Ellis County Sheriff's activity log: March 2-8, 2025

Ellis County Jail bookings: March 2-8, 2025

By TONY GUERRERO Hays Post

Local Republican legislators discussed state spending habits, potential fraud and funding for special education at Saturday's legislative coffee in Hays.

Held at the Hays Public Library, Kansas Sen. Rick Billinger, R-Goodland, Rep. Ken Rahjes, R-Agra, and Rep. Barb Wasinger, R-Hays, spoke to those in attendance.

Legislators said Kansas has been overspending and emphasized reducing expenditures to ensure financial stability.

"We have been overspending in the state and we need to stop. We're working very hard to cut things back," Wasinger said.

Billinger said the state spent nearly $1 billion more than it brought in last year due to tax relief programs and budget allocations.

He outlined several tax relief measures that have affected government revenue, including eliminating sales tax on food, social security income tax cuts and property tax relief.

"We're trying to get our trend lines closer together and we're working on that, but there's only so many dollars to go around," Billinger said. "We make tough choices, and we're not going to try to balance the budget on our most vulnerable citizens."

Billinger said legislators have worked to limit property tax increases and expand homeowner exemptions, including raising the home valuation exemption from $40,000 to $80,000 to reduce the taxable portion of home values.

"In the Senate, we did pass a bill that had a 3% cap on it, so the evaluations could not go up over 3% in one year," Billinger said.

The Astra Plan was created to incentivize counties and cities to keep property tax increases in line with inflation and valuation growth limits. Local governments that comply with these restrictions will receive additional state funding.

"We have to try something different," Wasinger said. "We're trying to encourage and reward those who are staying under CPI (Consumer Price Index)&nbsp; and valuation rate."

The state levies a 1.5-mill property tax for deferred maintenance and schools for blind and deaf students. Billinger said the Senate passed a bill to eliminate this tax, shifting the costs to the state’s general fund.

The Senate Committee on Government Efficiency and a newly formed House committee are examining ways to cut waste and eliminate unnecessary spending.

"We've been asking agencies to report programs that they have and they're not using," Wasinger said.

Wasinger said that the Inspector General for Medicaid uncovered substantial fraud but does not have the enforcement authority to address it.

She said numerous individuals are fraudulently receiving benefits, but state agencies are not taking action to remove them from the system.

"There are a lot of people who are getting benefits but don't deserve benefits," she said.

Wasinger said that records of fraud cases must be requested from the Inspector General. No specific details were given on the amount of money lost to fraud or its frequency.

Wasinger said that Kansas allocates over half of the state budget to schools and continues to provide them with millions more.

"When people come to the state and want more money, 'We need it for mental health, we need it for this, we need it for that,' we can't do it because our hands are tied right now," she said.

Wasinger said funding allocation reforms are needed to ensure the efficient use of resources, particularly in special education and general school budgets.

Billinger acknowledges that special education funding has not kept up with the growing number of students enrolling in the program.

"I've been on budget for nine years now. We've added money every year, maybe not as much as everyone would hope or I would hope, but we try putting additional money every year," he said.

Billinger said that a larger-than-usual amount was allocated to special education last year and that legislators will try to provide as much funding as possible this year.

Rahjes said that the federal government is expected to provide greater support for special education but has not met its obligations.

He also highlighted the need to fund water and infrastructure projects, positioning education as one of several competing priorities.

"We can spend nine hours talking about every issue in the world, but without water, we're not here,"&nbsp;Rahjes.

Legislators discussed agriculture's vital role in Kansas' economy and outlined ongoing legislative efforts to support farmers.

"Agriculture and aviation are two of the keys to keeping our economy going," Rahjes said.

Rahjes said that Kansas leads the nation in sorghum production. A $1 million annual investment made to the Center for Sorghum Improvement at Kansas State University is a long-term strategy to develop new products and enhance production.

A new Water Task Force bill was introduced to support long-term water planning and sustainability. At the same time, agritourism legislation is being reviewed to enhance economic opportunities for farms and rural communities.

Billinger said that legislators advocated for higher ethanol blends (E15) to benefit Kansas farmers and ethanol producers, but Gov. Laura Kelly removed Kansas from a multi-state initiative to expand ethanol sales.

"There's not a lot we can do," he said. "One thing you can all do is call the governor and encourage her to support E15."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741452208407.jpeg" alt="Sen. Rick Billinger, R-Goodland, Rep. Ken Rahjes, R-Agra, and Rep. Barb Wasinger, R-Hays. Photo By Tony Guerrero/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Sen. Rick Billinger, R-Goodland, Rep. Ken Rahjes, R-Agra, and Rep. Barb Wasinger, R-Hays. Photo By Tony Guerrero/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>By TONY GUERRERO Hays PostLocal Republican legislators discussed state spending habits, potential fraud and funding for special education at Saturday's legislative coffee in Hays.Held at the Hays Public Library, Kansas Sen. Rick Billinger, R-Goodland, Rep. Ken Rahjes, R-Agra, and Rep. Barb Wasinger, R-Hays, spoke to those in attendance.<h2>Government spending</h2>Legislators said Kansas has been overspending and emphasized reducing expenditures to ensure financial stability."We have been overspending in the state and we need to stop. We're working very hard to cut things back," Wasinger said.Billinger said the state spent nearly $1 billion more than it brought in last year due to tax relief programs and budget allocations.He outlined several tax relief measures that have affected government revenue, including eliminating sales tax on food, social security income tax cuts and property tax relief."We're trying to get our trend lines closer together and we're working on that, but there's only so many dollars to go around," Billinger said. "We make tough choices, and we're not going to try to balance the budget on our most vulnerable citizens."<h2>Property tax relief</h2>Billinger said legislators have worked to limit property tax increases and expand homeowner exemptions, including raising the home valuation exemption from $40,000 to $80,000 to reduce the taxable portion of home values."In the Senate, we did pass a bill that had a 3% cap on it, so the evaluations could not go up over 3% in one year," Billinger said.The Astra Plan was created to incentivize counties and cities to keep property tax increases in line with inflation and valuation growth limits. Local governments that comply with these restrictions will receive additional state funding."We have to try something different," Wasinger said. "We're trying to encourage and reward those who are staying under CPI (Consumer Price Index)&nbsp; and valuation rate."The state levies a 1.5-mill property tax for deferred maintenance and schools for blind and deaf students. Billinger said the Senate passed a bill to eliminate this tax, shifting the costs to the state’s general fund.<h2>Medicaid fraud</h2>The Senate Committee on Government Efficiency and a newly formed House committee are examining ways to cut waste and eliminate unnecessary spending."We've been asking agencies to report programs that they have and they're not using," Wasinger said.Wasinger said that the Inspector General for Medicaid uncovered substantial fraud but does not have the enforcement authority to address it.She said numerous individuals are fraudulently receiving benefits, but state agencies are not taking action to remove them from the system."There are a lot of people who are getting benefits but don't deserve benefits," she said.Wasinger said that records of fraud cases must be requested from the Inspector General. No specific details were given on the amount of money lost to fraud or its frequency.<h2>Special education</h2>Wasinger said that Kansas allocates over half of the state budget to schools and continues to provide them with millions more."When people come to the state and want more money, 'We need it for mental health, we need it for this, we need it for that,' we can't do it because our hands are tied right now," she said.Wasinger said funding allocation reforms are needed to ensure the efficient use of resources, particularly in special education and general school budgets.Billinger acknowledges that special education funding has not kept up with the growing number of students enrolling in the program."I've been on budget for nine years now. We've added money every year, maybe not as much as everyone would hope or I would hope, but we try putting additional money every year," he said.Billinger said that a larger-than-usual amount was allocated to special education last year and that legislators will try to provide as much funding as possible this year.Rahjes said that the federal government is expected to provide greater support for special education but has not met its obligations.He also highlighted the need to fund water and infrastructure projects, positioning education as one of several competing priorities."We can spend nine hours talking about every issue in the world, but without water, we're not here,"&nbsp;Rahjes.<h2>Rural and agriculture issues</h2>Legislators discussed agriculture's vital role in Kansas' economy and outlined ongoing legislative efforts to support farmers."Agriculture and aviation are two of the keys to keeping our economy going," Rahjes said.Rahjes said that Kansas leads the nation in sorghum production. A $1 million annual investment made to the Center for Sorghum Improvement at Kansas State University is a long-term strategy to develop new products and enhance production.A new Water Task Force bill was introduced to support long-term water planning and sustainability. At the same time, agritourism legislation is being reviewed to enhance economic opportunities for farms and rural communities.Billinger said that legislators advocated for higher ethanol blends (E15) to benefit Kansas farmers and ethanol producers, but Gov. Laura Kelly removed Kansas from a multi-state initiative to expand ethanol sales."There's not a lot we can do," he said. "One thing you can all do is call the governor and encourage her to support E15."

Local legislators discuss state spending habits, special education

In February, five FHSU tourism and hospitality management students received awards at the 2025 Eta Sigma Delta (ESD) Undergraduate Research Symposium at the University of South Florida, Tampa, Fla. 

All FHSU student participants received Meritorious Paper Awards for their projects.

ESD, the international honor society for high-performing tourism and hospitality students, organized the symposium to foster an interest in undergraduate research.

Students shared their findings, received feedback, and explored the potential industry implications of their findings, connecting academic research with real-world applications.

The five FHSU students, divided into two groups, presented two separate research projects. Cally Anderson, Topeka, and Delanee Bedore, Stockton, presented “The New Space Race: Gen Z’s Perception with Emerging Space Tourism.”

Katie Hale, Hays; Marisol Banda, Salina; and Cory Cimaglia, Plainville, presented “Hidden in Plain Sight: Exploring the Role of Hotels in Human Trafficking Networks.”

Dr. Stacey Smith, Professor of Tourism &amp; Hospitality Management and faculty advisor for the students’ project, emphasized the importance of undergraduate research.

“Research allows students to step beyond the classroom and engage in the process of discovery,” she said. “It fosters critical thinking and problem-solving while empowering the students to explore ideas and topics related to the tourism industry. They were able to contribute to the advancement of knowledge and see how data can be used to inform decisions.

“I am very proud of their hard work and effort on these projects and congratulate them on their success."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741186023449.jpeg" alt="Pictured left to right are:&nbsp;Cory Cimaglia, Marisol Banda, Katie Hale, Stacey Smith, Cally Anderson, and Delanee Bedore. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Pictured left to right are:&nbsp;Cory Cimaglia, Marisol Banda, Katie Hale, Stacey Smith, Cally Anderson, and Delanee Bedore. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU University CommunicationsIn February, five FHSU tourism and hospitality management students received awards at the 2025 Eta Sigma Delta (ESD) Undergraduate Research Symposium at the University of South Florida, Tampa, Fla. All FHSU student participants received Meritorious Paper Awards for their projects.ESD, the international honor society for high-performing tourism and hospitality students, organized the symposium to foster an interest in undergraduate research.Students shared their findings, received feedback, and explored the potential industry implications of their findings, connecting academic research with real-world applications.The five FHSU students, divided into two groups, presented two separate research projects. Cally Anderson, Topeka, and Delanee Bedore, Stockton, presented “The New Space Race: Gen Z’s Perception with Emerging Space Tourism.”Katie Hale, Hays; Marisol Banda, Salina; and Cory Cimaglia, Plainville, presented “Hidden in Plain Sight: Exploring the Role of Hotels in Human Trafficking Networks.”Dr. Stacey Smith, Professor of Tourism &amp; Hospitality Management and faculty advisor for the students’ project, emphasized the importance of undergraduate research.“Research allows students to step beyond the classroom and engage in the process of discovery,” she said. “It fosters critical thinking and problem-solving while empowering the students to explore ideas and topics related to the tourism industry. They were able to contribute to the advancement of knowledge and see how data can be used to inform decisions.“I am very proud of their hard work and effort on these projects and congratulate them on their success."

 FHSU students earn honors at research symposium

BATON ROUGE — Stephany Rother of Hays was recently elected to membership into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation's oldest and most selective all-discipline collegiate honor society, at Fort Hays State University.

Rother is among approximately 20,000 students, faculty, professional staff and alumni to be initiated into Phi Kappa Phi each year. 

Membership is by invitation only and requires nomination and approval by a chapter. Only the top 10 percent of seniors and 7.5 percent of juniors are eligible for membership. Graduate students in the top 10 percent of the number of candidates for graduate degrees may also qualify, as do faculty, professional staff and alumni who have achieved scholarly distinction.

Phi Kappa Phi was founded in 1897 under the leadership of undergraduate student Marcus L. Urann who had a desire to create a different kind of honor society: one that recognized excellence in all academic disciplines. Today, the Society has chapters on more than 300 campuses in the United States, its territories and the Philippines. Its mission is to "cultivate a community that celebrates and advances the love of learning."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1588607146495.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Phi Kappa PhiBATON ROUGE — Stephany Rother of Hays was recently elected to membership into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation's oldest and most selective all-discipline collegiate honor society, at Fort Hays State University.Rother is among approximately 20,000 students, faculty, professional staff and alumni to be initiated into Phi Kappa Phi each year. Membership is by invitation only and requires nomination and approval by a chapter. Only the top 10 percent of seniors and 7.5 percent of juniors are eligible for membership. Graduate students in the top 10 percent of the number of candidates for graduate degrees may also qualify, as do faculty, professional staff and alumni who have achieved scholarly distinction.Phi Kappa Phi was founded in 1897 under the leadership of undergraduate student Marcus L. Urann who had a desire to create a different kind of honor society: one that recognized excellence in all academic disciplines. Today, the Society has chapters on more than 300 campuses in the United States, its territories and the Philippines. Its mission is to "cultivate a community that celebrates and advances the love of learning."

Hays student elected to Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society

By KARISSA WINKEL Cottonwood Extension District

Brain health: It’s a topic that many of us are concerned about. Most of us know someone who has dementia, and there’s good reason why experts call Alzheimer’s “the biggest health crisis facing the world today.” In fact, about 6.7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s, and the number is expected to double by 2060.

Watching loved ones suffer from deteriorating brain health can be extremely challenging. It can also be uncomfortable to realize your own risk of developing dementia as statistics rise. So, what if you knew the disease was in your future? Would you act now?

The good news is that there are steps you can take today to reduce the risk of cognitive decline for you and your loved ones. It’s also important to remember that it is never too late to adopt a healthy lifestyle. 

Here are a few ways to boost brain health:

Get good quality sleep. Six to eight hours of restful sleep allows the immune system to repair and renew the body. This is also true for the brain. When one doesn’t get enough sleep, inflammation is hard to control, which contributes to brain-related disease.

Learn something new. You’ve heard the saying, “Use it or lose it.” Activities that challenge the brain, such as learning and intellectual hobbies, strengthen synapses between brain cells. Overall, this can improve brain health.

Stay socially connected. According to the CDC, social isolation is associated with about a 50% increased risk of dementia. Maintaining relationships helps to provide a sense of purpose, and it helps to prevent cognitive decline.

Take care of your mental health. Studies have shown that a history of depression increases the risk of cognitive decline. Reducing stress, participating in hobbies you enjoy, and finding support can help to improve mental health.

These steps to boost brain health are just a few ways to take action. If you are interested in taking care of your brain health or helping a loved one, resources are closer than you may think.

A Different Mindset Association, located in Hays, aims to support caregivers, provide education, network resources, and promote awareness about Dementia. Currently, the group hosts caregiver support group meetings via Zoom and in person. The group also offers respite services for caregivers on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of every month.

To support the impactful resources that A Different Mindset Association provides, consider attending A Rock “N” Roll Night to Remember on March 22 and enjoy an evening of music by Jimmy Dee and The Fabulous Destinations. The event will include a meal and drinks along with a crowded dance floor and a silent auction. 

Join A Different Mindset Association at the Ellis County Fairgrounds at 5:30 pm to support local dementia resources. Don’t forget to grab your tickets at <a href="https://www.adiffmindsetassoc.org/adm/fundraisers/">https://www.adiffmindsetassoc.org/adm/fundraisers/</a>

Karissa Winkel is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at 620-793-1910 or krwinkel@ksu.edu. K-

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697546908793.jpeg" alt="Karissa Winkel&nbsp;the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension Cottonwood District. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Karissa Winkel&nbsp;the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension Cottonwood District. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By KARISSA WINKEL Cottonwood Extension DistrictBrain health: It’s a topic that many of us are concerned about. Most of us know someone who has dementia, and there’s good reason why experts call Alzheimer’s “the biggest health crisis facing the world today.” In fact, about 6.7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s, and the number is expected to double by 2060.Watching loved ones suffer from deteriorating brain health can be extremely challenging. It can also be uncomfortable to realize your own risk of developing dementia as statistics rise. So, what if you knew the disease was in your future? Would you act now?The good news is that there are steps you can take today to reduce the risk of cognitive decline for you and your loved ones. It’s also important to remember that it is never too late to adopt a healthy lifestyle. Here are a few ways to boost brain health:Get good quality sleep. Six to eight hours of restful sleep allows the immune system to repair and renew the body. This is also true for the brain. When one doesn’t get enough sleep, inflammation is hard to control, which contributes to brain-related disease.Learn something new. You’ve heard the saying, “Use it or lose it.” Activities that challenge the brain, such as learning and intellectual hobbies, strengthen synapses between brain cells. Overall, this can improve brain health.Stay socially connected. According to the CDC, social isolation is associated with about a 50% increased risk of dementia. Maintaining relationships helps to provide a sense of purpose, and it helps to prevent cognitive decline.Take care of your mental health. Studies have shown that a history of depression increases the risk of cognitive decline. Reducing stress, participating in hobbies you enjoy, and finding support can help to improve mental health.These steps to boost brain health are just a few ways to take action. If you are interested in taking care of your brain health or helping a loved one, resources are closer than you may think.A Different Mindset Association, located in Hays, aims to support caregivers, provide education, network resources, and promote awareness about Dementia. Currently, the group hosts caregiver support group meetings via Zoom and in person. The group also offers respite services for caregivers on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of every month.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741112674696.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>To support the impactful resources that A Different Mindset Association provides, consider attending A Rock “N” Roll Night to Remember on March 22 and enjoy an evening of music by Jimmy Dee and The Fabulous Destinations. The event will include a meal and drinks along with a crowded dance floor and a silent auction. Join A Different Mindset Association at the Ellis County Fairgrounds at 5:30 pm to support local dementia resources. Don’t forget to grab your tickets at <a href="https://www.adiffmindsetassoc.org/adm/fundraisers/">https://www.adiffmindsetassoc.org/adm/fundraisers/</a>Karissa Winkel is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at 620-793-1910 or krwinkel@ksu.edu. K-

WINKEL: Boost brain health, support local dementia resources

By MONIQUE KOERNER Cottonwood Extension District

From an early age, we learn that nutritious foods and physical activity can help us stay healthy. Growing evidence now suggests that social connections may also be key to good health. Socially connected people tend to live longer. They’re at lower risk for serious health problems. Social bonds are also linked to our mental health, eating habits, and much more.

Despite the links between our social ties and health, there’s been a troubling increase in social disconnection around the world. About 1 in 3 adults nationwide report feeling lonely. About 1 in 4 say they lack social and emotional support.

Many factors can contribute to a person feeling lonely. These include the quality of your personal relationships, your community, and society in general. Your personal health, life stage, and personality can also have an impact.

People who are socially isolated or feel lonely are more likely to have heart disease, obesity, high blood pressure, depression, or anxiety. They’re also at increased risk for Alzheimer’s disease or other types of dementia, and for early death.

Recently, the COVID-19 pandemic affected our relationships and feelings of isolation. But the breakdown of social bonds was growing long before the pandemic. Over the past few decades, fewer people have been joining community groups or faith-based organizations.&nbsp;There’s also been a rise in single-person households. 

Digital technologies have made it easier to connect with others. But they can also expose us to harms like bullying.

Scientists are working to better understand the links between social bonds and our health. And they’re looking for ways to counteract the effects of loneliness and social isolation.

“Humans are a social species. We are highly dependent on others from birth,” says Dr. Elizabeth Necka, an NIH expert on social and behavioral science. “So feeling socially isolated can make you feel as though you’re in a very stressful situation. And stress has been associated with chronic inflammation, which can have effects on cardiovascular health.”

 Long-lasting inflammation has also been linked to cancer and other health problems. And our ability to biologically respond to stressors weakens with age.

Necka notes that there’s a difference between social isolation and loneliness, but the two are related. Social isolation means you have few connections or contacts with others. Loneliness has to do with how you feel about being alone, or your perception.

“Some people can be objectively socially isolated but not feel lonely. They may enjoy the solitude,” Necka explains. “Others can be surrounded by people and yet feel very lonely because those relationships aren’t satisfying to them.” Both loneliness and social isolation can be harmful to health. Even people who feel OK about being socially isolated are at increased risk for poorer health.

Everyone feels lonely now and then. But certain factors can raise the likelihood of persistent loneliness or social isolation. These include living alone, having trouble walking or moving, or having problems with vision or hearing. 

Other risk factors include financial struggles and mental health issues. Living in a rural, unsafe, or hard to reach neighborhood also raises your risk. So do major life changes like retirement or the death of a loved one.

Many studies have found that older adults are especially likely to feel lonely or socially isolated. But a recent analysis of more than 128,000 people from over 20 countries reports that young adults are also vulnerable.

 “Over the course of the adult lifespan, we found that loneliness is higher in young adulthood and older adulthood. It dips during mid-life,” says psychologist Dr. Eileen Graham at Northwestern University.

Graham and others have found that “generativity”—the urge to nurture younger people—can play a protective role. “People who are high in generativity are more socially resilient,” Graham says. “They feel they’re contributing to society, and they’re teaching new generations. It promotes well-being.” And it may help buffer against the harms of social isolation and loneliness.

“There’s an interesting thing that happens in late life,” Necka adds. “People tend to focus more on relationships that are high quality and on the positive and meaningful impacts of those relationships. There’s less focus on relationships that are a bit more casual. Research suggests that tendency in late life actually can be protective for older adults.”

“Marital status, or intimate relationships, are also an important feature of our social networks,” says Dr. David Sbarra, a psychologist and researcher at the University of Arizona. Married people tend to live longer and have other health benefits compared to the unmarried. 

But the quality of the relationship, whether supportive or fraught, can have an impact. “In a high-quality relationship, your needs are taken under consideration, and you perceive that your partner cares for you,” Sbarra says. “This perceived responsiveness, or empathy, is key to intimacy.”

Sbarra’s team has found that divorce and separation are linked with changes to structures deep within cells called telomeres, which are associated with aging. Such changes are linked to health problems, including cancer and shorter life.

The team is now using brain imaging and smartphone apps to assess the quality of couples’ relationships. They’re studying whether repetitive negative thoughts in one partner leads to stress and health problems for both.

“If you’re feeling lonely or socially disconnected, it can feel intimidating to try to form new connections,” Necka says. “High-quality connections are best. But even brief interactions can make a difference. It can be a first step.”

For example, you might go to the grocery store at the same time every week and see the same clerk. You can smile and strike up a brief conversation. Or you notice that someone at your regular bus stop always wears purple. You could chat about favorite colors. Over time, you might feel more comfortable connecting with others in different ways.

“If you see someone in your community, maybe an older adult who lives alone or a single parent, check in and ask what they might need. Let them know that you’re available,” Graham adds. “Offer to bring them dinner, play cards, or other things. We can reach out and help each other connect.” See the Wise Choices box for more tips, and in the process improve your health.

Monique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension Cottonwood District. You may reach her at: 785-628-9430 or moniquek@ksu.edu.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668522152076.jpeg" alt="Monique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension Cottonwood District. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Monique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension Cottonwood District. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By MONIQUE KOERNER Cottonwood Extension DistrictThe Power of Personal ConnectionsFrom an early age, we learn that nutritious foods and physical activity can help us stay healthy. Growing evidence now suggests that social connections may also be key to good health. Socially connected people tend to live longer. They’re at lower risk for serious health problems. Social bonds are also linked to our mental health, eating habits, and much more.Despite the links between our social ties and health, there’s been a troubling increase in social disconnection around the world. About 1 in 3 adults nationwide report feeling lonely. About 1 in 4 say they lack social and emotional support.Social BondsMany factors can contribute to a person feeling lonely. These include the quality of your personal relationships, your community, and society in general. Your personal health, life stage, and personality can also have an impact.People who are socially isolated or feel lonely are more likely to have heart disease, obesity, high blood pressure, depression, or anxiety. They’re also at increased risk for Alzheimer’s disease or other types of dementia, and for early death.Recently, the COVID-19 pandemic affected our relationships and feelings of isolation. But the breakdown of social bonds was growing long before the pandemic. Over the past few decades, fewer people have been joining community groups or faith-based organizations.&nbsp;There’s also been a rise in single-person households. Digital technologies have made it easier to connect with others. But they can also expose us to harms like bullying.Scientists are working to better understand the links between social bonds and our health. And they’re looking for ways to counteract the effects of loneliness and social isolation.“Humans are a social species. We are highly dependent on others from birth,” says Dr. Elizabeth Necka, an NIH expert on social and behavioral science. “So feeling socially isolated can make you feel as though you’re in a very stressful situation. And stress has been associated with chronic inflammation, which can have effects on cardiovascular health.” Long-lasting inflammation has also been linked to cancer and other health problems. And our ability to biologically respond to stressors weakens with age.Necka notes that there’s a difference between social isolation and loneliness, but the two are related. Social isolation means you have few connections or contacts with others. Loneliness has to do with how you feel about being alone, or your perception.“Some people can be objectively socially isolated but not feel lonely. They may enjoy the solitude,” Necka explains. “Others can be surrounded by people and yet feel very lonely because those relationships aren’t satisfying to them.” Both loneliness and social isolation can be harmful to health. Even people who feel OK about being socially isolated are at increased risk for poorer health.Who’s at Risk?Everyone feels lonely now and then. But certain factors can raise the likelihood of persistent loneliness or social isolation. These include living alone, having trouble walking or moving, or having problems with vision or hearing. Other risk factors include financial struggles and mental health issues. Living in a rural, unsafe, or hard to reach neighborhood also raises your risk. So do major life changes like retirement or the death of a loved one.Many studies have found that older adults are especially likely to feel lonely or socially isolated. But a recent analysis of more than 128,000 people from over 20 countries reports that young adults are also vulnerable. “Over the course of the adult lifespan, we found that loneliness is higher in young adulthood and older adulthood. It dips during mid-life,” says psychologist Dr. Eileen Graham at Northwestern University.Graham and others have found that “generativity”—the urge to nurture younger people—can play a protective role. “People who are high in generativity are more socially resilient,” Graham says. “They feel they’re contributing to society, and they’re teaching new generations. It promotes well-being.” And it may help buffer against the harms of social isolation and loneliness.“There’s an interesting thing that happens in late life,” Necka adds. “People tend to focus more on relationships that are high quality and on the positive and meaningful impacts of those relationships. There’s less focus on relationships that are a bit more casual. Research suggests that tendency in late life actually can be protective for older adults.”Coupling Up“Marital status, or intimate relationships, are also an important feature of our social networks,” says Dr. David Sbarra, a psychologist and researcher at the University of Arizona. Married people tend to live longer and have other health benefits compared to the unmarried. But the quality of the relationship, whether supportive or fraught, can have an impact. “In a high-quality relationship, your needs are taken under consideration, and you perceive that your partner cares for you,” Sbarra says. “This perceived responsiveness, or empathy, is key to intimacy.”Sbarra’s team has found that divorce and separation are linked with changes to structures deep within cells called telomeres, which are associated with aging. Such changes are linked to health problems, including cancer and shorter life.The team is now using brain imaging and smartphone apps to assess the quality of couples’ relationships. They’re studying whether repetitive negative thoughts in one partner leads to stress and health problems for both.New Connections“If you’re feeling lonely or socially disconnected, it can feel intimidating to try to form new connections,” Necka says. “High-quality connections are best. But even brief interactions can make a difference. It can be a first step.”For example, you might go to the grocery store at the same time every week and see the same clerk. You can smile and strike up a brief conversation. Or you notice that someone at your regular bus stop always wears purple. You could chat about favorite colors. Over time, you might feel more comfortable connecting with others in different ways.“If you see someone in your community, maybe an older adult who lives alone or a single parent, check in and ask what they might need. Let them know that you’re available,” Graham adds. “Offer to bring them dinner, play cards, or other things. We can reach out and help each other connect.” See the Wise Choices box for more tips, and in the process improve your health.Monique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension Cottonwood District. You may reach her at: 785-628-9430 or moniquek@ksu.edu.

KOERNER: Build social bonds to protect health

<a href="https://hayspost.com/pages/state-farm-weather-window">For a full look at the weather forecast, click here.</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741464067935.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://hayspost.com/pages/state-farm-weather-window">For a full look at the weather forecast, click here.</a>

Three-day weather outlook

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741637759978.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://hayspost.com/pages/state-farm-weather-window">For a full look at the weather forecast, click here.</a>

Russell City Fire has responded to a structure fire at 11th and Elm Street. Please avoid the area.

Russell City Fire has responded to a structure fire at 11th and Elm Street. Please avoid the area.

Please Avoid area of 11th, Elm Street in Russell — Structure Fire

By STEVE GILLILAND Explore Kansas Outdoors

Well, you know what they say, “Spring waits for no man.” Wait, maybe it’s just me that says that. 

Anyway, it’s true, and while we certainly have some winter left, I think we can figure there’s more of winter now in our rearview mirror than there is in front of us. 

So, as we wait to see if she comes in like a lion or a lamb, spring will continue to claw its way across the calendar and arrive at just the right time that God has planned. In the meantime, here are a few things in the Kansas outdoors still going on, or on the horizon.

Light geese, more commonly known as snow geese, can still be hunted under a special “conservation order” until April 30.

 In order to thin down the enormous population of these birds, besides allowing for a lengthy season, the special conservation order removes all harvest limits and allows for unplugged shotguns to be used. That lets hunters use the complete shell capacity of their shotgun, rather than only three shells in the gun at a time that is legal for normal waterfowl hunting. Permission to hunt these guys is usually easy to get, too, as most farmers want them gone.

Both beavers and otters can be trapped in Kansas until March 31. 

I have never trapped otters, but I know that spring beaver trapping can be really productive as the males become very active in spring. They can be enticed to check out man-made castor mound sets that they make naturally in the wild to attract females. A pile of mud and leaves pulled up onto the edge of the bank and sweetened with a dab of beaver castor-based lure will usually do the job.

Wild turkeys will soon be leaving the large flocks where they accumulate, sometimes by the hundreds, for safety and security during the winter. The toms will start putting together their smaller harems of hens, and heading to where they will breed, nest and raise their broods.

 The 2025 spring turkey season for youth and disabled hunters starts April 1, archery season begins April 7 and regular firearms season starts April 16.

We all watch to see the first robins, wrens and other songbirds arrive back in Kansas each spring, but another less popular and often maligned, or at least ignored species will begin arriving back in our state in the month of March. 

Turkey Vultures that have wintered in South America will begin gracing our skies again in mid to late March. 

Vultures are God’s clean-up crew and have a face only a&nbsp;mother could love, but watching them soar effortlessly on huge outstretched wings for hours at a time is mesmerizing to me.

&nbsp;One spring years ago, Joyce and I were told of an old tumbled-down building not far away that had been a vulture nesting site for years, and that year we were privileged to watch a pair of Turkey Vulture chicks grow-up and fledge from that nest. 

Talk about humble beginnings; that so called “nest” was nothing more than a flat spot on the floor, amidst filth and excrement, in a concealed corner of that old ramshackle building. But from there grew two more amazing birds to float on the Kansas winds and to help clean up dead critters from along our highways.

 Yet another example of how God can use the meekest among us for His service.

Steve can be contacted by email at stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574696211722.png" alt="Steve Gilliland. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Steve Gilliland. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By STEVE GILLILAND Explore Kansas OutdoorsWell, you know what they say, “Spring waits for no man.” Wait, maybe it’s just me that says that. Anyway, it’s true, and while we certainly have some winter left, I think we can figure there’s more of winter now in our rearview mirror than there is in front of us. So, as we wait to see if she comes in like a lion or a lamb, spring will continue to claw its way across the calendar and arrive at just the right time that God has planned. In the meantime, here are a few things in the Kansas outdoors still going on, or on the horizon.Light geese, more commonly known as snow geese, can still be hunted under a special “conservation order” until April 30. In order to thin down the enormous population of these birds, besides allowing for a lengthy season, the special conservation order removes all harvest limits and allows for unplugged shotguns to be used. That lets hunters use the complete shell capacity of their shotgun, rather than only three shells in the gun at a time that is legal for normal waterfowl hunting. Permission to hunt these guys is usually easy to get, too, as most farmers want them gone.Both beavers and otters can be trapped in Kansas until March 31. I have never trapped otters, but I know that spring beaver trapping can be really productive as the males become very active in spring. They can be enticed to check out man-made castor mound sets that they make naturally in the wild to attract females. A pile of mud and leaves pulled up onto the edge of the bank and sweetened with a dab of beaver castor-based lure will usually do the job.Wild turkeys will soon be leaving the large flocks where they accumulate, sometimes by the hundreds, for safety and security during the winter. The toms will start putting together their smaller harems of hens, and heading to where they will breed, nest and raise their broods. The 2025 spring turkey season for youth and disabled hunters starts April 1, archery season begins April 7 and regular firearms season starts April 16.We all watch to see the first robins, wrens and other songbirds arrive back in Kansas each spring, but another less popular and often maligned, or at least ignored species will begin arriving back in our state in the month of March. Turkey Vultures that have wintered in South America will begin gracing our skies again in mid to late March. Vultures are God’s clean-up crew and have a face only a&nbsp;mother could love, but watching them soar effortlessly on huge outstretched wings for hours at a time is mesmerizing to me.&nbsp;One spring years ago, Joyce and I were told of an old tumbled-down building not far away that had been a vulture nesting site for years, and that year we were privileged to watch a pair of Turkey Vulture chicks grow-up and fledge from that nest. Talk about humble beginnings; that so called “nest” was nothing more than a flat spot on the floor, amidst filth and excrement, in a concealed corner of that old ramshackle building. But from there grew two more amazing birds to float on the Kansas winds and to help clean up dead critters from along our highways. Yet another example of how God can use the meekest among us for His service.Continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors.Steve can be contacted by email at stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.

Explore Kansas Outdoors: Spring is about to spring

By RANDY GONZALES Special to Hays Post

Another Kansas state high school wrestling season is in the books, and postseason basketball is in full swing.

This is the time of year that Dick Boyd lived for.

“Absolutely, he looked forward to covering these events,” said Lisa Pasilas, a former writer for Norton’s newspaper. “It didn’t matter how far away a game or tournament was being held, he was there.”

In a few months, it will be five years since Boyd’s passing. He is gone, but not forgotten.

Boyd, who owned the Norton Daily Telegram for 32 years and covered Norton and area sports for 50 years, died June 25, 2020 at the age of 83.

“Athletics,” as Boyd liked to call all sports, will never be the same after his passing, said co-workers, coaches and athletes who knew him.

Pasilas worked with Boyd for 10 years before leaving the paper a year ago.

As a child, she was a paper carrier and later helped out with the printing press as a teenager. Her family had newspaper ink in its blood. Her father was the press man until he retired, and her mother is still working at the paper after almost 54 years.

“There’s never going to be another Dick Boyd,” Pasilas said. “There’s never going to be anyone who is going to be like he was to this community for so many years.”

Boyd graduated from Mankato High School in 1955 and earned a football scholarship to Kansas State University. He was a two-year letterman for the Wildcats and was voted the team’s most inspirational player his senior year.

After serving in the U.S. Army and then working at the paper in Phillipsburg for eight years, Boyd and his wife, Mary Beth, bought the Telegram.

Boyd spent the next five decades covering not only sports, but also community activities in Norton and surrounding towns. He seemed to show up everywhere, with notebook in hand and an old camera hanging at his waist.

Boyd was old school, scribbling notes and writing his stories on a manual Underwood typewriter while taking photos with his old camera, looking head down at the view

On the return trip home from away games, Boyd would sometimes have his wife drive while he pecked away on the typewriter.

Coach Lucas Melvin said after the Bluejay football team’s game on a Friday night, Boyd would make his way over to the coach’s house the next morning. They could talk for hours, going over the game.

“He would come to my house every Saturday – unless there was a K-State game he was going to, then it was Sunday – just go over the stats and make sure he had everything right and ask me things about the game,” Melvin said.

As Boyd’s health began to decline, he still managed to make the trip to Melvin’s home.

“There were times he wasn’t feeling very well, and we prayed together,” Melvin said. “Dick said nobody ever did that for him.”

“Dick always did stuff for other people,” he added. “He didn’t (want) people (to take time) doing things for him.”

Boyd and his wife did take the time to instill his core beliefs in their children, Larry and Becky. The word “can’t”

was so antithetical to Boyd that he had it crossed out of the dictionary at home.

“I think the legacy he would want to leave behind is one of encouraging others to always strive to reach their goals, to never give up,” Pasilas said. “Dick didn’t believe in the word, ‘can’t.’ That kind of was a rule for his children growing up.”

Larry Boyd said he was around 10 years old when his dad gathered him and his sister around the family dictionary and crossed out the word.

“He sat us down and said the word ‘can’t’ is not to be used in our household,” Larry Boyd said. “That was part of his positive thinking.”

That can-do spirit led to Boyd starting a pigskin pick-em contest at the paper. After his death, the contest was renamed the Dick Boyd Memorial Pigskin Pick-em Contest in his honor.

“We felt that was what Dick would have wanted,” Pasilas said. “To me, looking back, it wouldn’t have felt right to do it any other way.”

The pick-em contest was part of Boyd’s enthusiasm for the Friday Night Lights. Sometimes, too much enthusiasm.

Boyd wanted to be close to the action, whether that be on the sideline at a football game or near the mat at a wrestling meet, or any other sport.

That enthusiasm led to an accident on the sideline during the 2019 state championship football game for the Bluejays. A jumble of players crashed into Boyd, and the injuries he sustained then along with his already failing health was too much to overcome.

“After that, he kind of went downhill with his health,” Melvin said. “That was the last Bluejay football game he was at.”

Former Norton wrestling coach Bill Johnson said Boyd could be “boisterous” in his coverage of Bluejay sports.

Johnson remembered one time at the state wrestling tournament that Boyd approached the referee after a Bluejay wrestler lost a close match, and one of the tournament officials took Boyd’s press pass away for the rest of the day. He managed to get it back the next day.

At the team banquet at the end of the season, Johnson teased Boyd by presenting him with a get-out-of-jail card.

It was all in good fun, coming from the respect Boyd enjoyed with Norton coaches, players and fans. Like he did with Melvin, Boyd would get together with Johnson following a tournament to gather information and show the coach photos for him to identify.

“It was a good bonding time and I really do miss those

times,” Johnson said, adding that Boyd treated all sports the same.

“He tried to treat them equally,” Johnson said. “Dick tried to treat all athletes in Norton the same.”

Pasilas remembers firsthand that equal treatment. She competed as a baton twirler as a youth, and Boyd covered her as if she were the starting quarterback on the football team.

“He wanted to be there to capture those moments,” Pasilas said. “I’m thankful for that.”

“Everything is becoming online, social media,” she added. “We’re falling away from getting a newspaper, searching for your child’s picture, cutting it out, putting it in a scrapbook. I’m thankful I had that in my childhood.”

Scott Sansom had what could have been the thankless task of taking over reporting sports for the newspaper after Boyd’s death. Wanting to be a photographer, he also ended up writing as well as taking pictures at the paper a few months before Boyd died.

“I had very limited journalism experience,” Sansom said. “Luckily, I got great advice from the other employees at the Telegram and from Dick.”

Still, Sansom admitted to a case of nerves taking over for Boyd.

“I was a little scared stepping into that position after him,” Sansom said. “I can’t say enough about the community and the support I received.”

Boyd not only covered Norton sports, he was a big booster of everything Bluejay.

“He was a diehard Bluejay supporter,” said Jeff Boyle, a 1997 Norton High graduate who played football, wrestled and was on the track and field team. “He was good to everybody he was around.”

“I think if it was somebody different than Dick, it would have been a totally different vibe, different attitude,” he added. “He always wanted to be there, be a part of it, see it with his own eyes. That was pretty cool.”

Boyd would do whatever it took to get a photo.

“He was fearless at times the way he took pictures,” said Neal Philpot, a 2000 Norton graduate and another three-sport athlete. “He got right in the middle of the action.”

“He’s sitting right there in the hot spot in the discus ring,” he added. “He got great action shots.”

After the sideline accident at the football game in 2019, Boyd died seven months later.

At the height of COVID-19 in the summer of 2020, there was an outdoor memorial service a few weeks later at the football field. Among those speaking at the three-hour service were coaches and former Bluejay players.

“Ultimately fitting,” Melvin said of having the service at Travis Field. “Dick loved football.”

Johnson remembers speaking at the service.

“It was a great honor to speak about Dick, how he impacted me as a young coach,” Johnson said. “He treated me like a Super Bowl champion coach the first year I got here.”

Notebooks were handed out at the memorial service with a photo of Boyd in his ever-present shirt and tie on the front cover along with three rules he lived by: always carry a notepad; remove the word “can’t” from the dictionary; and report on the positives.

“I can’t imagine how many notepads he went through in his lifetime,” Pasilas said.

Two years after his death, the booster club was instrumental in making Dick Boyd Stadium become a reality at Travis Field. Before a football game in 2022, a sign in Boyd’s honor was unveiled on the wall of the press box.

“It’s a great tribute to him,” Johnson said. “We were very fortunate and blessed to have him for all those years.”

“Dick Boyd was one of a kind,” he added. “I don’t know if we’ll see anyone with the passion and work ethic again.”

Boyd was known for showing up late, perhaps from having too many irons in the fire.

“Usually he was speeding to get there,” Pasilas said. “He was notoriously late for things.”

But once he was at a game, Boyd was there to chronicle it for the Telegram’s readers for five decades.

“Dick touched more lives,” Pasilas said, “than we could possibly know.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741371845118.jpeg" alt="Longtime newspaper man Dick Boyd pictured during this younger days on the left and with his constant companion (his camera) on the right. The center pic shows a notebook friends and family made for his memorial service that was imprinted with the three rules he lived by. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Longtime newspaper man Dick Boyd pictured during this younger days on the left and with his constant companion (his camera) on the right. The center pic shows a notebook friends and family made for his memorial service that was imprinted with the three rules he lived by. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741372362876.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>By RANDY GONZALES Special to Hays PostAnother Kansas state high school wrestling season is in the books, and postseason basketball is in full swing.This is the time of year that Dick Boyd lived for.“Absolutely, he looked forward to covering these events,” said Lisa Pasilas, a former writer for Norton’s newspaper. “It didn’t matter how far away a game or tournament was being held, he was there.”In a few months, it will be five years since Boyd’s passing. He is gone, but not forgotten.Boyd, who owned the Norton Daily Telegram for 32 years and covered Norton and area sports for 50 years, died June 25, 2020 at the age of 83.“Athletics,” as Boyd liked to call all sports, will never be the same after his passing, said co-workers, coaches and athletes who knew him.Pasilas worked with Boyd for 10 years before leaving the paper a year ago.As a child, she was a paper carrier and later helped out with the printing press as a teenager. Her family had newspaper ink in its blood. Her father was the press man until he retired, and her mother is still working at the paper after almost 54 years.Pasilas said Boyd was one of a kind.“There’s never going to be another Dick Boyd,” Pasilas said. “There’s never going to be anyone who is going to be like he was to this community for so many years.”Boyd graduated from Mankato High School in 1955 and earned a football scholarship to Kansas State University. He was a two-year letterman for the Wildcats and was voted the team’s most inspirational player his senior year.<h2>The old-school way</h2>After serving in the U.S. Army and then working at the paper in Phillipsburg for eight years, Boyd and his wife, Mary Beth, bought the Telegram.Boyd spent the next five decades covering not only sports, but also community activities in Norton and surrounding towns. He seemed to show up everywhere, with notebook in hand and an old camera hanging at his waist.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741371988323.jpeg" alt="Dick Boyd used these two old-time cameras for much of his newspaper career at the Norton Daily Telegram, the Yashicka, left, and the Rolleiflex. Courtesy photo/Larry Boyd" />
 <figcaption>Dick Boyd used these two old-time cameras for much of his newspaper career at the Norton Daily Telegram, the Yashicka, left, and the Rolleiflex. Courtesy photo/Larry Boyd</figcaption>
 </figure>Boyd was old school, scribbling notes and writing his stories on a manual Underwood typewriter while taking photos with his old camera, looking head down at the viewfinder before snapping a pictureOn the return trip home from away games, Boyd would sometimes have his wife drive while he pecked away on the typewriter.Coach Lucas Melvin said after the Bluejay football team’s game on a Friday night, Boyd would make his way over to the coach’s house the next morning. They could talk for hours, going over the game.“He would come to my house every Saturday – unless there was a K-State game he was going to, then it was Sunday – just go over the stats and make sure he had everything right and ask me things about the game,” Melvin said.As Boyd’s health began to decline, he still managed to make the trip to Melvin’s home.“There were times he wasn’t feeling very well, and we prayed together,” Melvin said. “Dick said nobody ever did that for him.”“Dick always did stuff for other people,” he added. “He didn’t (want) people (to take time) doing things for him.”<h2>No such thing as “can’t”</h2>Boyd and his wife did take the time to instill his core beliefs in their children, Larry and Becky. The word “can’t”was so antithetical to Boyd that he had it crossed out of the dictionary at home.“I think the legacy he would want to leave behind is one of encouraging others to always strive to reach their goals, to never give up,” Pasilas said. “Dick didn’t believe in the word, ‘can’t.’ That kind of was a rule for his children growing up.”Larry Boyd said he was around 10 years old when his dad gathered him and his sister around the family dictionary and crossed out the word.“He sat us down and said the word ‘can’t’ is not to be used in our household,” Larry Boyd said. “That was part of his positive thinking.”That can-do spirit led to Boyd starting a pigskin pick-em contest at the paper. After his death, the contest was renamed the Dick Boyd Memorial Pigskin Pick-em Contest in his honor.“We felt that was what Dick would have wanted,” Pasilas said. “To me, looking back, it wouldn’t have felt right to do it any other way.”The pick-em contest was part of Boyd’s enthusiasm for the Friday Night Lights. Sometimes, too much enthusiasm.<h2>Getting close to the action</h2>Boyd wanted to be close to the action, whether that be on the sideline at a football game or near the mat at a wrestling meet, or any other sport.That enthusiasm led to an accident on the sideline during the 2019 state championship football game for the Bluejays. A jumble of players crashed into Boyd, and the injuries he sustained then along with his already failing health was too much to overcome.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741372090059.jpeg" alt="Dick Boyd played football for Kansas State University, where he was a two-year letter winner and was voted the team’s most inspirational player his senior year. Courtesy photo/Norton Telegram" />
 <figcaption>Dick Boyd played football for Kansas State University, where he was a two-year letter winner and was voted the team’s most inspirational player his senior year. Courtesy photo/Norton Telegram</figcaption>
 </figure>“After that, he kind of went downhill with his health,” Melvin said. “That was the last Bluejay football game he was at.”Former Norton wrestling coach Bill Johnson said Boyd could be “boisterous” in his coverage of Bluejay sports.Johnson remembered one time at the state wrestling tournament that Boyd approached the referee after a Bluejay wrestler lost a close match, and one of the tournament officials took Boyd’s press pass away for the rest of the day. He managed to get it back the next day.At the team banquet at the end of the season, Johnson teased Boyd by presenting him with a get-out-of-jail card.It was all in good fun, coming from the respect Boyd enjoyed with Norton coaches, players and fans. Like he did with Melvin, Boyd would get together with Johnson following a tournament to gather information and show the coach photos for him to identify.“It was a good bonding time and I really do miss thosetimes,” Johnson said, adding that Boyd treated all sports the same.“He tried to treat them equally,” Johnson said. “Dick tried to treat all athletes in Norton the same.”Pasilas remembers firsthand that equal treatment. She competed as a baton twirler as a youth, and Boyd covered her as if she were the starting quarterback on the football team.“He wanted to be there to capture those moments,” Pasilas said. “I’m thankful for that.”“Everything is becoming online, social media,” she added. “We’re falling away from getting a newspaper, searching for your child’s picture, cutting it out, putting it in a scrapbook. I’m thankful I had that in my childhood.”<h2>‘Athletics’ coverage after Boyd</h2>Scott Sansom had what could have been the thankless task of taking over reporting sports for the newspaper after Boyd’s death. Wanting to be a photographer, he also ended up writing as well as taking pictures at the paper a few months before Boyd died.“I had very limited journalism experience,” Sansom said. “Luckily, I got great advice from the other employees at the Telegram and from Dick.”Still, Sansom admitted to a case of nerves taking over for Boyd.“I was a little scared stepping into that position after him,” Sansom said. “I can’t say enough about the community and the support I received.”Boyd not only covered Norton sports, he was a big booster of everything Bluejay.“He was a diehard Bluejay supporter,” said Jeff Boyle, a 1997 Norton High graduate who played football, wrestled and was on the track and field team. “He was good to everybody he was around.”“I think if it was somebody different than Dick, it would have been a totally different vibe, different attitude,” he added. “He always wanted to be there, be a part of it, see it with his own eyes. That was pretty cool.”Boyd would do whatever it took to get a photo.“He was fearless at times the way he took pictures,” said Neal Philpot, a 2000 Norton graduate and another three-sport athlete. “He got right in the middle of the action.”“He’s sitting right there in the hot spot in the discus ring,” he added. “He got great action shots.”After the sideline accident at the football game in 2019, Boyd died seven months later.At the height of COVID-19 in the summer of 2020, there was an outdoor memorial service a few weeks later at the football field. Among those speaking at the three-hour service were coaches and former Bluejay players.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741372191401.jpeg" alt="The Norton Telegram had a front page story on the memorial service for Dick Boyd, the paper’s former owner who covered Norton sporting events for 50 years. Courtesy photo/Norton Telegram" />
 <figcaption>The Norton Telegram had a front page story on the memorial service for Dick Boyd, the paper’s former owner who covered Norton sporting events for 50 years. Courtesy photo/Norton Telegram</figcaption>
 </figure>“Ultimately fitting,” Melvin said of having the service at Travis Field. “Dick loved football.”Johnson remembers speaking at the service.“It was a great honor to speak about Dick, how he impacted me as a young coach,” Johnson said. “He treated me like a Super Bowl champion coach the first year I got here.”Notebooks were handed out at the memorial service with a photo of Boyd in his ever-present shirt and tie on the front cover along with three rules he lived by: always carry a notepad; remove the word “can’t” from the dictionary; and report on the positives.“I can’t imagine how many notepads he went through in his lifetime,” Pasilas said.<h2>Football stadium named after Boyd</h2>Two years after his death, the booster club was instrumental in making Dick Boyd Stadium become a reality at Travis Field. Before a football game in 2022, a sign in Boyd’s honor was unveiled on the wall of the press box.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741372263376.jpeg" alt="In 2022, Dick Boyd was honored with the naming of Dick Boyd Stadium, home of Travis Field in Norton. A banner in his honor hung from the wall of the press box. Courtesy photo/Norton Telegram" />
 <figcaption>In 2022, Dick Boyd was honored with the naming of Dick Boyd Stadium, home of Travis Field in Norton. A banner in his honor hung from the wall of the press box. Courtesy photo/Norton Telegram</figcaption>
 </figure>“It’s a great tribute to him,” Johnson said. “We were very fortunate and blessed to have him for all those years.”“Dick Boyd was one of a kind,” he added. “I don’t know if we’ll see anyone with the passion and work ethic again.”Boyd was known for showing up late, perhaps from having too many irons in the fire.“Usually he was speeding to get there,” Pasilas said. “He was notoriously late for things.”But once he was at a game, Boyd was there to chronicle it for the Telegram’s readers for five decades.“Dick touched more lives,” Pasilas said, “than we could possibly know.”

NWester: Dick Boyd’s ‘write stuff’ covered five decades

VICTORIA — The Victoria Knights of Columbus will be hosting their Lenten Fish Fries on March 14, March 28, and April 11, 2025 at the Victoria VFW Hall. 

 We will be serving fried Alaskan Pollock, fried noodles, beans, baked potatoes, coleslaw, and sliced bread.

Adults-$15, Children 6-12, $5, Children 5 and under, free.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582047194813.jpeg" alt="Photo by Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>SubmittedVICTORIA — The Victoria Knights of Columbus will be hosting their Lenten Fish Fries on March 14, March 28, and April 11, 2025 at the Victoria VFW Hall. Each fry will begin at 5:00 p.m. We will be serving fried Alaskan Pollock, fried noodles, beans, baked potatoes, coleslaw, and sliced bread.Adults-$15, Children 6-12, $5, Children 5 and under, free.

Victoria K of C Lenten fish fries start in March

&nbsp;By ALICIA BOOR Cottonwood Extension District

Most gardeners think soil testing only determines nutrient deficiencies, but the tests also help gardeners understand whether the soil contains adequate nutrients. Basic tests check the soil’s pH, as well as the phosphorus and potassium levels.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1739899719761.png" alt="Soil sampling. Photo courtesy K-State Research and Extension" />
 <figcaption>Soil sampling. Photo courtesy K-State Research and Extension</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;By ALICIA BOOR Cottonwood Extension DistrictMost gardeners think soil testing only determines nutrient deficiencies, but the tests also help gardeners understand whether the soil contains adequate nutrients. Basic tests check the soil’s pH, as well as the phosphorus and potassium levels.“Most of the lawn and garden soil tests that come out of our soil-testing lab (at Kansas State University) show more than adequate levels of both phosphorus and potassium,” K-State horticultural expert Cynthia Domenghini said. “If those nutrients are not needed, applying them is a waste of money and can be a source of pollution.”Domenghini urges gardeners to test their garden’s soil before beginning spring gardening, particularly if the soil hasn’t been tested in several years.To do so, she says, take a sample from multiple locations in the garden and lawn. Samples should be taken at a depth between the surface and eight inches, depending on the area being sampled. Next, mix the samples together to total one pint of soil.More information on taking an accurate soil test is available online from the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.agronomy.k-state.edu/outreach-and-services/soil-testing-lab/soil-analysis/producers-and-homeowners.html">K-State Agronomy Soil Analysis lab.</a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.agronomy.k-state.edu/outreach-and-services/soil-testing-lab/soil-analysis/producers-and-homeowners.html"></a>According to Domenghini, the soil sample can then be submitted to your&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/about/statewide-locations.html">local K-State Research and Extension office</a>&nbsp;to have tests done at the K-State soil testing laboratory for a fee.“A soil test determines fertility problems, not other conditions that may exist, such as poor drainage, poor soil structure, soil borne diseases or insects, chemical contaminants or damage,” Domenghini said. “All of these conditions may reduce plant performance but cannot be evaluated by a soil test.”Domenghini recommends submitting dry soil samples, as wet soil has different precautions.“Wet soil samples should be air-dried before being submitted for testing,” Domenghini said. “Do not use artificial means of drying such as an oven or microwave as such treatment may result in inaccurate readings of nutrient levels.”Soil tests should be used as a tool to identify nutrient deficiencies, Domenghini said, but often they do not tell the whole story of other factors affecting plant growth.Additional factors that can affect plant growth include: · Not enough sun. · Poor soil physical characteristics. · Walnut trees (walnuts give off a natural herbicide that interferes with the growth of some plants, such as tomatoes). · Tree roots. · Shallow soils. · Improper watering.Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District, which includes Barton and Ellis counties, for K-State Research and Extension. You may contact her by email at aboor@ksu.edu or calling 620-793-1910.