The Dane G. Hansen Foundation, Logan, has awarded Fort Hays State University’s Sternberg Museum of Natural History a matching grant of $81,000 to renovate the museum’s fossil preparation lab.
The grant money will be released when the museum raises $81,000 to match the Hansen Foundation gift.
Expanding the preparation lab benefits all who work, visit, volunteer and learn at the museum. The preparation lab is where staff, volunteers and students clean, stabilize and repair fossils for long-term preservation before they are ready for research or exhibit.
“We are thankful for the Dane G. Hansen Foundation’s generosity,” said Dr. Laura Wilson, curator of paleontology at the Sternberg Museum and an assistant professor of geosciences at FHSU.
“The fossil prep lab is a fundamental part of the museum, and this is a fantastic opportunity for us to improve how we serve the public,” she said. “Enlarging and updating the prep lab will allow us to expand our educational resources, create new exhibits, train students and undertake scientific research — all important aspects of the museum’s mission.”
The Sternberg Museum has several initiatives in place or in planning to raise the matching funds. The initiatives include the second annual Spring Gala, slated for 6 p.m. Saturday, April 1, at the museum. Included in the event’s ticket price is a behind-the-scenes tour of their paleontology collection and prep lab.
Additional information, tickets and sponsorship opportunities for the gala are available online at webapps.fhsu.edu/SternbergGala or by contacting Wilson at 785-639-6192 or [email protected].
To support the Sternberg Museum in making its fossil prep lab project a reality, gifts can be made online by visiting https://foundation.fhsu.edu/donate/ and typing “Fossil Prep Lab” as the area of designation.
For more information on how to support this effort, contact the FHSU Foundation at 785-628-5620 or email [email protected].
LINDSBORG -The Bethany College Board of Directors approved the college’s fiscal year 2016 audit report as presented by Swindoll, Janzen, Hawk & Loyd Certified Public Accountants at its spring meeting.
The audit found that the total change in net operating assets improved from a negative of nearly $5.5 million in fiscal year 2015 to a positive of more than $77,000 in fiscal year 2016, according to a media release from the school.
“This is incredible news,” President Will Jones said. “Bethany was able to accomplish this goal thanks to the generous support of our alumni and friends, especially those in our local community.”
Additionally, the audit report confirmed that the college was able to fully fund depreciation expenses while correcting some financial issues from prior years.
“In the current environment facing smaller private colleges, especially those in Kansas, this audit report shows the wise stewardship that Bethany’s leadership team is providing the college,” said Matt Lindsey, president of the Kansas Independent College Association and Fund. “For any KICA college to fully fund depreciation is challenging and is a mark of strength that bodes well the present and future.”
In the auditors’ report to the board, they commended the college for its efforts in increasing contributions and in making a concerted effort to cut expenses.
“The bottom line is very encouraging,” Carol Summervill, senior manager of Swindoll, Janzen, Hawk & Loyd, said. “The hard work of the management team and decisions that were made last year have paid off impressively. It was a successful year and the results can be seen in black and white.”
Corey Peterson ‘84, chair of the Bethany College Board of Directors, added that along with a focused effort on finances, Bethany also committed to providing students a transformative experience.
“Student surveys indicate that it was a very positive year on campus,” he said. “Along with our efforts to reduce Bethany’s expenses, we remained focused on helping our students to be successful.”
Jean Hall, vice president of Finance and Operations, also reported to the board that the college continues to carefully monitor and manage the budget and is confident that the financial progress over the past year will continue.
“This was the first year in many years that the college operated within a balanced budget,” she said. “With board leadership and commitment of administration, faculty and staff, the college passed another balanced budget and is off to a better start in the first six months of this fiscal year than in previous years.”
President Jones added, “The financial turn-around that is happening at Bethany is not complete. We still need our alumni, friends, and churches to continue to provide strong financial support. With this support, I am confident we will be a celebrated college in the Midwest and in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.”
Phillipsburg resident Arleta J. Power died Wednesday, March 8, 2017 at the Morristown Hamblen Hospital in Morristown, TN at the age of 87.
She was born March 20, 1929 in Glade, KS the daughter of Milton & Mary E. (Taylor) Keeten.
Arleta was united in marriage to William D. Power on Sept. 24, 1950 in Phillipsburg, KS. He preceded her in death in 2002. She was also preceded in death by a son, Kirk.
Survivors include her son Mark W. Power of New Port, TN; daughter, BuJean Jenkins of Dandridge, TN; sister, Bettie Bach of Hugoton, KS; 2 grandchildren; 2 step-grandchildren; 1 great grandchild; & 3 step great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. Friday, March 17, 2017 in the United Methodist Church, Phillipsburg, with Pastor Lew Van Der Wege officiating. Burial will follow in the Fairview Cemetery, Phillipsburg.
Mrs. Power will lie in state from Noon until 9 p.m Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday with the family receiving friends Thursday evening for visitation from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, 1115 2nd Street, Phillipsburg, KS 67661.
Memorial contributions may be made to the United Methodist Church Women’s Society or Susan G. Komen for the Cure.
Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, Phillipsburg, in charge of arrangements. Online condolences: www.olliffboeve.com.
The Ellis County Commission approved a resolution banning all outdoor burning in unincorporated areas of the county at Monday’s commission meeting. The resolution adds Ellis to a growing list of counties in western and central Kansas issuing burn bans due to persistent dry conditions.
The resolution bans all outdoor burning, including trash barrels, fire pits, trash pits, fire chimneys and fields.
Firefighters battled a wildfire last week, fueled by extreme dry and windy conditions that burned nearly 6,000 acres of grassland in northern Ellis county and another 1,600 acres in western Russell County.
Anyone caught in violation of the ban can be charged with a misdemeanor and faces a fine of up to $500 if convicted.
Counties that have already issued a burn ban include Rooks, Russell, Graham, Ness, Phillips and Ellsworth counties. The Barton County Commission also issued a temporary burn ban Monday.
The Ellis County ban takes effect upon publication in the county newspaper of record.
The commission also issued a proclamation declaring Tuesday, March 14, 2017, as Rural Firefighters Day.
The proclamation aims to recognize the volunteer firefighters in Ellis County, under the direction of Director of Fire and Emergency Management Darin Myers and volunteer firefighters across Kansas and the country.
“I know that it’s been a tough week and a half, two weeks for a lot of members of Ellis County as well as landowners and farmers but we have a lot to be grateful for a group of 82 men and women that volunteer for us and really take care of Ellis county,” said Commissioner Barb Wasinger.
Wasinger said the county also wants to thank farmers and local landowners, the Red Cross, and everyone who pitched in to help during last week’s wildfires.
Myers thanked the commission for the recognition and added, “We didn’t do it all ourselves.”
“Ellis County EMS, Public Works, all the farmers, Midland Marketing, all the countless landowners that drove 20 miles across the county to bring us water,” Myers said. “We had multiple families from Ellis and Russell County bring us food.”
The county also accepted a donation of $100 from a family in southeast Ellis County that will be used to help purchase wildland face shields. Ellis County firefighters were recently called to the Pfeifer area for a grass fire and the family wanted to show its appreciation.
The two new face pieces, which help prevent firefighters from breathing in dirt and smoke, will go to Company 4 in Victoria. Myers said they typically do not accept monetary donations from citizens during or after emergency incidents.
In other business, the commission:
• Approved Health Services Director Kerry McCue to sign a contract with Atlantic Health Partners that will allow the Health Department to purchase vaccines and other pharmaceuticals at a reduced rate.
• Authorized Ellis County Clerk and Election Officer Donna Maskus to destroy election ballots from previous elections.
• Voted to rejoin the National Association of Counties. The commission had previously dropped its membership in the organization because of rising membership cost but, because the fees were cut in half, the commission voted to rejoin the organization.
• Voted 2-1 to approve a conditional use permit for a piece of property in the county that will be used for a trailer sales business. The location will be used to store trailers for the online sales business.
The commission also met in three separate executive sessions but took no action.
County Administrator Phillip Smith-Hanes said the commission will meet in a joint meeting with the Victoria city commission on April 17.
Kim S. Billinger, 63, Hays, Kansas died Wednesday, March 8, 2017 at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, Kansas. He was born January 13, 1954, in Hays, Kansas to Michael D. and Leenore (Bieker) Billinger.
He graduated from Thomas More Prep-Marian in 1972 and went to work for the Hesston Corporation. In 1974, he moved back to Hays and joined the family-owned Ellis County Farmer newspaper/printing business which later became the Ellis County Star. He married Lee Ann Haga on November 26, 1983. They had one daughter together, Alexandra. They later divorced and remained close friends. In 1984, Kim purchased the business along with his sister and served as the owner until he retired in 2016.
He enjoyed spending time with his daughter, brother, family and friends. He was an avid sports fan rooting for Kansas University and Kansas State University teams in addition to the Kansas City Royals and Chiefs. He also enjoyed his time at Cedar Bluff Lake, driving around especially in his jeep with the top off, companionship with his beloved dogs and visiting with customers at Ellis County Star. He took great pride in his printing work.
He is survived by his daughter, Alexandra Billinger, Mission, Kansas, a brother, Mike “Mickey” Billinger and wife Susie, a brother-in-law, Al Pfeifer, nieces and nephews, Michael S. Billinger, Amanda R. Ricke and husband Brad, and Joelle Lehman, all of Hays, and Gretchen Gunnels of Tulsa, Oklahoma.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Sueellen Pfeifer.
Memorial services will be 11 AM on Tuesday, March 14, 2017 at Brock’s-Keithley Funeral Chapel and Crematory 2509 Vine Hays, KS 67601.
Visitation will be Monday, March 13, 2017 from 5 PM – 7:30 PM with a combined vigil and rosary service at 6:30 PM all at the funeral chapel.
Memorials are suggested to the Midwest Transplant Network
Condolences may be left by guest book at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or emailed to [email protected]
Wilma Joan Rowland, age 90, of Hays, formerly of Lawrence, passed away Sunday, March 12, 2017 at Via Christi Village in Hays. She was born December 21, 1926 in Driftwood, Oklahoma to Raymond and Frances (Hill) Orton. She married Herbert Freeman Rowland on June 2, 1945 in Alva, Oklahoma.
Wilma was a long time elementary school teacher having taught for 29 years for the Lawrence Public School system. She was an avid KU Jayhawks and KC Royals fan. She also enjoyed reading, quilting and traveling with Herbert across the united states.
She is survived by her husband of 71 years, Herbert of Hays; a daughter, Liz Kolacny and husband John of Ellis; a grandson and his family, Jarrett Kolacny and wife Savanah and children Grace, Teyana and Tanaya all of Grand Junction, Colorado and a granddaughter, Callie Kolacny of Hays and her nieces and nephews, Phil Shirley, Fran Shirley, Annie Prather and Frank Orton.
She was preceded in death by her parents, a son, Raymond Edward Rowland; her siblings, Richard Dean Orton, Elizabeth Shirley, Deloris Orton and Jimmie Orton and a niece, Jodie Orton.
Private family services will be held at a later date.
Memorials are suggested to the Lawrence Schools Foundation 110 McDonald Drive Lawrence, KS 66044 or www.lawrenceschoolsfoundation.org they may also be sent in care of Keithley Funeral Chapel 400 E. 17th Ellis, KS 67637.
Condolences may be left by guest book at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or emailed to [email protected]
56 mumps cases have been reported across 12 Kansas counties
TOPEKA – As of March 4, 56 mumps cases have been reported in Kansas across multiple counties. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) and affected local health departments are working closely together to identify cases and implement appropriate isolation and exclusions policies to prevent further spread of mumps. Mumps cases have been reported in Atchison, Barton, Crawford, Douglas, Ellis, Finney, Franklin, Johnson, Marshall, Riley, Rooks and Thomas counties.
“As we continue to see mumps cases throughout the state and region, I encourage Kansans to take precautions to prevent the spread of the disease,” said KDHE Secretary Susan Mosier, MD, MBA, FACS. “Please make sure that you and your family are up-to-date on vaccines, and stay home if you do get mumps.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 4,000 mumps cases were reported in the U.S. in 2016, and mumps outbreaks are ongoing in the nearby states of Missouri, Oklahoma and Arkansas.
Mumps is a contagious disease caused by a virus. Mumps typically starts with a few days of fever, headache, muscle aches, tiredness and loss of appetite, followed by swollen salivary glands. Mumps can occasionally cause complications, including inflammation of the testicles or ovaries, meningitis or encephalitis. Most people with mumps recover completely in a few weeks.
Anybody with symptoms of mumps should isolate themselves and call their healthcare providers. Anybody who suspects they may have mumps should stay home from work, school and any social activities.
People with mumps can spread the disease before the salivary glands begin to swell and up to five days after the swelling begins. Mumps spreads through saliva or mucus from the mouth, nose or throat. An infected person can spread the virus through the following:
Coughing, sneezing or talking.
Sharing items, such as cups or eating utensils, with others.
Touching objects or surfaces with unwashed hands that are then touched by others.
to staying isolated when you have mumps, you can help prevent the virus from spreading by:
Covering your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, and putting your used tissue in the trash can. If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve or elbow, not your hands.
Washing your hands often with soap and water.
Avoiding sharing drinks or eating utensils.
Disinfecting frequently touched surfaces, such as toys, doorknobs, tables and counters.
After the introduction of the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine, mumps became less common in the United States. MMR vaccine prevents most, but not all, cases of mumps and complications caused by the disease. Some people who receive two doses of MMR can still get mumps, especially if they have prolonged, close contact with someone who has the disease. If a vaccinated person does get mumps, they will likely have less severe illness than an unvaccinated person. Therefore the best way to reduce your chance of getting the disease is by being vaccinated with the MMR vaccine.
A young man stands accused of murder. The trial is almost over. Eleven jurors are in the jury room, ready to convict. One of them, however, is not so sure. Tempers rise and passions flare as the case is re-litigated.
Reginald Rose’s compelling courtroom drama, “12 Angry Jurors,” will be presented by Hays High School at 7 p.m. on March 16-18 at 12th Street Auditorium.
“The original title, of course, was ‘12 Angry Men,’ but we changed it to reflect the mixed gender of our cast,” director Bill Gasper said. “Many of us first read this play in our literature books in high school, but it continues to be a relevant story today.”
The play revolves around Juror 8, who casts the lone not guilty vote, saying that she wants to visit about the case before sentencing a young man to a mandatory death penalty.
“It is during this discussion that we begin to see signs of bias and prejudice and the effect of peer pressure and how it can influence others into going against their conscience,” Gasper said. “When the play was written in the 1950s, the struggle for racial equality was very prevalent in American society, and I think that theme is very evident in this play.”
Because women were not universally accepted on juries in every state until the 1970s, Gasper said the play has been set in 1997, similar to a remake of the movie starring Jack Lemmon and George C. Scott. The original movie was made in 1957 and starred Henry Fonda. It also enjoyed a Broadway run in the early 2000s and continues to be a popular play with high schools, colleges and community theaters.
“In the past, I have only directed comedies, so this is my first attempt at a drama,” Gasper said. “From a production standpoint, this was a challenging play to produce. Actors had to memorize long speeches, some more than a page long. There are also lengthy periods of inactivity where actors have to stay focused and in character. I’m proud of their efforts and the time they spent on and off the stage.”
Adult general admission tickets are $5 advance. $6 at the door. Students $3 advance. $4 door. Tickets are also available at the Hays High office.
“For those of you who have never attended a non-musical production at Hays High, I encourage you to give us a try,” Gasper said. “We have some very talented actors who work hard and are very dedicated. Nothing would please them more than to see lots of people in the seats.”
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Douglas County authorities are still trying to identify a body found in a burning car last week near Clinton Lake.
Authorities say deputies sent to the Rockhaven Equestrian Park Campground near the lake last Tuesday on a report of a fire. They discovered the body inside the car when the fire was extinguished.
The Lawrence Journal-World reports Douglas County Sheriff’s Sgt. Kristen Dymacek said Monday the office is waiting for lab results from evidence collected at the scene.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which oversees Rockhaven Park, says the park is currently closed and does not open until April 1.
Come join us for St. Mary’s CYO Pan Fried Chicken Dinner on Sunday, March 26,2017. Dinner includes Pan Fried Chicken, Homemade mashed potatoes & Gravy, corn, green beans, coleslaw, dinner rolls and dessert. Will be serving from 10:00 until 1:00 or until food runs out but have ordered extra supplies. Price is $5.00 for kids 5 to 9 and 10 and above $10.00. Everyone Welcome!!!!! We also have 10, 16 & 24 piece buckets of chicken with sides or no sides to go. Call 785-259-3992 to place your order. Call ahead or allow at least 15 minutes to make them
Kurt BeyersThe word on poor people and health care, from the Honorable Roger Marshall, U.S. representative from the great state of Kansas, First District: “Just like Jesus said, ‘The poor will always be with us. … There is a group of people that just don’t want health care and aren’t going to take care of themselves.” Quoted in Stat magazine, a publication devoted to medical news.
Hear now, Rep. Marshall and all you politically holy Republicans, the word of the Lord concerning the poor: “You shall generously give to him, and your heart shall not be grieved when you give to him, because for this thing the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in all your undertakings” (Deuteronomy 15:10, New American Standard Bible).
The next verse, 11, may sound familiar: “For the poor will never cease to be in the land; therefore I command you, saying, ‘You shall freely open your hand to your brother, to your needy and poor in your land.’”
Jesus’ reference to this verse is recorded in three places: Matthew 26:11, Mark 14:7 and John 12:8. In the last days of his life on earth, the Son of God is in the house of Simon the leper, eating with a group of disciples, including Mary, who takes a quantity of very expensive perfume and anoints Jesus with it – his head, in Matthew and Mark’s account, his feet according to John.
A disciple or disciples protest that this is a terrible waste. The perfume, worth 300 denarii or more – equivalent to at least 300 days’ wages for a laborer; very expensive indeed – could have been sold and the money given to the poor. Mary is berated, but Jesus tells them to leave her alone.
From Matthew and John: “For you always have the poor with you, but you do not always have Me.” All three gospels agree that Jesus points out that she is preparing him for burial.
Mark and John add detail relevant to the discussion here. In the Mark verse, the full quote is this: “For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you wish you can do good to them; but you do not always have Me.”
And so for Dr. Marshall et al., the question becomes, Why don’t you ever want to help? Their answer is always some version of four basic answers: We can’t afford it; it’s not the government’s job, it’s the church’s; pump more money upstairs, more will trickle down, and fewer people will need help; or, stated by Marshall more baldly than most, they can’t be helped because their poverty is the only way they know.
The Stat writer asked Marshall to expand on his thoughts, and Marshall said, “The Medicaid population, which is [on] a free credit card, as a group, do probably the least preventive medicine and taking care of themselves and eating healthy and exercising. And I’m not judging, I’m just saying socially that’s where they are.”
A few days later, after taking some heat, Marshall spoke to The Kansas City Star, trying to lower the temperature. The first thing he said was entirely predictable: He was misinterpreted. Second, he’s a doctor, not a physician, and he therefore doesn’t “perfectly rehearse talking points.” Third, “I was explaining that we cannot build a national healthcare policy around any one segment of the population.”
About this second go-round, two things: One, he did not disavow his first statement. Two, if what he said the second time was really what he was trying to say the first time, no wonder he was misinterpreted.
His first statements, the ones to Stat, were on the character of a particular socio-economic level (“socially, that’s just where they are”). In the second try, to The Star, he did not change his judgment about that particular group’s cultural attitude toward health care and healthy living (and yes, it was a judgment). Instead, he changed the subject from a particular social condition to a discussion of the technicalities of health care policy. His claim was that the statement to Stat had been simply a poorly worded version of what he was then telling the Star.
But those two things are so far apart conceptually that it is highly unlikely to be a matter of interpretation, and I can conclude only that in his first statement he was speaking from his heart, and in the second statement he was speaking from his head, with a primary goal of hiding what was in his heart.
This brings the discussion back to scripture, which is where Marshall began it. The apostle John, in his telling of the story of Mary, the perfume and the poor, has another detail that is not present in Matthew and Mark. It was not, says John, disciples plural who protested the awful waste of money on perfume. It was one disciple, Judas.
John 12:6: “Now he said this, not because he was concerned about the poor, but because he was a thief, and as he had the money box, he used to pilfer what was put into it.” John notes that Judas will betray Jesus, but his importance to this story is in his nature as a liar and thief.
Money that goes for perfume to prepare Jesus for burial is not money that goes to the money box, where it is available for Judas. Tax money that goes to health care for the poor and working class is money that cannot go to tax cuts for the rich.
Read Deuteronomy 15:1-11, on the sabbatic year, which is a year that is all about forgiveness of debt and treatment of the poor. Jesus, citing one verse, is referencing all of them. He knew his audience was familiar with the whole passage and what it meant. The contrast he was drawing was between a duty of daily life and the need of a particular, extraordinary moment, when a loving, faithful servant performed an extraordinary kindness to help prepare for the death looming over Him.
The fact is that a lot of people at the lower end of the American economy are about to lose something very valuable and basic to life – health care. Marshall and the Republicans don’t even deny this. They justify it. One of their justifications is scriptural: See, even Jesus says it’s no used trying to help the poor. The party that claims so loudly and insistently that it is the party of the Christian God, based in no small part on its supposedly “pro-life” beliefs, is nonchalantly careless, callous even, in its use of scripture. If they prove themselves untrustworthy on spiritual things, why should they be regarded as trustworthy on earthly things like the economy and health care?
The answer is they shouldn’t be, especially by Christians, because in the present day application of the story of Jesus and the poor, Marshall and his party have too often cast themselves in the role of Judas.
Kurt Beyers, a former newspaperman, is a communications professional at Fort Hays State University.
Ron Wilson is director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University.
By RON WILSON Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development
Let’s go hunting. No, not for deer or turkey. Today we are going hunting for a geocache, a hidden container which we can find with the aid of GPS technology. The practice of finding geocaches is not only attracting visitors to Kansas, it is bringing a major gathering of geocachers to our state in spring 2017.
Last week, we met geocaching enthusiast Ryan Semmel. He is a leader of the effort to bring a major geocaching event to Kansas. After serving in the Army overseas and most recently at Fort Riley, he retired in Manhattan. Ryan and his wife have two daughters and a son.
Ryan enjoys geocaching, the practice of finding hidden caches outdoors through the use of GPS technology. The caches are small containers containing a logbook and, in some cases, trinkets for exchange. Someone will hide the cache and then post the location on the geocaching.com website for people to find. When a cache is found, the finder enters his or her user name in the logbook, exchanges gifts if desired, and then posts about it on the website.
Ryan enjoys exploring the outdoors and sharing the experience with others. “It has taken me to places that not everybody gets to see,” he said. He started a Facebook group for Flint Hills Geocaching which has about 200 members.
Then he heard about something called MOGA: Midwest Open Geocaching Adventure. Essentially, this was an open contest where geocachers would compete to see how many geocaches could be found within a limited time.
“I like the competitive aspect,” Ryan said. He went to a MOGA event in Jackson, Missouri, and heard the organizers say that they like to go to new and different places. He wondered if MOGA could be brought to Manhattan, Kansas. Ryan worked with several partners, got encouragement from Marcia Rozell at the Manhattan Convention and Visitors Bureau, and ultimately submitted a successful bid for Manhattan to host MOGA in 2017.
Ryan estimates that hundreds of geocachers will come to Manhattan for MOGA April 20-23, 2017. There will be both individual and team competitions where geocachers try to find the most caches possible within 2.5 hours. The caches will be located in rugged, rural Flint Hills terrain in the hills overlooking the community of Zeandale which has a population of perhaps 30 people. Now, that’s rural.
For the competition, each contestant will get a punchcard and a map. The caches, which are the size of pillboxes, will contain a punch which the finder uses to mark his or her card once the cache is found. The one with the most finds wins. In order to make it fair, competitors are grouped with others of the same age and gender.
MOGA also offers a geocaching competition for those who are disabled. That will take place at Tuttle Creek State Park.
The hosts in Manhattan have created some beautiful medallions as keepsakes of this event. One is a spinner which features the MOGA logo and the seven wonders of Kansas on one side and the state seal of Kansas on the other. The other is an award coin, like a medal for the competitors, which has a gorgeous Kansas sunflower design.
“The event is free but everyone needs to register,” Ryan said. “Don’t stay away if you feel like you don’t know about geocaching,” he said. “This is for everyone.”
MOGA is a major event. The Midwest Open Geocaching Adventure is the largest geocaching competition in the world. Manhattan, Kansas is the farthest west that MOGA has been held. The 2017 event will be the first of its kind in Kansas.
“People will have a lot of fun and get to see the wonderful Flint Hills of Kansas,” Ryan said.
Let’s go hunting. No, not deer or turkey. In this case, we are using GPS technology to hunt down and find a geocache. We commend Ryan Semmel for making a difference by promoting the practice of geocaching. Not only are they finding geocaches, they are finding a way to promote rural Kansas as well.
FHSU University Relations
By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Kim S. Billinger, 63, Hays, Kansas died Wednesday, March 8, 2017 at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, Kansas. He was born January 13, 1954, in Hays, Kansas to Michael D. and Leenore (Bieker) Billinger. 
Wilma Joan Rowland, age 90, of Hays, formerly of Lawrence, passed away Sunday, March 12, 2017 at Via Christi Village in Hays. She was born December 21, 1926 in Driftwood, Oklahoma to Raymond and Frances (Hill) Orton. She married Herbert Freeman Rowland on June 2, 1945 in Alva, Oklahoma.
