By BECKY KISER Hays Post

The holiday season is over and schools are back in session.&nbsp;

Activities in Hays continue year round and January kicks off 2023 with a variety of indoor events.

Melissa Dixon, executive director of the Hays Convention and Visitors Bureau, discusses some of this month's highlights.&nbsp;&nbsp;

For an up to the minute calendar of events, check the Hays CVB website at <a href="https://www.visithays.com/calendar.aspx">www.visithays.com</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673100607004.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By BECKY KISER Hays PostThe holiday season is over and schools are back in session.&nbsp;Activities in Hays continue year round and January kicks off 2023 with a variety of indoor events.Melissa Dixon, executive director of the Hays Convention and Visitors Bureau, discusses some of this month's highlights.&nbsp;&nbsp;<div><div style="position:relative; overflow:hidden; padding-bottom:56.25%"><iframe src="https://cdn.jwplayer.com/players/szLxeZFS-P46diVCW.html" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" title="Cvb Jan" style="position:absolute;" allowfullscreen></iframe></div></div><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673101326528.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>For an up to the minute calendar of events, check the Hays CVB website at <a href="https://www.visithays.com/calendar.aspx">www.visithays.com</a>.

🎥 Hays CVB: January activities and events move indoors

<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/2023/1/1673214182937.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 CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

The Hays Public Library recently released the Top 10 non-fiction and fiction books checked out in 2022.

This does not include books checked out on the library's online platform.

Go to <a href="http://hayslibrary.org">hayslibrary.org</a> to apply for a temporary library card. This will give you instant access to everything in the <a href="https://hayslibrary.org/digital-library/" target="_blank">digital library</a>
 for 30 days. Complete the online form, then when you are ready, simply 
go to any service desk with a photo ID and proof of address to receive 
your permanent card.

RELATED STORY: <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/55829ac6-1de7-4ec1-a702-be6cf4db852d">Hays Public Library launches new activities, reading group in new year</a>

1. "The Last Thing He Told Me" by Laura Dave A novel about a woman searching for the truth about her husband’s disappearance … at any cost, according to <a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Last-Thing-He-Told-Me/Laura-Dave/9781501171345">Simon and Schuster's website</a>.

2. "The Four Winds" by Kristin Hannah Set in 1934 in Texas, "The Four Winds" is an epic novel of love and heroism and hope, set against the backdrop of one of America’s most defining eras — the Great Depression, according to the<a href="https://kristinhannah.com/books/the-four-winds/"> author's website</a>.

3. "Confess" by Colleen Hoover A novel about risking everything for love — and finding your heart somewhere between the truth and lies, according to the <a href="https://www.colleenhoover.com">author's website</a>.

4. "Shattered" by James Patterson Det. Michael Bennett investigates the disappearance of his partner and friend FBI agent Emily Parker. Read more on the <a href="https://www.jamespatterson.com/titles/james-patterson/shattered/9781668605431/">author's website</a>.

5. "Shadows Reel" by C.J. Box "Wyoming Game Warden Joe Pickett and his wife, Marybeth, make separate discoveries that put the Pickett family in a pair of killers’ crosshairs in this thrilling new novel in the bestselling series," according to the author's website.

6. "The Midnight Library" by Matt Haig "Between life and death, there is a library, and within that library, the shelves go on forever. Every book provides a chance to try another life you could have lived. To see how things would be if you had made other choices..."&nbsp; the author says on his <a href="http://www.matthaig.com/books/midnight-library/">website</a>. He describes the novel as a novel about all the choices that go into a life well lived.

7. "The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo" by Taylor Jenkins Reid An aging and reclusive Hollywood movie icon, Evelyn Hugo, is finally ready to tell the truth about her glamorous and scandalous life, according to the <a href="https://taylorjenkinsreid.com/books/the-seven-husbands-of-evelyn-hugo/">author's website</a>. But as Evelyn’s story catches up with the present, it becomes clear that her life intersects with the reporter’s own in tragic and irreversible ways.

8.&nbsp; "Dune" by Frank Herbert "Dune" was first published in 1965. It is a sci-fi classic set in the distant future on the planet Arrakis. Fuedal violence breaks out over control of "spice," a drug that is necessary for space travel. The re-emergence of the popularity of the novel may have been sparked by a new movie adaptation directed by Denis Villeneuve that was released in fall 2021.

9. "What Happened to the Bennetts" by Lisa Scottoline "Jason Bennett is a suburban dad who owns a court-reporting business, but one night, his life takes a horrific turn. He is driving his family home after his daughter’s field hockey game when a pickup truck begins tailgating them, on a dark stretch of road. Suddenly two men jump from the pickup and pull guns on Jason, demanding the car. A horrific flash of violence changes his life forever," according to <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/602709/what-happened-to-the-bennetts-by-lisa-scottoline/">Penguin Random House's website</a>.

10. "Where the Crawdads Sing" by Delia Owens A No. 1 New York Times bestseller that has been adapted into a movie, "Where the Crawdads Sing" is at once an exquisite ode to the natural world, a heartbreaking coming-of-age story, and a surprising tale of possible murder, according to <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/567281/where-the-crawdads-sing-movie-tie-in-by-delia-owens/">Penguin Random House.</a>

1. "Wiccapedia: A Modern-Day White Witch's Guide" by Shawn Robbins and Leanna Greenaway "'Spiritual life coaches and celebrity witches Shawn Robbins and Leanna Greenaway unlock the secrets of the Wicca universe, explaining what it means to become a 'simply fabulous' twenty-first-century witch. Newfound witches — and even more experienced ones — will learn how to tap into magic, re-empower themselves, and realize their dreams through a little witchy know-how," according to amazon.com.

2. "Atomic Habits: Tiny Changes, Remarkable Results: An Easy and Proven Way to Build Good Habits and Break Bad Ones" by James Clear "No matter your goals, 'Atomic Habits' offers a proven framework for
 improving — every day. James Clear, one of the world's leading experts 
on habit formation, reveals practical strategies that will teach you 
exactly how to form good habits, break bad ones, and master the tiny 
behaviors that lead to remarkable results, according to the Hays Public Library summary.

3. "Taste of Home Vegetarian Made Easy: Going Meatless in a Meat-Loving Family" Taste of Home "Whether going meatless happens once a week or every day, turn 
here for over 335&nbsp;fuss-free recipes everyone at the table will clamor 
for," according to the Hays Public Library summary

4. "Far Above Rubies Vol. 1" by Lynda Coats A guide for Christain parents who want to homeschool their daughters

5. "Untamed" by Glennon Doyle "In her most revealing and powerful memoir yet,&nbsp;the activist, speaker,
 bestselling author, and 'patron saint of female empowerment'
 explores the joy and peace we discover when we&nbsp;stop striving to meet 
others' expectations and start trusting the voice deep within us," according to the Hays Public Library summary.

6. "Far Above Rubies Vol. 2" by Lynda Coats A guide for Christain parents who want to homeschool their daughters

7. "Crying in H Mart: A Memoir" by Michelle Zauner "From the indie rock sensation known as Japanese Breakfast, an 
unforgettable memoir about family, food, grief, love and growing up 
Korean American—'in losing her mother and cooking to bring her back to 
life, Zauner became herself,'" according to the Hays Public Library summary.

8. "Good Morning, Monster: A Therapist Shares Five Heroic Stories of Emotional Recovery" by Catherine Gildiner "In this fascinating narrative, therapist Catherine Gildiner presents five of what she calls her most heroic and memorable patients. Among them: a successful, first-generation Chinese immigrant musician suffering sexual dysfunction; a young woman whose father abandoned her at age 9 with her younger siblings in an isolated cottage in the depth of winter; and a glamorous workaholic whose narcissistic, negligent mother greeted her each morning of her childhood with 'Good morning, Monster,'" according to amazon.com.

9. "The Real Anthony Fauci: Big Pharma's Global War on Democracy, Humanity and Public Health" by Robert F. Kennedy "Pharma-funded mainstream media has convinced millions of Americans that Dr. Anthony Fauci is a hero. He is anything but," according to a summary on amazon.com.

10. "Greenlights" by Matthew McConaughey A memoir by Academy Award-winning actor Matthew McConaughey, this book has unflinching honesty, unconventional wisdom, and lessons learned the hard way about living with greater satisfaction, according to the Hays Public Library summary.

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostThe Hays Public Library recently released the Top 10 non-fiction and fiction books checked out in 2022.This does not include books checked out on the library's online platform.<h2>How to get a library card </h2>Go to <a href="http://hayslibrary.org">hayslibrary.org</a> to apply for a temporary library card. This will give you instant access to everything in the <a href="https://hayslibrary.org/digital-library/" target="_blank">digital library</a>
 for 30 days. Complete the online form, then when you are ready, simply 
go to any service desk with a photo ID and proof of address to receive 
your permanent card.RELATED STORY: <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/55829ac6-1de7-4ec1-a702-be6cf4db852d">Hays Public Library launches new activities, reading group in new year</a><h2>Fiction</h2>1. "The Last Thing He Told Me" by Laura Dave A novel about a woman searching for the truth about her husband’s disappearance … at any cost, according to <a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Last-Thing-He-Told-Me/Laura-Dave/9781501171345">Simon and Schuster's website</a>.2. "The Four Winds" by Kristin Hannah Set in 1934 in Texas, "The Four Winds" is an epic novel of love and heroism and hope, set against the backdrop of one of America’s most defining eras — the Great Depression, according to the<a href="https://kristinhannah.com/books/the-four-winds/"> author's website</a>. 3. "Confess" by Colleen Hoover A novel about risking everything for love — and finding your heart somewhere between the truth and lies, according to the <a href="https://www.colleenhoover.com">author's website</a>.4. "Shattered" by James Patterson Det. Michael Bennett investigates the disappearance of his partner and friend FBI agent Emily Parker. Read more on the <a href="https://www.jamespatterson.com/titles/james-patterson/shattered/9781668605431/">author's website</a>. 5. "Shadows Reel" by C.J. Box "Wyoming Game Warden Joe Pickett and his wife, Marybeth, make separate discoveries that put the Pickett family in a pair of killers’ crosshairs in this thrilling new novel in the bestselling series," according to the author's website.6. "The Midnight Library" by Matt Haig "Between life and death, there is a library, and within that library, the shelves go on forever. Every book provides a chance to try another life you could have lived. To see how things would be if you had made other choices..."&nbsp; the author says on his <a href="http://www.matthaig.com/books/midnight-library/">website</a>. He describes the novel as a novel about all the choices that go into a life well lived.7. "The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo" by Taylor Jenkins Reid An aging and reclusive Hollywood movie icon, Evelyn Hugo, is finally ready to tell the truth about her glamorous and scandalous life, according to the <a href="https://taylorjenkinsreid.com/books/the-seven-husbands-of-evelyn-hugo/">author's website</a>. But as Evelyn’s story catches up with the present, it becomes clear that her life intersects with the reporter’s own in tragic and irreversible ways.8.&nbsp; "Dune" by Frank Herbert "Dune" was first published in 1965. It is a sci-fi classic set in the distant future on the planet Arrakis. Fuedal violence breaks out over control of "spice," a drug that is necessary for space travel. The re-emergence of the popularity of the novel may have been sparked by a new movie adaptation directed by Denis Villeneuve that was released in fall 2021.9. "What Happened to the Bennetts" by Lisa Scottoline "Jason Bennett is a suburban dad who owns a court-reporting business, but one night, his life takes a horrific turn. He is driving his family home after his daughter’s field hockey game when a pickup truck begins tailgating them, on a dark stretch of road. Suddenly two men jump from the pickup and pull guns on Jason, demanding the car. A horrific flash of violence changes his life forever," according to <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/602709/what-happened-to-the-bennetts-by-lisa-scottoline/">Penguin Random House's website</a>.10. "Where the Crawdads Sing" by Delia Owens A No. 1 New York Times bestseller that has been adapted into a movie, "Where the Crawdads Sing" is at once an exquisite ode to the natural world, a heartbreaking coming-of-age story, and a surprising tale of possible murder, according to <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/567281/where-the-crawdads-sing-movie-tie-in-by-delia-owens/">Penguin Random House.</a> <h2>Non-fiction</h2>1. "Wiccapedia: A Modern-Day White Witch's Guide" by Shawn Robbins and Leanna Greenaway "'Spiritual life coaches and celebrity witches Shawn Robbins and Leanna Greenaway unlock the secrets of the Wicca universe, explaining what it means to become a 'simply fabulous' twenty-first-century witch. Newfound witches — and even more experienced ones — will learn how to tap into magic, re-empower themselves, and realize their dreams through a little witchy know-how," according to amazon.com. 2. "Atomic Habits: Tiny Changes, Remarkable Results: An Easy and Proven Way to Build Good Habits and Break Bad Ones" by James Clear "No matter your goals, 'Atomic Habits' offers a proven framework for
 improving — every day. James Clear, one of the world's leading experts 
on habit formation, reveals practical strategies that will teach you 
exactly how to form good habits, break bad ones, and master the tiny 
behaviors that lead to remarkable results, according to the Hays Public Library summary.3. "Taste of Home Vegetarian Made Easy: Going Meatless in a Meat-Loving Family" Taste of Home "Whether going meatless happens once a week or every day, turn 
here for over 335&nbsp;fuss-free recipes everyone at the table will clamor 
for," according to the Hays Public Library summary 4. "Far Above Rubies Vol. 1" by Lynda Coats A guide for Christain parents who want to homeschool their daughters 5. "Untamed" by Glennon Doyle "In her most revealing and powerful memoir yet,&nbsp;the activist, speaker,
 bestselling author, and 'patron saint of female empowerment'
 explores the joy and peace we discover when we&nbsp;stop striving to meet 
others' expectations and start trusting the voice deep within us," according to the Hays Public Library summary. 6. "Far Above Rubies Vol. 2" by Lynda Coats A guide for Christain parents who want to homeschool their daughters7. "Crying in H Mart: A Memoir" by Michelle Zauner "From the indie rock sensation known as Japanese Breakfast, an 
unforgettable memoir about family, food, grief, love and growing up 
Korean American—'in losing her mother and cooking to bring her back to 
life, Zauner became herself,'" according to the Hays Public Library summary.8. "Good Morning, Monster: A Therapist Shares Five Heroic Stories of Emotional Recovery" by Catherine Gildiner "In this fascinating narrative, therapist Catherine Gildiner presents five of what she calls her most heroic and memorable patients. Among them: a successful, first-generation Chinese immigrant musician suffering sexual dysfunction; a young woman whose father abandoned her at age 9 with her younger siblings in an isolated cottage in the depth of winter; and a glamorous workaholic whose narcissistic, negligent mother greeted her each morning of her childhood with 'Good morning, Monster,'" according to amazon.com. 9. "The Real Anthony Fauci: Big Pharma's Global War on Democracy, Humanity and Public Health" by Robert F. Kennedy "Pharma-funded mainstream media has convinced millions of Americans that Dr. Anthony Fauci is a hero. He is anything but," according to a summary on amazon.com. 10. "Greenlights" by Matthew McConaughey A memoir by Academy Award-winning actor Matthew McConaughey, this book has unflinching honesty, unconventional wisdom, and lessons learned the hard way about living with greater satisfaction, according to the Hays Public Library summary.

Thriller, book on white witches Hays Public Library's most popular books in '22

The Hays school board is set to approve bids for two HVAC projects at its meeting at 6:30 p.m. Monday at the Rockwell Administration Center.

Both of the projects were bid through the Greenbush Education Service Center Purchasing Cooperative, a state program that guarantees preferential pricing to schools.

The cost of the O'Loughlin Elementary School project is about $1.28 million.

The Wilson Elementary School HVAC replacement was approved in October. However, school officials are requesting a change order so the system will be better suited to meet the needs of the building when it becomes the district administrative office.

Cost of the Wilson project will be $2.4 million.

The district has struggled to fill paraprofessional positions for the functional life skills and Westisde programs. These students generally need more assistance than other students in the special education program.

School officials are proposing increasing pay by $1 for paras for these programs. This proposal will raise the starting wage of paraeducators in these programs to $13.06 per hour.

The special education co-op has 61 employees who would be covered by the proposal. The change will cost the co-op about $35,000 for the rest of the school year.

The board also will consider Kansas Association of School Boards policy revision recommendations and the appointment of members to the teacher negotiations team.

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostThe Hays school board is set to approve bids for two HVAC projects at its meeting at 6:30 p.m. Monday at the Rockwell Administration Center. Both of the projects were bid through the Greenbush Education Service Center Purchasing Cooperative, a state program that guarantees preferential pricing to schools.The cost of the O'Loughlin Elementary School project is about $1.28 million.The Wilson Elementary School HVAC replacement was approved in October. However, school officials are requesting a change order so the system will be better suited to meet the needs of the building when it becomes the district administrative office.Cost of the Wilson project will be $2.4 million.<h2>Special education raises</h2>The district has struggled to fill paraprofessional positions for the functional life skills and Westisde programs. These students generally need more assistance than other students in the special education program.School officials are proposing increasing pay by $1 for paras for these programs. This proposal will raise the starting wage of paraeducators in these programs to $13.06 per hour.The special education co-op has 61 employees who would be covered by the proposal. The change will cost the co-op about $35,000 for the rest of the school year.The board also will consider Kansas Association of School Boards policy revision recommendations and the appointment of members to the teacher negotiations team.

Hays USD 489 school board to consider HVAC bids Monday

I’ve got the perfect New Year’s resolution for Kansas legislators: no more lobbyist-authored bills.

Last year, Kansas lawmaking was marked by two dramatic “fails,” both involving lobbyist-authored acts.&nbsp; One of them failed, the other passed, and both were problematic.

First came anti-abortion “Value Them Both” amendment, sent to the voters by the Legislature and rejected by 18 percentage points in August.&nbsp; Closely watched nationally and even overseas, the campaign and contained many controversies, including its confusing ballot language.&nbsp; “VTB” opponents even suggested that the language was&nbsp;deliberately&nbsp;confusing—highly legalistic and not clear at all about the amendment’s intent, which was to authorize the Kansas Legislature to criminalize abortion in nearly all circumstances, which they had the votes and the plans to do, perhaps even calling themselves into special session right after the vote, had it passed.

Oddly, the amendment itself was not written by the Kansas Legislative Research Department (KLRD).&nbsp; Despite making major changes to the state constitution, legislators allowed two anti-abortion interest groups to write the ballot language.&nbsp; By contrast, the staff of the KLRD are nonpartisan professionals.&nbsp; The bills, bill summaries and other proposals they write are not based upon their own, personal political views.&nbsp; Rather, KLRD staff draft legislation as requested by legislators.&nbsp; Not lobbyists or politicians, KLRD are experienced experts in the state constitution, existing federal, state and local laws, court rulings, laws in other states, and other background needed to write good legislation.&nbsp; With so much at stake this summer, why did the legislators ignore the KLRD and have interest groups draft the amendment instead?

Lobbyist-authored bills cause even more problems when they pass.&nbsp; Last year’s authorization of sports betting illustrates this perfectly.&nbsp; An exposé by the&nbsp;New York Times&nbsp;illustrated these problems.&nbsp; Not only were key legislators showed with gifts, but a provision was slipped into the provision that has resulted in Kansans reaping almost none of the promised tax revenue so far.&nbsp; This “carry over” provision allows the gambling companies to write off the costs of offering free bets to get new customers hooked on their product.&nbsp; It also allows them to carry forth these losses to future years.&nbsp; The&nbsp;NYT&nbsp;reporter found that the whole bill was in fact written by the gambling industry.&nbsp; Had it been drafted by the KLRD, they easily could have red-flagged this loophole.&nbsp; In September and October, the two largest online sports betting providers paid less than $42,000 in state taxes on $247&nbsp;million&nbsp;of activity.&nbsp; This figure started to rise later in the year, but is still paltry compared to what the state could have collected.&nbsp; A similar bill failed to pass in Missouri— not due to the public interest, but because of infighting among pro-betting interest groups.

Speaking of Missouri, another bill that passed there last year illustrates the depths to which these lobbyist-authored bills can sink.&nbsp; By making it a crime to sleep on public land without authorization, Missouri essentially criminalized homelessness—without providing any additional support for affordable housing.&nbsp; This awful bill was literally&nbsp;cut and pasted off the Internet&nbsp;by its sponsor—and the interest group that posted it was not even in-state.

Kansas and other states employ nonpartisan professionals to draft legislation, for a reason.&nbsp; The debacles here and in neighboring states last year all point to the same conclusion:&nbsp; legislators should resolve right now not to propose or pass any lobbyist-written legislation in 2023 or afterwards.

Michael Smith is a professor at Emporia State University.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1639601062071.jpeg" alt="Michael Smith is a professor at Emporia State University." />
 <figcaption>Michael Smith is a professor at Emporia State University.</figcaption>
 </figure>I’ve got the perfect New Year’s resolution for Kansas legislators: no more lobbyist-authored bills.Last year, Kansas lawmaking was marked by two dramatic “fails,” both involving lobbyist-authored acts.&nbsp; One of them failed, the other passed, and both were problematic.First came anti-abortion “Value Them Both” amendment, sent to the voters by the Legislature and rejected by 18 percentage points in August.&nbsp; Closely watched nationally and even overseas, the campaign and contained many controversies, including its confusing ballot language.&nbsp; “VTB” opponents even suggested that the language was&nbsp;deliberately&nbsp;confusing—highly legalistic and not clear at all about the amendment’s intent, which was to authorize the Kansas Legislature to criminalize abortion in nearly all circumstances, which they had the votes and the plans to do, perhaps even calling themselves into special session right after the vote, had it passed.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575913663048.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Oddly, the amendment itself was not written by the Kansas Legislative Research Department (KLRD).&nbsp; Despite making major changes to the state constitution, legislators allowed two anti-abortion interest groups to write the ballot language.&nbsp; By contrast, the staff of the KLRD are nonpartisan professionals.&nbsp; The bills, bill summaries and other proposals they write are not based upon their own, personal political views.&nbsp; Rather, KLRD staff draft legislation as requested by legislators.&nbsp; Not lobbyists or politicians, KLRD are experienced experts in the state constitution, existing federal, state and local laws, court rulings, laws in other states, and other background needed to write good legislation.&nbsp; With so much at stake this summer, why did the legislators ignore the KLRD and have interest groups draft the amendment instead?Lobbyist-authored bills cause even more problems when they pass.&nbsp; Last year’s authorization of sports betting illustrates this perfectly.&nbsp; An exposé by the&nbsp;New York Times&nbsp;illustrated these problems.&nbsp; Not only were key legislators showed with gifts, but a provision was slipped into the provision that has resulted in Kansans reaping almost none of the promised tax revenue so far.&nbsp; This “carry over” provision allows the gambling companies to write off the costs of offering free bets to get new customers hooked on their product.&nbsp; It also allows them to carry forth these losses to future years.&nbsp; The&nbsp;NYT&nbsp;reporter found that the whole bill was in fact written by the gambling industry.&nbsp; Had it been drafted by the KLRD, they easily could have red-flagged this loophole.&nbsp; In September and October, the two largest online sports betting providers paid less than $42,000 in state taxes on $247&nbsp;million&nbsp;of activity.&nbsp; This figure started to rise later in the year, but is still paltry compared to what the state could have collected.&nbsp; A similar bill failed to pass in Missouri— not due to the public interest, but because of infighting among pro-betting interest groups.Speaking of Missouri, another bill that passed there last year illustrates the depths to which these lobbyist-authored bills can sink.&nbsp; By making it a crime to sleep on public land without authorization, Missouri essentially criminalized homelessness—without providing any additional support for affordable housing.&nbsp; This awful bill was literally&nbsp;cut and pasted off the Internet&nbsp;by its sponsor—and the interest group that posted it was not even in-state.Kansas and other states employ nonpartisan professionals to draft legislation, for a reason.&nbsp; The debacles here and in neighboring states last year all point to the same conclusion:&nbsp; legislators should resolve right now not to propose or pass any lobbyist-written legislation in 2023 or afterwards.Michael Smith is a professor at Emporia State University.

INSIGHT KANSAS: No more lobbyist-written bills

The Hays Public Library is launching 2023 with three new programs. 

The library has launched a new events series called hobby jumping.

"It's kind of a fun way for people to try out some new things to see if they think it's a hobby they want to explore," Callie Kolacny, library communications coordinator, said.&nbsp; 

Hobby jumping will be offered twice a month at 5 p.m. on the first and third Mondays. A new topic will be introduced each month. January's topic is easy chair yoga.

February's topic will be amateur geology, March's topic will be bread making, and April's topic will be nature journaling.

"It's just a fun way to learn about something different and see if you want to explore it further," Kolacny said.

The library will be launching a spice series at 6 p.m Jan. 12 and it will run every Thursday night through Feb. 9. The program is a partnership with Moburts Specialty Grocery of Topeka.

See below for a list of the topics that will be covered.

"I believe there will be some samples for people each week," Kolacny said. "It is something for the cooks to explore in our area."

If you are further interested in the culinary arts, the library has relaunched its Cookbook Club after a break during the pandemic. That group meets at 11 a.m. on the second Thursday of the month. Home cooks can make and bring a dish from one of the two cookbooks selected for the month.

This month's books are "Marvel Eat the Universe: The Official Cookbook" and "House of Vinegar: The Power of Sour."

The library is adding a Fantasy Book Club to its list of reading groups. That group will meet at 6 p.m. on the last Monday of the month. The first club meeting will be on Jan. 30.

The group will look at sub-genres of fantasy with gothic fantasy on the agenda for the first month. The book will be "Sabriel" by Garth Nix.

This joins the Cozy Mystery and True Crime book clubs. The Kansas Room is doing its own book club. A discussion on "The Worst Hard Time" by Timothy Egan will be at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 12 in person and at 7 p.m. Jan. 17 online.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/ae1b2190-d314-4646-8810-14df1bd8a0b8">See a list of the Hays Public Library's Top 10 most popular fiction and non-fiction books for 2022.</a>

The Hays Public Library Foundation will have an Afternoon Tea Party from 2 to 4 p.m. Feb. 5. Tickets are $35 and are on sale now through the library<a href="https://hayslibrary.org/shop/afternoon-tea-party/"> website. </a>

A full list of library events can be found on its website, <a href="http://hayslibrary.org">hayslibrary.org</a>. This includes a long list of activities for children and teens, including a Bluey Party at 1 p.m. March 25. Bluey will appear in person.

Print copies of the event calendars are also available at the library.

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostThe Hays Public Library is launching 2023 with three new programs. The library has launched a new events series called hobby jumping."It's kind of a fun way for people to try out some new things to see if they think it's a hobby they want to explore," Callie Kolacny, library communications coordinator, said.&nbsp; Hobby jumping will be offered twice a month at 5 p.m. on the first and third Mondays. A new topic will be introduced each month. January's topic is easy chair yoga.February's topic will be amateur geology, March's topic will be bread making, and April's topic will be nature journaling."It's just a fun way to learn about something different and see if you want to explore it further," Kolacny said.The library will be launching a spice series at 6 p.m Jan. 12 and it will run every Thursday night through Feb. 9. The program is a partnership with Moburts Specialty Grocery of Topeka. See below for a list of the topics that will be covered.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1672951978842.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>"I believe there will be some samples for people each week," Kolacny said. "It is something for the cooks to explore in our area."If you are further interested in the culinary arts, the library has relaunched its Cookbook Club after a break during the pandemic. That group meets at 11 a.m. on the second Thursday of the month. Home cooks can make and bring a dish from one of the two cookbooks selected for the month.This month's books are "Marvel Eat the Universe: The Official Cookbook" and "House of Vinegar: The Power of Sour."The library is adding a Fantasy Book Club to its list of reading groups. That group will meet at 6 p.m. on the last Monday of the month. The first club meeting will be on Jan. 30.The group will look at sub-genres of fantasy with gothic fantasy on the agenda for the first month. The book will be "Sabriel" by Garth Nix. This joins the Cozy Mystery and True Crime book clubs. The Kansas Room is doing its own book club. A discussion on "The Worst Hard Time" by Timothy Egan will be at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 12 in person and at 7 p.m. Jan. 17 online. <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/ae1b2190-d314-4646-8810-14df1bd8a0b8">See a list of the Hays Public Library's Top 10 most popular fiction and non-fiction books for 2022.</a>The Hays Public Library Foundation will have an Afternoon Tea Party from 2 to 4 p.m. Feb. 5. Tickets are $35 and are on sale now through the library<a href="https://hayslibrary.org/shop/afternoon-tea-party/"> website. </a><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1672955986280.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>A full list of library events can be found on its website, <a href="http://hayslibrary.org">hayslibrary.org</a>. This includes a long list of activities for children and teens, including a Bluey Party at 1 p.m. March 25. Bluey will appear in person.Print copies of the event calendars are also available at the library.

Hays Public Library launches new activities, reading group in new year

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1672942987107.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>

Kan. woman injured after wrong-way crash in I-70 rest area

On this episode of the Post Podcast, Fort Hays State University President Tisa Mason shares highlights from the university in 2022.

<div><iframe title="FHSU celebrates accomplishments in 2022" 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=jercg-1357777-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, Fort Hays State University President Tisa Mason shares highlights from the university in 2022.

🎙 Post Podcast: FHSU celebrates accomplishments in 2022

By MIKE COURSON Great Bend Post

GREAT BEND — No one will complain about paying less tax on groceries and other essentials. They may, however, complain about a change on receipts from local retailers. With the rollover into the New Year, Kansas implement the first phase of its "Axe the Tax" legislation in a first step to eliminate sales tax on groceries.

Great Bend Community Coordinator Christina Hayes said because non-groceries are now taxed at a different rate, you may see two tax lines on your receipt.

"It's totaling all your food items and taking out that 2.5 percent from the state, and then it's totaling all your other," she said. "You're not actually getting charged tax twice, because that would be wrong."

Customers did report an issue at some Walmart stores immediately after the change, and that issue has been resolved. Walmart receipts show Tax 1 on food items that do not qualify for the reduction, and are charged at the full 8.7 percent that includes the 6.5 percent state tax and local taxes. A Tax 2 line shows the 2.5 percent savings on qualifying food items at the new state rate of four percent plus local taxes.

"The state will not be getting that money now," Hayes said. "The city and county still get that money because it's part of our tax base. That didn't change for us, but you are saving 2.5 percent on state taxes now."

The state's previous grocery tax rate of 6.5 percent was among the highest in the nation. The legislation signed by Governor Laura Kelly will zero out the grocery tax by 2025, saving Kansans more than $500 million over the next three years. There are, however, restrictions on what food items qualify for the reduction.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.ksrevenue.gov/pdf/pub1223.pdf">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to view the full legislation, or flip to page 21 for a list of products that qualify for the reduction.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673020819105.jpeg" alt="A recent grocery receipt shows two tax lines, including line two for groceries that qualify for the new 2.5 percent reduction in grocery taxes." />
 <figcaption>A recent grocery receipt shows two tax lines, including line two for groceries that qualify for the new 2.5 percent reduction in grocery taxes.</figcaption>
 </figure>By MIKE COURSON Great Bend PostGREAT BEND — No one will complain about paying less tax on groceries and other essentials. They may, however, complain about a change on receipts from local retailers. With the rollover into the New Year, Kansas implement the first phase of its "Axe the Tax" legislation in a first step to eliminate sales tax on groceries.Great Bend Community Coordinator Christina Hayes said because non-groceries are now taxed at a different rate, you may see two tax lines on your receipt."It's totaling all your food items and taking out that 2.5 percent from the state, and then it's totaling all your other," she said. "You're not actually getting charged tax twice, because that would be wrong."Customers did report an issue at some Walmart stores immediately after the change, and that issue has been resolved. Walmart receipts show Tax 1 on food items that do not qualify for the reduction, and are charged at the full 8.7 percent that includes the 6.5 percent state tax and local taxes. A Tax 2 line shows the 2.5 percent savings on qualifying food items at the new state rate of four percent plus local taxes."The state will not be getting that money now," Hayes said. "The city and county still get that money because it's part of our tax base. That didn't change for us, but you are saving 2.5 percent on state taxes now."The state's previous grocery tax rate of 6.5 percent was among the highest in the nation. The legislation signed by Governor Laura Kelly will zero out the grocery tax by 2025, saving Kansans more than $500 million over the next three years. There are, however, restrictions on what food items qualify for the reduction.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ksrevenue.gov/pdf/pub1223.pdf">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to view the full legislation, or flip to page 21 for a list of products that qualify for the reduction.

Kan. official: 'Axe the Tax' causing confusion on grocery receipts

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/1dc2db5f-408d-401c-b9e3-2f63dfbb5dbc">RELATED:&nbsp;Read final KBI report on investigation of alleged clergy abuse</a>

By SCOTT CANON <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2023-01-06/report-finds-catholic-church-in-kansas-covered-up-sexual-abuse-of-children-by-priests-for-decades">Kansas News Service</a>

A Kansas Bureau of Investigation report released late Friday 
documents a chronic pattern of sexual abuse by Catholic priests in the 
state, and the church’s history of protecting its clergy.

<a href="https://ag.ks.gov/docs/default-source/documents/20230106-kbi-clergy-report.pdf?sfvrsn=695cbd1a_2" target="_blank">The report</a>
 released by the state attorney general’s office said dioceses across 
the state frequently failed to follow church policies regarding 
allegations of sexual abuse by Catholic clergy.

“By any objective review,” the report states, “practices existed that were designed to conceal the truth about what took place.”

The
 task force that conducted the overview said efforts to prosecute cases 
were hampered by actions of the church, by expiring statutes of 
limitations and the deaths of both alleged abusers and their victims.

In
 late 2018, Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt asked the KBI to 
launch an investigation following the release of documents by Catholic 
dioceses in Kansas on allegations of sexual abuse.

The resulting 
25-page summary report released by Schmidt’s office looked back 50 
years. The KBI said it looked through more than 40,000 pages of records,
 fielded 224 tips, interviewed 137 victims and launched 125 criminal 
cases.

But that’s yet to lead to any new criminal charges, the KBI
 report said, mostly because the cases were so old that state law didn’t
 allow for prosecution many years after the alleged abuses.

Still,
 the KBI’s report said the agency had identified 188 clergy suspected of
 committing crimes — including sodomy, rape and child rape.

“The 
abuses revealed during the investigation had a profound effect on the 
victims, the families of victims and our task force members,” KBI 
director Kirk Thompson wrote in a letter to the attorney general 
accompanying the report. “Those victims, whose lives have been 
traumatically affected by what happened to them as a child, have shown 
hope, strength and perseverance in the face of extreme adversity.”

In
 the report, the KBI task force traced the breaking of the scandal to 
reporting from The Boston Globe in 2001 and 2002. It noted the 
subsequent defrocking of Cardinal Theodore McCarrick for his role in the
 sexual abuse of both seminarians and minors. The KBI report notes that 
he was eventually given refuge in a friary near the St. Fidelis Basilica
 in Victoria.

But the task force also concluded that the 
church made improvements as early as 1998 to discourage the practice of 
protecting priests who faced allegations of abuse. The KBI said the 
church became less prone to transferring clergy to different parishes or
 dioceses to shield them from accusations or possible prosecution.

“A
 review of church data,” the report states, “indicates a decline in 
substantiated abuse over the decades, especially in recent years.”

Yet
 the KBI’s work lays out a damning examination of Kansas dioceses. And 
it complained of challenges that made it difficult to investigate the 
systemic problems – including “inadequacies within the Catholic dioceses
 recordkeeping policies and systems” on sexual abuse allegations.

Investigators
 also reported that they were stymied after some victims were reluctant 
to cooperate because they’d signed non-disclosure agreements when 
settling civil suits against dioceses. Other victims reached out to the 
task force “but then decided not to participate with the investigation.”

Investigators had even less luck talking with priests accused of sexual assault.

“In
 the vast majority of cases,” the report states, “the perpetrator of the
 sexual abuse was unavailable because of death, the case was well beyond
 the statute of limitations, or medically unable to participate in the 
investigation.”

At one point in the KBI probe, investigators 
traveled to a ranch operated by the Capuchin Province, a Catholic 
religious order that operates in Kansas and elsewhere. The report stated
 that “multiple offender priests reside” at the ranch. The priests 
declined to meet with the KBI agents.

And, the report says, “in many cases, the victims, or priests, were deceased.”

The
 report says church officials tended to use language that “minimized the
 seriousness or severity of actions and abuse” by priests. For instance,
 rather than say “rape,” church officials would say “inappropriate 
contact.”

“Rather than characterizing a priest as a criminal or 
rapist, they would soften the language and indicate the priest may have 
‘boundary issues,’” the report says.

And for decades, the KBI 
concluded, church officials failed to report allegations to police and 
did only cursory investigations of their own.

When the church did 
take action against priests, the task force found, it spoke about their 
removal in terms of retirement or sick leave or said the clergy were 
dealing with alcoholism rather than tell parishioners they were 
pedophiles.

“Even if the church substantiated that a priest was 
raping or sexually abusing others, including children, the church often 
continued to provide the priest housing and living expenses,” the report
 says. “In some cases priests were able to further commit additional 
child abuse.”

The report called the practice of transferring priests to other parishes to protect them from abuse charges “horrific.”

It
 characterized investigations by dioceses as “inconsistent and 
inadequate” and noted the practice of transferring priests and 
supporting them financially after they became targets of sexual abuse 
allegations.

Scott Canon is managing editor of the Kansas News 
Service, a collaboration of KCUR, Kansas Public Radio, KMUW and High 
Plains Public Radio focused on health, the social determinants of health
 and their connection to public policy.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/1dc2db5f-408d-401c-b9e3-2f63dfbb5dbc">RELATED:&nbsp;Read final KBI report on investigation of alleged clergy abuse</a>By SCOTT CANON <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2023-01-06/report-finds-catholic-church-in-kansas-covered-up-sexual-abuse-of-children-by-priests-for-decades">Kansas News Service</a>A Kansas Bureau of Investigation report released late Friday 
documents a chronic pattern of sexual abuse by Catholic priests in the 
state, and the church’s history of protecting its clergy.<a href="https://ag.ks.gov/docs/default-source/documents/20230106-kbi-clergy-report.pdf?sfvrsn=695cbd1a_2" target="_blank">The report</a>
 released by the state attorney general’s office said dioceses across 
the state frequently failed to follow church policies regarding 
allegations of sexual abuse by Catholic clergy.“By any objective review,” the report states, “practices existed that were designed to conceal the truth about what took place.”The
 task force that conducted the overview said efforts to prosecute cases 
were hampered by actions of the church, by expiring statutes of 
limitations and the deaths of both alleged abusers and their victims.In
 late 2018, Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt asked the KBI to 
launch an investigation following the release of documents by Catholic 
dioceses in Kansas on allegations of sexual abuse.The resulting 
25-page summary report released by Schmidt’s office looked back 50 
years. The KBI said it looked through more than 40,000 pages of records,
 fielded 224 tips, interviewed 137 victims and launched 125 criminal 
cases.But that’s yet to lead to any new criminal charges, the KBI
 report said, mostly because the cases were so old that state law didn’t
 allow for prosecution many years after the alleged abuses.Still,
 the KBI’s report said the agency had identified 188 clergy suspected of
 committing crimes — including sodomy, rape and child rape.“The 
abuses revealed during the investigation had a profound effect on the 
victims, the families of victims and our task force members,” KBI 
director Kirk Thompson wrote in a letter to the attorney general 
accompanying the report. “Those victims, whose lives have been 
traumatically affected by what happened to them as a child, have shown 
hope, strength and perseverance in the face of extreme adversity.”In
 the report, the KBI task force traced the breaking of the scandal to 
reporting from The Boston Globe in 2001 and 2002. It noted the 
subsequent defrocking of Cardinal Theodore McCarrick for his role in the
 sexual abuse of both seminarians and minors. The KBI report notes that 
he was eventually given refuge in a friary near the St. Fidelis Basilica
 in Victoria.But the task force also concluded that the 
church made improvements as early as 1998 to discourage the practice of 
protecting priests who faced allegations of abuse. The KBI said the 
church became less prone to transferring clergy to different parishes or
 dioceses to shield them from accusations or possible prosecution.“A
 review of church data,” the report states, “indicates a decline in 
substantiated abuse over the decades, especially in recent years.”Yet
 the KBI’s work lays out a damning examination of Kansas dioceses. And 
it complained of challenges that made it difficult to investigate the 
systemic problems – including “inadequacies within the Catholic dioceses
 recordkeeping policies and systems” on sexual abuse allegations.Investigators
 also reported that they were stymied after some victims were reluctant 
to cooperate because they’d signed non-disclosure agreements when 
settling civil suits against dioceses. Other victims reached out to the 
task force “but then decided not to participate with the investigation.”Investigators had even less luck talking with priests accused of sexual assault.“In
 the vast majority of cases,” the report states, “the perpetrator of the
 sexual abuse was unavailable because of death, the case was well beyond
 the statute of limitations, or medically unable to participate in the 
investigation.”At one point in the KBI probe, investigators 
traveled to a ranch operated by the Capuchin Province, a Catholic 
religious order that operates in Kansas and elsewhere. The report stated
 that “multiple offender priests reside” at the ranch. The priests 
declined to meet with the KBI agents.And, the report says, “in many cases, the victims, or priests, were deceased.”The
 report says church officials tended to use language that “minimized the
 seriousness or severity of actions and abuse” by priests. For instance,
 rather than say “rape,” church officials would say “inappropriate 
contact.”“Rather than characterizing a priest as a criminal or 
rapist, they would soften the language and indicate the priest may have 
‘boundary issues,’” the report says.And for decades, the KBI 
concluded, church officials failed to report allegations to police and 
did only cursory investigations of their own.When the church did 
take action against priests, the task force found, it spoke about their 
removal in terms of retirement or sick leave or said the clergy were 
dealing with alcoholism rather than tell parishioners they were 
pedophiles.“Even if the church substantiated that a priest was 
raping or sexually abusing others, including children, the church often 
continued to provide the priest housing and living expenses,” the report
 says. “In some cases priests were able to further commit additional 
child abuse.”The report called the practice of transferring priests to other parishes to protect them from abuse charges “horrific.”It
 characterized investigations by dioceses as “inconsistent and 
inadequate” and noted the practice of transferring priests and 
supporting them financially after they became targets of sexual abuse 
allegations.Scott Canon is managing editor of the Kansas News 
Service, a collaboration of KCUR, Kansas Public Radio, KMUW and High 
Plains Public Radio focused on health, the social determinants of health
 and their connection to public policy.

KBI: Kan. church covered up sex abuse of children for decades

An upcoming four-part extension workshop for women in agriculture will focus on the basics of land management, leasing and conservation for landlords and tenants.&nbsp;

“The Power of Negotiation and Communication: Land Leasing Strategies for Midwestern Ag Women" will be a four-part&nbsp;workshop&nbsp;series&nbsp;conducted throughout the state.&nbsp;The&nbsp;Cottonwood Extension District in both Great Bend and Hays&nbsp;will be offering these workshops.&nbsp;

The series will focus on writing agricultural lease agreements, landlord-tenant relationships, negotiations and conservation practices. Workshops will be held from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Jan. 18, Jan. 25, Feb. 1, and Feb. 8.&nbsp;

The series of workshops cost $50 per person&nbsp;which&nbsp;includes dinner each night and participants should plan to attend each session.&nbsp;A virtual option is available for those unable to attend a workshop site, although in-person attendance is highly encouraged to better network with other attendees and interact with speakers.&nbsp;

Registration is required by Jan. 13 and can be completed at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.agmanager.info/events">www.agmanager.info/events</a>.

For more information, contact Cottonwood Extension at 785-628-9430&nbsp;or 620-793-1910.&nbsp;

Cottonwood Extension DistrictAn upcoming four-part extension workshop for women in agriculture will focus on the basics of land management, leasing and conservation for landlords and tenants.&nbsp;“The Power of Negotiation and Communication: Land Leasing Strategies for Midwestern Ag Women" will be a four-part&nbsp;workshop&nbsp;series&nbsp;conducted throughout the state.&nbsp;The&nbsp;Cottonwood Extension District in both Great Bend and Hays&nbsp;will be offering these workshops.&nbsp;The series will focus on writing agricultural lease agreements, landlord-tenant relationships, negotiations and conservation practices. Workshops will be held from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Jan. 18, Jan. 25, Feb. 1, and Feb. 8.&nbsp;The series of workshops cost $50 per person&nbsp;which&nbsp;includes dinner each night and participants should plan to attend each session.&nbsp;A virtual option is available for those unable to attend a workshop site, although in-person attendance is highly encouraged to better network with other attendees and interact with speakers.&nbsp;Registration is required by Jan. 13 and can be completed at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.agmanager.info/events">www.agmanager.info/events</a>.For more information, contact Cottonwood Extension at 785-628-9430&nbsp;or 620-793-1910.&nbsp;Cover image courtesy Pixabay

Extension schedules land management, leasing workshops

I loved teaching Great Plains novels by&nbsp;regional&nbsp;authors.&nbsp;Over&nbsp;the years,&nbsp;I taught&nbsp;Winter Thunder&nbsp;by Mari Sandoz who grew up on a western Nebraska&nbsp;ranch. Her&nbsp;tale of a bus load of students and their teacher surviving a&nbsp;multi-day&nbsp;blizzard engrossed students.&nbsp;It&nbsp;focused on&nbsp;Nebraska&nbsp;farm&nbsp;kids&nbsp;who&nbsp;survived&nbsp;eight frigid days outdoors after their&nbsp;bus slid off the road and caught&nbsp;fire in the sandhills. 

Led by their teacher, the&nbsp;group rationed lunches and built shelter&nbsp;from&nbsp;dry&nbsp;brush.&nbsp;While&nbsp;several suffered frostbite, rescuers found them&nbsp;alive.&nbsp;Every time a blizzard blows through western Kansas,&nbsp;it adds another story.&nbsp;I can contribute a couple of my own as can my readers.

Currently,&nbsp;weather data&nbsp;floods&nbsp;media&nbsp;for days before storms&nbsp;arrive,&nbsp;making it&nbsp;hard&nbsp;to&nbsp;ignore potential danger.&nbsp;In 1982, however,&nbsp;I left for school&nbsp;believing&nbsp;all was well&nbsp;based on&nbsp;the previous day’s&nbsp;forecast.&nbsp;Besides, I carried&nbsp;a winter emergency kit in my Chevette to sustain me and our infant daughter&nbsp;til help arrived&nbsp;should I slide off the road.&nbsp;

Once&nbsp;in&nbsp;McCracken, moisture-laden clouds unleashed&nbsp;flakes that&nbsp;turned&nbsp;the world&nbsp;into&nbsp;a giant snow globe.&nbsp;In short time, our&nbsp;superintendent canceled school.&nbsp;Before heading home,&nbsp;I called my husband, who&nbsp;reported fine&nbsp;weather in Ellis.

That changed within a few miles of the Smoky Hill River, barren country for those who haven’t traveled it,&nbsp;when flakes and wind intensified. Once&nbsp;across&nbsp;the&nbsp;bridge, I couldn’t tell&nbsp;where pavement ended and grass began.&nbsp;I reminded myself I had supplies enough we could&nbsp;outlast out the storm.&nbsp;Then I prayed.

Plowing snow&nbsp;until the whiteout ended,&nbsp;I&nbsp;breathed a sigh of relief when I&nbsp;spied familiar landmarks. As I drove, I&nbsp;told our baby we’d be okay.&nbsp;While the worst of it lasted only 10 miles, what normally&nbsp;took&nbsp;35&nbsp;minutes&nbsp;required over 1 ½ hours.&nbsp;

That&nbsp;experience prepared me to face&nbsp;a&nbsp;worse&nbsp;blizzard in the spring of 1986. I dropped our&nbsp;girls at the babysitter’s and drove into heavy snow near Yocemento. I listened to the radio, thinking the superintendent would cancel school. Didn’t happen. Once&nbsp;in my classroom, I&nbsp;began the lesson and watched&nbsp;snow&nbsp;blanket the ground&nbsp;outside. &nbsp;After 1st&nbsp;hour,&nbsp;the&nbsp;vice-principal took over my class and&nbsp;told me to&nbsp;get&nbsp;home&nbsp;to&nbsp;our&nbsp;girls.&nbsp;

It's a good thing,&nbsp;I thought, as&nbsp;I filled&nbsp;my&nbsp;gas tank&nbsp;while&nbsp;listening to thunder. Once&nbsp;on I-70,&nbsp;I expected another&nbsp;tense&nbsp;drive&nbsp;since, again, I&nbsp;couldn’t see&nbsp;pavement.&nbsp;I followed&nbsp;semi&nbsp;tail lights&nbsp;and trusted&nbsp;that the&nbsp;tires&nbsp;rolled over snow-covered&nbsp;asphalt. Three hours later I arrived at the day care in Ellis where I promptly got&nbsp;stuck.

After helpers&nbsp;freed&nbsp;that boat of a&nbsp;green&nbsp;Mercury&nbsp;Marquis, I loaded little girls in car&nbsp;seats,&nbsp;and inched&nbsp;home,&nbsp;where we&nbsp;watched snow drift higher&nbsp;for 3 days.&nbsp;Later,&nbsp;I&nbsp;learned&nbsp;troopers allowed&nbsp;my car and&nbsp;one other on&nbsp;I-70&nbsp;before closing&nbsp;it.&nbsp;Anyone who&nbsp;didn’t make it&nbsp;in time,&nbsp;spent&nbsp;three days&nbsp;snowed in&nbsp;in Hays.&nbsp;

After retiring, I vowed&nbsp;to avoid driving&nbsp;in bad weather,&nbsp;barring&nbsp;emergencies. I’m&nbsp;sure&nbsp;earlier trips over ice, snow,&nbsp;and through&nbsp;heavy rain and tornados frazzled my guardian angels’ nerves. No reason to push matters.&nbsp;I’d rather read or listen to other people’s blizzard stories.

Karen is a retired teacher, writer, photographer, outdoors lover, and
 sixth-generation Kansan. After a time away, she’s glad to be home.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1672941871827.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By KAREN MADORINI loved teaching Great Plains novels by&nbsp;regional&nbsp;authors.&nbsp;Over&nbsp;the years,&nbsp;I taught&nbsp;Winter Thunder&nbsp;by Mari Sandoz who grew up on a western Nebraska&nbsp;ranch. Her&nbsp;tale of a bus load of students and their teacher surviving a&nbsp;multi-day&nbsp;blizzard engrossed students.&nbsp;It&nbsp;focused on&nbsp;Nebraska&nbsp;farm&nbsp;kids&nbsp;who&nbsp;survived&nbsp;eight frigid days outdoors after their&nbsp;bus slid off the road and caught&nbsp;fire in the sandhills. Led by their teacher, the&nbsp;group rationed lunches and built shelter&nbsp;from&nbsp;dry&nbsp;brush.&nbsp;While&nbsp;several suffered frostbite, rescuers found them&nbsp;alive.&nbsp;Every time a blizzard blows through western Kansas,&nbsp;it adds another story.&nbsp;I can contribute a couple of my own as can my readers.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658158605319.jpeg" alt="Karen Madorin" />
 <figcaption>Karen Madorin</figcaption>
 </figure>Currently,&nbsp;weather data&nbsp;floods&nbsp;media&nbsp;for days before storms&nbsp;arrive,&nbsp;making it&nbsp;hard&nbsp;to&nbsp;ignore potential danger.&nbsp;In 1982, however,&nbsp;I left for school&nbsp;believing&nbsp;all was well&nbsp;based on&nbsp;the previous day’s&nbsp;forecast.&nbsp;Besides, I carried&nbsp;a winter emergency kit in my Chevette to sustain me and our infant daughter&nbsp;til help arrived&nbsp;should I slide off the road.&nbsp;Once&nbsp;in&nbsp;McCracken, moisture-laden clouds unleashed&nbsp;flakes that&nbsp;turned&nbsp;the world&nbsp;into&nbsp;a giant snow globe.&nbsp;In short time, our&nbsp;superintendent canceled school.&nbsp;Before heading home,&nbsp;I called my husband, who&nbsp;reported fine&nbsp;weather in Ellis.That changed within a few miles of the Smoky Hill River, barren country for those who haven’t traveled it,&nbsp;when flakes and wind intensified. Once&nbsp;across&nbsp;the&nbsp;bridge, I couldn’t tell&nbsp;where pavement ended and grass began.&nbsp;I reminded myself I had supplies enough we could&nbsp;outlast out the storm.&nbsp;Then I prayed.Plowing snow&nbsp;until the whiteout ended,&nbsp;I&nbsp;breathed a sigh of relief when I&nbsp;spied familiar landmarks. As I drove, I&nbsp;told our baby we’d be okay.&nbsp;While the worst of it lasted only 10 miles, what normally&nbsp;took&nbsp;35&nbsp;minutes&nbsp;required over 1 ½ hours.&nbsp;That&nbsp;experience prepared me to face&nbsp;a&nbsp;worse&nbsp;blizzard in the spring of 1986. I dropped our&nbsp;girls at the babysitter’s and drove into heavy snow near Yocemento. I listened to the radio, thinking the superintendent would cancel school. Didn’t happen. Once&nbsp;in my classroom, I&nbsp;began the lesson and watched&nbsp;snow&nbsp;blanket the ground&nbsp;outside. &nbsp;After 1st&nbsp;hour,&nbsp;the&nbsp;vice-principal took over my class and&nbsp;told me to&nbsp;get&nbsp;home&nbsp;to&nbsp;our&nbsp;girls.&nbsp;It's a good thing,&nbsp;I thought, as&nbsp;I filled&nbsp;my&nbsp;gas tank&nbsp;while&nbsp;listening to thunder. Once&nbsp;on I-70,&nbsp;I expected another&nbsp;tense&nbsp;drive&nbsp;since, again, I&nbsp;couldn’t see&nbsp;pavement.&nbsp;I followed&nbsp;semi&nbsp;tail lights&nbsp;and trusted&nbsp;that the&nbsp;tires&nbsp;rolled over snow-covered&nbsp;asphalt. Three hours later I arrived at the day care in Ellis where I promptly got&nbsp;stuck.After helpers&nbsp;freed&nbsp;that boat of a&nbsp;green&nbsp;Mercury&nbsp;Marquis, I loaded little girls in car&nbsp;seats,&nbsp;and inched&nbsp;home,&nbsp;where we&nbsp;watched snow drift higher&nbsp;for 3 days.&nbsp;Later,&nbsp;I&nbsp;learned&nbsp;troopers allowed&nbsp;my car and&nbsp;one other on&nbsp;I-70&nbsp;before closing&nbsp;it.&nbsp;Anyone who&nbsp;didn’t make it&nbsp;in time,&nbsp;spent&nbsp;three days&nbsp;snowed in&nbsp;in Hays.&nbsp;After retiring, I vowed&nbsp;to avoid driving&nbsp;in bad weather,&nbsp;barring&nbsp;emergencies. I’m&nbsp;sure&nbsp;earlier trips over ice, snow,&nbsp;and through&nbsp;heavy rain and tornados frazzled my guardian angels’ nerves. No reason to push matters.&nbsp;I’d rather read or listen to other people’s blizzard stories.Karen is a retired teacher, writer, photographer, outdoors lover, and
 sixth-generation Kansan. After a time away, she’s glad to be home.

MADORIN: More Great Plains blizzard tales

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1672942952711.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>

Russell County USD 407 is seeking applicants for treasurer. &nbsp;

Must have Associate of Science in accounting or finance; 5 years of financial management, supervises accounting operations, accounts payable and budget. &nbsp; 

For more information or to apply, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.usd407.org/">www.usd407.org</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671029274787.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Russell County USD 407 is seeking applicants for treasurer. &nbsp;Must have Associate of Science in accounting or finance; 5 years of financial management, supervises accounting operations, accounts payable and budget. &nbsp; For more information or to apply, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.usd407.org/">www.usd407.org</a>

Chilly Saturday, then above-normal temps well into next week

On this episode of the Post Podcast Hays USD 489 superintendent Ron Wilson recaps 2022 and shares what the district is looking forward to in 2023.

<div><iframe title="USD 489 looks forward to 2023" 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=h4fa9-1357757-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 Hays USD 489 superintendent Ron Wilson recaps 2022 and shares what the district is looking forward to in 2023.

🎙 Post Podcast: USD 489 looks forward to 2023

Downtown Hays will soon be home to STEM Harvest, a nonprofit
science, technology, engineering and math learning center.

As construction work continues at its future home in 507 Main
and final preparations for the project are made, a recent $10,000 grant award
from NetWorked for Change will help ensure the project starts off right.

The To Infinity and Beyond award will allow STEM Harvest to open
with a pre- and post-event survey and an event for up to 40 children and a
parent.

“The event itself will either be in March or potentially
early April,” said building owner and STEM Harvest founder Dallas Haselhorst. “We
will be presenting at the NetWorked for Change convention in Wichita in May. So we
will have the event obviously, and all the post items wrapped up well before
then, so we can present, essentially, to a lot of other folks across the state
trying to make a difference in their communities as well.”

The STEM Harvest opening event will allow participants to learn about the facility and the services it will provide to the community once fully opened to
the public.

“Anywhere from 20 to 40, kids will be able to come in, learn
a little bit more of everything STEM Harvest can do consolidated into a day,”
Haselhorst said. “And so it kind of introduces kids to all of those different
aspects, especially 3D printing, coding, some of the electronics
aspects, and just give them an opportunity to kind of see some of those things
and what we'll do as part of that grant.”

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/494d469c-fd58-4c88-9317-9c5e6071a68f">The
opening represents the culmination of years of planning as opening STEM Harvest
was a major factor in purchasing the building at 507 Main in 2021, he said.</a>

“We purchased that with a couple of goals in mind. The main
one was going to be a 501(c)3 nonprofit called STEM Harvest that really kind
of brings technology skills and related skills to kids of all ages,” Haselhorst
said.

And now, with the center's opening, he said area youth would
be able to use it to explore various aspects of STEM. 

“All of the kids are going to have to do the three core
tenets, meaning you're going to have to get introduced to those, which is
coding, the electronics aspect and 3D printing,” Haselhorst said. 

But from there, they can build on their own desires and
interests.

“They're really learning the skills, the underlying skills
to do some of the basics, and then just build off of that,” Haselhorst said. “It's
a project-based approach to learning that gets whatever they're
passionate about and lets them go.”

In conjunction with the kickoff event, two surveys will solidify
how potential students would utilize the space.

“The pre-survey will be open to the public to try and get some
input from parents, educators, maybe even kids,” Haselhorst said.

The survey can be found at <a href="https://stemharvest.org/pre-survey/">https://stemharvest.org/pre-survey/</a>

“And then also, we'll do a really quick post-event
survey that will be primarily from the kids that actually attend the event,”
Haselhorst said. “The main thing is that we just want to make sure that they
are getting something out of it, and they're going to want to come back
eventually.”

And while opening the years-long project to the public is a
priority for the space, remodeling the building for other tenants, including
his own TreeTop Security, is also well underway, and office space in the
building should be ready for occupancy soon.

“The three front spaces probably required the most amount of
work out of everything,” Haselhorst said. “STEM Harvest has been receiving
updates throughout.”

Much of the major construction work is done.

“There's a couple of rooms back there that are, other than
paint, they're done,” Haselhorst said. “There's still some work to do, no doubt, but we're
definitely moving in the right direction. And now, with some additional funding
for some supplies and stuff, we can definitely help on some of those aspects.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1672971209282.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><div><iframe title="Grant award to help launch STEM Harvest in downtown Hays" 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=m8de5-1356510-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 PostDowntown Hays will soon be home to STEM Harvest, a nonprofit
science, technology, engineering and math learning center.As construction work continues at its future home in 507 Main
and final preparations for the project are made, a recent $10,000 grant award
from NetWorked for Change will help ensure the project starts off right.The To Infinity and Beyond award will allow STEM Harvest to open
with a pre- and post-event survey and an event for up to 40 children and a
parent.“The event itself will either be in March or potentially
early April,” said building owner and STEM Harvest founder Dallas Haselhorst. “We
will be presenting at the NetWorked for Change convention in Wichita in May. So we
will have the event obviously, and all the post items wrapped up well before
then, so we can present, essentially, to a lot of other folks across the state
trying to make a difference in their communities as well.”The STEM Harvest opening event will allow participants to learn about the facility and the services it will provide to the community once fully opened to
the public.“Anywhere from 20 to 40, kids will be able to come in, learn
a little bit more of everything STEM Harvest can do consolidated into a day,”
Haselhorst said. “And so it kind of introduces kids to all of those different
aspects, especially 3D printing, coding, some of the electronics
aspects, and just give them an opportunity to kind of see some of those things
and what we'll do as part of that grant.”<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/494d469c-fd58-4c88-9317-9c5e6071a68f">The
opening represents the culmination of years of planning as opening STEM Harvest
was a major factor in purchasing the building at 507 Main in 2021, he said.</a><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1672951790084.jpeg" alt="507 Main as it appeared at the time of purchase. Photo courtesy Dallas Haselhorst" />
 <figcaption>507 Main as it appeared at the time of purchase. Photo courtesy Dallas Haselhorst</figcaption>
 </figure>“We purchased that with a couple of goals in mind. The main
one was going to be a 501(c)3 nonprofit called STEM Harvest that really kind
of brings technology skills and related skills to kids of all ages,” Haselhorst
said.And now, with the center's opening, he said area youth would
be able to use it to explore various aspects of STEM. “All of the kids are going to have to do the three core
tenets, meaning you're going to have to get introduced to those, which is
coding, the electronics aspect and 3D printing,” Haselhorst said. But from there, they can build on their own desires and
interests.“They're really learning the skills, the underlying skills
to do some of the basics, and then just build off of that,” Haselhorst said. “It's
a project-based approach to learning that gets whatever they're
passionate about and lets them go.”In conjunction with the kickoff event, two surveys will solidify
how potential students would utilize the space.“The pre-survey will be open to the public to try and get some
input from parents, educators, maybe even kids,” Haselhorst said.The survey can be found at <a href="https://stemharvest.org/pre-survey/">https://stemharvest.org/pre-survey/</a>“And then also, we'll do a really quick post-event
survey that will be primarily from the kids that actually attend the event,”
Haselhorst said. “The main thing is that we just want to make sure that they
are getting something out of it, and they're going to want to come back
eventually.”And while opening the years-long project to the public is a
priority for the space, remodeling the building for other tenants, including
his own TreeTop Security, is also well underway, and office space in the
building should be ready for occupancy soon.“The three front spaces probably required the most amount of
work out of everything,” Haselhorst said. “STEM Harvest has been receiving
updates throughout.”Much of the major construction work is done.“There's a couple of rooms back there that are, other than
paint, they're done,” Haselhorst said. “There's still some work to do, no doubt, but we're
definitely moving in the right direction. And now, with some additional funding
for some supplies and stuff, we can definitely help on some of those aspects.”

🎙 Grant award to help launch STEM Harvest in downtown Hays

BUNKER HILL — "Doctors on Call," a local production of Smoky Hills PBS, will kick off its 18th&nbsp;season featuring Tyrel Somers with Russell Regional Hospital. This episode will air at 7 p.m.&nbsp;Tuesday&nbsp;and will focus on general health.

"Doctors on Call" is a program that provides medical information on a variety of different topics. Medical professionals from throughout the state travel to Bunker Hill to provide information and answer questions from the viewing audience. The&nbsp;doctors presenting each week have expertise in the topic chosen for that program. Questions can be called in during the show or emailed prior to the broadcast.&nbsp;

The program airs live on Smoky Hills PBS and on the Smoky Hills PBS <a href="http://bit.ly/StreamSmokyHillsPBS">YouTube channel</a>.

A schedule of programs and past episodes are available at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.smokyhillspbs.org/">www.SmokyHillsPBS.org</a>.&nbsp;

To submit questions electronically on a specific topic, viewers can send an email to&nbsp;<a href="mailto:doctors@shptv.org">doctors@shptv.org</a>. Questions submitted through email must be received by noon on the day of the show. During the program, viewers can call I-800-337-4788.&nbsp;

"Doctors on Call" is made possible in part by these current sponsors:&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kammco.com/">KAMMCO</a>&nbsp;(Kansas Medical Mutual Insurance Company),&nbsp;<a href="https://www.russellhospital.org/">Russell Regional Hospital</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.scmhks.org/">Smith County Memorial Hospital</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1648143867078.png" alt="Somers" />
 <figcaption>Somers</figcaption>
 </figure>Smoky Hills PBSBUNKER HILL — "Doctors on Call," a local production of Smoky Hills PBS, will kick off its 18th&nbsp;season featuring Tyrel Somers with Russell Regional Hospital. This episode will air at 7 p.m.&nbsp;Tuesday&nbsp;and will focus on general health."Doctors on Call" is a program that provides medical information on a variety of different topics. Medical professionals from throughout the state travel to Bunker Hill to provide information and answer questions from the viewing audience. The&nbsp;doctors presenting each week have expertise in the topic chosen for that program. Questions can be called in during the show or emailed prior to the broadcast.&nbsp;The program airs live on Smoky Hills PBS and on the Smoky Hills PBS <a href="http://bit.ly/StreamSmokyHillsPBS">YouTube channel</a>.A schedule of programs and past episodes are available at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.smokyhillspbs.org/">www.SmokyHillsPBS.org</a>.&nbsp;To submit questions electronically on a specific topic, viewers can send an email to&nbsp;<a href="mailto:doctors@shptv.org">doctors@shptv.org</a>. Questions submitted through email must be received by noon on the day of the show. During the program, viewers can call I-800-337-4788.&nbsp;"Doctors on Call" is made possible in part by these current sponsors:&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kammco.com/">KAMMCO</a>&nbsp;(Kansas Medical Mutual Insurance Company),&nbsp;<a href="https://www.russellhospital.org/">Russell Regional Hospital</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.scmhks.org/">Smith County Memorial Hospital</a>.

'Doctors on Call' premieres next week with Russell doctor

Attention, parents, grandparents, Sunday School teachers, and church youth leaders: The Ellis County Ministerial Alliance needs your help.

“We would like for your children, ages 4 through high school age, to help us with our monthly magazine coming up in February,” said Linn Ann Huntington, the magazine’s editor.

Each month the magazine, called “ONE,” has a theme. The theme for February is: If you were with the Wise Men visiting the Baby Jesus so long ago, what gift would you give to Jesus?

“We know that the Wise Men brought Jesus special gifts. We would like to know what the children in your life would bring him,” Huntington said. “Please emphasize to the children that the gift needs to be something they own, and that they aren’t going to get it back. Once they give it to Jesus, it is his to keep.”

It would be helpful if church workers or family members could collect the responses from their kids, Huntington said.

Ellis County Ministerial AllianceAttention, parents, grandparents, Sunday School teachers, and church youth leaders: The Ellis County Ministerial Alliance needs your help.“We would like for your children, ages 4 through high school age, to help us with our monthly magazine coming up in February,” said Linn Ann Huntington, the magazine’s editor.Each month the magazine, called “ONE,” has a theme. The theme for February is: If you were with the Wise Men visiting the Baby Jesus so long ago, what gift would you give to Jesus?“We know that the Wise Men brought Jesus special gifts. We would like to know what the children in your life would bring him,” Huntington said. “Please emphasize to the children that the gift needs to be something they own, and that they aren’t going to get it back. Once they give it to Jesus, it is his to keep.”It would be helpful if church workers or family members could collect the responses from their kids, Huntington said.Please include the following: The name of the church (if applicable), the child’s first name and first initial of their last name, the child’s age, what gift they would give to the Baby Jesus, and why.Email responses to&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lmills@firstcallelliscounty.com">lmills@firstcallelliscounty.com</a>&nbsp;by Thursday, Jan. 12. Mills has volunteered to collect and sort the responses. “Please include the name and contact information for the person submitting the responses, so we can contact you if we have questions,” Huntington said.“It is our hope that this question can be tied into the observance of Epiphany, when the Wise Men visited the Baby Jesus. That observance was Friday, Jan. 6,” Huntington said.She provided this example of a typical response: “Any church, Hays or Ellis; Levi Jones; age 6; I would give the Baby Jesus my kitten, McAdoo. We recently moved to a new apartment, and they don’t let us keep pets here. I figure the Baby Jesus would give McAdoo a good home. Besides, McAdoo still pees on the floor. But I figure in a stable, it’s not going to matter anyway.”Huntington added, “We want to hear the kids’ unvarnished responses.”Those with questions may contact Mills at the above email.The magazine is published electronically each month in an 8 ½ x 11 format on the ECMA website,&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ourecma.com/">www.ourecma.com</a>&nbsp;by clicking on menu, and then the “ONE” tab. The February issue will be available after Feb. 1, Huntington said.Cover image courtesy Pixabay

Local