By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has released data on the number of staff members who are vaccinated in nursing homes across the state.

Good Samaritan in Hays ranked the highest in Ellis County with a vaccination rate of 65.2 percent as of Tuesday. KDHE reported Ascension Via Christi Village had a staff vaccination rate of 55.6 percent.

Good Samaritan in Ellis had a 45.5 percent staff vaccination rate.

Some surrounding counties' nursing facilities had even lower staff vaccination rates. Red Bud Village in Plainville had a 38.1 percent staff vaccination rate. Russell Regional Hospital in Russell had a 34.3 percent staff vaccination rate, and Solomon Valley Manor in Stockton had a 28.1 percent staff vaccination rate.

The state's goal is a 90 percent staff vaccination rate across all long-term care facilities in the state, according to a press release issued Friday by the Kansas Department of Aging and Disability Services.

Only a handful of facilities in the state have reached that benchmark. The state vaccination rate for nursing home staff is&nbsp;58.1 percent per facility.

Kansas is behind the national nursing home staff vaccination rate, which is 61.1 percent.

However, long-term care residents have one of the highest vaccination rates in the state at&nbsp;86.7 percent, according to KDADS.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/6f73809c-e16f-4986-b4d2-a269947a6783">President Biden is working on regulations that would require long-term care staff to be vaccinated against COVID-19.</a>

You can see an interactive map of the state by <a href="https://kshealthdata.kdhe.ks.gov/t/BEPHI_COVID-19/views/LTCFVaccineCoverage_16299836209060/Map?%3AshowAppBanner=false&amp;%3Adisplay_count=n&amp;%3AshowVizHome=n&amp;%3Aorigin=viz_share_link&amp;%3AisGuestRedirectFromVizportal=y&amp;%3Aembed=y">clicking here</a>. The dashboard will be updated weekly on Fridays.

Area nursing home staff vaccination rates

Ellis County Good Samaritan, Hays —&nbsp;65.2 percent Ascension Via Christi Village, Hays —&nbsp;55.6 percent Good Samaritan, Ellis — 45.5 percent

Rooks County Red Bud Village, Plainville — 38.1 percent Solomon Valley Manor, Stockton — 28.1 percent

Russell County Russell Regional Hospital, Russell — 34.3 percent Trego County Trego Lemke, WaKeeney — 51.7 percent Rush County Locust Grove Village, LaCrosse — 65.2 percent

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1630435004230.jpg" alt="Photo courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostThe Kansas Department of Health and Environment has released data on the number of staff members who are vaccinated in nursing homes across the state.Good Samaritan in Hays ranked the highest in Ellis County with a vaccination rate of 65.2 percent as of Tuesday. KDHE reported Ascension Via Christi Village had a staff vaccination rate of 55.6 percent.Good Samaritan in Ellis had a 45.5 percent staff vaccination rate.Some surrounding counties' nursing facilities had even lower staff vaccination rates. Red Bud Village in Plainville had a 38.1 percent staff vaccination rate. Russell Regional Hospital in Russell had a 34.3 percent staff vaccination rate, and Solomon Valley Manor in Stockton had a 28.1 percent staff vaccination rate.The state's goal is a 90 percent staff vaccination rate across all long-term care facilities in the state, according to a press release issued Friday by the Kansas Department of Aging and Disability Services.Only a handful of facilities in the state have reached that benchmark. The state vaccination rate for nursing home staff is&nbsp;58.1 percent per facility.Kansas is behind the national nursing home staff vaccination rate, which is 61.1 percent.However, long-term care residents have one of the highest vaccination rates in the state at&nbsp;86.7 percent, according to KDADS.<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/6f73809c-e16f-4986-b4d2-a269947a6783">President Biden is working on regulations that would require long-term care staff to be vaccinated against COVID-19.</a>You can see an interactive map of the state by <a href="https://kshealthdata.kdhe.ks.gov/t/BEPHI_COVID-19/views/LTCFVaccineCoverage_16299836209060/Map?%3AshowAppBanner=false&amp;%3Adisplay_count=n&amp;%3AshowVizHome=n&amp;%3Aorigin=viz_share_link&amp;%3AisGuestRedirectFromVizportal=y&amp;%3Aembed=y">clicking here</a>. The dashboard will be updated weekly on Fridays.<h2>Area nursing home staff vaccination rates</h2>Ellis County Good Samaritan, Hays —&nbsp;65.2 percent Ascension Via Christi Village, Hays —&nbsp;55.6 percent Good Samaritan, Ellis — 45.5 percentRooks County Red Bud Village, Plainville — 38.1 percent Solomon Valley Manor, Stockton — 28.1 percent Russell County Russell Regional Hospital, Russell — 34.3 percent Trego County Trego Lemke, WaKeeney — 51.7 percent Rush County Locust Grove Village, LaCrosse — 65.2 percent

Local nursing homes behind state goal for staff COVID vaccinations

By HILLARY GAVAN <a href="https://www.beloitdailynews.com/news/local-news/memorial-concert-planned-for-frank-renato-premezzi/article_11a1ab43-ccb8-5b6c-91cd-e4df1ebfe058.html">Beloit (Wis.) Daily News</a>

BELOIT, Wis. — He was called a master 
teacher. He was charismatic, generous and filled with talent. He not 
only developed pianists, but developed people.

Beloit
 College Emeritus Professor of Music Frank Renato Premezzi passed away 
in May and a memorial concert will be held in his honor at 7 p.m. on 
Sept. 8. at First Congregational Church, 801 Bushnell St.

Premezzi’s
 teachers included Isidor Philipp, Orazio Frugoni, Beveridge Webster and
 Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli. Awarded scholarships at the Eastman and 
Juilliard schools, he received bachelor and master of science degrees at
 Juilliard, where he taught for two years in the pre-college division. 
Among other awards and honors, he won a Fulbright Scholarship and 
renewal to Italy.

He gave concerts and recitals around the
 world, and performed as a soloist with major symphony orchestras 
including the New York Philharmonic, the St. Louis Symphony, the Santa 
Cecilia Orchestra of Rome, the San Carlo Orchestra of Naples, The Teatro
 Comunale Orchestra of Bologna, the Palazzo Pitti Orchestra of Florence 
and many others.

He taught at 
Stephens College, Fort Hays Kansas State University, Southern Illinois 
University and at Beloit College from 1971 to 2014.

He
 was a visiting artist at Madison School of Music, and on occasion, 
adjunct professor at the University of Wisconsin-Rock County, Rock 
Valley College, Rockford College and Mount Scenario College. He 
presented master classes at colleges and universities as well as at 
conservatories in Paris, London and the People’s Republic of China.

For
 Beloit College Retired Music Professor Emeritus and Adjunct at the 
Center for Entrepreneurship Ian Nie, Premezzi was a teacher, colleague 
and friend with international fame and pianistic prowess.

“In the first 10 years of his tenure, he had the tightest group of young pianists I’ve ever experienced,” Nie said.

Nie
 recalled Premezzi wowing crowds in China who would always remember him 
when he would return multiple times over the years. Nie not only enjoyed
 traveling, performing and enjoying the company of Premezzi but saw him 
as a mentor who influenced his music and how he shared it.

“He
 helped define the type of teacher I became with consideration of each 
student as a singular entity. Through him I realized each individual has
 his or own needs which must be addressed individually,” Nie said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1630261436612.jpeg" alt="Frank Renato Premezzi / Courtesy Beloit Daily News" />
 <figcaption>Frank Renato Premezzi / Courtesy Beloit Daily News</figcaption>
 </figure>By HILLARY GAVAN <a href="https://www.beloitdailynews.com/news/local-news/memorial-concert-planned-for-frank-renato-premezzi/article_11a1ab43-ccb8-5b6c-91cd-e4df1ebfe058.html">Beloit (Wis.) Daily News</a>BELOIT, Wis. — He was called a master 
teacher. He was charismatic, generous and filled with talent. He not 
only developed pianists, but developed people.Beloit
 College Emeritus Professor of Music Frank Renato Premezzi passed away 
in May and a memorial concert will be held in his honor at 7 p.m. on 
Sept. 8. at First Congregational Church, 801 Bushnell St.Premezzi’s
 teachers included Isidor Philipp, Orazio Frugoni, Beveridge Webster and
 Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli. Awarded scholarships at the Eastman and 
Juilliard schools, he received bachelor and master of science degrees at
 Juilliard, where he taught for two years in the pre-college division. 
Among other awards and honors, he won a Fulbright Scholarship and 
renewal to Italy.He gave concerts and recitals around the
 world, and performed as a soloist with major symphony orchestras 
including the New York Philharmonic, the St. Louis Symphony, the Santa 
Cecilia Orchestra of Rome, the San Carlo Orchestra of Naples, The Teatro
 Comunale Orchestra of Bologna, the Palazzo Pitti Orchestra of Florence 
and many others.He taught at 
Stephens College, Fort Hays Kansas State University, Southern Illinois 
University and at Beloit College from 1971 to 2014.He
 was a visiting artist at Madison School of Music, and on occasion, 
adjunct professor at the University of Wisconsin-Rock County, Rock 
Valley College, Rockford College and Mount Scenario College. He 
presented master classes at colleges and universities as well as at 
conservatories in Paris, London and the People’s Republic of China.For
 Beloit College Retired Music Professor Emeritus and Adjunct at the 
Center for Entrepreneurship Ian Nie, Premezzi was a teacher, colleague 
and friend with international fame and pianistic prowess.“In the first 10 years of his tenure, he had the tightest group of young pianists I’ve ever experienced,” Nie said.Nie
 recalled Premezzi wowing crowds in China who would always remember him 
when he would return multiple times over the years. Nie not only enjoyed
 traveling, performing and enjoying the company of Premezzi but saw him 
as a mentor who influenced his music and how he shared it.“He
 helped define the type of teacher I became with consideration of each 
student as a singular entity. Through him I realized each individual has
 his or own needs which must be addressed individually,” Nie said.Republished with permission

Memorial concert planned for former FHSU music professor

By GREG DOERING Kansas Farm Bureau There were no surprises in the recently released 2020 census numbers that will be used to draw new lines for congressional and state senate and house districts. Kansas grew, but at a rate slower than the nation overall. Rural areas largely saw their populations dwindle while metros swelled, an ongoing trend since the industrial revolution. Overall, rural parts of the country lost 226,000 people in the past decade to urban and suburban places, which grew by more than 20 million. As a state, we’re slightly older and more diverse, overall. Beyond the obvious demographic shifts, the census numbers mean political power is shifting, too. This is worrisome not because the issues facing cities and towns are all that different from the challenges across the countryside. It’s because far too often a policy or program that works in one area is a total bust when expanded to another. Many of the challenges we face across the state are the same, from housing and childcare to taxes and labor shortages. The solutions to these are nearly as varied as the more than 2.9 million people who call Kansas home. But with fewer folks walking in the statehouse or the halls of Congress with rural backgrounds means there’s less understanding of the challenges and opportunities that exist in communities where the nearest neighbor might be a quarter-mile or more away. The rules and regulations that make sense in cities where people interact with one another more frequently are often ineffective or even counterproductive in less populated areas. While the proportional political power flowing to cities carries real risks for those of us who enjoy rural lifestyles, we still have a lot of capacity to shape the outcomes of laws. I don’t expect our big city citizens to wield their growing power over their country cousins with malice. But there’s only so many issues we have the time to fully grasp. Self-interest being what it is, we usually don’t stray too far outside our immediate neighborhood when trying to solve a problem. That’s why it’s so important to tell the story of farming and ranching, the benefits of rural living and, most importantly, why people who do none of those should listen. They’re not going to agree with you on everything, but through conversations with friends, family and business partners, greater understanding of rural issues and their solutions is possible. It’s also a good opportunity to talk about the quality of life available in the country and small towns. Most aren’t looking to give up their lives in the city, but in a world where it’s increasingly common to work anywhere, the choice of where workers live is everywhere. That means one of the primary drivers of urbanization is perhaps at its weakest point since the steam engine was invented. Technology alone won’t undo centuries of change quickly, but it’s certainly a welcome tool in reviving rural living. Not only does this mean access to jobs that allow people to stay in rural areas, but benefits like clean air and water, less stress and traffic and more privacy are certainly going to be enticing to some city folks as well. By the time the next census comes around, there’s a real chance the story will be about the dawning of the next rural migration.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574694551876.png" alt="Greg Doering&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Greg Doering&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>By GREG DOERING Kansas Farm Bureau There were no surprises in the recently released 2020 census numbers that will be used to draw new lines for congressional and state senate and house districts. Kansas grew, but at a rate slower than the nation overall. Rural areas largely saw their populations dwindle while metros swelled, an ongoing trend since the industrial revolution. Overall, rural parts of the country lost 226,000 people in the past decade to urban and suburban places, which grew by more than 20 million. As a state, we’re slightly older and more diverse, overall. Beyond the obvious demographic shifts, the census numbers mean political power is shifting, too. This is worrisome not because the issues facing cities and towns are all that different from the challenges across the countryside. It’s because far too often a policy or program that works in one area is a total bust when expanded to another. Many of the challenges we face across the state are the same, from housing and childcare to taxes and labor shortages. The solutions to these are nearly as varied as the more than 2.9 million people who call Kansas home. But with fewer folks walking in the statehouse or the halls of Congress with rural backgrounds means there’s less understanding of the challenges and opportunities that exist in communities where the nearest neighbor might be a quarter-mile or more away. The rules and regulations that make sense in cities where people interact with one another more frequently are often ineffective or even counterproductive in less populated areas. While the proportional political power flowing to cities carries real risks for those of us who enjoy rural lifestyles, we still have a lot of capacity to shape the outcomes of laws. I don’t expect our big city citizens to wield their growing power over their country cousins with malice. But there’s only so many issues we have the time to fully grasp. Self-interest being what it is, we usually don’t stray too far outside our immediate neighborhood when trying to solve a problem. That’s why it’s so important to tell the story of farming and ranching, the benefits of rural living and, most importantly, why people who do none of those should listen. They’re not going to agree with you on everything, but through conversations with friends, family and business partners, greater understanding of rural issues and their solutions is possible. It’s also a good opportunity to talk about the quality of life available in the country and small towns. Most aren’t looking to give up their lives in the city, but in a world where it’s increasingly common to work anywhere, the choice of where workers live is everywhere. That means one of the primary drivers of urbanization is perhaps at its weakest point since the steam engine was invented. Technology alone won’t undo centuries of change quickly, but it’s certainly a welcome tool in reviving rural living. Not only does this mean access to jobs that allow people to stay in rural areas, but benefits like clean air and water, less stress and traffic and more privacy are certainly going to be enticing to some city folks as well. By the time the next census comes around, there’s a real chance the story will be about the dawning of the next rural migration."Insight" is a weekly column published by Kansas Farm Bureau, the state's largest farm organization whose mission is to strengthen agriculture and the lives of Kansans through advocacy, education and service.&nbsp;

Kansas Farm Bureau Insight: The next rural migration

Three-day weather outlook

What has worked and what to see in the future,&nbsp;beef&nbsp;cattle outlook, starting newly arrived calves on feed, and the comparison of multiple castration methods in&nbsp;stocker&nbsp;cattle are among topics planned for 2021 Kansas State University&nbsp;Beef&nbsp;Stocker&nbsp;Field&nbsp;Day&nbsp;on Thursday, Sept. 30. The conference will be hosted at the KSU&nbsp;Beef&nbsp;Stocker&nbsp;Unit.&nbsp;

“We believe this year’s program will be an exceptional one,” says Dale Blasi, K-State Animal Sciences and Industry professor and&nbsp;beef&nbsp;cattle extension specialist. “The collective wisdom and experience of many producers and university professors will shed a lot of good information as our industry moves into the future.”&nbsp;

The&nbsp;day&nbsp;will start with a welcome at 9:30 a.m. and will conclude around 5 p.m.&nbsp;

Topics for this year’s agenda include: &nbsp;&nbsp;

Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact her by e-mail at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:aboor@ksu.edu">aboor@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;or calling 620-793-1910.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573141354634.png" alt="Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District." />
 <figcaption>Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District.</figcaption>
 </figure>What has worked and what to see in the future,&nbsp;beef&nbsp;cattle outlook, starting newly arrived calves on feed, and the comparison of multiple castration methods in&nbsp;stocker&nbsp;cattle are among topics planned for 2021 Kansas State University&nbsp;Beef&nbsp;Stocker&nbsp;Field&nbsp;Day&nbsp;on Thursday, Sept. 30. The conference will be hosted at the KSU&nbsp;Beef&nbsp;Stocker&nbsp;Unit.&nbsp;“We believe this year’s program will be an exceptional one,” says Dale Blasi, K-State Animal Sciences and Industry professor and&nbsp;beef&nbsp;cattle extension specialist. “The collective wisdom and experience of many producers and university professors will shed a lot of good information as our industry moves into the future.”&nbsp;The&nbsp;day&nbsp;will start with a welcome at 9:30 a.m. and will conclude around 5 p.m.&nbsp;Topics for this year’s agenda include: &nbsp;&nbsp;<ul>
 <li>What Has Worked for Us and What We See into the Future&nbsp;</li><li>Beef Cattle Outlook&nbsp;</li><li>Can You Manage BRD and Coccidiosis Effectively with Receiving Rations for Backgrounding&nbsp;Stockers&nbsp;</li><li>A Novel Approach to Starting Newly Arrived Calves on Feed&nbsp;</li><li>Comparison of Multiple Castration Methods in&nbsp;Stocker&nbsp;Cattle&nbsp; Registration is $25 and due Sept. 10. Walk-in registration is available for $35. To register go to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.asi.k-state.edu/events/stocker-conference.html" target="_blank">asi.ksu.edu/stockerfieldday</a>. For more information, contact Lois Schreiner at 785-532-1267 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lschrein@ksu.edu" target="_blank">lschrein@ksu.edu</a>.&nbsp;</li>
 </ul>Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact her by e-mail at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:aboor@ksu.edu">aboor@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;or calling 620-793-1910.&nbsp;

BOOR: Beef Stocker Field Day is this month

SHERMAN COUNTY —A Kansas man was injured in an accident just after 6 p.m. Tuesday in Sherman County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2019 Ford F250 driven by Hazen C. Deeds, 29, Goodland, was northbound on County Road 19 one mile west of Kansas 27 Highway.

The driver failed to yield at the sign at County Road 69.

A westbound 2012 Chevy Silverado driven by Randy D. Jensen, 59, Goodland, struck the Ford on the driver's side.

EMS transported Jensen to the hospital in Goodland. Deeds was not injured. The drivers were not wearing seat belts, according to the KHP.

SHERMAN COUNTY —A Kansas man was injured in an accident just after 6 p.m. Tuesday in Sherman County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2019 Ford F250 driven by Hazen C. Deeds, 29, Goodland, was northbound on County Road 19 one mile west of Kansas 27 Highway.The driver failed to yield at the sign at County Road 69.A westbound 2012 Chevy Silverado driven by Randy D. Jensen, 59, Goodland, struck the Ford on the driver's side.EMS transported Jensen to the hospital in Goodland. Deeds was not injured. The drivers were not wearing seat belts, according to the KHP.

NW Kansas man hospitalized after pickups collide

(Washington, D.C., August 31, 2021)&nbsp;– U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. joined a group of over 30 senators in sending a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hassan.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Afghanistan%20and%20GWOT%20Veterans%20Letter%20to%20Sec%20McDonough%20FINAL%208.31.21.pdf" target="_blank">bipartisan letter</a>&nbsp;to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) urging its leaders to quickly provide outreach to veterans of the Global War on Terrorism on available mental health services and resources. Their call for action comes as reports find&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thedailybeast.com/afghanistan-calls-to-veterans-suicide-hotlines-are-up-since-fall-of-kabul" target="_blank">calls to veterans’ suicide hotlines have increased</a>&nbsp;since the fall of Kabul earlier this month. The Senators’ letter highlights the brave men and women who served in Afghanistan.

“We write in light of the recent events in Afghanistan to encourage the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to quickly develop a comprehensive outreach plan to connect Afghanistan and Global War on Terrorism veterans to VA benefits and services,”&nbsp;wrote the Senators. “More than two million veterans served during the Global War on Terrorism, including more than 800,000 in Afghanistan, and these service members deserve and earned the support that they need. We appreciate the VA’s commitment to providing mental health services to all veterans and ask, in light of the current situation, that the Department accelerate its efforts to provide resources – to veterans of these recent conflicts.”

In their letter, the Senators note that veterans between the ages of 18 to 34 have the highest suicide rate among former service members and that many veterans do not use the Veterans Health Administration services which provides many mental health resources geared at preventing suicide among service members.&nbsp;

“For this reason, we ask that the VA develop a comprehensive outreach plan to connect Afghanistan and Global War on Terrorism veterans to VA benefits and services. This plan must proactively contact veterans in the coming months through means including, but not be limited to: digital correspondence, social media, phone calls, and text messages,”&nbsp;the Senators continued. “Furthermore, VA's outreach should consist of detailed information on clinical mental health services and community-based support systems, such as Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) and VA Vet Centers. For example, the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America is just one of many VSOs that helps connect veterans to services critical to mental health and overall well-being.”

In addition to Senator Marshall, co-signers of the letter include Senators Hassan (D-NH), Ernst (R-IA), Cassidy (R-LA), Warnock (D-GA), Baldwin (D-WI), Bennet (D-CO), Braun (R-IN), Cantwell (D-WA), Capito (R-WV), Casey (D-PA), Collins (R-ME), Cortez Masto (D-NV),&nbsp; Crapo (R-ID), Daines (R-MT), Durbin (D-IL), Grassley (R-IA), Hickenlooper (D-CO), Hoeven (R-ND), Kaine (D-VA), Kelly (D-AZ), Klobuchar (D-MN), Leahy (D-VT), Peters (D-MI), Portman (R-OH), Reed (D-RI), Risch (R-ID), Rosen (D-NV), Schatz (D-HI),&nbsp;Shaheen (D-NH),&nbsp;Smith (D-MN), Thune (R-SD), Van Hollen (D-MD), Warner (D-VA), and Wyden (D-OR).

<a href="https://www.hassan.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Afghanistan%20and%20GWOT%20Veterans%20Letter%20to%20Sec%20McDonough%20FINAL%208.31.21.pdf" target="_blank">Full Text of Letter:</a>

We write in light of the recent events in Afghanistan to encourage the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to quickly develop a comprehensive outreach plan to connect Afghanistan and Global War on Terrorism veterans to VA benefits and services. More than two million veterans served during the Global War on Terrorism, including more than 800,000 in Afghanistan, and these service members deserve and earned the support that they need. We appreciate the VA’s commitment to providing mental health services to all veterans and ask, in light of the current situation, that the Department accelerate its efforts to provide resources – to veterans of these recent conflicts.

The VA recently sent out correspondence with digital links to veterans encouraging them to seek help if they are experiencing distress related to their service in Afghanistan or if they need any mental health services. This is a first step, but the VA should go beyond this initial outreach. As you know, veterans aged 18 to 34 have the highest suicide rate among former service members.[1] Beyond that, the VA’s National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report repeatedly indicates that veterans, including those who served in Afghanistan, do not use Veterans Health Administration services aimed at decreasing suicidal ideation and suicide attempts.

For this reason, we ask that the VA develop a comprehensive outreach plan to connect Afghanistan and Global War on Terrorism veterans to VA benefits and services. This plan must proactively contact veterans in the coming months through means including, but not be limited to: digital correspondence, social media, phone calls, and text messages. Furthermore, VA's outreach should consist of detailed information on clinical mental health services and community-based support systems, such as Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) and VA Vet Centers. For example, the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America is just one of many VSOs that helps connect veterans to services critical to mental health and overall well-being. Emphasis should also be placed on pairing veterans with localized support and resources.

As a country, we must keep the physical and mental wellbeing of our veterans at the forefront of our minds and efforts. Especially given the constant media coverage and disturbing images coming out of Afghanistan, we ask for your commitment to developing a comprehensive outreach plan for our Global War on Terrorism, and specifically our Afghanistan veterans. We must fulfill our obligation to those who served and never forget their sacrifices.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1619021116109.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>(Washington, D.C., August 31, 2021)&nbsp;– U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. joined a group of over 30 senators in sending a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hassan.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Afghanistan%20and%20GWOT%20Veterans%20Letter%20to%20Sec%20McDonough%20FINAL%208.31.21.pdf" target="_blank">bipartisan letter</a>&nbsp;to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) urging its leaders to quickly provide outreach to veterans of the Global War on Terrorism on available mental health services and resources. Their call for action comes as reports find&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thedailybeast.com/afghanistan-calls-to-veterans-suicide-hotlines-are-up-since-fall-of-kabul" target="_blank">calls to veterans’ suicide hotlines have increased</a>&nbsp;since the fall of Kabul earlier this month. The Senators’ letter highlights the brave men and women who served in Afghanistan.“We write in light of the recent events in Afghanistan to encourage the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to quickly develop a comprehensive outreach plan to connect Afghanistan and Global War on Terrorism veterans to VA benefits and services,”&nbsp;wrote the Senators. “More than two million veterans served during the Global War on Terrorism, including more than 800,000 in Afghanistan, and these service members deserve and earned the support that they need. We appreciate the VA’s commitment to providing mental health services to all veterans and ask, in light of the current situation, that the Department accelerate its efforts to provide resources – to veterans of these recent conflicts.”In their letter, the Senators note that veterans between the ages of 18 to 34 have the highest suicide rate among former service members and that many veterans do not use the Veterans Health Administration services which provides many mental health resources geared at preventing suicide among service members.&nbsp;“For this reason, we ask that the VA develop a comprehensive outreach plan to connect Afghanistan and Global War on Terrorism veterans to VA benefits and services. This plan must proactively contact veterans in the coming months through means including, but not be limited to: digital correspondence, social media, phone calls, and text messages,”&nbsp;the Senators continued. “Furthermore, VA's outreach should consist of detailed information on clinical mental health services and community-based support systems, such as Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) and VA Vet Centers. For example, the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America is just one of many VSOs that helps connect veterans to services critical to mental health and overall well-being.”In addition to Senator Marshall, co-signers of the letter include Senators Hassan (D-NH), Ernst (R-IA), Cassidy (R-LA), Warnock (D-GA), Baldwin (D-WI), Bennet (D-CO), Braun (R-IN), Cantwell (D-WA), Capito (R-WV), Casey (D-PA), Collins (R-ME), Cortez Masto (D-NV),&nbsp; Crapo (R-ID), Daines (R-MT), Durbin (D-IL), Grassley (R-IA), Hickenlooper (D-CO), Hoeven (R-ND), Kaine (D-VA), Kelly (D-AZ), Klobuchar (D-MN), Leahy (D-VT), Peters (D-MI), Portman (R-OH), Reed (D-RI), Risch (R-ID), Rosen (D-NV), Schatz (D-HI),&nbsp;Shaheen (D-NH),&nbsp;Smith (D-MN), Thune (R-SD), Van Hollen (D-MD), Warner (D-VA), and Wyden (D-OR).<a href="https://www.hassan.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Afghanistan%20and%20GWOT%20Veterans%20Letter%20to%20Sec%20McDonough%20FINAL%208.31.21.pdf" target="_blank">Full Text of Letter:</a>Dear Secretary McDonough:We write in light of the recent events in Afghanistan to encourage the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to quickly develop a comprehensive outreach plan to connect Afghanistan and Global War on Terrorism veterans to VA benefits and services. More than two million veterans served during the Global War on Terrorism, including more than 800,000 in Afghanistan, and these service members deserve and earned the support that they need. We appreciate the VA’s commitment to providing mental health services to all veterans and ask, in light of the current situation, that the Department accelerate its efforts to provide resources – to veterans of these recent conflicts.The VA recently sent out correspondence with digital links to veterans encouraging them to seek help if they are experiencing distress related to their service in Afghanistan or if they need any mental health services. This is a first step, but the VA should go beyond this initial outreach. As you know, veterans aged 18 to 34 have the highest suicide rate among former service members.[1] Beyond that, the VA’s National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report repeatedly indicates that veterans, including those who served in Afghanistan, do not use Veterans Health Administration services aimed at decreasing suicidal ideation and suicide attempts.For this reason, we ask that the VA develop a comprehensive outreach plan to connect Afghanistan and Global War on Terrorism veterans to VA benefits and services. This plan must proactively contact veterans in the coming months through means including, but not be limited to: digital correspondence, social media, phone calls, and text messages. Furthermore, VA's outreach should consist of detailed information on clinical mental health services and community-based support systems, such as Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) and VA Vet Centers. For example, the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America is just one of many VSOs that helps connect veterans to services critical to mental health and overall well-being. Emphasis should also be placed on pairing veterans with localized support and resources.As a country, we must keep the physical and mental wellbeing of our veterans at the forefront of our minds and efforts. Especially given the constant media coverage and disturbing images coming out of Afghanistan, we ask for your commitment to developing a comprehensive outreach plan for our Global War on Terrorism, and specifically our Afghanistan veterans. We must fulfill our obligation to those who served and never forget their sacrifices.

Sen. Marshall calls on VA to address impact of Afghanistan withdrawal 

TOPEKA&nbsp;– To encourage vaccinations and mitigate the spread of COVID-19, Governor Laura Kelly and&nbsp;Dillons&nbsp;Health today launched a new vaccine incentive program. All newly vaccinated Kansans 12+ are eligible to receive $50 per dose, $100 total.

“Getting every eligible Kansan vaccinated is critical to our efforts to slow the spread of the virus, protect our businesses, and keep kids in school,”&nbsp;Governor Kelly said.&nbsp;“This incentive program is a another tool to support our ongoing vaccine efforts. I want to thank&nbsp;Dillons&nbsp;officials for their partnership and their commitment to the communities they serve.”

“Since day one of this pandemic,&nbsp;Dillons’ most urgent priority has been the health and safety of our associates, customers, and communities,”&nbsp;said&nbsp;Steve Dreher,&nbsp;Dillons&nbsp;Stores Division President. “Together with Governor Kelly, we are pleased to extend this incentive as a means to inspire more individuals to get vaccinated and help our Kansas communities move forward.”

Vaccines will be administered in the pharmacies of the select&nbsp;Dillons&nbsp;locations listed below. Gift cards will be available on a first-come first-serve basis; Kansans who receive their vaccines at the select&nbsp;Dillons&nbsp;locations listed below will receive a form and a pre-stamped envelope after each dose. Once KDHE receives the completed form, a $50 Visa gift card will be mailed to the mailing address provided in the form, while gift card supplies last.

COVID-19 vaccines are provided at no cost; if recipients have insurance they should present their insurance card, but if recipients do not have insurance the vaccine will still be provided at no cost. All Kansans 12+ are eligible for the $100 incentive. No appointment required.

TOPEKA&nbsp;– To encourage vaccinations and mitigate the spread of COVID-19, Governor Laura Kelly and&nbsp;Dillons&nbsp;Health today launched a new vaccine incentive program. All newly vaccinated Kansans 12+ are eligible to receive $50 per dose, $100 total.“Getting every eligible Kansan vaccinated is critical to our efforts to slow the spread of the virus, protect our businesses, and keep kids in school,”&nbsp;Governor Kelly said.&nbsp;“This incentive program is a another tool to support our ongoing vaccine efforts. I want to thank&nbsp;Dillons&nbsp;officials for their partnership and their commitment to the communities they serve.”“Since day one of this pandemic,&nbsp;Dillons’ most urgent priority has been the health and safety of our associates, customers, and communities,”&nbsp;said&nbsp;Steve Dreher,&nbsp;Dillons&nbsp;Stores Division President. “Together with Governor Kelly, we are pleased to extend this incentive as a means to inspire more individuals to get vaccinated and help our Kansas communities move forward.”Vaccines will be administered in the pharmacies of the select&nbsp;Dillons&nbsp;locations listed below. Gift cards will be available on a first-come first-serve basis; Kansans who receive their vaccines at the select&nbsp;Dillons&nbsp;locations listed below will receive a form and a pre-stamped envelope after each dose. Once KDHE receives the completed form, a $50 Visa gift card will be mailed to the mailing address provided in the form, while gift card supplies last.COVID-19 vaccines are provided at no cost; if recipients have insurance they should present their insurance card, but if recipients do not have insurance the vaccine will still be provided at no cost. All Kansans 12+ are eligible for the $100 incentive. No appointment required.Dillons&nbsp;locationsEllis County:<ul>
 <li>1902 Vine Street, Hays, KS 67601</li><li>517 West 27th&nbsp;Street, Hays, KS 67601</li>
 </ul>Saline County:<ul>
 <li>2350 Plane Avenue, Salina, KS 67401</li><li>1235 East Cloud Street, Salina, KS 67401</li><li>1201 West Crawford, Salina, KS 67401</li>
 </ul>Thomas County:<ul>
 <li>1605 South Range Avenue, Colby, KS 67701</li>
 </ul>Barton County:<ul>
 <li>4107 10th&nbsp;Street, Great Bend, KS 67530</li>
 </ul>

Kansans vaccinated at select Dillons eligible for $100

On this episode of the Post Podcast Hays Chamber president and CEO Sarah Wasinger along with optometrist, Nicholas Mondero from Family Eye Care share details about the upcoming Business Showcase Challenge.

<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="Hays Chamber‘s next business showcase begins Friday" 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=yixbx-10cb0b8-pb&from=pb6admin&square=1&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=auto&btn-skin=3267a3&size=300" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>On this episode of the Post Podcast Hays Chamber president and CEO Sarah Wasinger along with optometrist, Nicholas Mondero from Family Eye Care share details about the upcoming Business Showcase Challenge.<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: Hays Chamber‘s next business showcase begins Friday

🏈 Watch This Week's Tiger Talk

There’s a lot of talk right now about a four-day work week, both globally and here in the United States. In Iceland, over 80% of the workforce now has the four-day work week as an option, and the concept is catching on. Spain, New Zealand and Japan are giving it a shot, and a California congressman recently introduced legislation to make the 4-day work week happen here at home.

Could America be next? Not so fast, folks.&nbsp;

What Exactly is the 4-Day Work Week?&nbsp;

A four-day work week means people are working 32- to 36-hour weeks (maybe even less)—not full 40-hour weeks. That makes this concept different from shift work, where people work fewer days but still fit 40 hours into the work week. With a four-day work week, you’re guaranteed a three-day weekend&nbsp;every week.&nbsp;And did I mention that the pay doesn’t decrease? That’s right, you still get the same salary or hourly pay as if you’re working a full five days.

You might be saying, “You had me at three-day weekend!”&nbsp;Or maybe you’re wondering how productive people can be if they’re only working four days. Apparently, a four-day work week can make&nbsp;some&nbsp;people more productive. At least, that’s what studies showed in Iceland, where a number of workers say they feel less stressed and burned out. The study lasted from 2015 to 2019, and cut back on workers’ hours without cutting down on their income.

Those employees said having shorter hours actually improved the quality of their work,&nbsp;and&nbsp;they had the energy to do other things away from their jobs. They reported better overall attitudes, because they were coming to work fully present instead of running on empty.

The more rest you can get, the more likely you’ll be able to avoid feeling&nbsp;overworked. The benefits from this are huge for your mental health&nbsp;and&nbsp;the quality of your work. The less workplace burnout you feel, the more likely you are to stay invested in your job and produce quality results.

If you know you only have four days to get stuff done, you might be more careful about how you schedule your days, too. You might try harder to stay focused and have fewer interruptions. If you’ve been taking it easy and phoning it in on Fridays, a four-day work week might be the kick in the pants you need.

Sure, having a longer weekend might be great. But the truth is a four-day work week gives you less time to get your work done. That’s the harsh reality. If you’re only working four days a week, the pressure is on to jam-pack all you can into those four days. If you’re pressed to cram as much work and as many meetings as possible into only four days’ time, your&nbsp;stress levels&nbsp;could be higher than when you were working a five-day week.

Let’s take a moment to think about customers, too. This is a&nbsp;big&nbsp;issue. After all, five-day work weeks are the norm for most people, so it makes sense that the people you serve would expect it from you and your business. Suddenly having to deal with an extra day where you and your company aren’t available could lead to lots of unsatisfied customers.

Will a four-day work week happen in America?&nbsp;Don’t hold your breath. Traditional work situations may have morphed some since the pandemic, but it would take a lot&nbsp;to convince most businesses to go for this change.

<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/ken-coleman" target="_blank">Ken Coleman&nbsp;</a>is the nationally syndicated radio host of The Ken Coleman Show and No. 1 national best-selling author. He has been featured in Forbes, appeared on Fox News, Fox Business Network, and the Rachel Ray Show. Since 2014, he has served at Ramsey Solutions, where he offers expert advice to help thousands of people every day discover what they were meant to do and how to land their dream job. Ken’s newest book,&nbsp;FromPaycheck to Purpose, publishes on Nov. 9, 2021.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598543766283.jpeg" alt="Ken Coleman" />
 <figcaption>Ken Coleman</figcaption>
 </figure>By KEN COLEMANThere’s a lot of talk right now about a four-day work week, both globally and here in the United States. In Iceland, over 80% of the workforce now has the four-day work week as an option, and the concept is catching on. Spain, New Zealand and Japan are giving it a shot, and a California congressman recently introduced legislation to make the 4-day work week happen here at home.Could America be next? Not so fast, folks.&nbsp;What Exactly is the 4-Day Work Week?&nbsp;A four-day work week means people are working 32- to 36-hour weeks (maybe even less)—not full 40-hour weeks. That makes this concept different from shift work, where people work fewer days but still fit 40 hours into the work week. With a four-day work week, you’re guaranteed a three-day weekend&nbsp;every week.&nbsp;And did I mention that the pay doesn’t decrease? That’s right, you still get the same salary or hourly pay as if you’re working a full five days.You might be saying, “You had me at three-day weekend!”&nbsp;Or maybe you’re wondering how productive people can be if they’re only working four days. Apparently, a four-day work week can make&nbsp;some&nbsp;people more productive. At least, that’s what studies showed in Iceland, where a number of workers say they feel less stressed and burned out. The study lasted from 2015 to 2019, and cut back on workers’ hours without cutting down on their income.Those employees said having shorter hours actually improved the quality of their work,&nbsp;and&nbsp;they had the energy to do other things away from their jobs. They reported better overall attitudes, because they were coming to work fully present instead of running on empty.Some of the prosThe more rest you can get, the more likely you’ll be able to avoid feeling&nbsp;overworked. The benefits from this are huge for your mental health&nbsp;and&nbsp;the quality of your work. The less workplace burnout you feel, the more likely you are to stay invested in your job and produce quality results.If you know you only have four days to get stuff done, you might be more careful about how you schedule your days, too. You might try harder to stay focused and have fewer interruptions. If you’ve been taking it easy and phoning it in on Fridays, a four-day work week might be the kick in the pants you need.Some of the cons&nbsp;Sure, having a longer weekend might be great. But the truth is a four-day work week gives you less time to get your work done. That’s the harsh reality. If you’re only working four days a week, the pressure is on to jam-pack all you can into those four days. If you’re pressed to cram as much work and as many meetings as possible into only four days’ time, your&nbsp;stress levels&nbsp;could be higher than when you were working a five-day week.Let’s take a moment to think about customers, too. This is a&nbsp;big&nbsp;issue. After all, five-day work weeks are the norm for most people, so it makes sense that the people you serve would expect it from you and your business. Suddenly having to deal with an extra day where you and your company aren’t available could lead to lots of unsatisfied customers.Will a four-day work week happen in America?&nbsp;Don’t hold your breath. Traditional work situations may have morphed some since the pandemic, but it would take a lot&nbsp;to convince most businesses to go for this change.<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/ken-coleman" target="_blank">Ken Coleman&nbsp;</a>is the nationally syndicated radio host of The Ken Coleman Show and No. 1 national best-selling author. He has been featured in Forbes, appeared on Fox News, Fox Business Network, and the Rachel Ray Show. Since 2014, he has served at Ramsey Solutions, where he offers expert advice to help thousands of people every day discover what they were meant to do and how to land their dream job. Ken’s newest book,&nbsp;FromPaycheck to Purpose, publishes on Nov. 9, 2021.&nbsp;&nbsp;

COLEMAN: A 4-day work week? Don’t hold your breath

Hays program to accept applications from Ellis County, Kan., residents

The <a href="https://www.firstcallelliscounty.com/giving">First Step Housing Project </a>opened officially on Tuesday.

The Hays Chamber of Commerce sponsored a ribbon-cutting at the new transitional housing unit at 607 E. 13th.

Linda Mills, First Call for Help director, said the program could start accepting clients as soon as last Friday.

The remodeled space includes four bedrooms with bunk beds, as well as a shared commons area with a kitchen and laundry facilities.&nbsp; The project can accommodate eight to 12 people.

The program is meant for people who already live in Ellis County, Kan., but are facing homelessness. The program provides a place to stay for parents and children, couples or single women for up to six months.

During that time, participants will save toward rental deposits or pay off utility bills so they can get into their own housing.

Participants must complete an application process, which includes an interview and drug/alcohol screening.

The program will offer a personal finance course for participants.

The program received two donated computers and has more computers on loan from the Kansasworks program.

Mills said the need for housing assistance in the community is great.

"We have a lot of people who are coming into the office asking if we can put them in a house," Mills said. "A friend has kicked them out. ...

"For those people, it's going to mean a lot because it is going to give them a chance to get everything set up, look for their rental. We'll work on budgets with them. We will work on Renting 101. ... There will be supportive services."

The housing unit will not be staffed 24/7, but staff will be on call if they are needed. The housing unit has a keyless code lock, which can be rest when a participant moves out. The housing unit is also equipped with security cameras.

Homelessness often looks different in Hays than in major metro areas, Mills said. Instead of seeing homeless people on the streets, you may see people living in vehicles or doubling up with other families.

"It can be problematic," Mills said. "There are issues of abuse that might come up, sleeping areas in the middle of the room with no privacy. We have a lot of that in the school district. They keep a list of students who are at risk and may already be staying with other people."

The remodel program cost $250,000. The program received federal CARES funds when the nonprofit had to cancel fundraisers in 2020 because of the pandemic.

The rest of the funds came from grants and private donations.&nbsp;Donors contributing $5,000 and more include the Robert E. and Patricia Schmidt Foundation, Dane G. Hansen Foundation, Ellis County Ministerial Alliance, Union Pacific Foundation, United Methodist Foundation, Heartland Community Foundation, Ellis County Bar Association and two anonymous donors. 

The Wonder Women League donated $2,500 toward the matching funds needed for the Schmidt Foundation gift.

The housing project has been in the First Call for Help strategic plan since 2015. First Call for Help bought its current building in 2017. Work began on the remodel for the First Step project in 2020.

The program is still taking monetary donations and has a wish list for items still needed for the housing project on its<a href="https://www.firstcallelliscounty.com/operations-manual">&nbsp;website</a>.

Applications for the housing project are available by calling 785-623-2800. You must be a current resident of Ellis County, Kan., to apply.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629915774769.jpeg" alt="From left: Jayne Inlow, Hays Chamber; Marie Froelich, Chamber ambassador and Wonder Women League member; Sarah-Renee Moritz, Hays Chamber ambassador and Wonder Women League member; Laura Shoaff, First Call for Help office assistant/program coordinator; Sarah Wasinger, Hays Chamber president/CEO; Laura Allen, First Call for Help client services specialist; Linda Mills, First Call for Help executive director; Terri Braun, First Call for Help board member; Dennis Wilson,&nbsp;First Call for Help board member; and Callie&nbsp;Kolacny, Chamber ambassador; cut a ribbon Tuesday on the First Step Housing Project at&nbsp;607 E. 13th St. The program will help Ellis County residents who are facing homelessness." />
 <figcaption>From left: Jayne Inlow, Hays Chamber; Marie Froelich, Chamber ambassador and Wonder Women League member; Sarah-Renee Moritz, Hays Chamber ambassador and Wonder Women League member; Laura Shoaff, First Call for Help office assistant/program coordinator; Sarah Wasinger, Hays Chamber president/CEO; Laura Allen, First Call for Help client services specialist; Linda Mills, First Call for Help executive director; Terri Braun, First Call for Help board member; Dennis Wilson,&nbsp;First Call for Help board member; and Callie&nbsp;Kolacny, Chamber ambassador; cut a ribbon Tuesday on the First Step Housing Project at&nbsp;607 E. 13th St. The program will help Ellis County residents who are facing homelessness.</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Hays program to accept applications from Ellis County, Kan., residents</h2>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostThe <a href="https://www.firstcallelliscounty.com/giving">First Step Housing Project </a>opened officially on Tuesday.The Hays Chamber of Commerce sponsored a ribbon-cutting at the new transitional housing unit at 607 E. 13th.Linda Mills, First Call for Help director, said the program could start accepting clients as soon as last Friday.The remodeled space includes four bedrooms with bunk beds, as well as a shared commons area with a kitchen and laundry facilities.&nbsp; The project can accommodate eight to 12 people.The program is meant for people who already live in Ellis County, Kan., but are facing homelessness. The program provides a place to stay for parents and children, couples or single women for up to six months.During that time, participants will save toward rental deposits or pay off utility bills so they can get into their own housing.Participants must complete an application process, which includes an interview and drug/alcohol screening.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629915899259.jpeg" alt="Dennis Wilson, First Call for Help board member, discusses the new First Step Housing Project, with Shuan Musil, city commissioner, and Marie Froelich, Wonder Women League. The three are standing in one of the project's bedrooms. The project can accommodate eight to 12 people." />
 <figcaption>Dennis Wilson, First Call for Help board member, discusses the new First Step Housing Project, with Shuan Musil, city commissioner, and Marie Froelich, Wonder Women League. The three are standing in one of the project's bedrooms. The project can accommodate eight to 12 people.</figcaption>
 </figure>The program will offer a personal finance course for participants.The program received two donated computers and has more computers on loan from the Kansasworks program.Mills said the need for housing assistance in the community is great."We have a lot of people who are coming into the office asking if we can put them in a house," Mills said. "A friend has kicked them out. ..."For those people, it's going to mean a lot because it is going to give them a chance to get everything set up, look for their rental. We'll work on budgets with them. We will work on Renting 101. ... There will be supportive services."The housing unit will not be staffed 24/7, but staff will be on call if they are needed. The housing unit has a keyless code lock, which can be rest when a participant moves out. The housing unit is also equipped with security cameras.Homelessness often looks different in Hays than in major metro areas, Mills said. Instead of seeing homeless people on the streets, you may see people living in vehicles or doubling up with other families."It can be problematic," Mills said. "There are issues of abuse that might come up, sleeping areas in the middle of the room with no privacy. We have a lot of that in the school district. They keep a list of students who are at risk and may already be staying with other people."The remodel program cost $250,000. The program received federal CARES funds when the nonprofit had to cancel fundraisers in 2020 because of the pandemic.The rest of the funds came from grants and private donations.&nbsp;Donors contributing $5,000 and more include the Robert E. and Patricia Schmidt Foundation, Dane G. Hansen Foundation, Ellis County Ministerial Alliance, Union Pacific Foundation, United Methodist Foundation, Heartland Community Foundation, Ellis County Bar Association and two anonymous donors. The Wonder Women League donated $2,500 toward the matching funds needed for the Schmidt Foundation gift.The housing project has been in the First Call for Help strategic plan since 2015. First Call for Help bought its current building in 2017. Work began on the remodel for the First Step project in 2020.The program is still taking monetary donations and has a wish list for items still needed for the housing project on its<a href="https://www.firstcallelliscounty.com/operations-manual">&nbsp;website</a>.Applications for the housing project are available by calling 785-623-2800. You must be a current resident of Ellis County, Kan., to apply.

First Step Housing Project open, accepting applications

A government agency you may not have heard of got busy over the weekend monitoring offshore oil and gas operations in the Gulf of Mexico as hurricane Ida blew through. The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement activated its Hurricane Response Team, which works with operators and other government agencies until the storm is no longer a threat. BSEE says by Sunday afternoon personnel were evacuated from 288 production platforms and 11 drilling rigs in the Gulf. Another ten of the so-called dynamically-positioned rigs were moved out of the storm's path. The agency reports operators have shut in more than 95% of crude production and 93% of natural gas production in the Gulf. On the heels of the worst weekly losses since May, crude-oil prices last week posted the best weekly gains in over a year. Both the New York and London benchmarks gained 11%, their biggest weekly gains since June of last year. Kansas Common crude at CHS in McPherson is fetching $59 per barrel, after increasing a dollar and a quarter on Friday. Current prices are $5.50 higher than a week ago, but are $4.75 lower than at the first of the month. Baker Hughes reported 508 active rigs across the U.S., an increase of five oil rigs. Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma was each up one, while the county in Wyoming was up two for the week. The Rig Count in Kansas was up two in west of Wichita at 26 active rigs. The count east of Wichita was unchanged at eight rigs. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service reports drilling underway on one lease and about to commence on another in Barton County. Drilling was also underway on a lease in Ellis County. Operators completed two wells in Barton County and one in Ellis County last week. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service reports 20 newly-completed wells statewide, and 528 so far this year. Kansas regulators approved 33 new drilling permits, 22 east of Wichita and 11 in Western Kansas, &nbsp;including one new drilling location in Ellis County. There are 660 drilling permits in The Sunflower State so far this year. The Energy Information Administration on Wednesday reported a decline in U.S. crude-oil inventories of three million barrels from the previous week. At 432.6 million barrels, current stockpiles are about six percent below the five-year average for this time of year. EIA said U.S. crude production decreased slightly last week to just over 11.4 million barrels per day. That's down about 5,000 barrels per day from the week before, but nearly half a million barrels higher than the same week last year. The government reported a decline in U.S. crude imports last week, down to 6.2 million barrels per day. Over the last four weeks, imports have averaged nearly nine percent higher than the same period a year ago. The government reports the lowest number of drilled-but-uncompleted (DUC) wells since November of 2017. The decline in DUCs reflects an increase in completions, while new well drilling activity remains low. The Energy Information Administration says that's contributing to increases in Permian Basin production. The report cautions dwindling DUC inventories could limit production growth in coming months. Oil-by-rail shipments were down slightly last week. The Association of American Railroads reports 10,308 tanker cars hauling petroleum during the week through August 21st. That's down six tankers from the week before and about two percent lower than a year earlier. The spike in crude-oil shipments by rail in Canada continues, increasing 420 tankers over the week before and 43% higher than a year ago. For the second time in two months, an offshore platform operated by Mexico's state-run PEMEX oil company exploded into flames. At least one oil worker died; five others were reported missing. Reuters reports the fire cut the company's supplies of natural gas used for re-injection, and as a result cut its total crude-oil production by 444,000 barrels per day. Saudi Arabia, the world's biggest oil exporter, was hit hard last year as oil prices plummeted. They are turning that around now as crude prices have risen by more than 30% since the start of the year. The value of Saudi Arabia's oil exports more than doubled in June. Official data cited by Reuters show Saudi oil-export income increased 123% to $16.4 billion from a year earlier. Saudi energy giant Aramco has seen its profits jump by nearly four times, boosted by rising prices. The world's biggest oil producer said net income rose by 288% to over $25 BILLION for the second quarter. The seven-year head of Libya's embattled National Oil Corp reportedly left the country on a business trip without approval. That apparent violation of policy has reportedly cost him his job, at least for now.

By JOHN P. TRETBARA government agency you may not have heard of got busy over the weekend monitoring offshore oil and gas operations in the Gulf of Mexico as hurricane Ida blew through. The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement activated its Hurricane Response Team, which works with operators and other government agencies until the storm is no longer a threat. BSEE says by Sunday afternoon personnel were evacuated from 288 production platforms and 11 drilling rigs in the Gulf. Another ten of the so-called dynamically-positioned rigs were moved out of the storm's path. The agency reports operators have shut in more than 95% of crude production and 93% of natural gas production in the Gulf. On the heels of the worst weekly losses since May, crude-oil prices last week posted the best weekly gains in over a year. Both the New York and London benchmarks gained 11%, their biggest weekly gains since June of last year. Kansas Common crude at CHS in McPherson is fetching $59 per barrel, after increasing a dollar and a quarter on Friday. Current prices are $5.50 higher than a week ago, but are $4.75 lower than at the first of the month. Baker Hughes reported 508 active rigs across the U.S., an increase of five oil rigs. Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma was each up one, while the county in Wyoming was up two for the week. The Rig Count in Kansas was up two in west of Wichita at 26 active rigs. The count east of Wichita was unchanged at eight rigs. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service reports drilling underway on one lease and about to commence on another in Barton County. Drilling was also underway on a lease in Ellis County. Operators completed two wells in Barton County and one in Ellis County last week. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service reports 20 newly-completed wells statewide, and 528 so far this year. Kansas regulators approved 33 new drilling permits, 22 east of Wichita and 11 in Western Kansas, &nbsp;including one new drilling location in Ellis County. There are 660 drilling permits in The Sunflower State so far this year. The Energy Information Administration on Wednesday reported a decline in U.S. crude-oil inventories of three million barrels from the previous week. At 432.6 million barrels, current stockpiles are about six percent below the five-year average for this time of year. EIA said U.S. crude production decreased slightly last week to just over 11.4 million barrels per day. That's down about 5,000 barrels per day from the week before, but nearly half a million barrels higher than the same week last year. The government reported a decline in U.S. crude imports last week, down to 6.2 million barrels per day. Over the last four weeks, imports have averaged nearly nine percent higher than the same period a year ago. The government reports the lowest number of drilled-but-uncompleted (DUC) wells since November of 2017. The decline in DUCs reflects an increase in completions, while new well drilling activity remains low. The Energy Information Administration says that's contributing to increases in Permian Basin production. The report cautions dwindling DUC inventories could limit production growth in coming months. Oil-by-rail shipments were down slightly last week. The Association of American Railroads reports 10,308 tanker cars hauling petroleum during the week through August 21st. That's down six tankers from the week before and about two percent lower than a year earlier. The spike in crude-oil shipments by rail in Canada continues, increasing 420 tankers over the week before and 43% higher than a year ago. For the second time in two months, an offshore platform operated by Mexico's state-run PEMEX oil company exploded into flames. At least one oil worker died; five others were reported missing. Reuters reports the fire cut the company's supplies of natural gas used for re-injection, and as a result cut its total crude-oil production by 444,000 barrels per day. Saudi Arabia, the world's biggest oil exporter, was hit hard last year as oil prices plummeted. They are turning that around now as crude prices have risen by more than 30% since the start of the year. The value of Saudi Arabia's oil exports more than doubled in June. Official data cited by Reuters show Saudi oil-export income increased 123% to $16.4 billion from a year earlier. Saudi energy giant Aramco has seen its profits jump by nearly four times, boosted by rising prices. The world's biggest oil producer said net income rose by 288% to over $25 BILLION for the second quarter. The seven-year head of Libya's embattled National Oil Corp reportedly left the country on a business trip without approval. That apparent violation of policy has reportedly cost him his job, at least for now.

News From the Oil Patch: Most Gulf production paused ahead of Ida

At the Kansas Emergency Medical Services Association “Honoring Our Own” annual banquet on
Aug. 14, former Ellis County Health Services Director Kerry McCue received the Lifetime
Achievement Award.


McCue was nominated for this award to recognize his outstanding contributions to EMS in Kansas
and the community and patients he served. To be nominated, an individual’s contributions to pre-hospital care must have been consistent and long lasting, representing in effect, a lifetime of
outstanding service to the profession and to the public. To be eligible, one must be a Kansas certified
EMS professional.


"Ellis County wishes to congratulate Mr. McCue on this achievement and thank him once again for his
many years of dedicated service to the Ellis County residents," the county said in a news release.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1630330136615.jpeg" alt="Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>Ellis CountyAt the Kansas Emergency Medical Services Association “Honoring Our Own” annual banquet on
Aug. 14, former Ellis County Health Services Director Kerry McCue received the Lifetime
Achievement Award.
McCue was nominated for this award to recognize his outstanding contributions to EMS in Kansas
and the community and patients he served. To be nominated, an individual’s contributions to pre-hospital care must have been consistent and long lasting, representing in effect, a lifetime of
outstanding service to the profession and to the public. To be eligible, one must be a Kansas certified
EMS professional.
"Ellis County wishes to congratulate Mr. McCue on this achievement and thank him once again for his
many years of dedicated service to the Ellis County residents," the county said in a news release.

Longtime Ellis Co. official honored by state health organization

New doctor joins medical staff at WaKeeney hospital

Tall fescue lawns that have become thin over the summer can be thickened up by overseeding during September. Start by mowing the grass short (1 to 1.5 inches) and removing the clippings. This will make it easier to achieve good seed-soil contact and increase the amount of light that will reach the young seedlings. Good seed-soil contact is vital if the overseeding is to be successful. Excess thatch can prevent seeds from reaching the soil and germinating. Normally we want 1/4 inch of thatch or less when overseeding. If the thatch layer is 3/4 inch or more, it is usually easiest to use a sod cutter to remove it and start over with a new lawn. A power rake can be used to reduce a thatch layer that is less than 3/4 inch but more than a quarter inch. Once thatch is under control, the soil should be prepared for the seed. This can be done in various ways. &nbsp; For small spots, a hand rake can be used to roughen up the soil before the seed is applied. A verticut machine has solid vertical blades that can be set to cut furrows in the soil. It is best to go in two different directions with the machine. A slit seeder is a verticut machine with a seed hopper added so the soil prep and seeding operation are combined. Another option is to use a core aerator. The core aerator will punch holes in the soil and deposit the soil cores on the surface of the ground. Each hole produces an excellent environment for seed germination and growth. Make three to four passes with the core aerator to ensure enough holes for the seed. Using a core aerator has the additional benefit of reducing the amount of watering needed to get the seed germinated and growing. Aeration also increases the water infiltration rate, decreases compaction, and increases the amount of oxygen in the soil. Of the three methods, I prefer the slit seeder for obtaining good seed/soil contact. &nbsp;However, if watering is difficult, core aeration may be a better option. &nbsp;Regardless of the method used, fertilizer should be applied at the rate suggested by a soil test, or a starter fertilizer should be used at the rate suggested on the bag. Lauren Fick is the Horticulture Extension Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District. If you have questions, she can be contacted by e-mail at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lfick@k-state.edu">lfick@k-state.edu</a>&nbsp;or by phone at 785-628-9430 or 620-793-1910.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1580750915301.jpeg" alt="Lauren Fick is the Horticulture Extension Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Lauren Fick is the Horticulture Extension Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>Tall fescue lawns that have become thin over the summer can be thickened up by overseeding during September. Start by mowing the grass short (1 to 1.5 inches) and removing the clippings. This will make it easier to achieve good seed-soil contact and increase the amount of light that will reach the young seedlings. Good seed-soil contact is vital if the overseeding is to be successful. Excess thatch can prevent seeds from reaching the soil and germinating. Normally we want 1/4 inch of thatch or less when overseeding. If the thatch layer is 3/4 inch or more, it is usually easiest to use a sod cutter to remove it and start over with a new lawn. A power rake can be used to reduce a thatch layer that is less than 3/4 inch but more than a quarter inch. Once thatch is under control, the soil should be prepared for the seed. This can be done in various ways. &nbsp; For small spots, a hand rake can be used to roughen up the soil before the seed is applied. A verticut machine has solid vertical blades that can be set to cut furrows in the soil. It is best to go in two different directions with the machine. A slit seeder is a verticut machine with a seed hopper added so the soil prep and seeding operation are combined. Another option is to use a core aerator. The core aerator will punch holes in the soil and deposit the soil cores on the surface of the ground. Each hole produces an excellent environment for seed germination and growth. Make three to four passes with the core aerator to ensure enough holes for the seed. Using a core aerator has the additional benefit of reducing the amount of watering needed to get the seed germinated and growing. Aeration also increases the water infiltration rate, decreases compaction, and increases the amount of oxygen in the soil. Of the three methods, I prefer the slit seeder for obtaining good seed/soil contact. &nbsp;However, if watering is difficult, core aeration may be a better option. &nbsp;Regardless of the method used, fertilizer should be applied at the rate suggested by a soil test, or a starter fertilizer should be used at the rate suggested on the bag. Lauren Fick is the Horticulture Extension Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District. If you have questions, she can be contacted by e-mail at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lfick@k-state.edu">lfick@k-state.edu</a>&nbsp;or by phone at 785-628-9430 or 620-793-1910.&nbsp;

FICK: Overseeding a lawn

NORTON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for alleged sex crimes in Norton County, according to a social media report from the Norton Police Department.

Over the weekend, police arrested 32-year-old Cody Hardy on a Norton County District Court warrant on four counts of&nbsp; alleged aggravated criminal sodomy, rape, aggravated assault and aggravated battery.

Hardy remains jailed on a $1,000,000.00 bond. Police released no additional details.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1630343227790.png" alt="Hardy / photo Norton County" />
 <figcaption>Hardy / photo Norton County</figcaption>
 </figure>NORTON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for alleged sex crimes in Norton County, according to a social media report from the Norton Police Department.Over the weekend, police arrested 32-year-old Cody Hardy on a Norton County District Court warrant on four counts of&nbsp; alleged aggravated criminal sodomy, rape, aggravated assault and aggravated battery.Hardy remains jailed on a $1,000,000.00 bond. Police released no additional details.

Man jailed in NW Kansas for alleged sex crimes

Lori Reeves runs Lucas post office, raises chickens at home in Sylvan Grove

By LORI BRACK <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/08/29/kansan-who-trained-afghan-corrections-workers-agonizes-over-taliban-takeover/">Kansas Reflector</a>

LUCAS — Though it’s been 10 years 
since Lori Reeves left Afghanistan, she can still rattle off flight 
times from the Kabul airport to Dubai, from Dubai to Atlanta, and then 
the last two hours back home to Kansas.

Last week, that same Kabul airport was the site of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cnn.com/world/live-news/afghanistan-kabul-taliban-us-news-08-28-21/index.html">a suicide bombing</a> that killed 13 U.S. service members and more than 160 Afghans. Saturday saw <a target="_blank" href="https://apnews.com/article/bombings-evacuations-kabul-bb32ec2b65b54ec24323e021c9b4a553">another 300 Americans evacuated</a> while the Taliban made access to the airport <a target="_blank" href="https://apnews.com/article/europe-business-afghanistan-united-nations-957bdc5ded58a337572313d27be13e73">even more difficult</a>
 for Afghans seeking safety outside of the country. As the window of 
opportunity closes for evacuation, President Joe Biden said <a target="_blank" href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2021/aug/28/afghanistan-live-news-uks-ability-to-process-evacuations-extremely-reduced-as-us-on-alert-for-further-attacks">another attack on the airport was likely</a> after the United States carried out an airstrike aimed at those responsible for the Thursday attack.

Reeves, who worked as a senior warden
 adviser and trainer in Afghan prisons from 2006 to 2011, is watching 
the nation fall to the Taliban with sadness and concern.

“I have a sense of remorse because of
 how much it meant to us to help these people, and this is how we leave 
them,” she said. “I felt like we were making such a difference. Now? 
What a shame. What a disaster.”

Reeves felt differently 15 years ago.
 Her 25-year career in corrections at El Dorado and Ellsworth 
correctional facilities led to a new adventure.

“I thought it would be exciting,” she said. “I wanted a challenge and was interested in how the world worked.”

Reeves, who now runs the Lucas post 
office and raises chickens at home in Sylvan Grove, found what she was 
looking for. While she warmly greets residents picking up mail, she 
doesn’t often get a chance to tell the story of her work in the Middle 
East.

She was based primarily in the 
northern city of Mazar-e Sharif, the capital of Balkh province. With a 
population of half a million, it’s Afghanistan’s fourth-largest city. 
From there, she traveled to nine prisons (in Badakhshan, Baghlan, 
Jawzjan, Kunduz, Samangan, Sar-e Pol, Faryab and Takhar provinces) to 
train men and women in the basics of corrections procedures. In a series
 of six- to eight-week classroom sessions, she taught communication 
skills, self-defense, firearms, and prisoner restraint, each with a 
single interpreter. When she traveled, she and her two American 
assistants wore body armor and were accompanied by six bodyguards and 
two interpreters.

Reeves was hired by private 
contractor PAE, a corporation that provides services to the U.S. State 
Department around the world. The <a target="_blank" href="https://pae.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/Featured-International/1/refreshFacet/318c8bb6f553100021d223d9780d30be">company’s website</a> continues to advertise positions, mostly medical services, as being open in Afghanistan despite the current crisis.

In her work, Reeves worked closely 
with the State Department, which provided needed materials, including 
uniforms and other corrections equipment, to the Afghan correctional 
workers she trained.

Reeves is grateful to the Kansas 
prison warden who alerted her to the opportunity in Afghanistan and 
allowed her a year’s leave of absence from her job in El Dorado if she 
were selected. But she didn’t know how challenging the road to Mazar-e 
Sharif would be.

Her first posting was in Kosovo, where she was trained. On her first day of work in April 2004, <a target="_blank" href="https://www2.ljworld.com/news/2004/apr/21/kansans_wounded_in">she and 21 other Americans were wounded</a>
 and three of her colleagues killed in an ambush while trapped outside 
the Kosovo prison. Their attacker, who was killed in the gun battle, was
 a Jordanian police officer working for the United Nations with <a target="_blank" href="https://www.deseret.com/2004/4/25/19825224/was-kosovo-attack-linked-to-hamas">possible ties to Hamas</a>, a Palestinian terrorist group.

Reeves came home to Kansas after her 
tour of duty in Kosovo to recover from her wounds and returned to work 
as a corrections professional. But in January 2006, colleagues she 
trained with in Kosovo called from Afghanistan, asking her to come back.
 She accepted their invitation.

“When I got there, I found that a lot
 of my work was networking with the local government, commanders, and 
correctional staff while overseeing the nine prisons assigned to me. It 
was imperative that women were treated respectfully and with dignity,” 
she said.

Reeves remembered a time when a 
Taliban commander visited the prison. Her team was invited to partake in
 the luncheon festivities. The Taliban commander and Reeves struck up a 
cordial conversation, as the commander spoke good English. Reeves asked 
him why the Taliban attacks prisons at night when during the day they 
are comfortable conversing and eating together.

The leader responded, “That’s what we do.”

A daily concern for Reeves was 
conditions in the mud prisons, where it wasn’t uncommon for more than a 
thousand inmates to occupy a facility with a capacity of 84. She 
described how women and children were relegated to riding in the trunks 
of vehicles while men and goats, pigs, and cows rode inside. Young girls
 were married off in deals between fathers, and women who had been raped
 were imprisoned while their rapists went free.

“Conditions for women in all aspects of life in Afghanistan are deplorable,” Reeves said.

Reeves’s role as a senior warden adviser with two male correctional supervisors became a fascination for her Afghan colleagues.

“It was unheard of,” she said of 
being a woman in authority. “One winter, three Afghan correctional 
officers rode horses for three days in a blizzard just to see a woman 
corrections coordinator and attend training. I was embraced because we 
had a great team and program support. We treated the Afghan people with 
respect. We were guests in their country.”

With the U.S. military presence in 
Afghanistan focused today on evacuating Americans and Afghans who worked
 with the U.S. during its 20-year engagement there, Reeves remembers a 
beautiful country where she did the best work of her life.

“I wake up every day and think of my 
time there and I think we did something right,” she said. “If I got a 
phone call today, and if I could go with the same group of people, I’d 
be packing my bags.”

She is troubled, however, by what she
 sees as a bungled departure from Afghanistan and a lack of empathy on 
the part of U.S. government officials and politicians for those their 
nation counted on and who now have no way out.

“Representatives and senators were 
scared for their lives in the Capitol eight months ago,” she said, 
referring to the Jan. 6 insurrection. “It was nothing like the brutality
 now in Afghanistan. I wish they would remember their fear then. 
Americans should be involved in making the world better, but if we are, 
the U.S. has an obligation to bring them back safely.”

Lori Brack is the author of "A Case for the Dead Letter Detective" (2021) and "Museum Made of Breath" (2018). In 2010, her poetic script for "Farmer’s Dream," a work of performance art based in Kansas agricultural history and labor by Ernesto Pujol, was published as "A Fine Place to See the Sky." The script is a collaboration with her grandfather’s 1907-1918 Kansas farming journals. Brack worked in programs and publications for the Salina Art Center and as a college and community writing instructor. Most recently, she directed a foundation-funded artist development project in Salina. She moved to Lucas last fall where she lives two blocks from the Garden of Eden and 14 miles straight south of the geodetic center of the continent.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1630346320514.png" alt="Lori Reeves (left) poses with a group of Afghan women she trained for their work in correctional facilities in 2009. (Submitted)" />
 <figcaption>Lori Reeves (left) poses with a group of Afghan women she trained for their work in correctional facilities in 2009. (Submitted)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Lori Reeves runs Lucas post office, raises chickens at home in Sylvan Grove</h2>By LORI BRACK <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/08/29/kansan-who-trained-afghan-corrections-workers-agonizes-over-taliban-takeover/">Kansas Reflector</a>LUCAS — Though it’s been 10 years 
since Lori Reeves left Afghanistan, she can still rattle off flight 
times from the Kabul airport to Dubai, from Dubai to Atlanta, and then 
the last two hours back home to Kansas.Last week, that same Kabul airport was the site of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cnn.com/world/live-news/afghanistan-kabul-taliban-us-news-08-28-21/index.html">a suicide bombing</a> that killed 13 U.S. service members and more than 160 Afghans. Saturday saw <a target="_blank" href="https://apnews.com/article/bombings-evacuations-kabul-bb32ec2b65b54ec24323e021c9b4a553">another 300 Americans evacuated</a> while the Taliban made access to the airport <a target="_blank" href="https://apnews.com/article/europe-business-afghanistan-united-nations-957bdc5ded58a337572313d27be13e73">even more difficult</a>
 for Afghans seeking safety outside of the country. As the window of 
opportunity closes for evacuation, President Joe Biden said <a target="_blank" href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2021/aug/28/afghanistan-live-news-uks-ability-to-process-evacuations-extremely-reduced-as-us-on-alert-for-further-attacks">another attack on the airport was likely</a> after the United States carried out an airstrike aimed at those responsible for the Thursday attack.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1630346376025.jpeg" alt="Lori Reeves runs the Lucas post office and raises chickens at home in Sylvan Grove. From 2006 to 2011, she worked as a senior warden adviser and trainer in Afghan prisons. (Submitted)" />
 <figcaption>Lori Reeves runs the Lucas post office and raises chickens at home in Sylvan Grove. From 2006 to 2011, she worked as a senior warden adviser and trainer in Afghan prisons. (Submitted)</figcaption>
 </figure>Reeves, who worked as a senior warden
 adviser and trainer in Afghan prisons from 2006 to 2011, is watching 
the nation fall to the Taliban with sadness and concern.“I have a sense of remorse because of
 how much it meant to us to help these people, and this is how we leave 
them,” she said. “I felt like we were making such a difference. Now? 
What a shame. What a disaster.”Reeves felt differently 15 years ago.
 Her 25-year career in corrections at El Dorado and Ellsworth 
correctional facilities led to a new adventure.“I thought it would be exciting,” she said. “I wanted a challenge and was interested in how the world worked.”Reeves, who now runs the Lucas post 
office and raises chickens at home in Sylvan Grove, found what she was 
looking for. While she warmly greets residents picking up mail, she 
doesn’t often get a chance to tell the story of her work in the Middle 
East.She was based primarily in the 
northern city of Mazar-e Sharif, the capital of Balkh province. With a 
population of half a million, it’s Afghanistan’s fourth-largest city. 
From there, she traveled to nine prisons (in Badakhshan, Baghlan, 
Jawzjan, Kunduz, Samangan, Sar-e Pol, Faryab and Takhar provinces) to 
train men and women in the basics of corrections procedures. In a series
 of six- to eight-week classroom sessions, she taught communication 
skills, self-defense, firearms, and prisoner restraint, each with a 
single interpreter. When she traveled, she and her two American 
assistants wore body armor and were accompanied by six bodyguards and 
two interpreters.Reeves was hired by private 
contractor PAE, a corporation that provides services to the U.S. State 
Department around the world. The <a target="_blank" href="https://pae.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/Featured-International/1/refreshFacet/318c8bb6f553100021d223d9780d30be">company’s website</a> continues to advertise positions, mostly medical services, as being open in Afghanistan despite the current crisis.In her work, Reeves worked closely 
with the State Department, which provided needed materials, including 
uniforms and other corrections equipment, to the Afghan correctional 
workers she trained.Reeves is grateful to the Kansas 
prison warden who alerted her to the opportunity in Afghanistan and 
allowed her a year’s leave of absence from her job in El Dorado if she 
were selected. But she didn’t know how challenging the road to Mazar-e 
Sharif would be.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1630346413519.png" alt="Lori Reeves scores an Afghan woman’s target shooting during firearms training in 2009. (Submitted)" />
 <figcaption>Lori Reeves scores an Afghan woman’s target shooting during firearms training in 2009. (Submitted)</figcaption>
 </figure>Her first posting was in Kosovo, where she was trained. On her first day of work in April 2004, <a target="_blank" href="https://www2.ljworld.com/news/2004/apr/21/kansans_wounded_in">she and 21 other Americans were wounded</a>
 and three of her colleagues killed in an ambush while trapped outside 
the Kosovo prison. Their attacker, who was killed in the gun battle, was
 a Jordanian police officer working for the United Nations with <a target="_blank" href="https://www.deseret.com/2004/4/25/19825224/was-kosovo-attack-linked-to-hamas">possible ties to Hamas</a>, a Palestinian terrorist group.Reeves came home to Kansas after her 
tour of duty in Kosovo to recover from her wounds and returned to work 
as a corrections professional. But in January 2006, colleagues she 
trained with in Kosovo called from Afghanistan, asking her to come back.
 She accepted their invitation.“When I got there, I found that a lot
 of my work was networking with the local government, commanders, and 
correctional staff while overseeing the nine prisons assigned to me. It 
was imperative that women were treated respectfully and with dignity,” 
she said.Reeves remembered a time when a 
Taliban commander visited the prison. Her team was invited to partake in
 the luncheon festivities. The Taliban commander and Reeves struck up a 
cordial conversation, as the commander spoke good English. Reeves asked 
him why the Taliban attacks prisons at night when during the day they 
are comfortable conversing and eating together.The leader responded, “That’s what we do.”A daily concern for Reeves was 
conditions in the mud prisons, where it wasn’t uncommon for more than a 
thousand inmates to occupy a facility with a capacity of 84. She 
described how women and children were relegated to riding in the trunks 
of vehicles while men and goats, pigs, and cows rode inside. Young girls
 were married off in deals between fathers, and women who had been raped
 were imprisoned while their rapists went free.“Conditions for women in all aspects of life in Afghanistan are deplorable,” Reeves said.Reeves’s role as a senior warden adviser with two male correctional supervisors became a fascination for her Afghan colleagues.“It was unheard of,” she said of 
being a woman in authority. “One winter, three Afghan correctional 
officers rode horses for three days in a blizzard just to see a woman 
corrections coordinator and attend training. I was embraced because we 
had a great team and program support. We treated the Afghan people with 
respect. We were guests in their country.”With the U.S. military presence in 
Afghanistan focused today on evacuating Americans and Afghans who worked
 with the U.S. during its 20-year engagement there, Reeves remembers a 
beautiful country where she did the best work of her life.“I wake up every day and think of my 
time there and I think we did something right,” she said. “If I got a 
phone call today, and if I could go with the same group of people, I’d 
be packing my bags.”She is troubled, however, by what she
 sees as a bungled departure from Afghanistan and a lack of empathy on 
the part of U.S. government officials and politicians for those their 
nation counted on and who now have no way out.“Representatives and senators were 
scared for their lives in the Capitol eight months ago,” she said, 
referring to the Jan. 6 insurrection. “It was nothing like the brutality
 now in Afghanistan. I wish they would remember their fear then. 
Americans should be involved in making the world better, but if we are, 
the U.S. has an obligation to bring them back safely.”Lori Brack is the author of "A Case for the Dead Letter Detective" (2021) and "Museum Made of Breath" (2018). In 2010, her poetic script for "Farmer’s Dream," a work of performance art based in Kansas agricultural history and labor by Ernesto Pujol, was published as "A Fine Place to See the Sky." The script is a collaboration with her grandfather’s 1907-1918 Kansas farming journals. Brack worked in programs and publications for the Salina Art Center and as a college and community writing instructor. Most recently, she directed a foundation-funded artist development project in Salina. She moved to Lucas last fall where she lives two blocks from the Garden of Eden and 14 miles straight south of the geodetic center of the continent.

Kansan who trained Afghan corrections workers agonizes over Taliban takeover

Hays native endorses Schmidt for Kan. governor

Campaign&nbsp; of Dr. Jeff Colyer for Governor

OVERLAND PARK – Dr.&nbsp; Jeff Colyer, former Kansas governor and Hays native, today announced that he is ending his campaign to be treated for prostate cancer and focus on his medical practice.&nbsp; Governor Colyer also announced his endorsement for Attorney General Derek Schmidt’s candidacy for governor. “I believe God put us here to make a difference in people’s lives.&nbsp; I chose to be a doctor to help people and am humbled to serve my fellow Kansans as Governor and Lt. Governor to fight for this wonderful place we call home. "I am proud of what we have achieved. When I completed my term, we accomplished a lot: more Kansans working than ever before, record household income, record small business formation, and a budget surplus over $1.1 billion (the most ever transferred from one administration to the next).” Gov. Colyer increased transparency, enacted paid parental leave for state employees, protected religious liberties, advanced pro-life policies, mandated sexual harassment prevention, upgraded the state’s credit outlook, and under his leadership Kansas became a national leader in digital state government services delivered though the award-winning iKan app.&nbsp; He oversaw the transformation of Kansas Medicaid and saved $2.5 billion while getting better results for patients which is a national model for other states. “While I have always focused on helping others, for the next few weeks I am going to focus on my health. I was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer like my father and grandfather.&nbsp; After treatment, I am confident for a full recovery.&nbsp; Given these challenges, Ruth and I have decided to withdraw from the Governor’s race. "Kansas has felt the pain of nearly three years of Governor Kelly’s leadership.&nbsp; Now it’s time for Republicans to come together, rally around Derek Schmidt, and reclaim Cedar Crest.” Governor Colyer closed with the following message to his patients and Kansans: “To my patients, I will continue to take care of you for years to come.&nbsp;&nbsp;If I see you as a patient in the trauma bay, know that not only will I fight like hell for you but I also know first-hand how it feels to face adversity. &nbsp;I will continue my international work in warzones around the world. "To Kansans, I know you love our great state as much as Ruth and I do.&nbsp; Kansas is the true heart of America.&nbsp; It is an honor of a lifetime to serve you.&nbsp; Ruth and I will continue to find ways to lead Kansas forward."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1623028329898.png" alt="Jeff Colyer&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Jeff Colyer&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Hays native endorses Schmidt for Kan. governor</h2>Campaign&nbsp; of Dr. Jeff Colyer for GovernorOVERLAND PARK – Dr.&nbsp; Jeff Colyer, former Kansas governor and Hays native, today announced that he is ending his campaign to be treated for prostate cancer and focus on his medical practice.&nbsp; Governor Colyer also announced his endorsement for Attorney General Derek Schmidt’s candidacy for governor. “I believe God put us here to make a difference in people’s lives.&nbsp; I chose to be a doctor to help people and am humbled to serve my fellow Kansans as Governor and Lt. Governor to fight for this wonderful place we call home. "I am proud of what we have achieved. When I completed my term, we accomplished a lot: more Kansans working than ever before, record household income, record small business formation, and a budget surplus over $1.1 billion (the most ever transferred from one administration to the next).” Gov. Colyer increased transparency, enacted paid parental leave for state employees, protected religious liberties, advanced pro-life policies, mandated sexual harassment prevention, upgraded the state’s credit outlook, and under his leadership Kansas became a national leader in digital state government services delivered though the award-winning iKan app.&nbsp; He oversaw the transformation of Kansas Medicaid and saved $2.5 billion while getting better results for patients which is a national model for other states. “While I have always focused on helping others, for the next few weeks I am going to focus on my health. I was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer like my father and grandfather.&nbsp; After treatment, I am confident for a full recovery.&nbsp; Given these challenges, Ruth and I have decided to withdraw from the Governor’s race. "Kansas has felt the pain of nearly three years of Governor Kelly’s leadership.&nbsp; Now it’s time for Republicans to come together, rally around Derek Schmidt, and reclaim Cedar Crest.” Governor Colyer closed with the following message to his patients and Kansans: “To my patients, I will continue to take care of you for years to come.&nbsp;&nbsp;If I see you as a patient in the trauma bay, know that not only will I fight like hell for you but I also know first-hand how it feels to face adversity. &nbsp;I will continue my international work in warzones around the world. "To Kansans, I know you love our great state as much as Ruth and I do.&nbsp; Kansas is the true heart of America.&nbsp; It is an honor of a lifetime to serve you.&nbsp; Ruth and I will continue to find ways to lead Kansas forward."— Submitted

Colyer ends campaign after cancer diagnosis

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment on Monday reported 25 new COVID-19 cases in Ellis County had been identified since Friday.

There have been 216 new COVID-19 cases identified in Ellis County in the month of August after a lull in cases dwindled to near zero in June.

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

As of Monday, the University of Kansas Health System reported 12 COVID-19 inpatients at HaysMed.

Since reporting began, there have been 4,020 cases of COVID-19 identified in Ellis County, including 74 coronavirus-related deaths.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1630342883377.png" alt="KDHE" />
 <figcaption>KDHE</figcaption>
 </figure>The Kansas Department of Health and Environment on Monday reported 25 new COVID-19 cases in Ellis County had been identified since Friday.There have been 216 new COVID-19 cases identified in Ellis County in the month of August after a lull in cases dwindled to near zero in June.<a href="https://www.ellisco.net/97/Health">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;for information on how to receive a COVID-19 vaccination.As of Monday, the University of Kansas Health System reported 12 COVID-19 inpatients at HaysMed.Since reporting began, there have been 4,020 cases of COVID-19 identified in Ellis County, including 74 coronavirus-related deaths.

KDHE: 25 new COVID cases in Ellis Co. since Friday; count tops 4,000

Grow Hays / Ellis County E-Community, in association with the Network Kansas E-Community Partnership, has announced the Ice House Entrepreneurship Program will be offered at BriefSpace in Hays. 

Sessions will be held 6 to 830 p.m. on Wednesday evening beginning Sept. 22 and running through Nov. 3. Registration is $150 per participant. Students are $75. Participants can save $75 with the Early Bird Registration Discount if registered before Aug. 31.

The goal of the course is to teach participants to develop an entrepreneurial mindset. Taught by James Foster, a certified Ice House facilitator, this interactive seven-week program provides practical entrepreneurial lessons through first-hand experiences of successful, real-life entrepreneurs.

Based on the book "Who Owns the Ice House," this curriculum consists of video interviews and case studies along with individual assignments, assessments, and discussion topics. This popular course is offered only a handful of times per year across the state and Grow Hays has brought this course to the community for the second time.

"We hope this course will expose you to a new way of thinking, recognize opportunities, ignite your ambition and foster the habits that will enable you to succeed. Those who complete the program will learn how to develop the mindset skills that enable you to recognize and evaluate opportunities regardless of your chosen path," said Shelley Paasch, Ice House facilitator.

Participants can save $75 with the Early Bird Registration Discount if registered before Aug 31.

To register for the Ice House Entrepreneurship Program or for more information, contact Ernee Sly, at 785.628.3102 or email <a href="mailto:ernee@growhays.com">ernee@growhays.com</a>.

For more information about NetWork Kansas or the E-Community Partnership, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.networkkansas.com">www.networkkansas.com</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1630337455288.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Grow HaysGrow Hays / Ellis County E-Community, in association with the Network Kansas E-Community Partnership, has announced the Ice House Entrepreneurship Program will be offered at BriefSpace in Hays. Sessions will be held 6 to 830 p.m. on Wednesday evening beginning Sept. 22 and running through Nov. 3. Registration is $150 per participant. Students are $75. Participants can save $75 with the Early Bird Registration Discount if registered before Aug. 31.The goal of the course is to teach participants to develop an entrepreneurial mindset. Taught by James Foster, a certified Ice House facilitator, this interactive seven-week program provides practical entrepreneurial lessons through first-hand experiences of successful, real-life entrepreneurs.Based on the book "Who Owns the Ice House," this curriculum consists of video interviews and case studies along with individual assignments, assessments, and discussion topics. This popular course is offered only a handful of times per year across the state and Grow Hays has brought this course to the community for the second time."We hope this course will expose you to a new way of thinking, recognize opportunities, ignite your ambition and foster the habits that will enable you to succeed. Those who complete the program will learn how to develop the mindset skills that enable you to recognize and evaluate opportunities regardless of your chosen path," said Shelley Paasch, Ice House facilitator.Participants can save $75 with the Early Bird Registration Discount if registered before Aug 31.To register for the Ice House Entrepreneurship Program or for more information, contact Ernee Sly, at 785.628.3102 or email <a href="mailto:ernee@growhays.com">ernee@growhays.com</a>.For more information about NetWork Kansas or the E-Community Partnership, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.networkkansas.com">www.networkkansas.com</a>.

Grow Hays to host 'Think Like an Entrepreneur' training

The last weekend of Aug. was busy one in downtown Hays.

 The Hays Arts Council's Fall Art Walk kicked off events, followed by the 20th-anniversary celebration of the Downtown Hays Development Corporation including Kids Fest and a street dance. 

And Saturday was just as busy with Brews on the Bricks, an outdoor performance in the downtown pavilion by the Hays Symphony Orchestra and Rockalooa in Municipal Park taking place.

Take a look at all the festivities below.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1630189393329.jpeg" alt="Kids Fest" />
 <figcaption>Kids Fest</figcaption>
 </figure>The last weekend of Aug. was busy one in downtown Hays. The Hays Arts Council's Fall Art Walk kicked off events, followed by the 20th-anniversary celebration of the Downtown Hays Development Corporation including Kids Fest and a street dance. And Saturday was just as busy with Brews on the Bricks, an outdoor performance in the downtown pavilion by the Hays Symphony Orchestra and Rockalooa in Municipal Park taking place.Take a look at all the festivities below.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1630189268981.jpeg" alt="Kids Fest" />
 <figcaption>Kids Fest</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1630189311055.jpeg" alt="Kids Fest" />
 <figcaption>Kids Fest</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1630189438965.jpeg" alt="Kids Fest" />
 <figcaption>Kids Fest</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1630189509164.jpeg" alt="Kids Fest" />
 <figcaption>Kids Fest</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1630189699861.jpeg" alt="Kids Fest" />
 <figcaption>Kids Fest</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1630211093055.jpeg" alt="Kids Fest" />
 <figcaption>Kids Fest</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1630211041311.jpeg" alt="Kids Fest" />
 <figcaption>Kids Fest</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1630211075215.jpeg" alt="Hays Arts Council's Fall Art Walk" />
 <figcaption>Hays Arts Council's Fall Art Walk</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1630211133372.jpeg" alt="Hays Arts Council's Fall Art Walk" />
 <figcaption>Hays Arts Council's Fall Art Walk</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1630211165538.jpeg" alt="Hays Arts Council's Fall Art Walk" />
 <figcaption>Hays Arts Council's Fall Art Walk</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1630211178774.jpeg" alt="Street Dance" />
 <figcaption>Street Dance</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1630211194359.jpeg" alt="Rockalooa" />
 <figcaption>Rockalooa</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1630211208040.jpeg" alt="Rockalooa" />
 <figcaption>Rockalooa</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1630211224044.jpeg" alt="Rockalooa" />
 <figcaption>Rockalooa</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1630211237138.jpeg" alt="Rockalooa" />
 <figcaption>Rockalooa</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1630211251807.jpeg" alt="Rockalooa" />
 <figcaption>Rockalooa</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1630211261843.jpeg" alt="Rockalooa" />
 <figcaption>Rockalooa</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1630211275687.jpeg" alt="Hays Symphony Orchestra conductor Brian Buckstead" />
 <figcaption>Hays Symphony Orchestra conductor Brian Buckstead</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1630211292587.jpeg" alt="Rockalooa" />
 <figcaption>Rockalooa</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1630211315952.jpeg" alt="Rockalooa" />
 <figcaption>Rockalooa</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1630211327886.jpeg" alt="Rockalooa" />
 <figcaption>Rockalooa</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1630211343671.jpeg" alt="Rockalooa" />
 <figcaption>Rockalooa</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1630211355010.jpeg" alt="Brews on the Bricks" />
 <figcaption>Brews on the Bricks</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1630211369728.jpeg" alt="Brews on the Bricks" />
 <figcaption>Brews on the Bricks</figcaption>
 </figure>

📷Hays goes big with weekend events as summer comes to an end

The 43rd Annual Logan Labor Day Celebration at the Logan Golf Course, 1.25 miles east of Logan on Highway 9, will be on Sept. 5.

The Hansen Museum with funds from the Dane G. Hansen Foundation sponsors this annual family-friendly event. There is no admission fee.

The day kicks off at 11 a.m. with a sand volleyball tournament and the Dane G. Bales Jr. Memorial Car Show.

The car show has been a highlight of the Labor Day Celebration since 1998. This year’s featured car is Bob &amp; Shirley Sproul’s 1947 four-door Ford.&nbsp; Make sure to get there before 4 p.m. to check out everything from classic coupes and beefed-up muscle cars to antique pick-up trucks and flashy hot rods.

As a special treat this year and fun for all ages, artist Brooker Werner will make the rounds sketching keepsake caricatures of cars and drivers.

Get some exercise, don a disguise, see the sights, or win a prize at this year’s festivities. Let the kids run loose and find entertainment that will burn off some energy, including a Big Red Barn bouncy house and the Melt Down Game.

“Disguise” yourself or the kiddos by visiting the free face painting booth. 

Ready to see the sights from higher up? Check out the popular 25-foot rock climbing wall that will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Feeling competitive enough to try for a prize? The Siruta Pedal Pullers State Sanctioned Kid’s Tractor Pull begins at 2 p.m. and winners are eligible to compete in the State Pull at the Kansas State Fair in Hutchinson.&nbsp;

In-between activities, you’ll find plenty of delicious options for both lunch and dinner, (plus snacking in-between), at the Logan Chamber of Commerce Food Booth, The Corn Kettle, and Buck’s Snow Shack.&nbsp; Save room for some icy, cold, creamy treats as Mijom’s Ice Cream Xpress will arrive around 7 p.m. &nbsp;

Take a break from the heat and drive into town to see the newly renovated Hansen Museum.&nbsp; Top to bottom, inside and out, the Hansen Museum has been completely re-imagined.

In addition to the wondrous upgrades to the museum’s interior, the Hansen Museum board also commissioned three additions for the outside.&nbsp; A beautiful hand-crafted covered wagon, two large digital signs announcing exhibits and upcoming events, and handsome metal signage proudly claiming the block for the Hansen Museum.

On view in the Hansen Museum gallery is the exhibition, "Animal Groups." Custom curated by Dr. David J. Wagner for the Hansen Museum’s re-opening after renovating, "Animal Groups" features 46 masterpieces by well-known and admired artists who focus and specialize in capturing the essence and personalities of animals. Amazing and inspiring, this is a must-see exhibition. The museum will be open from 1 to 5 p.m.

As the afternoon heat starts to wind down, bring your lawn chairs and settle in front of the stage as The Search from Hill City starts the evening entertainment at 5:30 p.m. At 7 p.m., The Innocence from Kearney, Neb., will take the stage and wow the crowd with their superior talent and a song list packed full of diverse hits from Journey to George Strait and Bruno Mars to AC/DC. &nbsp;

Last, but certainly not least, the grand finale by Rainbow Fireworks of Inman will light up the sky with a brilliant display of fireworks that can be seen for miles. All this and more happens at the 43rd annual Logan Labor Day Celebration.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1630090273197.jpg" alt="Photo courtesy of Pixaby" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy of Pixaby</figcaption>
 </figure>SubmittedThe 43rd Annual Logan Labor Day Celebration at the Logan Golf Course, 1.25 miles east of Logan on Highway 9, will be on Sept. 5.The Hansen Museum with funds from the Dane G. Hansen Foundation sponsors this annual family-friendly event. There is no admission fee.The day kicks off at 11 a.m. with a sand volleyball tournament and the Dane G. Bales Jr. Memorial Car Show.The car show has been a highlight of the Labor Day Celebration since 1998. This year’s featured car is Bob &amp; Shirley Sproul’s 1947 four-door Ford.&nbsp; Make sure to get there before 4 p.m. to check out everything from classic coupes and beefed-up muscle cars to antique pick-up trucks and flashy hot rods.As a special treat this year and fun for all ages, artist Brooker Werner will make the rounds sketching keepsake caricatures of cars and drivers.Get some exercise, don a disguise, see the sights, or win a prize at this year’s festivities. Let the kids run loose and find entertainment that will burn off some energy, including a Big Red Barn bouncy house and the Melt Down Game.“Disguise” yourself or the kiddos by visiting the free face painting booth. Ready to see the sights from higher up? Check out the popular 25-foot rock climbing wall that will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Feeling competitive enough to try for a prize? The Siruta Pedal Pullers State Sanctioned Kid’s Tractor Pull begins at 2 p.m. and winners are eligible to compete in the State Pull at the Kansas State Fair in Hutchinson.&nbsp;In-between activities, you’ll find plenty of delicious options for both lunch and dinner, (plus snacking in-between), at the Logan Chamber of Commerce Food Booth, The Corn Kettle, and Buck’s Snow Shack.&nbsp; Save room for some icy, cold, creamy treats as Mijom’s Ice Cream Xpress will arrive around 7 p.m. &nbsp;Take a break from the heat and drive into town to see the newly renovated Hansen Museum.&nbsp; Top to bottom, inside and out, the Hansen Museum has been completely re-imagined.In addition to the wondrous upgrades to the museum’s interior, the Hansen Museum board also commissioned three additions for the outside.&nbsp; A beautiful hand-crafted covered wagon, two large digital signs announcing exhibits and upcoming events, and handsome metal signage proudly claiming the block for the Hansen Museum.On view in the Hansen Museum gallery is the exhibition, "Animal Groups." Custom curated by Dr. David J. Wagner for the Hansen Museum’s re-opening after renovating, "Animal Groups" features 46 masterpieces by well-known and admired artists who focus and specialize in capturing the essence and personalities of animals. Amazing and inspiring, this is a must-see exhibition. The museum will be open from 1 to 5 p.m.As the afternoon heat starts to wind down, bring your lawn chairs and settle in front of the stage as The Search from Hill City starts the evening entertainment at 5:30 p.m. At 7 p.m., The Innocence from Kearney, Neb., will take the stage and wow the crowd with their superior talent and a song list packed full of diverse hits from Journey to George Strait and Bruno Mars to AC/DC. &nbsp;Last, but certainly not least, the grand finale by Rainbow Fireworks of Inman will light up the sky with a brilliant display of fireworks that can be seen for miles. All this and more happens at the 43rd annual Logan Labor Day Celebration.&nbsp;For more information, call the Hansen Museum at 785-689-4846 or visit them on the web at <a href="http://www.hansenmuseum.org">www.hansenmuseum.org</a>.Museum hours are 9 to noon and&nbsp;1 to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays; 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m. Saturdays; and 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays and holidays.The museum is handicapped accessible, and admission is always free thanks to the generous support of the Dane G. Hansen Foundation. For more information about this and other exhibits, contact Shari Buss at 785-689-4846.