By TONY GUERRERO Hays Post

Astra Bank relocated from downtown Hays to a newly built location to better serve its customers.&nbsp;

The Chamber in Hays held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday to celebrate the opening with Jason Kennedy, Astra Bank market president, and the CEO of Astra Bank, Kyle Campbell.

"We truly believe as a family-owned community bank that we should invest in the community because we're never going to be more successful than the communities we serve," Campbell said.&nbsp;

Astra Bank’s new location, 2605 Main St., features better accessibility, wider drive-through lanes and increased personal interaction with customers. Kennedy said the relocation idea began during a casual conversation with Doug Williams, executive director of Grow Hays, and the city.

"It was kind of off-handed when the city was looking at the police station. I said 'Why don't you guys buy my building? Let's do a swap and we'll develop on that lot," Kennedy said.

Kennedy said the relocation arrangement saved the city taxpayers' money. The former Astra Bank building at 1100 Fort will be repurposed as a new police and municipal court facility.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/382c7a91-48de-48d8-97cc-fae13f56bf8b">SEE RELATED STORY: City commission approves $5.9 million contract for Hays police/court facility</a>

Kennedy emphasized that the bank serves as a commercial and community bank, supporting agriculture, local businesses and civic projects.

"Anything you can find at any other bank, we do here as well. We just do it better," Kennedy said.

The bank opened its new location on Aug. 18. To celebrate, Astra Bank is offering a 10% three-month CD, limited to one per household, available from Sept. 12 to 19 for the first 100 households.

Kennedy said Astra Bank kept operations running without interruption during the move, continuing to serve customers.

"My staff was not just patient. They were phenomenal," he said.

The bank lobby is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and the drive-through is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

You can follow Astra Bank on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AstraBank">Facebook </a>and visit their website <a href="https://www.astra.bank/Home/fbclid/IwY2xjawMxIxRleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFNUW9LNUhuRU1veTBJNVN4AR5BULMlltVbsHhFDqBczlDpCiSt2t7n_jOUQGR6jwhNR-gRh3J4an5214bNkw_aem_zpuBd6fMkmiZN02miUk9Ng">here</a>.

Astra Bank celebrates new home in Hays, saving taxpayer dollars

By STEVE GILLILAND Explore Kansas Outdoors

When it comes to eating habits, raccoons are a lot like teenage boys; they’ll eat anything that smells good, and a lot of things that don’t.

 Common home-grown coon’ baits are marshmallows, jelly beans, peanut butter, barbeque sauce, maple syrup and cream corn. 

There are people raking in the dough selling custom baked pet treats, so a couple years ago, after the Kansas Fur Harvesters convention, I opened the Gilliland Coon’ Bait Test Kitchen, intent on dazzling the trapping world with my coon bait creations.

First order of business was to put on my lab coat and hair and beard net. My brother once ran the R&amp;D department at a brand name dog food plant and had to wear hair and beard nets to guard against getting hair in the dog food, so I thought it only right that I guard against hair in my raccoon bait!

 I needed some early success, so for my first creation I used a jar of product I bought at that year’s trapper’s convention. The jar contained all the flavors and smells the seller used in his raccoon bait; you merely added the jar contents to one pound of dog or cat food. I marched into my woodworking shop-turned-test-kitchen with a bag of Wal-Mart’s cheapest cat food under my arm. 

In a monstrous zip lock bag, I mixed the cat food and the powder in the jar, which smelled sweet and yummy like butterscotch. The whole shop (I mean test kitchen) smelled like butterscotch for three days. It’s good I’m not a sleep walker; I probably would have awakened late that night and found myself eating a bowl of it with milk.

For my second creation I wanted to try a recipe I found on the all-wise, all-knowing internet. 

The base for this recipe was commercial pond fish food. I poured the commercial fish food into a one-gallon ice cream bucket which I placed on the step going into the garage. When I returned a while later, there sat an empty ice cream bucket on the step. It suddenly dawned on me that the bucket was exactly like the one that held the dog food in the pantry for our two small dogs. My wife saw the bucket of fish food on the step, thought it was nice of me to refill it and promptly fed the dogs a bowl of commercial pond fish food! 

No harm done, the ingredients are probably not much different than those in dog food anyway, but then, not only do the dogs love to get a bath, I had to chase them around the sink as they keep swimming away from me!

With a zip lock bag of the fish food and various other ingredients, I entered the SATELLITE test kitchen, aka my wife’s real kitchen. 

This was still a test, so I used just a small amount of the fish pellets, then added mini-marshmallows, molasses and vanilla according to the recipe. I mixed it all together and sealed the bag. It promptly turned to a glob of goo that smelled like my grandmother's ginger cookies times ten, but looked like it had already been eaten once. In my defense, at least it was a palatable kitchen-y smell and didn’t reek of rotten eggs or dirty gym socks like many trapping baits.

I let the concoction marinate for a few days, then decided it was not exactly what a finicky, man-of-the-world raccoon might want to smear all over his face, so I found a bulk food store and came home with butterscotch oil, peppermint oil and anise oil, all of which, by the way are oft-used ingredients in commercially made raccoon bait.

Anise oil smells like black licorice and I decided to play with it first. I opened the jar of the afore-mentioned gingerbread smelling goo and tore off a softball sized chunk, put it into its own container and&nbsp;began adding the anise.

&nbsp;My drum beats to the tune that “more is always better,” so I dumped every last drop from the three tiny bottles into the goo and mixed it as best I could. It was soft and pliable all right but mixing it was like trying to stir something into a volley ball. When I finished, it smelled like an explosion at a black licorice factory, but looked like a bowl of cow brains.

Next was the butterscotch oil. I only had two little bottles of it, so again I ripped off a chunk of the gingerbread goo and added the oil. It actually smelled yummy like a combination of grandma’s cookies and Werther’s candies, but looked no different than the first.

Last but not least was the peppermint oil. Again, I pried off a chunk of the goo and added the peppermint. I intentionally took a big whiff of the oils before adding them to the mix, and the peppermint was the sharpest of the three. It was sweet like peppermint, but almost overpowering. When finally mixed, this last attempt smelled like wonderful sweet wedding mints, but still looked like cow brains.

I’m embarrassed to say that the test kitchen experiments that year were the highlight of the project. The only catch made with my experimental offerings were a few possums; understandable I guess, using bait that looks like cow brains. 

Anyway, it all made for a good story and taught me a lesson………No, it didn’t; I’m sure I’ll try it again some year!

Steve can be contacted by email at stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.

Explore Kansas Outdoors: The Great Coon’ Bait Caper

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

High Plains Independence was able to make its payroll for August, allowing it to stay open another month while it waits for its nonprofit status to be reinstated.

The agency that provides&nbsp;support for people with severe mental illnesses in Hays has temporarily lost its funding from the Kansas Department of Aging and Disability Services because of a paperwork error.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/4856104b-8a08-4940-8782-edb77105916c">SEE RELATED STORY: Mental health support program in danger of temporary closure because of filing error</a>

All of the organization's services are free.

After a recent audit of the Kansas Department of Aging and Disability, which funds Consumer Run Organizations, High Plains Independence was informed it had not filed the necessary 990 forms with the IRS to maintain its nonprofit status, Ginna Anderson, High Plains Independence executive director, said.

Anderson said she is working with a new accountant to file the proper paperwork to have the group's nonprofit status reinstated and is making progress.

The group is still facing a wait of three to six months before all the paperwork can be processed.

The group received about $5,000 in donations in August to keep the organization running.

&nbsp;"I appreciate what they've done," Anderson said.

However, she said, "Now we have to start over in September."

"We are going to stay open as long as we can," Anderson said this week. ... "I refuse to give up. God did not bring us this far to drop us in the muck."

Donations can be sent to High Plains Independence at PO Box 956, Hays, KS 67601.

Mental Health support program remains open, still in limbo after paperwork error

TOPEKA — Phone and internet services are vital to accessing healthcare and community services, finding employment, and calling for help in an emergency. However, the cost to stay connected is out of reach for many Kansans.

In observance of National Digital Connectivity and Lifeline Awareness Week, September 7-13, the Kansas Corporation Commission joins utility regulators nationwide in creating awareness of the program offerings and encourages those in need of assistance to apply.

Lifeline provides combined federal and state discounts of up to $17.02 per month to help pay for residential or wireless phone service, internet, or a bundled phone and internet plan. Subscribers living on tribal lands qualify for additional discounts. Currently, nearly 8.6 million Americans, including 19,500 Kansans, are enrolled in the program.

Eligibility&nbsp;is based on income&nbsp;(at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines) or participation in certain assistance programs such as:

In addition, the Safe Connections Act (SCA) of 2022 helps survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking and related crimes get discounted phone, internet or bundled services through the Lifeline program. Those who qualify under SCA can receive up to six months of emergency Lifeline support and their privacy will be protected. Details are available at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.lifelinesupport.org%2Fsurvivor-benefit%2F%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/0101019929edb8d6-2119cd4d-a7ba-475f-b0d5-be85f806625c-000000/5Td5E8YN3_Hd8TJrGGm7M0bJYjXy3SRauGbs6e9U75I=421">https://www.lifelinesupport.org/survivor-benefit/</a>.

More information on income eligibility, participating Lifeline providers, and the enrollment process is available on the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.kcc.ks.gov%2Ftelecommunications%2Flifeline%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/0101019929edb8d6-2119cd4d-a7ba-475f-b0d5-be85f806625c-000000/UTnfVCxzQie_DaSXazrvtv1_lwFtIyvd9HdLN5nDRF4=421">KCC’s website&nbsp;</a>or by calling 800-662-0027.

Lifeline program helps Kansans in need stay connected

Kansas Department of Transportation

NORTON — The Kansas Department of Transportation will begin a field survey on a portion of K-27 in Wallace County the week of Sept. 15.

Crews will be working along a 9-mile portion of Highway K-27 between the Smoky Hill River bridge and Zigzag Road to gather information for proposed improvements along the route. Activities will include the use of survey instruments on the ground to determine locations of existing features within the survey corridor.

KDOT expects work to be completed in November 2025.

Crews will contact property owners or tenants for permission to enter private property if access is needed. Michael Lay of SAM will oversee the survey for KDOT.

Persons with questions may contact KDOT Public Information Officer Lisa Mussman at 785- 874-8107 or lisa.mussman@ks.gov.

Field survey planned on Highway K-27 in Wallace County

By BILL FIANDER Insight Kansas

Poor Elbridge Gerry. He wasn’t even a fan of this. Toeing his party’s line, he approved a newly drawn Boston district that was <a href="https://blogs.loc.gov/loc/2024/07/gerrymandering-the-origin-story/">lampooned</a> as a mythological menacing-winged dragon, or salamander.

While a salamander-shaped district helped his party hold onto the legislature, this Bill of Rights father lost his governor’s seat, and forever lent his name to unsavory contorted lines re-drawn for partisan political gain

Thus, gerry-mandered maps were born. Power, perils, and all.

Two hundred thirteen years later, partisan gerrymandering is having another moment. No less than nine Republican-led and Democrat-led states, <a href="https://www.kcur.org/politics-elections-and-government/2025-09-04/kansas-republicans-might-redistrict-to-help-defeat-the-states-only-democrat-in-congress">including Kansas</a>, are actively contemplating <a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2025/08/28/redistricting-between-censuses-has-been-rare-in-the-modern-era/">rare</a> mid-census map changes to congressional districts ahead of next year’s elections; salamanders, pinwheels, Zorros, inkblots, and other odd shapes that only a Rorschach test giver could love will determine control of the U.S. House.

While partisan politics is gratuitously on display in today’s efforts, what is less apparent is what line on a map best serves a representative democracy.

Creation of districts for the House of Representatives was fueled by a fear of tyranny under the constitution; a compromise in our federalist framework that ensured local voices could check the power of a new centralized federal government and president.

But it wasn’t just about the fear of a king’s tyranny or an elite few. Just as important was to prevent a tyranny of the majority. Minority rights in religion, political parties, property, press, commerce, ancestry, etc. had to withstand a majority’s trampling if the newfound freedoms were to mean anything.

To that end, lines on House maps reflected non-partisan coherent geographies of common interest that could elevate the influence of minority groups politically. They represented fisherman, farmers, coalminers, mountain regions, religions, racial/ethnic neighborhoods, and any sub-set of population geography brought together.

Natural boundaries – city/county limits, rivers, major roads, rail, mountains, public universities, etc. – bonded those interests instead of political party. Within those geographies of common interests, political parties vied to become the voice of those interests through ideologies and lawmaking.

But we don’t live in that world anymore, do we?

Unless states say otherwise, splitting geographies of common interest for pure partisan gain is legal after <a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/18pdf/18-422_9ol1.pdf">Rucho v. Common Cause </a>(2019). Most states, including Kansas, do not prohibit the practice.

AI mapmaking algorithms can spit out thousands of district options in the blink of an eye. Flipping 10%-20% (25% in Kansas) of a state’s congressional seats at the touch of a button is an intoxicating power unlike any other tool available that stacks the partisan deck.

In this world, parties have become the common interest; not people, natural resources, schools, local economies, drinking water, or air sheds. The political tail wagging the proverbial geographic dog. A shape that ironically comes to mind when looking at the gerrymandered Kansas congressional district 1 barking from Lawrence to Colorado.

Left to current devices, it doesn’t. Johnson County beware. In Kansas, state voters are not in charge. Legislators are. Courts to a degree. Even the last protected domain under the Voting Rights Act – racial gerrymandering – has a target on its back (<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24pdf/24-109_l53m.pdf">Louisiana v. Callais</a>).

What do we really want out of re-districting? Competitive races? Partisan fairness? Respect for common geographies? All three? Technology can map whatever weighted parameters “we” want.

But until voters in Kansas and other states send a message, “we” are all racing to the bottom lampooning the very foundations of a representative democracy.

Bill Fiander is a university lecturer at Washburn University, Topeka, specializing in public administration, urban planning, and state/local government.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Insight Kansas: Lines on a map: A race to the gerrymandered bottom

<a href="https://hayspost.com/pages/state-farm-weather-window">For a full look at the weather forecast, click here.</a>

Three-day weather outlook

Family Worship: Looking Into the Future Part I - Matthew 24:1-8

The grand prize winner of the Lite Beer from Miller UTV, from Briney Motorsports, was Dale Pfannenstiel from WaKeeney. Dale outlasted the 34 finalists to become the grand prize winner at halftime of the FHSU Football game Saturday night.

Special thanks to all of our sponsors for participating in this great giveaway from A &amp; A Coors Miller, Briney Motorsports, Advantage Glass Plus and Commercial Sign Company.

Thank you to everyone who entered. The complete list of finalists are below.

13.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Mark Hauptman – Briney Motorsports – 7-25-2025

14.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Rod Goetz – Briney Motorsports – 7-25-2025

15.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Chad McCarty – Discount Smokes – 8-1-2025

16.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Nolan Allen – Discount Smokes – 8-1-2025

17.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Mark Coomes – Phillipsburg Rodeo – 8-1-2025

18.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Matt Van Allen – Phillipsburg Rodeo – 8-1-2025

19.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pierce Day – Ole 40 Express – 8-4-2025

20.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Shane Wilson – Ole 40 Express – 8-4-2025

21.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Lyn Klein – Auto Collision Specialists – 8-15-2025

22.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Kyle Kirmer – Auto Collision Specialists – 8-15-2025

23.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Darin Myers – National Radio Day at Eagle – 8-20-2025

24.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;John Kaba – National Radio Day at Eagle – 8-20-2025

25.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Duane Lang – Kaiser Liquor – 8-22-2025

26.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Wanda Oborny – Kaiser Liquor – 8-22-2025

27.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;John Lonnon – Nate’s Liquor – 8-29-2025

28.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Shawn Summers – Nate’s Liquor – 8-29-2025

29.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Charles Ramsay – Mr. K’s Foodtown – 8-30-2025

30.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Marlena Dinkel – Mr. K’s Foodtown – 8-30-2025

31.&nbsp;&nbsp;Ryan Sultzer – Stone House Spirit &amp; Cigar – 9-5-2025

32.&nbsp;&nbsp;Nancy Stramel – Stone House Spirit &amp; Cigar – 9-5-2025

33.&nbsp; Terry Blide –&nbsp;Elite&nbsp;Detail – 9-12-2025

34.&nbsp; Mellissa Romme –&nbsp;Elite&nbsp;Detail – 9-12-2025

Lite Beer from Miller UTV winner named

THOMAS COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just before 4:30p.m. Saturday in Thomas County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2006 Harley Davidson driven by&nbsp; Gregory J.&nbsp;Griffin, 47, Colby, was northbound on U.S. 24. one half mile north of Interstate 70. The motorcycle entered the curve at a high rate of speed. It crossed the center line and traveled onto the west shoulder, travelled along the shoulder until the driver lost control crossing over county road 11. The&nbsp; motorcycle&nbsp; entered the west ditch and rolled.

EMS transported Griffin to Citizens Medical Center. He was not wearing a helmet, according to the KHP.

NW Kansas man hospitalized after motorcycle accident

Hays-based Sunflower Electric Power Corporation is pleased to announce the appointment of Joshua Eaton as manager of supply chain. In this role, Eaton will oversee the strategic direction and daily operations of Sunflower’s purchasing and warehousing functions, ensuring these critical areas align with the company’s long-term goals and objectives.

Eaton will spearhead continuous improvement initiatives across the supply chain, leveraging data-driven insights to enhance cost efficiency, streamline operations, and boost overall performance. He will also address complex supply chain challenges, providing actionable solutions to improve visibility, service, and coordination across all divisions.

“Josh brings a strong blend of experience, deep knowledge, and a proven ability to execute strategy,” said Will Wylie, vice president of safety and supply chain. “His people-first leadership style aligns seamlessly with our culture of treating one another exceptionally well and working together to deliver world-class service.”

With extensive experience managing profit and loss, budgeting, and developing effective policies and procedures, Eaton has a proven record of delivering measurable results. His focus on operational excellence and continuous improvement will play a vital role in enhancing Sunflower’s financial performance and supporting its long-term strategic execution.

Eaton earned a bachelor of arts in business and communications from Mid-America Nazarene University. He and his wife, Tiffany, reside in Palco with their children, Joseph and Andrew.

Sunflower Electric hires new manager of supply chain

Katharinenstadt's Essenfest is Oct. 12; Registration open now

Schoenchen Community Center&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 4-7 p.m.

Sauerkraut Soup, Green Bean Dumpling Soup Noodles, Ham &amp; Beans, German Sausage Homemade Bread Pies, Kuchens &amp; Cakes Tea or Coffee

&nbsp; $15.00 8 and under Free&nbsp;&nbsp;

Sponsored by the St. Anthony Altar Society&nbsp;

Fundraiser for the St Anthony Park and Playground

50/50 RAFFLE (Need not be present to win)

Community Calendar

OAKLEY — Oakley will host its annual Gun, Coin, and Knife Show Sat., Sept. 20 and Sun., Sept. 21 at Western Vista Complex, 306 Sunrise.

See the many vendors with guns, rare coins, knives and collectibles.&nbsp;

The show is Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

This is one of the larges and most well attended shows in the region.

Oakley's annual Gun, Coin, Knife & Collectible Show is Sept. 20, 21

Community Shred Day Saturday at Bank of Hays

&nbsp;Hays Convention and Visitors Bureau

The Hays Police Department will partner with the Hays Convention and Visitors Bureau to present “Pedal Patrol in the Park,” from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 13, in Aubel Bickle Optimist Park at 30th&nbsp;and Sherman Ave.

The goal of the event is to promote bike and scooter safety among young riders, with emphasis on learning correct helmet use and rules of the road for bicycles and scooters.

Events will include rides around the park with the HPD Bike Patrol and Hays Area Bicyclists, along with parent/toddler rides and bicycle seat safety checks for those who ride with a grown-up.&nbsp;

Children aged 0-13 will be encouraged to bring their scooters, bikes, trikes, Little Tikes cars, skateboards – whatever wheels they ride – to the event. Parents are also encouraged to bring their bikes.&nbsp;

A limited number of bicycle helmets will be given away, thanks to a grant from the Ellis County Legacy Fund and the Heartland Healthy Living Fund of the Heartland Community Foundation.

“This will help us further our goal of improving public safety,” said Hays Police Chief Don Scheibler. “A helmet will help a child form a lifelong healthy habit of being safe every time they ride.”

Attendees can enjoy food trucks, music, games, and bike safety activities. Pfonz’s Smokehaus, The Local, Frozen Frog, and Suck It Up Bubble Cup are scheduled to be at the event.

Story times with the HPD and the Hays Public Library Bookmobile will take place at 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Other activities include safety obstacle courses, <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/76c208bb-a6aa-4e68-9115-5092bb6f74a1">safety sessions with HPD Bike Patrol officers</a>, the Fort Hays State University MakerVan, yard games, volleyball, basketball, and bicycle safety checks with Precision Valley Golf and Bike Center.

There will be various giveaways and a raffle for three bicycles and one scooter courtesy of Hays Walmart.&nbsp;Raffle tickets can be earned by participating in the safety events throughout the day.

Attendees are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs, picnic blankets, and coolers to the event, but no glass bottles are allowed.&nbsp;Pets on leashes are allowed but owners must clean up after their pets.

For details and updates on this event, check the Community Events calendar at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://www.visithays.com/">www.VisitHays.com</a>&nbsp;or search Facebook for the event “<a href="https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=pedal%20patrol%20in%20the%20park">Pedal Patrol in the Park.</a>”

Pedal Patrol event focuses on bike, scooter safety

DOWNS — The Kansas Storytelling Festival is holding three qualifying events for the 2026 Tall Tales storytelling contest. 

Anyone (amateur) is welcome to enter these preliminary events to become one of four finalists at the Storytelling Festival on April 24-25, 2026 in Downs. All qualifier events are free to attend.

The first qualifier will be held Saturday, September 13 at the Tonganoxie Community Historical Society, 201 W. Washington St., Tonganoxie, beginning at 5:00pm. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.tonganoxieartscouncil.org/copy-of-story-telling-festival">Art Events &amp; Workshops | Arts Council</a> Following the Tall Tale contest at about 7:35 p.m., Professional Storyteller Paul Strickland will perform.

The second qualifier will be held Saturday, September 20 at the Mid-America All-Indian Center, 650 N. Seneca St., Wichita, from 1:00-3:00 p.m. Following the contest, previous Kansas Tall Tale champions and historical Legends will perform. Register by email at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:kansasstorytelling@gmail.com">kansasstorytelling@gmail.com</a>&nbsp;or contacting Mike at 785-545-5285.

The final qualifier will be held in Downs, the “Storytelling Capital of Kansas” on Saturday, October 11, at the Zion Lutheran Church, 1018 Blunt Street, Downs. The Downs event begins at 7:00 p.m. Register by email at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:kansasstorytelling@gmail.com">kansasstorytelling@gmail.com</a>&nbsp;or contacting Mike at 785-454-1177.

A tall tale is a unique form of American Story Telling in which the narrator usually has a part in the story. Telling a tall tale uses exaggerated detail describing things larger than they really are.&nbsp; A tall tale is a story based on a fact, or facts, and filled with unbelievable elements told as if they were true and factual. A tall tale has just enough truth to make a good story and to incite the imagination. 

Professional storytellers cannot compete. 

Information and rules for the Tall Tale Competition are posted at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://kansasstorytellingfestival.com/">kansasstorytellingfestival.com</a>&nbsp;

Interested individuals can enter any of the events, or all of them if not selected as top qualifier. For more information or to register for each event, please go to the Kansas Storytelling Festival website at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansasstorytellingfestival.com/">https://www.kansasstorytellingfestival.com/</a>&nbsp;or the Kansas Storytelling FaceBook page at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.facebook.com/KansasStorytellingFestival">https://www.facebook.com/KansasStorytellingFestival</a>.

Storytelling festival's Tall Tale preliminaries begin Saturday

Go Truck Go, a free family event, will be on Thursday, Sept. 11, at Early Childhood Connections, 2501 E. 13th across from Hays High School.

Children will get to experience vehicles they see daily. Go Truck Go features an ambulance, fire truck, police car, implements and construction vehicles.

Free food and drinks and free informational booths from area resources.

Go Truck Go to be Sept. 11 at Early Childhood Connections

The Bricks is wrapping up its Brick-by-Brick Campaign. Community members and businesses have one last opportunity to leave a lasting legacy in Downtown Hays before the September 30 deadline to purchase an engraved brick or limestone block for the new Shed Project.

The Shed Project will be a new storage and service facility adjacent to the Downtown Hays Pavilion. This addition is designed to secure event equipment, serve concessions, and host the Downtown Hays Market Manager’s station during community favorites such as the Downtown Hays Market, Christmas Magic on Main Street, and Wines &amp; Steins. Once complete, the Shed will provide much-needed support for year-round events that bring vibrancy and connection to The Bricks.

“We are very excited about this enhancement to Union Pacific Park, one of our most visible and well utilized contributions to Downtown. While events are just part of what we do, last year they brought over 15,000 people to the heart of our community. This project meets an immediate need for those initiatives and the functionality of the pavilion, while staying true to the beautiful architecture of the original railroad depot. None of this progress is possible without the support of our community!,” said Andrew Taylor, board chair of The Bricks (operating as the Downtown Hays Development Corporation, or DHDC).

To participate, visit The Bricks office at 1200 Main Street, Suite 102 in Downtown Hays, or reach out online at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://www.downtownhays.com/">www.DowntownHays.com</a>/pavilion-shed-project. For logo submissions (limestone block donors only), email your file and contact details to&nbsp;<a href="mailto:thebricks@downtownhays.com">thebricks@downtownhays.com</a>.

“This campaign is about more than bricks and mortar,” said Lee Ann June, Executive Director at The Bricks. “It’s about the community who believes in Downtown Hays and wants to see it thrive for generations to come.”

The Brick by Brick Campaign officially closes on September 30, 2025. Don’t miss your chance to engrave your name, your business, or your family into the story of The Bricks.

 Brick-by-Brick campaign ends Sept. 30 for Downtown Hays shed project

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/luis-andres-henao">LUIS ANDRES HENAO</a>

WASHINGTON (AP) — A group of top U.S. Catholic bishops and nuns on the front lines of the country’s immigration conflict have decried the Trump administration’s hard-line policies for tearing apart families, inciting fear and upending American church life.

While criticizing the federal government, the Catholic leaders also explained at a Thursday panel discussion at Georgetown University how they are supporting worried immigrants. With President Donald Trump’s mass deportation agenda and ramped up immigration enforcement, they said, many families are wary of taking their children to school, going to work or church for fear of being detained and deported.

“The way that the immigration policies are enforced these days are not only destabilizing the life of the particular immigrant, but whole families, businesses, the life of children, whole communities, neighborhoods,” said Auxiliary Bishop Evelio Menjivar-Ayala, of Washington, D.C. “What I’m seeing in people’s eyes, is pain and a deep confusion. … Where do we go from here if we’re not welcome.”

Adding to those fears is a change made at the start of Trump’s second term that gave immigration officers more leeway to make arrests at schools and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-arrests-church-ban-lawsuit-trump-administration-7e0f3060033fc25c5982bc583587562c">houses of worship</a>&nbsp;— long considered off limits. This is being challenged in court by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/school-ice-immigration-arrests-union-lawsuit-36e2ab03c2661ab4af0134b3564ce528">teachers</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-arrests-church-ban-lawsuit-trump-administration-7e0f3060033fc25c5982bc583587562c">faith groups</a>.

“For me, it’s very personal because I was a stranger and you welcomed me,” said Menjivar-Ayala. He crossed the U.S. border illegally in 1990 after leaving his native El Salvador during the country’s civil war. Now a U.S. citizen, he became the first Salvadoran bishop in the United States.

Helping keep hope alive in struggling families is a critical part of providing support, said Sister Norma Pimentel, a leading migrant-rights activist along the U.S.-Mexico border who spoke on the panel. She runs&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-immigration-catholic-abbott-paxton-dde110e3458e49d4a5553e4cd16646a5">Catholic Charities</a>&nbsp;of the Rio Grande Valley, a respite center for beleaguered migrants in McAllen, Texas.

She recalled visiting immigrant families at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/migrants-child-supervision-texas-e4994b2b6786717ea79a4be230e476bf">a detention center in a “terrible condition,”</a>&nbsp;and being moved to tears.

“I saw Border Patrol agents looking at us, and they, too, were moved and were crying,” she said. “When I walked out of there, the officer turned to me and said, ‘Thank you, sister, for helping us realize they’re human beings.’”

Department of Homeland Security officials have maintained there will be no safe spaces for those who are in the country illegally, have committed crimes, or tried to undermine immigration enforcement. They have consistently said their efforts are intended to safeguard public safety and national security.

Catholic leaders at odds with Trump over immigration

Catholic leaders follow the church’s core doctrine&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vatican-pope-leo-peace-abortion-f0678b67da0dc74b4bc7e6e10a77a23e">against abortion</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-lgbtq-community-catholic-church-7ec2ddb2e9e94382c4a1365a57d72a88">same-sex marriage,</a>&nbsp;priorities they share with many political conservatives. But they’ve been at odds with the Trump administration on immigration.

Earlier this year, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/catholic-bishops-refugee-resettlement-trump-administration-362231100b8e4650c00d22a75b5c6ab8">announced the end</a>&nbsp;of a half-century of partnerships with the federal government to serve refugees and migrant children, saying the “heartbreaking” decision followed the Trump administration’s abrupt halt to funding.

In February, the late&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-trump-migration-09a89091f8e7dc3270099f0947d04e90">Pope Francis also issued a major rebuke</a>&nbsp;to the administration’s plans for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/religion-churches-trump-immigration-crackdown-sanctuary-2746fa5c80aa8e2ce6db878e0d6e1c24">mass deportations of migrants</a>, warning that the forceful removal of people purely because of their illegal status deprives them of their inherent dignity.

At the panel, Miami Archbishop&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-mexico-miami-religion-ron-desantis-2f5e1e275b78ec4f053fc42e29bbb2be">Thomas Wenski</a>&nbsp;highlighted the contributions of immigrants to the country’s economy.

“If you ask people in agriculture, you ask in the service industry, you ask people in health care, you ask the people in the construction field, and they’ll tell you that some of their best workers are immigrants,” said Wenski, who has served on the USCCB’s migration committee. “Enforcement is always going to be part of any immigration policy, but we have to rationalize it and humanize it.”

Wenski joined the “Knights on Bikes” ministry, an initiative led by the Knights of Columbus that draws attention to the spiritual needs of people held at immigration detention centers, including the one in the Florida Everglades dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz.” He recalled praying a rosary with the bikers in the scorching heat outside its walls. Days later, he got permission to celebrate Mass inside the facility.

“The fact that we invite these detainees to pray, even in this very dehumanizing situation, is a way of emphasizing and invoking their dignity,” he said. “More importantly that God has not forgotten them.”

Los Angeles archdiocese suffers after immigration raids

In Los Angeles County, the Trump administration’s ramped up arrests of people suspected of living in the country illegally has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/photo-essay/immigration-raids-life-fear-photo-essay-d48664d10d37596ed8d7fb81d617129f">upended life</a>&nbsp;for tens of thousands of people. About a third of the county’s 10 million residents are foreign-born, and many are now trying to live without being noticed.

Los Angeles Archbishop José Gomez said on the panel that the fear-inducing effect of immigration raids lowered attendance at Mass, and affected valuable church programs that mostly serve immigrants. The archdiocese is helping those being detained and facing deportation with legal and financial assistance.

“People are really afraid of going out of their homes,” said Gomez, the first Latino to serve as USCCB president. “A lot of the priests are telling me here in the archdiocese that at least 30% of the people attending Mass are not coming anymore.”

Panelists warn of fallout from immigration crackdown

The panel, which included academics and legal experts, lamented the suffering of children separated from their parents. Legal expert Ashley Feasley, who is with Catholic University of America’s Columbus School of Law, noted the millions of children who are U.S. citizens and have parents and other family members in the country illegally.

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