By TONY GUERRERO Hays Post

Kansas House Democrats stopped in Hays for their inaugural Fight Back Tour, a statewide effort to engage with Kansans.

The Friday event at Glassman Bird Law featured discussions on tax policy, rural health care access and concerns about federal overreach, including martial law and ICE enforcement.

Medicaid expansion was a key topic as Rep. Susan Ruiz, D-Shawnee, said Kansas will face penalties from federal changes even though it has not expanded the program.

"We were told by the Feds that all the states that did not expand Medicaid were not going to get hit. Well, that is a lie," Ruiz said.

Ruiz said insurers such as Aetna have left the Affordable Care Act marketplace, and premiums are expected to rise.

She said thousands of Kansans could lose coverage, with rural communities impacted the most.

"God forbid, you have a child that has to be in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. You have to go to Salina, and if they have to be on life support, you gotta drive them all the way to Kansas City," Ruiz said.

Rep. Stephanie Sawyer Clayton, D-Overland Park, said lawmakers tried to restore the local ad valorem tax reduction fund, which returns state money to cities and counties to offset local government costs, but the Senate blocked it. She said there are plans to try again in January.

Clayton said the Senate is proposing a bill that suggests capping property valuation increases at 7%.

"Right now, it looks pretty good. For instance, my mortgage is at 3%... I'm never getting a rate lower than that. But part of the problem is that if we cap valuations, then we end up running into major problems for newer and younger homeowners," she said.

Clayton pointed to California’s cap as an example of how such measures can create similar problems. An audience member said that capping valuation increases benefits the wealthy.

Another attendee raised concerns about unfair comparisons in the appraisal process, where modest homes are measured against larger properties.

Clayton said she sees similar issues in her district, where teardowns and new builds inflate valuations on surrounding older homes.

Clayton said there are discussions [among legislators] about raising the homestead exemption to provide tax relief, but cautioned it could create issues such as underfunding schools and infrastructure.

Several attendees voiced concern Trump could declare martial law nationwide, given gerrymandering and political retaliation in Texas and California.

Clayton said she does not expect martial law in Kansas, especially in rural areas, and that it was unlikely even in blue cities like Wichita and Kansas City.

"I'm not pleased with what's going on at the federal level, but I do not think that we will see martial law in Kansas. Lord have mercy, I hope I'm right on that, but instinctually I don't think we will," she said.

Attendees also raised concerns about Trump deploying ICE, Homeland Security and local law enforcement as militarized forces.

Legislators discussed ICE activity in Lenexa, part of Ruiz's district, and how the community has rapid response teams that document ICE actions with photos and videos to share on social media.

One attendee suggested pushing local governments to prevent agencies from partnering with ICE.

"A good place to start is to pass a resolution from the cities and county commissions, if you have a city or county that would do that, and say 'we oppose all these things, '" the attendee said.

Clayton said people are most likely to trust political information from their neighbors and encouraged attendees to talk with those around them about the issues raised.

The event opened with an overview of the Kansas Legislature and how Democrats remain in the super minority but only need five more seats to break it.

Other speakers at the event included Rep. Mike Amyx, D-Lawrence, Dennis McKinney, former State Treasurer and former House Democratic leader and former state Democratic Rep. Eber Phelps.

Chairwoman of the Ellis County Democratic Party, Anna Towns, introduced the speakers at the event.

The following are the remaining Fight Back tour dates and locations: • Aug. 21 in Kansas City •

Aug. 27 in Manhattan •

Aug. 28 in Leavenworth •

Aug. 29 in Emporia •

Sept. 23 in Lenexa

You can view the tour page <a href="https://www.kansashousedemocrats.com/fight-back-tour-2025">here</a>.

Kan. Democrats Fight Back Tour arrives to Hays

Even though I am a grandpa, I try hard not to look or act like the stereotypical, frumpy, old grandpa who thinks the world should function like it did when I was a kid, but allow me to digress a little in starting this week’s column.

I’m the oldest of five kids, and my nearest sibling in age is six years younger than me, so growing up, I had to learn to amuse myself, a skill sadly missing in many kids today.

 I’ll come clean here that I love my smart phone. I’m a FOX News junkie, and enjoy surfing through FOX News or Facebook on my phone when sitting in front of TV in the evening or when waiting on my wife in a store parking lot, so I understand the draw. 

But when I was a kid and on my own, I learned to build hay forts in the “haymow,” shoot blackbirds along the creek with mom’s old .410 shotgun, and to catch crawdads under the bridge that crossed the creek in our pasture.

That bridge had metal sides that were three or four feet high and was built like a tank, but the huge, thick wooden planks that were the floor, were not fastened down and just laid in place, so there were big gaps between them. I learned I could lay on the planks looking through at the creek below, and catch crawdads with a long, forked willow stick.

 The water below was shallow and clear, and the crawdads would lay in the mud there. I’d cut the forked ends of the stick three or four inches long, and when I jabbed the forked end across an unsuspecting crawdad, they would flex enough to trap it between them like a clamp, and I could often raise the captured crawdad up through the planks, where I’d pull it out, toss it back and try again.

In the first chapter of Ecclesiastes 1 in the Bible, verse 9 says “What has been, will be again, what has been done, will be done again, there is nothing new under the sun.” 

Well, guess what. Speaking of crawdads, awhile back, the Kansas Dept. of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) discovered a new crawdad species in Kansas. The Aquatic Nuisance Species Program and Ecological Services section of the KDWPT recently funded a university project focused on sampling Kansas lakes for invasive “crayfish,” (which is the politically correct name for the little buggers.) This study establishes processes that can be used to monitor both native and invasive crayfish in Kansas, something that has never been done before, and a process that some questioned the need for.&nbsp;

During capturing efforts at McPherson State Fishing Lake, the need for this process was validated early-on, as sampling found multiple Rusty Crayfish, an invasive species never before found in Kansas. Both males and females of various ages were found, indicating a reproducing population is established in McPherson State Fishing Lake. Rusty Crayfish are large aggressive crayfish known to attack the feet of unsuspecting swimmers, and outcompete native fish and crayfish for forage that acts as important cover for select prey species.

Since Rusty Crayfish most likely arrived in Kansas as fishing bait, this a perfect place to remind everyone of the Kansas regulation regarding the use of live fishing bait here in our state. 

Quoting from the regulations, “Live baitfish, crayfish, leeches, amphibians and mussels, except for bluegill and green sunfish from non-designated aquatic nuisance waters, and baitfish, crayfish, leeches, amphibians and mussels from designated nuisance waters, may be caught and used as live bait only within the common drainage where caught.”

 In summary and in layman’s terms, this means, use wild bait ONLY where you catch it. DO NOT take it anywhere it couldn’t have gotten to on its own. This will help keep aquatic nuisance species like our “new” friend the Rusty Crayfish, from spreading to other Kansas waters. 

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

Explore Outdoor Kansas: Anything new under the sun?

WASHINGTON&nbsp;– Today, U.S. Representative Tracey Mann (KS-01) released the following statement after the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas reversed the listing of the lesser prairie-chicken (LPC) on the endangered and threatened species list under the Endangered Species Act (ESA):

“Kansas farmers, ranchers, and agricultural producers have always been and always will be the original conservationists of the land,"&nbsp;said Rep. Mann. "The District Court of West Texas’ ruling to remove the lesser prairie-chicken from the endangered and threatened species list honors their stewardship of the land and acknowledges the facts on the ground. This ruling is a win for Kansas agricultural and energy producers and a huge loss for radical climate activists and bureaucrats who have abused the Endangered Species Act for over a decade to hurt American agriculture and energy production.”

Since coming to Congress, Rep. Mann has fought vigorously to reverse the LPC's listing. In April 2025, Rep. Mann&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://j9ftbgbbb.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0016H9m0_QmCAWb5dRdyFwikhFNg06NEEWpWrszxXv6qxozva-oKIgA4ha_5qWmmIAHvIyteANySTB4v6RyZZT2AZVIA7PKuqAB3unTLsaE0It8v-qPks0Esb2bIfObfYmRZ8-0ZV50entyvMW9dy3_TBK1G14-2pzflnF-3G6162XceKVjuKD68FbXp5OHTbsi2019bcvCMp7E65zcXY5CbKe9xQ5KlmZ_pomLrnB4jKz7YT53ZBNQvbUXhCHOpM7v3c_56W4MP75Cujy7EtIwY0NnBnIB3GuF&amp;c=_ve34_665ctaLhiWYa7D1z7GBgHs-iWzbmYvG-9-5D8SmTM8t1hV0w==&amp;ch=7W6Bm-pdXrLQkguNJqDFZKYgrKUG2V-6WjqcEEEmsx9S3NpmX_g2sg==">sent</a>&nbsp;a letter to Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum urging him to delist the lesser prairie-chicken from the threatened and endangered species list. In January 2025, Rep. Mann&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://j9ftbgbbb.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0016H9m0_QmCAWb5dRdyFwikhFNg06NEEWpWrszxXv6qxozva-oKIgA4pEiphsoTftzupL2HYt-C4EyvCStT0F16JS-OIvOriyIP6njw2IhwV3dFq2S7N6cwj-mfnJC1IZCObie2ipxm7xhwGq1_g8mUNs7B9SQCsHc6wLNP1o61iVItx0lvBgtxL_7uQBQ4VtRZm1zucjbEYgAFYECuzfvWMmW057-bRSMd61bzCMOvQW8qYEusCd60-M87N5n5mW2DUju8bslrQN0ycOXw0F-HA==&amp;c=_ve34_665ctaLhiWYa7D1z7GBgHs-iWzbmYvG-9-5D8SmTM8t1hV0w==&amp;ch=7W6Bm-pdXrLQkguNJqDFZKYgrKUG2V-6WjqcEEEmsx9S3NpmX_g2sg==">introduced</a>&nbsp;legislation to remove the LPC from the threatened and endangered species list and to&nbsp;prohibit future efforts to relist the LPC.

In February 2023, Rep. Mann&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://j9ftbgbbb.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0016H9m0_QmCAWb5dRdyFwikhFNg06NEEWpWrszxXv6qxozva-oKIgA4osNSyYSz9EFWF56z-0yeTUrps9E5c7ps6xjE_1e9SgBxpy0M8RlS44W9WsPQw9HIVEKTkUyqPNnjrbhM2cVukT150oz-VQkWGjtjs7-7AZZzoNO9HyFp-OTtXvP-NQVSQzrFLbz4HmcJJE00_KvkUHLS55s4t8QTk2xtLN0nmouspohY5elZBqLCGfW8817svn3XJ1gz8ye&amp;c=_ve34_665ctaLhiWYa7D1z7GBgHs-iWzbmYvG-9-5D8SmTM8t1hV0w==&amp;ch=7W6Bm-pdXrLQkguNJqDFZKYgrKUG2V-6WjqcEEEmsx9S3NpmX_g2sg==">led</a>&nbsp;a bicameral Congressional Review Act to strike down the LPC’s listing on the threatened species list. The resolution&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://j9ftbgbbb.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0016H9m0_QmCAWb5dRdyFwikhFNg06NEEWpWrszxXv6qxozva-oKIgA4hlRKqpD2HAIIQ9Xi5DTA83eDSkBUlXIoe_gMECTvz_vAAp3UtclgvfmdmVrrFNiyQwXWbEnrfDScR9ibrD26nAFYLhwl3kfxeNdci5hlkujWjRVMYQFvheJ8jUoNEJYPhI_m3hxOhSoCLUYhhSd4WzdYbUZUErFI1QJMLyEBbQDAjbSHtFpBuVPKLmMZ935tFByhrps6MXbSaMJSdcuTS0=&amp;c=_ve34_665ctaLhiWYa7D1z7GBgHs-iWzbmYvG-9-5D8SmTM8t1hV0w==&amp;ch=7W6Bm-pdXrLQkguNJqDFZKYgrKUG2V-6WjqcEEEmsx9S3NpmX_g2sg==">passed</a>&nbsp;in the U.S. House of Representatives in July 2023. Rep. Mann strongly&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://j9ftbgbbb.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0016H9m0_QmCAWb5dRdyFwikhFNg06NEEWpWrszxXv6qxozva-oKIgA4pEiphsoTftzOtk493-_dfRxT5rJPRjU_s9WmduiocrSHQ_j0j24U9GRKNLDxSkHcXtUCMhNkCjFcc2CBW8Ru2eGwYyvsCOyGkp34YUQ5BHEU9GbUvLGHZOZHx-bN1j6BulbYv-ky5ErnXKrWCUZABpZtovfC76orOEwLYXGWTaTb0L50J33quVaHEhX4gRoe8Oi4qUJBe2L9GaIiQelNSiSFwU8clFkXw==&amp;c=_ve34_665ctaLhiWYa7D1z7GBgHs-iWzbmYvG-9-5D8SmTM8t1hV0w==&amp;ch=7W6Bm-pdXrLQkguNJqDFZKYgrKUG2V-6WjqcEEEmsx9S3NpmX_g2sg==">condemned</a>&nbsp;President Biden’s veto of the resolution and his refusal to listen to America’s agriculture and energy producers.

In November 2022, he&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://j9ftbgbbb.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0016H9m0_QmCAWb5dRdyFwikhFNg06NEEWpWrszxXv6qxozva-oKIgA4pEiphsoTftzkZhGq-FbL61DA6-lS2HEeelWOn3QsJE0QU8avjGimNlxyI_KaB6VEh-nrdbA003fdeSljhlBrrCywJtPKtvfVyZXj1YBKN0qG2zoxaSJU6dyi-LlyMt2KOurAJOQ-VHXaEKu7hPCbQRwMJ-rueJ1JfuR7mL3KIe7c-pKEc_Zvui-5aEJe96tuUnoGSfMFAWscxJtohwDf1s=&amp;c=_ve34_665ctaLhiWYa7D1z7GBgHs-iWzbmYvG-9-5D8SmTM8t1hV0w==&amp;ch=7W6Bm-pdXrLQkguNJqDFZKYgrKUG2V-6WjqcEEEmsx9S3NpmX_g2sg==">blasted</a>&nbsp;U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s final rule that ignored the facts of the LPC population and declared a proxy war on American agriculture and energy.&nbsp;

In May 2021, Rep. Mann&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://j9ftbgbbb.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0016H9m0_QmCAWb5dRdyFwikhFNg06NEEWpWrszxXv6qxozva-oKIgA4pEiphsoTftzqs1dDj_FmhsugIDFeu2dGbN-wyHx1dSjzm6cUKMWmH2JXttBbOFJFnT1UOllw64Hrxq3Qx8GiWOYhPZWaZgcdcDGgPNhMCW-TqvLGjky5mKHMdorjmMlbE1XsJqzBNHpNU06y4H50IhaL9P9YbKR4Cmmwg_abvRs0IWZ1_SV4052ol_8DVoLDUWGbRi8owHUP6mK9kdBXlV6PtVlflVoeA==&amp;c=_ve34_665ctaLhiWYa7D1z7GBgHs-iWzbmYvG-9-5D8SmTM8t1hV0w==&amp;ch=7W6Bm-pdXrLQkguNJqDFZKYgrKUG2V-6WjqcEEEmsx9S3NpmX_g2sg==">criticized</a>&nbsp;the listing of the LPC as endangered and threatened. After Rep. Mann&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://j9ftbgbbb.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0016H9m0_QmCAWb5dRdyFwikhFNg06NEEWpWrszxXv6qxozva-oKIgA4pEiphsoTftzZzENxzbXHOugrLdTgoVByd0Jvdvlh7nU633DIMhtsjfSzEYfyIr7LvxB7CnECQ5kK_doE7zYOtnx5NID8vToAOKh95X1JQX6Ptj0sX1qP8w2gqfv1RoJd4xz-Y0hUMtIPljgXcIy7ITl9iNbhd3ykvcMvIoObdAF3_FEKan5T65P2GSRbf-gRrebMhNdhATgo3Xu5529fH7Oi2h8MCBPr0F2OFbOkRj7&amp;c=_ve34_665ctaLhiWYa7D1z7GBgHs-iWzbmYvG-9-5D8SmTM8t1hV0w==&amp;ch=7W6Bm-pdXrLQkguNJqDFZKYgrKUG2V-6WjqcEEEmsx9S3NpmX_g2sg==">pressured</a>&nbsp;U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the agency extended the public comment period for citizens to submit feedback on the proposed rule.

Rep. Mann commends district court ruling to overturn endangered status of lesser prairie-chicken

MIAMI — With Americans struggling financially due to significant inflation and a year of community college nearly three times less expensive than a year at a public four-year college, the personal-finance company WalletHub released its report on&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://wallethub.com/edu/best-worst-community-colleges/15076">2025’s Best &amp; Worst Community Colleges</a>, coupled with its state-by-state ranking of the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://wallethub.com/edu/states-with-best-worst-community-college-systems/15073">Best &amp; Worst Community-College Systems</a>, as well as expert commentary.

Three of the top-20 ranked community colleges are in Kansas, including Colby Community College.

To determine where students can receive the best education at the cheapest rates, WalletHub compared more than 650 community colleges across 18 key indicators of cost and quality. The data set ranges from the cost of in-state tuition and fees to student-faculty ratio to graduation rate.&nbsp;

To read the full reports, please visit:&nbsp;

Colby Community College ranked among top-20 best community colleges in nation

By BRIANNE HEIDBREDER Insight Kansas

Governor Laura Kelly has received national media attention this summer for resigning from&nbsp;the National Governors Association and joining a lawsuit against the federal government over the release of appropriated funds. 

These actions reflect the current, charged political climate. 

But beneath the headlines&nbsp;is&nbsp;an issue that should be important&nbsp;to&nbsp;all Kansans, regardless of party identification. This issue is the balance of state and federal power.

Governor Kelly’s decision to join other states in suing the federal government was based on a delay in the release of already-approved federal dollars that are used to fund key programs in Kansas. The Kelly administration has said these delays are political. 

The delayed funds, which were included in legislation that was passed by Congress and signed into law, would be used by Kansas for items like broadband buildout, clean water, school improvement, and other important local development projects.

 Such delays have tangible consequences. Without appropriated funds, projects stall, jobs are delayed, and communities that have planned for these investments are left waiting.

Governor Kelly also announced she will pull back from the National Governors Association. She explained this decision by pointing to the rising partisanship in an institution that has been characterized with bipartisan cooperation in the past. 

This decision indicates the increasing difficulty of consistent effective communication between state officials and federal institutions in today's deeply polarized political environment. It also raises the question of where governors will now find common ground across party lines, and whether alternative forums for collaboration can fill the gap.

It is important to understand that this political moment is not just an argument about spending between a Democratic governor and Republican federal administration. 

It is, more broadly, an argument about the merit of federalism, which is our system of dividing powers between national and state governments. 

Federalism provides a framework where states can respond to local conditions, represent their constituents directly, and, when necessary, counter federal actions that don't best serve their communities. This balance is about making sure political decisions, even national ones, align with the unique needs of our state.

Conflict between states and the federal government are not new. In fact, they are as old as the nation itself. But instances like these remind us that there are benefits to be gained by making sure power remains diffused, accountable, and responsive. It makes certain that decisions involving Kansans are not merely decided in Washington, but also in Topeka, by representatives who work and reside among us.

Governor Kelly's actions, particularly lawsuits, will work their way through the courts for a while, and there will be disagreement about the case merits. 

But her actions pose a fundamental question: how does our state claim its space in a changing national landscape? The answer is to remain vigilant and ensure the values of balance and local control are not lost in our federal system.

Brianne Heidbreder, PhD, is an associate professor of political science at Kansas State University.

Insight Kansas: Gov. Kelly’s pushback underscores role of states in balanced union

<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

Morning Announcements: August 18th - August 22nd, 2025

● Today is the Memorial of St. John Eudes, Priest. John Eudes is best known for the central themes of his writings: Jesus as the source of holiness; Mary as the model of the Christian life.

● Today is the 1st Day of School for grades K-5! Welcome back, students! We’re so happy to have you back in our building!

● It is a half day of school, and we will dismiss at 11. There are no lunch, bus, or after-school-care services today.

● Thanks to Fr. Nick for celebrating the opening School Mass and blessing our school grounds.

● Tomorrow is our first Spirit Day. You may wear your Spirit with jeans or jean shorts.

● Today is the memorial of St. Bernard, Abbot &amp; Dr. of the Church. St. Bernard is the patron saint&nbsp;of beekeepers, bees, and candlemakers.

● Today is the 1st Day of School for KP, PK4, and Full-Day PK3! We’re so happy to have our KP and Preschool friends here today!

● Today is the 1st Full Day of School and 1st Spirit Day!

● Today is the memorial of St. Pius X, Pope. St. Pius X, Pope, is the patron saint of First Communicants.

● Thanks to Fr. Nick for celebrating Mass this morning.

● Here’s a joke of the day…How do bees go to school? By school buzz.

● Today is the Memorial of The Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Jesus is the King of Kings, and He sits on His throne at the right hand of the Father in Heaven. Because Mary’s life is closely associated with Jesus, she is queen; her queenship is a share in Jesus’ kingship.

● Tonight is the Hays Catholic Schools Back-2-School Bash from 6-8 pm on the TMP Campus. There will be music, mini games, face-painting, hot dogs, watermelon &amp; more!

Holy Family Elementary School Notes, Aug. 18-22, 2025

Family Worship: Five Kinds of Ministry - Ephesians 4:11

Kansas Department of Health and Environment

TOPEKA –&nbsp;The Kansas Department of Health and Environment’s (KDHE) Community Health Promotion program announced the recipients of this year’s Chronic Disease Risk Reduction (CDRR) Community grant. In total, the State Fiscal Year 2026 CDRR program covers: 15 grantees, 25 counties and 1,972,817 Kansans (65.5 percent of the total Kansas population).&nbsp;

The CDRR Community Grant Program provides funding, training and technical assistance to communities to address chronic disease risk reduction through evidence-based strategies that impact tobacco use, physical activity and nutrition. 

Strategies include reducing secondhand smoke exposure, preventing youth from using tobacco, promoting tobacco treatment and the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fkansas.quitlogix.org%2Fen-US%2F%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/010001989f3a9634-1626dcc2-6743-46d2-a88f-0040aca4c79c-000000/CRbfgpZtYbprb8qWDT4cW2MpPOOA822M-vtoiXwh2UI=418">Kansas Tobacco Quitline</a>, increasing physical activity, and improving community nutrition.&nbsp;

“This program helps grantees show the power of local partnerships in creating long-term health improvements,” Mende Barnett, KDHE section director for Community Health Promotion, said. “We’re excited to continue this work together to reduce chronic disease and strengthen communities.

The 2026 CDRR Grantees and the counties they cover include:

• Mitchell County Regional Medical Foundation (Mitchell, Ellsworth, Jewell, Lincoln, Ottawa, Republic and Smith counties)

Area counties among KDHE Chronic Disease Risk Reduction community grants

By BECKY KISER Hays Post

More housing planned for the west side of Hays received support from the city commission on Thursday.

A resolution and an engineering services agreement to establish a benefit district for&nbsp;32 lots in the first phase of Covenant Estates First Addition were approved.

"Every time we do something like this, we get criticized, it's not the right type of housing," said Shaun Musil, commissioner. "But in my opinion, the developer wouldn't build it if they didn't think they could sell it."

The developer,&nbsp;Covenant&nbsp;Land &amp; Developing Inc., has petitioned the city for street, stormwater, water and&nbsp;sanitary sewer improvements through the use of a benefit district.

Seventy percent of the costs will be reimbursed through special assessments, with the remaining 30% being paid by the developer. No city capital would be expended.

The engineer’s estimate for total construction costs of the improvements is $2.9 million.&nbsp;

Don Scheibler, police chief, presented a request from High Plains Mental Health Center for a portion of the city's opioid settlement funds. The state distributes the opioid funds to municipalities, which are allocated for opioid and substance use disorder treatment and prevention.

The commissioner approved a $45,481 grant to purchase social detoxification treatment chairs and infusion pumps for the mental health center's new&nbsp;<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/c63c3c89-fd3c-4923-8d01-509e92168ce0" target="_blank">Crisis Intervention Center, which is</a>&nbsp;under construction in Hays.&nbsp;The center will serve 28 western Kansas counties.

During comments at the end of the meeting, Commissioner Reese Barrick talked about the need for a wildfire preparedness education program in Hays. He attended a <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/8651b0ae-aad7-45f4-bbe8-7fb7ff17a782">summit in Hays</a> last weekend hosted by the Hays Fire Department that focused on wildfire&nbsp;suppression in urban areas.&nbsp;

"We're the wildland/urban interface. If we have a big wildfire, like the Four-County fire four years ago, we could run out of water pretty fast in Hays," Barrick said.

He listed several ideas for wildfire mitigation in the city. 

Those included encouraging a cultural shift in western Kansas for support of preventative fire burns, banning highly combustible red cedar trees, changes in how close trees and shrubbery may be planted to buildings, better protection of planned high-density housing, and a school presentation for students similar to the city's water conservation education program.

"It's a serious issue. I think it's one we actually need to start considering," Barrick said.&nbsp;

Mayor Sandy Jacobs suggested the topic be discussed during the commission's next retreat.&nbsp;

City commission supports moving forward with more housing in west Hays

The Hays Planning Commission on Monday will review a draft preliminary plat of the Smoky Hill Plains Addition north of West 27th Street and east of the U.S. 183 alternate highway bypass.

According to information from city staff, the current plat of the area is the DK Ranch Addition, a large lot development that was&nbsp;platted in 2013, but never developed. The property was sold and is now being replatted into&nbsp;a more efficient residential subdivision.

 The owner,&nbsp;Sing Along Ranch LLC and BJKT LLC, also purchased the adjacent&nbsp;undeveloped lots along the west side of Columbine Drive. The Smoky Hill Plains Addition preliminary plat also includes those lots.

About 18 acres of the western half of DK Ranch Addition will be vacated. The&nbsp;eastern half of DK Ranch and the west half of Columbine will be replatted into Smoky Hill&nbsp;Plains Addition, comprised of 52 lots.

City utilities are in the area and will be extended for development.

The complete Aug. 18 agenda is available <a href="https://www.haysusa.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08182025-1564">here</a>. The meeting starts at 4 p.m. in Hays City Hall, 1507 Main.

Planning commission to consider plat for another Hays housing development

K-State Agricultural Research Center

&nbsp;Whether it’s breeding new drought-tolerant crops, innovating systemic weed control strategies, or exploring better ways to integrate forages and livestock, the research at Kansas State University’s Agricultural Research Center–Hays is grounded in the needs of farmers and ranchers in western Kansas.

That boots-on-the-ground focus will be front and center at the 2025 Fall Field Day on Tuesday, Aug. 26, beginning at 9 a.m. The event will feature a morning sessions of field plot tours and technology demonstrations, followed by lunch and a series of short indoor presentations.

“This is one of the best opportunities for producers to engage and see our work in action,” said Dr. Augustine Obour, soil scientist at the Hays center. “They can walk the plots, ask questions, provide feedback and really see how our research applies to their farms. That kind of engagement helps to improve the research—and make our work more relevant.”

Morning tour stops will include demonstrations of See-and-Spray precision technology for targeted herbicide application, as well as a harvest weed seed destructor, a newer tool in integrated weed management being evaluated for Palmer amaranth control in western Kansas. 

Other stops will highlight nitrogen fertility management in sorghum, annual forage rotations, and integrated livestock and crop systems, with practical insights for producers managing wheat-sorghum-fallow rotations or seeking to improve grazing resources.

The tour will also feature K-State’s expanding pearl millet breeding program, which includes more than 200 experimental hybrids under evaluation. Researchers at Hays are working to position this climate-resilient, drought-tolerant cereal as a promising grain and forage option for dryland production in the central Great Plains.

“Pearl millet has been underutilized, but it holds great potential—especially in water-limited environments,” Ramasamy Perumal, K-State pearl millet breeder said. “This year’s plots include some of the most advanced hybrids we’ve developed so far, and we’re eager to showcase them.”

Following the morning tours, guests are invited to a complimentary lunch and an indoor poster session featuring current research from graduate students and faculty. Afternoon presentations will cover topics such as cover crop adoption, herbicide efficacy, tillage effects on soil health, and drought-tolerant crop development.

Throughout the day, attendees will hear from K-State researchers based at the Hays station as well as university collaborators and industry partners.

“Everything we do here is aimed at building more resilient and profitable ag systems in western Kansas,” Obour said. “This event is a great chance for producers to connect with our team, see the results for themselves, and help shape future research at the experiment station.”

No RSVP is required, and lunch is provided. The Agricultural Research Center is located at 1232 240th Ave., Hays.

For more information, contact wkrec@k-state.edu or visit <a href="https://www.wkrec.org/">www.wkrec.org</a>.

Hays Fall Field Day at K-State Agricultural Research Center on Aug. 26

&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

As announced earlier this year, Brenda Meder, executive director of the Hays Arts Council, will begin a phased retirement in September.

To honor her remarkable 35-year career, the public is invited to a special celebration during the Fall Art Walk on Friday, Aug. 22, from 6:30–9:30 p.m. at the Hays Arts Center. 

Guests are encouraged to bring cards filled with stories, gratitude, and well wishes for a community card shower. Those unable to attend may mail cards to the Hays Arts Council, 112 E 11th, Hays, KS 67601.

Hundreds enjoy the four seasonal art walks on The Bricks in Downtown Hays, and it’s only fitting to recognize Brenda during her last one as executive director. Her leadership has shaped the arts in Ellis County, inspiring generations of artists and touching the lives of nearly every child through youth programming.

Let’s come together to celebrate Brenda and the legacy she leaves for the arts in our community.

For more information, visit <a href="http://www.haysartscouncil.org">www.haysartscouncil.org</a>.

Celebration to honor retiring Hays Art Council's Brenda Meder on Aug. 22

Volga German Sesquicentennial Action Committee

The Volga German Sesquicentennial Action Committee is calling on the community to help preserve Ellis County’s rich Volga German heritage by submitting historical photographs, documents and personal stories for a forthcoming 2026 commemorative publication.

The committee is gathering high-quality images and narratives that showcase all aspects of Volga German immigrant life, from the settlers’ arrival in the 1870s to the present day.

Organizers say contributions will celebrate 150 years of Volga German influence in the region, marking the official sesquicentennial of their arrival in western Kansas in 1876.

The public submissions can cover a broad range of subjects: people and family life, historic buildings and churches, cultural traditions, the German dialect spoken by descendants, recipes and foods, or any other facet of Volga German life.

Personal stories and recollections are welcome in either first-person accounts or third-person narratives.

“We want to ensure this anniversary is celebrated not just with dates and facts, but with the voices and images of the families who built our communities,” said Amanda Rupp, executive director of the Ellis&nbsp;County Historical Society. “Preserving these family photos and stories is vital to understanding who we are as a community. It’s about capturing the everyday lives and traditions of the Volga German families that made this area their home.”

Submissions are being accepted through the project website, OurPeopleOurHome.org which was created to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Volga Germans arrival in Ellis County.

The site’s Submission Center allows users to upload images, videos or written stories, and contributors are asked to include captions or descriptions for any photographs.

Submissions will be considered for use online, on social media, and in the upcoming published book.

James Bell, publications chair for the Sesquicentennial Action Committee, said that materials from beyond Ellis County are welcome as well.

“We know the region’s Volga German story extends beyond Ellis County’s borders,” Bell said. “If families in surrounding counties have a shared heritage, we encourage them to contribute their stories and photos too. The more perspectives we include, the richer this collection will be.”

For those who have old prints, slides or artifacts that aren’t yet digitized, the committee is offering scanning assistance.

Individuals with physical photographs, letters or other documents can contact organizers via the website to arrange use of scanning equipment or other help in converting items to a digital format.

“If you have a box of old photographs or letters in the attic, we want to help you share those,” Bell said. “We have resources to safely scan and digitize these treasures so they can be part of this preservation effort. Every family keepsake has the potential to tell a story.”

Organizers emphasized that all submitted materials should be original (or submitted with permission of the owner) so that the content can be published without legal issues.

Contributors will retain ownership of their originals; the committee requests only the right to include the material in the sesquicentennial project.

The 150th anniversary celebrations are expected to span throughout 2026, honoring the legacy of the Volga German settlers who first arrived in Ellis County in 1876.

Ellis County became a hub for these immigrants in the late 1870s, when German families who had previously settled in Russia’s Volga River region came to the United States seeking new opportunities.

They established a number of local villages, such as Liebenthal, Catherine, Herzog (now Victoria) and others, that still cherish their Volga German roots.

The upcoming sesquicentennial festivities will highlight this heritage through exhibits, cultural demonstrations, and gatherings of descendants.

A calendar of events for 2026 is being developed and will be published on <a href="https://ourpeopleourhome.org/">OurPeopleOurHome.org</a> website as plans are finalized.

The American Historical Society of Germans from Russia has again chosen Hays to host its national conference in 2026, reflecting the area’s importance as a center of Volga German history.

The publication and events are an initiative of the Sesquicentennial Action Committee to engage the public in celebrating 150 years of Volga German contributions to the area.

Rupp said the success of the project depends on broad community participation.

“This project is truly about community collaboration,” she said. “Every photo album or family tale that gets shared brings us one step closer to preserving our history for the next generation.”

Community members can upload their materials via the Submit Materials page at <a href="https://ourpeopleourhome.org/">OurPeopleOurHome.org</a>.

Those needing assistance or more information may reach out through the site’s Contact Us form or call the Ellis County Historical Society.

The committee encourages early submissions as the commemorative publication will be compiled over the coming months in preparation for the 2026 festivities.

By contributing to <a href="https://ourpeopleourhome.org/">OurPeopleOurHome.org </a>local families can help paint a vibrant picture of Volga German life in Ellis County and ensure that our home and our people are remembered for generations to come.

For questions or more information email ourpeople150yearsourhome@gmail.com.

Volga German Sesquicentennial Committee seeks heritage submissions

Drivers are advised that during the period of August 16 through Labor Day, September 1, Hays Police Department will join other police agencies across Kansas in a crackdown aimed at removing impaired drivers from the roadways during You Drink. You Drive. You Lose.

In Kansas, preliminary 2024 data shows that 83 people died and more than 1,100 people were injured in crashes involving an alcohol-impaired driver.

It is illegal to drive while impaired, and just one drink before driving can put you and others in danger, because alcohol impairs thinking, reasoning and muscle coordination.

Driving after consuming alcohol or any other potentially impairing substance is a choice you make.

You can make the responsible choice: plan to use a rideshare service, have a designated driver, or call a sober friend or family member to pick you up if you or your driver has been drinking.

The You Drink. You Drive. You Lose enforcement campaign is intended to remind drivers to take a moment to consider how it would be to begin every day with the memory of your decision if it resulted in injury or death. If you are driving impaired, you are not only more likely to crash, but that crash is much more likely to cause serious injury or death. Think about your family, your friends, your coworkers, and neighbors.

And always wear your seat belt, it’s your best defense against impaired drivers. Every trip, every time.

Hays Police: You drink. You drive. You lose enforcement campaign just ahead

Kansas Department of Transportation

NORTON — A project to resurface a portion of Highway K-9 is underway in Norton County.

The Kansas Department of Transportation project involves milling and overlay on 12.5 miles of the highway starting at the east U.S. 283 junction and ending at the Phillips County line. 

During construction, traffic will be reduced to one lane through the areas where crews are actively working and directed by flaggers and a pilot car. Motorists should plan for delays of 15 minutes or less during daylight hours.

Project work is expected to be completed in mid-September, conditions permitting.

Venture Corporation, of Great Bend, is the primary contractor for the $1.9 million project.

For more information, please contact KDOT Area Construction Manager Dan Moore at 785-302-6205 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:daniel.moore@ks.gov">daniel.moore@ks.gov</a>.

Project to resurface portion of Highway K-9 underway in Norton County

This year’s 5th annual Hays Public Library Foundation Fundraiser will feature Kansas basketball great Jackie Stiles as guest speaker. The Wine &amp; Cheese event will be on October 18 at 6:30 p.m. at the Hays Public Library.

The fundraiser will begin with a wine and cheese social hour, followed by an impactful presentation from Stiles. From her hometown of Claflin, to a professional career in the WNBA, Stiles inspired millions as she rewrote the women’s basketball record books. Stiles held the NCAA women’s scoring record for 16 years and was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016. 

Stiles continues to reach people of all ages through personal training, basketball camps, and public speaking.

The Hays Public Library Foundation was established in 2001 to serve as a source for funding emergent and unexpected needs and events associated with the library. Most recently the Foundation’s fundraising efforts covered the cost to remodel the Kansas Room, which was completed this spring.

Tickets cost $30 and can be purchased at the library or online at <a href="https://hayslibrary.org/shop/wine-and-cheese-event-ticket/">hayslibrary.org/event</a> beginning August 11. There are a limited number of tickets. Businesses interested in sponsoring the event or providing items for the silent auction or raffle are encouraged to contact Callie Kolacny at ckolacny@hayslibrary.org.

You can find out more about this and other library programs online at <a href="https://hayslibrary.org/">hayslibrary.org</a> or by calling 785-625-9014.

Kansas basketball great to speak at Hays Public Library Foundation fundraiser

Grow Hays, in association with the Network Kansas E-Community Partnership, announces the ‘Think Like an Entrepreneur’ - Ice House Entrepreneurship Program offered in Ellis County. Sessions will be held over eight weeks, Wednesdays from September 17 through November 6. The goal of the course is to teach participants to develop an entrepreneurial mindset.

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