Farm Bureau Financial Services agent Danny Dinkel recently received the 2018 Multiline Agent of the Year award. The prestigious honor recognizes Dinkel’s dedication to serving the community as an insurance provider. This is the first time Dinkel has achieved the honor.
He has also earned his AFIS designation, MORT member and numerous other company awards during his tenure.
Dinkel has been an agent with Farm Bureau Financial Services for 20 years.
It was 20 years ago; Fort Hays State University’s Sternberg Museum of Natural History was getting its finishing touches as the staff prepared it for its grand re-opening in early March of 1999.
Opening day was going to be exciting, and the museum staff felt they were ready for the day, or so they thought. What they didn’t prepare for was a blizzard that produced 12 inches of snow. In spite of its cold start, the Sternberg Museum has been a hot spot for the locals and visitors. Over the years, the museum has hosted many traveling exhibits and community events. It holds large specimen collections from fossils to current wildlife, but most of all it holds fond memories for everyone who has worked, volunteered, or visited the museum.
To celebrate the museum’s 20th anniversary since its grand re-opening, for one day only our admission prices will be what they were back in 1999, $4.00 a person. A 20% off discount sale will also be in our gift shop. Talks about the museum will be presented that afternoon, followed by a presentation on Africa, by Curtis Schmidt and guest speaker Marilyn Wasinger. The event starts on Sunday, March 17, from 1 pm to 5 pm. Come out and celebrate 20 years of discovery under the dome!
“I saw the word ‘leadership’ and wanted to give it a shot,” Chelsie Andrews, Bennington graduate student, said of applying to and being accepted into this year’s Leadership Hays class.
Her goals for this hands-on program include giving back to the Hays community while gaining vital leadership tools that will aid her in a future career. Chelsie’s dedication to her academic and professional pursuits are admirable as she seizes opportunities while being a part of Fort Hays State University and the Hays community.
Leadership Hays is a program coordinated by the Hays Area Chamber of Commerce and is affiliated with the Kansas Leadership Center. It is a multi-session program, held between February through May, that helps develop leadership skills and challenges its participants to implement the techniques learned in their personal and professional lives. This year, 21 participants from 19 area businesses will participate in the program. Together, they will collaborate ideas, practice leadership skills, discuss leadership qualities, network, and make friendships. Their final project will be a testament of the skills gained as they plan an activity to benefit children in Ellis County.
Chelsie has undergraduate degrees in both Tourism and Hospitality Management and Leadership Studies from FHSU. She is currently a graduate student obtaining a Master’s of Professional Studies in Human Resource Management of which she’ll complete in December 2019 from FHSU.
Chelsie is also very active across campus as well as within the Applied Business Studies department and the Robbins College of Business and Entrepreneurship. As a member of the Travel Club, she has engaged in opportunities to travel abroad in Costa Rica and Ecuador to share her leadership experiences. She has been inducted into the Eta Sigma Delta Honor Society. She is also a working member of Collegiate DECA and has presented various case studies at the state and national level.
SHERMAN COUNTY— Two people were injured in an accident just after 10p.m. Saturday Sherman County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2014 Ford F250 driven by Kurt G. Jastrow, 67, Shelton, WA., was eastbound on Interstate 70 twelve miles west of Goodland. The driver attempted to pass a 2019 Kenworth semi driven by Carmel D. Lagas, 48, Edinburg, TX, despite poor visibility due to the weather. The Ford struck the Kenworth’s trailer.
An eastbound 2018 Freightliner semi driven by Benjamin R. Johnson, Vian, OK., was unable to avoid the accident and also struck the Kenworth’s trailer before traveling into the south ditch.
Jastrow and one passenger in the Ford Rose Singer, 52, Clarksville, TN., were transporeted to the hospital in Goodland with serious injuries, according to the KHP. There were no other injuries reported. Scott Singer, 57, Clarksville, TN, a passenger in the Ford was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.
Tractor Supply Company will celebrate its grand opening in Hays with a community celebration featuring entertainment, giveaways and special events.
The Hays store, 235 W. 48th St., had a soft opening on Friday, Feb. 22 and is now open for business 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 9 a.m. t0 7 p.m. Sundays.
As part of the family-friendly celebration from Thursday, March 7 through Sunday, March 10, Tractor Supply customers will receive a 10 percent discount on all purchases made at the store.
During the main event on Saturday, March 9, visitors will have the opportunity to enjoy special events including a limestone sculpture and carving demonstration, pet adoption event as well as family-friendly activities alongside the local 4-H chapter. Additionally, the store will give away gift cards and Tractor Supply hats while supplies last.
“At Tractor Supply we understand the value of community, which is why we made it a priority to build a team with deep roots in Hays,” said Mark Brown, manager of the Hays Tractor Supply store. “Our team members live the same lifestyle as our customers, and we’re excited to supply them with the tools, information and resources they need to live life on their own terms.”
Despite frigid temperatures and snow, Brown said the store has already received a warm welcome from Hays area residents.
Brown said the store will offer products for “life out here.”
The Hays Tractor Supply will provide a one-stop shop for the community, serving farmers, livestock and pet owners, ranchers, part-time and hobby farmers, gardeners, homeowners, tradesmen and others.
Chick Days are ongoing through May 5. The store has live chicks and ducks in stock now.
Tractor Supply customers will be able to choose from a wide range of products including workwear and boots, equine and pet supplies, tractor and trailer parts and accessories, lawn and garden supplies, sprinkler and irrigation parts, power tools, fencing, welding and pump supplies and riding mowers.
The store will carry brands such as Purina, Carhartt, Blue Buffalo and Hobart, as well as products exclusive to Tractor Supply. The Hays store will also include a pet wash station where customers will have access to professional-grade wash bays, grooming tables and tools.
Brown noted the store also can order products online to ship to the store or directly to the customer’s home.
In addition to supplying dependable products for farm, ranch and rural customers, the Hays Tractor Supply will regularly host events with community partners, including local animal shelters, area 4-H clubs and FFA chapters. Brown said the store has already signed on to be a sponsor of both the Trego and Ellis county fairs. The store will be accepting donations for area 4-H programs through its clover program. A clover will be posted in the store’s window for every donation made.
The store does not carry firearms, bows or ammo, but it does carry feed and salt block for deer hunters. The store plans to offer a deer event during hunting season.
Customers can also sign up for Tractor Supply’s new Neighbor’s Club loyalty program, which will make them eligible to receive member-only offers, birthday offers, personal purchase summaries and receipt-free returns.
Tractor Supply opens about 80 stores each year. Another store will be opening in Great Bend in May. Brown said Hays aligned with the brand’s values, and the company thought Hays could benefit from having a store in its community.
As of December 29, 2018, the company operated 1,765 Tractor Supply stores in 49 states and an e-commerce website at www.TractorSupply.com.
To learn more about Tractor Supply Company, visit TractorSupply.com. For additional information on the Neighbor’s Club program, visit NeighborsClub.com.
Tractor Supply Company also owns and operates Petsense, a small-box pet specialty supply retailer focused on meeting the needs of pet owners, primarily in small and mid-size communities, and offering a variety of pet products and services. As of December 29, 2018, the Company operated 175 Petsense stores in 26 states. For more information on Petsense, visit www.Petsense.com.
In preparation for tonight’s blizzard (Sat., March 2), Hays Assistant City Manager Jacob Wood has declared the City of Hays to be under a Phase 1 Winter Storm Traffic Emergency. During a Phase 1 Winter Storm Traffic Emergency, it is unlawful to park a vehicle on any street designated as an emergency snow route.
The City of Hays Public Works Department and Hays Police Department are requesting your assistance with snow removal along emergency snow routes. Please take the appropriate measures and move your vehicle from the snow route at this time. Should you take no action and allow your vehicle to remain parked on an emergency snow route, you risk receiving a citation and/or having your vehicle towed at your expense.
This Phase 1 Winter Storm Traffic Emergency shall remain in effect until such time that the Hays City Manager deems the Winter Storm Traffic Emergency terminated.
Since winter precipitation continues to fall and conditions are expected to worsen through the day, the Hays Police Department is asking that motorists avoid travel if at all possible. Those that must travel are advised to do so with caution, and are encouraged to give themselves extra time to reach their destination. Please remember to drive slow, pay attention to vehicles in front of you, and allow for extra stopping distance. The public’s cooperation is greatly appreciated throughout this winter storm.
Below is a link to the City of Hays website that has a map of the snow routes:
Things were supposed to be different on the Medicaid expansion this year.
Expansion advocates thought Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s election would elevate the issue to center stage. They figured that would all but guarantee that Kansas would join the ranks of expansion states — now numbering 37 plus the District of Columbia.
But so far this legislative session it’s been déjà vu all over again.
Republican leaders haven’t budged in their opposition. They’ve launched social media campaigns against expansion. Blasted the governor for low-balling its cost. And refused to hold hearings on her expansion bill.
They haven’t even responded to a letter that Kelly sent “respectfully” asking them to schedule hearings.
Noting the recent closure of a few more rural hospitals, Kelly wrote that communities served by other struggling hospitals “are counting on us to do something.”
She sent the letter on Feb. 19. She’s still waiting for a response.
Sensing they couldn’t avoid the issue entirely, GOP leaders OK’d Rep. Brenda Landwehr’s plan to hold a series of roundtable discussions on expansion to, as she puts it, “get the facts out on the table.”
Expansion advocates insist the facts are already well established and that they largely buttress their case. Even so, April Holman, the head of a coalition of advocacy groups lobbying for expansion, gave a politic answer when asked if she viewed Landwher’s roundtables as a delaying tactic.
“I’m going to take this at face value,” Holman said.
Unable to completely hide her frustration, she said the timing was “unfortunate.”
“We certainly would like to have seen this earlier in the year,” she said.
Landwher, the chair of the House Health and Human Services Committee, has booked three days for the discussions, starting Wednesday.
Going in, Landwher said she’s trying to keep an open mind. But she says that absent compelling evidence to the contrary, she’s likely to oppose extending coverage to tens of thousands of low-income adults — those making up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level, about $17,000 per year for a single person or $35,000 for a family of four.
“It’s not children,” Landwher said. “It’s not pregnant women or the disabled. A lot of them are able-bodied (adults). So, why aren’t they working?”
While a majority of those who would benefit from expansion either have a job or are living in a household where at least one person works, that sentiment is at the heart of the opposition to expansion.
Medicaid, many opponents say, is for children and vulnerable Kansans, not adults they see as capable of working and purchasing private coverage.
Opponents also cite cost as an issue, noting that enrollment has exceeded expectations in most expansion states. Many also reject the claim that expansion would help struggling rural hospitals keep their doors open.
Finally, said Rep. Don Hineman, a Dighton Republican who supports expansion, many lawmakers have a rational fear of expanding an expensive entitlement program.
“As we’ve learned time and again, once you start a new government program there’s no going back,” Hineman said.
Advocates say they’re ready to address those concerns and others.
The Kansas Hospital Association has estimated that expansion would generate enough in savings, economic growth and existing fees to cover the state’s expansion costs with about $5 million to spare.
Expansion opponents are dismissive of those estimates but KHA says they’re based on what actually happened in expansion states.
Montana, for instance. Its expansion costs totaled $576.9 million in fiscal year 2017, according to a recent report from The Commonwealth Foundation. But with the federal government covering 95 percent of those costs the state’s obligation was $24.5 million. It covered that with $25.2 million in savings and offsets, leaving the state with a surplus of $700,000.
Sara Collins, a health care expert at The Commonwealth Fund and one of the authors of the report, will be in Kansas to participate in the roundtable discussions.
The KHA also has data to rebut the claim that Medicaid expansion would do little to help struggling rural hospitals. While it’s true that reversing recent reductions in Medicare payments would do more, expansion would still be significant.
In recent testimony to the House Rural Revitalization Committee, KHA President Tom Bell said expansion dollars would offset about 18 percent of the uncompensated care costs of urban hospitals. He said the same offset for rural hospitals would be 26 percent and climb to almost 45 percent for the frontier hospitals that operate in the most sparsely populated areas of the state.
It’s always good to get the facts on the table. The question is, are lawmakers open to being persuaded by them?
Jim McLean is the senior correspondent for the Kansas News Service, a collaboration of KCUR, Kansas Public Radio, KMUW and High Plains Public Radio covering health, education and politics. You can reach him on Twitter @jmcleanks.
The Fort Hays State University Foundation has welcomed Darci Cain to its staff as associate vice president of development.
“Growing up in western Kansas, Fort Hays State University was instrumental in shaping my vision of higher education and its opportunities,” said Cain. “I am excited to be a part of the university and enhance the visibility of the achievements accomplished while aligning passions for the future.”
As a member of the FHSU Foundation team, Cain will be responsible for raising endowment, capital, and other financial support to meet the funding needs of the university. Fort Hays State is in the midst of the largest fundraising campaign in school history – the Journey campaign – with a goal of raising $100 million in support of scholarships, academics, student life and athletics.
Cain will also lead planned giving efforts for the Foundation. Whether a donor chooses to provide student scholarships, fund a program or enhance an initiative that meets their interests, through the generous donation of land to Fort Hays State, appreciated securities, or charitable IRA rollover, Cain will be on hand to assist in the process.
Cain has been in the financial services industry for over 20 years and was most recently employed as a financial advisor at Werth Wealth Management of Hays. She worked in the banking industry as a vice president and trust officer. In addition, she spent almost eight years dedicated to higher education and charitable philanthropy at the Kansas State University Foundation with a significant amount of her time spent within their gift planning department.
Cain is a graduate of Tabor College with two bachelor’s degrees in business administration, one with an emphasis in economics and the other in office administration. She has also obtained certification to be designated as a Certified Trust and Financial Officer.
Established in 1945, the FHSU Foundation is committed to cultivating lasting relationships with alumni, friends, corporations and other organizations who have a passion for Fort Hays State and who want to continue its legacy of excellence. As an independent, non-profit organization, the Foundation’s donors have an impact on all facets of university life, and their support continues to translate into success for students and the FHSU learning environment. To learn more about the FHSU Foundation and the Journey Campaign, visit https://foundation.fhsu.edu, call 785-628-5620 or email [email protected].
The Healing Kids Hearts Retreat is still taking applications.
Organizers are urging loved one to get their children’s names in for the retreat as soon as possible.
Children experience the loss of loved ones just as adults do but youngsters grieve differently than adults.
The Center for Life Experience (CFLE) in Hays is offering a special retreat March 30 for children dealing with death.
Healing Kids Hearts is in its fourth year.
The daylong retreat is for children ages 7-12 who’ve lost someone significant in their lives, whether a relative or a friend.
“They don’t talk the same way as adults,” says Ann Leiker, CFLE executive director and a licensed social worker. “They may want to grieve creatively, doing things like making a memory box with pictures and drawings.” Music and story writing is often part of the process.
Children attending past retreats have made bird houses and memory stones to place in a garden to honor loved ones. This year’s activities will include a balloon launch.
The young participants learn about grief, how to embrace it and how to cope with it so they can move forward in their journey of healing.
Each child is paired with a trained adult volunteer as a matched “buddy” for guidance and support throughout the day.
“They become friends and they just share. The kids come in pretty quiet and by the end of the day, they’re smiling and they have hope,” Leiker said. “They have memories of their loved one that they can share.”
“Healing Kids Hearts” will be held 9:45 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, March 30 at the Sternberg Museum of Natural History, 3000 Sternberg Drive. The deadline for applications for participants and volunteers has been extended, but organizers would like to have applications by March 8 if possible. Applications are available on the CFLE website.
Cost is $10 per child which includes a T-shirt, tote, lunch and snacks. The cost for families with two or more children attending is $5 per child. Financial scholarships are available.
A separate session for adults will be held during the morning.
More information is available by calling or texting Leiker at 785-259-6859, or by email at [email protected].
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
A major road construction project is underway in North Africa. An industrial sweeper is being used to prepare the road surface for the application of asphalt. Where do you suppose that sweeper was built? Would you believe, halfway around the globe in Kansas? Today we’ll learn about a remarkable ruralpreneur and his company who is building these sweeper machines for markets across the nation and beyond.
Alan Vance is CEO of Broce Broom, the company which produces these industrial sweepers. Mark Chalfant is chief operating officer.
The history of this company goes back to Alan’s grandfather, Ray Broce, who was born in 1902 in the rural community of Attica, population 626 people. Now, that’s rural.
Mr. Broce worked for the Kansas Highway Department and then went into business for himself in Dodge City. “He mortgaged his home and bought his first piece of construction equipment in 1937,” Alan Vance said.
Alan Vance
Ray Broce grew the Broce Construction Company into one of the leading road construction businesses of its era. Broce became the largest road construction company in Kansas and Oklahoma. “Someone estimated that half the roads in Oklahoma were built by Broce Construction,” Alan said.
From 1973 to 1975, the National Asphalt Paving Association presented its highest award for construction projects to Broce Construction – the only company in history to win the award three years in a row. Gee, they should retire the trophy…
In the road construction process, a roadbed base is built and then swept clean immediately before adhesive and asphalt is applied. It’s important that the road surface be just right.
Of course, the process of building roads and applying asphalt is typically done in the summertime. Winter is downtime. During the winter of 1961, Ray Broce and his mechanics had time in the shop to think about how to improve their road construction process. At that time, a road sweeper was usually towed behind a truck or tractor. That made it difficult to simultaneously steer and adjust the equipment.
The question arose: “Wouldn’t the broom work better if we put it in the middle of the machine where the operator could see it and make adjustments?” The guys went to a salvage yard, got an automobile frame and engine, and mounted the industrial sweeper broom in the center of the machine.
That was the beginning of the self-propelled mid-mount sweeper which would revolutionize that part of the industry. Broce Construction crews used it that summer. It worked so well that other contractors saw it and wanted one also. In 1963, Ray Broce formed a new company, Broce Manufacturing, to build and sell “Broce Brooms.” Eventually the family closed the construction business to focus on manufacturing.
Ray Broce’s daughter went to K-State and later met and married Bud Vance. Bud was an Air Force pilot. When he eventually retired from the Air Force, he joined his father-in-law’s company. They had a son named Alan who served as an overseas missionary before taking the position as company CEO.
Broce Broom now manufactures a heavy duty model for road construction and a lighter weight model for rental companies, while continuing to innovate with its partners. “People are now using our sweepers in the artificial turf industry as the final step in leveling the crumb rubber which has been poured on the artificial turf,” Alan said.
In 2018, the company partnered with another business to offer a new dust control additive to go in the sweeper water tank. “We want our operators to have the safest experience possible,” Alan said.
Broce Broom in Dodge City now has 60 employees. “We have shipped our products coast to coast and exported to 40 different countries,” Alan said. “We continue to sell more sweepers than all our competitors combined.”
It’s time to leave North Africa, where a sweeper from a company in rural Kansas is being used to prepare the roadbed. We commend Alan Vance, Mark Chalfant, and all those involved with Broce Broom for making a difference with engineering innovation. When a Kansas company can have global impact, that is a clean sweep.
Alicia BoorGardeners are eager to get out and do something in the landscape this time of year. One chore that can be taken care of now is pruning certain shrubs.
Often, gardeners approach pruning with trepidation, but it is not as difficult as it may seem. Remember, not all shrubs need to be pruned (i.e., witch hazel), and certain shrubs, which will be identified later, should not be pruned this time of year. Shrubs are pruned to maintain or reduce size, rejuvenate growth, or to remove diseased, dead or damaged branches. Deciduous shrubs are those that lose their leaves each winter. Evergreen shrubs maintain foliage all year and include yews and junipers.
Deciduous shrubs are placed into three groups:
• Those that flower in the spring on wood produced last year
• Those that flower later in the year on current seasons’ growth
• Those that may produce flowers, but those flowers are of little ornamental value.
Shrubs that flower in the spring should not be pruned until immediately after flowering. Though pruning earlier will not harm the health of the plant, the flowering display will be reduced. Examples of these types of plants include forsythia, lilac and mock orange. Shrubs that bloom on current seasons’ growth or that do not produce ornamental flowers are best pruned in late winter to early spring. Examples include Rose-of-Sharon, pyracantha, Bumald spirea and Japanese spirea.
Pruning during the spring allows wounds to heal quickly without threat from insects or disease. There is no need to treat pruning cuts with paints or sealers. In fact, some of these products may retard healing. There are three basic methods used in pruning shrubs: thinning, heading back and rejuvenating. Thinning is used to thin out branches from a shrub that is too dense. It is accomplished by removing most of the inward growing twigs by cutting them back to a larger branch. On multi-stemmed shrubs, the oldest canes may be completely removed.
Heading back is done by removing the end of a branch by cutting it back to a bud and is used for either reducing height or keeping a shrub compact. Branches are not cut back to a uniform height because this results in a “witches-broom” effect.
Rejuvenation is the most severe type of pruning and may be used on multi-stem shrubs that have become too large, with too many old branches to justify saving the younger canes. All stems are cut back to 3- to 5-inch stubs. This is not recommended for all shrubs but does work well for spirea, forsythia, pyracantha, ninebark, Russian almond, little leaf mock orange, shrub roses and flowering quince.
Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact her by e-mail at [email protected] or calling 620-793-1910
Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Fort Hays State University
FHSU University Relations
Three undergraduate students in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Fort Hays State University recently attended Legislative Day at the Capitol building in Topeka.
Madisson Jesse, Burlington senior, Ashley Luna, Victoria junior, and Alexis Schaben, Hays senior, attended. Jacque Jacobs, Herndon Clinic coordinator and professor in the CSD Department, Tara Marshall, clinical educator, and Stephanie Tiernan, clinical educator in the department also attended.
“It’s easy to get consumed with your day-to-day activities and providing services to your clients,” said Marshall. “Legislative day is an opportunity to connect with politicians about issues that affect our profession and, therefore, our clients.”
This was Marshall’s second Legislative Day.
“Advocacy is part of our scope of practice, a part that we need to invest time in as well,” she said. “By involving CSD students in Legislative Day, we’re instilling in them the value of advocacy at an early stage in their careers in hopes that they will continue to get involved when they are practicing clinicians.”
KSHA members have been active at the Capitol since the inception of the organization in 1959. Through activities such as participating in bills, serving on task forces and regulatory boards, and voting in local and state elections, members have made a lasting impact on the professions and those with communication disorders.
“Legislative Day plays an important role in the life of a professional association and in the lives of our members,” said Susie Ternes, executive director of KSHA. “When members of an organization come together at the Capitol, they show policymakers that they are paying attention and that they want to maintain an open line of communication with them.”
“Legislators are expected to be knowledgeable about many different topics and many know very little about the work of a speech-language pathologist or audiologist,” said Ternes. “Bringing awareness to our profession and to the clients we serve is a critical component to our Legislative Day activities.”
Legislative Day provides participants the opportunity to learn about current legislative priorities and learn about ways to become involved in the legislative process. It also provides an opportunity for members to meet with their legislators and begin to form relationships with those who represent the members at the State level.
“We are called to be advocates for our clients, and advocating for change at the state level has a tremendous impact on our mission. Through effective communication, all individuals will realize their potential,” said Ternes.
“Going to Topeka and hearing from legislators was a valuable experience,” said Jesse. “Our group discussed two important topics for the field of speech-language pathology, Medicaid expansion and more funding for education.”
Jesse and Schaben were able to meet with State Rep. Eric Smith, Burlington, to discuss CSD matters and learn more about advocacy.
“Having Madisson and Alexis here and listening to their ideas and observations helped me to take a big breath of relief because I know that there are young people out there who truly care about our country and our state,” said Smith.
“They showed a genuine compassion and interest for the direction our state is going and that kind of attitude is going to be key to future success of Kansas,” he said.
“This experience showed me that it’s important for any young adult to be educated on these and other topics, as they can enter the polls at any given time,” said Jesse.
Abrienne Pince, USD 489 Best of the Best Award winner, shakes hands with school board member Sophia Rose Young at the school board meeting Monday night.
By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post
Abrienne Pince, Lincoln Elementary third-grader, was honored with the student Best of the Best Award for February for her friendship to other students and her natural leadership abilities.
She was nominated by her teacher Larissa Whitney.
“Abrie is someone who has stood out since the beginning of the school year,” Whitney said, “especially for her selflessness and her ‘How can I help you, Miss Whitney?’ and her overall demeanor. I have a classroom full of students who need a friend and Abrie accepts that challenge every day.
“I see her walking to school every day with her shoulders held high. She has this confident smile, and it is almost if she is on a mission.”
Whitney said Abrie helps other students when she can, befriending them on the playground or walking with them at school.
During a beginning-of-the-year get-to-know-you exercise, almost every student listed Abrie as a good friend.
“I thought that was amazing,” Whitney said. “She is already a natural leader and it was only the first week of school.”
Whitney continued, “She loves others so well, so I hope that tonight, Abrie, you are soaking this all up like a sponge, and I want you to know how much we love you and I hope you feel so loved. Honestly, we need more Abries in this world. I could see her sitting on a panel of a board some day. I could see her being our first lady president if that is what you want to do.”
Whitney also praised Abrie’s parents. Abrie’s father, Bill, bought pizza for the class after they completed their reading workshop. Whitney used the pizza as an opportunity to teach a lesson on fractions and division.
Abrie’s mom brought in Halloween treats and lead the class in make-and-take craft projects for both Christmas and Valentine’s Day.
“Our classroom has been blessed by this family,” Whitney said. “I am sad I only have a couple more months with Abrie, but I hope she will come back and help with our classroom every year in some sort of capacity.”
Kathy Wagoner
Kathy Wagoner, USD 489 Best of the Best Award winner with members of the Hays school board and Superintendent John Thissen.
Kathy Wagoner, Hays High language arts teacher, was honored with the February’s Hays USD 489 staff Best of the Best Award for her work on the HHS job fair.
She was nominated by Sue Rouse, HHS office staff member.
Wagoner also co-sponsors student council.
“She is one of the people who actually brings the community in, so they have a knowledge about of what is going on at Hays High,” Rouse said.
Wagoner started a program with the help of Tammy Wellbrock, director of the Hays Area Chamber of Commerce, to bring professionals into the high school to help students develop resumes and interview skills. This was the second year for the program, and about 50 professionals participated this year.
“As the office person, I was so excited … to see so many strong and professional people coming in. They were quality people doing the interviewing,” Rouse said. “When they came back to the office to sign out, they were so excited because they had met some really awesome kids with some awesome goals. Three of [the students] even commented they were thinking of going to technical college and coming back and working in Hays.”
Vera Elwood, young adult librarian with the Hays Public Library, was one of the professionals who interviewed students. She also attended the school board meeting Monday to speak on Wagoner’s behalf.
“I have seen no one who has demonstrated a commitment to the Hays High mission statement of empowering all students for tomorrow’s challenges quite like Mrs. Wagoner does,” Elwood said. “Each year she puts in countless hours to create the mock job fair for seniors.”
Wagoner recruits local hiring professionals throughout the community as volunteers, works with the seniors in advance to prepare resumes, teaches them interview skills and talks to them about professional behavior and attire.
“Then she brings it all together for days of crazy scheduling to make it all work to have job skill panels and mock interviews for every senior in the high school,” Elwood said. “This allows the students to practice real-word skills and network with potential bosses in the community.”
Elwood interviewed dozens of seniors and sat on multiple panels during this year’s job fair.
“I have seen how serious the seniors take this exercise and how big of an impact it can have on their lives,” she said. “I interviewed a student who had just landed her first job. I interviewed a student who was in the process of applying for technical school and was very worried about the interview portion. I met a student who had already started her own business and met a student who already had eight years of working experience by his senior year because of working on his family farm, and we talked about how to translate that onto a resume.
“I even interviewed one student who I was so impressed by that when she emailed me a thank you note, I responded with an application to my library because I really wanted to keep her in the community.
“Every student I spoke to was so prepared to leave the halls of Hays High and represent their alma mater in the real world, and none of the that would have been possible without the work and dedication of Mrs. Wagoner.”
Wagoner acknowledged her fellow teachers Alicia Brungardt and Diane Mason who work as a team on the job fair.
