RUSSELL — Bomgaars Supply Inc., a farm and ranch chain based in Sioux City, Iowa, recently purchased the former Shopko building in Russell.

Torrey Wingert, chief executive officer of Bomgaars, confirmed the purchase saying, “We look forward to providing our very popular lines of products to serve the people of this community.”

The 21,000-square-foot store is at 87 S. Fossil St. About 12 to 15 employees from the local area will be hired for a variety of positions. The store is scheduled to open for business in May. Store officials are hoping for a grand opening in June.

Major departments at all stores include lawn and garden plus nursery, footwear and clothing, farm, animal feed, pet, automotive, electrical, plumbing, hardware, housewares, and toys.

Some of the brand names the company offers in clothing include Wrangler, Carhartt, Under Armour, Columbia, Dickies, Ariat and Noble Outfitters.

Pet foods include Iams, Purina, Blue Buffalo, Wildology, Diamond and Science Diet.

Tool suppliers include DeWalt, Milwaukee, Irwin, Black Diamond and Stanley.

Automotive accessories, fluids and lubricants are well represented, along with a broad selection of Hutchison-Western gates, panels and wire.

In lawn and garden, items from Stihl, Echo, Troy-Bilt, Honda, Bonide, Scotts and Ortho are featured.&nbsp;

"Bomgaars has an excellent reputation throughout the area for its high-quality merchandise and first-rate service, along with competitive pricing on name brands chosen for reliability and value," a press release said.

Browse the website at <a href="http://www.bomgaars.com">www.bomgaars.com</a> for more information.

Bomgaars is a fourth-generation company, privately owned by Roger and Jane Bomgaars. The corporate office and distribution center is headquartered in Sioux City, Iowa, where the company originated in 1952.

During the past 69 years, Bomgaars has continually reinvested in the company to construct new buildings, enlarge or renovate existing ones and add locations as opportunities present themselves.

With 101 stores in Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, Minnesota, Colorado, Idaho, Wyoming and Kansas, the company employs about 2,700 people.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1617637873620.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>SubmittedRUSSELL — Bomgaars Supply Inc., a farm and ranch chain based in Sioux City, Iowa, recently purchased the former Shopko building in Russell.Torrey Wingert, chief executive officer of Bomgaars, confirmed the purchase saying, “We look forward to providing our very popular lines of products to serve the people of this community.”The 21,000-square-foot store is at 87 S. Fossil St. About 12 to 15 employees from the local area will be hired for a variety of positions. The store is scheduled to open for business in May. Store officials are hoping for a grand opening in June.Major departments at all stores include lawn and garden plus nursery, footwear and clothing, farm, animal feed, pet, automotive, electrical, plumbing, hardware, housewares, and toys.Some of the brand names the company offers in clothing include Wrangler, Carhartt, Under Armour, Columbia, Dickies, Ariat and Noble Outfitters.Pet foods include Iams, Purina, Blue Buffalo, Wildology, Diamond and Science Diet.Tool suppliers include DeWalt, Milwaukee, Irwin, Black Diamond and Stanley.Automotive accessories, fluids and lubricants are well represented, along with a broad selection of Hutchison-Western gates, panels and wire.In lawn and garden, items from Stihl, Echo, Troy-Bilt, Honda, Bonide, Scotts and Ortho are featured.&nbsp;"Bomgaars has an excellent reputation throughout the area for its high-quality merchandise and first-rate service, along with competitive pricing on name brands chosen for reliability and value," a press release said.Browse the website at <a href="http://www.bomgaars.com">www.bomgaars.com</a> for more information.Bomgaars is a fourth-generation company, privately owned by Roger and Jane Bomgaars. The corporate office and distribution center is headquartered in Sioux City, Iowa, where the company originated in 1952.During the past 69 years, Bomgaars has continually reinvested in the company to construct new buildings, enlarge or renovate existing ones and add locations as opportunities present themselves.With 101 stores in Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, Minnesota, Colorado, Idaho, Wyoming and Kansas, the company employs about 2,700 people.

Bomgaars Supply to open new store in Russell

Nymex settlement prices last week ranged from $59 to $61 per barrel. But light sweet crude ended the week just a dime higher than the week before, settling Thursday at $61.45 per barrel. In lunchtime trading Monday, the benchmark contract was down nearly five percent to $58 56 per barrel. London Brent dropped to $62.15. Some analysts are calling the selloff a delayed reaction to news last week that OPEC Plus will ease its self-imposed production cuts.&nbsp; Kansas Common crude at CHS in McPherson remains unchanged since Thursday due to the holiday, and started the week Monday at $51.75 per barrel.&nbsp; The average price for the month of March was just short of $52.89 a barrel, marking the best monthly average for Kansas Common in McPherson since April of 2019. U.S. crude production last year dropped by eight percent from the record high set the year before. As we've told you, the decrease last year was the largest annual decline in EIA records. But Kansas output dropped even more, down 17 percent from the previous year. Drilling down into the data offered in a new report from the Kansas Geological Survey, we find the local totals are also significantly lower. Barton County output averaged 3,787 barrels per day (bpd) last year, down from 4,459 bpd the year before. Ellis County pumped 5,990 bpd, down from 6,925 bpd in 2019. Russell County production dropped from 4,107 bpd in 2019 to 3,593 bpd last year. Stafford county dipped below one million barrels total production last year for the first time in decades. Average output fell to 2,488 bpd, from 2,848 bpd the year before. State regulators reported a small spike in drilling notices in March. The Kansas Corporation Commission reported 103 intent-to-drill notices statewide compared to just 31 the month before. That's 213 intents during the first three months of the year, compared to 171 during the first quarter of last year. The KCC notes one new intent in Barton County, three in Russell County and one in Stafford County.&nbsp; Overall drilling activity in Kansas through the first three months of the year is down by about half compared to the first quarter of last year.&nbsp; That's based on new wells spud in the state. During the first quarter of 2021, Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service reports 102 wells drilled to total depth. There are 18 active drilling rigs in Kansas, a 200% increase from a year ago. There are five active rigs in eastern Kansas, up four from the week before, and 13 west of Wichita, up two.&nbsp; Operators say they will soon spud a new well in Barton County. The weekly Rotary Rig Count from Baker Hughes rose to 430 Friday, an increase of 13 oil rigs. That's the largest jump since January 2020. The count in Texas was up four, New Mexico was up three, and Utah was up two. Kansas regulators approved seven new drilling permits last week, three in the eastern half of the state and four in Western Kansas, for a year-to-date total of 195 new permits. Out of 19 newly-completed wells in Kansas last week, Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service says 14 are in Western Kansas, including one in Barton County, two in Ellis county and two in Stafford County. Operators have completed 178 wells across Kansas so far this year. For the first time in over a month, weekly U.S. oil-by-rail traffic declined last week. The Association of American Railroads reports 10,694 tanker cars hauling petroleum during the week ended March 27, down 945 tankers from the week before, and a 4.8% drop from a year earlier. The government says U.S. crude-oil inventories decreased by 900,000 barrels last week. At nearly 502 million barrels, stockpiles are about six percent above the five-year seasonal average. U.S. crude production topped eleven million barrels per day for the first time since late January. The U.S. Energy Information Administration reports production of 11.145 million barrels per day for the week ending March 26. That's up 191,000 barrels per day from the week before, but down nearly two million barrels per day from last year at this time. U.S. crude-oil imports increased by half a million barrels per day last week. Over the past four weeks, imports were down more than nine percent from the same four-week period last year. Gasoline stockpiles were up 1.7 million barrels last week, and are about four percent below the five-year seasonal average. Triple-A says growing stockpiles and cheaper crude are putting downward pressure on pump prices, but not enough to report a steady trend just yet. The national average pump price on Monday (3/29) was lower than the average a week earlier for the first time since last November. Ships resumed transit through the Suez Canal last week, as port authorities braced for a flood of traffic that was diverted or delayed by that grounded container vessel. Authorities in the Canal Zone hoped to quickly clear the traffic jam, including a backlog of more than four hundred ships. Energy Giant Pioneer Natural Resources, announced another huge takeover deal. Two deals total $11 BILLION in cash, stock and debt to acquire competitors in the Permian Basin. Pioneer will buy DoublePoint Energy in a deal valued at $6.4 BILLION. The deal increases Pioneer's position to more than 1 million net acres, adding what the company called primarily undrilled new land.&nbsp; The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter. It would be Pioneer’s second big buy in just over six months, after announcing in October it would buy Parsley Energy for $4.5 billion. Tallgrass Pony Express Pipeline announced a binding open season looking for crude-oil shippers. They're offering volume incentive tariff rates to move crude some 830 miles from North Dakota, Wyoming and Colorado to Cushing, Oklahoma. Along the way the pipeline connects to refineries in McPherson and El Dorado, Kansas as well as Ponca City, Oklahoma. Tallgrass converted a 430-mile natural gas pipeline, and built another 260 miles of new pipe, to extend Pony Express through southern Kansas into Oklahoma.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1592847975802.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN P. TRETBARNymex settlement prices last week ranged from $59 to $61 per barrel. But light sweet crude ended the week just a dime higher than the week before, settling Thursday at $61.45 per barrel. In lunchtime trading Monday, the benchmark contract was down nearly five percent to $58 56 per barrel. London Brent dropped to $62.15. Some analysts are calling the selloff a delayed reaction to news last week that OPEC Plus will ease its self-imposed production cuts.&nbsp; Kansas Common crude at CHS in McPherson remains unchanged since Thursday due to the holiday, and started the week Monday at $51.75 per barrel.&nbsp; The average price for the month of March was just short of $52.89 a barrel, marking the best monthly average for Kansas Common in McPherson since April of 2019. U.S. crude production last year dropped by eight percent from the record high set the year before. As we've told you, the decrease last year was the largest annual decline in EIA records. But Kansas output dropped even more, down 17 percent from the previous year. Drilling down into the data offered in a new report from the Kansas Geological Survey, we find the local totals are also significantly lower. Barton County output averaged 3,787 barrels per day (bpd) last year, down from 4,459 bpd the year before. Ellis County pumped 5,990 bpd, down from 6,925 bpd in 2019. Russell County production dropped from 4,107 bpd in 2019 to 3,593 bpd last year. Stafford county dipped below one million barrels total production last year for the first time in decades. Average output fell to 2,488 bpd, from 2,848 bpd the year before. State regulators reported a small spike in drilling notices in March. The Kansas Corporation Commission reported 103 intent-to-drill notices statewide compared to just 31 the month before. That's 213 intents during the first three months of the year, compared to 171 during the first quarter of last year. The KCC notes one new intent in Barton County, three in Russell County and one in Stafford County.&nbsp; Overall drilling activity in Kansas through the first three months of the year is down by about half compared to the first quarter of last year.&nbsp; That's based on new wells spud in the state. During the first quarter of 2021, Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service reports 102 wells drilled to total depth. There are 18 active drilling rigs in Kansas, a 200% increase from a year ago. There are five active rigs in eastern Kansas, up four from the week before, and 13 west of Wichita, up two.&nbsp; Operators say they will soon spud a new well in Barton County. The weekly Rotary Rig Count from Baker Hughes rose to 430 Friday, an increase of 13 oil rigs. That's the largest jump since January 2020. The count in Texas was up four, New Mexico was up three, and Utah was up two. Kansas regulators approved seven new drilling permits last week, three in the eastern half of the state and four in Western Kansas, for a year-to-date total of 195 new permits. Out of 19 newly-completed wells in Kansas last week, Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service says 14 are in Western Kansas, including one in Barton County, two in Ellis county and two in Stafford County. Operators have completed 178 wells across Kansas so far this year. For the first time in over a month, weekly U.S. oil-by-rail traffic declined last week. The Association of American Railroads reports 10,694 tanker cars hauling petroleum during the week ended March 27, down 945 tankers from the week before, and a 4.8% drop from a year earlier. The government says U.S. crude-oil inventories decreased by 900,000 barrels last week. At nearly 502 million barrels, stockpiles are about six percent above the five-year seasonal average. U.S. crude production topped eleven million barrels per day for the first time since late January. The U.S. Energy Information Administration reports production of 11.145 million barrels per day for the week ending March 26. That's up 191,000 barrels per day from the week before, but down nearly two million barrels per day from last year at this time. U.S. crude-oil imports increased by half a million barrels per day last week. Over the past four weeks, imports were down more than nine percent from the same four-week period last year. Gasoline stockpiles were up 1.7 million barrels last week, and are about four percent below the five-year seasonal average. Triple-A says growing stockpiles and cheaper crude are putting downward pressure on pump prices, but not enough to report a steady trend just yet. The national average pump price on Monday (3/29) was lower than the average a week earlier for the first time since last November. Ships resumed transit through the Suez Canal last week, as port authorities braced for a flood of traffic that was diverted or delayed by that grounded container vessel. Authorities in the Canal Zone hoped to quickly clear the traffic jam, including a backlog of more than four hundred ships. Energy Giant Pioneer Natural Resources, announced another huge takeover deal. Two deals total $11 BILLION in cash, stock and debt to acquire competitors in the Permian Basin. Pioneer will buy DoublePoint Energy in a deal valued at $6.4 BILLION. The deal increases Pioneer's position to more than 1 million net acres, adding what the company called primarily undrilled new land.&nbsp; The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter. It would be Pioneer’s second big buy in just over six months, after announcing in October it would buy Parsley Energy for $4.5 billion. Tallgrass Pony Express Pipeline announced a binding open season looking for crude-oil shippers. They're offering volume incentive tariff rates to move crude some 830 miles from North Dakota, Wyoming and Colorado to Cushing, Oklahoma. Along the way the pipeline connects to refineries in McPherson and El Dorado, Kansas as well as Ponca City, Oklahoma. Tallgrass converted a 430-mile natural gas pipeline, and built another 260 miles of new pipe, to extend Pony Express through southern Kansas into Oklahoma.

News From the Oil Patch: Kan. March crude prices best in two years

The National Weather Service is warning of a chance of severe thunderstorms in western Kansas beginning early Tuesday evening.&nbsp;

The storms are expected to be isolated and occur between 4 p.m. and midnight east of a Hays-to-Dodge City-to-Greensburg line.

Wind of up to 65 mph and 2-inch hail could be possible, the NWS said.&nbsp;

In Ellis County, there is a 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms Tuesday night.

Wednesday is expected to bring more rain, as well, with a 50 percent chance of showers and winds gusting to more than 40 mph. Skies are expected to clear Wednesday evening.

Check Hays Post and stay tuned to your Eagle Radio of Hays stations for the latest on severe weather.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1617726501846.png" alt="Dodge City NWS" />
 <figcaption>Dodge City NWS</figcaption>
 </figure>The National Weather Service is warning of a chance of severe thunderstorms in western Kansas beginning early Tuesday evening.&nbsp;The storms are expected to be isolated and occur between 4 p.m. and midnight east of a Hays-to-Dodge City-to-Greensburg line.Wind of up to 65 mph and 2-inch hail could be possible, the NWS said.&nbsp;In Ellis County, there is a 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms Tuesday night.Wednesday is expected to bring more rain, as well, with a 50 percent chance of showers and winds gusting to more than 40 mph. Skies are expected to clear Wednesday evening.Check Hays Post and stay tuned to your Eagle Radio of Hays stations for the latest on severe weather.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1617726528206.png" alt="Goodland NWS" />
 <figcaption>Goodland NWS</figcaption>
 </figure>

NWS: Tuesday evening storms could bring large hail, strong wind

The City of Hays’ Department of Water Resources is looking for a dependable Maintenance Worker II to assist in providing reliable water and wastewater services to the citizens of Hays. Duties include manual labor, maintenance duties, pipe repairs, reading meters, equipment operations, snow removal and minor construction projects. &nbsp;

Working days include Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. This position is subject to call outs and may be required to work a flexible work schedule as needed. &nbsp;

Valid driver’s license required.&nbsp; Paid on-the-job training for the right candidate. A working knowledge of general construction, plumbing, and equipment required.&nbsp;

Exposure to hazardous chemicals, machinery, excessive noise and all types of weather conditions is expected. This position requires a CDL Class B and has a residency requirement of Ellis County within 6 months of employment.

Full Pay Range: $14.78 – $21.97. Starting wage based on experience.&nbsp; Guaranteed raises every year. The City of Hays offers great benefits including health insurance, KPERS, Paid Time Off &amp; Holidays. Visit <a href="http://www.haysusa.com">www.haysusa.com</a>/employment for more about the benefits.

Applications will be accepted in City Hall, 1507 Main, Hays, KS or online at <a href="http://www.haysusa.com">www.haysusa.com</a>/employment. Position opened until filled. Reviewing of applications will begin immediately. Questions about the position may be sent to Human Resources at <a href="mailto:hr@haysusa.com">hr@haysusa.com</a> or by calling 785-628-7320. EOE

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584721067731.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>MAINTENANCE WORKER IIThe City of Hays’ Department of Water Resources is looking for a dependable Maintenance Worker II to assist in providing reliable water and wastewater services to the citizens of Hays. Duties include manual labor, maintenance duties, pipe repairs, reading meters, equipment operations, snow removal and minor construction projects. &nbsp;Working days include Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. This position is subject to call outs and may be required to work a flexible work schedule as needed. &nbsp;REQUIREMENTSValid driver’s license required.&nbsp; Paid on-the-job training for the right candidate. A working knowledge of general construction, plumbing, and equipment required.&nbsp;Exposure to hazardous chemicals, machinery, excessive noise and all types of weather conditions is expected. This position requires a CDL Class B and has a residency requirement of Ellis County within 6 months of employment.COMPENSATIONFull Pay Range: $14.78 – $21.97. Starting wage based on experience.&nbsp; Guaranteed raises every year. The City of Hays offers great benefits including health insurance, KPERS, Paid Time Off &amp; Holidays. Visit <a href="http://www.haysusa.com">www.haysusa.com</a>/employment for more about the benefits.HOW TO APPLYApplications will be accepted in City Hall, 1507 Main, Hays, KS or online at <a href="http://www.haysusa.com">www.haysusa.com</a>/employment. Position opened until filled. Reviewing of applications will begin immediately. Questions about the position may be sent to Human Resources at <a href="mailto:hr@haysusa.com">hr@haysusa.com</a> or by calling 785-628-7320. EOE

Three-day weather outlook

A common disease of roses is blackspot, a fungus disease that can cause defoliation of susceptible plants. Look for dark, circular lesions with feathery edges on the top surface of the leaves and raised purple spots on young canes. Infected leaves will often yellow between spots and eventually drop. The infection usually starts on the lower leaves and works its way up the plant. Blackspot is most severe under conditions of high relative humidity (&gt;85%), warm temperatures (75 to 85 degrees F), and six or more hours of leaf wetness. Newly expanding leaves are most vulnerable to infection. The fungus can survive on fallen leaves or canes and is disseminated primarily by splashing water. &nbsp;Cultural practices are the first line of defense. 1. Don't plant susceptible roses unless you are willing to use fungicide sprays. Purdue University has a list of blackspot-resistant varieties. 2. Keep irrigation water off the foliage. Drip irrigation works well with roses. 3. Plant roses in sun in areas with good air movement to limit the amount of time the foliage is wet. 4. Remove diseased leaves that have fallen and prune out infected rose canes to minimize inoculum. If needed, protect foliage with a regular spray program (10- to 14-day schedule) of effective fungicides. Recommended fungicides include tebuconazole (BioAdvanced Disease Control for Roses, Flowers, and Shrubs, BioAdvanced All-In-One Rose &amp; Flower Care), myclobutanil (Immunox, F-Stop Lawn &amp; Garden Fungicide), and chlorothalonil (Broad Spectrum Lawn &amp; Garden Fungicide, Garden Disease Control, others). Lauren Fick is the Horticulture Extension Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District. If you have questions, she can be contacted by e-mail at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lfick@k-state.edu">lfick@k-state.edu</a>&nbsp;or by phone at 785-628-9430 or 620-793-1910.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1580750915301.jpeg" alt="Lauren Fick is the Horticulture Extension Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Lauren Fick is the Horticulture Extension Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>A common disease of roses is blackspot, a fungus disease that can cause defoliation of susceptible plants. Look for dark, circular lesions with feathery edges on the top surface of the leaves and raised purple spots on young canes. Infected leaves will often yellow between spots and eventually drop. The infection usually starts on the lower leaves and works its way up the plant. Blackspot is most severe under conditions of high relative humidity (&gt;85%), warm temperatures (75 to 85 degrees F), and six or more hours of leaf wetness. Newly expanding leaves are most vulnerable to infection. The fungus can survive on fallen leaves or canes and is disseminated primarily by splashing water. &nbsp;Cultural practices are the first line of defense. 1. Don't plant susceptible roses unless you are willing to use fungicide sprays. Purdue University has a list of blackspot-resistant varieties. 2. Keep irrigation water off the foliage. Drip irrigation works well with roses. 3. Plant roses in sun in areas with good air movement to limit the amount of time the foliage is wet. 4. Remove diseased leaves that have fallen and prune out infected rose canes to minimize inoculum. If needed, protect foliage with a regular spray program (10- to 14-day schedule) of effective fungicides. Recommended fungicides include tebuconazole (BioAdvanced Disease Control for Roses, Flowers, and Shrubs, BioAdvanced All-In-One Rose &amp; Flower Care), myclobutanil (Immunox, F-Stop Lawn &amp; Garden Fungicide), and chlorothalonil (Broad Spectrum Lawn &amp; Garden Fungicide, Garden Disease Control, others). Lauren Fick is the Horticulture Extension Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District. If you have questions, she can be contacted by e-mail at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lfick@k-state.edu">lfick@k-state.edu</a>&nbsp;or by phone at 785-628-9430 or 620-793-1910.&nbsp;

FICK: Blackspot of roses

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

The Hays Police Department has arrested a 14-year-old Hays Middle School student on a charge of criminal threat for a bomb threat made against the school on March 30.

A threat of a bomb inside of a school at 201 W. 29th was made to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation tip line on March 30.

A quick search by the KBI determined the only school in the state with that address was Hays Middle School.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/57b6a164-afae-4c68-902d-bf9625879cfb">SEE RELATED STORY: Hays Middle School placed on room hold after bomb threat</a>

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/4acda04e-a73a-4f70-9e8d-068816be73e2">SEE RELATED STORY: Hays USD 489: No explosives found; seeking information on the incident</a>

Kansas Highway Patrol bomb dogs, as well as other law enforcement, assisted in clearing the building that evening. No explosive devices were found.

The threat was tracked back to a school-issued device and then to the suspect. The suspect was arrested the day after the threat.

Hays Police Chief Don Scheibler said he was uncertain of the motivation behind the threat, but he believed it was meant as a prank.

The gender of the suspect was not released.

Scheibler thanked the district staff and administration, Hays Middle School staff, the USD 489 technology department, Ellis County Sheriff's Office, Kansas Bureau of Investigation and the Kansas Highway Patrol for their assistance in the case.

"The school district took the threat very seriously, and their plan worked very well,"&nbsp;Scheibler said. "They had a quick response. We want all of our community to feel safe, especially in our schools."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1617650812404.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostThe Hays Police Department has arrested a 14-year-old Hays Middle School student on a charge of criminal threat for a bomb threat made against the school on March 30.A threat of a bomb inside of a school at 201 W. 29th was made to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation tip line on March 30.A quick search by the KBI determined the only school in the state with that address was Hays Middle School.<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/57b6a164-afae-4c68-902d-bf9625879cfb">SEE RELATED STORY: Hays Middle School placed on room hold after bomb threat</a><a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/4acda04e-a73a-4f70-9e8d-068816be73e2">SEE RELATED STORY: Hays USD 489: No explosives found; seeking information on the incident</a>Kansas Highway Patrol bomb dogs, as well as other law enforcement, assisted in clearing the building that evening. No explosive devices were found.The threat was tracked back to a school-issued device and then to the suspect. The suspect was arrested the day after the threat.Hays Police Chief Don Scheibler said he was uncertain of the motivation behind the threat, but he believed it was meant as a prank.The gender of the suspect was not released.Scheibler thanked the district staff and administration, Hays Middle School staff, the USD 489 technology department, Ellis County Sheriff's Office, Kansas Bureau of Investigation and the Kansas Highway Patrol for their assistance in the case."The school district took the threat very seriously, and their plan worked very well,"&nbsp;Scheibler said. "They had a quick response. We want all of our community to feel safe, especially in our schools."

Arrest made in Hays Middle School bomb threat

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment on Monday reported that no new cases of VODI-19 were identified in Ellis County since Friday.

The last reported case was identified on March 31, the KDHE said.

<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 Monday, the&nbsp;University of Kansas Health System reported on active COVID-19 inpatient at HaysMed.

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/2021/4/1617643116976.png" alt="KDHE" />
 <figcaption>KDHE</figcaption>
 </figure>The Kansas Department of Health and Environment on Monday reported that no new cases of VODI-19 were identified in Ellis County since Friday.The last reported case was identified on March 31, the KDHE said.<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 Monday, the&nbsp;University of Kansas Health System reported on active COVID-19 inpatient at HaysMed.Since reporting began, there have been 3,722 cases of COVID-19 identified in Ellis County, including 73 coronavirus-related deaths.

KDHE: No new cases of COVID in Ellis Co. since March 31

On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times host Gary Shorman speaks with Shiloh Vineyard and Winery owner Kirk Johnston.

<div><iframe title="Forward Ever: Shiloh Vineyard and Winery owner Kirk Johnston" 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=58bdz-ffc8a1-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 Shiloh Vineyard and Winery owner Kirk Johnston.

🎤Forward Ever: Shiloh Vineyard and Winery owner Kirk Johnston

Hays USD 489 announced on social media Monday morning that Shawn Henderson has been chosen as the next principal of Hays High School starting with the 2021-2022 school year.

Henderson's contract was approved by the Hays school board in a special meeting Monday morning.

Henderson is replacing Martin Straub who is leaving the school district at the end of his contract this year.

Henderson is familiar to the Hays community as he served as the director of field experiences at FHSU, College of Education from 2015-2019. 

 Currently Henderson is the principal at Russell High School.

Henderson will bring lots of energy and enthusiasm and will continue to build on all the great things already established at HHS, the social media post said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1617632234685.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Hays USD 489 announced on social media Monday morning that Shawn Henderson has been chosen as the next principal of Hays High School starting with the 2021-2022 school year.Henderson's contract was approved by the Hays school board in a special meeting Monday morning.Henderson is replacing Martin Straub who is leaving the school district at the end of his contract this year.Henderson is familiar to the Hays community as he served as the director of field experiences at FHSU, College of Education from 2015-2019. Currently Henderson is the principal at Russell High School.Henderson will bring lots of energy and enthusiasm and will continue to build on all the great things already established at HHS, the social media post said.

USD 489 announces new HHS principal

The Fort Hays State University Moss-Thorns Gallery of Art is featuring its annual undergraduate honors art exhibition through April 16.

Three of the students whose art is featured in the exhibit will also received $1,000 scholarships.

Scholarship winner Haley Gottschalk, a senior in ceramics from Denver, Colo., creates a combination of ceramics, sculpture and 2-D work.&nbsp;

Most of her work for the show is sculpture depicting the female figure and empowerment. She said she is trying to portray different emotions and feelings through the figures and decorative elements.

She was honored with a scholarship for her ceramic figure titled "Vessel." It is a ceramic, stone body clay sculpture that she formed through coil-building.

"I wanted to capture a feeling of movement in the body," she said. "This is a self portrait, and I wanted to highlight power in the core. As an athlete, I have been very cognizant of my body and strengthening my core.

"I wanted to portray an emotion of openness or flexibility and that feeling when you have a really good stretch and it just takes over your body."

Gottschalk&nbsp;fired the piece using a saggar process. The smoke colors the piece in this process.&nbsp;

"It is kind of a risk in the&nbsp;saggar firing. You don't have any control over it. I was really happy on how the smoke turned out," she said. "It follows the curve of the body and accentuates some parts."

Madeleine Stegman, junior in sculpture from Lawrence, casts in bronze and works in iron.

She said she is inspired by nature. She uses the human form in many of her pieces—body parts and spines.

"Organic forms, shapes, the human body is beautiful to me," she said.&nbsp;

&nbsp;Her awarded-winning piece is titled "Perennial Metal," and has a floral theme.

Most of the piece is hand-forged steel with some cast aluminum.

"I was looking at a vase full of flowers, and I was thinking, 'These are beautiful, but they're just going to die,'" she said. "I wanted to capture flowers in a more permanent state. I also included honeycombs, which included the cycle of the flower's life in a ring."

Vanessa Guzman, freshman in graphic design from Goodland, won her scholarship for a ceramic mask titled "Wrath."

Guzman created the piece for her ceramics 1 class. She was inspired by tiki masks.

Although she is a graphic design major, she said her classwork this semester has urged her to reconsider her major. She said she enjoyed the hands-on work she did and will likely be switching her major to ceramics.

Colin Schmidtberger, director of Moss-Thorns Gallery, said the exhibit allows FHSU to showcase the work of undergraduates. The college brings in an outside juror for the show.

"This is one of my favorite shows that we put on here in the gallery," he said. "Showcasing all of the students here in the department, seeing every area of work, that part is really inviting for the entire show."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1617308348719.jpeg" alt="Scholarship winner&nbsp;Haley Gottschalk, a senior in ceramics, with her winning art piece "Vessel." The annual FHSU undergraduate honors art exhibition runs through April 16." />
 <figcaption>Scholarship winner&nbsp;Haley Gottschalk, a senior in ceramics, with her winning art piece "Vessel." The annual FHSU undergraduate honors art exhibition runs through April 16.</figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostThe Fort Hays State University Moss-Thorns Gallery of Art is featuring its annual undergraduate honors art exhibition through April 16.Ninety works are part of the exhibit.Three of the students whose art is featured in the exhibit will also received $1,000 scholarships.<h2>Haley Gottschalk</h2>Scholarship winner Haley Gottschalk, a senior in ceramics from Denver, Colo., creates a combination of ceramics, sculpture and 2-D work.&nbsp;Most of her work for the show is sculpture depicting the female figure and empowerment. She said she is trying to portray different emotions and feelings through the figures and decorative elements.She was honored with a scholarship for her ceramic figure titled "Vessel." It is a ceramic, stone body clay sculpture that she formed through coil-building."I wanted to capture a feeling of movement in the body," she said. "This is a self portrait, and I wanted to highlight power in the core. As an athlete, I have been very cognizant of my body and strengthening my core."I wanted to portray an emotion of openness or flexibility and that feeling when you have a really good stretch and it just takes over your body."Gottschalk&nbsp;fired the piece using a saggar process. The smoke colors the piece in this process.&nbsp;"It is kind of a risk in the&nbsp;saggar firing. You don't have any control over it. I was really happy on how the smoke turned out," she said. "It follows the curve of the body and accentuates some parts."<h2>Madeleine Stegman</h2><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1617308502057.jpeg" alt="Scholarship winner,&nbsp;Madeleine Stegman, junior in sculpture, with her award-winning piece&nbsp;"Perennial Metal."" />
 <figcaption>Scholarship winner,&nbsp;Madeleine Stegman, junior in sculpture, with her award-winning piece&nbsp;"Perennial Metal."</figcaption>
 </figure>Madeleine Stegman, junior in sculpture from Lawrence, casts in bronze and works in iron.She said she is inspired by nature. She uses the human form in many of her pieces—body parts and spines."Organic forms, shapes, the human body is beautiful to me," she said.&nbsp;&nbsp;Her awarded-winning piece is titled "Perennial Metal," and has a floral theme.Most of the piece is hand-forged steel with some cast aluminum."I was looking at a vase full of flowers, and I was thinking, 'These are beautiful, but they're just going to die,'" she said. "I wanted to capture flowers in a more permanent state. I also included honeycombs, which included the cycle of the flower's life in a ring."<h2>Vanessa Guzman</h2><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1617308628643.jpeg" alt="Scholarship winner Vanessa Guzman, freshman in graphic design, with her ceramic mask title "Wrath."" />
 <figcaption>Scholarship winner Vanessa Guzman, freshman in graphic design, with her ceramic mask title "Wrath."</figcaption>
 </figure>Vanessa Guzman, freshman in graphic design from Goodland, won her scholarship for a ceramic mask titled "Wrath."Guzman created the piece for her ceramics 1 class. She was inspired by tiki masks.Although she is a graphic design major, she said her classwork this semester has urged her to reconsider her major. She said she enjoyed the hands-on work she did and will likely be switching her major to ceramics.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1617308712749.jpeg" alt="The annual FHSU&nbsp;&nbsp;undergraduate honors art exhibition features 90 pieces this year." />
 <figcaption>The annual FHSU&nbsp;&nbsp;undergraduate honors art exhibition features 90 pieces this year.</figcaption>
 </figure>Colin Schmidtberger, director of Moss-Thorns Gallery, said the exhibit allows FHSU to showcase the work of undergraduates. The college brings in an outside juror for the show."This is one of my favorite shows that we put on here in the gallery," he said. "Showcasing all of the students here in the department, seeing every area of work, that part is really inviting for the entire show."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1617308784254.jpeg" alt="A metal sculpture by FHSU junior Madeleine Stegman" />
 <figcaption>A metal sculpture by FHSU junior Madeleine Stegman</figcaption>
 </figure>

FHSU's Moss-Thorns Gallery featuring undergraduate honors show

A group marched across the Fort Hays State University campus Thursday night to a Student Senate meeting to call for the college to better address issues of racism and inequality on campus.

"I want you to take a look behind me," said Demetrius Chance, leader of the march. "This is the voice of your marginalized students. We came together to say enough is enough. No longer will we stand in silence. No longer will we accept intolerable apprehension and anxiousness we feel being here at Fort Hays."&nbsp;

The group was made up of about 30 students and allies. Several students spoke to the Senate, addressing instances of racism and harassment that occurred on campus.

Chyler Backstrom, vice president of the Black Student Union and a Kansas Academy of Mathematics and Science student from Kansas City, Kan., said she did not intend to return to FHSU next semester because she felt unsafe at the school.

She urged the school to better address minority student safety on campus.

Backstrom told the Senate her fellow students had made multiple racist comments to her during her time at FHSU.

Backstrom related an instance in which a fellow black student was walking to her residence hall at night after work. A pickup stopped next to her, a man inside called her a racial slur and drove away.

"Nothing was done," she said. "The only piece of mind we have is that it could have been worse. He could have physically assaulted you, or worse we could have never seen or heard from you again."&nbsp;

Backstrom related the story of another minority student who was bullied to the point that she refused to leave her student housing and now is studying online far from Hays.

"How are we a family if many of us ... look behind me ... live in fear? How can we leave our rooms or be OK to get lunch or go eat?" Backstrom said. "I have to live in fear of what might happen to me. I have to chalk it up to 'at least it wasn't worse.'

"As I finish up my speech, I just want you to think about what can we do better," she said. "We are supposed to be a family, but we're not acting like it."

Danzel Major, president of the FHSU Black Student Union and a graduate student in psychology, also spoke to the Senate.

"One thing I have realized about this campus and this community is that no one listens," Major said. "When we say something that is happening to us that is negative, no one listens. Everyone is, 'Eh, well, that happens to everyone. Get over it.' For a lot of us students, we feel not heard."

Major said he the march Thursday night was an indication the college can make a cultural change.

"At the end of the day, if any of you have children who are biracial or part of the LGBT community or who are not a part of the normative group," Major said, "would you want your children to experience the things we've experienced ... that we have to be quiet about because if we talk we get in more trouble than the people who are doing the offensive things?"&nbsp;

Chance urged fellow students to report instances of racism or discrimination on campus to the administration.

Chance read a letter from an anonymous student about alleged racial discrimination and use of racial slurs he experienced as a member of the FHSU chapter of the Sigma Chi fraternity.

"During my tenure as a member, the chapter condoned racially derogatory language and other racially offensive stories and terms against people of the same ethnic background as I," the letter read.

He said in the letter he felt the chapter had "lost its way."

The Hays Post interviewed the student, who is no longer a member of the fraternity, after the march. He said he had been in contact with the national leadership of the fraternity and the also forwarded a letter about the racial issues to the college administration.

The student said the fraternity leadership told him they could do nothing to assist him. He said he was told the FHSU administration has been investigating the allegations.

A telephone message was left with the local chapter of the Sigma Chi fraternity Friday. That call was not returned as of the posting of this story.

"This is a demonstration of unity," Chance said of the march. "We're coming because we want to work with the university and with administration to change the culture, so I don't want anyone one to misconstrue that we are pointing fingers."

Scott Cason, FHSU chief communications officer, told the Hays Post Friday school administration will be meeting Monday to discuss next steps to address the students' concerns.

Student Senator Chris Crawford spoke to the Student Senate after the marchers' presentations and said he also has been a victim of racism on campus.

He suggested a position be created within student government to represent marginalized students on campus. This could include students of racial and ethnic minorities, students of the LGBTQ community, non-traditional students and international students.&nbsp;

"To reach our potential as a Senate and move as one unit, we must empathize with each other and understand our different experiences," Crawford said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1617381731094.jpeg" alt="A group of about 30 students and allies marched for equality Thursday night on the Fort Hays State University campus. Students who felt marginalized were asked to wear black. Allies were asked to wear white shirts." />
 <figcaption>A group of about 30 students and allies marched for equality Thursday night on the Fort Hays State University campus. Students who felt marginalized were asked to wear black. Allies were asked to wear white shirts.</figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostA group marched across the Fort Hays State University campus Thursday night to a Student Senate meeting to call for the college to better address issues of racism and inequality on campus."I want you to take a look behind me," said Demetrius Chance, leader of the march. "This is the voice of your marginalized students. We came together to say enough is enough. No longer will we stand in silence. No longer will we accept intolerable apprehension and anxiousness we feel being here at Fort Hays."&nbsp;The group was made up of about 30 students and allies. Several students spoke to the Senate, addressing instances of racism and harassment that occurred on campus.Chyler Backstrom, vice president of the Black Student Union and a Kansas Academy of Mathematics and Science student from Kansas City, Kan., said she did not intend to return to FHSU next semester because she felt unsafe at the school.She urged the school to better address minority student safety on campus.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1617392370515.jpeg" alt="Danzel Major, president of the FHSU Black Student Union, left, and&nbsp;Chyler Backstrom, vice president of the Black Student Union, right, speak to the FHSU Student Senate Thursday night about issues of racism and inequality on campus." />
 <figcaption>Danzel Major, president of the FHSU Black Student Union, left, and&nbsp;Chyler Backstrom, vice president of the Black Student Union, right, speak to the FHSU Student Senate Thursday night about issues of racism and inequality on campus.</figcaption>
 </figure>Backstrom told the Senate her fellow students had made multiple racist comments to her during her time at FHSU.Backstrom related an instance in which a fellow black student was walking to her residence hall at night after work. A pickup stopped next to her, a man inside called her a racial slur and drove away."Nothing was done," she said. "The only piece of mind we have is that it could have been worse. He could have physically assaulted you, or worse we could have never seen or heard from you again."&nbsp;Backstrom related the story of another minority student who was bullied to the point that she refused to leave her student housing and now is studying online far from Hays."How are we a family if many of us ... look behind me ... live in fear? How can we leave our rooms or be OK to get lunch or go eat?" Backstrom said. "I have to live in fear of what might happen to me. I have to chalk it up to 'at least it wasn't worse.'"As I finish up my speech, I just want you to think about what can we do better," she said. "We are supposed to be a family, but we're not acting like it."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1617392740811.jpeg" alt="Students taking part in an equality march on the FHSU campus Thursday night wait to listen to guest speakers address the Student Senate about issue of racism and inequality." />
 <figcaption>Students taking part in an equality march on the FHSU campus Thursday night wait to listen to guest speakers address the Student Senate about issue of racism and inequality.</figcaption>
 </figure>Danzel Major, president of the FHSU Black Student Union and a graduate student in psychology, also spoke to the Senate."One thing I have realized about this campus and this community is that no one listens," Major said. "When we say something that is happening to us that is negative, no one listens. Everyone is, 'Eh, well, that happens to everyone. Get over it.' For a lot of us students, we feel not heard."Major said he the march Thursday night was an indication the college can make a cultural change."At the end of the day, if any of you have children who are biracial or part of the LGBT community or who are not a part of the normative group," Major said, "would you want your children to experience the things we've experienced ... that we have to be quiet about because if we talk we get in more trouble than the people who are doing the offensive things?"&nbsp;Chance urged fellow students to report instances of racism or discrimination on campus to the administration.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1617393365416.jpeg" alt="Demetrius Chance, march organizer, center, reads a letter from a fellow student detailing allegations of racism within FHSU's chapter of the Sigma Chi fraternity." />
 <figcaption>Demetrius Chance, march organizer, center, reads a letter from a fellow student detailing allegations of racism within FHSU's chapter of the Sigma Chi fraternity.</figcaption>
 </figure>Chance read a letter from an anonymous student about alleged racial discrimination and use of racial slurs he experienced as a member of the FHSU chapter of the Sigma Chi fraternity."During my tenure as a member, the chapter condoned racially derogatory language and other racially offensive stories and terms against people of the same ethnic background as I," the letter read.He said in the letter he felt the chapter had "lost its way."The Hays Post interviewed the student, who is no longer a member of the fraternity, after the march. He said he had been in contact with the national leadership of the fraternity and the also forwarded a letter about the racial issues to the college administration.The student said the fraternity leadership told him they could do nothing to assist him. He said he was told the FHSU administration has been investigating the allegations.A telephone message was left with the local chapter of the Sigma Chi fraternity Friday. That call was not returned as of the posting of this story."This is a demonstration of unity," Chance said of the march. "We're coming because we want to work with the university and with administration to change the culture, so I don't want anyone one to misconstrue that we are pointing fingers."Scott Cason, FHSU chief communications officer, told the Hays Post Friday school administration will be meeting Monday to discuss next steps to address the students' concerns.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1617392936134.jpeg" alt="Student Senator Chris Crawford told the Senate Thursday night he had experienced instances of racism on the FHSU campus. He urged the Senate to create a special Senate seat for underrepresented students on campus." />
 <figcaption>Student Senator Chris Crawford told the Senate Thursday night he had experienced instances of racism on the FHSU campus. He urged the Senate to create a special Senate seat for underrepresented students on campus.</figcaption>
 </figure>Student Senator Chris Crawford spoke to the Student Senate after the marchers' presentations and said he also has been a victim of racism on campus.He suggested a position be created within student government to represent marginalized students on campus. This could include students of racial and ethnic minorities, students of the LGBTQ community, non-traditional students and international students.&nbsp;"To reach our potential as a Senate and move as one unit, we must empathize with each other and understand our different experiences," Crawford said.

FHSU marchers raise issues of racism, inequality

This past Tuesday, the Kansas House of Representatives debated and voted on Substitute House Bill 2397, which is the state budget for fiscal years 2021 and 2022 and some details for the 2023 and 2024 budgets.

Here are some of the details of the budget bill for fiscal years 2021 and 2022. In fiscal year 2021, there were adjustments made from the budget that was passed during last years legislative session. We also addressed some of the allotments that were made by Governor Kelly when the fiscal year began on July 1, 2020.

We addressed the needs of our nursing care facilities by adding additional funds for these facilities, which was needed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. We also included an increase in the daily reimbursement rates for the Community Based Services for the Intellectual/Developmental Disability waiver.

Due to the pandemic, our court system saw a reduction in revenue since most court proceedings did not happen, so we backfilled the lost revenue for the courts.

In fiscal year 2022, we had the same additional funding for the nursing care facilities. We also provided additional funding for the Senior Care Act to keep our senior citizens in their homes. We also did not reamortize the unfunded liability for KPERS. We also provided for a statewide program for the Dolly Parton Imagination Library.

There were two notable amendments during the debate. One, introduced by a Democrat member, was a 2% cut on State General Fund Spending in all areas, which passed and I voted, “yes.” The other was to add Medicaid Expansion in the Budget. This amendment failed because Medicaid Expansion is substantive legislation that should not be added to the budget since it is only valid for the years of the stated budgets and no additional funding in the out years was provided. I voted, “no.”

The budget bill passed, 71-52, and I voted, “yes.”

Since I returned home for the Easter break, I have received many calls, texts, and messages regarding the proposed Kansas Nebraska Heritage Area Partnership and an Executive Order by President Biden that is perceived as a land grab by the Federal Government. This would include twenty-five counties in Kansas, five of those counties are in the 109th House District.

The intended purpose of this order is to protect 30% of the US land and 30% of US oceans by 2030. After receiving these messages from many constituents, I have had discussions with both Governor Laura Kelly and US Senator Moran’s office. I have expressed my concern regarding the potential affects of this Executive Order and it is one I do not support. There was a meeting about a week ago in Mankato regarding this matter and another scheduled for April 11 in Vesper. I will continue to monitor the developments and work with Governor Kelly and Senator Moran.

This past week, the House debated nearly twenty-five bills before the Easter break. Here are some of the bills that we debated:

House Bill 2119, which includes the full funding for K-12 Education. This bill also includes the creation and expansion of school choice options.

Senate Bill 159 which is the standard Claims Against the State Bill, with the addition of a reimbursement to an individual for deer antlers.

House Substitute for Senate Bill 84 would incorporate changes with gaming in Kansas. This bill would allow for sports wagering in Kansas, implements iLottery, and allows for a revote in Sedgwick County for slot machines. This bill failed on the House Floor.

House Bill 2448 permits the Secretary for Children and Families to license certain family foster homes where a former foster care youth with juvenile adjudications resides.

We will be returning to Topeka on Tuesday and will be working with the Senate on bills, which are referred to as conference committees. During these meetings, the House and the Senate negotiate on the differences in the respective bills that passed each chamber. Once an agreement is made, then both chambers vote on the Conference Committee Report, and, if passed in both chambers, it will then go on to Governor Kelly to sign into law or veto. We are planned to adjourn April 9 and then return to what is referred to as veto-session on May 3.

Anytime that one would like to participate and listen to the developments of committee hearings or discussion on the House floor, one can tune in by listening to the audio footage at <a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/">www.kslegislature.org</a>.

As always, if you have any concerns, feel free to contact me (785) 296-7672, follow on twitter at @waymaster4house, or email me at troy.waymaster@house.ks.gov. Please contact me regarding any issues and legislation that we are discussing during session.

It is a distinct honor to serve as your representative for the 109th Kansas House District and the state of Kansas. Please contact me with your thoughts, concerns, and questions. I always appreciate hearing from the residents of the 109th House District and others from the state of Kansas, as well.

Troy L. Waymaster, R-Bunker Hill, is the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li_2020/s/pdf/district_maps/district_map_h_109.pdf">109th Kansas House District</a>&nbsp;state representative and chairman of the Appropriations Committee.&nbsp;

The 109th District includes&nbsp;Osborne, Russell, and Smith counties, and portions of Barton, Jewell, Lincoln and Rush counties.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1577788173848.jpeg" alt="Rep. Troy Waymaster, R-Bunker Hill, 109th Dist.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Rep. Troy Waymaster, R-Bunker Hill, 109th Dist.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>April 5, 2021Budget Passes the HouseThis past Tuesday, the Kansas House of Representatives debated and voted on Substitute House Bill 2397, which is the state budget for fiscal years 2021 and 2022 and some details for the 2023 and 2024 budgets.Here are some of the details of the budget bill for fiscal years 2021 and 2022. In fiscal year 2021, there were adjustments made from the budget that was passed during last years legislative session. We also addressed some of the allotments that were made by Governor Kelly when the fiscal year began on July 1, 2020.We addressed the needs of our nursing care facilities by adding additional funds for these facilities, which was needed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. We also included an increase in the daily reimbursement rates for the Community Based Services for the Intellectual/Developmental Disability waiver.Due to the pandemic, our court system saw a reduction in revenue since most court proceedings did not happen, so we backfilled the lost revenue for the courts.In fiscal year 2022, we had the same additional funding for the nursing care facilities. We also provided additional funding for the Senior Care Act to keep our senior citizens in their homes. We also did not reamortize the unfunded liability for KPERS. We also provided for a statewide program for the Dolly Parton Imagination Library.There were two notable amendments during the debate. One, introduced by a Democrat member, was a 2% cut on State General Fund Spending in all areas, which passed and I voted, “yes.” The other was to add Medicaid Expansion in the Budget. This amendment failed because Medicaid Expansion is substantive legislation that should not be added to the budget since it is only valid for the years of the stated budgets and no additional funding in the out years was provided. I voted, “no.”The budget bill passed, 71-52, and I voted, “yes.”30/30 Federal PlanSince I returned home for the Easter break, I have received many calls, texts, and messages regarding the proposed Kansas Nebraska Heritage Area Partnership and an Executive Order by President Biden that is perceived as a land grab by the Federal Government. This would include twenty-five counties in Kansas, five of those counties are in the 109th House District.The intended purpose of this order is to protect 30% of the US land and 30% of US oceans by 2030. After receiving these messages from many constituents, I have had discussions with both Governor Laura Kelly and US Senator Moran’s office. I have expressed my concern regarding the potential affects of this Executive Order and it is one I do not support. There was a meeting about a week ago in Mankato regarding this matter and another scheduled for April 11 in Vesper. I will continue to monitor the developments and work with Governor Kelly and Senator Moran.More Bills In the HouseThis past week, the House debated nearly twenty-five bills before the Easter break. Here are some of the bills that we debated:House Bill 2119, which includes the full funding for K-12 Education. This bill also includes the creation and expansion of school choice options.Senate Bill 159 which is the standard Claims Against the State Bill, with the addition of a reimbursement to an individual for deer antlers.House Substitute for Senate Bill 84 would incorporate changes with gaming in Kansas. This bill would allow for sports wagering in Kansas, implements iLottery, and allows for a revote in Sedgwick County for slot machines. This bill failed on the House Floor.House Bill 2448 permits the Secretary for Children and Families to license certain family foster homes where a former foster care youth with juvenile adjudications resides.We will be returning to Topeka on Tuesday and will be working with the Senate on bills, which are referred to as conference committees. During these meetings, the House and the Senate negotiate on the differences in the respective bills that passed each chamber. Once an agreement is made, then both chambers vote on the Conference Committee Report, and, if passed in both chambers, it will then go on to Governor Kelly to sign into law or veto. We are planned to adjourn April 9 and then return to what is referred to as veto-session on May 3.Contact InformationAnytime that one would like to participate and listen to the developments of committee hearings or discussion on the House floor, one can tune in by listening to the audio footage at <a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/">www.kslegislature.org</a>.As always, if you have any concerns, feel free to contact me (785) 296-7672, follow on twitter at @waymaster4house, or email me at troy.waymaster@house.ks.gov. Please contact me regarding any issues and legislation that we are discussing during session.It is a distinct honor to serve as your representative for the 109th Kansas House District and the state of Kansas. Please contact me with your thoughts, concerns, and questions. I always appreciate hearing from the residents of the 109th House District and others from the state of Kansas, as well.Troy L. Waymaster, R-Bunker Hill, is the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li_2020/s/pdf/district_maps/district_map_h_109.pdf">109th Kansas House District</a>&nbsp;state representative and chairman of the Appropriations Committee.&nbsp;The 109th District includes&nbsp;Osborne, Russell, and Smith counties, and portions of Barton, Jewell, Lincoln and Rush counties.&nbsp;

WAYMASTER: From the Dome to Home, April 5

First Adjournment is scheduled for Friday then we will be off for the remainder of April and back for the “veto” session beginning on May 2nd. We were on the floor last week passing both house and senate bills and this week we will have a number of conference committees; these are made up of select members of the house and senate to work out differences in bills and then both houses need to pass the bills for them to go on to the Governor for either signage or veto. Here are some of the things that happened last week”

On March 24th, the Governor announced her intent to issue another statewide mask mandate by Executive Order despite a decline in new COVID cases. The House responded quickly with passage of House Resolution 6015 on a vote of 84-39. The resolution urges the Legislative Coordinating Council (LCC) to revoke an Executive Order that mandates masks if the order is issued when the Legislature is adjourned. On April 1, less than a day after the Legislature adjourned for the Easter holiday, Governor Kelly issued EO 21-14, a new statewide mask mandate.

Senate Bill 40, which the Governor recently signed into law, grants the Legislature the authority to revoke Executive Orders while they are in session. However, when the Legislature is adjourned, that authority is granted to the LCC. The LCC met April 1 to review the 13 new executive orders issued by the Governor. The members of LCC voted 5-2 to revoke the order calling for a statewide mask mandate.

What’s this mean? Revoking the order will allow our local elected officials to continue to decide what’s best for our communities rather than forcing a one-size-fits-all approach across the state. Data shows the local approach has proven successful. In November, the Governor issued her last statewide mask mandate saying there was a “worrying spike” in cases. At that time, Kansas had 5,217 new cases and a 7-day average of 2,430 new cases. Recent numbers showed Kansas with only 36 new cases and a 7-day average of 216 cases.

Kansans have banded together for over a year to successfully reduce the spread of COVID – and they’ve done so during a time when most counties had opted out of the Governor’s mask mandate. With cases dropping and no data to support the need for another statewide mandate, the best approach has proven to be local control.

House Advances Full Funding for Schools, Support for At-Risk Learners

This past week the House debated House Bill 2119 regarding K-12 education. The bill contains full funding for our schools in compliance with the Kansas Supreme Court’s Gannon ruling and is identical to the school funding levels contained in the Governor’s Budget Report. The bill also contains funding for the School Safety and Security Grants and expansion of the Mental Health Intervention Team Pilot Program, both which were allotted by the Governor.

Additionally, HB 2119 creates more options for at-risk students and their families by creating Educational Savings Accounts and broadening the state’s existing Tax Credit Scholarship Program. These policy provisions are targeted at helping at-risk learners – no matter where they live - access added opportunities so they can bridge academic achievement gaps.

HB 2119 now goes to the Senate for consideration in the budget conference process.

This K-12 budget bill does little for our school districts in the 110th legislative district, but I did support it as it provided full funding that was in the Governor’s budget. The conference committee will work on an agreement as the house and senate versions are quite a bit different.

I have received a few emails and calls about HB 2119 and would be glad to discuss it and explain why I voted the way I did. In the legislative process there is back and forth and much of the time the first version of a bill is no where near what the final bill is.

Tax Cuts for Families, Small Businesses Heads to Governor’s Desk

In 2017, the federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was signed into law, which provided tax relief to American families and businesses. While this legislation brought American workers bigger paychecks, enhanced economic opportunity, and yielded historic job growth, Kansans experienced an unintended tax increase. Kansas is a “rolling conformity” state, so federal tax changes are adopted automatically, which resulted in an unintended tax increase. Senate Bill 50 provides Kansans with the tax relief that was intended by the federal Act. This week, the Legislature sent this bill to the Governor’s desk.

In addition to remedying the unintended tax increase, the bill also:

• Increases the standard deductions for all Kansans.

• Allows individuals and small businesses the option to itemize on their state tax returns regardless of whether they itemize on their federal tax return.

• Levels the playing field for Kansas brick-and-mortar businesses by requiring online retailers who are located out-of-state to remit sales tax to the state on purchases ordered for delivery to Kansas.

• Protects victims of identity theft from owing Kansas income tax on unemployment compensation that was fraudulently obtained by another individual.

Many states across the country have had to change their tax codes similarly in the wake of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Texas, North Carolina, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Connecticut are among the states – like Kansas – that realized their laws needed to be changed so taxpayers would not be penalized because of federal changes in tax policy.

Governor Kelly has previously used her veto power to prevent tax relief for Kansans - HB 2033 (2020) and SB 22 (2019). With Senate Bill 50, the governor has a new opportunity to bring our state in line with other states, giving taxpayers in Kansas access to the same tax benefits as taxpayers in other states.

This is another bill where the house and senate versions are quite a bit different, but many parts of this bill have been discussed for three sessions.

The House advanced its budget bill, House Bill 2397, this week. The bill includes:

• Reducing the size of government, with a 2 percent across-the-board cut.

• Rejecting the Governor’s policy recommendation for reamortizing KPERS. The Governor’s budget would create $4.6 billion in debt in exchange for $158 million to finance her budget.

• Restoring cuts to critical programs, including $42.2 million for the Evidence-Based Juvenile Programs. These programs help keep Kansas children out of incarceration and in the community receiving services from programs with proven results. The Governor’s recommendation was to make cuts to these programs.

• Restoring funding for a provider reimbursement rate increase for those who care for some of our most vulnerable citizens, those on the Medicaid Home and Community Based Services Intellectual/Developmental Disability (HCBS I/DD) waiver. The Governor cut this item.

• Increasing funding support to nursing home facilities, continuing the rate increase that was put in place due to the COVID pandemic.

• Helping keep Kansas courts open and funded by replacing lost fee fund revenue, which was not received during closures resulting from the COVID pandemic.

• Providing additional funds for the Board of Regents, including funding for deferred maintenance, refunding classes previously offered as in-person, and continuing support for technical education.

• Supporting Kansas seniors with increased funding for the Kansas Senior Care Act.

• Prioritizing mental health services, with additional funding for the Community Mental Health Center grants.

• Fully financing the funding needs of the Children’s Health Insurance Program. The Governor did not allocate the additional $19 million needed for the program.

The budget now goes to the Senate for its consideration and will likely be in Conference Committee next week to reconcile the House and Senate budget bills. It will be interesting to see what the final version is. We will get a better idea when the consensus revenue numbers are released later this month.

Extending Telemedicine Practices, Business &amp; Healthcare Liability Protections

At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, out-of-state physicians were authorized to help treat Kansans via telemedicine through the issuance of an emergency license to practice medicine. On Tuesday, the legislature passed House Bill 283, effectively extending that authorization to practice via telemedicine by one year, expiring on March 31, 2022.

The bill also extends immunity to liability related to COVID-19 for Kansas businesses and healthcare providers through March 31, 2022, given that they have taken reasonable steps to prevent the sprea d of COVID.

Had the Legislature not acted on this bill, these provisions would have expired on March 31.

If you would like to contact me: my office is still located in Room: 149-S. My phone number is (785) 296- 7463 and email is: ken.rahje@house.ks.gov and you can always try my cell number at (785) 302-8416. When you call or write you might hear from Terry Bernatis, my assistant during the session.

It is my honor to be your representative.

Ken Rahjes, R-Agra, is the Kansas state representative of the 110th Dist. House District 110 includes:&nbsp; Norton and Phillips Counties Ellis County: Cities: Catharine, Ellis and Schoenchen;&nbsp;Townships: Big Creek(part), Buckeye, Catherine, Ellis, Herzog(part),&nbsp;Lookout(part) and Wheatland(part) Graham County: City: Hill City;&nbsp;Townships: Hill City(part) and Nicodemus(part) Rooks County: Cities: Damar, Palco, Plainville,&nbsp;Stockton, Woodston and Zurich

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1581437228209.jpeg" alt="Rep. Ken Rahjes, R-Agra, 110th Dist." />
 <figcaption>Rep. Ken Rahjes, R-Agra, 110th Dist.</figcaption>
 </figure>4-5-21Hello from Topeka. First Adjournment is scheduled for Friday then we will be off for the remainder of April and back for the “veto” session beginning on May 2nd. We were on the floor last week passing both house and senate bills and this week we will have a number of conference committees; these are made up of select members of the house and senate to work out differences in bills and then both houses need to pass the bills for them to go on to the Governor for either signage or veto. Here are some of the things that happened last week”Protecting Local Control on MasksOn March 24th, the Governor announced her intent to issue another statewide mask mandate by Executive Order despite a decline in new COVID cases. The House responded quickly with passage of House Resolution 6015 on a vote of 84-39. The resolution urges the Legislative Coordinating Council (LCC) to revoke an Executive Order that mandates masks if the order is issued when the Legislature is adjourned. On April 1, less than a day after the Legislature adjourned for the Easter holiday, Governor Kelly issued EO 21-14, a new statewide mask mandate.Senate Bill 40, which the Governor recently signed into law, grants the Legislature the authority to revoke Executive Orders while they are in session. However, when the Legislature is adjourned, that authority is granted to the LCC. The LCC met April 1 to review the 13 new executive orders issued by the Governor. The members of LCC voted 5-2 to revoke the order calling for a statewide mask mandate.What’s this mean? Revoking the order will allow our local elected officials to continue to decide what’s best for our communities rather than forcing a one-size-fits-all approach across the state. Data shows the local approach has proven successful. In November, the Governor issued her last statewide mask mandate saying there was a “worrying spike” in cases. At that time, Kansas had 5,217 new cases and a 7-day average of 2,430 new cases. Recent numbers showed Kansas with only 36 new cases and a 7-day average of 216 cases.Kansans have banded together for over a year to successfully reduce the spread of COVID – and they’ve done so during a time when most counties had opted out of the Governor’s mask mandate. With cases dropping and no data to support the need for another statewide mandate, the best approach has proven to be local control.House Advances Full Funding for Schools, Support for At-Risk LearnersThis past week the House debated House Bill 2119 regarding K-12 education. The bill contains full funding for our schools in compliance with the Kansas Supreme Court’s Gannon ruling and is identical to the school funding levels contained in the Governor’s Budget Report. The bill also contains funding for the School Safety and Security Grants and expansion of the Mental Health Intervention Team Pilot Program, both which were allotted by the Governor.Additionally, HB 2119 creates more options for at-risk students and their families by creating Educational Savings Accounts and broadening the state’s existing Tax Credit Scholarship Program. These policy provisions are targeted at helping at-risk learners – no matter where they live - access added opportunities so they can bridge academic achievement gaps.HB 2119 now goes to the Senate for consideration in the budget conference process.This K-12 budget bill does little for our school districts in the 110th legislative district, but I did support it as it provided full funding that was in the Governor’s budget. The conference committee will work on an agreement as the house and senate versions are quite a bit different.I have received a few emails and calls about HB 2119 and would be glad to discuss it and explain why I voted the way I did. In the legislative process there is back and forth and much of the time the first version of a bill is no where near what the final bill is.Tax Cuts for Families, Small Businesses Heads to Governor’s DeskIn 2017, the federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was signed into law, which provided tax relief to American families and businesses. While this legislation brought American workers bigger paychecks, enhanced economic opportunity, and yielded historic job growth, Kansans experienced an unintended tax increase. Kansas is a “rolling conformity” state, so federal tax changes are adopted automatically, which resulted in an unintended tax increase. Senate Bill 50 provides Kansans with the tax relief that was intended by the federal Act. This week, the Legislature sent this bill to the Governor’s desk.In addition to remedying the unintended tax increase, the bill also:• Increases the standard deductions for all Kansans.• Allows individuals and small businesses the option to itemize on their state tax returns regardless of whether they itemize on their federal tax return.• Levels the playing field for Kansas brick-and-mortar businesses by requiring online retailers who are located out-of-state to remit sales tax to the state on purchases ordered for delivery to Kansas.• Protects victims of identity theft from owing Kansas income tax on unemployment compensation that was fraudulently obtained by another individual.Many states across the country have had to change their tax codes similarly in the wake of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Texas, North Carolina, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Connecticut are among the states – like Kansas – that realized their laws needed to be changed so taxpayers would not be penalized because of federal changes in tax policy.Governor Kelly has previously used her veto power to prevent tax relief for Kansans - HB 2033 (2020) and SB 22 (2019). With Senate Bill 50, the governor has a new opportunity to bring our state in line with other states, giving taxpayers in Kansas access to the same tax benefits as taxpayers in other states.This is another bill where the house and senate versions are quite a bit different, but many parts of this bill have been discussed for three sessions.House Advances BudgetThe House advanced its budget bill, House Bill 2397, this week. The bill includes:• Reducing the size of government, with a 2 percent across-the-board cut.• Rejecting the Governor’s policy recommendation for reamortizing KPERS. The Governor’s budget would create $4.6 billion in debt in exchange for $158 million to finance her budget.• Restoring cuts to critical programs, including $42.2 million for the Evidence-Based Juvenile Programs. These programs help keep Kansas children out of incarceration and in the community receiving services from programs with proven results. The Governor’s recommendation was to make cuts to these programs.• Restoring funding for a provider reimbursement rate increase for those who care for some of our most vulnerable citizens, those on the Medicaid Home and Community Based Services Intellectual/Developmental Disability (HCBS I/DD) waiver. The Governor cut this item.• Increasing funding support to nursing home facilities, continuing the rate increase that was put in place due to the COVID pandemic.• Helping keep Kansas courts open and funded by replacing lost fee fund revenue, which was not received during closures resulting from the COVID pandemic.• Providing additional funds for the Board of Regents, including funding for deferred maintenance, refunding classes previously offered as in-person, and continuing support for technical education.• Supporting Kansas seniors with increased funding for the Kansas Senior Care Act.• Prioritizing mental health services, with additional funding for the Community Mental Health Center grants.• Fully financing the funding needs of the Children’s Health Insurance Program. The Governor did not allocate the additional $19 million needed for the program.The budget now goes to the Senate for its consideration and will likely be in Conference Committee next week to reconcile the House and Senate budget bills. It will be interesting to see what the final version is. We will get a better idea when the consensus revenue numbers are released later this month.Extending Telemedicine Practices, Business &amp; Healthcare Liability ProtectionsAt the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, out-of-state physicians were authorized to help treat Kansans via telemedicine through the issuance of an emergency license to practice medicine. On Tuesday, the legislature passed House Bill 283, effectively extending that authorization to practice via telemedicine by one year, expiring on March 31, 2022.The bill also extends immunity to liability related to COVID-19 for Kansas businesses and healthcare providers through March 31, 2022, given that they have taken reasonable steps to prevent the sprea d of COVID.Had the Legislature not acted on this bill, these provisions would have expired on March 31.If you would like to contact me: my office is still located in Room: 149-S. My phone number is (785) 296- 7463 and email is: ken.rahje@house.ks.gov and you can always try my cell number at (785) 302-8416. When you call or write you might hear from Terry Bernatis, my assistant during the session.It is my honor to be your representative.Ken Rahjes, R-Agra, is the Kansas state representative of the 110th Dist. House District 110 includes:&nbsp; Norton and Phillips Counties Ellis County: Cities: Catharine, Ellis and Schoenchen;&nbsp;Townships: Big Creek(part), Buckeye, Catherine, Ellis, Herzog(part),&nbsp;Lookout(part) and Wheatland(part) Graham County: City: Hill City;&nbsp;Townships: Hill City(part) and Nicodemus(part) Rooks County: Cities: Damar, Palco, Plainville,&nbsp;Stockton, Woodston and Zurich

RAHJES REPORT: April 5 

Voice of the Indians Dustin Armbruster sits down with Dustin Dreher, Hays High School baseball coach, on the eve of the 2021 season.

<figure>
 <iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NBlHqIlL33A"></iframe>
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Voice of the Indians Dustin Armbruster sits down with Dustin Dreher, Hays High School baseball coach, on the eve of the 2021 season.

🎥 'Second-first-year' head coach talks Hays High baseball

Our friends from other states tease us “flatlanders” about riding our tandem bike in Kansas.&nbsp; Obviously, they have never traveled to the northwest part of Barton county and other parts of the state. I also like to point out that we may not have as many hills but we have lots of wind!&nbsp; So far, this spring has been full of windy days so we plan our rides to head in to the wind first and then enjoy a tailwind on the way home. &nbsp;

As part of the Be Well Barton County task force we are happy to report that bike sharrows have been freshly applied on parts of Patton Road and Broadway, with more planned. Some bright signage with bicycles on them, are well placed to remind drivers of the importance of sharing the road. A special thanks to Jason Cauley, and the city street department in Great Bend, for these improvements. When I am in Hays, where our other District Extension Office is located, I see sharrows and designated bike lanes throughout the town. Now we just need motorists and bicyclists to pay attention to the rules of the road to prevent accidents.

This is a great time to encourage safe bicycling so keep reading for some important reminders. &nbsp;

Many parents ask at what age a child is old enough to ride in the street rather than a neighborhood sidewalk.&nbsp; There isn’t a one-size-fits-all age.&nbsp; A child’s maturity level is the main factor.&nbsp; Other factors are:&nbsp; the size of the community, traffic patterns and congestion, and whether it is a residential area or a business district.&nbsp; A smaller community can seem peaceful and safe, but may have periods when safety is compromised – for example, after a ball game, during a community festival, or at harvest time.

Our Great Bend Pilot club is teaming up with my husband, John, and me to produce a short bicycle safety video that will be shared with area schools before the school year ends. Pilot club has provided many helmets for youngsters in our community since they have a special interest in preventing head injuries among young riders.

	Now go out and enjoy this beautiful spring weather with a family bike ride!

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1593016082485.png" alt="Donna Krug is the District Director and Family &amp; Consumer Science Agent with K-State Research &amp; Extension – Cottonwood District.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Donna Krug is the District Director and Family &amp; Consumer Science Agent with K-State Research &amp; Extension – Cottonwood District.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>Our friends from other states tease us “flatlanders” about riding our tandem bike in Kansas.&nbsp; Obviously, they have never traveled to the northwest part of Barton county and other parts of the state. I also like to point out that we may not have as many hills but we have lots of wind!&nbsp; So far, this spring has been full of windy days so we plan our rides to head in to the wind first and then enjoy a tailwind on the way home. &nbsp;As part of the Be Well Barton County task force we are happy to report that bike sharrows have been freshly applied on parts of Patton Road and Broadway, with more planned. Some bright signage with bicycles on them, are well placed to remind drivers of the importance of sharing the road. A special thanks to Jason Cauley, and the city street department in Great Bend, for these improvements. When I am in Hays, where our other District Extension Office is located, I see sharrows and designated bike lanes throughout the town. Now we just need motorists and bicyclists to pay attention to the rules of the road to prevent accidents.This is a great time to encourage safe bicycling so keep reading for some important reminders. &nbsp;<ul>
 <li>Consider a helmet a necessity, rather than an extra. Without a helmet, riders who sustain an injury are 14 times more likely to become a fatality.&nbsp; Choose one that meets or exceeds safety standards established by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.&nbsp; Make sure the helmet fits, rather than one a child will grow into.&nbsp; Replace the helmet if an accident occurs or if the helmet is badly jarred or cracked.</li><li>Ride with the traffic, rather than facing the traffic.&nbsp; Consider adding a rear-view mirror to your bicycle gear.&nbsp; I have one that attaches to my helmet so I can constantly monitor the traffic behind us.</li><li>Obey traffic signals just like motor vehicles.&nbsp; Use hand signals to let others know your intentions.</li><li>Stay alert and keep your mind on your riding.&nbsp; This should be the same advice for many people in cars.&nbsp; Too many times we have been in close calls with drivers who are on cell phones or just inattentive to the traffic around them.</li>
 </ul>Many parents ask at what age a child is old enough to ride in the street rather than a neighborhood sidewalk.&nbsp; There isn’t a one-size-fits-all age.&nbsp; A child’s maturity level is the main factor.&nbsp; Other factors are:&nbsp; the size of the community, traffic patterns and congestion, and whether it is a residential area or a business district.&nbsp; A smaller community can seem peaceful and safe, but may have periods when safety is compromised – for example, after a ball game, during a community festival, or at harvest time.Our Great Bend Pilot club is teaming up with my husband, John, and me to produce a short bicycle safety video that will be shared with area schools before the school year ends. Pilot club has provided many helmets for youngsters in our community since they have a special interest in preventing head injuries among young riders.	Now go out and enjoy this beautiful spring weather with a family bike ride!Donna Krug is the District Director and Family &amp; Consumer Science Agent with K-State Research &amp; Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at: (620) 793-1910 or <a href="mailto:dkrug@ksu.edu">dkrug@ksu.edu</a>

KRUG: Bicycle safety revisited

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

<div><iframe title="Brief Space; area businesses exploring a return to normal operations" 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=k4ydd-ff9891-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><a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/5dd2f46c897d147ad4bb104b">To find out more about The Post Podcast, or subscribe to mobile&nbsp;</a><a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/5dd2f46c897d147ad4bb104b">notifications click here.</a>