First Care Clinic, Hays, is pleased to announce the hiring of Dr. Lucas Walker, DDS. Walker graduated from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry. He is a Hays native and graduated high school at Thomas More Prep-Marian.

First Care Clinic CEO, Eric Flax said, “We are very excited to welcome Dr. Walker to our clinic. We look forward to his contribution to our dental department and our clinic as we continue our mission of providing quality, compassionate healthcare to all.”

First Care Clinic accepts most major insurances and also offers a sliding fee scale to those who qualify. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 785-621-4990.

First Care Clinic is a federally funded community health center, providing non-emergency medical services for people of all ages, regardless of a patient’s ability to pay. We provide primary medical care, mental health services, general dentistry, and express care across our three locations in Hays.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1690814814570.jpeg" alt="Dr. Lucas Walker (Courtesy photo)" />
 <figcaption>Dr. Lucas Walker (Courtesy photo)</figcaption>
 </figure>SubmittedFirst Care Clinic, Hays, is pleased to announce the hiring of Dr. Lucas Walker, DDS. Walker graduated from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry. He is a Hays native and graduated high school at Thomas More Prep-Marian.First Care Clinic CEO, Eric Flax said, “We are very excited to welcome Dr. Walker to our clinic. We look forward to his contribution to our dental department and our clinic as we continue our mission of providing quality, compassionate healthcare to all.”First Care Clinic accepts most major insurances and also offers a sliding fee scale to those who qualify. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 785-621-4990.ABOUT FIRST CARE CLINIC, INC.First Care Clinic is a federally funded community health center, providing non-emergency medical services for people of all ages, regardless of a patient’s ability to pay. We provide primary medical care, mental health services, general dentistry, and express care across our three locations in Hays.

First Care Clinic welcomes new dentist

By PAT MELGARES K-State News Service

MANHATTAN —&nbsp;A Kansas State University agricultural economist has been selected to lead a five-year project to develop decision-making tools and improve communication on the economic impacts of animal disease, ultimately improving the health of those animals. Dustin Pendell, a professor in K-State's&nbsp;department of&nbsp;agricultural&nbsp;economics, was named head of the&nbsp;Americas region of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.woah.org/en/what-we-offer/expertise-network/collaborating-centres/" target="_blank">Collaborating Center for the Economics of Animal Health</a>. The project is supported by the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.woah.org/en/home/" target="_blank">World Organisation for Animal Health</a>, or WOAH,&nbsp;which has headquarters in Paris, France. WOAH&nbsp;—&nbsp;similar in purpose to that of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.who.int/" target="_blank">World Health Organization</a>, which preserves and promotes human health&nbsp;—&nbsp;approved the creation of the center during its 90th General Assembly in late May. WOAH has 183 member countries, 33 of which are in the Americas region. "Our thought process is that we can start to work together across these 33 countries in the Americas region to develop a set of consistent methods and tools that everyone can use to estimate the economic impacts of animal health,"&nbsp;Pendell said.&nbsp;"Then&nbsp;we can take that knowledge that we generate and disseminate that information back to the decision-makers, whether that be animal health officials, producers or anybody throughout the supply chain, so they can make better management decisions." The Collaborating Center for the Economics of Animal Health-Americas centers its operations at K-State's Manhattan campus, though there are no physical buildings representing the group. It will involve partners at the University of Sao Paulo,&nbsp;University of Brasilia,&nbsp;Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico and Washington State University. The center will focus its effort on animal health related to terrestrial livestock&nbsp;—&nbsp;animals that live primarily on land&nbsp;—&nbsp;and aquaculture. "As an economist, I will focus my work in that area, but this&nbsp;center is much more than economics,"&nbsp;Pendell said.&nbsp;"It will take multiple disciplines, such as veterinarians, economists, epidemiologists, engineers and more, to make this a success." Pendell said he anticipates the&nbsp;center's work will build upon recent global efforts such as the Global Burden of Animal Diseases,&nbsp;or&nbsp;GBADs,&nbsp;and Global Framework for the Progressive Control of Transboundary Animal Diseases,&nbsp;a joint effort of WOAH and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. "The GBADs team has been working together for the past five years or so,&nbsp;during which time we've been developing methods on how we estimate the burden of animal health,"&nbsp;Pendell said. Pendell said knowing the burden of animal diseases across the world will not only assist governments and animal health officials invest appropriately in combatting those diseases but will help everyone across the livestock and meat supply chain. "My hope is that we can provide decision-makers with the information such that they will be better able to optimally allocate their limited resources,"&nbsp;he said. Pendell said his vision for the CCEAH-Americas is rooted in&nbsp;K-State's&nbsp;land-grant mission. "As an agricultural economist at a land-grant university, my job is to provide unbiased research to our stakeholders, such that they can make a better-informed decisions," he said. "We want business management decisions to be based on more than just a gut feeling. My vision for this center incorporates the land-grant philosophy and gets the research into the hands of the stakeholders, both here at home and around the world."&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1643991102978.jpeg" alt="Photo by Unsplash" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Unsplash</figcaption>
 </figure>By PAT MELGARES K-State News Service MANHATTAN —&nbsp;A Kansas State University agricultural economist has been selected to lead a five-year project to develop decision-making tools and improve communication on the economic impacts of animal disease, ultimately improving the health of those animals. Dustin Pendell, a professor in K-State's&nbsp;department of&nbsp;agricultural&nbsp;economics, was named head of the&nbsp;Americas region of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.woah.org/en/what-we-offer/expertise-network/collaborating-centres/" target="_blank">Collaborating Center for the Economics of Animal Health</a>. The project is supported by the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.woah.org/en/home/" target="_blank">World Organisation for Animal Health</a>, or WOAH,&nbsp;which has headquarters in Paris, France. WOAH&nbsp;—&nbsp;similar in purpose to that of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.who.int/" target="_blank">World Health Organization</a>, which preserves and promotes human health&nbsp;—&nbsp;approved the creation of the center during its 90th General Assembly in late May. WOAH has 183 member countries, 33 of which are in the Americas region. "Our thought process is that we can start to work together across these 33 countries in the Americas region to develop a set of consistent methods and tools that everyone can use to estimate the economic impacts of animal health,"&nbsp;Pendell said.&nbsp;"Then&nbsp;we can take that knowledge that we generate and disseminate that information back to the decision-makers, whether that be animal health officials, producers or anybody throughout the supply chain, so they can make better management decisions." The Collaborating Center for the Economics of Animal Health-Americas centers its operations at K-State's Manhattan campus, though there are no physical buildings representing the group. It will involve partners at the University of Sao Paulo,&nbsp;University of Brasilia,&nbsp;Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico and Washington State University. The center will focus its effort on animal health related to terrestrial livestock&nbsp;—&nbsp;animals that live primarily on land&nbsp;—&nbsp;and aquaculture. "As an economist, I will focus my work in that area, but this&nbsp;center is much more than economics,"&nbsp;Pendell said.&nbsp;"It will take multiple disciplines, such as veterinarians, economists, epidemiologists, engineers and more, to make this a success." Pendell said he anticipates the&nbsp;center's work will build upon recent global efforts such as the Global Burden of Animal Diseases,&nbsp;or&nbsp;GBADs,&nbsp;and Global Framework for the Progressive Control of Transboundary Animal Diseases,&nbsp;a joint effort of WOAH and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. "The GBADs team has been working together for the past five years or so,&nbsp;during which time we've been developing methods on how we estimate the burden of animal health,"&nbsp;Pendell said. Pendell said knowing the burden of animal diseases across the world will not only assist governments and animal health officials invest appropriately in combatting those diseases but will help everyone across the livestock and meat supply chain. "My hope is that we can provide decision-makers with the information such that they will be better able to optimally allocate their limited resources,"&nbsp;he said. Pendell said his vision for the CCEAH-Americas is rooted in&nbsp;K-State's&nbsp;land-grant mission. "As an agricultural economist at a land-grant university, my job is to provide unbiased research to our stakeholders, such that they can make a better-informed decisions," he said. "We want business management decisions to be based on more than just a gut feeling. My vision for this center incorporates the land-grant philosophy and gets the research into the hands of the stakeholders, both here at home and around the world."&nbsp;&nbsp;

K-State chosen to lead global animal health effort

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1690835591859.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

ELI Wireline is hiring for a Wireline Repair and Maintenance Technician for their Hays or Hutchinson facility. 

The position is a hands-on, rewarding role where you will be performing wireline repair and maintenance in the oil and gas industry.

In a workshop environment, this individual has responsibility for providing "hands-on" technical support to the production and repair of equipment and tools. They will also receive field tools, disassemble them, and repair and refurbish the tool to go back to the field using blueprints, manuals and following protocols.

Three or more years of related experience in repair and maintenance is required.

Benefits include 100 percent Blue Cross Blue Shield Health Insurance paid by the employer, 401K, and a competitive salary.

If interested, please apply at 1327 Rome Road, Hays, Kansas 67601 or&nbsp;email an application to scott.case@eliwireline.com.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1642173081488.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>ELI Wireline is hiring for a Wireline Repair and Maintenance Technician for their Hays or Hutchinson facility. The position is a hands-on, rewarding role where you will be performing wireline repair and maintenance in the oil and gas industry.In a workshop environment, this individual has responsibility for providing "hands-on" technical support to the production and repair of equipment and tools. They will also receive field tools, disassemble them, and repair and refurbish the tool to go back to the field using blueprints, manuals and following protocols.Three or more years of related experience in repair and maintenance is required.Benefits include 100 percent Blue Cross Blue Shield Health Insurance paid by the employer, 401K, and a competitive salary.If interested, please apply at 1327 Rome Road, Hays, Kansas 67601 or&nbsp;email an application to scott.case@eliwireline.com.

2 hospitalized after NW Kansas rear-end crash

The 14th&nbsp;annual Tiger Auction and Dinner will take place on Saturday, August 19&nbsp;in the Schmidt-Bickle Indoor Training Facility on the campus of Fort Hays State University. Doors open at 4 p.m., dinner is served at 5 p.m., and the live auction begins at 6:30 p.m. and will end around 10 p.m. Tickets are available online or through the FHSU Athletic Department at 785-628-4050. Visit&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/feature/fhsutigerauction">www.tigerauction.org</a>&nbsp;for more information on the event. The event on Saturday, August 19 consists of about 80 live auction items and about 200 silent auction items. Ticket Price Increases After August 4 Get your tickets today by purchasing online or dropping by the FHSU Athletics office on the campus of Fort Hays State University. Tickets are $100 per person, but the price will increase to $125 per person starting August 5. The event is limited to 800 tickets sold. A ticket is good for admission to the event and a bid number, along with food and unlimited drinks throughout the evening. <a href="https://www.ticketreturn.com/prod2new/BuyNew.asp?EventID=329738">BUY TICKETS HERE</a> FHSU Athletic Office Summer Hours (until Aug. 4) 7:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday 7:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Friday Closed Saturday and Sunday Phone: (785) 628-4050 Office hours return to standard 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday on August 7. Online Auction There is still an online portion of the auction with a limited number of items that precedes the live in-person event running from Monday, August 14 through Wednesday, August 16, which will give supporters an additional chance to support Tiger Athletics from any location. Raffle Tickets Supporters can purchase $50 raffle tickets, which are good for a chance to win eight $1,000 cash prizes given out throughout the night (you do not have to be present to win). A $2000 cash prize will be given out before the last live item is sold, but the winner must be present for that drawing. Chamber Chat on Friday, August 18 FHSU Athletics will host a Chamber Chat at the Schmidt-Bickle Indoor Training Facility on Friday, August 18 at 9 a.m. Tiger supporters can get a sneak peek at some of the items at that event. Table Sponsors If you would like to be a table sponsor for $2,000, it includes auction tickets for 12 at your table, along with two all-sport general admission season tickets, and recognition in the auction catalog. Tables without sponsorship for 12 people can be purchased for $1,200. Tiger Auction Item #40 Unlike previous years, Item #40 this year is not a tangible item. The simple truth is our biggest need is addressing&nbsp;Scholarships&nbsp;and inflationary costs associated with all aspects of our operations. By specifically targeting&nbsp;Scholarships, we will free up resources necessary to address the rising costs associated with day-to-day operations such as team transportation, meals, lodging, facility upkeep, etc. While tangible items are always exciting for the advancement of our programs, this year's needs are no less important in providing a quality experience for our approximately 500 student-athletes. Your donation to #40 will directly impact those student-athlete experiences! Our Item #40 goal this year is to generate an additional $100,000 on the day of the auction. Truly, every gift matters, so please consider making a tax-deductible donation to Item #40 this year. Donations can be paid in installments throughout the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024. This is one of the biggest annual events for the FHSU Athletic Department, which raised a record $778,501 in 2022. It was the first time Tiger supporters graciously topped the $500,000 mark in the 13-year history of the event. This will be the sixth Tiger Auction and Dinner hosted inside the Schmidt-Bickle Indoor Training Facility, which has served as the venue for the event since 2017. The move to the large, spacious facility was a necessity due to this very popular event selling out year after year when held at the Memorial Union Ballroom in its early years. The move has allowed several more Tiger supporters to attend annually in recent years. Thank you in advance for your support of Tiger Athletics!&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1690561791156.jpeg" alt="FHSU-Tiger Auction.jpg" />
 <figcaption>FHSU-Tiger Auction.jpg</figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU AthleticsThe 14th&nbsp;annual Tiger Auction and Dinner will take place on Saturday, August 19&nbsp;in the Schmidt-Bickle Indoor Training Facility on the campus of Fort Hays State University. Doors open at 4 p.m., dinner is served at 5 p.m., and the live auction begins at 6:30 p.m. and will end around 10 p.m. Tickets are available online or through the FHSU Athletic Department at 785-628-4050. Visit&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/feature/fhsutigerauction">www.tigerauction.org</a>&nbsp;for more information on the event. The event on Saturday, August 19 consists of about 80 live auction items and about 200 silent auction items. Ticket Price Increases After August 4 Get your tickets today by purchasing online or dropping by the FHSU Athletics office on the campus of Fort Hays State University. Tickets are $100 per person, but the price will increase to $125 per person starting August 5. The event is limited to 800 tickets sold. A ticket is good for admission to the event and a bid number, along with food and unlimited drinks throughout the evening. <a href="https://www.ticketreturn.com/prod2new/BuyNew.asp?EventID=329738">BUY TICKETS HERE</a> FHSU Athletic Office Summer Hours (until Aug. 4) 7:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday 7:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Friday Closed Saturday and Sunday Phone: (785) 628-4050 Office hours return to standard 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday on August 7. Online Auction There is still an online portion of the auction with a limited number of items that precedes the live in-person event running from Monday, August 14 through Wednesday, August 16, which will give supporters an additional chance to support Tiger Athletics from any location. Raffle Tickets Supporters can purchase $50 raffle tickets, which are good for a chance to win eight $1,000 cash prizes given out throughout the night (you do not have to be present to win). A $2000 cash prize will be given out before the last live item is sold, but the winner must be present for that drawing. Chamber Chat on Friday, August 18 FHSU Athletics will host a Chamber Chat at the Schmidt-Bickle Indoor Training Facility on Friday, August 18 at 9 a.m. Tiger supporters can get a sneak peek at some of the items at that event. Table Sponsors If you would like to be a table sponsor for $2,000, it includes auction tickets for 12 at your table, along with two all-sport general admission season tickets, and recognition in the auction catalog. Tables without sponsorship for 12 people can be purchased for $1,200. Tiger Auction Item #40 Unlike previous years, Item #40 this year is not a tangible item. The simple truth is our biggest need is addressing&nbsp;Scholarships&nbsp;and inflationary costs associated with all aspects of our operations. By specifically targeting&nbsp;Scholarships, we will free up resources necessary to address the rising costs associated with day-to-day operations such as team transportation, meals, lodging, facility upkeep, etc. While tangible items are always exciting for the advancement of our programs, this year's needs are no less important in providing a quality experience for our approximately 500 student-athletes. Your donation to #40 will directly impact those student-athlete experiences! Our Item #40 goal this year is to generate an additional $100,000 on the day of the auction. Truly, every gift matters, so please consider making a tax-deductible donation to Item #40 this year. Donations can be paid in installments throughout the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024. This is one of the biggest annual events for the FHSU Athletic Department, which raised a record $778,501 in 2022. It was the first time Tiger supporters graciously topped the $500,000 mark in the 13-year history of the event. This will be the sixth Tiger Auction and Dinner hosted inside the Schmidt-Bickle Indoor Training Facility, which has served as the venue for the event since 2017. The move to the large, spacious facility was a necessity due to this very popular event selling out year after year when held at the Memorial Union Ballroom in its early years. The move has allowed several more Tiger supporters to attend annually in recent years. Thank you in advance for your support of Tiger Athletics!&nbsp;&nbsp;

Tickets available for 14th annual Tiger Auction and Dinner

By JOHN P. TRETBAR Eagle Communications

Crude prices continue to rise after a three-day rally last week. 

The benchmark New York futures contract was trading over $81 per barrel Monday for the first time since mid-April. Brent crude was fetching a little over $85 per barrel in London. Kansas Common crude at CHS in McPherson starts the week at $70.75 per barrel, after gaining half a dollar on Friday. That's a nearly ten-dollar increase over prices at the start of this month. The weekly Rotary Rig Count from Baker Hughes drops to 664 active rigs, down one oil rig and three gas rigs from last week. The breakout for horizontal drilling was down eight rigs. The tally in New Mexico was down two rigs. Oklahoma and Colorado were down one rig each. Louisiana was up two rigs. The Kansas Rig Count from Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service is unchanged at 16 in the eastern half of the state, and up one to 23 active rigs west of Wichita. The tally is down nearly five percent from a month ago and down more than 31 percent from a year ago. Operators so far this year have spudded 697 wells, down 201 wells from a year ago. Total footage drilled is down 26 percent. Of the ten new drilling permits filed in western Kansas last week, regulators okayed one in Barton County and one in Stafford County. The statewide year-to-date tally increases by 24 to 744 new permits, compared to 944 a year ago. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service reports 36 new well completions statewide, 12 of those in western Kansas. That's 994 new well-completions so far this year, compared to 909 a year ago. The Kansas Geological Survey reported statewide crude production through the first quarter of 2023 of 76,756 barrels per day on total production of just over 6.9 million barrels.

Barton County pumped just under 370,000 barrels or nearly 4,100 barrels per day. Ellis County led the way with 543,000 barrels of production, for an average of 6,040 barrels per day. Operators in Russell County produced 333,000 barrels, while Stafford County pumped 222,000. A new tally shows US crude output in May reached nearly 393,000 barrels, or about 12.6 million barrels per day. That's slightly lower than the daily average in April. The report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration shows operators in Kansas pumped 2.3 million barrels in May, or a little over 76,096 barrels per day. Texas produced more than 40 percent of the national total, pumping more than 170 million barrels, or nearly 5.5 million barrels per day. U.S. crude-oil production declined last week for the third week in a row to the lowest total in nine weeks. The weekly count from the Energy Information Administration shows output of just over 12.2 million barrels per day in the week through July 21, down 99,000 barrels per day from a week earlier and just 74,000 barrels per day more than a year ago.

Production drops to its lowest level since May 17th. Crude oil inventories dropped by 600,000 barrels to 456.8 million as of July 21. The Energy Information Administration said stockpiles are about two percent above the five-year average for this time of year. The U.S. imported 6.4 million barrels per day last week, down 807,000 barrels per day from a week earlier. The four-week average is about one percent higher than a year ago. Oil and gas had the best year ever in Canada.

That's the word from energy analysts who say the country's energy exports increased by nearly $77 BILLION in 2022. Total exports rose 22 percent, and the share of energy products to total exports rose from 21 to 27 percent. The spike comes despite a new call by a government official to phase out what he called "unabated fossil fuels" by ending government energy subsidies in Canada. Oil patch employment continues to rise in Texas. Last month, oil and gas employment in the Lone Star State rose above 200-thousand workers for the first time in more than three years.&nbsp; The Texas Workforce Commission reported that the patch added 2,500 jobs in June. The Kansas Geological Society recognized and named eight new oil fields in Kansas last week. Murfin Drilling Company of Wichita scored two of those in Cheyenne County in northwestern Kansas. The Devil's Canyon Southeast and White Crab fields mark the Wichita company's second and third wildcat discoveries in Cheyenne County this year, and at least their fifth since 1988.

<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 CommunicationsCrude prices continue to rise after a three-day rally last week. The benchmark New York futures contract was trading over $81 per barrel Monday for the first time since mid-April. Brent crude was fetching a little over $85 per barrel in London. Kansas Common crude at CHS in McPherson starts the week at $70.75 per barrel, after gaining half a dollar on Friday. That's a nearly ten-dollar increase over prices at the start of this month. The weekly Rotary Rig Count from Baker Hughes drops to 664 active rigs, down one oil rig and three gas rigs from last week. The breakout for horizontal drilling was down eight rigs. The tally in New Mexico was down two rigs. Oklahoma and Colorado were down one rig each. Louisiana was up two rigs. The Kansas Rig Count from Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service is unchanged at 16 in the eastern half of the state, and up one to 23 active rigs west of Wichita. The tally is down nearly five percent from a month ago and down more than 31 percent from a year ago. Operators so far this year have spudded 697 wells, down 201 wells from a year ago. Total footage drilled is down 26 percent. Of the ten new drilling permits filed in western Kansas last week, regulators okayed one in Barton County and one in Stafford County. The statewide year-to-date tally increases by 24 to 744 new permits, compared to 944 a year ago. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service reports 36 new well completions statewide, 12 of those in western Kansas. That's 994 new well-completions so far this year, compared to 909 a year ago. The Kansas Geological Survey reported statewide crude production through the first quarter of 2023 of 76,756 barrels per day on total production of just over 6.9 million barrels. Barton County pumped just under 370,000 barrels or nearly 4,100 barrels per day. Ellis County led the way with 543,000 barrels of production, for an average of 6,040 barrels per day. Operators in Russell County produced 333,000 barrels, while Stafford County pumped 222,000. A new tally shows US crude output in May reached nearly 393,000 barrels, or about 12.6 million barrels per day. That's slightly lower than the daily average in April. The report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration shows operators in Kansas pumped 2.3 million barrels in May, or a little over 76,096 barrels per day. Texas produced more than 40 percent of the national total, pumping more than 170 million barrels, or nearly 5.5 million barrels per day. U.S. crude-oil production declined last week for the third week in a row to the lowest total in nine weeks. The weekly count from the Energy Information Administration shows output of just over 12.2 million barrels per day in the week through July 21, down 99,000 barrels per day from a week earlier and just 74,000 barrels per day more than a year ago. Production drops to its lowest level since May 17th. Crude oil inventories dropped by 600,000 barrels to 456.8 million as of July 21. The Energy Information Administration said stockpiles are about two percent above the five-year average for this time of year. The U.S. imported 6.4 million barrels per day last week, down 807,000 barrels per day from a week earlier. The four-week average is about one percent higher than a year ago. Oil and gas had the best year ever in Canada. That's the word from energy analysts who say the country's energy exports increased by nearly $77 BILLION in 2022. Total exports rose 22 percent, and the share of energy products to total exports rose from 21 to 27 percent. The spike comes despite a new call by a government official to phase out what he called "unabated fossil fuels" by ending government energy subsidies in Canada. Oil patch employment continues to rise in Texas. Last month, oil and gas employment in the Lone Star State rose above 200-thousand workers for the first time in more than three years.&nbsp; The Texas Workforce Commission reported that the patch added 2,500 jobs in June. The Kansas Geological Society recognized and named eight new oil fields in Kansas last week. Murfin Drilling Company of Wichita scored two of those in Cheyenne County in northwestern Kansas. The Devil's Canyon Southeast and White Crab fields mark the Wichita company's second and third wildcat discoveries in Cheyenne County this year, and at least their fifth since 1988.

News From the Oil Patch: Prices rise as output dips 

WASHINGTON, D.C.&nbsp;– Reps. Jake LaTurner (R-KS) and Yadira Caraveo, M.D. (D-CO) introduced&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0011SLYJ9ABCDxg6BUiHGPGP5cUkkqtOpXgma-kZ1I6BHEwQV_bf6uo6G-x0ArqBXDux8Q-D5Gd5wjqYJZiAqEtUjNQ7rR7XWe20_7I-eCVYL9VohtkhgJDmjU8TxNN-hhOSX7CkKNDVfGdW8C9TSoNxSqftcfEuv6dUjuQ_Dm8NlkJGhj9CadLSqpJ1-47loSIjIwVZnwnOb3F4KuaIYWUWkfJUr5CgIxmzv3ix6Y12JRG4lmBE_kRDnpKnnzo0aBxeyVBsXfpfkWm-N0ARx-0RyVSO36JIG_kOrHEDgkGN5lX4Crw68IIaQ==&amp;c=RHt9dJ_vS3tQrOnLdVYe01c-BmyxTkj9cD0Jpw3Ro7kCQqbfjNQwAQ==&amp;ch=nB6GgIT9vtqVeaP3EPqk7tlbixGyKGH5C61DfKxl_RZhbtRxlh2K2g==" target="_blank">a bipartisan bill</a>&nbsp;Thursday that will help&nbsp;family farmers and ranchers fight drought.

The&nbsp;Voluntary Groundwater Conservation Act&nbsp;gives farmers and ranchers the flexibility they need to protect groundwater sources while also keeping their agricultural lands in production under a new voluntary groundwater easement program at the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) within the&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0011SLYJ9ABCDxg6BUiHGPGP5cUkkqtOpXgma-kZ1I6BHEwQV_bf6uo6G-x0ArqBXDu2szG0UzImqjFvrM69sG4_Hkqwr3kU_jHVH0LGFOMMcJK4DXRClBK1iaeUFscStvYHuI10M8GRyWn9X2YBFrMZ0t3jbaiv5dgxlDbdk685ht5drpxVvKW0gYXUeufblsAs3U96Za5F8zNUaA_mctIGHWjSRzbKdYo1UPdIADE6LmQrP1Gi8GQSQ==&amp;c=RHt9dJ_vS3tQrOnLdVYe01c-BmyxTkj9cD0Jpw3Ro7kCQqbfjNQwAQ==&amp;ch=nB6GgIT9vtqVeaP3EPqk7tlbixGyKGH5C61DfKxl_RZhbtRxlh2K2g==" target="_blank">Agricultural Conservation Easements Program.</a>

"Declining groundwater supply is a growing concern for our rural communities. As farmers and ranchers across Kansas continue to face historic drought, it's more important than ever that we work to conserve our state's water supply for generations to come," said LaTurner.

"I'm proud to partner with Rep. Caraveo to introduce the Voluntary Groundwater Conservation Act to provide agriculture producers with the resources they need to help reduce groundwater use, conserve our natural resources, and keep their land in production."

“We in the West understand just how precious a resource our water is. That’s especially true in many rural communities, which rely on groundwater as their primary source of drinking water, and as irrigation supply for farmers and ranchers,” said&nbsp; Caraveo.

America’s groundwater resources are a primary source of drinking water for rural communities and a vital irrigation water supply for many family farms and ranches across the country. However, these resources are in decline — a trend that could seriously affect communities, water users, ecosystem health and local economies.

The&nbsp;Voluntary Groundwater Conservation Act&nbsp;would:&nbsp;

U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.)&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0011SLYJ9ABCDxg6BUiHGPGP5cUkkqtOpXgma-kZ1I6BHEwQV_bf6uo6G-x0ArqBXDu0kKB4lTDaUo5BD8fuZ93PoVBqu0uVnjVmqBWYucyVRS9zh8cAbvROD5E_KHl6tAuYz0SHAv281zpFK6ndOwUC_itRIC5KsJYbDrh6jn5n3sWyFB7rhCxNTXpmJR6sART3oKEFZfsgN6fdL5UgvUaoKcxctG9TG4TIlLfq0AEkT8V68-BWEuOD8NyHHRhayH6&amp;c=RHt9dJ_vS3tQrOnLdVYe01c-BmyxTkj9cD0Jpw3Ro7kCQqbfjNQwAQ==&amp;ch=nB6GgIT9vtqVeaP3EPqk7tlbixGyKGH5C61DfKxl_RZhbtRxlh2K2g==" target="_blank">introduced</a>&nbsp;the&nbsp;Voluntary Groundwater Conservation Act&nbsp;in the Senate&nbsp;earlier this month.

Full text of the bill is available&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0011SLYJ9ABCDxg6BUiHGPGP5cUkkqtOpXgma-kZ1I6BHEwQV_bf6uo6G-x0ArqBXDux8Q-D5Gd5wjqYJZiAqEtUjNQ7rR7XWe20_7I-eCVYL9VohtkhgJDmjU8TxNN-hhOSX7CkKNDVfGdW8C9TSoNxSqftcfEuv6dUjuQ_Dm8NlkJGhj9CadLSqpJ1-47loSIjIwVZnwnOb3F4KuaIYWUWkfJUr5CgIxmzv3ix6Y12JRG4lmBE_kRDnpKnnzo0aBxeyVBsXfpfkWm-N0ARx-0RyVSO36JIG_kOrHEDgkGN5lX4Crw68IIaQ==&amp;c=RHt9dJ_vS3tQrOnLdVYe01c-BmyxTkj9cD0Jpw3Ro7kCQqbfjNQwAQ==&amp;ch=nB6GgIT9vtqVeaP3EPqk7tlbixGyKGH5C61DfKxl_RZhbtRxlh2K2g==" target="_blank">HERE</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1684858055085.jpeg" alt="U.S. Rep. Jake LaTurner, R-KS, 2nd District" />
 <figcaption>U.S. Rep. Jake LaTurner, R-KS, 2nd District</figcaption>
 </figure>Office of Rep. LaTurnerWASHINGTON, D.C.&nbsp;– Reps. Jake LaTurner (R-KS) and Yadira Caraveo, M.D. (D-CO) introduced&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0011SLYJ9ABCDxg6BUiHGPGP5cUkkqtOpXgma-kZ1I6BHEwQV_bf6uo6G-x0ArqBXDux8Q-D5Gd5wjqYJZiAqEtUjNQ7rR7XWe20_7I-eCVYL9VohtkhgJDmjU8TxNN-hhOSX7CkKNDVfGdW8C9TSoNxSqftcfEuv6dUjuQ_Dm8NlkJGhj9CadLSqpJ1-47loSIjIwVZnwnOb3F4KuaIYWUWkfJUr5CgIxmzv3ix6Y12JRG4lmBE_kRDnpKnnzo0aBxeyVBsXfpfkWm-N0ARx-0RyVSO36JIG_kOrHEDgkGN5lX4Crw68IIaQ==&amp;c=RHt9dJ_vS3tQrOnLdVYe01c-BmyxTkj9cD0Jpw3Ro7kCQqbfjNQwAQ==&amp;ch=nB6GgIT9vtqVeaP3EPqk7tlbixGyKGH5C61DfKxl_RZhbtRxlh2K2g==" target="_blank">a bipartisan bill</a>&nbsp;Thursday that will help&nbsp;family farmers and ranchers fight drought. The&nbsp;Voluntary Groundwater Conservation Act&nbsp;gives farmers and ranchers the flexibility they need to protect groundwater sources while also keeping their agricultural lands in production under a new voluntary groundwater easement program at the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) within the&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0011SLYJ9ABCDxg6BUiHGPGP5cUkkqtOpXgma-kZ1I6BHEwQV_bf6uo6G-x0ArqBXDu2szG0UzImqjFvrM69sG4_Hkqwr3kU_jHVH0LGFOMMcJK4DXRClBK1iaeUFscStvYHuI10M8GRyWn9X2YBFrMZ0t3jbaiv5dgxlDbdk685ht5drpxVvKW0gYXUeufblsAs3U96Za5F8zNUaA_mctIGHWjSRzbKdYo1UPdIADE6LmQrP1Gi8GQSQ==&amp;c=RHt9dJ_vS3tQrOnLdVYe01c-BmyxTkj9cD0Jpw3Ro7kCQqbfjNQwAQ==&amp;ch=nB6GgIT9vtqVeaP3EPqk7tlbixGyKGH5C61DfKxl_RZhbtRxlh2K2g==" target="_blank">Agricultural Conservation Easements Program.</a> "Declining groundwater supply is a growing concern for our rural communities. As farmers and ranchers across Kansas continue to face historic drought, it's more important than ever that we work to conserve our state's water supply for generations to come," said LaTurner."I'm proud to partner with Rep. Caraveo to introduce the Voluntary Groundwater Conservation Act to provide agriculture producers with the resources they need to help reduce groundwater use, conserve our natural resources, and keep their land in production."“We in the West understand just how precious a resource our water is. That’s especially true in many rural communities, which rely on groundwater as their primary source of drinking water, and as irrigation supply for farmers and ranchers,” said&nbsp; Caraveo.America’s groundwater resources are a primary source of drinking water for rural communities and a vital irrigation water supply for many family farms and ranches across the country. However, these resources are in decline — a trend that could seriously affect communities, water users, ecosystem health and local economies.The&nbsp;Voluntary Groundwater Conservation Act&nbsp;would:&nbsp; <ol>
 <li>Create a new Groundwater Conservation Easement Program at USDA to encourage voluntary, compensated reductions in groundwater consumption on agricultural land and advance local, regional, or state groundwater management goals;</li><li>Allow NRCS to reimburse transaction costs up to 5 percent of the federal share and requires an advance payment for limited resource producers to cover these costs;</li><li>Guarantee long-term management flexibility for a producer to continue farming and choose how they reduce their water use, as long as they conserve the amount they’ve committed to reducing each year;</li><li>Ensure that farmers are fairly compensated using a payment based on the market value for the water right instead of a per acre payment; and</li><li>Clarify that easement funds shall not be counted towards a farm’s adjusted gross income and that producers with an adjusted gross income of more than $900,000 are eligible for a waiver from the Secretary to participate in groundwater conservation easements.&nbsp;</li>
 </ol>U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.)&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0011SLYJ9ABCDxg6BUiHGPGP5cUkkqtOpXgma-kZ1I6BHEwQV_bf6uo6G-x0ArqBXDu0kKB4lTDaUo5BD8fuZ93PoVBqu0uVnjVmqBWYucyVRS9zh8cAbvROD5E_KHl6tAuYz0SHAv281zpFK6ndOwUC_itRIC5KsJYbDrh6jn5n3sWyFB7rhCxNTXpmJR6sART3oKEFZfsgN6fdL5UgvUaoKcxctG9TG4TIlLfq0AEkT8V68-BWEuOD8NyHHRhayH6&amp;c=RHt9dJ_vS3tQrOnLdVYe01c-BmyxTkj9cD0Jpw3Ro7kCQqbfjNQwAQ==&amp;ch=nB6GgIT9vtqVeaP3EPqk7tlbixGyKGH5C61DfKxl_RZhbtRxlh2K2g==" target="_blank">introduced</a>&nbsp;the&nbsp;Voluntary Groundwater Conservation Act&nbsp;in the Senate&nbsp;earlier this month. Full text of the bill is available&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0011SLYJ9ABCDxg6BUiHGPGP5cUkkqtOpXgma-kZ1I6BHEwQV_bf6uo6G-x0ArqBXDux8Q-D5Gd5wjqYJZiAqEtUjNQ7rR7XWe20_7I-eCVYL9VohtkhgJDmjU8TxNN-hhOSX7CkKNDVfGdW8C9TSoNxSqftcfEuv6dUjuQ_Dm8NlkJGhj9CadLSqpJ1-47loSIjIwVZnwnOb3F4KuaIYWUWkfJUr5CgIxmzv3ix6Y12JRG4lmBE_kRDnpKnnzo0aBxeyVBsXfpfkWm-N0ARx-0RyVSO36JIG_kOrHEDgkGN5lX4Crw68IIaQ==&amp;c=RHt9dJ_vS3tQrOnLdVYe01c-BmyxTkj9cD0Jpw3Ro7kCQqbfjNQwAQ==&amp;ch=nB6GgIT9vtqVeaP3EPqk7tlbixGyKGH5C61DfKxl_RZhbtRxlh2K2g==" target="_blank">HERE</a>.

Rep. LaTurner intros bill to help farmers, ranchers combat drought

The Hays Striders finished their final week of training for the 2023 AAU Junior Olympic Games now underway through August 5 at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.

Seventeen of the 132 athletes who make up the Striders team qualified to move on to the national meet by competing in the Missouri Valley District and Region 16 qualifiers in Hays and Yukon, Oklahoma respectively. An athlete qualifies for the Junior Olympics by finishing in the top six at the regional meet. 

Coming out of the meet in Yukon, Oklahoma, the Striders had five regional champions all earning gold medals, with two athletes earning&nbsp; regional champion in three events at the Oklahoma meet.

Riley Leiker powered her way to gold in three events in the 8-Under Girls Division by taking first in the 400-m dash (1:14.21), 800-m run (2:54.05) and shot put (21’7.50”).

Emery Zimmerman continued his dominance in the 11-year-old Boys Division by earning gold in the 800-meter run (2:28.31), the 1500 (4:59.51), and 3000-meter run (10:46.63). He also qualified in the pentathlon (3rd, 1786 points).

Other regional champions included Tayte Lewallen, providing an amazing run in the 11-year-old Boys Division 80-meter hurdles to take the gold (14.72) and also qualified in the 800-meter run (3rd, 2:38.03) and pentathlon (2nd, 1865 points). 

Kane Staab tossed his way to gold in the discus in the 11-year-old Boys Division (62’05”) and also qualified in the shot put (2nd, 31’2”). 

Lyndi Zimmerman took Regional Champion gold in the shot put (38’3”), and pentathlon (2883). Zimmerman also qualified in the 200-meter dash (3rd, 25.35) 100-meter hurdles (2nd, 15.73) and 200-meter hurdles (3rd, 30.58).

“These athletes work hard, day in and day out, rain or shine, cold weather or hot; and are all champions. From the regional winners, the Junior Olympic qualifiers, down to the athlete who comes to our team to try it out for just a couple of months, we try to train them all to improve every day,” Head Coach Dave Haberman said.&nbsp;

Other qualifiers, along with their regional finishes and performances, include multi-sport athlete Kersee Wince, 8-Under Girls, shot put (6th, 12’2”);&nbsp; Plainville talent Jovie Staab, 8-Under Girls turbo javelin (4th, 32’1”); La Crosse powerhouse Danica Vap, 12-Girls, shot put (3rd, 31’6.75”) and discus (2nd, 86’1”); another Plainville talent, Hayden Staab 12-Girls shot put (2nd, 32’0.25”) and discus (3rd, 79’); gifted incoming Hays Middle School athlete Sydney Lewallen, 13-Girls, 400-meter dash (6th, 1:03.36) and 800-meter run (4th, 2:30.87); and incoming Hays High freshman force Makayla Lewallen, 14-Girls, pentathlon (2nd, 2309 points) and high jump (3rd, 4’8”).

Zippy Finley Zimmerman, 8-Under Boys qualified in the 1500-meter run with a fifth place finish at 6:38.82. Strongman Jacob Leiker qualified in the shot put (5th, 31’10.25”) and discus (5th, 73’02). Kobe Schmidt ran a season best in the 12-Boys 400-meter dash, finishing 6th (1:02.28); and teammate Robbie Readle ran the best race of his season to win his heat in the 400 at 1:15.12, also in the 12-Boys Division.

Logan Leiker, another incoming freshman and future star at Hays High School, qualified in the 14-Boys 3000-meter run by running 10:46.63, taking sixth.&nbsp;

Multi-talented runner Brayden Staley, 15-16 Boys, qualified in the 2000-meter steeplechase running 7:41.91.&nbsp;

Hays High football and track athlete Kamani Jones, who took sixth at the KSHSAA State meet in the Class 5A triple jump this past season, qualified in the rriple jump for the Junior Olympics (3rd, 41’11”) and high jump (5th, 5’10”).

Haberman said he would put these kids up against any in the nation and would be very confident they would be competitive.

 “Several of our Striders are ranked in the top 10 in the nation coming into the Junior Olympics," he said.

Some of the events will have over 100 athletes from across the country competing. “We have never seen this many Striders in the Top 10!” Haberman exclaimed. “Their work ethic is top shelf and we’re excited to see them compete against the best in the nation.”

Haberman is referring to Lyndi Zimmerman who has the top seed in the pentathlon. Riley Leiker, Hayden Staab, Danica Vap, Emery Zimmerman, Tayte Lewallen, and Kane Staab are the Striders with the Top 10 incoming times or distances.

“We also have about a dozen first-class coaches for our Strider athletes,” Haberman added. “Elaine Haberman (sprints, long and triple jump), Hunter Hearne (throws), Hannah Wince (high jump and hurdles), and Brooklyn Lewallen (hurdles) take the bulk of the duties; while Fort Hays State University athletes Abby Rueschhoff, Meredith Lewallen, Lynn Leiker, Jennifer Werth, Traci Vap, Mike Smith, and TJ Staab contribute substantially&nbsp; to Strider performance success.”&nbsp;

Of the 58 Striders who qualified from the district meet in Hays, there were 22 who competed in the regional qualifier in Yukon, Oklahoma.

 The region is made up of AAU teams in Kansas, Oklahoma, eastern Missouri, and northwest Arkansas. It is considered one of the hardest qualifying meets in the nation to qualify from to compete in the National meet.&nbsp;

Other notable performances from the regional meet include newcomer Channing Leiker, 15-16 Boys, 110-meter high hurdles (12th, 20.98) and 400-meter Hurdles (9th, 1:11.24); Hays High jumper Kaliyah Bannister 15-16 Girls long jump (9th, 15’9”); Russell’s Aubrey Briney 15-16 Girls long jump (13th, 14’7.50”) high jump (10th, 4’6”) and triple jump (8th, 31’9”); Kyla Schmidt, coming off of an injury, 15-16 Girls, long jump (24th, 12’2.50) and triple jump (7th, 31’11”); and the Strider throwing stalwart Caleb Englert, 15-16 discus, (12th, 91’2.75” and shot put (13th, 32’4”).&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1690814007629.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>SubmittedThe Hays Striders finished their final week of training for the 2023 AAU Junior Olympic Games now underway through August 5 at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.Seventeen of the 132 athletes who make up the Striders team qualified to move on to the national meet by competing in the Missouri Valley District and Region 16 qualifiers in Hays and Yukon, Oklahoma respectively. An athlete qualifies for the Junior Olympics by finishing in the top six at the regional meet. Coming out of the meet in Yukon, Oklahoma, the Striders had five regional champions all earning gold medals, with two athletes earning&nbsp; regional champion in three events at the Oklahoma meet.Riley Leiker powered her way to gold in three events in the 8-Under Girls Division by taking first in the 400-m dash (1:14.21), 800-m run (2:54.05) and shot put (21’7.50”).Emery Zimmerman continued his dominance in the 11-year-old Boys Division by earning gold in the 800-meter run (2:28.31), the 1500 (4:59.51), and 3000-meter run (10:46.63). He also qualified in the pentathlon (3rd, 1786 points).Other regional champions included Tayte Lewallen, providing an amazing run in the 11-year-old Boys Division 80-meter hurdles to take the gold (14.72) and also qualified in the 800-meter run (3rd, 2:38.03) and pentathlon (2nd, 1865 points). Kane Staab tossed his way to gold in the discus in the 11-year-old Boys Division (62’05”) and also qualified in the shot put (2nd, 31’2”). Lyndi Zimmerman took Regional Champion gold in the shot put (38’3”), and pentathlon (2883). Zimmerman also qualified in the 200-meter dash (3rd, 25.35) 100-meter hurdles (2nd, 15.73) and 200-meter hurdles (3rd, 30.58).“These athletes work hard, day in and day out, rain or shine, cold weather or hot; and are all champions. From the regional winners, the Junior Olympic qualifiers, down to the athlete who comes to our team to try it out for just a couple of months, we try to train them all to improve every day,” Head Coach Dave Haberman said.&nbsp;Other qualifiers, along with their regional finishes and performances, include multi-sport athlete Kersee Wince, 8-Under Girls, shot put (6th, 12’2”);&nbsp; Plainville talent Jovie Staab, 8-Under Girls turbo javelin (4th, 32’1”); La Crosse powerhouse Danica Vap, 12-Girls, shot put (3rd, 31’6.75”) and discus (2nd, 86’1”); another Plainville talent, Hayden Staab 12-Girls shot put (2nd, 32’0.25”) and discus (3rd, 79’); gifted incoming Hays Middle School athlete Sydney Lewallen, 13-Girls, 400-meter dash (6th, 1:03.36) and 800-meter run (4th, 2:30.87); and incoming Hays High freshman force Makayla Lewallen, 14-Girls, pentathlon (2nd, 2309 points) and high jump (3rd, 4’8”).Zippy Finley Zimmerman, 8-Under Boys qualified in the 1500-meter run with a fifth place finish at 6:38.82. Strongman Jacob Leiker qualified in the shot put (5th, 31’10.25”) and discus (5th, 73’02). Kobe Schmidt ran a season best in the 12-Boys 400-meter dash, finishing 6th (1:02.28); and teammate Robbie Readle ran the best race of his season to win his heat in the 400 at 1:15.12, also in the 12-Boys Division.Logan Leiker, another incoming freshman and future star at Hays High School, qualified in the 14-Boys 3000-meter run by running 10:46.63, taking sixth.&nbsp;Multi-talented runner Brayden Staley, 15-16 Boys, qualified in the 2000-meter steeplechase running 7:41.91.&nbsp;Hays High football and track athlete Kamani Jones, who took sixth at the KSHSAA State meet in the Class 5A triple jump this past season, qualified in the rriple jump for the Junior Olympics (3rd, 41’11”) and high jump (5th, 5’10”).Haberman said he would put these kids up against any in the nation and would be very confident they would be competitive. “Several of our Striders are ranked in the top 10 in the nation coming into the Junior Olympics," he said.Some of the events will have over 100 athletes from across the country competing. “We have never seen this many Striders in the Top 10!” Haberman exclaimed. “Their work ethic is top shelf and we’re excited to see them compete against the best in the nation.”Haberman is referring to Lyndi Zimmerman who has the top seed in the pentathlon. Riley Leiker, Hayden Staab, Danica Vap, Emery Zimmerman, Tayte Lewallen, and Kane Staab are the Striders with the Top 10 incoming times or distances.“We also have about a dozen first-class coaches for our Strider athletes,” Haberman added. “Elaine Haberman (sprints, long and triple jump), Hunter Hearne (throws), Hannah Wince (high jump and hurdles), and Brooklyn Lewallen (hurdles) take the bulk of the duties; while Fort Hays State University athletes Abby Rueschhoff, Meredith Lewallen, Lynn Leiker, Jennifer Werth, Traci Vap, Mike Smith, and TJ Staab contribute substantially&nbsp; to Strider performance success.”&nbsp;Of the 58 Striders who qualified from the district meet in Hays, there were 22 who competed in the regional qualifier in Yukon, Oklahoma. The region is made up of AAU teams in Kansas, Oklahoma, eastern Missouri, and northwest Arkansas. It is considered one of the hardest qualifying meets in the nation to qualify from to compete in the National meet.&nbsp;Other notable performances from the regional meet include newcomer Channing Leiker, 15-16 Boys, 110-meter high hurdles (12th, 20.98) and 400-meter Hurdles (9th, 1:11.24); Hays High jumper Kaliyah Bannister 15-16 Girls long jump (9th, 15’9”); Russell’s Aubrey Briney 15-16 Girls long jump (13th, 14’7.50”) high jump (10th, 4’6”) and triple jump (8th, 31’9”); Kyla Schmidt, coming off of an injury, 15-16 Girls, long jump (24th, 12’2.50) and triple jump (7th, 31’11”); and the Strider throwing stalwart Caleb Englert, 15-16 discus, (12th, 91’2.75” and shot put (13th, 32’4”).&nbsp;

👟 Hays Striders prepared for Junior Olympics underway through Saturday

Since 1967 the current Forsyth Library building on the Fort
Hays State University campus has been a resource for students and the
community. But as storage and consumption of information changed significantly
with the advent of the internet, the building struggled to keep up.

But now, a major renovation looks to address that concern.

Beginning in the summer of 2024, work will begin on a $25
million overhaul of the facility, with an expected completion in 2026.

“If you think about the way we interact with information and
how that has changed, the building was never designed for that,” said Ginger
Williams, Dean of Library Services at Forsyth Library.

While the construction work is nearly a year away, planning
has been ongoing.

“We are wrapping up the design phase right now. I would say
it's about 98 percent set at this point,” Williams said.

The revamped facility will continue as a book repository,
but other features and services will be added.

“I think when you step inside the renovated building a few
years from now, you're not going to recognize Forsyth Library anymore as it is
today,” Williams said.

While minor renovations have adapted the building to fill
needs over the years, this project will bring together the facility, giving it
a “cohesive look,” she said.

“We are really going to have the main floor transformed into
a very active zone,” Williams said. “We're excited to bring in a cafe. We're
excited to really feature the Writing Center.”

And looking back at the building’s historic purpose, books
will also return to the first floor.

“We actually talked to students, and they said they want to
see books and know that they're in a library,” Williams said.

Feedback from students also indicated a desire for more collaborative
workspaces.

“Students have always had a need to find a place to study,”
Williams said. “And I think we are going to see students just streaming in for
all of the new study rooms.”

Natural lighting and books will be on full display in those
rooms.

“That's what they told us,” Williams said. “Because that
signals to them that this is a place I'm supposed to study, I'm supposed to get
my work done. And it signals it's really time to get down to business.”

Programming is also top of mind as the plans come together.

“We are actually designing a really great event space that
will be appropriate for lectures and other community events,” Williams said. “It's
really hard to fathom if you haven't seen the plans, the scope of change that is
coming to that building.”

The Institute for New Media Studies will also be inserted
into the building alongside a media lab, the Makerspace and an audio booth.

“It'll be kind of a technology corridor,” Williams said.

Those features will be made more prominent through the
redesign.

“Right now, the downstairs is not prime real estate at all,”
Williams said. “It's pretty drab, but we're doing a lot of intentional work to
make it exciting down there.”

A new amphitheater staircase will flow from the main
entrance to the MakerSpace. Another hole will be cut, making the Institute for
New Media Studies visible from the main floor.

Supporting the renovated facility, the project will also
update building systems, like HVAC and electrical infrastructure.

“This is no small thing,” said Alumni Office alumni director
Carolyn Tatro. “A major renovation of a building is truly something that is
hard to kind of swallow.”

But the majority of the project has already been paid for by
a $19 million grant from the National Institute for Standards and Technology.

Their contribution will help with the renovation and ongoing
maintenance costs in the future, she said.

Support for the remaining $6 million needed for the project
is ongoing.

“This is a great opportunity to show passion for the library,
passion for what students are doing,” Tatro said. “We were fortunate to receive
this federal grant. And, you know, we are grateful for Senator Moran for
helping the university secure this money, but it's going to take a little bit
more effort.”

Part of the fundraising will include naming opportunities in
the facility.

“We're lucky that we have one namespace so far, the Larry
and Lyn Fenwick Reading Room, that'll be a major improvement to our special
collections and university archives,” Williams said. “We've never had a true
reading room before. And so they're giving us our first one.”

That space will be appropriately climate controlled and
provide everything that rare materials need, she said.

While the work is ongoing, some services may relocate to
other buildings to remain available. Williams said they will provide updates on
the library website, <a href="https://www.fhsu.edu/library/">fhsu.edu/library</a>.

Williams said the project will help better serve the
students and the community, even as life transitions more online daily.

“Libraries are more necessary now than I think they ever
have been,” she said. “We're swimming in information right now, and we all need
help figuring out how to manage that and how to access it.”

“We love being that academic hub and that center of
intellectual discourse, and we want to bring people together to talk about
things that are tough to talk about, but find a way to do that peacefully and
with all the information we can.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1690568744571.jpeg" alt="Photo by James Bell/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Photo by James Bell/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>By JAMES BELL Hays PostSince 1967 the current Forsyth Library building on the Fort
Hays State University campus has been a resource for students and the
community. But as storage and consumption of information changed significantly
with the advent of the internet, the building struggled to keep up.But now, a major renovation looks to address that concern.Beginning in the summer of 2024, work will begin on a $25
million overhaul of the facility, with an expected completion in 2026.“If you think about the way we interact with information and
how that has changed, the building was never designed for that,” said Ginger
Williams, Dean of Library Services at Forsyth Library.<div><iframe title="FHSU Forsyth Library remodel to revamp and reimagine campus learning center" allowtransparency="true" height="150" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:150px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=gr4ze-1465e3b-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=f6f6f6&font-color=auto&logo_link=podcast_page&btn-skin=3267a3&size=315" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>While the construction work is nearly a year away, planning
has been ongoing.“We are wrapping up the design phase right now. I would say
it's about 98 percent set at this point,” Williams said.The revamped facility will continue as a book repository,
but other features and services will be added.“I think when you step inside the renovated building a few
years from now, you're not going to recognize Forsyth Library anymore as it is
today,” Williams said.While minor renovations have adapted the building to fill
needs over the years, this project will bring together the facility, giving it
a “cohesive look,” she said.“We are really going to have the main floor transformed into
a very active zone,” Williams said. “We're excited to bring in a cafe. We're
excited to really feature the Writing Center.”And looking back at the building’s historic purpose, books
will also return to the first floor.“We actually talked to students, and they said they want to
see books and know that they're in a library,” Williams said.Feedback from students also indicated a desire for more collaborative
workspaces.“Students have always had a need to find a place to study,”
Williams said. “And I think we are going to see students just streaming in for
all of the new study rooms.”Natural lighting and books will be on full display in those
rooms.“That's what they told us,” Williams said. “Because that
signals to them that this is a place I'm supposed to study, I'm supposed to get
my work done. And it signals it's really time to get down to business.”Programming is also top of mind as the plans come together.“We are actually designing a really great event space that
will be appropriate for lectures and other community events,” Williams said. “It's
really hard to fathom if you haven't seen the plans, the scope of change that is
coming to that building.”The Institute for New Media Studies will also be inserted
into the building alongside a media lab, the Makerspace and an audio booth.“It'll be kind of a technology corridor,” Williams said.Those features will be made more prominent through the
redesign.“Right now, the downstairs is not prime real estate at all,”
Williams said. “It's pretty drab, but we're doing a lot of intentional work to
make it exciting down there.”A new amphitheater staircase will flow from the main
entrance to the MakerSpace. Another hole will be cut, making the Institute for
New Media Studies visible from the main floor.Supporting the renovated facility, the project will also
update building systems, like HVAC and electrical infrastructure.<h2>A major renovation with a major cost</h2><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1690568710360.jpeg" alt="Photo by James Bell/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Photo by James Bell/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>“This is no small thing,” said Alumni Office alumni director
Carolyn Tatro. “A major renovation of a building is truly something that is
hard to kind of swallow.”But the majority of the project has already been paid for by
a $19 million grant from the National Institute for Standards and Technology.Their contribution will help with the renovation and ongoing
maintenance costs in the future, she said.Support for the remaining $6 million needed for the project
is ongoing.“This is a great opportunity to show passion for the library,
passion for what students are doing,” Tatro said. “We were fortunate to receive
this federal grant. And, you know, we are grateful for Senator Moran for
helping the university secure this money, but it's going to take a little bit
more effort.”Part of the fundraising will include naming opportunities in
the facility.“We're lucky that we have one namespace so far, the Larry
and Lyn Fenwick Reading Room, that'll be a major improvement to our special
collections and university archives,” Williams said. “We've never had a true
reading room before. And so they're giving us our first one.”That space will be appropriately climate controlled and
provide everything that rare materials need, she said.While the work is ongoing, some services may relocate to
other buildings to remain available. Williams said they will provide updates on
the library website, <a href="https://www.fhsu.edu/library/">fhsu.edu/library</a>.Williams said the project will help better serve the
students and the community, even as life transitions more online daily.“Libraries are more necessary now than I think they ever
have been,” she said. “We're swimming in information right now, and we all need
help figuring out how to manage that and how to access it.”“We love being that academic hub and that center of
intellectual discourse, and we want to bring people together to talk about
things that are tough to talk about, but find a way to do that peacefully and
with all the information we can.”

🎙 FHSU Forsyth Library remodel to revamp and reimagine campus learning center

TOPEKA– Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) Secretary Laura Howard announced July 24 that Dr. Lindsey Dinkel has been appointed Superintendent at Larned State Hospital (LSH) effective August 20, 2023, when current Superintendent Lesia Dipman officially retires, according to a media release from the agency.

“Dr. Dinkel has the clinical and academic familiarity with hospital programs to seamlessly take over the role of superintendent and continue the hospital’s progress toward improved resident experiences and exceptional mental health care,”&nbsp;KDADS Secretary Laura Howard said. “I believe her range of professional knowledge is an asset that will enable her to transition smoothly and contribute immediately in this role.”

Dr. Dinkel has more than 10 years of experience in the mental health field including roles in clinical, administrative, research, and academic settings. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in psychology at Fort Hays State University followed by her master’s degree in forensic psychology at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology.

Dr. Dinkel became a Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology in 2020 with a specialization in Mental Health Policy and Practice. She began as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the State of Kansas in 2013 and became a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) in 2018. She has specialized in treating mental illness in the forensic population and held clinical roles in other settings including child welfare, in-patient psychiatric care, involuntary commitment, and outpatient community service. Dr. Dinkel has been an active adjunct instructor teaching in the fields of forensic psychology, criminal justice, and counseling. She has held several roles during her tenure at LSH, including contract therapist within the Sexual Predator Treatment Program, Chief Operations Officer, and Assistant Superintendent.&nbsp;

Dr. Dinkel will have a month to work alongside Superintendent Dipman to facilitate a smooth leadership transition.&nbsp;

“KDADS and the State of Kansas extends its sincere gratitude to Superintendent Dipman for her steadfast commitment to the Larned community, her staff, and the residents we care for at the hospital,”&nbsp;KDADS Deputy Secretary of Hospitals and Facilities Scott Brunner said. “Lesia has been instrumental in leading the hospital through some very challenging times in her years in this role and is known and respected for successfully tackling some of the unique concerns on campus as well as her administrative and crisis management skills. She has been a great asset who will be missed.”

&nbsp;LSH Superintendent Dipman has served the State of Kansas for 38 years, starting her career at LSH in 1984, working in various positions from food services to the nursing department, and in multiple departments, from the State Security Hospital to the adolescent unit and youth center. Dipman attended Fort Hays State University and Kansas State University (KSU) and earned a bachelor’s degree in social work from KSU in 1994. By 2004, she was promoted to Director of Social Services at the hospital, and a year later earned a master’s degree in social work from Newman University in Wichita.&nbsp;

In 2006, Dipman transferred to the State Security Program at LSH as the Administrative Program Director, her most recent position before being named Acting Superintendent by KDADS Secretary Howard in February 2019, then Superintendent in May 2019.

In her nearly 5 years as Superintendent, Dipman was instrumental in leading LSH staff through the COVID-19 pandemic by adapting the hospital’s incident response plan to effectively operate in an infectious disease incident. She oversaw the isolation and quarantine processes in three separate hospital programs while continuing to admit patients regardless of COVID status and keep patients and staff safe. While other state agencies moved to remote work, Dipman’s staff continued to provide 24/7 care across hospital programs and units. She advocated for staff pay increases to retain direct care and security staff, including base pay increases, incentive payments during the pandemic, and incentives for hourly employees working through the COVID-19 public health emergency. Dipman also led the implementation effort for statutory changes passed in 2022 to increase the number of providers conducting forensic competency evaluations in jails and expanding mobile restoration services among more than 20 counties.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575316643636.jpeg" alt="File photo" />
 <figcaption>File photo</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA– Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) Secretary Laura Howard announced July 24 that Dr. Lindsey Dinkel has been appointed Superintendent at Larned State Hospital (LSH) effective August 20, 2023, when current Superintendent Lesia Dipman officially retires, according to a media release from the agency.“Dr. Dinkel has the clinical and academic familiarity with hospital programs to seamlessly take over the role of superintendent and continue the hospital’s progress toward improved resident experiences and exceptional mental health care,”&nbsp;KDADS Secretary Laura Howard said. “I believe her range of professional knowledge is an asset that will enable her to transition smoothly and contribute immediately in this role.”Dr. Dinkel has more than 10 years of experience in the mental health field including roles in clinical, administrative, research, and academic settings. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in psychology at Fort Hays State University followed by her master’s degree in forensic psychology at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology.Dr. Dinkel became a Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology in 2020 with a specialization in Mental Health Policy and Practice. She began as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the State of Kansas in 2013 and became a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) in 2018. She has specialized in treating mental illness in the forensic population and held clinical roles in other settings including child welfare, in-patient psychiatric care, involuntary commitment, and outpatient community service. Dr. Dinkel has been an active adjunct instructor teaching in the fields of forensic psychology, criminal justice, and counseling. She has held several roles during her tenure at LSH, including contract therapist within the Sexual Predator Treatment Program, Chief Operations Officer, and Assistant Superintendent.&nbsp;Dr. Dinkel will have a month to work alongside Superintendent Dipman to facilitate a smooth leadership transition.&nbsp;“KDADS and the State of Kansas extends its sincere gratitude to Superintendent Dipman for her steadfast commitment to the Larned community, her staff, and the residents we care for at the hospital,”&nbsp;KDADS Deputy Secretary of Hospitals and Facilities Scott Brunner said. “Lesia has been instrumental in leading the hospital through some very challenging times in her years in this role and is known and respected for successfully tackling some of the unique concerns on campus as well as her administrative and crisis management skills. She has been a great asset who will be missed.”&nbsp;LSH Superintendent Dipman has served the State of Kansas for 38 years, starting her career at LSH in 1984, working in various positions from food services to the nursing department, and in multiple departments, from the State Security Hospital to the adolescent unit and youth center. Dipman attended Fort Hays State University and Kansas State University (KSU) and earned a bachelor’s degree in social work from KSU in 1994. By 2004, she was promoted to Director of Social Services at the hospital, and a year later earned a master’s degree in social work from Newman University in Wichita.&nbsp;In 2006, Dipman transferred to the State Security Program at LSH as the Administrative Program Director, her most recent position before being named Acting Superintendent by KDADS Secretary Howard in February 2019, then Superintendent in May 2019.In her nearly 5 years as Superintendent, Dipman was instrumental in leading LSH staff through the COVID-19 pandemic by adapting the hospital’s incident response plan to effectively operate in an infectious disease incident. She oversaw the isolation and quarantine processes in three separate hospital programs while continuing to admit patients regardless of COVID status and keep patients and staff safe. While other state agencies moved to remote work, Dipman’s staff continued to provide 24/7 care across hospital programs and units. She advocated for staff pay increases to retain direct care and security staff, including base pay increases, incentive payments during the pandemic, and incentives for hourly employees working through the COVID-19 public health emergency. Dipman also led the implementation effort for statutory changes passed in 2022 to increase the number of providers conducting forensic competency evaluations in jails and expanding mobile restoration services among more than 20 counties.

FHSU grad appointed as new Superintendent at Larned State Hospital

By ANNE CHRISTIANSEN-BULLERS KU Medical Center

The COVID-19 pandemic shed light on many shortcomings in rural health, and one of them was the lack of certified pulmonary rehabilitation specialists in rural areas. These are medical professionals in various fields who have received extra respiratory training to guide patients through therapies intended to enhance their breathing and strengthen their pulmonary system once it’s been damaged.

Faculty at the University of Kansas Medical Center are leveraging a $1.54 million federal grant to get more trained pulmonary rehabilitation specialists into rural Kansas. The three-year grant from the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) runs through 2025.

Dave Burnett, Ph.D., associate dean for community engagement and workforce initiatives in KU School of Health Professions, said “the light bulb just went off” when the grant application suggested pulmonary rehabilitation as a potential focus area. “The reality of the situation is that there are not enough folks with specialized (pulmonary rehab) training in Kansas, and that’s the gap that we needed to improve,” he said.

Even though the HRSA established the grant with COVID in mind, Burnett said more pulmonary rehabilitation specialists in Kansas would be an advantage for other respiratory problems, too. He quoted a federal statistic indicating that only 4% of all COPD patients eligible for pulmonary rehabilitation under Medicaid or Medicare actually received that rehabilitation.

“In addition to a lack of clinicians with specialized training in pulmonary rehabilitation, there is a scarcity of actual (pulmonary rehabilitation) programs, especially in rural communities,” said Burnett, who is also an associate professor in the Department of Respiratory Care and Diagnostic Science in KU School of Health Professions.

A collaboration between Health Professions and Nursing

The grant-funded initiative is called the Interprofessional COVID Academic Network, or I-CAN. Burnett contacted Cynthia Teel, Ph.D., FAAN, professor and associate dean of academic affairs in KU School of Nursing, to make the initiative interprofessional.

“We want to bring together the skills that respiratory therapists have and the skills that registered nurses have, and bring these skill sets together for the benefit of the patient,” Teel explained. “We’ve started with respiratory therapy and nursing as the two professions in this stage of the grant, but it in no way has to be limited to only those two professions.”

The initiative currently has three major parts. First, faculty reviewed the curriculum of a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aarc.org/education/online-courses/pulmonary-rehabilitation-certificate-course/">pulmonary rehabilitation certificate already offered by the American Association of Respiratory Care</a>&nbsp;(AARC) to assure its appropriateness for treating long COVID.

Second, primary investigators reached out to faculty at KU School of Nursing-Salina as well as instructors of nursing and respiratory care programs at Kansas community colleges that serve rural populations. These educators then incorporated elements of the pulmonary rehabilitation curriculum into existing classes, and students were able to use grant funds to cover the costs of certification.

Delyna “Dee” Bohnenblust, director of the nursing program at Labette Community College in Parsons, Kansas, said the initiative gave nursing faculty and students a “wonderful opportunity” to improve their skills. Parsons is located in southeast Kansas, 150 miles from Kansas City. “We are very rural, and we don’t have the same resources available that you’re going to have in the larger metropolitan areas,” Bohnenblust said.

All eight members of the Labette Community College nursing faculty became certified in pulmonary rehabilitation, and following extra training incorporated into their last class before graduation, all 29 nursing graduates of the Class of 2023 became certified as well.

“Respiratory nursing has always been part of the general nursing curriculum, but it does not lend itself to the depth that this certification allowed,” Bohnenblust said. “We looked at this truly as an opportunity as we’re coming out of the COVID pandemic for students to feel more prepared as they graduate our program and move into entry-level nursing positions.”

Seward County Community College, Liberal, has had 10 respiratory therapy students and two respiratory therapy faculty members certified in pulmonary rehabilitation via the new initiative.

Janae Zachary, director of respiratory therapy, said the certification builds student confidence. “Only a small part of the respiratory therapy curriculum is currently dedicated to reviewing cardiopulmonary rehab,” she said. “The access provided by I-CAN to the AARC Pulmonary Rehabilitation certification program certainly covers it more completely and supports their competency in this area.”

Seward County Community College’s nursing program is now considering adding pulmonary rehabilitation via the new initiative as well, Zachary said.

&nbsp;Expanding the initiative to current professionals

The third element of the network, currently under development, is to contact hospitals and clinics so nurses, respiratory therapists and other medical clinicians currently in practice have an opportunity to be certified as pulmonary rehabilitation specialists.

“We’re committed to increasing skills in the rural health care workforce, and we also have recognized the importance of trying to provide meaningful resources for people who have had COVID-19 and who are dealing with the aftermath of long COVID,” Teel said.

“Now, especially, as the resources available during the acute portion of the pandemic are being discontinued and we move into a more post-pandemic phase, this project has given us the opportunity to ask, ‘What are the needs of the people in our communities, and what can we do to improve things for the people with those needs?’”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689022244278.jpeg" alt="Three-year grant promotes and facilitates the certification of nurses and respiratory therapists in pulmonary rehabilitation, especially for those planning to work in rural Kansas. KU Medical Center" />
 <figcaption>Three-year grant promotes and facilitates the certification of nurses and respiratory therapists in pulmonary rehabilitation, especially for those planning to work in rural Kansas. KU Medical Center</figcaption>
 </figure>By ANNE CHRISTIANSEN-BULLERS KU Medical CenterThe COVID-19 pandemic shed light on many shortcomings in rural health, and one of them was the lack of certified pulmonary rehabilitation specialists in rural areas. These are medical professionals in various fields who have received extra respiratory training to guide patients through therapies intended to enhance their breathing and strengthen their pulmonary system once it’s been damaged.Faculty at the University of Kansas Medical Center are leveraging a $1.54 million federal grant to get more trained pulmonary rehabilitation specialists into rural Kansas. The three-year grant from the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) runs through 2025.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689021983900.jpeg" alt="Dave Burnett, Ph.D." />
 <figcaption>Dave Burnett, Ph.D.</figcaption>
 </figure>Dave Burnett, Ph.D., associate dean for community engagement and workforce initiatives in KU School of Health Professions, said “the light bulb just went off” when the grant application suggested pulmonary rehabilitation as a potential focus area. “The reality of the situation is that there are not enough folks with specialized (pulmonary rehab) training in Kansas, and that’s the gap that we needed to improve,” he said.Even though the HRSA established the grant with COVID in mind, Burnett said more pulmonary rehabilitation specialists in Kansas would be an advantage for other respiratory problems, too. He quoted a federal statistic indicating that only 4% of all COPD patients eligible for pulmonary rehabilitation under Medicaid or Medicare actually received that rehabilitation.“In addition to a lack of clinicians with specialized training in pulmonary rehabilitation, there is a scarcity of actual (pulmonary rehabilitation) programs, especially in rural communities,” said Burnett, who is also an associate professor in the Department of Respiratory Care and Diagnostic Science in KU School of Health Professions.<h2>A collaboration between Health Professions and Nursing</h2>The grant-funded initiative is called the Interprofessional COVID Academic Network, or I-CAN. Burnett contacted Cynthia Teel, Ph.D., FAAN, professor and associate dean of academic affairs in KU School of Nursing, to make the initiative interprofessional.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689021940798.jpeg" alt="&nbsp; Cynthia Teel, Ph.D.,&nbsp;FAAN&nbsp;&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp; Cynthia Teel, Ph.D.,&nbsp;FAAN&nbsp;&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>“We want to bring together the skills that respiratory therapists have and the skills that registered nurses have, and bring these skill sets together for the benefit of the patient,” Teel explained. “We’ve started with respiratory therapy and nursing as the two professions in this stage of the grant, but it in no way has to be limited to only those two professions.”The initiative currently has three major parts. First, faculty reviewed the curriculum of a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aarc.org/education/online-courses/pulmonary-rehabilitation-certificate-course/">pulmonary rehabilitation certificate already offered by the American Association of Respiratory Care</a>&nbsp;(AARC) to assure its appropriateness for treating long COVID.Second, primary investigators reached out to faculty at KU School of Nursing-Salina as well as instructors of nursing and respiratory care programs at Kansas community colleges that serve rural populations. These educators then incorporated elements of the pulmonary rehabilitation curriculum into existing classes, and students were able to use grant funds to cover the costs of certification.<h2>Two examples from community colleges</h2>Delyna “Dee” Bohnenblust, director of the nursing program at Labette Community College in Parsons, Kansas, said the initiative gave nursing faculty and students a “wonderful opportunity” to improve their skills. Parsons is located in southeast Kansas, 150 miles from Kansas City. “We are very rural, and we don’t have the same resources available that you’re going to have in the larger metropolitan areas,” Bohnenblust said.All eight members of the Labette Community College nursing faculty became certified in pulmonary rehabilitation, and following extra training incorporated into their last class before graduation, all 29 nursing graduates of the Class of 2023 became certified as well.“Respiratory nursing has always been part of the general nursing curriculum, but it does not lend itself to the depth that this certification allowed,” Bohnenblust said. “We looked at this truly as an opportunity as we’re coming out of the COVID pandemic for students to feel more prepared as they graduate our program and move into entry-level nursing positions.”Seward County Community College, Liberal, has had 10 respiratory therapy students and two respiratory therapy faculty members certified in pulmonary rehabilitation via the new initiative.Janae Zachary, director of respiratory therapy, said the certification builds student confidence. “Only a small part of the respiratory therapy curriculum is currently dedicated to reviewing cardiopulmonary rehab,” she said. “The access provided by I-CAN to the AARC Pulmonary Rehabilitation certification program certainly covers it more completely and supports their competency in this area.”Seward County Community College’s nursing program is now considering adding pulmonary rehabilitation via the new initiative as well, Zachary said.<h2>&nbsp;Expanding the initiative to current professionals</h2>The third element of the network, currently under development, is to contact hospitals and clinics so nurses, respiratory therapists and other medical clinicians currently in practice have an opportunity to be certified as pulmonary rehabilitation specialists.“We’re committed to increasing skills in the rural health care workforce, and we also have recognized the importance of trying to provide meaningful resources for people who have had COVID-19 and who are dealing with the aftermath of long COVID,” Teel said.“Now, especially, as the resources available during the acute portion of the pandemic are being discontinued and we move into a more post-pandemic phase, this project has given us the opportunity to ask, ‘What are the needs of the people in our communities, and what can we do to improve things for the people with those needs?’”

KU initiative lets rural-based students, professionals access training for pulmonary conditions

Some producers may be anxious this year to find out the germination percent of the wheat they harvest, to see if it will make suitable seed. 

If they do a home germination test too soon after harvest, they may be shocked at the low germination percentage – unless the test is done correctly. That’s because wheat has a post-harvest dormancy requirement (some varieties more so than others). Even high-quality seed will not germinate at its maximum capacity right after harvest in most cases. This post-harvest dormancy is important to help decrease the chances of pre-harvest sprouting in case harvest is delayed due to weather conditions or other reasons.

To get around that, for the first several weeks after harvest, it’s important to make sure the wheat is pre-chilled before taking a germination test. Any reputable seed lab will do that on a routine basis. Producers testing their seed at home should also pre-chill the wheat by planting it and putting it in the refrigerator at about 40 degrees for five days. If the seed is not pre-chilled, producers should wait a month and a half after harvest before testing for germination.

There is some difference among varieties regarding how long their post-harvest dormancy requirement is – so much so that some varieties are more prone to pre-harvest sprouting. 

Hard white wheat varieties with poor sprouting tolerance, for example, have almost no summer dormancy requirement. They will germinate almost as soon as the seed is harvested. Other varieties have a relatively long summer dormancy requirement, and may not germinate well for five or six weeks after harvest unless the seed is pre-chilled. By Labor Day, all varieties will have lost their summer dormancy and should germinate unless the seed is defective in some way.

If there is any question about the viability of the seed, it is well worth the cost to have the seed tested for germination by a professional seed laboratory. This is especially true in areas where there was freeze damage, severe drought or heat stresses during grain filling, a rain delay at harvest, or wheat head scab.

Professional lab testing -having your seed professionally tested for germination is always a good practice - but with the severe drought and heat stress on the wheat crop in many areas this year, it is highly recommended. 

To have an official germination test on the seed, send a two-pound sample to: Kansas Crop Improvement Association &nbsp;2000 Kimball Ave. Manhattan, KS 66502

A germination test for non-members of KCIA will cost $20.00 and a sample submittal form can be printed off from the KCIA website: <a href="https://www.kscrop.org/seed-lab.html">www.kscrop.org/seed-lab.html</a>

Other seed quality tests are also available and are listed on the submittal form. A companion article in this eUpdate discusses the Accelerated Aging test that can help identify weak seed lots beyond the standard germination test.

If you want to do a germination test at home go to our web site <a href="http://www.cottonwood@ksu.edu">www.cottonwood@ksu.edu</a> and click onto the Crops and Livestock tab and look under Hot Topics for the details of how to conduct it properly.

Information provided by Eric Fabrizius, Kansas Crop Improvement Association and Romulo Lollato, Extension Wheat and Forages Specialist.

Stacy Campbell is a Crop Production Extension agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact him by e-mail at scampbel@ksu.edu or by calling 785-628-9430.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681266655144.jpeg" alt="Stacy Campbell is a Crop Production Extension agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension.&nbsp;Courtesy photo&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Stacy Campbell is a Crop Production Extension agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension.&nbsp;Courtesy photo&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>Some producers may be anxious this year to find out the germination percent of the wheat they harvest, to see if it will make suitable seed. If they do a home germination test too soon after harvest, they may be shocked at the low germination percentage – unless the test is done correctly. That’s because wheat has a post-harvest dormancy requirement (some varieties more so than others). Even high-quality seed will not germinate at its maximum capacity right after harvest in most cases. This post-harvest dormancy is important to help decrease the chances of pre-harvest sprouting in case harvest is delayed due to weather conditions or other reasons.To get around that, for the first several weeks after harvest, it’s important to make sure the wheat is pre-chilled before taking a germination test. Any reputable seed lab will do that on a routine basis. Producers testing their seed at home should also pre-chill the wheat by planting it and putting it in the refrigerator at about 40 degrees for five days. If the seed is not pre-chilled, producers should wait a month and a half after harvest before testing for germination.There is some difference among varieties regarding how long their post-harvest dormancy requirement is – so much so that some varieties are more prone to pre-harvest sprouting. Hard white wheat varieties with poor sprouting tolerance, for example, have almost no summer dormancy requirement. They will germinate almost as soon as the seed is harvested. Other varieties have a relatively long summer dormancy requirement, and may not germinate well for five or six weeks after harvest unless the seed is pre-chilled. By Labor Day, all varieties will have lost their summer dormancy and should germinate unless the seed is defective in some way.If there is any question about the viability of the seed, it is well worth the cost to have the seed tested for germination by a professional seed laboratory. This is especially true in areas where there was freeze damage, severe drought or heat stresses during grain filling, a rain delay at harvest, or wheat head scab.Professional lab testing -having your seed professionally tested for germination is always a good practice - but with the severe drought and heat stress on the wheat crop in many areas this year, it is highly recommended. To have an official germination test on the seed, send a two-pound sample to: Kansas Crop Improvement Association &nbsp;2000 Kimball Ave. Manhattan, KS 66502A germination test for non-members of KCIA will cost $20.00 and a sample submittal form can be printed off from the KCIA website: <a href="https://www.kscrop.org/seed-lab.html">www.kscrop.org/seed-lab.html</a>Other seed quality tests are also available and are listed on the submittal form. A companion article in this eUpdate discusses the Accelerated Aging test that can help identify weak seed lots beyond the standard germination test. If you want to do a germination test at home go to our web site <a href="http://www.cottonwood@ksu.edu">www.cottonwood@ksu.edu</a> and click onto the Crops and Livestock tab and look under Hot Topics for the details of how to conduct it properly.Information provided by Eric Fabrizius, Kansas Crop Improvement Association and Romulo Lollato, Extension Wheat and Forages Specialist.Stacy Campbell is a Crop Production Extension agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact him by e-mail at scampbel@ksu.edu or by calling 785-628-9430.

CAMPBELL: Germination tests for wheat seed at home and professional lab

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1690559401196.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>

Beginning Monday, July 31, 2023, at 8:00 a.m., the 400 block of W. 15th Street between Elm and Walnut, and the 1800 block of Ash in Hays will be undergoing curb and brick repair/replacement. 

 The city of Hays urges the use of caution in these areas and regrets any inconvenience this may cause to the public. 

If there are any questions, please call Morgan Brothers Construction at 785-432-3104 or the Office of Project Management at 785-628-7350.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586874819476.jpeg" alt="Photo by Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>City of Hays&nbsp;Beginning Monday, July 31, 2023, at 8:00 a.m., the 400 block of W. 15th Street between Elm and Walnut, and the 1800 block of Ash in Hays will be undergoing curb and brick repair/replacement. The city of Hays urges the use of caution in these areas and regrets any inconvenience this may cause to the public. If there are any questions, please call Morgan Brothers Construction at 785-432-3104 or the Office of Project Management at 785-628-7350.

Brick repair begins Monday on two Hays streets 

On this episode of the&nbsp;<a href="https://postpodcast.podbean.com/">Post Podcast</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.growhays.com/" target="_blank">Grow Hays</a> executive director Doug Williams discusses the budget process for city and county governments in the area.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<div><iframe title="City, county governments preparing 2024 budgets" allowtransparency="true" height="600" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:600px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=zsghn-1468df2-pb&from=pb6admin&square=1&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=f6f6f6&font-color=auto&logo_link=podcast_page&btn-skin=3267a3&size=600" loading="lazy" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>On this episode of the&nbsp;<a href="https://postpodcast.podbean.com/">Post Podcast</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.growhays.com/" target="_blank">Grow Hays</a> executive director Doug Williams discusses the budget process for city and county governments in the area.&nbsp;&nbsp;

🎙 Post Podcast: City, county governments preparing 2024 budgets

OK, I’m officially fed-up with weathermen and news anchors telling me that statistics show overwhelmingly that human beings are happiest during the summer. Those of you that know us at all are aware that Joyce and I absolutely hate the heat of summer. My dad was just the opposite; in weather like we’ve had the last week, he would have had windows open and MAYBE the ceiling fan going, but certainly not the AC. I keep thinking that as I get older, I’ll get more of his love for the heat. But nope, the older I get, the worse I hate it. I feel tired and drug-out by mid-morning, have absolutely zero energy, and the only joy I get from days like this is the fact that it will be dark again in a few hours and I can just go to bed. The Kansas summer heat is the main reason we no longer have a boat. Once it got hot, which often coincides with some of the summer’s best fishing, the boat sat in the shed. I heard that a local popcorn farm has erected a giant dome over all this year’s popcorn fields to contain all the popcorn that is popping right on the stalks. They now call their farm the Jiffy Pop Farm.

We’ve all heard the usual one-liners about how hot it is, but here are a few new ones I’ve come up with.

It’s so hot that a woman in the McDonalds drive-thru intentionally spilled her coffee in her lap to cool off.

It’s so hot that the beggar sitting outside Walmart today had a sign that read “Will work for shade.”

It’s so hot that beer guts and big butts no longer keep people from wearing shorts.

It’s so hot that CRP now stands for Crispy Rotational Pasture.

it’s so hot that congress actually have to take their hands out of OUR pockets to fan themselves.

There was a knock at the door the other day, and when I opened it there stood someone I’ve never met before asking if they could stick their head in our freezer for a couple minutes.

It’s so hot that the camels at the Sedgwick Co. Zoo want transferred to the Sahara Desert where it’s cooler.

It’s so hot that my niece’s pigs are complaining about sweating like humans.

I’m going to ask that the next time someone plans a pandemic, they wait till summer so I couldn’t care less about leavin’ the house anyway.

It’s so hot that just today I saw a fire hydrant chasing a dog, hoping to get peed-on.

It so hot today that all the artificial flowers at the cemetery are dying.

And finally, its so hot that professional hockey teams are considering playing on rollerblades this year because the ice won’t freeze.

Steve can be contacted by email at stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574696211722.png" alt="Steve Gilliland" />
 <figcaption>Steve Gilliland</figcaption>
 </figure>OK, I’m officially fed-up with weathermen and news anchors telling me that statistics show overwhelmingly that human beings are happiest during the summer. Those of you that know us at all are aware that Joyce and I absolutely hate the heat of summer. My dad was just the opposite; in weather like we’ve had the last week, he would have had windows open and MAYBE the ceiling fan going, but certainly not the AC. I keep thinking that as I get older, I’ll get more of his love for the heat. But nope, the older I get, the worse I hate it. I feel tired and drug-out by mid-morning, have absolutely zero energy, and the only joy I get from days like this is the fact that it will be dark again in a few hours and I can just go to bed. The Kansas summer heat is the main reason we no longer have a boat. Once it got hot, which often coincides with some of the summer’s best fishing, the boat sat in the shed. I heard that a local popcorn farm has erected a giant dome over all this year’s popcorn fields to contain all the popcorn that is popping right on the stalks. They now call their farm the Jiffy Pop Farm.We’ve all heard the usual one-liners about how hot it is, but here are a few new ones I’ve come up with.It’s so hot that a woman in the McDonalds drive-thru intentionally spilled her coffee in her lap to cool off.It’s so hot that the beggar sitting outside Walmart today had a sign that read “Will work for shade.”It’s so hot that beer guts and big butts no longer keep people from wearing shorts.It’s so hot that CRP now stands for Crispy Rotational Pasture.it’s so hot that congress actually have to take their hands out of OUR pockets to fan themselves.There was a knock at the door the other day, and when I opened it there stood someone I’ve never met before asking if they could stick their head in our freezer for a couple minutes.It’s so hot that the camels at the Sedgwick Co. Zoo want transferred to the Sahara Desert where it’s cooler.It’s so hot that my niece’s pigs are complaining about sweating like humans.I’m going to ask that the next time someone plans a pandemic, they wait till summer so I couldn’t care less about leavin’ the house anyway.It’s so hot that just today I saw a fire hydrant chasing a dog, hoping to get peed-on.It so hot today that all the artificial flowers at the cemetery are dying.And finally, its so hot that professional hockey teams are considering playing on rollerblades this year because the ice won’t freeze.Continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors.Steve can be contacted by email at stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.

Exploring Outdoors Kansas: It’s So Hot that….

ATWOOD—The oldest living
siblings, according to the Guinness World Records’ latest documentation, hail
from Wisconsin. 

But a small town in
Kansas can boast of its own record of sorts.

The combined age of
those four sisters from Wisconsin as of August 2022 was 389. Their average age
when they set the world record about a year ago was 97.25. The oldest was 101
years, and the other three were in their 90s.

The Holub sisters from
Rawlins County in northwest Kansas grew up together and raised their families
about 20 miles from each other. They reunited and lived together under the same
roof again after all three had celebrated their 100th birthday. 

The average age of
these native Kansans when their story appeared in the July issue of The
Register – the official newspaper of the Salina Diocese – was 103.3, with the
oldest being 105.

Their combined age was
310. No, that is not a typo. 

This hard-working,
faithful family from our neck of the woods might not have made the list of
Guinness World Records.

But their story is a
good one. It’s one for the ages. 

By DIANE
GASPER-O’BRIEN Salina Diocese
“Register”

Three sisters sit at a
table eating their lunch in a well-known location that overlooks a beautiful
lake in Atwood.

It’s obvious who is
the eldest, the one looking out for her younger sisters. Her name is Julia, and
when Julia speaks, Lucy and Frances listen.

On a spring day in
May, Julia tells her siblings they can’t have dessert today because they didn’t
eat their vegetables. 

Lucy probably didn’t
care because her birthday was coming soon, and she knew she would get to eat
cake then.

A couple of weeks
later on June 11, Lucy did indeed get that cake. So did Julia and Frances because celebrating special days are commonplace in this facility – the Good
Samaritan Center.

Besides, it’s a big
deal when someone celebrates their 104th birthday – especially when her older
sister, 105-year-old Julia, and the baby of the family, 101-year-old Frances,
are sitting on either side of her.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1690664194720.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1690664433622.jpeg" alt="From left, Atwood sisters Frances Kompus, Lucy Pochop and Julia Kopriva enjoy an afternoon of reminiscing at the Good Samaritan Center in Atwood. Photo by Diane Gasper-O'Brien" />
 <figcaption>From left, Atwood sisters Frances Kompus, Lucy Pochop and Julia Kopriva enjoy an afternoon of reminiscing at the Good Samaritan Center in Atwood. Photo by Diane Gasper-O'Brien</figcaption>
 </figure>ATWOOD—The oldest living
siblings, according to the Guinness World Records’ latest documentation, hail
from Wisconsin. But a small town in
Kansas can boast of its own record of sorts.The combined age of
those four sisters from Wisconsin as of August 2022 was 389. Their average age
when they set the world record about a year ago was 97.25. The oldest was 101
years, and the other three were in their 90s.The Holub sisters from
Rawlins County in northwest Kansas grew up together and raised their families
about 20 miles from each other. They reunited and lived together under the same
roof again after all three had celebrated their 100th birthday. The average age of
these native Kansans when their story appeared in the July issue of The
Register – the official newspaper of the Salina Diocese – was 103.3, with the
oldest being 105.Their combined age was
310. No, that is not a typo. This hard-working,
faithful family from our neck of the woods might not have made the list of
Guinness World Records.But their story is a
good one. It’s one for the ages. <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1690664568020.jpeg" alt="Some of the family’s favorite photos of the centenarian siblings are one of 1-year-old Julia taken in late 1918 or early 1919 and one of the three sisters during their younger years – Frances (4 years), Lucy (6) and Julia (8). Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Some of the family’s favorite photos of the centenarian siblings are one of 1-year-old Julia taken in late 1918 or early 1919 and one of the three sisters during their younger years – Frances (4 years), Lucy (6) and Julia (8). Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By DIANE
GASPER-O’BRIEN Salina Diocese
“Register”Three sisters sit at a
table eating their lunch in a well-known location that overlooks a beautiful
lake in Atwood.It’s obvious who is
the eldest, the one looking out for her younger sisters. Her name is Julia, and
when Julia speaks, Lucy and Frances listen.On a spring day in
May, Julia tells her siblings they can’t have dessert today because they didn’t
eat their vegetables. Lucy probably didn’t
care because her birthday was coming soon, and she knew she would get to eat
cake then.A couple of weeks
later on June 11, Lucy did indeed get that cake. So did Julia and Frances because celebrating special days are commonplace in this facility – the Good
Samaritan Center.Besides, it’s a big
deal when someone celebrates their 104th birthday – especially when her older
sister, 105-year-old Julia, and the baby of the family, 101-year-old Frances,
are sitting on either side of her.Everyone in town knows
these centenarian siblings, and they are a big deal every day.<h2>Lifetime residents of northwest
Kansas</h2><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1690664622897.jpeg" alt="One of the highlights on Wednesdays for sisters Julia Kopriva, far left, and Lucy Pochop, third from left, is attending Mass in the chapel at the Good Samaritan Center. Also pictured are another Good Samaritan resident, Jackie Urban, second from left; activities director Marie Sis, far right; and Father Henry Saw Lone at the altar. Photo by Diane Gasper-O’Brien" />
 <figcaption>One of the highlights on Wednesdays for sisters Julia Kopriva, far left, and Lucy Pochop, third from left, is attending Mass in the chapel at the Good Samaritan Center. Also pictured are another Good Samaritan resident, Jackie Urban, second from left; activities director Marie Sis, far right; and Father Henry Saw Lone at the altar. Photo by Diane Gasper-O’Brien</figcaption>
 </figure>Natives of Rawlins
County, the three girls born to Florian and Frances Holub, attribute their
longevity to hard work and strong faith and, of course, listening to what Julia
tells them.They all grew up
working alongside their dad on the family farm. The older girls began their
strong Catholic upbringing at St. John Nepomucene Parish near Beardsley and
later attended Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Atwood. The St. John church was
completed the same year Julia was born (in 1917).“We even went to
church on Saturdays for catechism,” Julia said, “and in the summertime, we went
into town every day for two weeks of catechism.”“The only time we
missed church was because of muddy roads,” Lucy added, “and then we prayed at
home.”All three Holub
sisters married farmers, and thus a life of hard work continued.They raised their
families within 20 miles of each other and often spent time together,
especially on Sundays and holidays.On this particular
day, Joanna Shormann, one of Julia’s daughters who lives in Colorado, was
visiting her mother and her aunts at the Good Samaritan Center. Joanna’s
younger brother, Marty Kopriva, joined them from his farm near Atwood.“We have great
memories of being able to spend so much time with all our cousins and aunts and
uncles,” Joanna said as Marty shook his head in agreement.“I can remember Aunt
Lucy helping Grandpa on the farm,” Marty added. “I rode in the truck with Lucy
when I was a little boy.”<h2>And I think to myself, “What a
wonderful world!”</h2><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1690664670034.jpeg" alt="Praying the rosary has been an important part of the sisters’ lives for more than a century. Photo by Diane Gasper-O’Brien" />
 <figcaption>Praying the rosary has been an important part of the sisters’ lives for more than a century. Photo by Diane Gasper-O’Brien</figcaption>
 </figure>There were a lot of
smiles and laughter while reminiscing about the wonderful life they agree they
were blessed with.They remembered
driving the tractor on the farm, walking 2 miles to school in Beardsley and
listening to the radio before they got a television. They talked about how
they were all born at home and how they grew up speaking Czech – both sets of
grandparents were immigrants from Czechoslovakia – and learned to speak English
when they went to school. “I remember them
teaching me English one word at a time,” Frances said of her older siblings.The Holub sisters grew
even closer in their later years.After their children
were grown and their spouses had passed away, Julia Kopriva, Lucy Pochop and
Frances Kompus moved into Atwood. At one time, they lived in three apartments
next to each other and played cards together nearly every night.Frances and Lucy moved
to the Good Samaritan Center a few years ago and became roommates again, just
like they did in childhood. Julia continued to live on her own independently
until shortly before her 105th birthday.Once all three were
reunited under one roof last year, they continued to visit each other, play
bingo, attend Mass together on Wednesday and eat every meal together – where
Julia has the last say.“Well, they say I boss
them around,” Julia said with a smile.“But do we listen?”
Frances asked, prompting a laugh from everyone around them.“We absolutely love
having the sisters here with us,” said Marie Sis, activities director at the
Good Samaritan Center. “We are honored to have them live here.”To
know “the sisters,” to which they are affectionately referred, is to love them.
They are well-known in the area and have even gained national attention. When
Frances turned 100 in 2021, the sisters were featured in a story in USA Today.These girls could
have been an ideal backdrop for Norman Rockwell, one of America’s most popular
storytellers of the 20th century, with his detailed, sentimental paintings of
everyday Americana.<h2>Family is their foundation</h2><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1690664700042.jpeg" alt="Julia Kopriva still pedals the NuStep elliptical machine at age 105. Photo by Diane Gasper-O’Brien" />
 <figcaption>Julia Kopriva still pedals the NuStep elliptical machine at age 105. Photo by Diane Gasper-O’Brien</figcaption>
 </figure>Collectively, the
Holub sisters have celebrated 100-year-old birthdays together 13 times.Mention another
family get-together, and their eyes light up as they look forward to
celebrating Julia’s 106th birthday in just a few months on Nov. 5.Soon after that will
come Christmas, one of the family’s favorite holidays. Joanna tells of how her
mother still decorated her house for Christmas at age 104, carefully arranging
the same nativity set she had set up for nearly 85 years.For those who know
them, the Holub sisters’ story is better than a Norman Rockwell painting.Editor’s note: This day with the Holub sisters (May 24,
2023) will always remain a special memory for all involved. Frances passed away
on June 28, and Julia and Lucy are now adjusting to life without their “baby
sister.” But like everything they have faced in life, Joanna says, “their faith
will get them through.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1690664748967.jpeg" alt="Just like the Holub sisters, the St. John Nepomucene Church near Beardsley, where the older girls began their Catholic faith, has survived quite well for more than a century. Photo by Diane Gasper-O’Brien" />
 <figcaption>Just like the Holub sisters, the St. John Nepomucene Church near Beardsley, where the older girls began their Catholic faith, has survived quite well for more than a century. Photo by Diane Gasper-O’Brien</figcaption>
 </figure>

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