The Kansas Department of Health and Environment on Wednesday reported 63 new COVID-19 cases had been identified in Ellis County from July&nbsp;30 to Aug. 5.

KDHE reports updated case numbers weekly on Wednesdays.

Nearly the entire state is now in the high-incidence classification (see map below). Cheyenne and Wallace counties are the only in northwest Kansas in the substantial-incidence classification.

<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 7,566 cases of COVID-19 identified in Ellis County, including 79 coronavirus-related deaths as of April 1. KDHE has also discontinued county-by-county death totals.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660154194422.png" alt="Ellis County COVID-19 curve" />
 <figcaption>Ellis County COVID-19 curve</figcaption>
 </figure>The Kansas Department of Health and Environment on Wednesday reported 63 new COVID-19 cases had been identified in Ellis County from July&nbsp;30 to Aug. 5.KDHE reports updated case numbers weekly on Wednesdays.Nearly the entire state is now in the high-incidence classification (see map below). Cheyenne and Wallace counties are the only in northwest Kansas in the substantial-incidence classification.<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 7,566 cases of COVID-19 identified in Ellis County, including 79 coronavirus-related deaths as of April 1. KDHE has also discontinued county-by-county death totals.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660154246584.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

KDHE: 63 new COVID cases in Ellis Co. this reporting period

On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times host Gary Shorman speaks with&nbsp;radio show host Mike Cooper.

<div><iframe title="Forward Ever: Radio show host Mike Cooper" 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=5a6qm-12957a5-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 Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times host Gary Shorman speaks with&nbsp;radio show host Mike Cooper.

🎤Forward Ever: Radio show host Mike Cooper

Aug. 10 is National S’mores Day, and Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland invites the public to a free celebration to create their own delicious s’mores.

Families can enjoy free s’mores and hot dogs for National S’mores Day from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 10 at the Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland’s Hays office, 2707 Vine, Suite 8.

Council staff will be at both the Hays and Wichita events to help girls sign up or renew for Girl Scouts and speak with those interested in making a difference in their community through a variety of volunteer opportunities.

· 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 10 at the Hays Girl Scout Office, 2707 Vine, Suite 8 in Hays

· 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 10 at Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland’s headquarters, 360 Lexington in Wichita

The delicious marshmallow, chocolatey, graham-cracker treat is rooted in Girl Scout history. The recipe for a s’more dates back to a 1925 Girl Scout Leader magazine and a 1927 Girl Scouts of the USA handbook, “Tramping and Trailing with the Girl Scouts,” which featured a “Some More” recipe.

For more information on this event or how to join Girl Scouts, go to <a href="http://kansasgirlscouts.org">kansasgirlscouts.org</a>, call 888-686-MINT (6468), or email info@gskh.org.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1659466146485.jpg" alt="Photo courtesy of Pixabay. " />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy of Pixabay. </figcaption>
 </figure>Aug. 10 is National S’mores Day, and Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland invites the public to a free celebration to create their own delicious s’mores.Families can enjoy free s’mores and hot dogs for National S’mores Day from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 10 at the Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland’s Hays office, 2707 Vine, Suite 8.Council staff will be at both the Hays and Wichita events to help girls sign up or renew for Girl Scouts and speak with those interested in making a difference in their community through a variety of volunteer opportunities.National S’mores Day events:· 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 10 at the Hays Girl Scout Office, 2707 Vine, Suite 8 in Hays · 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 10 at Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland’s headquarters, 360 Lexington in Wichita The delicious marshmallow, chocolatey, graham-cracker treat is rooted in Girl Scout history. The recipe for a s’more dates back to a 1925 Girl Scout Leader magazine and a 1927 Girl Scouts of the USA handbook, “Tramping and Trailing with the Girl Scouts,” which featured a “Some More” recipe.For more information on this event or how to join Girl Scouts, go to <a href="http://kansasgirlscouts.org">kansasgirlscouts.org</a>, call 888-686-MINT (6468), or email info@gskh.org.

Celebrate free National S’mores Day event with Girl Scouts in Hays today

The Kansas Geological Survey reported a minor earthquake in northeast Ellis County early Wednesday morning.

The 2.0-magnitude quake was recorded at 2:25 a.m. Wednesday just south of Saline River Road and east of Cathedral Avenue.

It was the first earthquake recorded in Ellis County since April.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660140305050.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The Kansas Geological Survey reported a minor earthquake in northeast Ellis County early Wednesday morning.The 2.0-magnitude quake was recorded at 2:25 a.m. Wednesday just south of Saline River Road and east of Cathedral Avenue.It was the first earthquake recorded in Ellis County since April.

Minor earthquake recorded Wednesday in Ellis Co.

The Kansas Department of Transportation, along with the City of Hays, Kirkham Michael, WSP USA and Smoky Hill Construction, recently received the Institute of Transportation Engineers 2022 Transportation Achievement Award in the Traffic Engineering category for the North Vine Street corridor improvements project in Hays.

The transportation achievement awards recognize excellence in the advancement of transportation by entities concerned with transportation. In addition to Traffic Engineering, other award categories include Complete Streets, Transportation Systems Management and Operations, Safety and Planning.

“The North Vine corridor improvement was an elegant solution to a complex problem,” said Hays Mayor Mason Ruder. “Residents and visitors have quickly adapted to the new configuration, which is safer, provides better traffic flow and is pedestrian friendly.&nbsp; The corridor is now positioned for growth and redevelopment.”

The improvement project consisted of removing the traffic signals along the north Vine Street corridor between Mopar Drive and 32nd&nbsp;Street and replacing them with a series of roundabouts to help improve traffic flow and reduce the number and severity of traffic crashes.

Construction began in June 2020 on the $12.2 million project that combined federal, local and state funds. It was completed in November 2021.

“The North Vine Street corridor was completely re-imagined using innovative ideas and concepts to reduce congestion, improve access to local businesses and provide greater economic opportunities, as well as improve safety for the traveling public,” said Julie Lorenz, Kansas Secretary of Transportation.&nbsp;“Led by the City of Hays, this project is a great example of what can be accomplished when local, state and federal partners work toward a common goal.”

The project also has been honored with other awards including a Smoky Valley Chapter of KSPE (Salina) Outstanding Engineering Achievement and a 2021 MO/KS Chapter ACPA Paving Award in the municipal streets and intersections category.

KDOTThe Kansas Department of Transportation, along with the City of Hays, Kirkham Michael, WSP USA and Smoky Hill Construction, recently received the Institute of Transportation Engineers 2022 Transportation Achievement Award in the Traffic Engineering category for the North Vine Street corridor improvements project in Hays.The transportation achievement awards recognize excellence in the advancement of transportation by entities concerned with transportation. In addition to Traffic Engineering, other award categories include Complete Streets, Transportation Systems Management and Operations, Safety and Planning.“The North Vine corridor improvement was an elegant solution to a complex problem,” said Hays Mayor Mason Ruder. “Residents and visitors have quickly adapted to the new configuration, which is safer, provides better traffic flow and is pedestrian friendly.&nbsp; The corridor is now positioned for growth and redevelopment.”The improvement project consisted of removing the traffic signals along the north Vine Street corridor between Mopar Drive and 32nd&nbsp;Street and replacing them with a series of roundabouts to help improve traffic flow and reduce the number and severity of traffic crashes.Construction began in June 2020 on the $12.2 million project that combined federal, local and state funds. It was completed in November 2021.“The North Vine Street corridor was completely re-imagined using innovative ideas and concepts to reduce congestion, improve access to local businesses and provide greater economic opportunities, as well as improve safety for the traveling public,” said Julie Lorenz, Kansas Secretary of Transportation.&nbsp;“Led by the City of Hays, this project is a great example of what can be accomplished when local, state and federal partners work toward a common goal.”The project also has been honored with other awards including a Smoky Valley Chapter of KSPE (Salina) Outstanding Engineering Achievement and a 2021 MO/KS Chapter ACPA Paving Award in the municipal streets and intersections category.

North Vine roundabout project receives national award

By GLENN BRUNKOW Pottawatomie County farmer and rancher I am writing this on the day of the primary elections, complete with my “I Voted” sticker on the left pocket of my shirt. I am proud to say that I exercised my right to vote, and, in my mind, I made all the right choices. To my knowledge I have participated in every election since I turned 18, and I intend to exercise it every opportunity I get for the rest of my life. I don’t know if you have noticed but we are at a serious crossroads in the history of our great nation. That crossroads makes exercising the right to vote even more critical now than ever. That is especially true for those of us in agriculture. We are an ever-shrinking number, and we must take every chance we can get to make our voices heard and that is especially true when it comes to the polls. That is also why it is so critical for each of us as Farm Bureau members to get involved with Voters Organized To Elect Farm Bureau Friends, or VOTE FBF. First, let me encourage you to support it monetarily. The dollars are used to support candidates friendly to agriculture are only generated through donations from members. It doesn’t have to be much if each of us donate every year. More importantly get involved in the county process to decide which candidates to support. Like everything else in Farm Bureau, the decision of which candidates to support starts at the county level. Increasingly we are seeing candidates recognize this and start to attend county board meetings and this gives us an opportunity to have discussions with them about our views. Those recommendations along with voting records are heavily considered by the Vote FBF board when deciding which candidates to endorse. I would also hope that when you do go to the polls you will look at the list of candidates endorsed by VOTE FBF and consider supporting them. They are the candidates who have the best interest of agriculture in mind and most closely align with our policy. In the end you will make up your own mind and vote for the candidates that best represent you, but the list of endorsed candidates is a good place to start. The most important thing is to get out and vote in November. It is the best way for us to make our voices heard. It was ingrained in me early on that if you did not participate and vote, you really had no right to complain. I know I still get a feeling of pride every time I go to the polls and cast my vote. Regardless of how I feel about the slate of candidates or the issues I am voting on, I do get a great deal of satisfaction participating in the process. It isn’t perfect, but it is the best in the world. So go cast your vote and wear that sticker with pride, you earned it.

"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 I am writing this on the day of the primary elections, complete with my “I Voted” sticker on the left pocket of my shirt. I am proud to say that I exercised my right to vote, and, in my mind, I made all the right choices. To my knowledge I have participated in every election since I turned 18, and I intend to exercise it every opportunity I get for the rest of my life. I don’t know if you have noticed but we are at a serious crossroads in the history of our great nation. That crossroads makes exercising the right to vote even more critical now than ever. That is especially true for those of us in agriculture. We are an ever-shrinking number, and we must take every chance we can get to make our voices heard and that is especially true when it comes to the polls. That is also why it is so critical for each of us as Farm Bureau members to get involved with Voters Organized To Elect Farm Bureau Friends, or VOTE FBF. First, let me encourage you to support it monetarily. The dollars are used to support candidates friendly to agriculture are only generated through donations from members. It doesn’t have to be much if each of us donate every year. More importantly get involved in the county process to decide which candidates to support. Like everything else in Farm Bureau, the decision of which candidates to support starts at the county level. Increasingly we are seeing candidates recognize this and start to attend county board meetings and this gives us an opportunity to have discussions with them about our views. Those recommendations along with voting records are heavily considered by the Vote FBF board when deciding which candidates to endorse. I would also hope that when you do go to the polls you will look at the list of candidates endorsed by VOTE FBF and consider supporting them. They are the candidates who have the best interest of agriculture in mind and most closely align with our policy. In the end you will make up your own mind and vote for the candidates that best represent you, but the list of endorsed candidates is a good place to start. The most important thing is to get out and vote in November. It is the best way for us to make our voices heard. It was ingrained in me early on that if you did not participate and vote, you really had no right to complain. I know I still get a feeling of pride every time I go to the polls and cast my vote. Regardless of how I feel about the slate of candidates or the issues I am voting on, I do get a great deal of satisfaction participating in the process. It isn’t perfect, but it is the best in the world. So go cast your vote and wear that sticker with pride, you earned it."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 sticker of satisfaction

WICHITA —&nbsp;As tax and financial issues become more complex, Adams Brown continues to grow to keep up with the changes and better serve its local communities.

Rising 24 spots, the firm is now the 120th&nbsp;largest CPA firm in the United States, according to&nbsp;INSIDE Public Accounting’s <a href="https://insidepublicaccounting.com/top-firms/ipa-400/">annual ranking</a>.

This is the eighth consecutive year Adams Brown has been recognized on the list as a top 200 firm. In the past two years, the firm moved up more than 40 spots as its revenue increased as a result of organic growth and strategic acquisition.&nbsp;

“We regularly hear that businesses have either outgrown their CPA firm or feel like their firm is now too big for them as a result of consolidation happening in the accounting industry nationwide,”&nbsp;said Brian Staats, CPA, CGMA, managing partner. “Our focus remains with these&nbsp;small- and medium-sized businesses.”

Growth can sometimes be a balancing act, and Adams Brown is using the same focus on its own growth as it does with area businesses from Main Street to the middle market.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“As businesses face new obstacles like cybersecurity threats, troubles hiring qualified financial staff and establishing 401k plans to help recruit and retain talent, we’re growing to provide the services they need&nbsp;through the entire business cycle,” Staats said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1659978386924.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>SubmittedWICHITA —&nbsp;As tax and financial issues become more complex, Adams Brown continues to grow to keep up with the changes and better serve its local communities.Rising 24 spots, the firm is now the 120th&nbsp;largest CPA firm in the United States, according to&nbsp;INSIDE Public Accounting’s <a href="https://insidepublicaccounting.com/top-firms/ipa-400/">annual ranking</a>.This is the eighth consecutive year Adams Brown has been recognized on the list as a top 200 firm. In the past two years, the firm moved up more than 40 spots as its revenue increased as a result of organic growth and strategic acquisition.&nbsp;“We regularly hear that businesses have either outgrown their CPA firm or feel like their firm is now too big for them as a result of consolidation happening in the accounting industry nationwide,”&nbsp;said Brian Staats, CPA, CGMA, managing partner. “Our focus remains with these&nbsp;small- and medium-sized businesses.”Growth can sometimes be a balancing act, and Adams Brown is using the same focus on its own growth as it does with area businesses from Main Street to the middle market.&nbsp;&nbsp;“As businesses face new obstacles like cybersecurity threats, troubles hiring qualified financial staff and establishing 401k plans to help recruit and retain talent, we’re growing to provide the services they need&nbsp;through the entire business cycle,” Staats said.

Adams Brown recognized as 120th largest firm in US

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660090312845.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

Our garden each year consists of six tomato plants, and some years, that’s&nbsp;all. Each winter, using a tried-and-true family recipe, we make tomato soup. So, all our tomatoes, minus a few for BLT’s are cut-up and frozen in one-gallon freezer bags for&nbsp;this winter’s soup. I usually plant my tomatoes early,&nbsp;mid-March to early April, using “Walls-of-Water,”&nbsp;plastic gadgets filled with water that provide each plant with its own little greenhouse. I’ve learned that here in Kansas, planting that early gets them setting fruit and producing tomatoes before the obnoxious hot weather.&nbsp;I plant “indeterminate” tomato plants which will live and continue to produce fruit until frost, allowing for a nice fall harvest also.

As most of you have already noticed, this year has not been a “tomato year” as a Master Gardener friend of mine puts&nbsp;it. My tomatoes were planted later than usual because I had knee surgery, so&nbsp;I have not even put any into the freezer yet. Shirley Buller, my Master Gardener friend from Montezuma&nbsp;and author of the weekly gardening column called “Hoe and Tell,”&nbsp;Kansas explains that tomatoes will not set fruit when the&nbsp;temperature stays above 75 degrees. 

So, since the weather got so hot so early, and the fact that the temperatures barely&nbsp;get as low as&nbsp;the mid 70s at night, combined with the horribly hot days, tomato plants are just not yielding fruit. Her advise is to keep the plants well-watered and well-fertilized until the weather begins to cool, then prepare for a nice fall harvest of tasty Kansas tomatoes.&nbsp;Adding too much nitrogen when fertilizing often results in massive plants but few tomatoes. But this year, Shirley says that extra watering can result in leaching away of nitrogen reserves, so adding a&nbsp;LITTLE&nbsp;nitrogen now may be beneficial.

Each year here in Inman, we see one or two hummingbirds in the spring or in the fall, then we’ll hustle to get a feeder up but never see them again.&nbsp;Late last Augustthat&nbsp;scenario repeated itself, we put up a couple feeders, and&nbsp;four&nbsp;of the little buggers hung-out here with us&nbsp;until they left to go south. In researching hummingbird “gurus” here in KS, I was told to contact Chuck Otte, Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent for Geary County.&nbsp;He says that hummingbirds here in KS “leisurely” begin meandering south in late July; the adult males first, followed by the adult females then this-years young. Otte also says winds and weather fronts&nbsp;&amp; patterns help determine when they leave for their winter digs in southern Mexico or northern Central America. I just assumed they would all go together in one large group, especially so the youngsters could safely follow, but he says that’s not the case. &nbsp;

When talking hummingbirds, feeding them always enters the discussion, and Otte had lots of advice. He advises feeding hummingbirds straight sugar water, mixed one-part sugar to four parts water; NO red food color, NO honey, NO sugar substitutes or other additives, just straight sugar water. Don’t mix the syrup stronger than that,&nbsp;as hummingbirds get most of their water from the syrup they drink. They are attracted to the color red, so it may be helpful if the feeder is red, but avoid yellow on the feeder as yellow attracts bees and wasps. Put the feedersup in late July to begin attracting fall travelers.&nbsp;

Our feeders have been up a week, but with no hummingbirds yet. I spoke with Chuck yesterday and he said he has lots already at his home near Junction City, so his&nbsp;advice&nbsp;for all of us&nbsp;“fall hummingbird hopefuls” is to keep the faith, so we’re looking for fall hummingbirds with our fall tomatoes.&nbsp;Continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors.&nbsp;

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574696211722.png" alt="Steve&nbsp;Gilliland" />
 <figcaption>Steve&nbsp;Gilliland</figcaption>
 </figure>Our garden each year consists of six tomato plants, and some years, that’s&nbsp;all. Each winter, using a tried-and-true family recipe, we make tomato soup. So, all our tomatoes, minus a few for BLT’s are cut-up and frozen in one-gallon freezer bags for&nbsp;this winter’s soup. I usually plant my tomatoes early,&nbsp;mid-March to early April, using “Walls-of-Water,”&nbsp;plastic gadgets filled with water that provide each plant with its own little greenhouse. I’ve learned that here in Kansas, planting that early gets them setting fruit and producing tomatoes before the obnoxious hot weather.&nbsp;I plant “indeterminate” tomato plants which will live and continue to produce fruit until frost, allowing for a nice fall harvest also.As most of you have already noticed, this year has not been a “tomato year” as a Master Gardener friend of mine puts&nbsp;it. My tomatoes were planted later than usual because I had knee surgery, so&nbsp;I have not even put any into the freezer yet. Shirley Buller, my Master Gardener friend from Montezuma&nbsp;and author of the weekly gardening column called “Hoe and Tell,”&nbsp;Kansas explains that tomatoes will not set fruit when the&nbsp;temperature stays above 75 degrees. So, since the weather got so hot so early, and the fact that the temperatures barely&nbsp;get as low as&nbsp;the mid 70s at night, combined with the horribly hot days, tomato plants are just not yielding fruit. Her advise is to keep the plants well-watered and well-fertilized until the weather begins to cool, then prepare for a nice fall harvest of tasty Kansas tomatoes.&nbsp;Adding too much nitrogen when fertilizing often results in massive plants but few tomatoes. But this year, Shirley says that extra watering can result in leaching away of nitrogen reserves, so adding a&nbsp;LITTLE&nbsp;nitrogen now may be beneficial.---------Each year here in Inman, we see one or two hummingbirds in the spring or in the fall, then we’ll hustle to get a feeder up but never see them again.&nbsp;Late last Augustthat&nbsp;scenario repeated itself, we put up a couple feeders, and&nbsp;four&nbsp;of the little buggers hung-out here with us&nbsp;until they left to go south. In researching hummingbird “gurus” here in KS, I was told to contact Chuck Otte, Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent for Geary County.&nbsp;He says that hummingbirds here in KS “leisurely” begin meandering south in late July; the adult males first, followed by the adult females then this-years young. Otte also says winds and weather fronts&nbsp;&amp; patterns help determine when they leave for their winter digs in southern Mexico or northern Central America. I just assumed they would all go together in one large group, especially so the youngsters could safely follow, but he says that’s not the case. &nbsp;When talking hummingbirds, feeding them always enters the discussion, and Otte had lots of advice. He advises feeding hummingbirds straight sugar water, mixed one-part sugar to four parts water; NO red food color, NO honey, NO sugar substitutes or other additives, just straight sugar water. Don’t mix the syrup stronger than that,&nbsp;as hummingbirds get most of their water from the syrup they drink. They are attracted to the color red, so it may be helpful if the feeder is red, but avoid yellow on the feeder as yellow attracts bees and wasps. Put the feedersup in late July to begin attracting fall travelers.&nbsp;Our feeders have been up a week, but with no hummingbirds yet. I spoke with Chuck yesterday and he said he has lots already at his home near Junction City, so his&nbsp;advice&nbsp;for all of us&nbsp;“fall hummingbird hopefuls” is to keep the faith, so we’re looking for fall hummingbirds with our fall tomatoes.&nbsp;Continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors.&nbsp;Steve Gilliland, Inman, can be contacted by email at stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.

Exploring Kansas Outdoors: Tomatoes (or lack thereof) and fall hummingbirds 

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<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1659367796358.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1659367779215.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://dsnwk.e3applicants.com/careers">Click HERE to apply.</a>

Ellis Co. Health Department investigates monkeypox cases

PHILLIPSBURG — Gov. Laura Kelly on Tuesday joined Amber Wave, a leader in sustainable agriculture, food ingredients, and low-carbon fuels, to cut the ribbon on a state-of-the-art wheat protein ingredients facility in Phillipsburg that will be the largest wheat protein producer in North America within two years. The company is investing more than $250 million into the facility and is creating more than 60 new jobs as it ramps up to full capacity.

The ribbon-cutting comes during the Governor's Prosperity on the Plains tour promoting economic development in Kansas.

“Kansas is known for its high-quality wheat, and this cutting-edge facility will strengthen the competitive edge we have in the market,” Kelly said. “Now, Kansas wheat farming families will have a massive direct buyer close to home and major food, baking, and pet food companies are able to have their wheat needs met here in Phillipsburg. This investment shows why our constant efforts to bring businesses to Kansas matter: Every local business owner and community member benefits.”

The plant’s location puts it in the heart of the country with rail access to both coasts and core Midwest customers for the diverse variety of products being made in Phillipsburg. All the wheat Amber Wave needs is grown within 100 miles of the plant.

“This is a big win not just for Phillipsburg and western Kansas but the entire state,”&nbsp;Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said.“Amber Wave's facility underscores Governor Kelly’s continued commitment to increasing prosperity in all areas of the Kansas.”

In addition to building a wheat mill and vital wheat gluten plant, the company retrofitted the existing Prairie Horizon Agri-Energy corn-based ethanol plant to produce ethanol from wheat starch. The plant will use the latest technology in wheat milling and protein extraction while creating a significantly lower carbon footprint than traditional corn ethanol plants to produce biofuels.

“Recognizing the rising demand for high-protein ingredients and innovative feed products, coupled with renewable fuels that reduce our carbon footprint, this investment fits with what we have successfully done many times in Summit’s history,”&nbsp;said Bruce Rastetter, CEO of Summit Agricultural Group, Amber Wave’s parent organization.&nbsp;“We evaluated several sites in various wheat-growing areas and Prairie Horizon is ideally located. The wheat protein we will produce is a healthy ingredient used widely within baked goods, pet food and growing aquaculture feed markets.

“Today, wheat protein demand in the U.S. is heavily reliant on imports,”&nbsp;Rastetter said, “and with consumers demanding more transparency about the origins of the food they eat, we see a real opportunity.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660070954340.png" alt="Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>Office of the GovernorPHILLIPSBURG — Gov. Laura Kelly on Tuesday joined Amber Wave, a leader in sustainable agriculture, food ingredients, and low-carbon fuels, to cut the ribbon on a state-of-the-art wheat protein ingredients facility in Phillipsburg that will be the largest wheat protein producer in North America within two years. The company is investing more than $250 million into the facility and is creating more than 60 new jobs as it ramps up to full capacity.The ribbon-cutting comes during the Governor's Prosperity on the Plains tour promoting economic development in Kansas.“Kansas is known for its high-quality wheat, and this cutting-edge facility will strengthen the competitive edge we have in the market,” Kelly said. “Now, Kansas wheat farming families will have a massive direct buyer close to home and major food, baking, and pet food companies are able to have their wheat needs met here in Phillipsburg. This investment shows why our constant efforts to bring businesses to Kansas matter: Every local business owner and community member benefits.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660071156921.png" alt="Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>The plant’s location puts it in the heart of the country with rail access to both coasts and core Midwest customers for the diverse variety of products being made in Phillipsburg. All the wheat Amber Wave needs is grown within 100 miles of the plant.“This is a big win not just for Phillipsburg and western Kansas but the entire state,”&nbsp;Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said.“Amber Wave's facility underscores Governor Kelly’s continued commitment to increasing prosperity in all areas of the Kansas.”In addition to building a wheat mill and vital wheat gluten plant, the company retrofitted the existing Prairie Horizon Agri-Energy corn-based ethanol plant to produce ethanol from wheat starch. The plant will use the latest technology in wheat milling and protein extraction while creating a significantly lower carbon footprint than traditional corn ethanol plants to produce biofuels.“Recognizing the rising demand for high-protein ingredients and innovative feed products, coupled with renewable fuels that reduce our carbon footprint, this investment fits with what we have successfully done many times in Summit’s history,”&nbsp;said Bruce Rastetter, CEO of Summit Agricultural Group, Amber Wave’s parent organization.&nbsp;“We evaluated several sites in various wheat-growing areas and Prairie Horizon is ideally located. The wheat protein we will produce is a healthy ingredient used widely within baked goods, pet food and growing aquaculture feed markets.“Today, wheat protein demand in the U.S. is heavily reliant on imports,”&nbsp;Rastetter said, “and with consumers demanding more transparency about the origins of the food they eat, we see a real opportunity.”

Officials cut ribbon at Phillipsburg wheat protein plant

Vyve Broadband on Monday warned its customers of a phishing scam circulating recently.

"The spam email currently circulating appears to be sent from Eaglecom and presents as a request to update your payment information," the company said in an email. "This is a phishing attempt. Please keep in mind that we wouldn't request this information through email. If you receive such a message, please mark it as spam and delete it."

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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629909201625.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Vyve Broadband on Monday warned its customers of a phishing scam circulating recently."The spam email currently circulating appears to be sent from Eaglecom and presents as a request to update your payment information," the company said in an email. "This is a phishing attempt. Please keep in mind that we wouldn't request this information through email. If you receive such a message, please mark it as spam and delete it."

Vyve warns customers of phishing scam

The Barton County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s assistance in solving a theft. 

On Aug. 4, approximately 100 joints of 2 and 3/8 tubing was stolen from a lease near Hitschman in rural Barton County. The loss is estimated to be roughly $10,000.

If you have information about this person or any other crime, please call Crime Stoppers at 620-792-1300 or 888-305-1300.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660056593460.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The Barton County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s assistance in solving a theft. On Aug. 4, approximately 100 joints of 2 and 3/8 tubing was stolen from a lease near Hitschman in rural Barton County. The loss is estimated to be roughly $10,000.If you have information about this person or any other crime, please call Crime Stoppers at 620-792-1300 or 888-305-1300.

Barton Co. law enforcement seeking help in stolen oilfield tubing

By BECKY KISER Hays Post

After more than an hour-long discussion Thursday, Hays city commissioners are still debating some of the 2023 funding requests from outside agencies.

Mayor Mason Ruder, who was in Colorado, joined the meeting via Zoom. The work session was conducted by Vice-Mayor Michael Berges.

The draft 2023 budget leaves the outside agency requests at the 2022 levels.

Asking for more money next year are the Ellis County Historical Society, Downtown Hays Development Corporation, Wild West Festival and CARE Council.

 The Hays Chamber is making a first-time request of $45,000.

"We expect it to be a one-time request," Hays Chamber President/CEO Sarah Wasinger told the commission last week, "to help pay our staff a more equitable pay to be able to retain them. With four full-time staff on hand, it does give me the ability to spend more time off-campus to be able to work on issues such as child care and things of that nature."

The chamber is leading a community-wide taskforce to study the needs and solutions for more child care in Ellis County.

Wasinger noted several of the chamber's regular fundraisers had to be canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic and other events have had lower attendance. 

"We've not been able to earn as much income from those events as we have in the past," she said.

"This request is to give us a year to re-tweak what we're doing event-wise to try to come up with the different fundraisers. We've already done some exploration on what other chambers are doing and will continue to do so in order to earn this income for ourselves versus coming to the city year after year."

Wasinger said the chamber is instituting a 10 percent increase in membership costs for 2023, and she&nbsp;anticipates about 25 members will drop out as a result.

"We had a dues increase also this year and that's about what we saw with that drop increase," she said.

In answer to a question from Commissioner Sandy Jacobs, Wasinger said the chamber has not considered an additional assessment for members.

"We know there is a fine line for affordability for membership for smaller businesses in making the investment for the benefits that they get, and they still have to finance other marketing efforts."

Expenses for the chamber's 2022 budget have been scaled back to what they were in 2006, Wasinger said. "We've trimmed quite a bit as an organization on what we're spending."

This spring the Hays Chamber joined nearly 40 other chambers of commerce across Kansas in the <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/8226877d-9155-4e0d-830b-ae244e222d46">Chamber Blue of Kansas Association Health Care Plan</a>.

The employee health insurance plan will be available for Hays Chamber members Jan. 1.

"We've already had some new members join this year based on the health insurance offering," Wasinger reported. "If we can get this off the ground, we believe that would be a huge win for us in our business community."

The commission praised Wasinger's leadership and the many community issues and projects the chamber has taken on during her tenure. But they were reluctant to fund the request as presented, pointing out that many other nonprofit groups and businesses have suffered a financial downturn because of COVID and the current inflationary economy.

"This is a tough one. It's definitely the toughest one I'm having difficulty with," said Mason. "It's not that they don't deserve it. It's just that I want to make sure that we are continuing to operate our finances as we should for the rest of the taxpayer base."

Jacobs favors any city potential funding going to a specific project. "Operations (funding) is a difficult thing for me," Jacobs said.

Commissioners also could not make a decision on the DHDC request of $60,000, up from $54,000 in 2022.&nbsp;<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/7c4e3889-88b0-406c-a465-066d221e2e43">Sara Bloom resigned</a> at the end of May after serving seven years as DHDC executive director to join the Kansas Department of Commerce. The commission wondered what the new direction is for DHDC.

A large $8,000 funding increase request came from the historical society, which recently hired a <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/9db863ca-00f4-4ff7-8415-b86fbecf070e">new permanent director</a>.&nbsp;

Jacobs favored approval of the $21,116 funding ask. "<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/4b82c3c2-8654-43f3-b842-f85a8deace1b">They're reaching stability</a>. I'm not sure about sustainability."

However, Commissioner Reese Barrick, executive director of the Sternberg Museum of Natural History, feels the Ellis County Historical Society and its museum need to change more dramatically.&nbsp; He described the role of the city-owned Smoky Hill Museum in Salina.

"[ECHS] needs a new mission and a new name. It needs an aspirational plan or there's no point to it.

"We should make the choice to see it as an investment, to be impactful with intention, " Barrick said. "It should be another draw to downtown."&nbsp;

Barrick said he would be "OK with $40,000 in city funding and intentional conversations with Ellis County and Fort Hays State University" about potential partnerships. "It has huge potential to have a bigger economic impact on our economy."

In all, the total request in 2023 city funding from outside agencies is about $72,000 more than what was provided in 2022.

The Aug. 18 work session will include discussion of the budget draft one final time.

The commission also heard from Jesse Rohr, public works director, about a request to annex city-owned property at 1732 W. 41st where a planned third fire station would be built. The land, which is the site of a city water well, would have to be rezoned from agriculture to public and institutional district.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1657359548888.jpeg" alt="The public hearing for the Hays 2023 budget will be held Sept. 8. (Photo by Becky Kiser/Hays Post)" />
 <figcaption>The public hearing for the Hays 2023 budget will be held Sept. 8. (Photo by Becky Kiser/Hays Post)</figcaption>
 </figure>By BECKY KISER Hays PostAfter more than an hour-long discussion Thursday, Hays city commissioners are still debating some of the 2023 funding requests from outside agencies.Mayor Mason Ruder, who was in Colorado, joined the meeting via Zoom. The work session was conducted by Vice-Mayor Michael Berges.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1659916553389.jpeg" alt="Mayor Mason Ruder participates via Zoom in the Aug. 4 Hays city commission work session which was conducted by Vice-mayor Michael Berges (right). (Photo by Becky Kiser/Hays Post)" />
 <figcaption>Mayor Mason Ruder participates via Zoom in the Aug. 4 Hays city commission work session which was conducted by Vice-mayor Michael Berges (right). (Photo by Becky Kiser/Hays Post)</figcaption>
 </figure>The draft 2023 budget leaves the outside agency requests at the 2022 levels.Asking for more money next year are the Ellis County Historical Society, Downtown Hays Development Corporation, Wild West Festival and CARE Council. The Hays Chamber is making a first-time request of $45,000."We expect it to be a one-time request," Hays Chamber President/CEO Sarah Wasinger told the commission last week, "to help pay our staff a more equitable pay to be able to retain them. With four full-time staff on hand, it does give me the ability to spend more time off-campus to be able to work on issues such as child care and things of that nature."The chamber is leading a community-wide taskforce to study the needs and solutions for more child care in Ellis County.Wasinger noted several of the chamber's regular fundraisers had to be canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic and other events have had lower attendance. "We've not been able to earn as much income from those events as we have in the past," she said."This request is to give us a year to re-tweak what we're doing event-wise to try to come up with the different fundraisers. We've already done some exploration on what other chambers are doing and will continue to do so in order to earn this income for ourselves versus coming to the city year after year."Wasinger said the chamber is instituting a 10 percent increase in membership costs for 2023, and she&nbsp;anticipates about 25 members will drop out as a result."We had a dues increase also this year and that's about what we saw with that drop increase," she said.<div><div itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/VideoObject"><meta itemprop="uploadDate" content="Sun Aug 07 2022 22:29:15 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time)"/><meta itemprop="name" content="Chamber Funding Debate 2"/><meta itemprop="duration" content="P0Y0M0DT0H2M4S" /><meta itemprop="thumbnailUrl" content="https://content.jwplatform.com/thumbs/q6L8OPQc-1920.jpg"/><meta itemprop="contentUrl" content="https://content.jwplatform.com/videos/q6L8OPQc-AMBVbJQD.mp4"/><div style="position:relative; overflow:hidden; padding-bottom:56.25%"><iframe src="https://cdn.jwplayer.com/players/q6L8OPQc-P46diVCW.html" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" title="Chamber Funding Debate 2" style="position:absolute;" allowfullscreen></iframe></div></div></div>In answer to a question from Commissioner Sandy Jacobs, Wasinger said the chamber has not considered an additional assessment for members."We know there is a fine line for affordability for membership for smaller businesses in making the investment for the benefits that they get, and they still have to finance other marketing efforts."Expenses for the chamber's 2022 budget have been scaled back to what they were in 2006, Wasinger said. "We've trimmed quite a bit as an organization on what we're spending."This spring the Hays Chamber joined nearly 40 other chambers of commerce across Kansas in the <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/8226877d-9155-4e0d-830b-ae244e222d46">Chamber Blue of Kansas Association Health Care Plan</a>.The employee health insurance plan will be available for Hays Chamber members Jan. 1."We've already had some new members join this year based on the health insurance offering," Wasinger reported. "If we can get this off the ground, we believe that would be a huge win for us in our business community."The commission praised Wasinger's leadership and the many community issues and projects the chamber has taken on during her tenure. But they were reluctant to fund the request as presented, pointing out that many other nonprofit groups and businesses have suffered a financial downturn because of COVID and the current inflationary economy."This is a tough one. It's definitely the toughest one I'm having difficulty with," said Mason. "It's not that they don't deserve it. It's just that I want to make sure that we are continuing to operate our finances as we should for the rest of the taxpayer base."Jacobs favors any city potential funding going to a specific project. "Operations (funding) is a difficult thing for me," Jacobs said.Commissioners also could not make a decision on the DHDC request of $60,000, up from $54,000 in 2022.&nbsp;<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/7c4e3889-88b0-406c-a465-066d221e2e43">Sara Bloom resigned</a> at the end of May after serving seven years as DHDC executive director to join the Kansas Department of Commerce. The commission wondered what the new direction is for DHDC.A large $8,000 funding increase request came from the historical society, which recently hired a <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/9db863ca-00f4-4ff7-8415-b86fbecf070e">new permanent director</a>.&nbsp;Jacobs favored approval of the $21,116 funding ask. "<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/4b82c3c2-8654-43f3-b842-f85a8deace1b">They're reaching stability</a>. I'm not sure about sustainability."However, Commissioner Reese Barrick, executive director of the Sternberg Museum of Natural History, feels the Ellis County Historical Society and its museum need to change more dramatically.&nbsp; He described the role of the city-owned Smoky Hill Museum in Salina."[ECHS] needs a new mission and a new name. It needs an aspirational plan or there's no point to it."We should make the choice to see it as an investment, to be impactful with intention, " Barrick said. "It should be another draw to downtown."&nbsp;Barrick said he would be "OK with $40,000 in city funding and intentional conversations with Ellis County and Fort Hays State University" about potential partnerships. "It has huge potential to have a bigger economic impact on our economy."In all, the total request in 2023 city funding from outside agencies is about $72,000 more than what was provided in 2022.The Aug. 18 work session will include discussion of the budget draft one final time.The commission also heard from Jesse Rohr, public works director, about a request to annex city-owned property at 1732 W. 41st where a planned third fire station would be built. The land, which is the site of a city water well, would have to be rezoned from agriculture to public and institutional district.

🎥 Hays commission undecided on '23 agency funding requests

Six Fort Hays State University alumni will be honored on Friday, Oct. 7 at the Alumni and Friends Awards Banquet during Homecoming. For details on how you can help celebrate these award winners during FHSU’s Homecoming, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=AzU7JuM9gNoo13mIpsUPJCxLW743nRNf7b0z4mWX9q-2BfpwKCkDXVQQiuEVjJxMLHP1im_r-2BDMsuWuYVmb7-2F1Mu1QL1I-2FJ8-2BHR91nNNNGTTc38Ah0CWayiZL-2BkhdmA3sx0XGnG-2FN1jk6rVQRO9vN7U5rFC-2BcXi909IOPAdkr3SvXFdyn3Ag1h6-2F-2B6atf0vMUKxRgZ-2BWHrLSPuo74uwQn53ugaqc8KSL-2Bd-2FnFDKHZ9tvNMrvgDQsmildYd-2F9LnFql6jAPyhq9F6ddWGBh-2FDzLQay0uf1-2BjTAwr0ywnIRejS3xyeggPftyXbv98cMz-2FhFUEN5QTuH9T8ZUixS2jMiZYIJkMNvfap4yspAn5P-2Bqso3eR-2FMv8dFQagRyOlbba6t-2FugPAi0bo3Im22MV4M1lDKu4BdNNzBHI1-2F0tJf9-2FSh-2FC3gYfL71eOEa4oQSk1afZbGevUUz">www.FHSUHomecoming.com</a>.

Four Alumni Achievement Award recipients will be recognized: John L. Allen ’89, Rome, Italy; Dr. Judith Billings ’65, Kearney, Nebraska; Mike McCarthy ’89, Frisco, Texas.; and &nbsp;Donald J. Richardson ’67, Phoenix, Arizona.

The Alumni Achievement Award, the association’s highest recognition, was established in 1959 to recognize graduates of the university for outstanding achievement based on meritorious service to society or the community. The award is based upon career and personal achievements, service involving community betterment and philanthropic activities, and educational achievements.

Young Alumni Award recipients include Tory Marie (Arnberger) Blew ’16, Great Bend, and Brandon Penny ’13, New York.&nbsp;

The Young Alumni Award was designed to recognize graduates early in their careers who have had outstanding achievements and recent accomplishments. The award is based on professional and educational achievements, community activities, honors and awards received, and other noteworthy items of merit since graduation. Candidates must hold a bachelor’s degree from FHSU within 15 years of the current award year and be under the age of 40 as of Jan. 1, the year the awards are presented.

Selecting the homecoming awardees is a challenging task, as Fort Hays State has so many outstanding graduates and friends who deserve to be recognized. This year’s recipients stood out as creative, inspiring, and hardworking leaders in their respective communities, said Carolyn Tatro, alumni engagement strategist for the FHSU Alumni Association. “We are incredibly proud to honor their successes and to share their stories this year. We hope that the public will take the opportunity to get to know these great Tigers as we celebrate them during Homecoming 2022.”

From the western plains of Kansas to the streets of Rome, John L. Allen Jr, a 1989 FHSU alumnus and Hays native, has seen the evolution of his educational career right up to the steps of the Vatican.&nbsp;

Allen, a 1983 Thomas More Prep-Marian graduate, came to Fort Hays State University to study philosophy. Before he finished his undergraduate degree, Allen’s interest in politics drew him to Washington, D.C., for three years. Following his graduation from FHSU, he went on to study at the University of Kansas, where he graduated in 1992 with a master’s degree in religious studies.&nbsp;

His passion for journalism led him to teach journalism at Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, California, where he also supervised the student-run newspaper, The Knight. His journalism skills became nationally known following the death of Pope John Paul II, where his commentary appeared frequently on cable-news conglomerate CNN.&nbsp;

He later became the senior Vatican analyst for CNN and lectured regularly on Vatican Issues. Allen also wrote numerous Vatican-centered pieces for The Boston Globe as the publication’s associate editor. Allen used these professional experiences and his education to transition Crux, a website that was started for The Boston Globe, into a fully independent website that offers independent coverage of the Vatican and the Catholic Church.

Allen possesses the intellectual property of the Crux website. He and his wife, Elise, live in Rome and report objective news on the Vatican for Crux. Allen appears weekly in the site’s podcast-like video series, “Last Week in the Church with John Allen Jr.” where he reports on the latest news in the Vatican City.&nbsp;

Late liberal commentator Fr. Andrew Greeley called Allen’s writing “indispensable,” while the late Fr. Richard John Neuhaus, a conservative, called Allen’s reporting “possibly the best source of information on the Vatican published in the United States.” Kenneth Woodward of&nbsp;Newsweek&nbsp;described Allen as “the journalist other reporters–not just a few cardinals–look to for the inside story on how all the pope’s men direct the world’s largest church.”&nbsp;

Allen’s work has appeared in other publications, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, NPR, and more. He has authored eleven books about Vatican-related topics, from the Pope to the future of the Catholic Church. Some of his most popular include his works about Pope Benedict XVI and, most recently, his book “The Francis Miracle: Inside the Transformation of the Pope and the Church,” which has received positive acclaim.

Allen holds honorary doctorates from five institutions. He continues to write, edit, and produce for Crux. Allen wishes to dedicate this award to his mother, Laura Ileene Allen, who died in 1999 after being a faculty member in the Department of Nursing at Fort Hays State in the 1970s, 80s, and 90s. Allen says his mother, “Loved FHSU deeply, and the whole Allen family is grateful for the way the university took care of her in return.”

Judith “Judy” (Sims) Billings ’65

Few people recognize their calling in life at age six. One exception, however, is FHSU 1965 alumna Judith “Judy” (Sims) Billings. Throughout her life, Billings followed her passion for nursing to educate and serve her community.

Even at a young age, Billings understood her purpose in life: to serve others through nursing. Billings first put her dreams into action as an aid in the Smith County Memorial Hospital before attending Fort Hays State to study nursing. Following her graduation in 1965, Billings moved to Kearney, Nebraska, where she worked as a nurse at Good Samaritan Hospital. It was here she began considering a career in education.

Billings began educating future nurses in 1968 at St. Francis School of Nursing in Grand Island, Neb. After completing her master’s and doctorate degrees at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, she taught at South Dakota State University in Brookings, South Dakota.&nbsp;

In 1976, Billings continued her professional career at Kearney State College (aka University of Nebraska Kearney), where she served as an instructor and department chair. During that time, she developed and managed the first bachelor’s degree program west of Lincoln, Nebraska. By the time Billings retired from 40 years in nursing and nursing education in 2005, she saw the graduation of more than 1,000 students from the Kearney program.

Dr. Clark, who worked alongside Billings at Kearney State College said, “Because of her vision of what nursing service can be, the type of curriculum she developed, and the people she recruited, we’ve produced a tremendous cadre of nurses. The driving force for meeting that goal certainly was Judy Billings.”

Billings’ work has also been recognized by a myriad of honors and awards, including the Nebraska Nurses Association Outstanding Achievement in Nursing Award, Kearney State College’s Council of Deans Distinguished Service Award, Nebraska Nurse’s Association Outstanding Nurse Educator Award, the Freedom Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service, and more. She was also invited to Washington, D.C., to participate in a think tank about the future of patient/family council care in communities.

After her retirement in 2005 from the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Nursing Kearney, Billings has remained active in community service projects, serves on several guilds and church committees, and regularly volunteers in numerous positions for CHI Good Samaritan Hospital. In her free time, Billings enjoys reading, traveling, sewing, and quilting.

Billings lives in Kearney and has five children.&nbsp;

Not every day does Fort Hays State University celebrate an alumnus who has successfully coached National Football League teams like the Green Bay Packers, the San Francisco 49ers, the Kansas City Chiefs, the New Orleans Saints, and the Dallas Cowboys during their tenure. 1989 alumnus, Mike McCarthy, has tied his life experience of becoming a head football coach in the NFL with his education at Fort Hays state.

Born in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, with a father who worked in public safety and a mother who worked for the state, McCarthy and his four siblings grew up working to make their community stronger. Whether it was in athletics, politics, or fundraising, the entire family strove to give back.

After graduating from Bishop Boyle High School in Homestead, Pennsylvania, McCarthy pursued his undergraduate degree and played as a tight end at Baker University in Baldwin City. By the end of his time at Baker, McCarthy had earned a degree in business administration, was recognized as a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Division II national runner-up, and was senior captain of his team.&nbsp;

McCarthy then moved on to FHSU and joined John Vincent in coaching the Tigers for the 1987 and 1988 seasons as a graduate coaching assistant. McCarthy worked towards a master’s degree in sports administration and spent his time coaching linebackers. He graduated from FHSU in 1989 and further pursued his education at the University of Pittsburgh, where he worked as a graduate assistant for three seasons before coaching wide receivers for the 1992 season.&nbsp;

McCarthy joined the Chiefs in 1993 as a quality control assistant by head coach Marty Schottenheimer. During the 1993 and 1994 seasons, McCarthy worked with Hall of Famer Joe Montana. He stayed with the Chiefs until 1999 when he became the Green Bay Packer quarterback coach, where he coached another Hall of Famer, Brett Favre.

From 2000-04, McCarthy worked for the New Orleans Saints. In his first season as offensive coordinator, McCarthy was named NFC Assistant Coach of the Year by USA Today. He then spent 2005 with the San Francisco 49ers as offensive coordinator before returning to Green Bay as Head Coach.

McCarthy served for more than twelve years as Packers head coach, one of its most successful stretches in franchise history. Along with future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers, the Packers won the Super Bowl in 2011. McCarthy joined Vince Lombardi and Mike Holmgren as the only coaches to guide the Packers to a Super Bowl win.&nbsp;

In 2020, McCarthy was named head coach of the Dallas Cowboys.

McCarthy and his wife, Jessica, have five children. Together, they created the McCarthy Family Foundation. The Foundation’s outreach supported the American Family Children’s Hospital in Madison, Wisconsin, the Seven Loaves Project in Rwanda, and donated $100,000, which was matched by the Green Bay Packers, to the Green Bay Police Foundation. This funding supported outreach programs intended to build community relations and provided bias prevention training for the officers.&nbsp;

Donald Richardson ’67, ’67, ’71

Donald Richardson, an FHSU 1967 and 1971 alumnus, has shared his love of the written language with his students for more than fifty years as a professor at Phoenix College in Arizona.&nbsp;

Richardson, a LaCrosse native, has cultivated an enduring relationship with learning as far back as his high school days. Richardson’s high school instructor, Ray Newton, praised his academic success saying, “I doubt that any other FHSU graduate has such an extensive publication record of both scholarly-academic publications as well as novels.”&nbsp;

Richardson received dual Bachelor of Arts degrees in English and Communication in 1967 and subsequently earned his Master of Arts degree in English in 1971 at Fort Hays State University. This set the foundation to pursue a Ph.D. at Arizona State University in Phoenix, Arizona, where he would ultimately take up a professorship at Phoenix College.

In addition to his lifelong continued education, Richardson is a prolific writer with more than &nbsp;39 completed Shakespeare Editions, among other publications. He has been inducted into the Phoenix College Hall of Fame, has received the Phoenix Chapter President’s Award a handful of times, and has been nominated several times for the Phoenix College Outstanding Teacher of the Year.

Though he’s an Arizona transplant, Richardson has remained a proud Fort Hays State Tiger, a fact he’s made known among his thousands of students and acquaintances.&nbsp;

As a nimble 79-year-old man, Richardson shows no signs of retirement. He continues to write, publish, and educate future generations of students while working on many community betterment projects. In his free time, Richardson sings in both choirs and barbershop quartets, volunteers for Duet and the United Methodist Church Outreach Mission Program, and regularly donates blood.&nbsp;

Richardson lives in Phoenix and has four children.&nbsp;

Tory Marie (Arnberger) Blew, a Great Bend native, exemplifies how a degree from Fort Hays State University can shape one’s life. During her time at FHSU, Blew was a member of numerous on-campus organizations such as Delta Zeta and the Student Government Association. She was a VIP ambassador for the Office of the President and served as an orientation leader for over two years.&nbsp;

Blew also served as an intern for the Kansas Department for Children and Families in Topeka, where she performed various tasks to assist the Governor’s Internship Program and attended child support dockets to learn the legal aspects of the agency. Additionally, Blew is a graduate of the 2018 class of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Public Excellence series and graduated from Kansas Emerging Leaders in 2021.

Her involvement on the Fort Hays State campus evolved into an interest in local politics. At age 23 and in her senior year of college, Blew ran for a seat in the 112th&nbsp;district in the Kansas House of Representatives and won.&nbsp;

Since, Blew received her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Education, became a teacher, and is a DECA (formerly, Distributive Education Clubs of America) advisor in a rural school district. She was the youngest Kansas legislator from 2017-20. For the 2021-22 legislative session, Blew was assigned to the house federal and state affairs committee, where she served as vice-chair. She also served on the general government budget and health and human services committees.&nbsp;

In 2022, Blew sponsored 10 bills and was elected as house majority whip. Blew recently filed for re-election and is running unchallenged in her district. Her current term ends Jan. 8, 2023. When Blew filed for re-election in District 112, she said, “Before going away for college, I always knew I’d return to my hometown. I love this community and cherish the relationships I have with my constituents – and I will continue to fight for issues important to our district throughout my next term.”&nbsp;

She remains committed to being a vocal advocate for second amendment gun rights, mental health, and limited government.&nbsp;

Blew maintains a close relationship with her “legislative mom,” 105th&nbsp;district representative Brenda Landwehr. Landwehr describes Blew as “a bright spot. Always upbeat. She works hard, and she’s fun.”&nbsp;

“She always looks for solutions. She’s not afraid to ask questions, and she’s always willing to learn,” Landwehr added.&nbsp;

“Blew is thoughtful in her connections and mentorships and wants everyone around her to succeed and will help people do that.”&nbsp;

Blew resides in her hometown of Great Bend and serves as a board member for the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development while working full-time as a human resources director for Pryor Automatic Fire and Sprinkler. She also works as the recruitment and philanthropy advisor for her local Delta Zeta sorority chapter.

When she isn’t working on her many professional endeavors, Blew can be found cooking, on the golf course, or with her husband, Justin, remodeling their first home.&nbsp;

Confident, clever, and creative are just a few ways to describe Brandon Penny, a&nbsp;2013 FHSU alumnus originally from Burlington, Colorado. Penny has translated his&nbsp;eye&nbsp;for design into a lasting career in New York City, where he has been designing for Saks Fifth Avenue since 2018 and was recently promoted to senior designer. His work regularly appears to millions in emails, direct mail pieces, catalogs, store signage, website content, social media, and more.

Penny&nbsp;joined&nbsp;the&nbsp;art and design program at FHSU to&nbsp;earn his bachelor of fine arts in graphic design. He was involved and engaged in his education and extra-curricular activities while at Fort Hays State.&nbsp;

Penny was a member of the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA), and his creative side extended to the performing arts, where he was a member of the Fringe Theatre Company, performing in plays and musicals and designing the show posters and programs as the theatre advertising and publicity director.

Following graduation from&nbsp;FHSU in May 2013, Penny moved to Brooklyn, N.Y., landing his first creative internship at OpenSky as an unpaid production graphic designer. A retail job at The Container Store in sales/visual merchandising paid the bills and paved the way to a freelance gig as an assistant at The Society of Publication Designers (SPD).&nbsp;

It was his connections at SPD that landed him a role as Billboard magazine’s first-ever design intern. While at Billboard, Penny acquired an internship with Decker Design, later leaving both when the creative director of People magazine reached out and brought him on as a full-time design and photo intern.&nbsp;

He then designed for Curioos, an online marketplace for unique wall art created by thousands of emerging artists from all over the world.&nbsp;His most recent role with Saks allows him to merge design and advocacy. His current responsibilities include jewelry, a high-profile category, while simultaneously owning business growth through redesigned loyalty program collateral.&nbsp;

In June, Saks celebrated Pride Month, and Penny designed the campaign that featured prominent figures in the LGBTQ+ community, of which he is a member. He&nbsp;is also a part of the company’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion group.

In his nomination letter, Vincent Bowhay mentioned, "Brandon's attention to detail and design are superb, and he brings a level of positivity to everything he does, which I believe makes him most worthy of this distinguished award."&nbsp;

Angel Han, Saks senior design manager, and&nbsp;Penny's direct manager, echoed Bowhay's sentiments, saying, "Brandon Penny is a true gem, and I am so lucky to have him on the design team. The&nbsp;energy, passion, and enthusiasm he brings make Saks a better place for everyone.”&nbsp;

She added, “No matter how difficult or challenging the task, Brandon takes on every project with a sense of collaboration, determination, and a willingness to learn. I am so proud to see how much he has grown as a designer and as a person over the years."

Penny is the son of Susanne and the late Norman Penny and brother to Christopher and Danielle.

You can view Penny's work by visiting&nbsp;<a href="http://behance.net/brandonpenny">behance.net/brandonpenny</a>.

FHSU Alumni Association announces '22 Homecoming honorees

The 85th Annual Convention &amp; Trade Show of the Kansas Independent Oil &amp; Gas Association is coming up. The event is scheduled Sunday and Monday, Aug. 14 and 15, at the Hyatt Regency/Century-Two Performing Arts &amp; Convention Center in Wichita. Plans are coming together for the trade group's golf and sporting clays tournaments as well. <a href="https://kioga.org/">You can find out more at their website.</a> More than half of the states in the U.S. boasted average gasoline prices below $4 a gallon on Monday, and the national average is getting close. Kansas ranks among the 10 cheapest state gasoline markets in the country, with a statewide average of $3.64 a gallon, according to the auto club AAA. The national average pump price dropped to $4.05, down nearly 70 cents from a month ago. We spotted $3.59 across Great Bend and $3.93 at most stations in Hays. Regulators in Kansas report 172 intent-to-drill notices in July. That's 1,023 Intents so far this year, compared to 630 by the end of July last year. A search of the Kansas Corporation Commission website returns two new intents in Barton County, six in Ellis County, one in Russell County and four in Stafford County. Baker Hughes reported 764 active drilling rigs across the U.S., a decline of seven oil rigs including six in New Mexico. The count in Louisiana was down three rigs, while Texas was up two. Kansas operators have spudded 805 new wells so far this year, up 61% from a year ago. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service is currently scouting 449 wells in various stages of drilling and completion, an increase of more than 62% from a year ago. The Rig Count in Kansas for the week through August 4th shows 33 active drilling rigs in Western Kansas, which is up one from the week before. The count east of Wichita was unchanged at 25 rigs. Operators on Friday were about to spud one new well in Barton County, and another in Ellis County.&nbsp; Kansas regulators okayed 23 new drilling permits last week, 18 in eastern Kansas and five west of Wichita. That's 967 new drilling locations so far this year, compared to 577 a year ago. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service reports 28 completed wells for the week, eight of them east of Wichita and 20 in Western Kansas. The year-to-date tally is 936 completed wells, compared to 461 a year earlier. The Kansas Geological Society's Nomenclature Committee approved recognized and named four new oil fields in Kansas at its meeting last month. That brings the total so far this year to 19 new oil and gas fields. Business is booming across the Lone Star State, thanks in large part to the oil patch. Texas is now boasting its highest-ever monthly oil and gas production tax collections for the second month in a row. The State Comptroller reports oil production tax collections reached $694 million, the highest monthly collections on record, up 84 percent from July 2021. Natural gas production taxes also reached a record high in July at $532 million, up 185 percent from last July. The state also reported record sales-tax collections in July. Shipments of crude oil by US railroads declined last week. The Association of American Railroads reports 9,744 tanker carloads of petroleum and petroleum products rolling the rails during the week through July 30th. That's down 294 carloads from the week before and a 5% drop from last year at this time. Canadian traffic was down for the week but nearly eight percent higher than the tally a year ago. The AAR reported July total rail traffic down 1.5% from a year ago, although oil-by-rail traffic for the month was unchanged. The government reported a rise in crude inventories of nearly five million barrels. As of July 29, US stockpiles were over 426 million barrels. The Energy Information Administration reports gasoline stockpiles rose by 200,000 barrels, but remain about three percent below the five-year average for this time of year. EIA reports weekly crude imports were up 1.2 million barrels per day last week, to 7.3 million. The four-week average, at 6.7 million barrels per day, is 1.7% higher than during the same four-week period last year. US crude production for the week through July 29 was up slightly from the week before, at 12,136,000 barrels per day, according to EIA. Big prices translate to big profits for Big Oil. Chevron reported earnings of $11.62 billion during the second quarter of the year, nearly four times the tally from a year earlier. Exxon posted second-quarter earnings of $17.9 billion, compared to $4.7 billion a year earlier. BP is making more money than at any time since 2008, thanks to high crude prices. The British super-major tripled its profits in Q2 to more than $8.5 billion, marking the second-highest quarterly profit tally in the company's history. Shell last week reported record quarterly profits of nearly $12 billion.

By JOHN P. TRETBARThe 85th Annual Convention &amp; Trade Show of the Kansas Independent Oil &amp; Gas Association is coming up. The event is scheduled Sunday and Monday, Aug. 14 and 15, at the Hyatt Regency/Century-Two Performing Arts &amp; Convention Center in Wichita. Plans are coming together for the trade group's golf and sporting clays tournaments as well. <a href="https://kioga.org/">You can find out more at their website.</a> More than half of the states in the U.S. boasted average gasoline prices below $4 a gallon on Monday, and the national average is getting close. Kansas ranks among the 10 cheapest state gasoline markets in the country, with a statewide average of $3.64 a gallon, according to the auto club AAA. The national average pump price dropped to $4.05, down nearly 70 cents from a month ago. We spotted $3.59 across Great Bend and $3.93 at most stations in Hays. Regulators in Kansas report 172 intent-to-drill notices in July. That's 1,023 Intents so far this year, compared to 630 by the end of July last year. A search of the Kansas Corporation Commission website returns two new intents in Barton County, six in Ellis County, one in Russell County and four in Stafford County. Baker Hughes reported 764 active drilling rigs across the U.S., a decline of seven oil rigs including six in New Mexico. The count in Louisiana was down three rigs, while Texas was up two. Kansas operators have spudded 805 new wells so far this year, up 61% from a year ago. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service is currently scouting 449 wells in various stages of drilling and completion, an increase of more than 62% from a year ago. The Rig Count in Kansas for the week through August 4th shows 33 active drilling rigs in Western Kansas, which is up one from the week before. The count east of Wichita was unchanged at 25 rigs. Operators on Friday were about to spud one new well in Barton County, and another in Ellis County.&nbsp; Kansas regulators okayed 23 new drilling permits last week, 18 in eastern Kansas and five west of Wichita. That's 967 new drilling locations so far this year, compared to 577 a year ago. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service reports 28 completed wells for the week, eight of them east of Wichita and 20 in Western Kansas. The year-to-date tally is 936 completed wells, compared to 461 a year earlier. The Kansas Geological Society's Nomenclature Committee approved recognized and named four new oil fields in Kansas at its meeting last month. That brings the total so far this year to 19 new oil and gas fields. Business is booming across the Lone Star State, thanks in large part to the oil patch. Texas is now boasting its highest-ever monthly oil and gas production tax collections for the second month in a row. The State Comptroller reports oil production tax collections reached $694 million, the highest monthly collections on record, up 84 percent from July 2021. Natural gas production taxes also reached a record high in July at $532 million, up 185 percent from last July. The state also reported record sales-tax collections in July. Shipments of crude oil by US railroads declined last week. The Association of American Railroads reports 9,744 tanker carloads of petroleum and petroleum products rolling the rails during the week through July 30th. That's down 294 carloads from the week before and a 5% drop from last year at this time. Canadian traffic was down for the week but nearly eight percent higher than the tally a year ago. The AAR reported July total rail traffic down 1.5% from a year ago, although oil-by-rail traffic for the month was unchanged. The government reported a rise in crude inventories of nearly five million barrels. As of July 29, US stockpiles were over 426 million barrels. The Energy Information Administration reports gasoline stockpiles rose by 200,000 barrels, but remain about three percent below the five-year average for this time of year. EIA reports weekly crude imports were up 1.2 million barrels per day last week, to 7.3 million. The four-week average, at 6.7 million barrels per day, is 1.7% higher than during the same four-week period last year. US crude production for the week through July 29 was up slightly from the week before, at 12,136,000 barrels per day, according to EIA. Big prices translate to big profits for Big Oil. Chevron reported earnings of $11.62 billion during the second quarter of the year, nearly four times the tally from a year earlier. Exxon posted second-quarter earnings of $17.9 billion, compared to $4.7 billion a year earlier. BP is making more money than at any time since 2008, thanks to high crude prices. The British super-major tripled its profits in Q2 to more than $8.5 billion, marking the second-highest quarterly profit tally in the company's history. Shell last week reported record quarterly profits of nearly $12 billion.

News From the Oil Patch: KIOGA convention starts Sunday

The annual start of the school year celebration for Hays Catholic Schools is planned for Aug. 19 from 5:45 to 9 p.m. The event, which takes place on Thomas More Prep-Marian's campus at 1701 Hall, is chock full of fun events and treats. 

Not only are the students and families of Hays Catholic Schools invited, but also alumni and members of the community.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1659964872419.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>TMP-MThe annual start of the school year celebration for Hays Catholic Schools is planned for Aug. 19 from 5:45 to 9 p.m. The event, which takes place on Thomas More Prep-Marian's campus at 1701 Hall, is chock full of fun events and treats. Not only are the students and families of Hays Catholic Schools invited, but also alumni and members of the community.

Hays Catholic Schools Back 2 School Bash set for Aug. 19

NORTON COUNTY —A California man died in an accident just before 8p.m. Monday in Norton County.&nbsp;

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1997 Freightliner semi driven by Ronald D.&nbsp;Steelsmith, 41, Phillipsburg, was westbound on U.S. 36 six miles west of Kansas 383 Highway.

NORTON COUNTY —A California man died in an accident just before 8p.m. Monday in Norton County.&nbsp;The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1997 Freightliner semi driven by Ronald D.&nbsp;Steelsmith, 41, Phillipsburg, was westbound on U.S. 36 six miles west of Kansas 383 Highway.The semi rear-ended a bicycle ridden by 68-year-old Robert C.&nbsp;Schlange of Sierra City, California.&nbsp;Schlange was pronounced dead at the scene and transported Plumer-Gobber Funeral Home. Steelsmith was not injured.&nbsp;Schlange was wearing a helmet, according to the KHP.

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