You have heard a lot about “self-care” during the past year. It is easy to get overloaded with news accounts that we really have no control over. Now, more than ever, people are hoping to find a way to cope with the feelings of anxiousness and uncertainty. It is a good time to explore how meditation and simple exercises can help clear your mind and energize your body.&nbsp;

We have a “Mindful Meditation and Do-In” class that is set to begin September 28th at the Great Bend Activity Center, located at 2715 18th Street. The three week-long class will be held on Tuesday’s and Thursdays from 10 – 11 AM through October 14th. The class that I enjoy leading with my husband, John, opens with a short meditation, followed by exercises. Do-In (pronounced doe-een) exercises are exercises for health. These exercises are suitable for older adults and anyone who is dealing with a chronic condition. The exercises stimulate the energy flow along the acupuncture meridians. The focus is on imagery, breathing and relaxation when performing the Do-In exercises.&nbsp;

During our first session I will introduce participants to a fact sheet I wrote a couple of years ago. The “Everyday Mindfulness” fact sheet offers the following benefits that come from a regular meditation practice:

If the Mindful Meditation and Do-In classes sound like something you would like to participate in, please give me a call to register. There is a $10 fee that may be paid at the Cottonwood Extension Office in Great Bend before the first session September 28th. Class size is limited so call our office at (620)793-1910 to sign up. I hope to see you soon!

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573141404420.png" alt="Donna Krug is the District Director and the Family &amp; Consumer Science Agent in the Cottonwood Extension District.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Donna Krug is the District Director and the Family &amp; Consumer Science Agent in the Cottonwood Extension District.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>You have heard a lot about “self-care” during the past year. It is easy to get overloaded with news accounts that we really have no control over. Now, more than ever, people are hoping to find a way to cope with the feelings of anxiousness and uncertainty. It is a good time to explore how meditation and simple exercises can help clear your mind and energize your body.&nbsp;We have a “Mindful Meditation and Do-In” class that is set to begin September 28th at the Great Bend Activity Center, located at 2715 18th Street. The three week-long class will be held on Tuesday’s and Thursdays from 10 – 11 AM through October 14th. The class that I enjoy leading with my husband, John, opens with a short meditation, followed by exercises. Do-In (pronounced doe-een) exercises are exercises for health. These exercises are suitable for older adults and anyone who is dealing with a chronic condition. The exercises stimulate the energy flow along the acupuncture meridians. The focus is on imagery, breathing and relaxation when performing the Do-In exercises.&nbsp;During our first session I will introduce participants to a fact sheet I wrote a couple of years ago. The “Everyday Mindfulness” fact sheet offers the following benefits that come from a regular meditation practice:<ul>
 <li>Increased ability to relax</li><li>Improved concentration</li><li>Increased energy and enthusiasm for life</li><li>Increased creativity</li><li>Increased self-awareness</li><li>Improved self-esteem</li><li>Improved work/school performance</li>
 </ul>If the Mindful Meditation and Do-In classes sound like something you would like to participate in, please give me a call to register. There is a $10 fee that may be paid at the Cottonwood Extension Office in Great Bend before the first session September 28th. Class size is limited so call our office at (620)793-1910 to sign up. I hope to see you soon!Donna Krug is the District Director and the Family &amp; Consumer Science Agent in the Cottonwood Extension District. You may reach her at: (620)793-1910 or <a href="mailto:dkrug@ksu.edu">dkrug@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;

KRUG: Self-care is more important than ever 

NORTON COUNTY —On person was injured in an accident just before 4:30p.m. Sunday in Norton County

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2000 Victory motorcycle driven by Lavern L. White, 56, Oneill, NE., was southbound on U.S. 283 two miles south of U.S. 36.

The motorcycle rear-ended a 2013 Yamaha motorcycle driven by Billy T. Lowry, 25, WaKeeney, who had slowed to turn into a private drive. The Victory motorcycle rolled and the driver was ejected.

EMS transported White to the Norton County Hospital. Lowry was not transported for treatment. They were not wearing helmets, according to the KHP.

NORTON COUNTY —On person was injured in an accident just before 4:30p.m. Sunday in Norton CountyThe Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2000 Victory motorcycle driven by Lavern L. White, 56, Oneill, NE., was southbound on U.S. 283 two miles south of U.S. 36.The motorcycle rear-ended a 2013 Yamaha motorcycle driven by Billy T. Lowry, 25, WaKeeney, who had slowed to turn into a private drive. The Victory motorcycle rolled and the driver was ejected.EMS transported White to the Norton County Hospital. Lowry was not transported for treatment. They were not wearing helmets, according to the KHP.

1 hospitalized after motorcycle rear-ends motorcycle

On this episode of the Post Podcast Grow Hays executive director, Doug Williams talks about the impact of declining populations on the area economy.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/5dd2f46c897d147ad4bb104b">To find out more about The Post Podcast, or subscribe to mobile&nbsp;</a><a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/5dd2f46c897d147ad4bb104b">notifications click here.</a>

<div><iframe title="Census data highlights growing economic concern" allowtransparency="true" height="450" 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=xd2k3-10bcb6f-pb&from=pb6admin&square=1&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=auto&btn-skin=3267a3&size=450" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>On this episode of the Post Podcast Grow Hays executive director, Doug Williams talks about the impact of declining populations on the area economy.<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/5dd2f46c897d147ad4bb104b">To find out more about The Post Podcast, or subscribe to mobile&nbsp;</a><a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/5dd2f46c897d147ad4bb104b">notifications click here.</a>

🎙Post Podcast: Census data highlights growing economic concern

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

The Hays USD 489 school board will conduct its annual budget hearing at 6:30 p.m. Monday at the Rockwell Administration Center.

The budget includes a slight mill levy decrease from&nbsp;41.241 mills last year to&nbsp;41.236 mills for the 2021-22 school year.

The school district's valuation increased from&nbsp;$322,681,782 in 2020-21 to&nbsp;$335,274,898 for the 2021-22 school year.

The board will discuss what it wishes to do with the seat that is being vacated by Nuchelle Chance. Chance resigned after she moved out of state.

The board can appoint someone to fill the position or it can leave that seat vacant until it is filled through election in January 2022.

The board will consider&nbsp;a proposal from Integrated Consulting Engineer for the design and installation of new HVAC systems at Wilson Elementary and Hays High School.

The board will also consider the HHS student handbook and policy revisions recommended by the Kansas Association of School Boards.

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostThe Hays USD 489 school board will conduct its annual budget hearing at 6:30 p.m. Monday at the Rockwell Administration Center.The budget includes a slight mill levy decrease from&nbsp;41.241 mills last year to&nbsp;41.236 mills for the 2021-22 school year.The school district's valuation increased from&nbsp;$322,681,782 in 2020-21 to&nbsp;$335,274,898 for the 2021-22 school year.The board will discuss what it wishes to do with the seat that is being vacated by Nuchelle Chance. Chance resigned after she moved out of state.The board can appoint someone to fill the position or it can leave that seat vacant until it is filled through election in January 2022.The board will consider&nbsp;a proposal from Integrated Consulting Engineer for the design and installation of new HVAC systems at Wilson Elementary and Hays High School.The board will also consider the HHS student handbook and policy revisions recommended by the Kansas Association of School Boards.

Hays USD 489 school board to consider budget Monday

The recent release of additional 2020 Census numbers is a treasure trove of fascinating data about Kansas. While redistricting and the urbanization of Kansas have dominated the political chatter about these data, they also tell an interesting story about our state’s growing Hispanic population.&nbsp;

Let’s clarify some concepts.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Census measures “Hispanic” as an ethnicity that crosses racial lines. However, studies on racial identity show that most Americans, including most self-identified Hispanics, perceive Hispanic as a race itself.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Further, Gallup and Pew surveys find that about 60 percent of self-identified Hispanics in America prefer the term “Hispanic” when asked to label themselves, about a third prefer “Latino,” and less than 5 percent prefer “Latinx.”&nbsp;

That said, let’s talk numbers.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Both the country and Kansas grew more racially diverse since 2010 as the White percentage of the population declined. The Hispanic percentage of the American population grew from 16 percent in 2010 to 19 percent in 2020. In Kansas, Hispanics grew from 10.5 percent of the state to 13 percent.&nbsp;

Put differently, Kansas’s Hispanic population grew roughly 25 percent since 2010. In contrast, Kansas’s population overall grew just 3 percent last decade. And Hispanics grew as a share of the population in all but 9 Kansas counties, even as 80 of 105 counties lost population. So, Hispanics are disproportionately driving Kansas’s modest population growth.&nbsp;

Kansas Hispanics remain concentrated in Southwest Kansas, where Finney, Ford, Seward, and Grant counties are majority Hispanic. Elsewhere, Hispanics are more concentrated in urban communities, especially Wichita, Topeka, Emporia, Salina, Hutchison, Newton, Kansas City, and Olathe.&nbsp;&nbsp;

What are the politics here, especially for Kansas Hispanics to achieve greater political power as they grow?&nbsp;

First, the voting weight of Kansas Hispanics doesn’t reflect their numbers. Take Ford County, for example. In the 2020 Census, 58 percent of residents were Hispanic. However, the Census’s American Community Survey puts the county’s citizen voting age population at 63 percent non-Hispanic White.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Add to that comparatively lower voter registration and turnout rates among Hispanics. The result is that—for now—majority Hispanic Kansas communities have majority White electorates and often no elected Hispanic representation.&nbsp;

Second, most voter mobilization happens through partisan campaign activities, but neither party has strong incentives to target Hispanic Kansas voters. Hispanics skew significantly Democratic and often more liberal than Whites on issues, giving Republicans little reason to engage them. Democrats likely win more votes by focusing their more limited resources on blueing high turnout White suburbanites.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Barriers to voting aside, to effectively mobilize Hispanic voters in Kansas, that push likely has to come from community organizations, perhaps from within the Hispanic community itself, that operate outside of traditional campaigns.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Third, gerrymandering in some communities, especially for local office, limits Hispanic political representation. For example, some Kansas counties drawn county commission lines that divide more concentrated Hispanic neighborhoods across multiple districts, sometimes using questionably legal non-contiguous districts. This prevents Hispanic voters from being concentrated enough in any one district to elect a Hispanic candidate.&nbsp;&nbsp;

As Kansas’s Hispanic population grows, the political power that their growth merits won’t just magically appear. Starting at the local level, it will necessitate promoting engagement within that community, changing the electoral calculus of political establishments, and eliminating institutional barriers to Hispanic representation. It won’t happen overnight, but if demographics are destiny it will happen.&nbsp;

Patrick R. Miller is an Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Kansas.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575644168170.png" alt="Patrick R. Miller is an Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Kansas.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Patrick R. Miller is an Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Kansas.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>The recent release of additional 2020 Census numbers is a treasure trove of fascinating data about Kansas. While redistricting and the urbanization of Kansas have dominated the political chatter about these data, they also tell an interesting story about our state’s growing Hispanic population.&nbsp;Let’s clarify some concepts.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Census measures “Hispanic” as an ethnicity that crosses racial lines. However, studies on racial identity show that most Americans, including most self-identified Hispanics, perceive Hispanic as a race itself.&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575913663048.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Further, Gallup and Pew surveys find that about 60 percent of self-identified Hispanics in America prefer the term “Hispanic” when asked to label themselves, about a third prefer “Latino,” and less than 5 percent prefer “Latinx.”&nbsp;That said, let’s talk numbers.&nbsp;&nbsp;Both the country and Kansas grew more racially diverse since 2010 as the White percentage of the population declined. The Hispanic percentage of the American population grew from 16 percent in 2010 to 19 percent in 2020. In Kansas, Hispanics grew from 10.5 percent of the state to 13 percent.&nbsp;Put differently, Kansas’s Hispanic population grew roughly 25 percent since 2010. In contrast, Kansas’s population overall grew just 3 percent last decade. And Hispanics grew as a share of the population in all but 9 Kansas counties, even as 80 of 105 counties lost population. So, Hispanics are disproportionately driving Kansas’s modest population growth.&nbsp;Kansas Hispanics remain concentrated in Southwest Kansas, where Finney, Ford, Seward, and Grant counties are majority Hispanic. Elsewhere, Hispanics are more concentrated in urban communities, especially Wichita, Topeka, Emporia, Salina, Hutchison, Newton, Kansas City, and Olathe.&nbsp;&nbsp;What are the politics here, especially for Kansas Hispanics to achieve greater political power as they grow?&nbsp;First, the voting weight of Kansas Hispanics doesn’t reflect their numbers. Take Ford County, for example. In the 2020 Census, 58 percent of residents were Hispanic. However, the Census’s American Community Survey puts the county’s citizen voting age population at 63 percent non-Hispanic White.&nbsp;&nbsp;Add to that comparatively lower voter registration and turnout rates among Hispanics. The result is that—for now—majority Hispanic Kansas communities have majority White electorates and often no elected Hispanic representation.&nbsp;Second, most voter mobilization happens through partisan campaign activities, but neither party has strong incentives to target Hispanic Kansas voters. Hispanics skew significantly Democratic and often more liberal than Whites on issues, giving Republicans little reason to engage them. Democrats likely win more votes by focusing their more limited resources on blueing high turnout White suburbanites.&nbsp;&nbsp;Barriers to voting aside, to effectively mobilize Hispanic voters in Kansas, that push likely has to come from community organizations, perhaps from within the Hispanic community itself, that operate outside of traditional campaigns.&nbsp;&nbsp;Third, gerrymandering in some communities, especially for local office, limits Hispanic political representation. For example, some Kansas counties drawn county commission lines that divide more concentrated Hispanic neighborhoods across multiple districts, sometimes using questionably legal non-contiguous districts. This prevents Hispanic voters from being concentrated enough in any one district to elect a Hispanic candidate.&nbsp;&nbsp;As Kansas’s Hispanic population grows, the political power that their growth merits won’t just magically appear. Starting at the local level, it will necessitate promoting engagement within that community, changing the electoral calculus of political establishments, and eliminating institutional barriers to Hispanic representation. It won’t happen overnight, but if demographics are destiny it will happen.&nbsp;Patrick R. Miller is an Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Kansas.&nbsp;

INSIGHT KANSAS: Hispanic population growing, but short on political power 

WICHITA —&nbsp; The proposed Kansas Health Science Center – Kansas College of Osteopathic Medicine (KHSC-KansasCOM), currently under construction in downtown Wichita, recently named Megan Bayer,
 MSN, RN, IBCLC, CHSE, as director of simulation and associate 
professor, and Saajan Bhakta, Ph.D., as director of clinical health 
outcomes research and associate professor. 

Megan Bayer is a registered nurse, an 
international board-certified lactation consultant and a certified 
healthcare simulation educator who has participated in high fidelity 
simulations with students from nursing, pharmacy, and medical schools as
 well as in the hospital setting. She has 14 years of experience as a 
nurse in a clinical setting, 10 years as a small business owner and a 
wide range of teaching experience. She most recently served as director 
of simulation education at WSU Tech while also working as a contract 
nurse in the COVID unit at Ascension Via Christi St. Francis.

Bayer received her bachelor's degree in nursing from Wichita State University and her master's degree in nursing from Fort Hays State University. She is an active community advocate and Wichita resident for more than 20 years. 

Dr. Bhakta previously served as adjunct professor of psychology at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology where he taught and supervised students working on global psychological research in countries like Peru and Ethiopia.
 He is also the director of wellness and transitions at People, Pets 
&amp; Vets where he works as a consultant who oversees mental health and
 well-being programming for more than 75 hospitals across the U.S. 

Committed to global service, Dr. Bhakta founded a nonprofit 
organization, PovSolve, that is committed to making positive change by 
raising money and creating awareness for human suffering around the 
world.

Dr. Bhakta earned both his bachelor's degree in psychology and his master's degree in criminal justice from Wichita State University. In 2020, he completed his Ph.D. in international psychology at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, an affiliate of TCS Education System.

"It is a great honor to create a dream team of faculty at KHSC that now includes Megan Bayer and Dr. Bhakta," said KHSC President and Chief Executive Officer Tiffany Masson,
 Psy.D. "Her work at the bedside, in the classroom, and in the 
community, shows Megan is dedicated to improving the health of families 
across Kansas. And with a passion for 
understanding brain science across diverse cultures, Dr. Bhakta is 
focused on the application of psychology to complex global problems. 
Both are incredible assets to have on our team with the mission of 
training the osteopathic physician of the future."

With the goal of opening for the 2022 academic year, the proposed 
KHSC-KansasCOM is currently working through the accreditation process. 
The school is currently under construction, remodeling 116,000 square 
feet of the historic building at 217 N. Douglas, to include 
state-of-the-art technology and learning spaces, an osteopathic skills 
training center, standardized patient teaching rooms, large lecture 
halls, small group study rooms, a virtual anatomy lab, and much more. 

About Kansas Health Science Center: Kansas 
Health Science Center is a nonprofit organization committed to training 
well-prepared physicians and health care leaders who will positively 
contribute to the overall well-being of our communities. With the goal 
of opening the proposed Kansas Health Science Center - Kansas College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2022, KHSC strives to positively impact the health landscape in Wichita and the state of Kansas through directly addressing the disparity in access to healthcare. Learn more at <a href="https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&amp;l=en&amp;o=3261236-1&amp;h=3220939261&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fkansashsc.org%2F&amp;a=kansashsc.org" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">kansashsc.org</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629297048524.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>PRNewswireWICHITA —&nbsp; The proposed Kansas Health Science Center – Kansas College of Osteopathic Medicine (KHSC-KansasCOM), currently under construction in downtown Wichita, recently named Megan Bayer,
 MSN, RN, IBCLC, CHSE, as director of simulation and associate 
professor, and Saajan Bhakta, Ph.D., as director of clinical health 
outcomes research and associate professor. Megan Bayer is a registered nurse, an 
international board-certified lactation consultant and a certified 
healthcare simulation educator who has participated in high fidelity 
simulations with students from nursing, pharmacy, and medical schools as
 well as in the hospital setting. She has 14 years of experience as a 
nurse in a clinical setting, 10 years as a small business owner and a 
wide range of teaching experience. She most recently served as director 
of simulation education at WSU Tech while also working as a contract 
nurse in the COVID unit at Ascension Via Christi St. Francis.Bayer received her bachelor's degree in nursing from Wichita State University and her master's degree in nursing from Fort Hays State University. She is an active community advocate and Wichita resident for more than 20 years. Dr. Bhakta previously served as adjunct professor of psychology at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology where he taught and supervised students working on global psychological research in countries like Peru and Ethiopia.
 He is also the director of wellness and transitions at People, Pets 
&amp; Vets where he works as a consultant who oversees mental health and
 well-being programming for more than 75 hospitals across the U.S. Committed to global service, Dr. Bhakta founded a nonprofit 
organization, PovSolve, that is committed to making positive change by 
raising money and creating awareness for human suffering around the 
world.Dr. Bhakta earned both his bachelor's degree in psychology and his master's degree in criminal justice from Wichita State University. In 2020, he completed his Ph.D. in international psychology at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, an affiliate of TCS Education System."It is a great honor to create a dream team of faculty at KHSC that now includes Megan Bayer and Dr. Bhakta," said KHSC President and Chief Executive Officer Tiffany Masson,
 Psy.D. "Her work at the bedside, in the classroom, and in the 
community, shows Megan is dedicated to improving the health of families 
across Kansas. And with a passion for 
understanding brain science across diverse cultures, Dr. Bhakta is 
focused on the application of psychology to complex global problems. 
Both are incredible assets to have on our team with the mission of 
training the osteopathic physician of the future."With the goal of opening for the 2022 academic year, the proposed 
KHSC-KansasCOM is currently working through the accreditation process. 
The school is currently under construction, remodeling 116,000 square 
feet of the historic building at 217 N. Douglas, to include 
state-of-the-art technology and learning spaces, an osteopathic skills 
training center, standardized patient teaching rooms, large lecture 
halls, small group study rooms, a virtual anatomy lab, and much more. About Kansas Health Science Center: Kansas 
Health Science Center is a nonprofit organization committed to training 
well-prepared physicians and health care leaders who will positively 
contribute to the overall well-being of our communities. With the goal 
of opening the proposed Kansas Health Science Center - Kansas College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2022, KHSC strives to positively impact the health landscape in Wichita and the state of Kansas through directly addressing the disparity in access to healthcare. Learn more at <a href="https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&amp;l=en&amp;o=3261236-1&amp;h=3220939261&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fkansashsc.org%2F&amp;a=kansashsc.org" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">kansashsc.org</a>.

FHSU alum named director of simulation at Kansas Health Science Center

Three-day weather outlook

We had the opportunity to travel a couple of weeks ago and I was in my favorite seat by the window just in front of the airplane wing.

As I looked out, I noticed the rivets. Have you ever thought about that tiny, seemingly insignificant piece of metal? Rivets are fun accessories on jeans or handbags but also hold things – like airplanes – together!

When I think of the number of men and women painstakingly installing each rivet in just the correct place so that each piece lines up and creates a safe vehicle for us to travel in, I am amazed. Additionally, it requires a substantial amount of force to properly set a rivet. If a rivet fails or is installed incorrectly, it can cause dire circumstances for everyone involved.

I find many analogies for youth development and those rivets! Raising the next generation of community and business leaders takes men and women who invest time and energy into providing positive learning experiences.

I often tell 4-H kids that life lessons stink…..that’s why they are life lessons; it often takes tough situations for each of us to learn patience and perseverance which is the force needed to set the rivets. We also need to check regularly for wear and tear. On equipment this necessary maintenance keeps things moving smoothly and safely; on people, this maintenance is crucial for healthy minds and bodies.

This is much the same for our communities. Yes, we need structure and purpose but it takes each of us holding our small bit together to get us all where we are going!

Keep learning. Keep showing grace and kindness.

Michelle Beran is the 4-H and Youth Development Agent in the Cottonwood Extension District – Barton County office. For more information on this article or other 4-H and Youth Development related questions, email Michelle at mberan@ksu.edu or call 620-793-1910.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579114162620.jpeg" alt="Michelle Beran is the 4-H and Youth Development Agent in the Cottonwood Extension District." />
 <figcaption>Michelle Beran is the 4-H and Youth Development Agent in the Cottonwood Extension District.</figcaption>
 </figure>We had the opportunity to travel a couple of weeks ago and I was in my favorite seat by the window just in front of the airplane wing.As I looked out, I noticed the rivets. Have you ever thought about that tiny, seemingly insignificant piece of metal? Rivets are fun accessories on jeans or handbags but also hold things – like airplanes – together!When I think of the number of men and women painstakingly installing each rivet in just the correct place so that each piece lines up and creates a safe vehicle for us to travel in, I am amazed. Additionally, it requires a substantial amount of force to properly set a rivet. If a rivet fails or is installed incorrectly, it can cause dire circumstances for everyone involved.I find many analogies for youth development and those rivets! Raising the next generation of community and business leaders takes men and women who invest time and energy into providing positive learning experiences.I often tell 4-H kids that life lessons stink…..that’s why they are life lessons; it often takes tough situations for each of us to learn patience and perseverance which is the force needed to set the rivets. We also need to check regularly for wear and tear. On equipment this necessary maintenance keeps things moving smoothly and safely; on people, this maintenance is crucial for healthy minds and bodies.This is much the same for our communities. Yes, we need structure and purpose but it takes each of us holding our small bit together to get us all where we are going!Keep learning. Keep showing grace and kindness.Michelle Beran is the 4-H and Youth Development Agent in the Cottonwood Extension District – Barton County office. For more information on this article or other 4-H and Youth Development related questions, email Michelle at mberan@ksu.edu or call 620-793-1910.

BERAN: Holding everything together

By BECKY KISER Hays Post

New public parking signs have been installed in downtown Hays, a recent collaborative effort of the city's public works department and Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB), along with the Downtown Hays Development Corporation (DHDC).

The signs were purchased by the CVB and DHDC and installed by public works employees in the service division, according to Collin Bielser, assistant city manager.

"The signs will direct local traffic and visitors to more than a hundred parking spaces," Bielser said during a progress report presented during a recent city commission meeting.

"They look wonderful," said Sandy Jacobs, mayor. "They jump right out at you."

The parks department has planted grass in the new ARC Park in Seven Hills Park, 33rd and Hillcrest, along the stormwater retention pond as well as installing erosion control blankets and a temporary irrigation system.

The IT (Information Technology) Department has updated its response map at the request of the fire department for an updated fire protection survey.

"Eighty-four percent of the city is within 2.5 road miles of the fire department for response," Bielser said. "The [Ellis] county fire station is included in this for our ISO rating."

Bielser has more highlights of work and projects of city department's in his most recent progress report seen below.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629600658686.jpeg" alt="New public parking signs in downtown Hays indicate locations of more than 100 free public parking spaces. (Photo by City of Hays)" />
 <figcaption>New public parking signs in downtown Hays indicate locations of more than 100 free public parking spaces. (Photo by City of Hays)</figcaption>
 </figure>By BECKY KISER Hays PostNew public parking signs have been installed in downtown Hays, a recent collaborative effort of the city's public works department and Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB), along with the Downtown Hays Development Corporation (DHDC).The signs were purchased by the CVB and DHDC and installed by public works employees in the service division, according to Collin Bielser, assistant city manager."The signs will direct local traffic and visitors to more than a hundred parking spaces," Bielser said during a progress report presented during a recent city commission meeting."They look wonderful," said Sandy Jacobs, mayor. "They jump right out at you."The parks department has planted grass in the new ARC Park in Seven Hills Park, 33rd and Hillcrest, along the stormwater retention pond as well as installing erosion control blankets and a temporary irrigation system.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629600148155.jpeg" alt="Eighty-four percent of the city of Hays is within 2.5 miles of the fire department in downtown Hays.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Eighty-four percent of the city of Hays is within 2.5 miles of the fire department in downtown Hays.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>The IT (Information Technology) Department has updated its response map at the request of the fire department for an updated fire protection survey."Eighty-four percent of the city is within 2.5 road miles of the fire department for response," Bielser said. "The [Ellis] county fire station is included in this for our ISO rating."Bielser has more highlights of work and projects of city department's in his most recent progress report seen below.<figure>
 <iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KRBCv2gbh7Q"></iframe>
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

🎥 City Progress Report: New signs indicate free public parking in downtown Hays

Hays Police Department&nbsp;

On Aug. 20 at 10:25 p.m. the Hays PD received a report of a shooting in the 4500 block of Larned Circle. 

Officers from the HPD and deputies from the Ellis County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene and found a victim suffering from a gunshot wound. 

The victim was transported to Hays Medical Center where he later died from his injuries. 

The Coroner’s Office, detectives from the HPD, and agents from the KBI were called to investigate the incident. 

The ensuing investigation determined that the victim was at home with two other roommates. 

One of the victim’s roommates was in the front room preparing to make repairs to a firearm. 

While the victim’s roommate was handling the firearm, the firearm discharged, striking the victim in the head. 

The roommates immediately called 911 and waited on scene for law enforcement to respond. 

The initial findings of the investigation are that this was an accidental shooting and that there is no danger to the community.

Hays Police Department&nbsp;On Aug. 20 at 10:25 p.m. the Hays PD received a report of a shooting in the 4500 block of Larned Circle. Officers from the HPD and deputies from the Ellis County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene and found a victim suffering from a gunshot wound. The victim was transported to Hays Medical Center where he later died from his injuries. The Coroner’s Office, detectives from the HPD, and agents from the KBI were called to investigate the incident. The ensuing investigation determined that the victim was at home with two other roommates. One of the victim’s roommates was in the front room preparing to make repairs to a firearm. While the victim’s roommate was handling the firearm, the firearm discharged, striking the victim in the head. The roommates immediately called 911 and waited on scene for law enforcement to respond. The initial findings of the investigation are that this was an accidental shooting and that there is no danger to the community.

Hays police report accidental shooting death

PHILLIPS COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating three out-of-state suspects after a traffic stop led to the discovery of a large quantity of marijuana in Phillips County, according to a social media report from the sheriff's office.

Just before 9:30 a.m., Saturday, deputies were dispatched to assist a Kansas Highway Patrol trooper on Highway 383 near West 1300 Road.

A trooper had stopped an out-of-state vehicle for speeding and discovered a large quantity of marijuana in the vehicle. While taking one of the subjects into custody, the subject resisted arrest and fled into an adjacent cornfield.  The other two subjects were taken into custody without incident.

State troopers from all over northwest Kansas responded including the KHP aircraft.  Phillips County deputies, K9 Fritz and a drone were deployed searching for the subject who fled.

At approximately 10:50 a.m. the suspect was located in a creek near West 1300 and Granite Road and was taken into custody without further incident, according to the department.

All three suspects including 37-year-old&nbsp; Jesus Javier Llanna-Rodriguez 20-year-old Eduardo Vasquezperez and 21-year-old Andely-Salvador Oliva Zamora, according to online booking records, were transported to the Phillips County Jail on requested charges of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and no drug tax stamp. The suspect who fled faces additional charges of interference of a law enforcement officer and battery of a law enforcement officer.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629577142825.png" alt="Vasquezperez-photo Phillips Co." />
 <figcaption>Vasquezperez-photo Phillips Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>PHILLIPS COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating three out-of-state suspects after a traffic stop led to the discovery of a large quantity of marijuana in Phillips County, according to a social media report from the sheriff's office.Just before 9:30 a.m., Saturday, deputies were dispatched to assist a Kansas Highway Patrol trooper on Highway 383 near West 1300 Road.A trooper had stopped an out-of-state vehicle for speeding and discovered a large quantity of marijuana in the vehicle. While taking one of the subjects into custody, the subject resisted arrest and fled into an adjacent cornfield. The other two subjects were taken into custody without incident.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629577600974.png" alt="Llanna-Rodriguez -photo Phillips Co" />
 <figcaption>Llanna-Rodriguez -photo Phillips Co</figcaption>
 </figure>State troopers from all over northwest Kansas responded including the KHP aircraft. Phillips County deputies, K9 Fritz and a drone were deployed searching for the subject who fled.At approximately 10:50 a.m. the suspect was located in a creek near West 1300 and Granite Road and was taken into custody without further incident, according to the department.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629577640598.png" alt="Oliva Zamora-photo Phillips Co." />
 <figcaption>Oliva Zamora-photo Phillips Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>All three suspects including 37-year-old&nbsp; Jesus Javier Llanna-Rodriguez 20-year-old Eduardo Vasquezperez and 21-year-old Andely-Salvador Oliva Zamora, according to online booking records, were transported to the Phillips County Jail on requested charges of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and no drug tax stamp. The suspect who fled faces additional charges of interference of a law enforcement officer and battery of a law enforcement officer.

Three in custody after 'large quantity' of marijuana found

TOPEKA ‚— The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has rescinded a boil water advisory for the City of Ellis water supply system. The advisory was issued because of a loss of pressure in the distribution system and affected customers located on Washington Street, between Fourth&nbsp;Street and Seventh&nbsp;Street. Failure to maintain adequate pressure may result in a loss of chlorine residuals and bacterial contamination.

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

Laboratory testing samples collected from the City of Ellis 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, contact the water system or call KDHE at 785-296-5514. For consumer information, visit KDHE’s PWS Consumer Information webpage:&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDAsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMTA4MjEuNDQ4NzY4NDEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwOi8vd3d3LmtkaGVrcy5nb3YvcHdzL2VtZXJnZW5jeXJlc3BvbnNlL3dhdGVyX2Rpc3J1cHRpb24uaHRtP3V0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1nb3ZkZWxpdmVyeSJ9.Ph-lNTdq7Ao5WrEg14uJnjfS_goC7SnWIwhsxYpfM0Y/s/1305913623/br/111255214718-l">http://www.kdheks.gov/pws/emergencyresponse/water_disruption.htm</a>

KDHETOPEKA ‚— The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has rescinded a boil water advisory for the City of Ellis water supply system. The advisory was issued because of a loss of pressure in the distribution system and affected customers located on Washington Street, between Fourth&nbsp;Street and Seventh&nbsp;Street. Failure to maintain adequate pressure may result in a loss of chlorine residuals and bacterial contamination.Public water suppliers in Kansas take all measures necessary to notify customers quickly after a system failure or shutdown. Regardless of whether it’s the supplier or KDHE that announces a boil water advisory, KDHE will issue the rescind order following testing at a certified laboratory.Laboratory testing samples collected from the City of Ellis 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, contact the water system or call KDHE at 785-296-5514. For consumer information, visit KDHE’s PWS Consumer Information webpage:&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDAsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMTA4MjEuNDQ4NzY4NDEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwOi8vd3d3LmtkaGVrcy5nb3YvcHdzL2VtZXJnZW5jeXJlc3BvbnNlL3dhdGVyX2Rpc3J1cHRpb24uaHRtP3V0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1nb3ZkZWxpdmVyeSJ9.Ph-lNTdq7Ao5WrEg14uJnjfS_goC7SnWIwhsxYpfM0Y/s/1305913623/br/111255214718-l">http://www.kdheks.gov/pws/emergencyresponse/water_disruption.htm</a>

Boil order for city of Ellis is rescinded by KDHE

On this episode of the Post Podcast Fort Hays State University's Glen McNeil shares information about potatoes during our Nutrition, Health and Wellness segment.

<div><iframe title="Potatoes can provide a variety of delicious and nutritious meal options" allowtransparency="true" height="150" 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=mj9xm-10bcb49-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=auto&btn-skin=f6f6f6"></iframe></div>On this episode of the Post Podcast Fort Hays State University's Glen McNeil shares information about potatoes during our Nutrition, Health and Wellness segment.<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/5dd2f46c897d147ad4bb104b">To find out more about The Post Podcast, or subscribe to mobile&nbsp;</a><a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/5dd2f46c897d147ad4bb104b">notifications click here.</a>

🎙Post Podcast: Potatoes can provide a variety of delicious and nutritious meal options

The Ellis County Historical Society has worked to reassemble and assess its collection with an eye on placing temporary displays in the community.

Ellis County Historical Society Liason Brad Ricke gave a report to the Ellis County Commission on Monday.

Volunteers have moved all of the artifacts that had been stored in the Hays Daily News building back to its campus at Main and Seventh streets in Hays. The Daily News building had developed leaks in the roof and was no longer suitable to store the items.&nbsp;

Ricke said it has been important for the historical society board and staff to see all the items the society owns.

About 400 volunteer hours were involved in the move.

Items that were rediscovered included clothing; typewriters; antique chairs; the Hays City Meat Wagon, which is now on display at Big Creek Crossing; a Hays diorama that was once on display at the historic Fort Hays; Native American artifacts, furniture from the Bissing house; and historical items that were formerly held by the Sternberg Museum.

The Big Creek Crossing exhibit is titled "From the Deep."

In addition to Big Creek Crossing, the society plans to mount temporary satellite exhibits at the Ellis Railroad Museum, Ellis Law Enforcement Center, Carrico Implement and Hays Water Resources Department.

Ricke asked the commissioners if the society could also place a historical display at the Ellis County Administration building. The commission approved. Ricke said the society would present several possible ideas to the county that the society thought might be relevant to the building and offices housed in it.

The society also hopes to place displays in the county's smaller communities, including Catharine, Victoria, Munjor and Pfeifer.

The society will be disposing of old court records, which have already been digitized, to make room for more items to be stored in the red-brick former church building on Seventh Street.

Commissioner Butch Schlyer asked the society presenters when they thought the society might be able to open the brick church to the public again.&nbsp;

Pricilla Hunt, society board president, said the brick church is not handicap accessible, and to bring it up to modern standards is going to be costly.

The fire station, harness shop and Volga German home&nbsp;at the Seventh and Main campus are still available for tours. The stone church could also be made available for tours. The fire station has a restroom.

"It would be nice if we had another permanent place downtown or in the vicinity to have all of our stuff together," Hunt said, "but it's going to take time, and it's going to take some money.

"All of us have been at this since March only."&nbsp;

Ricke added, "We are going to get that answer, but we want to get to the right answer."

Ricke detailed other behind-the-scenes work that has been ongoing at the society. 

The society replaced the roof on the stone church to prevent water damage. The security system was brought back online. Repairs were made to the main building's HVAC system, and the society had the ducts cleaned in its temporary storage building.

Both county and city officials have criticized the society in the past for its lack of fundraising.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/d7962f54-bf8a-4a91-b474-d9e2acaa0ae2">RELATED STORY: Ellis County Historical Society faces challenges with new strategies</a>

The society has organized a committee to host a 50th anniversary celebration for the society. It will be Nov. 7 at the Seventh Street campus and include speakers, gunfighters, a barn dance and a raffle of commemorative firearms.

A committee has also been formed whose members will participate in the 2021 Hays Oktoberfest.

The society's membership forms have been revised, and a membership drive is underway.

The society is trying to secure more copies of "At Home in Ellis County — Volume 1," to sell to patrons.

The interim director, Amanda Rupp, as well as some board members, are enrolled in the Dane G. Hansen Foundation "How to Funraise" online courses offered this month.

Rupp is at the beginning stages of coordinating a project with local high school students on the impact of the 2020 pandemic on Ellis County youth.

She also hopes to further utilize interns from Fort Hays State University and volunteers in the society's work.

Ricke praised Rupp's work thus far, noting the society's Facebook engagements have jumped 200 percent. The society is also working on a new website.&nbsp;

The society also moved all of its bookkeeping to QuickBooks nonprofit software.

The commissioners said they were pleased with the society's progress. After initially requiring the society to make monthly updates to the commission after approving its 2022 funding, Commissioner Dean Haselhorst suggested those reports could be reduced to every other month.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629322830928.jpeg" alt="A temporary Ellis County Historical Society exhibit at the former Christopher Banks location at Big Creek Crossing in Hays." />
 <figcaption>A temporary Ellis County Historical Society exhibit at the former Christopher Banks location at Big Creek Crossing in Hays.</figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostThe Ellis County Historical Society has worked to reassemble and assess its collection with an eye on placing temporary displays in the community.Ellis County Historical Society Liason Brad Ricke gave a report to the Ellis County Commission on Monday.Volunteers have moved all of the artifacts that had been stored in the Hays Daily News building back to its campus at Main and Seventh streets in Hays. The Daily News building had developed leaks in the roof and was no longer suitable to store the items.&nbsp;Ricke said it has been important for the historical society board and staff to see all the items the society owns.About 400 volunteer hours were involved in the move.Items that were rediscovered included clothing; typewriters; antique chairs; the Hays City Meat Wagon, which is now on display at Big Creek Crossing; a Hays diorama that was once on display at the historic Fort Hays; Native American artifacts, furniture from the Bissing house; and historical items that were formerly held by the Sternberg Museum.The Big Creek Crossing exhibit is titled "From the Deep."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629323041128.jpeg" alt="Funerary hair weaving from the Ellis County Historical Society "From the Deep" exhibit that is now on display at Big Creek Crossing. The items in the exhibit were retrieved from storage at the Hays Daily News building." />
 <figcaption>Funerary hair weaving from the Ellis County Historical Society "From the Deep" exhibit that is now on display at Big Creek Crossing. The items in the exhibit were retrieved from storage at the Hays Daily News building.</figcaption>
 </figure>In addition to Big Creek Crossing, the society plans to mount temporary satellite exhibits at the Ellis Railroad Museum, Ellis Law Enforcement Center, Carrico Implement and Hays Water Resources Department.Ricke asked the commissioners if the society could also place a historical display at the Ellis County Administration building. The commission approved. Ricke said the society would present several possible ideas to the county that the society thought might be relevant to the building and offices housed in it.The society also hopes to place displays in the county's smaller communities, including Catharine, Victoria, Munjor and Pfeifer.The society will be disposing of old court records, which have already been digitized, to make room for more items to be stored in the red-brick former church building on Seventh Street.Commissioner Butch Schlyer asked the society presenters when they thought the society might be able to open the brick church to the public again.&nbsp;Pricilla Hunt, society board president, said the brick church is not handicap accessible, and to bring it up to modern standards is going to be costly.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629323295904.jpeg" alt="A Dictaphone was among the Ellis County Historical Society items recovered from storage at the Hays Daily News building. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>A Dictaphone was among the Ellis County Historical Society items recovered from storage at the Hays Daily News building. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>The fire station, harness shop and Volga German home&nbsp;at the Seventh and Main campus are still available for tours. The stone church could also be made available for tours. The fire station has a restroom."It would be nice if we had another permanent place downtown or in the vicinity to have all of our stuff together," Hunt said, "but it's going to take time, and it's going to take some money."All of us have been at this since March only."&nbsp;Ricke added, "We are going to get that answer, but we want to get to the right answer."Ricke detailed other behind-the-scenes work that has been ongoing at the society. The society replaced the roof on the stone church to prevent water damage. The security system was brought back online. Repairs were made to the main building's HVAC system, and the society had the ducts cleaned in its temporary storage building.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629323541989.jpeg" alt="&nbsp;A drum promoting Franklin D. Roosevelt that belongs to the Ellis County Historical Society was recovered from storage at the Hays Daily News building. Courtesy photo." />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;A drum promoting Franklin D. Roosevelt that belongs to the Ellis County Historical Society was recovered from storage at the Hays Daily News building. Courtesy photo.</figcaption>
 </figure>Both county and city officials have criticized the society in the past for its lack of fundraising.<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/d7962f54-bf8a-4a91-b474-d9e2acaa0ae2">RELATED STORY: Ellis County Historical Society faces challenges with new strategies</a>The society has organized a committee to host a 50th anniversary celebration for the society. It will be Nov. 7 at the Seventh Street campus and include speakers, gunfighters, a barn dance and a raffle of commemorative firearms.A committee has also been formed whose members will participate in the 2021 Hays Oktoberfest.The society's membership forms have been revised, and a membership drive is underway.The society is trying to secure more copies of "At Home in Ellis County — Volume 1," to sell to patrons.The interim director, Amanda Rupp, as well as some board members, are enrolled in the Dane G. Hansen Foundation "How to Funraise" online courses offered this month.Rupp is at the beginning stages of coordinating a project with local high school students on the impact of the 2020 pandemic on Ellis County youth.She also hopes to further utilize interns from Fort Hays State University and volunteers in the society's work.Ricke praised Rupp's work thus far, noting the society's Facebook engagements have jumped 200 percent. The society is also working on a new website.&nbsp;The society also moved all of its bookkeeping to QuickBooks nonprofit software.The commissioners said they were pleased with the society's progress. After initially requiring the society to make monthly updates to the commission after approving its 2022 funding, Commissioner Dean Haselhorst suggested those reports could be reduced to every other month.

Ellis County Historical Society sends collection into community

Summer camps, a staple of American families for generations, went international with the help of the Office of Global Partnerships at Fort Hays State University. Global Partnershipscoordinated with FHSU’s international partners and agents worldwide to organize international virtual summer camps. The program received significant interest with over 800 students registering from more than 20 countries.&nbsp;

According to Haley Williams, Program Specialist for OGP at FHSU, this summer’s virtual summer camps built upon the in-person experiences of international students during the past several years. “Due to the pandemic, we knew that international students would not be able to travel to Hays, so this necessitated a new virtual model. The outcome was that we attracted more students and generated more excitement about Fort Hays State.”&nbsp;

The goals of the Virtual summer Camp were to introduce Fort Hays State University and the community of Hays to prospective international students, building confidence in their ability to succeed in American higher education and in some cases to have their first experience with online or virtual learning. The ultimate goal was to attract prospective international students to apply and enroll in courses either on campus or online.&nbsp;

While 2020 summer camps were overall successful, Williams explained that OGP learned a great deal from the experience and worked hard to improve upon the model. The virtual camps permitted Fort Hays State to offer the experience which was both educational and fun at no cost to participants.&nbsp;

Williams explained how the camps were reorganized this year, making it possible to reach more people than in the previous summer. “First, we created two-day information sessions for each partner and then met with one or two groups each week.” With ten participating partners this year, the camps needed to be spread out through both June and July.&nbsp;

Williams continued explaining how “on Wednesdays each week throughout July we did an ‘Event’ where we had community and campus members giving presentations.” Events included a virtual walking tour of the Sternberg Museum of Natural History; the town of Hays; the residence halls at FHSU; and a presentation on American holidays and culture. These virtual events were one of the new changes for the virtual camp that allowed everyone who registered to participate while reducing the time required by presenters to duplicate their presentation.

The final addition to this year’s virtual camp, one of the components missing from the previous in person camps, and which Williams stressed as something OGP wanted to incorporate, was the ability for the camp participants to share about their own lives and cultures. She said, “on Thursday’s we did what we called ‘Meet-ups.’ This is where we achieved an interactive cultural exchange. We asked the students throughout the summer to prepare one slide per week highlighting an aspect of their own culture, their life, or their country. We split participants into breakout rooms making certain we had different cultures represented.”

With participants from so many different parts of the world, meet-ups were offered two times each week and quickly became one of the most popular parts of the camp, often with over 80 students participating in each session.&nbsp;

Luciana Mendoza, a Fort Hays State student from Paraguay working with the OGP, believes that the meet-ups are what many of the camp participants looked forward to most. She explained how “they engaged with each other, with people from other countries that had similar interests, gained improvement in learning more English and learning more about American Education as well.” Camp staff recorded as much as possible of the sessions and meet-ups. Students unable to attend a session could view the recordings at their convenience, allowing them to participate in the interactive cultural exchange experience.

Work is already underway to plan the 2022 virtual summer camps experience as OGP will continue to use new technologies to advance the successes of this year’s virtual camps and meet-ups. Plans will also include offering these international experiences during the academic year if a partner or agent expresses interest.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629320202794.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU University RelationsSummer camps, a staple of American families for generations, went international with the help of the Office of Global Partnerships at Fort Hays State University. Global Partnershipscoordinated with FHSU’s international partners and agents worldwide to organize international virtual summer camps. The program received significant interest with over 800 students registering from more than 20 countries.&nbsp;According to Haley Williams, Program Specialist for OGP at FHSU, this summer’s virtual summer camps built upon the in-person experiences of international students during the past several years. “Due to the pandemic, we knew that international students would not be able to travel to Hays, so this necessitated a new virtual model. The outcome was that we attracted more students and generated more excitement about Fort Hays State.”&nbsp;The goals of the Virtual summer Camp were to introduce Fort Hays State University and the community of Hays to prospective international students, building confidence in their ability to succeed in American higher education and in some cases to have their first experience with online or virtual learning. The ultimate goal was to attract prospective international students to apply and enroll in courses either on campus or online.&nbsp;While 2020 summer camps were overall successful, Williams explained that OGP learned a great deal from the experience and worked hard to improve upon the model. The virtual camps permitted Fort Hays State to offer the experience which was both educational and fun at no cost to participants.&nbsp;Williams explained how the camps were reorganized this year, making it possible to reach more people than in the previous summer. “First, we created two-day information sessions for each partner and then met with one or two groups each week.” With ten participating partners this year, the camps needed to be spread out through both June and July.&nbsp;Williams continued explaining how “on Wednesdays each week throughout July we did an ‘Event’ where we had community and campus members giving presentations.” Events included a virtual walking tour of the Sternberg Museum of Natural History; the town of Hays; the residence halls at FHSU; and a presentation on American holidays and culture. These virtual events were one of the new changes for the virtual camp that allowed everyone who registered to participate while reducing the time required by presenters to duplicate their presentation.The final addition to this year’s virtual camp, one of the components missing from the previous in person camps, and which Williams stressed as something OGP wanted to incorporate, was the ability for the camp participants to share about their own lives and cultures. She said, “on Thursday’s we did what we called ‘Meet-ups.’ This is where we achieved an interactive cultural exchange. We asked the students throughout the summer to prepare one slide per week highlighting an aspect of their own culture, their life, or their country. We split participants into breakout rooms making certain we had different cultures represented.”With participants from so many different parts of the world, meet-ups were offered two times each week and quickly became one of the most popular parts of the camp, often with over 80 students participating in each session.&nbsp;Luciana Mendoza, a Fort Hays State student from Paraguay working with the OGP, believes that the meet-ups are what many of the camp participants looked forward to most. She explained how “they engaged with each other, with people from other countries that had similar interests, gained improvement in learning more English and learning more about American Education as well.” Camp staff recorded as much as possible of the sessions and meet-ups. Students unable to attend a session could view the recordings at their convenience, allowing them to participate in the interactive cultural exchange experience.Work is already underway to plan the 2022 virtual summer camps experience as OGP will continue to use new technologies to advance the successes of this year’s virtual camps and meet-ups. Plans will also include offering these international experiences during the academic year if a partner or agent expresses interest.

Fort Hays State hosts international virtual camps

Let's look at the many types of bird feeders, and "squirrel proof" bird feeders, and also the seed we can put in them.

<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6g407Ru8rs8" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>Let's look at the many types of bird feeders, and "squirrel proof" bird feeders, and also the seed we can put in them.

🎥 Green & Growing 2021: For the Birds

Lack of child care options in rural Kan. threatens the future of small towns

By DAVID CONDOS <a href="https://www.hppr.org/hppr-news/2021-08-19/one-familys-stressful-search-for-child-care-exposes-a-reason-rural-kansas-is-losing-people">Kansas News Service</a>

It started with a phone call late last month.

The child care 
that Zach and Aubrey Woolf had lined up for their 10-month-old daughter 
was closing, just a couple of weeks before Aubrey started back at her 
job with the local school district.

They called over a dozen other child care providers in town and sent messages to 20 more. The Woolfs scoured a <a href="https://ks.childcareaware.org/child-care-search/" target="_blank">statewide database</a> for options in their county. But there were exactly zero openings.

“There
 just seems to be a swarm of people all trying to find open spots for 
infants, and they’re few and far between,” Zach Woolf said. “There's no 
hope.”

How dire is the situation in Hays? The Woolfs also posted their pleas to an active <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/320802471341317/" target="_blank">Facebook group</a>
 dedicated to local parents searching for child care options. In this 
northwest Kansas town of about 21,000 people, that Facebook group has 
1,400 members.

After several frantic days, the Woolfs found an 
opening for their daughter in a neighboring town 20 minutes away. It 
wasn’t ideal, but at least it was something.

Then, they got another phone call. That provider was injured in an accident and could no longer care for their daughter.

So, they crunched the numbers to see how it would affect their finances for Aubrey to quit her job.

“We
 were probably a week away from her talking to her advisor at the school
 and being like, ‘I can’t come because I have nowhere to send my 
child.’” Woolf said. “What are you supposed to do in that situation?”

It’s
 a dilemma families face across rural Kansas, where child care options 
are scarce and solutions to the chronic problem seem ever more elusive. 
For small towns desperate to attract new families and stop an exodus of 
young residents, solving the child care conundrum poses a matter of 
civic survival.

Child care scarcity squeezes communities statewide. In four-fifths of Kansas counties, <a href="https://online.flippingbook.com/view/292534183/10/" target="_blank">more than 10 children</a> compete for each open spot that can take a kid younger than three years old.

If
 finding child care is a stressful, competitive prospect in Kansas City 
and Wichita, that pales in comparison to family life in a county where 
you can count the number of day care options on one hand.

The Child Care Aware organization’s data shows 18 rural counties in Kansas have <a href="https://ks.childcareaware.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/CCC-FCC-By-County-January-2021-1.pdf" target="_blank">five or fewer</a> child care providers. Wichita County in western Kansas has only one.

And that’s before any of those precious few providers close down.

More than <a href="https://ks.childcareaware.org/point-in-time-data/" target="_blank">half</a> of Kansas counties have fewer child care options today than they had in <a href="https://online.flippingbook.com/view/876128309/" target="_blank">2019</a>. Hays, for example, lost <a href="https://stage.worklifesystems.com/Kansas?county=ellis" target="_blank">16 providers</a> over the past two years.

Bradford
 Wiles, associate professor and extension specialist in early childhood 
development at Kansas State University, said that small towns need to 
completely rethink the way they view child care.

“One of the 
things that rural areas really struggle the most with is recognizing 
child care as a utility,” he said, “as important to a rural community as
 electricity, as internet, as water.”

Wiles sees child care as an economic development issue.

If
 a town lacks options, families won’t move there or stay there. That 
means critical jobs go unfilled and the town’s tax base dwindles. And 
when families get distracted and stressed about their child’s care, that
 leads to less productivity on the job and taking more days off work to 
fill in the gaps.

It’s also an investment in the town’s next generation. When children get quality care, they’re more likely to have <a href="https://www.nichd.nih.gov/newsroom/releases/031115-podcast-reynolds" target="_blank">higher incomes</a> and be <a href="https://heckmanequation.org/resource/research-summary-lifecycle-benefits-influential-early-childhood-program/" target="_blank">healthy, productive members</a>
 of the community as adults. Wiles said that for every dollar a town 
puts into early childhood development, it gets a return of $7 in the 
long run.

“It’s a no-brainer,” he said. “We have to see it as an investment in our population, in our families.”

But towns have to want to take action.

Wiles
 said effective solutions for this problem aren’t likely to come from 
the state level, but from communities coalescing around the issue — 
taking stock of their town’s specific needs, building a plan that fits 
those needs and dedicating public and private resources to implement the
 plan.

And for that to happen, he said community members need to 
realize that failing to invest in child care hurts them — even if they 
don’t have young kids.

“Everybody does have skin in the game,” Wiles said. “It’s just a question of how much you recognize it.”

When the Woolfs saw their second 
child care option fall through a couple of weeks ago, they briefly 
considered taking on a one-hour commute to secure a spot for their 
daughter in the next county over.

But then they got a tip about a 
new child care provider moving to Hays this fall and are now scheduled 
to send her there, pending the licensing approval process.

Until 
then, they’re relying on a patchwork of support from friends and family.
 Some days, an aunt will care for their daughter. The rest of the time, 
she’ll be watched by a former coworker who had to quit her job this year
 after being unable to find day care for her son.

But Zach Woolf 
said that compared to many others in northwest Kansas, his family is 
fortunate because it already had a network of community connections.

Any new families looking to move to towns like Hays might not be so lucky.

“If you were just dropped into Hays today to try to find a day care,” he said, “it would be incredibly stressful.”

He
 said it’s common for families in Hays to sit on child care waiting 
lists for one to two years or more, especially for an infant.

A 
number of his friends and coworkers have rushed to put their children’s 
names on waiting lists as soon as they find out they’re expecting. Woolf
 said that’s becoming the norm.

“If someone’s … just found out they're pregnant,” he said, “they should really be talking about day care now.”

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629399424373.png" alt="Celia Llopis-Jepsen / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>Celia Llopis-Jepsen / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Lack of child care options in rural Kan. threatens the future of small towns</h2>By DAVID CONDOS <a href="https://www.hppr.org/hppr-news/2021-08-19/one-familys-stressful-search-for-child-care-exposes-a-reason-rural-kansas-is-losing-people">Kansas News Service</a>It started with a phone call late last month.The child care 
that Zach and Aubrey Woolf had lined up for their 10-month-old daughter 
was closing, just a couple of weeks before Aubrey started back at her 
job with the local school district.The news sent them scrambling.They called over a dozen other child care providers in town and sent messages to 20 more. The Woolfs scoured a <a href="https://ks.childcareaware.org/child-care-search/" target="_blank">statewide database</a> for options in their county. But there were exactly zero openings.“There
 just seems to be a swarm of people all trying to find open spots for 
infants, and they’re few and far between,” Zach Woolf said. “There's no 
hope.”How dire is the situation in Hays? The Woolfs also posted their pleas to an active <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/320802471341317/" target="_blank">Facebook group</a>
 dedicated to local parents searching for child care options. In this 
northwest Kansas town of about 21,000 people, that Facebook group has 
1,400 members.After several frantic days, the Woolfs found an 
opening for their daughter in a neighboring town 20 minutes away. It 
wasn’t ideal, but at least it was something.Then, they got another phone call. That provider was injured in an accident and could no longer care for their daughter.So, they crunched the numbers to see how it would affect their finances for Aubrey to quit her job.“We
 were probably a week away from her talking to her advisor at the school
 and being like, ‘I can’t come because I have nowhere to send my 
child.’” Woolf said. “What are you supposed to do in that situation?”It’s
 a dilemma families face across rural Kansas, where child care options 
are scarce and solutions to the chronic problem seem ever more elusive. 
For small towns desperate to attract new families and stop an exodus of 
young residents, solving the child care conundrum poses a matter of 
civic survival.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629399592429.png" alt="This map of Kansas counties shows how many children are vying for each open child care spot that serves infants and toddlers. Courtesy of Child Care Aware Kansas" />
 <figcaption>This map of Kansas counties shows how many children are vying for each open child care spot that serves infants and toddlers. Courtesy of Child Care Aware Kansas</figcaption>
 </figure>Wise investmentsChild care scarcity squeezes communities statewide. In four-fifths of Kansas counties, <a href="https://online.flippingbook.com/view/292534183/10/" target="_blank">more than 10 children</a> compete for each open spot that can take a kid younger than three years old.If
 finding child care is a stressful, competitive prospect in Kansas City 
and Wichita, that pales in comparison to family life in a county where 
you can count the number of day care options on one hand.The Child Care Aware organization’s data shows 18 rural counties in Kansas have <a href="https://ks.childcareaware.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/CCC-FCC-By-County-January-2021-1.pdf" target="_blank">five or fewer</a> child care providers. Wichita County in western Kansas has only one.And that’s before any of those precious few providers close down.More than <a href="https://ks.childcareaware.org/point-in-time-data/" target="_blank">half</a> of Kansas counties have fewer child care options today than they had in <a href="https://online.flippingbook.com/view/876128309/" target="_blank">2019</a>. Hays, for example, lost <a href="https://stage.worklifesystems.com/Kansas?county=ellis" target="_blank">16 providers</a> over the past two years.Bradford
 Wiles, associate professor and extension specialist in early childhood 
development at Kansas State University, said that small towns need to 
completely rethink the way they view child care.“One of the 
things that rural areas really struggle the most with is recognizing 
child care as a utility,” he said, “as important to a rural community as
 electricity, as internet, as water.”Wiles sees child care as an economic development issue.If
 a town lacks options, families won’t move there or stay there. That 
means critical jobs go unfilled and the town’s tax base dwindles. And 
when families get distracted and stressed about their child’s care, that
 leads to less productivity on the job and taking more days off work to 
fill in the gaps.It’s also an investment in the town’s next generation. When children get quality care, they’re more likely to have <a href="https://www.nichd.nih.gov/newsroom/releases/031115-podcast-reynolds" target="_blank">higher incomes</a> and be <a href="https://heckmanequation.org/resource/research-summary-lifecycle-benefits-influential-early-childhood-program/" target="_blank">healthy, productive members</a>
 of the community as adults. Wiles said that for every dollar a town 
puts into early childhood development, it gets a return of $7 in the 
long run.“It’s a no-brainer,” he said. “We have to see it as an investment in our population, in our families.”But towns have to want to take action.Wiles
 said effective solutions for this problem aren’t likely to come from 
the state level, but from communities coalescing around the issue — 
taking stock of their town’s specific needs, building a plan that fits 
those needs and dedicating public and private resources to implement the
 plan.And for that to happen, he said community members need to 
realize that failing to invest in child care hurts them — even if they 
don’t have young kids.“Everybody does have skin in the game,” Wiles said. “It’s just a question of how much you recognize it.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629399638702.png" alt="This map shows a snapshot of the child care options available in Kansas counties as of January 2021. The red dots represent center-based care and the blue squares represent home-based care. Courtesy of Child Care Aware Kansas" />
 <figcaption>This map shows a snapshot of the child care options available in Kansas counties as of January 2021. The red dots represent center-based care and the blue squares represent home-based care. Courtesy of Child Care Aware Kansas</figcaption>
 </figure>Search and searchingWhen the Woolfs saw their second 
child care option fall through a couple of weeks ago, they briefly 
considered taking on a one-hour commute to secure a spot for their 
daughter in the next county over.But then they got a tip about a 
new child care provider moving to Hays this fall and are now scheduled 
to send her there, pending the licensing approval process.Until 
then, they’re relying on a patchwork of support from friends and family.
 Some days, an aunt will care for their daughter. The rest of the time, 
she’ll be watched by a former coworker who had to quit her job this year
 after being unable to find day care for her son.But Zach Woolf 
said that compared to many others in northwest Kansas, his family is 
fortunate because it already had a network of community connections.Any new families looking to move to towns like Hays might not be so lucky.“If you were just dropped into Hays today to try to find a day care,” he said, “it would be incredibly stressful.”He
 said it’s common for families in Hays to sit on child care waiting 
lists for one to two years or more, especially for an infant.A 
number of his friends and coworkers have rushed to put their children’s 
names on waiting lists as soon as they find out they’re expecting. Woolf
 said that’s becoming the norm.“If someone’s … just found out they're pregnant,” he said, “they should really be talking about day care now.”David Condos covers western Kansas for High Plains Public Radio and the Kansas News Service. You can follow him on Twitter <a href="http://twitter.com/davidcondos" target="_blank">@davidcondos</a>.

Hays family's search for child care exposes a reason rural Kan. is losing people

By RON WILSON Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development

Today let’s meet a rural doctor who practices medicine but doesn’t have patients. You may ask, “How can that be?”

The answer is that the people he sees are more than patients – he sees them as friends and neighbors. This type of relationship with those in his care has led to a lifelong career in practicing rural medicine.&nbsp;

Last week we learned about the Community HealthCare System in northeast Kansas where Dr. Tom Walsh practices. He will retire at the end of 2021 after 46 years of practicing medicine in the rural community of Onaga, population 751 people. Now, that’s rural.

Dr. Walsh’s father Eugene was a family doctor in Onaga as well. After medical school, Eugene came to Onaga for one year to help his friend Dr. Fleckenstein – but he liked Onaga so much he never left.&nbsp;

Tom and his brother accompanied their dad on house calls. Tom decided to follow his father into the medical field. “I knew what I was getting into,” Tom said.&nbsp;

“When my folks took me to college (at Notre Dame), it was the first time I had ever been east of Kansas City,” Tom said. After graduation, he went to medical school at KU. He also met and married Marcia.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629301074554.png" alt="Dr. Tom Walsh" />
 <figcaption>Dr. Tom Walsh</figcaption>
 </figure>By RON WILSON Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural DevelopmentToday let’s meet a rural doctor who practices medicine but doesn’t have patients. You may ask, “How can that be?” The answer is that the people he sees are more than patients – he sees them as friends and neighbors. This type of relationship with those in his care has led to a lifelong career in practicing rural medicine.&nbsp; Last week we learned about the Community HealthCare System in northeast Kansas where Dr. Tom Walsh practices. He will retire at the end of 2021 after 46 years of practicing medicine in the rural community of Onaga, population 751 people. Now, that’s rural. Dr. Walsh’s father Eugene was a family doctor in Onaga as well. After medical school, Eugene came to Onaga for one year to help his friend Dr. Fleckenstein – but he liked Onaga so much he never left.&nbsp; Tom and his brother accompanied their dad on house calls. Tom decided to follow his father into the medical field. “I knew what I was getting into,” Tom said.&nbsp; “When my folks took me to college (at Notre Dame), it was the first time I had ever been east of Kansas City,” Tom said. After graduation, he went to medical school at KU. He also met and married Marcia.&nbsp; In 1975, Dr. Tom Walsh and Marcia moved to Onaga to join his father’s practice. Dr. Walsh would later become affiliated with what is now the Community HealthCare System of northeast Kansas. Marcia would rise to become the system’s chief operating officer.&nbsp; Dr. Tom, as he is affectionately known in the community, has seen lots of changes in his 46 years of practicing medicine. “There have been so many improvements in treatments,” he said.&nbsp;&nbsp;When he began, Onaga didn’t even have ambulance service.&nbsp; “One time when we needed to transport a patient to Topeka, we used the undertaker’s station wagon,” Dr. Tom said. Fortunately the patient survived, so the undertaker’s other services were not needed.&nbsp; Dr. Tom has delivered thousands of babies and cared for countless patients. He appreciates how people in the rural communities care for each other.&nbsp; Dr. Tom remembered one winter night when a man’s wife was in labor and he was trying to drive her to Onaga in a snowstorm. “He came to a huge snowdrift on Highway 16 and couldn’t get through,” Dr. Tom said. While he was stopped, a car came from the other direction carrying four K-State students. When they stopped at the snowdrift, the students learned what was going on, carried the woman around the snowdrift to their car, and drove her to the hospital in Onaga.&nbsp; “She delivered an hour-and-a-half later and all was well,” Dr. Tom said.&nbsp; Among Dr. Tom’s friends was a local police officer. “When I’d get in from the hospital at 2 or 3 in the morning, he would pull in my driveway and flash his lights at me just for fun,” Dr. Tom said.&nbsp; One day, that officer pulled over a driver, got out of his car, stepped on a beer bottle and turned his ankle so badly that he couldn’t walk. The guy he had stopped took the officer into the hospital where he saw Dr. Tom. “I got to call the police department and tell them there was a patrol car left out there,” Dr. Tom said.&nbsp; The people factor is what has kept him in Onaga and has even drawn others.&nbsp;“Somebody told me we’d never be able to recruit doctors to a small town,” Dr. Tom said.&nbsp;&nbsp;“But now, we have some of the finest young physicians anywhere.”&nbsp; Dr. Tom and Marcia have three married children and nine grandchildren. “I have been very blessed,” he said.&nbsp; For more information about the Community HealthCare System, see&nbsp;<a href="http://www.chcsks.org/">www.chcsks.org</a>.&nbsp;A doctor without patients?&nbsp;&nbsp;Another friend wrote:&nbsp;Dr. Walsh loves getting to know patients as people rather than just as medical conditions. “I don’t have patients,” Dr. Tom said. “These are neighbors, friends, colleagues, and co-workers.”&nbsp; We commend Dr. Tom and Marcia Walsh for many years of service to families in the region, and for seeing patients as people. Happy retirement, Doc.&nbsp;

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