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🎙 Post Podcast: Ellis County completes election canvas

The Fort Hays State University campus came back to life last week for the fall semester. After five months of empty parking lots, it was hard to find an open parking spot around the residence halls once the move-in process began last week. Over several days, nearly 1,300 students moved into campus housing for a fall term that began today.

The rapid spread of the COVID-19 pandemic led to the departure of nearly all FHSU students living in campus residence halls in late March. The university also canceled several summer youth camps that typically used university residence hall space to house campers.

Move-in day at FHSU this fall was much different than in previous years.

“I think people understand that we need to do things a little different this year,” said Dave Bollig, director of Residential Life. “We had to make sure that throughout the move-in process we consistently followed university safety protocols for COVID-19, including social distancing, the wearing of face coverings and taking the time to frequently wash our hands and disinfect high-touch areas in the residence halls.”

Students were emailed half-hour time slots to move into their hall. In the past, students could move in anytime during a four-hour time slot.

This year’s process worked so well that Bollig is considering following a similar format next year.

“The feedback has been really positive,” he said. “There didn’t seem to be as big of rush as in the past.”

Scott Grider, a newcomer to campus, was pleased with the process.

“At first, I thought the time frame wasn’t going to be long enough,” said Grider, a freshman from Halstead, who moved into McMindes Hall. “But everything ran so smoothly, we had plenty of time.”

Grider said he was especially pleased with how helpful everyone was, from the Residential Life staff to campus police officers directing traffic.

“The officers out on the street helped out a whole lot, showing us where to park,” he said.

After getting settled into his room, Grider went for a walk and slipped into Forsyth Library to ask for help trying to find Tiger Tech, which happens to be located in nearby Tomanek Hall.

“They were so helpful,” he said, “and that sure made me feel more comfortable.”

Ashley Achilles also moved into McMindes, preparing for her second year at Fort Hays State. A sophomore economics major from McPherson, Achilles lives on the Honors College floor. She said her move-in experience was a lot less hectic than a year ago.

“This is a really good idea, spreading everyone out,” Achilles said. “It was just a lot less crowded, and you didn’t have to wait on carts to carry your belongings to your room.”

Normally, volunteers from several offices around campus help during move-in days in a variety of ways. This year, Bollig limited the list of workers to the Residential Life staff.

“While we appreciate the help, it made more sense to limit the number of people with students moving in this year,” Bollig said. “But it still ran very smoothly. We were definitely pleased.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597758045466.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU University RelationsThe Fort Hays State University campus came back to life last week for the fall semester. After five months of empty parking lots, it was hard to find an open parking spot around the residence halls once the move-in process began last week. Over several days, nearly 1,300 students moved into campus housing for a fall term that began today.The rapid spread of the COVID-19 pandemic led to the departure of nearly all FHSU students living in campus residence halls in late March. The university also canceled several summer youth camps that typically used university residence hall space to house campers.Move-in day at FHSU this fall was much different than in previous years.“I think people understand that we need to do things a little different this year,” said Dave Bollig, director of Residential Life. “We had to make sure that throughout the move-in process we consistently followed university safety protocols for COVID-19, including social distancing, the wearing of face coverings and taking the time to frequently wash our hands and disinfect high-touch areas in the residence halls.”Students were emailed half-hour time slots to move into their hall. In the past, students could move in anytime during a four-hour time slot.This year’s process worked so well that Bollig is considering following a similar format next year.“The feedback has been really positive,” he said. “There didn’t seem to be as big of rush as in the past.”Scott Grider, a newcomer to campus, was pleased with the process.“At first, I thought the time frame wasn’t going to be long enough,” said Grider, a freshman from Halstead, who moved into McMindes Hall. “But everything ran so smoothly, we had plenty of time.”Grider said he was especially pleased with how helpful everyone was, from the Residential Life staff to campus police officers directing traffic.“The officers out on the street helped out a whole lot, showing us where to park,” he said.After getting settled into his room, Grider went for a walk and slipped into Forsyth Library to ask for help trying to find Tiger Tech, which happens to be located in nearby Tomanek Hall.“They were so helpful,” he said, “and that sure made me feel more comfortable.”Ashley Achilles also moved into McMindes, preparing for her second year at Fort Hays State. A sophomore economics major from McPherson, Achilles lives on the Honors College floor. She said her move-in experience was a lot less hectic than a year ago.“This is a really good idea, spreading everyone out,” Achilles said. “It was just a lot less crowded, and you didn’t have to wait on carts to carry your belongings to your room.”Normally, volunteers from several offices around campus help during move-in days in a variety of ways. This year, Bollig limited the list of workers to the Residential Life staff.“While we appreciate the help, it made more sense to limit the number of people with students moving in this year,” Bollig said. “But it still ran very smoothly. We were definitely pleased.”

Fort Hays State campus springs back to life

HAYS – The reality of no traditional fall football season is
starting to sink in for Fort Hays State head football coach Chris Brown. And
while he would rather be preparing his team for a big season opening showdown
with Northwest Missouri State, the Tigers 10th year head coach knows Friday’s
decision by the MIAA to suspend all fall sports until January 1st is probably
the right decision.

“It’s really about the safety of our players and the safety
of our coaches and even the fans that come and watch us.” Brown said Tuesday in
an interview for the “Defend the Fort” Podcast.

“It’s a part of the life that we live right now. It’s
adversity, and we try to teach our players to overcome adversity and that’s
exactly what we’re going to do right here.”

When the NCAA canceled Division II fall sports championships
several weeks they also changed many of their health standards and protocols
from recommendations to requirements. And while playing this fall was left to
each conference, the new requirements were impossible for more small schools to
meet.

Some of the requirements have been eased making practice
this fall much more likely. 

Brown knows his team will still have to meet both the NCAA
and local health standards but is eager to get his team back on the field in
any capacity.

“There’s no doubt in my mind we’re going to find a way to
get these kids better.” Brown said. “It might be more Zoom meetings but we’re
going to learn our offense, we’re going to learn our defense and we’re going to
learn our special teams and our kids are going to get better through this
process.”

Brown guided the Tigers to back-to-back MIAA titles in 2017
and 2018 and trips to the playoffs both seasons then followed that up with an 8-3
campaign last year. Now he’s hoping a global pandemic doesn’t slow the momentum
they’ve gained.

“It’s different, but we’ve got to make the most of this
situation and look at it as a positive light and go forward. We’ve got to
continue to work. We can’t feel sorry for ourselves. Life threw us a curve ball
and we’ve got to hit it out of the park and get this thing done.” Brown said.

As for the possibility of playing in the spring, Brown says
he keeps going back and forth.

“I want to do what’s best for the kids and if I can get our
seniors an extra year to play all 11 games and have a chance at the playoffs
that’s what I’d really like to do.”

“Maybe this spring we’re able to do some scrimmages or
something like that against some other teams but not count against us for the
season, or do we just to do two spring balls, one in the fall and one in the
spring and get ready for the (2021) fall.

HAYS – The reality of no traditional fall football season is
starting to sink in for Fort Hays State head football coach Chris Brown. And
while he would rather be preparing his team for a big season opening showdown
with Northwest Missouri State, the Tigers 10th year head coach knows Friday’s
decision by the MIAA to suspend all fall sports until January 1st is probably
the right decision.“It’s really about the safety of our players and the safety
of our coaches and even the fans that come and watch us.” Brown said Tuesday in
an interview for the “Defend the Fort” Podcast.<div><iframe title="Chris Brown" height="122" width="100%" style="border: none;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/media/player/gnhxs-e7996f?from=pb6admin&download=1&version=1&auto=0&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Helvetica&skin=1&pfauth=&btn-skin=102"></iframe></div>“It’s a part of the life that we live right now. It’s
adversity, and we try to teach our players to overcome adversity and that’s
exactly what we’re going to do right here.”When the NCAA canceled Division II fall sports championships
several weeks they also changed many of their health standards and protocols
from recommendations to requirements. And while playing this fall was left to
each conference, the new requirements were impossible for more small schools to
meet.Some of the requirements have been eased making practice
this fall much more likely. Brown knows his team will still have to meet both the NCAA
and local health standards but is eager to get his team back on the field in
any capacity.“There’s no doubt in my mind we’re going to find a way to
get these kids better.” Brown said. “It might be more Zoom meetings but we’re
going to learn our offense, we’re going to learn our defense and we’re going to
learn our special teams and our kids are going to get better through this
process.”Brown guided the Tigers to back-to-back MIAA titles in 2017
and 2018 and trips to the playoffs both seasons then followed that up with an 8-3
campaign last year. Now he’s hoping a global pandemic doesn’t slow the momentum
they’ve gained.“It’s different, but we’ve got to make the most of this
situation and look at it as a positive light and go forward. We’ve got to
continue to work. We can’t feel sorry for ourselves. Life threw us a curve ball
and we’ve got to hit it out of the park and get this thing done.” Brown said.As for the possibility of playing in the spring, Brown says
he keeps going back and forth.“I want to do what’s best for the kids and if I can get our
seniors an extra year to play all 11 games and have a chance at the playoffs
that’s what I’d really like to do.”“Maybe this spring we’re able to do some scrimmages or
something like that against some other teams but not count against us for the
season, or do we just to do two spring balls, one in the fall and one in the
spring and get ready for the (2021) fall.

Brown tries to stay positive despite no football season

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

ELLIS — Vandals almost permanently destroyed a beloved Ellis landmark, but the community of Ellis has rallied to save and beautify part of its history.

The Ellis Railroad Museum is nearing the completion of a two-year $250,000 improvement project.

"The city's history is tied to the railroad," said Pauleen Edmonds, president of the Community Foundation of Ellis. "Ellis would not be here if it wasn't for the railroad."

Two years ago, the mini passenger train that runs around the museum grounds, 911 Washington, was seriously vandalized. The one-third scale replica of GM’s 1950s Aerotrain train provides leisure rides a three-quarter mile-long track.&nbsp;

There are only four other mini-trains like the one in Ellis in the United States.

The mini-train, which has been at the museum for 28 years, has long been a popular part of Ellis community events including the annual Polar Express during the Christmas holiday season.

"We could tell the passion of the people&nbsp; in town and how upset they became when they heard the mini-train had been vandalized and it would not be able to operate until it got fixed, so that is why we took on this project," Edmonds said.

The Community Foundation of Ellis began fundraising to fix and restore the train as well as build a storage building in which the train could be secured. They dubbed the effort the Little Engine That Could Project.

Edmonds explained the importance of the railroad history to Ellis.

The Kansas Pacific Railway needed a water station as it moved west. The railroad built a water station on the present site of Ellis in 1867, purchasing the site under the Homestead Act. Ellis was an ideal location because of it location near Big Creek.

In 1870,&nbsp; the U.S. Postal Service opened an Ellis office. The Kansas Pacific laid out Ellis in 1873, establishing a depot, a crew hotel, and locomotive and car shops.&nbsp;Settlers from New York and Kentucky arrived to work for the Kansas Pacific.&nbsp;

The family of Walter P. Chrysler of Chrysler car fame settled in Ellis because of the railroad. Walter's father was a machinist for the railroad and this may have sparked young Walter's interest in mechanics.

Ellis was eventually chosen as the division point between the Union Pacific Kansas Division and Colorado Division.&nbsp;Train engineers also settled in community.

&nbsp;By 1886, Bukovina Germans had started settling in the area and by January 1888, Ellis was incorporated as a city, according to the Railroad Museum's website.

Artist Dennis Schiel of Hays was commissioned to paint three murals for the museum. Schiel has painted murals across the region, including the murals on the sides of the Fox Theater and VFW in Hays.

A mural that will be placed on the inside of the train building depicts the history of Ellis, including some of the historical buildings linked to the railroad that are no longer standing, Edmonds said. 

One mural on the exterior of the train building will depict other sites of importance in Ellis. The other will promote the Railroad Museum.

The mural on the interior of the train building is finished and is waiting to be hung once the building is painted. The exterior murals are still in progress.

"We want to make sure we are portraying and keeping vital the history of the railroad,"Edmonds said.

The first phase of the project to fix the mini-train involved fixing windows and mechanical issues on the engine including the air brakes.&nbsp;

The foundation also decided to make sure the engine and all of the cars received a new paint job. One of the three cars has yet to be painted, and likely won't be finished until after this year's Polar Express event.

The foundation needs to raise about $8,000 to finish the restoration of the last car.

Because of the restoration project, the train has been out of commission for a year. The train only began to run again earlier this month.

The storage building was built with a platform from which train riders can enter the train. This includes a wheelchair ramp for access to the train's accessible car.&nbsp;

The storage building was also built to allow workers to have easy access to the train for maintenance purposes, Edmonds said.

Work on the mini-train tracks is also scheduled. Ties need to be replaced and some spikes.

The museum restoration project also will include new landscaping, benches and outdoor historical markers that will be available to visitors even when the museum is not open.

The foundation also paid for repainting the caboose that is located on the museum property.

The final phase of the project is a restoration of the museum's depot, which&nbsp;was brought to Ellis from Penokee many years ago. This will include painting the depot, replacing the shingles and gutters and building foundation work.

The Community Foundation of Ellis was the recipient of a $12,500 grant from the Union Pacific Foundation to restore the depot.&nbsp;

Earlier on, the campaign received $40,000 for the Dane G. Hansen Foundation, $7,300 from the Heartland Foundation, $1,000 from Midwest Energy, $1,000 from Equity Bank and $500 from Golden Belt Telephone. CCR &amp; Landscaping donated in-kind services to the project.

Funds are still needed to finish the project. Edmonds said the foundation has raised about 82 percent of the total funds needed for the entire Little Engine That Could Project. 

Interested donors can call 785-726-2660 or visit the E<a href="https://www.facebook.com/CommunityFoundationofEllis">llis Community Foundation on Facebook</a> for more information. Checks can be mailed to the foundation at 820 Washington, Ellis, KS 67637. Note on the check funds are for the Railroad Museum project.&nbsp;

Edmonds said she hoped the project, which she thinks will enhance tourism in the community, will be complete by the end of the year.

"We are really lucky here in Ellis to have three very important museums — The&nbsp;Bukovina, Walter P. Chrysler and the Railroad Museum. This was very important to restore the museum," Edmonds said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597695572967.jpeg" alt="The Ellis Railroad Museum is nearing completion of the restoration at the museum, including its mini-train. Photo by Alex Begler/Courtesy Photo" />
 <figcaption>The Ellis Railroad Museum is nearing completion of the restoration at the museum, including its mini-train. Photo by Alex Begler/Courtesy Photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostELLIS — Vandals almost permanently destroyed a beloved Ellis landmark, but the community of Ellis has rallied to save and beautify part of its history.The Ellis Railroad Museum is nearing the completion of a two-year $250,000 improvement project."The city's history is tied to the railroad," said Pauleen Edmonds, president of the Community Foundation of Ellis. "Ellis would not be here if it wasn't for the railroad."Two years ago, the mini passenger train that runs around the museum grounds, 911 Washington, was seriously vandalized. The one-third scale replica of GM’s 1950s Aerotrain train provides leisure rides a three-quarter mile-long track.&nbsp;There are only four other mini-trains like the one in Ellis in the United States.The mini-train, which has been at the museum for 28 years, has long been a popular part of Ellis community events including the annual Polar Express during the Christmas holiday season."We could tell the passion of the people&nbsp; in town and how upset they became when they heard the mini-train had been vandalized and it would not be able to operate until it got fixed, so that is why we took on this project," Edmonds said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597694239334.jpeg" alt="The new storage building for the mini-train. Photo by James Bell/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>The new storage building for the mini-train. Photo by James Bell/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>The Community Foundation of Ellis began fundraising to fix and restore the train as well as build a storage building in which the train could be secured. They dubbed the effort the Little Engine That Could Project.Edmonds explained the importance of the railroad history to Ellis.The Kansas Pacific Railway needed a water station as it moved west. The railroad built a water station on the present site of Ellis in 1867, purchasing the site under the Homestead Act. Ellis was an ideal location because of it location near Big Creek.In 1870,&nbsp; the U.S. Postal Service opened an Ellis office. The Kansas Pacific laid out Ellis in 1873, establishing a depot, a crew hotel, and locomotive and car shops.&nbsp;Settlers from New York and Kentucky arrived to work for the Kansas Pacific.&nbsp;The family of Walter P. Chrysler of Chrysler car fame settled in Ellis because of the railroad. Walter's father was a machinist for the railroad and this may have sparked young Walter's interest in mechanics.Ellis was eventually chosen as the division point between the Union Pacific Kansas Division and Colorado Division.&nbsp;Train engineers also settled in community.&nbsp;By 1886, Bukovina Germans had started settling in the area and by January 1888, Ellis was incorporated as a city, according to the Railroad Museum's website.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597696075504.jpeg" alt="Artist Dennis Schiel sharing his talent with fourth-sixth graders. Panels depicting the Ellis' railroad history will soon be installed in the museum's new mini-train building. Photo courtesy of Community Foundation of Ellis" />
 <figcaption>Artist Dennis Schiel sharing his talent with fourth-sixth graders. Panels depicting the Ellis' railroad history will soon be installed in the museum's new mini-train building. Photo courtesy of Community Foundation of Ellis</figcaption>
 </figure>Artist Dennis Schiel of Hays was commissioned to paint three murals for the museum. Schiel has painted murals across the region, including the murals on the sides of the Fox Theater and VFW in Hays.A mural that will be placed on the inside of the train building depicts the history of Ellis, including some of the historical buildings linked to the railroad that are no longer standing, Edmonds said. One mural on the exterior of the train building will depict other sites of importance in Ellis. The other will promote the Railroad Museum.The mural on the interior of the train building is finished and is waiting to be hung once the building is painted. The exterior murals are still in progress."We want to make sure we are portraying and keeping vital the history of the railroad,"Edmonds said.The first phase of the project to fix the mini-train involved fixing windows and mechanical issues on the engine including the air brakes.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597694227320.jpeg" alt="Another Dennis Schiel being painted on the exterior of the new mini-train building. Photo by James Bell/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Another Dennis Schiel being painted on the exterior of the new mini-train building. Photo by James Bell/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>The foundation also decided to make sure the engine and all of the cars received a new paint job. One of the three cars has yet to be painted, and likely won't be finished until after this year's Polar Express event.The foundation needs to raise about $8,000 to finish the restoration of the last car.Because of the restoration project, the train has been out of commission for a year. The train only began to run again earlier this month.The storage building was built with a platform from which train riders can enter the train. This includes a wheelchair ramp for access to the train's accessible car.&nbsp;The storage building was also built to allow workers to have easy access to the train for maintenance purposes, Edmonds said.Work on the mini-train tracks is also scheduled. Ties need to be replaced and some spikes.The museum restoration project also will include new landscaping, benches and outdoor historical markers that will be available to visitors even when the museum is not open.The foundation also paid for repainting the caboose that is located on the museum property.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597695858212.png" alt="The&nbsp;Penokee depot, which is set to be restored as part of the Ellis Railroad Museum restoration project. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>The&nbsp;Penokee depot, which is set to be restored as part of the Ellis Railroad Museum restoration project. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>The final phase of the project is a restoration of the museum's depot, which&nbsp;was brought to Ellis from Penokee many years ago. This will include painting the depot, replacing the shingles and gutters and building foundation work.The Community Foundation of Ellis was the recipient of a $12,500 grant from the Union Pacific Foundation to restore the depot.&nbsp;Earlier on, the campaign received $40,000 for the Dane G. Hansen Foundation, $7,300 from the Heartland Foundation, $1,000 from Midwest Energy, $1,000 from Equity Bank and $500 from Golden Belt Telephone. CCR &amp; Landscaping donated in-kind services to the project.Funds are still needed to finish the project. Edmonds said the foundation has raised about 82 percent of the total funds needed for the entire Little Engine That Could Project. Interested donors can call 785-726-2660 or visit the E<a href="https://www.facebook.com/CommunityFoundationofEllis">llis Community Foundation on Facebook</a> for more information. Checks can be mailed to the foundation at 820 Washington, Ellis, KS 67637. Note on the check funds are for the Railroad Museum project.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597694169241.jpeg" alt="The Union Pacific caboose was also painted as part of the&nbsp; Little Engine That Could Project.&nbsp;Photo by James Bell/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>The Union Pacific caboose was also painted as part of the&nbsp; Little Engine That Could Project.&nbsp;Photo by James Bell/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>Edmonds said she hoped the project, which she thinks will enhance tourism in the community, will be complete by the end of the year."We are really lucky here in Ellis to have three very important museums — The&nbsp;Bukovina, Walter P. Chrysler and the Railroad Museum. This was very important to restore the museum," Edmonds said.

Ellis Railroad Museum nears completion of renovation project

Kansas Common crude at CHS in McPherson starts the week at $32.25 per barrel after dropping 25 cents on Friday. That's 75 cents a barrel more than a week earlier, and a dollar seventy-five higher than at the beginning of the month, but about 13 dollars a barrel less than a year ago. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service reports the statewide rig count in Kansas is unchanged from a week ago, up 25% from a month ago, but down 71% from last year at this time.&nbsp; Operators reached total depth on a well in Stafford County with evaluation to follow, and completion activity is underway at a pair of leases in Ellis County.&nbsp; Baker Hughes reports 244 active drilling rigs across the U.S., showing four fewer oil rigs that last week's report. The count in Texas was down four rigs. Exploration in the U.S. oil patch has reached a 15-year low, but Bloomberg says the number of active oil rigs last week reached its lowest level since 1940. Weekly Baker Hughes rig counts have consistently dropped for the last four and a half months. Regulators approved just two new drilling permits in Kansas last week, one in eastern Kansas, and one in the western half of the state. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service reports ten newly-completed wells across Kansas last week, three of them east of Wichita, and seven in Western Kansas including one dry hole in Russell County. Operators have completed 597 wells in the Sunflower State so far this year, compared to 924 at this time last year. Triple A says weekly gasoline prices were slightly cheaper in some places, but steady in most parts of the country, with a national average Thursday of $2.17 per gallon. The average across the Sunflower State was just over $1.96. We spotted $1.95 across Hays Thursday and $1.94 in Great Bend. Your 15-gallon fill-up will cost you about the same as last week, half a dollar less than last month, and five dollars less than last year at this time. The government says U.S. crude-oil inventories dropped by nearly five million barrels last week.&nbsp; At just over 514 million barrels, domestic stockpiles are about 15% above the five-year seasonal average. The Energy Information Administration reported a big drop in U.S. crude production last week, but says much of that is due to benchmarking adjustments made as the agency compares its surveys to other data each month. Domestic crude output totaled just over 10.7 million barrels per day, down nearly 300,000 barrels per day from the week before. This month's re-benchmarking reduced that figure by three percent of the total. Over the last four weeks, U.S. crude-oil imports averaged 20% less than the same period last year. For the week ending August 7, we imported 5.6 million barrels per day, down 389,000 barrels per day from the week before. Oil by rail shipments increased last week by 11% over the week before, but remain about 16% behind the totals at this time last year, according to weekly numbers from the Association of American Railroads. The broader rail freight industry remains about six percent behind last year's totals. An industry group says total oilfield service job-losses caused by the pandemic are approaching 100,000. The Petroleum Equipment and Services Association says total pink slips jumped 43% from June to July. According to the report, oilfield service employment is down more than 118,000 jobs since July of last year, and has reached its lowest level since March 2017. The Energy Information Administration says exports of Liquefied Natural Gas, or LNG, fell to less than half of the record levels reached in January. Industry press reports note the recent cancellation of at least 75 LNG shipping cargoes originally scheduled for export in August and September.&nbsp; Global oil demand won’t return to 2019 levels until at least 2022 and the gap may be getting wider than it seemed a month ago. All three of the world’s main oil forecasting agencies—the International Energy Agency, the U.S. Energy Information Administration and the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries -- published new quarterly forecasts last week and none project oil demand back at 2019 levels by the end of next year. In it's Monthly Oil Market Report, The OPEC cartel again revised downward its forecast for global economic growth this year, citing additional impact from the pandemic.&nbsp; The closely watched report predicts continuing weak demand for transportation fuels for the rest of this year. The report said international crude futures prices and spot prices rose in July for the third month in a row.&nbsp; The U.S. government now predicts rising oil prices for the rest of this year, with the average throughout the third and fourth quarters reaching $43 a barrel. In its monthly Short Term Energy Outlook, the Energy Information Administration predicts prices will average $50 a barrel next year. EIA estimates that liquid fuels consumption in the second quarter of this year dropped 20% from the same figure a year ago. June crude-oil output increased in North Dakota, the second-biggest producer in the U.S. The Department of Mineral Resources reports production in June increased about 60,000 barrels over May's total. Operators in North Dakota pumped more than 890,000 barrels per day in June. That's a little over half of the all-time high posted last November. International watchdogs are worried about a new high-tech tactic designed to evade sanctions against Iran. Authorities say more than a dozen supertanker operators are now manipulating Automatic Identification Systems data, so that it shows a vessel in one place when it is actually in another. Lloyd's List reports authorities have de-flagged at least four ships after satellite images showed them taking on crude oil from Iran, while the tracking system showed them a hundred miles away.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1592847975802.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Kansas Common crude at CHS in McPherson starts the week at $32.25 per barrel after dropping 25 cents on Friday. That's 75 cents a barrel more than a week earlier, and a dollar seventy-five higher than at the beginning of the month, but about 13 dollars a barrel less than a year ago. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service reports the statewide rig count in Kansas is unchanged from a week ago, up 25% from a month ago, but down 71% from last year at this time.&nbsp; Operators reached total depth on a well in Stafford County with evaluation to follow, and completion activity is underway at a pair of leases in Ellis County.&nbsp; Baker Hughes reports 244 active drilling rigs across the U.S., showing four fewer oil rigs that last week's report. The count in Texas was down four rigs. Exploration in the U.S. oil patch has reached a 15-year low, but Bloomberg says the number of active oil rigs last week reached its lowest level since 1940. Weekly Baker Hughes rig counts have consistently dropped for the last four and a half months. Regulators approved just two new drilling permits in Kansas last week, one in eastern Kansas, and one in the western half of the state. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service reports ten newly-completed wells across Kansas last week, three of them east of Wichita, and seven in Western Kansas including one dry hole in Russell County. Operators have completed 597 wells in the Sunflower State so far this year, compared to 924 at this time last year. Triple A says weekly gasoline prices were slightly cheaper in some places, but steady in most parts of the country, with a national average Thursday of $2.17 per gallon. The average across the Sunflower State was just over $1.96. We spotted $1.95 across Hays Thursday and $1.94 in Great Bend. Your 15-gallon fill-up will cost you about the same as last week, half a dollar less than last month, and five dollars less than last year at this time. The government says U.S. crude-oil inventories dropped by nearly five million barrels last week.&nbsp; At just over 514 million barrels, domestic stockpiles are about 15% above the five-year seasonal average. The Energy Information Administration reported a big drop in U.S. crude production last week, but says much of that is due to benchmarking adjustments made as the agency compares its surveys to other data each month. Domestic crude output totaled just over 10.7 million barrels per day, down nearly 300,000 barrels per day from the week before. This month's re-benchmarking reduced that figure by three percent of the total. Over the last four weeks, U.S. crude-oil imports averaged 20% less than the same period last year. For the week ending August 7, we imported 5.6 million barrels per day, down 389,000 barrels per day from the week before. Oil by rail shipments increased last week by 11% over the week before, but remain about 16% behind the totals at this time last year, according to weekly numbers from the Association of American Railroads. The broader rail freight industry remains about six percent behind last year's totals. An industry group says total oilfield service job-losses caused by the pandemic are approaching 100,000. The Petroleum Equipment and Services Association says total pink slips jumped 43% from June to July. According to the report, oilfield service employment is down more than 118,000 jobs since July of last year, and has reached its lowest level since March 2017. The Energy Information Administration says exports of Liquefied Natural Gas, or LNG, fell to less than half of the record levels reached in January. Industry press reports note the recent cancellation of at least 75 LNG shipping cargoes originally scheduled for export in August and September.&nbsp; Global oil demand won’t return to 2019 levels until at least 2022 and the gap may be getting wider than it seemed a month ago. All three of the world’s main oil forecasting agencies—the International Energy Agency, the U.S. Energy Information Administration and the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries -- published new quarterly forecasts last week and none project oil demand back at 2019 levels by the end of next year. In it's Monthly Oil Market Report, The OPEC cartel again revised downward its forecast for global economic growth this year, citing additional impact from the pandemic.&nbsp; The closely watched report predicts continuing weak demand for transportation fuels for the rest of this year. The report said international crude futures prices and spot prices rose in July for the third month in a row.&nbsp; The U.S. government now predicts rising oil prices for the rest of this year, with the average throughout the third and fourth quarters reaching $43 a barrel. In its monthly Short Term Energy Outlook, the Energy Information Administration predicts prices will average $50 a barrel next year. EIA estimates that liquid fuels consumption in the second quarter of this year dropped 20% from the same figure a year ago. June crude-oil output increased in North Dakota, the second-biggest producer in the U.S. The Department of Mineral Resources reports production in June increased about 60,000 barrels over May's total. Operators in North Dakota pumped more than 890,000 barrels per day in June. That's a little over half of the all-time high posted last November. International watchdogs are worried about a new high-tech tactic designed to evade sanctions against Iran. Authorities say more than a dozen supertanker operators are now manipulating Automatic Identification Systems data, so that it shows a vessel in one place when it is actually in another. Lloyd's List reports authorities have de-flagged at least four ships after satellite images showed them taking on crude oil from Iran, while the tracking system showed them a hundred miles away.

News From the Oil Patch: Prices still low, but climbing

Looks like a couple weeks when the Statehouse is going to be virtually empty as Democrats, then Republicans, hold national conventions online; no crowds, social distancing can be done by zip codes, and there aren’t going to be any free-drink receptions for reporters covering the events.

And at the Statehouse, it’s going to be quiet, with lots of issues to be considered, planned, schemed, but nothing really major in the way of events and only one or two interim legislative committees considering legislation for the upcoming session.

The under-the-sheets action will be, of course, considering just what the pandemic has done and will do to the state’s revenues which are predicted to be about $600 million or more below estimates that lawmakers are comfortable working with, and nobody wanting to talk out loud about how to make that revenue stretch to cover the needs and wants of Kansans.

So, what’s being quietly discussed—or specifically not discussed out loud where it might show up in the news?

The budget, of course, and whether there’s enough money to keep basic services for most Kansans, and especially the poor, the ill, and their children, in place, along with the standard law enforcement and education funding for elementary and secondary schools…and higher education in an era when there is growing legislative interest in short-term, job-skills post high school.

But the focus is most strong in the next couple weeks on the national political conventions, where former Vice President Joe Biden has chosen Sen. Kamala&nbsp; Harris as his running-mate, and there is still some insider wondering whether President Donald Trump will keep Mike Pence as his vice president, or maybe…not.

For Kansans, that national ticket for both parties will undoubtedly trickle down to votes for Kansas House and Senate candidates…and later this week we ought to know just who those legislative candidates are going to be after the state canvass board checks and rechecks votes from border to border to see who will be on the November ballot.&nbsp; That’s not all settled yet, but soon we ought to know who survived that handful of close legislative primary elections.

And there’s going to be more politics springing up when we learn just where the counties have spent about $400 million in federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act money that the state’s Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas (SPARK) Task Force has handed them. Look for every dime to be examined not only for recovery benefits, but to see just what groups got the federal money—and their political leanings if they can be discerned.

Oh, yes, and there’s the reopening of schools in many districts and colleges and universities and whether they trigger a new increase in COVID-19 cases which will ripple from the schoolhouses and campuses into the state as a whole, with the now predictable economic damage to the economy—and yes, again—state revenues.

Lots of low-key activity that might grow to become major import to the state and the remaining two years of Gov. Laura Kelly’s term as governor and the tilt of the Legislature next session.&nbsp;

The national political conventions? Essentially a diversion for most Kansans, who already know who gets their vote. But in a strong Republican state, that pandemic and the administration’s response to it may move votes, especially in the U.S. Senate race.

And while all that’s going on, we still need Kansans to take fill out the Census forms so they get counted.

Lots of activity, and strangely, most of it to be observed from home on the TV in the next couple weeks…when some of us who have had their loafers on the ground for 16 national political conventions&nbsp; just try to get comfortable on the sofa…and pay for our own drinks…

(Note: The At The Rail column will be on hiatus the next two weeks while Statehouse activity is expected to be minimal; in non-pandemic presidential election years, The Rail column at this time provided coverage of Kansas delegates at their Republican and Democratic conventions.)

Syndicated by Hawver News Company LLC of Topeka; Martin Hawver is publisher of Hawver's Capitol Report—to learn more about this nonpartisan statewide political news service, visit the website at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.hawvernews.com/">www.hawvernews.com</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1592848178110.png" alt="Martin Hawver is publisher of Hawver's Capitol Report." />
 <figcaption>Martin Hawver is publisher of Hawver's Capitol Report.</figcaption>
 </figure>Looks like a couple weeks when the Statehouse is going to be virtually empty as Democrats, then Republicans, hold national conventions online; no crowds, social distancing can be done by zip codes, and there aren’t going to be any free-drink receptions for reporters covering the events.And at the Statehouse, it’s going to be quiet, with lots of issues to be considered, planned, schemed, but nothing really major in the way of events and only one or two interim legislative committees considering legislation for the upcoming session.The under-the-sheets action will be, of course, considering just what the pandemic has done and will do to the state’s revenues which are predicted to be about $600 million or more below estimates that lawmakers are comfortable working with, and nobody wanting to talk out loud about how to make that revenue stretch to cover the needs and wants of Kansans.So, what’s being quietly discussed—or specifically not discussed out loud where it might show up in the news?The budget, of course, and whether there’s enough money to keep basic services for most Kansans, and especially the poor, the ill, and their children, in place, along with the standard law enforcement and education funding for elementary and secondary schools…and higher education in an era when there is growing legislative interest in short-term, job-skills post high school.But the focus is most strong in the next couple weeks on the national political conventions, where former Vice President Joe Biden has chosen Sen. Kamala&nbsp; Harris as his running-mate, and there is still some insider wondering whether President Donald Trump will keep Mike Pence as his vice president, or maybe…not.For Kansans, that national ticket for both parties will undoubtedly trickle down to votes for Kansas House and Senate candidates…and later this week we ought to know just who those legislative candidates are going to be after the state canvass board checks and rechecks votes from border to border to see who will be on the November ballot.&nbsp; That’s not all settled yet, but soon we ought to know who survived that handful of close legislative primary elections.And there’s going to be more politics springing up when we learn just where the counties have spent about $400 million in federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act money that the state’s Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas (SPARK) Task Force has handed them. Look for every dime to be examined not only for recovery benefits, but to see just what groups got the federal money—and their political leanings if they can be discerned.Oh, yes, and there’s the reopening of schools in many districts and colleges and universities and whether they trigger a new increase in COVID-19 cases which will ripple from the schoolhouses and campuses into the state as a whole, with the now predictable economic damage to the economy—and yes, again—state revenues.Lots of low-key activity that might grow to become major import to the state and the remaining two years of Gov. Laura Kelly’s term as governor and the tilt of the Legislature next session.&nbsp;The national political conventions? Essentially a diversion for most Kansans, who already know who gets their vote. But in a strong Republican state, that pandemic and the administration’s response to it may move votes, especially in the U.S. Senate race.And while all that’s going on, we still need Kansans to take fill out the Census forms so they get counted.***Lots of activity, and strangely, most of it to be observed from home on the TV in the next couple weeks…when some of us who have had their loafers on the ground for 16 national political conventions&nbsp; just try to get comfortable on the sofa…and pay for our own drinks…(Note: The At The Rail column will be on hiatus the next two weeks while Statehouse activity is expected to be minimal; in non-pandemic presidential election years, The Rail column at this time provided coverage of Kansas delegates at their Republican and Democratic conventions.)Syndicated by Hawver News Company LLC of Topeka; Martin Hawver is publisher of Hawver's Capitol Report—to learn more about this nonpartisan statewide political news service, visit the website at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.hawvernews.com/">www.hawvernews.com</a>

HAWVER: Statehouse 'mostly' quiet during national conventions 

Divine Mercy Radio will hold two appreciation banquets this year with limited people due to the coronavirus. The appreciation banquet is held each year to thank those who support this non-commercial radio station.

The banquet in Hays will be held Sept. 12, in the Little Theatre of Holy Family Elementary, 1800 Milner. Since Divine Mercy Radio began broadcasting in the Lindsborg/Salina areas in June, a second banquet will be held Sept. 13 in the Hall of Bishops at Sacred Heart Cathedral, 118 N. Ninth, Salina. Both banquets will begin at 6 p.m. with a social hour.

Dr. Ray Guarendi, a clinical psychologist with a popular radio and television show on the Eternal Word Television Network, will be the featured speaker. The title of his talk is “Laughter: The Sanity of Families.” Dr. Ray is known for his comical, yet serious approach to parenting with common sense. He will have the audience laughing and coming away more confident about their own parenting and grandparenting skills.

Tickets are $55 if ordered before Aug. 20.&nbsp; After Aug. 20, the tickets are $60. No tickets can be sold after Sept. 4. To order tickets, go to dvmercy.com and click on the 10th Annual Appreciation Banquet tab.&nbsp;

Divine Mercy Radio began broadcasting on 88.1, KVDM in Hays in December of 2010. A second station began broadcasting on 88.1, KRTT in Great Bend in February of 2015. A third station began broadcasting in Lindsborg/Salina on 101.7, KJDM in June of 2020.&nbsp; Currently, Divine Mercy Radio is building a 25,000-watt station in Hays that will be known as 105.7, KMDG. This should be completed by October. At that time, the 2,500-watt KVDM station in Hays will begin broadcasting radio classics.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597420727234.jpeg" alt="Dr. Ray Guarendi" />
 <figcaption>Dr. Ray Guarendi</figcaption>
 </figure>SubmittedDivine Mercy Radio will hold two appreciation banquets this year with limited people due to the coronavirus. The appreciation banquet is held each year to thank those who support this non-commercial radio station.The banquet in Hays will be held Sept. 12, in the Little Theatre of Holy Family Elementary, 1800 Milner. Since Divine Mercy Radio began broadcasting in the Lindsborg/Salina areas in June, a second banquet will be held Sept. 13 in the Hall of Bishops at Sacred Heart Cathedral, 118 N. Ninth, Salina. Both banquets will begin at 6 p.m. with a social hour.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597420806468.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Dr. Ray Guarendi, a clinical psychologist with a popular radio and television show on the Eternal Word Television Network, will be the featured speaker. The title of his talk is “Laughter: The Sanity of Families.” Dr. Ray is known for his comical, yet serious approach to parenting with common sense. He will have the audience laughing and coming away more confident about their own parenting and grandparenting skills.Tickets are $55 if ordered before Aug. 20.&nbsp; After Aug. 20, the tickets are $60. No tickets can be sold after Sept. 4. To order tickets, go to dvmercy.com and click on the 10th Annual Appreciation Banquet tab.&nbsp;Divine Mercy Radio began broadcasting on 88.1, KVDM in Hays in December of 2010. A second station began broadcasting on 88.1, KRTT in Great Bend in February of 2015. A third station began broadcasting in Lindsborg/Salina on 101.7, KJDM in June of 2020.&nbsp; Currently, Divine Mercy Radio is building a 25,000-watt station in Hays that will be known as 105.7, KMDG. This should be completed by October. At that time, the 2,500-watt KVDM station in Hays will begin broadcasting radio classics.Divine Mercy Radio is an EWTN affiliate.

Divine Mercy banquet plans underway in Hays, Salina

Three-day weather outlook

The Aug. 20 Hays City Commission work session has been canceled.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584721067731.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The Aug. 20 Hays City Commission work session has been canceled.

No city commission work session Thursday

On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with Rev. Kathy Riegelman.

<div><iframe title="Forward Ever: Rev. Kathy Riegelman" height="400" width="400" style="border: none;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/media/player/22by7-e77e00?from=pb6admin&download=1&version=1&vjs=1&auto=1&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Helvetica&skin=3&pfauth="></iframe></div>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with Rev. Kathy Riegelman.

🎤Forward Ever: Rev. Kathy Riegelman, KUMC

The Ellis County Health Department on Monday announced eight additional cases of COVID-19 had been identified in the county since Friday.

There are now 13 active cases, including one active hospitalization and 147 recovered cases.&nbsp;

Since reporting began, there have been 161 cases of coronavirus identified in Ellis County, including one death.

Ellis County updates case counts each Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1593005366466.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The Ellis County Health Department on Monday announced eight additional cases of COVID-19 had been identified in the county since Friday.There are now 13 active cases, including one active hospitalization and 147 recovered cases.&nbsp;Since reporting began, there have been 161 cases of coronavirus identified in Ellis County, including one death.Ellis County updates case counts each Monday, Wednesday and Friday.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597687647103.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

Eight new cases of COVID-19 identified in Ellis Co.

Hays received .70 inches of rain over the weekend as recorded at the Eagle Media Center, 2300 Hall St.

Hays has received .85&nbsp; inches of rain for the month of August, compared to an average by the end of August of 3.03 inches, according to the K-State Ag Research Center in Hays.

Hays has received 17.74 inches of rain year to date, compared to an average of 17.71 inches of rain by the end of August.

The forecast through Friday is sunny with a slight chance of thunderstorms on Tuesday night.

The today's high forecast is for 89 degrees, and Tuesday's high is forecast at 90 degrees. Highs are forecast in the upper 80s through the end of the week.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597678219181.jpeg" alt="Taken by Brady Stephens on 08/16/2020 at 7:30 p.m., 9 miles north of Hays. Submitted photo&nbsp;&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Taken by Brady Stephens on 08/16/2020 at 7:30 p.m., 9 miles north of Hays. Submitted photo&nbsp;&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostHays received .70 inches of rain over the weekend as recorded at the Eagle Media Center, 2300 Hall St.Hays has received .85&nbsp; inches of rain for the month of August, compared to an average by the end of August of 3.03 inches, according to the K-State Ag Research Center in Hays.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597678271672.jpeg" alt="Taken by Brady Stephens on 08/16/2020 at 7:30 p.m., 9 miles north of Hays. Submitted photo.&nbsp;&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Taken by Brady Stephens on 08/16/2020 at 7:30 p.m., 9 miles north of Hays. Submitted photo.&nbsp;&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>Hays has received 17.74 inches of rain year to date, compared to an average of 17.71 inches of rain by the end of August.The forecast through Friday is sunny with a slight chance of thunderstorms on Tuesday night.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597678302958.jpeg" alt="Taken by Brady Stephens on 08/16/2020 at 7:30 p.m., 9 miles north of Hays. Submitted photo.&nbsp;&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Taken by Brady Stephens on 08/16/2020 at 7:30 p.m., 9 miles north of Hays. Submitted photo.&nbsp;&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>The today's high forecast is for 89 degrees, and Tuesday's high is forecast at 90 degrees. Highs are forecast in the upper 80s through the end of the week.

Hays receives .70 inches of rain over the weekend

Fort Hays State University has added a new varsity sport this fall.

While competition in the university’s fall NCAA-sanctioned sports was suspended because of COVID-19, FHSU Varsity Esports, a sports competition using video games, will begin entering tournaments in September. Sixteen varsity players in four game titles will represent Fort Hays State in the varsity team’s inaugural year.

Fort Hays State has fielded competitive teams in its Esports Club for several years. The university’s first varsity team is an initiative funded through the university’s Strategic Enrollment Planning (SEP) process and&nbsp;was approved this past spring.

Scholarships are available for varsity players, and Esports Director Kevin Shaffer has started the recruiting process for expanding the team.

The Esports Club will have members manning a table at next week’s Back to School Party on the Quad Monday and Tuesday, and Shaffer expects it to be a popular booth. Esports, the largest gaming market in the world, is expected to gross more than $1 billion this year. The most popular game, League of Legends, features 100 million active players logging in per month.

Shaffer, associate professor of informatics, said this fall the club plans to join the National Association of Collegiate Esports, which oversees the management of college esports teams.

Any FHSU student can join the Esports Club. The varsity team will be comprised of gamers who are enrolled as full-time, on-campus students (12 hours for undergraduates and nine hours for graduate students).

The Esports Club gaming lab is located in Hammond Hall 110. While the club met once a week last year, most of the meetings currently are being conducted through Zoom.

A portion of the varsity program’s funding provides for 14 new gaming computers, which will be built by FHSU’s own Tiger Tech, the university’s technical assistance resource. That will bring to 20 the number of computers in the lab after the Esports Club members last year built six new ones with funds from the Student Government Association.

For more information about the Esports Club and its new varsity team, contact Shaffer at (785) 628-4484 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:kshaffer@fhsu.edu">kshaffer@fhsu.edu</a>&nbsp;or visit&nbsp;<a href="https://tigerlink.fhsu.edu/organization/esportsclub">https://tigerlink.fhsu.edu/organization/esportsclub</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597438710219.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU University RelationsFort Hays State University has added a new varsity sport this fall.While competition in the university’s fall NCAA-sanctioned sports was suspended because of COVID-19, FHSU Varsity Esports, a sports competition using video games, will begin entering tournaments in September. Sixteen varsity players in four game titles will represent Fort Hays State in the varsity team’s inaugural year.Fort Hays State has fielded competitive teams in its Esports Club for several years. The university’s first varsity team is an initiative funded through the university’s Strategic Enrollment Planning (SEP) process and&nbsp;was approved this past spring.Scholarships are available for varsity players, and Esports Director Kevin Shaffer has started the recruiting process for expanding the team.The Esports Club will have members manning a table at next week’s Back to School Party on the Quad Monday and Tuesday, and Shaffer expects it to be a popular booth. Esports, the largest gaming market in the world, is expected to gross more than $1 billion this year. The most popular game, League of Legends, features 100 million active players logging in per month.Shaffer, associate professor of informatics, said this fall the club plans to join the National Association of Collegiate Esports, which oversees the management of college esports teams.Any FHSU student can join the Esports Club. The varsity team will be comprised of gamers who are enrolled as full-time, on-campus students (12 hours for undergraduates and nine hours for graduate students).The Esports Club gaming lab is located in Hammond Hall 110. While the club met once a week last year, most of the meetings currently are being conducted through Zoom.A portion of the varsity program’s funding provides for 14 new gaming computers, which will be built by FHSU’s own Tiger Tech, the university’s technical assistance resource. That will bring to 20 the number of computers in the lab after the Esports Club members last year built six new ones with funds from the Student Government Association.For more information about the Esports Club and its new varsity team, contact Shaffer at (785) 628-4484 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:kshaffer@fhsu.edu">kshaffer@fhsu.edu</a>&nbsp;or visit&nbsp;<a href="https://tigerlink.fhsu.edu/organization/esportsclub">https://tigerlink.fhsu.edu/organization/esportsclub</a>.

Esports: New varsity sport for the Black and Gold of FHSU

Dr. Dharma Jairam was so intrigued with what he learned about Fort Hays State University that he decided to change jobs and move his family to a new city in the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic.&nbsp; Jairam admits it was different conducting his interview for Chair of the Department of Psychology at FHSU via Zoom. But he said he felt comfortable with the search committee and his research about the university. So he took a leap of faith and accepted the position when it was offered.&nbsp; He was even more impressed with his new university once he set foot on campus, which boasts of several new buildings as well as ongoing new construction and renovations.&nbsp; “That kind of activity is a really good sign,” Jairam said. “Some campuses are struggling to keep their lights on, and what’s going on at Fort Hays State is showing forward momentum, a vision for the future.”&nbsp; Jairam comes to FHSU after five years at Morningside College, a small private university in northwestern Iowa, where he taught in the graduate school. He served as head of the Educational Research Department. His redesign of that department’s courses led&nbsp;to significant improvements in student learning outcomes, for which he won two awards. He also serves as a peer reviewer for accreditation with the Higher Learning Commission and reviews colleges and universities in a19-state region in the Midwest for accreditation.&nbsp; But he was seeking a new challenge and found what he was looking for in the Fort Hays State position.&nbsp; Jairam is looking forward to the 2020-21 school year, even during these challenging times of COVID-19. The pandemic has forced institutions to implement numerous changes how they go about their business of educating students, including the transition to total remote learning last spring.&nbsp; Jairam, however, thinks FHSU’s established tradition of online learning will prove invaluable during this time, and he was not surprised how Fort Hays State successfully – and quickly –pivoted to a different educational process in March.&nbsp; “FHSU was a step ahead of the curve from a lot of other campuses when the pandemic hit,” he said. “I don’t know of any other school that has been as progressive as Fort Hays State in online education. FHSU isn’t afraid of taking risks and moving forward and doesn’t stand still.”&nbsp; Jairam is a native of New York and decided to check out a different part of the country after earning his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in psychology from colleges in his native state. After completing a doctoral fellowship in Colorado, he earned a doctorate in psychology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Jairam grew to like the Midwest and is looking forward to living in Hays.&nbsp; Jairam is excited for the start of the new school year and overseeing a department with 32 faculty, including 13 full-time professors, 25 graduate teaching assistants and six staff members.&nbsp; “I am looking forward to establishing relationships with the faculty and staff who make this a great department,” he said, “and seeking ways to work progressively toward accomplishing our strategic plan. The push at the start of the pandemic was keeping our heads above water. Now, we need to keep moving forward and growing.”&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597246856873.jpeg" alt="Dr. Dharma Jairam" />
 <figcaption>Dr. Dharma Jairam</figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU University RelationsDr. Dharma Jairam was so intrigued with what he learned about Fort Hays State University that he decided to change jobs and move his family to a new city in the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic.&nbsp; Jairam admits it was different conducting his interview for Chair of the Department of Psychology at FHSU via Zoom. But he said he felt comfortable with the search committee and his research about the university. So he took a leap of faith and accepted the position when it was offered.&nbsp; He was even more impressed with his new university once he set foot on campus, which boasts of several new buildings as well as ongoing new construction and renovations.&nbsp; “That kind of activity is a really good sign,” Jairam said. “Some campuses are struggling to keep their lights on, and what’s going on at Fort Hays State is showing forward momentum, a vision for the future.”&nbsp; Jairam comes to FHSU after five years at Morningside College, a small private university in northwestern Iowa, where he taught in the graduate school. He served as head of the Educational Research Department. His redesign of that department’s courses led&nbsp;to significant improvements in student learning outcomes, for which he won two awards. He also serves as a peer reviewer for accreditation with the Higher Learning Commission and reviews colleges and universities in a19-state region in the Midwest for accreditation.&nbsp; But he was seeking a new challenge and found what he was looking for in the Fort Hays State position.&nbsp; Jairam is looking forward to the 2020-21 school year, even during these challenging times of COVID-19. The pandemic has forced institutions to implement numerous changes how they go about their business of educating students, including the transition to total remote learning last spring.&nbsp; Jairam, however, thinks FHSU’s established tradition of online learning will prove invaluable during this time, and he was not surprised how Fort Hays State successfully – and quickly –pivoted to a different educational process in March.&nbsp; “FHSU was a step ahead of the curve from a lot of other campuses when the pandemic hit,” he said. “I don’t know of any other school that has been as progressive as Fort Hays State in online education. FHSU isn’t afraid of taking risks and moving forward and doesn’t stand still.”&nbsp; Jairam is a native of New York and decided to check out a different part of the country after earning his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in psychology from colleges in his native state. After completing a doctoral fellowship in Colorado, he earned a doctorate in psychology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Jairam grew to like the Midwest and is looking forward to living in Hays.&nbsp; Jairam is excited for the start of the new school year and overseeing a department with 32 faculty, including 13 full-time professors, 25 graduate teaching assistants and six staff members.&nbsp; “I am looking forward to establishing relationships with the faculty and staff who make this a great department,” he said, “and seeking ways to work progressively toward accomplishing our strategic plan. The push at the start of the pandemic was keeping our heads above water. Now, we need to keep moving forward and growing.”&nbsp;

‘New normal’ takes on added meaning for FHSU psychology chair

OSBORNE — The Kansas Department of Transportation plans to begin roadwork on a portion of U.S. 281 (South 1st Street) in the city of Osborne starting this week.

Crews will be replacing the concrete pavement, curb and gutter between Connecticut and Massachusetts streets. Traffic will be restricted to one lane through the work zone and controlled by a traffic signal. Minor delays not exceeding 5 minutes should be expected.

KDOT anticipates work to be completed by mid-November, weather permitting. The $539,000 project is being funded through KDOT’s City Connecting Link Improvement Program, which funds improvements to state highways that extend through cities.

Bryant &amp; Bryant Construction of Halstead will serve as the primary contractor.&nbsp;

KDOTOSBORNE — The Kansas Department of Transportation plans to begin roadwork on a portion of U.S. 281 (South 1st Street) in the city of Osborne starting this week.Crews will be replacing the concrete pavement, curb and gutter between Connecticut and Massachusetts streets. Traffic will be restricted to one lane through the work zone and controlled by a traffic signal. Minor delays not exceeding 5 minutes should be expected.KDOT anticipates work to be completed by mid-November, weather permitting. The $539,000 project is being funded through KDOT’s City Connecting Link Improvement Program, which funds improvements to state highways that extend through cities.Bryant &amp; Bryant Construction of Halstead will serve as the primary contractor.&nbsp;

Road construction starting this week in Osborne

Two Hays educators, Monica Dreiling and Rachel Wentling, have received classroom grants from the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Dreiling, a fifth grade science, reading and writing teacher at Lincoln Elementary School, will use her $500 grant money to create a “In Good Hands: Engineering Space Gloves” unit. The unit will allow students to take a virtual tour and learn about space hazards and help engineer part of a space suit for a fictional NASA mission. About 50 students will take part in the unit.

Wentling, principal at Holy Family Elementary School, will use her $500 grant to create a mobile STEM cart filled with reusable materials. The cart will make resources and materials available to instructors across grade levels. The $500 grant will allow Wentling to purchase one cart with materials costing an additional $1,000-$2,000, which the school will purchase, Wentling wrote in her application.

The Junior Membership Classroom Grants are supported by the NSDAR Helen Pouch Memorial Fund. Two classroom grants are available for each state and the District of Columbia.

State junior membership chairs and a panel of judges review applications for their state and determine two winners and a runner-up. Proposed projects must benefit students in the classroom directly.

Recipients typically receive their grant awards in late August.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597596329429.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Two Hays educators, Monica Dreiling and Rachel Wentling, have received classroom grants from the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution.Dreiling, a fifth grade science, reading and writing teacher at Lincoln Elementary School, will use her $500 grant money to create a “In Good Hands: Engineering Space Gloves” unit. The unit will allow students to take a virtual tour and learn about space hazards and help engineer part of a space suit for a fictional NASA mission. About 50 students will take part in the unit.Wentling, principal at Holy Family Elementary School, will use her $500 grant to create a mobile STEM cart filled with reusable materials. The cart will make resources and materials available to instructors across grade levels. The $500 grant will allow Wentling to purchase one cart with materials costing an additional $1,000-$2,000, which the school will purchase, Wentling wrote in her application.The Junior Membership Classroom Grants are supported by the NSDAR Helen Pouch Memorial Fund. Two classroom grants are available for each state and the District of Columbia.State junior membership chairs and a panel of judges review applications for their state and determine two winners and a runner-up. Proposed projects must benefit students in the classroom directly.Recipients typically receive their grant awards in late August.&nbsp;Submitted

Hays educators receive classroom grants from DAR

Beginning at 8 a.m. Monday, 20th Street at the intersection of Lincoln Drive will be closed. 

 Lincoln will also be closed between 19th and 20th streets for reconstruction.  Construction is expected to last two weeks.  

For more information, call City of Hays Project Management at 785 628-7350 or J Corp at 785 628-8101.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584721067731.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>City of HaysBeginning at 8 a.m. Monday, 20th Street at the intersection of Lincoln Drive will be closed. Lincoln will also be closed between 19th and 20th streets for reconstruction. Construction is expected to last two weeks. For more information, call City of Hays Project Management at 785 628-7350 or J Corp at 785 628-8101.

Portions of 20th, Lincoln will be closed for repairs

There are many different reasons that producers look at adding different crops to their rotation. Weed control issues and the ability to spray certain chemicals to help with weeds is one reason. Also, some may be looking for a product that may be more profitable in the coming years. Some just want to try something new in their rotation to see if it fits their production model better than what they are currently doing. Whatever the reason, it’s a good idea to research the new possibilities before venturing out into the unknown.

On August 26th at 5:30 pm, KSRE Cottonwood District and Pawnee County will be hosting our regular woman’s group to discuss Alternative crops. Now, just because it originally was formed as a group of women that does not mean than men are not welcome. Anyone who has an interest is encouraged to attend. This program’s topic is going to be Alternative Crops. Lucas Hagg, Northwest area agronomist will be on our zoom to discuss the different crops you can grow instead of your normal rotation. Lucas will cover canola, cotton, sunflowers, hemp, dry beans, and forages in addition to any questions that you may have.&nbsp;

The program will be held over Zoom. You can contact Jen Webster from the Pawnee County Extension office at <a href="mailto:jlwebster@ksu.edu">jlwebster@ksu.edu</a> or by calling 620-285-6901 by 5 pm on August 26th for the zoom link.&nbsp;

Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact her by e-mail at aboor@ksu.edu or calling 620-793-1910.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1592579538317.png" alt="Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District." />
 <figcaption>Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District.</figcaption>
 </figure>There are many different reasons that producers look at adding different crops to their rotation. Weed control issues and the ability to spray certain chemicals to help with weeds is one reason. Also, some may be looking for a product that may be more profitable in the coming years. Some just want to try something new in their rotation to see if it fits their production model better than what they are currently doing. Whatever the reason, it’s a good idea to research the new possibilities before venturing out into the unknown.On August 26th at 5:30 pm, KSRE Cottonwood District and Pawnee County will be hosting our regular woman’s group to discuss Alternative crops. Now, just because it originally was formed as a group of women that does not mean than men are not welcome. Anyone who has an interest is encouraged to attend. This program’s topic is going to be Alternative Crops. Lucas Hagg, Northwest area agronomist will be on our zoom to discuss the different crops you can grow instead of your normal rotation. Lucas will cover canola, cotton, sunflowers, hemp, dry beans, and forages in addition to any questions that you may have.&nbsp;The program will be held over Zoom. You can contact Jen Webster from the Pawnee County Extension office at <a href="mailto:jlwebster@ksu.edu">jlwebster@ksu.edu</a> or by calling 620-285-6901 by 5 pm on August 26th for the zoom link.&nbsp;Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact her by e-mail at aboor@ksu.edu or calling 620-793-1910.

BOOR: Zoom session on alternative crops scheduled

RE: Application of KSA 25-213 to write in Candidacy of Laura Allen in Ellis County, KS


Please be advised that I represent Laura Allen. She is a write-in candidate for County Clerk in Ellis County, Kansas. 


Although the County Clerk of Ellis County has refused to release the results of the most recent election to us, despite my repeated requests for that information, she orally stated during the canvass last evening that Laura Allen received in excess of 5% of the total votes cast in the Democratic primary, and in excess of 5% of the total Democratic voter registration in Ellis County, at the last count, during the August 2020 election. 


The Board of Canvassers. after receiving my input regarding the matter, instructed the County Clerk to convey to you the information that I had conveyed to them for your input. 


Interestingly, Clerk Maskus did not solicit from me, nor did it appear that she took notes, regarding the extensive research which I did regarding the legislative history of KSA 25-213. The purpose of this letter is to convey to you the essence of that research, because I believe that the interpretation of that statute apparently being given to it by Clerk Maskus, and, apparently, based upon her oral statements. by you, is erroneous. The statute reads, in its essence, that when no nominating declaration has been filed, unless a person receives votes equal in number to not less than 5% of the total of the current voter registration designated (emphasis added) in the County in which the office is sought, the person's name shall not be printed on the general election ballot. That language was inserted in the statute via chapter 196 of the 2007 Session Laws of Kansas as a result of two House Bills introduced that year by the House Elections Committee. The House Bills were House Bill 2094 and House Bill 2332, both of which amended KSA 25-213 to include language that said. "5% of the total of the current voter registration of the party designated in the County in which the office is sought," in replacement of a 1995 amendment which had eliminated a prior reference to 
party affiliation. That 1995 amendment had read that a successful write-in had to be equal in number to not less than 10% of the electors who voted for the office of Secretary of State at the last preceding general election for such office in the county in which the office is sought. In the 2007 Legislative session, the Senate passed legislation that differed from the House legislation in regards to other sections that had nothing to do with the metric regarding the write-in issue and so a Conference Committee was appointed. The ultimate Conference Committee report approved, using the well-known tactic of "gut and go" via House Bill number 2128, which had dealt with recall issues before it was usurped for the purpose of amending 25-213. dropped the words "of the party", but retained the word "designated."

There was no reason for the Legislature to have retained that word, other than an intent for it to modify the language "5% of the voter registration." If the intent of the Legislature were, as propounded by the County Clerk, that the metric was all of the registered voters in Ellis County, the word designated would not have been used. The rules of logic leave no other conclusion. Read the sentence without the word "designated" and that is exactly what it would mean. With the word "designated," it is at best, latently ambiguous, and one should turn to the legislative history to clarify it. The legislative history leads one to the inescapable conclusion that the intent of the Legislature was that the designation was the election(party) selected by the write-in voters. Kansas has a closed primary system. In other words, Democrats and Republicans cannot cross party lines on election day. They have to vote in the election they are branded in. To count the Republican registration towards the metric by which Democrats have to qualify to become general election candidates via the write-in process is ludicrous. In Ellis County, for instance, with 18,000 registered voters, a write-in candidate, under Clerk Maskus's theory would have to receive 900 votes, or 24% of the Democratic registration. On the other hand, a Republican write-in candidate would have to receive only 9.9% of the Republican registration. Ignoring the fact that there is a clear Equal Protection violation, that simply docs not make any logical sense. 

The purpose of this letter is to ask that you turn to the legislative history of this statute and the same research that has been done as set out above and inform the Ellis County Clerk that in order to qualify os o write-in candidate, it is necessary that a person receive votes equal in number to not less than 5% of the total of the voter registration designated for the election, either Democratic or Republican, where the office is sought. In the case of the County Clerk position in Ellis County, the calculation is simple, as the clerk has stated that the total Democratic registration was 3,873, ergo the total write-in votes necessary to qualify for the general election ballot should be 194. Again, although the Clerk has not complied with my request for release of that information, it is my belief that Laura Allen received far in excess of that number. 

It would be appreciated if you would verify your receipt of this letter and confirm your response in writing. 

The Board of Canvassers is meeting at 5:00 PM on Monday, and it would be appreciated if you would copy them on your response. also. 

John T. Bird Glassman Bird Powell LLP

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582312931775.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>RE: Application of KSA 25-213 to write in Candidacy of Laura Allen in Ellis County, KS 
Dear Secretary of State Schwab: 
Please be advised that I represent Laura Allen. She is a write-in candidate for County Clerk in Ellis County, Kansas. 
Although the County Clerk of Ellis County has refused to release the results of the most recent election to us, despite my repeated requests for that information, she orally stated during the canvass last evening that Laura Allen received in excess of 5% of the total votes cast in the Democratic primary, and in excess of 5% of the total Democratic voter registration in Ellis County, at the last count, during the August 2020 election. 
The Board of Canvassers. after receiving my input regarding the matter, instructed the County Clerk to convey to you the information that I had conveyed to them for your input. 
Interestingly, Clerk Maskus did not solicit from me, nor did it appear that she took notes, regarding the extensive research which I did regarding the legislative history of KSA 25-213. The purpose of this letter is to convey to you the essence of that research, because I believe that the interpretation of that statute apparently being given to it by Clerk Maskus, and, apparently, based upon her oral statements. by you, is erroneous. The statute reads, in its essence, that when no nominating declaration has been filed, unless a person receives votes equal in number to not less than 5% of the total of the current voter registration designated (emphasis added) in the County in which the office is sought, the person's name shall not be printed on the general election ballot. That language was inserted in the statute via chapter 196 of the 2007 Session Laws of Kansas as a result of two House Bills introduced that year by the House Elections Committee. The House Bills were House Bill 2094 and House Bill 2332, both of which amended KSA 25-213 to include language that said. "5% of the total of the current voter registration of the party designated in the County in which the office is sought," in replacement of a 1995 amendment which had eliminated a prior reference to 
party affiliation. That 1995 amendment had read that a successful write-in had to be equal in number to not less than 10% of the electors who voted for the office of Secretary of State at the last preceding general election for such office in the county in which the office is sought. In the 2007 Legislative session, the Senate passed legislation that differed from the House legislation in regards to other sections that had nothing to do with the metric regarding the write-in issue and so a Conference Committee was appointed. The ultimate Conference Committee report approved, using the well-known tactic of "gut and go" via House Bill number 2128, which had dealt with recall issues before it was usurped for the purpose of amending 25-213. dropped the words "of the party", but retained the word "designated."There was no reason for the Legislature to have retained that word, other than an intent for it to modify the language "5% of the voter registration." If the intent of the Legislature were, as propounded by the County Clerk, that the metric was all of the registered voters in Ellis County, the word designated would not have been used. The rules of logic leave no other conclusion. Read the sentence without the word "designated" and that is exactly what it would mean. With the word "designated," it is at best, latently ambiguous, and one should turn to the legislative history to clarify it. The legislative history leads one to the inescapable conclusion that the intent of the Legislature was that the designation was the election(party) selected by the write-in voters. Kansas has a closed primary system. In other words, Democrats and Republicans cannot cross party lines on election day. They have to vote in the election they are branded in. To count the Republican registration towards the metric by which Democrats have to qualify to become general election candidates via the write-in process is ludicrous. In Ellis County, for instance, with 18,000 registered voters, a write-in candidate, under Clerk Maskus's theory would have to receive 900 votes, or 24% of the Democratic registration. On the other hand, a Republican write-in candidate would have to receive only 9.9% of the Republican registration. Ignoring the fact that there is a clear Equal Protection violation, that simply docs not make any logical sense. The purpose of this letter is to ask that you turn to the legislative history of this statute and the same research that has been done as set out above and inform the Ellis County Clerk that in order to qualify os o write-in candidate, it is necessary that a person receive votes equal in number to not less than 5% of the total of the voter registration designated for the election, either Democratic or Republican, where the office is sought. In the case of the County Clerk position in Ellis County, the calculation is simple, as the clerk has stated that the total Democratic registration was 3,873, ergo the total write-in votes necessary to qualify for the general election ballot should be 194. Again, although the Clerk has not complied with my request for release of that information, it is my belief that Laura Allen received far in excess of that number. It would be appreciated if you would verify your receipt of this letter and confirm your response in writing. The Board of Canvassers is meeting at 5:00 PM on Monday, and it would be appreciated if you would copy them on your response. also. 
Thank you for your attention to this.Very truly yours,John T. Bird Glassman Bird Powell LLP

BIRD: Open letter to the secretary of state over write-in candidacy

Midwest Energy has an opening for a Customer Service Representative at its Hays office.&nbsp; An Associate’s Degree in Business or equivalent is required.&nbsp; Applicants should have a minimum of two years’ experience in customer relations or sales including general office operations.&nbsp;&nbsp;Personal computer and excellent communication skills are required.&nbsp;&nbsp; Candidates should be able to acquire, within a reasonable time span, an understanding of the Company’s rates, billing and collection regulations and other policies and procedures affecting the customers.&nbsp; Knowledge and background in general office procedures, MicroSoft Office, and a depth in customer service. Individual must be able to effectively deal with a variety of people under difficult circumstances.&nbsp; Must be able to handle a variety of diverse activities with attention to detail and accuracy.&nbsp; Must have a valid Kansas Driver’s License.&nbsp; Bilingual skills in Spanish/English are desirable. To learn more, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.mwenergy.com/careers">www.mwenergy.com/careers</a>, or e-mail your resume with cover letter to&nbsp;<a href="mailto:Recruitment@mwenergy.com">Recruitment@mwenergy.com</a>.&nbsp; Resumes will be accepted until Friday, Aug. 21.&nbsp;&nbsp; Midwest Energy is an equal opportunity employer.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586196165303.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Midwest Energy has an opening for a Customer Service Representative at its Hays office.&nbsp; An Associate’s Degree in Business or equivalent is required.&nbsp; Applicants should have a minimum of two years’ experience in customer relations or sales including general office operations.&nbsp;&nbsp;Personal computer and excellent communication skills are required.&nbsp;&nbsp; Candidates should be able to acquire, within a reasonable time span, an understanding of the Company’s rates, billing and collection regulations and other policies and procedures affecting the customers.&nbsp; Knowledge and background in general office procedures, MicroSoft Office, and a depth in customer service. Individual must be able to effectively deal with a variety of people under difficult circumstances.&nbsp; Must be able to handle a variety of diverse activities with attention to detail and accuracy.&nbsp; Must have a valid Kansas Driver’s License.&nbsp; Bilingual skills in Spanish/English are desirable. To learn more, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.mwenergy.com/careers">www.mwenergy.com/careers</a>, or e-mail your resume with cover letter to&nbsp;<a href="mailto:Recruitment@mwenergy.com">Recruitment@mwenergy.com</a>.&nbsp; Resumes will be accepted until Friday, Aug. 21.&nbsp;&nbsp; Midwest Energy is an equal opportunity employer.

HPD Activity Log Aug. 6-9

DSNWK’s annual awards ceremony will look a little different this year, with the event going to a virtual format as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. 

“Although the ceremony will be virtual, we still believe that it will be a special afternoon as we will recognize both staff and persons served by DSNWK,” said Steve Keil, Director of Development.&nbsp; 

Although details about the ceremony are still being worked out, DSNWK plans to recognize employees for years of service, as well as achievements made by men and women in DSNWK services.&nbsp; The ceremony is set for Tuesday, Oct. 20.

For more information, contact Steve Keil at <a href="mailto:steve_keil@mydsnwk.org">steve_keil@mydsnwk.org</a> or 785-625-5678.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1578522464134.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>DSNWK’s annual awards ceremony will look a little different this year, with the event going to a virtual format as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. “Although the ceremony will be virtual, we still believe that it will be a special afternoon as we will recognize both staff and persons served by DSNWK,” said Steve Keil, Director of Development.&nbsp; Although details about the ceremony are still being worked out, DSNWK plans to recognize employees for years of service, as well as achievements made by men and women in DSNWK services.&nbsp; The ceremony is set for Tuesday, Oct. 20.For more information, contact Steve Keil at <a href="mailto:steve_keil@mydsnwk.org">steve_keil@mydsnwk.org</a> or 785-625-5678.

2020 DSNWK awards ceremony will be virtual

The often challenging process of transiting to college just got a lot easier for transfer and military connected students at Fort Hays State University.

As part of an initiative funded through the university’s Strategic Enrollment Planning (SEP) process, a new Transfer &amp; Military Center opened this summer in time for the fall 2020 semester. Led by director Erica Fisher, the work of the center’s staff focuses on serving&nbsp;transfer and military students even before they apply via&nbsp;a quicker, and more personalized experience.

“The Transfer &amp; Military Center provides prospective students with a seamless transition to FHSU,” Fisher said. “We are dedicated to creating innovative pathways and partnerships to enhance the success of our transfer and military-connected students.”

Assistant Director and Navy veteran Kelsi Broadway, formerly the military student success specialist for FHSU Online, will assist military connected students by evaluating&nbsp;their transfer credits and military experience to determine how it can apply as credits towards FHSU majors and programs of study.

“Navigating military and veteran’s services bureaucracies and getting to the right benefits and services information can be a challenge,” Broadway said. “Our new center offers military, veteran and transfer students a one-stop resource for unofficial transcript analysis, personalized student support, and onboarding services”

Transfer Success Coach, Holly Rebel, provides similar services for our prospective transfer student populations. Students can request these services prior to submitting their application to FHSU.

Dr. Seth Kastle, an assistant professor of leadership studies, who also serves as the university’s director of military program innovation, was instrumental in the creation of the center.&nbsp;

“A few years ago, I was working on the idea of a military center, and Erica was working on establishing a transfer center,” Kastle said. “Through the SEP process, our ideas were merged. We’re in a great place to go this route because we have the infrastructure in place to significantly improve the quality of services we provide to non-traditional students.”

Kastle is well aware of the challenges military students can face. He is a veteran of the U.S. Army whose record of military service includes two tours of duty in Afghanistan and Iraq.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597343214410.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU University RelationsThe often challenging process of transiting to college just got a lot easier for transfer and military connected students at Fort Hays State University.As part of an initiative funded through the university’s Strategic Enrollment Planning (SEP) process, a new Transfer &amp; Military Center opened this summer in time for the fall 2020 semester. Led by director Erica Fisher, the work of the center’s staff focuses on serving&nbsp;transfer and military students even before they apply via&nbsp;a quicker, and more personalized experience.“The Transfer &amp; Military Center provides prospective students with a seamless transition to FHSU,” Fisher said. “We are dedicated to creating innovative pathways and partnerships to enhance the success of our transfer and military-connected students.”Assistant Director and Navy veteran Kelsi Broadway, formerly the military student success specialist for FHSU Online, will assist military connected students by evaluating&nbsp;their transfer credits and military experience to determine how it can apply as credits towards FHSU majors and programs of study.“Navigating military and veteran’s services bureaucracies and getting to the right benefits and services information can be a challenge,” Broadway said. “Our new center offers military, veteran and transfer students a one-stop resource for unofficial transcript analysis, personalized student support, and onboarding services”Transfer Success Coach, Holly Rebel, provides similar services for our prospective transfer student populations. Students can request these services prior to submitting their application to FHSU.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597343285184.jpeg" alt="Dr. Seth Kastle" />
 <figcaption>Dr. Seth Kastle</figcaption>
 </figure>Dr. Seth Kastle, an assistant professor of leadership studies, who also serves as the university’s director of military program innovation, was instrumental in the creation of the center.&nbsp;“A few years ago, I was working on the idea of a military center, and Erica was working on establishing a transfer center,” Kastle said. “Through the SEP process, our ideas were merged. We’re in a great place to go this route because we have the infrastructure in place to significantly improve the quality of services we provide to non-traditional students.”Kastle is well aware of the challenges military students can face. He is a veteran of the U.S. Army whose record of military service includes two tours of duty in Afghanistan and Iraq.&nbsp;“Non-traditional students tend to approach selecting a college very differently than traditional students.&nbsp; They tend to be at a point in their lives where the need to balance work and family commitments plays a major role in their decision-making process,” Kastle said. “I think our students will really benefit from the support network our new center provides.”More information about the center can be found at&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsu.edu/transfer-military-center.">https://fhsu.edu/transfer-military-center.</a>

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