By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

The former <a href="https://archive.hayspost.com/2017/05/17/new-50s-burger-joint-to-open-downtown/">Tiger Burger</a>, 700 Main, is making the flip to fish.

Owner Jacob Proffitt is rebranding the business to Tiger Station, a fish and chips restaurant.

The restaurant will serve hand-battered fried fish with ranch-cut fries. It also will serve hushpuppies, homemade coleslaw, chicken strips, fried shrimp, po'boys and a variety of other fish specials depending on the season. This could include Maine lobster rolls or salmon.

"We're learning that it's better to do a few things really good," he said. "That's our motto now."

Proffitt has interest in several other restaurants in Hays, including Kluckin' Chicken, Bricks Rockin' BBQ and Little Dinero Pizza.

Tiger Station will serve housemade tarter and cocktail sauces, as well as malt vinegar with the fish and shrimp.

The restaurant will offer fountain drinks and beer in cans or bottles. To match the British fish and chips theme, the new restaurant will offer ales as well.

Proffitt said he had received much interest in a fish restaurant after recently launching Kluckin' Chicken on Vine in Hays. However, he didn't want to add fish to the menu at Kluckin' Chicken.&nbsp;

He was concerned frying fish and chicken together would result in the chicken having a fishy aftertaste.

He said Tiger Burger never rebounded after the pandemic.

"Since we opened Tiger Burger, there's been four more places where they do burgers," he said, "The market's kind of saturated. We thought if we did something more niche, that would be a draw."

Tiger Station only has seating for about 30 people inside, but it has a spacious patio with seating for an additional 80 customers. The restaurant also will offer food to go.

The decor for the restaurant will remain much the same. The restaurant is in a renovated 1923 Sinclair gas station, which is on the state register of historic places.

 The decor includes restored gas pumps, oil and gas signs, and panels that relate the history of the Hays area.

Tiger Station will be open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week.

Proffitt said he is waiting on a few items for the kitchen, but he expects to open the restaurant with its new theme by March 30.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678738064361.jpeg" alt="The former Tiger Burger, 700 Main, Hays, is being rebranded to Tiger Station and will serve fish and chips. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>The former Tiger Burger, 700 Main, Hays, is being rebranded to Tiger Station and will serve fish and chips. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostThe former <a href="https://archive.hayspost.com/2017/05/17/new-50s-burger-joint-to-open-downtown/">Tiger Burger</a>, 700 Main, is making the flip to fish.Owner Jacob Proffitt is rebranding the business to Tiger Station, a fish and chips restaurant.The restaurant will serve hand-battered fried fish with ranch-cut fries. It also will serve hushpuppies, homemade coleslaw, chicken strips, fried shrimp, po'boys and a variety of other fish specials depending on the season. This could include Maine lobster rolls or salmon."We're learning that it's better to do a few things really good," he said. "That's our motto now."Proffitt has interest in several other restaurants in Hays, including Kluckin' Chicken, Bricks Rockin' BBQ and Little Dinero Pizza.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678738164752.jpeg" alt="Tiger Station,&nbsp;a renovated 1923 Sinclair gas station, will retain most of its oil-themed decor. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Tiger Station,&nbsp;a renovated 1923 Sinclair gas station, will retain most of its oil-themed decor. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>Tiger Station will serve housemade tarter and cocktail sauces, as well as malt vinegar with the fish and shrimp.The restaurant will offer fountain drinks and beer in cans or bottles. To match the British fish and chips theme, the new restaurant will offer ales as well.Proffitt said he had received much interest in a fish restaurant after recently launching Kluckin' Chicken on Vine in Hays. However, he didn't want to add fish to the menu at Kluckin' Chicken.&nbsp;He was concerned frying fish and chicken together would result in the chicken having a fishy aftertaste.He said Tiger Burger never rebounded after the pandemic."Since we opened Tiger Burger, there's been four more places where they do burgers," he said, "The market's kind of saturated. We thought if we did something more niche, that would be a draw."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678738266652.jpeg" alt="Tiger Station has seating for about 30 people indoors with a spacious patio with seating for about 80 more customers. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Tiger Station has seating for about 30 people indoors with a spacious patio with seating for about 80 more customers. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>Tiger Station only has seating for about 30 people inside, but it has a spacious patio with seating for an additional 80 customers. The restaurant also will offer food to go.The decor for the restaurant will remain much the same. The restaurant is in a renovated 1923 Sinclair gas station, which is on the state register of historic places. The decor includes restored gas pumps, oil and gas signs, and panels that relate the history of the Hays area.Tiger Station will be open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week.Proffitt said he is waiting on a few items for the kitchen, but he expects to open the restaurant with its new theme by March 30.

Rebranded Tiger Station restaurant in Hays to serve fish, chips

LOGAN — A groundbreaking ceremony is planned for 1 p.m. March 22 for the LIFE building project in Logan.&nbsp; The groundbreaking will take place near the entrance to Logan High School football field.

The project, a unique, intergenerational facility will include a new 36-bed nursing home to replace the aging Logan Manor, a new Pre-K through fourth-grade elementary school, and a gymnasium and locker room complex. An indoor corridor will connect the new structure to the existing high school building to create a completely interconnected complex allowing the senior residents to have access to all school activities, ballgames, etc.&nbsp;

Additionally, the facility will include space that will serve not only the students and the senior residents, but also the broader community. Those spaces will include a weight room and wellness facility, a community room, and a multi-purpose room, which will double as a community storm shelter.

McCowen Gordon Construction Company based in Kansas City is the contractor. The construction is being funded by The Dane G. Hansen Foundation. A campaign for furnishings, fixtures and equipment is being coordinated by the Logan Community Development Foundation Inc.&nbsp;More than $775,000 has been raised to meet the local goal of $1 million.&nbsp;To donate to the campaign, contact Max Lowry, at (785) 689-8333 or email at<a href="mailto:loganlifecenter@gmail.com">loganlifecenter@gmail.com</a>. Donations can also be made through the LIFE Project website at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.loganlifeproject.com/">www.loganlifeproject.com</a>.

The LIFE project is projected to be a huge boost for the town of Logan, where Dane G. Hansen was born and lived his entire life. At his death in 1965, Mr. Hansen created a trust which later became the Dane G. Hansen Foundation. Distributions were designated for his hometown of Logan and surrounding northwest Kansas communities.

For more information on the LIFE Project contact the Foundation’s representative, Michael Erhart of DK Developments LLC, at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:mjerhartlifeproject@outlook.com">mjerhartlifeproject@outlook.com</a>, or 785-302-1387.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575649739391.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>News releaseLOGAN — A groundbreaking ceremony is planned for 1 p.m. March 22 for the LIFE building project in Logan.&nbsp; The groundbreaking will take place near the entrance to Logan High School football field.The project, a unique, intergenerational facility will include a new 36-bed nursing home to replace the aging Logan Manor, a new Pre-K through fourth-grade elementary school, and a gymnasium and locker room complex. An indoor corridor will connect the new structure to the existing high school building to create a completely interconnected complex allowing the senior residents to have access to all school activities, ballgames, etc.&nbsp;Additionally, the facility will include space that will serve not only the students and the senior residents, but also the broader community. Those spaces will include a weight room and wellness facility, a community room, and a multi-purpose room, which will double as a community storm shelter.McCowen Gordon Construction Company based in Kansas City is the contractor. The construction is being funded by The Dane G. Hansen Foundation. A campaign for furnishings, fixtures and equipment is being coordinated by the Logan Community Development Foundation Inc.&nbsp;More than $775,000 has been raised to meet the local goal of $1 million.&nbsp;To donate to the campaign, contact Max Lowry, at (785) 689-8333 or email at<a href="mailto:loganlifecenter@gmail.com">loganlifecenter@gmail.com</a>. Donations can also be made through the LIFE Project website at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.loganlifeproject.com/">www.loganlifeproject.com</a>.The LIFE project is projected to be a huge boost for the town of Logan, where Dane G. Hansen was born and lived his entire life. At his death in 1965, Mr. Hansen created a trust which later became the Dane G. Hansen Foundation. Distributions were designated for his hometown of Logan and surrounding northwest Kansas communities.For more information on the LIFE Project contact the Foundation’s representative, Michael Erhart of DK Developments LLC, at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:mjerhartlifeproject@outlook.com">mjerhartlifeproject@outlook.com</a>, or 785-302-1387.

Groundbreaking scheduled for Logan’s LIFE project

The Hays Wrestling Club competed in the USAWKS State Championships in Topeka at the Stormont Vail Event Center March 10 to 12. HWC had 42 participants and placed 20 in the top 6 with four state champions. The team placed sixth out of 181 teams competing. State Champion 10U Girls 85 Avryn Beiker 14U Boys 205 Jaxson Chartier HS Girls 115 Sarah Zimmerman HS Boys 138 Harley Zimmerman 3rd Place 8U Boys 125 Riggens Pfanenstiel 10U Girls 100 Dynasty Connally 14U Boys 80 Gaven Deneault 14U Girls 145 Lexia Barnett HS Girls 120 Tionna Napue 4th Place 14U Girls 101 Alyssa Harding HS Boys 113 Elijah McCullough HS Girls 140 Katie Gutierrez 5th Place 12U Girls 115 Chloe Hearld 14U Girls 110 Shea Augustine 14U Girls 136 Timber Lovewell 6th Place 10U Girls 65 Prestigious Connally 12U Girls 130 Ayva Silva-Thomas 12U Boys 150 Brian Prough 14U Girls 97 Kenlee Vehige 14U Boys 175 Jonathan Rigler Team Place 6th out of 181 teams

State Qualifiers 8U Boys 58 Jaxon Jacobs 8U Boys 58 Breck Simon 8U Girls 65 Zoie Ruiz 10U Girls 60 Addyson Harding 10U Boys 70 Walker Hobbs 10U Boys 76 Braxton Delzeit 10U Boys 95 Andy Klein 10U Boys 110 Damian Chartier 10U Boys 110 George Stecklein 10U Boys 130 Braylan Witt&nbsp; 12U Girls 80 Lily Balandran 12U Boys 84 Kade Simon 12U Girls 85 Chassidy Carlisle 12U Girls 95 Shaely Shuck 12U Boys 190 Athan Witt 14U Girls 105 Kylah Clingingsmith 14U Girls 119 Madison Polson 14U Boys 120 Jace Myers HS Boys 120 Tacoma Augustine HS Girls 125 Addison Otte HS Girls 140 Ava Ruiz HS Boys 190 Israel Zimmerman

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678815469618.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>HWCThe Hays Wrestling Club competed in the USAWKS State Championships in Topeka at the Stormont Vail Event Center March 10 to 12. HWC had 42 participants and placed 20 in the top 6 with four state champions. The team placed sixth out of 181 teams competing. State Champion 10U Girls 85 Avryn Beiker 14U Boys 205 Jaxson Chartier HS Girls 115 Sarah Zimmerman HS Boys 138 Harley Zimmerman 3rd Place 8U Boys 125 Riggens Pfanenstiel 10U Girls 100 Dynasty Connally 14U Boys 80 Gaven Deneault 14U Girls 145 Lexia Barnett HS Girls 120 Tionna Napue 4th Place 14U Girls 101 Alyssa Harding HS Boys 113 Elijah McCullough HS Girls 140 Katie Gutierrez 5th Place 12U Girls 115 Chloe Hearld 14U Girls 110 Shea Augustine 14U Girls 136 Timber Lovewell 6th Place 10U Girls 65 Prestigious Connally 12U Girls 130 Ayva Silva-Thomas 12U Boys 150 Brian Prough 14U Girls 97 Kenlee Vehige 14U Boys 175 Jonathan Rigler Team Place 6th out of 181 teams State Qualifiers 8U Boys 58 Jaxon Jacobs 8U Boys 58 Breck Simon 8U Girls 65 Zoie Ruiz 10U Girls 60 Addyson Harding 10U Boys 70 Walker Hobbs 10U Boys 76 Braxton Delzeit 10U Boys 95 Andy Klein 10U Boys 110 Damian Chartier 10U Boys 110 George Stecklein 10U Boys 130 Braylan Witt&nbsp; 12U Girls 80 Lily Balandran 12U Boys 84 Kade Simon 12U Girls 85 Chassidy Carlisle 12U Girls 95 Shaely Shuck 12U Boys 190 Athan Witt 14U Girls 105 Kylah Clingingsmith 14U Girls 119 Madison Polson 14U Boys 120 Jace Myers HS Boys 120 Tacoma Augustine HS Girls 125 Addison Otte HS Girls 140 Ava Ruiz HS Boys 190 Israel Zimmerman

🤼‍♂️ Hays Wrestling Club brings home four state titles from Topeka

<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/2023/3/1678999191098.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

A Kansas Department of Transportation project to improve a portion of U.S. 281 in Russell County is moving into its second year of work.

The three-year project began in May 2022 and will reconstruct and widen 11 miles of the highway starting near Land Road and ending at the west K-18 junction. Off-road work will continue through the 2023 construction season with minimal traffic impacts expected. Occasional lane closures may be necessary at times, and traffic will be directed through those work zones by flaggers.

KDOT currently plans to close the highway during the 2024 construction season. Further information about the closure and detour will be provided at a later date.

For more information, please contact KDOT area construction engineer Mitchel Johnson at 785-261-6135 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:mitchel.johnson@ks.gov">mitchel.johnson@ks.gov</a>.

KDOTA Kansas Department of Transportation project to improve a portion of U.S. 281 in Russell County is moving into its second year of work.The three-year project began in May 2022 and will reconstruct and widen 11 miles of the highway starting near Land Road and ending at the west K-18 junction. Off-road work will continue through the 2023 construction season with minimal traffic impacts expected. Occasional lane closures may be necessary at times, and traffic will be directed through those work zones by flaggers.KDOT currently plans to close the highway during the 2024 construction season. Further information about the closure and detour will be provided at a later date.For more information, please contact KDOT area construction engineer Mitchel Johnson at 785-261-6135 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:mitchel.johnson@ks.gov">mitchel.johnson@ks.gov</a>.

U.S. 281 project continuing in Russell County

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

Let’s have a steak dinner at the beautiful Savoy at 21c restaurant in downtown Kansas City. Where did this Black Angus beef come from? It was brought here directly from a farm in the Flint Hills of rural Kansas.&nbsp;

Sara and Jay Shivers are the owners and operators of Salt Creek Farm in Greenwood County where Sara grew up. She is the daughter of Don and Jan Stephens who run cattle at Rafter S Ranch.&nbsp;

Sara went to K-State. She earned a master’s degree at the University of North Texas where she met her husband Jay, a country boy who was getting a master’s in urban planning. They lived in the Dallas area and Sara worked in non-profit management.&nbsp;

Sara had always wanted to come back to the ranch to help her father. She shared that desire with her husband.&nbsp;

“We knew we wanted to move to Kansas, but urban planning jobs are few and far between,” Sara said. “On our honeymoon, we day-dreamed about selling beef direct to consumers.”&nbsp;

When their first daughter was born, Sara was home on maternity leave and spotted a posting for a job opening for a city planner in El Dorado, Kansas. She passed it on to Jay and he applied.&nbsp;

“Within five weeks, he accepted the job and we bought a house sight unseen in Kansas,” Sara said. A couple of years later, they built a house on Salt Creek near her parents on the ranch.&nbsp;

Sara now partners with her father in ranch operations. The ranch is south of Eureka and north of the rural community of Severy, population 205 people. Now, that’s rural.&nbsp;

“My dad told me we needed a better way to market our beef,” Sara said. While she and Jay were in Dallas, they had observed that urban consumers were becoming increasingly interested in where their food came from.&nbsp;

Back in Kansas, the Shivers launched Salt Creek Farm in 2017 to market cuts of home-raised beef, heritage chicken and lamb directly to consumers. The beef is purchased from the ranch, processed locally, and dry-aged.&nbsp;

Sara assumed they would sell to individuals. When her cousin in Kansas City asked for beef to serve at his brewery, she gave it a try. Soon other restaurants became customers to which Sara would deliver.&nbsp;

Then COVID-19 hit. “I was halfway through my deliveries in KC when the shutdown orders were issued,” Sara said. “Chefs were calling to cancel orders left and right.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

Fortunately, Jay had already built the website for the business. Online consumer demand picked up quickly. “Social media has been a game-changer,” Sara said. “At the height of the pandemic, I posted online that we had restocked our meat supplies and we sold out a whole beef in 13 minutes.”&nbsp;

Today, Salt Creek Farm sells to consumers across the nation plus two dozen restaurants in the Kansas City area. In addition to individual cuts or bundles of beef, chicken and lamb, Salt Creek Farms offers a Farm Club Subscription Box through which subscribers can receive a customized mix of meat cuts every month.&nbsp;

In fall 2022, Salt Creek Farm opened a retail outlet in Eureka. Jay started beekeeping as a hobby and is now offering local honey also.&nbsp;

“I have been blown away by our local support,” Sara said. She and Jay are also busy with eight- and five-year-old daughters, Stella and Margot.&nbsp;

“I love being able to provide high quality beef to consumers and to showcase my dad’s hard work through the years,” Sara said. “I enjoy the connection with our customers, answering questions about how and why we raise beef.”&nbsp;

Salt Creek Farm has literally shipped products across the U.S., from New Hampshire to Hawaii.&nbsp;“One customer in Louisiana told me, ‘I didn’t know beef could taste like this,’” Sara said.&nbsp;

For more information, see&nbsp;<a href="http://www.thesaltcreekfarm.com/">www.thesaltcreekfarm.com</a>.&nbsp;

It’s time to leave our steak dinner, sourced from Salt Creek Farm. We commend Sara and Jay Shivers for making a difference with direct marketing of their products. Such entrepreneurship is all too rare, but this is well done.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678895271283.png" alt="Courtesy K-State Research &amp; Extension" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy K-State Research &amp; Extension</figcaption>
 </figure>By RON WILSON Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development&nbsp;Let’s have a steak dinner at the beautiful Savoy at 21c restaurant in downtown Kansas City. Where did this Black Angus beef come from? It was brought here directly from a farm in the Flint Hills of rural Kansas.&nbsp;Sara and Jay Shivers are the owners and operators of Salt Creek Farm in Greenwood County where Sara grew up. She is the daughter of Don and Jan Stephens who run cattle at Rafter S Ranch.&nbsp;Sara went to K-State. She earned a master’s degree at the University of North Texas where she met her husband Jay, a country boy who was getting a master’s in urban planning. They lived in the Dallas area and Sara worked in non-profit management.&nbsp;Sara had always wanted to come back to the ranch to help her father. She shared that desire with her husband.&nbsp;“We knew we wanted to move to Kansas, but urban planning jobs are few and far between,” Sara said. “On our honeymoon, we day-dreamed about selling beef direct to consumers.”&nbsp;When their first daughter was born, Sara was home on maternity leave and spotted a posting for a job opening for a city planner in El Dorado, Kansas. She passed it on to Jay and he applied.&nbsp;“Within five weeks, he accepted the job and we bought a house sight unseen in Kansas,” Sara said. A couple of years later, they built a house on Salt Creek near her parents on the ranch.&nbsp;Sara now partners with her father in ranch operations. The ranch is south of Eureka and north of the rural community of Severy, population 205 people. Now, that’s rural.&nbsp;“My dad told me we needed a better way to market our beef,” Sara said. While she and Jay were in Dallas, they had observed that urban consumers were becoming increasingly interested in where their food came from.&nbsp;Back in Kansas, the Shivers launched Salt Creek Farm in 2017 to market cuts of home-raised beef, heritage chicken and lamb directly to consumers. The beef is purchased from the ranch, processed locally, and dry-aged.&nbsp;Sara assumed they would sell to individuals. When her cousin in Kansas City asked for beef to serve at his brewery, she gave it a try. Soon other restaurants became customers to which Sara would deliver.&nbsp;Then COVID-19 hit. “I was halfway through my deliveries in KC when the shutdown orders were issued,” Sara said. “Chefs were calling to cancel orders left and right.”&nbsp;&nbsp;Fortunately, Jay had already built the website for the business. Online consumer demand picked up quickly. “Social media has been a game-changer,” Sara said. “At the height of the pandemic, I posted online that we had restocked our meat supplies and we sold out a whole beef in 13 minutes.”&nbsp;Today, Salt Creek Farm sells to consumers across the nation plus two dozen restaurants in the Kansas City area. In addition to individual cuts or bundles of beef, chicken and lamb, Salt Creek Farms offers a Farm Club Subscription Box through which subscribers can receive a customized mix of meat cuts every month.&nbsp;In fall 2022, Salt Creek Farm opened a retail outlet in Eureka. Jay started beekeeping as a hobby and is now offering local honey also.&nbsp;“I have been blown away by our local support,” Sara said. She and Jay are also busy with eight- and five-year-old daughters, Stella and Margot.&nbsp;“I love being able to provide high quality beef to consumers and to showcase my dad’s hard work through the years,” Sara said. “I enjoy the connection with our customers, answering questions about how and why we raise beef.”&nbsp;Salt Creek Farm has literally shipped products across the U.S., from New Hampshire to Hawaii.&nbsp;“One customer in Louisiana told me, ‘I didn’t know beef could taste like this,’” Sara said.&nbsp;For more information, see&nbsp;<a href="http://www.thesaltcreekfarm.com/">www.thesaltcreekfarm.com</a>.&nbsp;It’s time to leave our steak dinner, sourced from Salt Creek Farm. We commend Sara and Jay Shivers for making a difference with direct marketing of their products. Such entrepreneurship is all too rare, but this is well done.&nbsp;

Now That’s Rural: Sara Shivers, Salt Creek Farm 

On this episode of the Post Podcast Fort Hays State University's Glen McNeil discusses Salt Awareness Week along with National Orange, Lemon and Artichoke Day.

<div><iframe title="Salt, artichokes, oranges and lemons share a connection; McNeil explains" allowtransparency="true" height="450" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=beuxz-13bb93c-pb&from=pb6admin&square=1&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=auto&logo_link=podcast_page&btn-skin=3267a3&size=450" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>On this episode of the Post Podcast Fort Hays State University's Glen McNeil discusses Salt Awareness Week along with National Orange, Lemon and Artichoke Day.

🎙 Post Podcast: Salt, artichokes and citrus share a connection; McNeil explains

While working in the area of 13th and Fort today, city staff has found that two water main valves located at 10th and Fort and 13th and Fort have been compromised and require emergency replacement. 

 This may cause a disruption of water service along the 100 block of West 10th as well as along Fort Street from 10th to 13th streets. 

The city regrets the inconvenience this may cause and will be working to restore services as soon as possible. If you have questions, please call the Department of Water Resources at 785-628-7380.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678997130623.jpeg" alt="City of Hays" />
 <figcaption>City of Hays</figcaption>
 </figure>City of HaysWhile working in the area of 13th and Fort today, city staff has found that two water main valves located at 10th and Fort and 13th and Fort have been compromised and require emergency replacement. This may cause a disruption of water service along the 100 block of West 10th as well as along Fort Street from 10th to 13th streets. The city regrets the inconvenience this may cause and will be working to restore services as soon as possible. If you have questions, please call the Department of Water Resources at 785-628-7380.

Emergency replacement of two water valves underway on S. Fort Street in Hays

Josh Turner is coming to Salina's Stiefel Theatre in July.

Turner is scheduled to perform at 8 p.m. July 29 in the Stiefel Theatre, 151 S. Santa Fe Avenue.

Tickets start at $49 and go on sale at noon on Friday. Buy online at <a href="http://www.stiefeltheatre.org">www.stiefeltheatre.org</a>.

About Josh Turner courtesy the Stiefel Theatre

With his deep bass voice, Turner has sold more than 6.5 million records, reached 4.8 billion global streams, and has become a favorite and unforgettable hitmaker on country radio. 

With timeless songs like Long Black Train&nbsp; and Why Don’t We Just Dance, Turner’s five No. 1 singles include Your Man, of which the official music video surpassed 100 million views. Turner released Your Man Deluxe Edition, celebrating 15 years of Turner’s iconic double Platinum-selling album, as well as the mini-documentary Josh Turner Your Man 15th Anniversary (Mini Doc).

The Double-Platinum-selling Would You Go With Me, featured on Your Man Deluxe Edition, experienced a viral surge across TikTok leading to a jump in streaming which landed the classic country tune on Spotify’s US Viral 50 along with Spotify Viral charts in Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Iceland. The song continues to be a fan favorite, currently posting more than a million streams per week and 1.5 million global streams weekly.

A native of South Carolina, Turner has been nominated for three GMA Dove awards and won his first GMA Dove Award in 2021 for I Saw The Light featuring Sonya Isaacs, off his I Serve a Savior album. Turner has received six Inspirational Country Music Awards and has been nominated for two GRAMMY Awards, five CMA Awards, two ACM Awards, one CMT Award, and seven ACA Awards.

Turner released his first Christmas album, King Size Manger, in 2021 and accompanying vinyl and DVD in 2022. To support music and arts education, he created The Josh Turner Scholarship Fund For The Arts to help students pursue their studies in these fields.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678982039906.jpeg" alt="Josh Turner. Photo courtesy Stiefel Theatre" />
 <figcaption>Josh Turner. Photo courtesy Stiefel Theatre</figcaption>
 </figure>By SALINA POSTJosh Turner is coming to Salina's Stiefel Theatre in July.Turner is scheduled to perform at 8 p.m. July 29 in the Stiefel Theatre, 151 S. Santa Fe Avenue.Tickets start at $49 and go on sale at noon on Friday. Buy online at <a href="http://www.stiefeltheatre.org">www.stiefeltheatre.org</a>.About Josh Turner courtesy the Stiefel TheatreWith his deep bass voice, Turner has sold more than 6.5 million records, reached 4.8 billion global streams, and has become a favorite and unforgettable hitmaker on country radio. With timeless songs like Long Black Train&nbsp; and Why Don’t We Just Dance, Turner’s five No. 1 singles include Your Man, of which the official music video surpassed 100 million views. Turner released Your Man Deluxe Edition, celebrating 15 years of Turner’s iconic double Platinum-selling album, as well as the mini-documentary Josh Turner Your Man 15th Anniversary (Mini Doc). The Double-Platinum-selling Would You Go With Me, featured on Your Man Deluxe Edition, experienced a viral surge across TikTok leading to a jump in streaming which landed the classic country tune on Spotify’s US Viral 50 along with Spotify Viral charts in Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Iceland. The song continues to be a fan favorite, currently posting more than a million streams per week and 1.5 million global streams weekly. A native of South Carolina, Turner has been nominated for three GMA Dove awards and won his first GMA Dove Award in 2021 for I Saw The Light featuring Sonya Isaacs, off his I Serve a Savior album. Turner has received six Inspirational Country Music Awards and has been nominated for two GRAMMY Awards, five CMA Awards, two ACM Awards, one CMT Award, and seven ACA Awards. Turner released his first Christmas album, King Size Manger, in 2021 and accompanying vinyl and DVD in 2022. To support music and arts education, he created The Josh Turner Scholarship Fund For The Arts to help students pursue their studies in these fields.

Josh Turner concert set for Salina's Stiefel Theatre

By BECKY KISER Hays Post

The city of Hays will begin looking this month at the widening of east 13th Street in anticipation of the new high school to be built just east of the current facility which will become Hays Middle School.

During today's work session, city commissioners will hear about a design contract for the street reconstruction along with annexation and rezoning requests for the property at 2500 E. 13th.

Other agenda items include a proposed bid award and construction engineering agreement for a new building at the Hays Regional Airport to house snow removal equipment.&nbsp;

Collin Bielser, deputy city manager, has highlights of the agenda items.

The complete March 16 agenda is available <a href="https://www.haysusa.com/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=1051">here</a>.

The meeting starts at 4 p.m. in Hays City Hall, 1507 Main.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584721067731.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By BECKY KISER Hays PostThe city of Hays will begin looking this month at the widening of east 13th Street in anticipation of the new high school to be built just east of the current facility which will become Hays Middle School.During today's work session, city commissioners will hear about a design contract for the street reconstruction along with annexation and rezoning requests for the property at 2500 E. 13th.Other agenda items include a proposed bid award and construction engineering agreement for a new building at the Hays Regional Airport to house snow removal equipment.&nbsp;Collin Bielser, deputy city manager, has highlights of the agenda items.<div><div style="position:relative; overflow:hidden; padding-bottom:56.25%"><iframe src="https://cdn.jwplayer.com/players/i0Wiopby-P46diVCW.html" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" title="City Ws Preview 031623" style="position:absolute;" allowfullscreen></iframe></div></div>The complete March 16 agenda is available <a href="https://www.haysusa.com/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=1051">here</a>.The meeting starts at 4 p.m. in Hays City Hall, 1507 Main.

🎥 City to begin prep for widening 13th St. near future high school

The Hays Fire Department will be inspecting and flow testing fire hydrants on Thursday in the area of Elm St. to Allen St. between 2nd St. and 11th St. and Main St. to Vine St. between 12th St. and 21st St. 

This is part of a coordinated effort by the city of Hays to inspect all fire hydrants in the city and flush all water mains annually. 

Inspecting fire hydrants ensures that the valves operate properly and that there is no damage or obstructions that will prevent or interfere with the prompt use of fire hydrants in an emergency. Firefighters are also checking the pressure and volume of water mains in each neighborhood for firefighting purposes.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1588196742299.jpeg" alt="Photo by Hays Fire Dept.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Hays Fire Dept.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>Hays Fire Dept.The Hays Fire Department will be inspecting and flow testing fire hydrants on Thursday in the area of Elm St. to Allen St. between 2nd St. and 11th St. and Main St. to Vine St. between 12th St. and 21st St. This is part of a coordinated effort by the city of Hays to inspect all fire hydrants in the city and flush all water mains annually. Inspecting fire hydrants ensures that the valves operate properly and that there is no damage or obstructions that will prevent or interfere with the prompt use of fire hydrants in an emergency. Firefighters are also checking the pressure and volume of water mains in each neighborhood for firefighting purposes.

Firefighters testing hydrants in south-central Hays today

The Hays Police Department responded to 65 calls March 5-11, 2023 according to the HPD Activity Log.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1666041529157.jpeg" alt="" />
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 </figure>The Hays Police Department responded to 65 calls March 5-11, 2023 according to the HPD Activity Log.<figure>
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Hays PD Activity Log, March 5-11, 2023

In just the first hour of the free two-hour event, the World Water Day Fun Fest at the Sternberg Museum of Natural History saw nearly 250 children and adults tour the multiple hands-on exhibits, demonstrations, and fun activities.

This year's event was held Tuesday during what is spring break for Hays USD 489, Hays Catholic schools and Fort Hays State University. Even though classes weren't in session, it was filled with lots of learning about water quality and water quantity.&nbsp;

The Water Fest sponsors, City of Hays Water Resources Dept. and the KSU&nbsp;Kanopolis Lake/Big Creek/Middle Smoky Hill River watersheds, were helped out by volunteers at each activity booth.

One of those many volunteers was Ellis County 4-H Water Ambassador Marisa Wasinger of the Good Hope Club. She is one of the four original 4-H2O Ambassadors in the program that started three years ago.

Wasinger is now a Hays High School sophomore and it wasn't that long ago she was one of the wide-eyed young attendees at the annual Water Fest.&nbsp;

"I really like it," Wasinger said of her ambassadorship. "It's given me lots of opportunities for public speaking and leadership skills. I've also met a lot of people I never would have otherwise."

Although ambassadors already, the small group is still growing and they keep on learning.

" We also go on a lot of trainings and tours where we just learn about water and how it functions in Hays and in our county."&nbsp;

At the Water Fest, Wasinger kept busy helping at several informational booths, including a crowd favorite, "Freddy the Fish."&nbsp;

"It's just teaching kids about what can contaminate the water and then make Freddy the Fish sad."

Being able to see contaminates surround Freddy helps the kids better understand the importance of water quality, Wasinger said.

Chocolate syrup is dripped into a plastic container where Freddy the Fish (made of sponge) lives, representing animal manure. Green food dye is agricultural and residential fertilizer. There's even some pretend rubber poop pellets for animal waste. It's all topped off with empty snack bags and trash floating on the water.&nbsp;

"A lot of things that show up in our own Big Creek. It really shows kids that live here what they're doing.&nbsp; They can see how the water gets dirty and gross and makes the fish gross," Wasinger said.

In another area of the museum lobby, kids and adults alike were expressing surprise when they spotted microbes moving on slides of contaminated water, in a demonstration by Jason Riegel, Hays Water Reclamation and Reuse superintendent.

"When you're younger, you don't really think about water. You don't realize [its importance,]" Wasinger remembers. "But by seeing [these demonstrations], they realize what they do has an effect on what our environment has.

"They're always really surprised to see just what some of the normal things they do really affect our environment.&nbsp;

&nbsp;Ellis County and Hays rely on groundwater mostly from alluvial (shallow) aquifers around the Smoky Hill River and Big Creek, which flow near the city.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678921329891.jpeg" alt="Sponsored by the Hays Department of Water Resources and the KSU&nbsp;Kanopolis Lake/Big Creek/Middle Smoky Hill River watersheds, World Water Day Fun Fest was held Tuesday at the Sternberg Museum of Natural History. Photos and video by Becky Kiser/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Sponsored by the Hays Department of Water Resources and the KSU&nbsp;Kanopolis Lake/Big Creek/Middle Smoky Hill River watersheds, World Water Day Fun Fest was held Tuesday at the Sternberg Museum of Natural History. Photos and video by Becky Kiser/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>By BECKY KISER Hays PostIn just the first hour of the free two-hour event, the World Water Day Fun Fest at the Sternberg Museum of Natural History saw nearly 250 children and adults tour the multiple hands-on exhibits, demonstrations, and fun activities.This year's event was held Tuesday during what is spring break for Hays USD 489, Hays Catholic schools and Fort Hays State University. Even though classes weren't in session, it was filled with lots of learning about water quality and water quantity.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678921575188.jpeg" alt="" />
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 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678921594674.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678921625750.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The Water Fest sponsors, City of Hays Water Resources Dept. and the KSU&nbsp;Kanopolis Lake/Big Creek/Middle Smoky Hill River watersheds, were helped out by volunteers at each activity booth.One of those many volunteers was Ellis County 4-H Water Ambassador Marisa Wasinger of the Good Hope Club. She is one of the four original 4-H2O Ambassadors in the program that started three years ago.Wasinger is now a Hays High School sophomore and it wasn't that long ago she was one of the wide-eyed young attendees at the annual Water Fest.&nbsp;"I really like it," Wasinger said of her ambassadorship. "It's given me lots of opportunities for public speaking and leadership skills. I've also met a lot of people I never would have otherwise."Although ambassadors already, the small group is still growing and they keep on learning." We also go on a lot of trainings and tours where we just learn about water and how it functions in Hays and in our county."&nbsp;<div><div style="position:relative; overflow:hidden; padding-bottom:56.25%"><iframe src="https://cdn.jwplayer.com/players/kD1bY6SO-P46diVCW.html" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" title="Water Fest" style="position:absolute;" allowfullscreen></iframe></div></div>At the Water Fest, Wasinger kept busy helping at several informational booths, including a crowd favorite, "Freddy the Fish."&nbsp;"It's just teaching kids about what can contaminate the water and then make Freddy the Fish sad."Being able to see contaminates surround Freddy helps the kids better understand the importance of water quality, Wasinger said.Chocolate syrup is dripped into a plastic container where Freddy the Fish (made of sponge) lives, representing animal manure. Green food dye is agricultural and residential fertilizer. There's even some pretend rubber poop pellets for animal waste. It's all topped off with empty snack bags and trash floating on the water.&nbsp;"A lot of things that show up in our own Big Creek. It really shows kids that live here what they're doing.&nbsp; They can see how the water gets dirty and gross and makes the fish gross," Wasinger said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678923740377.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678923777285.jpeg" alt="Hays Water Resources Director Jeff Crispin talks with young Water Fest attendees.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Hays Water Resources Director Jeff Crispin talks with young Water Fest attendees.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678923922451.jpeg" alt="" />
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 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678931451079.jpeg" alt="Jason Riegel, Hays Water Reclamation and Reuse superintendent and a girl check out moving microbes on a monitor attached to a microscope loaded with a contaminated water sample.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Jason Riegel, Hays Water Reclamation and Reuse superintendent and a girl check out moving microbes on a monitor attached to a microscope loaded with a contaminated water sample.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>In another area of the museum lobby, kids and adults alike were expressing surprise when they spotted microbes moving on slides of contaminated water, in a demonstration by Jason Riegel, Hays Water Reclamation and Reuse superintendent."When you're younger, you don't really think about water. You don't realize [its importance,]" Wasinger remembers. "But by seeing [these demonstrations], they realize what they do has an effect on what our environment has."They're always really surprised to see just what some of the normal things they do really affect our environment.&nbsp;&nbsp;Ellis County and Hays rely on groundwater mostly from alluvial (shallow) aquifers around the Smoky Hill River and Big Creek, which flow near the city.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678931609734.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

🎥Learning all about water is fun, even during spring break 

“We believe a smile is worth a lot, but the smile of a child is priceless! It brings joy to our hearts to give back to our community, and that is why we are here today,” said Dr. Jeff Lowe, dentist at Lifetime Dental Care in Hays.

That is the essence of the American Dental Association’s Give Kids A Smile program — helping to ensure that every child has a healthy smile. 

The nationwide annual event is in its 21st year and has served as many as 7 million kids. Give Kids A Smile is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization working to eliminate the silent epidemic of dental disease for underserved children who cannot sleep, eat properly, pay attention in school or simply smile confidently due to teeth problems and oral infections.

The supplies, the dental services and the love are all donated by the volunteering offices.

Lifetime Dental Care has participated for 15 years and is excited to make a difference in the lives of the children of Hays and surrounding communities.

On March 3, the total value of services donated by the dental team at Lifetime Dental Care was $8,938. They helped 11 children take a big step toward being healthier and well by applying sealants (to prevent cavities), fluoride, cleanings, examinations, X-rays, fillings and extractions.

To learn more about the program, you can reach Lifetime Dental Care at 785-625-7969 or <a href="http://www.lifetimedentalcare.com">www.lifetimedentalcare.com</a>.

Submitted“We believe a smile is worth a lot, but the smile of a child is priceless! It brings joy to our hearts to give back to our community, and that is why we are here today,” said Dr. Jeff Lowe, dentist at Lifetime Dental Care in Hays.That is the essence of the American Dental Association’s Give Kids A Smile program — helping to ensure that every child has a healthy smile. The nationwide annual event is in its 21st year and has served as many as 7 million kids. Give Kids A Smile is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization working to eliminate the silent epidemic of dental disease for underserved children who cannot sleep, eat properly, pay attention in school or simply smile confidently due to teeth problems and oral infections.The supplies, the dental services and the love are all donated by the volunteering offices.Lifetime Dental Care has participated for 15 years and is excited to make a difference in the lives of the children of Hays and surrounding communities.On March 3, the total value of services donated by the dental team at Lifetime Dental Care was $8,938. They helped 11 children take a big step toward being healthier and well by applying sealants (to prevent cavities), fluoride, cleanings, examinations, X-rays, fillings and extractions.To learn more about the program, you can reach Lifetime Dental Care at 785-625-7969 or <a href="http://www.lifetimedentalcare.com">www.lifetimedentalcare.com</a>.Cover photo provided by Pixabay.

Lifetime Dental in Hays participates in Give Kids a Smile

The Thomas More Prep-Marian junior high chess team capped an undefeated 2022-23 season on Saturday by winning the junior high division of the Kansas Scholastic 
Chess Championships in Emporia.

In a section numbering over 100 players, the TMP 7th and 8th Graders 
started off to an early lead, then never trailed afterwards, ultimately 
finishing with 18 team points, 1.5 points ahead of 2nd Place Royster 
Middle School of Chanute (16.5), and 2.5 points ahead of 3rd Place 
Washburn Rural Middle School of Topeka(15.5).&nbsp; In 4th Place was Robinson
 Middle School of Topeka (15), 5th was Prairie Trail Middle School of 
Olathe (15), 6th was Liberty Memorial Middle School of Lawrence (14.5), 
7th was Allison Traditional of Wichita (13.5), 8th was Riley County 
Middle School (12.5), 9th was Frontenac Middle School (12.5), and 10th 
was Independence Middle School (10).&nbsp; Over 25 schools were represented, 
most of which are larger schools than TMP-Marian.

Individually, 7th Grader Cade Schlautman led the team scoring with 5 
wins and one loss, placing 10th overall.&nbsp; 8th Grader Carson Pinkney 
placed 14th with 4 wins, one loss, and one draw, as did 7th Grader Colby
 Schmeidler, who placed 17th on tiebreaks.&nbsp; 7th Graders Zack Billinger 
and Evan Staab won 4 games each, with 2 losses, placing 26th and 33rd 
respectively.&nbsp; The top four scores of the team, 5, 4.5, 4.5, and 4 made 
up the total team score of 18 points.&nbsp; The rest of the team, 8th Grader 
Mattias Marintzer, 7th Graders Ethan Gibson, Dylan Billinger, and Marcus
 Stahl, each scored 3 wins and 3 losses, itself a respectable finish in 
State competition.

In the High School division, TMP took a team of two; 9th Grader 
Blaise Staab scored 4 wins, one draw, and one loss to take 18th in 
another field of over a hundred, and 9th Grader Eli Stein scored 3 wins 
and 3 losses.&nbsp; The top high school teams were:&nbsp; 1st--Lawrence Free State
 (20 points), 2nd--Chanute (18.5), 3rd--Washburn Rural (16.5), 
4th--Lawrence High (16.5), 5th--Wichita South (15.5), 6th--Frontenac 
(15.5), 7th--Olathe South (15), 8th--Bishop Carroll (14.5), 
9th--Northeast High of Arma (14), and 10th--Leavenworth (10.5).

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678814244660.png" alt="TMP-M photo" />
 <figcaption>TMP-M photo</figcaption>
 </figure>TMP-MThe Thomas More Prep-Marian junior high chess team capped an undefeated 2022-23 season on Saturday by winning the junior high division of the Kansas Scholastic 
Chess Championships in Emporia.In a section numbering over 100 players, the TMP 7th and 8th Graders 
started off to an early lead, then never trailed afterwards, ultimately 
finishing with 18 team points, 1.5 points ahead of 2nd Place Royster 
Middle School of Chanute (16.5), and 2.5 points ahead of 3rd Place 
Washburn Rural Middle School of Topeka(15.5).&nbsp; In 4th Place was Robinson
 Middle School of Topeka (15), 5th was Prairie Trail Middle School of 
Olathe (15), 6th was Liberty Memorial Middle School of Lawrence (14.5), 
7th was Allison Traditional of Wichita (13.5), 8th was Riley County 
Middle School (12.5), 9th was Frontenac Middle School (12.5), and 10th 
was Independence Middle School (10).&nbsp; Over 25 schools were represented, 
most of which are larger schools than TMP-Marian.Individually, 7th Grader Cade Schlautman led the team scoring with 5 
wins and one loss, placing 10th overall.&nbsp; 8th Grader Carson Pinkney 
placed 14th with 4 wins, one loss, and one draw, as did 7th Grader Colby
 Schmeidler, who placed 17th on tiebreaks.&nbsp; 7th Graders Zack Billinger 
and Evan Staab won 4 games each, with 2 losses, placing 26th and 33rd 
respectively.&nbsp; The top four scores of the team, 5, 4.5, 4.5, and 4 made 
up the total team score of 18 points.&nbsp; The rest of the team, 8th Grader 
Mattias Marintzer, 7th Graders Ethan Gibson, Dylan Billinger, and Marcus
 Stahl, each scored 3 wins and 3 losses, itself a respectable finish in 
State competition.In the High School division, TMP took a team of two; 9th Grader 
Blaise Staab scored 4 wins, one draw, and one loss to take 18th in 
another field of over a hundred, and 9th Grader Eli Stein scored 3 wins 
and 3 losses.&nbsp; The top high school teams were:&nbsp; 1st--Lawrence Free State
 (20 points), 2nd--Chanute (18.5), 3rd--Washburn Rural (16.5), 
4th--Lawrence High (16.5), 5th--Wichita South (15.5), 6th--Frontenac 
(15.5), 7th--Olathe South (15), 8th--Bishop Carroll (14.5), 
9th--Northeast High of Arma (14), and 10th--Leavenworth (10.5).

Undefeated season for TMP-M junior high chess team

PHILLIPS COUNTY—A Kansas teen was injured in an accident just before 11p.m. Wednesday in Phillips County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1999 Chevy 1500 driven by&nbsp;Shellito, Braydon S. Shellito, 18, Phillipsburg, was eastbound on U.S. 36 twelve miles east of U.S. 183.

The pickup left the roadway, entered the south ditch, went airborne and struck a culvert and came to rest upright east of the culvert in the ditch.

EMS transported&nbsp;Shellito to&nbsp;Wesley Medical Center.&nbsp; He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.&nbsp;One juvenile also was present in the vehicle. The juvenile record protected data. The KHP released no additional information.

PHILLIPS COUNTY—A Kansas teen was injured in an accident just before 11p.m. Wednesday in Phillips County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1999 Chevy 1500 driven by&nbsp;Shellito, Braydon S. Shellito, 18, Phillipsburg, was eastbound on U.S. 36 twelve miles east of U.S. 183.The pickup left the roadway, entered the south ditch, went airborne and struck a culvert and came to rest upright east of the culvert in the ditch.EMS transported&nbsp;Shellito to&nbsp;Wesley Medical Center.&nbsp; He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.&nbsp;One juvenile also was present in the vehicle. The juvenile record protected data. The KHP released no additional information.

NW Kansas teen hospitalized after pickup crash

By&nbsp; LAAH TUCKER Special to the Hays Post

NATOMA — Blazing trails with perseverance are the women of the Natoma American Legion Auxiliary Unit 109.

On the Kansas High Plains, a small but mighty group of women continue to hold up the American ideals in supporting the common good for active military, veterans, children, youth and community.

In celebrating Women’s History Month, the Natoma Auxiliary gathered to remember their descendants who carried the torch during wars, conflicts and peace times.

From the Women’s Land Army during WWI through WWII, Vietnam War, Gulf War, Iraq, and Afghanistan, women cried “We Can Do It” in keeping the home fires burning, farms producing, and industries moving while many others served in the Army Air Corp, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, and later, in the Air Force.

During the Natoma women’s celebration, the history of Corporal Bonnie Gosser Wyatt, a local WWII Women’s Air Corp veteran, was presented.

Following WWII, Wyatt was assigned to a German orphanage near Frankfurt where 100 children were being cared for.

Across Europe children were malnourished, disabled and ill from diseases. The United States' generosity provided funds for thousands of orphans in hundreds of orphanages across Europe during the reconstruction.

Wyatt’s story is one of many American women, including the Natoma Auxiliary, who are dedicated in serving God and their country.

The Natoma Unit 109 continues in 22 annual projects including the archiving of veterans from the Revolutionary War to the present time at six rural cemeteries in Osborne and Russell Counties, and the Natoma City Cemetery.

On March 25, a local Vietnam Veteran and Lions Club Member, David George, will be remembered during the annual community-wide pancake supper in the Natoma Community Center.

The American Legion and American Legion Auxiliary will join the Natoma Lions Club for the event.

For information, contact Shawna Dunlap, American Legion Auxiliary and Lions Club, 785-885-4478.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678741041532.jpeg" alt="Natoma American Legion Auxiliary Unit 109 Celebrated Women’s History Month with (L-R) Sharon MacConnell, Marge Kertz, Linda Crawford, Sheri Beisner, Jenjer Murphy, Sonya Robison, and Laah Tucker." />
 <figcaption>Natoma American Legion Auxiliary Unit 109 Celebrated Women’s History Month with (L-R) Sharon MacConnell, Marge Kertz, Linda Crawford, Sheri Beisner, Jenjer Murphy, Sonya Robison, and Laah Tucker.</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp; LAAH TUCKER Special to the Hays PostNATOMA — Blazing trails with perseverance are the women of the Natoma American Legion Auxiliary Unit 109.On the Kansas High Plains, a small but mighty group of women continue to hold up the American ideals in supporting the common good for active military, veterans, children, youth and community.In celebrating Women’s History Month, the Natoma Auxiliary gathered to remember their descendants who carried the torch during wars, conflicts and peace times.From the Women’s Land Army during WWI through WWII, Vietnam War, Gulf War, Iraq, and Afghanistan, women cried “We Can Do It” in keeping the home fires burning, farms producing, and industries moving while many others served in the Army Air Corp, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, and later, in the Air Force.During the Natoma women’s celebration, the history of Corporal Bonnie Gosser Wyatt, a local WWII Women’s Air Corp veteran, was presented.Following WWII, Wyatt was assigned to a German orphanage near Frankfurt where 100 children were being cared for.Across Europe children were malnourished, disabled and ill from diseases. The United States' generosity provided funds for thousands of orphans in hundreds of orphanages across Europe during the reconstruction.Wyatt’s story is one of many American women, including the Natoma Auxiliary, who are dedicated in serving God and their country.The Natoma Unit 109 continues in 22 annual projects including the archiving of veterans from the Revolutionary War to the present time at six rural cemeteries in Osborne and Russell Counties, and the Natoma City Cemetery.On March 25, a local Vietnam Veteran and Lions Club Member, David George, will be remembered during the annual community-wide pancake supper in the Natoma Community Center.The American Legion and American Legion Auxiliary will join the Natoma Lions Club for the event.For information, contact Shawna Dunlap, American Legion Auxiliary and Lions Club, 785-885-4478.

Natoma American Legion Auxiliary celebrates Women's History Month

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

TOPEKA — A new website created by the Kansas Department of Transportation’s Division of Aviation, in collaboration with industry experts, provides a close-up look at all 140 public-use airports across the state and their impact on the communities they serve. Online dashboards provide the conditions of airport runways, economic impact data, future airport needs and more.

According to the dashboard, the Hutchinson Airport as of 2022 has an economic output of $22,534,223, supports 155 jobs and $6,047,638 in wages. This is an extrapolation from a 2016 study conducted by Burns &amp; McDonnell.

&nbsp;“Every airport serves a unique and important role for their community,” said Bob Brock, KDOT Director of Aviation. “It is this uniqueness that makes credible data on individual airports even more important to local, state and national decision-makers.”

&nbsp;The Division of Aviation worked with aviation industry leaders to publish key airport performance data online. Two new tools on this website offer precise aviation economic impact data for each community as well as current information on the status of airport pavement health used to program long-term airport investments.

The airport pavement health condition of the Hutchinson Airport is consistently below state averages for runways, taxiways, apron and taxilane. There are 13 total recommended projects for the airport on the website from 2023 to 2025.

&nbsp;The website address is:&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDAsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMzAzMTUuNzMzOTg4MjEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL2FpcmthbnNhcy5rc2RvdC5nb3YvQWlyUGVyZkRhc2guaHRtbD91dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9Z292ZGVsaXZlcnkifQ.fMzpxZt6RFPUB6KJto8_WdiN03H6tKRVMg65Si9c8HQ/s/2129667343/br/156206047134-l" target="_blank">https://airkansas.ksdot.gov/AirPerfDash.html</a>

&nbsp;“With this combination of data for every airport, KDOT expects significant improvement in projects that deliver the most positive impact for the community as well as increased capacity to complete projects more efficiently,” Brock said.

&nbsp;The KDOT Aviation website includes information on how communities and airport operators can apply for grants, most notably through the Kansas Airport Improvement Program. For 22 years, KAIP grants have enabled communities to partner with KDOT on 820-plus airport improvement projects totaling nearly $200 million in value. In turn, these Kansas public-use airports support nearly 34,000 jobs and roughly $11 billion of on-airport economic impact within the state.

<a href="https://hutchpost.com/download" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to download the Hutch Post mobile app. <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/5e73b532afae0f4d5f5d90ea" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to sign up for the daily Hutch Post email news update.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1643373407439.png" alt="" />
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 </figure>TOPEKA — A new website created by the Kansas Department of Transportation’s Division of Aviation, in collaboration with industry experts, provides a close-up look at all 140 public-use airports across the state and their impact on the communities they serve. Online dashboards provide the conditions of airport runways, economic impact data, future airport needs and more.According to the dashboard, the Hutchinson Airport as of 2022 has an economic output of $22,534,223, supports 155 jobs and $6,047,638 in wages. This is an extrapolation from a 2016 study conducted by Burns &amp; McDonnell.&nbsp;“Every airport serves a unique and important role for their community,” said Bob Brock, KDOT Director of Aviation. “It is this uniqueness that makes credible data on individual airports even more important to local, state and national decision-makers.”&nbsp;The Division of Aviation worked with aviation industry leaders to publish key airport performance data online. Two new tools on this website offer precise aviation economic impact data for each community as well as current information on the status of airport pavement health used to program long-term airport investments.The airport pavement health condition of the Hutchinson Airport is consistently below state averages for runways, taxiways, apron and taxilane. There are 13 total recommended projects for the airport on the website from 2023 to 2025.&nbsp;The website address is:&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDAsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMzAzMTUuNzMzOTg4MjEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL2FpcmthbnNhcy5rc2RvdC5nb3YvQWlyUGVyZkRhc2guaHRtbD91dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9Z292ZGVsaXZlcnkifQ.fMzpxZt6RFPUB6KJto8_WdiN03H6tKRVMg65Si9c8HQ/s/2129667343/br/156206047134-l" target="_blank">https://airkansas.ksdot.gov/AirPerfDash.html</a>&nbsp;“With this combination of data for every airport, KDOT expects significant improvement in projects that deliver the most positive impact for the community as well as increased capacity to complete projects more efficiently,” Brock said.&nbsp;The KDOT Aviation website includes information on how communities and airport operators can apply for grants, most notably through the Kansas Airport Improvement Program. For 22 years, KAIP grants have enabled communities to partner with KDOT on 820-plus airport improvement projects totaling nearly $200 million in value. In turn, these Kansas public-use airports support nearly 34,000 jobs and roughly $11 billion of on-airport economic impact within the state.<a href="https://hutchpost.com/download" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to download the Hutch Post mobile app. <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/5e73b532afae0f4d5f5d90ea" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to sign up for the daily Hutch Post email news update.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

Website gives airport impact stats, construction needs

On this episode of the Post Podcast, Hays Chamber vice president of membership Rhonda Meyerhoff and Creek Side Resort manager Kac' Patterson discuss the growing list of services offered at the RV Park.

<div><iframe title="Creek Side Resort in Hays continues expansion of services, events" allowtransparency="true" height="450" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=sgeya-13ba2a1-pb&from=pb6admin&square=1&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=auto&logo_link=podcast_page&btn-skin=3267a3&size=450" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>On this episode of the Post Podcast, Hays Chamber vice president of membership Rhonda Meyerhoff and Creek Side Resort manager Kac' Patterson discuss the growing list of services offered at the RV Park.

🎙 Post Podcast: Creek Side Resort in Hays continues expansion of services, events

On Tuesday at approximately 9:13 p.m. the Hays Fire Department was dispatched to a report of a grass fire approaching homes located at 500 W. 34th St. in Hays.

The Hays Fire Department responded and found a grass fire had burned around two duplexes and was burning to the west in open lots. 

Firefighters quickly extinguished the fire. 

Tenants and neighbors were assisting with garden hoses around the homes to help extinguish the fire. 

Due to the protective barriers surrounding the homes and the short grass, the fire did not have a chance to damage any homes.

 No injuries from the occupants or first responders were reported. 

The cause of the fire is ruled undetermined but it may have been started by an improperly discarded cigarette.

The Hays Fire Department would like to thank Ellis County Communications, Ellis County Fire Department Company 5, Ellis County EMS and Hays Police Department.

The Hays Fire Department would like to remind everyone that during these dry times, we must be extra cautious when discarding cigarettes, using outdoor fire features or any other activity that could lead to a fire. 

Please contact the Hays Fire Department if you are interested in knowing more of how to protect your home from outdoor fires.

Hays Fire DepartmentOn Tuesday at approximately 9:13 p.m. the Hays Fire Department was dispatched to a report of a grass fire approaching homes located at 500 W. 34th St. in Hays.The Hays Fire Department responded and found a grass fire had burned around two duplexes and was burning to the west in open lots. Firefighters quickly extinguished the fire. Tenants and neighbors were assisting with garden hoses around the homes to help extinguish the fire. Due to the protective barriers surrounding the homes and the short grass, the fire did not have a chance to damage any homes.The homes were occupied at the time. No injuries from the occupants or first responders were reported. The cause of the fire is ruled undetermined but it may have been started by an improperly discarded cigarette.The Hays Fire Department would like to thank Ellis County Communications, Ellis County Fire Department Company 5, Ellis County EMS and Hays Police Department.The Hays Fire Department would like to remind everyone that during these dry times, we must be extra cautious when discarding cigarettes, using outdoor fire features or any other activity that could lead to a fire. Please contact the Hays Fire Department if you are interested in knowing more of how to protect your home from outdoor fires.

Grass fire in Hays quickly extinguished Tuesday 

After a warm, windy Wednesday with a daytime high in the mid-70s, the National Weather Service in Dodge City says to expect a quick change back to wintry conditions.

There is a 20 percent chance of rain in the early morning hours Thursday, increasing to a 50 percent chance of snow Thursday as the temperature nosedives. Cold front will shift winds from the south to the north and the mercury is expected to drop down to 20 by Thursday night.

Wind gusts of up to 55 mph are possible Thursday, the NWS warned, with sustained winds of 32 to 38 mph.

By Thursday night,&nbsp; the skies will clear, with weekend highs around 40 degrees.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678900777417.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>After a warm, windy Wednesday with a daytime high in the mid-70s, the National Weather Service in Dodge City says to expect a quick change back to wintry conditions.There is a 20 percent chance of rain in the early morning hours Thursday, increasing to a 50 percent chance of snow Thursday as the temperature nosedives. Cold front will shift winds from the south to the north and the mercury is expected to drop down to 20 by Thursday night.Wind gusts of up to 55 mph are possible Thursday, the NWS warned, with sustained winds of 32 to 38 mph.By Thursday night,&nbsp; the skies will clear, with weekend highs around 40 degrees.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">A very strong cold front will push rapidly south across western Kansas early Thursday morning. Immediately behind the front, we are growing increasingly concerned about a brief window of high wind and blowing dust with gusts perhaps to 60 mph briefly. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/kswx?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#kswx</a> <a href="https://t.co/TyRrI7VMOi">pic.twitter.com/TyRrI7VMOi</a>&mdash; NWS Dodge City (@NWSDodgeCity) <a href="https://twitter.com/NWSDodgeCity/status/1635942492515487745?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 15, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> </div>

Warm, windy Wednesday — then winter makes return

To Gov. Laura Kelly and the Kansas Legislature:


We are proud educators and proud parents, and proud to live in northwestern Kansas.
We know first hand what a thriving public school contributes to our community’s overall
well-being. We also know very well that the ripple effects of a public school gutted to fund
private school ventures would be devastating.


We stand in fervent opposition to SB 83 and its House Substitute. We urge the legislature
to vote against these bills. Should our voices be ignored in the legislature, and if our
Representatives and Senators fail to stand against these bills despite our strongest
condemnation, we strongly support Gov. Laura Kelly’s veto.

We are writing to protect our public schools for the following reasons:


The Senate Republicans' tactic of tying special education funding and teacher salary
increases to such an anti-democratic, pro-segregationist piece of legislation is not only
tiresome, but dangerous. Tying teacher salary increases to this legislation demonstrates
the Kansas Republican Party believes teachers can be bought at the expense of their
students and their professional civic mission. Even more, it is unfathomable that
legislators would dangle SPED support as a bargaining chip that would only, in the long
term, harm SPED services and families.


We condemn the transfer of our taxpayer dollars from the general education fund to
those who choose not to attend public schools; if families wish to send their children
elsewhere, that is their right, but not our responsibility.


Marlene Whitney: USD 270
Plainville School Board member,
board clerk, public school parent

Allison Renk-Jones: nurse, public
school and SPED parent

Matt Whitney: Spanish teacher,
public school parent

Mark Schaukowitch: Rooks County
Democrats Chair, former educator

To Gov. Laura Kelly and the Kansas Legislature:
We are proud educators and proud parents, and proud to live in northwestern Kansas.
We know first hand what a thriving public school contributes to our community’s overall
well-being. We also know very well that the ripple effects of a public school gutted to fund
private school ventures would be devastating.
We stand in fervent opposition to SB 83 and its House Substitute. We urge the legislature
to vote against these bills. Should our voices be ignored in the legislature, and if our
Representatives and Senators fail to stand against these bills despite our strongest
condemnation, we strongly support Gov. Laura Kelly’s veto.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575913663048.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>We are writing to protect our public schools for the following reasons:
<ol>
 <li>First and foremost, SB 83 has a disturbing legacy rooted in segregationism, and a
direct and racist response to the Brown v. Board of Education decision.
Segregationists planned to implement a model of “public” schooling that would
enable white parents to choose the school their children would attend, regardless
of income status, by using taxpayer dollars in the form of savings accounts and/or
vouchers. Over the last 70 years, various versions of this model have been
implemented in different states. Each version of this model has produced the same
result: schools segregated by race, gender, and physical ability. We reject school
segregation and embrace diversity in our schools.

							</li><li>SB 83 is rooted in bad economic policy. The concept of “parental choice” was
created not by teachers, but by trickle-down economists who saw public education
as a source of economic competition rather than community partnerships. Even
more, the metrics to decide what constitutes a “good” school are nebulous at best,
and racist and harmful at worst - to say nothing that parents and children are not
mere data points, and so much of the educational experience cannot be quantified
so easily.

							</li><li>Policies that segregate by race and economic status also uniquely harm people
living in rural areas. In this case, SB 83’s impact on rural life will be profoundly
harmful. If parents get a choice of school at all, their choice will be outside their
local school district - and with it, their voice through the democratic process as
espoused by local school districts and school boards. By encouraging parents to
enroll their children in schools outside their district, SB 83 would be taking
necessary tax dollars away from local schools and ending a major source of
employment and revenue in rural areas. With local schools often being one of the
top three employers in rural areas, the loss of a rural school will be economically
catastrophic for small towns across the state.

							</li><li>Even more, if and when public schools in rural areas close as a result of SB 83,
resources for students with disabilities, particularly in rural areas, will be
substantially diminished. If a private school is in the area, the private school may not have the services and equipment necessary to serve a student with disabilities, and that student will be refused an equitable education. SB 83 will exclude rural students with disabilities from a quality education, and denies these young people their rights to a future of full citizenship.

							</li>
 </ol><ul>
 <li>5. It is simply morally wrong to redirect public, taxpayer dollars away from the
students and schools that serve the public good and towards wealthy Kansas
families who least need the cash. Under the current language, any student would
qualify for such an account, including students who are already attending private
school and whose parents can already afford the tuition. This would amount to a
taxpayer payout to the wealthiest Kansas families, with middle-class and poor
families footing the bill. We do not need to bail out wealthy families while rural
schools languish.
</li>
 </ul>The Senate Republicans' tactic of tying special education funding and teacher salary
increases to such an anti-democratic, pro-segregationist piece of legislation is not only
tiresome, but dangerous. Tying teacher salary increases to this legislation demonstrates
the Kansas Republican Party believes teachers can be bought at the expense of their
students and their professional civic mission. Even more, it is unfathomable that
legislators would dangle SPED support as a bargaining chip that would only, in the long
term, harm SPED services and families.
We condemn the transfer of our taxpayer dollars from the general education fund to
those who choose not to attend public schools; if families wish to send their children
elsewhere, that is their right, but not our responsibility.
Sincerely,
Marlene Whitney: USD 270
Plainville School Board member,
board clerk, public school parent
Allison Renk-Jones: nurse, public
school and SPED parent
Matt Whitney: Spanish teacher,
public school parent
Mark Schaukowitch: Rooks County
Democrats Chair, former educator

LETTER: Opposition to SB 83 in rural NW Kansas

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment on Wednesday reported 12 new COVID-19 cases had been identified in Ellis County from March 4 and 10.

KDHE reports updated case numbers weekly on Wednesdays.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678905651350.png" alt="Ellis County COVID-19 curve / KDHE" />
 <figcaption>Ellis County COVID-19 curve / KDHE</figcaption>
 </figure>The Kansas Department of Health and Environment on Wednesday reported 12 new COVID-19 cases had been identified in Ellis County from March 4 and 10.KDHE reports updated case numbers weekly on Wednesdays.Ellis County was in the moderate-incidence category (see map below). Just 10 counties across the state were in the high-incidence category.<a href="https://www.ellisco.net/97/Health">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;for information on how to receive a COVID-19 vaccination.Since reporting began, there have been 8,454 cases of COVID-19 identified in Ellis County.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678905622633.png" alt="KDHE" />
 <figcaption>KDHE</figcaption>
 </figure>

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