<img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574183635587.jpeg">To allow employees a chance to spend time with their families, the Eagle Media Center will be closed from 2 p.m. Wednesday until 8 a.m. Friday. To contact us, call (785) 301-2211. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours from the Eagle Media Center family!

Eagle Media Center closed Wednesday afternoon

🎤Post Podcast: Fire and EMS assistant director offers holiday safety tips

<img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574821005002.jpeg">As of the evening of Nov. 26, three properties in the North Vine Street Corridor project have not reached an agreement with the city of Hays regarding acquisitions of easements and rights of way. Commissioners voted Tuesday to approve an eminent domain ordinance. By BECKY KISERHays Post With no discussion, Hays city commissioners Tuesday evening voted 4-1 to approve an eminent domain ordinance for the North Vine Street Corridor Project. No questions or statements about the ordinance came from anyone in commission chambers. Mayor Henry Schwaller voted no. He has consistently objected to portions of the design which includes four traffic roundabouts between 32nd and 41st Streets.<img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574395974305.jpeg">The final paperwork from Pheasant Run restaurant was completed earlier Tuesday, according to John Bird, city attorney, and subsequently removed from the condemnation ordinance. Four properties were originally included in the ordinance. <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574391777329.jpeg">The agreement with Pheasant Run, 3201 Vine, was reached Tuesday. The restaurant was removed from the condemnation ordinance. The remaining three properties are the the former Ambassador Hotel, which was razed and is now a vacant lot, Golden Ox truckstop and the Super 8 motel.&nbsp; <iframe class="ql-video" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AMJ3dOQ_JbU" height="315" width="560"></iframe> "This ordinance will allow us to go forward," Bird explained, "against the owners of the former Ambassador site, where a small tract that involves Mark Augustine is kind of a 'friendly situation' where he hasn't been able to get [an owner] signature on something we needed, so he knows that's coming. And then there's the Super 8 and the Golden Ox." Bird said there are eight tracts total in the condemnation. "Some of them are just temporary easements and then the rest of them are where we'll actually install improvements and streets that are going in the Ambassador area." The ordinance will effect upon publication in the official city newspaper, the Hays Daily News. The next step in the process is to file a petition for eminent domain proceedings with the district court. In other business, commissioners unanimously agreed to resolutions for annexations of six properties into the city for development of a planned travel plaza just north of the Interstate 70 west Exit 157. <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574443442177.jpeg">Six annexation requests for a proposed travel plaza in northwest Hays Five of the properties are not contiguous to the city limits and will first require approval by the Ellis County Commission. The annexations are expected to return to the commission for its Dec. 12 meeting. A 15-minute executive session was called at the end of the meeting to discuss possible property acquisition. No action was taken. Commissioner Sandy Jacobs participated in the meeting by telephone.

🎥 City commission approves eminent domain ordinance, annexations 

<img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574793473947.jpeg">Photo courtesy Brandon Cooley, Hays Convention and Visitors Bureau By JAMES BELLHays Post Another exciting restaurant concept is set to make Hays home in the former Pasta Jay’s location in Tebo Village, 4310 Vine St., bringing a mix of quick-service, Baja-style Mexican food and two full bars. The restaurant is a collaboration of longtime Hays restaurateur Tom Lovewell and Shane Coyne, who think Fuzzy’s Taco Shop is a “can’t miss” for the location and for Hays. “It wasn’t about making money, as much as it was ... it was about giving back to a place that gave us our future,” Coyne, who serves as the president of Crunchy Munchies LLC, which was set up to open the business. As a partner, he plans to oversee future development, while Lovewell will oversee operations. “It seems to appeal to all the individuals and groups around Hays. ... I think it’s dynamic enough to be a perfect fit for us,” Lovewell said. “We are excited to be a part of the community and hire lots of Haysites and have a great time and offer Hays great food service and drinks and have fun.” Lovewell and Coyne were introduced to the growing chain in the Colorado front range and will model the Hays location after operations there. Every Fuzzy’s Taco Shop is different, but share the same basic setup and menus, centering on being what they call a “mini-vacation.” “It’s hard to explain, except the concept is electric,” Lovewell said. “It’s a little, cool, perfect concept.” And it fits into the Tebo property perfectly. “After doing the research, it was the perfect setup,” Coyne said. “It was like stumbling into this perfect setup where you couldn’t find anywhere else.” Lovewell believes the fast-growing concept will have enough name recognition to pull people from Interstate 70 and will be a draw to people in Hays as well. “Its college following is phenomenal,” he said, noting the success of the location that recently opened near the WSU campus. “College students flock towards it. It’s their thing.” But Fuzzy’s appeal is bigger than one group of the population. After looking at other locations, he noted that Fuzzy’s has a diverse following. “It’s kind of the perfect mix for who Hays is,” Lovewell said. “People around here like social and drinks and a good time. I think it is a home run for who we are in Hays.” Coyne agreed. “It’s a food that is simple, it’s fairly fast, it's a fun environment, it’s bright, with 26 TVs, cool drinks. It’s just something Hays doesn’t have,” he said. “How could you not be fired about going back to your hometown and doing something cool? Hays is our hometown. It’s always special. It's always unique.” Coyne said as the project has moved forward, building owner Stephen Tebo has been easy to work with, adding Lovewell is a “proven operator.” “Everything came together in a way that you couldn’t ignore,” Coyne said. The experienceFuzzy’s Taco Shop follows a newer style of restaurant that doesn’t have servers. Rather, customers order at the counter and are given pagers for when their cooked-to-order meal is ready, or they can opt to sit at one of two full-service bar areas. This concept helps keep costs lower and creates a more modern quick-service environment, where customers can feel comfortable getting in and out quickly or sitting for hours to watch a sporting event. The menu features many common Mexican style dishes, like their namesake tacos, burritos, nachos with beef, chicken and shrimp options, salads, and quesadillas. They also have breakfast items, full dinners, appetizers and soup. The chain has a core menu, but each location can also have local options. After opening the first location in 2001 in Fort Worth, Texas, the chain was purchased by Chuck and Alan Bush, who quickly turned toward expansion through franchising. It would later be sold again to NRD Capital Management and passed 150 locations this year.&nbsp; By 2021, the company plans to have opened another 50 restaurants across the U.S. While development is in the early stages and subject to several factors, including weather and construction time, Lovewell hopes to be open for business by March. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

FUZZY'S: Restaurateurs excited to bring fresh concept to Hays

<img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574694508756.jpeg">By GREG DOERINGKansas Farm Bureau There are certainly plenty of ongoing concerns in the world, but, at least for us humans, it has never been a better place to live. It’s easy to conflate headlines with the actual state of humanity. It’s an understandable reaction, but it’s also a misreading of what makes news. While most certainly recognize bias can creep into reporting on politics, there’s another bias that underpins all news decisions: a prejudice in favor of the unusual. Crime, political intrigue and rare events drive coverage decisions because they’re not ordinary, and that’s what draws readers and viewers. Police blotters and obituaries consistently deliver eyeballs to newspapers and websites. Though it’s possible someone may welcome my obituary or arrest, I think I’m safe saying most don’t view those as good news. In a way, this focus on the negative makes sense. Seeing daily stories about planes landing safely or drivers who didn’t crash their cars doesn’t seem all that interesting. Yet when we don’t stop and think about all those instances of things going according to plan, the headlines distort our reality. Bad news is immediate and reported constantly. Good news is slow and sporadic. In a 2015 survey, just 6 percent of U.S. citizens said the world was getting better according to the website&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ourworldindata.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(96, 96, 96);">www.ourworldindata.org</a>. That is astounding. It represents our failure to see ourselves in context of the world. I would encourage you to visit the website and poke around it for a bit. It paints an entirely different picture of our lives than you’ll find in the news. The world is a safer place, including here at home. The homicide rate in the U.S. fell more than 20 percent between 1990 and 2017. We’re also living longer. In 1800 life expectancy across the globe averaged 29 years. That jumped to 46 years by 1950 and soared to 71 by 2015. In the United States, the averages were 35, 68 and 79. One reason for our increasing longevity is better nutrition. U.S. farmers and ranchers have led the way in producing more food on less land even as the population has ballooned from 3 billion in 1960 to 7.7 billion today. Today’s agricultural producers need about one-third of the land to get the same crop production as they did in 1961. As researchers noted in a 2013 paper, “A combination of agricultural technologies raised yields, keeping downward pressure on the extent of cropland, sparing land for nature.”We also have more leisure time. U.S. citizens are working less – both in the office and at home. The average person worked a little over 1,750 hours in 2017, that’s down from just under 2,000 in 1950. Productivity also has soared to $65.51 per hour worked, up from $18.14 over the same time period. Those productivity gains carryover at home, too. Housework, defined as meal prep, laundry and cleaning, took an average of 15 hours, 24 minutes in 2015, or about a quarter of the 58 hours those tasks took in 1900. Men, as my wife can attest, still have a way to go to get to an equal share. Women spend about an hour per day more on chores around the house. All of this is logical, if not necessarily intuitive. Knowledge is a commodity that earns interest and pays dividends. In 1800 about 15 percent of the global population could read. The world literacy rate in 2016 was 86 percent. Gradual improvements over a couple centuries don’t make the headlines, but the end result is a world where nearly everyone can read those extraordinary stories that make things seem so gloomy. As you gather with your family for the holidays and start telling stories around the dinner table, be sure to mention a few things that have made your life better over the years, especially to the young people. If they don’t know about past improvements, they may stop striving to keep making this place better. "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: Our ever-better world

<img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574720435896.jpeg">Michaela Nietfeld, Mapleton senior, left, and Shai Stroh, Holdrege, Neb., senior, Arts for Social Change members.&nbsp; FHSU University Relations Art Slam, a community event featuring art in support of social issues hosted by a Department of Art student organization, Arts for Social Change, was rated a rousing success by the organization’s sponsor.&nbsp; “Art Slam was a huge success,” said Amy Schmierbach, professor of art at Fort Hays State University. “The students were so excited to raise money for victims of human trafficking and domestic violence.” Schmierbach is the faculty sponsor for Arts for Social Change.&nbsp; &nbsp;“Our food sold out, art and caricatures were made, and lots of karaoke was sung, but best of all, the Hays community came together for a good cause,” said Shai Christianson Stroh, Holdrege, Neb., senior and an Arts for Social Change member. “The people involved worked really hard to make sure everyone had fun and felt included! It was exciting to have such a big turnout for the Art Slam.”&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Half of the proceeds will go to the social program developed by Dr. Ziwei Qi, assistant professor of criminal justice, and Dr. Hsin-Yen Yang, associate professor of communication studies.&nbsp; “Art for Social Change is such a wonderful organization. It uses aesthetic and emotional powers to engage the community members and raise awareness of important social issues,” said Yang.&nbsp; “Dr. Ziwei Qi and I launched our project to create a social enterprise to provide economic independence to domestic violence and human trafficking survivors last year,” she continued. “We look forward to seeing more events like Art Slam on campus and in our community!”&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The primary goal of Arts for Social change, a new university-wide organization, is to collaborate with members of the university and community to promote positive change, growth, and awareness through the arts, said Schmierbach.&nbsp; Campus or community organizations that would like to participate in future collaborations with Arts for Social Change should contact the organization president, Madelyn Artman, Whtewater junior, at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:mrartman@mail.fhsu.edu" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">mrartman@mail.fhsu.edu</a>, or Schmierbach, at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:ajschmierbach@fhsu.edu" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">ajschmierbach@fhsu.edu</a>.&nbsp;

Sponsor of Art Slam’s host organization gives high marks to fundraiser 

RUSSELL COUNTY — One person died in an accident just after 8:30p.m. Tuesday in Russell County. The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1992 Olds Ciera driven by Dustin J. Lohrmeyer, 29, Hays, was southbound on 187th Street just south of 15th Street.&nbsp; The vehicle entered the west ditch and the driver over corrected. The vehicle slid broadside across both lanes into the east ditch, became airborne into a field, rolled and the driver was ejected. Lohrmeyer was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

Man from Hays dies after rollover crash in Russell County

<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/2019/11/1574804859087.jpeg">

Three-day weather outlook

<img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574461805684.jpeg">In the past year, the University of Kansas saw a 64 percent increase in students seeking mental health treatment for the first time. It's part of a statewide and national trend of college students experiencing more mental health issues. Nomin Ujiyediin / Kansas News Service By NOMIN UJIYEDIIN<a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/kansas-colleges-see-rise-cost-mental-health-care-students#stream/0" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Kansas News Service</a> When Dan Hoyt started graduate school at the University of Kansas in 2016, he knew he had anxiety and depression. He worried about being able to find a job after graduation. And, sometimes, he couldn’t get through his assigned reading. “When you have anxieties, that gets impossible,” he said. “I'll think about the same things over and over and over again.” But when he reached out to KU’s counseling services, he was told he had to wait five months before he could get an appointment with a therapist at the Lawrence campus. And getting there from KU’s Overland Park campus, where he took classes, complicated things. It was already hard enough to cope with depression, Hoyt said, and being denied immediate help felt even worse: “That's the equivalent of just being told no.” Hoyt needed treatment more quickly, and ended up seeing a private therapist who costs $63 a session after insurance. Thousands of students at Kansas’s public universities have sought out mental health treatment, to the point that the Kansas Board of Regents says schools are spending more money on such care — though it couldn’t provide an exact total. That’s why the regents plan to ask for more state funding in the 2020 session, according to board president and CEO Blake Flanders. “Our demand for mental health services is growing dramatically on our campuses,” Flanders said. “I don't anticipate that cost driver reducing.” And it’s not just in Kansas: There’s a <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2019/05/28/727509438/college-students-and-their-parents-face-a-campus-mental-health-epidemic" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">national trend</a> of college students experiencing more anxiety and depression. Between 2007 and 2017, the rate of college students receiving mental health treatment rose from 19% to 34%. Staff shortagesAn influx of money would be well spent, said Pam Botts, a psychologist who helps run KU’s Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS). The clinic provides individual and group therapy, psychiatric evaluations and education. It charges students $15 per therapy session — much less than a typical private therapist’s $100 or more an hour. Since the KU center started <a href="http://www.kansan.com/news/walk-in-system-for-counseling-services-sees-success-in-decreasing/article_1d4e791c-fa5f-11e9-94ec-fbd9826cec09.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">drop-in appointments</a> in February, it no longer has monthslong wait times for initial appointments. But, she said, it needs 10 more therapists to meet the demand. Plus, it could use more office space. “Budget is an issue. We have no more funds,” she said. “If we had the funding, we would hire more clinicians.”<img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574461759944.jpeg">KU Counseling and Psychological Services is located in the Watkins Memorial Health Center in Lawrence. Credit Nomin Ujiyediin / Kansas News Service Between September 2018 and September 2019, CAPS saw a 64% increase in first-time appointments, Botts said. And the 13 therapists who currently work for CAPS can only see students once every three or four weeks, rather than the ideal of every other week. A <a href="http://studentaffairs.ku.edu/sites/studentaffairs.ku.edu/files/images/general/2019_SA_ImpactReport_final_web.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">university report</a> shows it’s a trend: From the 2017-2018 school year to the 2018-2019 school year, CAPS saw a 32% increase in initial assessments and a 21% increase in the total number of students treated. The number of individual therapy appointments increased by 18%. That same year, Fort Hays State University also saw a 20% increase in students using campus mental health services. And schools like Kansas State University have started offering <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/kansas-college-students-can-ace-tests-they-need-help-adulting-0#stream/0" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">classes</a> intended to help students deal with the stresses of adjusting to adulthood. What’s behind the rise?Emporia State University is seeing more students looking for mental health treatment, too, said Lindsay Bays, the school’s director of Counseling Services. Her office offers therapy and prevention programs for suicide, sexual violence and alcohol and drug abuse. Emporia’s counseling program is funded entirely through student fees, so students don’t have to pay out of pocket. Bays said she and her staff can see students as often as they need — once a week or more, if necessary. Between the 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 school years, Emporia State saw a 19% increase in students using mental health services. In 2018-2019, the number didn’t budge. But in the first semester of this school year, the number of students seeking treatment has outpaced last year’s, Bays said. She thinks the increase could be caused in part by young people’s frequent use of social media. Facebook or Snapchat can serve as constant reminders of a recent breakup, family troubles or a mass shooting. “I really believe that that instant access to information has caused an increase of stressors or anxiety symptoms,” Bays said. “They could now look and see their ex-partner with a new person immediately on Snapchat.” But social media can have a positive impact too, Bays said, by encouraging young people to share their feelings and talk about their mental health in public. “You see articles on Facebook about self-care and you see friends are talking about going and getting help,” she said. “It's more accessible and it's okay to get counseling.” Cole Johnson, a first-year student at KU, has struggled with depression for about three years and recently saw a doctor on campus who prescribed him medication. He said there’s less of a stigma now. “With other generations it was kind of just like, ‘deal with it, you'll get through it,’” he said. “I think we’re a little bit more accepting and understanding of those kinds of problems.” His generation also deals with issues that older people haven’t had to face, Johnson said, including the pressure of keeping up appearances on social media and rising tuition fees. “Thinking about the future and after college … and how long you're going to be paying off the degree you got,” he said, “I would say it definitely adds to anxiety." Nomin Ujiyediin reports on criminal justice and social welfare for the Kansas News Service.&nbsp;Follow her on Twitter&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/nominuj?lang=en" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@NominUJ</a>&nbsp;or email nomin@kcur.org.&nbsp;

Kan. colleges see a rise in cost of mental health care for students 

<img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574351682207.jpeg"><img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574865992195.jpeg">TMP-Marian fans and family members will get a chance to check out boys and girls basketball teams for the first time this Saturday during Late Night at Al Billinger Fieldhouse. The evening will start with a free hot dog feed in the Canteen from 6 to 6:45 p.m. Fans are also encouraged to get a picture taken with and an autograph from your favorite Monarch. There will be a welcome prayer at 6:45 p.m. followed by the introduction of the 2019-20 teams, recognition of last year’s boys 3A final four team, and layup and three-point shooting contests. The boys and girls teams are also set to scrimmage starting with the girls at 7:45 p.m.<img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574865961324.jpeg">

Late Night at Al Billinger Fieldhouse will be Saturday

<img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574712523094.jpeg">UPDATE 6 p.m. TuesdayThe Kansas Department of Transportation has reopened I-70 in both directions from Hays to the Colorado border. U.S. 40 from Oakley to the Colorado border has also been reopened. Roads may still be snowpacked and icy in areas, and motorists are reminded to use caution when traveling in winter weather conditions. For up-to-date information on road closures and road conditions, visit&nbsp;<a href="about:blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(149, 79, 114);">www.kandrive.org</a>, or call 511 in Kansas or 866-511-5368 outside Kansas. --------------- UPDATED 4:30 p.m. TuesdayWestbound I-70 has been closed from Hays to the Colorado border because of winter weather conditions in the western part of the state. Both directions are closed from Colby to the Colorado border. The following routes also remain closed:<ul><li>U.S. 24 from Colby to Levant</li><li>U.S. 36 from Atwood to the Colorado border</li><li>U.S. 40 from Oakley to the Colorado border</li><li>K-27 from Sharon Springs to the Nebraska border</li><li>K-161 from Bird City to the Nebraska border</li></ul> ----------------- UPDATED 3:45 p.m. TuesdayI-70 has been closed from Oakley to the Colorado border because of winter weather conditions. The following routes also remain closed:<ul><li>U.S. 24 from Colby to Levant</li><li>U.S. 36 from Atwood to the Colorado border</li><li>U.S. 40 from Oakley to the Colorado border</li><li>K-27 from Sharon Springs to the Nebraska border</li><li>K-161 from Bird City to the Nebraska border</li></ul> ------------------ UPDATED 1:45 p.m. TuesdayI-70 has been closed in both directions from Colby to the Colorado border because of winter weather conditions. K-27 has also been closed from Sharon Springs to the Nebraska border. ---------------- UPDATED 1 p.m. TuesdayWinter weather conditions have caused the closure of several roads in northwest Kansas. Road closures as of 1 p.m. CST include: <ul><li>Westbound I-70 at Goodland</li><li>Westbound U.S. 36 at St. Francis</li><li>Westbound U.S. 40 at Oakley</li><li>K-27 in Sherman County</li></ul> ------------- Westbound I-70 has been closed at Goodland because of winter weather conditions. Westbound U.S. 36 at St. Francis and U.S. 40 at Sharon Springs are also closed. For up-to-date information on road closures and road conditions, visit&nbsp;<a href="about:blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(149, 79, 114);">www.kandrive.org</a>, or call 511 in Kansas or 866-511-5368 outside Kansas. — KDOT

UPDATE: I-70 reopens in Kansas; conditions still icy, snowpacked in areas

<img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574803156942.jpeg">Hays Democrat Eber Phelps filed Monday to run again for the Kansas 111th Dist. seat. By BECKY KISERHays Post Hays Democrat Eber Phelps has filed to run for the 111th District House seat. He filed Monday in Topeka for the seat currently held by another Hays resident, Republican Barb Wasinger. Phelps was defeated by Wasinger two years ago by just 35 votes, following a <a href="https://archive.hayspost.com/2018/12/28/election-lawsuit-against-rep-wasinger-dismissed/">ballot recount and lawsuit that was ultimately dismissed</a>. "That's pretty close. It wasn't long after that a lot of people came up to me and were very encouraging that I run again," Phelps told Hays Post Tuesday afternoon. Phelps is currently a Hays city commissioner. He was appointed this spring to fill the unexpired term of commissioner James Meier who moved to Wichita for a job. The city seat was open for the Nov. 2 general election. Phelps, who has previously served several terms, did not run. Phelps has also served previous terms as the 111th Dist. state representative and keeps a close eye on the state legislature. "I think we have a governor that wants to continue the work of the 2017 session," Phelps said, "when we turned things around from what the Brownback administration haddone as far as a lot of the [budget] cuts and kind of getting us into a financial bind. "Subsequently, the vote we had to overturn Brownback's tax plan has actually proved to be very positive. "I think I have the motivation to continue that work with our current governor and not really worry about what some of these outside lobbying interest groups think." Phelps, and Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly, both support expansion of Medicaid in Kansas. "The current representatives of Ellis County have been adamantly opposed to that," Phelps pointed out. "In the meantime, our state has passed up billions of dollars. So I believe just that vote alone brings a positive outlook for Hays." Phelps also talked about the importance of funding for education at all levels in Kansas. "I think we're on track, and we have a governor that's very much in support of improving our mental health offerings in the state of Kansas," he added, noting the importance of the medical community to Hays. Other issues Phelps has been involved with as a state representative are the oil and agriculture industries, major economic drivers in Ellis County. House District 111 includes the cities of Hays, Munjor and Victoria, and the following townships: Big Creek (part, Freedom, Herzog (part, Lookout (part, Victoria and Wheatland (part).&nbsp; Filing deadline for the Nov. 3, 2020 general election is June 1, 2020.

Phelps files for 111th Dist. House seat 

THOMAS COUNTY — One person was injured in an accident just before 10:30a.m. Tuesday in Thomas County. The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2003 Ford F150 driven by Kaycie Jo Clapp, 23, Selden, was southbound on U.S. 82 near County Road 35.&nbsp;The pickup crossed the northbound lanes into the south ditch and rolled one time. EMS transported Clapp to the hospital in Goodland. She was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

NW Kansas woman hospitalized after pickup rolls

By JAMES BELLHays Post A suspect who allegedly stole a pickup in Hays was arrested after a chase into Trego County early Tuesday morning. At 5:50 a.m., the Hays Police Department received a report of a red Ford F250 pickup that was taken from the 1200 block of Haney, according to Hays Police Chief Don Scheibler. A member of the Ellis County Sheriff's Office located the vehicle soon after and attempted to pull over the vehicle on the westbound lane of Interstate 70. After failing to stop, the suspect was pursued by members of the sheriff's office, HPD and the Kansas Highway Patrol. The chase reached speeds of over 90 mph. Stops sticks were successfully deployed and the driver — Ryan Alexander Hardey, 20, Hays — was arrested after stopping just inside Trego County on I-70, according to Scheibler. Hardey was taken into custody on suspicion of fleeing and eluding law enforcement, theft of a motor vehicle, and criminal damage to property. He has previous convictions of theft, burglary, drug possession and possession of drug paraphernalia from an incident in January in Marion County. In March 2018, Hardey was also convicted of contributing to the misconduct of minor, theft, and fleeing and eluding law enforcement from a Barton County incident in October 2017. The Kansas Department of Community Corrections lists Hardey as an absconder as of Nov. 20. Scheibler said Hardey should be considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Morning chase: Arrest made after truck stolen early Tuesday

🎤Post Podcast: TMP-M students learning about giving thanks

The National Weather Service's winter weather advisory is in effect until 9 p.m. this evening for Hays and much of northwest Kansas. Snow accumulation if 1 to 2 inches is expected, accompanied nby winds gusting up to 55 mph. The best chance for snow will be in the late afternoon or early evening hours, forecasters are predicting. Road conditions will be hazardous, with slippery roads and reduced visibility due to blowing snow. Stay tuned to your Eagle Radio of Hays stations for the latest on severe weather, cancellations and delays.

Wintry weather expected to bring hazardous road conditions

'Santa's Workshop' will be Saturday at Hays VFW

<img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574707993627.jpeg">Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Thomas Oliphant spoke about his book “The Road to Camelot: Inside JFK’s Five-Year Campaign,” on the 60th anniversary of John F. Kennedy's campaign stop in Hays. By BECKY KISERHays Post Sixty years ago on Nov. 20, 1959, U.S. Sen. John F. Kennedy, D-Mass., was in Hays during a campaign swing through Kansas in his race for president. A dinner organized by Hays attorney and Democratic party leader Norbert Dreiling brought 645 supporters together to dine with Kennedy at Jefferson West school in Hays. The event was commemorated Nov. 20, 2019, by the Ellis County Democratic Party in the same building, now the former Kennedy Middle School. Keynote speaker was Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Thomas Oliphant, who co-authored a best-selling book about Kennedy’s 1960 campaign for the presidency. Oliphant and Curtis Wilkie wrote “The Road to Camelot: Inside JFK’s Five-Year Campaign,” in which they detailed Kennedy’s <a href="https://archive.hayspost.com/2019/11/16/pulitzer-prize-winning-author-to-speak-on-jfk-60-years-after-visit/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64);">unconventional path to the presidency</a>.Instead of relying on party leaders to choose a candidate at the national convention, Kennedy ushered in a new era, traveling from state to state to win delegates.&nbsp; About 100 people gathered Wednesday evening to enjoy the same meal served 60 years ago and to hear from Oliphant. <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574708409063.jpeg">Mayor Henry Schwaller IV emceed the 60th anniversary dinner in the former Kennedy Middle School. "Some of you have never seen these foods and some of you haven't seen these foods in 60 years," joked emcee Henry Schwaller IV, Hays mayor and chairman of the Ellis County Democratic Party.&nbsp; The menu included a first course of lime Jell-O with pineapple and green grapes served with a glass of tomato juice. "Green Jell-O was one of my favorites," quipped special guest Lynn Rogers-D, Kansas lieutenant governor. <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574708891754.jpeg">Servers from FHSU Chartwells bring the same foods to guests as were enjoyed in 1959. Relish dishes of pickles and carrots were already on the tables draped with white cloths in the school gymnasium. The main course was chicken-fried steak covered with white gravy and green peas on the side. A smaller plate held spiced pears. Dessert was apple pie "a la Democrat," with a piece of donkey-shaped cheddar cheese atop the pie. Kennedy, a devout Catholic, ate fish at the fundraising dinner. Dreiling had the bishop grant a dispensation allowing Catholics in attendance to eat meat on that Friday. The provision was noted in the banquet program. The 60th anniversary event was coordinated in cooperation with Hays resident Randy Gonzales, who graduated from Fort Hays State University in May 2019 with a master’s degree in history. Gonzales wrote his <a href="https://scholars.fhsu.edu/theses/3138/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64);">thesis</a> about Kennedy’s trip to Kansas and had interviewed Oliphant. <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574707624158.jpeg">Thomas Oliphant autographs a copy of his book for Hays resident Randy Gonzales, whose FHSU master's thesis researches Sen. John F. Kennedy's 1959 presidential campaign stop in Hays. Several times during his 90-minute talk, Oliphant encouraged Gonzales to expand his research and pursue his doctorate in history, saying "there's nothing more important to history than local history." "Randy's level of research detail in this night 60 years ago is mind-boggling, but the extra added attraction is the context of the bigger things Kennedy was involved in that lead him here, and the things he influenced because he came here," Oliphant said. "This is a honey and if I'd known about it three years ago, I wouldn't have had to to so much research myself," he joked, drawing a hearty laugh from Gonzales and the rest of the audience. Kennedy had a thin resume when he decided to run for president, Oliphant said, and wasn't well known, even in Washington. He figured he was not going to be chosen to run by national party leaders in smoke-filled rooms. <iframe class="ql-video" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/aeyof2Nv3VU" height="315" width="560"></iframe> Kennedy began campaigning early, in 1957, for the 1960 election and he went at it as a "people business" to win delegates, Oliphant said. He made five other stops in Kansas that day, meeting with residents and local Democrats in Kansas City, Wichita, Dodge City and Salina. Kennedy was the first presidential candidate to hire a campaign pollster and the first to successfully use television and other mass media. <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574706988971.jpeg">John Ivan, 80, of Mission, Kan., was president of Fort Hays State University Young Democrats and introduced Sen. John Kennedy to the crowd in Hays in 1959. ﻿A few people in the audience were present at Kennedy's dinner including John Ivan, an 80-year-old practicing attorney now living in Mission, Kan. In 1959, Ivan was president of the university's Young Democrats group and gave the welcome speech for JFK. "I had stage fright and my legs were shaking," Ivan recalled. Kennedy noticed and walked over to Ivan to reassure him. "He was just wonderful." "When Kennedy came to this campus we had four members in the Young Democrats Club. After he was in Hays our group had 125 members, the largest one in Kansas," Ivan said. Ivan later was elected president of the Kansas Collegiate Young Democrats and eventually became a member of Kansas governor George Docking's administration. Several other club members went on to be elected mayor of their towns. "Kennedy was so incredible and so inspirational," Ivan said after Oliphant's talk. "It makes us realize his speeches are relevant today, but unfortunately we don't have that today." <iframe class="ql-video" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/aeyof2Nv3VU"></iframe>

🎥 JFK expert: 'Nothing more important to history than local history'

<img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574704875654.png">BIRD CITY — The public is invited to participate in a Mental Health Forum from 9 a.m. to noon Thursday, Dec. 5, at the Bird City American Legion Hall, 107 W. Bressler.&nbsp;&nbsp; Anyone from the entire northwest Kansas region who is interested should attend, especially school faculty, administration and counselors, clergy, health care and mental health professionals, criminal justice and legal representatives, and community members with personal connections.&nbsp; “Northwest Kansas professionals whose work aligns with mental health issues, as well as people who are affected personally by mental disease, are encouraged to attend,” says co-facilitator Travis Rickford of LiveWell Northwest Kansas in Colby. “This meeting continues a three-part series to better understand issues related to mental health in northwest Kansas.”&nbsp; Rickford adds that attending the first meeting is not a requirement for taking part in the Dec. 5 workshop.&nbsp; The purpose of the forum is to highlight problems related to mental health in northwest Kansas. Attendants will learn about mental health issues and solutions will be identified to address regional concerns.&nbsp; “At the first meeting, we discussed things like isolation, education, and access to care, which are all factors that we can improve upon,” said Rickford. “We also discussed workforce discrepancies and reimbursement mechanisms.&nbsp; “At our next meeting, we’ll recap and break down those general themes which will allow us to link problems with specific, manageable action plans.”&nbsp; “Mental health, addiction, incarceration, poverty and trauma are discussed frequently, but no clear collaborative steps toward addressing the issues have been taken,” admits Rickford. “We hope that by coming together, we can build regional understanding and implement collaborative efforts to truly bring about change. Only by gathering people of all sectors of our community can we hope to overcome the unique struggles of mental health.”&nbsp; LiveWell Northwest Kansas is one of three organizations sponsoring the event. Funded by the Kansas Health Foundation as part of Health Equity Initiatives in northwest Kansas, LiveWell comes together with the Cheyenne County Health Department and Rawlins County Health Department to host this 3-part series of meetings.&nbsp; “LiveWell is honored to collaborate with the public health departments of Cheyenne and Rawlins County,” said Rickford, “and we are excited to bring together the Dane G. Hansen Foundation, health care providers, residents and other organizations to address this important issue and get to the root of the problem. “We are focused on building momentum to take action.”&nbsp; RSVP to the event by emailing one of three program coordinators: <a href="travisr@nwksprevention.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">travisr@nwksprevention.com&nbsp;</a> (Colby, <a href="cdouthit@cheyennecountyhospital.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">cdouthit@cheyennecountyhospital.com</a> (Bird City, or <a href="karlah@rawlinscounty.org" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">karlah@rawlinscounty.org</a> (Atwood).&nbsp; The third meetings will be Jan. 7, 2020, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Bird City Legion Hall.&nbsp; More information can be found online at <a href="www.LiveWellNWK.org/upcomingevents" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.LiveWellNWK.org/upcomingevents</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Mental health forum scheduled next month in Bird City

By BECKY KISERHays Post The holiday season is here and many of us will have extra house guests and will be doing some extra cooking. As hectic as it may get this time of year, "it's important to remain good stewards of our water resources," says Holly Dickman, Hays water conservation specialist. Dickman has the following suggestions to keep water usage in check in the kitchen. <iframe class="ql-video" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BX9pfxDu3fs" height="315" width="560"></iframe> <ul><li>Thaw frozen turkeys and hams ahead of time in the refrigerator rather than using the "speed thaw" method in a sink full of water.</li><li>Collect water used to rinse fruits and vegetables to water houseplants, including live Christmas trees.</li><li>Use the correct-sized pots and pans for cooking. Larger pots may hold more water than necessary for the food being prepared, such as boiling potatoes.</li><li>Scrape food leftovers from plates into the garbage rather than rinsing the the plates or washing scraps down the garbage disposal which can use gallons of water each time.</li><li>Use the dishwasher but make sure it's full. A full dishwasher is much more water efficient than washing by hand.</li><li>If you must wash dishes by hand, fill one basin with soapy water and another with rinse water. No need to let the water run continuously.</li></ul> Dickman also suggests checking toilets for leaks before holiday guests arrive and make necessary repairs. "You can also install faucet aerators, low-flow shower heads, high efficiency toilets and washing machines, all of which can drastically reduce home water usage year-round," Dickman says. <a href="https://www.haysusa.com/161/Rebates-Programs" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Rebates</a> from the city of Hays are available through the end of the year for high efficiency toilets and washing machines. Faucet aerators and low-flow shower heads are available for free in Hays City Hall, 1507 Main.

🎥 Water-saving holiday tips: Thaw that turkey in the fridge  

<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/2019/11/1574718219539.jpeg">

<img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574696138742.jpeg">When I first moved to Kansas, someone told me there had once been a naval base near Hutchinson. My response to that was “Yeah, right!” (They neglected to tell me it was a naval AIR base!) Then a few years later I was told there were porcupines in Kansas and again my response was a resounding “Yeah, right!”&nbsp; &nbsp;I talked with local veterinarian Becky Dillon, who told me that starting about a dozen years ago, she began seeing two or three dogs annually from the Rice, Reno, and McPherson County area impaled with porcupine quills, usually in their noses. I once helped extract a porky’ from under a friend’s porch. After removing several floor boards and backing the bugger’ into a corner, we were able to pull it out it with catch pole. While in western Kansas a few years back we came upon a dead porcupine along the road. After carefully gathering a few quills from the middle of its back and cutting off part of its unique hind foot that strongly resembled a bear’s foot, we left the poor guy looking like the victim of some satanical ritual.&nbsp; Porcupines occur throughout the state, except in the southeast. They are very common in the Red Hills down in Barber and Comanche counties. They prefer woodlands, but in Kansas, are found most often in “riparian habitat,” the wooded and brushy areas bordering streams and rivers. Porcupines are herbivores (plant eaters,) so in summer, green plants make up much of their diet. During winter, they often gnaw on bark and cambium, the soft inner tissue of woody plants and trees. I’m told it not uncommon to find cedars killed by porcupines “girdling” the trunk as they gnaw off the bark completely around the tree. They also seem to relish the soft, tender bark of cottonwood trees. My research turned up several interesting facts about “porkys.” I know I’ve heard or read stories about porcupines chewing on axe handles, canoe paddles, etc. They have a penchant for salt, and chew on these things because of the sweat left there by human hands. Porcupines are rather cute little members of the rodent family. Adults grow to around twenty inches long, minus they tail, and can weigh 25 pounds. Like our other migrant friend, the armadillo, a porcupine’s sense of smell is excellent, but its eyesight is poor. Normally quiet and docile little critters, they are most at home resting in a tree, so we all may have passed beneath one more than once and never known it. Their dens can be in rock crevices, hollow logs, or under old buildings, and they are known to use the abandoned dens of other animals. They breed once yearly, and usually give birth to only one offspring. Officially called “porcupettes,” the baby’s quills are soft at birth (I should hope so,) but harden within an hour. A porcupine’s hollow quills help make them excellent swimmers, so water lilies and floating pond weeds can also be part of their summer diet. Of course, this piece wouldn’t be complete without time spent on our rodent’s most famous characteristic, its quills. A fully-grown adult porcupine has upwards of 30,000 specially modified hairs called quills, which are its first line of defense. The quills are mixed with long shaggy hair everywhere but on its stomach. They are longest on the rump and tail, so when threatened, a porcupine points its posterior towards the attacker and begins slashing with its long tail. The quills come out very easily, so any piece of flesh touched by the sweeping rump and tail comes away stuck full of them. This behavior no doubt gave rise to the legend that a porcupine could “throw” its quills. With the tiny barbs embedded, the body heat of the unlucky recipient swells the quills, forcing them deeper into its flesh. Although nearly invisible to the naked eye, Dillon says these barbs are so effective that she has to sedate each animal because they are so painful to remove. The Fisher, a fur bearer of the north woods, has become an expert in attacking porcupines, learning how to roll them over and get at their unprotected bellies. Great horned owls, bobcats and coyotes, all predators of the Kansas plains, will also make a meal of a porcupine if the opportunity arises. I continue to be amazed at the diversity of God’s creation found here in our state. You can bet that from now on when I’m in the woods and along the river, I’ll be looking for signs of “Mr. Prickly,” hoping to see one alive in the wild. Another good reason for Exploring Kansas Outdoors! Steve Gilliland, Inman, can be contacted by email at stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.

Exploring Outdoors Kan.: Porcupines in Kansas? Yeah, right!

<img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574443442177.jpeg">Requested annexations for planned travel plaza north of I-70 at Exit 157 By BECKY KISERHays Post Six properties owned by five entities are marked for annexation into the city of Hays for a proposed travel plaza to be built on the west side of town. Hays city commissioners will consider the annexation requests during their Tuesday meeting. The commission will meet Tuesday rather than Thursday due to the Thanksgiving holiday. The five owners requesting annexation are Ellis County, Celebration Church of Hays, Doonan Peterbilt, City of Hays and Hess Land LLC. If annexation is approved, the developer plans to "extend city water and sewer mains as well as making improvements to 230th Avenue, 55th Street and streets internal to the project that will allow access to the new commercial development," Jesse Rohr, public works director, told commissioners last week.&nbsp; Annexation would also allow creation of a proposed Tax Increment Financing District (TIF) for improvements to 230th Avenue adjacent to the development. A TIF sets the property value on the land at its pre-development rate, with the additional tax revenue created by the value of buildings and businesses (the “increment”) used to pay for infrastructure and other capital costs. The Ellis County Commission must also approve the annexations, except for the city of Hays tract. "I'm really excited about this," said Mayor Henry Schwaller. A similar project was presented to the city several years ago but was never built. <iframe class="ql-video" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XvivMvPZmOA" height="315" width="560"></iframe> "The <a href="https://archive.hayspost.com/2015/09/10/travel-plaza-project-in-hays-pulled-by-investors/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">prior applicant</a> refused to fill out the application," Schwaller recalled. "He also refused to submit any financial records. "In order to get these tax advantages that will come with this development, they have to demonstrate they need the money." Schwaller also addressed what he said are false rumors about his involvement in the previous applicant's activities. "Two businessmen are saying I single-handedly stopped development of it. ... They've been using the rumor to hurt me here [on the city commission] and my business [property rentals] as well," Schwaller said. "One commissioner does not have power to stop a business. We have received emails, even in the last few months, asking us to stop competition for particular businesses. Our response to them is we cannot regulate what comes in and what doesn't come in. "In fact, we want more businesses. "I'm very proud of this development and the developers," Schwaller concluded, "and I appreciate the work Grow Hays has done as well as Jesse [Rohr] and the city attorney, [John Bird]. "It's taken a real 'all-hands-on-deck' effort to make this happen." Final city action on all the tracts is expected to be Dec. 12. Other <a href="https://www.haysusa.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_11262019-1161" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Nov. 26 agenda</a> items include: <ul><li class="ql-align-justify">Eminent domain ordinance for properties related to North Vine Street Corridor improvement project</li><li>2019 waterline improvements bid award</li><li>Diamond grinding bid award</li><li>Changes to the Unified Development Code that would&nbsp;reduce minimum lot sizes minimum street frontage,&nbsp;remove the minimum 3 acre lot requirement for a hotel/motel, and allow limited on-street parking to be counted towards total parking requirements.</li></ul>

🎥 Six properties requesting annexation for planned travel plaza

🎤Post Podcast: These food tips will keep you safe over holiday

<img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574438014678.jpeg">Largemouth bass hatchery brood fish KDWPT PRATT ­– A revolutionary fish stocking program by the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) has largemouth bass thriving in waters nearly void of America’s highest-profile fish not long ago, and Kansas bass anglers are taking notice. “The early-spawn program is a real game-changer for bass fishing,” said Steve Hausler, a 50-year bass angler of Ellis, <a href="http://www.haysbass.com/?page_id=11" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hays Bass Anglers Association </a>and <a href="https://www.bassmaster.com/conservation-news/eager-new-conservation-directors" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">conservation director for Kansas B.A.S.S. Nation</a>. “This is one of the few times man has figured out how to do something better than nature. It’s really turned things around.” KDWPT’s early-spawn bass program “tricks” hatchery brood fish to spawn up to 60 days earlier than normal when in the wild. The added time gives young stocked bass the chance to grow to a size that can survive a Kansas winter.&nbsp;&nbsp; Now, the number of federal reservoirs with “good” or “excellent” largemouth fishing by KDWPT criteria has doubled in the last decade. It’s just one of several programs currently improving Kansas fishing opportunities. “It’s been all-hands-on-deck to get these programs going, and so successful,” said Doug Nygren, Fisheries Division director for KDWPT. “Credit needs to go to a lot of different people.” Nygren added lake biologists, hatchery staff and private conservation and angling groups as making major contributions. Early-spawn bass programDespite intensive stocking programs in the past, many Kansas reservoirs maintained relatively poor largemouth bass populations for decades. It wasn’t until recent years, when KDWPT fisheries biologists began taking an even more critical look at the situation that the limiting factors were identified. “The problem was our young bass weren’t big enough to make it through the winters because they weren’t really big enough to take advantage of available food. Most were only 4 to 5 inches,” said Nygren. “We learned if we could grow those fish to about 8 inches, their odds of survival were greatly improved.” In southwest Kansas, Meade Fish Hatchery manager Jason Vajnar learned to manipulate water temperatures and light levels to trick February and March brood fish into thinking it was late May, stimulating the fish to spawn up to two months early. “We’re now stocking 1.5- to 2.5-inch bass before wild fish have even hatched,” said Nygren, “And we’re finding many more of our stocked bass now survive their first winter. After that, they’re in good shape.” Now in its 10th year, the early-spawn bass program produces nearly 2 million fish annually, having a profound impact on angling quality. From 2005-2009, Kansas averaged four reservoirs with “good” or “excellent” rankings for largemouth bass. This year, nine reservoirs – Big Hill, Glen Elder, Kirwin, La Cygne, Milford, Perry, Sebelius, Webster and Wilson – all earned “good” or better ratings; and, more are expected to be added for 2020 and beyond. “In some of these lakes, like Webster and Kirwin, probably every bass they have is an early-spawn hatchery fish. Bass were once almost non-existent in these areas and now they’re two of the best bass lakes in the state,” said Nygren. “We have other lakes coming on, too. Kanopolis never really had a bass fishery but it’s pretty good, now.” Georgia cubesQuality bass habitat is always a concern, especially in Kansas reservoirs where natural habitat, like submerged brush piles, can quickly deteriorate. That’s why in 2015, Kansas biologists began experimenting with artificial habitat, sinking 4-foot cubes made of PVC pipe, interlaced with flexible sewer pipe, into lakes and reservoirs. As expected when they were invented in Georgia, the “Georgia cubes” instantly attracted Kansas bass and consequently, bass anglers. Submerged in prime locations, the cubes are sometimes placed in clusters of up to 20 or more – configurations fisheries biologists refer to as “fish cities.” The clusters – which can quickly introduce a significant amount of habitat in areas previously void of underwater structures – are expected to pay dividends for decades to come. There are currently more than 2,000 cubes attracting fish in KDWPT-managed waters, with more being added every year. Anglers can obtain precise GPS coordinates for every cube/cluster at <a href="https://ksoutdoors.com/Fishing/Fishing-Reports" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">ksoutdoors.com/Fishing/Fishing-Reports</a>. Financing, constructing and placing the cubes wouldn’t have been possible without the support of area bass clubs, lake organizations and even Boy Scout troops interested in improving their local waters.<a href="null" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574438242019.jpeg"></a>Steve Hausler “B.A.S.S. Nation has been challenging local clubs to get involved in local projects. These cubes are perfect,” said Hausler. “They’re so easy to build and we can get three or four on a bass boat, take them out and place them. They’ve been a great way to get anglers involved.” Though highly successful, artificial fish habitat won’t completely replace natural structures, as many fisheries biologists still see benefits in sinking cedar brush piles and planting dense water willows in shallow areas. But the progressive thinking of KDWPT Fisheries staff doesn’t stop at habitat. Strides are also being made in the way of revitalizing forage fish populations in lakes and reservoirs in need. Threadfin shad have been successfully introduced at Horsethief Reservoir in Hodgeman County instead of common gizzard shad, a species which could have quickly overpopulated the 450-acre lake. Add to the mix newly-flooded habitat created by this year’s heavy rains, and these great programs become even better. “It’s kind of a perfect set up,” said Nygren. “We should be experiencing some really great fishing in Kansas the next several years.” For more on fishing in Kansas, and to download an electronic version of the 2019 Kansas Fishing Regulations Summary, visit <a href="https://ksoutdoors.com/Fishing" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">ksoutdoors.com/Fishing</a>.

Local