BUNKER HILL, KS –&nbsp;Smoky Hills PBS will air a day of local sports on New Year’s Day. The day will kick off at noon with the KSHSAA 8-Player State Football Championship (DI and DII).&nbsp; Next, will be&nbsp;The Jackie Stiles Story&nbsp;at 5:30 p.m. followed by the 2022 Kansas Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.

The KSHSAA 8-Player State Football Championship will start at noon with the DII Championship game between Axtell and Thunder Ridge. Following DII will be the DI championship game between Little River and Wichita County. These games were previously played on Nov. 26 in Newton.

The Jackie Stiles Story will air on Smoky Hills PBS at 5:30 p.m.&nbsp; This inspirational film is about a 5’8” girl from Claflin, who became a basketball legend in the Midwest. Against all odds, Jackie became the all-time leading scorer in NCAA history and the WNBA Rookie-of-the-Year. Her coaches and teammates agree that Jackie’s work ethic will probably never be matched.&nbsp;

A re-airing of this documentary also will be available in March.&nbsp; Check&nbsp;<a href="http://smokyhillspbs.org/">SmokyHillsPBS.org</a>&nbsp;for a time and date to be announced.

The 2022 Kansas Sports Hall of Fame will be featured at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday. The mission of the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame is to honor those that have contributed to the history of sports in Kansas and to educate and inspire the public regarding the value of athletics and Kansas athletic history by providing the requisite leadership and resources. Some 2022 inductees include NASCAR driver CLINT BOWYER from Emporia; Emporia State women’s basketball All-American TARA HOLLOWAY CHURCHILL from Moundridge; the winningest coach in Kansas girls high school basketball JESSE NELSON from Olpe; former University of Kansas basketball coach, ROY WILLIAMS.&nbsp; For a full list of the KSHOF Class of 2022 visit,&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kshof.org/">www.kshof.org</a>.

A full Smoky Hills PBS January program schedule can be found at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.smokyhillspbs.org/">www.SmokyHillsPBS.org</a>.&nbsp;

BUNKER HILL, KS –&nbsp;Smoky Hills PBS will air a day of local sports on New Year’s Day. The day will kick off at noon with the KSHSAA 8-Player State Football Championship (DI and DII).&nbsp; Next, will be&nbsp;The Jackie Stiles Story&nbsp;at 5:30 p.m. followed by the 2022 Kansas Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.The KSHSAA 8-Player State Football Championship will start at noon with the DII Championship game between Axtell and Thunder Ridge. Following DII will be the DI championship game between Little River and Wichita County. These games were previously played on Nov. 26 in Newton.The Jackie Stiles Story will air on Smoky Hills PBS at 5:30 p.m.&nbsp; This inspirational film is about a 5’8” girl from Claflin, who became a basketball legend in the Midwest. Against all odds, Jackie became the all-time leading scorer in NCAA history and the WNBA Rookie-of-the-Year. Her coaches and teammates agree that Jackie’s work ethic will probably never be matched.&nbsp;A re-airing of this documentary also will be available in March.&nbsp; Check&nbsp;<a href="http://smokyhillspbs.org/">SmokyHillsPBS.org</a>&nbsp;for a time and date to be announced.The 2022 Kansas Sports Hall of Fame will be featured at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday. The mission of the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame is to honor those that have contributed to the history of sports in Kansas and to educate and inspire the public regarding the value of athletics and Kansas athletic history by providing the requisite leadership and resources. Some 2022 inductees include NASCAR driver CLINT BOWYER from Emporia; Emporia State women’s basketball All-American TARA HOLLOWAY CHURCHILL from Moundridge; the winningest coach in Kansas girls high school basketball JESSE NELSON from Olpe; former University of Kansas basketball coach, ROY WILLIAMS.&nbsp; For a full list of the KSHOF Class of 2022 visit,&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kshof.org/">www.kshof.org</a>.A full Smoky Hills PBS January program schedule can be found at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.smokyhillspbs.org/">www.SmokyHillsPBS.org</a>.&nbsp;

Local sports on PBS to start your New Year

Due to the observance of the New Year’s holiday on Monday, Jan. 2 refuse/recycling route collection schedules in Hays will be altered as follows:

Monday, Jan. 2 and Tuesday, Jan. 3 will be picked up on Tuesday, Jan. 3. 

Routes collected Wednesday, Jan. 4 - Friday, Jan. 6 will have no change.

Although collections may not occur on your normal day, collections will be completed during the week. &nbsp;It is anticipated that heavy volumes of refuse/recycling will be encountered around the holidays. Please make sure your refuse and recycling are out by 7 a.m., and keep in mind that the trucks have no set time schedule.

City of Hays customers that may have any questions regarding this notice should contact the Solid Waste Division of the Public Works Department at 785-628-7350.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1605721681274.jpeg" alt="(File photo by Becky Kiser/Hays Post)" />
 <figcaption>(File photo by Becky Kiser/Hays Post)</figcaption>
 </figure>City of HaysDue to the observance of the New Year’s holiday on Monday, Jan. 2 refuse/recycling route collection schedules in Hays will be altered as follows:Monday, Jan. 2 and Tuesday, Jan. 3 will be picked up on Tuesday, Jan. 3. Routes collected Wednesday, Jan. 4 - Friday, Jan. 6 will have no change.Although collections may not occur on your normal day, collections will be completed during the week. &nbsp;It is anticipated that heavy volumes of refuse/recycling will be encountered around the holidays. Please make sure your refuse and recycling are out by 7 a.m., and keep in mind that the trucks have no set time schedule.City of Hays customers that may have any questions regarding this notice should contact the Solid Waste Division of the Public Works Department at 785-628-7350.

Hays' refuse/recycling collection changes for New Year holiday

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1672421431919.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

Don't have a fireplace or just don't want to fire it up? Click the video above, enter full-screen mode and enjoy the sights and sounds of your very own holiday fire!

Brought to you by Turn-Key Property Solutions

<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WhDIRNs40_E" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>Don't have a fireplace or just don't want to fire it up? Click the video above, enter full-screen mode and enjoy the sights and sounds of your very own holiday fire!Brought to you by Turn-Key Property Solutions<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1576701305695.jpeg" alt="" />
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 </figure>

Warm and cozy with the Hays Post virtual fireplace!

RUSSELL - The Russell City Building will be closed to the public on Friday, December 30th, 2022 for end of year processing. 

Sanitation routes and public transportation will still operate normal operation hours. In case of emergency, please contact 911 or Russell Police Department at 785-483-2121.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1666734874208.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>City of RussellRUSSELL - The Russell City Building will be closed to the public on Friday, December 30th, 2022 for end of year processing. Sanitation routes and public transportation will still operate normal operation hours. In case of emergency, please contact 911 or Russell Police Department at 785-483-2121.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Russell city offices closed today 

RUSSELL - It doesn't get more open than the local government, the government closest to the people. &nbsp;

The fall and winter are stressful times for most folks, with school starting, extra-curricular activities, and the holidays compressed into a few short months. &nbsp;When the economy is in poor shape, it only exacerbates the issues. Whatever metric you choose to use to gauge the economy – GDP, the consumer price index, unemployment, or others – most folks would agree that the current economy is not good with an uncertain outlook.

The annual arrival of tax statements adds to an already stressful year. &nbsp;Yesterday, someone showed me a social media post from a gentleman who was upset with his tax bill and commented, "this town is pathetic." I don't disagree that property taxes are high; I pay them too. However, I encourage you to look at your tax statement and see what taxing entities on your bill levy a property tax and the amount of money each expects to collect. &nbsp;

For folks who own property in the city of Russell, the taxing entities included on your tax statement include the state of Kansas, Russell County, USD 407, city of Russell, Russell Recreation, and Midwest Extension District No. 15. Each entity levies property tax, with a combined levy of 186.339 mills. &nbsp;So what do 186.339 mills mean? &nbsp;A valid question, as there is often a misunderstanding of mills, valuation, property class, taxes paid, and where they go. &nbsp;

The value of one mill differs for each taxing entity based on the total property valuation in that entity's jurisdiction. For example, the 2022 valuation for Russell County is $110,232,422, the total valuation for USD 407 is $80,554,401, and the city of Russell's valuation is $32,951,842. So, what does that mean? &nbsp;That means that one mill levied for Russell County brings them $110,232 in property tax revenue; one mill brings USD 407 $80,554 in revenue, and for the city of Russell, one mill brings $32,952 in property tax revenue. Comparing the number of mills levied by a taxing entity to another is like comparing apples and oranges. For example, for the city of Russell to receive $100,000 in property tax revenue requires 3.0347 mills or 1.24155 for USD 407 and 0.90718 mills for Russell County.&nbsp; It takes three mills for the city to raise the same property tax revenue as the county raises with one mill. &nbsp;

You may see a clearer picture with different valuations if you focus on the dollars each taxing entity levies. The Russell County Treasurer includes an insert with your tax statement that includes a graphic of where your tax dollars go. The same data is available on the Kansas Department of Revenue website under the Property Valuation Division's data by county page. I appreciate the County Treasurer making this information available to all taxpayers – it is informative and allows one to see the big picture. 

&nbsp;On the insert, "City" receives 12.17 percent of all property tax. &nbsp;USD 407 receives 25.59 percent, and Russell County receives 48.13 percent, based on the 2021 Real and Personal Property Value and Tax Summary from the Kansas Department of Revenue.&nbsp;

The 2023 adopted budgets for Russell County and taxing entities within the county are not yet available on the Kansas Department of Administration website. I did find the 2023 property tax revenue for Russell County, $8,362,387, on their website, and the city of Russell's adopted budget requests $1,916,595 in property tax revenue. I point out these numbers not to pit one entity against another. I do not know the reasons or plans behind other taxing entities' budgets; you'll have to ask the entity. &nbsp;

I show this information to inform taxpayers, generate interest, seek questions, and invite involvement in your government – city, school, county, and state. Each one of these entities impacts your property taxes. If your property taxes are high, find out why.

As author Adora Svitak said, "The first thing anyone can do about any issue is get informed."

So what does the city do with the $1,916,595 property tax revenue? &nbsp;

Most of the revenue funds the police, fire, public transportation, 911 services, public works, street maintenance, building, planning, zoning, the municipal court, golf course, swimming pool, park, public library, municipal airport, and the Deines Cultural Center. Other entities that receive funds from the city are Russell County Economic Development, Russell Main Street, Russell Chamber of Commerce, Western Kansas Child Advocacy, and Options Domestic and Sexual Violence Services. &nbsp;

Just listing the services provided through property tax doesn't show the entire operation of the city of Russell; it's in the numbers. &nbsp;

The latest census puts Russell's population at around 4,400 people. To serve our community's public safety needs, we have eight police officers, one animal control officer, one full-time fire chief, 15 volunteer firefighters, and nine 911 communication dispatchers. That's one police officer for every 550 residents, and dispatch serves all of Russell County for 911 services and dispatches for the city police, county sheriff, city fire, EMS, and 10 rural fire departments. &nbsp;

The parks department maintains 160 acres of parks, the city cemetery, the airport, public right-of-way, and city-owned properties with five employees. Two full-time employees maintain our beautiful nine-hole golf course. The street department has four street maintenance folks for 108 lane miles of the road while also helping the four employees working sanitation and recycling – truly a team effort. The Deines Cultural Center is staffed with two part-time employees, while the municipal court clerk is part-time and assists the police with records management. One full-time and one part-time employee drives the public transit bus, providing 14,000 rides annually. &nbsp;

To round out the general fund, we have one certified building official who serves as the city's zoning administrator and supervises one code officer to address blight, weeds, and overgrowth, a public works mechanic, and a GIS technician who assists all departments. I would be remiss if I did not mention the seasonal employees, lifeguards at the Duke Johnson Municipal Swimming Pool, and summer help for parks and golf. &nbsp;

What about all the other city employees I see around? Those are likely from one of our utility departments. The city operates four utilities – electric, water, wastewater, and sanitation – which receive zero property tax revenue. Our electric distribution shop has four journeyman linemen and four apprentices who maintain an electric distribution system covering 50 square miles with 146 miles of 3-phase primary and 5,875 power poles. Electric production has eight employees who maintain and operate two power plants capable of generating 23 megawatts of energy. &nbsp;

The water utility has seven certified operators and seven distribution maintenance personnel who convert an average of 1,000 acre-feet raw water into more than 320 million gallons of finished water, serving 2,419 customers through 92 miles of water mains. &nbsp;

To meet EPA standards, two certified wastewater operators treat over 300 million gallons of wastewater and infiltrate water yearly. &nbsp;

The four sanitation employees I mentioned earlier serve 2,197 customers and haul away an average of 5,250,000 pounds of trash yearly.&nbsp; Additionally, the city collects an average of 24,000 pounds of plastic, 8,000 pounds of tin, 38,000 pounds of glass, 9,000 pounds of aluminum, and 368,000 pounds of cardboard, newspaper, and magazines annually. &nbsp;

And I cannot forget the folks who support all these employees –human resource/payroll, utility billing clerk, cashier, assistant city manager, city clerk, finance director, city attorney, city prosecutor, municipal judge, and the GIS technician. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Operating a city, especially one that also provides utilities, is a unique operation. Imagine an entity that directly impacts the lives of every resident, business, or visitor 24 hours a day, every day of the year. &nbsp; 

Take a moment and find a day when the city's operation did not impact you. The community's reliance on the services provided magnifies even the slightest operational flaw. As a team, city employees work daily to improve services and the quality of life for our community.

Do we make mistakes or equipment fail? Yes, and we learn from them and get better each time. &nbsp;

Our job is to serve the community. To do so, we need constructive and informed input. I invite you to attend city council meetings on the first&nbsp;and third&nbsp;Tuesday of each month beginning at 4:30 p.m. at the city building. If you cannot attend in person, perhaps you can attend virtually. If not, you can sign up to receive text or email notifications when the city council agenda and packet are ready for download from the city website. When you download the agenda and packet, you have the same information provided to each city council member. &nbsp;If you see an item of interest or have a question, please stop in, call the city building, or come to a city council meeting. We would be happy to discuss each item on the agenda. &nbsp; If you have a general question, comment, concern, or suggestion, you are always welcome to call or stop in the city building and talk with city staff. If we can't answer your questions, we will find someone who can. &nbsp; 

However, if you post your question, comments, concern, or suggestions on social media, I won't be able to answer them. I don't have social media, and city staff does not regularly monitor the city's social media accounts. One uninformed post or misinformation can contribute to a contentious environment and divisiveness. Our community is better than "them or us"; we all belong to this community. 

&nbsp;What good does it do to disparage the community on social media or any place? Forming false beliefs requires exposure to false information. Those not from Russell who hear constant negativity are likely to get a negative perception of our community, whether that is one's intent or not. A negative perception harms the entire community – businesses, schools, and other residents. Take a moment and look around; there is no better place to call home than Russell. &nbsp;

I am not suggesting that all contrary opinions are incorrect; I only ask that you become informed on the topics. The best way to become informed with local government is to engage – attend city council, school board, and county commission meetings and ask questions, require answers, then make an informed decision. If you can't attend, reach out to those who can answer your questions or take your comments – a staff member or elected official. &nbsp;

Your local government – city, school, and county – are the closest to the people. Where else do you have access to information and input on how your city, school, or county government provides public services, prioritizes infrastructure projects, or allocates budgets? You don't have the same access and input at the state and federal levels. &nbsp;

Always remember the words of so many of the founding fathers, eloquently stated by Daniel Webster in 1830, "It is, sir, the people's Constitution, the people's government, made for the people, made by the people, and answerable to the people."

On behalf of the city of Russell employees, we wish you a Happy New Year!

Jon Quinday is the Russell City Manager.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1666734874208.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>RUSSELL - It doesn't get more open than the local government, the government closest to the people. &nbsp;The fall and winter are stressful times for most folks, with school starting, extra-curricular activities, and the holidays compressed into a few short months. &nbsp;When the economy is in poor shape, it only exacerbates the issues. Whatever metric you choose to use to gauge the economy – GDP, the consumer price index, unemployment, or others – most folks would agree that the current economy is not good with an uncertain outlook.The annual arrival of tax statements adds to an already stressful year. &nbsp;Yesterday, someone showed me a social media post from a gentleman who was upset with his tax bill and commented, "this town is pathetic." I don't disagree that property taxes are high; I pay them too. However, I encourage you to look at your tax statement and see what taxing entities on your bill levy a property tax and the amount of money each expects to collect. &nbsp;For folks who own property in the city of Russell, the taxing entities included on your tax statement include the state of Kansas, Russell County, USD 407, city of Russell, Russell Recreation, and Midwest Extension District No. 15. Each entity levies property tax, with a combined levy of 186.339 mills. &nbsp;So what do 186.339 mills mean? &nbsp;A valid question, as there is often a misunderstanding of mills, valuation, property class, taxes paid, and where they go. &nbsp;The value of one mill differs for each taxing entity based on the total property valuation in that entity's jurisdiction. For example, the 2022 valuation for Russell County is $110,232,422, the total valuation for USD 407 is $80,554,401, and the city of Russell's valuation is $32,951,842. So, what does that mean? &nbsp;That means that one mill levied for Russell County brings them $110,232 in property tax revenue; one mill brings USD 407 $80,554 in revenue, and for the city of Russell, one mill brings $32,952 in property tax revenue. Comparing the number of mills levied by a taxing entity to another is like comparing apples and oranges. For example, for the city of Russell to receive $100,000 in property tax revenue requires 3.0347 mills or 1.24155 for USD 407 and 0.90718 mills for Russell County.&nbsp; It takes three mills for the city to raise the same property tax revenue as the county raises with one mill. &nbsp;You may see a clearer picture with different valuations if you focus on the dollars each taxing entity levies. The Russell County Treasurer includes an insert with your tax statement that includes a graphic of where your tax dollars go. The same data is available on the Kansas Department of Revenue website under the Property Valuation Division's data by county page. I appreciate the County Treasurer making this information available to all taxpayers – it is informative and allows one to see the big picture. &nbsp;On the insert, "City" receives 12.17 percent of all property tax. &nbsp;USD 407 receives 25.59 percent, and Russell County receives 48.13 percent, based on the 2021 Real and Personal Property Value and Tax Summary from the Kansas Department of Revenue.&nbsp;The 2023 adopted budgets for Russell County and taxing entities within the county are not yet available on the Kansas Department of Administration website. I did find the 2023 property tax revenue for Russell County, $8,362,387, on their website, and the city of Russell's adopted budget requests $1,916,595 in property tax revenue. I point out these numbers not to pit one entity against another. I do not know the reasons or plans behind other taxing entities' budgets; you'll have to ask the entity. &nbsp;I show this information to inform taxpayers, generate interest, seek questions, and invite involvement in your government – city, school, county, and state. Each one of these entities impacts your property taxes. If your property taxes are high, find out why.As author Adora Svitak said, "The first thing anyone can do about any issue is get informed."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1672406562242.jpeg" alt="Courtesy city of Russell" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy city of Russell</figcaption>
 </figure>So what does the city do with the $1,916,595 property tax revenue? &nbsp;Most of the revenue funds the police, fire, public transportation, 911 services, public works, street maintenance, building, planning, zoning, the municipal court, golf course, swimming pool, park, public library, municipal airport, and the Deines Cultural Center. Other entities that receive funds from the city are Russell County Economic Development, Russell Main Street, Russell Chamber of Commerce, Western Kansas Child Advocacy, and Options Domestic and Sexual Violence Services. &nbsp;Just listing the services provided through property tax doesn't show the entire operation of the city of Russell; it's in the numbers. &nbsp;The latest census puts Russell's population at around 4,400 people. To serve our community's public safety needs, we have eight police officers, one animal control officer, one full-time fire chief, 15 volunteer firefighters, and nine 911 communication dispatchers. That's one police officer for every 550 residents, and dispatch serves all of Russell County for 911 services and dispatches for the city police, county sheriff, city fire, EMS, and 10 rural fire departments. &nbsp;The parks department maintains 160 acres of parks, the city cemetery, the airport, public right-of-way, and city-owned properties with five employees. Two full-time employees maintain our beautiful nine-hole golf course. The street department has four street maintenance folks for 108 lane miles of the road while also helping the four employees working sanitation and recycling – truly a team effort. The Deines Cultural Center is staffed with two part-time employees, while the municipal court clerk is part-time and assists the police with records management. One full-time and one part-time employee drives the public transit bus, providing 14,000 rides annually. &nbsp;To round out the general fund, we have one certified building official who serves as the city's zoning administrator and supervises one code officer to address blight, weeds, and overgrowth, a public works mechanic, and a GIS technician who assists all departments. I would be remiss if I did not mention the seasonal employees, lifeguards at the Duke Johnson Municipal Swimming Pool, and summer help for parks and golf. &nbsp;What about all the other city employees I see around? Those are likely from one of our utility departments. The city operates four utilities – electric, water, wastewater, and sanitation – which receive zero property tax revenue. Our electric distribution shop has four journeyman linemen and four apprentices who maintain an electric distribution system covering 50 square miles with 146 miles of 3-phase primary and 5,875 power poles. Electric production has eight employees who maintain and operate two power plants capable of generating 23 megawatts of energy. &nbsp;The water utility has seven certified operators and seven distribution maintenance personnel who convert an average of 1,000 acre-feet raw water into more than 320 million gallons of finished water, serving 2,419 customers through 92 miles of water mains. &nbsp;To meet EPA standards, two certified wastewater operators treat over 300 million gallons of wastewater and infiltrate water yearly. &nbsp;The four sanitation employees I mentioned earlier serve 2,197 customers and haul away an average of 5,250,000 pounds of trash yearly.&nbsp; Additionally, the city collects an average of 24,000 pounds of plastic, 8,000 pounds of tin, 38,000 pounds of glass, 9,000 pounds of aluminum, and 368,000 pounds of cardboard, newspaper, and magazines annually. &nbsp;And I cannot forget the folks who support all these employees –human resource/payroll, utility billing clerk, cashier, assistant city manager, city clerk, finance director, city attorney, city prosecutor, municipal judge, and the GIS technician. &nbsp;&nbsp;Operating a city, especially one that also provides utilities, is a unique operation. Imagine an entity that directly impacts the lives of every resident, business, or visitor 24 hours a day, every day of the year. &nbsp; Take a moment and find a day when the city's operation did not impact you. The community's reliance on the services provided magnifies even the slightest operational flaw. As a team, city employees work daily to improve services and the quality of life for our community.Do we make mistakes or equipment fail? Yes, and we learn from them and get better each time. &nbsp;Our job is to serve the community. To do so, we need constructive and informed input. I invite you to attend city council meetings on the first&nbsp;and third&nbsp;Tuesday of each month beginning at 4:30 p.m. at the city building. If you cannot attend in person, perhaps you can attend virtually. If not, you can sign up to receive text or email notifications when the city council agenda and packet are ready for download from the city website. When you download the agenda and packet, you have the same information provided to each city council member. &nbsp;If you see an item of interest or have a question, please stop in, call the city building, or come to a city council meeting. We would be happy to discuss each item on the agenda. &nbsp; If you have a general question, comment, concern, or suggestion, you are always welcome to call or stop in the city building and talk with city staff. If we can't answer your questions, we will find someone who can. &nbsp; However, if you post your question, comments, concern, or suggestions on social media, I won't be able to answer them. I don't have social media, and city staff does not regularly monitor the city's social media accounts. One uninformed post or misinformation can contribute to a contentious environment and divisiveness. Our community is better than "them or us"; we all belong to this community. &nbsp;What good does it do to disparage the community on social media or any place? Forming false beliefs requires exposure to false information. Those not from Russell who hear constant negativity are likely to get a negative perception of our community, whether that is one's intent or not. A negative perception harms the entire community – businesses, schools, and other residents. Take a moment and look around; there is no better place to call home than Russell. &nbsp;I am not suggesting that all contrary opinions are incorrect; I only ask that you become informed on the topics. The best way to become informed with local government is to engage – attend city council, school board, and county commission meetings and ask questions, require answers, then make an informed decision. If you can't attend, reach out to those who can answer your questions or take your comments – a staff member or elected official. &nbsp;Your local government – city, school, and county – are the closest to the people. Where else do you have access to information and input on how your city, school, or county government provides public services, prioritizes infrastructure projects, or allocates budgets? You don't have the same access and input at the state and federal levels. &nbsp;Always remember the words of so many of the founding fathers, eloquently stated by Daniel Webster in 1830, "It is, sir, the people's Constitution, the people's government, made for the people, made by the people, and answerable to the people." On behalf of the city of Russell employees, we wish you a Happy New Year!Jon Quinday is the Russell City Manager.&nbsp;

QUINDAY: To be transparent, government must be open

The Hays Police Department responded to 57 calls from Dec. 11-17, 2022 according to the HPD Activity Log.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1592410704431.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The Hays Police Department responded to 57 calls from Dec. 11-17, 2022 according to the HPD Activity Log.<figure>
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Hays PD Activity Log, Dec. 11-17  

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

A new restaurant north of Plainville brings the taste of the Chesapeake Bay to Kansas.

Jason Kephart and his wife, Kari, were born and raised in the Chesapeake Bay area. The couple has a history of working in the restaurant industry for about 15 years, but the <a href="https://www.facebook.com">Chesapeake Roadhouse</a> is their first attempt at ownership.

"We were born and raised on the Chesapeake Bay, and we crabbed and fished recreationally and grew up fixing that sort of food," Jason Kephart said. "That is in our culture and our background."

Jason first came to Kansas in the Air Force and was stationed at McConnell Air Force Base. After most recently living in Topeka, the family moved to northwest Kansas so Kari could work in an area school system.

The new restaurant is in the former Rooks County Golf Course restaurant building, which is about three miles north of Plainville on U.S. Highway 183.

Specialties on the menu include crab cakes and oysters. The couple hopes to add whole crab, lobster and crawfish when they come into season in the spring and summer.

The seafood is shipped by air to Kansas. The majority of the food is overnighted, and Kephart cooks the dishes fresh, never frozen, and made from scratch.

The restaurant's most popular dishes thus far have been its crab cakes and crab dip. Raw and fried oysters come in a close second.

In addition to seafood dishes, the restaurant also serves steaks cooked sous vide and then pan-seared with garlic, thyme and rosemary, as well as prime rib. Sous vide is a process of cooking through water submersion that allows the meat to be cooked to an exact temperature and allows the meat to stay very tender, Kephart said.

The restaurant specializes in half-pound and one-pound burgers that are cooked to order with a variety of options for toppings and specialty cheeses.

"You can get a burger anywhere in Kansas, around every corner, but once someone sits down and actually sees our burger and tastes our burger, they know there's a difference," Kephart said.

Kephart said the burgers are a meal for at least two people.&nbsp; All of the fries are fresh and hand-cut per order.

The roadhouse offers a special menu item for two called the 19th Hole, which includes a ribeye, crabcake, steamed shrimp and fries.

Appetizers include Rocky Mountain oysters, fried pickles, battered green beans and loaded nachos. The roadhouse also offers a kid's menu.

The restaurant offers full bar service with a special mead (honey beer) cocktail. It includes half honey hibiscus mead, half Arnold Palmer with a splash of cranberry on top.

The roadhouse is open late on the weekends to allow for extended bar service. It has a game room in the back with pool tables, air hockey and a jukebox.

The restaurant had not been open in six years, and the Kepharts did extensive remodeling to the interior of the building. 

The restaurant has been serving for 30 days, but Kephart has been rehabbing the building for four months.

The main seating area has a bar, gas fireplace and television.

"When I had an idea for a restaurant, 33 percent of the idea was the atmosphere," Kephart said. "I wanted people to come out and have a good time and feel relaxed. I wanted people to be able to come and hang out and enjoy themselves."

Kephart said work on the building is ongoing, with plans to revive the building's patio by this spring.

Although the restaurant is off the beaten path, Kephart said the restaurant's soft opening has been successful, with people coming as far as Salina and Hastings, Neb., to try a taste of the Chesapeake Bay.

The restaurant's hours starting in January will be noon to 9 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, and noon to midnight Fridays and Saturdays.

Reservations are recommended on Fridays and Saturdays. The restaurant can be reached at 785-688-4000.

The restaurant will be open special hours on New Year's Eve from 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. The special that day will be a 16-ounce ribeye with baked potato and six grilled shrimp. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1672335942697.jpeg" alt="Frutti di Mare, a seafood pasta, offered at the new Chesapeake Roadhouse, three miles north of Plainville on U.S. Highway 183. Courtesy photo " />
 <figcaption>Frutti di Mare, a seafood pasta, offered at the new Chesapeake Roadhouse, three miles north of Plainville on U.S. Highway 183. Courtesy photo </figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostA new restaurant north of Plainville brings the taste of the Chesapeake Bay to Kansas.Jason Kephart and his wife, Kari, were born and raised in the Chesapeake Bay area. The couple has a history of working in the restaurant industry for about 15 years, but the <a href="https://www.facebook.com">Chesapeake Roadhouse</a> is their first attempt at ownership."We were born and raised on the Chesapeake Bay, and we crabbed and fished recreationally and grew up fixing that sort of food," Jason Kephart said. "That is in our culture and our background." Jason first came to Kansas in the Air Force and was stationed at McConnell Air Force Base. After most recently living in Topeka, the family moved to northwest Kansas so Kari could work in an area school system. The new restaurant is in the former Rooks County Golf Course restaurant building, which is about three miles north of Plainville on U.S. Highway 183. Specialties on the menu include crab cakes and oysters. The couple hopes to add whole crab, lobster and crawfish when they come into season in the spring and summer.The seafood is shipped by air to Kansas. The majority of the food is overnighted, and Kephart cooks the dishes fresh, never frozen, and made from scratch.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1672336243122.jpeg" alt="Steamed blue crab from the Chesapeake Roadhouse north of Plainville. Courtesy photo " />
 <figcaption>Steamed blue crab from the Chesapeake Roadhouse north of Plainville. Courtesy photo </figcaption>
 </figure>The restaurant's most popular dishes thus far have been its crab cakes and crab dip. Raw and fried oysters come in a close second. In addition to seafood dishes, the restaurant also serves steaks cooked sous vide and then pan-seared with garlic, thyme and rosemary, as well as prime rib. Sous vide is a process of cooking through water submersion that allows the meat to be cooked to an exact temperature and allows the meat to stay very tender, Kephart said. The restaurant specializes in half-pound and one-pound burgers that are cooked to order with a variety of options for toppings and specialty cheeses."You can get a burger anywhere in Kansas, around every corner, but once someone sits down and actually sees our burger and tastes our burger, they know there's a difference," Kephart said. Kephart said the burgers are a meal for at least two people.&nbsp; All of the fries are fresh and hand-cut per order.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1672336336551.jpeg" alt="Chesapeake Roadhouse offers half-and full-pound burgers cooked to order with your choice of fixings and specialty cheeses. Courtesy photo " />
 <figcaption>Chesapeake Roadhouse offers half-and full-pound burgers cooked to order with your choice of fixings and specialty cheeses. Courtesy photo </figcaption>
 </figure>The roadhouse offers a special menu item for two called the 19th Hole, which includes a ribeye, crabcake, steamed shrimp and fries.Appetizers include Rocky Mountain oysters, fried pickles, battered green beans and loaded nachos. The roadhouse also offers a kid's menu. The restaurant offers full bar service with a special mead (honey beer) cocktail. It includes half honey hibiscus mead, half Arnold Palmer with a splash of cranberry on top. The roadhouse is open late on the weekends to allow for extended bar service. It has a game room in the back with pool tables, air hockey and a jukebox.The restaurant had not been open in six years, and the Kepharts did extensive remodeling to the interior of the building. <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1672337471364.jpeg" alt="Jason Kephart, owner Chesapeake Roadhouse, stands behind the bar at his new restaurant north of Plainville. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post " />
 <figcaption>Jason Kephart, owner Chesapeake Roadhouse, stands behind the bar at his new restaurant north of Plainville. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post </figcaption>
 </figure>The restaurant has been serving for 30 days, but Kephart has been rehabbing the building for four months. The main seating area has a bar, gas fireplace and television."When I had an idea for a restaurant, 33 percent of the idea was the atmosphere," Kephart said. "I wanted people to come out and have a good time and feel relaxed. I wanted people to be able to come and hang out and enjoy themselves." Kephart said work on the building is ongoing, with plans to revive the building's patio by this spring. Although the restaurant is off the beaten path, Kephart said the restaurant's soft opening has been successful, with people coming as far as Salina and Hastings, Neb., to try a taste of the Chesapeake Bay.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1672337724721.jpeg" alt="The main dining room of the new Chesapeake Roadhouse north of Plainville. The restaurant/bar specializes in dishes inspired by the bay area. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post " />
 <figcaption>The main dining room of the new Chesapeake Roadhouse north of Plainville. The restaurant/bar specializes in dishes inspired by the bay area. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post </figcaption>
 </figure>The restaurant's hours starting in January will be noon to 9 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, and noon to midnight Fridays and Saturdays.Reservations are recommended on Fridays and Saturdays. The restaurant can be reached at 785-688-4000.The restaurant will be open special hours on New Year's Eve from 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. The special that day will be a 16-ounce ribeye with baked potato and six grilled shrimp.

Chesapeake Roadhouse in Plainville offers fresh taste of bay

Throughout the last four and half years, Jake Gill has raised tens of thousands of dollars for non-profit organizations around the U.S. and the world.

Jake is excited to be bringing his performance to the community and families of Hays. The concert will take place at The Rose Garden Banquet Hall at 8 p.m. Jan. 6 for the “Great Christmas Regift Concert."

“I am excited to be a part of such a great event for the Hays and for Jana’s Campaign,” Gill said. “We are anxious to continue our mission in aiding a great non-profit organization and putting on a high-energy show.”

The Rose Garden Banquet Hall welcomes Jake Gill.

They will have a Christmas Re-gift silent auction. Bring a gift you received (and really didn't want) or one you bought to donate to our silent auction.

All proceeds will be donated to Jana’s Campaign.

After a whirlwind tour across the U.S. in 2022, Jake Gill has much to celebrate as his much new single “Crazy Girl” has over 33 million streams on social media since it’s release.

The TikTok viral sensation was preceded by the hit single “Baby I'm on It," which continues to be a crowd favorite and is on course to be his first certified gold single.

The Sylvia native showed no signs of slowing down with the first of 12 shows in his new venue home in Nashville, the famed Hard Rock Cafe.

His tour this last season has taken the singer and his band to over 37 states and 180 shows and allowed the artist and his band to meet hundreds of thousands of people and sample some of the country’s best food.

During his last show of the week on the "Maverick in Me Tour" in New York, Gill was fired up as the entire crowd learned the lyrics to his energy-packed single “John Deere Rockstar,” which honors the American farmer.

Dean McNeal with Dean Connections in Seatac, Wash., said the show was a great success. Gill will continue the momentum on the "Maverick in Me Tour"  tour on Jan. 6 in Hays at the Rose Garden Banquet Hall. Doors at open 7 p.m. Watch social media for updates and sponsorship opportunities.

For more information on Jake Gill, visit <a href="http://jakegill.net">jakegill.net</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1672259897269.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Concert to benefit Jana's Campaign</h2>SubmittedThroughout the last four and half years, Jake Gill has raised tens of thousands of dollars for non-profit organizations around the U.S. and the world.Jake is excited to be bringing his performance to the community and families of Hays. The concert will take place at The Rose Garden Banquet Hall at 8 p.m. Jan. 6 for the “Great Christmas Regift Concert."“I am excited to be a part of such a great event for the Hays and for Jana’s Campaign,” Gill said. “We are anxious to continue our mission in aiding a great non-profit organization and putting on a high-energy show.”The Rose Garden Banquet Hall welcomes Jake Gill.They will have a Christmas Re-gift silent auction. Bring a gift you received (and really didn't want) or one you bought to donate to our silent auction.All proceeds will be donated to Jana’s Campaign.After a whirlwind tour across the U.S. in 2022, Jake Gill has much to celebrate as his much new single “Crazy Girl” has over 33 million streams on social media since it’s release.The TikTok viral sensation was preceded by the hit single “Baby I'm on It," which continues to be a crowd favorite and is on course to be his first certified gold single.The Sylvia native showed no signs of slowing down with the first of 12 shows in his new venue home in Nashville, the famed Hard Rock Cafe.His tour this last season has taken the singer and his band to over 37 states and 180 shows and allowed the artist and his band to meet hundreds of thousands of people and sample some of the country’s best food.During his last show of the week on the "Maverick in Me Tour" in New York, Gill was fired up as the entire crowd learned the lyrics to his energy-packed single “John Deere Rockstar,” which honors the American farmer.Dean McNeal with Dean Connections in Seatac, Wash., said the show was a great success. Gill will continue the momentum on the "Maverick in Me Tour" tour on Jan. 6 in Hays at the Rose Garden Banquet Hall. Doors at open 7 p.m. Watch social media for updates and sponsorship opportunities. For more information on Jake Gill, visit <a href="http://jakegill.net">jakegill.net</a>.

Jake Gill Holiday Re-gift concert set for Jan. 6 in Hays

RUSSELL COUNTY—A Kansas man was injured in an accident just before 9:30p.m. Thursday in Russell County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2001 Ford F250 driven by Lance S. Jones, 43, Gaylord, was northbound on Kansas 232 at the Kansas 18 Junction just east of Lucas.

The driver&nbsp; failed to stop at the intersection of Kansas 18. The pickup entered the north ditch, rolled and came to rest on its roof.

EMS transported Jones to Russell Regional Hospital. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

RUSSELL COUNTY—A Kansas man was injured in an accident just before 9:30p.m. Thursday in Russell County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2001 Ford F250 driven by Lance S. Jones, 43, Gaylord, was northbound on Kansas 232 at the Kansas 18 Junction just east of Lucas.The driver&nbsp; failed to stop at the intersection of Kansas 18. The pickup entered the north ditch, rolled and came to rest on its roof.EMS transported Jones to Russell Regional Hospital. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

Kansas man hospitalized after pickup rollover crash

During the 1960s, there was an oil boom in Morrow County,&nbsp;Ohio, where we&nbsp;grew up, and either there were no regulations on anything or no one followed them, because oil rigs appeared on tiny podunk patches of ground barely big enough to contain the equipment, and the drilling rigs were so thick and close together, that at night the countryside looked like the Emerald City. A company drilled a well on our place and told dad they hit oil, but one morning we awoke to find everything gone, oil tank and oil included, without him every seeing a cent. The area was left a mess, with lengths of oil well pipe, huge wooden timbers and chunks of steel cable laying everywhere in the weeds.&nbsp;The oil company never came back to clean up their mess, but Dad had decided to get something for our trouble in case they did, so he hooked onto several long well-casing pipes and drug them to a fencerow a ways behind the barn.

One of our favorite winter pastimes was rabbit hunting. We didn’t have a dog so we’d just wonder through the woods and along fencerows looking for tracks and rootin’ through weed and briar patches to kick out rabbits hiding therein. One snowy Saturday afternoon we departed on a rabbit hunting excursion that followed our usual route, starting behind the barn and turning right at the end of a short pasture, then following a drainage ditch that was overgrown on both sides with all manner of briers, blackberries and other stellar rabbit hiding places. Several inches of soft snow made for slow going, but the snow made rabbit tracks show-up like chocolate chips in pancakes. The drainage ditch ran for a couple hundred yards and where it ended against the next fencerow was where the high-jacked oil well pipes resided. Rabbit tracks littered the ground all around the pipes; one pipe in particular had a highway of tracks going into one end but none going out the other. &nbsp;

A quick glance inside showed complete darkness, telling us Brer rabbit was certainly holed up inside.&nbsp;Eureka! But it seemed terribly unsportsman-like, even to us just to shoot him in the pipe, not to mention a complete waste of tasty rabbit meat, so how would we get him out? Surely pounding on the outside of the pipe would get him moving. With Ralph standing near one end, his old&nbsp;12-gauge&nbsp;canon at the ready, I proceeded to jump around on the pipe. I tap-danced, kicked, beat and pounded all up-and-down one end of the pipe, but nothing. Since we couldn’t actually see him in there, maybe he was facing the other direction, we thought, so we traded ends and tried again, still nothing. Somewhere we found a long stick of some sort that reached part way through the pipe. While Ralph stood on guard, I poked and prodded from both ends, but still nothing! Curses, we were getting’ nowhere! Then suddenly I had a two-word epiphany that would solve our problem; John Deere!

We hiked back to the barn, started the old JD 3010 with a loader on front and headed through the snow back to the pipe. As we chugged&nbsp;along,&nbsp;we could almost taste the freshly fried rabbit, as surely no cottontail alive could keep its footing inside an oil well pipe with one end hoisted toward the sky. I swung the tractor around in front of the offending pipe, slid the loader bucket beneath it and lifted it a few feet in the air, all the while awaiting the thunder of Ralph’s old 12 gauge as Brer came sliding out the other end. Nothing, so I hoisted the pipe even higher, and still nothing. What, had we found a bionic bunny with&nbsp;4-wheel&nbsp;drive? I dropped the pipe back into the snow, pulled it away from the fence and slid the bucket under the other end. This would surely do it we figured. Once&nbsp;again,&nbsp;I raised the pipe, awaiting the roar of the 12 gauge, and once again, nothing. I tried it all; jerking the pipe up and down, dropping it onto the ground with a thud, even sticking one loader tine into the end and whipping it up-and-down like a symphony conductor’s baton, all with the same results…nothing! If ole’ Brer was in there, I suppose by then he was either dead or passed out from fright. It was about then the realization hit us that whatever was blocking the pipe might not be a rabbit, but a clod of dirt dad scooped up when he dragged&nbsp;the pipe to its new home, a nest of some sort or maybe a dead possum. Lucky for us it was not a skunk! &nbsp;I have a friend that was bit by a skunk that came sliding out of an irrigation pipe. Anyway, whatever was in there was either inanimate or dead and was not going to taste real good fried, so we accepted defeat and moved on.&nbsp;

Guys stake down old barrels in lakes as lairs for catfish, often noodling big flatheads out of them during the summer. Maybe we should have looked into renting out our oil well pipes to neighbors as “cottontail condos,” accepting a bunny or two each year as payment. &nbsp;With all the forgotten, left-behind oil well pipes there must have been in that county, we could have had dozens, perhaps hundreds of cottontail condo rentals. We could have become real estate moguls while we were still in high school! Yup, I can see it all now; Cottontail Condos, the full taste of the wild for only half the work!&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>During the 1960s, there was an oil boom in Morrow County,&nbsp;Ohio, where we&nbsp;grew up, and either there were no regulations on anything or no one followed them, because oil rigs appeared on tiny podunk patches of ground barely big enough to contain the equipment, and the drilling rigs were so thick and close together, that at night the countryside looked like the Emerald City. A company drilled a well on our place and told dad they hit oil, but one morning we awoke to find everything gone, oil tank and oil included, without him every seeing a cent. The area was left a mess, with lengths of oil well pipe, huge wooden timbers and chunks of steel cable laying everywhere in the weeds.&nbsp;The oil company never came back to clean up their mess, but Dad had decided to get something for our trouble in case they did, so he hooked onto several long well-casing pipes and drug them to a fencerow a ways behind the barn.One of our favorite winter pastimes was rabbit hunting. We didn’t have a dog so we’d just wonder through the woods and along fencerows looking for tracks and rootin’ through weed and briar patches to kick out rabbits hiding therein. One snowy Saturday afternoon we departed on a rabbit hunting excursion that followed our usual route, starting behind the barn and turning right at the end of a short pasture, then following a drainage ditch that was overgrown on both sides with all manner of briers, blackberries and other stellar rabbit hiding places. Several inches of soft snow made for slow going, but the snow made rabbit tracks show-up like chocolate chips in pancakes. The drainage ditch ran for a couple hundred yards and where it ended against the next fencerow was where the high-jacked oil well pipes resided. Rabbit tracks littered the ground all around the pipes; one pipe in particular had a highway of tracks going into one end but none going out the other. &nbsp;A quick glance inside showed complete darkness, telling us Brer rabbit was certainly holed up inside.&nbsp;Eureka! But it seemed terribly unsportsman-like, even to us just to shoot him in the pipe, not to mention a complete waste of tasty rabbit meat, so how would we get him out? Surely pounding on the outside of the pipe would get him moving. With Ralph standing near one end, his old&nbsp;12-gauge&nbsp;canon at the ready, I proceeded to jump around on the pipe. I tap-danced, kicked, beat and pounded all up-and-down one end of the pipe, but nothing. Since we couldn’t actually see him in there, maybe he was facing the other direction, we thought, so we traded ends and tried again, still nothing. Somewhere we found a long stick of some sort that reached part way through the pipe. While Ralph stood on guard, I poked and prodded from both ends, but still nothing! Curses, we were getting’ nowhere! Then suddenly I had a two-word epiphany that would solve our problem; John Deere!We hiked back to the barn, started the old JD 3010 with a loader on front and headed through the snow back to the pipe. As we chugged&nbsp;along,&nbsp;we could almost taste the freshly fried rabbit, as surely no cottontail alive could keep its footing inside an oil well pipe with one end hoisted toward the sky. I swung the tractor around in front of the offending pipe, slid the loader bucket beneath it and lifted it a few feet in the air, all the while awaiting the thunder of Ralph’s old 12 gauge as Brer came sliding out the other end. Nothing, so I hoisted the pipe even higher, and still nothing. What, had we found a bionic bunny with&nbsp;4-wheel&nbsp;drive? I dropped the pipe back into the snow, pulled it away from the fence and slid the bucket under the other end. This would surely do it we figured. Once&nbsp;again,&nbsp;I raised the pipe, awaiting the roar of the 12 gauge, and once again, nothing. I tried it all; jerking the pipe up and down, dropping it onto the ground with a thud, even sticking one loader tine into the end and whipping it up-and-down like a symphony conductor’s baton, all with the same results…nothing! If ole’ Brer was in there, I suppose by then he was either dead or passed out from fright. It was about then the realization hit us that whatever was blocking the pipe might not be a rabbit, but a clod of dirt dad scooped up when he dragged&nbsp;the pipe to its new home, a nest of some sort or maybe a dead possum. Lucky for us it was not a skunk! &nbsp;I have a friend that was bit by a skunk that came sliding out of an irrigation pipe. Anyway, whatever was in there was either inanimate or dead and was not going to taste real good fried, so we accepted defeat and moved on.&nbsp;Guys stake down old barrels in lakes as lairs for catfish, often noodling big flatheads out of them during the summer. Maybe we should have looked into renting out our oil well pipes to neighbors as “cottontail condos,” accepting a bunny or two each year as payment. &nbsp;With all the forgotten, left-behind oil well pipes there must have been in that county, we could have had dozens, perhaps hundreds of cottontail condo rentals. We could have become real estate moguls while we were still in high school! Yup, I can see it all now; Cottontail Condos, the full taste of the wild for only half the work!&nbsp;Continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors!Steve Gilliland, Inman, can be contacted by email at stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.

Exploring Outdoors Kansas: Farm kid rabbit hunting

It’s game day. The high school athlete has her jersey on and prepares to go into action.&nbsp;&nbsp;All eyes are on her as she makes her move. But right now this athlete isn’t using a ball, she’s using a book.&nbsp;

On game days at Frankfort High School, the athletes don’t just perform on the court, they read to younger kids in the classroom. This is small-town athletics at its best.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Dean Dalinghaus is principal at Frankfort High School, home of the Wildcats. He went to high school at B&amp;B, graduated from K-State, and has been principal at Frankfort since 2006. He has observed the significance of hometown sports teams in rural communities.&nbsp;

“I think it brings the community together,” he said. “It creates a sense of pride. It’s the joy of seeing the kids put their heart and soul on the line, for the (town) name on the front of the jersey.”&nbsp;

Among the competitive athletes who recently came from his school is Emilee Ebert. In fact, her parents are directly involved with the school. Her father, Brian, is a teacher and was Emilee’s basketball coach at Frankfort. Her mother, Jennifer, is the school librarian.&nbsp;

Emilee Ebert had a standout athletic career at Frankfort. She set the school record with 1,648 career points in basketball. A four-time Kansas Basketball Coaches Association honoree, she earned first-team honors in 2018 and 2019. She completed her basketball career as a four-time All-Twin Valley League First Team recipient and a four-time All-Flint Hills First Team honoree by the&nbsp;Manhattan Mercury.&nbsp;

At the end of her senior season in 2018-19, Emilee was a McDonald’s All-American nominee and garnered top-15 All-Class honors as well as Class 1A All-State First Team honors from multiple sources. Not only was she selected to play in several all-star games, but she was also selected as the most valuable player at two of them.&nbsp;

Ebert was also an outstanding competitor in volleyball and track and field.&nbsp;

Emilee Ebert chose to come to K-State to play basketball for women’s coach Jeff Mittie.&nbsp;&nbsp;By her sophomore season, she was the only Wildcat to start all 27 games. That year, she finished among the Big 12’s best in assists, blocks per game, and assist-to-turnover ratio. Ebert set the school record for blocks by a guard in a season and was the only player in the Big 12 to appear in the top 15 in assists and blocks.&nbsp;

In her junior year, she played in a career-high 31 games with 24 starts. As this is being written—partway through her senior season—she has helped lead the Cats to a 9-2 record and a top 25 ranking. On Dec. 7, she led K-State in scoring in its win against Kansas City and has been consistently good from the free-throw line.&nbsp;

She is also an excellent example of a student-athlete. Ebert has made the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll twice, plus the Big 12 All-Rookie Academic Team, and the Academic All-Big 12 Team the following year.&nbsp;

Dalinghaus said he wants his students to appreciate academics as well. Frankfort has a K-12 attendance center, so all grades are in the same building. This creates an opportunity for interaction between older and younger students.&nbsp;

Three years ago, Dalinghaus created an initiative called Wildcat Readers. On game days, the athletes take turns reading a book to the elementary school children while wearing their jerseys or dress clothes, depending on the sport.&nbsp;

“It lets the little kids see the older kids as student-athletes, not just athletes,” Dalinghaus said. By modeling reading and encouraging the kids to read, it is a win-win for academics as well as athletics.&nbsp;

This type of interaction works especially well in a school in a rural community such as Frankfort, population 723 people. Now, that’s rural.&nbsp;

All eyes are on the athlete as she makes her move—not to the basket, but to the book.&nbsp;&nbsp;We commend Dean Dalinghaus for making a difference with this initiative to connect learning and athletics, and we salute Emilee Ebert and all small-town athletes for representing their communities so well.

Ron Wilson is the director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University .

It’s game day. The high school athlete has her jersey on and prepares to go into action.&nbsp;&nbsp;All eyes are on her as she makes her move. But right now this athlete isn’t using a ball, she’s using a book.&nbsp;On game days at Frankfort High School, the athletes don’t just perform on the court, they read to younger kids in the classroom. This is small-town athletics at its best.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Dean Dalinghaus is principal at Frankfort High School, home of the Wildcats. He went to high school at B&amp;B, graduated from K-State, and has been principal at Frankfort since 2006. He has observed the significance of hometown sports teams in rural communities.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1672283436581.jpeg" alt="Emilee Ebert, K-State basketball. Courtesy photo " />
 <figcaption>Emilee Ebert, K-State basketball. Courtesy photo </figcaption>
 </figure>“I think it brings the community together,” he said. “It creates a sense of pride. It’s the joy of seeing the kids put their heart and soul on the line, for the (town) name on the front of the jersey.”&nbsp;Among the competitive athletes who recently came from his school is Emilee Ebert. In fact, her parents are directly involved with the school. Her father, Brian, is a teacher and was Emilee’s basketball coach at Frankfort. Her mother, Jennifer, is the school librarian.&nbsp;Emilee Ebert had a standout athletic career at Frankfort. She set the school record with 1,648 career points in basketball. A four-time Kansas Basketball Coaches Association honoree, she earned first-team honors in 2018 and 2019. She completed her basketball career as a four-time All-Twin Valley League First Team recipient and a four-time All-Flint Hills First Team honoree by the&nbsp;Manhattan Mercury.&nbsp;At the end of her senior season in 2018-19, Emilee was a McDonald’s All-American nominee and garnered top-15 All-Class honors as well as Class 1A All-State First Team honors from multiple sources. Not only was she selected to play in several all-star games, but she was also selected as the most valuable player at two of them.&nbsp;Ebert was also an outstanding competitor in volleyball and track and field.&nbsp;Emilee Ebert chose to come to K-State to play basketball for women’s coach Jeff Mittie.&nbsp;&nbsp;By her sophomore season, she was the only Wildcat to start all 27 games. That year, she finished among the Big 12’s best in assists, blocks per game, and assist-to-turnover ratio. Ebert set the school record for blocks by a guard in a season and was the only player in the Big 12 to appear in the top 15 in assists and blocks.&nbsp;In her junior year, she played in a career-high 31 games with 24 starts. As this is being written—partway through her senior season—she has helped lead the Cats to a 9-2 record and a top 25 ranking. On Dec. 7, she led K-State in scoring in its win against Kansas City and has been consistently good from the free-throw line.&nbsp;She is also an excellent example of a student-athlete. Ebert has made the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll twice, plus the Big 12 All-Rookie Academic Team, and the Academic All-Big 12 Team the following year.&nbsp;Dalinghaus said he wants his students to appreciate academics as well. Frankfort has a K-12 attendance center, so all grades are in the same building. This creates an opportunity for interaction between older and younger students.&nbsp;Three years ago, Dalinghaus created an initiative called Wildcat Readers. On game days, the athletes take turns reading a book to the elementary school children while wearing their jerseys or dress clothes, depending on the sport.&nbsp;“It lets the little kids see the older kids as student-athletes, not just athletes,” Dalinghaus said. By modeling reading and encouraging the kids to read, it is a win-win for academics as well as athletics.&nbsp;This type of interaction works especially well in a school in a rural community such as Frankfort, population 723 people. Now, that’s rural.&nbsp;All eyes are on the athlete as she makes her move—not to the basket, but to the book.&nbsp;&nbsp;We commend Dean Dalinghaus for making a difference with this initiative to connect learning and athletics, and we salute Emilee Ebert and all small-town athletes for representing their communities so well.Ron Wilson is the director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University .

Now That’s Rural: Dalinghaus, Frankfort High, Emilee Ebert, K-State basketball 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1672334508686.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>

SHERMAN COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just before 5a.m. Thursday in Sherman County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2018 Ford Escape driven by&nbsp;&nbsp;Nicole Margaret Cook Clampert, 29, Boulder, Colorado, was westbound on Interstate 70 two miles east of the Kanarado exit.

Due to weather conditions and visibility the Ford rear-ended a 2023 Freightliner semi driven by Dalton Anthony Blosser, 26, Hebron, Ohio.

EMS transported Clampert to the hospital in Goodland. Blosser and a passenger in the semi were not injured. All three were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

SHERMAN COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just before 5a.m. Thursday in Sherman County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2018 Ford Escape driven by&nbsp;&nbsp;Nicole Margaret Cook Clampert, 29, Boulder, Colorado, was westbound on Interstate 70 two miles east of the Kanarado exit.Due to weather conditions and visibility the Ford rear-ended a 2023 Freightliner semi driven by Dalton Anthony Blosser, 26, Hebron, Ohio.EMS transported Clampert to the hospital in Goodland. Blosser and a passenger in the semi were not injured. All three were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

Woman hospitalized after SUV rear-ends semi on I-70

The Hays Area Planning Commission will consider a rezoning request that could open up more lots for housing east of Hays.

L &amp; M Development, Richard Werth owner, has applied to rezone an 11-acre tract of land east of the Hays Regional Airport along Airflyte Drive.

The request is to rezone the property from agriculture to residential suburban.

There are homes on the land directly east of the L &amp; M property. Most of those homes were built in the 1960s or 1970s.

The property that is the subject of the rezoning request is outside of the city limits but is subject to the city's zoning jurisdiction. No recommendation has been made to annex the property.

The property has no access to city water or sewer, so rural water or private wells and sewage lagoons would be required, Kate Armstrong, city planning and zoning tech, said.

The Hays Area Planning Commission has set a public hearing on the rezoning request for Jan. 16.

The request would then go to the Hays City Commission for final approval. The item has not been set on the city commission calendar yet.

The commission will also have a public hearing on Jan. 16 on a request to rezone 27 acres of agricultural land at 48th and Roth to light industrial.

This property is north of Carrico Implement and west of Tractor Supply on west 48th Street.

The Pfannenstiel Family Trust has owned this property for a long time and used it for agriculture production, according to planning documents.

The property proposed for rezoning is not within the city limits. The need for annexation would be determined upon the development of the property, according to planning documents.

The property has city water and sanitary sewer nearby, but they would need extended to serve it.   

The land, which is in the Heritage Addition, is adjacent to other property that is zoned light industrial and general commercial.

Light industrial zoning allows for a variety of uses. Some of these include retail, wholesale, offices, gas stations, drive-throughs, manufacturing and commercial retail.

This request also would need to go to the Hays City Commission for final approval. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1672167305161.png" alt="L &amp; M Development has requested land along Airlfyte Drive east of the Hays Regional Airport be rezoned from agricultural to residential. Courtesy image. " />
 <figcaption>L &amp; M Development has requested land along Airlfyte Drive east of the Hays Regional Airport be rezoned from agricultural to residential. Courtesy image. </figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostThe Hays Area Planning Commission will consider a rezoning request that could open up more lots for housing east of Hays.L &amp; M Development, Richard Werth owner, has applied to rezone an 11-acre tract of land east of the Hays Regional Airport along Airflyte Drive.The request is to rezone the property from agriculture to residential suburban.There are homes on the land directly east of the L &amp; M property. Most of those homes were built in the 1960s or 1970s. The property that is the subject of the rezoning request is outside of the city limits but is subject to the city's zoning jurisdiction. No recommendation has been made to annex the property.The property has no access to city water or sewer, so rural water or private wells and sewage lagoons would be required, Kate Armstrong, city planning and zoning tech, said.The Hays Area Planning Commission has set a public hearing on the rezoning request for Jan. 16.The request would then go to the Hays City Commission for final approval. The item has not been set on the city commission calendar yet.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1672167572555.png" alt="A request has been filed to rezone land north of 48th from agricultural to light industrial. Courtesy image. " />
 <figcaption>A request has been filed to rezone land north of 48th from agricultural to light industrial. Courtesy image. </figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Land along 48th St. to be rezoned</h2>The commission will also have a public hearing on Jan. 16 on a request to rezone 27 acres of agricultural land at 48th and Roth to light industrial.This property is north of Carrico Implement and west of Tractor Supply on west 48th Street. The Pfannenstiel Family Trust has owned this property for a long time and used it for agriculture production, according to planning documents.The property proposed for rezoning is not within the city limits. The need for annexation would be determined upon the development of the property, according to planning documents.The property has city water and sanitary sewer nearby, but they would need extended to serve it. The land, which is in the Heritage Addition, is adjacent to other property that is zoned light industrial and general commercial. Light industrial zoning allows for a variety of uses. Some of these include retail, wholesale, offices, gas stations, drive-throughs, manufacturing and commercial retail. This request also would need to go to the Hays City Commission for final approval.

Rezoning to open residential tract, land north of 48th for development

Citizens are encouraged to bring real Christmas trees to the free disposal site located north of the Public Works building at 1002 Vine St. This area is right next to the bathrooms at Speier ball fields. Place the trees on the east side of the bathrooms.

Signs will be posted to direct citizens. &nbsp;

Please remove all plastic, ornaments and lights before leaving the tree. The disposal site will be open through Monday, Jan. 9, 2023. &nbsp;

Midwest Energy will provide personnel and a wood chipper to chip the trees to make mulch. The mulch will be placed at the Parks Department on the U.S. Highway 183 Bypass and is available for pickup free of charge.

If there are questions, call the Solid Waste Division at 785-628-7350.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1609258939475.png" alt="(Photo by Becky Kiser/Hays Post)" />
 <figcaption>(Photo by Becky Kiser/Hays Post)</figcaption>
 </figure>City of HaysCitizens are encouraged to bring real Christmas trees to the free disposal site located north of the Public Works building at 1002 Vine St. This area is right next to the bathrooms at Speier ball fields. Place the trees on the east side of the bathrooms.Signs will be posted to direct citizens. &nbsp;Please remove all plastic, ornaments and lights before leaving the tree. The disposal site will be open through Monday, Jan. 9, 2023. &nbsp;Midwest Energy will provide personnel and a wood chipper to chip the trees to make mulch. The mulch will be placed at the Parks Department on the U.S. Highway 183 Bypass and is available for pickup free of charge.If there are questions, call the Solid Waste Division at 785-628-7350.

Free Christmas tree disposal open at Hays Public Works facility

The Hays Police Department responded to 86 calls from Dec. 4-10, 2022 according to the HPD Activity Log.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1592410704431.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The Hays Police Department responded to 86 calls from Dec. 4-10, 2022 according to the HPD Activity Log.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1672312871006.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1672312963633.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1672313047513.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1592410704431.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

Hays PD Activity Log, Dec. 4-10  

By COLE REIF Great Bend Post

GREAT BEND — In late November, it was announced the Vietnam Veterans Memorial replica
is coming to Great Bend in May. The three-quarter replica from the memorial
in Washington D.C. travels across the country to give citizens a chance to view
the memorial that may not be able to travel to Washington. 
Larry Parsons, a Vietnam veteran himself, was the Chairperson for the Great Bend
Leadership Committee that helped bring the traveling memorial to Great Bend.
Parsons said one of the exciting parts of bringing the “The Wall That Heals” to
town is the opportunity to educate the younger children about the Vietnam War. "A
 big thing I wanted to do was bring some hands-on education for our 
school kids, and that's why I didn't want it during the summer," said 
Parsons. "I wanted it when school was on so&nbsp; teachers could maybe bring a
 field trip and walk through it." 
Along with the memorial, a mobile education center travels along too. A tour
guide can tell anyone about the history of the war and the impact of the
Vietnam era. 
Standing 7.5 feet high, the wall replica is 375 feet long and bears the names
of the more than 58,000 American men and women who died during the war. 
"Another big goal of mine is to bring some closure for people," said 
Parsons. "Maybe this will ease some of the pain. We have a couple of 
families in town that lost soldiers in the war." 
The memorial will be positioned at Veterans Memorial Park in Great Bend May 11 - May 14 and is free to the public.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671644103472.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By COLE REIF Great Bend PostGREAT BEND — In late November, it was announced the Vietnam Veterans Memorial replica
is coming to Great Bend in May. The three-quarter replica from the memorial
in Washington D.C. travels across the country to give citizens a chance to view
the memorial that may not be able to travel to Washington. 
Larry Parsons, a Vietnam veteran himself, was the Chairperson for the Great Bend
Leadership Committee that helped bring the traveling memorial to Great Bend.
Parsons said one of the exciting parts of bringing the “The Wall That Heals” to
town is the opportunity to educate the younger children about the Vietnam War. "A
 big thing I wanted to do was bring some hands-on education for our 
school kids, and that's why I didn't want it during the summer," said 
Parsons. "I wanted it when school was on so&nbsp; teachers could maybe bring a
 field trip and walk through it." 
Along with the memorial, a mobile education center travels along too. A tour
guide can tell anyone about the history of the war and the impact of the
Vietnam era. 
Standing 7.5 feet high, the wall replica is 375 feet long and bears the names
of the more than 58,000 American men and women who died during the war. 
"Another big goal of mine is to bring some closure for people," said 
Parsons. "Maybe this will ease some of the pain. We have a couple of 
families in town that lost soldiers in the war." 
The memorial will be positioned at Veterans Memorial Park in Great Bend May 11 - May 14 and is free to the public.&nbsp;

Memorial helps children learn about Vietnam War impact

An opinion piece printed in the Wichita Eagle on Dec. 24&nbsp;told the tale of a
man with inoperable terminal cancer being the victim of three cold-hearted Hays
Police Department officers&nbsp;raiding his hospital room to confiscate the
cannabis he was using to find some relief from his symptoms.

That opinion piece was later printed as news in outlets across the U.S. and
beyond.

But while countless news outlets painted a picture of Hays officers citing a sick man for
criminal activity and forcing him to go before the Hays Municipal
Court for what would not be a crime in most of the country, they did so without any attempt to secure accurate information.

Hays Police Department Chief Don Scheibler said while officers did
cite an individual being treated at HaysMed on suspicion of drug possession on Dec. 19, a request to pull the ticket was made the same day. The opinion piece was not published until five days later on Dec 24.

He said he likely saw the report
during an end-of-shift summary but became aware of the details only after the opinion piece
was published.

“I
wasn't really aware of the incident until I saw an opinion [piece] out of a
Wichita paper talking about the Hays Police Department raiding a hospital room
and an individual with cancer being arrested,” Scheibler said.

After
looking into the case, he described the response captured on the officers'
audio recorders. 

“The
hospital staff had reported they discovered a patient who was vaping with an electronic
device with a controlled substance in the vape machine, and they were concerned,”
Scheibler said.

He said the staff was concerned about the fire risk caused by using a vaping device and the
effects of its use on the staff, so they called the police department.

Two–not three as reported–HPD officers responded to the call, Scheibler said.

“The
staff already had the items,” Scheibler said. “So, they collected the items
from the staff.”

“They
just can't take those illegal drugs and throw them in a drawer and keep them,”
he said.

From there
he said the officers spoke with the individual.

“We were
in the room just a little over eight minutes,” Scheibler said. “I've listened
to the audio recording. The officers were polite, courteous and showed the
individual empathy. He expressed some frustration about the whole incident, and
they were sympathetic to that.”

But they
did write him a ticket for the drug violations in accordance with Hays Municipal
Code.

The misdemeanor
offense used in the citation would result in a fine if he was convicted in Hays Municipal
Court.

However, that
process was stopped shortly after the ticket was issued and long before any
story had been written.

“They
immediately drove back to the office, spoke to the supervisor and that day sent
an email to the prosecutor recommending they dismiss the ticket,” Scheibler
said. “Based on that recommendation, we pulled that ticket.”

He said
the officer, in an effort to enforce the laws as written, initially made a
judgment call to follow procedure to the letter, a decision that, with guidance
from a more seasoned, officer, was adjusted.

“The
officers weren't perfect that day,” Scheibler said. “They tried to be, and at the
end of the day, they got where they needed to be. But I can't stress enough the
problem is not what they did. It's how we're supposed to enforce the law
in this situation.”

He said
it is also important to note HaysMed staff were also operating under their
policy and state law.

“I think that the hospital did everything required to them by
law,” Scheibler said. “The officer did everything in accordance with Kansas state law. They didn't violate any department policy or procedure.”

“We put law enforcement officers in a very difficult
position," he said. "We want to say this is a law but don't enforce it. That's gonna be a
challenge for us.”

By JAMES BELL Hays PostAn opinion piece printed in the Wichita Eagle on Dec. 24&nbsp;told the tale of a
man with inoperable terminal cancer being the victim of three cold-hearted Hays
Police Department officers&nbsp;raiding his hospital room to confiscate the
cannabis he was using to find some relief from his symptoms.That opinion piece was later printed as news in outlets across the U.S. and
beyond.But while countless news outlets painted a picture of Hays officers citing a sick man for
criminal activity and forcing him to go before the Hays Municipal
Court for what would not be a crime in most of the country, they did so without any attempt to secure accurate information.Hays Police Department Chief Don Scheibler said while officers did
cite an individual being treated at HaysMed on suspicion of drug possession on Dec. 19, a request to pull the ticket was made the same day. The opinion piece was not published until five days later on Dec 24. He said he likely saw the report
during an end-of-shift summary but became aware of the details only after the opinion piece
was published.“I
wasn't really aware of the incident until I saw an opinion [piece] out of a
Wichita paper talking about the Hays Police Department raiding a hospital room
and an individual with cancer being arrested,” Scheibler said.After
looking into the case, he described the response captured on the officers'
audio recorders. “The
hospital staff had reported they discovered a patient who was vaping with an electronic
device with a controlled substance in the vape machine, and they were concerned,”
Scheibler said.He said the staff was concerned about the fire risk caused by using a vaping device and the
effects of its use on the staff, so they called the police department.Two–not three as reported–HPD officers responded to the call, Scheibler said.“The
staff already had the items,” Scheibler said. “So, they collected the items
from the staff.”“They
just can't take those illegal drugs and throw them in a drawer and keep them,”
he said.From there
he said the officers spoke with the individual.“We were
in the room just a little over eight minutes,” Scheibler said. “I've listened
to the audio recording. The officers were polite, courteous and showed the
individual empathy. He expressed some frustration about the whole incident, and
they were sympathetic to that.”But they
did write him a ticket for the drug violations in accordance with Hays Municipal
Code.The misdemeanor
offense used in the citation would result in a fine if he was convicted in Hays Municipal
Court.However, that
process was stopped shortly after the ticket was issued and long before any
story had been written.“They
immediately drove back to the office, spoke to the supervisor and that day sent
an email to the prosecutor recommending they dismiss the ticket,” Scheibler
said. “Based on that recommendation, we pulled that ticket.”He said
the officer, in an effort to enforce the laws as written, initially made a
judgment call to follow procedure to the letter, a decision that, with guidance
from a more seasoned, officer, was adjusted.“The
officers weren't perfect that day,” Scheibler said. “They tried to be, and at the
end of the day, they got where they needed to be. But I can't stress enough the
problem is not what they did. It's how we're supposed to enforce the law
in this situation.”He said
it is also important to note HaysMed staff were also operating under their
policy and state law.“I think that the hospital did everything required to them by
law,” Scheibler said. “The officer did everything in accordance with Kansas state law. They didn't violate any department policy or procedure.”“We put law enforcement officers in a very difficult
position," he said. "We want to say this is a law but don't enforce it. That's gonna be a
challenge for us.”And
while the goal of the original opinion piece was likely to spur a conversation
about medical cannabis use in Kansas, even as regional, national and
international news agencies published the story, no one spoke with a member of
the police department, leading to the inaccuracies being spread.“Accuracy
wasn't a priority,” Scheibler said. “They didn't do any investigation into it.
They just tried to create discussion.”And that
lack of accuracy has led to threats against HaysMed staff and HPD
officers.“I
recognize an opinion editor that's his job is to create discussion in this
community,” he said. “When we fail to investigate things and actually get important
facts, that's when it gets tricky. The hospital did exactly what it
needed to do in accordance with Kansas law. The police officers were also acting
within the law and city policy and procedure. They didn't do anything wrong.”He acknowledged
a call from the opinion editor had been logged, but as it referenced only a misdemeanor
crime and with the timing right before the holiday, the call had not yet been returned.But
while the inaccuracies in the media are problematic, Scheibler said the expectation
that police officers are expected to equally enforce the law while at the same
time being expected to make judgment calls that not everyone may agree with is also a concern.“We
continue to try and expect police officers to be perfect in an imperfect world,”
he said. “We're ultimately disappointed. At the end of the day, those kids went
out there and did the best they could, based on the laws of the state of Kansas and the city of Hays and tried to use their best judgment and show compassion for
this individual.”“We
encourage them to use good judgment,” he said. “We've hired them, and we
empower them to use good officer discretion. And we want them to do that. … They
did everything in accordance with the law, that's the problem. But at the end
of the day, they got where we want them to be.”He said he supported their decisions.“They
want to enforce the law equally and hold everybody to the same standard, which
I think is important,” Scheibler said. “And I admire them for that.”“I support what they
did," he said. "I support their decisions trying to follow the law of&nbsp; Kansas and Hays,
but also show some compassion and empathy, and they did that. They didn't feel
comfortable writing that ticket, [they] didn't think it was necessary. So, they
made that recommendation [to pull the ticket.]While standing by the actions of the
officers, he said he was sorry the patient was caught up in the situation.“It's
important that we have these discussions,” Scheibler said. “It's important that
we have clear laws for law enforcement to enforce. And we need to do what we
think is best for all of Kansas. Again, the only thing I'm sorry about that day
was that man's got to deal with one of the most private things in his life. And
that's no longer possible now. For that, I'm sorry.”Correction: The story was updated to clarify the date of the initial contact between Hays Police officers and the&nbsp; HaysMed patient.