On this episode of Forward Ever; Leading in Challenging Times, Gary Shorman speaks with Executive Director of High Plains Mental Health Center Walt Hill about mental health during the COVID-19 crisis.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1588095398643.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><div><iframe title="Forward Ever: Walt Hill" height="400" width="400" style="border: none;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/media/player/4gavr-dab947?from=yiiadmin&download=1&version=1&vjs=1&skin=3&auto=1&share=1&fonts=Helvetica&download=1&rtl=0&pbad=1"></iframe></div>On this episode of Forward Ever; Leading in Challenging Times, Gary Shorman speaks with Executive Director of High Plains Mental Health Center Walt Hill about mental health during the COVID-19 crisis.&nbsp;

🎤Forward Ever: Walt Hill

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

The Hays school board will have a hearing on May 18 on a revised budget.

The school board met via Zoom Monday night and broadcast the meeting to the public via Facebook Live to observe social distancing requirements

The district is proposing allowing for spending of an additional $400,000 for at-risk education and another $15,000 for professional development.

Keith Hall, interim director of finance, said the district has enough money in the general fund to cover the additional expenses, which were due in part to pay increases.

The increase in budget authority will not result in an increase in the mill levy.

Once a school district publishes its budget, it can't spend more than that amount unless it conducts another budget hearing and republishes its budget. This is a standard annual procedure for many school districts.

Superintendent Ron Wilson said he hoped school districts across the state will not see decreases in budgets for the coming budget year, but cuts could be on tap for the future.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/5ea1a14aeb7f170536034530">Kansas will have to fill a $1.3 billion revenue estimate shortfall&nbsp; between now and June 2021</a>&nbsp;as a result of the COVID-19 crisis.

Wilson noted K-12 education accounts for more than half of the state budget.

"With these decreases, there is definitely the possibility of cuts," Wilson said. "However, these are just estimates. We will have to see how things happen over the next few months."

The state had increased funds to school districts over the last several years to satisfy requirements of a lawsuit. Wilson said state funding had looked positive until about a month and half ago.

"We are hopping for the best, but we will prepare for the worst," Wilson said.

The district will receive some federal CARES Act funding. That money will need to be spent before September 2021. All school districts in the state of Kansas received the CARES funding.

"We are not panicking, but we need to make sure we are acting responsibly," Board President Mike Walker said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1588041065057.png" alt="The Hays USD 489 school board met via Zoom Monday night to comply with social distancing requirements." />
 <figcaption>The Hays USD 489 school board met via Zoom Monday night to comply with social distancing requirements.</figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostThe Hays school board will have a hearing on May 18 on a revised budget.The school board met via Zoom Monday night and broadcast the meeting to the public via Facebook Live to observe social distancing requirementsThe district is proposing allowing for spending of an additional $400,000 for at-risk education and another $15,000 for professional development.Keith Hall, interim director of finance, said the district has enough money in the general fund to cover the additional expenses, which were due in part to pay increases.The increase in budget authority will not result in an increase in the mill levy.Once a school district publishes its budget, it can't spend more than that amount unless it conducts another budget hearing and republishes its budget. This is a standard annual procedure for many school districts.Superintendent Ron Wilson said he hoped school districts across the state will not see decreases in budgets for the coming budget year, but cuts could be on tap for the future.<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/5ea1a14aeb7f170536034530">Kansas will have to fill a $1.3 billion revenue estimate shortfall&nbsp; between now and June 2021</a>&nbsp;as a result of the COVID-19 crisis.Wilson noted K-12 education accounts for more than half of the state budget."With these decreases, there is definitely the possibility of cuts," Wilson said. "However, these are just estimates. We will have to see how things happen over the next few months."The state had increased funds to school districts over the last several years to satisfy requirements of a lawsuit. Wilson said state funding had looked positive until about a month and half ago."We are hopping for the best, but we will prepare for the worst," Wilson said.The district will receive some federal CARES Act funding. That money will need to be spent before September 2021. All school districts in the state of Kansas received the CARES funding."We are not panicking, but we need to make sure we are acting responsibly," Board President Mike Walker said.

Hays USD 489: No tax increase for FY20; budget cuts could be on horizon

TOPEKA - Governor Laura Kelly appointed Allen Roth, Hays, to the Kansas Water Authority.

The water authority advises the governor, the Legislature and the director of the Kansas Water Office (KWO) on water policy issues
 — including the approval of the Kansas Water Plan and revisions, federal contracts, administration regulations and legislation proposed by the KWO.

“The Kansas Water Authority is comprised of such an important and knowledgeable group of individuals,” Kelly said. “Allen has demonstrated
 a commitment to our state’s natural resources as a producer and with his service to conservation and extension districts, and is an ideal candidate to join this board.”

Roth farms full-time near Hays and has a bachelor’s and master’s in computer science from Kansas State University. 

He has served 18 years on the Ellis County&nbsp;Conservation
 District Board of Supervisors, six years on the Kansas Association of Conservation Districts Board of Directors as well as the Smoky Hill – Saline Regional Advisory Committee since its inception, and on the Cottonwood Extension District Board of Directors.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1588089531234.jpeg" alt="Allen P. Roth (Courtesy photo)" />
 <figcaption>Allen P. Roth (Courtesy photo)</figcaption>
 </figure>Office of Gov.TOPEKA - Governor Laura Kelly appointed Allen Roth, Hays, to the Kansas Water Authority.The water authority advises the governor, the Legislature and the director of the Kansas Water Office (KWO) on water policy issues
 — including the approval of the Kansas Water Plan and revisions, federal contracts, administration regulations and legislation proposed by the KWO.“The Kansas Water Authority is comprised of such an important and knowledgeable group of individuals,” Kelly said. “Allen has demonstrated
 a commitment to our state’s natural resources as a producer and with his service to conservation and extension districts, and is an ideal candidate to join this board.”Roth farms full-time near Hays and has a bachelor’s and master’s in computer science from Kansas State University. He has served 18 years on the Ellis County&nbsp;Conservation
 District Board of Supervisors, six years on the Kansas Association of Conservation Districts Board of Directors as well as the Smoky Hill – Saline Regional Advisory Committee since its inception, and on the Cottonwood Extension District Board of Directors.

Hays man appointed to Kansas Water Authority

<a></a>TOPEKA –&nbsp;The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has issued a boil water advisory for the customers of Ellis County Rural Water District No. 1C public water supply. This advisory includes the town of Antonino, but does not include the city of Hays. This advisory is not related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Check Hays Post for more information as it becomes available.

Customers should observe the following precautions until further notice:

The advisory took effect Tuesday and will remain in effect until the conditions that placed the system at risk of bacterial contamination are resolved. KDHE officials issued the advisory because of a line break resulting in a loss of pressure in the system. Failure to maintain adequate pressure may result in a loss of chlorine residuals and bacterial contamination.

Regardless of whether the public water supplier or KDHE announced a boil water advisory, only KDHE can issue the rescind order following testing at a certified laboratory.

For consumer questions, please contact the water system or KDHE at 785-296-5514.&nbsp;For consumer information, visit KDHE’s PWS Consumer Information webpage:<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kdheks.gov%2Fpws%2Femergencyresponse%2Fwater_disruption.htm&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7Ca3d94d5821884deb554e08d7eb7b0279%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637236786322532333&amp;sdata=dvtLjdg6s92juWFH%2FGIZTb4NL3bQla5sdauJyJ0uBTw%3D&amp;reserved=0">http://www.kdheks.gov/pws/emergencyresponse/water_disruption.htm</a>

Restaurants and other food establishments that have questions about the impact of the boil water advisory on their business can contact the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s food safety &amp; lodging program at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:kda.fsl@ks.gov">kda.fsl@ks.gov</a>&nbsp;or call 785-564-6767.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1581544137669.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>KDHE<a></a>TOPEKA –&nbsp;The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has issued a boil water advisory for the customers of Ellis County Rural Water District No. 1C public water supply. This advisory includes the town of Antonino, but does not include the city of Hays. This advisory is not related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Check Hays Post for more information as it becomes available.Customers should observe the following precautions until further notice:<ol>
 <li>If your tap water appears dirty, flush the water lines by letting the water run until it clears.</li><li>Boil water for one minute prior to drinking or food preparation or use bottled water.</li><li>Dispose of ice cubes and do not use ice from a household automatic icemaker.</li><li>Disinfect dishes and other food contact surfaces by immersion for at least one minute in clean tap water that contains one teaspoon of unscented household bleach per gallon of water.</li><li>Water used for bathing does not generally need to be boiled. Supervision of children is necessary while bathing so that water is not ingested. Persons with cuts or severe rashes may wish to consult their physicians.</li><li>their physicians.</li>
 </ol>The advisory took effect Tuesday and will remain in effect until the conditions that placed the system at risk of bacterial contamination are resolved. KDHE officials issued the advisory because of a line break resulting in a loss of pressure in the system. Failure to maintain adequate pressure may result in a loss of chlorine residuals and bacterial contamination.Regardless of whether the public water supplier or KDHE announced a boil water advisory, only KDHE can issue the rescind order following testing at a certified laboratory.For consumer questions, please contact the water system or KDHE at 785-296-5514.&nbsp;For consumer information, visit KDHE’s PWS Consumer Information webpage:<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kdheks.gov%2Fpws%2Femergencyresponse%2Fwater_disruption.htm&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7Ca3d94d5821884deb554e08d7eb7b0279%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637236786322532333&amp;sdata=dvtLjdg6s92juWFH%2FGIZTb4NL3bQla5sdauJyJ0uBTw%3D&amp;reserved=0">http://www.kdheks.gov/pws/emergencyresponse/water_disruption.htm</a>Restaurants and other food establishments that have questions about the impact of the boil water advisory on their business can contact the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s food safety &amp; lodging program at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:kda.fsl@ks.gov">kda.fsl@ks.gov</a>&nbsp;or call 785-564-6767.

Boil order issued for rural Ellis County water district

Dr. Muhammad R.K. Chishty will be the new dean of the W.R. and Yvonne Robbins College of Business and Entrepreneurship at Fort Hays State University. He will assume his post on July 1.&nbsp;

Chishty comes to Fort Hays State University from Saint Xavier University in Chicago, where he was a finance faculty member in the Graham School of Management. He served in a variety of administrative positions, including director of the MBA program, director of undergraduate programs, chair of the finance and accounting program, director of the Center for the Study of Financial Markets and Derivatives, associate dean and, most recently, interim dean of the Graham School of Management.&nbsp;

“He is a skilled administrator and leader, bringing with him vast experience in curriculum development, industry partnerships, and connecting people in a collective vision to serve students,” said Dr. Jill Arensdorf, provost and vice president for academic affairs, in her announcement of Chishty’s selection.&nbsp;

Chishty earned his B.A. in political science in 1984 from Williams College in Williamstown, Mass. After a year in the Ph.D. program in political science at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, he switched his focus to finance and went on to earn his M.S. in finance in 1988 and a Ph.D. in business administration with a concentration in finance in 1991, both from Georgia State University in Atlanta.&nbsp;

He then became an assistant professor of finance at Western Illinois University in Macomb, before joining Saint Xavier University in 1992. His research papers on investments and corporate finance have been published in the Journal of Business Finance &amp; Accounting, Midwest Review of Finance and Insurance, Journal of Contemporary Issues and Business, and Managerial Finance.&nbsp;

“I was impressed by Robbins College’s variety of programs,” said Chishty, “especially their standout online courses and degree options, the long-established programs in China that show FHSU’s pioneering role in international academic exchanges, and the eight centers and institutes within Robbins that support student entrepreneurship and the larger community.”&nbsp;

He continued, “I look forward to working with the Fort Hays State University community to continue building the resources and expertise in the Robbins College of Business and Entrepreneurship. I want the college to cement its position as a premier business school and the first choice for students in Kansas who seek an excellent and affordable education.”&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1588009553763.jpeg" alt="Dr. Muhammad R.K. Chishty" />
 <figcaption>Dr. Muhammad R.K. Chishty</figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU University RelationsDr. Muhammad R.K. Chishty will be the new dean of the W.R. and Yvonne Robbins College of Business and Entrepreneurship at Fort Hays State University. He will assume his post on July 1.&nbsp;Chishty comes to Fort Hays State University from Saint Xavier University in Chicago, where he was a finance faculty member in the Graham School of Management. He served in a variety of administrative positions, including director of the MBA program, director of undergraduate programs, chair of the finance and accounting program, director of the Center for the Study of Financial Markets and Derivatives, associate dean and, most recently, interim dean of the Graham School of Management.&nbsp;“He is a skilled administrator and leader, bringing with him vast experience in curriculum development, industry partnerships, and connecting people in a collective vision to serve students,” said Dr. Jill Arensdorf, provost and vice president for academic affairs, in her announcement of Chishty’s selection.&nbsp;Chishty earned his B.A. in political science in 1984 from Williams College in Williamstown, Mass. After a year in the Ph.D. program in political science at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, he switched his focus to finance and went on to earn his M.S. in finance in 1988 and a Ph.D. in business administration with a concentration in finance in 1991, both from Georgia State University in Atlanta.&nbsp;He then became an assistant professor of finance at Western Illinois University in Macomb, before joining Saint Xavier University in 1992. His research papers on investments and corporate finance have been published in the Journal of Business Finance &amp; Accounting, Midwest Review of Finance and Insurance, Journal of Contemporary Issues and Business, and Managerial Finance.&nbsp;“I was impressed by Robbins College’s variety of programs,” said Chishty, “especially their standout online courses and degree options, the long-established programs in China that show FHSU’s pioneering role in international academic exchanges, and the eight centers and institutes within Robbins that support student entrepreneurship and the larger community.”&nbsp;He continued, “I look forward to working with the Fort Hays State University community to continue building the resources and expertise in the Robbins College of Business and Entrepreneurship. I want the college to cement its position as a premier business school and the first choice for students in Kansas who seek an excellent and affordable education.”&nbsp;

Chishty named dean of FHSU' Robbins College of Business

As our business grows, so does our need for great employees who believe in creating a great customer experience. If you are a motivated individual who enjoys interacting with people, Eagle Broadband has a job for you! 

From technology-focused positions to customer service and positions that allow you to work with your hands outside and in customers’ homes. Positions include competitive wages, great benefits, cutting edge technology, community involvement and bonus structures.

Click <a href="https://eaglecom.net/careers">HERE</a> for a complete list of job postings and to apply online:&nbsp;<a href="https://eaglecom.net/careers">https://eaglecom.net/careers</a>

• Customer Care Representative – Call Center, Hays

• Customer Care Retail Representative – Hays

• Technical Support Representative - Hays

• Business Solution Account Executive – Hays/Western KS

Eagle, Vyve and Northland are leading broadband Internet providers serving largely non-urban communities in 16 states. A technology leader in the cable and&nbsp;broadband sectors, Vyve Broadband offers an extensive range of broadband, fiber connectivity, cable television and voice services for commercial and residential customers. Residential services include high-speed Internet with speeds up to Vyve Gig, all-digital, high-definition video and fully featured digital voice. Vyve Business Services provides optical Ethernet, PRI and hosted voice services to the business community. Together, Eagle, Vyve and Northland serve areas of Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Nebraska, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1588082933705.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>As our business grows, so does our need for great employees who believe in creating a great customer experience. If you are a motivated individual who enjoys interacting with people, Eagle Broadband has a job for you! From technology-focused positions to customer service and positions that allow you to work with your hands outside and in customers’ homes. Positions include competitive wages, great benefits, cutting edge technology, community involvement and bonus structures.Click <a href="https://eaglecom.net/careers">HERE</a> for a complete list of job postings and to apply online:&nbsp;<a href="https://eaglecom.net/careers">https://eaglecom.net/careers</a>Open positions include:• Customer Care Representative – Call Center, Hays• Customer Care Retail Representative – Hays• Technical Support Representative - Hays• Broadband Technician – Hays• Broadband Technician – Abilene• Business Solution Account Executive – Hays/Western KS• System Administrator - HaysEagle, Vyve and Northland are leading broadband Internet providers serving largely non-urban communities in 16 states. A technology leader in the cable and&nbsp;broadband sectors, Vyve Broadband offers an extensive range of broadband, fiber connectivity, cable television and voice services for commercial and residential customers. Residential services include high-speed Internet with speeds up to Vyve Gig, all-digital, high-definition video and fully featured digital voice. Vyve Business Services provides optical Ethernet, PRI and hosted voice services to the business community. Together, Eagle, Vyve and Northland serve areas of Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Nebraska, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming.

News from the Oil Patch: Kan. wells being shut down

TOPEKA — The Kansas Supreme Court appointed Chief Judge Preston Pratt of the 17th Judicial District to fill an unexpired term on the Kansas Board of Examiners of Court Reporters.

Pratt succeeds former District Judge Jeffry Jack, who retired. Pratt’s term expires June 30, 2021.

Pratt is chief judge of the 17th Judicial District, which is composed of Decatur, Graham, Norton, Osborne, Phillips and Smith counties.

The Kansas Board of Examiners of Court Reporters:

The board includes judges, practicing attorneys, and court reporters.

District Judge Rachel Pickering of the 3rd Judicial District, composed of Shawnee County, chairs the board.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1588004187497.png" alt="Chief Judge Preston Pratt" />
 <figcaption>Chief Judge Preston Pratt</figcaption>
 </figure>Office of Judicial AdministrationTOPEKA — The Kansas Supreme Court appointed Chief Judge Preston Pratt of the 17th Judicial District to fill an unexpired term on the Kansas Board of Examiners of Court Reporters.Pratt succeeds former District Judge Jeffry Jack, who retired. Pratt’s term expires June 30, 2021.Pratt is chief judge of the 17th Judicial District, which is composed of Decatur, Graham, Norton, Osborne, Phillips and Smith counties.The Kansas Board of Examiners of Court Reporters:<ol>
 <li>supervises granting certificates of eligibility for certified court reporters;</li><li>administers the annual registration;</li><li>oversees court reporter conduct; and</li><li>reviews and acts on any complaints made against a certified court reporter.</li>
 </ol>The board includes judges, practicing attorneys, and court reporters.District Judge Rachel Pickering of the 3rd Judicial District, composed of Shawnee County, chairs the board.Other members are:<ol>
 <li>Sharon Cahill, an official court reporter in the 29th Judicial District, composed of Wyandotte County;</li><li>Jennifer Hill, an attorney from Wichita;</li><li>Sheila Lyons, an official court reporter in the 18th Judicial District, composed of Sedgwick County;</li><li>Shirla McQueen, an attorney from Liberal;</li><li>Jennifer Olsen, an official court reporter in the 3rd Judicial District; and</li><li>Vesta York, a certified court reporter from Wichita.</li>
 </ol>

NW Kan. judge appointed to court reporters oversight board

Three-day weather outlook

	Joyce and I agree on important stuff, like what temperature the house should be and what color socks I should wear with what pants, but from there, we go in different directions, especially when it comes to food. I like mushrooms and she can barely bring herself to say the word. Although Kansas is not known for its mushroom hunting, morel mushrooms can be found here, and the recent showers followed by warm spring days should bring them out. I’m not an avid or seasoned morel hunter, but I remember a trip I took several springs ago with a local morel hunting legend.&nbsp;				

When I started this adventure I was aware that dyed-in-the-wool mushroom hunters would just as soon give away their favorite deer stand or rat out their own mother as they would divulge their mushroom honey-holes, so I wasn’t surprised when my host for that evening insisted on anonymity for both himself and our location. My choices were simple; forget who he was and where we were, or ride blindfolded in the trunk of his car. Since I hate blindfolds and the trunk of his car was the bed of his old pickup, I choose the former. I will tell you however that we were somewhere south of Nebraska.&nbsp;

	We parked and walked up a rutted sandy drive that wound through acres of every kind of cover imaginable, from dry knee-high grass and 3-foot dogwoods to 60-foot cottonwoods and everything between. The common denominator was leaf litter which covered every inch of soil. My host, whom I’ll dub “Hawkeye” for reasons that will become apparent, began to school me in “Morel Mushrooms 101.” As for location, the sandier the soil and the sunnier the spot the better. It seems morels like the soil damp but not too wet. They often prefer somewhat open areas, but not always. We found some of ours in dense cover, often crawling around on our hands and knees. In other words, conditions have to be just right and only the mushrooms can determine that. He ended this part of the class with the prophetic statement “You just find them where you find them,” adding that morels can often be found in the same spots year after year.

	We stepped off the drive and headed toward a spot in the woods where “Hawkeye” had found mushrooms in the past. He had hunted deer in this area for over 30 years and knew the terrain like the back of his hand. He found the spot, but no mushrooms. As we walked on, we began to discuss the finer points of morel mushroom reproduction. Morels reproduce from spores which are scattered and distributed mostly by the wind, and no, the old wives tale suggesting they grow totally overnight is not true. My research found they can grow from spore to fully grown in a very few days, depending on conditions, but not merely overnight. “Hawkeye” said he had learned to look along fence lines and tree rows that run in such a direction as to catch the prevailing wind, evidently capturing and holding the wind-borne spores. Since morel reproduction is so “iffy” their spongy body is purposely designed for holding the maximum number of spores for dispersion.&nbsp;

	We had walked only a short distance farther when “Hawkeye” stopped and pointed 30 feet or so ahead of us. “There’s some,” he stated rather matter-of-factly, (I was doing good to see the ground that far away) and sure enough, in a small clearing ahead, several small Morel Mushrooms pointed skyward. We cut them off just above the ground and moved on. Awhile latter I found him staring intently into a small open spot several feet ahead beneath a tangle of vines. “You should find five in there before you’re through” he stated before walking on. On hands and knees, I crawled under the vines, knowing “Hawkeye” was toying with me…Having added the 5 mushrooms to my bag I crawled out the other side with new found respect for both his eyesight and sincerity! We ended the evening with 2 nice “messes” of fresh spring morel mushrooms.

	As a novice to both harvesting and preparing morels, I’ll tell you what works well for my host. They need to be soaked in salt water for awhile to help clean them and rid them of pests, but just before you’re ready to prepare them, as they will get soggy. Soak them just long enough to do the job. After cleaning and soaking, slice each one lengthways into thirds (or quarters if large enough) them dredge each piece in a mixture of egg and milk, roll them in flour or your favorite coating and fry them in butter or oil until golden brown.&nbsp;

	 Each time I write about another crop to harvest from the Kansas outdoors, I think I’ve seen them all, but each time I find I’ve merely scratched the surface! Continue to explore Kansas Outdoors.

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>	Joyce and I agree on important stuff, like what temperature the house should be and what color socks I should wear with what pants, but from there, we go in different directions, especially when it comes to food. I like mushrooms and she can barely bring herself to say the word. Although Kansas is not known for its mushroom hunting, morel mushrooms can be found here, and the recent showers followed by warm spring days should bring them out. I’m not an avid or seasoned morel hunter, but I remember a trip I took several springs ago with a local morel hunting legend.&nbsp;				When I started this adventure I was aware that dyed-in-the-wool mushroom hunters would just as soon give away their favorite deer stand or rat out their own mother as they would divulge their mushroom honey-holes, so I wasn’t surprised when my host for that evening insisted on anonymity for both himself and our location. My choices were simple; forget who he was and where we were, or ride blindfolded in the trunk of his car. Since I hate blindfolds and the trunk of his car was the bed of his old pickup, I choose the former. I will tell you however that we were somewhere south of Nebraska.&nbsp;	We parked and walked up a rutted sandy drive that wound through acres of every kind of cover imaginable, from dry knee-high grass and 3-foot dogwoods to 60-foot cottonwoods and everything between. The common denominator was leaf litter which covered every inch of soil. My host, whom I’ll dub “Hawkeye” for reasons that will become apparent, began to school me in “Morel Mushrooms 101.” As for location, the sandier the soil and the sunnier the spot the better. It seems morels like the soil damp but not too wet. They often prefer somewhat open areas, but not always. We found some of ours in dense cover, often crawling around on our hands and knees. In other words, conditions have to be just right and only the mushrooms can determine that. He ended this part of the class with the prophetic statement “You just find them where you find them,” adding that morels can often be found in the same spots year after year.	We stepped off the drive and headed toward a spot in the woods where “Hawkeye” had found mushrooms in the past. He had hunted deer in this area for over 30 years and knew the terrain like the back of his hand. He found the spot, but no mushrooms. As we walked on, we began to discuss the finer points of morel mushroom reproduction. Morels reproduce from spores which are scattered and distributed mostly by the wind, and no, the old wives tale suggesting they grow totally overnight is not true. My research found they can grow from spore to fully grown in a very few days, depending on conditions, but not merely overnight. “Hawkeye” said he had learned to look along fence lines and tree rows that run in such a direction as to catch the prevailing wind, evidently capturing and holding the wind-borne spores. Since morel reproduction is so “iffy” their spongy body is purposely designed for holding the maximum number of spores for dispersion.&nbsp;	We had walked only a short distance farther when “Hawkeye” stopped and pointed 30 feet or so ahead of us. “There’s some,” he stated rather matter-of-factly, (I was doing good to see the ground that far away) and sure enough, in a small clearing ahead, several small Morel Mushrooms pointed skyward. We cut them off just above the ground and moved on. Awhile latter I found him staring intently into a small open spot several feet ahead beneath a tangle of vines. “You should find five in there before you’re through” he stated before walking on. On hands and knees, I crawled under the vines, knowing “Hawkeye” was toying with me…Having added the 5 mushrooms to my bag I crawled out the other side with new found respect for both his eyesight and sincerity! We ended the evening with 2 nice “messes” of fresh spring morel mushrooms.	As a novice to both harvesting and preparing morels, I’ll tell you what works well for my host. They need to be soaked in salt water for awhile to help clean them and rid them of pests, but just before you’re ready to prepare them, as they will get soggy. Soak them just long enough to do the job. After cleaning and soaking, slice each one lengthways into thirds (or quarters if large enough) them dredge each piece in a mixture of egg and milk, roll them in flour or your favorite coating and fry them in butter or oil until golden brown.&nbsp;	 Each time I write about another crop to harvest from the Kansas outdoors, I think I’ve seen them all, but each time I find I’ve merely scratched the surface! Continue to explore Kansas Outdoors.Steve Gilliland, Inman, can be contacted by email at stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.

Exploring Outdoors Kansas: The morel of the story

Gotta wonder how this little scrap between Gov. Laura Kelly and the leadership of the Kansas Legislature is going to work out…politically, that is.

Who gets credit, or who gets the blame, for whatever happens in Kansas for the next few months, while the coronavirus pandemic fades out this summer or strengthens for the fall and winter?

Now, it was a good move by the Legislature to pass a budget for the state before taking off for the coronavirus/Spring Break first adjournment in March. The money for the basic operations of the state are taken care of, or at least were taken care of when lawmakers broke up. Practically, lawmakers did the one vital thing they are tasked to do each year, pass a budget.

But now that it has passed, many parts of that budget which were scheduled for some fine-tuning this spring are still waiting for that fine-tuning. You know, those programs – especially for social services for kids – are law, but the funding is not officially dedicated to those programs. It can probably be taken care of with some inside-the-agency funding juggling, but in some cases, those outlines of programs that sound good to all of us aren’t specifically financed. So, they might or might not be done. It’s one thing to set up an advisory board to take care of children and those in need of social services, it’s another to actually put the money there.

And while legislative leadership last week at the Legislative Coordinating Council meeting didn’t pinpoint when, or whether, to restart the session for a few days to put the budget on more sound footing and to actually appropriate money for some programs, it’s looking almost like a scrap between those leaders and the leaders of House and Senate budget committees who want to fine-tune the budget and make sure that in the midst of a $1.2 billion shortfall sparked by the coronavirus life is changed as little as possible in Kansas.

Leaders? They want everyone safe, of course, and with about 60 percent of the state’s legislators at particular risk from COVID-19, that makes some sense, even if those legislators stand for election this fall.

And the budget folks? Well, they tend to be a little…how to say this nicely…fussy about every dollar sign and decimal point.

The alternative, if lawmakers don’t return to toughen up that budget that now includes necessary spending nobody really considered when they were headed for their cars figuring that their office plants would still be green, if a little limp, on their now-postponed return this month, well, the governor essentially juggles the budget.

Oh, the governor is coming up with a budget amendment, but if there aren’t any legislators in Topeka, she won’t need to print many copies of it, will she?

Much shifting of money caused by that shortfall because folks aren’t out spending money and paying taxes may be done by Kelly. She can, depending on the presumed ending balance for the upcoming fiscal year, make across-the-board cuts and shuffles – called allotments -- in her executive branch agencies.

Or, she can say that the deficit is going to be so severe that she can take advantage of her authority that in the face of an unconstitutional below-zero dollars ending balance to make allotments in every corner of the state’s spending. That spreads her potential cuts and reappropriations beyond just the agencies her Cabinet secretaries run, but into the Judiciary and Legislative budgets. That makes everything really serious if you happen to be a legislator…

What gets cut, who gets the responsibility for those cuts to programs nearly everyone wants…oh yes, and who tells the Legislature how much money it can&nbsp; spend on itself?

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573590596307.png" alt="Martin Hawver is publisher of Hawver's Capitol Report." />
 <figcaption>Martin Hawver is publisher of Hawver's Capitol Report.</figcaption>
 </figure>Gotta wonder how this little scrap between Gov. Laura Kelly and the leadership of the Kansas Legislature is going to work out…politically, that is.Who gets credit, or who gets the blame, for whatever happens in Kansas for the next few months, while the coronavirus pandemic fades out this summer or strengthens for the fall and winter?Now, it was a good move by the Legislature to pass a budget for the state before taking off for the coronavirus/Spring Break first adjournment in March. The money for the basic operations of the state are taken care of, or at least were taken care of when lawmakers broke up. Practically, lawmakers did the one vital thing they are tasked to do each year, pass a budget.But now that it has passed, many parts of that budget which were scheduled for some fine-tuning this spring are still waiting for that fine-tuning. You know, those programs – especially for social services for kids – are law, but the funding is not officially dedicated to those programs. It can probably be taken care of with some inside-the-agency funding juggling, but in some cases, those outlines of programs that sound good to all of us aren’t specifically financed. So, they might or might not be done. It’s one thing to set up an advisory board to take care of children and those in need of social services, it’s another to actually put the money there.And while legislative leadership last week at the Legislative Coordinating Council meeting didn’t pinpoint when, or whether, to restart the session for a few days to put the budget on more sound footing and to actually appropriate money for some programs, it’s looking almost like a scrap between those leaders and the leaders of House and Senate budget committees who want to fine-tune the budget and make sure that in the midst of a $1.2 billion shortfall sparked by the coronavirus life is changed as little as possible in Kansas.Leaders? They want everyone safe, of course, and with about 60 percent of the state’s legislators at particular risk from COVID-19, that makes some sense, even if those legislators stand for election this fall.And the budget folks? Well, they tend to be a little…how to say this nicely…fussy about every dollar sign and decimal point.The alternative, if lawmakers don’t return to toughen up that budget that now includes necessary spending nobody really considered when they were headed for their cars figuring that their office plants would still be green, if a little limp, on their now-postponed return this month, well, the governor essentially juggles the budget.Oh, the governor is coming up with a budget amendment, but if there aren’t any legislators in Topeka, she won’t need to print many copies of it, will she?Much shifting of money caused by that shortfall because folks aren’t out spending money and paying taxes may be done by Kelly. She can, depending on the presumed ending balance for the upcoming fiscal year, make across-the-board cuts and shuffles – called allotments -- in her executive branch agencies.Or, she can say that the deficit is going to be so severe that she can take advantage of her authority that in the face of an unconstitutional below-zero dollars ending balance to make allotments in every corner of the state’s spending. That spreads her potential cuts and reappropriations beyond just the agencies her Cabinet secretaries run, but into the Judiciary and Legislative budgets. That makes everything really serious if you happen to be a legislator…What gets cut, who gets the responsibility for those cuts to programs nearly everyone wants…oh yes, and who tells the Legislature how much money it can&nbsp; spend on itself?Syndicated by Hawver News Company LLC of Topeka; Martin Hawver is publisher of Hawver's Capitol Report—to learn more about this nonpartisan statewide political news service, visit the website at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.hawvernews.com/">www.hawvernews.com</a>

HAWVER: Who’s the winner here?

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Due to the ongoing concerns related to the spread of COVID-19, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-Kansas City District has extended its recreation area closures through June 1.

Those closures include Wilson Lake and Kanopolis Lake.&nbsp;

Individuals with paid campsite or shelter reservations will be contacted by email and full refunds will automatically be processed by <a href="https://www.recreation.gov/">Recreation.gov</a> with no cancellation fees. Individuals should not attempt to contact Recreation.gov to request a refund as
 that will lead to a cancellation fee being charged.

The Corps of Engineers regrets any inconvenience caused by these closures and continues to keep the safety and health of our employees, contractors, and volunteers our top priority.

For more information on the current status of USACE recreation area closures, check your local lakes webpage (<a href="https://www.nwk.usace.army.mil/Locations.aspx" target="_blank">https://www.nwk.usace.army.mil/Locations.aspx</a>)
 or Facebook page before you go.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1588025182308.png" alt="Recreation area closures are extended through June 1 at Wilson and Kanopolis Lakes." />
 <figcaption>Recreation area closures are extended through June 1 at Wilson and Kanopolis Lakes.</figcaption>
 </figure>USACEKANSAS CITY, Mo. - Due to the ongoing concerns related to the spread of COVID-19, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-Kansas City District has extended its recreation area closures through June 1.Those closures include Wilson Lake and Kanopolis Lake.&nbsp;Individuals with paid campsite or shelter reservations will be contacted by email and full refunds will automatically be processed by <a href="https://www.recreation.gov/">Recreation.gov</a> with no cancellation fees. Individuals should not attempt to contact Recreation.gov to request a refund as
 that will lead to a cancellation fee being charged.The Corps of Engineers regrets any inconvenience caused by these closures and continues to keep the safety and health of our employees, contractors, and volunteers our top priority.For more information on the current status of USACE recreation area closures, check your local lakes webpage (<a href="https://www.nwk.usace.army.mil/Locations.aspx" target="_blank">https://www.nwk.usace.army.mil/Locations.aspx</a>)
 or Facebook page before you go.

Recreation area closures at Wilson, Kanopolis Lakes extended

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

<div><iframe title="Hays officials discuss Thursday's vote to accept roundabout bid" height="400" width="400" style="border: none;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/media/player/39id9-da9de7?from=yiiadmin&download=1&version=1&vjs=1&skin=3&auto=1&share=1&fonts=Helvetica&download=1&rtl=0&pbad=1"></iframe></div><a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/5dd2f46c897d147ad4bb104b">To find out more about The Post Podcast, or subscribe to mobile notifications click here.</a>

🎤Post Podcast: Hays officials discuss Thursday's vote to accept roundabout bid

The Hays school board will meet at 6:30 Monday to discuss republishing its budget for the 2019-20 school year.

The meeting will not be open to the public because of social distancing restrictions. It can be viewed on Facebook Live from the district's Facebook page.

Once a school district publishes its budget, it can't spend more than that amount unless it conducts another budget hearing and republishes its budget.

The district has set a hearing for May 18 on the revised budget.

The board also will hear an update on the Roosevelt HVAC system.&nbsp;

Rusted pipes were recently found throughout Roosevelt's heating and cooling system. The chiller and other components of the system are also failing. 

The district is working with an engineer to develop plans to replace the HVAC system in summer 2021.

Chris Hipp, director of the West Central Kansas Special Education Cooperative, will report to the school board on the FY20 and FY21 budgets.&nbsp;

Hipp in his written report to the board indicated the cooperative will need an additional $225,000 from the member districts in FY21.&nbsp;

This includes Hays, Ellis, Victoria and La Crosse.

The board will also hear reports from Jessica Yonker, nutrition services, director on the grab-and-go meal program and from&nbsp; Joey Linn, Fort Hays State University vice president for Student Affairs, and Dennis King, FHSU assistant vice-president for Student Affairs, about concurrent classes with Hays High School.

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostThe Hays school board will meet at 6:30 Monday to discuss republishing its budget for the 2019-20 school year.The meeting will not be open to the public because of social distancing restrictions. It can be viewed on Facebook Live from the district's Facebook page.The district is proposing allowing for spending of an additional $400,000 for at-risk education and another $15,000 for professional development.Once a school district publishes its budget, it can't spend more than that amount unless it conducts another budget hearing and republishes its budget.The district has set a hearing for May 18 on the revised budget.<h2>Roosevelt HVAC</h2>The board also will hear an update on the Roosevelt HVAC system.&nbsp;Rusted pipes were recently found throughout Roosevelt's heating and cooling system. The chiller and other components of the system are also failing. The district is working with an engineer to develop plans to replace the HVAC system in summer 2021.<h2>Special education</h2>Chris Hipp, director of the West Central Kansas Special Education Cooperative, will report to the school board on the FY20 and FY21 budgets.&nbsp;Hipp in his written report to the board indicated the cooperative will need an additional $225,000 from the member districts in FY21.&nbsp;This includes Hays, Ellis, Victoria and La Crosse.The board will also hear reports from Jessica Yonker, nutrition services, director on the grab-and-go meal program and from&nbsp; Joey Linn, Fort Hays State University vice president for Student Affairs, and Dennis King, FHSU assistant vice-president for Student Affairs, about concurrent classes with Hays High School.In other business, the board will:<ul>
 <li>Appoint a team for teacher negotiations.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>Discuss student technology devices</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>Hear information on the Learning Center program and the software Edgunity which is up for renewal</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>Discuss summer school fees</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>Discuss the superintendent evaluation process</li>
 </ul>

Hays school board to discuss republishing budget

By NICK GOSNELL,&nbsp;Hutch Post

HUTCHINSON — Though K-12 education looks different than it has in previous years, that doesn't necessarily mean that it will be funded that differently at the end of the day, but the aggregate dollars may go down.

"It's going to be hard to get out from under it," said Republican Rep. Paul Waggoner. "I will say when the 2008 recession hit, with the same legal ruling, the school districts were very amenable to it, just because they understood the financial position we were in. We'll have to see how it plays out this time."

Democratic Representative Jason Probst believes there will be some cuts to education, as well.

"In 2008, the school districts kind of viewed the situation as a shared sacrifice," Probst said. "Despite the fact that there was a ruling in place and litigation going on, they were agreeable to reducing. I think we're all going to have to, across the board, everyone's going to have to share in this sacrifice and I don't expect that K-12 will escape that."

Will the neccessities of online education create either opportunities or necessities for less classroom teaching? That remains to be seen.

"Innovation is often born out of crisis," Probst said. "You have to look at the situation. You have to change the way you do things. I do think that this has opened up the availability of some tools that we hadn't been forced to examine before. It also means that we're going to have to have pretty robust broadband access throughout the state to deliver remote education, but I do think this situation has brought to the fore the fact that maybe you can get an education and not be in a building, necessarily and that we can deliver high quality education, connect the best teachers in the state with the students, wherever they are."

Waggoner is impressed by the progress, as well.

"We certainly have seen a huge growth in distance learning as it would be on a higher education level," Waggoner said. "A lot of things are done online. That has always been sort of in the background in K-12. I think part of it actually is what are going to be your results? You know, you've had a couple of months with kids learning online. I mean, how do their tests scores do? Is it comparable to in classroom learning? It could also be, certain parents might feel more comfortable if their kids were at home."

This could especially be true if there is a potential second wave of the virus in the fall, as most medical experts seem to believe right now.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1588005688888.jpeg" alt="Probst and Waggoner" />
 <figcaption>Probst and Waggoner</figcaption>
 </figure>By NICK GOSNELL,&nbsp;Hutch PostHUTCHINSON — Though K-12 education looks different than it has in previous years, that doesn't necessarily mean that it will be funded that differently at the end of the day, but the aggregate dollars may go down."It's going to be hard to get out from under it," said Republican Rep. Paul Waggoner. "I will say when the 2008 recession hit, with the same legal ruling, the school districts were very amenable to it, just because they understood the financial position we were in. We'll have to see how it plays out this time."Democratic Representative Jason Probst believes there will be some cuts to education, as well."In 2008, the school districts kind of viewed the situation as a shared sacrifice," Probst said. "Despite the fact that there was a ruling in place and litigation going on, they were agreeable to reducing. I think we're all going to have to, across the board, everyone's going to have to share in this sacrifice and I don't expect that K-12 will escape that."Will the neccessities of online education create either opportunities or necessities for less classroom teaching? That remains to be seen."Innovation is often born out of crisis," Probst said. "You have to look at the situation. You have to change the way you do things. I do think that this has opened up the availability of some tools that we hadn't been forced to examine before. It also means that we're going to have to have pretty robust broadband access throughout the state to deliver remote education, but I do think this situation has brought to the fore the fact that maybe you can get an education and not be in a building, necessarily and that we can deliver high quality education, connect the best teachers in the state with the students, wherever they are."Waggoner is impressed by the progress, as well."We certainly have seen a huge growth in distance learning as it would be on a higher education level," Waggoner said. "A lot of things are done online. That has always been sort of in the background in K-12. I think part of it actually is what are going to be your results? You know, you've had a couple of months with kids learning online. I mean, how do their tests scores do? Is it comparable to in classroom learning? It could also be, certain parents might feel more comfortable if their kids were at home."This could especially be true if there is a potential second wave of the virus in the fall, as most medical experts seem to believe right now.

State reps: Likely sacrifice, possible increases in online learning for K-12

The USD 489 grab-and-go meal program will resume on Monday.&nbsp;

The program had to be suspended this week after a USD 489 employee tested positive for COVID-19.&nbsp;

Civic organizations as well as local restaurants stepped up to provide free or discounted meals for children while the USD 489 program was suspened.

More details on the continuation of the program are in the flyer below.

USD 489The USD 489 grab-and-go meal program will resume on Monday.&nbsp;The program had to be suspended this week after a USD 489 employee tested positive for COVID-19.&nbsp;Civic organizations as well as local restaurants stepped up to provide free or discounted meals for children while the USD 489 program was suspened.More details on the continuation of the program are in the flyer below.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1587764051837.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

USD 489 to resume meal program on Monday

ELLIS — On the corner of Washington and 10th in Ellis sits an unassuming building that has been a center of activity for area residents for longer than the town has existed.

But by the end of June, Trio Home Center, home to a lumberyard dating back to 1878, will close its doors.

Shortly after, the building will be razed to make room for a Dollar General.

Rather than lament the shifting nature of business and the end of an era, co-owner Glen Keller is happy that an arrangement could be made that will bring new employment opportunities and the possibility of more residents shopping locally.

In August 1972, Keller, along with business partners Ernie Fink and Dave McDaniel, took over the business — at the time named Ellis Trio Lumber and Building Center.

The three men met at Bethany College in Lindsborg, with Keller being the only one of the three from Ellis. After determining the venture to be worthwhile and finding local support, the men took ownership from a third generation of the Nicholson family, who had owned and operated the business since its founding.

"We are leaving a legacy for the community a little bit, in that we are getting a new building in our downtown area ... which doesn't happen often in a small community," Keller said.

He said demolition will start right after the transfer of ownership, making way for the new building.

"So this will probably be gone by the end of July or August," Keller said.

After almost 50 years of ownership and around a year of thinking it over, he said the decision to sell was difficult, but it simply came down to business.

The building needs about $80,000 worth of maintenance, he said.

"We didn't want another deteriorating building in the community."

Yet, it will be a strange sight once the building is gone, he said.

As word of the sale spread, conversations with community members have demonstrated how much of an icon the building is in the small community.

"Many of the younger people that live here and grew up here, this is all they have known, so they are even more attached to it than we are in some respects," Keller said.

A couple of years ago, Keller and McDaniel noticed a couple of people taking interest in the building, walking around taking pictures. The unusual occurrence was soon forgotten, until last February when someone from a Kansas City development company inquired about the possibility of selling the building.

It wasn't the first time someone showed interest in the location, but with all previous inquires a deal was never completed.

They found the company does development work for Dollar General and was interested in a downtown location large enough for ample parking — and the site fit the bill.

So, as the remaining partners in the business, Keller and McDaniel, knew they couldn't go on forever, and with the amount of repairs needing to be made in the building, they accepted the offer, understanding it is in the best interest of themselves and the city.

"We won't have that opportunity too many times again," Keller said.

"Over the years, we have heard from many in the community, because we are attuned to the community quite a bit, they always say that they wish they had a Dollar General," Keller said.

So in the time they spent making the decision, they traveled to other small towns to see how Dollar General affected the community, to ensure the benefits of having a Dollar General in town would be beneficial to the community and other business owners.

"The majority of those have survived and thrived because they have learned to adapt to that," Keller said. "If you supplement yourself well to the Dollar General business, you can survive."

He said there will always be some overlap between businesses so before they made their decision they spoke to the owners of the Ellis Hometown Food Center to ensure they knew what would be coming and could adapt.

"Our goal was not to run another business out of town, it was to try to find something that we could supplement together," Keller said.

And by having the Dollar General in Ellis, he said the hope is more people will shop locally.

He said as Ellis residents travel to Hays or WaKeeney to shop stores like Dollar General, they also pick up goods from other stores. So with the location in town, it can help motivate residents to buy more locally.

"Hopefully if they shop Dollar General here, and they need produce or something, they can go down to the local store and buy it rather than driving over to Hays for that," Keller said. "We hope it will be a positive thing for the community."

For small towns like Ellis, the challenge is to keep as many dollars in town as possible, Keller said.

"Local people have to remember to shop locally," he said. "What that returns to the community is beyond anyone's imagination. It's unbelievable what that returns to the community."

Keller attributes changing buying habits to people willing to travel more to get less.

"We are more mobile society today," he said, which makes it more difficult to be competitive today than when they started.

That frequent travel has contributed to difficulties with small-town businesses just trying staying afloat as buying habits shifted to big-box retailers, and ultimately online, he said.

"People just don't realize what a business in a small town generates for that small town," Keller said.

Even though the Trio Home Center will be gone after July 1, Keller and McDaniel are not ready to throw in the towel just yet. They will open Trio Hometown Supply just down the street shortly after they move out of the building.

The new business will not have lumber, sheetrock or cement, but will offer hardware, appliances, paint and sundries.

"I look at it this way," Keller said. "We are opening up a book, turning the page and starting a new chapter."

By opening the business in conjunction with the new Dollar General, they believe they are creating more local economic opportunities.

"So we are creating two businesses. Their business will hire anywhere from eight to 10 people, so it will be an employment opportunity thar you don't get every day in a small town," Keller said. "We believe in small communities and small business and therefore we are staying in that position."

With the new venture, Keller hopes to continue seeing the support from the community that kept the lumberyard open for nearly a century and a half.

"We have many good customers that have been very supportive over the years and we hope to continue that support in the new location," he said.

Over the decades, Keller said a lot of blood, sweat and tears have gone into keeping their business open, but it all comes down to three things and they will never change, no matter the business.

"If you offer service, convenience and quality, you will survive and that's what we have tried to do," he said. "It always comes down to that."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1587785456163.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By JAMES BELL Hays PostELLIS — On the corner of Washington and 10th in Ellis sits an unassuming building that has been a center of activity for area residents for longer than the town has existed.But by the end of June, Trio Home Center, home to a lumberyard dating back to 1878, will close its doors.Shortly after, the building will be razed to make room for a Dollar General.Rather than lament the shifting nature of business and the end of an era, co-owner Glen Keller is happy that an arrangement could be made that will bring new employment opportunities and the possibility of more residents shopping locally.In August 1972, Keller, along with business partners Ernie Fink and Dave McDaniel, took over the business — at the time named Ellis Trio Lumber and Building Center.The three men met at Bethany College in Lindsborg, with Keller being the only one of the three from Ellis. After determining the venture to be worthwhile and finding local support, the men took ownership from a third generation of the Nicholson family, who had owned and operated the business since its founding."We are leaving a legacy for the community a little bit, in that we are getting a new building in our downtown area ... which doesn't happen often in a small community," Keller said.He said demolition will start right after the transfer of ownership, making way for the new building."So this will probably be gone by the end of July or August," Keller said.After almost 50 years of ownership and around a year of thinking it over, he said the decision to sell was difficult, but it simply came down to business.The building needs about $80,000 worth of maintenance, he said."We didn't want another deteriorating building in the community."Yet, it will be a strange sight once the building is gone, he said.As word of the sale spread, conversations with community members have demonstrated how much of an icon the building is in the small community."Many of the younger people that live here and grew up here, this is all they have known, so they are even more attached to it than we are in some respects," Keller said.<h2>The sale</h2><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1587785493872.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>A couple of years ago, Keller and McDaniel noticed a couple of people taking interest in the building, walking around taking pictures. The unusual occurrence was soon forgotten, until last February when someone from a Kansas City development company inquired about the possibility of selling the building.It wasn't the first time someone showed interest in the location, but with all previous inquires a deal was never completed.They found the company does development work for Dollar General and was interested in a downtown location large enough for ample parking — and the site fit the bill.So, as the remaining partners in the business, Keller and McDaniel, knew they couldn't go on forever, and with the amount of repairs needing to be made in the building, they accepted the offer, understanding it is in the best interest of themselves and the city."We won't have that opportunity too many times again," Keller said.<h2>A new way to buy</h2><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1587783669532.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>"Over the years, we have heard from many in the community, because we are attuned to the community quite a bit, they always say that they wish they had a Dollar General," Keller said.So in the time they spent making the decision, they traveled to other small towns to see how Dollar General affected the community, to ensure the benefits of having a Dollar General in town would be beneficial to the community and other business owners."The majority of those have survived and thrived because they have learned to adapt to that," Keller said. "If you supplement yourself well to the Dollar General business, you can survive."He said there will always be some overlap between businesses so before they made their decision they spoke to the owners of the Ellis Hometown Food Center to ensure they knew what would be coming and could adapt."Our goal was not to run another business out of town, it was to try to find something that we could supplement together," Keller said.And by having the Dollar General in Ellis, he said the hope is more people will shop locally.He said as Ellis residents travel to Hays or WaKeeney to shop stores like Dollar General, they also pick up goods from other stores. So with the location in town, it can help motivate residents to buy more locally."Hopefully if they shop Dollar General here, and they need produce or something, they can go down to the local store and buy it rather than driving over to Hays for that," Keller said. "We hope it will be a positive thing for the community."For small towns like Ellis, the challenge is to keep as many dollars in town as possible, Keller said."Local people have to remember to shop locally," he said. "What that returns to the community is beyond anyone's imagination. It's unbelievable what that returns to the community."Keller attributes changing buying habits to people willing to travel more to get less."We are more mobile society today," he said, which makes it more difficult to be competitive today than when they started.That frequent travel has contributed to difficulties with small-town businesses just trying staying afloat as buying habits shifted to big-box retailers, and ultimately online, he said."People just don't realize what a business in a small town generates for that small town," Keller said.<h2>Not just yet...</h2><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1587785577227.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Even though the Trio Home Center will be gone after July 1, Keller and McDaniel are not ready to throw in the towel just yet. They will open Trio Hometown Supply just down the street shortly after they move out of the building.The new business will not have lumber, sheetrock or cement, but will offer hardware, appliances, paint and sundries."I look at it this way," Keller said. "We are opening up a book, turning the page and starting a new chapter."By opening the business in conjunction with the new Dollar General, they believe they are creating more local economic opportunities."So we are creating two businesses. Their business will hire anywhere from eight to 10 people, so it will be an employment opportunity thar you don't get every day in a small town," Keller said. "We believe in small communities and small business and therefore we are staying in that position."With the new venture, Keller hopes to continue seeing the support from the community that kept the lumberyard open for nearly a century and a half."We have many good customers that have been very supportive over the years and we hope to continue that support in the new location," he said.Over the decades, Keller said a lot of blood, sweat and tears have gone into keeping their business open, but it all comes down to three things and they will never change, no matter the business."If you offer service, convenience and quality, you will survive and that's what we have tried to do," he said. "It always comes down to that."

142-year-old Ellis lumber yard to close to make way for Dollar General

By DAVE BERGMEIER <a href="https://www.hpj.com/ag_news/water-right-college-s-program-creates-opportunity-to-preserve-aquifer/article_b3559490-858d-11ea-a0ec-f74a3a290b76.html#utm_source=hpj.com&amp;utm_campaign=%2Fnewsletters%2Flists%2Fhpj-weekly%2F%3F-dc%3D1587747613&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_content=read%20more">High Plains Journal</a>

GOODLAND —&nbsp;Open-minded, common sense individuals
 matched with hands-on technology are making a difference in the drive 
to conserve water in the Ogallala Aquifer.

Those
 individuals are thriving at Northwest Kansas Technical College, 
Goodland, Kansas, an institution that has a history of regularly raising
 bumper crops of entrepreneurs. The latest addition is irrigation 
management. In 2016, NWKTC’s Precision Ag program launched its Water 
Technology Farms project to promote the adoption of various irrigation 
management technologies to help producers in that region, said Weston 
McCary, director of Precision Agriculture and UAS Technologies at the 
college.

Students welcome the opportunity to learn how to use new techniques to preserve groundwater, McCary said, adding that is essential for agriculture and agricultural-related businesses in the High Plains.

John Gower, Phillipsburg, Kansas, grew 
up on a farm in eastern Phillips County near Agra. He plans to be the 
next generation of that operation, and as a budding entrepreneur he is 
bullish because he has been able to work in a program that can tap his 
hands-on instincts. That has included how he can incorporate technology 
into improving a farm’s efficiency.&nbsp;

Irrigation
 application has always intrigued him. As an eighth-grader he had the 
opportunity to work with Josh McClain, an irrigator based in Almena, 
Kansas. Gower remembers how important it was to be precise on water 
application.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Technology tools
 pay dividends, Gower said, providing ways to help producers in ways 
that were not possible even a few years ago.

“The
 biggest thing to me is the moisture probes,” he said. “There’s data to 
show that if you do have a moisture probe, if used to its full potential
 and you trust it, you will save money on pumping costs and cut down on 
the water usage,” said Gower, whose major is in precision agriculture 
with an associate’s degree in applied science. “They can now grow as 
much corn with less water usage. It is hard to argue against success.”

Variable rate irrigation scripts also help producers to address topography and to keep water from running down ditches, he said.

Matching
 those VRI scripts with a soil probe in a well-maintained pivot system 
can help producers to be more efficient and preserve precious 
groundwater, he said. Gower is also working with McClain on a precision 
planter and the soon-to-be graduate wants to be able to follow a passion
 of improving planting equipment for producers and also farming.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1587750497334.jpeg" alt="Photo courtesy of Northwest Kansas Technical College" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy of Northwest Kansas Technical College</figcaption>
 </figure>By DAVE BERGMEIER <a href="https://www.hpj.com/ag_news/water-right-college-s-program-creates-opportunity-to-preserve-aquifer/article_b3559490-858d-11ea-a0ec-f74a3a290b76.html#utm_source=hpj.com&amp;utm_campaign=%2Fnewsletters%2Flists%2Fhpj-weekly%2F%3F-dc%3D1587747613&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_content=read%20more">High Plains Journal</a>GOODLAND —&nbsp;Open-minded, common sense individuals
 matched with hands-on technology are making a difference in the drive 
to conserve water in the Ogallala Aquifer.Those
 individuals are thriving at Northwest Kansas Technical College, 
Goodland, Kansas, an institution that has a history of regularly raising
 bumper crops of entrepreneurs. The latest addition is irrigation 
management. In 2016, NWKTC’s Precision Ag program launched its Water 
Technology Farms project to promote the adoption of various irrigation 
management technologies to help producers in that region, said Weston 
McCary, director of Precision Agriculture and UAS Technologies at the 
college.Students welcome the opportunity to learn how to use new techniques to preserve groundwater, McCary said, adding that is essential for agriculture and agricultural-related businesses in the High Plains.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1587750566636.png" alt="John Gower" />
 <figcaption>John Gower</figcaption>
 </figure>John Gower, Phillipsburg, Kansas, grew 
up on a farm in eastern Phillips County near Agra. He plans to be the 
next generation of that operation, and as a budding entrepreneur he is 
bullish because he has been able to work in a program that can tap his 
hands-on instincts. That has included how he can incorporate technology 
into improving a farm’s efficiency.&nbsp;Irrigation
 application has always intrigued him. As an eighth-grader he had the 
opportunity to work with Josh McClain, an irrigator based in Almena, 
Kansas. Gower remembers how important it was to be precise on water 
application.&nbsp;&nbsp;Technology tools
 pay dividends, Gower said, providing ways to help producers in ways 
that were not possible even a few years ago.“The
 biggest thing to me is the moisture probes,” he said. “There’s data to 
show that if you do have a moisture probe, if used to its full potential
 and you trust it, you will save money on pumping costs and cut down on 
the water usage,” said Gower, whose major is in precision agriculture 
with an associate’s degree in applied science. “They can now grow as 
much corn with less water usage. It is hard to argue against success.”Variable rate irrigation scripts also help producers to address topography and to keep water from running down ditches, he said.Matching
 those VRI scripts with a soil probe in a well-maintained pivot system 
can help producers to be more efficient and preserve precious 
groundwater, he said. Gower is also working with McClain on a precision 
planter and the soon-to-be graduate wants to be able to follow a passion
 of improving planting equipment for producers and also farming.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1587750597650.jpeg" alt="Blaine Sederstrom" />
 <figcaption>Blaine Sederstrom</figcaption>
 </figure>The High Plains economy depends heavily 
on the Ogallala Aquifer and both Gower and classmate Blaine Sederstrom 
say the key is to continue to press for greater efficiency and 
conservation. Sederstrom agrees that new technology is making a 
difference on his family’s farm.“There
 has been big changes in water probes,” Sederstrom said. “When we’ve had
 a good rain during the summer and because it is hot and dry for several
 days you don’t necessarily have turn the sprinkler on.”Sederstrom will graduate in May with an associate’s degree in applied science with a certificate in precision agriculture.One
 reason Sederstrom wanted to attend nearby NWKTC was he enjoyed a 
hands-on style of learning. It also helps him achieve his dream of 
returning to the family farm about 10 miles southwest of Goodland in 
Sherman, County, which includes irrigated and dryland corn, wheat and 
soybeans. He wanted a learning experience that in turn he can use to 
help his family to continue to be successful.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1587750632582.jpeg" alt="Photo courtesy of Northwest Kansas Technical College" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy of Northwest Kansas Technical College</figcaption>
 </figure>Irrigation is crucial to the family 
farm. &nbsp;Sederstrom said his family considers themselves fortunate because
 they still have groundwater wells that produce 350 to 400 gallons a 
minute.It is essential to 
gather as much data as possible, learn from it and apply the knowledge, 
he said. Technology allows him to break down an entire field so that it 
can be analyzed to find deficiencies. What might appear to be a good 
field can have spots that are not as productive because he has found 
that not every acre in a 160-acre field was created equal. Variable rate
 irrigation is one of the tools to help.“Let’s not spend any extra money or putting on more water when it does not pay a return,” he said.Another
 change has been a no-till operation even in the irrigated fields. In 
western Kansas, the heat and sun can bake the soil so keeping the ground
 moist and shaded helps.NWKTC 
has a 300-acre field that students can work with, and Sederstrom was 
appreciative of McCary’s initiatives and the college’s commitment to 
invest in a program that will pay off in a practical way.From
 a practical standpoint teaching young men and women to enter the field 
of irrigation technology can be important if your livelihood depends on 
the Ogallala Aquifer.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1587750665813.jpeg" alt="Photo courtesy of Northwest Kansas Technical College" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy of Northwest Kansas Technical College</figcaption>
 </figure>“We try to teach young producers that 
irrigation water, especially in the Ogallala region, is a finite 
resource and that using it moving forward will require more and more 
strategies to use effectively,” McCary said.NWKTC
 strives to give students a hands-on experience with various 
technologies plus exposure to ag retailers, he said, and in that way, 
students can understand firsthand what options are available to them and
 then address problems with confidence. Being able to approach 
complicated topics, like water, in a confident manner is a big factor in
 whether practices and technologies get adopted, he said.“We don’t teach too much hypothetical,” 
McCary said. “We focus on real practices, technologies and skills that 
get used day-to-day in ag production.”That
 includes teaching self responsibility, personal conduct and an overall 
attitude and with “the subject of water we’ve found has a lot to do with
 perceptions and attitude. All the hard skills and technology build off 
that.” &nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1587750714853.jpeg" alt="Photo courtesy of Northwest Kansas Technical College" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy of Northwest Kansas Technical College</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Starting the process</h2>Precision ag and irrigation technicians 
became a natural fit in 2015. While working on the curriculum 
development for the Precision Agriculture Technology program, McCary was
 approached by Shannon Kenyon of Ground Water Management District No. 4 
with the idea of including at least one standalone class that focused on
 Irrigation Management Technology.McCary
 understood the growing concern surrounding the depletion of the 
Ogallala as he had taught precision ag in neighboring Colorado. Concerns
 had emerged over a decade ago when several water right holders in 
eastern Colorado had their wells shut off due to declines and resulting 
politics.“I felt motivated to 
do what we could educationally do to prepare young producers for what’s 
confronting them in the 21st century so that we don’t have to see more 
and more wells being turned off in the future.”<h2>History plays a part</h2>With
 that in mind, strategies were discussed on how to promote irrigation 
reduction across the region while absolutely making sure it would be 
economically viable for producers to do so, he said, as answers were 
found in volumes of research conducted by Kansas State University, 
Colorado State University and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The 
data showed that it was not about the volume of water applied to a crop;
 instead it was about delivering water at key stages of plant 
development.“There’s a big 
difference between those two concepts. Furthermore it was also about not
 exceeding a given field’s moisture and nutrient holding capacity and 
accidentally pushing valuable nutrients below the root zone due to 
overwatering,” McCary said. “That’s not how producers hold on to their 
valuable dollars, and in some areas of the United States that’s how 
we’ve seen surplus nitrate getting into potable water supplies and river
 systems.”The research also 
indicated that some fields have pretty uniform soil distributions yet 
others have four or five different soil types, sometimes within a single
 quarter section, he said.&nbsp; By geographically mapping the soil types and
 then placing soil sensors in the field during the irrigation season, 
researchers can monitor subsurface moisture regardless of whether it 
appeared dry on the surface or not.“This
 concept is also the backbone in principles in precision agriculture and
 has become a huge game changer for the ag industry,” McCary said. “We 
designed our Precision Agriculture Technology program and our Irrigation
 Management classes around some of these same ideas.”Students
 have three milestone options inside the Precision Agriculture 
Technology program; a two-year associates of applied science, a 
one-semester industry Certificate A, and a one-year Certificate B, 
McCary said. Each student has the option to focus on a specific area of 
expertise in his or her second year.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1587750773556.jpeg" alt="Photo courtesy of Northwest Kansas Technical College" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy of Northwest Kansas Technical College</figcaption>
 </figure>“Some have focused on planters and GPS 
guidance systems, while others have really taken a deep dive into 
electromagnetic soil mapping and grid sampling. Others focus on UAS 
(drones, some on computers, wiring and electronics, and others yet have
 focused on our indoor growing lab,” he said. “Three students have left 
the program and gone into the industry to work with water-related 
technologies. In addition to our annual Ag Tech Expo where we showcase a
 lot of our water technology efforts, the Precision Ag program will also
 be offering a Master Irrigator program for producers later in the year.
 The program is a joint effort between Northwest Tech, Groundwater 
Management District 4, Kansas Water Office and Ogallala Water. The sky’s
 the limit for the things we can potentially teach.”The program goes hand in hand as growers look for ways to improve their efficiency.“Never before have we seen so many simultaneous advances and adoptions of science and technology in agriculture,” McCary said.In
 the past 30 years besides the genetics and chemistry in crops, the 
industry is seeing semi-autonomous, Global Navigation Satellite Systems 
controlled tractors across the landscape using individual row controlled
 planters and section controlled sprayers. Growers can log into their 
smart device and monitor the status of 20 center pivot machines at once,
 while also getting infrared plant health imagery from weekly satellite 
passes—just sitting at the breakfast table in the morning.Weather
 stations monitor exact rainfall rates at the field from 50 miles away, 
online fleet management platforms let a producer see where all of his or
 her equipment is in the field in real-time, commodities can be sold 
from a smartphone app, and the industry is just seeing UAS platforms 
emerge capable of crop dusting in swarm formation.<h2>Rural innovation</h2>All
 of this technology has been slowly emerging in response to a few 
significant factors, in his opinion. The big one is there are fewer and 
fewer people working in the ag sector than in previous generations, 
while the sector is expected to produce more volumes of product across 
more acres than ever before.“We’ve
 been seeing a rapid decline in the ag workforce for several decades 
now, and that includes industries like crop dusting where the average 
age of a pilot is nearly 60 years old,” McCary said. “The irrigation 
industry is another part of the workforce that has seen substantial 
declines. Ag is already asking who is going to work all that ground, fix
 my pivot and fly those aircraft when this generation retires.”Workforce
 development is the primary focus at the college, which prepares 
hands-on workers for numerous industries, but agriculture just might be 
the biggest, he said, adding it’s arguably the biggest industry in the 
world. Those are big shoes to fill.The
 second factor driving all this innovation is that American producers 
are competing more directly with world markets than ever before. So many
 other ag economies, like Brazil and Ukraine, have been slowly growing 
to competitively produce the same crops with the U.S., and these 
countries still have the advantage of lower labor rates while still 
having access to the same latest technologies.“It’s
 like many of these other countries have had the luxury of skipping the 
last 50 years of growing pains that American ag has had to go through 
and they’ve jumped right into the race next to us,” McCary said. “We 
teach our students that this is fourth quarter football and we’ve got to
 compete. This is no time to coast. You cannot know too much in today’s 
ag, and you can’t afford to get behind.”Dave Bergmeier can be reached at 620-227-1822 or <a href="mailto:dbergmeier@hpj.com">dbergmeier@hpj.com</a>. Republished with permission.