KDWPT

PRATT – Aerial surveys to count lesser prairie chickens will begin March 16 and run through mid-May over five states containing lesser prairie chicken habitat. The Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (WAFWA) conducts the surveys each spring when the birds gather at traditional leks, or dancing grounds.

As part of the Lesser Prairie Chicken Range-wide Conservation Plan, the surveys are designed to document population trends and determine how birds are responding to the plan’s management strategies. The surveys will be conducted by helicopter in locations chosen randomly within lesser prairie chicken range, which is part of the methodology strategy. In previous years, some of the fly paths prompted calls, which is why WAFWA is getting the word out about the start of aerial survey work.

The range-wide plan is a collaborative effort of WAFWA and the state wildlife agencies of Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Kansas and Colorado. It was developed to ensure conservation of the lesser prairie chicken with voluntary cooperation of landowners and industry. The plan allows agriculture producers and industry to continue operations while reducing impacts to the bird and its grassland habitat.

“We’ve established a consistent methodology for these aerial surveys, working closely with the wildlife agencies of each of the states involved,” explained Roger Wolfe, WAFWA’s Lesser Prairie-chicken Program Manager. “We’re documenting population trends over time that will allow us to see how various management strategies for the bird are working on the ground.”

Results from this year’s surveys will be available on July 1 via www.wafwa.org.

First District Congressman Roger Marshall (R-Great Bend) is back in Kansas today and Monday meeting with constituents and employees of many medical centers.

Marshall will be in Hays and southwest Kansas Mon., March 13.

He is scheduled to be at Hays Medical Center Monday at 4:30 p.m.

Constituents are encouraged to attend the stops. He will also be visiting areas near Hutchinson and Bucklin impacted by the ongoing wildfires.

Marshall will return to northwest Kansas next weekend with stops in Colby and Goodland Sat., March 18.

In a recent interview with the healthcare website Stat discussing the federal Affordable Care Act’s Medicaid expansion, Marshall was quoted as saying “there is a group of people that just don’t want health care and aren’t going to take care of themselves.”

Marshall has said his comments, which made national headlines, were misinterpreted.

The complete schedule follows.

Emporia – Newman Regional Health
Saturday, March 11 9:30 a.m.
McPherson – McPherson Hospital, Hess Education Center
Saturday, March 11, 1 p.m.
Hutchinson – Hutchinson Regional
Saturday, March 11, 4 p.m.
Garden City – Heartland Cancer Center
Monday, March 13, 8:30 a.m.
Liberal – Southwest Medical Center, Conference Room 2
Monday, March 13, 1 p.m.
Dodge City – Dodge City Community College Theater
Monday, March 13, 4:30 p.m.
Hays – Hays Medical Center
Saturday, March 18, 9 a.m.
Colby – Citizens Medical Center
Saturday, March 18, 1 p.m.
Goodland – Northwest Kansas Technical College
Saturday, March 18, 4 p.m.

Just before 11 a.m. on Saturday, authorities reported  they had Jason Lesage, 30, in custody. Details on his capture were not available.

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RUSSELL COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities are looking for an inmate who escaped from the Russell County Jail.

Just after 4a.m. on Saturday, Jason Lesage escaped from the jail, according to the Russell County Sheriff’s Department.

He was last wearing white thermal underwear and no shoes. If you have seen him or know his location call 911. Do not try to approach him.

At 7:20 a.m., a vehicle reported stolen in Russell was located in the southeast part of Dorrance.

Deputies are in Dorrance looking for any suspicious activity. They believe this is related to the escape.

They urge anyone who sees suspicious activity to call 911.

Lesage has previous conviction for burglary, forgery, weapons and drugs, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

KDWPT

GREAT BEND – Bioacoustics: chirps, whistles, croaks, and clicks; sounds that combine in an animal opera of high drama for eavesdropping scientists. Discover what animals are saying during the free program, “Listening to Animals,” on Sunday, March 12 at 2 p.m. at the Kansas Wetlands Education Center in Great Bend.

Mark Nolen, professor of biology at Hutchinson Community College, will share information on the up-and-coming field of biology called bioacoustics – the study of animal communication and sound. Nolen will explain how studying the sounds animals use to communicate provides a window into animal worlds and information on their social interactions.

Apart from listening to a choir of interesting animal sounds, participants will learn how knowledge of bioacoustics in our environment can enrich our experience in nature and add a new dimension to the scientific understanding of biology and ecology.

“Listening To Animals” will be a kickoff to the KWEC’s Cheyenne Bottoms FrogWatch year. FrogWatch is a citizen science program administered by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums that enlists volunteers to monitor local frog and toad populations by listening for their calls. KWEC staff will provide training and resources to volunteers so they can identify local frogs and toads throughout the breeding season at Cheyenne Bottoms. Attendees of the March 12 program do not have to participate in FrogWatch, however information about FrogWatch will be available. To participate in FrogWatch, call the KWEC at (877) 243-9268.

Hays Post is partnering with local businesses to help send you and a guest to the 2017 Royals’ home opener in Kansas City on April 10.

To enter for a chance to win two tickets, click HERE to fill out the entry form. Finalists will be drawn the week of March 13 on Facebook Live. Like and follow Hays Post on Facebook.

Brought to you by GoodWin Sporting Goods, 8th Street Liquor, Pasta Jay’s and Nex-Tech Wireless.

Today
A chance of rain, snow, and sleet, mainly before 1pm. Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 38. East northeast wind 7 to 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Tonight
Partly cloudy, with a low around 23. East northeast wind 6 to 8 mph becoming south after midnight.

Sunday
Partly sunny, with a high near 59. Breezy, with a south wind 9 to 14 mph increasing to 17 to 22 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 33 mph.

Sunday Night
A 30 percent chance of showers before midnight. Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly clear, with a low around 29. South southwest wind 8 to 13 mph becoming north in the evening.

Monday
Sunny, with a high near 50. North wind 9 to 16 mph.

Monday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 24.

Tuesday
A 20 percent chance of showers after noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 50.

Tuesday Night
A slight chance of rain showers, mixing with snow after 11pm, then gradually ending. Partly cloudy, with a low around 27. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Wednesday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 59.

Submitted

Golden Belt Bank of Ellis and Hays recently honored several employees for their years of committed service to Golden Belt Bank.

Chris Wente, Executive Vice President, was honored for his 10 years of service. Wente is a loan officer who also serves as the Branch Manager of the Hays office. Wente also serves as a director for Golden Belt Bank.

Larissa Kuhn was honored for her 10 years of service. Kuhn was recently promoted to a loan officer after serving as a loan processor for almost 10 years.

Stan Mayers was honored for his 15 years of service. Mayers has served as the Chief Financial Officer of Golden Belt Bank since 2001.