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/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

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

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.

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.

<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

Larned mom shares story of losing daughter in car accident

'We just want people to stay healthy and stay out of the hospital, and the vaccine is the way to do that'

While the COVID curve is improving locally, HaysMed continues to see an significant number of hospitalizations from its service area. Many of these patients are being admitted for weeks or months.

Dr. Heather Harris, HaysMed chief medical officer, said Friday the hospital has a steady COVID inpatient census of 12 to 14 people. 

"Four or five of them from Ellis County, but all of the rest from our service area, so it's still 'local' COVID," she said. "While the curve is better, it's still out there. If you're unvaccinated or not immune from a prior illness, it's really just a matter of time until you get COVID."

Harris said the delta variant has increasingly put otherwise healthy younger people in the hospital with significant complications.

"The average age (of inpatients) is 55 years old. Last year, this was an illness of older people," she said. "These are middle-age folks getting hospitalized and pretty sick.

"And they're all unvaccinated, so we know the vaccine works. We just want people to stay healthy and stay out of the hospital, and the vaccine is the way to do that."

As of Wednesday, according to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, 49 percent of eligible Ellis County residents (12 and older) were fully vaccinated. That's up just 6 percent from Aug. 28, and well below the state rate of 60 percent.

Harris said while there have been a handful of vaccinated patients admitted for COVID, each one was suffering from another significant underlying illness.

She was told recently by a patient that the reason he was not getting a vaccination was because "I know people who got the vaccine and got sick."

"But are they in the hospital? No," she said. "We know you can still get COVID ... but the point of the vaccine is to keep people out of the hospital and prevent them from dying."

She said the symptoms of COVID for a vaccinated individual are mostly like a cold or a bad case of bronchitis — not a hospital stay.

For those who take the bent of "if I don't get tested, I don't have COVID," Harris warned of the dangers to others.

"You're risking the people around you," she said. "If you're irresponsibly going to work or to school, not wearing a mask, spreading the virus ... we've had cases where young people are around older people and the older people have actually died from COVID."

Harris also pointed to new research that suggests pregnant women should be vaccinated. 

"We know there's an increase in mortality, being pregnant is a strain on the body alone. Add a pretty virulent virus, and it's just increasing that strain on those pregnant moms," she said.

While no extremely young people have been admitted to HaysMed during the latest COVID spike, Harris also encouraged children to receive a vaccination.&nbsp;

It is "disheartening" for HaysMed nurses and doctors to see so many COVID patients, Harris said, and that feeling of frustration is intensified when the patient is a friend or relative of the health care worker.

"It saddens us," she said. "That frustration when we know if they would have made a different choice, they wouldn't have gotten sick. Nurses and providers are here to help people be well and live their life, and when people are laid up in the hospital for months ... they never had to get sick in the first place. ... And it saddens us to see how sick they get."

As of Wednesday, the patients at HaysMed ranged in age from 37 to 83 — all unvaccinated.

"There have not been as many deaths (compared to last year's fall COVID spike) because these are younger people," Harris said. "But they are being hospitalized for weeks to a month or more. And then the recovery at home will last months after that ... they feel terrible for a long time, and I think we're going to see some permanent damage to their lungs."

Some patients have been in the hospital for up to 40 days.

Because of the length of those stays, HaysMed continues to have intermittent capacity issues with ICU beds. Harris said the hospital was forced to close to out-of-county transfers several times over the past month.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586876732526.png" alt="Dr. Heather Harris" />
 <figcaption>Dr. Heather Harris</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>'We just want people to stay healthy and stay out of the hospital, and the vaccine is the way to do that'</h2>By RON FIELDS Hays PostWhile the COVID curve is improving locally, HaysMed continues to see an significant number of hospitalizations from its service area. Many of these patients are being admitted for weeks or months.Dr. Heather Harris, HaysMed chief medical officer, said Friday the hospital has a steady COVID inpatient census of 12 to 14 people. "Four or five of them from Ellis County, but all of the rest from our service area, so it's still 'local' COVID," she said. "While the curve is better, it's still out there. If you're unvaccinated or not immune from a prior illness, it's really just a matter of time until you get COVID."Harris said the delta variant has increasingly put otherwise healthy younger people in the hospital with significant complications."The average age (of inpatients) is 55 years old. Last year, this was an illness of older people," she said. "These are middle-age folks getting hospitalized and pretty sick."And they're all unvaccinated, so we know the vaccine works. We just want people to stay healthy and stay out of the hospital, and the vaccine is the way to do that."<h2>Fighting misinformation</h2>As of Wednesday, according to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, 49 percent of eligible Ellis County residents (12 and older) were fully vaccinated. That's up just 6 percent from Aug. 28, and well below the state rate of 60 percent.Harris said while there have been a handful of vaccinated patients admitted for COVID, each one was suffering from another significant underlying illness.She was told recently by a patient that the reason he was not getting a vaccination was because "I know people who got the vaccine and got sick.""But are they in the hospital? No," she said. "We know you can still get COVID ... but the point of the vaccine is to keep people out of the hospital and prevent them from dying."She said the symptoms of COVID for a vaccinated individual are mostly like a cold or a bad case of bronchitis — not a hospital stay.For those who take the bent of "if I don't get tested, I don't have COVID," Harris warned of the dangers to others."You're risking the people around you," she said. "If you're irresponsibly going to work or to school, not wearing a mask, spreading the virus ... we've had cases where young people are around older people and the older people have actually died from COVID."Harris also pointed to new research that suggests pregnant women should be vaccinated. "We know there's an increase in mortality, being pregnant is a strain on the body alone. Add a pretty virulent virus, and it's just increasing that strain on those pregnant moms," she said.While no extremely young people have been admitted to HaysMed during the latest COVID spike, Harris also encouraged children to receive a vaccination.&nbsp;<h2>Frustration</h2>It is "disheartening" for HaysMed nurses and doctors to see so many COVID patients, Harris said, and that feeling of frustration is intensified when the patient is a friend or relative of the health care worker."It saddens us," she said. "That frustration when we know if they would have made a different choice, they wouldn't have gotten sick. Nurses and providers are here to help people be well and live their life, and when people are laid up in the hospital for months ... they never had to get sick in the first place. ... And it saddens us to see how sick they get."As of Wednesday, the patients at HaysMed ranged in age from 37 to 83 — all unvaccinated."There have not been as many deaths (compared to last year's fall COVID spike) because these are younger people," Harris said. "But they are being hospitalized for weeks to a month or more. And then the recovery at home will last months after that ... they feel terrible for a long time, and I think we're going to see some permanent damage to their lungs."Some patients have been in the hospital for up to 40 days.Because of the length of those stays, HaysMed continues to have intermittent capacity issues with ICU beds. Harris said the hospital was forced to close to out-of-county transfers several times over the past month.

COVID patients: 'They're all unvaccinated, so we know the vaccine works'

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post&nbsp;

PLAINVILLE —&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/pg/DowntownPlainville/posts/">Downtown Plainville Inc.</a> has purchased a building volunteers hope to convert into a co-working space.

Work is under way at the building at 223 W. Mill, with the goal to open the facility yet this fall, said Ashley Comeau, secretary of the nonprofit.

The historic building was remodeled by local entrepreneur Chuck Comeau, but sat vacant for several years.

The co-working space will be called The Hub. After the building was constructed in the early 1900s, it housed a general store/men's clothing store called The Hub. The name is an homage to that history.

"That's been the goal of formulating this non-profit for downtown Plainville, not only to bring more people downtown," Ashley Comeau said, "but to see what we can do to try to help support business owners and help keep buildings and spaces full."

A major renovation<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/d7f53bae-930d-40bb-b4c4-11af914911d9">&nbsp;is ongoing on another historic building several doors down from the future co-working space.</a>

"We're really hopping to see downtown Plainville turn a corner," she said.

The nonprofit is cleaning the facility and has ordered new furniture.

Downtown Plainville Inc. applied and received grants from the Dane G. Hansen Foundation, Robert and Patricia Schmidt Foundation, Heartland Foundation, Anderson Trust, Plainville Community Foundation and Rooks County Healthcare Foundation to buy and prepare the building for its new use.

When finished, the co-working space will initially house six large desks plus a conference room and a foyer with casual seating.

The group hopes to build private office spaces in the future.

The group plans to install a keypad lock system, so regular users of the space can access the building 24/7, Comeau said.

Users also will have access to a printer and wireless internet.&nbsp;

"Our goal is for people who are currently working remotely can come in from their homes and network with others and not feel so secluded," she said. "But also we would like to have a space where people who come in from out of town can have a professional place to work in or meet people in."

Plainville also has insurance adjusters who come into the community and need to have a central, professional space to meet with farmers, Comeau said.

"I definitely think we are seeing more and more people move to town," she said, "especially where one spouse has a job locally and the other has a job where they moved back from."

Plainville has residents working remotely for businesses based in Wichita, Kansas City and as far away as California. Others have started business out of their homes, Comeau said.

Yet other workers may come home to visit family in Plainville from as far afield as other countries and might need a space to work for the weeks or the month they are home, she said.

The co-working space will have daily, monthly and yearly rates. Rates will be set at a later date by the Downtown Plainville board.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1633034956658.jpeg" alt="The new Plainville co-working space will have six large desks and a private conference room. The facility is set to open this fall." />
 <figcaption>The new Plainville co-working space will have six large desks and a private conference room. The facility is set to open this fall.</figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post&nbsp;PLAINVILLE —&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/pg/DowntownPlainville/posts/">Downtown Plainville Inc.</a> has purchased a building volunteers hope to convert into a co-working space.Work is under way at the building at 223 W. Mill, with the goal to open the facility yet this fall, said Ashley Comeau, secretary of the nonprofit.The historic building was remodeled by local entrepreneur Chuck Comeau, but sat vacant for several years.The co-working space will be called The Hub. After the building was constructed in the early 1900s, it housed a general store/men's clothing store called The Hub. The name is an homage to that history."That's been the goal of formulating this non-profit for downtown Plainville, not only to bring more people downtown," Ashley Comeau said, "but to see what we can do to try to help support business owners and help keep buildings and spaces full."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1633035082040.jpeg" alt="The historic Plainville building was built in the early 1900's and was originally a general store/men's clothing store called The Hub." />
 <figcaption>The historic Plainville building was built in the early 1900's and was originally a general store/men's clothing store called The Hub.</figcaption>
 </figure>A major renovation<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/d7f53bae-930d-40bb-b4c4-11af914911d9">&nbsp;is ongoing on another historic building several doors down from the future co-working space.</a>"We're really hopping to see downtown Plainville turn a corner," she said. The nonprofit is cleaning the facility and has ordered new furniture.Downtown Plainville Inc. applied and received grants from the Dane G. Hansen Foundation, Robert and Patricia Schmidt Foundation, Heartland Foundation, Anderson Trust, Plainville Community Foundation and Rooks County Healthcare Foundation to buy and prepare the building for its new use.When finished, the co-working space will initially house six large desks plus a conference room and a foyer with casual seating.The group hopes to build private office spaces in the future.The group plans to install a keypad lock system, so regular users of the space can access the building 24/7, Comeau said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1633035410613.jpeg" alt="The new Plainville co-working space&nbsp;at 223 W. Mill St." />
 <figcaption>The new Plainville co-working space&nbsp;at 223 W. Mill St.</figcaption>
 </figure>Users also will have access to a printer and wireless internet.&nbsp;"Our goal is for people who are currently working remotely can come in from their homes and network with others and not feel so secluded," she said. "But also we would like to have a space where people who come in from out of town can have a professional place to work in or meet people in."Plainville also has insurance adjusters who come into the community and need to have a central, professional space to meet with farmers, Comeau said."I definitely think we are seeing more and more people move to town," she said, "especially where one spouse has a job locally and the other has a job where they moved back from."Plainville has residents working remotely for businesses based in Wichita, Kansas City and as far away as California. Others have started business out of their homes, Comeau said.Yet other workers may come home to visit family in Plainville from as far afield as other countries and might need a space to work for the weeks or the month they are home, she said.The co-working space will have daily, monthly and yearly rates. Rates will be set at a later date by the Downtown Plainville board.

Co-working space to open in downtown Plainville this fall

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

Hays USD 489 announced Friday it will decrease its COVID mitigation restrictions based on the current active COVID cases among students and staff.

The district will be moving from a level three to a level two.

This includes: 10-day quarantine for close contacts with a five-day test-out option OR Return to school if mask is worn and active monitoring for symptoms

Level two can be maintained as long as the district has less than 20 active COVID-19 cases among students and staff.

School officals from all the county's schools meet with health officials weekly to review COVID mitigation efforts.

You can see the full USD 489 COVID-19 mitigation strategies ladder below.

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostHays USD 489 announced Friday it will decrease its COVID mitigation restrictions based on the current active COVID cases among students and staff.The district will be moving from a level three to a level two.This includes: 10-day quarantine for close contacts with a five-day test-out option OR Return to school if mask is worn and active monitoring for symptomsLevel two can be maintained as long as the district has less than 20 active COVID-19 cases among students and staff.School officals from all the county's schools meet with health officials weekly to review COVID mitigation efforts.You can see the full USD 489 COVID-19 mitigation strategies ladder below.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1631564691447.jpeg" alt="Hays USD 489 COVID mitigation&nbsp; strategies" />
 <figcaption>Hays USD 489 COVID mitigation&nbsp; strategies</figcaption>
 </figure>

Hays USD 489 steps down a COVID mitigation level

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment on Friday reported 22 new COVID-19 cases in Ellis County had been identified since Wednesday.

There have been 575 new COVID-19 cases identified in Ellis County after a lull in cases dwindled to near zero in June.

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

As of Friday morning, there were 14 COVID inpatients at HaysMed.

The KDHE reported Friday 50 percent of eligible Ellis County residents are fully vaccinated, noting the vaccination rate for the eligible Kansas population (12 and older) is approximately 60 percent.

Since reporting began, there have been 4,379 cases of COVID-19 identified in Ellis County, including 75 coronavirus-related deaths.

Headline corrected and vaccination rate updated, 2:30 p.m. Friday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1633107986957.png" alt="KDHE" />
 <figcaption>KDHE</figcaption>
 </figure>The Kansas Department of Health and Environment on Friday reported 22 new COVID-19 cases in Ellis County had been identified since Wednesday.There have been 575 new COVID-19 cases identified in Ellis County after a lull in cases dwindled to near zero in June.<a href="https://www.ellisco.net/97/Health">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;for information on how to receive a COVID-19 vaccination.&nbsp;As of Friday morning, there were 14 COVID inpatients at HaysMed.The KDHE reported Friday 50 percent of eligible Ellis County residents are fully vaccinated, noting the vaccination rate for the eligible Kansas population (12 and older) is approximately 60 percent.Since reporting began, there have been 4,379 cases of COVID-19 identified in Ellis County, including 75 coronavirus-related deaths.Headline corrected and vaccination rate updated, 2:30 p.m. Friday.

KDHE: 22 new virus cases in Ellis County since Wednesday

Gary Shorman, chairman of and chief development officer of Eagle Communications, has been named the winner of the 2021 Independent Lifetime Achievement award from Cablefax, a broadband trade organization.

“It is an honor to be selected for this national recognition, but the real credit goes to Eagle’s employee owners who have made great things happen for our customers and our company," Shorman said.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Eagle is the parent company of the Post News Network.

Whether at Eagle or through various
philanthropy work,
Gary Shorman is a
consummate leader

By THERESA MAHER <a href="https://www.cablefax.com/">Cablefax</a> If you thought Gary Shorman would
slow his pace after stepping down as
president and CEO of Eagle Communications following its purchase by GTCR
and Mega Broadband in 2019, guess
again. Even on a normal weekday in
August when we sat down to talk to
him, Shorman was getting ready to put
on one of his many hats.

“It seems like summer is at an end and I have a fundraiser tonight
that most people never have an opportunity to participate in — a
duck derby where plastic ducks race around a water park area, and
give away $10,000,” Shorman says.


The event was to raise money for Big Brothers Big Sisters, just one of
the many ways the jack-of-all-trades is dividing his time these days.


While his first love and his gateway into Eagle Communications was
radio, the company shifted him toward cable early on. He took his
position at Eagle as radio manager in 1985 and then moved into a
leadership role after a few years that included oversight of the cable
television side of its business. <a href="https://eagleradio.net/">The Kansas-based media company
still operates 28 radio stations in Kansas, Nebraska and Missouri,</a>
with Shorman serving as chief development officer and board chair.

He also serves on the board of Mega Broadband and is president of
the Schmidt Foundation, which focuses on environmental efforts and
education. He’s still a part of the NCTC board and helped the co-op
in its recent search for a new CEO. If all that’s not enough, he hosts
a radio show and podcast called “Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times,” where he’s interviewed a slate of Kansans, including
former senator Roger Marshall and the director of the Eisenhower
Presidential Library.

Shorman brings dedication, energy and enthusiasm with him
everywhere in every role. It’s driven him through his career at Eagle,
which is employee-owned and operated and thrives on employees’
passion for their work and their community.


“If a call comes in on Saturday, we have the 100-zero rule, whether
or not you’re at home with family or have something going on. You’re
100% responsible for what you do and taking care of your line of
business, with zero excuses. If something went wrong in the company, that is not an excuse. You just go
on your way and get it fixed,” he says.


Don’t take that to mean Shorman is all work and no play. Anyone who has
met or worked with the man will agree
that it’s his personality that makes him
stand out among the industry greats.


“During his tenure on the NCTA Board
of Directors, Gary was a tremendous
contributor who always looked for
solutions and was widely respected
for bringing his own ideas to the table.
My fondest memories of Gary, though,
aren’t about public policy discussions,
but sitting around the dinner table and
having great conversations about life,
family and those things away from
work that really matter. Those moments are when you can truly tell the
character of a person and Gary is one
of the best,” says NCTA president and
CEO Michael Powell.


Shorman’s resourcefulness comes in handy at work and at play, as
anyone who was on a bus full of NCTC members years ago can attest. The bus stopped for “adult refreshments,” as Shorman phrased
it, which the group had forgotten to retrieve before the trip. In addition, no one had a bottle opener, but he produced a pair of pliers to
open everyone’s bottles. “So I sort of became the hero of the bus,”
Shorman quips.


It’s a humorous anecdote, but it’s also a fitting example of a man
who is never afraid to step up. “I’ve always believed that if you’re in
any group, you should be willing to lead,” Shorman says.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1633101245839.png" alt="Gary Shorman" />
 <figcaption>Gary Shorman</figcaption>
 </figure>Gary Shorman, chairman of and chief development officer of Eagle Communications, has been named the winner of the 2021 Independent Lifetime Achievement award from Cablefax, a broadband trade organization.“It is an honor to be selected for this national recognition, but the real credit goes to Eagle’s employee owners who have made great things happen for our customers and our company," Shorman said.&nbsp;&nbsp;Eagle is the parent company of the Post News Network.----------------<h2>Whether at Eagle or through various
philanthropy work,
Gary Shorman is a
consummate leader</h2>By THERESA MAHER <a href="https://www.cablefax.com/">Cablefax</a> If you thought Gary Shorman would
slow his pace after stepping down as
president and CEO of Eagle Communications following its purchase by GTCR
and Mega Broadband in 2019, guess
again. Even on a normal weekday in
August when we sat down to talk to
him, Shorman was getting ready to put
on one of his many hats.
“It seems like summer is at an end and I have a fundraiser tonight
that most people never have an opportunity to participate in — a
duck derby where plastic ducks race around a water park area, and
give away $10,000,” Shorman says.
The event was to raise money for Big Brothers Big Sisters, just one of
the many ways the jack-of-all-trades is dividing his time these days.
While his first love and his gateway into Eagle Communications was
radio, the company shifted him toward cable early on. He took his
position at Eagle as radio manager in 1985 and then moved into a
leadership role after a few years that included oversight of the cable
television side of its business. <a href="https://eagleradio.net/">The Kansas-based media company
still operates 28 radio stations in Kansas, Nebraska and Missouri,</a>
with Shorman serving as chief development officer and board chair.
He also serves on the board of Mega Broadband and is president of
the Schmidt Foundation, which focuses on environmental efforts and
education. He’s still a part of the NCTC board and helped the co-op
in its recent search for a new CEO. If all that’s not enough, he hosts
a radio show and podcast called “Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times,” where he’s interviewed a slate of Kansans, including
former senator Roger Marshall and the director of the Eisenhower
Presidential Library.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1633101176587.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Shorman brings dedication, energy and enthusiasm with him
everywhere in every role. It’s driven him through his career at Eagle,
which is employee-owned and operated and thrives on employees’
passion for their work and their community.
“If a call comes in on Saturday, we have the 100-zero rule, whether
or not you’re at home with family or have something going on. You’re
100% responsible for what you do and taking care of your line of
business, with zero excuses. If something went wrong in the company, that is not an excuse. You just go
on your way and get it fixed,” he says.
Don’t take that to mean Shorman is all work and no play. Anyone who has
met or worked with the man will agree
that it’s his personality that makes him
stand out among the industry greats.
“During his tenure on the NCTA Board
of Directors, Gary was a tremendous
contributor who always looked for
solutions and was widely respected
for bringing his own ideas to the table.
My fondest memories of Gary, though,
aren’t about public policy discussions,
but sitting around the dinner table and
having great conversations about life,
family and those things away from
work that really matter. Those moments are when you can truly tell the
character of a person and Gary is one
of the best,” says NCTA president and
CEO Michael Powell.
Shorman’s resourcefulness comes in handy at work and at play, as
anyone who was on a bus full of NCTC members years ago can attest. The bus stopped for “adult refreshments,” as Shorman phrased
it, which the group had forgotten to retrieve before the trip. In addition, no one had a bottle opener, but he produced a pair of pliers to
open everyone’s bottles. “So I sort of became the hero of the bus,”
Shorman quips.
It’s a humorous anecdote, but it’s also a fitting example of a man
who is never afraid to step up. “I’ve always believed that if you’re in
any group, you should be willing to lead,” Shorman says.Republished with permission

Broadband group honors Shorman with lifetime achievement award

'Most accidents in this community are just fender benders. But ... an accident can be a financial disaster for a family'

This week, the Hays Police Department launched a new program aimed at reducing the number of accidents at problem locations in Hays.

Chief Don Scheibler said during the program officers will be onsite at places that are known for a high volume of traffic or accidents.

"The program is called the Priority Traffic Enforcement Area Program," he said. "The goal of the program is to help educate the public on safe driving habits to gain voluntary compliance through enforcement action. And to make communities safer by reducing the number of accidents."

The program will rely on officers located at those areas, but Scheibler said, education is also an important component.

"The education portion we're going to try and use our social media to push out locations where we're going to be at, locations of things we're watching for, and how they can people can safely operate their vehicles," he said.

Along with the education portion, Scheibler said ensuring drivers are more cautious can reduce traffic accidents.

"I'm absolutely confident (that if) we get people to stop for stop signs," he said, "slow down, turn in the right lane, use turn signals ... we can reduce the number of accidents."

Priority areas will be selected by the patrol supervisors based on criteria that include the accident volumes, high traffic areas public and resident complaints and officer recommendations. 

Scheibler said officers will be assigned to selected areas daily and those officers will be proactive, including looking for distracted drivers.

"Distracted driving in the city Hays is the new DUI," Scheibler said. "People driving under the influence used to be our biggest challenge. ... People are on their cellphones, people are looking at their Facebook messages or their app messages and text messages and not paying attention to driving at every one of these locations. Those are things we'll be looking at."

Scheibler said the roundabout is a good example, as they have recently seen an uptick in accidents in the peanut roundabout.

"That's been the big thing for me and the roundabout," he said "We put an officer up there in the middle of the roundabout and everybody obeys the traffic laws. Everybody's extra careful going through there, and we don't have any problems. It's when we leave and we have an unmarked set up there. And now people are failing to yield not paying attention. And that's how we have accidents.

"So it's an indication to me that people are just choosing not to obey the law, they're either not yielding when they're supposed to yield or they're changing lanes when they are not supposed to change lanes. So we have to educate them."

In the case of the roundabouts, Scheibler said they released a video on social media last week showing how to correctly navigate the roundabout.

"We put out a video last week to educate (the public) on those things," he said. "So we'll try and educate them through social media and release some information. But we're also going to be out there in those areas, enforcing the traffic laws. I think that that's how you get that voluntary compliance, knowing there are consequences for choosing not to obey the law. And there are consequences. You can get a ticket, but also more likely to be involved in an accident."&nbsp;

He attributes accidents there to vehicle speed, and drivers not yielding to enter the roundabout.

"There's a maximum speed limit posted up there," Scheibler said. "That's the maximum speed limit. That's not the minimum. So nobody says they have to go that fast.

"They either supposed to yield coming in there either and slow down, prepare to stop or stop, if necessary. So they're already supposed to be slowing down, going in the roundabout. I do think part of the problem is people try and take those as fast as they can. And they try and move through there. I do think if, like any anywhere — state highway, interstate, wherever — if people slow down a little bit, we'd have less accidents."

 Improper lane changes, he said, are also a factor in that location, causing accidents.

Two other locations were identified as problematic and will be a focus for officers during the program's rollout, Allen and 13th and the construction zone near 27th and Hall.

"We've had several injury accidents this year four or five of them actually," Scheibler said of 13th and Allen. "And time and time again, it's people failing to yield to stop signs. Sometimes they stop for it, but then they try and shoot across. That is not an intersection that you can just stop and go, you got to pay attention. Traffic on both sides and vehicle parking on both sides makes it difficult to see sometimes. So really, you have to look and make sure that no vehicles are coming. If you just look and go, there's a good chance the vehicle coming down the road, is being blocked by one on the street. ... So you really have to take your time at that intersection."

The program is underway now and Scheibler said no end date has been set.

"We're going to be up there whenever we can, or the locations will be designated by the patrol supervisor. ... In these areas, we will put out notices to the community that will be in those areas. And then we'll start putting education information out to officers to be out there enforcing the policies."

And while the program is new, Scheibler said traffic enforcement is always a priority for the department.

"We know that when we get people to drive safely we reduce accidents in this community," he said. "An accident doesn't sound like a big deal. A fender bender, that's it. Most accidents in this community are just fender benders. But the reality is, an accident can be a financial disaster for a family. A single mom trying to raise kids trying to get her kids to school and she has an accident and the car is disabled. She can't get the kids to school. She can't get to work, can't go pick up groceries. Those are all life-changing events — because a lot of times, somebody just chose not to follow the law."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1633024031174.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><h2>'Most accidents in this community are just fender benders. But ... an accident can be a financial disaster for a family'</h2>By JAMES BELL Hays PostThis week, the Hays Police Department launched a new program aimed at reducing the number of accidents at problem locations in Hays.Chief Don Scheibler said during the program officers will be onsite at places that are known for a high volume of traffic or accidents."The program is called the Priority Traffic Enforcement Area Program," he said. "The goal of the program is to help educate the public on safe driving habits to gain voluntary compliance through enforcement action. And to make communities safer by reducing the number of accidents."The program will rely on officers located at those areas, but Scheibler said, education is also an important component."The education portion we're going to try and use our social media to push out locations where we're going to be at, locations of things we're watching for, and how they can people can safely operate their vehicles," he said.Along with the education portion, Scheibler said ensuring drivers are more cautious can reduce traffic accidents."I'm absolutely confident (that if) we get people to stop for stop signs," he said, "slow down, turn in the right lane, use turn signals ... we can reduce the number of accidents."Priority areas will be selected by the patrol supervisors based on criteria that include the accident volumes, high traffic areas public and resident complaints and officer recommendations. Scheibler said officers will be assigned to selected areas daily and those officers will be proactive, including looking for distracted drivers."Distracted driving in the city Hays is the new DUI," Scheibler said. "People driving under the influence used to be our biggest challenge. ... People are on their cellphones, people are looking at their Facebook messages or their app messages and text messages and not paying attention to driving at every one of these locations. Those are things we'll be looking at."Scheibler said the roundabout is a good example, as they have recently seen an uptick in accidents in the peanut roundabout.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FHaysPD%2Fvideos%2F1264096804033928%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=0" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>"That's been the big thing for me and the roundabout," he said "We put an officer up there in the middle of the roundabout and everybody obeys the traffic laws. Everybody's extra careful going through there, and we don't have any problems. It's when we leave and we have an unmarked set up there. And now people are failing to yield not paying attention. And that's how we have accidents."So it's an indication to me that people are just choosing not to obey the law, they're either not yielding when they're supposed to yield or they're changing lanes when they are not supposed to change lanes. So we have to educate them."In the case of the roundabouts, Scheibler said they released a video on social media last week showing how to correctly navigate the roundabout."We put out a video last week to educate (the public) on those things," he said. "So we'll try and educate them through social media and release some information. But we're also going to be out there in those areas, enforcing the traffic laws. I think that that's how you get that voluntary compliance, knowing there are consequences for choosing not to obey the law. And there are consequences. You can get a ticket, but also more likely to be involved in an accident."&nbsp;He attributes accidents there to vehicle speed, and drivers not yielding to enter the roundabout."There's a maximum speed limit posted up there," Scheibler said. "That's the maximum speed limit. That's not the minimum. So nobody says they have to go that fast."They either supposed to yield coming in there either and slow down, prepare to stop or stop, if necessary. So they're already supposed to be slowing down, going in the roundabout. I do think part of the problem is people try and take those as fast as they can. And they try and move through there. I do think if, like any anywhere — state highway, interstate, wherever — if people slow down a little bit, we'd have less accidents." Improper lane changes, he said, are also a factor in that location, causing accidents.Two other locations were identified as problematic and will be a focus for officers during the program's rollout, Allen and 13th and the construction zone near 27th and Hall."We've had several injury accidents this year four or five of them actually," Scheibler said of 13th and Allen. "And time and time again, it's people failing to yield to stop signs. Sometimes they stop for it, but then they try and shoot across. That is not an intersection that you can just stop and go, you got to pay attention. Traffic on both sides and vehicle parking on both sides makes it difficult to see sometimes. So really, you have to look and make sure that no vehicles are coming. If you just look and go, there's a good chance the vehicle coming down the road, is being blocked by one on the street. ... So you really have to take your time at that intersection."The program is underway now and Scheibler said no end date has been set."We're going to be up there whenever we can, or the locations will be designated by the patrol supervisor. ... In these areas, we will put out notices to the community that will be in those areas. And then we'll start putting education information out to officers to be out there enforcing the policies."And while the program is new, Scheibler said traffic enforcement is always a priority for the department."We know that when we get people to drive safely we reduce accidents in this community," he said. "An accident doesn't sound like a big deal. A fender bender, that's it. Most accidents in this community are just fender benders. But the reality is, an accident can be a financial disaster for a family. A single mom trying to raise kids trying to get her kids to school and she has an accident and the car is disabled. She can't get the kids to school. She can't get to work, can't go pick up groceries. Those are all life-changing events — because a lot of times, somebody just chose not to follow the law."

RISKY INTERSECTIONS: Hays PD rolls out new enforcement program

TOPEKA —Preliminary census day figures released Thursday by the Kansas Board of Regents (KBOR) show a decrease in full-time equivalency (FTE) student enrollment at public universities and an increase in FTE enrollment at community colleges and technical colleges. Overall, the system has experienced a 1.1 percent decline in FTE enrollment as of the 20th&nbsp;day fall census, according to a media release from the board.

“The preliminary fall enrollment report brings mixed results and continues a systemwide trend in declining enrollment over the past five years,” said KBOR Chair Cheryl Harrison-Lee. “We must reverse that trend to meet the workforce needs of our state. The Board’s strategic plan, annual goals and budget ask are focused on initiatives that can leverage our system’s strengths and revitalize the Kansas economy.”

Across the six state universities, there was a decrease of 1,735 FTE students (-2.4 percent). Community colleges experienced an increase of 425 FTE students (1.2 percent), while technical colleges saw an increase of 57 FTE students (1.0 percent).

While the FTE student total was down, headcount increased by 1 percent systemwide. In 2020, many colleges experienced a significant decline in high school student enrollment on census day. Several colleges reported that concurrently enrolled high school student enrollment returned closer to pre-pandemic levels on census day 2021, which helped lead to a systemwide increase in headcount. However, since high school students typically take fewer credit hours per semester, the headcount increase did not translate to a systemwide increase in FTE students.

View&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansasregents.org/resources/PDF/Press/KHESTATS_Fall_Prelim_Final_Formatted_2021.pdf" target="_blank">tables with preliminary fall enrollment summaries in both FTE and headcount</a>&nbsp;for each public higher education institution in Kansas. Enrollment numbers may also be accessed through the Board's&nbsp;<a href="https://submission.kansasregents.org/public/ibi-redirect.jsp" target="_blank">Kansas Higher Education Statistics (KHEStats) website</a>.

Full-time equivalency is calculated by dividing the total number of undergraduate credit hours taken in a semester by 15 and graduate credit hours by 12.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1633013706568.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA —Preliminary census day figures released Thursday by the Kansas Board of Regents (KBOR) show a decrease in full-time equivalency (FTE) student enrollment at public universities and an increase in FTE enrollment at community colleges and technical colleges. Overall, the system has experienced a 1.1 percent decline in FTE enrollment as of the 20th&nbsp;day fall census, according to a media release from the board.“The preliminary fall enrollment report brings mixed results and continues a systemwide trend in declining enrollment over the past five years,” said KBOR Chair Cheryl Harrison-Lee. “We must reverse that trend to meet the workforce needs of our state. The Board’s strategic plan, annual goals and budget ask are focused on initiatives that can leverage our system’s strengths and revitalize the Kansas economy.”Across the six state universities, there was a decrease of 1,735 FTE students (-2.4 percent). Community colleges experienced an increase of 425 FTE students (1.2 percent), while technical colleges saw an increase of 57 FTE students (1.0 percent).While the FTE student total was down, headcount increased by 1 percent systemwide. In 2020, many colleges experienced a significant decline in high school student enrollment on census day. Several colleges reported that concurrently enrolled high school student enrollment returned closer to pre-pandemic levels on census day 2021, which helped lead to a systemwide increase in headcount. However, since high school students typically take fewer credit hours per semester, the headcount increase did not translate to a systemwide increase in FTE students.View&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansasregents.org/resources/PDF/Press/KHESTATS_Fall_Prelim_Final_Formatted_2021.pdf" target="_blank">tables with preliminary fall enrollment summaries in both FTE and headcount</a>&nbsp;for each public higher education institution in Kansas. Enrollment numbers may also be accessed through the Board's&nbsp;<a href="https://submission.kansasregents.org/public/ibi-redirect.jsp" target="_blank">Kansas Higher Education Statistics (KHEStats) website</a>.Full-time equivalency is calculated by dividing the total number of undergraduate credit hours taken in a semester by 15 and graduate credit hours by 12.

Regents: Enrollment drops over 8 percent at Fort Hays State

On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with Lb Brewing Co. brewmaster Wyatt Fullmer.

<div><iframe title="Forward Ever: Lb Brewing Co. brewmaster Wyatt Fullmer" 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=2izpi-10f3a8e-pb&from=pb6admin&square=1&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=auto&btn-skin=3267a3&size=300" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with Lb Brewing Co. brewmaster Wyatt Fullmer.

🎤Forward Ever: Lb Brewing Co. brewmaster Wyatt Fullmer

LOGAN COUNTY—A Kansas woman was injured in an accident just after 1:30a.m. Friday in Logan County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2004 Toyota 4-Runner driven by&nbsp; Marcina L. Bussen, 38, Wallace, Kansas, was westbound on U.S. 40 two miles west of Page City.

The SUV crossed the center line, exited the roadway to the left, overturned and driver was ejected. EMS transported&nbsp;Bussen to the Logan County Hospital. She was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

LOGAN COUNTY—A Kansas woman was injured in an accident just after 1:30a.m. Friday in Logan County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2004 Toyota 4-Runner driven by&nbsp; Marcina L. Bussen, 38, Wallace, Kansas, was westbound on U.S. 40 two miles west of Page City.The SUV crossed the center line, exited the roadway to the left, overturned and driver was ejected. EMS transported&nbsp;Bussen to the Logan County Hospital. She was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

Kansas woman injured after ejected when SUV overturns

To many, October signifies the beginning of fall, trick-or-treaters, and even
pumpkin spice lattes. But at Jana’s Campaign, October means so much more. It is
Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM), a nationally recognized effort to raise
awareness of and take a stand against gender-based violence.


Domestic violence is one of society’s largest problems and yet, it hides in plain sight. It
is often thought about in terms of physical violence, but other behaviors to exert power
and control, such as isolation, extreme jealousy, and unpredictability, often begin long
before any physical violence takes place. DVAM is an opportunity to deepen our
understanding of these issues and share resources. According to the CDC, one in four
women and one in ten men will be the victim of domestic violence at some point in their
lifetime, and, on average, three women are killed every day at the hands of a current or
former intimate partner. Anyone can be a victim of domestic violence, regardless of
status, age, race, gender, sexual orientation, or culture.


The issue of domestic violence has plagued our country for many years, and much has
been accomplished to decrease the instances, but we still have a long way to go. We
need solutions that engage men and boys, stop victim-blaming, and hold perpetrators
accountable. We need young people to be educated on healthy – and unhealthy –
relationship behaviors. We need more citizens to learn about the complexities of the
issue, ways they can effectively intervene, and how to support those in their lives that
are experiencing violence in their relationships. And we need prevention.


Jana’s Campaign has pledged to provide information on our social media accounts
about domestic violence throughout the month of October. Please follow Jana’s
Campaign on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to help us raise awareness and educate
yourself and those around you about domestic violence. Together, we can take a stand.
And together, we can prevent the violence before it starts.


<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1578075822734.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Jana's CampaignTo many, October signifies the beginning of fall, trick-or-treaters, and even
pumpkin spice lattes. But at Jana’s Campaign, October means so much more. It is
Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM), a nationally recognized effort to raise
awareness of and take a stand against gender-based violence.
Domestic violence is one of society’s largest problems and yet, it hides in plain sight. It
is often thought about in terms of physical violence, but other behaviors to exert power
and control, such as isolation, extreme jealousy, and unpredictability, often begin long
before any physical violence takes place. DVAM is an opportunity to deepen our
understanding of these issues and share resources. According to the CDC, one in four
women and one in ten men will be the victim of domestic violence at some point in their
lifetime, and, on average, three women are killed every day at the hands of a current or
former intimate partner. Anyone can be a victim of domestic violence, regardless of
status, age, race, gender, sexual orientation, or culture.
The issue of domestic violence has plagued our country for many years, and much has
been accomplished to decrease the instances, but we still have a long way to go. We
need solutions that engage men and boys, stop victim-blaming, and hold perpetrators
accountable. We need young people to be educated on healthy – and unhealthy –
relationship behaviors. We need more citizens to learn about the complexities of the
issue, ways they can effectively intervene, and how to support those in their lives that
are experiencing violence in their relationships. And we need prevention.
Jana’s Campaign has pledged to provide information on our social media accounts
about domestic violence throughout the month of October. Please follow Jana’s
Campaign on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to help us raise awareness and educate
yourself and those around you about domestic violence. Together, we can take a stand.
And together, we can prevent the violence before it starts.
Jana’s Campaign is a national education and violence prevention organization with the
single mission of reducing gender and relationship violence. In honor of the late Jana
Mackey and other victims and survivors of gender and relationship violence, Jana’s
Campaign delivers comprehensive, evidence-based educational programming that
prevents domestic and dating violence, sexual violence, and stalking. To learn more
visit www.JanasCampaign.org.

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