By TONY GUERRERO Hays Post

A long-abandoned downtown building has been transformed into a new event center in the heart of Hays.

Cassidy Sowers, general manager of Gella’s Diner and LB Brewing, said the space is designed to meet the demand for a larger venue downtown.

"It was technically a historical building, so we couldn't completely redo it," Sowers said. "We kind of brought old history back to life and added some modern touches to it."

The venue, 121 E. 11th St., was created from a vacant building next to the diner, which Sowers said now includes a state-of-the-art catering kitchen, bar and other amenities.

The room includes a projector and can hold up to 126 people with seating for 92, accommodating events such as business meetings, Christmas parties, small weddings, wedding receptions and celebrations of life.

Renovations began more than a year ago. Sowers said it is now available for booking, with reservations taken at 785-621-2739.

The Chamber in Hays will host <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/24032430886448819">a grand opening and ribbon-cutting</a> for the event center at 3 p.m. Sept. 4.

"We're eager to get this place going," Sowers said.

Sowers said culinary students from Fort Hays Tech North Central are already using the kitchen for classes conducted Mondays through Wednesdays.

In addition to the new space next door, Gella’s has renovated a smaller banquet room called The Nook to host smaller gatherings when the larger room is booked.

The Nook features a modern design with a TV and plug-ins for work meetings or small parties, and seating for up to 36 guests.&nbsp;Sowers said the smaller room can be reserved but is also available for everyday diners.

"I just want to get people in here. I want them to see it because it's a drastic change. It's a night-and-day difference," Sowers said.

The kitchen in the larger event venue will handle catering for off-site events, with a new menu to be introduced. Sowers said everything was made possible by the team she is a part of.

You can visit the diner's website <a href="https://www.lbbrewing.com/">here</a> and follow them on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/LbBrewing">Facebook</a>.

New event center in downtown Hays open for booking

Phillips County Rod &amp; Custom club is hosting their 3rd annual All Wheels Car Show on Saturday, September 20.&nbsp;

The show is open to muscle cars, hot rods, pickup trucks, semi trucks, rat rods, motorcycles, golf carts, UTVs and more.&nbsp;First 100 car show entries will receive a free goody bag.

There will be food trucks onsite along with several great local restaurants that will be open.

Approximately 30 awards will be presented and given out along with door prizes all day.

There will be a 50/50 raffle drawing and an engine blow contest.

Registration is from 8:00 a.m. – 10 a.m. Car show is from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. with awards at 3 p.m.

For additional information and the latest information, please visit and be sure to like and follow us on Facebook at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/phillipscountyrodandcustomclub/">https://www.facebook.com/phillipscountyrodandcustomclub/</a> or call 785-543-9000 or 785-543-7689.

All Wheels Car Show in Phillipsburg Sept. 20

Reporter Cristina Janney speaks with Doug Williams of Grow Hays about housing and the ribbon cutting of the Bob and Pat Community Center on this episode of the Hays Post Podcast.

Please submit your questions for Doug for future interviews to&nbsp;hayspost@eaglemedia.com.

🎙 Post Podcast: Doug Williams of Grow Hays on new community center

By STEVE GILLILAND Explore Kansas Outdoors

Well, yet another birthday has come and gone. 

It seems that since I’ve turned 70, my “check engine light” has come on and refuses to go out. It flickers on and off occasionally, but never goes completely off. 

Don’t get me wrong, at 74, I’m blessed more than many, and I praise God for that, but it seems like I daily feel like the proverbial “old fisherman,” and I’ve devised a questionnaire so you can see if you too fit into that category. 

You’re probably an old fisherman if you still smell like Ben Gay even after you’ve cleaned your fish.

If you waste countless hours of prime fishing time reeling and casting, reeling and casting, because you can’t remember whether or not you just re-baited your hook, you’re probably an old fisherman.

If, after reaching quickly under the boat seat for the dip net, you’ve found yourself holding your cane instead, you’re probably an old fisherman.

If you have ever started to hold the line between your teeth only to discover you’ve left your teeth at home at home, you’re probably an old fisherman.

If removing that occasional fishbone from your teeth can now be accomplished by removing your teeth and tapping them on the table, you just might be an old fisherman.

If your shore lunch now includes a tall, cool thermos of Metamucil and a box of prunes, you’re probably an old fisherman.

If your fishing buddies are now more than happy to take you along to their secret “honey holes” because they are confident you’ll never remember where you were anyway, you’re probably an old fisherman.

You’re probably an old fisherman if your wife now begs to go fishing with you because she’s afraid you’ll forget your way back home (you should feel lucky she wants you back home).

You’re probably an old fisherman if your favorite fishing chair is now one of those fancy walkers with a seat on it, and you are relegated to fishing from the boat dock because that’s the only place level enough to park it, or if you recently removed a seat from your boat to make room for your walker.

You just might be an old fisherman, if to you, the letters GPS mean Gotta’ Pee Soon.

It’s easy for anyone to drive off with their coffee cup sitting on the roof or the bumper of the pickup, but if you have gotten to the lake and turned around to back your boat down the boat ramp only to discover the boat was still parked in the driveway at home, you’re an old fisherman.

And finally, I’m sure you’re an old fisherman if your eyesight has gotten so dim that you now haul home all the carp you catch because you mistake them for trophy bass.

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

Explore Kansas Outdoors: Are you an old fisherman? Take the test

Kansas Department of Transportation

The Kansas Department of Transportation expresses its appreciation for employees celebrating state service anniversaries in September. KDOT is proud to acknowledge them for the long-term dedication they have provided to the state of Kansas. Listed below are the employees and their hometowns.&nbsp;

Phillipsburg resident among KDOT employees celebrating service anniversaries

MANHATTAN — More than 220 high school students from across the State of Kansas participated in the 2025 session of the American Legion Boys State of Kansas (ALBSK), held June 1-7 at Kansas State University in Manhattan. This was the program’s 33rd consecutive session at KSU and 87th overall. 

The objective of the ALBSK is to inculcate a sense of individual obligation to community, state and nation. 

Kansas Boys State provides a relevant, interactive, problem-solving experience in leadership and teamwork that develops self-identity, promotes mutual respect and instills civic responsibility. Boys State is a “learning by doing” political exercise that simulates elections, political parties and government at the state, county and local levels, providing opportunities to lead under pressure, showcasing character and working effectively within a team. It’s also an opportunity to gain pride and respect for government and the price paid by members of the military to preserve democracy.&nbsp;

Kansas Boys State has announced the following awards and honors from the week (all cities and high&nbsp;schools in Kansas unless noted):

• Advisor of the Year — James Snyder, Ozawkie, served as a KBS medical advisor and is the&nbsp;chair of the American Legion Department of Kansas Boys State Committee.

• Experienced Counselor of the Year (three or more years on staff) — Jordin Myers, Hays, served&nbsp;as head counselor of information technology. Myers was a 2021 and 2022 KBS delegate, and a&nbsp;2023 graduate of Hays High School.

• New Counselor of the Year (one or two years on staff) — Declan Wilson, Olathe, served as a&nbsp;city counselor. Wilson was a 2024 KBS delegate and a 2025 graduate of Olathe North High&nbsp;School.

&nbsp;Jared Tucker, Fall River, and a senior at West Elk High School in Howard, was named the American Legion Department of Kansas winner of the Samsung American Legion Scholarship. As the State of Kansas winner, Tucker receives a $1,250 scholarship, and his application moves on to the national level where he could receive a $5,000 award as a national runner-up or a $10,000 award as a national scholar. The national awards are expected to be announced in October.&nbsp;

Conner Harris, Arkansas City, and a senior at Arkansas City High School, was named winner of the $1,000 American Legion Boys State of Kansas Executive Director Scholarship. The winner of the scholarship, as selected by the KBS executive director, is presented to a Kansas Boys State delegate who demonstrated exceptional understanding of the KBS principles. The scholarship is designed to recognize individuals who are committed to applying the knowledge and leadership skills gained from Boys State in their schools and communities.&nbsp;

Gabriel Kumar, Lawrence, a senior at Veritas Christian School in Lawrence, received the William “Bill” F. Stahl Outstanding Justice Award, given to the outstanding member of the Boys State of Kansas Supreme Court as voted on by his Supreme Court peers. The award is presented in recognition of outstanding commitment to justice under the law and dedicated service to Boys State of Kansas. Stahl, of Junction City, passed away in September 2015 and was a longtime supporter of the ALBSK.&nbsp;

Winston Mays, Topeka, a senior at Washburn Rural High School, was named the Outstanding Senator, while Tristan Jenkins, Olathe, a senior at Olathe South High School, was named the Outstanding State Representative (Jenkins was also elected to represent Kansas Boys State at Boys Nation this summer).

The 88th session of the American Legion Boys State of Kansas is scheduled to be held the week of Sunday, May 31, through Saturday, June 6, 2026, again at Kansas State University. For information on becoming a delegate (applications are now open for high school sophomores and juniors during the 2025-26 academic year), nominating a delegate or sponsoring a delegate, visit <a href="https://ksbstate.org/">https://ksbstate.org</a>.

Hays, Otis attendees earn awards at Boys State of Kansas 2025 session

By ALEXANDRA MIDDLEWOOD Insight Kansas

For more than 160 years, mail-in voting has been a fixture of American democracy—especially in Kansas. 

During the Civil War, Union soldiers stationed far from home were granted the right to vote by mail, a practice that laid the foundation for absentee voting as we know it. Kansas, in fact, was among the earliest adopters of mail-in voting for non-military, allowing railroad workers to vote absentee as early as 1901.

Today, however, that legacy is under pressure. 

Starting in 2026, Kansas voters will face one of the shortest mail-in voting windows in the country. A new law, passed by the Republican-majority legislature, eliminated the three-day grace period that previously allowed ballots postmarked by Election Day to be counted if they arrived shortly after. Now, all mail ballots must be received by 7 p.m. on Election Day to be valid.

Supporters of the change argue it will increase confidence in election results by ensuring a uniform deadline. Critics, however, see it as a step backward—one that risks disenfranchising rural voters, seniors, and college students who rely on the mail to participate in elections.

The grace period, enacted in 2017, was a bipartisan response to slow postal delivery, especially in rural areas. 

Data from the Kansas Secretary of State’s office shows that in the 2024 election, about 2,800 ballots arrived after Election Day. Of those, only about 75% of those were counted, with the remainder rejected due to missing postmarks or arriving beyond the grace period deadline. 

The impact was even more pronounced in the 2024 primary, when approximately 1,000 Kansans (2% of voters) were effectively disenfranchised. Their ballots, mailed on time, failed to reach election offices by the cutoff and were discarded, despite voters having followed the rules. At first glance, 2% might seem insignificant, but it’s more than enough to sway an election. In fact, it is far larger than the margin of victory in the 2018 Republican gubernatorial primary and comes close to the margin in the 2022 general election for governor.

These numbers underscore the real-world consequences of tightening mail-in voting rules, especially for voters who do everything right but are let down by slow delivery. 

Yet despite these setbacks, the push to restrict mail-in voting continues to gain traction nationally, often driven by voices that have repeatedly cast doubt on democratic institutions—frequently under the guise of protecting election integrity. President Trump recently vowed to “lead a movement” to end mail-in ballots ahead of the 2026 midterms, describing them as “corrupt” and alleging “massive fraud”—despite lack of evidence to support these claims. These remarks echo long-standing skepticism towards mail voting, even as courts, election officials, and independent experts continue to affirm security and reliability. 

The push to restrict mail-in voting is not new, but its intensity has escalated, placing states like Kansas at the center of the national conversation about access, trust, and the future of democratic participation.

Kansans themselves appear to support keeping mail-in voting accessible. According to the 2024 Kansas Speaks survey conducted by the Docking Institute of Public Affairs at Fort Hays State&nbsp;University, a minority of respondents (23%) expressed support for ending mail-in voting options. Even fewer (11.6%) think voter fraud is a routine problem in Kansas.

The move to curtail mail-in voting in Kansas is not just a policy change—it’s a philosophical one. It signals a departure from a long-standing tradition of making voting easier for those who cannot be physically present at the polls. From Civil War soldiers to modern-day students and retirees, mail-in voting has served as a vital tool for civic participation.

As the 2026 midterms approach and calls to eliminate mail-in ballots echo from the nation’s capitol, Kansans—both voters and lawmakers alike—face a pivotal choice: whether to uphold a long-standing democratic tradition or allow it to be quietly dismantled.

The debate is not merely about deadlines and delivery speeds, it’s about the kind of democracy Kansans want to preserve. Will it be one that adapts to the needs of its citizens, or one that narrows the path to the ballot box?

In the end, the question isn’t whether mail-in voting is convenient. It’s whether it’s essential. History suggests it is.&nbsp;

Alexandra Middlewood, PhD, is an associate professor and chair of the Political Science Department at Wichita State University.

Insight Kansas: Kansas mail-in voting faces historic crossroads

<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: Things to Expect in the Last Days - Acts 2:16-21

TOPEKA — Thousands of vehicles will travel the Kansas roadways during the Labor Day weekend. Many families will head out for the long weekend as summer ends and the school year begins. 

Kids Kansas, which is sponsored by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), State Farm Insurance and the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT), want to encourage families to buckle up and drive safely to protect their most important cargo, their families.

This year, from Aug. 25 through Sept. 7, a safety belt awareness campaign called “Bucks for Buckles” will be held in 41 cities across Kansas. 

Local volunteers will distribute dollar bills to drivers&nbsp;who have all occupants buckled up securely in their vehicles. Those riding unrestrained will receive educational materials about the effectiveness of seat belts and child safety seats in saving lives and reducing injuries.

“No one can predict when they will be involved in a motor vehicle crash, yet almost all of us will be involved in a crash in our lifetime. In 2024, 339 people lost their lives on Kansas roadways, and approximately 30 percent were unbuckled*,”&nbsp;Cherie Sage, state director for Safe Kids Kansas, said.&nbsp;“The single most effective means of protecting the lives of you and your passengers is wearing seat belts and using appropriate child safety seats every time you ride in the vehicle – even short distances.”

According to the 2023 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Seat Belt Use Survey, 85 percent of Kansans surveyed were wearing their seat belts, compared to the national average of 90 percent.&nbsp;Kansas saw a nearly 2 percent decline in seat belt usage from 2022 to 2023. 

Seat belts save more than 15,000 lives yearly and are the best defense against drunk, aggressive and distracted drivers.

“Seat belts reduce your chances of serious injury from a vehicle crash by as much as 50 percent,”&nbsp;Sage said. “It’s such a simple thing, so take your life into your own hands and buckle up.”

For more information about safety belts or child safety seat use, call 785-296-1223 or visit&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/http:%2F%2Fwww.safekidskansas.org%2F%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/01000198ce022938-2410be80-610e-4929-a157-45831b53c6fa-000000/UwaEc_JNfkhNS1V1y8Zv33zPX_VWWrKNg4qi9KTk_Gs=419">SafeKidsKansas.org</a>,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/http:%2F%2Fwww.safekids.org%2F%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/01000198ce022938-2410be80-610e-4929-a157-45831b53c6fa-000000/bdxL4SCr0ME5jGR5XL5ivRa18i_7noOoAbXZOsFU7y4=419">SafeKids.org</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/http:%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fsafekidskansas%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/01000198ce022938-2410be80-610e-4929-a157-45831b53c6fa-000000/_5seDkT5N-Y-FHo_YmtdbKYBUuBFDuMlF6LUoS4rHYc=419">Facebook.com/safekidskansas</a>.

Bucks rewarded to drivers who buckle up

By ALICIA BOOR Cottonwood Extension District

As we move into the latter part of the growing season, it is time to consider late summer and fall pests as well as your plans for next year. 

Both stable and horn fly populations tend to decline over the dry, hot part of summer but can resurge in late summer into fall if sufficient rainfall occurs. 

Horn flies are found on the back and belly of the animals and stay constantly associated with the cattle host making topical insecticides (pour-ons, sprays and ear tags) effective control methods, with appropriate rotation. 

Stable flies in contrast feed preferentially on the legs of the animal for a short period of time (2-4 minutes), 1-2 times a day. This low contact time with the host makes chemical control difficult to achieve. Decaying hay and plant material are a primary breeding for stable flies; pay special attention to hay bale and feed wastage and surrounding crop fields.

House fly populations will continue to increase through the summer and can be a significant problem for feedlots and dairies. 

Minimize feed wastage spilled over bunkers and keep pens well scraped, paying special attention to areas around feed bunkers, water stations and under fence lines. Baits and traps can be useful against house flies; make sure the traps are placed away from buildings such as offices as they will attract flies to the location. 

Fall can also see face flies trying to enter barns and buildings for a place to overwinter. Sealing off cracks and crevices can remove these overwintering spots. If a second fall fly population boom occurs, any early season on-animal interventions applied are unlikely to still be effective this late in the season. If reapplying products within the same season, do not change insecticide group.

Larvae of the cattle grub should be treated in fall or early winter using oral medications or pour-ons. Treatment should not be carried out in January or February due to the potential for severe reactions. 

Lice populations also tend to thrive in cooler weather, watch out for patches of hair loss and rubbing, indicative of lice problems. Part the hair, especially along the neck and back of the animal and look for small cream insects about 1/16th of an inch. If large numbers of lice are observed, pour-on treatments can effectively treat lice infestation. Treatment must be repeated after two weeks to target any nits that were not killed after the first treatment.

Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Extension. You can contact her by e-mail at aboor@ksu.edu or calling 620-793-1910.

BOOR: Late summer, early fall pests for feedlots, dairies

Kansas Department of Health and Environment

TOPEKA –The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has rescinded a boil water advisory for the Countryside Estates Mobile Home Park, Hays, public water supply system located in Ellis County. 

The advisory was issued because of a loss of pressure due to water main breaks. Failure to maintain adequate pressure may result in a loss of chlorine residuals and bacterial contamination.&nbsp;

Laboratory testing of drinking water samples collected from the Countryside Estates Mobile Home Park indicate no evidence of bacteriological contamination and all other conditions that placed the system at risk of contamination are deemed by KDHE officials to be resolved. &nbsp;

Public water suppliers in Kansas take all measures necessary to notify customers quickly after a system failure or shutdown. Regardless of whether it’s the supplier or KDHE that announces a boil water advisory, KDHE will issue the rescind notice following testing at a certified laboratory.

For consumer questions, please contact the water system at: 308-629-7874 or you may call KDHE at 785-296-5514. For consumer information please visit our webpage:&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.kdhe.ks.gov%2F468%2FDisruption-in-Water-Service%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/01000198d25f9524-f7654a83-a856-44b0-9b2b-8b9023b12a28-000000/MnWJRWFVuA6x_VD3vR714V82LXQUmM4s0Vzpn-nFI7M=419">https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/468/Disruption-in-Water-Service</a>.

Boil Water Advisory rescinded for Hays' Countryside Estates mobile home park

&nbsp;Submit events to&nbsp;<a href="mailto:admin@hayspost.com">admin@hayspost.com</a>. Cover photo courtesy Pixabay

Special thanks to <a href="https://www.visithays.com/183/Events">The Hays Convention and Visitors Bureau</a> and<a href="https://www.fhsu.edu/"> Fort Hays State University</a> for their contributions to the community calendar.

Community Calendar

After 25 impactful years, HaysMed is retiring its traditional drive-thru flu shot clinic and launching a more flexible, integrated approach to community health. Starting this fall, flu shots will be offered during its monthly blood screening events- providing a convenient, one-stop opportunity for preventive care.

 The decision to discontinue the drive-thru format comes in response to changing community needs and increased access to free flu shots at local pharmacies such as Walgreens, Walmart, and Dillon’s. While the HaysMed drive-thru clinic once served nearly 4,000 individuals annually, recent participation has dropped below 1,500. This new format allows the hospital to better align with current trends and improve accessibility for the community.

Participants can now receive a free flu shot, participate in blood screening lab draws, or do both- all in one visit. Flu shots will be available on the following Saturdays from 6:30 a.m. – 10:00a.m. at Entrance B (Miller Pavillion), using parking Lot B on September 6, October 4, or November 1, 2025.

Children’s flu shots will be administered in the same area as adult vaccinations to simplify the experience for families. To help with flow and minimize wait times, participants may choose to go directly to the flu shot station or begin with blood screening.

Since its inception, HaysMed has proudly administered 69,802 flu shots to the community. In 2024 alone, the hospital provided 1,300 adult and 378 pediatric vaccines free of charge, thanks to the support of the HaysMed Foundation.

The HaysMed flu shot events have also supported local families through food donations. In 2024, participants donated 583 pounds of canned food to the Community Assistance Center. Since 2007, the hospital collected a total of 26,854 pounds- nearly 13.5 tons of food! 

All attendees are encourage to bring a non-perishable food item to continue this tradition of giving back.

Watch the HaysMed 2025 Flu Shot video&nbsp;below about this change.

HaysMed is thrilled to continue partnering with Fort Hays State University and Fort Hays North Central Tech nursing students, who will assist with flu shot administration. Their involvement ensures hands-on learning and reflects the spirit of community collaboration.

· Free flu shots available for individuals 6 months and older

· Participants may choose to receive a flu shot, participate in blood screening lab draws, or both

· Consent forms available at&nbsp;<a href="https://haysmedfoundation.org/flu/">haysmedfoundation.org/flu</a> – please complete, print, and bring a signed copy for each person being vaccinated

· Short-sleeved shirts recommended for ease of vaccination

· Egg-free vaccines will not be available; individuals with egg allergies should consult their healthcare provider

· High-dose flu vaccines for those 65+ will not be offered at these events

For more information about blood screenings, visit the most recent <a href="https://www.haysmed.com/august-volunteer-community-blood-screenings/">monthly blood screenings article</a>. For flu shot updates, maps, and logistics, visit <a href="https://haysmedfoundation.org/flu/">haysmedfoundation.org/flu/</a>.

Together, HaysMed is working to keep the community healthy, strong, and connected- now in a format that’s more convenient than ever.

HaysMed announces new format for 2025 free Community Flu Shot Event

Free Community Shred Day offered by Bank of Hays

Hays High Sept. 4 soccer game cancelled

The Hays City Commission and the Russell City Council will have a joint meeting at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 27 at the Russell City Hall, 133 W. Eighth St., Russell.

The topic of discussion will be the joint development of the R9 water supply.

Hays, Russell city leaders to discuss R9 development Aug. 27 in Russell

Hungry for bierocks? Place your order with the Cancer Council of Ellis County for their BIEROCK FUNDRAISER until Monday, September 1, 2025. These delicious bierocks are made by Cervs on Main Street. 

To place your order call the Cancer Council at 785-625-6653 or mail your order to 701 Riley St., Hays KS 67601. 

Orders must be paid for at time of order. 

Pick up will be Thursday, September 18, 2025 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the south side of Main Street Cervs, 1601 Main Street.

Cost is $30 for ½ dozen or $50 for a dozen; with cheese $35 for ½ dozen or $60 for a dozen.

The Cancer Council of Ellis County is a local organization that has been helping Ellis County residents dealing with cancer for 39 years.

Bierocks fundraiser underway for Cancer Council of Ellis County

TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has issued a boil water advisory for the Countryside Estates MHP, Hays KS public water supply system located in Ellis County.

This advisory does not affect customers who receive water from the City of Hays or the Ellis County Rural Water public water supplies.

Customers should observe the following precautions until further notice:

The advisory took effect on August 20, 2025 and will remain in effect until the conditions that placed the system at risk of bacterial contamination are resolved. 

KDHE officials issued the advisory because of a loss of pressure due to water main breaks. Failure to maintain adequate pressure may result in a loss of chlorine residuals and bacterial contamination.&nbsp;

Regardless of whether the public water supplier or Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) announced a boil water advisory, only KDHE can issue the rescind order following testing at a certified laboratory.

For consumer questions, please contact the water system at 308-629-7874, or KDHE at 785-296-5514. For consumer information please visit KDHE’s PWS Consumer Information webpage:

<a target="_blank" href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.kdhe.ks.gov%2F468%2FDisruption-in-Water-Service%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/01000198c7cf103e-b5dd857c-0c66-491f-97af-6acfb416de7f-000000/K-ttGxp_qLoiwLVNNGSosH35J2YOwLctNbOZJYIYxBE=419">https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/468/Disruption-in-Water-Service</a>

Restaurants and other food establishments that have questions about the impact of the boil water advisory on their business can contact the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s food safety &amp; lodging program at&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="mailto:kda.fsl@ks.gov">kda.fsl@ks.gov</a>&nbsp;or call 785-564-6767.

Boil Water Advisory issued for Countryside Mobile Home Estates in Hays

Kansas Department of Health and Environment&nbsp;

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has rescinded a boil water advisory for the City of Smith Center public water supply system located in Smith County. 

The advisory was issued because of a loss of pressure. Failure to maintain adequate pressure may result in a loss of chlorine residuals and bacterial contamination.

Laboratory testing of drinking water samples collected from the City of Smith Center indicate no evidence of bacteriological contamination and all other conditions that placed the system at risk of contamination are deemed by KDHE officials to be resolved. &nbsp;

For consumer questions, please contact the water system at: 785-282-3812 or you may call KDHE at 785-296-5514. For consumer information please visit our webpage:&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.kdhe.ks.gov%2F468%2FDisruption-in-Water-Service%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/01000198c7d5cfe1-90876970-fc05-4764-9a29-d719ffec7777-000000/4h5BJoIFe_zZg571dAAEBXrYQlO7Ky8M127R5fpYU-0=419">https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/468/Disruption-in-Water-Service</a>.

Boil Water Advisory for Smith Center rescinded

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/jeff-mcmurray">JEFF McMURRAY</a> Associated Press

Rose Hammond pushed authorities for years to lower the 55 mph speed limit on a two-lane road that passes her assisted living community, a church, two schools and a busy park that hosts numerous youth sports leagues.

“What are you waiting for, somebody to get&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ohio-turnpike-crashes-5bd9bdca1835dac573f8461bf9166994">killed</a>?” the 85-year-old chided officials in northwest Ohio, complaining that nothing was being done about the motorcycles that race by almost daily.

Amid growing public pressure, Sylvania Township asked county engineers in March to analyze whether Mitchaw Road’s posted&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/road-diets-traffic-safety-transportation-department-trump-2486cac519fdc56348532717e43dc81d">speed is too high.</a>&nbsp;The surprising answer: Technically, it’s 5 mph too low.

The reason dates back to studies on rural roads from the 1930s and 1940s that still play an outsized role in the way&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/speed-limiters-reckless-drivers-states-judges-washington-72165c45b7481b6b313248841006578b">speed limits</a>&nbsp;are set across the U.S. — even in urban areas.

Born from that research was a widely accepted concept known as the 85% rule, which suggests a road’s posted speed should be tied to the 15th-fastest vehicle out of every 100 traveling it in free-flowing traffic, rounded to the nearest 5 mph increment.

But after decades of closely following the rule, some states — with a nudge from the federal government — are seeking to modify if not replace it when setting guidelines for how local engineers should decide what speed limit to post.

The concept assumes that a road’s safest speed is the one most vehicles travel — neither too high nor too low. If drivers think the speed limit should be raised, they can simply step on the gas and “vote with their feet,” as an old brochure from the Institute of Transportation Engineers once put it.

“The problem with this approach is it creates this feedback loop,” said Jenny O’Connell, director of member programs for the National Association of City Transportation Officials. “People speed, and then the speed limits will be ratcheted up to match that speed.”

The association developed an alternative to the 85% rule known as “City Limits,” which aims to minimize the risk of injuries for all road users by setting the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/speeding-motorist-germany-autobahn-fine-record-e1fc8c77e62e7112d10e67c060512d80">speed limit</a>&nbsp;based on a formula that factors in a street’s activity level and the likelihood of conflicts, such as collisions.

The report points out the 85% rule is based on dated research and that “these historic roads are a far cry from the vibrant streets and arterials that typify city streets today.”

Amid a recent&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/traffic-deaths-pedestrians-distracted-driving-fb7ec8a9ddbb862c9b29f6ac87d508f9">spike in road deaths</a>&nbsp;across the country, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/infrastructure-poor-bridges-highway-grants-f86c8a19145fc4584b0d978b0005e405">Federal Highway Administration</a>&nbsp;sent a subtle but important message to states that the 85% rule isn’t actually a rule at all and was carrying too much weight in determining local speed limits. In its first update since 2009 to a manual that establishes national guidelines for traffic signs, the agency clarified that communities should also consider such things as how the road is used, the risk to pedestrians, and the frequency of crashes.

Leah Shahum, who directs the Vision Zero Network, a nonprofit advocating for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hoboken-zero-traffic-deaths-daylighting-pedestrian-safety-007dec67706c1c09129da1436a3d9762">street safety,</a>&nbsp;said she wishes the manual had gone further in downplaying the 85% rule but acknowledges the change has already impacted the way some states set speed limits. Others, however, are still clinging to the simplicity and familiarity of the longstanding approach, she said.

“The 85th percentile should not be the Holy Grail or the Bible, and yet over and over again it is accepted as that,” Shahum said.

Under its “20 is Plenty” campaign, the Wisconsin capital of Madison has been changing signs across the city this summer, lowering the speed limit from 25 mph to 20 mph on local residential streets.

When Seattle took a similar step in a pilot program seven years ago, not only did it see a noticeable decline in serious injury crashes but also a 7% drop in the 85th percentile speed, according to the Vision Zero Network.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/california-speed-alert-cars-bill-veto-588605f3980c952c894756da6579bf3d">California</a>&nbsp;embraces the 85% rule even more than most states as its basis for setting speed limits. But legislators have loosened the restrictions on local governments a bit in recent years, allowing them to depart from the guidelines if they can cite a proven safety need.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/california-public-transit-9002a8b3e0270db28587835a85c2ccb0">Advocates</a>&nbsp;for pedestrians and bicyclists say the change helps, but is not enough.

“We still have a long way to go in California in terms of putting value on all road users,” said Kendra Ramsey, executive director of the California Bicycle Coalition. “There’s still a very heavy mindset that automobiles are the primary method of travel and they should be given priority and reverence.”

But Jay Beeber, executive director for policy at the National Motorists Association, an advocacy organization for drivers, said following the 85% rule is usually the safest way to minimize the variation in speed between drivers who abide by the posted limit and those who far exceed it.

“It doesn’t really matter what number you put on a sign,” Beeber said. “The average driver drives the nature of the roadway. It would be patently unfair for a government to build a road to encourage people to drive 45 mph, put a 30 mph speed limit on it, and then ticket everyone for doing what they built the road to do.”

Fears about oil prices prompted Congress in the 1970s to set a 55 mph national maximum speed limit, which it later relaxed to 65 mph before repealing the law in 1995 and handing the authority to states. Since then, speed limits have kept climbing, with North Dakota this summer becoming the ninth state to allow drivers to go 80 mph on some stretches of highway. There’s even a 40-mile segment in Texas between Austin and San Antonio where 85 mph is allowed.

Although high-speed freeways outside major population centers aren’t the focus of most efforts to ease the 85% rule, a 2019 study from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety — a research arm funded by auto insurers — illustrates the risks. Every 5 mph increase to a state’s maximum speed limit increases the chance of fatalities by 8.5% on interstate highways and 2.8% on other roads, the study found.

“Maybe back when you were driving a Model T you had a real feel for how fast you were going, but in modern vehicles you don’t have a sense of what 80 mph is. You’re in a cocoon,” said Chuck Farmer, the institute’s vice president for research, who conducted the study.

If elected officials in Sylvania Township, Ohio, got their way, Mitchaw Road’s posted speed limit would be cut dramatically — from 55 mph to 40 mph or lower. The county’s finding that the 85% rule actually calls for raising it to 60 mph surprised the town’s leaders, but not the engineers who ran the study.

“If we don’t make decisions based on data, it’s very difficult to make good decisions,” Lucas County Engineer Mike Pniewski said.

For now, the speed limit will remain as it is. That’s because Ohio law sets maximum speeds for 15 different types of roadways, regardless of what the 85% rule suggests.

And Ohio’s guidelines are evolving. The state now gives more consideration to roadway context and allows cities to reduce speed limits based on the lower standard of the 50th percentile speed when there’s a large presence of pedestrians and bicyclists. Authorities there recently hired a consultant to consider additional modifications based on what other states are doing.

“States have very slowly started to move away from the 85th percentile as being kind of the gold standard for decision-making,” said Michelle May, who manages Ohio’s highway safety program. “People are traveling and living differently than they did 40 years ago, and we want to put safety more at the focus.”

It’s unclear whether any of these changes will ultimately impact the posted speed on Mitchaw Road. After years of futile calls and emails to state, county and township officials, Hammond says she isn’t holding her breath.

States rethink a long-held practice of setting speed limits based on how fast drivers travel

Nearly 40% of election officials administering the 2024 election weren’t around in 2020.

By:<a href="https://stateline.org/author/jshorman/">Jonathan Shorman</a>

Election officials turned over at the highest rate in at least a quarter century during the last presidential election, according to new research from the Bipartisan Policy Center.

An analysis of shifts in election officials published Tuesday found nearly 41% of election officials administering the 2024 election were different than those in 2020. Turnover has accelerated over the past two decades, rising from about 28% in 2004 to 40.9% last year.

The growing percentage of departing election officials comes after years of challenges. They navigated the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, as well as harassment and false conspiracy theories surrounding stolen elections that persist today.

The analysis&nbsp;<a href="https://bipartisanpolicy.org/issue-brief/election-official-turnover-rates-through-the-2024-election/" target="_blank">released by the Bipartisan Policy Center</a>, a Washington, D.C.-based group that seeks to foster policy cooperation across party lines, represents an updated version of a report that previously examined turnover from 2004 to 2022. The new research, which extends the data through 2024, shows the turnover rate continued to climb.

The change means that, over time, election officials have less experience. The research found that the share of chief local election officials with six or more years in their role has dropped from 60% in 2006 to 47% in 2024.

But last year, 60% of election officials had previously overseen the administration of a presidential election in their jurisdiction.

“Despite increasing turnover and loss of experience, the majority of chief election officials still have experience running at least one presidential election cycle,” the analysis said. “This is important because presidential elections typically see the highest turnout and are the most visible elections administered.”

The analysis found that over the long term, election official turnover rates have been rising gradually in small jurisdictions, defined as areas with fewer than 100,000 voting-age residents. But large jurisdictions have experienced a more sudden jump in turnover.

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