By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

The Hays school board will meet with its architectural firm, DLR, to discuss possible next steps in a bond issue&nbsp;at 6:30 tonight at the Rockwell Administration Center.

The board heard results from a survey at its meeting on April 12 that indicated&nbsp;68 percent of respondents would support a USD 489 bond issue.

The board has not made a decision to move forward with a bond election yet, nor have they made any decisions on what might be contained in a bond issue.

The district has had two failed bond issues in the last five years. It has been more than 30 years since the district has passed a bond issue.

The board will also hear from Eric Burks, NCK-Tech president, about partnerships between the technical college and USD 489.

Kyle Carlin, director of the special education cooperative, will give a special education report.

The board will also discuss several capital projects.

The board will consider spending $149,000 on upgrades for the Hays High School and Hays Middle School security camera systems.

It will considering spending $82,000 on computers for district staff.

HHS is proposing the purchase of new band uniforms at a cost of $59,000.

The board will also consider the bid for the secure entrance at Wilson Elementary School.

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostThe Hays school board will meet with its architectural firm, DLR, to discuss possible next steps in a bond issue&nbsp;at 6:30 tonight at the Rockwell Administration Center.The board heard results from a survey at its meeting on April 12 that indicated&nbsp;68 percent of respondents would support a USD 489 bond issue.The board has not made a decision to move forward with a bond election yet, nor have they made any decisions on what might be contained in a bond issue.The district has had two failed bond issues in the last five years. It has been more than 30 years since the district has passed a bond issue.The board will also hear from Eric Burks, NCK-Tech president, about partnerships between the technical college and USD 489.Kyle Carlin, director of the special education cooperative, will give a special education report.<h2>Capital projects</h2>The board will also discuss several capital projects.The board will consider spending $149,000 on upgrades for the Hays High School and Hays Middle School security camera systems.It will considering spending $82,000 on computers for district staff.HHS is proposing the purchase of new band uniforms at a cost of $59,000.The board will also consider the bid for the secure entrance at Wilson Elementary School.

Hays USD 489 school board to hear from architect on bond

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

<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 two COVID-19 inpatients at HaysMed, both in the recovery phase.

Since reporting began, there have been 3,732 cases of COVID-19 identified in Ellis County, including 73 coronavirus-related deaths — the last of which was reported on March 10.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1619457837224.png" alt="KDHE" />
 <figcaption>KDHE</figcaption>
 </figure>The Kansas Department of Health and Environment on Monday reported two new cases of COVID-19 identified in Ellis County since Friday.<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 two COVID-19 inpatients at HaysMed, both in the recovery phase.Since reporting began, there have been 3,732 cases of COVID-19 identified in Ellis County, including 73 coronavirus-related deaths — the last of which was reported on March 10.

KDHE: Two new COVID-19 cases in Ellis Co. since Friday

On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times host Gary Shorman speaks with Ellis County Health Services director Jason Kennedy.

<div><iframe title="Forward Ever: Ellis County Health Services director Jason Kennedy" 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=k5u4p-101c425-pb&from=pb6admin&download=1&square=1&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=3&btn-skin=3&size=300" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times host Gary Shorman speaks with Ellis County Health Services director Jason Kennedy.

🎤Forward Ever: Ellis County Health Services director Jason Kennedy

During a four-day trip across western Kansas, primarily in the northwest corner of the state, Lt. Gov. David Toland made a stop in Hays.

During the trip, he visited with Grow Hays Executive Director Doug Williams while touring housing developments in the city along with Grow Hays' downtown co-working space, Briefspace.

“We’re really trying to take the temperature in this part of
the state,” Toland said. “(To) see how things are going, see where there are more opportunities
for growth and also where there are some pain points that are restricting
growth.”

Housing, he said, is one of the main areas of concern he noted
during the trip, along with workforce needs.

“I have asked in every town I have been in, ‘How many houses
do you have on the market?’ And the answers have ranged from zero to 12,” he said. “And
so there is a real scarcity of housing products in rural communities in
particular.”

He heard this message repeated during the tour but also sought input into how to best address the issue.

“What I try to do is ask a lot of questions and listen,”
Toland said. “These folks know best what their needs are and what it is going
to take to address that.”

“There is simply not enough units that are available right
now,” he said. “That creates pressure points for businesses, that creates
pressure points for families that are growing and so on down the line.”

To fully identify housing concerns, he said, Gov. Laura Kelly has launched the first statewide housing assessment in 27 years.

“That housing assessment is being conducted so that (we can)
understand how many units are needed, what types of units are needed …And then, where geographically do these units need to go in order to be able to support business
growth?” he said.

Locally, Toland visited the site of a rural housing incentive district at 22nd and Wheatland, a project designed to help create more workforce housing in Ellis County.

“He said it was great to see a project that was underway,” Williams said. “He signed off on a lot of these projects, but he has never been to one that is in progress.”

But along with the housing concerns, Toland said a shortage of labor is also harming area economies.

“There are longstanding issues with the availability of
labor,” he said. “Not just in northwest Kansas, but across the state.”

He noted 41,000 jobs in Kansas are currently unfilled and paired with
a 3.7 percent unemployment statewide, finding people to fill those jobs is a challenge.

“We need more bodies in the workforce and we need them now,” Toland said. “That’s the message we heard loud and clear from businesses.”

Among housing and workforce concerns, he said ancillary
factors must also be considered.

&nbsp;“We have really tried
to take an expansive view of what it means to do economic development and
consider all of the factors that make economic development efforts successful,” Toland said.

While Toland is currently serving as the lieutenant governor of Kansas, he has also retained his position as the state secretary of commerce but said the issues noted during the tour are a concern in both roles.

“The lieutenant governor role has melded nicely with what I was already
doing at commerce and continue to,” he said.

He also heads the governor's efforts in the Office of Rural Prosperity, a focus of the Kelly administration.

But the effect of the housing and labor shortages, Toland said, has negatively impacted the Kansas economy.

Overall, he said it has been growing over the
last decade, but that growth lags behind other states because of those concerns.

“So that’s what we are trying to change,” Toland said. “We
are trying to accelerate the growth and make sure we have growth, not just in
the metro areas, but throughout all parts of the state, ultimately that is why
I am here.”

Meanwhile, Williams said he was generally impressed with development in Hays.

“The lieutenant governor was impressed with what we have going on in Hays, and he had a lot of positive things to say about Hays, which is great," he said. "It’s always good to hear that from somebody outside the area."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1619208356288.jpeg" alt="Lt. Gov. David Toland speaks with Grow Hays Executive Director Doug Williams at the site of a new housing development at 22nd and Wheatland in Hays." />
 <figcaption>Lt. Gov. David Toland speaks with Grow Hays Executive Director Doug Williams at the site of a new housing development at 22nd and Wheatland in Hays.</figcaption>
 </figure><div><iframe title="Lt. Gov David Toland visits Hays" 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=583xe-1018c9c-pb&from=pb6admin&download=1&square=1&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=3&btn-skin=3&size=300" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>By JAMES BELL Hays PostDuring a four-day trip across western Kansas, primarily in the northwest corner of the state, Lt. Gov. David Toland made a stop in Hays.During the trip, he visited with Grow Hays Executive Director Doug Williams while touring housing developments in the city along with Grow Hays' downtown co-working space, Briefspace.“We’re really trying to take the temperature in this part of
the state,” Toland said. “(To) see how things are going, see where there are more opportunities
for growth and also where there are some pain points that are restricting
growth.”Housing, he said, is one of the main areas of concern he noted
during the trip, along with workforce needs.“I have asked in every town I have been in, ‘How many houses
do you have on the market?’ And the answers have ranged from zero to 12,” he said. “And
so there is a real scarcity of housing products in rural communities in
particular.”He heard this message repeated during the tour but also sought input into how to best address the issue.“What I try to do is ask a lot of questions and listen,”
Toland said. “These folks know best what their needs are and what it is going
to take to address that.”He said it comes down to a supply issue.“There is simply not enough units that are available right
now,” he said. “That creates pressure points for businesses, that creates
pressure points for families that are growing and so on down the line.”To fully identify housing concerns, he said, Gov. Laura Kelly has launched the first statewide housing assessment in 27 years.“That housing assessment is being conducted so that (we can)
understand how many units are needed, what types of units are needed …And then, where geographically do these units need to go in order to be able to support business
growth?” he said.Locally, Toland visited the site of a rural housing incentive district at 22nd and Wheatland, a project designed to help create more workforce housing in Ellis County.“He said it was great to see a project that was underway,” Williams said. “He signed off on a lot of these projects, but he has never been to one that is in progress.”But along with the housing concerns, Toland said a shortage of labor is also harming area economies.“There are longstanding issues with the availability of
labor,” he said. “Not just in northwest Kansas, but across the state.”He noted 41,000 jobs in Kansas are currently unfilled and paired with
a 3.7 percent unemployment statewide, finding people to fill those jobs is a challenge.“We need more bodies in the workforce and we need them now,” Toland said. “That’s the message we heard loud and clear from businesses.”Among housing and workforce concerns, he said ancillary
factors must also be considered.&nbsp;“We have really tried
to take an expansive view of what it means to do economic development and
consider all of the factors that make economic development efforts successful,” Toland said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1619208405695.jpeg" alt="Lt. Gov. Toland speaks with reporters during a stop at BriefSpace in downtown Hays." />
 <figcaption>Lt. Gov. Toland speaks with reporters during a stop at BriefSpace in downtown Hays.</figcaption>
 </figure>While Toland is currently serving as the lieutenant governor of Kansas, he has also retained his position as the state secretary of commerce but said the issues noted during the tour are a concern in both roles.“The lieutenant governor role has melded nicely with what I was already
doing at commerce and continue to,” he said.He also heads the governor's efforts in the Office of Rural Prosperity, a focus of the Kelly administration.But the effect of the housing and labor shortages, Toland said, has negatively impacted the Kansas economy.Overall, he said it has been growing over the
last decade, but that growth lags behind other states because of those concerns.“So that’s what we are trying to change,” Toland said. “We
are trying to accelerate the growth and make sure we have growth, not just in
the metro areas, but throughout all parts of the state, ultimately that is why
I am here.”Meanwhile, Williams said he was generally impressed with development in Hays.“The lieutenant governor was impressed with what we have going on in Hays, and he had a lot of positive things to say about Hays, which is great," he said. "It’s always good to hear that from somebody outside the area."

Kan. lieutenant governor recognizes need for housing during Hays visit

Hays Middle School teacher Kyle Hadley has had to navigate his students through a barrage of extraordinary current events, including an election cycle that ended with a attack on the U.S. Capitol, a pandemic and riots.

Hadley teaches American history to eighth graders at Hays Middle School.

He was nominated by Matt Erbert for the Hays Post Teacher of the Month Award.

"As a history teacher, it has been paramount that he relay to students the unprecedented times that they are living in, and how they compare to past events and can impact the future," Erbert said in his nomination.

"He has confidently and constructively guided all of the impressionable young minds in his class," he said. "The impact will be far-reaching, and most importantly will give students a fair and honest base to look back upon these events that transpired when they were coming of age.

"Kyle's influence among his students in all aspects of the 2020-21 school year should have a lasting impact upon these youngsters, who have pushed through one of the most challenging school years in history."

Hadley's classes watch a daily 10-minute news segment designed for the classroom, and then he urges his students to discuss the events in the report. The reports are designed to have the least amount of bias as possible.&nbsp;

"I try to make them aware of the political biases that can happen in media," he said. "At the beginning of the year, I say, 'If you guys ever feel that one of these reports in our daily news segment is biased in any fashion to please tell me about it, so then we can discuss it.'

"I think it is very important for them to understand what is going on around them," he said.

He starts the class by asking his students what they think is going on in the world.

"It's awesome to see a bunch of 13- and 14-year-olds describe to you what they think is going on in the world through their lens," Hadley said.

Hadley serves as a moderator and he said he tries to not let the discussions get too political. He described the conversations as a session of driver's ed — you always have to have your foot on the brake.

"They're very curious of what is happening at a national level, what's happening at a state level, what's happening at a local level," he said. "We've had a lot of local mandates we've been able to discuss."

Hadley, 30, is in his fifth year teaching and his third year at Hays Middle School. He is an Ellis High School and Fort Hays State University graduate.

In addition to being a teacher, he also is an assistant Hays High School football coach and rotates between coaching seventh and eighth-grade basketball.

Hadley said he was inspired by his coaches as a youth. When he began to officiate youth sports while he was in college, he made the decision he wanted to continue a career working with youth.

He said he tries to instill in his students and players some of the same principles his coaches taught him.

"Just having grit. ... Not everything in life is going to be a straight and narrow path with no obstacles. Everything is going to have obstacles. It is just how you maneuver around obstacles. It's how you get back on the path you're wanting.

"You can make excuses or pull yourself up and keep moving in the right direction. That was something that was instilled in me at an early age through sports."

Hadley said his favorite period in history to teach is the Progressive Movement in the early part of the last century. He is a big fan of President Theodore Roosevelt.&nbsp;

Hadley tries to engage his history students in hands-on activities. The students just finished research projects on American inventions and how they changed America. As a KU fan, he was particularly fond of a student's poster on the creation of basketball.&nbsp;

Students also interview their parents on historical and current events.

"One of the questions is what do you think the biggest problems that is facing our country today," he said. "It just gets them thinking in that mindset right away of what's our problems and what can we do to fix them."

Hadley said a couple of his favorite aspects of teaching middle school students is that they are moldable and positive — you can tell they have their best days ahead of them still and they live their life like that day to day.

"That's another thing I feel about middle school kids," he said. "They just worry about what they're doing that week and to make the most of it. That's fun to be around.&nbsp;

"You can have a kid who will have a bad day one day and be super fun to be around the next day."

As a teacher, he often feels he can't have a bad day, at least not when he is working with kids.&nbsp;

One of Hadley's grandmothers died this fall. He was receiving updates on his about his grandmother's condition while trying to teach his students about the American Revolution.&nbsp;

"It was tough just trying to keep my composure while I was having a tough day personally," he said.

"That is one of the things I try to pride myself on to the kids," he said. "I'm in here. We're having fun. This is a good environment. This is a positive environment."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1603901709009.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1619043351402.jpeg" alt="Kyle Hadley, history teacher at Hays Middle School, is being honored as the April Hays Post Teacher of the Month." />
 <figcaption>Kyle Hadley, history teacher at Hays Middle School, is being honored as the April Hays Post Teacher of the Month.</figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostHays Middle School teacher Kyle Hadley has had to navigate his students through a barrage of extraordinary current events, including an election cycle that ended with a attack on the U.S. Capitol, a pandemic and riots.Hadley teaches American history to eighth graders at Hays Middle School.He was nominated by Matt Erbert for the Hays Post Teacher of the Month Award."As a history teacher, it has been paramount that he relay to students the unprecedented times that they are living in, and how they compare to past events and can impact the future," Erbert said in his nomination."He has confidently and constructively guided all of the impressionable young minds in his class," he said. "The impact will be far-reaching, and most importantly will give students a fair and honest base to look back upon these events that transpired when they were coming of age."Kyle's influence among his students in all aspects of the 2020-21 school year should have a lasting impact upon these youngsters, who have pushed through one of the most challenging school years in history."Hadley's classes watch a daily 10-minute news segment designed for the classroom, and then he urges his students to discuss the events in the report. The reports are designed to have the least amount of bias as possible.&nbsp;"I try to make them aware of the political biases that can happen in media," he said. "At the beginning of the year, I say, 'If you guys ever feel that one of these reports in our daily news segment is biased in any fashion to please tell me about it, so then we can discuss it.'"I think it is very important for them to understand what is going on around them," he said.He starts the class by asking his students what they think is going on in the world."It's awesome to see a bunch of 13- and 14-year-olds describe to you what they think is going on in the world through their lens," Hadley said.Hadley serves as a moderator and he said he tries to not let the discussions get too political. He described the conversations as a session of driver's ed — you always have to have your foot on the brake."They're very curious of what is happening at a national level, what's happening at a state level, what's happening at a local level," he said. "We've had a lot of local mandates we've been able to discuss."Hadley, 30, is in his fifth year teaching and his third year at Hays Middle School. He is an Ellis High School and Fort Hays State University graduate.In addition to being a teacher, he also is an assistant Hays High School football coach and rotates between coaching seventh and eighth-grade basketball.Hadley said he was inspired by his coaches as a youth. When he began to officiate youth sports while he was in college, he made the decision he wanted to continue a career working with youth.He said he tries to instill in his students and players some of the same principles his coaches taught him."Just having grit. ... Not everything in life is going to be a straight and narrow path with no obstacles. Everything is going to have obstacles. It is just how you maneuver around obstacles. It's how you get back on the path you're wanting."You can make excuses or pull yourself up and keep moving in the right direction. That was something that was instilled in me at an early age through sports."Hadley said his favorite period in history to teach is the Progressive Movement in the early part of the last century. He is a big fan of President Theodore Roosevelt.&nbsp;Hadley tries to engage his history students in hands-on activities. The students just finished research projects on American inventions and how they changed America. As a KU fan, he was particularly fond of a student's poster on the creation of basketball.&nbsp;Students also interview their parents on historical and current events."One of the questions is what do you think the biggest problems that is facing our country today," he said. "It just gets them thinking in that mindset right away of what's our problems and what can we do to fix them."Hadley said a couple of his favorite aspects of teaching middle school students is that they are moldable and positive — you can tell they have their best days ahead of them still and they live their life like that day to day."That's another thing I feel about middle school kids," he said. "They just worry about what they're doing that week and to make the most of it. That's fun to be around.&nbsp;"You can have a kid who will have a bad day one day and be super fun to be around the next day."As a teacher, he often feels he can't have a bad day, at least not when he is working with kids.&nbsp;One of Hadley's grandmothers died this fall. He was receiving updates on his about his grandmother's condition while trying to teach his students about the American Revolution.&nbsp;"It was tough just trying to keep my composure while I was having a tough day personally," he said."That is one of the things I try to pride myself on to the kids," he said. "I'm in here. We're having fun. This is a good environment. This is a positive environment."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1603901709009.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

Teacher of the Month: Hadley teaching middle school students history as it happens

Deloris Farthing, regional director of health information management with the University of Kansas Health System for HaysMed, Great Bend Campus and Pawnee Valley Campus, was awarded the 2021 Champion Award from the Kansas Health Information Management Association during this month's virtual KHIMA annual meeting.

The Champion award was given to recognize Farthing for advancing and demonstrating outstanding volunteer leadership in the KHIMA organization at the national and state level by demonstrating distinctive leadership qualities and contributed to leading KHIMA to significant accomplishments that advance the health information management field.&nbsp;

Farthing has served as KHIMA’s president, director and secretary/treasurer and has held several committee chairperson roles in the past. She has previously been awarded the Achievement Award in 2005 and the Outstanding Member Award in 2009.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1619202980027.jpeg" alt="Deloris Farthing " />
 <figcaption>Deloris Farthing </figcaption>
 </figure>HaysMedDeloris Farthing, regional director of health information management with the University of Kansas Health System for HaysMed, Great Bend Campus and Pawnee Valley Campus, was awarded the 2021 Champion Award from the Kansas Health Information Management Association during this month's virtual KHIMA annual meeting.The Champion award was given to recognize Farthing for advancing and demonstrating outstanding volunteer leadership in the KHIMA organization at the national and state level by demonstrating distinctive leadership qualities and contributed to leading KHIMA to significant accomplishments that advance the health information management field.&nbsp;Farthing has served as KHIMA’s president, director and secretary/treasurer and has held several committee chairperson roles in the past. She has previously been awarded the Achievement Award in 2005 and the Outstanding Member Award in 2009.

HaysMed associate honored by statewide organization

By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT Hays Post

Fire departments in western Kansas rely on each other for
not only help responding to fires and emergencies but also for training and
equipment.

After an Ellis County fire truck recently broke down, the Scott
County Fire Department stepped in to lend a hand.

Ellis County Fire Chief Darin Myers said while on a call
north of Hays, a pump on Engine 50 failed. The cost of a new pump is more than
$25,000 not including the labor and cost of other parts needed to fix the more
than 26-year-old system. 

Myers said they estimate the 1995 Ford pumper truck used to
fight structure fires, which is slated for a replacement this year, was worth
between $5,000 and $10,000.

“It would be an immediate loss to put money into the truck
and then it’s budgeted to be replaced anyway,” Myers. “We wouldn’t get the
money back out of it when we sold it.”

Myer said one of the current company chiefs in Hays used to
be on the Scott County Fire Department and, after discussing the situation with
current members of the Scott County department, they offered to loan Ellis
County a truck.

Myers said they were already in the process of designing the
new truck, but that process takes some time.

“When you design a fire truck, it’s not like buying a new
vehicle,” Myers said. “It’s a several-month process and it's government
purchasing so there’s a process you have to follow.

Ellis County will
lease the truck until the new one arrives which is scheduled for May 2022.

As part of the arrangement, Ellis County replaced an auxiliary
pump on the Scott County truck used to fight grass fires. Ellis County had an
extra one that they agreed to give Scott County.

Members of both departments earlier this year got together
and worked on the truck and transferred Ellis County’s equipment to the
Scott County truck.

Myers said they are also going to replace all the supply
hose on the truck, and Ellis County will also give Scott County all of the hose
currently on the truck.

Later this year, members of the Ellis County department will
also travel to Scott County for a water supply training event.

Myers celebrated the two counties' efforts to work together
and said these types of partnerships are, “one of the greatest things I love
about my job.”

“This is just another great example of the fire service. When we need something, we all help each other out,” Myers said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1619049414868.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1619049439726.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1619049458953.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1619049472551.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT Hays PostFire departments in western Kansas rely on each other for
not only help responding to fires and emergencies but also for training and
equipment.After an Ellis County fire truck recently broke down, the Scott
County Fire Department stepped in to lend a hand.Ellis County Fire Chief Darin Myers said while on a call
north of Hays, a pump on Engine 50 failed. The cost of a new pump is more than
$25,000 not including the labor and cost of other parts needed to fix the more
than 26-year-old system. Myers said they estimate the 1995 Ford pumper truck used to
fight structure fires, which is slated for a replacement this year, was worth
between $5,000 and $10,000.“It would be an immediate loss to put money into the truck
and then it’s budgeted to be replaced anyway,” Myers. “We wouldn’t get the
money back out of it when we sold it.”Myer said one of the current company chiefs in Hays used to
be on the Scott County Fire Department and, after discussing the situation with
current members of the Scott County department, they offered to loan Ellis
County a truck.Myers said they were already in the process of designing the
new truck, but that process takes some time.“When you design a fire truck, it’s not like buying a new
vehicle,” Myers said. “It’s a several-month process and it's government
purchasing so there’s a process you have to follow.Ellis County will
lease the truck until the new one arrives which is scheduled for May 2022.As part of the arrangement, Ellis County replaced an auxiliary
pump on the Scott County truck used to fight grass fires. Ellis County had an
extra one that they agreed to give Scott County.Members of both departments earlier this year got together
and worked on the truck and transferred Ellis County’s equipment to the
Scott County truck.Myers said they are also going to replace all the supply
hose on the truck, and Ellis County will also give Scott County all of the hose
currently on the truck.Later this year, members of the Ellis County department will
also travel to Scott County for a water supply training event.Myers celebrated the two counties' efforts to work together
and said these types of partnerships are, “one of the greatest things I love
about my job.”“This is just another great example of the fire service. When we need something, we all help each other out,” Myers said.

Scott County lends Ellis County a fire truck

A Girl Scout from Hays recently earned an award for cataloging a cemetery near Bunker Hill and learned a little bit about her own family history in the process.

Mariella Dreiling, 13 and a Cadette with Troop 10095, was awarded the Girl Scout Silver Award, the second highest award for girls in Scouting for her work at the Dubuque Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery.&nbsp;

Mariella's mother, Monica Dreiling, grew up in Bunker Hill and her grandparents still live there. Mariella, through her genealogical research was able to determine members of her family were buried at the cemetery.

"We knew that it didn't have a proper map and a proper map of the people who were buried there, so I thought this would be a good way to help out the community," Mariella said.

Mariella, a seventh-grader at Hays Middle School, donated a small directory to the Bunker Hill Historical Society Museum and added the information into the Find A Grave website. Mariella added 49 entries into Find A Grave. There are 151 people buried in the cemetery.

"I think it will and already has helped people with genealogical research to find their family trees," she said. "And people who want to visit the cemetery will know where their family members are buried."

Mariella found that some of the headstones were deteriorated to the point the information on them could no longer be read.&nbsp;

An example of this was a small limestone marker for Genive Thorne, who died as an infant in 1914. Mariella used genological records to identify Thorne and determine she was a relative on her mother's side of the family.

She also added the infant's information to Ancestry.com.

Mariella was also able to determine an iron cross at the cemetery marked the grave of her great-great-great-great-grandmother, Maria Engel Klusener. She born on Feb. 23, 1821, and died July 6, 1892. Her marker held a porcelain plaque, which translated from German read "Christ lives and we shall also."

Mariella has used her genealogical research to apply for and receive membership in the Children of the American Revolution. She documented her lineage to the Revolutionary War Patriot Cornelius Bogart.

Mariella said she plans to continue in Girl Scouts and work toward her Gold Award when she eligible as she enters high school. The Gold Award is the highest award in Girl Scouting, also requires a community service project and is equivalent to Boy Scout Eagle Award.

She is excited with her troops upcoming project, which will include the troop sending up an atmospheric balloon in cooperation with Fort Hays State University.&nbsp;

Mariella worked on her project from December 2019 to June 2020. She received her Silver Award on April 10 during the annual meeting of the Girl Scouts of the Kansas Heartland.

Adult volunteers from service unit 74, which includes Ellis, Trego, Russell, Ness and Gove counties, were also recognized at the annual meeting. Those awards are listed below.

Volunteer of Excellence: Chelsey Hoffman, Danielle Scott, Kris Bradley and Monica Dreiling Appreciation Pin: Amy Church, Jessica Albers Treasured Time: Karen Wilson Young Alumna Shining Star: Maggie Woodward

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1619023911829.png" alt="Hays Girl Scout Mariella Dreiling, 13, with the map she created for the Dubuque Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery." />
 <figcaption>Hays Girl Scout Mariella Dreiling, 13, with the map she created for the Dubuque Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery.</figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostA Girl Scout from Hays recently earned an award for cataloging a cemetery near Bunker Hill and learned a little bit about her own family history in the process.Mariella Dreiling, 13 and a Cadette with Troop 10095, was awarded the Girl Scout Silver Award, the second highest award for girls in Scouting for her work at the Dubuque Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery.&nbsp;Mariella's mother, Monica Dreiling, grew up in Bunker Hill and her grandparents still live there. Mariella, through her genealogical research was able to determine members of her family were buried at the cemetery."We knew that it didn't have a proper map and a proper map of the people who were buried there, so I thought this would be a good way to help out the community," Mariella said.Mariella, a seventh-grader at Hays Middle School, donated a small directory to the Bunker Hill Historical Society Museum and added the information into the Find A Grave website. Mariella added 49 entries into Find A Grave. There are 151 people buried in the cemetery."I think it will and already has helped people with genealogical research to find their family trees," she said. "And people who want to visit the cemetery will know where their family members are buried."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1619030730554.png" alt="Girl Scout Mariella Dreiling with the cemetery map she donated to the&nbsp;Bunker Hill Historical Society Museum. Behind her is the original altar from&nbsp;Dubuque Immanuel Lutheran Church." />
 <figcaption>Girl Scout Mariella Dreiling with the cemetery map she donated to the&nbsp;Bunker Hill Historical Society Museum. Behind her is the original altar from&nbsp;Dubuque Immanuel Lutheran Church.</figcaption>
 </figure>Mariella found that some of the headstones were deteriorated to the point the information on them could no longer be read.&nbsp;An example of this was a small limestone marker for Genive Thorne, who died as an infant in 1914. Mariella used genological records to identify Thorne and determine she was a relative on her mother's side of the family.She also added the infant's information to Ancestry.com.Mariella was also able to determine an iron cross at the cemetery marked the grave of her great-great-great-great-grandmother, Maria Engel Klusener. She born on Feb. 23, 1821, and died July 6, 1892. Her marker held a porcelain plaque, which translated from German read "Christ lives and we shall also."Mariella has used her genealogical research to apply for and receive membership in the Children of the American Revolution. She documented her lineage to the Revolutionary War Patriot Cornelius Bogart.Mariella said she plans to continue in Girl Scouts and work toward her Gold Award when she eligible as she enters high school. The Gold Award is the highest award in Girl Scouting, also requires a community service project and is equivalent to Boy Scout Eagle Award.She is excited with her troops upcoming project, which will include the troop sending up an atmospheric balloon in cooperation with Fort Hays State University.&nbsp;Mariella worked on her project from December 2019 to June 2020. She received her Silver Award on April 10 during the annual meeting of the Girl Scouts of the Kansas Heartland.Adult volunteers from service unit 74, which includes Ellis, Trego, Russell, Ness and Gove counties, were also recognized at the annual meeting. Those awards are listed below.Volunteer of Excellence: Chelsey Hoffman, Danielle Scott, Kris Bradley and Monica Dreiling Appreciation Pin: Amy Church, Jessica Albers Treasured Time: Karen Wilson Young Alumna Shining Star: Maggie Woodward

Hays Girl Scout honored for work to catalog cemetery

Three-day weather outlook

Take a picture of your finished product and upload it here. One lucky winner will receive a special gift just for Mom this Mother's Day courtesy of Riedel's Garden Center!

<div> <script src="https://embed-790419.secondstreetapp.com/Scripts/dist/embed.js" data-ss-embed="promotion" data-opguid="9f08feb2-825c-43f7-9b58-b509850209f0" data-routing="hash">/**/</script></div>Take a picture of your finished product and upload it here. One lucky winner will receive a special gift just for Mom this Mother's Day courtesy of Riedel's Garden Center!

Riedel's Garden Center's Mother's Day coloring contest

It was Saturday afternoon several years ago, and Joyce and I were snug in our blind, hoping to harvest her spring turkey. We had seen turkeys each afternoon, gleaning after the cattle in this small patch of feed stalks that now lay in front of our blind. Rows of round bales lined this side of the patch, split into two groups by a driveway left for a tractor. The turkeys got there by way of a field drive through the thick, overgrown fencerow behind the bales, continuing down the tractor drive and onto the stalks. 

Once before, some days ago, we were set up here amongst the bales. The turkeys streamed past, well within gun range, but none would stop or raise their head to offer Joyce a clean shot. We were close enough she could have nailed several turkeys on-the-run with one shot, but besides being slightly illegal since she only had one tag, the prized breast meat would have been so full of pellets it would’ve been like sand blasting the insides of our mouths with each bite. Today we had tried to solve that problem by adding a couple decoys in the drive just before it entered the stalks, in hopes the turkeys would slow down and mill around long enough for a good standing head shot.&nbsp;

What was meant to fix one problem ultimately created another. This was a small lot of just a few acres, so the cattle were never far away, forcing extra caution when shooting. After all, the last thing we needed was to pepper one of the land owner’s heifers in the butt with lead shot. Our county game warden may have been young and a wee bit naïve, but I think he’d still have caught on when I tried explaining the dandy T-Bones we got from this turkey. So the party was about to begin, and here we sat awaiting the guests of honor, when a half dozen of the cattle began to take a shine to our plastic turkey decoys. They gathered just inside the electric fence, exactly where Joyce would need to shoot, and stood there like dumbstruck junior high girls at the Christmas dance! You could almost sense their thoughts. “They look like turkeys,” Clara thought, “But they sure don’t move much.”&nbsp; “But they don’t smell like turkeys,” Elsie added. “Turkey’s stink and these things smell like rubber or something.”&nbsp; “Girls, I have an idea,” Bessie chimed in, “I’ll turn around and try to pee on one and see if it moves like they usually do.” &nbsp;

“This won’t last long,” I told myself… Fifteen minutes later I was fuming! I stuck my arm out the blind window, and waved it franticly, but barely drew stares from our bovine spectators. “Rocks,” I mumbled. “Rocks should do the trick.” I slunk out the back of the blind and scoured the ground. Rats! Nothing but sand and weeds; not a rock to be found! (By now, I think my wife had fast-forwarded through this whole scenario, and already seen the ending.) I tugged on one of the weeds that were as thick as my wrist, and it tore from the ground sporting a wad of dirt around its roots the size of volleyball. Eureka! Just what I needed! I swung the thing over my head like an Olympic hammer thrower and let fly, only to watch it dribble to a halt at the feet of the nearest cow, which looked down at it with disgust. “Stupid cows,” I mumbled. 

Still hidden behind the bales, I jumped up and down and waved my arms frantically like a first-time auction goer trying to bid; still no response.&nbsp; I’m sure the cows were thinking something like “Will you look at that stupid turkey hunter jumping up and down like a first-time auction goer trying to bid.” “That does it,” I thought! Turkeys or not, I WILL walk over there and those cows WILL move! (By now it had become a matter of principle.) I had only taken a few steps when I heard something behind me. Was it turkeys after all this? A dozen scenarios flashed through my mind; What if I spooked the turkeys, causing them to fly everywhere and my wife accidentally shot a cow in the butt in the melee; What if she accidentally shot me in the butt in the melee; What if she PURPOSELY shot me in the butt just to get me out of the way? I stopped to listen, but the sound I heard was not turkeys.&nbsp; No, it was raucous laughter coming from the blind! I squinted to peer inside from where I stood, and saw my wife bent over, howling hysterically. “Who’s the blockhead now,” I wondered. “Cows enamored with plastic turkeys or yours truly?”

We packed up and headed home, once again conceding defeat. “They’re all in cahoots,” I muttered. “Those cows and turkeys have a pack of some sort, I’m sure of it!” “Whatever you say honey,” Joyce replied with a smirk. As we drove away, I imagined that little patch of feed stalks now filled with turkeys celebrating our defeat, however cows and turkeys celebrate. I was sure that off to one side, a group of turkeys had Bessie cornered; the spokesman for the group was asking her “Soooooo, all those times you were really TRYING to pee on us?&nbsp;

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574696211722.png" alt="Steve&nbsp;Gilliland" />
 <figcaption>Steve&nbsp;Gilliland</figcaption>
 </figure>It was Saturday afternoon several years ago, and Joyce and I were snug in our blind, hoping to harvest her spring turkey. We had seen turkeys each afternoon, gleaning after the cattle in this small patch of feed stalks that now lay in front of our blind. Rows of round bales lined this side of the patch, split into two groups by a driveway left for a tractor. The turkeys got there by way of a field drive through the thick, overgrown fencerow behind the bales, continuing down the tractor drive and onto the stalks. Once before, some days ago, we were set up here amongst the bales. The turkeys streamed past, well within gun range, but none would stop or raise their head to offer Joyce a clean shot. We were close enough she could have nailed several turkeys on-the-run with one shot, but besides being slightly illegal since she only had one tag, the prized breast meat would have been so full of pellets it would’ve been like sand blasting the insides of our mouths with each bite. Today we had tried to solve that problem by adding a couple decoys in the drive just before it entered the stalks, in hopes the turkeys would slow down and mill around long enough for a good standing head shot.&nbsp;What was meant to fix one problem ultimately created another. This was a small lot of just a few acres, so the cattle were never far away, forcing extra caution when shooting. After all, the last thing we needed was to pepper one of the land owner’s heifers in the butt with lead shot. Our county game warden may have been young and a wee bit naïve, but I think he’d still have caught on when I tried explaining the dandy T-Bones we got from this turkey. So the party was about to begin, and here we sat awaiting the guests of honor, when a half dozen of the cattle began to take a shine to our plastic turkey decoys. They gathered just inside the electric fence, exactly where Joyce would need to shoot, and stood there like dumbstruck junior high girls at the Christmas dance! You could almost sense their thoughts. “They look like turkeys,” Clara thought, “But they sure don’t move much.”&nbsp; “But they don’t smell like turkeys,” Elsie added. “Turkey’s stink and these things smell like rubber or something.”&nbsp; “Girls, I have an idea,” Bessie chimed in, “I’ll turn around and try to pee on one and see if it moves like they usually do.” &nbsp;“This won’t last long,” I told myself… Fifteen minutes later I was fuming! I stuck my arm out the blind window, and waved it franticly, but barely drew stares from our bovine spectators. “Rocks,” I mumbled. “Rocks should do the trick.” I slunk out the back of the blind and scoured the ground. Rats! Nothing but sand and weeds; not a rock to be found! (By now, I think my wife had fast-forwarded through this whole scenario, and already seen the ending.) I tugged on one of the weeds that were as thick as my wrist, and it tore from the ground sporting a wad of dirt around its roots the size of volleyball. Eureka! Just what I needed! I swung the thing over my head like an Olympic hammer thrower and let fly, only to watch it dribble to a halt at the feet of the nearest cow, which looked down at it with disgust. “Stupid cows,” I mumbled. Still hidden behind the bales, I jumped up and down and waved my arms frantically like a first-time auction goer trying to bid; still no response.&nbsp; I’m sure the cows were thinking something like “Will you look at that stupid turkey hunter jumping up and down like a first-time auction goer trying to bid.” “That does it,” I thought! Turkeys or not, I WILL walk over there and those cows WILL move! (By now it had become a matter of principle.) I had only taken a few steps when I heard something behind me. Was it turkeys after all this? A dozen scenarios flashed through my mind; What if I spooked the turkeys, causing them to fly everywhere and my wife accidentally shot a cow in the butt in the melee; What if she accidentally shot me in the butt in the melee; What if she PURPOSELY shot me in the butt just to get me out of the way? I stopped to listen, but the sound I heard was not turkeys.&nbsp; No, it was raucous laughter coming from the blind! I squinted to peer inside from where I stood, and saw my wife bent over, howling hysterically. “Who’s the blockhead now,” I wondered. “Cows enamored with plastic turkeys or yours truly?”We packed up and headed home, once again conceding defeat. “They’re all in cahoots,” I muttered. “Those cows and turkeys have a pack of some sort, I’m sure of it!” “Whatever you say honey,” Joyce replied with a smirk. As we drove away, I imagined that little patch of feed stalks now filled with turkeys celebrating our defeat, however cows and turkeys celebrate. I was sure that off to one side, a group of turkeys had Bessie cornered; the spokesman for the group was asking her “Soooooo, all those times you were really TRYING to pee on us?&nbsp;Steve Gilliland, Inman, can be contacted by email at stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.

Exploring Outdoors Kansas: The cows and the decoys

BY RON WILSON Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development

Picture this. Imagine a series of gorgeous images depicting beautiful views of natural landscapes. Today we’ll meet a rural Kansas couple who specialize in producing photographs of beautiful landscapes in Kansas and beyond.&nbsp;

Kevin Kirkwood is the founder of Kirkwood Kreations Photography. Kevin grew up in eastern Kansas and studied farm and ranch management at Colby Community College. In 1996, his daughter was playing club volleyball. As a proud dad, Kevin took photos of her playing. The pictures were so excellent that other parents wanted them.&nbsp;

When it was time for his daughter’s senior pictures, Kevin took those too. They turned out so well that when she showed them to friends at school, her friends wanted Kevin to take their senior pictures as well. This became a side business for Kevin, as he did commercial and sports photography while working in agriculture.&nbsp;

“Rural agriculture has been part of my life for the last 30 years,” Kevin said. He is now plant manager for McGraw Fertilizer in Tonganoxie. His wife Julie grew up in Lawrence, raised her family in Manhattan, and now works at an insurance agency in Lawrence. They live outside Tonganoxie, a rural community of 5,583 people. Now, that’s rural.&nbsp;

Kevin has been a contract photographer for the American Royal and Denver Stock Show. Currently, Kirkwood Kreations is the official photographer for EquiFest of Kansas, Kansas Agri Business Expo, the Ranchland Trust of Kansas Pre-Symphony of the Flint Hills event, and the Meriden Antique Engine and Threshers Association. This involves the type of photography that Kevin enjoys most.&nbsp;

“As a farmer, I see every sunrise and every sunset,” Kevin said. He enjoys capturing the natural beauty of rural Kansas. “I love what I do as a farmer, and this is a way of sharing it.”&nbsp;

On weekends, Julie and Kevin like to go on what Julie calls “Boonie Cruizin’ adventures.” That’s her nickname for what we used to call “out in the boondocks.” These adventures include random explorations of the countryside, stopping to take pictures of scenic views along the way.&nbsp;

“A normal 1 1/2 hour drive might become a five-hour trip,” Kevin said. Those trips have resulted in gorgeous and popular pictures.&nbsp;

After a friend purchased Juli’s Coffee and Bistro in downtown Topeka, they asked the Kirkwoods for photos to decorate the walls. The exhibit opened in March 2018. Now a hundred of their photos can be viewed and purchased there as well as at Hazel Hill Chocolate in Topeka. “That has been the best exposure for people to see our photos locally,” Kevin said.&nbsp;

The University of Kansas Medical Center Rural Health Education and Services unit annually sponsors a photo contest for pictures of rural Kansas. Kirkwood Kreations has been a winner in five different categories. Kevin’s photos have been sold and shipped as far away as Massachusetts and California.&nbsp;

What is the key to successful photography? “I believe beauty is in the eye of the beholder, when it comes to art,” Kevin said. He is fond of farm, rural, and natural landscapes. While most of the photography is Kansas-based, he and Julie have also taken pictures of Colorado mountains and other natural scenery.&nbsp;

“I belong to several Facebook forums,” Kevin said. “I’ll post some pictures on Facebook and gauge people’s comments, and that can help me decide which to print.” They also donate photos to groups that are important to them, such as the American Cancer Society in Kansas.&nbsp;

“As long as it pleases the person looking at it, then it’s perfect,” Kevin said. “We want to put art in people’s homes.”&nbsp;

For more information, search for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Kirkwood-Kreations-Photography-192238577475446">Kirkwood Kreations Photography on Facebook</a>.&nbsp;

Picture this: A set of beautiful landscape photographs, taken by a Kansas farmer and earning multiple awards. We commend Kevin and Julie Kirkwood for making a difference with their high-quality photography. It helps rural Kansas look picturesque.&nbsp;

And there’s more. One of Kevin’s photographs would provide inspiration to a New York filmmaker. We’ll learn about that next week.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1619011299986.png" alt="Kevin and Julie Kirkwood" />
 <figcaption>Kevin and Julie Kirkwood</figcaption>
 </figure>BY RON WILSON Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural DevelopmentPicture this. Imagine a series of gorgeous images depicting beautiful views of natural landscapes. Today we’ll meet a rural Kansas couple who specialize in producing photographs of beautiful landscapes in Kansas and beyond.&nbsp;Kevin Kirkwood is the founder of Kirkwood Kreations Photography. Kevin grew up in eastern Kansas and studied farm and ranch management at Colby Community College. In 1996, his daughter was playing club volleyball. As a proud dad, Kevin took photos of her playing. The pictures were so excellent that other parents wanted them.&nbsp;When it was time for his daughter’s senior pictures, Kevin took those too. They turned out so well that when she showed them to friends at school, her friends wanted Kevin to take their senior pictures as well. This became a side business for Kevin, as he did commercial and sports photography while working in agriculture.&nbsp;“Rural agriculture has been part of my life for the last 30 years,” Kevin said. He is now plant manager for McGraw Fertilizer in Tonganoxie. His wife Julie grew up in Lawrence, raised her family in Manhattan, and now works at an insurance agency in Lawrence. They live outside Tonganoxie, a rural community of 5,583 people. Now, that’s rural.&nbsp;Kevin has been a contract photographer for the American Royal and Denver Stock Show. Currently, Kirkwood Kreations is the official photographer for EquiFest of Kansas, Kansas Agri Business Expo, the Ranchland Trust of Kansas Pre-Symphony of the Flint Hills event, and the Meriden Antique Engine and Threshers Association. This involves the type of photography that Kevin enjoys most.&nbsp;“As a farmer, I see every sunrise and every sunset,” Kevin said. He enjoys capturing the natural beauty of rural Kansas. “I love what I do as a farmer, and this is a way of sharing it.”&nbsp;On weekends, Julie and Kevin like to go on what Julie calls “Boonie Cruizin’ adventures.” That’s her nickname for what we used to call “out in the boondocks.” These adventures include random explorations of the countryside, stopping to take pictures of scenic views along the way.&nbsp;“A normal 1 1/2 hour drive might become a five-hour trip,” Kevin said. Those trips have resulted in gorgeous and popular pictures.&nbsp;After a friend purchased Juli’s Coffee and Bistro in downtown Topeka, they asked the Kirkwoods for photos to decorate the walls. The exhibit opened in March 2018. Now a hundred of their photos can be viewed and purchased there as well as at Hazel Hill Chocolate in Topeka. “That has been the best exposure for people to see our photos locally,” Kevin said.&nbsp;The University of Kansas Medical Center Rural Health Education and Services unit annually sponsors a photo contest for pictures of rural Kansas. Kirkwood Kreations has been a winner in five different categories. Kevin’s photos have been sold and shipped as far away as Massachusetts and California.&nbsp;What is the key to successful photography? “I believe beauty is in the eye of the beholder, when it comes to art,” Kevin said. He is fond of farm, rural, and natural landscapes. While most of the photography is Kansas-based, he and Julie have also taken pictures of Colorado mountains and other natural scenery.&nbsp;“I belong to several Facebook forums,” Kevin said. “I’ll post some pictures on Facebook and gauge people’s comments, and that can help me decide which to print.” They also donate photos to groups that are important to them, such as the American Cancer Society in Kansas.&nbsp;“As long as it pleases the person looking at it, then it’s perfect,” Kevin said. “We want to put art in people’s homes.”&nbsp;For more information, search for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Kirkwood-Kreations-Photography-192238577475446">Kirkwood Kreations Photography on Facebook</a>.&nbsp;Picture this: A set of beautiful landscape photographs, taken by a Kansas farmer and earning multiple awards. We commend Kevin and Julie Kirkwood for making a difference with their high-quality photography. It helps rural Kansas look picturesque.&nbsp;And there’s more. One of Kevin’s photographs would provide inspiration to a New York filmmaker. We’ll learn about that next week.

Now That’s Rural: Kevin and Julie Kirkwood, Kirkwood Kreations 

April 29 is a fifth Thursday of the month; therefore, there will not be a Hays City Commission work session that evening.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584721067731.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>City of HaysApril 29 is a fifth Thursday of the month; therefore, there will not be a Hays City Commission work session that evening.

No city commission work session Thursday

46% of adults do not feel comfortable going back to living life like they used to before the pandemic

MANHATTAN – A new report from the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apa.org/">American Psychological Association</a>&nbsp;indicates that most U.S. adults are surprised that the COVID-19 pandemic has lasted so long.&nbsp;

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress/2021/one-year-pandemic-stress-conclusion">APA’s report on Stress in America</a>&nbsp;found that 82% of American adults are surprised that the pandemic has lasted more than a year. Nearly 7 in 10 (67%) said that living through the pandemic has been a rollercoaster of emotions.&nbsp;

And Elaine Johannes,&nbsp;the Kansas Health Foundation Distinguished Professor of Community Health at Kansas State University, said&nbsp;46% of adults do not feel comfortable going back to living life like they used to before the pandemic&nbsp;

“It’s amazing that this has gone on more than a year,” Johannes said.&nbsp;“So, it’s not surprising that so many are re-evaluating and wondering what’s next as they re-enter community life.&nbsp;

“It’s hard for us to deal with. Usually we can acclimate to a sudden trauma, grief or loss. With the help of our friends or family, we can move on.&nbsp;But these repeated ups and downs …it’s been tough.”&nbsp;

Johannes noted that many adults likely have gone through stages of shock, denial, sadness and grief and, eventually, acceptance.&nbsp;

“But some of the research around grief and change and how we feel about that has added another perspective, a sixth stage&nbsp;of meaning.” Johannes said. “This is where we feel like we have to have meaning assigned to (the occurrence). I think that’s where our emotions are right now. We’re asking ourselves, ‘what do we do now,’ ‘how do we recover knowing that we can’t go back to the way life was’ or ‘what’s the meaning that we can take away from this pandemic, even though it’s still going on.’”&nbsp;

Johannes said there is evidence that indicates Americans 100 years ago dealt with the same emotions during the Spanish Flu pandemic. During that time, there was also political unrest, doubts about the proper way forward and many deaths. That incident also showed that the ripple effects were felt for many years after.&nbsp;

“As a society, we need to be ready to re-acclimate (after the COVID-19 pandemic), redefine what our recovery is and reflect on what we gained from it,” Johannes said. “We can’t just go back to ‘normal’ because we will never be the same again.”&nbsp;

Work that has been done to address disaster-related psychological trauma has led to strategies that aid in recovery. Those include adapting to a different normal; feeling a sense of some control over our emotions; gaining perspective and assigning meaning to the losses; and feeling mastery from the experience.&nbsp;

Johannes punctuated her point by recalling a saying from President Harry S. Truman: ‘The reward of suffering is experience.’&nbsp;

“That, to me, kind of gives an understanding that the suffering and loss is real, and the sadness is authentic,” she said. “But, what can we gain from that? I think we can say that we are wiser and we have this experience to guide us in the future.”&nbsp;

Johannes added that the APA report highlighted an important point that Americans shared the experience as “a true community.”&nbsp;

“No matter where we were, Americans realized this was a tough, tough thing to go through,” she said. “We felt this roller coaster, up and down, not being sure what was next…But, as a group, we were still a community.”&nbsp;

A full interview with Johannes on the mental health aspects of living through the pandemic is available on the weekly radio program,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/news/radio-network/sound-living.html">Sound Living</a>, produced by K-State Research and Extension.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1617107995572.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><h2>46% of adults do not feel comfortable going back to living life like they used to before the pandemic</h2>K-State Research &amp; ExtensionMANHATTAN – A new report from the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apa.org/">American Psychological Association</a>&nbsp;indicates that most U.S. adults are surprised that the COVID-19 pandemic has lasted so long.&nbsp;The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress/2021/one-year-pandemic-stress-conclusion">APA’s report on Stress in America</a>&nbsp;found that 82% of American adults are surprised that the pandemic has lasted more than a year. Nearly 7 in 10 (67%) said that living through the pandemic has been a rollercoaster of emotions.&nbsp;And Elaine Johannes,&nbsp;the Kansas Health Foundation Distinguished Professor of Community Health at Kansas State University, said&nbsp;46% of adults do not feel comfortable going back to living life like they used to before the pandemic&nbsp;“It’s amazing that this has gone on more than a year,” Johannes said.&nbsp;“So, it’s not surprising that so many are re-evaluating and wondering what’s next as they re-enter community life.&nbsp;“It’s hard for us to deal with. Usually we can acclimate to a sudden trauma, grief or loss. With the help of our friends or family, we can move on.&nbsp;But these repeated ups and downs …it’s been tough.”&nbsp;Johannes noted that many adults likely have gone through stages of shock, denial, sadness and grief and, eventually, acceptance.&nbsp;“But some of the research around grief and change and how we feel about that has added another perspective, a sixth stage&nbsp;of meaning.” Johannes said. “This is where we feel like we have to have meaning assigned to (the occurrence). I think that’s where our emotions are right now. We’re asking ourselves, ‘what do we do now,’ ‘how do we recover knowing that we can’t go back to the way life was’ or ‘what’s the meaning that we can take away from this pandemic, even though it’s still going on.’”&nbsp;Johannes said there is evidence that indicates Americans 100 years ago dealt with the same emotions during the Spanish Flu pandemic. During that time, there was also political unrest, doubts about the proper way forward and many deaths. That incident also showed that the ripple effects were felt for many years after.&nbsp;“As a society, we need to be ready to re-acclimate (after the COVID-19 pandemic), redefine what our recovery is and reflect on what we gained from it,” Johannes said. “We can’t just go back to ‘normal’ because we will never be the same again.”&nbsp;Work that has been done to address disaster-related psychological trauma has led to strategies that aid in recovery. Those include adapting to a different normal; feeling a sense of some control over our emotions; gaining perspective and assigning meaning to the losses; and feeling mastery from the experience.&nbsp;Johannes punctuated her point by recalling a saying from President Harry S. Truman: ‘The reward of suffering is experience.’&nbsp;“That, to me, kind of gives an understanding that the suffering and loss is real, and the sadness is authentic,” she said. “But, what can we gain from that? I think we can say that we are wiser and we have this experience to guide us in the future.”&nbsp;Johannes added that the APA report highlighted an important point that Americans shared the experience as “a true community.”&nbsp;“No matter where we were, Americans realized this was a tough, tough thing to go through,” she said. “We felt this roller coaster, up and down, not being sure what was next…But, as a group, we were still a community.”&nbsp;A full interview with Johannes on the mental health aspects of living through the pandemic is available on the weekly radio program,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/news/radio-network/sound-living.html">Sound Living</a>, produced by K-State Research and Extension.&nbsp;

Health expert discusses mental health impacts of pandemic 

Following a lengthy approval process, Fort Hays State University will begin offering a master of science in athletic training degree this summer.

FHSU received accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) in March, and enrollment is now open for the first cohort of students in the professional graduate program, which will begin June 7.

Fort Hays State, one of only four athletic training (AT) master’s programs in Kansas currently accredited at the graduate level, began making plans for the transition when the CAATE announced it would begin requiring a master’s degree for eligibility to take the Board of Certification exam.

Students receiving a graduate degree in athletic training will develop competencies (knowledge and skills) in the five domains of athletic training defined by the Board of Certification (BOC) Practice Analysis. Upon graduation, they are eligible for certification by the BOC and licensure by the&nbsp;<a href="http://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=AzU7JuM9gNoo13mIpsUPJPYjxa4L5wudNeaNvZ-2BddCZWTi08xGXs0Rn7gdc6gx5srQ4P_-2FnwFlkKVzcKMOkDYhP8GUyFUplsqhIzQPvqFQr864lE6mcAzErX0FzZi5JGU6rvvK6MLOuHK4jhl5V61fmGkhToZRMbpEKBDAFMZ0jElT3tJmz7vmG2Oh1wrxpMGOIem-2F2dfvJf3mXdKOkM36cxZipbsSyIk7VcXa-2FUQs-2BBKvaU3PA95ZhqtTB9UM-2B99FIXOrpJjfYmWNMBKhoxN6JBpuoUNrNTenASggoWCSTyW8oBva11bBJ-2Buu88jTZhkWShxlYNg-2BpISMu8oHE165hdWDB72HiFgHG-2Bkbd0GGCVaCdEC1Uez7QetvruKriCPhRmuqCgxO6G9vbZy9TWKi6VxfmT7Lbz-2B6zIflYXqHM5HtejAiU-2FLrWlPyczeUgTUst6ePB6VKhQHaSJ71APEQGlehA-3D-3D">Kansas State Board of Healing Arts</a>.

Some institutions opted to phase out their AT program rather than make the transition, but Fort Hays State began moving forward with steps to develop the master’s level program.

“We felt our program was strong enough to get the resources needed to continue our history of teaching athletic trainers,” said Dr. David Fitzhugh, director of FHSU’s athletic training program and an associate professor in the Department of Health and Human Performance. “We already had a strong program at the undergraduate level, and moving to a master’s has a lot of pros.”

Fort Hays State upgraded its curriculum to meet the master’s level standards and created a lab space for the AT program. The program will feature both excellence and uniqueness, Fitzhugh said.

FHSU will begin a muscular-skeletal diagnostic ultrasound class, an intra-professional course with the diagnostic ultrasound students in the Department of Allied Health. The AT students also will get to work with a new therapeutic laser used to treat pain and inflammatory conditions.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The new CAATE standards require institutions to employ three full-time faculty who are dedicated specifically for teaching in the AT master’s program. Joining current FHSU faculty members Fitzhugh and Jason Graham will be Dr. Jeffrey Bonacci, who developed a graduate athletic training program at the University of Arkansas more than 20 years ago.

Fitzhugh, in his 14th year at FHSU, is looking forward to the transition.&nbsp;

“This profession has so many options, and more than 70 percent of all athletic trainers have a graduate degree,” he said, “so we are really pleased that we will be offering this master’s degree at Fort Hays State.”

Besides the traditional athletic training careers with athletic teams and school settings, there are numerous other professional options for AT graduates, including orthopedic clinics and hospitals, law enforcement and military, occupational and industrial settings, and even the performing arts.

The last cohort of students to enroll in the current bachelor’s AT program at FHSU was the fall 2018 semester.

Students can still work on a bachelor’s program under the new model by enrolling in a pre-professional program and majoring in health and human performance within the sport and exercise therapy concentration. After earning their bachelor’s degree and meeting admission standards, students can easily apply and get into the master’s AT program.

To learn more about Fort Hays State’s AT program, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=-2BFJoAhsjp8losQfY8t-2BZtM2GzqYW21RqaP-2BZxgKcRjZUluYjX-2FZUpzHYSjJeAl5EGChNcWIVa9XaT5zuztROZg-3D-3DdD0U_-2FnwFlkKVzcKMOkDYhP8GUyFUplsqhIzQPvqFQr864lE6mcAzErX0FzZi5JGU6rvvK6MLOuHK4jhl5V61fmGkhToZRMbpEKBDAFMZ0jElT3tJmz7vmG2Oh1wrxpMGOIem-2F2dfvJf3mXdKOkM36cxZipbsSyIk7VcXa-2FUQs-2BBKvaU3PA95ZhqtTB9UM-2B99FIXOrpJjfYmWNMBKhoxN6JBpuoEXHK6dOWiovnEMeh2J7nS2xWBBuIiUX-2FqPoX25AoiNjyKIgS4-2F-2B9RRQzTfmhNPYrDeICUHELbJE1IWPxBOoWVY9ZXLAjlEu-2B9xIRV4j2ci2LAzdlqJMzcfrPwm-2BOJaVLooeDPvtOMJeBAmKzD85LmWbI4pfHFGvd1SjdEyEHotZto6M9opbqcT2Q0T9zroXA-3D-3D">https://www.fhsu.edu/hhp/ms-in-athletic-training.</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1619185083338.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU University RelationsFollowing a lengthy approval process, Fort Hays State University will begin offering a master of science in athletic training degree this summer.FHSU received accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) in March, and enrollment is now open for the first cohort of students in the professional graduate program, which will begin June 7.Fort Hays State, one of only four athletic training (AT) master’s programs in Kansas currently accredited at the graduate level, began making plans for the transition when the CAATE announced it would begin requiring a master’s degree for eligibility to take the Board of Certification exam.Students receiving a graduate degree in athletic training will develop competencies (knowledge and skills) in the five domains of athletic training defined by the Board of Certification (BOC) Practice Analysis. Upon graduation, they are eligible for certification by the BOC and licensure by the&nbsp;<a href="http://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=AzU7JuM9gNoo13mIpsUPJPYjxa4L5wudNeaNvZ-2BddCZWTi08xGXs0Rn7gdc6gx5srQ4P_-2FnwFlkKVzcKMOkDYhP8GUyFUplsqhIzQPvqFQr864lE6mcAzErX0FzZi5JGU6rvvK6MLOuHK4jhl5V61fmGkhToZRMbpEKBDAFMZ0jElT3tJmz7vmG2Oh1wrxpMGOIem-2F2dfvJf3mXdKOkM36cxZipbsSyIk7VcXa-2FUQs-2BBKvaU3PA95ZhqtTB9UM-2B99FIXOrpJjfYmWNMBKhoxN6JBpuoUNrNTenASggoWCSTyW8oBva11bBJ-2Buu88jTZhkWShxlYNg-2BpISMu8oHE165hdWDB72HiFgHG-2Bkbd0GGCVaCdEC1Uez7QetvruKriCPhRmuqCgxO6G9vbZy9TWKi6VxfmT7Lbz-2B6zIflYXqHM5HtejAiU-2FLrWlPyczeUgTUst6ePB6VKhQHaSJ71APEQGlehA-3D-3D">Kansas State Board of Healing Arts</a>.Some institutions opted to phase out their AT program rather than make the transition, but Fort Hays State began moving forward with steps to develop the master’s level program.“We felt our program was strong enough to get the resources needed to continue our history of teaching athletic trainers,” said Dr. David Fitzhugh, director of FHSU’s athletic training program and an associate professor in the Department of Health and Human Performance. “We already had a strong program at the undergraduate level, and moving to a master’s has a lot of pros.”Fort Hays State upgraded its curriculum to meet the master’s level standards and created a lab space for the AT program. The program will feature both excellence and uniqueness, Fitzhugh said.FHSU will begin a muscular-skeletal diagnostic ultrasound class, an intra-professional course with the diagnostic ultrasound students in the Department of Allied Health. The AT students also will get to work with a new therapeutic laser used to treat pain and inflammatory conditions.&nbsp;&nbsp;The new CAATE standards require institutions to employ three full-time faculty who are dedicated specifically for teaching in the AT master’s program. Joining current FHSU faculty members Fitzhugh and Jason Graham will be Dr. Jeffrey Bonacci, who developed a graduate athletic training program at the University of Arkansas more than 20 years ago.Fitzhugh, in his 14th year at FHSU, is looking forward to the transition.&nbsp;“This profession has so many options, and more than 70 percent of all athletic trainers have a graduate degree,” he said, “so we are really pleased that we will be offering this master’s degree at Fort Hays State.”Besides the traditional athletic training careers with athletic teams and school settings, there are numerous other professional options for AT graduates, including orthopedic clinics and hospitals, law enforcement and military, occupational and industrial settings, and even the performing arts.The last cohort of students to enroll in the current bachelor’s AT program at FHSU was the fall 2018 semester.Students can still work on a bachelor’s program under the new model by enrolling in a pre-professional program and majoring in health and human performance within the sport and exercise therapy concentration. After earning their bachelor’s degree and meeting admission standards, students can easily apply and get into the master’s AT program.To learn more about Fort Hays State’s AT program, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=-2BFJoAhsjp8losQfY8t-2BZtM2GzqYW21RqaP-2BZxgKcRjZUluYjX-2FZUpzHYSjJeAl5EGChNcWIVa9XaT5zuztROZg-3D-3DdD0U_-2FnwFlkKVzcKMOkDYhP8GUyFUplsqhIzQPvqFQr864lE6mcAzErX0FzZi5JGU6rvvK6MLOuHK4jhl5V61fmGkhToZRMbpEKBDAFMZ0jElT3tJmz7vmG2Oh1wrxpMGOIem-2F2dfvJf3mXdKOkM36cxZipbsSyIk7VcXa-2FUQs-2BBKvaU3PA95ZhqtTB9UM-2B99FIXOrpJjfYmWNMBKhoxN6JBpuoEXHK6dOWiovnEMeh2J7nS2xWBBuIiUX-2FqPoX25AoiNjyKIgS4-2F-2B9RRQzTfmhNPYrDeICUHELbJE1IWPxBOoWVY9ZXLAjlEu-2B9xIRV4j2ci2LAzdlqJMzcfrPwm-2BOJaVLooeDPvtOMJeBAmKzD85LmWbI4pfHFGvd1SjdEyEHotZto6M9opbqcT2Q0T9zroXA-3D-3D">https://www.fhsu.edu/hhp/ms-in-athletic-training.</a>

Fort Hays State adding a master’s in athletic training

The garden, located at the K-State Agricultural Research Center south of Hays, was established in 2016 with funds provided by a grant from the Heartland Community Foundation.&nbsp;

The garden area measures approximately 12’ x 20’.&nbsp; The soil was tested, prepared and a fall garden was planted in 2016, with its official debut during Horticulture Night at the Ag Research Center, September 20, 2016.

Work resumed during the spring of 2017 when a fence was built and compost bins were constructed out of pallets on the east end of the garden plot. Spring crops of onions, potatoes and beans were planted, as well as perennial crops of rhubarb and asparagus. Other vegetables that have been grown are radishes, beets, cucumbers, tomatoes, lettuce, spinach, cabbage, carrots and eggplant.

The purpose and goal of the Backyard Garden Project is to demonstrate to the general public how to start and maintain a vegetable garden in a smaller space like a backyard area. A composting station is also maintained as part of this project. This garden provides an opportunity for Master Gardeners to show the various crops that can be grown in a small area. It also gives Master Gardeners opportunities to experiment with best practices in fertilization, watering, weeding, mulching and producing and using compost in a garden to optimize crop production.

The Backyard Garden committee decides yearly which crops to plant and determines the layout of the garden plot. It decides on any new ideas or methods to try for the new season. Several Master Gardener volunteers help with the planning, planting and maintenance throughout the year. This garden project would not be possible or successful without the hard work and dedication of this group.

The public is welcome and encouraged to stop by and visit the garden’s progress during the growing season at the Ag Research Center.&nbsp;There is signage on the east end of the garden plot concerning composting and a Kansas Garden Guide booklet in the attached mailbox for reference. Gardening questions can be addressed by the Master Gardeners or the Extension Horticulturist by calling the Cottonwood District Extension Office in Hays at 785-628-9430..

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1614966296214.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The garden, located at the K-State Agricultural Research Center south of Hays, was established in 2016 with funds provided by a grant from the Heartland Community Foundation.&nbsp; The garden area measures approximately 12’ x 20’.&nbsp; The soil was tested, prepared and a fall garden was planted in 2016, with its official debut during Horticulture Night at the Ag Research Center, September 20, 2016. Work resumed during the spring of 2017 when a fence was built and compost bins were constructed out of pallets on the east end of the garden plot. Spring crops of onions, potatoes and beans were planted, as well as perennial crops of rhubarb and asparagus. Other vegetables that have been grown are radishes, beets, cucumbers, tomatoes, lettuce, spinach, cabbage, carrots and eggplant. The purpose and goal of the Backyard Garden Project is to demonstrate to the general public how to start and maintain a vegetable garden in a smaller space like a backyard area. A composting station is also maintained as part of this project. This garden provides an opportunity for Master Gardeners to show the various crops that can be grown in a small area. It also gives Master Gardeners opportunities to experiment with best practices in fertilization, watering, weeding, mulching and producing and using compost in a garden to optimize crop production. The Backyard Garden committee decides yearly which crops to plant and determines the layout of the garden plot. It decides on any new ideas or methods to try for the new season. Several Master Gardener volunteers help with the planning, planting and maintenance throughout the year. This garden project would not be possible or successful without the hard work and dedication of this group. The public is welcome and encouraged to stop by and visit the garden’s progress during the growing season at the Ag Research Center.&nbsp;There is signage on the east end of the garden plot concerning composting and a Kansas Garden Guide booklet in the attached mailbox for reference. Gardening questions can be addressed by the Master Gardeners or the Extension Horticulturist by calling the Cottonwood District Extension Office in Hays at 785-628-9430..