Fort Hays State University celebrated the holiday season Tuesday with the annual tree lighting ceremony.

Cooler temperatures and a blustery wind, didn't hamper festivities though as revelers of all ages enjoyed cookies and cocoa as they visited with Santa and enjoyed the holiday-themed events.

Take a look at some of the activities below:

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 </figure>By JAMES BELL Hays PostFort Hays State University celebrated the holiday season Tuesday with the annual tree lighting ceremony.Cooler temperatures and a blustery wind, didn't hamper festivities though as revelers of all ages enjoyed cookies and cocoa as they visited with Santa and enjoyed the holiday-themed events.Take a look at some of the activities below:<figure>
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📷 FHSU celebrates Christmas season with tree lighting and more

After a chilly Tuesday and Wednesday, the National Weather Service in Dodge City is calling for the mercury to jump in the coming days.&nbsp;

The high Thursday is expected to be in the upper-50s, rising all the way to the mid-70s by Friday.

Windy conditions, dry vegetation and low humidity will heighten the risk of fires, the NWS warned. South-southeast winds will begin to pick up Wednesday night — sustained at 20 mph through Friday. Friday could see gusts near 40 mph.&nbsp;

Temperatures will become more seasonal starting Saturday, with highs ranging from the low-40s to mid-50s into next week. Overnight lows will continue to be below the freezing point.

No precipitation is in the forecast. Tuesday's snow was measured as just a trace amount of moisture by the K-State Ag Research Center. The overnight low of 8 degrees was just 6 degrees above the record set in 1919 and 1952.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669818776253.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>After a chilly Tuesday and Wednesday, the National Weather Service in Dodge City is calling for the mercury to jump in the coming days.&nbsp;The high Thursday is expected to be in the upper-50s, rising all the way to the mid-70s by Friday.Windy conditions, dry vegetation and low humidity will heighten the risk of fires, the NWS warned. South-southeast winds will begin to pick up Wednesday night — sustained at 20 mph through Friday. Friday could see gusts near 40 mph.&nbsp;Temperatures will become more seasonal starting Saturday, with highs ranging from the low-40s to mid-50s into next week. Overnight lows will continue to be below the freezing point.No precipitation is in the forecast. Tuesday's snow was measured as just a trace amount of moisture by the K-State Ag Research Center. The overnight low of 8 degrees was just 6 degrees above the record set in 1919 and 1952.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Friday will be the warmest day of the forecast, with afternoon running some 25-30 degrees above early December normals. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/kswx?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#kswx</a> <a href="https://t.co/vL4gs80iPs">pic.twitter.com/vL4gs80iPs</a>&mdash; NWS Dodge City (@NWSDodgeCity) <a href="https://twitter.com/NWSDodgeCity/status/1597693337607106560?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 29, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> </div>

Warm, windy Friday will increase fire risk in NW Kansas

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment on Wednesday reported 30 new COVID-19 cases had been identified in Ellis County from Nov. 19 to 25.

KDHE reports updated case numbers weekly on Wednesdays.

Ellis County returned to the high-incidence category, the KDHE reported. (See map below).&nbsp; Several other northwest Kansas counties were in the substantial- or high-incidence category.

<a href="https://www.ellisco.net/97/Health">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;for information on how to receive a COVID-19 vaccination.

Since reporting began, there have been 8,151 cases of COVID-19 identified in Ellis County.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669831722211.png" alt="Ellis County COVID-19 curve / KDHE" />
 <figcaption>Ellis County COVID-19 curve / KDHE</figcaption>
 </figure>The Kansas Department of Health and Environment on Wednesday reported 30 new COVID-19 cases had been identified in Ellis County from Nov. 19 to 25.KDHE reports updated case numbers weekly on Wednesdays.Ellis County returned to the high-incidence category, the KDHE reported. (See map below).&nbsp; Several other northwest Kansas counties were in the substantial- or high-incidence category.<a href="https://www.ellisco.net/97/Health">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;for information on how to receive a COVID-19 vaccination.Since reporting began, there have been 8,151 cases of COVID-19 identified in Ellis County.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669831784894.png" alt="KDHE" />
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KDHE: 30 new COVID cases in Ellis Co. this reporting period

Kathy Reed, PharmD at HaysMed, recently earned her board certification as an oncology pharmacist, BCOP, from the Board of Pharmacy Specialties, the premier post-license certification organization serving the pharmacy profession.&nbsp; She is one of only 44 pharmacists in Kansas who have this certification.&nbsp;

BPS board-certified oncology pharmacists have the advanced knowledge and expertise to deal with an increasing number and complexity of drug therapies for treating and preventing cancer and managing cancer-related and drug-related adverse events or clinical situations not encountered in other disease states. BCOP can optimize outcomes for patients with malignant diseases by:

• Recommending, designing, implementing, monitoring and modifying pharmacotherapeutic plans. • Reducing medication errors. • Recognizing and responding to adverse physical and emotional issues that may arise during treatment and when providing education and counseling.

Reed joins Shawn Giess, PharmD, also a BCOP,&nbsp; providing care for patients in the Dreiling-Schmidt Cancer Institute.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669751152769.jpeg" alt="Reed" />
 <figcaption>Reed</figcaption>
 </figure>HaysMedKathy Reed, PharmD at HaysMed, recently earned her board certification as an oncology pharmacist, BCOP, from the Board of Pharmacy Specialties, the premier post-license certification organization serving the pharmacy profession.&nbsp; She is one of only 44 pharmacists in Kansas who have this certification.&nbsp;BPS board-certified oncology pharmacists have the advanced knowledge and expertise to deal with an increasing number and complexity of drug therapies for treating and preventing cancer and managing cancer-related and drug-related adverse events or clinical situations not encountered in other disease states. BCOP can optimize outcomes for patients with malignant diseases by:• Recommending, designing, implementing, monitoring and modifying pharmacotherapeutic plans. • Reducing medication errors. • Recognizing and responding to adverse physical and emotional issues that may arise during treatment and when providing education and counseling.Reed joins Shawn Giess, PharmD, also a BCOP,&nbsp; providing care for patients in the Dreiling-Schmidt Cancer Institute.&nbsp;&nbsp;

HaysMed pharmacist board-certified as oncology pharmacist

By STACY CAMPBELL Cottonwood Extension District

The Kansas Forest Service Conservation Tree and Shrub&nbsp;spring distribution ordering process will start December 1, 2022 and goes through May 1, 2023.&nbsp;Order early to get the items you want! Spring order shipments begin in mid-March (weather permitting) and end May 1.&nbsp;

The spring distribution offers both bare root and container-grown seedlings for&nbsp;sale, as well as other items for use in conservation planting.&nbsp;

“Large conservation plantings can become very costly when several hundreds or thousands of plants are needed to meet the conservation goals of the landowner,” said Aaron Yoder, conservation trees specialist.

The&nbsp;Kansas Forest Service offers low-cost tree and shrub seedlings for conservation plantings. These plants are 1 to 2&nbsp;years old and vary from 8 to 36 inches tall, depending on&nbsp;species.Seedlings are sold in units of 25. Bundles and&nbsp;other items must be ordered in whole units. Orders for&nbsp;partial or mixed units will not be accepted. These seedlings&nbsp;are intended for conservation use only and may not be used&nbsp;for landscape plantings or resold as live plants.

Conservation plantings may function as wildlife habitat, windbreaks, wood lots, timber plantations, or educational and riparian (streambank) plantings.&nbsp;Species grown in the program are selected for characteristics that make them ideal candidates for conservation plantings.&nbsp;

What is the difference between container-grown vs.&nbsp;bare-root&nbsp;s<a></a>eedlings&nbsp;- container-grown seedlings are grown in individual 2-inch&nbsp;by 7-inch containers filled with a greenhouse potting mix.&nbsp;Container-grown seedlings have an intact root system and&nbsp;come in the original container. The advantages of container-grown seedlings compared with bare-root seedlings are: • Improved survival and first-year rate of growth under most conditions. • Extended spring planting season. • Greater flexibility in scheduling tree planting around soil conditions, weather conditions, and work schedule. • Easier to plant properly. Bare-root seedlings are grown 1 to 2 years in a field nursery, then lifted and shipped without soil on the roots.

A full list of available products can be found in there Seedling Selection Guide. There is even assistance finding the right tree for your purpose and property with the “Selecting Trees and&nbsp;Shrubs&nbsp;for Conservation Plantings”. All of this along with ordering on-line can be found at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kansasforests.org/">www.kansasforests.org</a>&nbsp;also&nbsp;orders&nbsp;are accepted&nbsp;over the phone by calling the Kansas Forest Service at 1-888-740-8733.&nbsp;

But don’t delay order early so you can get the items you want.&nbsp;

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.

By STACY CAMPBELL Cottonwood Extension DistrictThe Kansas Forest Service Conservation Tree and Shrub&nbsp;spring distribution ordering process will start December 1, 2022 and goes through May 1, 2023.&nbsp;Order early to get the items you want! Spring order shipments begin in mid-March (weather permitting) and end May 1.&nbsp;The spring distribution offers both bare root and container-grown seedlings for&nbsp;sale, as well as other items for use in conservation planting.&nbsp;“Large conservation plantings can become very costly when several hundreds or thousands of plants are needed to meet the conservation goals of the landowner,” said Aaron Yoder, conservation trees specialist.The&nbsp;Kansas Forest Service offers low-cost tree and shrub seedlings for conservation plantings. These plants are 1 to 2&nbsp;years old and vary from 8 to 36 inches tall, depending on&nbsp;species.Seedlings are sold in units of 25. Bundles and&nbsp;other items must be ordered in whole units. Orders for&nbsp;partial or mixed units will not be accepted. These seedlings&nbsp;are intended for conservation use only and may not be used&nbsp;for landscape plantings or resold as live plants.Conservation plantings may function as wildlife habitat, windbreaks, wood lots, timber plantations, or educational and riparian (streambank) plantings.&nbsp;Species grown in the program are selected for characteristics that make them ideal candidates for conservation plantings.&nbsp;What is the difference between container-grown vs.&nbsp;bare-root&nbsp;s<a></a>eedlings&nbsp;- container-grown seedlings are grown in individual 2-inch&nbsp;by 7-inch containers filled with a greenhouse potting mix.&nbsp;Container-grown seedlings have an intact root system and&nbsp;come in the original container. The advantages of container-grown seedlings compared with bare-root seedlings are: • Improved survival and first-year rate of growth under most conditions. • Extended spring planting season. • Greater flexibility in scheduling tree planting around soil conditions, weather conditions, and work schedule. • Easier to plant properly. Bare-root seedlings are grown 1 to 2 years in a field nursery, then lifted and shipped without soil on the roots.A full list of available products can be found in there Seedling Selection Guide. There is even assistance finding the right tree for your purpose and property with the “Selecting Trees and&nbsp;Shrubs&nbsp;for Conservation Plantings”. All of this along with ordering on-line can be found at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kansasforests.org/">www.kansasforests.org</a>&nbsp;also&nbsp;orders&nbsp;are accepted&nbsp;over the phone by calling the Kansas Forest Service at 1-888-740-8733.&nbsp;But don’t delay order early so you can get the items you want.&nbsp;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: Conservation tree planting program – orders start Dec. 1 

By GLENN BRUNKOW Pottawatomie County farmer and rancher The annual meeting of Kansas Farm Bureau is in Manhattan is coming the first weekend of December. I truly look forward to this meeting every year, and this one is no different. However, this year’s meeting will be a bit bittersweet as KFB’s President Rich Felts will ride off into the sunset and retirement. Our members will have the tough job of electing his replacement. President Felts has guided Kansas Farm Bureau for the past eight years with steady hand, a calm demeanor and an artful grace that has led to our organization reaching new heights. I have had the honor and privilege to a front-row seat at the board table. I consider Rich a friend and, more importantly, a mentor. I have watched as he has provided leadership and guidance on issues and made decisions that will affect our organization, our state and all of agriculture for years to come. I believe President Felts has left Kansas Farm Bureau in the best position we have ever been in and laid a foundation to ensure success in the future. Personally, I have been able to seek Rich’s wisdom and opinion on many things, and he has always been gracious and thoughtful. I have always taken heed of his advice, and I hope I can offer others the same leadership and experience. I am not sure I have ever been around someone as caring, dedicated, gracious or as empathetic as President Felts. He is truly the living example of servant leadership; I wish there were more leaders like him. You will never find anyone who cares more for Kansas Farm Bureau or agriculture. I wish everyone could know the hours and miles Rich has put into representing Kansas Farm Bureau. He has been the face of the organization; one we were proud to have representing farmers and ranchers. I doubt there is anyone who came in contact with Rich who was not better because of it. While I understand his decision to step down and spend more time with his wife, Shirley, and the rest of their family, I hope Rich knows how much all of us will miss him both as the head of Kansas Farm Bureau and as a person. I also know he will still be around and always just a phone call away, which is reassuring. I will also miss Shirley equally as much. If a greeting from Shirley can’t brighten your day, you are in bad shape. Her joy and happiness are always contagious. President Felts will leave a tremendous legacy in the organization and in its future. Generations will be able to make better decisions and advocate for our way of life because of his leadership and for that we will be forever grateful. I know this is not goodbye and we will still see each other, but not nearly enough. I also know that Rich will probably not be comfortable with all of this attention, and that is part of what makes him a truly amazing individual. Rich and Shirley, I hope you enjoy your well-deserved rest but please also know how much we all appreciate your dedication and sacrifice in the name of Kansas Farm Bureau and agriculture in general. We are all better for knowing you.

"Insight" is a weekly column published by Kansas Farm Bureau, the state's largest farm organization whose mission is to strengthen agriculture and the lives of Kansans through advocacy, education and service.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1576508626397.png" alt="Glenn Brunkow" />
 <figcaption>Glenn Brunkow</figcaption>
 </figure>By GLENN BRUNKOW Pottawatomie County farmer and rancher The annual meeting of Kansas Farm Bureau is in Manhattan is coming the first weekend of December. I truly look forward to this meeting every year, and this one is no different. However, this year’s meeting will be a bit bittersweet as KFB’s President Rich Felts will ride off into the sunset and retirement. Our members will have the tough job of electing his replacement. President Felts has guided Kansas Farm Bureau for the past eight years with steady hand, a calm demeanor and an artful grace that has led to our organization reaching new heights. I have had the honor and privilege to a front-row seat at the board table. I consider Rich a friend and, more importantly, a mentor. I have watched as he has provided leadership and guidance on issues and made decisions that will affect our organization, our state and all of agriculture for years to come. I believe President Felts has left Kansas Farm Bureau in the best position we have ever been in and laid a foundation to ensure success in the future. Personally, I have been able to seek Rich’s wisdom and opinion on many things, and he has always been gracious and thoughtful. I have always taken heed of his advice, and I hope I can offer others the same leadership and experience. I am not sure I have ever been around someone as caring, dedicated, gracious or as empathetic as President Felts. He is truly the living example of servant leadership; I wish there were more leaders like him. You will never find anyone who cares more for Kansas Farm Bureau or agriculture. I wish everyone could know the hours and miles Rich has put into representing Kansas Farm Bureau. He has been the face of the organization; one we were proud to have representing farmers and ranchers. I doubt there is anyone who came in contact with Rich who was not better because of it. While I understand his decision to step down and spend more time with his wife, Shirley, and the rest of their family, I hope Rich knows how much all of us will miss him both as the head of Kansas Farm Bureau and as a person. I also know he will still be around and always just a phone call away, which is reassuring. I will also miss Shirley equally as much. If a greeting from Shirley can’t brighten your day, you are in bad shape. Her joy and happiness are always contagious. President Felts will leave a tremendous legacy in the organization and in its future. Generations will be able to make better decisions and advocate for our way of life because of his leadership and for that we will be forever grateful. I know this is not goodbye and we will still see each other, but not nearly enough. I also know that Rich will probably not be comfortable with all of this attention, and that is part of what makes him a truly amazing individual. Rich and Shirley, I hope you enjoy your well-deserved rest but please also know how much we all appreciate your dedication and sacrifice in the name of Kansas Farm Bureau and agriculture in general. We are all better for knowing you."Insight" is a weekly column published by Kansas Farm Bureau, the state's largest farm organization whose mission is to strengthen agriculture and the lives of Kansans through advocacy, education and service.&nbsp;

Kansas Farm Bureau Insight: A 'Rich' legacy

<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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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669746173311.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

Ellis teen uninjured in morning rollover on Highway 40

On this episode of the Post Podcast, Fort Hays State University dean of the College of Education Paul Adams shares information about FHSU Christmas festivities.

<div><iframe title="FHSU Christmas traditions return for 2022" 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=ymjy8-1327d28-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>On this episode of the Post Podcast, Fort Hays State University dean of the College of Education Paul Adams shares information about FHSU Christmas festivities.

🎙 Post Podcast: FHSU Christmas traditions return for 2022

At about 2:30 p.m. Monday, the Barton County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to a reported burglary in progress approximately 3 miles east of Great Bend on East Barton County Road. 

Deputies were advised the property owner was holding a suspect at gunpoint. 

Upon arrival, deputies took the suspect into custody at an unoccupied farmstead. The suspect had been removing items from the house and outbuildings. 

Arrested at the scene was Harry Casper, 64, of Dundee. Casper was transported to the Barton County jail without incident where he was booked on suspicion of burglary.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669751882112.jpeg" alt="Casper" />
 <figcaption>Casper</figcaption>
 </figure>At about 2:30 p.m. Monday, the Barton County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to a reported burglary in progress approximately 3 miles east of Great Bend on East Barton County Road. Deputies were advised the property owner was holding a suspect at gunpoint. Upon arrival, deputies took the suspect into custody at an unoccupied farmstead. The suspect had been removing items from the house and outbuildings. Arrested at the scene was Harry Casper, 64, of Dundee. Casper was transported to the Barton County jail without incident where he was booked on suspicion of burglary.

Property owner holds burglar at gunpoint east of Great Bend

The Hays USD school board reviewed newly approved high school graduation requirements at its meeting Monday.

The Kansas Board of Education approved the changes earlier this month. They will affect students who are in the seventh grade when they enter high school.

The recommendations don't affect the number of credits required for graduation but the classification of the classes that count toward graduation.

The state is still going to require 21 credits of graduation. Hays USD 489 requires 25 credits for graduation, except for Hays Virutal School students whose classes have already graduated. Those students can graduate with 21 credits.

"At this point, we are not adopting any of this," Superintendent Ron Wilson said. "We thought we would share what is being looked at. We will have some internal discussions of what that might look like going forward."

Shanna Dinkel, assistant superintendent and director of curriculum, gave a report on the changes.

Included in the changes would be a requirement for a semester of speech, debate, forensics, journalism or public speaking.

A unit of Science Technology Engineering and Math would be added to 
the three units of science and math that are already required.

Instead
 of one year of physical education, students would take a semester of 
PE, a semester of health and a semester of financial literacy. This 
would leave 4.5 units for electives.

"It doesn't mean standards are changing," Dinkel said. "They are changing the focus and reclassifying them."

The Kansas Board of Education also approved a recommendation from
 the Kansas Board of Regents for all students to complete federal 
student financial aid applications before graduation. Any student, 
family or school could opt out of this requirement.

The Hays school board also approved the purchase of an electric sign for the Early Childhood 
Complex. The low bid is $34,245 from Complete Signs of Dothan, Ala. The sign will be paid for with grant funds.

Cover photo courtesy of Pixabay.

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostThe Hays USD school board reviewed newly approved high school graduation requirements at its meeting Monday.The Kansas Board of Education approved the changes earlier this month. They will affect students who are in the seventh grade when they enter high school.The recommendations don't affect the number of credits required for graduation but the classification of the classes that count toward graduation. The state is still going to require 21 credits of graduation. Hays USD 489 requires 25 credits for graduation, except for Hays Virutal School students whose classes have already graduated. Those students can graduate with 21 credits. "At this point, we are not adopting any of this," Superintendent Ron Wilson said. "We thought we would share what is being looked at. We will have some internal discussions of what that might look like going forward."Shanna Dinkel, assistant superintendent and director of curriculum, gave a report on the changes.Included in the changes would be a requirement for a semester of speech, debate, forensics, journalism or public speaking.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669663278352.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>A unit of Science Technology Engineering and Math would be added to 
the three units of science and math that are already required.Instead
 of one year of physical education, students would take a semester of 
PE, a semester of health and a semester of financial literacy. This 
would leave 4.5 units for electives.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669663629498.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>"It doesn't mean standards are changing," Dinkel said. "They are changing the focus and reclassifying them." The Kansas Board of Education also approved a recommendation from
 the Kansas Board of Regents for all students to complete federal 
student financial aid applications before graduation. Any student, 
family or school could opt out of this requirement.The Hays school board also approved the purchase of an electric sign for the Early Childhood 
Complex. The low bid is $34,245 from Complete Signs of Dothan, Ala. The sign will be paid for with grant funds. Cover photo courtesy of Pixabay.

Hays BOE hears new graduation recommendations for class of 2028

Jackson Piper, Overland Park junior, was sworn-in to the Kansas Army National Guard in November. As the first student to be part of the FHSU Officer Candidate School program, he will start basic combat training immediately followed by advanced individual training in January. Piper will begin phase one of the Officer Candidate School program in the summer of 2024.

Basic combat training and advanced individual training will be in Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri; phase one of OCS, in Salina. Phase two will be on campus at FHSU through the FHSU OCS program and then he will conclude OCS phase three in Washington.&nbsp;

Piper comes from a long line of military family members, from his great-grandfathers to his grandfather and his uncle. His interest in the military began when he was very young.

“I liked to watch war movies and documentaries on major figures and events within the military,” Piper said. “I also took inspiration from the prior service within my family and loved hearing the stories that would be passed down from my grandparents.”

He entered FHSU with the intention of attaining his undergraduate degree and then joining the military. When Piper discovered the officer candidate school program at FHSU, he opted to enroll in a few of the classes.&nbsp;

“I found that I really liked what I was learning,” Piper said. “So, after asking questions and doing research on the opportunities that OCS brings, I decided to fully commit.”

He has declared the military science leadership minor and has been completing courses in military science for the past two years. According to 1LT Hannah Byun, FHSU military science instructor, Piper has shown “great potential and will make a great officer.”

He will commission as an officer in the Kansas Army National Guard in August of 2025.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669657893360.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU University CommunicationsJackson Piper, Overland Park junior, was sworn-in to the Kansas Army National Guard in November. As the first student to be part of the FHSU Officer Candidate School program, he will start basic combat training immediately followed by advanced individual training in January. Piper will begin phase one of the Officer Candidate School program in the summer of 2024.Basic combat training and advanced individual training will be in Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri; phase one of OCS, in Salina. Phase two will be on campus at FHSU through the FHSU OCS program and then he will conclude OCS phase three in Washington.&nbsp;Piper comes from a long line of military family members, from his great-grandfathers to his grandfather and his uncle. His interest in the military began when he was very young.“I liked to watch war movies and documentaries on major figures and events within the military,” Piper said. “I also took inspiration from the prior service within my family and loved hearing the stories that would be passed down from my grandparents.”He entered FHSU with the intention of attaining his undergraduate degree and then joining the military. When Piper discovered the officer candidate school program at FHSU, he opted to enroll in a few of the classes.&nbsp;“I found that I really liked what I was learning,” Piper said. “So, after asking questions and doing research on the opportunities that OCS brings, I decided to fully commit.”He has declared the military science leadership minor and has been completing courses in military science for the past two years. According to 1LT Hannah Byun, FHSU military science instructor, Piper has shown “great potential and will make a great officer.”He will commission as an officer in the Kansas Army National Guard in August of 2025.

First student commits to FHSU Officer Candidate School Program

The Wall That Heals, a three-quarter scale replica of the 
Vietnam Veterans Memorial along with a mobile Education Center, is 
coming to Great Bend, KS on May 11th-May 14th, 2023 at Veterans Memorial
 Park&nbsp;and will be open 24 hours a day and free to the public.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Wall That Heals&nbsp;honors
 the more than three million Americans who served in the U.S. Armed 
forces in the Vietnam War and it bears the names of the 58,281 men and 
women who made the ultimate sacrifice in Vietnam.

“We are excited to be able to host&nbsp;The Wall That Heals&nbsp;in Great Bend, said Larry Parson, Chairperson&nbsp;

for&nbsp;The Wall That Heals&nbsp;/ Great Bend Leadership Committee.&nbsp; "We 
have an opportunity to honor our Vietnam Veterans and our Hometown 
Heroes and the families to those listed on the Wall who have sacrificed 
so much for us.&nbsp;In addition, our students and citizens will get a rare 
opportunity to not only witness the Wall, but learn the history of the 
Vietnam War and the impact of the Vietnam Era from the educational 
mobile unit.&nbsp; We welcome&nbsp;The Wall That Heals&nbsp;to Great Bend."

“The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund is pleased to bring&nbsp;The Wall That Heals&nbsp;mobile
 exhibit to Great Bend to allow local veterans and their family members a
 chance to experience The Wall,” said Jim Knotts, president and CEO of 
VVMF. “Hosting&nbsp;The Wall That Heals&nbsp;provides an opportunity to 
honor and remember all those who served and sacrificed in the Vietnam 
War and educate visitors on the continuing impact of the Vietnam War on 
America.”

The Wall That Heals&nbsp;is transported from community to community
 in a 53-foot trailer. When parked, the trailer opens with exhibits 
built into its sides, allowing it to serve as a mobile Education Center 
telling the story of the Vietnam War, The Wall and the divisive era in 
American history.

The three-quarter scale Wall replica is 375 feet
 in length and stands 7.5 feet high at its tallest point. Visitors will 
experience The Wall rising above them as they walk towards the apex, a 
key feature of the design of The Wall in D.C. Visitors are able to do 
name rubbings of individual service member’s names on The Wall.

The
 mobile Education Center exhibit includes: digital photo displays of 
“Hometown Heroes” - service members whose names are on The Wall that 
list their home of record within the area of a visit; digital photo 
displays of Vietnam veterans from the local area honored through VVMF’s&nbsp;In Memory&nbsp;program
 which honors veterans who returned home from Vietnam and later died; 
video displays that teach about the history and impact of The Wall; 
educational exhibits told through items representative of those left at 
The Wall in D.C.; a replica of the&nbsp;In Memory&nbsp;plaque; a map of 
Vietnam and a chronological overview of the Vietnam War. The exhibits 
tell the story of the Vietnam War, The Wall and the era surrounding the 
conflict, and are designed to put American experiences in Vietnam in a 
historical and cultural context.

The 2023 national&nbsp;The Wall That Heals&nbsp;tour is generously 
sponsored by USAA. Through a partnership with the Truckload Carriers 
Association (TCA), the trucking industry, and Blue Beacon, the exhibit 
is able to travel across the country. Local sponsors are&nbsp;the Dorothy Morrison Foundation and the Great Bend Foundation.

Since
 its debut in 1996, the exhibit has been on display in more than 700 
U.S. communities in addition to an April 1999 tour of the Four Provinces
 of Ireland and a visit to Canada in 2005.&nbsp;The Wall That Heals&nbsp;is a program of VVMF, the nonprofit organization that built the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. in 1982.&nbsp;The Wall That Heals&nbsp;is
 the only traveling exhibit affiliated with The Wall in Washington, D.C.
 and includes the largest Wall replica that travels the country. Two 
VVMF staff members lead volunteers on site, educate visitors and 
students, and ensure the reflective atmosphere of The Wall. More 
information can be found at:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.thewallthatheals.org/" target="_blank">www.thewallthatheals.org</a>.

About VVMF The
 Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF) is the nonprofit organization 
that built the Vietnam Veterans Memorial (The Wall) in Washington, D.C. 
in 1982. VVMF continues to lead the way in paying tribute to our 
nation’s Vietnam veterans and their families. VVMF’s mission is to honor
 and preserve the legacy of service in America and educate all 
generations about the impact of the Vietnam War and era through 
programs, ceremonies and education materials. To learn more about VVMF, 
visit www.vvmf.org or call 202-393-0090.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669652510925.jpeg" alt="Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>News releaseThe Wall That Heals, a three-quarter scale replica of the 
Vietnam Veterans Memorial along with a mobile Education Center, is 
coming to Great Bend, KS on May 11th-May 14th, 2023 at Veterans Memorial
 Park&nbsp;and will be open 24 hours a day and free to the public.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Wall That Heals&nbsp;honors
 the more than three million Americans who served in the U.S. Armed 
forces in the Vietnam War and it bears the names of the 58,281 men and 
women who made the ultimate sacrifice in Vietnam.“We are excited to be able to host&nbsp;The Wall That Heals&nbsp;in Great Bend, said Larry Parson, Chairperson&nbsp;

for&nbsp;The Wall That Heals&nbsp;/ Great Bend Leadership Committee.&nbsp; "We 
have an opportunity to honor our Vietnam Veterans and our Hometown 
Heroes and the families to those listed on the Wall who have sacrificed 
so much for us.&nbsp;In addition, our students and citizens will get a rare 
opportunity to not only witness the Wall, but learn the history of the 
Vietnam War and the impact of the Vietnam Era from the educational 
mobile unit.&nbsp; We welcome&nbsp;The Wall That Heals&nbsp;to Great Bend."“The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund is pleased to bring&nbsp;The Wall That Heals&nbsp;mobile
 exhibit to Great Bend to allow local veterans and their family members a
 chance to experience The Wall,” said Jim Knotts, president and CEO of 
VVMF. “Hosting&nbsp;The Wall That Heals&nbsp;provides an opportunity to 
honor and remember all those who served and sacrificed in the Vietnam 
War and educate visitors on the continuing impact of the Vietnam War on 
America.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669652395389.jpeg" alt="Courtesy photo&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy photo&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>The Wall That Heals&nbsp;is transported from community to community
 in a 53-foot trailer. When parked, the trailer opens with exhibits 
built into its sides, allowing it to serve as a mobile Education Center 
telling the story of the Vietnam War, The Wall and the divisive era in 
American history.The three-quarter scale Wall replica is 375 feet
 in length and stands 7.5 feet high at its tallest point. Visitors will 
experience The Wall rising above them as they walk towards the apex, a 
key feature of the design of The Wall in D.C. Visitors are able to do 
name rubbings of individual service member’s names on The Wall.The
 mobile Education Center exhibit includes: digital photo displays of 
“Hometown Heroes” - service members whose names are on The Wall that 
list their home of record within the area of a visit; digital photo 
displays of Vietnam veterans from the local area honored through VVMF’s&nbsp;In Memory&nbsp;program
 which honors veterans who returned home from Vietnam and later died; 
video displays that teach about the history and impact of The Wall; 
educational exhibits told through items representative of those left at 
The Wall in D.C.; a replica of the&nbsp;In Memory&nbsp;plaque; a map of 
Vietnam and a chronological overview of the Vietnam War. The exhibits 
tell the story of the Vietnam War, The Wall and the era surrounding the 
conflict, and are designed to put American experiences in Vietnam in a 
historical and cultural context.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669652424134.jpeg" alt="Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>The 2023 national&nbsp;The Wall That Heals&nbsp;tour is generously 
sponsored by USAA. Through a partnership with the Truckload Carriers 
Association (TCA), the trucking industry, and Blue Beacon, the exhibit 
is able to travel across the country. Local sponsors are&nbsp;the Dorothy Morrison Foundation and the Great Bend Foundation.Since
 its debut in 1996, the exhibit has been on display in more than 700 
U.S. communities in addition to an April 1999 tour of the Four Provinces
 of Ireland and a visit to Canada in 2005.&nbsp;The Wall That Heals&nbsp;is a program of VVMF, the nonprofit organization that built the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. in 1982.&nbsp;The Wall That Heals&nbsp;is
 the only traveling exhibit affiliated with The Wall in Washington, D.C.
 and includes the largest Wall replica that travels the country. Two 
VVMF staff members lead volunteers on site, educate visitors and 
students, and ensure the reflective atmosphere of The Wall. More 
information can be found at:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.thewallthatheals.org/" target="_blank">www.thewallthatheals.org</a>.About VVMF The
 Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF) is the nonprofit organization 
that built the Vietnam Veterans Memorial (The Wall) in Washington, D.C. 
in 1982. VVMF continues to lead the way in paying tribute to our 
nation’s Vietnam veterans and their families. VVMF’s mission is to honor
 and preserve the legacy of service in America and educate all 
generations about the impact of the Vietnam War and era through 
programs, ceremonies and education materials. To learn more about VVMF, 
visit www.vvmf.org or call 202-393-0090.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669652438861.jpeg" alt="Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>

Vietnam Memorial wall replica coming to Great Bend

HaysMed has recently opened a pain center. Dr. Keith Green, anesthesiologist, will be providing services in a clinic located at 2500 Canterbury, Ste. 206.&nbsp; While Green has been providing pain management for over 25 years in the hospital setting, this will be the first time that a dedicated clinic area will be used.

“Dr. Green is very well known in Hays and the surrounding area,” said Bryan Brady, Vice President of Physician Practice Administration and Ancillary Services. “We are excited to expand the availability of pain control for patients in western Kansas.”

Services provided for interventional pain management include trigger point injections, nerve blocks, ablations, kyphoplasty, spinal column stimulator and epidural steroid injections.

Conditions that Green will treat are baclofen pump management for spasticity disorders, neurolytic blocks for cancer associated pain, chronic pain, cervical, thoracic and lumbar radiculopathy and complex regional pain syndrome.

Green also conducts an outreach clinic at Pawnee Valley Community Hospital on a regular basis.

As an anesthesiologist Green can offer a higher level of solutions for complex pain management.

“We are very fortunate to have Dr. Green’s expertise in the area of pain management,” Brady said. “There are many people who can benefit from these specialized services offered at both HaysMed and PVCH.”

To schedule an appointment in Hays call 785-623-5940.&nbsp; Appointments at PVCH can be made by calling 620-285-8870.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669647477480.jpeg" alt="Green " />
 <figcaption>Green </figcaption>
 </figure>HaysMedHaysMed has recently opened a pain center. Dr. Keith Green, anesthesiologist, will be providing services in a clinic located at 2500 Canterbury, Ste. 206.&nbsp; While Green has been providing pain management for over 25 years in the hospital setting, this will be the first time that a dedicated clinic area will be used.“Dr. Green is very well known in Hays and the surrounding area,” said Bryan Brady, Vice President of Physician Practice Administration and Ancillary Services. “We are excited to expand the availability of pain control for patients in western Kansas.”Services provided for interventional pain management include trigger point injections, nerve blocks, ablations, kyphoplasty, spinal column stimulator and epidural steroid injections.Conditions that Green will treat are baclofen pump management for spasticity disorders, neurolytic blocks for cancer associated pain, chronic pain, cervical, thoracic and lumbar radiculopathy and complex regional pain syndrome.Green also conducts an outreach clinic at Pawnee Valley Community Hospital on a regular basis.As an anesthesiologist Green can offer a higher level of solutions for complex pain management.“We are very fortunate to have Dr. Green’s expertise in the area of pain management,” Brady said. “There are many people who can benefit from these specialized services offered at both HaysMed and PVCH.”To schedule an appointment in Hays call 785-623-5940.&nbsp; Appointments at PVCH can be made by calling 620-285-8870.

HaysMed announces opening of pain center 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669668606973.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>

Nutrition education is a fun part of my job. Recently, I visited 7th&nbsp;grade Skills for Adolescence classes at the Great Bend Middle School. I packed a lot of information in the&nbsp;50-minute&nbsp;class period and am hopeful that they will remember my visit when&nbsp;making future food choices.&nbsp;

I started out by asking the students if they&nbsp;had eaten&nbsp;breakfast. Only about half of them raised their hands so they got my 5 minute “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day” speech. The most common reason given for skipping breakfast was the lack of time. I encouraged students to find something like a piece of fruit with whole grain cereal or toast with peanut butter to jump start their day.&nbsp;Research shows that when someone starts their day with breakfast, they&nbsp;actually consume&nbsp;less calories in the day. All too&nbsp;often, when breakfast is skipped, a person gets so hungry that by lunch time they are grabbing an unhealthy option.&nbsp;

The main part of my presentation focused on my favorite food group – vegetables. &nbsp;Sadly, the American diet is lacking in nutrient dense veggies. The MyPlate guide for healthy eating recommends eating at least 5 – 9 servings of vegetables and fruits each day. Talking about vegetables is one thing, but letting the students sample parsnip, jicama, and sweet potato, was a new experience&nbsp;for some.&nbsp;Plus&nbsp;we made a recipe of hummus to dip their veggies in.

Another message I left with the 7th&nbsp;graders was the importance of choosing whole food options instead of eating highly processed food that have added fat,&nbsp;sugar&nbsp;and sodium. We talked about empty calories that are found in soft drinks and other sweetened beverages. We looked at nutrition fact labels to show how to determine if the food is a healthy choice.&nbsp;

And&nbsp;finally,&nbsp;we talked about making sure each day has a good amount of physical activity built in. Recommendations are currently set for one hour of physical activity daily. &nbsp;If students don’t participate in an organized sport, they may need to find ways to move more.&nbsp;

If you or someone you know is interested in doing nutrition education I hope you will visit the following website:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ksre.k-state.edu/jobs">www.ksre.k-state.edu/jobs</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;There you will find the position description and application process for a full time SNAP-Ed nutrition educator based in either our Hays or Great Bend office. The screening begins immediately and will continue until the position is filled. Please give me a call if you have any questions!

Donna&nbsp;Krug is the District Director and Family and Consumer Science Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at: (620)793-1910 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:dkrug@ksu.edu">dkrug@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573141404420.png" alt="Donna Krug is the District Director and Family and Consumer Science Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District." />
 <figcaption>Donna Krug is the District Director and Family and Consumer Science Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District.</figcaption>
 </figure>Nutrition education is a fun part of my job. Recently, I visited 7th&nbsp;grade Skills for Adolescence classes at the Great Bend Middle School. I packed a lot of information in the&nbsp;50-minute&nbsp;class period and am hopeful that they will remember my visit when&nbsp;making future food choices.&nbsp;I started out by asking the students if they&nbsp;had eaten&nbsp;breakfast. Only about half of them raised their hands so they got my 5 minute “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day” speech. The most common reason given for skipping breakfast was the lack of time. I encouraged students to find something like a piece of fruit with whole grain cereal or toast with peanut butter to jump start their day.&nbsp;Research shows that when someone starts their day with breakfast, they&nbsp;actually consume&nbsp;less calories in the day. All too&nbsp;often, when breakfast is skipped, a person gets so hungry that by lunch time they are grabbing an unhealthy option.&nbsp;The main part of my presentation focused on my favorite food group – vegetables. &nbsp;Sadly, the American diet is lacking in nutrient dense veggies. The MyPlate guide for healthy eating recommends eating at least 5 – 9 servings of vegetables and fruits each day. Talking about vegetables is one thing, but letting the students sample parsnip, jicama, and sweet potato, was a new experience&nbsp;for some.&nbsp;Plus&nbsp;we made a recipe of hummus to dip their veggies in.Another message I left with the 7th&nbsp;graders was the importance of choosing whole food options instead of eating highly processed food that have added fat,&nbsp;sugar&nbsp;and sodium. We talked about empty calories that are found in soft drinks and other sweetened beverages. We looked at nutrition fact labels to show how to determine if the food is a healthy choice.&nbsp;And&nbsp;finally,&nbsp;we talked about making sure each day has a good amount of physical activity built in. Recommendations are currently set for one hour of physical activity daily. &nbsp;If students don’t participate in an organized sport, they may need to find ways to move more.&nbsp;If you or someone you know is interested in doing nutrition education I hope you will visit the following website:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ksre.k-state.edu/jobs">www.ksre.k-state.edu/jobs</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;There you will find the position description and application process for a full time SNAP-Ed nutrition educator based in either our Hays or Great Bend office. The screening begins immediately and will continue until the position is filled. Please give me a call if you have any questions!Donna&nbsp;Krug is the District Director and Family and Consumer Science Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at: (620)793-1910 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:dkrug@ksu.edu">dkrug@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;

KRUG: Nutrition education opportunities at Extension

On this episode of the Post Podcast Hays Chamber President and CEO Sarah Wasinger, and Kaley Conner, Manager, Outreach, Education and Marketing at High Plains Mental Health Center discuss mental health during the holiday season.

<div><iframe title="Help available for those dealing with the ’Holiday Blues’" 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=dpyuf-13268e6-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>On this episode of the Post Podcast Hays Chamber President and CEO Sarah Wasinger, and Kaley Conner, Manager, Outreach, Education and Marketing at High Plains Mental Health Center discuss mental health during the holiday season.

🎙 Post Podcast: Help available for those dealing with the ’Holiday Blues’

By JAMES BELL 
Hays Post

As area families make plans for this holiday season, nonprofit
organizations look to gather funds that will be used for projects throughout
the following year during “the giving season.”

The end of the year has historically been when the overwhelming
majority of donations to nonprofits are received, with days like Giving
Tuesday, the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving, and National Philanthropy Day driving awareness.

“Eighty percent of charitable giving happens during the
months of November and December,” said Heartland Community Foundation Executive Director Sarah Meitner.

She said while many give as a part of their seasonal traditions,
there is a more practical measure for some.

“One, it's just the spirit of the holidays, and people are
feeling more generous,” Meitner said. “But from a practical sense to, of
course, there's maybe some tax liabilities that people are facing, and they
might want to lower that taxable income and make it a charitable gift. And
that's a great way to do it.”

This year looks to be no different, but as residents deal
with rising prices due to inflation and the continued economic uncertainty brought
by it, those organizations are hoping donors can continue giving at levels
similar to, or higher than in the past as those non-profits struggle to deal
with those same economic factors.

Meitner said while she understands the impact on personal budgets,
she hopes residents understand the importance to the community of those
donations and look to give what they can.

“I would still encourage you to do something,” Meitner said.
“Still model that for your kids. Still set that aside.”

Grow Hays Executive Director Doug Williams said it is also
important for the community to understand while large gifts may be more noteworthy,
small donations can have a significant impact as well.

“It's not about the celebration and the notoriety of giving
a large gift. It's about the actual giving and what that gift does,” Williams
said. “It's not that the large gifts are not great, and it does some amazing
things – I mean, we've got some amazing things at Hays Med, wings of the
hospital that wouldn't be there if it wasn't for people who really stepped up and
made those contributions – but most people can't do that. But people can
participate. And the level of participation is not as important as the actual
active participation and the giving of whatever they can.”

And for those new to donating to non-profit organizations, organizations
like the Heartland Community Foundation and Grow Hays can help.

“At Heartland, we have a number of different fund types, but
one we have a donor-advised fund, and this allows a donor to direct money for
charitable giving at the very end of the year when they might not quite know
where they want that money to go yet, but they can direct it designated as
charitable giving, take that deduction on their tax in their taxable income.
And then they can decide later where it goes,” Meitner said.

After the money is in the fund, she said she can help guide
the final decision on where those dollars would go. 

“They can have that discussion with myself or with one of our
board members and things about what projects in town they might want to steer
that money toward. We have great relationships with our non-profit directors in
town, and that then allows us to kind of know a little bit about what they have
going on. And so, when people might not know where they want their money to go,
we can be a resource. We can let them know about some of those projects.”

Williams said Grow Hays could also be a resource for making charitable
giving choices.

“We would be happy to talk to anybody regarding what we know
about these organizations,” Williams said. “We all have causes that are kind of
near and dear to us. It might be domestic violence, it might be children or
whatever the case might be. And so, a little bit of research can go a long way
on knowing which of those organizations might fit your personal mission as to
who you want to support.”

He said a popular choice in Ellis County is the United Way.
As an umbrella organization, they give to other area non-profit organizations.
As an organization with a large footprint, they can then combine those small
donations into powerful action.

“I think all of them will tell you that there's no gift
that's too small,” Williams said. “Obviously, they have budgets, and they have
dollars they need to raise, but steady contributions from a large group can be
very meaningful. … I think sometimes people say, ‘Well, I can only give X amount
of dollars.’ That's not the important thing, the important thing is the gesture
and the act of giving. And if we all do a little bit, it becomes a big deal.”

Last year, Heartland Community Foundation gave out about
$350,000 to other local nonprofits, Meitner said, but it is important to note that
money cannot be used for operating costs.

“So, our nonprofits depend on their holiday appeals,” she
said. “You might get the letters in the mail, their holiday appeal time to
really make up the difference for closing those gaps for their operating
budget. Looking ahead for the coming year, it's vital to their being able to
keep the lights on and the doors open to do the good work that they're doing.”

Alongside the philanthropic work of area non-profits, Williams
said there is an impact on the greater area economy.

“It's that buy local mentality, support local,” he said. “That's
what we want to do as much as possible, and for the most part, I think our
community is doing a great job of doing that. I think we have strong supporters
of many of these organizations. And fortunately, we have good people who will
step up.”

Those efforts then create a more inclusive and supportive
community.

“When you give locally, and to some of the organizations
we've been talking about, the vast majority end up going to where you would
hope they go as a donor, to helping people,” Williams said. “And that's what
really matters at the end of the day, helping people, helping victims of
domestic violence, helping people who are homeless, helping people who have
lost their job and they've been evicted from their apartment or about to get
evicted from their apartment. That's what matters in a community because you
don't want people to suffer needlessly if it can be avoided.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669498962377.jpg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By JAMES BELL 
Hays PostAs area families make plans for this holiday season, nonprofit
organizations look to gather funds that will be used for projects throughout
the following year during “the giving season.”The end of the year has historically been when the overwhelming
majority of donations to nonprofits are received, with days like Giving
Tuesday, the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving, and National Philanthropy Day driving awareness.“Eighty percent of charitable giving happens during the
months of November and December,” said Heartland Community Foundation Executive Director Sarah Meitner.<div><iframe title="As Giving Tuesday approaches area non-profits look to community for support" 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=tfrda-1323c34-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>She said while many give as a part of their seasonal traditions,
there is a more practical measure for some.“One, it's just the spirit of the holidays, and people are
feeling more generous,” Meitner said. “But from a practical sense to, of
course, there's maybe some tax liabilities that people are facing, and they
might want to lower that taxable income and make it a charitable gift. And
that's a great way to do it.”This year looks to be no different, but as residents deal
with rising prices due to inflation and the continued economic uncertainty brought
by it, those organizations are hoping donors can continue giving at levels
similar to, or higher than in the past as those non-profits struggle to deal
with those same economic factors.Meitner said while she understands the impact on personal budgets,
she hopes residents understand the importance to the community of those
donations and look to give what they can.“I would still encourage you to do something,” Meitner said.
“Still model that for your kids. Still set that aside.”Grow Hays Executive Director Doug Williams said it is also
important for the community to understand while large gifts may be more noteworthy,
small donations can have a significant impact as well.“It's not about the celebration and the notoriety of giving
a large gift. It's about the actual giving and what that gift does,” Williams
said. “It's not that the large gifts are not great, and it does some amazing
things – I mean, we've got some amazing things at Hays Med, wings of the
hospital that wouldn't be there if it wasn't for people who really stepped up and
made those contributions – but most people can't do that. But people can
participate. And the level of participation is not as important as the actual
active participation and the giving of whatever they can.”And for those new to donating to non-profit organizations, organizations
like the Heartland Community Foundation and Grow Hays can help.“At Heartland, we have a number of different fund types, but
one we have a donor-advised fund, and this allows a donor to direct money for
charitable giving at the very end of the year when they might not quite know
where they want that money to go yet, but they can direct it designated as
charitable giving, take that deduction on their tax in their taxable income.
And then they can decide later where it goes,” Meitner said.After the money is in the fund, she said she can help guide
the final decision on where those dollars would go. “They can have that discussion with myself or with one of our
board members and things about what projects in town they might want to steer
that money toward. We have great relationships with our non-profit directors in
town, and that then allows us to kind of know a little bit about what they have
going on. And so, when people might not know where they want their money to go,
we can be a resource. We can let them know about some of those projects.”Williams said Grow Hays could also be a resource for making charitable
giving choices.“We would be happy to talk to anybody regarding what we know
about these organizations,” Williams said. “We all have causes that are kind of
near and dear to us. It might be domestic violence, it might be children or
whatever the case might be. And so, a little bit of research can go a long way
on knowing which of those organizations might fit your personal mission as to
who you want to support.”He said a popular choice in Ellis County is the United Way.
As an umbrella organization, they give to other area non-profit organizations.
As an organization with a large footprint, they can then combine those small
donations into powerful action.“I think all of them will tell you that there's no gift
that's too small,” Williams said. “Obviously, they have budgets, and they have
dollars they need to raise, but steady contributions from a large group can be
very meaningful. … I think sometimes people say, ‘Well, I can only give X amount
of dollars.’ That's not the important thing, the important thing is the gesture
and the act of giving. And if we all do a little bit, it becomes a big deal.”Last year, Heartland Community Foundation gave out about
$350,000 to other local nonprofits, Meitner said, but it is important to note that
money cannot be used for operating costs.“So, our nonprofits depend on their holiday appeals,” she
said. “You might get the letters in the mail, their holiday appeal time to
really make up the difference for closing those gaps for their operating
budget. Looking ahead for the coming year, it's vital to their being able to
keep the lights on and the doors open to do the good work that they're doing.”Alongside the philanthropic work of area non-profits, Williams
said there is an impact on the greater area economy.“It's that buy local mentality, support local,” he said. “That's
what we want to do as much as possible, and for the most part, I think our
community is doing a great job of doing that. I think we have strong supporters
of many of these organizations. And fortunately, we have good people who will
step up.”Those efforts then create a more inclusive and supportive
community.“When you give locally, and to some of the organizations
we've been talking about, the vast majority end up going to where you would
hope they go as a donor, to helping people,” Williams said. “And that's what
really matters at the end of the day, helping people, helping victims of
domestic violence, helping people who are homeless, helping people who have
lost their job and they've been evicted from their apartment or about to get
evicted from their apartment. That's what matters in a community because you
don't want people to suffer needlessly if it can be avoided.”Cover image courtesy Pixabay.

🎙 Giving Tuesday: Nonprofits look to community for support

A strong cold front moving into northwest Kansas on Tuesday will bring bitter cold, the National Weather Service in Dodge City said.

After a high in the mid-50s Monday, the high temperature Tuesday is only expected to reach 33, with overnight lows dropping near 10 degrees. Wind chills by Wednesday morning will be near zero in the Hays area — and could drop as low at 8 below zero farther west.

North winds are expected to be sustained between 16 and 24 mph.

There is a 30 percent chance of snow in Ellis County on Tuesday afternoon, with a greater chance in far northwest Kansas counties.

The high Wednesday will be in the upper-30s, but the mercury will begin to rise again heading into the weekend. A high of nearly 70 degrees is predicted on Friday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669646112787.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>A strong cold front moving into northwest Kansas on Tuesday will bring bitter cold, the National Weather Service in Dodge City said.After a high in the mid-50s Monday, the high temperature Tuesday is only expected to reach 33, with overnight lows dropping near 10 degrees. Wind chills by Wednesday morning will be near zero in the Hays area — and could drop as low at 8 below zero farther west.North winds are expected to be sustained between 16 and 24 mph.There is a 30 percent chance of snow in Ellis County on Tuesday afternoon, with a greater chance in far northwest Kansas counties.The high Wednesday will be in the upper-30s, but the mercury will begin to rise again heading into the weekend. A high of nearly 70 degrees is predicted on Friday.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">A strong cold frontal passage Tuesday will result in some of the coldest wind chills we&#39;ve seen so far this season on Wednesday morning, with much of the area dipping to near or below 0. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KSwx?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KSwx</a> <a href="https://t.co/ioYmqS7Xd5">pic.twitter.com/ioYmqS7Xd5</a>&mdash; NWS Dodge City (@NWSDodgeCity) <a href="https://twitter.com/NWSDodgeCity/status/1597210881426743296?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 28, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> </div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">There is moderate confidence in snow amounts at this time. Model data is gradually increasing the snow amounts over the past day. The most likely area to see noticeably higher snow amounts is northern Yuma and Dundy counties. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/kswx?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#kswx</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/newx?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#newx</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cowx?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#cowx</a> <a href="https://t.co/P0U1RsX3qB">pic.twitter.com/P0U1RsX3qB</a>&mdash; NWS Goodland (@NWSGoodland) <a href="https://twitter.com/NWSGoodland/status/1596995903595851776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 27, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> </div>

Bundle up: NWS calling for bitter cold, frigid wind chills

The Hays superintendent will discuss with the USD 489 school board tonight recommendations by the Kansas State Department of Education on course classification.

The board will meet at 6:30 p.m. Monday at the Rockwell Administration Center.

A unit of Science Technology Engineering and Math would be added to the three units of science and math that are already required.

Instead of one year of physical education. Students would take a semester of PE, a semester of health and a semester of financial literacy. This would leave 4.5 units for electives.

The Department of Education is also considering a recommendation from the Kansas Board of Regents for all students to complete a federal student financial aid applications before graduation. Any student, family or school could opt out of this requirement.

The board also will consider the purchase of an electric sign for the Early Childhood Complex. The low bid is $34,245 from Complete Signs of Dothan, Ala.

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostThe Hays superintendent will discuss with the USD 489 school board tonight recommendations by the Kansas State Department of Education on course classification.The board will meet at 6:30 p.m. Monday at the Rockwell Administration Center.Included in the changes would be a requirement for a semester of speech, debate, forensics, journalism or public speaking.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669663278352.png" alt="New KSDE course classifications " />
 <figcaption>New KSDE course classifications </figcaption>
 </figure>A unit of Science Technology Engineering and Math would be added to the three units of science and math that are already required.Instead of one year of physical education. Students would take a semester of PE, a semester of health and a semester of financial literacy. This would leave 4.5 units for electives.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669663629498.png" alt="New KSDE course classifications" />
 <figcaption>New KSDE course classifications</figcaption>
 </figure>The Department of Education is also considering a recommendation from the Kansas Board of Regents for all students to complete a federal student financial aid applications before graduation. Any student, family or school could opt out of this requirement.The board also will consider the purchase of an electric sign for the Early Childhood Complex. The low bid is $34,245 from Complete Signs of Dothan, Ala.

Hays USD 489 BOE to look at state recommended changes in course requirements

CORRECTED 9:45 a.m. Monday&nbsp;to reflect accurate injury information.

TREGO COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just after 9:30p.m. Sunday in Trego County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2000 Buick LeSebre driven by Justin L. Johnson, 26, Collyer, was westbound 0n Interstate 70 near Ogallah in the driving lane.

The car came up on a vehicle traveling at a much slower speed. The driver attempted to perform an avoidance maneuver. The Buick left the roadway to the right, entered the north ditch. The front passenger door of the Buick struck a delineator post.

A passenger — Jessa D. Johnson, 26, Collyer — was transported via private vehicle to Trego County-Lemke Memorial Hospital for treatment of minor injuries. Justin Johnson was not injured, and both were properly restrained.&nbsp;

CORRECTED 9:45 a.m. Monday&nbsp;to reflect accurate injury information.TREGO COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just after 9:30p.m. Sunday in Trego County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2000 Buick LeSebre driven by Justin L. Johnson, 26, Collyer, was westbound 0n Interstate 70 near Ogallah in the driving lane.The car came up on a vehicle traveling at a much slower speed. The driver attempted to perform an avoidance maneuver. The Buick left the roadway to the right, entered the north ditch. The front passenger door of the Buick struck a delineator post.A passenger — Jessa D. Johnson, 26, Collyer — was transported via private vehicle to Trego County-Lemke Memorial Hospital for treatment of minor injuries. Justin Johnson was not injured, and both were properly restrained.&nbsp;

NW Kansas woman injured after car strikes post on I-70

Come see us in the Hays Walmart parking lot, 4301 Vine, to get your fresh holiday tree! 

We'll be open 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. on all Saturdays and Sundays, and 3 p.m. - 8 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, until we run out of trees.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669638333116.jpeg" alt="" />
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 </figure>SubmittedCome see us in the Hays Walmart parking lot, 4301 Vine, to get your fresh holiday tree! We'll be open 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. on all Saturdays and Sundays, and 3 p.m. - 8 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, until we run out of trees.

Local organizations benefit from Hays Optimists annual Christmas tree sale

Big Creek Crossing mall will be a little bit busier this holiday season with five pop-up stores and the opening of a new permanent store.

New this year will be Kansas Christmas Wonderland owned by Lori Nuss of Russell. Nuss' family has operated the store in Russell since 2012 but decided to move the store to Hays this Christmas.

Christmas Wonderland, which will be in the former Hallmark location,&nbsp; will carry a wide selection of Christmas decor, including Christmas ornaments, signs, tabletop decor and snowmen.

Prices will range from a few dollars for an ornament to a $300 rocking horse. The store has about 20 to 25 trees with all types of ornaments and decorations.

The store has ornaments customers can customize and use as gift tags.

"Bells are really big this year. I have gold bells, black bells, navy bells cream bells," she said.

Cardinals and gnomes are also popular this year, she said.

Nuss, who said she has always loved Christmas, said the store has been a labor of love for her whole family. She said a daughter, who's a senior in high school, has been especially helpful in putting the store together this year.

Christmas Wonderland had a soft opening last week. It will be open mall hours Saturdays and Sundays until Christmas and evenings by appointment. Nuss can be contacted through the store's <a href="https://www.facebook.com/KansasChristmasWonderland">Facebook page</a>.

Other pop-up stores at Big Creek Crossing this year include Western Sunset Creations, Haus of Vanity, GoCalendar,&nbsp; and Ponderosa Pines trees of Ogallah in the parking lot. 

Western Sunset Creations, which is run by the Dorzweiler family, is back again this year in the former Payless Shoes store. It will offer roasted nuts, homemade fudge, homemade sausage and bierocks.

Haus of Vanity of Colorado specializes in hair irons and hair accessories. That kiosk, which will be in the north hall, has been at Big Creek Crossing before and will be back this year for the holiday season.

Go Calendar has had a kiosk at Big Creek Crossing for years. It is back in the north hall of the mall, selling calendars, games and plush toys.

Pro Image, a new permanent resident on the north end of the mall, is set to open this holiday season.<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/de9c9741-b18c-45c7-a7c3-1cf50084e7af"> The store, owned by Hays resident Robert Alvarez, will carry licensed sports merchandise, including hats, jerseys and collectibles.</a>

Toys for Tots will have a give-and-take store for needy families in the south hall next to Maurices. There also will be a box next to the mall office in the north hall in which customers can leave gifts of new toys. 

The Western Kansas Child Advocacy Center also has a giving tree in the north hall of the mall next o the mall office. Shoppers can take ornaments off the tree, which have the age, gender and preferred presents for children, buy a gift and place it in a box next to the tree.

The Western Kansas Child Advocacy Center provides therapy and forensics services for children who have been abused. Its service area includes Ellis County.

Photos with Santa will be offered again this year, including a couple of pet nights for dogs and cats. You can find a calendar with Santa's hours on the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BigCreekCrossing">Big Creek Crossing Facebook page</a>.

"I am anticipating a pretty decent year, a pretty typical year from what I'm seeing," said Branson Hoffman, Big Creek Crossing marketing manager.

The mall will be open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and noon to 6 p.m. Sundays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Christmas Eve, closed Christmas Day, noon to 6 p.m. the day after Christmas, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. New Year's Eve and noon to 6 p.m. New Year's Day.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669154492128.jpeg" alt="Kansas Christmas Wonderland will be open in Big Creek Crossing on Saturdays and Sundays through Christmas. Courtesy photo " />
 <figcaption>Kansas Christmas Wonderland will be open in Big Creek Crossing on Saturdays and Sundays through Christmas. Courtesy photo </figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostBig Creek Crossing mall will be a little bit busier this holiday season with five pop-up stores and the opening of a new permanent store.New this year will be Kansas Christmas Wonderland owned by Lori Nuss of Russell. Nuss' family has operated the store in Russell since 2012 but decided to move the store to Hays this Christmas.Christmas Wonderland, which will be in the former Hallmark location,&nbsp; will carry a wide selection of Christmas decor, including Christmas ornaments, signs, tabletop decor and snowmen.Prices will range from a few dollars for an ornament to a $300 rocking horse. The store has about 20 to 25 trees with all types of ornaments and decorations.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669154674412.jpeg" alt="A Christmas tree and decor for sale in Christmas Wonderland. Courtesy photo. " />
 <figcaption>A Christmas tree and decor for sale in Christmas Wonderland. Courtesy photo. </figcaption>
 </figure>The store has ornaments customers can customize and use as gift tags. "Bells are really big this year. I have gold bells, black bells, navy bells cream bells," she said.Cardinals and gnomes are also popular this year, she said.Nuss, who said she has always loved Christmas, said the store has been a labor of love for her whole family. She said a daughter, who's a senior in high school, has been especially helpful in putting the store together this year. Christmas Wonderland had a soft opening last week. It will be open mall hours Saturdays and Sundays until Christmas and evenings by appointment. Nuss can be contacted through the store's <a href="https://www.facebook.com/KansasChristmasWonderland">Facebook page</a>.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669154761832.jpeg" alt="Go Calendar has a kiosk at Big Creek Crossing again this year. The store sells calendars, games and plush toys. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post " />
 <figcaption>Go Calendar has a kiosk at Big Creek Crossing again this year. The store sells calendars, games and plush toys. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post </figcaption>
 </figure>Other pop-up stores at Big Creek Crossing this year include Western Sunset Creations, Haus of Vanity, GoCalendar,&nbsp; and Ponderosa Pines trees of Ogallah in the parking lot. Western Sunset Creations, which is run by the Dorzweiler family, is back again this year in the former Payless Shoes store. It will offer roasted nuts, homemade fudge, homemade sausage and bierocks.Haus of Vanity of Colorado specializes in hair irons and hair accessories. That kiosk, which will be in the north hall, has been at Big Creek Crossing before and will be back this year for the holiday season. Go Calendar has had a kiosk at Big Creek Crossing for years. It is back in the north hall of the mall, selling calendars, games and plush toys.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669154946451.jpeg" alt="Santa will be available for photos at Big Creek Crossing this holiday season. See the mall's Facebook page for a schedule. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post " />
 <figcaption>Santa will be available for photos at Big Creek Crossing this holiday season. See the mall's Facebook page for a schedule. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post </figcaption>
 </figure>Pro Image, a new permanent resident on the north end of the mall, is set to open this holiday season.<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/de9c9741-b18c-45c7-a7c3-1cf50084e7af"> The store, owned by Hays resident Robert Alvarez, will carry licensed sports merchandise, including hats, jerseys and collectibles.</a> Toys for Tots will have a give-and-take store for needy families in the south hall next to Maurices. There also will be a box next to the mall office in the north hall in which customers can leave gifts of new toys. The Western Kansas Child Advocacy Center also has a giving tree in the north hall of the mall next o the mall office. Shoppers can take ornaments off the tree, which have the age, gender and preferred presents for children, buy a gift and place it in a box next to the tree.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669155157164.jpeg" alt="Toys for Tots and Western Kansas Child Advocacy Center have collection boxes at the north end of Big Creek Crossing next to the mall office. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post " />
 <figcaption>Toys for Tots and Western Kansas Child Advocacy Center have collection boxes at the north end of Big Creek Crossing next to the mall office. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post </figcaption>
 </figure>The Western Kansas Child Advocacy Center provides therapy and forensics services for children who have been abused. Its service area includes Ellis County. Photos with Santa will be offered again this year, including a couple of pet nights for dogs and cats. You can find a calendar with Santa's hours on the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BigCreekCrossing">Big Creek Crossing Facebook page</a>. "I am anticipating a pretty decent year, a pretty typical year from what I'm seeing," said Branson Hoffman, Big Creek Crossing marketing manager. The mall will be open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and noon to 6 p.m. Sundays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Christmas Eve, closed Christmas Day, noon to 6 p.m. the day after Christmas, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. New Year's Eve and noon to 6 p.m. New Year's Day.

Christmas Wonderland among pop-up stores at Big Creek Crossing

Three grief support groups from the Center for Life Experience will have their annual Holiday Memorial Tree Dedications at 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, at Jackie Creamer’s Dance Studio, 1003 Main.

The trees will be on display in the studio’s large windows until after Jan. 1, said Darian Schulte, the center’s executive director.

Each year the “Healing Hearts” support group, for individuals who have lost a child, decorates a Christmas tree with special ornaments, each commemorating the life of a precious child.

The other two groups are Healing After Loss, for those who have suffered the loss of a special adult, and Healing After Loss of Suicide, for those who have lost someone to suicide. Those two groups will also be decorating a tree, Schulte said.

News releaseThree grief support groups from the Center for Life Experience will have their annual Holiday Memorial Tree Dedications at 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, at Jackie Creamer’s Dance Studio, 1003 Main.The trees will be on display in the studio’s large windows until after Jan. 1, said Darian Schulte, the center’s executive director.Each year the “Healing Hearts” support group, for individuals who have lost a child, decorates a Christmas tree with special ornaments, each commemorating the life of a precious child.The other two groups are Healing After Loss, for those who have suffered the loss of a special adult, and Healing After Loss of Suicide, for those who have lost someone to suicide. Those two groups will also be decorating a tree, Schulte said.The event is open to the public. Individuals are welcome to bring their own special ornaments, or ornaments with tags will be available for a donation to the center., Schulte said.&nbsp;&nbsp;Refreshments will be served.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;More information is available by contacting the center at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:info@cflehope.org">info@cflehope.org</a>&nbsp;or (785) 259-6859.