon, a high school senior; and four daughters: Lexi (tenth grade), Kaelyn (seventh), Kendyl (fifth), and Lakyn (second). They are all active in sports and help on the farm.&nbsp;

“We run cattle and raise a lot of hay. We put up a lot of small square bales,” Lucas said.&nbsp;&nbsp;That involves a lot of chores and labor, which helps teach responsibility and work ethic.&nbsp;

“Our kids are super tough and strong, and (the farmwork) is part of why they’re successful,” Lucas said. &nbsp;

What is the motivation to operate a sports academy?&nbsp;&nbsp;“It’s for the kids,” Lucas said. “We want to help them improve as athletes and enjoy the sports that they like doing,” he said. &nbsp;

The business website states: “We have dedicated our lives to our faith, our family, our farm, and to working with student-athletes throughout our teaching and coaching careers.” &nbsp;

Students are coming to train from as far away as Hoisington and Neodesha. That’s impressive for a business in the rural community of Reading, population 181 people.&nbsp;&nbsp;Now, that’s rural.&nbsp;

For more information, see&nbsp;<a href="http://www.performance-sports.net/">www.performance-sports.net</a>.&nbsp;

“School for sale.” Maybe there wasn’t an ad with that exact wording, but there was an opportunity to acquire a former school that would work well for youth athletic training.&nbsp;&nbsp;We commend Kate and Lucas Boss for making a difference with this initiative. In Reading, excellence in athletics lives on.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675263952240.png" alt="Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By RON WILSON Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development&nbsp;“School for Sale.”&nbsp;Well, maybe there wasn’t an ad that said exactly that, but when a former school building and gymnasium came for sale in his area, one young man saw the opportunity to create a sports training facility that would serve young people across the region.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Lucas and Kate Boss are the founders and owners of Performance Sports in Reading, Kansas. Both grew up in Osage City as outstanding athletes.&nbsp;Lucas played football and earned his degree at Emporia State. Kate played basketball at Johnson County Community College, on the team that won the national women’s junior college championship in 2000. She went on to finish her education degree at Kansas State University.&nbsp;Lucas and Kate got married and became teachers and coaches, earning their master’s degrees at Emporia State. When their first child was school age, they chose to return to the Osage City school district where they teach, coach and farm today. They especially enjoyed their involvement with youth sports and are active with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.&nbsp;In 2019, a unique opportunity arose. After a series of school consolidations, the empty school building and gymnasium at nearby Reading was up for sale. The city of Reading had an option to buy but declined.&nbsp;Shortly after, the Bosses committed to buy it. “It’s a God thing all the way around,” Lucas said. The building was still a beautiful and well-maintained facility. Lucas and Kate saw it as a potential training site for student athletes.&nbsp;In 2019, they opened Performance Sports in what had been the Reading school gym.&nbsp;&nbsp;It began with a Hoops Academy for young basketball players who wanted to improve their skills.&nbsp;When Covid hit and schools closed, Lucas and Kate moved their RV to the property and lived there temporarily. “Our kids had access to the playground and the gym,” Lucas said. Their facility would also serve for tournaments and practices.&nbsp;While the gym was in use, the main school building was not. After other educational institutions chose not to use that space, Lucas and Kate decided to tear out the classrooms and use the building for storage.&nbsp;“I said, `Let’s put some turf down in here so kids can work out,’” Lucas said.&nbsp;&nbsp;hat big open space has now become an ideal site for training in track and field throwing events.&nbsp;In 2021, they opened the Track &amp; Field Throwing Academy. Jacquelyne Leffler, the former collegiate track athlete whom we have previously profiled, is one of the coaches.&nbsp;&nbsp;Athletes are traveling from as far as three hours away to train at Reading. Kids can sign up for different sessions to train for the shotput, javelin or discus.&nbsp;Lucas and Kate have five children: Son Landon, a high school senior; and four daughters: Lexi (tenth grade), Kaelyn (seventh), Kendyl (fifth), and Lakyn (second). They are all active in sports and help on the farm.&nbsp;“We run cattle and raise a lot of hay. We put up a lot of small square bales,” Lucas said.&nbsp;&nbsp;That involves a lot of chores and labor, which helps teach responsibility and work ethic.&nbsp;“Our kids are super tough and strong, and (the farmwork) is part of why they’re successful,” Lucas said. &nbsp;What is the motivation to operate a sports academy?&nbsp;&nbsp;“It’s for the kids,” Lucas said. “We want to help them improve as athletes and enjoy the sports that they like doing,” he said. &nbsp;The business website states: “We have dedicated our lives to our faith, our family, our farm, and to working with student-athletes throughout our teaching and coaching careers.” &nbsp;Students are coming to train from as far away as Hoisington and Neodesha. That’s impressive for a business in the rural community of Reading, population 181 people.&nbsp;&nbsp;Now, that’s rural.&nbsp;For more information, see&nbsp;<a href="http://www.performance-sports.net/">www.performance-sports.net</a>.&nbsp;“School for sale.” Maybe there wasn’t an ad with that exact wording, but there was an opportunity to acquire a former school that would work well for youth athletic training.&nbsp;&nbsp;We commend Kate and Lucas Boss for making a difference with this initiative. In Reading, excellence in athletics lives on.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Now That’s Rural: Lucas Boss, Performance Sports 

Police: Another skimmer found on gas pump in NW Kansas

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

The Hays High School cheerleading squad recently placed fourth at the national cheerleading competition.&nbsp;

This is the first year the squad has competed at nationals.

"I'm just proud of our team overall for being able to make it to nationals," Lily Biggs, senior, said. "Our team has just worked so hard to achieve what we've got."

The competitive aspects of cheerleading are much more athletically involved than just leading cheers on the sidelines and include stunts, lifts and tumbling, the squad's seniors said.

"We've just gotten so close over the past years. How closely we bonded helped how we worked together and I think that has got us where we our now," Keiarra Gonzales, senior, said.

Biggs added, "I also feel like we represented our community well. For the first time, we were a small Kansas school and we went to such a large competition. I thought it was really cool."

Members of the team included: Lily Biggs, MacKenzie Cunningham, Keiarra Gonzales, Makayla Koerner, Abygail Banks, Elsie Chartier, Hailey Klein, Hannah Klein, Trennedy Woosely, Chloe Adkins, Kailey Delimont, Cy Drobeck, Jill Myers, Kailey Phelps and Adelyn Wagner.

Amedee Randle competed with the squad at the state level, but not at nationals.

Avery Harmoney is on the varsity team but did not compete at nationals.

The team is coached by Mackenzie James. Assistant coaches are Carli Nunnery and Olivia Justice.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675458324939.png" alt="The Hays High cheer squad recently placed fourth at nationals. Photo courtesy of USD 489." />
 <figcaption>The Hays High cheer squad recently placed fourth at nationals. Photo courtesy of USD 489.</figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostThe Hays High School cheerleading squad recently placed fourth at the national cheerleading competition.&nbsp;This is the first year the squad has competed at nationals."I'm just proud of our team overall for being able to make it to nationals," Lily Biggs, senior, said. "Our team has just worked so hard to achieve what we've got."The competitive aspects of cheerleading are much more athletically involved than just leading cheers on the sidelines and include stunts, lifts and tumbling, the squad's seniors said."We've just gotten so close over the past years. How closely we bonded helped how we worked together and I think that has got us where we our now," Keiarra Gonzales, senior, said.Biggs added, "I also feel like we represented our community well. For the first time, we were a small Kansas school and we went to such a large competition. I thought it was really cool."Members of the team included: Lily Biggs, MacKenzie Cunningham, Keiarra Gonzales, Makayla Koerner, Abygail Banks, Elsie Chartier, Hailey Klein, Hannah Klein, Trennedy Woosely, Chloe Adkins, Kailey Delimont, Cy Drobeck, Jill Myers, Kailey Phelps and Adelyn Wagner.Amedee Randle competed with the squad at the state level, but not at nationals.Avery Harmoney is on the varsity team but did not compete at nationals.The team is coached by Mackenzie James. Assistant coaches are Carli Nunnery and Olivia Justice.

Hays High cheer squad places 4th at nationals

A total of 1,624 students earned places on the Dean’s Honor Roll at Fort Hays State University for the fall 2022 semester.

The Dean’s Honor Roll includes undergraduate students only. To be eligible, students must have completed 12 or more credit hours and earned a minimum grade-point average of 3.60 for the semester. Full-time on-campus and FHSU Online students are eligible.

Students are listed alphabetically within the headings of College of Arts, Humanities &amp; Social Sciences, College of Education, College of Health &amp; Behavioral Sciences, Interdisciplinary Studies/Exploratory, Robbins College of Business &amp; Entrepreneurship, Werth College of Science, Technology &amp; Mathematics, and KAMS/AMS. This list does not include the 36 students who requested privacy.

The Dean’s Honor Roll can be viewed <a href="https://www.fhsu.edu/news/2023/02/fall-2022-deans-honor-roll.pdf">HERE</a>.

FHSU University CommunicationsA total of 1,624 students earned places on the Dean’s Honor Roll at Fort Hays State University for the fall 2022 semester.The Dean’s Honor Roll includes undergraduate students only. To be eligible, students must have completed 12 or more credit hours and earned a minimum grade-point average of 3.60 for the semester. Full-time on-campus and FHSU Online students are eligible.Students are listed alphabetically within the headings of College of Arts, Humanities &amp; Social Sciences, College of Education, College of Health &amp; Behavioral Sciences, Interdisciplinary Studies/Exploratory, Robbins College of Business &amp; Entrepreneurship, Werth College of Science, Technology &amp; Mathematics, and KAMS/AMS. This list does not include the 36 students who requested privacy.The Dean’s Honor Roll can be viewed <a href="https://www.fhsu.edu/news/2023/02/fall-2022-deans-honor-roll.pdf">HERE</a>.

Fort Hays State releases fall 2022 Dean’s Honor Roll

BUNKER HILL — The history series Cottonwood Connections is back for season two with host Don Rowlison.&nbsp; The half-hour docu-series airs on Smoky Hills PBS at&nbsp;6p.m.&nbsp;on Sundays and Saturdays starting&nbsp;Feb. 5.

This season the show travels to various locations including museums, historic forts, a restored&nbsp;opera house, a preserved archaeological site, buffalo ranches, and the bottom of Webster Lake&nbsp;for an expanding look at the people, places, events (and animals??) that shaped the Great Plains.

“We are slowly expanding our scope this season,” said series creator Ed Lowry. “The history of&nbsp;Western Kansas and the Great Plains is vast and intriguing. We are hoping to give focus to&nbsp;those various organizations working to share and preserve that history.”

The series is hosted by Don Rowlison and presented by The Friends of Cottonwood Ranch, an&nbsp;organization that supports the work of the Cottonwood Ranch Historic site and has the mission&nbsp;of encouraging historical education about the plains.

Rowlison is an archeologist who specialized in studying the pre-historic people of the plains. In&nbsp;1985, he became site curator for the Cottonwood Ranch Historic Site and devoted himself to&nbsp;studying all the various issues that impacted people settling the region in the late 1800s.&nbsp;&nbsp;Additionally, Don is, himself, a cowboy and was inducted to the Kansas Cowboy Hall of Fame in 2008 as a historian.

Season one and the documentary The Legacy of Cottonwood Ranch are available on&nbsp;<a href="https://video.smokyhillstv.org/passport/learn-more/">Smoky Hills PBS Passport</a>.

The schedule for the 12 episodes of season two can be found below:

Fort Wallace Museum&nbsp;(Feb. 5) - We visit the Fort Wallace Museum, where decades of&nbsp;volunteers have worked to bring greater understanding to the clash of cultures at this&nbsp;Western Kansas outpost on the Smoky Hill Trail.

Restoration of the Grainfield Opera House&nbsp;(Feb. 12) - The Grainfield Opera House,&nbsp;constructed in 1887 served many functions over the decades. Now, thanks to the&nbsp;collective efforts of a community, it stands as a town’s statement that both its history&nbsp;and its future matter.

The Horse, the Ox and the Animals that Worked&nbsp;(Feb. 19) - A look at the role of the&nbsp;animals whose contribution and dedication made settling the Great Plains possible.

If These Walls Could Talk • Preserving Places that Share Our History&nbsp;(Feb. 26) - Physical&nbsp;sites and buildings help tell the stories of our past. We take a look at the preservation&nbsp;and restoration of Cottonwood Ranch and visit various locations either preserved,&nbsp;restored, remodeled, or rebuilt to share our history.

The Buffalo&nbsp;(March 5) - What was the significance of the buffalo to the native people of the&nbsp;Great Plains? What happened to them, how were some preserved, and how are they&nbsp;being revived today?

Have Town, Will Travel&nbsp;(March 12)- Many small towns in Western Kansas aren’t where they&nbsp;used to be. We take at look at how entire communities would pick up and move to be&nbsp;closer to the railroad, to avoid drowning in a newly built reservoir, or to claim the&nbsp;throne as county seat.

Hometown Historical Societies&nbsp;(March 19) - Many of the most interesting events in history&nbsp;happened right in our own backyards. Area county historical societies highlight the&nbsp;importance of understanding the people and events that shaped the&nbsp;home towns&nbsp;of&nbsp;the Great Plains.

History Makers&nbsp;- George Sternberg (March 26) - We visit the Sternberg Museum in Hays,&nbsp;Kansas, to learn about its namesake, George Sternberg, and his family of renowned&nbsp;paleontologists who helped shape our understanding of our ancient past.

What’s for Dinner?&nbsp;(April 2) - Exploration of food preparation and preservation in the&nbsp;pioneer era, featuring guest Emily Campbell, owner and chef at The Elephant Bar and&nbsp;Bistro in Hoxie, Kansas, preparing a meal of historic recipes in the Cottonwood Ranch&nbsp;kitchen.

“Great American Desert” • The Exploration Era of the Plains&nbsp;(April 9) - In a time when&nbsp;the center of the country was described as a “sea of grass,” trappers, traders and&nbsp;explorers shaped the understanding of both the perils and possibilities on the Great&nbsp;Plains.

Ethnic Heritage of the High Plains&nbsp;(April 16) - We look at how various communities were&nbsp;formed by immigrants from specific places, traditions, religions or people groups, and&nbsp;check in on how these heritages are carried on or celebrated today.

Those Roadside Attractions&nbsp;(April 23) - Balls of Twine. Enormous prairie dogs. The Garden&nbsp;of Eden. The highways and byways of Kansas are blessed with landmarks of the odd&nbsp;and unusual.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675288660955.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>BUNKER HILL — The history series Cottonwood Connections is back for season two with host Don Rowlison.&nbsp; The half-hour docu-series airs on Smoky Hills PBS at&nbsp;6p.m.&nbsp;on Sundays and Saturdays starting&nbsp;Feb. 5.This season the show travels to various locations including museums, historic forts, a restored&nbsp;opera house, a preserved archaeological site, buffalo ranches, and the bottom of Webster Lake&nbsp;for an expanding look at the people, places, events (and animals??) that shaped the Great Plains.“We are slowly expanding our scope this season,” said series creator Ed Lowry. “The history of&nbsp;Western Kansas and the Great Plains is vast and intriguing. We are hoping to give focus to&nbsp;those various organizations working to share and preserve that history.”The series is hosted by Don Rowlison and presented by The Friends of Cottonwood Ranch, an&nbsp;organization that supports the work of the Cottonwood Ranch Historic site and has the mission&nbsp;of encouraging historical education about the plains.Rowlison is an archeologist who specialized in studying the pre-historic people of the plains. In&nbsp;1985, he became site curator for the Cottonwood Ranch Historic Site and devoted himself to&nbsp;studying all the various issues that impacted people settling the region in the late 1800s.&nbsp;&nbsp;Additionally, Don is, himself, a cowboy and was inducted to the Kansas Cowboy Hall of Fame in 2008 as a historian.Season one and the documentary The Legacy of Cottonwood Ranch are available on&nbsp;<a href="https://video.smokyhillstv.org/passport/learn-more/">Smoky Hills PBS Passport</a>.The schedule for the 12 episodes of season two can be found below:Fort Wallace Museum&nbsp;(Feb. 5) - We visit the Fort Wallace Museum, where decades of&nbsp;volunteers have worked to bring greater understanding to the clash of cultures at this&nbsp;Western Kansas outpost on the Smoky Hill Trail.Restoration of the Grainfield Opera House&nbsp;(Feb. 12) - The Grainfield Opera House,&nbsp;constructed in 1887 served many functions over the decades. Now, thanks to the&nbsp;collective efforts of a community, it stands as a town’s statement that both its history&nbsp;and its future matter.The Horse, the Ox and the Animals that Worked&nbsp;(Feb. 19) - A look at the role of the&nbsp;animals whose contribution and dedication made settling the Great Plains possible.If These Walls Could Talk • Preserving Places that Share Our History&nbsp;(Feb. 26) - Physical&nbsp;sites and buildings help tell the stories of our past. We take a look at the preservation&nbsp;and restoration of Cottonwood Ranch and visit various locations either preserved,&nbsp;restored, remodeled, or rebuilt to share our history.The Buffalo&nbsp;(March 5) - What was the significance of the buffalo to the native people of the&nbsp;Great Plains? What happened to them, how were some preserved, and how are they&nbsp;being revived today?Have Town, Will Travel&nbsp;(March 12)- Many small towns in Western Kansas aren’t where they&nbsp;used to be. We take at look at how entire communities would pick up and move to be&nbsp;closer to the railroad, to avoid drowning in a newly built reservoir, or to claim the&nbsp;throne as county seat.Hometown Historical Societies&nbsp;(March 19) - Many of the most interesting events in history&nbsp;happened right in our own backyards. Area county historical societies highlight the&nbsp;importance of understanding the people and events that shaped the&nbsp;home towns&nbsp;of&nbsp;the Great Plains.History Makers&nbsp;- George Sternberg (March 26) - We visit the Sternberg Museum in Hays,&nbsp;Kansas, to learn about its namesake, George Sternberg, and his family of renowned&nbsp;paleontologists who helped shape our understanding of our ancient past.What’s for Dinner?&nbsp;(April 2) - Exploration of food preparation and preservation in the&nbsp;pioneer era, featuring guest Emily Campbell, owner and chef at The Elephant Bar and&nbsp;Bistro in Hoxie, Kansas, preparing a meal of historic recipes in the Cottonwood Ranch&nbsp;kitchen.“Great American Desert” • The Exploration Era of the Plains&nbsp;(April 9) - In a time when&nbsp;the center of the country was described as a “sea of grass,” trappers, traders and&nbsp;explorers shaped the understanding of both the perils and possibilities on the Great&nbsp;Plains.Ethnic Heritage of the High Plains&nbsp;(April 16) - We look at how various communities were&nbsp;formed by immigrants from specific places, traditions, religions or people groups, and&nbsp;check in on how these heritages are carried on or celebrated today.Those Roadside Attractions&nbsp;(April 23) - Balls of Twine. Enormous prairie dogs. The Garden&nbsp;of Eden. The highways and byways of Kansas are blessed with landmarks of the odd&nbsp;and unusual.

Cottonwood Connections Season 2 Premieres on Smoky Hills PBS

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675440894053.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>

The Hays Police Department responded to 75 calls from Jan. 22-28, 2023 according to the HPD Activity Log.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1592410704431.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The Hays Police Department responded to 75 calls from Jan. 22-28, 2023 according to the HPD Activity Log.<figure>
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Hays PD Activity Report, Jan. 22-28, 2023

The Hays High Indians return home for a Western Kansas Athletic Conference matchup Friday night.

The girls game will tipoff at approximately 6:00 with the boys to follow from Hays High School.

Click the player below or click&nbsp;<a href="https://vcloud.blueframetech.com/broadcast/embed/480662">HERE&nbsp;</a>to view the game. You can also download the Team1Sports app for your phone or connected device, including smart TVs.

The Hays High Indians return home for a Western Kansas Athletic Conference matchup Friday night.The girls game will tipoff at approximately 6:00 with the boys to follow from Hays High School.Click the player below or click&nbsp;<a href="https://vcloud.blueframetech.com/broadcast/embed/480662">HERE&nbsp;</a>to view the game. You can also download the Team1Sports app for your phone or connected device, including smart TVs.

🏀🎥 WATCH LIVE Hays High vs Dodge City

The TMP-Marian Monarchs are on the road Friday for a Mid-Continent League matchup with Smith Center.

The girls game is scheduled to tipoff at 6:00 p.m. with the boys to follow at approximately 7:30 p.m.

Our coverage begins at 5:40 p.m. with the Hertz Rental Car Pregame Show on 99.5 KHAZ.

Click the player below or click&nbsp;<a href="https://vcloud.blueframetech.com/broadcast/embed/519775">HERE</a>&nbsp;to view the game. You can also download the Team1Sports app for your phone or connected device, including smart TVs.

The TMP-Marian Monarchs are on the road Friday for a Mid-Continent League matchup with Smith Center.The girls game is scheduled to tipoff at 6:00 p.m. with the boys to follow at approximately 7:30 p.m.Our coverage begins at 5:40 p.m. with the Hertz Rental Car Pregame Show on 99.5 KHAZ.Click the player below or click&nbsp;<a href="https://vcloud.blueframetech.com/broadcast/embed/519775">HERE</a>&nbsp;to view the game. You can also download the Team1Sports app for your phone or connected device, including smart TVs.<div><iframe src="https://vcloud.blueframetech.com/broadcast/embed/519775?autoplay=1" width="640" height="360" allow="fullscreen;" style="border:0;overflow:hidden;"></iframe></div>

🏀🎥 WATCH LIVE Thomas More Prep-Marian v Smith Center

On this episode of the Post Podcast Thomas More Prep-Marian Pop Singers director Alex Rome shares information about their upcoming Pop Singers Showcase.

<div><iframe title="TMP-Marian Pop Singers Showcase coming this weekend" 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=kispg-137f411-pb&from=pb6admin&square=1&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=auto&logo_link=podcast_page&btn-skin=3267a3&size=450" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>On this episode of the Post Podcast Thomas More Prep-Marian Pop Singers director Alex Rome shares information about their upcoming Pop Singers Showcase.

🎙 Post Podcast: TMP-Marian Pop Singers Showcase coming this weekend

RUSSELL - The City of Russell Public Transportation bus will not be in service this Friday or Saturday, due to staffing issues. 

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1667324157171.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>City of RussellRUSSELL - The City of Russell Public Transportation bus will not be in service this Friday or Saturday, due to staffing issues. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

Russell city public transportation not in service Friday or Saturday

<a></a>HUTCHINSON — Following&nbsp;approval by the National Credit Union Administration and the Kansas Department of Credit Unions,&nbsp;United&nbsp;Credit Union is now part of Heartland Credit&nbsp;Union. The effective date of the&nbsp;merger&nbsp;was Feb.&nbsp;1.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“As a credit union that supports the same values and dedication to excellent service that our members have come to expect, the Board knew Heartland was the right merger partner for us,” said former United Board Chairwoman Debbie Hamilton. “We’re excited for the enhanced products and services Heartland provides that will make our members’ lives a little easier.” &nbsp;

United&nbsp;Credit Union was&nbsp;originally&nbsp;founded in&nbsp;1957&nbsp;as Ness Farmers Credit Union of Ness City.&nbsp;The name was changed in 1965.&nbsp;&nbsp;The credit union serves people residing in Ness County, adjoining counties, and&nbsp;their&nbsp;immediate family members.

Dan Springer, President and CEO of Heartland Credit Union stated,&nbsp;“We welcome United members to the Heartland Credit Union family and look forward to continuing United’s commitment to their members and being their credit union for years to come. &nbsp;We are eager to bring the Heartland Way to Ness City and surrounding communities.”

With the merger, Heartland Credit Union&nbsp;adds the&nbsp;Ness City&nbsp;location&nbsp;to&nbsp;its&nbsp;network of nine branches in Hutchinson,&nbsp;Haven,&nbsp;Hays,&nbsp;Newton and Wichita.&nbsp;&nbsp;Members&nbsp;can immediately take advantage of expanded evening and weekend hours through the Heartland eBranch and Heartland Connections&nbsp;video banking.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Heartland Credit Union was formed in 1948&nbsp;as the Hutchinson Teachers Credit Union, by 14 educators&nbsp;looking&nbsp;to provide&nbsp;a better financial choice for their fellow teachers.&nbsp;&nbsp;Following the merger, Heartland&nbsp;is now over $600&nbsp;million in assets, with&nbsp;148&nbsp;employees serving over 37,000 members&nbsp;across Kansas and beyond. &nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675360297930.png" alt="" />
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 </figure>News release<a></a>HUTCHINSON — Following&nbsp;approval by the National Credit Union Administration and the Kansas Department of Credit Unions,&nbsp;United&nbsp;Credit Union is now part of Heartland Credit&nbsp;Union. The effective date of the&nbsp;merger&nbsp;was Feb.&nbsp;1.&nbsp;&nbsp;“As a credit union that supports the same values and dedication to excellent service that our members have come to expect, the Board knew Heartland was the right merger partner for us,” said former United Board Chairwoman Debbie Hamilton. “We’re excited for the enhanced products and services Heartland provides that will make our members’ lives a little easier.” &nbsp;United&nbsp;Credit Union was&nbsp;originally&nbsp;founded in&nbsp;1957&nbsp;as Ness Farmers Credit Union of Ness City.&nbsp;The name was changed in 1965.&nbsp;&nbsp;The credit union serves people residing in Ness County, adjoining counties, and&nbsp;their&nbsp;immediate family members.Dan Springer, President and CEO of Heartland Credit Union stated,&nbsp;“We welcome United members to the Heartland Credit Union family and look forward to continuing United’s commitment to their members and being their credit union for years to come. &nbsp;We are eager to bring the Heartland Way to Ness City and surrounding communities.”With the merger, Heartland Credit Union&nbsp;adds the&nbsp;Ness City&nbsp;location&nbsp;to&nbsp;its&nbsp;network of nine branches in Hutchinson,&nbsp;Haven,&nbsp;Hays,&nbsp;Newton and Wichita.&nbsp;&nbsp;Members&nbsp;can immediately take advantage of expanded evening and weekend hours through the Heartland eBranch and Heartland Connections&nbsp;video banking.&nbsp;&nbsp;Heartland Credit Union was formed in 1948&nbsp;as the Hutchinson Teachers Credit Union, by 14 educators&nbsp;looking&nbsp;to provide&nbsp;a better financial choice for their fellow teachers.&nbsp;&nbsp;Following the merger, Heartland&nbsp;is now over $600&nbsp;million in assets, with&nbsp;148&nbsp;employees serving over 37,000 members&nbsp;across Kansas and beyond. &nbsp;

Ness City credit union merges with Heartland Credit Union

Troy Waymaster, R-Bunker Hill, is the Kansas House&nbsp;Appropriations Chairman and 109th District state representative which includes:

* Osborne, Russell, and Smith Counties * Barton County: Cities: Albert, Claflin, Galatia, Odin, Olmitz and Susank; Townships: Beaver, Cheyenne, Clarence, Cleveland, Fairview, Grant, Independent, Logan, Union, Walnut and Wheatland * Jewell County: Cities: Burr Oak, Esbon and Mankato; Townships: Athens, Browns Creek, Burr Oak, Calvin, Center, Erving, Esbon, Harrison, Highland, Holmwood, Ionia, Limestone, Odessa, Walnut and White Mound * Lincoln County: Cities: Lincoln Center (part) and Sylvan Grove; Townships: Battle Creek, Beaver (part), Cedron, Elkhorn (part), Golden Belt, Grant, Hanover, Highland, Indiana, Marion, Orange, Pleasant, Valley and Vesper * Rush County: Cities: Bison, Otis, Rush Center and Timken; Townships: Banner, Center, Garfield, Illinois, Lone Star, Pioneer and Pleasantdale

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1633970422056.jpeg" alt="Rep. Troy Waymaster, R-Bunker Hill, 109th Dist.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Rep. Troy Waymaster, R-Bunker Hill, 109th Dist.&nbsp;</figcaption>
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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675423810788.jpeg" alt="" />
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 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675423834770.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Troy Waymaster, R-Bunker Hill, is the Kansas House&nbsp;Appropriations Chairman and 109th District state representative which includes:* Osborne, Russell, and Smith Counties * Barton County: Cities: Albert, Claflin, Galatia, Odin, Olmitz and Susank; Townships: Beaver, Cheyenne, Clarence, Cleveland, Fairview, Grant, Independent, Logan, Union, Walnut and Wheatland * Jewell County: Cities: Burr Oak, Esbon and Mankato; Townships: Athens, Browns Creek, Burr Oak, Calvin, Center, Erving, Esbon, Harrison, Highland, Holmwood, Ionia, Limestone, Odessa, Walnut and White Mound * Lincoln County: Cities: Lincoln Center (part) and Sylvan Grove; Townships: Battle Creek, Beaver (part), Cedron, Elkhorn (part), Golden Belt, Grant, Hanover, Highland, Indiana, Marion, Orange, Pleasant, Valley and Vesper * Rush County: Cities: Bison, Otis, Rush Center and Timken; Townships: Banner, Center, Garfield, Illinois, Lone Star, Pioneer and Pleasantdale

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