The Western Kansas Human Resource Management Association will hold its monthly meeting on Tuesday, Feb.&nbsp;11, at the Robbins Center (Eagle Communication Hall, on the FHSU campus.&nbsp; 

Registration is from 11:15 to 11:30 a.m., with a short business meeting starting at 11:30 a.m.&nbsp; 

The program for the February meeting will be “Drugs in the Workplace,” presented by Trooper Tod Hileman with the Kansas Highway Patrol. The program will be submitted for SHRM continuing education credits. WKHRMA members can RSVP at&nbsp;<a href="http://wkhrma.shrm.org/" target="_blank">wkhrma.shrm.org</a>. The deadline to RSVP is noon on February 7.&nbsp;

WKHRMA is an affiliate chapter of SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management, a local professional organization for persons engaged in personal or human resource management.&nbsp; For more information on WKHRMA, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://wkhrma.shrm.org/" target="_blank">wkhrma.shrm.org</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573141063224.png" alt="Hileman" />
 <figcaption>Hileman</figcaption>
 </figure>The Western Kansas Human Resource Management Association will hold its monthly meeting on Tuesday, Feb.&nbsp;11, at the Robbins Center (Eagle Communication Hall, on the FHSU campus.&nbsp; Registration is from 11:15 to 11:30 a.m., with a short business meeting starting at 11:30 a.m.&nbsp; The program for the February meeting will be “Drugs in the Workplace,” presented by Trooper Tod Hileman with the Kansas Highway Patrol. The program will be submitted for SHRM continuing education credits. WKHRMA members can RSVP at&nbsp;<a href="http://wkhrma.shrm.org/" target="_blank">wkhrma.shrm.org</a>. The deadline to RSVP is noon on February 7.&nbsp; WKHRMA is an affiliate chapter of SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management, a local professional organization for persons engaged in personal or human resource management.&nbsp; For more information on WKHRMA, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://wkhrma.shrm.org/" target="_blank">wkhrma.shrm.org</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Trooper Tod scheduled to speak at HR group's monthly meeting

<a href="https://hayspost.com/state-farm-weather-window/">For a full look at weather visit the State Farm Weather Window by clicking here.&nbsp;</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575929617735.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://hayspost.com/state-farm-weather-window/">For a full look at weather visit the State Farm Weather Window by clicking here.&nbsp;</a><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579901186630.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

Three-day weather outlook

BUNKER HILL –&nbsp; The McFadden Charitable Trust has awarded Smoky Hills PBS with a grant for $2,000.&nbsp;

The grant will support the Literacy Leadership initiative in Osborne, KS.&nbsp; 

This program provides books to those children enrolled in public preschools within Osborne.&nbsp; The grant will also support children’s programming on Smoky Hills PBS.

Kelli King, director of finance and administration said, “For several years now we have received support from the McFadden Charitable Trust, providing us the opportunity to put books in young children’s hands.&nbsp; We could not continue our educational mission without the support of great foundations like the McFadden Charitable Trust.”

The McFadden Charitable Trust was founded in 2002 through the estate of Olan Charles “O.C.” McFadden to benefit all of Osborne County.&nbsp;

Smoky Hills PBS serves 71 counties in central and western Kansas.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1578663876107.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>SHPBSBUNKER HILL –&nbsp; The McFadden Charitable Trust has awarded Smoky Hills PBS with a grant for $2,000.&nbsp;The grant will support the Literacy Leadership initiative in Osborne, KS.&nbsp; This program provides books to those children enrolled in public preschools within Osborne.&nbsp; The grant will also support children’s programming on Smoky Hills PBS.Kelli King, director of finance and administration said, “For several years now we have received support from the McFadden Charitable Trust, providing us the opportunity to put books in young children’s hands.&nbsp; We could not continue our educational mission without the support of great foundations like the McFadden Charitable Trust.”The McFadden Charitable Trust was founded in 2002 through the estate of Olan Charles “O.C.” McFadden to benefit all of Osborne County.&nbsp;Smoky Hills PBS serves 71 counties in central and western Kansas.&nbsp;

Osborne preschoolers to benefit from book grant

I came down with an unrelenting sore throat about 15-20 years ago. For years I have tried to be discreet in prescribing antibiotics in most of my patients, for fear of causing resistance in bacteria to the antibiotics. I did for me what I did for most of my patients, which was to avoid the antibiotics. However, after a week the sore throat was getting worse, it was starting to keep me from opening my mouth normally and I was running a fever. I called my friend, an ears, nose and throat doctor who practiced at our local clinic with me.&nbsp;

He squeezed me into his schedule and took a look at my throat. I noted his eyes got a little wide and then he got up and left the room, returning with a large syringe attached to a big bore needle. It was so quick I didn’t have time to resist and he placed that huge needle into my throat, stabbed the left tonsil, and came back with a syringe full of brown liquid. He smiled and said, “You have a peritonsillar abscess.”&nbsp;

I had pain localized to the left side of my throat which was made worse with swallowing and which was suspicious for peritonsillar abscess. Other symptoms that could indicate such a diagnosis include swollen tonsil or tonsils, uvular deviation away from the abscess, a mouth that doesn’t open fully, purulence of one or both tonsils, drooling, swollen neck-lymph nodes and finally, a muffled voice.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

Usually there are two organisms growing which makes this condition a double threat. If the infection is allowed to spread, the invasion of many layers of neck tissue can occur which leads to a progressive extension of the infection into deep tissue and possibly a dismal death. The infection can also spread to the other tonsil, which, when swollen and pushed up against the opposite swollen tonsil, can block air flow and cause death from suffocation.

My doctor immediately sent me down to an infusion room and started the daily intravenous dose of an antibiotic that would be repeated daily for a week. This was not the first time or the last that antibiotics saved my life. Following this experience, I looked much more carefully at every patient with a sore throat, and, although I was still careful about over-prescribing antibiotics, I prescribed antibiotics more often for swollen and ugly tonsils after that.

Richard P. Holm, MD is founder of The Prairie Doc® and author of “Life’s Final Season, A Guide for Aging and Dying with Grace” available on Amazon. For free and easy access to the entire Prairie Doc® library, visit <a href="http://www.prairiedoc.org">www.prairiedoc.org</a> and follow Prairie Doc® on Facebook, featuring On Call with the Prairie Doc® a medical Q&amp;A show streamed most Thursdays at 7 p.m. central. &nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/8/1565966623908.jpeg" alt="Rick Holm " />
 <figcaption>Rick Holm </figcaption>
 </figure>I came down with an unrelenting sore throat about 15-20 years ago. For years I have tried to be discreet in prescribing antibiotics in most of my patients, for fear of causing resistance in bacteria to the antibiotics. I did for me what I did for most of my patients, which was to avoid the antibiotics. However, after a week the sore throat was getting worse, it was starting to keep me from opening my mouth normally and I was running a fever. I called my friend, an ears, nose and throat doctor who practiced at our local clinic with me.&nbsp;He squeezed me into his schedule and took a look at my throat. I noted his eyes got a little wide and then he got up and left the room, returning with a large syringe attached to a big bore needle. It was so quick I didn’t have time to resist and he placed that huge needle into my throat, stabbed the left tonsil, and came back with a syringe full of brown liquid. He smiled and said, “You have a peritonsillar abscess.”&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1576508816063.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>I had pain localized to the left side of my throat which was made worse with swallowing and which was suspicious for peritonsillar abscess. Other symptoms that could indicate such a diagnosis include swollen tonsil or tonsils, uvular deviation away from the abscess, a mouth that doesn’t open fully, purulence of one or both tonsils, drooling, swollen neck-lymph nodes and finally, a muffled voice.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Usually there are two organisms growing which makes this condition a double threat. If the infection is allowed to spread, the invasion of many layers of neck tissue can occur which leads to a progressive extension of the infection into deep tissue and possibly a dismal death. The infection can also spread to the other tonsil, which, when swollen and pushed up against the opposite swollen tonsil, can block air flow and cause death from suffocation.My doctor immediately sent me down to an infusion room and started the daily intravenous dose of an antibiotic that would be repeated daily for a week. This was not the first time or the last that antibiotics saved my life. Following this experience, I looked much more carefully at every patient with a sore throat, and, although I was still careful about over-prescribing antibiotics, I prescribed antibiotics more often for swollen and ugly tonsils after that.Richard P. Holm, MD is founder of The Prairie Doc® and author of “Life’s Final Season, A Guide for Aging and Dying with Grace” available on Amazon. For free and easy access to the entire Prairie Doc® library, visit <a href="http://www.prairiedoc.org">www.prairiedoc.org</a> and follow Prairie Doc® on Facebook, featuring On Call with the Prairie Doc® a medical Q&amp;A show streamed most Thursdays at 7 p.m. central. &nbsp;

Prairie Doc Perspectives: Saved from a peritonsillar abscess

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

<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="RHID regulations changed to proceed with housing development" height="400" width="400" style="border: none;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/media/player/jpp6y-d0f042?from=yiiadmin&download=1&version=1&vjs=1&skin=3&auto=1&share=1&fonts=Helvetica&download=1&rtl=0&pbad=1"></iframe></div>

🎤Post Podcast: RHID regulations changed to proceed with housing development

After some discussion and also listening to concerns from a local realtor, Hays city commissioners voted 4-1 Thursday night to approve an addition to the Rural Housing Improvement District (RHID) section of the city's economic development policy.

The amendment was requested by Doug Williams, Grow Hays executive director, who presented a plan last week for 75 units of affordable housing to be built in east Hays.

The current RHID policy, created in July 2013, requires 10 renter-occupied low-income or income-qualified units.

Williams told commissioners last week and again Thursday that this project, using the resources of Heart of America Development Corp., an investment consortium in Ellis County, is planned for single family homes only.

The requested change in the RHID was drafted by City Attorney John Bird.

Local broker/owner Adam Pray, Platinum Group real estate, suggested the low-income units requirement could be eliminated entirely from the policy which "maybe would encourage more developers to use the RHID rather than continuing down the same path we've done for years and not having any results."

As part of the city's economic development incentive package, the RHID was approved in July 2013 but has never been utilized, according to Toby Dougherty, city manager. He said three development projects have applied for the tax break but were unable to meet other required criteria.&nbsp;

"I don't disagree with you," Mayor Shaun Musil told Pray, "but I just don't think it should be a free-for-all."

Vice-Mayor Sandy Jacobs was concerned about risks to the local property tax base, including USD 489 and Ellis County, if numerous RHIDs were created in Hays.

Ron Mellick, who was on the commission in 2013 and voted in favor of the RHID, noted the policy was created to also meet the need for low-income housing.&nbsp;

"What we were looking at mostly at that time were for-profit companies coming in and building apartments but yet we were leaving out low-income (units). ... We wanted to address the full gamut," Mellick said.

He echoed Jacobs' concerns about multiple RHIDs.&nbsp;

The project's 21-acres has generated about $58 per acre in property tax annually the past 20-25 years.&nbsp;

"You're really not giving away any taxes that you're currently getting," Williams pointed out. "You're giving away the opportunity to collect taxes if somebody else were to go and develop on it."

&nbsp;Heart of America purchased the land at a cost considerably lower than the original price of $50,000 an acre. The owner - the William Lusk family in Wichita - agreed to reduce the price after Williams asked them to be part of the community project.&nbsp;

"If we open this up and have RHIDs all over, our tax base is going to go away," Mellick said, "and I don't think the school district or county is going to approve these willy-nilly, especially for a for-profit company because of the direct effect it's going to have on their budgets."

"I hope we have one applicant," Pray countered. "If we do get an applicant ... you still have the power to vote against it.&nbsp;

"In placing these restrictions, I don't think it helps. I think it deters builders from coming in."

"To me," said Jacobs, "this is the cleanest way to take an existing policy - that works so far - and accommodate a non-profit that is meeting a need in our community (affordable housing) and not having to completely take stuff out."

Shortly into the discussion, commissioners changed their description of the project from "affordable" housing to "needed" housing or "workforce" housing.

The planned homes would cost between $175,000 and $225,000, a price Williams showed commissioners would be affordable for families with the Ellis County median annual income of $50,592.

"If I ask 20 people what 'affordable' is, I'll get 20 different answers," Williams said.

"It's not going to be a first home for most of the buyers."

After checking with a Hays realtor Wednesday, Williams reported there were just 10 houses in Hays for sale between $175,000 and $225,000. The average year of construction was 1966.

Williams and Pray both said there is a much larger number of houses on the market costing more than $300,000.

"We're not going to get people to come to town and buy these houses. We will have people moving up," Jacobs said. "We'll then free up another whole level of housing that, if they're moving up, is going to be less than this, probably, and it brings in another market."

Dougherty reminded commissioners the RHID policy can be amended repeatedly.&nbsp;

Jacobs and Musil reiterated their support of the project and the RHID amendment regarding non-profits, but asked that the policy be revisited by the commission as soon as possible.&nbsp;

A motion by Michael Berges to continue the discussion and postpone the vote to the next regular commission meeting died for lack of a second.

"It's not because of a lack of enthusiasm for the project," Berges explained. "It's because I don't want to come back and keep amending (the RHID) each time. ... I am excited about the project."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579836251775.jpeg" alt="Adam Pray,&nbsp;Platinum Group real estate broker/owner, and Doug Williams, Grow Hays executive director, talk about the RHID&nbsp; portion of&nbsp; Hays' economic development incentives policy. It has never been used.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Adam Pray,&nbsp;Platinum Group real estate broker/owner, and Doug Williams, Grow Hays executive director, talk about the RHID&nbsp; portion of&nbsp; Hays' economic development incentives policy. It has never been used.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure><div>By BECKY KISER Hays Post</div>After some discussion and also listening to concerns from a local realtor, Hays city commissioners voted 4-1 Thursday night to approve an addition to the Rural Housing Improvement District (RHID) section of the city's economic development policy.The amendment was requested by Doug Williams, Grow Hays executive director, who presented a plan last week for 75 units of affordable housing to be built in east Hays.The current RHID policy, created in July 2013, requires 10 renter-occupied low-income or income-qualified units.Williams told commissioners last week and again Thursday that this project, using the resources of Heart of America Development Corp., an investment consortium in Ellis County, is planned for single family homes only.The requested change in the RHID was drafted by City Attorney John Bird.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579735678867.jpeg" alt="Hays city commissioners approved a change&nbsp; (in red) Thursday to make exemptions possible for qualified non-profit entities from the ten-renter unit minimum that had been required in the RHID policy." />
 <figcaption>Hays city commissioners approved a change&nbsp; (in red) Thursday to make exemptions possible for qualified non-profit entities from the ten-renter unit minimum that had been required in the RHID policy.</figcaption>
 </figure>Local broker/owner Adam Pray, Platinum Group real estate, suggested the low-income units requirement could be eliminated entirely from the policy which "maybe would encourage more developers to use the RHID rather than continuing down the same path we've done for years and not having any results."As part of the city's economic development incentive package, the RHID was approved in July 2013 but has never been utilized, according to Toby Dougherty, city manager. He said three development projects have applied for the tax break but were unable to meet other required criteria.&nbsp;"I don't disagree with you," Mayor Shaun Musil told Pray, "but I just don't think it should be a free-for-all."Vice-Mayor Sandy Jacobs was concerned about risks to the local property tax base, including USD 489 and Ellis County, if numerous RHIDs were created in Hays.Ron Mellick, who was on the commission in 2013 and voted in favor of the RHID, noted the policy was created to also meet the need for low-income housing.&nbsp;"What we were looking at mostly at that time were for-profit companies coming in and building apartments but yet we were leaving out low-income (units). ... We wanted to address the full gamut," Mellick said.He echoed Jacobs' concerns about multiple RHIDs.&nbsp;The project's 21-acres has generated about $58 per acre in property tax annually the past 20-25 years.&nbsp;The RHID would last for 25 years."You're really not giving away any taxes that you're currently getting," Williams pointed out. "You're giving away the opportunity to collect taxes if somebody else were to go and develop on it."&nbsp;Heart of America purchased the land at a cost considerably lower than the original price of $50,000 an acre. The owner - the William Lusk family in Wichita - agreed to reduce the price after Williams asked them to be part of the community project.&nbsp;"If we open this up and have RHIDs all over, our tax base is going to go away," Mellick said, "and I don't think the school district or county is going to approve these willy-nilly, especially for a for-profit company because of the direct effect it's going to have on their budgets.""I hope we have one applicant," Pray countered. "If we do get an applicant ... you still have the power to vote against it.&nbsp;"In placing these restrictions, I don't think it helps. I think it deters builders from coming in.""To me," said Jacobs, "this is the cleanest way to take an existing policy - that works so far - and accommodate a non-profit that is meeting a need in our community (affordable housing) and not having to completely take stuff out."Shortly into the discussion, commissioners changed their description of the project from "affordable" housing to "needed" housing or "workforce" housing.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579836202405.jpeg" alt="Workforce housing in Salina&nbsp; which would be similar to the Hays plan. (Courtesy photo)" />
 <figcaption>Workforce housing in Salina&nbsp; which would be similar to the Hays plan. (Courtesy photo)</figcaption>
 </figure>The planned homes would cost between $175,000 and $225,000, a price Williams showed commissioners would be affordable for families with the Ellis County median annual income of $50,592."If I ask 20 people what 'affordable' is, I'll get 20 different answers," Williams said."It's not going to be a first home for most of the buyers."After checking with a Hays realtor Wednesday, Williams reported there were just 10 houses in Hays for sale between $175,000 and $225,000. The average year of construction was 1966.Williams and Pray both said there is a much larger number of houses on the market costing more than $300,000."We're not going to get people to come to town and buy these houses. We will have people moving up," Jacobs said. "We'll then free up another whole level of housing that, if they're moving up, is going to be less than this, probably, and it brings in another market."Dougherty reminded commissioners the RHID policy can be amended repeatedly.&nbsp;<figure>
 <iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Tb9asySq8sQ"></iframe>
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Jacobs and Musil reiterated their support of the project and the RHID amendment regarding non-profits, but asked that the policy be revisited by the commission as soon as possible.&nbsp;A motion by Michael Berges to continue the discussion and postpone the vote to the next regular commission meeting died for lack of a second.Berges was the sole "no" vote.&nbsp;"It's not because of a lack of enthusiasm for the project," Berges explained. "It's because I don't want to come back and keep amending (the RHID) each time. ... I am excited about the project."

🎥 City commission changes RHID policy; just 10 'affordable' houses for sale 

By DIANE GASPER-O'BRIEN FHSU University Relations and Marketing

If you Google Fort Hays State University’s Darby Hirsch, you will find the words Academic All-American near the top of the results. But just what does it take to be an Academic All-American?&nbsp;

The Topeka senior is living proof that it’s possible to play a collegiate sport even while majoring in nursing – something some colleges and universities are known to actively discourage, deeming it impossible to succeed at both.&nbsp;

Hirsch not only participated in both but excelled in both arenas.&nbsp;

Following a record-setting season on the FHSU women’s soccer team last fall, Hirsch earned Academic All-America honors from the College Sports Information Directors of America organization.&nbsp;

An individual’s athletic and academic accomplishments are factored into the selection of the Academic All-America team, and Hirsch was a shoo-in considering the offensive stats she compiled while maintaining a perfect 4.0 GPA through her senior soccer season.&nbsp;

Some days began early with 7 a.m. lifting, then a day-long bevy of classes, labs and clinicals. Practices were set for night, sometimes early in the evening, sometimes as late as 8. No matter when practice ended, there were often at least a couple of hours of studying awaiting Hirsch before setting her alarm to start it all over again the next day.&nbsp;

Add to that some community service that is required for Honors College students, and it made for some long days and nights for Hirsch. But it was a challenge that she welcomed when she committed to Fort Hays State in 2016 to play soccer and pursue her nursing degree.&nbsp;

It would have been understandable for Hirsch to concentrate on nursing, a challenging major with extensive clinical experience requirements. She was awarded the Honors College Tier I renewable scholarship worth $10,000 each year. But she wanted to continue playing her favorite sport she played since she was 5 years old.&nbsp;

“Plenty of people thought I was crazy,” she said. “The weight of it didn’t really hit me.”&nbsp;

Even after a lot of late nights and studying in hotels and on the bus during road trips that normally meant three days away from campus, Hirsch wouldn’t change her college experience for anything.&nbsp;

When Blake Reynolds signed on as Fort Hays State’s women’s coach in 2017, he anxiously anticipated tracking how well his sophomore standout forward could juggle a soccer ball and a stethoscope over the next three years.&nbsp;

Hirsch passed with flying colors. She is on track to graduate summa cum laude in May, and her career accomplishments will stand out in the record books. Her name will feature prominently for years to come, appearing on numerous top 10 lists for FHSU soccer. She finished No. 2 in career points – just two points behind the school record of 50. And she leaves as the Tiger program’s all-time career leader in assists (18, just as she did in high school at Topeka’s Washburn Rural.&nbsp;

Now, Reynolds looks forward to telling soccer recruits who want to major in nursing it can be done.&nbsp;

“I wanted to see if it’s really doable,” he said. “You want to be able to recruit to that if it is. We have several nursing majors on our soccer team. Darby set a great example for them, in many ways. She was kind of a test subject for me, without even knowing it.”&nbsp;

Reynolds said it’s hard to pin down any one particular attribute about Hirsch because she was a model of consistency.&nbsp;

“You can just count on her to do the right thing,” he said. “That’s why she is so well respected.”&nbsp;

It took a lot of time management and meticulous scheduling on Hirsch’s part. She even took on the role of mentoring some of her teammates who are either interested in pursuing nursing or are already in the program – mostly because she didn’t have that luxury. She is the first FHSU soccer player to graduate with a nursing degree, so juggling the demands of her major and soccer was something she had to figure out on her own.&nbsp;

But blazing her own trail was a goal of Hirsch’s when she traveled three hours west for college. She is the youngest of five siblings, and her older sister played soccer at Washburn University in Topeka.&nbsp;

It would have been easy to stay close to home after graduating with highest honors from Washburn Rural and earning all-state recognition in soccer. But she said she loved everything about Fort Hays State from the first time she visited.&nbsp;

“I just wanted to do my own thing,” she said, “wanted to make a name for myself.”&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579808358864.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By DIANE GASPER-O'BRIEN FHSU University Relations and MarketingIf you Google Fort Hays State University’s Darby Hirsch, you will find the words Academic All-American near the top of the results. But just what does it take to be an Academic All-American?&nbsp;The Topeka senior is living proof that it’s possible to play a collegiate sport even while majoring in nursing – something some colleges and universities are known to actively discourage, deeming it impossible to succeed at both.&nbsp;Hirsch not only participated in both but excelled in both arenas.&nbsp;Following a record-setting season on the FHSU women’s soccer team last fall, Hirsch earned Academic All-America honors from the College Sports Information Directors of America organization.&nbsp;An individual’s athletic and academic accomplishments are factored into the selection of the Academic All-America team, and Hirsch was a shoo-in considering the offensive stats she compiled while maintaining a perfect 4.0 GPA through her senior soccer season.&nbsp;Some days began early with 7 a.m. lifting, then a day-long bevy of classes, labs and clinicals. Practices were set for night, sometimes early in the evening, sometimes as late as 8. No matter when practice ended, there were often at least a couple of hours of studying awaiting Hirsch before setting her alarm to start it all over again the next day.&nbsp;Add to that some community service that is required for Honors College students, and it made for some long days and nights for Hirsch. But it was a challenge that she welcomed when she committed to Fort Hays State in 2016 to play soccer and pursue her nursing degree.&nbsp;It would have been understandable for Hirsch to concentrate on nursing, a challenging major with extensive clinical experience requirements. She was awarded the Honors College Tier I renewable scholarship worth $10,000 each year. But she wanted to continue playing her favorite sport she played since she was 5 years old.&nbsp;“Plenty of people thought I was crazy,” she said. “The weight of it didn’t really hit me.”&nbsp;Even after a lot of late nights and studying in hotels and on the bus during road trips that normally meant three days away from campus, Hirsch wouldn’t change her college experience for anything.&nbsp;Neither would her coach.&nbsp;When Blake Reynolds signed on as Fort Hays State’s women’s coach in 2017, he anxiously anticipated tracking how well his sophomore standout forward could juggle a soccer ball and a stethoscope over the next three years.&nbsp;Hirsch passed with flying colors. She is on track to graduate summa cum laude in May, and her career accomplishments will stand out in the record books. Her name will feature prominently for years to come, appearing on numerous top 10 lists for FHSU soccer. She finished No. 2 in career points – just two points behind the school record of 50. And she leaves as the Tiger program’s all-time career leader in assists (18, just as she did in high school at Topeka’s Washburn Rural.&nbsp;Now, Reynolds looks forward to telling soccer recruits who want to major in nursing it can be done.&nbsp;“I wanted to see if it’s really doable,” he said. “You want to be able to recruit to that if it is. We have several nursing majors on our soccer team. Darby set a great example for them, in many ways. She was kind of a test subject for me, without even knowing it.”&nbsp;Reynolds said it’s hard to pin down any one particular attribute about Hirsch because she was a model of consistency.&nbsp;“You can just count on her to do the right thing,” he said. “That’s why she is so well respected.”&nbsp;It took a lot of time management and meticulous scheduling on Hirsch’s part. She even took on the role of mentoring some of her teammates who are either interested in pursuing nursing or are already in the program – mostly because she didn’t have that luxury. She is the first FHSU soccer player to graduate with a nursing degree, so juggling the demands of her major and soccer was something she had to figure out on her own.&nbsp;But blazing her own trail was a goal of Hirsch’s when she traveled three hours west for college. She is the youngest of five siblings, and her older sister played soccer at Washburn University in Topeka.&nbsp;It would have been easy to stay close to home after graduating with highest honors from Washburn Rural and earning all-state recognition in soccer. But she said she loved everything about Fort Hays State from the first time she visited.&nbsp;“I just wanted to do my own thing,” she said, “wanted to make a name for myself.”&nbsp;

Soccer, nursing a perfect balance for FHSU Academic All-American

Northwest Kansas Area Agency on Aging

The Kansas Department for Children and Families has begun accepting applications for the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program.

LIEAP provides an annual benefit to help qualifying households pay winter heating bills.&nbsp; Persons with disabilities, older adults, and families with children are the primary groups assisted.&nbsp; In 2019, more than 33,000 households received an average benefit of $576.

To qualify, applicants must be responsible for direct payment of their heating bills to either the landlord, utility company or fuel vendor. Income eligibility requirements are set at 130 percent of the federal poverty level. The level of benefit is based on federal funding received, anticipated number of applicants, type of dwelling, type of primary heating fuel, number of household members (citizens) and household income.

Applicants must demonstrate that they have made recent payments of at least $80 on their energy bills in the last three months, or if utilities are included in rent, paid rent in two of the last three months.

Applications will be accepted until March 31.

If you are needing assistance filling out or submitting an application, the Northwest Kansas Area Agency on Aging can help.&nbsp; Call the office at 1-800-432-7422 or 785-628-8204 for an appointment.

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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579719412683.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Northwest Kansas Area Agency on AgingThe Kansas Department for Children and Families has begun accepting applications for the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program.LIEAP provides an annual benefit to help qualifying households pay winter heating bills.&nbsp; Persons with disabilities, older adults, and families with children are the primary groups assisted.&nbsp; In 2019, more than 33,000 households received an average benefit of $576.To qualify, applicants must be responsible for direct payment of their heating bills to either the landlord, utility company or fuel vendor. Income eligibility requirements are set at 130 percent of the federal poverty level. The level of benefit is based on federal funding received, anticipated number of applicants, type of dwelling, type of primary heating fuel, number of household members (citizens) and household income.Applicants must demonstrate that they have made recent payments of at least $80 on their energy bills in the last three months, or if utilities are included in rent, paid rent in two of the last three months.Applications will be accepted until March 31.If you are needing assistance filling out or submitting an application, the Northwest Kansas Area Agency on Aging can help.&nbsp; Call the office at 1-800-432-7422 or 785-628-8204 for an appointment.

Applications being accepted for low-income energy aid

Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development

“I’d like a non-smoking room for one night, please – with plenty of prairie hay in it.”&nbsp;That probably doesn’t sound like a typical request at your local lodging establishment.&nbsp;It demonstrates the unique needs of someone traveling with horses.

When going across country with a horse in a trailer, that equine can’t just check into the room next to you at the motel. Today we’ll meet a rural Kansas woman who has built a business by hosting equestrian travelers.&nbsp;

Terri Anderson is the founder and owner of the SlideonInn Horse Hotel near Goodland. Terri grew up at Oberlin.&nbsp;Her parents had been involved with horses, but her dad was killed in a tractor accident when she was little.

“I begged my mom for a horse every single day,” Terri said.&nbsp;“She finally gave in. I think she figured I would get tired of doing chores pretty quickly, but it didn’t work.”

Terri had a lot of success showing horses in 4-H. She was especially interested in the reining horse competition, where horses show their athleticism by performing patterns, doing flying lead changes, and making impressive sliding stops.

Terri put horses aside while she attended K-State, came back home, married and raised a family.&nbsp;Years later, her postal service job brought her to Goodland. She got back into horses, bought a reining horse and started competing again.

For years, she looked for a rural property to house her horses.&nbsp;She finally found a place east of town near I-70 and had a metal building built.&nbsp;“I just wanted a barn with a tack room and bathroom,” Terri said.&nbsp;She and her husband, a carpenter and contractor, did most of the inside work.

One day some friends stopped in. They were traveling to Arizona with horses.&nbsp;Terri’s barn made the perfect place to put the horses up for the night.&nbsp;She recognized that other equestrian travelers had this need as well.

In 2016, Terri opened her own horse hotel.&nbsp;She called it SlideonInn, taken from those characteristic sliding stops performed by reining horses.&nbsp;The Andersons added on to the building.&nbsp;Business took off when a Facebook group of trail riders posted about her place.

Today, SlideonInn Horse Hotel has a large metal barn with three bunkrooms, feedroom, and hospitality room with kitchenette, plus rubber matted stalls, pipe runs, round pen, arena area, asphalt parking lot and four RV hookups.

Terri has hosted equine guests from the east and west coast and from Argentina, Germany and Poland.&nbsp;

“From the 10th of June to Aug. 20 last year, there was somebody here every day,” she said. They hosted more than 400 equine guests in 2019.

Riders from the northwest will stop on their way to the big horse shows in Oklahoma.&nbsp; Riders from the east will stop on their way to trail ride in the mountains.&nbsp;One guest is Mustang Maddy, the famous wild horse trainer.

“I get to see every different kind of horse, from retired racehorses to polo ponies to gaited mules,” Terri said. With more people buying horses online and having them shipped, more horse haulers are stopping at the SlideonInn also.&nbsp;She’s even hosted a baby camel.

Terri has become certified to do equine massage using acupressure and red light laser which can benefit the soft tissue of a horse. “Horse people are special,” Terri said.&nbsp; “They’re typically very grateful to find a place where they can put up their horses overnight. I get to meet the most amazing people.”

The SlideonInn Horse Hotel is conveniently located just a couple of miles from Interstate 70, near the rural community of Edson population 288 people. Now, that’s rural.

For more information, look in the Kansas listings at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.horsemotel.com/" target="_blank">www.horsemotel.com</a>.

If you’re traveling cross country with a horse, where do you put up your equine companion for the night?&nbsp;We salute Terri Anderson for making a difference by responding in an entrepreneurial way and creating a business to meet this need.&nbsp;So, when you’re traveling cross country with a horse, you can SlideonInn to this horse hotel.&nbsp; They’ll leave the hay out for you.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579716467259.png" alt="Terri Anderson" />
 <figcaption>Terri Anderson</figcaption>
 </figure>By RON WILSONHuck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development“I’d like a non-smoking room for one night, please – with plenty of prairie hay in it.”&nbsp;That probably doesn’t sound like a typical request at your local lodging establishment.&nbsp;It demonstrates the unique needs of someone traveling with horses.When going across country with a horse in a trailer, that equine can’t just check into the room next to you at the motel. Today we’ll meet a rural Kansas woman who has built a business by hosting equestrian travelers.&nbsp;Terri Anderson is the founder and owner of the SlideonInn Horse Hotel near Goodland. Terri grew up at Oberlin.&nbsp;Her parents had been involved with horses, but her dad was killed in a tractor accident when she was little.“I begged my mom for a horse every single day,” Terri said.&nbsp;“She finally gave in. I think she figured I would get tired of doing chores pretty quickly, but it didn’t work.”Terri had a lot of success showing horses in 4-H. She was especially interested in the reining horse competition, where horses show their athleticism by performing patterns, doing flying lead changes, and making impressive sliding stops.Terri put horses aside while she attended K-State, came back home, married and raised a family.&nbsp;Years later, her postal service job brought her to Goodland. She got back into horses, bought a reining horse and started competing again.For years, she looked for a rural property to house her horses.&nbsp;She finally found a place east of town near I-70 and had a metal building built.&nbsp;“I just wanted a barn with a tack room and bathroom,” Terri said.&nbsp;She and her husband, a carpenter and contractor, did most of the inside work.One day some friends stopped in. They were traveling to Arizona with horses.&nbsp;Terri’s barn made the perfect place to put the horses up for the night.&nbsp;She recognized that other equestrian travelers had this need as well.In 2016, Terri opened her own horse hotel.&nbsp;She called it SlideonInn, taken from those characteristic sliding stops performed by reining horses.&nbsp;The Andersons added on to the building.&nbsp;Business took off when a Facebook group of trail riders posted about her place.Today, SlideonInn Horse Hotel has a large metal barn with three bunkrooms, feedroom, and hospitality room with kitchenette, plus rubber matted stalls, pipe runs, round pen, arena area, asphalt parking lot and four RV hookups.Terri has hosted equine guests from the east and west coast and from Argentina, Germany and Poland.&nbsp;“From the 10th of June to Aug. 20 last year, there was somebody here every day,” she said. They hosted more than 400 equine guests in 2019.Riders from the northwest will stop on their way to the big horse shows in Oklahoma.&nbsp; Riders from the east will stop on their way to trail ride in the mountains.&nbsp;One guest is Mustang Maddy, the famous wild horse trainer.“I get to see every different kind of horse, from retired racehorses to polo ponies to gaited mules,” Terri said. With more people buying horses online and having them shipped, more horse haulers are stopping at the SlideonInn also.&nbsp;She’s even hosted a baby camel.Terri has become certified to do equine massage using acupressure and red light laser which can benefit the soft tissue of a horse. “Horse people are special,” Terri said.&nbsp; “They’re typically very grateful to find a place where they can put up their horses overnight. I get to meet the most amazing people.”The SlideonInn Horse Hotel is conveniently located just a couple of miles from Interstate 70, near the rural community of Edson population 288 people. Now, that’s rural.For more information, look in the Kansas listings at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.horsemotel.com/" target="_blank">www.horsemotel.com</a>.If you’re traveling cross country with a horse, where do you put up your equine companion for the night?&nbsp;We salute Terri Anderson for making a difference by responding in an entrepreneurial way and creating a business to meet this need.&nbsp;So, when you’re traveling cross country with a horse, you can SlideonInn to this horse hotel.&nbsp; They’ll leave the hay out for you.

Now That’s Rural: Terri Anderson, SlideonInn Horse Hotel in Sherman Co.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575929617735.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://hayspost.com/state-farm-weather-window/">For a full look at weather visit the State Farm Weather Window by clicking here.&nbsp;</a><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579835414600.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

The Hays Area Chamber of Commerce will host its first Legislative Coffee on Saturday, Feb. 8, at 7:30 a.m. at the Ballroom in Memorial Union on the Fort Hays State University campus.

Sponsored by AT&amp;T and Midwest Energy Inc., this visit with state legislators provides area residents the opportunity to learn more about the legislative process and happenings in Topeka. Those attending will include state Sen. Rick Billinger, R-Goodland, and state Reps. Barb Wasinger, R-Hays, and Troy Waymaster, R-Bunker Hill.

Representing on behalf of the office of U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., are Chelsey Ladd and James Robben. Congressman Roger Marshall, R-Kan, will also be in attendance to answer questions and provide updates happening at the national level.

Light refreshments will be served and the event is free to the public. For more information, contact the chamber office at <a href="mailto:hayscc@discoverhays.com">hayscc@discoverhays.com</a>&nbsp;or 785-628-8201.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579788371438.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The Hays Area Chamber of Commerce will host its first Legislative Coffee on Saturday, Feb. 8, at 7:30 a.m. at the Ballroom in Memorial Union on the Fort Hays State University campus.Sponsored by AT&amp;T and Midwest Energy Inc., this visit with state legislators provides area residents the opportunity to learn more about the legislative process and happenings in Topeka. Those attending will include state Sen. Rick Billinger, R-Goodland, and state Reps. Barb Wasinger, R-Hays, and Troy Waymaster, R-Bunker Hill.Representing on behalf of the office of U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., are Chelsey Ladd and James Robben. Congressman Roger Marshall, R-Kan, will also be in attendance to answer questions and provide updates happening at the national level.Light refreshments will be served and the event is free to the public. For more information, contact the chamber office at <a href="mailto:hayscc@discoverhays.com">hayscc@discoverhays.com</a>&nbsp;or 785-628-8201.

Hays chamber will host Legislative Coffee on Feb. 8

There are some things that are obviously First Amendment issues and 
there are others that just as obviously aren’t. Did you get arrested for
 criticizing the mayor of your town? That’s a First Amendment issue. Did
 you get kicked out of your book club because you said Malcolm Gladwell 
was overrated? That’s harsh, but it’s not a violation of your 
constitutional rights. The First Amendment prevents the government from 
censoring or punishing your speech, but it doesn’t apply to private 
organizations.

There’s another category of issues technically outside the scope of 
the First Amendment, but have an outsized impact on what some might 
consider the purpose of the First Amendment —ensuring that citizens can 
access information about the world around them, hear different 
viewpoints and share their ideas. Call them First Amendment-ish issues.

Take the decisions that Facebook, YouTube and Twitter regularly make 
about what types of content to allow on their platforms. As private 
companies, they’re free to <a href="https://www.freedomforuminstitute.org/first-amendment-center/primers/free-expression-on-social-media/" target="_blank">create their own policies</a>, censor posts and ban users as they see fit (that is, in fact, their First Amendment right). But, as the watchdog group <a href="https://onlinecensorship.org/" target="_blank">OnlineCensorship.org</a>
 puts it, “We treat these platforms as a ‘public sphere,’ using them to 
discuss issues both controversial and menial, to connect with friends 
far and near, and to engage in activism and debate. … We have seen 
before how powerful social media platforms can be in inspiring protests,
 fostering political movements and even influencing elections.” Now that
 so many of our conversations take place online on these platforms, the 
companies behind them have the power to influence the public discourse 
in a way that our government can only dream of.

The First Amendment-ish implications become even thornier when you 
consider fake news and misleading content. Censoring a fake news item 
may run counter to the spirit of free speech, but allowing it to spread 
undermines the purpose of a free press. Freedom of the press doesn’t 
exist to protect journalists so much as to benefit the public at large. 
It exists because the framers of our Constitution thought the public had
 the right to know about what the government and other powerful 
institutions were doing. When there’s so much confusion about what 
information you can trust and what you can’t, that whole system is 
compromised.

As technology grows more sophisticated, the potential for this 
confusion will only increase. Some developments, like deep fake video 
technology, will make it harder to debunk misinformation. Others, like 
artificial intelligence-enabled chatbots, will make it harder to 
identify real political expression. Today’s&nbsp;fairly 
simplistic&nbsp;chatbots&nbsp;already have the ability to skew online discussions 
(it’s&nbsp;<a href="https://firstmonday.org/article/view/7090/5653" target="_blank">estimated that a fifth of all tweets</a>&nbsp;about the 2016 presidential&nbsp;election were published by bots).&nbsp;Tomorrow’s bots will be able to take&nbsp;things to&nbsp;the next level.

According to The Atlantic’s Bruce Schneier, “Soon, AI-driven
 personas will be able to write personalized letters to newspapers and 
elected officials, submit individual comments to public rule-making 
processes and intelligently debate political issues on social media.” 
While this army of civically engaged bots might serve as a shining 
example to the rest of us, Schneier points out that their capacity to 
drown out any actual debate on the internet will pretty much obliterate 
the marketplace of ideas that a functioning democracy requires.

This is not a call to ban these technologies, so much as it is to 
keep the principles of free expression in mind as we develop regulations
 for them. As a society, we need to take a stand on clear-cut First 
Amendment matters, but should also keep a close watch on those First 
Amendment-ish issues — to ignore them is to ignore the reason we have a 
First Amendment in the first place.

Lata Nott is chief content officer of the Freedom Forum.&nbsp;Contact her via email at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lnott@freedomforum.org" target="_blank">lnott@freedomforum.org</a>, or follow her on Twitter at&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/latanott" target="_blank">@LataNott</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/10/1572283561997.png" alt="Lata Nott is chief content officer of the Freedom Forum. " />
 <figcaption>Lata Nott is chief content officer of the Freedom Forum. </figcaption>
 </figure>There are some things that are obviously First Amendment issues and 
there are others that just as obviously aren’t. Did you get arrested for
 criticizing the mayor of your town? That’s a First Amendment issue. Did
 you get kicked out of your book club because you said Malcolm Gladwell 
was overrated? That’s harsh, but it’s not a violation of your 
constitutional rights. The First Amendment prevents the government from 
censoring or punishing your speech, but it doesn’t apply to private 
organizations.There’s another category of issues technically outside the scope of 
the First Amendment, but have an outsized impact on what some might 
consider the purpose of the First Amendment —ensuring that citizens can 
access information about the world around them, hear different 
viewpoints and share their ideas. Call them First Amendment-ish issues.Take the decisions that Facebook, YouTube and Twitter regularly make 
about what types of content to allow on their platforms. As private 
companies, they’re free to <a href="https://www.freedomforuminstitute.org/first-amendment-center/primers/free-expression-on-social-media/" target="_blank">create their own policies</a>, censor posts and ban users as they see fit (that is, in fact, their First Amendment right). But, as the watchdog group <a href="https://onlinecensorship.org/" target="_blank">OnlineCensorship.org</a>
 puts it, “We treat these platforms as a ‘public sphere,’ using them to 
discuss issues both controversial and menial, to connect with friends 
far and near, and to engage in activism and debate. … We have seen 
before how powerful social media platforms can be in inspiring protests,
 fostering political movements and even influencing elections.” Now that
 so many of our conversations take place online on these platforms, the 
companies behind them have the power to influence the public discourse 
in a way that our government can only dream of.The First Amendment-ish implications become even thornier when you 
consider fake news and misleading content. Censoring a fake news item 
may run counter to the spirit of free speech, but allowing it to spread 
undermines the purpose of a free press. Freedom of the press doesn’t 
exist to protect journalists so much as to benefit the public at large. 
It exists because the framers of our Constitution thought the public had
 the right to know about what the government and other powerful 
institutions were doing. When there’s so much confusion about what 
information you can trust and what you can’t, that whole system is 
compromised.As technology grows more sophisticated, the potential for this 
confusion will only increase. Some developments, like deep fake video 
technology, will make it harder to debunk misinformation. Others, like 
artificial intelligence-enabled chatbots, will make it harder to 
identify real political expression. Today’s&nbsp;fairly 
simplistic&nbsp;chatbots&nbsp;already have the ability to skew online discussions 
(it’s&nbsp;<a href="https://firstmonday.org/article/view/7090/5653" target="_blank">estimated that a fifth of all tweets</a>&nbsp;about the 2016 presidential&nbsp;election were published by bots).&nbsp;Tomorrow’s bots will be able to take&nbsp;things to&nbsp;the next level.According to The Atlantic’s Bruce Schneier, “Soon, AI-driven
 personas will be able to write personalized letters to newspapers and 
elected officials, submit individual comments to public rule-making 
processes and intelligently debate political issues on social media.” 
While this army of civically engaged bots might serve as a shining 
example to the rest of us, Schneier points out that their capacity to 
drown out any actual debate on the internet will pretty much obliterate 
the marketplace of ideas that a functioning democracy requires.This is not a call to ban these technologies, so much as it is to 
keep the principles of free expression in mind as we develop regulations
 for them. As a society, we need to take a stand on clear-cut First 
Amendment matters, but should also keep a close watch on those First 
Amendment-ish issues — to ignore them is to ignore the reason we have a 
First Amendment in the first place.Lata Nott is chief content officer of the Freedom Forum.&nbsp;Contact her via email at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lnott@freedomforum.org" target="_blank">lnott@freedomforum.org</a>, or follow her on Twitter at&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/latanott" target="_blank">@LataNott</a>.

FIRST FIVE: First Amendment-ish

LOGAN COUNTY — One person was injured in an accident just after 7:30a.m. Thursday in Logan County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a Chrysler Sebring driven by Betsy&nbsp; L. Johnson, 80, Oakley, was northbound on U.S. 83 at the U.S. 40 Junction.

The Chrysler rear-ended 2007 Chevy Suburban driven by Cheyanne Rose Stevenson, 27, Grinnell, that was stopped at the stop sign waiting for wind turbines to make the corner.

EMS transported Johnson to the Logan County Hospital. Stevenson was not injured. Johnson was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

LOGAN COUNTY — One person was injured in an accident just after 7:30a.m. Thursday in Logan County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a Chrysler Sebring driven by Betsy&nbsp; L. Johnson, 80, Oakley, was northbound on U.S. 83 at the U.S. 40 Junction.The Chrysler rear-ended 2007 Chevy Suburban driven by Cheyanne Rose Stevenson, 27, Grinnell, that was stopped at the stop sign waiting for wind turbines to make the corner.EMS transported Johnson to the Logan County Hospital. Stevenson was not injured. Johnson was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

Woman from Oakley hospitalized after rear-end crash



The 10th-ranked Fort Hays State women's basketball team looks to continue its winning ways Thursday when the Tigers hit the road to take on Missouri Western. First tip in the Battle of the Black and Gold is set for 5:30 p.m. in St. Joseph, Mo.

You can hear the game on KJLS (103.3-FM) <a href="https://streamdb7web.securenetsystems.net/cirrusencore/index.cfm?stationCallSign=KJLS">LISTEN LIVE</a>

A win Thursday would give the Tigers a 10+ game winning streak for the 13th time in program history.&nbsp;Fort Hays State's nine-game winning streak is the second-longest active streak in the MIAA and 13th-longest in DII.

Winners of three in a row over the Griffons and seven of the last nine, Fort Hays State holds a 28-22 lead in the all-time series. The home team has dominated the series, with Missouri Western leading 15-8 in St. Joseph and the Tigers leading 19-5 in Hays. Missouri Western has won each of the last two meetings in St. Joseph, with the last Tiger road win coming on December 7, 2013 (67-53). Fort Hays State is 12-5 against Missouri Western under head coach&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/coaches.aspx?rc=884">Tony Hobson</a>, including a 3-5 mark on the road.

The Tigers are 7-5 in the Joe under Hobson thanks to a 4-0 mark in neutral site contests.

<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=5438">Taylor Rolfs</a>&nbsp;has scored an average of 9.0 points per game in four meetings with MWSU, including 16 points in the most recent meeting.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=5430">Belle Barbieri</a>&nbsp;averages 8.6 points and 8.0 rebounds in three games against the Griffons.

Barbieri has been a strong presence for the Tigers in conference games, leading the MIAA with 2.6 steals per game, ranking third in field goal percentage (62.3 percent) and fifth in rebounds (8.0 per game).

Missouri Western is off to a 13-3 start to the season, including a 5-2 mark in conference play. The Griffons are one-half game behind the Tigers in the conference standings. They are a perfect 8-0 at home and 5-3 away from MWSU Fieldhouse. The Griffons rank sixth in the conference in both scoring offense and scoring defense, averaging 73.6 points per contest while allowing 58.8 points per night. They have the third-best shooting percentage in the league, ranking 26th nationally at 45.5 percent. Two Griffs rank in the top 10 in scoring in the MIAA, led by Chris Wilson's 15.1 points per game and Corbyn Cunningham's 14.9 points per contest. Wilson also ranks fourth in the league with 8.4 rebounds each night. Cunningham buries 55.2 percent of her shots from the floor, third-best in the conference.



<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579780824583.jpeg" alt="Courtesy FHSU Athletics / Allie Schweizer photo" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy FHSU Athletics / Allie Schweizer photo</figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU Sports Information

The 10th-ranked Fort Hays State women's basketball team looks to continue its winning ways Thursday when the Tigers hit the road to take on Missouri Western. First tip in the Battle of the Black and Gold is set for 5:30 p.m. in St. Joseph, Mo.You can hear the game on KJLS (103.3-FM) <a href="https://streamdb7web.securenetsystems.net/cirrusencore/index.cfm?stationCallSign=KJLS">LISTEN LIVE</a>A win Thursday would give the Tigers a 10+ game winning streak for the 13th time in program history.&nbsp;Fort Hays State's nine-game winning streak is the second-longest active streak in the MIAA and 13th-longest in DII.Winners of three in a row over the Griffons and seven of the last nine, Fort Hays State holds a 28-22 lead in the all-time series. The home team has dominated the series, with Missouri Western leading 15-8 in St. Joseph and the Tigers leading 19-5 in Hays. Missouri Western has won each of the last two meetings in St. Joseph, with the last Tiger road win coming on December 7, 2013 (67-53). Fort Hays State is 12-5 against Missouri Western under head coach&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/coaches.aspx?rc=884">Tony Hobson</a>, including a 3-5 mark on the road.The Tigers are 7-5 in the Joe under Hobson thanks to a 4-0 mark in neutral site contests.<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=5438">Taylor Rolfs</a>&nbsp;has scored an average of 9.0 points per game in four meetings with MWSU, including 16 points in the most recent meeting.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=5430">Belle Barbieri</a>&nbsp;averages 8.6 points and 8.0 rebounds in three games against the Griffons.Barbieri has been a strong presence for the Tigers in conference games, leading the MIAA with 2.6 steals per game, ranking third in field goal percentage (62.3 percent) and fifth in rebounds (8.0 per game).Missouri Western is off to a 13-3 start to the season, including a 5-2 mark in conference play. The Griffons are one-half game behind the Tigers in the conference standings. They are a perfect 8-0 at home and 5-3 away from MWSU Fieldhouse. The Griffons rank sixth in the conference in both scoring offense and scoring defense, averaging 73.6 points per contest while allowing 58.8 points per night. They have the third-best shooting percentage in the league, ranking 26th nationally at 45.5 percent. Two Griffs rank in the top 10 in scoring in the MIAA, led by Chris Wilson's 15.1 points per game and Corbyn Cunningham's 14.9 points per contest. Wilson also ranks fourth in the league with 8.4 rebounds each night. Cunningham buries 55.2 percent of her shots from the floor, third-best in the conference.

No. 10 FHSU women's basketball looks for 10th-straight win at Missouri Western

Hays city commissioners on Thursday will consider approving a <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/5e2124a07d7daa72b30eb21a">change they supported last week </a>in the Rural Housing Improvement District section of the city's economic development policy.

The amendment was requested by Doug Williams, Grow Hays executive director, who presented a plan for 75 units of affordable housing to be built in east Hays.

The collaborative project calls for four phases of construction at 22nd and Wheatland.

 The homes would cost between $175,000 and $225,000, a price Williams showed commissioners would be affordable for families with the Ellis County median annual income of $50,592.

The current RHID policy requires 10 renter-occupied low-income or income-qualified units.

Williams says that requirement needs to be eliminated for this project to work.

"Clearly, this is not an apartment-type development," he said.

"It's single-family homes only, somewhere in the 1,150 to 1,350 square foot range, three bedrooms, two baths, two-car garage.&nbsp; Some of them with basements, some of them without."

Typically, a new housing development requires a minimum square footage for each home. This development will likely have a maximum square footage, according to Williams, to keep the prices within the promoted cost range.&nbsp;

"The intent is for Heart of America to keep a pretty tight rein on how this is taking place," Williams said.

Heart of America Development Corp., an investment consortium in Ellis County,&nbsp; has agreed to use its resources to support the concept as have multiple local financial lenders and four builders.

"They're not going to sell it to lot speculators," Williams stressed. 

"They'll be sold probably four at a time so a builder is going to commit to four homes at a time. The developer will approve the floor plans and price range this is ultimately going to sell for."&nbsp;

The commission expressed its support of the project during the Jan. 16 work session and will vote tonight on the requested RHID amendment.

* Rezoning request of a portion of 700 W. 48th from&nbsp;C-2 (Commercial General District) to A-L (Agriculture District).&nbsp;The property was formerly Mid-Kansas Auto Auction. 

* Rezoning request&nbsp;from A-L (Agriculture) to C2 (Commercial General District) for a tract of land owned by Hess Land LLC and a tract of&nbsp;land owned by the city of Hays located at 5809 230th Ave. The property will become part of the proposed travel plaza to be built north of the Interstate 70 Exit 157.

* Pool reimbursement request from Hays Recreation Commission for the 2019 pool&nbsp;loss amount of $26,298.31

The Jan. 23 meeting agenda is available <a href="https://www.haysusa.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_01232020-1172">here</a>. The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. in Hays City Hall, 1507 Main.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579214797023.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><div>By BECKY KISER Hays Post
</div>Hays city commissioners on Thursday will consider approving a <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/5e2124a07d7daa72b30eb21a">change they supported last week </a>in the Rural Housing Improvement District section of the city's economic development policy.The amendment was requested by Doug Williams, Grow Hays executive director, who presented a plan for 75 units of affordable housing to be built in east Hays.The collaborative project calls for four phases of construction at 22nd and Wheatland.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579731485599.jpeg" alt="The proposed development by Grow Hays for 75 affordable houses to be built directly east of NCK Technical College." />
 <figcaption>The proposed development by Grow Hays for 75 affordable houses to be built directly east of NCK Technical College.</figcaption>
 </figure> The homes would cost between $175,000 and $225,000, a price Williams showed commissioners would be affordable for families with the Ellis County median annual income of $50,592.The current RHID policy requires 10 renter-occupied low-income or income-qualified units.Williams says that requirement needs to be eliminated for this project to work.<figure>
 <iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UJjPlMqUEUs"></iframe>
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>"Clearly, this is not an apartment-type development," he said."It's single-family homes only, somewhere in the 1,150 to 1,350 square foot range, three bedrooms, two baths, two-car garage.&nbsp; Some of them with basements, some of them without."Typically, a new housing development requires a minimum square footage for each home. This development will likely have a maximum square footage, according to Williams, to keep the prices within the promoted cost range.&nbsp;"The intent is for Heart of America to keep a pretty tight rein on how this is taking place," Williams said.Heart of America Development Corp., an investment consortium in Ellis County,&nbsp; has agreed to use its resources to support the concept as have multiple local financial lenders and four builders."They're not going to sell it to lot speculators," Williams stressed. "They'll be sold probably four at a time so a builder is going to commit to four homes at a time. The developer will approve the floor plans and price range this is ultimately going to sell for."&nbsp;The commission expressed its support of the project during the Jan. 16 work session and will vote tonight on the requested RHID amendment.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579735678867.jpeg" alt="An exemption for non-profit entities is proposed to the Hays RHID policy that currently requires inclusion of 10 renter-occupied unit." />
 <figcaption>An exemption for non-profit entities is proposed to the Hays RHID policy that currently requires inclusion of 10 renter-occupied unit.</figcaption>
 </figure>Other agenda items include:* Rezoning request of a portion of 700 W. 48th from&nbsp;C-2 (Commercial General District) to A-L (Agriculture District).&nbsp;The property was formerly Mid-Kansas Auto Auction. * Rezoning request&nbsp;from A-L (Agriculture) to C2 (Commercial General District) for a tract of land owned by Hess Land LLC and a tract of&nbsp;land owned by the city of Hays located at 5809 230th Ave. The property will become part of the proposed travel plaza to be built north of the Interstate 70 Exit 157.* Pool reimbursement request from Hays Recreation Commission for the 2019 pool&nbsp;loss amount of $26,298.31The Jan. 23 meeting agenda is available <a href="https://www.haysusa.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_01232020-1172">here</a>. The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. in Hays City Hall, 1507 Main.&nbsp;

🎥 City set to vote on RHID amendment for housing development

By JIM MCLEAN <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/4-ways-medicaid-expansion-opponents-kansas-might-still-sink-deal#stream/0">Kansas News Service</a>

TOPEKA — Medicaid expansion is a done deal, right?

Democratic
 Gov. Laura Kelly and Jim Denning, the second most powerful Republican 
in the Kansas Senate, have compromised on a plan. Together, they bring a
 majority of lawmakers with them. So, game over.

Sure, the deal 
still needs to clear the Legislature and get the blessing of federal 
regulators. But the hard part — breaking an almost decade-long stalemate
 on the issue — looks done.

Expansion supporters finally have 
reason to believe that an estimated 130,000 to 150,000 more low-income 
Kansans will soon have taxpayer-funded health coverage.

A
 relatively small but committed group of lawmakers could still slow — 
theoretically, even kill — the deal. They could continue their fight by 
simply amending the Medicaid expansion legislation to pick apart the 
terms of the compromise.

Their first chance comes this Thursday 
when the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee starts hearings on 
the compromise bill.

Republican Sen. Gene Suellentrop chairs the 
committee, where expansion opponents hold a numbers advantage they don’t
 have in the full Senate. Suellentrop expects them to tack on several 
amendments. It’s their chance to weigh in on that Kelly-Denning bargain,
 or what he calls a “kind of a side-negotiated deal.”

Here are four things that opponents could add to upset the carefully balanced compromise:

Expansion supporters say 
they’re prepared to strip such deal-changers out during debate on the 
Senate floor. With 22 of the Senate’s 40 members signed on as cosponsors
 of the bill, they’re confident they have the votes to clean it up.

Even
 so, Denning is concerned about efforts to undo the compromise. In a 
lengthy statement this week, he criticized conservative Republicans for 
leveling “relentless attacks” at the plan.

“Anyone can count the 
votes and see that Medicaid expansion is going to happen,” Denning said.
 “Compromise is a part of leadership and I am proud of the plan that 
Governor Kelly and I have agreed upon.”

If the expansion deal clears the Senate relatively intact, it could still face hurdles in the House.

Most
 House members support expansion, but Republican leaders don’t. Those 
leaders are threatening to hold expansion bill hostage for leverage over
 another hot-button issue: abortion. That’s a potential fifth way to 
derail the Medicaid compromise.

Jim McLean is the senior 
correspondent for the Kansas News Service is a collaboration of KCUR, 
Kansas Public Radio, KMUW and High Plains Public Radio focused on 
health, the social determinants of health and their connection to public
 policy. You can reach him on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/jmcleanks">@jmcleanks</a> or email jim@kcur .org.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579714677583.jpeg" alt=" Republican Sen. Gene Suellentrop, left, will chair hearings on a compromise Medicaid expansion plan starting this week. Daniel Caudill / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption> Republican Sen. Gene Suellentrop, left, will chair hearings on a compromise Medicaid expansion plan starting this week. Daniel Caudill / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>By JIM MCLEAN <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/4-ways-medicaid-expansion-opponents-kansas-might-still-sink-deal#stream/0">Kansas News Service</a>TOPEKA — Medicaid expansion is a done deal, right?Democratic
 Gov. Laura Kelly and Jim Denning, the second most powerful Republican 
in the Kansas Senate, have compromised on a plan. Together, they bring a
 majority of lawmakers with them. So, game over.Sure, the deal 
still needs to clear the Legislature and get the blessing of federal 
regulators. But the hard part — breaking an almost decade-long stalemate
 on the issue — looks done.Expansion supporters finally have 
reason to believe that an estimated 130,000 to 150,000 more low-income 
Kansans will soon have taxpayer-funded health coverage.Probably. But not necessarily.A
 relatively small but committed group of lawmakers could still slow — 
theoretically, even kill — the deal. They could continue their fight by 
simply amending the Medicaid expansion legislation to pick apart the 
terms of the compromise.Their first chance comes this Thursday 
when the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee starts hearings on 
the compromise bill.Republican Sen. Gene Suellentrop chairs the 
committee, where expansion opponents hold a numbers advantage they don’t
 have in the full Senate. Suellentrop expects them to tack on several 
amendments. It’s their chance to weigh in on that Kelly-Denning bargain,
 or what he calls a “kind of a side-negotiated deal.”Here are four things that opponents could add to upset the carefully balanced compromise:<ul>
 <li>A
 work requirement: Conservatives say requiring non-disabled adults to 
get a job or prove they’re looking for one promotes accountability. 
Kelly says studies show that work requirements cost too much to run and 
mistakenly deny coverage to some. Federal regulators and the courts have
 blocked work requirements in some states.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>&nbsp;Higher 
premiums: Under the compromise, people earning between 100% and 138% of 
the federal poverty level ($25,750 to $35,535 for a family of four) 
would need to pay monthly premiums. Up to $25 for individuals, no more 
than $100 for a family. Increasing those premiums could jeopardize 
federal approval land the state in court.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>&nbsp;Non-payment
 penalties: Previous expansion plans would have penalized people for not
 their premiums by “locking them out” of coverage. Lockout periods in 
those proposals ranged from several months to a lifetime. Kelly and 
expansion supporters oppose such penalties and say they could also 
jeopardize federal approval.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>Partial coverage: The 
position Denning started with would have expanded Medicaid only to those
 at or below the poverty line. He proposed giving subsidies to those 
making up to the eligibility threshold to help them purchase regular 
health insurance on the federal (Obamacare) exchange. Arguing that 
federal regulators would reject the two-tier approach, Kelly persuaded 
Denning to abandon the idea.</li>
 </ul>Expansion supporters say 
they’re prepared to strip such deal-changers out during debate on the 
Senate floor. With 22 of the Senate’s 40 members signed on as cosponsors
 of the bill, they’re confident they have the votes to clean it up.Even
 so, Denning is concerned about efforts to undo the compromise. In a 
lengthy statement this week, he criticized conservative Republicans for 
leveling “relentless attacks” at the plan.“Anyone can count the 
votes and see that Medicaid expansion is going to happen,” Denning said.
 “Compromise is a part of leadership and I am proud of the plan that 
Governor Kelly and I have agreed upon.”If the expansion deal clears the Senate relatively intact, it could still face hurdles in the House.Most
 House members support expansion, but Republican leaders don’t. Those 
leaders are threatening to hold expansion bill hostage for leverage over
 another hot-button issue: abortion. That’s a potential fifth way to 
derail the Medicaid compromise.Jim McLean is the senior 
correspondent for the Kansas News Service is a collaboration of KCUR, 
Kansas Public Radio, KMUW and High Plains Public Radio focused on 
health, the social determinants of health and their connection to public
 policy. You can reach him on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/jmcleanks">@jmcleanks</a> or email jim@kcur .org.

 4 ways Medicaid expansion opponents in Kan. might sink deal 

The Ellis County Fire Department will soon replace a 1994 Suburban with a pickup as part of the 2020 Fire and Emergency Management budget.

Darin Myers, director of Fire and Emergency Management, told Ellis County commissioners Monday the vehicle replacement is also part of a plan to purchase an enclosed water supply trailer for the fire district with a federal Homeland Security grant of nearly $40,000.&nbsp;&nbsp;The new pickup&nbsp; will be used pull the trailer when it is purchased later this&nbsp;year.

Myers received two bids for a ¾ ton pickup from&nbsp;Shawnee Mission Ford at $31,754 and from Hays Lewis Automotive at $31,955.56.

Although the low bid came from Shawnee Mission, Myers asked the commission to approve the Hays bid, which was $201.56 higher.&nbsp;

"It's in line with our county policy to try and stay local when we can," Myers reminded them. "It's only $201 more, and I think it's a good precedent for us with that minimal amount of difference."

Chairman Butch Schlyer and Commissioner Dustin Roths agreed.

"I appreciate you doing the bid process just to make sure we're getting competitive bids and that we're in line with what this should cost us," Roths said.

"But I believe $201.56 is well worth us staying with Lewis Automotive. Just the security of using a local dealership is well worth that. It's something I would do in my personal finances."

"I concur," Schlyer said. "I think that $201 is money well spent at home."

In October, the commission approved transfer of title of the 1994 Suburban to the&nbsp;Ellis Fire Department once the new vehicle was received.

* Agreed to begin the <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/5e265d567d7daa72b30eb5bd">hiring process for a new county administrator</a>

* Approved Jason Kennedy, EMS director&nbsp;to represent Ellis County on the Northwest&nbsp;Kansas Homeland Security Council for a two year term

* Approved the appointment of Colleen Nieman to the Munjor Improvement Board

* Heard from Hays resident Larry Dreiling, who introduced himself as a senate candidate for the state's 40th district

* Announced Feb. 17 as in inservice day for all county employees

* Met in a 20-minunte executive session to discuss personnel matters. Also attending were Mike Leiker,&nbsp;director of Information Technology; Bill Jeter, county attorney; and Darin Myers, interim county administrator. No action was taken.

Commissioner Dean Haselhorst was absent from the meeting.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579287163220.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><div><iframe title="Ellis County Commission Recap Jan. 21, 2020" height="122" width="100%" style="border: none;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/media/player/8wzuy-d083b9?from=yiiadmin&download=1&version=1&skin=3&btn-skin=101&auto=1&share=1&fonts=Helvetica&download=1&rtl=0&pbad=1"></iframe></div><div>By BECKY KISER Hays Post</div>The Ellis County Fire Department will soon replace a 1994 Suburban with a pickup as part of the 2020 Fire and Emergency Management budget.Darin Myers, director of Fire and Emergency Management, told Ellis County commissioners Monday the vehicle replacement is also part of a plan to purchase an enclosed water supply trailer for the fire district with a federal Homeland Security grant of nearly $40,000.&nbsp;&nbsp;The new pickup&nbsp; will be used pull the trailer when it is purchased later this&nbsp;year.Myers received two bids for a ¾ ton pickup from&nbsp;Shawnee Mission Ford at $31,754 and from Hays Lewis Automotive at $31,955.56.Although the low bid came from Shawnee Mission, Myers asked the commission to approve the Hays bid, which was $201.56 higher.&nbsp;"It's in line with our county policy to try and stay local when we can," Myers reminded them. "It's only $201 more, and I think it's a good precedent for us with that minimal amount of difference."Chairman Butch Schlyer and Commissioner Dustin Roths agreed.<figure>
 <iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/loYOCmYOri8"></iframe>
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>"I appreciate you doing the bid process just to make sure we're getting competitive bids and that we're in line with what this should cost us," Roths said."But I believe $201.56 is well worth us staying with Lewis Automotive. Just the security of using a local dealership is well worth that. It's something I would do in my personal finances.""I concur," Schlyer said. "I think that $201 is money well spent at home."In October, the commission approved transfer of title of the 1994 Suburban to the&nbsp;Ellis Fire Department once the new vehicle was received.In other business, the commission:* Agreed to begin the <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/5e265d567d7daa72b30eb5bd">hiring process for a new county administrator</a>* Approved Jason Kennedy, EMS director&nbsp;to represent Ellis County on the Northwest&nbsp;Kansas Homeland Security Council for a two year term* Approved the appointment of Colleen Nieman to the Munjor Improvement Board* Heard from Hays resident Larry Dreiling, who introduced himself as a senate candidate for the state's 40th district* Announced Feb. 17 as in inservice day for all county employees* Met in a 20-minunte executive session to discuss personnel matters. Also attending were Mike Leiker,&nbsp;director of Information Technology; Bill Jeter, county attorney; and Darin Myers, interim county administrator. No action was taken.Commissioner Dean Haselhorst was absent from the meeting.&nbsp;