RUSSELL COUNTY — A man died in a construction site accident just after 2 p.m. Tuesday in Russell County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a Caterpillar 940B driven by Tyler Darren Jennings, 28, Valley Falls, Kansas, was traveling north up a hill at a construction site&nbsp;east of U.S. Highway 281 north of the river.

For unknown reasons, the vehicle lost power, rolled down a hill to the south and struck another Caterpillar 940 driven by 57-year-old Jose N. Ramirez Navarrete.

A man identified as a passenger of the second Caterpillar 53-year-old Hector Cesar Fraire Montelongo of Mesquite, New Mexico, was injured and airlifted to Russell Regional Hospital where he was pronounced deceased.

The KHP reported it was unknown if&nbsp; Fraire Montelongo was on the Caterpillar's platform or on the ground next to the vehicle&nbsp; at time of collision.

RUSSELL COUNTY — A man died in a construction site accident just after 2 p.m. Tuesday in Russell County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a Caterpillar 940B driven by Tyler Darren Jennings, 28, Valley Falls, Kansas, was traveling north up a hill at a construction site&nbsp;east of U.S. Highway 281 north of the river.For unknown reasons, the vehicle lost power, rolled down a hill to the south and struck another Caterpillar 940 driven by 57-year-old Jose N. Ramirez Navarrete.A man identified as a passenger of the second Caterpillar 53-year-old Hector Cesar Fraire Montelongo of Mesquite, New Mexico, was injured and airlifted to Russell Regional Hospital where he was pronounced deceased.The KHP reported it was unknown if&nbsp; Fraire Montelongo was on the Caterpillar's platform or on the ground next to the vehicle&nbsp; at time of collision.Jennings and Navarrete were not injured.

Man dead after accident at Russell Co. construction site 

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

The Hays USD 489 school district reported a 16 percent increase in the number of students qualifying for free meals compared to the 2018-19 — the last full school year before the pandemic.

The number of students receiving free lunches jumped from 926 in 2018-19 to 1,078 as of Sept. 20.

The USDA has provided free meals for all students for at least a portion of the last three years. This is the first year since the pandemic families will be required to pay full prices for meals.

Jessica Younker, USD 489 director of nutrition services, said she thought the increase was due to a change in how the state qualifies children for free meals as well as an increase in food need in the community.

"Inflation has hit us all pretty hard," Younker said. "Going from free meals to paid can mean about $400 or $500 a year depending on if the kid eats breakfast or lunch."

The state automatically qualifies students who are from families receiving food assistance and are in foster care for free schools meals. This year, the state added any students who also receive Medicaid to that list of automatic qualifiers.

Younker said that increased the number of students receiving free meals to some degree.

The income guidelines have also been adjusted during the last few years, which also might have qualified more students for free meals.

Younker said she thought the increase in free meal applications is a result of more food need in the community. S<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/f1fb8f53-1309-47cb-8b64-a714b9e7518b">he said this has been reflected in increased demand at local food pantries.</a>

"The need for food in our community has definitely gone up with the cost of groceries going up. It's harder to put food on the table for a lot of families," she said. "I think this reflects that."

Some district schools participate in Food for Kids, which is a program through the Kansas Food Bank. Backpacks full of food are sent home with qualifying children each weekend. Hays High and Middle schools also have their own on-site food closets to help families in need.

These programs are organized on a school-by-school basis, Younker said.

Reduced-price meals have stayed comparably steady, Younker said. 

Lincoln Elementary School has the highest concentration of students qualifying for free and reduced-cost meals — 62 percent of students qualify for free meals and another 11 percent qualify for reduced-price meals.

The rest of the schools in the district have in the 30 percent range of students qualifying for free meals. Eight to 10 percent of the other schools' students qualify for reduced-cost meals.

Ron Wilson, USD 489 superintendent, also reported on Sept. 20 enrollment numbers to the school board Monday, saying the district enrollment remains steady.

Hays High School saw the largest increase in students with a large freshmen class of 266 students.

Families can apply for free or reduced-price school meals at any point in the school year. An online application is available at <a href="http://www.ezmealapp.com">www.ezmealapp.com</a>.

Feature photo courtesy of Pixabay

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostThe Hays USD 489 school district reported a 16 percent increase in the number of students qualifying for free meals compared to the 2018-19 — the last full school year before the pandemic.The number of students receiving free lunches jumped from 926 in 2018-19 to 1,078 as of Sept. 20.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1665516831359.png" alt="Image courtesy of Hays USD 489 " />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy of Hays USD 489 </figcaption>
 </figure>The USDA has provided free meals for all students for at least a portion of the last three years. This is the first year since the pandemic families will be required to pay full prices for meals.Jessica Younker, USD 489 director of nutrition services, said she thought the increase was due to a change in how the state qualifies children for free meals as well as an increase in food need in the community."Inflation has hit us all pretty hard," Younker said. "Going from free meals to paid can mean about $400 or $500 a year depending on if the kid eats breakfast or lunch."The state automatically qualifies students who are from families receiving food assistance and are in foster care for free schools meals. This year, the state added any students who also receive Medicaid to that list of automatic qualifiers.Younker said that increased the number of students receiving free meals to some degree.The income guidelines have also been adjusted during the last few years, which also might have qualified more students for free meals.Younker said she thought the increase in free meal applications is a result of more food need in the community. S<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/f1fb8f53-1309-47cb-8b64-a714b9e7518b">he said this has been reflected in increased demand at local food pantries.</a>"The need for food in our community has definitely gone up with the cost of groceries going up. It's harder to put food on the table for a lot of families," she said. "I think this reflects that."Some district schools participate in Food for Kids, which is a program through the Kansas Food Bank. Backpacks full of food are sent home with qualifying children each weekend. Hays High and Middle schools also have their own on-site food closets to help families in need.These programs are organized on a school-by-school basis, Younker said. Reduced-price meals have stayed comparably steady, Younker said. <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1665518836798.png" alt="Image courtesy of Hays USD 489 " />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy of Hays USD 489 </figcaption>
 </figure>Lincoln Elementary School has the highest concentration of students qualifying for free and reduced-cost meals — 62 percent of students qualify for free meals and another 11 percent qualify for reduced-price meals.The rest of the schools in the district have in the 30 percent range of students qualifying for free meals. Eight to 10 percent of the other schools' students qualify for reduced-cost meals.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1665519098614.png" alt="Image courtesy of Hays USD 489" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy of Hays USD 489</figcaption>
 </figure>Ron Wilson, USD 489 superintendent, also reported on Sept. 20 enrollment numbers to the school board Monday, saying the district enrollment remains steady.Hays High School saw the largest increase in students with a large freshmen class of 266 students.Families can apply for free or reduced-price school meals at any point in the school year. An online application is available at <a href="http://www.ezmealapp.com">www.ezmealapp.com</a>. Feature photo courtesy of Pixabay

Number of students receiving free lunches in Hays USD 489 jumps

Dr. Joel Fort, obstetrician/gynecologist, was recently named the 2022 Physician Preceptor of the Year by Wichita State University College of Health Professions, Department of Physician Assistant.

The Physician Assistant program at Wichita State relies on providers who serve as clinical rotation preceptors and mentors for their students.&nbsp; The students work closely with preceptors, progressively developing the skills and clinical judgment needed to become practicing PAs.&nbsp; Preceptors play a vital role in the education of students and mentoring future colleagues.

Fort is a newer perception for the program but has quickly made an impact on students.&nbsp;

“He put the utmost effort, care, and time into my clinical education experience in the time I spent with him, even going as far as to purchase our OB/GYN book and highlight it beforehand with things he felt most important that I know,” commented a student. “He invested time during his one afternoon off a week to sit down and go through topics with me, rather than spending time to catch up on things he needed to do himself. He trusted me to first assist in surgery, and I felt my skills improved so much in my time with him. He truly cares about his students.”

Fort has been with HaysMed since 1999 and practices in the Women’s Clinic.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1665437324769.jpeg" alt="Fort" />
 <figcaption>Fort</figcaption>
 </figure>HaysMedDr. Joel Fort, obstetrician/gynecologist, was recently named the 2022 Physician Preceptor of the Year by Wichita State University College of Health Professions, Department of Physician Assistant.The Physician Assistant program at Wichita State relies on providers who serve as clinical rotation preceptors and mentors for their students.&nbsp; The students work closely with preceptors, progressively developing the skills and clinical judgment needed to become practicing PAs.&nbsp; Preceptors play a vital role in the education of students and mentoring future colleagues.Fort is a newer perception for the program but has quickly made an impact on students.&nbsp;“He put the utmost effort, care, and time into my clinical education experience in the time I spent with him, even going as far as to purchase our OB/GYN book and highlight it beforehand with things he felt most important that I know,” commented a student. “He invested time during his one afternoon off a week to sit down and go through topics with me, rather than spending time to catch up on things he needed to do himself. He trusted me to first assist in surgery, and I felt my skills improved so much in my time with him. He truly cares about his students.”Fort has been with HaysMed since 1999 and practices in the Women’s Clinic.

HaysMed physician named Preceptor of the Year 

By MIKE COURSON Great Bend Post

GREAT BEND — The goal of a 
good sports official is to remain invisible; to act as a fair and 
competent arbiter of the rules. But that goal becomes more difficult as 
those with a stake in the outcome of the game - parents, coaches, and 
athletes - become more vocal. 

Groups like the National Federation
 of State High School Associations (NFHS) and Kansas State High School 
Activities Association (KSHSAA) are making a social media push to "bench
 bad behavior" in an effort to recruit and keep more officials. As the 
slogan goes, "With no high school officials, there can be no high school
 sports." In February, the NFHS reported that 50,000 officials 
nationwide had discontinued their service since the 2018-19 school year.

Great
 Bend High School Activities Director Matt Westerhaus has seen the 
impact at his new job and at his old position at Junction City High 
School.

"I have observed a decline in the availability of 
officials at all levels, varsity and sub-varsity," he said. "At both 
places, we have been very fortunate to have local people to help out 
with our sub-varsity schedules for officiating.  Varsity officials need 
to be registered with KSHSAA, sub-varsity officials do not need to be 
registered, and that level provides a great opportunity for officials to
 get their feet in the door, learn the game and then hopefully move up 
to be able to help at the varsity level."

Mark Goodheart assigns 
officials for three leagues in central and western Kansas: the Western 
Athletic Conference, Central Kansas League, and Central Prairie League. 
Bad sportsmanship has always been an issue, but Goodheart said a new 
challenge is for officials to find coverage at their full-time jobs so 
they can leave early to cover games. That particularly impacts 
non-varsity level sports.

"I think there's always been somewhat of
 a shortage, but I think it got more critical during COVID," he said. 
"We had begun to pick up a few more people in the last few years. 
Varsity officials, we can usually cover."

A shortage at the 
beginner level of officiating ultimately leads to a shortage at the 
varsity level. Young officials are turning away from the job because of 
an increasingly hostile atmosphere.

"Kids tell me I sometimes 
don't like how my coaches yell at me, I don't like how my parents yell 
at people," Goodheart said. "I just don't want to get yelled at. That's 
the hard part."

Goodheart got his start in officiating as a 
college kid wanting to make money. Then it grew into a passion. 
Athletics are important to communities, coaches, parents, and the 
athletes themselves. They are also important to the people trying to 
ensure fairness by enforcing the rules.

"Officials just want to go
 out and do the best job they can do," Goodheart said. "It's kind of 
like any job that anybody takes. No one takes a job and tries to fail at
 it."

There are many ways to boost the number of officials. 
Goodheart said female officials are an untapped resource, and 
organizations like KSHSAA offer plenty of training opportunities for new
 officials. Westerhaus said it's also about creating a positive culture 
so new officials stay in the game and get better.

"We need to 
continue to recruit, and encourage those that have a love for a sport or
 sports to give back by officiating," he said. "As schools, we also want
 to ensure that we make those early opportunities for officials as 
rewarding and as positive as possible. Fans, coaches, players, and 
administrators all play a part in providing a great atmosphere for not 
only our teams, but a positive, understanding atmosphere for beginning 
officials, so we encourage them to continue in their pursuit to provide a
 much-needed service to our educationally-based athletic programs. 

"I
 encourage anyone that may have an interest in officiating to reach out 
to a coach, activities directors, the Activities Association so that we 
can get them in touch with the right people to get them started."  

Goodheart
 said more teams have been appreciative of officials lately. Something 
as small as a "thank you" from athletes and coaches goes a long way. 
That and the camaraderie of officials, he said, make the job worth 
doing.

"Probably every county in Kansas, I can think of somebody I
 know," he said. "It's the greatest fraternity or sorority I know of in 
Kansas."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1665501994804.jpg" alt="Image courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By MIKE COURSON Great Bend PostGREAT BEND — The goal of a 
good sports official is to remain invisible; to act as a fair and 
competent arbiter of the rules. But that goal becomes more difficult as 
those with a stake in the outcome of the game - parents, coaches, and 
athletes - become more vocal. Groups like the National Federation
 of State High School Associations (NFHS) and Kansas State High School 
Activities Association (KSHSAA) are making a social media push to "bench
 bad behavior" in an effort to recruit and keep more officials. As the 
slogan goes, "With no high school officials, there can be no high school
 sports." In February, the NFHS reported that 50,000 officials 
nationwide had discontinued their service since the 2018-19 school year.Great
 Bend High School Activities Director Matt Westerhaus has seen the 
impact at his new job and at his old position at Junction City High 
School."I have observed a decline in the availability of 
officials at all levels, varsity and sub-varsity," he said. "At both 
places, we have been very fortunate to have local people to help out 
with our sub-varsity schedules for officiating. Varsity officials need 
to be registered with KSHSAA, sub-varsity officials do not need to be 
registered, and that level provides a great opportunity for officials to
 get their feet in the door, learn the game and then hopefully move up 
to be able to help at the varsity level."Mark Goodheart assigns 
officials for three leagues in central and western Kansas: the Western 
Athletic Conference, Central Kansas League, and Central Prairie League. 
Bad sportsmanship has always been an issue, but Goodheart said a new 
challenge is for officials to find coverage at their full-time jobs so 
they can leave early to cover games. That particularly impacts 
non-varsity level sports."I think there's always been somewhat of
 a shortage, but I think it got more critical during COVID," he said. 
"We had begun to pick up a few more people in the last few years. 
Varsity officials, we can usually cover."A shortage at the 
beginner level of officiating ultimately leads to a shortage at the 
varsity level. Young officials are turning away from the job because of 
an increasingly hostile atmosphere."Kids tell me I sometimes 
don't like how my coaches yell at me, I don't like how my parents yell 
at people," Goodheart said. "I just don't want to get yelled at. That's 
the hard part."Goodheart got his start in officiating as a 
college kid wanting to make money. Then it grew into a passion. 
Athletics are important to communities, coaches, parents, and the 
athletes themselves. They are also important to the people trying to 
ensure fairness by enforcing the rules."Officials just want to go
 out and do the best job they can do," Goodheart said. "It's kind of 
like any job that anybody takes. No one takes a job and tries to fail at
 it."There are many ways to boost the number of officials. 
Goodheart said female officials are an untapped resource, and 
organizations like KSHSAA offer plenty of training opportunities for new
 officials. Westerhaus said it's also about creating a positive culture 
so new officials stay in the game and get better."We need to 
continue to recruit, and encourage those that have a love for a sport or
 sports to give back by officiating," he said. "As schools, we also want
 to ensure that we make those early opportunities for officials as 
rewarding and as positive as possible. Fans, coaches, players, and 
administrators all play a part in providing a great atmosphere for not 
only our teams, but a positive, understanding atmosphere for beginning 
officials, so we encourage them to continue in their pursuit to provide a
 much-needed service to our educationally-based athletic programs. "I
 encourage anyone that may have an interest in officiating to reach out 
to a coach, activities directors, the Activities Association so that we 
can get them in touch with the right people to get them started." Goodheart
 said more teams have been appreciative of officials lately. Something 
as small as a "thank you" from athletes and coaches goes a long way. 
That and the camaraderie of officials, he said, make the job worth 
doing."Probably every county in Kansas, I can think of somebody I
 know," he said. "It's the greatest fraternity or sorority I know of in 
Kansas."

Great Bend AD: Availability of officials declining at all levels

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1665513241726.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

By KIM BALDWIN McPherson County farmer and rancher The morning air has turned crisp, the temperatures have begun to drop, and the sun noticeably rises a little bit later every morning. It is definitely beginning to feel like fall on the farm. Most evenings are also filled with a layer of dust in the atmosphere stirred up by the steady movement of the combines and tractors in the surrounding fields.&nbsp; While we continue to bring the grain out of the fields during fall harvest, we have also turned our attention to the fields that will soon have green shoots growing. It’s time to start sowing wheat. After missing rain showers practically all summer, we recently received some much-needed moisture. The slow, steady rain provided us assurance that it does, in fact, still rain on occasion.&nbsp; But it also provided our soil with enough moisture to ensure a good start for most of our wheat. The hard red winter wheat we place into the ground every fall has proven time and time again it can handle a lot of extreme weather conditions throughout the year. From arctic blasts in the winter, late freezes and hailstorms in the late spring, we know this crop is hardy.&nbsp; But one thing the wheat absolutely needs to ensure a good start is moisture in the ground. For many months we’ve waited for it to rain. We’ve looked really hard for signs that a rain could be coming.&nbsp; We’ve been teased with chances of precipitation all summer to only see those chances dissipate to nothing within 10-day forecasts.

We’ve prayed for it to rain.&nbsp; And we breathed a sigh of relief and gave thanks when the small rain finally came. It’s amazing how something like a rain shower can completely alter our outlook. It’s as if a rain can wash away any doubt that might have settled in our minds.&nbsp; It’s cleansing and provides the rejuvenation of faith we all need to begin a new season. It encourages us to firmly believe many seeds can and will be produced from one tiny seed planted into the ground. As primarily dryland farmers, a rain shower is life-giving for our present and future crops alike. As we continue to sow the wheat into the soil this month, we know that we’ll need more rain to get to a successful harvest. And while the forecast doesn’t show any chance of precipitation in the near future, we’ll sow anyway.&nbsp; We’ll continue the tasks on the farm this fall and plan for a successful wheat crop this summer — all while patiently waiting on a rain.

"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/2019/11/1573617414005.jpeg" alt="Kim Baldwin" />
 <figcaption>Kim Baldwin</figcaption>
 </figure>By KIM BALDWIN McPherson County farmer and rancher The morning air has turned crisp, the temperatures have begun to drop, and the sun noticeably rises a little bit later every morning. It is definitely beginning to feel like fall on the farm. Most evenings are also filled with a layer of dust in the atmosphere stirred up by the steady movement of the combines and tractors in the surrounding fields.&nbsp; While we continue to bring the grain out of the fields during fall harvest, we have also turned our attention to the fields that will soon have green shoots growing. It’s time to start sowing wheat. After missing rain showers practically all summer, we recently received some much-needed moisture. The slow, steady rain provided us assurance that it does, in fact, still rain on occasion.&nbsp; But it also provided our soil with enough moisture to ensure a good start for most of our wheat. The hard red winter wheat we place into the ground every fall has proven time and time again it can handle a lot of extreme weather conditions throughout the year. From arctic blasts in the winter, late freezes and hailstorms in the late spring, we know this crop is hardy.&nbsp; But one thing the wheat absolutely needs to ensure a good start is moisture in the ground. For many months we’ve waited for it to rain. We’ve looked really hard for signs that a rain could be coming.&nbsp; We’ve been teased with chances of precipitation all summer to only see those chances dissipate to nothing within 10-day forecasts. We’ve prayed for it to rain.&nbsp; And we breathed a sigh of relief and gave thanks when the small rain finally came. It’s amazing how something like a rain shower can completely alter our outlook. It’s as if a rain can wash away any doubt that might have settled in our minds.&nbsp; It’s cleansing and provides the rejuvenation of faith we all need to begin a new season. It encourages us to firmly believe many seeds can and will be produced from one tiny seed planted into the ground. As primarily dryland farmers, a rain shower is life-giving for our present and future crops alike. As we continue to sow the wheat into the soil this month, we know that we’ll need more rain to get to a successful harvest. And while the forecast doesn’t show any chance of precipitation in the near future, we’ll sow anyway.&nbsp; We’ll continue the tasks on the farm this fall and plan for a successful wheat crop this summer — all while patiently waiting on a rain."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: Waiting for rain

<div>  <script src="https://embed-1007172.secondstreetapp.com/Scripts/dist/embed.js" data-ss-embed="promotion" data-opguid="05122456-8453-43d0-8aa8-d881ec126229" data-routing="hash">/**/</script></div>

Enter to win Eagle Radio's Cash Grab

Homecoming weekend at Fort Hays State University reminds alumni and community members alike of the value of coming together. Familiar faces from the 50 and 60-year reunion classes shared memories, jokes, and stories about their time at Fort Hays State. Those visiting for the first time in years felt nostalgia as they toured campus and stopped by new buildings and recently renovated spaces.

Fort Hays State’s 102nd&nbsp;Homecoming exceeded the expectations of the FHSU Alumni Association and Foundation, who rejoiced in the opportunity to bring everyone together again.

Thursday’s warm autumnal weather welcomed those participating in the annual golf tournament. More than 40 teams participated in the tournament this year, a record for the already successful event. Warm weather carried through to Thursday evening’s fan-favorite Tiger bonfire and pep rally, which also had a tremendous turnout of Tiger fans to enjoy camaraderie and food from local vendors.

On Friday, Jason Williby, FHSU Foundation President and CEO announced a generous lead gift from Lorena Kellogg and her late husband Wilmer for a new Shotgun Team facility during Friday morning’s press conference. Duane Shepherd, FHSU Shotgun Team head coach, and team members Lane Sorensen and Hailey Zulkoski shared their remarks about how the Kellogg family’s generosity will impact the team’s future success and recruitment efforts.

From there, families, community members, and students donned their warm winter gear and headed to Oktoberfest to start the celebrations.

Those back in town for the first time in a while enjoyed walking and bus tours of the Fort Hays State campus and Hays and met with various departments on campus for further celebrations. Six Alumni Award recipients were celebrated at a meet and greet event, as well as an evening banquet and were honored for their various accomplishments over the years and on campus.&nbsp;

Saturday welcomed back guests for a delicious breakfast with FHSU President Dr. Tisa Mason, who shared a campus update with alumni, donors, and students. Homecoming parade-goers and those attending the second day of Oktoberfest enjoyed the warmer and drier weather. After festive tailgating parties and watching the Tigers face off against the Washburn Ichabods, the 2022 Homecoming festivities concluded.&nbsp;

“It was truly remarkable to see the Hays community and FHSU campus bustle with new and familiar faces. The memories shared by our students, returning alumni, and Tiger fans during Homecoming will endure for years to come,” said Carolyn Tatro, Alumni Engagement Strategist with the FHSU Alumni Association.

FHSU Homecoming 2023 is set for Sept. 28 to 30.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1665506338073.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU Alumni AssociationHomecoming weekend at Fort Hays State University reminds alumni and community members alike of the value of coming together. Familiar faces from the 50 and 60-year reunion classes shared memories, jokes, and stories about their time at Fort Hays State. Those visiting for the first time in years felt nostalgia as they toured campus and stopped by new buildings and recently renovated spaces.Fort Hays State’s 102nd&nbsp;Homecoming exceeded the expectations of the FHSU Alumni Association and Foundation, who rejoiced in the opportunity to bring everyone together again.Thursday’s warm autumnal weather welcomed those participating in the annual golf tournament. More than 40 teams participated in the tournament this year, a record for the already successful event. Warm weather carried through to Thursday evening’s fan-favorite Tiger bonfire and pep rally, which also had a tremendous turnout of Tiger fans to enjoy camaraderie and food from local vendors.On Friday, Jason Williby, FHSU Foundation President and CEO announced a generous lead gift from Lorena Kellogg and her late husband Wilmer for a new Shotgun Team facility during Friday morning’s press conference. Duane Shepherd, FHSU Shotgun Team head coach, and team members Lane Sorensen and Hailey Zulkoski shared their remarks about how the Kellogg family’s generosity will impact the team’s future success and recruitment efforts.From there, families, community members, and students donned their warm winter gear and headed to Oktoberfest to start the celebrations.Those back in town for the first time in a while enjoyed walking and bus tours of the Fort Hays State campus and Hays and met with various departments on campus for further celebrations. Six Alumni Award recipients were celebrated at a meet and greet event, as well as an evening banquet and were honored for their various accomplishments over the years and on campus.&nbsp;Saturday welcomed back guests for a delicious breakfast with FHSU President Dr. Tisa Mason, who shared a campus update with alumni, donors, and students. Homecoming parade-goers and those attending the second day of Oktoberfest enjoyed the warmer and drier weather. After festive tailgating parties and watching the Tigers face off against the Washburn Ichabods, the 2022 Homecoming festivities concluded.&nbsp;“It was truly remarkable to see the Hays community and FHSU campus bustle with new and familiar faces. The memories shared by our students, returning alumni, and Tiger fans during Homecoming will endure for years to come,” said Carolyn Tatro, Alumni Engagement Strategist with the FHSU Alumni Association.FHSU Homecoming 2023 is set for Sept. 28 to 30.

FHSU’s 102nd Homecoming an unforgettable success

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On this episode of the Post Podcast Holy Family IT director Duff Watson shares information about recent technology upgrades in Hays Catholic Schools.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/e72721bf-17fe-43d1-a428-8eb7c32185ff">For more about the Post Podcast, including a full list of episodes and episode transcripts click here.</a>

On this episode of the Post Podcast Holy Family IT director Duff Watson shares information about recent technology upgrades in Hays Catholic Schools. <div><iframe title="Technology upgrades benefit Holy Family Elementary students" 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=ems8i-12e5f00-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><a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/e72721bf-17fe-43d1-a428-8eb7c32185ff">For more about the Post Podcast, including a full list of episodes and episode transcripts click here.</a>

🎙 Post Podcast: Technology upgrades benefit Holy Family Elementary students

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On this week's Tiger Talk, Voice of the Tigers Gerard Wellbrock speaks with Fort Hays State University Head Football Coach Chris Brown about the latest in FHSU Football.

<figure>
 <iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_J1a3AlZUOY"></iframe>
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>On this week's Tiger Talk, Voice of the Tigers Gerard Wellbrock speaks with Fort Hays State University Head Football Coach Chris Brown about the latest in FHSU Football.

🎥🏈 Watch This Week's Tiger Talk

The benchmark Nymex crude futures contract gained another $4 Friday to settle at $92.64 per barrel. Prices are up nearly $16 a barrel in the last two weeks. In lunchtime trading Monday, prices were down slightly, but WTI was trading over $92 and London Brent was over $97 a barrel. Kansas prices were up more than $4 a barrel Friday. The so-called OPEC+ crude exporters announced they would cut output by two million barrels per day, sounding alarm bells for inflation-hawks and poll-watchers worried about gasoline prices. Some analysts point out the cartel has been unable to reach its own production quotas since the pandemic. Some lawmakers are once again touting the so-called "NOPEC" Act and other efforts to rein in the cartel. The auto club AAA says rising gasoline demand paired with diminishing supplies have fueled a big bump in pump prices. The national average is over $3.91 a gallon, up 12 cents from a week ago. Average prices Monday range from $6.33 in California, down a nickel from a week ago, to $3.25 in Mississippi, which is 20 cents higher. The average across Kansas is $3.51 a gallon, a jump of more than 11 cents in seven days. According to the Energy Information Administration, gasoline demand increased nationally from 8.83 million to 9.47 million barrels per day last week, and total domestic gasoline stocks decreased by 4.7 million barrels. State regulators report slight increases in local and statewide crude output. Operators here have pumped more than 11.5 million barrels through May, the latest numbers available from the Kansas Geological Survey.&nbsp; That's over 76,000 barrels per day compared to just over 75,000 a year earlier. Barton County output is just under 4,000 barrels per day with production of 596,000 barrels through May. Ellis County pumped 905,000 barrels, or nearly 6,000 barrels per day. Russell County output through May stands at 545,000 barrels, or 3,600 barrels per day.&nbsp; The tally in Stafford County is 383,000 barrels or 2,500 barrels per day. Kansas regulators report 161 new intent-to-drill notices across the state last month, including three in Barton County, five in Ellis County, one in Russell County and five in Stafford County. So far this year, the Kansas Corporation Commission reports 1,342 new intents, compared to 868 through September of last year. Drilling activity in Kansas is up 55% compared to last year at this time but down slightly for the week. The Rig Count in Kansas is down one east of Wichita and down one in the western half of the state. Drilling was underway Friday on one lease in Stafford County, and was about to resume on one lease in Ellis County and one in Stafford County. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service reports 1,196 wells spudded so far this year, up 425 wells from last year. They're scouting 489 wells currently being drilled or completed.&nbsp; Regulators okayed new drilling locations in Barton, Ellis and Stafford counties last week. Among the 48 new permits statewide, 39 are east of Wichita and ten in Western Kansas. Kansas operators completed 28 new wells last week, according to Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service, with 13 in eastern Kansas and 15 west of Wichita. The list includes two new wells in Barton County and one each in Russell and Stafford counties.&nbsp; State regulators in New Mexico and Texas reach common ground on wells that cross their common border. Officials are hailing a landmark development involving a landmark oil deposit, the Permian Basin. A Memorandum of Agreement will govern the development, operation, and maintenance of wells that cross their shared border and produce minerals from each state. The MOA will help them allocate millions of dollars in production from such wells, and will help enforce regulations in both state. U.S. crude production last week reached 12.035 million barrels per day, an increase of 1,000 barrels per day from a week ago. The government reports current output is more than 600,000 barrels per day higher than for the same week last year. U.S. Crude inventories dropped by 1.4 million barrels last week. The Energy Information Administration reported stockpiles of just over 429 million barrels as of September 30. That's three percent below the five-year seasonal average. Gasoline inventories dropped by nearly five million barrels and are about nine percent below the five-year average. EIA reports domestic crude imports last week dropped nearly half a million barrels to 5.9 million barrels per day. The four week average is roughly 2.6 percent lower than a year ago. Oil-by-rail traffic in the U.S. was up six percent in the week through October first. The Association of American Railroads reports 10,449 tanker carloads, up more than 1,000 tankers from the week before and more than six percent higher than the same week a year ago. Canadian traffic was is up two percent over last year, posting an increase of 42 carloads week over week.

By JOHN P. TRETBARThe benchmark Nymex crude futures contract gained another $4 Friday to settle at $92.64 per barrel. Prices are up nearly $16 a barrel in the last two weeks. In lunchtime trading Monday, prices were down slightly, but WTI was trading over $92 and London Brent was over $97 a barrel. Kansas prices were up more than $4 a barrel Friday. The so-called OPEC+ crude exporters announced they would cut output by two million barrels per day, sounding alarm bells for inflation-hawks and poll-watchers worried about gasoline prices. Some analysts point out the cartel has been unable to reach its own production quotas since the pandemic. Some lawmakers are once again touting the so-called "NOPEC" Act and other efforts to rein in the cartel. The auto club AAA says rising gasoline demand paired with diminishing supplies have fueled a big bump in pump prices. The national average is over $3.91 a gallon, up 12 cents from a week ago. Average prices Monday range from $6.33 in California, down a nickel from a week ago, to $3.25 in Mississippi, which is 20 cents higher. The average across Kansas is $3.51 a gallon, a jump of more than 11 cents in seven days. According to the Energy Information Administration, gasoline demand increased nationally from 8.83 million to 9.47 million barrels per day last week, and total domestic gasoline stocks decreased by 4.7 million barrels. State regulators report slight increases in local and statewide crude output. Operators here have pumped more than 11.5 million barrels through May, the latest numbers available from the Kansas Geological Survey.&nbsp; That's over 76,000 barrels per day compared to just over 75,000 a year earlier. Barton County output is just under 4,000 barrels per day with production of 596,000 barrels through May. Ellis County pumped 905,000 barrels, or nearly 6,000 barrels per day. Russell County output through May stands at 545,000 barrels, or 3,600 barrels per day.&nbsp; The tally in Stafford County is 383,000 barrels or 2,500 barrels per day. Kansas regulators report 161 new intent-to-drill notices across the state last month, including three in Barton County, five in Ellis County, one in Russell County and five in Stafford County. So far this year, the Kansas Corporation Commission reports 1,342 new intents, compared to 868 through September of last year. Drilling activity in Kansas is up 55% compared to last year at this time but down slightly for the week. The Rig Count in Kansas is down one east of Wichita and down one in the western half of the state. Drilling was underway Friday on one lease in Stafford County, and was about to resume on one lease in Ellis County and one in Stafford County. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service reports 1,196 wells spudded so far this year, up 425 wells from last year. They're scouting 489 wells currently being drilled or completed.&nbsp; Regulators okayed new drilling locations in Barton, Ellis and Stafford counties last week. Among the 48 new permits statewide, 39 are east of Wichita and ten in Western Kansas. Kansas operators completed 28 new wells last week, according to Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service, with 13 in eastern Kansas and 15 west of Wichita. The list includes two new wells in Barton County and one each in Russell and Stafford counties.&nbsp; State regulators in New Mexico and Texas reach common ground on wells that cross their common border. Officials are hailing a landmark development involving a landmark oil deposit, the Permian Basin. A Memorandum of Agreement will govern the development, operation, and maintenance of wells that cross their shared border and produce minerals from each state. The MOA will help them allocate millions of dollars in production from such wells, and will help enforce regulations in both state. U.S. crude production last week reached 12.035 million barrels per day, an increase of 1,000 barrels per day from a week ago. The government reports current output is more than 600,000 barrels per day higher than for the same week last year. U.S. Crude inventories dropped by 1.4 million barrels last week. The Energy Information Administration reported stockpiles of just over 429 million barrels as of September 30. That's three percent below the five-year seasonal average. Gasoline inventories dropped by nearly five million barrels and are about nine percent below the five-year average. EIA reports domestic crude imports last week dropped nearly half a million barrels to 5.9 million barrels per day. The four week average is roughly 2.6 percent lower than a year ago. Oil-by-rail traffic in the U.S. was up six percent in the week through October first. The Association of American Railroads reports 10,449 tanker carloads, up more than 1,000 tankers from the week before and more than six percent higher than the same week a year ago. Canadian traffic was is up two percent over last year, posting an increase of 42 carloads week over week.

News From the Oil Patch: Kansas crude output rising

BELOIT — Numerous donors in collaboration with North Central Kansas Technical College Endowment Association and Foundation, have established endowed funds&nbsp;and pass-thru funds&nbsp;specifically to be used for student scholarships.

Seventy-one students received scholarships this school year. The recipients of the scholarships are students enrolled in a variety of programs offered at North Central Kansas Technical College on the Beloit and Hays Campuses.&nbsp;

These scholarships offer financial assistance to qualifying students now and into the future by providing an enduring legacy of these donors through annual scholarships at North Central Kansas Technical College.

NCK Tech hosted two receptions for students and donors, one on the Hays Campus on Sept. 28 and the other on the Beloit Campus on Oct. 5. During these receptions, 27&nbsp;scholarships were awarded, many with multiple awards. These scholarships range in amounts from $500 to $2,000.

“Honoring the legacy of our donors, their contributions and their leadership to the education of our future workforce is such a pleasure and we can’t thank them enough for their generosity,” said Eric Burks, president of North Central Kansas Technical College.

“We are deeply grateful to these donors for establishing these important scholarship funds, which we are honored to administer,” said Mendi Anschutz, director of advancement for the North Central Kansas Technical College Endowment Association and Foundation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586713055800.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>News releaseBELOIT — Numerous donors in collaboration with North Central Kansas Technical College Endowment Association and Foundation, have established endowed funds&nbsp;and pass-thru funds&nbsp;specifically to be used for student scholarships.Seventy-one students received scholarships this school year. The recipients of the scholarships are students enrolled in a variety of programs offered at North Central Kansas Technical College on the Beloit and Hays Campuses.&nbsp;These scholarships offer financial assistance to qualifying students now and into the future by providing an enduring legacy of these donors through annual scholarships at North Central Kansas Technical College.NCK Tech hosted two receptions for students and donors, one on the Hays Campus on Sept. 28 and the other on the Beloit Campus on Oct. 5. During these receptions, 27&nbsp;scholarships were awarded, many with multiple awards. These scholarships range in amounts from $500 to $2,000.“Honoring the legacy of our donors, their contributions and their leadership to the education of our future workforce is such a pleasure and we can’t thank them enough for their generosity,” said Eric Burks, president of North Central Kansas Technical College.“We are deeply grateful to these donors for establishing these important scholarship funds, which we are honored to administer,” said Mendi Anschutz, director of advancement for the North Central Kansas Technical College Endowment Association and Foundation.

NCK Tech hosts scholarship receptions in Hays, Beloit

LAWRENCEBURG, Ind. —&nbsp;Jared&nbsp;Leiker, longstanding Lawrenceburg Community School Corporation administrator and teacher, has been named the next principal of Lawrenceburg High School after&nbsp;receiving&nbsp;school board approval during a meeting on Oct. 6. Leiker will&nbsp; formally take the position after Mr. Snyder’s retirement in July 2023.

“Lawrenceburg Community School Corporation is excited about the enthusiasm and energy Mr.&nbsp;Leiker&nbsp;looks to bring to the&nbsp;position,” said Superintendent Karl Galey,&nbsp;“He plans to build upon the&nbsp;foundation built by the current high school administration of being accessible, collaborative, visible,&nbsp;and organized. Mr.&nbsp;Leiker plans to do this by building relationships, being in the community, and at school activities, as well as actively listening to the students, parents,&nbsp;staff,&nbsp;and community.”

Having served the Lawrenceburg Community School Corporation for the past 16 years in a variety of different roles, Leiker&nbsp;is bringing his vast&nbsp;experience in&nbsp;education and leadership into his role as the new principal. Currently, he is in his sixth year as assistant principal of Lawrenceburg Primary School and Central Elementary School&nbsp;and&nbsp;can also be found on the football field as Coach&nbsp;Leiker. Prior to being an administrator, Mr.&nbsp;Leiker&nbsp;served for seven years as&nbsp;a&nbsp;Project Lead the Way&nbsp;Teacher at LHS, a&nbsp;math teacher at LHS,&nbsp;and three years as an instructional technology specialist.

“Having the opportunity to serve and lead our students, staff, and community is an honor and privilege that I am extremely thankful for,” Leiker said.&nbsp;

Leiker, who grew up in Meade, was raised by parents who served in education as a school administrator and teacher. After completing a bachelor of science in mathematics from Fort Hays State&nbsp;University, he went on to earn a master of education and completed the Principal Licensure Program at Indiana Wesleyan University.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Leiker&nbsp;has been married to Sarah&nbsp;Leiker, an educational consultant, for&nbsp;11 years. They are the parents of two children, Owen, a first-grade student at Lawrenceburg Primary School, and Olivia, a preschool student at St. Lawrence School.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1665410701410.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>News releaseLAWRENCEBURG, Ind. —&nbsp;Jared&nbsp;Leiker, longstanding Lawrenceburg Community School Corporation administrator and teacher, has been named the next principal of Lawrenceburg High School after&nbsp;receiving&nbsp;school board approval during a meeting on Oct. 6. Leiker will&nbsp; formally take the position after Mr. Snyder’s retirement in July 2023.“Lawrenceburg Community School Corporation is excited about the enthusiasm and energy Mr.&nbsp;Leiker&nbsp;looks to bring to the&nbsp;position,” said Superintendent Karl Galey,&nbsp;“He plans to build upon the&nbsp;foundation built by the current high school administration of being accessible, collaborative, visible,&nbsp;and organized. Mr.&nbsp;Leiker plans to do this by building relationships, being in the community, and at school activities, as well as actively listening to the students, parents,&nbsp;staff,&nbsp;and community.”Having served the Lawrenceburg Community School Corporation for the past 16 years in a variety of different roles, Leiker&nbsp;is bringing his vast&nbsp;experience in&nbsp;education and leadership into his role as the new principal. Currently, he is in his sixth year as assistant principal of Lawrenceburg Primary School and Central Elementary School&nbsp;and&nbsp;can also be found on the football field as Coach&nbsp;Leiker. Prior to being an administrator, Mr.&nbsp;Leiker&nbsp;served for seven years as&nbsp;a&nbsp;Project Lead the Way&nbsp;Teacher at LHS, a&nbsp;math teacher at LHS,&nbsp;and three years as an instructional technology specialist.“Having the opportunity to serve and lead our students, staff, and community is an honor and privilege that I am extremely thankful for,” Leiker said.&nbsp;Leiker, who grew up in Meade, was raised by parents who served in education as a school administrator and teacher. After completing a bachelor of science in mathematics from Fort Hays State&nbsp;University, he went on to earn a master of education and completed the Principal Licensure Program at Indiana Wesleyan University.&nbsp;&nbsp;Leiker&nbsp;has been married to Sarah&nbsp;Leiker, an educational consultant, for&nbsp;11 years. They are the parents of two children, Owen, a first-grade student at Lawrenceburg Primary School, and Olivia, a preschool student at St. Lawrence School.&nbsp;

Fort Hays State grad will take reins at Indiana high school

TREGO COUNTY — Two people were injured in an accident just before 5p.m. Monday in Trego County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a Chevy S-10 pickup driven by Meagan Lynnette Herrington, 35, Ellis, was traveling in the 32000 block of Old 40 just west of Kansas 147.

The driver lost control of the vehicle when it made contact with loose dirt, rotated facing southwest, entered the south ditch and rolled ejecting both the driver and passenger.

EMS transported&nbsp;Herrington to Trego County Lemke Memorial Hospital and a passenger Jordyn Lindsey Herrington, 15, Ellis, to Salina Regional Health Center. They were not wearing seat belts, according to the KHP.

TREGO COUNTY — Two people were injured in an accident just before 5p.m. Monday in Trego County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a Chevy S-10 pickup driven by Meagan Lynnette Herrington, 35, Ellis, was traveling in the 32000 block of Old 40 just west of Kansas 147.The driver lost control of the vehicle when it made contact with loose dirt, rotated facing southwest, entered the south ditch and rolled ejecting both the driver and passenger.EMS transported&nbsp;Herrington to Trego County Lemke Memorial Hospital and a passenger Jordyn Lindsey Herrington, 15, Ellis, to Salina Regional Health Center. They were not wearing seat belts, according to the KHP.

Woman from Ellis, 15-year-old hospitalized after rollover accident

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1665432594306.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>

​I am concerned about the election for Kansas State Board of Education, District 5.

​What if the person who represented you in an office was someone that you knew had “skin in the game”? &nbsp;What if they spoke up for folks who don’t have a voice? &nbsp;What if they had demonstrated their commitment to healthy families and communities?&nbsp; Wouldn’t&nbsp;you really like to have someone like that in the office of the Fifth District of the Kansas State Board of Education?&nbsp;

<a></a>Write in Jean&nbsp;Clifford for District 5, Kansas State Board of education on &nbsp;your ballot on Nov. 8. &nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575913663048.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>​I am concerned about the election for Kansas State Board of Education, District 5.​What if the person who represented you in an office was someone that you knew had “skin in the game”? &nbsp;What if they spoke up for folks who don’t have a voice? &nbsp;What if they had demonstrated their commitment to healthy families and communities?&nbsp; Wouldn’t&nbsp;you really like to have someone like that in the office of the Fifth District of the Kansas State Board of Education?&nbsp;You can do this. &nbsp; &nbsp;<a></a>Write in Jean&nbsp;Clifford for District 5, Kansas State Board of education on &nbsp;your ballot on Nov. 8. &nbsp;I know Jean. I trust Jean. &nbsp;Verna Rundell, Syracuse

LETTER: Write-in candidate best choice for state school board

THOMAS COUNTY—A Kansas man was injured in an accident just after 11a.m. Monday in Thomas County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2004 Western Star Semi driven by Tyler D.&nbsp;Deshazo, 31, Colby, was northbound on U.S. 83 Highway near County Road 36.

The vehicle was unable to come to a stop and yield to other traffic that was legally stopped in the northbound lane waiting for another vehicle to make a righthand, south turn. 

The semi left the roadway to the right, traveled over County Road 36, struck a dirt embankment and came to a rest east of County Road 36 onto its passenger side, spilling all of trailer's grain.

EMS transported Deshazo to the hospital in Colby. He was properly restrained, according to the KHP.

THOMAS COUNTY—A Kansas man was injured in an accident just after 11a.m. Monday in Thomas County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2004 Western Star Semi driven by Tyler D.&nbsp;Deshazo, 31, Colby, was northbound on U.S. 83 Highway near County Road 36.The vehicle was unable to come to a stop and yield to other traffic that was legally stopped in the northbound lane waiting for another vehicle to make a righthand, south turn. The semi left the roadway to the right, traveled over County Road 36, struck a dirt embankment and came to a rest east of County Road 36 onto its passenger side, spilling all of trailer's grain.EMS transported Deshazo to the hospital in Colby. He was properly restrained, according to the KHP.

Kan. man hospitalized after semi  overturns, spills load of grain

HaysMed recently welcomed three new providers to the medical staff.

Sam Elzay, PA, and Ethan Fort, PA, both began seeing patients at the Orthopedic Institute.

Elzay has a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology and Health Promotions from the University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyo.&nbsp; He has a Masters of Public Health and Physician Assistant Studies, from Campbell University College of Pharmacy and Health Science, Buies Creek, North Carolina.&nbsp; Elzay will be working with Dr. Tim Wright, Orthopedic Surgeon.

Fort received a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas.&nbsp; He has a Masters of Physician Assistant from Wichita State University, Wichita, Kansas. Fort, a Hays native, will be assisting Dr. Max DeCarvalho, Orthopedic and Spine Surgeon.

Appointments can be made by calling 785-261-7699 or going to&nbsp;<a href="http://haysmed.com/orthopedic-institute">haysmed.com/orthopedic-institute</a>.

Christy Moeder, APRN joined the Convenient Care Clinic.&nbsp; She has a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Fort Hays State University and a Master’s degree from The University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1665436877433.jpeg" alt="Elzay" />
 <figcaption>Elzay</figcaption>
 </figure>HaysMedHaysMed recently welcomed three new providers to the medical staff.Sam Elzay, PA, and Ethan Fort, PA, both began seeing patients at the Orthopedic Institute.Elzay has a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology and Health Promotions from the University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyo.&nbsp; He has a Masters of Public Health and Physician Assistant Studies, from Campbell University College of Pharmacy and Health Science, Buies Creek, North Carolina.&nbsp; Elzay will be working with Dr. Tim Wright, Orthopedic Surgeon.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1665436964670.jpeg" alt="Fort" />
 <figcaption>Fort</figcaption>
 </figure>Fort received a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas.&nbsp; He has a Masters of Physician Assistant from Wichita State University, Wichita, Kansas. Fort, a Hays native, will be assisting Dr. Max DeCarvalho, Orthopedic and Spine Surgeon.Appointments can be made by calling 785-261-7699 or going to&nbsp;<a href="http://haysmed.com/orthopedic-institute">haysmed.com/orthopedic-institute</a>.Christy Moeder, APRN joined the Convenient Care Clinic.&nbsp; She has a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Fort Hays State University and a Master’s degree from The University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1665436988229.jpeg" alt="Moeder" />
 <figcaption>Moeder</figcaption>
 </figure>

HaysMed welcomes new providers

By DAVID CONDOS <a href="https://www.hppr.org/hppr-news/2022-10-10/this-city-in-kansas-really-conserves-its-water-but-that-still-might-not-be-enough-to-survive">Kansas News Service</a>

This town’s water problem couldn't be put off any longer.

After
 an especially dry year, the wells that pumped water to Hays ran 
dangerously low in early 1992. If the northwest Kansas town did nothing,
 people feared they could run out of water by late summer.

Most folks agreed it was an emergency. They just couldn’t agree on what to do about it.

When
 City Hall suggested installing low-flow toilets, people argued that 
would just clog things up and overload the town’s plumbers. One city 
commissioner implored the town’s clergy to preach the water conservation
 gospel from their pulpits. A letter in the Hays Daily News described a 
plan for strict water rationing as “trying to incite a riot.”

“Hays
 has an opportunity to become famous,” a local editorial suggested. “Not
 as the town in Kansas with a water problem, but as that town in Kansas 
that solved its water problem.”

While communities across the semi-arid High Plains all face their 
share of droughts, Hays was — and is — the only city in Kansas with more
 than 15,000 residents but no sustainable source of water.

It’s caught in the middle. Too far west for reliable rainfall and reservoirs. And too far east to tap into the massive — <a href="https://www.hppr.org/hppr-news/2021-05-05/farmers-trying-to-save-the-ogallala-aquifer-face-tension-from-peers-but-their-profits-are-improving" target="_blank">if disappearing</a> — Ogallala aquifer. So when prolonged drought hits, the town’s bucket of backup plans isn’t exactly overflowing.

That’s
 why Hays continues its decades-long quest for a sustainable water 
source today — it’s now in the middle of jumping through <a href="https://www.eenews.net/articles/farm-vs-city-kansas-water-law-gets-a-major-stress-test/" target="_blank">legal</a> and <a href="https://agriculture.ks.gov/docs/default-source/dwr-water-appropriation-documents/2019-05-20-haysrussell-transfer-app.pdf?sfvrsn=7fe88bc1_0" target="_blank">regulatory</a> hoops to build a 70-mile pipeline that would bring in water from three counties away.

The 1992 crisis wasn’t the first or last time Hays has had to worry about running low on water. But it marked a turning point.

“It
 was a wake-up call for the city leaders at the time,” current city 
manager Toby Dougherty said. “They realized quickly the best thing they 
can do is start conserving what they have.”

Fast forward three decades to a parking lot on the east edge of town.

As
 the sun creeps toward the horizon, dozens of families mull about at a 
school district street fair. Some kids line up for a chance to sit in a 
street sweeper, get a balloon animal or turn an auger dangling from a 
power company crane.

But in the corner, a big blue local celebrity draws a crowd of his own.

That’s WaterSmart Wally, the mascot of the city’s water conservation program, giving out one high five after another.

And this fuzzy raindrop gets around. Waving from the back of a truck 
during parades. Dancing at basketball games. Dropping in on classrooms 
to teach water conservation bingo.

“Kids love him.” Holly Dickman, the city’s water conservation specialist, said. “He loves hugs, so he gets lots of those.”

As
 far as Dickman knows, she and Wally are the only ones doing their 
particular jobs in the whole state. And their presence is just one sign 
of how far Hays has come in its push to absorb water conservation into 
the town’s culture.

That type of shift can’t happen overnight. And some folks in town <a href="https://www.facebook.com/WaterSmartHays/photos/pb.100067670374176.-2207520000../1383875275136085/?type=3" target="_blank">still gripe</a> about not being able to water their lawns in the summer or call the strict regulations <a href="https://www.facebook.com/WaterSmartHays/photos/pb.100067670374176.-2207520000../848530908670527/?type=3" target="_blank">government overreach</a>.

But two generations of children have now grown up here since the 
water crisis of 30 years ago. And for many of them, the water-saving 
practices that make Hays such an outlier in Kansas are just a normal 
part of life.

When the town held its annual poster contest earlier
 this year, kids as young as 2nd and 3rd grade drew pictures of people 
xeriscaping and using rain barrels. One illustrated the benefits of 
waiting to run your dishwasher until it’s full.

Another depicted a
 familiar face — WaterSmart Wally — front and center, shedding a 
horrified tear as he watched the town’s precious resource drip away from
 a leaky pipe.

“If you grew up here, you lived with it,” Dickman said. “We are that way because we had to be. We have to be.”

Twelve years 
ago, city manager Dougherty boarded a flight bound for Las Vegas to meet
 with water districts from across the western U.S.

At the time, 
Hays was riding high from the water-saving measures it put in place in 
the 1990s, he said, and the city hadn’t thought much about updating 
them. After all, its efforts were still leaps and bounds above its 
neighbors.

“We were the leader in Kansas,” Dougherty said. “But I felt like the dumbest kid in the classroom out there.”

Looking
 around the conference room at the stuff towns out West were doing to 
conserve water, he quickly realized how far Hays had fallen behind its 
water scarcity peers and decided to double the town’s efforts.

So he and other city leaders ventured West again and again to pick 
the brains of some of the country’s most water-conscious cities.

“We
 have had to look to places like Las Vegas and Tucson and Phoenix,” 
Dougherty said. “ We stole our landscaping regulations from Utah.”

The city’s cash-for-grass program that pays residents to remove their irrigation-dependent lawns? That idea came from Las Vegas.

The
 demonstration gardens that were planted around town to show residents 
how to xeriscape with native plants? Modeled on similar ones in Salt 
Lake City.

Dougherty said Hays is now studying how Sierra Vista, 
Arizona, uses wetlands to naturally filter and store its wastewater for 
reuse.

Even the idea for WaterSmart Wally came from other conservation mascots out West.

Here’s a sprinkling of the ways Hays pushes and pulls its residents to save water today:

• Hays was the first city east of Colorado and north of Texas to start a cash-for-grass program, which offers residents up to $3,000 to replace typical fescue and bluegrass lawns with less thirsty options, such as xeriscaping with rocks and shrubs or planting drought-tolerant types of grass. It remains the only program of its kind in the state.

• Hays built a system that irrigates the town’s golf course and baseball fields with recycled wastewater, known as effluent. That saved more than 100 million gallons of water last year. 

• Hays sends welcome buckets to new residents filled with rain gauges, shower timers and a blue dye tablet to check your toilet for leaks. The city has also handed out thousands of low-flow showerheads over the years. Residents can stop by city hall to trade in their old head for a new one anytime at no cost.

• People can still get rebates for installing low-flow toilets — $150 a pop. They can also get $200 rebates for putting in high-efficiency washing machines. 

• Unlike other cities that offer utility customers discounts for buying water in bulk, the water rate in Hays gets more expensive the more you use. 

• The city has someone on staff whose job it is to personally call customers who are using a lot of water. That can both alert customers to unknown leaks and let them know that they’re being watched.

• Hays has a half-cent sales tax dedicated exclusively to funding water projects, like getting water from new sources or making its existing wells more efficient. 

• And finally, one of the most visible measures: outdoor watering restrictions. For the warmest four months of the year, residents can’t water their lawns from high noon until the evening. Homes and businesses can also get a violation for having an outdoor water leak or a sprinkler that sprays into the road year-round.

The Hays Police Department has handed out 85 outdoor watering 
violations this year so far. First-time violators get a warning and some
 education about why Hays has to conserve. A second violation within two
 years comes with a $50 fine. A third violation ups the fine to $200.

But
 because strict water regulations are so rare in this part of the 
country, getting one of those warnings might be the first time a Hays 
newcomer gets the message.

Perry Harrison moved to Hays with his 
family three years ago after growing up in eastern Texas, where there’s 
plenty of rainfall. So he was surprised to get a knock on his door from 
three city employees this summer telling him to turn off his sprinkler.

“We
 don't want to be those people, so we were a little mortified,” Harrison
 said about receiving his first water violation warning. “It was very 
much a ‘Welcome to having a lawn in Hays, Kansas.’ ”

That’s all part of changing the culture.

If you’re the only 
house on your block trying to save water, Dougherty said, it can feel 
like you’re swimming upstream. But the more people who buy in, the 
easier it is to follow along.

And one lot at a time, having a brown lawn in Hays has become socially acceptable. In a dry year like this one, it’s the norm.

“Eventually,
 you'll be the outlier if you have the lush, irrigated fescue lawn that 
gets irrigated four times a week,” Dougherty said. “Peer pressure's a 
big motivator.”

So, how big of a dent have all these conservation efforts made in the town’s water use?

Each person in Hays uses an average of <a href="https://agriculture.ks.gov/docs/default-source/dwr-water-appropriation-documents/municipalsummaryreport2017.pdf?sfvrsn=fa6788c1_8" target="_blank">83 gallons of water</a> a day. That’s the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/14/us/water-conservation-california.html" target="_blank">same amount</a> of water people use on average in California.

“The
 problem is we are the only city in Kansas that is acting like … a city 
in the Mojave Desert,” Dougherty said. “And because of that, a lot of 
the state looks at us as the poor people that don't have any water.”

In fact, Hays uses less water per capita than just about any other city in the state.

The state’s most populated city, Wichita, goes through 112 gallons per person each day, according to the most recent <a href="https://agriculture.ks.gov/docs/default-source/dwr-water-appropriation-documents/municipalsummaryreport2017.pdf?sfvrsn=fa6788c1_8" target="_blank">statewide water use data</a> from the Kansas Division of Water Resources.

The
 water district that covers most of Johnson County in the Kansas City 
suburbs, including Overland Park and Shawnee, pumps out 135 gallons a 
day per person. In Kansas City, Kansas, people average 147 gallons a 
day. Even folks in Lawrence — perhaps the most politically progressive 
place in the state — draw 95 gallons a day.

What about cities with
 population sizes similar to Hays? Derby, Emporia and Junction City use 
104 gallons, 132 gallons and 115 gallons, respectively.

In western Kansas, Hays is even more of an outlier.

Colby,
 Garden City and Ulysses each use more than double the amount of water 
per person that Hays does. It’s common for towns across western Kansas —
 from Elkhart to Scott City to St. Francis— to go through more than 200 
gallons of water per person each day.

Even some of the desert cities that Hays took inspiration from haven't caught up.

In Salt Lake City — where Hays stole its landscaping regulations from — people still go through <a href="https://www.sltrib.com/news/environment/2021/12/28/heres-how-much-water-salt/" target="_blank">more than 200 gallons</a> of water a day. Each Phoenix resident uses <a href="https://morrisoninstitute.asu.edu/sites/default/files/sun_corridor_2021_final.pdf" target="_blank">more than 115 gallons</a> a day. The water district in Las Vegas has a goal to reduce its current <a href="https://www.snwa.com/assets/pdf/letter-entsminger-081522.pdf" target="_blank">110 gallons per capita</a> rate to fewer than 100 gallons by 2035.

Some
 of Hays’ western Kansas neighbors have begun implementing their own 
conservation measures. Garden City installed smart water meters that 
send hourly readings to the city and alert crews to fix leaks. It also 
opened a new aquatic center last year that uses 28.4 million gallons 
less per year than the leaky pool it replaced. Dodge City started 
irrigating its golf course with <a href="https://www.dodgecity.org/DocumentCenter/View/10929/Water-Conservation-Plan" target="_blank">reclaimed</a> wastewater.

But every population center in western Kansas besides Hays sits atop the Ogallala aquifer. Even though the aquifer is <a href="https://www.hppr.org/hppr-news/2022-03-31/how-kansas-could-lose-billions-in-land-values-as-its-underground-water-runs-dry" target="_blank">rapidly depleting</a>, it’s still a more steady water source than anything Hays has nearby.

And as long as there’s water readily available, it can be a challenge to change people’s habits about using it.

“The
 reality is (other Kansas towns) don't really have to change their ways 
that much,” Dougherty said. “We truly are on an island in how we have to
 look at this.”

But as climate change <a href="https://news.climate.columbia.edu/2018/04/11/the-100th-meridian-where-the-great-plains-used-to-begin-now-moving-east/" target="_blank">pushes dry Western weather eastward</a>, Hays could get some company.

Decades
 from now, the aridification of the Great Plains could lead cities like 
Wichita or Salina to rethink their own water use. Even cities on the 
Ogallala aquifer might have to borrow more tips from Hays as wells run 
low and the cost of buying more water — or running pumps to draw from 
ever deeper underground — dwarfs the cost of conserving.

The drought this summer has already pushed towns from <a href="https://www.kake.com/story/46714059/dodge-city-residents-urged-to-conserve-water-amid-heat-drought" target="_blank">southwest Kansas</a> to <a href="https://www.kake.com/story/47295392/kansas-town-declares-water-emergency-bans-outdoor-water-use" target="_blank">southeast Kansas</a> to enact emergency water-saving measures as their reserves ran low.

Newsha
 Ajami, a water expert and Chief Research Officer at the Lawrence 
Berkeley National Laboratory in California, sees similar dynamics play 
out across the country.

“A lot of communities are grappling with 
this … drier droughts, longer droughts,” Ajami said, “and a little bit 
of a shift in mindset from droughts being an occasional thing to maybe 
droughts are our new reality.”

She and other experts say the key is for towns to focus less on 
increasing their water supply and more on decreasing their water demand.
 And even for towns like Hays, there’s more they could do. Using 
effluent water — water that’s been cleaned but isn’t quite up to 
drinking standards — to flush toilets or run showers, Ajami said, could 
reduce indoor water use by 30%.

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