The 50th anniversary season of Western Plains Arts Council shows came to an abrupt halt earlier than expected because of COVID-19.
However, the final public performance on March 8 in Oakley of the Branson show, “Forever Young,” was the largest show of the year and made a memorable finale.
HAYS – An internship program through Fort Hays State University is placing students with area employers during the summer and for school year employment.
In the fall of 2019 and the spring of 2020, seven internships were awarded. COVID-19 resulted in three of the internships being discontinued until a later time.
For summer 2020, 16 employers have been selected to participate, and a total of 96 applications have been received from students.
One of the most impactful stories from the spring semester is that of Taryn, a tourism and hospitality management major who completed an internship with the Paisley Pear, a family-owned wine bar, bistro and retail shop in downtown Hays.
Through Taryn’s efforts, the Paisley Pear has seen an increase in the number of followers and engagement with social media posts. She also managed their website, organized events at the venue, and assisted with business processes. Taryn’s work led to large crowds for performances, more bookings for private events, increased food and beverage sales and strong retail sales.
During COVID-19 restrictions, Taryn developed an eCommerce website for retail merchandise for the business. Within hours after launching the site, six orders were received.
The Dane G. Hansen Externship Program through Washburn School of Law places as many as 20 law students in area legal practices for summer externships where they get experience working in a rural law.
Washburn now has between 10 to 20 students a year who enroll because of the externship opportunity. During the externship, law students perform regular functions of a rural Kansas attorney, including research, writing, court hearings, meetings, negotiations, depositions, and any other events common in the day-to-day life of rural legal practice. Each was immersed in the community and gained valuable experience and knowledge about the profession and the community they lived in.
Former externs have begun working in the area, and the experience has resulted in job offers for most participants.
ABILENE – Thirty-six school groups were able to tour the Dwight D. Eisenhower boyhood home and the Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum during the 2018-19 school year through the Hansen Foundation’s field trip program.
During the 2019-20 school year, 500 area students were able to make the field trip before schools were closed because of COVID-19. Sixteen planned field trips for more than 700 students had to be cancelled during efforts to contain the spread of the virus.
On average, the program has made it possible for more than 1,200 area students each year for the past five years to see the museum and boyhood home of the Supreme Commander of Allied Forces during World War II and 34th president of the United States. Schools that are not able to make the field trip can participate in a reverse field trip, in which a presentation about Eisenhower is made at their school.
A Virtual IKEducation Classroom is being developed to engage K-12 students and teachers with interactive maps, augmented reality field trips and free access to more than 40 curricula that can be downloaded for integration into classrooms across the country.
HAYS – By the time the Hays Public Library’s new Bookmobile was delivered, the library was closed because of COVID-19. However, the library director says the bookmobile will be an important part of re-establishing services to library patrons while maintaining social distancing.
Hays’ bookmobile was the last one manufactured by Matthews Specialty Vehicle before the company switched over to supporting efforts to combat COVID-19. The company manufactures mobile testing vehicles and will be increasing their existing work with the American Red Cross.
The bookmobile made its first public appearance in front of the library during a local cruise night, when hundreds of vehicles packed downtown streets. The bookmobile was lit up and displayed in front of the library during the cruise night.
Plans are for the vehicle to be used to serve library patrons throughout Ellis County. It will also make appearances at public events, while promoting and signing children up to receive books through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library program.
The Northwest Kansas Economic Innovation Center Inc., a private operating foundation, is a funder of last resort for entrepreneurs and businesses in the 26-county area served by the Dane G. Hansen Foundation.
NWKEICI is funded by a Hansen Foundation grant and endeavors to get businesses the capital they need to operate successfully, as well as evaluating the economic impact the loan has on a community.
Other NWKEICI programming is being developed to create direct value to the businesses and communities. NWKEICI endeavors to get to the root of some fundamental disadvantages in the region, including employee recruitment, matching entrepreneurs with communities, and finding the best potential owners for existing businesses needing succession plans.
LINCOLN – Mortar was replaced in the stone walls of the Lincoln Senior Center, helping to preserve the historic downtown building.
Grant funds helped pay for the cost of the mason’s work.
In addition to the Friendship Meals Program, the building houses the summer meal program for kids, quilting classes for all ages, painting classes and many other community activities.
SIMPSON – The community’s youngest residents have a new place to play.
Grant funds helped pay for a new play structure in Shanks Park commemorating the 100th anniversary of Simpson.
Community volunteers installed the equipment.
WAKEENEY – Two buildings and a tract of land were purchased to replace Trego County Rural Fire Station No. 1 after it burned last year.
Grant funds covered most of the cost of the buildings, allowing insurance money to be used to replace equipment that was lost in the February 2019 fire.
The new station allows increased room for training, and it was planned to be a food distribution point if that were to become necessary during the COVID-19 response. The department has developed a waiting list of people willing to volunteer.
CONCORDIA – Twenty families participated in a Community Baby Shower in Concordia, where they learned about safe sleeping positions for babies, smoking cessation and the benefits of breastfeeding.
Grant funds provided those in attendance with copies of “What to Do When Having a Baby,” as well as Graco Pak ‘n Plays and Halo Sleep Sacks.
Grant funding is also supporting ongoing training aimed at reducing infant mortality for professional providers and infant caregivers through the Cloud County Health Department Maternal Child Health program.