The Hays High Plains Barbershop Chapter is looking forward to its 54th annual show, "Let's Celebrate Singing Again" to be presented April 2 at Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center on the Fort Hays State campus. There will be two shows; 2:00 pm and 7:00 pm. 


Joining the chorus on stage for this 54th annual show will be 2019 5th place International awards winner. It will also include local quartets Prairie Timbre, Uncalled Four and Classix as well as The Fort Hays Singers. We will be singing songs from Blue Suede, Billy Joel, Lee Greenwood and many more. 

Show Co-Chair Vance Chartier said, "We are all very excited about this year's show, since this is our 54th year of presenting the very finest of barbershop music to the patrons of the Central States 

District. We are also delighted to have our chapter coach, Dr. Terry Crull, the Director of Choral Activities at Ft. Hays State University, emcee our event this year." 


The chorus always looks forward to singing with the headliners and local quartets at this event because it helps further the chapter's primary goal of fostering the growth of community singing and help provide scholarships to young people who love to sing. The success of this show annually also helps provide thousands of dollars to various schools, singing groups, and other organizations that help people with special needs. 
The chapter membership is currently in the process of selling advertising in the show program to support this important event. Nearly 2,000 people attend the show each year, and the advertisers make this event possible. 

Because the 2020 show was canceled at the last minute and the ads and tickets sold went unused, we will be honoring those ads and will deliver the tickets for this show to them. We are hoping that since it has been a couple of years since we have been able to conduct our big annual fund­raising concert that businesses will want to increase the size of their ad in our bulletin to help us raise funds for our causes that we support. The chapter is thankful for the community support. 
Tickets for the show will be available on March 10th and may be purchased for $13.00 in Advanced at the following locations from that day to the day of the show:

Walgreens, 2701 Vine, 2600 Vine St., Hays Cerv's 2701 Vine, 2722 Hall &amp; 1601 Main, Hays Body Shoppe Salon, 117 E. 8th St. Hays Student Service Center, Memorial Union, FHSU Campus Hays Convention and Visitors Bureau, 2700 Vine, Hays Klema Hometown Market, 51 S. Fossil, Russell Encore Antiques &amp; Collectibles, 590 S. Fossil, Russell First State Bank, 206 N. Pennsylvania Ave., Ness City Rich's Home Town Food Center 1106 Washington, Ellis

Also online <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lets-celebrate-singing-again-tickets-217731580017?aff=ebdssbdestsearch">HERE</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1646663389402.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>News releaseThe Hays High Plains Barbershop Chapter is looking forward to its 54th annual show, "Let's Celebrate Singing Again" to be presented April 2 at Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center on the Fort Hays State campus. There will be two shows; 2:00 pm and 7:00 pm. 
Joining the chorus on stage for this 54th annual show will be 2019 5th place International awards winner. It will also include local quartets Prairie Timbre, Uncalled Four and Classix as well as The Fort Hays Singers. We will be singing songs from Blue Suede, Billy Joel, Lee Greenwood and many more. Show Co-Chair Vance Chartier said, "We are all very excited about this year's show, since this is our 54th year of presenting the very finest of barbershop music to the patrons of the Central States District. We are also delighted to have our chapter coach, Dr. Terry Crull, the Director of Choral Activities at Ft. Hays State University, emcee our event this year." 
The chorus always looks forward to singing with the headliners and local quartets at this event because it helps further the chapter's primary goal of fostering the growth of community singing and help provide scholarships to young people who love to sing. The success of this show annually also helps provide thousands of dollars to various schools, singing groups, and other organizations that help people with special needs. 
The chapter membership is currently in the process of selling advertising in the show program to support this important event. Nearly 2,000 people attend the show each year, and the advertisers make this event possible. Because the 2020 show was canceled at the last minute and the ads and tickets sold went unused, we will be honoring those ads and will deliver the tickets for this show to them. We are hoping that since it has been a couple of years since we have been able to conduct our big annual fund­raising concert that businesses will want to increase the size of their ad in our bulletin to help us raise funds for our causes that we support. The chapter is thankful for the community support. 
Tickets for the show will be available on March 10th and may be purchased for $13.00 in Advanced at the following locations from that day to the day of the show: Walgreens, 2701 Vine, 2600 Vine St., Hays Cerv's 2701 Vine, 2722 Hall &amp; 1601 Main, Hays Body Shoppe Salon, 117 E. 8th St. Hays Student Service Center, Memorial Union, FHSU Campus Hays Convention and Visitors Bureau, 2700 Vine, Hays Klema Hometown Market, 51 S. Fossil, Russell Encore Antiques &amp; Collectibles, 590 S. Fossil, Russell First State Bank, 206 N. Pennsylvania Ave., Ness City Rich's Home Town Food Center 1106 Washington, Ellis Also online <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lets-celebrate-singing-again-tickets-217731580017?aff=ebdssbdestsearch">HERE</a>.Prices at the door will be $15.00

Hays Barbershoppers prepare for 'Let's Celebrate Singing Again'

President Biden announced a ban on the import of Russian oil and natural gas into the United States, joining a chorus of other countries and large businesses cutting ties over the invasion of Ukraine.&nbsp; Biden has been under pressure from lawmakers in both parties to punish Russia for the Ukraine.&nbsp; He also announced another large coordinated release of crude from strategic reserves here and abroad. Britain announced it would phase out imports of Russian oil by the end of the year, giving oil importers more time to plan.&nbsp; The French national firm Total is the only major Western energy company that does not plan to fully exit Russia. BP, Shell and Exxon all announced their intentions to withdraw. TotalEnergies has said it will halt all new spending in Russia. Shell apologized for buying a lot Russian crude after it said it wouldn't. The company formally cut all energy ties with Russia on Tuesday. Crude prices have jumped nearly 25% since the first of March to their highest levels since August 2008. The benchmark Nymex futures contract gained nearly four dollars Monday to $119 and change. In midday trading Tuesday, prices jumped another six percent, rising $7.60 from the opening bell to $127 per barrel. London Brent was more than eight dollars higher at $131.24.&nbsp; Gasoline prices are half a dollar higher than last week across the US, with the national average up 11 cents in one day Tuesday. The average in Kansas jumped another six cents Tuesday to nearly $3.74 a gallon. Locally it's up to a market high of $3.79 in Hays and $3.69 in Great Bend. There's a sign of renewed production activity in Kansas. Regulators here report 123 new intent-to-drill notices last month across Kansas, up from 97 the month before. There are two new intents in Barton County, five in Ellis County, one in Russell County, and four in Stafford County. Operators in Kansas completed 25 wells last week, 271 so far this year, including a newly-completed well in Barton County, two in Ellis County and one in Stafford County. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service reports 27 active drilling rigs in Western Kansas, one higher than last week. Operators were about to spud two new wells in Ellis county. Drilling got underway on leases in Ellis and Stafford counties. So far this year, Operators in Kansas have spudded 165 new wells, up 77% from a year ago. Regulators okayed 33 new drilling permits in Kansas, 223 so far this year, including two in Ellis County and one in Russell County. The government reports an increase in domestic crude production. The Energy Information Administration said total US output averaged 11.64 million barrels per day in the week through February 25th. That's up 82,000 barrels per day from the week before.&nbsp; Inventories were down 2.6 million barrels from a week earlier. Stockpiles are about 12 percent below the five-year average for this time of year. Imports dropped more than a million barrels per day to 5.8 million barrels per day.&nbsp; Oil-by-rail shipments dropped last week. The Association of American Railroads reports 8,734 tankers hauling petroleum or petroleum products during the week through February 26th, that's down 523 carloads from the week before, and a nearly 16% drop from a year ago. Canadian traffic was down more than two percent last week. For the month of February, AAR says petroleum shipments were down eight percent compared to the same month a year ago.

By JOHN P. TRETBARPresident Biden announced a ban on the import of Russian oil and natural gas into the United States, joining a chorus of other countries and large businesses cutting ties over the invasion of Ukraine.&nbsp; Biden has been under pressure from lawmakers in both parties to punish Russia for the Ukraine.&nbsp; He also announced another large coordinated release of crude from strategic reserves here and abroad. Britain announced it would phase out imports of Russian oil by the end of the year, giving oil importers more time to plan.&nbsp; The French national firm Total is the only major Western energy company that does not plan to fully exit Russia. BP, Shell and Exxon all announced their intentions to withdraw. TotalEnergies has said it will halt all new spending in Russia. Shell apologized for buying a lot Russian crude after it said it wouldn't. The company formally cut all energy ties with Russia on Tuesday. Crude prices have jumped nearly 25% since the first of March to their highest levels since August 2008. The benchmark Nymex futures contract gained nearly four dollars Monday to $119 and change. In midday trading Tuesday, prices jumped another six percent, rising $7.60 from the opening bell to $127 per barrel. London Brent was more than eight dollars higher at $131.24.&nbsp; Gasoline prices are half a dollar higher than last week across the US, with the national average up 11 cents in one day Tuesday. The average in Kansas jumped another six cents Tuesday to nearly $3.74 a gallon. Locally it's up to a market high of $3.79 in Hays and $3.69 in Great Bend. There's a sign of renewed production activity in Kansas. Regulators here report 123 new intent-to-drill notices last month across Kansas, up from 97 the month before. There are two new intents in Barton County, five in Ellis County, one in Russell County, and four in Stafford County. Operators in Kansas completed 25 wells last week, 271 so far this year, including a newly-completed well in Barton County, two in Ellis County and one in Stafford County. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service reports 27 active drilling rigs in Western Kansas, one higher than last week. Operators were about to spud two new wells in Ellis county. Drilling got underway on leases in Ellis and Stafford counties. So far this year, Operators in Kansas have spudded 165 new wells, up 77% from a year ago. Regulators okayed 33 new drilling permits in Kansas, 223 so far this year, including two in Ellis County and one in Russell County. The government reports an increase in domestic crude production. The Energy Information Administration said total US output averaged 11.64 million barrels per day in the week through February 25th. That's up 82,000 barrels per day from the week before.&nbsp; Inventories were down 2.6 million barrels from a week earlier. Stockpiles are about 12 percent below the five-year average for this time of year. Imports dropped more than a million barrels per day to 5.8 million barrels per day.&nbsp; Oil-by-rail shipments dropped last week. The Association of American Railroads reports 8,734 tankers hauling petroleum or petroleum products during the week through February 26th, that's down 523 carloads from the week before, and a nearly 16% drop from a year ago. Canadian traffic was down more than two percent last week. For the month of February, AAR says petroleum shipments were down eight percent compared to the same month a year ago.

News From the Oil Patch: Biden bans Russian crude imports

By GREG DOERING Kansas Farm Bureau Growing up, this is about the time of year I spent plenty of weekends patrolling pastures for eastern red cedar trees to lop off with a pair of shears. It was easier to spot the evergreen saplings amidst the browns and tans of last year’s growing season. My job was to find the saplings growing in fence rows, draws and other areas where the fire we’d set a few weeks later was unlikely to reach them. From an evolutionary standpoint, this particular plant is a marvelous organism. A member of the juniper family, the trees seemingly thrive anywhere from deep soils to bare rock. Heat, cold and drought are simple inconveniences. These well-adapted trees have always been present in Kansas prairies, but they once were limited to some of the more marginal land. The cedars could flourish there precisely because there was little other organic matter around. On the open range, periodic wildfires would get hot enough to fully engulf full-grown trees allowing the grassland to reclaim the territory. Today, prescribed burns are used in place of wildfires, especially in the Flint Hills of Kansas and Oklahoma. Here, an average of 2.2 million acres will be set ablaze this spring. In the coming weeks, evidence of these burns will be easily visible as plumes of smoke rise over the horizon. Thankfully, rangeland managers have become more purposeful in timing their burns to minimize how much smoke reaches urban areas. Voluntary efforts like the Flint Hills Smoke Management Plan allow landowners access to detailed forecast and smoke modeling tools at&nbsp;<a href="https://kfb.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=45bba928f411d21617c5eadbe&amp;id=6cb21fa496&amp;e=5bf0f0e5fe">www.ksfire.org</a>&nbsp;so they can balance the need for burning with the air quality of their neighbors. These extra steps are a small price to pay compared to the necessity of fire in preserving the prairie. For as well as cedars grow in marginal soils, they do even better in the sod of open ground. It’s not the plow or development that represents the greatest threat to the grasslands of tomorrow, rather it’s the advancement of woody plants like these. This encroachment puts pressure on working rangelands by decreasing livestock production and increasing wildfire risk as well as harming grassland biodiversity for existing wildlife. Expansive prairies are threatened with wholesale transition to woodland, and it can happen in short order. A recent report from Oklahoma State University points out woody plants have increased on more than 108 million acres in the western U.S. since 1999. In turn, that’s driving the potential collapse of the remaining Great Plains grassland. Fire is both fast and affordable, but for its ability to preserve large expanses of grassland, prescribed fires aren’t the same as the wildfires that once ripped through the prairie. There were no fences, road ditches or windbreaks on nearby homes that would interrupt the fire’s spread. Those areas today are a reservoir for mature cedars capable of producing seed that can travel a significant distance, advancing the line of encroachment. Now I’m not advocating we get rid of fences, ditches, windbreaks and other areas where cedars are safe from fire. Rather those with a vested stake in maintaining our productive prairies have to find ways to work together to manage this threat. What that means is a heightened vigilance and perpetual management of cedars and other woody plants, even if that means I’m going to be spending a few weekends in the spring patrolling pastures again to ensure the rangeland in Kansas remains resilient.

"Insight" is a weekly column published by Kansas Farm Bureau, the state's largest farm organization whose mission is to strengthen agriculture and the lives of Kansans through advocacy, education and service.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574694551876.png" alt="Greg Doering&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Greg Doering&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>By GREG DOERING Kansas Farm Bureau Growing up, this is about the time of year I spent plenty of weekends patrolling pastures for eastern red cedar trees to lop off with a pair of shears. It was easier to spot the evergreen saplings amidst the browns and tans of last year’s growing season. My job was to find the saplings growing in fence rows, draws and other areas where the fire we’d set a few weeks later was unlikely to reach them. From an evolutionary standpoint, this particular plant is a marvelous organism. A member of the juniper family, the trees seemingly thrive anywhere from deep soils to bare rock. Heat, cold and drought are simple inconveniences. These well-adapted trees have always been present in Kansas prairies, but they once were limited to some of the more marginal land. The cedars could flourish there precisely because there was little other organic matter around. On the open range, periodic wildfires would get hot enough to fully engulf full-grown trees allowing the grassland to reclaim the territory. Today, prescribed burns are used in place of wildfires, especially in the Flint Hills of Kansas and Oklahoma. Here, an average of 2.2 million acres will be set ablaze this spring. In the coming weeks, evidence of these burns will be easily visible as plumes of smoke rise over the horizon. Thankfully, rangeland managers have become more purposeful in timing their burns to minimize how much smoke reaches urban areas. Voluntary efforts like the Flint Hills Smoke Management Plan allow landowners access to detailed forecast and smoke modeling tools at&nbsp;<a href="https://kfb.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=45bba928f411d21617c5eadbe&amp;id=6cb21fa496&amp;e=5bf0f0e5fe">www.ksfire.org</a>&nbsp;so they can balance the need for burning with the air quality of their neighbors. These extra steps are a small price to pay compared to the necessity of fire in preserving the prairie. For as well as cedars grow in marginal soils, they do even better in the sod of open ground. It’s not the plow or development that represents the greatest threat to the grasslands of tomorrow, rather it’s the advancement of woody plants like these. This encroachment puts pressure on working rangelands by decreasing livestock production and increasing wildfire risk as well as harming grassland biodiversity for existing wildlife. Expansive prairies are threatened with wholesale transition to woodland, and it can happen in short order. A recent report from Oklahoma State University points out woody plants have increased on more than 108 million acres in the western U.S. since 1999. In turn, that’s driving the potential collapse of the remaining Great Plains grassland. Fire is both fast and affordable, but for its ability to preserve large expanses of grassland, prescribed fires aren’t the same as the wildfires that once ripped through the prairie. There were no fences, road ditches or windbreaks on nearby homes that would interrupt the fire’s spread. Those areas today are a reservoir for mature cedars capable of producing seed that can travel a significant distance, advancing the line of encroachment. Now I’m not advocating we get rid of fences, ditches, windbreaks and other areas where cedars are safe from fire. Rather those with a vested stake in maintaining our productive prairies have to find ways to work together to manage this threat. What that means is a heightened vigilance and perpetual management of cedars and other woody plants, even if that means I’m going to be spending a few weekends in the spring patrolling pastures again to ensure the rangeland in Kansas remains resilient."Insight" is a weekly column published by Kansas Farm Bureau, the state's largest farm organization whose mission is to strengthen agriculture and the lives of Kansans through advocacy, education and service.&nbsp;

Kansas Farm Bureau Insight: Resilient rangeland

<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/2022/3/1646768424629.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

 It was good to see many people over the
weekend in Hays.&nbsp; Thanks to the Hays
Chamber of Commerce for sponsoring a legislative coffee with Senator Billinger
and Representatives Waymaster and Wasinger.&nbsp;
We are working on dates in April to come to other communities as we do
each year, watch for more details as they are worked out.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/eec6a9ec-1dba-45cf-a3c3-b6ba0adf78dd">SEE STORY OF SATURDAY'S LEGISLATIVE COFFEE ON HAYS POST&nbsp;</a>

Second Half of the Session Underway

The Legislature completed the first half of work on February
23, ahead of the Turnaround deadline, when non-exempt bills have to be
considered in their house of origin. The Legislature returned to action on
March 2 with House committees taking up bills sent over by the Senate.&nbsp; Work continues on big issues, including the
budget, taxes, and redistricting.

Highlights of the First Half of the 2022 Session

•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Passing a
Congressional map, known as Ad Astra 2, in SB 355

•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Approving
SB 347, the Attracting Powerful Economic Expansion (APEX) Act. APEX will ensure
that companies making a minimum investment in Kansas of $1 billion over a
five-year-period would be eligible for certain tax incentives and subject to
accountability measures.

•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Extending
protections to keep hospitals and adult care homes staffed by temporarily
removing some of the red tape in rules and regulations in HB 2477

•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Standing
Against Antisemitism, with unanimous approval of HCR 5030

•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Giving
citizens the opportunity to vote on two constitutional amendments: HCR 5014,
which ensures legislative oversight of rules and regulations and HCR 5022,
which protects the right of voters to elect their county sheriff.

•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Condemning
price gouging that occurred during the February 2021 extreme cold weather
event: HCR 5023

•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Honoring
Gold Star Families with a memorial on the Statehouse grounds: HB 2540

•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Establishing
a lifetime combination hunting and fishing license for Kansas kids, HB 2456

Important Legislation Awaiting Action in the Second Half of
the 2022 Session

Following the Governor’s State of the State in January,
Republicans outlined priorities for the 2022 Session, including a three-pronged
approach:

•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ratcheting
down the sales tax responsibly on not only food, but on other purchases our
families need to make through a plan that makes meaningful tax cuts, rather
than just giving away small, one-time handouts.

•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Stabilizing
the KPERS retirement fund, so that it will be there for our teachers, our
firefighters, and other public employees when they need it.

•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Securing
the Rainy Day Fund, so that our families will not be on the hook for higher
taxes as the economy ebbs and flows.

Legislation has been introduced to accomplish these
priorities in HB 2711 and HB 2561

HB 2711 creates a comprehensive tax plan that reduces the
state food sales tax rate from 6.5 to 3.5 percent, while creating a path to
zero if funds are sufficient in the Budget Stabilization Fund.&nbsp; The plan also lowers the state sales tax rate
from 6.5 to 6.3 percent, addressing the totality of sales tax relief, rather
than a limited focus like the Governor’s proposal. The food sales tax income
tax credit becomes a refundable tax credit, effectively taking food sales tax
to zero for those that we have heard need it most – families with children,
seniors, disabled citizens.&nbsp; HB 2711 was
heard in the House Taxation Committee this week.

HB 2561 uses the budget surplus to stabilize the KPERS
system, bringing KPERS above the 80 percent funded level, lowers future costs
for taxpayers by reducing the state’s share of employer contributions, and
saves $82 million in FY 2023 and $429 million over the next five years. The
bill also fully funds 2017 and 2019 payments, paying off layering payments, and
eliminating the annual $25.8 million payments on delayed employer
contributions. HB 2561 has passed out of the House Insurance and Pensions
Committee and awaits action by the House.

The work to put a portion of budget surplus funds into the
Rainy Day Fund awaits action by the House Appropriations Committee.&nbsp; The Committee is finishing hearing all of the
Budget Committee recommendations and will soon be working HB 2588 and HB
2592.&nbsp; House Republicans proposed setting
aside some of the budget surplus to protect the Kansas economy from future ebbs
and flows.

You can follow along on happenings in the legislature online
at <a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/">kslegislature.org</a> &nbsp;and you can watch
committee meetings and when the house and senate are on the floor on the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_0NO-Pb96CFABvxDwXAq8A">Kansas
Legislature’s YouTube channel</a>.&nbsp; If you
would like to contact me: my office is still located in Room: 149-S.&nbsp; My statehouse phone number is (785) 296-7463
and email is: ken.rahjes@house.ks.gov and you can always try my cell number at
(785) 302-8416.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;

It is my honor to serve you.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Ken Rahjes, R-Agra, is the Kansas state representative of the 110th Dist. House District 110 includes:&nbsp; Norton and Phillips Counties Ellis County: Cities: Catharine, Ellis and Schoenchen;&nbsp;Townships: Big Creek(part), Buckeye, Catherine, Ellis, Herzog(part),&nbsp;Lookout(part) and Wheatland(part) Graham County: City: Hill City;&nbsp;Townships: Hill City(part) and Nicodemus(part) Rooks County: Cities: Damar, Palco, Plainville,&nbsp;Stockton, Woodston and Zurich

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1646612827522.jpeg" alt="Rep. Ken Rahjes(center) R-Agra, at the Hays Chamber Legislative Coffee March 5. (Photo by James Bell/Hays Post)" />
 <figcaption>Rep. Ken Rahjes(center) R-Agra, at the Hays Chamber Legislative Coffee March 5. (Photo by James Bell/Hays Post)</figcaption>
 </figure>March 7, 2022 TOPEKAHello from Topeka. It was good to see many people over the
weekend in Hays.&nbsp; Thanks to the Hays
Chamber of Commerce for sponsoring a legislative coffee with Senator Billinger
and Representatives Waymaster and Wasinger.&nbsp;
We are working on dates in April to come to other communities as we do
each year, watch for more details as they are worked out.<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/eec6a9ec-1dba-45cf-a3c3-b6ba0adf78dd">SEE STORY OF SATURDAY'S LEGISLATIVE COFFEE ON HAYS POST&nbsp;</a>Second Half of the Session UnderwayThe Legislature completed the first half of work on February
23, ahead of the Turnaround deadline, when non-exempt bills have to be
considered in their house of origin. The Legislature returned to action on
March 2 with House committees taking up bills sent over by the Senate.&nbsp; Work continues on big issues, including the
budget, taxes, and redistricting.Highlights of the First Half of the 2022 Session•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Passing a
Congressional map, known as Ad Astra 2, in SB 355•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Approving
SB 347, the Attracting Powerful Economic Expansion (APEX) Act. APEX will ensure
that companies making a minimum investment in Kansas of $1 billion over a
five-year-period would be eligible for certain tax incentives and subject to
accountability measures.•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Extending
protections to keep hospitals and adult care homes staffed by temporarily
removing some of the red tape in rules and regulations in HB 2477•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Standing
Against Antisemitism, with unanimous approval of HCR 5030•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Giving
citizens the opportunity to vote on two constitutional amendments: HCR 5014,
which ensures legislative oversight of rules and regulations and HCR 5022,
which protects the right of voters to elect their county sheriff.•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Condemning
price gouging that occurred during the February 2021 extreme cold weather
event: HCR 5023•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Honoring
Gold Star Families with a memorial on the Statehouse grounds: HB 2540•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Establishing
a lifetime combination hunting and fishing license for Kansas kids, HB 2456Important Legislation Awaiting Action in the Second Half of
the 2022 SessionFollowing the Governor’s State of the State in January,
Republicans outlined priorities for the 2022 Session, including a three-pronged
approach:•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ratcheting
down the sales tax responsibly on not only food, but on other purchases our
families need to make through a plan that makes meaningful tax cuts, rather
than just giving away small, one-time handouts.•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Stabilizing
the KPERS retirement fund, so that it will be there for our teachers, our
firefighters, and other public employees when they need it.•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Securing
the Rainy Day Fund, so that our families will not be on the hook for higher
taxes as the economy ebbs and flows.Legislation has been introduced to accomplish these
priorities in HB 2711 and HB 2561HB 2711 creates a comprehensive tax plan that reduces the
state food sales tax rate from 6.5 to 3.5 percent, while creating a path to
zero if funds are sufficient in the Budget Stabilization Fund.&nbsp; The plan also lowers the state sales tax rate
from 6.5 to 6.3 percent, addressing the totality of sales tax relief, rather
than a limited focus like the Governor’s proposal. The food sales tax income
tax credit becomes a refundable tax credit, effectively taking food sales tax
to zero for those that we have heard need it most – families with children,
seniors, disabled citizens.&nbsp; HB 2711 was
heard in the House Taxation Committee this week.HB 2561 uses the budget surplus to stabilize the KPERS
system, bringing KPERS above the 80 percent funded level, lowers future costs
for taxpayers by reducing the state’s share of employer contributions, and
saves $82 million in FY 2023 and $429 million over the next five years. The
bill also fully funds 2017 and 2019 payments, paying off layering payments, and
eliminating the annual $25.8 million payments on delayed employer
contributions. HB 2561 has passed out of the House Insurance and Pensions
Committee and awaits action by the House.The work to put a portion of budget surplus funds into the
Rainy Day Fund awaits action by the House Appropriations Committee.&nbsp; The Committee is finishing hearing all of the
Budget Committee recommendations and will soon be working HB 2588 and HB
2592.&nbsp; House Republicans proposed setting
aside some of the budget surplus to protect the Kansas economy from future ebbs
and flows.You can follow along on happenings in the legislature online
at <a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/">kslegislature.org</a> &nbsp;and you can watch
committee meetings and when the house and senate are on the floor on the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_0NO-Pb96CFABvxDwXAq8A">Kansas
Legislature’s YouTube channel</a>.&nbsp; If you
would like to contact me: my office is still located in Room: 149-S.&nbsp; My statehouse phone number is (785) 296-7463
and email is: ken.rahjes@house.ks.gov and you can always try my cell number at
(785) 302-8416.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;It is my honor to serve you.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Ken Rahjes, R-Agra, is the Kansas state representative of the 110th Dist. House District 110 includes:&nbsp; Norton and Phillips Counties Ellis County: Cities: Catharine, Ellis and Schoenchen;&nbsp;Townships: Big Creek(part), Buckeye, Catherine, Ellis, Herzog(part),&nbsp;Lookout(part) and Wheatland(part) Graham County: City: Hill City;&nbsp;Townships: Hill City(part) and Nicodemus(part) Rooks County: Cities: Damar, Palco, Plainville,&nbsp;Stockton, Woodston and Zurich

RAHJES REPORT: March 7, 2022

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

The Hays USD 489 school board at its meeting Monday night approved the addition of three teachers at the Hays High School next year.

One teacher each will be added to the science, math and social studies departments. The additions were needed because of growing enrollment.

The district was expecting about 220 freshmen this year, but the class was actually 257 students. Another 40 additional students are anticipated at HHS next year with another additional 20 students projected the following year. 

In social science, required American history has already ballooned to 25 to 30 students per class, Fred Winter, HHS assistant principal, said.

The addition of the social sciences teacher will allow HHS to decrease class sizes and increase electives.

This school year, the high school already has two science teachers who are teaching during their planning periods.

The addition of a science teacher will allow HHS to maintain science class sizes, as well as launch its health sciences career pathway next year, Becky Hickert, HHS assistant principal, said.

School officials are also hoping to eventually add law enforcement and STEM career pathways.

HHS Principal Shawn Henderson said space is already at a premium at the high school, but teachers in these departments said they are willing to share classrooms to accommodate new teachers.

Shanna Dinkel, assistant superintendent and director of curriculum, said the high school's proposal was the result of negotiation and compromise and is reflective of what school officials felt they could accomplish with the budget that is available.

Board member Meagan Zampieri-Lillpopp asked if adding three teachers was enough.

"We're trying to squeeze everything out of what we have," Superintendent Ron Wilson said.

The board also approved a $34,500 contract with M&amp;D Excavating to construct additional parking at HHS. 

Henderson said more freshman have started driving to school the second semester and the parking lot is not large enough to accommodate the additional vehicles.

The school has had to use a grassy area, which is about 200 by 250 feet, for additional parking. The school plans to add an asphalt overlay in this grassy area.

The school lost about 30 t0 35 parking spaces when it converted to its current diagonal parking configuration at the beginning of the school year. However, parents have commented that the new configuration is safer and has resulted in fewer fender benders in the lot.

The board approved Tammy Wellbrock, Ken Brooks and Craig Pallister as the members of negotiating team for teacher negotiations. Allen Park will serve as the alternate for the team.

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostThe Hays USD 489 school board at its meeting Monday night approved the addition of three teachers at the Hays High School next year.One teacher each will be added to the science, math and social studies departments. The additions were needed because of growing enrollment.The district was expecting about 220 freshmen this year, but the class was actually 257 students. Another 40 additional students are anticipated at HHS next year with another additional 20 students projected the following year. In social science, required American history has already ballooned to 25 to 30 students per class, Fred Winter, HHS assistant principal, said. The addition of the social sciences teacher will allow HHS to decrease class sizes and increase electives.This school year, the high school already has two science teachers who are teaching during their planning periods.The addition of a science teacher will allow HHS to maintain science class sizes, as well as launch its health sciences career pathway next year, Becky Hickert, HHS assistant principal, said.School officials are also hoping to eventually add law enforcement and STEM career pathways.HHS Principal Shawn Henderson said space is already at a premium at the high school, but teachers in these departments said they are willing to share classrooms to accommodate new teachers.Shanna Dinkel, assistant superintendent and director of curriculum, said the high school's proposal was the result of negotiation and compromise and is reflective of what school officials felt they could accomplish with the budget that is available.Board member Meagan Zampieri-Lillpopp asked if adding three teachers was enough. "We're trying to squeeze everything out of what we have," Superintendent Ron Wilson said.<h2>Additional HHS parking</h2>The board also approved a $34,500 contract with M&amp;D Excavating to construct additional parking at HHS. Henderson said more freshman have started driving to school the second semester and the parking lot is not large enough to accommodate the additional vehicles.The school has had to use a grassy area, which is about 200 by 250 feet, for additional parking. The school plans to add an asphalt overlay in this grassy area.The school lost about 30 t0 35 parking spaces when it converted to its current diagonal parking configuration at the beginning of the school year. However, parents have commented that the new configuration is safer and has resulted in fewer fender benders in the lot.<h2>Teacher negotiations</h2>The board approved Tammy Wellbrock, Ken Brooks and Craig Pallister as the members of negotiating team for teacher negotiations. Allen Park will serve as the alternate for the team.

Hays to add three new teachers at high school

BY DAVID CONDOS <a href="https://www.hppr.org/hppr-news/2022-03-07/isolation-in-places-like-rural-kansas-can-leave-women-more-vulnerable-to-violence">Kansas News Service</a>

For women in abusive relationships, taking that first step to leave is often distressing enough.

Now
 imagine facing that decision in a sparsely populated part of western 
Kansas where you’re miles from the nearest neighbor and hours from the 
nearest help.

Jennifer Hecker, director of Options Domestic and 
Sexual Violence Services, said nearly three of every four women who come
 to the shelter in Hays have to drive more than an hour to get to there.

“We live in a resource desert,” Hecker said. “Do we have enough shelter? The short answer is ‘no.’”

<a href="https://help4abuse.org/" target="_blank">Options</a>
 is the only organization that provides around-the-clock care for people
 experiencing domestic and sexual violence in 18 counties that span from
 north-central Kansas to the Colorado border.

And during the 
pandemic, Hecker said, the need for Options’ services escalated. In 
2020, the number of help requests rose roughly 60% over the previous 
year. Calls to its helpline jumped 40%.

Incidents of domestic violence have risen <a href="https://www.ajemjournal.com/article/S0735-6757(20)30307-7/fulltext" target="_blank">around the globe</a> since the arrival of COVID-19, fueled by <a href="https://www.ucdavis.edu/curiosity/news/covid-19-isolation-linked-increased-domestic-violence-researchers-suggest" target="_blank">increased isolation and stress</a>. In 2020, one Kansan lost their lives to domestic violence <a href="https://www.kansas.gov/kbi/stats/docs/pdf/DVStalking%20Rape%202020.pdf" target="_blank">every 10 days</a>.

Women
 caught in that kind of terror at home in western Kansas and other rural
 parts of the state face extra barriers when it comes to seeking help. 
For starters, there’s often no rescue nearby.

“Emotional isolation
 is really a consequence of the geographic and physical isolation,” 
Ziwei Qi, a criminal justice professor at Fort Hays State University, 
said. “There’s nobody to tell, nowhere to go.”

Qi co-founded the university’s<a href="https://www.fhsu.edu/criminaljustice/center-for-empowering-victims-of-gender-based-violence/" target="_blank"> Center for Empowering Victims of Gender-Based Violence</a> in Hays two years ago to study the dynamics of violence against women in rural areas and the solutions that might help.

The
 idea behind the center is to connect researchers, service providers — 
including Options — and businesses to explore ways to break the cycle of
 gender-based violence. That can include domestic violence, sexual 
assault, stalking and sex trafficking.

“There’s no one entity that can solve the problems,” Qi said. “We have to have a coordinated community effort.”

Her
 team is currently studying how a social entrepreneurship program that 
offers victims a place where they can get job training and employment 
while living in a supportive residential community could empower women 
in rural Kansas to overcome the socioeconomic barriers that often keep 
them trapped in bad situations.

Hecker with Options said those 
economic and logistical hurdles often pile up to make the thought of 
leaving home that much more daunting for rural victims. For example, she
 said most of the women her team serves don’t have their own vehicle — 
another tactic that perpetrators use to control them.

“What 
they're faced with is simply a lack of options,” Hecker said. 
“Oftentimes, victims feel like their choice is: Better the devil I know 
than the devil I don’t.”

The isolation and lack of access
 to help in remote areas is often compounded by the cultural dynamics of
 small-town life, which tend to sweep this type of violence under the 
rug.

“They go to church together, they work together. … It’s hard 
to believe that someone they know could be perpetuating that kind of 
violence,” Hecker said. “So often victims are not believed, and the 
violence continues.”

Hecker said the counties in her region with 
the lowest number of survivors reaching out for help are the counties 
that have a high rate of domestic violence incidents but a low number of
 domestic violence arrests.

“When (survivors) reach out to the 
system and the system fails, they lose faith in the entire system,” 
Hecker said. “They stop reaching out for help, and we see that happen a 
lot.”

April Terry, who teaches in the Fort Hays State criminal 
justice program, said she saw that look-away dynamic growing up in 
west-central Kansas. She now sees it in her <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/profile/April-Terry" target="_blank">research</a> on the causes and perceptions of rural gender-based violence.

“You
 get the mentality of, ‘Well, I know that person, I don’t really want to
 have to call the cops on them,’” Terry said, “The community doesn’t 
want to see certain people get in trouble for things.”

Yet 
research on gender-based violence in rural areas is thin. She said most 
studies from big cities show that the more close-knit a community, the 
more willing its residents will be to prevent and report crime.

“That’s really not true in small towns,” she said. “It’s a lot of ‘mind your own business’ kind of mentality.”

That
 sensibility may make it less likely for a police officer to arrest a 
family friend or more likely for a neighbor to stay quiet about the 
violence they witness.

And she said the close-knit communities 
that small towns take pride in often leave people who don’t have the 
right family reputation on the <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/354983696_Community_stakeholders'_perceptions_of_crime_and_victimization_A_mixed-methods_approach_to_understanding_collective_efficacy_and_social_cohesion_in_the_rural_heartland" target="_blank">outside looking in</a>.

On
 top of that, she said rural areas have an increased prevalence of 
traditional gender norms and a lack of anonymity. That all makes it less
 likely that a survivor will feel safe reporting violence.

“The stigma piece,” Terry said, “is just a big, big barrier for girls and women in rural places.”

Hecker said the pandemic exacerbated this situation in rural communities for a number of reasons.

As
 people lost their jobs or had to stay home, fuses got shorter. A couple
 that might previously have had eight or 10 hours apart each day while 
they’re at work suddenly spent more time cooped up together. She said 
that often eliminated the “cooling-off period” and accelerated the cycle
 of violence.

She’s seen the intensity of violence against women 
escalate during the pandemic as well. Some perpetrators have even used 
the virus as an additional form of manipulation, either threatening to 
expose victims to COVID as a punishment or using the fear of contracting
 COVID outside as a way to keep victims from leaving the home.

She
 said that when lockdowns and furloughs isolated some victims at home 
with their abusers, that also made it more difficult for women to reach 
out for help with a phone call for fear of being heard.

In response, Options opened a 24-hour text helpline (text the word “hope” to 847411) and launched a smartphone app called <a href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/my-mobile-options/id1513029469" target="_blank">My Mobile Options</a> that lets victims text chat with an advocate.

What else might help western Kansas victims of gender-based violence in the long term?

Hecker
 said rural areas need prevention strategies focused on addressing the 
root causes of this violence — like rape culture and perpetrator 
behaviors — rather than risk management strategies that put the burden 
on potential victims to find ways of avoiding dangerous situations.

And
 she said the criminal justice system needs to better hold perpetrators —
 and the structures that often enable them in small towns — accountable.

Qi,
 the Fort Hays State professor, said rural areas also need more 
trauma-informed training for law enforcement, more female police 
officers and more funding for service providers to bring in advocates 
who speak multiple languages and can travel to reach victims in remote 
areas.

“What about those who may never talk about their experience
 of abuse?,” Qi said. For instance, members of LGBTQ and immigrant 
communities may feel even less willing to call authorities for help.

She
 said there should be more outreach to ensure victims are aware of the 
options available to help them too. For example, many victims don’t know
 that they can seek shelter without it being reported to law 
enforcement.

For women who have experienced violence, Hecker wants
 to make sure they understand that her team and other advocates across 
the state are there for them. Help is available in rural Kansas, even if
 it’s not as close by as it is in larger cities.

“We all deserve to live a life … without fear that we will be hurt,” Hecker said. “We all deserve happiness and safety.”

If
 you or someone you know is looking to talk with an advocate about 
gender-based violence, here are some resources that can help:

Northwest and north-central Kansas Options Domestic and Sexual Violence Services in Hays, with an additional satellite office in Colby 800-794-4624 <a href="https://help4abuse.org/" target="_blank">https://help4abuse.org/</a> My Mobile Options app on <a href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/my-mobile-options/id1513029469" target="_blank">Apple</a> and <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.citizenobserver.mymobileoptions&amp;hl=en_US&amp;gl=US" target="_blank">Android</a> Text “hope” to 847411 to chat with an advocate 24/7

Southwest Kansas Family Crisis Services in Garden City 620-275-5911 <a href="https://www.facebook.com/FamilyCrisisServicesAndPrograms/" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/FamilyCrisisServicesAndPrograms/</a>

Statewide Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence 888-END-ABUSE <a href="https://www.kcsdv.org/" target="_blank">https://www.kcsdv.org/</a>

David Condos covers western Kansas for High Plains Public Radio and the Kansas News Service. You can follow him on Twitter<a href="http://twitter.com/davidcondos" target="_blank"> @davidcondos</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1646749521094.png" alt="Ziwei Qi co-founded the Center for Empowering Victims of Gender-Based Violence in Hays to study the dynamics that perpetuate violence against women in rural Kansas and the solutions that could bring healing. David Condos / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>Ziwei Qi co-founded the Center for Empowering Victims of Gender-Based Violence in Hays to study the dynamics that perpetuate violence against women in rural Kansas and the solutions that could bring healing. David Condos / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>BY DAVID CONDOS <a href="https://www.hppr.org/hppr-news/2022-03-07/isolation-in-places-like-rural-kansas-can-leave-women-more-vulnerable-to-violence">Kansas News Service</a>For women in abusive relationships, taking that first step to leave is often distressing enough.Now
 imagine facing that decision in a sparsely populated part of western 
Kansas where you’re miles from the nearest neighbor and hours from the 
nearest help.Jennifer Hecker, director of Options Domestic and 
Sexual Violence Services, said nearly three of every four women who come
 to the shelter in Hays have to drive more than an hour to get to there.“We live in a resource desert,” Hecker said. “Do we have enough shelter? The short answer is ‘no.’”<a href="https://help4abuse.org/" target="_blank">Options</a>
 is the only organization that provides around-the-clock care for people
 experiencing domestic and sexual violence in 18 counties that span from
 north-central Kansas to the Colorado border.And during the 
pandemic, Hecker said, the need for Options’ services escalated. In 
2020, the number of help requests rose roughly 60% over the previous 
year. Calls to its helpline jumped 40%.Incidents of domestic violence have risen <a href="https://www.ajemjournal.com/article/S0735-6757(20)30307-7/fulltext" target="_blank">around the globe</a> since the arrival of COVID-19, fueled by <a href="https://www.ucdavis.edu/curiosity/news/covid-19-isolation-linked-increased-domestic-violence-researchers-suggest" target="_blank">increased isolation and stress</a>. In 2020, one Kansan lost their lives to domestic violence <a href="https://www.kansas.gov/kbi/stats/docs/pdf/DVStalking%20Rape%202020.pdf" target="_blank">every 10 days</a>.Women
 caught in that kind of terror at home in western Kansas and other rural
 parts of the state face extra barriers when it comes to seeking help. 
For starters, there’s often no rescue nearby.“Emotional isolation
 is really a consequence of the geographic and physical isolation,” 
Ziwei Qi, a criminal justice professor at Fort Hays State University, 
said. “There’s nobody to tell, nowhere to go.”Qi co-founded the university’s<a href="https://www.fhsu.edu/criminaljustice/center-for-empowering-victims-of-gender-based-violence/" target="_blank"> Center for Empowering Victims of Gender-Based Violence</a> in Hays two years ago to study the dynamics of violence against women in rural areas and the solutions that might help.The
 idea behind the center is to connect researchers, service providers — 
including Options — and businesses to explore ways to break the cycle of
 gender-based violence. That can include domestic violence, sexual 
assault, stalking and sex trafficking.“There’s no one entity that can solve the problems,” Qi said. “We have to have a coordinated community effort.”Her
 team is currently studying how a social entrepreneurship program that 
offers victims a place where they can get job training and employment 
while living in a supportive residential community could empower women 
in rural Kansas to overcome the socioeconomic barriers that often keep 
them trapped in bad situations.Hecker with Options said those 
economic and logistical hurdles often pile up to make the thought of 
leaving home that much more daunting for rural victims. For example, she
 said most of the women her team serves don’t have their own vehicle — 
another tactic that perpetrators use to control them.“What 
they're faced with is simply a lack of options,” Hecker said. 
“Oftentimes, victims feel like their choice is: Better the devil I know 
than the devil I don’t.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1646749578719.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Everyone knows everyone</h2>The isolation and lack of access
 to help in remote areas is often compounded by the cultural dynamics of
 small-town life, which tend to sweep this type of violence under the 
rug.“They go to church together, they work together. … It’s hard 
to believe that someone they know could be perpetuating that kind of 
violence,” Hecker said. “So often victims are not believed, and the 
violence continues.”Hecker said the counties in her region with 
the lowest number of survivors reaching out for help are the counties 
that have a high rate of domestic violence incidents but a low number of
 domestic violence arrests.“When (survivors) reach out to the 
system and the system fails, they lose faith in the entire system,” 
Hecker said. “They stop reaching out for help, and we see that happen a 
lot.”April Terry, who teaches in the Fort Hays State criminal 
justice program, said she saw that look-away dynamic growing up in 
west-central Kansas. She now sees it in her <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/profile/April-Terry" target="_blank">research</a> on the causes and perceptions of rural gender-based violence.“You
 get the mentality of, ‘Well, I know that person, I don’t really want to
 have to call the cops on them,’” Terry said, “The community doesn’t 
want to see certain people get in trouble for things.”Yet 
research on gender-based violence in rural areas is thin. She said most 
studies from big cities show that the more close-knit a community, the 
more willing its residents will be to prevent and report crime.“That’s really not true in small towns,” she said. “It’s a lot of ‘mind your own business’ kind of mentality.”That
 sensibility may make it less likely for a police officer to arrest a 
family friend or more likely for a neighbor to stay quiet about the 
violence they witness.And she said the close-knit communities 
that small towns take pride in often leave people who don’t have the 
right family reputation on the <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/354983696_Community_stakeholders'_perceptions_of_crime_and_victimization_A_mixed-methods_approach_to_understanding_collective_efficacy_and_social_cohesion_in_the_rural_heartland" target="_blank">outside looking in</a>.On
 top of that, she said rural areas have an increased prevalence of 
traditional gender norms and a lack of anonymity. That all makes it less
 likely that a survivor will feel safe reporting violence.“The stigma piece,” Terry said, “is just a big, big barrier for girls and women in rural places.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1646749621819.png" alt="A statue of a woman stands outside the Center for Empowering Victims of Gender-Based Violence on the Fort Hays State University campus in Hays. David Condos / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>A statue of a woman stands outside the Center for Empowering Victims of Gender-Based Violence on the Fort Hays State University campus in Hays. David Condos / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Reaching out</h2>Hecker said the pandemic exacerbated this situation in rural communities for a number of reasons.As
 people lost their jobs or had to stay home, fuses got shorter. A couple
 that might previously have had eight or 10 hours apart each day while 
they’re at work suddenly spent more time cooped up together. She said 
that often eliminated the “cooling-off period” and accelerated the cycle
 of violence.She’s seen the intensity of violence against women 
escalate during the pandemic as well. Some perpetrators have even used 
the virus as an additional form of manipulation, either threatening to 
expose victims to COVID as a punishment or using the fear of contracting
 COVID outside as a way to keep victims from leaving the home.She
 said that when lockdowns and furloughs isolated some victims at home 
with their abusers, that also made it more difficult for women to reach 
out for help with a phone call for fear of being heard.In response, Options opened a 24-hour text helpline (text the word “hope” to 847411) and launched a smartphone app called <a href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/my-mobile-options/id1513029469" target="_blank">My Mobile Options</a> that lets victims text chat with an advocate.What else might help western Kansas victims of gender-based violence in the long term?Hecker
 said rural areas need prevention strategies focused on addressing the 
root causes of this violence — like rape culture and perpetrator 
behaviors — rather than risk management strategies that put the burden 
on potential victims to find ways of avoiding dangerous situations.And
 she said the criminal justice system needs to better hold perpetrators —
 and the structures that often enable them in small towns — accountable.Qi,
 the Fort Hays State professor, said rural areas also need more 
trauma-informed training for law enforcement, more female police 
officers and more funding for service providers to bring in advocates 
who speak multiple languages and can travel to reach victims in remote 
areas.“What about those who may never talk about their experience
 of abuse?,” Qi said. For instance, members of LGBTQ and immigrant 
communities may feel even less willing to call authorities for help.She
 said there should be more outreach to ensure victims are aware of the 
options available to help them too. For example, many victims don’t know
 that they can seek shelter without it being reported to law 
enforcement.For women who have experienced violence, Hecker wants
 to make sure they understand that her team and other advocates across 
the state are there for them. Help is available in rural Kansas, even if
 it’s not as close by as it is in larger cities.“We all deserve to live a life … without fear that we will be hurt,” Hecker said. “We all deserve happiness and safety.”If
 you or someone you know is looking to talk with an advocate about 
gender-based violence, here are some resources that can help:Northwest and north-central Kansas Options Domestic and Sexual Violence Services in Hays, with an additional satellite office in Colby 800-794-4624 <a href="https://help4abuse.org/" target="_blank">https://help4abuse.org/</a> My Mobile Options app on <a href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/my-mobile-options/id1513029469" target="_blank">Apple</a> and <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.citizenobserver.mymobileoptions&amp;hl=en_US&amp;gl=US" target="_blank">Android</a> Text “hope” to 847411 to chat with an advocate 24/7Southwest Kansas Family Crisis Services in Garden City 620-275-5911 <a href="https://www.facebook.com/FamilyCrisisServicesAndPrograms/" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/FamilyCrisisServicesAndPrograms/</a>Statewide Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence 888-END-ABUSE <a href="https://www.kcsdv.org/" target="_blank">https://www.kcsdv.org/</a>David Condos covers western Kansas for High Plains Public Radio and the Kansas News Service. You can follow him on Twitter<a href="http://twitter.com/davidcondos" target="_blank"> @davidcondos</a>.

Isolation in rural Kansas can leave women more vulnerable to violence

A winter storm watch has been issued for much of northwest Kansas, including Trego and Ellis counties, beginning Wednesday evening and continuing through Thursday morning, the National Weather Service has reported.

A cold front is expected to move into the area Wednesday night, driven by strong northeast winds gusting up to 36 mph. The temperature is expected to be at or near zero degrees by Thursday morning.&nbsp;

The NWS said the Hays area could receive between 3 to 5 inches of snowfall overnight Wednesday before snow tapers off by noon Thursday.

Greater accumulation — up to 8 inches — is possible farther northwest, the NWS reported.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1646753204523.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>A winter storm watch has been issued for much of northwest Kansas, including Trego and Ellis counties, beginning Wednesday evening and continuing through Thursday morning, the National Weather Service has reported.A cold front is expected to move into the area Wednesday night, driven by strong northeast winds gusting up to 36 mph. The temperature is expected to be at or near zero degrees by Thursday morning.&nbsp;The NWS said the Hays area could receive between 3 to 5 inches of snowfall overnight Wednesday before snow tapers off by noon Thursday.Greater accumulation — up to 8 inches — is possible farther northwest, the NWS reported.&nbsp;<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">A Winter Storm Watch has been issued for Trego and Ellis county that is valid late tomorrow evening through Thursday morning. Snow covered roads, strong winds/blowing snow, and very cold temperatures will impact the morning commute. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KSwx?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KSwx</a> <a href="https://t.co/tD1jkkHSUe">pic.twitter.com/tD1jkkHSUe</a>&mdash; NWS Dodge City (@NWSDodgeCity) <a href="https://twitter.com/NWSDodgeCity/status/1501178145084301314?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> </div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Significant snow accumulation is possible across portions of the Tri-State area on Wednesday and Thursday (March 09-10, 2022). <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KSwx?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KSwx</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/COwx?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#COwx</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NEwx?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NEwx</a> <a href="https://t.co/AjgEnXwqEC">pic.twitter.com/AjgEnXwqEC</a>&mdash; NWS Goodland (@NWSGoodland) <a href="https://twitter.com/NWSGoodland/status/1501160953823436803?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> </div>

NWS: Significant snowfall could arrive in NW Kan. Wednesday

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1646753072726.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The Kansas statewide tornado drill is scheduled for 10 AM CST this morning as a part of Severe Weather Preparedness Week. Practice your plan so that you are familiar with what to do and where to go in the event of a tornado. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/kswx?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#kswx</a> <a href="https://t.co/vXJ5rRSb6b">pic.twitter.com/vXJ5rRSb6b</a>&mdash; NWS Dodge City (@NWSDodgeCity) <a href="https://twitter.com/NWSDodgeCity/status/1501198883476570116?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> </div>

Statewide tornado drill set for Tuesday morning in Kansas

It’s a busy week for the Fort Hays State Department of Music
as the bands and choirs prepare for concerts.

The first of the performances is set for 7:30 p.m. Tuesday when FHSU choirs are set to take the stage in the Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts
Center.

“You'll hear the Smoky Hill Chorale and then both choirs,
the Concert Choir and the Fort Hays Singers. They're going to do a combined
effort with the Fort Hays Singers singing songs in between each of the songs by
the Concert Choir,” said Terry Crull, associate professor of music and director
of choral activities.

The breaks will allow a special presentation during the
concert.

“We're doing that because we've got two special choir
segments ... three monologues by our own Dr. (Timothy) Rolls,
Shakespearean monologues. They were scenes from three Shakespeare plays that he
set to music and this will be a world-premiere of his latest composition,”
Crull said.

There are also set to perform three numbers that will
feature poetry by Sara Teasdale.

Crull said she is a poet who “choral composers love to set
to choral music.”

The choir will also perform a piece by Elaine Hagen Bergman
by Z. Randall Stroope and another by Andrea Ramsay.

“Our young singers will have worked with both Elaine Hagberg
and Andrea Ramsey in All-State choirs, which happened last weekend, although it
was Anton Armstrong who directed last Saturday for our All-Staters. They've
both been great composers and conductors and kids love singing their music
because they're singers themselves and choir directors, so they know how
to write for choirs.”

He said those more serious pieces will be offset by
lighthearted tunes.

“We've got some folk songs from a fun arrangement of Alouette,
the French folk tune, to Way Up on Old Smokey and I Lost my True Lover
by Sparking Too Slow, an old country-western,” Crull said.

Then at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, the FHSU bands will present
their spring concert.

“Peter Lillpopp will have both of those bands in shape,
assisted by our newest assistant band director, Dr. Ryan Pearson, who's been
teaching drum percussion ensemble here and just applied and received and
accepted the position,” Crull said. “So we've got a new band director to place
our dearly departed Jeff Jordan, who passed away last December.”

Crull hopes the community will show to support both
performances.

“I just want to I want to invite people to come out and
support our kids,” Crull said. “They do great music.” 

“They work hard and we're proud of them,” he said. “So we
hope you'll come in support our kids and hear some great music.”

Both events are free of charge and open to the public.

<a href="https://www.fhsu.edu/music-and-theatre/">For more
information about the FHSU Music Department, visit the FHSU website, fhsu.edu.</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1583259164034.jpeg" alt="Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By JAMES BELL Hays PostIt’s a busy week for the Fort Hays State Department of Music
as the bands and choirs prepare for concerts.The first of the performances is set for 7:30 p.m. Tuesday when FHSU choirs are set to take the stage in the Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts
Center.“You'll hear the Smoky Hill Chorale and then both choirs,
the Concert Choir and the Fort Hays Singers. They're going to do a combined
effort with the Fort Hays Singers singing songs in between each of the songs by
the Concert Choir,” said Terry Crull, associate professor of music and director
of choral activities.The breaks will allow a special presentation during the
concert.<div><iframe title="FHSU choirs and bands to take the stage this week" 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=6ybzq-11c6271-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>“We're doing that because we've got two special choir
segments ... three monologues by our own Dr. (Timothy) Rolls,
Shakespearean monologues. They were scenes from three Shakespeare plays that he
set to music and this will be a world-premiere of his latest composition,”
Crull said.There are also set to perform three numbers that will
feature poetry by Sara Teasdale.Crull said she is a poet who “choral composers love to set
to choral music.”The choir will also perform a piece by Elaine Hagen Bergman
by Z. Randall Stroope and another by Andrea Ramsay.“Our young singers will have worked with both Elaine Hagberg
and Andrea Ramsey in All-State choirs, which happened last weekend, although it
was Anton Armstrong who directed last Saturday for our All-Staters. They've
both been great composers and conductors and kids love singing their music
because they're singers themselves and choir directors, so they know how
to write for choirs.”He said those more serious pieces will be offset by
lighthearted tunes.“We've got some folk songs from a fun arrangement of Alouette,
the French folk tune, to Way Up on Old Smokey and I Lost my True Lover
by Sparking Too Slow, an old country-western,” Crull said.Then at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, the FHSU bands will present
their spring concert.“Peter Lillpopp will have both of those bands in shape,
assisted by our newest assistant band director, Dr. Ryan Pearson, who's been
teaching drum percussion ensemble here and just applied and received and
accepted the position,” Crull said. “So we've got a new band director to place
our dearly departed Jeff Jordan, who passed away last December.”Crull hopes the community will show to support both
performances.“I just want to I want to invite people to come out and
support our kids,” Crull said. “They do great music.” “They work hard and we're proud of them,” he said. “So we
hope you'll come in support our kids and hear some great music.”Both events are free of charge and open to the public.<a href="https://www.fhsu.edu/music-and-theatre/">For more
information about the FHSU Music Department, visit the FHSU website, fhsu.edu.</a>

🎙 FHSU choirs, bands take stage this week, beginning Tuesday

GREAT BEND — Barton Community College has announced its list of graduates who earned associate degrees or certificates for career training during the fall semester of 2021.

Abilene Scott Hayes, A.A.S. and Environmental Management Professional Certificate Kristen Rodda, Child Development Certificate

Belpre Ttzel Garcia, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;

Bison Ethan Schneider, Welding Technology Certificate

Blue Rapids Clayton Reed, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;

Claflin Amanda Hickel, A.A.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;

Ellinwood Angelina Morgan, A.A.S. Kaden Ritterhouse, Welding Technology Certificate Jason Stockham, A.A.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;

Ellsworth Jeremiah Andrews, Welding Technology Certificate Carlos Avalos, Welding Technology Certificate Charles Cooprider, Welding Technology Certificate Christopher Dewitt, Welding Technology Certificate Antahj Jenkins, Welding Technology Certificate Deontae Jester, Welding Technology Certificate&nbsp; Eli Johnson, Welding Technology Certificate David Marcos, Welding Technology Certificate Robert Mura, Welding Technology Certificate Drew Phillips, Welding Technology Certificate Rafeeq Rahman, Welding Technology Certificate Rolando Rocha-Delgado, Welding Technology Certificate James Stout, A.A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Steven Thrasher, Welding Technology Certificate Mark Turner, Welding Technology Certificate James Watkins, &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Welding Technology Certificate

Eureka Levi Vinson, Emergency Planning and Mitigation &amp; Homeland Security Certificate and A.A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;

Ft. Leavenworth Aleah Camacho, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Youngah Yi, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;

Ft. &nbsp;Riley Austin Briggs, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Kristin Bryan, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; KMiyah Dodd, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Kwak Donghyun, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Felyce Fisher, A.G.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Rose Gabeau, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Jessica Levesque, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Sarah Logsdon, Pharmacy Technician Certificate Kristin Mckenrick, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Juan Montes, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Eunju Petz, A.G.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Amelia Royal, OSHA Safety and Health General Certificate Rochelle Saintoiry, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;

Goodland Frank Hayes, A.A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;

Great Bend Manuel Ayala, Welding Technology Certificate Alex Basgall, A.A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Bernardo Calzada, Welding Technology Certificate Janay Delgado, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Sara Gasimelseed, Child Development Certificate Ivan Gutierrez, Welding Technology Certificate Chad Hallmark, &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Natural Gas Transmission and Distribution Certificate Amy Herrera, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Alyssa Herter, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Jordyn Jones, A.A.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Michelle Lang, A.A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Janneth Lozoya Gaytan, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Andrew Madrid-Manning. A.A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Kimberly Manning, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Cailee Mcmullen, A.A.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Kevin Miramontes, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Samantha Montelongo, A.A.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Fabian Montes, &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Welding Technology Certificate Justin Owen, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Casandra Perez, Medical Coding Certificate Brittany Simmons, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Logan VanRiper, Natural Gas Transmission and Distribution Certificate Kenda Werth, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;

Greensburg Patricia Fuller, Medical Coding Certificate

Haviland Gavin Tuttle, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;

Hays Madelynn Gnad, A.A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;

Herington Kirsten Durling, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Justus Rucker, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;

Hoisington Bailee Bachar, A.A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Sherri, Donovan, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Angela Gonzalez, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Rian Mooney, A.A.S. and Child Development Certificate William Selfridge, A.A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Brooke Steinert, A.G.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Jenna Urban, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;

Hugoton Tiffini McCurry, Medical Coding Certificate

Jamestown Emma Thyfault, A.A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;

Junction City Joshua Angle, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Joshua Ault, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Skylar Benjamin, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Elijah Campbell, A.G.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Juan Cervera, A.G.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Kimwandra Cordy, A.A.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Miranda Dennis, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Isaac Grotta, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Cordesia Harper, A.A.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Jermaine Harris, Emergency Planning and Mitigation Certificate Tiara Madden, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Monique Quezada, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Joel Simon, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Micailou Traore, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Kyley Trimm, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Phillip Valentine, A.A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;

Kansas City Fatima Gardea, A.A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;

Kinsley Haven Chambers, A.A.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Jose Medina, Welding Technology Certificate

La Crosse Scarleth Ritz, A.A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;

Larned Terry Adams, Plumbing Certificate Donshai Copridge, Carpentry Certificate Terell Dixon, Plumbing Certificate Tray Eisenman, Welding Technology Certificate Andres Escarcega, Welding Technology Certificate Jamie Farrar, Carpentry Certificate Burnest Mahoney, Plumbing Certificate Kaylee Mead, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Juan Murillo, Plumbing Certificate Devin Parker, Carpentry Certificate Julian Parks, Plumbing Certificate Kristian Pearson, A.A.S. and Homeland Security Certificate &amp; Emergency Operations Specialist Sam Raybern, Plumbing Certificate Kirk Rogers, Welding Technology Certificate Travis Smith, Welding Technology Certificate Rudolph Wallace, Carpentry Certificate Randall Ward, Welding Technology Certificate

Leavenworth Lauryn Blackwell, A.G.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Emma Curtis, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Skye Murray, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Jordan Staton, A.G.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;

Lincoln Kathryn Detmer, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;

Lindsborg Harly Watkins, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;

Lyons Shatel Armendariz, A.A.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Sarah Denton, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Carla Gustafson, A.A.S. and OSHA Safety and Health General Certificate Alejandro Melendez, Welding Technology Certificate Cinthya Ortiz Guerrero, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Keaton Richardson, Natural Gas Transmission and Distribution Certificate

Manhattan Lacey Borthwick, A.A.S and Child Development Certificate Nathan Emerson, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Timothy Fieser, A.A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Ida Gastro-Johnson, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Lyndsay Jones, A.A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Dawayne Krepel, A.A.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Edward Lotak, A.A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Kai Macfarlane, A.G.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Lori Manthe, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Elyse Morlock, A.A.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Joanna Murphy, A.G.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Cassidy Myers, Child Development Certificate Ashlynne Pollard, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Elijah Whitehead, A.A.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Ariel Wolfe, A.A.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;

Marquette Cade Young, Natural Gas Transmission and Distribution Certificate

McPherson Jonah Clarke, Welding Technology Certificate

Ness City Jose Lopez, Welding Technology Certificate Cathy Sutton, A.A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;

Ogden Kelly Hayden, Child Development Certificate Chelianne Miller, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;

Olathe Emily Stephenson, Medical Coding Certificate

Overland Park Erin Hood, A.A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Rebecca Lafrinere, A.A.S. and Emergency and Homeland Security Certificate Mitchell Maupin, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;

Phillipsburg Aaron Lenker, A.A.S. and Natural Gas Transmission and Distribution Certificate Gabe Sauer, A.A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;

Pratt Kaiser Pelland, Natural Gas Transmission and Distribution Certificate

Rose Hill JamiePitzer, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;

Russell Mackenzie Hartman, A.A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Autumn Karst, A.A.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Caleb Nuss, A.G.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;

St. John&nbsp; Dayton Long, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;

Salina Makayla Brooks, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Tilden Crable, A.A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;

Smith Center&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Renee Feeney, Dietary Manager Certificate Rebecca Pickel, Dietary Manager Certificate

Spring Hill&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ashley Sieberhein, A.A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;

Sterling Tara Stewart, A.A.S. and OSHA Safety and Health General Certificate

Syracuse Guadalupe Gonzalez, A.A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;

Topeka Kristin Anderson, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Jeremiah Atkeson, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Alec Bluemel, A.A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;

Wichita Calissa Brown, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Legina Freeman, A.A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Aimee Konert, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Karen Krafczik, A.G.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1613590329847.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>BCCGREAT BEND — Barton Community College has announced its list of graduates who earned associate degrees or certificates for career training during the fall semester of 2021.Abilene Scott Hayes, A.A.S. and Environmental Management Professional Certificate Kristen Rodda, Child Development CertificateAlbert Kimberly Manning, A.S.Belpre Ttzel Garcia, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Bison Ethan Schneider, Welding Technology CertificateBlue Rapids Clayton Reed, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Claflin Amanda Hickel, A.A.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Ellinwood Angelina Morgan, A.A.S. Kaden Ritterhouse, Welding Technology Certificate Jason Stockham, A.A.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Ellsworth Jeremiah Andrews, Welding Technology Certificate Carlos Avalos, Welding Technology Certificate Charles Cooprider, Welding Technology Certificate Christopher Dewitt, Welding Technology Certificate Antahj Jenkins, Welding Technology Certificate Deontae Jester, Welding Technology Certificate&nbsp; Eli Johnson, Welding Technology Certificate David Marcos, Welding Technology Certificate Robert Mura, Welding Technology Certificate Drew Phillips, Welding Technology Certificate Rafeeq Rahman, Welding Technology Certificate Rolando Rocha-Delgado, Welding Technology Certificate James Stout, A.A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Steven Thrasher, Welding Technology Certificate Mark Turner, Welding Technology Certificate James Watkins, &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Welding Technology CertificateEureka Levi Vinson, Emergency Planning and Mitigation &amp; Homeland Security Certificate and A.A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Ft. Leavenworth Aleah Camacho, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Youngah Yi, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Ft. &nbsp;Riley Austin Briggs, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Kristin Bryan, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; KMiyah Dodd, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Kwak Donghyun, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Felyce Fisher, A.G.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Rose Gabeau, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Jessica Levesque, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Sarah Logsdon, Pharmacy Technician Certificate Kristin Mckenrick, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Juan Montes, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Eunju Petz, A.G.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Amelia Royal, OSHA Safety and Health General Certificate Rochelle Saintoiry, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Goodland Frank Hayes, A.A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Great Bend Manuel Ayala, Welding Technology Certificate Alex Basgall, A.A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Bernardo Calzada, Welding Technology Certificate Janay Delgado, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Sara Gasimelseed, Child Development Certificate Ivan Gutierrez, Welding Technology Certificate Chad Hallmark, &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Natural Gas Transmission and Distribution Certificate Amy Herrera, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Alyssa Herter, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Jordyn Jones, A.A.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Michelle Lang, A.A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Janneth Lozoya Gaytan, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Andrew Madrid-Manning. A.A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Kimberly Manning, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Cailee Mcmullen, A.A.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Kevin Miramontes, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Samantha Montelongo, A.A.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Fabian Montes, &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Welding Technology Certificate Justin Owen, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Casandra Perez, Medical Coding Certificate Brittany Simmons, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Logan VanRiper, Natural Gas Transmission and Distribution Certificate Kenda Werth, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Greensburg Patricia Fuller, Medical Coding CertificateHaviland Gavin Tuttle, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Hays Madelynn Gnad, A.A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Herington Kirsten Durling, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Justus Rucker, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Hoisington Bailee Bachar, A.A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Sherri, Donovan, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Angela Gonzalez, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Rian Mooney, A.A.S. and Child Development Certificate William Selfridge, A.A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Brooke Steinert, A.G.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Jenna Urban, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Hugoton Tiffini McCurry, Medical Coding CertificateJamestown Emma Thyfault, A.A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Junction City Joshua Angle, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Joshua Ault, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Skylar Benjamin, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Elijah Campbell, A.G.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Juan Cervera, A.G.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Kimwandra Cordy, A.A.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Miranda Dennis, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Isaac Grotta, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Cordesia Harper, A.A.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Jermaine Harris, Emergency Planning and Mitigation Certificate Tiara Madden, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Monique Quezada, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Joel Simon, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Micailou Traore, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Kyley Trimm, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Phillip Valentine, A.A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Kansas City Fatima Gardea, A.A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Kinsley Haven Chambers, A.A.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Jose Medina, Welding Technology CertificateLa Crosse Scarleth Ritz, A.A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Larned Terry Adams, Plumbing Certificate Donshai Copridge, Carpentry Certificate Terell Dixon, Plumbing Certificate Tray Eisenman, Welding Technology Certificate Andres Escarcega, Welding Technology Certificate Jamie Farrar, Carpentry Certificate Burnest Mahoney, Plumbing Certificate Kaylee Mead, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Juan Murillo, Plumbing Certificate Devin Parker, Carpentry Certificate Julian Parks, Plumbing Certificate Kristian Pearson, A.A.S. and Homeland Security Certificate &amp; Emergency Operations Specialist Sam Raybern, Plumbing Certificate Kirk Rogers, Welding Technology Certificate Travis Smith, Welding Technology Certificate Rudolph Wallace, Carpentry Certificate Randall Ward, Welding Technology CertificateLeavenworth Lauryn Blackwell, A.G.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Emma Curtis, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Skye Murray, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Jordan Staton, A.G.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Lincoln Kathryn Detmer, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Lindsborg Harly Watkins, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Lyons Shatel Armendariz, A.A.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Sarah Denton, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Carla Gustafson, A.A.S. and OSHA Safety and Health General Certificate Alejandro Melendez, Welding Technology Certificate Cinthya Ortiz Guerrero, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Keaton Richardson, Natural Gas Transmission and Distribution CertificateManhattan Lacey Borthwick, A.A.S and Child Development Certificate Nathan Emerson, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Timothy Fieser, A.A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Ida Gastro-Johnson, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Lyndsay Jones, A.A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Dawayne Krepel, A.A.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Edward Lotak, A.A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Kai Macfarlane, A.G.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Lori Manthe, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Elyse Morlock, A.A.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Joanna Murphy, A.G.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Cassidy Myers, Child Development Certificate Ashlynne Pollard, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Elijah Whitehead, A.A.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Ariel Wolfe, A.A.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Marquette Cade Young, Natural Gas Transmission and Distribution CertificateMcPherson Jonah Clarke, Welding Technology CertificateNess City Jose Lopez, Welding Technology Certificate Cathy Sutton, A.A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Ogden Kelly Hayden, Child Development Certificate Chelianne Miller, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Olathe Emily Stephenson, Medical Coding CertificateOverland Park Erin Hood, A.A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Rebecca Lafrinere, A.A.S. and Emergency and Homeland Security Certificate Mitchell Maupin, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Phillipsburg Aaron Lenker, A.A.S. and Natural Gas Transmission and Distribution Certificate Gabe Sauer, A.A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Pratt Kaiser Pelland, Natural Gas Transmission and Distribution CertificateRose Hill JamiePitzer, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Russell Mackenzie Hartman, A.A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Autumn Karst, A.A.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Caleb Nuss, A.G.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;St. John&nbsp; Dayton Long, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Salina Makayla Brooks, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Tilden Crable, A.A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Smith Center&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Renee Feeney, Dietary Manager Certificate Rebecca Pickel, Dietary Manager CertificateSpring Hill&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ashley Sieberhein, A.A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Sterling Tara Stewart, A.A.S. and OSHA Safety and Health General CertificateSyracuse Guadalupe Gonzalez, A.A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Topeka Kristin Anderson, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Jeremiah Atkeson, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Alec Bluemel, A.A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Wichita Calissa Brown, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Legina Freeman, A.A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Aimee Konert, A.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Karen Krafczik, A.G.S.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;

NW Kan. students earn degrees, certifications from Barton CC

GREAT BEND — The Shafer Gallery at Barton Community College will present its new exhibit “Human Nature” through April 1. The exhibit will feature the artwork of three Fort Hays State University graduate students. Shafer Gallery Director Dave Barnes said he is excited to be presenting work by very talented artists Mark Freeman, Jordan Brown and Kathy Robb. “They are all ceramicists with unique and very personal ideas about what you can do with clay,” he said. “Each deal in some way with the connections between the natural and the human world.” While they all have a different approach to ceramics and the tone of their work is noticeably contrasting, Barnes said there are enough elements in their pieces that complement each other to create a cohesive exhibit that hits a lot of different notes in the visual palate and will leave the viewer feeling satisfied like taking a bite of a complex dish of food and getting all the ingredients on one fork or spoonful. “Robb creates dioramas to contain her incredibly anthropomorphic animal sculptures which reflect her own identification with animals and how they reflect the human condition in a direct way. They are sometimes humorous and often poignant,” he said.&nbsp;

“Freeman has taught ceramics at Barton Community College and apprenticed with well-known ceramic artist Carol Long. His work explores the minutiae of the natural world populated with entities that are beyond our normal awareness.

"Brown is the master of the wheel and adorns his monumental feeling pieces with iconic images form the natural world.”

While touching the artwork is obviously not permitted, Barnes said the textures brought to life by the artist are created with such care and detail that they produce an almost tactile sensation in the mind alone. “It is a great privilege to show off the work of such strong emerging artists,” he said. “Their selections will be a delight for us all to see and an inspiration to our own Barton Community College students.”

The Shafer Gallery is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is always free.&nbsp;For more information, contact Shafer Gallery Director Dave Barnes at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:barnesd@bartonccc.edu" target="_blank">barnesd@bartonccc.edu</a>&nbsp;or (620) 792-9342.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1646237934641.jpeg" alt="TAll That by Kathy Robb (Courtesy photo)" />
 <figcaption>TAll That by Kathy Robb (Courtesy photo)</figcaption>
 </figure>BCCGREAT BEND — The Shafer Gallery at Barton Community College will present its new exhibit “Human Nature” through April 1. The exhibit will feature the artwork of three Fort Hays State University graduate students. Shafer Gallery Director Dave Barnes said he is excited to be presenting work by very talented artists Mark Freeman, Jordan Brown and Kathy Robb. “They are all ceramicists with unique and very personal ideas about what you can do with clay,” he said. “Each deal in some way with the connections between the natural and the human world.” While they all have a different approach to ceramics and the tone of their work is noticeably contrasting, Barnes said there are enough elements in their pieces that complement each other to create a cohesive exhibit that hits a lot of different notes in the visual palate and will leave the viewer feeling satisfied like taking a bite of a complex dish of food and getting all the ingredients on one fork or spoonful. “Robb creates dioramas to contain her incredibly anthropomorphic animal sculptures which reflect her own identification with animals and how they reflect the human condition in a direct way. They are sometimes humorous and often poignant,” he said.&nbsp; <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1646238143244.png" alt="Ceramic artwork by Mark Freeman (Courtesy photo)" />
 <figcaption>Ceramic artwork by Mark Freeman (Courtesy photo)</figcaption>
 </figure>“Freeman has taught ceramics at Barton Community College and apprenticed with well-known ceramic artist Carol Long. His work explores the minutiae of the natural world populated with entities that are beyond our normal awareness.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1646238280666.jpeg" alt="Ceramic artwork by Jordan Brown (Courtesy photo)" />
 <figcaption>Ceramic artwork by Jordan Brown (Courtesy photo)</figcaption>
 </figure>"Brown is the master of the wheel and adorns his monumental feeling pieces with iconic images form the natural world.”While touching the artwork is obviously not permitted, Barnes said the textures brought to life by the artist are created with such care and detail that they produce an almost tactile sensation in the mind alone. “It is a great privilege to show off the work of such strong emerging artists,” he said. “Their selections will be a delight for us all to see and an inspiration to our own Barton Community College students.”The Shafer Gallery is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is always free.&nbsp;For more information, contact Shafer Gallery Director Dave Barnes at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:barnesd@bartonccc.edu" target="_blank">barnesd@bartonccc.edu</a>&nbsp;or (620) 792-9342.

FHSU grad student ceramicists exhibit opens at Shafer Art Gallery 

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