July 2024

FHSU honors late alumnus gift toward construction management scholarships

Few things made Fort Hays State University alumnus Mike Morgison happier than getting his hands dirty. From a messy, rough-and-tumble boy to a skilled man who could reassemble almost anything he pulled apart, Mike exemplified the value of hard work. Before he passed away in 2022, Mike put a gift in place to help FHSU students with similar interests. His sister, Patty Brandenburg, and her husband, Eldon, returned to Hays in April for an emotional and intimate reception on campus. During the event, the couple announced Mike’s legacy, a gift of $502,000 in support of construction management scholarships within FHSU’s Department of Applied Technology.

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Kansas 4-H names state project award winners

The Kansas 4-H Youth Development program has recognized more than two dozen youth as state project award winners. Sarah Maass, state leader for the Kansas 4-H program, said “being a state project winner indicates prior excellence and points to (youth’s) future potential.” “Youth must display leadership skills and hearts for service by organizing events like community service projects, project meetings to share their expertise with younger 4-H members, and other unique efforts,” Maass said. One state winner is selected yearly from the senior division (ages 14-18) in 27 project categories. Kansas 4-H youth submit a project report form, a summary of their work in a certain project. Maass notes that in addition to learning new project skills, these youth must also demonstrate growth and strength in leadership, organization, civic engagement, and communication within the project. This year’s project winners are: Beef – Lyle Perrier, Greenwood County.Civic Engagement – Ariana Baltazor, Central Kansas District – Saline County.Clothing and Textiles – Vanessa Jones, Pottawatomie County.Communications – Grace Oard, Sedgwick County.Dairy – Alexander Young, Chisholm Trail District – Marion County.Dog Care and Training – Lydia Walker, Phillips-Rooks District – Phillips County.Entomology – Renatta Heintz, Chisholm Trail District - Dickinson County.Fiber Arts – Allison Rose, Chisholm Trail District - Dickinson County.Foods and Nutrition – Kierra Eck, Midway District – Russell County.Geology – Knox Crouch, Sedgwick County.Horse – Faith Beesley, Wild West District – Stevens County.Leadership – Elizabeth ‘Ellie’ Seeger, McPherson County. Meat Goats – Kayla George, West Plains District – Finney County.Performing Arts – Tobias Grubbs, Wild West District – Stevens County.Photography – Norman Jurgensen, Marshall County.Plant Science – Isaiah Manus, Leavenworth County.Poultry – Dalton Peters, Meadowlark District – Jackson County.Rabbits – Alena Wiebers, Riley County.Reading – Lexi Wright, Wild West District – Haskell County.Self-Determined – Jarrett Abel, Meadowlark District – Jackson County.Sheep – Brady Hoffman, Sedgwick County.Shooting Sports – Elisha Staggers, Wild West District – Stevens County.STEM – Maggie Brummett, Riley County.STEM: Energy Management – Jarrett Birk, Southwind District – Woodson County.Swine – Jacob DeRouchey, Pottawatomie County.Visual Arts – Brynna Anderson, Central Kansas District – Saline County.Wildlife – Jonas Kern, Cottonwood District – Barton County.Wood Science – Karson Kahler, Meadowlark District – Jefferson County. Award winners were recognized during the Emerald Circle celebration, hosted each year by the Kansas 4-H Foundation. Officials say project report forms progress through county, regional and statewide evaluations before the state winner in each project area is named. State 4-H project award winners are also eligible to attend the National 4-H Congress in Atlanta, Georgia, in November. Numerous donors provide support for project winner’s trip to the National 4-H Congress, through the Kansas 4-H Foundation. More information about opportunities available through the Kansas 4-H Youth Development program is available online.

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Mayor asks if City's 2025 Budget includes money for 48th St repairs

During the July 1st Hays City Commission Work Session, Mayor Shaun Musil raised the question of how repairs of 48th Street might be funded (with the County) next year. Vice Mayor Jacobs and Commissioner Reese Jacobs also both commented on the need for improvements to both 48th Street and 41st Street as well as their interest that these street improvements be done right, with an eye towards the City’s future.

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The Lowe Down: The price of liberty . . .

To be hopeful in the midst of corrupt times is to be brave. There are agendas being set in motion that threaten the American way of life. We know that throughout the history of the world, people can be mean, greedy, controlling and even vindictive, but we must never forget that there are people who can counterbalance and dare I say, defeat, the evil among us through great amounts of kindness, mettle, compassion and heroic efforts. There are many good people these days who are fighting to preserve democracy despite the workings of some powerful people. If David and Goliath have taught us anything, it’s that sometimes the good guy wins against all odds. In the case of our republic, the good guys would be our country’s citizens, because it has become clear that in order to save America, it will be the voters who have to be the ones to do it.

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