Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters serving Ellis County recently announced they are excited to bring The Taste of Hays back to the community.

"Join us on Sunday, Jan. 16, starting at 4:00 p.m. at the Fort Hays State University Memorial Union Ballroom," the announcement said.&nbsp; "Enjoy samplings of culinary creations from local restaurants and vendors at Taste of Hays."

Proceeds from the event support Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters in Ellis County.&nbsp; 

A total of 250 tickets are available for the event.

"Tickets are $100 each, which admits 2 people," the announcement said. "Your ticket also enters you into multiple prize drawings that will be given away throughout the event."

Tickets can be purchased at thier website,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.4kidsake.org/tasteofhays?fbclid=IwAR0LhpJjxokr0APOhibxFQay8BDqnGfLkKiZzR-YTIw_4Tm3jvGTSIKH5ns" target="_blank">4kidsake.org/tasteofhays</a>, or at their offices at&nbsp;1200 Main St, Suite 102.

Sponsoring restaurants and vendors include, Big Smoke BBQ,&nbsp;Bricks Rockin' BBQ,&nbsp;Cathy's Breads,&nbsp;Fuzzy's Taco Shop,&nbsp;G Herdt’s Donuts,&nbsp;Gigi's Cafe,&nbsp;Hickok's Steakhouse,&nbsp;JD's Country Style Chicken,&nbsp;Macarons &amp; More by Mitch,&nbsp;Old Chicago,&nbsp;Parties by Design,&nbsp;Professor's,&nbsp;Rose Garden Banquet Hall,&nbsp;Taco Shop,&nbsp;The Garden Grille &amp; Bar - The Hilton Garden Inn,&nbsp;The Golden Q,&nbsp;The Local Food Truck,&nbsp;The Press and Thirsty's Brew Pub &amp; Grill.

"Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters’ mission is to create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth," the organization said. "KSBBBS in Ellis County currently serves 150 Big and Little matches.&nbsp; Your support of this event, positively impacts these important match relationships and helps screen new volunteers for the children waiting for their Big Brother or Big Sister."

For more information contact Jenny Bates, Area Director of KSBBBS serving Ellis County with at 785-625-6672 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:jbates@kansasbigs.org" target="_blank">jbates@kansasbigs.org</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640179787039.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters serving Ellis County recently announced they are excited to bring The Taste of Hays back to the community."Join us on Sunday, Jan. 16, starting at 4:00 p.m. at the Fort Hays State University Memorial Union Ballroom," the announcement said.&nbsp; "Enjoy samplings of culinary creations from local restaurants and vendors at Taste of Hays."Proceeds from the event support Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters in Ellis County.&nbsp; A total of 250 tickets are available for the event."Tickets are $100 each, which admits 2 people," the announcement said. "Your ticket also enters you into multiple prize drawings that will be given away throughout the event." Tickets can be purchased at thier website,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.4kidsake.org/tasteofhays?fbclid=IwAR0LhpJjxokr0APOhibxFQay8BDqnGfLkKiZzR-YTIw_4Tm3jvGTSIKH5ns" target="_blank">4kidsake.org/tasteofhays</a>, or at their offices at&nbsp;1200 Main St, Suite 102.Sponsoring restaurants and vendors include, Big Smoke BBQ,&nbsp;Bricks Rockin' BBQ,&nbsp;Cathy's Breads,&nbsp;Fuzzy's Taco Shop,&nbsp;G Herdt’s Donuts,&nbsp;Gigi's Cafe,&nbsp;Hickok's Steakhouse,&nbsp;JD's Country Style Chicken,&nbsp;Macarons &amp; More by Mitch,&nbsp;Old Chicago,&nbsp;Parties by Design,&nbsp;Professor's,&nbsp;Rose Garden Banquet Hall,&nbsp;Taco Shop,&nbsp;The Garden Grille &amp; Bar - The Hilton Garden Inn,&nbsp;The Golden Q,&nbsp;The Local Food Truck,&nbsp;The Press and Thirsty's Brew Pub &amp; Grill."Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters’ mission is to create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth," the organization said. "KSBBBS in Ellis County currently serves 150 Big and Little matches.&nbsp; Your support of this event, positively impacts these important match relationships and helps screen new volunteers for the children waiting for their Big Brother or Big Sister."For more information contact Jenny Bates, Area Director of KSBBBS serving Ellis County with at 785-625-6672 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:jbates@kansasbigs.org" target="_blank">jbates@kansasbigs.org</a>.

The Taste of Hays set to return in Jan.

This holiday season, as Kansas receives from the national government a Christmas present of $2.6 billion dedicated to infrastructure spending, my wish for 2022 would be for elected leaders, city planners, and traffic engineers alike to spend federal highway dollars a little bit differently.

How different? Let me focus on my home of Wichita as an example.

Wichita, Kansas’s largest stand-alone city, has many urban amenities. But if you measure those amenities in terms of the city and state money spent to support them, then Kellogg Avenue, or US-54, the east-west highway which divides the city in half, is likely hundreds of millions of dollars ahead of its competitors. Municipal accounting is insanely complicated (often intentionally so), but some estimates suggest that the city of Wichita has spent well over $1 billion over the decades extending and improving Kellogg (which at one time apparently absorbed over 80% of sales tax revenue generated in the city as well).

This money hasn’t been wasted. It has made it ridiculously easy to drive in Wichita, with one recent study concluding that my city has the least traffic congestion of any large city anywhere in the USA. If driving quickly from one side of Wichita to the other—which, of course, inevitably encourages developers to expand the city’s suburban footprint even further out, with all the consequences such sprawl entails—was the goal, then this investment has been a great success.

Perhaps my city should thus declare victory, and focus its infrastructure money elsewhere? Public transit, environmentally friendly transportation alternatives, catching up on the repainting of cross walks and traffic lines on Wichita’s over 5000 miles of road? Some of that might happen! But close to a third of the infrastructure money from Washington DC is already committed to the “Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Program,” a 10-year plan for repairing and, yes, further expanding Kansas’s highways, with Kellogg itself slated to receive $166 million (the highways of Johnson and Wyandotte counties have $360 million on tap, by comparison).

I know: legislation is like sausage-making. The Biden administration’s huge (and desperately needed overall) infrastructure bill probably would never have passed if it hadn’t been loaded up with hundreds of specific commitments to different legislators and interest groups, any number of whose requests, however politically popular, might also have some socially disruptive, fiscally indefensible, or environmentally harmful results, if you dig into the policy details.

Kansas’s spread-out development pattern has always required an extensive system of roads, bridges, and highways; nothing will change that, and the fact that KDOT will finally have the means to complete many long-delayed projects is something to celebrate. Poor state financing has slowed bridge repairs and safety upgrades for too long! But still, it is not an attack on the “American way of life” to be reminded that every new mile of road built means that many more decades of maintenance costs, and that every additional lane of highway constructed means that many more drivers choosing to use of it, instead of calling for other means of transportation.

Reams of studies have shown that making it a priority for people to be able to drive everywhere, quickly, all the time, whatever its immediate economic benefits, has not been ideal for the health

of Kansas’s citizen or its cities. As those engaged in making decisions about highway projects look forward to using this mighty Christmas gift, I hope that they’ll keep that in mind.

Dr. Russell Arben Fox teaches politics in Wichita.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586443443315.jpeg" alt="Professor Russell Arben Fox directs the History &amp; Politics major and the Honors program at Friends University in Wichita, KS." />
 <figcaption>Professor Russell Arben Fox directs the History &amp; Politics major and the Honors program at Friends University in Wichita, KS.</figcaption>
 </figure>This holiday season, as Kansas receives from the national government a Christmas present of $2.6 billion dedicated to infrastructure spending, my wish for 2022 would be for elected leaders, city planners, and traffic engineers alike to spend federal highway dollars a little bit differently.How different? Let me focus on my home of Wichita as an example.Wichita, Kansas’s largest stand-alone city, has many urban amenities. But if you measure those amenities in terms of the city and state money spent to support them, then Kellogg Avenue, or US-54, the east-west highway which divides the city in half, is likely hundreds of millions of dollars ahead of its competitors. Municipal accounting is insanely complicated (often intentionally so), but some estimates suggest that the city of Wichita has spent well over $1 billion over the decades extending and improving Kellogg (which at one time apparently absorbed over 80% of sales tax revenue generated in the city as well).<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582312931775.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>This money hasn’t been wasted. It has made it ridiculously easy to drive in Wichita, with one recent study concluding that my city has the least traffic congestion of any large city anywhere in the USA. If driving quickly from one side of Wichita to the other—which, of course, inevitably encourages developers to expand the city’s suburban footprint even further out, with all the consequences such sprawl entails—was the goal, then this investment has been a great success.Perhaps my city should thus declare victory, and focus its infrastructure money elsewhere? Public transit, environmentally friendly transportation alternatives, catching up on the repainting of cross walks and traffic lines on Wichita’s over 5000 miles of road? Some of that might happen! But close to a third of the infrastructure money from Washington DC is already committed to the “Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Program,” a 10-year plan for repairing and, yes, further expanding Kansas’s highways, with Kellogg itself slated to receive $166 million (the highways of Johnson and Wyandotte counties have $360 million on tap, by comparison).I know: legislation is like sausage-making. The Biden administration’s huge (and desperately needed overall) infrastructure bill probably would never have passed if it hadn’t been loaded up with hundreds of specific commitments to different legislators and interest groups, any number of whose requests, however politically popular, might also have some socially disruptive, fiscally indefensible, or environmentally harmful results, if you dig into the policy details.Kansas’s spread-out development pattern has always required an extensive system of roads, bridges, and highways; nothing will change that, and the fact that KDOT will finally have the means to complete many long-delayed projects is something to celebrate. Poor state financing has slowed bridge repairs and safety upgrades for too long! But still, it is not an attack on the “American way of life” to be reminded that every new mile of road built means that many more decades of maintenance costs, and that every additional lane of highway constructed means that many more drivers choosing to use of it, instead of calling for other means of transportation.Reams of studies have shown that making it a priority for people to be able to drive everywhere, quickly, all the time, whatever its immediate economic benefits, has not been ideal for the healthof Kansas’s citizen or its cities. As those engaged in making decisions about highway projects look forward to using this mighty Christmas gift, I hope that they’ll keep that in mind.Dr. Russell Arben Fox teaches politics in Wichita.

Insight Kansas: This Christmas, Maybe We Could Do Highways a Little Differently

<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/2021/12/1640276564095.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

On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with Kansas 110th District Representative Ken Rahjes about what is and is not happening with wildfire relief efforts.

<div><iframe title="Forward Ever: Rep. Rahjes on wildfire relief efforts" 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=utv8j-1162365-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>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with Kansas 110th District Representative Ken Rahjes about what is and is not happening with wildfire relief efforts.

🎤Forward Ever: Rep. Rahjes on wildfire relief efforts

During the end-of-the-year holiday season, charitable giving
is top of mind for many. While the spirit of the holidays may drive donations, individuals can benefit, as well.

“It's something like 30 percent of charitable giving happens
in December,” said Heartland Community Foundation executive director Sarah
Meitner. “The biggest three days are the last three days of the year.”

That last minute drive she said can have a tremendous impact
on organizations throughout the year.

“On the organization side, organizations, up to 50 percent of
them, this is where they get the bulk of their revenue during the year. This is
the money that they use all year long,” Meitner said.

One of the largest charitable organizations in Ellis County
is the United Way of Ellis County. Executive director Erica Burgess said this
year 16 area nonprofits benefited from donations to the organization.

“They're wonderful agencies,” Burgess said. “They help
everybody from the community that you can think of from birth to seniors, any
demographic income level, and [it's] just amazing of how many people they help
and the need that's out there.”

The agency will close out its current fundraising campaign
in January.

“So, there's still some time to give,” Burgess said. “There's
a lot of different ways you can give you can go online, <a href="https://www.liveunited.us/">liveunited.us</a>…and you
can make a one-time gift, a monthly gift or we have our roundup option.”

She said even small donations can make a difference.

“I saw that happen with the ARK Park,” Meitner said. “We
celebrated the $10, $15 and $20 donations just as much as we did the $5,000 or $10,000,
because it meant it was important to that person. We touched that person
enough to inspire them to give a gift, and that's the biggest win of all.”

She said donations can also be a way to bring families
together.

“This is the time of year to really reflect on what your
gift-giving looks like in your family,” Meitner said. “If you have kids, set a
good example for them, include them in the process. … Be intentional with your
gift-giving, and that means setting aside time to discuss it with your partner or
your family.”

“Make decisions together. Make it fun. There are fun things
you can do,” she said “And give a gift this holiday time to the nonprofit
organizations that mean the most to you.”

&nbsp;With charitable giving,
there is a benefit to the community, but they also can be used to lower tax
liabilities.

“This time of year, there are some tax benefits,” Meitner
said. “The Cares Act was extended. So even if you are a person who does not
itemize in your taxes, you can deduct $300 from your income per person, or $600
per adult. So, you can give that much, up to $600 if you're a married person,
and then deduct [it] from your taxes.”

Benefits can be even greater for those that itemize taxes.

“You can deduct cash donations, up to 100 percent of your
adjusted gross income,” Meitner said. “For a C Corp for business, you can
deduct cash donations, up to 25 percent of that taxable income. So, there's a
real benefit, whether you itemize or not.”

Those donations can be in a variety of forms as well, from
cash to cryptocyrrency, real estate and material goods.

The foundation, she said is happy to discuss those options. 

The United Way also has an online tool available to assist
giving decisions.

“It’s a great resource. We have a separate website for it,”
Burgess said. “It's <a href="http://elliscountykshelp.com/">Elliscountykshelp.com</a>. So you can go to that and we have
them kind of broken down in different categories. So, if you didn't kind of
know what type of resource you need, you can go to that.”

For more information visit the <a href="https://heartlandcommunityfoundation.org/">Heartland Community
Foundation</a> or the <a href="https://www.liveunited.us/">United Way of Ellis County websites</a>.

<div><iframe title="The end of the year can be a perfect time for charitable giving" 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=64ujh-116032d-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 PostDuring the end-of-the-year holiday season, charitable giving
is top of mind for many. While the spirit of the holidays may drive donations, individuals can benefit, as well.“It's something like 30 percent of charitable giving happens
in December,” said Heartland Community Foundation executive director Sarah
Meitner. “The biggest three days are the last three days of the year.”That last minute drive she said can have a tremendous impact
on organizations throughout the year.“On the organization side, organizations, up to 50 percent of
them, this is where they get the bulk of their revenue during the year. This is
the money that they use all year long,” Meitner said.One of the largest charitable organizations in Ellis County
is the United Way of Ellis County. Executive director Erica Burgess said this
year 16 area nonprofits benefited from donations to the organization.“They're wonderful agencies,” Burgess said. “They help
everybody from the community that you can think of from birth to seniors, any
demographic income level, and [it's] just amazing of how many people they help
and the need that's out there.”The agency will close out its current fundraising campaign
in January.“So, there's still some time to give,” Burgess said. “There's
a lot of different ways you can give you can go online, <a href="https://www.liveunited.us/">liveunited.us</a>…and you
can make a one-time gift, a monthly gift or we have our roundup option.”She said even small donations can make a difference.“I saw that happen with the ARK Park,” Meitner said. “We
celebrated the $10, $15 and $20 donations just as much as we did the $5,000 or $10,000,
because it meant it was important to that person. We touched that person
enough to inspire them to give a gift, and that's the biggest win of all.”She said donations can also be a way to bring families
together.“This is the time of year to really reflect on what your
gift-giving looks like in your family,” Meitner said. “If you have kids, set a
good example for them, include them in the process. … Be intentional with your
gift-giving, and that means setting aside time to discuss it with your partner or
your family.”“Make decisions together. Make it fun. There are fun things
you can do,” she said “And give a gift this holiday time to the nonprofit
organizations that mean the most to you.”&nbsp;With charitable giving,
there is a benefit to the community, but they also can be used to lower tax
liabilities.“This time of year, there are some tax benefits,” Meitner
said. “The Cares Act was extended. So even if you are a person who does not
itemize in your taxes, you can deduct $300 from your income per person, or $600
per adult. So, you can give that much, up to $600 if you're a married person,
and then deduct [it] from your taxes.”Benefits can be even greater for those that itemize taxes.“You can deduct cash donations, up to 100 percent of your
adjusted gross income,” Meitner said. “For a C Corp for business, you can
deduct cash donations, up to 25 percent of that taxable income. So, there's a
real benefit, whether you itemize or not.”Those donations can be in a variety of forms as well, from
cash to cryptocyrrency, real estate and material goods.The foundation, she said is happy to discuss those options. The United Way also has an online tool available to assist
giving decisions.“It’s a great resource. We have a separate website for it,”
Burgess said. “It's <a href="http://elliscountykshelp.com/">Elliscountykshelp.com</a>. So you can go to that and we have
them kind of broken down in different categories. So, if you didn't kind of
know what type of resource you need, you can go to that.”For more information visit the <a href="https://heartlandcommunityfoundation.org/">Heartland Community
Foundation</a> or the <a href="https://www.liveunited.us/">United Way of Ellis County websites</a>.Cover photo courtesy Pixabay.

🎙End of year can be perfect time for charitable giving

On this episode of the Post Podcast Fort Hays State University's Glen McNeil stops by to talk about holiday eating habits.&nbsp;

In the McNeil house. Usually prime rib and then either ham,
or sometimes a turkey that goes along with it. My wife likes really likes
Turkey. But usually and that started with my mother years ago. I mean, I
remember growing up that was Christmas dinner and so we've kind of my family
side of the family has kind of stayed with that. So we generally have prime rib
and either mashed potatoes, real mashed potatoes, not dried mashed potatoes,
which are real mashed potatoes, but you know, yeah, it's not the same or twice
baked. I love that really preferred twice-baked that takes a little more time
and these days times important because family comes home our Christmas is gonna
be this weekend. So our kids get to spend actual Christmas with all their
in-laws. Last year we got him to share you know, it's kind of one of those
trade-off things. They were all here for Thanksgiving. So you know we did that.
So we have usually a primary oven then ham. Like I said mashed potatoes or
twice-baked potatoes, or my wife makes this really list cheesy casserole, which
I kind of liked that more so than anything else. But you know, you always have
to remember that. I am the lessor in this when it comes to deciding what we
have because the grandkids tell Grandma What they like now. And that's the main
one there. We usually have like a seven-layer salad that Terry has made for
years and it's lettuce and peas and salad dressing, Manny's based salad
dressing and cheese and it's very good from that process. And of course, green
bean casserole. You can't have a holiday without green bean casserole.

See, I'd fight you on that one. I can't stand this stuff. I
can't I can't do it. It's one of those things. I can't even look at it. It
makes me kind of cool.

Yeah, my favorite soup is mushroom soup. So has those in
there. The green beans are okay, too. But we generate that and then we do
freshly baked rolls. We've always done a fresh-baked bread that goes along with
it. And then it kind of depends on you know what, what Terry's thinking about
what she may want to do. A lot of times it's fresh broccoli seems to go well
and my family likes fresh broccoli sometimes and broccoli cauliflower, carrot
mix. You know, we we do that. The kids all get grape juice it also I'll get a
glass of wine. Of course, you know how that part goes. And then leading up to
that, of course, you know that you're doing all that preparation leading up to
that we do like many families do is, is we sort of have our hors d'oeuvres, we
don't really lunch, we middle the day, middle of the afternoon Christmas Day,
so about 10 o'clock in the morning outcomes the what I was thinking about this
morning, which is the summer sausage that sliced the cheddar cheese, the
pepper, jack cheese, couple different varieties of cheese, crackers, you know
all of those good things. And then of course, you feel guilty. So you also have
you know, he also we also have some vegetable plates out and we make a taco
dip, we kind of do all of the things around Christmas, based upon and
Thanksgiving is pretty much the same way and so's Easter the foods that the
family likes the kids like and the foods that my grandkids like It's like most
people holiday season tends to congregate around the kitchen. You know and you
and you visit while you're fixing meals and doing those types of things. So we
try to be reasonable in what we do. And like we've talked about in here a lot
moderation. Try to include some of those favorite holiday things that are a
little bit high in saturated fat and cholesterol, balanced those out with some
of those healthy alternatives. And then throughout the day, I try to work a
little bit of all of that into my daily intake. But I think it's important that
the holidays that we focus on the foods that bring us together and keep us
together and the memories that are around that particular food. My mother's
recipes, Terry's mom's recipes, recipes, Terry and I've built together for
different things and so it just makes a friendly environment to build the food
around. That's the holidays, I think. And we'll slip a little bit in there and
we'll use that word moderation. You know, some of the secrets about holiday
eating, and I'm sure like most people holiday eating has started for me last
week, you know, you go somewhere, and there's snacks out and beverages out. And
so it's Christmas. Yeah, and all the parties and all the events and those
things and, and so you have to practice that, those little keys that we talked
about that when you go somewhere, you know, you, you want to show your
appreciation for Westerners. So you want to sample the things that are made. So
you start with a small plate, okay, you know, if you had a choice of sizes, you
know, different planets, pick the smallest one, and then fill the smallest one,
one layer and take your time, support it with a beverage, you know,
non-alcoholic beverage is good, you know from that. But if you do that with a
small plate, there's less of a tendency to eat large amounts. Because you feel
psychologicaly you feel more satisfied as whatever you put on your plate, that
you've consumed them, and that plates empty, it's empty. And if you take a
large plate, or if you graze, so to say, without a plate, you tend to consume
more. And so that plate can help you in that process. Yeah, and what

You mean there is your you actually want to put the food on,
not just stand there and kind of Munch because then you don't really, your
brain doesn't know how much you had.

Right? If you've, we've talked about this before, and I'm a
watcher, right? I likey nobody will do that. But I also like to watch other
people, you know, whether it's in the grocery store, or you go somewhere and,
and there's an event and people are eating, you're snacking. And what you
really notice is the people that don't use, in essence, a little bit of a
crutch, like a plate, or something to put their food on, they eat considerably
more, and they continue to eat constantly. It's not like they take a plate and
they move away, but they stand there and it's a little bit of this, a little
bit of that, and then they're back to this or back to that they're always in
action around the food. So you can help yourself with your holiday eating by
fixing a plate and then moving away from where the main component of the food
is, you can always go back. But a lot of times that moving away helps you feel
a little more satisfied, and you're less likely to eat lots of food, so a large
amount of food. So you can go back and eat a greater variety throughout the day
when you do those types of things. And, you know, we talk about this time of
year that we have a responsibility as hosts to offer healthy choices. So

You don't feel that responsibility to my house. You're just
gonna whatever junk I've got,

All right, some of us some of the responsibility. So we
generally make sure that we have a great variety of fresh fruits and vegetables
and, and, you know, different varieties of crackers or chips to offer. And you
know, like I said before, yeah, summer sausage is great, the cheeses are great,
the dips are great. You know, if we have one dip that may be somewhat fatty and
rich, we have another one that maybe a salsa bass dip or something like that.
So there are always those alternatives that you can offer. I doubt if anybody
else, or very few people really ever think of that. When they come to our
house, they think oh, yeah, just lots of food. In that process, so I think the
holidays in relationship to food are, are very important, and especially what
it brings to us in terms of memory and family and friendship.

Yeah, and I think too, and maybe you want to speak a little
bit to this for for folks that are so health-conscious, and I know some of
these folks in my world, you know, they need a rogue cookie without counting it
and tracking it and how much do I have to run to burn that off? It's okay
during the holidays to maybe not be so conscious, cuz you can always pick it
back up in a couple of weeks, you know, New Year new resolutions and, and burn
all that off and get back in that prime shape. You know, without experience,
throw caution to the wind.

Okay, it's it's the time to notice the wind a little bit
more so to say which, you know, we had plenty of that yesterday. That was a
terrible. But the fact is, yeah, if you're very, very health conscious about
what you do, this is not the time to be doing that. Yes, remain
health-conscious. Okay, and maybe you do a little bit of the calculations in
your head or something, but it's not something to bring up in a group. And it's
not a reason not to eat things. You can also do it a lot of times as what we
refer to as sample, you can take a small plate, you can put small amounts of
things on them. And because typically you don't have to eat the whole cookie.
Right? Now you want to be careful in doing that, that you don't take a plate of
food and take tiny little bites of everything and throw it all the way in front
of your host. That's not a good process, you know, but the fact is that you can
take smaller portions you don't have to eat everything you take, you can
sample. And this is a time to relax a little bit. And I think what you're
saying is relax a little bit and enjoy it. Don't worry so much about, you know,
it's got 132 calories versus 108, it's got six grams of added sugar versus
three grams of added sugar and all those, this is not really the time to do
that. And you're only doing it for a very short period of time. Okay, and
you're not going to come back after two weeks of Christmas, and deny yourself
all this and exercise extensively hard to burn off everything you consumed. You
want to come back after that period of time, continue your exercise the way it
was, right, and maybe you for a very short period of time, you watch what you
eat very closely to balance yourself back, most people are going to gain one or
two pounds over the holidays, it's not going to take very long to get rid of
those one or two pounds, once those extra holiday foods are not there anymore.
So enjoy the season, enjoy what's put in front of you. Even though you know
when you come back at the first of the year or after the first of the year,
you're going to really focus on your life plan again. But it's a time to enjoy
what's out there. And we should we really need you to know from a health aspect
from a food and nutrition aspect with the stresses that have been around in the
last year and a half. This should be a time to really sit back and relax and
enjoy the types of things that we have always enjoyed. And to me foods at the
top of that. You know that it brings in so many memories and so many aspects of
comfort. It's really important to take some time to do that.

<div><iframe title="Holiday eating a staple of annual traditions" allowtransparency="true" height="600" 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=bru5a-1160348-pb&from=pb6admin&square=1&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=ffffff&btn-skin=3267a3&size=600" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>On this episode of the Post Podcast Fort Hays State University's Glen McNeil stops by to talk about holiday eating habits.&nbsp;<h2>Transcript</h2>Glen McNeil&nbsp;In the McNeil house. Usually prime rib and then either ham,
or sometimes a turkey that goes along with it. My wife likes really likes
Turkey. But usually and that started with my mother years ago. I mean, I
remember growing up that was Christmas dinner and so we've kind of my family
side of the family has kind of stayed with that. So we generally have prime rib
and either mashed potatoes, real mashed potatoes, not dried mashed potatoes,
which are real mashed potatoes, but you know, yeah, it's not the same or twice
baked. I love that really preferred twice-baked that takes a little more time
and these days times important because family comes home our Christmas is gonna
be this weekend. So our kids get to spend actual Christmas with all their
in-laws. Last year we got him to share you know, it's kind of one of those
trade-off things. They were all here for Thanksgiving. So you know we did that.
So we have usually a primary oven then ham. Like I said mashed potatoes or
twice-baked potatoes, or my wife makes this really list cheesy casserole, which
I kind of liked that more so than anything else. But you know, you always have
to remember that. I am the lessor in this when it comes to deciding what we
have because the grandkids tell Grandma What they like now. And that's the main
one there. We usually have like a seven-layer salad that Terry has made for
years and it's lettuce and peas and salad dressing, Manny's based salad
dressing and cheese and it's very good from that process. And of course, green
bean casserole. You can't have a holiday without green bean casserole.James Bell&nbsp;See, I'd fight you on that one. I can't stand this stuff. I
can't I can't do it. It's one of those things. I can't even look at it. It
makes me kind of cool.Glen McNeil&nbsp;See, I love mushrooms.James Bell&nbsp;And that's the trick, I think.Glen McNeil&nbsp;Yeah, my favorite soup is mushroom soup. So has those in
there. The green beans are okay, too. But we generate that and then we do
freshly baked rolls. We've always done a fresh-baked bread that goes along with
it. And then it kind of depends on you know what, what Terry's thinking about
what she may want to do. A lot of times it's fresh broccoli seems to go well
and my family likes fresh broccoli sometimes and broccoli cauliflower, carrot
mix. You know, we we do that. The kids all get grape juice it also I'll get a
glass of wine. Of course, you know how that part goes. And then leading up to
that, of course, you know that you're doing all that preparation leading up to
that we do like many families do is, is we sort of have our hors d'oeuvres, we
don't really lunch, we middle the day, middle of the afternoon Christmas Day,
so about 10 o'clock in the morning outcomes the what I was thinking about this
morning, which is the summer sausage that sliced the cheddar cheese, the
pepper, jack cheese, couple different varieties of cheese, crackers, you know
all of those good things. And then of course, you feel guilty. So you also have
you know, he also we also have some vegetable plates out and we make a taco
dip, we kind of do all of the things around Christmas, based upon and
Thanksgiving is pretty much the same way and so's Easter the foods that the
family likes the kids like and the foods that my grandkids like It's like most
people holiday season tends to congregate around the kitchen. You know and you
and you visit while you're fixing meals and doing those types of things. So we
try to be reasonable in what we do. And like we've talked about in here a lot
moderation. Try to include some of those favorite holiday things that are a
little bit high in saturated fat and cholesterol, balanced those out with some
of those healthy alternatives. And then throughout the day, I try to work a
little bit of all of that into my daily intake. But I think it's important that
the holidays that we focus on the foods that bring us together and keep us
together and the memories that are around that particular food. My mother's
recipes, Terry's mom's recipes, recipes, Terry and I've built together for
different things and so it just makes a friendly environment to build the food
around. That's the holidays, I think. And we'll slip a little bit in there and
we'll use that word moderation. You know, some of the secrets about holiday
eating, and I'm sure like most people holiday eating has started for me last
week, you know, you go somewhere, and there's snacks out and beverages out. And
so it's Christmas. Yeah, and all the parties and all the events and those
things and, and so you have to practice that, those little keys that we talked
about that when you go somewhere, you know, you, you want to show your
appreciation for Westerners. So you want to sample the things that are made. So
you start with a small plate, okay, you know, if you had a choice of sizes, you
know, different planets, pick the smallest one, and then fill the smallest one,
one layer and take your time, support it with a beverage, you know,
non-alcoholic beverage is good, you know from that. But if you do that with a
small plate, there's less of a tendency to eat large amounts. Because you feel
psychologicaly you feel more satisfied as whatever you put on your plate, that
you've consumed them, and that plates empty, it's empty. And if you take a
large plate, or if you graze, so to say, without a plate, you tend to consume
more. And so that plate can help you in that process. Yeah, and whatJames Bell&nbsp;You mean there is your you actually want to put the food on,
not just stand there and kind of Munch because then you don't really, your
brain doesn't know how much you had.Glen McNeil&nbsp;Right? If you've, we've talked about this before, and I'm a
watcher, right? I likey nobody will do that. But I also like to watch other
people, you know, whether it's in the grocery store, or you go somewhere and,
and there's an event and people are eating, you're snacking. And what you
really notice is the people that don't use, in essence, a little bit of a
crutch, like a plate, or something to put their food on, they eat considerably
more, and they continue to eat constantly. It's not like they take a plate and
they move away, but they stand there and it's a little bit of this, a little
bit of that, and then they're back to this or back to that they're always in
action around the food. So you can help yourself with your holiday eating by
fixing a plate and then moving away from where the main component of the food
is, you can always go back. But a lot of times that moving away helps you feel
a little more satisfied, and you're less likely to eat lots of food, so a large
amount of food. So you can go back and eat a greater variety throughout the day
when you do those types of things. And, you know, we talk about this time of
year that we have a responsibility as hosts to offer healthy choices. SoJames Bell&nbsp;You don't feel that responsibility to my house. You're just
gonna whatever junk I've got,Glen McNeil&nbsp;All right, some of us some of the responsibility. So we
generally make sure that we have a great variety of fresh fruits and vegetables
and, and, you know, different varieties of crackers or chips to offer. And you
know, like I said before, yeah, summer sausage is great, the cheeses are great,
the dips are great. You know, if we have one dip that may be somewhat fatty and
rich, we have another one that maybe a salsa bass dip or something like that.
So there are always those alternatives that you can offer. I doubt if anybody
else, or very few people really ever think of that. When they come to our
house, they think oh, yeah, just lots of food. In that process, so I think the
holidays in relationship to food are, are very important, and especially what
it brings to us in terms of memory and family and friendship.James Bell&nbsp;Yeah, and I think too, and maybe you want to speak a little
bit to this for for folks that are so health-conscious, and I know some of
these folks in my world, you know, they need a rogue cookie without counting it
and tracking it and how much do I have to run to burn that off? It's okay
during the holidays to maybe not be so conscious, cuz you can always pick it
back up in a couple of weeks, you know, New Year new resolutions and, and burn
all that off and get back in that prime shape. You know, without experience,
throw caution to the wind.Glen McNeil&nbsp;Okay, it's it's the time to notice the wind a little bit
more so to say which, you know, we had plenty of that yesterday. That was a
terrible. But the fact is, yeah, if you're very, very health conscious about
what you do, this is not the time to be doing that. Yes, remain
health-conscious. Okay, and maybe you do a little bit of the calculations in
your head or something, but it's not something to bring up in a group. And it's
not a reason not to eat things. You can also do it a lot of times as what we
refer to as sample, you can take a small plate, you can put small amounts of
things on them. And because typically you don't have to eat the whole cookie.
Right? Now you want to be careful in doing that, that you don't take a plate of
food and take tiny little bites of everything and throw it all the way in front
of your host. That's not a good process, you know, but the fact is that you can
take smaller portions you don't have to eat everything you take, you can
sample. And this is a time to relax a little bit. And I think what you're
saying is relax a little bit and enjoy it. Don't worry so much about, you know,
it's got 132 calories versus 108, it's got six grams of added sugar versus
three grams of added sugar and all those, this is not really the time to do
that. And you're only doing it for a very short period of time. Okay, and
you're not going to come back after two weeks of Christmas, and deny yourself
all this and exercise extensively hard to burn off everything you consumed. You
want to come back after that period of time, continue your exercise the way it
was, right, and maybe you for a very short period of time, you watch what you
eat very closely to balance yourself back, most people are going to gain one or
two pounds over the holidays, it's not going to take very long to get rid of
those one or two pounds, once those extra holiday foods are not there anymore.
So enjoy the season, enjoy what's put in front of you. Even though you know
when you come back at the first of the year or after the first of the year,
you're going to really focus on your life plan again. But it's a time to enjoy
what's out there. And we should we really need you to know from a health aspect
from a food and nutrition aspect with the stresses that have been around in the
last year and a half. This should be a time to really sit back and relax and
enjoy the types of things that we have always enjoyed. And to me foods at the
top of that. You know that it brings in so many memories and so many aspects of
comfort. It's really important to take some time to do that.

🎙Post Podcast: Holiday eating a staple of annual traditions

Glenn Brunkow, Pottawatomie County farmer and rancher Recently we all came together as Kansas Farm Bureau members at the 103rd&nbsp;annual meeting. This annual meeting was especially memorable because we could not be together in person last year. There is something special when farmers and ranchers from all parts of Kansas come together, and our time apart made it even better. Many old friendships were renewed, and new acquaintances were forged during the meeting. One of my favorite things is to watch the conversations in the hallway between sessions. Watching the handshakes, pats on the backs and warm greetings, in many cases with people you see once or twice a year. It was good to be among friends once again. The general session and workshops were incredible, but they were not the main event. The featured event came Monday morning when delegates from all across the state met to discuss and formulate the policy for Kansas’&nbsp;largest farm organization. Every proposal discussed came from the grassroots. That is what makes our organization so strong. Every member, no matter the type, size or location of their farm and ranch, can bring ideas forward, and that is why I am a proud member of Kansas Farm Bureau. Those policy proposals then go through our resolutions process before they become policy of Kansas Farm Bureau. The last step in that process is the approval by the majority of the voting delegates from each county in the state. Our policy book is the guidepost for advocacy efforts in both Topeka and Washington, D.C., and it is the direct result of involvement at the county level. Each year I come away from this process with a great deal of satisfaction. Maybe not the satisfaction of always being on the winning side but the satisfaction of knowing that the policy in the book reflects work of members surfacing, debating and refining the issues and the subsequent policy before giving their ultimate approval to the language in the policy book. I am proud of the way we can debate difficult topics and yet come together after the votes are counted. I do not know if you have noticed but that is not always the case in our society. I genuinely believe our ability to debate topics we believe in and are passionate about and still be able to be unified is because of those relationships and friendships that are forged in the hallways and meeting rooms. My fervent hope is this next year brings more normalcy, and we can carry on more meetings in person because I believe the relationships formed by those meetings are our strength. We are an ever-shrinking band of brothers and sisters, and our power is in our grassroots bonds. Just like the roots of our native prairie, we are anchored by the very network of grassroots. Those intertwined roots give us strength when storms approach and gale winds blow. Just like the prairie, if we maintain those roots, we will be around for a long, long time.

"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;

Glenn Brunkow, Pottawatomie County farmer and rancher Recently we all came together as Kansas Farm Bureau members at the 103rd&nbsp;annual meeting. This annual meeting was especially memorable because we could not be together in person last year. There is something special when farmers and ranchers from all parts of Kansas come together, and our time apart made it even better. Many old friendships were renewed, and new acquaintances were forged during the meeting. One of my favorite things is to watch the conversations in the hallway between sessions. Watching the handshakes, pats on the backs and warm greetings, in many cases with people you see once or twice a year. It was good to be among friends once again. The general session and workshops were incredible, but they were not the main event. The featured event came Monday morning when delegates from all across the state met to discuss and formulate the policy for Kansas’&nbsp;largest farm organization. Every proposal discussed came from the grassroots. That is what makes our organization so strong. Every member, no matter the type, size or location of their farm and ranch, can bring ideas forward, and that is why I am a proud member of Kansas Farm Bureau. Those policy proposals then go through our resolutions process before they become policy of Kansas Farm Bureau. The last step in that process is the approval by the majority of the voting delegates from each county in the state. Our policy book is the guidepost for advocacy efforts in both Topeka and Washington, D.C., and it is the direct result of involvement at the county level. Each year I come away from this process with a great deal of satisfaction. Maybe not the satisfaction of always being on the winning side but the satisfaction of knowing that the policy in the book reflects work of members surfacing, debating and refining the issues and the subsequent policy before giving their ultimate approval to the language in the policy book. I am proud of the way we can debate difficult topics and yet come together after the votes are counted. I do not know if you have noticed but that is not always the case in our society. I genuinely believe our ability to debate topics we believe in and are passionate about and still be able to be unified is because of those relationships and friendships that are forged in the hallways and meeting rooms. My fervent hope is this next year brings more normalcy, and we can carry on more meetings in person because I believe the relationships formed by those meetings are our strength. We are an ever-shrinking band of brothers and sisters, and our power is in our grassroots bonds. Just like the roots of our native prairie, we are anchored by the very network of grassroots. Those intertwined roots give us strength when storms approach and gale winds blow. Just like the prairie, if we maintain those roots, we will be around for a long, long time."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;

Farm Bureau Insight: Among friends again

Earlier this month Midwest Living magazine, a publication that highlights life in the region, paid a visit to Cathy's Breads, highlighting the business along with recipes and tips to baking bread.

<a href="https://www.midwestliving.com/travel/kansas/cathys-breads-kansas-home-bakery/?fbclid=IwAR2LzyyBXxk6RIavi3HWNmwV0SdFccT9TgDNXKmn1FGIQ4Pcy9CLnC0-OlQ">The article is available online and can be seen by clicking here.</a>

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/5e1bb6763d37b805407a37a0">For the Hays Post story featuring Cathy's Breads click here.</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1578694426458.jpeg" alt="Photo by Cristina Janney." />
 <figcaption>Photo by Cristina Janney.</figcaption>
 </figure>Earlier this month Midwest Living magazine, a publication that highlights life in the region, paid a visit to Cathy's Breads, highlighting the business along with recipes and tips to baking bread.<a href="https://www.midwestliving.com/travel/kansas/cathys-breads-kansas-home-bakery/?fbclid=IwAR2LzyyBXxk6RIavi3HWNmwV0SdFccT9TgDNXKmn1FGIQ4Pcy9CLnC0-OlQ">The article is available online and can be seen by clicking here.</a><a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/5e1bb6763d37b805407a37a0">For the Hays Post story featuring Cathy's Breads click here.</a>

Midwest Living highlights Hays baker

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640276443990.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>

Twas the night before Christmas and except for that mouse Not a creature was stirring cause’ we were locked in the house.

The villain called COVID had come here to reign It’s imprisoned our senses and numbed all our brains.

But deer season was here and my freezer was bare So, I snuck out the back so no one was aware.

It was just before dark as I climbed into my seat Overlooking a woodlot and a field of new wheat.

Then out in the wheatfield there arose such a clatter I sprang from my seat and I fell down the ladder.

I guess I clobbered my head when I fell to the ground Cause what looked like reindeer were roaming around.

“Merry Christmas to me” I though in my mind Reindeer meat in my freezer will suit me just fine.

But as the fog in my head cleared, I thought “What’s the chances” A field full of reindeer in the middle of Kansas?

I shouldered my rifle but the target I chose Appeared to have bells on and strange looking nose.

It looked funny and shiny and about to explode In fact, if you’d seen it, you might even say it glowed.

Then out from behind them stepped a man dressed in red And he fell to his knees in what looked like a sled.

He was visibly shaken and a tear wet his cheek As he turned around towards me and he started to speak.

“This once was my favorite night of the year I looked forward to spreading good will and good cheer.

But now all seems muddled, nothing is clear And the world has gone crazy and seems helpless with fear.

The naughty and nice list is just an offender Cause’ some kids today even question their gender.

Aunt Jemima got canceled and Dr Suess had to flee Some schools can’t call kids a “he” or a “she.”

And reindeer gas causes more grief Than the homeless among us that live on the street.

We’ve had to invent a new name for the elves Now I must call them “small workers with bells.”

Wood for the workshop and new paint for the sleigh Are all on some big ship out in some bay.

And costs have gone up and continue to soar To the point we can hardly make toys anymore.

He suddenly grew quiet and looked toward the sky Then with pain in his voice he said with a sigh

But the saddest illusion that some people utter Is that Christmas can’t happen because of this clutter.

Now you know I am Santa he said with a sniffle But Christmas is Jesus, that plain and that simple.

He climbed into his sleigh and to his team gave a whistle And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.

And I heard him exclaim as they flew out of sight “Keep Christ in Christmas and to all a good night.”

So, in the absence of reindeer meat in my dish Guess I’ll just have a salad and a nice piece of fish.

Steve Gilliland, Inman, can be contacted by email at stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574696211722.png" alt="Steve&nbsp;Gilliland" />
 <figcaption>Steve&nbsp;Gilliland</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575913663048.png" alt="opinion" />
 <figcaption>opinion</figcaption>
 </figure>Twas the night before Christmas and except for that mouse Not a creature was stirring cause’ we were locked in the house.The villain called COVID had come here to reign It’s imprisoned our senses and numbed all our brains.But deer season was here and my freezer was bare So, I snuck out the back so no one was aware.It was just before dark as I climbed into my seat Overlooking a woodlot and a field of new wheat.Then out in the wheatfield there arose such a clatter I sprang from my seat and I fell down the ladder.I guess I clobbered my head when I fell to the ground Cause what looked like reindeer were roaming around.“Merry Christmas to me” I though in my mind Reindeer meat in my freezer will suit me just fine.But as the fog in my head cleared, I thought “What’s the chances” A field full of reindeer in the middle of Kansas?I shouldered my rifle but the target I chose Appeared to have bells on and strange looking nose.It looked funny and shiny and about to explode In fact, if you’d seen it, you might even say it glowed.Then out from behind them stepped a man dressed in red And he fell to his knees in what looked like a sled.He was visibly shaken and a tear wet his cheek As he turned around towards me and he started to speak.“This once was my favorite night of the year I looked forward to spreading good will and good cheer.But now all seems muddled, nothing is clear And the world has gone crazy and seems helpless with fear.The naughty and nice list is just an offender Cause’ some kids today even question their gender.Aunt Jemima got canceled and Dr Suess had to flee Some schools can’t call kids a “he” or a “she.”And reindeer gas causes more grief Than the homeless among us that live on the street.We’ve had to invent a new name for the elves Now I must call them “small workers with bells.”Wood for the workshop and new paint for the sleigh Are all on some big ship out in some bay.And costs have gone up and continue to soar To the point we can hardly make toys anymore.He suddenly grew quiet and looked toward the sky Then with pain in his voice he said with a sighBut the saddest illusion that some people utter Is that Christmas can’t happen because of this clutter.Now you know I am Santa he said with a sniffle But Christmas is Jesus, that plain and that simple.He climbed into his sleigh and to his team gave a whistle And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.And I heard him exclaim as they flew out of sight “Keep Christ in Christmas and to all a good night.”So, in the absence of reindeer meat in my dish Guess I’ll just have a salad and a nice piece of fish.Merry Christmas!Steve Gilliland, Inman, can be contacted by email at stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.

Exploring Outdoors Kansas: 'Twas the Night Before Christmas, 2021

Hays High senior Jaren Kanak has decomitted from Clemson. The four-star recruit had earlier verbally committed to play for the Tigers but never signed a National Letter of Intent.

Several media outlets in both South Carolina and Oklahoma are reporting that Kanak is enrolled at Oklahoma for the spring semester.

Hays High senior Jaren Kanak has decomitted from Clemson. The four-star recruit had earlier verbally committed to play for the Tigers but never signed a National Letter of Intent.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://t.co/Vx3N8pDPiK">pic.twitter.com/Vx3N8pDPiK</a>&mdash; ✞ Jaren Kanak ✞ (@KanakJaren) <a href="https://twitter.com/KanakJaren/status/1474094804854517760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 23, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Several media outlets in both South Carolina and Oklahoma are reporting that Kanak is enrolled at Oklahoma for the spring semester.

🏈 Kanak decomits from Clemson

THOMAS COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just before 4p.m. Thursday in Thomas County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1999 GMC S4E driven by Jose Luis&nbsp;Herrada Gomez, 52, Denver, was eastbound on Interstate 70 three miles east of Kansas 25. 

The load from an eastbound pickup and trailer was not properly secured. Something fell off the trailer and struck&nbsp; the GMC . After impact, the GMC left the roadway and struck the median.

EMS transported Herrada Gomez to the hospital in Colby. The KHP did not report seat belt usage details.

THOMAS COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just before 4p.m. Thursday in Thomas County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1999 GMC S4E driven by Jose Luis&nbsp;Herrada Gomez, 52, Denver, was eastbound on Interstate 70 three miles east of Kansas 25. The load from an eastbound pickup and trailer was not properly secured. Something fell off the trailer and struck&nbsp; the GMC . After impact, the GMC left the roadway and struck the median.EMS transported Herrada Gomez to the hospital in Colby. The KHP did not report seat belt usage details.

Driver hospitalized after item falls from trailer on I-70

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

The Hays Area Planning Commission recommended approval of a rezoning and final plat for Langer Industrial Services on Monday.

Langer is a metal recycling business. It currently has a transfer station near the Vine, I-70 interchange in Hays.

The owner wishes to move and expand its operation in Hays.

Langer requested rezoning of land owned by Thomas D. and Joleen M. Arnhold at 1680 E. 10th St. from agricultural to I-2 heavy industrial.

Commissioners said the zoning fits with the industrial zoning around that location.

There is no plan to annex the 17.9 acre development into the city.

Pete Langer, Langer owner, said he hopes to add a rail spur to the property. Union Pacific has said the extension is possible, it's a matter of cost, he said.

"We think this is a really appropriate use for this piece of property," Langer said. "We think we're a pretty good fit for Hays and the community."

Langer said he sees his business as more of a processor than storage and tries to keep a clean facility.

"We wanted to do something on a smaller scale as an introduction to the community, and that's what the transfer facility did," he said.

The development will increase truck traffic to the area. Access to the salvage yard will be off of 10th Street.

The addition is near city sanitary sewer, but does not have an extension for city water at this time, according to the city planning report.

No one spoke against the development at the meeting.

The zoning request and plat will be discussed at the Hays City Commission work session on Jan. 20. It will be before the city commission for final approval on Jan. 27.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640205716459.png" alt="Map of the location of the proposed new Langer Industrial Services" />
 <figcaption>Map of the location of the proposed new Langer Industrial Services</figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostThe Hays Area Planning Commission recommended approval of a rezoning and final plat for Langer Industrial Services on Monday.Langer is a metal recycling business. It currently has a transfer station near the Vine, I-70 interchange in Hays.The owner wishes to move and expand its operation in Hays. Langer requested rezoning of land owned by Thomas D. and Joleen M. Arnhold at 1680 E. 10th St. from agricultural to I-2 heavy industrial.Commissioners said the zoning fits with the industrial zoning around that location.There is no plan to annex the 17.9 acre development into the city.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640205795199.png" alt="Langer is not requesting annexation into the city. " />
 <figcaption>Langer is not requesting annexation into the city. </figcaption>
 </figure>Pete Langer, Langer owner, said he hopes to add a rail spur to the property. Union Pacific has said the extension is possible, it's a matter of cost, he said."We think this is a really appropriate use for this piece of property," Langer said. "We think we're a pretty good fit for Hays and the community."Langer said he sees his business as more of a processor than storage and tries to keep a clean facility."We wanted to do something on a smaller scale as an introduction to the community, and that's what the transfer facility did," he said. The development will increase truck traffic to the area. Access to the salvage yard will be off of 10th Street. The addition is near city sanitary sewer, but does not have an extension for city water at this time, according to the city planning report.No one spoke against the development at the meeting. The zoning request and plat will be discussed at the Hays City Commission work session on Jan. 20. It will be before the city commission for final approval on Jan. 27.

Langer recycling seeks to move, expand facility on 10th St. in Hays

Kansas Department of Health and Environment

TOPEKA –&nbsp;The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has rescinded a boil water advisory for the City of Waldo public water supply system, located in Russell County. The advisory was issued because of a loss of pressure in the distribution system. Failure to maintain pressure can lead to a loss of chlorine residual levels and may result in 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 Waldo 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;

For consumer questions, please contact the water system or you may call KDHE at 785-296-5514. For consumer information please visit KDHE’s PWS Consumer Information webpage:&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDAsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMTEyMjMuNTA3NTk1NjEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwOi8vd3d3LmtkaGVrcy5nb3YvcHdzL2VtZXJnZW5jeXJlc3BvbnNlL3dhdGVyX2Rpc3J1cHRpb24uaHRtP3V0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1nb3ZkZWxpdmVyeSJ9.hcuNPpI-jwF7uNgGYdA8lUk5lJBNl41hbPe_YVW1Ems/s/1305913623/br/123661230419-l" target="_blank">http://www.kdheks.gov/pws/emergencyresponse/water_disruption.htm</a>

Kansas Department of Health and EnvironmentTOPEKA –&nbsp;The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has rescinded a boil water advisory for the City of Waldo public water supply system, located in Russell County. The advisory was issued because of a loss of pressure in the distribution system. Failure to maintain pressure can lead to a loss of chlorine residual levels and may result in 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 Waldo 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;For consumer questions, please contact the water system or you may call KDHE at 785-296-5514. For consumer information please visit KDHE’s PWS Consumer Information webpage:&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDAsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMTEyMjMuNTA3NTk1NjEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwOi8vd3d3LmtkaGVrcy5nb3YvcHdzL2VtZXJnZW5jeXJlc3BvbnNlL3dhdGVyX2Rpc3J1cHRpb24uaHRtP3V0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1nb3ZkZWxpdmVyeSJ9.hcuNPpI-jwF7uNgGYdA8lUk5lJBNl41hbPe_YVW1Ems/s/1305913623/br/123661230419-l" target="_blank">http://www.kdheks.gov/pws/emergencyresponse/water_disruption.htm</a>

Boil Water Advisory rescinded for the city of Waldo

Residents are encouraged to bring real Christmas trees 
to the free disposal site located north of the Public Works building at 
1002 Vine Street. &nbsp;This area is right next to the bathrooms at Speier 
ball fields. &nbsp;Place the trees on the east side of the bathrooms.

Signs
 will be posted to direct citizens. &nbsp;Please remove all plastic, 
ornaments and lights before leaving the tree. &nbsp;The disposal site will be
 open though Monday, Jan. 10. &nbsp;

Midwest
 Energy will provide personnel and a wood chipper to chip the trees to 
make mulch. &nbsp;The mulch will be placed at the Parks Department on the 183
 Bypass and is available for pickup free of charge.

If there are questions, call the Solid Waste Division at (785) 628-7350.

City of HaysResidents are encouraged to bring real Christmas trees 
to the free disposal site located north of the Public Works building at 
1002 Vine Street. &nbsp;This area is right next to the bathrooms at Speier 
ball fields. &nbsp;Place the trees on the east side of the bathrooms.Signs
 will be posted to direct citizens. &nbsp;Please remove all plastic, 
ornaments and lights before leaving the tree. &nbsp;The disposal site will be
 open though Monday, Jan. 10. &nbsp;Midwest
 Energy will provide personnel and a wood chipper to chip the trees to 
make mulch. &nbsp;The mulch will be placed at the Parks Department on the 183
 Bypass and is available for pickup free of charge.If there are questions, call the Solid Waste Division at (785) 628-7350.Cover image courtesy Pixabay

Hays Christmas tree disposal site open through Jan. 10

PLAINVILLE — Andreson Memorial Park has been awarded a $5,000 grant from Midland Marketing. The park was honored for being a unique pillar of pride in the community. The grant will be used by the Plainville Ambassador Club to help maintain the beauty of the park.

Andreson Memorial Park was once an eyesore, sitting as an old lot in a prominent part of town. But thanks to the Plainville Ambassador Club, they transformed it into a beautiful park complete with a walking bridge, gazebo and even an underground sprinkler system. Two years ago, they also featured the traveling exhibit “Remembering Our Fallen,” a National Tribute to Post 9/11 Military.

The organization will use the money to maintain the beauty at the park, so it can be a space for community connection for years to come.

“Andreson Park is exactly what our community needed, and The Plainville Ambassador Club worked hard to provide for this space for the community,”&nbsp;said&nbsp;Steve Hageman, petroleum manager at Midland Marketing. “We’re proud to assist this organization in involving our community and accelerating into the future.”

The grant was provided through an initiative that encourages Cenex dealers, retailers and distributors to share stories about what makes their local communities special.&nbsp;Now in its third year, the initiative has granted more than $300,000 to&nbsp;Cenex&nbsp;communities.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“The&nbsp;Cenex&nbsp;brand is committed to supporting and celebrating what makes hometowns across America special,” said Akhtar Hussain, director of refined fuels at CHS. “We are proud of our&nbsp;Cenex&nbsp;dealers, like&nbsp;Midland Marketing, who play an active role in supporting their local organizations and the people in their community.”&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1639595343756.png" alt="Pictured from left to right: Steve Hageman, petroleum manager at Midland Marketing; Susan Stahl, Sheila Hachmeister and Lora Weigel, representing the 
Plainville Ambassador Club; and Rocky Bell, district representative for 
CHS Inc." />
 <figcaption>Pictured from left to right: Steve Hageman, petroleum manager at Midland Marketing; Susan Stahl, Sheila Hachmeister and Lora Weigel, representing the 
Plainville Ambassador Club; and Rocky Bell, district representative for 
CHS Inc.</figcaption>
 </figure>SubmittedPLAINVILLE — Andreson Memorial Park has been awarded a $5,000 grant from Midland Marketing. The park was honored for being a unique pillar of pride in the community. The grant will be used by the Plainville Ambassador Club to help maintain the beauty of the park.Andreson Memorial Park was once an eyesore, sitting as an old lot in a prominent part of town. But thanks to the Plainville Ambassador Club, they transformed it into a beautiful park complete with a walking bridge, gazebo and even an underground sprinkler system. Two years ago, they also featured the traveling exhibit “Remembering Our Fallen,” a National Tribute to Post 9/11 Military.The organization will use the money to maintain the beauty at the park, so it can be a space for community connection for years to come.“Andreson Park is exactly what our community needed, and The Plainville Ambassador Club worked hard to provide for this space for the community,”&nbsp;said&nbsp;Steve Hageman, petroleum manager at Midland Marketing. “We’re proud to assist this organization in involving our community and accelerating into the future.”The grant was provided through an initiative that encourages Cenex dealers, retailers and distributors to share stories about what makes their local communities special.&nbsp;Now in its third year, the initiative has granted more than $300,000 to&nbsp;Cenex&nbsp;communities.&nbsp;&nbsp;“The&nbsp;Cenex&nbsp;brand is committed to supporting and celebrating what makes hometowns across America special,” said Akhtar Hussain, director of refined fuels at CHS. “We are proud of our&nbsp;Cenex&nbsp;dealers, like&nbsp;Midland Marketing, who play an active role in supporting their local organizations and the people in their community.”&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Plainville park awarded $5K grant from Midland Marketing

Dakota Dunes, S.D. –&nbsp; Tyson Foods is donating $100,000 to help support cattle farmers and ranchers affected by the recent wildfires in north central Kansas.&nbsp;&nbsp;Many family and independent farmers lost their homes, barns, and livestock.

“Our partnership with family and independent cattle producers is important to us, and we want to do our part to help those whose lives have been affected by the devastating wildfires,” said Shane Miller, group president, Fresh Meats for Tyson Foods.&nbsp;&nbsp;“We’re grateful for the longstanding relationships we have with our Kansas independent cattle suppliers and stand beside them during this difficult time.”

The company’s donation will be made through the Kansas Livestock Association.&nbsp;

Tyson Foods employs more than 5,800 team members in seven locations in the state of Kansas, and partners with more than 300 independent cattle producers in the state to purchase approximately $2 billion of cattle every year.

“This significant donation from Tyson is greatly appreciated,” said KLA Chief Executive Officer, Matt Teagarden. “Their support, along with that of other generous donors from across the country, will go a long way in helping Kansas livestock producers impacted by the fires and severe weather rebuild.”

KLA and the Kansas Livestock Foundation are accepting donations to support farmers and ranchers impacted by the fire.&nbsp;The Foundation is working to identify a committee of livestock producers who will assess needs and oversee distribution of funds raised.

Last week’s fires burned an estimated 400,000 acres across four counties, a region that is home to several cattle suppliers for Tyson Foods. Tyson’s operations have not been impacted by the fires.

For more information, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kla.org/affiliates/kansas-livestock-foundation/donations">KLA Donations</a>.

Press ReleaseDakota Dunes, S.D. –&nbsp; Tyson Foods is donating $100,000 to help support cattle farmers and ranchers affected by the recent wildfires in north central Kansas.&nbsp;&nbsp;Many family and independent farmers lost their homes, barns, and livestock.“Our partnership with family and independent cattle producers is important to us, and we want to do our part to help those whose lives have been affected by the devastating wildfires,” said Shane Miller, group president, Fresh Meats for Tyson Foods.&nbsp;&nbsp;“We’re grateful for the longstanding relationships we have with our Kansas independent cattle suppliers and stand beside them during this difficult time.”The company’s donation will be made through the Kansas Livestock Association.&nbsp;Tyson Foods employs more than 5,800 team members in seven locations in the state of Kansas, and partners with more than 300 independent cattle producers in the state to purchase approximately $2 billion of cattle every year.“This significant donation from Tyson is greatly appreciated,” said KLA Chief Executive Officer, Matt Teagarden. “Their support, along with that of other generous donors from across the country, will go a long way in helping Kansas livestock producers impacted by the fires and severe weather rebuild.”KLA and the Kansas Livestock Foundation are accepting donations to support farmers and ranchers impacted by the fire.&nbsp;The Foundation is working to identify a committee of livestock producers who will assess needs and oversee distribution of funds raised.Last week’s fires burned an estimated 400,000 acres across four counties, a region that is home to several cattle suppliers for Tyson Foods. Tyson’s operations have not been impacted by the fires.For more information, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kla.org/affiliates/kansas-livestock-foundation/donations">KLA Donations</a>.

Tyson Foods donates $100,000 in wildfire relief to support Kansas cattle farmers and ranchers

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640189924742.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://hayspost.com/pages/state-farm-weather-window">For a full look at the weather click her</a>e.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

RUSSELL COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 8:30p.m. Wednesday in Russell County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2016 Dodger Charger driven by&nbsp; Lori Esther Eckinger, 47, Johnstown, CO., was eastbound on Interstate 70 just east of the Dorrance exit.

The car entered the south ditch, traveled through the KDOT fence and came to a stop in a field facing east.

EMS transported a passenger Patrick Michael Groover, 38, Johnstown, Co., to the Russell Regional Hospital. Eckinger was not injured. Both were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

RUSSELL COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 8:30p.m. Wednesday in Russell County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2016 Dodger Charger driven by&nbsp; Lori Esther Eckinger, 47, Johnstown, CO., was eastbound on Interstate 70 just east of the Dorrance exit.The car entered the south ditch, traveled through the KDOT fence and came to a stop in a field facing east.EMS transported a passenger Patrick Michael Groover, 38, Johnstown, Co., to the Russell Regional Hospital. Eckinger was not injured. Both were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

Man hospitalized after car travels through KDOT fence on I-70

A registered sex offender in Hays has been arrested on new sexual assault charges following an investigation by the Hays Police Department.

After the Hays Police Department received information about a possible sexual assault against a minor, an investigation was initiated, Hays Police Department Chief Don Scheibler said.

The result of the investigation led to the arrest of Donald Joesph Littlefoot, 46.

Littlefoot was arrested on suspicion of rape, aggravated indecent liberties with a child and aggravated criminal sodomy.

Littlefoot was convicted in 2012 of aggravated indecent solicitation of a minor and is listed on the state sex offender registry. The victim, in that case, was identified as 12 years old.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640211317554.png" alt="Donald Joseph Littlefoot. Photo courtesy Kansas Bureau of Investigation." />
 <figcaption>Donald Joseph Littlefoot. Photo courtesy Kansas Bureau of Investigation.</figcaption>
 </figure>By JAMES BELL Hays PostA registered sex offender in Hays has been arrested on new sexual assault charges following an investigation by the Hays Police Department.After the Hays Police Department received information about a possible sexual assault against a minor, an investigation was initiated, Hays Police Department Chief Don Scheibler said.The result of the investigation led to the arrest of Donald Joesph Littlefoot, 46.Littlefoot was arrested on suspicion of rape, aggravated indecent liberties with a child and aggravated criminal sodomy.Littlefoot was convicted in 2012 of aggravated indecent solicitation of a minor and is listed on the state sex offender registry. The victim, in that case, was identified as 12 years old.

Hays registered sex offender arrested on suspicion of rape involving minor

The afternoon of Wednesday, Dec. 15, Midwest Energy’s entire
service area was pounded by a fierce wind event that saw gusts of up to 104
mph, toppling trees and poles and disrupting electric service to nearly 26,500
customers. 

Worse, wind-fueled wildfires occurred simultaneously, burning
366,000 acres of farm and rangeland in Ellis, Rooks, Russell and Osborne
Counties. 

“We do not recall an event where more than half of our electric
customers lost service on the same day,” said Patrick Parke, Midwest Energy’s
Chief Executive Officer.

“We’re accustomed to severe wind and storm events, but
not so widespread that outages occur in all of the 26 counties where we provide
electric service,” Parke said. 

The entire Midwest Energy team mobilized;
linemen, servicemen, field service representatives, warehouse personnel, system
operators and other support staff restored service to all but 4,900 within 24
hours. 

Within 48 hours of the event, power was restored to all but 2,000
customers. 

As the number without power decreased, the number of identified
downed or burned poles grew to 687 and additional help was called in.

Southern
Pioneer Electric Co., 4 Rivers Electric Cooperative, Heartland Rural Electric
Cooperative, and Sedgwick County Electric Cooperatives all sent one or more
crews under a mutual aid agreement, while Ward Electric Company and PAR
Electric Contractors sent multiple crews to assist in the recovery effort. 

“A
week later, we still have more than a dozen residences in remote areas without
power,” said Fred Taylor, Midwest Energy’s Vice President of Operations.

 “We
expect to have all residences capable of receiving power back on by Dec. 24.
Full repairs to the system will take much longer,” Taylor said. “We will work
with oil field customers to coordinate restoration in those areas.” 

Parke said
damage estimates to the electric system from this event “will likely be in
excess of $2.2 million,” far less than the $102 million in damages caused by
massive ice storms that hit much of the service area in 2005 and 2006.

It is
expected this event will be declared a FEMA disaster, making grants available
to cover some costs. 

“This was an unprecedented event in terms of the ferocity
of the wind, and the scale of the area impacted,” Parke said. “We are very
proud of the way our line crews, customer service representatives and the
entire support team performed in dangerous circumstances. We are also grateful
for the assistance from other co-ops, contractors and local emergency
responders."

“We appreciate everyone’s understanding and grace as
we kept our focus on public and crew safety while restoring power.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640210710853.jpeg" alt="Midwest Energy linemen from Hays scramble to reconnect power to homes near 23rd and Drum after a wind-blown tree toppled power lines on Dec. 15. Courtesy photo." />
 <figcaption>Midwest Energy linemen from Hays scramble to reconnect power to homes near 23rd and Drum after a wind-blown tree toppled power lines on Dec. 15. Courtesy photo.</figcaption>
 </figure>SubmittedThe afternoon of Wednesday, Dec. 15, Midwest Energy’s entire
service area was pounded by a fierce wind event that saw gusts of up to 104
mph, toppling trees and poles and disrupting electric service to nearly 26,500
customers. Worse, wind-fueled wildfires occurred simultaneously, burning
366,000 acres of farm and rangeland in Ellis, Rooks, Russell and Osborne
Counties. “We do not recall an event where more than half of our electric
customers lost service on the same day,” said Patrick Parke, Midwest Energy’s
Chief Executive Officer.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640210784277.jpeg" alt="Crews from contractor Ward Electric work on Midwest Energy poles in the Fairport area on Dec. 22; the “4 corners” area of Rooks, Ellis, Osborne and Russell Counties saw severe wind and fire damage after the Dec. 15 wind event. Courtesy photo." />
 <figcaption>Crews from contractor Ward Electric work on Midwest Energy poles in the Fairport area on Dec. 22; the “4 corners” area of Rooks, Ellis, Osborne and Russell Counties saw severe wind and fire damage after the Dec. 15 wind event. Courtesy photo.</figcaption>
 </figure>“We’re accustomed to severe wind and storm events, but
not so widespread that outages occur in all of the 26 counties where we provide
electric service,” Parke said. The entire Midwest Energy team mobilized;
linemen, servicemen, field service representatives, warehouse personnel, system
operators and other support staff restored service to all but 4,900 within 24
hours. Within 48 hours of the event, power was restored to all but 2,000
customers. As the number without power decreased, the number of identified
downed or burned poles grew to 687 and additional help was called in.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640210836966.jpeg" alt="One of hundreds of poles lost in the Fairport area after wildfires swept through nearly 366,000 acres on Dec. 15 and 16. Courtesy photo." />
 <figcaption>One of hundreds of poles lost in the Fairport area after wildfires swept through nearly 366,000 acres on Dec. 15 and 16. Courtesy photo.</figcaption>
 </figure>Southern
Pioneer Electric Co., 4 Rivers Electric Cooperative, Heartland Rural Electric
Cooperative, and Sedgwick County Electric Cooperatives all sent one or more
crews under a mutual aid agreement, while Ward Electric Company and PAR
Electric Contractors sent multiple crews to assist in the recovery effort. “A
week later, we still have more than a dozen residences in remote areas without
power,” said Fred Taylor, Midwest Energy’s Vice President of Operations. “We
expect to have all residences capable of receiving power back on by Dec. 24.
Full repairs to the system will take much longer,” Taylor said. “We will work
with oil field customers to coordinate restoration in those areas.” Parke said
damage estimates to the electric system from this event “will likely be in
excess of $2.2 million,” far less than the $102 million in damages caused by
massive ice storms that hit much of the service area in 2005 and 2006.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640210890556.jpeg" alt="Midwest Energy linemen from Hays apply a temporary fix to a broken pole in the Pfeifer area of Ellis County on Dec. 16. Poles that can take temporary repairs allow for faster restoration of power after major events, allowing crews to come back and replace “temporary” poles at a later date. Courtesy photo." />
 <figcaption>Midwest Energy linemen from Hays apply a temporary fix to a broken pole in the Pfeifer area of Ellis County on Dec. 16. Poles that can take temporary repairs allow for faster restoration of power after major events, allowing crews to come back and replace “temporary” poles at a later date. Courtesy photo.</figcaption>
 </figure>It is
expected this event will be declared a FEMA disaster, making grants available
to cover some costs. “This was an unprecedented event in terms of the ferocity
of the wind, and the scale of the area impacted,” Parke said. “We are very
proud of the way our line crews, customer service representatives and the
entire support team performed in dangerous circumstances. We are also grateful
for the assistance from other co-ops, contractors and local emergency
responders."“We appreciate everyone’s understanding and grace as
we kept our focus on public and crew safety while restoring power.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640210983091.jpeg" alt="Crews from contractor Ward Electric work on Midwest Energy poles in the Fairport area on Dec. 22; the “4 corners” area of Rooks, Ellis, Osborne and Russell Counties saw severe wind and fire damage after the Dec. 15 wind event. Courtesy photo." />
 <figcaption>Crews from contractor Ward Electric work on Midwest Energy poles in the Fairport area on Dec. 22; the “4 corners” area of Rooks, Ellis, Osborne and Russell Counties saw severe wind and fire damage after the Dec. 15 wind event. Courtesy photo.</figcaption>
 </figure>

Midwest Energy provides updates; Thanks public for patience during wind event recovery 

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment on Monday reported 23 new COVID-19 cases in Ellis County had been identified since Monday.

<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 Wednesday 56 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 5,115 cases of COVID-19 identified in Ellis County, including 77 coronavirus-related deaths.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640198411533.png" alt="KDHE" />
 <figcaption>KDHE</figcaption>
 </figure>The Kansas Department of Health and Environment on Monday reported 23 new COVID-19 cases in Ellis County had been identified since Monday.<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 Wednesday 56 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 5,115 cases of COVID-19 identified in Ellis County, including 77 coronavirus-related deaths.

KDHE: 23 new COVID cases in Ellis Co. since Monday

TOPEKA–The Kansas Department of Health and Environment&nbsp; has rescinded a boil water advisory for the City of Timken public water supply system, located in Rush County. The advisory was issued because of a loss of pressure in the distribution system due to a power outage. Failure to maintain pressure can lead to a loss of chlorine residual levels and may result in bacterial contamination.

Kansas Department of Health and EnvironmentTOPEKA–The Kansas Department of Health and Environment&nbsp; has rescinded a boil water advisory for the City of Timken public water supply system, located in Rush County. The advisory was issued because of a loss of pressure in the distribution system due to a power outage. Failure to maintain pressure can lead to a loss of chlorine residual levels and may result in 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 Timken 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;For consumer questions, please contact the water system or you may call KDHE at 785-296-5514. For consumer information please visit KDHE’s PWS Consumer Information webpage:&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDAsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMTEyMjIuNTA3MDY2MzEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwOi8vd3d3LmtkaGVrcy5nb3YvcHdzL2VtZXJnZW5jeXJlc3BvbnNlL3dhdGVyX2Rpc3J1cHRpb24uaHRtP3V0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1nb3ZkZWxpdmVyeSJ9.TiCe9RYlSKyGUOEH04PjzE-oziOK3uZocQO4gqMwP1k/s/1305913623/br/123567639265-l" target="_blank">http://www.kdheks.gov/pws/emergencyresponse/water_disruption.htm</a>