FHSU University Relations

Homecoming 2016 at Fort Hays State University marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the FHSU Alumni Association.

This weekend’s celebration of Homecoming 2016 — “Welcome to Tiger Town” — will include a special celebration at 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 30, in the Memorial Union.

The special program and refreshments will feature photos and other memorabilia from throughout the years. The fourth installment of the “Journey” murals will be unveiled in the Sunset Atrium.

THURSDAY, Sept. 29
Tiger Alumni & Friends Golf Tournament
8 a.m. registration; 9:30 a.m. shotgun start, Smoky Hill Country Club, 3303 Hall

Tiger Bonfire & Pep Rally
7:30 p.m., Robbins Center (east lawn)
Join members of the football team and coaches, the FHSU Marching Band, the cheerleaders, the 2016 Alumni Award recipients and the Homecoming King/Queen candidates as the Tigers prepare to take on the Lindenwood University Lions. Sponsored by Tigers4Ever & Greek Life.

FRIDAY, Sept. 30
Dane G. Hansen Entrepreneurial Hall dedication
8:30 a.m., Dane G. Hansen Scholarship Hall

100-year Celebration & “Journey” Mural Unveiling
10 a.m. social, Memorial Union

Oktoberfest
11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Frontier Park, South Main Street

Half Century Club Luncheon & Induction
11 a.m. social; noon luncheon, Memorial Union

Campus Walking Tour
2 p.m., Memorial Union

Class of 1956 & 1966 Reunion Social and Tour of Campus and Hays
2:30 p.m. tour (meet in Sunset Lounge); 3:30 p.m., social, Memorial Union

Biological Sciences Reunion Reception
3-5 p.m., Robbins Center

Alumni Awards & Recognition Banquet
6 p.m. social, 7 p.m. banquet, Memorial Union

SATURDAY, Oct. 1
5K Tiger Run/Walk
6:30 a.m. registration, 7:30 a.m. race, Robbins Center

Class of 1956 Reunion Breakfast
8 a.m. breakfast, 9 a.m. board parade vehicle, Pioneer Room, Memorial Union

Class of 1966 Reunion Breakfast
8 a.m. breakfast, 9 a.m. board parade vehicle, Stouffer Lounge, Memorial Union

Biological Sciences Reunion Breakfast
8 to 9:30 a.m., Black and Gold Room, Memorial Union

Homecoming Parade
10 a.m., Main Street

Biological Sciences Reunion Campus & Department Tour
10 to 11:30 a.m., Memorial Union and Albertson Hall, room 303

Biological Sciences Reunion Luncheon & Behind the Scenes Tour
Noon, Sternberg Museum of Natural History, 3000 Sternberg Drive

FHSU vs. Lindenwood University Football
1 p.m. pre-game ceremonies, 2 p.m. kickoff, Lewis Field Stadium

KDWPT

At 9 a.m. Oct. 8, the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism will host an Angler Educator Certification Course at Fort Hays State University’s Albertson Hall ,Room 305. The KDWPT is looking for volunteers who would like to pass on their love of fishing, and the outdoors.

Due to budget cuts and staff reductions, the KDWPT is unable to meet all of its goals in the area for angler education without help from volunteers. So, just over three years ago, the Angler Education program using volunteers was started. The first certification class was taught at the Great Plains Nature Center in Wichita in 2013. Basically, the KDWPT is trying to do for angling what Hunters Ed has done for hunting.  To do this they need to build an army of volunteers.

David Breth is the Coordinator for Aquatic Education with the KDWPT.  He will be one of the instructors at the certification course. He maybe reached at [email protected] or (620) 672-5911.

There are currently around 400 instructors in the state of Kansas. The vast majority are in the eastern part, with only a handful living more than 25 miles west of I-135. There has only be one other class taught west of Salina and that was at Dodge City High School last summer. In an attempt to grow the program in Western Kansas, KDWPT is having the class in Hays and are looking for volunteers.

For more information on the course or how to help, contact Lynn Davignon at [email protected].

Additional details on the program also can be found at fishingsfuture.org.

By GARRETT SAGER
Hays Post

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, with more than five million Americans living with the disease. On Saturday, Oct. 8, Walk to End Alzheimer’s will be hosting an event to raise money and awareness in Hays.

“It’s just a way for people to have hope,” said Jenny Leiker, co-chair of the Hays Walk to End Alzheimer’s.

Registration starts at 10 a.m. and the ceremonies will start at about 11:15 a.m. There is no cost, it is free to start a team and, if you earn $125, you get a free t-shirt. You do not need to form a team to participate, Leiker said. To participate, simply show up at the event and register.

The event is being held at Big Creek Crossing, 2918 Vine.

“This is the first year that we are going to be having this event at Big Creek Crossing, and I am really excited about that,” Leiker said. “They’ve been amazing to work with.”

The event is typically ran at the Robbins Center on the Fort Hays State University campus, but Leiker said the event has outgrown that venue.

“It’s a good problem that we had last year, outgrowing the Robbins Center, plus I really wanted us to get downtown and away from campus because I want the visibility of people seeing us walking because awareness is such a big part of this,” she said.

There are many activities that go on during the event, according to Leiker.

“We have a spirit table, you can sign up for prizes, music will be playing, and we do this promise garden ceremony,” she said.

The promise garden ceremony is a special part of the event, Leiker said.

Participants will get a flower before the walk begins. Each color of flower means a different thing. A blue flower represents someone with Alzheimer’s, a purple flower is for someone who has lost a loved one to Alzheimer’s, a yellow flower represents someone who is currently caring for someone with the disease, and orange is for everyone who supports the cause and vision of living in a world without Alzheimer’s.

“We all plant them together before we walk and come back and have a meal together,” Leiker said.

There are currently about 150 pre-registered walkers split into 30 teams. Most of the people register at the event, according to Leiker. Last year, there were about 290 people and, the year before, 180.

“I would hope, and I expect, we will break that 300 mark this year,” she said.

Because the Hays walk has been so prosperous, the Alzheimer’s Association set what Leiker calls a “lofty goal.”

“The goal is just short of $32,000,” she said.

Currently the Hays walk has raised 25 percent of the goal that was set.

“We were in about the same position last year and it was amazing, that last week people just went nuts and started getting the money in there,” Leiker said. “I’d like to believe it will turn out the same again this year.”

All of the money raised goes to the Alzheimer’s Association for research, caring for those individuals with Alzheimer’s and raising awareness of the disease.

“It’s so important that we continue to raise funds. There is no cure or no way to slow it down or prevent it,” Leiker said.

If you would like to donate to the Alzheimer’s Association and the Hays walk, click here.

Walk to End Alzheimer’s is an event held nationwide with 600 walks happening across the country.

“There’s a couple of communities that use to have one but do not anymore,” said Leiker, “but fact that Hays has been able to grow it so much is what has kept the event here.”

Walk to End Alzheimer’s started in Hays about 10 years ago, according to Leiker, and has been well received by the community.

“The Hays people are amazing. We doubled the size of attendees last year, and I think we are going to blow some records again this year,” Leiker said.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

It’s homecoming week at Hays High School. The 2016 theme is Hometown Hays and the making of a traditional parade float by each class began Sunday.

One tradition will change slightly this year.

Friday afternoon’s homecoming parade route along downtown Main Street will stop short of its usual ending point. The reason–the 44th annual Hays Oktoberfest will also be underway in Hays Municipal Park at the very south end of the parade route. Oktoberfest continues until 7 p.m.

“We’ve been talking to the Hays Police Department about what to do because of the traffic and other stuff downtown and at Oktoberfest,” Assistant HHS Principal Chris Michaelis said. “The parade will be cut a little bit short. We’ll actually stop between 6th and 7th streets.”

Normally, parades traveling south on Main Street continue to 4th Street and stop in front of the Hays Aquatic Park.

Lineup for the 74 entries is at 4 p.m. between 20th and 16th Streets. The parade begins at 5 p.m.

Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism

PRATT – Spring turkey season in Kansas is hugely popular given the seasonably comfortable temperatures and flurry of breeding activity taking place, but the little known secret that fall turkey hunters already know is that the action doesn’t stop come the end of the year.

The 2016 fall turkey hunting season, open Oct. 1 to Nov. 29 and Dec. 12 to Jan. 31, is the perfect opportunity to put a memorable holiday bird on the table at a fraction of the hunting pressure sometimes experienced earlier in the year.

Kansas is divided into six turkey hunting units, and all but one (Unit 4) are open to fall turkey hunting. Hunters who purchase a fall turkey permit, valid in units 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6, may also purchase up to three additional turkey game tags valid in Unit 2. Fall turkey permits and game tags are valid for both male and female turkeys.

All hunters must have a turkey permit and a valid hunting license to hunt turkeys in Kansas. Residents 15 and younger or 75 and older, and hunters hunting on land they own, are exempt from hunting license requirements.

Resident permits are $27.50 for hunters 16 and older and $7.50 for hunters 15 and younger. Resident turkey game tags are $17.50. Nonresident turkey permits are $52.50 and nonresident turkey game tags are $32.50.

For information on turkey hunting regulations, legal equipment, unit maps and public hunting areas, pick up a copy of the 2016 Kansas Hunting and Furharvesting Regulations Summary and 2016 Kansas Hunting Atlas, or visit ksoutdoors.com.

Fall turkey permits and game tags are available wherever licenses are sold and at ksoutdoors.com.