After hunting for several years now from our permanent, enclosed, raised deer blind, I often take it for granted, forgetting the good, the bad and the ugly experiences of hunting deer any other way. Today, however, as I searched the cobweb-cluttered attic of my mind for this week’s column, I felt a new appreciation for our nice raised blind as memories of deer hunts early in our marriage came up. Don’t ask me how I can remember any of these when I can’t remember now what I had for breakfast this morning, but here are some memories from a particular deer hunt in southwest Kansas many years ago when we still hunted as a couple from a small portable ground blind.

By flashlight, we again settled into our respective camp chairs, unzipped each shooting window slightly, and prepared to greet a new day through these narrow slits in our hunting blind. Since Joyce and I often hunted together, this blind was a worthy investment. It was lightweight, quick and easy to set up, provided camouflage and protection from the wind, plus allowed for a little more noise and movement than if we merely sat in an open stand. It served another purpose as well. Even a slight breeze made enough natural noise that it allowed us to talk in quiet whispers, and talk we did. When stepping into the blind for another morning or evening of hunting, the adrenalin flowed briskly for a time, and all was business. But gradually we relaxed, and the thoughts that were born in the solitude were given voice.

My wife’s designing mind was usually going full speed. 

We hunted in an area of Kansas where both whitetail and mule deer existed side by side, and, despite what you have heard or read, distinguishing between the two species is not so easy on very short notice. We verbally designed a deck of “flash” cards, which would show comparative views of both species, male and female, side by side, for quick reference. 

We designed new and better hunting blinds and stands, as well as made improvements to our own. To ours, we imagined adding removable drapes made of netting that would hang over the windows, and pouches sewn to the inside walls for storage of binoculars, etc. Joyce mentally designed and built folding camp chairs with swivel seats that could be raised and lowered, and with more padding! We also custom designed hunting clothing; from gloves with inner pouches to hold heat packets, to outer clothing with insulation that would automatically shrink or swell according to the temperature.

Occasionally, after a time of watching deer that we couldn’t shoot, we’d get a bit silly, and begin imagining conversations between them. For instance, one morning a nice mule deer doe grazed for several minutes on the wheat, not 30 yards away. Having “Whitetail Only” tags, we watched in silence. Deciding to have some fun with the situation, we began concocting a story that had all the neighborhood deer drawing tumbleweeds to see which one would walk onto the wheat as a decoy so the rest could slip away unseen. Ole’ Mable, now in front of us, drew the short tumbleweed, so there she stood while the rest of her buddies crept away and awaited her fate.

On the serious side, we both felt this time was good for our relationship. Activities enjoyed together always seem to draw people closer, and somehow, the silence of the&nbsp;hunt drowned out all the usual cares and conversations, clearing the way for discussion (in whispers) of subjects we didn’t often tackle.

I think that every presidential cabinet meeting, United Nations Assembly, world summits and especially congressional meetings should be held in a huge hunting blind. Who knows what diseases may be cured, what discoveries could be made, which mortal enemies might shake hands again and maybe congress would even get something accomplished…or maybe not! 

Steve Gilliland, Inman, can be contacted by email at&nbsp;stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574696211722.png" alt="Steve Gilliland" />
 <figcaption>Steve Gilliland</figcaption>
 </figure>After hunting for several years now from our permanent, enclosed, raised deer blind, I often take it for granted, forgetting the good, the bad and the ugly experiences of hunting deer any other way. Today, however, as I searched the cobweb-cluttered attic of my mind for this week’s column, I felt a new appreciation for our nice raised blind as memories of deer hunts early in our marriage came up. Don’t ask me how I can remember any of these when I can’t remember now what I had for breakfast this morning, but here are some memories from a particular deer hunt in southwest Kansas many years ago when we still hunted as a couple from a small portable ground blind.By flashlight, we again settled into our respective camp chairs, unzipped each shooting window slightly, and prepared to greet a new day through these narrow slits in our hunting blind. Since Joyce and I often hunted together, this blind was a worthy investment. It was lightweight, quick and easy to set up, provided camouflage and protection from the wind, plus allowed for a little more noise and movement than if we merely sat in an open stand. It served another purpose as well. Even a slight breeze made enough natural noise that it allowed us to talk in quiet whispers, and talk we did. When stepping into the blind for another morning or evening of hunting, the adrenalin flowed briskly for a time, and all was business. But gradually we relaxed, and the thoughts that were born in the solitude were given voice.My wife’s designing mind was usually going full speed. We hunted in an area of Kansas where both whitetail and mule deer existed side by side, and, despite what you have heard or read, distinguishing between the two species is not so easy on very short notice. We verbally designed a deck of “flash” cards, which would show comparative views of both species, male and female, side by side, for quick reference. We designed new and better hunting blinds and stands, as well as made improvements to our own. To ours, we imagined adding removable drapes made of netting that would hang over the windows, and pouches sewn to the inside walls for storage of binoculars, etc. Joyce mentally designed and built folding camp chairs with swivel seats that could be raised and lowered, and with more padding! We also custom designed hunting clothing; from gloves with inner pouches to hold heat packets, to outer clothing with insulation that would automatically shrink or swell according to the temperature.Occasionally, after a time of watching deer that we couldn’t shoot, we’d get a bit silly, and begin imagining conversations between them. For instance, one morning a nice mule deer doe grazed for several minutes on the wheat, not 30 yards away. Having “Whitetail Only” tags, we watched in silence. Deciding to have some fun with the situation, we began concocting a story that had all the neighborhood deer drawing tumbleweeds to see which one would walk onto the wheat as a decoy so the rest could slip away unseen. Ole’ Mable, now in front of us, drew the short tumbleweed, so there she stood while the rest of her buddies crept away and awaited her fate.On the serious side, we both felt this time was good for our relationship. Activities enjoyed together always seem to draw people closer, and somehow, the silence of the&nbsp;hunt drowned out all the usual cares and conversations, clearing the way for discussion (in whispers) of subjects we didn’t often tackle.I think that every presidential cabinet meeting, United Nations Assembly, world summits and especially congressional meetings should be held in a huge hunting blind. Who knows what diseases may be cured, what discoveries could be made, which mortal enemies might shake hands again and maybe congress would even get something accomplished…or maybe not! Continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors!Steve Gilliland, Inman, can be contacted by email at&nbsp;stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.

Exploring Outdoor Kansas: Deliberations from a deer blind

By TONY GUERRERO Hays Post

A Senior Girl Scout from Hays has been honored with the Girl Scout Gold Award for her efforts in enhancing accessibility and preserving the Bunker Hill Museum.

The Gold Award is the highest in Girl Scouting and equivalent to a Boy Scout Eagle Award.&nbsp;

The Bunker Hill Museum is in the former Mt. Zion Lutheran Church, a native limestone building that was built in 1881.

The establishment was in need of a handicapped-accessible ramp and a secure handrail at the entrance.

Mariella Dreiling from Hays Troop 10095 undertook the project in her pursuit of the Girl Scout Gold Award.

The museum hosts an extensive collection of family histories, offering valuable information for those researching ancestors within the Bunker Hill area.

"I know a lot of families in the community that have artifacts and records there, and mine does too," Dreiling said. " I thought it was really important to keep this history alive for the future generations."

Dreiling mentioned that a stack of newspapers dating from the 1880s to the 1930s was discovered, left unprotected and disorganized due to faded labels throughout the exhibit.

"One of the bigger things was relabeling all of the items because the labels before were handwritten and fading. We laminated and typed new labels for every item in the museum, then we also cleaned everything and moved stuff around to make it visible," she said.

The museum also contains various artifacts originating from the Bunker Hill region.

"One of the most interesting things that I saw there is an old German Bible so we made a new display for it and some other Bibles," Dreiling said.

Additional efforts to organize and clean the museum involved repainting, upgrading glass tops for displays, preserving documents in storage containers, and reframing pins and medals from the Grand Army of the Republic.

Before achieving her Girl Scout Gold Award earlier this year, Reiling received the Girl Scout Silver Award—the second-highest honor for girls in Scouting—for her contributions at the Dubuque Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery.

Reiling described the headstones at the cemetery as deteriorated and broken down due to their old age, making it difficult to read. Taking initiative, she undertook the task of documenting the burials at the site.

"I thought it'd be a good idea to catalog everyone that was buried there so in the future, you could see who's buried there if the headstones fade away," she said.

Throughout the extensive process of researching and inputting complete family records into a database, Dreiling uncovered the depth of her family lineage through the Dubuque cemetery.

"We found that we had a lot of family members out there, and we did not realize it. I found my sixth great-grandmother. She was one of the first people buried there, and I had never known that," Dreiling said.

Dreiling's exploration of family records at the age of 13, involved delving into online resources and deciphering old German handwriting from the 1800s.

A vinyl map with a comprehensive list of everyone buried in the cemetery was crafted to aid visitors or relatives in locating their loved ones.

Dreiling contributed a concise directory to the Bunker Hill Historical Society Museum and added the information to the Find A Grave website.

The museum's hand-cut limestone blocks, sourced from quarries near Bunker Hill, serve as a reminder of the founding fathers' utilization of natural resources to establish this region.

Going on to attain her Girl Scout Gold Award, Dreiling gained insights from her project focused on preserving historical artifacts at the Bunker Hill Museum.

"I learned a lot about how to preserve artifacts, keeping them safe and away from humidity and sunlight," she said.

Challenges Dreiling faced along the way included harsh weather during the construction of the ramp, but she was nevertheless determined to finish the project.

Several returning visitors to the museum noted the refreshed and inviting atmosphere, expressing optimism about the ease of researching family history.

Funding for the projects came from multiple grants, including a $1,200 Dane Hansen Community Grant for the construction of the ramp and rail.

Additionally, a $500 Midwest Energy grant supported the effort of storage containers for newspaper collections, binders for local family histories and supplies for labeling museum artifacts.

Dreiling acknowledges her father Myron Dreiling, her mother Monica Dreiling, her grandfather Ryan Cook and the board of directors at the Bunker Hill Museum.

The Bunker Hill Museum is open from 1 to 4 p.m. on Sundays.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1684165308532.jpeg" alt="Mariella Dreiling, Myron Dreiling, and Ryan Cook alongside the new entry ramp for the Bunker Hill Museum as a result of Mariella's effort in pursuing her Girl Scout Gold Award. Courtesy Photo." />
 <figcaption>Mariella Dreiling, Myron Dreiling, and Ryan Cook alongside the new entry ramp for the Bunker Hill Museum as a result of Mariella's effort in pursuing her Girl Scout Gold Award. Courtesy Photo.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TONY GUERRERO Hays PostA Senior Girl Scout from Hays has been honored with the Girl Scout Gold Award for her efforts in enhancing accessibility and preserving the Bunker Hill Museum.The Gold Award is the highest in Girl Scouting and equivalent to a Boy Scout Eagle Award.&nbsp;The Bunker Hill Museum is in the former Mt. Zion Lutheran Church, a native limestone building that was built in 1881.The establishment was in need of a handicapped-accessible ramp and a secure handrail at the entrance.Mariella Dreiling from Hays Troop 10095 undertook the project in her pursuit of the Girl Scout Gold Award.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1700241086256.png" alt="Construction of the new ramp in front of the Bunker Hill Museum. Courtesy Photo." />
 <figcaption>Construction of the new ramp in front of the Bunker Hill Museum. Courtesy Photo.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1700241179328.png" alt="Girl Scout Mariella Dreiling installing and panting the new handrail at the entrance of the Bunker Hill Museum. Courtesy Photo." />
 <figcaption>Girl Scout Mariella Dreiling installing and panting the new handrail at the entrance of the Bunker Hill Museum. Courtesy Photo.</figcaption>
 </figure>The museum hosts an extensive collection of family histories, offering valuable information for those researching ancestors within the Bunker Hill area."I know a lot of families in the community that have artifacts and records there, and mine does too," Dreiling said. " I thought it was really important to keep this history alive for the future generations."Dreiling mentioned that a stack of newspapers dating from the 1880s to the 1930s was discovered, left unprotected and disorganized due to faded labels throughout the exhibit."One of the bigger things was relabeling all of the items because the labels before were handwritten and fading. We laminated and typed new labels for every item in the museum, then we also cleaned everything and moved stuff around to make it visible," she said.The museum also contains various artifacts originating from the Bunker Hill region.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1700241348071.png" alt="Newly printed and laminated label for handwork by members of the Blays Family next to the handwritten label for it. Courtesy Photo." />
 <figcaption>Newly printed and laminated label for handwork by members of the Blays Family next to the handwritten label for it. Courtesy Photo.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1700241514326.png" alt="Notebooks of local families and their history on a disorganized shelf. Courtesy Photo." />
 <figcaption>Notebooks of local families and their history on a disorganized shelf. Courtesy Photo.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1700241709558.png" alt="Notebooks of local families and their history organized on a shelf with binders and labels. Courtesy Photo." />
 <figcaption>Notebooks of local families and their history organized on a shelf with binders and labels. Courtesy Photo.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1700242338413.png" alt="A display of Bibles including German Bibles that date back over 100 years, church history and family photos that accompany the Dulbuque Immanuel Lutheran Church alter and pulpit. Courtesy Photo." />
 <figcaption>A display of Bibles including German Bibles that date back over 100 years, church history and family photos that accompany the Dulbuque Immanuel Lutheran Church alter and pulpit. Courtesy Photo.</figcaption>
 </figure>"One of the most interesting things that I saw there is an old German Bible so we made a new display for it and some other Bibles," Dreiling said.Additional efforts to organize and clean the museum involved repainting, upgrading glass tops for displays, preserving documents in storage containers, and reframing pins and medals from the Grand Army of the Republic.Before achieving her Girl Scout Gold Award earlier this year, Reiling received the Girl Scout Silver Award—the second-highest honor for girls in Scouting—for her contributions at the Dubuque Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery.Reiling described the headstones at the cemetery as deteriorated and broken down due to their old age, making it difficult to read. Taking initiative, she undertook the task of documenting the burials at the site."I thought it'd be a good idea to catalog everyone that was buried there so in the future, you could see who's buried there if the headstones fade away," she said.Throughout the extensive process of researching and inputting complete family records into a database, Dreiling uncovered the depth of her family lineage through the Dubuque cemetery."We found that we had a lot of family members out there, and we did not realize it. I found my sixth great-grandmother. She was one of the first people buried there, and I had never known that," Dreiling said.Dreiling's exploration of family records at the age of 13, involved delving into online resources and deciphering old German handwriting from the 1800s.A vinyl map with a comprehensive list of everyone buried in the cemetery was crafted to aid visitors or relatives in locating their loved ones.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1619023911829.png" alt="Girl Scout Mariella Dreiling posing with the map she designed for the Dubuque Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery. Courtesy Photo." />
 <figcaption>Girl Scout Mariella Dreiling posing with the map she designed for the Dubuque Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery. Courtesy Photo.</figcaption>
 </figure>Dreiling contributed a concise directory to the Bunker Hill Historical Society Museum and added the information to the Find A Grave website.The museum's hand-cut limestone blocks, sourced from quarries near Bunker Hill, serve as a reminder of the founding fathers' utilization of natural resources to establish this region.Going on to attain her Girl Scout Gold Award, Dreiling gained insights from her project focused on preserving historical artifacts at the Bunker Hill Museum."I learned a lot about how to preserve artifacts, keeping them safe and away from humidity and sunlight," she said.Challenges Dreiling faced along the way included harsh weather during the construction of the ramp, but she was nevertheless determined to finish the project.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1700247101296.png" alt="Girl Scout Mariella Dreiling with the Bunker Hill Museum sign with a fresh coat of paint and flowers. Courtesy Photo." />
 <figcaption>Girl Scout Mariella Dreiling with the Bunker Hill Museum sign with a fresh coat of paint and flowers. Courtesy Photo.</figcaption>
 </figure>Several returning visitors to the museum noted the refreshed and inviting atmosphere, expressing optimism about the ease of researching family history.Funding for the projects came from multiple grants, including a $1,200 Dane Hansen Community Grant for the construction of the ramp and rail.Additionally, a $500 Midwest Energy grant supported the effort of storage containers for newspaper collections, binders for local family histories and supplies for labeling museum artifacts.Dreiling acknowledges her father Myron Dreiling, her mother Monica Dreiling, her grandfather Ryan Cook and the board of directors at the Bunker Hill Museum.The Bunker Hill Museum is open from 1 to 4 p.m. on Sundays.&nbsp;

Hays Girl Scout receives prestigious Gold Award for work at museum

Wildly popular with consumers, recycling in the USA is in crisis right now, particularly for plastics.&nbsp; Many of the items we try to recycle end up in landfills.

A&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kake.com/story/48933486/kake-news-investigates-the-problem-with-plastic-bag-recycling" target="_blank">recent KAKE news project</a>&nbsp;tracked the recycling crisis… literally.&nbsp; KAKE staff attached GPS trackers to four different plastic bags, then recycled those bags at four different Wichita retail stores.&nbsp; One bag went on a long journey to Malaysia.&nbsp; One was being held at a local recycling center.&nbsp; The last two went to the landfill.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Plastic bags must be recycled separately, just one of many problems.&nbsp; Plastics do not mix well, so they should be sorted according to the number inside the triangle of arrows embossed on the item.&nbsp; 

Recycling plastic changes its properties, making it more dense and less flexible.&nbsp; This type of plastic definitely has its uses– one inventor in Ghana is turning&nbsp;<a href="https://face2faceafrica.com/article/nelson-boateng-the-entrepreneur-behind-ghanas-first-house-made-from-plastic-waste" target="_blank">recycled plastics into bricks</a>&nbsp;that can be assembled into houses.&nbsp; Recycled plastic’s tough, heavy, rugged qualities also make good toys.&nbsp;

Unfortunately, much of the demand for plastic is because it is lightweight and flexible. Recycled plastic lacks these qualities, and plastic gets harder and harder to recycle each time it is processed.

<a href="https://www.npr.org/2022/10/24/1131131088/recycling-plastic-is-practically-impossible-and-the-problem-is-getting-worse" target="_blank">Recent studies</a>&nbsp;found that fewer than 5% of cups and containers and only 21% of plastic bottles are actually recycled.&nbsp; There are many&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article273912825.html" target="_blank">reports&nbsp;</a>of plastics being sent from recycling centers to landfills.&nbsp;&nbsp;

For years, U.S. recycling was sent to China for processing, filling shipping containers for their return trip.&nbsp; However, China&nbsp;<a href="https://www.waste360.com/recycling/chinese-banned-our-recyclables-what-happened-next" target="_blank">imposed a ban&nbsp;</a>on many imported recyclables starting in 2018, including paper and plastic.&nbsp; One reason cited was that the recyclables being sent there were not clean– recyclable and non-recyclable items were mixed together, and many were contaminated, particularly with food waste.&nbsp; This last is also the reason why the University of Kansas recently&nbsp;<a href="https://www2.ljworld.com/news/ku/2023/feb/23/ku-suspends-a-major-part-of-its-recycling-program-and-it-is-uncertain-if-it-will-return-in-future-years/" target="_blank">curtailed some recycling programs</a>.&nbsp;

In addition, the price for recyclable materials has plummeted. The California Attorney General is&nbsp;<a href="https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-bonta-demands-manufacturers-plastic-bags-substantiate" target="_blank">investigating</a>&nbsp;the plastics industry for misleading consumers about the recyclability of plastic over decades, a deception known as “greenwashing.”

Consumers need to clean our recyclables.&nbsp; Fast food containers and other items contaminated with food waste are not recyclable.&nbsp; 

This&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jocogov.org/department/environment/recycling/recycling-101" target="_blank">handy guide&nbsp;</a>called “Recycling 101” from Johnson County lists recycling dos and don’ts.&nbsp;

Welcome to your source for what can and cannot go in your recycling bin.

If you drop your recyclables off at a recycling center, clean and sort them first.&nbsp; If you place a bin outside for curbside collection, follow the instructions provided.&nbsp; Consumers should avoid “aspirational recycling,” or throwing items in recycling containers hoping for the best.&nbsp; These items must be removed, deposited into the trash and hauled to the landfill, raising costs.&nbsp; Better to throw them away at home.

It is also time to reduce uses of these items in the first place. 

For example, the Lawrence city commission in August of this year approved an ordinance banning single-use disposable plastic bags.&nbsp;The ordinance will take effect in March.

 Plastic production has grown from 1.5 million tons annually in the 1950s to 300 million tons today.&nbsp; Substitute reusable materials when possible.&nbsp; When it is not, placing non-recyclable materials in the trash to be deposited in a proper landfill is still a good alternative to littering, illegal dumping, and illegal burning.&nbsp;&nbsp;

While recycling items like aluminum and precious metals is highly valuable,&nbsp; other materials have little value as scrap.&nbsp; Many end up in the landfill despite our good intentions.&nbsp; Just throwing everything in the recycling bin is not working.&nbsp; We need to re-think our interconnected systems of packaging, production, and waste from top to bottom.

Michael Smith is a professor&nbsp;of&nbsp;political Science and chair of social sciences at Emporia State University.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1700168795368.png" alt="Michael Smith is a professor at Emporia State University. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Michael Smith is a professor at Emporia State University. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>Wildly popular with consumers, recycling in the USA is in crisis right now, particularly for plastics.&nbsp; Many of the items we try to recycle end up in landfills.A&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kake.com/story/48933486/kake-news-investigates-the-problem-with-plastic-bag-recycling" target="_blank">recent KAKE news project</a>&nbsp;tracked the recycling crisis… literally.&nbsp; KAKE staff attached GPS trackers to four different plastic bags, then recycled those bags at four different Wichita retail stores.&nbsp; One bag went on a long journey to Malaysia.&nbsp; One was being held at a local recycling center.&nbsp; The last two went to the landfill.&nbsp;&nbsp;Plastic bags must be recycled separately, just one of many problems.&nbsp; Plastics do not mix well, so they should be sorted according to the number inside the triangle of arrows embossed on the item.&nbsp; Recycling plastic changes its properties, making it more dense and less flexible.&nbsp; This type of plastic definitely has its uses– one inventor in Ghana is turning&nbsp;<a href="https://face2faceafrica.com/article/nelson-boateng-the-entrepreneur-behind-ghanas-first-house-made-from-plastic-waste" target="_blank">recycled plastics into bricks</a>&nbsp;that can be assembled into houses.&nbsp; Recycled plastic’s tough, heavy, rugged qualities also make good toys.&nbsp; Unfortunately, much of the demand for plastic is because it is lightweight and flexible. Recycled plastic lacks these qualities, and plastic gets harder and harder to recycle each time it is processed.<a href="https://www.npr.org/2022/10/24/1131131088/recycling-plastic-is-practically-impossible-and-the-problem-is-getting-worse" target="_blank">Recent studies</a>&nbsp;found that fewer than 5% of cups and containers and only 21% of plastic bottles are actually recycled.&nbsp; There are many&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article273912825.html" target="_blank">reports&nbsp;</a>of plastics being sent from recycling centers to landfills.&nbsp;&nbsp;For years, U.S. recycling was sent to China for processing, filling shipping containers for their return trip.&nbsp; However, China&nbsp;<a href="https://www.waste360.com/recycling/chinese-banned-our-recyclables-what-happened-next" target="_blank">imposed a ban&nbsp;</a>on many imported recyclables starting in 2018, including paper and plastic.&nbsp; One reason cited was that the recyclables being sent there were not clean– recyclable and non-recyclable items were mixed together, and many were contaminated, particularly with food waste.&nbsp; This last is also the reason why the University of Kansas recently&nbsp;<a href="https://www2.ljworld.com/news/ku/2023/feb/23/ku-suspends-a-major-part-of-its-recycling-program-and-it-is-uncertain-if-it-will-return-in-future-years/" target="_blank">curtailed some recycling programs</a>.&nbsp; In addition, the price for recyclable materials has plummeted. The California Attorney General is&nbsp;<a href="https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-bonta-demands-manufacturers-plastic-bags-substantiate" target="_blank">investigating</a>&nbsp;the plastics industry for misleading consumers about the recyclability of plastic over decades, a deception known as “greenwashing.”Consumers need to clean our recyclables.&nbsp; Fast food containers and other items contaminated with food waste are not recyclable.&nbsp; This&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jocogov.org/department/environment/recycling/recycling-101" target="_blank">handy guide&nbsp;</a>called “Recycling 101” from Johnson County lists recycling dos and don’ts.&nbsp;<h2>Recycling 101</h2>Welcome to your source for what can and cannot go in your recycling bin.If you drop your recyclables off at a recycling center, clean and sort them first.&nbsp; If you place a bin outside for curbside collection, follow the instructions provided.&nbsp; Consumers should avoid “aspirational recycling,” or throwing items in recycling containers hoping for the best.&nbsp; These items must be removed, deposited into the trash and hauled to the landfill, raising costs.&nbsp; Better to throw them away at home.It is also time to reduce uses of these items in the first place. For example, the Lawrence city commission in August of this year approved an ordinance banning single-use disposable plastic bags.&nbsp;The ordinance will take effect in March. Plastic production has grown from 1.5 million tons annually in the 1950s to 300 million tons today.&nbsp; Substitute reusable materials when possible.&nbsp; When it is not, placing non-recyclable materials in the trash to be deposited in a proper landfill is still a good alternative to littering, illegal dumping, and illegal burning.&nbsp;&nbsp;While recycling items like aluminum and precious metals is highly valuable,&nbsp; other materials have little value as scrap.&nbsp; Many end up in the landfill despite our good intentions.&nbsp; Just throwing everything in the recycling bin is not working.&nbsp; We need to re-think our interconnected systems of packaging, production, and waste from top to bottom.Michael Smith is a professor&nbsp;of&nbsp;political Science and chair of social sciences at Emporia State University.&nbsp;

Insight Kansas: Time to rethink recycling

LA CROSSE — The Rush County Historical Society and Kansas Barbed Wire Museum will&nbsp;&nbsp;once again be hosting the annual Old-Fashioned Christmas on Friday, Nov. 24, from 5:00-8:00 p.m. at the museum complex in La Crosse. 

Visitors can browse the five unique museums beautifully decorated for the holidays: the Historical Museum in the 19th century Timken Depot; the Post Rock Museum, one of the seven wonders of Kansas Customs; the Nekoma Bank Museum, a restored 1916 rural bank; the Pleasant Point School Museum; and nationally recognized Kansas Barbed Wire Museum. 

There will be live musical performances including piano and organ. Visitors can enjoy hot cider, homemade cookies, roast marshmallows over an open fire, and enjoy Kansas-grown popcorn. There will also be a special project for the kids in the one-room school.

Santa Claus will arrive at 6:00 on the firetruck and hand out candy sacks to the kids in front of the bank museum. For kids of all ages, La Crosse Fire District #4 will be serving hot dogs, hot chocolate, chocolate milk or water.

There is a special display of antique toys in the Pleasant Point One-Room School Museum. The century-old school is a time capsule of early 20th century rural education with nearly all of its original furnishings and books.

Events begin at 5:00 p.m., Friday, November 25 at the museum campus on the south edge of La Crosse on West First Street. 

To ease congestion, visitors are asked to park north of the creek on Third Street across the bridge. Visitors can access the complex by the footbridge in the park. Persons with mobility issues are welcome to park in the museum parking lot.

All events are free and open to the public. 

For more information, visit the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/RushCountyHistoricalSociety">Rush County Historical Society on Facebook</a>, on the web at <a href="https://www.rushcounty.org/RCHS/">www.rushcounty.org/RCHS</a> or call 785-222-2808.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1700170319669.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Rush County Economic DevelopmentLA CROSSE — The Rush County Historical Society and Kansas Barbed Wire Museum will&nbsp;&nbsp;once again be hosting the annual Old-Fashioned Christmas on Friday, Nov. 24, from 5:00-8:00 p.m. at the museum complex in La Crosse. Visitors can browse the five unique museums beautifully decorated for the holidays: the Historical Museum in the 19th century Timken Depot; the Post Rock Museum, one of the seven wonders of Kansas Customs; the Nekoma Bank Museum, a restored 1916 rural bank; the Pleasant Point School Museum; and nationally recognized Kansas Barbed Wire Museum. There will be live musical performances including piano and organ. Visitors can enjoy hot cider, homemade cookies, roast marshmallows over an open fire, and enjoy Kansas-grown popcorn. There will also be a special project for the kids in the one-room school.Santa Claus will arrive at 6:00 on the firetruck and hand out candy sacks to the kids in front of the bank museum. For kids of all ages, La Crosse Fire District #4 will be serving hot dogs, hot chocolate, chocolate milk or water.There is a special display of antique toys in the Pleasant Point One-Room School Museum. The century-old school is a time capsule of early 20th century rural education with nearly all of its original furnishings and books.Events begin at 5:00 p.m., Friday, November 25 at the museum campus on the south edge of La Crosse on West First Street. To ease congestion, visitors are asked to park north of the creek on Third Street across the bridge. Visitors can access the complex by the footbridge in the park. Persons with mobility issues are welcome to park in the museum parking lot.All events are free and open to the public. For more information, visit the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/RushCountyHistoricalSociety">Rush County Historical Society on Facebook</a>, on the web at <a href="https://www.rushcounty.org/RCHS/">www.rushcounty.org/RCHS</a> or call 785-222-2808.

La Crosse hosts annual Old-Fashioned Christmas on Nov. 24

GREAT BEND — The Barton Performing Arts Department invites&nbsp;the community to enjoy nostalgic, holiday-themed entertainment at its annual holiday concert at 7:30 p.m., Dec. 1 in the Fine Arts Auditorium.

The concert will feature holiday selections by the Barton Jazz Ensemble, Chorus, Hilltop Singers, and Barton Dance Theatre.&nbsp; Director of Instrumental Activities Jamie Minneman is excited to share the program with the community.

“Come get in the holiday spirit with us on the first of December,” she said.

While admission is free, donations are accepted and appreciated. All proceeds will benefit the Fine and Performing Arts students.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

For more information, contact Minneman at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:minnemanj@bartonccc.edu">minnemanj@bartonccc.edu</a>&nbsp;or (620) 792-9396.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1699366851351.jpeg" alt="Barton Jazz Ensemble. Photo courtesy BCC" />
 <figcaption>Barton Jazz Ensemble. Photo courtesy BCC</figcaption>
 </figure>BCCGREAT BEND — The Barton Performing Arts Department invites&nbsp;the community to enjoy nostalgic, holiday-themed entertainment at its annual holiday concert at 7:30 p.m., Dec. 1 in the Fine Arts Auditorium.The concert will feature holiday selections by the Barton Jazz Ensemble, Chorus, Hilltop Singers, and Barton Dance Theatre.&nbsp; Director of Instrumental Activities Jamie Minneman is excited to share the program with the community.“Come get in the holiday spirit with us on the first of December,” she said.While admission is free, donations are accepted and appreciated. All proceeds will benefit the Fine and Performing Arts students.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;For more information, contact Minneman at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:minnemanj@bartonccc.edu">minnemanj@bartonccc.edu</a>&nbsp;or (620) 792-9396.

 Barton Performing Arts Department presents 'A Hometown Holiday' Concert   

<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/2023/11/1700241758286.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

Two Ellis ranchers are new members of the American Angus Association

LOGAN — A special exhibit, "Notorious," from the Smoky Hill Museum is now on display at the Hansen Museum, Logan, and will remain on view through January 28, 2024. 

Kansas has a rich history of events and colorful characters that have shaped the state we call home. Amongst those people, one can find a wide variety of individuals whose actions range from noble to downright despicable. This exhibit narrows down that list to some of Kansas’ truly notorious individuals.

The meaning of notorious is complicated and can be just as gray as the people it describes. In some instances, it is used to pronounce someone negatively, while at other times, it has been used to define anyone who is widely known. In this exhibit, the visitor is left to decide. 

Visitors will learn about people like John Brown, Dr. John R. Brinkley, Bonny and Clyde, Buffalo Bill, and the Bloody Benders, to name a few. Certain individuals are undoubtedly infamous, and the meaning of notorious is clear-cut, while others leave you with a lasting debate.

Visitors will discover legend versus reality, how society’s views shift with time, and just how these notorious Kansans forever left their mark on the state. If that is not enough, visitors can count on some hands-on elements to get more into the story.

The Hansen Museum is open Monday through Friday 9-12 and 1-4; Saturdays 9-12 and 1-5; Sundays and holidays 1-5. We are closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. We are handicapped accessible, and admission is always free thanks to the generous support of the Dane G. Hansen Foundation. 

For more information or if you have questions, please contact us at 785-689-4846.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1690494682985.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>SubmittedLOGAN — A special exhibit, "Notorious," from the Smoky Hill Museum is now on display at the Hansen Museum, Logan, and will remain on view through January 28, 2024. Kansas has a rich history of events and colorful characters that have shaped the state we call home. Amongst those people, one can find a wide variety of individuals whose actions range from noble to downright despicable. This exhibit narrows down that list to some of Kansas’ truly notorious individuals.The meaning of notorious is complicated and can be just as gray as the people it describes. In some instances, it is used to pronounce someone negatively, while at other times, it has been used to define anyone who is widely known. In this exhibit, the visitor is left to decide. Visitors will learn about people like John Brown, Dr. John R. Brinkley, Bonny and Clyde, Buffalo Bill, and the Bloody Benders, to name a few. Certain individuals are undoubtedly infamous, and the meaning of notorious is clear-cut, while others leave you with a lasting debate.Visitors will discover legend versus reality, how society’s views shift with time, and just how these notorious Kansans forever left their mark on the state. If that is not enough, visitors can count on some hands-on elements to get more into the story.The Hansen Museum is open Monday through Friday 9-12 and 1-4; Saturdays 9-12 and 1-5; Sundays and holidays 1-5. We are closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. We are handicapped accessible, and admission is always free thanks to the generous support of the Dane G. Hansen Foundation. For more information or if you have questions, please contact us at 785-689-4846.

'Notorious' exhibit comes to Hansen Museum in Logan

Save the date for the 2023 Crop Production Update, hosted by the Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association and in cooperation with K-State Research and Extension. The two-day event is set for December 6 and 7 at the Hilton Garden Inn, Manhattan. Each day will kick off at 8:30 a.m. and conclude around 4:00 p.m. Several CCA CEUs will be offered in addition to one 1A hour and one core hour.

This training provides the latest research and technological advances in weed and insect control, fertilizer and chemical recommendations, soil fertility concerns, and much more. The agendas for each day are still being finalized and will be shared in a future eUpdate article. Stay tuned to the eUpdate and the conference website (<a href="https://www.ksagretailers.org/events-training/crop-production-update/">https://www.ksagretailers.org/events-training/crop-production-update/</a>) for registration to open and the final agendas to be released soon.

K-State Research and Extension will host the 21st annual Cover Your Acres Winter Conference for crop producers and consultants on January 16 and 17. The conference will take place in the traditional in-person format at the Gateway Civic Center in Oberlin.

Cover Your Acres is a producer-driven meeting focused on new ideas and research-based updates in crop production in northwest Kansas and the Central High Plains region.

The conference, which typically draws more than 400 attendees from Kansas and other states, highlights the latest technology, methods, and conservation practices to improve crop production in the region. This year’s conference will feature university specialists and industry representatives discussing what’s driving profitability in northwest Kansas farms. Confirmed session topics will include economic drivers on northwest Kansas farms, weed resistance management, cropping systems, and soil fertility management. Additional session topics and speakers are still being finalized and will be announced in an upcoming eUpdate article and on the conference website at <a href="https://www.northwest.k-state.edu/events/cover-your-acres/">www.northwest.ksu.edu/coveryouracres</a>.

The same programs will be offered on both days of the conference. Participants attending both days will find catching most or all of the programs easier. The sessions are followed by a social on Tuesday evening, where attendees can visit with industry representatives and conference speakers while enjoying appetizers.

Online registration is open. The fee is $55 for Tuesday, January 16, $60 for Wednesday, January 17, or $80 for both days. After January 10, and for walk-ins, the cost is $80 per day. The conference fee includes lunch, morning and afternoon refreshments and educational materials. The program will offer continuing education unit (CEU) credits for Certified Crop Advisors and 1A for Commercial Applicators credit.

To view the preliminary conference details, lodging accommodations, and online registration, visit www.northwest.ksu.edu/coveryouracres. For questions, call 785-462-6281.

Stacy Campbell is a Crop Production Extension agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact him by e-mail at scampbel@ksu.edu or by calling 785-628-9430.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681266655144.jpeg" alt="Stacy Campbell is a Crop Production Extension agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Stacy Campbell is a Crop Production Extension agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>Save the date for the 2023 Crop Production Update, hosted by the Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association and in cooperation with K-State Research and Extension. The two-day event is set for December 6 and 7 at the Hilton Garden Inn, Manhattan. Each day will kick off at 8:30 a.m. and conclude around 4:00 p.m. Several CCA CEUs will be offered in addition to one 1A hour and one core hour.This training provides the latest research and technological advances in weed and insect control, fertilizer and chemical recommendations, soil fertility concerns, and much more. The agendas for each day are still being finalized and will be shared in a future eUpdate article. Stay tuned to the eUpdate and the conference website (<a href="https://www.ksagretailers.org/events-training/crop-production-update/">https://www.ksagretailers.org/events-training/crop-production-update/</a>) for registration to open and the final agendas to be released soon. K-State Research and Extension will host the 21st annual Cover Your Acres Winter Conference for crop producers and consultants on January 16 and 17. The conference will take place in the traditional in-person format at the Gateway Civic Center in Oberlin.Cover Your Acres is a producer-driven meeting focused on new ideas and research-based updates in crop production in northwest Kansas and the Central High Plains region.The conference, which typically draws more than 400 attendees from Kansas and other states, highlights the latest technology, methods, and conservation practices to improve crop production in the region. This year’s conference will feature university specialists and industry representatives discussing what’s driving profitability in northwest Kansas farms. Confirmed session topics will include economic drivers on northwest Kansas farms, weed resistance management, cropping systems, and soil fertility management. Additional session topics and speakers are still being finalized and will be announced in an upcoming eUpdate article and on the conference website at <a href="https://www.northwest.k-state.edu/events/cover-your-acres/">www.northwest.ksu.edu/coveryouracres</a>.The same programs will be offered on both days of the conference. Participants attending both days will find catching most or all of the programs easier. The sessions are followed by a social on Tuesday evening, where attendees can visit with industry representatives and conference speakers while enjoying appetizers.Online registration is open. The fee is $55 for Tuesday, January 16, $60 for Wednesday, January 17, or $80 for both days. After January 10, and for walk-ins, the cost is $80 per day. The conference fee includes lunch, morning and afternoon refreshments and educational materials. The program will offer continuing education unit (CEU) credits for Certified Crop Advisors and 1A for Commercial Applicators credit.To view the preliminary conference details, lodging accommodations, and online registration, visit www.northwest.ksu.edu/coveryouracres. For questions, call 785-462-6281.Stacy Campbell is a Crop Production Extension agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact him by e-mail at scampbel@ksu.edu or by calling 785-628-9430.

CAMBELL: K-State/KARA crop production, 'Cover Your Acres' winter conferences scheduled

The Salvation Army is in need of bell ringers from Nov. 24 through Dec. 23.&nbsp;

The organization has multiple locations in the community where ringers are needed.&nbsp;

All of the money raised in Ellis County stays in Ellis County to help those in need with everything from emergency needs, such as rental assistance, utilities, and medication to hygiene and cleaning supplies.&nbsp;

For more information on how to become a bell ringer, contact Julie Smith at the Salvation Army at&nbsp;785-621-2794.

The Salvation Army also will have an Angel Tree at Fuzzy's Taco, 4310 Vine St., Hays.&nbsp;

Community members are asked to purchase Christmas gifts for the children who are on the Angel Tree.

If you need a little help this year, stop in the Salvation Army, 203 E. Seventh St., Hays, to pick up your Angel Tree applications. Applications will be accepted through Nov. 30.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1700237262417.jpeg" alt="Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>SubmittedThe Salvation Army is in need of bell ringers from Nov. 24 through Dec. 23.&nbsp;The organization has multiple locations in the community where ringers are needed.&nbsp;All of the money raised in Ellis County stays in Ellis County to help those in need with everything from emergency needs, such as rental assistance, utilities, and medication to hygiene and cleaning supplies.&nbsp;For more information on how to become a bell ringer, contact Julie Smith at the Salvation Army at&nbsp;785-621-2794.The Salvation Army also will have an Angel Tree at Fuzzy's Taco, 4310 Vine St., Hays.&nbsp;Community members are asked to purchase Christmas gifts for the children who are on the Angel Tree.If you need a little help this year, stop in the Salvation Army, 203 E. Seventh St., Hays, to pick up your Angel Tree applications. Applications will be accepted through Nov. 30.

Salvation Army seeks bell ringers, accepting Angel Tree applications

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1700241719063.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>

GREAT BEND — The Central Kansas Community Choir will perform its holiday concert featuring uplifting vocal selections at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 3 at the First Presbyterian Church,&nbsp; 2400 Washington St., in Great Bend.

Barton Community College Director of Choral Activities Dr. Eric Foley said the music for this concert will be a diverse mix of genres and styles from across the ages.

“The music in this show will definitely get our attendees in the mood for the holidays,” Foley said. “Some selections may be new to our audience, but many will be favorites of the holiday season. I think it will be an enjoyable concert to see and hear for all that come and join us.”

The CKCC is a non-denominational mixed chorus sponsored by Barton Community College and strives to provide challenging performances of quality literature for the enjoyment of the residents of the Central Kansas area. Choir membership is open to high school-age singers and above. It was founded in the spring of 2003 by former director Vern Fryberger.

For more information, contact Foley at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:foleye@bartonccc.edu">foleye@bartonccc.edu</a>&nbsp;or 620-792-9395.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1699372639791.jpeg" alt="Central Kansas Community Choir (Courtesy photo)" />
 <figcaption>Central Kansas Community Choir (Courtesy photo)</figcaption>
 </figure>BCCGREAT BEND — The Central Kansas Community Choir will perform its holiday concert featuring uplifting vocal selections at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 3 at the First Presbyterian Church,&nbsp; 2400 Washington St., in Great Bend.Barton Community College Director of Choral Activities Dr. Eric Foley said the music for this concert will be a diverse mix of genres and styles from across the ages.“The music in this show will definitely get our attendees in the mood for the holidays,” Foley said. “Some selections may be new to our audience, but many will be favorites of the holiday season. I think it will be an enjoyable concert to see and hear for all that come and join us.”The CKCC is a non-denominational mixed chorus sponsored by Barton Community College and strives to provide challenging performances of quality literature for the enjoyment of the residents of the Central Kansas area. Choir membership is open to high school-age singers and above. It was founded in the spring of 2003 by former director Vern Fryberger.For more information, contact Foley at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:foleye@bartonccc.edu">foleye@bartonccc.edu</a>&nbsp;or 620-792-9395.

Central Kansas Community Choir to perform holiday concert Dec. 3

Kansas Department of Labor&nbsp;

Unemployment across northwest Kansas remained stable between September and October with only slight fluctuations, according to the state's October labor report.

Unemployment rose from 2.2 to 2.3 percent in Ellis County from September to October and from 3.0 to 3.2 percent in Trego County. Unemployment in Rooks County increased from 2.8 to 3.2 percent, and unemployment in Russell County increased slightly from 2.7 to 2.9 percent.

Overall unemployment in the northwest corner of the state remained low with no county above 3.2 percent.

Preliminary estimates reported by the Labor Market Information Services division of the Kansas Department of Labor and the Bureau of Labor Statistics show a&nbsp;<a href="https://klic.dol.ks.gov/admin/gsipub/htmlarea/uploads/Press%20Release/LR%20Oct2023%20SA%20Rate%20Chart%20File.pdf">seasonally adjusted unemployment rate</a>&nbsp;of 2.9 percent in October. This is an increase from 2.8 percent in September and a decrease from 3 percent in October 2022.

Seasonally adjusted job estimates for Kansas indicate total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 3,200 from September. Total nonfarm includes private sector and government employers.&nbsp;<a href="https://klic.dol.ks.gov/admin/gsipub/htmlarea/uploads/Press%20Release/LR%20Oct2023%20SA%20PrivateEmpl%20Chart%20File.pdf">Private sector jobs</a>&nbsp;increased by 2,400 over the month, while government increased by 800.

Since October 2022&nbsp;Kansas'&nbsp;<a href="https://klic.dol.ks.gov/admin/gsipub/htmlarea/Uploads/Press%20Release/LR%20Oct2023%20Seasonally%20Adj%20PR%20Packet.pdf">seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs</a>&nbsp;have increased by 15,600. This change is due to an increase of 8,300 private sector jobs and an increase of 7,300 government jobs.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1700233643657.png" alt="Courtesy image." />
 <figcaption>Courtesy image.</figcaption>
 </figure> Kansas Department of Labor&nbsp; Unemployment across northwest Kansas remained stable between September and October with only slight fluctuations, according to the state's October labor report.Unemployment rose from 2.2 to 2.3 percent in Ellis County from September to October and from 3.0 to 3.2 percent in Trego County. Unemployment in Rooks County increased from 2.8 to 3.2 percent, and unemployment in Russell County increased slightly from 2.7 to 2.9 percent.Overall unemployment in the northwest corner of the state remained low with no county above 3.2 percent.Preliminary estimates reported by the Labor Market Information Services division of the Kansas Department of Labor and the Bureau of Labor Statistics show a&nbsp;<a href="https://klic.dol.ks.gov/admin/gsipub/htmlarea/uploads/Press%20Release/LR%20Oct2023%20SA%20Rate%20Chart%20File.pdf">seasonally adjusted unemployment rate</a>&nbsp;of 2.9 percent in October. This is an increase from 2.8 percent in September and a decrease from 3 percent in October 2022.Seasonally adjusted job estimates for Kansas indicate total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 3,200 from September. Total nonfarm includes private sector and government employers.&nbsp;<a href="https://klic.dol.ks.gov/admin/gsipub/htmlarea/uploads/Press%20Release/LR%20Oct2023%20SA%20PrivateEmpl%20Chart%20File.pdf">Private sector jobs</a>&nbsp;increased by 2,400 over the month, while government increased by 800.Since October 2022&nbsp;Kansas'&nbsp;<a href="https://klic.dol.ks.gov/admin/gsipub/htmlarea/Uploads/Press%20Release/LR%20Oct2023%20Seasonally%20Adj%20PR%20Packet.pdf">seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs</a>&nbsp;have increased by 15,600. This change is due to an increase of 8,300 private sector jobs and an increase of 7,300 government jobs.

Unemployment in Ellis County, northwest Kansas low, stable

Congrats to Jordan Staab for winning the first prize in our weekly KAYS Reindeer Radio giveaway!

The prize this week was an 18-bottle, glass door, temperature-controlled wine cooler for white, red or spiling wines, courtesy of Stone House Spirit and Cigar.

Listen to 94.3 FM/1400 AM KAYS Monday through Thursday next week, listen for the code word and enter it here on Hays Post for more chances to win!

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1700251607468.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Congrats to Jordan Staab for winning the first prize in our weekly KAYS Reindeer Radio giveaway!The prize this week was an 18-bottle, glass door, temperature-controlled wine cooler for white, red or spiling wines, courtesy of Stone House Spirit and Cigar.Listen to 94.3 FM/1400 AM KAYS Monday through Thursday next week, listen for the code word and enter it here on Hays Post for more chances to win!

Reindeer Radio week 1 winner announced

On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with General Counsel and Litigation Director for the Kansas Justice Institute Sam MacRoberts.

<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Vr66UuhSK_c?si=x_j-HL8mHdhOeDfi" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with General Counsel and Litigation Director for the Kansas Justice Institute Sam MacRoberts.

🎤 Forward Ever: Kansas Justice Institute litigation director Sam MacRoberts

KANSAS CITY — A SpaceX rocket launched from Kennedy Space Center on Nov. 9, 2023 with five major experiments, including one from the University of Kansas Medical Center. KU Medical Center’s investigation is conducted in tandem with NASA’s astronauts on the International Space Station, and it is part of a NASA grant examining the effects of spaceflight and microgravity on female reproductive health. The experiment builds on previous research with real-world implications.

Over the past several decades, KU Medical Center researcher Joseph Tash, Ph.D., conducted several experiments with NASA, examining various aspects of male fertility in space. In 2013, Tash and Lane Christenson, Ph.D., a professor in the Department of Cell Biology and Physiology and an expert in female reproductive physiology, wrote the research proposal with researchers from the NASA Ames Research Center.

“This project is a compilation of a lot of hard work by many individuals to ensure that the experiment being conducted is done so in the best possible manner,” Christenson said, noting that NASA researchers April Ronca, Ph.D., and Joshua Alwood Ph.D., were co-authors of the proposal.

The purpose of this study is to learn whether spaceflight, directly or indirectly, causes ovarian dysfunction that leads to infertility in an animal model using female mice. The next aim is to learn whether bone loss is associated with altered estrogen in bone tissue. The International Space Station, which resides in low-Earth orbit and is protected from elevated levels of radiation, is an effective environment for the study.

Disrupted ovarian function was observed in animal models on previous missions, so part of the work will be to determine the source of the disruption and whether it was perhaps microgravity or re-entry. Following the extended exposure to microgravity, follow-up experiments will be conducted to see if mouse fertility was affected.

Multiple control groups on the ground are used for comparison. “We duplicate the conditions in space (except weightlessness),” Christenson said. Upon return to Earth, mice will be observed and mated, and researchers will evaluate the number of offspring born, birth weights and litter sex ratios.

“The grant has expanded since the original application to include behavioral studies on the offspring of the space-flown mice with the inclusion of a new young investigator,&nbsp;Stephanie Puukila,&nbsp;Ph.D., at the NASA Ames Research Center in California,” Christenson said. These experiments will engage KU Medical Center facilities to determine if spaceflight affected the next generation.&nbsp;

As a NASA-funded study, the intent is for findings to be eventually applied to astronauts and perhaps even other travelers in space. While previous research suggests spaceflight affects fertility, this investigation is designed to improve basic understanding of female reproductive health in females and may provide foundational data on how gravity affects female reproductive function.

This launch carried supplies, equipment and research projects to the International Space Station. The crew of astronauts from the United States, Denmark and Japan will support Christenson’s research on the International Space Station, including Loral O’Hara, a NASA flight engineer and graduate of the aerospace program at KU. Other experiments on board include studies on atmospheric gravity waves formed by weather disturbances on Earth, laser communications, water filtration for recycling and recovery and the study of plant defense responses.

<a href="https://www.nasa.gov/missions/station/iss-research/nasas-spacex-crs-29-mission-flies-research-to-the-space-station/" target="_blank">NASA’s SpaceX CRS-29 Mission Flies Research to the Space Station</a>

<a href="https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/" target="_blank">Space Station blog</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1700242598760.jpeg" alt="NASA’s SpaceX CRS-29 is carrying research from a KU Medical Center lab designed to help scientists learn more about how space travel might affect fertility. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>NASA’s SpaceX CRS-29 is carrying research from a KU Medical Center lab designed to help scientists learn more about how space travel might affect fertility. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>KU News ServiceKANSAS CITY — A SpaceX rocket launched from Kennedy Space Center on Nov. 9, 2023 with five major experiments, including one from the University of Kansas Medical Center. KU Medical Center’s investigation is conducted in tandem with NASA’s astronauts on the International Space Station, and it is part of a NASA grant examining the effects of spaceflight and microgravity on female reproductive health. The experiment builds on previous research with real-world implications.Over the past several decades, KU Medical Center researcher Joseph Tash, Ph.D., conducted several experiments with NASA, examining various aspects of male fertility in space. In 2013, Tash and Lane Christenson, Ph.D., a professor in the Department of Cell Biology and Physiology and an expert in female reproductive physiology, wrote the research proposal with researchers from the NASA Ames Research Center.“This project is a compilation of a lot of hard work by many individuals to ensure that the experiment being conducted is done so in the best possible manner,” Christenson said, noting that NASA researchers April Ronca, Ph.D., and Joshua Alwood Ph.D., were co-authors of the proposal.<h2>Spaceflight and ovarian dysfunction</h2>The purpose of this study is to learn whether spaceflight, directly or indirectly, causes ovarian dysfunction that leads to infertility in an animal model using female mice. The next aim is to learn whether bone loss is associated with altered estrogen in bone tissue. The International Space Station, which resides in low-Earth orbit and is protected from elevated levels of radiation, is an effective environment for the study.<figure>
 <img src="https://www.kumc.edu/images/news/news-christenson-lab.jpg" alt="Lane Christenson, Ph.D., a professor in the Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, is pictured in his lab with Payton Nies, A KU undergraduate student who worked on the project as part of the&nbsp;K-INBRE&nbsp;Summer Scholars program. KU photo" />
 <figcaption>Lane Christenson, Ph.D., a professor in the Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, is pictured in his lab with Payton Nies, A KU undergraduate student who worked on the project as part of the&nbsp;K-INBRE&nbsp;Summer Scholars program. KU photo</figcaption>
 </figure>Disrupted ovarian function was observed in animal models on previous missions, so part of the work will be to determine the source of the disruption and whether it was perhaps microgravity or re-entry. Following the extended exposure to microgravity, follow-up experiments will be conducted to see if mouse fertility was affected.Multiple control groups on the ground are used for comparison. “We duplicate the conditions in space (except weightlessness),” Christenson said. Upon return to Earth, mice will be observed and mated, and researchers will evaluate the number of offspring born, birth weights and litter sex ratios.“The grant has expanded since the original application to include behavioral studies on the offspring of the space-flown mice with the inclusion of a new young investigator,&nbsp;Stephanie Puukila,&nbsp;Ph.D., at the NASA Ames Research Center in California,” Christenson said. These experiments will engage KU Medical Center facilities to determine if spaceflight affected the next generation.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://www.kumc.edu/images/news/news-NASA-mouse-patch.jpg" alt="In keeping with tradition, researchers created a mission patch commemorating the space flight.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>In keeping with tradition, researchers created a mission patch commemorating the space flight.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>As a NASA-funded study, the intent is for findings to be eventually applied to astronauts and perhaps even other travelers in space. While previous research suggests spaceflight affects fertility, this investigation is designed to improve basic understanding of female reproductive health in females and may provide foundational data on how gravity affects female reproductive function.This launch carried supplies, equipment and research projects to the International Space Station. The crew of astronauts from the United States, Denmark and Japan will support Christenson’s research on the International Space Station, including Loral O’Hara, a NASA flight engineer and graduate of the aerospace program at KU. Other experiments on board include studies on atmospheric gravity waves formed by weather disturbances on Earth, laser communications, water filtration for recycling and recovery and the study of plant defense responses.<h2>More information on this mission:</h2><a href="https://www.nasa.gov/missions/station/iss-research/nasas-spacex-crs-29-mission-flies-research-to-the-space-station/" target="_blank">NASA’s SpaceX CRS-29 Mission Flies Research to the Space Station</a><a href="https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/" target="_blank">Space Station blog</a>

NASA launch includes KU Medical Center research on female reproductive system

Between Nov. 1 and Nov. 14, Fort Hays State University President Tisa Mason traveled more than 1,500 miles on a tour that ranged from Kansas City in the east, to Goodland in the west, to Phillipsburg in the north, and Garden City in the south. In a tradition that dates back to 1987, the annual president’s media tour is one way Fort Hays State University presidents stay connected with the people, businesses, and communities across FHSU’s vast service area. This year’s tour was Mason’s third.&nbsp;

During Mason’s first two tours, in 2021 and 2022, all but one tour stop involved meetings with news outlets.&nbsp;This year, the schedule was expanded to include issue-focused events, alumni gatherings, and one-on-one meetings with Kansas Legislators. The schedule for this year’s tour demonstrated Mason’s commitment to using the annual trip to create more opportunities to connect with more Kansans.

“This is more of a listening tour for me than anything else,” Mason said. “Every day, I learn something new from the people I meet that inspires me and reminds me of the vital and evolving role FHSU plays across our state.”

Mason’s 21 total stops on the 2023 tour included 13 meetings with print, radio, digital, and broadcast journalists. Included in every discussion was FHSU’s&nbsp;<a href="https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=-2BFJoAhsjp8losQfY8t-2BZtAd-2Fi38P8Jo9YDtH0syjmAnNfL8H1jAh7-2F5ofwLVZdmSGVk9ijIpYLp65OVWR67Vsg-3D-3D8obt_scuE6QATIAo5tLVPwSgAru2c-2BhK2yoyXg2bmw7NiE0fAh1KPMZMELOQP7nofz6yYQ-2Bqf093MhwFAtRepL8jHlz54IAfPLuFjTL9o8QdaXZuZ89uG8p7HAdjtWBhgDXVb5o6FxZ9B0cKWPA2B9KYX-2FBqxH-2BSLvC2-2FrncqrNWUm13UBbfKXZjjqAWmSqXnd0QAfo8fzVqfnZpAugDBqv4OAN3H4S41usFPfBSEoP5CT00muV3qk5DUv2pkzEpMgPYixoU3io-2FBLYKw7h2sGtGOIHRWm9MS1SlusjYEDXFI-2FZA1lJh9NFSKc8t8cBp6fhSj2djanaPsx-2Fr5icN7CIPEiqqMFJ6EkljeVGCCJ6Qqe6VxsY-2B3N5wMj43rLv14rmBhQNzTq0xFn8eLNIEuEowuVQ-3D-3D" target="_blank">Strategic Affiliation Initiative&nbsp;</a>with North Central Kansas Technical College, Hays and Beloit, and Northwest Technical College, Goodland. The three institutions have joined forces to address severe economic and demographic threats to the future of rural Kansas communities.

Between 2010 and 2020,&nbsp;the population of the First Congressional District declined by 1.6%, while the state’s overall population increased by 6%. This decline is particularly acute in the number of young people passing through Kansas schools. The proposed affiliation will provide stronger, forward-looking educational programs and services to rural central and western Kansas people, businesses, and communities.&nbsp;

Tour stops in Beloit and Goodland offered Mason, NCK Tech President Eric Burks, and Northwest Tech President Ben Schears the opportunity to update more than 250 local education, business, and civic leaders on the progress the three institutions have made on implementing the affiliation plan.

The 2022 tour tour featured one special event, a lunch meeting with a reporter from the Dodge City Globe on FHSU’s efforts to train social work professionals using a cohort model that allows students to continue to live and work in their hometowns as they complete their program of study.

This year’s tour included two special events in southwest Kansas. The first was a public forum hosted on the campus of Garden City Community College. The event, co-sponsored by the Garden City Chamber of Commerce,&nbsp; focused on the critical shortage of nurses in southwest Kansas. FHSU Department of Nursing Chair Dr. Jenny Manry led a panel discussion attended by more than 30 local healthcare professionals and education and business leaders.

The second special event on this year’s tour schedule was a group discussion with the editor of the Dodge City Globe on the challenge of training and recruiting K-12 teachers for service in rural Kansas. Mason was joined by FHSU College of Education Dean Dr. Paul Adams, Graduate Programs Coordinator Dr. Valerie Zelenka, and 12 teachers and administrators from Dodge City’s USD 443.

The 2023 tour also included two alumni events attended by more than 140 FHSU graduates in Wichita and Kansas City and four meetings with Kansas state legislators in Salina, Wichita, Goodland, and Garden City.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1700167989308.jpeg" alt="One stop on FHSU President Tisa Mason's annual media tour this year was at Garden City Community College. Discussion focused on the critical shortage of nurses in southwest Kansas.&nbsp; FHSU photo" />
 <figcaption>One stop on FHSU President Tisa Mason's annual media tour this year was at Garden City Community College. Discussion focused on the critical shortage of nurses in southwest Kansas.&nbsp; FHSU photo</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;FHSU University RelationsBetween Nov. 1 and Nov. 14, Fort Hays State University President Tisa Mason traveled more than 1,500 miles on a tour that ranged from Kansas City in the east, to Goodland in the west, to Phillipsburg in the north, and Garden City in the south. In a tradition that dates back to 1987, the annual president’s media tour is one way Fort Hays State University presidents stay connected with the people, businesses, and communities across FHSU’s vast service area. This year’s tour was Mason’s third.&nbsp;During Mason’s first two tours, in 2021 and 2022, all but one tour stop involved meetings with news outlets.&nbsp;This year, the schedule was expanded to include issue-focused events, alumni gatherings, and one-on-one meetings with Kansas Legislators. The schedule for this year’s tour demonstrated Mason’s commitment to using the annual trip to create more opportunities to connect with more Kansans.“This is more of a listening tour for me than anything else,” Mason said. “Every day, I learn something new from the people I meet that inspires me and reminds me of the vital and evolving role FHSU plays across our state.”Mason’s 21 total stops on the 2023 tour included 13 meetings with print, radio, digital, and broadcast journalists. Included in every discussion was FHSU’s&nbsp;<a href="https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=-2BFJoAhsjp8losQfY8t-2BZtAd-2Fi38P8Jo9YDtH0syjmAnNfL8H1jAh7-2F5ofwLVZdmSGVk9ijIpYLp65OVWR67Vsg-3D-3D8obt_scuE6QATIAo5tLVPwSgAru2c-2BhK2yoyXg2bmw7NiE0fAh1KPMZMELOQP7nofz6yYQ-2Bqf093MhwFAtRepL8jHlz54IAfPLuFjTL9o8QdaXZuZ89uG8p7HAdjtWBhgDXVb5o6FxZ9B0cKWPA2B9KYX-2FBqxH-2BSLvC2-2FrncqrNWUm13UBbfKXZjjqAWmSqXnd0QAfo8fzVqfnZpAugDBqv4OAN3H4S41usFPfBSEoP5CT00muV3qk5DUv2pkzEpMgPYixoU3io-2FBLYKw7h2sGtGOIHRWm9MS1SlusjYEDXFI-2FZA1lJh9NFSKc8t8cBp6fhSj2djanaPsx-2Fr5icN7CIPEiqqMFJ6EkljeVGCCJ6Qqe6VxsY-2B3N5wMj43rLv14rmBhQNzTq0xFn8eLNIEuEowuVQ-3D-3D" target="_blank">Strategic Affiliation Initiative&nbsp;</a>with North Central Kansas Technical College, Hays and Beloit, and Northwest Technical College, Goodland. The three institutions have joined forces to address severe economic and demographic threats to the future of rural Kansas communities.Between 2010 and 2020,&nbsp;the population of the First Congressional District declined by 1.6%, while the state’s overall population increased by 6%. This decline is particularly acute in the number of young people passing through Kansas schools. The proposed affiliation will provide stronger, forward-looking educational programs and services to rural central and western Kansas people, businesses, and communities.&nbsp;Tour stops in Beloit and Goodland offered Mason, NCK Tech President Eric Burks, and Northwest Tech President Ben Schears the opportunity to update more than 250 local education, business, and civic leaders on the progress the three institutions have made on implementing the affiliation plan.The 2022 tour tour featured one special event, a lunch meeting with a reporter from the Dodge City Globe on FHSU’s efforts to train social work professionals using a cohort model that allows students to continue to live and work in their hometowns as they complete their program of study.This year’s tour included two special events in southwest Kansas. The first was a public forum hosted on the campus of Garden City Community College. The event, co-sponsored by the Garden City Chamber of Commerce,&nbsp; focused on the critical shortage of nurses in southwest Kansas. FHSU Department of Nursing Chair Dr. Jenny Manry led a panel discussion attended by more than 30 local healthcare professionals and education and business leaders.The second special event on this year’s tour schedule was a group discussion with the editor of the Dodge City Globe on the challenge of training and recruiting K-12 teachers for service in rural Kansas. Mason was joined by FHSU College of Education Dean Dr. Paul Adams, Graduate Programs Coordinator Dr. Valerie Zelenka, and 12 teachers and administrators from Dodge City’s USD 443.The 2023 tour also included two alumni events attended by more than 140 FHSU graduates in Wichita and Kansas City and four meetings with Kansas state legislators in Salina, Wichita, Goodland, and Garden City.

FHSU president’s annual media tour wraps up in Kansas City

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

HILL CITY — A sign that was posted in a bar in Hill City sparked vandalism at the business and resulted in the local chamber of commerce moving its annual banquet.

The owner of the Cowboy Junction in Hill City posted a sign in the bar that said "No Coon Tunes."

Someone took a photo of the sign and posted it on Facebook. The post appeared on "The State of Kansas," a satirical Facebook page. It went viral from there. Facebook removed the image from "The State of Kansas" Facebook page.

Following the Facebook post, someone spray-painted the message "KKK Club" on the outdoor sign for the club.

Graham County Sheriff&nbsp;Cole Presley&nbsp;said Thursday the department had no suspects in the vandalism case, but the case is still under investigation.&nbsp;

"It's concerning, and we don't want to see anything escalate," Presley said.

He added, "I want to reassure the public that we are investigating what has occurred here because we fear an escalation. I don't want anyone to think we are ignoring this case at all. We're not."

Kathie Hildebrand, wife of owner Ralph Hildebrand, said the offending sign has been removed, and the spray paint has been removed from their vandalized sign.

However, she said she has been receiving unwanted messages on Facebook and has been receiving "nasty phone calls" since the photo of the sign in the bar was posted on social media.

Hildebrand called the whole situation a disaster.

She said Cowboy Junction is a county music bar. Most of its regular clients are older and like to dance to country music, Hildebrand said. 

Recently some younger white females came into the bar and played non-country music that owner Ralph Hildebrand did not feel was consistent with the theme of the bar, Kathie said. That is when he posted the sign.

Although Ralph Hildebrand's wife spoke to the Hays Post, but she said she did not think Ralph would respond for comment.

Kathie said the issue with the unwanted music could have been addressed better.

She said the establishment has welcomed customers of color for a variety of events.

She said she hoped to move on from the incident.

"I'm trying to get rid of it," she said. "I'm trying to get away from it."

The director of the Hill City Chamber of Commerce said the chamber made the decision to move its annual banquet, which had been scheduled for the Cowboy Junction, to the Graham County Fairgrounds.

She said she did not want to comment further on the issue.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1700163561435.png" alt="The sign on the left was hung in the Cowboy Junction Bar in Hill City. After the sign went viral on Facebook, the outdoor sign at the club was vandalized (pictured right). Images shared via Facebook" />
 <figcaption>The sign on the left was hung in the Cowboy Junction Bar in Hill City. After the sign went viral on Facebook, the outdoor sign at the club was vandalized (pictured right). Images shared via Facebook</figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostHILL CITY — A sign that was posted in a bar in Hill City sparked vandalism at the business and resulted in the local chamber of commerce moving its annual banquet.The owner of the Cowboy Junction in Hill City posted a sign in the bar that said "No Coon Tunes."Someone took a photo of the sign and posted it on Facebook. The post appeared on "The State of Kansas," a satirical Facebook page. It went viral from there. Facebook removed the image from "The State of Kansas" Facebook page.Following the Facebook post, someone spray-painted the message "KKK Club" on the outdoor sign for the club.Graham County Sheriff&nbsp;Cole Presley&nbsp;said Thursday the department had no suspects in the vandalism case, but the case is still under investigation.&nbsp;"It's concerning, and we don't want to see anything escalate," Presley said.He added, "I want to reassure the public that we are investigating what has occurred here because we fear an escalation. I don't want anyone to think we are ignoring this case at all. We're not."Kathie Hildebrand, wife of owner Ralph Hildebrand, said the offending sign has been removed, and the spray paint has been removed from their vandalized sign.However, she said she has been receiving unwanted messages on Facebook and has been receiving "nasty phone calls" since the photo of the sign in the bar was posted on social media.Hildebrand called the whole situation a disaster.She said Cowboy Junction is a county music bar. Most of its regular clients are older and like to dance to country music, Hildebrand said. Recently some younger white females came into the bar and played non-country music that owner Ralph Hildebrand did not feel was consistent with the theme of the bar, Kathie said. That is when he posted the sign.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1700163767935.jpeg" alt="Ralph Hildebrand posted the following post on Facebook in response to the concerns about the sign. Posted to Facebook" />
 <figcaption>Ralph Hildebrand posted the following post on Facebook in response to the concerns about the sign. Posted to Facebook</figcaption>
 </figure>Although Ralph Hildebrand's wife spoke to the Hays Post, but she said she did not think Ralph would respond for comment.Kathie said the issue with the unwanted music could have been addressed better."Everybody takes it wrong," she said."We aren't really racist," she said.She said the establishment has welcomed customers of color for a variety of events.She said she hoped to move on from the incident."I'm trying to get rid of it," she said. "I'm trying to get away from it."The director of the Hill City Chamber of Commerce said the chamber made the decision to move its annual banquet, which had been scheduled for the Cowboy Junction, to the Graham County Fairgrounds.She said she did not want to comment further on the issue.Cover photo courtesy of Pixabay.

Hill City bar under fire for racist sign; sheriff investigating vandalism

A representative of Glassman Corporation addressed the Ellis County Commission on Tuesday about a $356,000 error in a bid for the new Public Works Building.

Paul Wertenberger Construction was awarded the bid for the project.&nbsp;

After the award, PWC started working with their&nbsp;subcontractors to review and order equipment and sign their contracts.

At that point, the mechanical&nbsp;and plumbing subcontractor, Glassman Inc., identified an error in their bidding documents which&nbsp;omitted $356,000 of their bid, which covered ordering all the equipment like HVAC units, sheet metal,&nbsp;ductwork, and plumbing fixtures and supplies, according to the commission meeting packet.

Those items had been zeroed out on the spreadsheet for the bid, Adam Goetz of Glassman told the commission on Tuesday.

Goetz said the company has taken steps to ensure the mistake does not happen again. He said the spreadsheets have been locked down with access by only certain key staff.

County Administrator Darin Myers said all of the four lowest bids used Glassman as the mechanical and plumbing subcontractor.&nbsp;This shows there should&nbsp;not be a change to the low bid, Myers said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1684183971486.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostA representative of Glassman Corporation addressed the Ellis County Commission on Tuesday about a $356,000 error in a bid for the new Public Works Building.Paul Wertenberger Construction was awarded the bid for the project.&nbsp;After the award, PWC started working with their&nbsp;subcontractors to review and order equipment and sign their contracts.At that point, the mechanical&nbsp;and plumbing subcontractor, Glassman Inc., identified an error in their bidding documents which&nbsp;omitted $356,000 of their bid, which covered ordering all the equipment like HVAC units, sheet metal,&nbsp;ductwork, and plumbing fixtures and supplies, according to the commission meeting packet.Those items had been zeroed out on the spreadsheet for the bid, Adam Goetz of Glassman told the commission on Tuesday.Goetz said the company has taken steps to ensure the mistake does not happen again. He said the spreadsheets have been locked down with access by only certain key staff.County Administrator Darin Myers said all of the four lowest bids used Glassman as the mechanical and plumbing subcontractor.&nbsp;This shows there should&nbsp;not be a change to the low bid, Myers said.The total cost estimate of the&nbsp;project for this bid was $1,043,000. This change order would increase the subcontract bid from&nbsp;$556,766 to $748,916 or a difference of $192,150. This shows that even with the change&nbsp;order, the bid is still 25 percent under the projected cost, according to Myers' report to the commission.Glassman Corporation notified PWC and Ellis County staff right away, Myers said in his report.Glassman has agreed not to charge the county the full cost of the omitted bid amount. Instead, the company is only trying to recoup its cost for the project.With the addition of fees for&nbsp;Paul Wertenberger Construction to manage the Glassman portion of the project, the total change order cost was&nbsp;$192,150.Commissioner Nathan Leiker said he appreciated Glassman stepping up and sharing in the pain of the mistake.He also asked if Glassman would be making any attempts to cut their costs on the project because of the mistake."We are not giving any cost savings or cutting any corners to make anything easier for us," Goetz said. "This is to do it just as we had originally planned, and it is just to bring us back to even. We don't think anything more than that would be fair to the county or anyone in the community."Neal Younger said he had confidence Glassman would complete the project correctly.Another change order included a recommendation to change the&nbsp;gauge of the metal building from 24 to 26 gauge. This would result in a $30,000 savings.Myers also suggested the addition of a breezeway between the Noxious Weed Department warehouse and shop area, as well as increasing the dead load for the roof so that it could carry solar panels at a later date if the county would choose to do so.All three changes accounted for a reduction of $20,800 in the price of the project.The commission approved the two change orders unanimously.

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