On this episode of the Post Podcast Thomas More Prep-Marian's Kim Stoecklein and Joe Roth Share details of the upcoming Back 2 School Bash.

<a href="https://postpodcast.podbean.com/">For more about the Post Podcast, including a full list of episodes and episode transcripts click here.</a>

<div><iframe title="Hays Catholic schools kick off year with Back 2 School Bash" 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=yv66v-129daa8-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 Thomas More Prep-Marian's Kim Stoecklein and Joe Roth Share details of the upcoming Back 2 School Bash. <a href="https://postpodcast.podbean.com/">For more about the Post Podcast, including a full list of episodes and episode transcripts click here.</a>

🎙Post Podcast: Hays Catholic schools kick off year with Back 2 School Bash

Cooler temperatures will stick around into the weekend, the National Weather Service in Dodge City predicts.

After a high of 106 degrees Monday afternoon, a cold front swept into the area, bringing with it 0.34 inches of rain. There is a chance of additional precipitation before 3 p.m. Tuesday and again between 3 and 4 p.m. Tuesday, the NWS said.&nbsp;

Highs will be below 90 degrees through the remainder of the week, with overnight lows dropping to the mid-50s.

A chance of rain returns this weekend, with a 20 percent to 30 percent chance of showers or thunderstorms early Saturday morning through Monday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660662239651.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Cooler temperatures will stick around into the weekend, the National Weather Service in Dodge City predicts.After a high of 106 degrees Monday afternoon, a cold front swept into the area, bringing with it 0.34 inches of rain. There is a chance of additional precipitation before 3 p.m. Tuesday and again between 3 and 4 p.m. Tuesday, the NWS said.&nbsp;Highs will be below 90 degrees through the remainder of the week, with overnight lows dropping to the mid-50s.A chance of rain returns this weekend, with a 20 percent to 30 percent chance of showers or thunderstorms early Saturday morning through Monday.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Cooler weather is set to arrive and stay for a while. Have we seen our last 100 degree day until 2023? <a href="https://t.co/E5NQpj99ju">pic.twitter.com/E5NQpj99ju</a>&mdash; NWS Dodge City (@NWSDodgeCity) <a href="https://twitter.com/NWSDodgeCity/status/1559364384698183681?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 16, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> </div>

Cooler weather will hang around after cold front enters NW Kan.

ANDOVER&nbsp;– Governor Laura Kelly and Transportation Secretary Julie Lorenz have announced 11 Expansion and Modernization highway projects, including Ellis, Sheridan and Osborne counties, – a total investment of more than $520 million – have been committed to construction as part of the Kelly Administration’s bipartisan transportation plan, IKE.&nbsp;

“Expanding and modernizing our highways will improve roadway safety, create good jobs, and deliver more economic opportunities across Kansas, both now and in the future,” said Governor Kelly. “These 11 projects demonstrate that investing in transportation benefits our communities, taxpayers, and businesses.” &nbsp;

Combined with the first round of IKE Construction Pipeline projects, the Kelly Administration to date has committed to construction nearly $1.3 billion for highway modernization and expansion projects.&nbsp;

After hosting a series of local consult meetings in 2019 and 2021, Kansas Department of Transportation staff worked with community leaders to help identify regional transportation priorities and determine cost-effective ways to deliver them.&nbsp;

Secretary Lorenz said KDOT is fully committed to the announced projects and noted the importance of watching inflationary prices and being flexible in scheduling.&nbsp;

“We need to balance the short-term urgency to address as many needs as possible with long term responsibility of making sure we’re good stewards of taxpayers’ dollars,” said Secretary Lorenz. “Today’s announcement helps us meet that balance.”&nbsp;

Projects were announced in the City of Andover, where less than four months ago the community was ravaged by an EF-3 tornado. The community stands to benefit from the largest of the announced construction projects, improvements on East Kellogg (U.S. 54/400) from the K-96 interchange east to the 159th&nbsp;Street interchange.&nbsp; The $230 million project was identified as the highest priority project in south central Kansas local consult discussions.&nbsp;

Also selected for the IKE Construction Pipeline is the widening from two lanes to four along a seven-mile stretch of K-10 in Douglas County from north of the K-10/U.S. 40 junction south and east to the K-10/U.S. 59/Iowa Street junction. This $124 million South Lawrence Trafficway project is the first of two construction projects in the area.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Governor Kelly highlighted the balance of urban and rural projects included in the pipeline announcements. Construction projects were also announced in Ellis, Geary, Franklin, Miami, Morris, Osborne, Saline, Sheridan, and Wabaunsee counties.&nbsp;

KDOT has also kept its promise to let to construction one phase of all T-WORKS projects before construction begins on highway improvement projects. Consistent with IKE’s goals of community participation, each community is participating in a cost-share approach for the expansion projects.&nbsp;

To see more information on these projects and other details, visit KDOT’s IKE webpage <a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMjA4MTUuNjIyODc2MjEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5rc2RvdGlrZS5vcmcvIn0.GUCaIisS5b4lhDH9G60HduUjPEnyEbel-DY3Do_IfXY/s/1303161001/br/142599558307-l" target="_blank">here</a>.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1630526008903.jpeg" alt="(Photo by Pixabay)" />
 <figcaption>(Photo by Pixabay)</figcaption>
 </figure>Office of Gov.ANDOVER&nbsp;– Governor Laura Kelly and Transportation Secretary Julie Lorenz have announced 11 Expansion and Modernization highway projects, including Ellis, Sheridan and Osborne counties, – a total investment of more than $520 million – have been committed to construction as part of the Kelly Administration’s bipartisan transportation plan, IKE.&nbsp;“Expanding and modernizing our highways will improve roadway safety, create good jobs, and deliver more economic opportunities across Kansas, both now and in the future,” said Governor Kelly. “These 11 projects demonstrate that investing in transportation benefits our communities, taxpayers, and businesses.” &nbsp;Combined with the first round of IKE Construction Pipeline projects, the Kelly Administration to date has committed to construction nearly $1.3 billion for highway modernization and expansion projects.&nbsp;After hosting a series of local consult meetings in 2019 and 2021, Kansas Department of Transportation staff worked with community leaders to help identify regional transportation priorities and determine cost-effective ways to deliver them.&nbsp;Secretary Lorenz said KDOT is fully committed to the announced projects and noted the importance of watching inflationary prices and being flexible in scheduling.&nbsp;“We need to balance the short-term urgency to address as many needs as possible with long term responsibility of making sure we’re good stewards of taxpayers’ dollars,” said Secretary Lorenz. “Today’s announcement helps us meet that balance.”&nbsp;Projects were announced in the City of Andover, where less than four months ago the community was ravaged by an EF-3 tornado. The community stands to benefit from the largest of the announced construction projects, improvements on East Kellogg (U.S. 54/400) from the K-96 interchange east to the 159th&nbsp;Street interchange.&nbsp; The $230 million project was identified as the highest priority project in south central Kansas local consult discussions.&nbsp;Also selected for the IKE Construction Pipeline is the widening from two lanes to four along a seven-mile stretch of K-10 in Douglas County from north of the K-10/U.S. 40 junction south and east to the K-10/U.S. 59/Iowa Street junction. This $124 million South Lawrence Trafficway project is the first of two construction projects in the area.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Governor Kelly highlighted the balance of urban and rural projects included in the pipeline announcements. Construction projects were also announced in Ellis, Geary, Franklin, Miami, Morris, Osborne, Saline, Sheridan, and Wabaunsee counties.&nbsp;KDOT has also kept its promise to let to construction one phase of all T-WORKS projects before construction begins on highway improvement projects. Consistent with IKE’s goals of community participation, each community is participating in a cost-share approach for the expansion projects.&nbsp;To see more information on these projects and other details, visit KDOT’s IKE webpage <a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMjA4MTUuNjIyODc2MjEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5rc2RvdGlrZS5vcmcvIn0.GUCaIisS5b4lhDH9G60HduUjPEnyEbel-DY3Do_IfXY/s/1303161001/br/142599558307-l" target="_blank">here</a>.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660642538328.jpeg" alt="" />
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 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660642641438.jpeg" alt="" />
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NW Kansas road projects added to KDOT's to-do list

By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT Hays Post

A former Fort Hays State University All-American wrestler
will spend more than five and a half years in prison after pleading guilty to a
pair of aggravated battery charges earlier this year.

Last Monday, Efe Osaghae, St. Louis, was sentenced to a total
68 months in prison after pleading guilty to the two charges in April. He was
sentenced to 34 months for each charge with to run consecutively for the total
of 68 months in prison. 

He will have to register as a sex offender for 25 years and
he will be subject to lifetime post-release supervision.

According to court documents, the two charges stem from
incidents that occurred in December 2019. 

Documents said he entered the room of a 19-year-old woman on campus and assaulted
her. During the investigation, the second assault was discovered.

Osaghae, who was also a former member of Fort Hays State
men’s soccer team, initially was charged with five felony counts including rape
and aggravated criminal sodomy.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600434512769.png" alt="Osaghae / Ellis County photo" />
 <figcaption>Osaghae / Ellis County photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT Hays PostA former Fort Hays State University All-American wrestler
will spend more than five and a half years in prison after pleading guilty to a
pair of aggravated battery charges earlier this year.Last Monday, Efe Osaghae, St. Louis, was sentenced to a total
68 months in prison after pleading guilty to the two charges in April. He was
sentenced to 34 months for each charge with to run consecutively for the total
of 68 months in prison. He will have to register as a sex offender for 25 years and
he will be subject to lifetime post-release supervision.According to court documents, the two charges stem from
incidents that occurred in December 2019. Documents said he entered the room of a 19-year-old woman on campus and assaulted
her. During the investigation, the second assault was discovered.Osaghae, who was also a former member of Fort Hays State
men’s soccer team, initially was charged with five felony counts including rape
and aggravated criminal sodomy.

Former FHSU athlete sentenced to more than five years for sex crimes

North Central Regional Planning Commission

BELOIT&nbsp;— A 
new program that seeks to attract new residents to move to north-central
 Kansas is now available in Cloud, Ellsworth, Jewell, Lincoln, Mitchell,
 Ottawa, Republic and Saline counties. &nbsp;

The pilot project 
known as the "North Central Kansas Regional Relocation Program" seeks to
 make home ownership more affordable for those relocating to the region 
by reducing the barriers of down payments and closing costs. It offers a
 combination of a 0% down payment assistance loan of $10,000 and closing
 cost grant of $2,500 when purchasing a home of $50,000 of greater.&nbsp; 
Eligible home purchase types include existing homes, existing homes with
 planned/financed upgrades totaling $50,000 or greater, manufactured 
homes including lot and infrastructure, or new construction. Funds are 
limited and available on a first come, first served basis. The program 
officially launched August 15, 2022.

An award from the 
Dane G. Hansen Foundation of Logan assisted in funding the program, 
along with a donation from NCK Housing Opportunities, Inc. North Central
 Regional Planning Commission in Beloit is administering the program. 
NCK Housing Opportunities, Inc. is an affiliate of the North Central 
Regional Planning Commission.

“This initiative would not be possible without the generous 
assistance from the Dane G. Hansen Foundation and the tremendous support
 we have received from area banks and economic development groups,” 
Program Manager Debra Peters said.

Program eligibility 
includes relocating to an eligible county in north-central Kansas within
 18 months of the request. Additionally, the primary bank loan must be 
provided by a bank having a physical location in the North Central 
Regional Planning Commission 12-county service area.

“We are 
pleased to bring this program to north-central Kansas,” Peters said. “It
 offers new residents up to 18 months to experience all the region has 
to offer before staking roots here.”

Results of the pilot program will be used to develop a permanent regional relocation program in 2024.

For more information about the program, contact your local bank or realtor or visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ncrpc.org/nckregionalrelocationincentive/" target="_blank">www.ncrpc.org/nckregionalrelocationincentive</a>.

About North Central Regional Planning Commission The
 North Central Regional Planning Commission is committed to advancing 
rural Kansas through comprehensive planning and development services. 
Its primary service area includes 12 counties and 83 cities in 
north-central Kansas. For more information about the NCRPC, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ncrpc.org/" target="_blank">www.ncrpc.org</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1648424661939.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>North Central Regional Planning CommissionBELOIT&nbsp;— A 
new program that seeks to attract new residents to move to north-central
 Kansas is now available in Cloud, Ellsworth, Jewell, Lincoln, Mitchell,
 Ottawa, Republic and Saline counties. &nbsp; The pilot project 
known as the "North Central Kansas Regional Relocation Program" seeks to
 make home ownership more affordable for those relocating to the region 
by reducing the barriers of down payments and closing costs. It offers a
 combination of a 0% down payment assistance loan of $10,000 and closing
 cost grant of $2,500 when purchasing a home of $50,000 of greater.&nbsp; 
Eligible home purchase types include existing homes, existing homes with
 planned/financed upgrades totaling $50,000 or greater, manufactured 
homes including lot and infrastructure, or new construction. Funds are 
limited and available on a first come, first served basis. The program 
officially launched August 15, 2022.An award from the 
Dane G. Hansen Foundation of Logan assisted in funding the program, 
along with a donation from NCK Housing Opportunities, Inc. North Central
 Regional Planning Commission in Beloit is administering the program. 
NCK Housing Opportunities, Inc. is an affiliate of the North Central 
Regional Planning Commission.“This initiative would not be possible without the generous 
assistance from the Dane G. Hansen Foundation and the tremendous support
 we have received from area banks and economic development groups,” 
Program Manager Debra Peters said. Program eligibility 
includes relocating to an eligible county in north-central Kansas within
 18 months of the request. Additionally, the primary bank loan must be 
provided by a bank having a physical location in the North Central 
Regional Planning Commission 12-county service area. “We are 
pleased to bring this program to north-central Kansas,” Peters said. “It
 offers new residents up to 18 months to experience all the region has 
to offer before staking roots here.”Results of the pilot program will be used to develop a permanent regional relocation program in 2024.For more information about the program, contact your local bank or realtor or visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ncrpc.org/nckregionalrelocationincentive/" target="_blank">www.ncrpc.org/nckregionalrelocationincentive</a>.About North Central Regional Planning Commission The
 North Central Regional Planning Commission is committed to advancing 
rural Kansas through comprehensive planning and development services. 
Its primary service area includes 12 counties and 83 cities in 
north-central Kansas. For more information about the NCRPC, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ncrpc.org/" target="_blank">www.ncrpc.org</a>.

Hansen helps fund relocation program in north-central Kansas

By DAVID CONDOS <a href="https://www.hppr.org/hppr-news/2022-08-08/western-kansas-was-hells-aquarium-80-million-years-ago-heres-what-it-can-teach-us-today">Kansas News Service</a>

CASTLE ROCK BADLANDS — How do you save sea turtles from climate change? Maybe start by digging around in the arid badlands of western Kansas.

Eighty million years ago, this dry, desolate landscape was completely covered by water, teeming with exotic forms of life.

And
 the remnants of that life — embedded in the region’s rocky outcrops — 
have made western Kansas a magnet for generations of scientists studying
 long-gone oceans.

A lot has to go right for any fossil to last 80 million years. 

Scientists estimate they’ve only found fossilized evidence of <a href="https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20180215-how-does-fossilisation-happen" target="_blank">less than 1%</a>
 of all the species that have ever lived. And most layers of sediments 
that settled to the bottom of prehistoric oceans are still underwater 
today.

So without the discoveries made possible by the badlands of
 western Kansas, the world might never have the chance to learn about 
the ecosystems that thrived beneath the ancient waves.

“If we 
didn't have these sediments,” Fort Hays State University paleontologist 
Laura Wilson said, “we would just be looking at the dinosaurs on land. 
And that’s only half the picture.”

Western Kansas might hold clues for the future of ocean life, too.

Wilson is the chief curator at the <a href="https://sternberg.fhsu.edu/" target="_blank">Sternberg Museum of Natural History</a>
 in Hays and studies how prehistoric sea turtles grew and evolved on a 
greenhouse planet hotter than the one we know today. Her studies of 
Kansas fossils could inform conservationists about how modern turtles 
might adapt to a warming climate.

“(Scientists are) looking to see
 what allowed animals to survive huge environmental disruptions,” Wilson
 said, “and what that could mean for biodiversity on the planet going 
forward.”

In the Cretaceous Period — it ran from about <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/Cretaceous-Period" target="_blank">145 million years ago to 66 million years ago</a>
 — western Kansas sat beneath the waves of the Western Interior Seaway, a
 body of water hundreds of miles wide that split North America in half 
from the Arctic Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico.

Back then, sea 
monsters patrolled these waters. Bus-length reptiles with razor-sharp 
teeth. Giant, carnivorous fish. Clams the size of car hoods.

“My favorite description I’ve heard of the Western Interior Seaway,” Wilson said, “is ‘hell’s aquarium.’”

Wilson’s research on ancient sea turtles marks just the latest 
chapter in a surprisingly rich tradition of discovery in western Kansas 
that dates back to the late 1800s and has shaped our understanding of 
prehistoric ocean life.

From swimming mosasaurs to flying pteranodons — the two <a href="https://www.kshs.org/kansapedia/state-fossils/18626" target="_blank">state fossils</a>
 of Kansas — some of America’s biggest early paleontological discoveries
 happened on these plains. Specimens from these chalk beds now grace the
 halls of the world’s premier museums, from New York to London to 
Germany.

“I consider western Kansas the birthplace of American 
paleontology,” Wilson said. “Western Kansas made an impact on 
paleontology around the globe.”

This particular corner of Kansas rose to international fame <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEUKTJctyO4" target="_blank">70 years ago</a> this summer, thanks to pioneering Hays-based paleontologist <a href="https://www.kshs.org/kansapedia/george-f-sternberg/17251" target="_blank">George F. Sternberg</a>, whose family is the museum’s namesake.

That’s when he dug up a 14-foot-long fish with a perfectly intact 
eight-foot-long fish in its belly, meaning it swallowed the colossal 
prey whole right before it died. Their intertwined skeletons are so 
large that they wouldn’t fit in Sternberg’s truck and had to be sawed in
 half.

The specimen is now known far and wide as the <a href="https://www.roadsideamerica.com/tip/3035" target="_blank">fish-within-a-fish</a>. Images of the famous fossil adorn billboards, t-shirts, even the can of a <a href="https://www.hdnews.net/2022/06/06/sternberg-museum-defiance-release-gillicus-island-brew/" target="_blank">new beer from the local brewery</a>.

And today, this wall-length double-fish spectacle greets visitors as they step into the Sternberg Museum.

“This
 is the most photographed fossil in our collection by a longshot,” 
collections manager Aly Baumgartner said. “Everybody takes their picture
 with this.”

But giant monster skeletons like this one make up only a small fraction of all the fossils found here.

In
 the museum basement, Baumgartner slides open drawer after drawer of 
specimens — from iridescent ammonite shells to dainty pterosaur wings to
 mosasaur teeth shaped like ping pong balls that were used for crunching
 up oysters.

In all, this collection is home to more than 20,000 fossils. And that’s what continues to draw the world’s scientists here.

On the other side of the room, Japanese researcher Mori Chida holds 
up a fossilized fish jaw and compares it with a scanned image on her 
laptop of another jaw.

Chida traveled to Hays from the University 
of Alberta in Canada specifically to study the abundance of fish fossils
 in this building. Nowhere else has this many well-preserved fossils, 
she said, so it’s well worth the trip.

“That is not common in the other places in the world,” Chida said. “That’s why here is special.”

So what makes western Kansas such a paleontological marvel?

To 
dig up the bottom of most prehistoric oceans, scientists would have to 
dive to the depths of the Pacific or the Atlantic. But in Kansas, stuff 
that used to cover the seafloor lingers in the crust of the prairies. 
That makes it easy for scientists to get to.

Also, 
80-million-year-old marine fossils tend to be extremely fragile. Think 
of the thin bones of today’s fish. Or the hollow bones that enabled 
pteranodons to soar over the ancient seas even though they had wingspans
 the size of Uhaul trucks.

Western Kansas is one of few places on 
Earth where the rock encasing those bones is actually more delicate than
 the bones themselves. These badlands are made of soft chalk, so 
scientists can brush it away without wrecking the fragile skeletons 
inside.

At a counter across from the fish-within-a-fish display, Baumgartner 
greets a wide-eyed young visitor who walks over to watch a Fort Hays 
State student in a lab coat gently scrape chalk from a mosasaur vertebra
 with a bamboo skewer. His parents are surprised to learn this sea 
monster came from the western Kansas county they just drove through on 
their way to the museum.

Time and time again, Baumgartner said, 
Kansans find it hard to believe that this often-overlooked part of the 
world plays such a pivotal role in the chronicles of scientific 
discovery. That makes it all the more gratifying when she gets to tell 
them.

“It’s fun to tell people from Kansas how important this is 
because we are often the butt of jokes, and it shouldn’t be the case,” 
Baumgartner said. “The history of Kansas includes sea monsters. How cool
 is that?”

A lot has changed since George Sternberg unearthed his fish-within-a-fish masterpiece.

Modern trucks have grown big enough to carry a 14-foot fish. New technology can make <a href="https://www.facebook.com/sternberg.museum/posts/pfbid0sEcJ8NaLpzkgs4PqHppapusYrYQnUnh7ehJGYvkecYQoawek2UG3Tv7Z3rDP9i6yl" target="_blank">three-dimensional scans</a> of a fossil with lasers and electronically share those detailed images with researchers around the globe.

And
 the philosophy of paleontology, Baumgartner said, has shifted away from
 prioritizing showmanship — making the prettiest fossils for display — 
to prioritizing preservation and ensuring that future generations have 
the chance to discover new things about mounted fossils that today’s 
scientists might have missed.

But one thing that hasn’t changed all that much? The actual work of finding and excavating fossils.

Paleontologists
 continue to rely on a lot of the same tools that Sternberg would have 
used in the field 70 years ago — often repurposed household items like 
paint scrapers, dental picks and brushes.

And making a new discovery in the western Kansas chalk beds still requires a lot of staring down at the ground.

One morning at the Castle Rock badlands, paleobiologist David 
Levering leads a group from Fort Hays State through the towering pillars
 of white and golden rock.

Each member of the party fans out, 
slowly and methodically making their way up a draw toward the top of a 
ridge. One square foot at a time, they squat down to sift through the 
rubble, looking for any small sign of the creatures that once swam here.

“There’s
 fragments of them all over the place,” Levering said. “I can see maybe 
seven at your feet right now where I'm standing.”

Out here, those signs of ancient life are everywhere.

But spotting a pea-sized fossil fragment in a sea of broken chalk takes resolve. And patience.

Program
 assistant Katie Gatlin brushes her hand across a small pile of rocks 
that have collected on the uphill side of a sagebrush. That’s a good 
place to start, she said, because it’s where pieces of these fragile 
chalk formations end up when the rain washes them down.

“If I don't see anything,” Gatlin said,
 “I'll stand up and then take one or two steps forward and just do the 
same thing. Over and over again.”

Being a paleontologist more 
often involves small incremental discoveries than earth-shattering 
revelations. But those incremental discoveries add up — especially when 
scientists across the globe can share their research with each other — 
like putting together a giant puzzle one tiny piece at a time.

By the end of the morning, Levering’s group had examined dozens of 
clam pieces, some fish bones and a few shark teeth. One still looks 
sharp, a glistening black arrow rooted in the white chalk.

Each 
little puzzle piece marks another small step toward understanding life 
in this dried-up sea — and maybe another step toward building more 
Kansas pride in the watery world that once called this place home.

“Kansas
 has a lot of appreciation for the modern prairie,” Levering said. “The 
seaway is worthy of a similar level of respect and … celebration.”

Chuck Bonner knows the triumphs and travails of western Kansas fossil hunting all too well.

About an hour west of Castle Rock, Bonner flips through photos from decades of family fossil expeditions inside <a href="https://www.keystonegallery.com/" target="_blank">Keystone Gallery</a>,
 the 1916 stone church that he and his wife, Barbara, turned into a DIY 
fossil museum that their brochures tout as “conveniently located in the 
middle of nowhere.”

There’s a picture that shows his father and 
brother digging out the skull of a long-necked marine reptile called a 
plesiosaur. Another shows him and his son excavating a skeleton that’s 
now at the Natural History Museum in Los Angeles.

On the wall hangs a childhood portrait of his older sister at a 
family fossil hunt. She’s holding up a white cloth to shade her head 
from the sun.

“That’s my diaper,” Bonner said. “So that's how long I’ve been in the fossil bed. … I was just born into it.”

As
 a kid, Bonner remembers seeing his dad — who was a friend and 
collaborator of George Sternberg’s — assemble plesiosaur skeletons on 
the family’s dining room table.

To remove minerals from the fossils, sometimes his dad would heat them up in their oven.

“It was a joke that we were going to have plesiosaur for supper,” Bonner said. “But it didn’t ever go that far.”

Fossils the Bonner family have discovered are now part of prestigious
 museum collections from Germany to China. They even had a species of 
pteranodon named after them.

And Bonner has carried on that family
 tradition, excavating hundreds of fossils over the years, all dug up 
within a 30-mile radius of his home in Logan County. The first mosasaur 
he ever found is now at the Field Museum in Chicago — he’s never seen it
 there, but it’s on his bucket list.

For Bonner, fossil hunting isn’t about fame or purely academic study —
 he said he’d rather be out in the field than in a museum basement.

He hunts for the thrill of discovery. To unearth a new clue about a bizarre, bygone era right in his backyard.

And he said that’s what will keep him digging around in the western Kansas badlands for as long as he has the strength to do it.

“People say, ‘What’s your favorite fossil?’” Bonner said. “I say, ‘The next one.’”

David Condos covers western Kansas for High Plains Public Radio and the Kansas News Service. You can follow him on Twitter<a href="http://twitter.com/davidcondos" target="_blank"> @davidcondos</a>.

80M years ago, western Kansas was 'hell's aquarium' — here's what it can teach us

<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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 </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

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

This Kansas business is for the birds – gamebirds, that is. Today we’ll meet a young ruralpreneur who has created a business of raising pheasants and guiding pheasant hunts in his home region of rural Kansas.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Last week we learned about Bethany Wallin, who founded a physical therapy and fitness center in her community of Courtland. Today we’ll meet her husband and learn about his business.&nbsp;

Clay Wallin and his friend Nathan Lindberg are owners of Heartland Game Birds. Wallin and his wife are from Republic County originally. Clay went to K-State and earned degrees in golf course management and agronomy before he and Bethany were married. He worked in crop seed sales in Kansas and Nebraska. For six years, they lived in Manhattan.&nbsp;

In 2018, Bethany took a position at the hospital in Belleville and they moved to Clay’s hometown of Courtland. Clay became an independent Channel seedsman and raised corn and soybeans.&nbsp;

Clay also joined his boyhood pal Nathan Lindberg and another friend in creating a pheasant business. “We grew up pheasant hunting together,” Wallin said. He remembered the excitement of the beginning of pheasant season. “Opening weekend was better than Christmas for me.”&nbsp;

Because of their location in the heartland of the nation, they named their business Heartland Game Birds. Today, they raise thousands of pheasants, lease many acres of farmground for hunting, provide guided hunts, and have even opened a hunting lodge in Courtland.&nbsp;

“We aim to provide (customers) with the best upland hunting experience the Heartland has to offer,” the website states.&nbsp;

“We raise our own birds,” Wallin said. “This year we’ll raise 11,000 birds, and our goal is to get to 25,000.”&nbsp;

Heartland Game Birds raises and sells birds by contract to others in addition to their own local use. “The guided hunts are growing,” Wallin said. “Our goal is to double the number of hunts each year.”&nbsp;

During busy times, two other individuals help Wallin and Lindberg guide groups of hunters.&nbsp;

In 2020, the business purchased a historic downtown building that had been built in the 1890s. “It was one of the first buildings in Courtland,” Wallin said. They gutted and remodeled the building which has become their hunting lodge. It operates as an Airbnb, but during the busiest part of hunting season from November through February, the lodge is reserved for hunters only.&nbsp;

For the hunters, they provide home-cooked meals and will clean, process and vacuum package the birds.&nbsp;

“I’m a huge hometown supporter,” Wallin said. “I want to see more vehicles on Main Street and draw people to downtown. This old building helps us tell the story. Every customer we have asks about the history of the place.”&nbsp;

For many people, part of the experience is reconnecting with the memory of a time when they might have gone hunting with a dad or grandpa. “Usually there’s one in every crowd that grew up doing this, and now they’re wanting to share it with other people,” Wallin said. “There’s a camaraderie to the hunt. Our greatest joy is helping bring back good memories for them.”&nbsp;

He adds: “This is a people business. We’re tailored to the smaller groups so we can build relationships. It’s fun to meet people from other walks of life. We’ve made friends and great connections.”&nbsp;

Repeat customers have been a foundation of the business as it has grown. Many customers have come from the east coast. “We’ve had people from Florida, Washington DC, California, Utah, Wyoming, Michigan, North Carolina,” Wallin said.&nbsp;

During the recent pandemic, business actually increased as people wanted to get away from the crowded cities.&nbsp;

It's an impressive record for a business based in the rural community of Courtland, population 294 people. Now, that’s rural.&nbsp;

For more information, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.heartlandgamebirds.com/">www.heartlandgamebirds.com</a>.&nbsp;

This business is for the birds – for gamebirds by the thousands, that is, and that’s a good thing. We commend Clay Wallin and Nathan Lindberg for making a difference by using the great outdoors to create positive memories for their customers. These birds got game.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660142351162.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By RON WILSON Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development&nbsp;This Kansas business is for the birds – gamebirds, that is. Today we’ll meet a young ruralpreneur who has created a business of raising pheasants and guiding pheasant hunts in his home region of rural Kansas.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Last week we learned about Bethany Wallin, who founded a physical therapy and fitness center in her community of Courtland. Today we’ll meet her husband and learn about his business.&nbsp;Clay Wallin and his friend Nathan Lindberg are owners of Heartland Game Birds. Wallin and his wife are from Republic County originally. Clay went to K-State and earned degrees in golf course management and agronomy before he and Bethany were married. He worked in crop seed sales in Kansas and Nebraska. For six years, they lived in Manhattan.&nbsp;In 2018, Bethany took a position at the hospital in Belleville and they moved to Clay’s hometown of Courtland. Clay became an independent Channel seedsman and raised corn and soybeans.&nbsp;Clay also joined his boyhood pal Nathan Lindberg and another friend in creating a pheasant business. “We grew up pheasant hunting together,” Wallin said. He remembered the excitement of the beginning of pheasant season. “Opening weekend was better than Christmas for me.”&nbsp;Because of their location in the heartland of the nation, they named their business Heartland Game Birds. Today, they raise thousands of pheasants, lease many acres of farmground for hunting, provide guided hunts, and have even opened a hunting lodge in Courtland.&nbsp;“We aim to provide (customers) with the best upland hunting experience the Heartland has to offer,” the website states.&nbsp;“We raise our own birds,” Wallin said. “This year we’ll raise 11,000 birds, and our goal is to get to 25,000.”&nbsp;Heartland Game Birds raises and sells birds by contract to others in addition to their own local use. “The guided hunts are growing,” Wallin said. “Our goal is to double the number of hunts each year.”&nbsp;During busy times, two other individuals help Wallin and Lindberg guide groups of hunters.&nbsp;In 2020, the business purchased a historic downtown building that had been built in the 1890s. “It was one of the first buildings in Courtland,” Wallin said. They gutted and remodeled the building which has become their hunting lodge. It operates as an Airbnb, but during the busiest part of hunting season from November through February, the lodge is reserved for hunters only.&nbsp;For the hunters, they provide home-cooked meals and will clean, process and vacuum package the birds.&nbsp;“I’m a huge hometown supporter,” Wallin said. “I want to see more vehicles on Main Street and draw people to downtown. This old building helps us tell the story. Every customer we have asks about the history of the place.”&nbsp;For many people, part of the experience is reconnecting with the memory of a time when they might have gone hunting with a dad or grandpa. “Usually there’s one in every crowd that grew up doing this, and now they’re wanting to share it with other people,” Wallin said. “There’s a camaraderie to the hunt. Our greatest joy is helping bring back good memories for them.”&nbsp;He adds: “This is a people business. We’re tailored to the smaller groups so we can build relationships. It’s fun to meet people from other walks of life. We’ve made friends and great connections.”&nbsp;Repeat customers have been a foundation of the business as it has grown. Many customers have come from the east coast. “We’ve had people from Florida, Washington DC, California, Utah, Wyoming, Michigan, North Carolina,” Wallin said.&nbsp;During the recent pandemic, business actually increased as people wanted to get away from the crowded cities.&nbsp;It's an impressive record for a business based in the rural community of Courtland, population 294 people. Now, that’s rural.&nbsp;For more information, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.heartlandgamebirds.com/">www.heartlandgamebirds.com</a>.&nbsp;This business is for the birds – for gamebirds by the thousands, that is, and that’s a good thing. We commend Clay Wallin and Nathan Lindberg for making a difference by using the great outdoors to create positive memories for their customers. These birds got game.&nbsp;

Now That’s Rural: Clay Wallin, Heartland Game Birds 

Activists scramble to cover cost of recount launched by Colby woman

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

Candidates Michael Berges and Nathan Leiker were certified as the winners of Ellis County Commission seats after a canvass Monday morning.

Both candidates are presumptive commissioners elect, as there are no Democratic challengers on the ballot in November's general election.

The canvass board accepted 94 provisional ballots Monday morning. None of race outcomes were changed by the additional ballots.

Berges wins the District 1 commission seat on a vote of 848-835 over Jim Pfeifer. Berges lead Pfeifer by nine votes going into the canvass.

In the race for District 3, Nathan Leiker was the highest vote-getter with 764 votes over opponents Chris McGowne (639), Randy Marintzer (324) and incumbent Joe LeRoux (286).

"I had a good lead coming in," Leiker said. "I'm appreciative of it and glad it's done."

Berges and Leiker will take office in January.

"I just look forward to serving the people, the community and the county," Leiker said. 

He added, "I would like to see an increased focus on our roads and bridges and creating the infrastructure to grow our county."

He said he looks forward to diving in and finding out where the greatest needs are in the county.

One-hundred thirty-two provisional ballots were cast, Bobbi Dreiling, Ellis County Clerk, said. Seventy-five ballots were accepted because of address changes. Nine ballots were accepted because of a name change. Seven were accepted because of DMV errors. 

Three ballots were accepted because people did not get or chose not to return their mail ballots. One ballot was accepted because the voter turned 18 on the day of the election but had registered before the registration deadline.

Thirty-six ballots were rejected, because the voters were not registered in Ellis County. One ballot was rejected for lack of voter ID. One provisional ballot envelope was empty when it was opened.

County's are required to audit of a percentage of their precincts. The hand count returned no discrepancies, Dreiling siad.

Elections workers were required to audit additional precincts because the narrow margin in the state treasurer's race. That also resulted in zero discrepancies, Dreiling said.

The Ellis County Commission District 1 race was also audited because it was within a 1 percent margin. That audit also came up with zero discrepancies, Dreiling said.

A full set of Ellis County primary results can be found at the <a href="https://www.ellisco.net/">Ellis County website</a>.

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostCandidates Michael Berges and Nathan Leiker were certified as the winners of Ellis County Commission seats after a canvass Monday morning.Both candidates are presumptive commissioners elect, as there are no Democratic challengers on the ballot in November's general election.The canvass board accepted 94 provisional ballots Monday morning. None of race outcomes were changed by the additional ballots.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1649176038808.jpeg" alt="Michael Berges" />
 <figcaption>Michael Berges</figcaption>
 </figure>Berges wins the District 1 commission seat on a vote of 848-835 over Jim Pfeifer. Berges lead Pfeifer by nine votes going into the canvass. In the race for District 3, Nathan Leiker was the highest vote-getter with 764 votes over opponents Chris McGowne (639), Randy Marintzer (324) and incumbent Joe LeRoux (286).<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1649709010370.png" alt="Nathan Leiker" />
 <figcaption>Nathan Leiker</figcaption>
 </figure>"I had a good lead coming in," Leiker said. "I'm appreciative of it and glad it's done."Berges and Leiker will take office in January."I just look forward to serving the people, the community and the county," Leiker said. He added, "I would like to see an increased focus on our roads and bridges and creating the infrastructure to grow our county."He said he looks forward to diving in and finding out where the greatest needs are in the county. One-hundred thirty-two provisional ballots were cast, Bobbi Dreiling, Ellis County Clerk, said. Seventy-five ballots were accepted because of address changes. Nine ballots were accepted because of a name change. Seven were accepted because of DMV errors. Three ballots were accepted because people did not get or chose not to return their mail ballots. One ballot was accepted because the voter turned 18 on the day of the election but had registered before the registration deadline.Thirty-six ballots were rejected, because the voters were not registered in Ellis County. One ballot was rejected for lack of voter ID. One provisional ballot envelope was empty when it was opened. County's are required to audit of a percentage of their precincts. The hand count returned no discrepancies, Dreiling siad. Elections workers were required to audit additional precincts because the narrow margin in the state treasurer's race. That also resulted in zero discrepancies, Dreiling said. The Ellis County Commission District 1 race was also audited because it was within a 1 percent margin. That audit also came up with zero discrepancies, Dreiling said. A full set of Ellis County primary results can be found at the <a href="https://www.ellisco.net/">Ellis County website</a>.

Berges, Leiker presumptive new Ellis County commissioners after canvass

By JAMES&nbsp; BELL Hays Post

VICTORIA — This Friday and Saturday, area residents converged in Victoria to celebrate the Volga German Heritage during the 39th annual Herzogfest.

From traditional festivities to concerts, food and fun in the sun, the event drew large crowds for activities like stein hoists and games for young and old.

And of course, Volga German food was offered alongside a variety of modern traditional fair treats.

Take a look at some of the festivities below:

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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660536268204.jpeg" alt="(Photos by James Bell/Hays Post)" />
 <figcaption>(Photos by James Bell/Hays Post)</figcaption>
 </figure>By JAMES&nbsp; BELL Hays PostVICTORIA — This Friday and Saturday, area residents converged in Victoria to celebrate the Volga German Heritage during the 39th annual Herzogfest.From traditional festivities to concerts, food and fun in the sun, the event drew large crowds for activities like stein hoists and games for young and old.And of course, Volga German food was offered alongside a variety of modern traditional fair treats.Take a look at some of the festivities below:<figure>
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Victoria's 2022 Herzogfest celebrates Volga German heritage

By BECKY KISER Hays Post

Property that has been owned by the city of Hays for several years has been annexed into the city and rezoned from agricultural use to a public and institutional district.

The 3.78 acres at 1732 W. 41st has been the site of a city water well for several decades. It was purchased about six years ago with future plans to build a fire station serving the business and residential growth in northwest Hays as well as north of Interstate 70.

City commissioners unanimously approved the annexation and rezoning Thursday night. Public Works Director Jesse Rohr told the commission there had been no opposition during an earlier public hearing conducted by the Hays Area Planning Commission.&nbsp;

Construction of a third fire station was designated a priority by the commission last year and bids for the project should be let within the next month or so according to Toby Dougherty, city manager.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The total project cost is estimated to be $5.5 million. The project will be funded by the city's portion of the 1/4-cent Ellis County sales tax&nbsp; approved by voters in 2020 for emergency services. 

The city's second fire station is located at the Hays Regional Airport and is only staffed when commercial passenger aircraft land and leave. The cost to build it was 90% funded by the FAA with a 10% city match.&nbsp;

The facility was designed for expansion, Dougherty noted.

"When we built the station, we located and designed it in such a way it could be expanded for general use. We could segregate it between FAA use and general use," Dougherty said. "All the expansion would be at the city's cost. It could become a fourth location down the road."

The station on 41st Street will be Hays' second fully staffed fire station.&nbsp;

"We have a lot of pent-up growth that's going to happen out around (I-70) Exit 157," Dougherty said Friday morning.&nbsp;

"This station will give easy access to be able to jump on Hall Street and take 48th Street over (to business areas) and it's right in the middle of a residential area that's going to continue to grow."

The quick and easy access to the North Vine Street Corridor was a must but the new fire station did not necessarily have to be built within the business corridor.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660449165319.jpeg" alt="Hays will construct a new fire station at 1732 W. 41st Street. It will be funded by the city's share of the 1/4 cent Ellis County sales tax for emergency services approved by voters in 2020. (City of Hays map)&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Hays will construct a new fire station at 1732 W. 41st Street. It will be funded by the city's share of the 1/4 cent Ellis County sales tax for emergency services approved by voters in 2020. (City of Hays map)&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>By BECKY KISER Hays PostProperty that has been owned by the city of Hays for several years has been annexed into the city and rezoned from agricultural use to a public and institutional district.The 3.78 acres at 1732 W. 41st has been the site of a city water well for several decades. It was purchased about six years ago with future plans to build a fire station serving the business and residential growth in northwest Hays as well as north of Interstate 70.City commissioners unanimously approved the annexation and rezoning Thursday night. Public Works Director Jesse Rohr told the commission there had been no opposition during an earlier public hearing conducted by the Hays Area Planning Commission.&nbsp;Construction of a third fire station was designated a priority by the commission last year and bids for the project should be let within the next month or so according to Toby Dougherty, city manager.&nbsp;&nbsp;The total project cost is estimated to be $5.5 million. The project will be funded by the city's portion of the 1/4-cent Ellis County sales tax&nbsp; approved by voters in 2020 for emergency services. The city's second fire station is located at the Hays Regional Airport and is only staffed when commercial passenger aircraft land and leave. The cost to build it was 90% funded by the FAA with a 10% city match.&nbsp;The facility was designed for expansion, Dougherty noted."When we built the station, we located and designed it in such a way it could be expanded for general use. We could segregate it between FAA use and general use," Dougherty said. "All the expansion would be at the city's cost. It could become a fourth location down the road."The station on 41st Street will be Hays' second fully staffed fire station.&nbsp;"We have a lot of pent-up growth that's going to happen out around (I-70) Exit 157," Dougherty said Friday morning.&nbsp;"This station will give easy access to be able to jump on Hall Street and take 48th Street over (to business areas) and it's right in the middle of a residential area that's going to continue to grow."The quick and easy access to the North Vine Street Corridor was a must but the new fire station did not necessarily have to be built within the business corridor."New commercial construction is built with the most up-to-date fire suppression technology. So new commercial businesses have sprinkler systems and different types of alarm systems," Dougherty pointed out. "So they're designed to hold off a fire until there can be a response.&nbsp;&nbsp;"Houses aren't built that way. When houses catch fire, they burn. So our greatest liability from an quick response, from an immediate response, is in the residential areas. That's why, nationwide, a lot of fire stations are located in residential areas."&nbsp;The city's first fire station, built in 1974, is downtown at 1507 Main and adjacent to residential areas.&nbsp;"It's nice having it downtown with that quick response. A lot of those buildings were built or renovated when you didn't have those types of standards such as firewalls and fire suppression systems."&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660453517717.jpeg" alt="(Hays Fire Department)" />
 <figcaption>(Hays Fire Department)</figcaption>
 </figure>Similar to the downtown location, firefighters at the new station on 41st Street will respond to non-emergency calls most of the time, which do not require the use of emergency lights and sirens.Data provided by Fire Chief Ryan Hagans also shows most responses occur between 7 a.m. and midnight, with a significant drop-off in the overnight hours.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1654813295210.jpeg" alt="(Photo by Becky Kiser/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>(Photo by Becky Kiser/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>The current response times for fire emergencies in Hays averages 4.5 minutes. In order to keep response time lower (and often, property insurance lower), the Insurance Services Office (ISO) recommends a fire station within 1.5 road miles of all areas of the city. Much of the new development in northwest Hays is further away from the downtown fire station at 1507 Main Street than recommended.

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