HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Kansas First District Congressman Tracey Mann was in Hutchinson on Saturday at the Kansas State Fair, and he talked to Hutch Post about the work that still needs to be done before the end of the federal fiscal year on Sept. 30.

"We go back for votes in D.C. this week," Mann said. "The House is in session the next three weeks here in September. It looks like there is momentum to do some kind of an extension. We'll know a lot more once we get to Washington D.C. this week and talk about what the plan is and what we do to fund the government moving forward."

Also up at the end of the fiscal year is the extension to the five-year farm bill that has now gone through a sixth, will it see a seventh? Quite possibly, according to Mann.

"I've been frustrated at how slow this farm bill process has been," Mann said. "I've been to the floor 33 times imploring members of Congress to get serious about getting a five-year farm bill done. It looks like, potentially, there'll be an extension. The House passed a really good version out of the House Ag Committee, that still needs to go to the floor and we need to conference with the Senate. Unfortunately, there's still a long way to go on the farm bill."

The political question is will the House Ag Committee continue under Republican control of the gavel? In other words, will Republicans still be in the House majority come January 2025?

"We're going to find out in November," Mann said. "Elections have consequences. It sure seems like Republicans are going to continue to have the majority in the House. I'm optimistic they will in the Senate as well, and win the White House, but we'll have to see what happens in November."

The most likely scenario at this point for all of this pending work is that it gets extended until at least the next Congress is seated, so that those who have tough elections on both sides of the aisle can come home and campaign.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1725719231298.jpeg" alt="The sun rises on the Kansas State Fairgrounds on Saturday, September 7, 2024. Photo by Nick Gosnell." />
 <figcaption>The sun rises on the Kansas State Fairgrounds on Saturday, September 7, 2024. Photo by Nick Gosnell.</figcaption>
 </figure>NICK GOSNELL Hutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. — Kansas First District Congressman Tracey Mann was in Hutchinson on Saturday at the Kansas State Fair, and he talked to Hutch Post about the work that still needs to be done before the end of the federal fiscal year on Sept. 30."We go back for votes in D.C. this week," Mann said. "The House is in session the next three weeks here in September. It looks like there is momentum to do some kind of an extension. We'll know a lot more once we get to Washington D.C. this week and talk about what the plan is and what we do to fund the government moving forward."Also up at the end of the fiscal year is the extension to the five-year farm bill that has now gone through a sixth, will it see a seventh? Quite possibly, according to Mann."I've been frustrated at how slow this farm bill process has been," Mann said. "I've been to the floor 33 times imploring members of Congress to get serious about getting a five-year farm bill done. It looks like, potentially, there'll be an extension. The House passed a really good version out of the House Ag Committee, that still needs to go to the floor and we need to conference with the Senate. Unfortunately, there's still a long way to go on the farm bill."The political question is will the House Ag Committee continue under Republican control of the gavel? In other words, will Republicans still be in the House majority come January 2025?"We're going to find out in November," Mann said. "Elections have consequences. It sure seems like Republicans are going to continue to have the majority in the House. I'm optimistic they will in the Senate as well, and win the White House, but we'll have to see what happens in November."The most likely scenario at this point for all of this pending work is that it gets extended until at least the next Congress is seated, so that those who have tough elections on both sides of the aisle can come home and campaign.

Rep. Mann discusses farm bill issues at the Kansas State Fair

HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State moved to 2-0 on the season and 1-0 to start MIAA play with a 30-16 win over Missouri Western on Saturday night in front of 6.572 at Lewis Field. The Tigers outscored the Griffons 20-3 in the second half after trailing by three at halftime. FHSU, ranked No. 24 in the latest D2Football.com Top 25 Poll, is off to a 2-0 start for the first time since the 2017 season.

The Tigers quickly took the lead on the first possession of the game. The Tigers needed only 1:38 to go 63 yards in four plays for a touchdown, capped on a 16-yard pass from Jack Dawson to Jabari Lewis. The Tigers had a long look at a field goal on their next drive, but could not connect and then the Griffons responded with a 5-play, 69-yard touchdown drive to tie the game at 7-7. The Tigers drove the ball deep in Griffon territory toward the end of the first quarter, but had to settle for a 19-yard field goal from Carson Arndt&nbsp;to lead 10-7 after the first frame.

The Tigers squandered a chance for more points in the second quarter after gaining a turnover deep in Griffon territory, but they gave the ball right back. Later in the second quarter, the Griffons took their only lead of the game on a 17-yard touchdown pass from Branden Berwald to Michael Haggerty.

Good fortune broke the Tigers' way right at the start of the second half when the Griffons fumbled the kick return and the Tigers fell on the ball at the MWSU 20. That led to a 30-yard field goal by Carson Arndt&nbsp;to tie the game at 13-13. The Tigers would pick up another field goal to take the lead back on their next drive, this time Arndt connecting from 35 yards to put the Tigers up 16-13. Then on their final drive of the third quarter, Shane Watts&nbsp;broke free for a 42-yard touchdown run as time expired. FHSU led 23-13 going to the fourth quarter.

A Cody Watson 48-yard field goal into a decent breeze brought the Griffons back within seven points on the first Griffon drive of the fourth quarter, but the Tiger defense would not surrender any more points the rest of the way, stopping three more Missouri Western drives. FHSU cashed in more points on its third drive of the fourth quarter, marching 54 yards on seven plays and capped on a one-yard touchdown run by Caleb Heavner.

Shane Watts had a big game for the Tigers with 195 all-purpose yards. He rushed the ball a career-high 24 times and came up just a yard short of his career best in rushing yardage, finishing the game at 161 yards on the ground. He added 34 receiving yards, with a 29-yard dash setting up the Heavner score in the fourth quarter. Dawson&nbsp;threw for 158 yards on 13-of-26 passing, while Cale Cormaney&nbsp;led the Tigers in receiving yards with 47. Jabari Lewis&nbsp;finished with 125 all-purpose yards, 96 on kick returns and 29 on receptions. Arndt finished 3-of-4 on field goal attempts in the game.

On defense, Mason Perez&nbsp;led the Tigers with eight tackles, followed by John Johnson&nbsp;with seven. Myles Menges&nbsp;recorded the only sack of the night for the Tigers, which was a strip sack to give the Tigers a turnover. It helped set up the scoring drive with Arndt's field goal that put the Tigers up 16-13 in the third quarter.

Both teams did the majority of their offensive damage on the ground, 208 rushing yards for the Griffons compared to 179 for the Tigers. The Griffons finished with 382 total yards, while the Tigers finished with 337.Quarterback Branden Berwald led the Griffons in passing with 120 yards and rushing with 88. Jake Berrey led the Griffons in receiving yards with 53. Kienen Gaskin led MWSU in tackles with 10, while Jaden Brown recorded two of five sacks for MWSU.

Saturday's win marked the first time the Tigers have come back from a halftime deficit and won since rallying from 21-down to beat #12 Nebraska-Kearney on 42-35 on October 2, 2021.

The Tigers play their first road game of the season next Saturday evening at Northwest Missouri State. The Bearcats started the season ranked No. 22 in the AFCA Top 25 Poll, but now sit at 0-2 overall and 0-1 in the MIAA after a loss at Nebraska-Kearney on Saturday night.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1725772302717.png" alt="Fort Hays State recovers a fumble in the third quarter of their game vs. Missouri Western State on Saturday, September 7, 2024. (FHSU Athletics photo/Corbyn Hahn)" />
 <figcaption>Fort Hays State recovers a fumble in the third quarter of their game vs. Missouri Western State on Saturday, September 7, 2024. (FHSU Athletics photo/Corbyn Hahn)</figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU AthleticsHAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State moved to 2-0 on the season and 1-0 to start MIAA play with a 30-16 win over Missouri Western on Saturday night in front of 6.572 at Lewis Field. The Tigers outscored the Griffons 20-3 in the second half after trailing by three at halftime. FHSU, ranked No. 24 in the latest D2Football.com Top 25 Poll, is off to a 2-0 start for the first time since the 2017 season.The Tigers quickly took the lead on the first possession of the game. The Tigers needed only 1:38 to go 63 yards in four plays for a touchdown, capped on a 16-yard pass from Jack Dawson to Jabari Lewis. The Tigers had a long look at a field goal on their next drive, but could not connect and then the Griffons responded with a 5-play, 69-yard touchdown drive to tie the game at 7-7. The Tigers drove the ball deep in Griffon territory toward the end of the first quarter, but had to settle for a 19-yard field goal from Carson Arndt&nbsp;to lead 10-7 after the first frame.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1725772492410.jpeg" alt="Fort Hays State's Jabari Lewis (8) makes a touchdown catch in the first quarter against Missouri Western State on Saturday, September 7, 2024. (Hays Post photo/Jeff Leiker)" />
 <figcaption>Fort Hays State's Jabari Lewis (8) makes a touchdown catch in the first quarter against Missouri Western State on Saturday, September 7, 2024. (Hays Post photo/Jeff Leiker)</figcaption>
 </figure>The Tigers squandered a chance for more points in the second quarter after gaining a turnover deep in Griffon territory, but they gave the ball right back. Later in the second quarter, the Griffons took their only lead of the game on a 17-yard touchdown pass from Branden Berwald to Michael Haggerty.<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/1912443539&color=%23ff5500&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/fhsu-chris-brown-postgame-v-missouri-western" title="Chris Brown Postgame vs. Missouri Western (September 7, 2024)" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Chris Brown Postgame vs. Missouri Western (September 7, 2024)</a></div></div>Good fortune broke the Tigers' way right at the start of the second half when the Griffons fumbled the kick return and the Tigers fell on the ball at the MWSU 20. That led to a 30-yard field goal by Carson Arndt&nbsp;to tie the game at 13-13. The Tigers would pick up another field goal to take the lead back on their next drive, this time Arndt connecting from 35 yards to put the Tigers up 16-13. Then on their final drive of the third quarter, Shane Watts&nbsp;broke free for a 42-yard touchdown run as time expired. FHSU led 23-13 going to the fourth quarter.A Cody Watson 48-yard field goal into a decent breeze brought the Griffons back within seven points on the first Griffon drive of the fourth quarter, but the Tiger defense would not surrender any more points the rest of the way, stopping three more Missouri Western drives. FHSU cashed in more points on its third drive of the fourth quarter, marching 54 yards on seven plays and capped on a one-yard touchdown run by Caleb Heavner.<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/1912443884&color=%23ff5500&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/fhsu-shane-watts-postgame-v-missouri-western" title="Shane Watts Postgame vs. Missouri Western (September 7, 2024)" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Shane Watts Postgame vs. Missouri Western (September 7, 2024)</a></div></div>Shane Watts had a big game for the Tigers with 195 all-purpose yards. He rushed the ball a career-high 24 times and came up just a yard short of his career best in rushing yardage, finishing the game at 161 yards on the ground. He added 34 receiving yards, with a 29-yard dash setting up the Heavner score in the fourth quarter. Dawson&nbsp;threw for 158 yards on 13-of-26 passing, while Cale Cormaney&nbsp;led the Tigers in receiving yards with 47. Jabari Lewis&nbsp;finished with 125 all-purpose yards, 96 on kick returns and 29 on receptions. Arndt finished 3-of-4 on field goal attempts in the game.<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/1912443722&color=%23ff5500&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/fhsu-mason-perez-postgame-v-missouri-western" title="Mason Perez Postgame vs. Missouri Western (September 7, 2024)" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Mason Perez Postgame vs. Missouri Western (September 7, 2024)</a></div></div>On defense, Mason Perez&nbsp;led the Tigers with eight tackles, followed by John Johnson&nbsp;with seven. Myles Menges&nbsp;recorded the only sack of the night for the Tigers, which was a strip sack to give the Tigers a turnover. It helped set up the scoring drive with Arndt's field goal that put the Tigers up 16-13 in the third quarter.<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/1912443980&color=%23ff5500&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/fhsu-fb-highlights-v-missouri-western-sept-7-2024" title="FHSU FB Highlights vs. Missouri Western (September 7, 2024)" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">FHSU FB Highlights vs. Missouri Western (September 7, 2024)</a></div></div>Both teams did the majority of their offensive damage on the ground, 208 rushing yards for the Griffons compared to 179 for the Tigers. The Griffons finished with 382 total yards, while the Tigers finished with 337.Quarterback Branden Berwald led the Griffons in passing with 120 yards and rushing with 88. Jake Berrey led the Griffons in receiving yards with 53. Kienen Gaskin led MWSU in tackles with 10, while Jaden Brown recorded two of five sacks for MWSU.SECOND HALF COMEBACKSaturday's win marked the first time the Tigers have come back from a halftime deficit and won since rallying from 21-down to beat #12 Nebraska-Kearney on 42-35 on October 2, 2021.UP NEXTThe Tigers play their first road game of the season next Saturday evening at Northwest Missouri State. The Bearcats started the season ranked No. 22 in the AFCA Top 25 Poll, but now sit at 0-2 overall and 0-1 in the MIAA after a loss at Nebraska-Kearney on Saturday night.&nbsp;&nbsp;

🏈 Tigers get past Griffons to move to 2-0

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The Fort Hays State volleyball team wrapped up its trip to the 2024 Mountain Lion Classic with a four-set victory over Cameron University on Saturday, 25-19, 25-11, 20-25, 25-14. The Tigers move to 2-1 on the season, while the Aggies wrap up the opening weekend 0-4.

Fort Hays State took control early, never trailing in the first set. The Tigers turned a 7-7 tie into a 15-8 lead thanks to an 8-1 run.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-volleyball/roster/gracie-rains/7948">Gracie Rains</a>&nbsp;fueled the run with three kills and an assisted block. The Tigers led by at least four the rest of the way, eventually taking the frame 25-19.The Tigers only trailed once in the second set at 2-1. Another big run midway through the frame gave the Tigers a nine-point advantage when FHSU scored seven-straight points to go up 16-7. A kill from&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-volleyball/roster/grace-schmedding/8180">Grace Schmedding</a>&nbsp;helped the Tigers reach set point before an Aggie miscue gave FHSU a 2-0 lead in the match.

After posting an attack percentage of .046 over the first two sets, Cameron bounced back with a swing rate of .447 in the third set. The score was tied 10 times in the frame before the Aggies pulled away to win, 25-20.The teams traded punches early in the fourth set before a 9-2 Tiger run turned an 11-10 score into a 20-12 FHSU advantage. Schmedding finished things off with her eighth kill of the contest to seal the victory.Rains led the team with 10 kills. Eleven different Tigers recorded at least one kill, including nine with multiple kills and five with five or more.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-volleyball/roster/caiya-stucky/7954">Caiya Stucky</a>&nbsp;distributed 23 assists, while&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-volleyball/roster/abrey-galt/7955">Abrey Galt</a>&nbsp;added 19 assists and eight digs.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-volleyball/roster/tallon-rentschler/7951">Tallon Rentschler</a>&nbsp;led the team with 14 digs, with&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-volleyball/roster/kirsten-evans/7943">Kirsten Evans</a>&nbsp;adding 13 digs and two service aces.

Rains was picked to the all-tournament team after totaling 38 kills across the three matches, averaging 2.92 kills per set. She added five blocks, one service ace and posted an attack percentage of .242.

Fort Hays State will return home to host the 2024 Tiger Classic next weekend (Sept. 13-14). The Tigers will take on UC-Colorado Springs in a rematch of yesterday's contest on Friday at 6 p.m. before FHSU battles Truman State (noon) and Northwestern Oklahoma State (6 p.m.) on Saturday.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1725771611736.png" alt="FHSU Athletics photo/Ryan Prickett" />
 <figcaption>FHSU Athletics photo/Ryan Prickett</figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU AthleticsCOLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The Fort Hays State volleyball team wrapped up its trip to the 2024 Mountain Lion Classic with a four-set victory over Cameron University on Saturday, 25-19, 25-11, 20-25, 25-14. The Tigers move to 2-1 on the season, while the Aggies wrap up the opening weekend 0-4.Fort Hays State took control early, never trailing in the first set. The Tigers turned a 7-7 tie into a 15-8 lead thanks to an 8-1 run.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-volleyball/roster/gracie-rains/7948">Gracie Rains</a>&nbsp;fueled the run with three kills and an assisted block. The Tigers led by at least four the rest of the way, eventually taking the frame 25-19.The Tigers only trailed once in the second set at 2-1. Another big run midway through the frame gave the Tigers a nine-point advantage when FHSU scored seven-straight points to go up 16-7. A kill from&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-volleyball/roster/grace-schmedding/8180">Grace Schmedding</a>&nbsp;helped the Tigers reach set point before an Aggie miscue gave FHSU a 2-0 lead in the match.After posting an attack percentage of .046 over the first two sets, Cameron bounced back with a swing rate of .447 in the third set. The score was tied 10 times in the frame before the Aggies pulled away to win, 25-20.The teams traded punches early in the fourth set before a 9-2 Tiger run turned an 11-10 score into a 20-12 FHSU advantage. Schmedding finished things off with her eighth kill of the contest to seal the victory.Rains led the team with 10 kills. Eleven different Tigers recorded at least one kill, including nine with multiple kills and five with five or more.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-volleyball/roster/caiya-stucky/7954">Caiya Stucky</a>&nbsp;distributed 23 assists, while&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-volleyball/roster/abrey-galt/7955">Abrey Galt</a>&nbsp;added 19 assists and eight digs.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-volleyball/roster/tallon-rentschler/7951">Tallon Rentschler</a>&nbsp;led the team with 14 digs, with&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-volleyball/roster/kirsten-evans/7943">Kirsten Evans</a>&nbsp;adding 13 digs and two service aces.Rains was picked to the all-tournament team after totaling 38 kills across the three matches, averaging 2.92 kills per set. She added five blocks, one service ace and posted an attack percentage of .242.UP NEXTFort Hays State will return home to host the 2024 Tiger Classic next weekend (Sept. 13-14). The Tigers will take on UC-Colorado Springs in a rematch of yesterday's contest on Friday at 6 p.m. before FHSU battles Truman State (noon) and Northwestern Oklahoma State (6 p.m.) on Saturday.&nbsp;&nbsp;

🏐 Tigers knock off Aggies in Mountain Lion Classic finale

WICHITA, Kan. – The Fort Hays State men's and women's cross country teams both opened the 2024 season with a fourth place finish at the JK Gold Classic, hosted by Wichita State University Saturday at the Clapp Golf Course.

The Tiger women combined for 76 team points, with six FHSU competitors placing inside the top 23. All but one of the other finishers inside the top 23 were NCAA Division I runners.

Fort Hays State was the top NCAA Division II team, beating four other DII programs. FHSU's nearest DII competitor was Washburn nearly 100 points behind with 172.Transfer&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-cross-country/roster/emily-diercks/8438">Emily Diercks</a>&nbsp;was the top Tiger placer in the 112-finisher field, completing the five-kilometer trek in 17:53.1. Returning All-Region finisher&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-cross-country/roster/jaycee-vath/8137">Jaycee Vath</a>&nbsp;joined Diercks in the top 10, placing 10th with a time of 18:00.8. Freshman&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-cross-country/roster/emma-weiner/8147">Emma Weiner</a>&nbsp;made her collegiate debut with a 17th-place finish, crossing the line in 18:21.2. Transfer&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-cross-country/roster/taylor-hoskinson/8143">Taylor Hoskinson</a>&nbsp;finished in 20th place with a time of 18:42. Senior&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-cross-country/roster/darian-hudgeons/8133">Darian Hudgeons</a>&nbsp;rounded out the scoring lineup after traversing the course in 18:46.5, good for 22nd place.

In the men's race, 13 schools posted a team score in the six-kilometer race, with the Tigers finishing second out of five NCAA Division II programs. Three newcomers were in the scoring top five for FHSU that combined for 116 points.

Senior&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/mens-cross-country/roster/jaret-pfizenmaier/8157">Jaret Pfizenmaier</a>&nbsp;was the top Tiger finisher in the 130-man field, placing seventh with a time of 18:23.8. Transfer&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/mens-cross-country/roster/christian-darrah/8164">Christian Darrah</a>&nbsp;was 26th after crossing the line in 18:57.2, followed closely by&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/mens-cross-country/roster/brady-stegman/8159">Brady Stegman</a>&nbsp;who finished in 18:59.7 to place 29th. A pair of freshman rounded out the Tiger top five, with&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/mens-cross-country/roster/cole-krug/8165">Cole Krug</a>&nbsp;finishing 38th with a time of 19:25.6 and&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/mens-cross-country/roster/elijah-mccullough/8168">Elijah McCullough</a>&nbsp;slotting in 40th after traversing the course in 19:27.6.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Full FHSU Women's Results 4th – Team – 76 points 7th –&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-cross-country/roster/emily-diercks/8438">Emily Diercks</a>&nbsp;– 17:53.1 10th –&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-cross-country/roster/jaycee-vath/8137">Jaycee Vath</a>&nbsp;– 18:00.8 17th –&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-cross-country/roster/emma-weiner/8147">Emma Weiner</a>&nbsp;– 18:21.2 20th –&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-cross-country/roster/taylor-hoskinson/8143">Taylor Hoskinson</a>&nbsp;– 18:42.8 22nd –&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-cross-country/roster/darian-hudgeons/8133">Darian Hudgeons</a>&nbsp;– 18:46.5 23rd –&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-cross-country/roster/makenzie-premer/8146">Makenzie Premer</a>&nbsp;– 18:47.0 30th –&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-cross-country/roster/abbye-hudson/8134">Abbye Hudson</a>&nbsp;– 19:09.9 33rd –&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-cross-country/roster/ashlyn-harbaugh/8132">Ashlyn Harbaugh</a>&nbsp;– 19:14.3 37th –&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-cross-country/roster/arely-maldonado/8144">Arely Maldonado</a>&nbsp;– 19:25.1 41st –&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-cross-country/roster/brenna-murphy/8135">Brenna Murphy</a>&nbsp;– 19:28.8 52nd –&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-cross-country/roster/keziah-bachman/8138">Keziah Bachman</a>&nbsp;– 20:04.1 59th –&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-cross-country/roster/alayna-cossaart/8131">Alayna Cossaart</a>&nbsp;– 20:28.8 62nd –&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-cross-country/roster/margaret-browning/8141">Margaret Browning</a>&nbsp;– 20:31.8 72nd –&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-cross-country/roster/madison-sutterfield/8136">Madison Sutterfield</a>&nbsp;– 20:45.9

Full FHSU Men's Results 4th – Team – 116 points 7th –&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/mens-cross-country/roster/jaret-pfizenmaier/8157">Jaret Pfizenmaier</a>&nbsp;– 18:23.8 26th –&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/mens-cross-country/roster/christian-darrah/8164">Christian Darrah</a>&nbsp;– 18:57.2 29th –&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/mens-cross-country/roster/brady-stegman/8159">Brady Stegman</a>&nbsp;– 18:59.7 38th –&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/mens-cross-country/roster/cole-krug/8165">Cole Krug</a>&nbsp;– 19:25.6 40th –&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/mens-cross-country/roster/elijah-mccullough/8168">Elijah McCullough</a>&nbsp;– 19:27.6 46th –&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/mens-cross-country/roster/kaiden-esfeld/8153">Kaiden Esfeld</a>&nbsp;– 19:37.9 47th –&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/mens-cross-country/roster/cori-deboest/8151">Cori DeBoest</a>&nbsp;– 19:38.0 50th –&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/mens-cross-country/roster/daniel-bechle/8148">Daniel Bechle</a>&nbsp;– 19:39.2 55th –&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/mens-cross-country/roster/brady-conway/8163">Brady Conway</a>&nbsp;– 19:52.5 58th –&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/mens-cross-country/roster/ethan-fisher/8154">Ethan Fisher</a>&nbsp;– 19:56.0 59th –&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/mens-cross-country/roster/chayse-mccullough/8385">Chayse McCullough</a>&nbsp;– 19:57.2 68th –&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/mens-cross-country/roster/ian-weich/8173">Ian Weich</a>&nbsp;– 20:12.1 76th –&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/mens-cross-country/roster/ethan-emmons/8152">Ethan Emmons</a>&nbsp;– 20:26.2 89th –&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/mens-cross-country/roster/andrew-waller/8161">Andrew Waller</a>&nbsp;– 20:52.3&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Tigers will next compete this Friday (Sept. 13) when they host the FHSU Tiger Open at Rolling Ridge Cross Country Course. The women's five-kilometer race is scheduled to begin at 9:20 a.m.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1725738113257.png" alt="FHSU Athletics photo/Jaxson Webb" />
 <figcaption>FHSU Athletics photo/Jaxson Webb</figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU AthleticsWICHITA, Kan. – The Fort Hays State men's and women's cross country teams both opened the 2024 season with a fourth place finish at the JK Gold Classic, hosted by Wichita State University Saturday at the Clapp Golf Course.The Tiger women combined for 76 team points, with six FHSU competitors placing inside the top 23. All but one of the other finishers inside the top 23 were NCAA Division I runners.Fort Hays State was the top NCAA Division II team, beating four other DII programs. FHSU's nearest DII competitor was Washburn nearly 100 points behind with 172.Transfer&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-cross-country/roster/emily-diercks/8438">Emily Diercks</a>&nbsp;was the top Tiger placer in the 112-finisher field, completing the five-kilometer trek in 17:53.1. Returning All-Region finisher&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-cross-country/roster/jaycee-vath/8137">Jaycee Vath</a>&nbsp;joined Diercks in the top 10, placing 10th with a time of 18:00.8. Freshman&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-cross-country/roster/emma-weiner/8147">Emma Weiner</a>&nbsp;made her collegiate debut with a 17th-place finish, crossing the line in 18:21.2. Transfer&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-cross-country/roster/taylor-hoskinson/8143">Taylor Hoskinson</a>&nbsp;finished in 20th place with a time of 18:42. Senior&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-cross-country/roster/darian-hudgeons/8133">Darian Hudgeons</a>&nbsp;rounded out the scoring lineup after traversing the course in 18:46.5, good for 22nd place.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1725738161879.png" alt="FHSU Athletrics photo (Clay Billman, OSU Athletics))" />
 <figcaption>FHSU Athletrics photo (Clay Billman, OSU Athletics))</figcaption>
 </figure>In the men's race, 13 schools posted a team score in the six-kilometer race, with the Tigers finishing second out of five NCAA Division II programs. Three newcomers were in the scoring top five for FHSU that combined for 116 points.Senior&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/mens-cross-country/roster/jaret-pfizenmaier/8157">Jaret Pfizenmaier</a>&nbsp;was the top Tiger finisher in the 130-man field, placing seventh with a time of 18:23.8. Transfer&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/mens-cross-country/roster/christian-darrah/8164">Christian Darrah</a>&nbsp;was 26th after crossing the line in 18:57.2, followed closely by&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/mens-cross-country/roster/brady-stegman/8159">Brady Stegman</a>&nbsp;who finished in 18:59.7 to place 29th. A pair of freshman rounded out the Tiger top five, with&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/mens-cross-country/roster/cole-krug/8165">Cole Krug</a>&nbsp;finishing 38th with a time of 19:25.6 and&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/mens-cross-country/roster/elijah-mccullough/8168">Elijah McCullough</a>&nbsp;slotting in 40th after traversing the course in 19:27.6.&nbsp;&nbsp;Full FHSU Women's Results 4th – Team – 76 points 7th –&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-cross-country/roster/emily-diercks/8438">Emily Diercks</a>&nbsp;– 17:53.1 10th –&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-cross-country/roster/jaycee-vath/8137">Jaycee Vath</a>&nbsp;– 18:00.8 17th –&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-cross-country/roster/emma-weiner/8147">Emma Weiner</a>&nbsp;– 18:21.2 20th –&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-cross-country/roster/taylor-hoskinson/8143">Taylor Hoskinson</a>&nbsp;– 18:42.8 22nd –&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-cross-country/roster/darian-hudgeons/8133">Darian Hudgeons</a>&nbsp;– 18:46.5 23rd –&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-cross-country/roster/makenzie-premer/8146">Makenzie Premer</a>&nbsp;– 18:47.0 30th –&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-cross-country/roster/abbye-hudson/8134">Abbye Hudson</a>&nbsp;– 19:09.9 33rd –&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-cross-country/roster/ashlyn-harbaugh/8132">Ashlyn Harbaugh</a>&nbsp;– 19:14.3 37th –&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-cross-country/roster/arely-maldonado/8144">Arely Maldonado</a>&nbsp;– 19:25.1 41st –&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-cross-country/roster/brenna-murphy/8135">Brenna Murphy</a>&nbsp;– 19:28.8 52nd –&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-cross-country/roster/keziah-bachman/8138">Keziah Bachman</a>&nbsp;– 20:04.1 59th –&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-cross-country/roster/alayna-cossaart/8131">Alayna Cossaart</a>&nbsp;– 20:28.8 62nd –&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-cross-country/roster/margaret-browning/8141">Margaret Browning</a>&nbsp;– 20:31.8 72nd –&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-cross-country/roster/madison-sutterfield/8136">Madison Sutterfield</a>&nbsp;– 20:45.9Full FHSU Men's Results 4th – Team – 116 points 7th –&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/mens-cross-country/roster/jaret-pfizenmaier/8157">Jaret Pfizenmaier</a>&nbsp;– 18:23.8 26th –&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/mens-cross-country/roster/christian-darrah/8164">Christian Darrah</a>&nbsp;– 18:57.2 29th –&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/mens-cross-country/roster/brady-stegman/8159">Brady Stegman</a>&nbsp;– 18:59.7 38th –&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/mens-cross-country/roster/cole-krug/8165">Cole Krug</a>&nbsp;– 19:25.6 40th –&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/mens-cross-country/roster/elijah-mccullough/8168">Elijah McCullough</a>&nbsp;– 19:27.6 46th –&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/mens-cross-country/roster/kaiden-esfeld/8153">Kaiden Esfeld</a>&nbsp;– 19:37.9 47th –&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/mens-cross-country/roster/cori-deboest/8151">Cori DeBoest</a>&nbsp;– 19:38.0 50th –&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/mens-cross-country/roster/daniel-bechle/8148">Daniel Bechle</a>&nbsp;– 19:39.2 55th –&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/mens-cross-country/roster/brady-conway/8163">Brady Conway</a>&nbsp;– 19:52.5 58th –&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/mens-cross-country/roster/ethan-fisher/8154">Ethan Fisher</a>&nbsp;– 19:56.0 59th –&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/mens-cross-country/roster/chayse-mccullough/8385">Chayse McCullough</a>&nbsp;– 19:57.2 68th –&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/mens-cross-country/roster/ian-weich/8173">Ian Weich</a>&nbsp;– 20:12.1 76th –&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/mens-cross-country/roster/ethan-emmons/8152">Ethan Emmons</a>&nbsp;– 20:26.2 89th –&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/mens-cross-country/roster/andrew-waller/8161">Andrew Waller</a>&nbsp;– 20:52.3&nbsp;&nbsp;UP NEXTThe Tigers will next compete this Friday (Sept. 13) when they host the FHSU Tiger Open at Rolling Ridge Cross Country Course. The women's five-kilometer race is scheduled to begin at 9:20 a.m.&nbsp;&nbsp;

🏃‍♂️ Tiger men's and women's cross country place fourth in Wichita

Robert Lee Wolfe, 73, passed away on September 5, 2024 at the Hays Medical Center in Hays, Kansas. &nbsp;He was born on October 12, 1950 in Bucyrus, Ohio the son of Harold and Betty (McClintock) Wolfe.

Memorial contributions may be given to the Sunley-Squier American Legion Post No. 382 of Brownell.

Words of sympathy and support may be left for the family at www.fitzgeraldfuneral.com.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1725726232232.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Robert Lee Wolfe, 73, passed away on September 5, 2024 at the Hays Medical Center in Hays, Kansas. &nbsp;He was born on October 12, 1950 in Bucyrus, Ohio the son of Harold and Betty (McClintock) Wolfe.Memorial contributions may be given to the Sunley-Squier American Legion Post No. 382 of Brownell.Words of sympathy and support may be left for the family at www.fitzgeraldfuneral.com.

Robert Lee Wolfe

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

Astra Bank officials broke ground on a new building at 27th and Main streets in Hays on Friday.

The bank purchased the property from the city of Hays. The city has also purchased the current Astra Bank building, 1100 Fort, and will renovate it into its new police station and municipal court.

The city had intended to use the property at 27th and Main for the new police station, but renovating the current Astra Bank location will save the city about $5 million.&nbsp;<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/feaccb3c-8500-45bc-b87d-804c7c322743">The Astra option is estimated to cost $8 million, while new construction would have cost about $13 million.</a>

The Astra facility would provide 23,000 square feet with room for expansion.

The proposed police station on Fort will also be across the street from the Ellis County Jail and Sheriff's Office.

Kyle Campbell, president and CEO of Astra Bank, said&nbsp;during the ground-breaking ceremony sponsored by The Chamber in Hays that the new bank location should benefit the bank.&nbsp;

He said the bank's current location did not meet its customers' banking needs today.

Among the upgrades will be better drive-through banking access, he said.

He joked that just during the groundbreaking, more traffic had gone by on 27th Street than during the entire week at their current location.

"It will be nice to be here where we are more accessible to the community, and I think also it will be a fantastic asset to the community in terms of starting the development of this really visible and prime location within Hays," Campbell said.

"We are very excited to be investing in Hays, and I want to thank all of you for taking the time to come out and help us celebrate this occasion, where we are looking forward to investing even more in the future of Hays."

The new bank is scheduled to be completed by summer 2025.

The project also will include retail or office space.

The lot is large enough that the bank hopes to work with a developer to build multi-family housing on the rest of the land.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/37d87ebe-0311-4ca6-889c-0e6b328a2de6">A new street will be constructed as part of the 27th and Main Street Addition.&nbsp;&nbsp;The property will have access along Fort Street, Main Street, 27th Street and from the planned extension of 26th Street through the center of the development. </a>

Campbell thanked the city, Grow Hays and local Astra Bank officials for their collaboration on the project.

"It has allowed us to get to what I think is truly a win-win for both the community and Astra Bank," he said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1725648650576.jpeg" alt="Ground is broken Friday on the new Astra Bank building at 27th and Main streets in Hays. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Ground is broken Friday on the new Astra Bank building at 27th and Main streets in Hays. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure><div><iframe title="Astra Bank breaks ground on new building at 27th, Main in Hays" 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=hi2a5-16c77df-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 PostAstra Bank officials broke ground on a new building at 27th and Main streets in Hays on Friday.The bank purchased the property from the city of Hays. The city has also purchased the current Astra Bank building, 1100 Fort, and will renovate it into its new police station and municipal court.The city had intended to use the property at 27th and Main for the new police station, but renovating the current Astra Bank location will save the city about $5 million.&nbsp;<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/feaccb3c-8500-45bc-b87d-804c7c322743">The Astra option is estimated to cost $8 million, while new construction would have cost about $13 million.</a>The Astra facility would provide 23,000 square feet with room for expansion.The proposed police station on Fort will also be across the street from the Ellis County Jail and Sheriff's Office.Kyle Campbell, president and CEO of Astra Bank, said&nbsp;during the ground-breaking ceremony sponsored by The Chamber in Hays that the new bank location should benefit the bank.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1725648763058.jpeg" alt="Kyle Campbell, president and CEO of Astra Bank, speaks to a crowd gathered for the groundbreaking of the bank's new building in Hays. To the left is a conceptual drawing of the new building. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Kyle Campbell, president and CEO of Astra Bank, speaks to a crowd gathered for the groundbreaking of the bank's new building in Hays. To the left is a conceptual drawing of the new building. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>He said the bank's current location did not meet its customers' banking needs today.Among the upgrades will be better drive-through banking access, he said.He joked that just during the groundbreaking, more traffic had gone by on 27th Street than during the entire week at their current location."It will be nice to be here where we are more accessible to the community, and I think also it will be a fantastic asset to the community in terms of starting the development of this really visible and prime location within Hays," Campbell said."We are very excited to be investing in Hays, and I want to thank all of you for taking the time to come out and help us celebrate this occasion, where we are looking forward to investing even more in the future of Hays."The new bank is scheduled to be completed by summer 2025.The project also will include retail or office space.The lot is large enough that the bank hopes to work with a developer to build multi-family housing on the rest of the land.<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/37d87ebe-0311-4ca6-889c-0e6b328a2de6">A new street will be constructed as part of the 27th and Main Street Addition.&nbsp;&nbsp;The property will have access along Fort Street, Main Street, 27th Street and from the planned extension of 26th Street through the center of the development. </a><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1725649047637.png" alt="27th and Main Street Development" />
 <figcaption>27th and Main Street Development</figcaption>
 </figure>Campbell thanked the city, Grow Hays and local Astra Bank officials for their collaboration on the project."It has allowed us to get to what I think is truly a win-win for both the community and Astra Bank," he said.

Astra Bank breaks ground on new building at 27th, Main in Hays

By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT Hays Post

RUSSELL – The TMP-Marian Monarchs entered Friday night’s season
opener in Russell losers of three straight against the Broncos and they hadn’t
scored on offensive touchdown in the last two games against the Broncos.

After all was said and done Friday, the Monarchs offense was still without a touchdown&nbsp; against Russell, no three straight games, but they ended the more important streak, the three-game
losing streak with a 7-6 victory.

&nbsp;After the Monarchs
forced the Broncos into a punt on their first possession and a short punt, TMP
took over at the Russell 22-yard line. They would drive inside the three-yard
line only to turn it over on downs. 

The Monarchs would force Russell offense into back-to-back
turnover on downs and both times get the ball inside the redzone only to fumble
the ball in the endzone resulting in a touchback both times.

The third quarter saw neither team able to get their offense
going in the third until Walker Middleton broke free for an 85-yard touchdown with
just over one minute and 35 second to play but Russell missed an extra point for a
6-0 lead.

TMP’s Logan Baalmann answered right back, returning the ensuing
kickoff 73 yards for the touchdown and Carson Liles added the extra point
putting TMP up 7-6 with one minute and 23 second left in the third quarter.

TMP forced Russell into a pair of fourth quarter touchdowns
and held on for the 7-6 victory.

Carson Liles finished 11-of-14 passing for 139 yards. Isaac Purinton
hauled in 4catches for 39 yards.

Baalmann recorded his first career sack and interception on
defense to go along with the special teams touchdown.

TMP ends their three-game losing streak against Russell and
opens the year 1-0 and 1-0 in the MCL.

The Monarchs will host Norton in their home opener in week two.

By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT Hays PostRUSSELL – The TMP-Marian Monarchs entered Friday night’s season
opener in Russell losers of three straight against the Broncos and they hadn’t
scored on offensive touchdown in the last two games against the Broncos.After all was said and done Friday, the Monarchs offense was still without a touchdown&nbsp; against Russell, no three straight games, but they ended the more important streak, the three-game
losing streak with a 7-6 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/1911946022&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-fb-coach-inv-vs-russell-september-6th-24" title="TMP FB Coach Inv Vs Russell September 6th 24" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">TMP FB Coach Inv Vs Russell September 6th 24</a></div></div>&nbsp;After the Monarchs
forced the Broncos into a punt on their first possession and a short punt, TMP
took over at the Russell 22-yard line. They would drive inside the three-yard
line only to turn it over on downs. The Monarchs would force Russell offense into back-to-back
turnover on downs and both times get the ball inside the redzone only to fumble
the ball in the endzone resulting in a touchback both times.The first half ended in a 0-0 tie.The third quarter saw neither team able to get their offense
going in the third until Walker Middleton broke free for an 85-yard touchdown with
just over one minute and 35 second to play but Russell missed an extra point for a
6-0 lead.TMP’s Logan Baalmann answered right back, returning the ensuing
kickoff 73 yards for the touchdown and Carson Liles added the extra point
putting TMP up 7-6 with one minute and 23 second left in the third quarter.TMP forced Russell into a pair of fourth quarter touchdowns
and held on for the 7-6 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/1911945458&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-fb-vs-russell-highlights-september-6th-24" title="TMP FB Vs Russell Highlights September 6th 24" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">TMP FB Vs Russell Highlights September 6th 24</a></div></div>Carson Liles finished 11-of-14 passing for 139 yards. Isaac Purinton
hauled in 4catches for 39 yards.Baalmann recorded his first career sack and interception on
defense to go along with the special teams touchdown.TMP ends their three-game losing streak against Russell and
opens the year 1-0 and 1-0 in the MCL.The Monarchs will host Norton in their home opener in week two.

🏈 Monarchs hold off Russell for win in season opener

By DUSTIN ARMBRUSTER Hays Post

HAYS - Derby took advantage of three possessions of great field position to score 20 unanswered points in the second quarter on the Panthers' way to a 40-7 win over Hays High Friday night at Lewis Field.

Derby scored the first 13 points of the game on a pair of touchdown passes to Tennessee commit Da'Saahn Brame. The first was on 3rd and goal from the 18 and the second on 4th and goal from the two.

Hays responded with a five play 65 yard drive that was capped off when Carter Graham found Holden Lind on a 32 yard screen play. The extra point by Carson Moore cut the lead down to 13-7 with 1:19 remaining in the first quarter.

The Indians had the ball down by six with seven minutes to go in the second quarter before turning the ball over on downs. Derby scored on the ensuing possession and each of the two after forcing Hays puts. The Panthers headed to the locker room with a 33-7 advantage.

Neither team scored in the third quarter and there were only seven total points scored in the second half. The Indians drove down to the Derby 10 yard line in the third quarter but failed to convert on fourth down after initially lining up for a field goal.&nbsp;

Derby scored on the next driving as they covered 90 yards and put the only second half points on the board for the final difference of 40-7.

Hays total 143 yards while Derby had 336. There were 21 accepted penalties. Derby was hit with 14 and Hays with 7.

Hays starts the year 0-1. Derby moves to 1-0.

The Indians head to Arvada, Colorado next week to take on Wheat Ridge High School.

By DUSTIN ARMBRUSTER Hays PostHAYS - Derby took advantage of three possessions of great field position to score 20 unanswered points in the second quarter on the Panthers' way to a 40-7 win over Hays High Friday night at Lewis Field.Derby scored the first 13 points of the game on a pair of touchdown passes to Tennessee commit Da'Saahn Brame. The first was on 3rd and goal from the 18 and the second on 4th and goal from the two.Hays responded with a five play 65 yard drive that was capped off when Carter Graham found Holden Lind on a 32 yard screen play. The extra point by Carson Moore cut the lead down to 13-7 with 1:19 remaining in the first quarter.The Indians had the ball down by six with seven minutes to go in the second quarter before turning the ball over on downs. Derby scored on the ensuing possession and each of the two after forcing Hays puts. The Panthers headed to the locker room with a 33-7 advantage.<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/1911949928&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/hays-high-fb-game-highlights-v-derby-sept-6-2024" title="Hays High FB Game Highlights v Derby (Sept 6 2024)" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Hays High FB Game Highlights v Derby (Sept 6 2024)</a></div></div>Neither team scored in the third quarter and there were only seven total points scored in the second half. The Indians drove down to the Derby 10 yard line in the third quarter but failed to convert on fourth down after initially lining up for a field goal.&nbsp;Derby scored on the next driving as they covered 90 yards and put the only second half points on the board for the final difference of 40-7.<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/1911950069&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/hays-high-postgame-v-derby-sept-6-2024" title="Hays High Postgame v Derby (Sept 6 2024)" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Hays High Postgame v Derby (Sept 6 2024)</a></div></div>Hays total 143 yards while Derby had 336. There were 21 accepted penalties. Derby was hit with 14 and Hays with 7.Hays starts the year 0-1. Derby moves to 1-0.The Indians head to Arvada, Colorado next week to take on Wheat Ridge High School.

🏈 Hays falls to #1 Derby to open the season

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Cole Ragans scattered four hits in six scoreless innings as the Kansas City Royals defeated the Minnesota Twins 5-0 on Friday night and traded places with the Twins in the AL Central and wild card standings.

The Royals now hold a half-game lead for second place in the division and the second wild card spot.

Michael Massey had three hits,&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/Royals/status/1832225056514080933">including a home run</a>, for the Royals.

Ragans (11-9) won for the first time since a 4-1 victory in Minneapolis on August 14, the Royals' lone win in Minnesota this season.

Zebby Matthews (1-3) took the loss. He allowed four runs on nine hits in five innings.

Ragans picked up his third strikeout of the game — and 200th of the season — to end the third inning, making him the fifth pitcher in Royals history to post 200 strikeouts in a season. He is the first Royals pitcher since Zack Greinke in 2009 to accomplish the feat.

The Royals plated a run in the third. Kyle Isbel drew a one-out walk and scored from first when Tommy Pham yanked the ball into the left field corner. The Twins answered with an almost identical play in the top of the fourth. Austin Martin ripped a two-out double to the wall in left, but Pham threw a relay to Bobby Witt Jr., who fired a strike to Salvador Perez to retire Kyle Farmer at the plate.

Massey then extended the lead in the bottom of the fourth on a 408-foot solo home run into the bullpen in right.

The Royals used their speed to add on in the fifth. Witt avoided a double play on a comebacker to Matthews and went to third on a single by MJ Melendez. Melendez stole second and both runners scored on a single by Hunter Renfroe.

Yuli Gurriel's sacrifice fly in the eighth scored the final run.

Royals: Renfroe was returned from the 10-day Injured List on Thursday's off day. In corresponding moves, RHP Steven Cruz was optioned to Triple-A Omaha and RHP Dan Altavilla was returned from the IL and designated for assignment.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Cole Ragans scattered four hits in six scoreless innings as the Kansas City Royals defeated the Minnesota Twins 5-0 on Friday night and traded places with the Twins in the AL Central and wild card standings.The Royals now hold a half-game lead for second place in the division and the second wild card spot.Michael Massey had three hits,&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/Royals/status/1832225056514080933">including a home run</a>, for the Royals.Ragans (11-9) won for the first time since a 4-1 victory in Minneapolis on August 14, the Royals' lone win in Minnesota this season.Zebby Matthews (1-3) took the loss. He allowed four runs on nine hits in five innings.Ragans picked up his third strikeout of the game — and 200th of the season — to end the third inning, making him the fifth pitcher in Royals history to post 200 strikeouts in a season. He is the first Royals pitcher since Zack Greinke in 2009 to accomplish the feat.The Royals plated a run in the third. Kyle Isbel drew a one-out walk and scored from first when Tommy Pham yanked the ball into the left field corner. The Twins answered with an almost identical play in the top of the fourth. Austin Martin ripped a two-out double to the wall in left, but Pham threw a relay to Bobby Witt Jr., who fired a strike to Salvador Perez to retire Kyle Farmer at the plate.Massey then extended the lead in the bottom of the fourth on a 408-foot solo home run into the bullpen in right.The Royals used their speed to add on in the fifth. Witt avoided a double play on a comebacker to Matthews and went to third on a single by MJ Melendez. Melendez stole second and both runners scored on a single by Hunter Renfroe.Yuli Gurriel's sacrifice fly in the eighth scored the final run.TRANSACTIONSRoyals: Renfroe was returned from the 10-day Injured List on Thursday's off day. In corresponding moves, RHP Steven Cruz was optioned to Triple-A Omaha and RHP Dan Altavilla was returned from the IL and designated for assignment.UP NEXT

⚾ Ragans throws 6 scoreless inning as Royals top Twins

By BRENT MARTIN St. Joseph Post

St. Joseph, Missouri Police Chief Paul Luster has requested the Missouri State Highway Patrol investigate an incident in which a young man shot himself while riding with a St. Joseph police officer.

The St. Joseph Police Department reports that the officer provided transportation for a 24-year-old man in a non-criminal matter shortly before 10:30 Thursday night. Shortly after the ride began the man “severely injured himself,” according to the department. The department says the officer rushed the man to the Mosaic Life Care emergency room where he was treated for a life-threatening injury.

The department reports the man is in critical condition.

Police Chief Luster asked the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control to investigate the matter. The St. Joseph Police Department will also conduct an internal investigation into the matter.

By BRENT MARTIN St. Joseph PostSt. Joseph, Missouri Police Chief Paul Luster has requested the Missouri State Highway Patrol investigate an incident in which a young man shot himself while riding with a St. Joseph police officer.The St. Joseph Police Department reports that the officer provided transportation for a 24-year-old man in a non-criminal matter shortly before 10:30 Thursday night. Shortly after the ride began the man “severely injured himself,” according to the department. The department says the officer rushed the man to the Mosaic Life Care emergency room where he was treated for a life-threatening injury.The department reports the man is in critical condition.Police Chief Luster asked the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control to investigate the matter. The St. Joseph Police Department will also conduct an internal investigation into the matter.

Man critically injured during non-criminal ride with police

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a homicide in Topeka.

Just before 9a.m. Friday, police responded to the 1300 block of SW Western in Topeka on a report of an individual down, according to Police Lt. Matt Danielson.

First responders located a man suffering from gunshot wounds. He was pronounced deceased on scene. 

Police have not released the man's name or reported any suspect details. Check the Post for additional details as they become available.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1725645926163.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation-photo by Eric Ives courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation-photo by Eric Ives courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a homicide in Topeka.Just before 9a.m. Friday, police responded to the 1300 block of SW Western in Topeka on a report of an individual down, according to Police Lt. Matt Danielson.First responders located a man suffering from gunshot wounds. He was pronounced deceased on scene. Police have not released the man's name or reported any suspect details. Check the Post for additional details as they become available.&nbsp;

Homicide: Man found with gunshot wound outside Kan. home

On Labor Day in Natoma, the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 109 hosted free family bingo for free mystery prizes. 

Following the annual parade, the American Legion Hall was open for 2 1/2 hours of excitement playing bingo during the annual community celebration. 

During the afternoon, the Auxiliary invited the community to support the Fort Dodge Soldiers Home Christmas store for veterans, monetarily and by donating a wide assortment of gift items. 

More than 100 veteran residents will shop free of charge for their families and for themselves during the event in December. 

A list of needed items can be found posted throughout the town and by checking the Natoma Face Book page. 

Auxiliary members continue to provide 22 annual projects through their volunteer efforts for veterans, their families, children, youth, and community. 

For information in joining the American Legion Auxiliary, or in helping veterans in the Fort Dodge Soldiers’ Home project, contact Jenjer Murphy, Unit 109 president.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1725643204502.jpeg" alt="Natoma American Legion Auxiliary hosted an afternoon of free family bingo during the annual Labor Day celebration in Natoma. (Courtesy Sheri Beisner)" />
 <figcaption>Natoma American Legion Auxiliary hosted an afternoon of free family bingo during the annual Labor Day celebration in Natoma. (Courtesy Sheri Beisner)</figcaption>
 </figure>By LAAH TUCKEROn Labor Day in Natoma, the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 109 hosted free family bingo for free mystery prizes. Following the annual parade, the American Legion Hall was open for 2 1/2 hours of excitement playing bingo during the annual community celebration. During the afternoon, the Auxiliary invited the community to support the Fort Dodge Soldiers Home Christmas store for veterans, monetarily and by donating a wide assortment of gift items. More than 100 veteran residents will shop free of charge for their families and for themselves during the event in December. A list of needed items can be found posted throughout the town and by checking the Natoma Face Book page. Auxiliary members continue to provide 22 annual projects through their volunteer efforts for veterans, their families, children, youth, and community. For information in joining the American Legion Auxiliary, or in helping veterans in the Fort Dodge Soldiers’ Home project, contact Jenjer Murphy, Unit 109 president.&nbsp;

Natoma American Legion Auxiliary hosts Labor Day bingo

By BECKY KISER Hays Post

The city of Hays has been awarded a technical assistance grant from the Federal Emergency Management Association, which will increase its likelihood of receiving federal financial assistance for the R9 long-term water project for Hays and Russell.

John Braun, R9 project manager, told Hays city commissioners Thursday that the technical assistance grant will help the city prepare its Building Resilient Infrastructure Communities grant application.

"This non-finance assistance program provides wide-ranging technical assistance to communities to undertake hazard mitigation solutions, which in the case of the cities of Hays and Russell is drought mitigation through the development of the R9 wellfield and pipeline project," Braun said.

Hays was the only city in Kansas to receive the FEMA technical grant.

A memorandum of understanding for the technical grant will be signed at the Sept. 12 city commission meeting.

Collin Bielser, deputy city manager, reviewed an ordinance establishing a Reinvestment Housing Incentive District for The Grove&nbsp;development north of HaysMed.

The developer, Grow Hays, has asked the city to finance and construct infrastructure related to the project. 

The city would use incentive district revenues to offset its estimated $8.2 million costs.&nbsp;The incentive district would generate about $8.452 million during its maximum 25-year term.

A public hearing on the&nbsp;establishment of an incentive district will be during next Thursday's meeting.

Bielser also reviewed the development plan.

The Grove will be retiree-focused housing comprised of about 12 six-plex structures, eight duplexes, 50 single-family homes, along with infrastructure to serve the project. 

Also on the site will be a new multi-generational 14,000-square-foot facility, <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/52b97519-b934-46eb-bdf3-8bd246bf2675">The Bob and Pat Schmidt Community Center</a>, to include a senior/ child care/community center.

Commissioner Reese Barrick said he had heard from a constituent who was critical of the focus on retiree housing and believed it would hinder new business growth in the city.&nbsp;

"People are not only living longer but are healthier for a lot longer," Barrick said. 

"I think we need this type of housing to help out our population and the type of population that is going to be moving to Hays. This is really a crucial piece for the growth and stability of Hays."&nbsp;

Commissioner Alaina Cunningham said, "You need every generation to make a community work."

The Grove development will also extend the city’s multiuse path network by constructing a one-mile connector from 22nd Street and the existing HaysMed path north to the Sternberg Museum of Natural History.

Hays Police Chief Don Scheibler presented three changes to the 2024 Uniform Public Offense Code and Standard Traffic Ordinance for Kansas cities. Changes in state statute prompted all three changes.

Changes to the Uniform Public Offense Code:

Disorderly Conduct — The portion that made engaging in noisy conduct tending reasonably to arouse alarm, anger or resentment in others a violation of the law has been removed. The Kansas Supreme Court recently ruled this portion of the section was unconstitutional.&nbsp;

Possession of Marijuana, Drug Paraphernalia, Controlled Substances — Amended to give people immunity from prosecution for simple possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia when rendering aid to an overdose victim.

Changes to the Standard Traffic Ordinance:

&nbsp;Failure to Comply with Traffic Citation&nbsp;— Changes are designed to reduce suspensions of driving privileges and allow people to have a restricted license. The new law also limits license reinstatement surcharge to a single fee of $100 and increases the number of non-driving violations for which a license may be suspended or restricted.&nbsp;

Mayor Shaun Musil was absent from the work session.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1725634309335.jpeg" alt="Hays City Commission members during their Sept. 5 work session. Photo by Becky Kiser/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Hays City Commission members during their Sept. 5 work session. Photo by Becky Kiser/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>By BECKY KISER Hays PostThe city of Hays has been awarded a technical assistance grant from the Federal Emergency Management Association, which will increase its likelihood of receiving federal financial assistance for the R9 long-term water project for Hays and Russell.John Braun, R9 project manager, told Hays city commissioners Thursday that the technical assistance grant will help the city prepare its Building Resilient Infrastructure Communities grant application."This non-finance assistance program provides wide-ranging technical assistance to communities to undertake hazard mitigation solutions, which in the case of the cities of Hays and Russell is drought mitigation through the development of the R9 wellfield and pipeline project," Braun said.Hays was the only city in Kansas to receive the FEMA technical grant.A memorandum of understanding for the technical grant will be signed at the Sept. 12 city commission meeting.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1725635074107.png" alt="The Grove RHID. City of Hays" />
 <figcaption>The Grove RHID. City of Hays</figcaption>
 </figure>Collin Bielser, deputy city manager, reviewed an ordinance establishing a Reinvestment Housing Incentive District for The Grove&nbsp;development north of HaysMed.The developer, Grow Hays, has asked the city to finance and construct infrastructure related to the project. The city would use incentive district revenues to offset its estimated $8.2 million costs.&nbsp;The incentive district would generate about $8.452 million during its maximum 25-year term.A public hearing on the&nbsp;establishment of an incentive district will be during next Thursday's meeting.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1725634771297.png" alt="The Grove development plan. Map by Grow Hays." />
 <figcaption>The Grove development plan. Map by Grow Hays.</figcaption>
 </figure>Bielser also reviewed the development plan.The Grove will be retiree-focused housing comprised of about 12 six-plex structures, eight duplexes, 50 single-family homes, along with infrastructure to serve the project. Also on the site will be a new multi-generational 14,000-square-foot facility, <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/52b97519-b934-46eb-bdf3-8bd246bf2675">The Bob and Pat Schmidt Community Center</a>, to include a senior/ child care/community center.Commissioner Reese Barrick said he had heard from a constituent who was critical of the focus on retiree housing and believed it would hinder new business growth in the city.&nbsp;Barrick disagreed."People are not only living longer but are healthier for a lot longer," Barrick said. "I think we need this type of housing to help out our population and the type of population that is going to be moving to Hays. This is really a crucial piece for the growth and stability of Hays."&nbsp;Commissioner Alaina Cunningham said, "You need every generation to make a community work."The Grove development will also extend the city’s multiuse path network by constructing a one-mile connector from 22nd Street and the existing HaysMed path north to the Sternberg Museum of Natural History.Hays Police Chief Don Scheibler presented three changes to the 2024 Uniform Public Offense Code and Standard Traffic Ordinance for Kansas cities. Changes in state statute prompted all three changes.Changes to the Uniform Public Offense Code:Disorderly Conduct — The portion that made engaging in noisy conduct tending reasonably to arouse alarm, anger or resentment in others a violation of the law has been removed. The Kansas Supreme Court recently ruled this portion of the section was unconstitutional.&nbsp;Possession of Marijuana, Drug Paraphernalia, Controlled Substances — Amended to give people immunity from prosecution for simple possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia when rendering aid to an overdose victim.Changes to the Standard Traffic Ordinance:&nbsp;Failure to Comply with Traffic Citation&nbsp;— Changes are designed to reduce suspensions of driving privileges and allow people to have a restricted license. The new law also limits license reinstatement surcharge to a single fee of $100 and increases the number of non-driving violations for which a license may be suspended or restricted.&nbsp;The updates will be voted on next week.Mayor Shaun Musil was absent from the work session.&nbsp;

Hays receives FEMA help in federal grant application for R9 water project

One of the biggest fundraisers for the Downtown Hays Development Corporation is set for Saturday, Sept. 14.

Tickets are available online&nbsp;at <a href="https://www.downtownhays.com/">www.downtownhays.com</a> and at the DHDC office, 1200 Main.

Wines &amp; Steins starts at 6 p.m. with check-in at the downtown pavilion, 10th and Main, and then a leisurely stroll through 12 business locations in historic downtown Hays. The stroll-stop hosts have lined up a large variety of tasty hors d'oeuvres from local restaurants to pair with the different wines and micro-beers sampled at each location.

Following the stroll, the fun moves under the pavilion with live music, complimentary drinks, a dessert bar, and an auction featuring experience items, tastings, a golf package and overnight stays in popular locations.&nbsp;

A basket of gift cards worth several hundred dollars donated by DHDC board members will also be up for grabs.&nbsp;

Commemorative glassware is designed each year for Wines &amp; Steins. 

"People love to collect these," said Julie Rider, DHDC executive director. "Every style is unique."&nbsp;

Auto World is again the presenting glassware sponsor.

Other Wine &amp; Steins sponsors include Astra Bank, Insurance Planning, Nex-Tech, Nex-Tech Wireless, Midwest Energy, and Robert Brogden GMC. Contributors are Regeena's Flowers &amp; Events, Wedding Connections, 8th Street Liquor, G&amp;L Tire, Northwestern Printers, Coors, Wil Fischer Distributing, and Pepsi.

DHDC is not a membership organization, and downtown businesses do not pay dues or fees.&nbsp;

As a private nonprofit, DHDC receives about 60 percent of its annual budget through fundraisers and private donations to its partnership program.

"Our funding allows us to promote downtown through advertising, hosting our website and the Downtown Directory. We welcome new businesses and celebrate big milestones for existing businesses with brick presentations," Rider said.&nbsp;

"The funding helps us put together retailer events like Bazaar on the Bricks and the Christmas holiday programs, as well as community events we host, like the Downtown Hays Market and the FrostFest parade."

The DHDC board is in the process of planning several downtown beautification projects.&nbsp;

"We promote downtown as a whole," Rider said. "We want everybody to be successful because when one business succeeds, we all succeed."

<a href="https://www.downtownhays.com/event-details/wines-steins-2024">Wines &amp; Steins tickets</a> are $65 for general admission and $85 for the VIP experience, which includes early check-in at the pavilion and personal delivery of a tasting glass and gifts earlier in the week.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1725396839755.png" alt="The annual Wines &amp; Steins fundraiser for the Downtown Hays Development Corporation is Saturday, Sept. 14. Courtesy images" />
 <figcaption>The annual Wines &amp; Steins fundraiser for the Downtown Hays Development Corporation is Saturday, Sept. 14. Courtesy images</figcaption>
 </figure><div><iframe title="Wines & Steins fundraiser for DHDC features tastings, live music, auction" 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=53wct-16c644f-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 PostOne of the biggest fundraisers for the Downtown Hays Development Corporation is set for Saturday, Sept. 14. Tickets are available online&nbsp;at <a href="https://www.downtownhays.com/">www.downtownhays.com</a> and at the DHDC office, 1200 Main.Wines &amp; Steins starts at 6 p.m. with check-in at the downtown pavilion, 10th and Main, and then a leisurely stroll through 12 business locations in historic downtown Hays. The stroll-stop hosts have lined up a large variety of tasty hors d'oeuvres from local restaurants to pair with the different wines and micro-beers sampled at each location.Following the stroll, the fun moves under the pavilion with live music, complimentary drinks, a dessert bar, and an auction featuring experience items, tastings, a golf package and overnight stays in popular locations.&nbsp;A basket of gift cards worth several hundred dollars donated by DHDC board members will also be up for grabs.&nbsp;Commemorative glassware is designed each year for Wines &amp; Steins. "People love to collect these," said Julie Rider, DHDC executive director. "Every style is unique."&nbsp;Auto World is again the presenting glassware sponsor.Other Wine &amp; Steins sponsors include Astra Bank, Insurance Planning, Nex-Tech, Nex-Tech Wireless, Midwest Energy, and Robert Brogden GMC. Contributors are Regeena's Flowers &amp; Events, Wedding Connections, 8th Street Liquor, G&amp;L Tire, Northwestern Printers, Coors, Wil Fischer Distributing, and Pepsi.DHDC is not a membership organization, and downtown businesses do not pay dues or fees.&nbsp;As a private nonprofit, DHDC receives about 60 percent of its annual budget through fundraisers and private donations to its partnership program."Our funding allows us to promote downtown through advertising, hosting our website and the Downtown Directory. We welcome new businesses and celebrate big milestones for existing businesses with brick presentations," Rider said.&nbsp;"The funding helps us put together retailer events like Bazaar on the Bricks and the Christmas holiday programs, as well as community events we host, like the Downtown Hays Market and the FrostFest parade."The DHDC board is in the process of planning several downtown beautification projects.&nbsp;"We promote downtown as a whole," Rider said. "We want everybody to be successful because when one business succeeds, we all succeed."<a href="https://www.downtownhays.com/event-details/wines-steins-2024">Wines &amp; Steins tickets</a> are $65 for general admission and $85 for the VIP experience, which includes early check-in at the pavilion and personal delivery of a tasting glass and gifts earlier in the week.Guests must be 21 to attend.&nbsp;&nbsp;

🎙Wines & Steins fundraiser for DHDC features tastings, live music, auction    

WINDER, Ga. (AP) — The father of the teenager accused of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/georgia-high-school-lockdown-3969d34cf6a7adc787facf21c469ef4d">opening fire at a Georgia high school</a>, killing four people and wounding nine, has been arrested on various charges including second-degree murder, authorities said Thursday.

Colin Gray, 54, the father of Colt Gray, was charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter, two counts of second-degree murder and eight counts of cruelty to children, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said in a social media post. No other details were immediately provided, but a news conference was planned for later in the day.

In Georgia, second-degree murder means that a person has caused the death of another person while committing second-degree cruelty to children, regardless of intent. It is punishable by 10 to 30 years in prison, while malice murder and felony murder carry a minimum sentence of life.

Authorities have charged 14-year-old Colt Gray as an adult with murder in the shootings Wednesday at Apalachee High School outside Atlanta. Arrest warrants obtained by the AP accuse him of using a semiautomatic assault-style rifle in the attack, which killed two students and two teachers and wounded nine other people.

The teen denied threatening to carry out a school shooting when authorities interviewed him last year about a menacing post on social media, according to a sheriff’s report obtained Thursday.

Conflicting evidence on the post's origin left investigators unable to arrest anyone, the report said. Jackson County Sheriff Janis Mangum said she reviewed the report from May 2023 and found nothing that would have justified bringing charges at the time.

“We did not drop the ball at all on this,” Mangum told The Associated Press in an interview. “We did all we could do with what we had at the time.”

When a sheriff's investigator from neighboring Jackson County interviewed Gray last year, his father said the boy had struggled with his parents’ separation and often got picked on at school. The teen frequently fired guns and hunted with his father, who photographed him with a deer's blood on his cheeks.

“He knows the seriousness of weapons and what they can do, and how to use them and not use them,” Colin Gray said according to a transcript obtained from the sheriff's office.

The teen was interviewed after the sheriff received a tip from the FBI that Colt Gray, then 13, “had possibly threatened to shoot up a middle school tomorrow.” The threat was made on Discord, a social media platform popular with video gamers, according to the sheriff's office incident report.

The FBI's tip pointed to a Discord account associated with an email address linked to Colt Gray, the report said. But the boy said “he would never say such a thing, even in a joking manner,” according to the investigator's report.

The interview transcript quotes the teen as saying: “I promise I would never say something where ...” with the rest of that denial listed as inaudible.

The investigator wrote that no arrests were made because of “inconsistent information” on the Discord account, which had profile information in Russian and a digital evidence trail indicating it had been accessed in different Georgia cities as well as Buffalo, New York.

The attack was&nbsp;<a href="https://projects.apnews.com/features/2023/mass-killings/index.html">the latest</a>&nbsp;among dozens of school shootings across the U.S. in recent years, including especially deadly ones in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/violence-ee24f46a30d2426089b83bb2897dce4e">Newtown, Connecticut</a>;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/education-florida-gun-politics-school-boards-nikolas-cruz-44a0da3e406f0c487e5c0a6b0855ee2e">Parkland, Florida</a>; and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/uvalde-school-shooting">Uvalde, Texas</a>. The classroom killings have set off fervent debates about gun control and frayed the nerves of parents whose children are growing up accustomed to active-shooter drills. But there has been little change to national gun laws.

Classes were canceled Thursday at the Georgia high school, though some people came to leave flowers around the flagpole and kneel in the grass with heads bowed.

When the suspect slipped out of math class Wednesday, Lyela Sayarath figured her quiet classmate who recently transferred was skipping school again. But he returned later and wanted back into the room. Some students went to open the locked door but instead backed away.

“I’m guessing they saw something, but for some reason, they didn’t open the door,” Sayarath said.

The teen then opened fire in the hallway, authorities said.

Sayarath said she heard a barrage of 10 to 15 gunshots. The students fell to the floor and crawled in search of a safe corner to hide.

Two school resource officers confronted the shooter within minutes after the gunshots were reported, Hosey said. The teen immediately surrendered.

Gray was being held Thursday at a regional youth detention facility. His first court appearance was scheduled for Friday morning.

He has been charged in the deaths of students Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, both 14, and teachers Richard Aspinwall, 39, and Christina Irimie, 53, according to Georgia Bureau of Investigation Director Chris Hosey.

At least nine other people — eight students and one teacher at the school in Winder — were wounded and taken to hospitals. All were expected to survive, Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith said.

Authorities have not offered any motive or explained how the suspect obtained the gun and got it into the school of roughly 1,900 students in a rapidly developing area on the edge of metro Atlanta’s ever-expanding sprawl.

It was the 30th&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-mass-killings-list-14a356281ba8da1d72931cd6f56c41ba">mass killing</a>&nbsp;in the U.S. so far this year, according to a&nbsp;<a href="https://projects.apnews.com/features/2023/mass-killings/index.html">database</a>&nbsp;maintained by The Associated Press and USA Today in partnership with Northeastern University. At least 127 people have died in those killings, which are defined as events in which four or more people die within a 24-hour period, not including the killer — the same definition used by the FBI.

Prior cases have emerged in which someone who was once on the FBI's radar but was not arrested went on to commit violence.

A month before Nikolas Cruz killed 17 people at the Parkland, Florida, high school in 2018, the bureau received a warning that he had been talking about committing a mass shooting. The FBI also investigated a tip about the person later convicted in a deadly 2022 shooting at a gay nightclub in Colorado.

The pattern underscores the challenges law enforcement faces in trying to determine when concerning behavior crosses into a crime. Investigators sift through tens of thousands of tips every year to try to determine which could yield a viable threat. Cases such as the Georgia school shooting prompt fresh questions about whether more intensive investigative work might have averted the violence.

The sheriff's report says investigator Daniel Miller spoke to the boy and his father May 21, 2023. The father said his son had access to guns in the house.

“I mean they aren't loaded, but they are down,” Gray's father said, according to the interview transcript.

He described a photo on his cellphone from a recent hunting trip with his son: "You see him with blood on his cheeks from shooting his first deer.” Gray's father called it “the greatest day ever.”

The teen told Miller he stopped using Discord a few months earlier after his account got hacked.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1725622947526.png" alt="Colin Gray photo Barrow County Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Colin Gray photo Barrow County Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>WINDER, Ga. (AP) — The father of the teenager accused of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/georgia-high-school-lockdown-3969d34cf6a7adc787facf21c469ef4d">opening fire at a Georgia high school</a>, killing four people and wounding nine, has been arrested on various charges including second-degree murder, authorities said Thursday.Colin Gray, 54, the father of Colt Gray, was charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter, two counts of second-degree murder and eight counts of cruelty to children, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said in a social media post. No other details were immediately provided, but a news conference was planned for later in the day.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1725585758159.png" alt="Colt Gray photo Barrow County Sheriff's office" />
 <figcaption>Colt Gray photo Barrow County Sheriff's office</figcaption>
 </figure>In Georgia, second-degree murder means that a person has caused the death of another person while committing second-degree cruelty to children, regardless of intent. It is punishable by 10 to 30 years in prison, while malice murder and felony murder carry a minimum sentence of life.Authorities have charged 14-year-old Colt Gray as an adult with murder in the shootings Wednesday at Apalachee High School outside Atlanta. Arrest warrants obtained by the AP accuse him of using a semiautomatic assault-style rifle in the attack, which killed two students and two teachers and wounded nine other people.The teen denied threatening to carry out a school shooting when authorities interviewed him last year about a menacing post on social media, according to a sheriff’s report obtained Thursday.Conflicting evidence on the post's origin left investigators unable to arrest anyone, the report said. Jackson County Sheriff Janis Mangum said she reviewed the report from May 2023 and found nothing that would have justified bringing charges at the time.“We did not drop the ball at all on this,” Mangum told The Associated Press in an interview. “We did all we could do with what we had at the time.”When a sheriff's investigator from neighboring Jackson County interviewed Gray last year, his father said the boy had struggled with his parents’ separation and often got picked on at school. The teen frequently fired guns and hunted with his father, who photographed him with a deer's blood on his cheeks.“He knows the seriousness of weapons and what they can do, and how to use them and not use them,” Colin Gray said according to a transcript obtained from the sheriff's office.The teen was interviewed after the sheriff received a tip from the FBI that Colt Gray, then 13, “had possibly threatened to shoot up a middle school tomorrow.” The threat was made on Discord, a social media platform popular with video gamers, according to the sheriff's office incident report.The FBI's tip pointed to a Discord account associated with an email address linked to Colt Gray, the report said. But the boy said “he would never say such a thing, even in a joking manner,” according to the investigator's report.The interview transcript quotes the teen as saying: “I promise I would never say something where ...” with the rest of that denial listed as inaudible.The investigator wrote that no arrests were made because of “inconsistent information” on the Discord account, which had profile information in Russian and a digital evidence trail indicating it had been accessed in different Georgia cities as well as Buffalo, New York.The attack was&nbsp;<a href="https://projects.apnews.com/features/2023/mass-killings/index.html">the latest</a>&nbsp;among dozens of school shootings across the U.S. in recent years, including especially deadly ones in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/violence-ee24f46a30d2426089b83bb2897dce4e">Newtown, Connecticut</a>;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/education-florida-gun-politics-school-boards-nikolas-cruz-44a0da3e406f0c487e5c0a6b0855ee2e">Parkland, Florida</a>; and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/uvalde-school-shooting">Uvalde, Texas</a>. The classroom killings have set off fervent debates about gun control and frayed the nerves of parents whose children are growing up accustomed to active-shooter drills. But there has been little change to national gun laws.Classes were canceled Thursday at the Georgia high school, though some people came to leave flowers around the flagpole and kneel in the grass with heads bowed.When the suspect slipped out of math class Wednesday, Lyela Sayarath figured her quiet classmate who recently transferred was skipping school again. But he returned later and wanted back into the room. Some students went to open the locked door but instead backed away.“I’m guessing they saw something, but for some reason, they didn’t open the door,” Sayarath said.The teen then opened fire in the hallway, authorities said.Sayarath said she heard a barrage of 10 to 15 gunshots. The students fell to the floor and crawled in search of a safe corner to hide.Two school resource officers confronted the shooter within minutes after the gunshots were reported, Hosey said. The teen immediately surrendered.Gray was being held Thursday at a regional youth detention facility. His first court appearance was scheduled for Friday morning.He has been charged in the deaths of students Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, both 14, and teachers Richard Aspinwall, 39, and Christina Irimie, 53, according to Georgia Bureau of Investigation Director Chris Hosey.At least nine other people — eight students and one teacher at the school in Winder — were wounded and taken to hospitals. All were expected to survive, Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith said.Authorities have not offered any motive or explained how the suspect obtained the gun and got it into the school of roughly 1,900 students in a rapidly developing area on the edge of metro Atlanta’s ever-expanding sprawl.It was the 30th&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-mass-killings-list-14a356281ba8da1d72931cd6f56c41ba">mass killing</a>&nbsp;in the U.S. so far this year, according to a&nbsp;<a href="https://projects.apnews.com/features/2023/mass-killings/index.html">database</a>&nbsp;maintained by The Associated Press and USA Today in partnership with Northeastern University. At least 127 people have died in those killings, which are defined as events in which four or more people die within a 24-hour period, not including the killer — the same definition used by the FBI.Prior cases have emerged in which someone who was once on the FBI's radar but was not arrested went on to commit violence.A month before Nikolas Cruz killed 17 people at the Parkland, Florida, high school in 2018, the bureau received a warning that he had been talking about committing a mass shooting. The FBI also investigated a tip about the person later convicted in a deadly 2022 shooting at a gay nightclub in Colorado.The pattern underscores the challenges law enforcement faces in trying to determine when concerning behavior crosses into a crime. Investigators sift through tens of thousands of tips every year to try to determine which could yield a viable threat. Cases such as the Georgia school shooting prompt fresh questions about whether more intensive investigative work might have averted the violence.The sheriff's report says investigator Daniel Miller spoke to the boy and his father May 21, 2023. The father said his son had access to guns in the house.“I mean they aren't loaded, but they are down,” Gray's father said, according to the interview transcript.He described a photo on his cellphone from a recent hunting trip with his son: "You see him with blood on his cheeks from shooting his first deer.” Gray's father called it “the greatest day ever.”The teen told Miller he stopped using Discord a few months earlier after his account got hacked.“I gotta take you at your word and I hope you’re being honest with me,” Miller replied.A phone number associated with the account was linked to a different person in another Georgia city, the report said. The account's profile name, written in Russian, translated to Lanza. The investigator noted that Adam Lanza was the perpetrator of the 2012 mass shooting that killed 26 people at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut.The sheriff’s office alerted local schools for continued monitoring of the teen. But the investigator concluded that he "could not substantiate the tip I received from the FBI to take further action.”