By DUSTIN ARMBRUSTER Hays Post

Each of the three Hays High seniors that signed to play football at Fort Hays State University could have walked away from the game. They each had excuses. They each had the chance to do so.

Keamonie Archie, Kyreese Groen and Deondre Broom however chose the harder road. The one that required time, patience, and hard work. Lots and lots of hard work.

Thursday they each signed a National Letter of Intent to stay in Hays and play for the Tigers.

Archie is the newest of the three to town. The soft spoken 6'4" three sport athlete moved to Hays, Kansas before his junior year. He was ruled ineligible before he had a chance to step on the football field. That didn't stop him from showing up everyday to weights and every practice as well.

Every time he showed up, he improved. He had to. Archie never had the opportunity to play football prior to his move to Kansas. His first ever football game was when he took the field for his senior campaign.&nbsp;

Archie played wide receiver and hauled in 2o receptions, eight of them for touchdowns. He averaged just under 19 yards per catch. Fort Hays State projects him at defensive back. Archie believes that playing wide receiver will help his move to the other side of the ball.

The guy throwing him the ball was a wide receiver in 2021. Kyreese Groen was an all league receiver as a junior where he compiled over 400 yards of total offense and scored five times. Groen made the switch to help the team. Help he did.

Groen threw for 805 yards and 14 scores while running for 1004 yards and scoring 13 times.

Fort Hays State plans on moving him back to wide receiver.

The coaching staff didn't know what to expect out of Groen early on. He was always smaller than the others in his class. The coaches knew if he would grow he would be special. Playing at 6'1" and 175 pounds this past season, Groen knows he needs to get bigger, faster and stronger for college.&nbsp;

Deondre Broom fully admits that his grades weren't where they were supposed to be. At the end of his sophomore year Broom was told if he didn't improve his academics he wouldn't graduate. Football was a saving grace.

Broom's friends and coaching staff gave him a chance, but only if his grades improved. Broom is now pulls A's and B's out of his classes.

During this past summer Broom noticed that the hard work he had put in was paying off during the FHSU football camp. It made him realize that college football could be a real goal for him.

As a cornerback this past season Broom collected 33 tackles, five for loss, recovered a fumble and intercepted a pass. He was part of defense that allowed just 16 points per game and 113 yards through the air.

Multiple coaches talked about the groups selflessness and willingness to be team players. Each also mentioned how all three had to go through so much to get to this point.

Groen and Archie are starters on the basketball team that will play in the sub-state championship game on Saturday.

All three will be on the track team in the spring.

By DUSTIN ARMBRUSTER Hays PostEach of the three Hays High seniors that signed to play football at Fort Hays State University could have walked away from the game. They each had excuses. They each had the chance to do so.Keamonie Archie, Kyreese Groen and Deondre Broom however chose the harder road. The one that required time, patience, and hard work. Lots and lots of hard work.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1677784211028.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Thursday they each signed a National Letter of Intent to stay in Hays and play for the Tigers.Archie is the newest of the three to town. The soft spoken 6'4" three sport athlete moved to Hays, Kansas before his junior year. He was ruled ineligible before he had a chance to step on the football field. That didn't stop him from showing up everyday to weights and every practice as well.Every time he showed up, he improved. He had to. Archie never had the opportunity to play football prior to his move to Kansas. His first ever football game was when he took the field for his senior campaign.&nbsp;Keamonie Archie<div><iframe width="100%" height="300" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/1459964323&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true&visual=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509" title="Eagle Radio" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Eagle Radio</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509/keamonie-archie" title="Keamonie Archie" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Keamonie Archie</a></div></div>Archie played wide receiver and hauled in 2o receptions, eight of them for touchdowns. He averaged just under 19 yards per catch. Fort Hays State projects him at defensive back. Archie believes that playing wide receiver will help his move to the other side of the ball.The guy throwing him the ball was a wide receiver in 2021. Kyreese Groen was an all league receiver as a junior where he compiled over 400 yards of total offense and scored five times. Groen made the switch to help the team. Help he did.Groen threw for 805 yards and 14 scores while running for 1004 yards and scoring 13 times.Fort Hays State plans on moving him back to wide receiver.Kyreese Groen<div><iframe width="100%" height="300" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/1459964263&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true&visual=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509" title="Eagle Radio" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Eagle Radio</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509/kyreese-groen" title="Kyreese Groen" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Kyreese Groen</a></div></div>The coaching staff didn't know what to expect out of Groen early on. He was always smaller than the others in his class. The coaches knew if he would grow he would be special. Playing at 6'1" and 175 pounds this past season, Groen knows he needs to get bigger, faster and stronger for college.&nbsp;Deondre Broom fully admits that his grades weren't where they were supposed to be. At the end of his sophomore year Broom was told if he didn't improve his academics he wouldn't graduate. Football was a saving grace.Broom's friends and coaching staff gave him a chance, but only if his grades improved. Broom is now pulls A's and B's out of his classes.Deondre Broom<div><iframe width="100%" height="300" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/1459964308&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true&visual=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509" title="Eagle Radio" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Eagle Radio</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509/deondre-broom" title="Deondre Broom" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Deondre Broom</a></div></div>During this past summer Broom noticed that the hard work he had put in was paying off during the FHSU football camp. It made him realize that college football could be a real goal for him.As a cornerback this past season Broom collected 33 tackles, five for loss, recovered a fumble and intercepted a pass. He was part of defense that allowed just 16 points per game and 113 yards through the air.Multiple coaches talked about the groups selflessness and willingness to be team players. Each also mentioned how all three had to go through so much to get to this point.Coach Tony Crough<div><iframe width="100%" height="300" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/1459964233&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true&visual=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509" title="Eagle Radio" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Eagle Radio</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509/tony-crough-on-the-fhsu-3" title="Tony Crough On The FHSU 3" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Tony Crough On The FHSU 3</a></div></div>Groen and Archie are starters on the basketball team that will play in the sub-state championship game on Saturday.All three will be on the track team in the spring.

It wasn't easy: Three Hays High Indians become Tigers

JEWELL COUNTY - An electric cooperative recently helped the Jewell County Game Warden free a Bald Eagle from a tree. From the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/kdwpgamewardens">Kansas Wildlife &amp; Parks - Game Wardens Facebook page</a>:

JEWELL COUNTY - An electric cooperative recently helped the Jewell County Game Warden free a Bald Eagle from a tree. From the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/kdwpgamewardens">Kansas Wildlife &amp; Parks - Game Wardens Facebook page</a>:<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fkdwpgamewardens%2Fposts%2Fpfbid0Zn8XRZJDGTmvy9FbwJ3dTKEzoLnhpLv67yNybdJBiCHTrrPmUn2CJosVZdW2iY9Cl&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="454" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div>

Electric cooperative personnel help free trapped Bald Eagle

On this episode of the Post Podcast, Early Childhood Connections coordinator Beth Hansen shares information about the USD 489 Preschool Roundup, scheduled for March 2.

<div><iframe title="USD 489 Preschool Roundup set for March 2" allowtransparency="true" height="300" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=f8gxv-13a68cb-pb&from=pb6admin&square=1&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=auto&logo_link=podcast_page&btn-skin=3267a3&size=300" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>On this episode of the Post Podcast, Early Childhood Connections coordinator Beth Hansen shares information about the USD 489 Preschool Roundup, scheduled for March 2.

🎙 Post Podcast: USD 489 Preschool Roundup set for March 2

By SHERRIENE JONES-SONTAG Kansas Chamber

TOPEKA, Kan. — The Kansas Chamber announced Wednesday its 2023 Leadership Kansas class. It includes two participants from Hays, Nikki Pfannenstiel of Sunflower Electric Power Corporation and Wesley Rathbun, owner of 8th Street Liquor, Golden Q, The Fort and Rathbun Enterprises.&nbsp;

As one of the oldest and most prestigious statewide leadership programs in the country, Leadership Kansas, or LK, is focused on developing and motivating Kansas leaders from across the state.

"The Kansas Chamber is excited to welcome the newest Leadership Kansas class - a great representation of the state's demographics," said Kansas Chamber President &amp; CEO Alan Cobb (LK '21). "

Since 1979, LK has fostered greater awareness and understanding of statewide economic, business, and political issues among the leaders of our state. Graduates of the LK program have gone on to take on key leadership roles at the local, state, and national levels.

Leadership Kansas received more than 600 nominations for the 2023 program. After a thorough&nbsp;and thoughtful application and selection process, the selection committee chose 40 individuals for the 2023 class.&nbsp;

The committee and the Leadership Kansas Board of Advisors make every effort to ensure the class reflects the state in regard to geographic, ethnic, occupational, and gender diversity.&nbsp;The program begins in April with an orientation session in Lawrence and ends in October with graduation after the completion of seven sessions.

The other cities the 2023 class will visit for this year's program include Garden City, Overland Park, Olathe, Lenexa, Kansas City, Kan., Leavenworth, Salina, Pittsburg, Hutchinson, Wichita, El Dorado, Manhattan, and Topeka.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Throughout the seven-month program, the class interacts with a variety of experts and community leaders through three-day educational training sessions. The diverse discussion topics include business, education, agriculture, public policy, societal health, economic development, and government.&nbsp;

"Participants in the Leadership Kansas program receive once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to meet many of Kansas’ distinguished business and government leaders. They become stronger leaders, better prepared to contribute to their communities and our state," said LK Executive Director Aaron Miller (LK '16).

Leadership Kansas has more than 1,500 alumni.

By SHERRIENE JONES-SONTAG Kansas ChamberTOPEKA, Kan. — The Kansas Chamber announced Wednesday its 2023 Leadership Kansas class. It includes two participants from Hays, Nikki Pfannenstiel of Sunflower Electric Power Corporation and Wesley Rathbun, owner of 8th Street Liquor, Golden Q, The Fort and Rathbun Enterprises.&nbsp;As one of the oldest and most prestigious statewide leadership programs in the country, Leadership Kansas, or LK, is focused on developing and motivating Kansas leaders from across the state. "The Kansas Chamber is excited to welcome the newest Leadership Kansas class - a great representation of the state's demographics," said Kansas Chamber President &amp; CEO Alan Cobb (LK '21). "Since 1979, LK has fostered greater awareness and understanding of statewide economic, business, and political issues among the leaders of our state. Graduates of the LK program have gone on to take on key leadership roles at the local, state, and national levels.Leadership Kansas received more than 600 nominations for the 2023 program. After a thorough&nbsp;and thoughtful application and selection process, the selection committee chose 40 individuals for the 2023 class.&nbsp;The committee and the Leadership Kansas Board of Advisors make every effort to ensure the class reflects the state in regard to geographic, ethnic, occupational, and gender diversity.&nbsp;The program begins in April with an orientation session in Lawrence and ends in October with graduation after the completion of seven sessions.The other cities the 2023 class will visit for this year's program include Garden City, Overland Park, Olathe, Lenexa, Kansas City, Kan., Leavenworth, Salina, Pittsburg, Hutchinson, Wichita, El Dorado, Manhattan, and Topeka.&nbsp;&nbsp;Throughout the seven-month program, the class interacts with a variety of experts and community leaders through three-day educational training sessions. The diverse discussion topics include business, education, agriculture, public policy, societal health, economic development, and government.&nbsp;"Participants in the Leadership Kansas program receive once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to meet many of Kansas’ distinguished business and government leaders. They become stronger leaders, better prepared to contribute to their communities and our state," said LK Executive Director Aaron Miller (LK '16).Leadership Kansas has more than 1,500 alumni.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1677690761482.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

Hays residents in 2023 Leadership Kansas class

The Hays Fire Department will be inspecting and flow testing fire hydrants on Thursday, in the area of Willow St. to Indian Trail between 33rd St. and 41st 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.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615901060478.jpeg" alt="Photo by Hays Fire Dept.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Hays Fire Dept.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>City of HaysThe Hays Fire Department will be inspecting and flow testing fire hydrants on Thursday, in the area of Willow St. to Indian Trail between 33rd St. and 41st 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.

Fire hydrant testing continues today in north Hays

Come out Saturday, March 18, 2023 at 2:30 p.m. to support Garrett Feauto and Drew Werth’s Senior Capstone Project at Thomas More Prep-Marian High School in Hays. 

Their project is a Home Run Derby. They are raising money for the TMP-M baseball team and helping them buy newer and safer equipment for the team. 

$10 entry fee, and/or free will donation if you would like to spectate. It will be held at the TMP-M Softball Fields. T-shirts, pizza and prizes will be provided. 

If you have any questions, contact either Garrett or Drew at <a href="mailto:23feautog@tmpmarian.org" target="_blank">23feautog@tmpmarian.org</a> or <a href="mailto:23werthd@tmpmarian.org" target="_blank">23werthd@tmpmarian.org</a>.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.jotform.com/form/230576785774169" target="_blank">https://www.jotform.com/form/230576785774169</a>&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1677754046349.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>SubmittedCome out Saturday, March 18, 2023 at 2:30 p.m. to support Garrett Feauto and Drew Werth’s Senior Capstone Project at Thomas More Prep-Marian High School in Hays. Their project is a Home Run Derby. They are raising money for the TMP-M baseball team and helping them buy newer and safer equipment for the team. $10 entry fee, and/or free will donation if you would like to spectate. It will be held at the TMP-M Softball Fields. T-shirts, pizza and prizes will be provided. Anyone is welcome to come support. If you have any questions, contact either Garrett or Drew at <a href="mailto:23feautog@tmpmarian.org" target="_blank">23feautog@tmpmarian.org</a> or <a href="mailto:23werthd@tmpmarian.org" target="_blank">23werthd@tmpmarian.org</a>.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jotform.com/form/230576785774169" target="_blank">https://www.jotform.com/form/230576785774169</a>&nbsp;

Teams needed for TMP-M Home Run Derby baseball fundraiser

Sunflower Electric Power Corp. has promoted&nbsp;Dae VanPelt&nbsp;to&nbsp;manager of&nbsp;system operations.

VanPelt&nbsp;is&nbsp;responsible for managing&nbsp;safe and reliable operation of&nbsp;Sunflower’s&nbsp;transmission and generation system&nbsp;including&nbsp;outage coordination,&nbsp;line switching, voltage regulation and generation loading.&nbsp;He&nbsp;ensures&nbsp;Sunflower is&nbsp;compliant&nbsp;with&nbsp;all participation agreements, interconnection agreements, and power contracts, as well as the&nbsp;North American Electric Reliability Corporation’s operating and reliability standards&nbsp;and&nbsp;the&nbsp;Southwest Power Pool’s market protocols.&nbsp;In addition,&nbsp;VanPelt provides leadership&nbsp;for the&nbsp;system&nbsp;operations training program&nbsp;designed to prepare new recruits&nbsp;in mastering&nbsp;the skills required of&nbsp;system&nbsp;operators.

During his tenure&nbsp;16-year tenure&nbsp;at Sunflower, VanPelt has demonstrated highly technical expertise,&nbsp;serving in multiple positions within&nbsp;system&nbsp;operations,&nbsp;including&nbsp;system&nbsp;operator, EMS/SCADA&nbsp;applications&nbsp;coordinator, and the&nbsp;system&nbsp;operations&nbsp;supervisor.&nbsp;He&nbsp;has&nbsp;a strong background in the electric utility industry&nbsp;with&nbsp;expertise in the areas of&nbsp;transmission operations, generation operations, system reliability and supervision.&nbsp;

As a&nbsp;system&nbsp;operations&nbsp;supervisor,&nbsp;VanPelt&nbsp;was instrumental in&nbsp;overseeing the transition to a new system monitoring and control system, coordinating the implementation of a training simulator as part of that upgrade, and supervising system operation’s&nbsp;role in protecting grid reliability during&nbsp;numerous&nbsp;weather events,&nbsp;including Winter Storm Uri in February 2021.

A native of Bushton and a graduate of Barton County Community College,&nbsp;VanPelt resides in Holcomb with his wife and four children.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1677529749927.jpeg" alt="Dae VanPelt" />
 <figcaption>Dae VanPelt</figcaption>
 </figure>Sunflower ElectricSunflower Electric Power Corp. has promoted&nbsp;Dae VanPelt&nbsp;to&nbsp;manager of&nbsp;system operations.VanPelt&nbsp;is&nbsp;responsible for managing&nbsp;safe and reliable operation of&nbsp;Sunflower’s&nbsp;transmission and generation system&nbsp;including&nbsp;outage coordination,&nbsp;line switching, voltage regulation and generation loading.&nbsp;He&nbsp;ensures&nbsp;Sunflower is&nbsp;compliant&nbsp;with&nbsp;all participation agreements, interconnection agreements, and power contracts, as well as the&nbsp;North American Electric Reliability Corporation’s operating and reliability standards&nbsp;and&nbsp;the&nbsp;Southwest Power Pool’s market protocols.&nbsp;In addition,&nbsp;VanPelt provides leadership&nbsp;for the&nbsp;system&nbsp;operations training program&nbsp;designed to prepare new recruits&nbsp;in mastering&nbsp;the skills required of&nbsp;system&nbsp;operators.During his tenure&nbsp;16-year tenure&nbsp;at Sunflower, VanPelt has demonstrated highly technical expertise,&nbsp;serving in multiple positions within&nbsp;system&nbsp;operations,&nbsp;including&nbsp;system&nbsp;operator, EMS/SCADA&nbsp;applications&nbsp;coordinator, and the&nbsp;system&nbsp;operations&nbsp;supervisor.&nbsp;He&nbsp;has&nbsp;a strong background in the electric utility industry&nbsp;with&nbsp;expertise in the areas of&nbsp;transmission operations, generation operations, system reliability and supervision.&nbsp;As a&nbsp;system&nbsp;operations&nbsp;supervisor,&nbsp;VanPelt&nbsp;was instrumental in&nbsp;overseeing the transition to a new system monitoring and control system, coordinating the implementation of a training simulator as part of that upgrade, and supervising system operation’s&nbsp;role in protecting grid reliability during&nbsp;numerous&nbsp;weather events,&nbsp;including Winter Storm Uri in February 2021.A native of Bushton and a graduate of Barton County Community College,&nbsp;VanPelt resides in Holcomb with his wife and four children.

Sunflower Electric promotes VanPelt to manager of system operations

By GLENN BRUNKOW Pottawatomie County farmer and rancher It’s farm bill time again. The discussions are beginning to happen and starting to heat up. Over the past couple of months, the talks have switched from continuing on with a farm bill with similar policies as the 2018 version or options that are dramatically different. What will happen is really anyone’s guess, and that is both a challenge and an opportunity for Kansas Farm Bureau and agriculture in general. There are a couple of lines of thinking when it comes to what the farm bill might look like, both are tied to crop insurance. Crop insurance is probably the number one concern when it comes to a new farm bill. As ag producers we know that we rely on crop insurance to help us through weather events like drought and fluctuations in prices and income. It is our way of evening out income in a business that sees wide swings. One school of thought is to tie crop insurance premiums to what we are doing to help with climate change. Kansas Farm Bureau and American Farm Bureau policy would be very much opposed to this. We all know we are the best at conserving our natural resources, and no one care more about the environment than farmers and ranchers. The heartburn is in having practices mandated by those who may not understand agriculture and why we do what we do. Worse yet those mandates could come from others who might be opponents of modern agriculture. Another idea is to tie crop insurance premiums to a producer’s income. Farm Bureau would also be opposed to such a means test. Again, risk management and protection should not be limited to one farmer over another. We also know that many of our large producers are multi-generational. Both of these options are only in the beginning level and that is why each of us can play such an important role as the debate over the next farm bill gets started. It is important for each of us to reach out to our members of Congress to let them know how important the farm bill is for agriculture and specifically how important crop insurance is. Please, write, email or call your representative and senators and tell them how this policy affects you. There will also be opportunities for us to add input at meetings and town halls, be sure you attend any and all that you can. Remember we are less than 2 percent of the population and as the other 98 percent gets farther removed from farms and ranches, they do not understand the importance of the farm bill. In this volatile economy and the long-term drought many of us have suffered through, it is just as critical as it ever has been to make our heard. If we do not advocate for ourselves, no one else will. Watch your emails and texts for alerts from Kansas Farm Bureau and, please, respond when asked. We are in the beginning stages of discussions and hopefully we can have a say in building a better farm bill. "Insight" is a weekly column published by Kansas Farm Bureau, the state's largest farm organization whose mission is to strengthen agriculture and the lives of Kansans through advocacy, education and service.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1576508626397.png" alt="Glenn Brunkow&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Glenn Brunkow&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>By GLENN BRUNKOW Pottawatomie County farmer and rancher It’s farm bill time again. The discussions are beginning to happen and starting to heat up. Over the past couple of months, the talks have switched from continuing on with a farm bill with similar policies as the 2018 version or options that are dramatically different. What will happen is really anyone’s guess, and that is both a challenge and an opportunity for Kansas Farm Bureau and agriculture in general. There are a couple of lines of thinking when it comes to what the farm bill might look like, both are tied to crop insurance. Crop insurance is probably the number one concern when it comes to a new farm bill. As ag producers we know that we rely on crop insurance to help us through weather events like drought and fluctuations in prices and income. It is our way of evening out income in a business that sees wide swings. One school of thought is to tie crop insurance premiums to what we are doing to help with climate change. Kansas Farm Bureau and American Farm Bureau policy would be very much opposed to this. We all know we are the best at conserving our natural resources, and no one care more about the environment than farmers and ranchers. The heartburn is in having practices mandated by those who may not understand agriculture and why we do what we do. Worse yet those mandates could come from others who might be opponents of modern agriculture. Another idea is to tie crop insurance premiums to a producer’s income. Farm Bureau would also be opposed to such a means test. Again, risk management and protection should not be limited to one farmer over another. We also know that many of our large producers are multi-generational. Both of these options are only in the beginning level and that is why each of us can play such an important role as the debate over the next farm bill gets started. It is important for each of us to reach out to our members of Congress to let them know how important the farm bill is for agriculture and specifically how important crop insurance is. Please, write, email or call your representative and senators and tell them how this policy affects you. There will also be opportunities for us to add input at meetings and town halls, be sure you attend any and all that you can. Remember we are less than 2 percent of the population and as the other 98 percent gets farther removed from farms and ranches, they do not understand the importance of the farm bill. In this volatile economy and the long-term drought many of us have suffered through, it is just as critical as it ever has been to make our heard. If we do not advocate for ourselves, no one else will. Watch your emails and texts for alerts from Kansas Farm Bureau and, please, respond when asked. We are in the beginning stages of discussions and hopefully we can have a say in building a better farm bill. "Insight" is a weekly column published by Kansas Farm Bureau, the state's largest farm organization whose mission is to strengthen agriculture and the lives of Kansans through advocacy, education and service.&nbsp;

Kansas Farm Bureau Insight: Building a better farm bill

The United States Navy Band will perform at the Colby Event Center at 7 p.m. March 7. The&nbsp;area&nbsp;students&nbsp;selected from&nbsp;Colby Community College&nbsp;performing&nbsp;with the band are;&nbsp;Tristen Cox, trumpet, Kori Vogel, flute,&nbsp;Britnee&nbsp;McKinney, flute, Lyden Lampe, trumpet, Hailee Bingham, tuba, Travis Tubbs, trombone, Aniyah Olson, clarinet, and Doyle "D.J." Easter, percussion.&nbsp;

Free tickets can still be obtained from your local WPAA contact person or by contacting Pat&nbsp;Ziegelmeier&nbsp;at (785)460-5518 or by email,&nbsp;<a href="mailto:pat.ziegelmeier@colbycc.edu">pat.ziegelmeier@colbycc.edu</a>.

The concert is sponsored by Western Plains Arts Association.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1581542018976.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WPAAThe United States Navy Band will perform at the Colby Event Center at 7 p.m. March 7. The&nbsp;area&nbsp;students&nbsp;selected from&nbsp;Colby Community College&nbsp;performing&nbsp;with the band are;&nbsp;Tristen Cox, trumpet, Kori Vogel, flute,&nbsp;Britnee&nbsp;McKinney, flute, Lyden Lampe, trumpet, Hailee Bingham, tuba, Travis Tubbs, trombone, Aniyah Olson, clarinet, and Doyle "D.J." Easter, percussion.&nbsp;Free tickets can still be obtained from your local WPAA contact person or by contacting Pat&nbsp;Ziegelmeier&nbsp;at (785)460-5518 or by email,&nbsp;<a href="mailto:pat.ziegelmeier@colbycc.edu">pat.ziegelmeier@colbycc.edu</a>. The concert is sponsored by Western Plains Arts Association.

Colby CC students will perform with U.S. Navy Band

Fun fact: in high school, I was a majorette. This might be where I learned one of the most important skills a college president needs-the the ability to juggle. Majorettes twirl batons, and sometimes those batons are on fire. They can also spin knives, flags, and rifles. While I see many metaphorical connections here, the story I want to share is that of Yaritza Vega Herrera, an amazing person, outstanding student, and our very own talented Tiger twirler.

Yaritza grew up in Salina, Kansas, and first picked up a baton at the age of five. She loves the challenge of twirling multiple batons at once, ranging from twirling one to four batons at a time.

Competitions involve both individual and team events ranging from novice to advanced levels.

Individual events mainly include modeling (showcasing one’s appearance via dress, makeup, and hair), solos (individuals demonstrate impressive tricks, difficulty, and personality), and strut (individuals showcase bodywork, marching, and technique).

At Fort Hays State, Yaritza is currently our only majorette, so she had to quickly master the transition from high school to college twirling while flying solo. Today, she creates all of her routines and performances. In college, everything is bigger. The marching and pep bands you perform with are bigger, the crowds are larger and louder, and there are more young eyes looking up to you and wanting to be like you. No pressure.

“In the sport of baton twirling, there are also some tough spots that I had to face head-on and overcome,”&nbsp;Yaritz&nbsp;said. “Some of these include frustration, lack of confidence, and injuries. I would say twirling is a mix of gymnastics and dance with sticks of metal added in to create new tricks, crazy catches, and exciting combinations.&nbsp;

“As thrilling as it sounds, I had to overcome many mental blocks and injuries to get to where I am today. The physical and mental demand that twirling requires is just a small part of the sport itself; the many successes and opportunities it offers far outweigh the negative.”

Two coaches were pivotal in helping Yaritza realize her dream of becoming a collegiate twirler. Her Hays coach, Shelby Higdon, the color guard coach for the Tiger Marching Band, and Shannon&nbsp;Meis, owner of Shannon’s Stars Twirling Club in Salina.

Yaritza said she owes many of her twirling successes to these two amazing coaches who have guided her in the sport of twirling and life as well.&nbsp;

“Even though I create my performances and routines on my own, the process and inspiration that goes on behind the scenes would be much more difficult without these two ladies. I wouldn’t trade them for the world, Yaritza said.

Yaritza loves to perform at both FHSU football and basketball games.&nbsp;

“One of my biggest college highlights was receiving a standing ovation from the audience at the basketball game against Northeastern State,” she said. “I was in tears walking off the court after my performance at halftime simply because I was overwhelmed by the support and love from the Hays community.”

Another college highlight Yaritza shared was hearing her name announced at a home football game as a selectee to compete in the World Championships in England in the summer of 2023.&nbsp;

“My team and I will compete in one event. I am beyond thrilled to attend this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity in England, competing to represent the USA, the state of Kansas, and FHSU, which I’ve been so blessed to call home, she said.&nbsp;

Yaritza’s college journey has been just as exciting as her twirling journey. As a youngster, she dreamed of going to college but did not necessarily have the resources to pursue that dream. So she dedicated most of her senior year to applying for as many scholarships as possible to take the financial burden off of her parents.&nbsp;

Then, she learned about the Rudd Foundation’s full-ride scholarship to Fort Hays State University. Yaritza applied and was thrilled when the Rudd Foundation staff surprised her at her high school with a giant check – a check that would cover everything from tuition, fees, room and board, and books for four years of college.&nbsp;

“The Rudd Scholarship has been nothing but an absolute blessing, and the support system that it comes along with is truly one of a kind,” said Yaritza. She is a sophomore majoring in nursing and is very eager to begin her nursing classes next fall. In fact, it was our excellent nursing program that attracted Yaritza to Fort Hays State University over other Kansas universities.&nbsp;

She is currently a certified nursing assistant for our Health and Wellness Center located in the Fischli-Wills Center for Student Success. Her passion for serving in the medical field continues to grow, thanks to the amazing FHSU nurses and staff.

“I’ve learned so many life lessons throughout my fourteen years of twirling,” Yaritza said. “I’ve learned that with hard work, dedication, and perseverance, you can overcome any obstacle that comes your way. I have also learned that the little kids who watch me perform and come up to me after games view me as a leader.&nbsp;

“I perform my heart out every time I step foot on the football field or basketball court for those kids who might need a little push to fully chase their dreams and passions. I think being a role model for those who look up to you and overcoming obstacles big and small are what makes you a real champion.”

Yaritza’s talent and resilience are reflective of the DNA of this university. Whether in the classroom, mastering the complex knowledge of her chosen profession, or in the limelight, perfecting her twirling skills, Yaritza is always growing and learning. I am so proud of Yaritza and hope you will join me in cheering her on at the World Championships in August.

<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>Fun fact: in high school, I was a majorette. This might be where I learned one of the most important skills a college president needs-the the ability to juggle. Majorettes twirl batons, and sometimes those batons are on fire. They can also spin knives, flags, and rifles. While I see many metaphorical connections here, the story I want to share is that of Yaritza Vega Herrera, an amazing person, outstanding student, and our very own talented Tiger twirler.Yaritza grew up in Salina, Kansas, and first picked up a baton at the age of five. She loves the challenge of twirling multiple batons at once, ranging from twirling one to four batons at a time.Competitions involve both individual and team events ranging from novice to advanced levels.Individual events mainly include modeling (showcasing one’s appearance via dress, makeup, and hair), solos (individuals demonstrate impressive tricks, difficulty, and personality), and strut (individuals showcase bodywork, marching, and technique).At Fort Hays State, Yaritza is currently our only majorette, so she had to quickly master the transition from high school to college twirling while flying solo. Today, she creates all of her routines and performances. In college, everything is bigger. The marching and pep bands you perform with are bigger, the crowds are larger and louder, and there are more young eyes looking up to you and wanting to be like you. No pressure.“In the sport of baton twirling, there are also some tough spots that I had to face head-on and overcome,”&nbsp;Yaritz&nbsp;said. “Some of these include frustration, lack of confidence, and injuries. I would say twirling is a mix of gymnastics and dance with sticks of metal added in to create new tricks, crazy catches, and exciting combinations.&nbsp;“As thrilling as it sounds, I had to overcome many mental blocks and injuries to get to where I am today. The physical and mental demand that twirling requires is just a small part of the sport itself; the many successes and opportunities it offers far outweigh the negative.”Two coaches were pivotal in helping Yaritza realize her dream of becoming a collegiate twirler. Her Hays coach, Shelby Higdon, the color guard coach for the Tiger Marching Band, and Shannon&nbsp;Meis, owner of Shannon’s Stars Twirling Club in Salina.Yaritza said she owes many of her twirling successes to these two amazing coaches who have guided her in the sport of twirling and life as well.&nbsp;“Even though I create my performances and routines on my own, the process and inspiration that goes on behind the scenes would be much more difficult without these two ladies. I wouldn’t trade them for the world, Yaritza said.Yaritza loves to perform at both FHSU football and basketball games.&nbsp;“One of my biggest college highlights was receiving a standing ovation from the audience at the basketball game against Northeastern State,” she said. “I was in tears walking off the court after my performance at halftime simply because I was overwhelmed by the support and love from the Hays community.”Another college highlight Yaritza shared was hearing her name announced at a home football game as a selectee to compete in the World Championships in England in the summer of 2023.&nbsp;“My team and I will compete in one event. I am beyond thrilled to attend this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity in England, competing to represent the USA, the state of Kansas, and FHSU, which I’ve been so blessed to call home, she said.&nbsp;Yaritza’s college journey has been just as exciting as her twirling journey. As a youngster, she dreamed of going to college but did not necessarily have the resources to pursue that dream. So she dedicated most of her senior year to applying for as many scholarships as possible to take the financial burden off of her parents.&nbsp;Then, she learned about the Rudd Foundation’s full-ride scholarship to Fort Hays State University. Yaritza applied and was thrilled when the Rudd Foundation staff surprised her at her high school with a giant check – a check that would cover everything from tuition, fees, room and board, and books for four years of college.&nbsp;“The Rudd Scholarship has been nothing but an absolute blessing, and the support system that it comes along with is truly one of a kind,” said Yaritza. She is a sophomore majoring in nursing and is very eager to begin her nursing classes next fall. In fact, it was our excellent nursing program that attracted Yaritza to Fort Hays State University over other Kansas universities.&nbsp;She is currently a certified nursing assistant for our Health and Wellness Center located in the Fischli-Wills Center for Student Success. Her passion for serving in the medical field continues to grow, thanks to the amazing FHSU nurses and staff.“I’ve learned so many life lessons throughout my fourteen years of twirling,” Yaritza said. “I’ve learned that with hard work, dedication, and perseverance, you can overcome any obstacle that comes your way. I have also learned that the little kids who watch me perform and come up to me after games view me as a leader.&nbsp;“I perform my heart out every time I step foot on the football field or basketball court for those kids who might need a little push to fully chase their dreams and passions. I think being a role model for those who look up to you and overcoming obstacles big and small are what makes you a real champion.”Yaritza’s talent and resilience are reflective of the DNA of this university. Whether in the classroom, mastering the complex knowledge of her chosen profession, or in the limelight, perfecting her twirling skills, Yaritza is always growing and learning. I am so proud of Yaritza and hope you will join me in cheering her on at the World Championships in August.

Heart of a Tiger: Meet a talented Tiger twirler

<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/2023/3/1677701625639.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

2918 Vine Street, Hays, Kansas, 67601 Part-time&nbsp; (multiple positions)&nbsp; &nbsp; Entry level&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; $11 - $14 per hour

About Us: DP Management, LLC is a member of Dial Companies, and is a local company with 50+ years of experience in property management. We are an affiliate of TCN Worldwide, which is ranked in the top 10 of commercial real estate companies nationwide. We currently lease and manage over 5 million square feet of commercial real estate throughout Nebraska, South Dakota, Kansas, Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, and Michigan. These properties include open air and lifestyle centers, enclosed malls, office buildings, and residential apartment units. We continue to grow through our relationships, our strong regional presence, and through the excellent efforts of our people. We are excited to announce that we are searching for part-time maintenance/Custodian workers to work at the Big Creek Crossing Mall located in Hays, KS.

Click&nbsp;<a href="https://www.indeed.com/jobs?q=maintenance&amp;l=Hays%2C+KS&amp;from=searchOnHP&amp;vjk=a7c0c220928f04e0">HERE</a>&nbsp;to apply today!

DP Management is an Equal Opportunity Employer

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1677527221505.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>2918 Vine Street, Hays, Kansas, 67601 Part-time&nbsp; (multiple positions)&nbsp; &nbsp; Entry level&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; $11 - $14 per hourAbout Us: DP Management, LLC is a member of Dial Companies, and is a local company with 50+ years of experience in property management. We are an affiliate of TCN Worldwide, which is ranked in the top 10 of commercial real estate companies nationwide. We currently lease and manage over 5 million square feet of commercial real estate throughout Nebraska, South Dakota, Kansas, Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, and Michigan. These properties include open air and lifestyle centers, enclosed malls, office buildings, and residential apartment units. We continue to grow through our relationships, our strong regional presence, and through the excellent efforts of our people. We are excited to announce that we are searching for part-time maintenance/Custodian workers to work at the Big Creek Crossing Mall located in Hays, KS.Click&nbsp;<a href="https://www.indeed.com/jobs?q=maintenance&amp;l=Hays%2C+KS&amp;from=searchOnHP&amp;vjk=a7c0c220928f04e0">HERE</a>&nbsp;to apply today!Job Duties:<ol>
 <li>Replace burned out light bulbs in common area and entrances</li><li>Empty and wipe down all trash cans and cigarette burns and replace sand in cigarette urns if necessary</li><li>Address plumbing problems</li><li>Clean light lens covers, interior and exterior</li><li>Use Webster to remove cobwebs in the corners</li><li>Clean &amp; sweep vacant bays &amp; any interior common spaces</li><li>Dust store front signs</li><li>Reset thermostats for current temperatures</li><li>Coordinate check up of exterior parking lot lights</li><li>Apply insecticide and set mouse traps as needed</li><li>Paint railings and poles</li>
 </ol> Skills:<ol>
 <li>Attention to detail and general surroundings</li><li>Friendly personality</li><li>Customer service orientation</li><li>Problem solving skills</li><li>Time management skills and efficiency</li><li>Ability to take initiative and work independently sometimes, but also is able to take and follow directions</li><li>Some hands on/technical skills with figuring out how to do minor repairs</li>
 </ol> Qualifications:<ol>
 <li>Prior experience in Maintenance a plus, but not required</li><li>Must be able to climb ladders, stand throughout your shift, crouch and bend, work at heights, and lift up to 50 pounds.</li>
 </ol>DP Management is an Equal Opportunity Employer

🏀🎥 WATCH LIVE Hays High vs Great Bend

Hays Middle School eighth-grade boys had an undefeated 15-0 WAC championship season. Coaches were Cade Scott and Kyle Hadley

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1677708660653.jpeg" alt="HMS boys basketball team and coaches. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>HMS boys basketball team and coaches. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>Hays Middle School eighth-grade boys had an undefeated 15-0 WAC championship season. Coaches were Cade Scott and Kyle Hadley

Hays Middle School 8th-grade boys basketball go undefeated

On this episode of the Post Podcast Ellis County Sheriff Scott Braun discusses the sheriff's department.

<div><iframe title="Ellis County Sheriff Scott Braun shares updates from the department" allowtransparency="true" height="300" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=ey5iu-13a536a-pb&from=pb6admin&square=1&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=auto&logo_link=podcast_page&btn-skin=3267a3&size=300" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>On this episode of the Post Podcast Ellis County Sheriff Scott Braun discusses the sheriff's department.

🎙 Post Podcast: Ellis County Sheriff Scott Braun shares updates from the department

GREAT BEND - Barton Community College has been providing affordable and accessible higher education to Barton County for over 50 years, and thanks to a collaborative study with the Docking Institute at Fort Hays State University the College has been able to further confirm the economic benefit of the college to the county.

The College’s Institutional Effectiveness Department set a goal to make the college's return on investment (ROI) for the county easy to understand and simple as one number. The results of their work show that for every $1 in taxes, Barton County residents enjoy a return of $2.05 brought into the local economy.

Based on the study, the College received $10 million in taxes from Barton County over a three-year average. In return the College spent an average of $20.6 million in Barton County, this includes purchases by the College and wages to employees. This generates a rate of return of 205 percent and a direct impact of $2.05 on Barton County’s economy.

Another common question is how much of the college is funded by county taxes, and the answer is that they account for one-third of the college’s total revenue, at about 35 percent. About 44 percent comes from student tuition and fees. Another 17 percent comes from state aid, with less than five percent coming from grants and other sources.

This study was stage one of a two-stage plan to measure and report on Barton Community College’s economic impact. Stage two will be completed later this spring with a deeper look at updated numbers. The study was conducted by Barton’s Institutional Research staff and was corroborated and certified by the Docking Institute through Fort Hays State University, which as an unbiased third party, verified that the report was acceptable and accurate.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669666372020.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>BCCGREAT BEND - Barton Community College has been providing affordable and accessible higher education to Barton County for over 50 years, and thanks to a collaborative study with the Docking Institute at Fort Hays State University the College has been able to further confirm the economic benefit of the college to the county.The College’s Institutional Effectiveness Department set a goal to make the college's return on investment (ROI) for the county easy to understand and simple as one number. The results of their work show that for every $1 in taxes, Barton County residents enjoy a return of $2.05 brought into the local economy.Based on the study, the College received $10 million in taxes from Barton County over a three-year average. In return the College spent an average of $20.6 million in Barton County, this includes purchases by the College and wages to employees. This generates a rate of return of 205 percent and a direct impact of $2.05 on Barton County’s economy.Another common question is how much of the college is funded by county taxes, and the answer is that they account for one-third of the college’s total revenue, at about 35 percent. About 44 percent comes from student tuition and fees. Another 17 percent comes from state aid, with less than five percent coming from grants and other sources.This study was stage one of a two-stage plan to measure and report on Barton Community College’s economic impact. Stage two will be completed later this spring with a deeper look at updated numbers. The study was conducted by Barton’s Institutional Research staff and was corroborated and certified by the Docking Institute through Fort Hays State University, which as an unbiased third party, verified that the report was acceptable and accurate.

Docking Institute study affirms return on investment benefits of Barton Community College education

We have officially made it through turnaround. The past week was busy, but we were able to pass 69 bills, for a total of 96 bills since swearing in. As of Monday, the Senate has passed 62 bills that will head to us for consideration.

Leading into the session, I said water would be the issue of the year, and two significant pieces of legislation were passed out of the house and now on to the Senate:

HB 2279: Requiring groundwater management districts to submit annual written reports to the legislature and to provide water conservation and stabilization action plans to the chief engineer. The vote was Yea: 116 Nay: 6.

HB 2302: Modifying the distribution of moneys into the state water plan fund, creating the water technical assistance fund and the water projects grant fund for water-related infrastructure projects and distributing a portion of the revenue from the sales and compensating use tax to the state water plan fund. The vote was :Yea: 119 Nay: 3

Chairman Jim Minnix of Scott City led the effort to find a reasonable funding source to pay for the state water plan and other programs pertaining to water and also the groundwater management districts would report to the legislature on their activities every year. Every citizen in Kansas has a stake in water conservation, quality and quantity and these pieces of legislation will be a start down a long road. This is a better way than to have drastic reductions in water use or stop all water use in certain locations. We will be watching what happens on the Senate side. As mentioned earlier, there were a total of 69 bills passed in our chamber that will now go to the Senate and their bills will come to our side.

You can read about all the bills that passed so far in the legislature online at kslegislature.org and when the house and senate are on the floor or in committees you can see all of them on the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_0NO-Pb96CFABvxDwXAq8A">Kansas Legislature’s YouTube channel</a>.

I'm located at 186-W, which is the northwest corner of the capital. My assistant again this year is Terry Benitis. If you would like to contact me, Email is: ken.rahjes@house.ks.gov, phone during the session (785) 296-7463 or you can always try my cell number at (785) 302-8416. 

If you have a young person who would like to come and spend the day as a Legislative Page, please let me know as soon as possible and we will work on what is a good day for that to happen.

Thanks for reading. It is my honor to serve you.

Ken Rahjes, R-Agra, is the Kansas state representative of the 110th Dist. which includes:&nbsp;

* Graham, Norton, Phillips and Rooks Counties * Ellis County: Cities: Catharine, Ellis, Munjor and Schoenchen Townships: Big Creek (part), Buckeye, Catherine, Ellis, Freedom, Herzog (part), Lookout, Victoria (part) and Wheatland

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1677096638770.png" alt="Rep. Ken Rahjes, R-Agra, 110th Dist. (Photo by Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Rep. Ken Rahjes, R-Agra, 110th Dist. (Photo by Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>March 1, 2023Hello from Agra. We have officially made it through turnaround. The past week was busy, but we were able to pass 69 bills, for a total of 96 bills since swearing in. As of Monday, the Senate has passed 62 bills that will head to us for consideration.Leading into the session, I said water would be the issue of the year, and two significant pieces of legislation were passed out of the house and now on to the Senate:HB 2279: Requiring groundwater management districts to submit annual written reports to the legislature and to provide water conservation and stabilization action plans to the chief engineer. The vote was Yea: 116 Nay: 6.HB 2302: Modifying the distribution of moneys into the state water plan fund, creating the water technical assistance fund and the water projects grant fund for water-related infrastructure projects and distributing a portion of the revenue from the sales and compensating use tax to the state water plan fund. The vote was :Yea: 119 Nay: 3 Chairman Jim Minnix of Scott City led the effort to find a reasonable funding source to pay for the state water plan and other programs pertaining to water and also the groundwater management districts would report to the legislature on their activities every year. Every citizen in Kansas has a stake in water conservation, quality and quantity and these pieces of legislation will be a start down a long road. This is a better way than to have drastic reductions in water use or stop all water use in certain locations. We will be watching what happens on the Senate side. As mentioned earlier, there were a total of 69 bills passed in our chamber that will now go to the Senate and their bills will come to our side.You can read about all the bills that passed so far in the legislature online at kslegislature.org and when the house and senate are on the floor or in committees you can see all of them on the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_0NO-Pb96CFABvxDwXAq8A">Kansas Legislature’s YouTube channel</a>. I'm located at 186-W, which is the northwest corner of the capital. My assistant again this year is Terry Benitis. If you would like to contact me, Email is: ken.rahjes@house.ks.gov, phone during the session (785) 296-7463 or you can always try my cell number at (785) 302-8416. If you have a young person who would like to come and spend the day as a Legislative Page, please let me know as soon as possible and we will work on what is a good day for that to happen.Thanks for reading. It is my honor to serve you.Ken Rahjes, R-Agra, is the Kansas state representative of the 110th Dist. which includes:&nbsp;* Graham, Norton, Phillips and Rooks Counties * Ellis County: Cities: Catharine, Ellis, Munjor and Schoenchen Townships: Big Creek (part), Buckeye, Catherine, Ellis, Freedom, Herzog (part), Lookout, Victoria (part) and Wheatland

RAHJES REPORT: March 1, 2023

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly  announced nine short line rail maintenance and rehabilitation projects, including in Sheridan County, are being awarded nearly $5 million as part of the Kansas Department of Transportation’s Short Line Rail Improvement Fund (SLRIF) program. 

 “These nine rail improvement projects will strengthen Kansas’ agriculture supply chain, connecting our farmers and ranchers to regional, national, and international markets,”&nbsp;Governor Kelly said. “My administration will continue to invest in needed and commonsense infrastructure improvements like these to maximize our state’s economic potential.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

Six SLRIF recipients will use the funds for major track rehabilitation and rail replacement; three projects were awarded funds for siding extensions and storage tracks. These projects support rail enhancements to expand carload capabilities, reduce truck traffic, increase operating speeds, and improve operating efficiencies.&nbsp;&nbsp;

State funding for the nine projects will be enhanced by a 30% match from each recipient, resulting in a total rail infrastructure investment of nearly $6.5 million.&nbsp;

The program received 19 applications requesting more than $18 million in program funds in this third and final round of funding for the program through IKE, the state’s 10-year bipartisan transportation program. SLRIF made available $5 million each for state fiscal years 2021, 2022, and 2023.&nbsp;

“The Short Line Rail Improvement Fund is another opportunity for KDOT to partner with industry to help modernize and make needed improvements,”&nbsp;Calvin Reed, Acting Secretary of Transportation, said.&nbsp;“Projects awarded through this program serve both short line railroads and their customers by investing in critical infrastructure that helps drive the Kansas economy.”&nbsp;

Selected projects through the SLRIF for State Fiscal Year 2023:&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1677669953008.jpeg" alt="Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>Office of GovernorTOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly announced nine short line rail maintenance and rehabilitation projects, including in Sheridan County, are being awarded nearly $5 million as part of the Kansas Department of Transportation’s Short Line Rail Improvement Fund (SLRIF) program. “These nine rail improvement projects will strengthen Kansas’ agriculture supply chain, connecting our farmers and ranchers to regional, national, and international markets,”&nbsp;Governor Kelly said. “My administration will continue to invest in needed and commonsense infrastructure improvements like these to maximize our state’s economic potential.”&nbsp;&nbsp;Six SLRIF recipients will use the funds for major track rehabilitation and rail replacement; three projects were awarded funds for siding extensions and storage tracks. These projects support rail enhancements to expand carload capabilities, reduce truck traffic, increase operating speeds, and improve operating efficiencies.&nbsp;&nbsp;State funding for the nine projects will be enhanced by a 30% match from each recipient, resulting in a total rail infrastructure investment of nearly $6.5 million.&nbsp;The program received 19 applications requesting more than $18 million in program funds in this third and final round of funding for the program through IKE, the state’s 10-year bipartisan transportation program. SLRIF made available $5 million each for state fiscal years 2021, 2022, and 2023.&nbsp;“The Short Line Rail Improvement Fund is another opportunity for KDOT to partner with industry to help modernize and make needed improvements,”&nbsp;Calvin Reed, Acting Secretary of Transportation, said.&nbsp;“Projects awarded through this program serve both short line railroads and their customers by investing in critical infrastructure that helps drive the Kansas economy.”&nbsp;Selected projects through the SLRIF for State Fiscal Year 2023:&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1677669720615.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

Sheridan Co. among nine short line rail project KDOT awards

The Hays Fire Department will begin its annual inspection and flow testing of fire hydrants today.&nbsp;

Wednesday's work will be in the area of Vine St. to Macarthur Rd. between 13th St. and 22nd 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. 

The associated flushing of water mains allows chlorine to be distributed throughout the system to eliminate bio-filming in the water mains. Slight discoloration of the water supply may be encountered although there will be no health risks to the consumer. All reasonable efforts will be taken to minimize the inconvenience to the public.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615927348562.jpeg" alt="Photo by Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>City of HaysThe Hays Fire Department will begin its annual inspection and flow testing of fire hydrants today.&nbsp;Wednesday's work will be in the area of Vine St. to Macarthur Rd. between 13th St. and 22nd 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. The associated flushing of water mains allows chlorine to be distributed throughout the system to eliminate bio-filming in the water mains. Slight discoloration of the water supply may be encountered although there will be no health risks to the consumer. All reasonable efforts will be taken to minimize the inconvenience to the public.

Annual fire hydrant inspections/flow testing begins today in Hays 

The Hays
Community Theatre, 121 E Eighth, is preparing for a busy spring as work
begins on two upcoming productions along with their summer musical.

This
year’s summer musical, The Addams Family, won’t be performed until July,
but this weekend, cast hopefuls will begin the audition process.

“Our
practices usually start at the beginning of June,” said board member Adam
Conkey. “So, this is a summer-intensive thing.”

Auditions
are scheduled for 2 p.m. March 4, 11 and 12.

He said practices
entail a few hours in the evenings until the performances on July 27, 28 and 29
in the Beach/Schmidt Performing Art Center on the Fort Hays State University
campus, 600 Park.

“This
will involve a lot of choreography,” Conkey said. “It will involve singing and
dancing, so get your shoes on.”

He said
the cast could be may be as large as 30, but the more that want to participate
the better.

“If you
don't want to audition for a show, it helps us to have people in the background
backstage, pushing props around and figuring out how the set needs to be moved,”
Conkey said. “Those are always handy positions as well.”

While work begins for the summer
production, two spring events are planned as well, including a unique version
of Hamlet, and the second annual Drag Show.

“This is
this is this is a kind of a special Hamlet, this is emo Hamlet in early 2000's
Shakespearean tragedy,” Conkey said. “It's a take on Hamlet as a lead played by
a female. So Hamlet is Ham Let and this is, set in a period where scene and emo
music are part of the feel of it.”

Conkey
will serve as director for the performance.

“I
wanted it to be a tragedy, but one of those kind of dark comedies almost where
it's, it's funny how terrible it is, how sad it is,” he said. “So that's the
direction I'm going with it.”

The search
for performers for that production will also begin soon, Conkey said, with junior
high-age children to seniors needed.

Auditions
are set from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. March 5 and from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. March 6.

“Also,
if you want to send in a video of yourself to hctks.com showing a Shakespearean
sonnet that you're reading, that'll work just as well,” Conkey said.

Rehearsals
are set to begin March 12 and run Sundays through Thursdays from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Performances
are set for 7 p.m. April 27, 28 and 29 of April at the Community Theatre. 

“It's
gonna be a fun take,” Conkey said.

“This is
an over-the-top experience,” Conkey said of the upcoming second annual Drag Show
set for 8 p.m. April 1. “I've never experienced an audience for anything quite
like this. ... I'm also calling for performers for this as well.”

He said last year they had over 10 performers playing multiple characters
and hopes to find even more this year.

“Lots of fun coming up here at the
community theater, so for events and anything happening, make sure to see us at<a href="https://www.hctks.com/">
hctks.com</a> or follow us on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hayscommunitytheatre">Facebook</a>,” Conkey said.

<div><iframe title="Hays Community Theatre preparing for three upcoming shows" allowtransparency="true" height="300" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=uk46v-13a39b0-pb&from=pb6admin&square=1&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=auto&logo_link=podcast_page&btn-skin=3267a3&size=300" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>By JAMES BELL Hays PostThe Hays
Community Theatre, 121 E Eighth, is preparing for a busy spring as work
begins on two upcoming productions along with their summer musical.This
year’s summer musical, The Addams Family, won’t be performed until July,
but this weekend, cast hopefuls will begin the audition process.“Our
practices usually start at the beginning of June,” said board member Adam
Conkey. “So, this is a summer-intensive thing.”Auditions
are scheduled for 2 p.m. March 4, 11 and 12.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1677607416485.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>He said practices
entail a few hours in the evenings until the performances on July 27, 28 and 29
in the Beach/Schmidt Performing Art Center on the Fort Hays State University
campus, 600 Park.“This
will involve a lot of choreography,” Conkey said. “It will involve singing and
dancing, so get your shoes on.”He said
the cast could be may be as large as 30, but the more that want to participate
the better.“If you
don't want to audition for a show, it helps us to have people in the background
backstage, pushing props around and figuring out how the set needs to be moved,”
Conkey said. “Those are always handy positions as well.”While work begins for the summer
production, two spring events are planned as well, including a unique version
of Hamlet, and the second annual Drag Show.“This is
this is this is a kind of a special Hamlet, this is emo Hamlet in early 2000's
Shakespearean tragedy,” Conkey said. “It's a take on Hamlet as a lead played by
a female. So Hamlet is Ham Let and this is, set in a period where scene and emo
music are part of the feel of it.”Conkey
will serve as director for the performance.“I
wanted it to be a tragedy, but one of those kind of dark comedies almost where
it's, it's funny how terrible it is, how sad it is,” he said. “So that's the
direction I'm going with it.”The search
for performers for that production will also begin soon, Conkey said, with junior
high-age children to seniors needed.Auditions
are set from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. March 5 and from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. March 6.“Also,
if you want to send in a video of yourself to hctks.com showing a Shakespearean
sonnet that you're reading, that'll work just as well,” Conkey said.Rehearsals
are set to begin March 12 and run Sundays through Thursdays from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.Performances
are set for 7 p.m. April 27, 28 and 29 of April at the Community Theatre. “It's
gonna be a fun take,” Conkey said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1677607404086.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><h2>But first ...</h2>“This is
an over-the-top experience,” Conkey said of the upcoming second annual Drag Show
set for 8 p.m. April 1. “I've never experienced an audience for anything quite
like this. ... I'm also calling for performers for this as well.”He said last year they had over 10 performers playing multiple characters
and hopes to find even more this year.“Lots of fun coming up here at the
community theater, so for events and anything happening, make sure to see us at<a href="https://www.hctks.com/">
hctks.com</a> or follow us on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hayscommunitytheatre">Facebook</a>,” Conkey said.

🎙 Hays Community Theatre preparing for three upcoming shows

FHSU Office of Scholarship and Sponsored Projects

The 2023 Kansas Undergraduate Research Day features eight students from FHSU.&nbsp;Students, faculty, Kansas Board of Regents members, state lawmakers, and members of the public are invited to click <a href="https://symposium.foragerone.com/kansas-undergraduate-research-day-2023/registration">HERE</a>&nbsp;to view the video presentations, comment, and post questions for the approximately 30 student presenters from across the state on March 1, 2 and 3.

“We consistently see that students who participate in undergraduate research tend to have better outcomes at our university. They are more engaged with their area of study, they develop more confidence, they build stronger professional networks, and they learn to appreciate the complexity and nuance of real-world problems,” said Dr. P. Grady Dixon, Dean of the Werth College of Science, Technology, and Mathematics.

“Undergraduate Research Days is a chance for our students to share their research with state legislators and the public through an online forum. Visitors to the website will see first-hand how learning through research positively affects students across the state. These experiences enrich student education and better prepare them for future careers,” said Misty Koonse, Fort Hays State Universities Assistant Director of The Graduate School and Office of Scholarship and Sponsored Projects.

“We are proud to have our students showcase the academic excellence of our undergraduate students at FHSU.”&nbsp;

Student presenters from Fort Hays State University are:

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1677515660768.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU Office of Scholarship and Sponsored ProjectsThe 2023 Kansas Undergraduate Research Day features eight students from FHSU.&nbsp;Students, faculty, Kansas Board of Regents members, state lawmakers, and members of the public are invited to click <a href="https://symposium.foragerone.com/kansas-undergraduate-research-day-2023/registration">HERE</a>&nbsp;to view the video presentations, comment, and post questions for the approximately 30 student presenters from across the state on March 1, 2 and 3.“We consistently see that students who participate in undergraduate research tend to have better outcomes at our university. They are more engaged with their area of study, they develop more confidence, they build stronger professional networks, and they learn to appreciate the complexity and nuance of real-world problems,” said Dr. P. Grady Dixon, Dean of the Werth College of Science, Technology, and Mathematics.“Undergraduate Research Days is a chance for our students to share their research with state legislators and the public through an online forum. Visitors to the website will see first-hand how learning through research positively affects students across the state. These experiences enrich student education and better prepare them for future careers,” said Misty Koonse, Fort Hays State Universities Assistant Director of The Graduate School and Office of Scholarship and Sponsored Projects.“We are proud to have our students showcase the academic excellence of our undergraduate students at FHSU.”&nbsp;Student presenters from Fort Hays State University are:<ul>
 <li>Hannah Gates, Senior in Chemistry, will present “Computational study of small molecules with open and closed states of human STING: Effects on protein conformations and binding free energies.” Hannah’s faculty mentor is Dr. Masakatsu Watanabe, Ph.D.</li><li>Loganne Ditter, Senior in Criminal Justice, will present “The Rape Kit Crisis in Rural Areas – A Research-to-Action Project.” Loganne’s&nbsp;faculty mentor is Dr. Ziwei Qi, Ph.D.</li><li>Mary Kate Hale, Senior in Elementary Education, and&nbsp;Brooklyn Whitcomb, Senior in Elementary Education, will present “Remote Exploration of Alpine Ecosystems in Kansas Classrooms.” Mary and Brooklyn’s faculty mentor is Dr. Matthew Clay, Ed.D.</li><li>Kale Link, Freshman in Geosciences, and&nbsp;Kaiden O’Dell, Senior in Geosciences, will present “Assessing and Improving Science Student #SciComm skills.” Kale and Kaiden’s faculty mentors are Dr. Todd Moore, Ph.D., and Dr. Laura Wilson, Ph.D.</li><li>Willow Ludwig, Senior in Communication Sciences and Disorders, and&nbsp;Lauren Stallbaumer, Junior in Communication Sciences and Disorders, will present “Attitudes toward Stuttering of University Instructors in Communication Sciences and Disorders Major and Other Majors: A Nation-wide Survey.” Willow and Lauren’s faculty mentor is Dr. Yan Ma, Ph.D.</li>
 </ul>

FHSU students to present at Kansas Undergraduate Research Days

The Monarch 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament is set for next
month in Hays.

The tournament for girls and boys in third through
eighth grade is set for Saturday, March 18, with the
deadline to sign up of Monday, March 13.

The games will be played at Thomas More Prep-Marian, Holy Family Elementary and
Kennedy in Hays.

The registration fee is $10 per player. Registration is available <a href="https://www.tmp-m.org/o/tmpm/page/monarch-3-on-3-tournament">HERE</a>.

You can also mail a paper copy of the registration form to: TMP Girls Basketball 1701 Hall Street Hays, KS&nbsp; 67601

For more information, call Rose McFarland (785) 365-0850 or
email <a href="mailto:mcfarlandr@tmpmarian.org">mcfarlandr@tmpmarian.org</a>

Hays PostThe Monarch 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament is set for next
month in Hays.The tournament for girls and boys in third through
eighth grade is set for Saturday, March 18, with the
deadline to sign up of Monday, March 13.The games will be played at Thomas More Prep-Marian, Holy Family Elementary and
Kennedy in Hays.The registration fee is $10 per player. Registration is available <a href="https://www.tmp-m.org/o/tmpm/page/monarch-3-on-3-tournament">HERE</a>.You can also mail a paper copy of the registration form to: TMP Girls Basketball 1701 Hall Street Hays, KS&nbsp; 67601For more information, call Rose McFarland (785) 365-0850 or
email <a href="mailto:mcfarlandr@tmpmarian.org">mcfarlandr@tmpmarian.org</a>

🏀 Monarch 3 on 3 tournament set for March 18

TOPEKA&nbsp;–&nbsp;Gov. Laura Kelly&nbsp;has announced&nbsp;three&nbsp;appointments&nbsp;and seven reappointments&nbsp;to the following&nbsp;board and commissions:&nbsp;&nbsp;

Kansas Court of Appeals Nominating Commission&nbsp; Purpose:&nbsp;Whenever the Governor is to make an appointment to fill a vacancy on the Court of Appeals, the Commission shall nominate three qualified applicants from whom the Governor will choose one to appoint. The Commission shall make its nominations after a robust inquiry into each applicant's qualifications.&nbsp;

Kansas Volunteer Commission&nbsp; Purpose: To prepare a national service plan for the state, ensure outreach to diverse community-based agencies, and administer certain grant programs.&nbsp;

State Fair Board&nbsp; Purpose: To promote and showcase Kansas agriculture, industry, and culture, to create opportunities for commercial activity, and to provide an educational and entertaining experience that is the pride of all Kansans.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586266027570.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Office of the GovernorTOPEKA&nbsp;–&nbsp;Gov. Laura Kelly&nbsp;has announced&nbsp;three&nbsp;appointments&nbsp;and seven reappointments&nbsp;to the following&nbsp;board and commissions:&nbsp;&nbsp;Kansas Court of Appeals Nominating Commission&nbsp; Purpose:&nbsp;Whenever the Governor is to make an appointment to fill a vacancy on the Court of Appeals, the Commission shall nominate three qualified applicants from whom the Governor will choose one to appoint. The Commission shall make its nominations after a robust inquiry into each applicant's qualifications.&nbsp;<ul>
 <li>Eunice Peters, Carbondale&nbsp;</li><li>Jonathan Eshnaur, Olathe (reappointment)&nbsp;</li><li>Monique Garcia, Wichita (reappointment)&nbsp;</li>
 </ul>Kansas Volunteer Commission&nbsp; Purpose: To prepare a national service plan for the state, ensure outreach to diverse community-based agencies, and administer certain grant programs.&nbsp;<ul>
 <li>Melanie Haas, Overland Park&nbsp;</li><li>Ben Jones, Sterling&nbsp;</li>
 </ul>State Fair Board&nbsp; Purpose: To promote and showcase Kansas agriculture, industry, and culture, to create opportunities for commercial activity, and to provide an educational and entertaining experience that is the pride of all Kansans.&nbsp;<ul>
 <li>John Bottenberg, Topeka (reappointment)&nbsp;</li><li>Harmon Bliss, Dodge City (reappointment)&nbsp;</li><li>Nick Ketzner, Bird City (reappointment)&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
 </ul>

NW Kansas man reappointed to Kansas State Fair board

TOPEKA — Gov. Laura Kelly has announced the launch of a toolkit to help Kansas
communities create local interdisciplinary teams to prevent intimate partner violence and
support survivors. The toolkit provides communities with resources to establish teams and
identify and manage cases in which someone is at high risk of either perpetrating or being
victimized by intimate partner violence.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/5bb4c0af-9dcc-42d8-87ad-f1d7ead600ce">Hays police and Options Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services are working to set up a program to implement the toolkit.</a>

Intimate partner violence is a continuing threat to the health and safety of Kansas
communities. From 2017 to 2021, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation reported law
enforcement agencies responded to 114,963 domestic violence incidents.


“I am proud to provide, along with many partners, such a robust set of resources for Kansas
communities to prevent domestic violence and protect survivors,” Kelly
said. “Such a complex problem demands nuanced solutions, and this toolkit gives cities and
counties the ability to tailor their responses to their communities’ needs.


With support from a federal grant from the Office on Violence Against Women, this toolkit
was created by the Governor’s Advisory Council on Domestic and Sexual Violence Response,
a partnership of the Governor’s Office, the Kansas Office of Judicial Administration, the
Kansas Office of the Attorney General, the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center, the
Kansas Department of Corrections, and the Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic
Violence.


The toolkit is available online at ICJR toolkit. The Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and
Domestic Violence will provide communities support as they implement this toolkit.
The KCSDV can be reached at coalition@kcsdv.org or 785-232-9784.

“By using these tools, communities in Kansas can reduce the risk of serious and lethal violence
for victims of intimate partner violence,” said Michelle McCormick, Executive Director of
the Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence. “We know that
when professionals come together in a coordinated manner to identify and respond to high-
risk domestic violence situations, these actions can save lives.”


In addition to the toolkit, Kansas City, Kansas, has been chosen as a pilot community to create
the high-risk team and implement the tool to identify high-risk cases, using grant funding.

Representatives from the Kansas City Police Department and a local domestic violence
nonprofit, Friends of Yates, along with members from the criminal justice system and other
community partners, have worked with staff from the Governor’s Grants Program and
KCSDV to implement these tools and will launch their efforts soon.


“This is an excellent opportunity for the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department to partner
with the State of Kansas and our community partners to address domestic violence, especially
in regards to the role it plays in so many homicides,” Chief Karl Oakman, Kansas City,
Kansas Police Department, said.


“When responding to a domestic violence call, the utilization of this high-risk assessment tool
by law enforcement will be an entry point for many victims of domestic violence to
immediately be connected to life-saving supportive services provided by Friends of
Yates,” Arica Roland, Executive Director of Friends of Yates, said. “Through this
community collaboration, we hope to assist more victims with understanding their risk
factors for potential homicide, safety concerns, safety planning, understanding their legal
rights, and identifying community resources before it’s too late.”


Anyone, regardless of gender, race, sexual identity or orientation, or socio-economic status,
may become a victim of domestic violence. Free and confidential help for victims is available 24/7 through
the Kansas Crisis Hotline at 888-363-2287 or their local domestic violence advocacy program
at <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/5bb4c0af-9dcc-42d8-87ad-f1d7ead600ce">www.kcsdv.org/find-help</a>.

News releaseTOPEKA — Gov. Laura Kelly has announced the launch of a toolkit to help Kansas
communities create local interdisciplinary teams to prevent intimate partner violence and
support survivors. The toolkit provides communities with resources to establish teams and
identify and manage cases in which someone is at high risk of either perpetrating or being
victimized by intimate partner violence.<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/5bb4c0af-9dcc-42d8-87ad-f1d7ead600ce">Hays police and Options Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services are working to set up a program to implement the toolkit.</a>Intimate partner violence is a continuing threat to the health and safety of Kansas
communities. From 2017 to 2021, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation reported law
enforcement agencies responded to 114,963 domestic violence incidents.
“I am proud to provide, along with many partners, such a robust set of resources for Kansas
communities to prevent domestic violence and protect survivors,” Kelly
said. “Such a complex problem demands nuanced solutions, and this toolkit gives cities and
counties the ability to tailor their responses to their communities’ needs.
With support from a federal grant from the Office on Violence Against Women, this toolkit
was created by the Governor’s Advisory Council on Domestic and Sexual Violence Response,
a partnership of the Governor’s Office, the Kansas Office of Judicial Administration, the
Kansas Office of the Attorney General, the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center, the
Kansas Department of Corrections, and the Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic
Violence.
The toolkit is available online at ICJR toolkit. The Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and
Domestic Violence will provide communities support as they implement this toolkit.
The KCSDV can be reached at coalition@kcsdv.org or 785-232-9784.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1674577767246.png" alt="Michelle McCormick" />
 <figcaption>Michelle McCormick</figcaption>
 </figure>“By using these tools, communities in Kansas can reduce the risk of serious and lethal violence
for victims of intimate partner violence,” said Michelle McCormick, Executive Director of
the Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence. “We know that
when professionals come together in a coordinated manner to identify and respond to high-
risk domestic violence situations, these actions can save lives.”
In addition to the toolkit, Kansas City, Kansas, has been chosen as a pilot community to create
the high-risk team and implement the tool to identify high-risk cases, using grant funding.Representatives from the Kansas City Police Department and a local domestic violence
nonprofit, Friends of Yates, along with members from the criminal justice system and other
community partners, have worked with staff from the Governor’s Grants Program and
KCSDV to implement these tools and will launch their efforts soon.
“This is an excellent opportunity for the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department to partner
with the State of Kansas and our community partners to address domestic violence, especially
in regards to the role it plays in so many homicides,” Chief Karl Oakman, Kansas City,
Kansas Police Department, said.
“When responding to a domestic violence call, the utilization of this high-risk assessment tool
by law enforcement will be an entry point for many victims of domestic violence to
immediately be connected to life-saving supportive services provided by Friends of
Yates,” Arica Roland, Executive Director of Friends of Yates, said. “Through this
community collaboration, we hope to assist more victims with understanding their risk
factors for potential homicide, safety concerns, safety planning, understanding their legal
rights, and identifying community resources before it’s too late.”
Anyone, regardless of gender, race, sexual identity or orientation, or socio-economic status,
may become a victim of domestic violence. Free and confidential help for victims is available 24/7 through
the Kansas Crisis Hotline at 888-363-2287 or their local domestic violence advocacy program
at <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/5bb4c0af-9dcc-42d8-87ad-f1d7ead600ce">www.kcsdv.org/find-help</a>.

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