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HAPPY CAMPER

Dear Readers, Official ticket sale numbers have not been released for last week’s Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, KS. I attended Bluegrass throughout my college years but always returned to my dorm at night. This year I was among the throng of “campers.” Though the number of tickets and camping permits sold will eventually quantify the WVF 50th’s attendance, when it comes to Winfield Bluegrass “campers” and how many there were, that’s a whole different ball of mathematic wax. Our tent was home to two while others housed many more, plus there were folks living out of RVs and travel trailers, cars, and vans. Before last week, I had only vague memories of camping from when I was quite young and I wasn’t sure how I’d get along or if I’d enjoy it, though I was thrilled at the prospect of seeing old friends and attending the festival again. My concerns beforehand were met with a nonplussed reply, ”There are Happy Campers…and those that don’t camp.” Which of course left me wondering “Which one am I?”

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Recording of panel discussion on students and trauma now available

On September 20, Fort Hays State University hosted a panel of experts for a discussion on dealing with trauma in our schools. Discussion topics included: Why society has been slow to respond to the effects of trauma among students A description of the mental and physical manifestations of trauma in children and young adults Proven interventions for teachers, administrators, social services professionals, and parents Miss Kansas 2022, Ayanna Hensley, joined the panel and shared her personal experiences with childhood trauma and her commitment as Miss Kansas to promote awareness of this issue across the state.

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Fatality Structure Fire, GoFundMe organized for family

On September 21, 2022, at 3:01pm, the Hays Emergency Communication Center received a report of a structure fire in the 100 blk of West 37th Street, Hays, Kansas 67601. The Hays Fire Department along with the Ellis County Fire Department, Ellis County Emergency Medical Services, and the Hays Police Department were dispatched to the scene. While enroute to the scene it was reported that a child was trapped inside the house. Rescue efforts were initiated, and firefighters were able to locate and remove the child from the home. The child was transported to Hays Medical Center by ECEMS. It is with a heavy heart that we report that the child later died from injuries caused by the fire. Fire crews used multiple hand lines to extinguish the fire. The fire caused extensive damage to the home. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Kansas State Fire Marshall’s Office. No further information will be released at this time.

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