On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with Kansas Department of Commerce Community Development Specialist Sara Bloom.

<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-x4jb-pMEsg?si=50OqA7MYOln789SV" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with Kansas Department of Commerce Community Development Specialist Sara Bloom.

🎤Forward Ever: KS Dept. of Commerce Employee of the Year Sara Bloom

By BECKY KISER Hays Post

After three executive sessions, Hays USD 489 board members unanimously approved pay raises of varying amounts for teachers, classified personnel and licensed personnel for the 2024-25 school year during their meeting on Monday evening.&nbsp;

Board of Education negotiations with the teachers union - the master collective bargaining agreements - were approved with salary increases for certified employees.

Teachers will see $1,910 added to each cell of the teachers' salary schedule.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Stipends of $650 were added for special education staff.&nbsp;

"It's an occupation that's hard to fill and we wanted to keep people in those positions as well as encourage others to look at it,"&nbsp;Superintendent Ron Wilson said during a Tuesday interview on KAYS Morning Blend. 

A 6% wage increase was approved for classified employees - anyone who is not a certified teacher such as cooks, custodians, and bus drivers.

Licensed classified personnel including social workers, occupational and physical therapists, received a 4.16% salary increase.

Administrators received a 3.5% pay raise.&nbsp;

"We're very, very thankful for our board for doing that for all our employees," Wilson said.&nbsp;

Hiring teachers and other staff has been problematic, he told the board.

"We're starting to feel the impact of teacher vacancies and have to look at it differently and creatively."&nbsp;

He said there are four open teaching positions and no applications.

SEE RELATED STORY: <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/f630c147-0841-4e24-9793-27f72560595a">Hays, other Kansas districts seek ways to address teacher shortage</a>

The board also agreed to remove the $50 activity fee for high school and middle school students. 

"We will no longer charge that $50 activity fee. We try to chip away at back-to-school fees for our families.&nbsp; We've done that for the last four years," Wilson said.

Remaining in place are the textbook/material fees of $70 for elementary, $90 for middle school and $95 for high school students.

Also approved was a 5-cent increase in lunch prices for the upcoming year.

"I think anybody who's gone to the grocery store understands food costs have gone up. We really tried to hold the line and our nutrition director Jessica Younker has done a great job of keeping things affordable for families and still providing very healthy and enjoyable meals for our students and staff."

Free breakfast will still be offered for any student who wants it. That program started last year.&nbsp;

In other business, the board heard&nbsp;an update on the school bond construction from Nabholz representatives. The projects are on budget and on schedule. A design change order was accepted for Hays High School.

Board members also approved the 2024-25 board of education calendar, personnel transactions, the contract with Fort Hays State University for use of Lewis Field, and a two-year lease with Hadley Center for Hays Virtual School.&nbsp;

The board also gave its approval of authority for year-end budget transfers by Chris Hipp, assistant superintendent of business/finance. The fiscal year for the school district ends June 30.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718812568138.jpeg" alt="Hays USD 489 Board of Education members at their final meeting of the 2023-24 school year. Photo by Becky Kiser/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Hays USD 489 Board of Education members at their final meeting of the 2023-24 school year. Photo by Becky Kiser/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure><div><iframe title="Hays USD 489 approves employee raises, activity fee removal for 2024-25" allowtransparency="true" height="150" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:150px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=a9dp5-1647fed-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=auto&logo_link=podcast_page&btn-skin=60a0c8&size=315" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>By BECKY KISER Hays PostAfter three executive sessions, Hays USD 489 board members unanimously approved pay raises of varying amounts for teachers, classified personnel and licensed personnel for the 2024-25 school year during their meeting on Monday evening.&nbsp;Board of Education negotiations with the teachers union - the master collective bargaining agreements - were approved with salary increases for certified employees.Teachers will see $1,910 added to each cell of the teachers' salary schedule.&nbsp;&nbsp;Stipends of $650 were added for special education staff.&nbsp;"It's an occupation that's hard to fill and we wanted to keep people in those positions as well as encourage others to look at it,"&nbsp;Superintendent Ron Wilson said during a Tuesday interview on KAYS Morning Blend. A 6% wage increase was approved for classified employees - anyone who is not a certified teacher such as cooks, custodians, and bus drivers.Licensed classified personnel including social workers, occupational and physical therapists, received a 4.16% salary increase.Administrators received a 3.5% pay raise.&nbsp;"We're very, very thankful for our board for doing that for all our employees," Wilson said.&nbsp;Hiring teachers and other staff has been problematic, he told the board."We're starting to feel the impact of teacher vacancies and have to look at it differently and creatively."&nbsp;He said there are four open teaching positions and no applications.SEE RELATED STORY: <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/f630c147-0841-4e24-9793-27f72560595a">Hays, other Kansas districts seek ways to address teacher shortage</a><h2>Activity fees and lunch prices</h2>The board also agreed to remove the $50 activity fee for high school and middle school students. "We will no longer charge that $50 activity fee. We try to chip away at back-to-school fees for our families.&nbsp; We've done that for the last four years," Wilson said.Remaining in place are the textbook/material fees of $70 for elementary, $90 for middle school and $95 for high school students.Also approved was a 5-cent increase in lunch prices for the upcoming year."I think anybody who's gone to the grocery store understands food costs have gone up. We really tried to hold the line and our nutrition director Jessica Younker has done a great job of keeping things affordable for families and still providing very healthy and enjoyable meals for our students and staff."Free breakfast will still be offered for any student who wants it. That program started last year.&nbsp;<h2>Other business</h2>In other business, the board heard&nbsp;an update on the school bond construction from Nabholz representatives. The projects are on budget and on schedule. A design change order was accepted for Hays High School.Board members also approved the 2024-25 board of education calendar, personnel transactions, the contract with Fort Hays State University for use of Lewis Field, and a two-year lease with Hadley Center for Hays Virtual School.&nbsp;The board also gave its approval of authority for year-end budget transfers by Chris Hipp, assistant superintendent of business/finance. The fiscal year for the school district ends June 30.

🎙 Hays USD 489 approves employee raises, activity fee removal for 2024-25  

On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times host Gary Shorman speaks with District 111 Representative Barbara Wasinger.&nbsp;

<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VG5fXQSMzgc?si=B-doP6FQ71Io1v0_" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times host Gary Shorman speaks with District 111 Representative Barbara Wasinger.&nbsp;

🎤Forward Ever: District 111 Rep. Barbara Wasinger

On this episode of the <a href="https://hayspost.com/category/post-podcast" target="_blank">Post Podcast</a>, Hays Post reporter Becky Kiser discusses Stripe rust affecting the area winter wheat crop with <a href="https://cottonwood.k-state.edu/" target="_blank">Cottonwood Extension District</a> with agent Stacy Campbell.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<div><iframe title="Stripe rust affecting area wheat crop" allowtransparency="true" height="600" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:600px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=k8pmk-163ae47-pb&from=pb6admin&square=1&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=auto&logo_link=podcast_page&btn-skin=60a0c8&size=600" loading="lazy" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>On this episode of the <a href="https://hayspost.com/category/post-podcast" target="_blank">Post Podcast</a>, Hays Post reporter Becky Kiser discusses Stripe rust affecting the area winter wheat crop with <a href="https://cottonwood.k-state.edu/" target="_blank">Cottonwood Extension District</a> with agent Stacy Campbell.&nbsp;&nbsp;

🎙 Post Podcast: Stripe rust affecting area wheat crop

FHSU grad comes back to Hays to tell tale of forensics art in her new book

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

Julie Riedel was a 32-year-old college student when she was assigned to create age progression sketches of the BTK serial killer.

By the early '90s, law enforcement had been trying to apprehend BTK for almost 20 years.&nbsp;

In her new book, "The Sketcher," Riedel describes the process of creating the sketches and facets of her own life during BTK's reign of terror.

Riedel's grandparents were from Hays and she has two master's degrees fro Fort Hays State Univeristy. Today she's an art teacher at Wichtia Southeast High School.

She was back in Hays On Wednesday to present a lecture on her new book at the Hays Public Library.

Dennis Rader, the serial killer known as BTK, killed at least 10 people in Wichita and Park City between 1974 and 1991.&nbsp;

BTK stood for bind, torture, kill. Although Rader killed two men and two children, most of Rader's victims were women, which he bound and then suffocated with a plastic bag or manually strangled.

He stole personal items from the victim's homes, including underwear, and sent taunting letters to the news media, which described his crimes.

He resumed sending letters in 2004 and was finally arrested in 2005.

At the time of his arrest, Rader was married and had a daughter and son. He had worked as a dogcatcher and compliance officer in Park City. He had been president of his church council and a Cub Scout leader.

He is serving 10 consecutive&nbsp;life sentences&nbsp;at the&nbsp;El Dorado Correctional Facility.

Riedel read from the first chapter of her book Wednesday, which described how she became involved in the BTK case.

Riedel was finishing her art degree at Wichita State University and had been approved for an independent study in forensics art.

Despite encouragement from her professor at WSU, Riedel doubted her abilities.

"I was unexperienced dealing with people in authority like the people at the Wichita Police Department," she read from her book.&nbsp; ... "I was scared shitless, quaking in my well-worn boots at the prospect of walking into the Wichita Police Department. So few people had believed in me in my life, I doubted that professional criminologists would take me seriously."

She said she had no idea she was going to be asked to draw a serial killer. She thought she might be assigned a theft suspect, but the police were so desperate for any information to lead to the arrest of BTK that they were willing to take a chance.

After arriving at the Wichita Police Department, the officer in charge of the case brought her a two-wheel dolly with the case files on the BTK killer and ushered Riedel into a musty storage room to spread out the files.

Officer Landwehr explained that he wanted Riedel to use the sketches and flipbook images from witnesses to create an image of what BTK might have looked like at 26 and 46.&nbsp;

These were to include versions of the suspect bald, with facial hair and without and with glasses.

This type of age progression drawing had never been done before. This was a time before AI or widespread internet use that could be used for research.

"I was speechless. The crimes committed by the BTK were the stuff of nightmares in the Wichita metropolitan area," she read from her book.

"No one knew who he was. Suspicion reined in and around the city," Riedel said. "He could have been your next-door neighbor, your electrician, your telephone repair man, or the guy staring at you in the grocery store, and I thought about that all of the time when I went to the grocery store," she said.

Riedel, who had two small children, insisted that her name never be used in connection with the sketches.

"At that moment, I accepted the assignment," she read from her book. "I didn't understand how much the decision would change my life."

The drawings took Riedel about three to four months to complete.

She took her first clues from an image that was created from the account of a firefighter who had been standing behind Dennis Rader when he made a payphone call to KWCH Channel 12 in Wichita.

He was so frightened by the experience he had to be hypnotized to help him describe the suspect.

She started with the eyes, which was counter to what she had been taught as an artist. She thought about BTK. Would he be stressed? Would he be happy, delighting in his killing?

She considered how bone structure and facial muscles would change as a person aged. She took clues from her life drawing classes as well as the studies of Leonardo da Vinci.

Da Vinci raided graves to discet human bodies so he could better understand their muscles and skeletal structures. With no internet, this study all had to be done at the library using books.

She started to look at people differently. She saw the killer everywhere. 

"Is that him? Is that him? Wait, he has that feature," she said.

She started having nightmares about BTK slipping a plastic bag over her head to suffocate her—his face becoming more complete as she neared completion of the sketches.

When the sketches were complete and returned to the Wichita Police Department, they were distributed to all local media outlets, nationwide and ultimately worldwide.

As the police finally started to close in on Rader, Riedel was asked to bring the sketches back to the police department. The media was swarming the WPD, waiting for the big break.

As Riedel was leaving the police department, she saw Rader in the parking garage.

He was reveling in the media circus gathered at the WPD office. He had his hood up on his car. He didn't know her or know she had done the drawings, but his eyes locked with Riedel's.

She immediately went back into the police department and begged to see Officer Landwehr.

"Please, please, he's out there!" she said.

But&nbsp;Landwehr was in a press conference.

Rader was finally arrested not long after that day.

Riedel was not called to testify in the Rader's prosecution. However, her drawings were entered into evidence as exhibit 13.

"There's so many things that I got to learn from drawing the BTK," she said. "It's overwhelming sometimes to think about it. I was scared all of the time. It's a very scary thing, and I was scared for my children."

She said she decided to write the book now, with the help of a ghostwriter, as a means of healing.

"We came from a pretty rough family. We all made it. We all love each other. We're all close. We had a pretty rough upbringing, and that's part of what the book's about," she said. "I parallel the book with my life at that time."

She said the book was difficult to write.

"You find find a way to forgive when you write it down," she said.

She continues to teach and hopes to encourage her students to seize opportunities as she did in the BTK case.

"My passion is art and helping others succeed," she said. "I firmly believe in helping kids figure out what's in their heart and what they want to do in their lives.

"So many kids are lost, and they don't know what to do. I help them get scholarships too, as well as be an art teacher."

Riedel continues to be contacted by law enforcement to assist with cases.&nbsp;

She has also been contacted by producers interested in turning her book into a movie.

You can learn more about Riedel, her book and her art at <a href="http://thesketcher.org">thesketcher.org</a> and <a href="http://riedelartstudio.com">riedelartstudio.com</a>

She has an exhibit on display now at Gallery 12 in Wichita.

Her original BTK sketches are for sale. Her book can be purchased at major book retailers across the country.

<h2>FHSU grad comes back to Hays to tell tale of forensics art in her new book</h2><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717695711622.png" alt="Julie Riedel's original sketches of the BTK serial killer from her book "The Sketcher." Courtesy image" />
 <figcaption>Julie Riedel's original sketches of the BTK serial killer from her book "The Sketcher." Courtesy image</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692794360261.png" alt="Dennis Rader's mug shot at the time of his incarceration. Kansas Department of Corrections" />
 <figcaption>Dennis Rader's mug shot at the time of his incarceration. Kansas Department of Corrections</figcaption>
 </figure><div><iframe title="'The Sketcher' describes creating age progression drawings of BTK serial killer" allowtransparency="true" height="150" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:150px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=ys6q4-1635338-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=auto&logo_link=podcast_page&btn-skin=60a0c8&size=315" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostJulie Riedel was a 32-year-old college student when she was assigned to create age progression sketches of the BTK serial killer.By the early '90s, law enforcement had been trying to apprehend BTK for almost 20 years.&nbsp;In her new book, "The Sketcher," Riedel describes the process of creating the sketches and facets of her own life during BTK's reign of terror.Riedel's grandparents were from Hays and she has two master's degrees fro Fort Hays State Univeristy. Today she's an art teacher at Wichtia Southeast High School.She was back in Hays On Wednesday to present a lecture on her new book at the Hays Public Library.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717696214310.jpeg" alt="Artist Julie Riedel reading from her book "The Sketcher" at the Hays Public Library. Behind her is an image of one of BTK's victims being removed from a home in Wichita. Photo By Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Artist Julie Riedel reading from her book "The Sketcher" at the Hays Public Library. Behind her is an image of one of BTK's victims being removed from a home in Wichita. Photo By Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>Dennis Rader, the serial killer known as BTK, killed at least 10 people in Wichita and Park City between 1974 and 1991.&nbsp;BTK stood for bind, torture, kill. Although Rader killed two men and two children, most of Rader's victims were women, which he bound and then suffocated with a plastic bag or manually strangled.He stole personal items from the victim's homes, including underwear, and sent taunting letters to the news media, which described his crimes.He resumed sending letters in 2004 and was finally arrested in 2005.At the time of his arrest, Rader was married and had a daughter and son. He had worked as a dogcatcher and compliance officer in Park City. He had been president of his church council and a Cub Scout leader.He is serving 10 consecutive&nbsp;life sentences&nbsp;at the&nbsp;El Dorado Correctional Facility.Riedel read from the first chapter of her book Wednesday, which described how she became involved in the BTK case.Riedel was finishing her art degree at Wichita State University and had been approved for an independent study in forensics art.Despite encouragement from her professor at WSU, Riedel doubted her abilities."I was unexperienced dealing with people in authority like the people at the Wichita Police Department," she read from her book.&nbsp; ... "I was scared shitless, quaking in my well-worn boots at the prospect of walking into the Wichita Police Department. So few people had believed in me in my life, I doubted that professional criminologists would take me seriously."She said she had no idea she was going to be asked to draw a serial killer. She thought she might be assigned a theft suspect, but the police were so desperate for any information to lead to the arrest of BTK that they were willing to take a chance.After arriving at the Wichita Police Department, the officer in charge of the case brought her a two-wheel dolly with the case files on the BTK killer and ushered Riedel into a musty storage room to spread out the files.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717696529140.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Officer Landwehr explained that he wanted Riedel to use the sketches and flipbook images from witnesses to create an image of what BTK might have looked like at 26 and 46.&nbsp;These were to include versions of the suspect bald, with facial hair and without and with glasses.This type of age progression drawing had never been done before. This was a time before AI or widespread internet use that could be used for research."I was speechless. The crimes committed by the BTK were the stuff of nightmares in the Wichita metropolitan area," she read from her book."No one knew who he was. Suspicion reined in and around the city," Riedel said. "He could have been your next-door neighbor, your electrician, your telephone repair man, or the guy staring at you in the grocery store, and I thought about that all of the time when I went to the grocery store," she said.Riedel, who had two small children, insisted that her name never be used in connection with the sketches.She was referred to as The Sketcher."At that moment, I accepted the assignment," she read from her book. "I didn't understand how much the decision would change my life."The drawings took Riedel about three to four months to complete.She took her first clues from an image that was created from the account of a firefighter who had been standing behind Dennis Rader when he made a payphone call to KWCH Channel 12 in Wichita.He was so frightened by the experience he had to be hypnotized to help him describe the suspect.She started with the eyes, which was counter to what she had been taught as an artist. She thought about BTK. Would he be stressed? Would he be happy, delighting in his killing?She considered how bone structure and facial muscles would change as a person aged. She took clues from her life drawing classes as well as the studies of Leonardo da Vinci.Da Vinci raided graves to discet human bodies so he could better understand their muscles and skeletal structures. With no internet, this study all had to be done at the library using books.She started to look at people differently. She saw the killer everywhere. "Is that him? Is that him? Wait, he has that feature," she said.She started having nightmares about BTK slipping a plastic bag over her head to suffocate her—his face becoming more complete as she neared completion of the sketches.When the sketches were complete and returned to the Wichita Police Department, they were distributed to all local media outlets, nationwide and ultimately worldwide.As the police finally started to close in on Rader, Riedel was asked to bring the sketches back to the police department. The media was swarming the WPD, waiting for the big break.As Riedel was leaving the police department, she saw Rader in the parking garage.He was reveling in the media circus gathered at the WPD office. He had his hood up on his car. He didn't know her or know she had done the drawings, but his eyes locked with Riedel's.She immediately went back into the police department and begged to see Officer Landwehr."Please, please, he's out there!" she said.But&nbsp;Landwehr was in a press conference.Rader was finally arrested not long after that day.Riedel was not called to testify in the Rader's prosecution. However, her drawings were entered into evidence as exhibit 13.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1699542917523.png" alt="Dennis Rader's most recent mug shot. He is serving 10 consecutive life sentences at the El Dorado Correction Facility. Photo courtesy of the Kansas Department of Corrections" />
 <figcaption>Dennis Rader's most recent mug shot. He is serving 10 consecutive life sentences at the El Dorado Correction Facility. Photo courtesy of the Kansas Department of Corrections</figcaption>
 </figure>"There's so many things that I got to learn from drawing the BTK," she said. "It's overwhelming sometimes to think about it. I was scared all of the time. It's a very scary thing, and I was scared for my children."She said she decided to write the book now, with the help of a ghostwriter, as a means of healing."We came from a pretty rough family. We all made it. We all love each other. We're all close. We had a pretty rough upbringing, and that's part of what the book's about," she said. "I parallel the book with my life at that time."She said the book was difficult to write."You find find a way to forgive when you write it down," she said.She continues to teach and hopes to encourage her students to seize opportunities as she did in the BTK case."My passion is art and helping others succeed," she said. "I firmly believe in helping kids figure out what's in their heart and what they want to do in their lives."So many kids are lost, and they don't know what to do. I help them get scholarships too, as well as be an art teacher."Riedel continues to be contacted by law enforcement to assist with cases.&nbsp;She has also been contacted by producers interested in turning her book into a movie.You can learn more about Riedel, her book and her art at <a href="http://thesketcher.org">thesketcher.org</a> and <a href="http://riedelartstudio.com">riedelartstudio.com</a>She has an exhibit on display now at Gallery 12 in Wichita.Her original BTK sketches are for sale. Her book can be purchased at major book retailers across the country.

🎙'The Sketcher' describes creating age progression drawings of BTK serial killer

On this episode of the Post Podcast, Hays Post Reporter Cristina Janney speaks with Grow Hays Executive Director Doug Williams about development projects in Hays.

<div><iframe title="Grow Hays director discusses Hays development projects" allowtransparency="true" height="600" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:600px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=2jgf4-1635325-pb&from=pb6admin&square=1&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=auto&logo_link=podcast_page&btn-skin=60a0c8&size=600" loading="lazy" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>On this episode of the Post Podcast, Hays Post Reporter Cristina Janney speaks with Grow Hays Executive Director Doug Williams about development projects in Hays.

🎙 Post Podcast: Grow Hays director discusses Hays development projects

On this episode of the <a href="https://hayspost.com/category/post-podcast" target="_blank">Post Podcast</a>, <a href="https://haysartscouncil.org/" target="_blank">Hays Arts Council</a> executive director Brenda Meder discusses upcoming Hays Arts Center activities with Hays Post reporter Becky Kiser.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<div><iframe title="Hays Arts Council sets summer activities" allowtransparency="true" height="600" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:600px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=f8ade-1620bd4-pb&from=pb6admin&square=1&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=auto&logo_link=podcast_page&btn-skin=60a0c8&size=600" loading="lazy" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>On this episode of the <a href="https://hayspost.com/category/post-podcast" target="_blank">Post Podcast</a>, <a href="https://haysartscouncil.org/" target="_blank">Hays Arts Council</a> executive director Brenda Meder discusses upcoming Hays Arts Center activities with Hays Post reporter Becky Kiser.&nbsp;&nbsp;

🎙 Post Podcast: Hays Arts Council sets summer activities

On this episode of the Post Podcast, Hays Post Reporter Cristina Janney speaks with Grow Hays Executive Director Doug Williams about retail recruitment in Hays.

<div><iframe title="Grow Hays director discusses retail recruitment in Hays" allowtransparency="true" height="600" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:600px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=marec-1620237-pb&from=pb6admin&square=1&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=auto&logo_link=podcast_page&btn-skin=60a0c8&size=600" loading="lazy" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>On this episode of the Post Podcast, Hays Post Reporter Cristina Janney speaks with Grow Hays Executive Director Doug Williams about retail recruitment in Hays.

🎙 Post Podcast: Grow Hays director discusses retail recruitment in Hays

On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with&nbsp; Medical Foster Home Program coordinator Amy Adams.

<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/T3lyU_3rNfM?si=oAweCkNXxMo7Iubc" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with&nbsp; Medical Foster Home Program coordinator Amy Adams.

🎤Forward Ever: Veterans Administration social worker Amy Adams

VICTORIA—The Ellis County Historical Society broke ground Thursday on a satellite location in the former St. John's Nursing Home in Victoria.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/8ef333ba-9b6f-4f12-88ea-0e385dfb7c94">The building is being developed by the Victoria Community Coalition. Work on senior apartments has begun on the north side of the former nursing home.</a>

The historical society will occupy 10,000 square feet on the south side of the building. The first phase of the project, which will cost about $175,000, will be storage on the second floor of the building.&nbsp;

The south portion of the building used to house the dining room, kitchen and original chapel. The second floor also once housed the living quarters for the nuns and other nursing home staff.

The second phase of the renovation will cost about $500,000 to $750,000 and include gallery space and perhaps a children's discovery center.

The former nursing home is very close to St. Fedlis Basilica, which 15,000 to 18,000 people visit annually. The historical society board members hope to lure some of the visitors to the new museum gallery in St. John's Place.

The storage area will open first. Work is set to start next week on the roof.

The historical society hopes to finish the gallery space by 2026 to coincide with the 150th anniversary of the first farmers settling in Ellis County.

Ellis County will also be hosting a national convention of the Germans from Russia in 2026.

The historical society does not have space in its old stone church or the former brick Presbyterian Church to tell the full story of Ellis County, Amanda Rupp, historical society executive director, said.

The satellite location in Victoria will focus on the histories of the agricultural and oil industries in Ellis County.

The discovery center would offer hands-on learning activities for children centered on farming or the oil industry.

Rupp said the museum also hopes to have a display on the <a href="https://www.travelks.com/listing/walker-air-base-display/40220/">Walker Army Air Base</a>, which was about 2 and 1/2 miles northwest of Walker. The base was constructed during WWII to handle&nbsp;B-29 Bombers.

"It was only in operation for a couple of years, but it has a cult following on Facebook, and people still come in and say, 'Hey, my grandparents were stationed there.' They want to know about it and learn about it," Rupp said.

The historical society hopes to have a naming contest or survey to solicit input from the community on the name of the new museum site.

"We really want to be a resource for the entire county, but that brings visitors through Victoria and celebrates the heritage of the people who started this area and continued to stay here," Rupp said.

The historical society will apply for state grants and is&nbsp;looking for individual donors to support the second phase of the Victoria project.

Don Bickle, John O. Farmer and two anonymous donors have donated significantly to the project.

The new museum site will also have a gallery wall dedicated to the early families of Ellis County. Individuals or families can purchase plaques to honor these early settlers.

"Everybody wants to see their family up there. It's not a national museum. It's a county museum. We have a lot of stories to tell," Rupp said.

You can learn more about donating to the Ellis County Historical Society on its website by selecting the <a href="https://www.echshays.org/support-us-1">"Support Us"</a> tab.

You can also contact the museum at 785-628-2624.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716497947557.jpeg" alt="From left: Amanda Rupp, executive director of the Ellis County Historical Society; historical society board members Priscilla Hunt, Brad Ricke and Mary Kay Schippers; donor Don Bickle; and Victoria Community Coalition board member Jeff Pfeifer break ground on the Ellis County Historical Society Victoria satellite location on Thursday at St. John's Place. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>From left: Amanda Rupp, executive director of the Ellis County Historical Society; historical society board members Priscilla Hunt, Brad Ricke and Mary Kay Schippers; donor Don Bickle; and Victoria Community Coalition board member Jeff Pfeifer break ground on the Ellis County Historical Society Victoria satellite location on Thursday at St. John's Place. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure><div><iframe title="Ellis County Historical Society breaks ground on Victoria satellite location" allowtransparency="true" height="150" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:150px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=km5vy-161ee43-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=auto&logo_link=podcast_page&btn-skin=60a0c8&size=315" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostVICTORIA—The Ellis County Historical Society broke ground Thursday on a satellite location in the former St. John's Nursing Home in Victoria.<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/8ef333ba-9b6f-4f12-88ea-0e385dfb7c94">The building is being developed by the Victoria Community Coalition. Work on senior apartments has begun on the north side of the former nursing home.</a>The historical society will occupy 10,000 square feet on the south side of the building. The first phase of the project, which will cost about $175,000, will be storage on the second floor of the building.&nbsp;The south portion of the building used to house the dining room, kitchen and original chapel. The second floor also once housed the living quarters for the nuns and other nursing home staff.The second phase of the renovation will cost about $500,000 to $750,000 and include gallery space and perhaps a children's discovery center.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716496652651.jpeg" alt="Development plan for St. John's Place in Victoria. The section in blue is being developed by the Ellis County Historical Society." />
 <figcaption>Development plan for St. John's Place in Victoria. The section in blue is being developed by the Ellis County Historical Society.</figcaption>
 </figure>The former nursing home is very close to St. Fedlis Basilica, which 15,000 to 18,000 people visit annually. The historical society board members hope to lure some of the visitors to the new museum gallery in St. John's Place.The storage area will open first. Work is set to start next week on the roof.The historical society hopes to finish the gallery space by 2026 to coincide with the 150th anniversary of the first farmers settling in Ellis County.Ellis County will also be hosting a national convention of the Germans from Russia in 2026.The historical society does not have space in its old stone church or the former brick Presbyterian Church to tell the full story of Ellis County, Amanda Rupp, historical society executive director, said.The satellite location in Victoria will focus on the histories of the agricultural and oil industries in Ellis County.The discovery center would offer hands-on learning activities for children centered on farming or the oil industry.Rupp said the museum also hopes to have a display on the <a href="https://www.travelks.com/listing/walker-air-base-display/40220/">Walker Army Air Base</a>, which was about 2 and 1/2 miles northwest of Walker. The base was constructed during WWII to handle&nbsp;B-29 Bombers."It was only in operation for a couple of years, but it has a cult following on Facebook, and people still come in and say, 'Hey, my grandparents were stationed there.' They want to know about it and learn about it," Rupp said.The historical society hopes to have a naming contest or survey to solicit input from the community on the name of the new museum site."We really want to be a resource for the entire county, but that brings visitors through Victoria and celebrates the heritage of the people who started this area and continued to stay here," Rupp said.The historical society will apply for state grants and is&nbsp;looking for individual donors to support the second phase of the Victoria project.Don Bickle, John O. Farmer and two anonymous donors have donated significantly to the project.The new museum site will also have a gallery wall dedicated to the early families of Ellis County. Individuals or families can purchase plaques to honor these early settlers."Everybody wants to see their family up there. It's not a national museum. It's a county museum. We have a lot of stories to tell," Rupp said.You can learn more about donating to the Ellis County Historical Society on its website by selecting the <a href="https://www.echshays.org/support-us-1">"Support Us"</a> tab.You can also contact the museum at 785-628-2624.

🎙Ellis County Historical Society breaks ground on Victoria satellite location

Multiple cyberattacks have hit Kansas in recent weeks.&nbsp;

The <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/6dfb291d-3533-4db7-b901-e54ca761719">City of Wichita</a> and <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/8f5ab8b5-0dba-404d-95ce-f3b305af707e">Via Christi Hospital in Wichita</a> were affected, and <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/4688fc8f-5406-4760-b5d0-04d3877a55fc">Trego County Lemke Memorial Hospital</a> announced Tuesday it was the subject of a ransomware attack.

Dallas Haselhorst, owner of TreeTop Security in Hays, discussed cyber threats and prevention on Thursday on Eagle Radio's Morning Blend show.

Haselhorst said everyone is vulnerable to cyberattacks.

"It's definitely one of those things that now that technology has become so ubiquitous to everything we do that if you are connected to the internet, in any way, shape, or form, there's a good chance that you could be attacked in some way, shape or form," Haselhorst said.

Haselhorst said hackers are not just after big companies and government agencies.

"We have done [incident responses] for billion dollar companies that are multinational. The smallest response we did was a local business here that had a total of four computers," he said. "It can absolutely affect anyone."

Haselhorst said prevention is the best action.

"I always tell people if you want to be secure, you should have started six months ago," he said, "because it's not an overnight thing even in small environments and businesses we work with. It can take a few months to get them more secure — there's no such thing as 100 percent."

He suggested working with a company that can offer comprehensive services and is not just a reseller of hardware, firewalls and software.

He said to look for frameworks and best practices developed by the National Institute of Standards in Technology or the Center for Internet Security.

"You have a burglar that could go through a 20-foot brick wall, or they could go to the house that has an unlocked door. Which one are they going to do?" Haselhorst said. "They are going to do the unlocked door every single time, regardless of what's inside."

"You need to get your doors all locked and do some basic security measures so the attacker bangs on the door enough and decides it's not worth it and goes to the next one that's a lot easier," he said.

Some basics of securing medical data or energy systems are the same for small companies with sales data.

Although security measures can be expensive, much of what TreeTop does also brings businesses into compliance with regulations.

If a business that accepts credit cards or digital payments is breached, it is liable for any data that might be compromised, Haselhorst said.

"You are basically out of business because you will fined out of business," he said.

Sometimes, cyber security comes down to people.

"If I'm an attacker, why would I go through all of these hoops if I could simply call up Cristina and act like I'm the IT help desk?" Haslehorst said. "'Hey, Cristina, it looks like you got locked out of your account. I can help with that. What's your old password?'"

Unfortunately, Haselhorst said often those tactics work.

"Your people can be the weakest link," he said. "Your people can also be the strongest link."

TreeTop offers free cybersecurity training.

If a hacker makes it past all of the technical barriers, but an employee is adequately trained to recognize phishing attempts, they can stop the hacker, Haselhorst said.

Haselhorst described a phishing attack in which a hacker posed as someone high in a company. A hacker sent 73 emails within 30 minutes, but several employees alerted cybersecurity of the emails.&nbsp;

Those emails were blocked and labeled as missed attacks, which helped train the AI security program, and the emails were removed from users' accounts.

As a user or consumer, there's not much you can do if an entity you do business with has been attacked, Haslehorst said.

However, if you are a business, he recommends cutting digital ties with the affected business or entity. He said he helped some companies do this when the Kansas court system was a cyberattack victim.

Businesses can also limit access to networks and data without completely cutting ties.

If an affected business or entity offers you free ID protection or credit monitoring, Haselhorst said it can help in some regards, but your information is already out there.

He did not suggest buying ID theft protection/credit monitoring.

"It's a running joke among cybersecurity professions, don't buy credit monitoring because your next free year is right around the corner because there's going to be another breech from someone," he said.

"Unfortunately, that's the world we live in that your data is all over the place. Once that cat's out of the bag, it's really hard to put it back in," Haselhorst said.

He suggested watching credit reports and card transactions and signing up for transaction alerts.

He also recommends having regular discussions with your spouse or anyone else on your bank or credit card about charges so you can better track transactions and spot fraud.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716318391157.jpg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><div><iframe title="Hays cyber expert discusses security in light of attacks" allowtransparency="true" height="150" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:150px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=hjjhf-161d6d3-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=auto&logo_link=podcast_page&btn-skin=60a0c8&size=315" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostMultiple cyberattacks have hit Kansas in recent weeks.&nbsp;The <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/6dfb291d-3533-4db7-b901-e54ca761719">City of Wichita</a> and <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/8f5ab8b5-0dba-404d-95ce-f3b305af707e">Via Christi Hospital in Wichita</a> were affected, and <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/4688fc8f-5406-4760-b5d0-04d3877a55fc">Trego County Lemke Memorial Hospital</a> announced Tuesday it was the subject of a ransomware attack.Dallas Haselhorst, owner of TreeTop Security in Hays, discussed cyber threats and prevention on Thursday on Eagle Radio's Morning Blend show.Haselhorst said everyone is vulnerable to cyberattacks."It's definitely one of those things that now that technology has become so ubiquitous to everything we do that if you are connected to the internet, in any way, shape, or form, there's a good chance that you could be attacked in some way, shape or form," Haselhorst said.Haselhorst said hackers are not just after big companies and government agencies."We have done [incident responses] for billion dollar companies that are multinational. The smallest response we did was a local business here that had a total of four computers," he said. "It can absolutely affect anyone."Haselhorst said prevention is the best action."I always tell people if you want to be secure, you should have started six months ago," he said, "because it's not an overnight thing even in small environments and businesses we work with. It can take a few months to get them more secure — there's no such thing as 100 percent."He suggested working with a company that can offer comprehensive services and is not just a reseller of hardware, firewalls and software.He said to look for frameworks and best practices developed by the National Institute of Standards in Technology or the Center for Internet Security."You have a burglar that could go through a 20-foot brick wall, or they could go to the house that has an unlocked door. Which one are they going to do?" Haselhorst said. "They are going to do the unlocked door every single time, regardless of what's inside.""You need to get your doors all locked and do some basic security measures so the attacker bangs on the door enough and decides it's not worth it and goes to the next one that's a lot easier," he said.Some basics of securing medical data or energy systems are the same for small companies with sales data.Although security measures can be expensive, much of what TreeTop does also brings businesses into compliance with regulations.If a business that accepts credit cards or digital payments is breached, it is liable for any data that might be compromised, Haselhorst said."You are basically out of business because you will fined out of business," he said.Sometimes, cyber security comes down to people."If I'm an attacker, why would I go through all of these hoops if I could simply call up Cristina and act like I'm the IT help desk?" Haslehorst said. "'Hey, Cristina, it looks like you got locked out of your account. I can help with that. What's your old password?'"Unfortunately, Haselhorst said often those tactics work."Your people can be the weakest link," he said. "Your people can also be the strongest link."TreeTop offers free cybersecurity training.If a hacker makes it past all of the technical barriers, but an employee is adequately trained to recognize phishing attempts, they can stop the hacker, Haselhorst said.Haselhorst described a phishing attack in which a hacker posed as someone high in a company. A hacker sent 73 emails within 30 minutes, but several employees alerted cybersecurity of the emails.&nbsp;Those emails were blocked and labeled as missed attacks, which helped train the AI security program, and the emails were removed from users' accounts.As a user or consumer, there's not much you can do if an entity you do business with has been attacked, Haslehorst said.However, if you are a business, he recommends cutting digital ties with the affected business or entity. He said he helped some companies do this when the Kansas court system was a cyberattack victim.Businesses can also limit access to networks and data without completely cutting ties.If an affected business or entity offers you free ID protection or credit monitoring, Haselhorst said it can help in some regards, but your information is already out there.He did not suggest buying ID theft protection/credit monitoring."It's a running joke among cybersecurity professions, don't buy credit monitoring because your next free year is right around the corner because there's going to be another breech from someone," he said."Unfortunately, that's the world we live in that your data is all over the place. Once that cat's out of the bag, it's really hard to put it back in," Haselhorst said.He suggested watching credit reports and card transactions and signing up for transaction alerts.He also recommends having regular discussions with your spouse or anyone else on your bank or credit card about charges so you can better track transactions and spot fraud.

🎙 Hays cyber expert discusses security in light of attacks

On this episode of the Post Podcast, Hays Post reporter Becky Kiser speaks with Downtown Hays Development Corp. executive director Julie Rider about the upcoming Farmer's Market and Brews on the Bricks.

<div><iframe title="Downtown Farmers Market kicks off May 25" allowtransparency="true" height="600" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:600px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=kt2ef-161d6b0-pb&from=pb6admin&square=1&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=auto&logo_link=podcast_page&btn-skin=60a0c8&size=600" loading="lazy" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>On this episode of the Post Podcast, Hays Post reporter Becky Kiser speaks with Downtown Hays Development Corp. executive director Julie Rider about the upcoming Farmer's Market and Brews on the Bricks.

🎙 Post Podcast: Downtown Farmers Market kicks off May 25

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

<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8_QapUV_xYo?si=MR_64btnWHxJsyzR" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with U.S. Senator Roger Marshall.

🎤Forward Ever: U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall

On this episode of the&nbsp;<a href="https://hayspost.com/category/post-podcast" target="_blank">Post Podcast</a>,&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ipifinancialservices.com/" target="_blank">IPI Financial Services</a> account executive Brian Weimer discusses life insurance with <a href="https://hayspost.com/" target="_blank">Hays Post</a> reporter Becky Kiser.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<div><iframe title="Life Insurance: Understanding needs and options with IPI Financial Services" allowtransparency="true" height="600" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:600px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=yh8ic-1609869-pb&from=pb6admin&square=1&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=auto&logo_link=podcast_page&btn-skin=60a0c8&size=600" loading="lazy" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>On this episode of the&nbsp;<a href="https://hayspost.com/category/post-podcast" target="_blank">Post Podcast</a>,&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ipifinancialservices.com/" target="_blank">IPI Financial Services</a> account executive Brian Weimer discusses life insurance with <a href="https://hayspost.com/" target="_blank">Hays Post</a> reporter Becky Kiser.&nbsp;&nbsp;

🎙 Post Podcast: IPI Financial Services shares life Insurance advice for 2024

On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with Boy Scouts of America Coronado Area Council district field executive Amanda McVey.

<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/a1lRgw72n7M?si=VY1Or0yAPxrbWCQs" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with Boy Scouts of America Coronado Area Council district field executive Amanda McVey.

🎤Forward Ever: Boy Scouts district field executive Amanda McVey

On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with&nbsp;HaysMed President, CEO Eddie Herrman.

<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/o8KYn5O7ROo?si=I9ZAyP0OjLukO9P5" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with&nbsp;HaysMed President, CEO Eddie Herrman.

🎤Forward Ever: HaysMed President, CEO Eddie Herrman

Many local historical societies were formed around America's 1976 Bicentennial, but their popularity has waned.

Amanda Rupp, executive director of the Ellis County Historical Society, wants to ensure the organization's viability and relatability for years to come.

"I think there's a lot of reviving this kind of tourist attraction around the state," she told the Hays City Commission recently.

"I've talked with other museum professionals, and they're really impressed by how much Hays takes an interest in and supports [the community's] cultural events, the arts, the entertainment," Rupp said.&nbsp; "It's nice to be a part of it."

The museum<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/5df916f657544d3fe90e7c9c"> fell into disrepair </a>a few years ago.

Under Executive Director Amanda Rupp's new leadership, <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/4b82c3c2-8654-43f3-b842-f85a8deace1b">rehab and renovations </a>have been a priority. Projects are undertaken when the necessary capital is secured.&nbsp;

Phase 1 involved mold remediation of the red brick former First Presbyterian Church, which was built in 1921.&nbsp;

Phase 2 of renovating the museum at 100 W. Seventh is also completed.&nbsp; The project cost $850,000 and included an ADA-compliant basement restroom, brick, stone and mortar repair, ramp entrances, new&nbsp;heating, ventilation, and air conditioning, and a new curator lab.

Phase 3, the final step in re-opening the building to the public, was unveiled in January. It will include updating the fire alarm system.

The main-level gallery space will be renovated this year at an estimated cost of $270,000.

"We've been talking with generous donors and grant foundations about that last little bit of money we need," Rupp said. "I know we can do it."

While work is underway, oversized artifacts in the main gallery will be transferred to the museum's sister site in Victoria at the former St. John Rest Home.

"I'd like to say that we'll be open to the public by this time next year," she told commissioners.

Rupp estimates the museum saved $25,000 in wages in 2023 thanks to the many hours worked by volunteers.&nbsp;

"It's great to see the importance of our history, and more people are getting more involved and being proud of what it is," said Mason Ruder, commissioner and a Hays native. "Bringing it back to the glory."

Programming this summer will be available thanks to the Nex-Generation Round Up for Youth and the Dane G. Hansen Foundation/Fort Hays State University internship program.&nbsp;

"We'll be able to be open seven days a week again this summer," Rupp said, "and still be free to visitors."

Another youth-enabled opportunity is an app designed by Thomas More Prep-Marian High School senior Henry Meitner.

"He helped us find an easy platform to design a walking tour of downtown Hays that correlates with the historic building plaques that are downtown," she said.

"You'll be able to see photographs related to the building, the history of the people that were there, and some other information, just not the one story that's on the plaque."&nbsp;

An informational brochure about the new app is forthcoming.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1714164805938.jpeg" alt="Ellis County Historical Society Museum at 7th and Main, Hays. File photo by James Bell/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Ellis County Historical Society Museum at 7th and Main, Hays. File photo by James Bell/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure><div><iframe title="Updates from the Ellis County Historical Society" allowtransparency="true" height="150" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:150px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=ejb3b-15fa6db-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=auto&logo_link=podcast_page&btn-skin=60a0c8&size=315" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>By BECKY KISER Hays PostMany local historical societies were formed around America's 1976 Bicentennial, but their popularity has waned.Amanda Rupp, executive director of the Ellis County Historical Society, wants to ensure the organization's viability and relatability for years to come."I think there's a lot of reviving this kind of tourist attraction around the state," she told the Hays City Commission recently."I've talked with other museum professionals, and they're really impressed by how much Hays takes an interest in and supports [the community's] cultural events, the arts, the entertainment," Rupp said.&nbsp; "It's nice to be a part of it."The museum<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/5df916f657544d3fe90e7c9c"> fell into disrepair </a>a few years ago. Under Executive Director Amanda Rupp's new leadership, <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/4b82c3c2-8654-43f3-b842-f85a8deace1b">rehab and renovations </a>have been a priority. Projects are undertaken when the necessary capital is secured.&nbsp;Phase 1 involved mold remediation of the red brick former First Presbyterian Church, which was built in 1921.&nbsp;Phase 2 of renovating the museum at 100 W. Seventh is also completed.&nbsp; The project cost $850,000 and included an ADA-compliant basement restroom, brick, stone and mortar repair, ramp entrances, new&nbsp;heating, ventilation, and air conditioning, and a new curator lab.Phase 3, the final step in re-opening the building to the public, was unveiled in January. It will include updating the fire alarm system.The main-level gallery space will be renovated this year at an estimated cost of $270,000."We've been talking with generous donors and grant foundations about that last little bit of money we need," Rupp said. "I know we can do it."While work is underway, oversized artifacts in the main gallery will be transferred to the museum's sister site in Victoria at the former St. John Rest Home."I'd like to say that we'll be open to the public by this time next year," she told commissioners.Rupp estimates the museum saved $25,000 in wages in 2023 thanks to the many hours worked by volunteers.&nbsp;"It's great to see the importance of our history, and more people are getting more involved and being proud of what it is," said Mason Ruder, commissioner and a Hays native. "Bringing it back to the glory."Programming this summer will be available thanks to the Nex-Generation Round Up for Youth and the Dane G. Hansen Foundation/Fort Hays State University internship program.&nbsp;"We'll be able to be open seven days a week again this summer," Rupp said, "and still be free to visitors."Another youth-enabled opportunity is an app designed by Thomas More Prep-Marian High School senior Henry Meitner."He helped us find an easy platform to design a walking tour of downtown Hays that correlates with the historic building plaques that are downtown," she said."You'll be able to see photographs related to the building, the history of the people that were there, and some other information, just not the one story that's on the plaque."&nbsp;An informational brochure about the new app is forthcoming."I'm very excited about the app," said Alaina Cunningham, commissioner.&nbsp;"It's great we're collaborating with someone local and of a younger generation."Commissioner and executive director of the Sternberg Museum of Natural History, Reese Barrick, said, "The historical society also collaborated statewide."&nbsp;"They got grants from the Kansas Museum Association and have gotten awards. They're active in the whole museum profession statewide and have brought attention to us locally."