City of Hays offices will be closed on Friday, December 31 in celebration of the New Year's Day holiday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1578073045561.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>CITY OF HAYSCity of Hays offices will be closed on Friday, December 31 in celebration of the New Year's Day holiday.

City of Hays offices closed in celebration of New Year's Day

A winter storm watch is in effect for much of western Kansas beginning Friday night, the National Weather Service in Dodge City has reported.&nbsp;

A mix of freezing rain, sleet and snow is possible through Saturday, with accumulation up to 6 inches possible.&nbsp;

With winds gusting up to 35 mph, the NWS warned of potential drifting of snow, as well as ice accumulation.

Wind chills are expected to dip to 15 below zero. A high of just 10 degrees is projected for Ellis County on Saturday.

Check Hays Post or tune into your Eagle Radio of Hays stations for the latest on cancellations and severe weather.

<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Accumulating snow expected Saturday <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/kswx?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#kswx</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/nwsddc?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#nwsddc</a> <a href="https://t.co/MA9UJ2ZuVb">pic.twitter.com/MA9UJ2ZuVb</a>&mdash; NWS Dodge City (@NWSDodgeCity) <a href="https://twitter.com/NWSDodgeCity/status/1476473334825029637?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 30, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> </div>A winter storm watch is in effect for much of western Kansas beginning Friday night, the National Weather Service in Dodge City has reported.&nbsp;A mix of freezing rain, sleet and snow is possible through Saturday, with accumulation up to 6 inches possible.&nbsp;With winds gusting up to 35 mph, the NWS warned of potential drifting of snow, as well as ice accumulation.Wind chills are expected to dip to 15 below zero. A high of just 10 degrees is projected for Ellis County on Saturday.Check Hays Post or tune into your Eagle Radio of Hays stations for the latest on cancellations and severe weather.

NWS: Cold front likely bringing cold, ice to NW Kan. this weekend

NATOMA&nbsp;— On Wednesday, Governor Laura Kelly and Agriculture Secretary Mike Beam met with Kansas farmers and ranchers in Russell and Osborne counties who were impacted by the December 15 wildfires – including the Maupin family who lost cattle, fences, hay – and their home, in the fire, according to a statement from her office.

“Today, I had the opportunity to meet with Kansans impacted by the wildfires to discuss how best the State of Kansas can support their recovery,”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly said.&nbsp;“While our farmers and ranchers have always persevered through challenges, we know the storm and wildfires caused significant damage to homes, livestock, and crops – so it’s critical that we mobilize all of the available resources to aid their recovery.”

“It’s heartwarming to witness how neighbors have pulled together to help each other during these times of need,”&nbsp;Secretary of Agriculture Mike Beam said.&nbsp;“We are also grateful to see the tremendous volume of hay and monetary donations that have come in from outside this region and from other states as well.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640825399567.png" alt="Photo office of Gov. Laura Kelly" />
 <figcaption>Photo office of Gov. Laura Kelly</figcaption>
 </figure>NATOMA&nbsp;— On Wednesday, Governor Laura Kelly and Agriculture Secretary Mike Beam met with Kansas farmers and ranchers in Russell and Osborne counties who were impacted by the December 15 wildfires – including the Maupin family who lost cattle, fences, hay – and their home, in the fire, according to a statement from her office.“Today, I had the opportunity to meet with Kansans impacted by the wildfires to discuss how best the State of Kansas can support their recovery,”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly said.&nbsp;“While our farmers and ranchers have always persevered through challenges, we know the storm and wildfires caused significant damage to homes, livestock, and crops – so it’s critical that we mobilize all of the available resources to aid their recovery.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640825489648.png" alt="Photo&nbsp; courtesy Gov. Laura Kelly" />
 <figcaption>Photo&nbsp; courtesy Gov. Laura Kelly</figcaption>
 </figure>“It’s heartwarming to witness how neighbors have pulled together to help each other during these times of need,”&nbsp;Secretary of Agriculture Mike Beam said.&nbsp;“We are also grateful to see the tremendous volume of hay and monetary donations that have come in from outside this region and from other states as well.”

Gov. meets with area farmers, ranchers impacted by recent wildfires

Kansas crude prices head toward the end of the year on a high note. Kansas Common crude at CHS in McPherson was fetching $65.75 per barrel on Monday. That's up $10 per barrel from the first of the month, and $27 per barrel higher than at the first of the year. Drilling at several well sites in our area was shut down for the holiday, or for fire protection, and are expected resume after the first of the year. Quite a few drillers reached total depth and shut down prior to the holiday. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service reports 17 active rigs in eastern Kansas last week, which is unchanged, and 26 active drilling rigs west of Wichita, which is down one. Regulators in Kansas approved 36 new drilling permits last week. That's 1,182 so far this year. Out of 15 new permits in western Kansas, one was in Barton County and two were in Russell County. There are 21 new permits in eastern Kansas. In the last weekly completions tally of the year, over twenty percent of the completed oil wells in Kansas were dry holes. The year-to-date total of 959 newly-completed wells included 199 dry holes. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service reports 27 new completions statewide last week, including one each in Barton and Ellis counties. The government reported a big dip in U.S. crude-oil inventories. The Energy Information Administration said stockpiles dropped by nearly five million barrels to 423.6 million. EIA said inventories are currently about eight percent below the five-year average for this time of year. Production and imports were both down for the week. EIA said U.S. output averaged just over 11.5 million barrels per day. That's down about 200,000 barrels per day from a week earlier, but it's up nearly half a million barrels a day from the same week a year ago. U.S. refiners imported an average of 6.2 million barrels per day, down about a quarter million barrels per day. Imports over the past four weeks were 12 percent higher than during the same four-week period last year. A huge gift from Harold Hamm and his company Continental Resources will help create the Hamm Institute for American Energy at Oklahoma State University. The center will host authors, speakers, energy summits and leadership meetings. It will include a state-of-the-art laboratory featuring wells drilled below the building and eventually will feature an interactive museum. The initial funding will be a gift of $25 million from the Harold Hamm Foundation and $25 million from Continental Resources. A trade group in Texas reports a continuing boom in oil-patch employment there. Citing government data, the Texas Independent Producers and Royalty Owners Association reported Texas 185,800 people had jobs in exploration and production, an increase of 2,400 jobs from their revised October numbers, and the seventh consecutive month of job growth for the industry since April.&nbsp; Those job numbers are up 24,800 positions from a year earlier. A Houston-based oil company and two subsidiaries were indicted last week for that crude-oil spill off the coast of Southern California back in October.&nbsp; Prosecutors say the spill was caused in part by failing to properly act when alarms repeatedly alerted workers to a pipeline rupture. Amplify Energy Corp. and its companies that operate several oil rigs and a pipeline off Long Beach were charged by a federal grand jury with a single misdemeanor count of illegally discharging oil. Investigators believe the pipeline was weakened when a cargo ship’s anchor snagged it, several months before it ultimately ruptured, spilling up to about 25,000 gallons of crude oil in the ocean. Elections in Libya may not go on as scheduled, but that country's national oil company still hopes to ramp up crude production by an additional 100,000 barrels per day by next summer. That would raise output in the war-torn nation to 1.4 million barrels per day. The country's top energy official said if they cannot pass a national budget they may reach out to private Libyan or foreign companies to develop fields and boost output. The Energy Minister told Bloomberg News they hope to top two million barrels per day within two or three years, but acknowledged they have to form a government first, and there were signs an election scheduled this week might not take place.

By JOHN P. TRETBARKansas crude prices head toward the end of the year on a high note. Kansas Common crude at CHS in McPherson was fetching $65.75 per barrel on Monday. That's up $10 per barrel from the first of the month, and $27 per barrel higher than at the first of the year. Drilling at several well sites in our area was shut down for the holiday, or for fire protection, and are expected resume after the first of the year. Quite a few drillers reached total depth and shut down prior to the holiday. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service reports 17 active rigs in eastern Kansas last week, which is unchanged, and 26 active drilling rigs west of Wichita, which is down one. Regulators in Kansas approved 36 new drilling permits last week. That's 1,182 so far this year. Out of 15 new permits in western Kansas, one was in Barton County and two were in Russell County. There are 21 new permits in eastern Kansas. In the last weekly completions tally of the year, over twenty percent of the completed oil wells in Kansas were dry holes. The year-to-date total of 959 newly-completed wells included 199 dry holes. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service reports 27 new completions statewide last week, including one each in Barton and Ellis counties. The government reported a big dip in U.S. crude-oil inventories. The Energy Information Administration said stockpiles dropped by nearly five million barrels to 423.6 million. EIA said inventories are currently about eight percent below the five-year average for this time of year. Production and imports were both down for the week. EIA said U.S. output averaged just over 11.5 million barrels per day. That's down about 200,000 barrels per day from a week earlier, but it's up nearly half a million barrels a day from the same week a year ago. U.S. refiners imported an average of 6.2 million barrels per day, down about a quarter million barrels per day. Imports over the past four weeks were 12 percent higher than during the same four-week period last year. A huge gift from Harold Hamm and his company Continental Resources will help create the Hamm Institute for American Energy at Oklahoma State University. The center will host authors, speakers, energy summits and leadership meetings. It will include a state-of-the-art laboratory featuring wells drilled below the building and eventually will feature an interactive museum. The initial funding will be a gift of $25 million from the Harold Hamm Foundation and $25 million from Continental Resources. A trade group in Texas reports a continuing boom in oil-patch employment there. Citing government data, the Texas Independent Producers and Royalty Owners Association reported Texas 185,800 people had jobs in exploration and production, an increase of 2,400 jobs from their revised October numbers, and the seventh consecutive month of job growth for the industry since April.&nbsp; Those job numbers are up 24,800 positions from a year earlier. A Houston-based oil company and two subsidiaries were indicted last week for that crude-oil spill off the coast of Southern California back in October.&nbsp; Prosecutors say the spill was caused in part by failing to properly act when alarms repeatedly alerted workers to a pipeline rupture. Amplify Energy Corp. and its companies that operate several oil rigs and a pipeline off Long Beach were charged by a federal grand jury with a single misdemeanor count of illegally discharging oil. Investigators believe the pipeline was weakened when a cargo ship’s anchor snagged it, several months before it ultimately ruptured, spilling up to about 25,000 gallons of crude oil in the ocean. Elections in Libya may not go on as scheduled, but that country's national oil company still hopes to ramp up crude production by an additional 100,000 barrels per day by next summer. That would raise output in the war-torn nation to 1.4 million barrels per day. The country's top energy official said if they cannot pass a national budget they may reach out to private Libyan or foreign companies to develop fields and boost output. The Energy Minister told Bloomberg News they hope to top two million barrels per day within two or three years, but acknowledged they have to form a government first, and there were signs an election scheduled this week might not take place.

News From the Oil Patch: Kan. crude prices end 2021 on high note

By JOHN BAETZ <a href="https://www.kansaspregame.com/">Kansas Pregame Publisher</a>

Parents and student-athletes, football fan or not, please give this a read — it’s filled with valuable advice for aspiring college student-athletes.

I knew I wanted to be a football player at an early age. My brother’s high school team won a state championship in 1982, and even though I was just eight-years-old at the moment, he and his teammates hoisting that trophy in celebration was burned into my memory and played like a newsreel on repeat in my mind throughout my teenage years.

The singular goal of team success permeated my being throughout junior high and high school, but was always underscored by the dream of playing college football. As much as I wanted to win high school football games, I also wanted to be a scholarship college football player at the highest level possible.

Unfortunately, because of that focus, I was left unprepared for college in many ways.

Academically, I did just enough to survive in high school. In courses that came more naturally to me, such as English and history, I was generally above average. In classes that were more challenging, such as math and science, I did just enough to stay eligible to play football.

I’m embarrassed to admit my lack of focus on academics, not just because it left me unprepared for some college level courses, but also because I missed out on so many scholarship opportunities tied to academic performance. I was, frankly, too confident that a college football scholarship would pay for my college education.

While I was a barely above average high school player who filled my role on my team well, my own estimation of my football skill was likely a bit inflated. While I enjoyed the recruiting process…I completely mishandled it. But, that’s a story for another time.

I was fortunate to earn a handful of scholarship offers at the NAIA and junior college level, and even a DII offer, along with several DII walk-on invites. I chose the JUCO option, and it quickly became clear that junior college was not the right fit. My size and speed&nbsp;&nbsp;– or lack thereof&nbsp;&nbsp;–&nbsp;&nbsp;left me as a kind of&nbsp;“tweener” for my ideal position. I knew after just a couple weeks of practice that I probably should’ve gone to a four-year school where I could’ve developed in a red-shirt year and grown into my position.

Ultimately, I transferred to a four-year school, left football behind, and focused on academics.

Let me be clear – this is not a criticism of junior college football! In fact, three of my high school teammates found immediate playing time and success in the junior college ranks. Many, many Kansas athletes have used junior college as a jumping off point for eventual four-year success. It simply was not the best fit for me.

But, that’s not what I want you to take from this. What is more important is how wholly unprepared I was left for college because of my singular focus on football.

I love football, and even with its risks I still believe it’s a great game that provides a great physical outlet for young people across the country. I was fortunate to parlay my passion for football, and all athletics, into a successful small business, and I couldn’t love my work more.

All that said, I mismanaged preparation for college, and I would love to help young student-athletes and their families avoid making similar mistakes. As a result, I’ve developed a kind of checklist of considerations for aspiring college athletes. Check them out below:

Certainly there are many other considerations for successful navigation of the college selection process, but financial preparedness provides a sense of security and reduces the challenges and overall stress load related to receiving a college education.

There’s no time like the present to put saving for college at the top of your list.

John Baetz is the owner of Sixteen 60 Publishing Co. in Lincoln, publisher of Kansas Pregame Magazines and past publisher of the Lincoln Sentinel-Republican and Chapman News-Times newspapers and other specialty publications.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640628266608.jpeg" alt="John Baetz" />
 <figcaption>John Baetz</figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN BAETZ <a href="https://www.kansaspregame.com/">Kansas Pregame Publisher</a>Parents and student-athletes, football fan or not, please give this a read — it’s filled with valuable advice for aspiring college student-athletes.I knew I wanted to be a football player at an early age. My brother’s high school team won a state championship in 1982, and even though I was just eight-years-old at the moment, he and his teammates hoisting that trophy in celebration was burned into my memory and played like a newsreel on repeat in my mind throughout my teenage years.The singular goal of team success permeated my being throughout junior high and high school, but was always underscored by the dream of playing college football. As much as I wanted to win high school football games, I also wanted to be a scholarship college football player at the highest level possible.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575913663048.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Unfortunately, because of that focus, I was left unprepared for college in many ways.Academically, I did just enough to survive in high school. In courses that came more naturally to me, such as English and history, I was generally above average. In classes that were more challenging, such as math and science, I did just enough to stay eligible to play football.I’m embarrassed to admit my lack of focus on academics, not just because it left me unprepared for some college level courses, but also because I missed out on so many scholarship opportunities tied to academic performance. I was, frankly, too confident that a college football scholarship would pay for my college education.While I was a barely above average high school player who filled my role on my team well, my own estimation of my football skill was likely a bit inflated. While I enjoyed the recruiting process…I completely mishandled it. But, that’s a story for another time.I was fortunate to earn a handful of scholarship offers at the NAIA and junior college level, and even a DII offer, along with several DII walk-on invites. I chose the JUCO option, and it quickly became clear that junior college was not the right fit. My size and speed&nbsp;&nbsp;– or lack thereof&nbsp;&nbsp;–&nbsp;&nbsp;left me as a kind of&nbsp;“tweener” for my ideal position. I knew after just a couple weeks of practice that I probably should’ve gone to a four-year school where I could’ve developed in a red-shirt year and grown into my position.Ultimately, I transferred to a four-year school, left football behind, and focused on academics.Let me be clear – this is not a criticism of junior college football! In fact, three of my high school teammates found immediate playing time and success in the junior college ranks. Many, many Kansas athletes have used junior college as a jumping off point for eventual four-year success. It simply was not the best fit for me.But, that’s not what I want you to take from this. What is more important is how wholly unprepared I was left for college because of my singular focus on football.I love football, and even with its risks I still believe it’s a great game that provides a great physical outlet for young people across the country. I was fortunate to parlay my passion for football, and all athletics, into a successful small business, and I couldn’t love my work more.All that said, I mismanaged preparation for college, and I would love to help young student-athletes and their families avoid making similar mistakes. As a result, I’ve developed a kind of checklist of considerations for aspiring college athletes. Check them out below:<ol>
 <li>Athletic assessment – Every year hundreds, if not thousands of high school athletes, and their parents, claim they are&nbsp;“slept on” by top level athletic programs. The reality is that participating in college athletics is incredibly difficult at any level and properly assessing your own skill level early in high school is imperative in choosing the right opportunity. Remember, it’s not just about being on a team. It's about having a legitimate opportunity to earn playing time and not only get, but keep that scholarship.</li>
 </ol><ol>
 <li>Academic success – I think kids who hear me speak probably get tired of this message, but PLEASE put the student in student-athlete first. Do this not just because the opportunities to make a living as a professional athlete are ultra-rare, but also because academic performance can provide scholarship opportunities. If you are not a full-ride DI athlete – and very, very few of you are – then your athletic scholarship will not cover the complete cost of your education. Thousands of college graduates leave school with loads of student loan debt every year, and if your family cannot afford to cover the complete cost of your education, then you’ll want to find any and all resources to pay for those expenses. Academic scholarships are key, but so is my next point.&nbsp;</li>
 </ol><ol>
 <li>Saving for college – This should likely be the number one consideration, but it’s probably the one people least like to talk about. Even a small investment monthly at an early age can result in a windfall that can help cover costs not covered by an athletic scholarship. My family was left unprepared in this regard. But where do you start, right? Well one place to start is at the Kansas State Treasurer Lynn Rogers’&nbsp;529 Learning Quest Website (<a href="https://www.learningquest.com/home.html">https://www.learningquest.com/home.html</a>). Learning Quest provides tips on how to pay for college, including the Learning Quest 529 Savings Plan. It’s a tax-advantaged investment option to help cover the ever-increasing costs of college, while potentially reducing reliance on student loans.</li>
 </ol>Certainly there are many other considerations for successful navigation of the college selection process, but financial preparedness provides a sense of security and reduces the challenges and overall stress load related to receiving a college education.There’s no time like the present to put saving for college at the top of your list.John Baetz is the owner of Sixteen 60 Publishing Co. in Lincoln, publisher of Kansas Pregame Magazines and past publisher of the Lincoln Sentinel-Republican and Chapman News-Times newspapers and other specialty publications.

LETTER: I wish I would’ve saved for college …

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640819918861.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://hayspost.com/pages/state-farm-weather-window">For a full look at the weather click here.</a>

Three-day weather outlook

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment on Wednesday reported 39 new COVID-19 cases in Ellis County had been identified since Monday.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/f515bfdd-3d45-46c6-b1aa-9b1e2fa7f003">RELATED: 'A pandemic of two populations — the vaccinated and the unvaccinated'</a>

KDHE's COVID dashboard will not be updated Friday, in observance of the New Year holiday.&nbsp;

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

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/e63276ea-ca10-4e6a-84c8-73db703c9286">RELATED:&nbsp;Hays docs say battling teen, parental hesitancy to vaccine a challenge</a>

The KDHE reported on Dec. 17 that 54 percent of eligible Ellis County residents are fully vaccinated, noting the vaccination rate for the eligible Kansas population (12 and older) is approximately 66 percent.

Since reporting began, there have been 5,210 cases of COVID-19 identified in Ellis County, including 77 coronavirus-related deaths.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640805051651.png" alt="KDHE" />
 <figcaption>KDHE</figcaption>
 </figure>The Kansas Department of Health and Environment on Wednesday reported 39 new COVID-19 cases in Ellis County had been identified since Monday.<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/f515bfdd-3d45-46c6-b1aa-9b1e2fa7f003">RELATED: 'A pandemic of two populations — the vaccinated and the unvaccinated'</a>KDHE's COVID dashboard will not be updated Friday, in observance of the New Year holiday.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ellisco.net/97/Health">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;for information on how to receive a COVID-19 vaccination.<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/e63276ea-ca10-4e6a-84c8-73db703c9286">RELATED:&nbsp;Hays docs say battling teen, parental hesitancy to vaccine a challenge</a>The KDHE reported on Dec. 17 that 54 percent of eligible Ellis County residents are fully vaccinated, noting the vaccination rate for the eligible Kansas population (12 and older) is approximately 66 percent.Since reporting began, there have been 5,210 cases of COVID-19 identified in Ellis County, including 77 coronavirus-related deaths.

KDHE: 39 new COVID cases in Ellis Co. since Monday

Northwest Kansas will ring in a new year facing a dramatic temperature drop, as well as the possibility of snow.

The National Weather Service in Dodge City said the high temperature is expected to drop from 42 degrees on Friday to a high of just 15 degrees on Saturday. That front also will bring an 80 percent chance of snowfall Friday night and into New Year's Day.

The low temperature Saturday is projected to be just 1 degree and wind chills are projected to be as low as -15 degrees.

<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Expect cold air temperatures and with the wind the forecast lowest wind chill readings will be double digit below 0 for a lot of southwest Kansas. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/kswx?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#kswx</a> <a href="https://t.co/kI1TzuoLuh">pic.twitter.com/kI1TzuoLuh</a>&mdash; NWS Dodge City (@NWSDodgeCity) <a href="https://twitter.com/NWSDodgeCity/status/1476137859031519233?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 29, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> </div>Northwest Kansas will ring in a new year facing a dramatic temperature drop, as well as the possibility of snow.The National Weather Service in Dodge City said the high temperature is expected to drop from 42 degrees on Friday to a high of just 15 degrees on Saturday. That front also will bring an 80 percent chance of snowfall Friday night and into New Year's Day.The low temperature Saturday is projected to be just 1 degree and wind chills are projected to be as low as -15 degrees.

Bundle up: 2022 set to greet NW Kan. with a frigid start

TOPEKA — The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has rescinded a boil water advisory for the city of Schoenchen public water supply system, located in Ellis County. The advisory was issued because of a loss of pressure due to a water main break. Failure to maintain adequate pressure may result in a loss of chlorine residuals and bacterial contamination.

Public water suppliers in Kansas take all measures necessary to notify customers quickly after a system failure or shutdown. Regardless of whether it’s the supplier or KDHE that announces a boil water advisory, KDHE will issue the rescind order following testing at a certified laboratory.

Laboratory testing samples collected from the City of Schoenchen indicate no evidence of bacteriological contamination and all other conditions that placed the system at risk of contamination are deemed by KDHE officials to be resolved. &nbsp;

KDHETOPEKA — The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has rescinded a boil water advisory for the city of Schoenchen public water supply system, located in Ellis County. The advisory was issued because of a loss of pressure due to a water main break. Failure to maintain adequate pressure may result in a loss of chlorine residuals and bacterial contamination.Public water suppliers in Kansas take all measures necessary to notify customers quickly after a system failure or shutdown. Regardless of whether it’s the supplier or KDHE that announces a boil water advisory, KDHE will issue the rescind order following testing at a certified laboratory.Laboratory testing samples collected from the City of Schoenchen indicate no evidence of bacteriological contamination and all other conditions that placed the system at risk of contamination are deemed by KDHE officials to be resolved. &nbsp;

KDHE rescinds boil order for Schoenchen

Despite a busy year at the Hays Fire Department, Chief Ryan
Hagans said he thought the year went well.

“It was another great year at the fire department,” Hagans said.

As far as emergency responses, he said the department was
dispatched to just a little more than 2,600 calls in 2021 — about seven calls per
day.

&nbsp;“It’s been a busy
year on the call volume,” Hagans said, “but to be expected to like everything
else, and we expect the numbers to go up over the years.”

Those calls included fires in the city, but also, he said
the department is proud to assist Ellis County Emergency Medical Services.

“We run hand-in-hand with Ellis County EMS, which is a great
partnership for us and for the community,” Hagans said, noting firefighters
are also trained EMTs and can assist as needed.

&nbsp;During the year, the
department benefited from the purchasing of new equipment that will assist the
department with fighting fires well into the future.

“We did have a couple of additions to our fleet this year. We were able to add in a little 300-gallon grass fire unit. That's something that
his fire department hasn’t had for a long time,” Hagans said.

The new equipment is self-contained, is similar to equipment
used by the Ellis County Rural Fire Department and will allow quicker response times
to grass fires.

A pickup was also purchased that will transport the
department’s mobile air supply.

“So, if we do have a long structure fire or something, we can
fill up our air bottles. Instead of bringing them back to the station, we just
pull this pickup up and just refill everything out there on scene handy,”
Hagans said. 

Along with the new trucks, he said some of the department’s radio
equipment was also upgraded. 

“We're just trying to keep up with what's available out
there,” Hagans said, “so we have the best that we can afford to have.”

A part of that communication equipment that is used to increase
department efficiencies are iPads that have replaced pen-and-paper business inspections.

“Some of the stuff we don't have to go back and revisit the
businesses. They can just send us a picture of anything they had to fix in an
email,” Hagans said. “It saves us time and saves them time.”

Equipment aside, he said the department also spent
significant resources this year on continuing training for the department.

“We do a lot of training for all different types of
emergencies,” Hagans said. “So far, the guys have logged over 9,200 hours of
training this year.”

While some of that training occurs locally, he said members
of the department also traveled for advanced training and were able to bring
those skills back to Hays to be shared with other members of the department.

“That works out very, very well for us,” Hagans said.

For the local training, Hagans said the department’s new
training facility has allowed for more complex training scenarios. 

“There's a three-story drill tower out there made out of
Conex boxes,” Hagans said. “We use one Conex box for a live burn training.”

Once completed, the ongoing construction of an on-site
classroom will allow for even more training opportunities.

“We've partnered up with NCK Tech and Fort Hays to construct
a classroom out there,” Hagans said. “So that project is moving along with the
classroom. Hopefully, here next year, we'll be able to get that completed, and
it'll be able to host different types of trainings out there. [It will be] open to
different fire departments throughout the state and have some classes.”

Also looking ahead to next year, Hagans said the Front Door
Fridays program will continue, giving area residents an opportunity to interact
with department members and explore their equipment.

“It's kind of an open house event if you want to just call
it that,” he said. “We started running that May through October on like the
third Friday of the month from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. That has been great. We had so
many people, I think it was September or October maybe, we had 100
people show up. Bring family, bring your kids and let them crawl around.”

It’s a fun way for the department to show their
appreciation for a supportive community.

“The community support that we received this year and over the
past years has been just great,” Hagans said. 

<div><iframe title="Hays Fire Department wraps busy year; looks ahead to 2022" 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=tyiw6-11615c4-pb&from=pb6admin&square=1&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=ffffff&btn-skin=3267a3&size=300" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
</div>By JAMES BELL Hays PostDespite a busy year at the Hays Fire Department, Chief Ryan
Hagans said he thought the year went well.“It was another great year at the fire department,” Hagans said.As far as emergency responses, he said the department was
dispatched to just a little more than 2,600 calls in 2021 — about seven calls per
day.&nbsp;“It’s been a busy
year on the call volume,” Hagans said, “but to be expected to like everything
else, and we expect the numbers to go up over the years.”Those calls included fires in the city, but also, he said
the department is proud to assist Ellis County Emergency Medical Services.“We run hand-in-hand with Ellis County EMS, which is a great
partnership for us and for the community,” Hagans said, noting firefighters
are also trained EMTs and can assist as needed.&nbsp;During the year, the
department benefited from the purchasing of new equipment that will assist the
department with fighting fires well into the future.“We did have a couple of additions to our fleet this year. We were able to add in a little 300-gallon grass fire unit. That's something that
his fire department hasn’t had for a long time,” Hagans said.The new equipment is self-contained, is similar to equipment
used by the Ellis County Rural Fire Department and will allow quicker response times
to grass fires.A pickup was also purchased that will transport the
department’s mobile air supply.“So, if we do have a long structure fire or something, we can
fill up our air bottles. Instead of bringing them back to the station, we just
pull this pickup up and just refill everything out there on scene handy,”
Hagans said. Along with the new trucks, he said some of the department’s radio
equipment was also upgraded. “We're just trying to keep up with what's available out
there,” Hagans said, “so we have the best that we can afford to have.”A part of that communication equipment that is used to increase
department efficiencies are iPads that have replaced pen-and-paper business inspections.“Some of the stuff we don't have to go back and revisit the
businesses. They can just send us a picture of anything they had to fix in an
email,” Hagans said. “It saves us time and saves them time.”Equipment aside, he said the department also spent
significant resources this year on continuing training for the department.“We do a lot of training for all different types of
emergencies,” Hagans said. “So far, the guys have logged over 9,200 hours of
training this year.”While some of that training occurs locally, he said members
of the department also traveled for advanced training and were able to bring
those skills back to Hays to be shared with other members of the department.“That works out very, very well for us,” Hagans said.For the local training, Hagans said the department’s new
training facility has allowed for more complex training scenarios. “There's a three-story drill tower out there made out of
Conex boxes,” Hagans said. “We use one Conex box for a live burn training.”Once completed, the ongoing construction of an on-site
classroom will allow for even more training opportunities.“We've partnered up with NCK Tech and Fort Hays to construct
a classroom out there,” Hagans said. “So that project is moving along with the
classroom. Hopefully, here next year, we'll be able to get that completed, and
it'll be able to host different types of trainings out there. [It will be] open to
different fire departments throughout the state and have some classes.”Also looking ahead to next year, Hagans said the Front Door
Fridays program will continue, giving area residents an opportunity to interact
with department members and explore their equipment.“It's kind of an open house event if you want to just call
it that,” he said. “We started running that May through October on like the
third Friday of the month from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. That has been great. We had so
many people, I think it was September or October maybe, we had 100
people show up. Bring family, bring your kids and let them crawl around.”It’s a fun way for the department to show their
appreciation for a supportive community.“The community support that we received this year and over the
past years has been just great,” Hagans said.

🎙Hays Fire Department wraps busy year, looks ahead to 2022

Government surplus commodities will be distributed in Hays at Unite Free Store (inside The Gamers Guild), 200 E. 8th&nbsp;Street in Hays on Friday, December 31&nbsp; from 7:30 a.m.-9:00 a.m.

Commodities will be distributed on a first-come-first-serve basis until we run out.

To be eligible for commodities, your household's total monthly income must be below:

Commodities included in this distribution are anticipated to be: green beans, peas, peaches, mixed fruit, fruit and nut mix, peanut butter, chicken, ground beef, butter, cereal, dates, and cherry apple juice. 

Contact Brandon Nimz, Unite Ministry Leader, with any questions at 785-259-2539.

Future commodity distribution times will be posted at:&nbsp;(<a href="http://unitehays.com/index.php/hays-commodity-distribution/" target="_blank">https://unitehays.com/index.php/hays-commodity-distribution/</a>)&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1592580255349.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>SubmittedGovernment surplus commodities will be distributed in Hays at Unite Free Store (inside The Gamers Guild), 200 E. 8th&nbsp;Street in Hays on Friday, December 31&nbsp; from 7:30 a.m.-9:00 a.m.Commodities will be distributed on a first-come-first-serve basis until we run out.Doors will not open until 7:30 a.m.To be eligible for commodities, your household's total monthly income must be below:<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640623234866.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Commodities included in this distribution are anticipated to be: green beans, peas, peaches, mixed fruit, fruit and nut mix, peanut butter, chicken, ground beef, butter, cereal, dates, and cherry apple juice. Contact Brandon Nimz, Unite Ministry Leader, with any questions at 785-259-2539.Future commodity distribution times will be posted at:&nbsp;(<a href="http://unitehays.com/index.php/hays-commodity-distribution/" target="_blank">https://unitehays.com/index.php/hays-commodity-distribution/</a>)&nbsp;&nbsp;

Food commodities distribution Friday morning in Hays

December 30, 2021 is a fifth Thursday of the month, therefore, there won't be a Hays City Commission work session that evening.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584473406560.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>City of HaysDecember 30, 2021 is a fifth Thursday of the month, therefore, there won't be a Hays City Commission work session that evening.

No city commission work session this week

By KIM BALDWIN McPherson&nbsp;County farmer Amid the hustle and bustle of this season, I have recently been reminded that, contrary to the temperatures outside, it is winter. As if the short daylight hours, the Christmas stockings and kids being out for winter break haven’t clued me in on this time of the year, a tiny reminder has made it abundantly clear it is indeed winter. The reminder began last week when I was sitting and enjoying my breakfast tea at the kitchen table in silence. It’s a rare occurrence during this time of the year when I am able to sit in solitude and enjoy my warm morning drink. However, on this particular day while everyone was out of the house and I was writing down my list of to-dos, I realized I was not alone. As I’d scribble another item on my list, a little rustling sound would follow. I stopped a couple of times to determine where the sound was coming from.&nbsp; Perhaps a branch was scratching a window, or a toy had not been turned off. When I stopped my list-making and got up to investigate, the noise stopped. I returned to my list and warm cup of tea to continue my task, and the noise began again. Perhaps the caffeine finally kicked in and I was fully aware of the situation because it was then I realized the rustling was in the cabinet under my kitchen sink. I sprang up from my chair to open the cabinet door just in time to catch a little gray mouse scurrying away. Yes, this is my annual reminder winter is truly here. Over the next few days, I began my attempt to rid my house of this tiny mouse. Peanut butter cups were purchased and traps were strategically placed. I wanted to get this creature “taken care of” sooner rather than later as I firmly believe that even if you see only one, there are definitely more. My senses have become acutely more aware of the presence of this little creature in my house. The sounds at midnight of tiny feet skittering across a wooden floor under the cover of darkness, an empty snapped trap minus its appealing bait, and the discovery of a collection of individually wrapped dishwasher tablets relocated from their proper place are all evidence of a mouse. As I discover more proof of this animal in my home, I have become obsessively determined to catch it. This determination has become an annual event for me in our farmhouse. Every year at this time I try to outwit pests that have opted to move into my home instead of claiming the many outbuildings and barns as their winter retreats.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Every year at this time I declare I will catch that mouse! Every year at this time I wake up and immediately wonder if I have caught anything overnight. And every year, I am caught off guard by the determined actions of a tiny creature who, like clockwork, knows when winter is here. Yes, even if it doesn't seem like winter to us yet, my tiny reminder assures me that winter has most definitely arrived.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573617414005.jpeg" alt="Kim Baldwin" />
 <figcaption>Kim Baldwin</figcaption>
 </figure>By KIM BALDWIN McPherson&nbsp;County farmer Amid the hustle and bustle of this season, I have recently been reminded that, contrary to the temperatures outside, it is winter. As if the short daylight hours, the Christmas stockings and kids being out for winter break haven’t clued me in on this time of the year, a tiny reminder has made it abundantly clear it is indeed winter. The reminder began last week when I was sitting and enjoying my breakfast tea at the kitchen table in silence. It’s a rare occurrence during this time of the year when I am able to sit in solitude and enjoy my warm morning drink. However, on this particular day while everyone was out of the house and I was writing down my list of to-dos, I realized I was not alone. As I’d scribble another item on my list, a little rustling sound would follow. I stopped a couple of times to determine where the sound was coming from.&nbsp; Perhaps a branch was scratching a window, or a toy had not been turned off. When I stopped my list-making and got up to investigate, the noise stopped. I returned to my list and warm cup of tea to continue my task, and the noise began again. Perhaps the caffeine finally kicked in and I was fully aware of the situation because it was then I realized the rustling was in the cabinet under my kitchen sink. I sprang up from my chair to open the cabinet door just in time to catch a little gray mouse scurrying away. Yes, this is my annual reminder winter is truly here. Over the next few days, I began my attempt to rid my house of this tiny mouse. Peanut butter cups were purchased and traps were strategically placed. I wanted to get this creature “taken care of” sooner rather than later as I firmly believe that even if you see only one, there are definitely more. My senses have become acutely more aware of the presence of this little creature in my house. The sounds at midnight of tiny feet skittering across a wooden floor under the cover of darkness, an empty snapped trap minus its appealing bait, and the discovery of a collection of individually wrapped dishwasher tablets relocated from their proper place are all evidence of a mouse. As I discover more proof of this animal in my home, I have become obsessively determined to catch it. This determination has become an annual event for me in our farmhouse. Every year at this time I try to outwit pests that have opted to move into my home instead of claiming the many outbuildings and barns as their winter retreats.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Every year at this time I declare I will catch that mouse! Every year at this time I wake up and immediately wonder if I have caught anything overnight. And every year, I am caught off guard by the determined actions of a tiny creature who, like clockwork, knows when winter is here. Yes, even if it doesn't seem like winter to us yet, my tiny reminder assures me that winter has most definitely arrived."Insight" is a weekly column published by Kansas Farm Bureau, the state's largest farm organization whose mission is to strengthen agriculture and the lives of Kansans through advocacy, education and service.&nbsp;

Kansas Farm Bureau Insight: Winter assurance

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640729173566.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://hayspost.com/pages/state-farm-weather-window">For a full look at the weather click here.</a>

Wildfire recovery meeting set in Natoma

The presents are unwrapped and some of us are trying to remember if anyone was forgotten. Or maybe if you are like me, a gift was hidden away and did not get under the tree?

I shared this column two years ago and I believe maybe we need to be reminded of this now more than in December of 2019.

Here are ten gifts that I believe we need to give our children. These were shared by a speaker at a national 4-H meeting many years ago.

1. The joy of learning. Hopefully, we never stop learning. We can encourage our children to listen to others and learn from them. Teachers and all those who are interested in their well-being have a gift to share.

2. The gift of hope. Isn’t it nice to know there’s still hope for our young people? Give them hope in a world that weighs a little too heavy on the negative.

3. The gift of communication. Learn to communicate with your spouse and with your children. Communication involves listening and then responding and then listening again.

4. The gift of laughter. Experts say we need to laugh 15 times a day to stay healthy.

5. The gift of uniqueness. Let’s teach our children to be themselves. We do need role models, but we do not need our children to be just like so-and-so.

6. The gift of flexibility. Try new things. Do new things. Today is different than yesterday.

7. The gift of balance. We all need a good balance of work and play. Maybe as grownups we need to go fly a kite or play a game of dominos.

8. The gift of respect. To earn respect, you must be respectful. Our children’s thoughts and opinions are very important and we need to respect them.

9. The gift of spirituality. Time to get to know ourselves is needed in today’s busy lifestyle. Preschoolers often get a “time out” to think about it. Maybe adults need the same thing?

10. The gift of love. The most personal and special present is YOU! Your time may be the best way to share your love.

Berny Unruh is the Family and Community Wellness Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District. She can be reached at 785-628-9430 or at bunruh@ksu.edu.

The presents are unwrapped and some of us are trying to remember if anyone was forgotten. Or maybe if you are like me, a gift was hidden away and did not get under the tree?I shared this column two years ago and I believe maybe we need to be reminded of this now more than in December of 2019.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1588274071306.jpeg" alt="Berny Unruh is Family and Community Wellness agent for the Cottonwood Extension District." />
 <figcaption>Berny Unruh is Family and Community Wellness agent for the Cottonwood Extension District.</figcaption>
 </figure>Here are ten gifts that I believe we need to give our children. These were shared by a speaker at a national 4-H meeting many years ago.1. The joy of learning. Hopefully, we never stop learning. We can encourage our children to listen to others and learn from them. Teachers and all those who are interested in their well-being have a gift to share.2. The gift of hope. Isn’t it nice to know there’s still hope for our young people? Give them hope in a world that weighs a little too heavy on the negative.3. The gift of communication. Learn to communicate with your spouse and with your children. Communication involves listening and then responding and then listening again.4. The gift of laughter. Experts say we need to laugh 15 times a day to stay healthy.5. The gift of uniqueness. Let’s teach our children to be themselves. We do need role models, but we do not need our children to be just like so-and-so.6. The gift of flexibility. Try new things. Do new things. Today is different than yesterday.7. The gift of balance. We all need a good balance of work and play. Maybe as grownups we need to go fly a kite or play a game of dominos.8. The gift of respect. To earn respect, you must be respectful. Our children’s thoughts and opinions are very important and we need to respect them.9. The gift of spirituality. Time to get to know ourselves is needed in today’s busy lifestyle. Preschoolers often get a “time out” to think about it. Maybe adults need the same thing?10. The gift of love. The most personal and special present is YOU! Your time may be the best way to share your love.Berny Unruh is the Family and Community Wellness Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District. She can be reached at 785-628-9430 or at bunruh@ksu.edu.

Unruh: Gifts for the New Year

The popular tourism website Only in Your State recently recognized Hays as having one of the seven best downtowns in Kansas.

<a href="https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/kansas/best-small-downtowns-ks/">The article can be seen by clicking here.</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600463704415.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The popular tourism website Only in Your State recently recognized Hays as having one of the seven best downtowns in Kansas.<a href="https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/kansas/best-small-downtowns-ks/">The article can be seen by clicking here.</a>

Hays recognized by popular tourism website

Grace Sarver of Portis is one of 380 students have been named to the Union University Dean's List for the fall 2021 semester.

The dean's list includes full-time students who achieve a 3.5 grade point average on a four-point scale.

Founded in 1823 and affiliated with the Tennessee Baptist Convention, Union University is characterized by quality Christ-centered teaching and learning. Union offers liberal arts training in more than 100 majors and programs of study along with professional programs in business, education and nursing. About 3,000 students are currently enrolled.

Grace Sarver of Portis is one of 380 students have been named to the Union University Dean's List for the fall 2021 semester.The dean's list includes full-time students who achieve a 3.5 grade point average on a four-point scale.Founded in 1823 and affiliated with the Tennessee Baptist Convention, Union University is characterized by quality Christ-centered teaching and learning. Union offers liberal arts training in more than 100 majors and programs of study along with professional programs in business, education and nursing. About 3,000 students are currently enrolled.

Portis resident named to Union University's dean's list

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640542096803.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://hayspost.com/pages/state-farm-weather-window">For a full look at the weather click here.</a>

Five bald eagles, three adults and two immature birds, were spotted Monday morning on the southern edge of Cheyenne Bottoms, just northeast of Great Bend.

From the Kansas Wetlands Education Center... "Winter is a great time to look for eagles at Cheyenne Bottoms and Quivira National Wildlife Refuge, where they feed on fish and sick and injured geese and ducks. Generally, large numbers can be seen in both areas through March."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640632336360.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Five bald eagles, three adults and two immature birds, were spotted Monday morning on the southern edge of Cheyenne Bottoms, just northeast of Great Bend.From the Kansas Wetlands Education Center... "Winter is a great time to look for eagles at Cheyenne Bottoms and Quivira National Wildlife Refuge, where they feed on fish and sick and injured geese and ducks. Generally, large numbers can be seen in both areas through March."

5 bald eagles spotted at Cheyenne Bottoms

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment on Monday reported 56 new COVID-19 cases in Ellis County had been identified since Wednesday.

Due to Christmas Eve, there was no update on Friday.

The KDHE reported Monday 54 percent of eligible Ellis County residents are fully vaccinated, noting the vaccination rate for the eligible Kansas population (12 and older) is approximately 66 percent.

Since reporting began, there have been 5,171 cases of COVID-19 identified in Ellis County, including 77 coronavirus-related deaths.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640633784879.png" alt="KDHE" />
 <figcaption>KDHE</figcaption>
 </figure>The Kansas Department of Health and Environment on Monday reported 56 new COVID-19 cases in Ellis County had been identified since Wednesday.Due to Christmas Eve, there was no update on Friday.<a href="https://www.ellisco.net/97/Health">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;for information on how to receive a COVID-19 vaccination.<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/e63276ea-ca10-4e6a-84c8-73db703c9286">RELATED:&nbsp;Hays docs say battling teen, parental hesitancy to vaccine a challenge</a>The KDHE reported Monday 54 percent of eligible Ellis County residents are fully vaccinated, noting the vaccination rate for the eligible Kansas population (12 and older) is approximately 66 percent.Since reporting began, there have been 5,171 cases of COVID-19 identified in Ellis County, including 77 coronavirus-related deaths.

KDHE: 56 new COVID cases in Ellis Co. since Wednesday

The Hays Police Department responded to 4 animal calls and conducted 18 traffic stops Thursday, Dec. 16, 2021, according to the HPD Activity Log.

MV
Accident-Personal Injury--800 block E 12th St, Hays; 12/15 3:36 PM 
Found/Lost Property—100 block W 19th St, Hays; 8:28 AM 
MV Accident-City Street/Alley—300 block E 11th St, Hays; 11:12 AM 
Criminal Trespass—500 block E 8th St, Hays; 7 AM 
Civil Dispute—200 block W 4th St, Hays; 1:50 PM 
Harassment (All Other)--1200 block Vine St, Hays; 2:01 PM 
Shoplifting—4300 block Vine St, Hays; 2:52 PM 
Found/Lost Property—2900 block Ash St, Hays; 12/14 6PM; 12/15 4 AM 
Criminal Damage to Property—1000 block Country Club Dr, Hays; 5:59 PM 
Violation of Restraining Order/PFA—3300 block Thunderbird Dr, Hays; 7:32 PM 
Driving Under the Influence—1000 block Country Club Dr, Hays; 8:35 PM 
Battery – Domestic—3300 block Thunderbird Dr, Hays; 10:24 PM 
Suicidal Subject—100 block W 5th St, Hays; 11:50 PM

The Hays Police Department responded to 6 animal calls and conducted 14 traffic stops Friday, Dec. 17, 2021, according to the HPD Activity Log.

Disturbance –
Noise—1700 block Felten Dr, Hays; 2:55 AM 
Burglary/vehicle—100 block E 11th St, Hays; 12/16 11 AM; 8 PM 
Found/Lost Property, Hays; 11:00:40 &nbsp;AM 
Found/Lost Property, Hays; 11:00:49 AM 
Animal At Large 3001 Tam O’Shanter Dr, Hays; 11:13 AM 
Counterfeit currency/documents—2500 block Vine St, Hays; 12/16 8 AM; 11:55 PM 
MV Accident-City Street/Alley--2200 block Henry Dr, Hays; 7:30 AM 
Civil Dispute—3800 block Vine St, Hays; 1:49 PM 
Lost Animals ONLY—3500 block Hillcrest Dr, Hays; 2:11 PM 
Theft (general)—300 block W 9th St, Hays; 12/13 8 AM; 7 PM 
MV Accident-City Street/Alley--27th and General Hays Rd, Hays; 3:12 PM; 3:43 PM 
Lost Animals ONLY—2200 block Virginia Dr, Hays; 3:26 PM 
Found/Lost Property—2500 block Gen Custer Rd, Hays; 4:22 PM 
Violation of Restraining Order/PFA—800 block Ash St, Hays; 5:41 PM; 8:05 PM 
Welfare Check—400 block Walnut St, Hays; 10:32 PM; 11:24 PM

The Hays Police Department responded to 5 animal calls and conducted 18 traffic stops Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021, according to the HPD Activity Log.

44 - Traffic
Stop--600 block Elm St, Hays; 1:47 AM 
Driving Under the Influence--200 block E 12th St, Hays; 2:11 AM; 4:32 AM 
Drug Offenses--400 block Main St, Hays; 4:46 AM 
Unattended Death—2500 block Sherman Ave, Hays; 5:53 AM 
Theft (general)—4300 block Vine St, Hays; 12/17 5:30 PM; 12/18 7:30 AM 
Abandoned Vehicle--200 block W 5th St, Hays; 1:48 PM 
Animal At Large--700 block E 6th St, Hays; 2:03 PM 
Animal At Large—3000 block Cherry Hill Dr, Hays; 2:15 PM 
Abandoned Vehicle--200 block W 7th St, Hays; 3:14 PM 
Abandoned Vehicle--300 block W 12th St, Hays; 3:57 PM 
Animal At Large—1700 block Judith Dr, Hays; 4:01 PM 
Harassment, Telephone/FAX—200 block W 5th St, Hays; 2:42 PM 
Driving Under the Influence--700 block Elm St, Hays; 8:15 PM 
Traffic/Driving Complaint—3600 block Vine St, Hays; 9:20 PM; 9:40 PM 
Burglary/residence—800 block Elm St, Hays; 11:13 PM 
Theft (general)—800 block Ash St, Hays; 12/18 11:54 PM; 12/19 12:42 PM

The Hays Police Department responded to 2 animal calls and conducted 7 traffic stops Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, according to the HPD Activity Log.

Dead Animal
Call--25th St and Felten Dr, Hays; 8:28 AM 
Abandoned Vehicle—1500 block Milner St, Hays; 8:46 AM 
Burglary/vehicle—4300 block Vine St, Hays; 12/16 5:30 PM; 8 PM 
Counterfeit currency/documents—3500 block Vine St, Hay; 12/18 7 PM; 7:05 PM 
Welfare Check—100 block W 35th St, Hays; 2:07 PM 
Suspicious Activity—500 block E 19th St, Hays; 2:16 PM; 2:45 PM 
Disturbance – General--100 block Ash St, Hays; 4:57 PM

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573140734289.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The Hays Police Department responded to 4 animal calls and conducted 18 traffic stops Thursday, Dec. 16, 2021, according to the HPD Activity Log.MV
Accident-Personal Injury--800 block E 12th St, Hays; 12/15 3:36 PM 
Found/Lost Property—100 block W 19th St, Hays; 8:28 AM 
MV Accident-City Street/Alley—300 block E 11th St, Hays; 11:12 AM 
Criminal Trespass—500 block E 8th St, Hays; 7 AM 
Civil Dispute—200 block W 4th St, Hays; 1:50 PM 
Harassment (All Other)--1200 block Vine St, Hays; 2:01 PM 
Shoplifting—4300 block Vine St, Hays; 2:52 PM 
Found/Lost Property—2900 block Ash St, Hays; 12/14 6PM; 12/15 4 AM 
Criminal Damage to Property—1000 block Country Club Dr, Hays; 5:59 PM 
Violation of Restraining Order/PFA—3300 block Thunderbird Dr, Hays; 7:32 PM 
Driving Under the Influence—1000 block Country Club Dr, Hays; 8:35 PM 
Battery – Domestic—3300 block Thunderbird Dr, Hays; 10:24 PM 
Suicidal Subject—100 block W 5th St, Hays; 11:50 PMThe Hays Police Department responded to 6 animal calls and conducted 14 traffic stops Friday, Dec. 17, 2021, according to the HPD Activity Log.Disturbance –
Noise—1700 block Felten Dr, Hays; 2:55 AM 
Burglary/vehicle—100 block E 11th St, Hays; 12/16 11 AM; 8 PM 
Found/Lost Property, Hays; 11:00:40 &nbsp;AM 
Found/Lost Property, Hays; 11:00:49 AM 
Animal At Large 3001 Tam O’Shanter Dr, Hays; 11:13 AM 
Counterfeit currency/documents—2500 block Vine St, Hays; 12/16 8 AM; 11:55 PM 
MV Accident-City Street/Alley--2200 block Henry Dr, Hays; 7:30 AM 
Civil Dispute—3800 block Vine St, Hays; 1:49 PM 
Lost Animals ONLY—3500 block Hillcrest Dr, Hays; 2:11 PM 
Theft (general)—300 block W 9th St, Hays; 12/13 8 AM; 7 PM 
MV Accident-City Street/Alley--27th and General Hays Rd, Hays; 3:12 PM; 3:43 PM 
Lost Animals ONLY—2200 block Virginia Dr, Hays; 3:26 PM 
Found/Lost Property—2500 block Gen Custer Rd, Hays; 4:22 PM 
Violation of Restraining Order/PFA—800 block Ash St, Hays; 5:41 PM; 8:05 PM 
Welfare Check—400 block Walnut St, Hays; 10:32 PM; 11:24 PMThe Hays Police Department responded to 5 animal calls and conducted 18 traffic stops Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021, according to the HPD Activity Log.44 - Traffic
Stop--600 block Elm St, Hays; 1:47 AM 
Driving Under the Influence--200 block E 12th St, Hays; 2:11 AM; 4:32 AM 
Drug Offenses--400 block Main St, Hays; 4:46 AM 
Unattended Death—2500 block Sherman Ave, Hays; 5:53 AM 
Theft (general)—4300 block Vine St, Hays; 12/17 5:30 PM; 12/18 7:30 AM 
Abandoned Vehicle--200 block W 5th St, Hays; 1:48 PM 
Animal At Large--700 block E 6th St, Hays; 2:03 PM 
Animal At Large—3000 block Cherry Hill Dr, Hays; 2:15 PM 
Abandoned Vehicle--200 block W 7th St, Hays; 3:14 PM 
Abandoned Vehicle--300 block W 12th St, Hays; 3:57 PM 
Animal At Large—1700 block Judith Dr, Hays; 4:01 PM 
Harassment, Telephone/FAX—200 block W 5th St, Hays; 2:42 PM 
Driving Under the Influence--700 block Elm St, Hays; 8:15 PM 
Traffic/Driving Complaint—3600 block Vine St, Hays; 9:20 PM; 9:40 PM 
Burglary/residence—800 block Elm St, Hays; 11:13 PM 
Theft (general)—800 block Ash St, Hays; 12/18 11:54 PM; 12/19 12:42 PMThe Hays Police Department responded to 2 animal calls and conducted 7 traffic stops Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, according to the HPD Activity Log.Dead Animal
Call--25th St and Felten Dr, Hays; 8:28 AM 
Abandoned Vehicle—1500 block Milner St, Hays; 8:46 AM 
Burglary/vehicle—4300 block Vine St, Hays; 12/16 5:30 PM; 8 PM 
Counterfeit currency/documents—3500 block Vine St, Hay; 12/18 7 PM; 7:05 PM 
Welfare Check—100 block W 35th St, Hays; 2:07 PM 
Suspicious Activity—500 block E 19th St, Hays; 2:16 PM; 2:45 PM 
Disturbance – General--100 block Ash St, Hays; 4:57 PM<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573140734289.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

Hays PD Activity Log, Dec. 16-19

Throughout the days of December 15 – 17, the Ellis County Fire Department spent approximately 1,711 working hours between 77 firefighters on scene, extinguishing the wildfires in Ellis County. 

During those days approximately 55,424 acres of grasslands burned, and unfortunately, 10 homes, 17 other structures, and a business burned down which has impacted many families and their livelihoods. 

During those days, so many people showed their support not just to those who had lost everything, but also to the firefighters of the Ellis County Fire Department. 

We have tried to create a list to thank everyone who helped in so many ways. Some have asked to not be mentioned but thank you as well as you know who you are.&nbsp;

Our deepest thank you for your support to the Ellis County Fire Department to the following:

• Emergency dispatchers who did the best they could between radio traffic and phone calls • The Russell, Rooks, Ness, Osborne, and Phillips County fire departments for mutual aid&nbsp; • Sheriff’s deputies assisting in evacuations • All the employers who let the firefighters leave work to assist in the firefighting efforts&nbsp; • American Red Cross • Dillons &nbsp; • Midwest Energy • Western Cooperative • Ellis County Public Works (water and fuel) &nbsp; • Midland Marking – water trucks • Jimmy John’s • McDonalds • All those who dropped off drinking water throughout the fires • Monti and Kylee Honas &nbsp; • FHSU • CG Oil, Inc. • Kansas Highway Patrol for traffic control, and providing updates from the air • Kansas Forestry Service for personnel and coordinating water drops from planes • Sunflower Bank in Victoria for lasagna &nbsp; • Gari Herdt for breakfast • Victoria High students and staff for sack lunches • Fork That Bakery for sandwiches and snacks • Peggy Wohler for sandwiches • Jason Kippes for water • Kori Braun for helping to organize the food deliveries • Total for water, ice, and Gatorade • The Library for food and drinks • Alejandro Robles for food and water &nbsp; • Brian Staff for the use of a tractor • Jayme Zimmerman for the use of a tractor • All the farmers bringing equipment to cut in fire lines • To everyone else we may have missed or asked not to be listed&nbsp;

Darin Myers CPM, EFO, MPA Fire Chief and County Administrator Ellis County, Kansas

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640621945297.png" alt="(Pixabay)" />
 <figcaption>(Pixabay)</figcaption>
 </figure>Throughout the days of December 15 – 17, the Ellis County Fire Department spent approximately 1,711 working hours between 77 firefighters on scene, extinguishing the wildfires in Ellis County. During those days approximately 55,424 acres of grasslands burned, and unfortunately, 10 homes, 17 other structures, and a business burned down which has impacted many families and their livelihoods. During those days, so many people showed their support not just to those who had lost everything, but also to the firefighters of the Ellis County Fire Department. We have tried to create a list to thank everyone who helped in so many ways. Some have asked to not be mentioned but thank you as well as you know who you are.&nbsp; Our deepest thank you for your support to the Ellis County Fire Department to the following:• Emergency dispatchers who did the best they could between radio traffic and phone calls • The Russell, Rooks, Ness, Osborne, and Phillips County fire departments for mutual aid&nbsp; • Sheriff’s deputies assisting in evacuations • All the employers who let the firefighters leave work to assist in the firefighting efforts&nbsp; • American Red Cross • Dillons &nbsp; • Midwest Energy • Western Cooperative • Ellis County Public Works (water and fuel) &nbsp; • Midland Marking – water trucks • Jimmy John’s • McDonalds • All those who dropped off drinking water throughout the fires • Monti and Kylee Honas &nbsp; • FHSU • CG Oil, Inc. • Kansas Highway Patrol for traffic control, and providing updates from the air • Kansas Forestry Service for personnel and coordinating water drops from planes • Sunflower Bank in Victoria for lasagna &nbsp; • Gari Herdt for breakfast • Victoria High students and staff for sack lunches • Fork That Bakery for sandwiches and snacks • Peggy Wohler for sandwiches • Jason Kippes for water • Kori Braun for helping to organize the food deliveries • Total for water, ice, and Gatorade • The Library for food and drinks • Alejandro Robles for food and water &nbsp; • Brian Staff for the use of a tractor • Jayme Zimmerman for the use of a tractor • All the farmers bringing equipment to cut in fire lines • To everyone else we may have missed or asked not to be listed&nbsp;Darin Myers CPM, EFO, MPA Fire Chief and County Administrator Ellis County, Kansas

LETTER: Ellis Co. Fire Chief thanks community for support during recent wildfires

Three days devoted to Battle of the Badges blood drive in Hays 

Grow Hays executive director Doug Williams recently shared an Ellis County economic recap during the final quarterly luncheon of the year.

And while no groundbreaking surprises were presented during the hour-long event, Williams shared with the crowd some of the challenges that came to light in 2021 and some of the opportunities that also were presented.

"To say it's been a challenging year, a couple of years, would
be an understatement," Williams said.

But he said looking forward to 2022 and beyond, Ellis County has the potential to face those challenges.

"I think we need to be thinking longer-term than maybe we have in the past as we try and deal with the world as it is
today, which is a whole lot different than the world that was yesterday," Williams said.

That thinking is exactly what Grow Hays is all about, he said.

"Every time I go back and talk about...what do we do
this year, I go back to our mission," Williams said. "And so how do we fulfill our mission and
our mission is business creation, business retention and expansion, and
business recruitment."

Over the year, events such as the Robert E. Schmidt Entrepreneurship Series, the Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge, the Think Like an Entrepreneur Class and Think Tank Group helped with those efforts.

And he said Brief Space, the co-working space operated by Grow Hays remains a powerful tool to assist in business development.

Over the year, he said usage of the facility has increased, with students from Fort Hays State University utilizing the space and podcasting tools, while more and more other area entrepreneurs, including some established business owners, are also coming to utilize the building for various purposes.

"We keep continuing
trying to create this environment, this community of entrepreneurship because
it's critically important that we grow our own," Williams said. "We can't count on necessarily
recruiting people from outside. We continue to do that, but we also have to
grow our own."

"And then we go to a
community loan program. We currently have 25 loans out to small businesses, about $600,000 in volume. We service those, and we make more loans each
year in that program," Williams said.

Next year those efforts will be expanded, he said, as events like their Pitch It series are set to return.

Another continuing focus of the organization is succession planning.

"We work consistently on succession planning," Williams said. "We believe it's
really important that we have stories like Northwestern printers, or Werth Plumbing
Heating, as opposed to Goodwin Sporting Goods or some things like that. We
wan want succession versus closure in a business."

Key to those efforts, however, is housing for workers in those businesses. He said on that front, much work remains.

"We've done a lot in the area of housing," he said. "Our Heart of America, our RHID addition, currently, we have 10 homes under construction, actually, at
various stages, some of them actually coming up out of the ground, which is
great."

He said homes in the new development are critical to meet the community's housing needs, but also so the developers can recoup building costs and begin working on more housing projects.

The homes in that project will help, but Williams said other ongoing construction, as well as future plans for multi-family housing to be built, will be vital.&nbsp;

Among the projects he noted, was the repurposing of the former St. Joesph school into apartments, and additional construction at the Ellis Estates.

Plans in the works for a retiree community near Hays Med also continue to develop.

"We're working on it," Williams said. " One
step forward, two steps back, but we're still confident that can happen
and will happen."

As development continues, Williams shared with the group efforts to establish long-term planning for Ellis County are moving ahead full-throttle.

"We have
a new committee called the Imagine Ellis County committee which is committed to
promoting growth in Ellis County," Williams said. "We've got a couple of grants to tell our
story."

He said videos on Ellis County have been developed, highlighting the benefits of living in the area.

Helping in the effort to recruit and retain businesses, Grow Hays this year also hired a new director of recruitment and retainment.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/3c8396f7-800d-405c-8251-7fdc9d72eca3">David Clingan was hired in the role earlier this month and will begin in the role on Jan. 3.</a>

"We were very fortunate, and thank you to the city of Hays and Ellis County," Williams said.&nbsp; "They both stepped up to the plate this year with some funding for our
organization to allow us to hire... And we're expecting big things."

A key component of that recruitment is having the workforce and, even setting housing shortages aside, regional population decline could dampen the ability of Hays to maintain the level of businesses currently supported.

"And as I look forward, there's one obvious, in my opinion, elephant in the room, and this may be a little beyond 2022, but if we look at the population trends
for western Kansas...northwest Kansas shrank by .62 percent," Williams said. "And
that's our trade area. So we've got a situation where we're growing just a
little bit or holding our own, (while) our trade area is shrinking. And that's not a
good combination."

Work needs to be done now to ward off regional population decline.

"If we want to grow that workforce, we really got to
start thinking about some things we have to do and what we have to be more
proactive about," Williams said.

But as more and more people are looking to leave urban areas in favor of more rural areas, he said he is hopeful the housing concerns can be addressed soon enough to capture that potential workforce.

"We have an
opportunity here that is kind of unique in the next 10 years. [There are] some statistics that talk about, there's going to be up to 20 million people
migrating from urban areas to rural areas... We need to make sure that we're in a position
to capture those urban migrators, at least a share."

Even with the challenges, Williams said he felt the year was productive for the organization as it looks ahead.

"I think we had a really good year. There's
certainly a lot of things I wish we had done faster and gotten more
done, but hopefully, that's always the case," Williams said. "So now we look forward to 2022."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640279693304.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><div><iframe title="Grow Hays hosts 2021 wrap up" allowtransparency="true" height="300" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=m7awf-116116a-pb&from=pb6admin&square=1&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=ffffff&btn-skin=3267a3&size=300" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>By JAMES BELL Hays PostGrow Hays executive director Doug Williams recently shared an Ellis County economic recap during the final quarterly luncheon of the year.And while no groundbreaking surprises were presented during the hour-long event, Williams shared with the crowd some of the challenges that came to light in 2021 and some of the opportunities that also were presented."To say it's been a challenging year, a couple of years, would
be an understatement," Williams said.But he said looking forward to 2022 and beyond, Ellis County has the potential to face those challenges."I think we need to be thinking longer-term than maybe we have in the past as we try and deal with the world as it is
today, which is a whole lot different than the world that was yesterday," Williams said.That thinking is exactly what Grow Hays is all about, he said."Every time I go back and talk about...what do we do
this year, I go back to our mission," Williams said. "And so how do we fulfill our mission and
our mission is business creation, business retention and expansion, and
business recruitment."Over the year, events such as the Robert E. Schmidt Entrepreneurship Series, the Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge, the Think Like an Entrepreneur Class and Think Tank Group helped with those efforts.And he said Brief Space, the co-working space operated by Grow Hays remains a powerful tool to assist in business development.Over the year, he said usage of the facility has increased, with students from Fort Hays State University utilizing the space and podcasting tools, while more and more other area entrepreneurs, including some established business owners, are also coming to utilize the building for various purposes."We keep continuing
trying to create this environment, this community of entrepreneurship because
it's critically important that we grow our own," Williams said. "We can't count on necessarily
recruiting people from outside. We continue to do that, but we also have to
grow our own.""And then we go to a
community loan program. We currently have 25 loans out to small businesses, about $600,000 in volume. We service those, and we make more loans each
year in that program," Williams said.Next year those efforts will be expanded, he said, as events like their Pitch It series are set to return.Another continuing focus of the organization is succession planning."We work consistently on succession planning," Williams said. "We believe it's
really important that we have stories like Northwestern printers, or Werth Plumbing
Heating, as opposed to Goodwin Sporting Goods or some things like that. We
wan want succession versus closure in a business."Key to those efforts, however, is housing for workers in those businesses. He said on that front, much work remains."We've done a lot in the area of housing," he said. "Our Heart of America, our RHID addition, currently, we have 10 homes under construction, actually, at
various stages, some of them actually coming up out of the ground, which is
great."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640279674001.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>He said homes in the new development are critical to meet the community's housing needs, but also so the developers can recoup building costs and begin working on more housing projects.The homes in that project will help, but Williams said other ongoing construction, as well as future plans for multi-family housing to be built, will be vital.&nbsp;Among the projects he noted, was the repurposing of the former St. Joesph school into apartments, and additional construction at the Ellis Estates.Plans in the works for a retiree community near Hays Med also continue to develop."We're working on it," Williams said. " One
step forward, two steps back, but we're still confident that can happen
and will happen."<h2>Looking ahead</h2>As development continues, Williams shared with the group efforts to establish long-term planning for Ellis County are moving ahead full-throttle."We have
a new committee called the Imagine Ellis County committee which is committed to
promoting growth in Ellis County," Williams said. "We've got a couple of grants to tell our
story."He said videos on Ellis County have been developed, highlighting the benefits of living in the area.Helping in the effort to recruit and retain businesses, Grow Hays this year also hired a new director of recruitment and retainment.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640279684000.jpeg" alt="David Clingan was hired by Grow Hays in December to fill the newly created role of director of recruitment and retainment." />
 <figcaption>David Clingan was hired by Grow Hays in December to fill the newly created role of director of recruitment and retainment.</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/3c8396f7-800d-405c-8251-7fdc9d72eca3">David Clingan was hired in the role earlier this month and will begin in the role on Jan. 3.</a>"We were very fortunate, and thank you to the city of Hays and Ellis County," Williams said.&nbsp; "They both stepped up to the plate this year with some funding for our
organization to allow us to hire... And we're expecting big things."A key component of that recruitment is having the workforce and, even setting housing shortages aside, regional population decline could dampen the ability of Hays to maintain the level of businesses currently supported."And as I look forward, there's one obvious, in my opinion, elephant in the room, and this may be a little beyond 2022, but if we look at the population trends
for western Kansas...northwest Kansas shrank by .62 percent," Williams said. "And
that's our trade area. So we've got a situation where we're growing just a
little bit or holding our own, (while) our trade area is shrinking. And that's not a
good combination."Work needs to be done now to ward off regional population decline."If we want to grow that workforce, we really got to
start thinking about some things we have to do and what we have to be more
proactive about," Williams said.But as more and more people are looking to leave urban areas in favor of more rural areas, he said he is hopeful the housing concerns can be addressed soon enough to capture that potential workforce."We have an
opportunity here that is kind of unique in the next 10 years. [There are] some statistics that talk about, there's going to be up to 20 million people
migrating from urban areas to rural areas... We need to make sure that we're in a position
to capture those urban migrators, at least a share."Even with the challenges, Williams said he felt the year was productive for the organization as it looks ahead."I think we had a really good year. There's
certainly a lot of things I wish we had done faster and gotten more
done, but hopefully, that's always the case," Williams said. "So now we look forward to 2022."

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