<img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575406519723.jpeg">By JACKIE MUNDTPratt County farmer and rancher About a decade ago, I moved to the small town where I plan to spend the rest of my life. Excitement filled me, and I rushed to join the community and put down some roots. My excitement quickly deflated. Places to live were scarce, especially because I did not know the right people who had the nice, unadvertised rentals. Attending community events alone earned me a critical stare that seemed to question my motives and character. My only human interaction came from the wonderfully sweet women who attended my church or worked at the extension office because they were hardwired to be excellent, welcoming hosts. For the first time in my life, I was an outsider. It was lonely and miserable. I went a whole year without making any connections with people who were my age or life stage. Then I met Jennifer. She was an outsider, too, but she had been at it longer. She had amassed connections and wheedled her way into many social and community circles by demonstrating her character, willingness to volunteer and her commitment to service. As my first friend in town, she empathized with my isolation and gladly opened doors for me. Almost a decade later, I am happy in the town. It has been a long slow process but I have worked to build a reputation and found a place in the community. My drive to build the type of community in which I want to live and raise my family is respected and appreciated. I will never completely drop the outsider title but I have made peace with that. I have met dozens of people who have encountered the same struggles when moving to rural communities across the country. Outsiders are rarely welcomed with open arms. This cynicism and distrust, which requires a person to prove themselves before they can be part of the community, is detrimental to growing your community. Rural America should be opening its arms to welcome new families instead of excluding them. When you see new people in the community, be like my friend Jennifer. Welcome and encourage new arrivals. Share what you like about your community and provide examples of how you are involved so they can learn about available activities. Make introductions to people who may be helpful or good for them to get to know. Invite them to join you for young professional groups, community organizations or church activities that may interest them. Explain your community’s traditions. New people but will likely want to join in the fun. Keep in mind that they will not be blindly tied to what a community has always done. As their understanding of traditions grow, they may have suggestions for improvements. Listen to their ideas. They are not trying to destroy traditions; they want to be a part of them. Also, new people don’t mind if you don’t take our suggestions, but we do get discouraged when you don’t even consider them. Not everyone will be a great addition to your community, but if you start from the mindset of distrust, you may discourage or drive away the good people who will help your community to thrive and grow in the future. People who make the choice to live in your town should be commended and welcomed. Because today’s outsiders are tomorrow’s neighbors. "Insight" is a weekly column published by Kansas Farm Bureau, the state's largest farm organization whose mission is to strengthen agriculture and the lives of Kansans through advocacy, education and service.&nbsp;

Kansas Farm Bureau Insight: The outsiders

<img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575382534006.png">Christmas music will be in the air at the Hays After 5 Christian women’s meeting at 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 9. The event will take place at the Rose Garden Banquet Hall, 2350 E. Eighth St. in Hays. Singer-songwriter Jan Schiferl of Fordyce, Neb., will lead attendees in holiday songs.&nbsp;&nbsp;Then she will provide a humorous and inspiring talk about how her life’s plans were changed and how she coped. Schiferl was the 2013 Nebraska Mother of the Year.&nbsp;&nbsp;She and her family operate a small ranch where they train horses, raise cattle, and host events such as Cowboys Christmas. Cost of the dinner program is $12.50.&nbsp;&nbsp;Reservations are due by Thursday, Dec. 5, to&nbsp;<a href="mailto:daisymae0917@yahoo.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">daisymae0917@yahoo.com</a>&nbsp;or to (785) 202-1036.&nbsp;&nbsp;Hays After 5 is affiliated with Stonecroft Ministry of Overland Park.

Singer-songwriter to speak to Hays After 5

<img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574099003602.png"><a href="https://www.hayspost.com/state-farm-weather-window/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">For a full look at weather visit the State Farm Weather Window by clicking here. </a><img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575406850506.jpeg">

Three-day weather outlook

Anaplasmosis is a disease caused by bacteria affecting red blood cells in ruminants including cattle. While livestock of all ages can be infected with the illness, it is rarely fatal to the young, but quite serious in adult animals. It can cause abortion, weakness, rapid weight loss, and even death. Anaplasmosis is contracted by either biting horse flies or ticks as well as via dehorning, needles, as well as surgical or tattoo instruments if the equipment is not properly cleaned after each use. The disease is on the rise and found throughout Kansas including Barton and Ellis counties. Education and proper practices are key to keeping your cattle healthy. On December 18th, the Cottonwood Extension District will host an Anaplasmosis and safe vaccine handling program in both Ellis and Barton counties. Dr. Gregg Hanzlicek, DVM from KSU College of Veterinary Medicine will discuss what you need to know about Anaplasmosis and how to prevent it in your herd.&nbsp;Alicia Boor, KSRE Agriculture Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District will also talk about vaccines and how to safely handle and administer to your livestock. In Great Bend the program is set at the American Ag Credit building at 5634 10th St. from8:30 – 10:00 a.m. Following in Hays the program will be presented from 12 – 2:00 at the Ellis Co. Extension office at 601 Main St. Please RSVP to Alicia Boor at 620-793-1910 for either program to insure enough program materials are available.&nbsp;Snacks and a noon meal will be provided by the Kansas State Veterinary Diagnostics Laboratory. If you have any questions, or would like more information, you can contact me by calling 620-793-1910, by email at <a href="mailto:aboor@ksu.edu" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">aboor@ksu.edu</a> or just drop by the office located at 1800 12th street in Great Bend. Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent for the Cottonwood District, which includes Barton and Ellis counties.

BOOR: Cattle disease, proper prevention is topic of seminar

<img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575411787390.png">Phil Hahn / photo courtesy Osborne County Hall of Fame Osborne County native Phil Hahn — who won an Emmy as the head writer for the series Rowan and Martin's Laugh In — died Sunday, according to <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/phil-hahn-writer-laugh-sonny-cher-shows-was-87-1257082?fbclid=IwAR1MmNiQeVbaWhKY387uf1Jyhks3ZIABuCmITzm0CNs1dn7rWDXzdmCmq3s" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">a report from the Hollywood Reporter.</a> Hahn was born in 1932 in the unincorporated Osborne County community of Bloomington and was a 1950 graduate of Osborne High School and a 1954 graduate of the University of Kansas. His career ranged from publishing articles and cartoons in Playboy and Esquire magazines to writing lines for comedy legends including Bob Hope, Don Knotts, Dick Van Dyke, Mary Tyler Moore, Jack Lemmon, Cher and Burt Reynolds. During his career, he earned five Emmy nominations for writing. He was residing in Coos Bay, Ore. <a href="https://ochf.wordpress.com/2012/05/29/phil-hahn-2003-inductee/?fbclid=IwAR0ud_h0ZqGBO-x2rdbcQ-D6IykM_NwVbDhb-Rsw1_YlQAIe4vb8INEkR1E" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Information from the Osborne County Hall of Fame.</a> Photo courtesy Osborne County Hall of Fame. <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/phil-hahn-writer-laugh-sonny-cher-shows-was-87-1257082?fbclid=IwAR1MmNiQeVbaWhKY387uf1Jyhks3ZIABuCmITzm0CNs1dn7rWDXzdmCmq3s" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read more about Hahn's life and career from the Hollywood Reporter.</a>

Emmy Award-winning Osborne Co. native dies at 87

<img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575412381011.png">Frick / Rawlins County photo ATWOOD – An Atwood man was sentenced today to more than 12 years in prison for child sex crimes, Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt said in a news release Tuesday. Kyle C. Frick, 41, pleaded guilty in October to one count of aggravated indecent liberties with a child, one count of sexual exploitation of a child and one count of unlawful possession of a controlled substance. Chief Judge Kevin N. Berens on Tuesday sentenced Frick to 151 months in the Kansas Department of Corrections. Frick is also subject to lifetime post-release supervision and sex offender registration. The crimes occurred in January. The case was investigated by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation and the Rawlins County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant Attorney General Melissa Johnson of Schmidt’s office.&nbsp;

Schmidt: Atwood man sentenced to prison for child sex crimes

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🎤Post Podcast: Hays Rec staying busy during holiday season

By BECKY KISERHays Post December is jam-packed with holiday events in Hays. Melissa Dixon, Convention and Visitors Bureau executive director, has a few of the highlights. <iframe class="ql-video" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PFpXPBmjc1g" height="315" width="560"></iframe> An up-to-the-minute calendar of events is available on the CVB website <a href="http://www.visithays.com/calendar.aspx" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.visithays.com</a>.

🎥 Holiday events in Hays

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12 Days of Christmas Giveaway Day Three!

<img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575389232110.jpeg">By CRISTINA JANNEYHays Post Hays Firefighters responded to a fire at 2913 Willow in Hays this morning at about 9:30 a.m. Smoke was seen billowing from the home. No one was injured in the incident. Check Hays Post for more as details become available.<img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575394066334.jpeg"><img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575394099988.jpeg"><img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575394083252.jpeg"> <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575389514031.jpeg">

Hays firefighters respond to reported house fire on Willow

<img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575385734740.jpeg">SALINA -&nbsp;The Office of U.S. Congressman Roger Marshall will be holding its fourth and final Medicare tele-town hall this Wednesday, Dec. 4, to provide Medicare recipients an opportunity to speak directly with Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services (CMS) officials about their Medicare plans and questions during the final week of the 2019 Medicare Open Enrollment period.&nbsp; The call is free of charge and open to all current Medicare recipients. CMS officials from the Kansas City office will answer calls and provide additional information about plans, costs, and changes in coverage opportunities. The next Medicare tele-town hall calls will be held:Wednesday, Dec. 4:&nbsp;6 p.m. – 7 p.m. CSTThe call-in phone number for the call will be:Dial-in Number:877-229-8493&nbsp;PIN:116489 "As both a doctor and from helping my parents navigate the complexities of Medicare, I know it can get overwhelming. Whether you’re a new enrollee or perhaps you’re looking to select a health plan that best fits your needs, we want to help provide the information you need,”&nbsp;Dr. Marshall said.

Rep. Marshall's office to hold Medicare tele-town hall

🎤 Winter Art Walk features phenomenal photos

<img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575300154814.png">TOPEKA - Secretary of Commerce David Toland announced today that four town halls have been scheduled to engage the public in the development of the Kansas Framework for Growth, the economic development planning process kicked off earlier this year by Governor Laura Kelly. “We’ve been very deliberate in engaging businesses and community partners in this process, and we’ve had great participation so far,” Secretary Toland said. “Now, we’re really looking forward to hearing more from the public about what they believe are our biggest opportunities and how we might overcome some of the challenges we’re facing.” The town halls are open to the public and scheduled at locations across the state in the evenings to encourage participation. Tues., Dec. 105:00-6:30 p.m.BriefSpace, Grow Hays Building219 W. 10th St., Hays, Kan. Wed., Dec. 115:15-6:45 p.m.Kansas City Kansas Chamber of Commerce727 Minnesota, Ave., Kansas City, Kan. Thurs., Dec. 125:00-6:30 p.m.Equity Bank1700 N. Lincoln Ave., Liberal, Kan. Thurs., Dec. 126:00-7:30 p.m.Citizens Hall, McPherson Community Building122 E. Marlin Street, McPherson, Kan. Each of the town halls will give the public the opportunity to view data around key indicators of economic performance in Kansas, including demographics, education, workforce participation, incentive efficiency and industry mix.&nbsp;&nbsp;“The development of a strategy to accelerate economic growth is a critical exercise to ensure that Kansas can compete in a global economy. Just as critical is ensuring all Kansans are represented and can participate in the development of the strategy,” Secretary Toland said. “We launched an&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.surveymonkey.com%2Fr%2FMLVNQHL&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7C0c90fd6bf03246a03dae08d77735cd6e%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637108945273035099&amp;sdata=kQIHThYLYJEE25UdeboRPdK%2BMmsJmWQ8c19oZk3Jy8A%3D&amp;reserved=0" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(149, 79, 114);">online survey</a>&nbsp;to get the public’s input when we kicked off the process in October, and these town halls are another important step to make sure all Kansans have the opportunity to engage in the process.” Kansas Framework for Growth is the first economic development strategy for the state of Kansas since the Redwood-Krider report was issued in 1986. For more information, visit<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kansasgrowth.com&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7C0c90fd6bf03246a03dae08d77735cd6e%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637108945273045089&amp;sdata=Pnj7QOGmWzr7O8esGqj4BoMVF5CTSDm%2BkTcXVO6nBhU%3D&amp;reserved=0" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(149, 79, 114);">www.kansasgrowth.com</a>.

Statewide economic development town halls include Hays stop

 🎤CAMPBELL: The 2018 Farm Bill 

<img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573590596307.png">This looks like the week when the Governor’s Council on Tax Reform takes a break from all that three-legged stool business that it has been assigned to fix or at least chat about and get into the business of taxes that support state and local governments. This three-legged stool which former governors have touted—making sure that about a third of revenues each come from sales, income and property taxes—sounds nice we guess, but practically, who cares?&nbsp; Ever spend the afternoon doing long division to parse your sales, income and property taxes? Nope, we didn’t think so. It’s the total that is the key for most of us who are trying to decide whether we can move up to a Buick, or maybe hire someone to replace the aging deck. So, while the tax council continues to wonder whether this three-legged stool is level enough to set your coffee on, it’s likely this week to get to something that is more important: Whether Kansas will have enough revenue to pay its bills and provide the services that its residents want. And…that’s where it looks like this session of that tax panel is likely headed. To sales taxes that aren’t paid on purchases made by Kansans over the internet, whether it’s just a bunch of information or maybe a bicycle or a stereo (do they still make those?) or something to wear to work. It’s “digital products” and the people who sell them to us Kansans. Now, as Revenue Secretary Mark Burghart keeps reminding us, you can walk into a neighborhood bookstore and buy a book to read and pay sales tax on that book. Pretty simple. The state makes revenue off that book. But for a whole new generation of Kansas consumers, they’ll buy that same book, or at least its words, over the Internet. And they apparently like to read that book on their phone or computer screen rather than holding a real book. The difference is that while the online books brings the same information as the old-style paper book, most Kansans aren’t paying the sales tax on that computer book.Same product, same information, one just costs 6.5 percent more – sales tax – and the other doesn’t. Doesn’t sound like a hard decision, does it, to recommend to the governor and the Legislature that the state start collecting sales tax on those electronic books, or on those bicycles and other stuff that we could buy from a local store and appropriately pay sales tax on, rather than just get on the Internet and have them send to us without paying sales tax. Oh, and those “marketplace facilitators”? They are the folks who make it possible for you to order that out-of-state merchandise. Seems like those folks ought to make sure that Kansas sales tax is paid on those products, and there are ways for the state to make sure that happens. This three-legged stool business?&nbsp;Maybe it makes some sort of sense, depending on how much money you make, or spend or buy property with. But the bottom line is making sure that the state can operate and take care of Kansans, whether they have a lot of property, or a lot of income, or buy a lot of taxable stuff. We’ll probably know this week whether that task force is going to look at keeping the state afloat, and fairly at least with a relatively easy suggestion that we start collecting sales tax people are avoiding. And then, we start making that stool a little shorter… 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/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(149, 79, 114);">www.hawvernews.com</a>

HAWVER: Panel likely to scrutinize sales tax on online purchases

Downtown Hays Development Corp. is offering a chance to win $150 in Downtown Dollar prizes to those taking a brief survey on downtown events and shopping. Click <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdZzKMltLbbwM-AZMo6W2CRyFyr6LL9VnVunO35Rb3HyvMJBg/viewform">HERE</a> to take the survey.

SURVEY: DHDC offers chance to win Downtown Dollar prizes

<img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575305527931.png">Submitted Longtime rural reporter and farm advocate Larry Dreiling today declared his candidacy for Kansas’ 40th Senate District. The 40th District, which includes 14 counties and over 13,000 square miles, is the state’s largest Senate district. Rural Kansas has faced years of declining population and falling farm and ranch commodity prices. School district consolidation and hospital, post office, and business closures have added to the pressures many rural Kansas families face. “I’m running for the farmers of the biggest district in the state who truly care about leaving a legacy for their children and grandchildren,” Dreiling said. “As the son of a 99-year-old WaKeeney-raised World War II veteran, I want to make sure proper health care is available to rural Kansans. “I’m running for the kids in rural K-12 public schools who aren’t getting a fair shake from our Legislature. I’m running to get our roads fixed, and to ensure funding for Fort Hays State and for our local community and technical colleges. And I’m running to fix our prison system so the violence we’ve seen elsewhere in Kansas doesn’t spread to the Norton Correctional Facility,” he said. Dreiling is launching his campaign after a 42-year career in journalism, including stints as a senior field editor at High Plains Journal and news director at KAYS-AM/TV. His reporting has been honored with numerous statewide, national, and international awards. “My work as a rural journalist has taken me to every community in the western half of our state,” Dreiling said. “Over the past 42 years, I have learned much about who the people in our rural communities are and what they need and want from state government,” Dreiling said. Dreiling is a triple graduate of Fort Hays State University, with a masters’ degree in communication and bachelors’ degrees in political science and communication. He currently lives in Hays and works as an adjunct professor of agriculture, informatics and political science at FHSU.&nbsp;

Dreiling announces run for state Senate

<img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574099003602.png"><a href="https://www.hayspost.com/state-farm-weather-window/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">For a full look at weather visit the State Farm Weather Window by clicking here. </a><img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575318337527.jpeg">

<img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574696211722.png">The stories that are the most fun to write and to read are those stories in which the big buck is fooled and harvested, the fish bite ferociously, coyote traps hold coyotes morning after morning and pheasants, quail, ducks and geese literally swarm the blind and limits are met before breakfast. While successful harvests of fish and wildlife are fairly common here in Kansas, there are still times when we hunters, fishermen and trappers are “skunked.”&nbsp; Case-in-point; a writing project other than this column has occupied lots of my time these past 6 months so I probably didn’t give coyote trapping its due diligence this year, and that’s the first problem. My son recently told me he’d rather work for someone who is 100% committed to decisions they make even if those decisions are not perfect, than to work for someone who makes slightly better decisions but does not totally believe in their decisions. In other words, we have to be 100% committed and give our best efforts to be successful, in hunting, trapping and fishing, and in life. &nbsp;I had several traps out for a week-and-a-half where I’ve usually caught coyotes each year, and caught nothing but a couple small measly raccoons and a skunk. The first rule of trapping is also shouted from the rooftops by real estate agents; “Location, Location, Location.” To the trapper that means if the critters aren’t there or if our traps and the attractors used to draw the animals to our traps are too far away from where the critters travel, we are just counting on dumb luck to be successful, and I don’t believe much in luck of any kind. The solution for this problem is pre-season scouting; getting out and physically looking for tracks and other signs that tell you animals are traveling there. I did not do much of that this year and simply counted on situations remaining the same as in prior years; bad idea. After all, just because fish were there yesterday or last week, and deer and coyotes traveled there this year, doesn’t guarantee they will be there now. Confidence is a funny thing, and right now I have little confidence in myself as a successful trapper. In my head I know I’m still as skilled as I ever was, but a little lack of success was all it took to shake my confidence in my ability. Let me offer a couple bits of wisdom that have come to me over the years along with my gray hair.&nbsp; First, get back to the basics of the sport you enjoy. If you’re unsuccessful in harvesting the game you pursue, think through your game plan and make sure you’re still performing the basics correctly. Secondly, stick with what has worked for you in the past. I know of no other sports than hunting, fishing and trapping where so many different techniques work well for so many different people. So, find or figure out what works or has worked for you in the past and stick with it. Lastly, always be open to trying new products and techniques, but never stray too far from what you know works for you. As the old timers would say, “Dance with who brung’ ya’.”&nbsp; If weather conditions allow me to set traps again this season, I’ll spend more time scouting and I’ll think through my techniques to be certain I’m performing the basics right. And always remember, successful harvests are great, but learn what failure may be teaching you and enjoy God’s creation as you Explore Kansas Outdoors. Steve Gilliland, Inman, can be contacted by email at stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Exploring Outdoors Kan.: What to do when harvest is unsuccessful

🎥 Watch This Week's Tiger Talk

<img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573140802303.jpeg"><a href="https://drlg4ksoil.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Discovery Drilling</a> By JOHN P. TRETBAR Kansas Common Crude at CHS in McPherson starts the final month of the year at $45.50 per barrel after dropping $2.75 a barrel on Friday. Kansas Common is fetching a dollar a barrel less than it did November 1, but $5.25 more than it did one year ago.&nbsp;The average price for November of 2019 was $47.32, compared to an average of $47.15 in November of last year. U.S. operators continue breaking production records. Weekly output reached 12,888,000 barrels per day last week. That's the best weekly total ever, beating the previous high from two weeks ago by 97,000 barrels per day. The Energy Information Administration reported domestic crude oil stockpiles increased by 1.6 million barrels for the week ending November 22 to 452 million barrels.&nbsp;That's about 3 percent above the five-year seasonal average. The government says the U.S. imported an average 6.2 million barrels per day of crude oil last week. That's up 217,000 barrels per day from the week before. But, the four-week average is nearly 22% less than the same figure from a year ago. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service reported a slight drop in the Kansas rig count, down one to eight active rigs in eastern Kansas, and down one west of Wichita at 24 active rigs. Drilling got underway on one lease in Barton County and&nbsp;one in Stafford County and was about to start on a new well in Ellis County. Baker Hughes last week reported 802 active drilling rigs across the U.S., marking a decline of three oil rigs. The counts in New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas were each down one. Canada reports 126 active drilling rigs, down eleven for the week. Regulators last week approved 20 permits for drilling at new locations in Kansas, 15 of them east of Wichita, and five in the western half of the state.&nbsp;There's one new drilling permit in Stafford County.&nbsp;So far this year, there are 996 new drilling permits on file in Kansas. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service reported 16 newly-completed wells across Kansas last week, 1,284 so far this year.&nbsp;There were six new completions east of Wichita and 10 in Western Kansas, including one in Barton County. The Seaway Crude crude pipeline from Cushing, Oklahoma to the Texas Gulf Coast could soon expand again. The company said the expansion could add up to 200-thousand barrels per day to the current 400-thousand barrels per day capacity. Up to half of that additional capacity would be available early next year, and under current planning, Seaway says the expansion could be fully in service by late in the year 2020. The company will have what is called an "open season" for new customers starting next month. The state of North Dakota has had continuing problems disposing of natural gas produced at oil wells, but that could soon become a thing of the past. A North Dakota producer is launching a pilot project to inject natural gas back into the ground to force more oil out of the Bakken shale. This method of Enhanced Oil Recovery is already done in older oil fields using carbon dioxide or water.&nbsp;But the Grand Forks Herald reports Hess Corporation will inject a proprietary concoction of foam and natural gas into fractured shale formations, hoping to force gas into small pore spaces and force out more crude oil. The North Dakota Industrial Commission approved a pilot project near Ross, North Dakota which is expected to take place over the next two years. The government of Iraq has agreed in principle to an oil-sharing deal with the northern Kurdish region. The agreement comes amid weeks of anti-government protests threatening the continued rule of the Prime Minister, who is seen as friendlier to the Kurds than previous leaders. The Kurds reportedly agreed to contribute 250,000 barrels of oil per day to the federal government by the start of next year in return for a greater share of the federal budget, which they will use to pay public sector salaries and other expenses. The Kurds’ independent oil policy has been a source of friction with the federal government for over a decade.&nbsp; What was once the world’s most famous oil and gas field, and the backbone of global crude pricing, has dried up. Soon the Brent benchmark will have no Brent oil. The Wall Street Journal reports Royal Dutch Shell is expected next year to plug the last remaining Brent oil wells near Scotland's Shetland Islands.&nbsp;The move will mark the end of an era as the industry shifts its focus to smaller finds near existing infrastructure. OPEC and its allies plan to deepen oil production cuts and keep them in place at least through June in advance of the public stock offering of Saudi Aramco. CNBC says the new deal would add at least 400,000 barrels per day in cuts to the current agreement. The latest OPEC analysis shows a large oversupply and build up in inventories in the first half of next year, if no additional cuts are made.<img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573140802303.jpeg">

News From the Oil Patch, Dec.2

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🎤Post Podcast: Hays Public Library readies for holiday celebration

<img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575316643636.jpeg">Larned Correctional Mental Health Facility DOC TOPEKA - Several offender fights over the weekend led to a brief lockdown at Larned Correctional Facility’s Central Unit on Sunday, December 1. According to a news release from the facility, one offender was transported offsite for non-life-threatening medical treatment and returned to the facility. LCMHF staff are currently investigating the situation and will be referring two cases to the Pawnee County Attorney’s office for prosecution, both cases involve offenders utilizing weapons during the altercations. No officers were hurt during the altercation and the facility was returned to normal operations on Monday, December 2. The Larned Correctional Mental Health Facility is currently a multi-custody programming facility, consisting of the Central Unit, which has the capacity to house 310 male maximum/medium offenders, and the West Unit, which has the capacity to house 288 male minimum custody offenders.

Larned Correctional Facility fights lead to brief lockdown

<img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575316060744.jpeg">COTTONWOOD EXTENSION Women involved in agriculture should make plans to attend the “Surviving to Thriving: Care for Yourself to Care for the Farm – Women in Ag Workshop” to be held on Monday, Dec. 9 at the K-State Agricultural Research Center in Hays, 1232 240th Avenue. Registration and supper begins at 5:30 p.m. and the program will be from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. Come listen to Will Stutterheim with the Fort Hay State University Kelly Center talk about his experiences with the farm crisis and mental health; Kaley Conner with High Plains Mental Health will give tips on nurturing your mental health; Berny Unruh with Cottonwood Extension will discuss healthy eating for the busy farm family; and Meagan Cramer with Kansas Farm Bureau will finish out the evening sharing organizational tips on bullet journaling and organizing your brain. Advance registration is requested by Dec. 4 to the Ellis County Conservation District at 785-628-3081, extension 3. A $5 fee for the meal can be made payable in advance to the Conservation District at 2715 Canterbury, Hays, Kansas 67601, or at the event. A meal cannot be guaranteed for those who don’t register in advance. The workshop is sponsored by Ellis Co. Farm Bureau, Ellis Co. Conservation District, Farm Service Agency, High Plains Mental Health, K-State Research and Extension Cottonwood District and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.

 'Surviving to thriving' workshop addresses women in agriculture

<img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574096982733.jpeg">Last week’s inspection results from the Kansas Department of Agriculture: Hays High School - Nov. 252300 E 13th, Hays A routine inspection found one violation. *In the walk-in refrigerator there was ten metal pans of chili that was cooling from earlier in the morning. Inspector took a temperature of the chili at 10:30 a.m. and the temperature was 137 F. These metal pans were covered and filled full. They were being stacked directly next to each other on a portable cart in the walk-in refrigerator. Sonic Drive In - Nov. 251708 Vine, Hays An inspection following a complaint found four violations. *The refrigeration unit that holds the ice cream mixture had an ambient temperature of 62 F. Temperature of the ice cream mixture was at 48 F. *On the vegetable/fruit mechanical cutter there was food residue present on the blades of the cutter. *The hose on the mop sink was hanging below the flood rim of the sink. There was a atmospheric back flow prevention device present but there was a Y split with shut offs present that the hose was connected to. *In the back storage area there were three boxes of liquid hand soap that was being stored directly next to and on top of four boxes of single use gloves. No evidence of leaking was observed.

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