The Post Podcast

School attendance important for learning

On this episode of the Post Podcast, Wilson Principal Anita Scheve talks about school attendance as USD 489 wraps up the first quarter of the year.
 
 

Holidays present a perfect time to document family histories

On this episode of the Post Podcast, Cottonwood Extension District agent Susan Schlichting shares information about Family History Month.
 

Hays Arts Council brings free performance of Alice in Wonderland from the Wichita Children‘s Theatre

On this episode of the Post Podcast, Hays Arts Council executive director Brenda Meder shares details about Thursday's Wichita Children's Theatre performance of Alice in Wonderland.
 
Transcript
Brenda Meder  
You know what we've got a lot of good stuff I wanted to share this morning. The first one of which is next week Thursday. Students in Hays don't have school on Friday. So we thought it would be a good night, next week, Thursday, at seven o'clock. In the Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center. We have a family theater production of Alice in Wonderland from the Wichita Children's Theater. We've got Wichita Children's Theatre, making their regular one day, one day, you know, Hays visit that we do. And so I believe it's the first graders that we can do a little spacing and Beach/Schmidt instead of two grades, the first graders from around this area, a number of them will be attending a production of Alice during the day, I believe theirs is in the afternoon. And we've also got a production from which Children's Theatre of Schoolhouse Rock live for fourth grade. I love that show. Yeah. And so fourth graders will be attending that in the morning. So we really tried to get we haven't had students in Beach/Schmidt for live theater events, obviously for quite some time. And we're doing some spacing. So we're having less students in there, still trying to really work our, our way through this, you know, as responsibly as we can, but trying to, you know, integrate these things again, and get back a little bit to normal. But what we always do on those days, since so few students are able to attend no matter how we do it. And we know we've got some really little ones that love the family theater, families who love to bring them. So when Thursday, October 28. That's next Thursday. at seven o'clock. These productions are only about 45 minutes, we have a family theater production of Alice in Wonderland, a delightful stage adaptation. You know, the classic story of a little girl with the imagination ends up down the rabbit hole, meeting the White Rabbit, the caterpillar, the Dormouse, and then being invited by the Mad Hatter, to a tea party with the crazy Queen of Hearts. You know, it's all about imagination, and just the worlds that we can create in our mind through imaginations and the power of creativity. And that's what's really the story here with Alice. And we just we love being able to bring that and one of the things that we're really excited about. Ordinarily, even though these companies cost is quite a bit of money, through different underwriting and things and just our desire to reach out. And because we also have the other things paid for during the work, you know, underwritten during the day. Our admission fee for the family productions has always been very minimal, really low ticket prices. Well, I'm really excited and happy to say although we spent 1000s and 1000s of dollars for the company to be here that day, due to an incredible generosity of Memorial gifts given in the name of a wonderful lady named Aletha Denning, whose family some of which live here in Hays, but she loved the arts, she loved creativity, fostering that, especially in children. And we were just so honored that we were the designee for a Aletha's Memorial donations. And we decided that a good way to share this with the larger community instead of just tucking it into a general budget was to have admission be free that night. So I'm really I know and when I mentioned it to her family, they just, they just were thrilled you know because often those things like I said just get tucked into a general budget. So because of the generous Memorial gifts given in honor of Aletha Denning. In fact, her daughter Margie Hammerschmidt was one of our summer gallery exhibition features Marjorie's first big big feature and beautiful paintings by Margie. But it's Marjorie Hammerschmidt's mom, because I had just been there, but there will be no fee, no admission charge for anyone, children or adults to attend that production. And like I said, these these are wonderful professional productions done by a, a touring company out of the Wichita Children's Theater. They've got larger big shows they do down there, but when they traveled there a little bit smaller shows, but no less amazing professional, well done. Great sound systems, but that is on Thursday, October 28 7pm. After the show. The cast always comes out front there's a meet and greet because it is part of the big holiday Halloween weekend with no school the next day, any children that want to wear their Halloween costumes get one more shot to put those beauties on where your Halloween costumes, because we will have some goodie treat bags for all the children when they leave that evening. But again, no fee to attend because of that generosity, and says nothing about the quality of the productions just because of generosity. So seven o'clock next Thursday, October 28. In the Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center, Alice in Wonderland for children, and the people who love them.
James Bell  Do people that want to go do they need tickets or anything or since it's free, they just,
Brenda Meder  They just show up. And what's great is it works out perfect. We never have a huge crowd for the evening production. It's great if we do but we usually don't, because so many kids do get to come during the day. But it's wonderful when they're not being assigned seating in any way. When people come, we're there greeting them, but just allow them to go in, we only open the floor because that's always most sufficient for the audiences we have. And it's great because in the times that we're still living in, and some people still being a little cautious. You can just sit wherever you want in there. So if there's a space and it's like, let's just sit over here, we're a little more to ourselves or no, we want to take the kids down front more, or whatever it might be. Families get to make that call because there's nothing assigned when you come to the theater. And again get to go for free because of this gift. But yeah, so it's it's easy. Nobody's got to fumble with money. Nobody's got a fumble with tickets. Just come and enjoy this wonderful production. That is a gift on behalf of the Hays Arts Council, and the memorial of Aletha Denny for just the community to enjoy again, no school the next day, everything will be over plenty early, even with the meet and greet after. But still, it makes it nice when there's no school and another excuse to wear those cute Halloween costumes.
James Bell  Absolutely love it. Oh, well, that's very nice. But I'm wondering to like what's going on down at the gallery because you always have something together
Brenda Meder  There is. there's so much more. And while we're in the strain, first of all, this the thought process of children. As I know, I think you guys have been promoting it. It's certainly the you know, the D.H.D.C has, there is the Trick or Treat downtown again, for children. And that is next Friday, October 29 from three to 5pm. And I just wanted to remind everyone that the Hays Arts Council will be participating. But we're we're so glad that event takes place through through the bricks in the DHDC organization. And it's from three to five. But instead of coming to the Hays Art Center main building, which is always what we've been out of, we're going to have our Trick or Treat event be on our annex facility. So right on Main 1010 Main. And many, many years ago, one of the Hays High prom believe it or not, was his high prom, use the theme Candyland. And because they needed to repository for all these incredible things they'd made. They've been at the Arts Council, they've actually been loaned out and shared with people, but they were just, they were just, you know, entrusted to us. And so I thought well, let's have a little fun. So I'm going to set up this wonderful giant Candyland theme right inside the front door. So a great photo op as well. So it'll be pretty and fun. And so come in and see our giant Candyland display and instead of candy, we will have a little my little take home. A little complete little packet of a little craft project instead of candy. So stop by take home your little craft project that you can have fun doing later while you're eating your candy. But again, that's from three to five on the bricks in downtown Hays. Friday the 29th so another thing we're participating in and Halloween, but you'll come to our annex 1010 Main Street Hays Art Center annex. Enjoy our giant Candyland display inside and get a take home craft project. And then for our main gallery. We've currently got an exhibition by Frank Nichols. Frank was a longtime instructor at Fort Hays State University's Department of Art and Design. He retired in 99. Frank actually passed away in 2013. But we often get requests and inquiries about his work. He was a brilliant printmaker, and painter, an award winning artist. And I love Frank and we had a great relationship with him at the gallery. And so we still there were still a large body of his work, that his son, it's still been housing. And it hadn't been back in Hays for a long time. So I just thought that would be a really cool thing to do. The colors are rich and warm. It just was a very appropriate thing that felt right on so many levels for this time of the year. Not to mention, it's just amazing art. So that will be up through November, the I think it's the 24th whatever the Wednesday is before Thanksgiving. We'll have it up literally right before the day before Thanksgiving up to that date. And so it's up now. It's our daily feature on Saturdays. And not only are there a lot of wonderful large frameworks, that and the prices are amazing. They're they're less expensive than they were when Frank was alive, and they're gorgeous. A lot of them are framed. And, but we're also have a lot of things that are unframed. In fact, anything that's in a frame, if you said Oh, but I'd want to reframe it anyway, we will take it out of the frame, and you can get it, you know you so you can buy it framed or unframed. And there's a whole big stash of things that aren't framed both the the exquisite hand colored etchings, as well as the ink and acrylic paintings that he was doing later that we're still in that same style, when laborious after he just didn't want to deal with printmaking anymore. But Frank Nichols work at the Arts Council, through the day before Thanksgiving, come in and see that really wonderful, wonderful work. And then want to remind everybody, three weeks from yesterday is the deadline for the big Five State Photography. And we're starting to get some things and they roll in slowly at this point, the flurry comes in that last week. And of course, with everything you know, that's how I am, too. But the call for entries is ongoing three weeks from yesterday is the deadline and go to our website for any information and the details on this project. It's open to any photographer of any age, background experience, preference of subject and process in Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Colorado, through the support of our sponsors, were able to give out $1500 in cash awards across the three categories of nature, people and open and last year we instituted it through the through the pandemic process. But we're doing it again this year because it worked so well in the exhibition looked amazing. You just submit 8 x 10 photographs on paper, and your entry fee and and you know and form and all that kind of stuff. So it's not actual big works matted and framed, where you spend all this money and don't even know if it's going to get accepted or not. It's just eight by 10s, on paper not digitally submitted your photograph on paper. That way you know exactly what the judge is going to look like. Look at those are placed in clear plastic sleeves with rigid cardstock. We put them in large binders, and then I hand deliver those to the judge. The gentleman this year is Mike Sinclair. He is an instructor at KU and a professional photographer. And in fact, he did a workshop this summer here in Hays. Great gentlemen, I think he's going to judge us a great show. And then when those come back to us, we mount them and frame them. And I have had a couple of people ask about specifics, we're very, very aware of what could be cut off or or hidden, their standard commercial cut eight by 10 mats, which means that the opening itself is actually seven and a half inches by nine and a half inches. So if people want to be very much aware of what might get trimmed off, you certainly want to have that overlap. But that standard and for an eight by 10, you know, it's a quarter inch allowance all the way around. And that is the actual window opening of them. And then we put them in these really nice black wood frames, these slightly off white mats, and we put up all the pieces in our gallery. So everything you need to know other details, reiterating what I've said even some other things, they're online, but the deadline is November, the ninth, that'll be the entry submission deadline. So we have time to get them processed in a couple of days, fire them off, and still get them back in time. So we can get those notification cards mailed out. So check that out. If you are a photographer, if you know someone who is. And again, it's all about the image, no reputation, no bio for who the artists are the judges just seeing the images. And however you do it and process it. And what you choose to shoot is up to you. And so we want to make everybody aware of that. And then one of the other things I wanted to mention just to give people a heads up, we've talked we talked about it actually last month already, the Winter Art Walk will be Saturday, December 4, we're moving it to a Saturday like we did with the Spring Artwalk. It worked out beautifully. It gave people more time to really enjoy and engage. Also an opportunity to you know, stroll in and out of some of our downtown businesses through the course of this wonderful day. Eat at one of our fabulous eating and drinking establishments. And it doesn't have to just be downtown locations. But that's always the core area. But again, that will be 10am to 4pm on Saturday, December the fourth and the five state photography show I just talked about, which is always a huge hit with photographers and just our attending audience. That's the day it opens. The photography show always serves as the anchor of that Winter Art walk. And again, that will be Saturday December the fifth from 10 to four. And the reason I'm mentioning it now is not so much for the guests who come but for artists or locations who want to participate. There's no fee as a site as an artist. Nobody's got to send Commission's back to us. It is just a wonderful opportunity for our community to be engaging in the arts. And with it being in December we get to do it during the daylight hours when maybe it won't be quite as frigid as we've had a lot of that those evening you know first Friday in December exhibitions, it'll be light, hopefully a little warmer with a whole lot more time to just enjoy engage and make your way through our community. 
James Bell  Very cool. Is that the same day as the frost Fest Parade?I know that's like no, no, 
Brenda Meder  No, the Frost Fest Parade. I believe is the next weekend. The tree lighting for downtown is the Friday night before and that's often been a part of our of the Winter Art Walk is the tree lighting, but we've moved it to Saturday but what is cool one of the events will be the downtown farmers art market, you know the art market the art and craft market that they do every year. I think it's indoors I'm not sure where but I know that that event will be on the Saturday so it will be part it will be one of the features of the Art Walk the winter Art Walk on Saturday, as well as a lot of other really cool things that are shaping up. So it's going to be a wonderful day tree lighting the night before and the frost Fest Parade I believe the following weekend. So yeah, amazing things in our downtown and across our community really at the holidays. I will even give a plug I know Terry Crull was in a great thing coming up this next Friday night with the concert down town the symphony on Sunday, I'll even give them a shout out. They've got their children's symphony concert on Sunday afternoon, check their Facebook page and website. It's just so wonderful, all the great arts, things that go on in our community, for children, for adults, for the community as a whole. And a lot of times I promote those on our Facebook page, whether they're our events or not, because anything that makes our community better and richer. We're all in this together. And so you can definitely follow our Facebook page because I try to share all the good news from all these arts and cultural things. And go to our website for more information that's just haysartscouncli.org but between our Facebook page and our website, we will get the word out as best we can if not come by or give us a call.
 

Creepy Classics concert from the Hays Symphony to celebrate Halloween

The Hays Symphony Orchestra is set for this year's Haloween concert: Creepy Classics. Conductor Brian Buckstead shares all the details on this episode of the Post Podcast.
 
Submitted
The Hays Symphony at Fort Hays State University will be presenting Creepy Classics: A Children’s Halloween Concert, featuring loud noises, creepy sounds and the scary stories music can tell, on Sunday, October 31, 2021, 2:30 p.m. in the FHSU Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center. The ensemble is under the direction of Dr. Brian Buckstead, assistant professor of violin and viola at FHSU.
The program features Danse Macabre by Camille Saint-Saens, Night on Bald Mountain, by Modest Mussorgsky, In the Hall of the Mountain King from Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, by Edward Grieg, Suite from Psycho, by Bernard Herrmann, March to the Scaffold from Symphonie Fantastique, by Hector Berlioz, and Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone Suite, by John Williams.
In addition, a host of music and Halloween themed pre-concert activities will be offered starting at 1:30 p.m.
“We think it’s important for kids to get their hands on instruments and to make connections between the music they’re hearing and how it’s created,” said Buckstead.
Symphony musicians and members of the FHSU Chapter of the National Association for Music Education will assist with pre-concert activities which include:
·  Spooky Music Tour—costumed statues come to life playing clips of the scariest sounds and music kids will hear in the concert
·  Drumming Circle—bongos, tam-tams, and other rhythm devices for making lots of loud noise
·  String Instrument Petting Zoo—hands-on guided experimenting with violins, violas and cellos
·  In the Hall of the Mountain King—tiptoe past the troll….run for your life in this retelling of the Mountain King story full of music, story and action
·  Meet the Family: Winds & Brass—flutes, trumpets, tubas, clarinets and more. FHSU students demonstrate their instruments from the wind and brass families
·  Creepy Arts and Crafts—create a variety of Halloween characters and props with a treasure box of arts supplies
·  Halloween Costume Parade—follow the brass leaders as costumed children parade around Beach-Schmidt and into the auditorium for the start of the concert
·  Free Trick-or-Treat Bags to the first 250 kids
The concert and treats are sponsored by a generous donation from Werth Wealth Management.
All Hays Symphony concerts are free and open to the public.
Attendees are encouraged to reserve tickets in advance on the symphony’s web site. Tickets may also be picked up in advance at the Hays Convention Visitors Bureau and the Downtown Hays Development Corporation, or at the symphony table in the lobby 30 minutes before the performance.

ECHS COVID-19 update: Oct. 27, 2021

On this episode of the Post Podcast Ellis County Health Services Director Jason Kennedy shares recent information about COVID-19 in Ellis County.
 
Transcript
 
James Bell 
COVID-19 booster shots are available in Ellis County. Ellis County Health Services director Jason Kennedy talks to us about that and more on this episode of the Post Podcast.
 
Jason Kennedy 
Last Friday, late last Friday, they approved booster shots really kind of for anybody that was able to get the additional shot. So right now that is individuals over 12 If you're looking at Pfizer, and then adults if you're looking at Moderna, J&J, so over 18, for those two, so I will tell you, this is probably one of the most I think COVID hasn't been confusing enough. But the FDA, the CDC and the KDHE have decided to make this booster rollout about as confusing as they possibly can so that the public is just generally has no idea what's going on, which is which is great. So
 
James Bell 
Makes your job easier, right?
 
Jason Kennedy 
Yeah, it does. It does. Um, so I think the easiest way to say this right now is boosters are approved kid vaccines or not, as of right now, and the primary focus is still getting primary vaccines into people that it's approved for. So the booster doses Yes, sir. there if you want one, absolutely. Come get one we have posted. We posted a couple of different locations or different options for people in town on our Facebook page, but essentially the private pharmacies, Dillons, both Dillons locations Walgreens, Walmart, pharmacy, and then Ellis County Health Department, we are all providing booster dose vaccines as well as primary vaccines. So if you if you're able to jump on our Facebook page, or if you give the office call, we can kind of direct you to not every location has every vaccine. But the health department does have every vaccine we have we have Pfizer, we have Moderna and we have Johnson and Johnson. So right now, if you want a booster dose, come get one. The boosters are safe. It is I've seen some misinformation about this, that it's a new formulation or it's a new there's new chemical there is there is nothing different or new about the booster doses it is the exact same same thing that was that was given as an initial primary dose. And so if if you didn't have any issues with with the initial shot, come get your booster shot if you want it. I will say that there is not a time critical crunch to getting booster doses done right now. We we don't see waning immunity with the initial vaccinations, we actually see them still very highly effective at that reduction in hospitalizations and really reduction in deaths. So yeah, we're giving them Yes, absolutely. Go get one if if it makes sense for you, if if you talk to your doctor, your doctor wants you to get it the patients that we still see some breakthrough infections that are leading to issues are the immunocompromised, And likely that is not due to waning immunity, it is just due to the fact that the vaccine just didn't work for them because they are unable to mount an immune response because of their their pre existing medical conditions. So boosters are a good thing. It is the exact same dose, there's there's nothing different about it, it will increase your level of immunity. It will hopefully you know continue to keep us safe here through the winter. But if if you're not able to get one today, it is not a it's not a giant thing like it your your your current vaccine is working. And it's working well. And we're not seeing any changes to that. So the people that aren't vaccinated, the vaccines work. The vaccines are safe. I know there's there's a there's a large political following with with with vaccines and they've really been attached to a political agenda, a political party. Not that there's anything wrong with that. Not that there's anything that says you're a bad person if you're unvaccinated. The unvaccinated people are not creating problems for people. They're creating problems for themselves. They are they are increasing the risk of hospitalization. They are increasing the risk of death, but they're not hurting anyone else. If if you want to be vaccinated, be vaccinated. I do highly encourage anyone that's eligible, be vaccinated. They are they are working and they work really well.
 
James Bell 
You know, on the on the booster note, you know, I've heard a little bit about that they're they're looking at mixing the vaccines. So if you got Maderna you could maybe get a Pfizer booster to help boost up the little bit of remaining  efficacy that might be missing. I'm wondering if you want to share with us the latest you've heard on that.
 
Jason Kennedy 
So yeah, you can you can mix boosters. Primary doses you still don't want to mix. So if you if you're on your first shot to Moderna get your second shot of Moderna. If you're on a first shot of Pfizer get your second shot of Pfizer if you're fully vaccinated with either Moderna, Pfizer or J&J, you can mix and match booster doses, you can get a booster dose of an mRNA if you had the J&J, you know, they asked the head of the CDC this weekend on the news, you know, what, what did she recommend? And she not duck the question, but but wisely said, hey, you know, we don't really have a recommendation of a better vaccine. I share that sentiment, we I don't have a recommendation of a better vaccine, they all work. They're all highly effective. We're not seeing, we're not seeing hospitalizations, and deaths of any vaccine. So it really is up to you, I would say, you know, if you didn't have issues with your first vaccine, stay with it. If you had issues with your first vaccine, call your doctor, talk to your doctor, see what they recommend as far as moving forward with a booster dose. But if if you had no issues with the first one, all these vaccines are safe, they're all effective. We really are seeing great response with the vaccine. So there's not a huge issue to fret over which one I got? Or did I get the right one that I get the wrong one? No, because they all work. And so if you didn't have any issues, stick with it. If you have questions or you you really are concerned you would you would like to get one over the other because you've read this call and talk to your doctor about it, they're gonna be the best people to guide your medical decision. You know, we don't rarely, it's pretty rare that that someone just decides like some internet research and then they're like, oh, you know what, I'm gonna start treatment on my own cancer. Like, you know, we go we go to the doctor, we trust the doctor to make the best decision, because it's, that's what they do. That's, that's what they're good at. And so same thing with this, if you if you have questions, give your doctor.
 
James Bell 
Excellent. You know, I wonder if you want to talk a little bit to I'm hearing some new treatments are maybe coming down the pike or or are getting, I don't know what the right word but certified? I don't know, if you have anything there you'd like to share as well.
 
Jason Kennedy 
Sure, um, you know, it's still pretty early on well, not not really, actually they, they've studied it there, there are effective treatments, they are still in the approval process. So as far as you know, running out and get them or anything like that they're not available. I do think that all in all, we've the medical system has gotten better at treating COVID-19. We know that some of the early on things that we were doing were leading to poor patient outcomes, they have they have changed that treatment course they have returned to kind of a standard course of treatment for other viruses. And then with these new over the counter treatments coming out, they they are effective. However, the most effective way to battle any viruses to not get it. So the best way to help yourself is to not get COVID then you don't have to worry about whether the treatments effective or not just don't get it. And so it's right now the best way to do that is really be vaccinated. And, you know, kind of just take those basic hygiene measures and live your life but there are there are some some good treatments on the horizon or some good evidence to support that. At least the treatments will will have a reduction in hospitalizations, deaths and that kind of stuff.
 
James Bell 
Excellent. Well, sir, we've just about that time got to get over to news but any last thoughts before we go?
 
Jason Kennedy 
No, you know, it's right now it's confusing for everybody. We understand that. If you if you have questions, talk to your doctor. If you have questions, call the health department. If you want to be vaccinated or want to if you want to get your initial vaccine, absolutely do it if you want to get a shot there. As far as the kid vaccines almost there, they're still in the process but likely in the next couple of weeks.

Holy Family Elementary raises over $80,000 during Cajetan Cash fundraiser

On this episode of the Post Podcast Cajetan Cash fundraising chair Olivia Becker shares the results of the fundraiser.

Fort Hays State University choirs to present Fall concert

On this episode of the Post Podcast Fort Hays State University director of choral activities, Terry Crull shares details from the upcoming fall choirs concert.

Forward Ever: RANS Founder Randy Schlitter

On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with RANS Founder Randy Schlitter.

FHSU preparing for Future Educators Day

On this episode of the Post Podcast Fort Hays State Alumni Association alumni engagement strategist, Carolyn Tatro, along with marketing program specialist, Noelle Husmann share information about the upcoming Future Educators Day.
 
Transcript
 
James Bell 
The Fort Hays State University Alumni Association is getting ready for their popular future educators day later on this month, Alumni Engagement strategist, Carolyn Tatro, along with marketing program specialist, Noelle Husmann, from the Alumni Association stopped by to talk to us about that and more on this episode of the Post Podcast. There's also something cool going on down there. And this time is no different. But before we get into the new stuff, how was Homecoming?
 
Noelle Husmann 
Homecoming was great. We had alums from not only all over Kansas, but we had some drive in from like Louisiana, California, all over to kind of come back to campus and see all the new changes and reconnect with classmates.
 
Carolyn Tatro 
It was there were a lot of people who hadn't been back on campus in a really long time. And they all had a wonderful time, the weather actually turned out beautiful for us. We're really grateful for that.
 
James Bell 
The parade was iffy, right?
 
Carolyn Tatro 
A little bit. But you know what, it's slowed down a little bit there. Right, about halfway, I would say, but it was it turned out really great. And everybody had a great time. And, and, you know, I'm I think we're really looking forward to seeing what homecoming can become, you know, having a little bit of a break last year that we did with some of our events, we're looking forward to growing a lot of our events in the future. So it was a really great time.
 
James Bell 
Awesome. Yeah. And it seemed like to me the little bit that I got to encounter, you know, everybody was just so excited to get back together. Right, right. You guys could have held the thing in a field, you know, and everybody would have had a good time.
 
Carolyn Tatro 
Everybody was happy.
 
James Bell 
Yeah, absolutely.
 
Carolyn Tatro 
Yeah.
 
James Bell 
What's making it homecoming. So one of the things that went on that weekend, they had the grant or not the groundbreaking but the ribbon cutting for the new Fischli Wills center. Last time I was in there, they were putting some finishing touches touches on there, but I think everything's ready to go at this point. Right?
 
Carolyn Tatro 
That's right, actually as we speak. So the the new officially Fischli Wills Center for Student Success is up and running as we speak. And the admissions office is actually kicking off their newest portion of their prospective student experience, which is having students meet them in the Welcome Center, which is sort of one of the grand pieces of that Fischli Wills building and today's actually the first day that they're starting tours over there. So they're really excited to to begin working with that.
 
James Bell 
Very cool. Yeah, I think the last last time we spoke about this, Joey Linn was with us. And yeah, what a cool unique like building and just a center, you know, it kind of brings together all those student services that are so important, you know, for the current students and also the prospective students and I can't imagine a cooler way to to see that start off to campus tour. But other than that, except for maybe the new art gallery in the old Power Plant. Oh, yeah,
 
Carolyn Tatro 
that's a very cool experience. Yes,
 
James Bell 
I drove by it the other day and I just I saw the paintings in the windows I drive my my way, what was that and I stopped and that is really cool.
 
Carolyn Tatro 
It is very neat. If you ever get a chance to go in there and definitely stop in but I think the the Welcome Center all you know, there's always something exciting happening on campus. And that's just one of those things. And, you know, we always like to tell our alumni, there's lots of different ways that they can help the university grow and, and, you know, the welcome centers is part of that, that new Fischli Wills building is part of that. And I know another thing that's gotten a lot of really great feedback is the unveiling of the new regional tuition program. I was gonna say he has a solid offering for next year.
 
James Bell 
Yeah. Okay. So because we have talked about this in the in the show before, maybe we should recap what the what we're talking a little bit before, basically, you get in state tuition from a laundry list of states. I don't know, how many is there?
 
Carolyn Tatro 
So there's 13. Okay, I was gonna count, I was hoping you just know, 13 new state in addition to Kansas.
 
James Bell 
So you have 14 different states. You're getting in state tuition right here at Fort Hays State University. Right? So it's kicking off fall next year? That's correct.
 
Carolyn Tatro 
So students who are applying for this year, will be eligible for that starting next year students who are currently on campus will also be eligible for that starting next year.
 
James Bell 
That's awesome, though. Yeah. And I just, you know, and look at some of the states I think about like Iowa, Illinois, you know, the ones that are a little bit further away from us this year, oh, haven't had a program like this available. I just got to believe there's going to be so many people come in here and take advantage of the wonderful education you can get a Fort Hays State University.
 
Carolyn Tatro 
That's right. And we have alumni from all over the country and all of those different states. And so we're really excited that they're able to spread the word now, to our prospective students about about these new opportunities for them.
 
James Bell 
You know, it's interesting, you mentioned that I wonder how important is it for for the alumni to be able to spread that word, you know, is that a huge recruiting tool for the school or is that kind of just a I don't know, you might say a bonus kind of recruiting structure.
 
Noelle Husmann 
No, I think it's very important. We have a lot of families that attend many generations attend Fort Hays. I was just talking with someone he has like a fourth generation Tiger family. So it is pretty important for our alumni to spread that word to their perspective, either like family, relatives, friends, relatives of friends. It's a pretty large and important network.
 
Carolyn Tatro 
That's right. And the people who work at the university, our admissions counselors, you know, we can they can only do you know, they can, they can only do so much to bring students here, they really have to, you know, they have the help of those alumni who will have their, their kids and their, their grandkids, their nieces and nephews really get to hear what their experience is about. So it's really a collaborative effort between those who are working at the university to bring students in and those who have the the experience in their families.
 
James Bell 
Yeah, I know, I talked to my kids already there. My oldest ones are nine. But I'm already talked to about Fort Hays State. rarely go But yeah, I remember Yeah, my oldest son, we got one of those Tiger hats that were really popular like three years ago, literally the tiger, the big Tiger on the head with the things that Yeah, dangle down, loves it. Still wears that thing. Absolutely. And it's a lot of fun. I would wear it if I've got a big head. But anyway, yeah, so it's really cool thing, you know, the admissions teams, those departments have done a really good job. But we want to shift gears a little bit here and talk about something you've got coming up. It's a popular event, I think down there on campus, and that's future educators day that's on the way, right?
 
Carolyn Tatro 
That's right. So future educators day is actually something that the university has done for a number of years, within the teacher education department. And of course, our College of Education is incredibly popular, and incredibly successful. We have teachers from all over the state all over the country who attended Fort Hays and are part of Tiger teacher nation. And so they're just trying to bring that again to prospective students give students an opportunity to see what it's like to be a teacher education major, and meet the Kansas Teacher of the Year. So they're kind of they're really excited about how this event is going to grow in the future to bring more students into our College of Education.
 
James Bell 
Yeah, that's awesome, and what a great, you know, program, the I I've known several people that went through the program directly, you know, and they're teaching now, and I've also, in recent years known a lot of people my age that have went back and they've done that transition to teaching program. Yes, that's unnecessary that the department as well, I believe.
 
Carolyn Tatro 
Right. Yeah. Right. It's, you know, there's a lot of different ways that you can take the route of, you know, through teacher education, and so students who maybe know what sort of what they want to do, but maybe they don't know the direction to take, they really don't know, if there's a special area that they want to, you know, teach and an opportunity, like, this is really great. And it again, really helps to have our alumni, you know, our incredible teachers who have gone through this program, they will bring their students in to campus for this day. So they'll be able to kind of see along with their students, what things have progressed at the university, and what opportunities await them. Yeah, absolutely.
 
James Bell 
And, you know, I think, too, with with education, especially, it's one of those fields that, you know, having that hands on experience, actually seeing what you're going to do is is very valuable, what you know, to help shape what you might want to teach, but also really, like, what area do I want to teach is that, you know, high school kids grade school kids, I want to get into a college, a junior in college, you know, tech school, so many options there. So that's awesome that they get to explore that. Suzanne Stevenson, that's the Teacher of the Year, right?
 
Carolyn Tatro 
That's right, she'll be there. She's going to be presenting to, to students in the teachers and counselors who bring them. And so I think it's just gonna be a really incredible day. It's October 27. So it is coming up. And I know that they're looking forward to having lots of students and teachers come back for that. Really great things that, you know, I think they're just really looking forward to showcasing.
 
James Bell 
Absolutely. So if people want to be involved in that, what's the easiest or best way to get information or sign up maybe.
 
Carolyn Tatro 
So they can sign up to the university website, and they can contact the admissions office. They're the ones that are sort of primarily hosting this event. And our alumni staff can answer some questions as well. I know, as we have a little bit of knowledge of some of these kinds of events that happened. So really am anybody at the university? The Alumni Association, the admissions office, Teacher Education, they can answer all of those questions if they're interested. Very cool.
 
James Bell 
Now, we just got a couple minutes left, but we want to talk about this as well, that you're, you know, I know, President Mason's out she doing the media tour, I think right now, actually. But you've also got some counselors out there spreading the good word, right?
 
Carolyn Tatro 
Yes, absolutely. The admissions counselors are back on the road, and they were not able to make it into too many high schools last year. And so they're very excited to be visiting in schools, at college fairs and different events that are out happening out there for prospective students and they're also doing a phenomenal job of informing you know, people on social media, where they're going to be and so if you know, anybody, if a student or an alumni who wants to bring their students to visit with the admissions counselor they can find them on social media they'll find out where they're going to be that week and meet up with them if they're going to be in that area.
 
James Bell 
Very cool and when you say social media you guys have your own alumni page right? Matter of fact I think there's probably about 90 Facebook pages for Fort Hays State depending on what department
 
Carolyn Tatro 
You are going to miss what's going on at Fort Hays State everybody's got something out there.
 
James Bell 
Absolutely. Well guys, we get we're almost out of time here. Any last thoughts before we go?
 
Noelle Husmann 
Sure. Uh, with admissions starting the tours, they are waving the application fee for anyone who comes and visits campus.
 
Carolyn Tatro 
Right.
 
Noelle Husmann 
So if you have someone that wants to check out Fort Hays bring them sooner rather than later so they can get that fee waived. And then also this Saturday, is Tiger Day.
 
Carolyn Tatro 
See a lot more students on campus this weekend because it's Tiger Day admissions is hosting their annual Tiger Day event for prospective high school students or transfer students so there'll be checking out campus I think they're getting tickets to the football game as well. So they're going to be all over campus on Saturday.
 
Noelle Husmann 
Yep, a lot of gold going on right?
 
James Bell 
Love it. It's UCO, this weekend, right? We're gonna we're gonna win. I'm confident. No, I am. I said this was the homecoming game. So I'm just throwing that out there. Okay. My mother in law so you're gonna win this game. I look at her say we're gonna win. And look what happens.
 
Carolyn Tatro 
Everybody needs to stay for the whole game this time because you never know what's gonna happen.
 
Noelle Husmann 
True. True.

Williams: School bond and housing important topics for upcoming election

On this episode of the Post Podcast Grow Hays executive director Doug Williams shares an analysis of the Hays city commission and USD 489 Board of Education election forum.
 
Transcript
Grow Hays executive director Doug Williams 
Well, you know, the topics, what was interesting to me is that the school or the city commission, candidates talked a lot about school bond, and educational facilities, you know, usually that would not be on their radar. And I think that shows the the importance of what is going on and the need in our community that we have to improve our educational facilities. You know, we've talked lots of times, and I always like to make sure that we understand completely that we do a great job of teaching kids here, we have great teachers, and we have great outcomes. And but they're doing.
 
James Bell 
Blue Ribbon School.
 
Grow Hays executive director Doug Williams 
Absolutely. I mean, we have a lot to be thankful for and be proud of in our educational system. But unfortunately, they do it with one hand kind of tied behind their back when it comes to facility quality. And we have we have neglected this for about as long as we can. And it it became apparent, both in the forum for the city commission candidates as well as the USD 489 candidates that that schools have to be a high priority in our community, if we expect to have any hope for growth and to put our best foot forward and to do a good job of educating our kids.
 
James Bell 
Yeah, absolutely. I know, we've talked about this in the past, too, but it's also a factor for, you know, deciding to live here, whether it be in Hayes, or Ellis Ellis has a bond issue currently that they're discussing as well, kind of tackling the same problems.
 
Grow Hays executive director Doug Williams 
Yes, it's a quality of life issue. It's a recruitment issue for people who are considering relocating here, you know, whether it's a doctor or a nurse considering going to work for Hays Medical Center, or a company that's looking to relocate here, one of the main things a retail company will look at in a community is housing, and your education system, because they're going to move people here, they want to attract people to work for their businesses. And if those two things aren't in place, they're not going to choose to locate here. So we've got a, we've got a, we haven't done what we need to do in that area. And we really have to at this point in time, I liken it to, you know, if you've got a road that comes into your town, and it's the only way into your town, you've got to maintain that road, and there comes a point in time, if you have some growth, you've got to make it wider. And, you know, if you don't, people aren't going to come to your town and I view education facilities, you know, basically as critical infrastructure kind of like that road, we have to maintain them, we have to expand them when at certain times if we expect to grow and prosper and be an attractive community.
 
James Bell 
Yeah, and something we've talked about the past is, you know, while we talk about these facilities, and in there need to be either repaired, replaced, etc. One of the things that, that I think a lot of people have come to realize is it's not necessarily an issue of we weren't taking care of the facilities, they are just aging out.
 
Grow Hays executive director Doug Williams 
Well, there's a little of both. I mean, I think over time, you know, there was discussion with the 489 candidates about the capital outlay account, and there's a certain percentage, I think 6% or eight, six Mills or eight Mills per year is to go to capital outlay and that hasn't always been appropriated to capital outlay, you know, previous boards and administrations have chosen to use that in some other ways. When they had funding shortfalls. In other areas. They took some of that capital outlay money and reallocated it to other areas, sometimes I think, maybe salaries or some different things there. I don't think they're doing that now they've re committed that that funding to capital type projects. But the point being, we haven't passed a significant bond since 1978.
 
James Bell 
Which is highly unusual. Typically these cycle around 10 years if I remember correctly.
 
Grow Hays executive director Doug Williams 
Ten to 15 years typically, you if you go around to communities all across the state, you will see virtually all of them with more modernized facilities than we have in USD 489. And, you know, it's just been too long, there was a there was a bond passed in, I think the early 90s for some HVAC, at maybe the high school or someplace else. But beyond that we haven't passed a significant bond for significant improvements for 40 years. And we're we're long overdue, and we just have to make these investments on occasion. And, you know, the first bite of the apple is a tough one to take, because that's where we experience the cost. Once you have a bond in place, and you're paying for it over time, you can add to that bond later without changing the monthly financial outgo. It's, so we've got to take this first step. Yeah, that's the tough one. But the reality is, it really isn't a choice anymore, I know it's going to be a vote, I know people are going to have a choice. But I continue to say you're going to pay it one way or the other, you're going to pay it through the taxes that will need to be generated to pay those payments on a bond, or you're gonna pay it because of lost opportunity and growth and shrinking tax base where your taxes go up anyway, because you have not grown your tax base, and you've got fewer and fewer taxable assets to spread that over. So we just have to do this, it's not really an option anymore, in my opinion.
 
James Bell 
Okay. You know, I'm wondering, without asking you to speak for any of the candidates that were there, you know, on the city candidate side, does it did it feel like that generally, everybody's kind of in support of some sort of bond?
 
Grow Hays executive director Doug Williams 
Sure seemed like it to me, I think every I think every candidate came out and said that they believe that this is something that needs to happen. And some of them had it as a higher priority than others. But I think all of them collectively believe that a bond is critical to the future of our community.
 
James Bell 
Very good. And I did not exclude the school board candidates, but I believe I'd read at this point that they had all stated some support for bond as well,
 
Grow Hays executive director Doug Williams 
I believe that's true, they did you know, the challenge is what type of bond, how big, what's it going to include, and that's where that's where you start running into the trouble. And I've told a lot of different people. You know, I've had people tell me, if this bond includes a new building, I'm not going to vote for it, because I want to remodel the old ones. Or if it includes the closing of a particular school, I'm not going to vote for it. And, and we need to get over that we need to understand that we we need to support, there's a group in place that's trying to develop the best possible way forward, we need to support their decision, you know, they're not going about this lightly, they're not going to, you know, they're not making crazy recommendations, they're looking at what's best for our community, they're taking their time, and they're, you know, putting their expertise into it. And we need to be supportive of that, even though it may not have either everything we had or maybe a little bit different than something that that we think it should have, we need to understand that it's for the benefit of the overall and that's why we need to support what this group comes up with.
 
James Bell 
Very good, you know, now moving a little bit away from the education piece of you know, housing, and some we talk about a lot. I wonder if you want to share some some thoughts there as well?
 
Grow Hays executive director Doug Williams 
Well, they obviously housing continues to be a critical factor. I talked to a realtor yesterday, and there's 31 homes in the market in Hays, and then very, very few in Ellis of Victoria, there's just no inventory to choose from. And that's our Achilles heel as well as the educational facilities. We're trying to get some things done on that, you know, we've got our RHID project east of the Technical College, there's four homes that have broken ground out there, they're still you can't see him coming up out of the ground yet. That's where where I want to get to the point where you can see actual progress, you know, sticks coming up out of the ground, they're doing foundation work, pouring slabs. But very quickly, you will see things coming up out of the ground. But I think what we need to understand is that this while we're taking proactive measures to deal with some of this, we're still way behind. And if you look at the housing need for a community like Hays, we haven't built enough homes for the last 10 years in a year to what we really need. And so we're, we're well behind what we need. And if we would like to have some growth, which we think there's opportunity for we're not we're gonna have to step it up not only make up that past shortfall, but get ahead of the game on how many we build each year. And we need both homes and we need apartments and market rate apartments and that type of thing. So we're constantly working on trying to promote that in the community. I think we've got some good things going on with the development east of the Technical College, the Heart of America development in the retiree community we're talking about and then we're also talking to some developers on some apartment complexes and that kind of thing. So I think we've got some things in the works. Unfortunately, they just take a while to come together.
 
James Bell 
You know, I'm curious, you know, even if someone were to be elected to the city commission, or the school board, I suppose you could say either one and, and really want to push that agenda of getting the more housing into Ellis County? How much power? Do they actually have to do that? Or is that better suited for an organization like yourself?
 
Grow Hays executive director Doug Williams 
Well, I think both, I think they have power to do that, in a couple of ways. One is they fund organizations like ours, which we go out, and we try and make these things happen. So that's critical. And then the other is that they they offer some incentives for developers to build these projects. You know, that's, that's the city, the also the, the county participates in those incentives and the school district, in the case of the RHID project, the Heart of America development, you know, the city approved that RHID, but then the county and the school board both had the option to veto it if they wanted to, because they're both affected by the taxes that they do not receive on that project for 25 years, or until the investor gets his infrastructure costs back is how that works. And so they're critically important, both in the funding of organizations like Grow Hays and the approval of incentives.
 
James Bell 
Okay. And again, you know, I don't want you to speak for any of the candidates. But did you hear anything? That was either surprised you, I suppose, to the the high end support side or to the I don't think this is a good idea to support those kind of programs from any of the candidates?
 
Grow Hays executive director Doug Williams 
Not really, I, you know, I think that there's Hays from a city commission standpoint, Hays has traditionally been quite conservative in the use of incentives. And I think this commission now recognizes that, while they don't want to just openly give away the farm, so to speak, they understand that that's the way the game is played. That's what you have to do to be competitive. And so I don't think any of them feel like, No, I don't want to do that, or that's a bad idea. Or we should only do this in dire circumstances, I think they're proactive in what they want to do, in terms of the use of incentives, they want to be responsible. But I believe that their mindset is where it needs to be in offering this to prospective developers and helping the community get some of these projects going, which it takes these incentives to do.
 
James Bell 
Okay, Doug well, got just a couple of minutes left, we want to shift gears and talk a little bit about something we talked about, I think, a couple weeks ago, you've got a new position that you've opened up down there, it's the director of retirement and recruitment, or maybe recruitment and retainment, there you go. But today is the last day for that those applications to come in.
 
Grow Hays executive director Doug Williams 
That's correct, we are we are closing the receipt of applications. As of today, we've had overwhelming interest, which is terrific, awesome, we've got I think, 17 applications we've received. So that's terrific, we've got some great applicants, you know, the, the hard part now is going through, there deciding who is the best fit for the position, and then telling 16 people that we chose somebody else. That's the difficult part. But we've got some great applicants, hoping to get a few more before the end of the day. And looking forward to we're gonna take a couple weeks to go through the applications and then start interviewing some people and then hopefully make a decision in early November on that position and get somebody started. So we can start a more proactive effort in recruitment, as well as retainment of the businesses that we have.
 
James Bell 
Very cool. How long after someone gets into that role do you expect cuz I mean, there's always a training period with a new job no matter what the job is, but how long until we start to see, you know, I don't know if this is the right word, but results from the new position,
 
Grow Hays executive director Doug Williams 
That results word.
 
James Bell 
Return on investment.
 
Grow Hays executive director Doug Williams 
Well, you know, probably six months to a year, economic development is challenging because it is a slow moving process. And but, you know, we're adding this position because we want more focus in that area. And we want results. And you know, I, when I went before the city Commission and the county commission and ask them for additional funding for 2022 for this position, you know, I said, we need to produce results. And sometime in 2022 or early 2023, we need to be able to come forth and say, This is what we have accomplished. And along the way we need to be able to tell him what we're doing. Now, this is who we've talked to, these are the efforts we've gotten placed into the programs that we're working on with existing businesses on succession planning and on helping them with any expansion plans they have, you know, we need to be a value to the city, county those who find us are private investors and offer a return on investments exactly as you say, and that's what we intend to do.
 
James Bell 
Excellent. Well, Doug, we've got to get over to news but good luck with the search. Any last thoughts real quick before we go?
 
Grow Hays executive director Doug Williams 
Well just Hays High Homecoming this weekend. As an old Hays High guy. I welcome everybody back and hope it's a safe and, and happy homecoming.

Cottonwood Extension district to launch Stay Strong Stay Healthy

On this episode of the Post Podcast Cottonwood Extension District agent, Bernie Unruh shares information about the upcoming Stay Strong Stay Healthy program.
 
Transcript
 
James Bell  The cottonwood extension district is set to kick off their Stay Strong Stay Healthy program a little bit later on in the month. Cottonwood Extension District agent Bernie Unruh stops by to talk to us about that and more on this episode of the post podcast,
Cottonwood Extension District agent Bernie Unruh  I have been so impressed with the benefits that have that people have seen from starting in this program. So we haven't had it here in Hays we started over last year.
James Bell  Oh, okay. So a year ago, even so, yes, so some of our listeners probably are familiar with this already.
Cottonwood Extension District agent Bernie Unruh  Definitely. Um, I mean, and it's going on in Kansas for probably five to seven years. And so stay strong, stay healthy, as we say middle-aged adults 55 to 60. So I guess if you're middle, if you make it to 100, then yeah, that was 50-year-olds look young. So we are starting a class on October 26. At the extension office here in Hays, we'll be in the back meeting room. And it is designed to last for eight weeks. So we'll meet 16 times for an hour, twice a week. And just over that time period, we were so fortunate to see some really good changes in people, they just became stronger. They are supposed to. The idea is to do it every other day, do strengthening every other day walk, you can still walk every day, but just to get people up and moving. And you know how easy it is to go home and sit in your recliner. And maybe you don't do that. But 
James Bell  No that's exactly what I do. 
Cottonwood Extension District agent Bernie Unruh  Yeah, if you go home and you sit down and you don't get up and get moving, then your body just, it relaxes and nothing. There's no metabolism happening. There's nothing happening. So sitting is our worst disease.
James Bell  Yeah, and I don't it doesn't take long right to get yourself unhealthy if you're in that mindset of not exercising or not, at least going out and being active doing something.
Cottonwood Extension District agent Bernie Unruh  So we do some stretching exercises at the beginning. And then there is a program. And so we start out pretty easy, really only doing five repetitions, repetitions of a strengthening. And so I mean, we do the upper body and the lower body, I mean, the very first thing we do is stand up and sit down and stand up and sit down five times. And then a couple of weeks later, we're doing six times and then eight times and then 10 times and then doing 10 times twice. So it's amazing how you can increase over the eight weeks, it's a, it really is a great program, very evidence-based Missouri is who brought it to Kansas. And I think Missouri works with eight other states. So it's moving across the nation. 
James Bell  Very cool. 
Cottonwood Extension District agent Bernie Unruh  Stay strong, stay healthy,
James Bell  Like it. 
Cottonwood Extension District agent Bernie Unruh  Yeah. 
James Bell  So how do you get involved in this program?
Cottonwood Extension District agent Bernie Unruh  We have registration forms at our office, and we'll get them on our website. And also on our Facebook page. They do each participant if you sign up has to fill out a questionnaire so we kind of know where you're at. So you know, you could be a person that is seriously not doing hardly any exercise, being pretty sedentary. And we can still have you come and get started. But we do kind of want to know where you're at. So if we do, I'm going to say that every physician is going to say, yes, you need to do this, we've never had a physician say no, you're not doing this, even if you have to have a walker in front of you, and you have to hang on. Or if you have to have a chair, we can get a chair that has hands-on, you know, so you could push yourself up, but we just have to get your body moving. And so it can be at many levels, you know, we're not going to get down on the floor and do push-ups. We're not going to, you know, do jumping jacks, it's it starts pretty slow. And then we do cool down at the end. And so it does last about an hour in the beginning. We're a little bit shorter, but I also include lots of nutrition and other I guess encouragement to walk every other day if you're doing strengthening every other day. 
James Bell  Okay, yeah, just kind of mixing it up. All right, so you get the benefits of both.
And I'm not going to use names. But there were a couple of gals well there were just people who really encouraged each other. So we were in a discussion I asked them what they were most thankful for. It was getting close to Thanksgiving last year. And the one person said I went to a doctor appointment yesterday and he said, I am better now today than I have been for the entire last year. And I saw this gal six months later and she was continuing to do the exercises with someone in the area where she lived. And she was no longer using a walker. So it was very encouraging and her strength improved and her balance improved greatly. 
James Bell  That's amazing. 
Cottonwood Extension District agent Bernie Unruh  Yeah, so it is $20 because we do have handouts and if somebody has weights they want to bring we start out with two-pound weights they can do if they want to start out with five pounds weights but we have two, three and five-pound weights that people can use and just leave at the office and then we also have leg weights so in case. You make the choice of how much you want to do and how quickly you want to move up and how much you want to increase in weight.
James Bell  Yeah but you never want to rush it right, you want to know incrementally.
Cottonwood Extension District agent Bernie UnruhIt is very it's nice and easy and slow it but it will wear you you know even the first time if you haven't been doing anything the first time I was like wow I should have started you know working on this a little bit.
James Bell  You should have been like, you're like a teacher that's really the students just like a few days been like just a couple of workouts ahead.
Cottonwood Extension District agent Bernie UnruhYeah, yeah but it does help get you moving and then you also meet more people who are kind of in the same situation that you are so you have this motivation to not give up like we should never give up.
James Bell  Well, yeah and I want to ask about that, the group nature of it I think that's gonna be really powerful for exactly what you're talking about right the motivation piece.
Cottonwood Extension District agent Bernie UnruhDefinitely, yeah. And everybody was so encouraging. We usually had a topic of the day where they had to walk kind of to take their mind off of oh this is difficult. I usually had a topic of the day so they could learn a little bit more about each other so they could visit with each other and it wasn't so personal that you had to tell everything about your life but it was just to learn a little bit more about each other.
James Bell  Very cool, very cool. I love it. So how many people is or is this going to be limited? Or are you just taking it on.
Cottonwood Extension District agent Bernie Unruh  Oh, we probably would cut it off because of the size of our room to 15 people.
James Bell  Okay, so if you're interested don't wait too long to get signed right?  Yes, call our office 628-9430 or you know, you can stop by the Extension Office, were at 601 main we're pretty easy to find. Excellent. I love it. And that sounds like such a cool program. But before we run out of time, we got to switch gears we were I was trying to look this up while you were talking a little bit on my computer here. Mental health, mental health. It's important all year, obviously. But there is a mental health month we can't figure out which month it is.
Cottonwood Extension District agent Bernie UnruhI think it's important any month and especially when we come into the holidays I mean sometimes it is more difficult for people around Thanksgiving or around Christmas and then maybe even after the new year that is just such a rush of everybody's doing things and you really don't stop to either take care of yourself or maybe not even notice somebody who is having a hard time.
James Bell  Yeah well and also the seasonal I'm gonna screw this up but the seasonal affective darn it or something like that where the light you know being inside starts to bring you down.
Cottonwood Extension District agent Bernie UnruhThe nights get longer and for some people who are at home not able to get out those evenings can be really long. So yeah, for any age group, and so managing stress. Gosh, one way is to exercise another way really is to stay connected with someone and so there was a seminar that I went to and I thought this was really cool that you know to start your day you should text, if you text, text two people before 10 o'clock text two before 10 and just stay connected with, if it's not a family member you know a close friend or acquaintance and see if you can make some connections with people, so those two things are really important but even um there's you know, different kinds of meditation but if you enjoy reading of you. I enjoy sewing and I can sit down at my sewing machine. And that's a better place to set than in front of the TV in my recliner. So find something that relaxes you and you get to kind of go into you probably do music, just go into your own little mode and not worry about the things that are out there in the big wide world that bother you.
James Bell  Absolutely I tell you so I was a music student in college, I was a percussion student. I still have my drum set up and on those days and after the morning show even every once in a while we get a stressful morning show and not because of the guests but just because things maybe aren't going correct with the technology here. But yeah go home and just jam out for 5-10 minutes and feel better. 
Cottonwood Extension District agent Bernie Unruh  Yeah, you have to find your little spark that gives you that encouragement and motivation to keep going but you know if there is a person that really is so overwhelmed, there is help out there. I mean I highly appreciate our High Plains Mental Health Center and I know they put out some short videos I think Eagle communications helped them with those and one of them was caring for yourself but also watching your kids and helping them cope and so High Plains Mental Health is definitely a place but there's also you know if nothing else call 911 and they'll have a phone number for you you can call you know a suicide helpline or there's also a texting if you'd like to text. You can just text to this number and they will they will text with you and keep you get you through the really rough times.
James Bell  Yeah, but that I mean the important thing is making that contact. 
Cottonwood Extension District agent Bernie Unruh  It is. 
James Bell  It's reaching out to somebody and there shouldn't be any stigma or embarrassment it's you know we've all been in those situations where things aren't going well and yes you're down and as soon as you recognize that that's a good time to say like, you know what, I should talk to somebody.
Yes, the first I think the very first thing to remember is that everybody has stress it's just how you handle it. So we all have stress if you know and watch for the signs ahead of time, then you can prepare yourself to say okay, I need to do something for myself. I need to do something to relax or you know, get myself back down to a level.
James Bell  Absolutely.
Cottonwood Extension District agent Bernie Unruh   Okay. 
James Bell  Well, Bernie, tell you we've got to get over the weather but any other thoughts before we go?
Cottonwood Extension District agent Bernie UnruhOh, just give us a call. If you're interested in the stay strong, stay healthy or even if you have some questions about emotional wellness.

HPD reminds residents to be cautious driving on Halloween

On this episode of the Post Podcast Hays Police Department, Lt. Tim Greenwood talks about Haloween safety.
 
Transcript
James Bell  The Hays Police Department wants everyone to have a fun but safe holiday this Halloween weekend Lt. Tim Greenwood stops by to talk a little bit about Halloween safety on this episode of The Post Podcast.
HPD Lt. Tim Greenwood  Yeah absolutely, Haloween safety.
James Bell  Yeah, it always adds a layer of complexity when you're out there driving or even just kind of walking around town to I would imagine.
HPD Lt. Tim Greenwood  You know that's the big thing that I want to touch on is the challenges we have from a law enforcement perspective surrounding Halloween always come between pedestrians and vehicles and you know that's a scary good way to ruin an awesome holiday is for those accidents to take place.
James Bell  We get pretty lucky here in Hays though I think, don't we? Like there hasn't been, that I remember over the last few years, any major accidents or incidents on Halloween.
HPD Lt. Tim Greenwood  We do pretty good. We have had some in my career that unfortunately didn't turn out so well. But yeah, for the most part, we do have good drivers just gotta have that reminder every now and then the big one is to put the phone down whether you're a pedestrian or whether you're out with the kids you know enjoying the festivities that go along with the holiday got to put that phone down Don't be driving and looking at the photos or calling the next house you're driving to or whatnot but the dang phone down.
James Bell  That's good advice just in general I think.
HPD Lt. Tim Greenwood  Absolutely. So you know and we do a really good job for the most part with our pedestrian staying on the sidewalk and you know crossing at the corners. Parents good reminder if you're sending your kids out without going with them. Make sure not only looking for those cars but make eye contact with the drivers whenever possible on that corner. So that driver sees you it's really easy to get distracted especially if they're looking for a house number trying to remember where you know Joe or Bob or whoever they're going to which houses there's got to make sure they're paying attention especially pulling in out of those driveways too. You know that's always a danger zone for us.
James Bell  Yeah, yeah. So you know for those kiddos what's uh you know, I think that a lot of that relies on them being visible any thoughts or anything you want to share on that front?
HPD Lt. Tim Greenwood  Yeah, that's a great point make sure that those costumes are brightly colored there's a lot of highly reflective costumes out there and if you're going with the traditional witch or Goblin or whatnot that's kind of dark and mysterious make them put some of that reflective tape on you know their hands or ankles a little bit around their neck so they are reflective and visible. Got a lot of these Oh, glow sticks we used to call them I'm not sure what the official term is. But you're cracking me shake them up and they're they you know they glow kids like having fun with those and they are helping keep those kids safe when they're walking in the low light hours.
James Bell  Okay.
HPD Lt. Tim Greenwood  So another big thing if your kids are out walking really consider not wearing masks but going with the makeup it's those masks often fall down and you know when they're all excited about the candy and their friends and whatnot. It's really easy to get distracted by a mask whereas that makeup doesn't obstruct your vision near as much and is not near as problematic when you're out trick or treating.
James Bell  Yeah, absolutely I remember I think it was maybe two years ago we had a pretty strong wind and one of my kids had a mask on and that's exactly what's happening but it just kept getting blown around and so instead of walking while watching where she was walking she was watching the mask and trying to figure that out.
HPD Lt. Tim Greenwood  And we used to have in our family used as a rule you put the mask down you hit two steps for the porch other than that take that mask off so you can see so we don't lose it you know that kind of thing so just another one of those good general safety practices.
James Bell  Very good yeah nothing groundbreaking or difficult. It's really just kind of common sense stuff that keeps everybody safe and on holidays like this. 
HPD Lt. Tim Greenwood  Absolutely. You know the just those subtle reminders that you know, we got to do our part to help keep everybody safe. Police Department's going to be out there they're going to be working if you need something you can always holler at a police officer for some assistance. But yeah, do your part and help the community stay safe.
James Bell  Very good. Do you guys do enhanced enforcement on that day I mean and I don't mean for the kiddos and I'm not even sure which maybe you know which day Halloween is on this year is 
HPD Lt. Tim Greenwood  I believe it's on a Sunday this year.
James Bell  Okay so probably not a lot of parties going on that Sunday.
HPD Lt. Tim Greenwood  No, but I tell you what, it's always a good party, if you will, a good party night. Typically the Saturday before Halloween will see a lot of it's when he some of your bar scenes to the costume parties and that kind of thing or, or just your house parties turned into a costume party. So we do tend to do some saturation patrols on those nights that's where we have officers come in on overtime and their emphasis is to deter and detect impaired drivers. So you will see some increased activity out there. And Halloween the ghouls and goblins can get a little crazy sometimes. We've had some notable Halloweens in the past, always an exciting time to be a police officer, one of those fun weekends to work, if you will. But speaking of which we are needing more police officers. So if you're thinking about a career change, or you're a roofer that's got a pretty good record and thinking about a career change. Go to Haysusa.com and fill out an application. We need some good people out here.
James Bell  Absolutely. And you'd be joining a group good group of people. 
HPD Lt. Tim Greenwood  Absolutely. 
James Bell  At least every one I've met down there.
HPD Lt. Tim Greenwood  It's a good place to work. I enjoy it. 
James Bell  Absolutely. All righty, sir. Well, anything else? People should know about Halloween before we move on?
HPD Lt. Tim Greenwood  You know, I think we hit all the big spots and like you said, common sense dictates you know, just be careful and I've said it at least six times, if not more. Put the phone down. You know, you get those snapshots at home, put the phone down, have fun with the kids, watch for kids and make sure it stays a safe and happy home.

Hays Young Professionals helps connect business community

On this episode of the Post Podcast, Hays Chamber administrative assistant Marlis Fletcher along with Hays Young Professionals member Natalie Ellis talk about the HYP group and more.

TMP-M students learn value of soft skills with new intuitive

On this episode of the Post Podcast, Thomas More Prep-Marian principal Chad Meitner shares updates from the school.

Heartland Community Foundation launches fall grant cycle

On this episode of the Post Podcast Heartland Community Foundation executive director Sarah Meitner shares the latest from the foundation.

Development around I-70 exit 157 continues

On this episode Grow Hays executive director Doug Williams shares the latest from the ongoing development at the intersection of the Hwy. 183 Bypass and Interstate 70.

Ellis organizations preparing for holiday season

On this episode of the Post Podcast Ellis Alliance executive director Sophia Henrickson shares updates from the Ellis business community.

Ellis County Sherriff warns of increasing scammer activity

On this episode of the Post Podcast Ellis County Sheriff Scott Braun shares information about area scams activity.

Ellis County COVID-19 update: Oct. 8, 2021

On this episode of the Post Podcast Ellis County Health Services Director Jason Kennedy shares recent information about COVID-19 in Ellis County.
 
Transcript
 
 
Jason Kennedy  Yeah, absolutely. You know, and it is, it is not just a local trend, it is a statewide trend and a in a nationwide trend. That is obviously good. Less cases, less impacts. We've, you know, we've talked about this many, many times. But I think what has been lost in the entire COVID pandemic is the fact that the numbers are not the important part it is the the individuals the impact and that kind of stuff. So as we as we look at the numbers, less numbers means less impacts our communities, less people infected less people sick. And those are all good things for our community.
James Bell  Absolutely. You know, I wonder if you want to speak to you know, and I know there's there's probably a million different ideas out there, and everybody's talking about why but I wonder kind of, if you want to share with us what your reasoning, or what you're thinking is is to the reasoning of that lowering number?
Jason Kennedy  Sure, I don't know. You know, it's, the simple answer is No one knows. Nobody, nobody truly has a, I guess a crystal ball or can or can look into it right now or can look back at the data and aggregate it and say, this absolutely is the cause of this. Even as you look at at the statewide trend maps, you look and they show like when this when this vaccine came out when that vaccine came out when when these restrictions went away. And and in all reality, not much of that stuff corresponds with a giant change in cases. What we do know is that there is a giant change in reduction in hospitalizations and mortality once we got the vaccines out. That is that is a number that we can literally put your finger on and say yep, once we started vaccinating people, we stopped seeing hospitalizations of vaccinated people, we stopped seeing deaths of vaccinated people. And our enter mortality dropped off. As far as cases and waves of cases this stuff does seem to be does seem to come in cyclic waves, what we've seen is, you know, two to three weeks, early on in the pandemic, they will last a little bit longer. But that was because there was more people that hadn't had exposure to the virus. But it does seem to come in different waves where we see we see an increase in cases for a period of time then we see a waning or a decrease in cases back down to a hopefully low baseline of cases where we're we're, you know, down in that one to two cases a day. That's been no different with Delta. The good news with Delta is what we've seen is it's it's not as deadly. We have not seen the high mortality rate and the mortality rates skyrocketing like we did with with the previous versions, likely that is due to compounding factor so that is due to exposure. Obviously anytime we're exposed to a virus, our body mounts an immune response that immune response helps to limit the impact of that virus the next time we see it. You can do that through exposure you can do that through vaccinations. Right now we have both going on. We you know it's it's unlikely for me to believe that there's about anyone in this country right now that hasn't had some exposure to COVID at some point and we have a with a fairly decent amount of people that have been vaccinated so we are we are fighting the virus or or mounting the immune response really on two fronts with vaccination and exposure. So all of those factors really come together to mean that Delta was less impactful in Ellis County. The case rates stayed far below what we saw last year at the exact same time and the mortality thankfully. So like we've talked about is really the the worst outcome from a from a viruses is the morbidity mortality. So as we look at it, and we you know, what are the long term effects and and did it how many people did it did it, unfortunately, succumb to it. And so, with Delta, we've seen that to be really low in Ellis County. So that's that is the good news with this our case rates are falling off or case rates say well below the pace that we had last year at this exact same time, likely because half the population is vaccinated and the other half of the population has probably had some level of exposure. Now, that's not to say that they've actually had it or would have tested positive, but they've had some level of exposure. Minor amounts of exposure still mount a minor immune response, but it's still your body has recognition, it can hopefully fight it off better than next time.
James Bell  Okay, you know, you mentioned the exposure piece. And and they kind of want to talk about this, because it's something that I've been super curious about, it's one of the things that we heard about, you know, real, a lot at the beginning of the pandemic, and that's herd immunity. And I think that kind of touches on what you're speaking to, if I'm, if I'm understanding it correctly, it's an exposure piece. And you know, well, we've only have about half of the country of four numbers I heard this morning, fully vaccinated, I think it's 70% or so that at least they had one shot. So they've got some of that as well. And then I just got to believe that so many people have been exposed that we're kind of almost to that point. I mean, who knows, exactly, but I don't know, do you think, am I missing the mark here, or does that sound kind of accurate?
Jason Kennedy  Oh, you know, herd immunity has gotten such a such a bad rap, because it really identifies you with a political belief. Like everything else, masking and I mean, it's everything, your stance is based on a political belief, and that is just not how medicine works. We, we don't, you know, you probably wouldn't, wouldn't want to go to a doctor that this says, 'Hey, I only I only cure your cancer one way because because I'm a Republican,' like, that's, that's not the doctor you want to go to, you want to go to the doctor that says, hey, 'We look at all we look at all the cures, we look at all the treatments, and I use mine medical knowledge, my my, my judgment, all my schooling, to pick the best medical treatments for you.' And so what we have done with with COVID-19 medicine is we've sort of taken a political viewpoint, and then said, 'You know what, everyone else is a quack.' And it doesn't matter what side you're on. And so that is unfortunate. And herd immunity is one of those casually, and it's one of those ones that identifies you with a political belief. Now, the problem with with herd immunity or, or adopting like early on adopting a herd immunity strategy, where we just say, hey, our strategy is grip it and rip it. That is the that is that is going to lead to the highest amount of mortality in the shortest amount of timeframe. If no measures were put in place, we said, 'You know what, we're not doing vaccines, we're not doing anything, we're just going to let everybody get it.' Well, that's going to lead to to an excessively high mortality. So that's why you want to reach herd immunity through vaccination, through minor amounts of exposure. And you want to get there slower, or in a more controlled process so that you, you don't have this extremely high mortality. So while I don't know, no one knows what the number is for herd immunity, I, you know, Dr. Fauci was out, you know, it's 80%, then it was 70%, then it was 83%, then it was 92. The number has changed everywhere. So so no one no one knows what that point is. But I do believe that we are at a point where we have had enough levels of either exposure, or we have enough vaccination, that we're reaching a point where there is less people to be infected. Now, less people doesn't mean no people. And so what I have not seen from the state, or really the federal level is what is our strategy to mitigate this virus. Is it a zero COVID strategy, like is still being attempted in China in some of our socialist countries, where they say, you know, we will at all costs locked down, shut down, do everything we need to to make sure that there is no COVID? Is it a live with it type of COVID strategy, like Sweden adopted early on where we say, 'Hey, we're going to do some things to try and mitigate it. But we're going to understand that we can't control this virus. And we're going to try to protect the at risk the elderly, that type of stuff?' Or is it just that we're lost, and we have no idea what our strategy is, and we're, we're all individually fighting this on our own. And each state is doing whatever it wants, based on his political beliefs? Which is my belief of what our current COVID strategy is in this country. It is whatever your political beliefs are, is where you're going to stand and you'll do everything you can to uphold that political ideology, regardless of if medicine matters or not. And so that's that is that is unfortunately what what I've seen from the national level that is unfortunately what I've seen from the state level is we had no strategy. And so what I will tell you this strategy in Ellis county is that we are going to have to live with this virus. And what that means is it will never go away, we will never reach a level of vaccination or never a level of control where we will stamp out this virus indefinitely. It will be here, it will continue to circulate. My goal is to limit mortality. So mortality is obviously the worst outcome from any virus. So how do we limit mortality, and that is to vaccinate the population 65 and over, but really the population 50 and over are the ones that are being hospitalized are the ones that are still having, unfortunately succumbing to this virus. So vaccinating that population, continuing to just make some some decent choices. You know, if you're 65 and have preexisting medical conditions, probably not a good time to hit up the bars and maybe do beerbongs with all your buddies, like, it's just which probably shouldn't do that anyways, but it's, you know, making some of those smart choices as we as we move forward, getting vaccinated. Trying to continue those good hygiene measures as far as cleanliness, washing your hands, we can do everything in excess, do not do not Clorox your entire house every hour, like you do need some exposure to some of the viruses and bacteria that are out there. You know, but But getting back to a healthy lifestyle and eating healthy exercise. Public Health has missed its mark and its opportunity through this through this virus to say, hey, this virus has has shown us that that the underbelly of this country is not good. We are overweight. We are diabetic. We have we eat terrible. We don't exercise enough. We have too much stress, too many pressures. This has definitely opened up the void of suicide, mental health. You know, for the last six months, my question has been are we fighting the wrong pandemic. We're still battling this virus, but we are seeing the rates of homicide, suicide, just general unhealthy population cancers, all of that stuff is running rampant heart disease, diabetes, running unchecked. And so we need to use this opportunity to realize that that our country is unhealthy, physically unhealthy, mentally unhealthy, and we need to focus on that if we want to get through an out of this pandemic and the associated pandemic problems.
 

Forward Ever: Stemm Fire Foundation president Lindsay Schmidt

On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times host Gary Shorman speaks with Stemm Fire founder and president Lindsay Schmidt.