By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/08/28/kansas-farmer-at-heart-of-disrupted-documentary-on-dehumanizing-economic-forces/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Fifth-generation 
Kansan Donn Teske’s commitment to family farm survival and humility 
inspired by German Lutheran lineage argued against taking part in a 
documentary capturing adversity of three seemingly divergent 
middle-class Americans compelled to adapt in a turbulent economy.

Major health 
complications, staggering business debt and anxiety driven by a duty not
 to be the generation that failed — common issues faced by aging 
agriculture producers of the United States — weighed on him.

He subsequently agreed to 
tell his story in “The Disrupted,” a film by directors Sarah Colt and 
Josh Gleason about challenge, resilience and the quest for dignity of 
work by former Ohio factory worker and ex-convict Pete Velez, frustrated
 Uber driver Cheryl Long in Florida and Teske.

The Teske family’s 
900-acre farm of row crops, prairie grass and beef cattle is near 
Wheaton in Pottawatomie County. It’s on rolling hills settled by 
ancestors who arrived in Kansas by covered wagon after the Civil War.

“I suppose part of it was 
vanity, but I would like to think the main reason I made the decision to
 participate was the fact that this is an important story and it’s not 
getting enough emphasis,” said Teske, a Kansas Farmers Union leader at 
ease chomping a cigar and mingling with livestock in the pasture. “By 
that, I mean the middle class disappearing.”

Colt, recognized for 
contributions to the PBS series “American Experience,” said the film 
produced over a three-year period took a dive into lives of Americans 
unafraid of work, but confronted by unyielding economic forces that 
fueled the shutdown of manufacturing facilities, the home mortgage 
meltdown and the drumbeat of weak commodity prices, trade disputes, farm
 consolidation and ballooning operational debt.

“The idea behind the film 
was to show we’re more together than in it alone,” she said. “We have a 
lot more in common than we may realize.”

Filmmakers behind 
“Disrupted” organized a free public screening Sept. 1 at Boulevard Drive
 In Theatre at 1051 Merriam Lane in Kansas City, Kan. Advance 
registration is required, <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-disrupted-kansas-premiere-at-the-boulevard-drive-in-theatre-tickets-116682214645?fbclid=IwAR2iMxp-GI3dvRGyN278jBGxpopJQDhrJYuQoZNYWrSemybBo4GV8_VQV9A" target="_blank">here</a>.
 The film starts at 8 p.m., but gates open at 7 p.m. The showing is 
co-presented by Kansas Rural Center, Missouri Farmers Union, Cultivate 
KC, Good Natured Family Farms and Kansas Farmers Union.

“Disrupted” has been 
selected for several film festivals, including Munich DokFest in 
Germany, MountainFilm in Colorado and Woods Hole in Massachusetts.

It’s the first independent
 feature documentary by Sarah Colt Productions. She has produced films 
for PBS, including Emmy and Peabody nominated “Walt Disney,” “Henry 
Ford,” “The Polio Crusade,” “We Shall Remain” and “The Gilded Age.”

Colt said Long worked in 
the mortgage industry until that bubble burst a decade ago. In time, she
 turned to driving for Uber in Florida. It initially paid well, about 
$1,500 per week, but didn’t last. Decisions by ride-share companies to 
raise customer prices and diminish payments to drivers led Long to 
attempt to organize her peers and to protest against an economic formula
 that didn’t add up for drivers. Long’s work as a driver-for-hire 
stopped due to spread of COVID-19.

In northern Ohio, Velez 
lost a 3M production job when the company closed the plant in 2017. He 
had worked there 11 years. Velez, who had a criminal record and dealt 
with family conflict during filming, enrolled in a heating and air 
conditioning training program. His long-term goal was to start his own 
business. Velez began working for an HVAC company, but was laid off when
 coronavirus altered business operations. He recently landed a union 
job, Colt said.

Teske, who had accumulated
 $300,000 in farm debt, struggled with decisions about whether his 
children should take over the farm in central Kansas. The financial 
challenges of that transition rivaled a desire among family members to 
retain the legacy. Teske had a cancer scare during filming, but 
underwent successful surgery. He’s continued to advocate for family 
farmers on the state and national stage.

The farm debt remains, he 
said, but the operation is “stable.” He said the next hurdle would be 
the January calf sale, which will measure whether livestock prices have 
rebounded.

He said he’s received more
 suicide crisis telephone calls in 2020 from farmers in Kansas than he 
did in recent years. In June, a team of Kansas State University 
agricultural economists estimated Kansas net farm income would fall from
 an average of $110,380 in 2019 to $14,358 in 2020, a decline of 87%.

“You can certainly tell agriculture as a whole in Kansas is pretty insecure right now,” Teske said.

None of the resourceful people featured in the documentary stand on rock-solid ground. Their future isn’t settled.

“It’s not for lack of 
work. They’re working hard,” Colt said. “This isn’t about politics. It’s
 about how we live and whether we value our labor and we value people 
who are working.”

Initially, the project included an Oklahoma teacher and a congressional candidate in Arkansas.

She said work on the 
documentary began after the 2016 presidential campaign attracted 
unconventional candidates Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders. It was 
released during a 2020 presidential election in which economic 
uncertainty tied to COVID-19 marched across a country with escalating 
wealth disparity.

The entrepreneurial spirit
 cultivated in the United States has become a double-edged sword for 
people who can’t stay atop the economic pyramid.

“It’s a wonderful thing in some ways,” Colt said, “but it’s also really destructive.”

Colt 
said the film demonstrated no single person had the capacity to drive 
economic evolution capable of touching the lives of Long, Velez and 
Teske.

“Hopefully, the film will 
make people want to start getting involved in making change. Whatever 
that means in terms of recognizing we’re in a very difficult economy 
despite Wall Street booming, even in the pandemic. Change is needed.”

Tim Carpenter has reported on Kansas for 35 years. He covered the Capitol for 16 years at the Topeka Capital-Journal and previously worked for the Lawrence Journal-World and United Press International.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598622391641.png" alt="Kansas farmer Donn Teske, who operates a family farm in Pottawatomie County, is featured in the documentary film "The Disrupted" that blends the experiences of three hard-working Americans struggling to make it economically. (Submitted/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas farmer Donn Teske, who operates a family farm in Pottawatomie County, is featured in the documentary film "The Disrupted" that blends the experiences of three hard-working Americans struggling to make it economically. (Submitted/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/08/28/kansas-farmer-at-heart-of-disrupted-documentary-on-dehumanizing-economic-forces/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Fifth-generation 
Kansan Donn Teske’s commitment to family farm survival and humility 
inspired by German Lutheran lineage argued against taking part in a 
documentary capturing adversity of three seemingly divergent 
middle-class Americans compelled to adapt in a turbulent economy.Major health 
complications, staggering business debt and anxiety driven by a duty not
 to be the generation that failed — common issues faced by aging 
agriculture producers of the United States — weighed on him.He subsequently agreed to 
tell his story in “The Disrupted,” a film by directors Sarah Colt and 
Josh Gleason about challenge, resilience and the quest for dignity of 
work by former Ohio factory worker and ex-convict Pete Velez, frustrated
 Uber driver Cheryl Long in Florida and Teske.The Teske family’s 
900-acre farm of row crops, prairie grass and beef cattle is near 
Wheaton in Pottawatomie County. It’s on rolling hills settled by 
ancestors who arrived in Kansas by covered wagon after the Civil War.“I suppose part of it was 
vanity, but I would like to think the main reason I made the decision to
 participate was the fact that this is an important story and it’s not 
getting enough emphasis,” said Teske, a Kansas Farmers Union leader at 
ease chomping a cigar and mingling with livestock in the pasture. “By 
that, I mean the middle class disappearing.”Colt, recognized for 
contributions to the PBS series “American Experience,” said the film 
produced over a three-year period took a dive into lives of Americans 
unafraid of work, but confronted by unyielding economic forces that 
fueled the shutdown of manufacturing facilities, the home mortgage 
meltdown and the drumbeat of weak commodity prices, trade disputes, farm
 consolidation and ballooning operational debt.“The idea behind the film 
was to show we’re more together than in it alone,” she said. “We have a 
lot more in common than we may realize.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598622451580.png" alt="Sarah Colt, director with Josh Gleason of the documentary “The Disrupted,” says this about the economic squeeze of the middle class: “It’s not for lack of work. This isn’t about politics. It’s about how we live and whether we value our labor.” (Submitted/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Sarah Colt, director with Josh Gleason of the documentary “The Disrupted,” says this about the economic squeeze of the middle class: “It’s not for lack of work. This isn’t about politics. It’s about how we live and whether we value our labor.” (Submitted/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>Filmmakers behind 
“Disrupted” organized a free public screening Sept. 1 at Boulevard Drive
 In Theatre at 1051 Merriam Lane in Kansas City, Kan. Advance 
registration is required, <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-disrupted-kansas-premiere-at-the-boulevard-drive-in-theatre-tickets-116682214645?fbclid=IwAR2iMxp-GI3dvRGyN278jBGxpopJQDhrJYuQoZNYWrSemybBo4GV8_VQV9A" target="_blank">here</a>.
 The film starts at 8 p.m., but gates open at 7 p.m. The showing is 
co-presented by Kansas Rural Center, Missouri Farmers Union, Cultivate 
KC, Good Natured Family Farms and Kansas Farmers Union.“Disrupted” has been 
selected for several film festivals, including Munich DokFest in 
Germany, MountainFilm in Colorado and Woods Hole in Massachusetts.It’s the first independent
 feature documentary by Sarah Colt Productions. She has produced films 
for PBS, including Emmy and Peabody nominated “Walt Disney,” “Henry 
Ford,” “The Polio Crusade,” “We Shall Remain” and “The Gilded Age.”Colt said Long worked in 
the mortgage industry until that bubble burst a decade ago. In time, she
 turned to driving for Uber in Florida. It initially paid well, about 
$1,500 per week, but didn’t last. Decisions by ride-share companies to 
raise customer prices and diminish payments to drivers led Long to 
attempt to organize her peers and to protest against an economic formula
 that didn’t add up for drivers. Long’s work as a driver-for-hire 
stopped due to spread of COVID-19.In northern Ohio, Velez 
lost a 3M production job when the company closed the plant in 2017. He 
had worked there 11 years. Velez, who had a criminal record and dealt 
with family conflict during filming, enrolled in a heating and air 
conditioning training program. His long-term goal was to start his own 
business. Velez began working for an HVAC company, but was laid off when
 coronavirus altered business operations. He recently landed a union 
job, Colt said.Teske, who had accumulated
 $300,000 in farm debt, struggled with decisions about whether his 
children should take over the farm in central Kansas. The financial 
challenges of that transition rivaled a desire among family members to 
retain the legacy. Teske had a cancer scare during filming, but 
underwent successful surgery. He’s continued to advocate for family 
farmers on the state and national stage.The farm debt remains, he 
said, but the operation is “stable.” He said the next hurdle would be 
the January calf sale, which will measure whether livestock prices have 
rebounded.He said he’s received more
 suicide crisis telephone calls in 2020 from farmers in Kansas than he 
did in recent years. In June, a team of Kansas State University 
agricultural economists estimated Kansas net farm income would fall from
 an average of $110,380 in 2019 to $14,358 in 2020, a decline of 87%.“You can certainly tell agriculture as a whole in Kansas is pretty insecure right now,” Teske said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598622494266.jpeg" alt="Filmmakers behind “The Disrupted” documentary featuring a Kansas family farmer have organized a free public screening at 8 p.m. Sept. 1 at Boulevard Drive In Theatre at 1051 Merriam Lane in Kansas City, Kan. Advance registration is required. (Submitted/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Filmmakers behind “The Disrupted” documentary featuring a Kansas family farmer have organized a free public screening at 8 p.m. Sept. 1 at Boulevard Drive In Theatre at 1051 Merriam Lane in Kansas City, Kan. Advance registration is required. (Submitted/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>None of the resourceful people featured in the documentary stand on rock-solid ground. Their future isn’t settled.“It’s not for lack of 
work. They’re working hard,” Colt said. “This isn’t about politics. It’s
 about how we live and whether we value our labor and we value people 
who are working.”Initially, the project included an Oklahoma teacher and a congressional candidate in Arkansas.She said work on the 
documentary began after the 2016 presidential campaign attracted 
unconventional candidates Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders. It was 
released during a 2020 presidential election in which economic 
uncertainty tied to COVID-19 marched across a country with escalating 
wealth disparity.The entrepreneurial spirit
 cultivated in the United States has become a double-edged sword for 
people who can’t stay atop the economic pyramid.“It’s a wonderful thing in some ways,” Colt said, “but it’s also really destructive.”Colt 
said the film demonstrated no single person had the capacity to drive 
economic evolution capable of touching the lives of Long, Velez and 
Teske.“Hopefully, the film will 
make people want to start getting involved in making change. Whatever 
that means in terms of recognizing we’re in a very difficult economy 
despite Wall Street booming, even in the pandemic. Change is needed.”Tim Carpenter has reported on Kansas for 35 years. He covered the Capitol for 16 years at the Topeka Capital-Journal and previously worked for the Lawrence Journal-World and United Press International.

Kan. farmer at heart of documentary on dehumanizing economic forces

Last week's inspection results from the Kansas Department of Agriculture:

Centennial Lanes - Aug. 25 - 2400 Vine - Hays

A routine inspection found one violation.

Culligan of Hays - Aug. 25 - 2735 Augusta - Hays

An FDA contract investigation found no violations.

Pat's Noodles - Aug. 25 - 1101 Cody - Hays

Starbucks - Aug. 25 - 3126 Vine Ste. 100- Hays

A routine inspection found two violations.

Tractor Supply Co. - Aug. 25 - 235 48th - Hays

A routine inspection found no violations.

Whiskey Creek - Aug. 25 - 3203 Vine - Hays

A routine inspection found six violations.

Last week's inspection results from the Kansas Department of Agriculture:Centennial Lanes - Aug. 25 - 2400 Vine - HaysA routine inspection found one violation.<ol>
 <li>In the refrigerated prep-table, there was one container of cut tomatoes dated 8/8/20, open cream cheese 8/8/20, and cut chicken 8/8/20.&nbsp; </li>
 </ol>Culligan of Hays - Aug. 25 - 2735 Augusta - HaysAn FDA contract investigation found no violations.Pat's Noodles - Aug. 25 - 1101 Cody - HaysAn FDA contract investigation found no violations.Starbucks - Aug. 25 - 3126 Vine Ste. 100- HaysA routine inspection found two violations.<ol>
 <li>The person in charge was replacing the trash in the trash can then started to grab clean single-use cups.&nbsp;</li><li>No paper towels or other hand drying provisions at the kitchen handwashing sink.&nbsp; </li>
 </ol>Tractor Supply Co. - Aug. 25 - 235 48th - HaysA routine inspection found no violations.Whiskey Creek - Aug. 25 - 3203 Vine - HaysA routine inspection found six violations.<ol>
 <li>In the bar area, there was a container of Hornitos Reposado Teququla that had a flying insect present inside with the liquor.&nbsp;</li><li>In the produce walk-in cooler, there was an open container of raw bacon that was being stored on a wire rack directly above 20 lbs of covered butter. No evidence of leaking was observed.&nbsp; </li><li>In the produce walk-in cooler, there was an opened container of milk and a container of cream cheese with no dates of when they were opened.&nbsp; </li><li>In the produce walk-in cooler, there were two pans of BBQ Baked Beans with a date of 8-18-20.&nbsp; </li><li>In the dry storage area, there were 6 plastic food grade containers that had imperfections present along the base, top, and bottom of the containers.&nbsp; </li><li>In the banquet area, there was a spray bottle with a pinkish liquid with no labeling present.&nbsp; </li>
 </ol>

Ellis Co. restaurant and lodging inspections 8/24 ⁠–  8/30

On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with U.S. Marshall Ron Miller.

<div><iframe title="Forward Ever: U.S. Marshall Ron Miller" height="400" width="400" style="border: none;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/media/player/q6qxt-e98fa3?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 U.S. Marshall Ron Miller.

🎤Forward Ever: U.S. Marshall Ron Miller

Clarified 12:30 p.m. Monday: Figures provided by the Hays Police Department in the second paragraph were incorrect. The story has been updated below.

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

Domestic violence has risen sharply locally since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hays Police Chief Don Scheibler said Hays has had 82 reported cases of domestic violence to date in the city compared to 83 through August 2019. Last year through August, HPD arrested 52 people for domestic violence. To date in 2020, HPD has arrested 53 people on domestic violence charges.

Over the weekend, HPD handled two cases involving relationship violence.

Early Saturday morning a 22-year-old man&nbsp;broke into a residence of a female acquaintance while brandishing a knife. The suspect reportedly attacked a 21-year-old male and the 21-year-old female acquaintance inside the residence, according to the HPD.

The male victim grabbed a knife and defended the occupants of the home, the HPD said.

In a separate incident, early Monday morning in Hays officers responded to an incident involving a 21-year-old male suspect. The suspect reportedly struck a female victim, with whom he had been in a prior relationship, in the head with his fist.

The suspect also allegedly was observed jumping on the windshield of the victim's vehicle, causing damage to the hood, roof and windshield. The suspect was later arrested on domestic battery and other charges.

"We knew going into this that this was going to potentially be a problem," Scheibler said of the increase in domestic violence cases.

He said families are dealing with the additional financial, health and child care stress. They may have been laid off or can't go to work because of a quarantine.

Although domestic violence reports have increased, Scheibler said he believes there may be even more cases that are not getting reported.

"With all of the COVID restrictions going on and people being isolated and the financial challenges people are facing," Scheibler said, "I think people are going to be less likely to call for help, to call for assistance, less likely to call law enforcement when there is domestic violence in the household, because they know someone may get arrested and somebody might not be able to live at the house any more."

He said he is concerned if victims are reluctant to report violence, officers may find themselves being called to more intense and violent incidents when they finally are reported.

"The violence is not going to go away, once it starts," Scheibler said. "It is only going to escalate and get worse. If they don't call, bad things are going to happen."

Jennifer Hecker, director of Options Domestic and Sexual Violence Services, said the agency has also seen a significant increase in both calls to its domestic violence hotline and services offered.

Between late March and Aug. 26, Options recorded a 42 percent increase in calls to its hotline. The hotline has received 492 calls since late March compared to 488 calls for all of 2019.

Hecker also said she believes increases in stressors as a result of the pandemic are factors in the jump in domestic violence reports. She also said the pandemic has resulted in violence escalating more quickly, violence being more severe and abuse cases being more complex.

People are no longer able to stay apart as long, Hecker said.

"Before COVID, there was at least a respite while one or both of them were at work. Now with COVID, that is becoming more and more difficult for survivors," Hecker said.

Survivors have needed more counseling ,as well as housing and financial assistance, she said. She only expects those needs to continue to increase.

"We have worked with a number of clients who were in the process of saving money to leave and have had to put that on hold because maybe they have been laid off or they have had a work slow down or the opportunities for them to pick up extra shifts or do other things are just not there," she said.

"They are having to make the very difficult decision to stay in an unsafe environment because they just don't have the financial resources that they need to leave and stay gone."

Hecker emphasized Options' services are still open and available. The shelter is open. If the shelter is full or survivor and his or her children need to quarantine, Options can provide a hotel room.

"We don't want to think because someone is sick with COVID or something else that they can't get services," Hecker said. "They absolutely can. We will not turn anyone away.

"I think abusers are using COVID as a way to continue or as a new tactic to control and coerce their victims," she said.

Masks are required in the building, but Options' office in Hays is open. 

Options covers an 18-county region&nbsp;in northwest Kansas, including Cheyenne, Rawlins, Decatur, Norton, Phillips, Smith, Sherman, Thomas, Sheridan, Graham, Rooks, Osborne, Wallace, Logan, Gove, Trego, Ellis and Russell counties.

If survivors can't get to the Options office, an advocate can come to them.

Options has also added a mobile app for download on Android and Apple devices as well as a chat function on its <a href="https://help4abuse.org/">website</a> to allow survivors to communicate silently and confidentially with advocates. Download "My Mobile Options" for free.

Visit the Options website&nbsp;<a href="https://help4abuse.org/">https://help4abuse.org/</a>. Look for the vertical yellow chat tab at the left of the homepage. Call 1-800-794-4624 or text "HOPE" to 847411 for a live chat. Advocates are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and will respond immediately, Hecker said.

If abuser and victims are together all of the time because of layoffs or quarantine, victims might not have the opportunity to make a phone call, leave the home or have an advocate come to them, Hecker said. The new chat and text options give victims a silent, private means to contact an advocate.

Options is also planning to start offering some telemedicine services in September. That project is being supported through federal Ellis County CARES funds.

&nbsp;"People will be able to enhance safety planning with victims, help them work through housing," Hecker said. "If they want to leave and the time is right and safe, [an advocate can help them] determine what is safe, where can I go and what is next. In society, we often say, 'Just leave, and we will figure out the rest.'"

Financial assistance is available to survivors, including security deposits and first month's rent.&nbsp;

COVID-19 has caused a fear of the unknown, which has made coping more difficult for everyone in the community, Hecker said.

"It feels what is happening in our communities across our service area is that seething, simmering anger, almost like a powder keg just waiting for just one little spark to ignite," she said. "We've seen that across the country. It is palpable. You can feel it."

She continue, "There is a lot of fear — fear of getting sick, fear of if I leave, where will I go, fear of staying, how will I manage a court case if I report to police. I think there are a lot of unknowns. Is the shelter house safe for my family if I go there?"

Options is taking precautions at the shelter, including decreasing the number of people per room to promote social distancing.

Officials are preparing for a further spike in domestic violence, child abuse, sexual assault, dating violence and stalking reports as children and college students are back in school after five months, Hecker said.

School officials are mandatory reporters of abuse, and they may start to have children report to them they have experienced or seen abuse at home, Hecker said.

Cover image credit www.canstockphoto.com

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574879714579.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Clarified 12:30 p.m. Monday: Figures provided by the Hays Police Department in the second paragraph were incorrect. The story has been updated below.By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostDomestic violence has risen sharply locally since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.Hays Police Chief Don Scheibler said Hays has had 82 reported cases of domestic violence to date in the city compared to 83 through August 2019. Last year through August, HPD arrested 52 people for domestic violence. To date in 2020, HPD has arrested 53 people on domestic violence charges.<h2>Recent cases of violence in Hays</h2>Over the weekend, HPD handled two cases involving relationship violence.Early Saturday morning a 22-year-old man&nbsp;broke into a residence of a female acquaintance while brandishing a knife. The suspect reportedly attacked a 21-year-old male and the 21-year-old female acquaintance inside the residence, according to the HPD.The male victim grabbed a knife and defended the occupants of the home, the HPD said.In a separate incident, early Monday morning in Hays officers responded to an incident involving a 21-year-old male suspect. The suspect reportedly struck a female victim, with whom he had been in a prior relationship, in the head with his fist.The suspect also allegedly was observed jumping on the windshield of the victim's vehicle, causing damage to the hood, roof and windshield. The suspect was later arrested on domestic battery and other charges."We knew going into this that this was going to potentially be a problem," Scheibler said of the increase in domestic violence cases.<h2>Added stressors at home</h2>He said families are dealing with the additional financial, health and child care stress. They may have been laid off or can't go to work because of a quarantine.Although domestic violence reports have increased, Scheibler said he believes there may be even more cases that are not getting reported."With all of the COVID restrictions going on and people being isolated and the financial challenges people are facing," Scheibler said, "I think people are going to be less likely to call for help, to call for assistance, less likely to call law enforcement when there is domestic violence in the household, because they know someone may get arrested and somebody might not be able to live at the house any more."He said he is concerned if victims are reluctant to report violence, officers may find themselves being called to more intense and violent incidents when they finally are reported."The violence is not going to go away, once it starts," Scheibler said. "It is only going to escalate and get worse. If they don't call, bad things are going to happen."<h2>No respite for victims</h2>Jennifer Hecker, director of Options Domestic and Sexual Violence Services, said the agency has also seen a significant increase in both calls to its domestic violence hotline and services offered.Between late March and Aug. 26, Options recorded a 42 percent increase in calls to its hotline. The hotline has received 492 calls since late March compared to 488 calls for all of 2019.Hecker also said she believes increases in stressors as a result of the pandemic are factors in the jump in domestic violence reports. She also said the pandemic has resulted in violence escalating more quickly, violence being more severe and abuse cases being more complex.People are no longer able to stay apart as long, Hecker said."Before COVID, there was at least a respite while one or both of them were at work. Now with COVID, that is becoming more and more difficult for survivors," Hecker said.Survivors have needed more counseling ,as well as housing and financial assistance, she said. She only expects those needs to continue to increase."We have worked with a number of clients who were in the process of saving money to leave and have had to put that on hold because maybe they have been laid off or they have had a work slow down or the opportunities for them to pick up extra shifts or do other things are just not there," she said."They are having to make the very difficult decision to stay in an unsafe environment because they just don't have the financial resources that they need to leave and stay gone."<h2>Help still available</h2>Hecker emphasized Options' services are still open and available. The shelter is open. If the shelter is full or survivor and his or her children need to quarantine, Options can provide a hotel room."We don't want to think because someone is sick with COVID or something else that they can't get services," Hecker said. "They absolutely can. We will not turn anyone away."I think abusers are using COVID as a way to continue or as a new tactic to control and coerce their victims," she said.Masks are required in the building, but Options' office in Hays is open. Options covers an 18-county region&nbsp;in northwest Kansas, including Cheyenne, Rawlins, Decatur, Norton, Phillips, Smith, Sherman, Thomas, Sheridan, Graham, Rooks, Osborne, Wallace, Logan, Gove, Trego, Ellis and Russell counties.If survivors can't get to the Options office, an advocate can come to them.Options has also added a mobile app for download on Android and Apple devices as well as a chat function on its <a href="https://help4abuse.org/">website</a> to allow survivors to communicate silently and confidentially with advocates. Download "My Mobile Options" for free.Visit the Options website&nbsp;<a href="https://help4abuse.org/">https://help4abuse.org/</a>. Look for the vertical yellow chat tab at the left of the homepage. Call 1-800-794-4624 or text "HOPE" to 847411 for a live chat. Advocates are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and will respond immediately, Hecker said.If abuser and victims are together all of the time because of layoffs or quarantine, victims might not have the opportunity to make a phone call, leave the home or have an advocate come to them, Hecker said. The new chat and text options give victims a silent, private means to contact an advocate.Options is also planning to start offering some telemedicine services in September. That project is being supported through federal Ellis County CARES funds.&nbsp;"People will be able to enhance safety planning with victims, help them work through housing," Hecker said. "If they want to leave and the time is right and safe, [an advocate can help them] determine what is safe, where can I go and what is next. In society, we often say, 'Just leave, and we will figure out the rest.'"Financial assistance is available to survivors, including security deposits and first month's rent.&nbsp;<h2>Fear of the unknown</h2>COVID-19 has caused a fear of the unknown, which has made coping more difficult for everyone in the community, Hecker said."It feels what is happening in our communities across our service area is that seething, simmering anger, almost like a powder keg just waiting for just one little spark to ignite," she said. "We've seen that across the country. It is palpable. You can feel it."She continue, "There is a lot of fear — fear of getting sick, fear of if I leave, where will I go, fear of staying, how will I manage a court case if I report to police. I think there are a lot of unknowns. Is the shelter house safe for my family if I go there?"Options is taking precautions at the shelter, including decreasing the number of people per room to promote social distancing.<h2>Further increases expected</h2>Officials are preparing for a further spike in domestic violence, child abuse, sexual assault, dating violence and stalking reports as children and college students are back in school after five months, Hecker said.School officials are mandatory reporters of abuse, and they may start to have children report to them they have experienced or seen abuse at home, Hecker said.Cover image credit www.canstockphoto.com

Domestic violence spikes in Hays area during pandemic

Update 8/31/20: The restaurant has reopened for carryout and delivery, however will close daily at 9 p.m.

A Hays restaurant is temporarily closed due to positive COVID-19 test results.

Taco Shop, 333 W. Eighth, will remain closed for an undetermined amount of time as employees are waiting to complete COVID-19 testing — following positive tests of other staff members, according to Bob Long, manager.

The length of the closure will depend on testing results and could run from a few days to two weeks.

Update 8/31/20: The restaurant has reopened for carryout and delivery, however will close daily at 9 p.m.Hays PostA Hays restaurant is temporarily closed due to positive COVID-19 test results.Taco Shop, 333 W. Eighth, will remain closed for an undetermined amount of time as employees are waiting to complete COVID-19 testing — following positive tests of other staff members, according to Bob Long, manager.The length of the closure will depend on testing results and could run from a few days to two weeks.

UPDATE: Taco Shop reopens after temporary COVID-19 closure

Downtown Hays Development Corporation wants to
introduce you to a brand new experience on The Bricks, Dining with Downtown.

During this inaugural event, guests will be delighted with a
delicious meal inside their very own, unique Downtown venue. A venue that one
usually wouldn't dine it. Every experience will be a little different, and the
business owners are excited to spoil and pamper guests with beautiful
tablescapes and personalized gifts.

From appetizer to dessert, each of the four courses will feature
Downtown restaurants. 

Appetizers: Antipasto platter featuring artichoke hearts,
kalamata olives, hummus, grilled flatbread, mozzarella cheese, bruschetta,
crostini, and salami.

Presented by The Press Craft Kitchen and Cocktails

Salad: Mixed Green salad
with Green Goddess dressing.

Entree: 6oz Filet of Beef with demi merlot sauce, roasted
rosemary potatoes, and whole maple glazed carrots.

Dessert: Your choice of mini chocolate bundt cake with fresh
raspberries, whipped cream, and chocolate drizzle - or - turtle fudge
cheesecake with rich chocolate, chopped pecans, and caramel drizzle.

Alcohol is included in the dinner and will be personalized to
each table's preference. To end the evening, each guest will go home with a
customized gift from their venue of choice. 

"One of the primary goals of this event is to create the
social interaction that everyone needs while promoting physical
distancing," Allie Glidewell DHDC Director of Events said. "For this
reason, individual tickets will not be sold. Instead, we will be auctioning
full tables. We hope this ensures guests are dining with someone they already
know and are comfortable being in close contact with.”

The auction will run from August 31 at 8:00 a.m. through Sept.
11 at 8:00pm. Only 11 locations will be available. No more than eight people
will be seated at each table. Some locations may offer more than one table,
some will sit less than eight. These 11 "Dining with" items will all
take place at the same date and time, Sept. 25 at 6 p.m., as part of the
overall Dining with Downtown event.

"We're just so excited about this concept," Sara
Bloom, DHDC Executive Director said. "It's going to be such a fun
experience to be able to look out of the windows of say, Furniture Look or
Refine and see other diners enjoying the same but different dining adventure."


To add to the evening's ambiance, guests will also have the
opportunity to bid on three signature items. Bidding will be exclusive to only
those in attendance. Items will be an Elegant Dinner for 8 donated by Joslyn
Brungardt, a Private Dinner for 12 donated by Gella's Diner and Lb. Brewing,
and a Special Dinner and Drink Package for 6 donated by The Press Craft Kitchen
and Cocktails. Each of these items were chosen because each offers a personal
interaction
with your chef(s) in an intimate setting.

"DHDC has found it necessary to cancel several of our
events this year, including our annual auction," Bloom said. "We
wanted a way to bring people Downtown while hosting a fundraiser for DHDC.
Dining with Downtown felt like an appealing way to do just that. We owe the
whole idea to Norman and Sandy Keller at Regeena's Flowers. They approached us
about having a table inside their boutique and it has blossomed from
there."

DHDC aims to keep our community energized about Downtown. There
are many incredible places to be found. We hope to showcase many of them with
the unique experience that Dining with Downtown offers. 

When you visit the online auction site,
<a href="http://www.32auctions.com/downtownhays">www.32auctions.com/downtownhays</a>, you'll find more than just the 11 "Dining
with" items. Thanks to many generous donors, items such as a sapphire pear
shaped cocktail ring, other dining experiences, spa packages, gift baskets,
gift cards, and more will also be available.

For more information, please visit www.downtownhays.com or reach
out to Allie Glidewell at 785.621.4171 or allie@downtownhays.com

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598648594840.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><div><iframe title="New DHDC events scheduled after Brews on the Bricks cancelled" height="122" width="100%" style="border: none;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/media/player/hrzab-e7fe90?from=pb6admin&download=1&version=1&auto=1&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Helvetica&skin=3&pfauth=&btn-skin=101"></iframe></div>SubmittedDowntown Hays Development Corporation wants to
introduce you to a brand new experience on The Bricks, Dining with Downtown.During this inaugural event, guests will be delighted with a
delicious meal inside their very own, unique Downtown venue. A venue that one
usually wouldn't dine it. Every experience will be a little different, and the
business owners are excited to spoil and pamper guests with beautiful
tablescapes and personalized gifts.From appetizer to dessert, each of the four courses will feature
Downtown restaurants. Appetizers: Antipasto platter featuring artichoke hearts,
kalamata olives, hummus, grilled flatbread, mozzarella cheese, bruschetta,
crostini, and salami.Presented by The Press Craft Kitchen and CocktailsSalad: Mixed Green salad
with Green Goddess dressing.Presented by Gella's DinerEntree: 6oz Filet of Beef with demi merlot sauce, roasted
rosemary potatoes, and whole maple glazed carrots.Presented by The Press Craft Kitchen and CocktailsDessert: Your choice of mini chocolate bundt cake with fresh
raspberries, whipped cream, and chocolate drizzle - or - turtle fudge
cheesecake with rich chocolate, chopped pecans, and caramel drizzle.Presented by Augustine's BakeryAlcohol is included in the dinner and will be personalized to
each table's preference. To end the evening, each guest will go home with a
customized gift from their venue of choice. "One of the primary goals of this event is to create the
social interaction that everyone needs while promoting physical
distancing," Allie Glidewell DHDC Director of Events said. "For this
reason, individual tickets will not be sold. Instead, we will be auctioning
full tables. We hope this ensures guests are dining with someone they already
know and are comfortable being in close contact with.”The auction will run from August 31 at 8:00 a.m. through Sept.
11 at 8:00pm. Only 11 locations will be available. No more than eight people
will be seated at each table. Some locations may offer more than one table,
some will sit less than eight. These 11 "Dining with" items will all
take place at the same date and time, Sept. 25 at 6 p.m., as part of the
overall Dining with Downtown event."We're just so excited about this concept," Sara
Bloom, DHDC Executive Director said. "It's going to be such a fun
experience to be able to look out of the windows of say, Furniture Look or
Refine and see other diners enjoying the same but different dining adventure."
To add to the evening's ambiance, guests will also have the
opportunity to bid on three signature items. Bidding will be exclusive to only
those in attendance. Items will be an Elegant Dinner for 8 donated by Joslyn
Brungardt, a Private Dinner for 12 donated by Gella's Diner and Lb. Brewing,
and a Special Dinner and Drink Package for 6 donated by The Press Craft Kitchen
and Cocktails. Each of these items were chosen because each offers a personal
interaction
with your chef(s) in an intimate setting."DHDC has found it necessary to cancel several of our
events this year, including our annual auction," Bloom said. "We
wanted a way to bring people Downtown while hosting a fundraiser for DHDC.
Dining with Downtown felt like an appealing way to do just that. We owe the
whole idea to Norman and Sandy Keller at Regeena's Flowers. They approached us
about having a table inside their boutique and it has blossomed from
there."DHDC aims to keep our community energized about Downtown. There
are many incredible places to be found. We hope to showcase many of them with
the unique experience that Dining with Downtown offers. When you visit the online auction site,
<a href="http://www.32auctions.com/downtownhays">www.32auctions.com/downtownhays</a>, you'll find more than just the 11 "Dining
with" items. Thanks to many generous donors, items such as a sapphire pear
shaped cocktail ring, other dining experiences, spa packages, gift baskets,
gift cards, and more will also be available.For more information, please visit www.downtownhays.com or reach
out to Allie Glidewell at 785.621.4171 or allie@downtownhays.com

🎙Experience downtown Hays like never before during Dining with Downtown

The Hays Police Department responded to 6 animal calls and conducted 9 traffic stops Thu., Aug. 20, 2020, according to the HPD Activity Log.

Domestic Disturbance--500 block E 13th St, Hays; 2:25 AM Alarm - Residential--400 block E 7th St, Hays; 4:18 AM Dead Animal Call--500
block E 17th St, Hays; 7:20 AM Theft (general)--2900 block Willow St, Hays; 8/9 8 AM; 8/11 11:59 PM Abandoned Vehicle--13th &amp; Elm
St, Hays; 9:21 AM; 10:27 AM Unwanted Person--200 block E 7th St, Hays; 10:55 AM; 11:46 AM Dead Animal Call--13th
and Elm St, Hays; 11:11 AM MV
Accident-Hit and Run--3500 block Fort St, Hays; 11 AM; 11:40 AM Shoplifting--1900 block Vine St, Hays; 8/19 10:50 AM; 11:30 AM Criminal Trespass--4300 block Vine St, Hays; 11:49 AM Drug Offenses--3800 block Vine St, Hays; 11:51 AM Shoplifting--1900 block Vine St, Hays; 8/13 10:10 AM; 10:45 AM Shoplifting--1900 block Vine St, Hays; 8/7 9:35 AM; 9:36&nbsp;AM Shoplifting--1900 block Vine St, Hays; 7/31 11:27 AM; 11:50 AM Shoplifting--1900 block Vine St, Hays; 7/31 3:11 PM; 3:45 PM Shoplifting--1900 block Vine St, Hays; 7/23 11:27 AM; 12 PM Shoplifting--1900 block Vine St, Hays; 7/14&nbsp; 3:11 PM; 3:50 PM Animal Call--600 block Oak St, Hays; 1:27 PM Identity Theft--200 block W 38th St, Hays; 1:36 PM Welfare Check--100 block E 16th St, Hays; 3:13 PM Harassment (All Other)--2100 block E 21st St, Hays; 12:15 PM; 3 PM Intoxicated Subject--2700 block Thunderbird Dr, Hays; 3:42 PM Suspicious Activity--2900 block Vine St, Hays; 5:49 PM Shoplifting--1900 block Vine St, Hays; 7/8 3:06 PM; 3:56 PM Mental Health Call--2800 block Indian Trl, Hay; 6:41 PM MV Accident-Personal Injury--20th and Allen, Hays; 7 PM Disturbance - Noise--100 block Ash St, Hay; 8:44 PM Suicidal Subject--1300 block 280th Ave, Hays; 11:10 PM Burglary/vehicle--300 block W 16th St, Hays; 11 PM

The Hays Police Department responded to 5 animal calls and conducted 19 traffic stops Fri., Aug. 21, 2020, according to the HPD Activity Log.

Battery - Domestic--100 block W 7th St, Hays; 12:50 AM; 12:58 AM Mental Health Call--1300 block Oak St, Hays; 4:16 AM Burglary/residence--500 block E 8th St, Hays; 5:45 AM; 6:15 AM Counterfeit currency/documents--300 block W 8th St, Hays; 11:08 PM Animal
At Large--400 block W 12th St, Hays; 9:53 AM Dead Animal Call--2900 block Broadway Ave, Hays; 10:31 AM Abandoned Vehicle--800 block Ash St, Hays; 10:29 AM Domestic Disturbance--1000 block E 8th St, Hays; 11:44 AM Sex Offense--3000 block E 14th St, Hays; 8/1; 8/20 False/Altered ID --300 block W 8th St, Hays; 12:34 PM Animal At Large--1500 block Milner St, Hays; 2:32 PM MV Accident-Private Property--100 block E 13th St, Hays; 8/18 7:30 AM; 8/21 4:09 PM Animal Call--600 block Elm St, Hays; 8:09 PM Civil Dispute--900 block Walnut St, Hays; 8:40 PM Theft (general)--1900 block Vine St, Hays; 9:28 PM Minor in Possession of CMB/LIQ--300 block W 6th St, Hays; 10:52 PM

The Hays Police Department responded to 7 animal calls and conducted 15 traffic stops Sat., Aug. 22, 2020, according to the HPD Activity Log.

Drug Offenses--700 block Park St, Hays; 12:08 AM Intoxicated Subject--700 block Fort St, Hays; 1:54 AM Criminal Trespass--200 block W
15th St, Hays; 3:13 AM Attempted homicide--200 block W 15th St, Hays; 4:06 AM; 4:11 AM MV Accident-Hit and Run--2200 block Walnut St, Hays; 8/21 11 PM; 8/22 8:50 AM Assist - Other (not MV)--1000 block Reservation Rd, Hays; 10:18 AM MV Accident-City Street/Alley--100 block E 16th St,
Hays; 10:25 AM Unattended Death--2900 block Hillcrest Dr, Hays; 10:31 AM; 11:05 AM Animal At Large--200 block W 7th St, Hays; 12:31 PM Animal Call--900 block Walnut
St, Hays; 12:53 PM Animal At
Large--400 block W 4th St, Hays; 1:32 PM Criminal Damage to Property--300 block W 7th St, Hays; 4 AM; 7 PM Noise--3300 block Hall St, Hays; 3:44 PM Criminal Transport--100 block W 12th St, Hays; 6:29 AM

The Hays Police Department responded to 6 animal calls and conducted 15 traffic stops Sun., Aug. 23, 2020, according to the HPD Activity Log.

Welfare Check--1900 block Vine St, Hays; 12:24 AM Criminal Damage to Property--200 block W 7th St, Hays; 1:10 AM Lost Animals ONLY--400 block W 8th St, Hay; 1:32 AM Criminal
Damage to Property--500 block W 7th St, Hays; 1:47 AM Disturbance - General--900 block Walnut St, Hays; 1:58 AM Driving Under the Influence--1300 block Vine St,
Hays; 2:53 AM Found/Lost
Property--2400 block Vine St, Hays; 3:24 AM Found/Lost Property--3600 block Vine St, Hays; 7:05 AM Lost Animals ONLY--500 block Canal Blvd, Hay; 10:39 AM Lost Animals ONLY--1000 block Reservation Rd, Hays; 10:58 AM Lost Animals ONLY--500 block E 20th St, Hay; 12:01 PM Battery - simple--2700 block Canal Blvd, Hays; 12:23 PM MV Accident-City Street/Alley--Hays; 3:01 PM Burglary/storage unit--1100 block E 22nd
St, Hays; 4:07 PM Mental Health Call--1300 block Oak St, Hays; 5:13 PM Drug Offenses--1300 block E 33rd St, Hay; 5:58 PM Mental Health Call--1300 block Oak St, Hays; 7:24 PM Welfare Check--400 block W 4th St, Hays; 9:18 PM Drug Offenses--300 block W 8th
St, Hays; 10:21 PM; 11:09 PM\

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1592410704431.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The Hays Police Department responded to 6 animal calls and conducted 9 traffic stops Thu., Aug. 20, 2020, according to the HPD Activity Log.Domestic Disturbance--500 block E 13th St, Hays; 2:25 AM Alarm - Residential--400 block E 7th St, Hays; 4:18 AM Dead Animal Call--500
block E 17th St, Hays; 7:20 AM Theft (general)--2900 block Willow St, Hays; 8/9 8 AM; 8/11 11:59 PM Abandoned Vehicle--13th &amp; Elm
St, Hays; 9:21 AM; 10:27 AM Unwanted Person--200 block E 7th St, Hays; 10:55 AM; 11:46 AM Dead Animal Call--13th
and Elm St, Hays; 11:11 AM MV
Accident-Hit and Run--3500 block Fort St, Hays; 11 AM; 11:40 AM Shoplifting--1900 block Vine St, Hays; 8/19 10:50 AM; 11:30 AM Criminal Trespass--4300 block Vine St, Hays; 11:49 AM Drug Offenses--3800 block Vine St, Hays; 11:51 AM Shoplifting--1900 block Vine St, Hays; 8/13 10:10 AM; 10:45 AM Shoplifting--1900 block Vine St, Hays; 8/7 9:35 AM; 9:36&nbsp;AM Shoplifting--1900 block Vine St, Hays; 7/31 11:27 AM; 11:50 AM Shoplifting--1900 block Vine St, Hays; 7/31 3:11 PM; 3:45 PM Shoplifting--1900 block Vine St, Hays; 7/23 11:27 AM; 12 PM Shoplifting--1900 block Vine St, Hays; 7/14&nbsp; 3:11 PM; 3:50 PM Animal Call--600 block Oak St, Hays; 1:27 PM Identity Theft--200 block W 38th St, Hays; 1:36 PM Welfare Check--100 block E 16th St, Hays; 3:13 PM Harassment (All Other)--2100 block E 21st St, Hays; 12:15 PM; 3 PM Intoxicated Subject--2700 block Thunderbird Dr, Hays; 3:42 PM Suspicious Activity--2900 block Vine St, Hays; 5:49 PM Shoplifting--1900 block Vine St, Hays; 7/8 3:06 PM; 3:56 PM Mental Health Call--2800 block Indian Trl, Hay; 6:41 PM MV Accident-Personal Injury--20th and Allen, Hays; 7 PM Disturbance - Noise--100 block Ash St, Hay; 8:44 PM Suicidal Subject--1300 block 280th Ave, Hays; 11:10 PM Burglary/vehicle--300 block W 16th St, Hays; 11 PMThe Hays Police Department responded to 5 animal calls and conducted 19 traffic stops Fri., Aug. 21, 2020, according to the HPD Activity Log.Battery - Domestic--100 block W 7th St, Hays; 12:50 AM; 12:58 AM Mental Health Call--1300 block Oak St, Hays; 4:16 AM Burglary/residence--500 block E 8th St, Hays; 5:45 AM; 6:15 AM Counterfeit currency/documents--300 block W 8th St, Hays; 11:08 PM Animal
At Large--400 block W 12th St, Hays; 9:53 AM Dead Animal Call--2900 block Broadway Ave, Hays; 10:31 AM Abandoned Vehicle--800 block Ash St, Hays; 10:29 AM Domestic Disturbance--1000 block E 8th St, Hays; 11:44 AM Sex Offense--3000 block E 14th St, Hays; 8/1; 8/20 False/Altered ID --300 block W 8th St, Hays; 12:34 PM Animal At Large--1500 block Milner St, Hays; 2:32 PM MV Accident-Private Property--100 block E 13th St, Hays; 8/18 7:30 AM; 8/21 4:09 PM Animal Call--600 block Elm St, Hays; 8:09 PM Civil Dispute--900 block Walnut St, Hays; 8:40 PM Theft (general)--1900 block Vine St, Hays; 9:28 PM Minor in Possession of CMB/LIQ--300 block W 6th St, Hays; 10:52 PMThe Hays Police Department responded to 7 animal calls and conducted 15 traffic stops Sat., Aug. 22, 2020, according to the HPD Activity Log.Drug Offenses--700 block Park St, Hays; 12:08 AM Intoxicated Subject--700 block Fort St, Hays; 1:54 AM Criminal Trespass--200 block W
15th St, Hays; 3:13 AM Attempted homicide--200 block W 15th St, Hays; 4:06 AM; 4:11 AM MV Accident-Hit and Run--2200 block Walnut St, Hays; 8/21 11 PM; 8/22 8:50 AM Assist - Other (not MV)--1000 block Reservation Rd, Hays; 10:18 AM MV Accident-City Street/Alley--100 block E 16th St,
Hays; 10:25 AM Unattended Death--2900 block Hillcrest Dr, Hays; 10:31 AM; 11:05 AM Animal At Large--200 block W 7th St, Hays; 12:31 PM Animal Call--900 block Walnut
St, Hays; 12:53 PM Animal At
Large--400 block W 4th St, Hays; 1:32 PM Criminal Damage to Property--300 block W 7th St, Hays; 4 AM; 7 PM Noise--3300 block Hall St, Hays; 3:44 PM Criminal Transport--100 block W 12th St, Hays; 6:29 AMThe Hays Police Department responded to 6 animal calls and conducted 15 traffic stops Sun., Aug. 23, 2020, according to the HPD Activity Log.Welfare Check--1900 block Vine St, Hays; 12:24 AM Criminal Damage to Property--200 block W 7th St, Hays; 1:10 AM Lost Animals ONLY--400 block W 8th St, Hay; 1:32 AM Criminal
Damage to Property--500 block W 7th St, Hays; 1:47 AM Disturbance - General--900 block Walnut St, Hays; 1:58 AM Driving Under the Influence--1300 block Vine St,
Hays; 2:53 AM Found/Lost
Property--2400 block Vine St, Hays; 3:24 AM Found/Lost Property--3600 block Vine St, Hays; 7:05 AM Lost Animals ONLY--500 block Canal Blvd, Hay; 10:39 AM Lost Animals ONLY--1000 block Reservation Rd, Hays; 10:58 AM Lost Animals ONLY--500 block E 20th St, Hay; 12:01 PM Battery - simple--2700 block Canal Blvd, Hays; 12:23 PM MV Accident-City Street/Alley--Hays; 3:01 PM Burglary/storage unit--1100 block E 22nd
St, Hays; 4:07 PM Mental Health Call--1300 block Oak St, Hays; 5:13 PM Drug Offenses--1300 block E 33rd St, Hay; 5:58 PM Mental Health Call--1300 block Oak St, Hays; 7:24 PM Welfare Check--400 block W 4th St, Hays; 9:18 PM Drug Offenses--300 block W 8th
St, Hays; 10:21 PM; 11:09 PM\<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1592410704431.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;

HPD activity log, Aug. 20-23 

Three-day weather outlook

Are you thinking about purchasing an air fryer as your next small kitchen appliance? Or perhaps you have one but are unsure of its many uses. Mark your calendar for Wednesday, September 2nd and join us at the Great Bend Activity Center, 2715 18th Street, for a free educational program titled, “Healthy Air Fryer Cooking.” Jen Webster, Pawnee County Family &amp; Consumer Science Agent, will share her tips for using an air fryer successfully. This busy mom and Extension educator is excited about the versatility of this small appliance that can cut out some of the fat that is used in traditional cooking methods.

I have resisted purchasing an air fryer so far. After all, I have enough things taking up space on my kitchen counter without adding another small appliance. I have received numerous questions about using an air fryer, so I am happy that Jen accepted my invitation to share her experiences preparing food in an air fryer.&nbsp;

So what is an air fryer? An air fryer does not fry food like deep frying or pan frying does – it is more like oven fried. It is basically a little hot air chamber convection oven. It cooks a little faster, distributes heat more evenly, and suspends food in a perforated basket. It can really speed things up, allowing a person to prepare good food quickly.

Most air fryers do not need to preheat, so that saves time. They also cook food quickly, so in warmer climates, they won’t heat up the kitchen the way the oven can. Basically anything you can bake you can make in an air fryer. Various meats are cooked to a perfect temperature, and they remain juicy and tender. Air fryers are also great for cooking most vegetables. A light spritz of olive oil will help your veggies to brown and become crispy. Most veggies are done in under 10 minutes according to my sources.&nbsp;

I heard Jen share that air fryers are also great for reheating leftovers, especially pizza. It revives it and makes it crispy. Jen will share some of her favorite foods to prepare in her air fryer. Her presentation will also include features to keep in mind if you are in the market to purchase an air fryer.&nbsp;

The program Wednesday is free and open to everyone. I hope to see you there!

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1593016082485.png" alt="Donna Krug is the District Director and Family &amp; Consumer Science Agent in the Cottonwood Extension District – Great Bend office." />
 <figcaption>Donna Krug is the District Director and Family &amp; Consumer Science Agent in the Cottonwood Extension District – Great Bend office.</figcaption>
 </figure>Are you thinking about purchasing an air fryer as your next small kitchen appliance? Or perhaps you have one but are unsure of its many uses. Mark your calendar for Wednesday, September 2nd and join us at the Great Bend Activity Center, 2715 18th Street, for a free educational program titled, “Healthy Air Fryer Cooking.” Jen Webster, Pawnee County Family &amp; Consumer Science Agent, will share her tips for using an air fryer successfully. This busy mom and Extension educator is excited about the versatility of this small appliance that can cut out some of the fat that is used in traditional cooking methods.I have resisted purchasing an air fryer so far. After all, I have enough things taking up space on my kitchen counter without adding another small appliance. I have received numerous questions about using an air fryer, so I am happy that Jen accepted my invitation to share her experiences preparing food in an air fryer.&nbsp;So what is an air fryer? An air fryer does not fry food like deep frying or pan frying does – it is more like oven fried. It is basically a little hot air chamber convection oven. It cooks a little faster, distributes heat more evenly, and suspends food in a perforated basket. It can really speed things up, allowing a person to prepare good food quickly.Most air fryers do not need to preheat, so that saves time. They also cook food quickly, so in warmer climates, they won’t heat up the kitchen the way the oven can. Basically anything you can bake you can make in an air fryer. Various meats are cooked to a perfect temperature, and they remain juicy and tender. Air fryers are also great for cooking most vegetables. A light spritz of olive oil will help your veggies to brown and become crispy. Most veggies are done in under 10 minutes according to my sources.&nbsp;I heard Jen share that air fryers are also great for reheating leftovers, especially pizza. It revives it and makes it crispy. Jen will share some of her favorite foods to prepare in her air fryer. Her presentation will also include features to keep in mind if you are in the market to purchase an air fryer.&nbsp;The program Wednesday is free and open to everyone. I hope to see you there!Donna Krug is the District Director and Family &amp; Consumer Science Agent in the Cottonwood Extension District – Great Bend office. You may reach her at: (620) 793-1910 or <a href="mailto:dkrug@ksu.edu">dkrug@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;

KRUG: Healthy air fryer cooking program

I’m always raving about all the wildlife and outdoor adventures we have here in Kansas, but much like an inverse bucket list, there are also things I’m glad we DON’T have here. The other night I watched a TV show about the Florida Everglades. The host of the show was there to try and catch a monster everglades bull shark, and as sort of a rite-of-passage, his local guides made him first swim with alligators and then help them catch a huge python snake which are an invasive species to the everglades and are wreaking havoc with its fragile ecosystem. In years past, I’ve trapped muskrats in the McPherson Valley wetlands just outside Inman, which can involve wading around in marshes of cattails taller than I am that look a little like areas of the Everglades. I’m eternally grateful I don’t have to keep my eyes peeled for gators’ and pythons; geez, I’m glad we don’t have those in Kansas.

I think Joyce and I must have been storm chasers in a previous life; when the tornado sirens blare and the TV weathers guys are yellin’ at us to get in our storm cellars or go to the basement, we’re bustin’ out lawn chairs and watching for the twister. Some of the memories I’ll take with me to the grave are pictures and news footage showing cities and states ravaged by hurricanes like Katrina, and of the huge devastating walls of water produced by tsunamis as they wash cars and buildings through the streets of seaside countries like Haiti. So as much as I’d like to own some ocean front property outside Inman, I’ll take the occasional tornado that can wipe out parts of towns along its way over a hurricane or tsunami that can wipe out the entire state; geez I’m glad we don’t have those in Kansas.

The adventure that inspired this column came from a trip a few years ago to Mesa, Arizona where Joyce and I spent time with my late father who wintered there. He had a place in a nice “snowbird park” and one of the activities he enjoyed was picking oranges, lemons and grapefruits with other guys from the park. The Mesa and Scottsdale areas are havens for citrus fruit trees. There are acres of commercial orange groves within the Mesa city limits, plus many homeowners have citrus trees in their backyards like homeowners in Kansas have apple, apricot and pear trees. And like homeowners here, many people don’t want or don’t use most of the citrus fruit from those trees. Each February a crew of guys from dad’s park would go one day each week and pick unwanted fruit for homeowners, then bag the fruit and take it back to the park and put it out for any residents who wanted it. Many of the homeowners even gave the guys gas money for picking and taking their unwanted fruit. It was a win-win deal all the way around, but the homeowners there seemed much more serious about getting rid of their unwanted oranges, lemons and grapefruit than homeowners here are about getting rid of their unwanted fruit, and I often wondered why. I found out it’s because of a rodent called a “roof rat.”&nbsp;

Roof rats are also known as black rats (but are not really black) and are slightly distinguished from other rats by the length of their tails which are longer than their bodies. Roof rats are historically thought to be the vermin that spread the Plague or Black Death during the Middle Ages. They were first noticed in Phoenix AZ in 2001, and soon became a problem throughout the area because fresh fruit and especially citrus fruit is their favorite meal. I found a website maintained by Maricopa County AZ, which contains the cities of Phoenix, Scottsdale and Mesa, called www.roofrat.net. Its mission statement reads “To help neighborhoods work, donate quality fruit and eradicate roof rats.” On a list of roof rats preferred foods, the top 6 are citrus fruits, which according to the website they will even eat off the tree. To help eradicate roof rats, the website urges homeowners to “Promptly and completely pick all fruit (ripe or not) from citrus and other fruit and nut trees, and to pick up all fallen fruit every season.” I was told that Scottsdale residents may even incur a hefty fine for not doing so. Roof rats nest in attics, hedges and even in trees.

Maybe writing this column was a lesson in just how good we Kansans have it compared to some other states. Yes, we have ticks and brown spiders which both require our respect. It can turn terribly dry or we can have earth shattering thunderstorms and tornados, but not hurricanes. We have bull snakes, rat snakes and the occasional prairie rattler, but not gators’ and pythons. We have mice, rats and pack rats (which can be a problem if not discovered,) but not roof rats to eat the fruit right off our trees and infest our neighborhoods. Geez I’m glad we don’t have those in Kansas!&nbsp;

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574696211722.png" alt="Steve&nbsp;Gilliland" />
 <figcaption>Steve&nbsp;Gilliland</figcaption>
 </figure>I’m always raving about all the wildlife and outdoor adventures we have here in Kansas, but much like an inverse bucket list, there are also things I’m glad we DON’T have here. The other night I watched a TV show about the Florida Everglades. The host of the show was there to try and catch a monster everglades bull shark, and as sort of a rite-of-passage, his local guides made him first swim with alligators and then help them catch a huge python snake which are an invasive species to the everglades and are wreaking havoc with its fragile ecosystem. In years past, I’ve trapped muskrats in the McPherson Valley wetlands just outside Inman, which can involve wading around in marshes of cattails taller than I am that look a little like areas of the Everglades. I’m eternally grateful I don’t have to keep my eyes peeled for gators’ and pythons; geez, I’m glad we don’t have those in Kansas.I think Joyce and I must have been storm chasers in a previous life; when the tornado sirens blare and the TV weathers guys are yellin’ at us to get in our storm cellars or go to the basement, we’re bustin’ out lawn chairs and watching for the twister. Some of the memories I’ll take with me to the grave are pictures and news footage showing cities and states ravaged by hurricanes like Katrina, and of the huge devastating walls of water produced by tsunamis as they wash cars and buildings through the streets of seaside countries like Haiti. So as much as I’d like to own some ocean front property outside Inman, I’ll take the occasional tornado that can wipe out parts of towns along its way over a hurricane or tsunami that can wipe out the entire state; geez I’m glad we don’t have those in Kansas.The adventure that inspired this column came from a trip a few years ago to Mesa, Arizona where Joyce and I spent time with my late father who wintered there. He had a place in a nice “snowbird park” and one of the activities he enjoyed was picking oranges, lemons and grapefruits with other guys from the park. The Mesa and Scottsdale areas are havens for citrus fruit trees. There are acres of commercial orange groves within the Mesa city limits, plus many homeowners have citrus trees in their backyards like homeowners in Kansas have apple, apricot and pear trees. And like homeowners here, many people don’t want or don’t use most of the citrus fruit from those trees. Each February a crew of guys from dad’s park would go one day each week and pick unwanted fruit for homeowners, then bag the fruit and take it back to the park and put it out for any residents who wanted it. Many of the homeowners even gave the guys gas money for picking and taking their unwanted fruit. It was a win-win deal all the way around, but the homeowners there seemed much more serious about getting rid of their unwanted oranges, lemons and grapefruit than homeowners here are about getting rid of their unwanted fruit, and I often wondered why. I found out it’s because of a rodent called a “roof rat.”&nbsp;Roof rats are also known as black rats (but are not really black) and are slightly distinguished from other rats by the length of their tails which are longer than their bodies. Roof rats are historically thought to be the vermin that spread the Plague or Black Death during the Middle Ages. They were first noticed in Phoenix AZ in 2001, and soon became a problem throughout the area because fresh fruit and especially citrus fruit is their favorite meal. I found a website maintained by Maricopa County AZ, which contains the cities of Phoenix, Scottsdale and Mesa, called www.roofrat.net. Its mission statement reads “To help neighborhoods work, donate quality fruit and eradicate roof rats.” On a list of roof rats preferred foods, the top 6 are citrus fruits, which according to the website they will even eat off the tree. To help eradicate roof rats, the website urges homeowners to “Promptly and completely pick all fruit (ripe or not) from citrus and other fruit and nut trees, and to pick up all fallen fruit every season.” I was told that Scottsdale residents may even incur a hefty fine for not doing so. Roof rats nest in attics, hedges and even in trees.Maybe writing this column was a lesson in just how good we Kansans have it compared to some other states. Yes, we have ticks and brown spiders which both require our respect. It can turn terribly dry or we can have earth shattering thunderstorms and tornados, but not hurricanes. We have bull snakes, rat snakes and the occasional prairie rattler, but not gators’ and pythons. We have mice, rats and pack rats (which can be a problem if not discovered,) but not roof rats to eat the fruit right off our trees and infest our neighborhoods. Geez I’m glad we don’t have those in Kansas!&nbsp;Steve Gilliland, Inman, can be contacted by email at stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.

Exploring Outdoors Kan.: Geez, I’m glad we don’t have those here

Beginning at 8 a.m. Monday, 19th Street at the intersection of Lincoln Drive will be closed.  The south portion of Lincoln Drive 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.

City of HaysBeginning at 8 a.m. Monday, 19th Street at the intersection of Lincoln Drive will be closed. The south portion of Lincoln Drive 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.

19th and Lincoln closed beginning Monday

The State of Kansas' executive order 20-59 and the KSHSAA have outlined procedures that will be implemented during the fall season. The following procedures have been adopted by the Mid-Continent League&nbsp; to ensure our students will have the best chance to be in school and represent their school in competition.

*** Each school may add additional restrictions for their facilities based on local health department mandates. To ensure the safety of student athletes and in an attempt to continue competition, the league or individual school may determine to limit or restrict fan attendance at anytime.

The State of Kansas' executive order 20-59 and the KSHSAA have outlined procedures that will be implemented during the fall season. The following procedures have been adopted by the Mid-Continent League&nbsp; to ensure our students will have the best chance to be in school and represent their school in competition.Indoor Events<ul>
 <li>Masks will be required to be worn by everyone except the current activity participants.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>This includes but is not limited to spectators, coaches, players on the bench, people at the score table and gate workers.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>Maintain social distancing as much as possible.</li>
 </ul>Outdoor Events<ul>
 <li>Masks will be encouraged where social distancing cannot be maintained. (For example: concession stand lines, restrooms, etc.)</li>
 </ul>Temperature Checks<ul>
 <li>Teams will need to do temperature checks prior to loading buses for away activities.</li>
 </ul>*** Each school may add additional restrictions for their facilities based on local health department mandates. To ensure the safety of student athletes and in an attempt to continue competition, the league or individual school may determine to limit or restrict fan attendance at anytime.MCL Release

MCL announces COVID-19 policy

THE SUCCESSES OF TOMORROW BEGIN TODAY, CATHOLIC EDUCATION IS A LIFETIME ADVANTAGE.&nbsp;

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS….SCHOOLS YOU CAN BELIEVE IN!!!&nbsp;

August&nbsp;31 5th&nbsp;&amp; 6th&nbsp;Gr. Parent Meeting online tonight at 7:00 p.m.&nbsp;

Sept 1 “A” Class Mass was prepared by the 6A &amp; celebrated by Fr. Brian.&nbsp; 2nd Gr. Parent Meeting online tonight at 7:00 p.m.&nbsp; WEDNESDAY&nbsp;

Sept 2 Spirit Day!&nbsp; Red Wheel Fundraiser Kickoff Day! (video to watch!)&nbsp;Students will sell food items to neighbors, family &amp; friends to raise money for the school! If we meet our school goal, there will be a special surprise!&nbsp; Admin Team Mtg. 1:30 p.m. (TBD)&nbsp;

All Staff Monthly Mtg. virtual, 3:40 p.m.&nbsp;

&nbsp;Sept 3 Memorial of St. Gregory the Great, Pope &amp; Doctor of the Church.&nbsp; “B” Class&nbsp;Mass was prepared&nbsp;by&nbsp;6B&nbsp;&amp; celebrated by Fr. Nick.&nbsp;

Sept 4 First Friday Prayer Circles in your homerooms following announcements.&nbsp; &nbsp;

SubmittedTHE SUCCESSES OF TOMORROW BEGIN TODAY, CATHOLIC EDUCATION IS A LIFETIME ADVANTAGE.&nbsp;CATHOLIC SCHOOLS….SCHOOLS YOU CAN BELIEVE IN!!!&nbsp;MONDAY&nbsp;August&nbsp;31 5th&nbsp;&amp; 6th&nbsp;Gr. Parent Meeting online tonight at 7:00 p.m.&nbsp; TUESDAY&nbsp;&nbsp;Sept 1 “A” Class Mass was prepared by the 6A &amp; celebrated by Fr. Brian.&nbsp; 2nd Gr. Parent Meeting online tonight at 7:00 p.m.&nbsp; WEDNESDAY&nbsp;Sept 2 Spirit Day!&nbsp; Red Wheel Fundraiser Kickoff Day! (video to watch!)&nbsp;Students will sell food items to neighbors, family &amp; friends to raise money for the school! If we meet our school goal, there will be a special surprise!&nbsp; Admin Team Mtg. 1:30 p.m. (TBD)&nbsp;All Staff Monthly Mtg. virtual, 3:40 p.m.&nbsp; THURSDAY&nbsp;&nbsp;Sept 3 Memorial of St. Gregory the Great, Pope &amp; Doctor of the Church.&nbsp; “B” Class&nbsp;Mass was prepared&nbsp;by&nbsp;6B&nbsp;&amp; celebrated by Fr. Nick.&nbsp; FRIDAY&nbsp;Sept 4 First Friday Prayer Circles in your homerooms following announcements.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Holy Family Elementary weekly update

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

<div><iframe title="Housing developments in Ellis Co. bring much needed options to the market" height="400" width="400" style="border: none;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/media/player/x42aw-e93bdc?from=pb6admin&download=1&version=1&vjs=1&auto=1&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Helvetica&skin=3&pfauth="></iframe></div><a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/5dd2f46c897d147ad4bb104b">To find out more about The Post Podcast, or subscribe to mobile&nbsp;</a><a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/5dd2f46c897d147ad4bb104b">notifications click here.</a>

🎙 Post Podcast: Housing developments in Ellis Co. bring much needed options to the market

By&nbsp;<a href="https://wakeeneytravelblog.wordpress.com/author/denaweigelbell/">DENA WEIGEL BELL</a> WaKeeney Travel Blog

<a href="https://wakeeneytravelblog.wordpress.com/author/denaweigelbell/"></a>WAKEENEY — This year marks the 70th anniversary of the first tree lighting, and we’re kicking off the festivities early with a look into the past as we prepare for the future.

Earlier this summer members of our community gathered together to clean up and refurbish the decorations that have turned&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wakeeney.org/">Downtown WaKeeney</a>&nbsp;into a glittering holiday spectacle every December since 1950.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://wakeeneytravelblog.wordpress.com/2016/12/16/special-memories-made-under-the-lights-of-the-christmas-city-of-the-high-plains/">24 original, handmade bells and 14 wreaths</a>&nbsp;that decorate our streets each year are stored throughout the room in the “Christmas Room” in the City Building.

Recently a group of volunteers spent two evenings cleaning and painting them to put the shine back on for when they greet our guests at the 70th anniversary event of the “Christmas City of the High Plains.”&nbsp;They are just one piece of the beautiful display that brings people from all over the world to our town every Christmas season.

Throughout the years, we’ve added even more to the display, which now boasts 1,100 yards of greenery, additional decorations, 6,800 red, yellow, blue, and green lights, and the new LED perimeter lights installed in 2018 that decorate Downtown WaKeeney all year long.

When our four-square block Christmas display was first revealed in 1950, newspapers from Kansas and Colorado visited our town to cover the grand presentation. The Hays Daily News, Wichita Beacon, Topeka Capital, Wichita Eagle, and the Denver Post all attended the inaugural ceremony, capturing the beauty in photographs to share with their readers. They nicknamed WaKeeney “The Christmas City of Kansas” and the “Christmas Decorations City,” giving it the distinction of being a “must see” holiday experience.

The Trego County Historical Society Museum has joined the celebration with an exhibit that celebrates our tree and its history. Fourteen Christmas trees are currently on display, and each month an additional fourteen trees will be added until there are 70 Christmas trees of all shapes and sizes in the museum. Included in the collection is a replica of the first Christmas tree that was made to scale and donated by Sylvia Sherfick.

Current and former residents of our community are invited to be&nbsp;a part of the exhibition by sharing their treasured photographs or memories of past tree lightning ceremonies. Contact the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tregohistorical.com/">Historical Society Museum</a>&nbsp;for more information.

Celebrating the 70th Anniversary of WaKeeney’s Christmas Tree

Don’t forget to order your&nbsp;<a href="https://wakeeneytravelblog.wordpress.com/2020/07/24/dressing-up-for-the-70th-anniversary-of-wakeeneys-christmas-tree/">official anniversary t-shirt</a>. The “Too Lit to Quit” t-shirts can be preordered now at the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bonfire.com/70years/?fbclid=IwAR3OXgDfo8PHdg2062G-Y7HlgkGbWdFWuhr-CGvFE0S1rKumo4P5JpuSffs">Bonfire online store</a>. They come in grey/black, blue, purple, red, and Christmas green, with the official 70th&nbsp;anniversary and the “Too Lit to Quit” logos printed in white. The shirts can be ordered as a short sleeve or long sleeve shirt, in sizes Youth to 3XL and they can be shipped to your home or they can be picked up at Malay’s Market. The proceeds from the shirts will go toward the construction of a new Santa House in North Pole Park.

The Holiday Spirit is Alive and Well in WaKeeney, Kansas

For 70 years, WaKeeney has been the “Christmas City of the High Plains.” The traditions, memories, and good tidings our tree has provided our community and its visitors is at the center of a six-month celebration that will be remembered for years to come. Meet us under the tree the Saturday after Thanksgiving, November 28, 2020.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598452141919.jpeg" alt="Volunteers refurbish bells that will hang in downtown WaKeeney for the 70th anniversary of the Christmas City of the High Plains celebration on November 28." />
 <figcaption>Volunteers refurbish bells that will hang in downtown WaKeeney for the 70th anniversary of the Christmas City of the High Plains celebration on November 28.</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;<a href="https://wakeeneytravelblog.wordpress.com/author/denaweigelbell/">DENA WEIGEL BELL</a> WaKeeney Travel Blog<a href="https://wakeeneytravelblog.wordpress.com/author/denaweigelbell/"></a>WAKEENEY — This year marks the 70th anniversary of the first tree lighting, and we’re kicking off the festivities early with a look into the past as we prepare for the future.Putting the Shine on ChristmasEarlier this summer members of our community gathered together to clean up and refurbish the decorations that have turned&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wakeeney.org/">Downtown WaKeeney</a>&nbsp;into a glittering holiday spectacle every December since 1950.The&nbsp;<a href="https://wakeeneytravelblog.wordpress.com/2016/12/16/special-memories-made-under-the-lights-of-the-christmas-city-of-the-high-plains/">24 original, handmade bells and 14 wreaths</a>&nbsp;that decorate our streets each year are stored throughout the room in the “Christmas Room” in the City Building.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598452361722.jpeg" alt="Freshening up the handmade wreaths" />
 <figcaption>Freshening up the handmade wreaths</figcaption>
 </figure>Recently a group of volunteers spent two evenings cleaning and painting them to put the shine back on for when they greet our guests at the 70th anniversary event of the “Christmas City of the High Plains.”&nbsp;They are just one piece of the beautiful display that brings people from all over the world to our town every Christmas season.Throughout the years, we’ve added even more to the display, which now boasts 1,100 yards of greenery, additional decorations, 6,800 red, yellow, blue, and green lights, and the new LED perimeter lights installed in 2018 that decorate Downtown WaKeeney all year long.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598451923433.jpeg" alt="The Christmas tree in downtown WaKeeney in the 1950s. (Photo courtesy Trego County Historical Society Museum)" />
 <figcaption>The Christmas tree in downtown WaKeeney in the 1950s. (Photo courtesy Trego County Historical Society Museum)</figcaption>
 </figure>Christmas, Past and PresentWhen our four-square block Christmas display was first revealed in 1950, newspapers from Kansas and Colorado visited our town to cover the grand presentation. The Hays Daily News, Wichita Beacon, Topeka Capital, Wichita Eagle, and the Denver Post all attended the inaugural ceremony, capturing the beauty in photographs to share with their readers. They nicknamed WaKeeney “The Christmas City of Kansas” and the “Christmas Decorations City,” giving it the distinction of being a “must see” holiday experience.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598451707808.jpeg" alt="One of the Christmas tree in the museum display. (Photo courtesy Trego County Historical Society Museum)" />
 <figcaption>One of the Christmas tree in the museum display. (Photo courtesy Trego County Historical Society Museum)</figcaption>
 </figure>The Trego County Historical Society Museum has joined the celebration with an exhibit that celebrates our tree and its history. Fourteen Christmas trees are currently on display, and each month an additional fourteen trees will be added until there are 70 Christmas trees of all shapes and sizes in the museum. Included in the collection is a replica of the first Christmas tree that was made to scale and donated by Sylvia Sherfick.Current and former residents of our community are invited to be&nbsp;a part of the exhibition by sharing their treasured photographs or memories of past tree lightning ceremonies. Contact the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tregohistorical.com/">Historical Society Museum</a>&nbsp;for more information.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598452615652.png" alt="Official 70th anniversary T-shirt" />
 <figcaption>Official 70th anniversary T-shirt</figcaption>
 </figure>Celebrating the 70th Anniversary of WaKeeney’s Christmas TreeDon’t forget to order your&nbsp;<a href="https://wakeeneytravelblog.wordpress.com/2020/07/24/dressing-up-for-the-70th-anniversary-of-wakeeneys-christmas-tree/">official anniversary t-shirt</a>. The “Too Lit to Quit” t-shirts can be preordered now at the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bonfire.com/70years/?fbclid=IwAR3OXgDfo8PHdg2062G-Y7HlgkGbWdFWuhr-CGvFE0S1rKumo4P5JpuSffs">Bonfire online store</a>. They come in grey/black, blue, purple, red, and Christmas green, with the official 70th&nbsp;anniversary and the “Too Lit to Quit” logos printed in white. The shirts can be ordered as a short sleeve or long sleeve shirt, in sizes Youth to 3XL and they can be shipped to your home or they can be picked up at Malay’s Market. The proceeds from the shirts will go toward the construction of a new Santa House in North Pole Park.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598451590429.jpeg" alt="Christmas tree in downtown WaKeeney (Photo courtesy Trego Co. Historical Society Museum)" />
 <figcaption>Christmas tree in downtown WaKeeney (Photo courtesy Trego Co. Historical Society Museum)</figcaption>
 </figure>The Holiday Spirit is Alive and Well in WaKeeney, KansasFor 70 years, WaKeeney has been the “Christmas City of the High Plains.” The traditions, memories, and good tidings our tree has provided our community and its visitors is at the center of a six-month celebration that will be remembered for years to come. Meet us under the tree the Saturday after Thanksgiving, November 28, 2020.

WaKeeney prepares for 70th 'Christmas City of the High Plains'

COLBY — ArtRageous, the first art show of the school year for the Colby Community College art department, is scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 3, at the Prairie Museum of Art and History.&nbsp;

The show features a mix of two and three-dimensional works. CCC art instructor Rebel Mahieu said the event has a unique format.

"Artists will bring two or four pieces," she said. "Most of them will be at the show to describe how the pieces they hang contrast with their style."

Contributing artists include&nbsp;Kary Zweygardt, CCC alumnus and curator of the Quincy Art Gallery in St. Francis,&nbsp;along with his wife Kim; Joe Hartman, Mahieu, Mike McLaughlin, and Suzanne Schielke from Colby; retired CCC art instructor Cal Mahin and retired Fort Hays State University art instructor Kathleen Kuchar of Hays; current FHSU art instructors Toby Flores, Brian Hutchinson and Linda Ganstrom; Garden City Community College art instructor Michael Knutson; Tony Spivey of Goodland; and Great Bend's Von Pounds.&nbsp;

Food and drinks will be offered. For more information, contact Mahieu at (785) 460-5459.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1581529594449.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>CCCCOLBY — ArtRageous, the first art show of the school year for the Colby Community College art department, is scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 3, at the Prairie Museum of Art and History.&nbsp;The show features a mix of two and three-dimensional works. CCC art instructor Rebel Mahieu said the event has a unique format."Artists will bring two or four pieces," she said. "Most of them will be at the show to describe how the pieces they hang contrast with their style."Contributing artists include&nbsp;Kary Zweygardt, CCC alumnus and curator of the Quincy Art Gallery in St. Francis,&nbsp;along with his wife Kim; Joe Hartman, Mahieu, Mike McLaughlin, and Suzanne Schielke from Colby; retired CCC art instructor Cal Mahin and retired Fort Hays State University art instructor Kathleen Kuchar of Hays; current FHSU art instructors Toby Flores, Brian Hutchinson and Linda Ganstrom; Garden City Community College art instructor Michael Knutson; Tony Spivey of Goodland; and Great Bend's Von Pounds.&nbsp;Food and drinks will be offered. For more information, contact Mahieu at (785) 460-5459.

Colby CC's ArtRageous art show set for this week

Bachelor’s and master’s degree programs offered by Fort Hays State University’s FHSU Online continue to rank among the best in Kansas and the nation.

Heading the list of top-10 rankings and recognitions were several recognizing FHSU programs in the College of Education.

Fort Hays State was ranked&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bestvalueschools.org/online-colleges-kansas">No. 1 by Bestvalueschools.org</a>, the organization noting how FHSU’s online program is a focal point, with approximately 65 percent of university enrollment consisting of online learners. Best Value Schools also pointed to the university’s tuition rate-among the lowest in the nation as a reason why students are drawn to the affordability, convenience, and flexibility of FHSU’s online programs.

FHSU was also featured in CollegeCliffs’&nbsp;<a href="http://collegecliffs.com/best-online-schools-bachelors-degree-in-childhood-education.">Best Online Schools for Bachelor’s in Childhood Degree Program</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;In their review, College Cliffs pointed to the balance of both coursework and practicum in the FHSU Online program that creates “the best academic experience.”

College Consensus, a unique new college review aggregator, recognized FHSU as a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.collegeconsensus.com/rankings/best-online-bachelors-special-education-degrees">Best Online Bachelor’s in Special Education for 2020</a>. Fort Hays State, ranked 11th overall, was cited for its high standards that included recognizing the change needs of students today.

University HQ ranked Fort Hays State as one of the&nbsp;<a href="https://universityhq.org/best-colleges/rankings/most-affordable-universities-state">Most Affordable Colleges and Universities in the nation</a>&nbsp;and No. 1 in Kansas.&nbsp;

<a href="https://plexuss.com/ranking">Plexxus College Rankings</a>&nbsp;recognized FHSU as having the best online bachelor’s program in Kansas and gave it numerous top 10 rankings. FHSU was ranked third best in six different areas: legal professions, agriculture, criminal justice, political science, secondary education and economics; and was mentioned in the top 15 of 19 other areas.

<a href="http://learn.org/">Learn.org</a>&nbsp;ranked FHSU’s&nbsp;<a href="https://learn.org/articles/online_masters_degree_programs_in_psychology.html">Online Master’s Degree Programs in Psychology No. 9</a>. FHSU was recognized for ensuring a seamless transition to students who need to switch to an online learning environment during these difficult times.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598555448359.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU University RelationsBachelor’s and master’s degree programs offered by Fort Hays State University’s FHSU Online continue to rank among the best in Kansas and the nation.Heading the list of top-10 rankings and recognitions were several recognizing FHSU programs in the College of Education.Fort Hays State was ranked&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bestvalueschools.org/online-colleges-kansas">No. 1 by Bestvalueschools.org</a>, the organization noting how FHSU’s online program is a focal point, with approximately 65 percent of university enrollment consisting of online learners. Best Value Schools also pointed to the university’s tuition rate-among the lowest in the nation as a reason why students are drawn to the affordability, convenience, and flexibility of FHSU’s online programs.FHSU was also featured in CollegeCliffs’&nbsp;<a href="http://collegecliffs.com/best-online-schools-bachelors-degree-in-childhood-education.">Best Online Schools for Bachelor’s in Childhood Degree Program</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;In their review, College Cliffs pointed to the balance of both coursework and practicum in the FHSU Online program that creates “the best academic experience.”College Consensus, a unique new college review aggregator, recognized FHSU as a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.collegeconsensus.com/rankings/best-online-bachelors-special-education-degrees">Best Online Bachelor’s in Special Education for 2020</a>. Fort Hays State, ranked 11th overall, was cited for its high standards that included recognizing the change needs of students today.University HQ ranked Fort Hays State as one of the&nbsp;<a href="https://universityhq.org/best-colleges/rankings/most-affordable-universities-state">Most Affordable Colleges and Universities in the nation</a>&nbsp;and No. 1 in Kansas.&nbsp;<a href="https://plexuss.com/ranking">Plexxus College Rankings</a>&nbsp;recognized FHSU as having the best online bachelor’s program in Kansas and gave it numerous top 10 rankings. FHSU was ranked third best in six different areas: legal professions, agriculture, criminal justice, political science, secondary education and economics; and was mentioned in the top 15 of 19 other areas.<a href="http://learn.org/">Learn.org</a>&nbsp;ranked FHSU’s&nbsp;<a href="https://learn.org/articles/online_masters_degree_programs_in_psychology.html">Online Master’s Degree Programs in Psychology No. 9</a>. FHSU was recognized for ensuring a seamless transition to students who need to switch to an online learning environment during these difficult times.

FHSU online programs receive numerous high rankings

We have had a number of contacts regarding lilacs that were virtually defoliated with leaves showing many spots on the leaves. Cercospora leaf spot appears to be the causal agent. This is one of those diseases that only shows up during wet, humid summers. Though the shrubs look bad, loss of leaves this late in the season will not harm otherwise healthy plants. Therefore, there is no need to apply a fungicide. Also, an application this late would not help anyway. However, cleaning up dead leaves will reduce the amount of inoculum for next year and is recommended. This disease is weather-dependent and requires wet, humid weather at certain times to flourish. Therefore, lilacs that were hammered this year may not become infected next. Even if we do have another wet summer that encourages this disease, we do not recommend a fungicide application as damage to the plant is negligible.

Lauren Fick is the Horticulture Extension Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District. If you have questions she can be contacted by e-mail at lfick@k-state.edu or by phone at 785-628-9430 or 620-793-1910.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1580750915301.jpeg" alt="Lauren Fick is the Horticulture Extension Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Lauren Fick is the Horticulture Extension Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>We have had a number of contacts regarding lilacs that were virtually defoliated with leaves showing many spots on the leaves. Cercospora leaf spot appears to be the causal agent. This is one of those diseases that only shows up during wet, humid summers. Though the shrubs look bad, loss of leaves this late in the season will not harm otherwise healthy plants. Therefore, there is no need to apply a fungicide. Also, an application this late would not help anyway. However, cleaning up dead leaves will reduce the amount of inoculum for next year and is recommended. This disease is weather-dependent and requires wet, humid weather at certain times to flourish. Therefore, lilacs that were hammered this year may not become infected next. Even if we do have another wet summer that encourages this disease, we do not recommend a fungicide application as damage to the plant is negligible.Lauren Fick is the Horticulture Extension Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District. If you have questions she can be contacted by e-mail at lfick@k-state.edu or by phone at 785-628-9430 or 620-793-1910.&nbsp;

FICK: Lilac leaf spot

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598448592302.png" alt="Thaddeus and Kelly Perry " />
 <figcaption>Thaddeus and Kelly Perry </figcaption>
 </figure>By RON WILSON Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development&nbsp;The thank-you note came from the office of former President George W. Bush, expressing appreciation for the wonderful pork rinds provided by this remarkable business.&nbsp;&nbsp;Thaddeus and Kelly Perry are owners and founders of Perry’s Pork Rinds in Bronson.&nbsp;&nbsp;They grew up in southeast Kansas, married and moved to Bronson to be near family. Thaddeus, a butcher, would occasionally fry pork rinds in the backyard as a hobby. Kelly remembered delicious pork rinds from the Ozarks.&nbsp;When Kelly and Thaddeus wanted to earn some extra money for a cruise, they decided to sell pork rinds and funnel cakes at an upcoming fair in Missouri.&nbsp;&nbsp;They looked online for seasonings and USDA-inspected pork rinds, borrowed a kettle, and set up a tent at the fair. Then a thunderstorm came through and ruined any chance of cooking. “I cried,” Kelly said. “But my husband is the hardest-working guy I know.&nbsp;&nbsp;After the storm passed, he cooked more pork rinds all night long.”&nbsp;The pork rinds were a big hit. Kelly and Thaddeus were soon headed to his niece’s wedding in Manhattan and she posted on Facebook about the few bags of pork rinds they had remaining. When she checked messages after the wedding, she realized the rinds were in high demand. “We sold all we had left and paid for our cruise in full,” Kelly said.&nbsp;Kelly and Thaddeus set up their own LLC as Perry’s Pork Rinds in September 2017. “We haven’t stopped since,” Kelly said.&nbsp;“Several customers were interested in nutritional facts so we contacted Dr. Elizabeth Boyle and Dr. Fadi at K-State. They were so helpful with our nutrition labeling,” Kelly said. The Perrys also joined the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s From the Land of Kansas program.&nbsp;“We use soybean oil and we heat it to just over 400 degrees,” Thaddeus said. “Soybean oil is a heart-healthy oil and it smells better than lard,” Kelly said. “We hand-season them. Our pork rinds are unique flavors, a very fresh, light crunch that’s not hard, a really good, low-carb snack option,” she said.&nbsp;Perry’s Pork Rinds now offers this tasty snack in 10 flavors and three seasonal ones. “Everything we do is because we listen to our customers,” Kelly said. “I would post different flavors on Facebook and ask our customers to vote on them,” she said.&nbsp;Today, Perry’s Pork Rinds come as original, spicy, ranch, barbecue, cinnamon sugar, sour cream &amp; onion, cheddar cheese, chili cheese, chili lime, and garlic parmesan. (Is your mouth watering yet?) Product sales got another boost when posted on the Shop Kansas Farms Facebook page. Sales boomed and two full-time employees were hired.&nbsp;Kelly likes to experiment with recipes using pork rinds. “I made a bacon, jalapeño,&nbsp;cheddar-cheese, pork-rind meatloaf,” she said. “Anything that calls for breadcrumbs, you can use pork rinds for. They’re great in chili, taco salad, and other dishes,” she said. “It’s more than just a snack, it can help make a family meal,” Kelly said.&nbsp;Perry’s Pork Rinds have gone to all 50 states plus Canada and as far away as Saudi Arabia. The office of former President Bush ordered products and sent a complimentary thank-you note afterward.&nbsp;Sales in 2019 were up 328%. Perry’s Pork Rinds was named the Kansas Department of Commerce Minority-Owned Business of the Year in Sales and Distribution.&nbsp;The Perrys plan to open the Famous Perry’s Pork Rind Country Store and production facility in a new building along Highway 54 at the site of a former gas station. This will feature other Kansas products including in-house made fudge, saltwater taffy, jerky, smoked cheese, popcorn and more.&nbsp;That’s exciting to see in a rural community like Bronson, population 323 people. Now, that’s rural.&nbsp;For more information, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.perrysporkrinds.com/">www.perrysporkrinds.com</a>&nbsp;or follow them on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/PerrysPorkRinds">Facebook</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/perrysporkrinds/">Instragram</a>.&nbsp;The note came from the office of former President George Bush, thanking them for the product. We commend Thaddeus and Kelly Perry for making a difference with hard work and entrepreneurship with this tasty snack. For that, I am thankful.&nbsp;

Local