FHSU University Relations

The commanding officer of the Kansas Air National Guard, Brig. Gen. David Weishaar, will lead the guests of honor at Fort Hays State University’s Military Appreciation Day on Saturday, Nov. 9, at Lewis Field Stadium.

The day will honor veterans and service members with Tiger football, a halftime ceremony, a flag giveaway and a display of military equipment at Lewis Field, both inside the stadium, at the north end, and outside the main entrance on the east side.

The equipment on display will include a 75 mm ceremonial howitzer, with 15 rounds of ammunition available to celebrate Tiger touchdowns. The gun and its crew are from the 130th Field Artillery Brigade.

Joining Gen. Weishaar as honored guests will be Lt. Col. Mark Mullinax, commanding officer of the 997th Brigade Support Battalion of the Kansas Army National Guard, and troops from the battalion, which is headquartered in Hays.

Recruiters will also be on hand to talk about career opportunities in the Guard. In October, the Kansas Army National Guard opened a recruiting station in Memorial Union.

Other material on display:
• A warrior version of the HMMWV (High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle), popularly known as a Humvee, from the 997th
• An MRAP (pronounced EM-wrap), a Mine Resistant Ambush Protected all-terrain vehicle from the 731st Composite Truck Company, which will also be represented by two soldiers
• An eight-wheel, four-axle truck called an LHS (Load Handling System) from the 997th

Gen. Weishaar enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in January 1981 as an aircraft maintenance specialist. After leaving the Air Force, he joined the Kansas Air National Guard in 1985 and served in aircraft maintenance until he was commissioned as an officer after graduating as a Distinguished Graduate of the Academy of Military Science in 1996.

He served in several positions in the 184th Intelligence Wing, including positions as commanding officer at the flight, squadron, group and wing level.

As commander of the Kansas Air National Guard, he leads more than 2,300 personnel serving in two wings and an associated unit.

Lt. Col. Mullinax leads more than 700 troops in the six companies of the 997th, which provides direct support for the 130th Field Artillery. Col. Mullinax enlisted in the National Guard in 1993 as a tracked-vehicle mechanic. He graduated from Officer Candidate School in 2003 and was commissioned as an officer.

His Guard career includes stints as commander of the 995th maintenance Company and as commander of a regional maintenance training site before assuming command of the 997th.

He has been deployed overseas three times, first in 2005 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, then in Iraq from 2006 to 2008, and most recently to Kuwait for operations Inherent Resolve and Spartan Shield.

Saturday’s game against Northwest Missouri State University begins at 2 p.m.

FHSU University Relations

Dr. Janet and Dean Stramel are travel enthusiasts with a passion for education. With a gift of $5,000, the couple is providing financial aid to Fort Hays State University students majoring in teacher education.

Their support will help offset expenses incurred by students traveling to school districts to observe.

“Travel is an important part of our lives,” said Dean Stramel. “It makes our lives richer and more interesting. We want to help others gain those experiences.”

The couple will make minimum annual contributions of $1,000 to replenish the stipend each year. The Janet and Dean Stramel Teacher Education Travel Fund will allow students to experience a variety of cultures and challenges throughout Kansas, the United States, and other countries, which they might not be able to experience otherwise.

Janet, an associate professor in FHSU’s Department of Teacher Education, said, “We know that Fort Hays State University already trains great teachers. However, we want to enhance teacher education majors’ experiences by giving them the opportunity to observe in diverse classrooms in districts other than where they grew up.”

This short “study away” experience has already been successful for students at Fort Hays State through the Rural Field Experience that FHSU’s Noyce Scholars participate in. The Stramel donation will take this a step further by helping anyone in the teacher education program, regardless of their major.

Dr. Chris Jochum, chair of the department, said this stipend will greatly influence students.

“The generosity and commitment that the Stramels have shown to our students is not only a reflection of their dedication as educators, but also shows their passion for providing our students opportunities that will undoubtedly help them as future educators,” he said. “Most importantly, they will have a positive impact on their own students.”

Michaela Strecker, a Fort Hays State University senior studying elementary education, said the experience would certainly help to expand her horizons beyond her hometown of Minneola.

“I grew up in a very small community in southwest Kansas,” said Strecker. “So being able to see a diverse, urban school district would be an eye-opening experience. The opportunity to travel would greatly benefit me as a teacher by giving me more insight into a completely different teaching style and way of life in general.”

To learn how you can join the Stramels in supporting FHSU’s Department of Teacher Education, please contact the Fort Hays State University Foundation at 785-628-5620 or [email protected]. For additional information, visit https://foundation.fhsu.edu or https://www.fhsu.edu/teachereducation.

Ness County Sheriff

BAZINE — At approximately 6:30 p.m. Thursday, the Ness County Sheriff’s Office, along with K9 unit Bach from the Plainville Police Department, executed a narcotics search warrant in the 400 block of South Rice Street in Bazine.

Two females from Bazine were arrested for several charges including possession of methamphetamine, marijuana and drug paraphernalia, as well as aggravated endangerment of a child. One of the females is also being charged with interference with law enforcement.

One male suspect was arrested for felony and misdemeanor drug charges as well as aggravated endangerment of a child. One child was taken into protective custody.

All suspects are innocent until proven guilty. Investigations are continuing at this time.

The Hays Sunrise Rotary Club is sponsoring its annual Grocery Grab fundraiser as a benefit for Ekey Park.

The winner gets to spend five minutes wheeling their grocery cart through the Dillons store at 1902 Vine on Thursday, Nov. 14, at 8 p.m.

There is a suggested donation of $10 for tickets. To get tickets, contact [email protected]. The winner will be notified Nov. 11.

The only restrictions are entrants must be 18 or older, cannot purchase pharmacy, alcohol, tobacco or health and beauty products, and are limited to one minute in the meat department with a maximum pick-up of two items each, and five items of one kind each.

The proceeds for the annual Grocery Grab will go toward improvements at Ekey Neighborhood Park.

Chartered April 29, 2010, the Hays Sunrise Rotary Club is the newest service club in Hays. It is comprised of 20 men and women who are business, professional and community leaders with a shared commitment to make the world a better place through humanitarian service above self. The club meets the second and fourth Thursdays of each month at 7 a.m. at Augustine’s Bakery, “On The Bricks” on Main Street off 13th Street.

The Hays Sunrise Rotary Club is one of more than 34,000 clubs worldwide affiliated with Rotary International, whose more than 1.2 million members volunteer in their communities and around the world to support education and job training, provide clean water, combat hunger, and improve health and sanitation. Rotary’s top priority is the global eradication of polio.

New York Times bestselling author and historian Jeff Guinn, who wrote definitive biographies of Charles Manson and Jim Jones, will speak at 7 p.m. Monday in the Fort Hays State University Memorial Union Ballroom.

The talk is called “Once Upon a Time in Hays,” a discussion on cultural history and political meaning of the guru, counterculture era in America.

The discussion will include lessons learned from the history and whether the tragedies associated with the forms of demagoguery point to cautions or challenges in political leadership today.

The public is invited to this free event sponsored by the FHSU Department of Political Science.

– FHSU Dept. of Political Science –

PHILLIPS COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are seeking information from hunters and landowners in the area of West 900 and West Osage Road in Phillips County who might have captured some suspicious activity on trail cameras, according to a social media report from the sheriff’s department.

Sometime in the past two days, someone killed a heifer and butchered it in the pasture where it was kept.

“Please review your trail cam footage and contact the sheriff’s office if you notice anything out of the ordinary,” the department asked residents.

Farmers are also encouraged to check their herds and report any missing or dead cattle.

Hays Post

MSN.com has given Hays another honor after ranking a local bakery as the best in Kansas.

On Oct. 29, Hays was noted as having the most beautiful Main Street in Kansas in MSN.com’s list of the most beautiful in every state.

The full list can be found here.

Even though Forever Rush County has reached the half-way mark to establishing a $100,000 endowment fund at the Golden Belt Community Foundation (GBCF), the group is not taking a breather. Instead, it is energized to raise the next $50,000, Committee Chair Kara Jecha of Timken said.

“Raising enough to get us to the half-way point gives us even more incentive to keep working for the other half,” Jecha said. “Our committee members should be
commended for their commitment and support.”

Originally, Forever Rush County asked for help in setting up a $50,000 endowment. But the GBCF challenged them to double that.

“We readily accepted the challenge, which includes a dollar-for-dollar match from the Foundation,” said Jecha, a life-time Rush County resident. “When we learned that
generous donors are willing to support a $100,000 Rush County endowment, we didn’t hesitate to accept the challenge.”

The matching funds are donated by the Glenn and Elaine Mull Family Fund at GBCF. This match is in effect until Dec. 31, 2020.

“We will continue talking to potential donors, who have been receptive to learning more about Forever Rush County,” Jecha noted. “We are gratified that they are at least
willing to listen. They have been gracious in taking the time to hear our story.

“Rush County has an amazing opportunity to build an endowment and leave funding for future generations,” she added. “An endowment is forever.”

While no one can define exactly what Rush County’s needs will be in the future, the endowment can be used in a variety of areas. Examples include parks and playgrounds; libraries and education; health and social services; long-term care; and city projects.

Jecha is helping spearhead this initiative because “Rush County is my home. I grew up in rural Albert and want future generations to have the same benefits I had growing up. We want people to continue to live, work and play here.”

Jecha and her husband, Jay, pledged the first $1,000 to this initiative and are pledging the last $1,000.

“We believe having ‘skin in the game’ is fundamental to show we are serious about attaining success. Others have put their heart and soul into this, and we have God as our pilot.”

The committee chair also noted that the GBCF has been “a great partner. We are not on our own in setting up the endowment.”

Christy Tustin, GBCF executive director, has collaborated with Jecha to spread the word through personal visits, phone calls and community events.

“Raising the first half of the goal is tremendous progress,” Tustin said. “Kara and the committee have been wonderful champions for the effort by sharing the message
about supporting Rush County far into the future.”

They understand the value of endowments, which are funds set aside for the long-term benefit of an organization or community, Tustin noted. The principal amount is
permanently protected, while the fund’s income supports charitable causes.

Tustin pointed out that the Giving Tuesday campaign, which runs from Nov. 1 to Dec. 3, would be a great time to donate to Forever Rush County, as well as other Rush
County organizations.

“Building community endowments requires a sort of leap of faith because it takes people willing to invest for the long-term without seeing immediate results sometimes,”
Tustin commented.

“As the endowment grows over time, we will be able to demonstrate how much it will benefit programs across Rush County.

“It takes a group of people willing to step forward and champion the cause. This initiative would not have been nearly as successful without this local support. It is obvious that people care very much about Rush County and its future.”

At $23 million in total assets and more than 180 funds under management, the Golden Belt Community Foundation has been connecting people who care to causes that matter since 1996. Golden Belt Community Foundation exists to provide non-profit organizations in central Kansas with a permanent source of support and to serve as a vehicle for charitable giving for donors. GBCF serves the counties of Barton, Pawnee, Rush, and Stafford.

For more information about Golden Belt Community Foundation, call (620) 792-3000 or visit their website at www.goldenbeltcf.org.