Ellis County will be under a severe thunderstorm warning until 7:45 p.m.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758326506247.png" alt="Issued at 6:50 p.m. Friday by NWS" />
 <figcaption>Issued at 6:50 p.m. Friday by NWS</figcaption>
 </figure>Ellis County will be under a severe thunderstorm warning until 7:45 p.m.

Stong storms headed into Ellis, Trego, Gove counties, moving south

The remodel of Tryyaki Asian Cuisine is currently underway, and both the renovation team and the entire Tryyaki staff are working tirelessly to bring the restaurant back to life.

“We are deeply grateful for the support we’ve received from the community during this challenging time,” said Kaci (general manager at Tryyaki). “Everyone involved is committed to making sure Tryyaki reopens stronger than ever.”

The restaurant is targeting a reopening in October. However, the exact reopening date will be announced once it is firmly set. “We want to be certain before making the announcement,” Kaci added. “The last thing we want is to disappoint our many loyal customers and friends who have been waiting patiently for us to return.”

The team at Tryyaki Asian Cuisine looks forward to welcoming the community back soon and sharing an exciting new chapter after the fire.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758326483129.jpg" alt="Courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>Tryakki Asian CuisineThe remodel of Tryyaki Asian Cuisine is currently underway, and both the renovation team and the entire Tryyaki staff are working tirelessly to bring the restaurant back to life.“We are deeply grateful for the support we’ve received from the community during this challenging time,” said Kaci (general manager at Tryyaki). “Everyone involved is committed to making sure Tryyaki reopens stronger than ever.”The restaurant is targeting a reopening in October. However, the exact reopening date will be announced once it is firmly set. “We want to be certain before making the announcement,” Kaci added. “The last thing we want is to disappoint our many loyal customers and friends who have been waiting patiently for us to return.”The team at Tryyaki Asian Cuisine looks forward to welcoming the community back soon and sharing an exciting new chapter after the fire.

Tryyaki Asian Cuisine prepares for reopening after fire

The Ellis County unemployment rate dropped by .3% to 3.4% in August, compared to July's 3.7% and remains almost a half point below the statewide average 3.8%.

Trego and Lane counties both posted numbers above 5%, and Graham, Gove, Russell, Decatur, Phillips, Wallace and Rush counties all had rates of 4% or more in August.

Preliminary estimates reported by the Labor Market Information division of the Kansas Department of Labor and the Bureau of Labor Statistics show a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 3.8% in August statewide.

This is unchanged from 3.8% in July and an increase from 3.7% in August 2024. The labor force participation rate for Kansas increased to 67% in August.

Seasonally adjusted job estimates for Kansas indicate total nonfarm payroll employment decreased by 4,700 from July. Total nonfarm includes private sector and government employers. Private sector jobs decreased by 1,300 over the month, while government decreased by 3,400. The largest job gains in the private sector were in&nbsp;leisure and hospitality&nbsp;(+600 jobs). The largest decrease was in trade, transportation, and utilities&nbsp;(-2,100 jobs).

Since August 2024, Kansas’ seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs have decreased by 10,000. This change is due to a decrease of 200 private sector jobs and a decrease of 9,800 government jobs.

Technical Note: This release includes nonfarm jobs and labor force estimates for August 2025, which are produced using data from two monthly surveys. Data for nonfarm job estimates is collected through a survey of employers, while the main input for labor force estimates is a survey of households. Data collected for this report references the week, including Aug. 12.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758316244171.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Kansas Department of LaborThe Ellis County unemployment rate dropped by .3% to 3.4% in August, compared to July's 3.7% and remains almost a half point below the statewide average 3.8%.Trego and Lane counties both posted numbers above 5%, and Graham, Gove, Russell, Decatur, Phillips, Wallace and Rush counties all had rates of 4% or more in August.Preliminary estimates reported by the Labor Market Information division of the Kansas Department of Labor and the Bureau of Labor Statistics show a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 3.8% in August statewide.This is unchanged from 3.8% in July and an increase from 3.7% in August 2024. The labor force participation rate for Kansas increased to 67% in August.Seasonally adjusted job estimates for Kansas indicate total nonfarm payroll employment decreased by 4,700 from July. Total nonfarm includes private sector and government employers. Private sector jobs decreased by 1,300 over the month, while government decreased by 3,400. The largest job gains in the private sector were in&nbsp;leisure and hospitality&nbsp;(+600 jobs). The largest decrease was in trade, transportation, and utilities&nbsp;(-2,100 jobs).Since August 2024, Kansas’ seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs have decreased by 10,000. This change is due to a decrease of 200 private sector jobs and a decrease of 9,800 government jobs.Technical Note: This release includes nonfarm jobs and labor force estimates for August 2025, which are produced using data from two monthly surveys. Data for nonfarm job estimates is collected through a survey of employers, while the main input for labor force estimates is a survey of households. Data collected for this report references the week, including Aug. 12.

Ellis County unemployment rate drops in August

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

A Graham County Commissioner is in the process of resigning his seat after he entered plea agreements on a bribery and a drug charge.

Jarrod Knoll said in a phone interview Friday that the charges against him were an attempt to get him out of office, and he intends to run for Graham County Commission again.

"This is all about Delta 8 and getting me out of office," he said. "This happened two and a half years ago."

Knoll signed plea agreements on two criminal cases as of Sept. 9.

On the bribery charge, a class A misdemeanor, he pled guilty through an Alfrod plea. An Alford plea allows a defendant to maintain their innocence while acknowledging that the prosecution has sufficient evidence to likely convict them at trial.

He was sentenced to 12 months of unsupervised probation.

The bribery charge stemmed from an alleged $4,000 promise made to the Graham County Community Development Director for the Travel and Tourism Committee, contingent upon the committee not requesting a transient guest tax.&nbsp;

On May 21, Knoll entered into a diversion agreement on a charge from 2023 of distribution of a substance containing THC in his store, 2 Lane Liquor in Hill City. The charge is a level 4 drug felony.

Another charge of drug distribution of THC and a charge of possession of THC with intent to distribute were dismissed.

Knoll agreed to serve one year of unsupervised probation.

Knoll said his charges stemmed from the sale of products containing what is commonly referred to as Delta 8.

A 2021 Kansas Attorney General opinion stated that Delta 8 is illegal in Kansas except under strict conditions, including that the final product must contain no more than 0.3% total THC.

Law enforcement raids on retailers selling Delta 8 started in 2022, but some sellers argue the Attorney General's opinion is not the same as a law enacted by the Kansas Legislature. Enforcement has varied by jurisdiction.

Ellis County Attorney Aaron Cunningham served as a special prosecutor on the Knoll cases, but Cunningham declined to comment on the cases on Thursday.

On Nov. 3, 2023, the then Graham County Attorney, Jill Elliott, filed a petition to remove Knoll from office.

• Knoll was also serving on the Morland City Council. Serving as an elected official for more than one local government is against state statute. • Knoll had moved out of his commission district and was now primarily residing at his motel in Hill City, which is Graham County's District 2. • Knoll had committed bribery •&nbsp;Knoll had sold THC-containing products in his liquor store, 2 Lane Liquor, in Hill City.&nbsp;

At the time of the filing, Knoll was also serving as a school board member for&nbsp;USD 281, having been elected in 2019.

Elliott, serving as the Graham County Attorney and Knoll participated in mediation on April 17, 2024.

Knoll in that settlement agreed to resign from the Morland City Council immediately and to resign from the Graham County Commission if he was convicted or diverted on any crime he was charged with at that time.

Knoll was listed as a county commissioner as of the Sept. 9 official minutes of the Graham County Commission, which are available on the county's website.

The minutes from the Sept. 16 meeting have not been approved and have not been released, although the Hays Post requested them on Thursday. Knoll said he did not serve as a commissioner in an official capacity at the Sept. 16 meeting.

Knoll is still listed as a commissioner on the Graham County website, and the Graham County Deputy Clerk said by phone that Knoll was still a commissioner as of Thursday. 

However, Knoll said on Friday he was working through paperwork with his attorney to officially resign and planned to release a statement on the resignation early next week.

The current Graham County Attorney, Mike Abbott, said on Thursday he had been made aware of the Knoll's charges and the settlement earlier this week. He said he was still looking into the case.

Knoll said in a phone call on Friday with the Hays Post there will be more information to come out about his case shortly.

"It's a crazy deal. It was all about getting me out of office," he said. "I'll definitely run for office again. I have 80% plus approval right here, in my opinion. We will definitely be running for office after this is all cleared up.&nbsp;

"It'll be county commission," he said of his future hopes for office. "Our county is in a crisis right now. In my opinion, we really need my leadership and business knowledge. We own several businesses in the community. My only goal is to do what's best for the county. That's it. Honest to God."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758299395315.jpeg" alt="Graham County Commissioners: L to R: Jarrod Knoll, District 1, Jason Nelson, District 2, Dan Irby, District 3" />
 <figcaption>Graham County Commissioners: L to R: Jarrod Knoll, District 1, Jason Nelson, District 2, Dan Irby, District 3</figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostA Graham County Commissioner is in the process of resigning his seat after he entered plea agreements on a bribery and a drug charge.Jarrod Knoll said in a phone interview Friday that the charges against him were an attempt to get him out of office, and he intends to run for Graham County Commission again."This is all about Delta 8 and getting me out of office," he said. "This happened two and a half years ago."Knoll signed plea agreements on two criminal cases as of Sept. 9.On the bribery charge, a class A misdemeanor, he pled guilty through an Alfrod plea. An Alford plea allows a defendant to maintain their innocence while acknowledging that the prosecution has sufficient evidence to likely convict them at trial.He was sentenced to 12 months of unsupervised probation.The bribery charge stemmed from an alleged $4,000 promise made to the Graham County Community Development Director for the Travel and Tourism Committee, contingent upon the committee not requesting a transient guest tax.&nbsp;Knoll owns a motel in Hill City.On May 21, Knoll entered into a diversion agreement on a charge from 2023 of distribution of a substance containing THC in his store, 2 Lane Liquor in Hill City. The charge is a level 4 drug felony.Another charge of drug distribution of THC and a charge of possession of THC with intent to distribute were dismissed.Knoll agreed to serve one year of unsupervised probation.Knoll said his charges stemmed from the sale of products containing what is commonly referred to as Delta 8.A 2021 Kansas Attorney General opinion stated that Delta 8 is illegal in Kansas except under strict conditions, including that the final product must contain no more than 0.3% total THC.Law enforcement raids on retailers selling Delta 8 started in 2022, but some sellers argue the Attorney General's opinion is not the same as a law enacted by the Kansas Legislature. Enforcement has varied by jurisdiction.Ellis County Attorney Aaron Cunningham served as a special prosecutor on the Knoll cases, but Cunningham declined to comment on the cases on Thursday.On Nov. 3, 2023, the then Graham County Attorney, Jill Elliott, filed a petition to remove Knoll from office.In that petition, she cited,&nbsp;• Knoll was also serving on the Morland City Council. Serving as an elected official for more than one local government is against state statute. • Knoll had moved out of his commission district and was now primarily residing at his motel in Hill City, which is Graham County's District 2. • Knoll had committed bribery •&nbsp;Knoll had sold THC-containing products in his liquor store, 2 Lane Liquor, in Hill City.&nbsp;At the time of the filing, Knoll was also serving as a school board member for&nbsp;USD 281, having been elected in 2019.Elliott, serving as the Graham County Attorney and Knoll participated in mediation on April 17, 2024.Knoll in that settlement agreed to resign from the Morland City Council immediately and to resign from the Graham County Commission if he was convicted or diverted on any crime he was charged with at that time.Knoll was listed as a county commissioner as of the Sept. 9 official minutes of the Graham County Commission, which are available on the county's website.The minutes from the Sept. 16 meeting have not been approved and have not been released, although the Hays Post requested them on Thursday. Knoll said he did not serve as a commissioner in an official capacity at the Sept. 16 meeting.Knoll is still listed as a commissioner on the Graham County website, and the Graham County Deputy Clerk said by phone that Knoll was still a commissioner as of Thursday. However, Knoll said on Friday he was working through paperwork with his attorney to officially resign and planned to release a statement on the resignation early next week.The current Graham County Attorney, Mike Abbott, said on Thursday he had been made aware of the Knoll's charges and the settlement earlier this week. He said he was still looking into the case.Knoll said in a phone call on Friday with the Hays Post there will be more information to come out about his case shortly."It's a crazy deal. It was all about getting me out of office," he said. "I'll definitely run for office again. I have 80% plus approval right here, in my opinion. We will definitely be running for office after this is all cleared up.&nbsp;"It'll be county commission," he said of his future hopes for office. "Our county is in a crisis right now. In my opinion, we really need my leadership and business knowledge. We own several businesses in the community. My only goal is to do what's best for the county. That's it. Honest to God."

Graham County official says he's resigning but plans to run for office again

On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman talks with&nbsp;Christina Hayes of Western Cooperative Electric.

<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/otZPHGEVtR0?si=gxzuVfa5AjQW7hhA" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman talks with&nbsp;Christina Hayes of Western Cooperative Electric.

🎤 Forward Ever: Christina Hayes, Western Cooperative Electric

Kansas State Department of Education

TOPEKA — A Quinter teacher is among the finalists for the 2026 Dale Dennis Kansas Teacher&nbsp;of the Year award from the Kansas State Board of Education&nbsp;

The annual awards program and banquet will be held Sat., Sept. 20 at 5 p.m. in the&nbsp;Wichita Marriott Hotel, 9100 E. Corporate Hills Drive, in Wichita.

The finalists include&nbsp;Tracie Betz, a classroom teacher at Quinter Elementary School, Quinter USD 293;&nbsp;Tranda Strnad,&nbsp;an art teacher at Republic County High School, Republic County USD 109;&nbsp;Troy St. Clair,&nbsp;a Pre-K-5 physical education teacher at Scott Dual Magnet, Topeka USD 501;&nbsp;Julie Smith, a business and digital media teacher at Santa Fe Trail High School, Santa Fe Trail USD 434;&nbsp;Rachel Marlow,&nbsp;a music teacher at Central Elementary School in Olathe USD 233;&nbsp;Lauren Sage, a biology and environmental science teacher at F.L. Schlagle High School, Kansas City USD 500;&nbsp;Susan Rogers, a first grade teacher at Derby Hills Elementary School, Derby USD 260; and&nbsp;Jason Peters, a mathematics teacher at Hesston High School, Hesston USD 460.

Several dignitaries will be in attendance, including Kansas Commissioner of Education Dr. Randy Watson, members of the Kansas State Board of Education, business representatives, and veteran Kansas Teacher of the Year team members.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758213470607.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Kansas State Department of EducationTOPEKA — A Quinter teacher is among the finalists for the 2026 Dale Dennis Kansas Teacher&nbsp;of the Year award from the Kansas State Board of Education&nbsp;The annual awards program and banquet will be held Sat., Sept. 20 at 5 p.m. in the&nbsp;Wichita Marriott Hotel, 9100 E. Corporate Hills Drive, in Wichita.The finalists include&nbsp;Tracie Betz, a classroom teacher at Quinter Elementary School, Quinter USD 293;&nbsp;Tranda Strnad,&nbsp;an art teacher at Republic County High School, Republic County USD 109;&nbsp;Troy St. Clair,&nbsp;a Pre-K-5 physical education teacher at Scott Dual Magnet, Topeka USD 501;&nbsp;Julie Smith, a business and digital media teacher at Santa Fe Trail High School, Santa Fe Trail USD 434;&nbsp;Rachel Marlow,&nbsp;a music teacher at Central Elementary School in Olathe USD 233;&nbsp;Lauren Sage, a biology and environmental science teacher at F.L. Schlagle High School, Kansas City USD 500;&nbsp;Susan Rogers, a first grade teacher at Derby Hills Elementary School, Derby USD 260; and&nbsp;Jason Peters, a mathematics teacher at Hesston High School, Hesston USD 460.Several dignitaries will be in attendance, including Kansas Commissioner of Education Dr. Randy Watson, members of the Kansas State Board of Education, business representatives, and veteran Kansas Teacher of the Year team members.

Quinter teacher is finalist for KS State Department of Education Teacher of the Year 

By BECKY KISER Hays Post

Bison may be on the loose in Hays starting next spring.

These would not be escapees from the bison pen in Frontier Park but 25 life-size fiberglass statues painted to depict the history and culture of Ellis County.

"Bison on the Loose" is a public art project of the Heartland Community Foundation's Youth Action Council Ellis County representatives from each of the four high schools.

Three Hays High seniors explained the project to Hays city commissioners Thursday along with Sarah Meitner, Heartland Community Foundation executive director, and asked for permission to place the pieces on a number of city properties.&nbsp;

The bison are intended for high-visibility locations that draw attention and encourage visitors and locals to explore nearby businesses and attractions.&nbsp;Maps, walking tours, and interactive social media campaigns would generate foot traffic and economic activity.&nbsp;

Although the students first thought about tigers and Fort Hays State University, they ultimately decided on the bison.

"In 2026, we will celebrate 110 years since James “Scotty” Philips brought Hays’ first bison herd in 1916," said Oaklye Wichers. "This honors the city's&nbsp; historic herd and the frontier heritage."

The Youth Action Council is made up of students from Hays, TMP-Marian, Ellis and Victoria high schools.&nbsp;

"We thought about this for a long time just trying to devise a project that benefits all of Ellis County," said Mariella Dreiling.&nbsp;

The bison cost $5,000 each and the council has already raised $120,000 of its $125,000 goal.

"The money has come from Hays businesses, community members and individuals," said&nbsp;Savannah Clingan.

Production cost of each bison includes manufacturing, shipping, concrete base, mounting and moving, paint supplies, artists' time for planning and painting, automotive-grade topcoat, and $400 set back for a second topcoat in 7-10 years.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Painting would be done by local and Fort Hays State University student artists after the theme is vetted by the council. No business logos will be allowed on the statues.&nbsp;

Professional installation would be done in a partnership with Hess Services of Hays.&nbsp;

Expected lifespan of the statues is 15-20 years.&nbsp;

Ellis city leaders have already said yes to allowing three bison on public property. The plan is to place two statues in Victoria, and the remaining 20 in Hays.

The requested Hays public locations include Municipal Park Frontier Park by the multi-use path Sunrise Park Hays Regional Airport Downtown Pavilion Hays Public Library Hays Welcome Center ARC Park Frontier Park near the bison herd Hays City Hall Hays Aquatic Park Bickle-Schmidt Sports Complex Veterans Park Howard G. Reynolds Nature Trail near Sternberg Museum of Natural &nbsp; &nbsp; History Aubel-Bickle Park

City commissioners were supportive of the idea and will move the request on to next week's meeting.

"I was so impressed with this," said Shaun Musil, commissioner, "and that youth has done it all."

Commissioner Reese Barrick, executive director of the Sternberg Museum, joked that his support was swayed in favor when the students correctly identified the statues as bison and not buffalo. "I'm now all in," he laughed.&nbsp;

The other agenda item for yesterday's work session was a request from Arc of Central Plains to proceed with Phase 3 of the ARC Park, 3300 Hillcrest. It was presented by Meitner, who&nbsp;is also president of the board for Arc of Central Plains.&nbsp;

The improvements would include two new shelter houses, a second gazebo-type picnic pavilion and nearby flower garden, along with two permanent cornhole courts with 10 total lanes and shaded dugouts.

Cornhole, a favorite sport of many people of all ages, is a new Special Olympics Kansas sport with regional and state play.

"[This is] a scaled back version of what we've previously come to you with," said Meitner, "but doable. We have the funds and are ready to move.. ... We can do this for less than half a million dollars."

Everything is designed to need minimal maintenance, she said.&nbsp;

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/f3812872-c399-41c4-b960-d62ebe0e7f21">In 2023, the Phase 3 plan </a>included a $500,000 piece of play equipment. The total cost was about $1.67 million. The city commission at the time worried about long-term maintenance costs to the city.&nbsp;

&nbsp;If the commission approves moving forward with Phase 3, Parks Director Jeff Boyle would monitor the construction phase which will be bid out.

During commissioner comments at the end of the meeting, Musil asked for an upcoming work session to include discussion of the future design and maintenance of city parks. That discussion is also scheduled for the commissioners' retreat next spring.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758129999809.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>By BECKY KISER Hays PostBison may be on the loose in Hays starting next spring.These would not be escapees from the bison pen in Frontier Park but 25 life-size fiberglass statues painted to depict the history and culture of Ellis County."Bison on the Loose" is a public art project of the Heartland Community Foundation's Youth Action Council Ellis County representatives from each of the four high schools.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758240523513.jpeg" alt="Heartland Community Foundation Youth Action Council members Savannah Clingan, Oaklye Wichers and Mariella Dreiling, all seniors at Hays High School, along with&nbsp; Sarah Meitner, executive director, present the "Bison on the Loose" project to Hays city commission on Sept. 18. Photo by Becky Kiser/Hays Post&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Heartland Community Foundation Youth Action Council members Savannah Clingan, Oaklye Wichers and Mariella Dreiling, all seniors at Hays High School, along with&nbsp; Sarah Meitner, executive director, present the "Bison on the Loose" project to Hays city commission on Sept. 18. Photo by Becky Kiser/Hays Post&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>Three Hays High seniors explained the project to Hays city commissioners Thursday along with Sarah Meitner, Heartland Community Foundation executive director, and asked for permission to place the pieces on a number of city properties.&nbsp;The bison are intended for high-visibility locations that draw attention and encourage visitors and locals to explore nearby businesses and attractions.&nbsp;Maps, walking tours, and interactive social media campaigns would generate foot traffic and economic activity.&nbsp;Although the students first thought about tigers and Fort Hays State University, they ultimately decided on the bison."In 2026, we will celebrate 110 years since James “Scotty” Philips brought Hays’ first bison herd in 1916," said Oaklye Wichers. "This honors the city's&nbsp; historic herd and the frontier heritage."The Youth Action Council is made up of students from Hays, TMP-Marian, Ellis and Victoria high schools.&nbsp;"We thought about this for a long time just trying to devise a project that benefits all of Ellis County," said Mariella Dreiling.&nbsp;The bison cost $5,000 each and the council has already raised $120,000 of its $125,000 goal."The money has come from Hays businesses, community members and individuals," said&nbsp;Savannah Clingan.Production cost of each bison includes manufacturing, shipping, concrete base, mounting and moving, paint supplies, artists' time for planning and painting, automotive-grade topcoat, and $400 set back for a second topcoat in 7-10 years.&nbsp;&nbsp;Painting would be done by local and Fort Hays State University student artists after the theme is vetted by the council. No business logos will be allowed on the statues.&nbsp;Professional installation would be done in a partnership with Hess Services of Hays.&nbsp;Expected lifespan of the statues is 15-20 years.&nbsp;Ellis city leaders have already said yes to allowing three bison on public property. The plan is to place two statues in Victoria, and the remaining 20 in Hays.The requested Hays public locations include Municipal Park Frontier Park by the multi-use path Sunrise Park Hays Regional Airport Downtown Pavilion Hays Public Library Hays Welcome Center ARC Park Frontier Park near the bison herd Hays City Hall Hays Aquatic Park Bickle-Schmidt Sports Complex Veterans Park Howard G. Reynolds Nature Trail near Sternberg Museum of Natural &nbsp; &nbsp; History Aubel-Bickle ParkCity commissioners were supportive of the idea and will move the request on to next week's meeting."I was so impressed with this," said Shaun Musil, commissioner, "and that youth has done it all."Commissioner Reese Barrick, executive director of the Sternberg Museum, joked that his support was swayed in favor when the students correctly identified the statues as bison and not buffalo. "I'm now all in," he laughed.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758128549500.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>ARC Park Phase 3The other agenda item for yesterday's work session was a request from Arc of Central Plains to proceed with Phase 3 of the ARC Park, 3300 Hillcrest. It was presented by Meitner, who&nbsp;is also president of the board for Arc of Central Plains.&nbsp;The improvements would include two new shelter houses, a second gazebo-type picnic pavilion and nearby flower garden, along with two permanent cornhole courts with 10 total lanes and shaded dugouts.Cornhole, a favorite sport of many people of all ages, is a new Special Olympics Kansas sport with regional and state play."[This is] a scaled back version of what we've previously come to you with," said Meitner, "but doable. We have the funds and are ready to move.. ... We can do this for less than half a million dollars."Everything is designed to need minimal maintenance, she said.&nbsp;<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/f3812872-c399-41c4-b960-d62ebe0e7f21">In 2023, the Phase 3 plan </a>included a $500,000 piece of play equipment. The total cost was about $1.67 million. The city commission at the time worried about long-term maintenance costs to the city.&nbsp;&nbsp;If the commission approves moving forward with Phase 3, Parks Director Jeff Boyle would monitor the construction phase which will be bid out.During commissioner comments at the end of the meeting, Musil asked for an upcoming work session to include discussion of the future design and maintenance of city parks. That discussion is also scheduled for the commissioners' retreat next spring.&nbsp;

Youth Action Council hopes you'll find 'Bison on the Loose' in Ellis County next year

The Hays Arts Council is pleased to announce a community&nbsp;Meet &amp; Greet&nbsp;with new Executive Director Chandler Reich, on&nbsp;Thursday, Sept. 25 9-11 a.m. at the Hays Arts Center, 112 E 11th. The come-and-go event will feature coffee and donuts and provide an opportunity for the public to meet Reich, learn more about her vision for the organization, and extend a warm welcome.

Reich began her full-time role as executive director in September and has already hit the ground running in leading programs and community initiatives. The council board&nbsp;invites all community members to stop by, say hello, and join in celebrating this new chapter for the region’s oldest arts council.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758043047293.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Hays Arts CouncilThe Hays Arts Council is pleased to announce a community&nbsp;Meet &amp; Greet&nbsp;with new Executive Director Chandler Reich, on&nbsp;Thursday, Sept. 25 9-11 a.m. at the Hays Arts Center, 112 E 11th. The come-and-go event will feature coffee and donuts and provide an opportunity for the public to meet Reich, learn more about her vision for the organization, and extend a warm welcome.Reich began her full-time role as executive director in September and has already hit the ground running in leading programs and community initiatives. The council board&nbsp;invites all community members to stop by, say hello, and join in celebrating this new chapter for the region’s oldest arts council.

Public invited to meet and greet for Hays Arts Council executive director

By RORY MOORE FHSU University Relations

The American Democracy Project (ADP) at Fort Hays State University launched its new annual theme called ‘The Creative Citizen’ during a lecture inside Stouffer Lounge of Memorial Union on Thursday, Sept. 4. 

The goal of the theme is to explore dynamic connections between academic work and civic engagement, discover how educators intersect their work with the latter, and comprehend how education can contribute to shaping engaged and creative citizens on campus and in their broader communities amid a chaotic political climate.

The theme launch was a collaborative effort across several academic offices in the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences. Featured speakers included:&nbsp;Dr. Jill Arensdorf, Provost/ Vice President of Academic Affairs &amp; Professor of Leadership Programs; Dr. David Macey, Dean, College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences &amp; Professor of English and Modern Languages; Dr. Darrell Hamlin, co-director of&nbsp;ADP&nbsp;at FHSU &amp; Associate Professor of Political Science; Dr. Lori Kniffin, Director of Civic Learning and Engagement &amp; Voss Distinguished Professor of Leadership; and Dr. Amber N. Nickell, International Coordinator for the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences &amp; Associate Professor of History.

Dr. Wendy Rohleder-Sook, chair of FHSU’s Department of Communication Studies, Law, and Political Science, moderated the discussion, as the speakers, who represented ADP, shared how they engage students to foster community interaction and leadership.

“Our mission at Fort Hays is to provide quality education to Kansas, the nation, and the world through an innovative community of teachers, scholars, and professionals,” Arensdorf said. “To develop engaged global citizen leaders has been the fabric of our institution since its beginning. We’ve always been about creating human beings who can be engaged in communities and beyond.”

The Academic Affairs Priorities for 2025-26 and beyond, as laid out by Arensdorf this fall, are focused on regional engagement, student success, academic innovation, and data-driven decision-making.&nbsp; The work of ADP certainly connects to many of these priorities.

“Our (FHSU’s) definition of student success is not only retaining and graduating students, but social responsibility as engaged global citizens,” she said. “We want our students to get good jobs, and to help them develop a skill set and the knowledge to be able to go out and be community members in whatever communities they find themselves in.”&nbsp; The ADP assists in this goal.

Arensdorf discussed a new program that the ADP will deploy through its Civic Passport.

“This passport is an example of program innovation that connects to many academic programs, and will help students, faculty, and staff develop the skills to be an engaged system,” she said.

Macey emphasized how challenging the ADP’s work has become due to the polarization of public discourse and increased partisanship in civic spaces.

“The American Democracy Project creates the condition of possibility for addressing these challenges and for transforming our world on the local, national, and global levels,” Macey said. “In that way, it directly supports and advances the mission of the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, which is to prepare students for successful professional lives, lifelong learning, and meaningful engagement in an increasingly unpredictable world.”

Hamlin delivered the final lecture, focusing on creativity as the project’s theme rather than the previous theme of listening.

<a></a>“We don’t think about listening as a democratic skill the way we think about organizing or talking,” he said. “Listening is critical, but creativity is (also) a deeply undervalued part of the responsibility of the citizen. Democracy is skill-based, but it’s importantly practiced as an art.”

He stressed that democracy is necessary for sustaining human survival through individual expertise.

“It’s planning for success with technical and adaptive skills for innovation and response, but also for improvisation during inevitable moments of stress and breakdown,” Hamlin said. “Artistically, these skills will need to be used to thwart any kind of corruptive power structures that undermine the foundational democratic values of our world toward the greater good of survival.”

“We want students to understand that whatever instrument they play as individuals, they will also have to collaborate with and support others creatively.”

For more information, contact Dr. Hamlin at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:dahamlin@fhsu.edu">dahamlin@fhsu.edu</a>&nbsp;or visit&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=u001.EWtdXdo3nx3t8ZlvSfKX0X8C28Tse-2B6qeYDGXOgVNMzMNsS0CvA5tqImPwUwb-2F9F3gS1IFN4Cvc9LOvcPyR-2Bww-3D-3D7MKx_1ix3pnygukYWZfKiCJpm8BsHsayWXlw0ucteiDEo46fRc0p9DVWJmv2prlqkbHR6S2dsrJiXPEopagJAn55fgrGOya21Ubchf288oY8AFP4iYaBJwhylwdd5l9F7UOfOGDe3Ui7-2Fk66UAwwRRJKGWYREGBGMcvgkpTvwSwLT1ezn5HOFiV73-2BbUgJsaIjvVbyU-2BkA1SwgBDBAImXisPcgLwfduKS54JHk0-2B7HeCTW3asSMazZ4d5IbrNs6DO2U8hGE493dopHqQFFeL3UPm6JxoUl-2FK1m6gyaFBLEYbAH7cGHo-2BUEyjoWs2Li4CMTsgAi9HFT2TMjnGVw5OVkN92GnvhvdPY7F-2FgwtXZBYEpSMgKijKPvaXcKsroUM97RhQb">https://www.fhsu.edu/polisci/americandemocracy/</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758031579786.jpeg" alt="Co-director Dr. Darrell Hamlin discusses the importance of creativity at Fort Hays State University's American Democracy Project's first fall 2025 event. Photo by Rory Moore/FHSU University Relations" />
 <figcaption>Co-director Dr. Darrell Hamlin discusses the importance of creativity at Fort Hays State University's American Democracy Project's first fall 2025 event. Photo by Rory Moore/FHSU University Relations</figcaption>
 </figure>By RORY MOORE FHSU University RelationsThe American Democracy Project (ADP) at Fort Hays State University launched its new annual theme called ‘The Creative Citizen’ during a lecture inside Stouffer Lounge of Memorial Union on Thursday, Sept. 4. The goal of the theme is to explore dynamic connections between academic work and civic engagement, discover how educators intersect their work with the latter, and comprehend how education can contribute to shaping engaged and creative citizens on campus and in their broader communities amid a chaotic political climate.The theme launch was a collaborative effort across several academic offices in the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences. Featured speakers included:&nbsp;Dr. Jill Arensdorf, Provost/ Vice President of Academic Affairs &amp; Professor of Leadership Programs; Dr. David Macey, Dean, College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences &amp; Professor of English and Modern Languages; Dr. Darrell Hamlin, co-director of&nbsp;ADP&nbsp;at FHSU &amp; Associate Professor of Political Science; Dr. Lori Kniffin, Director of Civic Learning and Engagement &amp; Voss Distinguished Professor of Leadership; and Dr. Amber N. Nickell, International Coordinator for the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences &amp; Associate Professor of History.Dr. Wendy Rohleder-Sook, chair of FHSU’s Department of Communication Studies, Law, and Political Science, moderated the discussion, as the speakers, who represented ADP, shared how they engage students to foster community interaction and leadership.“Our mission at Fort Hays is to provide quality education to Kansas, the nation, and the world through an innovative community of teachers, scholars, and professionals,” Arensdorf said. “To develop engaged global citizen leaders has been the fabric of our institution since its beginning. We’ve always been about creating human beings who can be engaged in communities and beyond.”The Academic Affairs Priorities for 2025-26 and beyond, as laid out by Arensdorf this fall, are focused on regional engagement, student success, academic innovation, and data-driven decision-making.&nbsp; The work of ADP certainly connects to many of these priorities.“Our (FHSU’s) definition of student success is not only retaining and graduating students, but social responsibility as engaged global citizens,” she said. “We want our students to get good jobs, and to help them develop a skill set and the knowledge to be able to go out and be community members in whatever communities they find themselves in.”&nbsp; The ADP assists in this goal.Arensdorf discussed a new program that the ADP will deploy through its Civic Passport.“This passport is an example of program innovation that connects to many academic programs, and will help students, faculty, and staff develop the skills to be an engaged system,” she said.Macey emphasized how challenging the ADP’s work has become due to the polarization of public discourse and increased partisanship in civic spaces.“The American Democracy Project creates the condition of possibility for addressing these challenges and for transforming our world on the local, national, and global levels,” Macey said. “In that way, it directly supports and advances the mission of the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, which is to prepare students for successful professional lives, lifelong learning, and meaningful engagement in an increasingly unpredictable world.”Hamlin delivered the final lecture, focusing on creativity as the project’s theme rather than the previous theme of listening.<a></a>“We don’t think about listening as a democratic skill the way we think about organizing or talking,” he said. “Listening is critical, but creativity is (also) a deeply undervalued part of the responsibility of the citizen. Democracy is skill-based, but it’s importantly practiced as an art.”He stressed that democracy is necessary for sustaining human survival through individual expertise.“It’s planning for success with technical and adaptive skills for innovation and response, but also for improvisation during inevitable moments of stress and breakdown,” Hamlin said. “Artistically, these skills will need to be used to thwart any kind of corruptive power structures that undermine the foundational democratic values of our world toward the greater good of survival.”“We want students to understand that whatever instrument they play as individuals, they will also have to collaborate with and support others creatively.”For more information, contact Dr. Hamlin at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:dahamlin@fhsu.edu">dahamlin@fhsu.edu</a>&nbsp;or visit&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=u001.EWtdXdo3nx3t8ZlvSfKX0X8C28Tse-2B6qeYDGXOgVNMzMNsS0CvA5tqImPwUwb-2F9F3gS1IFN4Cvc9LOvcPyR-2Bww-3D-3D7MKx_1ix3pnygukYWZfKiCJpm8BsHsayWXlw0ucteiDEo46fRc0p9DVWJmv2prlqkbHR6S2dsrJiXPEopagJAn55fgrGOya21Ubchf288oY8AFP4iYaBJwhylwdd5l9F7UOfOGDe3Ui7-2Fk66UAwwRRJKGWYREGBGMcvgkpTvwSwLT1ezn5HOFiV73-2BbUgJsaIjvVbyU-2BkA1SwgBDBAImXisPcgLwfduKS54JHk0-2B7HeCTW3asSMazZ4d5IbrNs6DO2U8hGE493dopHqQFFeL3UPm6JxoUl-2FK1m6gyaFBLEYbAH7cGHo-2BUEyjoWs2Li4CMTsgAi9HFT2TMjnGVw5OVkN92GnvhvdPY7F-2FgwtXZBYEpSMgKijKPvaXcKsroUM97RhQb">https://www.fhsu.edu/polisci/americandemocracy/</a>.

American Democracy Project, FHSU faculty leaders discuss 'The Creative Citizen'

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758204640570.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://hayspost.com/pages/state-farm-weather-window">For a full look at the weather forecast, click here.</a>

Three-day weather outlook

Register to become a finalist in the Yuengling Flight Golf Cart Giveaway this Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Kaiser Liquor East &amp; West, 1105 E. 27th &amp; 2801 Hall, Hays.

While you’re there, take advantage of special pricing…24 packs of Yuengling Flight for only $21.99!

Special thanks to A &amp; A Coors Yuengling!

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755614026735.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Register to become a finalist in the Yuengling Flight Golf Cart Giveaway this Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Kaiser Liquor East &amp; West, 1105 E. 27th &amp; 2801 Hall, Hays.While you’re there, take advantage of special pricing…24 packs of Yuengling Flight for only $21.99!Special thanks to A &amp; A Coors Yuengling!

FHSU daily crime log: Sept. 12-18, 2025

Reporter Cristina Janney speaks with Nancy Jeter of Women Who Lead about the Out of Darkness suicide prevention walk and other projects on this episode of the Hays Post Podcast.

<div><iframe title="Post Podcast - Women Who Lead" allowtransparency="true" height="300" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:300px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?from=embed&i=gx5f6-1968f53-pb&square=1&share=1&d… loading="lazy" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697043311841.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Reporter Cristina Janney speaks with Nancy Jeter of Women Who Lead about the Out of Darkness suicide prevention walk and other projects on this episode of the Hays Post Podcast.

🎙 Post Podcast: Women Who Lead, Out of Darkness walk

Small Kansas high schools are switching to six-man football to keep their teams alive, while their towns’ populations shrink. And state high school sports officials think it’s a trend that will likely grow.

By CALEN MOORE <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/2025-09-05/six-man-football-in-kansas-is-keeping-the-friday-night-lights-on-for-rural-towns">KMUW</a>

INGALLS, Kansas —&nbsp;On the edge of town next to the railroad tracks, the sound of pads crunch and whistles echo. A train chugs by toward the grain elevator that backdrops the football field that features only a handful of players. And a bulldog painted on the town’s water tower watches over them.

High school football season is approaching, and this is what many rural Kansas towns feel like this time of year. Even if they are like Ingalls, a community with a population of less than 300.

“When I first drove into town, you see Ingalls Bulldogs everywhere,” Ingalls Head Coach Logan Hernandez said. ”The pride the town of this size has for its team, it runs deep.”

But it’s getting harder to field a football team year after year.

More towns across western Kansas are adopting six-man football, a version of football with smaller teams to help keep the sport alive.

Six-man football is a high-flying and high-scoring game that only has six players on the field for each team, opposed to the usual 11. Smaller schools usually resort to eight-man or six-man football when enrollment is low and there are only a few students who want to play.

One of the Bulldog’s offensive weapons breaks a tackle before finding some open field.

Back in 2021, the Kansas State High School Activities Association voted to officially sanction six-man football with 15 teams taking the field that year. Last season it grew to 23 teams in Kansas. This season the KSHSAA expects similar numbers.

But each season it can fluctuate, with some towns having smaller classes and then bigger classes the next year.

Mark Lentz, assistant executive director for the KSHSAA, said keeping the football team going gives small towns a chance to bring their community together.

“When you play a varsity game on a Friday night, that's what's going on in town,” Lentz said. “And that's what we want to keep and we want schools to thrive and communities to thrive and have that opportunity.”

This is Hernandez's first year as a head coach and first year coaching six-man football.

“There’s a lot of adapting, the rules are a bit different, when I first watched the tape I had to count because I thought surely there wasn’t enough guys on the field,” Hernandez said.

A train whizzes by the field while the team practices. Coach Logan Hernandez keeps running through their plays without stopping.

The Bulldogs are coming off a successful 9-2 season. Hernandez is getting his team ready to kickoff the season against the Triplains/Brewster Titans.

They are an example of the lengths rural schools will go to keep the Friday night lights on for their communities. Triplains High School in Winona combined programs with Brewster High School to form a team.

Bucklin High School in southern Kansas also joined forces with Ashland High School’s team this year to give their students an opportunity to play.

“These towns, they're kind of away from everybody, and with schools consolidating, if they couldn't play, that'd be a real big issue,” Hernandez said.

But that doesn’t stop them from getting creative to keep the tradition alive for their towns and their youth.

Six-man football is heavy on offense and scoring. Take Golden Plains High School in Rexford, Kansas, for example. Last season, the team played in games with scores of 82-45, 62-16 and 58-0.

The game is played on a slightly shorter field of 80 yards opposed to the standard 100 yards. And unlike standard football rules, everyone including linemen are eligible to catch a pass, leading to wildly entertaining plays.

“A lot of teams of this size don’t have anyone real big on their team, so it’s more about speed,” Hernandez said. “When you see a running back break off a 60-yard run you drew up, it’s hard to contain your excitement.”

Lentz said more small towns that are shrinking may soon get in on that excitement.

About&nbsp;<a href="https://sentinelksmo.org/u-s-census-data-details-kansas-population-loss/" target="_blank">three out of four counties</a>&nbsp;in Kansas lost population from 2020 to 2022. There’s not a lot of entertainment or amenities in small towns in the High Plains, but high school football remains a gathering opportunity for these communities.

The practice field in Ingalls sits on the edge of town. A lot of rural towns like this are keeping football alive with six-man teams.

And for the teens growing up there, six-man allows them to pursue the game they love and receive opportunities despite their rural surroundings, Lentz said.

“It's just an opportunity for smaller schools who don't have the enrollment, or may not have a lot of boys in their school to play the game of football,” Lentz said.

KSHSAA this year raised the maximum enrollment threshold so more small schools could join the program. Before only schools with less than 55 students could drop down to six-man football, but now the maximum is 65 students.

Lentz believes that in the upcoming seasons, Kansas might see several more teams join the trend to keep a consistent team together. He said KSHSAA hopes in the next few years the state will have up to 32 teams playing in that division.

“I'm not saying the community is going to shut down if they don't have a football team,” Lentz said. “But, you want the community involved in your school, and football's part of that school.”

Calen Moore covers western Kansas for High Plains Public Radio and the Kansas News Service. You can email him at&nbsp;cmoore@hppr.org.

The Kansas News Service is a collaboration of KCUR, Kansas Public Radio, KMUW and High Plains Public Radio focused on health, the social determinants of health and their connection to public policy.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758139063125.png" alt="The Ingalls Bulldogs run through their walkthrough getting familiar with their plays. Kickoff for their team is right around the corner. Calen Moore / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>The Ingalls Bulldogs run through their walkthrough getting familiar with their plays. Kickoff for their team is right around the corner. Calen Moore / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Small Kansas high schools are switching to six-man football to keep their teams alive, while their towns’ populations shrink. And state high school sports officials think it’s a trend that will likely grow.</h2>By CALEN MOORE <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/2025-09-05/six-man-football-in-kansas-is-keeping-the-friday-night-lights-on-for-rural-towns">KMUW</a>INGALLS, Kansas —&nbsp;On the edge of town next to the railroad tracks, the sound of pads crunch and whistles echo. A train chugs by toward the grain elevator that backdrops the football field that features only a handful of players. And a bulldog painted on the town’s water tower watches over them.High school football season is approaching, and this is what many rural Kansas towns feel like this time of year. Even if they are like Ingalls, a community with a population of less than 300.“When I first drove into town, you see Ingalls Bulldogs everywhere,” Ingalls Head Coach Logan Hernandez said. ”The pride the town of this size has for its team, it runs deep.”But it’s getting harder to field a football team year after year.More towns across western Kansas are adopting six-man football, a version of football with smaller teams to help keep the sport alive.Six-man football is a high-flying and high-scoring game that only has six players on the field for each team, opposed to the usual 11. Smaller schools usually resort to eight-man or six-man football when enrollment is low and there are only a few students who want to play.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758139138636.png" alt="Calen Moore /&nbsp;Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>Calen Moore /&nbsp;Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>One of the Bulldog’s offensive weapons breaks a tackle before finding some open field.Back in 2021, the Kansas State High School Activities Association voted to officially sanction six-man football with 15 teams taking the field that year. Last season it grew to 23 teams in Kansas. This season the KSHSAA expects similar numbers.But each season it can fluctuate, with some towns having smaller classes and then bigger classes the next year.Mark Lentz, assistant executive director for the KSHSAA, said keeping the football team going gives small towns a chance to bring their community together.“When you play a varsity game on a Friday night, that's what's going on in town,” Lentz said. “And that's what we want to keep and we want schools to thrive and communities to thrive and have that opportunity.”<h2>Adapting the game&nbsp;</h2>This is Hernandez's first year as a head coach and first year coaching six-man football.“There’s a lot of adapting, the rules are a bit different, when I first watched the tape I had to count because I thought surely there wasn’t enough guys on the field,” Hernandez said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758139440435.png" alt="Calen Moore /&nbsp;Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>Calen Moore /&nbsp;Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>A train whizzes by the field while the team practices. Coach Logan Hernandez keeps running through their plays without stopping.The Bulldogs are coming off a successful 9-2 season. Hernandez is getting his team ready to kickoff the season against the Triplains/Brewster Titans.They are an example of the lengths rural schools will go to keep the Friday night lights on for their communities. Triplains High School in Winona combined programs with Brewster High School to form a team.Bucklin High School in southern Kansas also joined forces with Ashland High School’s team this year to give their students an opportunity to play.“These towns, they're kind of away from everybody, and with schools consolidating, if they couldn't play, that'd be a real big issue,” Hernandez said.But that doesn’t stop them from getting creative to keep the tradition alive for their towns and their youth.Six-man football is heavy on offense and scoring. Take Golden Plains High School in Rexford, Kansas, for example. Last season, the team played in games with scores of 82-45, 62-16 and 58-0.The game is played on a slightly shorter field of 80 yards opposed to the standard 100 yards. And unlike standard football rules, everyone including linemen are eligible to catch a pass, leading to wildly entertaining plays.“A lot of teams of this size don’t have anyone real big on their team, so it’s more about speed,” Hernandez said. “When you see a running back break off a 60-yard run you drew up, it’s hard to contain your excitement.”<h2>Shrinking towns</h2>Lentz said more small towns that are shrinking may soon get in on that excitement.About&nbsp;<a href="https://sentinelksmo.org/u-s-census-data-details-kansas-population-loss/" target="_blank">three out of four counties</a>&nbsp;in Kansas lost population from 2020 to 2022. There’s not a lot of entertainment or amenities in small towns in the High Plains, but high school football remains a gathering opportunity for these communities.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758139530488.png" alt="Calen Moore /&nbsp;Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>Calen Moore /&nbsp;Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>The practice field in Ingalls sits on the edge of town. A lot of rural towns like this are keeping football alive with six-man teams.And for the teens growing up there, six-man allows them to pursue the game they love and receive opportunities despite their rural surroundings, Lentz said.“It's just an opportunity for smaller schools who don't have the enrollment, or may not have a lot of boys in their school to play the game of football,” Lentz said.KSHSAA this year raised the maximum enrollment threshold so more small schools could join the program. Before only schools with less than 55 students could drop down to six-man football, but now the maximum is 65 students.Lentz believes that in the upcoming seasons, Kansas might see several more teams join the trend to keep a consistent team together. He said KSHSAA hopes in the next few years the state will have up to 32 teams playing in that division.“I'm not saying the community is going to shut down if they don't have a football team,” Lentz said. “But, you want the community involved in your school, and football's part of that school.”Calen Moore covers western Kansas for High Plains Public Radio and the Kansas News Service. You can email him at&nbsp;cmoore@hppr.org.The Kansas News Service is a collaboration of KCUR, Kansas Public Radio, KMUW and High Plains Public Radio focused on health, the social determinants of health and their connection to public policy.

Six-man football in Kansas is keeping the Friday night lights on for rural towns

Fort Hays State University’s new hybrid pre-licensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program opened its inaugural semester this fall, welcoming its first cohort of 10 students.

The program offers a flexible combination of online and face-to-face learning experiences, with theory-based courses delivered online and synchronous class sessions allowing for real-time interaction with instructors and classmates. Lab and clinical experiences are bundled together, enabling students to make fewer trips to Hays while still receiving hands-on training.

“We are excited to offer this type of nursing education to students who are place-bound due to either work or family commitments,” said Tanya Smith, assistant chair of FHSU’s nursing department. “While the program maintains its quality and rigor, having the ability to complete the coursework required on the student’s time schedule instead of a structured schedule has been beneficial to the students in this program.”

For many students, this format provides an accessible path to a nursing degree while balancing life’s many responsibilities.

“This program allows me to work my 8-5 job and still have time to do homework after, versus being on campus all day and having to find an evening job,” said Gabrielle De Waal, an LPN at a clinic in Hays who is also planning a spring wedding. “It definitely is more flexible.”

Angelica Garcia, another member of the inaugural cohort, said the program allows her to focus on raising her son at home.

“I would rather raise my boy with my husband and avoid daycare,” she said. “Everything I would make would go straight to daycare. It’s just so expensive.”

Other students shared how the program’s structure fits into their busy lives:

• Andrea Hensley, Overland Park, a mother of three who also works two jobs, said she applied after hearing about the program through a client at her spa. “If I get in, I’m doing it,” she recalled telling her husband. “And here I am.” • Janine Van Niekerk, Arapahoe, Neb., a mother of six, called the program “a blessing,” adding, “I previously looked into a traditional BSN, but I couldn’t commit to five days a week. Online is easier to manage.”

During the fall semester, hybrid students spend three to four days on campus and two to three days in a senior living community, with the remainder of coursework online. While students say online learning requires discipline and self-motivation, they also praised the accessibility and responsiveness of their instructors.

Dr. Jenny Manry, chair of the Department of Nursing, said she is ecstatic about the hybrid program.

“We are excited that this program will benefit students and their local communities,” she said. “By educating students in place, we will impact the healthcare in the communities where they reside.”

Admission to the hybrid program occurs once per year, beginning each fall. The application deadline is Feb. 1, 2026. Applications will be accepted until the cohort is filled.

For more information or to apply, contact: Dr. Tanya Smith, Coordinator of the BSN Program Email:&nbsp;tlsmith17@fhsu.edu

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758047545669.jpeg" alt="Fort Hays State University’s new hybrid pre-licensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program opened this semester, welcoming its first cohort of 10 students. Photo by FHSU" />
 <figcaption>Fort Hays State University’s new hybrid pre-licensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program opened this semester, welcoming its first cohort of 10 students. Photo by FHSU</figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU University CommunicationsFort Hays State University’s new hybrid pre-licensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program opened its inaugural semester this fall, welcoming its first cohort of 10 students.The program offers a flexible combination of online and face-to-face learning experiences, with theory-based courses delivered online and synchronous class sessions allowing for real-time interaction with instructors and classmates. Lab and clinical experiences are bundled together, enabling students to make fewer trips to Hays while still receiving hands-on training.“We are excited to offer this type of nursing education to students who are place-bound due to either work or family commitments,” said Tanya Smith, assistant chair of FHSU’s nursing department. “While the program maintains its quality and rigor, having the ability to complete the coursework required on the student’s time schedule instead of a structured schedule has been beneficial to the students in this program.”For many students, this format provides an accessible path to a nursing degree while balancing life’s many responsibilities.“This program allows me to work my 8-5 job and still have time to do homework after, versus being on campus all day and having to find an evening job,” said Gabrielle De Waal, an LPN at a clinic in Hays who is also planning a spring wedding. “It definitely is more flexible.”Angelica Garcia, another member of the inaugural cohort, said the program allows her to focus on raising her son at home.“I would rather raise my boy with my husband and avoid daycare,” she said. “Everything I would make would go straight to daycare. It’s just so expensive.”Other students shared how the program’s structure fits into their busy lives:• Andrea Hensley, Overland Park, a mother of three who also works two jobs, said she applied after hearing about the program through a client at her spa. “If I get in, I’m doing it,” she recalled telling her husband. “And here I am.” • Janine Van Niekerk, Arapahoe, Neb., a mother of six, called the program “a blessing,” adding, “I previously looked into a traditional BSN, but I couldn’t commit to five days a week. Online is easier to manage.”During the fall semester, hybrid students spend three to four days on campus and two to three days in a senior living community, with the remainder of coursework online. While students say online learning requires discipline and self-motivation, they also praised the accessibility and responsiveness of their instructors.Dr. Jenny Manry, chair of the Department of Nursing, said she is ecstatic about the hybrid program.“We are excited that this program will benefit students and their local communities,” she said. “By educating students in place, we will impact the healthcare in the communities where they reside.”Admission to the hybrid program occurs once per year, beginning each fall. The application deadline is Feb. 1, 2026. Applications will be accepted until the cohort is filled.For more information or to apply, contact: Dr. Tanya Smith, Coordinator of the BSN Program Email:&nbsp;tlsmith17@fhsu.edu

FHSU launches hybrid nursing program with first cohort of students

Heartland Community Foundation

The Heartland Community Foundation, dedicated to supporting Ellis, Rooks, and Trego counties, is excited to announce the opening of its fall grant cycle. Applications can be submitted online until 11:59 p.m. on Saturday, November 15, 2025. A total of over $150,000 in funding is available.

This grant cycle aims to support local initiatives that fulfill one or more of the following goals:

• Directly benefiting communities in Ellis, Rooks, or Trego counties. • Enhancing the quality of life for individuals and expanding the capacity or outreach of applying organizations through programs, projects, or capital improvements. • Providing seed funding to kickstart new projects, programs, or organizations that will serve the community

Funding this cycle is made possible by the Legacy Funds of Ellis, Rooks, and Trego counties, along with contributions from the Dane G. Hansen Community Grant Fund, the Heartland Healthy Living Fund, and the Heartland Area Action Fund. 

Two new funds will also be making their first grant distributions this fall: the Hays Optimist Friends of Youth Fund will support projects that benefit youth or are youth-led, while the Trego County Enhancement Fund will support projects that promote economic development in Trego County.

Eligible projects must be based in Ellis, Rooks, or Trego counties and will undergo a competitive evaluation process. Nonprofit organizations, government entities, educational institutions, and churches are all encouraged to apply. All applications must be submitted online by the deadline&nbsp;of 11:59 p.m. on November 15. Detailed funding criteria and the application form can be found at <a href="https://heartlandcommunityfoundation.org/grants/">https://heartlandcommunityfoundation.org/grants/</a>

For further inquiries, please reach out to Sarah Meitner, executive director, at 785-621-4090, Savannah Downing, Trego Development Director, at 785-743-3270, or Deanna Hammerschmidt, Rooks Development Director, at 785-688-5098.

You can easily make a charitable gift by clicking the GIVE ONLINE button.

To learn more about the Heartland Community Foundation, make a donation to one of our managed funds, or apply for a grant, please visit <a href="https://heartlandcommunityfoundation.org/">www.heartlandcommunityfoundation.org</a>.&nbsp;

Stay updated on our latest news, grantee stories, and featured funds by following us on Facebook at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/HeartlandCF">https://www.facebook.com/HeartlandCF</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758042178015.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Heartland Community Foundation The Heartland Community Foundation, dedicated to supporting Ellis, Rooks, and Trego counties, is excited to announce the opening of its fall grant cycle. Applications can be submitted online until 11:59 p.m. on Saturday, November 15, 2025. A total of over $150,000 in funding is available.This grant cycle aims to support local initiatives that fulfill one or more of the following goals:• Directly benefiting communities in Ellis, Rooks, or Trego counties. • Enhancing the quality of life for individuals and expanding the capacity or outreach of applying organizations through programs, projects, or capital improvements. • Providing seed funding to kickstart new projects, programs, or organizations that will serve the communityFunding this cycle is made possible by the Legacy Funds of Ellis, Rooks, and Trego counties, along with contributions from the Dane G. Hansen Community Grant Fund, the Heartland Healthy Living Fund, and the Heartland Area Action Fund. Two new funds will also be making their first grant distributions this fall: the Hays Optimist Friends of Youth Fund will support projects that benefit youth or are youth-led, while the Trego County Enhancement Fund will support projects that promote economic development in Trego County.Eligible projects must be based in Ellis, Rooks, or Trego counties and will undergo a competitive evaluation process. Nonprofit organizations, government entities, educational institutions, and churches are all encouraged to apply. All applications must be submitted online by the deadline&nbsp;of 11:59 p.m. on November 15. Detailed funding criteria and the application form can be found at <a href="https://heartlandcommunityfoundation.org/grants/">https://heartlandcommunityfoundation.org/grants/</a>For further inquiries, please reach out to Sarah Meitner, executive director, at 785-621-4090, Savannah Downing, Trego Development Director, at 785-743-3270, or Deanna Hammerschmidt, Rooks Development Director, at 785-688-5098.You can easily make a charitable gift by clicking the GIVE ONLINE button.To learn more about the Heartland Community Foundation, make a donation to one of our managed funds, or apply for a grant, please visit <a href="https://heartlandcommunityfoundation.org/">www.heartlandcommunityfoundation.org</a>.&nbsp;Stay updated on our latest news, grantee stories, and featured funds by following us on Facebook at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/HeartlandCF">https://www.facebook.com/HeartlandCF</a>.

Heartland Community Foundation accepting grant applications through Nov. 15

By KAREN MADORIN Hays Post

My Grandma marveled at changes she experienced starting with her birth in 1909. She lived through WW I and II, Korea, and Viet Nam. During childhood, she saw her home electrified and plumbed. When her family got a wall phone, they marveled. She talked about their first motorized vehicle and the joy of riding in airconditioned comfort decades later. Refrigeration changed cooking practices as did the advent of gas and electric stoves. She didn’t have a TV til the 60s, but she appreciated watching Walter Cronkite deliver news. Saturday night was not complete til she enjoyed Lawrence Welk before she studied the next day’s Sunday school lesson. Colorization improved Lawrence. She loved his co-stars’ bright dresses and suits.

I relished her childhood stories. From her dad driving a steam engine through Colorado mountains to tales of horse drawn carriages and wagons, they fascinated me. She described her mom’s delicious meals cooked on a wood stove, bathing in stove-heated water in a tin tub, and scrubbing laundry in it as well. She had one of her family’s kerosene lanterns, and I could imagine her lighting it as darkness descended. While she made it sound cozy, she let me know she appreciated modern improvements like electricity, air conditioners and forced air furnaces, hot and cold running water, washing machines and dryers, and her programmable oven that began baking before she came home for lunch.

What she saw as miracles, I take for granted. However, she didn’t live long enough for smart phones to not only connect her to the world but also deliver information at a touch and track appointments or provide weather warnings. On the other hand, she didn’t have to figure out what to do when it, her computer, or her Smart TV didn’t work.

Those issues aggravate us as we age. As digital immigrants who used computers for work, both of us feel like travelers in foreign territory when they don’t perform. While we appreciate advantages technology offers, we find ourselves in stress city when it doesn’t work.

Recently, we faced repeated challenges starting when our Fire Stick quit. We discovered we&nbsp;

didn’t have a business in town to call for onsite help after we failed to properly install that device Thank goodness, a savvy neighbor walked us through the step we’d missed and reconnected us to favorite programs.

Not long after we got the TV operating, our 4-year-old phone decided to go geriatric and prevent us from hearing incoming callers. Off to a treasured phone company employee to update phones. That went fine until a glitch in the I Phone program prevented us from getting texts and emails. Who knew how dependent we’d become on instant communication. It took our patient and tenacious tech 3 days to connect all the dots so our new phones performed properly. She had 10 years of trouble shooting under her belt that allowed her to solve the problem. We couldn’t begin to figure out what to do.

In addition to recruiting electricians, plumbers, carpenters, carpet layers, and car mechanics, communities need to encourage local tech wizards to stay in town. For a while yet, a generation of digital immigrants with limited vocabulary wander a foreign land needing professional guidance.

We haven’t seen the change my grandma did, but we’ve experienced enough we need expert direction with current technology. Tech Wizards, open a consulting business in your hometown. Customers await!

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758135894941.jpeg" alt="Rufus Wilson, Aunt Millie's husband, selling Baker's patent Medicine. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Rufus Wilson, Aunt Millie's husband, selling Baker's patent Medicine. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By KAREN MADORIN Hays PostMy Grandma marveled at changes she experienced starting with her birth in 1909. She lived through WW I and II, Korea, and Viet Nam. During childhood, she saw her home electrified and plumbed. When her family got a wall phone, they marveled. She talked about their first motorized vehicle and the joy of riding in airconditioned comfort decades later. Refrigeration changed cooking practices as did the advent of gas and electric stoves. She didn’t have a TV til the 60s, but she appreciated watching Walter Cronkite deliver news. Saturday night was not complete til she enjoyed Lawrence Welk before she studied the next day’s Sunday school lesson. Colorization improved Lawrence. She loved his co-stars’ bright dresses and suits.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658158626307.png" alt="Karen Madorin" />
 <figcaption>Karen Madorin</figcaption>
 </figure>I relished her childhood stories. From her dad driving a steam engine through Colorado mountains to tales of horse drawn carriages and wagons, they fascinated me. She described her mom’s delicious meals cooked on a wood stove, bathing in stove-heated water in a tin tub, and scrubbing laundry in it as well. She had one of her family’s kerosene lanterns, and I could imagine her lighting it as darkness descended. While she made it sound cozy, she let me know she appreciated modern improvements like electricity, air conditioners and forced air furnaces, hot and cold running water, washing machines and dryers, and her programmable oven that began baking before she came home for lunch.What she saw as miracles, I take for granted. However, she didn’t live long enough for smart phones to not only connect her to the world but also deliver information at a touch and track appointments or provide weather warnings. On the other hand, she didn’t have to figure out what to do when it, her computer, or her Smart TV didn’t work.Those issues aggravate us as we age. As digital immigrants who used computers for work, both of us feel like travelers in foreign territory when they don’t perform. While we appreciate advantages technology offers, we find ourselves in stress city when it doesn’t work.Recently, we faced repeated challenges starting when our Fire Stick quit. We discovered we&nbsp;didn’t have a business in town to call for onsite help after we failed to properly install that device Thank goodness, a savvy neighbor walked us through the step we’d missed and reconnected us to favorite programs.Not long after we got the TV operating, our 4-year-old phone decided to go geriatric and prevent us from hearing incoming callers. Off to a treasured phone company employee to update phones. That went fine until a glitch in the I Phone program prevented us from getting texts and emails. Who knew how dependent we’d become on instant communication. It took our patient and tenacious tech 3 days to connect all the dots so our new phones performed properly. She had 10 years of trouble shooting under her belt that allowed her to solve the problem. We couldn’t begin to figure out what to do.In addition to recruiting electricians, plumbers, carpenters, carpet layers, and car mechanics, communities need to encourage local tech wizards to stay in town. For a while yet, a generation of digital immigrants with limited vocabulary wander a foreign land needing professional guidance.We haven’t seen the change my grandma did, but we’ve experienced enough we need expert direction with current technology. Tech Wizards, open a consulting business in your hometown. Customers await!

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