JUNCTION CITY, Kan. – The Junction City High School and H.D. Karns JAG-K programs had a banner weekend at the 2025 National Career Development Conference in Indianapolis, Ind."I could not have asked for a better group of students to represent our Junction City community and schools. They did amazing and will continue to do amazing things in the future,"&nbsp;said&nbsp;Willie Woods, JAG-K Career Specialist.

As a program, H.D. Karns was named an Outstanding Chapter for a second-straight year.Individually, the H.D. Karns trio of Jaylah Buffington, Morgan Barrett and Shantee Dowd&nbsp;placed ninth overall, nationally, in the project-based learning showcase, while Jaden Exantus, Lyric Pope, and Trent Herrington earned 10th-place honors, nationally, to lead JCHS in the creative decision-making division.

“For the students to be recognized on a national level was a huge honor. They have really worked hard, so being able to make it onto the national stage was just the cherry on top. As young people they have grown so much throughout the year where now they can actively use their voice and choices to impact our community on so many levels. I am very proud of them,” said Woods.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745869156411.jpeg" alt="Pictured: Jaylah Buffington, Morgan Barrett and Shantee Dowd&nbsp;&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Pictured: Jaylah Buffington, Morgan Barrett and Shantee Dowd&nbsp;&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>By Matt Hoover&nbsp;USD 475 Communications CoordinatorJUNCTION CITY, Kan. – The Junction City High School and H.D. Karns JAG-K programs had a banner weekend at the 2025 National Career Development Conference in Indianapolis, Ind."I could not have asked for a better group of students to represent our Junction City community and schools. They did amazing and will continue to do amazing things in the future,"&nbsp;said&nbsp;Willie Woods, JAG-K Career Specialist.As a program, H.D. Karns was named an Outstanding Chapter for a second-straight year.Individually, the H.D. Karns trio of Jaylah Buffington, Morgan Barrett and Shantee Dowd&nbsp;placed ninth overall, nationally, in the project-based learning showcase, while Jaden Exantus, Lyric Pope, and Trent Herrington earned 10th-place honors, nationally, to lead JCHS in the creative decision-making division.“For the students to be recognized on a national level was a huge honor. They have really worked hard, so being able to make it onto the national stage was just the cherry on top. As young people they have grown so much throughout the year where now they can actively use their voice and choices to impact our community on so many levels. I am very proud of them,” said Woods.

JAG-K Shines at Nationals 

The Junction City High School Class of 2025 will graduate more than 400 seniors on May 18. They will be the 150th class to complete their high school education from JCHS.

The tradition of a safe, fun post-commencement event will continue with Project Graduation. There will be something new this year when the event will be hosted at Junction City Bowl. Project Graduation will begin at 9 pm and run through 11 pm on May 18. Every member of the graduating class can attend for free. Bowling will be the centerstage of fun but there will be additional games, free prizes, food, drinks and numerous large=item giveaways.

Your donation will go toward game prizes, raffle giveaways plus food and drinks. You can join the message to the Class of 2025. We are proud of you, Blue Jays, and we want you to celebrate safely!

--Check made payable to: Project Graduation, C/O JCHS 1100 Blue Jay Way Junction City, KS 6641

--Direct donation of items. These donations can be brought to JCHS Main Office, left to the care of Nancy Dettmer or Joanna Erichsen

Senior Class Sponsor, Nancy Dettmer: nancydettmer@usd475.org

Senior Class Sponsor, Joanna Erichsen: joannaerichsen@usd475.org

JCHS Principal, GG Booth: genniferbooth@usd475.org

The Junction City High School Class of 2025 will graduate more than 400 seniors on May 18. They will be the 150th class to complete their high school education from JCHS.The tradition of a safe, fun post-commencement event will continue with Project Graduation. There will be something new this year when the event will be hosted at Junction City Bowl. Project Graduation will begin at 9 pm and run through 11 pm on May 18. Every member of the graduating class can attend for free. Bowling will be the centerstage of fun but there will be additional games, free prizes, food, drinks and numerous large=item giveaways.Your donation will go toward game prizes, raffle giveaways plus food and drinks. You can join the message to the Class of 2025. We are proud of you, Blue Jays, and we want you to celebrate safely!To contribute:--Check made payable to: Project Graduation, C/O JCHS 1100 Blue Jay Way Junction City, KS 6641--Direct donation of items. These donations can be brought to JCHS Main Office, left to the care of Nancy Dettmer or Joanna ErichsenFor questions contact:Senior Class Sponsor, Nancy Dettmer: nancydettmer@usd475.orgSenior Class Sponsor, Joanna Erichsen: joannaerichsen@usd475.orgJCHS Principal, GG Booth: genniferbooth@usd475.orgPhone: 785-717-4267

Donors are needed for Project Graduation

<a>MANHATTAN, Kan.</a>&nbsp;–&nbsp;Two more Kansas State football players received the call of a lifetime from NFL franchises on Saturday as running back&nbsp;DJ Giddens&nbsp;and safety&nbsp;Marques Sigle&nbsp;were selected on the final day of the 2025 NFL Draft.

Giddens was chosen with the 14th&nbsp;pick of the fifth round – No. 151 overall – by the Indianapolis Colts, while Sigle was selected nine picks later with the 23rd&nbsp;pick of the round – No. 160 overall – by the San Francisco 49ers.

With&nbsp;Jacob Parrish’s selection in the third round by Tampa Bay on Friday night, the Wildcats have now had 10 players drafted over the last three years, their most over a three-year stretch since 12 players were selected between 2002 and 2004.

A product of Junction City, Kansas, Giddens became the sixth Wildcat all time to be selected by Indianapolis, including the second in the last three years as he joins cornerback Julius Brents, who was taken in the second round of the 2023 draft. Sigle is the seventh Wildcat to be selected by San Francisco and the first since DJ Reed in 2018.

Giddens finished his three-year K-State career by ranking in the top 10 in school history in 11 career categories, most notably a No. 2 ranking in rushing yards per attempt (5.97), third in rushing yards (3,087), fourth in total scrimmage yards (3,766) and receiving yards by a running back (679). He became just the fourth player in school history to produce multiple 1,000-yard rushing seasons, joining fellow NFL Draft picks Darren Sproles, Daniel Thomas, Deuce Vaughn.

Giddens was a Doak Walker Award semifinalist and All-Big 12 Second Team selection a year ago after rushing for 1,343 yards and seven touchdowns on 205 carries, while he hauled in 21 catches for 258 yards and a touchdown. He set a school record by averaging 6.55 yards per carry in 2024, breaking the previous record of 6.49 yards per carry by Darren Sproles in 2003. It was the sixth-highest average in Big 12 history (minimum 200 carries). Additionally, he finished eighth in the country in scrimmage yards per game (133.42), 10th in all-purpose yards per game (133.42), 13th in rushing yards per game (111.92) and 14th in in total rushing yards.

Giddens had 13 career 100-yard rushing games with seven of those coming in 2024, including a 187-yard effort against Oklahoma State and a 182-yard output the next game at Colorado to become the first Wildcat with at least 180 rushing yards in consecutive games in six years

Sigle played in 50 career games – including the final 25 at K-State after transferring in from North Dakota State – as he totaled 174 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, seven interceptions and 26 total passes defended. As a senior, the Omaha, Nebraska, native posted career highs with three interceptions – including one he returned for a touchdown at West Virginia – and 6.5 tackles for loss in addition to 60 tackles and three pass breakups. He tied for eighth in the Big 12 in interceptions and ranked third in interception-return yards (93).

During his first season in Manhattan in 2023, Sigle earned All-Big 12 honors after tallying a career-high 63 tackles and 10 total passes defended as he also earned votes for the Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year.

More Wildcats could join NFL teams as organizations begin to sign rookie free agents in the coming days. Those will be announced as they made public by their respective organizations.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745767276256.jpeg" alt="DJ Giddens" />
 <figcaption>DJ Giddens</figcaption>
 </figure><a>MANHATTAN, Kan.</a>&nbsp;–&nbsp;Two more Kansas State football players received the call of a lifetime from NFL franchises on Saturday as running back&nbsp;DJ Giddens&nbsp;and safety&nbsp;Marques Sigle&nbsp;were selected on the final day of the 2025 NFL Draft.Giddens was chosen with the 14th&nbsp;pick of the fifth round – No. 151 overall – by the Indianapolis Colts, while Sigle was selected nine picks later with the 23rd&nbsp;pick of the round – No. 160 overall – by the San Francisco 49ers.With&nbsp;Jacob Parrish’s selection in the third round by Tampa Bay on Friday night, the Wildcats have now had 10 players drafted over the last three years, their most over a three-year stretch since 12 players were selected between 2002 and 2004.A product of Junction City, Kansas, Giddens became the sixth Wildcat all time to be selected by Indianapolis, including the second in the last three years as he joins cornerback Julius Brents, who was taken in the second round of the 2023 draft. Sigle is the seventh Wildcat to be selected by San Francisco and the first since DJ Reed in 2018.Giddens finished his three-year K-State career by ranking in the top 10 in school history in 11 career categories, most notably a No. 2 ranking in rushing yards per attempt (5.97), third in rushing yards (3,087), fourth in total scrimmage yards (3,766) and receiving yards by a running back (679). He became just the fourth player in school history to produce multiple 1,000-yard rushing seasons, joining fellow NFL Draft picks Darren Sproles, Daniel Thomas, Deuce Vaughn.Giddens was a Doak Walker Award semifinalist and All-Big 12 Second Team selection a year ago after rushing for 1,343 yards and seven touchdowns on 205 carries, while he hauled in 21 catches for 258 yards and a touchdown. He set a school record by averaging 6.55 yards per carry in 2024, breaking the previous record of 6.49 yards per carry by Darren Sproles in 2003. It was the sixth-highest average in Big 12 history (minimum 200 carries). Additionally, he finished eighth in the country in scrimmage yards per game (133.42), 10th in all-purpose yards per game (133.42), 13th in rushing yards per game (111.92) and 14th in in total rushing yards.Giddens had 13 career 100-yard rushing games with seven of those coming in 2024, including a 187-yard effort against Oklahoma State and a 182-yard output the next game at Colorado to become the first Wildcat with at least 180 rushing yards in consecutive games in six years<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745767327823.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Sigle played in 50 career games – including the final 25 at K-State after transferring in from North Dakota State – as he totaled 174 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, seven interceptions and 26 total passes defended. As a senior, the Omaha, Nebraska, native posted career highs with three interceptions – including one he returned for a touchdown at West Virginia – and 6.5 tackles for loss in addition to 60 tackles and three pass breakups. He tied for eighth in the Big 12 in interceptions and ranked third in interception-return yards (93).During his first season in Manhattan in 2023, Sigle earned All-Big 12 honors after tallying a career-high 63 tackles and 10 total passes defended as he also earned votes for the Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year.More Wildcats could join NFL teams as organizations begin to sign rookie free agents in the coming days. Those will be announced as they made public by their respective organizations.– k-statesports.com –

   K-State’s Giddens, Sigle Selected on Final Day of 2025 NFL Draft

K-STATE RESEARCH AND EXTENSION NEWS SERVICE

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Adding lamb to the shopping list could liven up Spring meals, says Kansas State University food scientist Karen Blakeslee.

She notes that in many countries, lamb (a young sheep) is the major source of protein. In the United States, many think of lamb as a springtime food, but it can be enjoyed year-round.

Sheep are the oldest domesticated meat species, having been raised by humans beginning about 9,000 years ago in the Middle East.

“When shopping for lamb, look for meat that is fine textured and firm that has red coloring and white marbling,” Blakeslee said. Marbling is white flecks of intramuscular fat within the meat muscle.

The fat trim should be firm, white, and not too thick, she said. The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ams.usda.gov/grades-standards/lamb-grades-and-standards">USDA quality grades</a>&nbsp;are reliable guides.

There are five basic major (primal) cuts into which the lamb carcass is separated: shoulder, rack, shank/breast, loin, and leg.

“Packages of fresh lamb purchased in the supermarket will be labeled with the primal cut as well as the product, such as shoulder roast or loin chop,” Blakeslee said.

For more information on different cuts of lamb and how to cook lamb meat safely, see&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/meat-catfish/lamb-farm-table">USDA Lamb from Farm to Table.</a>

&nbsp; More information is also available from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/about/statewide-locations.html">local extension offices</a>&nbsp;in Kansas.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744425566448.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>K-STATE RESEARCH AND EXTENSION NEWS SERVICEMANHATTAN, Kan. – Adding lamb to the shopping list could liven up Spring meals, says Kansas State University food scientist Karen Blakeslee.She notes that in many countries, lamb (a young sheep) is the major source of protein. In the United States, many think of lamb as a springtime food, but it can be enjoyed year-round.Sheep are the oldest domesticated meat species, having been raised by humans beginning about 9,000 years ago in the Middle East.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745631387498.png" alt="Lamb kabobs - Photo courtesy K-State Research and Extension " />
 <figcaption>Lamb kabobs - Photo courtesy K-State Research and Extension </figcaption>
 </figure>“When shopping for lamb, look for meat that is fine textured and firm that has red coloring and white marbling,” Blakeslee said. Marbling is white flecks of intramuscular fat within the meat muscle.The fat trim should be firm, white, and not too thick, she said. The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ams.usda.gov/grades-standards/lamb-grades-and-standards">USDA quality grades</a>&nbsp;are reliable guides.There are five basic major (primal) cuts into which the lamb carcass is separated: shoulder, rack, shank/breast, loin, and leg.“Packages of fresh lamb purchased in the supermarket will be labeled with the primal cut as well as the product, such as shoulder roast or loin chop,” Blakeslee said.For more information on different cuts of lamb and how to cook lamb meat safely, see&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/meat-catfish/lamb-farm-table">USDA Lamb from Farm to Table.</a>&nbsp; More information is also available from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/about/statewide-locations.html">local extension offices</a>&nbsp;in Kansas.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Food scientist suggests adding lamb to spring meals 

By CHELSI MEDVED <a href="https://www.hhs.k-state.edu/news/2025/04/07/kccto-partners-with-kansas-state-universitys-division-of-it-in-developing-statewide-directory-for-kansass-early-child-care-and-education-system/">K-State News Service</a>

MANHATTAN — Thanks to a partnership between&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kccto.org/">Kansas Child Care Training Opportunities</a>&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.k-state.edu/it/">Division of Information Technology</a>&nbsp;at Kansas State University, early childhood professionals in Kansas will have access to a new statewide directory and professional empowerment portal.

The Division of Information Technology provided Kansas Child Care Training Opportunities, or KCCTO — a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.hhs.k-state.edu/earlychildhood/professionaleducation.html">K-State-sponsored project</a>&nbsp;that provides professional development and technical assistance to early childhood professionals across Kansas — with essential expertise and support in developing internal data systems to build the framework of a statewide early childhood workforce and training management system.

This collaboration has led to the development and launch of&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.yourcape.org/">Career Advancement and Professional Empowerment, or Cape</a>, which will equip early childhood professionals with a powerful tool for tracking and managing their professional development throughout their careers.

"From the initial design to the near-completion of Cape, the K-State Division of IT has been a cornerstone of this project," said Patty Peschel, executive director of KCCTO. "Their technical expertise, problem-solving skills and tireless dedication to our mission made it possible to achieve something extraordinary in less than one year. Without them, this milestone would not have been within reach.

"Key features of Cape include personalized profiles, statewide tools and resources, and the ability to view and manage professional growth over time, all on a single, centralized platform.

Built on the Salesforce platform, Cape is uniquely adaptable to meet the specific needs of early childhood professionals in Kansas. Its scalable and customizable design ensures that the system can address current workforce demands while evolving to meet future needs.

&nbsp;"From the start, we knew that KCCTO needed more than just a system — they needed a long-term solution that could evolve with the early childhood workforce," said Sarah Mattocks, director of enterprise systems in K-State's Division of Information Technology. "Our team worked closely with KCCTO and state stakeholders to identify partners that could help turn a conceptual vision into a functional, user-friendly platform. Seeing Cape come to life has been incredibly rewarding. It's a testament to what's possible when technology and user needs align to create a solution that has a real, lasting impact on a critical workforce."

Cape had its soft launch with KCCTO in January and is set for its official debut in May 2025. With ongoing support from K-State's Division of Information Technology, Cape is positioned to remain a dynamic and innovative resource for years to come.

In just 11 short weeks since its soft launch, Cape has already made a significant impact across Kansas, including more than 7,000 training enrollments and more than 4,000 Cape accounts created by users from 99 out of Kansas' 105 counties.

"KCCTO's commitment to outreach and engagement across all 105 Kansas counties aligns with and exemplifies the mission of our land-grant promise to drive economic prosperity for all Kansans, said Brad Behnke, dean of the College of Health and Human Sciences. "This commitment to supporting early childhood professionals strengthens communities, empowers the workforce, and ensures better outcomes for children and families across the state.

"The project benefitted from the expertise, collaboration and unwavering commitment of many additional statewide partners and agencies through the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.allinforkansaskids.org/">All In For Kansas Kids</a>&nbsp;collaboration, including Child Care Aware of Kansas and early childhood state agencies such as the Kansas Children's Cabinet and Trust Fund, the Kansas Department for Children and Families, the Kansas State Department of Education, and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, which served as the state lead.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744726194902.png" alt="AI-generated by Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>AI-generated by Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By CHELSI MEDVED <a href="https://www.hhs.k-state.edu/news/2025/04/07/kccto-partners-with-kansas-state-universitys-division-of-it-in-developing-statewide-directory-for-kansass-early-child-care-and-education-system/">K-State News Service</a>MANHATTAN — Thanks to a partnership between&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kccto.org/">Kansas Child Care Training Opportunities</a>&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.k-state.edu/it/">Division of Information Technology</a>&nbsp;at Kansas State University, early childhood professionals in Kansas will have access to a new statewide directory and professional empowerment portal.The Division of Information Technology provided Kansas Child Care Training Opportunities, or KCCTO — a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.hhs.k-state.edu/earlychildhood/professionaleducation.html">K-State-sponsored project</a>&nbsp;that provides professional development and technical assistance to early childhood professionals across Kansas — with essential expertise and support in developing internal data systems to build the framework of a statewide early childhood workforce and training management system.This collaboration has led to the development and launch of&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.yourcape.org/">Career Advancement and Professional Empowerment, or Cape</a>, which will equip early childhood professionals with a powerful tool for tracking and managing their professional development throughout their careers."From the initial design to the near-completion of Cape, the K-State Division of IT has been a cornerstone of this project," said Patty Peschel, executive director of KCCTO. "Their technical expertise, problem-solving skills and tireless dedication to our mission made it possible to achieve something extraordinary in less than one year. Without them, this milestone would not have been within reach."Key features of Cape include personalized profiles, statewide tools and resources, and the ability to view and manage professional growth over time, all on a single, centralized platform.Built on the Salesforce platform, Cape is uniquely adaptable to meet the specific needs of early childhood professionals in Kansas. Its scalable and customizable design ensures that the system can address current workforce demands while evolving to meet future needs.&nbsp;"From the start, we knew that KCCTO needed more than just a system — they needed a long-term solution that could evolve with the early childhood workforce," said Sarah Mattocks, director of enterprise systems in K-State's Division of Information Technology. "Our team worked closely with KCCTO and state stakeholders to identify partners that could help turn a conceptual vision into a functional, user-friendly platform. Seeing Cape come to life has been incredibly rewarding. It's a testament to what's possible when technology and user needs align to create a solution that has a real, lasting impact on a critical workforce."Cape had its soft launch with KCCTO in January and is set for its official debut in May 2025. With ongoing support from K-State's Division of Information Technology, Cape is positioned to remain a dynamic and innovative resource for years to come.In just 11 short weeks since its soft launch, Cape has already made a significant impact across Kansas, including more than 7,000 training enrollments and more than 4,000 Cape accounts created by users from 99 out of Kansas' 105 counties."KCCTO's commitment to outreach and engagement across all 105 Kansas counties aligns with and exemplifies the mission of our land-grant promise to drive economic prosperity for all Kansans, said Brad Behnke, dean of the College of Health and Human Sciences. "This commitment to supporting early childhood professionals strengthens communities, empowers the workforce, and ensures better outcomes for children and families across the state."The project benefitted from the expertise, collaboration and unwavering commitment of many additional statewide partners and agencies through the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.allinforkansaskids.org/">All In For Kansas Kids</a>&nbsp;collaboration, including Child Care Aware of Kansas and early childhood state agencies such as the Kansas Children's Cabinet and Trust Fund, the Kansas Department for Children and Families, the Kansas State Department of Education, and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, which served as the state lead.

K-State partnership leads to statewide early child care and education directory

Susan Moyer, Director at the Dorothy Bramlage Public Library, shared that the Summer Reading Program will begin with a Kickoff on May 3 from 10:30 AM until 1 PM in the parking lot of the library.&nbsp; 

The Summer Reading Program is designed&nbsp;to encourage youth to read when school is not in session during the summer and for adults to be lifelong readers.&nbsp; The JC Breakfast Optimist Club donated $200.00 to assist with the program.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745671676212.jpeg" alt="Pictured left to right are Susan Moyer and&nbsp;Nita&nbsp;Miller, JC Breakfast Optimist Club President&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Pictured left to right are Susan Moyer and&nbsp;Nita&nbsp;Miller, JC Breakfast Optimist Club President&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>By Dr. Ferrell MillerJC Breakfast Optimist ClubSusan Moyer, Director at the Dorothy Bramlage Public Library, shared that the Summer Reading Program will begin with a Kickoff on May 3 from 10:30 AM until 1 PM in the parking lot of the library.&nbsp; The Summer Reading Program is designed&nbsp;to encourage youth to read when school is not in session during the summer and for adults to be lifelong readers.&nbsp; The JC Breakfast Optimist Club donated $200.00 to assist with the program.&nbsp;

Optimists Donate To The Dorothy Bramlage Public Library Summer Reading Program

Historical reenactment will be on full display in Junction City on Saturday. The Geary County Historical Society will host an Experience History event where you can participate in a variety of activities at the Spring Valley Historic Site.

You can explore log cabins, meet the plainsmen, see and hear from reenactors from across Kansas and participate in hands-on historical experiences.&nbsp;

The Spring Valley Historic Site is located at K-18 and Spring Valley Road.

The event Saturday will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There is a suggested donation of $2 per person.

Historical reenactment will be on full display in Junction City on Saturday. The Geary County Historical Society will host an Experience History event where you can participate in a variety of activities at the Spring Valley Historic Site.You can explore log cabins, meet the plainsmen, see and hear from reenactors from across Kansas and participate in hands-on historical experiences.&nbsp;The Spring Valley Historic Site is located at K-18 and Spring Valley Road.The event Saturday will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There is a suggested donation of $2 per person.

Experience History in Junction City

MANHATTAN, Kan. — Kansas State University horticulture expert Cynthia Domenghini says home gardeners can expand garden space by taking it to the next level…literally.

Domenghini said many crops can be grown vertically, including the more traditional tomatoes, pole beans, and peas as well as vining crops such as cucumbers, melons, squash and gourds.

“Elevating plants off the ground increases the air flow which can help prevent disease,” Domenghini said. “Bringing the height of the produce up also makes harvesting easier.”

Domenghini recommends edible-pod and snow peas because those crops have longer vines and are therefore more appropriate for growing vertically than English (shelling) peas.

Bush-type vining crops produce short vines and are consequently less suitable for vertical growth. “Be mindful of crops that grow large fruit as they could damage the vine if grown vertically,” Domenghini said.

Supporting your vertical garden with a sturdy structure is also important. Domenghini suggests bamboo poles.

“Create a pup tent or A-frame structure by leaning two cattle panels or pallets together and securing them at the top. Alternatively, a single panel can be tied upright to T-posts for support. Plant vining crops at the base and train them to grow upward,” she said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744425566448.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>K-STATE RESEARCH AND EXTENSION NEWS SERVICEMANHATTAN, Kan. — Kansas State University horticulture expert Cynthia Domenghini says home gardeners can expand garden space by taking it to the next level…literally.Domenghini said many crops can be grown vertically, including the more traditional tomatoes, pole beans, and peas as well as vining crops such as cucumbers, melons, squash and gourds.“Elevating plants off the ground increases the air flow which can help prevent disease,” Domenghini said. “Bringing the height of the produce up also makes harvesting easier.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1625444048167.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Domenghini recommends edible-pod and snow peas because those crops have longer vines and are therefore more appropriate for growing vertically than English (shelling) peas.Bush-type vining crops produce short vines and are consequently less suitable for vertical growth. “Be mindful of crops that grow large fruit as they could damage the vine if grown vertically,” Domenghini said.Supporting your vertical garden with a sturdy structure is also important. Domenghini suggests bamboo poles.“Create a pup tent or A-frame structure by leaning two cattle panels or pallets together and securing them at the top. Alternatively, a single panel can be tied upright to T-posts for support. Plant vining crops at the base and train them to grow upward,” she said.

Maximize garden space by growing vertically 

&nbsp; USD 475 reminds that the 2025 <a href="https://www.facebook.com/JCHSUSD475?__cft__[0]=AZXh7Pg9vXBcA3KLSeYlhcICt5ldYBjaQldRcPUP4jnZB0wNmXle5HfaCW-4pOBA1QLtYl0sg2Buku4C9Ha7hhzhpsi9J2GZYOplT8IsPXRS13dNwSyz5tEGQjb6QcLDyLu-VQ8oAao9Wz-KKLQZEJexguYDXBjeMhDdyV1tRCM-_YZwjfn4F-sVseAG6Hx3rPpDWE8s7iUauJkVNrqIY8Oi&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">Junction City High School USD 475</a> Cars and Careers Showcase will take place on Saturday, April 26. Start time is set for 11 a.m.&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp; USD 475 reminds that the 2025 <a href="https://www.facebook.com/JCHSUSD475?__cft__[0]=AZXh7Pg9vXBcA3KLSeYlhcICt5ldYBjaQldRcPUP4jnZB0wNmXle5HfaCW-4pOBA1QLtYl0sg2Buku4C9Ha7hhzhpsi9J2GZYOplT8IsPXRS13dNwSyz5tEGQjb6QcLDyLu-VQ8oAao9Wz-KKLQZEJexguYDXBjeMhDdyV1tRCM-_YZwjfn4F-sVseAG6Hx3rPpDWE8s7iUauJkVNrqIY8Oi&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">Junction City High School USD 475</a> Cars and Careers Showcase will take place on Saturday, April 26. Start time is set for 11 a.m.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Cars and Careers Showcase

The interior glass windows between radio studios and the carpeted walls designed to make studios sound proof are gone. In their place are multiple offices, a conference room, new walls and work space locations.&nbsp;

The former KJCK Radio building at 1030 Southwind Drive now houses DM Construction and Remodeling plus The Work Station owned by Derrick and Tammy Melton. The ribbon cutting for The Work Station was held Friday.

Derrick Melton explained the building was a great place for co-working space ( The Work Station ). From there the facility was remodeled. Tammy said that there are six offices plus three different cubicles that can be rented out for a daily drop in that can be used to meet with clients and for meetings.

There is a new conference room in the downstairs area that seats 12 people in the space that formerly&nbsp; housed the KJCK FM studios.

An upstairs conference room is now a break area.

The regular building hours are 9 to 5 but one business is operated there during the evening.

The former radio station building's history dates back to the early 1970's.

By Dewey TerrillJC PostThe interior glass windows between radio studios and the carpeted walls designed to make studios sound proof are gone. In their place are multiple offices, a conference room, new walls and work space locations.&nbsp;The former KJCK Radio building at 1030 Southwind Drive now houses DM Construction and Remodeling plus The Work Station owned by Derrick and Tammy Melton. The ribbon cutting for The Work Station was held Friday.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745605971039.jpeg" alt="Ribbon cutting ( Photo by Tracy Geisler )" />
 <figcaption>Ribbon cutting ( Photo by Tracy Geisler )</figcaption>
 </figure>Derrick Melton explained the building was a great place for co-working space ( The Work Station ). From there the facility was remodeled. Tammy said that there are six offices plus three different cubicles that can be rented out for a daily drop in that can be used to meet with clients and for meetings.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745608581591.jpeg" alt="( L-R ) Tammy and Derrick Melton" />
 <figcaption>( L-R ) Tammy and Derrick Melton</figcaption>
 </figure>There is a new conference room in the downstairs area that seats 12 people in the space that formerly&nbsp; housed the KJCK FM studios.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745606731632.jpeg" alt="There were tours in conjunction with the Chamber ribbon cutting." />
 <figcaption>There were tours in conjunction with the Chamber ribbon cutting.</figcaption>
 </figure>An upstairs conference room is now a break area.The regular building hours are 9 to 5 but one business is operated there during the evening.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745607484096.jpeg" alt="Upstairs management office" />
 <figcaption>Upstairs management office</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745607536995.jpeg" alt="Upstairs cubicle with a radio days reminder" />
 <figcaption>Upstairs cubicle with a radio days reminder</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745607609646.jpeg" alt="Former downstairs AM studio." />
 <figcaption>Former downstairs AM studio.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745607644250.jpeg" alt="Upstairs area" />
 <figcaption>Upstairs area</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745607816371.jpeg" alt="Tammy Melton's office&nbsp; is in the former newsroom. She manages The Work Station. Derrick has his construction company&nbsp; offices in the building." />
 <figcaption>Tammy Melton's office&nbsp; is in the former newsroom. She manages The Work Station. Derrick has his construction company&nbsp; offices in the building.</figcaption>
 </figure>The former radio station building's history dates back to the early 1970's.

New businesses occupy the former radio station building

On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman continues a series on leadership and entrepreneurship. Kris Munsch discusses 'Where's My Bag of Money?"

<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/o0yGIHzYWug?si=SJMcpR5OhrI_oQwG" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman continues a series on leadership and entrepreneurship. Kris Munsch discusses 'Where's My Bag of Money?"

🎤 Forward Ever: Part 3: Kris Munsch: 'Where's My Bag of Money?'

Geary County Emergency Management announced on Friday morning the Junction City/Geary County area generally had .28" rainfall recorded (some areas may be more or less as storms have ben very scattered). Heavy rainfall may lead to flooding of creeks and rivers as well as flash flooding, particularly for locations that have received heavy rainfall in recent days.

Where the heaviest rain will be and how much could fall remains somewhat low given the expected scattered coverage of storms. Generally, heaviest rainfall will remain in central and north-central KS.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Geary County Emergency Management announced on Friday morning the Junction City/Geary County area generally had .28" rainfall recorded (some areas may be more or less as storms have ben very scattered). Heavy rainfall may lead to flooding of creeks and rivers as well as flash flooding, particularly for locations that have received heavy rainfall in recent days.Where the heaviest rain will be and how much could fall remains somewhat low given the expected scattered coverage of storms. Generally, heaviest rainfall will remain in central and north-central KS.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Rain sweeps through Geary County

Geary USD 475 celebrated during the annual State of Education event Thursday evening at Junction City High School. Numerous teachers and students were recognized, USD 475 Superintendent Dr. Reginald Eggleston and State Education Commissioner Dr. Randy Watson spoke, and there were numerous musical performances.

&nbsp;An opening written statement by the superintendent set the tone. "The greatest contribution Geary County schools can make to our community is to educate children."

Four areas were highlighted including academic success, parent engagement, a culture of excellence and upcoming discussions. "We will continue to set expectations for our students, " said Eggleston. To military connected families he noted that the District has the resources available to support them and the students.

In the coming year the District will be looking at the profile of a graduate, and what does a graduate in the 21st century look like.&nbsp;There was also a note that 49 different languages are spoken by students in the school district.

Horizon Award recipients Denise Acosta and Easton Lager will each receive $1,000, and they were the first USD 475 teachers since 2019 to receive the honor. There were only 32 statewide recipients this year and two came from USD 475.

National Honor Society students and Thrive Award recipients were recognized. The 3.0 grade point average requirement for secondary school students in good standing to participate in extracurricular activities will be reviewed by a committee, and they will see if the District perhaps even needs to raise that requirement.

Teacher of the Year nominees including Seitz Elementary School Kindergarten teacher Christa Grider and Fort Riley Middle School Special Education teacher Michelle Irvine received $1,000. Challenge Award recipients Mallory Larsen and Kim Dressman were honored. They are principals at Grandview and Westwood Elementary schools, respectively.

Lincoln Elementary School was recognzed for receiving a Blue Ribbon School Award, along with JCHS 6A girls state champion cross country runner Linden Pickler and the JCHS boys cross country team that finished second in their 6A state competition.

Educators that are planning to retire including Deb Gustafson, Charlotte Landith and Lanise Cook were honored.&nbsp;

Musical performances were provided by students from Lincoln Elementary School, Fort Riley Elementary School, Junction City High School orchestra and JC Singers, Fort Riley Middle School orchestra and Junction City Middle School choir.

The event concluded with the singing of the Junction City High School fight song "Onward Blue Jays."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745581099178.jpeg" alt="USD 475 Superintendent of Schools Dr. Reginald Eggleston ( USD 475 )" />
 <figcaption>USD 475 Superintendent of Schools Dr. Reginald Eggleston ( USD 475 )</figcaption>
 </figure>By Dewey TerrillJC PostGeary USD 475 celebrated during the annual State of Education event Thursday evening at Junction City High School. Numerous teachers and students were recognized, USD 475 Superintendent Dr. Reginald Eggleston and State Education Commissioner Dr. Randy Watson spoke, and there were numerous musical performances.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745581187782.jpeg" alt="State Education Commissioner Dr. Randy Watson ( USD 475 )" />
 <figcaption>State Education Commissioner Dr. Randy Watson ( USD 475 )</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;An opening written statement by the superintendent set the tone. "The greatest contribution Geary County schools can make to our community is to educate children."Four areas were highlighted including academic success, parent engagement, a culture of excellence and upcoming discussions. "We will continue to set expectations for our students, " said Eggleston. To military connected families he noted that the District has the resources available to support them and the students.In the coming year the District will be looking at the profile of a graduate, and what does a graduate in the 21st century look like.&nbsp;There was also a note that 49 different languages are spoken by students in the school district.Horizon Award recipients Denise Acosta and Easton Lager will each receive $1,000, and they were the first USD 475 teachers since 2019 to receive the honor. There were only 32 statewide recipients this year and two came from USD 475.National Honor Society students and Thrive Award recipients were recognized. The 3.0 grade point average requirement for secondary school students in good standing to participate in extracurricular activities will be reviewed by a committee, and they will see if the District perhaps even needs to raise that requirement.Teacher of the Year nominees including Seitz Elementary School Kindergarten teacher Christa Grider and Fort Riley Middle School Special Education teacher Michelle Irvine received $1,000. Challenge Award recipients Mallory Larsen and Kim Dressman were honored. They are principals at Grandview and Westwood Elementary schools, respectively.Lincoln Elementary School was recognzed for receiving a Blue Ribbon School Award, along with JCHS 6A girls state champion cross country runner Linden Pickler and the JCHS boys cross country team that finished second in their 6A state competition.Educators that are planning to retire including Deb Gustafson, Charlotte Landith and Lanise Cook were honored.&nbsp;Musical performances were provided by students from Lincoln Elementary School, Fort Riley Elementary School, Junction City High School orchestra and JC Singers, Fort Riley Middle School orchestra and Junction City Middle School choir.The event concluded with the singing of the Junction City High School fight song "Onward Blue Jays."

USD 475 shines during the State of Education celebration

RAFAEL GARCIA K-State Research and Extension News Service&nbsp;

MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp; — You may not think about it often, but you have a favorite tree, Matthew Norville bets.

Maybe it's a droopy weeping willow that you wove through as a kid in your grandma's backyard. Or a towering, mature oak older than the city park it shades. It might even be a young evergreen at the town crossroads that shines bright with decoration each winter for the holidays.

"People hold trees close to their heart," said Norville, community forestry program coordinator for the Kansas Forest Service. "It's fascinating how people make trees a big part of their community, and not just physically."

Trees have always been a part of the Kansas landscape — thousands of Eastern cottonwoods and maples, among other species, have long dotted the waterways and low valleys of the old prairie landscape, serving essential roles in the state's ecology.

And as communities have sprouted across the state, so too have the canopies that have provided shelter, recreation and natural beauty for Kansans for more than 150 years.

Through the Kansas Forest Service, professionals like Norville are ensuring that one of the state's most precious resources can continue to thrive — with the right trees in the right places.

Overseeing 5.2 million acres of Kansas trees takes community partnerships

Founded in 1887, the Kansas Forest Service serves rural landowners, communities, rural fire districts, forest and arboriculture industries, and everyday Kansans through various local, district and statewide programs, said state forester Jason Hartman.

"We provide a variety of services through our conservation tree and shrub planting, fire management, community forestry, rural forestry, marketing and utilization, and forest health programs," Hartman said.

The independent agency is housed within K-State Research and Extension, with a separate state office and headquarters about a mile west of the university's Manhattan campus.

The Kansas Forest Service exemplifies the engagement-focused mission of K-State, which aims to integrate engagement across all the university does. By building direct connections with communities and landowners statewide, the service represents exactly the kind of real-world impact K-State envisions in leading as a next-generation land-grant university.

The two entities are also working together to build the Kansas Rural Fire and Workforce Development Center, a new $5 million shared facility that will boost current efforts to provide critical training and equipment for firefighters and state-of-the-art instructional space for academic and regional workforce development programs.

"For most of our existence, except maybe those first 10-15 years, we've worked hand in hand through and with the K-State extension system to connect people to our publications, resources and expertise," Hartman said.

While Kansas isn't known for having huge, dense thickets across its landscape, the state still has extensive stands of trees throughout its hills, prairies, riverways and communities. About 5.2 million acres of forests, woodlands and trees — or roughly 10% of the state's total area — make up Kansas' canopy.

The vast majority of those forests are on private land, and to care for and manage them, the Kansas Forest Service relies on partnerships with local landowners and communities to ensure the state's forests remain vibrant and healthy.

"In Kansas, we don't have any public or national state forests," Hartman said. "That means that our connection, as a forest service, has to be different. We have to connect through our communities."

The forest service also plays a key role in removing or keeping trees from areas where they don't serve a useful purpose.

That includes the removal of dead or sick trees in urban areas, as well as work to stop or reverse the trend of woody encroachment — or the overgrowth of woody trees, shrubs and bushes on traditionally grassy plains — both to help preserve local ecology and to remove fuel for dangerous wildfires.

"In forestry, we always say that it's about putting the right trees in the right place," Hartman said. "We like trees where they belong, and we're just as much against them being where they shouldn't be."

Forest service is rooted in every corner of Kansas

At its headquarters in Manhattan, the Kansas Forest Service hosts most of its statewide programs, including its popular Conservation Tree Planting Program.

The program — which grows and processes tree and shrub seedlings from both in-house and external partner nurseries — sells and ships hundreds of thousands of plantings each year to private landowners, foresters and communities around Kansas.

These plantings serve as wildlife habitats, windbreaks, wood lots, timber plantations and riparian plantings that help prevent erosion along stream and river banks.

The state headquarters also hosts a shop for the forest service's Federal Excess Property, Firefighter Property and Equipment Donation programs.

These three programs support volunteer firefighter departments across the state with essential fire-fighting equipment from federal surpluses at a fraction of their retail costs. The service has agreements with more than 500 Kansas fire districts that have put more than 600 pieces of equipment, valued at more than $43 million, on the front lines fighting Kansas wildfires.

But much of the Kansas Forest Service's most visible presence is in its fieldwork, which comes from district offices across the state.

Through these offices, the Kansas Forest Service provides expertise via its staff of fire management officers and rural, community and district foresters.

Staff at these offices make hundreds of visits to volunteer fire departments, local landowners and communities across the state, serving as expert advisors and connectors to resources.

"Much of this work does take money for landowners to accomplish, but our foresters connect landowners to opportunities through groups like the National Resources Conservation Service cost-share program," Hartman said. "They also host educational events with the public in their areas, and they go to schools to get students informed and interested in natural resources."

Community foresters are the agency's connection to the state's smaller communities. While medium and large cities can typically hire staff with forestry training, smaller towns rely on the Kansas Forest Service's community foresters to provide technical expertise.

These foresters develop strategic plans to help towns identify, manage and plan care for the trees in their communities, said Matthew Norville, the community forestry program coordinator.

"We work with towns of 98 residents to tens of thousands. The size doesn't matter — we're here to serve all Kansans, but we also prioritize helping our communities that would otherwise not get that kind of expertise," Noville said.

Serving Kansans through trees

In terms of state funding, about 30 cents of each Kansan's taxes go toward the Kansas Forest Service, Hartman said.

But calculating the return on those 30 cents of per-capita investment is difficult. Although they may not realize it, most Kansans benefit from at least one of the agency's services, said Ariel Whitely-Noll, communications coordinator for the Kansas Forest Service.

"Whether they're someone who is buying a tree through our conservation tree program, or they live in a community that has had a canopy study done by one of our foresters, or they live in a community that was protected from a wildfire because of the training and work of our staff — it's hard to quantify exactly how much value the Kansas Forest Service is providing for the state, because there is so much we do," she said.

There's never any shortage of work for the Kansas Forest Service, Hartman said. Changing climate conditions means foresters must help communities adapt and make new plans to protect their forest ecosystems. Wildfires are getting hotter, more extreme and more common, happening during parts of the year when they used to be rare.

Invasive species of trees, like the Bradford pear, and insects, like the emerald ash borer, continue to require the constant vigilance and prevention efforts of the Kansas Forest Service's collective staff.

But no matter the challenge, Hartman said his staff always rises to meet it.

"The staff of the Kansas Forest Service are some of the most dedicated you will find anywhere," Hartman said. "Doing all they can for public safety and natural resources is what drives them to excel."

Ultimately, the Kansas Forest Service isn't about any single tree or forest.

It's about people, and putting tree resources in places to support them.

"If a tree falls in the forest, does it make a sound?" Norville said. "The famous answer is that it depends on whether someone is there to listen to it or not. In that same way, does forestry matter without the people? No, it doesn't, and that's why we focus so much of our work on solving peoples’ forestry problems in Kansas.

"That's our main purpose — to serve Kansans as best as we can," he continued. "We're not here for the trees. We're here for the people."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744425566448.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>RAFAEL GARCIA K-State Research and Extension News Service&nbsp;MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp; — You may not think about it often, but you have a favorite tree, Matthew Norville bets.Maybe it's a droopy weeping willow that you wove through as a kid in your grandma's backyard. Or a towering, mature oak older than the city park it shades. It might even be a young evergreen at the town crossroads that shines bright with decoration each winter for the holidays."People hold trees close to their heart," said Norville, community forestry program coordinator for the Kansas Forest Service. "It's fascinating how people make trees a big part of their community, and not just physically."Trees have always been a part of the Kansas landscape — thousands of Eastern cottonwoods and maples, among other species, have long dotted the waterways and low valleys of the old prairie landscape, serving essential roles in the state's ecology.And as communities have sprouted across the state, so too have the canopies that have provided shelter, recreation and natural beauty for Kansans for more than 150 years.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745498681823.png" alt="Kansas forests include about 2.2 million acres of rural forests, 2 million acres of agroforests (windbreaks, shelterbelts, streamside forests and fence rows), and 1 million acres of community forests. - Photo courtesy K-State Research and Extension " />
 <figcaption>Kansas forests include about 2.2 million acres of rural forests, 2 million acres of agroforests (windbreaks, shelterbelts, streamside forests and fence rows), and 1 million acres of community forests. - Photo courtesy K-State Research and Extension </figcaption>
 </figure>Through the Kansas Forest Service, professionals like Norville are ensuring that one of the state's most precious resources can continue to thrive — with the right trees in the right places.Overseeing 5.2 million acres of Kansas trees takes community partnershipsFounded in 1887, the Kansas Forest Service serves rural landowners, communities, rural fire districts, forest and arboriculture industries, and everyday Kansans through various local, district and statewide programs, said state forester Jason Hartman."We provide a variety of services through our conservation tree and shrub planting, fire management, community forestry, rural forestry, marketing and utilization, and forest health programs," Hartman said.The independent agency is housed within K-State Research and Extension, with a separate state office and headquarters about a mile west of the university's Manhattan campus.The Kansas Forest Service exemplifies the engagement-focused mission of K-State, which aims to integrate engagement across all the university does. By building direct connections with communities and landowners statewide, the service represents exactly the kind of real-world impact K-State envisions in leading as a next-generation land-grant university.The two entities are also working together to build the Kansas Rural Fire and Workforce Development Center, a new $5 million shared facility that will boost current efforts to provide critical training and equipment for firefighters and state-of-the-art instructional space for academic and regional workforce development programs.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745498553847.jpeg" alt="Nursery technician Heather Ahring and Clara Keller, junior in environmental science, prepare saplings for shipping out of the Kansas Forest Service's distribution center. - Photo courtesy K-State Research and Extension " />
 <figcaption>Nursery technician Heather Ahring and Clara Keller, junior in environmental science, prepare saplings for shipping out of the Kansas Forest Service's distribution center. - Photo courtesy K-State Research and Extension </figcaption>
 </figure>"For most of our existence, except maybe those first 10-15 years, we've worked hand in hand through and with the K-State extension system to connect people to our publications, resources and expertise," Hartman said.While Kansas isn't known for having huge, dense thickets across its landscape, the state still has extensive stands of trees throughout its hills, prairies, riverways and communities. About 5.2 million acres of forests, woodlands and trees — or roughly 10% of the state's total area — make up Kansas' canopy.The vast majority of those forests are on private land, and to care for and manage them, the Kansas Forest Service relies on partnerships with local landowners and communities to ensure the state's forests remain vibrant and healthy."In Kansas, we don't have any public or national state forests," Hartman said. "That means that our connection, as a forest service, has to be different. We have to connect through our communities."The forest service also plays a key role in removing or keeping trees from areas where they don't serve a useful purpose.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745498495200.jpeg" alt="Daryline Dayzie, nursery technician for the Kansas Forest Service, tends to plantings in the agency's greenhouse. - Photo courtesy K-State Research and Extension " />
 <figcaption>Daryline Dayzie, nursery technician for the Kansas Forest Service, tends to plantings in the agency's greenhouse. - Photo courtesy K-State Research and Extension </figcaption>
 </figure>That includes the removal of dead or sick trees in urban areas, as well as work to stop or reverse the trend of woody encroachment — or the overgrowth of woody trees, shrubs and bushes on traditionally grassy plains — both to help preserve local ecology and to remove fuel for dangerous wildfires."In forestry, we always say that it's about putting the right trees in the right place," Hartman said. "We like trees where they belong, and we're just as much against them being where they shouldn't be."Forest service is rooted in every corner of KansasAt its headquarters in Manhattan, the Kansas Forest Service hosts most of its statewide programs, including its popular Conservation Tree Planting Program.The program — which grows and processes tree and shrub seedlings from both in-house and external partner nurseries — sells and ships hundreds of thousands of plantings each year to private landowners, foresters and communities around Kansas.These plantings serve as wildlife habitats, windbreaks, wood lots, timber plantations and riparian plantings that help prevent erosion along stream and river banks.The state headquarters also hosts a shop for the forest service's Federal Excess Property, Firefighter Property and Equipment Donation programs.These three programs support volunteer firefighter departments across the state with essential fire-fighting equipment from federal surpluses at a fraction of their retail costs. The service has agreements with more than 500 Kansas fire districts that have put more than 600 pieces of equipment, valued at more than $43 million, on the front lines fighting Kansas wildfires.But much of the Kansas Forest Service's most visible presence is in its fieldwork, which comes from district offices across the state.Through these offices, the Kansas Forest Service provides expertise via its staff of fire management officers and rural, community and district foresters.Staff at these offices make hundreds of visits to volunteer fire departments, local landowners and communities across the state, serving as expert advisors and connectors to resources.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745498441593.jpeg" alt=""In times of need, when there might be a big wildfire and the locals need a little bit of extra help, they can call on our staff to assist,” said Jason Hartman, Kansas state forester. - Photo courtesy of K-State Research and Extension News Service " />
 <figcaption>"In times of need, when there might be a big wildfire and the locals need a little bit of extra help, they can call on our staff to assist,” said Jason Hartman, Kansas state forester. - Photo courtesy of K-State Research and Extension News Service </figcaption>
 </figure>"Much of this work does take money for landowners to accomplish, but our foresters connect landowners to opportunities through groups like the National Resources Conservation Service cost-share program," Hartman said. "They also host educational events with the public in their areas, and they go to schools to get students informed and interested in natural resources."Community foresters are the agency's connection to the state's smaller communities. While medium and large cities can typically hire staff with forestry training, smaller towns rely on the Kansas Forest Service's community foresters to provide technical expertise.These foresters develop strategic plans to help towns identify, manage and plan care for the trees in their communities, said Matthew Norville, the community forestry program coordinator."We work with towns of 98 residents to tens of thousands. The size doesn't matter — we're here to serve all Kansans, but we also prioritize helping our communities that would otherwise not get that kind of expertise," Noville said.Serving Kansans through treesIn terms of state funding, about 30 cents of each Kansan's taxes go toward the Kansas Forest Service, Hartman said.But calculating the return on those 30 cents of per-capita investment is difficult. Although they may not realize it, most Kansans benefit from at least one of the agency's services, said Ariel Whitely-Noll, communications coordinator for the Kansas Forest Service."Whether they're someone who is buying a tree through our conservation tree program, or they live in a community that has had a canopy study done by one of our foresters, or they live in a community that was protected from a wildfire because of the training and work of our staff — it's hard to quantify exactly how much value the Kansas Forest Service is providing for the state, because there is so much we do," she said.There's never any shortage of work for the Kansas Forest Service, Hartman said. Changing climate conditions means foresters must help communities adapt and make new plans to protect their forest ecosystems. Wildfires are getting hotter, more extreme and more common, happening during parts of the year when they used to be rare.Invasive species of trees, like the Bradford pear, and insects, like the emerald ash borer, continue to require the constant vigilance and prevention efforts of the Kansas Forest Service's collective staff.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1742917001894.png" alt="Callery Bradford Pear - Photo by Kelly Oten North Carolina State Extension" />
 <figcaption>Callery Bradford Pear - Photo by Kelly Oten North Carolina State Extension</figcaption>
 </figure>But no matter the challenge, Hartman said his staff always rises to meet it."The staff of the Kansas Forest Service are some of the most dedicated you will find anywhere," Hartman said. "Doing all they can for public safety and natural resources is what drives them to excel."Ultimately, the Kansas Forest Service isn't about any single tree or forest.It's about people, and putting tree resources in places to support them."If a tree falls in the forest, does it make a sound?" Norville said. "The famous answer is that it depends on whether someone is there to listen to it or not. In that same way, does forestry matter without the people? No, it doesn't, and that's why we focus so much of our work on solving peoples’ forestry problems in Kansas."That's our main purpose — to serve Kansans as best as we can," he continued. "We're not here for the trees. We're here for the people."

Kansas Forest Service cultivates canopies of a precious state resource 

Governor Laura Kelly announced Thursday $14.5 million for 47 aviation projects across the state through the Kansas Airport Improvement Program (KAIP), which provides funding for planning, construction, and rehabilitation of public-use general aviation airports.&nbsp;

The Kansas Department of Transportation’s Division of Aviation received 81 applications seeking a combined total project value of more than $42 million for this round of KAIP grants. Projects were selected from across the state and focused on pavement preservation, safety, and air ambulance accessibility to remote communities.&nbsp;

&nbsp;Freeman Field, Junction City, will receive funding.

Governor Laura Kelly announced Thursday $14.5 million for 47 aviation projects across the state through the Kansas Airport Improvement Program (KAIP), which provides funding for planning, construction, and rehabilitation of public-use general aviation airports.&nbsp;The Kansas Department of Transportation’s Division of Aviation received 81 applications seeking a combined total project value of more than $42 million for this round of KAIP grants. Projects were selected from across the state and focused on pavement preservation, safety, and air ambulance accessibility to remote communities.&nbsp;&nbsp;Freeman Field, Junction City, will receive funding.<ol>
 <li>$189,000 for tip-down rotating beacon.</li>
 </ol>

Freeman Field is due to reeive funding

TOPEKA—Governor Laura Kelly on Thursday signed&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.kslegislature.gov%2Fli%2Fb2025_26%2Fmeasures%2Fhb2045%2F/1/0101019668fa2474-3e5847a5-d518-4d43-b55f-5a42e32ba380-000000/9ISwdF7PxGJMfE9b6L394_InVJOVFaA2C6GD5p5sSMU=402">House&nbsp;Bill&nbsp;2045</a>, a bipartisan compromise to expand access to child care services and consolidate existing early childhood programs into the Office of Early Childhood. The bill was crafted through negotiations with a bipartisan group of Kansas legislators from both the Kansas House of Representatives and the Kansas Senate. House Bill 2045 received widespread bipartisan support, passing the Kansas House of Representatives 99-23 and the Kansas Senate 30-10. This landmark piece of legislation is the most consequential early childhood education and care legislation enacted in Kansas in 15 years. Governor Kelly signed the bill into law during a ceremony at the Kansas Children’s Discovery Center in Topeka.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“House Bill 2045 is a win for businesses, early childhood providers, and most importantly, Kansas children and families,”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly&nbsp;said.&nbsp;“Now, our early childhood system will no longer be bogged down by inefficiencies and bureaucratic red tape. Through collaboration with the Legislature, this bill will streamline access to high-quality early childhood services and make Kansas the premier place to raise a family while ensuring the highest standards for child well-being and safety.”&nbsp;

Under this legislation, nearly 20 existing state programs serving young children and families will be consolidated into the Office of Early Childhood. The office, which will officially open in mid-2026, will house child care licensing, child care subsidy, home visitation programs, and the Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund. The office will be led by a director appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Kansas Senate. The office will be responsible for the state’s early childhood system, serve communities and stakeholders by developing a statewide strategy for expanding access to child care, and administer services currently spread throughout various state agencies.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Office of Early Childhood will be staffed by current state employees who will be retained in their existing roles and funded through existing state resources, as the office’s functions already exist across state government. The governor will appoint a transition director and interagency transition team to oversee the process of consolidating programs into the office.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“Kansas has a very urgent need for more, affordable child care and this legislation hits directly at bottlenecks in the system that, quite frankly, suppress availability and drive up cost,”&nbsp;said Speaker of the House of Representatives Dan Hawkins. “These are real solutions that will immediately increase slots by reducing overly burdensome regulations, streamlining support services for providers and families, and addressing underserved and rural shortages by increasing flexibility for home-based providers. I especially want to thank House Commerce Chair Sean Tarwater, Vice Chair Adam Turk, and Representative Laura Williams for their tireless work to solve these issues without growing government in the process.”&nbsp;

House Bill 2045 also streamlines early childhood licensure processes and regulatory structures to eliminate barriers to becoming a licensed child care provider and support the early childhood workforce. The bill sets standards for various career pathways and qualification requirements for various early childhood educator positions. The bill also authorizes the creation of pilot programs for developing new licensure categories and eliminates certain licensure fees currently charged to providers, allowing for more child care businesses to open and slots to be created.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“With over half of Kansas families struggling to find affordable child care, the child care crisis impacts children, stresses parents, and slows our economy,”&nbsp;said Senate Democratic Leader Dinah Sykes.&nbsp;“Establishing the Kansas Office of Early Childhood will help parents and children by eliminating the red tape that makes it difficult for families to access services.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

This legislation implements the recommendations of the Early Childhood Transition Task Force, which Governor Kelly established in January 2023 via&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.governor.ks.gov%2FHome%2FComponents%2FNews%2FNews%2F142%2F57%3Ffsiteid=1%26arch=1%23!%2F/1/0101019668fa2474-3e5847a5-d518-4d43-b55f-5a42e32ba380-000000/XegYpa6HqXApXFg0b0bYRV3qIWD-nVKLR_S1nvXM2RA=402">Executive Order 23-01</a>, the first of her second term. The task force, comprised of bipartisan leaders and experts, spent a year reviewing Kansas’ current early childhood system and developed this consolidation structure. Through collaboration between the Governor’s Office and legislative leaders, similar legislation was consideration during the 2024 Legislative Session but was not enacted.&nbsp;

Through partnership with the Legislature, Governor Kelly has previously signed legislation to cut child care costs for working families through $18 million in expanded tax credits, allow for more businesses to access tax credits for providing child care to their employees, and expand the Imagination Library of Kansas to all children between 0-5 years of age. Today, Kansas has more licensed child care slots than ever before, including 7,700 new licensed child care slots since Governor Kelly took office.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745519320930.jpeg" alt="Photo Courtesy Governor's Office" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy Governor's Office</figcaption>
 </figure>Kansas Governor's OfficeTOPEKA—Governor Laura Kelly on Thursday signed&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.kslegislature.gov%2Fli%2Fb2025_26%2Fmeasures%2Fhb2045%2F/1/0101019668fa2474-3e5847a5-d518-4d43-b55f-5a42e32ba380-000000/9ISwdF7PxGJMfE9b6L394_InVJOVFaA2C6GD5p5sSMU=402">House&nbsp;Bill&nbsp;2045</a>, a bipartisan compromise to expand access to child care services and consolidate existing early childhood programs into the Office of Early Childhood. The bill was crafted through negotiations with a bipartisan group of Kansas legislators from both the Kansas House of Representatives and the Kansas Senate. House Bill 2045 received widespread bipartisan support, passing the Kansas House of Representatives 99-23 and the Kansas Senate 30-10. This landmark piece of legislation is the most consequential early childhood education and care legislation enacted in Kansas in 15 years. Governor Kelly signed the bill into law during a ceremony at the Kansas Children’s Discovery Center in Topeka.&nbsp;&nbsp;“House Bill 2045 is a win for businesses, early childhood providers, and most importantly, Kansas children and families,”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly&nbsp;said.&nbsp;“Now, our early childhood system will no longer be bogged down by inefficiencies and bureaucratic red tape. Through collaboration with the Legislature, this bill will streamline access to high-quality early childhood services and make Kansas the premier place to raise a family while ensuring the highest standards for child well-being and safety.”&nbsp;Under this legislation, nearly 20 existing state programs serving young children and families will be consolidated into the Office of Early Childhood. The office, which will officially open in mid-2026, will house child care licensing, child care subsidy, home visitation programs, and the Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund. The office will be led by a director appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Kansas Senate. The office will be responsible for the state’s early childhood system, serve communities and stakeholders by developing a statewide strategy for expanding access to child care, and administer services currently spread throughout various state agencies.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Office of Early Childhood will be staffed by current state employees who will be retained in their existing roles and funded through existing state resources, as the office’s functions already exist across state government. The governor will appoint a transition director and interagency transition team to oversee the process of consolidating programs into the office.&nbsp;&nbsp;“Kansas has a very urgent need for more, affordable child care and this legislation hits directly at bottlenecks in the system that, quite frankly, suppress availability and drive up cost,”&nbsp;said Speaker of the House of Representatives Dan Hawkins. “These are real solutions that will immediately increase slots by reducing overly burdensome regulations, streamlining support services for providers and families, and addressing underserved and rural shortages by increasing flexibility for home-based providers. I especially want to thank House Commerce Chair Sean Tarwater, Vice Chair Adam Turk, and Representative Laura Williams for their tireless work to solve these issues without growing government in the process.”&nbsp;House Bill 2045 also streamlines early childhood licensure processes and regulatory structures to eliminate barriers to becoming a licensed child care provider and support the early childhood workforce. The bill sets standards for various career pathways and qualification requirements for various early childhood educator positions. The bill also authorizes the creation of pilot programs for developing new licensure categories and eliminates certain licensure fees currently charged to providers, allowing for more child care businesses to open and slots to be created.&nbsp;&nbsp;“With over half of Kansas families struggling to find affordable child care, the child care crisis impacts children, stresses parents, and slows our economy,”&nbsp;said Senate Democratic Leader Dinah Sykes.&nbsp;“Establishing the Kansas Office of Early Childhood will help parents and children by eliminating the red tape that makes it difficult for families to access services.”&nbsp;&nbsp;This legislation implements the recommendations of the Early Childhood Transition Task Force, which Governor Kelly established in January 2023 via&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.governor.ks.gov%2FHome%2FComponents%2FNews%2FNews%2F142%2F57%3Ffsiteid=1%26arch=1%23!%2F/1/0101019668fa2474-3e5847a5-d518-4d43-b55f-5a42e32ba380-000000/XegYpa6HqXApXFg0b0bYRV3qIWD-nVKLR_S1nvXM2RA=402">Executive Order 23-01</a>, the first of her second term. The task force, comprised of bipartisan leaders and experts, spent a year reviewing Kansas’ current early childhood system and developed this consolidation structure. Through collaboration between the Governor’s Office and legislative leaders, similar legislation was consideration during the 2024 Legislative Session but was not enacted.&nbsp;Through partnership with the Legislature, Governor Kelly has previously signed legislation to cut child care costs for working families through $18 million in expanded tax credits, allow for more businesses to access tax credits for providing child care to their employees, and expand the Imagination Library of Kansas to all children between 0-5 years of age. Today, Kansas has more licensed child care slots than ever before, including 7,700 new licensed child care slots since Governor Kelly took office.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Gov. Kelly signs landmark bipartisan early childhood legislation 

Rock the Plains country music festival will be held at Tuttle Creek State Park Aug. 8-9.

The Executive Director for the festival, Brandyn Steen,&nbsp; spoke during a press conference at the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce. Tickets and camping are about 60% sold out and there will be a cap of 10,000 tickets in order to provide the best experience.&nbsp; 

Ticket sales have been much faster than expected.&nbsp; The festival may expand into three days next year with other types of acts (mainstream country, rock) .

Rock the Plains country music festival will be held at Tuttle Creek State Park Aug. 8-9.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745510877184.jpeg" alt="Brandyn Steen standing in the photo talking during a press conference" />
 <figcaption>Brandyn Steen standing in the photo talking during a press conference</figcaption>
 </figure>The Executive Director for the festival, Brandyn Steen,&nbsp; spoke during a press conference at the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce. Tickets and camping are about 60% sold out and there will be a cap of 10,000 tickets in order to provide the best experience.&nbsp; Ticket sales have been much faster than expected.&nbsp; The festival may expand into three days next year with other types of acts (mainstream country, rock) .<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745510957452.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>

Rock the Plains country music festival will be held at Tuttle Creek State Park

RILEY COUNTY —A man who was burning trash is being blamed for starting a fire early Thursday in Manhattan.

Just before 1:30a.m., the Manhattan Fire Department was dispatched to a mobile home fire at 1704 Fair Lane #15, according to a media release.

The home was searched, and the fire was contained in less than 10 minutes. The single-wide mobile home was occupied at the time of the fire. Loss is estimated at $1000 and the mobile home is a total loss. The owner of the mobile home is Raymond Fisher.&nbsp;

The cause of the fire was determined to be accidental due to the resident illegally burning trash.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745507650093.png" alt="Photos Manhattan fire department" />
 <figcaption>Photos Manhattan fire department</figcaption>
 </figure>RILEY COUNTY —A man who was burning trash is being blamed for starting a fire early Thursday in Manhattan.Just before 1:30a.m., the Manhattan Fire Department was dispatched to a mobile home fire at 1704 Fair Lane #15, according to a media release.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745507629250.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The home was searched, and the fire was contained in less than 10 minutes. The single-wide mobile home was occupied at the time of the fire. Loss is estimated at $1000 and the mobile home is a total loss. The owner of the mobile home is Raymond Fisher.&nbsp;The cause of the fire was determined to be accidental due to the resident illegally burning trash.&nbsp;

Deputy Fire Chief: Illegal activity destroyed mobile home

The Devil ( 1st ) Brigade of the 1st Infantry Division is preparing for an upcoming deployment to Europe. Col. Ian Lauer, Brigade Commander, told a Military Affairs Council Breakfast audience Thursday morning in Junction City that the primary deployment departure time will be in the mid June to mid-July time frame.&nbsp;

There are approximately 4,000 soldiers in the Brigade with a portion going to a pair of locations in Poland and the Iron Ranger unit to Bulgaria. The deployment is scheduled for nine months.

Lauer said the Brigade contains everything from tanks and Bradley Fighting Vehicles to infantry.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745507183883.jpeg" alt="Col. Ian Lauer ( Photo - Kirk Hutchinson )" />
 <figcaption>Col. Ian Lauer ( Photo - Kirk Hutchinson )</figcaption>
 </figure>By Dewey TerrillJC PostThe Devil ( 1st ) Brigade of the 1st Infantry Division is preparing for an upcoming deployment to Europe. Col. Ian Lauer, Brigade Commander, told a Military Affairs Council Breakfast audience Thursday morning in Junction City that the primary deployment departure time will be in the mid June to mid-July time frame.&nbsp;There are approximately 4,000 soldiers in the Brigade with a portion going to a pair of locations in Poland and the Iron Ranger unit to Bulgaria. The deployment is scheduled for nine months.Lauer said the Brigade contains everything from tanks and Bradley Fighting Vehicles to infantry.

Devil Brigade prepares for deployment

On Wednesday at 5:12 p.m. Geary County Sheriff's Deputies responded to US 77-Highway at mile marker 163 for a single vehicle non-injury accident. Dennis L. Mullins of Milford, KS was traveling southbound on US 77-Highway in his 2019 Chevrolet Impala when he lost control and ran off of the road to the west striking the embankment. 

The Sheriff's Department said Mullins was evaluated by EMS on scene and declined to be transported to Stormont Vail of The Flint Hills. The vehicle was removed from the scene by Gross Wrecker Service.

On Wednesday at 5:12 p.m. Geary County Sheriff's Deputies responded to US 77-Highway at mile marker 163 for a single vehicle non-injury accident. Dennis L. Mullins of Milford, KS was traveling southbound on US 77-Highway in his 2019 Chevrolet Impala when he lost control and ran off of the road to the west striking the embankment. The Sheriff's Department said Mullins was evaluated by EMS on scene and declined to be transported to Stormont Vail of The Flint Hills. The vehicle was removed from the scene by Gross Wrecker Service.

Deputies respond to an accident

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

The Kansas Legislature concluded its session with a budget bill that allocates $208 million in additional funding to schools for the upcoming fiscal year.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/3e0bf8bc-ae47-47d3-9aec-b7c581745dde">SEE RELATED STORY: Gov. Laura Kelly signs budget bill, issues dozens of line-item vetoes, asks Legislature to try again</a>

The Legislature also approved $10 million in additional funding for special education statewide. Kyle Carlin, director of the special education co-op, said the Legislature eliminated a $200 per-teacher reimbursement for special education, resulting in a net increase of only about $7.5 million.

Superintendent Ron Wilson said only two years remain on the current school funding formula. The Legislature has formed a task force to review funding.

"We're in a pretty interesting time in terms of finance and how schools are funded," Wilson said.

Senate Bill 114 will allow students from non-public and virtual schools to participate in public school activities. Wilson said locally this allowed Kansas Academy of Mathematics and Science (KAMS) students to participate in Hays High School activities.

The high school immediately gained two track athletes from the KAMS program.

Another Senate bill will require school districts to include a fetal development component in any classes on human growth, human development or human sexuality.&nbsp;

The Legislature has eliminated the safe and secure schools funding. The Hays district used those funds repeatedly for various projects, including the installation of secure entrances at schools.

Professional development funds, mentor teacher and teachers of excellence funding, which is paid to teachers who have their national board certification, were all cut by the Legislature this year.

Last year, the district received $16,798 in state aid for professional development. This year, the district would have received&nbsp;$27,750, according to Chris Hipp, USD 489 assistant superintendent of business services.

Last year, the district received $11,284 in mentor teacher funding and $14,000 in&nbsp;teachers of excellence funding, Hipp said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1714489195274.png" alt="Photo Courtesy KS Legislature YouTube" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy KS Legislature YouTube</figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostThe Kansas Legislature concluded its session with a budget bill that allocates $208 million in additional funding to schools for the upcoming fiscal year.<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/3e0bf8bc-ae47-47d3-9aec-b7c581745dde">SEE RELATED STORY: Gov. Laura Kelly signs budget bill, issues dozens of line-item vetoes, asks Legislature to try again</a>The Legislature also approved $10 million in additional funding for special education statewide. Kyle Carlin, director of the special education co-op, said the Legislature eliminated a $200 per-teacher reimbursement for special education, resulting in a net increase of only about $7.5 million.Superintendent Ron Wilson said only two years remain on the current school funding formula. The Legislature has formed a task force to review funding."We're in a pretty interesting time in terms of finance and how schools are funded," Wilson said.<h2>School activities</h2>Senate Bill 114 will allow students from non-public and virtual schools to participate in public school activities. Wilson said locally this allowed Kansas Academy of Mathematics and Science (KAMS) students to participate in Hays High School activities.The high school immediately gained two track athletes from the KAMS program.<h2>Human development</h2>Another Senate bill will require school districts to include a fetal development component in any classes on human growth, human development or human sexuality.&nbsp;<h2>Cuts</h2>The Legislature has eliminated the safe and secure schools funding. The Hays district used those funds repeatedly for various projects, including the installation of secure entrances at schools.Professional development funds, mentor teacher and teachers of excellence funding, which is paid to teachers who have their national board certification, were all cut by the Legislature this year.Last year, the district received $16,798 in state aid for professional development. This year, the district would have received&nbsp;$27,750, according to Chris Hipp, USD 489 assistant superintendent of business services.Last year, the district received $11,284 in mentor teacher funding and $14,000 in&nbsp;teachers of excellence funding, Hipp said.

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