By TONY GUERRERO Hays Post

The Ellis County Workforce Committee discussed health needs for small businesses and the creation of a new Wellness Committee.

The task force, led by Sarah Wasinger, president and CEO of the Chamber in Hays, suggested the wellness committee should centralize local resources to promote workplace health.

Jay Harris, K-State Cottonwood Extension District, showed interest in the idea and requested to be a part of it.

"We could even offer some additional resources and training to help the employer pass on to the employee. I think the committee is a great idea," he said.

Other representatives in attendance, including RANS Aircraft, city of Hays and Fort Hays State University, shared what their businesses offered for wellness, ranging from premium discounts, creating company walking paths and covering gym memberships.

However, the task force also highlighted the challenges associated with these benefits, such as low engagement without greater incentives.

Shelly Schlitter with RANS Aircraft said employees never utilized a bike trail installed behind its factory, although its gym membership discounts for employees have seen success.

Wasinger also highlighted the current chamber health-related support for businesses, such as health insurance offered through Aetna, which helps chamber members save 2% on open market plans. An informational meeting on the plan is set for noon on Oct. 22 at the Rose Garden Banquet Hall.

The committee had a debrief of the Hays High School Career Cluster in September that featured manufacturing, distribution and welding. It was seen as a success.

Upcoming events on the committee agenda include High School Career Exploration Day on Oct. 29 at Hays High, open to students from surrounding high schools, and the next cluster meeting set for Oct. 15.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1759957234465.jpeg" alt="Courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By TONY GUERRERO Hays PostThe Ellis County Workforce Committee discussed health needs for small businesses and the creation of a new Wellness Committee.The task force, led by Sarah Wasinger, president and CEO of the Chamber in Hays, suggested the wellness committee should centralize local resources to promote workplace health.Jay Harris, K-State Cottonwood Extension District, showed interest in the idea and requested to be a part of it."We could even offer some additional resources and training to help the employer pass on to the employee. I think the committee is a great idea," he said.Other representatives in attendance, including RANS Aircraft, city of Hays and Fort Hays State University, shared what their businesses offered for wellness, ranging from premium discounts, creating company walking paths and covering gym memberships.However, the task force also highlighted the challenges associated with these benefits, such as low engagement without greater incentives.Shelly Schlitter with RANS Aircraft said employees never utilized a bike trail installed behind its factory, although its gym membership discounts for employees have seen success.Wasinger also highlighted the current chamber health-related support for businesses, such as health insurance offered through Aetna, which helps chamber members save 2% on open market plans. An informational meeting on the plan is set for noon on Oct. 22 at the Rose Garden Banquet Hall.The committee had a debrief of the Hays High School Career Cluster in September that featured manufacturing, distribution and welding. It was seen as a success.Upcoming events on the committee agenda include High School Career Exploration Day on Oct. 29 at Hays High, open to students from surrounding high schools, and the next cluster meeting set for Oct. 15.

Ellis County Workforce Committee discusses health programs

By DUSTIN ARMBRUSTER Hays Post Sports

HAYS - Hays High couldn't overcome five touchdowns by Notre Dame commit Ian Premer as the Panthers defeated the Indians 43-19 in front of an overflow crowd Friday evening at Hays High School.

There was just one visit to the end zone by either team in the first half. Premer took the ball 17 yards on a run giving the Panthers a 7-0 lead with 1:08 left in the first quarter.

Hays (5-2, 2-1) took the opening possession but turned the ball over on downs after eight plays. Great Bend (7-0, 3-0) marched to the Hays twenty. Their drive ended in the same fate when Jarek Purdy knocked down a pass on a double pass attempt.

Hays punted after three plays setting up Great Bend's score. The Panthers used six plays to cover 48 yards. The Indians turned the ball over on downs and punted on their next two drives. Great Bend had a pass picked off by Purdy and punted on their final two drives of the half.

Hays took the final drive of the first half as far as the one yard line. Following confusion for both teams' sidelines over the final three seconds of the quarter, time ran out for the Indians to score.

The first half was all about defense. The second was all offense. The first six possessions between the two teams resulted in six touchdowns.

Great Bend's first two touchdowns needed just seven total plays. Hays scored on a Holden Lind two yard run. The score was set up on a 41 yard pass play between Zane Viegra and Brogan Albers. The Indians second touchdown came from Braxton Basgall on a ten yard rush. A missed extra point left the score at 21-13 with 10:27 left in the fourth.

Lind broke loose on a 54 yard touchdown to pull Hays within 28-19 with 4:18 left. The Indians' two point conversion was unsuccessful.&nbsp;

Ian Premer scored two more touchdowns, one on defense, for the final of 43-19.

Holden Lind ran for 251 yards one week after 303 yards.

Hays travels to Liberal to finish the regular season. Great Bend plays host to Garden City.

By DUSTIN ARMBRUSTER Hays Post SportsHAYS - Hays High couldn't overcome five touchdowns by Notre Dame commit Ian Premer as the Panthers defeated the Indians 43-19 in front of an overflow crowd Friday evening at Hays High School.There was just one visit to the end zone by either team in the first half. Premer took the ball 17 yards on a run giving the Panthers a 7-0 lead with 1:08 left in the first quarter.Hays (5-2, 2-1) took the opening possession but turned the ball over on downs after eight plays. Great Bend (7-0, 3-0) marched to the Hays twenty. Their drive ended in the same fate when Jarek Purdy knocked down a pass on a double pass attempt.Hays punted after three plays setting up Great Bend's score. The Panthers used six plays to cover 48 yards. The Indians turned the ball over on downs and punted on their next two drives. Great Bend had a pass picked off by Purdy and punted on their final two drives of the half.Hays took the final drive of the first half as far as the one yard line. Following confusion for both teams' sidelines over the final three seconds of the quarter, time ran out for the Indians to score.Highlights<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/soundcloud%253Atracks%253A2192927215&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-814667509/10-17-25-hh-fb-highlights-v" title="10-17-25 HH FB Highlights v. Great Bend" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">10-17-25 HH FB Highlights v. Great Bend</a></div></div>The first half was all about defense. The second was all offense. The first six possessions between the two teams resulted in six touchdowns.Great Bend's first two touchdowns needed just seven total plays. Hays scored on a Holden Lind two yard run. The score was set up on a 41 yard pass play between Zane Viegra and Brogan Albers. The Indians second touchdown came from Braxton Basgall on a ten yard rush. A missed extra point left the score at 21-13 with 10:27 left in the fourth.Lind broke loose on a 54 yard touchdown to pull Hays within 28-19 with 4:18 left. The Indians' two point conversion was unsuccessful.&nbsp;Ian Premer scored two more touchdowns, one on defense, for the final of 43-19.Coach Tony Crough<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/soundcloud%253Atracks%253A2192926699&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-814667509/10-17-25-hh-fb-coach-interview" title="10-17-25 HH FB Coach Interview v. Great Bend" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">10-17-25 HH FB Coach Interview v. Great Bend</a></div></div>Holden Lind ran for 251 yards one week after 303 yards.Hays travels to Liberal to finish the regular season. Great Bend plays host to Garden City.

🏈 Hays falls at home for the first time

By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT Hays Post Sports

SYRACUSE – The TMP-Marian Monarchs forced a season-high
seven turnovers and cruised to a 52-0 victory over the Syracuse Bulldogs Friday
night in Syracuse.

The Monarchs (3-2, 2-1, 3-2 MCL) started slow, punting on
their first possession of the game, but Isaac Purinton intercepted the first
pass of the game by the Bulldogs, setting the Monarchs up with a short field.

The Monarchs took just two plays to put the game's first
points on the board, and after the two-point conversion, the Monarchs led 8-0
midway through the first quarter.

Syracuse (0-6, 0-3) answered with a long drive that came to
an end on fourth down in TMP territory. Two plays later, TMP’s Carson Liles
found Jackson Gillespie for the first of his three touchdown passes on the game,
putting TMP up 14-0 after the failed two-point try.

After both teams were forced to punt on their next drive,
Syracuse was pinned deep inside their own territory, and Grant Nehl broke free
for his first of two sacks on the day, this one resulting in a safety for a
16-0 TMP lead with 11:45 to play in the first half.

And again, just two plays later, Gillespie broke into the
open field for a 58-yard touchdown run, his second of three on the night, putting
TMP up 22-0 with just over two minutes gone in the second quarter.

Nash Dreiling recorded his first career interception on the
next Syracuse possession, and plays later, Liles found Nehls for a 27-yard
touchdown pass, putting TMP up 30-0 after the two-point conversion.

Following another Syracuse fumble, one of their four on the
day, TMP’s Liles found Dreiling for his first career receiving touchdown and a
38-0 TMP lead, after the conversion, with just under six minutes left in the
first half.

In the second half, TMP added a one-yard Jackson Gillespie
touchdown run and a Liles extra point to go up 45-0 and start the continuous
clock.

Earlier in the fourth, TMP finished out their scoring with a
Dreiling three-yard touchdown pass to Connor Breit as TMP closed out a 52-0
victory.

The Monarchs unofficially finished with 343 yards of
offense. Carson Liles was 7-of-12 passing for 127 yards and one touchdown.

Jackson Gillespie finished with 118 yards and three touchdowns
on 13 carries, his second straight 100-yard rushing game. 

By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT Hays Post SportsSYRACUSE – The TMP-Marian Monarchs forced a season-high
seven turnovers and cruised to a 52-0 victory over the Syracuse Bulldogs Friday
night in Syracuse.The Monarchs (3-2, 2-1, 3-2 MCL) started slow, punting on
their first possession of the game, but Isaac Purinton intercepted the first
pass of the game by the Bulldogs, setting the Monarchs up with a short field.The Monarchs took just two plays to put the game's first
points on the board, and after the two-point conversion, the Monarchs led 8-0
midway through the first quarter.Syracuse (0-6, 0-3) answered with a long drive that came to
an end on fourth down in TMP territory. Two plays later, TMP’s Carson Liles
found Jackson Gillespie for the first of his three touchdown passes on the game,
putting TMP up 14-0 after the failed two-point try.After both teams were forced to punt on their next drive,
Syracuse was pinned deep inside their own territory, and Grant Nehl broke free
for his first of two sacks on the day, this one resulting in a safety for a
16-0 TMP lead with 11:45 to play in the first half.And again, just two plays later, Gillespie broke into the
open field for a 58-yard touchdown run, his second of three on the night, putting
TMP up 22-0 with just over two minutes gone in the second quarter.Nash Dreiling recorded his first career interception on the
next Syracuse possession, and plays later, Liles found Nehls for a 27-yard
touchdown pass, putting TMP up 30-0 after the two-point conversion.Following another Syracuse fumble, one of their four on the
day, TMP’s Liles found Dreiling for his first career receiving touchdown and a
38-0 TMP lead, after the conversion, with just under six minutes left in the
first half.In the second half, TMP added a one-yard Jackson Gillespie
touchdown run and a Liles extra point to go up 45-0 and start the continuous
clock.Earlier in the fourth, TMP finished out their scoring with a
Dreiling three-yard touchdown pass to Connor Breit as TMP closed out a 52-0
victory.The Monarchs unofficially finished with 343 yards of
offense. Carson Liles was 7-of-12 passing for 127 yards and one touchdown.Jackson Gillespie finished with 118 yards and three touchdowns
on 13 carries, his second straight 100-yard rushing game.

🏈 Monarchs make it look easy in Syracuse

NEW YORK (AP) — President Donald Trump said Friday he had commuted the sentence of former U.S. Rep.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/george-santos">George Santos</a>, who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/george-santos-fraud-sentencing-prison-0961831af8870686853acb22d049c85e">was slated to serve</a>&nbsp;more than seven years in federal prison after pleading guilty to fraud and identity theft charges.

Joseph Murray, one of Santos’ lawyers, told The Associated Press late Friday that the former lawmaker was released from the Federal Correctional Institution in Fairton, New Jersey, around 11 p.m., and was greeted outside the facility by his family.

The New York Republican was sentenced in April after admitting last year to deceiving donors and stealing the identities of 11 people — including his own family members — to make donations to his campaign.

He&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/george-santos-fraud-prison-29cdb8a9e9dfe7283d53091a6e20b1ba">reported to</a>&nbsp;FCI Fairton on July 25 and was housed in a minimum security prison camp with fewer than 50 other inmates.

“George Santos was somewhat of a ‘rogue,’ but there are many rogues throughout our Country that aren’t forced to serve seven years in prison," Trump posted on his social media platform. He said he had “just signed a Commutation, releasing George Santos from prison, IMMEDIATELY.”

"Good luck George, have a great life!” Trump said.

Santos’ account on X, which has been active throughout his roughly 84 days in prison, reposted a screenshot of Trump’s Truth Social post Friday.

During his time behind bars, Santos has been writing regular dispatches in a local newspaper on Long Island, in which he mainly complained about the prison conditions.

In his latest letter, though, he pleaded to Trump directly, citing his fealty to the president's agenda and to the Republican Party.

“Sir, I appeal to your sense of justice and humanity — the same qualities that have inspired millions of Americans to believe in you," he&nbsp;<a href="https://southshorepress.com/stories/675756835-santos-in-solitary-a-passionate-plea-to-president-trump">wrote in The South Shore Press</a>&nbsp;on Oct. 13. "I humbly ask that you consider the unusual pain and hardship of this environment and allow me the opportunity to return to my family, my friends, and my community.”

Santos’ commutation is Trump’s latest high-profile&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nikola-trevor-milton-fraud-trump-pardon-3fcebb0a3820cecb205656f2dc3f6764">act of clemency</a>&nbsp;for former Republican politicians since retaking the White House in January.

In late May, he pardoned former U.S. Rep.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/michael-grimm">Michael Grimm</a>, a New York Republican who in 2014 pleaded guilty to underreporting wages and revenue at a restaurant he ran in Manhattan. He also pardoned former Connecticut Gov.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/former-connecticut-governor-john-rowland-pardoned-trump-3f64b89567cb5f688808eb1b1ddd581f">John Rowland</a>, whose promising political career was upended by a corruption scandal and two federal prison stints.

But in granting clemency to Santos, Trump was rewarding a figure who has drawn scorn from within his own party.

After becoming the first openly gay Republican elected to Congress in 2022, Santos served less than a year after it was revealed that he had fabricated much of his life story.

On the campaign trail, Santos had claimed he was a successful business consultant with Wall Street cred and a sizable real estate portfolio. But when his resume came under scrutiny, Santos eventually admitted he had never graduated from Baruch College — or been a standout player on the Manhattan college’s volleyball team, as he had claimed. He had never worked at Citigroup and Goldman Sachs.

He wasn’t&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-business-bb455cc02b70e5366b9c5e347da8ad38">even Jewish</a>. Santos insisted he meant he was “Jew-ish” because his mother’s family had a Jewish background, even though he was raised Catholic.

In truth, the then-34-year-old was struggling financially and even faced eviction.

Santos was charged in 2023 with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/george-santos-credit-card-fraud-f723e69a777b02a2e6b87595f45c21ce">stealing from donors and his campaign</a>, fraudulently collecting unemployment benefits and lying to Congress about his wealth.

Within months, he was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/george-santos-expulsion-vote-ethics-investigation-fd0f1524065883c6b2fe3e6f9afd84db">expelled from the U.S. House of Representatives</a>&nbsp;-- with 105 Republicans joining with Democrats to make Santos just the&nbsp;<a href="https://history.house.gov/Institution/Discipline/Expulsion-Censure-Reprimand/">sixth member</a>&nbsp;in the chamber’s history to be ousted by colleagues..

Santos&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/george-santos-plea-court-new-york-90741d068fd94090419fc0fd79be30cc">pleaded guilty</a>&nbsp;as he was set to stand trial.

Still, a prominent former House colleague, U.S. Rep.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/marjorie-taylor-greene-republican-governor-georgia-3afd2ed330a227c42710ae664a12cf6a">Marjorie Taylor Greene</a>, urged the White House to commute Santos’ sentence, saying in a letter sent just days into his prison bid that the punishment was “a grave injustice” and a product of judicial overreach.

Greene was among those who cheered the announcement Friday. But U.S. Rep. Nick LaLota, a Republican who represents part of Long Island and has been highly critical of Santos, said in a post on social media that Santos “didn’t merely lie” and his crimes “warrant more than a three-month sentence.”

“He should devote the rest of his life to demonstrating remorse and making restitution to those he wronged,” LaLota said.

Santos’ clemency appears to clear not just his prison term, but also any “further fines, restitution, probation, supervised release, or other conditions,” according to a copy of Trump’s order&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/EdMartinDOJ/status/1979311737943003393">posted on X</a>&nbsp;by Ed Martin, the Justice Department’s pardon attorney.

As part of his guilty plea, Santos had agreed to pay restitution of $373,750 and forfeiture of $205,003.

In explaining his reason for granting Santos clemency, Trump said the lies Santos told about himself were no worse than misleading statements U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal -- a Democrat and frequent critic of the administration -- had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-donald-trump-elections-politics-ct-state-wire-04d76dfc292548efb2d03b54c762a24b">made about his military record.</a>

Blumenthal apologized 15 years ago for implying that he served in Vietnam, when he was stateside in the Marine Reserve during the war.

“This is far worse than what George Santos did, and at least Santos had the Courage, Conviction, and Intelligence to ALWAYS VOTE REPUBLICAN!” Trump wrote.

The president himself was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-trial-deliberations-jury-testimony-verdict-85558c6d08efb434d05b694364470aa0">convicted in a New York court</a>&nbsp;last year in a case involving hush money payments. He derided the case as part of a politically motivated witch hunt.

Associated Press writers Michael R. Sisak in New York and Susan Haigh in Connecticut contributed to this report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673636785376.png" alt="File photo Former Rep. George Santos" />
 <figcaption>File photo Former Rep. George Santos</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — President Donald Trump said Friday he had commuted the sentence of former U.S. Rep.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/george-santos">George Santos</a>, who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/george-santos-fraud-sentencing-prison-0961831af8870686853acb22d049c85e">was slated to serve</a>&nbsp;more than seven years in federal prison after pleading guilty to fraud and identity theft charges.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://t.co/RsKT1qVuOr">pic.twitter.com/RsKT1qVuOr</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1979307772563820927?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Joseph Murray, one of Santos’ lawyers, told The Associated Press late Friday that the former lawmaker was released from the Federal Correctional Institution in Fairton, New Jersey, around 11 p.m., and was greeted outside the facility by his family.The New York Republican was sentenced in April after admitting last year to deceiving donors and stealing the identities of 11 people — including his own family members — to make donations to his campaign.He&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/george-santos-fraud-prison-29cdb8a9e9dfe7283d53091a6e20b1ba">reported to</a>&nbsp;FCI Fairton on July 25 and was housed in a minimum security prison camp with fewer than 50 other inmates.“George Santos was somewhat of a ‘rogue,’ but there are many rogues throughout our Country that aren’t forced to serve seven years in prison," Trump posted on his social media platform. He said he had “just signed a Commutation, releasing George Santos from prison, IMMEDIATELY.”"Good luck George, have a great life!” Trump said.Santos’ account on X, which has been active throughout his roughly 84 days in prison, reposted a screenshot of Trump’s Truth Social post Friday.During his time behind bars, Santos has been writing regular dispatches in a local newspaper on Long Island, in which he mainly complained about the prison conditions.In his latest letter, though, he pleaded to Trump directly, citing his fealty to the president's agenda and to the Republican Party.“Sir, I appeal to your sense of justice and humanity — the same qualities that have inspired millions of Americans to believe in you," he&nbsp;<a href="https://southshorepress.com/stories/675756835-santos-in-solitary-a-passionate-plea-to-president-trump">wrote in The South Shore Press</a>&nbsp;on Oct. 13. "I humbly ask that you consider the unusual pain and hardship of this environment and allow me the opportunity to return to my family, my friends, and my community.”Santos’ commutation is Trump’s latest high-profile&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nikola-trevor-milton-fraud-trump-pardon-3fcebb0a3820cecb205656f2dc3f6764">act of clemency</a>&nbsp;for former Republican politicians since retaking the White House in January.In late May, he pardoned former U.S. Rep.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/michael-grimm">Michael Grimm</a>, a New York Republican who in 2014 pleaded guilty to underreporting wages and revenue at a restaurant he ran in Manhattan. He also pardoned former Connecticut Gov.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/former-connecticut-governor-john-rowland-pardoned-trump-3f64b89567cb5f688808eb1b1ddd581f">John Rowland</a>, whose promising political career was upended by a corruption scandal and two federal prison stints.But in granting clemency to Santos, Trump was rewarding a figure who has drawn scorn from within his own party.After becoming the first openly gay Republican elected to Congress in 2022, Santos served less than a year after it was revealed that he had fabricated much of his life story.On the campaign trail, Santos had claimed he was a successful business consultant with Wall Street cred and a sizable real estate portfolio. But when his resume came under scrutiny, Santos eventually admitted he had never graduated from Baruch College — or been a standout player on the Manhattan college’s volleyball team, as he had claimed. He had never worked at Citigroup and Goldman Sachs.He wasn’t&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-business-bb455cc02b70e5366b9c5e347da8ad38">even Jewish</a>. Santos insisted he meant he was “Jew-ish” because his mother’s family had a Jewish background, even though he was raised Catholic.In truth, the then-34-year-old was struggling financially and even faced eviction.Santos was charged in 2023 with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/george-santos-credit-card-fraud-f723e69a777b02a2e6b87595f45c21ce">stealing from donors and his campaign</a>, fraudulently collecting unemployment benefits and lying to Congress about his wealth.Within months, he was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/george-santos-expulsion-vote-ethics-investigation-fd0f1524065883c6b2fe3e6f9afd84db">expelled from the U.S. House of Representatives</a>&nbsp;-- with 105 Republicans joining with Democrats to make Santos just the&nbsp;<a href="https://history.house.gov/Institution/Discipline/Expulsion-Censure-Reprimand/">sixth member</a>&nbsp;in the chamber’s history to be ousted by colleagues..Santos&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/george-santos-plea-court-new-york-90741d068fd94090419fc0fd79be30cc">pleaded guilty</a>&nbsp;as he was set to stand trial.Still, a prominent former House colleague, U.S. Rep.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/marjorie-taylor-greene-republican-governor-georgia-3afd2ed330a227c42710ae664a12cf6a">Marjorie Taylor Greene</a>, urged the White House to commute Santos’ sentence, saying in a letter sent just days into his prison bid that the punishment was “a grave injustice” and a product of judicial overreach.Greene was among those who cheered the announcement Friday. But U.S. Rep. Nick LaLota, a Republican who represents part of Long Island and has been highly critical of Santos, said in a post on social media that Santos “didn’t merely lie” and his crimes “warrant more than a three-month sentence.”“He should devote the rest of his life to demonstrating remorse and making restitution to those he wronged,” LaLota said.Santos’ clemency appears to clear not just his prison term, but also any “further fines, restitution, probation, supervised release, or other conditions,” according to a copy of Trump’s order&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/EdMartinDOJ/status/1979311737943003393">posted on X</a>&nbsp;by Ed Martin, the Justice Department’s pardon attorney.As part of his guilty plea, Santos had agreed to pay restitution of $373,750 and forfeiture of $205,003.In explaining his reason for granting Santos clemency, Trump said the lies Santos told about himself were no worse than misleading statements U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal -- a Democrat and frequent critic of the administration -- had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-donald-trump-elections-politics-ct-state-wire-04d76dfc292548efb2d03b54c762a24b">made about his military record.</a>Blumenthal apologized 15 years ago for implying that he served in Vietnam, when he was stateside in the Marine Reserve during the war.“This is far worse than what George Santos did, and at least Santos had the Courage, Conviction, and Intelligence to ALWAYS VOTE REPUBLICAN!” Trump wrote.The president himself was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-trial-deliberations-jury-testimony-verdict-85558c6d08efb434d05b694364470aa0">convicted in a New York court</a>&nbsp;last year in a case involving hush money payments. He derided the case as part of a politically motivated witch hunt.__Associated Press writers Michael R. Sisak in New York and Susan Haigh in Connecticut contributed to this report.

Trump commutes former Rep. George Santos' 7-year fraud sentence

By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT Hays Post

&nbsp;A 21-year-old Pratt man pleaded guilty this week and
is expected to get probation in the violent attack of a Hays woman in August
2024. 

Tucker Eisenhauer pleaded guilty in Ellis County District
Court to aggravated battery, and as a result of the guilty plea, he had four
other charges dropped.

According to court documents, on Aug. 25, 2024, Eisenhauer allegedly sexually assaulted the victim by holding her against her will. He was also
charged with kidnapping for allegedly locking the victim in his pickup, aggravated
battery for allegedly violently shaking her, causing her neck to pop, and criminal
deprivation of property by allegedly taking the victim’s keys and phone during the
altercation.

Eisenhauer does not have a criminal record, so under Kansas
sentencing guidelines, the sentence would be presumptive probation with an
underlying prison sentence if he violates his probation.

Court documents show both the state and defense will ask for
eight months of jail time, but 12 months of probation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726060645545.png" alt="Eisenhauer photo Ellis Co. Jail" />
 <figcaption>Eisenhauer photo Ellis Co. Jail</figcaption>
 </figure>By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT Hays Post &nbsp;A 21-year-old Pratt man pleaded guilty this week and
is expected to get probation in the violent attack of a Hays woman in August
2024. Tucker Eisenhauer pleaded guilty in Ellis County District
Court to aggravated battery, and as a result of the guilty plea, he had four
other charges dropped.According to court documents, on Aug. 25, 2024, Eisenhauer allegedly sexually assaulted the victim by holding her against her will. He was also
charged with kidnapping for allegedly locking the victim in his pickup, aggravated
battery for allegedly violently shaking her, causing her neck to pop, and criminal
deprivation of property by allegedly taking the victim’s keys and phone during the
altercation.Eisenhauer does not have a criminal record, so under Kansas
sentencing guidelines, the sentence would be presumptive probation with an
underlying prison sentence if he violates his probation.Court documents show both the state and defense will ask for
eight months of jail time, but 12 months of probation.Sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 6.

South central Kansas man pleads guilty to aggravated battery in Hays

By BECKY KISER Hays Post

A unique set of new playground equipment is expected to be installed early next year in Massey Park, 17th and Allen.&nbsp;

The existing equipment was installed in 2002 and has a 20-year lifespan.

Jeff Boyle, parks director, told Hays city commissioners Thursday the current equipment is deteriorated and in poor condition, with some attachments requiring removal. Replacement parts are no longer available.&nbsp;

He presented a recommended bid award of $119,363 to Aspire 2 Play, Kansas City, which is slightly less than the budgeted $120,000.

The equipment has two large slides, an enclosed rope&nbsp;climb tunnel, several agility components and a&nbsp;separate play piece for younger kids.

The commission plans to discuss parks management during its 2026 retreat.

"We take that to heart," Boyle said. "We think the four master plan parks (established in the early 2000s) should have nice playground equipment in them."

The four parks are 7 Hills, 33rd and Hillcrest; Aubel Bickle, 30th and Sherman; Sunrise, 19th and MacArthur; and Massey, 17th and Allen.

"These are the main parks for each quadrant of town," Boyle said.

Commissioners will consider a vote on the proposed playground equipment at their Oct. 23 meeting.

2025 Sewer cleaning and inspection

Jeff Crispin, water resources director, presented the plan for the 2025 sanitary sewer annual cleaning and inspection.

About 22 miles of sewer in southwest Hays will be cleaned.&nbsp;The city has 110 miles of sewer lines and 2,172 manholes.  

 "Not every city does this," Crispin said.&nbsp;Problems that can be caused by the lack of sewer cleaning include sewer backups, manhole overflows, public exposure to raw sewage and regulatory fines.

Crispin recommended the low bid of $145,022 from CC Steel, LLC, Fargo, North Dakota, with a budget&nbsp;authority not to exceed $150,000.&nbsp;

Commissioners will vote on the recommendation next week.

Consent to deannex plat of DK Ranch Addition

Property owners BJKT LLC and Sing Along Ranch LLC of the undeveloped DK Ranch Addition have asked to&nbsp;deannex and vacate the land in west Hays and to replat and annex&nbsp;land along Columbine Drive, ultimately&nbsp;annexing the new Smoky Hill Plains Addition.

DK Ranch Addition is a large lot&nbsp;development that was platted in 2013, but never developed. The property was sold&nbsp;and is now being replatted into a more efficient residential subdivision.

The owner&nbsp;also purchased the adjacent undeveloped lots along the west side of Columbine Drive (Country Club Estates Sixth Addition), which is not currently annexed.&nbsp;The&nbsp;proposed Smoky Hill Plains Addition Plat will include those lots.

"This deannexation request, which the city has never done before, is just a way to clean up the legal description," said Jesse Rohr, public works director.

He also said he spent time with the city attorney, Don Hoffman, to make sure the request was defined correctly.

Commissioners will vote on the consent request next week. Property owner Don Tillman, Hays, was present in the audience but did not speak about the project.&nbsp;

Commissioner Comments Rodeway Inn Update

In response to a question from Shaun Musil during commissioner comments, City Manager Toby Dougherty said the former Rodeway Inn,&nbsp;3404 Vine, which was ordered <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/5e02e23b-0f72-40cb-9cb4-862afda92c4c">closed by the Kansas Fire Marshall</a> in 2024, is still making progress toward being <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/c3f6ae0c-f19d-4942-ba25-abc32c8d50a9">sold by the owner,&nbsp;HKHR Hospitality Inc.&nbsp;</a>

"We've been working with Grow Hays on this," Dougherty reported, "but are preparing for the city to abate the property if necessary."

Remembering Hays Police Sgt. Scott Heimann

"It's been a difficult time for the family and friends, the police department and the community at large," said Mason Ruder, commissioner. "Scott was an amazing guy."

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/1fb5c077-c5f5-45c3-8604-d7847df5ed24">Heiman was killed in the line of duty on Sept. 28, while responding to a domestic violence call in Hays.</a>

"I've lived here my whole life," said Sandy Jacobs, mayor. "I can't remember a time I ever said this <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/828772e4-ab2d-416f-a5cb-bd6631c6d836">whole community is sad</a>."

At the end of the work session, the commission adjourned into a 15-minute executive session to discuss the possible acquisition of real property.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1760622980959.png" alt="Courtesy image" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy image</figcaption>
 </figure>By BECKY KISER Hays PostA unique set of new playground equipment is expected to be installed early next year in Massey Park, 17th and Allen.&nbsp;The existing equipment was installed in 2002 and has a 20-year lifespan.Jeff Boyle, parks director, told Hays city commissioners Thursday the current equipment is deteriorated and in poor condition, with some attachments requiring removal. Replacement parts are no longer available.&nbsp;He presented a recommended bid award of $119,363 to Aspire 2 Play, Kansas City, which is slightly less than the budgeted $120,000. The equipment has two large slides, an enclosed rope&nbsp;climb tunnel, several agility components and a&nbsp;separate play piece for younger kids.The commission plans to discuss parks management during its 2026 retreat."We take that to heart," Boyle said. "We think the four master plan parks (established in the early 2000s) should have nice playground equipment in them."The four parks are 7 Hills, 33rd and Hillcrest; Aubel Bickle, 30th and Sherman; Sunrise, 19th and MacArthur; and Massey, 17th and Allen."These are the main parks for each quadrant of town," Boyle said.Commissioners will consider a vote on the proposed playground equipment at their Oct. 23 meeting.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1760711130829.png" alt="City of Hays image" />
 <figcaption>City of Hays image</figcaption>
 </figure>2025 Sewer cleaning and inspectionJeff Crispin, water resources director, presented the plan for the 2025 sanitary sewer annual cleaning and inspection.About 22 miles of sewer in southwest Hays will be cleaned.&nbsp;The city has 110 miles of sewer lines and 2,172 manholes. "Not every city does this," Crispin said.&nbsp;Problems that can be caused by the lack of sewer cleaning include sewer backups, manhole overflows, public exposure to raw sewage and regulatory fines.Crispin recommended the low bid of $145,022 from CC Steel, LLC, Fargo, North Dakota, with a budget&nbsp;authority not to exceed $150,000.&nbsp;Commissioners will vote on the recommendation next week.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1760714574858.png" alt="City of Hays image" />
 <figcaption>City of Hays image</figcaption>
 </figure>Consent to deannex plat of DK Ranch AdditionProperty owners BJKT LLC and Sing Along Ranch LLC of the undeveloped DK Ranch Addition have asked to&nbsp;deannex and vacate the land in west Hays and to replat and annex&nbsp;land along Columbine Drive, ultimately&nbsp;annexing the new Smoky Hill Plains Addition.DK Ranch Addition is a large lot&nbsp;development that was platted in 2013, but never developed. The property was sold&nbsp;and is now being replatted into a more efficient residential subdivision.The owner&nbsp;also purchased the adjacent undeveloped lots along the west side of Columbine Drive (Country Club Estates Sixth Addition), which is not currently annexed.&nbsp;The&nbsp;proposed Smoky Hill Plains Addition Plat will include those lots."This deannexation request, which the city has never done before, is just a way to clean up the legal description," said Jesse Rohr, public works director.He also said he spent time with the city attorney, Don Hoffman, to make sure the request was defined correctly.Commissioners will vote on the consent request next week. Property owner Don Tillman, Hays, was present in the audience but did not speak about the project.&nbsp;Commissioner Comments Rodeway Inn UpdateIn response to a question from Shaun Musil during commissioner comments, City Manager Toby Dougherty said the former Rodeway Inn,&nbsp;3404 Vine, which was ordered <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/5e02e23b-0f72-40cb-9cb4-862afda92c4c">closed by the Kansas Fire Marshall</a> in 2024, is still making progress toward being <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/c3f6ae0c-f19d-4942-ba25-abc32c8d50a9">sold by the owner,&nbsp;HKHR Hospitality Inc.&nbsp;</a>"We've been working with Grow Hays on this," Dougherty reported, "but are preparing for the city to abate the property if necessary."Remembering Hays Police Sgt. Scott Heimann"It's been a difficult time for the family and friends, the police department and the community at large," said Mason Ruder, commissioner. "Scott was an amazing guy."<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/1fb5c077-c5f5-45c3-8604-d7847df5ed24">Heiman was killed in the line of duty on Sept. 28, while responding to a domestic violence call in Hays.</a>"I've lived here my whole life," said Sandy Jacobs, mayor. "I can't remember a time I ever said this <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/828772e4-ab2d-416f-a5cb-bd6631c6d836">whole community is sad</a>."Executive sessionAt the end of the work session, the commission adjourned into a 15-minute executive session to discuss the possible acquisition of real property.No action was taken.

Unique playground equipment planned for Massey Park in Hays 

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

Mental health officials discussed the restructuring of mental health services in the state, as well as the challenges of funding and workforce, during a High Plains Mental Health Center-sponsored town hall meeting in Hays on Tuesday night.

"To realize the importance of a network that is so tightly bound by the values involving timely access to high-quality mental health care, I think, is one of the cornerstones of our statewide system,"  said Kyle Kessler, executive director of the Kansas Association of Mental Health Centers.

Kansas has moved away from a community mental health center model to&nbsp; Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics.

Under the community mental health center model, all of the centers functioned differently and independently of each other.

The Behavioral Health Clinic has set standards for the clinics and changed the way those clinics are funded.

In the 1990s, Kansas set about to move people who needed treatment for mental illness from inpatient hospitals to community outpatient treatment.

Kansas had more than 3,000 psychiatric inpatient beds, and many community and private hospitals also had psychiatric wings.

"It kept people from being in psychiatric hospitals for months and sometimes years at a time," Kessler said, "but in that process, Kansas overcorrected."

As inpatient beds were decreased and hospitals closed, funding was supposed to follow those in need of care to community services.

Over time, policy priorities changed, Kessler said.

Funding for mental health treatment was cut repeatedly by the state. In 2015 and 2016, $30 million, equal to 10% of state mental health funding, was cut.

"We saw substantial eroding of funding that was supposed to follow people back to the communities," Kessler said.

And then even more hospital beds were cut.&nbsp;

Additional beds were cut at Ossawatomie State Hospital, and Topeka State Hospital, which had about 1,000 beds, was closed. The Rainbow mental health facility in Kansas City, which had 80 to 100 beds, closed.

"As recently as a month and a half ago, we had a waiting list of 30, and those were people who were deemed to be a danger to themselves or others by the courts and local authorities," Kessler said.

The state established a Crisis Intervention Center model, which allowed people to be treated locally for short-term acute stays.

The goal was to help people without them having to go to state hospitals or engage with law enforcement or courts or end up incarcerated, Kessler said.

A new state hospital is set to open in Wichita in 2027, which should take some pressure off Larned and Osawatomie, he said.

"I think we are going to a good place as it relates to capacity," Kessler said.

He said mental health advocates decided that if the system was going to receive renewed funding and grow, it should be rebuilt in a way that made the most sense to Kansas and was designed by Kansans.

Michelle Ponce, associate director of the Kansas Association of Mental Health Centers, further explained the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics, stating they expand the services provided to their communities and alter the way the clinics are funded.

Mental health clinics have historically operated under a fee-for-service basis. Those fees for services have remained static since 2008, Ponce said. However, the costs of providing those services did not.

The new model is meant to reimburse clinics at the true cost of providing services.

"Through the process, they are getting paid a lot more for individuals who have Medicaid," Ponce said.

All community health centers and all Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics are required to serve anyone who walks through their doors who needs their services, regardless of their ability to pay.

The Kansas Department of Aging and Disability Services, in its research, found that a 40% investment in the mental health system saw a 75% increase in access.

Ponce said the system is meant to be a whole, integrated health model.

"It could be an individual who is being seen for a mental illness, but they're also really struggling because maybe they have diabetes," Ponce said, "and they are having a hard time managing the symptoms of their diabetes.

"That is not something historically mental health centers would be in the business of treating. Now they are responsible for helping that individual meet those needs."

That could be through their own staff or reaching out to the local health department. It is care coordination, which is more than a referral, Ponce said.

The care coordination also involves ensuring individuals have housing, employment and food.

"It's about ensuring all of those needs are met, not simply looking through the lens of meeting their mental health needs, but really their whole-person needs," Ponce said.

The&nbsp;Behavioral Health Clinics have nine criteria they must meet. Ponce highlighted crisis services and outreach to veterans, which she said has been a population that has been difficult to reach.

High Plains Mental Health Center has a mobile crisis team. They are required to contact someone in crisis within two hours. Because of the geographic challenges in rural Kansas, case managers may take an iPad to a person or the emergency room to connect a person with a therapist remotely.

The other component of crisis response is crisis stabilization units or crisis intervention centers. The difference is that crisis intervention centers can admit involuntary patients.

High Plains Mental Health Center is remodeling the third floor of the Hadley Center as a crisis intervention center. The facility is set to open in March.

Kessler spoke about the high cost of the mental health workforce shortage in Kansas. State hospitals, especially Larned State Hospital, are using a high percentage of contract nurses.

Five years ago, the cost of contract nurses was $5 million. Now it is more than $45 million.

The Kansas Behavioral Health Center of Excellence was created to increase recruitment and retention of nursing faculty and students.&nbsp;

Before 2021, Kansas was bordered on all four sides by states that had implemented the Behavioral Health Clinics model or expanded Medicaid, allowing them to pay staff more.

In 2021, the Kansas mental health system had a 25% employee vacancy rate across the system.

"It is really hard to meet the needs of your community with a 25% staffing vacancy rate," Ponce said.

She said the&nbsp;Behavioral Health Clinic model has been a game-changer for the workforce.

The state has seen the following increases since 2021:

• 60% more child case managers • 43% more adult case managers • 75% more licensed professional counselors&nbsp; • 40% more licensed clinical social workers • 80% more licensed practical nurses • 50% more advanced practice registered nurses

However, Ponce said the system still needs to recruit more people to work in the system.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1760640667964.png" alt="Kyle Kessler, executive director of the Kansas Association of Mental Health Centers, discusses the new state mental health model at a meeting on Tuesday in Hays. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Kyle Kessler, executive director of the Kansas Association of Mental Health Centers, discusses the new state mental health model at a meeting on Tuesday in Hays. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostMental health officials discussed the restructuring of mental health services in the state, as well as the challenges of funding and workforce, during a High Plains Mental Health Center-sponsored town hall meeting in Hays on Tuesday night."To realize the importance of a network that is so tightly bound by the values involving timely access to high-quality mental health care, I think, is one of the cornerstones of our statewide system," said Kyle Kessler, executive director of the Kansas Association of Mental Health Centers.Kansas has moved away from a community mental health center model to&nbsp; Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics.Under the community mental health center model, all of the centers functioned differently and independently of each other.The Behavioral Health Clinic has set standards for the clinics and changed the way those clinics are funded.In the 1990s, Kansas set about to move people who needed treatment for mental illness from inpatient hospitals to community outpatient treatment.Kansas had more than 3,000 psychiatric inpatient beds, and many community and private hospitals also had psychiatric wings."It kept people from being in psychiatric hospitals for months and sometimes years at a time," Kessler said, "but in that process, Kansas overcorrected."As inpatient beds were decreased and hospitals closed, funding was supposed to follow those in need of care to community services.Over time, policy priorities changed, Kessler said.Funding for mental health treatment was cut repeatedly by the state. In 2015 and 2016, $30 million, equal to 10% of state mental health funding, was cut."We saw substantial eroding of funding that was supposed to follow people back to the communities," Kessler said.And then even more hospital beds were cut.&nbsp;Additional beds were cut at Ossawatomie State Hospital, and Topeka State Hospital, which had about 1,000 beds, was closed. The Rainbow mental health facility in Kansas City, which had 80 to 100 beds, closed."As recently as a month and a half ago, we had a waiting list of 30, and those were people who were deemed to be a danger to themselves or others by the courts and local authorities," Kessler said.The state established a Crisis Intervention Center model, which allowed people to be treated locally for short-term acute stays.The goal was to help people without them having to go to state hospitals or engage with law enforcement or courts or end up incarcerated, Kessler said.A new state hospital is set to open in Wichita in 2027, which should take some pressure off Larned and Osawatomie, he said."I think we are going to a good place as it relates to capacity," Kessler said.He said mental health advocates decided that if the system was going to receive renewed funding and grow, it should be rebuilt in a way that made the most sense to Kansas and was designed by Kansans.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1760641973896.png" alt="Michelle Ponce,&nbsp;associate director of the Kansas Association of Mental Health Centers, said the new mental health system&nbsp;expands services and alters the way the clinics are funded. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Michelle Ponce,&nbsp;associate director of the Kansas Association of Mental Health Centers, said the new mental health system&nbsp;expands services and alters the way the clinics are funded. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>Michelle Ponce, associate director of the Kansas Association of Mental Health Centers, further explained the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics, stating they expand the services provided to their communities and alter the way the clinics are funded.Mental health clinics have historically operated under a fee-for-service basis. Those fees for services have remained static since 2008, Ponce said. However, the costs of providing those services did not.The new model is meant to reimburse clinics at the true cost of providing services."Through the process, they are getting paid a lot more for individuals who have Medicaid," Ponce said.All community health centers and all Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics are required to serve anyone who walks through their doors who needs their services, regardless of their ability to pay.The Kansas Department of Aging and Disability Services, in its research, found that a 40% investment in the mental health system saw a 75% increase in access.Ponce said the system is meant to be a whole, integrated health model."It could be an individual who is being seen for a mental illness, but they're also really struggling because maybe they have diabetes," Ponce said, "and they are having a hard time managing the symptoms of their diabetes."That is not something historically mental health centers would be in the business of treating. Now they are responsible for helping that individual meet those needs."That could be through their own staff or reaching out to the local health department. It is care coordination, which is more than a referral, Ponce said.The care coordination also involves ensuring individuals have housing, employment and food."It's about ensuring all of those needs are met, not simply looking through the lens of meeting their mental health needs, but really their whole-person needs," Ponce said.The&nbsp;Behavioral Health Clinics have nine criteria they must meet. Ponce highlighted crisis services and outreach to veterans, which she said has been a population that has been difficult to reach.High Plains Mental Health Center has a mobile crisis team. They are required to contact someone in crisis within two hours. Because of the geographic challenges in rural Kansas, case managers may take an iPad to a person or the emergency room to connect a person with a therapist remotely.The other component of crisis response is crisis stabilization units or crisis intervention centers. The difference is that crisis intervention centers can admit involuntary patients.High Plains Mental Health Center is remodeling the third floor of the Hadley Center as a crisis intervention center. The facility is set to open in March.Kessler spoke about the high cost of the mental health workforce shortage in Kansas. State hospitals, especially Larned State Hospital, are using a high percentage of contract nurses.Five years ago, the cost of contract nurses was $5 million. Now it is more than $45 million."That's not sustainable," he said.The Kansas Behavioral Health Center of Excellence was created to increase recruitment and retention of nursing faculty and students.&nbsp;Before 2021, Kansas was bordered on all four sides by states that had implemented the Behavioral Health Clinics model or expanded Medicaid, allowing them to pay staff more.In 2021, the Kansas mental health system had a 25% employee vacancy rate across the system."It is really hard to meet the needs of your community with a 25% staffing vacancy rate," Ponce said.She said the&nbsp;Behavioral Health Clinic model has been a game-changer for the workforce.The state has seen the following increases since 2021:• 60% more child case managers • 43% more adult case managers • 75% more licensed professional counselors&nbsp; • 40% more licensed clinical social workers • 80% more licensed practical nurses • 50% more advanced practice registered nursesHowever, Ponce said the system still needs to recruit more people to work in the system.

Mental health leaders address changes in mental health system during meeting in Hays

The five candidates for Hays USD 489 were interviewed by the Hays Post. Their responses are being presented in a question-and-answer format. The other candidates running include: Ken Brooks, Craig Pallister, Curt Vajanr and Meagan Zampieri-Lillpopp.

Three seats are available on the board. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 4.

Age:&nbsp;61 Occupation: Small business owner. I own Amazing Grace Home Care, and also the Horseshoe Bar and Grill. I'm a registered nurse.

What do you think qualifies you to run for the school board?

I feel like in my past, not only as a parent and a grandparent of kids in the school district, I have 11 grandchildren and most of them have been in public school systems here, but also as a small business owner, I understand policies and understand the economics of running a business, and the school board can be looked at that way.

There's expectations on the part of the school board to be able to manage the resources in a wise manner. I think that's one of the things that qualifies me. Over the past several decades that I've been a small business owner, we have learned to manage our resources wisely. I think that could be lended to functioning as a school board member.

Do you have a child or grandchild currently attending Hays USD 489 schools or did any of your children attend in the past?

All of my children attended Hays High and were in the public school system here, from Lincoln during grade school, all the way through. Then I have grandchildren in the public school system. Now, they're at O'Loughlin.

I want to be able to help the school board be more in tune with the expectations of the voters. I feel like in the past few years, there's been maybe a disconnect between some of our leadership and what the citizens of Hays and the voters are expecting.

I want to be able to run for the school board and be on the school board to help citizens know that they will be listened to, that they will have input, that there will be more transparency and more accountability.

It'll be where the school board actually has a better working relationship with the voters, as opposed to having leadership that maybe has that disconnect. I want to be able to bring that to the school board and allow for a better connection between our leadership and the voters.

Follow-up question: What do you think are the expectations of the voters?

I think that voters expect the school board to manage our resources wisely. But also, of course, the school board [also has] obligations not only to maintain the buildings, you know, and maintain our infrastructure and that sort of thing, but also watch over the outcomes.

So that way, our students are competitive, our students are having scores that are commiserate with what we would expect, compared to other schools in the in the state and in the country too, but specifically in Kansas.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/f2138940-793a-4268-b8ea-10de031c1f84">SEE RELATED STORY: Hays USD 489 recognized as high performing district in the state</a>

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/266f4fda-58af-4735-b1d9-29a3d1bfb60c">SEE RELATED STORY: Hays USD 489 to focus on math under new state accreditation system</a>

 I would want to be able to show that USD 489 can continue to be a really strong district when it comes to making sure that our students graduate competitively.

But what I really think the voters expect is that the school board manages and navigates those resources so kids who graduate from our school systems here can afford to stay here and live here.

We want them to be able to stay, and we want them to be able to use the skills that they learned from our public school system, and maybe even, you know, go to Fort Hays and continue on as citizens of this community.

I want that to be an all-inclusive package, where we can promote future growth of Hays by making sure that we have good growth promoted by our school board.

Follow up questions: Do you think the academic standards for the local school district do not equal the state and other districts?

I think, in comparison, just from the things that I've read, it's specifically math that is the one that you know runs about 30% are not at grade level. <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/f2138940-793a-4268-b8ea-10de031c1f84">See a report on math scores from 2024.</a>&nbsp;

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/be1ecb7f-dc52-4c44-aff4-c1ad39716611">SEE RELATED STORY: Kansas state education board expands scoring range for student assessments</a>

The graduation rate is good, but I think we can do better as far as the math proficiency scores and get to a higher amount.

The one thing I hope I can also bring to the table is that spending more money on something doesn't necessarily translate into improved outcomes and improved scores.

There are other factors that are involved in there, supporting the teachers and supporting the school functions as a general rule. I don't think it necessarily means we have to spend more money on it. That's one way we can also answer to the taxpayers, because we can make sure that we're not trying to solve problems just by spending more money.&nbsp;

Do you support the district's five-year capital improvement plan? If not, is there anything that you would change about it?

I do support the plan overall, but I do also request there be more transparency in that plan. Because as a community member attending school board meetings, it's very difficult to hear that some of the school board had not actually seen some of the [floor] plans, and some readable plans.

For the project for the new high school, when the building was ready to be started, they had not actually seen the plans yet. So that's frustrating as a community member to not have that kind of transparency, where we can expect, at least our school board has seen the plans going into the future projects. 

So some of the school board members had said in their meetings that I've attended they hope they can get better. That's also something that I hope. There needs&nbsp;to be improvement there where school board members can ask for readable plans and get them in a timely fashion.

That way, they have an opportunity to make suggestions, maybe some cost-cutting measures that could be brought to them by the community or brought to the builders by the school board. That way, we can all work together to maybe save a little bit, but still come out with a great project.

Do you support the plans for the remaining bond projects? If not, is there anything that you would change about those projects?

Specifically with regard to the old Hays High, which will become the middle school, I think some of the building projects I would change.

I would change the plan [to eliminate] things that don't need to be redone. For instance, the most recent discussion was about the floors. And as the superintendent said, the floors are actually really in great shape there. There's nothing wrong with them. They're perfectly fine.

What I would like to do is focus on the things that are OK and renovate only the areas that need improvement. I think we could save a considerable amount of money rather than demolishing something that is actually OK and usable.

That's something that community members would do in their own personal lives, in their own homes and their own small businesses. Nobody would demolish a perfectly good floor just because we have money to spend on it.

The five candidates for Hays USD 489 were interviewed by the Hays Post. Their responses are being presented in a question-and-answer format. The other candidates running include: Ken Brooks, Craig Pallister, Curt Vajanr and Meagan Zampieri-Lillpopp.Three seats are available on the board. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 4.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1759954634573.jpeg" alt="Kelly Ancar" />
 <figcaption>Kelly Ancar</figcaption>
 </figure>Age:&nbsp;61 Occupation: Small business owner. I own Amazing Grace Home Care, and also the Horseshoe Bar and Grill. I'm a registered nurse.What do you think qualifies you to run for the school board?I feel like in my past, not only as a parent and a grandparent of kids in the school district, I have 11 grandchildren and most of them have been in public school systems here, but also as a small business owner, I understand policies and understand the economics of running a business, and the school board can be looked at that way.There's expectations on the part of the school board to be able to manage the resources in a wise manner. I think that's one of the things that qualifies me. Over the past several decades that I've been a small business owner, we have learned to manage our resources wisely. I think that could be lended to functioning as a school board member.Do you have a child or grandchild currently attending Hays USD 489 schools or did any of your children attend in the past?All of my children attended Hays High and were in the public school system here, from Lincoln during grade school, all the way through. Then I have grandchildren in the public school system. Now, they're at O'Loughlin.Why are you running for election?I want to be able to help the school board be more in tune with the expectations of the voters. I feel like in the past few years, there's been maybe a disconnect between some of our leadership and what the citizens of Hays and the voters are expecting.I want to be able to run for the school board and be on the school board to help citizens know that they will be listened to, that they will have input, that there will be more transparency and more accountability.It'll be where the school board actually has a better working relationship with the voters, as opposed to having leadership that maybe has that disconnect. I want to be able to bring that to the school board and allow for a better connection between our leadership and the voters.Follow-up question: What do you think are the expectations of the voters?I think that voters expect the school board to manage our resources wisely. But also, of course, the school board [also has] obligations not only to maintain the buildings, you know, and maintain our infrastructure and that sort of thing, but also watch over the outcomes.So that way, our students are competitive, our students are having scores that are commiserate with what we would expect, compared to other schools in the in the state and in the country too, but specifically in Kansas.<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/f2138940-793a-4268-b8ea-10de031c1f84">SEE RELATED STORY: Hays USD 489 recognized as high performing district in the state</a><a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/266f4fda-58af-4735-b1d9-29a3d1bfb60c">SEE RELATED STORY: Hays USD 489 to focus on math under new state accreditation system</a> I would want to be able to show that USD 489 can continue to be a really strong district when it comes to making sure that our students graduate competitively.But what I really think the voters expect is that the school board manages and navigates those resources so kids who graduate from our school systems here can afford to stay here and live here.We want them to be able to stay, and we want them to be able to use the skills that they learned from our public school system, and maybe even, you know, go to Fort Hays and continue on as citizens of this community.I want that to be an all-inclusive package, where we can promote future growth of Hays by making sure that we have good growth promoted by our school board.Follow up questions: Do you think the academic standards for the local school district do not equal the state and other districts?I think, in comparison, just from the things that I've read, it's specifically math that is the one that you know runs about 30% are not at grade level. <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/f2138940-793a-4268-b8ea-10de031c1f84">See a report on math scores from 2024.</a>&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1759956920369.png" alt="" />
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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1759957137849.png" alt="Hays USD 489 math scores for 2023-24 school year, all grade levels. Courtesy of the Kansas Department of Education." />
 <figcaption>Hays USD 489 math scores for 2023-24 school year, all grade levels. Courtesy of the Kansas Department of Education.</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/be1ecb7f-dc52-4c44-aff4-c1ad39716611">SEE RELATED STORY: Kansas state education board expands scoring range for student assessments</a>The graduation rate is good, but I think we can do better as far as the math proficiency scores and get to a higher amount. The one thing I hope I can also bring to the table is that spending more money on something doesn't necessarily translate into improved outcomes and improved scores.There are other factors that are involved in there, supporting the teachers and supporting the school functions as a general rule. I don't think it necessarily means we have to spend more money on it. That's one way we can also answer to the taxpayers, because we can make sure that we're not trying to solve problems just by spending more money.&nbsp;Do you support the district's five-year capital improvement plan? If not, is there anything that you would change about it?I do support the plan overall, but I do also request there be more transparency in that plan. Because as a community member attending school board meetings, it's very difficult to hear that some of the school board had not actually seen some of the [floor] plans, and some readable plans.For the project for the new high school, when the building was ready to be started, they had not actually seen the plans yet. So that's frustrating as a community member to not have that kind of transparency, where we can expect, at least our school board has seen the plans going into the future projects. So some of the school board members had said in their meetings that I've attended they hope they can get better. That's also something that I hope. There needs&nbsp;to be improvement there where school board members can ask for readable plans and get them in a timely fashion.That way, they have an opportunity to make suggestions, maybe some cost-cutting measures that could be brought to them by the community or brought to the builders by the school board. That way, we can all work together to maybe save a little bit, but still come out with a great project.Do you support the plans for the remaining bond projects? If not, is there anything that you would change about those projects?Specifically with regard to the old Hays High, which will become the middle school, I think some of the building projects I would change.I would change the plan [to eliminate] things that don't need to be redone. For instance, the most recent discussion was about the floors. And as the superintendent said, the floors are actually really in great shape there. There's nothing wrong with them. They're perfectly fine.What I would like to do is focus on the things that are OK and renovate only the areas that need improvement. I think we could save a considerable amount of money rather than demolishing something that is actually OK and usable.That's something that community members would do in their own personal lives, in their own homes and their own small businesses. Nobody would demolish a perfectly good floor just because we have money to spend on it.I think I support the plan, but I&nbsp;think there are ways that we can navigate through that plan and make some changes that would actually result in a lower amount of money spent at the end of the day.How would you view your role as a school board member, oversight with administrators and teachers handling day-to-day operations, or the board manages all aspects of operations?I think oversight because the teachers and administrators should be in charge of daily operations. The teachers should be in charge of their classrooms.I think the school board should be able to provide oversight to all of those functions and intervene from a policy standpoint if they see a problem. Collectively, if the school board votes to re-examine some of those policies, that's where I think their obligation would lie.Do you think the district is adequately managing its budget? If not, what would you change or cut?I think the answer to that question lies in an audit from top to bottom of all expenses, because any functioning business, which you know, the school district is a functioning business, has an opportunity to find and root out any waste.Something, maybe funds would be better used over here. I would answer that question by starting with an audit and look at everything from top to bottom.Because without looking at that and seeing where each itemized transaction, where all that money is going, I can't really say what I would cut, because that's not fair.That's not fair to the school board or to the budget in general, without an answer to that question, without being able to audit it and see where the money has gone.Follow up, do you have any idea how costly that might be to do an audit? The district already has to undergo an audit every year of its accounting practices.But this would be a different layer. This would be a&nbsp;different layer, and yes, there's an expense involved in auditing. However, usually the outcomes of those audits offset the expense of the audit in general. That's what I mean. Most businesses find that to be true, because the reason for doing an audit in the first place is there's questions that haven't been answered.If there's any hope of adjusting the budget to be more efficient, it has to start with an audit. It's not a negative thing. Actually, to do an audit is a positive thing because it's a search for more efficiency. It's a search for more savings. It's a search for moving money around. So maybe this project over here can get off the ground. It's not a negative thing to audit yourself.Are there any policies that you think should be changed? How would you change those policies if you had the ability?I think one thing I would change is the statement made at the start of the school board meetings that the community is told not to bring up something that's already been brought up. There may be a better way to word that. I understand that the intention behind it was not to have community members all coming up and saying the same thing. But when that is said to the community, it makes them feel like they're supposed to be able to keep track of what everybody else brought up, which is impossible. Also, it makes them feel like, if more than one community member is saying the same thing, that the perception is that no one's listening if they have to keep saying the same thing over and over again. So I would change that because I think it would go a long way in changing the community's perception of the school board. It would make the community feel like the school board is there to listen, and I want people to feel&nbsp;that way. I want people to feel like they're going to be heard and they're going to be listened to.Not told that way, you can't say this, or you can't say that, because somebody else already did. I would also change a policy where people could tune into the school board meetings via Zoom in real time, so that way, if they had a question or part of the community participation could be questions put into the Zoom chat.Even if those questions couldn't be answered during that school board meeting, they easily could be answered later in a different format that would allow for greater community participation. I think people would feel more heard if they could ask a question and not necessarily have to stand up in front of everybody. I don't think community members should be required to give their address, as it becomes public information when recorded on video and shared on YouTube and other platforms. So I don't think community members should have to give their address, because I do know from some people in the community that's one of the reasons that they won't speak at the school board meeting.For whatever reason, they're required to give their address, and they don't want to do that. I realize that protects us from having people from outside of Hays come talk at school board meetings as part of the community.They could just say, 'I'm from here in Hays.' I don't think they should have to give their address, and I would like to see that policy change.&nbsp;Is there anything else that you would like to add?This is something that I have said to people, not only just over campaigning, but also just in general, is that we have leadership that is perceived to be a little out of touch with the voters and with the community, and this is true of school board, city commission, state and federal government.It doesn't matter what level it is, any level of leadership we have to make sure that our public, the voters, know that we're not out of touch, that we do listen to what they have to say, and that we care about our the impact of our decisions.When you have leadership that's out of touch with the voters and with their constituents, it's really easy to raise taxes. It's really easy to make decisions without feeling the pain that the people are going to feel in an average household. It may seem like only a few dollars over here, but when you add all those things together, some people&nbsp;are really suffering. It hurts me that we have so many people talking about moving out of Hays because of whatever the issue is, whether it be property taxes or bond paybacks.I mean, whatever the issue is, I'd like to see us take an opportunity to turn that around to where we don't have people talking about moving out of Hays. We have people talking about moving into Hays. I want to fill that high school with as many students as it can handle, and I think there are some things that we can do to make that happen.As told to Cristina Janney/Hays Post