CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuela on Friday released 10 jailed U.S. citizens and permanent residents in exchange for getting home scores of migrants&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/el-salvador-deportation-venezuela-tren-de-aragua-trump-0d3485e0985b9d30d493c9da0adf73ef">deported by the United States</a>&nbsp;to El Salvador months ago under the Trump administration's immigration crackdown, officials said.

The complex, three-country arrangement represents a diplomatic achievement for Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, helps President Donald Trump in his goal of bringing home Americans jailed abroad and lands Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele a swap that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/el-salvador-bukele-maduro-venezuela-prisoners-6728d1df2445d85bd16c6ab8a85056a8">he proposed months ago</a>.

“Every wrongfully detained American in Venezuela is now free and back in our homeland,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement in which he thanked&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-bukele-el-salvador-crackdown-dissent-el-faro-7e54e98156ec1954f7de7c578ca94427">Bukele, a Trump ally</a>.

Bukele said El Salvador had handed over all the Venezuelan nationals in its custody. Maduro described Friday as “a day of blessings and good news for Venezuela." He called it “the perfect day for Venezuela.”

Venezuelans leave El Salvador's mega-prison

Central to the deal are more than 250 Venezuelan migrants freed by El Salvador, which in March&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-deportations-salvador-tren-aragua-64e72142a171ea57c869c3b35eeecce7">agreed to a $6 million</a>&nbsp;payment from the Trump administration to house them in its notorious prison.

That arrangement drew immediate blowback when Trump invoked an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/alien-enemies-trump-immigration-deportations-21a62ede23b8c493b60d00a9c125722f">18th century wartime law</a>, the Alien Enemies Act, to quickly remove the men that his administration had accused of belonging to the violent&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-alien-enemies-act-venezuela-tren-de-aragua-gabbard-d818cc58962ba90cd2c94ca1b494d4fd">Tren de Aragua</a>&nbsp;street gang,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-trump-deportations-el-salvador-9988b667199e1b02fc0a6a83570225c1">teeing up a legal fight</a>&nbsp;that reached the U.S. Supreme Court. The administration did not provide evidence to back up those claims.

The Venezuelans had been held in a mega-prison known as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/el-salvador-trump-prison-immigrants-4ab3fc3c0474efb308084604b61f8a37">the Terrorism Confinement Center</a>, or CECOT, which was built to hold alleged gang members in Bukele’s war on the country’s gangs. Human rights groups have documented hundreds of deaths as well as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/el-salvador-gangs-prison-nayib-bukele-a9e7cae418f5de74837bd666cdeabe98">cases of torture</a>&nbsp;inside its walls.

Lawyers have little access to those in the prison, which is heavily guarded, and information has been locked tight, other than heavily produced state propaganda videos showing tattooed men packed behind bars.

Photos and videos released by El Salvador’s government on Friday showed shackled Venezuelans sitting in a fleet of buses and boarding planes surrounded by officers in riot gear. One man looked up and pointed toward the sky as he climbed aboard a plane, while another made an obscene gesture toward police.

After arriving in Venezuela, some of the migrants crossed themselves, cried and hugged one another. They wore face masks and street clothes.

Maduro alleged that some of them were subjected to various forms of abuse at the Salvadoran prison, and one of them even lost a kidney “due to the beatings he received.”

Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello told reporters the men would undergo medical tests and background checks before they can go home.

One of the men is reportedly Andry Hernández Romero, a makeup artist who fled Venezuela last year and was taken into Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody at a border crossing in San Diego before eventually being flown to El Salvador.

Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., posted on social media Friday night: “We have been in touch with Andry Hernández Romero’s legal team and they have confirmed he is out of CECOT and back in Venezuela. We are grateful he is alive and are engaged with both the State Department and his team.”

In April, Bukele proposed exchanging the Venezuelans for the same number of what he called “political prisoners” held by Maduro. The suggestion provoked a harsh response from Venezuelan authorities, who called his comments “cynical” and referred to Bukele as a “neofascist."

Families say the Americans released are innocent

The State Department office responsible for negotiating the release of American detainees posted a photo Friday evening of the newly released prisoners smiling for the camera inside an airplane bringing them home, some clutching an unfurled American flag.

A plane carrying the freed Americans arrived late Friday evening at Joint Base San Antonio, with some waving flags and rushing to embrace welcomers after they landed.

Among those released was 37-year-old Lucas Hunter, whose family says he was kidnapped in January by Venezuelan border guards from inside Colombia, where he was vacationing.

“We cannot wait to see him in person and help him recover from the ordeal,” his younger sister Sophie Hunter said.

Venezuelan authorities detained nearly a dozen U.S. citizens in the second half of 2024 and linked them to alleged plots to destabilize the country.

“We have prayed for this day for almost a year. My brother is an innocent man who was used as a political pawn by the Maduro regime," said a statement from Christian Castaneda, whose brother Wilbert, a Navy SEAL, was arrested in his Caracas hotel room last year.

Global Reach, a nonprofit organization that had advocated for his release and that of several other Americans, said Venezuelan officials initially and falsely accused him of being involved in a coup but backed off that claim.

The three-country swap gives Maduro a boost

The release of the Venezuelans, meanwhile, is an invaluable win for Maduro as he presses his efforts to assert himself as president despite&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-election-tally-sheets-actas-oas-carter-center-41d1000926d0ab99e522e53bf6c2b916">credible evidence that he lost reelection</a>&nbsp;last year.

Long accused of human rights abuses, Maduro for months has used the migrants' detention in El Salvador to flip the script on the U.S. government, forcing even some of his strongest political opponents to agree with his condemnation of the migrants’ treatment.

Their return will allow Maduro to reaffirm support within his shrinking base, while demonstrating that even if the Trump administration and other nations&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-maduro-oil-license-chevron-opposition-edmundo-4fe1b86da38a46b67f2090c2155a9b10">see him as an illegitimate president</a>, he is still firmly in power.

Just a week ago, the U.S. State Department reiterated its policy of shunning Maduro government officials and recognizing only the National Assembly elected in 2015 as the legitimate government of the country. Signed by Rubio, the cable said U.S. officials are free to meet and have discussions with National Assembly members “but cannot engage with Maduro regime representatives unless cleared by the Department of State.”

Maduro's crackdown on dissent spurs detentions

The Americans were among dozens of people, including activists, opposition members and union leaders, that Venezuela’s government took into custody in its brutal campaign to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-election-maduro-opposition-human-rights-abuses-dd6d0b103adbf88f00fe60b0d781a873">crack down on dissent</a>&nbsp;in the 11 months since Maduro claimed to win reelection.

Besides the U.S., several other Western nations also do not recognize Maduro’s claim to victory. They instead point to tally sheets collected by the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-maduro-machado-biden-gonzalez-a625eb01979bc9cf5570d03242f198b1">opposition coalition</a>&nbsp;showing that its candidate,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-edmundo-opposition-presidential-election-reward-arrest-5b6bf23e53642db059304bef14d2f4ff">Edmundo González</a>, won the July 2024 election by a more than a two-to-one margin.

The dispute over results prompted immediate protests, and the government responded by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-maduro-election-arrests-repression-prison-opposition-c07ddb20770f02139e4f4a05d7bc4f60">detaining more than 2,000 people</a>, mostly poor young men. González fled into exile in Spain to avoid arrest.

More than 7.7 million Venezuelans have migrated since 2013, when its oil-dependent economy came undone and Maduro became president. Most settled in Latin America and the Caribbean, but after the COVID-19 pandemic, many saw the U.S. as their best chance to improve their living conditions.

The US and Venezuela have agreed on other releases

Despite the U.S. not recognizing Maduro, the two governments have carried out other recent exchanges.

In May,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-us-national-freed-detention-272f5262f22808ae11ac0e06183a3219">Venezuela freed a U.S. Air Force veteran</a>&nbsp;after about six months in detention. Joseph St. Clair's family has said the language specialist, who served four tours in Afghanistan, had traveled to South America to seek treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder.

Three months earlier,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-maduro-envoy-migrants-grenell-edfa58920c0a76f0bbe9de995a07d1a3">six other Americans</a>&nbsp;whom the U.S. government considered wrongfully detained in Venezuela were released after Richard Grenell, Trump’s envoy for special missions, met with Maduro at the presidential palace.

Grenell, during the meeting in Caracas, urged Maduro to take back deported migrants who have committed crimes in the U.S. Hundreds of Venezuelans have since been deported to their home country.

Maduro’s government had accused the Trump administration of “kidnapping” the children by placing them in foster care after their parents were deported.

This story has been corrected to reflect that the last name of the brother of the Navy SEAL jailed in Venezuela is Castaneda, not Castenada.

Tucker reported from Washington and Janetsky from Mexico City. Associated Press writers Matthew Lee and Seung Min Kim in Washington and photographer Salvador Melendez in San Salvador, El Salvador, contributed to this report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1752970350311.jpeg" alt="This photo released by the El Salvador's presidential press office shows men, who El Salvador's government identify as Venezuelans who the U.S. government detained and flew to El Salvador months ago, boarding a Venezuelan plane bound for Venezuela at the Oscar Arnulfo Romero International Airport in San Luis Talpa, El Salvador, Friday, July 18, 2025. (El Salvador's presidential press office via AP)" />
 <figcaption>This photo released by the El Salvador's presidential press office shows men, who El Salvador's government identify as Venezuelans who the U.S. government detained and flew to El Salvador months ago, boarding a Venezuelan plane bound for Venezuela at the Oscar Arnulfo Romero International Airport in San Luis Talpa, El Salvador, Friday, July 18, 2025. (El Salvador's presidential press office via AP)</figcaption>
 </figure>CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuela on Friday released 10 jailed U.S. citizens and permanent residents in exchange for getting home scores of migrants&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/el-salvador-deportation-venezuela-tren-de-aragua-trump-0d3485e0985b9d30d493c9da0adf73ef">deported by the United States</a>&nbsp;to El Salvador months ago under the Trump administration's immigration crackdown, officials said.The complex, three-country arrangement represents a diplomatic achievement for Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, helps President Donald Trump in his goal of bringing home Americans jailed abroad and lands Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele a swap that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/el-salvador-bukele-maduro-venezuela-prisoners-6728d1df2445d85bd16c6ab8a85056a8">he proposed months ago</a>.“Every wrongfully detained American in Venezuela is now free and back in our homeland,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement in which he thanked&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-bukele-el-salvador-crackdown-dissent-el-faro-7e54e98156ec1954f7de7c578ca94427">Bukele, a Trump ally</a>.Bukele said El Salvador had handed over all the Venezuelan nationals in its custody. Maduro described Friday as “a day of blessings and good news for Venezuela." He called it “the perfect day for Venezuela.”<h2>Venezuelans leave El Salvador's mega-prison</h2>Central to the deal are more than 250 Venezuelan migrants freed by El Salvador, which in March&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-deportations-salvador-tren-aragua-64e72142a171ea57c869c3b35eeecce7">agreed to a $6 million</a>&nbsp;payment from the Trump administration to house them in its notorious prison.That arrangement drew immediate blowback when Trump invoked an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/alien-enemies-trump-immigration-deportations-21a62ede23b8c493b60d00a9c125722f">18th century wartime law</a>, the Alien Enemies Act, to quickly remove the men that his administration had accused of belonging to the violent&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-alien-enemies-act-venezuela-tren-de-aragua-gabbard-d818cc58962ba90cd2c94ca1b494d4fd">Tren de Aragua</a>&nbsp;street gang,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-trump-deportations-el-salvador-9988b667199e1b02fc0a6a83570225c1">teeing up a legal fight</a>&nbsp;that reached the U.S. Supreme Court. The administration did not provide evidence to back up those claims.The Venezuelans had been held in a mega-prison known as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/el-salvador-trump-prison-immigrants-4ab3fc3c0474efb308084604b61f8a37">the Terrorism Confinement Center</a>, or CECOT, which was built to hold alleged gang members in Bukele’s war on the country’s gangs. Human rights groups have documented hundreds of deaths as well as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/el-salvador-gangs-prison-nayib-bukele-a9e7cae418f5de74837bd666cdeabe98">cases of torture</a>&nbsp;inside its walls.Lawyers have little access to those in the prison, which is heavily guarded, and information has been locked tight, other than heavily produced state propaganda videos showing tattooed men packed behind bars.Photos and videos released by El Salvador’s government on Friday showed shackled Venezuelans sitting in a fleet of buses and boarding planes surrounded by officers in riot gear. One man looked up and pointed toward the sky as he climbed aboard a plane, while another made an obscene gesture toward police.After arriving in Venezuela, some of the migrants crossed themselves, cried and hugged one another. They wore face masks and street clothes.Maduro alleged that some of them were subjected to various forms of abuse at the Salvadoran prison, and one of them even lost a kidney “due to the beatings he received.”Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello told reporters the men would undergo medical tests and background checks before they can go home.One of the men is reportedly Andry Hernández Romero, a makeup artist who fled Venezuela last year and was taken into Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody at a border crossing in San Diego before eventually being flown to El Salvador.Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., posted on social media Friday night: “We have been in touch with Andry Hernández Romero’s legal team and they have confirmed he is out of CECOT and back in Venezuela. We are grateful he is alive and are engaged with both the State Department and his team.”In April, Bukele proposed exchanging the Venezuelans for the same number of what he called “political prisoners” held by Maduro. The suggestion provoked a harsh response from Venezuelan authorities, who called his comments “cynical” and referred to Bukele as a “neofascist."<h2>Families say the Americans released are innocent</h2>The State Department office responsible for negotiating the release of American detainees posted a photo Friday evening of the newly released prisoners smiling for the camera inside an airplane bringing them home, some clutching an unfurled American flag.A plane carrying the freed Americans arrived late Friday evening at Joint Base San Antonio, with some waving flags and rushing to embrace welcomers after they landed.Among those released was 37-year-old Lucas Hunter, whose family says he was kidnapped in January by Venezuelan border guards from inside Colombia, where he was vacationing.“We cannot wait to see him in person and help him recover from the ordeal,” his younger sister Sophie Hunter said.Venezuelan authorities detained nearly a dozen U.S. citizens in the second half of 2024 and linked them to alleged plots to destabilize the country.“We have prayed for this day for almost a year. My brother is an innocent man who was used as a political pawn by the Maduro regime," said a statement from Christian Castaneda, whose brother Wilbert, a Navy SEAL, was arrested in his Caracas hotel room last year.Global Reach, a nonprofit organization that had advocated for his release and that of several other Americans, said Venezuelan officials initially and falsely accused him of being involved in a coup but backed off that claim.<h2>The three-country swap gives Maduro a boost</h2>The release of the Venezuelans, meanwhile, is an invaluable win for Maduro as he presses his efforts to assert himself as president despite&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-election-tally-sheets-actas-oas-carter-center-41d1000926d0ab99e522e53bf6c2b916">credible evidence that he lost reelection</a>&nbsp;last year.Long accused of human rights abuses, Maduro for months has used the migrants' detention in El Salvador to flip the script on the U.S. government, forcing even some of his strongest political opponents to agree with his condemnation of the migrants’ treatment.Their return will allow Maduro to reaffirm support within his shrinking base, while demonstrating that even if the Trump administration and other nations&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-maduro-oil-license-chevron-opposition-edmundo-4fe1b86da38a46b67f2090c2155a9b10">see him as an illegitimate president</a>, he is still firmly in power.Just a week ago, the U.S. State Department reiterated its policy of shunning Maduro government officials and recognizing only the National Assembly elected in 2015 as the legitimate government of the country. Signed by Rubio, the cable said U.S. officials are free to meet and have discussions with National Assembly members “but cannot engage with Maduro regime representatives unless cleared by the Department of State.”<h2>Maduro's crackdown on dissent spurs detentions</h2>The Americans were among dozens of people, including activists, opposition members and union leaders, that Venezuela’s government took into custody in its brutal campaign to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-election-maduro-opposition-human-rights-abuses-dd6d0b103adbf88f00fe60b0d781a873">crack down on dissent</a>&nbsp;in the 11 months since Maduro claimed to win reelection.Besides the U.S., several other Western nations also do not recognize Maduro’s claim to victory. They instead point to tally sheets collected by the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-maduro-machado-biden-gonzalez-a625eb01979bc9cf5570d03242f198b1">opposition coalition</a>&nbsp;showing that its candidate,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-edmundo-opposition-presidential-election-reward-arrest-5b6bf23e53642db059304bef14d2f4ff">Edmundo González</a>, won the July 2024 election by a more than a two-to-one margin.The dispute over results prompted immediate protests, and the government responded by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-maduro-election-arrests-repression-prison-opposition-c07ddb20770f02139e4f4a05d7bc4f60">detaining more than 2,000 people</a>, mostly poor young men. González fled into exile in Spain to avoid arrest.More than 7.7 million Venezuelans have migrated since 2013, when its oil-dependent economy came undone and Maduro became president. Most settled in Latin America and the Caribbean, but after the COVID-19 pandemic, many saw the U.S. as their best chance to improve their living conditions.<h2>The US and Venezuela have agreed on other releases</h2>Despite the U.S. not recognizing Maduro, the two governments have carried out other recent exchanges.In May,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-us-national-freed-detention-272f5262f22808ae11ac0e06183a3219">Venezuela freed a U.S. Air Force veteran</a>&nbsp;after about six months in detention. Joseph St. Clair's family has said the language specialist, who served four tours in Afghanistan, had traveled to South America to seek treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder.Three months earlier,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-maduro-envoy-migrants-grenell-edfa58920c0a76f0bbe9de995a07d1a3">six other Americans</a>&nbsp;whom the U.S. government considered wrongfully detained in Venezuela were released after Richard Grenell, Trump’s envoy for special missions, met with Maduro at the presidential palace.Grenell, during the meeting in Caracas, urged Maduro to take back deported migrants who have committed crimes in the U.S. Hundreds of Venezuelans have since been deported to their home country.Maduro’s government had accused the Trump administration of “kidnapping” the children by placing them in foster care after their parents were deported.___This story has been corrected to reflect that the last name of the brother of the Navy SEAL jailed in Venezuela is Castaneda, not Castenada.___Tucker reported from Washington and Janetsky from Mexico City. Associated Press writers Matthew Lee and Seung Min Kim in Washington and photographer Salvador Melendez in San Salvador, El Salvador, contributed to this report.

Venezuela releases jailed Americans in deal that frees migrants deported to El Salvador by US

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

A man was booked into the Ellis County Jail Friday on a requested charge of attempted second-degree murder.

Cody Evan&nbsp;Garrett, 37, was booked into the jail at 4:39 a.m. Friday for allegedly choking a family member, according to jail records.

The requested charges on the booking report included attempted second-degree murder, aggravated domestic battery, domestic battery, criminal threat and criminal damage to property.

Ellis County Sheriff Scott Braun said the case is still under investigation. He said more information would be released at a later date.

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostA man was booked into the Ellis County Jail Friday on a requested charge of attempted second-degree murder.Cody Evan&nbsp;Garrett, 37, was booked into the jail at 4:39 a.m. Friday for allegedly choking a family member, according to jail records.The requested charges on the booking report included attempted second-degree murder, aggravated domestic battery, domestic battery, criminal threat and criminal damage to property.Ellis County Sheriff Scott Braun said the case is still under investigation. He said more information would be released at a later date.

Man booked into Ellis County Jail on attempted second-degree murder charge

On this episode of the Hays Post Podcast, news reporter Becky Kiser talks with Adam Kober, a former Hays Mason, about the upcoming free health and cancer screening outreach in Hays.&nbsp;

The walk-in clinic is a collaboration between the University of Kansas Cancer Center and the Masonic Cancer Alliance.

It will be held 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, July 26&nbsp; at the First United Methodist Church, 305 W. 7th.&nbsp;

Screenings will be available for prostate cancer, skin cancer and colorectal cancer. Information will be available about tobacco cessation.&nbsp;

No appointment is necessary and all ages are welcome.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650389030295.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure><div><iframe title="Post Podcast: Free health and cancer screening clinic in Hays" allowtransparency="true" height="300" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:300px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?from=embed&i=acmq9-190a453-pb&square=1&share=1&download=1&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=auto&rtl=0&logo_link=podcast_page&btn-skin=60a0c8&size=300" loading="lazy" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>On this episode of the Hays Post Podcast, news reporter Becky Kiser talks with Adam Kober, a former Hays Mason, about the upcoming free health and cancer screening outreach in Hays.&nbsp;The walk-in clinic is a collaboration between the University of Kansas Cancer Center and the Masonic Cancer Alliance.It will be held 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, July 26&nbsp; at the First United Methodist Church, 305 W. 7th.&nbsp;Screenings will be available for prostate cancer, skin cancer and colorectal cancer. Information will be available about tobacco cessation.&nbsp;No appointment is necessary and all ages are welcome.&nbsp;

🎙 Post Podcast: Free health, cancer screening clinic in Hays

By BECKY KISER Hays Post

The debate over whether to allow backyard chickens in Hays ended quietly Thursday.

After a short discussion, Mayor Sandy Jacobs said there was no consensus among the commissioners on moving forward with a proposed ordinance allowing up to five hens in a fenced-in coop structure.

Vice-Mayor Mason Ruder was concerned about how close a chicken coop could legally be next to another resident's property and spoke of the potential odor. He also didn't want Community Service Officers having to spend their time investigating complaints.

Commissioners Shaun Musil and Reese Barrick, who both grew up around chickens, also talked about the odor if the hens were not properly cared for.&nbsp;

There was no one in the audience to add comment about the issue.

Several commissioners said they'd recently received a large number of negative emails about the proposal.

An online&nbsp;<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/1be40fc1-300e-4f4a-b2b6-ba3b586694bb">public opinion survey</a>&nbsp;received almost 1,900 responses. Results indicated 58% supported the initiative, 40% opposed it and 2% had no opinion.&nbsp;The city also&nbsp;received 94 written correspondences, with&nbsp;77% supportive of&nbsp;the policy.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Jeff Boyle, director of parks, presented a review of the amenities in major <a href="https://www.haysusa.com/268/Park-Locations-Features">Hays parks</a> and the future financial considerations for maintenance and upkeep.

"We're fighting the battle to keep everything in as good shape as we can, and we'll eventually lose that battle," Boyle said of the Bickle Schmidt Sports Complex.

The same could be said for all the city's biggest parks.

Boyle praised the many local service groups that financially sponsor individual parks and/or playground equipment, which helps spread the city's dollars further.&nbsp;

There are several funding mechanisms for the parks, from the city itself, sales taxes and a 2002 mill levy increase, to donations from local groups as well as businesses and individuals.&nbsp;

A 2004 park master plan concentrated on improvements in the four quadrants of town at Massey, Sunrise, Aubel-Bickle and Seven Hills parks.&nbsp;

The ARC Park, located at 3300 Hillcrest, is the newest and most popular park in Hays, attracting both out-of-town visitors and local residents to its accessible play equipment and splash pad.

Because of its popularity, lifetimes of the equipment and other structures are not expected to be as long as average and will have to be replaced sooner, Boyle said.

"Within the special parks fund, we'll start losing financial ground in 2032 and won't be able to fund everything we currently have in all the parks," Boyle said.

During the nearly one-hour discussion, commissioners discussed various options. 

Those included the premise that not all parks and green spaces require the same amenities, reducing amenities in some areas, transitioning to more affordable amenities, and focusing on maintaining existing amenities rather than adding new ones.&nbsp;

Commissioner Alaina Moore said the city should sustain the parks it has and not close any.&nbsp;

Although he didn't advocate for it, Musil asked about the possibility of a one-mill increase in the parks mill levy.&nbsp;

Toby Dougherty, city manager, said one mill would raise an additional $340,000.

Jacobs suggested getting the public's input on what they want to see in the parks' growth and maintenance.&nbsp;

Access public transportation funding request

The commission had a second look at the draft 2026 budget.

Discussion focused on the new request from Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas for another $107,673, in addition to the $82,500 included in the CARE Council's recommended distributions, to help fund the ACCESS public transportation program.

DSNWK is also&nbsp;requesting an&nbsp;<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/fbac2993-56a7-4ebb-b494-5a194944d2c2" target="_blank">allocation increase from Ellis County</a>.

Jerry Michaud, DSNWK executive director, earlier said the Kansas Department of Transportation has provided some funding for 2026, but it falls short. The&nbsp;gap is about $161,000.

"That increased request from DSNWK is not in our budget today, " said Jacobs.

Dougherty said the city tries not to spend all its general fund money, and a buffer is available if the commission desires to use it.&nbsp;

Barrick said, "If they have to ask for that much money, it behooves us to work with them to look for efficiencies (in their operation)."

Commissioner Musil asked for further details on some smaller budget line items that had increased dramatically from 2025. Most of the higher costs were due to inflation, with some attributed to the cost of new software training.

"This is a focused budget. We're doing well," Ruder said.&nbsp;

The proposed mill levy would remain at 25 mills for the 17th consecutive year.&nbsp;

The draft 2026 budget is available online at <a href="https://www.haysusa.com/DocumentCenter/View/8179/2026-BUDGET-WORKBOOK?bidId=#:~:text=The%20highlights%20of%20the%202026%20Budget%20are%20as%20follows%3A&amp;text=It%20is%20anticipated%20that%20the,approved%20by%20voters%20in%202020.">haysusa.com</a>.

Musil said he's recently seen a lot of false comments on social media about city operations and its budget. 

"We're very transparent, and we're all open. We're here to answer your questions."

At the end of the meeting, Barrick asked for a future work session discussion about fireworks in Hays. 

"We're all getting a lot of negative emails about the noise and mess of fireworks," he said. "Hays allows selling and discharge for three days while surrounding communities only allow one day."

A 20-minute special session was called related to the financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trusts or individual proprietorships.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1746020162379.png" alt="Skyler Ross/Harvest Public Media" />
 <figcaption>Skyler Ross/Harvest Public Media</figcaption>
 </figure>By BECKY KISER Hays PostThe debate over whether to allow backyard chickens in Hays ended quietly Thursday.After a short discussion, Mayor Sandy Jacobs said there was no consensus among the commissioners on moving forward with a proposed ordinance allowing up to five hens in a fenced-in coop structure.Vice-Mayor Mason Ruder was concerned about how close a chicken coop could legally be next to another resident's property and spoke of the potential odor. He also didn't want Community Service Officers having to spend their time investigating complaints.Commissioners Shaun Musil and Reese Barrick, who both grew up around chickens, also talked about the odor if the hens were not properly cared for.&nbsp;There was no one in the audience to add comment about the issue.Several commissioners said they'd recently received a large number of negative emails about the proposal.An online&nbsp;<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/1be40fc1-300e-4f4a-b2b6-ba3b586694bb">public opinion survey</a>&nbsp;received almost 1,900 responses. Results indicated 58% supported the initiative, 40% opposed it and 2% had no opinion.&nbsp;The city also&nbsp;received 94 written correspondences, with&nbsp;77% supportive of&nbsp;the policy.&nbsp; &nbsp;<h2>Review of major park amenities</h2>Jeff Boyle, director of parks, presented a review of the amenities in major <a href="https://www.haysusa.com/268/Park-Locations-Features">Hays parks</a> and the future financial considerations for maintenance and upkeep."We're fighting the battle to keep everything in as good shape as we can, and we'll eventually lose that battle," Boyle said of the Bickle Schmidt Sports Complex.The same could be said for all the city's biggest parks.Boyle praised the many local service groups that financially sponsor individual parks and/or playground equipment, which helps spread the city's dollars further.&nbsp;There are several funding mechanisms for the parks, from the city itself, sales taxes and a 2002 mill levy increase, to donations from local groups as well as businesses and individuals.&nbsp;A 2004 park master plan concentrated on improvements in the four quadrants of town at Massey, Sunrise, Aubel-Bickle and Seven Hills parks.&nbsp;The ARC Park, located at 3300 Hillcrest, is the newest and most popular park in Hays, attracting both out-of-town visitors and local residents to its accessible play equipment and splash pad.Because of its popularity, lifetimes of the equipment and other structures are not expected to be as long as average and will have to be replaced sooner, Boyle said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1752852096400.jpeg" alt="Hays Parks Department" />
 <figcaption>Hays Parks Department</figcaption>
 </figure>"Within the special parks fund, we'll start losing financial ground in 2032 and won't be able to fund everything we currently have in all the parks," Boyle said.During the nearly one-hour discussion, commissioners discussed various options. Those included the premise that not all parks and green spaces require the same amenities, reducing amenities in some areas, transitioning to more affordable amenities, and focusing on maintaining existing amenities rather than adding new ones.&nbsp;Commissioner Alaina Moore said the city should sustain the parks it has and not close any.&nbsp;Although he didn't advocate for it, Musil asked about the possibility of a one-mill increase in the parks mill levy.&nbsp;Toby Dougherty, city manager, said one mill would raise an additional $340,000.Jacobs suggested getting the public's input on what they want to see in the parks' growth and maintenance.&nbsp;<h2>Access public transportation funding request</h2>The commission had a second look at the draft 2026 budget.Discussion focused on the new request from Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas for another $107,673, in addition to the $82,500 included in the CARE Council's recommended distributions, to help fund the ACCESS public transportation program.DSNWK is also&nbsp;requesting an&nbsp;<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/fbac2993-56a7-4ebb-b494-5a194944d2c2" target="_blank">allocation increase from Ellis County</a>.Jerry Michaud, DSNWK executive director, earlier said the Kansas Department of Transportation has provided some funding for 2026, but it falls short. The&nbsp;gap is about $161,000."That increased request from DSNWK is not in our budget today, " said Jacobs.Dougherty said the city tries not to spend all its general fund money, and a buffer is available if the commission desires to use it.&nbsp;Barrick said, "If they have to ask for that much money, it behooves us to work with them to look for efficiencies (in their operation)."Commissioner Musil asked for further details on some smaller budget line items that had increased dramatically from 2025. Most of the higher costs were due to inflation, with some attributed to the cost of new software training."This is a focused budget. We're doing well," Ruder said.&nbsp;The proposed mill levy would remain at 25 mills for the 17th consecutive year.&nbsp;The draft 2026 budget is available online at <a href="https://www.haysusa.com/DocumentCenter/View/8179/2026-BUDGET-WORKBOOK?bidId=#:~:text=The%20highlights%20of%20the%202026%20Budget%20are%20as%20follows%3A&amp;text=It%20is%20anticipated%20that%20the,approved%20by%20voters%20in%202020.">haysusa.com</a>.Musil said he's recently seen a lot of false comments on social media about city operations and its budget. "We're very transparent, and we're all open. We're here to answer your questions."At the end of the meeting, Barrick asked for a future work session discussion about fireworks in Hays. "We're all getting a lot of negative emails about the noise and mess of fireworks," he said. "Hays allows selling and discharge for three days while surrounding communities only allow one day."A 20-minute special session was called related to the financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trusts or individual proprietorships.&nbsp;No action was taken.&nbsp;

Despite poll, no backyard chickens allowed in Hays

Sign up from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. today at American Shooters in Hays to become a finalist for a&nbsp;Yuengling Flight Golf Cart from our friends at A &amp; A in Hays.

The Yuengling Flight Golf Cart, which is worth $10,000, will be given away at this year’s OKTOBERFEST 2025!

Special thanks to our sponsors: A &amp; A Coors Yuengling.

Keep listening to Eagle Radio and reading the Hays Post all summer long for your chance to become a finalist. Watch the Hays Post for announcement of finalists.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1752618001341.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Sign up from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. today at American Shooters in Hays to become a finalist for a&nbsp;Yuengling Flight Golf Cart from our friends at A &amp; A in Hays.The Yuengling Flight Golf Cart, which is worth $10,000, will be given away at this year’s OKTOBERFEST 2025!Special thanks to our sponsors: A &amp; A Coors Yuengling.Keep listening to Eagle Radio and reading the Hays Post all summer long for your chance to become a finalist. Watch the Hays Post for announcement of finalists.

Enter to be finalist for Yuengling Flight Golf Cart today at American Shooters in Hays

HAYS – Lane Sparks and Brady Kreutzer each connect on eighth-inning
grand slams as the Larks knocked off the Denver Cougars 12-1 Friday night at
Larks Park.

The Larks (26-4-1, 18-4 RMBL) and the Cougars played an evenly
matched game for six inning with the Larks holding a 1-0 lead heading into the
bottom of the seventh inning.

Hays’ lone run coming on a Wilbert Espinal RBI single in the
fourth inning.

Leading 1-0 heading into the bottom of the seventh inning
the Larks added two more runs, scoring on back-to-back RBI singles by Trent
Baker and Jackson Babcock.

Denver got a run back in the top of the eighth inning but
with the Larks leading 3-1 Hays blew the game wide open in the bottom of the
inning.

The Larks offense exploded for nine runs in the inning.

The Larks loaded the bases with a single and back-to-back
walks and then after an out, Sparks homered to right field for a grand slam,
making it 7-1 Larks. 

After another walk, a Jackson Babcock singled home a run putting
Hays up 8-1.

Two batters later, after back-to-back walks, Kreutzer delivered
a grand slam to left, giving Hays the 12-1 walk-off run-rule victory.

Kreutzer finished one-for-one with two runs scored and a
grand slam. Four Larks collected a pair of hits and Kreutzer and Sparks each
drove in four runs.

Nick Gray earned the win for the Larks, allowing just two
hits with two strikeouts in five shutout innings.

Hays hosts Denver in the second of a three-game series
Saturday at Larks Park.

Hays Post SportsHAYS – Lane Sparks and Brady Kreutzer each connect on eighth-inning
grand slams as the Larks knocked off the Denver Cougars 12-1 Friday night at
Larks Park.The Larks (26-4-1, 18-4 RMBL) and the Cougars played an evenly
matched game for six inning with the Larks holding a 1-0 lead heading into the
bottom of the seventh inning.Hays’ lone run coming on a Wilbert Espinal RBI single in the
fourth inning.Leading 1-0 heading into the bottom of the seventh inning
the Larks added two more runs, scoring on back-to-back RBI singles by Trent
Baker and Jackson Babcock.Denver got a run back in the top of the eighth inning but
with the Larks leading 3-1 Hays blew the game wide open in the bottom of the
inning.The Larks offense exploded for nine runs in the inning.The Larks loaded the bases with a single and back-to-back
walks and then after an out, Sparks homered to right field for a grand slam,
making it 7-1 Larks. After another walk, a Jackson Babcock singled home a run putting
Hays up 8-1.Two batters later, after back-to-back walks, Kreutzer delivered
a grand slam to left, giving Hays the 12-1 walk-off run-rule victory.Kreutzer finished one-for-one with two runs scored and a
grand slam. Four Larks collected a pair of hits and Kreutzer and Sparks each
drove in four runs.Nick Gray earned the win for the Larks, allowing just two
hits with two strikeouts in five shutout innings.Hays hosts Denver in the second of a three-game series
Saturday at Larks Park.

⚾Four RBI day for Sparks and Kreutzer leads Larks to win over Denver

By&nbsp;NICOLAS FIERRO Salina Post

The Salina Police Department has sent out a Crimestoppers release to the public, as they are seeking tips regarding an unknown suspect(s) who allegedly stole more than $6,000 worth of tools from a work trailer.

According to SPD, between 2 p.m. on Friday, July 4, and 7 a.m. on Monday, July 7, a construction trailer was allegedly burglarized. An employee of Schwerdtfager Masonry reported that a trailer belonging to their business had several items removed in the 3800 block of S. 9th.

Reportedly, an unknown suspect(s) 'cut a lock to the trailer and stole several tools.'&nbsp;The tools that were allegedly stolen were:

Two Stihl Concrete Saws, a Honda Generator, a Hilti Concrete Nailer, a Milwaukee Hammer Drill and a DeWalt 20-gallon air compressor. The total loss was valued at $ 6,500.

ORIGINAL:&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/75a9da74-8b68-467c-9d2f-96923d40600e">Police are searching for suspect(s) who allegedly stole over $6,000 of work tools</a>

SPD advises ff you have any information concerning this incident or identification of the individual suspect, to call Crimestoppers at&nbsp;825-TIPS.

You can also make an online tip at:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.p3tips.com/tipform.aspx?ID=950#">https://www.p3tips.com/tipform.aspx?ID=950#</a>. You may receive a cash reward of up to $1,000. Tipsters may also contact the Salina Police Department at&nbsp;(785) 826-7210, for&nbsp;case&nbsp;2025-16952.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598205233802.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;NICOLAS FIERRO Salina PostThe Salina Police Department has sent out a Crimestoppers release to the public, as they are seeking tips regarding an unknown suspect(s) who allegedly stole more than $6,000 worth of tools from a work trailer.According to SPD, between 2 p.m. on Friday, July 4, and 7 a.m. on Monday, July 7, a construction trailer was allegedly burglarized. An employee of Schwerdtfager Masonry reported that a trailer belonging to their business had several items removed in the 3800 block of S. 9th.Reportedly, an unknown suspect(s) 'cut a lock to the trailer and stole several tools.'&nbsp;The tools that were allegedly stolen were:Two Stihl Concrete Saws, a Honda Generator, a Hilti Concrete Nailer, a Milwaukee Hammer Drill and a DeWalt 20-gallon air compressor. The total loss was valued at $ 6,500.ORIGINAL:&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/75a9da74-8b68-467c-9d2f-96923d40600e">Police are searching for suspect(s) who allegedly stole over $6,000 of work tools</a>SPD advises ff you have any information concerning this incident or identification of the individual suspect, to call Crimestoppers at&nbsp;825-TIPS.You can also make an online tip at:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.p3tips.com/tipform.aspx?ID=950#">https://www.p3tips.com/tipform.aspx?ID=950#</a>. You may receive a cash reward of up to $1,000. Tipsters may also contact the Salina Police Department at&nbsp;(785) 826-7210, for&nbsp;case&nbsp;2025-16952.

Salina Police still searching for suspect(s) who allegedly stole over $6,000 of tools

By MIKE COURSON Great Bend Post

Bird watchers visit Cheyenne Bottoms, in large part, for the birds. But those birds will not stop if there's nothing to eat. Dry conditions ahead of recent rains have allowed Cheyenne Bottoms staff to plant millet that will eventually serve as duck food. Wildlife Manager Jason Wagner said staff worked approximately 40 acres in Pool B earlier this week.

"We really could have used another shot of rain or two to keep things going a little bit more, but we're perfectly fine with what we've got," he said. "We're heading in the right direction, still."

A few pools around the Bottoms continue to hold water. Pool 1A, with a capacity of 72 inches, is still at approximately 52 inches. Pool 1B, with a capacity of 48 inches, was at 27 inches earlier this week.

"We're still bringing in some water and, of course, we're losing quite a bit of water now because it's starting to get hot and dry," Wagner said. "On those windy days, sometimes we'll lose half an inch to an inch of water a day when it's around 100 degrees."

Wagner said the drier conditions are also allowing staff to work on roads that have deteriorated. A base of large rock has been applied in some areas, and small rock and eventually sand will be laid on top of the large rock. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1708533031047.jpeg" alt="Bufflehead ducks at Cheyenne Bottoms during a previous migration." />
 <figcaption>Bufflehead ducks at Cheyenne Bottoms during a previous migration.</figcaption>
 </figure>By MIKE COURSON Great Bend PostBird watchers visit Cheyenne Bottoms, in large part, for the birds. But those birds will not stop if there's nothing to eat. Dry conditions ahead of recent rains have allowed Cheyenne Bottoms staff to plant millet that will eventually serve as duck food. Wildlife Manager Jason Wagner said staff worked approximately 40 acres in Pool B earlier this week."We really could have used another shot of rain or two to keep things going a little bit more, but we're perfectly fine with what we've got," he said. "We're heading in the right direction, still."A few pools around the Bottoms continue to hold water. Pool 1A, with a capacity of 72 inches, is still at approximately 52 inches. Pool 1B, with a capacity of 48 inches, was at 27 inches earlier this week."We're still bringing in some water and, of course, we're losing quite a bit of water now because it's starting to get hot and dry," Wagner said. "On those windy days, sometimes we'll lose half an inch to an inch of water a day when it's around 100 degrees."Wagner said the drier conditions are also allowing staff to work on roads that have deteriorated. A base of large rock has been applied in some areas, and small rock and eventually sand will be laid on top of the large rock.

Mix of conditions good for Cheyenne Bottoms staff, birds ahead of migration

A woman was injured this morning when she allegedly fell asleep while driving on Interstate 70 near Oakley and crashed.

A semi driven by Deborah Kay Maidon, 52, of Wichita was eastbound on Interstate 70 four miles west of Oakley at about 6:13 a.m. today when she allegedly fell asleep, according to the Kansas Highway Patrol crash report.

The vehicle&nbsp;entered the median, crossing the westbound lanes. The semi then went into the north ditch, causing the driver to overcorrect, according to the Kansas Highway Patrol.

The vehicle emerged from the north ditch, re-entering the westbound lanes and crossing the median a second time. The semi then came to rest on both eastbound lanes, according to the Kansas Highway Patrol.

The eastbound lanes of the interstate had to be closed for a time this morning while the wreck was cleared.

Maidon received minor injuries and was taken to Logan County Hospital, according to the Kansas Highway Patrol report.

Maidon was wearing her seatbelt, according to the accident report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1742326031022.png" alt="KHP" />
 <figcaption>KHP</figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostA woman was injured this morning when she allegedly fell asleep while driving on Interstate 70 near Oakley and crashed.A semi driven by Deborah Kay Maidon, 52, of Wichita was eastbound on Interstate 70 four miles west of Oakley at about 6:13 a.m. today when she allegedly fell asleep, according to the Kansas Highway Patrol crash report.The vehicle&nbsp;entered the median, crossing the westbound lanes. The semi then went into the north ditch, causing the driver to overcorrect, according to the Kansas Highway Patrol.The vehicle emerged from the north ditch, re-entering the westbound lanes and crossing the median a second time. The semi then came to rest on both eastbound lanes, according to the Kansas Highway Patrol.The eastbound lanes of the interstate had to be closed for a time this morning while the wreck was cleared.Maidon received minor injuries and was taken to Logan County Hospital, according to the Kansas Highway Patrol report.Maidon was wearing her seatbelt, according to the accident report.

Semi crash near Oakley temporarily closes I-70

By TONY GUERRERO Hays Post

The Ellis County Fair’s third grandstand event of the week was the Ranch Rodeo in Hays.

Spectators watched trailer loading and team roping Thursday at the Ellis County Fairgrounds.

Tickets for the fair can be purchased in advance&nbsp;<a href="https://www.etix.com/ticket/v/36944/ellis-county-fair?fbclid=IwY2xjawKujTRleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETF6VFdJNnVTa0NYYk82ZUp4AR44_gw2XjWFjbazSFQJZE4y3MXwLLePpTZO8DU_vIYc0eKGGESB4xXlYUunwA_aem_v9FbcbBjuUHs1yaGOY1NgA">here</a>&nbsp;or at the gate. A pass covering seven events costs $40, and a single-night admission costs $20. Children age 5 and younger get in free.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/c8ea7165-2251-4394-ab31-9785dfdf788e">SEE RELATED STORY: Five free nights of rock to light up Ellis County Fair</a>

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/dd373ce5-e23f-4a60-bc72-6a6ffb27d422">SEE RELATED STORY: Ellis County Fair offers week of family fun</a>

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/52d736e5-de04-4b4b-a988-277667123f6a">SEE RELATED STORY: Midget wrestling set to shake up Ellis County Fair</a>

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/5b14a780-50e1-4795-b899-9800bd00a9d7">SEE RELATED STORY: Engines to roar as Moto Rodeo races into Ellis County Fair</a>

You can follow the Ellis County Fair on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063657276403">Facebook</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1752817556781.jpeg" alt="Cowboys lined up for team roping at the Ellis County 2025 Ranch Rodeo. Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Cowboys lined up for team roping at the Ellis County 2025 Ranch Rodeo. Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure><div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pfnp7huo-S0?si=aysE6gDkrpX5WJly" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>Music courtesy of PixabayBy TONY GUERRERO Hays PostThe Ellis County Fair’s third grandstand event of the week was the Ranch Rodeo in Hays.Spectators watched trailer loading and team roping Thursday at the Ellis County Fairgrounds.Tickets for the fair can be purchased in advance&nbsp;<a href="https://www.etix.com/ticket/v/36944/ellis-county-fair?fbclid=IwY2xjawKujTRleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETF6VFdJNnVTa0NYYk82ZUp4AR44_gw2XjWFjbazSFQJZE4y3MXwLLePpTZO8DU_vIYc0eKGGESB4xXlYUunwA_aem_v9FbcbBjuUHs1yaGOY1NgA">here</a>&nbsp;or at the gate. A pass covering seven events costs $40, and a single-night admission costs $20. Children age 5 and younger get in free.<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/c8ea7165-2251-4394-ab31-9785dfdf788e">SEE RELATED STORY: Five free nights of rock to light up Ellis County Fair</a><a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/dd373ce5-e23f-4a60-bc72-6a6ffb27d422">SEE RELATED STORY: Ellis County Fair offers week of family fun</a><a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/52d736e5-de04-4b4b-a988-277667123f6a">SEE RELATED STORY: Midget wrestling set to shake up Ellis County Fair</a><a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/5b14a780-50e1-4795-b899-9800bd00a9d7">SEE RELATED STORY: Engines to roar as Moto Rodeo races into Ellis County Fair</a>You can follow the Ellis County Fair on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063657276403">Facebook</a>.

Ellis County Fair 2025 Ranch Rodeo

Become an instant finalist in the Miller Lite UTV Giveaway from A&amp;A Coors-Miller and Briney Motorsports of Hays. Sign up Saturday at Doghouse Liquor,&nbsp;2522 Vine St., Hays

Register for a 4-seat CF-Moto U-Force 1000 valued at $20,000.&nbsp;

Additional thanks to Advantage Glass Plus and Commercial Sign of Hays.

Keep listening and reading the Hays Post all summer long for your chance to become a finalist.

The UTV will be given away at a Fort Hays State University football game on Saturday, Sept. 13.

Watch the Hays Post for finalist announcements.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750185433864.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4GiQ8bT1mls?si=x0Sy46fK9L1wTVy1" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>Become an instant finalist in the Miller Lite UTV Giveaway from A&amp;A Coors-Miller and Briney Motorsports of Hays. Sign up Saturday at Doghouse Liquor,&nbsp;2522 Vine St., HaysRegister for a 4-seat CF-Moto U-Force 1000 valued at $20,000.&nbsp;Additional thanks to Advantage Glass Plus and Commercial Sign of Hays.Keep listening and reading the Hays Post all summer long for your chance to become a finalist.The UTV will be given away at a Fort Hays State University football game on Saturday, Sept. 13.Watch the Hays Post for finalist announcements.

Become Miller Lite UTV giveaway finalist Saturday at Doghouse Liquor in Hays!

An Albuquerque man was arrested after allegedly stealing a vehicle and driving it to Hays.

Hays Deputy Police Chief Tim Greenwood said 19-year-old Benjamin Lawrence Belson allegedly stole a 2017 blue Volkswagen Jetta from Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Greenwood said at 6:52 p.m. July 7, after the owner tracked the vehicle to Walmart, officers found the alleged stolen car. Belson was arrested inside the store on requested charges of possession of stolen property and marijuana.

Greenwood said Albuquerque authorities are investigating the alleged theft.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574298017565.jpeg" alt="Hays Police new badge" />
 <figcaption>Hays Police new badge</figcaption>
 </figure>By TONY GUERRERO Hays PostAn Albuquerque man was arrested after allegedly stealing a vehicle and driving it to Hays.Hays Deputy Police Chief Tim Greenwood said 19-year-old Benjamin Lawrence Belson allegedly stole a 2017 blue Volkswagen Jetta from Albuquerque, New Mexico.Greenwood said at 6:52 p.m. July 7, after the owner tracked the vehicle to Walmart, officers found the alleged stolen car. Belson was arrested inside the store on requested charges of possession of stolen property and marijuana.Greenwood said Albuquerque authorities are investigating the alleged theft.

Albuquerque man arrested in Hays for alleged stolen car

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Three players – Brendan Hausen, Max Jones and David N’Guessan – were selected to the 2024-25 National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Honors Court in announcement by the organization on Thursday (July 17).

The NABC Honors Court is bestowed upon juniors, seniors and/or graduate students who post a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.2 or higher in a given academic year.

N’Guessan earned the honor for the third consecutive season. He was also named to the 2025 Winter Academic All-Big 12. It was the first NABC honors for Hausen and Jones.

In addition to head coach Jerome Tang and Chief of Staff Marco Borne, several individuals play a pivotal role in support of the team’s academic success, including Senior Associate AD Kristin Waller, academic counselor Jamie Cherry and the staff in the Evans Student-Athlete Success Program.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1752777532165.jpeg" alt="Image courtesy Kansas State Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy Kansas State Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>Kansas State AthleticsMANHATTAN, Kan. – Three players – Brendan Hausen, Max Jones and David N’Guessan – were selected to the 2024-25 National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Honors Court in announcement by the organization on Thursday (July 17).The NABC Honors Court is bestowed upon juniors, seniors and/or graduate students who post a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.2 or higher in a given academic year.N’Guessan earned the honor for the third consecutive season. He was also named to the 2025 Winter Academic All-Big 12. It was the first NABC honors for Hausen and Jones.In addition to head coach Jerome Tang and Chief of Staff Marco Borne, several individuals play a pivotal role in support of the team’s academic success, including Senior Associate AD Kristin Waller, academic counselor Jamie Cherry and the staff in the Evans Student-Athlete Success Program.

🏀 Trio of Wildcats selected to NABC Honors Court

BY MIKE COURSON Great Bend Post

First responders from Ellinwood and Great Bend spent more than four hours in the July heat Wednesday afternoon during a water tower rescue operation at the north water tower in Ellinwood. Ellinwood EMS Director Brittney Bailey said crews were originally dispatched to the scene at approximately 1 p.m.

"We were dispatched for a male patient who had fallen while inside the water tower," she said. "We had a water cleaning crew doing routine maintenance inside the water tower. He fell while inside the tower, and we extricated him. That was an extensive extrication just because of the height and all the technical rescue that goes into that. The patient was transported by aircraft to a Wichita hospital."

Shortly after 5 p.m., Ellinwood EMS shared via Facebook that the patient had successfully been removed from the water tower. No names have been released but Bailey said the man was approximately 40 years old.

Ellinwood Fire and EMS was assisted by Great Bend Fire and EMS, the Ellinwood Police Department, and the Barton County Sheriff's Office.

Technical rescue teams are currently working to lower the patient to the ground with the utmost care and coordination. The individual remains conscious and is being closely monitored by EMS personnel throughout the operation.

Crews from Ellinwood Fire, EMS, LEO and support from Great Bend Fire remain on scene to ensure the patient’s safe extrication and subsequent transport for medical evaluation.

Further updates will be provided as the situation develops.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1752764941558.jpeg" alt="" />
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 </figure>BY MIKE COURSON Great Bend PostFirst responders from Ellinwood and Great Bend spent more than four hours in the July heat Wednesday afternoon during a water tower rescue operation at the north water tower in Ellinwood. Ellinwood EMS Director Brittney Bailey said crews were originally dispatched to the scene at approximately 1 p.m."We were dispatched for a male patient who had fallen while inside the water tower," she said. "We had a water cleaning crew doing routine maintenance inside the water tower. He fell while inside the tower, and we extricated him. That was an extensive extrication just because of the height and all the technical rescue that goes into that. The patient was transported by aircraft to a Wichita hospital."Shortly after 5 p.m., Ellinwood EMS shared via Facebook that the patient had successfully been removed from the water tower. No names have been released but Bailey said the man was approximately 40 years old.Ellinwood Fire and EMS was assisted by Great Bend Fire and EMS, the Ellinwood Police Department, and the Barton County Sheriff's Office._________Technical rescue teams are currently working to lower the patient to the ground with the utmost care and coordination. The individual remains conscious and is being closely monitored by EMS personnel throughout the operation.Crews from Ellinwood Fire, EMS, LEO and support from Great Bend Fire remain on scene to ensure the patient’s safe extrication and subsequent transport for medical evaluation.Further updates will be provided as the situation develops.

Update: Ellinwood water tower victim flown to Wichita hospital

A cool front brought cooler temperatures and some welcome rain to Hays Wednesday.

The official overnight rain amount from the K-State Agricultural Research Center south of town was 0.63 inches. A little less - 0.45 inches - was measured at the Eagle Media Center, 2300 Hall Street.

It's been a dry July in Hays with 0.85 inches of rain so far. The cumulative average for the month is 3.33 inches.

Wednesday's high was 90 degrees after several days of temperatures near the century mark.&nbsp;

Thursday's daytime high is expected to be even cooler at 79 degrees. The three-day weather forecast calls for more rain Friday with highs moving back up into the upper 90s.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1752763864087.png" alt="Photo by Unsplash" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Unsplash</figcaption>
 </figure>By BECKY KISER Hays PostA cool front brought cooler temperatures and some welcome rain to Hays Wednesday.The official overnight rain amount from the K-State Agricultural Research Center south of town was 0.63 inches. A little less - 0.45 inches - was measured at the Eagle Media Center, 2300 Hall Street.It's been a dry July in Hays with 0.85 inches of rain so far. The cumulative average for the month is 3.33 inches.Wednesday's high was 90 degrees after several days of temperatures near the century mark.&nbsp;Thursday's daytime high is expected to be even cooler at 79 degrees. The three-day weather forecast calls for more rain Friday with highs moving back up into the upper 90s.

Cool front brings overnight rain and cooler day to Hays

By TONY GUERRERO Hays Post

The Hays Police Department conducted a multi-day active shooter training to prepare officers for high-stress situations.

On Tuesday, Hays police officers were at the permanently closed AMC movie theater,&nbsp;2918 Vine St. On Wednesday, multiple agencies trained at Roosevelt Elementary,&nbsp;2000 MacArthur Road. Hays police officers will be training at the AMC theater again today.

Det. David Gillian is leading the training sessions and said each setting offers different obstacles and challenges that responding officers may encounter.

"The main objective is to ensure that officers are appropriately trained and know how to appropriately respond to an active shooter event," Gillian said.

Gillian told the officers on Wednesday as they debriefed after running a scenario, "We pray that this doesn't happen."

<div><iframe title="Post Podcast: Hays police, local agencies train for active shooter response" allowtransparency="true" height="300" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:300px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?from=embed&i=6xh9y-1908ccb-pb&square=1&share=1&download=1&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=auto&rtl=0&logo_link=podcast_page&btn-skin=60a0c8&size=300" loading="lazy" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1752694295599.jpeg" alt="Officers breach a classroom during an active shooter training exercise at Roosevelt Elementary School on Wednesday. In this scenario, an active shooter has been firing inside a classroom, and officers have just shot the perpetrator (right). Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Officers breach a classroom during an active shooter training exercise at Roosevelt Elementary School on Wednesday. In this scenario, an active shooter has been firing inside a classroom, and officers have just shot the perpetrator (right). Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>By TONY GUERRERO Hays Post The Hays Police Department conducted a multi-day active shooter training to prepare officers for high-stress situations.On Tuesday, Hays police officers were at the permanently closed AMC movie theater,&nbsp;2918 Vine St. On Wednesday, multiple agencies trained at Roosevelt Elementary,&nbsp;2000 MacArthur Road. Hays police officers will be training at the AMC theater again today.Det. David Gillian is leading the training sessions and said each setting offers different obstacles and challenges that responding officers may encounter.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1752698632365.jpeg" alt="Officers prepare to breach a classroom with a suspected active shooter inside during training Wednesday at Roosevelt Elementary School. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Officers prepare to breach a classroom with a suspected active shooter inside during training Wednesday at Roosevelt Elementary School. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1752698143477.jpeg" alt="Officers begin to breach a classroom during active shooter training on Wednesday. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Officers begin to breach a classroom during active shooter training on Wednesday. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1752697605032.jpeg" alt="An actor portrays an active shooter as area law enforcement officers enter a classroom Wednesday at Roosevelt Elementary School. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>An actor portrays an active shooter as area law enforcement officers enter a classroom Wednesday at Roosevelt Elementary School. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1752694732487.jpeg" alt="Officers respond to shots being fired during an active shooter training Wednesday at Roosevelt Elementary School. Officers used blank rounds to engage actors in multiple scenarios.&nbsp;Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Officers respond to shots being fired during an active shooter training Wednesday at Roosevelt Elementary School. Officers used blank rounds to engage actors in multiple scenarios.&nbsp;Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1752696270934.jpeg" alt="Officers subdue an active shooter during a training exercise&nbsp;on Wednesday at Roosevelt Elementary School as actors portray victims lying in a hallway. A training officer in a yellow vest at left observes. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Officers subdue an active shooter during a training exercise&nbsp;on Wednesday at Roosevelt Elementary School as actors portray victims lying in a hallway. A training officer in a yellow vest at left observes. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>"The main objective is to ensure that officers are appropriately trained and know how to appropriately respond to an active shooter event," Gillian said.Gillian told the officers on Wednesday as they debriefed after running a scenario, "We pray that this doesn't happen."The Hays Police Department worked alongside the city of Ellis Police Department, Victoria Police Department, Fort Hays State University Police, the Ellis County Sheriff's Office and the Department of Wildlife and Parks."These events are rapidly evolving. They offer challenges in themselves for one agency to go to, and now you start compiling all the different agencies within Ellis County that would likely respond to, you've got a lot of different moving parts," Gillian said. "It's crucial to train in that type of environment."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1752695101666.jpeg" alt="School staff play the role of victims in an active shooter training on Wednesday at Roosevelt Elementary School. The actors were asked to cry out to simulate the chaos that officers would face during a real active shooter incident. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>School staff play the role of victims in an active shooter training on Wednesday at Roosevelt Elementary School. The actors were asked to cry out to simulate the chaos that officers would face during a real active shooter incident. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1752695412138.jpeg" alt="An officer applies a&nbsp;tourniquet to the leg of a wounded actor during&nbsp;active shooter training on Wednesday at Roosevelt Elementary School. Multiple law enforcement agencies from the area participated in the training. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>An officer applies a&nbsp;tourniquet to the leg of a wounded actor during&nbsp;active shooter training on Wednesday at Roosevelt Elementary School. Multiple law enforcement agencies from the area participated in the training. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1752696581260.jpeg" alt="Jess Reling, assistant to the superintendent, portrays a victim during active shooter training. Officers were charged with triaging and trying to evacuate victims during the scenarios. Some actors portrayed deceased individuals, and dummies were used to represent children. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Jess Reling, assistant to the superintendent, portrays a victim during active shooter training. Officers were charged with triaging and trying to evacuate victims during the scenarios. Some actors portrayed deceased individuals, and dummies were used to represent children. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1752698279943.jpeg" alt="An officer evacuates an injured victim as training officers observe during active shooter training Wednesday. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>An officer evacuates an injured victim as training officers observe during active shooter training Wednesday. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>Gillian said the training consisted of firing blanks and included actors, some of whom were school staff members.This is the second year of multi-agency training, following last year's training at Wilson Elementary School.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1752697946760.jpeg" alt="An officer helps check a room for additional threats during active shooter training on Wednesday. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>An officer helps check a room for additional threats during active shooter training on Wednesday. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1752696950553.jpeg" alt="A Hays police officer handcuffs a perpetrator as a training officer looks on during an active shooter drill Wednesday at Roosevelt Elementary School. Actors portray injured victims in the background. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>A Hays police officer handcuffs a perpetrator as a training officer looks on during an active shooter drill Wednesday at Roosevelt Elementary School. Actors portray injured victims in the background. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1752698901100.jpeg" alt="Officers debrief after running an active shooter scenario Wednesday at Roosevelt Elementary School. Officers from the Hays Police Department, Ellis Police Department, Victoria Police Department, Fort Hays State University Police, the Ellis County Sheriff's Office and the Department of Wildlife and Parks participated in the training Wednesday. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Officers debrief after running an active shooter scenario Wednesday at Roosevelt Elementary School. Officers from the Hays Police Department, Ellis Police Department, Victoria Police Department, Fort Hays State University Police, the Ellis County Sheriff's Office and the Department of Wildlife and Parks participated in the training Wednesday. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
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