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

<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/2022/2/1645821691900.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

Three-day weather outlook

The Walk KS program has been a signature program for K-State Research and Extension for&nbsp;more than 20 years. In fact,&nbsp;I’m guessing that many of you reading&nbsp;this column have participated&nbsp;as a team member, tracking your minutes of exercise&nbsp;during the eight-week program. I have a&nbsp;dresser drawer full of colorful Walk KS T-shirts from every year and I wear them&nbsp;proudly.&nbsp;

Three years ago, when we were walking along a Florida beach with our son,&nbsp;I&nbsp;was wearing a Walk KS T-shirt when a lady came up to&nbsp;me&nbsp;excitedly and asked,&nbsp;“Where in Kansas are you from?”&nbsp;When I said&nbsp;Great Bend, she&nbsp;said to her husband,&nbsp;“Isn’t that where&nbsp;our new neighbors are from?”&nbsp;We found&nbsp;out her new neighbor had&nbsp;taught both of our&nbsp;sons&nbsp;in&nbsp;fifth&nbsp;grade&nbsp;many years&nbsp;earlier!&nbsp;What a small world!

Walk Kansas is a team-based&nbsp;program that will help you and others lead a healthier life. When you&nbsp;join this&nbsp;program,&nbsp;you can:

➢Bemore active with friends and family➢Make better nutrition choices➢Walk away your stress

&nbsp;​As a fitness&nbsp;challenge, Walk Kansas invites friends, neighbors,&nbsp;family,&nbsp;and co-workers to form teams of six to cover the equivalent of the&nbsp;423-mile&nbsp;distance from Kansas’ east to west borders during the eight-week program. &nbsp;A number of years ago, the reporting was simplified as participants turned in minutes of exercise each week.&nbsp;The goal is to encourage at least 30 minutes of aerobic heart-healthy&nbsp;physical activity five or more days a week. &nbsp;Knowing that others are counting on you to contribute can be a motivator. &nbsp;Other plusses for the program include encouragement and practical ideas for healthy living through newsletters,&nbsp;recipes,&nbsp;educational&nbsp;programs,&nbsp;and special events.

​The cost to register&nbsp;for&nbsp;Walk KS is $10.&nbsp;This covers the&nbsp;cost&nbsp;to produce a weekly newsletter and the&nbsp;administration of the program. Registration also covers the&nbsp;cost of a box meal that will be provided at a Walk KS celebration event held at the Jack Kilby Square&nbsp;in Great Bend on&nbsp;Wednesday, May 25th.&nbsp;Ordering a t-shirt is optional&nbsp;and can be done on-line. This year the t-shirt colors are&nbsp;heather clay&nbsp;and heather teal.​

​Our goal is to&nbsp;get everyone who is interested to register during the first three weeks in&nbsp;March.&nbsp;So, get your team organized, come up with a catchy team name and get those walking shoes dusted off. &nbsp;Walk KS 2022&nbsp;is just around the corner!

Donna Krug is the&nbsp;District Director and&nbsp;Family and Consumer Science Agent with K-State Research and Extension –&nbsp;Cottonwood District. &nbsp;You may reach her&nbsp;at (620)793-1910 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:dkrug@ksu.edu">dkrug@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573141404420.png" alt="Donna Krug is the&nbsp;District Director and&nbsp;Family and Consumer Science Agent with K-State Research and Extension –&nbsp;Cottonwood District.&nbsp;&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Donna Krug is the&nbsp;District Director and&nbsp;Family and Consumer Science Agent with K-State Research and Extension –&nbsp;Cottonwood District.&nbsp;&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>The Walk KS program has been a signature program for K-State Research and Extension for&nbsp;more than 20 years. In fact,&nbsp;I’m guessing that many of you reading&nbsp;this column have participated&nbsp;as a team member, tracking your minutes of exercise&nbsp;during the eight-week program. I have a&nbsp;dresser drawer full of colorful Walk KS T-shirts from every year and I wear them&nbsp;proudly.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1645734974921.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Three years ago, when we were walking along a Florida beach with our son,&nbsp;I&nbsp;was wearing a Walk KS T-shirt when a lady came up to&nbsp;me&nbsp;excitedly and asked,&nbsp;“Where in Kansas are you from?”&nbsp;When I said&nbsp;Great Bend, she&nbsp;said to her husband,&nbsp;“Isn’t that where&nbsp;our new neighbors are from?”&nbsp;We found&nbsp;out her new neighbor had&nbsp;taught both of our&nbsp;sons&nbsp;in&nbsp;fifth&nbsp;grade&nbsp;many years&nbsp;earlier!&nbsp;What a small world!Walk Kansas is a team-based&nbsp;program that will help you and others lead a healthier life. When you&nbsp;join this&nbsp;program,&nbsp;you can:➢Bemore active with friends and family➢Make better nutrition choices➢Walk away your stress&nbsp;​As a fitness&nbsp;challenge, Walk Kansas invites friends, neighbors,&nbsp;family,&nbsp;and co-workers to form teams of six to cover the equivalent of the&nbsp;423-mile&nbsp;distance from Kansas’ east to west borders during the eight-week program. &nbsp;A number of years ago, the reporting was simplified as participants turned in minutes of exercise each week.&nbsp;The goal is to encourage at least 30 minutes of aerobic heart-healthy&nbsp;physical activity five or more days a week. &nbsp;Knowing that others are counting on you to contribute can be a motivator. &nbsp;Other plusses for the program include encouragement and practical ideas for healthy living through newsletters,&nbsp;recipes,&nbsp;educational&nbsp;programs,&nbsp;and special events.​The cost to register&nbsp;for&nbsp;Walk KS is $10.&nbsp;This covers the&nbsp;cost&nbsp;to produce a weekly newsletter and the&nbsp;administration of the program. Registration also covers the&nbsp;cost of a box meal that will be provided at a Walk KS celebration event held at the Jack Kilby Square&nbsp;in Great Bend on&nbsp;Wednesday, May 25th.&nbsp;Ordering a t-shirt is optional&nbsp;and can be done on-line. This year the t-shirt colors are&nbsp;heather clay&nbsp;and heather teal.​​Our goal is to&nbsp;get everyone who is interested to register during the first three weeks in&nbsp;March.&nbsp;So, get your team organized, come up with a catchy team name and get those walking shoes dusted off. &nbsp;Walk KS 2022&nbsp;is just around the corner!Donna Krug is the&nbsp;District Director and&nbsp;Family and Consumer Science Agent with K-State Research and Extension –&nbsp;Cottonwood District. &nbsp;You may reach her&nbsp;at (620)793-1910 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:dkrug@ksu.edu">dkrug@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;

KRUG: Walk Kansas program set to begin in March

NORTON COUNTY—A driver fleeing law enforcement died in an accident just after 10:30a.m. Saturday in Norton County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a Trooper attempted to stop a 2020 Chevy Silverado driven by Derek D.&nbsp;Stortzum, 29, Brooksville, Florida, for erratic driving on U.S. 283 fourteen miles south of Phillipsburg.

The pickup ran from the Trooper who used a successful tactical vehicle intervention (TVI).&nbsp; The pickup ended up in the north ditch facing northeast on its wheels.

Stortzum was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Brock's-Keithley Funeral Home. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

NORTON COUNTY—A driver fleeing law enforcement died in an accident just after 10:30a.m. Saturday in Norton County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a Trooper attempted to stop a 2020 Chevy Silverado driven by Derek D.&nbsp;Stortzum, 29, Brooksville, Florida, for erratic driving on U.S. 283 fourteen miles south of Phillipsburg.The pickup ran from the Trooper who used a successful tactical vehicle intervention (TVI).&nbsp; The pickup ended up in the north ditch facing northeast on its wheels.Stortzum was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Brock's-Keithley Funeral Home. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

Driver fleeing KHP Trooper dies after tactical vehicle intervention

&nbsp;GRAHAM COUNTY—A Kansas State Trooper was injured in an accident just after 10a.m. Saturday in Graham County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a trooper identified as Michael L. Tucker, 33, Lebanon, was actively pursuing a suspect vehicle on a dirt road when he lost control of his 2021 Dodge Charger on a curve at the Intersection of EE Road and 330 Avenue six miles east of U.S. 283.

The Dodge Charger left the roadway, struck an embankment and overturned.&nbsp; EMS transported Tucker for treatment of serious injuries.

&nbsp;GRAHAM COUNTY—A Kansas State Trooper was injured in an accident just after 10a.m. Saturday in Graham County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a trooper identified as Michael L. Tucker, 33, Lebanon, was actively pursuing a suspect vehicle on a dirt road when he lost control of his 2021 Dodge Charger on a curve at the Intersection of EE Road and 330 Avenue six miles east of U.S. 283.The Dodge Charger left the roadway, struck an embankment and overturned.&nbsp; EMS transported Tucker for treatment of serious injuries.

Kansas Trooper hospitalized after crash during chase

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

A mother/daughter duo is opening a new barbershop in Hays and each cut comes with a complimentary beer.

Don't like beer? Have a Truly or pop. Ladies you are welcome too.

Sara and Emma Humphrey are the creative team behind Blue Moon Barber Lounge.

Hair and beard services are all beer themed. A beard trim (the light) starts at $15. Services range up to $50 for the Blue Moon, which is the works, and includes hot towel, beard trim, warm neck shave, shampoo, haircut and scalp massage.

Women's cuts are $35. Brylee Rupp will also be doing eyelashes.

All services come with a beverage. The coolers are stocked with Bud Light, Coors Light, Blue Moon, Miller Light, Coors original, Truly, O'Doul's, Boulevard, seltzer, water and assorted pops. Coffee is also available. Sara said she hopes to eventually add a Defiance beer to the fridges.

Sara, Emma's mom, has been a stylist for 22 years. She has primarily worked from a home-based studio. Emma has been working as a stylist for three years and just moved back to Hays from Kansas City where she was working at a salon there.

Sara cuts both men's and women's hair. Emma specializes in men's cuts and shaves. Sara's younger daughter, Sophie, will be graduating from the Hays Academy of Hair Design in April and plans to join Blue Moon. She's interested in working with color.

The barbershop has a special room set up in the back just for women. The shop has four styling stations in the front of the shop and two in the back.

With Emma moving back to Hays, Sara said now was the right time to open a store front, which is at 119 E. Eighth in Hays.

"Just for me, the timing was OK," Sara said. "I just never wanted to have my own salon. There are a lot of hours that go into it, so I was never ready to do that. I never wanted to do it alone. Her and I doing it together, it's exciting."

The name Blue Moon came from an illustration of a blue moon that hung in Sara's home studio for years. It now graces the downtown barbershop.

The lounge commissioned local artist Dennis Schiel to paint three murals for the shop's rear wall. The first image is of a moon. The second is of a man getting a cut and shave, the third is a night scene of downtown Hays from the perspective of the barbershop window.

The paintings contain eight hidden images — Mickey Mouse, a rocket ship, tornado, Where's Waldo, Abraham Lincoln, a scoop, a ruby red slipper and a fly.

Sara said she hasn't been able to find the fly or the ruby red slipper yet.

For men's hair services, the lounge will be using STMNT products, and for the women the lounge will use Morocccanoil.

The barbershop's hours will be 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fridays and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Satrudays. The stylists are willing to consider times outside of regular hours by appointment.

Appointments can be made on the <a href="http://bluemoonbarberlounge.com/">babershop's website</a> or by calling or texting 785-639-7656. Walk-ins are also welcome. Watch for the barber poll to be spinning in the front window, and you'll know the shop is open, Sara said.

You can also follow the lounge on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/bluemoonbarberlounge">Facebook </a>and Instagram.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1645649514016.jpeg" alt="Sara and Emma Humphrey are the stylists behind Blue Moon Barber Lounge. Every service comes with a complimentary beer or other beverage. " />
 <figcaption>Sara and Emma Humphrey are the stylists behind Blue Moon Barber Lounge. Every service comes with a complimentary beer or other beverage. </figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post A mother/daughter duo is opening a new barbershop in Hays and each cut comes with a complimentary beer.Don't like beer? Have a Truly or pop. Ladies you are welcome too.Sara and Emma Humphrey are the creative team behind Blue Moon Barber Lounge.Hair and beard services are all beer themed. A beard trim (the light) starts at $15. Services range up to $50 for the Blue Moon, which is the works, and includes hot towel, beard trim, warm neck shave, shampoo, haircut and scalp massage.Women's cuts are $35. Brylee Rupp will also be doing eyelashes. All services come with a beverage. The coolers are stocked with Bud Light, Coors Light, Blue Moon, Miller Light, Coors original, Truly, O'Doul's, Boulevard, seltzer, water and assorted pops. Coffee is also available. Sara said she hopes to eventually add a Defiance beer to the fridges. Sara, Emma's mom, has been a stylist for 22 years. She has primarily worked from a home-based studio. Emma has been working as a stylist for three years and just moved back to Hays from Kansas City where she was working at a salon there.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1645649555746.jpeg" alt="Emma and Sara Humphrey will serve both men and women in their new barbershop, Blue Moon Barber Lounge in downtown Hays. The leather shaving straps on the wall in the background belonged to Sara's grandpas. " />
 <figcaption>Emma and Sara Humphrey will serve both men and women in their new barbershop, Blue Moon Barber Lounge in downtown Hays. The leather shaving straps on the wall in the background belonged to Sara's grandpas. </figcaption>
 </figure>Sara cuts both men's and women's hair. Emma specializes in men's cuts and shaves. Sara's younger daughter, Sophie, will be graduating from the Hays Academy of Hair Design in April and plans to join Blue Moon. She's interested in working with color.The barbershop has a special room set up in the back just for women. The shop has four styling stations in the front of the shop and two in the back. With Emma moving back to Hays, Sara said now was the right time to open a store front, which is at 119 E. Eighth in Hays."Just for me, the timing was OK," Sara said. "I just never wanted to have my own salon. There are a lot of hours that go into it, so I was never ready to do that. I never wanted to do it alone. Her and I doing it together, it's exciting." The name Blue Moon came from an illustration of a blue moon that hung in Sara's home studio for years. It now graces the downtown barbershop.The lounge commissioned local artist Dennis Schiel to paint three murals for the shop's rear wall. The first image is of a moon. The second is of a man getting a cut and shave, the third is a night scene of downtown Hays from the perspective of the barbershop window.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1645649596687.jpeg" alt="Blue Moon Barber Lounge is at 119 E. Eighth in Hays and will be open starting Monday by appointment and to walk-ins. " />
 <figcaption>Blue Moon Barber Lounge is at 119 E. Eighth in Hays and will be open starting Monday by appointment and to walk-ins. </figcaption>
 </figure>The paintings contain eight hidden images — Mickey Mouse, a rocket ship, tornado, Where's Waldo, Abraham Lincoln, a scoop, a ruby red slipper and a fly.Sara said she hasn't been able to find the fly or the ruby red slipper yet. For men's hair services, the lounge will be using STMNT products, and for the women the lounge will use Morocccanoil.The barbershop's hours will be 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fridays and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Satrudays. The stylists are willing to consider times outside of regular hours by appointment.Appointments can be made on the <a href="http://bluemoonbarberlounge.com/">babershop's website</a> or by calling or texting 785-639-7656. Walk-ins are also welcome. Watch for the barber poll to be spinning in the front window, and you'll know the shop is open, Sara said. You can also follow the lounge on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/bluemoonbarberlounge">Facebook </a>and Instagram.

Cut, shave and a beer: Blue Moon Barber Lounge set to open Monday in Hays

LOGAN — The Dane G. Hansen Foundation has announced that funding is secured for the construction of the proposed Logan Intergenerational Facility, known as the LIFE project.&nbsp;

The project is a unique conceptual idea that will integrate several community facilities into one structure. The basic elements of this facility include a new 36-bed nursing home, a new Pre-K through 4thgrade elementary school, a new gymnasium with associated locker room complex (which will also serve as a community storm shelter), a weight room and wellness facility which would be open and available to the public, a community room and gathering place, all of which will be connected to the existing high school building via an indoor corridor. All elements of the facility will allow residents from the nursing home to attend events and participate in school functions and activities, including a special music room designed to allow the residents to watch and listen to band or music practices. Finally, the new facility will be located immediately adjacent to Logan’s child care facility, making for a unique, one-of-a-kind intergenerational “campus” located in the heart of rural America.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;Both the existing nursing home and elementary school are old buildings and need significant repair or replacement.&nbsp; By combining the two, the planning team believes the intergenerational nature of the facility will be advantageous to young and old alike.&nbsp;

Additional benefits will be the opportunity to restructure the Manor to better meet the needs of today’s senior population. The modern “small house” design will be more homelike, providing private rooms, a centralized home-style kitchen in each 12-room pod, better internet access, etc. The residents will also be able to head down to the gym to watch ballgames, watch band/music practice, attend special senior exercise classes or simply watch children playing on the playground without leaving the building. Likewise, the children can visit the senior residents, forming important relationships that may be harder to come by with families often living farther from grandparents.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The LIFE project is designed to be a huge boost for Logan, where Dane G. Hansen was born and lived his entire life. At his death in 1965, He created a trust for his hometown of Logan and the surrounding Northwest Kansas community.

The trust became the Dane G. Hansen Foundation. Grants from the foundation are awarded in 26 counties. The main office remains in Logan. The Trustees consider Mr. Hansen’s own actions and final requests when they review grant requests small and large. They believe this project to be both a way to honor Mr. Hansen, and also a way to recognize his testamentary desire to specifically benefit the town of Logan.

The LIFE project has been in the works for nearly six years. It was announced to the public in 2019, just prior to news about one of the major health concerns of our time. Like many things, the COVID-19 pandemic dramatically altered the fundraising and timeline for the project.&nbsp;

As the pandemic endured, the facilities continued to decline and the need for replacing them only magnified. Had the new facility been in existence pre-pandemic, it would have been possible to quarantine certain pods of residents, without isolating an entire facility. Even in a total lockdown scenario, there would have been far more flexibility in allowing the residents to see and observe children playing and allowing them to engage in “window” interactions from the safe confines of their rooms.&nbsp;

The pandemic and related supply chain challenges has also meant that construction costs have increased significantly. The estimated cost of the project has risen to approximately $18 million. Traditional sources of funding from a variety of other charitable foundations also ground to a halt.&nbsp;

With all these challenges and considerations, the Dane G. Hansen Foundation Trustees recently voted to drastically alter the original challenge grant of $7.5 million that was to be matched from the community and other sources to cover what was originally estimated to be a $15 million facility. The community had set a local fundraising goal of $1 million, with the hopes that other charitable organizations would help make up the remainder of the challenge grant. Those efforts resulted in more than $450,000 being raised thus far.&nbsp;

In light of all that has transpired, the Dane G. Hansen Foundation has agreed that if the local fundraising match of $1 million can be reached, it will cover all remaining costs of the facility so that design plans can be finished, and a construction schedule can commence.

“We are hearing from local residents that they want to contribute but have been waiting to see if the project is really moving forward,” said Hansen Trustee Brien Stockman. “The board wants to ensure the project will happen and have voted to cover the construction costs. The local campaign will provide for various interior furnishings and finishes for the project.”

The Trustees hope that fundraising can again begin in earnest with this announcement.&nbsp; There will be opportunities for donors to have naming rights for spaces as well as the ability for smaller donations to be recognized. All fundraising for the LIFE Project is being coordinated by a fundraising committee working with the Logan Community Development Foundation, Inc. (“LCDF”)

For more information on the project, or to make a donation or major gift to the campaign, contact Max Lowry, President of LCDF, at (785) 689-8333 or email the Foundation at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:loganlifecenter@gmail.com">loganlifecenter@gmail.com</a>. Donations can also be made through the LIFE Project website at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.loganlifeproject.com/">www.loganlifecenter.com</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575649739391.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>News releaseLOGAN — The Dane G. Hansen Foundation has announced that funding is secured for the construction of the proposed Logan Intergenerational Facility, known as the LIFE project.&nbsp;The project is a unique conceptual idea that will integrate several community facilities into one structure. The basic elements of this facility include a new 36-bed nursing home, a new Pre-K through 4thgrade elementary school, a new gymnasium with associated locker room complex (which will also serve as a community storm shelter), a weight room and wellness facility which would be open and available to the public, a community room and gathering place, all of which will be connected to the existing high school building via an indoor corridor. All elements of the facility will allow residents from the nursing home to attend events and participate in school functions and activities, including a special music room designed to allow the residents to watch and listen to band or music practices. Finally, the new facility will be located immediately adjacent to Logan’s child care facility, making for a unique, one-of-a-kind intergenerational “campus” located in the heart of rural America.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Both the existing nursing home and elementary school are old buildings and need significant repair or replacement.&nbsp; By combining the two, the planning team believes the intergenerational nature of the facility will be advantageous to young and old alike.&nbsp;Additional benefits will be the opportunity to restructure the Manor to better meet the needs of today’s senior population. The modern “small house” design will be more homelike, providing private rooms, a centralized home-style kitchen in each 12-room pod, better internet access, etc. The residents will also be able to head down to the gym to watch ballgames, watch band/music practice, attend special senior exercise classes or simply watch children playing on the playground without leaving the building. Likewise, the children can visit the senior residents, forming important relationships that may be harder to come by with families often living farther from grandparents.&nbsp;&nbsp;The LIFE project is designed to be a huge boost for Logan, where Dane G. Hansen was born and lived his entire life. At his death in 1965, He created a trust for his hometown of Logan and the surrounding Northwest Kansas community.The trust became the Dane G. Hansen Foundation. Grants from the foundation are awarded in 26 counties. The main office remains in Logan. The Trustees consider Mr. Hansen’s own actions and final requests when they review grant requests small and large. They believe this project to be both a way to honor Mr. Hansen, and also a way to recognize his testamentary desire to specifically benefit the town of Logan.The LIFE project has been in the works for nearly six years. It was announced to the public in 2019, just prior to news about one of the major health concerns of our time. Like many things, the COVID-19 pandemic dramatically altered the fundraising and timeline for the project.&nbsp;As the pandemic endured, the facilities continued to decline and the need for replacing them only magnified. Had the new facility been in existence pre-pandemic, it would have been possible to quarantine certain pods of residents, without isolating an entire facility. Even in a total lockdown scenario, there would have been far more flexibility in allowing the residents to see and observe children playing and allowing them to engage in “window” interactions from the safe confines of their rooms.&nbsp;The pandemic and related supply chain challenges has also meant that construction costs have increased significantly. The estimated cost of the project has risen to approximately $18 million. Traditional sources of funding from a variety of other charitable foundations also ground to a halt.&nbsp;With all these challenges and considerations, the Dane G. Hansen Foundation Trustees recently voted to drastically alter the original challenge grant of $7.5 million that was to be matched from the community and other sources to cover what was originally estimated to be a $15 million facility. The community had set a local fundraising goal of $1 million, with the hopes that other charitable organizations would help make up the remainder of the challenge grant. Those efforts resulted in more than $450,000 being raised thus far.&nbsp;In light of all that has transpired, the Dane G. Hansen Foundation has agreed that if the local fundraising match of $1 million can be reached, it will cover all remaining costs of the facility so that design plans can be finished, and a construction schedule can commence.“We are hearing from local residents that they want to contribute but have been waiting to see if the project is really moving forward,” said Hansen Trustee Brien Stockman. “The board wants to ensure the project will happen and have voted to cover the construction costs. The local campaign will provide for various interior furnishings and finishes for the project.”The Trustees hope that fundraising can again begin in earnest with this announcement.&nbsp; There will be opportunities for donors to have naming rights for spaces as well as the ability for smaller donations to be recognized. All fundraising for the LIFE Project is being coordinated by a fundraising committee working with the Logan Community Development Foundation, Inc. (“LCDF”)For more information on the project, or to make a donation or major gift to the campaign, contact Max Lowry, President of LCDF, at (785) 689-8333 or email the Foundation at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:loganlifecenter@gmail.com">loganlifecenter@gmail.com</a>. Donations can also be made through the LIFE Project website at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.loganlifeproject.com/">www.loganlifecenter.com</a>.

Hansen announces funding for intergenerational facility in Logan

By&nbsp;<a href="https://public-api.wordpress.com/bar/?stat=groovemails-events&amp;bin=wpcom_email_click&amp;redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fwakeeneytravelblog.wordpress.com%2Fauthor%2Fdenaweigelbell%2F&amp;sr=1&amp;signature=70b5025880579e0dfaa613ac9b9a8e8c&amp;user=27015677&amp;_e=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&amp;_z=z" target="_blank">DENA WEIGEL BELL</a> WaKeeney Travel Blog

<a href="https://public-api.wordpress.com/bar/?stat=groovemails-events&amp;bin=wpcom_email_click&amp;redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fwakeeneytravelblog.wordpress.com%2Fauthor%2Fdenaweigelbell%2F&amp;sr=1&amp;signature=70b5025880579e0dfaa613ac9b9a8e8c&amp;user=27015677&amp;_e=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&amp;_z=z" target="_blank"></a>WAKEENEY — Two hundred years ago, a loose collection of native trails were mapped out to be used as a main thoroughfare from Missouri to the southwest territory in what was to become New Mexico. The route became known as the Santa Fe Trail and over the next century it established itself as America's first commercial highway.

On Sunday, the Trego Historical Society will celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Santa Fe Trail through the experiences of three women in a presentation from Marla Matkin. She will examine the history of the trail, the daily life of a traveler, their motivations for taking the 900-mile journey, and the dangers the faced along the way.

The first recorded journey on the Santa Fe Trail took place in 1821, and a year later the route was officially mapped out to connect its starting point in Franklin, Missouri with Santa Fe, New Mexico. The route followed portions of older Native American trails, the Osage Trace and Medicine Trail and eventually joined the Arkansas River, branching off to follow both sides of the river upstream to Dodge City and Garden City. West of Garden City the branch was known as the Mountain Route, and the Dodge City route became the Cimarron Cutoff or Crossing, or the Middle Crossing. The two branches reconnected near the trail's conclusion at Fort Union, New Mexico. 

Today's U.S. Route 24 and Highway 56 loosely follow the trail and ruts in the earth made from the many wagons and carriages are still visible in several locations along the way, including a place near Great Bend, Kansas.

The long, arduous journey posed many challenges that are unimaginable to us today. Wild animals, dry, barren deserts and steep, rocky mountains, attacks from Comanche and Apache tribes, and scorching summers and bitter cold winter weather made every journey potentially deadly.

To get a better understanding of life on the trail the Trego County Historical Society will be welcoming back independent scholar and living history performer, Marla Matkin. Her depiction of "Women on the Santa Fe Trail" is presented through first-person portrayals of three women who spent up to three months on the trail, providing reminisces of a bygone era and sharing their adventures on the Santa Fe Trails.

Marla Matkin has spent her life studying the history of the Old West and now she shares these stories through the many characters she creates on stage. With a twinkle in her eye and a tantalizing sense of humor, she describes a world where grit and determination won the day.

Matkin traces her roots back to southwest Kansas where in 1877 her great-grandparents claimed a homestead near the legendary pillar of western lore, Dodge City, Kansas. 

Today, Matkin calls WaKeeney's northern neighbor, Hill City, her home and for twenty years she has performed historical program across the United States, including at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C., the Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Cody, Wyoming, the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, as well as at several National Park Service sites around the nation. She currently serves on the Society of Friends of Historic Fort Hays and the Smoky Hill Trail Association and was an appointee on the Arts and Entertainment Committee for the 200th celebration of the Santa Few Trail.

Matlin's program will be part of the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tregohistorical.org/" target="_blank">Trego County Historical Society's</a>&nbsp;annual Kansas Day celebration program (postponed from January due to COVID). During your visit you can also explore the museum's large collection of Western artifacts, many of which have been donated by local families to give guests of the museum deeper insight into the history of Trego County.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1645656084088.jpeg" alt="Santa Fe National Historic Trail (Photo courtesy Trego County Historial Society)" />
 <figcaption>Santa Fe National Historic Trail (Photo courtesy Trego County Historial Society)</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;<a href="https://public-api.wordpress.com/bar/?stat=groovemails-events&amp;bin=wpcom_email_click&amp;redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fwakeeneytravelblog.wordpress.com%2Fauthor%2Fdenaweigelbell%2F&amp;sr=1&amp;signature=70b5025880579e0dfaa613ac9b9a8e8c&amp;user=27015677&amp;_e=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&amp;_z=z" target="_blank">DENA WEIGEL BELL</a> WaKeeney Travel Blog<a href="https://public-api.wordpress.com/bar/?stat=groovemails-events&amp;bin=wpcom_email_click&amp;redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fwakeeneytravelblog.wordpress.com%2Fauthor%2Fdenaweigelbell%2F&amp;sr=1&amp;signature=70b5025880579e0dfaa613ac9b9a8e8c&amp;user=27015677&amp;_e=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&amp;_z=z" target="_blank"></a>WAKEENEY — Two hundred years ago, a loose collection of native trails were mapped out to be used as a main thoroughfare from Missouri to the southwest territory in what was to become New Mexico. The route became known as the Santa Fe Trail and over the next century it established itself as America's first commercial highway.On Sunday, the Trego Historical Society will celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Santa Fe Trail through the experiences of three women in a presentation from Marla Matkin. She will examine the history of the trail, the daily life of a traveler, their motivations for taking the 900-mile journey, and the dangers the faced along the way.<h2>The Santa Fe Trail</h2>The first recorded journey on the Santa Fe Trail took place in 1821, and a year later the route was officially mapped out to connect its starting point in Franklin, Missouri with Santa Fe, New Mexico. The route followed portions of older Native American trails, the Osage Trace and Medicine Trail and eventually joined the Arkansas River, branching off to follow both sides of the river upstream to Dodge City and Garden City. West of Garden City the branch was known as the Mountain Route, and the Dodge City route became the Cimarron Cutoff or Crossing, or the Middle Crossing. The two branches reconnected near the trail's conclusion at Fort Union, New Mexico. <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1645656242385.jpeg" alt="Map of the Santa Fe Trail (Courtesy image)" />
 <figcaption>Map of the Santa Fe Trail (Courtesy image)</figcaption>
 </figure>Today's U.S. Route 24 and Highway 56 loosely follow the trail and ruts in the earth made from the many wagons and carriages are still visible in several locations along the way, including a place near Great Bend, Kansas.The long, arduous journey posed many challenges that are unimaginable to us today. Wild animals, dry, barren deserts and steep, rocky mountains, attacks from Comanche and Apache tribes, and scorching summers and bitter cold winter weather made every journey potentially deadly.<h2>"Women on the Santa Fe Trail"</h2>To get a better understanding of life on the trail the Trego County Historical Society will be welcoming back independent scholar and living history performer, Marla Matkin. Her depiction of "Women on the Santa Fe Trail" is presented through first-person portrayals of three women who spent up to three months on the trail, providing reminisces of a bygone era and sharing their adventures on the Santa Fe Trails.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1645655915597.jpeg" alt="Marla Matkin (Courtesy photo)" />
 <figcaption>Marla Matkin (Courtesy photo)</figcaption>
 </figure>Marla Matkin has spent her life studying the history of the Old West and now she shares these stories through the many characters she creates on stage. With a twinkle in her eye and a tantalizing sense of humor, she describes a world where grit and determination won the day.Matkin traces her roots back to southwest Kansas where in 1877 her great-grandparents claimed a homestead near the legendary pillar of western lore, Dodge City, Kansas. Today, Matkin calls WaKeeney's northern neighbor, Hill City, her home and for twenty years she has performed historical program across the United States, including at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C., the Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Cody, Wyoming, the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, as well as at several National Park Service sites around the nation. She currently serves on the Society of Friends of Historic Fort Hays and the Smoky Hill Trail Association and was an appointee on the Arts and Entertainment Committee for the 200th celebration of the Santa Few Trail.Matlin's program will be part of the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tregohistorical.org/" target="_blank">Trego County Historical Society's</a>&nbsp;annual Kansas Day celebration program (postponed from January due to COVID). During your visit you can also explore the museum's large collection of Western artifacts, many of which have been donated by local families to give guests of the museum deeper insight into the history of Trego County.

'Women on the Santa Fe Trail' to be presented by living history performer

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1645821631944.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>

EMPORIA&nbsp;– Many advances in technology arise out of a desire to improve output and efficiency, and the fishing industry is no exception. One such advancement that has many anglers “picking sides” is the introduction, and proliferation, of live-imaging sonar (LIS) – sonar that allows anglers to view fish and structure, below and around their vessel, in real time and often with great clarity. While some believe LIS adds immense value to the overall fishing experience, others believe it poses an ethical dilemma, blurring the lines of “fair chase.” So, when is an advancement too advanced? That’s the data Kansas Dept. of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) Fisheries staff sought but couldn’t find; so, they developed it themselves in a first-of-its-kind study.

“As a conservation-based organization, we always want to look to science and ask ourselves, ‘What is the data telling us?’” said KDWP Fisheries biologist, Ben Neely. “But this technology is just new enough, that these data really didn’t exist. That’s when we decided we needed to explore this further and develop the study. It’s taken off like wildfire in the conservation community ever since.”

KDWP Fisheries staff opted to conduct a controlled and replicated experiment to assess the influence of LIS on catch of winter crappie ­– Kansas’ second-most sought-after sportfish. Specifically, the project was designed to examine LIS impacts on “casual weekend anglers” fishing unfamiliar water on a weekend trip.

In early December 2021, a total of 32 individuals from KDWP’s Fisheries and Wildlife divisions, and Kansas State University took part in a two-week experiment at Cedar Bluff Reservoir. Anglers were randomly partnered up and instructed to fish for seven hours on either the north or south sides of the lake, and either with or without the aid of LIS. The next day, each team switched sides and use of equipment; This resulted in a total of 16 controlled “samples.” The results were unexpected.

Ultimately, the data collected demonstrated that while LIS may improve angler catch and size of crappie by casual weekend anglers, overall differences were statistically minimal. And maybe more importantly, the data suggests an overall low risk of long-term damage to crappie populations as a result of LIS. However, anglers with more experience and expertise using LIS to target crappie were not considered in this study. Future studies are being discussed that can leverage the abilities of more LIS-experienced anglers to further inform future management of crappie in Kansas.

“Balancing sociological needs with biological needs is at the heart of nearly everything we do at KDWP,” said KDWP Secretary Brad Loveless. “This study is a fine example of how our staff continue to operate off of the best-available data to make science-based decisions that benefit not only the resource, but our users. I’m confident this study will be just one of many that the conservation industry looks to, as our talented staff in Kansas continue to pave the way in fisheries research and management.”

To learn more about this study, watch an audio/video presentation by Neely below.

For more on fishing in Kansas, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDIsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMjAyMTcuNTM2MTM0MzEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL2tzb3V0ZG9vcnMuY29tL0Zpc2hpbmcifQ.qgFHGNzBH3KhCEE-B-T8-3W0LgCo32id7yxZPRI-bbE/s/1303161001/br/126825049705-l" target="_blank">ksoutdoors.com/Fishing</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1645183617579.png" alt="(Kansas Department of Wildlif and Parks)" />
 <figcaption>(Kansas Department of Wildlif and Parks)</figcaption>
 </figure>KDWPEMPORIA&nbsp;– Many advances in technology arise out of a desire to improve output and efficiency, and the fishing industry is no exception. One such advancement that has many anglers “picking sides” is the introduction, and proliferation, of live-imaging sonar (LIS) – sonar that allows anglers to view fish and structure, below and around their vessel, in real time and often with great clarity. While some believe LIS adds immense value to the overall fishing experience, others believe it poses an ethical dilemma, blurring the lines of “fair chase.” So, when is an advancement too advanced? That’s the data Kansas Dept. of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) Fisheries staff sought but couldn’t find; so, they developed it themselves in a first-of-its-kind study.“As a conservation-based organization, we always want to look to science and ask ourselves, ‘What is the data telling us?’” said KDWP Fisheries biologist, Ben Neely. “But this technology is just new enough, that these data really didn’t exist. That’s when we decided we needed to explore this further and develop the study. It’s taken off like wildfire in the conservation community ever since.”KDWP Fisheries staff opted to conduct a controlled and replicated experiment to assess the influence of LIS on catch of winter crappie ­– Kansas’ second-most sought-after sportfish. Specifically, the project was designed to examine LIS impacts on “casual weekend anglers” fishing unfamiliar water on a weekend trip.In early December 2021, a total of 32 individuals from KDWP’s Fisheries and Wildlife divisions, and Kansas State University took part in a two-week experiment at Cedar Bluff Reservoir. Anglers were randomly partnered up and instructed to fish for seven hours on either the north or south sides of the lake, and either with or without the aid of LIS. The next day, each team switched sides and use of equipment; This resulted in a total of 16 controlled “samples.” The results were unexpected.<ul>
 <li>Participating anglers who did not use LIS averaged 6.3 crappie per day, while anglers who used LIS caught 7.3 crappie per day.</li><li>When other species of fish were counted in the study, teams not using LIS averaged 12.9 fish per day, compared to 14.4 per fish per day when LIS was used.</li><li>And, anglers also caught slightly larger crappie on average (10.8 inches) when using LIS, compared to the fish (10.5 inches) caught by anglers not using LIS.</li>
 </ul>Ultimately, the data collected demonstrated that while LIS may improve angler catch and size of crappie by casual weekend anglers, overall differences were statistically minimal. And maybe more importantly, the data suggests an overall low risk of long-term damage to crappie populations as a result of LIS. However, anglers with more experience and expertise using LIS to target crappie were not considered in this study. Future studies are being discussed that can leverage the abilities of more LIS-experienced anglers to further inform future management of crappie in Kansas.“Balancing sociological needs with biological needs is at the heart of nearly everything we do at KDWP,” said KDWP Secretary Brad Loveless. “This study is a fine example of how our staff continue to operate off of the best-available data to make science-based decisions that benefit not only the resource, but our users. I’m confident this study will be just one of many that the conservation industry looks to, as our talented staff in Kansas continue to pave the way in fisheries research and management.”To learn more about this study, watch an audio/video presentation by Neely below.<figure>
 <iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XEiP0_PMjjg"></iframe>
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>For more on fishing in Kansas, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDIsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMjAyMTcuNTM2MTM0MzEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL2tzb3V0ZG9vcnMuY29tL0Zpc2hpbmcifQ.qgFHGNzBH3KhCEE-B-T8-3W0LgCo32id7yxZPRI-bbE/s/1303161001/br/126825049705-l" target="_blank">ksoutdoors.com/Fishing</a>.

Winter crappie at Cedar Bluff part of groundbreaking experiment

TREGO COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just before 6a.m. Friday in Trego County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2013 Freightliner semi driven by&nbsp;Jeffrey Perkins, 62, Houston, TX, was westbound on Interstate 70 twelve miles west of WaKeeney.

The semi drifted onto the north shoulder, continued on into the ditch and overturned.

EMS transported Perkins to Trego County Hospital. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

TREGO COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just before 6a.m. Friday in Trego County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2013 Freightliner semi driven by&nbsp;Jeffrey Perkins, 62, Houston, TX, was westbound on Interstate 70 twelve miles west of WaKeeney.The semi drifted onto the north shoulder, continued on into the ditch and overturned.EMS transported Perkins to Trego County Hospital. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

Driver hospitalized after semi overturns in Trego Co.

RUSSELL COUNTY —A Kansas woman was injured in an accident just after 7a.m. Friday in Russell County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2015 Jeep Renegade driven by Danielle&nbsp;Homeier, 23, Dorrance, was eastbound in the 19000 Block Mitchell Road.

As the roadway began to curve, the jeep traveled off the roadway to the right and came to rest after striking the ditch.

EMS transported&nbsp;Homeier to the hospital in Russell. She was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

RUSSELL COUNTY —A Kansas woman was injured in an accident just after 7a.m. Friday in Russell County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2015 Jeep Renegade driven by Danielle&nbsp;Homeier, 23, Dorrance, was eastbound in the 19000 Block Mitchell Road.As the roadway began to curve, the jeep traveled off the roadway to the right and came to rest after striking the ditch.EMS transported&nbsp;Homeier to the hospital in Russell. She was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

Russell County woman hospitalized after Jeep strikes ditch

At 10:11 p.m. Thursday, the Ellis County Sheriff's Office was dispatched to the 1000 block of 280th Avenue for a report of a vehicle versus pedestrian accident. 

When deputies and first responders arrived on scene, 27-year-old Brandon Silva of Plainville was unresponsive on the roadway.

Silva was transported to Hays Medical Center in critical condition. 

The driver 33-year-old Alec Waelchli of Hays was arrested at the scene and booked into the Ellis County Jail on suspicion of&nbsp; driving under the influence of alcohol. 

Suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. 

Ellis County Sheriff At 10:11 p.m. Thursday, the Ellis County Sheriff's Office was dispatched to the 1000 block of 280th Avenue for a report of a vehicle versus pedestrian accident. When deputies and first responders arrived on scene, 27-year-old Brandon Silva of Plainville was unresponsive on the roadway.Silva was transported to Hays Medical Center in critical condition. The driver 33-year-old Alec Waelchli of Hays was arrested at the scene and booked into the Ellis County Jail on suspicion of&nbsp; driving under the influence of alcohol. Suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Hays resident arrested on suspicion of DUI after pedestrian accident

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

After noon on Friday, firefighters were called to a blaze at 1702 Eisenhower in Hays.

No one was home at the time of the fire, and no injuries were reported.

A fire official said the cause of the fire is still under investigation.

No damages estimates were available at the time of this post.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1645818003457.jpeg" alt="Fire crews survey the damage to a house at 1702 Eisenhower in Hays on Friday. " />
 <figcaption>Fire crews survey the damage to a house at 1702 Eisenhower in Hays on Friday. </figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostAfter noon on Friday, firefighters were called to a blaze at 1702 Eisenhower in Hays.No one was home at the time of the fire, and no injuries were reported.A fire official said the cause of the fire is still under investigation.No damages estimates were available at the time of this post. <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1645818119449.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>

Crews called to house fire Friday afternoon in Hays

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment on Friday reported 10 new COVID-19 cases in Ellis County had been identified since Wednesday.

As of Wednesday morning, there were 12 COVID-19 inpatients at HaysMed, including six active cases and six recovering cases.&nbsp;

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

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/75f061b1-d7f1-4dba-ad9d-36bcbccc8ee8">RELATED: Drive-through testing site returns to Big Creek Crossing</a>

The Kansas Hospital Organization reported last week that 54 percent of eligible Ellis County residents (5 and older) are fully vaccinated.&nbsp;

Since reporting began, there have been 7,105 cases of COVID-19 identified in Ellis County, including 80 coronavirus-related deaths.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1645830496723.png" alt="KDHE" />
 <figcaption>KDHE</figcaption>
 </figure>The Kansas Department of Health and Environment on Friday reported 10 new COVID-19 cases in Ellis County had been identified since Wednesday.As of Wednesday morning, there were 12 COVID-19 inpatients at HaysMed, including six active cases and six recovering cases.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ellisco.net/97/Health">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;for information on how to receive a COVID-19 vaccination.<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/75f061b1-d7f1-4dba-ad9d-36bcbccc8ee8">RELATED: Drive-through testing site returns to Big Creek Crossing</a>The Kansas Hospital Organization reported last week that 54 percent of eligible Ellis County residents (5 and older) are fully vaccinated.&nbsp;Since reporting began, there have been 7,105 cases of COVID-19 identified in Ellis County, including 80 coronavirus-related deaths.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1645830559167.png" alt="Statewide COVID-19 curve" />
 <figcaption>Statewide COVID-19 curve</figcaption>
 </figure>

KDHE: 10 new COVID cases in Ellis Co. since Wednesday

This week in the House of Representatives we debated nearly forty bills before we adjourned for the midpoint of the session, commonly referred to as Turnaround. This is the time during session where we pass many bills out of the House and forward those bills to the Senate.

Here is a list of some of the bills that we debated this week in the House:

House Bill 2456 would establish the Kansas kids lifetime combination of hunting and fishing licenses. This bill passed 117 to 4 and I voted, “yes.”

House Concurrent Resolution 5022 proposes a constitutional amendment that would require a sheriff to be elected in each county. This resolution passed&nbsp;with a vote of 97-24. I voted, “yes.”

With cotton starting to be grown more in the state of Kansas, we needed to create the Kansas Cotton Boll Weevil program. The creation of the program is in House Bill 2559. It would levy an assessment on cotton produced in Kansas and it would also monitor and mitigate the risk of boll weevils. This bill passed the House, 83-37, and I voted, “yes.”

House Bill 2386 establishes requirements for the payment and reimbursement of dental services through a dental benefit plan. This bill passed the House with a vote of 118-3. I voted in favor of this bill.

We will return from Turnaround on March 1, 2022.

Due to the time that was spent on the House Floor debating bills, this week in Appropriations we only met on Monday morning. We did have the recommendations from the House Social Services Budget Committee regarding the budgets of the state hospitals for mental health and the state hospitals for intellectual disabilities.

When we return on Tuesday, March 2, we will continue to deliberate budgets for the state of Kansas budget. Those budgets that we will discuss are the Kansas Department of Revenue, Kansas Department of Agriculture and the Kansas Water Office. We will also hold hearings on House Bills 2588 and 2592 and these bills are the bills we will use when constructing the budget for the state of Kansas.

As I mentioned before, we debated nearly forty bills this week. Here are details of some of the other bills that we discussed:

House Bill 2595 makes certain antique vehicle titling procedures applicable to vehicles having a model year of 1960 or later instead of 1950 or later. This bill passed, 121-0.

House Bill 2574 establishes a time limitation for awarding compensation for mental health counseling and increases certain compensation amounts by the Crime Victims Compensation Board. This bill passed, 121-0.

House Bill 2567 overall decreases registration and title fees on vehicles for services performed by county treasurers. It also decreases certain fees with the Division of Vehicles. More importantly, which was added as an amendment, it eliminates the $4 Modernization Fee that one has been paying when titling their vehicle. This bill passed, 114-6.

House Bill 2594 exempts certain modifications that have been made to antique vehicles from vehicle identification number offenses, seizures and dispositions. The vehicle can be seized if the owner knows or has reason to know that the vehicle was stolen. This bill derives from a case where the Kansas Highway Patrol seized a 1959 Chevrolet Corvette from an innocent owner and they will not release the vehicle back to him. The bill passed the house, 120-0.

Anytime that one would like to participate and listen to the developments of committee hearings or discussion on the House floor, one can tune in by listening to the audio footage at www.kslegislature.org.

As always, if you have any concerns, feel free to contact me (785) 296-7672, follow on twitter at @waymaster4house, or email me at troy.waymaster@house.ks.gov. Please contact me regarding any issues and legislation that we are discussing during session.

It is a distinct honor to serve as your representative for the 109th Kansas House District and the state of Kansas. Please contact me with your thoughts, concerns, and questions. I always appreciate hearing from the residents of the 109th House District and others from the state of Kansas, as well.

Troy Waymaster, R-Bunker Hill, is the Kansas House&nbsp;Appropriations Chairman and 109th District state representative which includes:

* Osborne, Russell, and Smith Counties * Barton County: Cities: Albert, Claflin, Galatia, Odin, Olmitz and Susank; Townships: Beaver, Cheyenne, Clarence, Cleveland, Fairview, Grant, Independent, Logan, Union, Walnut and Wheatland * Jewell County: Cities:Burr Oak, Esbon and Mankato; Townships: Athens,Browns Creek, Burr Oak, Calvin, Center,Erving, Esbon, Harrison, Highland, Holmwood, Ionia, Limestone, Odessa,Walnut and White Mound * Lincoln County: Cities: Lincoln Center(part) and Sylvan Grove; Townships: Battle Creek, Beaver(part), Cedron, Elkhorn(part), Golden Belt, Grant, Hanover, Highland, Indiana, Marion, Orange, Pleasant, Valley and Vesper * Rush County: Cities: Bison, Otis, Rush Center and Timken; Townships: Banner,Center,Garfield, Illinois, Lone Star, Pioneer and Pleasantdale

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1633970422056.jpeg" alt="Troy L. Waymaster, State Representative, 109th Kansas House, R-Bunker Hill" />
 <figcaption>Troy L. Waymaster, State Representative, 109th Kansas House, R-Bunker Hill</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA February 25, 2022Floor Action in the HouseThis week in the House of Representatives we debated nearly forty bills before we adjourned for the midpoint of the session, commonly referred to as Turnaround. This is the time during session where we pass many bills out of the House and forward those bills to the Senate.Here is a list of some of the bills that we debated this week in the House:House Bill 2456 would establish the Kansas kids lifetime combination of hunting and fishing licenses. This bill passed 117 to 4 and I voted, “yes.”House Concurrent Resolution 5022 proposes a constitutional amendment that would require a sheriff to be elected in each county. This resolution passed&nbsp;with a vote of 97-24. I voted, “yes.”With cotton starting to be grown more in the state of Kansas, we needed to create the Kansas Cotton Boll Weevil program. The creation of the program is in House Bill 2559. It would levy an assessment on cotton produced in Kansas and it would also monitor and mitigate the risk of boll weevils. This bill passed the House, 83-37, and I voted, “yes.”House Bill 2386 establishes requirements for the payment and reimbursement of dental services through a dental benefit plan. This bill passed the House with a vote of 118-3. I voted in favor of this bill.We will return from Turnaround on March 1, 2022.Appropriations CommitteeDue to the time that was spent on the House Floor debating bills, this week in Appropriations we only met on Monday morning. We did have the recommendations from the House Social Services Budget Committee regarding the budgets of the state hospitals for mental health and the state hospitals for intellectual disabilities.When we return on Tuesday, March 2, we will continue to deliberate budgets for the state of Kansas budget. Those budgets that we will discuss are the Kansas Department of Revenue, Kansas Department of Agriculture and the Kansas Water Office. We will also hold hearings on House Bills 2588 and 2592 and these bills are the bills we will use when constructing the budget for the state of Kansas.Bills, Bills, and More BillsAs I mentioned before, we debated nearly forty bills this week. Here are details of some of the other bills that we discussed:House Bill 2595 makes certain antique vehicle titling procedures applicable to vehicles having a model year of 1960 or later instead of 1950 or later. This bill passed, 121-0.House Bill 2574 establishes a time limitation for awarding compensation for mental health counseling and increases certain compensation amounts by the Crime Victims Compensation Board. This bill passed, 121-0.House Bill 2567 overall decreases registration and title fees on vehicles for services performed by county treasurers. It also decreases certain fees with the Division of Vehicles. More importantly, which was added as an amendment, it eliminates the $4 Modernization Fee that one has been paying when titling their vehicle. This bill passed, 114-6.House Bill 2594 exempts certain modifications that have been made to antique vehicles from vehicle identification number offenses, seizures and dispositions. The vehicle can be seized if the owner knows or has reason to know that the vehicle was stolen. This bill derives from a case where the Kansas Highway Patrol seized a 1959 Chevrolet Corvette from an innocent owner and they will not release the vehicle back to him. The bill passed the house, 120-0.Contact InformationAnytime that one would like to participate and listen to the developments of committee hearings or discussion on the House floor, one can tune in by listening to the audio footage at www.kslegislature.org.As always, if you have any concerns, feel free to contact me (785) 296-7672, follow on twitter at @waymaster4house, or email me at troy.waymaster@house.ks.gov. Please contact me regarding any issues and legislation that we are discussing during session.It is a distinct honor to serve as your representative for the 109th Kansas House District and the state of Kansas. Please contact me with your thoughts, concerns, and questions. I always appreciate hearing from the residents of the 109th House District and others from the state of Kansas, as well.Troy Waymaster, R-Bunker Hill, is the Kansas House&nbsp;Appropriations Chairman and 109th District state representative which includes: * Osborne, Russell, and Smith Counties * Barton County: Cities: Albert, Claflin, Galatia, Odin, Olmitz and Susank; Townships: Beaver, Cheyenne, Clarence, Cleveland, Fairview, Grant, Independent, Logan, Union, Walnut and Wheatland * Jewell County: Cities:Burr Oak, Esbon and Mankato; Townships: Athens,Browns Creek, Burr Oak, Calvin, Center,Erving, Esbon, Harrison, Highland, Holmwood, Ionia, Limestone, Odessa,Walnut and White Mound * Lincoln County: Cities: Lincoln Center(part) and Sylvan Grove; Townships: Battle Creek, Beaver(part), Cedron, Elkhorn(part), Golden Belt, Grant, Hanover, Highland, Indiana, Marion, Orange, Pleasant, Valley and Vesper * Rush County: Cities: Bison, Otis, Rush Center and Timken; Townships: Banner,Center,Garfield, Illinois, Lone Star, Pioneer and Pleasantdale

WAYMASTER: From the Dome to Home, Feb. 25, 2022

Fort Hays State University today announced that finance and accounting students now have access to the Bloomberg Terminal, which is used by leading business and financial professionals worldwide.&nbsp;

The&nbsp;<a href="http://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=-2BFJoAhsjp8losQfY8t-2BZtMi27Lr0ECv514ITG9XqYY6vwm8MX1VztUDATPH5KCBSuB3qmQfevU0mhTrZUFU5q9VtXqlIB-2BZta-2BjL6lxBetrBoYPzMOGlnliqjfTuSKX2l7uA05wmfvf9tggx8jHBOe6THXqJVQ0Dx0GPF-2FUXgFO2hRHqUD7hWhSzqb8EZtnq1DZM5HjyJzdj1w1NAwbkBJguXfQ2Eu5QePcNvU1fO-2BQ-3DWNNU_r-2BDMsuWuYVmb7-2F1Mu1QL1I-2FJ8-2BHR91nNNNGTTc38Ah0CWayiZL-2BkhdmA3sx0XGnG-2FN1jk6rVQRO9vN7U5rFC-2BcXi909IOPAdkr3SvXFdyn3Ag1h6-2F-2B6atf0vMUKxRgZ-2BPUml53A0ychjReire4KwuIk9Ua-2F4oigaLYuNuWyELyb-2Bzu8sIMcscboVv7p07u99KVtkFpgtv6Zg55Yo8aI90UevJRtquPHkyTfU7p92pXyBh5H03nCpOOcPL4Nn12-2B54yU1mesTmWARbcOheowIEtp2JLIoHS-2BhtsYvlCFvyET-2BXZGaPUZLfsxbXUkPoXo3tN3pPCWGGBHnuOWcS2-2Bpz6Rs1JWVgQm7V7C8U1o9nDU0JxDItRGC6Za2P6SpPmBX">Bloomberg Terminal</a>&nbsp;provides real-time and historical data, market-moving news, and analytics to help leading business and financial professionals worldwide make better-informed investment decisions. The solution also features electronic trading or trade negotiation tools for every asset class, research, and a global network to communicate securely and reliably.&nbsp;

The Bloomberg Terminal will serve as a resource for both students and professors. It will enable students to become familiar with financial services industry tools, reinforce classroom theory, and allow professors to use the service to further their research.

Dr. Muhammad Chishty, dean of the W.R. and Yvonne Robbins College of Business and Entrepreneurship, said that FHSU’s Investment Analytics Lab is now fully outfitted with 12 Bloomberg Terminal licenses, thanks to two generous, anonymous donations from alumni.

“This industry standard source of real time market data and financial news, coupled with the student managed investment fund we have created, will allow our students to develop strong analytical skills that will position them well for a career in the global financial services industry after college,” Chishty said.

Fort Hays State University was founded in 1902 as the Western Branch of Kansas State Normal School on the grounds of Fort Hays, a 19th-century frontier military outpost.&nbsp;

FHSU is a regional comprehensive public university serving more than 14,000 students. The university excels at developing engaged global citizen-leaders through innovative online and on-campus programs designed to push the boundaries of knowledge and drive solutions that serve the public good. The innovative community of teacher-scholars and education professionals at FHSU is committed to providing an accessible and high-quality education to the citizens of Kansas, the nation, and the world.

Tuition and fees at FHSU are nearly half the national average and substantially lower than peer institutions in Kansas and across the nation. More than 95% of FHSU students secure jobs or pursue advanced educational opportunities after graduation. Academic excellence, affordability, and extensive student support services combine to make FHSU the best value in higher education anywhere.

For more information, contact FHSU Chief Communications Officer Scott Cason at 785.324.2722 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:sacason@fhsu.edu">sacason@fhsu.edu</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1645480446913.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU University CommunicationsFort Hays State University today announced that finance and accounting students now have access to the Bloomberg Terminal, which is used by leading business and financial professionals worldwide.&nbsp;The&nbsp;<a href="http://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=-2BFJoAhsjp8losQfY8t-2BZtMi27Lr0ECv514ITG9XqYY6vwm8MX1VztUDATPH5KCBSuB3qmQfevU0mhTrZUFU5q9VtXqlIB-2BZta-2BjL6lxBetrBoYPzMOGlnliqjfTuSKX2l7uA05wmfvf9tggx8jHBOe6THXqJVQ0Dx0GPF-2FUXgFO2hRHqUD7hWhSzqb8EZtnq1DZM5HjyJzdj1w1NAwbkBJguXfQ2Eu5QePcNvU1fO-2BQ-3DWNNU_r-2BDMsuWuYVmb7-2F1Mu1QL1I-2FJ8-2BHR91nNNNGTTc38Ah0CWayiZL-2BkhdmA3sx0XGnG-2FN1jk6rVQRO9vN7U5rFC-2BcXi909IOPAdkr3SvXFdyn3Ag1h6-2F-2B6atf0vMUKxRgZ-2BPUml53A0ychjReire4KwuIk9Ua-2F4oigaLYuNuWyELyb-2Bzu8sIMcscboVv7p07u99KVtkFpgtv6Zg55Yo8aI90UevJRtquPHkyTfU7p92pXyBh5H03nCpOOcPL4Nn12-2B54yU1mesTmWARbcOheowIEtp2JLIoHS-2BhtsYvlCFvyET-2BXZGaPUZLfsxbXUkPoXo3tN3pPCWGGBHnuOWcS2-2Bpz6Rs1JWVgQm7V7C8U1o9nDU0JxDItRGC6Za2P6SpPmBX">Bloomberg Terminal</a>&nbsp;provides real-time and historical data, market-moving news, and analytics to help leading business and financial professionals worldwide make better-informed investment decisions. The solution also features electronic trading or trade negotiation tools for every asset class, research, and a global network to communicate securely and reliably.&nbsp;The Bloomberg Terminal will serve as a resource for both students and professors. It will enable students to become familiar with financial services industry tools, reinforce classroom theory, and allow professors to use the service to further their research.Dr. Muhammad Chishty, dean of the W.R. and Yvonne Robbins College of Business and Entrepreneurship, said that FHSU’s Investment Analytics Lab is now fully outfitted with 12 Bloomberg Terminal licenses, thanks to two generous, anonymous donations from alumni.“This industry standard source of real time market data and financial news, coupled with the student managed investment fund we have created, will allow our students to develop strong analytical skills that will position them well for a career in the global financial services industry after college,” Chishty said.About Fort Hays State UniversityFort Hays State University was founded in 1902 as the Western Branch of Kansas State Normal School on the grounds of Fort Hays, a 19th-century frontier military outpost.&nbsp;FHSU is a regional comprehensive public university serving more than 14,000 students. The university excels at developing engaged global citizen-leaders through innovative online and on-campus programs designed to push the boundaries of knowledge and drive solutions that serve the public good. The innovative community of teacher-scholars and education professionals at FHSU is committed to providing an accessible and high-quality education to the citizens of Kansas, the nation, and the world.Tuition and fees at FHSU are nearly half the national average and substantially lower than peer institutions in Kansas and across the nation. More than 95% of FHSU students secure jobs or pursue advanced educational opportunities after graduation. Academic excellence, affordability, and extensive student support services combine to make FHSU the best value in higher education anywhere.For more information, contact FHSU Chief Communications Officer Scott Cason at 785.324.2722 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:sacason@fhsu.edu">sacason@fhsu.edu</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Anonymous donations provide Bloomberg Terminals to FHSU

COLBY —&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ptk.org/" target="_blank">Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society</a>&nbsp;will recognize&nbsp;Colby Community College President Dr. Seth Carter as one of 13 college presidents to receive the Shirley B. Gordon Award of Distinction during PTK Catalyst 2022, the society's annual convention in Denver on April 7 to 9.

The Shirley B. Gordon Award is Phi Theta Kappa's most prestigious distinction for community college presidents. It is named in honor of the late Dr. Shirley B. Gordon, Phi Theta Kappa's longest-serving board of directors chair and a founder and longtime president of Highline Community College in Washington.

The award recognizes individuals who have shown support of student success initiatives leading to stronger pathways to completion, transfer, and employment. They have taken an active interest in supporting high-achieving students and developing student leaders on campus.

Recipients are nominated by students on their campus.

"Dr. Carter has shown immense support for CCC's Phi Theta Kappa chapter," said Samantha Talsma, Colby PTK adviser. "It's no surprise that our students would want to nominate him or that he was selected for this award."&nbsp;

To be eligible, college presidents must have served in their role for at least five years. The 13 recipients were selected from among 617 eligible college presidents.

"He's played a huge role in helping our chapter, Rho Iota, succeed," Talsma said. "We are looking forward to inducting almost 30 students into the honor society on March 1. These students have taken at least 12 college credit hours and obtained at least a 3.5 GPA. It is encouraging to have a president that recognizes their hard work to achieve this level of academic success."

Now entering his seventh year leading CCC, Carter also received PTK's Paragon Award for New Presidents in 2019.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1645471546291.jpeg" alt="Carter" />
 <figcaption>Carter</figcaption>
 </figure>CCCCOLBY —&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ptk.org/" target="_blank">Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society</a>&nbsp;will recognize&nbsp;Colby Community College President Dr. Seth Carter as one of 13 college presidents to receive the Shirley B. Gordon Award of Distinction during PTK Catalyst 2022, the society's annual convention in Denver on April 7 to 9.The Shirley B. Gordon Award is Phi Theta Kappa's most prestigious distinction for community college presidents. It is named in honor of the late Dr. Shirley B. Gordon, Phi Theta Kappa's longest-serving board of directors chair and a founder and longtime president of Highline Community College in Washington.The award recognizes individuals who have shown support of student success initiatives leading to stronger pathways to completion, transfer, and employment. They have taken an active interest in supporting high-achieving students and developing student leaders on campus.Recipients are nominated by students on their campus."Dr. Carter has shown immense support for CCC's Phi Theta Kappa chapter," said Samantha Talsma, Colby PTK adviser. "It's no surprise that our students would want to nominate him or that he was selected for this award."&nbsp;To be eligible, college presidents must have served in their role for at least five years. The 13 recipients were selected from among 617 eligible college presidents."He's played a huge role in helping our chapter, Rho Iota, succeed," Talsma said. "We are looking forward to inducting almost 30 students into the honor society on March 1. These students have taken at least 12 college credit hours and obtained at least a 3.5 GPA. It is encouraging to have a president that recognizes their hard work to achieve this level of academic success." Now entering his seventh year leading CCC, Carter also received PTK's Paragon Award for New Presidents in 2019.

Colby CC president will be honored by education society 

COLBY — An "America’s Got Talent" magic act finalist is coming to the Colby Community Collage Cultural Arts Center, 3 p.m. CST, Sunday, March 6.

In addition to numerous business and individual sponsors, this Western Plains Arts Association program has received generous grants from the&nbsp;Thomas County Community Foundation through the Greater Northwest Kansas Community Foundation, Bird City,&nbsp;and&nbsp;the&nbsp;Dane G. Hansen Foundation, Logan.

To encourage lots of family participation, admission is by WPAA season ticket or adults $10, and students, only $5 at the door.

Hawley Magic is husband and wife duo, Jonathan and Trisha Hawley, who claim North Carolina as their home base. Together they have traveled the world with a fresh, slick new approach to magic and illusion that is extremely high energy and action packed. They offer everything in magic from some of the world’s largest one of a kind illusions to never before seen close-up magic featuring Jonathan’s expert sleight of hand.

In addition to&nbsp;being finalist on the hit national television show "America’s Got Talent," Hawley Magic was&nbsp;nominated for Princess Cruises Entertainer of the Year while headlining as their resident illusionists. They&nbsp;guest stared as the closing act for the world’s biggest magic convention in Blackpool, United Kingdom, featured on ITV in the UK, and were also a headline act on board Disney Cruises as the resident illusionists. Hawley Magic creates an exceptional show that will leave you on the edge of you seat.

See&nbsp;<a href="http://www.hawleymagic.biz/">www.hawleymagic.biz</a>&nbsp;for videos, pictures and additional information.

WPAA has a quality program scheduled every Sunday afternoon in March in a northwest Kansas community near you. Others are: Ball in the House, March 13; Pippa White, March 20; Nashville Legacy, March 27.

<figure>
 <iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jAIQM5XQLFs"></iframe>
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WPAACOLBY — An "America’s Got Talent" magic act finalist is coming to the Colby Community Collage Cultural Arts Center, 3 p.m. CST, Sunday, March 6.In addition to numerous business and individual sponsors, this Western Plains Arts Association program has received generous grants from the&nbsp;Thomas County Community Foundation through the Greater Northwest Kansas Community Foundation, Bird City,&nbsp;and&nbsp;the&nbsp;Dane G. Hansen Foundation, Logan.To encourage lots of family participation, admission is by WPAA season ticket or adults $10, and students, only $5 at the door.Hawley Magic is husband and wife duo, Jonathan and Trisha Hawley, who claim North Carolina as their home base. Together they have traveled the world with a fresh, slick new approach to magic and illusion that is extremely high energy and action packed. They offer everything in magic from some of the world’s largest one of a kind illusions to never before seen close-up magic featuring Jonathan’s expert sleight of hand.In addition to&nbsp;being finalist on the hit national television show "America’s Got Talent," Hawley Magic was&nbsp;nominated for Princess Cruises Entertainer of the Year while headlining as their resident illusionists. They&nbsp;guest stared as the closing act for the world’s biggest magic convention in Blackpool, United Kingdom, featured on ITV in the UK, and were also a headline act on board Disney Cruises as the resident illusionists. Hawley Magic creates an exceptional show that will leave you on the edge of you seat.See&nbsp;<a href="http://www.hawleymagic.biz/">www.hawleymagic.biz</a>&nbsp;for videos, pictures and additional information.WPAA has a quality program scheduled every Sunday afternoon in March in a northwest Kansas community near you. Others are: Ball in the House, March 13; Pippa White, March 20; Nashville Legacy, March 27.

'America’s Got Talent' magic act finalist heads  to NW Kan.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1645731989122.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>

KANSAS CITY –&nbsp;The University of Kansas Medical Center recently distributed a total of 22,500 COVID-19 rapid home test kits in 20 Kansas counties, including Thomas County in northwest Kansas.

The kits were sent as part of a new community health initiative funded by a $13 million grant from the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/" target="_blank">Kansas Department of Health and Environment</a>.&nbsp;

The grant was obtained and will be managed by KU Medical Center for a program named&nbsp;Communities Organizing to Promote Equity, or COPE. COPE partners include KU Medical Center, community health clinics, community organizations and health departments within the specified counties.&nbsp;The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) made funding available to state health departments&nbsp;to address health equity, particularly in response to COVID-19; however, the funds are not limited to pandemic-related health concerns.&nbsp;&nbsp;

KU Medical Center faculty, staff and students were joined by family members and volunteers from area middle schools and high schools to label and pack the test kits for distribution.&nbsp;Project Lead Sarah Finocchario Kessler, Ph.D., MPH, associate professor of family medicine and community health in the KU School of Medicine, said, “We are very excited to get these tests to partner organizations and families in COPE counties as a great way to launch our program.”&nbsp;

In addition to providing the COVID tests, funds from COPE will be used to hire and train three community health care workers (CHWs) in each county through the grant’s end date of June 2023. Kessler said the CHWs will aim to:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

“This an opportunity to potentially hire from the underserved communities we’re trying to reach and to provide CHWs and community leaders with the budgetary resources needed to put good, practical ideas into practice,” Kessler said.&nbsp;&nbsp;

COPE shares some similarities with another recent community health initiative,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kumc.edu/school-of-medicine/academics/departments/population-health/research/radxup.html" target="_blank">RADx-UP</a>. In 2020, KU Medical Center received a two-year grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to support projects designed to rapidly implement COVID-19 testing strategies in populations disproportionally affected by the pandemic. RADx-UP established small community task forces in 10 counties in Kansas. These groups, called Local Health Equity Action Teams, or LHEATs, identified COVID-related inequities in their communities and devised strategies for improvement.&nbsp;

Kessler said the COPE program will adopt the concept of LHEATs and even retain some of the team members who helped in RADx-UP. But more importantly, she said, these new teams will be able to expand health-equity efforts in the state (from 10 counties to 20) and&nbsp;have direct funding to implement strategies designed to reduce barriers and reach people who are often missed by more traditional strategies.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Edward Ellerbeck, M.D., MPH, professor of population health and internal medicine in KU School of Medicine and one of the principal co-investigators of RADx-UP at KU Medical Center, said RADx-UP provided some important insights into the barriers faced by underserved populations in Kansas in getting tested and vaccinated for COVID-19. “COPE builds upon the lessons learned in RADx-UP and takes it to a new level,” he said.&nbsp;

Allen Greiner, M.D., MPH, professor of family medicine and community health in KU School of Medicine and one of principal co-investigators of the medical center’s RADx-UP, said he sees COPE as a way to bring together various partners in the selected urban and rural counties. “Community health services are rarely tied to public health and health care delivery partners such as clinics and hospitals,” Greiner said. “The COPE project aims to build new bridges to improve a variety of health and social outcomes for those in need. COVID and other chronic disease outcomes will improve as a result.”&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1645654750800.jpeg" alt="Christina Pacheco, COPE Project Director, Brenda Griffin, Public Health nurse with White Cloud Indian Health Services in Hiawatha, Kansas, and Ruaa Hassaballah, COPE Community Regional Lead for Northeast Kansas, helped to prepare COVID-19 test kits for delivery to 20 Kansas counties, including Thomas County. (Contributed photo)" />
 <figcaption>Christina Pacheco, COPE Project Director, Brenda Griffin, Public Health nurse with White Cloud Indian Health Services in Hiawatha, Kansas, and Ruaa Hassaballah, COPE Community Regional Lead for Northeast Kansas, helped to prepare COVID-19 test kits for delivery to 20 Kansas counties, including Thomas County. (Contributed photo)</figcaption>
 </figure>KU Medical CenterKANSAS CITY –&nbsp;The University of Kansas Medical Center recently distributed a total of 22,500 COVID-19 rapid home test kits in 20 Kansas counties, including Thomas County in northwest Kansas. The kits were sent as part of a new community health initiative funded by a $13 million grant from the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/" target="_blank">Kansas Department of Health and Environment</a>.&nbsp;The grant was obtained and will be managed by KU Medical Center for a program named&nbsp;Communities Organizing to Promote Equity, or COPE. COPE partners include KU Medical Center, community health clinics, community organizations and health departments within the specified counties.&nbsp;The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) made funding available to state health departments&nbsp;to address health equity, particularly in response to COVID-19; however, the funds are not limited to pandemic-related health concerns.&nbsp;&nbsp;KU Medical Center faculty, staff and students were joined by family members and volunteers from area middle schools and high schools to label and pack the test kits for distribution.&nbsp;Project Lead Sarah Finocchario Kessler, Ph.D., MPH, associate professor of family medicine and community health in the KU School of Medicine, said, “We are very excited to get these tests to partner organizations and families in COPE counties as a great way to launch our program.”&nbsp;In addition to providing the COVID tests, funds from COPE will be used to hire and train three community health care workers (CHWs) in each county through the grant’s end date of June 2023. Kessler said the CHWs will aim to:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<ul>
 <li>Build rapport and trust with underserved community members by linking them to needed services&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>Facilitate access to COVID-19 testing and vaccinations through partnerships with trusted community-based organizations &nbsp;</li><li>Strengthen the role of community health workers in the public health response to COVID-19 and build health equity in local communities&nbsp;</li>
 </ul>“This an opportunity to potentially hire from the underserved communities we’re trying to reach and to provide CHWs and community leaders with the budgetary resources needed to put good, practical ideas into practice,” Kessler said.&nbsp;&nbsp;COPE shares some similarities with another recent community health initiative,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kumc.edu/school-of-medicine/academics/departments/population-health/research/radxup.html" target="_blank">RADx-UP</a>. In 2020, KU Medical Center received a two-year grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to support projects designed to rapidly implement COVID-19 testing strategies in populations disproportionally affected by the pandemic. RADx-UP established small community task forces in 10 counties in Kansas. These groups, called Local Health Equity Action Teams, or LHEATs, identified COVID-related inequities in their communities and devised strategies for improvement.&nbsp;Kessler said the COPE program will adopt the concept of LHEATs and even retain some of the team members who helped in RADx-UP. But more importantly, she said, these new teams will be able to expand health-equity efforts in the state (from 10 counties to 20) and&nbsp;have direct funding to implement strategies designed to reduce barriers and reach people who are often missed by more traditional strategies.&nbsp;&nbsp;Edward Ellerbeck, M.D., MPH, professor of population health and internal medicine in KU School of Medicine and one of the principal co-investigators of RADx-UP at KU Medical Center, said RADx-UP provided some important insights into the barriers faced by underserved populations in Kansas in getting tested and vaccinated for COVID-19. “COPE builds upon the lessons learned in RADx-UP and takes it to a new level,” he said.&nbsp;Allen Greiner, M.D., MPH, professor of family medicine and community health in KU School of Medicine and one of principal co-investigators of the medical center’s RADx-UP, said he sees COPE as a way to bring together various partners in the selected urban and rural counties. “Community health services are rarely tied to public health and health care delivery partners such as clinics and hospitals,” Greiner said. “The COPE project aims to build new bridges to improve a variety of health and social outcomes for those in need. COVID and other chronic disease outcomes will improve as a result.”&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1645654608743.png" alt="(KU Medical Center)" />
 <figcaption>(KU Medical Center)</figcaption>
 </figure>

Thomas Co. part of health initiative in response to COVID

The Eagle Radio of Hays auction will begin Sunday and continues through March 20.

Click <a href="https://hayspost.com/pages/eagle-radio-auction-descriptions-of-items">HERE</a> to view items and get registered to bid — and SAVE!

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1645733872093.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The Eagle Radio of Hays auction will begin Sunday and continues through March 20.Click <a href="https://hayspost.com/pages/eagle-radio-auction-descriptions-of-items">HERE</a> to view items and get registered to bid — and SAVE!

Eagle Radio auction right around the corner!

Tune in Tuesday at 9 a.m. to 94.3 FM/1400 AM KAYS for a live conversation about Ukraine, what has led to the current escalation of armed conflict between the country and Russia, its historical ties to Russia and why it matters to the globe with Fort Hays State University historian and professor Amber Nickell.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1646070392083.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Tune in Tuesday at 9 a.m. to 94.3 FM/1400 AM KAYS for a live conversation about Ukraine, what has led to the current escalation of armed conflict between the country and Russia, its historical ties to Russia and why it matters to the globe with Fort Hays State University historian and professor Amber Nickell.

Learn about Ukraine Tuesday morning on KAYS

By JAMES BELL 
Hays Post

It might only be the second month of the calendar year, but the first
steps to enrolling kindergarteners into USD 489 for the 2022-23 school year soon will be underway.

The annual Kindergarten Roundup is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Monday in
Gym A on the Hays High campus, giving parents an opportunity to meet with
district officials, set up school tours, choose the child’s preferred school
and enroll children for the upcoming school year.

“There are a few reasons why it's important for parents to
attend,” said Roosevelt Elementary principal Keri Petersen. “No. 1, the event is for all parents who
student enrolling in kindergarten.”

But she said for parents with students already in the district, the
night could be a refresher for the first year.

To enroll in the district next year, children must be five
years of age on or before Aug. 31.

While many of the in-person functions of the roundup remain
the same, this year the district is moving to an online enrollment system.

“We've already had our pre-enrollment paperwork sent out to
families who are already in our district,” Petersen said. “We will send out an online enrollment link following our
Roundup time that evening at 6:30 p.m. So that parents can take care of all of
that online this year, so there won't be any of the paperwork involved in it.”

During the Roundup, Superintendent Wilson and Assistant Superintendent Shanna
Dinkel will speak, as well as each one of the principles about school-year
topics.

“You just take a seat in the gym. We will probably likely
have a slideshow that you can view while we're doing our talking and, at the
end, you'll have an opportunity to speak with us if you'd like,” Petersen said.
“It's not a long timeframe, it's just a nice time for you to actually get to
be introduced to each one of us.

<div><iframe title="489 readies for Kindergarten Round-up" 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=36txk-11b3e35-pb&from=pb6admin&square=1&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=ffffff&btn-skin=3267a3&size=300" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>By JAMES BELL 
Hays PostIt might only be the second month of the calendar year, but the first
steps to enrolling kindergarteners into USD 489 for the 2022-23 school year soon will be underway.The annual Kindergarten Roundup is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Monday in
Gym A on the Hays High campus, giving parents an opportunity to meet with
district officials, set up school tours, choose the child’s preferred school
and enroll children for the upcoming school year.“There are a few reasons why it's important for parents to
attend,” said Roosevelt Elementary principal Keri Petersen. “No. 1, the event is for all parents who
student enrolling in kindergarten.”But she said for parents with students already in the district, the
night could be a refresher for the first year.To enroll in the district next year, children must be five
years of age on or before Aug. 31.While many of the in-person functions of the roundup remain
the same, this year the district is moving to an online enrollment system.“We've already had our pre-enrollment paperwork sent out to
families who are already in our district,” Petersen said. “We will send out an online enrollment link following our
Roundup time that evening at 6:30 p.m. So that parents can take care of all of
that online this year, so there won't be any of the paperwork involved in it.”During the Roundup, Superintendent Wilson and Assistant Superintendent Shanna
Dinkel will speak, as well as each one of the principles about school-year
topics.“You just take a seat in the gym. We will probably likely
have a slideshow that you can view while we're doing our talking and, at the
end, you'll have an opportunity to speak with us if you'd like,” Petersen said.
“It's not a long timeframe, it's just a nice time for you to actually get to
be introduced to each one of us.“And it's a great time if you have questions to get some
answers, especially after the presentation, which is pretty brief,”
she said. “So that gives parents time to speak with each one of us or
whoever they feel like they need to have a discussion with. ... That's what we're there for.”Along with the information, a part of the process is deciding a family's first, second and third choice of elementary schools in the district.School placement will be decided by the district later, and
parents will be informed as to their child’s school in late April, Petersen said.School tours can be arranged for those looking to view the individual
schools before making a decision.“The dates are not officially set hour tours in some of our
buildings,” Petersen said. “So, if you'd like, if you're undecided about which
building you'd like your child to attend, you can certainly call the buildings
and set up a time to tour.”The meeting also is an opportunity to learn about parent
groups in the district.“Each one of our buildings has great parent groups who are
involved in trying to make our buildings the best place they can be for all of
our students,” Petersen said. “We're looking forward to meeting new students to meeting
parents who are coming in. And of course, if you're a repeat parent, and you
already have kids in our buildings or in the district, we'd love to see you on
that same evening on Feb. 28,” she said.Cover image courtesy Pixabay