Three-day weather outlook

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🎙 Post Podcast: Brief Space, businesses exploring return to 'normal'

CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

Hundreds of area children squealed and made a mad dash for Easter eggs at the strike of 9 Saturday during the Kiwanis annual Easter egg hunt on the Fort Hays State University campus.

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 </figure>CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostHundreds of area children squealed and made a mad dash for Easter eggs at the strike of 9 Saturday during the Kiwanis annual Easter egg hunt on the Fort Hays State University campus.<figure>
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Kiwanis sponsor annual Hays Easter egg hunt

Good watering practices provide for healthier lawns and gardens and better use of one of our most important natural resources.&nbsp; Outdoor watering use often comprises more than half of the water used by the average household.&nbsp; That’s why being a wise steward of outdoor water just makes good sense.&nbsp;

An excellent way to water gardens and landscaping and conserve water is by installing a drip or trickle irrigation system. &nbsp; Drip systems are perfect because water is directed to the plant root system without loss to evaporation. &nbsp; There are two types of drip systems.&nbsp; The first type is called a low-pressure drip system and is used mostly for vegetable gardens.&nbsp; It consists of placing long strips of drip tape or T-tape in long rows in your vegetable garden. &nbsp; The drip tape has emitters spaced every 4, 12, or 18 inches and is installed with emitters facing up to keep dirt from clogging up the system.&nbsp; Landscape staples are used to hold the tape in place.&nbsp; Most drip tape runs at 6 to 20 psi (pound per square inch).&nbsp; A header pipe is used to distribute the water to the drip tapes.&nbsp; Along with the drip tape, you will also need a pressure regulator which is located at the start of the system and prevents too much pressure from blowing out the lines. &nbsp; Also some sort of filter is necessary to prevent particles from clogging up the emitters.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The second type of drip irrigation system is called a high pressure drip system and uses anywhere from 30 to 50 psi.&nbsp; Again you will need a pressure regulator, a filter, usually half-inch poly tubing, and emitters.&nbsp; &nbsp; Emitters are placed right next to the plants or shrubs, and thereby water is not wasted along the entire bed or garden.&nbsp; Different emitters have different flow rates usually delivering a half gallon, a gallon, or two gallon per hour.&nbsp; Emitters are pushed into the tubing after a small hole is punched into the plastic pipe.&nbsp; The high pressure system can be configured to water any shape or size of landscaping and garden plot using landscape staples.&nbsp;

Master Gardeners of Ellis County, Cottonwood District.&nbsp; More information available at www. cottonwood.ksu.edu or visit Facebook at Ellis County Extension Master Gardeners.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1614966296214.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Good watering practices provide for healthier lawns and gardens and better use of one of our most important natural resources.&nbsp; Outdoor watering use often comprises more than half of the water used by the average household.&nbsp; That’s why being a wise steward of outdoor water just makes good sense.&nbsp;An excellent way to water gardens and landscaping and conserve water is by installing a drip or trickle irrigation system. &nbsp; Drip systems are perfect because water is directed to the plant root system without loss to evaporation. &nbsp; There are two types of drip systems.&nbsp; The first type is called a low-pressure drip system and is used mostly for vegetable gardens.&nbsp; It consists of placing long strips of drip tape or T-tape in long rows in your vegetable garden. &nbsp; The drip tape has emitters spaced every 4, 12, or 18 inches and is installed with emitters facing up to keep dirt from clogging up the system.&nbsp; Landscape staples are used to hold the tape in place.&nbsp; Most drip tape runs at 6 to 20 psi (pound per square inch).&nbsp; A header pipe is used to distribute the water to the drip tapes.&nbsp; Along with the drip tape, you will also need a pressure regulator which is located at the start of the system and prevents too much pressure from blowing out the lines. &nbsp; Also some sort of filter is necessary to prevent particles from clogging up the emitters.&nbsp;&nbsp;The second type of drip irrigation system is called a high pressure drip system and uses anywhere from 30 to 50 psi.&nbsp; Again you will need a pressure regulator, a filter, usually half-inch poly tubing, and emitters.&nbsp; &nbsp; Emitters are placed right next to the plants or shrubs, and thereby water is not wasted along the entire bed or garden.&nbsp; Different emitters have different flow rates usually delivering a half gallon, a gallon, or two gallon per hour.&nbsp; Emitters are pushed into the tubing after a small hole is punched into the plastic pipe.&nbsp; The high pressure system can be configured to water any shape or size of landscaping and garden plot using landscape staples.&nbsp;Master Gardeners of Ellis County, Cottonwood District.&nbsp; More information available at www. cottonwood.ksu.edu or visit Facebook at Ellis County Extension Master Gardeners.

From the Ellis County Master Gardeners: Watering practices

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

The Fort Hays State University Shooting Team has brought home another national championship.&nbsp;

Not only did they win Division II in a recent shoot last month in Marengo, Ohio, they beat all of the Division I schools as well.

The teams total score was ,2860 out of 3,000 targets. The second-place team had 2,846.

The team also had the high overall man — Cordell Waggoner with 573/600, with Riley Ross second with 572/600, Hank McVeigh third with 571/600, and Wyatt Pursell tied for fourth with 570/600.

On the ladies side, Katie Petersen earned second place with 544/600, Heather Gordon was fourth with 530, and Katie Dettman was fifth with 528.

For those of you who like numbers, the team's top five trapshooters were Hank McVeigh 196, Zach Beers 195, Riley Ross 194, Heather Gordon 194, and Wyatt Pursell 193 for a team total of 972 out of 1,000. That earned them first place in division II trap.

In skeet they also earned first place in division II with a team total of 982 out of 1,000.   The top five skeet shooters were Riley Ross with a 198, Wyatt Pursell with 197, Katie Petersen with 196, Cordell Waggoner with 196, and Lane Sorensen with 195.

In sporting clays, the team earned second place with 906, only one point behind the high team. The top five shooters were Cordell Waggoner with 188, Hank McVeigh with 182, Riley Ross with 180, Wyatt Pursell with 180, and Lane Sorensen with 176.

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostThe Fort Hays State University Shooting Team has brought home another national championship.&nbsp;Not only did they win Division II in a recent shoot last month in Marengo, Ohio, they beat all of the Division I schools as well.The teams total score was ,2860 out of 3,000 targets. The second-place team had 2,846.The team also had the high overall man — Cordell Waggoner with 573/600, with Riley Ross second with 572/600, Hank McVeigh third with 571/600, and Wyatt Pursell tied for fourth with 570/600.On the ladies side, Katie Petersen earned second place with 544/600, Heather Gordon was fourth with 530, and Katie Dettman was fifth with 528.For those of you who like numbers, the team's top five trapshooters were Hank McVeigh 196, Zach Beers 195, Riley Ross 194, Heather Gordon 194, and Wyatt Pursell 193 for a team total of 972 out of 1,000. That earned them first place in division II trap.In skeet they also earned first place in division II with a team total of 982 out of 1,000. The top five skeet shooters were Riley Ross with a 198, Wyatt Pursell with 197, Katie Petersen with 196, Cordell Waggoner with 196, and Lane Sorensen with 195.In sporting clays, the team earned second place with 906, only one point behind the high team. The top five shooters were Cordell Waggoner with 188, Hank McVeigh with 182, Riley Ross with 180, Wyatt Pursell with 180, and Lane Sorensen with 176.

FHSU Shooting Team earns another national championship

The Hays Fire Department will be inspecting and flow testing fire hydrants on Monday in the area from Vine to Canterbury between Eighth and 13th, and Wheatland Ave. to Commerce between 10thand 22nd. 

This is part of a coordinated effort by the city of Hays to inspect all fire hydrants in the city and flush all water mains annually.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1617405329309.jpeg" alt="(Photo by Hays Post)" />
 <figcaption>(Photo by Hays Post)</figcaption>
 </figure>City of HaysThe Hays Fire Department will be inspecting and flow testing fire hydrants on Monday in the area from Vine to Canterbury between Eighth and 13th, and Wheatland Ave. to Commerce between 10thand 22nd. This is part of a coordinated effort by the city of Hays to inspect all fire hydrants in the city and flush all water mains annually.

Another week of fire hydrant testing, inspection in Hays

By RON WILSON Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development&nbsp;

Bullseye! That’s what we say when we hit the target right in the center. Today we’ll meet a couple of first-generation farmers who are using the name Bullseye and hitting their target of producing and marketing value-added agricultural products.&nbsp;

Laurie and Joel Bruce are the owners of Bruce’s Bullseye Farms near Augusta. Laurie grew up at Potwin. She met Joel while working in El Dorado, and they married, moving to follow his job in the pipeline industry.&nbsp;

“We came back to Kansas,” Laurie said. “This is where we wanted to put down our roots.”&nbsp;

Joel got a job with Kansas Gas Service. After being a stay-at-home mom, Laurie earned an education degree at Wichita State and became a teacher.&nbsp;

They knew they wanted to live in the country. In 2000, they bought a house and one acre in Butler County. In 2013, they bought an 80-acre tract and expanded that a few years later.&nbsp;

“We got a horse and did hay and crops on shares with a neighbor,” Laurie said. That first horse was named Bullseye. “He was a great horse,“ Laurie said. “Now we have a small cowherd.”&nbsp;

Joel and Laurie were befriended by an older lady living nearby. “She gave me some sand plum jelly,” Laurie said.&nbsp;

“I told her, ‘That’s the best jelly I’ve ever had.’ She asked me if I’d like to learn how to make it and I said, ‘Sure,’” Laurie said. “She showed me everything, from how to pick them, how to clean them, how to process them, and even where to find them growing wild.”&nbsp;

In 2016, Joel and Laurie moved to the farm outside Augusta. She continued to make sand plum jelly.&nbsp;

Soon after that, a friend of Laurie’s invited her to sell some of her jelly at a fall pumpkin patch nearby. “Oh no,” Laurie said. “I’ll just come give some away.” Her friend insisted that she would set up a table and Laurie should come try to sell her product. “I brought 50 jars of sand plum jelly and two dozen loaves of pumpkin bread, and I sold out of all of it,” Laurie said. “That’s when I realized there was demand for these types of products.” She started making other types of jams and jellies as well.&nbsp;

Laurie and Joel launched their own value-added products business. They decided to name it Bruce’s Bullseye Farms, in honor of their first horse and the fact that Joel is a hunter. In their early days of marriage, Joel’s deer hunting helped put meat on the table.&nbsp;

Today, Bruce’s Bullseye Farms offers a line of homemade jams and jellies, including the original sand plum jelly. The company also offers other products such as apple pie jam, candied&nbsp;jalapeños, apple butter, sunflower-seed cookies, and a sweet and spicy spread that Laurie calls Ozsome sauce. “I love the Wizard of Oz,” Laurie said.&nbsp;

Laurie wants to promote other entrepreneurs as well. She offers other people’s products such as local honey and BBQ sauce. She also assembles and ships gift baskets.&nbsp;

The Bruces continue to expand their business. They’ve purchased a commercial building in nearby Leon. In addition to the wild sand plums, Laurie purchased 65 sand plum bare root trees from the Kansas Forest Service and planted them orchard style.&nbsp;

“We want to sell everything we can from our own farm,” Laurie said. “We want to offer farm-to-fork food products.” Their business benefited when listed on the Shop Kansas Farms website during the pandemic. They have also joined the From the Land of Kansas program of the Kansas Department of Agriculture.&nbsp;

“We’ve shipped products coast to coast, from California to Florida,” Laurie said. It’s an impressive record for a woman from the rural community of Potwin, population 449 people. Now, that’s rural.&nbsp;

For more information, see&nbsp;<a href="http://www.brucesbullseyefarms.com/">www.brucesbullseyefarms.com</a>.&nbsp;

Bullseye. That was the name of the Bruces’ first horse and it became the name of their business. We commend Laurie and Joel Bruce for making a difference with value-added entrepreneurship. I think they’re hitting the bullseye.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1617197728782.png" alt="Laurie Bruce" />
 <figcaption>Laurie Bruce</figcaption>
 </figure>By RON WILSON Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development&nbsp;Bullseye! That’s what we say when we hit the target right in the center. Today we’ll meet a couple of first-generation farmers who are using the name Bullseye and hitting their target of producing and marketing value-added agricultural products.&nbsp;Laurie and Joel Bruce are the owners of Bruce’s Bullseye Farms near Augusta. Laurie grew up at Potwin. She met Joel while working in El Dorado, and they married, moving to follow his job in the pipeline industry.&nbsp;“We came back to Kansas,” Laurie said. “This is where we wanted to put down our roots.”&nbsp;Joel got a job with Kansas Gas Service. After being a stay-at-home mom, Laurie earned an education degree at Wichita State and became a teacher.&nbsp;They knew they wanted to live in the country. In 2000, they bought a house and one acre in Butler County. In 2013, they bought an 80-acre tract and expanded that a few years later.&nbsp;“We got a horse and did hay and crops on shares with a neighbor,” Laurie said. That first horse was named Bullseye. “He was a great horse,“ Laurie said. “Now we have a small cowherd.”&nbsp;Joel and Laurie were befriended by an older lady living nearby. “She gave me some sand plum jelly,” Laurie said.&nbsp;“I told her, ‘That’s the best jelly I’ve ever had.’ She asked me if I’d like to learn how to make it and I said, ‘Sure,’” Laurie said. “She showed me everything, from how to pick them, how to clean them, how to process them, and even where to find them growing wild.”&nbsp;In 2016, Joel and Laurie moved to the farm outside Augusta. She continued to make sand plum jelly.&nbsp;Soon after that, a friend of Laurie’s invited her to sell some of her jelly at a fall pumpkin patch nearby. “Oh no,” Laurie said. “I’ll just come give some away.” Her friend insisted that she would set up a table and Laurie should come try to sell her product. “I brought 50 jars of sand plum jelly and two dozen loaves of pumpkin bread, and I sold out of all of it,” Laurie said. “That’s when I realized there was demand for these types of products.” She started making other types of jams and jellies as well.&nbsp;Laurie and Joel launched their own value-added products business. They decided to name it Bruce’s Bullseye Farms, in honor of their first horse and the fact that Joel is a hunter. In their early days of marriage, Joel’s deer hunting helped put meat on the table.&nbsp;Today, Bruce’s Bullseye Farms offers a line of homemade jams and jellies, including the original sand plum jelly. The company also offers other products such as apple pie jam, candied&nbsp;jalapeños, apple butter, sunflower-seed cookies, and a sweet and spicy spread that Laurie calls Ozsome sauce. “I love the Wizard of Oz,” Laurie said.&nbsp;Laurie wants to promote other entrepreneurs as well. She offers other people’s products such as local honey and BBQ sauce. She also assembles and ships gift baskets.&nbsp;The Bruces continue to expand their business. They’ve purchased a commercial building in nearby Leon. In addition to the wild sand plums, Laurie purchased 65 sand plum bare root trees from the Kansas Forest Service and planted them orchard style.&nbsp;“We want to sell everything we can from our own farm,” Laurie said. “We want to offer farm-to-fork food products.” Their business benefited when listed on the Shop Kansas Farms website during the pandemic. They have also joined the From the Land of Kansas program of the Kansas Department of Agriculture.&nbsp;“We’ve shipped products coast to coast, from California to Florida,” Laurie said. It’s an impressive record for a woman from the rural community of Potwin, population 449 people. Now, that’s rural.&nbsp;For more information, see&nbsp;<a href="http://www.brucesbullseyefarms.com/">www.brucesbullseyefarms.com</a>.&nbsp;Bullseye. That was the name of the Bruces’ first horse and it became the name of their business. We commend Laurie and Joel Bruce for making a difference with value-added entrepreneurship. I think they’re hitting the bullseye.&nbsp;

Now That’s Rural: Laurie Bruce, Bruce’s Bullseye Farms 

RAWLINS COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect who stole a Kansas Highway Patrol trooper's vehicle on

Just after noon Saturday while transporting a suspect to a detention facility following a pursuit that involved a stolen vehicle, the transporting state trooper witnessed an injury motorcycle crash on Kansas 25 near Atwood, according to a media release from Trooper Tod Hileman.

The trooper stopped to render aid. While the Trooper assisted the crash victim, the suspect identified as 23-year-old Joshua Swartwout of Naples, FL, who was handcuffed behind the back gained control of the trooper's patrol vehicle and drove away southbound on Kansas 25 at a high rate of speed.

KHP and local law enforcement pursued the patrol vehicle to Interstate 70 where the suspect continued westbound.

At 12:40p.m., the stolen KHP vehicle came to a stop on Interstate near Esbon in Sherman County after the car ran out of fuel.

Swartwout, who was still handcuffed behind the back, fled the KHP vehicle on foot but was quickly apprehended.&nbsp; EMS at the scene check him and later he was transported to the jail in Sherman County without further incident.

There were no injuries to law enforcement and the KHP vehicle did not sustain any damage, according to Hileman.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574202262323.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>RAWLINS COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect who stole a Kansas Highway Patrol trooper's vehicle onJust after noon Saturday while transporting a suspect to a detention facility following a pursuit that involved a stolen vehicle, the transporting state trooper witnessed an injury motorcycle crash on Kansas 25 near Atwood, according to a media release from Trooper Tod Hileman.The trooper stopped to render aid. While the Trooper assisted the crash victim, the suspect identified as 23-year-old Joshua Swartwout of Naples, FL, who was handcuffed behind the back gained control of the trooper's patrol vehicle and drove away southbound on Kansas 25 at a high rate of speed.KHP and local law enforcement pursued the patrol vehicle to Interstate 70 where the suspect continued westbound.At 12:40p.m., the stolen KHP vehicle came to a stop on Interstate near Esbon in Sherman County after the car ran out of fuel.Swartwout, who was still handcuffed behind the back, fled the KHP vehicle on foot but was quickly apprehended.&nbsp; EMS at the scene check him and later he was transported to the jail in Sherman County without further incident.There were no injuries to law enforcement and the KHP vehicle did not sustain any damage, according to Hileman.

Suspect in handcuffs drives away in KHP Trooper's vehicle

For the fourth consecutive year and fifth time in school history, Sterling College Forensics team has had a team member qualify for the National Interstate Oratory Competition.&nbsp; 

Paige Sherraden, a junior from Plainville, qualified by virtue of her performance throughout the season. Sherraden is one of two students from Kansas who is afforded the opportunity to compete at the annual competition.&nbsp;With such an elite field, all bidding to be considered the most persuasive, the competition is fierce.

“I am thrilled for Paige. She is consistently the hardest worker on the team and never fails to exceed expectations. She established qualifying for this competition as a goal during her freshman year and has been working hard to attain it ever since,” said Ken Troyer, forensics coach.

This year marks the 146th Interstate Oratory competition, which is the oldest intercollegiate speaking competition in the United States. Paige becomes only the sixth Sterling College student to qualify for the competition and only the second-ever Sterling College State Champion in Persuasive Speaking. In addition to the elite competition, each qualifier will have a copy of their research and speech published in a compilation to include all qualifiers works.

Sterling College earned this qualification competing amongst the likes of Kansas State University, Bethel College, Ottawa University, Friends University, Kansas Wesleyan University and many more.&nbsp; The Interstate Oratory Tournament will take place April 23 and 24, being held virtually.

Sterling College is a Christ-centered, four-year college located in Sterling, Kansas, with a mission to develop creative and thoughtful leaders who understand a maturing Christian faith. For more information, visit<a href="http://www.sterling.edu/"> www.sterling.edu</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1617201694113.jpeg" alt="Paige Sherraden" />
 <figcaption>Paige Sherraden</figcaption>
 </figure>Sterling CollegeFor the fourth consecutive year and fifth time in school history, Sterling College Forensics team has had a team member qualify for the National Interstate Oratory Competition.&nbsp; Paige Sherraden, a junior from Plainville, qualified by virtue of her performance throughout the season. Sherraden is one of two students from Kansas who is afforded the opportunity to compete at the annual competition.&nbsp;With such an elite field, all bidding to be considered the most persuasive, the competition is fierce.“I am thrilled for Paige. She is consistently the hardest worker on the team and never fails to exceed expectations. She established qualifying for this competition as a goal during her freshman year and has been working hard to attain it ever since,” said Ken Troyer, forensics coach.This year marks the 146th Interstate Oratory competition, which is the oldest intercollegiate speaking competition in the United States. Paige becomes only the sixth Sterling College student to qualify for the competition and only the second-ever Sterling College State Champion in Persuasive Speaking. In addition to the elite competition, each qualifier will have a copy of their research and speech published in a compilation to include all qualifiers works.Sterling College earned this qualification competing amongst the likes of Kansas State University, Bethel College, Ottawa University, Friends University, Kansas Wesleyan University and many more.&nbsp; The Interstate Oratory Tournament will take place April 23 and 24, being held virtually.Sterling College is a Christ-centered, four-year college located in Sterling, Kansas, with a mission to develop creative and thoughtful leaders who understand a maturing Christian faith. For more information, visit<a href="http://www.sterling.edu/"> www.sterling.edu</a>.

Sterling College student from Plainville advances to national competition 

Acclimate new plants to outside temperatures by gradually leaving them outside for longer and longer periods.

<figure>
 <iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VrlE6TqffYE"></iframe>
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Acclimate new plants to outside temperatures by gradually leaving them outside for longer and longer periods.

🎥 Green & Growing 2021: Hardening off plants

I’m tired y’all. I am tired of the hatefulness, divisiveness, rudeness, mask or no mask, vaccinate or no vaccinate, the “I KNOW I’m right so you must be stupid” attitudes. I am so tired of it all.

This past year has been hard on all of us. I take pride in my ability to be resilient and have a glass half-full mentality but I’m tired. I worry about family, friends, co-workers, my 4-H and all youth, and our communities, and it is exhausting.

One of the things that I do appreciate of the past year is the frequency with which I see reminders about mental health resources. Ongoing stresses can springboard a whole new level of depression, anxiety, fear, and frustrations. Reaching out for assistance can be the hardest but most important step in finding a path to understanding and working through all the stuff that can overwhelm us. It doesn’t have to make sense to anyone else; if you are feeling overwhelmed, it is very real! Reach out to a school counselor or adviser; reach out to your pastor, reach out to a good friend, reach out to professional resources.&nbsp;

As a friend, you don’t need to solve someone else’s problem, just be there to listen or sit through the moment. One of my favorite memes features Winnie the Pooh and Piglet.&nbsp;

“Today was a Difficult Day," said Pooh

“Do you want to talk about it?” asked Piglet.

“No,” said Pooh after a bit. “No, I don’t think I do.”

“That’s okay,” said Piglet, and he came and sat beside his friend.

“What are you doing?” asked Pooh.

“Nothing, really,” said Piglet. “Only, I know what Difficult Days are like. I quite often don’t feel like talking about it on my Difficult Days, either.”

“But goodness,” continued Piglet, “Difficult Days are so much easier when you know you’ve got someone there for you. And I’ll always be here for you, Pooh.”

And as Pooh sat there, working through in his head his Difficult Day, while the solid, reliable Piglet sat next to him quietly, swinging his little legs…..he thought that his best friend had never been more right.

We can all make a difference in someone’s life. It can be as simple as holding a door, supporting a friend as they seek professional resources, performing a random act of kindness, or just sitting with someone as they work through their Difficult Day.

One of my favorite things as a 4-H agent is when a young person asks, “Do you have a minute?” and I realize that maybe I’m not so tired after all.

Keep learning. Keep showing grace and kindness.

Michelle Beran is the 4-H and Youth Development Agent in the Cottonwood Extension District – Barton County. For more information on this article or other 4-H Youth and Development related questions email Michelle at <a href="mailto:mberan@ksu.edu">mberan@ksu.edu</a> or call 620-793-1910.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579114162620.jpeg" alt="Michelle Beran is the 4-H and Youth Development Agent in the Cottonwood Extension District." />
 <figcaption>Michelle Beran is the 4-H and Youth Development Agent in the Cottonwood Extension District.</figcaption>
 </figure>I’m tired y’all. I am tired of the hatefulness, divisiveness, rudeness, mask or no mask, vaccinate or no vaccinate, the “I KNOW I’m right so you must be stupid” attitudes. I am so tired of it all.This past year has been hard on all of us. I take pride in my ability to be resilient and have a glass half-full mentality but I’m tired. I worry about family, friends, co-workers, my 4-H and all youth, and our communities, and it is exhausting.One of the things that I do appreciate of the past year is the frequency with which I see reminders about mental health resources. Ongoing stresses can springboard a whole new level of depression, anxiety, fear, and frustrations. Reaching out for assistance can be the hardest but most important step in finding a path to understanding and working through all the stuff that can overwhelm us. It doesn’t have to make sense to anyone else; if you are feeling overwhelmed, it is very real! Reach out to a school counselor or adviser; reach out to your pastor, reach out to a good friend, reach out to professional resources.&nbsp;As a friend, you don’t need to solve someone else’s problem, just be there to listen or sit through the moment. One of my favorite memes features Winnie the Pooh and Piglet.&nbsp;“Today was a Difficult Day," said PoohThere was a pause.“Do you want to talk about it?” asked Piglet.“No,” said Pooh after a bit. “No, I don’t think I do.”“That’s okay,” said Piglet, and he came and sat beside his friend.“What are you doing?” asked Pooh.“Nothing, really,” said Piglet. “Only, I know what Difficult Days are like. I quite often don’t feel like talking about it on my Difficult Days, either.”“But goodness,” continued Piglet, “Difficult Days are so much easier when you know you’ve got someone there for you. And I’ll always be here for you, Pooh.”And as Pooh sat there, working through in his head his Difficult Day, while the solid, reliable Piglet sat next to him quietly, swinging his little legs…..he thought that his best friend had never been more right.We can all make a difference in someone’s life. It can be as simple as holding a door, supporting a friend as they seek professional resources, performing a random act of kindness, or just sitting with someone as they work through their Difficult Day.One of my favorite things as a 4-H agent is when a young person asks, “Do you have a minute?” and I realize that maybe I’m not so tired after all.Keep learning. Keep showing grace and kindness.Michelle Beran is the 4-H and Youth Development Agent in the Cottonwood Extension District – Barton County. For more information on this article or other 4-H Youth and Development related questions email Michelle at <a href="mailto:mberan@ksu.edu">mberan@ksu.edu</a> or call 620-793-1910.

BERAN: 'I'm tired, y'all'

Bird Rides, a shared electric scooter company, will bring their e-scooters to the Hays community on April 2. Scooters will be available through the Bird Rides mobile phone application and riders pay to use the scooter per minute.

The company plans on offering scooters to residents and visitors in order to reduce traffic congestion on roadways, as well as help reduce carbon emissions.&nbsp;The scooters also provide a safe way to get around during the pandemic and offer residents without automobiles another transportation option.

After downloading the Bird app and creating an account, users will be able to locate scooters nearest to them, and even reserve a scooter. The cost to ride is $1 to start and $0.39/minute thereafter. The fleet will start with 25 scooters with plans to eventually increase the inventory to 75. The entire fleet will never be on the road at the same time, due to scooters rotating out to be charged and repaired. Local fleet managers will ensure scooters are charged and in good working condition.

The electric scooters can be used on roads and in bike lanes and have a maximum speed of 15 mph.&nbsp;Scooters must be parked out of the way of pedestrians and never block driveways. Riders must be 18 years old and above to access the scooters. They are also encouraged to wear a helmet on every ride and required to obey all standard rules of the road.&nbsp;

Calculated on either a per trip or per miles traveled basis, riding a Bird is as safe as, or safer than, bicycling. On average, Bird riders reported one incident resulting in any kind of injury for every 27,000 miles ridden (or in less than 0.01% of trips). Bird’s industry-leading safety policies and practices include:

Bird offers the following programs for all who qualify:

Bird’s Community Pricing Program offers a 50% discount to low-income riders, Pell grant recipients, select local nonprofit and community organizations, veterans, and senior citizens. It’s designed to be the most inclusive micro-mobility discount program available anywhere. To sign up for the Community Pricing Program, download the Bird app, create an account, and email your proof of eligibility to <a href="mailto:access@bird.co">access@bird.co</a>.

Free Rides for Healthcare Workers and Emergency Personnel

Bird is proud to offer free rides to healthcare workers and emergency personnel. To sign up, simply email a copy of your medical identification card along with your name and phone number to <a href="mailto:together@bird.co">together@bird.co</a>. Eligible riders will receive two free 30-minute rides per day for as long as it takes to help our communities to recover from this global health crisis.

If a resident has questions or concerns about the e-scooters, the company can be reached directly at 1-866-205-2442 or <a href="mailto:hello@bird.co">hello@bird.co</a>. More information about the company can be found on their website, <a href="http://www.bird.co">www.bird.co</a>, and on their blog, <a href="http://www.bird.co/blog">www.bird.co/blog</a>.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1617308459580.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>News releaseBird Rides, a shared electric scooter company, will bring their e-scooters to the Hays community on April 2. Scooters will be available through the Bird Rides mobile phone application and riders pay to use the scooter per minute.The company plans on offering scooters to residents and visitors in order to reduce traffic congestion on roadways, as well as help reduce carbon emissions.&nbsp;The scooters also provide a safe way to get around during the pandemic and offer residents without automobiles another transportation option.After downloading the Bird app and creating an account, users will be able to locate scooters nearest to them, and even reserve a scooter. The cost to ride is $1 to start and $0.39/minute thereafter. The fleet will start with 25 scooters with plans to eventually increase the inventory to 75. The entire fleet will never be on the road at the same time, due to scooters rotating out to be charged and repaired. Local fleet managers will ensure scooters are charged and in good working condition.The electric scooters can be used on roads and in bike lanes and have a maximum speed of 15 mph.&nbsp;Scooters must be parked out of the way of pedestrians and never block driveways. Riders must be 18 years old and above to access the scooters. They are also encouraged to wear a helmet on every ride and required to obey all standard rules of the road.&nbsp;Calculated on either a per trip or per miles traveled basis, riding a Bird is as safe as, or safer than, bicycling. On average, Bird riders reported one incident resulting in any kind of injury for every 27,000 miles ridden (or in less than 0.01% of trips). Bird’s industry-leading safety policies and practices include:<ul>
 <li>Ceasing operations after midnight, when risk to all road users increases</li><li>Requiring riders to confirm they are 18 or older</li><li>Instituting responsible speed limits in consultation with city officials</li><li>Enabling direct reporting of irresponsible parking behavior through the in-app Community Mode feature</li>
 </ul>Bird offers the following programs for all who qualify:Community PricingBird’s Community Pricing Program offers a 50% discount to low-income riders, Pell grant recipients, select local nonprofit and community organizations, veterans, and senior citizens. It’s designed to be the most inclusive micro-mobility discount program available anywhere. To sign up for the Community Pricing Program, download the Bird app, create an account, and email your proof of eligibility to <a href="mailto:access@bird.co">access@bird.co</a>.Free Rides for Healthcare Workers and Emergency PersonnelBird is proud to offer free rides to healthcare workers and emergency personnel. To sign up, simply email a copy of your medical identification card along with your name and phone number to <a href="mailto:together@bird.co">together@bird.co</a>. Eligible riders will receive two free 30-minute rides per day for as long as it takes to help our communities to recover from this global health crisis.If a resident has questions or concerns about the e-scooters, the company can be reached directly at 1-866-205-2442 or <a href="mailto:hello@bird.co">hello@bird.co</a>. More information about the company can be found on their website, <a href="http://www.bird.co">www.bird.co</a>, and on their blog, <a href="http://www.bird.co/blog">www.bird.co/blog</a>.&nbsp;

Bird scooters land in Hays on Friday

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment reported just one new case of COVID-19 was identified in Ellis County since Wednesday.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/947beb64-eabd-48fb-a447-931d787133b8">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;for information on how to receive a COVID-19 vaccination.

As of Friday, the University of Kansas Health System reported two COVID-19 inpatients at HaysMed, one active and one recovering.

Since reporting began, there have been 3,722 cases of COVID-19 identified in Ellis County, including 73 coronavirus-related deaths.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1617383454988.png" alt="KDHE" />
 <figcaption>KDHE</figcaption>
 </figure><div><iframe title="ECHS COVID-19 Weekly Update: April 2, 2021" allowtransparency="true" height="150" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=4zmmc-ff9152-pb&from=pb6admin&download=1&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=3&btn-skin=4"></iframe></div>The Kansas Department of Health and Environment reported just one new case of COVID-19 was identified in Ellis County since Wednesday.<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/947beb64-eabd-48fb-a447-931d787133b8">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;for information on how to receive a COVID-19 vaccination.As of Friday, the University of Kansas Health System reported two COVID-19 inpatients at HaysMed, one active and one recovering.Since reporting began, there have been 3,722 cases of COVID-19 identified in Ellis County, including 73 coronavirus-related deaths.

🎙 Just one new case of COVID-19 identified in Ellis Co.

By BECKY KISER Hays Post

The cities of Hays and Dodge City have been exchanging ideas for better government operations as they each host employees from the other town for in-depth looks at various city departments.

Hays recently hosted the directors of the Dodge City Regional Airport and the Convention and Visitors Bureau director, according to Collin Bielser, Hays assistant city manager.

"I really like the collaboration you guys have been doing with Dodge City," said Shaun Musil, city commissioner. "Hopefully we can learn something from them and they can learn something about what we're doing."&nbsp;

With spring here, workers are busy sprucing up Hays parks as well as the Bickle-Schmidt Sports Complex.

Existing shade structures were removed at the sports complex and new ones will be installed next month.&nbsp;

"In anticipation of turfing the softball and baseball infields, soil sampling was performed in the infields so contractors could provide accurate artificial turf proposals," Bielser said in his February progress report presented to Hays city commissioners.&nbsp;

Parks Department employees also removed landscaping from the North Vine Street median for work that begins in April on the final three traffic roundabouts.&nbsp;

The stones and plants will be used in other locations in Hays, Bielser noted.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3I-5J3O1qp4"></iframe>
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By BECKY KISER Hays PostThe cities of Hays and Dodge City have been exchanging ideas for better government operations as they each host employees from the other town for in-depth looks at various city departments.Hays recently hosted the directors of the Dodge City Regional Airport and the Convention and Visitors Bureau director, according to Collin Bielser, Hays assistant city manager.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1617049349833.jpeg" alt="The Dodge City Regional Airport and Convention and Visitors Bureau directors recently visited their counterparts in Hays." />
 <figcaption>The Dodge City Regional Airport and Convention and Visitors Bureau directors recently visited their counterparts in Hays.</figcaption>
 </figure>"I really like the collaboration you guys have been doing with Dodge City," said Shaun Musil, city commissioner. "Hopefully we can learn something from them and they can learn something about what we're doing."&nbsp;With spring here, workers are busy sprucing up Hays parks as well as the Bickle-Schmidt Sports Complex.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1617050683757.jpeg" alt="The existing shade structures at Bickle-Schmidt Sports Complex were removed and new ones will be installed in April.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>The existing shade structures at Bickle-Schmidt Sports Complex were removed and new ones will be installed in April.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>Existing shade structures were removed at the sports complex and new ones will be installed next month.&nbsp;"In anticipation of turfing the softball and baseball infields, soil sampling was performed in the infields so contractors could provide accurate artificial turf proposals," Bielser said in his February progress report presented to Hays city commissioners.&nbsp;Parks Department employees also removed landscaping from the North Vine Street median for work that begins in April on the final three traffic roundabouts.&nbsp;The stones and plants will be used in other locations in Hays, Bielser noted.&nbsp;

🎥 City progress report: Readying for shade structures, turf at sports complex 

DODGE CITY - The National Weather Service (NWS) in Dodge City is forecasting southwest winds at 20 to 35 mph with gusts in excess of 45 mph will be possible this afternoon across southwest and central Kansas. 

The combination of these gusty southwest winds and low humilities will result in critical or near critical fire weather conditions this afternoon, mainly along and east of a Hays to Kinsley to Greensburg to Coldwater line. 

Outdoor burning should not be attempted today.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1617362198248.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>NWSDODGE CITY - The National Weather Service (NWS) in Dodge City is forecasting southwest winds at 20 to 35 mph with gusts in excess of 45 mph will be possible this afternoon across southwest and central Kansas. The combination of these gusty southwest winds and low humilities will result in critical or near critical fire weather conditions this afternoon, mainly along and east of a Hays to Kinsley to Greensburg to Coldwater line. Outdoor burning should not be attempted today.

Red Flag Warning today for Ellis, Rush, Pawnee counties

Following a 35-minute discussion during their Thursday work session, Hays city commissioners decided they need more information and more time to review a request for allowing several types of alternative vehicles on city streets.

The request comes from Ellis County Commissioner Neal Younger who told commissioners he's been researching the situation since October. Petitions placed at eight local businesses in February yielded 330 signatures of support, according to Younger.

The specified vehicles are prohibited on city streets by state law but could be authorized by a city ordinance.&nbsp;

Ellis and Victoria allow the vehicles, as does Ellis County. Russell also permits such vehicles on its streets from dawn to dusk.

Younger provided the related city ordinances from Ellis and Victoria as well as Dodge City.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Commissioner Shaun Musil asked about traffic accidents with the vehicles in Dodge City, considered a peer city of Hays.

"When I started this process back in October, I did talk to the mayor in Dodge City. That was my first question to him. At that time, he told me none," Younger reported. "I was glad to hear that because I do not want to put them out and have accidents in Hays.

"I just want our community to be able to use their merchandise or equipment that they have purchased."

Don Scheibler, Hays police chief, confirmed the information about no accident reports in Dodge City, as well as Garden City.&nbsp; &nbsp;

"They really haven't had any problems with the side-by-sides as far as accidents," Scheibler said.&nbsp;

Commissioner Ron Mellick asked about safety equipment on Utility Task Vehicles (UTV),&nbsp;Work Site Utility Vehicles (WSUV) and&nbsp;Micro-Utility Vehicles (MUT).

Helmets for adults are not required, nor are they for adult motorcycle riders in Kansas. It was unclear whether helmets or car seats are required for minors. Mellick asked Scheibler to research state law and report back to the commission.

A windshield or safety goggles are required to be worn by the driver, according to Scheibler.&nbsp;

Kevin Bainter of BOS Motorsports in Hays said UTVs, WSUVs and MUTs are equipped with turn signals, horn, three mirrors and seat belts.

Billy Briney, Briney Motorsports, Hays, suggested the city could require alternative vehicles driven in Hays to be also equipped with a roll cage and a minimum tire size.&nbsp;

"That would help get away from the slower vehicles, the golf carts and some of the more unsafe vehicles," said Briney. 

He noted Ness City also allows alternative vehicles.&nbsp;

"We hear about the accidents. Most of those are from off-roading," Briney said. "My feeling is, when you get people in the city actually with other traffic, traffic signs, they pay a little more attention than when they're out there with their friends in the sand dunes."

Scott Braun, Ellis County sheriff, told the commission there are not a lot of accidents in the county "but we can tell when the young ones are playing. All you gotta do us go to the corner of the intersection and see how it's torn up. But as a whole, they're pretty safe."

Vehicle drivers, who must have a valid license and be at least age 16, obey the same rules of the road as cars. The alternative vehicles, however, cannot be driven on Highway US 183, which is Vine Street within the Hays city limits.&nbsp;

"We researched it because we were having some issues in the county," Braun said. "They can run any road in the county, except [Highway] 183. They can cross it," Braun said.

The city could require such vehicles to be registered and/or be insured.

Commissioner Ron Mellick supported the insurance requirement and a $1,000 fine if a driver is stopped and found to have no insurance on the vehicle.&nbsp;&nbsp;

A potential huge influx of alternative vehicles being driven on Hays streets by out-of-town visitors worries Commissioner Michael Berges.&nbsp;

"I don't mind my neighbors using alternative vehicles in Hays because they live in Hays and they understand Hays. So if that vehicle is registered as something that can be driven in Hays or Ellis County, I'm a little more open to that," said Berges.&nbsp;

"But we have events in Hays like the dirt races and Oktoberfest and they're coming from all over the state. And they bring these alternative vehicles and then they can just drive around Hays.&nbsp;&nbsp;

"But if we had some system where they had to register that vehicle to be in Hays, to me that would kind of narrow that field down."

According to Scheibler, in order to drive an alternative vehicle in Dodge City or Garden City, including those from out of town, it must be registered with those cities.&nbsp;

Berges also talked about possibly restricting the vehicles to certain hours on the streets or to certain months.

"We don't allow them in December and January when it's cold and snowy or maybe summer months when it's overly busy," he said.&nbsp;

"I know a lot of people use side-by-sides for snow removal," said Mason Ruder, vice-mayor. "Yeah, I see people do that all the time," agreed Musil.

The city should be able to put as many constraints on the alternative vehicles as commissioners desire, "as long as it doesn't conflict with state law," said Toby Dougherty, city manager.

City staff is supporting an ordinance allowing such vehicles in Hays.&nbsp;

Commissioners also heard details of a request for a transfer of mineral rights to Rich and Betty Wolf, a procedure City Attorney John Bird called a "bookkeeping matter."

Several years ago the city acquired the right of way for the northeast portion of what would be the 260th&nbsp;Avenue and 41st Street intersection. Along with that acquisition came the mineral rights.&nbsp;

The owners of the&nbsp;contiguous tract want to sell the property along with the mineral rights and have asked the&nbsp;city to deed those rights back to the adjacent property.

According to Bird, the city has nearly no monetary interest in the mineral rights and would not lose the right of way if commissioners decided to return the mineral rights.

Mayor Sandy Jacobs was absent from the meeting.

Prior to the meeting, Ruder read a city proclamation signed by Jacobs in awareness of Child Abuse Prevention Month.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1617324085497.jpeg" alt="Alternate vehicle supporters along with city and county law enforcement in the Hays city commission chambers Thursday, April 1. The room was reset to full-capacity accommodations after Gov. Laura Kelly's new statewide COVID-19 face mask order was overturned by the&nbsp; Legislative Coordinating Council earlier in the day.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Alternate vehicle supporters along with city and county law enforcement in the Hays city commission chambers Thursday, April 1. The room was reset to full-capacity accommodations after Gov. Laura Kelly's new statewide COVID-19 face mask order was overturned by the&nbsp; Legislative Coordinating Council earlier in the day.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>By BECKY KISER Hays PostFollowing a 35-minute discussion during their Thursday work session, Hays city commissioners decided they need more information and more time to review a request for allowing several types of alternative vehicles on city streets.The request comes from Ellis County Commissioner Neal Younger who told commissioners he's been researching the situation since October. Petitions placed at eight local businesses in February yielded 330 signatures of support, according to Younger.The specified vehicles are prohibited on city streets by state law but could be authorized by a city ordinance.&nbsp;Ellis and Victoria allow the vehicles, as does Ellis County. Russell also permits such vehicles on its streets from dawn to dusk.Younger provided the related city ordinances from Ellis and Victoria as well as Dodge City.&nbsp;&nbsp;Commissioner Shaun Musil asked about traffic accidents with the vehicles in Dodge City, considered a peer city of Hays. "When I started this process back in October, I did talk to the mayor in Dodge City. That was my first question to him. At that time, he told me none," Younger reported. "I was glad to hear that because I do not want to put them out and have accidents in Hays."I just want our community to be able to use their merchandise or equipment that they have purchased."Don Scheibler, Hays police chief, confirmed the information about no accident reports in Dodge City, as well as Garden City.&nbsp; &nbsp;"They really haven't had any problems with the side-by-sides as far as accidents," Scheibler said.&nbsp;<figure>
 <iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/v2aaBtWSMJ0"></iframe>
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Commissioner Ron Mellick asked about safety equipment on Utility Task Vehicles (UTV),&nbsp;Work Site Utility Vehicles (WSUV) and&nbsp;Micro-Utility Vehicles (MUT).Helmets for adults are not required, nor are they for adult motorcycle riders in Kansas. It was unclear whether helmets or car seats are required for minors. Mellick asked Scheibler to research state law and report back to the commission.A windshield or safety goggles are required to be worn by the driver, according to Scheibler.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1617327845436.jpeg" alt="Kevin Bainter of BOS Motorsports in Hays said UTVs, WSUVs and MUTs are equipped with turn signals, horn, three mirrors and seat belts." />
 <figcaption>Kevin Bainter of BOS Motorsports in Hays said UTVs, WSUVs and MUTs are equipped with turn signals, horn, three mirrors and seat belts.</figcaption>
 </figure>Kevin Bainter of BOS Motorsports in Hays said UTVs, WSUVs and MUTs are equipped with turn signals, horn, three mirrors and seat belts.Billy Briney, Briney Motorsports, Hays, suggested the city could require alternative vehicles driven in Hays to be also equipped with a roll cage and a minimum tire size.&nbsp;"That would help get away from the slower vehicles, the golf carts and some of the more unsafe vehicles," said Briney. He noted Ness City also allows alternative vehicles.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1617333749089.jpeg" alt="Billy Briney, Briney Motorsports, Hays, feels alternative vehicle drivers pay better attention when driving in a town with other traffic than when they are off-road." />
 <figcaption>Billy Briney, Briney Motorsports, Hays, feels alternative vehicle drivers pay better attention when driving in a town with other traffic than when they are off-road.</figcaption>
 </figure>"We hear about the accidents. Most of those are from off-roading," Briney said. "My feeling is, when you get people in the city actually with other traffic, traffic signs, they pay a little more attention than when they're out there with their friends in the sand dunes."Scott Braun, Ellis County sheriff, told the commission there are not a lot of accidents in the county "but we can tell when the young ones are playing. All you gotta do us go to the corner of the intersection and see how it's torn up. But as a whole, they're pretty safe."Vehicle drivers, who must have a valid license and be at least age 16, obey the same rules of the road as cars. The alternative vehicles, however, cannot be driven on Highway US 183, which is Vine Street within the Hays city limits.&nbsp;"We researched it because we were having some issues in the county," Braun said. "They can run any road in the county, except [Highway] 183. They can cross it," Braun said.The city could require such vehicles to be registered and/or be insured.Commissioner Ron Mellick supported the insurance requirement and a $1,000 fine if a driver is stopped and found to have no insurance on the vehicle.&nbsp;&nbsp;A potential huge influx of alternative vehicles being driven on Hays streets by out-of-town visitors worries Commissioner Michael Berges.&nbsp;"I don't mind my neighbors using alternative vehicles in Hays because they live in Hays and they understand Hays. So if that vehicle is registered as something that can be driven in Hays or Ellis County, I'm a little more open to that," said Berges.&nbsp;"But we have events in Hays like the dirt races and Oktoberfest and they're coming from all over the state. And they bring these alternative vehicles and then they can just drive around Hays.&nbsp;&nbsp;"But if we had some system where they had to register that vehicle to be in Hays, to me that would kind of narrow that field down."According to Scheibler, in order to drive an alternative vehicle in Dodge City or Garden City, including those from out of town, it must be registered with those cities.&nbsp;Berges also talked about possibly restricting the vehicles to certain hours on the streets or to certain months."We don't allow them in December and January when it's cold and snowy or maybe summer months when it's overly busy," he said.&nbsp;"I know a lot of people use side-by-sides for snow removal," said Mason Ruder, vice-mayor. "Yeah, I see people do that all the time," agreed Musil.The city should be able to put as many constraints on the alternative vehicles as commissioners desire, "as long as it doesn't conflict with state law," said Toby Dougherty, city manager.City staff is supporting an ordinance allowing such vehicles in Hays.&nbsp;Commissioners also heard details of a request for a transfer of mineral rights to Rich and Betty Wolf, a procedure City Attorney John Bird called a "bookkeeping matter."Several years ago the city acquired the right of way for the northeast portion of what would be the 260th&nbsp;Avenue and 41st Street intersection. Along with that acquisition came the mineral rights.&nbsp;The owners of the&nbsp;contiguous tract want to sell the property along with the mineral rights and have asked the&nbsp;city to deed those rights back to the adjacent property.According to Bird, the city has nearly no monetary interest in the mineral rights and would not lose the right of way if commissioners decided to return the mineral rights.Mayor Sandy Jacobs was absent from the meeting.Prior to the meeting, Ruder read a city proclamation signed by Jacobs in awareness of Child Abuse Prevention Month.

🎥 City commission needs more time to research alternative vehicles on streets

March is National Athletic Training Month, and March 2021 has been one of the busiest ever for athletic trainers at Fort Hays State University.

As primary care providers for FHSU student-athletes participating in varsity sports, athletic trainers (ATs) are responsible for the care of student-athletes in 16 men’s and women’s varsity sports. In addition to providing medical services for the 10 athletic teams that regularly compete during the spring semester, the eight-member AT staff along with the two-member AT faculty have also been busy caring for fall sports athletes whose seasons were pushed until this spring because of the coronavirus pandemic.

This year – like no other – the ATs have welcomed the help of athletic training students completing supervised clinical rotations.&nbsp;

“It’s definitely been all hands-on deck this semester,” said Dr. David Fitzhugh, director of the Athletic Training program. “Along with all the normal services for injury prevention and care, there have been COVID-19 testing protocols, contact tracing, quarantine/isolation monitoring, and extra cleaning procedures. With all the additional sports currently active – and extra responsibilities – this spring, we would be having a harder time getting everything done without our athletic training students’ contributions during their supervised rotations.”

Matt Harris, a junior from Wichita, is thankful for the additional educational opportunities.

“I appreciate getting to work with all sorts of athletes in a variety of sports,” Harris said. “Injuries are different for different sports, and the wide knowledge base of treating different injuries is invaluable.”

Harris, set to graduate with his bachelor’s degree in May 2022, has worked with the ATs in five different Tiger sports and has done a clinical rotation at a local high school as well. Even before the pandemic, Harris felt he was gaining some of the best real-life experiences available.

“The opportunities here at Fort Hays State have given me incredible hands-on experience,” Harris said. He gave as an example the difference between testing ligaments and muscles of his peers in a classroom setting to performing the same procedure on an injured athlete.

“It’s going to be a different scenario with every patient,” he said. “The opportunity to test a torn ligament on an injured athlete, as opposed to a ligament on a healthy classmate, helps our evaluation skills tremendously.”

The opportunity for hands-on experience early on in the program is what drew Josh Walker to FHSU.

Walker, a graduate student from Windsor, Colo., transferred to Fort Hay State from Brown Mackie College in Salina, and the AT program helped him fulfill his love of sports and a passion for helping others.

He earned his bachelor of science degree in athletic training in 2020 and is now pursuing his master’s in Health and Human Performance.&nbsp;

“I enjoy helping people, and this is a perfect mixture of helping someone while participating in sports in some way,” he said. “It’s really rewarding to watch athletes come back from injuries, knowing you helped them in some way to accomplish that goal of getting back into action.”

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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1617050776420.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU University RelationsMarch is National Athletic Training Month, and March 2021 has been one of the busiest ever for athletic trainers at Fort Hays State University.As primary care providers for FHSU student-athletes participating in varsity sports, athletic trainers (ATs) are responsible for the care of student-athletes in 16 men’s and women’s varsity sports. In addition to providing medical services for the 10 athletic teams that regularly compete during the spring semester, the eight-member AT staff along with the two-member AT faculty have also been busy caring for fall sports athletes whose seasons were pushed until this spring because of the coronavirus pandemic.This year – like no other – the ATs have welcomed the help of athletic training students completing supervised clinical rotations.&nbsp;“It’s definitely been all hands-on deck this semester,” said Dr. David Fitzhugh, director of the Athletic Training program. “Along with all the normal services for injury prevention and care, there have been COVID-19 testing protocols, contact tracing, quarantine/isolation monitoring, and extra cleaning procedures. With all the additional sports currently active – and extra responsibilities – this spring, we would be having a harder time getting everything done without our athletic training students’ contributions during their supervised rotations.”Matt Harris, a junior from Wichita, is thankful for the additional educational opportunities.“I appreciate getting to work with all sorts of athletes in a variety of sports,” Harris said. “Injuries are different for different sports, and the wide knowledge base of treating different injuries is invaluable.”Harris, set to graduate with his bachelor’s degree in May 2022, has worked with the ATs in five different Tiger sports and has done a clinical rotation at a local high school as well. Even before the pandemic, Harris felt he was gaining some of the best real-life experiences available.“The opportunities here at Fort Hays State have given me incredible hands-on experience,” Harris said. He gave as an example the difference between testing ligaments and muscles of his peers in a classroom setting to performing the same procedure on an injured athlete.“It’s going to be a different scenario with every patient,” he said. “The opportunity to test a torn ligament on an injured athlete, as opposed to a ligament on a healthy classmate, helps our evaluation skills tremendously.”The opportunity for hands-on experience early on in the program is what drew Josh Walker to FHSU.Walker, a graduate student from Windsor, Colo., transferred to Fort Hay State from Brown Mackie College in Salina, and the AT program helped him fulfill his love of sports and a passion for helping others.He earned his bachelor of science degree in athletic training in 2020 and is now pursuing his master’s in Health and Human Performance.&nbsp;“I enjoy helping people, and this is a perfect mixture of helping someone while participating in sports in some way,” he said. “It’s really rewarding to watch athletes come back from injuries, knowing you helped them in some way to accomplish that goal of getting back into action.”

National Athletic Training Month a busy one at Fort Hays State

TOPEKA — A web portal that allows a victim to file for a protection order online is now available in any county in Kansas.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://kansascourts.org/l/Hc3OWnllveXGnOokCxff6ASOnh7DHW5LIkZif6wsw7U" target="_blank">Kansas Protection Order Portal (KSPOP)</a>&nbsp;lets a person with a computer or smartphone complete the process to ask a judge to issue an order of protection from abuse, stalking, sexual assault, or human trafficking.

The Kansas judicial branch began testing the portal December 1 in Harvey, Johnson, and Riley counties. Ellis County joined the project March 1.

In fiscal year 2020, nearly 12,500 cases were filed in Kansas district courts by people seeking a protection order.

Many people who file for a protection order do so without help from an attorney, and they often visit a courthouse in person to fill out the forms to start the process. But a victim may not have a way to get to the courthouse, might live in a rural area far from the courthouse, or could feel unsafe leaving home.

"Access to justice is important, especially to someone who needs a protection order," said Amy Raymond, director of trial court programs for the Office of Judicial Administration (OJA). "The portal gives people another option to seek that protection order, and it’s one that’s easier to access for many people."

The portal does not replace existing ways to file for a protection order. A person can still go to a courthouse for the necessary forms or contact law enforcement.

Once on the portal, a person is asked questions and the answers are used to complete the forms a judge will review before deciding whether to issue the protection order. If the judge issues the order, it will be sent to the filer by email.

District court staff process the filings during regular business hours. A person needing immediate help must contact local law enforcement.

Lanna Nichols, whose court was part of the pilot project, believes the portal has improved people's access to the court system. She is court administrator for the 21st Judicial District, composed of Riley and Clay counties.

"No longer do victims seeking a protection order need to worry about bringing the children with them or trying to leave work early to get to the courthouse before we close," she said.

Nichols said 84 people in Riley County have used the portal since December 1. During the same time, 27 people have filed by visiting the courthouse in Manhattan.

The judicial branch created the portal in partnership with the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law. A Federal Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding Program grant was used to create the portal.

The judicial branch received an additional grant from the federal S.T.O.P. Violence Against Women Act, awarded through the Kansas governor's office. The additional grant will be used to:

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1617313168305.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>OJATOPEKA — A web portal that allows a victim to file for a protection order online is now available in any county in Kansas.The&nbsp;<a href="https://kansascourts.org/l/Hc3OWnllveXGnOokCxff6ASOnh7DHW5LIkZif6wsw7U" target="_blank">Kansas Protection Order Portal (KSPOP)</a>&nbsp;lets a person with a computer or smartphone complete the process to ask a judge to issue an order of protection from abuse, stalking, sexual assault, or human trafficking.The Kansas judicial branch began testing the portal December 1 in Harvey, Johnson, and Riley counties. Ellis County joined the project March 1.In fiscal year 2020, nearly 12,500 cases were filed in Kansas district courts by people seeking a protection order.Many people who file for a protection order do so without help from an attorney, and they often visit a courthouse in person to fill out the forms to start the process. But a victim may not have a way to get to the courthouse, might live in a rural area far from the courthouse, or could feel unsafe leaving home."Access to justice is important, especially to someone who needs a protection order," said Amy Raymond, director of trial court programs for the Office of Judicial Administration (OJA). "The portal gives people another option to seek that protection order, and it’s one that’s easier to access for many people."The portal does not replace existing ways to file for a protection order. A person can still go to a courthouse for the necessary forms or contact law enforcement.Online processOnce on the portal, a person is asked questions and the answers are used to complete the forms a judge will review before deciding whether to issue the protection order. If the judge issues the order, it will be sent to the filer by email.The portal also:<ul>
 <li>explains what is required to qualify for an order for protection from abuse, stalking, sexual assault, or human trafficking; </li><li>connects people with resources for emergency support, shelter, community assistance, advocacy support, and legal aid; and </li><li>includes a "safely exit" option for a person to quickly leave the site if the person's internet use is witnessed, discovered, or seen.</li>
 </ul>District court staff process the filings during regular business hours. A person needing immediate help must contact local law enforcement.Lanna Nichols, whose court was part of the pilot project, believes the portal has improved people's access to the court system. She is court administrator for the 21st Judicial District, composed of Riley and Clay counties."No longer do victims seeking a protection order need to worry about bringing the children with them or trying to leave work early to get to the courthouse before we close," she said.Nichols said 84 people in Riley County have used the portal since December 1. During the same time, 27 people have filed by visiting the courthouse in Manhattan.Grant fundingThe judicial branch created the portal in partnership with the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law. A Federal Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding Program grant was used to create the portal.The judicial branch received an additional grant from the federal S.T.O.P. Violence Against Women Act, awarded through the Kansas governor's office. The additional grant will be used to:<ul>
 <li>integrate the protection portal with the state's eCourt system, which will allow people who don't have an attorney to file legal forms electronically; </li><li>send automatic updates to filers by email or text message; </li><li>create a mobile app for the protection portal; </li><li>add instructions and forms in other languages to the protection portal; and </li><li>develop more self-guided interviews and instructions on the protection portal to help victims complete other legal forms and file certain legal actions.</li>
 </ul>

Implemented in Ellis Co., new Kan. Protection Order Portal available statewide

Court Appointed Special Advocates of the High Plains has appointed four new members to its board of directors.

They include Travis Phillips,&nbsp;Thelma Berland, Kristen Osborne and Marissa Lambert.

Travis Phillips, 52, of WaKeeney is a Kansas Highway Patrol trooper.

He has also served as a WaKeeney Lions Club member, WaKeeney FFA alumni board member, USD 208 Board of Education member and is a volunteer with the Ten33 foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides peer support stress mitigation training to fellow first responders.

"I want to make a difference in a child’s life," Phillips said. "Throughout my career I’ve witnessed the tragedies and heartbreak in children’s lives. I don’t &nbsp;just 'wish' I could help children in need, I actually want to help them and be a positive light in their lives."

Thelma Berland of rural Damar has been a speech-language pathologist for 25 years.&nbsp;

In addition to two school districts, she also serves a hospital and a nursing home. She has held many volunteer positions, including volunteering with Girl Scouts, cheerleading and her local Catholic youth group. 

CASA of the High PlainsCourt Appointed Special Advocates of the High Plains has appointed four new members to its board of directors.They include Travis Phillips,&nbsp;Thelma Berland, Kristen Osborne and Marissa Lambert.<h2>Travis Phillips</h2><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1617289660871.jpeg" alt="Travis Phillips" />
 <figcaption>Travis Phillips</figcaption>
 </figure>Travis Phillips, 52, of WaKeeney is a Kansas Highway Patrol trooper.He has also served as a WaKeeney Lions Club member, WaKeeney FFA alumni board member, USD 208 Board of Education member and is a volunteer with the Ten33 foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides peer support stress mitigation training to fellow first responders."I want to make a difference in a child’s life," Phillips said. "Throughout my career I’ve witnessed the tragedies and heartbreak in children’s lives. I don’t &nbsp;just 'wish' I could help children in need, I actually want to help them and be a positive light in their lives."<h2>Thelma Berland</h2><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1617220156427.jpeg" alt="Thelma Berland" />
 <figcaption>Thelma Berland</figcaption>
 </figure>Thelma Berland of rural Damar has been a speech-language pathologist for 25 years.&nbsp;In addition to two school districts, she also serves a hospital and a nursing home. She has held many volunteer positions, including volunteering with Girl Scouts, cheerleading and her local Catholic youth group. "I was thrilled to be offered the opportunity to serve on the CASA board. I have followed this organization for years and have been impressed with their mission," she said."I know my school career of service to parents and students is possibly coming to a close at some point, and the potential for continuing to serve children and families in need is very, very important to me," she said.She said she hopes, at some point, to train to be an advocate and transition to that position.<h2>Kristen Osborne</h2><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1617289700087.jpeg" alt="Kristen Osborne" />
 <figcaption>Kristen Osborne</figcaption>
 </figure>Kristen Osborne, 28, of Hays&nbsp;works for the Department for Children and Families doing vocational rehabilitation."I wanted to be a part of the CASA board after seeing what an impact the CASA volunteers and the CASA organization make for the youth they serve," Osborne said."Working in a children's psychiatric hospital for four years, I was able to see the connection and support a CASA volunteer can provide to a youth during a difficult time," she said. "I am passionate about advocating for others and making this world a little brighter through positive connections and relationships. I hope to be able to assist CASA in increasing the number of youth served."&nbsp;<h2>Marissa Lambert</h2><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1617289753277.jpeg" alt="Marissa Lambert." />
 <figcaption>Marissa Lambert.</figcaption>
 </figure>Marissa Lambert of Liebenthal is employed by Adams Brown Strategic Allies and CPAs.She was a past member of the USD 489 Foundation for Education Excellence board.If you are interested in serving on the CASA board or serving as the court appointed special advocate, you can call the local CASA office at 785-628-8641 or email&nbsp;<a href="mailto:casahighplains@kansascasa.org" target="_blank">casahighplains@kansascasa.org</a>.