Concordia University

Responding to the 1763 invitation of Catherine the Great for Western Europeans to move to the Russian Empire, more than 30,000 immigrants – mostly Germans – made the trek to the Russian Steppe between 1764 and 1772. Of significance to those whose descendants settled the Western Kansas prairie 110 years later, nine Roman Catholic colonies were founded along the Volga River in 1766: Degott (July 18), Graf (June 10), Herzog (July 14), Katharinenstadt (June 27), Louis (June 14), Mariental (June 16), Rohleder (June 14), Schuck (July 18), and Volmer (July 18).

To celebrate the 250th Anniversary of the establishment of these nine colonies, the Center for Volga German Studies at Concordia University is hosting an all-day seminar series at the Rose Garden Banquet Hall in Hays on Saturday, June 4.

Registration before May 27 is $30 per person; registration after that is $40 per person. Registration includes an authentic Volga German luncheon and all sessions. The public is invited to attend.

Brent Mai, director of the Center for Volga German Studies at Concordia University in Portland, Oregon, will be the speaker for the day. He has spoken world-wide on many topics related to Volga German history and culture. Mai, whose father’s ancestors emigrated from the German colonies along the Volga River, grew up in Western Kansas and holds degrees from Bethany College, George Washington University, the University of Texas at Austin, and Vanderbilt University. He has served as the CVGS Director since the Center was founded in 2004.
Registration will begin at 8:30 a.m., with the first of seven seminar sessions, beginning at 9:00 a.m.:

• Introduction to the Volga Germans and their Heritage
• The Geography of the Volga Germans
• The Volga Germans of South America
• A 250th Anniversary Celebration
• The Volga Germans of South America
• A Day-in-the-Life of the Volga Germans
• Deportation of the Volga Germans in 1941
• The Volga Germans Today.

The day will conclude at 5:30 p.m.

For additional information about the event including parking, accommodations, and sponsorship opportunities, please visit the event website at cvgs.cu-portland.edu/events/2016Jun4.cfm

To register at the early registration rate of $30, visit cu-portland.edu/cvgs-event-registration or call Tanya at 503-493-6369.

ABOUT THE CENTER FOR VOLGA GERMAN STUDIES

The Center for Volga German Studies was founded at Concordia University in 2004. This Center is the only one of its kind in the world and supports research into and preservation of the heritage, history, traditions, and accomplishments of the Volga Germans and their descendants.

Its collections include personal papers of numerous researchers along with historical documents, photographs, church records, books, journals, and maps. The Center seeks knowledge and understanding of the relevance of Volga Germans yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

ABOUT CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY

Concordia University is a private, Lutheran, liberal arts university located in Portland, Oregon, with a mission to prepare leaders for the transformation of society. Founded in 1905, Concordia University-Portland serves more than 9,000 students through its College of Education, College of Health & Human Services, College of Theology, Arts, & Sciences, School of Law, and School of Management.

The Ellis County region just missed another good soaking overnight Sunday, but the heaviest rain during the evening front fell east of the area.

Early reports Monday morning showed a paltry 0.03 inches of rain in the gauge in Hays. Reports from Osborne County showed about a half-inch of rain.

An eastern Kansas tier of counties received a half-inch of rain or more.

Cloudy skies and drizzle are expected to continue this morning, with a possible band of thunderstorms arriving in the area after noon. That precipitation could persist into the early morning hours of Tuesday.

There is a slight chance of additional rain Tuesday and Wednesday, as well.

Click HERE for the complete extended forecast.

Today Showers likely, with thunderstorms also possible after 1pm. Cloudy, with a high near 53. East wind around 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Monday Night Showers and possibly a thunderstorm, mainly before 4am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 4am. Low around 44. East northeast wind 13 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

TuesdayA chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a high near 57. North northeast wind 13 to 17 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Tuesday NightA 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44. North northeast wind 5 to 8 mph.

WednesdayA 20 percent chance of showers between 1pm and 4pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 64.

Wednesday NightMostly cloudy, with a low around 46.

ThursdayA 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 64.

Submitted

The Gove County Medical Center will host an open house from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Monday so members of the community can view the new 64 slice CT machine.

The 64-slice technology is much more precise and offers greater image clarity than the previous 16 slice machine provided. The images are produced quickly and use the lowest dosage of radiation possible to increase safety for patient and hospital staff.

The Somatom 64-slice scanner will offer physicians an accurate diagnostic tool, available in just seconds. appreciate the generous donation of the Dane G. Hansen Foundation which made this purchase possible.

The center said they appreciate the generous donation of the Dane G. Hansen Foundation which made this purchase possible.