🌱 Will courts let Russell tap its long-planned R9 Ranch water?

Hello again Russell! We’re bringing you the latest town highlights. Don’t miss out, keep going! ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• Will courts let Russell tap its long-planned R9 Ranch water?
• Russell and Salina communities remember the life of Marilyn Vaupel

📸 Have a great pic of holiday decorations from around Russell? Post it to Russell photos of the day! ☃️ 🟢-🟠-🟣-🔴-🟡-🔵 ☃️

Today's riddle: Can February March? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Tuesday: Freezing fog this morning, with a high of 57 and low of 25 degrees.
• Wednesday: Breezy in the afternoon, temps: high: 56, low: 35.
• Thursday: Windy; mostly sunny, cooler, with a high of 46 and low of 28 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Kansas Supreme Court examines roiling water dispute between crop irrigators and Hays, Russell (kansasreflector.com) — Russell’s long-planned water pipeline project with Hays is now before the Kansas Supreme Court, where justices are weighing irrigators’ objections to the cities pumping from the R9 Ranch aquifer. The case could determine whether Russell can rely on those decades-old water rights to secure a more stable long-term supply despite concerns from Edwards County farmers.
   

• Obituaries - December 15, 2025 (salina311.com) — Russell residents will remember that Marilyn Vaupel once made her home and began her social services career in Russell before returning to Salina. The 73-year-old devoted wife, mother, and genealogy volunteer died December 11, with visitation Wednesday and funeral services Thursday in Salina. Her family suggests memorials to the Emergency Aid Food Bank or Smoky Valley Genealogical Society.
   

📸 Around Russell

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📣 Russell Shout Outs!

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🗓 Events Nearby

Tuesday December 16

• HS BB @ Ness City
  Ness City Junior/Senior High School , 414 E Chestnut St , Ness City
  4:00 pm
• HS Basketball @ Thunder Ridge
  Paradise USD 399 Natoma, KS 67651
  4:00 pm
• BB at Sterling
  Hoisington High Sterling
  4:30 pm

Thursday December 18

• JH BB @ Otis vs Kinsley
  USD 403 Otis-Bison , 301 Eagle Ave , Otis
  4:00 pm
• Boys Swim @ Garden City
  Hays High , 1224 Center St , Garden City
  4:00 pm
• JH Basketball vs. Lincoln
  Paradise USD 399 Natoma, KS 67651
  4:00 pm
• V Basketball @ Rock Creek
  Rock Creek Jr/Sr High School , 9355 Flush Rd , St George
  4:00 pm

Friday December 19

• Christmas Craft Day
  Lincoln Elementary Hoisington, KS 67544
  8:00 am
• December Business Builder's Luncheon
  Civic Center Meeting Room , 201 S Main St , Lucas
  12:00 pm
• RC / CC - B Healthy
  825 E 8th St , Hays
  3:00 pm
• HS Basketball @ Rock Hills
  Paradise USD 399 Natoma, KS 67651
  4:00 pm
• HS BB @ LaCrosse
  La Crosse High School , 400 Washington St , La Crosse
  4:30 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Americare Senior Living posted a job opening for Housekeeper- SNF in Russell. Apply here.
• Lkm posted a job opening for City Manager in Russell. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Russell here.

🗞 Nearby News

Hays

• 🤼‍♀️ Markwardt and Johns victorious at Avila Open, Tigers place nine (hayspost.com)
• Fatal Interstate 70 Collision Claims WaKeeney Man Near Hays (sunflowerstateradio.com)
• Hays Area Planning Commission to review zoning requests in east Hays (hayspost.com)

Great Bend

• Great Bend school board reviews snow days (gbtribune.com)

Ok Russell! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I don't know, but April May!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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