Monday morning on the BW morning show, we had the opportunity to visit with Hutch CC soccer coach Sammy Lane. Lane has been the head coach at Hutch CC since 2005 and is a native of Ireland coming here in 1986 on a soccer scholarship to Sterling College.&nbsp;

1986 I had just graduated high school in Ireland and got an opportunity to come over to Sterling college on a soccer scholarship, jumped on an airplane like Manny Irish did way back then. And, you know, I've been here ever since. &nbsp;

So what does he remember most about coming to the US ? &nbsp;The humidity. &nbsp;

“And got the shock of a lifetime when I, when I got off the plane in Kansas City, and I just, you know, I still do it now, obviously, with the girls that I recruit to get off, they're like, they'll take that first deep breath of air, and they're like, Oh my God, my lungs are burning.” said Lane. &nbsp;“And I'm like, Yep, I was one of you to the humidity and the heat is obviously something, you know, we never experienced in our life.”&nbsp;

Glenn talked with him about St Patrick's Day in Ireland. Here's what he remembers about the day there. &nbsp;

🎧&nbsp;<a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/1a4e2915-866f-4264-ade4-c35b4cfcba53">BW Morning Show Interview: Sammy Lane, HutchCC soccer coach on St. Patrick's Day.</a>

“For us, it's still a religious holiday, you know, because St Patrick is credited with converting Ireland to Christianity, and so, so the biggest, you know, the biggest thing corresponds to religious holiday in Ireland. And so a typical St Patrick's Day would would be, you get dressed up for mass.”&nbsp;

Lane continued, “And I still remember this. It's funny, you mentioned that. I remember there's a child like, we there, you get Shamrock, like, real Shamrock. And so then you'd put it with a safety pin on your lapel. So everybody wore a little bit of shamrock on that and went away to mass. &nbsp;

“And then afterwards, if there was a parade in your town, you went to the parade, but, but after that, then there would be a big family dinner, a bit like the way there's Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner. So, it was a big, you know, a bit of that. And then some of the older folks would head to the pub. Drinking pints of Guinness, and that tradition is kind of carried on everywhere.” said Lane &nbsp;

We asked him about getting pinched if you don't wear green, as Elaine said he didn't know where that came from, but here's what he said about the wearing of the green.&nbsp;

“Apparently, if you wore green in St Patrick's Day, and then the leprechauns couldn't see it. So that was another one of the reasons why you wore green, because we didn't want the leprechauns trying to take your soul or whatever it was they were after. So apparently, leprechauns can't see green, so wear green if you're up to any shenanigans today.” said Lane. &nbsp;

St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated on the day that St. Patrick died. &nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678553305827.jpg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Monday morning on the BW morning show, we had the opportunity to visit with Hutch CC soccer coach Sammy Lane. Lane has been the head coach at Hutch CC since 2005 and is a native of Ireland coming here in 1986 on a soccer scholarship to Sterling College.&nbsp;1986 I had just graduated high school in Ireland and got an opportunity to come over to Sterling college on a soccer scholarship, jumped on an airplane like Manny Irish did way back then. And, you know, I've been here ever since. &nbsp;So what does he remember most about coming to the US ? &nbsp;The humidity. &nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1742218757218.jpeg" alt="Sammy Lane - HutchCC Athletics " />
 <figcaption>Sammy Lane - HutchCC Athletics </figcaption>
 </figure>“And got the shock of a lifetime when I, when I got off the plane in Kansas City, and I just, you know, I still do it now, obviously, with the girls that I recruit to get off, they're like, they'll take that first deep breath of air, and they're like, Oh my God, my lungs are burning.” said Lane. &nbsp;“And I'm like, Yep, I was one of you to the humidity and the heat is obviously something, you know, we never experienced in our life.”&nbsp;Glenn talked with him about St Patrick's Day in Ireland. Here's what he remembers about the day there. &nbsp;🎧&nbsp;<a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/1a4e2915-866f-4264-ade4-c35b4cfcba53">BW Morning Show Interview: Sammy Lane, HutchCC soccer coach on St. Patrick's Day.</a>“For us, it's still a religious holiday, you know, because St Patrick is credited with converting Ireland to Christianity, and so, so the biggest, you know, the biggest thing corresponds to religious holiday in Ireland. And so a typical St Patrick's Day would would be, you get dressed up for mass.”&nbsp;Lane continued, “And I still remember this. It's funny, you mentioned that. I remember there's a child like, we there, you get Shamrock, like, real Shamrock. And so then you'd put it with a safety pin on your lapel. So everybody wore a little bit of shamrock on that and went away to mass. &nbsp;“And then afterwards, if there was a parade in your town, you went to the parade, but, but after that, then there would be a big family dinner, a bit like the way there's Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner. So, it was a big, you know, a bit of that. And then some of the older folks would head to the pub. Drinking pints of Guinness, and that tradition is kind of carried on everywhere.” said Lane &nbsp;We asked him about getting pinched if you don't wear green, as Elaine said he didn't know where that came from, but here's what he said about the wearing of the green.&nbsp;“Apparently, if you wore green in St Patrick's Day, and then the leprechauns couldn't see it. So that was another one of the reasons why you wore green, because we didn't want the leprechauns trying to take your soul or whatever it was they were after. So apparently, leprechauns can't see green, so wear green if you're up to any shenanigans today.” said Lane. &nbsp;St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated on the day that St. Patrick died. &nbsp;&nbsp;

HutchCC's Sammy Lane talks about St. Patrick's Day 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1742219080695.png" alt="Soroptimist of Hutch Women's Show and Health Fair " />
 <figcaption>Soroptimist of Hutch Women's Show and Health Fair </figcaption>
 </figure><div><iframe title="Jane Holzrichter and Kyran Lowsew, Soroptimist Women's Show and Health Fair" allowtransparency="true" height="150" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:150px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=8tcjt-1846f04-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=60a0c8&font-color=&logo_link=episode_page&btn-skin=ff6d00" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>

🎧 BW Morning Show Interview: Jane Holzrichter and Kyran Lowsew, Soroptimist Women's Show and Health Fair 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1742218757218.jpeg" alt="Sammy Lane - HutchCC Athletics " />
 <figcaption>Sammy Lane - HutchCC Athletics </figcaption>
 </figure><div><iframe title="HutchCC Soccer Coach Sammy Lane" allowtransparency="true" height="150" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:150px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=qk8zu-1846edd-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=60a0c8&font-color=&logo_link=episode_page&btn-skin=ff6d00" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>

🎧 BW Morning Show Interview: Sammy Lane, HutchCC soccer coach on St. Patrick's Day 

MANHATTAN, Kan. — For Kansas gardeners, St. Patrick’s Day means something much more than donning a favorite green outfit and heading to local celebrations.

Traditionally, the Irish holiday signals the date for planting potatoes.

“Actually, anytime from mid- to late-March is fine for potato planting,” said Kansas State University horticulture expert Cynthia Domenghini.

“Be sure to buy seed potatoes rather than using those intended for cooking. Seed potatoes are certified disease free and have plenty of starch to sprout as quickly as soil temperatures allow.”

Domenghini notes that most seed potatoes can be cut into four pieces – “though large potatoes may yield more,” she said. Each seed should weigh between 1 ½ to 2 ounces, and likely have more than one eye.

Each pound of seed potatoes should yield 8 to 10 pieces, according to Domenghini.

“Cut the seed 2 to 3 days before planting so that freshly cut surfaces have a chance to suberize, or toughen, which provides a protective coating,” Domenghini said. “Storing seed in a warm location during suberization will speed the process.”

Domenghini recommends planting each seed piece 1 to 2 inches deep and 8 to 12 inches apart in rows.

“Though it is important to plant potatoes in March, they emerge slowly,” she said. “It is often mid- to late-April before new plants poke their way through the soil. As the potatoes grow, pull soil up to the base of the plants. New potatoes are borne above the planted seed piece and it is important to keep sunlight from hitting the new potatoes.”

Domenghini said exposed potatoes will turn green and produce a poisonous substance called solanine. Keeping the potatoes covered will prevent this.

K-STATE RESEARCH AND EXTENSION&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741970318903.png" alt="K-State Research and Extension " />
 <figcaption>K-State Research and Extension </figcaption>
 </figure>MANHATTAN, Kan. — For Kansas gardeners, St. Patrick’s Day means something much more than donning a favorite green outfit and heading to local celebrations.Traditionally, the Irish holiday signals the date for planting potatoes.“Actually, anytime from mid- to late-March is fine for potato planting,” said Kansas State University horticulture expert Cynthia Domenghini.“Be sure to buy seed potatoes rather than using those intended for cooking. Seed potatoes are certified disease free and have plenty of starch to sprout as quickly as soil temperatures allow.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741873032443.png" alt="St. Patrick’s Day is the traditional signal to plant potatoes in Kansas, said K-State horticultural expert Cynthia Domenghini." />
 <figcaption>St. Patrick’s Day is the traditional signal to plant potatoes in Kansas, said K-State horticultural expert Cynthia Domenghini.</figcaption>
 </figure>Domenghini notes that most seed potatoes can be cut into four pieces – “though large potatoes may yield more,” she said. Each seed should weigh between 1 ½ to 2 ounces, and likely have more than one eye.Each pound of seed potatoes should yield 8 to 10 pieces, according to Domenghini.“Cut the seed 2 to 3 days before planting so that freshly cut surfaces have a chance to suberize, or toughen, which provides a protective coating,” Domenghini said. “Storing seed in a warm location during suberization will speed the process.”Domenghini recommends planting each seed piece 1 to 2 inches deep and 8 to 12 inches apart in rows.“Though it is important to plant potatoes in March, they emerge slowly,” she said. “It is often mid- to late-April before new plants poke their way through the soil. As the potatoes grow, pull soil up to the base of the plants. New potatoes are borne above the planted seed piece and it is important to keep sunlight from hitting the new potatoes.”Domenghini said exposed potatoes will turn green and produce a poisonous substance called solanine. Keeping the potatoes covered will prevent this.

St. Patrick's day more than dressing green, it signals time to plant potatoes 

Wesley Towers Inc. is excited to announce our partnership with Dr. Scott Pauly as the new Medical Director for our licensed healthcare operations. Dr. Pauly has several years of experience in similar roles and understands the many complexities associated with skilled nursing care and onsite rehabilitation services. Dr. Pauly is also a primary care physician at the Hutchinson Clinic.

Mark Mains, President and CEO for Wesley Towers, stated “we are very happy to partner with a local physician for this important role at Wesley Towers, especially one with the experience and reputation of Dr. Pauly. Dr. Pauly is also accepting new patients and will visit the campus at least weekly to see patients and to fulfill the duties of the role of Medical Director. His assistant, Cayla White, ARNP, will visit Wesley Towers nearly every weekday to help ensure our residents’ clinical needs are met.”

Dr. Pauly added “I’m truly looking forward to serving the residents and staff of Wesley Towers and our new partnership.” Dr. Pauly began his new duties at Wesley Towers on February 20, 2025.

Wesley Towers, Inc. is a full-service, continuing care retirement community located in Hutchinson, Kansas. For over 55 years, Wesley Towers has provided exceptional care and services to seniors in a caring, Christian environment. For more information, please visit wesleytowers.com or call 620-663-9175.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584019059802.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>WESLEY TOWERS&nbsp;Wesley Towers Inc. is excited to announce our partnership with Dr. Scott Pauly as the new Medical Director for our licensed healthcare operations. Dr. Pauly has several years of experience in similar roles and understands the many complexities associated with skilled nursing care and onsite rehabilitation services. Dr. Pauly is also a primary care physician at the Hutchinson Clinic.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741976532508.jpeg" alt="Dr. Scott Pauly named Medical Director at Wesley Towers&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Dr. Scott Pauly named Medical Director at Wesley Towers&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>Mark Mains, President and CEO for Wesley Towers, stated “we are very happy to partner with a local physician for this important role at Wesley Towers, especially one with the experience and reputation of Dr. Pauly. Dr. Pauly is also accepting new patients and will visit the campus at least weekly to see patients and to fulfill the duties of the role of Medical Director. His assistant, Cayla White, ARNP, will visit Wesley Towers nearly every weekday to help ensure our residents’ clinical needs are met.”Dr. Pauly added “I’m truly looking forward to serving the residents and staff of Wesley Towers and our new partnership.” Dr. Pauly began his new duties at Wesley Towers on February 20, 2025.Wesley Towers, Inc. is a full-service, continuing care retirement community located in Hutchinson, Kansas. For over 55 years, Wesley Towers has provided exceptional care and services to seniors in a caring, Christian environment. For more information, please visit wesleytowers.com or call 620-663-9175.

Dr. Scott Pauly named medical director for licensed healthcare operations at Wesley Towers 

Reno County fire districts were busy on Friday.&nbsp; 

According to Travis Vogt, the county Fire Administrator,
between 10:40 a.m. and 1:41 p.m. county units were dispatched to four separate grassland
fires.&nbsp; 

At 10:41 a.m. Pretty Prairie fire was dispatched to K-14 and
Northeast 20th street in Kingman County for a grass fire. Approximately
80 to 100 acres were burned along with several hay bales.&nbsp; Crew requested mutual aid from Cheney and
Kingman fire departments. A Reno County task force also responded.&nbsp; 

A few minutes later at 10:45 a.m. Pretty Prairie Fire was notified
of a second fire along K-14, this time at Pleasant Valley Road.&nbsp; Due to their resources being used in Kingman
County, Reno County Fire District 4, 8 and 9 were dispatched to that
scene.&nbsp; Approximately 20 acres of pasture
burned.&nbsp; 

At 12:45 p.m. units from Buhler and Hutchinson Fire along
with Reno County Fire District 9 responded to the area of Buhler Road and 30th
Avenue for a grass fire.&nbsp; Units arrived
quickly and contained the fire before it had a chance to expand.&nbsp; 

Then at 1:41 p.m. Reno County Fire District 3 and 4 plus
Hutchinson Fire Department responded to the area of South Fairview Road and Clark
Road for a brush fire.&nbsp; Crews arrived to
find an acre of pasture burning. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1742018386509.jpeg" alt="Photo courtesy Reno County Emergency Management " />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Reno County Emergency Management </figcaption>
 </figure>Reno County fire districts were busy on Friday.&nbsp; According to Travis Vogt, the county Fire Administrator,
between 10:40 a.m. and 1:41 p.m. county units were dispatched to four separate grassland
fires.&nbsp; At 10:41 a.m. Pretty Prairie fire was dispatched to K-14 and
Northeast 20th street in Kingman County for a grass fire. Approximately
80 to 100 acres were burned along with several hay bales.&nbsp; Crew requested mutual aid from Cheney and
Kingman fire departments. A Reno County task force also responded.&nbsp; <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1742018426184.jpeg" alt="Photo courtesy Reno County Emergency Management " />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Reno County Emergency Management </figcaption>
 </figure>A few minutes later at 10:45 a.m. Pretty Prairie Fire was notified
of a second fire along K-14, this time at Pleasant Valley Road.&nbsp; Due to their resources being used in Kingman
County, Reno County Fire District 4, 8 and 9 were dispatched to that
scene.&nbsp; Approximately 20 acres of pasture
burned.&nbsp; At 12:45 p.m. units from Buhler and Hutchinson Fire along
with Reno County Fire District 9 responded to the area of Buhler Road and 30th
Avenue for a grass fire.&nbsp; Units arrived
quickly and contained the fire before it had a chance to expand.&nbsp; Then at 1:41 p.m. Reno County Fire District 3 and 4 plus
Hutchinson Fire Department responded to the area of South Fairview Road and Clark
Road for a brush fire.&nbsp; Crews arrived to
find an acre of pasture burning.

Reno County fire districts respond to several grass fires on Friday 

Two people have been arrested in the June 2024 death of Kevin
Rodriguez.&nbsp; 

Reno County booking records show that Karisa Dion Tipton and
Michael O Thompson II are being held in the Reno County Detention Center, each
with a $250,000 bond.&nbsp; Thompson was
booked in on March 12 and Tipton on March 13.

District Court records show that between June 16 and June 17, 2024, that
Tipton and Thompson distributed methamphetamine to Rodriguez who later died. 

Tipton has been charged with one count of distribution of a
controlled substance resulting in death, one count of conspiracy to distribute
a controlled substance resulting in death, and one count of unlawful use of a
communication facility.&nbsp; 

Thompson has been charged with one count of distribution of
a controlled substance resulting in death, one count of conspiracy to distribute
a controlled substance resulting in death, and one count of unlawful use of a
communication facility. He has also been charged with one count of possession
of tetrahydrocannabinol. 

District court records show that Tipton’s next court
appearance is on April 9, and Thompson’s next court appearance is set for April
16. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1742083464362.png" alt="Thompson photo Reno Co." />
 <figcaption>Thompson photo Reno Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Two people have been arrested in the June 2024 death of Kevin
Rodriguez.&nbsp; Reno County booking records show that Karisa Dion Tipton and
Michael O Thompson II are being held in the Reno County Detention Center, each
with a $250,000 bond.&nbsp; Thompson was
booked in on March 12 and Tipton on March 13.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1742083435697.png" alt="Tipton photo Reno Co." />
 <figcaption>Tipton photo Reno Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>District Court records show that between June 16 and June 17, 2024, that
Tipton and Thompson distributed methamphetamine to Rodriguez who later died. Tipton has been charged with one count of distribution of a
controlled substance resulting in death, one count of conspiracy to distribute
a controlled substance resulting in death, and one count of unlawful use of a
communication facility.&nbsp; Thompson has been charged with one count of distribution of
a controlled substance resulting in death, one count of conspiracy to distribute
a controlled substance resulting in death, and one count of unlawful use of a
communication facility. He has also been charged with one count of possession
of tetrahydrocannabinol. District court records show that Tipton’s next court
appearance is on April 9, and Thompson’s next court appearance is set for April
16.

Arrests made in 2024 death

Eagle Radio Hutchinson Sportscaster Glen Grunwald received the KSHSAA Oscar Stauffer Sportscaster of the Year Award for 2025 Saturday evening at the 3A State Basketball tournament at the Sports Arena. This is the second time that Grunwald has been given this award, winning it for the first time in 2020.

Grunwald is the voice of the Hutchinson High Salthawks and formerly was the lead sportscaster for the Hutchinson Community College Blue Dragon football and men's basketball team broadcasts until stepping away last March after 26 years which included being on the call for the Blue Dragons NJCAA Men's D1 Basketball Championship in 2017 and their first NJCAA Football Championship in 2021.

Grunwald joins a fraternity of the state's finest broadcasters, including former winners, longtime KU voice Bob Davis (1975, current KU voice Brian Hanni (2010 and 2012) and K-State voice Wyatt Thompson (1989).

"To win it once was a thrill, to win it a second time with so many great broadcasters in Kansas....I am just so blessed to be even mentioned in the same breath as Bob, Wyatt an Brian is such a blessing this late in my career. I mean these guys are legends in Kansas Sportscasting history." Grunwald said on winning the award.

Eagle Radio as a company currently employs six winners. Junction City's Dewey Terrill won in 1991, 1995 and 1998. Gerard Wellbrock from Hays won in 1996, 1997 and 2000. Dustin Armbruster from Hays won in 2013 and 2022, Cole Reif from Great Bend won in 2018 and Devin Hanney from Salina won in 2019 prior to Grunwald's 2020 win and again in 2021.

Grunwald was
honored by the Kansas Association of Broadcasters (KAB) in 2017 as the recipient of
the Hod Humiston Award for Broadcast excellence. He was also named the Kansas
Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (KIAAA) Sportscaster of the
Year in 2022 and received an honorable mention award along with his broadcast partner Dan Naccarato in 2023 by the Kansas Association of Broadcasters for medium market play-by-play.

Grunwald has
also been honored to be chosen as one of three finalist for the National Sports
Media Association organization as Sportscaster of the Year in Kansas for 2023 and again was in the top five finalist this past December for 2024.

Grunwald will receive his award at one of the KSHSAA state basketball championship events in March.

<a href="https://www.kshsaachamps.org/Shared/FullList/?i=4">KSHSAA Oscar Stauffer Award List of past winners</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1742139988205.jpeg" alt="Mark Lenz of the KSHSAA (left) with Glen Grunwald" />
 <figcaption>Mark Lenz of the KSHSAA (left) with Glen Grunwald</figcaption>
 </figure>Eagle Radio Hutchinson Sportscaster Glen Grunwald received the KSHSAA Oscar Stauffer Sportscaster of the Year Award for 2025 Saturday evening at the 3A State Basketball tournament at the Sports Arena. This is the second time that Grunwald has been given this award, winning it for the first time in 2020.Grunwald is the voice of the Hutchinson High Salthawks and formerly was the lead sportscaster for the Hutchinson Community College Blue Dragon football and men's basketball team broadcasts until stepping away last March after 26 years which included being on the call for the Blue Dragons NJCAA Men's D1 Basketball Championship in 2017 and their first NJCAA Football Championship in 2021.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=319&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fggrunwald1%2Fvideos%2F1333790864337468%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=0" width="560" height="319" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>Grunwald joins a fraternity of the state's finest broadcasters, including former winners, longtime KU voice Bob Davis (1975, current KU voice Brian Hanni (2010 and 2012) and K-State voice Wyatt Thompson (1989)."To win it once was a thrill, to win it a second time with so many great broadcasters in Kansas....I am just so blessed to be even mentioned in the same breath as Bob, Wyatt an Brian is such a blessing this late in my career. I mean these guys are legends in Kansas Sportscasting history." Grunwald said on winning the award.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1739404084721.jpeg" alt="Glen Grunwald and Dan "Coach Nac" Naccarato at the 2024 NJCAA National Tournament" />
 <figcaption>Glen Grunwald and Dan "Coach Nac" Naccarato at the 2024 NJCAA National Tournament</figcaption>
 </figure>Eagle Radio as a company currently employs six winners. Junction City's Dewey Terrill won in 1991, 1995 and 1998. Gerard Wellbrock from Hays won in 1996, 1997 and 2000. Dustin Armbruster from Hays won in 2013 and 2022, Cole Reif from Great Bend won in 2018 and Devin Hanney from Salina won in 2019 prior to Grunwald's 2020 win and again in 2021.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1739404143237.jpeg" alt="NJCAA Tourney 2024" />
 <figcaption>NJCAA Tourney 2024</figcaption>
 </figure>Grunwald was
honored by the Kansas Association of Broadcasters (KAB) in 2017 as the recipient of
the Hod Humiston Award for Broadcast excellence. He was also named the Kansas
Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (KIAAA) Sportscaster of the
Year in 2022 and received an honorable mention award along with his broadcast partner Dan Naccarato in 2023 by the Kansas Association of Broadcasters for medium market play-by-play.Grunwald has
also been honored to be chosen as one of three finalist for the National Sports
Media Association organization as Sportscaster of the Year in Kansas for 2023 and again was in the top five finalist this past December for 2024.Grunwald will receive his award at one of the KSHSAA state basketball championship events in March.<div><iframe title="2025 Oscar Stauffer KSHSAA Award Call_ Glen Grunwald KWBW Radio" allowtransparency="true" height="150" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:150px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=rzt5k-17f8b1d-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=60a0c8&font-color=&logo_link=episode_page&btn-skin=ff6d00" loading="lazy"></iframe></div><a href="https://www.kshsaachamps.org/Shared/FullList/?i=4">KSHSAA Oscar Stauffer Award List of past winners</a>

Grunwald receives KSHSAA Oscar Stauffer award at 3A tournament

A Plan Can Help Small and Medium-Sized Businesses Fuel Growth

A strategic plan serves as a clear roadmap, helping businesses set measurable goals, anticipate challenges and stay focused on long-term growth

Successful strategic planning requires stepping outside daily operations to align vision with actionable steps, supported by realistic and well-researched objectives.

Tailoring a strategic plan to your company’s lifecycle ensures relevance and clarity, providing a practical framework for achieving your goals.

It’s best practice for all businesses to have a strategic plan, from self-employed professionals to Fortune 500 Companies. Strategic plans provide vision, direction, focus and help business owners align their goals with actionable steps. Without a strategic plan, businesses risk drifting without clear priorities, leading to missed opportunities.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Additionally, strategic plans help businesses anticipate potential challenges and respond to competition in a proactive manner. By setting clear objectives and identifying competitive advantages (and disadvantages), the business can develop strategies to differentiate themselves from competitors and stand out in the market.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The business owners and executives we’ve seen successfully develop and execute strategic plans were the ones willing to step outside of the normal “day-to-day” and dedicate the time to working on their company. The investment made in designing the plan, executing the plan and being held accountable to the plan, were just as, if not more important, than the actual plan itself.&nbsp;

How Does a Strategic Plan Work?&nbsp;

Simply put, a strategic plan is a roadmap to get you from Point A and Point B. We like to think of a strategic plan as if we were planning on a cross-country road trip. Before getting on the road, wouldn’t you want to take a look at a map? Of course. Yet it’s surprising how many companies attempt “to drive from LA to New York” without a map.&nbsp;

The first thing to consider is what kind of trip you want to have. Is the goal to take the fastest, most direct route? Is the goal to meander and stop to catch a show in Vegas or hike in the Rockies? Or is the goal to drive to Kansas City as fast as possible, but stay with family for a few days?&nbsp;

In other words, setting goals and objectives is the heart of a strategic plan.

In the business world, it looks like this:&nbsp;

ABC Company is making $5 million in revenue and has EBITDA of $1 million. It has 25 employees and sells products into three customer groups. Its owner’s top goal is to grow. But growth is an amorphous goal until you quantify it with some numbers.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Industry research – an essential aspect of strategic planning – shows other companies in ABC’s industry have typically achieved growth of 2x to 3x revenues over the past five years. But ABC’s owner wants to achieve growth of 5x revenues and add two more customer groups over the next five years.&nbsp;

A key characteristic of a good strategic plan is the probability of success i.e. realistic. The ABC owner’s goal is aggressive, but is it realistic? A market analysis shows the owner’s goal may be realistic if ABC can acquire a competitor company in addition to achieving organic growth, and if the economy and interest rates are favorable. But those are big “ifs,” and ABC would have to be extraordinarily disciplined to adhere to the strategic plan’s roadmap.&nbsp;

Quantitative &amp; Qualitative&nbsp;

Building a strategic plan requires both quantitative and qualitative thinking. Your goal may be quantitative – say you want your company to grow from $10 million in revenues to $15 million over the next three years before going out to market. That’s quantitative. You have quantified a goal.&nbsp;

But a market analysis may show that the best-in-class companies in your sector (e.g. manufacturing industry) are selling products at gross margins of 40% to 50%. Yet your company is selling products at a gross margin of 30%. It is also a quantitative thought: 30% vs 40%-50%. But it is also a qualitative thought: why? Why are your company’s products selling at a lower gross margin than your competition? Are they buying raw materials cheaper? Does your workforce lack certain skills and training to manufacture complex, more profitable products? Do you need to invest in better equipment in an attempt to improve production efficiency? The numbers point to a qualitative question, and you need to look at what’s behind your gross margin and figure out how to improve it before you go to market.&nbsp;

In essence, math can be easy. The numbers speak for themselves. But it’s the qualitative factors behind the numbers that reveal the challenges that will define much of a company’s strategic plan.&nbsp;

An effective strategic plan should mirror where a company is in its business lifecycle. If your company is a startup, the strategic plan will look different than the plan for a mature business. For a startup, the goal may not be to become profitable within a year, but rather obtain additional rounds of funding, prove its concept and identify a growth track.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Compare this plan to a company that is mature, profitable and has shareholders. They may not be looking for additional investments. But say the company has had a great year and has grabbed the attention of several private equity groups for a future acquisition. Its strategic plan might be one built around selling the company in two or three years and cashing out. What was once a mature company has now prepared a strategic plan around exit planning.&nbsp;

No matter where a company is in its business lifecycle, the process of building a strategic plan is the same: you have a starting point, which is where you are today. You envision an end point. Your strategic plan is the roadmap that gets you from the starting point to the end point.

Characteristics of a Good Strategic Plan&nbsp;

A good strategic plan rests on three important characteristics:&nbsp;

Clarity:&nbsp;Even if someone doesn’t agree with your plan, can they read it and understand it? Does it make sense? If a business owner hears from key stakeholders that the strategic plan doesn’t make sense or can’t hit its goals, such criticism should be taken seriously.

Relevance:&nbsp;Does the plan support the owner’s goal? A strategic plan should tie back to specific goals and timelines. If analysis and financial projections show the strategies and objectives in the plan, such as acquisitions or expansions of product lines, won’t be enough to help the company reach its goals, where does the problem lie? Are the strategies out of kilter or are the goals unrealistic?

Reality:&nbsp;Perhaps the most important characteristic is whether the plan is realistic. You should be able to map goals, objectives, milestones and outcomes to the plan in a way that makes sense. If a company is valued at $8 million and its owner’s goal is to sell for $10 million, and industry projections support that growth, that’s a realistic goal. But if they’re valued at $8 million and they want to sell for $20 million within two years, that’s an unrealistic goal.&nbsp;

Who is Involved in Building a Strategic Plan?&nbsp;

Ultimately, a strategic plan will impact nearly everyone in a company. It needs to be finalized and approved by key stakeholders, including top management, investors and perhaps the company’s attorney and accountant.&nbsp;

But the team that actually puts together the plan should be selected based on their skills and the relevance of their roles to the content of the plan. For instance, if the plan calls for a reorganization of the ownership group, an attorney will need to be involved, and most likely a tax advisor, as well.&nbsp;

Some companies have the internal talent and skills to put together a comprehensive strategic plan. Others don’t and need to reach outside for expertise. Depending on the key goals and strategies laid out in the plan, input from an attorney, an accountant, a banker, a wealth advisor or a business consultant may be advantageous.&nbsp;

In the end, your strategic plan needs to be short, sweet and to the point. But it needs to be supported by a lot of work behind it. When you understand where you are today and where you want to get to, that will dictate your scope and the professional team that will help build your strategic plan.&nbsp;

If you would like to take the first steps toward creating a comprehensive strategic plan for your company,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.adamsbrowncpa.com/contact/">contact an Adams Brown advisor</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741211435367.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>A Plan Can Help Small and Medium-Sized Businesses Fuel GrowthKey Takeaways:A strategic plan serves as a clear roadmap, helping businesses set measurable goals, anticipate challenges and stay focused on long-term growthSuccessful strategic planning requires stepping outside daily operations to align vision with actionable steps, supported by realistic and well-researched objectives.Tailoring a strategic plan to your company’s lifecycle ensures relevance and clarity, providing a practical framework for achieving your goals.It’s best practice for all businesses to have a strategic plan, from self-employed professionals to Fortune 500 Companies. Strategic plans provide vision, direction, focus and help business owners align their goals with actionable steps. Without a strategic plan, businesses risk drifting without clear priorities, leading to missed opportunities.&nbsp;&nbsp;Additionally, strategic plans help businesses anticipate potential challenges and respond to competition in a proactive manner. By setting clear objectives and identifying competitive advantages (and disadvantages), the business can develop strategies to differentiate themselves from competitors and stand out in the market.&nbsp;&nbsp;The business owners and executives we’ve seen successfully develop and execute strategic plans were the ones willing to step outside of the normal “day-to-day” and dedicate the time to working on their company. The investment made in designing the plan, executing the plan and being held accountable to the plan, were just as, if not more important, than the actual plan itself.&nbsp;How Does a Strategic Plan Work?&nbsp;Simply put, a strategic plan is a roadmap to get you from Point A and Point B. We like to think of a strategic plan as if we were planning on a cross-country road trip. Before getting on the road, wouldn’t you want to take a look at a map? Of course. Yet it’s surprising how many companies attempt “to drive from LA to New York” without a map.&nbsp;The first thing to consider is what kind of trip you want to have. Is the goal to take the fastest, most direct route? Is the goal to meander and stop to catch a show in Vegas or hike in the Rockies? Or is the goal to drive to Kansas City as fast as possible, but stay with family for a few days?&nbsp;In other words, setting goals and objectives is the heart of a strategic plan.In the business world, it looks like this:&nbsp;ABC Company is making $5 million in revenue and has EBITDA of $1 million. It has 25 employees and sells products into three customer groups. Its owner’s top goal is to grow. But growth is an amorphous goal until you quantify it with some numbers.&nbsp;&nbsp;Industry research – an essential aspect of strategic planning – shows other companies in ABC’s industry have typically achieved growth of 2x to 3x revenues over the past five years. But ABC’s owner wants to achieve growth of 5x revenues and add two more customer groups over the next five years.&nbsp;A key characteristic of a good strategic plan is the probability of success i.e. realistic. The ABC owner’s goal is aggressive, but is it realistic? A market analysis shows the owner’s goal may be realistic if ABC can acquire a competitor company in addition to achieving organic growth, and if the economy and interest rates are favorable. But those are big “ifs,” and ABC would have to be extraordinarily disciplined to adhere to the strategic plan’s roadmap.&nbsp;Quantitative &amp; Qualitative&nbsp;Building a strategic plan requires both quantitative and qualitative thinking. Your goal may be quantitative – say you want your company to grow from $10 million in revenues to $15 million over the next three years before going out to market. That’s quantitative. You have quantified a goal.&nbsp;But a market analysis may show that the best-in-class companies in your sector (e.g. manufacturing industry) are selling products at gross margins of 40% to 50%. Yet your company is selling products at a gross margin of 30%. It is also a quantitative thought: 30% vs 40%-50%. But it is also a qualitative thought: why? Why are your company’s products selling at a lower gross margin than your competition? Are they buying raw materials cheaper? Does your workforce lack certain skills and training to manufacture complex, more profitable products? Do you need to invest in better equipment in an attempt to improve production efficiency? The numbers point to a qualitative question, and you need to look at what’s behind your gross margin and figure out how to improve it before you go to market.&nbsp;In essence, math can be easy. The numbers speak for themselves. But it’s the qualitative factors behind the numbers that reveal the challenges that will define much of a company’s strategic plan.&nbsp;Business Lifecycle&nbsp;An effective strategic plan should mirror where a company is in its business lifecycle. If your company is a startup, the strategic plan will look different than the plan for a mature business. For a startup, the goal may not be to become profitable within a year, but rather obtain additional rounds of funding, prove its concept and identify a growth track.&nbsp;&nbsp;Compare this plan to a company that is mature, profitable and has shareholders. They may not be looking for additional investments. But say the company has had a great year and has grabbed the attention of several private equity groups for a future acquisition. Its strategic plan might be one built around selling the company in two or three years and cashing out. What was once a mature company has now prepared a strategic plan around exit planning.&nbsp;No matter where a company is in its business lifecycle, the process of building a strategic plan is the same: you have a starting point, which is where you are today. You envision an end point. Your strategic plan is the roadmap that gets you from the starting point to the end point.Characteristics of a Good Strategic Plan&nbsp;A good strategic plan rests on three important characteristics:&nbsp;Clarity:&nbsp;Even if someone doesn’t agree with your plan, can they read it and understand it? Does it make sense? If a business owner hears from key stakeholders that the strategic plan doesn’t make sense or can’t hit its goals, such criticism should be taken seriously. Relevance:&nbsp;Does the plan support the owner’s goal? A strategic plan should tie back to specific goals and timelines. If analysis and financial projections show the strategies and objectives in the plan, such as acquisitions or expansions of product lines, won’t be enough to help the company reach its goals, where does the problem lie? Are the strategies out of kilter or are the goals unrealistic? Reality:&nbsp;Perhaps the most important characteristic is whether the plan is realistic. You should be able to map goals, objectives, milestones and outcomes to the plan in a way that makes sense. If a company is valued at $8 million and its owner’s goal is to sell for $10 million, and industry projections support that growth, that’s a realistic goal. But if they’re valued at $8 million and they want to sell for $20 million within two years, that’s an unrealistic goal.&nbsp;Who is Involved in Building a Strategic Plan?&nbsp;Ultimately, a strategic plan will impact nearly everyone in a company. It needs to be finalized and approved by key stakeholders, including top management, investors and perhaps the company’s attorney and accountant.&nbsp;But the team that actually puts together the plan should be selected based on their skills and the relevance of their roles to the content of the plan. For instance, if the plan calls for a reorganization of the ownership group, an attorney will need to be involved, and most likely a tax advisor, as well.&nbsp;Some companies have the internal talent and skills to put together a comprehensive strategic plan. Others don’t and need to reach outside for expertise. Depending on the key goals and strategies laid out in the plan, input from an attorney, an accountant, a banker, a wealth advisor or a business consultant may be advantageous.&nbsp;In the end, your strategic plan needs to be short, sweet and to the point. But it needs to be supported by a lot of work behind it. When you understand where you are today and where you want to get to, that will dictate your scope and the professional team that will help build your strategic plan.&nbsp;If you would like to take the first steps toward creating a comprehensive strategic plan for your company,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.adamsbrowncpa.com/contact/">contact an Adams Brown advisor</a>.

Food Connects Us: K-State nutrition expert touts value of eating with others

WICHITA, Kan. -&nbsp;Wichita Police are investigating burglary and vandalism in a
Wichita church. Wichita Police say that they received a call from the St,
Patrick Catholic Church early on Saturday morning.&nbsp; 

They say they arrived at the church and discovered
significant vandalism, including hate speech and damage to items such as
statues, candles, and glass. Notably, a United States flag had been burned.

The church is located on North Arkansas Street just south of
twenty-first street north.&nbsp; 

A Facebook post from the church said, “It’s with a heavy
heart that we wanted to inform you that our church was vandalized this morning.
Our priests are safe. For this reason, there will be No 5:00 p.m. Mass tonight
as the investigation continues. 

We will keep you posted in regard to the scheduled events
for this weekend and Mass tomorrow.”

Later on Saturday the Kansas Catholic Conference posted
photos of the damage and the following:&nbsp; “This
is the hate crime scene at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Wichita. After
forcing their way inside, statues were destroyed, glass smashed and other
extensive damage exacted upon this sacred space. 

St. Patrick Church is a predominantly Latino parish situated
in a working class neighborhood of North-Central Wichita. They have a parish
school. Parishioners were unable to worship at Mass here Saturday night—and may
not be able to do so on Sunday. 

The FBI is investigating. A Satanic website was scrawled on
a wall. This is the face of evil. This is the same type of group that will be
holding a Satanic wordship ritual on the grounds of the Kansas State Capitol on
March 28.”

Wichita Police said, “Authorities are actively investigating
the incident in collaboration with the Wichita Fire Department, the FBI, and
the ATF to gather leads that may help identify those responsible for this
crime.”

This investigation is ongoing, and we encourage anyone with
information to contact 911 or Crime Stoppers of Sedgwick County at 316-267-2111

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1645814991453.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, Kan. -&nbsp;Wichita Police are investigating burglary and vandalism in a
Wichita church. Wichita Police say that they received a call from the St,
Patrick Catholic Church early on Saturday morning.&nbsp; They say they arrived at the church and discovered
significant vandalism, including hate speech and damage to items such as
statues, candles, and glass. Notably, a United States flag had been burned.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1742088906145.jpeg" alt="St. Patrick Church vandalism - Kansas Catholic Conference" />
 <figcaption>St. Patrick Church vandalism - Kansas Catholic Conference</figcaption>
 </figure>The church is located on North Arkansas Street just south of
twenty-first street north.&nbsp; A Facebook post from the church said, “It’s with a heavy
heart that we wanted to inform you that our church was vandalized this morning.
Our priests are safe. For this reason, there will be No 5:00 p.m. Mass tonight
as the investigation continues. <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1742088936764.jpeg" alt="St. Patrick Church vandalism - Kansas Catholic Conference" />
 <figcaption>St. Patrick Church vandalism - Kansas Catholic Conference</figcaption>
 </figure>We will keep you posted in regard to the scheduled events
for this weekend and Mass tomorrow.”Later on Saturday the Kansas Catholic Conference posted
photos of the damage and the following:&nbsp; “This
is the hate crime scene at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Wichita. After
forcing their way inside, statues were destroyed, glass smashed and other
extensive damage exacted upon this sacred space. St. Patrick Church is a predominantly Latino parish situated
in a working class neighborhood of North-Central Wichita. They have a parish
school. Parishioners were unable to worship at Mass here Saturday night—and may
not be able to do so on Sunday. <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1742088982989.jpeg" alt="St. Patrick Church Vandalism - Kansas Catholic Conference" />
 <figcaption>St. Patrick Church Vandalism - Kansas Catholic Conference</figcaption>
 </figure>The FBI is investigating. A Satanic website was scrawled on
a wall. This is the face of evil. This is the same type of group that will be
holding a Satanic wordship ritual on the grounds of the Kansas State Capitol on
March 28.”Wichita Police said, “Authorities are actively investigating
the incident in collaboration with the Wichita Fire Department, the FBI, and
the ATF to gather leads that may help identify those responsible for this
crime.”This investigation is ongoing, and we encourage anyone with
information to contact 911 or Crime Stoppers of Sedgwick County at 316-267-2111

Wichita Police investigate incident involving vandalism, hate speech at Wichita church

A fundraiser of sorts has been set up for a south Hutchinson business affected by the Feb. 22 explosion and fire on South Main.&nbsp;&nbsp;

In a Facebook post, a cash mob has been organized for El Patio located at 908 South Main Street.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The organizer of the event, Jaceyln Chambers said in the post,&nbsp; "passionate and hardworking family doing beautiful things in a part of Hutch that most of us ignore."

The event will be held between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. There will be live music by Margot Kimble.&nbsp;&nbsp;

El Patio is open Monday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1742052801359.jpeg" alt="El Patio - 908 South Main&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>El Patio - 908 South Main&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>A fundraiser of sorts has been set up for a south Hutchinson business affected by the Feb. 22 explosion and fire on South Main.&nbsp;&nbsp;In a Facebook post, a cash mob has been organized for El Patio located at 908 South Main Street.&nbsp;&nbsp;The organizer of the event, Jaceyln Chambers said in the post,&nbsp; "passionate and hardworking family doing beautiful things in a part of Hutch that most of us ignore."The event will be held between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. There will be live music by Margot Kimble.&nbsp;&nbsp;El Patio is open Monday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.&nbsp;

Fundraiser today for business affected by gas main fire 

PRATT REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER&nbsp;

Pratt Regional Medical Center is pleased to welcome gastroenterologist Dr. Richard Tay to the team.

Endoscopy services at PRMC are in high demand. On most weekdays, a dozen or more patients undergo a variety of procedures. Patients come from all over south central and western Kansas to receive care at PRMC’s Endoscopy department.

Dr. Tay has been providing temporary coverage at PRMC for several months and has now agreed to a more permanent role. “I’ve really enjoyed working with the team at PRMC,” Dr. Tay said. “It’s a well-equipped hospital with a professional and friendly staff.”

Gastroenterologists are a rare specialty in rural areas, and PRMC is fortunate to have Dr. Tay on staff. “As a regional hospital, it’s important for us to provide a wide range of specialists to our patients,” said PRMC President and CEO Tammy Smith. “Patients are more likely to undergo screenings or procedures when they don’t have to travel far from home.”

With over 30 years of experience in gastroenterology, Dr. Tay earned his medical degree from the Medical College of Wisconsin. He completed his residency at the University of Health Sciences/Chicago Medical School from 1986 to 1990 and went on to complete a gastroenterology fellowship at the same institution from 1990 to 1992.

Originally from Texas, Dr. Tay splits his time between Texas and Kansas. He has two grown children and enjoys hiking and visiting national parks in his spare time, with his favorites being Zion in Utah and Banff in Canada.

Dr. Tay is a general gastroenterologist. While many people associate gastroenterologists with colonoscopies, Dr. Tay performs a wide range of procedures. He recommends patients begin screening for colon cancer at age 45 and continue every 10 years thereafter. For those with a first-degree relative who has had colon cancer, he recommends screening at age 45 and then every five years. Above all, Dr. Tay emphasizes the importance of regular check-ups with a primary care provider and staying current on recommended screenings and immunizations.

Gastroenterologists perform a variety of procedures, including: &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;· Colonoscopy &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;· Esophagogastroduodenoscopy &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;· Sigmoidoscopy &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;· Endoscopic biopsies and removal of polyps &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;· Esophageal dilatation &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;· Gastrostomy, percutaneous endoscopic

If you would like to schedule an appointment with Dr. Tay, please contact your primary care provider and request a referral to Dr. Richard Tay at Pratt Regional Medical Center.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1739927374152.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>PRATT REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER&nbsp;Pratt Regional Medical Center is pleased to welcome gastroenterologist Dr. Richard Tay to the team.Endoscopy services at PRMC are in high demand. On most weekdays, a dozen or more patients undergo a variety of procedures. Patients come from all over south central and western Kansas to receive care at PRMC’s Endoscopy department.Dr. Tay has been providing temporary coverage at PRMC for several months and has now agreed to a more permanent role. “I’ve really enjoyed working with the team at PRMC,” Dr. Tay said. “It’s a well-equipped hospital with a professional and friendly staff.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741978355021.jpeg" alt="Back Row: Amanda Garnett, Endo Tech; Dr. Tay; Amber Walker RN, BSN, Endoscopy Manager; Front Row: Kelly Smith, RN; Brennyn Doan, RN, BSN" />
 <figcaption>Back Row: Amanda Garnett, Endo Tech; Dr. Tay; Amber Walker RN, BSN, Endoscopy Manager; Front Row: Kelly Smith, RN; Brennyn Doan, RN, BSN</figcaption>
 </figure>Gastroenterologists are a rare specialty in rural areas, and PRMC is fortunate to have Dr. Tay on staff. “As a regional hospital, it’s important for us to provide a wide range of specialists to our patients,” said PRMC President and CEO Tammy Smith. “Patients are more likely to undergo screenings or procedures when they don’t have to travel far from home.”With over 30 years of experience in gastroenterology, Dr. Tay earned his medical degree from the Medical College of Wisconsin. He completed his residency at the University of Health Sciences/Chicago Medical School from 1986 to 1990 and went on to complete a gastroenterology fellowship at the same institution from 1990 to 1992.Originally from Texas, Dr. Tay splits his time between Texas and Kansas. He has two grown children and enjoys hiking and visiting national parks in his spare time, with his favorites being Zion in Utah and Banff in Canada.Dr. Tay is a general gastroenterologist. While many people associate gastroenterologists with colonoscopies, Dr. Tay performs a wide range of procedures. He recommends patients begin screening for colon cancer at age 45 and continue every 10 years thereafter. For those with a first-degree relative who has had colon cancer, he recommends screening at age 45 and then every five years. Above all, Dr. Tay emphasizes the importance of regular check-ups with a primary care provider and staying current on recommended screenings and immunizations.Gastroenterologists perform a variety of procedures, including: &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;· Colonoscopy &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;· Esophagogastroduodenoscopy &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;· Sigmoidoscopy &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;· Endoscopic biopsies and removal of polyps &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;· Esophageal dilatation &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;· Gastrostomy, percutaneous endoscopicIf you would like to schedule an appointment with Dr. Tay, please contact your primary care provider and request a referral to Dr. Richard Tay at Pratt Regional Medical Center.

Pratt Regional Medical Center welcomes new gastroenterologist 

The Reno County Landfill is closing early today.&nbsp;

In a Facebook post they said that they were closing early due to hazardous wind conditions creating extremely poor visibility.&nbsp;&nbsp;

They added that the landfill will be open regular hours beginning at 8 a.m. on Saturday

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741979085677.jpeg" alt="Landfill closing early" />
 <figcaption>Landfill closing early</figcaption>
 </figure>The Reno County Landfill is closing early today.&nbsp;In a Facebook post they said that they were closing early due to hazardous wind conditions creating extremely poor visibility.&nbsp;&nbsp;They added that the landfill will be open regular hours beginning at 8 a.m. on Saturday

Reno County Landfill closing early due to high winds 

MANHATTAN – After more than a decade of innovation labs that have helped feed the world and improve global food systems in partnership with the U.S. federal government, Kansas State University will suspend the operation of its two current Feed the Future Innovation Labs on April 12.

Due to the recent federal transition, the U.S. Agency for International Development, or USAID, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service issued stop-work orders in late January on various grant funded projects, which included Feed the Future Innovation Labs and other international projects at several land-grant universities across the U.S. Under these and other federal orders, related grant-funded research at these universities was paused, including at K-State. 

In late February, many stop-work orders became grant terminations, pausing or suspending various research on crop resilience and other projects. At K-State, students, scholars, post-doctoral fellows and some faculty connected to these projects are transitioning to other projects, and nine positions will be eliminated on April 12.

Since K-State opened its first Feed the Future Innovation Lab in 2013, the labs and their researchers have been key players in building on the university's 160-year tradition of innovative agriculture research and helping feed the world by improving global food systems and resiliency.

In 2022, K-State researchers analyzed the economic impact of U.S. international agricultural research and development. Every $1 invested in international research from 1978 to 2018 provided $8.52 in economic benefit back to the U.S.

"This work and these people are assets to the university, state and the agricultural industry," said Ernie Minton, Eldon Gideon dean of the College of Agriculture.

Agricultural research not only supports U.S. crop production and sustainability but also helps improve food security by understanding social, political and environmental factors related to food production. In turn, Kansans benefit from lower food costs, increased yields, higher farm incomes and better nutrition.

The affected research programs have benefitted Kansas and beyond by: 

• Developing wheat and sorghum crop varieties for changing growing conditions, such as drought, and new consumer bases. 

• Protecting local and global food systems — both plant and animal — from pests and diseases.

• Advancing food safety with improved post-harvest food storage practices. 

K-State has proudly been a home for many international innovative agricultural research projects, including Feed the Future Innovation Labs, and university researchers continue to work with the federal government to provide scientific solutions and outcomes that impact not only Kansas but communities around the globe.

"While these specific programs are ceasing or pausing, K-State remains committed to advancing and enhancing global food systems and biosecurity and helping Kansas farmers overcome current and future challenges," Minton said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741963553536.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>K-STATE NEWS AND COMMUNICATIONS MANHATTAN – After more than a decade of innovation labs that have helped feed the world and improve global food systems in partnership with the U.S. federal government, Kansas State University will suspend the operation of its two current Feed the Future Innovation Labs on April 12.Due to the recent federal transition, the U.S. Agency for International Development, or USAID, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service issued stop-work orders in late January on various grant funded projects, which included Feed the Future Innovation Labs and other international projects at several land-grant universities across the U.S. Under these and other federal orders, related grant-funded research at these universities was paused, including at K-State. <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741963600319.jpeg" alt=" K-State's Feed the Future Innovations Labs have helped spur agricultural innovation in Kansas and help feed a hungry world. Due to changes to federal funding, K-State will suspend operation of its two current Feed the Future Innovation Labs on April 12." />
 <figcaption> K-State's Feed the Future Innovations Labs have helped spur agricultural innovation in Kansas and help feed a hungry world. Due to changes to federal funding, K-State will suspend operation of its two current Feed the Future Innovation Labs on April 12.</figcaption>
 </figure>In late February, many stop-work orders became grant terminations, pausing or suspending various research on crop resilience and other projects. At K-State, students, scholars, post-doctoral fellows and some faculty connected to these projects are transitioning to other projects, and nine positions will be eliminated on April 12.Since K-State opened its first Feed the Future Innovation Lab in 2013, the labs and their researchers have been key players in building on the university's 160-year tradition of innovative agriculture research and helping feed the world by improving global food systems and resiliency.In 2022, K-State researchers analyzed the economic impact of U.S. international agricultural research and development. Every $1 invested in international research from 1978 to 2018 provided $8.52 in economic benefit back to the U.S."This work and these people are assets to the university, state and the agricultural industry," said Ernie Minton, Eldon Gideon dean of the College of Agriculture.Agricultural research not only supports U.S. crop production and sustainability but also helps improve food security by understanding social, political and environmental factors related to food production. In turn, Kansans benefit from lower food costs, increased yields, higher farm incomes and better nutrition.The affected research programs have benefitted Kansas and beyond by: • Developing wheat and sorghum crop varieties for changing growing conditions, such as drought, and new consumer bases. • Protecting local and global food systems — both plant and animal — from pests and diseases.• Advancing food safety with improved post-harvest food storage practices. K-State has proudly been a home for many international innovative agricultural research projects, including Feed the Future Innovation Labs, and university researchers continue to work with the federal government to provide scientific solutions and outcomes that impact not only Kansas but communities around the globe."While these specific programs are ceasing or pausing, K-State remains committed to advancing and enhancing global food systems and biosecurity and helping Kansas farmers overcome current and future challenges," Minton said.

K-State to halt Feed the Future Innovation Labs, other international grant projects  

Rose is about 7 1/2 years old and beautiful as can be. 

She came to us from the Hutchinson animal shelter after not having much interest and a foster Mom with a love for the pitty mixes. Being somewhat older she is pretty chill, likes to sit in the sun and watch the world go by. 

She is friendly to other dogs, loves children but not a cat fan. 

She does also have some arthritis, as older girls often do. She receives medication and supplements for that and will need them for life. 

She will need an adopter willing to take over her care and keep her happy and comfortable. 

She will gladly repay with all the love in her heart!

If interested in making Rose part of your family, please visit their&nbsp; &nbsp;<a href="https://redemptionanimalrescueks.com/">website</a>&nbsp;to fill out an application!&nbsp; &nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741963805428.jpeg" alt="Rose - Redemption Animal Rescue " />
 <figcaption>Rose - Redemption Animal Rescue </figcaption>
 </figure>Rose is about 7 1/2 years old and beautiful as can be. She came to us from the Hutchinson animal shelter after not having much interest and a foster Mom with a love for the pitty mixes. Being somewhat older she is pretty chill, likes to sit in the sun and watch the world go by. She is friendly to other dogs, loves children but not a cat fan. She does also have some arthritis, as older girls often do. She receives medication and supplements for that and will need them for life. She will need an adopter willing to take over her care and keep her happy and comfortable. She will gladly repay with all the love in her heart!If interested in making Rose part of your family, please visit their&nbsp; &nbsp;<a href="https://redemptionanimalrescueks.com/">website</a>&nbsp;to fill out an application!&nbsp; &nbsp;

Adopt a Furry Friend: Rose 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741963028072.jpeg" alt="Pronto Pup Trailer" />
 <figcaption>Pronto Pup Trailer</figcaption>
 </figure><div><iframe title="KWBW Morning Show interview with Dwight Wedel DJ's Pronto Pups" allowtransparency="true" height="150" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:150px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=55f2v-18405ec-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=60a0c8&font-color=auto&logo_link=episode_page&btn-skin=ff6d00" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>

🎧BW Morning Show Interview: Dwight Wedel, DJs Pronto Pups 

The Hutchinson Fire Department responded to a gas leak in mid-town.&nbsp;

Fire officials say that shortly before 8 a.m. Friday, they were dispatched to a residence in the 1300 block of North Walnut. When they arrived they were told that a contractor working at the location had struck a gas line while excavating.&nbsp;

&nbsp;At one point, the fire department had blocked Thirteenth Street and Fourteenth Street between Main Street and Poplar Street while Kansas Gas worked to repair the struck gas line.&nbsp;

The fire department tells us that gas service is currently off but will be restored when the gas line is repaired.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741961793310.jpeg" alt="Hutchinson Fire Department responds to gas line leak - Hutch Post Photo" />
 <figcaption>Hutchinson Fire Department responds to gas line leak - Hutch Post Photo</figcaption>
 </figure>The Hutchinson Fire Department responded to a gas leak in mid-town.&nbsp;Fire officials say that shortly before 8 a.m. Friday, they were dispatched to a residence in the 1300 block of North Walnut. When they arrived they were told that a contractor working at the location had struck a gas line while excavating.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741962435325.jpeg" alt="Hutchinson Fire Department responds to gas line leak - Hutch Post Photo" />
 <figcaption>Hutchinson Fire Department responds to gas line leak - Hutch Post Photo</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;At one point, the fire department had blocked Thirteenth Street and Fourteenth Street between Main Street and Poplar Street while Kansas Gas worked to repair the struck gas line.&nbsp;The fire department tells us that gas service is currently off but will be restored when the gas line is repaired.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Construction crew strikes gas line 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1738938711482.jpeg" alt="John Jenkinson" />
 <figcaption>John Jenkinson</figcaption>
 </figure><div><iframe title="John Jenkinson - 031425" allowtransparency="true" height="150" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:150px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=vfs4i-1842bf7-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=60a0c8&font-color=auto&logo_link=episode_page&btn-skin=ff6d00" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>

🎧 BW Morning Show Interview: John Jenkinson, Farmer and Ag commentator

The National Weather Service in Wichita has issued a Red Flag Warning from 10 A.M. Friday morning through 8 P.M. Friday evening for extreme grassland fire danger for central South Central and Southeastern Kansas. &nbsp;

A red flag warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or will shortly. A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity and warm temperatures can&nbsp;contribute to extreme fire behavior.

Kansas State Forest Service Meteorologist chip Redmond talked about the fire conditions in a video released on Wednesday. “So, we can basically continue fire activity over all vegetation. Corn stubble behind me is usually a place where we're to be pretty successful at catching the fire with the prolonged drying conditions.” &nbsp;

“Despite there still be mud in some of these fields, it's going to be really, really challenging to get fires put out because they're so dry they're going to hold heat for a long period of time.” Redmond added. &nbsp;

for the future, Richmond said it the conditions look to get worse with no sign of precipitation in sight. “That gets worse as we go into the next week, to two weeks, and maybe even longer, with no real precipitation in the forecast for the state, and multiple episodes of fire weather as you end the month. It's a very active pattern.”&nbsp;

He talked about the immediate concern today and Friday, Thursday. &nbsp;“We're going to have gusty southerly winds with teens for humidities in the western third of the state. That's going to expand eastward as we go into Friday, into south central and eastern Kansas, we could get winds up to 65 miles an hour, single digit humidity. It definitely&nbsp;it's a pattern that's very reminiscent of previous large, significant fires in the Kansas landscape.” said Redmond. &nbsp;

After Saturday, things look to settle down on Sunday, but another threat looms early next week. “Set the table for the next fire weather event on Monday into Tuesday of next week with another potential strong low-pressure system and potential fire outbreak condition.” Redmond added. &nbsp;

If you have done any burns the last week or two, go and check them to make sure that they are out. Reno County Fire Districts three, four and eight on Monday evening responded to a shed and tree line fire on Monday night that rekindled from a previous burn in a burn barrel.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741903277856.png" alt="Red Flag Warning - 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday" />
 <figcaption>Red Flag Warning - 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday</figcaption>
 </figure>The National Weather Service in Wichita has issued a Red Flag Warning from 10 A.M. Friday morning through 8 P.M. Friday evening for extreme grassland fire danger for central South Central and Southeastern Kansas. &nbsp;A red flag warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or will shortly. A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity and warm temperatures can&nbsp;contribute to extreme fire behavior.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741952256409.jpeg" alt="Graphic courtesy National Weather Service " />
 <figcaption>Graphic courtesy National Weather Service </figcaption>
 </figure>Kansas State Forest Service Meteorologist chip Redmond talked about the fire conditions in a video released on Wednesday. “So, we can basically continue fire activity over all vegetation. Corn stubble behind me is usually a place where we're to be pretty successful at catching the fire with the prolonged drying conditions.” &nbsp;“Despite there still be mud in some of these fields, it's going to be really, really challenging to get fires put out because they're so dry they're going to hold heat for a long period of time.” Redmond added. &nbsp;for the future, Richmond said it the conditions look to get worse with no sign of precipitation in sight. “That gets worse as we go into the next week, to two weeks, and maybe even longer, with no real precipitation in the forecast for the state, and multiple episodes of fire weather as you end the month. It's a very active pattern.”&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741952294271.png" alt="Wind and Fire Danger Confidence - National Weather Service " />
 <figcaption>Wind and Fire Danger Confidence - National Weather Service </figcaption>
 </figure>He talked about the immediate concern today and Friday, Thursday. &nbsp;“We're going to have gusty southerly winds with teens for humidities in the western third of the state. That's going to expand eastward as we go into Friday, into south central and eastern Kansas, we could get winds up to 65 miles an hour, single digit humidity. It definitely&nbsp;it's a pattern that's very reminiscent of previous large, significant fires in the Kansas landscape.” said Redmond. &nbsp;After Saturday, things look to settle down on Sunday, but another threat looms early next week. “Set the table for the next fire weather event on Monday into Tuesday of next week with another potential strong low-pressure system and potential fire outbreak condition.” Redmond added. &nbsp;If you have done any burns the last week or two, go and check them to make sure that they are out. Reno County Fire Districts three, four and eight on Monday evening responded to a shed and tree line fire on Monday night that rekindled from a previous burn in a burn barrel.&nbsp;

Meteorologist warns of fire danger

Nitrate levels have continued to be above allowable limits in Rural Water District 101, which serves the Yoder area. The last nitrate level test was collected on March 3, 2024. The level tested at 12 mg/L, which exceeds the Kansas and Federal (EPA) maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 10 mg/L for public water supply systems. The nitrate levels in water resources have fluctuated in many areas which come from natural, industrial, or agricultural sources (including septic systems and run-off).

Reno County provides routine notices for acute nitrate violations from KDHE. Notices provide Yoder residents education about nitrates in drinking water, and informs residents that bottled water will be provided, upon request, to any household with members at increased risk from the nitrates, such as infants under 6 months, nursing mothers, pregnant women, and other at-risk customers as identified by a health care provider.  

The District will continue the KDHE required quarterly samples and public notifications until this issue is resolved. We appreciate your patience.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660231696105.jpeg" alt="Yoder rural water" />
 <figcaption>Yoder rural water</figcaption>
 </figure>Nitrate levels have continued to be above allowable limits in Rural Water District 101, which serves the Yoder area. The last nitrate level test was collected on March 3, 2024. The level tested at 12 mg/L, which exceeds the Kansas and Federal (EPA) maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 10 mg/L for public water supply systems. The nitrate levels in water resources have fluctuated in many areas which come from natural, industrial, or agricultural sources (including septic systems and run-off).Reno County provides routine notices for acute nitrate violations from KDHE. Notices provide Yoder residents education about nitrates in drinking water, and informs residents that bottled water will be provided, upon request, to any household with members at increased risk from the nitrates, such as infants under 6 months, nursing mothers, pregnant women, and other at-risk customers as identified by a health care provider. The District will continue the KDHE required quarterly samples and public notifications until this issue is resolved. We appreciate your patience.

Nitrate levels continue to be above allowable limits in Rural Water District 101

TOPEKA&nbsp;– Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland encourages jobseekers and employers searching for available talent to take part in this month’s Virtual State Agency Job Fair, hosted by&nbsp;KANSASWORKS, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Wednesday, March 19.

“Our state agencies have provided thousands of Kansans with fulfilling careers in public service,”&nbsp;Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “For those who are beginning the search for a professional career or those looking for a change of scenery — I encourage you to consider a purpose-driven role at one of our many departments and see what the State of Kansas has to offer.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741880493869.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>STATE OF KANSASTOPEKA&nbsp;– Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland encourages jobseekers and employers searching for available talent to take part in this month’s Virtual State Agency Job Fair, hosted by&nbsp;KANSASWORKS, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Wednesday, March 19.“Our state agencies have provided thousands of Kansans with fulfilling careers in public service,”&nbsp;Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “For those who are beginning the search for a professional career or those looking for a change of scenery — I encourage you to consider a purpose-driven role at one of our many departments and see what the State of Kansas has to offer.”&nbsp;&nbsp;There are nearly 500 open agency positions located all across the state that range from entry to senior level careers. The virtual job fair format allows anyone searching for a state position to fill out applications, chat live and interview virtually with participating agencies.This month’s Virtual State Agency Job Fair portal features helpful information such as a jobseeker training video, a list of participating agencies, and channels for attendees to register and log in. Jobseekers are encouraged to dress professionally, as they might be asked to engage in an interview.Candidates can participate through any digital device. Any individual with a disability may request accommodations by contacting their nearest workforce center at (877) 509-6757 prior to the event.Registration is required to participate in virtual job fairs, regardless of previous participation. To register, click&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fapp.premiervirtual.com%2Fevents%2Fa9b409c1-fe6a-45a9-ba4a-f868e02b3a28%2Fstate-of-kansas-agencies-government-positions-virtual-job-fair-march-19,-2025/1/010101958c2a1c1a-dfc52b17-3752-4020-a470-872437b5b462-000000/KIroWJmyU02Jmr-3D-9ppUPLtDnYRavyGFxZQui39ug=396">here</a>.

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