EL CO EXTENSION

Ellis County Walk Kansas team members– and other interested community members– are invited to bring the children and celebrate health at the come-and-go Family Story Walk from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 18. The self-guided walk in Massey Park begins and ends at the shelter house at 17th and Allen Street in Hays.

A Story Walk combines literacy and physical activity when the pages of a children’s book are posted along a walking path for families to read as they walk and enjoy together.

This event is free to Ellis County Extension Walk Kansas team members; those who are not on a Walk Kansas team may pay $3 per family to help cover the cost of water, snacks and supplies.

An RSVP to the Ellis County Extension Office is appreciated at (785) 628-9430 to ensure adequate supplies. In case of rain or bad weather, check the Extension Facebook page at “K-State Research and Extension- Ellis County” for cancellation information.

NPS

NICODEMUS–For two days this month – April 21 and April 26 – over 260 fourth grade students from local elementary schools will be participating in an “Every Kid in a Park” event at Nicodemus National Historic Site.

The event will include interactive living history demonstrations that introduce students to the history of Nicodemus by engaging with residents and community descendants through a partnership with the local Nicodemus Historical Society.

Students will learn how Nicodemus illustrates the way African Americans helped settle the West. Activities will touch on the value of finding freedom to create a new life in western Kansas after the end of Reconstruction.

Every Kid in a Park is a nationwide program sponsored by the National Park Foundation (NPF). These NPF grants provide funding for tens of thousands of students to visit National Parks annually. The goal of Every Kid in a Park is to connect fourth graders with the great outdoors and inspire them to become environmental stewards and advocates to help preserve and protect national parks and other public land for years to come. The program is an important extension of the National Park Service’s 2016 centennial celebration, which encourages everyone to #FindYourPark.

For more information on the Every Kid in a Park program, please contact Park Ranger Phyllis Howard at (785) 839-4254 or email Ranger Howard at [email protected].

The town of Nicodemus is symbolic of the pioneer spirit of African Americans. These settlers dared to leave the only region they had been familiar with to seek personal freedom and the opportunity to develop their talents and capabilities. Nicodemus NHS represents the western expansion and settlement of the Great Plains, and includes five buildings: The First Baptist Church, St. Francis Hotel, Nicodemus School District Number One, African Episcopal Church, and Township Hall.

SHPTV

BUNKER HILL – Smoky Hills Public Television will air a match up of two Kansas indoor football teams next week.

The game, played at United Wireless Arena, features the Dodge City Law against the Wichita Force. The game will air on Smoky Hills Public Television Thursday night, April 20 at 9:00 p.m.

Dodge City Law and Wichita Force are both members of the Champions Indoor Football League. Dodge City enters the game with just one loss on the season.

Other Dodge City Law games will be broadcast on the following dates:

May 18 at 9pm Dodge City Law vs Duke City Gladiators
June 1 at 9pm Dodge City Law vs Texas Revolution

SHPTV can be seen on Eagle Cable channels 9 and 609.

Positions available in Washington and Kansas offices

MANHATTAN – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) this week announced he is accepting applications for congressional internships in his Washington, D.C., and Kansas offices for fall 2017.

“My first experience in Washington, D.C., was working as a congressional intern,” said Sen. Moran. “Internships offer Kansas students the opportunity to learn about the legislative process and work on behalf of our great state.”

An internship in Sen. Moran’s office – focused on either policy or communications – provides a unique opportunity to work closely with Senate staff on behalf of Kansans. Legislative interns will gain a better understanding of the legislative process in the United States Congress and develop knowledge and professional skills valuable to future career pursuits. Communications internships provide a unique opportunity to learn about how political communications and the legislative process intersect, and gain practical knowledge about the inner workings of a fast-paced press office.

The Office of Senator Jerry Moran intern program is open to qualified undergraduate and graduate students – or recent graduates – who have a strong interest in public service and have achieved academic excellence.

The application deadline for fall 2017 internships is Friday, June 2, 2017. Applications can be found and completed under the “Students” section of Sen. Moran’s website at www.moran.senate.gov. Applicants should submit a completed application form, resume, academic transcript, two letters of recommendation and a cover letter explaining their interest in public service and what they hope to learn serving as an intern for Sen. Moran.

For questions, please contact Sen. Moran’s office at [email protected] or call (202) 224-6521 and request to speak with the intern coordinator.

Today
A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 3pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 81. South wind 8 to 15 mph becoming west in the afternoon.

Tonight
A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51. Northeast wind 7 to 11 mph.

Sunday
A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 66. Northeast wind 9 to 11 mph.

Sunday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 48. East wind 3 to 8 mph.

Monday
A 20 percent chance of showers after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 73. Light and variable wind becoming southeast 5 to 10 mph in the morning.

Monday Night
A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 55. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Tuesday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 77.

Tuesday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 52.

Wednesday
A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 76.

Submitted

The Otis Bison music department’s opportunity for a breakthrough surely rose after this year’s spring concert. Led by their new music teacher, Jenny Kling, the students of Otis Bison showed attitude and spirit in exciting Rock and Roll themed performances.

The students were accompanied by live music presented by the band Sister Whiskey. They shot smooth sounding melodies through the roof and stunned the crowd with a risk taking show. However, the show could not succeed without the talented help of Shelly Ewy and Jane Goodheart on keys.

From the Preschoolers ‘ABC Blues’ to the Fourth, Fifth and Sixth grade’s ‘We Will Rock You’, the audience was intrigued with the great old time Rock and Roll. The mood was taken seriously by everyone in the room when the students performed alongside Sister Whiskey for a public service announcement about bullying. The Elementary and High School Band excelled musically throughout the year.

The kids took on songs like Barbara Ann and the challenging 25 or 6 to 4. The future for Otis Bison’s music department is bright and alive; it is only a matter of time before everyone is talking about these talented little rockstars.