TREGO COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just after 8:30a.m. Sunday in Trego County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2005 Toyota Tacoma driven by&nbsp; Jesus A.&nbsp; Leal Guerrero, 29, Hesperia, California, was eastbound on Interstate 70 at WaKeeney. 

The driver presumably fell asleep. This caused the vehicle to veer to the left and the driver's side tires to dropped off the road. 

The driver overcorrected and the pickup veered back onto the roadway. The driver again overcorrected and lost control of the vehicle. It traveled across both eastbound lanes, overturned&nbsp; and came to rest in the south ditch.

&nbsp;EMS transported Leal Guerrero to the Trego County Hospital. He was properly restrained, according to the KHP.

TREGO COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just after 8:30a.m. Sunday in Trego County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2005 Toyota Tacoma driven by&nbsp; Jesus A.&nbsp; Leal Guerrero, 29, Hesperia, California, was eastbound on Interstate 70 at WaKeeney. The driver presumably fell asleep. This caused the vehicle to veer to the left and the driver's side tires to dropped off the road. The driver overcorrected and the pickup veered back onto the roadway. The driver again overcorrected and lost control of the vehicle. It traveled across both eastbound lanes, overturned&nbsp; and came to rest in the south ditch.&nbsp;EMS transported Leal Guerrero to the Trego County Hospital. He was properly restrained, according to the KHP.

Driver hospitalized after he falls asleep and pickup overturns

All good things must come to an end, and Fort Hays State University’s Journey campaign — the largest fundraising campaign in university history — is no exception. The Journey campaign kicked off Homecoming of 2016 with a goal of raising $100 million in support of FHSU and its students over a five-year period. Those years have flown by, and not only was that ambitious goal reached – it was surpassed. Fort Hays State University is thrilled to announce that throughout the Journey campaign a total of $112,769,457 has been raised.

These donations will significantly impact the lives of Fort Hays State students for years to come. FHSU’s president, Dr. Tisa Mason, remarked on how the contributions of our donors shape the lives of students:

“There are hundreds of thousands of student stories at Fort Hays State. Each embodies its unique theme of challenge and perseverance,” she said. “Their stories are our stories. And our story is one of love, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and gentleness. Our story is about everyday heroes, amazing grace, and tomorrow’s leaders.”

To illustrate how the philanthropy of our donors can change the trajectory of a student’s life, we need only look at the story of Luz Gomez. As a first-generation student who had to overcome many financial hurdles to be at FHSU, she knows better than most the true impact that scholarships can have.

Gomez expressed her gratitude toward FHSU’s benefactors, saying, “The impact that you are making on the life of a student is more than you can ever know. If it wouldn't have been for those scholarships and that help, I wouldn’t be at this institution, and quite honestly, I don’t know if I would have been able to go to school. Scholarships are so important and continue to be important. It truly changes your future.”

Take a moment to hear more of Luz’s story here –&nbsp;<a href="http://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=VlnuF9G1JiVZl9L5urQC0PwtL7hcEEpCmBtlUsdd3-2F7K7m3deQD8OoaE8qJpyDxaRsDLo4yJ4XHu-2BhjPl3YA8A-3D-3D5X61_-2FnwFlkKVzcKMOkDYhP8GUyFUplsqhIzQPvqFQr864lE6mcAzErX0FzZi5JGU6rvvK6MLOuHK4jhl5V61fmGkhToZRMbpEKBDAFMZ0jElT3tJmz7vmG2Oh1wrxpMGOIemhZq6gi-2FsI5YmpCArDlcLJbCodlglgYU-2Bx3s6YFAcuBMiQ1LcFgoD4C19DWx8gOg3MNss4MuvawTYr9VaroCULYCC-2Bx-2FjulZiXuaCSAJMgnxbIx-2FfCG2Sn1q912U9B1oYxGWxKj5vPBZCLGMi1ODeauqJOMWGN3olnPKQyua2hlPHkvEoJHH0r5ALz6wjDRls99-2FrPWt8epfZXtiWSw8QUMHy1EzrhTboPss-2F67bxBjYFd4XUo7veE-2F60GR9TtrKksJ9SOfH8a2qPZsge5dTQ5A-3D-3D">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZtCQodT0Nc</a>

Gomez is among the many students at Fort Hays State to have been positively impacted by the Journey campaign.

“We are grateful and humbled to have had more than 24,000 donors contribute to our Journey campaign over the last five years,” said Jason Williby, president and CEO of the FHSU Foundation. “Each and every gift has contributed to an education, a bright future, and lives changed. Our Tiger family is simply the best, and we cannot thank you enough for your generosity.”

“To commemorate the fundraising campaign’s triumphant conclusion,” Williby continued, “we look forward to celebrating the contributions of our amazing donors and marvel at how much has been accomplished throughout the upcoming Homecoming weekend.”

To learn how you can impact the lives of students at Fort Hays State, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=VlnuF9G1JiVZl9L5urQC0MhQfvmyOf6Lum2piYcbOQ2pdQgjebEvONKujAFzzsMoZ2su_-2FnwFlkKVzcKMOkDYhP8GUyFUplsqhIzQPvqFQr864lE6mcAzErX0FzZi5JGU6rvvK6MLOuHK4jhl5V61fmGkhToZRMbpEKBDAFMZ0jElT3tJmz7vmG2Oh1wrxpMGOIemhZq6gi-2FsI5YmpCArDlcLJbCodlglgYU-2Bx3s6YFAcuBMiQ1LcFgoD4C19DWx8gOg3MNss4MuvawTYr9VaroCULYQsp0ZF1Lm4rfYhHoc17uVQPvplBOVGXmwwKQdHw-2B5wHPtbk-2FPDUPTXLH8VFV2N6Me9WE8zOh-2Fnj0DpRqlRI4itoi5pAyLFv-2B62jOWDSALBl8L4He-2FXgOStioKAwuI6I0uG5tGEviUWsenu55dTZ6XHmLE0vel27QU24nF3F9kYPFqv48SaXs4oXDSPsqgHdw-3D-3D">https://foundation.fhsu.edu</a>&nbsp;or contact the FHSU Foundation at 785-628-5620 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:foundation@fhsu.edu">foundation@fhsu.edu</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1633032527880.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU University RelationsAll good things must come to an end, and Fort Hays State University’s Journey campaign — the largest fundraising campaign in university history — is no exception. The Journey campaign kicked off Homecoming of 2016 with a goal of raising $100 million in support of FHSU and its students over a five-year period. Those years have flown by, and not only was that ambitious goal reached – it was surpassed. Fort Hays State University is thrilled to announce that throughout the Journey campaign a total of $112,769,457 has been raised.These donations will significantly impact the lives of Fort Hays State students for years to come. FHSU’s president, Dr. Tisa Mason, remarked on how the contributions of our donors shape the lives of students:“There are hundreds of thousands of student stories at Fort Hays State. Each embodies its unique theme of challenge and perseverance,” she said. “Their stories are our stories. And our story is one of love, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and gentleness. Our story is about everyday heroes, amazing grace, and tomorrow’s leaders.”To illustrate how the philanthropy of our donors can change the trajectory of a student’s life, we need only look at the story of Luz Gomez. As a first-generation student who had to overcome many financial hurdles to be at FHSU, she knows better than most the true impact that scholarships can have.Gomez expressed her gratitude toward FHSU’s benefactors, saying, “The impact that you are making on the life of a student is more than you can ever know. If it wouldn't have been for those scholarships and that help, I wouldn’t be at this institution, and quite honestly, I don’t know if I would have been able to go to school. Scholarships are so important and continue to be important. It truly changes your future.”Take a moment to hear more of Luz’s story here –&nbsp;<a href="http://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=VlnuF9G1JiVZl9L5urQC0PwtL7hcEEpCmBtlUsdd3-2F7K7m3deQD8OoaE8qJpyDxaRsDLo4yJ4XHu-2BhjPl3YA8A-3D-3D5X61_-2FnwFlkKVzcKMOkDYhP8GUyFUplsqhIzQPvqFQr864lE6mcAzErX0FzZi5JGU6rvvK6MLOuHK4jhl5V61fmGkhToZRMbpEKBDAFMZ0jElT3tJmz7vmG2Oh1wrxpMGOIemhZq6gi-2FsI5YmpCArDlcLJbCodlglgYU-2Bx3s6YFAcuBMiQ1LcFgoD4C19DWx8gOg3MNss4MuvawTYr9VaroCULYCC-2Bx-2FjulZiXuaCSAJMgnxbIx-2FfCG2Sn1q912U9B1oYxGWxKj5vPBZCLGMi1ODeauqJOMWGN3olnPKQyua2hlPHkvEoJHH0r5ALz6wjDRls99-2FrPWt8epfZXtiWSw8QUMHy1EzrhTboPss-2F67bxBjYFd4XUo7veE-2F60GR9TtrKksJ9SOfH8a2qPZsge5dTQ5A-3D-3D">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZtCQodT0Nc</a>Gomez is among the many students at Fort Hays State to have been positively impacted by the Journey campaign.“We are grateful and humbled to have had more than 24,000 donors contribute to our Journey campaign over the last five years,” said Jason Williby, president and CEO of the FHSU Foundation. “Each and every gift has contributed to an education, a bright future, and lives changed. Our Tiger family is simply the best, and we cannot thank you enough for your generosity.”“To commemorate the fundraising campaign’s triumphant conclusion,” Williby continued, “we look forward to celebrating the contributions of our amazing donors and marvel at how much has been accomplished throughout the upcoming Homecoming weekend.”To learn how you can impact the lives of students at Fort Hays State, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=VlnuF9G1JiVZl9L5urQC0MhQfvmyOf6Lum2piYcbOQ2pdQgjebEvONKujAFzzsMoZ2su_-2FnwFlkKVzcKMOkDYhP8GUyFUplsqhIzQPvqFQr864lE6mcAzErX0FzZi5JGU6rvvK6MLOuHK4jhl5V61fmGkhToZRMbpEKBDAFMZ0jElT3tJmz7vmG2Oh1wrxpMGOIemhZq6gi-2FsI5YmpCArDlcLJbCodlglgYU-2Bx3s6YFAcuBMiQ1LcFgoD4C19DWx8gOg3MNss4MuvawTYr9VaroCULYQsp0ZF1Lm4rfYhHoc17uVQPvplBOVGXmwwKQdHw-2B5wHPtbk-2FPDUPTXLH8VFV2N6Me9WE8zOh-2Fnj0DpRqlRI4itoi5pAyLFv-2B62jOWDSALBl8L4He-2FXgOStioKAwuI6I0uG5tGEviUWsenu55dTZ6XHmLE0vel27QU24nF3F9kYPFqv48SaXs4oXDSPsqgHdw-3D-3D">https://foundation.fhsu.edu</a>&nbsp;or contact the FHSU Foundation at 785-628-5620 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:foundation@fhsu.edu">foundation@fhsu.edu</a>.

Fort Hays State’s Journey Campaign surpasses goal

LAWRENCE
 — This fall, 13 University of Kansas students will receive an 
Undergraduate Research Award (UGRA). UGRA recipients are awarded a 
$1,000 scholarship as they work on mentored research and creative 
projects.

Students apply for UGRAs by writing a four-page research proposal 
under the guidance of a mentor. Faculty reviewers evaluate the 
applications based on the merit of the applicant's proposal and a 
recommendation from the mentor.

“These student projects explore innovative ideas in different 
disciplines across campus,” said Alison Olcott, director of the Center 
for Undergraduate Research and associate professor of geology. “With 
their mentors’ support, these students are learning to use the tools of 
their disciplines to make important contributions to their fields of 
study.”

The Center for Undergraduate Research is currently taking 
applications for the Spring 2022 UGRA competition. The deadline for 
student proposals will be Oct. 28. Online guidance and individual 
advising appointments are available to help students prepare strong 
applications.&nbsp; More information can be found here: <a href="http://ugresearch.ku.edu/student/fund/ugra">http://ugresearch.ku.edu/student/fund/ugra</a>

Students receiving awards for fall 2021 are listed below in 
alphabetical order along with year in school, hometown, project title, 
mentor and mentor’s department:

Casey Carlile, a senior from Lawrence: “Merger 
Signatures of Cold Quasars in the Distant Universe,” mentored by Allison
 Kirkpatrick, assistant professor of physics &amp; astronomy.

Anika Goel, a junior from Guwahati, Assam, India: 
“Measuring Eddington Ratio in Unobscured Quasars,” mentored by Allison 
Kirkpatrick, assistant professor of physics &amp; astronomy.

Matt Gratton, a junior from Kansas City, Missouri: 
“The Validity of Nightmare Prediction within a Large-Scale Sleep Study,”
 mentored by Nancy Hamilton, associate professor of clinical psychology.

Amanda Hertel, a senior from Shawnee: “Tau Protein 
and Lipid Dysregulation: Potential Role in Alzheimer’s Disease 
Progression,” mentored by Prajna Dhar, professor of chemical &amp; 
petroleum engineering.

Christopher Kywe, a senior from Leawood: “The Effect
 of mab-5 on Innate Immune Response Systems Within C. elegans,” mentored
 by Brian Ackley, associate professor of molecular biosciences.

Alex Manley, a junior from Allen, Texas: “Crossing 
the Gap of Gem5: The Future of Memory Processing,” mentored by Mohammad 
Alian, assistant professor of electrical engineering &amp; computer 
science.

Jackson Martin, a senior from Olathe: “A Case Study 
of Foreign Invested Enterprises in the U.S.-China Trade War,” mentored 
by Jack Zhang, assistant professor of political science.

Reece Mathews, a senior from Lawrence: “Open Polar 
Server Upgrades for Efficiency and FAIR Data Principles,” mentored by 
John Paden, associate scientist with the Center for Remote Sensing of 
Ice Sheets.

Aisha Mohammed, a senior from Lagos, Nigeria: 
“Patriarchy from Marriage and Empowerment Through Western Education for 
Senegalese Women in Mariama Bâ’s Une Si Longue Lettre,” mentored by 
Gillian Weatherley, lecturer in French, Francophone &amp; Italian 
studies.

Greta Olsen, a senior from Bartlesville, Oklahoma: 
“Physical Property Characterization of Ionic Liquids Using a 
High-Pressure View Cell,” mentored by Mark Shiflett, Foundation 
Distinguished Professor of Chemical &amp; Petroleum Engineering.

Kaitlyn Rauh, a junior from Springfield, Missouri: 
“Jewelry as Advocacy: Depression and Suicide Awareness,” mentored by 
Sunyoung Cheong, visiting assistant professor of metalsmithing &amp; 
jewelry.

Carlos Schwindt, a junior from La Crosse: “Examining
 Mask Mycobiome Composition and Potential Dispersal,” mentored by 
Benjamin Sikes, associate professor of ecology &amp; evolutionary 
biology and associate scientist with the Kansas Biological Survey.

Matthew Stout, a junior from San Antonio, Texas: 
“Analysis of Pathological Lower Third Molar of Mammuthus columbi from 
Clark County, Kansas, with Potential Insights on How Climate Change 
Affected the Extinction of Pleistocene Megafauna,” mentored by 
Christopher Beard, Foundation Distinguished Professor of Ecology &amp; 
Evolutionary Biology.

The University of Kansas is a major comprehensive research and teaching university. The university's mission
            is to lift students and society by educating leaders, building healthy communities and making discoveries
            that change the world. The KU News Service is the central public relations office for the Lawrence campus.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1633120209799.png" alt="Carlos Schwindt, La Crosse / Photo courtesy Thomas More Prep-Marian" />
 <figcaption>Carlos Schwindt, La Crosse / Photo courtesy Thomas More Prep-Marian</figcaption>
 </figure>KU News ServiceLAWRENCE
 — This fall, 13 University of Kansas students will receive an 
Undergraduate Research Award (UGRA). UGRA recipients are awarded a 
$1,000 scholarship as they work on mentored research and creative 
projects.Students apply for UGRAs by writing a four-page research proposal 
under the guidance of a mentor. Faculty reviewers evaluate the 
applications based on the merit of the applicant's proposal and a 
recommendation from the mentor.“These student projects explore innovative ideas in different 
disciplines across campus,” said Alison Olcott, director of the Center 
for Undergraduate Research and associate professor of geology. “With 
their mentors’ support, these students are learning to use the tools of 
their disciplines to make important contributions to their fields of 
study.”The Center for Undergraduate Research is currently taking 
applications for the Spring 2022 UGRA competition. The deadline for 
student proposals will be Oct. 28. Online guidance and individual 
advising appointments are available to help students prepare strong 
applications.&nbsp; More information can be found here: <a href="http://ugresearch.ku.edu/student/fund/ugra">http://ugresearch.ku.edu/student/fund/ugra</a>Students receiving awards for fall 2021 are listed below in 
alphabetical order along with year in school, hometown, project title, 
mentor and mentor’s department:Casey Carlile, a senior from Lawrence: “Merger 
Signatures of Cold Quasars in the Distant Universe,” mentored by Allison
 Kirkpatrick, assistant professor of physics &amp; astronomy.Anika Goel, a junior from Guwahati, Assam, India: 
“Measuring Eddington Ratio in Unobscured Quasars,” mentored by Allison 
Kirkpatrick, assistant professor of physics &amp; astronomy.Matt Gratton, a junior from Kansas City, Missouri: 
“The Validity of Nightmare Prediction within a Large-Scale Sleep Study,”
 mentored by Nancy Hamilton, associate professor of clinical psychology.Amanda Hertel, a senior from Shawnee: “Tau Protein 
and Lipid Dysregulation: Potential Role in Alzheimer’s Disease 
Progression,” mentored by Prajna Dhar, professor of chemical &amp; 
petroleum engineering.Christopher Kywe, a senior from Leawood: “The Effect
 of mab-5 on Innate Immune Response Systems Within C. elegans,” mentored
 by Brian Ackley, associate professor of molecular biosciences.Alex Manley, a junior from Allen, Texas: “Crossing 
the Gap of Gem5: The Future of Memory Processing,” mentored by Mohammad 
Alian, assistant professor of electrical engineering &amp; computer 
science.Jackson Martin, a senior from Olathe: “A Case Study 
of Foreign Invested Enterprises in the U.S.-China Trade War,” mentored 
by Jack Zhang, assistant professor of political science.Reece Mathews, a senior from Lawrence: “Open Polar 
Server Upgrades for Efficiency and FAIR Data Principles,” mentored by 
John Paden, associate scientist with the Center for Remote Sensing of 
Ice Sheets.Aisha Mohammed, a senior from Lagos, Nigeria: 
“Patriarchy from Marriage and Empowerment Through Western Education for 
Senegalese Women in Mariama Bâ’s Une Si Longue Lettre,” mentored by 
Gillian Weatherley, lecturer in French, Francophone &amp; Italian 
studies.Greta Olsen, a senior from Bartlesville, Oklahoma: 
“Physical Property Characterization of Ionic Liquids Using a 
High-Pressure View Cell,” mentored by Mark Shiflett, Foundation 
Distinguished Professor of Chemical &amp; Petroleum Engineering.Kaitlyn Rauh, a junior from Springfield, Missouri: 
“Jewelry as Advocacy: Depression and Suicide Awareness,” mentored by 
Sunyoung Cheong, visiting assistant professor of metalsmithing &amp; 
jewelry.Carlos Schwindt, a junior from La Crosse: “Examining
 Mask Mycobiome Composition and Potential Dispersal,” mentored by 
Benjamin Sikes, associate professor of ecology &amp; evolutionary 
biology and associate scientist with the Kansas Biological Survey.Matthew Stout, a junior from San Antonio, Texas: 
“Analysis of Pathological Lower Third Molar of Mammuthus columbi from 
Clark County, Kansas, with Potential Insights on How Climate Change 
Affected the Extinction of Pleistocene Megafauna,” mentored by 
Christopher Beard, Foundation Distinguished Professor of Ecology &amp; 
Evolutionary Biology.The University of Kansas is a major comprehensive research and teaching university. The university's mission
 is to lift students and society by educating leaders, building healthy communities and making discoveries
 that change the world. The KU News Service is the central public relations office for the Lawrence campus.

TMP-M alum receives undergraduate research award

Fort Hays State University's NSSLHA (National Student Speech Language Hearing Association) is sponsoring a Soup Fest to benefit the Herndon Clinic. 

Show your support by stopping in to enjoy some soup and dessert. After trying the soups, you will be able to vote on your favorite. Additional baked goods will be available for purchase at the event. The profits go to offset the expense to families with children receiving services at Herndon Clinic.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1633023927672.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>SubmittedFort Hays State University's NSSLHA (National Student Speech Language Hearing Association) is sponsoring a Soup Fest to benefit the Herndon Clinic. Show your support by stopping in to enjoy some soup and dessert. After trying the soups, you will be able to vote on your favorite. Additional baked goods will be available for purchase at the event. The profits go to offset the expense to families with children receiving services at Herndon Clinic.&nbsp;

FHSU Soup Fest proceeds will benefit families in need

Three-day weather outlook

HAYS - Trailing 21-0 at halftime, Fort Hays State scored touchdowns on six-straight second possessions and rallied for an improbable 42-35 win over No. 12/15 Nebraska-Kearney in front of 6,743 Saturday night at Lewis Field. It's the first time the Tigers have won when trailing at halftime since beating UNK in two overtimes in Kearney in 2018. FHSU has won three straight and improves to 3-2 while the Lopers have their seven-game win streak snapped and drop to 4-1.

After going three and out in their first possession, UNK scored touchdowns on their next three possessions to built a 21-0 lead at the 7:16 mark of the second quarter. 

The Tigers were only able to move the ball as far as the Lopers 40 yard line until their final drive of the second quarter. TIght end Hunter Budke caught a pass from Chance Fuller at the five and carried a Loper near the goal line but was stopped just short of a touchdown. The Tigers scored their first points on their first possession of the third quarter. Chance Fuller hit Alex Schremmer&nbsp;for a big 36-yard gain. A 13-yard pass to Manny Ramsey was followed with a 29-yard touchdown pass to Budke.

UNK responded with a quick touchdown drive with gains of 28, 18, and 16 yards, pushing its lead back to 21. The Tigers fired back as Fuller found Ramsey for a 21-yard gain to start the next drive. Fuller then picked up 28 yards on the ground over the next two plays. He later found Schremmer for a 17-yard touchdown pass, cutting the Lopers lead to 14.

Kearney answered again , marching 79 yards over six plays to push their lead right back to 21 with 2:54 to go in the third quarter.

Adrian Soto sparked the Tigers next scoring drive with a 47 yard kickoff return to the UNK 37 yard line. Keylan Chapman ripped off a&nbsp;24-yard run to the UNK 10 then Fuller capped it with a seven-yard t0ouchdown pass to Ramsey to cut the Loper lead to 35-21 with 1:37 to go in the third. After a three-and-out by the Tiger defense, the Tigers got the ball back at their own 46. Fuller hit Soto on a 25-yard on third down and got 15 more yards on a Loper roughing the passer penalty.&nbsp; Voshon Waiters&nbsp;then entered to throw a 16-yard touchdown pass to Budke to trim the lead to seven. The Lopers next drive stalled near midfield and the Tigers got the ball back at their own 14e game. Soto had a run of 14-yards than hauled in a 40 yards pass to the UNK 32. Fuller hit Schremmer for 22-yards then scrambled for a nine-yard run to the one. Chapman punched the ball in from a yard out to tie the game, 35-35. The Lopers, who had won their last two games with touchdowns in the final minute, were stopped at their own 29 on a sack by Jhimon Preston&nbsp;on third -and-6.&nbsp; The Tigers got the ball on their own 33. Fuller found Schremmer for 14 yards then on third and three, Soto broke off a 14-yard run for a first down. Keylan Chapman's 31-yard run moved the ball to to one. He then scored his second on the next play to give the Tigers their first lead with 1:07 to play. UNK picked up one first down on their ensuing drive, but then quarterback TJ Davis was intercepted by freshman Devin White&nbsp;at the FHSU 40.

It was Fort Hays State's first interception of the season and only turnover of the game. Fuller completed 22-of-36 passes for 345 yards and three touchdowns. Schremmer led Tiger with 98 receiving yards on five catches. Adrian Soto rushed for 98 yards and had another 87 through the air and finished with 307 all-purpose yards.

Jhimon Preston led the defense with 11 tackles.&nbsp;

UNK quarterback TJ Davis completed 12-of-15 passes for 202 yards two touchdowns. He also rushed for 96 yards and two scores. Montrez Jackson led the Lopers' with 102 rushing yards. 

UNK finished with 274 rushing yards as a team. The Lopers gained 476 total yards as a team. The Tigers finished with 567 total yards.&nbsp; Fort Hays State is back on the road for another key game at Washburn next week in Topeka. Both teams will enter the game 3-2 overall. Kickoff is set for 1 pm at Yager Stadium.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1633239762664.jpeg" alt="FHSU quarterback attempts a pass vs. Nebraska-Kearney Saturday night at Lewis Field (FHSU Athletics)" />
 <figcaption>FHSU quarterback attempts a pass vs. Nebraska-Kearney Saturday night at Lewis Field (FHSU Athletics)</figcaption>
 </figure>HAYS - Trailing 21-0 at halftime, Fort Hays State scored touchdowns on six-straight second possessions and rallied for an improbable 42-35 win over No. 12/15 Nebraska-Kearney in front of 6,743 Saturday night at Lewis Field. It's the first time the Tigers have won when trailing at halftime since beating UNK in two overtimes in Kearney in 2018. FHSU has won three straight and improves to 3-2 while the Lopers have their seven-game win streak snapped and drop to 4-1.<div><iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/1135177171&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509" title="Eagle Radio" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Eagle Radio</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509/10-02-21-fhsu-coach-int" title="Chris Brown Postgame vs. Nebraska-Kearney (Oct 2, 2021)" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Chris Brown Postgame vs. Nebraska-Kearney (Oct 2, 2021)</a></div></div>After going three and out in their first possession, UNK scored touchdowns on their next three possessions to built a 21-0 lead at the 7:16 mark of the second quarter. <div><iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/1135177219&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509" title="Eagle Radio" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Eagle Radio</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509/10-02-21-fh-fuller" title="Chance Fuller Postgame vs. Nebraska-Kearney (Oct 2, 2021)" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Chance Fuller Postgame vs. Nebraska-Kearney (Oct 2, 2021)</a></div></div>The Tigers were only able to move the ball as far as the Lopers 40 yard line until their final drive of the second quarter. TIght end Hunter Budke caught a pass from Chance Fuller at the five and carried a Loper near the goal line but was stopped just short of a touchdown. The Tigers scored their first points on their first possession of the third quarter. Chance Fuller hit Alex Schremmer&nbsp;for a big 36-yard gain. A 13-yard pass to Manny Ramsey was followed with a 29-yard touchdown pass to Budke.<div><iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/1135177198&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509" title="Eagle Radio" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Eagle Radio</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509/10-02-21-fh-preston" title="Jhimon Preston Postgame vs. Nebraska-Kearney (Oct 2, 2021)" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Jhimon Preston Postgame vs. Nebraska-Kearney (Oct 2, 2021)</a></div></div>UNK responded with a quick touchdown drive with gains of 28, 18, and 16 yards, pushing its lead back to 21. The Tigers fired back as Fuller found Ramsey for a 21-yard gain to start the next drive. Fuller then picked up 28 yards on the ground over the next two plays. He later found Schremmer for a 17-yard touchdown pass, cutting the Lopers lead to 14. Kearney answered again , marching 79 yards over six plays to push their lead right back to 21 with 2:54 to go in the third quarter.<div><iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/1135177120&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509" title="Eagle Radio" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Eagle Radio</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509/10-02-21-fhsu-highlights" title="Fort Hays State FB vs. Nebraska-Kearney highlights (Oct 2, 2021)" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Fort Hays State FB vs. Nebraska-Kearney highlights (Oct 2, 2021)</a></div></div>Adrian Soto sparked the Tigers next scoring drive with a 47 yard kickoff return to the UNK 37 yard line. Keylan Chapman ripped off a&nbsp;24-yard run to the UNK 10 then Fuller capped it with a seven-yard t0ouchdown pass to Ramsey to cut the Loper lead to 35-21 with 1:37 to go in the third. After a three-and-out by the Tiger defense, the Tigers got the ball back at their own 46. Fuller hit Soto on a 25-yard on third down and got 15 more yards on a Loper roughing the passer penalty.&nbsp; Voshon Waiters&nbsp;then entered to throw a 16-yard touchdown pass to Budke to trim the lead to seven. The Lopers next drive stalled near midfield and the Tigers got the ball back at their own 14e game. Soto had a run of 14-yards than hauled in a 40 yards pass to the UNK 32. Fuller hit Schremmer for 22-yards then scrambled for a nine-yard run to the one. Chapman punched the ball in from a yard out to tie the game, 35-35. The Lopers, who had won their last two games with touchdowns in the final minute, were stopped at their own 29 on a sack by Jhimon Preston&nbsp;on third -and-6.&nbsp; The Tigers got the ball on their own 33. Fuller found Schremmer for 14 yards then on third and three, Soto broke off a 14-yard run for a first down. Keylan Chapman's 31-yard run moved the ball to to one. He then scored his second on the next play to give the Tigers their first lead with 1:07 to play. UNK picked up one first down on their ensuing drive, but then quarterback TJ Davis was intercepted by freshman Devin White&nbsp;at the FHSU 40. It was Fort Hays State's first interception of the season and only turnover of the game. Fuller completed 22-of-36 passes for 345 yards and three touchdowns. Schremmer led Tiger with 98 receiving yards on five catches. Adrian Soto rushed for 98 yards and had another 87 through the air and finished with 307 all-purpose yards. Jhimon Preston led the defense with 11 tackles.&nbsp;UNK quarterback TJ Davis completed 12-of-15 passes for 202 yards two touchdowns. He also rushed for 96 yards and two scores. Montrez Jackson led the Lopers' with 102 rushing yards. UNK finished with 274 rushing yards as a team. The Lopers gained 476 total yards as a team. The Tigers finished with 567 total yards.&nbsp; Fort Hays State is back on the road for another key game at Washburn next week in Topeka. Both teams will enter the game 3-2 overall. Kickoff is set for 1 pm at Yager Stadium.

🏈 What a comeback! Tigers erase 21-point halftime deficit against No. 12/15 Lopers

Kansas stands to benefit substantially when the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act becomes law. The White House projects over $3 billion will come to Kansas through the improvement of roads, bridges, electric vehicle charging stations, and the expansion of high-speed internet.&nbsp;

Much of this infrastructure spending is critical to Kansas agriculture.&nbsp;

Now is a once-in-a-generation chance to throw a life preserver to our farmers and ranchers, yet Senators Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall both voted “no” on this legislation.

Our farmers and ranchers should be outraged. For decades, our agricultural industry has suffered from a systemic lack of federal infrastructure investment and when a bill finally garners bipartisan support, neither of Kansas’ Senators voted for it.&nbsp;

The bill contains $110 billion for roads and bridges, $66 billion for passenger and freight rail improvements, and $17 billion for port infrastructure.&nbsp;

These allocations provide funding to fix transportation routes critical to the delivery of agricultural products grown in Kansas. Our farmers and ranchers rely on the nation’s roads, railways, and waterways to transport their goods to market.

The allocation for port infrastructure is especially beneficial as waterways provide a cost-efficient and environmentally friendly way to move and export farm produce. The Mississippi River plays a major role in transporting grain commodities — and Kansas is one of the country’s top producers of grain crops. According to the US Department of Agriculture, shipping delays caused by outdated locks along the Mississippi cost an average of $44 million annually. This bill provides much needed improvements to the inland waterway system that directly benefits Kansas farmers.

Additionally, extreme weather events like droughts, wildfires, flooding, and erosion deteriorate much of the aging infrastructure critical to transportation of Kansas’ agricultural goods.&nbsp;

Droughts and flooding affect waterways and there are few alternate cost-efficient pathways for grain transport in the United States. This reduces the ability of our farmers to export their grains to international markets. This legislation provides tens of billions of dollars to fight these extreme weather events and a further $150 billion for clean energy and climate change protections.&nbsp;

Mitigating extreme weather events is crucial to Kansas agriculture. The US Food and Drug Administration projects changes in the frequency and severity of droughts and floods pose major challenges for our state’s farmers and ranchers.&nbsp;

These events can affect crop yields and directly threaten livestock, making it more difficult to grow crops and raise animals in the same ways and same places as we have done in the past. Research conducted by Harvard University indicates that unless immediate mitigation steps are taken, major droughts are expected to affect 60% of wheat-growing areas around the world — including Kansas. Our state was the country’s largest wheat producer in 2019 and second largest in 2020 — Kansas grows approximately 18% of all US wheat.

Furthermore, the International Food Policy Research Institute projects that by 2050, the effects of extreme weather changes will result in a crop yield loss of greater than 5% in our state. This legislation has the potential to slow these alarming projections and provide long-term stability for Kansas’ farmers.

To put it briefly, this legislation is a big deal for our state’s agriculture. Instead of voting for it, and throwing a critical lifeline to Kansas agriculture, Senators Moran and Marshall chose ideological virtue signaling over Kansas’ future.

Alexandra Middlewood is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Wichita State University.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1633377761670.jpeg" alt="Alexandra Middlewood is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Wichita State University." />
 <figcaption>Alexandra Middlewood is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Wichita State University.</figcaption>
 </figure>Kansas stands to benefit substantially when the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act becomes law. The White House projects over $3 billion will come to Kansas through the improvement of roads, bridges, electric vehicle charging stations, and the expansion of high-speed internet.&nbsp;Much of this infrastructure spending is critical to Kansas agriculture.&nbsp;Now is a once-in-a-generation chance to throw a life preserver to our farmers and ranchers, yet Senators Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall both voted “no” on this legislation.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575913663048.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Our farmers and ranchers should be outraged. For decades, our agricultural industry has suffered from a systemic lack of federal infrastructure investment and when a bill finally garners bipartisan support, neither of Kansas’ Senators voted for it.&nbsp;The bill contains $110 billion for roads and bridges, $66 billion for passenger and freight rail improvements, and $17 billion for port infrastructure.&nbsp;These allocations provide funding to fix transportation routes critical to the delivery of agricultural products grown in Kansas. Our farmers and ranchers rely on the nation’s roads, railways, and waterways to transport their goods to market.The allocation for port infrastructure is especially beneficial as waterways provide a cost-efficient and environmentally friendly way to move and export farm produce. The Mississippi River plays a major role in transporting grain commodities — and Kansas is one of the country’s top producers of grain crops. According to the US Department of Agriculture, shipping delays caused by outdated locks along the Mississippi cost an average of $44 million annually. This bill provides much needed improvements to the inland waterway system that directly benefits Kansas farmers.Additionally, extreme weather events like droughts, wildfires, flooding, and erosion deteriorate much of the aging infrastructure critical to transportation of Kansas’ agricultural goods.&nbsp;Droughts and flooding affect waterways and there are few alternate cost-efficient pathways for grain transport in the United States. This reduces the ability of our farmers to export their grains to international markets. This legislation provides tens of billions of dollars to fight these extreme weather events and a further $150 billion for clean energy and climate change protections.&nbsp;Mitigating extreme weather events is crucial to Kansas agriculture. The US Food and Drug Administration projects changes in the frequency and severity of droughts and floods pose major challenges for our state’s farmers and ranchers.&nbsp;These events can affect crop yields and directly threaten livestock, making it more difficult to grow crops and raise animals in the same ways and same places as we have done in the past. Research conducted by Harvard University indicates that unless immediate mitigation steps are taken, major droughts are expected to affect 60% of wheat-growing areas around the world — including Kansas. Our state was the country’s largest wheat producer in 2019 and second largest in 2020 — Kansas grows approximately 18% of all US wheat.Furthermore, the International Food Policy Research Institute projects that by 2050, the effects of extreme weather changes will result in a crop yield loss of greater than 5% in our state. This legislation has the potential to slow these alarming projections and provide long-term stability for Kansas’ farmers.To put it briefly, this legislation is a big deal for our state’s agriculture. Instead of voting for it, and throwing a critical lifeline to Kansas agriculture, Senators Moran and Marshall chose ideological virtue signaling over Kansas’ future.Alexandra Middlewood is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Wichita State University.

INSIGHT KANSAS: Federal infrastructure bill critical to future of ag

The Pelzel estate sale scheduled for 10 a.m.Saturday has been moved to 12 p.m. Sunday, October 3rd, due to weather. Nations Auction Elite Realty.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1616431264408.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The Pelzel estate sale scheduled for 10 a.m.Saturday has been moved to 12 p.m. Sunday, October 3rd, due to weather. Nations Auction Elite Realty.

Teacher of the Month: Students don't care what you know, until they know you care

HaysMed announced this week it has achieved the highly prestigious international Baby-Friendly designation after a rigorous review process conducted by Baby-Friendly USA, the organization responsible for bestowing this certification in the United States.

This distinguished honor demonstrates that HaysMed is adhering to the highest standards of care for breastfeeding mothers and their babies. These standards are built on the&nbsp;Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding, a set of evidence-based practices recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) for optimal infant feeding support in the precious first days of a newborn’s life.

The positive health effects of breastfeeding are well documented and widely recognized by health authorities throughout the world. For example, the Surgeon General’s 2011 Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding stated that “Breast milk is uniquely suited to the human infant’s nutritional needs and is a live substance with unparalleled immunological and anti-inflammatory properties that protect against a host of illnesses and diseases for both mothers and children.”

HaysMed joins a growing list of more than 20,000 Baby-Friendly hospitals and birth centers throughout the world, 590 of which are in the United States. These facilities provide an environment that supports breastfeeding while respecting every woman’s right to make the best decision for herself and her family.

“We are extremely proud to be recognized for the hard work of our team members throughout the Baby-Friendly process,” said Terry Siek, Chief Nursing Officer and Vice President of Patient Care. “This designation is a tribute to our commitment to ensuring that every woman who delivers a baby at our facility is given the resources, information and support needed to help her and her baby get the best, healthiest start in life.”&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1632774600727.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>HaysMedHaysMed announced this week it has achieved the highly prestigious international Baby-Friendly designation after a rigorous review process conducted by Baby-Friendly USA, the organization responsible for bestowing this certification in the United States.This distinguished honor demonstrates that HaysMed is adhering to the highest standards of care for breastfeeding mothers and their babies. These standards are built on the&nbsp;Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding, a set of evidence-based practices recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) for optimal infant feeding support in the precious first days of a newborn’s life.The positive health effects of breastfeeding are well documented and widely recognized by health authorities throughout the world. For example, the Surgeon General’s 2011 Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding stated that “Breast milk is uniquely suited to the human infant’s nutritional needs and is a live substance with unparalleled immunological and anti-inflammatory properties that protect against a host of illnesses and diseases for both mothers and children.”HaysMed joins a growing list of more than 20,000 Baby-Friendly hospitals and birth centers throughout the world, 590 of which are in the United States. These facilities provide an environment that supports breastfeeding while respecting every woman’s right to make the best decision for herself and her family.“We are extremely proud to be recognized for the hard work of our team members throughout the Baby-Friendly process,” said Terry Siek, Chief Nursing Officer and Vice President of Patient Care. “This designation is a tribute to our commitment to ensuring that every woman who delivers a baby at our facility is given the resources, information and support needed to help her and her baby get the best, healthiest start in life.”&nbsp;

HaysMed receives prestigious 'Baby-Friendly' designation

After an expected decrease in enrollment in 2020 due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, North Central Kansas Technical College showed an overall headcount increase not only from 2020, but&nbsp;is&nbsp;facing&nbsp;the highest fall headcount&nbsp;in&nbsp;the last five years.&nbsp;Kansas Board of Regents reported 20th&nbsp;day numbers showing state universities down 1.7%, community colleges up 4.5% and technical colleges showing the larges headcount increase at 7.6%.&nbsp;

“It’s an exciting time to be part of a technical college, especially one like NCK Tech. Our headcount grew 6.1% from last year and this&nbsp;proves&nbsp;we have excellent academic programs and NCK Tech is providing the types of education that students want and that our workforce&nbsp;needs,” said&nbsp;Tricia Cline,&nbsp;Dean of&nbsp;Enrollment.&nbsp;

The number of full-time students&nbsp;increased on&nbsp;both&nbsp;the Beloit and Hays&nbsp;campuses&nbsp;over last year,&nbsp;with the&nbsp;Hays campus&nbsp;reaching&nbsp;the largest enrollment in its history.&nbsp;&nbsp;“We’re&nbsp;busting at the seams&nbsp;in Hays!” said Eric Burks, President of NCK Tech.&nbsp; “While it’s a good problem to have, we’re to the point where we&nbsp;need&nbsp;to find ways&nbsp;to&nbsp;grow our capacity.&nbsp;&nbsp;Overall,&nbsp;though,&nbsp;it's just&nbsp;really&nbsp;exciting that&nbsp;so many&nbsp;people&nbsp;are starting to&nbsp;understand the&nbsp;amazing career opportunities&nbsp;available through our programs!”&nbsp; Burks&nbsp;believes&nbsp;the&nbsp;relevance of&nbsp;technical&nbsp;education and the demand for skilled professionals&nbsp;is&nbsp;driving the growth&nbsp;for&nbsp;NCK Tech&nbsp;and&nbsp;technical colleges&nbsp;across the state.&nbsp;

NCK Tech provides&nbsp;hands-on education enabling students to graduate in just&nbsp;4–18 months&nbsp;into&nbsp;high-wage, high-demand fields&nbsp;while acquiring very little debt relative to other options.&nbsp;By offering highly sought-after career opportunities that are essential in times of uncertainty,&nbsp;NCK Tech can confidently offer a Job Placement Guarantee upon successful completion of any of our programs.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1633095571419.png" alt="NCK Tech / Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>NCK Tech / Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>NCK TechAfter an expected decrease in enrollment in 2020 due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, North Central Kansas Technical College showed an overall headcount increase not only from 2020, but&nbsp;is&nbsp;facing&nbsp;the highest fall headcount&nbsp;in&nbsp;the last five years.&nbsp;Kansas Board of Regents reported 20th&nbsp;day numbers showing state universities down 1.7%, community colleges up 4.5% and technical colleges showing the larges headcount increase at 7.6%.&nbsp;“It’s an exciting time to be part of a technical college, especially one like NCK Tech. Our headcount grew 6.1% from last year and this&nbsp;proves&nbsp;we have excellent academic programs and NCK Tech is providing the types of education that students want and that our workforce&nbsp;needs,” said&nbsp;Tricia Cline,&nbsp;Dean of&nbsp;Enrollment.&nbsp;The number of full-time students&nbsp;increased on&nbsp;both&nbsp;the Beloit and Hays&nbsp;campuses&nbsp;over last year,&nbsp;with the&nbsp;Hays campus&nbsp;reaching&nbsp;the largest enrollment in its history.&nbsp;&nbsp;“We’re&nbsp;busting at the seams&nbsp;in Hays!” said Eric Burks, President of NCK Tech.&nbsp; “While it’s a good problem to have, we’re to the point where we&nbsp;need&nbsp;to find ways&nbsp;to&nbsp;grow our capacity.&nbsp;&nbsp;Overall,&nbsp;though,&nbsp;it's just&nbsp;really&nbsp;exciting that&nbsp;so many&nbsp;people&nbsp;are starting to&nbsp;understand the&nbsp;amazing career opportunities&nbsp;available through our programs!”&nbsp; Burks&nbsp;believes&nbsp;the&nbsp;relevance of&nbsp;technical&nbsp;education and the demand for skilled professionals&nbsp;is&nbsp;driving the growth&nbsp;for&nbsp;NCK Tech&nbsp;and&nbsp;technical colleges&nbsp;across the state.&nbsp;NCK Tech provides&nbsp;hands-on education enabling students to graduate in just&nbsp;4–18 months&nbsp;into&nbsp;high-wage, high-demand fields&nbsp;while acquiring very little debt relative to other options.&nbsp;By offering highly sought-after career opportunities that are essential in times of uncertainty,&nbsp;NCK Tech can confidently offer a Job Placement Guarantee upon successful completion of any of our programs.&nbsp;

NCK Tech announces increased enrollment in fall 2021 

Several years ago, I saw a need in this area for people trained to assist Medicare recipients who wanted to review their prescription drug plan during open enrollment. As trained SHICK (Senior Health Insurance Counseling for Kansas) counselors, my husband John, and I can help Medicare recipients take a look at their Part D (Prescription Drug Plan) and hopefully find them a more affordable plan. We have several other SHICK counselors serving area residents through the RSVP office, so we hope to be able to keep up with the calls.

The Open Enrollment Period begins October 15th and runs through December 7th. Plan costs and coverage change each year, so everyone with Medicare should check to make sure their plan still meets their health needs and budget. If you would like to check out the website for yourself, simply go to Medicare.gov and click on Part D Prescription Drug Plans.

If you are unable to do an internet search, feel free to give me a call at the Extension office. We can set up an in-person SHICK appointment or, if you prefer, we can help you by phone. Those wishing to complete their enrollment by phone will need to call my office at (620)793-1910. I will send you a letter describing the procedure along with a Medicare prescription drug coverage worksheet. When you return that worksheet to my office, we will input your information and let you know your options for your Part D and assist you with signing up.&nbsp;

While we always enjoy seeing our Medicare friends during the Open Enrollment time, we want you to choose the option that you are most comfortable with. Your health and well-being are important to us during these uncertain times.&nbsp;

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573141404420.png" alt="Donna Krug is the District Director and Family &amp; Consumer Science Agent with the Cottonwood Extension District." />
 <figcaption>Donna Krug is the District Director and Family &amp; Consumer Science Agent with the Cottonwood Extension District.</figcaption>
 </figure>Several years ago, I saw a need in this area for people trained to assist Medicare recipients who wanted to review their prescription drug plan during open enrollment. As trained SHICK (Senior Health Insurance Counseling for Kansas) counselors, my husband John, and I can help Medicare recipients take a look at their Part D (Prescription Drug Plan) and hopefully find them a more affordable plan. We have several other SHICK counselors serving area residents through the RSVP office, so we hope to be able to keep up with the calls.The Open Enrollment Period begins October 15th and runs through December 7th. Plan costs and coverage change each year, so everyone with Medicare should check to make sure their plan still meets their health needs and budget. If you would like to check out the website for yourself, simply go to Medicare.gov and click on Part D Prescription Drug Plans.If you are unable to do an internet search, feel free to give me a call at the Extension office. We can set up an in-person SHICK appointment or, if you prefer, we can help you by phone. Those wishing to complete their enrollment by phone will need to call my office at (620)793-1910. I will send you a letter describing the procedure along with a Medicare prescription drug coverage worksheet. When you return that worksheet to my office, we will input your information and let you know your options for your Part D and assist you with signing up.&nbsp;While we always enjoy seeing our Medicare friends during the Open Enrollment time, we want you to choose the option that you are most comfortable with. Your health and well-being are important to us during these uncertain times.&nbsp;Donna Krug is the District Director and Family &amp; Consumer Science Agent with the Cottonwood Extension District. You may reach her at: (620)793-1910 or <a href="mailto:dkrug@ksu.edu">dkrug@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;

KRUG: Medicare open enrollment begins soon

ELLIS COUNTY — One person was injured in an accident early Saturday in Ellis County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2018 Dodge Ram driven by Kimberly L. Welch, 50, Wylie, Texas, was eastbound on Interstate 70 just west of Ellis in left lane of a construction zone where lanes were uneven.

The driver lost control of the pickup as it drifted right and tires dropped off the new surface of road.&nbsp;

EMS transported Welch to Hays Medical Center. She was properly restrained, according to the KHP.

ELLIS COUNTY — One person was injured in an accident early Saturday in Ellis County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2018 Dodge Ram driven by Kimberly L. Welch, 50, Wylie, Texas, was eastbound on Interstate 70 just west of Ellis in left lane of a construction zone where lanes were uneven.The driver lost control of the pickup as it drifted right and tires dropped off the new surface of road.&nbsp;EMS transported Welch to Hays Medical Center. She was properly restrained, according to the KHP.

Woman injured after I-70 construction zone accident

By RON WILSON Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development&nbsp;

That sounds like something a teenager might say, but in this case, I did get to know Jack. What’s more, I got to know the three creative women who are with Jack. They are utilizing his story to promote their business and their community, and having a lot of fun in the process.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Sisters Marsha Hoagland, Diane Johnson and Rhonda Gabriel are the owners of Red Dirt Jack’s in Medicine Lodge. Red Dirt Jack’s is a gas station, convenience store and more.&nbsp;

These three women and a fourth sister, Kim Fowles, are the Hoagland sisters. They were raised on the family ranch in western Barber County. “We call it red dirt country,” Marsha said. The ranch is near the unincorporated rural community of Lake City which today has a population of perhaps 20 people. Now, that’s rural.&nbsp;

They grew up here, went to school in Medicine Lodge and on to college. Marsha went to Wichita State and had a career in finance. Her husband’s family owned a convenience store in Oklahoma for many years.&nbsp;

Diane became a dental hygienist in Wichita. She and her husband retired to Medicine Lodge in 2016.&nbsp;

Rhonda went to K-State. After her husband passed away, she recently remarried.&nbsp;

After many years, the sisters are all back in Medicine Lodge. In January 2020, they had an opportunity to buy the local convenience store. “This was just a dowdy little place,” Marsha said. These three sisters went together to buy it and worked on upgrading it.&nbsp;&nbsp;Then they had to decide what to name the store.&nbsp;

Years ago, Rhonda had been at a charity auction where she purchased a stuffed donkey that was the size of a large dog. She nicknamed it Jack. What does one do with a large stuffed donkey? “I tried giving him away, but somehow he kept finding his way back,” Rhonda said.&nbsp;&nbsp;

As the sisters discussed what to name the store, their cousin suggested they name it for Jack. Because of the location in red dirt country, they named it Red Dirt Jack’s. Jack became the mascot for the business.&nbsp;

The sisters took Jack with them on a trip to Utah and had a lot of fun en route. “By the time we got to Lakin, Kan., Jack had his own Facebook page,” Marsha said.&nbsp;

Jack continues to post on social media and has become quite the celebrity. He has his own wardrobe, appeared in wedding photos and parades, and traveled as far away as Florida. On the first day of school at Medicine Lodge, he was pictured in his backpack at the school crosswalk. He waits patiently at the store and is available for photos.&nbsp;

Someone said that this was a genius marketing ploy. “No, it was a fluke,” Marsha said with a smile.&nbsp;

While the sisters have a lot of fun with Jack, they have significantly upgraded the store.&nbsp;&nbsp;That was no fluke. They refurbished the building, added an industrial kitchen, cleared a lot next door for parking, doubled the cooler space and added a deli and more food options. There are salads and made-to-order sandwiches and small booths for sitting.&nbsp;

“We are not a restaurant; we are a gas station with food,” Marsha said. Their daily lunch specials have become very popular. “We use our grandma’s recipe for meat loaf,” she said.&nbsp;

Their Monday Chinese food special can have people waiting in line outside the door.&nbsp;&nbsp;Other specials include homemade lasagna, pulled pork, spaghetti, patty melts and half-pound hand-patted cheeseburgers.&nbsp;

What has all this meant to the community? “There was no gathering place in town,” Diane said. “Maybe this community needed Jack.” Customers have told them how much they appreciate the sisters.&nbsp;

“We love Barber County,” Marsha said. “We are part of the community and we want to give back.”&nbsp;

For more information, find Red Dirt Jack’s on Facebook.&nbsp;

“You don’t know jack.” Well, now you do. We commend Marsha Hoagland, Diane Johnson and Rhonda Gabriel for making a difference by investing in their community and serving their customers with excellence - and, with Jack.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1632921511797.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By RON WILSON Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development&nbsp;“You don’t know jack.”&nbsp;That sounds like something a teenager might say, but in this case, I did get to know Jack. What’s more, I got to know the three creative women who are with Jack. They are utilizing his story to promote their business and their community, and having a lot of fun in the process.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Sisters Marsha Hoagland, Diane Johnson and Rhonda Gabriel are the owners of Red Dirt Jack’s in Medicine Lodge. Red Dirt Jack’s is a gas station, convenience store and more.&nbsp;These three women and a fourth sister, Kim Fowles, are the Hoagland sisters. They were raised on the family ranch in western Barber County. “We call it red dirt country,” Marsha said. The ranch is near the unincorporated rural community of Lake City which today has a population of perhaps 20 people. Now, that’s rural.&nbsp;They grew up here, went to school in Medicine Lodge and on to college. Marsha went to Wichita State and had a career in finance. Her husband’s family owned a convenience store in Oklahoma for many years.&nbsp;Diane became a dental hygienist in Wichita. She and her husband retired to Medicine Lodge in 2016.&nbsp;Rhonda went to K-State. After her husband passed away, she recently remarried.&nbsp;After many years, the sisters are all back in Medicine Lodge. In January 2020, they had an opportunity to buy the local convenience store. “This was just a dowdy little place,” Marsha said. These three sisters went together to buy it and worked on upgrading it.&nbsp;&nbsp;Then they had to decide what to name the store.&nbsp;Years ago, Rhonda had been at a charity auction where she purchased a stuffed donkey that was the size of a large dog. She nicknamed it Jack. What does one do with a large stuffed donkey? “I tried giving him away, but somehow he kept finding his way back,” Rhonda said.&nbsp;&nbsp;As the sisters discussed what to name the store, their cousin suggested they name it for Jack. Because of the location in red dirt country, they named it Red Dirt Jack’s. Jack became the mascot for the business.&nbsp;The sisters took Jack with them on a trip to Utah and had a lot of fun en route. “By the time we got to Lakin, Kan., Jack had his own Facebook page,” Marsha said.&nbsp;Jack continues to post on social media and has become quite the celebrity. He has his own wardrobe, appeared in wedding photos and parades, and traveled as far away as Florida. On the first day of school at Medicine Lodge, he was pictured in his backpack at the school crosswalk. He waits patiently at the store and is available for photos.&nbsp;Someone said that this was a genius marketing ploy. “No, it was a fluke,” Marsha said with a smile.&nbsp;While the sisters have a lot of fun with Jack, they have significantly upgraded the store.&nbsp;&nbsp;That was no fluke. They refurbished the building, added an industrial kitchen, cleared a lot next door for parking, doubled the cooler space and added a deli and more food options. There are salads and made-to-order sandwiches and small booths for sitting.&nbsp;“We are not a restaurant; we are a gas station with food,” Marsha said. Their daily lunch specials have become very popular. “We use our grandma’s recipe for meat loaf,” she said.&nbsp;Their Monday Chinese food special can have people waiting in line outside the door.&nbsp;&nbsp;Other specials include homemade lasagna, pulled pork, spaghetti, patty melts and half-pound hand-patted cheeseburgers.&nbsp;What has all this meant to the community? “There was no gathering place in town,” Diane said. “Maybe this community needed Jack.” Customers have told them how much they appreciate the sisters.&nbsp;“We love Barber County,” Marsha said. “We are part of the community and we want to give back.”&nbsp;For more information, find Red Dirt Jack’s on Facebook.&nbsp;“You don’t know jack.” Well, now you do. We commend Marsha Hoagland, Diane Johnson and Rhonda Gabriel for making a difference by investing in their community and serving their customers with excellence - and, with Jack.&nbsp;

Now That’s Rural: Hoagland sisters, Red Dirt Jack’s 

By SKIP VAUGHN <a href="https://www.theredstonerocket.com/win_or_lose/article_c3c17ba0-2136-11ec-ae7e-5b9d22d75282.html">Redstone Rocket</a>

DECATUR, Ala. — Rick Cooper has had a banner year on the golf course.

The 
retired command sergeant major is the 2021 men’s club champion at the 
Links. He won the title by scoring a 1-over 73 at the club championship 
tournament Sept. 18. The tournament was shortened to one day because of 
rain.

Donna Lowen shot 74 to win the women’s club championship.

“I probably shot one of my best rounds at Redstone that day,” Cooper 
said. “And it was like catching lightning in a bottle. I had my best 
round when the better players didn’t have their best day because there 
were a lot of players much better than me out there.”

Cooper, 61, 
from Bellevue, Nebraska, retired from the Army in 2012 after 31 years. 
He works in the space management office for the Garrison.

“It’s 
been a good year for me,” he said. “I had a hole-in-one in April and I 
won the club championship. So it was a real good year for golf.

“Even though it was rain-shortened but I don’t make the rules,” he added laughing.

He and his wife of 31 years, Mary, reside in Huntsville. This is his first club championship.

Lowen, 53, from Hays, is a perennial champion at the Links. 
She won the Redstone women’s club championship in 2019, 2018, 2016, 
2014, 2013 and 2012, and the post women’s senior championship in 2019 
and 2018. She played golf for the University of Kansas from 1986-90.

“I’m
 happy to win, even though I feel like I could’ve played better,” Lowen 
said. “My mom was my secret mojo and I was sad not being able to call 
her for my pep talk before we teed off. I wanted to play well and win 
for her. I had to pull myself together a few times while playing.

“Considering there was a lot of rain as well as some muddy and wet conditions, the course was in good condition.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1632952119730.png" alt="Donna Lowen is the 2021 women’s club champion at the Links while Rick Cooper is the men’s club champion. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Donna Lowen is the 2021 women’s club champion at the Links while Rick Cooper is the men’s club champion. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By SKIP VAUGHN <a href="https://www.theredstonerocket.com/win_or_lose/article_c3c17ba0-2136-11ec-ae7e-5b9d22d75282.html">Redstone Rocket</a>DECATUR, Ala. — Rick Cooper has had a banner year on the golf course.The 
retired command sergeant major is the 2021 men’s club champion at the 
Links. He won the title by scoring a 1-over 73 at the club championship 
tournament Sept. 18. The tournament was shortened to one day because of 
rain.Donna Lowen shot 74 to win the women’s club championship.“I probably shot one of my best rounds at Redstone that day,” Cooper 
said. “And it was like catching lightning in a bottle. I had my best 
round when the better players didn’t have their best day because there 
were a lot of players much better than me out there.”Cooper, 61, 
from Bellevue, Nebraska, retired from the Army in 2012 after 31 years. 
He works in the space management office for the Garrison.“It’s 
been a good year for me,” he said. “I had a hole-in-one in April and I 
won the club championship. So it was a real good year for golf.“Even though it was rain-shortened but I don’t make the rules,” he added laughing.He and his wife of 31 years, Mary, reside in Huntsville. This is his first club championship.Lowen, 53, from Hays, is a perennial champion at the Links. 
She won the Redstone women’s club championship in 2019, 2018, 2016, 
2014, 2013 and 2012, and the post women’s senior championship in 2019 
and 2018. She played golf for the University of Kansas from 1986-90.“I’m
 happy to win, even though I feel like I could’ve played better,” Lowen 
said. “My mom was my secret mojo and I was sad not being able to call 
her for my pep talk before we teed off. I wanted to play well and win 
for her. I had to pull myself together a few times while playing.“Considering there was a lot of rain as well as some muddy and wet conditions, the course was in good condition.”

Hays native wins yet another Alabama golf title

SHERMAN COUNTY —A Kansas woman was injured in an accident just before 6:30p.m. Friday in Sherman County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2013 Chevy Malibu driven by Pamela K. Weeter, 41, St. Francis, was westbound on County Road 63 at County Road 21 one half mile south of Interstate 70.

The Chevy came in contact with a westbound International truck driven by Lucas A. Wood, 21, Goodland, that slowed down and began to make a wide turn.&nbsp; The Chevy then struck a pole and came to rest on County Road 21 facing northeast.

EMS transported Weeter to the hospital in Goodland. Wood was not injured. Both drivers were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

SHERMAN COUNTY —A Kansas woman was injured in an accident just before 6:30p.m. Friday in Sherman County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2013 Chevy Malibu driven by Pamela K. Weeter, 41, St. Francis, was westbound on County Road 63 at County Road 21 one half mile south of Interstate 70.The Chevy came in contact with a westbound International truck driven by Lucas A. Wood, 21, Goodland, that slowed down and began to make a wide turn.&nbsp; The Chevy then struck a pole and came to rest on County Road 21 facing northeast.EMS transported Weeter to the hospital in Goodland. Wood was not injured. Both drivers were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

NW Kansas woman injured after car strikes a pole

Click the player below or click&nbsp;<a href="https://team1sports.com/eaglecommunications/?B=297341/hayshigh/">HERE</a>&nbsp;to view the game. You can also download the Team1Sports app for your phone or connected device, including smart TVs.

You can listen live by clicking <a href="https://streamdb7web.securenetsystems.net/cirrusencore/index.cfm?stationCallSign=KHAZ">HERE</a>.

Click the player below or click&nbsp;<a href="https://team1sports.com/eaglecommunications/?B=297341/hayshigh/">HERE</a>&nbsp;to view the game. You can also download the Team1Sports app for your phone or connected device, including smart TVs.TMP-M vs Ellis. Kickoff set for 7 p.m.<div><iframe src="https://vcloud.blueframetech.com/broadcast/embed/305061?autoplay=1" width="640" height="360" allow="fullscreen;" style="border:0;overflow:hidden;"></iframe></div>You can listen live by clicking <a href="https://streamdb7web.securenetsystems.net/cirrusencore/index.cfm?stationCallSign=KHAZ">HERE</a>.

🏈🎥 WATCH LIVE Thomas More Prep-Marian vs Ellis

Click the player below or click&nbsp;<a href="https://team1sports.com/eaglecommunications/hayshigh/">HERE</a>&nbsp;to view the game. You can also download the Team1Sports app for your phone or connected device, including smart TVs.

Hays High vs Abilene. Kickoff set for 7 p.m.

You can listen to the game by clicking <a href="https://radio.securenetsystems.net/cwa/KFIX">HERE</a>.

Click the player below or click&nbsp;<a href="https://team1sports.com/eaglecommunications/hayshigh/">HERE</a>&nbsp;to view the game. You can also download the Team1Sports app for your phone or connected device, including smart TVs.Hays High vs Abilene. Kickoff set for 7 p.m.<div><iframe src="https://vcloud.blueframetech.com/broadcast/embed/305057?autoplay=1" width="640" height="360" allow="fullscreen;" style="border:0;overflow:hidden;"></iframe></div>You can listen to the game by clicking <a href="https://radio.securenetsystems.net/cwa/KFIX">HERE</a>.

🏈🎥 WATCH LIVE Hays High Indians @ Abilene

Fourteen people across Kansas and Missouri are sharing stories as 
part of the annual Put the Brakes on Fatalities Day safety blog series. 
Some stories share triumph about a life saved, while some stories tell 
the tragedy of a life being taken.

“My beautiful daughter, 
Danielle, made a decision that not only took her life, but flipped life 
upside down for her entire family and so many friends,” said Jacque 
Tierce, of Larned, in today’s safety blog. “She was texting on Snapchat 
while driving down the highway at 65 mph, didn’t see a semi in front of 
her that slowed to make a turn and slammed into the back of it without 
braking.”

Danielle died in May 2018 because she was texting while 
driving. “She’s not here and never will be again,” Jacque said. 
“Sometimes you just have to breathe through the pain. A pain that will 
be there for the rest of your life.”

Four Kansas Highway Patrol 
troopers will also be sharing stories throughout the series. When a 
person dies in a vehicle crash, they are the one whose job it is to 
notify the next of kin. They see the consequences and the pain the 
families suffer, and they experience some of that as well.

Technical
 Trooper Tod Hileman from Hays recalled responding to a double fatality 
involving teenagers. Part of the process is to make sure victims are 
correctly identified. During that process, he noticed the teenaged girl 
driving the car was the same age as his daughter and had the same hair 
and eye color.

“I just kind of had a flash that it was my daughter lying there,” Hileman said. “So that really hit me.”

After
 everything was wrapped up at the crash scene, Hileman had to go meet 
the parents and “told them the words they never ever wanted to hear in 
their life.”

The safety blog series started Sept. 22 and runs 
through Oct. 11 as part of the efforts in Kansas to highlight the Put 
the Brakes on Fatalities Day national safety campaign. Whether you are 
in a vehicle, on a motorcycle or even walking, the campaign’s goal is 
for you to arrive safely.

To read all the safety blogs in this series, click&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDAsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMTA5MjguNDY1NjIyOTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwOi8va2Fuc2FzdHJhbnNwb3J0YXRpb24uYmxvZ3Nwb3QuY29tL3NlYXJjaC9sYWJlbC9QQkZEJTIwMjAyMT91dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9Z292ZGVsaXZlcnkifQ.inrVQXyInp1snjbcR-RSj-8gyHQHFq6PzpsZgcff_2I/s/1410648818/br/113002675723-l" target="_blank">HERE</a>.

Read below the entire blog from Larned's Jacque Tierce...

You just have to breathe through the pain

Sleepless
 nights, severe anxiety attacks, uncontrollable crying, deep depression,
 high blood pressure, nightmares, replaying the past, and daydreaming of
 what the future could have been are a glimpse at living through the 
loss of a loved one. Birthdays, holidays, new births, weddings, first 
days of school, and such are all constant reminders, she’s not here and 
never will be again. Sometimes you just have to breathe through the 
pain. A pain that will be there for the rest of your life.

On May 
26, 2018, my beautiful daughter, Danielle, made a decision that not only
 took her life, but flipped life upside down for her entire family and 
so many friends. She was texting on Snapchat while driving down the 
highway at 65 mph, didn’t see a semi in front of her that slowed to make
 a turn, and slammed into the back of it without braking. Thankfully she
 did not have her 3-year-old son with her and thankfully nobody else was
 injured, physically anyway.

“I miss my mommy,” her son tells me. 
Me too buddy, me too. “My mommy had an accident right here,” he says as 
we drive by the dreaded oil-stained spot on the highway. She has already
 missed his first day of school, several birthdays, first experience 
playing baseball, school programs, and countless other events with so 
many yet to come. All moments Danielle would have been glowing over. Her
 son was her life. Those opportunities are gone for both Danielle and 
her son now because of a Snapchat that just couldn’t wait. Now we spend 
our time trying to keep her memory alive for him, telling “mommy 
stories,” and breathing through the pain.

I spent the remainder of
 2018, all of 2019, and the beginning of 2020 (until COVID hit) 
traveling around to different schools in Kansas and Oklahoma telling our
 story. At my side was Shiane Wondra. Shiane’s story is exactly the same
 as Danielle’s, except Shiane lived through it. “Is it a risk you are 
willing to take?” - we would ask the students. I would leave each 
presentation and drive home bawling the entire way, sleep for hours 
afterwards, and pray we made an impact on at least one! If we can save 
just one family from going through this pain, it’s worth it.

What 
is distracted driving? One might think, it’s a text message. While 
texting and driving is one form of distraction, it’s not the only form. 
Being distracted is defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary as, 
“having one’s thoughts or attention drawn away.” Therefore, anything 
that takes your eyes or mind off of the road is a distraction.

I 
cannot tell you the number of live videos, pictures being taken, phone 
calls being made, or people scrambling around to find something in their
 car while driving. I STILL have friends that do these things. It’s 
heartbreaking. Some people just will not get it until they go through 
it. It can change your entire life, or the life of another, in a matter 
of seconds.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1633119262631.jpeg" alt="Danielle Tierce " />
 <figcaption>Danielle Tierce </figcaption>
 </figure>Fourteen people across Kansas and Missouri are sharing stories as 
part of the annual Put the Brakes on Fatalities Day safety blog series. 
Some stories share triumph about a life saved, while some stories tell 
the tragedy of a life being taken.“My beautiful daughter, 
Danielle, made a decision that not only took her life, but flipped life 
upside down for her entire family and so many friends,” said Jacque 
Tierce, of Larned, in today’s safety blog. “She was texting on Snapchat 
while driving down the highway at 65 mph, didn’t see a semi in front of 
her that slowed to make a turn and slammed into the back of it without 
braking.”Danielle died in May 2018 because she was texting while 
driving. “She’s not here and never will be again,” Jacque said. 
“Sometimes you just have to breathe through the pain. A pain that will 
be there for the rest of your life.”Four Kansas Highway Patrol 
troopers will also be sharing stories throughout the series. When a 
person dies in a vehicle crash, they are the one whose job it is to 
notify the next of kin. They see the consequences and the pain the 
families suffer, and they experience some of that as well.Technical
 Trooper Tod Hileman from Hays recalled responding to a double fatality 
involving teenagers. Part of the process is to make sure victims are 
correctly identified. During that process, he noticed the teenaged girl 
driving the car was the same age as his daughter and had the same hair 
and eye color.“I just kind of had a flash that it was my daughter lying there,” Hileman said. “So that really hit me.”After
 everything was wrapped up at the crash scene, Hileman had to go meet 
the parents and “told them the words they never ever wanted to hear in 
their life.”The safety blog series started Sept. 22 and runs 
through Oct. 11 as part of the efforts in Kansas to highlight the Put 
the Brakes on Fatalities Day national safety campaign. Whether you are 
in a vehicle, on a motorcycle or even walking, the campaign’s goal is 
for you to arrive safely.To read all the safety blogs in this series, click&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDAsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMTA5MjguNDY1NjIyOTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwOi8va2Fuc2FzdHJhbnNwb3J0YXRpb24uYmxvZ3Nwb3QuY29tL3NlYXJjaC9sYWJlbC9QQkZEJTIwMjAyMT91dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9Z292ZGVsaXZlcnkifQ.inrVQXyInp1snjbcR-RSj-8gyHQHFq6PzpsZgcff_2I/s/1410648818/br/113002675723-l" target="_blank">HERE</a>.Read below the entire blog from Larned's Jacque Tierce...<h2>You just have to breathe through the pain</h2>By Jacque TierceSleepless
 nights, severe anxiety attacks, uncontrollable crying, deep depression,
 high blood pressure, nightmares, replaying the past, and daydreaming of
 what the future could have been are a glimpse at living through the 
loss of a loved one. Birthdays, holidays, new births, weddings, first 
days of school, and such are all constant reminders, she’s not here and 
never will be again. Sometimes you just have to breathe through the 
pain. A pain that will be there for the rest of your life.On May 
26, 2018, my beautiful daughter, Danielle, made a decision that not only
 took her life, but flipped life upside down for her entire family and 
so many friends. She was texting on Snapchat while driving down the 
highway at 65 mph, didn’t see a semi in front of her that slowed to make
 a turn, and slammed into the back of it without braking. Thankfully she
 did not have her 3-year-old son with her and thankfully nobody else was
 injured, physically anyway.“I miss my mommy,” her son tells me. 
Me too buddy, me too. “My mommy had an accident right here,” he says as 
we drive by the dreaded oil-stained spot on the highway. She has already
 missed his first day of school, several birthdays, first experience 
playing baseball, school programs, and countless other events with so 
many yet to come. All moments Danielle would have been glowing over. Her
 son was her life. Those opportunities are gone for both Danielle and 
her son now because of a Snapchat that just couldn’t wait. Now we spend 
our time trying to keep her memory alive for him, telling “mommy 
stories,” and breathing through the pain.I spent the remainder of
 2018, all of 2019, and the beginning of 2020 (until COVID hit) 
traveling around to different schools in Kansas and Oklahoma telling our
 story. At my side was Shiane Wondra. Shiane’s story is exactly the same
 as Danielle’s, except Shiane lived through it. “Is it a risk you are 
willing to take?” - we would ask the students. I would leave each 
presentation and drive home bawling the entire way, sleep for hours 
afterwards, and pray we made an impact on at least one! If we can save 
just one family from going through this pain, it’s worth it.What 
is distracted driving? One might think, it’s a text message. While 
texting and driving is one form of distraction, it’s not the only form. 
Being distracted is defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary as, 
“having one’s thoughts or attention drawn away.” Therefore, anything 
that takes your eyes or mind off of the road is a distraction.I 
cannot tell you the number of live videos, pictures being taken, phone 
calls being made, or people scrambling around to find something in their
 car while driving. I STILL have friends that do these things. It’s 
heartbreaking. Some people just will not get it until they go through 
it. It can change your entire life, or the life of another, in a matter 
of seconds.On our Facebook page,&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fdoit4danielle%2F&amp;data=04%7C01%7CKim.Stich%40ks.gov%7Ce60cb058557041162fce08d96b4daf23%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637658803667338663%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=yXmAXRPsp1Mc4iCYa4ohZpU0JhQ%2FGjtDKlV5v9vLnf4%3D&amp;reserved=0">https://www.facebook.com/doit4danielle/</a>,
 is my original blog and countless stories of tragedies such as ours. 
Help spread the word! Help save a life! No matter what your age is, be 
the example. Make a commitment today to put your phone down while 
driving. Meanwhile, I will continue to share our story and breathe 
through the pain.Jacque Tierce, a grieving mom

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