By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

The Hays Community Theatre will present a special Christmas show this weekend along with a fundraiser for one of the child cast members who is in the hospital.

"We Need a Little Christmas Holiday Extravaganza" performances will be tonight through Sunday at the community theatre, 121 E. Eighth.

Performances will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday with a matinee on Sunday at 2 p.m. The Friday and Saturday night shows are sold out, but tickets are still available for Thursday and Sunday. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday.

Tickets are $10 each and can be purchased online at <a href="https://www.hctks.com">www.hctks.com</a>.

The performances will be a variety show with song and dance. Director Cheryl Glassman's daughter, Sarah, wrote three songs for the show.

"The show is actually a couple of shows within a show," Glassman said. "It revolves around a gentleman played by Jerrett Leiker. The love of his life has passed away, and he is wandering through life without purpose or feeling.

"He is visited by an undercover elf named Jingles (Jack Stoecklein). Jingles tries to work his magic to help Jerrett find the goodness in living. They hear songs and see TV scenes from the past. Other elves arrive. Toys come to life."

The spirit of Jerrett's lost love, played by Claire Nickerson, follows his journey. The audience will see a mix of comedy, music and drama, Glassman said.

"We definitely will provide an opportunity for folks to experience Christmas and the holidays in many different ways," she said. 

Glassman said the big man in the red suit will be in the show. 

"There's a surprise to who he is," she said.

There is a one-act play within the show called "The Christmas Tea" wherein three toys discuss their purpose. The Christmas Tea was written by Robert Neil Porter, and distributed by Pioneer Drama Services, Denver. 

The shows are appropriate for family viewing.

"This is a show for everyone," Glassman said. "If you do come, it will be a time to laugh and reminisce and pull a little on the heartstrings," Glassman said.

The community theater had auditions for the show in October. Different groups have been coming in to learn their songs, and now they are all coming together, Glassman said.

"It's cool to become someone outside of your box," Glassman said.

 In the spirit of this season of giving, the theatre is asking attendees to bring a canned good or nonperishable food item for local food pantries.

A bake sale will benefit cast member Malachi Miller, 12. 

Malachi is in the pediatric ICU in Omaha. The theatre hopes  to help the family with travel expenses. Malachi's character is still part of the show as he is mentioned in the script.

Amy Baltodano contributed to this story.

MICHELE FOSTER CODI FENWICK GENE STREMEL ELISABETH BERGMAN AMY BERGMAN BROOKE LEIKER ROBERT CUSTER CLAIRE NICKERSON ADAM CONKEY ANDY STANTON JANESSA MILLER KHLOE BARTLING RYAN GIEBLER ZACHARY LEIKER LUCA ALBERS LYLA OLLER BRAYDON HEPT MAYA OLLER HANNAH LOHRMEYER LYLA OLLER MERERICK OLLER JERRETT LEIKER (THE ELDER) JACK STOECKLEIN EVELYN SCHMIDT ELLA FENWICK CHRISTIAN MILLER ALLISON WEBER CONNER MILLER VIVIAN LEIKER DANA STANTON SOPHIE SCHMIDT NORA STOCKLEIN KELSEY ROBBEN KYNSIE LEIKER JENSEN MILLER MATTHIAS MILLER MALACHI MILLER STELLA HARRIS JERET LEIKER (THE YOUNGER) ACCOMPANIST: CURTIS SANDER DIRECTOR : CHERYL GLASSMAN ASSIST DIRECTOR: SANDY GLASSMAN LIGHTS: CONNER WERTH SOUND: ALBERT KRAUS STAGE CREW MNGR: SARAH LEIKER ASSIST STG CREW: ALICIA WINDHOLZ, AMY BERGMAN, GLORIA CUSTER SET DESIGN: SHAWNA KOEHN, SARAH LEIKER, CODI AND ELLA FENWICK SET CONSTRUCTION: JERRETT LEIKER, ADAM CONKEY PROP MISTRESS/STAGE MNGR: AMY BERGMAN COSTUMES: SHARONA FONDOBLE, JESSICA ALBERS, ST. CATHARINE CATHOLIC CHURCH, SANDY GLASSMAN, HAYS ARTS COUNCIL (BALLERINAS), PARENTS &amp; CAST MEMBERS HAIR/ELVES/TOY MAKEUP: SANDY GLASSMAN, GLORIA CUSTER, BETH OLLER HAIR CONSULTANT/WIG DESIGN: CHELSIE NELSON

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670431715598.jpeg" alt="Performers for the Hays Community Theatre's "We Need a Little Christmas Holiday Extravaganza." Courtesy photo " />
 <figcaption>Performers for the Hays Community Theatre's "We Need a Little Christmas Holiday Extravaganza." Courtesy photo </figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post The Hays Community Theatre will present a special Christmas show this weekend along with a fundraiser for one of the child cast members who is in the hospital. "We Need a Little Christmas Holiday Extravaganza" performances will be tonight through Sunday at the community theatre, 121 E. Eighth.Performances will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday with a matinee on Sunday at 2 p.m. The Friday and Saturday night shows are sold out, but tickets are still available for Thursday and Sunday. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday.Tickets are $10 each and can be purchased online at <a href="https://www.hctks.com">www.hctks.com</a>.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670431862704.jpeg" alt="Performers for the Hays Community Theatre's "We Need a Little Christmas Holiday Extravaganza." Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Performers for the Hays Community Theatre's "We Need a Little Christmas Holiday Extravaganza." Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>The performances will be a variety show with song and dance. Director Cheryl Glassman's daughter, Sarah, wrote three songs for the show."The show is actually a couple of shows within a show," Glassman said. "It revolves around a gentleman played by Jerrett Leiker. The love of his life has passed away, and he is wandering through life without purpose or feeling."He is visited by an undercover elf named Jingles (Jack Stoecklein). Jingles tries to work his magic to help Jerrett find the goodness in living. They hear songs and see TV scenes from the past. Other elves arrive. Toys come to life."The spirit of Jerrett's lost love, played by Claire Nickerson, follows his journey. The audience will see a mix of comedy, music and drama, Glassman said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670431929295.jpeg" alt="Performers for the Hays Community Theatre's "We Need a Little Christmas Holiday Extravaganza." Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Performers for the Hays Community Theatre's "We Need a Little Christmas Holiday Extravaganza." Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>"We definitely will provide an opportunity for folks to experience Christmas and the holidays in many different ways," she said. Glassman said the big man in the red suit will be in the show. "There's a surprise to who he is," she said.There is a one-act play within the show called "The Christmas Tea" wherein three toys discuss their purpose. The Christmas Tea was written by Robert Neil Porter, and distributed by Pioneer Drama Services, Denver. <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670431960882.jpeg" alt="Performers for the Hays Community Theatre's "We Need a Little Christmas Holiday Extravaganza." Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Performers for the Hays Community Theatre's "We Need a Little Christmas Holiday Extravaganza." Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>The shows are appropriate for family viewing."This is a show for everyone," Glassman said. "If you do come, it will be a time to laugh and reminisce and pull a little on the heartstrings," Glassman said.The community theater had auditions for the show in October. Different groups have been coming in to learn their songs, and now they are all coming together, Glassman said."It's cool to become someone outside of your box," Glassman said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670432019733.jpeg" alt="Performers for the Hays Community Theatre's "We Need a Little Christmas Holiday Extravaganza." Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Performers for the Hays Community Theatre's "We Need a Little Christmas Holiday Extravaganza." Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure> In the spirit of this season of giving, the theatre is asking attendees to bring a canned good or nonperishable food item for local food pantries.A bake sale will benefit cast member Malachi Miller, 12. Malachi is in the pediatric ICU in Omaha. The theatre hopes to help the family with travel expenses. Malachi's character is still part of the show as he is mentioned in the script.Amy Baltodano contributed to this story. <h2>CAST LIST</h2>MICHELE FOSTER CODI FENWICK GENE STREMEL ELISABETH BERGMAN AMY BERGMAN BROOKE LEIKER ROBERT CUSTER CLAIRE NICKERSON ADAM CONKEY ANDY STANTON JANESSA MILLER KHLOE BARTLING RYAN GIEBLER ZACHARY LEIKER LUCA ALBERS LYLA OLLER BRAYDON HEPT MAYA OLLER HANNAH LOHRMEYER LYLA OLLER MERERICK OLLER JERRETT LEIKER (THE ELDER) JACK STOECKLEIN EVELYN SCHMIDT ELLA FENWICK CHRISTIAN MILLER ALLISON WEBER CONNER MILLER VIVIAN LEIKER DANA STANTON SOPHIE SCHMIDT NORA STOCKLEIN KELSEY ROBBEN KYNSIE LEIKER JENSEN MILLER MATTHIAS MILLER MALACHI MILLER STELLA HARRIS JERET LEIKER (THE YOUNGER) ACCOMPANIST: CURTIS SANDER DIRECTOR : CHERYL GLASSMAN ASSIST DIRECTOR: SANDY GLASSMAN LIGHTS: CONNER WERTH SOUND: ALBERT KRAUS STAGE CREW MNGR: SARAH LEIKER ASSIST STG CREW: ALICIA WINDHOLZ, AMY BERGMAN, GLORIA CUSTER SET DESIGN: SHAWNA KOEHN, SARAH LEIKER, CODI AND ELLA FENWICK SET CONSTRUCTION: JERRETT LEIKER, ADAM CONKEY PROP MISTRESS/STAGE MNGR: AMY BERGMAN COSTUMES: SHARONA FONDOBLE, JESSICA ALBERS, ST. CATHARINE CATHOLIC CHURCH, SANDY GLASSMAN, HAYS ARTS COUNCIL (BALLERINAS), PARENTS &amp; CAST MEMBERS HAIR/ELVES/TOY MAKEUP: SANDY GLASSMAN, GLORIA CUSTER, BETH OLLER HAIR CONSULTANT/WIG DESIGN: CHELSIE NELSON

Hays Community Theatre serves up 'Holiday Extravaganza' this weekend

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

Five people with ties to northwest Kansas were honored Friday as part of the NextGen Under 30 program.

Fort Hays State University graduates Kaitie Blackburn, Jana’s Campaign executive director, and Kendahl Goetzman, Dierks Law Firm; Mark Faber, FHSU 2021-22 student body president; Kylee Landreth of Paradise Roots Pharmacy of Plainville; and Lucas Goddard of the Northwest Kansas Economic Innovation Center in Norton were honored as part of the program at a black-tie awards dinner in Topeka.

Blackburn was honored for her work in the nonprofit sector. Goetzman was honored under the law category. Faber was honored under the education category, Landreth was honored in the health care category and Goddard was honored in the retail and e-commerce category.

Blackburn was in the FHSU class of 2015 and has been with Jana’s Campaign since 2016. Goetzman, a Hays native, was in the FHSU class of 2017 and lives in Manhattan.

The NextGen Under 30 mission is to identify and honor talented young adults and to  encourage them to follow their lifetime family and career goals in Kansas, according to the program's website.

The program honorees had to be nominated for the program.

 NextGen Under 30 recognizes and encourages the next generation of innovative, creative and inspiring individuals who push the boundaries in various categories of endeavor. Award winners are selected based on their participation in and contribution to their communities. A panel of respected business and civic leaders serve as judges, the program's website said. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670277225062.jpeg" alt="Kendahl Goetzman and Kaitie Blackburn at the NextGen 30 Under 30 banquet Friday in Topeka. Courtesy photo " />
 <figcaption>Kendahl Goetzman and Kaitie Blackburn at the NextGen 30 Under 30 banquet Friday in Topeka. Courtesy photo </figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostFive people with ties to northwest Kansas were honored Friday as part of the NextGen Under 30 program.Fort Hays State University graduates Kaitie Blackburn, Jana’s Campaign executive director, and Kendahl Goetzman, Dierks Law Firm; Mark Faber, FHSU 2021-22 student body president; Kylee Landreth of Paradise Roots Pharmacy of Plainville; and Lucas Goddard of the Northwest Kansas Economic Innovation Center in Norton were honored as part of the program at a black-tie awards dinner in Topeka.Blackburn was honored for her work in the nonprofit sector. Goetzman was honored under the law category. Faber was honored under the education category, Landreth was honored in the health care category and Goddard was honored in the retail and e-commerce category. Blackburn was in the FHSU class of 2015 and has been with Jana’s Campaign since 2016. Goetzman, a Hays native, was in the FHSU class of 2017 and lives in Manhattan.The NextGen Under 30 mission is to identify and honor talented young adults and to encourage them to follow their lifetime family and career goals in Kansas, according to the program's website.The program honorees had to be nominated for the program. NextGen Under 30 recognizes and encourages the next generation of innovative, creative and inspiring individuals who push the boundaries in various categories of endeavor. Award winners are selected based on their participation in and contribution to their communities. A panel of respected business and civic leaders serve as judges, the program's website said.

Five with NW Kansas ties recognized as part of NextGen Under 30

By DESTRY JACKSON djackson@nwkansas.com

OBERLIN — Steve and Cynthia Haynes surprised their staff at the Oberlin Herald and across northwest Kansas on Friday morning with an announcement that they were retiring from the newspaper business, effective immediately.

The six newspapers that make up Nor’West Newspapers have been sold to two brothers from Washington and Montana, Jesse and Lloyd Mullen of Mullen Newspapers. The brothers said they were born into a newspaper family in Wyoming, and have since purchased and run several newspapers across the western and northwestern U.S.

A new publisher was introduced, Frank Perea, who has edited and published newspapers in many areas around the United States, with subscriber numbers from the low 1,000s to the 100,000 range. Perea currently lives in Holyoke, Colo., but said he will move to northwest Kansas early in the new year.

Steve and Cynthia Haynes said they have been in the newspaper business for over 40 years, and since both of them are 74, they hope to retire and spend more time with their family.

“We may do more traveling now,” Steve Haynes said, “but who knows?”

“We’ll continue to be around, and we’ll help out from time to time,” Cynthia Haynes said.

It has been more than 29 years since the couple moved to Oberlin in 1993, during one of the area’s wettest summers on record. Now, they are retiring during one of the driest years on record.

Perea told employees gathered group for a Zoom meeting Friday morning that he wants to see all the newspapers in the group flourish and prosper.

“We will accentuate the positive in each town and each paper,” Perea said. “The newspapers belong to each town, and every editor and publisher is a steward and caretaker of that town’s history. We are the diary keepers of the towns."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670515361222.jpeg" alt="Steve and Cynthia Haynes / Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Steve and Cynthia Haynes / Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By DESTRY JACKSON djackson@nwkansas.comOBERLIN — Steve and Cynthia Haynes surprised their staff at the Oberlin Herald and across northwest Kansas on Friday morning with an announcement that they were retiring from the newspaper business, effective immediately.The six newspapers that make up Nor’West Newspapers have been sold to two brothers from Washington and Montana, Jesse and Lloyd Mullen of Mullen Newspapers. The brothers said they were born into a newspaper family in Wyoming, and have since purchased and run several newspapers across the western and northwestern U.S.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670515402437.jpeg" alt="Jesse and Lloyd Mullen / Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Jesse and Lloyd Mullen / Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>A new publisher was introduced, Frank Perea, who has edited and published newspapers in many areas around the United States, with subscriber numbers from the low 1,000s to the 100,000 range. Perea currently lives in Holyoke, Colo., but said he will move to northwest Kansas early in the new year.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670515440603.jpeg" alt="Frank Perea / Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Frank Perea / Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>Steve and Cynthia Haynes said they have been in the newspaper business for over 40 years, and since both of them are 74, they hope to retire and spend more time with their family.“We may do more traveling now,” Steve Haynes said, “but who knows?”“We’ll continue to be around, and we’ll help out from time to time,” Cynthia Haynes said.It has been more than 29 years since the couple moved to Oberlin in 1993, during one of the area’s wettest summers on record. Now, they are retiring during one of the driest years on record.Perea told employees gathered group for a Zoom meeting Friday morning that he wants to see all the newspapers in the group flourish and prosper.“We will accentuate the positive in each town and each paper,” Perea said. “The newspapers belong to each town, and every editor and publisher is a steward and caretaker of that town’s history. We are the diary keepers of the towns."Republished with permission

Longtime NW Kan. publishers retire, sell six-paper chain

By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT Hays Post

Due to an increase in costs, the Ellis County Commission
voted Tuesday to hike the rent the Schenk and Unrein buildings at
the Ellis County Fairgrounds.

According to County Administrator Darin Myers, the cost of
supplies, maintenance and utility prices for the two buildings is projected to
be approximately $77,000. 

He said the county tried to equal the revenues of the rentals to
the expenditures, but at the current rental rate of $800, the county expected to
bring in about $60,000 in revenue.

“The last increase that we had for these rentals was several
years ago,” Myers said. “This year is the first year that we're getting a
closer to having a balanced budget, per se, in the building rentals line.”

The commission approved the increase for weekend rentals of
the buildings to $1,000.

“When we make any changes to the rental amounts, it usually
takes about two years to go into effect because The buildings are very popular
to be rented out, and they’re usually rented out two years in advance,” Myers
said. “So we won't really truly see any revenue increases until probably the
middle of '24.”

Myers said currently the buildings are booked until the start of
2024.

Myers said those rates are still cheaper than a couple of event centers in the county and the county buildings and the fair board believes the
county buildings offer more flexibility.

“They feel that these prices are still competitive and cheaper
than other options in town,” Myers said.

Renters also have to put down a $250 deposit and $100 for
insurance.

By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT Hays PostDue to an increase in costs, the Ellis County Commission
voted Tuesday to hike the rent the Schenk and Unrein buildings at
the Ellis County Fairgrounds.According to County Administrator Darin Myers, the cost of
supplies, maintenance and utility prices for the two buildings is projected to
be approximately $77,000. He said the county tried to equal the revenues of the rentals to
the expenditures, but at the current rental rate of $800, the county expected to
bring in about $60,000 in revenue.“The last increase that we had for these rentals was several
years ago,” Myers said. “This year is the first year that we're getting a
closer to having a balanced budget, per se, in the building rentals line.”The commission approved the increase for weekend rentals of
the buildings to $1,000.“When we make any changes to the rental amounts, it usually
takes about two years to go into effect because The buildings are very popular
to be rented out, and they’re usually rented out two years in advance,” Myers
said. “So we won't really truly see any revenue increases until probably the
middle of '24.”Myers said currently the buildings are booked until the start of
2024.Myers said those rates are still cheaper than a couple of event centers in the county and the county buildings and the fair board believes the
county buildings offer more flexibility.“They feel that these prices are still competitive and cheaper
than other options in town,” Myers said.Renters also have to put down a $250 deposit and $100 for
insurance.

Commission votes to increase Schenk, Unrein building rental

The Ellis County Historical Society continues to work toward goals set in the spring of 2021 when a new administration and expanded board
took the helm. 

Much work has been happening behind the scenes but one
important goal Executive Director Amanda Rupp has her focus on is being more
visible and relevant in the community. 

Rupp said she understands how important this is for the society
“especially during this time where our financials continue to only allow for a
small part time staff … we cannot afford to forget about our community while we
work on the laborious tasks of organizing and addressing building needs.”&nbsp; 

The board of directors has worked well with staff in
creating a balance of priorities and abilities that fit within the society’s
resources. 

This November ECHS was recognized three fold at the Kansas
Museum Association’s Annual Conference. 

Director Rupp received a scholarship to attend the
conference in Topeka, which included travel expenses, helping their budget’s bottom
line. 

During the 3-day conference Rupp accepted two other awards
given by KMA. 

A project grant of $500 was awarded to purchase a photo
negative scanner that is more user friendly than traditional tray loading
models. 

Rupp explains that this model “will aid our volunteers who
may have less dexterity or computer knowledge in the project of scanning the
large collection of negatives from Hays Daily News.” 

KMA board also recognized Rupp with the award for Graphic
Design for a project with a budget under $10,000. 

The artwork entered were the traveling display panels about
the Volga German immigrants in Ellis County created for the 2021 Oktoberfest. 

Amanda shares that she is especially fond of this project
because it showcased what a small museum can do on a tight budget, “We
reutilized an accordion travel display that ECHS already had and just added new
graphic panels (designed by Rupp) that told the same story that used to hang in
the main gallery of the museum. I was not reinventing the wheel or rewriting it
in this case, just displaying it in a more pleasing manner that we could take
out to the public while the museum is closed.”&nbsp;


The project total budget was significantly under the limit
for the award category, costing the society under $800 to print and mount. 

Amanda says she thoroughly enjoyed the conference and is
looking forward to next year’s conference which will be held in right here in
Hays.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670504040129.jpeg" alt="ECHS Executive Director, Amanda Rupp was present award at KMA conference" />
 <figcaption>ECHS Executive Director, Amanda Rupp was present award at KMA conference</figcaption>
 </figure>News releaseThe Ellis County Historical Society continues to work toward goals set in the spring of 2021 when a new administration and expanded board
took the helm. Much work has been happening behind the scenes but one
important goal Executive Director Amanda Rupp has her focus on is being more
visible and relevant in the community. Rupp said she understands how important this is for the society
“especially during this time where our financials continue to only allow for a
small part time staff … we cannot afford to forget about our community while we
work on the laborious tasks of organizing and addressing building needs.”&nbsp; The board of directors has worked well with staff in
creating a balance of priorities and abilities that fit within the society’s
resources. This November ECHS was recognized three fold at the Kansas
Museum Association’s Annual Conference. Director Rupp received a scholarship to attend the
conference in Topeka, which included travel expenses, helping their budget’s bottom
line. During the 3-day conference Rupp accepted two other awards
given by KMA. A project grant of $500 was awarded to purchase a photo
negative scanner that is more user friendly than traditional tray loading
models. Rupp explains that this model “will aid our volunteers who
may have less dexterity or computer knowledge in the project of scanning the
large collection of negatives from Hays Daily News.” KMA board also recognized Rupp with the award for Graphic
Design for a project with a budget under $10,000. The artwork entered were the traveling display panels about
the Volga German immigrants in Ellis County created for the 2021 Oktoberfest. Amanda shares that she is especially fond of this project
because it showcased what a small museum can do on a tight budget, “We
reutilized an accordion travel display that ECHS already had and just added new
graphic panels (designed by Rupp) that told the same story that used to hang in
the main gallery of the museum. I was not reinventing the wheel or rewriting it
in this case, just displaying it in a more pleasing manner that we could take
out to the public while the museum is closed.”&nbsp;
The project total budget was significantly under the limit
for the award category, costing the society under $800 to print and mount. Amanda says she thoroughly enjoyed the conference and is
looking forward to next year’s conference which will be held in right here in
Hays.

Ellis County Historical Society recognized at state museum conference

I am always inspired by our students’ stories. Listening to Brendan Chapman at a recent donor reception did not disappoint. I found his story filled with courage, perseverance, and a humble confidence.

Brendan is a Fort Hays senior finishing his double major in history and secondary education. He aspires to complete his master’s and doctorate degrees and teach at a university in the future, passing on knowledge to the next generation and publishing his writings along the way.&nbsp;

Brendan is a Tiger legacy –&nbsp;his mom, Alaina&nbsp;Dresslar, dad,&nbsp;Korrie&nbsp;Chapman, and older brother, Keegan Chapman, are all FHSU alumni. Brendan shared that since he grew up in Hays, he knew all about FHSU’s good reputation.&nbsp;

Brendan wanted to study history and was very aware of the excellent reputation of our History Department faculty. Indeed, he is correct, as they are known for excellence in their profession coupled with a deep culture of mentoring and caring for their students.

A major driver of his decision to attend Fort Hays State&nbsp;University was our value proposition. Brendan shared that he knew he could attend FHSU and graduate debt free.&nbsp;

“With the scholarships that I have received, I had the opportunity to dedicate myself to my education without worrying about taking out loans.&nbsp;This will allow me to pursue further education in history, whereas, without scholarships, I would not be able to do so,” Brendan said.&nbsp;

As he completes his senior year, he is in the process of applying for graduate schools, including Purdue, Arizona, Kansas, Virginia, and Fort Hays State. The FHSU value proposition, low cost, high quality, and outstanding faculty mentors made his dream of both undergraduate and graduate education possible. It will launch his dream of becoming a professor.

I have heard and written about&nbsp;several student stories, rich with testimony, of faculty who invested authentically in their students. Brendan’s experience is no different.&nbsp;

“Throughout my years of studying history, I discovered my passion for cultural history. In orderto understand how the public reacts to both historical events and new technologies and to also understand how they promote&nbsp;change,&nbsp;cultural history is the integral piece. By learning more about technologies and events, we can make informed predictions on&nbsp;how people will react. By understanding the causes and effects of the past, we can learn from those actions and will grow as a society. This is the mindset that I intend to pass on to my students – one that encourages them to learn lessons from the past in&nbsp;order to build a better future. By doing this, I seek to inspire greatness in the next generation.”

Currently, Brendan is&nbsp;working on a research paper on Music Television with guidance from Dr. McClure. It was Dr. McClure who inspired his passion for cultural history. Brendan plans to submit this paper for publication to California State Fullerton’s online history journal. Additionally, he plans to present his paper at the Kansas Association of Historians Annual Conference in March 2023.&nbsp;

“Through these endeavors, I am utilizing skills on writing and presenting academic works learned from my professors, particularly Dr. Amber Nickell and Hollie Marquess. By honing my skills as a writer and academic, I plan on producing several more written works on the history of popular culture in the future,” Brendan noted.

His dreams are to continue to research the past to write books and articles that teach lessons about how the world works. He is passionate about sharing these lessons with his future university students and inspiring them to make the world a better place in their lifetimes, just as his Fort Hays professors have done for him.

Henry David Thoreau said, “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.” This is exactly what Brendan is doing, and that positive forward momentum has been fueled by a university that invests deeply in our students.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575301942236.jpeg" alt="Dr. Tisa Mason, FHSU president" />
 <figcaption>Dr. Tisa Mason, FHSU president</figcaption>
 </figure>I am always inspired by our students’ stories. Listening to Brendan Chapman at a recent donor reception did not disappoint. I found his story filled with courage, perseverance, and a humble confidence.Brendan is a Fort Hays senior finishing his double major in history and secondary education. He aspires to complete his master’s and doctorate degrees and teach at a university in the future, passing on knowledge to the next generation and publishing his writings along the way.&nbsp;Brendan is a Tiger legacy –&nbsp;his mom, Alaina&nbsp;Dresslar, dad,&nbsp;Korrie&nbsp;Chapman, and older brother, Keegan Chapman, are all FHSU alumni. Brendan shared that since he grew up in Hays, he knew all about FHSU’s good reputation.&nbsp;Brendan wanted to study history and was very aware of the excellent reputation of our History Department faculty. Indeed, he is correct, as they are known for excellence in their profession coupled with a deep culture of mentoring and caring for their students.A major driver of his decision to attend Fort Hays State&nbsp;University was our value proposition. Brendan shared that he knew he could attend FHSU and graduate debt free.&nbsp;“With the scholarships that I have received, I had the opportunity to dedicate myself to my education without worrying about taking out loans.&nbsp;This will allow me to pursue further education in history, whereas, without scholarships, I would not be able to do so,” Brendan said.&nbsp;As he completes his senior year, he is in the process of applying for graduate schools, including Purdue, Arizona, Kansas, Virginia, and Fort Hays State. The FHSU value proposition, low cost, high quality, and outstanding faculty mentors made his dream of both undergraduate and graduate education possible. It will launch his dream of becoming a professor.I have heard and written about&nbsp;several student stories, rich with testimony, of faculty who invested authentically in their students. Brendan’s experience is no different.&nbsp;“Throughout my years of studying history, I discovered my passion for cultural history. In orderto understand how the public reacts to both historical events and new technologies and to also understand how they promote&nbsp;change,&nbsp;cultural history is the integral piece. By learning more about technologies and events, we can make informed predictions on&nbsp;how people will react. By understanding the causes and effects of the past, we can learn from those actions and will grow as a society. This is the mindset that I intend to pass on to my students – one that encourages them to learn lessons from the past in&nbsp;order to build a better future. By doing this, I seek to inspire greatness in the next generation.”Currently, Brendan is&nbsp;working on a research paper on Music Television with guidance from Dr. McClure. It was Dr. McClure who inspired his passion for cultural history. Brendan plans to submit this paper for publication to California State Fullerton’s online history journal. Additionally, he plans to present his paper at the Kansas Association of Historians Annual Conference in March 2023.&nbsp;“Through these endeavors, I am utilizing skills on writing and presenting academic works learned from my professors, particularly Dr. Amber Nickell and Hollie Marquess. By honing my skills as a writer and academic, I plan on producing several more written works on the history of popular culture in the future,” Brendan noted.His dreams are to continue to research the past to write books and articles that teach lessons about how the world works. He is passionate about sharing these lessons with his future university students and inspiring them to make the world a better place in their lifetimes, just as his Fort Hays professors have done for him.Henry David Thoreau said, “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.” This is exactly what Brendan is doing, and that positive forward momentum has been fueled by a university that invests deeply in our students.

Heart of a Tiger: Brendan Chapman

<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/2022/12/1670355156890.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

About this time each year,&nbsp;with numerous hunting and trapping seasons in full swing,&nbsp;we begin to hear and read stories that all center&nbsp;around&nbsp;the&nbsp;illegal taking of Kansas wildlife, otherwise known as poaching.Whether&nbsp;it’s&nbsp;bald eagles being shot, outfitters being investigated for assisting their clients in illegally taking and transporting game or&nbsp;numerous game law violations intentionally and knowingly committed by people mistakenly calling themselves hunters, it all amounts to theft from those of us who attempt to abide by all the game rules and regulations of our state.&nbsp;

When poachers take fish or game illegally,&nbsp;they&nbsp;not only hurt&nbsp;the&nbsp;population of&nbsp;wildlife&nbsp;they prey upon, but they&nbsp;also&nbsp;tarnish the reputation of&nbsp;we&nbsp;ethical&nbsp;hunters&nbsp;who&nbsp;follow the rules and regulations. For the most part, poachers&nbsp;are not poor people looking to put food on the table for their families.&nbsp;They are&nbsp;greedy individuals who kill&nbsp;for the&nbsp;thrill of&nbsp;illegally taking trophy game animals, or they&nbsp;are&nbsp;people being paid outrageous sums of money to&nbsp;collect trophy or rare&nbsp;fish and wildlife.

Kansas is&nbsp;divided into 105 counties and currently a drastic shortage&nbsp;of game wardens saddles around 60 natural resource officers (NRO’s) with&nbsp;the&nbsp;intense&nbsp;responsibility of patrolling&nbsp;all&nbsp;those counties.&nbsp;Each year those NRO’s check tens of thousands of hunters and fishermen in the field&nbsp;and about 96% of them are found to be law-abiding. Unfortunately, many non-hunters associate ethical hunters with the small percentage who are not.

Kansas Dept. of&nbsp;Wildlife, Parks and Tourism has an excellent tool to help fight wildlife crimes called Operation Game Thief. It’s a toll-free telephone hotline, (877) 426-3843, that can be accessed anytime of the day or night, any day of the year. Callers are given the choice to remain anonymous and each call is immediately relayed to the natural resource officer&nbsp;nearest the violation.&nbsp;Examples of activities that can be reported over the game thief hotline are road hunting, trespassing, littering,&nbsp;vandalism,&nbsp;drinking while hunting, taking more game than allowed by law, using illegal equipment, hunting out of season or taking wildlife for which there&nbsp;is no legal season.&nbsp;

Two important rules to remember when observing illegal wildlife related activities are:

• Never confront the suspects you observe committing these crime •Be observant and be prepared to provide as much information as possible about what you observe, such as detailed descriptions of the people and vehicles including license plate numbers, and location and time of the incident. We all have cellphones now with excellent cameras, so take pictures if possible.

Calls to Operation Game Thief&nbsp;have resulted in arrest and convictions on violations from vandalism to deer poaching and everything in between. Drug operations have even been uncovered as a result of calls to this number. Perhaps the worst result of wildlife related crimes is the damage caused to the image of those of us who attempt to abide by all the wildlife&nbsp;rules and regulations. I refuse to be categorized with those who call themselves “hunters” but refuse to abide by the rules. If they insist on being known as “hunters” then perhaps the rest of us should find a different term for what we enjoy. Remember, Operation Game Thief, (877) 426-3843. 

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>About this time each year,&nbsp;with numerous hunting and trapping seasons in full swing,&nbsp;we begin to hear and read stories that all center&nbsp;around&nbsp;the&nbsp;illegal taking of Kansas wildlife, otherwise known as poaching.Whether&nbsp;it’s&nbsp;bald eagles being shot, outfitters being investigated for assisting their clients in illegally taking and transporting game or&nbsp;numerous game law violations intentionally and knowingly committed by people mistakenly calling themselves hunters, it all amounts to theft from those of us who attempt to abide by all the game rules and regulations of our state.&nbsp;When poachers take fish or game illegally,&nbsp;they&nbsp;not only hurt&nbsp;the&nbsp;population of&nbsp;wildlife&nbsp;they prey upon, but they&nbsp;also&nbsp;tarnish the reputation of&nbsp;we&nbsp;ethical&nbsp;hunters&nbsp;who&nbsp;follow the rules and regulations. For the most part, poachers&nbsp;are not poor people looking to put food on the table for their families.&nbsp;They are&nbsp;greedy individuals who kill&nbsp;for the&nbsp;thrill of&nbsp;illegally taking trophy game animals, or they&nbsp;are&nbsp;people being paid outrageous sums of money to&nbsp;collect trophy or rare&nbsp;fish and wildlife.Kansas is&nbsp;divided into 105 counties and currently a drastic shortage&nbsp;of game wardens saddles around 60 natural resource officers (NRO’s) with&nbsp;the&nbsp;intense&nbsp;responsibility of patrolling&nbsp;all&nbsp;those counties.&nbsp;Each year those NRO’s check tens of thousands of hunters and fishermen in the field&nbsp;and about 96% of them are found to be law-abiding. Unfortunately, many non-hunters associate ethical hunters with the small percentage who are not.Kansas Dept. of&nbsp;Wildlife, Parks and Tourism has an excellent tool to help fight wildlife crimes called Operation Game Thief. It’s a toll-free telephone hotline, (877) 426-3843, that can be accessed anytime of the day or night, any day of the year. Callers are given the choice to remain anonymous and each call is immediately relayed to the natural resource officer&nbsp;nearest the violation.&nbsp;Examples of activities that can be reported over the game thief hotline are road hunting, trespassing, littering,&nbsp;vandalism,&nbsp;drinking while hunting, taking more game than allowed by law, using illegal equipment, hunting out of season or taking wildlife for which there&nbsp;is no legal season.&nbsp;Two important rules to remember when observing illegal wildlife related activities are:• Never confront the suspects you observe committing these crime •Be observant and be prepared to provide as much information as possible about what you observe, such as detailed descriptions of the people and vehicles including license plate numbers, and location and time of the incident. We all have cellphones now with excellent cameras, so take pictures if possible.Calls to Operation Game Thief&nbsp;have resulted in arrest and convictions on violations from vandalism to deer poaching and everything in between. Drug operations have even been uncovered as a result of calls to this number. Perhaps the worst result of wildlife related crimes is the damage caused to the image of those of us who attempt to abide by all the wildlife&nbsp;rules and regulations. I refuse to be categorized with those who call themselves “hunters” but refuse to abide by the rules. If they insist on being known as “hunters” then perhaps the rest of us should find a different term for what we enjoy. Remember, Operation Game Thief, (877) 426-3843. Continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors!Steve Gilliland, Inman, can be contacted by email at stevenrgilliland@gmail.com

Exploring Outdoors Kansas: Operation Game Thief

The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory for Ellis County and several counties to the north and west of Hays.

Light rain or freezing drizzle is expected&nbsp; to arrive in the early morning hours Thursday, continuing to noon Thursday. No other precipitation is forecast in the area&nbsp; until a slight chance of showers Monday night.

Widespread dense fog is also expected Thursday morning.

The NWS is predicting a more than 90 percent of ice accumulation in Hays, with the greatest risk of ice on the Interstate 70 corridor.

While less than a tenth of an inch of accumulation is expected, the&nbsp; NWS is warning of potentially slick roadways and bridges.

The high Wednesday is expected to reach the low-50s, with a high in the upper-40s to mid-50s through the weekend.

Check Hays Post or tune into your Eagle Radio of Hays stations in the case of severe weather.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670450086282.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory for Ellis County and several counties to the north and west of Hays.Light rain or freezing drizzle is expected&nbsp; to arrive in the early morning hours Thursday, continuing to noon Thursday. No other precipitation is forecast in the area&nbsp; until a slight chance of showers Monday night.Widespread dense fog is also expected Thursday morning.The NWS is predicting a more than 90 percent of ice accumulation in Hays, with the greatest risk of ice on the Interstate 70 corridor.While less than a tenth of an inch of accumulation is expected, the&nbsp; NWS is warning of potentially slick roadways and bridges.The high Wednesday is expected to reach the low-50s, with a high in the upper-40s to mid-50s through the weekend.Check Hays Post or tune into your Eagle Radio of Hays stations in the case of severe weather.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">We will see drizzle and light rain expand into western Kansas late this evening and through the overnight. Temperatures will be at or below freezing along the I70 corridor which could lead to a light glazing of ice. This could lead to bridges and overpasses getting slick. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/kswx?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#kswx</a> <a href="https://t.co/3jvxPdsIpN">pic.twitter.com/3jvxPdsIpN</a>&mdash; NWS Dodge City (@NWSDodgeCity) <a href="https://twitter.com/NWSDodgeCity/status/1600555445784956929?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 7, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> </div>Updated 4 p.m. Wednesday

UPDATE: Ice likely in Hays area as wintry weather moves in

Click <a href="https://reindeerradio.cash/">HERE</a> to enter Jingle Cash&nbsp;🎄🎄🦌🦌🎁

Final code word will be announced at 4 p.m. 

Thanks for listening to Reindeer Radio on KAYS 1400 AM / 94.3 FM! Happy holidays 🔔

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1667834336683.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Click <a href="https://reindeerradio.cash/">HERE</a> to enter Jingle Cash&nbsp;🎄🎄🦌🦌🎁Final code word will be announced at 4 p.m. Thanks for listening to Reindeer Radio on KAYS 1400 AM / 94.3 FM! Happy holidays 🔔<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1603208071922.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

😳 LAST CALL! Hear the Jingle Cash codeword? Click here to win 💵

TOPEKA — Topeka City Manager Stephen Wade announced Monday that Ernestor De La Rosa 
was selected to serve as the City of Topeka’s very first chief diversity
 equity and inclusion officer. De La Rosa will start in January 
2023 and will lead the city’s newly created DEI office.

“I’m thrilled that Ernestor will be our first chief DEI officer. This
 role will truly impact lives in our community, and affect local 
government policies,” Wade said. “It’s extremely important that we 
ensure a work environment and community where all have an opportunity to
 succeed. Ernestor is up to the task, and I look forward to welcoming 
him to Topeka, and supporting his work for years to come.”

“The idea of DEI has been talked about, and in many ways initiated in
 America, but for Topeka, this is the first official step by our local 
government to place DEI at the forefront of all we do. This speaks 
volumes about the governing body and its willingness to embrace the many
 possibilities active DEI can bring to the City of Topeka,” Topeka 
Mayor Michael Padilla said. “Ernestor has a strong background in practicing 
DEI as a government official. I’m excited that he will bring those 
experiences to Topeka, and help us grow as a community.”

De La Rosa comes to Topeka from the City of Dodge City, where 
he’s served a variety of roles over the last eight years, including 
assistant city manager, human resources director, assistant finance 
director, mobility manager and more. He holds a master's in public 
administration from Wichita State University, and obtained a bachelor of arts in political science from Fort Hays State University.

De La Rosa, who’s first language is Spanish, was born and raised in 
Mexico, and immigrated to the United States at 12. He’s a Deferred 
Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipient and is passionate about 
working in the immigration realm. He’s served on various community 
boards.

“I am honored and excited to join the City of Topeka.&nbsp;I look forward 
to working with the governing body, city staff and Topeka residents to 
develop, adopt and implement proactive diversity, equity, inclusion and 
belonging strategies in all aspects of the city,” De La Rosa said. “I 
commend city leadership’s commitment to building a robust diverse, 
equitable, and inclusive workforce and community. Topeka is stronger 
together.”

De La Rosa will also serve as the city’s Americans with Disabilities 
Act coordinator, where he will work alongside the ADA Advisory 
Council to make Topeka a safer, more accessible community.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670349327164.jpeg" alt="Ernestor De La Rosa" />
 <figcaption>Ernestor De La Rosa</figcaption>
 </figure>News releaseTOPEKA — Topeka City Manager Stephen Wade announced Monday that Ernestor De La Rosa 
was selected to serve as the City of Topeka’s very first chief diversity
 equity and inclusion officer. De La Rosa will start in January 
2023 and will lead the city’s newly created DEI office.“I’m thrilled that Ernestor will be our first chief DEI officer. This
 role will truly impact lives in our community, and affect local 
government policies,” Wade said. “It’s extremely important that we 
ensure a work environment and community where all have an opportunity to
 succeed. Ernestor is up to the task, and I look forward to welcoming 
him to Topeka, and supporting his work for years to come.”“The idea of DEI has been talked about, and in many ways initiated in
 America, but for Topeka, this is the first official step by our local 
government to place DEI at the forefront of all we do. This speaks 
volumes about the governing body and its willingness to embrace the many
 possibilities active DEI can bring to the City of Topeka,” Topeka 
Mayor Michael Padilla said. “Ernestor has a strong background in practicing 
DEI as a government official. I’m excited that he will bring those 
experiences to Topeka, and help us grow as a community.”De La Rosa comes to Topeka from the City of Dodge City, where 
he’s served a variety of roles over the last eight years, including 
assistant city manager, human resources director, assistant finance 
director, mobility manager and more. He holds a master's in public 
administration from Wichita State University, and obtained a bachelor of arts in political science from Fort Hays State University.De La Rosa, who’s first language is Spanish, was born and raised in 
Mexico, and immigrated to the United States at 12. He’s a Deferred 
Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipient and is passionate about 
working in the immigration realm. He’s served on various community 
boards.“I am honored and excited to join the City of Topeka.&nbsp;I look forward 
to working with the governing body, city staff and Topeka residents to 
develop, adopt and implement proactive diversity, equity, inclusion and 
belonging strategies in all aspects of the city,” De La Rosa said. “I 
commend city leadership’s commitment to building a robust diverse, 
equitable, and inclusive workforce and community. Topeka is stronger 
together.”De La Rosa will also serve as the city’s Americans with Disabilities 
Act coordinator, where he will work alongside the ADA Advisory 
Council to make Topeka a safer, more accessible community.

Fort Hays State grad named Topeka's first chief DEI officer

The Hays First United Methodist Church invites the community to attend a free Christmas show at 7 p.m. Saturday by Cloverton, a band based out of Manhattan.

Doors will open at 6 p.m. at the church, 305 W. Seventh, Hays. No tickets are required.

Without the help of a record label, Cloverton propelled onto the Christian music scene in 2011 as the first ever ROCK THE CAMP contest winners hosted by TobyMac and Camp Electric.

Soon after receiving this prestigious honor, Cloverton scored the No. 1 most downloaded song in the history of KLOVE radio for their first single "Take Me into the Beautiful," which also charted at No. 12 on the overall Christian Billboard top 25. The Manhattan based band followed up that effort with an unforgettable Christmas rendition of Leonard Cohen’s song “Hallelujah,” reaching millions of viewers (YouTube) in just weeks while climbing to the No. 1 slot on iTunes and being featured on CNN, The Blaze (Glenn Beck), and several other media outlets.

The band would go on to record and release their first full-length studio album with a wildly successful crowd-funding campaign.

The record “Patterns” was met with favorable critical reviews and was widely embraced by their growing fan base. A year later, Cloverton would release a Christmas EP titled “We Sing Joy,” which climbed to No. 1 for multiple weeks on iTunes.

The band would follow that up in 2017 with the full-length record, “Bloom,” which was touted as their most complete and creative piece of work to date. In 2019, Cloverton released another Christmas EP titled “Come and Adore.”

From their humble beginnings as a small church worship team, to the recent release of their highly anticipated sophomore album, Cloverton continues to pave a new way for independent Christian music.

“None of us are into compromising or settling for the status quo. It’s a daily choice. To what or who am I surrendering today?” front man Lance Stafford said.

“We are either moving toward or away from the person God has specifically created each of us to be. Our aim is to create music that inspires, awakens and frees the next movement of leaders, artists, pastors, visionaries, inventors, missionaries, dreamers, and teachers as they walk out that journey.”

For more information, call the First United Methodist Church office at 785-625-3408 or visit <a href="http://www.haysfumc.com">www.haysfumc.com</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670274525900.jpeg" alt="Cloverton " />
 <figcaption>Cloverton </figcaption>
 </figure>Submitted The Hays First United Methodist Church invites the community to attend a free Christmas show at 7 p.m. Saturday by Cloverton, a band based out of Manhattan.Doors will open at 6 p.m. at the church, 305 W. Seventh, Hays. No tickets are required.Without the help of a record label, Cloverton propelled onto the Christian music scene in 2011 as the first ever ROCK THE CAMP contest winners hosted by TobyMac and Camp Electric.Soon after receiving this prestigious honor, Cloverton scored the No. 1 most downloaded song in the history of KLOVE radio for their first single "Take Me into the Beautiful," which also charted at No. 12 on the overall Christian Billboard top 25. The Manhattan based band followed up that effort with an unforgettable Christmas rendition of Leonard Cohen’s song “Hallelujah,” reaching millions of viewers (YouTube) in just weeks while climbing to the No. 1 slot on iTunes and being featured on CNN, The Blaze (Glenn Beck), and several other media outlets.The band would go on to record and release their first full-length studio album with a wildly successful crowd-funding campaign.The record “Patterns” was met with favorable critical reviews and was widely embraced by their growing fan base. A year later, Cloverton would release a Christmas EP titled “We Sing Joy,” which climbed to No. 1 for multiple weeks on iTunes.The band would follow that up in 2017 with the full-length record, “Bloom,” which was touted as their most complete and creative piece of work to date. In 2019, Cloverton released another Christmas EP titled “Come and Adore.”From their humble beginnings as a small church worship team, to the recent release of their highly anticipated sophomore album, Cloverton continues to pave a new way for independent Christian music.“None of us are into compromising or settling for the status quo. It’s a daily choice. To what or who am I surrendering today?” front man Lance Stafford said.“We are either moving toward or away from the person God has specifically created each of us to be. Our aim is to create music that inspires, awakens and frees the next movement of leaders, artists, pastors, visionaries, inventors, missionaries, dreamers, and teachers as they walk out that journey.”For more information, call the First United Methodist Church office at 785-625-3408 or visit <a href="http://www.haysfumc.com">www.haysfumc.com</a>.

Free Cloverton community Christmas concert Saturday in Hays

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/b91fed16-acde-4a95-aced-9cf4f219669a">RELATED: Flu on the rise in northwest Kansas</a>

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment on Wednesday reported 52 new COVID-19 cases had been identified in Ellis County from Nov. 6 to Dec. 2.

KDHE reports updated case numbers weekly on Wednesdays.

Nearly all of northwest Kansas, including Ellis County, is in the high-incidence category, the KDHE reported. (See map below).&nbsp; Only Rooks and Rush counties were in the substantial-incidence category.

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

Since reporting began, there have been 8,203 cases of COVID-19 identified in Ellis County.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670438674564.png" alt="Ellis County COVID-19 curve / KDHE" />
 <figcaption>Ellis County COVID-19 curve / KDHE</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/b91fed16-acde-4a95-aced-9cf4f219669a">RELATED: Flu on the rise in northwest Kansas</a>The Kansas Department of Health and Environment on Wednesday reported 52 new COVID-19 cases had been identified in Ellis County from Nov. 6 to Dec. 2.KDHE reports updated case numbers weekly on Wednesdays.Nearly all of northwest Kansas, including Ellis County, is in the high-incidence category, the KDHE reported. (See map below).&nbsp; Only Rooks and Rush counties were in the substantial-incidence category.<a href="https://www.ellisco.net/97/Health">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;for information on how to receive a COVID-19 vaccination.Since reporting began, there have been 8,203 cases of COVID-19 identified in Ellis County.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670438747530.png" alt="KDHE" />
 <figcaption>KDHE</figcaption>
 </figure>

KDHE: 52 new COVID cases in Ellis Co. this reporting period

By COLE REIF Great Bend Post

The extended nap time has arrived for the four grizzly bears at the Great
Bend Brit Spaugh Zoo. In early November, the zoo’s grizzlies started staying inside
more. The bears don’t always go into a full hibernation, but use the torpor
tactic to survive the colder months, meaning they do wake up periodically
throughout the winter. 

Zoo Curator Ashley Burdick said even when the bears do
go out in their yard, it is not for long. 
"It depends on the weather," said Burdick. "Even though we've had some warmer temperatures, the bears were still pretty lazy and didn't really want to go outside. I think a couple of them did go outside, but then quickly determined they'd rather be be inside." 
The bears are still given food and fresh water each day in case they show signs
of wanting to eat, but they typically bulk up before their seasonal rest. 
In their state of torpor, bears are able to reduce their metabolism, heart rate
and body temperature. 
Burdick said the best time to catch a glimpse at the other animals now is in
the afternoon when it warms up a little.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1611689008493.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By COLE REIF Great Bend PostThe extended nap time has arrived for the four grizzly bears at the Great
Bend Brit Spaugh Zoo. In early November, the zoo’s grizzlies started staying inside
more. The bears don’t always go into a full hibernation, but use the torpor
tactic to survive the colder months, meaning they do wake up periodically
throughout the winter. Zoo Curator Ashley Burdick said even when the bears do
go out in their yard, it is not for long. 
"It depends on the weather," said Burdick. "Even though we've had some warmer temperatures, the bears were still pretty lazy and didn't really want to go outside. I think a couple of them did go outside, but then quickly determined they'd rather be be inside." 
The bears are still given food and fresh water each day in case they show signs
of wanting to eat, but they typically bulk up before their seasonal rest. 
In their state of torpor, bears are able to reduce their metabolism, heart rate
and body temperature. 
Burdick said the best time to catch a glimpse at the other animals now is in
the afternoon when it warms up a little.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Time to slow down for bears and the rest of the Great Bend zoo

With flu on the rise locally, the Ellis County Health Department issued the following guidance this week:

First and foremost, KEEP YOUR CHILD HOME IF THEY ARE SICK. Regardless of a doctor's note, your child must remain home for a minimum of 5 days if they test positive for the flu under KDHE K.A.R. 28-1-6. Furthermore, as directed by the state, the local health officer can mandate a 5 day return to work or school for anyone positive with influenza.

Since 11/20/2022, there has been an increase in the number of influenza cases in Ellis County. There have been 2380 people tested for influenza overall since November 20, 2022, and 420 have so far tested positive. Additionally, 888 people had RSV tests done, with 75 of those results coming back positive. 

Editor's note: An earlier version of this article had an outdated number of hospitalizations at HaysMed. As of Wednesday afternoon, there were seven inpatient admissions with influenza A. Updated 4:40 p.m. Wednesday.&nbsp;

A quick onset of flu symptoms is normal. Coughing, sore throats, runny or stuffy noses, headaches, fatigue, and some people may also experience vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more prevalent in children than in adults. Other symptoms of the flu include muscle and body pains, fever (sometimes persistent), and headaches.&nbsp;

The best way to reduce your risk from seasonal flu and its potentially serious complications is to get vaccinated every year. For almost everyone who is six months of age or older, the influenza vaccine is advised. Anyone who is at a high risk of complications, such as infants and young children, pregnant women, older adults, and anyone with certain chronic diseases, should get the influenza vaccine.&nbsp;

Residents of Ellis County can get their flu vaccine from their physician, pharmacies, or health clinics. Getting vaccinated also safeguards those around. It's imperative to get immunized if you work with young children, seniors, or people with certain medical conditions. Most flu patients recover in a few days to less than two weeks, but some may develop complications like pneumonia that necessitate hospitalization and pose a significant risk to their lives. Please see the list of the locations in Ellis County where you can obtain the flu shot. Please be advised that each pharmacy has their own policy in place for the age they will dose.&nbsp;

All flu shots for the 2022–2023 season are quadrivalent, protecting against two influenza A viruses and two influenza B viruses, among other four distinct flu viruses. Various vaccinations have varied age ranges for which they are approved, and some vaccinations are not advised for particular populations. Please discuss with your primary care physician which is best for you.

Regular Flu - Flu vaccines produced at a standard dose with virus cultured in eggs. Standard dose flu vaccines come in a variety of names, including Fluarix Quadrivalent, FluLaval Quadrivalent, and Fluzone Quadrivalent. These vaccinations are safe to provide to infants as young as six months.

FluBlok Flu - A flu vaccine manufactured utilizing recombinant technology that is fully egg-free and authorized for use in persons older than 18 is called Flublok Quadrivalent. To stimulate a higher immune&nbsp;

response, this shot is created without flu viruses and includes three times as much antigen as other standard-dose inactivated flu vaccinations. Antigen is the component of the vaccine that helps your body develop immunity against flu viruses.

High-Dose Flu - An egg-based high-dose influenza vaccine that is authorized for use in patients 65 and older. To stimulate a higher immune response, this vaccination contains four times as much antigen as previous standard-dose inactivated flu vaccines. Antigen is the component of the vaccine that helps your body develop immunity against flu viruses.

KDHE keeps tabs on flu activity, including the proportion of flu-related hospital visits and fatalities. In 44 deaths that occurred during the 2021–2022 flu season, influenza was either a direct cause or a contributing factor. 1,200 deaths were caused directly or indirectly by pneumonia, which frequently arises in conjunction with influenza illnesses. It is possible to prevent severe influenza symptoms and illness with immunization.&nbsp;

Visit vaccines.gov to find a flu vaccine. Visit kdhe.ks.gov/flu for the most recent updates on influenza news in Kansas. &nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670421847919.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>With flu on the rise locally, the Ellis County Health Department issued the following guidance this week:First and foremost, KEEP YOUR CHILD HOME IF THEY ARE SICK. Regardless of a doctor's note, your child must remain home for a minimum of 5 days if they test positive for the flu under KDHE K.A.R. 28-1-6. Furthermore, as directed by the state, the local health officer can mandate a 5 day return to work or school for anyone positive with influenza.Since 11/20/2022, there has been an increase in the number of influenza cases in Ellis County. There have been 2380 people tested for influenza overall since November 20, 2022, and 420 have so far tested positive. Additionally, 888 people had RSV tests done, with 75 of those results coming back positive. Editor's note: An earlier version of this article had an outdated number of hospitalizations at HaysMed. As of Wednesday afternoon, there were seven inpatient admissions with influenza A. Updated 4:40 p.m. Wednesday.&nbsp;A quick onset of flu symptoms is normal. Coughing, sore throats, runny or stuffy noses, headaches, fatigue, and some people may also experience vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more prevalent in children than in adults. Other symptoms of the flu include muscle and body pains, fever (sometimes persistent), and headaches.&nbsp;The best way to reduce your risk from seasonal flu and its potentially serious complications is to get vaccinated every year. For almost everyone who is six months of age or older, the influenza vaccine is advised. Anyone who is at a high risk of complications, such as infants and young children, pregnant women, older adults, and anyone with certain chronic diseases, should get the influenza vaccine.&nbsp;Residents of Ellis County can get their flu vaccine from their physician, pharmacies, or health clinics. Getting vaccinated also safeguards those around. It's imperative to get immunized if you work with young children, seniors, or people with certain medical conditions. Most flu patients recover in a few days to less than two weeks, but some may develop complications like pneumonia that necessitate hospitalization and pose a significant risk to their lives. Please see the list of the locations in Ellis County where you can obtain the flu shot. Please be advised that each pharmacy has their own policy in place for the age they will dose.&nbsp;All flu shots for the 2022–2023 season are quadrivalent, protecting against two influenza A viruses and two influenza B viruses, among other four distinct flu viruses. Various vaccinations have varied age ranges for which they are approved, and some vaccinations are not advised for particular populations. Please discuss with your primary care physician which is best for you.Available flu vaccines include:Regular Flu - Flu vaccines produced at a standard dose with virus cultured in eggs. Standard dose flu vaccines come in a variety of names, including Fluarix Quadrivalent, FluLaval Quadrivalent, and Fluzone Quadrivalent. These vaccinations are safe to provide to infants as young as six months.FluBlok Flu - A flu vaccine manufactured utilizing recombinant technology that is fully egg-free and authorized for use in persons older than 18 is called Flublok Quadrivalent. To stimulate a higher immune&nbsp;response, this shot is created without flu viruses and includes three times as much antigen as other standard-dose inactivated flu vaccinations. Antigen is the component of the vaccine that helps your body develop immunity against flu viruses.High-Dose Flu - An egg-based high-dose influenza vaccine that is authorized for use in patients 65 and older. To stimulate a higher immune response, this vaccination contains four times as much antigen as previous standard-dose inactivated flu vaccines. Antigen is the component of the vaccine that helps your body develop immunity against flu viruses.KDHE keeps tabs on flu activity, including the proportion of flu-related hospital visits and fatalities. In 44 deaths that occurred during the 2021–2022 flu season, influenza was either a direct cause or a contributing factor. 1,200 deaths were caused directly or indirectly by pneumonia, which frequently arises in conjunction with influenza illnesses. It is possible to prevent severe influenza symptoms and illness with immunization.&nbsp;Visit vaccines.gov to find a flu vaccine. Visit kdhe.ks.gov/flu for the most recent updates on influenza news in Kansas. &nbsp;

Flu on the rise: Ellis County Health Dept. offers guidance

A rebranding committee is still split on the potentially offensive nature of Hays High School's Indian mascot.

The Hays USD 489 school district rebranding committee met for the first time on Monday night.

The school district conducted a survey and found a majority of respondents wanted to keep the Indian mascot. However, <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/2e344d95-8dd4-40f8-90f7-7af806ca7df9">at a community meeting on Nov. 15</a> and at the rebranding meeting Monday, some community members said they believe the high school mascot should be changed.

The school district passed a bond issue in May and is in the process of building a new high school and will be remodeling the current high school into a middle school. 

Superintendent Ron Wilson said his desire is to see the district put the right mark on those schools.

John Jenson, Josten's consultant, has been leading the rebranding discussions. He tried to focus the group on the words "brave and true" from the high school's alma mater.

Committee members seemed to agree that they liked the school's maroon and gold colors and wanted to keep them.

Jenson presented some potential logo options that include brushes of maroon and gold, keeping the Indian name and using the "brave and true" theme.

None of the options included the Indian head or the spearhead that has recently been used by the Hays High football team.

Jenson said he thought the color slashes could be symbolic of war paint.

"If we're calling ourselves the Indians and also using paint behind it, I can see how that would bother some people. I think it depends on what it's paired with," said Anniston Weber, 2017 HHS graduate.

Several committee members said they did not like the imagery of war paint. Others said they did not like the use of color slashes only. They said they wanted an image.

"Keep in mind that of the surveys that I got back the people who didn't want the Indian were the people who thought it was being portrayed as offensive," Jenson said. "So the question, 'Is how do you get rid of offensive and keep the Indian?' "

Abby Gillan, HHS government teacher and graduate, said she would like to look at the issue of the Indian being offensive in a factual way.

"Here is what the tribes have said. Here is how our culture is evolving. This conversation isn't new," she said.

Gillan said one of her students in a sociology class during a debate on this subject made the point the word Indian is offensive to many indigenous people because it was a name given to them because early European explorers thought they had landed in India.

"It's a term given to people of various cultures that you have made into a monolith, and I think that is where we run into trouble," she said. ... "I think we need to get the historical accuracy right. I think the name could be a big hurdle for unity around our message."

Curt Vajnar, school board member, former USD 489 teacher and parent, said the Indian headdress logo has never been offensive to him.

"I've been proud of it," he said. "I've never ever heard people talk bad about it."

However, he said the school has displayed versions of Indian logos of which he didn't approve. He pulled a skull with a headdress logo off a wrestling mat over the weekend.

Ruth Legleiter, HHS graduate, said she was never offended by the Indian mascot. She said she was proud of it.

"It amazes me that people find it offensive all of the sudden," she said. "We had how many decades of the Indian and everyone was proud of that, now all of the sudden it's a bad word. ...

"No one ever picked the Indian name to be offensive. It was to be proud, and now all of the sudden it's reversed."

USD 489 board member and parent Meagan Zampieri-Lillpopp read aloud from the Kansas-Nebraska Indian Education study, a study out of K-State that was the result of a collaboration between the Kansas Association for native American Study and Nebraska Indian Education Association.

The groups that created the report passed resolutions in 1998 and 2018 asking schools to remove Native American mascots.

Zampieri-Lillpopp further quoted the study to say the mascots create unwelcome and hostile environments for Native American students. Students are reporting lower self-esteem and community worth. 

"It is harmful because it reminds Native Americans of the limited ways others see them," Zampieri-Lillpopp quoted the study saying.

Repeated research from these groups has said "The overall research clearly demonstrates that American mascots and branding continue to be detrimental to learning and psychological well-being not only of native students but all students."

Extensive literature exists on this topic and hundreds of professional organizations working across native communities, overwhelming favor eliminating Native American mascots, branding and imagery, she continued.

Vern Ruder's mother is a member of the Blackfeet Nation in Montana. 

"The only thing I find offensive is Redskins, but the arrowhead, the war paint, the tribal headgear that's not offensive at all," he said. "People who say that don't have any Native American background."

"You're not going to make everyone happy," he said. "There's a lot of Native Americans who say you are still remembering the Indians, but you have other people who don't like it."

 Jenson said in response to Zampieri-Lillpopp, "I think you prove a great point. It can be done in a way that's offensive. I think the discussion here is how it can be done in a way that's not."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670360352450.jpeg" alt="John Jenson, Jostens consultant, talks to the Hays USD 489 rebranding committee members about Hays High School's logos and mascot Monday night. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post " />
 <figcaption>John Jenson, Jostens consultant, talks to the Hays USD 489 rebranding committee members about Hays High School's logos and mascot Monday night. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post </figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostA rebranding committee is still split on the potentially offensive nature of Hays High School's Indian mascot.The Hays USD 489 school district rebranding committee met for the first time on Monday night. The school district conducted a survey and found a majority of respondents wanted to keep the Indian mascot. However, <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/2e344d95-8dd4-40f8-90f7-7af806ca7df9">at a community meeting on Nov. 15</a> and at the rebranding meeting Monday, some community members said they believe the high school mascot should be changed.The school district passed a bond issue in May and is in the process of building a new high school and will be remodeling the current high school into a middle school. Superintendent Ron Wilson said his desire is to see the district put the right mark on those schools.John Jenson, Josten's consultant, has been leading the rebranding discussions. He tried to focus the group on the words "brave and true" from the high school's alma mater.Committee members seemed to agree that they liked the school's maroon and gold colors and wanted to keep them.Jenson presented some potential logo options that include brushes of maroon and gold, keeping the Indian name and using the "brave and true" theme.None of the options included the Indian head or the spearhead that has recently been used by the Hays High football team. Jenson said he thought the color slashes could be symbolic of war paint."If we're calling ourselves the Indians and also using paint behind it, I can see how that would bother some people. I think it depends on what it's paired with," said Anniston Weber, 2017 HHS graduate.Several committee members said they did not like the imagery of war paint. Others said they did not like the use of color slashes only. They said they wanted an image."Keep in mind that of the surveys that I got back the people who didn't want the Indian were the people who thought it was being portrayed as offensive," Jenson said. "So the question, 'Is how do you get rid of offensive and keep the Indian?' "Abby Gillan, HHS government teacher and graduate, said she would like to look at the issue of the Indian being offensive in a factual way."Here is what the tribes have said. Here is how our culture is evolving. This conversation isn't new," she said.Gillan said one of her students in a sociology class during a debate on this subject made the point the word Indian is offensive to many indigenous people because it was a name given to them because early European explorers thought they had landed in India."It's a term given to people of various cultures that you have made into a monolith, and I think that is where we run into trouble," she said. ... "I think we need to get the historical accuracy right. I think the name could be a big hurdle for unity around our message."Curt Vajnar, school board member, former USD 489 teacher and parent, said the Indian headdress logo has never been offensive to him."I've been proud of it," he said. "I've never ever heard people talk bad about it."However, he said the school has displayed versions of Indian logos of which he didn't approve. He pulled a skull with a headdress logo off a wrestling mat over the weekend.Ruth Legleiter, HHS graduate, said she was never offended by the Indian mascot. She said she was proud of it."It amazes me that people find it offensive all of the sudden," she said. "We had how many decades of the Indian and everyone was proud of that, now all of the sudden it's a bad word. ..."No one ever picked the Indian name to be offensive. It was to be proud, and now all of the sudden it's reversed."USD 489 board member and parent Meagan Zampieri-Lillpopp read aloud from the Kansas-Nebraska Indian Education study, a study out of K-State that was the result of a collaboration between the Kansas Association for native American Study and Nebraska Indian Education Association. The groups that created the report passed resolutions in 1998 and 2018 asking schools to remove Native American mascots.Zampieri-Lillpopp further quoted the study to say the mascots create unwelcome and hostile environments for Native American students. Students are reporting lower self-esteem and community worth. "It is harmful because it reminds Native Americans of the limited ways others see them," Zampieri-Lillpopp quoted the study saying. Repeated research from these groups has said "The overall research clearly demonstrates that American mascots and branding continue to be detrimental to learning and psychological well-being not only of native students but all students."Extensive literature exists on this topic and hundreds of professional organizations working across native communities, overwhelming favor eliminating Native American mascots, branding and imagery, she continued. Vern Ruder's mother is a member of the Blackfeet Nation in Montana. "The only thing I find offensive is Redskins, but the arrowhead, the war paint, the tribal headgear that's not offensive at all," he said. "People who say that don't have any Native American background.""You're not going to make everyone happy," he said. "There's a lot of Native Americans who say you are still remembering the Indians, but you have other people who don't like it." Jenson said in response to Zampieri-Lillpopp, "I think you prove a great point. It can be done in a way that's offensive. I think the discussion here is how it can be done in a way that's not."Shaun Linenberger, HHS graduate and parent, who also said he has Native American heritage, said people would probably be offended if the high school's mascot was the Volga Germans despite the prevalence of that heritage in the area."I take great pride in that I was a Hays High graduate, and I was an Indian," he said. Gillan said she thought the debate of Indian mascots is part of the public discussion now because as a culture we've made more seats at the table for minority cultures.Gillan said her students found old mascots that were not as respectful as the current logos. She said the thought the community has come a long way in being more respectful."I think we have a very special opportunity to be very purposeful and coordinated and get it over the finish line and do it right," she said.Jenson said the community needs to determine what it means to be an Indian here."You can't allow everyone to define it," he said. "You have to have to come up with that definition yourself. "If you said what it means to be an Indian here within this district within this city, for example, it means to be brave and true. If that's what it means and you can live that out, you're not speaking for Indians all over the world. You are saying this is what it means right here."

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