Join the Imagine Ellis County: Downtown Amphitheater Taskforce meeting to perform a "Strategic Doing" to discuss the proposed project from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at the Hays Public Library.

The Downtown&nbsp;Amphitheater&nbsp;has been proposed as a permanent structure in Municipal Park to host events such as Wild West Fest, Octoberfest, graduations and outdoor symphonies.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Tennis and pickleball courts also will be discussed. The meeting is open to the public.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1714144179301.jpeg" alt="The Andover Amphitheater is an example of the kind of amphitheater that could be built in Hays. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>The Andover Amphitheater is an example of the kind of amphitheater that could be built in Hays. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>Hays PostJoin the Imagine Ellis County: Downtown Amphitheater Taskforce meeting to perform a "Strategic Doing" to discuss the proposed project from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at the Hays Public Library.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1714144248801.jpeg" alt="The historic Hays band shell. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>The historic Hays band shell. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>The Downtown&nbsp;Amphitheater&nbsp;has been proposed as a permanent structure in Municipal Park to host events such as Wild West Fest, Octoberfest, graduations and outdoor symphonies.&nbsp;&nbsp;Tennis and pickleball courts also will be discussed. The meeting is open to the public.

Public meeting set for Monday on proposed Hays amphitheater

KANSAS CITY (AP) —United Methodist delegates have overwhelmingly endorsed a constitutional amendment seen by advocates as a way of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congregations-leaving-united-methodist-church-lgbtq-bans-70b8c89ea49174597f4548c249bab24f">defusing debates</a>&nbsp;over the role of LGBTQ people in the church by giving rule-making autonomy to each region of the international church.

Delegates voted 586-164 on Thursday for the “regionalization” proposal on the third day of their 11-day&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-methodists-schism-lgbtq-samesex-marriage-8b428597c86901b2d5886afeca5069c8">General Conference</a>, the legislative body of the United Methodist Church, meeting in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The plan would create multiple regional conferences — one for the United States and others covering areas ranging from the Philippines to Europe to Africa.

Existing regions outside the United States — known as central conferences — already have the flexibility to adapt church rules to their local contexts, but the jurisdictions in the United States do not. This constitutional change would give the U.S. church that flexibility, while defining autonomy more closely for all of the regions.

The vote total easily passed the two-thirds majority required for an amendment to the United Methodist Church’s constitution. To become official, however, it will require approval by two-thirds of total votes cast in its annual conferences, or local governing bodies.

If ratified, one effect of the change is that it could allow for the American church — where support has been growing for the ordination of LGBTQ people and for same-sex marriage — to authorize such rites, even as international churches with more conservative positions on sexuality would not.

"The big change this petition brings is really for our brothers and sisters here in the United States, where you would finally be given the right to decide things which only concern you among yourselves, the same right that we have enjoyed for a long time," said Christine Schneider-Oesch of Switzerland, a member of the committee proposing the changes.

The measure comes during the first General Conference since one-quarter of U.S. congregations left the denomination over the past four years — most of them conservative churches reacting to the denomination's failure to enforce rules against same-sex marriage and LGBTQ ordination.

Advocates hailed the proposal as a way of decolonizing a church some say is too focused on U.S. issues, though one opponent, a Zimbabwean pastor, said the details of the plan are reminiscent of colonial-era divide-and-conquer strategies.

LGBTQ issues weren't central to the debate on Thursday, but they are expected to arise in the coming days at the General Conference. Some proposals would lift the current bans on ordaining LGBTQ people and on same-sex marriage.

“I believe that the values upon which worldwide regionalization is rooted will give renewed strength, life and vitality to the church,” said the Rev. Jonathan Ulanday of the Philippines. He said it gives autonomy while maintaining connection to the worldwide denomination, which he noted has been helpful in areas ranging from disaster relief to aiding Filipinos working abroad.

But the Rev. Forbes Matonga of Zimbabwe said the plan actually perpetuates colonial structures by creating multiple regional conferences in Africa along national lines, compared with a single one in the United States. He noted that many African national borders were created arbitrarily by European colonial mapmakers.

“It is this divide and rule,” Matonga said. “Create a region for Africans. Creates a platform for Africans so that we speak as a continent and not as small colonies.”

The Rev. Ande Emmanuel of Nigeria said he has been to multiple General Conferences and that many of the discussions are “U.S.-centric,” not relevant to African delegates. Regionalization would let each area of the church manage such issues, he said. “We are not here to control the Americans,” he said. “Neither are our brothers from America here to control us. We are trying to build a platform that is mutual. We’re trying to build an understanding that would move our church together.”

But in a small yet notable sign of fragmentation in the denomination, the General Conference also approved the departure of churches in several former Soviet countries which owed their growth in part to post-Cold War missionary work.

The conference approved the request of local conferences in parts of its Eurasia Episcopal Area — including Russia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan — to become independent. The departing conferences have 66 churches and 1,123 members, according to UM News.

While the reasons weren't spelled out explicitly at the General Conference, the Russian-area churches are more conservative on matters such as LGBTQ issues.

Bishop Eduard Khegay, who leads the Eurasia area, alluded to both theological controversies and “geopolitical struggles between superpowers" in an address Thursday to the General Conference. He also thanked United Methodists for their years of help to the churches in the region and for enabling them to become independent in an orderly way.

“Sisters and brothers, I stand in gratitude for your decision,” Khegay said.

By PETER SMITH&nbsp;KANSAS CITY (AP) —United Methodist delegates have overwhelmingly endorsed a constitutional amendment seen by advocates as a way of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congregations-leaving-united-methodist-church-lgbtq-bans-70b8c89ea49174597f4548c249bab24f">defusing debates</a>&nbsp;over the role of LGBTQ people in the church by giving rule-making autonomy to each region of the international church.Delegates voted 586-164 on Thursday for the “regionalization” proposal on the third day of their 11-day&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-methodists-schism-lgbtq-samesex-marriage-8b428597c86901b2d5886afeca5069c8">General Conference</a>, the legislative body of the United Methodist Church, meeting in Charlotte, North Carolina.The plan would create multiple regional conferences — one for the United States and others covering areas ranging from the Philippines to Europe to Africa.Existing regions outside the United States — known as central conferences — already have the flexibility to adapt church rules to their local contexts, but the jurisdictions in the United States do not. This constitutional change would give the U.S. church that flexibility, while defining autonomy more closely for all of the regions.The vote total easily passed the two-thirds majority required for an amendment to the United Methodist Church’s constitution. To become official, however, it will require approval by two-thirds of total votes cast in its annual conferences, or local governing bodies.If ratified, one effect of the change is that it could allow for the American church — where support has been growing for the ordination of LGBTQ people and for same-sex marriage — to authorize such rites, even as international churches with more conservative positions on sexuality would not."The big change this petition brings is really for our brothers and sisters here in the United States, where you would finally be given the right to decide things which only concern you among yourselves, the same right that we have enjoyed for a long time," said Christine Schneider-Oesch of Switzerland, a member of the committee proposing the changes.The measure comes during the first General Conference since one-quarter of U.S. congregations left the denomination over the past four years — most of them conservative churches reacting to the denomination's failure to enforce rules against same-sex marriage and LGBTQ ordination.Advocates hailed the proposal as a way of decolonizing a church some say is too focused on U.S. issues, though one opponent, a Zimbabwean pastor, said the details of the plan are reminiscent of colonial-era divide-and-conquer strategies.LGBTQ issues weren't central to the debate on Thursday, but they are expected to arise in the coming days at the General Conference. Some proposals would lift the current bans on ordaining LGBTQ people and on same-sex marriage.“I believe that the values upon which worldwide regionalization is rooted will give renewed strength, life and vitality to the church,” said the Rev. Jonathan Ulanday of the Philippines. He said it gives autonomy while maintaining connection to the worldwide denomination, which he noted has been helpful in areas ranging from disaster relief to aiding Filipinos working abroad.But the Rev. Forbes Matonga of Zimbabwe said the plan actually perpetuates colonial structures by creating multiple regional conferences in Africa along national lines, compared with a single one in the United States. He noted that many African national borders were created arbitrarily by European colonial mapmakers.“It is this divide and rule,” Matonga said. “Create a region for Africans. Creates a platform for Africans so that we speak as a continent and not as small colonies.”The Rev. Ande Emmanuel of Nigeria said he has been to multiple General Conferences and that many of the discussions are “U.S.-centric,” not relevant to African delegates. Regionalization would let each area of the church manage such issues, he said. “We are not here to control the Americans,” he said. “Neither are our brothers from America here to control us. We are trying to build a platform that is mutual. We’re trying to build an understanding that would move our church together.”But in a small yet notable sign of fragmentation in the denomination, the General Conference also approved the departure of churches in several former Soviet countries which owed their growth in part to post-Cold War missionary work.The conference approved the request of local conferences in parts of its Eurasia Episcopal Area — including Russia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan — to become independent. The departing conferences have 66 churches and 1,123 members, according to UM News.While the reasons weren't spelled out explicitly at the General Conference, the Russian-area churches are more conservative on matters such as LGBTQ issues.Bishop Eduard Khegay, who leads the Eurasia area, alluded to both theological controversies and “geopolitical struggles between superpowers" in an address Thursday to the General Conference. He also thanked United Methodists for their years of help to the churches in the region and for enabling them to become independent in an orderly way.“Sisters and brothers, I stand in gratitude for your decision,” Khegay said.___

General Conference: United Methodists endorse change to diffuse  LGBTQ and other issues

By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT Hays Post

On Monday night in Ellis, a meeting to discuss a potential Ellis County library
brought together more than 30 public leaders and sometimes featured heated exchanges.

Several Ellis representatives
shared their concerns about changes they believe could lead to a loss of
services and local representation.

The Ellis County Commission has taken steps to designate an Ellis County Library. The hope is that money going out of the county to a regional library system could be kept in Ellis County and distributed to the county's public and school libraries.

The change would also result in the creation of a local library board, which potentially could result in more local control of the funds.

In March, the Ellis County Commission voted to put the
question of establishing and maintaining a county
library before the rural voters of Ellis County on the Aug. 6 primary
election ballot.

The county library would be an entity with a locally appointed board that could use Ellis County taxes to contract with Ellis County libraries for services.

Only voters in the rural portions of the county and Victoria would vote on the question. Residents of the city of Hays and Ellis already pay separate mill levies to support their city libraries.

The county commission's decision gives the Ellis City Council the option to present the question to voters who live inside the city limits and allow the Ellis Public Library to become part of the proposed Ellis
County Library.

Currently, the taxes collected in rural Ellis County and within the city of Victoria, about $300,000, are distributed to the Central Kansas Library System, a regional library system based in Great Bend.

The Central Kansas Library System covers 17 counties in northcentral Kansas. The Hays and Ellis Public Libraries and the Ellis, Hays and Victoria school districts are a part of the system.

Although Ellis County has one of the larger populations in the system, it has limited representation on the&nbsp;Central Kansas Library System board.

At Monday’s meeting, 34 members of the Ellis County Commission, Ellis City Council, Ellis Public Library Board, Hays Public Library, and USD 388 Ellis School District met at the Ellis Knights of Columbus Hall in Ellis to discuss the proposal.

Gail Santy, Central Kansas Library System administrator, was also present at the meeting to answer questions.

Most of the questions during Monday’s almost one-hour and 30-minute meeting revolved around whether the Ellis Public Library would opt out of
the&nbsp;Central Kansas Library System.

If the resolution is approved by voters, the process of
creating a taxing district and the Ellis County Library, with a five-member board
would begin. The taxes that are currently paid to the&nbsp;Central Kansas Library System would still be
collected but would go to fund the Ellis County Library.

According to a memorandum of understanding presented to
several members of the meeting, if the city of Ellis presented the question to voters
and it was approved, the Ellis Public Library would be required to leave the Central Kansas Library System. 

However, according to Ellis Public Library Board Chairperson Tracey
Andrews, who presented the board’s list of what it considers important
points to consider in making the decision, it is only up to the library board
to decide whether they leave the Central Kansas Library System.

“The city commissioners cannot withdraw our board from CKLS,”
Andrews said. “Only our board can withdraw us, and I can't speak for all of us,
but I think we've kind of been in an agreement that we are not withdrawing from
CKLS. It’s not anything that we want to do.” 

If the Ellis voters were to get the chance to vote on the resolution and vote in favor of the change, Andrews said they believe some of the benefits would be the money staying local and a reduction in taxes for the city of
Ellis. However, they also said losing funding from the&nbsp;Central Kansas Library System and the dissolving of
their seven-member local board would be a negative.

The loss of what the Ellis Library Board considered local
control was a big sticking point coming from the memorandum of understanding.

The memorandum of understanding would guarantee the city of Ellis one seat on the Ellis County Public Library Board.

“But it's one of the five, maybe two or five, not the majority,”
Andrews said. “The board that you're looking at today will dissolve. We will
not be here. We will not have a local voice, except that there are one or two
people on that board.”

The five-member board would be appointed by the Ellis County
Commission through a nominating process. 

The board would be responsible for setting the tax levy and setting up the library services and contracts.

No residents from the city of Hays would be eligible to serve on the
board because the Hays Public Library is funded by city of Hays taxpayers.

At Monday's meeting, it was pointed out that if Ellis voted
to join the county library, Ellis residents could secure all five seats and control the entire library board.

The Hays Public Library, which serves a majority of Ellis
County residents, has set itself up as a potential entity that would partner
with the county library to provide services. The library would get a portion of
the taxes collected in the rural area for providing those services. 

That is something the Ellis Public Library could also do, Ellis
County Commission Nathan Leiker confirmed at Monday’s meeting.

Ellis City Attorney Olavee Raub said while the Ellis
Public Library Board members expressed concern that if Ellis voters approved the
resolution, the library and all its assets would potentially have to be given to
the city of Ellis, including the physical location, that is not the case.

Raub said even if the voters approve the county library, it
does not consume the Ellis Public Library.

“The county library could be elsewhere. It could potentially
be contracted with the city of Ellis to be placed in our facility,” Raub said, “but
it doesn't necessarily have to be.” 

“We as an entity (and) you as a library board don't have to
agree to allow them to take over the Ellis Public Library,” Raub said. “Now,
what does that look like? That's the real question.”

Hays Public Library Director Brandon Hines questioned how
something like that would work. Because if Ellis elected to join the county
library, the city of Ellis would be a part of that taxing district. 

Raub said the city of Ellis would have to fund the library or
they would have to apply for funding from the county library.

Leiker also stressed that the county library could be in a number of places. 

“It would be a board that can be housed in pretty much any
office, that would house it,” Leiker said. “It would contract to the CKLS, or Hays
public or even Ellis Public Library Services.”

“So, it would be more or less be local control of the local
dollars,” Leiker said. “It does not have to provide materials other than the
contracts, so you can go into Ellis, Hays and wherever else and get your materials.”

So, if the Ellis Public Library and Ellis City Council elect to put the question before the voters, it does not mean that the city of Ellis and
the Ellis Public Library are joining the Ellis County Library and leaving the
CKLS.

Attendees at Monday’s meeting also raised concerned about
the timeline of this process.

The Ellis Public Library board members said they were informed the
Ellis County Commission was going to consider a vote on issue on March 4. 

The Ellis County Commission approved the resolution on March
19. 

No decision was made at Monday's meeting. The Ellis Public Library Board and the Ellis City Council have
until the first week of May to decide if they want to present their voters with
the same question to join
the Ellis County Library.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1704732367210.jpg" alt="Photo courtesy of Pixabay." />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy of Pixabay.</figcaption>
 </figure>By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT Hays PostOn Monday night in Ellis, a meeting to discuss a potential Ellis County library
brought together more than 30 public leaders and sometimes featured heated exchanges.Several Ellis representatives
shared their concerns about changes they believe could lead to a loss of
services and local representation.The Ellis County Commission has taken steps to designate an Ellis County Library. The hope is that money going out of the county to a regional library system could be kept in Ellis County and distributed to the county's public and school libraries.The change would also result in the creation of a local library board, which potentially could result in more local control of the funds.In March, the Ellis County Commission voted to put the
question of establishing and maintaining a county
library before the rural voters of Ellis County on the Aug. 6 primary
election ballot.The county library would be an entity with a locally appointed board that could use Ellis County taxes to contract with Ellis County libraries for services.Only voters in the rural portions of the county and Victoria would vote on the question. Residents of the city of Hays and Ellis already pay separate mill levies to support their city libraries.The county commission's decision gives the Ellis City Council the option to present the question to voters who live inside the city limits and allow the Ellis Public Library to become part of the proposed Ellis
County Library.Currently, the taxes collected in rural Ellis County and within the city of Victoria, about $300,000, are distributed to the Central Kansas Library System, a regional library system based in Great Bend.The Central Kansas Library System covers 17 counties in northcentral Kansas. The Hays and Ellis Public Libraries and the Ellis, Hays and Victoria school districts are a part of the system.Although Ellis County has one of the larger populations in the system, it has limited representation on the&nbsp;Central Kansas Library System board.At Monday’s meeting, 34 members of the Ellis County Commission, Ellis City Council, Ellis Public Library Board, Hays Public Library, and USD 388 Ellis School District met at the Ellis Knights of Columbus Hall in Ellis to discuss the proposal.Gail Santy, Central Kansas Library System administrator, was also present at the meeting to answer questions.Most of the questions during Monday’s almost one-hour and 30-minute meeting revolved around whether the Ellis Public Library would opt out of
the&nbsp;Central Kansas Library System.If the resolution is approved by voters, the process of
creating a taxing district and the Ellis County Library, with a five-member board
would begin. The taxes that are currently paid to the&nbsp;Central Kansas Library System would still be
collected but would go to fund the Ellis County Library.According to a memorandum of understanding presented to
several members of the meeting, if the city of Ellis presented the question to voters
and it was approved, the Ellis Public Library would be required to leave the Central Kansas Library System. However, according to Ellis Public Library Board Chairperson Tracey
Andrews, who presented the board’s list of what it considers important
points to consider in making the decision, it is only up to the library board
to decide whether they leave the Central Kansas Library System.“The city commissioners cannot withdraw our board from CKLS,”
Andrews said. “Only our board can withdraw us, and I can't speak for all of us,
but I think we've kind of been in an agreement that we are not withdrawing from
CKLS. It’s not anything that we want to do.” If the Ellis voters were to get the chance to vote on the resolution and vote in favor of the change, Andrews said they believe some of the benefits would be the money staying local and a reduction in taxes for the city of
Ellis. However, they also said losing funding from the&nbsp;Central Kansas Library System and the dissolving of
their seven-member local board would be a negative.The loss of what the Ellis Library Board considered local
control was a big sticking point coming from the memorandum of understanding.The memorandum of understanding would guarantee the city of Ellis one seat on the Ellis County Public Library Board.“But it's one of the five, maybe two or five, not the majority,”
Andrews said. “The board that you're looking at today will dissolve. We will
not be here. We will not have a local voice, except that there are one or two
people on that board.”The five-member board would be appointed by the Ellis County
Commission through a nominating process. The board would be responsible for setting the tax levy and setting up the library services and contracts.No residents from the city of Hays would be eligible to serve on the
board because the Hays Public Library is funded by city of Hays taxpayers.At Monday's meeting, it was pointed out that if Ellis voted
to join the county library, Ellis residents could secure all five seats and control the entire library board.The Hays Public Library, which serves a majority of Ellis
County residents, has set itself up as a potential entity that would partner
with the county library to provide services. The library would get a portion of
the taxes collected in the rural area for providing those services. That is something the Ellis Public Library could also do, Ellis
County Commission Nathan Leiker confirmed at Monday’s meeting.Ellis City Attorney Olavee Raub said while the Ellis
Public Library Board members expressed concern that if Ellis voters approved the
resolution, the library and all its assets would potentially have to be given to
the city of Ellis, including the physical location, that is not the case.Raub said even if the voters approve the county library, it
does not consume the Ellis Public Library.“The county library could be elsewhere. It could potentially
be contracted with the city of Ellis to be placed in our facility,” Raub said, “but
it doesn't necessarily have to be.” “We as an entity (and) you as a library board don't have to
agree to allow them to take over the Ellis Public Library,” Raub said. “Now,
what does that look like? That's the real question.”Hays Public Library Director Brandon Hines questioned how
something like that would work. Because if Ellis elected to join the county
library, the city of Ellis would be a part of that taxing district. Raub said the city of Ellis would have to fund the library or
they would have to apply for funding from the county library.Leiker also stressed that the county library could be in a number of places. “It would be a board that can be housed in pretty much any
office, that would house it,” Leiker said. “It would contract to the CKLS, or Hays
public or even Ellis Public Library Services.”“So, it would be more or less be local control of the local
dollars,” Leiker said. “It does not have to provide materials other than the
contracts, so you can go into Ellis, Hays and wherever else and get your materials.”So, if the Ellis Public Library and Ellis City Council elect to put the question before the voters, it does not mean that the city of Ellis and
the Ellis Public Library are joining the Ellis County Library and leaving the
CKLS.Attendees at Monday’s meeting also raised concerned about
the timeline of this process.The Ellis Public Library board members said they were informed the
Ellis County Commission was going to consider a vote on issue on March 4. The Ellis County Commission approved the resolution on March
19. No decision was made at Monday's meeting. The Ellis Public Library Board and the Ellis City Council have
until the first week of May to decide if they want to present their voters with
the same question to join
the Ellis County Library.

Ellis fears loss of library in move to keep more taxpayers' library funds in Ellis County

By BECKY KISER Hays Post

A special anniversary calls for a special celebration.

Patrons will be dressed in formal wear, and wine will flow from a sparkling fountain for&nbsp;Thomas More Prep-Marian's 50th annual ACE Auction— Auction for Christian Education—from 5 to 11 p.m. Saturday in the Al Billinger Fieldhouse. 

An open house to see the 100 items in the live auction will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, starting with a Chamber Chat hosted by the Chamber in Hays. A preview party will be from 7 to 9 p.m. that night.

"You can find something for every room in your house and more," said Mason Ruder, advancement director.

Other items range from a special dinner party with the bishop to game tickets for favorite area sports teams.&nbsp;

New this year is a live artist working on-site who will create an original painting to auction off.

Patrons will also have the opportunity to bid on a "name the court" sign that will hang above the court entrance at the Al Billinger Fieldhouse.

Cash drawings will be conducted throughout the evening. Another drawing will feature a 2024 Hyundai Elantra SE (valued at $23,000) donated by Kay and Dick Werth at Auto World in Hays.&nbsp;

More than 425 items are available in the online auction. Bidding opens at 3 p.m. Friday.

The popular Item #160, which raises funds for different school projects, will be used in the golden anniversary year to "establish a financial foundation for the continuity of our history, tradition, educational excellence, and taking care of past, present and future students, faculty and staff," said Ruder, who is a TMP alum.

"As a private school, we do not get any tax funding, so every donation that we do get, every dollar we get, goes right back into the school," he said.

"We've been blessed in how long we've been able to do the ACE Auction," he said.&nbsp;

Each donation from $50 and up will get their name listed on the "Golden Legacy" plaque to be placed on campus.

From the first auction in 1975 to 2023, ACE has raised almost $13 million for Thomas More Prep-Marian.

The complete ACE Auction catalog is available <a href="https://www.hayscatholicschools.org/page/ace-2024">online</a>.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713880499026.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><div><iframe title="Cheers to the next 50 years: TMP-Marian ACE Auction celebrates golden anniversary" allowtransparency="true" height="300" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:300px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=4runf-15f7755-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=300" loading="lazy" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>By BECKY KISER Hays PostA special anniversary calls for a special celebration.Patrons will be dressed in formal wear, and wine will flow from a sparkling fountain for&nbsp;Thomas More Prep-Marian's 50th annual ACE Auction— Auction for Christian Education—from 5 to 11 p.m. Saturday in the Al Billinger Fieldhouse. The event is sold out.An open house to see the 100 items in the live auction will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, starting with a Chamber Chat hosted by the Chamber in Hays. A preview party will be from 7 to 9 p.m. that night."You can find something for every room in your house and more," said Mason Ruder, advancement director.Other items range from a special dinner party with the bishop to game tickets for favorite area sports teams.&nbsp;New this year is a live artist working on-site who will create an original painting to auction off.Patrons will also have the opportunity to bid on a "name the court" sign that will hang above the court entrance at the Al Billinger Fieldhouse.Cash drawings will be conducted throughout the evening. Another drawing will feature a 2024 Hyundai Elantra SE (valued at $23,000) donated by Kay and Dick Werth at Auto World in Hays.&nbsp;More than 425 items are available in the online auction. Bidding opens at 3 p.m. Friday.The popular Item #160, which raises funds for different school projects, will be used in the golden anniversary year to "establish a financial foundation for the continuity of our history, tradition, educational excellence, and taking care of past, present and future students, faculty and staff," said Ruder, who is a TMP alum."As a private school, we do not get any tax funding, so every donation that we do get, every dollar we get, goes right back into the school," he said."We've been blessed in how long we've been able to do the ACE Auction," he said.&nbsp;Each donation from $50 and up will get their name listed on the "Golden Legacy" plaque to be placed on campus.From the first auction in 1975 to 2023, ACE has raised almost $13 million for Thomas More Prep-Marian.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713997226523.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The complete ACE Auction catalog is available <a href="https://www.hayscatholicschools.org/page/ace-2024">online</a>.&nbsp;

🎙Cheers to the next 50 years: TMP-Marian ACE Auction celebrates golden anniversary

By TISA MASON Fort Hays State University President

This summer, the Sternberg Museum of Natural History celebrates a milestone that speaks volumes about the human thirst for knowledge, experience, and community in a rapidly evolving world, with a record enrollment of 127 summer campers across all age groups from 35 different states, as well as India and China. This beacon of discovery amplifies its motto, "Excitement in Education through Exploration," as it opens new doors and trails for learning the earth and life sciences.

The array of summer programs lined up for 2024 are rich with educational diversity, with activities spanning across Kansas to the coast of North Carolina, to the San Francisco Bay! Sternberg's new collaboration with Eastern Tennessee State University and its Gray Fossil Site Museum exemplifies the power of collective wisdom and collaboration in enhancing learning experiences.

Perhaps the most remarkable chapters of this story unfold within the high school programs, where 80 young scientists are nurturing their calling. Among them, 54 will embark on a journey at the Sternberg Museum or Fort Hays State University, immersing themselves in the multifaceted world of paleontology.

The program's success and inclusion of a record number of instructors, ranging from returning camp alumni to doctoral students from the US and UK, echoes a larger narrative.

It is a tale of unwavering commitment, both to excellence in education and to the ongoing empowerment of its high school campers through post-camp support systems and opportunities that make the "Sternberg Science Camps+” a wholly unique offering in the breadth of youth summer science education programs.

The "+" symbolizes more than a mere branding strategy; it represents an enduring dedication to bolstering student outcomes long after the summer sun sets on their camping adventures. It represents the program’s commitment to innovation and collaboration with external entities with shared missions in engaging youth with the wonders of the earth and life sciences. Finally, it reflects the museum’s spirit of lifelong learning and its commitment to fostering a global community of inquisitive minds.

As the museum looks toward the horizon, one can see the reflections of its past success in the eager eyes of first-timers joining the programs and in the diligence of the educators preparing to guide these young explorers. Interest in the annual camps has soared, with programs like Field Paleontology: Kansas and the new Advanced Fossil Preparation camp filling up at unprecedented speed, demonstrating a burgeoning passion for the paleontological sciences. Field Paleontology: Kansas has proven so popular that a third session of the program has been created to accommodate the lengthy waitlist for sessions one and two!

This growth is a testament to the Sternberg Museum's relentless pursuit of what lies at the heart of education: the sheer joys of shared community and exploration. As campers traverse fossil field sites and free long-sequestered fossils from their rocky enclosures, they carry with them not

just the knowledge they've accumulated but also the priceless experience of scientific inquiry in action.

For educators and parents, the museum stands as a shining example of how to meld excitement with learning. It fosters an environment where children – and adults returning to the wonder of their childhood – can surrender to their curiosity, guided by the belief that to learn is to explore.

The story of the Sternberg Museum of Natural History and its record summer camp enrollment is one of the collective triumph of its students, the program staff, and the near-singular focus of the program’s founder/director David Levering’s pursuit of creating powerful, accessible opportunities for kids regardless of their economic status. It is a story written by every hand that digs into the earth searching for fossils, by every mind that marvels at the stories those fossils tell, and by every heart that beats faster with the thrill of discovery. As the Sternberg Museum continues to reach new heights, it holds a mirror to society's enduring fascination with the natural world. It strengthens an unspoken promise: to keep the flame of excitement in education burning bright for generations to come.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575301942236.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By TISA MASON Fort Hays State University PresidentThis summer, the Sternberg Museum of Natural History celebrates a milestone that speaks volumes about the human thirst for knowledge, experience, and community in a rapidly evolving world, with a record enrollment of 127 summer campers across all age groups from 35 different states, as well as India and China. This beacon of discovery amplifies its motto, "Excitement in Education through Exploration," as it opens new doors and trails for learning the earth and life sciences.The array of summer programs lined up for 2024 are rich with educational diversity, with activities spanning across Kansas to the coast of North Carolina, to the San Francisco Bay! Sternberg's new collaboration with Eastern Tennessee State University and its Gray Fossil Site Museum exemplifies the power of collective wisdom and collaboration in enhancing learning experiences.Perhaps the most remarkable chapters of this story unfold within the high school programs, where 80 young scientists are nurturing their calling. Among them, 54 will embark on a journey at the Sternberg Museum or Fort Hays State University, immersing themselves in the multifaceted world of paleontology.The program's success and inclusion of a record number of instructors, ranging from returning camp alumni to doctoral students from the US and UK, echoes a larger narrative.It is a tale of unwavering commitment, both to excellence in education and to the ongoing empowerment of its high school campers through post-camp support systems and opportunities that make the "Sternberg Science Camps+” a wholly unique offering in the breadth of youth summer science education programs.The "+" symbolizes more than a mere branding strategy; it represents an enduring dedication to bolstering student outcomes long after the summer sun sets on their camping adventures. It represents the program’s commitment to innovation and collaboration with external entities with shared missions in engaging youth with the wonders of the earth and life sciences. Finally, it reflects the museum’s spirit of lifelong learning and its commitment to fostering a global community of inquisitive minds.As the museum looks toward the horizon, one can see the reflections of its past success in the eager eyes of first-timers joining the programs and in the diligence of the educators preparing to guide these young explorers. Interest in the annual camps has soared, with programs like Field Paleontology: Kansas and the new Advanced Fossil Preparation camp filling up at unprecedented speed, demonstrating a burgeoning passion for the paleontological sciences. Field Paleontology: Kansas has proven so popular that a third session of the program has been created to accommodate the lengthy waitlist for sessions one and two!This growth is a testament to the Sternberg Museum's relentless pursuit of what lies at the heart of education: the sheer joys of shared community and exploration. As campers traverse fossil field sites and free long-sequestered fossils from their rocky enclosures, they carry with them notjust the knowledge they've accumulated but also the priceless experience of scientific inquiry in action.For educators and parents, the museum stands as a shining example of how to meld excitement with learning. It fosters an environment where children – and adults returning to the wonder of their childhood – can surrender to their curiosity, guided by the belief that to learn is to explore.The story of the Sternberg Museum of Natural History and its record summer camp enrollment is one of the collective triumph of its students, the program staff, and the near-singular focus of the program’s founder/director David Levering’s pursuit of creating powerful, accessible opportunities for kids regardless of their economic status. It is a story written by every hand that digs into the earth searching for fossils, by every mind that marvels at the stories those fossils tell, and by every heart that beats faster with the thrill of discovery. As the Sternberg Museum continues to reach new heights, it holds a mirror to society's enduring fascination with the natural world. It strengthens an unspoken promise: to keep the flame of excitement in education burning bright for generations to come.

HEART OF A TIGER: Sternberg Museum's record summer camp enrollment marks new era of science exploration

HAYS - The Hays High Indians completed a doubleheader sweep of the
TMP-Marian Monarchs Thursday afternoon at TMP, winning 20-5 and 9-1.

GAME 1: Hays 20, TMP 5 In the first game of the day the Indians scored in all but
one inning on their way to a 20-5 win over TMP.

The Indians wasted no time, scoring five runs in the first
inning.

They took advantage of a leadoff single followed by a hit by
pitch and back-to-back walks taking a 1-0 lead on a Lakyn Zimmerman bases
loaded walk.

Avery Solida added a two-run single putting Hays High up
3-0. The Indians added another run on a wild pitch and an RBI groundout by Shae
Augustine for a 5-0 lead after the top of the first inning.

The Monarchs got a run back in the bottom of the inning when
Brooke Koenigsman singled home Brynn Rebel making it 5-1 Hays. 

Zimmerman singled in her second run of the game in the top
of the second as Hays built a 6-1 lead.

TMP closed the gap to two runs, scoring three runs in the bottom
of the third inning. 

Koenigsman single home a run followed by a Bria Windholz
two-run triple cutting Hays’ lead to 6-4.

But that was as close as the Monarchs got as Hays High
outscored the TMP 14-1 over the final four innings, including a seven-run
seventh in a 20-5 victory.

Hays’ Aubree Thomas earned the win for the Indians. She allowed
five runs, four earned on 10 hits with six strikeouts and two walks in seven
innings pitched.

Dezarea Schmidt finished four-for-five at the plate with a
homerun, two RBI’s and she scored five times. Haley Rees added three hits and
Dani Willeford and Lakyn Zimmerman each drove in three runs.

TMP’s Brynn Rebel suffered the loss. She allowed 20 runs, 13
earned on 17 hits with nine walks and six strikeouts in seven innings.

Brooke Koenigsman was three-for-four with three RBI’s.

GAME 2: Hays 9, TMP 1 In game two the Indians Riley Dreher held the Monarchs to
just one hit and Hays scored a run in all but two innings in a 9-1 victory.

Dezarea Schmidt picked up where she left in game one,
leading off the second game with a double and then scored the game’s first run
on a Lakyn Zimmerman RBI single.

TMP tied the game on an RBI single by Bridget Feldt.

Hays retook the lead in the top of the third inning on a
Zimmerman groundout.

The Indians added three more runs in the fifth and two each
in the sixth and seventh innings in a 9-1 victory.

Dezarea Schmidt finished three-for-four with four runs
scored. Riley Dreher was two-for-three with three RBI’s and Lakyn Zimmerman also
drove in three runs.

Dreher allowed just one unearned run on one hit with three
strikeouts in seven innings.

Feldt collected the only hit for TMP. Brooke Koenigsman was zero-for-three
and had her 24 game hit streak come to an end.

Bria Windholz suffered the loss for TMP. She allowed nine
runs, six earned, on 10 hits with four walks and three strikeouts in seven
innings.

TMP drops to 12-6 and will travel to Ellinwood on Friday.

Hays improves to 11-5 and will play at Salina Central on Friday.


Hays PostHAYS - The Hays High Indians completed a doubleheader sweep of the
TMP-Marian Monarchs Thursday afternoon at TMP, winning 20-5 and 9-1.GAME 1: Hays 20, TMP 5 In the first game of the day the Indians scored in all but
one inning on their way to a 20-5 win over TMP.<div><iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/1808263431&color=%23294b71&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509" title="Eagle Radio" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Eagle Radio</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509/tmp-sb-dh-coach-interview-v-hays-high-04-25-24" title="TMP SB DH Coach Interview V. Hays High 04 - 25 - 24" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">TMP SB DH Coach Interview V. Hays High 04 - 25 - 24</a></div></div>The Indians wasted no time, scoring five runs in the first
inning.They took advantage of a leadoff single followed by a hit by
pitch and back-to-back walks taking a 1-0 lead on a Lakyn Zimmerman bases
loaded walk.Avery Solida added a two-run single putting Hays High up
3-0. The Indians added another run on a wild pitch and an RBI groundout by Shae
Augustine for a 5-0 lead after the top of the first inning.The Monarchs got a run back in the bottom of the inning when
Brooke Koenigsman singled home Brynn Rebel making it 5-1 Hays. Zimmerman singled in her second run of the game in the top
of the second as Hays built a 6-1 lead.TMP closed the gap to two runs, scoring three runs in the bottom
of the third inning. Koenigsman single home a run followed by a Bria Windholz
two-run triple cutting Hays’ lead to 6-4.But that was as close as the Monarchs got as Hays High
outscored the TMP 14-1 over the final four innings, including a seven-run
seventh in a 20-5 victory.<div><iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/1808263485&color=%23294b71&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509" title="Eagle Radio" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Eagle Radio</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509/04-25-24-tmp-sb-vs-hays-high-school-g1" title="04 - 25 - 24 TMP SB Vs Hays High School G1" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">04 - 25 - 24 TMP SB Vs Hays High School G1</a></div></div>Hays’ Aubree Thomas earned the win for the Indians. She allowed
five runs, four earned on 10 hits with six strikeouts and two walks in seven
innings pitched.Dezarea Schmidt finished four-for-five at the plate with a
homerun, two RBI’s and she scored five times. Haley Rees added three hits and
Dani Willeford and Lakyn Zimmerman each drove in three runs.TMP’s Brynn Rebel suffered the loss. She allowed 20 runs, 13
earned on 17 hits with nine walks and six strikeouts in seven innings.Brooke Koenigsman was three-for-four with three RBI’s.GAME 2: Hays 9, TMP 1 In game two the Indians Riley Dreher held the Monarchs to
just one hit and Hays scored a run in all but two innings in a 9-1 victory.Dezarea Schmidt picked up where she left in game one,
leading off the second game with a double and then scored the game’s first run
on a Lakyn Zimmerman RBI single.TMP tied the game on an RBI single by Bridget Feldt.Hays retook the lead in the top of the third inning on a
Zimmerman groundout.The Indians added three more runs in the fifth and two each
in the sixth and seventh innings in a 9-1 victory.<div><iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/1808264304&color=%23294b71&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509" title="Eagle Radio" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Eagle Radio</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509/04-25-24-tmp-sb-vs-hays-high-school-g2" title="04 - 25 - 24 TMP SB Vs Hays High School G2" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">04 - 25 - 24 TMP SB Vs Hays High School G2</a></div></div>Dezarea Schmidt finished three-for-four with four runs
scored. Riley Dreher was two-for-three with three RBI’s and Lakyn Zimmerman also
drove in three runs.Dreher allowed just one unearned run on one hit with three
strikeouts in seven innings.Feldt collected the only hit for TMP. Brooke Koenigsman was zero-for-three
and had her 24 game hit streak come to an end.Bria Windholz suffered the loss for TMP. She allowed nine
runs, six earned, on 10 hits with four walks and three strikeouts in seven
innings.TMP drops to 12-6 and will travel to Ellinwood on Friday.Hays improves to 11-5 and will play at Salina Central on Friday.

🥎 Hays High sweeps TMP in Thursday doubleheader

HAYS -Hays High girls' soccer
had their four-match winning-streak come to an end Thursday, losing 2-0 home loss to Garden
City. 

The Indians are now 8-4 overall and 4-2 in the Western Athletic Conference.

HHS is scheduled to host Wichita Collegiate on Monday then travel to Dodge City on Thursday, May 2nd.

Hays PostHAYS -Hays High girls' soccer
had their four-match winning-streak come to an end Thursday, losing 2-0 home loss to Garden
City. The Indians are now 8-4 overall and 4-2 in the Western Athletic Conference.UP NEXTHHS is scheduled to host Wichita Collegiate on Monday then travel to Dodge City on Thursday, May 2nd.

⚽ HHS girls shutout at home by Garden City

GARDEN CITY – The Hays
High boys golf team placed three in the top-10 and finished in second place at Thursday’s Garden City Invitational at
the Buffalo Dunes Golf Course. The 18-hole event was moved up to a 9 a.m.
start due to the threat of rain. The Indians shot a 335 and finished 15 strokes
behind first place Dodge City and 15 ahead of third place Valley Center.

Caleb Thompson fired a
7-over-par 79 and finished in fifth place. Braxton Banker placed seventh with
an 82 and Cooper Johnson ninth with an 85.

Dodge City’s AJ Peters
was the individual champ with a 75, edging teammate Aiden Robinson by two
strokes.

The Indians are at the
Hutchinson Invitational Friday at Carey Park.

Hays PostGARDEN CITY – The Hays
High boys golf team placed three in the top-10 and finished in second place at Thursday’s Garden City Invitational at
the Buffalo Dunes Golf Course. The 18-hole event was moved up to a 9 a.m.
start due to the threat of rain. The Indians shot a 335 and finished 15 strokes
behind first place Dodge City and 15 ahead of third place Valley Center.Caleb Thompson fired a
7-over-par 79 and finished in fifth place. Braxton Banker placed seventh with
an 82 and Cooper Johnson ninth with an 85.Dodge City’s AJ Peters
was the individual champ with a 75, edging teammate Aiden Robinson by two
strokes.UP NEXTThe Indians are at the
Hutchinson Invitational Friday at Carey Park.

⛳ HHS places three in top-10, finishes second in Garden City

The death of a Missouri doctor who was found 11 months ago in a northwest Arkansas lake has been ruled a suicide, Arkansas authorities said Thursday.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-doctor-dead-john-forsyth-mystery-db7149050aedc913a184bc43f579db08">Dr. John Forsyth</a>&nbsp;died of a gunshot wound to the head, the Benton County, Arkansas, sheriff's department said in a statement. An autopsy by the chief medical examiner at the Arkansas State Crime Lab concluded that it was a suicide.

The sheriff’s office said that its detectives located several surveillance videos of Forsyth riding a bicycle to the lake and the bicycle was located near where Forsyth’s body was found.

Forsyth, 49, didn't show up for his May 21, 2023, shift at Mercy Hospital in Cassville, Missouri, where he had parked his RV. That prompted&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-doctor-missing-ozarks-f7f68205ec6db1f866e99ec4707443af">a search,</a>&nbsp;and there was no sign of him until a kayaker noticed his body in Arkansas on May 30, at a spot on Beaver Lake about 20 miles (32 kilometers) away from his last known location.

The mystery surrounding his death gave his case national attention. Social media have speculated that his death may have been connected to the cryptocurrency company that he co-founded with his brother.

“Detectives have not been able to find any information or evidence that would lead us to dispute the medical examiner's findings,” the sheriff's statement said. “If objective and relevant physical evidence becomes available, those leads will be investigated on a case-by-case basis.”

--- EDITOR’S NOTE — This story includes discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988. There is also an online chat at&nbsp;<a href="http://988lifeline.org/">988lifeline.org</a>&nbsp;---

CASSVILLE, Mo. (AP) — John Forsyth was known as a hard-working doctor who cared deeply for his patients and often teased nurses in the emergency room to ease tension. He was a father of eight and newly engaged. He also co-founded a cryptocurrency business with his brother.

His sudden disappearance from a southwestern Missouri town last month — and the eventual&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-doctor-missing-ozarks-f7f68205ec6db1f866e99ec4707443af">discovery of his body</a>&nbsp;in an Arkansas lake — has led many to wonder what happened to the man who seemed happier than he’d been for some time. A lack of information from law enforcement has only deepened the mystery, prompting amateur sleuths to espouse theories on Facebook.

“It’s like the world dropped on us; we’re just in shock” said his sister Tiffany Forsyth. “There’s a part of me that’s not quite sure this is real yet. I guess it comes in steps.”

Forsyth disappeared on May 21 from a parking area at a public swimming pool. His body, which had suffered an apparent gunshot wound, was found nine days later. An autopsy was done, but a report isn't expected for at least two months. Law enforcement officers have released almost no details, except to say there is no danger to the public.

The doctor's family is adamant that his death wasn’t a suicide: He had just recently become engaged, and his fiancee was pregnant.

Some true-crime followers on social media have speculated that his death may have been connected to the cryptocurrency company that he co-founded with his brother, Richard Forsyth. Multiple other theories also have surfaced in a Facebook discussion group that has grown to more than 1,000 members. Posts in that group are now closed to public view.

Only 10 days before his disappearance, a judge had finalized Forsyth's divorce — his second from the same woman. The split was amicable, according to family members and the ex-wife's attorney, Ryan Ricketts, who said she was “devastated” by the doctor’s death.

Richard Forsyth said his brother was excited about his upcoming marriage and new child and had a plane ticket to go see one of his daughters.

“He said, ‘I can’t wait to introduce her to you. We’re going to have a wonderful life together. We’re all going to spend a lot of time together,’” Richard Forsyth said. " ... I hadn't seen him that happy for a long time.”

Forsyth even texted his fiancee on the day of his disappearance, saying he would see her soon, according to his brother. The fiancee did not answer a social media request for an interview.

Alongside hopeful comments about his future life, however, John Forsyth had recently made cryptic remarks about possibly being in danger, his brother said, adding, “I think he crossed paths with some bad folks and he didn’t tell me about them."

There has been some confusion about what happened near the public pool where John Forsyth was last seen in Cassville, 40 miles (64 kilometers) west of the Ozark Mountains tourist destination of Branson and about half a mile from a hospital where he worked. On May 21, the pool had yet to open for the summer season. Beaver Lake, a man-made reservoir used for recreation and where his body was found, is at least an hour’s drive away from Cassville, over twisty highways that snake through the Ozarks.

Initially, Richard Forsyth said security camera footage showed his brother getting into someone else’s vehicle. He now says the footage shows that a few minutes after the doctor parked his car, a white SUV arrived, then left shortly afterward. About 10 or 15 minutes after that, the doctor got out of his car and walked away, never to be seen alive again, Richard Forsyth said. Found inside his unlocked car were two cellphones, a laptop and important documents, he said.

So far, authorities — who have stressed a need to investigate thoroughly before releasing information — have not said whether the SUV was related to Forsyth's disappearance, or whether they've found the gun used to shoot him or identified any suspects.

Richard Forsyth said family members have been told it could be a long wait for answers, but they have confidence in the investigating officers.

Authorities have also not indicated how deeply they are looking into Forsyth’s connections to crypto.

Online publications covering the industry quickly took note of his death, which was confirmed just seven weeks after authorities in the San Francisco area charged a tech consultant with the stabbing death of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cash-app-bob-lee-founder-stabbed-13dab701a332328c531b3c6c444983fd">Cash App founder Bob Lee.</a>

John and Richard Forsyth founded Onfo LLC, what they called a “network mining” venture, in 2018. At that time, Onfo’s website said account holders could earn credits without putting up cash, by referring others to the company.

Onfo's website features a nearly eight-minute video titled, “The U.S. Dollar is Doomed,” which says all governments’ currencies could collapse. The video promoting the launch of Onfo portrayed bankers and political officials as pigs in suits, describing them as, “drunk on expensive liquor, resting in palaces.”

<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/lukefitzpatrick/2020/04/27/bitcoin-halving-a-new-class-of-bitcoin-millionaires-may-emerge/?sh=2453ff1e61fc">An online Forbes magazine story</a>&nbsp;in 2020 described John Forsyth as a bitcoin millionaire.

But Richard Forsyth said he and his brother were looking to give large numbers of people, including poor people in developing nations, a chance to invest in decentralized, digital currency. He described Onfo as fighting what the brothers believed crypto had become: driven by greed, “about Lamborghinis” and “billionaires and tax evasion.”

Paul Sibenik, lead case manager for CipherBlade, an agency that investigates cybercrimes involving crypto, said Onfo’s business model resembles pyramid schemes, which rely on an ever-growing number of referrals and cannot be sustained.

“There is not a single legitimate cryptocurrency project that operates in this way,” Sibenik said in an email to The Associated Press.

Richard Forsyth acknowledged that others might question whether Onfo was a “multi-level marketing” operation, but added, “The key difference is that we never sold anything.” And, he said, it's probably cost them millions of dollars, rather than turning a profit.

“What we are just doing is saying to people, ‘Let’s build this together,’" he said.

John Forsyth had substantial crypto currency holdings when his second divorce became final last month. The divorce decree evenly split his and his ex-wife's holdings in bitcoin and another digital currency, Ethereum, valuing them at more than $800,000. The decree also required him to pay an additional $15,000 a month to his ex-wife as well as $3,999 a month to support four of their children, ages 10 to 18. The decree estimated the value of John Forsyth’s business interests outside his cryptocurrency holdings at $1 million.

John and Richard Forsyth were among seven siblings in an extended family with more than 100 cousins. The brothers grew up both in southwest Missouri and Alberta, Canada, and had dual American and Canadian citizenship, Richard Forsyth said.

The family had a private funeral Saturday, followed by a public vigil Sunday night in a park in Monett just north of Cassville. There, about 40 people, mostly family members, lit memorial candles and shared poignant and humorous stories about him.

Colleagues remembered how Forsyth often tried to lighten the mood in the intense emergency room of a hospital in the town of Aurora where he worked. Nurse Leah Tate remarked that he liked to see “just how much he could annoy you,” drawing chuckles from those gathered for the memorial service. She said Forsyth once made it his mission to get a nurse to throw something at him at least once a day.

Louise Hensley, a Monett resident and former neighbor of John Forsyth, said he treated her husband, who had Lou Gehrig's disease, for several years.

“He was always so caring about his patients. He was so helpful to my husband and me during that time," said Hensley, who described Forsyth's death as “tragic.”

"I was just shocked when I heard a doctor was missing and then saw it was him.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1685465277680.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN HANNA&nbsp;The death of a Missouri doctor who was found 11 months ago in a northwest Arkansas lake has been ruled a suicide, Arkansas authorities said Thursday.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-doctor-dead-john-forsyth-mystery-db7149050aedc913a184bc43f579db08">Dr. John Forsyth</a>&nbsp;died of a gunshot wound to the head, the Benton County, Arkansas, sheriff's department said in a statement. An autopsy by the chief medical examiner at the Arkansas State Crime Lab concluded that it was a suicide.The sheriff’s office said that its detectives located several surveillance videos of Forsyth riding a bicycle to the lake and the bicycle was located near where Forsyth’s body was found.Forsyth, 49, didn't show up for his May 21, 2023, shift at Mercy Hospital in Cassville, Missouri, where he had parked his RV. That prompted&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-doctor-missing-ozarks-f7f68205ec6db1f866e99ec4707443af">a search,</a>&nbsp;and there was no sign of him until a kayaker noticed his body in Arkansas on May 30, at a spot on Beaver Lake about 20 miles (32 kilometers) away from his last known location.The mystery surrounding his death gave his case national attention. Social media have speculated that his death may have been connected to the cryptocurrency company that he co-founded with his brother.“Detectives have not been able to find any information or evidence that would lead us to dispute the medical examiner's findings,” the sheriff's statement said. “If objective and relevant physical evidence becomes available, those leads will be investigated on a case-by-case basis.”--- EDITOR’S NOTE — This story includes discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988. There is also an online chat at&nbsp;<a href="http://988lifeline.org/">988lifeline.org</a>&nbsp;---------------CASSVILLE, Mo. (AP) — John Forsyth was known as a hard-working doctor who cared deeply for his patients and often teased nurses in the emergency room to ease tension. He was a father of eight and newly engaged. He also co-founded a cryptocurrency business with his brother.His sudden disappearance from a southwestern Missouri town last month — and the eventual&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-doctor-missing-ozarks-f7f68205ec6db1f866e99ec4707443af">discovery of his body</a>&nbsp;in an Arkansas lake — has led many to wonder what happened to the man who seemed happier than he’d been for some time. A lack of information from law enforcement has only deepened the mystery, prompting amateur sleuths to espouse theories on Facebook.“It’s like the world dropped on us; we’re just in shock” said his sister Tiffany Forsyth. “There’s a part of me that’s not quite sure this is real yet. I guess it comes in steps.”Forsyth disappeared on May 21 from a parking area at a public swimming pool. His body, which had suffered an apparent gunshot wound, was found nine days later. An autopsy was done, but a report isn't expected for at least two months. Law enforcement officers have released almost no details, except to say there is no danger to the public.The doctor's family is adamant that his death wasn’t a suicide: He had just recently become engaged, and his fiancee was pregnant.Some true-crime followers on social media have speculated that his death may have been connected to the cryptocurrency company that he co-founded with his brother, Richard Forsyth. Multiple other theories also have surfaced in a Facebook discussion group that has grown to more than 1,000 members. Posts in that group are now closed to public view.Only 10 days before his disappearance, a judge had finalized Forsyth's divorce — his second from the same woman. The split was amicable, according to family members and the ex-wife's attorney, Ryan Ricketts, who said she was “devastated” by the doctor’s death.Richard Forsyth said his brother was excited about his upcoming marriage and new child and had a plane ticket to go see one of his daughters.“He said, ‘I can’t wait to introduce her to you. We’re going to have a wonderful life together. We’re all going to spend a lot of time together,’” Richard Forsyth said. " ... I hadn't seen him that happy for a long time.”Forsyth even texted his fiancee on the day of his disappearance, saying he would see her soon, according to his brother. The fiancee did not answer a social media request for an interview.Alongside hopeful comments about his future life, however, John Forsyth had recently made cryptic remarks about possibly being in danger, his brother said, adding, “I think he crossed paths with some bad folks and he didn’t tell me about them."CONFLICTING INFORMATION There has been some confusion about what happened near the public pool where John Forsyth was last seen in Cassville, 40 miles (64 kilometers) west of the Ozark Mountains tourist destination of Branson and about half a mile from a hospital where he worked. On May 21, the pool had yet to open for the summer season. Beaver Lake, a man-made reservoir used for recreation and where his body was found, is at least an hour’s drive away from Cassville, over twisty highways that snake through the Ozarks.Initially, Richard Forsyth said security camera footage showed his brother getting into someone else’s vehicle. He now says the footage shows that a few minutes after the doctor parked his car, a white SUV arrived, then left shortly afterward. About 10 or 15 minutes after that, the doctor got out of his car and walked away, never to be seen alive again, Richard Forsyth said. Found inside his unlocked car were two cellphones, a laptop and important documents, he said.So far, authorities — who have stressed a need to investigate thoroughly before releasing information — have not said whether the SUV was related to Forsyth's disappearance, or whether they've found the gun used to shoot him or identified any suspects.Richard Forsyth said family members have been told it could be a long wait for answers, but they have confidence in the investigating officers.CRYPTO CONNECTIONS Authorities have also not indicated how deeply they are looking into Forsyth’s connections to crypto.Online publications covering the industry quickly took note of his death, which was confirmed just seven weeks after authorities in the San Francisco area charged a tech consultant with the stabbing death of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cash-app-bob-lee-founder-stabbed-13dab701a332328c531b3c6c444983fd">Cash App founder Bob Lee.</a>John and Richard Forsyth founded Onfo LLC, what they called a “network mining” venture, in 2018. At that time, Onfo’s website said account holders could earn credits without putting up cash, by referring others to the company.Onfo's website features a nearly eight-minute video titled, “The U.S. Dollar is Doomed,” which says all governments’ currencies could collapse. The video promoting the launch of Onfo portrayed bankers and political officials as pigs in suits, describing them as, “drunk on expensive liquor, resting in palaces.”<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/lukefitzpatrick/2020/04/27/bitcoin-halving-a-new-class-of-bitcoin-millionaires-may-emerge/?sh=2453ff1e61fc">An online Forbes magazine story</a>&nbsp;in 2020 described John Forsyth as a bitcoin millionaire.But Richard Forsyth said he and his brother were looking to give large numbers of people, including poor people in developing nations, a chance to invest in decentralized, digital currency. He described Onfo as fighting what the brothers believed crypto had become: driven by greed, “about Lamborghinis” and “billionaires and tax evasion.”Paul Sibenik, lead case manager for CipherBlade, an agency that investigates cybercrimes involving crypto, said Onfo’s business model resembles pyramid schemes, which rely on an ever-growing number of referrals and cannot be sustained.“There is not a single legitimate cryptocurrency project that operates in this way,” Sibenik said in an email to The Associated Press.Richard Forsyth acknowledged that others might question whether Onfo was a “multi-level marketing” operation, but added, “The key difference is that we never sold anything.” And, he said, it's probably cost them millions of dollars, rather than turning a profit.“What we are just doing is saying to people, ‘Let’s build this together,’" he said.John Forsyth had substantial crypto currency holdings when his second divorce became final last month. The divorce decree evenly split his and his ex-wife's holdings in bitcoin and another digital currency, Ethereum, valuing them at more than $800,000. The decree also required him to pay an additional $15,000 a month to his ex-wife as well as $3,999 a month to support four of their children, ages 10 to 18. The decree estimated the value of John Forsyth’s business interests outside his cryptocurrency holdings at $1 million.A FRIENDS' AND FAMILY'S FAREWELL John and Richard Forsyth were among seven siblings in an extended family with more than 100 cousins. The brothers grew up both in southwest Missouri and Alberta, Canada, and had dual American and Canadian citizenship, Richard Forsyth said.The family had a private funeral Saturday, followed by a public vigil Sunday night in a park in Monett just north of Cassville. There, about 40 people, mostly family members, lit memorial candles and shared poignant and humorous stories about him.Colleagues remembered how Forsyth often tried to lighten the mood in the intense emergency room of a hospital in the town of Aurora where he worked. Nurse Leah Tate remarked that he liked to see “just how much he could annoy you,” drawing chuckles from those gathered for the memorial service. She said Forsyth once made it his mission to get a nurse to throw something at him at least once a day.Louise Hensley, a Monett resident and former neighbor of John Forsyth, said he treated her husband, who had Lou Gehrig's disease, for several years.“He was always so caring about his patients. He was so helpful to my husband and me during that time," said Hensley, who described Forsyth's death as “tragic.”"I was just shocked when I heard a doctor was missing and then saw it was him.”

Officials determine cause of death of Mo. doctor whose body was found in lake 

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The FCC on Thursday restored “net neutrality” rules that prevent broadband internet providers such as Comcast and AT&amp;T from favoring some sites and apps over others.

The move effectively reinstates a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-united-states-government-6e1a7d433381466bbd700df770ceb323">net neutrality order</a>&nbsp;the commission first issued in 2015 during the Obama administration; under then-President Donald Trump, the FCC subsequently&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/e1eabbdf1525477dbaacf1a482b57ed4">repealed those rules in 2017</a>.

Net neutrality is the principle that providers of internet service should treat all traffic equally. The rules, for instance, ban practices that throttle or block certain sites or apps, or that offer higher speeds to customers willing to pay extra.

“In our post-pandemic world, we know that broadband is a necessity, not a luxury,” FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said in a statement ahead of the vote.

The telecommunications industry opposed the reintroduction of the rules, as it has before, declaring it an example of unnecessary government interference in business decisions.

The measure passed on a 3-2 vote split by party lines, with Democratic commissioners in favor and Republicans opposed.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The FCC on Thursday restored “net neutrality” rules that prevent broadband internet providers such as Comcast and AT&amp;T from favoring some sites and apps over others.The move effectively reinstates a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-united-states-government-6e1a7d433381466bbd700df770ceb323">net neutrality order</a>&nbsp;the commission first issued in 2015 during the Obama administration; under then-President Donald Trump, the FCC subsequently&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/e1eabbdf1525477dbaacf1a482b57ed4">repealed those rules in 2017</a>.Net neutrality is the principle that providers of internet service should treat all traffic equally. The rules, for instance, ban practices that throttle or block certain sites or apps, or that offer higher speeds to customers willing to pay extra.“In our post-pandemic world, we know that broadband is a necessity, not a luxury,” FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said in a statement ahead of the vote.The telecommunications industry opposed the reintroduction of the rules, as it has before, declaring it an example of unnecessary government interference in business decisions.The measure passed on a 3-2 vote split by party lines, with Democratic commissioners in favor and Republicans opposed.

Net neutrality is back as FCC votes to regulate internet providers

By DUSTIN ARMBRUSTER Hays Post

A basketball game was played. There was a winner. However, in the end, it was all to raise money for ALS.&nbsp;

"It was all for a good cause. It was a fun atmosphere," said Thomas More Prep-Marian student council sponsor Emma Stroyan, who not only helped her students plan the event but also played in the game.&nbsp;

The planning began at TMP in August 2023 for a student service project. That quickly transformed into an idea to include Hays High School's student council for a combined effort.

The student council members from both schools made plans, had lunch together and was ready to go in March. The original date though was scrapped due to terrible weather conditions that threatened the safety of any one attending the event.

One month later the game was moved to Hays High.

A large student section showed up for both schools, helping create the night's rivalry. Each school's pep bands also played.

In addition to the game, half-court shots were taken to win prizes, raffle prizes were given away and a three-point contest was conducted at halftime. Two students from TMP won the shooting contest, leaving Hays High student council sponsor Alan Neal to receive a whipped cream pie to the face.

"We didn't know what to expect. Awesome turnout. Kids were here, kids were rowdy. ... But an amazing fun night," Neal said. He also gives full credit to TMP and its STUCO for the idea and for initiating contact with Hays High.

A traveling trophy was awarded to TMP, who won the game 49-41. Likely, though, the most important stat of the night was the zero injuries suffered by the staff members. The hope is that the game will remain a yearly collaboration through the change of student council members from year to year. $1,400 was raised in the inaugural event.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1714058827681.jpeg" alt="Hays High TMP Scoreboard" />
 <figcaption>Hays High TMP Scoreboard</figcaption>
 </figure>By DUSTIN ARMBRUSTER Hays PostA basketball game was played. There was a winner. However, in the end, it was all to raise money for ALS.&nbsp;"It was all for a good cause. It was a fun atmosphere," said Thomas More Prep-Marian student council sponsor Emma Stroyan, who not only helped her students plan the event but also played in the game.&nbsp;<div><iframe width="100%" height="300" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/1807779402&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true&visual=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509" title="Eagle Radio" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Eagle Radio</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509/emma-stroyan" title="Emma Stroyan" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Emma Stroyan</a></div></div>The planning began at TMP in August 2023 for a student service project. That quickly transformed into an idea to include Hays High School's student council for a combined effort.The student council members from both schools made plans, had lunch together and was ready to go in March. The original date though was scrapped due to terrible weather conditions that threatened the safety of any one attending the event.One month later the game was moved to Hays High.A large student section showed up for both schools, helping create the night's rivalry. Each school's pep bands also played.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1714058860416.jpeg" alt="Trophy" />
 <figcaption>Trophy</figcaption>
 </figure>In addition to the game, half-court shots were taken to win prizes, raffle prizes were given away and a three-point contest was conducted at halftime. Two students from TMP won the shooting contest, leaving Hays High student council sponsor Alan Neal to receive a whipped cream pie to the face."We didn't know what to expect. Awesome turnout. Kids were here, kids were rowdy. ... But an amazing fun night," Neal said. He also gives full credit to TMP and its STUCO for the idea and for initiating contact with Hays High.<div><iframe width="100%" height="300" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/1807779450&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true&visual=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509" title="Eagle Radio" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Eagle Radio</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509/alan-neal" title="Alan Neal" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Alan Neal</a></div></div>A traveling trophy was awarded to TMP, who won the game 49-41. Likely, though, the most important stat of the night was the zero injuries suffered by the staff members. The hope is that the game will remain a yearly collaboration through the change of student council members from year to year. $1,400 was raised in the inaugural event.