The students of Ellis County that attend and will attend USD 489 for many years to come need your help.&nbsp;A great education is one of the most important&nbsp;things a&nbsp;child will need to compete in the future.&nbsp;As technology advances the&nbsp;need to be competitive increases. Are we providing all the tools that our children&nbsp;will need to be the best and the brightest?&nbsp;Do we&nbsp;offer&nbsp;the best&nbsp;learning&nbsp;environment?&nbsp;What about classroom sizes? Optimum number of students? All these&nbsp;things and more are needed. It has been 40 years since a new school was constructed.&nbsp;

I recently retired from&nbsp;our&nbsp;local county government&nbsp;as a department head.&nbsp;One of the most important things to keep productivity at&nbsp;the most efficient level is&nbsp;training,&nbsp;proper equipment and&nbsp;facilities.&nbsp;I believe the administration&nbsp;does the very best in spending taxpayer dollars.&nbsp;

The drawback is constant repairs to old and outdated equipment and buildings. In October 2021, I received&nbsp;my Kansas Emergency&nbsp;Substitute&nbsp;Teaching License. This has allowed me to&nbsp;sub-teach over 60 times to date. What an eye-opening experience. The teachers in all the schools do an outstanding job&nbsp;and strive every day to give the students the best educational experience. But the&nbsp;buildings are old, classes are overcrowded, classrooms are too small, windows do not open, and old heating systems make noise. These things&nbsp;and others are&nbsp;not conducive to&nbsp;a proper learning&nbsp;environment.

I truly understand the importance of&nbsp;being frugal with taxpayer&nbsp;monies,&nbsp;but it is also the only place&nbsp;that the income to operate USD 489 comes from.&nbsp;My&nbsp;youngest son went through&nbsp;489,&nbsp;K – 12&nbsp;and received an excellent education.&nbsp;I am grateful to those who supported education&nbsp;in the past and ask that you&nbsp;truly look to the future and&nbsp;say yes to providing our children now and in the future the best education and opportunities for advanced learning. They are our future.

William “Bill” Ring, Ellis, retired Ellis County Public Works Director

The students of Ellis County that attend and will attend USD 489 for many years to come need your help.&nbsp;A great education is one of the most important&nbsp;things a&nbsp;child will need to compete in the future.&nbsp;As technology advances the&nbsp;need to be competitive increases. Are we providing all the tools that our children&nbsp;will need to be the best and the brightest?&nbsp;Do we&nbsp;offer&nbsp;the best&nbsp;learning&nbsp;environment?&nbsp;What about classroom sizes? Optimum number of students? All these&nbsp;things and more are needed. It has been 40 years since a new school was constructed.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575913663048.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>I recently retired from&nbsp;our&nbsp;local county government&nbsp;as a department head.&nbsp;One of the most important things to keep productivity at&nbsp;the most efficient level is&nbsp;training,&nbsp;proper equipment and&nbsp;facilities.&nbsp;I believe the administration&nbsp;does the very best in spending taxpayer dollars.&nbsp;The drawback is constant repairs to old and outdated equipment and buildings. In October 2021, I received&nbsp;my Kansas Emergency&nbsp;Substitute&nbsp;Teaching License. This has allowed me to&nbsp;sub-teach over 60 times to date. What an eye-opening experience. The teachers in all the schools do an outstanding job&nbsp;and strive every day to give the students the best educational experience. But the&nbsp;buildings are old, classes are overcrowded, classrooms are too small, windows do not open, and old heating systems make noise. These things&nbsp;and others are&nbsp;not conducive to&nbsp;a proper learning&nbsp;environment.I truly understand the importance of&nbsp;being frugal with taxpayer&nbsp;monies,&nbsp;but it is also the only place&nbsp;that the income to operate USD 489 comes from.&nbsp;My&nbsp;youngest son went through&nbsp;489,&nbsp;K – 12&nbsp;and received an excellent education.&nbsp;I am grateful to those who supported education&nbsp;in the past and ask that you&nbsp;truly look to the future and&nbsp;say yes to providing our children now and in the future the best education and opportunities for advanced learning. They are our future.Thank you.William “Bill” Ring, Ellis, retired Ellis County Public Works Director

LETTER: Time to invest in a great education for the future

At 6:24 a.m. Wednesday, the Hays Fire Department was dispatched to a structure fire at 403 W. 32nd.&nbsp; 

Upon arrival, fire crews found the rear of the house, including a covered patio, fully involved in fire.&nbsp;

 Fire crews made an initial attack on the fire with a 2 ½-inch handline.&nbsp; When additional crews arrived, multiple handlines were used to extinguish the fire inside the home.

The home sustained significant fire and smoke damage.&nbsp; 

The Office of the Kansas State Fire Marshal assisted the Hays Fire Department with the investigation.&nbsp; 

The cause of the fire was unable to be determined because of the amount of damage.

The Hays Fire Department was assisted by the Ellis County Fire Department, Hays Police Department and Ellis County EMS.

Hays Fire DepartmentAt 6:24 a.m. Wednesday, the Hays Fire Department was dispatched to a structure fire at 403 W. 32nd.&nbsp; Upon arrival, fire crews found the rear of the house, including a covered patio, fully involved in fire.&nbsp; Fire crews made an initial attack on the fire with a 2 ½-inch handline.&nbsp; When additional crews arrived, multiple handlines were used to extinguish the fire inside the home.The home sustained significant fire and smoke damage.&nbsp; The Office of the Kansas State Fire Marshal assisted the Hays Fire Department with the investigation.&nbsp; The cause of the fire was unable to be determined because of the amount of damage.The Hays Fire Department was assisted by the Ellis County Fire Department, Hays Police Department and Ellis County EMS.

Hays home suffers 'significant fire and smoke damage' Wednesday

Thomas More Prep-Marian Jr./Sr. High School has announced the following 2022 Prom King &amp; Queen Candidates.

The 2022 Prom King and Queen Candidates, pictured from left to right, are:

Filip Rawski – Son of Son of Piotr &amp; Marta Rawski Emilee Lane - Daughter of Mike &amp; Patti Lane Carter Schmidt - Son of Wes &amp; Kayla Rathbun Jessica Herrman - Daughter of Troy &amp; Tina Herrman Ransym Stahl - Son of Brett Stahl &amp; Sharris Werner Kali Hagans - Daughter of Ryan &amp; Stephanie Hagans Nick Helget - Son of James &amp; Firma ‘83 Helget Sam Zimmerman - Daughter of Tim &amp; Tina Zimmerman Matt Hess - Son of Dan &amp; Lisa Hess Whitney Befort - Daughter of Brad ‘86 &amp; Sarah Befort

The 2022 Prom King and Queen will be crowned at the Junior/Senior Prom on Saturday. Good luck and congratulations to all of the candidates.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1651687835639.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>TMP-MThomas More Prep-Marian Jr./Sr. High School has announced the following 2022 Prom King &amp; Queen Candidates.The 2022 Prom King and Queen Candidates, pictured from left to right, are:Filip Rawski – Son of Son of Piotr &amp; Marta Rawski Emilee Lane - Daughter of Mike &amp; Patti Lane Carter Schmidt - Son of Wes &amp; Kayla Rathbun Jessica Herrman - Daughter of Troy &amp; Tina Herrman Ransym Stahl - Son of Brett Stahl &amp; Sharris Werner Kali Hagans - Daughter of Ryan &amp; Stephanie Hagans Nick Helget - Son of James &amp; Firma ‘83 Helget Sam Zimmerman - Daughter of Tim &amp; Tina Zimmerman Matt Hess - Son of Dan &amp; Lisa Hess Whitney Befort - Daughter of Brad ‘86 &amp; Sarah BefortThe 2022 Prom King and Queen will be crowned at the Junior/Senior Prom on Saturday. Good luck and congratulations to all of the candidates.&nbsp;

TMP-Marian announces 2022 prom candidates

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1651691598027.png" alt="Ellis High School / <a href="https://graduation.eagleradio.net/schools/ellis">Click HERE</a>" />
 <figcaption>Ellis High School / <a href="https://graduation.eagleradio.net/schools/ellis">Click HERE</a></figcaption>
 </figure>

Ellis High School Class of 2022

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

All of the buildings in the Hays school district were constructed before the implementation of the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990. The structures were built without disabled access in mind.

However, with the construction of a new high school proposed under Hays USD 489 bond issue and renovation of the other existing schools, meeting ADA standards could be possible for the first time.

In building assessments done by USD 489's architect, DLR, the district's elementary schools scored lowest on disabled access.

The DLR report looked at path of travel, door hardware and restroom clearance.

Lincoln Elementary School, Westside School and Rockwell Administration Center —&nbsp;the district's oldest buildings — all scored one out of five on these measures. The district's latest bond proposal recommends the closure of all three of these centers.

All three of these centers have stairs but no elevators. Students who have mobility issues can't access the upper floors of the schools. At Westside, the middle school and high school students have classrooms on the second floor. Lincoln also houses upper grades on the second floor of its building.

Students at Lincoln also have to maneuver a set of stairs to enter the cafeteria, which is in the basement of the school.

O'Loughlin Elementary School received two out of five on the scale and Roosevelt and Wilson elementary schools earned three out of five on the scale.

Wilson is recommended for closure as an elementary school, but will likely house the new administration center. Roosevelt and O'Loughlin schools would be renovated under the bond proposal.

"I would say all of our buildings do the best they can with what we have," said Lindy McDaniel, assistant director of the West Central Kansas Special Education Cooperative, which serves Hays.

"It's not as if we are not meeting students' needs, but I think of it in terms of universal design."

The concept is designing learning spaces so all students can access the space.

"Just because we need a ramp for the child in the wheelchair, doesn't mean that other kids can't benefit from the ramp," she said. ...

"I just feel the bond is going to offer us this huge opportunity to give access to all in a better way."

Nicole Linenberger, Hays High School special education teacher, spoke at a forum for the bond on Jan. 6 and advocated for improvements to the district's schools to increase access for disabled students.

She said doors may have push-button openers, but the kids can't back up fast enough to miss being hit by the doors. Linenberger said she had to buy her students a doorbell, so someone could open the door for them.

Students with mobility issues can only use one bathroom at the high school. Students have to go through a classroom and interrupt class to use that one accessible bathroom, Linenberger said.

"Only a few classrooms have enough space so these kids can walk around in the classrooms and enjoy like the other kids," she said.

Her own classroom is very tight. She has put all the desks in the room together so students have room to go up to the board and do their daily activities like the other students. 

She said some of her students are physically disabled only and lose out socially because of accessibility issues. They feel excluded or they feel like they can’t participate like other students at the school, Linenberger said. 

&nbsp;McDaniel said students at USD 489 usually go out of their way to help their peers, but officials want students to be as independent as possible.

The district has had students in wheelchairs in the past, but it does not have any in wheelchairs at this time, she said.

"We could even have a staff member that needs better access," she said.

McDaniel said she also looks at the buildings through the lens of students' social/emotional needs.

"Forty years ago when Hays High was built, kids' needs were very different, and learning was very different," she said. "It was sitting in your desk, participating and listening to lecture. 

"Now it's small groups. It's collaborative. They just need more space to get their needs met."

McDaniel said she would like to see additional therapeutic space where students could go if they are having difficulty emotionally.

Cramped classrooms are not benefiting children with invisible disabilities, such as ADHD, autism or anxiety, McDaniel said.

"Are there kids who struggle with anxiety because there's not enough space in buildings to just give them a moment?" she said. "Everything is so cramped because we have so many kids."

Little modifications to the current buildings can make a big difference, McDaniel said.

Just increasing hallway space so there is more room for students during passing periods, can make an environment safer for a student with a disability, she said.

Students with hearing disabilities also were often not considered in early school designs, Mc Daniel said. DLR officials said they take into consideration the ability of students to hear when they construct new buildings or work on renovation projects.

This could mean not locating a wood shop next to a lecture room or a boiler room next to the audio/visual classroom.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1651607294456.jpeg" alt="The only disabled access to Westside school is a steep ramp on the west side of the building. There is no disabled access to the second floor of the school, the location of the middle and high school classrooms. Photo by Cristina Janney / Hays Post " />
 <figcaption>The only disabled access to Westside school is a steep ramp on the west side of the building. There is no disabled access to the second floor of the school, the location of the middle and high school classrooms. Photo by Cristina Janney / Hays Post </figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostAll of the buildings in the Hays school district were constructed before the implementation of the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990. The structures were built without disabled access in mind.However, with the construction of a new high school proposed under Hays USD 489 bond issue and renovation of the other existing schools, meeting ADA standards could be possible for the first time.In building assessments done by USD 489's architect, DLR, the district's elementary schools scored lowest on disabled access.The DLR report looked at path of travel, door hardware and restroom clearance.Lincoln Elementary School, Westside School and Rockwell Administration Center —&nbsp;the district's oldest buildings — all scored one out of five on these measures. The district's latest bond proposal recommends the closure of all three of these centers.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1642524686751.jpeg" alt="Steep stairs lead to the second floor of Westside school. " />
 <figcaption>Steep stairs lead to the second floor of Westside school. </figcaption>
 </figure>All three of these centers have stairs but no elevators. Students who have mobility issues can't access the upper floors of the schools. At Westside, the middle school and high school students have classrooms on the second floor. Lincoln also houses upper grades on the second floor of its building.Students at Lincoln also have to maneuver a set of stairs to enter the cafeteria, which is in the basement of the school. O'Loughlin Elementary School received two out of five on the scale and Roosevelt and Wilson elementary schools earned three out of five on the scale.Wilson is recommended for closure as an elementary school, but will likely house the new administration center. Roosevelt and O'Loughlin schools would be renovated under the bond proposal."I would say all of our buildings do the best they can with what we have," said Lindy McDaniel, assistant director of the West Central Kansas Special Education Cooperative, which serves Hays."It's not as if we are not meeting students' needs, but I think of it in terms of universal design."The concept is designing learning spaces so all students can access the space."Just because we need a ramp for the child in the wheelchair, doesn't mean that other kids can't benefit from the ramp," she said. ... "I just feel the bond is going to offer us this huge opportunity to give access to all in a better way."Nicole Linenberger, Hays High School special education teacher, spoke at a forum for the bond on Jan. 6 and advocated for improvements to the district's schools to increase access for disabled students. She said doors may have push-button openers, but the kids can't back up fast enough to miss being hit by the doors. Linenberger said she had to buy her students a doorbell, so someone could open the door for them.Students with mobility issues can only use one bathroom at the high school. Students have to go through a classroom and interrupt class to use that one accessible bathroom, Linenberger said."Only a few classrooms have enough space so these kids can walk around in the classrooms and enjoy like the other kids," she said.Her own classroom is very tight. She has put all the desks in the room together so students have room to go up to the board and do their daily activities like the other students. She said some of her students are physically disabled only and lose out socially because of accessibility issues. They feel excluded or they feel like they can’t participate like other students at the school, Linenberger said. &nbsp;McDaniel said students at USD 489 usually go out of their way to help their peers, but officials want students to be as independent as possible.The district has had students in wheelchairs in the past, but it does not have any in wheelchairs at this time, she said."We could even have a staff member that needs better access," she said. McDaniel said she also looks at the buildings through the lens of students' social/emotional needs."Forty years ago when Hays High was built, kids' needs were very different, and learning was very different," she said. "It was sitting in your desk, participating and listening to lecture. "Now it's small groups. It's collaborative. They just need more space to get their needs met."McDaniel said she would like to see additional therapeutic space where students could go if they are having difficulty emotionally.Cramped classrooms are not benefiting children with invisible disabilities, such as ADHD, autism or anxiety, McDaniel said."Are there kids who struggle with anxiety because there's not enough space in buildings to just give them a moment?" she said. "Everything is so cramped because we have so many kids." Little modifications to the current buildings can make a big difference, McDaniel said.Just increasing hallway space so there is more room for students during passing periods, can make an environment safer for a student with a disability, she said. Students with hearing disabilities also were often not considered in early school designs, Mc Daniel said. DLR officials said they take into consideration the ability of students to hear when they construct new buildings or work on renovation projects. This could mean not locating a wood shop next to a lecture room or a boiler room next to the audio/visual classroom.

Hays educators hope bond can improve disabled access

Ellis USD 388 will be interviewing Joe Palmer for the superintendent position today.

Palmer has served as superintendent at Guadalupe Charter School for four years. He served as chief academic officer at Gordon Parks Charter School for three years.

Anita Scheve, principal at Wilson Elementary School in Hays, interviewed for the position Tuesday. One more candidate will be interviewed Thursday.

Candidates were selected for interviews based on their fit with desired characteristics that were developed with input from focus groups and an online survey used during the search process, according to the Ellis schools website.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/2bf608c0-eae8-44f8-bd32-38085321efac">Current USD 388 Superintendent Corey Burton is moving to a new position as Superintendent at Ulysses USD 214.</a>

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostEllis USD 388 will be interviewing Joe Palmer for the superintendent position today.Palmer has served as superintendent at Guadalupe Charter School for four years. He served as chief academic officer at Gordon Parks Charter School for three years.Anita Scheve, principal at Wilson Elementary School in Hays, interviewed for the position Tuesday. One more candidate will be interviewed Thursday.Candidates were selected for interviews based on their fit with desired characteristics that were developed with input from focus groups and an online survey used during the search process, according to the Ellis schools website.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1651588473556.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/2bf608c0-eae8-44f8-bd32-38085321efac">Current USD 388 Superintendent Corey Burton is moving to a new position as Superintendent at Ulysses USD 214.</a>

Charter school superintendent interviewing for top position in Ellis

Fort Hays State University announced 2022 commencement award recipients at a press conference in the Memorial Union this morning. The three highly coveted awards recognize outstanding efforts and achievements of FHSU students and faculty.&nbsp;

“It really is an honor just to be nominated for these awards,” said Dr. Grady Dixon, dean of the Werth College of Science, Technology and Mathematics. “These awards showcase the best and brightest. You see, you don’t nominate yourself. You don’t apply. You don’t hit some standard that you’ve been working toward. These nominations are organic and come from those who feel you’re worthy of being honored.”

Alec Bevis, Wichita, received the Torch Award as the outstanding graduating senior of the class of 2022 at Fort Hays State University.

The Torch Award was created in 1974 as one of three annual commencement awards given by the FHSU Alumni Association.&nbsp;

Alison Helget, Hays, and Mary Kathy Robb, Kansas City, Mo., were co-winners of the Lighthouse Award honoring the outstanding graduate student for the academic school year. This award was first given in 2018.

Kenneth Windholz, instructor of psychology, was named the recipient of the Pilot Award as the outstanding faculty member for the academic school year. The Pilot Award was created in 1974 and is based upon nominations from the current graduating class.

Bevis, a graduate of Bishop Carroll High School, will receive a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry with an emphasis in biochemistry and plans to pursue a graduate degree in biochemistry. He has multiple Ph.D. program offers pending.

A member of the FHSU Honors College, Bevis has served as a mentor in the organization’s peer-mentor program. He stated that the Honors College has opened the door to many opportunities through scholarships and peer networking. He has worked as an undergraduate research assistant for the Department of Chemistry since 2020.&nbsp;

Bevis has served as team captain of the Tiger men’s soccer squad since 2020. He has earned numerous honors for the Tigers – for his work both on and off the field – including several All-America recognitions. He was the first player in FHSU program history to be named to the United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-America team.

One of Bevis’ nominations said that “the Torch Award defines who Alec is. He possesses the qualities that make a student successful in scholarly activities, and he exhibits those same qualities FHSU seeks to develop in students inside and outside of the classroom.”

Alison Helget, co-winner of the Lighthouse Award, has maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA while earning her bachelor’s degree in history from FHSU in three years, while working toward her Master of Arts in history.

Helget has earned numerous honors at FHSU, where she serves as president of both Phi Alpha Theta, a history honor society, and the FHSU History Club. She is co-founder and co-editor of Interdisciplinary Journal for the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences and will be published for the second time in a history journal this summer. She is the lead researcher for Imagine Ellis County’s “An Economic History of Ellis County the Last 70 Years,” and serves as a tutor for English and history.

Helget – a longtime volunteer, instructor, and coach for the Hays Recreation Commission – plans to continue her education this fall when she begins working on a Ph.D. at Texas Christian University.

One of Helget’s nominators, in recommending Helget, said that “Alison represents the values and scholarly excellence of Fort Hays State University. She is an exceptional student who is driven and dedicated. I can think of no better representative of the Lighthouse Award than Alison Helget.”

Mary Kathy Robb, co-winner of the Lighthouse Award, is also graduating with a perfect 4.0 GPA with a Master of Fine Arts with an emphasis in ceramics. During her FHSU career, she earned three Graduate Scholarly Experience grants and put one to use in developing a unique blend of fired and unfired surfaces on one of her ceramic sculptures.

As a member and officer of the Ceramica Clay Club, Robb presented workshops to fellow students. She is described as “a leader in the studio, who set the pace for spending focused time in making her sculpture.”&nbsp;

Robb’s work has been displayed throughout Kansas, including in Hays, and has been featured in regional competitions as well. Her master’s thesis, “Human Nature,” featured an immersive experience in living and connecting with our planet and its creatures with her thesis project leading to a 600-pound crocodile made out of porcelain.

A nomination letter described Robb as “a highly engaged learner and artist. As a leader in the studio, she inspired others to get busy and make art. She is a fine example of a creative lifelong learner.”&nbsp;

Kenneth Windholz, the Pilot Award recipient, is highly regarded for his teaching style and “keeping students engaged through the class.”

“I imagine that students feel they are having conversations with Ken rather than passively listening to a lecture,” wrote Dr. Dharma Jairam, chair of the Department of Psychology. “Ken expertly and effortlessly weaves personal and professional stories into his discussion of course content.”

Windholz was nominated by four separate students for this award.&nbsp;He is described as “not an excellent instructor, rather an exceptional one. … He is a major ally for mental health in the community. … Ken’s positive regard for students has made my time at FHSU unforgettable … You could not ask for a better person, a better man, a better human.”&nbsp;

Windholz is also described as a masterful teacher who does not look at his role as a faculty member as “just a teaching job. Ken is a model mentor to students. He is always available to students, and he is always going the extra yard, even if it means meeting with students at odd hours of the evening or weekend. It is extraordinary to see the long-lasting connections that Ken has formed with students.”

Windholz, also a clinical psychologist, is a member of numerous professional organizations. Locally, he is president of the Hays Baseball Association board and is the longtime public address announcer for Tiger football and basketball games.

At Tuesday’s announcement, Windholz concluded his acceptance speech with one of his favorite quotes – one that Windholz likes to live by: “The best teachers are those who show you where to look but don’t tell you what to see.”&nbsp;

Torch Award and Lighthouse Award candidates are nominated by members of the faculty and staff on the basis of classroom excellence; leadership; participation in campus, community, or national organizations; and involvement in student, civic, or research activities. Nominees are graduating seniors or students who graduated in December of the previous semester.

Pilot Award candidates are nominated by graduating seniors on the basis of classroom excellence, ongoing research, and service activities.

To learn more about the awards presented visit&nbsp;<a href="http://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=AzU7JuM9gNoo13mIpsUPJKw6kzRGbB1z1pNiiAxwdMDjsjfB-2F8webwqRrFazbIwygABBi-2B1iXDB0EFzVpfKdnA-3D-3DDVHv_-2FnwFlkKVzcKMOkDYhP8GUyFUplsqhIzQPvqFQr864lE6mcAzErX0FzZi5JGU6rvvK6MLOuHK4jhl5V61fmGkhToZRMbpEKBDAFMZ0jElT3tJmz7vmG2Oh1wrxpMGOIemkLQ8W2-2FcsfT2YX8YAkTzx40wdjl3dLlK0V4cz-2BFBFR7v0LbhpI1qdA8aRjTVAlteRE4qQK1AWWllovax72aepEzMlfeK13Kz2y1rWXdsEfYgkkEofG2lXEq-2BZrbIp-2FKsqq3iKcDWDUXDE063PskzGppscMLWLC-2BgIzw3Upyx-2FhKPY1x6DpCeyg7-2B5oA6MTuM3avNXtBCd5KPwljNsNP-2BL1VV-2BucroaaIQohfBumMK8QpUBVWsg8MU2NNrkr0AW9fPIpRqTPxdNJB-2BFWL6DSwsA-3D-3D">www.FHSUalumni.com/commencement-awards</a>&nbsp;or contact the Fort Hays State University Alumni Association at 785-628-4430 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:alumni@fhsu.edu">alumni@fhsu.edu</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1651613772651.jpeg" alt="From left, Kenneth Windholz, Mary Kathy Robb, Alec Bevis and Alison Helget." />
 <figcaption>From left, Kenneth Windholz, Mary Kathy Robb, Alec Bevis and Alison Helget.</figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU University CommunicationsFort Hays State University announced 2022 commencement award recipients at a press conference in the Memorial Union this morning. The three highly coveted awards recognize outstanding efforts and achievements of FHSU students and faculty.&nbsp;“It really is an honor just to be nominated for these awards,” said Dr. Grady Dixon, dean of the Werth College of Science, Technology and Mathematics. “These awards showcase the best and brightest. You see, you don’t nominate yourself. You don’t apply. You don’t hit some standard that you’ve been working toward. These nominations are organic and come from those who feel you’re worthy of being honored.”Alec Bevis, Wichita, received the Torch Award as the outstanding graduating senior of the class of 2022 at Fort Hays State University.The Torch Award was created in 1974 as one of three annual commencement awards given by the FHSU Alumni Association.&nbsp;Alison Helget, Hays, and Mary Kathy Robb, Kansas City, Mo., were co-winners of the Lighthouse Award honoring the outstanding graduate student for the academic school year. This award was first given in 2018.Kenneth Windholz, instructor of psychology, was named the recipient of the Pilot Award as the outstanding faculty member for the academic school year. The Pilot Award was created in 1974 and is based upon nominations from the current graduating class.Bevis, a graduate of Bishop Carroll High School, will receive a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry with an emphasis in biochemistry and plans to pursue a graduate degree in biochemistry. He has multiple Ph.D. program offers pending.A member of the FHSU Honors College, Bevis has served as a mentor in the organization’s peer-mentor program. He stated that the Honors College has opened the door to many opportunities through scholarships and peer networking. He has worked as an undergraduate research assistant for the Department of Chemistry since 2020.&nbsp;Bevis has served as team captain of the Tiger men’s soccer squad since 2020. He has earned numerous honors for the Tigers – for his work both on and off the field – including several All-America recognitions. He was the first player in FHSU program history to be named to the United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-America team.One of Bevis’ nominations said that “the Torch Award defines who Alec is. He possesses the qualities that make a student successful in scholarly activities, and he exhibits those same qualities FHSU seeks to develop in students inside and outside of the classroom.”Alison Helget, co-winner of the Lighthouse Award, has maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA while earning her bachelor’s degree in history from FHSU in three years, while working toward her Master of Arts in history.Helget has earned numerous honors at FHSU, where she serves as president of both Phi Alpha Theta, a history honor society, and the FHSU History Club. She is co-founder and co-editor of Interdisciplinary Journal for the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences and will be published for the second time in a history journal this summer. She is the lead researcher for Imagine Ellis County’s “An Economic History of Ellis County the Last 70 Years,” and serves as a tutor for English and history.Helget – a longtime volunteer, instructor, and coach for the Hays Recreation Commission – plans to continue her education this fall when she begins working on a Ph.D. at Texas Christian University.One of Helget’s nominators, in recommending Helget, said that “Alison represents the values and scholarly excellence of Fort Hays State University. She is an exceptional student who is driven and dedicated. I can think of no better representative of the Lighthouse Award than Alison Helget.”Mary Kathy Robb, co-winner of the Lighthouse Award, is also graduating with a perfect 4.0 GPA with a Master of Fine Arts with an emphasis in ceramics. During her FHSU career, she earned three Graduate Scholarly Experience grants and put one to use in developing a unique blend of fired and unfired surfaces on one of her ceramic sculptures.As a member and officer of the Ceramica Clay Club, Robb presented workshops to fellow students. She is described as “a leader in the studio, who set the pace for spending focused time in making her sculpture.”&nbsp;Robb’s work has been displayed throughout Kansas, including in Hays, and has been featured in regional competitions as well. Her master’s thesis, “Human Nature,” featured an immersive experience in living and connecting with our planet and its creatures with her thesis project leading to a 600-pound crocodile made out of porcelain.A nomination letter described Robb as “a highly engaged learner and artist. As a leader in the studio, she inspired others to get busy and make art. She is a fine example of a creative lifelong learner.”&nbsp;Kenneth Windholz, the Pilot Award recipient, is highly regarded for his teaching style and “keeping students engaged through the class.”“I imagine that students feel they are having conversations with Ken rather than passively listening to a lecture,” wrote Dr. Dharma Jairam, chair of the Department of Psychology. “Ken expertly and effortlessly weaves personal and professional stories into his discussion of course content.”Windholz was nominated by four separate students for this award.&nbsp;He is described as “not an excellent instructor, rather an exceptional one. … He is a major ally for mental health in the community. … Ken’s positive regard for students has made my time at FHSU unforgettable … You could not ask for a better person, a better man, a better human.”&nbsp;Windholz is also described as a masterful teacher who does not look at his role as a faculty member as “just a teaching job. Ken is a model mentor to students. He is always available to students, and he is always going the extra yard, even if it means meeting with students at odd hours of the evening or weekend. It is extraordinary to see the long-lasting connections that Ken has formed with students.”Windholz, also a clinical psychologist, is a member of numerous professional organizations. Locally, he is president of the Hays Baseball Association board and is the longtime public address announcer for Tiger football and basketball games.At Tuesday’s announcement, Windholz concluded his acceptance speech with one of his favorite quotes – one that Windholz likes to live by: “The best teachers are those who show you where to look but don’t tell you what to see.”&nbsp;Torch Award and Lighthouse Award candidates are nominated by members of the faculty and staff on the basis of classroom excellence; leadership; participation in campus, community, or national organizations; and involvement in student, civic, or research activities. Nominees are graduating seniors or students who graduated in December of the previous semester.Pilot Award candidates are nominated by graduating seniors on the basis of classroom excellence, ongoing research, and service activities.To learn more about the awards presented visit&nbsp;<a href="http://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=AzU7JuM9gNoo13mIpsUPJKw6kzRGbB1z1pNiiAxwdMDjsjfB-2F8webwqRrFazbIwygABBi-2B1iXDB0EFzVpfKdnA-3D-3DDVHv_-2FnwFlkKVzcKMOkDYhP8GUyFUplsqhIzQPvqFQr864lE6mcAzErX0FzZi5JGU6rvvK6MLOuHK4jhl5V61fmGkhToZRMbpEKBDAFMZ0jElT3tJmz7vmG2Oh1wrxpMGOIemkLQ8W2-2FcsfT2YX8YAkTzx40wdjl3dLlK0V4cz-2BFBFR7v0LbhpI1qdA8aRjTVAlteRE4qQK1AWWllovax72aepEzMlfeK13Kz2y1rWXdsEfYgkkEofG2lXEq-2BZrbIp-2FKsqq3iKcDWDUXDE063PskzGppscMLWLC-2BgIzw3Upyx-2FhKPY1x6DpCeyg7-2B5oA6MTuM3avNXtBCd5KPwljNsNP-2BL1VV-2BucroaaIQohfBumMK8QpUBVWsg8MU2NNrkr0AW9fPIpRqTPxdNJB-2BFWL6DSwsA-3D-3D">www.FHSUalumni.com/commencement-awards</a>&nbsp;or contact the Fort Hays State University Alumni Association at 785-628-4430 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:alumni@fhsu.edu">alumni@fhsu.edu</a>.

FHSU announces 2022 commencement award recipients

I am a resident of Hays&nbsp;and&nbsp;a&nbsp;small&nbsp;business owner. &nbsp;My wife and I&nbsp;own a home here, so we pay property taxes. &nbsp;We have&nbsp;one child, a&nbsp;son&nbsp;who&nbsp;is completing his freshman year at Hays High. &nbsp;My wife&nbsp;works at FHSU&nbsp;and&nbsp;is&nbsp;one of the dozens of community volunteers that has spent countless hours attending meetings to discuss, plan, and develop the current bond proposal from USD 489.&nbsp;&nbsp;One of&nbsp;my&nbsp;partners&nbsp;is Bill Jeter, and&nbsp;Bill&nbsp;(and, therefore, our firm)&nbsp;is counsel to&nbsp;the district. &nbsp;

Forgive me for all the disclosures, but&nbsp;I wanted to&nbsp;be up front&nbsp;with&nbsp;that information. &nbsp;I have no doubt that some would try to manipulate&nbsp;or diminish&nbsp;what I say by suggesting&nbsp;I have some sort of hidden agenda.&nbsp;&nbsp;That’s not the case.

Nobody&nbsp;asked me to write in favor of the bond.&nbsp;&nbsp;I am not writing this as counsel for USD 489. &nbsp;I write simply as a taxpayer, business owner, and resident of Hays; someone that is concerned about our future as the communities around us continue to shrink. &nbsp;

I have noticed, as I am sure others have, that the&nbsp;last few weeks&nbsp;have seen efforts made&nbsp;to rally voters to turn out against the bond.&nbsp;&nbsp;That is no surprise, and that is everyone’s right. Every ballot initiative&nbsp;should be scrutinized, and I respect that opinions will vary and votes will differ.

I am, however,&nbsp;struck by how the&nbsp;anti-bond&nbsp;efforts repeat familiar refrains intended to inflame emotions&nbsp;or frighten us into paralysis, rather than addressing the merits of investing in our school facilities&nbsp;– or the costs of&nbsp;continuing to&nbsp;fail to do so. &nbsp;I have seen a litany of reasons tossed out for why people should vote “No,”&nbsp;including but not limited to federal government monetary policy (nothing USD 489 can control), other state and local taxes (again, nothing the district can control),&nbsp;claims that&nbsp;the facilities now are “good enough” (they aren’t, and when&nbsp;did&nbsp;just “good enough”&nbsp;become the goal?), worldwide supply chain problems, and on and on. &nbsp;

Opponents have even found a way&nbsp;to&nbsp;create controversy where none should have existed by&nbsp;focusing on&nbsp;a&nbsp;single&nbsp;email sent by Superintendent Wilson encouraging district employees to exercise their right to vote. &nbsp;While I do not think any reasonable person could read Mr. Wilson’s email and conclude that he was seeking to “intimidate” employees or “bribe” them with dessert for merely exercising their right to vote, some&nbsp;chose&nbsp;to use his message as an excuse&nbsp;to&nbsp;pour negative light and publicity on the district and Mr. Wilson, hoping&nbsp;it&nbsp;would&nbsp;spill&nbsp;over to and taint the bond proposal itself. &nbsp;

Nowhere among these&nbsp;efforts and arguments&nbsp;are there any alternative, better proposals. &nbsp;There is no attempt&nbsp;to address the hard truth&nbsp;that our&nbsp;students and teachers&nbsp;are&nbsp;in desperate need of new and refurbished facilities.&nbsp;&nbsp;Instead, as with most ballot initiatives, it is&nbsp;easier to&nbsp;politicize the issues in play by&nbsp;avoiding them altogether and&nbsp;railing on about “the process” and attacking public education administrators in state and local media.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Each&nbsp;one of us had the opportunity to participate in the formulation of the bond proposal. &nbsp;Open meetings were held. &nbsp;Opportunities to provide input were given. &nbsp;If you spend any time talking to members of the committees involved in the process, you will likely find that the decisions made about the scope of the bond were driven by community members that recognized our district and community needs and how best to address them, not&nbsp;the district’s consultant,&nbsp;DLR,&nbsp;as some would have you believe. &nbsp;But, again,&nbsp;there is no need to come up with a better idea or debate the merits when&nbsp;it’s&nbsp;much easier to&nbsp;fire up&nbsp;voters by looking for easy targets like DLR,&nbsp;the district,&nbsp;or its superintendent.&nbsp;&nbsp;

If you are a voter still considering&nbsp;your decision, as a fellow voter and taxpayer I simply ask that you not be&nbsp;distracted by these tactics. &nbsp;Consider the bond on its merits.&nbsp;&nbsp;Take the time to ask questions and get the information you think you need to make an informed decision.

While I, too, am concerned about inflation and rising costs&nbsp;(other&nbsp;negative&nbsp;arguments I have heard of late), I am more concerned about what the costs&nbsp;will eventually be if we continue a policy of spending&nbsp;millions of dollars&nbsp;on band aids to maintain buildings that range from 40-plus to 90-plus years in age&nbsp;and have inadequate space for the district’s 21st Century needs.&nbsp;&nbsp;I am more concerned about the price our community will pay&nbsp;if&nbsp;we send the message to young families looking to move or stay in our community that we are satisfied with inadequate, ill-equipped, and over-crowded&nbsp;school facilities. &nbsp;

So,&nbsp;I think&nbsp;it is critical that the bond passes. &nbsp;I think that despite&nbsp;knowing&nbsp;that I, as a taxpayer, will contribute to paying for the costs of the bond and despite&nbsp;knowing&nbsp;that it is very unlikely that I will have any children that&nbsp;attend&nbsp;school at any of the new or refurbished facilities that will result from passage of the bond.

I&nbsp;am&nbsp;convinced that, of all the bond proposals considered,&nbsp;the current bond proposal makes the most sense&nbsp;in terms of facility usage;&nbsp;that&nbsp;this has not been a “rushed” process and that&nbsp;considerable time and effort has gone into crafting a bond proposal that makes sense in its scope;that it gives us&nbsp;a valuable tool to help&nbsp;attract families&nbsp;and businesses&nbsp;to either stay or relocate to our community;&nbsp;and that it avoids kicking the proverbial can down the road for our children and grandchildren to deal with.&nbsp;&nbsp;

There is no such thing as waiting for “the right time” to pass a bond. &nbsp;Failing to pass this bond, at this time, will only cost us more in the future as&nbsp;USD 489’s facilities get&nbsp;older,&nbsp;and the scope of the work needed gets&nbsp;larger. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

I&nbsp;will&nbsp;vote&nbsp;“Yes”&nbsp;twice&nbsp;for the bond and the sales tax, not because I love to pay another dollar in taxes, but because&nbsp;the&nbsp;current&nbsp;bond&nbsp;proposal deserves&nbsp;support.&nbsp;&nbsp;What I hope is that each voter that intends to vote, whether for or against, will&nbsp;come to their own conclusion by&nbsp;focusing&nbsp;on the&nbsp;facts&nbsp;and&nbsp;the&nbsp;merits&nbsp;of the proposal, the needs addressed, and the costs of doing nothing,&nbsp;instead of letting misinformation or contrived outrage&nbsp;distract them from the real issues at hand.&nbsp;

I am a resident of Hays&nbsp;and&nbsp;a&nbsp;small&nbsp;business owner. &nbsp;My wife and I&nbsp;own a home here, so we pay property taxes. &nbsp;We have&nbsp;one child, a&nbsp;son&nbsp;who&nbsp;is completing his freshman year at Hays High. &nbsp;My wife&nbsp;works at FHSU&nbsp;and&nbsp;is&nbsp;one of the dozens of community volunteers that has spent countless hours attending meetings to discuss, plan, and develop the current bond proposal from USD 489.&nbsp;&nbsp;One of&nbsp;my&nbsp;partners&nbsp;is Bill Jeter, and&nbsp;Bill&nbsp;(and, therefore, our firm)&nbsp;is counsel to&nbsp;the district. &nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575913663048.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Forgive me for all the disclosures, but&nbsp;I wanted to&nbsp;be up front&nbsp;with&nbsp;that information. &nbsp;I have no doubt that some would try to manipulate&nbsp;or diminish&nbsp;what I say by suggesting&nbsp;I have some sort of hidden agenda.&nbsp;&nbsp;That’s not the case.Nobody&nbsp;asked me to write in favor of the bond.&nbsp;&nbsp;I am not writing this as counsel for USD 489. &nbsp;I write simply as a taxpayer, business owner, and resident of Hays; someone that is concerned about our future as the communities around us continue to shrink. &nbsp;I have noticed, as I am sure others have, that the&nbsp;last few weeks&nbsp;have seen efforts made&nbsp;to rally voters to turn out against the bond.&nbsp;&nbsp;That is no surprise, and that is everyone’s right. Every ballot initiative&nbsp;should be scrutinized, and I respect that opinions will vary and votes will differ.I am, however,&nbsp;struck by how the&nbsp;anti-bond&nbsp;efforts repeat familiar refrains intended to inflame emotions&nbsp;or frighten us into paralysis, rather than addressing the merits of investing in our school facilities&nbsp;– or the costs of&nbsp;continuing to&nbsp;fail to do so. &nbsp;I have seen a litany of reasons tossed out for why people should vote “No,”&nbsp;including but not limited to federal government monetary policy (nothing USD 489 can control), other state and local taxes (again, nothing the district can control),&nbsp;claims that&nbsp;the facilities now are “good enough” (they aren’t, and when&nbsp;did&nbsp;just “good enough”&nbsp;become the goal?), worldwide supply chain problems, and on and on. &nbsp;Opponents have even found a way&nbsp;to&nbsp;create controversy where none should have existed by&nbsp;focusing on&nbsp;a&nbsp;single&nbsp;email sent by Superintendent Wilson encouraging district employees to exercise their right to vote. &nbsp;While I do not think any reasonable person could read Mr. Wilson’s email and conclude that he was seeking to “intimidate” employees or “bribe” them with dessert for merely exercising their right to vote, some&nbsp;chose&nbsp;to use his message as an excuse&nbsp;to&nbsp;pour negative light and publicity on the district and Mr. Wilson, hoping&nbsp;it&nbsp;would&nbsp;spill&nbsp;over to and taint the bond proposal itself. &nbsp;Nowhere among these&nbsp;efforts and arguments&nbsp;are there any alternative, better proposals. &nbsp;There is no attempt&nbsp;to address the hard truth&nbsp;that our&nbsp;students and teachers&nbsp;are&nbsp;in desperate need of new and refurbished facilities.&nbsp;&nbsp;Instead, as with most ballot initiatives, it is&nbsp;easier to&nbsp;politicize the issues in play by&nbsp;avoiding them altogether and&nbsp;railing on about “the process” and attacking public education administrators in state and local media.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Each&nbsp;one of us had the opportunity to participate in the formulation of the bond proposal. &nbsp;Open meetings were held. &nbsp;Opportunities to provide input were given. &nbsp;If you spend any time talking to members of the committees involved in the process, you will likely find that the decisions made about the scope of the bond were driven by community members that recognized our district and community needs and how best to address them, not&nbsp;the district’s consultant,&nbsp;DLR,&nbsp;as some would have you believe. &nbsp;But, again,&nbsp;there is no need to come up with a better idea or debate the merits when&nbsp;it’s&nbsp;much easier to&nbsp;fire up&nbsp;voters by looking for easy targets like DLR,&nbsp;the district,&nbsp;or its superintendent.&nbsp;&nbsp;If you are a voter still considering&nbsp;your decision, as a fellow voter and taxpayer I simply ask that you not be&nbsp;distracted by these tactics. &nbsp;Consider the bond on its merits.&nbsp;&nbsp;Take the time to ask questions and get the information you think you need to make an informed decision.While I, too, am concerned about inflation and rising costs&nbsp;(other&nbsp;negative&nbsp;arguments I have heard of late), I am more concerned about what the costs&nbsp;will eventually be if we continue a policy of spending&nbsp;millions of dollars&nbsp;on band aids to maintain buildings that range from 40-plus to 90-plus years in age&nbsp;and have inadequate space for the district’s 21st Century needs.&nbsp;&nbsp;I am more concerned about the price our community will pay&nbsp;if&nbsp;we send the message to young families looking to move or stay in our community that we are satisfied with inadequate, ill-equipped, and over-crowded&nbsp;school facilities. &nbsp;So,&nbsp;I think&nbsp;it is critical that the bond passes. &nbsp;I think that despite&nbsp;knowing&nbsp;that I, as a taxpayer, will contribute to paying for the costs of the bond and despite&nbsp;knowing&nbsp;that it is very unlikely that I will have any children that&nbsp;attend&nbsp;school at any of the new or refurbished facilities that will result from passage of the bond.I&nbsp;am&nbsp;convinced that, of all the bond proposals considered,&nbsp;the current bond proposal makes the most sense&nbsp;in terms of facility usage;&nbsp;that&nbsp;this has not been a “rushed” process and that&nbsp;considerable time and effort has gone into crafting a bond proposal that makes sense in its scope;that it gives us&nbsp;a valuable tool to help&nbsp;attract families&nbsp;and businesses&nbsp;to either stay or relocate to our community;&nbsp;and that it avoids kicking the proverbial can down the road for our children and grandchildren to deal with.&nbsp;&nbsp;There is no such thing as waiting for “the right time” to pass a bond. &nbsp;Failing to pass this bond, at this time, will only cost us more in the future as&nbsp;USD 489’s facilities get&nbsp;older,&nbsp;and the scope of the work needed gets&nbsp;larger. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;I&nbsp;will&nbsp;vote&nbsp;“Yes”&nbsp;twice&nbsp;for the bond and the sales tax, not because I love to pay another dollar in taxes, but because&nbsp;the&nbsp;current&nbsp;bond&nbsp;proposal deserves&nbsp;support.&nbsp;&nbsp;What I hope is that each voter that intends to vote, whether for or against, will&nbsp;come to their own conclusion by&nbsp;focusing&nbsp;on the&nbsp;facts&nbsp;and&nbsp;the&nbsp;merits&nbsp;of the proposal, the needs addressed, and the costs of doing nothing,&nbsp;instead of letting misinformation or contrived outrage&nbsp;distract them from the real issues at hand.&nbsp;Chris Sook, Hays

LETTER: Focus on the bond proposal, not the distractions

First Call for Help of Ellis County, which coordinates resources for low-income residents of Ellis County, announced today that it has raised $10,000 in matching funds for its spring campaign.

The spring campaign is a mailing to area residents to raise funds for the services First Call for Help provides. Agency officials said they are excited to make this announcement to acknowledge its board donors and the private donors who made this possible, said Linda Mills, executive director.

Matching funds gives community members an opportunity to give at the best possible time—when their donation will double in value and double the impact they can make.

Since 1996 First Call for Help of Ellis County has built a stronger community by providing resources to those who struggle to provide for their basic needs. The organization helps with food, hygiene, diapers and emergency financial assistance. They also operate the Meals on Wheels program in partnership with Hays Medical Center and the collection and distribution of school supplies through the Backpacks for Kids program.

First Call for Help is a recipient of United Way funds, City of Hays funds and the Ellis County Ministerial Alliance funds.

Submitted First Call for Help of Ellis County, which coordinates resources for low-income residents of Ellis County, announced today that it has raised $10,000 in matching funds for its spring campaign.The spring campaign is a mailing to area residents to raise funds for the services First Call for Help provides. Agency officials said they are excited to make this announcement to acknowledge its board donors and the private donors who made this possible, said Linda Mills, executive director.Matching funds gives community members an opportunity to give at the best possible time—when their donation will double in value and double the impact they can make.Since 1996 First Call for Help of Ellis County has built a stronger community by providing resources to those who struggle to provide for their basic needs. The organization helps with food, hygiene, diapers and emergency financial assistance. They also operate the Meals on Wheels program in partnership with Hays Medical Center and the collection and distribution of school supplies through the Backpacks for Kids program.First Call for Help is a recipient of United Way funds, City of Hays funds and the Ellis County Ministerial Alliance funds.

First Call for Help raises $10,000 in matching funds for spring campaign

Northwest Kansas Area Agency on Aging will be hosting Information Day for older Kansans and caregivers from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Hays Senior Center, 2450 E. Eighth St.

The day will include speakers, hands-on activities, vendor booths, door prizes and lots of giveaways. Healthy snacks and drinks will be provided to all participants. 

9 a.m.— Senior Companions/Foster Grandparents Program 9:30 a.m. — Professional Fire Equipment – fire safety 10 a.m. — Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services - Medicare 11 a.m. — Hays Recreation Commission – exercise activity noon — Kansas Legal Services – scams and fraud 1 p.m. — High Plains Mental Health Center – "Aging Well: Nurturing Your Mental Health Later in Life"

Many other agencies and organizations will be available to visit with you about their services.

If you have questions, contact Area Agency on Aging at 1-800-432-7422. 

Cover photo courtesy of Pixabay

SubmittedNorthwest Kansas Area Agency on Aging will be hosting Information Day for older Kansans and caregivers from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Hays Senior Center, 2450 E. Eighth St.This year’s theme is “Age My Way." The day will include speakers, hands-on activities, vendor booths, door prizes and lots of giveaways. Healthy snacks and drinks will be provided to all participants. Scheduled presentations include: 9 a.m.— Senior Companions/Foster Grandparents Program 9:30 a.m. — Professional Fire Equipment – fire safety 10 a.m. — Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services - Medicare 11 a.m. — Hays Recreation Commission – exercise activity noon — Kansas Legal Services – scams and fraud 1 p.m. — High Plains Mental Health Center – "Aging Well: Nurturing Your Mental Health Later in Life"Many other agencies and organizations will be available to visit with you about their services. If you have questions, contact Area Agency on Aging at 1-800-432-7422. Cover photo courtesy of Pixabay <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1651527113060.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>

'Age My Way' Information Day for seniors set for Saturday

By KEVIN NYBERG <a href="https://www.tmp-m.org">Thomas More Prep-Marian</a>

The
 TMP-M High School chess team participated in the Kansas Scholastic Chess 
Association's&nbsp;Girls' State Championship on Saturday. The 
tournament served as a qualifier for the Ruth Haring Tournament of Girls
 State Champions, to be held at the U.S. Open in August.

Junior Caroline Niemeyer, playing in her first full chess tournament 
ever, finished in clear third place, a half point behind an equal tie for 
first. This makes Caroline second runner-up for the tournament in August.

Freshman
 Claudine Stein finished seventh, Freshman Lyndsie Byer finished 10th, 
Senior Elizabeth Dickman finished 11th, and Junior Michaela Dickman 
finished 12th.

This will be the final scholastic chess event for 2021-22.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1651518840300.png" alt="From left:&nbsp; Michaela Dickman, Lyndsie Byer, Caroline Niemeyer, Elizabeth Dickman and Claudine&nbsp;Stein." />
 <figcaption>From left:&nbsp; Michaela Dickman, Lyndsie Byer, Caroline Niemeyer, Elizabeth Dickman and Claudine&nbsp;Stein.</figcaption>
 </figure>By KEVIN NYBERG <a href="https://www.tmp-m.org">Thomas More Prep-Marian</a>The
 TMP-M High School chess team participated in the Kansas Scholastic Chess 
Association's&nbsp;Girls' State Championship on Saturday. The 
tournament served as a qualifier for the Ruth Haring Tournament of Girls
 State Champions, to be held at the U.S. Open in August.Junior Caroline Niemeyer, playing in her first full chess tournament 
ever, finished in clear third place, a half point behind an equal tie for 
first. This makes Caroline second runner-up for the tournament in August.Freshman
 Claudine Stein finished seventh, Freshman Lyndsie Byer finished 10th, 
Senior Elizabeth Dickman finished 11th, and Junior Michaela Dickman 
finished 12th.This will be the final scholastic chess event for 2021-22.&nbsp;

TMP-M girls place at statewide chess championships

By BECKY KISER Hays Post

Spring brings with it graduation and commencement ceremonies, along with many outdoor events as the weather warms.

Melissa Dixon, Hays Convention and Visitors Bureau executive director, has some highlights of May activities in Hays.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1643752861736.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By BECKY KISER Hays PostSpring brings with it graduation and commencement ceremonies, along with many outdoor events as the weather warms.Melissa Dixon, Hays Convention and Visitors Bureau executive director, has some highlights of May activities in Hays.<figure>
 <iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Q9ipH1sbIPc"></iframe>
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>For an updated list of events, check the CVB website at <a href="https://www.visithays.com/calendar.aspx">www.visithays.com</a>.

🎥 CVB: May events and activities in Hays

<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/2022/5/1651605708209.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://hayspost.com/pages/state-farm-weather-window">For a full look at the weather forecast click here.</a>

Three-day weather outlook

By JOE VINDUSKA Barton Community College

GREAT BEND — The Shafer Gallery held an opening reception for the BaRTaRT Faculty Student and Staff Exhibition on April 8 and awards were given to Barton students participating in the student art competition.

This year’s guest judge was Ron Michael, director of the Sandzen Memorial Gallery in Lindsborg. He gave critiques of the award-winning artwork and words of encouragement to the student artists. The exhibit runs through May 13 and also features ceramic art by Michael as well works by Barton faculty and members of the Shafer Gallery staff.

“The hard work of creating and the discipline involved in the production of any work of art finds its culmination in the Gallery,” said Gallery Director Dave Barnes. “A work of art has to be seen to be experienced, to have life and to impact and inspire the world. Without the exhibit, the artist’s work is like a song that is written but never performed. The BaRTaRT exhibit is our way of giving the artists of the Barton community the opportunity to sing loud in a supportive professional art world context. “

The winners of this year’s BaRTaRT competition are as follows:

Best Overall: Tracy Miller, “Circles.”

Painting: Third Place, Karen Gore, “Summer Pickings.” Second Place, Isabelle Gonzalez, “Don’t Move the Spotlight.” First Place, Tracy Miller, “Still Life 2.”

Graphic Mediums: Second Place, Ashley Herrman, “Mind Melt.” First Place, Ruthie Webster, “The Maiden (Mucha Tribute).”

Ceramics: Second Place, Jaci Guthrie, “Navidad.” First Place, Dolores Baker, “Textured Flower Pot.”

To see all entries visit:&nbsp;<a href="https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjzKmnh" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjzKmnh</a>.&nbsp;

The Shafer Gallery is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is always free. 

For more information, contact Barnes at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:barnesd@bartonccc.edu">barnesd@bartonccc.edu</a>&nbsp;or (620) 792-9342.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1651242965683.jpeg" alt="'Growth' by Ashley Herrman (Photo courtesy Ashley Herrman)" />
 <figcaption>'Growth' by Ashley Herrman (Photo courtesy Ashley Herrman)</figcaption>
 </figure>By JOE VINDUSKA Barton Community CollegeGREAT BEND — The Shafer Gallery held an opening reception for the BaRTaRT Faculty Student and Staff Exhibition on April 8 and awards were given to Barton students participating in the student art competition.This year’s guest judge was Ron Michael, director of the Sandzen Memorial Gallery in Lindsborg. He gave critiques of the award-winning artwork and words of encouragement to the student artists. The exhibit runs through May 13 and also features ceramic art by Michael as well works by Barton faculty and members of the Shafer Gallery staff.“The hard work of creating and the discipline involved in the production of any work of art finds its culmination in the Gallery,” said Gallery Director Dave Barnes. “A work of art has to be seen to be experienced, to have life and to impact and inspire the world. Without the exhibit, the artist’s work is like a song that is written but never performed. The BaRTaRT exhibit is our way of giving the artists of the Barton community the opportunity to sing loud in a supportive professional art world context. “The winners of this year’s BaRTaRT competition are as follows:<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1651242006854.jpeg" alt="'Circles' by Tracy Miller won Best Overall in the BaRTaRT competition. (Photo courtesy Tracy Miller)" />
 <figcaption>'Circles' by Tracy Miller won Best Overall in the BaRTaRT competition. (Photo courtesy Tracy Miller)</figcaption>
 </figure>Best Overall: Tracy Miller, “Circles.”Painting: Third Place, Karen Gore, “Summer Pickings.” Second Place, Isabelle Gonzalez, “Don’t Move the Spotlight.” First Place, Tracy Miller, “Still Life 2.”Graphic Mediums: Second Place, Ashley Herrman, “Mind Melt.” First Place, Ruthie Webster, “The Maiden (Mucha Tribute).”Ceramics: Second Place, Jaci Guthrie, “Navidad.” First Place, Dolores Baker, “Textured Flower Pot.”To see all entries visit:&nbsp;<a href="https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjzKmnh" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjzKmnh</a>.&nbsp;The Shafer Gallery is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is always free. For more information, contact Barnes at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:barnesd@bartonccc.edu">barnesd@bartonccc.edu</a>&nbsp;or (620) 792-9342.

BaRTaRT exhibition open through May 13 in Great Bend

Federal sentencing for Tyler Gillum, the former owner of the Plainville Livestock Commission, is set for July 21.

This is the end of a story that has spanned seven years, saw ranchers stretched to their financial limits, banks defrauded of millions of dollars and the demise of a rural bank.

Despite the trail of economic turmoil left behind in this case, the local community is seeking a comeback.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/85498496-95af-4704-8e67-6ed8943abcf9">Gillum, the former owner of the Plainville Livestock Commission, was convicted in U.S. District Court on April 22 on 31 counts of bank fraud, one count of making a false statement in connection with a Small Business Administration guaranteed loan, and one count of making a false statement in a loan or credit card application. </a>

Gillum, 51, of Plainville owned
and operated Plainville Livestock Commission Inc. from 2006 until 2019. 

Between January 2015 and August 2017, Gillum wrote checks and made wire transfers between various accounts under his control at various banks in a scheme commonly known as check kiting, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

This is when checks are continually written back and forth to fraudulently inflate account balances tricking banks into honoring checks written with insufficient funds. Gillum’s scheme resulted in losses of more than $10 million to the banking system, according to the U.S. Attorney's office.

Bank officials stepped in February 2019. Almena Bank froze the Gillum's accounts, including a custodial account, which was supposed to hold money due to ranchers who sold cattle at Gillum's livestock auctions.

<a href="https://archive.hayspost.com/2019/06/12/ranchers-express-frustration-as-plainville-livestock-funds-remain-in-courts-hands/">Checks from the Plainville Livestock Commission for two sales — one at the end of January and the other on Feb. 5, 2019 — bounced.</a>

Money that was supposed to be set aside to pay cattle sellers was transferred from a custodial account to the Plainville Livestock Auction’s operating account. The Almena Bank froze both accounts, which resulted in bounced checks.

Ranchers who were due more than $900,000 in auction proceeds had to wait more than 10 months to receive payment for their cattle.

<a href="https://archive.hayspost.com/2019/06/11/auction-set-for-bankrupt-plainville-livestock-commission-14m-owed/">Plainville Livestock Commission declared bankruptcy on March 1, 2019.</a>

On March 28, 2019, Almena Bank of 
Almena stipulated to a consent order with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. to correct what court
 records called “unsafe and unsound banking practices and violations of 
laws and regulations.”

In October 2020, Almena Bank failed. "The $69 million-asset bank was closed by its state regulator, then sold by the FDIC&nbsp; to Equity Bank in Andover," according to a story in the American Banker on March 26, 2021.

The American Banker quoted an FDIC report on the closure, which said, “The board’s performance and management were considered to be critically deficient.”

The FDIC report did not specify the Gillum case as a factor in the bank's closure; however, it said  [Bank Chairman Shad] Chandler led "an aggressive growth strategy that involved using higher-cost wholesale funds to back a push into large Small Business Administration and Department of Agriculture loans."

According to the American Banker story, Almena Bank's failure cost the FDIC’s Deposit Insurance Fund $18 million.

In May 2019, a grand jury returned a federal indictment against Tyler Gillum and his wife, Camden. Charges against Camden were later dropped.

The assets of the Plainville Livestock Commission were auctioned in June 2019. Court records indicated $14.5 million was owed at the time of the sale. The sale came up far short of the money owed.

<a href="https://archive.hayspost.com/2019/07/02/plainville-livestock-commission-property-sells-at-auction/">The Plainville Livestock Commission property in Plainville sold to Flatland Holding LLC for $850,000. According to a report from the court trustee, the total gross from the auction of the personal property and equipment from the bankruptcy auction was $405,682.</a>

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/5de67bc1897d147ad4bb1dfd">A federal court in November 2019 ordered cattlemen to receive full payments from the Plainville Livestock Commission sales in January and February.</a>

At the time of those payments, Derek Stockman, a rancher, said he had to restructure his loans as he
 waited for payment in the case and lost about $2,000 in interest as his
 payment from the Feb. 5 auction was being held by the courts.

"It
 added a lot of financial stress ... and tension with the bankers and 
stuff like that," he said at that time. "I didn’t expect that we would get it all."

The Plainville Livestock Commission bankruptcy and the related delay of payments to ranchers, not only affected those ranchers who were due money, but had a trickle-down effect on the entire community. 

<a href="https://www.hayspost.com/2019/04/15/cattlemen-affected-by-plainville-bankruptcy-likely-in-for-long-wait-2/">Roger McEowen, a Washburn law professor, spoke to cattlemen following the Gillum bankruptcy</a>
 and noted there is a multiplier of three to four times in the community
 associated with this agriculture revenue. With almost $1 million owed 
to producers, that equaled $3 million to $4 million that had been taken 
out of circulation in the local economy.

<a href="https://archive.hayspost.com/2019/04/22/plainville-economy-trying-to-recover-after-two-bankruptcies-in-a-month/">Roger Hrabe, director of the Rooks County Economic Development, acknowledged 2019 was a rough year for the community. In addition to the Plainville Livestock Commission closing, Chuck Comeau and his Dessin Fournir furniture company also declared bankruptcy within a month of the Plainville Livestock Commission closure.</a>

However, Hrabe said Plainville is rebounding.

Several of the companies owned by Chuck Comeau's Dessin Fournir have been purchased and reopened. 

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/774d9973-dab0-4fc2-b862-ac2ed2934d28">RELATED STORY: Former employees relaunch Dessin Fournir furniture lines</a> <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/5df24fccaa6b27189b034932">RELATED STORY: Hansens reopen doors of Plainville lighting company</a>

<a href="https://www.hrstockyards.com/">The livestock auction is now being operated by Heartland Regional Stockyards owned by Lloyd and Judy Schneider. </a>

Hrabe said the new owners of the stockyards, as well as the former Dessin Fournir companies, have all expanded since they were purchased by their new owners.

A co-working space, boutique and mortgage company have all opened in downtown Plainville in the last year. A new child care center and preschool are coming to the community, and a feasibility study is in the works for a new senior care facility.

"We have downtown Plainville Inc. that is made up of some very energetic people, and they are doing some good things," Hrabe said. "They have some building renovations too that ultimately lead to something good down there."

Unemployment rates in Rooks County remain very low — in the 2.5 percent range. There are more local job listings than Hrabe has seen in years.

Hays Post attempted to contact Gillum's defense attorney for a comment on the conviction. Hays Post also asked if Gillum intends to appeal the conviction, but a call was not returned.

Hays Post reached out to the attorneys for Equity Bank, which bought Almena Bank. No one returned a phone call. Hays Post also reached out to representatives of Landmark Bank and TBK Bank, who were also listed in the case. No one returned phone calls.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575404210576.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostFederal sentencing for Tyler Gillum, the former owner of the Plainville Livestock Commission, is set for July 21.This is the end of a story that has spanned seven years, saw ranchers stretched to their financial limits, banks defrauded of millions of dollars and the demise of a rural bank.Despite the trail of economic turmoil left behind in this case, the local community is seeking a comeback. <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/85498496-95af-4704-8e67-6ed8943abcf9">Gillum, the former owner of the Plainville Livestock Commission, was convicted in U.S. District Court on April 22 on 31 counts of bank fraud, one count of making a false statement in connection with a Small Business Administration guaranteed loan, and one count of making a false statement in a loan or credit card application. </a>Gillum, 51, of Plainville owned
and operated Plainville Livestock Commission Inc. from 2006 until 2019. Between January 2015 and August 2017, Gillum wrote checks and made wire transfers between various accounts under his control at various banks in a scheme commonly known as check kiting, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. This is when checks are continually written back and forth to fraudulently inflate account balances tricking banks into honoring checks written with insufficient funds. Gillum’s scheme resulted in losses of more than $10 million to the banking system, according to the U.S. Attorney's office. Bank officials stepped in February 2019. Almena Bank froze the Gillum's accounts, including a custodial account, which was supposed to hold money due to ranchers who sold cattle at Gillum's livestock auctions.<a href="https://archive.hayspost.com/2019/06/12/ranchers-express-frustration-as-plainville-livestock-funds-remain-in-courts-hands/">Checks from the Plainville Livestock Commission for two sales — one at the end of January and the other on Feb. 5, 2019 — bounced.</a>Money that was supposed to be set aside to pay cattle sellers was transferred from a custodial account to the Plainville Livestock Auction’s operating account. The Almena Bank froze both accounts, which resulted in bounced checks.Ranchers who were due more than $900,000 in auction proceeds had to wait more than 10 months to receive payment for their cattle.<a href="https://archive.hayspost.com/2019/06/11/auction-set-for-bankrupt-plainville-livestock-commission-14m-owed/">Plainville Livestock Commission declared bankruptcy on March 1, 2019.</a>On March 28, 2019, Almena Bank of 
Almena stipulated to a consent order with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. to correct what court
 records called “unsafe and unsound banking practices and violations of 
laws and regulations.”In October 2020, Almena Bank failed. "The $69 million-asset bank was closed by its state regulator, then sold by the FDIC&nbsp; to Equity Bank in Andover," according to a story in the American Banker on March 26, 2021.The American Banker quoted an FDIC report on the closure, which said, “The board’s performance and management were considered to be critically deficient.”The FDIC report did not specify the Gillum case as a factor in the bank's closure; however, it said [Bank Chairman Shad] Chandler led "an aggressive growth strategy that involved using higher-cost wholesale funds to back a push into large Small Business Administration and Department of Agriculture loans."According to the American Banker story, Almena Bank's failure cost the FDIC’s Deposit Insurance Fund $18 million.In May 2019, a grand jury returned a federal indictment against Tyler Gillum and his wife, Camden. Charges against Camden were later dropped.The assets of the Plainville Livestock Commission were auctioned in June 2019. Court records indicated $14.5 million was owed at the time of the sale. The sale came up far short of the money owed. <a href="https://archive.hayspost.com/2019/07/02/plainville-livestock-commission-property-sells-at-auction/">The Plainville Livestock Commission property in Plainville sold to Flatland Holding LLC for $850,000. According to a report from the court trustee, the total gross from the auction of the personal property and equipment from the bankruptcy auction was $405,682.</a><a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/5de67bc1897d147ad4bb1dfd">A federal court in November 2019 ordered cattlemen to receive full payments from the Plainville Livestock Commission sales in January and February.</a> At the time of those payments, Derek Stockman, a rancher, said he had to restructure his loans as he
 waited for payment in the case and lost about $2,000 in interest as his
 payment from the Feb. 5 auction was being held by the courts."It
 added a lot of financial stress ... and tension with the bankers and 
stuff like that," he said at that time. "I didn’t expect that we would get it all."The Plainville Livestock Commission bankruptcy and the related delay of payments to ranchers, not only affected those ranchers who were due money, but had a trickle-down effect on the entire community. <a href="https://www.hayspost.com/2019/04/15/cattlemen-affected-by-plainville-bankruptcy-likely-in-for-long-wait-2/">Roger McEowen, a Washburn law professor, spoke to cattlemen following the Gillum bankruptcy</a>
 and noted there is a multiplier of three to four times in the community
 associated with this agriculture revenue. With almost $1 million owed 
to producers, that equaled $3 million to $4 million that had been taken 
out of circulation in the local economy.<a href="https://archive.hayspost.com/2019/04/22/plainville-economy-trying-to-recover-after-two-bankruptcies-in-a-month/">Roger Hrabe, director of the Rooks County Economic Development, acknowledged 2019 was a rough year for the community. In addition to the Plainville Livestock Commission closing, Chuck Comeau and his Dessin Fournir furniture company also declared bankruptcy within a month of the Plainville Livestock Commission closure.</a> However, Hrabe said Plainville is rebounding. Several of the companies owned by Chuck Comeau's Dessin Fournir have been purchased and reopened. <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/774d9973-dab0-4fc2-b862-ac2ed2934d28">RELATED STORY: Former employees relaunch Dessin Fournir furniture lines</a> <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/5df24fccaa6b27189b034932">RELATED STORY: Hansens reopen doors of Plainville lighting company</a> <a href="https://www.hrstockyards.com/">The livestock auction is now being operated by Heartland Regional Stockyards owned by Lloyd and Judy Schneider. </a>Hrabe said the new owners of the stockyards, as well as the former Dessin Fournir companies, have all expanded since they were purchased by their new owners. A co-working space, boutique and mortgage company have all opened in downtown Plainville in the last year. A new child care center and preschool are coming to the community, and a feasibility study is in the works for a new senior care facility. "We have downtown Plainville Inc. that is made up of some very energetic people, and they are doing some good things," Hrabe said. "They have some building renovations too that ultimately lead to something good down there." Unemployment rates in Rooks County remain very low — in the 2.5 percent range. There are more local job listings than Hrabe has seen in years. Hays Post attempted to contact Gillum's defense attorney for a comment on the conviction. Hays Post also asked if Gillum intends to appeal the conviction, but a call was not returned.Hays Post reached out to the attorneys for Equity Bank, which bought Almena Bank. No one returned a phone call. Hays Post also reached out to representatives of Landmark Bank and TBK Bank, who were also listed in the case. No one returned phone calls.

Gillum leaves legacy of economic downfall; Plainville on rebound

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/9ae41647-1501-4e1d-b711-f93fdb4b820d">UPDATE, May 5:&nbsp;Accusation against longtime Hays priest unsubstantiated</a>

Scully strongly denies accusation dating back 40 years

Father Mike Scully, a longtime fixture of the Hays Catholic
Church, has been accused of sexual abuse of a minor.

Provincial Minister Br. Mark Schenk announced the allegation
in a newsletter last week.

“I need to make you aware that the Province of Mid-America recently
received an allegation of sexual abuse of a minor against Father Michael Scully
and Father Jordan Hammel (deceased),” the statement published in the March 20 St. Fidelis Church bulletin said. “In accord with provincial policies, we have
notified law enforcement of the allegation and have relieved Father Michael of
the public exercise of priestly ministry pending the outcome of an investigation
into the matter.”

Scully, who denies the allegations, is a member of the Capuchin Franciscan order, under
the Mid-America Province of St. Conrad, which serves Colorado,
Kansas and Texas.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/9ae41647-1501-4e1d-b711-f93fdb4b820d">UPDATE, May 5:&nbsp;Accusation against longtime Hays priest unsubstantiated</a><h2>Scully strongly denies accusation dating back 40 years</h2>By JAMES BELL Hays PostFather Mike Scully, a longtime fixture of the Hays Catholic
Church, has been accused of sexual abuse of a minor.Provincial Minister Br. Mark Schenk announced the allegation
in a newsletter last week.“I need to make you aware that the Province of Mid-America recently
received an allegation of sexual abuse of a minor against Father Michael Scully
and Father Jordan Hammel (deceased),” the statement published in the March 20 St. Fidelis Church bulletin said. “In accord with provincial policies, we have
notified law enforcement of the allegation and have relieved Father Michael of
the public exercise of priestly ministry pending the outcome of an investigation
into the matter.”Scully, who denies the allegations, is a member of the Capuchin Franciscan order, under
the Mid-America Province of St. Conrad, which serves Colorado,
Kansas and Texas.Upon being informed of the allegation from the Capuchin
Franciscan order, the Archdiocese of Kansas City relieved Scully of his duties
pending the outcome of the investigation.In a statement from the archdiocese published March 25, the
church noted the allegation stems from Scully’s work outside of the
archdiocese.Scully will remain on leave until the conclusion of the investigation and is fully cooperating, Schenk said.He denied the allegation, dating back to the 1970s, in the same
newsletter.“I must also tell you that the acts of which I am accused did
not occur, and I strongly deny the allegation I was accused of which allegedly happened
over 40 years ago,” Scully said. “An allegation of this nature obviously is hurtful
to me, especially since I have loved the ministry of being a priest and pastor.“Also, most of my priestly life of 57 years has been spent working
with, counseling and overseeing young people. I have authored books for young people
and have produced radio shows on pop music and movies, and never once in this period
has an accusation of this nature been brought forward against me.“My prayer is with the accusing party and for peace and healing for all affected by this investigation,” he continued.The SNAP network, a group that works to inform communities
about institutional abuse, said in the Salina Diocese he worked at St.
Joseph’s parish and headed Thomas More Prep-Marian High School, both in Hays. He most recently was serving in the Lawrence area.That organization is calling on church officials Kansas City
Kansas Archbishop Joseph Naumann,&nbsp;Salina Bishop Gerald L. Vincke, Denver-based
Archbishop Samuel Aquila, Thomas More Prep-Marian High School principal
Chad Meitner, alumni director Wanda Billinger and Schenk, to “use their
considerable resources to aggressively seek out anyone who may have seen,
suspected or suffered crimes or cover-ups by Fr. Scully or his supervisors or
colleagues.”The church has also called on anyone with information to
come forward.“The Province of Saint Conrad takes all allegations of
misconduct by its friars very seriously and works diligently to ascertain the truth
and to respond to survivors’ needs with compassion and respect,” Schenk said. “We
encourage anyone with knowledge about this case or about any misconduct by any member
of the province to contact civil authorities first, and then make a report to
our Safe Environment Coordinator.”Scully’s longtime weekly radio program, "Message at the Top," aired on
KJLS, an Eagle Radio-owned station in Hays. Eagle is the parent company of Hays Post.