MANHATTAN — Kansas Farm Bureau recognized members and supporters at its 104th annual meeting, Dec. 4 and 5 in Manhattan. KFB presented two Kansans with Distinguished Service awards for their exemplary contributions to agriculture in the state. Eric Atkinson, Wabaunsee County, was honored for his almost 40 years of service sharing news and information with Kansas farmers and ranchers across the airwaves as host of “Agriculture Today,” Kansas State University Research and Extension’s daily radio program. Eric recently unplugged his microphone to spend more time on his farm. Atkinson joined K-State’s KSAC radio station in 1983. Once there he brought agricultural experts directly to the folks who needed the pertinent information through more than 9,000 shows and never missed an opportunity to bring useful topics and news to Kansas farmers and ranchers. Gregg Doud, a Jewell County native, has given a lifetime of service to the agriculture industry. Starting with being raised on a dryland wheat, grain sorghum, soybean, swine and cow-calf operation, to representing farmers and ranchers in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative as Chief Agricultural Negotiator with the rank of U.S. Ambassador. He was one of the primary architects of the U.S.-China "Phase One" trade agreement. He previously served as president of the Commodity Markets Council, senior staff member for the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee where he helped craft the 2012 Senate Farm Bill and chief economist for the National Cattleman’s Beef Association. Doud is now a vice president and chief economist at Aimpoint Research. He lives with his family on their horse farm in Maryland. The organization also presented four Friends of Agriculture awards. This award recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to Kansas Farm Bureau and agriculture. They are: Kenneth Allen Campbell Jr., Franklin County, has worked tirelessly to advocate for agriculture as a board member and president of Franklin County Farm Bureau. Campbell has worked with the local food policy council to raise money to help those in need while also connecting with local farmers markets to provide education to area consumers. Margaret Goering, Harvey County, began serving the agriculture industry 54 years ago. She’s impacted the future of agriculture by mentoring 4-H members, hosting farm tours and was Harvey County Farm Bureau’s first female president in 2014. Goering has also provided livestock to small farmers in Mexico and educated them on care practices. Marieta Hauser, Grant County, has served farmers, her local community and the state of Kansas for 30 years. With a passion to advocate for the agricultural industry, Hauser has contributed to Kansas Farm Bureau on county, state and national levels holding various positions including as a member of the Grant County Farm Bureau, nine years as the Women’s Leadership chair and time on American Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee. She’s also served on the Resolutions Committee, was the Outstanding Young Farm Woman in 1988 and was honored as a Farm Family winner in 1995. Robert Keener, Ellis County, was a strong advocate for agriculture for 23 years. Before passing in the fall of 2021, he was an assistant professor at Fort Hays State University. He felt his greatest achievement was the relationships he built with students. He served as a volunteer for the Ellis County Farm Bureau Kids Ag Days, often bringing college students to the event so they could present to the children attending. Keener’s life impacted the future of the agriculture industry through his dedication and service to growing youth leaders.

Jay Young, Greeley County,&nbsp;received the Kansas Farm Bureau Natural Resources Award, which goes to the farm family who exemplifies good land stewardship. Young grows wheat, corn and milo and raises Red Angus cattle on the High Plains. As the fifth generation on the family farm, Young knows he has to strike a balance between caring for the land and making a profit. He’s used cover crops to increase water infiltration and biological activity in his soil while reducing the amount of synthetic phosphorus and nitrogen by applying a homemade compost extract. Jim Waters, Pottawatomie County, received KFB’s Partnership Award. This award recognizes someone from Farm Bureau Financial Services who has gone above and beyond for the state’s largest farm organization. In his role as an agent, Waters has participated on various committees and he embodies the Farm Bureau brand every day in all aspects of his life.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670357488571.png" alt="The late Robert Kenner's daughter Dyan and wife Shelley with KFB President Rich Felts. Courtesy photo." />
 <figcaption>The late Robert Kenner's daughter Dyan and wife Shelley with KFB President Rich Felts. Courtesy photo.</figcaption>
 </figure>MANHATTAN — Kansas Farm Bureau recognized members and supporters at its 104th annual meeting, Dec. 4 and 5 in Manhattan. KFB presented two Kansans with Distinguished Service awards for their exemplary contributions to agriculture in the state. Eric Atkinson, Wabaunsee County, was honored for his almost 40 years of service sharing news and information with Kansas farmers and ranchers across the airwaves as host of “Agriculture Today,” Kansas State University Research and Extension’s daily radio program. Eric recently unplugged his microphone to spend more time on his farm. Atkinson joined K-State’s KSAC radio station in 1983. Once there he brought agricultural experts directly to the folks who needed the pertinent information through more than 9,000 shows and never missed an opportunity to bring useful topics and news to Kansas farmers and ranchers. Gregg Doud, a Jewell County native, has given a lifetime of service to the agriculture industry. Starting with being raised on a dryland wheat, grain sorghum, soybean, swine and cow-calf operation, to representing farmers and ranchers in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative as Chief Agricultural Negotiator with the rank of U.S. Ambassador. He was one of the primary architects of the U.S.-China "Phase One" trade agreement. He previously served as president of the Commodity Markets Council, senior staff member for the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee where he helped craft the 2012 Senate Farm Bill and chief economist for the National Cattleman’s Beef Association. Doud is now a vice president and chief economist at Aimpoint Research. He lives with his family on their horse farm in Maryland. The organization also presented four Friends of Agriculture awards. This award recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to Kansas Farm Bureau and agriculture. They are: Kenneth Allen Campbell Jr., Franklin County, has worked tirelessly to advocate for agriculture as a board member and president of Franklin County Farm Bureau. Campbell has worked with the local food policy council to raise money to help those in need while also connecting with local farmers markets to provide education to area consumers. Margaret Goering, Harvey County, began serving the agriculture industry 54 years ago. She’s impacted the future of agriculture by mentoring 4-H members, hosting farm tours and was Harvey County Farm Bureau’s first female president in 2014. Goering has also provided livestock to small farmers in Mexico and educated them on care practices. Marieta Hauser, Grant County, has served farmers, her local community and the state of Kansas for 30 years. With a passion to advocate for the agricultural industry, Hauser has contributed to Kansas Farm Bureau on county, state and national levels holding various positions including as a member of the Grant County Farm Bureau, nine years as the Women’s Leadership chair and time on American Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee. She’s also served on the Resolutions Committee, was the Outstanding Young Farm Woman in 1988 and was honored as a Farm Family winner in 1995. Robert Keener, Ellis County, was a strong advocate for agriculture for 23 years. Before passing in the fall of 2021, he was an assistant professor at Fort Hays State University. He felt his greatest achievement was the relationships he built with students. He served as a volunteer for the Ellis County Farm Bureau Kids Ag Days, often bringing college students to the event so they could present to the children attending. Keener’s life impacted the future of the agriculture industry through his dedication and service to growing youth leaders.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670357551373.png" alt="Kansas Farm Bureau Natural Resources Award winners Jay and Jessica Young with KFB President Rich Felts." />
 <figcaption>Kansas Farm Bureau Natural Resources Award winners Jay and Jessica Young with KFB President Rich Felts.</figcaption>
 </figure>Jay Young, Greeley County,&nbsp;received the Kansas Farm Bureau Natural Resources Award, which goes to the farm family who exemplifies good land stewardship. Young grows wheat, corn and milo and raises Red Angus cattle on the High Plains. As the fifth generation on the family farm, Young knows he has to strike a balance between caring for the land and making a profit. He’s used cover crops to increase water infiltration and biological activity in his soil while reducing the amount of synthetic phosphorus and nitrogen by applying a homemade compost extract. Jim Waters, Pottawatomie County, received KFB’s Partnership Award. This award recognizes someone from Farm Bureau Financial Services who has gone above and beyond for the state’s largest farm organization. In his role as an agent, Waters has participated on various committees and he embodies the Farm Bureau brand every day in all aspects of his life.

Northwest Kansans honored by Kansas Farm Bureau

<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/2022/12/1671480198870.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

City of Hays offices will be closed on Friday, Dec. 23, in celebration of the Christmas Eve holiday and on Monday, Dec. 26, in celebration of the Christmas Day holiday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584721067731.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>City of Hays offices will be closed on Friday, Dec. 23, in celebration of the Christmas Eve holiday and on Monday, Dec. 26, in celebration of the Christmas Day holiday.—&nbsp;City of Hays

City of Hays offices closed for Christmas holiday

A wind chill and a winter storm watch is in effect for much of northwest Kansas from Wednesday evening through Friday morning — and coming event has now been named Winter Storm Elliott.

The National Weather Service in Goodland is predicting wind chills of 15 below zero for 36 hours — with wind chills of 50 below zero possible.

The National Weather Service called the extreme cold "dangerous and life-threatening."

Hays and Ellis County were added to the watch area late Monday morning, and the bitter cold will arrive locally Wednesday, as well. There is a chance of patchy drizzle Wednesday, changing to an 80 percent chance of snow Wednesday night and into Thursday morning.

North winds are expected to gust up to 55 mph Wednesday and Thursday.&nbsp;

The high temperature is now forecast at -3 degrees in Hays on Thursday, with a high of just 9 degrees Friday. In Goodland, the high is only expected to reach 5 below zero Thursday.

Check Hays Post and tune into your Eagle Radio of Hays stations in the event of severe weather.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671472211043.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>UPDATED 4 p.m. MondayA wind chill and a winter storm watch is in effect for much of northwest Kansas from Wednesday evening through Friday morning — and coming event has now been named Winter Storm Elliott.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671486764290.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The National Weather Service in Goodland is predicting wind chills of 15 below zero for 36 hours — with wind chills of 50 below zero possible.The National Weather Service called the extreme cold "dangerous and life-threatening."Hays and Ellis County were added to the watch area late Monday morning, and the bitter cold will arrive locally Wednesday, as well. There is a chance of patchy drizzle Wednesday, changing to an 80 percent chance of snow Wednesday night and into Thursday morning.North winds are expected to gust up to 55 mph Wednesday and Thursday.&nbsp;The high temperature is now forecast at -3 degrees in Hays on Thursday, with a high of just 9 degrees Friday. In Goodland, the high is only expected to reach 5 below zero Thursday.Check Hays Post and tune into your Eagle Radio of Hays stations in the event of severe weather.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">We now have Winter Storm <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Elliott?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Elliott</a> – here&#39;s what to expect: <a href="https://t.co/Qm3brnlB4H">https://t.co/Qm3brnlB4H</a>&mdash; The Weather Channel (@weatherchannel) <a href="https://twitter.com/weatherchannel/status/1604827345717792773?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 19, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> </div>

UPDATE: Ellis County moves into winter storm watch

It’s not uncommon for
entertainment industry professionals to work under a stage name. 

But one Ellis County-based comedian,
magician and DJ will soon take that common practice a bit further by legally
changing his name to highlight his chosen profession.

Buzz The Entertainer knows some may giggle at the new name, but for him becoming Buzz has been a long time
coming and offers a unique opportunity to express his passion for his field.

While the change has been a longtime goal, the process hasn't been without its difficulties.

“The
first step that you have to do is obviously pick a name," Buzz said. "I would not recommend
it for anyone. It is not for the faint of heart."

Born Bryan&nbsp;Jacob Snyder-Brown, Buzz said after settling
on a list of potential names, his next step was vital&nbsp;— getting his mother on board.

“I've asked my mother for the last, I would say I think it's five or six years. I've asked her every year for Christmas,” Buzz said. “I wanted her permission to legally change my name because I told her that I would either wait until two weeks after she'd passed to get started or when I had her permission.”

Among the list of names potential names, one stood out.

“I sent
my mother the list of names, and she just ultimately decided Buzz The Entertainer
was probably the best one, and that was the most fitting,” Buzz said.

The new
name, while reflecting his work as a multifaceted entertainer, also had roots
in his past.

“I was
given the nickname Buzz back in high school from a teacher,” Buzz said.

And so, the work began to make the name legal began.

“I went
on to do some research and found out what all you have to do,” Buzz said. 

He then
proceeded with the steps to start the process, filling in the required
paperwork and paying to have a legal notice published and court costs.

As a
part of the process, he said he also was required to inform everyone he does business
with.

“And
this year, I finally had an attorney looking over with me and make sure that we
were good to go and have a court date now,” Buzz said.

The
hearing is set for 1:30 p.m. Dec. 28.

After,
Buzz The Entertainer will be his new legal name, something he sees as an asset
to his entertainment career.

As a longtime Ellis County resident, he said he had embraced various avenues of entertainment over the last five years of professional performances.

“I do
comedy magic / hypnosis shows as a combination," Buzz said "I've also DJ'd a lot of weddings
out here."

Recently, he has also started traveling to Kansas City for drag performances there.

“I have a
couple of good friends out in Kansas City, who are big-name entertainers in the
LGBTQ market,” Buzz said. “So, it was pretty easy for me to call them. … And
I've met a lot of great people in Kansas City who have given me a lot of
advice on breaking into that market.”

And
while he hopes the name change helps generate some new attention for his shows,
he also said he knows the value of hard work.

“You
also have to do a lot of the backend work, which nobody ever likes to do,” Buzz
said. “Because the backend work of doing anything is never the fun stuff.”

But that work had paid off, as he has become known locally for his various performances, he said.

“I have
a friend of mine who called me 'Hays famous,' ” Buzz said. “If I ever go to a bar ... most people know me as the guy who does magic. So, I almost
always have a deck of cards on me.”

When he
can, he engages with those local fans.

“I'll
show you a magic trick because you don't get into magic because you enjoy being
a shy person,” Buzz said. 

He also
enjoys meeting area residents from all walks of life.

“I got
to meet a lot of people doing magic that I otherwise wouldn't have met,” Buzz
said.

He hoped the new name would continue that trend as the new year approaches and more area residents discover Buzz and
his entertainment enterprises.

Read more about Buzz and his
company, Assassin Entertainment, at <a href="https://www.assassinentertainment.com/">assassinentertainment.com.</a>

He can also be reached at (844) Go-4-Buzz.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671222317481.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By JAMES BELL Hays PostIt’s not uncommon for
entertainment industry professionals to work under a stage name. But one Ellis County-based comedian,
magician and DJ will soon take that common practice a bit further by legally
changing his name to highlight his chosen profession.Buzz The Entertainer knows some may giggle at the new name, but for him becoming Buzz has been a long time
coming and offers a unique opportunity to express his passion for his field.While the change has been a longtime goal, the process hasn't been without its difficulties.“The
first step that you have to do is obviously pick a name," Buzz said. "I would not recommend
it for anyone. It is not for the faint of heart."Born Bryan&nbsp;Jacob Snyder-Brown, Buzz said after settling
on a list of potential names, his next step was vital&nbsp;— getting his mother on board.<div><iframe title="Local entertainer generates ’buzz’ with name change" allowtransparency="true" height="450" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=fyspu-133e1da-pb&from=pb6admin&square=1&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=auto&logo_link=podcast_page&btn-skin=3267a3&size=450" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>“I've asked my mother for the last, I would say I think it's five or six years. I've asked her every year for Christmas,” Buzz said. “I wanted her permission to legally change my name because I told her that I would either wait until two weeks after she'd passed to get started or when I had her permission.”Among the list of names potential names, one stood out.“I sent
my mother the list of names, and she just ultimately decided Buzz The Entertainer
was probably the best one, and that was the most fitting,” Buzz said.The new
name, while reflecting his work as a multifaceted entertainer, also had roots
in his past.“I was
given the nickname Buzz back in high school from a teacher,” Buzz said.And so, the work began to make the name legal began.“I went
on to do some research and found out what all you have to do,” Buzz said. He then
proceeded with the steps to start the process, filling in the required
paperwork and paying to have a legal notice published and court costs.As a
part of the process, he said he also was required to inform everyone he does business
with.“And
this year, I finally had an attorney looking over with me and make sure that we
were good to go and have a court date now,” Buzz said.The
hearing is set for 1:30 p.m. Dec. 28.After,
Buzz The Entertainer will be his new legal name, something he sees as an asset
to his entertainment career.As a longtime Ellis County resident, he said he had embraced various avenues of entertainment over the last five years of professional performances.“I do
comedy magic / hypnosis shows as a combination," Buzz said "I've also DJ'd a lot of weddings
out here."Recently, he has also started traveling to Kansas City for drag performances there.“I have a
couple of good friends out in Kansas City, who are big-name entertainers in the
LGBTQ market,” Buzz said. “So, it was pretty easy for me to call them. … And
I've met a lot of great people in Kansas City who have given me a lot of
advice on breaking into that market.”And
while he hopes the name change helps generate some new attention for his shows,
he also said he knows the value of hard work.“You
also have to do a lot of the backend work, which nobody ever likes to do,” Buzz
said. “Because the backend work of doing anything is never the fun stuff.”But that work had paid off, as he has become known locally for his various performances, he said.“I have
a friend of mine who called me 'Hays famous,' ” Buzz said. “If I ever go to a bar ... most people know me as the guy who does magic. So, I almost
always have a deck of cards on me.”When he
can, he engages with those local fans.“I'll
show you a magic trick because you don't get into magic because you enjoy being
a shy person,” Buzz said. He also
enjoys meeting area residents from all walks of life.“I got
to meet a lot of people doing magic that I otherwise wouldn't have met,” Buzz
said.He hoped the new name would continue that trend as the new year approaches and more area residents discover Buzz and
his entertainment enterprises.Read more about Buzz and his
company, Assassin Entertainment, at <a href="https://www.assassinentertainment.com/">assassinentertainment.com.</a>He can also be reached at (844) Go-4-Buzz.

🎙 Local entertainer generates 'Buzz' with name change

By JAMES BELL 
Hays Post

Ellis County residents are generally satisfied with the
quality of life in Ellis County across various indicators, according to a
recent survey commissioned by the Imagine Ellis County Committee.

The Docking Institute’s Center for Survey Research conducted
the survey from September 16 to October 27. 

“One of the things we felt
like we needed to do was kind of level set, do a survey as to where things
stand,” said Grow Hays executive director Doug Williams. “We were fortunate
enough to get a grant from the Schmidt Foundation to give us some money to
engage the Docking Institute to do a quality-of-life survey for us.”

Finding that baseline is essential
for the committee to address the desires and needs of Ellis County residents,
he said.

“This is a survey that the
Imagine Ellis County Committee, which is a committee that we started, which includes
a pretty large group of local citizens who got together and are trying to look
at what shortcomings we have in Ellis County and identify our strengths or
weaknesses and opportunities,” Williams said.

Overall satisfaction with the quality of life in Ellis
County is high, as well as high in six specific aspects of living in the county,
according to the report’s executive summary. 

“I think the number one thing
is that there's a very high satisfaction among people who live here,” Williams
said. 

The survey found that 90 percent of respondents are
satisfied or very satisfied with Ellis County as a place to live.

The report found dissatisfaction was also low on all six
items specific aspects questioned in the survey but noticeably higher in two
areas, recreation and citizen engagement.

As a place to enjoy diverse recreational opportunities, 27.1
percent reported being dissatisfied, according to the survey.

“If
there was dissatisfaction, it's with recreational things to do,” Williams said.
“We always hear that there's not enough for youth to do, and they'd like more
things in terms of recreation, hiking trails, and walking paths.”

As a place where citizens can be engaged in public
decision-making, 26.1 percent reported being overall dissatisfied.

Only 5.2 percent of respondents reported being very
dissatisfied.

Satisfaction
with Ellis County as a place to retire was generally rated high, with 15.3
percent overall reporting dissatisfaction.

“I think
it gives me a little bit of direction,” Williams said.

He
credits the dissatisfaction as a function of housing.

“You
know, we believe we have a lot of very positive things for retirees here with
the amazing health care and that type of thing,” Williams said. “But at the
base, the foundational thing is housing. And we've got to have more appropriate
housing for retirees. And that's one of the things we're working diligently on
to try and get more of.”

Dissatisfaction operating a
business in Ellis County ranked fourth in terms of discontent, with less than
10 percent overall reporting dissatisfaction.

The category was affected
significantly, however, as a majority of respondents, 51.2 percent, responded
they did not know the impact due to a lack of experience running a business.

As a place to work, 90.7 percent
of respondents reported being satisfied or “didn’t know. 

The lowest dissatisfaction found in the six areas was with
Ellis County as a place to raise a family, with less than four percent
reporting dissatisfaction overall.

Highest areas of desired improvement found in retail,
outdoor recreation 

In an open response category asking
for up to five enhancements, they would like to see in Ellis County, adding retail
stores was listed most, at 10.9 percent, and outdoor recreation was second, being
noted in 7.5 percent of responses. &nbsp;

Creating off-street walking and hiking trails had the greatest
amount of respondents list them as a priority, with 40.4 percent rating it as a
very high or high priority, according to the study. Further, about “35 percent
consider increasing indoor recreation options and creating off-street bicycle
trails at least a high priority. Enhancing playgrounds has 32.8 percent rating
it at least a high priority, but this item also has the largest single
percentage rating it a moderate priority.”

Williams said the desire for
additional outdoor recreational opportunities like walking paths was valuable
feedback and reinforced anecdotal evidence reported in the community.

“That
was a bit of a surprise,” he said. “But a good direction. “If that's important
to people, I'm glad we're working on plans to try and resolve some of those
things and add some things to the community in that area.”

Expanding
retail and restaurant options as a desire of Ellis County residents has been a long-time
effort, Williams said, but this survey supports that work.

“This
proves that people want more choices when it comes to retail, and they want
more choices when it comes to dining out and the type of food services that we
have here,” Williams said. “The good news is, there's a lot going on in the
restaurant world right now. Several new (restaurants) have either opened or
will be opening pretty soon, with a little more diversity and in the type of
food that they offer. And shopping, we've got some good prospects.”

“I think
over the next couple of years, we'll see some expansion in that area,” he
continued. “Maybe not to the point where people have everything they want, but
some additional options. And then you look downtown. There have been some new
stores opened downtown, and in the mall, so we're making some headway in all
those areas.”

The survey
found the top recreational priorities also included additional indoor recreation,
bike trails, and enhanced playgrounds among respondents' top priorities.

Overall, Williams said the survey
would shape the focus of development efforts in Ellis County.

“I think
it validates some of the activity we're working on all the time,” he said. “Whether
it be housing or retail recruitment, or restaurant recruitment, it's good to
have that validation that that is indeed what people want.”

“It
tells us on the recreational side that we maybe need to be focusing a little
bit more on – we talk about things like a trampoline park or go-kart place or
more things for kids to do,” he continued. “And I think we maybe need to heed
some of what it is saying.”

But even
as the direction of economic expansion efforts is better defined with the
survey, Williams said bringing the desired improvements to Ellis County is a
slow process.

“A lot
of it is just to stay the course in what we're doing and try and achieve some
results on the efforts that we're already putting forth out there in the market
and try and get some of these things brought to fruition,” he said. “Whether
it's housing development or commercial development, nothing happens very
quickly. It's a slow process. It's maddening how long it takes, but you've just
got to show up every day and try and keep working on it and, bit by bit, you
may have some successes and get to where you're trying to get to, which takes
more time than you would like.”

The full survey results are
expected to be released on the Grow Hays website,<a href="https://www.growhays.com/"> growhays.com, soon.</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671413203614.jpg" alt="Image courtesy Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By JAMES BELL 
Hays PostEllis County residents are generally satisfied with the
quality of life in Ellis County across various indicators, according to a
recent survey commissioned by the Imagine Ellis County Committee.The Docking Institute’s Center for Survey Research conducted
the survey from September 16 to October 27. “One of the things we felt
like we needed to do was kind of level set, do a survey as to where things
stand,” said Grow Hays executive director Doug Williams. “We were fortunate
enough to get a grant from the Schmidt Foundation to give us some money to
engage the Docking Institute to do a quality-of-life survey for us.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671413856257.png" alt="Survey results. Image courtesy Grow Hays." />
 <figcaption>Survey results. Image courtesy Grow Hays.</figcaption>
 </figure>Finding that baseline is essential
for the committee to address the desires and needs of Ellis County residents,
he said.“This is a survey that the
Imagine Ellis County Committee, which is a committee that we started, which includes
a pretty large group of local citizens who got together and are trying to look
at what shortcomings we have in Ellis County and identify our strengths or
weaknesses and opportunities,” Williams said.<div><iframe title="Survey finds high satisfaction with life in Ellis Co., highlights priorities" allowtransparency="true" height="300" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=8mmf3-133fd88-pb&from=pb6admin&square=1&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=auto&logo_link=podcast_page&btn-skin=3267a3&size=300" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>Overall satisfaction with the quality of life in Ellis
County is high, as well as high in six specific aspects of living in the county,
according to the report’s executive summary. “I think the number one thing
is that there's a very high satisfaction among people who live here,” Williams
said. The survey found that 90 percent of respondents are
satisfied or very satisfied with Ellis County as a place to live.The report found dissatisfaction was also low on all six
items specific aspects questioned in the survey but noticeably higher in two
areas, recreation and citizen engagement.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671413683492.png" alt="Survey results. Image courtesy Grow Hays." />
 <figcaption>Survey results. Image courtesy Grow Hays.</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Recreation</h2>As a place to enjoy diverse recreational opportunities, 27.1
percent reported being dissatisfied, according to the survey.“If
there was dissatisfaction, it's with recreational things to do,” Williams said.
“We always hear that there's not enough for youth to do, and they'd like more
things in terms of recreation, hiking trails, and walking paths.”<h2>Citizen engagement</h2>As a place where citizens can be engaged in public
decision-making, 26.1 percent reported being overall dissatisfied.Only 5.2 percent of respondents reported being very
dissatisfied.<h2>Retirement</h2>Satisfaction
with Ellis County as a place to retire was generally rated high, with 15.3
percent overall reporting dissatisfaction.“I think
it gives me a little bit of direction,” Williams said.He
credits the dissatisfaction as a function of housing.“You
know, we believe we have a lot of very positive things for retirees here with
the amazing health care and that type of thing,” Williams said. “But at the
base, the foundational thing is housing. And we've got to have more appropriate
housing for retirees. And that's one of the things we're working diligently on
to try and get more of.”<h2>Business operations</h2>Dissatisfaction operating a
business in Ellis County ranked fourth in terms of discontent, with less than
10 percent overall reporting dissatisfaction.The category was affected
significantly, however, as a majority of respondents, 51.2 percent, responded
they did not know the impact due to a lack of experience running a business.<h2>Work </h2>As a place to work, 90.7 percent
of respondents reported being satisfied or “didn’t know. <h2>Family life</h2>The lowest dissatisfaction found in the six areas was with
Ellis County as a place to raise a family, with less than four percent
reporting dissatisfaction overall.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671414016559.png" alt="Survey results. Image courtesy Grow Hays." />
 <figcaption>Survey results. Image courtesy Grow Hays.</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Highest areas of desired improvement found in retail,
outdoor recreation </h2>In an open response category asking
for up to five enhancements, they would like to see in Ellis County, adding retail
stores was listed most, at 10.9 percent, and outdoor recreation was second, being
noted in 7.5 percent of responses. &nbsp;Creating off-street walking and hiking trails had the greatest
amount of respondents list them as a priority, with 40.4 percent rating it as a
very high or high priority, according to the study. Further, about “35 percent
consider increasing indoor recreation options and creating off-street bicycle
trails at least a high priority. Enhancing playgrounds has 32.8 percent rating
it at least a high priority, but this item also has the largest single
percentage rating it a moderate priority.”Williams said the desire for
additional outdoor recreational opportunities like walking paths was valuable
feedback and reinforced anecdotal evidence reported in the community.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671414106483.png" alt="Survey results. Image courtesy Grow Hays." />
 <figcaption>Survey results. Image courtesy Grow Hays.</figcaption>
 </figure>“That
was a bit of a surprise,” he said. “But a good direction. “If that's important
to people, I'm glad we're working on plans to try and resolve some of those
things and add some things to the community in that area.”Expanding
retail and restaurant options as a desire of Ellis County residents has been a long-time
effort, Williams said, but this survey supports that work.“This
proves that people want more choices when it comes to retail, and they want
more choices when it comes to dining out and the type of food services that we
have here,” Williams said. “The good news is, there's a lot going on in the
restaurant world right now. Several new (restaurants) have either opened or
will be opening pretty soon, with a little more diversity and in the type of
food that they offer. And shopping, we've got some good prospects.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671414213999.png" alt="Survey results. Image courtesy Grow Hays." />
 <figcaption>Survey results. Image courtesy Grow Hays.</figcaption>
 </figure>“I think
over the next couple of years, we'll see some expansion in that area,” he
continued. “Maybe not to the point where people have everything they want, but
some additional options. And then you look downtown. There have been some new
stores opened downtown, and in the mall, so we're making some headway in all
those areas.”The survey
found the top recreational priorities also included additional indoor recreation,
bike trails, and enhanced playgrounds among respondents' top priorities.Overall, Williams said the survey
would shape the focus of development efforts in Ellis County.“I think
it validates some of the activity we're working on all the time,” he said. “Whether
it be housing or retail recruitment, or restaurant recruitment, it's good to
have that validation that that is indeed what people want.”“It
tells us on the recreational side that we maybe need to be focusing a little
bit more on – we talk about things like a trampoline park or go-kart place or
more things for kids to do,” he continued. “And I think we maybe need to heed
some of what it is saying.”But even
as the direction of economic expansion efforts is better defined with the
survey, Williams said bringing the desired improvements to Ellis County is a
slow process.“A lot
of it is just to stay the course in what we're doing and try and achieve some
results on the efforts that we're already putting forth out there in the market
and try and get some of these things brought to fruition,” he said. “Whether
it's housing development or commercial development, nothing happens very
quickly. It's a slow process. It's maddening how long it takes, but you've just
got to show up every day and try and keep working on it and, bit by bit, you
may have some successes and get to where you're trying to get to, which takes
more time than you would like.”The full survey results are
expected to be released on the Grow Hays website,<a href="https://www.growhays.com/"> growhays.com, soon.</a>

🎙 Survey finds high satisfaction with life in Ellis Co., highlights priorities

Fort Hays State University’s Kansas Wetlands Education Center will host several drop-in events on Thursday, Dec. 29, and Friday, Dec. 30.

The December WILD program will take place on Thursday the 29 at 10 a.m. This month’s focus will be on falconry.

Falconry is the sport of hunting wild animals in their natural state and habitat using a trained bird of prey. Ellsworth area falconer, Don McKnight, will share how he became involved in falconry, how he cares for and trains his birds, and how to identify different birds of prey.

Weather dependent, he will do a flying demonstration with one of his falcons. Don trains Saker, Peregrine, and Gyrfalcons. WILD is a monthly program for school-aged kids and their families.

The goal is to get off electronics and outside into nature.

Then on Friday, Dec. 30, from 1-4:30 p.m., participants can experience the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math of Winter Water through a variety of hands-on interactive activities.&nbsp;

These free, family-friendly stations will be come-and-go. Dissolve a snowman, craft a spinning snowflake card, learn how to save a bird from an oil spill, and create a unique oil and water droplet painting.

At 3 p.m., a Rube Goldberg device designed by the Ellinwood High School robotics class will release a balloon drop for an early New Year countdown and dance party, complete with sparkling cider.

No registration is required for the free events. For more information, call the KWEC at 1-877-243-9268.

Kansas Wetlands Education Center, affiliated with FHSU’s Werth College of Science, Technology and Mathematics, is located 10 miles northeast of Great Bend at the Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area. More information can be found at&nbsp;<a href="http://wetlandscenter.fhsu.edu/">wetlandscenter.fhsu.edu</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671034632986.jpeg" alt="Come to the KWEC for winter break activities and some hands-on fun. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Come to the KWEC for winter break activities and some hands-on fun. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU University CommunicationsFort Hays State University’s Kansas Wetlands Education Center will host several drop-in events on Thursday, Dec. 29, and Friday, Dec. 30.The December WILD program will take place on Thursday the 29 at 10 a.m. This month’s focus will be on falconry.Falconry is the sport of hunting wild animals in their natural state and habitat using a trained bird of prey. Ellsworth area falconer, Don McKnight, will share how he became involved in falconry, how he cares for and trains his birds, and how to identify different birds of prey.Weather dependent, he will do a flying demonstration with one of his falcons. Don trains Saker, Peregrine, and Gyrfalcons. WILD is a monthly program for school-aged kids and their families.The goal is to get off electronics and outside into nature.Then on Friday, Dec. 30, from 1-4:30 p.m., participants can experience the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math of Winter Water through a variety of hands-on interactive activities.&nbsp;These free, family-friendly stations will be come-and-go. Dissolve a snowman, craft a spinning snowflake card, learn how to save a bird from an oil spill, and create a unique oil and water droplet painting.At 3 p.m., a Rube Goldberg device designed by the Ellinwood High School robotics class will release a balloon drop for an early New Year countdown and dance party, complete with sparkling cider.No registration is required for the free events. For more information, call the KWEC at 1-877-243-9268.Kansas Wetlands Education Center, affiliated with FHSU’s Werth College of Science, Technology and Mathematics, is located 10 miles northeast of Great Bend at the Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area. More information can be found at&nbsp;<a href="http://wetlandscenter.fhsu.edu/">wetlandscenter.fhsu.edu</a>.

KWEC to host several winter break activities

The Respect for Marriage Act provides stronger federal safeguards for married same-sex couples in Kansas. Bipartisan majorities passed it through Congress and President Joe Biden recently signed it into law.&nbsp;

You might think that marriage is a settled debate. However, as recent politics shows, conservatives in the politics industry are prioritizing the culture war beyond just abortion, especially targeting transgender children and gay and lesbian Americans.&nbsp;&nbsp;

In our recent Kansas gubernatorial election, Republicans dedicated entire campaign advertisements to transgender students playing sports, hyping that issue above water, energy, or certain key economic matters.&nbsp;

In October, Republicans promoted a false British tabloid story about supposed taxpayer-funded drag shows in Kansas. On Twitter, Senator Roger Marshall used that story to validate homophobic stereotypes of gay people as sexual predators “grooming” children.&nbsp;

This past summer, conservative Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas urged the court to “reconsider” past rulings that legalized contraception (Griswold), same-sex sexual relations (Lawrence), and same-sex marriage (Obergefell).&nbsp;

How does the RMA fit into this mounting conservative emphasis on LGBT people? And, what does that mean for gay and lesbian Kansans, especially the estimated 4,000 same-sex married couples in Kansas?&nbsp;

The Kansas Constitution contains an unenforceable provision banning same-sex marriage. Much has changed since voters approved this in 2005. Young people, including young Republicans, generally support same-sex marriage in surveys, and no Kansans under roughly age 35 today voted on that ban.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Repealing this marriage ban requires the legislature to put a constitutional amendment on the ballot. Conservatives realize that most Kansans today support same-sex marriage—roughly 60-ish percent in most surveys since 2017. They know how you would vote on this, so don’t expect conservatives to allow a marriage ban repeal vote anytime soon.&nbsp;

Kansas law also criminalizes sex between consenting same-sex adults, making it a misdemeanor punishable by six months incarceration. The 2003&nbsp;Lawrence&nbsp;decision makes this law unenforceable, but Kansas conservatives have repeatedly refused to repeal the law.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The RMA doesn’t address state laws regulating sex, but it does guarantee federal recognition to same-sex marriages. Simplifying things, it also clarifies that the Full Faith and Credit clause of the U.S. Constitution requires that marriages in one state must be recognized in others, including same-sex marriages. Meanwhile, it gives explicit exemptions for religious non-profits that oppose same-sex relationships.&nbsp;

So, what if Thomas prevails on marriage and sex, and Kansas changes no laws?&nbsp;&nbsp;

Kansas government could stop issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples and might try nullifying existing marriage licenses issued here. Thanks to the RMA, though, same-sex couples willing and able to travel could marry in another state and Kansas would have to recognize those marriages. However, it would still be illegal for same-sex spouses to have sex in Kansas.&nbsp;

Most Kansans agree that the ideology of big government conservatism that desires to regulate marriage and sex among two consenting adults is outdated. Conservative politicians are playing to a narrow strain of identity politics on the political right with their positions on these issues.&nbsp;&nbsp;

That political game comes at the expense of average gay and lesbian Kansans that these positions risk harming. If that’s not you, maybe it's a friend or loved one. That’s not what most Kansans want in 2022, but it’s up to average Kansans to hold politicians accountable on that.&nbsp;

Patrick R. Miller is an Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Kansas.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575644168170.png" alt="Patrick R. Miller is an Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Kansas.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Patrick R. Miller is an Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Kansas.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>The Respect for Marriage Act provides stronger federal safeguards for married same-sex couples in Kansas. Bipartisan majorities passed it through Congress and President Joe Biden recently signed it into law.&nbsp;You might think that marriage is a settled debate. However, as recent politics shows, conservatives in the politics industry are prioritizing the culture war beyond just abortion, especially targeting transgender children and gay and lesbian Americans.&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575913663048.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>In our recent Kansas gubernatorial election, Republicans dedicated entire campaign advertisements to transgender students playing sports, hyping that issue above water, energy, or certain key economic matters.&nbsp;In October, Republicans promoted a false British tabloid story about supposed taxpayer-funded drag shows in Kansas. On Twitter, Senator Roger Marshall used that story to validate homophobic stereotypes of gay people as sexual predators “grooming” children.&nbsp;This past summer, conservative Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas urged the court to “reconsider” past rulings that legalized contraception (Griswold), same-sex sexual relations (Lawrence), and same-sex marriage (Obergefell).&nbsp;How does the RMA fit into this mounting conservative emphasis on LGBT people? And, what does that mean for gay and lesbian Kansans, especially the estimated 4,000 same-sex married couples in Kansas?&nbsp;Let’s start with Kansas law.&nbsp;The Kansas Constitution contains an unenforceable provision banning same-sex marriage. Much has changed since voters approved this in 2005. Young people, including young Republicans, generally support same-sex marriage in surveys, and no Kansans under roughly age 35 today voted on that ban.&nbsp;&nbsp;Repealing this marriage ban requires the legislature to put a constitutional amendment on the ballot. Conservatives realize that most Kansans today support same-sex marriage—roughly 60-ish percent in most surveys since 2017. They know how you would vote on this, so don’t expect conservatives to allow a marriage ban repeal vote anytime soon.&nbsp;Kansas law also criminalizes sex between consenting same-sex adults, making it a misdemeanor punishable by six months incarceration. The 2003&nbsp;Lawrence&nbsp;decision makes this law unenforceable, but Kansas conservatives have repeatedly refused to repeal the law.&nbsp;&nbsp;The RMA doesn’t address state laws regulating sex, but it does guarantee federal recognition to same-sex marriages. Simplifying things, it also clarifies that the Full Faith and Credit clause of the U.S. Constitution requires that marriages in one state must be recognized in others, including same-sex marriages. Meanwhile, it gives explicit exemptions for religious non-profits that oppose same-sex relationships.&nbsp;So, what if Thomas prevails on marriage and sex, and Kansas changes no laws?&nbsp;&nbsp;Kansas government could stop issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples and might try nullifying existing marriage licenses issued here. Thanks to the RMA, though, same-sex couples willing and able to travel could marry in another state and Kansas would have to recognize those marriages. However, it would still be illegal for same-sex spouses to have sex in Kansas.&nbsp;Most Kansans agree that the ideology of big government conservatism that desires to regulate marriage and sex among two consenting adults is outdated. Conservative politicians are playing to a narrow strain of identity politics on the political right with their positions on these issues.&nbsp;&nbsp;That political game comes at the expense of average gay and lesbian Kansans that these positions risk harming. If that’s not you, maybe it's a friend or loved one. That’s not what most Kansans want in 2022, but it’s up to average Kansans to hold politicians accountable on that.&nbsp;Patrick R. Miller is an Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Kansas.&nbsp;

INSIGHT KANSAS: Respect for Marriage Act and its impact on Kansas 

The Fort Hays State University Foundation has announced that Hays native and FHSU alumnus Thomas Zimmerman has recently joined its staff as a director of development. Zimmerman will primarily focus his fundraising efforts toward FHSU Athletics.

“The Foundation is a pillar at FHSU and has helped the university grow to what it is today. I know there’s more room for growth, and I’m excited to be part of that growth,” said Zimmerman.&nbsp;

Zimmerman graduated from Fort Hays State in 2010 with a management degree. Before joining the Foundation team, he served for several years as the rental/compact construction equipment sales representative for Foley Equipment. Additional experience includes sales, portfolio management, and territory planning. Zimmerman, his wife, Tiffany, and their son, Max, love sports and are proud Tiger fans. He looks forward to sharing his passion for Fort Hays State and Tiger Athletics through this new role.

“We’re excited to welcome Thomas to our development team,” said Jason Williby, FHSU Foundation President, and CEO. “His strong interpersonal skills, driven work ethic, energy, and love for Fort Hays State make him a great asset to our team and Tiger Athletics.”

Established in 1945, the FHSU Foundation is committed to cultivating lasting relationships with alumni, friends, corporations, and other organizations that have a passion for Fort Hays State and want to continue its legacy of excellence. As an independent, non-profit organization, the Foundation’s donors impact all facets of university life, and their support continues to translate into success for FHSU students.

To learn more about the Fort Hays State University Foundation, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=-2BFJoAhsjp8losQfY8t-2BZtDSAKvxVcchtfV1543l0Kpl6aRGqIctSqa6Magmpvb7gIYzZ_r-2BDMsuWuYVmb7-2F1Mu1QL1I-2FJ8-2BHR91nNNNGTTc38Ah0CWayiZL-2BkhdmA3sx0XGnG-2FN1jk6rVQRO9vN7U5rFC-2BcXi909IOPAdkr3SvXFdyn3Ag1h6-2F-2B6atf0vMUKxRgZ-2B1g-2BZaVd1ZEd4afahM-2BGxC-2FLyiaYbUkgUXgsTFiDOnQmVZi-2Fyci2il38K78XyI1Xswo2N86k28dtx0dVcoUppIf3xCOYYV7PI9gLCBJIx-2FsJSqaQWaSBA2CRIfrEKtqoxdM-2Fhln0Z-2FQJMZd3uFp4D40pKiRlHN-2FyBy39D0Id0NmoyEFqlH-2BsXNi0SLM6NR1jjCM-2BMxWSH2W3km3MLiAex9HB6hnlRaUcTKAVimlGyHSNobO-2BMS98hVavGwqhCvuEc">https://foundation.fhsu.edu</a>, call 785-628-5620, or email&nbsp;<a href="mailto:foundation@fhsu.edu">foundation@fhsu.edu</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671145748687.jpeg" alt="Zimmerman" />
 <figcaption>Zimmerman</figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU FoundationThe Fort Hays State University Foundation has announced that Hays native and FHSU alumnus Thomas Zimmerman has recently joined its staff as a director of development. Zimmerman will primarily focus his fundraising efforts toward FHSU Athletics.“The Foundation is a pillar at FHSU and has helped the university grow to what it is today. I know there’s more room for growth, and I’m excited to be part of that growth,” said Zimmerman.&nbsp;Zimmerman graduated from Fort Hays State in 2010 with a management degree. Before joining the Foundation team, he served for several years as the rental/compact construction equipment sales representative for Foley Equipment. Additional experience includes sales, portfolio management, and territory planning. Zimmerman, his wife, Tiffany, and their son, Max, love sports and are proud Tiger fans. He looks forward to sharing his passion for Fort Hays State and Tiger Athletics through this new role.“We’re excited to welcome Thomas to our development team,” said Jason Williby, FHSU Foundation President, and CEO. “His strong interpersonal skills, driven work ethic, energy, and love for Fort Hays State make him a great asset to our team and Tiger Athletics.”Established in 1945, the FHSU Foundation is committed to cultivating lasting relationships with alumni, friends, corporations, and other organizations that have a passion for Fort Hays State and want to continue its legacy of excellence. As an independent, non-profit organization, the Foundation’s donors impact all facets of university life, and their support continues to translate into success for FHSU students.To learn more about the Fort Hays State University Foundation, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=-2BFJoAhsjp8losQfY8t-2BZtDSAKvxVcchtfV1543l0Kpl6aRGqIctSqa6Magmpvb7gIYzZ_r-2BDMsuWuYVmb7-2F1Mu1QL1I-2FJ8-2BHR91nNNNGTTc38Ah0CWayiZL-2BkhdmA3sx0XGnG-2FN1jk6rVQRO9vN7U5rFC-2BcXi909IOPAdkr3SvXFdyn3Ag1h6-2F-2B6atf0vMUKxRgZ-2B1g-2BZaVd1ZEd4afahM-2BGxC-2FLyiaYbUkgUXgsTFiDOnQmVZi-2Fyci2il38K78XyI1Xswo2N86k28dtx0dVcoUppIf3xCOYYV7PI9gLCBJIx-2FsJSqaQWaSBA2CRIfrEKtqoxdM-2Fhln0Z-2FQJMZd3uFp4D40pKiRlHN-2FyBy39D0Id0NmoyEFqlH-2BsXNi0SLM6NR1jjCM-2BMxWSH2W3km3MLiAex9HB6hnlRaUcTKAVimlGyHSNobO-2BMS98hVavGwqhCvuEc">https://foundation.fhsu.edu</a>, call 785-628-5620, or email&nbsp;<a href="mailto:foundation@fhsu.edu">foundation@fhsu.edu</a>.

Hays native joins FHSU Foundation as development director

'Coldest day for quite some time': Bitter cold on the way this week

On this episode of the Post Podcast Hays Virtual School director Oliva Rice shares details about the program.

<div><iframe title="Hays Virtual School celebrates graduates" allowtransparency="true" height="450" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=5t25g-133e00c-pb&from=pb6admin&square=1&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=auto&logo_link=podcast_page&btn-skin=3267a3&size=450" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>On this episode of the Post Podcast Hays Virtual School director Oliva Rice shares details about the program.

Hays Virtual Schools celebrate graduates

By COLE REIF Great Bend Post

HOISINGTON — For the past two years, the Chevrolet dealership in Hoisington has been
operating as Ehler Chevrolet. Before that, the dealership was known as
Manweiler Chevrolet for 92 years. There were four generations of Manweilers to
own the dealership, with the last being Gene. 
Before Gene retired, he attended a business boot camp in Colorado that discussed
ways to strengthen your business and make it more of a destination. Manweiler
said the course focused on highlighting the history of your company.

Wanting to
tell the story of 90-plus years of the family business, Gene began organizing
information for a book. "It was fun to tell the story," said 
Manweiler. "I did it in a way that I'm telling my family, friends and 
people that know me. There are a lot of people involved with this story,
 including past employees. I took what I heard about other employees 
that were there before me. I heard stories from my grandparents and my 
parents. That's what I relied on."

Gene took over ownership from his father in 1987. He then sold the dealership to Micah Ehler in November 2020. 
Manweiler was put in contact with author Gene Stowe, based out of North
Carolina. Stowe helped Manweiler piece together the 101-page book that goes
through the dealership’s history of business changes, sales and service,
marketing and the lives of family and friends that worked at the dealership.

While Stowe wrote the book, "MChevy: The 92-Year Legacy of Manweiler Chevrolet," has Gene’s name on the front, something Manweiler wasn’t expecting. "I
 thought Stowe was going to be the author," said Manweiler. "He said to 
me, 'Gene, you're the one that wrote all the stuff down, I just 
organized it all for you to make it easier reading.' I was kind of 
flabbergasted when I first saw the cover, because we never talked about 
that. I really wanted him to get credit for it." 
A copy of the book can be purchased for $15 on Amazon. Buy the book <a href="https://www.amazon.com/MChevy-92-Year-Legacy-Manweiler-Chevrolet/dp/B0BP4L7F1W/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2Y36T8R3OFIR3&amp;keywords=manweiler&amp;qid=1671048591&amp;sprefix=manweile%2Caps%2C121&amp;sr=8-1">HERE</a>.&nbsp; &nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671115989036.jpeg" alt="The cover of "MChevy: The 92-Year Legacy of Manweiler Chevrolet." The book outlines the history of the four-generation dealership in Hoisington." />
 <figcaption>The cover of "MChevy: The 92-Year Legacy of Manweiler Chevrolet." The book outlines the history of the four-generation dealership in Hoisington.</figcaption>
 </figure>By COLE REIF Great Bend PostHOISINGTON — For the past two years, the Chevrolet dealership in Hoisington has been
operating as Ehler Chevrolet. Before that, the dealership was known as
Manweiler Chevrolet for 92 years. There were four generations of Manweilers to
own the dealership, with the last being Gene. 
Before Gene retired, he attended a business boot camp in Colorado that discussed
ways to strengthen your business and make it more of a destination. Manweiler
said the course focused on highlighting the history of your company. Wanting to
tell the story of 90-plus years of the family business, Gene began organizing
information for a book. "It was fun to tell the story," said 
Manweiler. "I did it in a way that I'm telling my family, friends and 
people that know me. There are a lot of people involved with this story,
 including past employees. I took what I heard about other employees 
that were there before me. I heard stories from my grandparents and my 
parents. That's what I relied on."Gene took over ownership from his father in 1987. He then sold the dealership to Micah Ehler in November 2020. 
Manweiler was put in contact with author Gene Stowe, based out of North
Carolina. Stowe helped Manweiler piece together the 101-page book that goes
through the dealership’s history of business changes, sales and service,
marketing and the lives of family and friends that worked at the dealership.
While Stowe wrote the book, "MChevy: The 92-Year Legacy of Manweiler Chevrolet," has Gene’s name on the front, something Manweiler wasn’t expecting. "I
 thought Stowe was going to be the author," said Manweiler. "He said to 
me, 'Gene, you're the one that wrote all the stuff down, I just 
organized it all for you to make it easier reading.' I was kind of 
flabbergasted when I first saw the cover, because we never talked about 
that. I really wanted him to get credit for it." 
A copy of the book can be purchased for $15 on Amazon. Buy the book <a href="https://www.amazon.com/MChevy-92-Year-Legacy-Manweiler-Chevrolet/dp/B0BP4L7F1W/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2Y36T8R3OFIR3&amp;keywords=manweiler&amp;qid=1671048591&amp;sprefix=manweile%2Caps%2C121&amp;sr=8-1">HERE</a>.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Book captures the legacy of Hoisington car dealership

​LARNED – Cody Thacker was looking for a position that offered the opportunity to support Pawnee Valley Community Hospital, while simultaneously allowing him to become more involved in&nbsp;his&nbsp;community.&nbsp;

His search led him to his new position&nbsp;as&nbsp;PVCH Foundation director.

“This position affords me the&nbsp;opportunity&nbsp;to support our local, community hospital,”&nbsp;said Thacker, a Kansas native.&nbsp;“I have a strong respect for what this hospital means to&nbsp;Larned, Pawnee County and the surrounding area.

“In addition, I am now&nbsp;able to become better acquainted with more of my neighbors in central Kansas.”

As foundation director, Thacker works closely with the&nbsp;nonprofit&nbsp;entity’s board of trustees. They collaborate on community relations, fundraising projects and events, private-donation&nbsp;oversight, endowment management and capital campaigns.

“Gifts to the foundation provide vital philanthropic support to help fund life-saving equipment,&nbsp;as well as&nbsp;special PVCH projects&nbsp;and programs that advance quality healthcare in our community,” Thacker said. “This is the foundation’s mission.

“A great example,” he added,&nbsp;“is the foundation’s&nbsp;capital campaign, which raised funds&nbsp;to bring 3D mammography&nbsp;to our hospital. This is the latest and most advanced breast imaging available today, and we have the community to thank for it.”

In the short-term, Thacker&nbsp;is moving forward with foundation projects already in motion.

“I also hope to&nbsp;suggest&nbsp;new ideas for consideration, while making it a priority to connect with individuals and businesses,” he commented. “I am eager to get to know as many community members as I can.

“Looking ahead, I&nbsp;want to work&nbsp;closely&nbsp;with the trustees to carry out&nbsp;the foundation’s mission. In partnership with them and private donors,&nbsp;our goal is&nbsp;to satisfy the long-range healthcare needs of Pawnee County and&nbsp;the&nbsp;surrounding area.”

Thacker grew up just north of&nbsp;Offerle; his parents live on a farm there.&nbsp;He lives in&nbsp;Larned&nbsp;where his&nbsp;twin sister and&nbsp;one&nbsp;brother also reside.

He graduated from Spearville High School in 2010 and is currently studying for his bachelor’s degree in business administration/marketing through Fort Hays State University.

​Previous employment includes area field manager&nbsp;at&nbsp;U-Haul International in&nbsp;Larned; sales representative at Midway MFG in Kinsley;&nbsp;clubhouse&nbsp;<a></a>manager at Cimarron Golf Club in Cimarron;&nbsp;and&nbsp;sales representative for Lewis&nbsp;Automotive in Garden City.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671222069573.jpeg" alt="Cody Thacker, PVCH Foundation director" />
 <figcaption>Cody Thacker, PVCH Foundation director</figcaption>
 </figure>News release​LARNED – Cody Thacker was looking for a position that offered the opportunity to support Pawnee Valley Community Hospital, while simultaneously allowing him to become more involved in&nbsp;his&nbsp;community.&nbsp;His search led him to his new position&nbsp;as&nbsp;PVCH Foundation director.“This position affords me the&nbsp;opportunity&nbsp;to support our local, community hospital,”&nbsp;said Thacker, a Kansas native.&nbsp;“I have a strong respect for what this hospital means to&nbsp;Larned, Pawnee County and the surrounding area.“In addition, I am now&nbsp;able to become better acquainted with more of my neighbors in central Kansas.”As foundation director, Thacker works closely with the&nbsp;nonprofit&nbsp;entity’s board of trustees. They collaborate on community relations, fundraising projects and events, private-donation&nbsp;oversight, endowment management and capital campaigns.“Gifts to the foundation provide vital philanthropic support to help fund life-saving equipment,&nbsp;as well as&nbsp;special PVCH projects&nbsp;and programs that advance quality healthcare in our community,” Thacker said. “This is the foundation’s mission.“A great example,” he added,&nbsp;“is the foundation’s&nbsp;capital campaign, which raised funds&nbsp;to bring 3D mammography&nbsp;to our hospital. This is the latest and most advanced breast imaging available today, and we have the community to thank for it.”In the short-term, Thacker&nbsp;is moving forward with foundation projects already in motion.“I also hope to&nbsp;suggest&nbsp;new ideas for consideration, while making it a priority to connect with individuals and businesses,” he commented. “I am eager to get to know as many community members as I can.“Looking ahead, I&nbsp;want to work&nbsp;closely&nbsp;with the trustees to carry out&nbsp;the foundation’s mission. In partnership with them and private donors,&nbsp;our goal is&nbsp;to satisfy the long-range healthcare needs of Pawnee County and&nbsp;the&nbsp;surrounding area.”Thacker grew up just north of&nbsp;Offerle; his parents live on a farm there.&nbsp;He lives in&nbsp;Larned&nbsp;where his&nbsp;twin sister and&nbsp;one&nbsp;brother also reside.He graduated from Spearville High School in 2010 and is currently studying for his bachelor’s degree in business administration/marketing through Fort Hays State University.​Previous employment includes area field manager&nbsp;at&nbsp;U-Haul International in&nbsp;Larned; sales representative at Midway MFG in Kinsley;&nbsp;clubhouse&nbsp;<a></a>manager at Cimarron Golf Club in Cimarron;&nbsp;and&nbsp;sales representative for Lewis&nbsp;Automotive in Garden City.

Thacker named Pawnee Valley Community Hospital Foundation director

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671222995065.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>

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🏀 WINNERS EVERY WEEK! CERVs Basketball Matchup

Preliminary estimates reported by the Labor Market Information Services division of the Kansas Department of Labor and the Bureau of Labor Statistics show a&nbsp;seasonally adjusted unemployment rate&nbsp;of 2.8% in November. This was unchanged from 2.8% in October and unchanged from 2.8% in November 2021.

“There was little change in the labor force this month, resulting in the unemployment rate remaining at 2.8%,” said Secretary Amber Shultz. “This is also unchanged from last November.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

In northwest Kansas more than a dozen counties reported jobless rates below 2 percent, including Ellis County's 1.7 percent.

Seasonally adjusted job estimates for Kansas indicate total nonfarm payroll employment decreased by 400 from October. Total nonfarm includes private sector and government employers.&nbsp;Private sector jobs&nbsp;decreased by 1,000 over the month, while government increased by 600.

“Total nonfarm job estimates for Kansas indicate a small decline over the month in November,” said Labor Economist Emilie Doerksen. “However, due to strong growth in October and gains earlier this year, current estimates are 2.7% higher than last November.”

Since November 2021 Kansas’ seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs&nbsp;have increased by 36,700. This change is due to an increase of 34,600 private sector jobs and an increase of 2,100 government jobs.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671297846395.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Preliminary estimates reported by the Labor Market Information Services division of the Kansas Department of Labor and the Bureau of Labor Statistics show a&nbsp;seasonally adjusted unemployment rate&nbsp;of 2.8% in November. This was unchanged from 2.8% in October and unchanged from 2.8% in November 2021.“There was little change in the labor force this month, resulting in the unemployment rate remaining at 2.8%,” said Secretary Amber Shultz. “This is also unchanged from last November.”&nbsp;&nbsp;In northwest Kansas more than a dozen counties reported jobless rates below 2 percent, including Ellis County's 1.7 percent.Seasonally adjusted job estimates for Kansas indicate total nonfarm payroll employment decreased by 400 from October. Total nonfarm includes private sector and government employers.&nbsp;Private sector jobs&nbsp;decreased by 1,000 over the month, while government increased by 600.“Total nonfarm job estimates for Kansas indicate a small decline over the month in November,” said Labor Economist Emilie Doerksen. “However, due to strong growth in October and gains earlier this year, current estimates are 2.7% higher than last November.”Since November 2021 Kansas’ seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs&nbsp;have increased by 36,700. This change is due to an increase of 34,600 private sector jobs and an increase of 2,100 government jobs.

November jobless rate drops below 2% in Ellis County

On this episode of the Post Podcast, Cottonwood Extension District agent Monique Koerner introduces 4-H Youth Development agent Tamara Robertson.

<div><iframe title="Cottonwood Extension District hires new 4-H Youth Development agent" allowtransparency="true" height="450" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=ev3ug-133dfc6-pb&from=pb6admin&square=1&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=auto&logo_link=podcast_page&btn-skin=3267a3&size=450" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>On this episode of the Post Podcast, Cottonwood Extension District agent Monique Koerner introduces 4-H Youth Development agent Tamara Robertson.

🎙 Post Podcast: Cottonwood Extension District hires new 4-H Youth Development agent

The Hays High Indians girls and boys basketball teams travel to Wichita Saturday for a matchup with Wichita South.

The girls game is scheduled to tipoff at 12 p.m. from Wichita Southeast High School with the boys game to follow.

Click the player below or click&nbsp;<a href="https://vcloud.blueframetech.com/broadcast/embed/480673">HERE&nbsp;</a>to view the game. You can also download the Team1Sports app for your phone or connected device, including smart TVs.

The Hays High Indians girls and boys basketball teams travel to Wichita Saturday for a matchup with Wichita South.The girls game is scheduled to tipoff at 12 p.m. from Wichita Southeast High School with the boys game to follow.Click the player below or click&nbsp;<a href="https://vcloud.blueframetech.com/broadcast/embed/480673">HERE&nbsp;</a>to view the game. You can also download the Team1Sports app for your phone or connected device, including smart TVs.<div><iframe src="https://vcloud.blueframetech.com/broadcast/embed/488491?autoplay=1" width="640" height="360" allow="fullscreen;" style="border:0;overflow:hidden;"></iframe></div>

🏀🎥 WATCH LIVE Hays High vs Wichita South

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

Six Fort Hays State University students traveled more than 8,600 miles to participate in person in their graduation ceremony Friday in Hays.

Those virtual students are part of a partnership program with the American University of Phnom Penh in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The partnership was launched in 2016 after the founder of the college visited one of FHSU partnership campuses in China. 

These students, who have earned their degrees in tourism and hospitality management, are the first students in the program to travel in person to Hays to participate in a graduation ceremony. 

All of the students now have dual degrees both from FHSU and their partner university in Cambodia.

"I think it is beneficial to have an American degree. It opens up a door for us to work (in the U.S.) anytime we want," said Woody Rath, graduate. "That is something we highly value.

"It's not just the degree. I think the curriculum is very attractive compared to our typical Cambodian curriculum."

Rath already has a job as a communications officer at a hotel in Cambodia, but he is interested in eventually transferring within that hotel chain to one of the company's properties in the U.S.

Saknitta Sin, graduate, said American degrees are internationally recognized. 

"We can study anywhere and can also use that to apply for a job anywhere," she said.

Sirina Rith, graduate, has already applied for and been accepted to graduate school at the University of Technology, Sidney. She starts classes in February. That program is a combination of virtual and in-person classes.

She is interested in event planning and hopes to bring her knowledge back to Cambodia to plan large-scale events in her home country.

Solk Tylzour's parents own a hotel in Cambodia, and he will be joining the family business now that he has finished his degree. Tylzour said he thinks his American degree will help him stand out in the industry.

The students have all worked in internship programs. Sin just finished a six-month internship working in the food and beverage sector in Cambodia. She learned aspects of French cuisine, cocktails and coffee service. 

During her internship, she served ambassadors from across the globe who were visiting Cambodia for a recent Asian summit. Although she did not meet President Biden, she was able to steal some glances of him and serve members of the U.S. delegation.

Sin, who was honored with the FHSU Outstanding Student Award, said she is interested in traveling and working internationally. However, she said she would like to eventually return to Cambodia and use her skills to improve the hospitality industry in her own country.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671230866399.jpeg" alt="FHSU tourism and hospitality management graduates Soklida Heng, Leanghauy Yeang, Saknitta "Jane" Sin, Sok Tylzour, Woody Rath, and Sirina Rith traveled from Cambodia to accept their diplomas in person on Friday. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post " />
 <figcaption>FHSU tourism and hospitality management graduates Soklida Heng, Leanghauy Yeang, Saknitta "Jane" Sin, Sok Tylzour, Woody Rath, and Sirina Rith traveled from Cambodia to accept their diplomas in person on Friday. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post </figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostSix Fort Hays State University students traveled more than 8,600 miles to participate in person in their graduation ceremony Friday in Hays.Those virtual students are part of a partnership program with the American University of Phnom Penh in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The partnership was launched in 2016 after the founder of the college visited one of FHSU partnership campuses in China. These students, who have earned their degrees in tourism and hospitality management, are the first students in the program to travel in person to Hays to participate in a graduation ceremony. All of the students now have dual degrees both from FHSU and their partner university in Cambodia. "I think it is beneficial to have an American degree. It opens up a door for us to work (in the U.S.) anytime we want," said Woody Rath, graduate. "That is something we highly value."It's not just the degree. I think the curriculum is very attractive compared to our typical Cambodian curriculum."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671231331455.jpeg" alt="Saknitta "Jane" Sin of Cambodia was honored with the Outstanding International Student Award. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post " />
 <figcaption>Saknitta "Jane" Sin of Cambodia was honored with the Outstanding International Student Award. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post </figcaption>
 </figure>Rath already has a job as a communications officer at a hotel in Cambodia, but he is interested in eventually transferring within that hotel chain to one of the company's properties in the U.S. Saknitta Sin, graduate, said American degrees are internationally recognized. "We can study anywhere and can also use that to apply for a job anywhere," she said.Sirina Rith, graduate, has already applied for and been accepted to graduate school at the University of Technology, Sidney. She starts classes in February. That program is a combination of virtual and in-person classes.She is interested in event planning and hopes to bring her knowledge back to Cambodia to plan large-scale events in her home country. Solk Tylzour's parents own a hotel in Cambodia, and he will be joining the family business now that he has finished his degree. Tylzour said he thinks his American degree will help him stand out in the industry.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671231541040.jpeg" alt="Sirina Rith will begin graduate school in Sidney, Australia, in February. She is a graduate of the FHSU Tourism and Hospitality Management program. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post " />
 <figcaption>Sirina Rith will begin graduate school in Sidney, Australia, in February. She is a graduate of the FHSU Tourism and Hospitality Management program. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post </figcaption>
 </figure>The students have all worked in internship programs. Sin just finished a six-month internship working in the food and beverage sector in Cambodia. She learned aspects of French cuisine, cocktails and coffee service. During her internship, she served ambassadors from across the globe who were visiting Cambodia for a recent Asian summit. Although she did not meet President Biden, she was able to steal some glances of him and serve members of the U.S. delegation.Sin, who was honored with the FHSU Outstanding Student Award, said she is interested in traveling and working internationally. However, she said she would like to eventually return to Cambodia and use her skills to improve the hospitality industry in her own country.She said she hopes to change the tourism industry so travelers can have more positive impacts on the locations they visit. Being a virtual student had its challenges. There is a 13-hour time difference between Cambodia and the U.S., but the students had to deal with class schedules and assignment deadlines on U.S. time. <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671231793799.jpeg" alt="Soklida Heng, FHSU graduate, introduces herself during a reception for a group of virtual students from Cambodia. She traveled from Cambodia with family members to receive her diploma in person Friday in Hays. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post " />
 <figcaption>Soklida Heng, FHSU graduate, introduces herself during a reception for a group of virtual students from Cambodia. She traveled from Cambodia with family members to receive her diploma in person Friday in Hays. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post </figcaption>
 </figure>Rath said both staff at FHSU and the American University of Phnom Penh helped the students in many aspects of their studies."I think there was a lot of collaboration that enhanced our study experience," he said. Several of the students had studied English since they were young. However, Rath didn't start taking English courses until he was in college. He said he struggled in the first six months of his classes to keep up with the advanced vocabulary.None of the students, who were all in their early 20s, had ever been to the United States. They traveled three days and two nights to get to Hays, including multiple flights and layovers and a four-hour car trip from Kansas City. Sin said she told people on the plane she was going to Kansas, and they didn't know where that was. She said being in Kansas seemed unreal."When we saw the farms and houses and decorations, it felt like an American movie. We are in a dream," she said.Rath said he knew Kansas was a rural farming area. He was surprised to find Hays is a small city. "You have very good infrastructure," he said. "I saw a lot of hotels and industrial zones. This is a different landscape for me."Sin said she was also impressed by the region's use of green energy. She had never seen a wind generator in person.Rith said she never expected to receive an invitation to receive her diploma in person."I was expecting to get the certificate sent in the mail," she said. ... "This is a good opportunity to see my professors who I haven't seen in person because we have always been doing online stuff. It's really great." The students were also a little shocked by the cold. Although Tylzour researched the weather and packed gloves and a winter coat, he was still taken aback by the cold and sharp wind on Friday.Rith said she did not expect everyone to be friendly."In Cambodia, everyone goes in a group," she said. "If you don't fit in, you don't fit in. Upon coming here, I'm more comfortable speaking to people because I know they're going to judge me. At the same time, they're very welcoming and very helpful." The students were scheduled to tour Hays Friday afternoon, including a visit to the Sternberg Museum.&nbsp; Soklida Heng, graduate, also planned on making other stops in the U.S. during her trip, including New York City, Los Angeles and Nevada. Phil Whittcorn with FHSU global affairs said the American University of Phnom Penh has about 40 more students moving through the computer science program. Now COVID restrictions have eased, FHSU would like more of the partnership students to travel to Hays not just for graduation but for short-term study abroad experiences. FHSU is launching a similar partnership program in Malaysia in fall of 2023. The program will begin with business, informatics and communication studies.