By TONY GUERRERO Hays Post

Fort Hays State University came alive with Latin traditions and flavors on Thursday as it celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month.

Hosted by FHSU Hispanic American Leadership Organization, the evening showcased Latin culture through food, music and activities.

National Hispanic Heritage Month is observed annually from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 in the United States to recognize the contributions and impact of Hispanic Americans.

Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Belize, Mexico and Chile are the Latin American countries celebrating their independence during the month.

The FHSU Government Association handed out candy and shared information on the rich history of Latino presence in America. According to their booth, Latino roots in the U.S. date back centuries, long before Spain colonized what is now part of the United States.

Through the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo and the subsequent Treaty of Paris, which followed the Mexican-American and Spanish-American wars, the United States gained territories in the Southwest and Puerto Rico.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, more than 60 million Latinos reside in the United States, accounting for 18.9% of the nation’s population.

📷 Photo gallery: FHSU Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration 2025

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

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

Age: 46 Occupation:&nbsp;Director of Client Services at Options Domestic and Sexual Violence Services

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

I have four years of experience on the school board. Before that, though, I was a librarian, before I was a public librarian here in Hays, I was a system librarian at the Northwest Kansas Library System.

In doing that work, I would frequently provide training to governing boards and library boards. The way the statute works in Kansas, they're very similar in structure, in power and in how they operate. Knowing how the function of that governance works for the school, which is something I value immensely, I felt I would do a good job.

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

My son just graduated in May. I took him on a tour of the new Hays High. We just drove around it right before we opened it, and he was mad at me because he didn't like going to school and wanted to go learn there.

Why are you running for reelection?

I think we're doing great things in this district. I think we're getting better and better statistically, our star ratings, our scoring, our teacher retention rates, all of these things, teacher satisfaction rates.

There's work to do, and I think we can do it, and I think we can do it well. I think that my belief in the value of public education means that I'm going to work to make things better, and that means using our strategic plan and vision and values to really drive decisions. I really like that direction we've decided on as a team in the strategic plan. 

I like the boring stuff like really parsing out, 'OK, is that a good policy?' The negotiations, the budgetary explanations, I like the nerdy, nitty-gritty&nbsp;stuff. It's really satisfying for me as a volunteer to be able to really give back to my community in this way that a lot of people don't like.

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

It is a working document. As things become priorities or we discover that there will be a significant price hike in four years when we're planning to do them, we might move that up because it's easier or better to do it earlier than later. 

I support the five-year capital outlay plan. It is something that we take advice on from the administration and work on together. If board consensus says, 'That's not important,' or 'What's the value there?' the plan is a working document, so it should change. It does change.

The capital outlay plan is a plan to maintain our physical spaces for the future. Before we passed the bond, almost all of the criticism that I heard from the community was about how Hays USD 489 did not take care of its buildings, and that's why we were in this mess. That's why we needed so much money for the bond. 

It's a big bond. It's huge, and we're very, very grateful to taxpayers for it. It is a beautiful gift we're giving to the future by doing this. If we don't take care of these buildings, this gift that we've been given by these taxpayers, we are, once again, not being effective managers of our resources. 

We are being careless and disrespectful to this investment, and I feel like that is what the&nbsp;capital outlay plan is meant to do, is to make sure that we are always in a position to maintain the safety and function of our facilities.

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

Yes, I support the plans for the remaining projects. The middle school should be done by December. We will be working on Felton [Elementary School] shortly thereafter. 

The costs for these projects are laid out in the bond project tracking that we're looking at regularly and updating.&nbsp;&nbsp;The overall cost hasn't changed very much as we make more money off the bond [interest], which is not the same as raising taxes.

As the bond earns more funds,&nbsp;we're able to reprioritize or adjust expectations. We passed the bond, and then we experienced an enormous spike in construction costs. This was going to be different from what we had all pictured, right? 

But the space allocated to the bodies in the schools was always the goal. We were cramming children and high school students into a too small band room. We're not going to be doing that now. 

We're going to be putting middle schoolers in an appropriately sized band room, and middle schoolers in an appropriately sized choir room. It's all going to be useful for the students. It's going to work for them and the teachers, too.

How would you view your role as a school board member, oversight with administrators and teachers handling day-to-day operations, or the board manages all aspects of operations?

The governing board governs through policy and supervision of one employee. That is the official statute. It's the policy of the board that, together, all seven of us share a duty of oversight over the superintendent, who is in charge of operations.

We govern through policy, and we are allowed to make recommendations and ask for details where we need them in order to approve spending.

For example, there are certain expenditures that we are required to approve, and overall bills we are meant to watch. We are powered to trust but verify, and that is our role. Individually, we have no power. 

So I don't know how we would oversee the minute details of day-to-day operations, because we would obviously never be able to see all of the details—seven of us, all at once.

Do you think the district is adequately managing its budget? If not, what would you change or cut?

Most of our funds are going toward staff. I can't tell you how many times I've heard about it; even when we're discussing issues with parents, they're often talking about staff. There aren't enough staff, or there should be more staff in this kind of role, or there aren't enough paraprofessionals, special education paraprofessionals or custodial staff. 

So much of our budget, the majority of our budget, is humans. I would like to increase the para pay to more than the starting wages are now, which is, I think, in the $13 range.

These people are responsible day to day for our children and keeping&nbsp;them safe and helping them grow. They also need to integrate time for teachers to communicate and engage parents, and that means we need to have enough [paras] so that they're not just struggling to meet the day-to-day [requirements].

We are working to reduce other costs and some staff-associated costs. The [teacher's] union and the board have been talking, and we've presented on the health insurance problem.

We have a number of people who have health insurance available elsewhere, but they take our insurance, take our fully covered plan. That's something that we're working on. We could reduce costs in that way, and that savings will allow employees to have a better take-home [pay]. It might also help with the increases in benefit costs.

Of course, when you have enough staff and well-qualified staff, then you also have less turnover, which costs less overall. I support effective management of those resources.

We cut a building [Lincoln Elementary School]. We're going to cut another building. [Rockwell Administration Center will be closed, and administrative offices will move to O'Loughlin Elementary School, which will close as an elementary school.] That will be another building that will not be a drain on resources.

Combining the middle school and high school campuses means that you can be a much more effective management of secondary education resources. You can have a couple of shared teachers. You can introduce some subjects earlier. Perhaps there's room to have a librarian [shared between those two buildings]. 

Each elementary school will now have its own librarian, and that is an incredibly effective resource management when you add a librarian to a building.

When we cut staff, we aren't supporting children. When we cut things like transportation, we're not supporting families.&nbsp;

Are there any policies that you think should be changed? How would you change those policies if you had the ability?

Our policy book is about 300 pages long. I've read it, but we write things down so we don't have to memorize them. If somebody came to me with a policy that they felt needed to be challenged, I would talk about it.

I don't think that we should keep doing things just because that's the way we've always done them. I also think that if a policy is already vetted by, for example, the [Kansas Association of School Boards] and the past administrators and past boards, then I would have to have a really good reason to change it. 

Is there anything else that you would like to add?

I really enjoy serving on the school board. I enjoy being a part of the community in that way, being invited into classrooms and being able to watch the children grow.

I met a lot of the kids who graduated last year. It was really cool to watch them walk across the stage. And there are a few more kids that I've known that long in this district. 

I've been serving on the policy council for the Early Childhood Center. This will be my third year. I love the foundation that it sets for the kids who are entering our district.

They're entering our district at zero, and their parents are asked to make decisions about what's happening for Head Start. It's a beautiful thing when the parents have the time and can give that of themselves.

I love being involved in the creation of an environment where we can foster every student's academic wishes and needs so they can look back and see how they were valued in this community. I want every kid who leaves Hays to know how well they were valued, and I want them to want to come back.

As told to Cristina Janney/Hays Post

USD 489 candidate Q&A: Meagan Zampieri-Lillpopp

By MONIQUE KOERNER Cottonwood Extension District

What’s not to like about walking? It’s free. It’s easy to do, and it’s not just easy on joints but it also keeps them lubricated and flexible.

 There’s no question that walking is good for you. A University of Tennessee study found that women who walked had less body fat than those who didn’t walk. It also lowers the risk of blood clots, since the calf acts as a venous pump, contracting and pumping blood from the feet and legs back to the heart, reducing the load on the heart. In addition to being aerobic exercise, walking is good for you in many other ways.

1. Improve Circulation - Walking wards off heart disease, brings up the heart rate, lowers blood pressure and strengthens the heart. Post-menopausal women who walk just one to two miles a day can lower their blood pressure by nearly 11 points in 24 weeks. Women who walk 30 minutes a day can reduce their risk of stroke by 20%, and by 40% when they stepped up the pace, according to researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston.

2. Shore Up Your Bones - Walking can stop the loss of bone mass for those with osteoporosis, according to Michael A. Schwartz, MD, of Plancher Orthopedics &amp; Sports Medicine in New York. In fact, one study of post-menopausal women found that 30 minutes of walking each day reduced their risk of hip fractures by 40%.

3. Enjoy a Longer Life&nbsp;- Research finds that people who exercise regularly in their fifties and sixties are 35% less likely to die over the next eight years than their non-walking counterparts. That number shoots up to 45% less likely for those who have underlying health conditions.

4. Lighten Your Mood -&nbsp;Walking releases natural painkilling endorphins to the body – one of the emotional benefits of exercise. A California State University, Long Beach, study showed that the more steps people took during the day, the better their moods were.

5. Lose Weight - A brisk 30-minute walk burns 200 calories. Over time, calories burned can lead to pounds dropped.

6. Strengthen Muscles&nbsp;- Walking tones your leg and abdominal muscles – and even arm muscles if you pump them as you walk. This increases your range of motion, shifting the pressure and weight from your joints to your muscles.

7. Improve Sleep -&nbsp;Studies found that women ages 50 to 75 who took one-hour morning walks were more likely to have less insomnia than women who didn’t walk.

8. Support Your Joints -The majority of joint cartilage has no direct blood supply. It gets its nutrition from joint fluid that circulates as we move. Movement and compression from walking “squishes” the cartilage, bringing oxygen and nutrients into the area.

9. Improve Your Breath - When you are walking, your breathing rate increases, causing oxygen to travel faster through bloodstream, helping to eliminate waste products and improve your energy level and the ability to heal.

10. Slow Down Mental Decline - A study of 6,000 women ages 65 and older found that age-related memory decline was lower in those who walked more. According to the University of California, San Francisco, study, women walking 2.5 miles per day had a 17% decline in memory compared to a 25% decline in women who walked less than a half-mile per week.

11. Lower Alzheimer's Risk&nbsp;- A study from the University of Virginia Health System in Charlottesville found that men between the ages of 71 and 93 who walked more than a quarter of a mile per day had half the incidence of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease than those who walked less.

12. Do More for Longer - Aerobic walking and resistance exercise programs may reduce the incidence of disability in the activities of daily living for people who are older than 65 and have symptomatic osteoarthritis, a study published in the Journal of Clinical Outcomes Management found.

I’m going to add another benefit that I have found over the years. 

Sometimes we think we are too tired to take a walk, but guess what? Our bodies usually reward us in a positive way by giving us more energy if we just get up and move our bodies. In our exercise classes we always comment on how much better we feel after we move our bodies. It’s so true. I hope that is motivation for you to get up move your body today. Try it!

Source: Arthritis Foundation

Monique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at 785-628-9430 or moniquek@ksu.edu.

KOERNER: 12 benefits of walking

For a full look at the weather forecast, click here.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Three-day weather outlook

Training available for the right responsible and reliable individual

This position performs operation, maintenance and repair of industrial equipment as in boilers, generators, pumps and valves. Work involves all aspects of boiler operation and steam distribution to include general maintenance and repair of related Energy Division/Power Plant equipment. Follow written and oral procedures, reading and recording gauges and water testing.

Minimum Qualifications: This position requires a High School Diploma or equivalent as well as one year of experience in a skilled craft area. Ability to work independently as well as part of a team. Education may be substituted for experience as determined relevant by the university.

Many perks and excellent benefits! Application Process: To apply for this position, please visit FHSU Careers. Only electronic applications submitted through the webpage will be accepted.

Required Application Documents: Applicants must submit a resume.

Applicant documents should be submitted in one PDF.

Find more details and application instructions at: https://fhsu.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/CAREERS

🎙 Post Podcast: Programs for your health, financial wellness from Cottonwood Extension District

By STEVE GILLILAND Explore Kansas Outdoors

Among my top ten favorite life experiences has been sitting on my brother’s porch after dark, when he lived deep in the southeastern Ohio woods, listening to the sounds of the night. There are whippoorwills and coyotes and all the small croaking, twittering creatures of the dark, but the main attraction was always the owls. 

From the eerie whines of tiny screech owls, to the deep, bass moans of great horned owls, and the tell-tale “Who cooks for you, who cooks for you too” cries of barred owls, the night time woods always came alive with owl calls.

A little-known owl species here in Kansas is the burrowing owl, a medium-sized owl that make their home in abandoned badger and prairie dog dens. 

I was introduced to burrowing owls a few years back during an opening day pheasant hunt near my home. We were a large group of 15 or so hunters and were trudging across an overgrown CRP field. As we walked, birds identified by the landowner (who was with us) as hawks began taking flight, one-at-a-time from out of nowhere. Looking back, I believe those birds were in fact burrowing owls being spooked by our presence from their dens that were probably old abandoned badger holes.

Studies show burrowing owl populations to be in sharp decline, easily imagined here in Midwestern farm country where badger dens are not welcome and are filled-in when possible, and where prairie dog towns as a whole are hard to come by anymore. 

They are listed as endangered in Canada, as threatened in Mexico, and as endangered, threatened or of special concern in nine of the United States. Here in Kansas, they are listed as “vulnerable.” 

Burrowing owls are active both day and night and often live in colonies of several mated pairs. They drag all manner of stuff into their dens as nesting material, and I found numerous mentions of cow manure being a favorite. Researchers believe the manure somehow helps control the microclimate of the den, plus attracts insects which the owls feed on. Typical clutch sizes are from 3 to 12 eggs, and large families of chicks are often raised. Their main diet is mice and moles during spring and early summer when they’re still feeding hungry chicks, then mainly grasshoppers and beetles as long as they can still be found.

 Burrowing owls stand 10 to 12 inches tall when mature and have long, featherless legs and white eyebrows above extremely large, bright and beautiful yellow eyes. All birds make some sort of vocal sounds, and even though burrowing owl calls are not noteworthy at all compared to some of their vocal cousins, they do make a few cooing, chirping sounds, the most recognized being a two-note sound reminiscent of a quail call.

We recently watched a TV documentary about swift foxes and burrowing owls living in suburban neighborhoods around Las Vegas. 

Since watching that documentary, we have found a couple dens of burrowing owls living in a sprawling prairie dog encampment near Walmart in Hutchinson. We can see their dens from a side street, so now every time we are in that part of town (which is way too often for me) we swing past, and if they are sitting at the entrance to their den, we stop and watch awhile. They are surrounded by active prairie dog dens and the dogs scurry about and graze as if the owls weren’t there at all. 

In fact, the little owls probably benefit from the prairie dog’s surveillance system. In an active prairie dog town there are always certain occupants designated as sentries whose job it is to keep watch for danger, and when intruders are spotted in the form of foxes, hawks or merely nosey humans, they sound an alarm by rising quickly up on their hind feet, stretching their heads skyward and emitting&nbsp;shrill high pitched chirps of danger, sending all their brethren scurrying for cover and affording the owls a chance to dive into their burrows too.

One of these days I’m going to wonder around through the prairie dog towns around Walmart to see if there are signs of any other little owls there. I’ve always wondered if there are prairie rattlesnakes living there amongst the prairie dogs, too. They are common inhabitants of abandoned prairie dog dens, although not quite as cordial as the owls, given that they often eat the landlords. 

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

Explore Kansas Outdoors: Have you an owl in your burrow?

Dive into a digital treasure trove of savings with the Eagle Radio Online Auction!

<a href="https://hayspost.com/pages/eagle-radio-auction-descriptions-of-items">Click here&nbsp;to get registered, view items and bid.</a>

<a href="https://www.rabezauction.com/gocart/search.cfm?mid=65&amp;search=all">30” x 40” POSTER IN HAYS REGIONAL AIRPORT</a>

Fly Hays 30” x 40” Poster in Hays Regional Airport Retail Price $1200

Hays Regional Airport continues to set records with their monthly flights in and out of Hays. You can showcase your business in the form of a poster 30x40” for one year!&nbsp;&nbsp;

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Lifetime Dental, Hays Invisalign Retail Price $6000

The Invisalign program from Lifetime Dental Care offers comfort, convenience and confidence while straightening your teeth using trays that are virtually invisible. The Invisalign program includes office consultation, trays, photos, x-rays, aligners, whitening program and more. Invisalign works great for both adults and teens. Your new smile is waiting. Get started today! www.lifetimedentalcare.com. THIS OFFER NOT VALID WITH ANY OTHER SPECIAL OFFER.&nbsp;&nbsp;

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Smoky Hill Country Club Round of Golf for 4 including Carts Retail Price $500

Bid on this enjoyable and exciting golf outing for four people from Smoky Hill Country Club in Hays, your local golf destination. This certificate is good for four people to play one round of 18 holes on golf on the best course in Central and Western Kansas. Two golf carts are included. Call 785-625-8297 to reserve your tee time. More information about the course can be found at www.smokyhillcc.com.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.rabezauction.com/gocart/search.cfm?mid=65&amp;search=all">Tumblebug Hay Dolly</a>

Better Built Trailers Tumblebug Hay Dolly Retail Price $3200

The TUMBLEBUG is truly a one-man (timesaving) machine. It requires no winches, no ropes, no hydraulics, it's "self loading", quality built and ready for the big bales. The loading action is UNBELIEVABLE until you have seen it perform. Back up to the bale, flip the switch, the brake action does the trick. You can see a video of the Tumblebug and how it works online at betterbuiltkansas.com. Weight: 500 lbs. (approx) / Length: 144" / Between the Wheels: 82" / Electric Brakes / Cradle &amp; Tongue: Tubular Steel 2" Ball Coupler / Complete Wiring Kit for Towing Service. SAVE TIME, LABOR AND HAY.... THE TUMBLEBUG WAY! To see how the Tumblebug Hay Dolly works, here's the link: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Cj2V4YHeBOU&nbsp;&nbsp;

FHSU panel urges critical thinking to combat misinformation

REXFORD – McCarty Family Farms has been honored as the 2025 Dairy Producers of the Year at World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin. 

The award, presented on October 1, recognizes the McCarty family’s long-standing commitment to producing high-quality milk while advancing animal welfare, regenerative farming practices, and community stewardship.

Owned and operated by fourth-generation dairymen Ken, Mike, Dave, and Clay McCarty, with their father Tom McCarty playing a key role in the operation, the family farm exemplifies the balance between innovation and tradition. 

Having established their roots in Pennsylvania in 1914 and relocating their operation to northwest Kansas with the opening of their dairy in 2000, the McCartys have grown into one of the most respected dairy families in the nation, overseeing the world’s largest registered herd of Holsteins. The McCartys operate five dairy sites: three in Kansas, one in Nebraska, and a partnership dairy, MVP Dairy, in Ohio.

McCarty Family Farms North, located in Rexford, is their newest location, completed in 2023, and stands as their most innovative dairy facility to date. 

Eight inverted six-row, tunnel-ventilated free-stall barns house 10,000 Holsteins, which are milked on two 120-stall carousels. Each stall is sand-bedded, and more than 95% of the sand is reclaimed and reused through a flush system and solids separation process. 

The site is also home to the newest addition to McCarty Family Farms’ sustainability efforts—an anaerobic digester. This system processes approximately 260,000 gallons of manure daily, breaking it down into methane gas that is injected into a nearby utility company pipeline. The remaining liquids and solids are repurposed as nutrient-rich fertilizer.

McCarty Family Farms has also invested heavily in on-site processing. In 2012, the family established an evaporative milk condensing plant, marking the beginning of their direct relationship with Danone North America. To support continued growth, the processing plant was expanded and upgraded in 2023 with the addition of ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis technologies. Today, McCarty Family Farms produces Non-GMO Project Verified milk exclusively for Danone North America.

Beyond their commitment to responsible farming, the McCartys also prioritize education and transparency through the Judy McCarty Dairy Learning Center, established in 2024 and named in honor of their late mother. The 8,000-square-foot nonprofit center connects visitors to the story of dairy, from soil to yogurt cup. Guests can view the farm’s 120-cow carousel parlor, ride a guided shuttle through the barns, and explore interactive displays. Serving the community and the agricultural industry, the Learning Center provides research projects, internships, and leadership experiences for the next generation of agricultural leaders.

“We are deeply honored to be recognized as Dairy Producers of the Year by World Dairy Expo,” said Ken McCarty. “This award reflects not only the hard work of our family, but also the dedication of our incredible team and partners who share our commitment to innovation, animal care, and sustainability.”

Ken McCarty also emphasized the family’s long-term vision. “As fourth-generation farmers, we take seriously the responsibility of nourishing families while caring for the land and animals entrusted to us. This recognition inspires us to keep building on that legacy—producing nutritious food, advancing sustainable practices, and creating connections with the communities we serve.”

World Dairy Expo’s annual Recognition Awards celebrate individuals and families who make remarkable contributions to the dairy industry and their communities. McCarty Family Farms was honored alongside Industry Person of the Year, Jim Mulhern, and International Person of the Year, Juan F. Moreno.

About McCarty Family Farms Founded in 1914, McCarty Family Farms has evolved into a multi-state dairy operation grounded in the values of integrity, innovation, and stewardship. With locations in Kansas and Ohio, the family’s mission is to produce high-quality, nutritious milk while prioritizing cow care, environmental responsibility, and strong community partnerships. Through the Judy McCarty Dairy Learning Center, the family also provides education and transparency to consumers, helping to build trust and understanding of modern dairy farming.

Rexford's McCarty Family Farms named Dairy Producers of the Year at World Dairy Expo

By&nbsp;MARK JOSLYN Insight Kansas

It’s not about defeating Sharice Davids.&nbsp;After all, a Democrat occupying one of the four congressional seats is nothing new. It’s not about appeasing Trump. Republicans’ penchant to gerrymander predates his involvement. It’s about Johnson County.

For decades, JoCo outpaced statewide Republican support. For example, when Eisenhower carried Kansas with a whopping 69 percent of the vote, JoCo surpassed that mark with 72.5 percent. When Reagan reached 66 percent, JoCo secured 72.4 percent.

Even in Democrat years, JoCo never wavered. When FDR won the state for a second time, JoCo delivered 57.7 percent of its vote to Republican nominee, and Kansas Governor, Alf Landon. When Kansans chose Democrat Lyndon Johnson, a majority of JoCo voters favored Barry Goldwater.&nbsp;The first signs of change came in 2008.

JoCo’s Republican vote share lagged the statewide average by almost 3 points, the largest such gap since 1917, the last time the county supported a Democrat for president.&nbsp;By 2016 the gap ballooned to 10 points and expanded in 2020 when the county finally flipped blue. Democrat advances appeared down the ballot too.

In 2018, Laura Kelley thumped Kris Kobach in JoCo by 17 points, though statewide it was a 5-point race. In her reelection bid, Kelley realized nearly 60 percent of JoCo’s vote and the county’s state House and Senate Democrat delegations increased.

JoCo’s majority support was pivotal in Sharice Davids’ defeat of incumbent Kevin Yoder for the Third District. Her county vote share has since grown to 55 percent.&nbsp;

For the first time in Kansas history a Democrat Senate candidate won JoCo, though Roger Marshall prevailed statewide. In 2022, Senator Jerry Moran vote share in JoCo dropped to 46.7 percent, down from 62.1 percent a decade before.

And in 2024, Byron Roberson became the first Democrat elected JoCo sheriff in nearly a century. The changes have rattled Republicans who recognize further decline could be costly. 

Trump’s call to redraw the maps mid-decade thus comes at an opportune time, giving Republican leaders cover to once again use their redistricting leverage. 

By dividing the county, and merging its parts with strong GOP districts, a gerrymander reduces JoCo Democrats to a fragmented minority, their influence diminished by the dilution of their voting power.&nbsp;

A gerrymander also weakens JoCo’s ascendant political structure. No longer able to organize an efficacious majority around shared priorities, JoCo Democrats would have to rebuild a broader, layered infrastructure that spans the diverse interests of suburban and rural communities.&nbsp;

With their base fractured, Democrats may struggle to unify their message, energize supporters, and build strong leadership.

Should Republican leaders pull it off, a gerrymander will, at minimum, blunt Democratic momentum, diminish Davids’ margins, and facilitate GOP actions against a weakened JoCo operation.&nbsp;

But it’s a tightrope, requiring a special session, supermajorities, considerable arm-twisting, and the risks of legal challenges.&nbsp;Whether it’s perceived as an assault on democratic principles or smart political strategy depends on one’s partisan leanings.

State legislatures do have the authority to redraw districts. And both parties appear ready to exercise that power.

JoCo’s outsized influence in the state’s electoral calculus and notable shift toward Democrats makes this a weighty moment for Republican leaders.&nbsp;

Mark R. Joslyn is a professor of political science at the University of Kansas.&nbsp;

INSIGHT KANSAS: The fight over maps is really a fight over JoCo. 

STOCKTON — The Stockton FFA will be holding their annual Goblin's Glory Halloween extravaganza on Sat., Oct. 25 at the Stockton High School gyms.

The events will start with a soup supper at 6 p.m. followed by the kids costume contest at 6:30 p.m. for ages 6 and younger and 7 to 12. Games and bingo will also begin at 6:30 p.m. with the merchandise auction starting at 7 p.m.

The Goblin's Glory King and Queen crowning is at 8 p.m.

Stockton FFA Goblin's Glory Halloween extravaganza is Oct. 25

A  taco/nacho bar fundraiser for the Hays Buffaloes Special Olympics basketball team and Lakin Eckroat (for Special Olympics bowling) to go to USA Games in Minneapolis, Minnesota in June of 2026 will be held on Monday, Oct. 20 at Thirsty's The Venue, 2704 Vine, Hays.

Tickets are being sold for $12 and can be purchased from myself by emailing me Activities Director Tiffany Schulte at tschulte@arcofcentralplains.org, Facebook Messenger (Buffalo Adventures page), or calling 785-639-4181.

 The ticket covers the taco/nacho bar and there are set times every 20 minutes starting at 5 p.m. and ending at 7:40 p.m. 

There will also be raffle prizes on display on the stage at Thirsty's starting Oct. 13 and those tickets are $10 each. No need to be present to win. There will be a live drawing on Oct. 20 at 7:50 p.m. on the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ARCACTIVITIES">Buffalo Adventures</a> Facebook page.

This fundraiser is supporting the Hays Buffaloes Special Olympics basketball team and Lakin Eckroat (for Special Olympics bowling)&nbsp;

These athletes have been working very hard to prepare for the trip. They practice every week and have been helping with fundraising. Most of them have never been to USA Games and are very excited for the opportunity. 

This is the first time ever that an entire Hays team gets to participate. Special Olympics holds this event every four years.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Fundraiser for Hays Buffaloes headed to Special Olympics USA Games 2026

Our strength lies in our shared commitment: that by giving a little, we can do a lot for those in need.&nbsp;

We are excited to invite you to our upcoming 100 Who Care, Ellis County meeting on&nbsp;Tuesday, October 14. This month, we will be hearing from these three wonderful nonprofits making a difference in our community:&nbsp;&nbsp;

• Big Brothers Big Sisters:&nbsp;Focused on fostering meaningful one-to-one mentoring relationships that unlock the potential and promise of our youth. Their impactful work not only transforms lives but also strengthens families and creates brighter futures. We are fortunate to have this valuable program right here in Ellis County.

• Jana’s Campaign:&nbsp;Committed to preventing gender and relationship violence through early education and awareness. What started as a local initiative in Ellis County has grown into a vital nationwide service that saves lives, empowers individuals, and builds safer, healthier communities.

• First Call for Help:&nbsp;Dedicated to alleviating the effects of poverty by connecting individuals and families with essential resources and support during times of crisis. Their efforts bring hope, stability, and practical solutions to members of Ellis County, helping to strengthen our community as a whole.

A special thank you goes out to our Fort Hays State University Leadership 310 team — Landon, Abigail, Sierra, and Hunter — as well as our current steering team members, Jack, Jessie, and Brandy. The LDRS 310 class focuses on developing leadership skills through hands-on community engagement, and our 100 Who Care program is proud to serve as a real-world platform where these emerging leaders can apply their learning to support and strengthen Ellis County.

Thanks to our generous sponsors, snacks and beverages will be provided by&nbsp;POPt Popcorn&nbsp;and&nbsp;A&amp;A Coors, meeting space is graciously hosted by the&nbsp;Sternberg Museum.&nbsp; If you are unable to attend, please feel free to drop off your donation at Wayne Voss State Farm, 2707 Vine St., Ste 13, Hays. Notify Brandy ahead of time with your voting preference, and she will be happy to vote by proxy on your behalf.&nbsp;

At&nbsp;100 Who Care,&nbsp;Ellis County, we come together because we believe in the power of collective giving to create real, positive change in our community. Please consider inviting a friend to join us as we strive to grow our membership beyond 100 and make an even greater impact.

Finally, stay tuned for some exciting news — we will be launching an online payment platform early in 2026 to make giving even easier!&nbsp;Thank you for your continued passion and support.&nbsp;

Generosity is the heartbeat of 100 Who Care — where every gift counts, every member matters, and every cause benefits.&nbsp;&nbsp;We look forward to seeing you on October 14!

Public invited to 100 Who Care, Ellis County meeting on Oct. 14 in Hays

&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

Disabled American Veterans Chapter 18 is now offering services in Ellis County and surrounding areas through its new office at Hays First United Methodist Church, 302 W. Eighth St., Room 205, and it is now seeing clients.

Chris Deitering, department service officer, will help to expand access to resources for injured veterans by providing free assistance to veterans and their families, including help with VA and federal claims, survivor and burial benefits, membership assistance, and disaster relief, a news release said.

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