By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

Hays received its first rainfall of the month during the weekend — .38 inches was measured at the K-State Ag Research Center.

Hays remains more than 2.5 inches below average for the year.

It has received 19.48 inches year-to-date compared to an average of 22.11 inches by the end of November, according to the research center.

The eastern portion of Ellis County remains in extreme drought, according to the Kansas Drought Monitor, which was released on Thursday. Western Ellis County is listed in severe drought. The drought has eased in southwest portions of the state.

The National Weather Service predicts a slight chance for snow on Friday. Thanksgiving travel on Wednesday and Thursday is forecast to be clear with a high of 63 on Wednesday and 50 on Thanksgiving Day.

The forecast is clear on Saturday and Sunday with highs in the 30s and 40s.

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostHays received its first rainfall of the month during the weekend — .38 inches was measured at the K-State Ag Research Center.Hays remains more than 2.5 inches below average for the year.It has received 19.48 inches year-to-date compared to an average of 22.11 inches by the end of November, according to the research center.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1700497034782.png" alt="Kanas Drought Monitor map as of Thursday. Courtesy image" />
 <figcaption>Kanas Drought Monitor map as of Thursday. Courtesy image</figcaption>
 </figure>The eastern portion of Ellis County remains in extreme drought, according to the Kansas Drought Monitor, which was released on Thursday. Western Ellis County is listed in severe drought. The drought has eased in southwest portions of the state.The National Weather Service predicts a slight chance for snow on Friday. Thanksgiving travel on Wednesday and Thursday is forecast to be clear with a high of 63 on Wednesday and 50 on Thanksgiving Day.The forecast is clear on Saturday and Sunday with highs in the 30s and 40s.

Hays receives sprinkles over weekend; slight chance of snow over holiday weekend

Jackie McGann has been a home child care provider for 28 years, bringing to bear a talent and passion for caring for children she said she always had.

McGann is being recognized as the October Child Care Champion of the Month sponsored by the Child Care Task Force of Ellis County.

Mary Rudman nominated McGann for the award.

She said in her nomination, "Jackie McGann creates a fun and safe environment for her day care kids. We appreciate the diverse activities she provides the kids and the wholesome food she feeds them.

"She is an experienced day care provider who strives to help kids of all ages she cares for grow and develop at their own speed and thrive. We really appreciate what she does for our daughter and family."

McGann, 59, was the youngest in an Ellis farm family of nine. By the time she was in the third grade, her older siblings had children of their own.

"It was my nature," she said. "It was already there for me.

"I was surrounded by a lot of children and family, and I just knew how to take care fo them."

She naturally fell into being a babysitter for her young nephews and nieces.

McGann has tried to create magical moments for the children in her care from walking a beam across the creek in her backyard, picking cherry tomatoes from her garden or a field trip to her brother's farm in Ellis.

She said those little eyes never missed a tomato. "They don't miss anything," she said.

She scanned through photos on her phone of past day care children collecting eggs and digging potatoes on her brother's farm and posing with her dog, Max.

McGann is an animal lover and she said she's seen how the love of an animal can help a children with their own emotions.

Their dog, Max, was very adverse to the high-pitch squeals of the youngest children in McGann's care. One day, one of the children was very upset and crying.

The dog came in close to her and nudged her hard and began kissing her. The child pushed back at first and then finally erupted into giggles.

"After that they were besties," McGann said. ... "Animals are amazing for us. They help us through the hard times."

McGann also had a Siamese cat named Buster Brown.&nbsp;Siamese cats are known to be standoffish with humans. McGann was caring for an autistic boy.

"It's like Buster knew how much the child with autism needed him," she said. "[Buster] would jump on his lap and that child would squeeze so hard it was as if [Buster's] eyes were about to pop out of his head. ... He just gave himself to the child, and he wouldn't do that for anybody else."

McGann has been willing to offer extra love when needed. She was carrying for a baby who cried every time her parents left the room. For two weeks, McGann held and sang to that baby and she eventually was soothed and improved.

There's no magic formula, McGann said, just years of practice and experience caring for children.

She watches the children to make sure they are making friends and developing correctly.

"You need to tune it to that and address it and give them what they're needing," she said. "It doesn't take long. Give them what they need — a little love, a little reassurance, and a little extra time, and those problems just go away."

As she has become older, her memories of the many children for whom she has cared are closer and dearer to her heart, McGann said. Many of the children still keep in touch with her.

She just recently attended the wedding of a girl she cared for years ago. That young woman is now having a baby of her own, and McGann is going to be her child care provider.

 She also is now starting to be invited to high school graduations.

One graduate said, "Jackie, I love you. You're like my second mom, you know."

She recently received a letter from yet another child who is now a senior in high school.

"You've been an important person in my life and helped me become the person that I am today," the letter said. "You've helped me grow as a person and better myself. You've taught me how to watch over kids, which led me to the career I'm going to pursue in the future.

"You've taught me to be patient and kind with the people around me and pushed me to do what seemed like the impossible. ... Your house is a place that I will always remember — the place that encouraged me to be a better person and helped me grow as a person. ...

"Thank you for helping me become the person many are proud of and the person I am today."

McGann said her most challenging time was during the pandemic. She also had knee surgery in 2020.&nbsp;

"I tapped into God and prayed a lot," she said.

McGann has struggled with stomach issues most of her life, and because of that, just getting out of bed in the morning was sometimes a challenge.

In the almost three decades McGann has been a child care provider, the industry has become more professional, she said.

Inspections are more rigorous. More training is required, and regulations are more stringent.

"There are so many professionals out there with good training, and the homes are gone through thoroughly with thorough inspections," she said.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/1f8ff50b-eb8c-488a-be8f-aab306e98f26#//">Submit your nomination for Child Care Champion of the Month by clicking HERE.</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1699644434107.jpeg" alt="Jackie McGann of Hays was selected as the October Child Care Champion of Ellis County. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Jackie McGann of Hays was selected as the October Child Care Champion of Ellis County. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostJackie McGann has been a home child care provider for 28 years, bringing to bear a talent and passion for caring for children she said she always had.McGann is being recognized as the October Child Care Champion of the Month sponsored by the Child Care Task Force of Ellis County.Mary Rudman nominated McGann for the award.She said in her nomination, "Jackie McGann creates a fun and safe environment for her day care kids. We appreciate the diverse activities she provides the kids and the wholesome food she feeds them."She is an experienced day care provider who strives to help kids of all ages she cares for grow and develop at their own speed and thrive. We really appreciate what she does for our daughter and family."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1699983456617.jpeg" alt="Jackie McGann of Hays with her Child Care Champion of the Month plaque. Winners also receive $25 in Chamber bucks." />
 <figcaption>Jackie McGann of Hays with her Child Care Champion of the Month plaque. Winners also receive $25 in Chamber bucks.</figcaption>
 </figure>McGann, 59, was the youngest in an Ellis farm family of nine. By the time she was in the third grade, her older siblings had children of their own."It was my nature," she said. "It was already there for me."I was surrounded by a lot of children and family, and I just knew how to take care fo them."She naturally fell into being a babysitter for her young nephews and nieces.McGann has tried to create magical moments for the children in her care from walking a beam across the creek in her backyard, picking cherry tomatoes from her garden or a field trip to her brother's farm in Ellis.She said those little eyes never missed a tomato. "They don't miss anything," she said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1699645293050.png" alt="Children, who used to attend McGann's child care, dig potatoes and harvest vegetables on her brother's farm. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Children, who used to attend McGann's child care, dig potatoes and harvest vegetables on her brother's farm. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>She scanned through photos on her phone of past day care children collecting eggs and digging potatoes on her brother's farm and posing with her dog, Max.McGann is an animal lover and she said she's seen how the love of an animal can help a children with their own emotions.Their dog, Max, was very adverse to the high-pitch squeals of the youngest children in McGann's care. One day, one of the children was very upset and crying.The dog came in close to her and nudged her hard and began kissing her. The child pushed back at first and then finally erupted into giggles."After that they were besties," McGann said. ... "Animals are amazing for us. They help us through the hard times."McGann also had a Siamese cat named Buster Brown.&nbsp;Siamese cats are known to be standoffish with humans. McGann was caring for an autistic boy."It's like Buster knew how much the child with autism needed him," she said. "[Buster] would jump on his lap and that child would squeeze so hard it was as if [Buster's] eyes were about to pop out of his head. ... He just gave himself to the child, and he wouldn't do that for anybody else."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1699645412766.png" alt="A boy who used to be in McGann's child care collects eggs during an outing to McGann's brother's farm. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>A boy who used to be in McGann's child care collects eggs during an outing to McGann's brother's farm. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>McGann has been willing to offer extra love when needed. She was carrying for a baby who cried every time her parents left the room. For two weeks, McGann held and sang to that baby and she eventually was soothed and improved.There's no magic formula, McGann said, just years of practice and experience caring for children.She watches the children to make sure they are making friends and developing correctly."You need to tune it to that and address it and give them what they're needing," she said. "It doesn't take long. Give them what they need — a little love, a little reassurance, and a little extra time, and those problems just go away."As she has become older, her memories of the many children for whom she has cared are closer and dearer to her heart, McGann said. Many of the children still keep in touch with her.She just recently attended the wedding of a girl she cared for years ago. That young woman is now having a baby of her own, and McGann is going to be her child care provider.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1699645567380.png" alt="Some of the children McGann cared for during an outing. McGann has had many children in her care during her 28 years as a child care provider. Many of those children still keep in contact with her. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Some of the children McGann cared for during an outing. McGann has had many children in her care during her 28 years as a child care provider. Many of those children still keep in contact with her. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure> She also is now starting to be invited to high school graduations.One graduate said, "Jackie, I love you. You're like my second mom, you know."She recently received a letter from yet another child who is now a senior in high school."You've been an important person in my life and helped me become the person that I am today," the letter said. "You've helped me grow as a person and better myself. You've taught me how to watch over kids, which led me to the career I'm going to pursue in the future."You've taught me to be patient and kind with the people around me and pushed me to do what seemed like the impossible. ... Your house is a place that I will always remember — the place that encouraged me to be a better person and helped me grow as a person. ..."Thank you for helping me become the person many are proud of and the person I am today."McGann said her most challenging time was during the pandemic. She also had knee surgery in 2020.&nbsp;"I tapped into God and prayed a lot," she said.McGann has struggled with stomach issues most of her life, and because of that, just getting out of bed in the morning was sometimes a challenge.In the almost three decades McGann has been a child care provider, the industry has become more professional, she said.Inspections are more rigorous. More training is required, and regulations are more stringent."There are so many professionals out there with good training, and the homes are gone through thoroughly with thorough inspections," she said.<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/1f8ff50b-eb8c-488a-be8f-aab306e98f26#//">Submit your nomination for Child Care Champion of the Month by clicking HERE.</a>

Child Care Champion: 28-year Hays care veteran says it's in her nature to nurture

The Ellis County Commission approved the purchase of a license plate reader for the sheriff's department's K-9 unit vehicle at its meeting on Tuesday.

The camera system scans license plates and runs them through the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Kansas Highway Patrol systems.

"It's a tool just like a handgun,"&nbsp;Ellis County Sheriff Scott Braun said. "It enhances his ability. It is similar to when we purchased the laser for our guns and lights. It lets us do our job better."

&nbsp;He said the tool could be especially helpful in drug enforcement as well as Amber Alerts and Silver Alerts. Amber Alerts are issued when children go missing and Silver Alerts are used to help search for vulnerable missing older adults.

"As we all know, fentanyl drugs running up and down the road are a problem," Braun said. "If we can catch them before they hit our community ... This will help enhance that ability."

The sheriff's office regularly checks hotels for possible criminal activity. This will allow the patrol officer to drive through the parking lots and quickly check tags, Braun said.

Other uses that Braun detailed in his report to the county commission included locating stolen vehicles, enforcement of highway and traffic safety, homeland security, perimeter security, speed enforcement, probable cause generation in drug investigations, rental contract violations, suspect surveillance, traffic pattern analysis, convoy analysis and other analysis used in criminal investigations.

The cost of the system is $22,000. $10,000 will come from the sheriff's department capital improvement fund and $12,000 from the opioid fund.

The system is made up of three cameras mounted on the patrol vehicle, which are able to scan license plates when vehicles are stationary and at highway speeds, as well as during the day or at night. The results are sent to an in-car mobile laptop.

If the license plate is found in a law enforcement database, an alert is sent to the officer in the patrol vehicle and dispatch.

The system is able to read thousands of plates per hour.

Kansas City, Wichita and the Kansas Highway Patrol are already using the technology. Each of these law enforcement agencies receives hits from the scanners on a daily basis, Braun said.

Commissioner Nathan Leiker asked if the cameras would raise any issues with motorists' constitutional rights. He referenced an ongoing case involving the Kansas Highway Patrol and how troopers stop and question motorists.&nbsp;

The court ruled the KHP had violated constitutional rights with an investigation method dubbed the "trooper two-step." That case is on appeal.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/b7d184ad-ca7c-4cf7-b46b-941937638d68">RELATED STORY: Federal judge orders end of Kansas trooper 'two-step' maneuver</a>

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/8a0f5a10-8886-46b7-8a30-54971def0766">RELATED STORY: ACLU seeks strict boundaries to end KHP's unconstitutional vehicle searches</a>

Braun said the Ellis County Sheriff's office employs the technique. However, he said the camera system could help avoid the potential conflict by helping establish reasonable suspicion of a potential crime through use of the databases.&nbsp;

He said the use of the databases may even help the deputies reach the level of probable cause.

Leiker also asked if there could be any issues for innocent drivers.

"Regardless of the technology, we still have to be cops," Braun said. "We still have to investigate. 

"If a car was stopped inadvertently because something was entered wrong into the system, I would like to think the deputy would quickly deduct that and kick them on down the road and be honest with them that the vehicle was showing that you were wanted or something to the effect of that."

"With technology, there are errors sometimes. We deal with those on a daily process. 

"[The license reader] is probably less likely to have errors than the human factor," Braun said. "We just have the human factor on the back side that has to enter this information. We hope that is right. We will do our cop duties."

It will be about two months before the system can be installed.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1700086756953.jpg" alt="Photo courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostThe Ellis County Commission approved the purchase of a license plate reader for the sheriff's department's K-9 unit vehicle at its meeting on Tuesday.The camera system scans license plates and runs them through the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Kansas Highway Patrol systems."It's a tool just like a handgun,"&nbsp;Ellis County Sheriff Scott Braun said. "It enhances his ability. It is similar to when we purchased the laser for our guns and lights. It lets us do our job better."&nbsp;He said the tool could be especially helpful in drug enforcement as well as Amber Alerts and Silver Alerts. Amber Alerts are issued when children go missing and Silver Alerts are used to help search for vulnerable missing older adults."As we all know, fentanyl drugs running up and down the road are a problem," Braun said. "If we can catch them before they hit our community ... This will help enhance that ability."The sheriff's office regularly checks hotels for possible criminal activity. This will allow the patrol officer to drive through the parking lots and quickly check tags, Braun said.Other uses that Braun detailed in his report to the county commission included locating stolen vehicles, enforcement of highway and traffic safety, homeland security, perimeter security, speed enforcement, probable cause generation in drug investigations, rental contract violations, suspect surveillance, traffic pattern analysis, convoy analysis and other analysis used in criminal investigations.The cost of the system is $22,000. $10,000 will come from the sheriff's department capital improvement fund and $12,000 from the opioid fund.The system is made up of three cameras mounted on the patrol vehicle, which are able to scan license plates when vehicles are stationary and at highway speeds, as well as during the day or at night. The results are sent to an in-car mobile laptop.If the license plate is found in a law enforcement database, an alert is sent to the officer in the patrol vehicle and dispatch.The system is able to read thousands of plates per hour.Kansas City, Wichita and the Kansas Highway Patrol are already using the technology. Each of these law enforcement agencies receives hits from the scanners on a daily basis, Braun said.Commissioner Nathan Leiker asked if the cameras would raise any issues with motorists' constitutional rights. He referenced an ongoing case involving the Kansas Highway Patrol and how troopers stop and question motorists.&nbsp;The court ruled the KHP had violated constitutional rights with an investigation method dubbed the "trooper two-step." That case is on appeal.<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/b7d184ad-ca7c-4cf7-b46b-941937638d68">RELATED STORY: Federal judge orders end of Kansas trooper 'two-step' maneuver</a><a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/8a0f5a10-8886-46b7-8a30-54971def0766">RELATED STORY: ACLU seeks strict boundaries to end KHP's unconstitutional vehicle searches</a>Braun said the Ellis County Sheriff's office employs the technique. However, he said the camera system could help avoid the potential conflict by helping establish reasonable suspicion of a potential crime through use of the databases.&nbsp;He said the use of the databases may even help the deputies reach the level of probable cause.Leiker also asked if there could be any issues for innocent drivers."Regardless of the technology, we still have to be cops," Braun said. "We still have to investigate. "If a car was stopped inadvertently because something was entered wrong into the system, I would like to think the deputy would quickly deduct that and kick them on down the road and be honest with them that the vehicle was showing that you were wanted or something to the effect of that.""With technology, there are errors sometimes. We deal with those on a daily process. "[The license reader] is probably less likely to have errors than the human factor," Braun said. "We just have the human factor on the back side that has to enter this information. We hope that is right. We will do our cop duties."It will be about two months before the system can be installed.

Ellis County Commission to purchase automatic license tag reader

By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT Hays Post

At the beginning of the year the Ellis County Treasurer’s
office began implementing a small fee for vehicle owners when they renew their
registration, a move that the treasurer says has reduced the burden on
property owners and helps reduce the department’s overall budget.

Ellis County Treasurer Vern Ruder said he elected, after 12
years, to implement a $2.50 fee for walk-in customers for each title
registration renewal transaction.

“The State of Kansas allows the treasurers in each county to
help fund their motor vehicle operations with this facility fee for the county,”
Ruder said.

It is up to each county to determine what it charges. Ruder said Sedgwick County charges a $5 fee, and earlier this year, Shawnee County
increased its fee from $3 to $5. Barton County also charges $2.50.

Ruder says the fee helps to supplement the motor vehicle
department.

“The state no longer purchases our computers or printers,”
Ruder said, “so the funding is all done right here in our county.”

Ruder also said he wanted to take the burden off of people who
pay property taxes. 

“I feel like we should be funding our motor vehicle
department with motor vehicle money,” Ruder said.

Someone who lives in an
apartment here but drives a car is helping fund the motor vehicle
department run because they're not paying property tax.”

Ruder said 15 percent of all of the motor vehicle transactions
are returned to Ellis County from the state. That helps to fund half of the
treasurer’s staff and office supplies, but Ruder said he estimates the
additional fee will probably generate more than $50,000 this year. 

The additional funds have also allowed Ruder to reduce the treasury
budget.

He recently told the Ellis County Commission he reduced
the treasury budget from $452,000 in 2022 to $367,000 in 2023 — an $85,000
reduction.

Individuals who do not want to pay the fee can drop their payment
in the drop box in the alley next to the County Administration Building at 718
Main St. in Hays. They also can pay online, but there is an additional 2.5 percent fee
to pay with a credit card.

By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT Hays PostAt the beginning of the year the Ellis County Treasurer’s
office began implementing a small fee for vehicle owners when they renew their
registration, a move that the treasurer says has reduced the burden on
property owners and helps reduce the department’s overall budget.Ellis County Treasurer Vern Ruder said he elected, after 12
years, to implement a $2.50 fee for walk-in customers for each title
registration renewal transaction.“The State of Kansas allows the treasurers in each county to
help fund their motor vehicle operations with this facility fee for the county,”
Ruder said.It is up to each county to determine what it charges. Ruder said Sedgwick County charges a $5 fee, and earlier this year, Shawnee County
increased its fee from $3 to $5. Barton County also charges $2.50.Ruder says the fee helps to supplement the motor vehicle
department.“The state no longer purchases our computers or printers,”
Ruder said, “so the funding is all done right here in our county.”Ruder also said he wanted to take the burden off of people who
pay property taxes. “I feel like we should be funding our motor vehicle
department with motor vehicle money,” Ruder said.Someone who lives in an
apartment here but drives a car is helping fund the motor vehicle
department run because they're not paying property tax.”Ruder said 15 percent of all of the motor vehicle transactions
are returned to Ellis County from the state. That helps to fund half of the
treasurer’s staff and office supplies, but Ruder said he estimates the
additional fee will probably generate more than $50,000 this year. The additional funds have also allowed Ruder to reduce the treasury
budget.He recently told the Ellis County Commission he reduced
the treasury budget from $452,000 in 2022 to $367,000 in 2023 — an $85,000
reduction.Individuals who do not want to pay the fee can drop their payment
in the drop box in the alley next to the County Administration Building at 718
Main St. in Hays. They also can pay online, but there is an additional 2.5 percent fee
to pay with a credit card.

Ellis County motor vehicle fees reduce treasurer’s budget, balance tax burden

STOCKTON — Old Tyme Christmas, Friday, Nov. 24 in Stockton.

• Pancake feed at city hall starting at 11 a.m. • Super Mario moving at the Nova Theater, 3 p.m. • Vendors in downtown Stockton, 3 p.m. - 9 p.m. •&nbsp; Parade at 5:30 p.m. and visit with Santa afterwards &nbsp;• Music at city hall, 7 p.m. - 10 p.m. with drawing giveaways at 8 p.m. • Shop with local merchants and register to win prizes • Follow the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/stocktonkansaschamberofcommerce">Stockton Area Chamber of Commerce on Facebook</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1700065760806.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>SubmittedSTOCKTON — Old Tyme Christmas, Friday, Nov. 24 in Stockton.• Pancake feed at city hall starting at 11 a.m. • Super Mario moving at the Nova Theater, 3 p.m. • Vendors in downtown Stockton, 3 p.m. - 9 p.m. •&nbsp; Parade at 5:30 p.m. and visit with Santa afterwards &nbsp;• Music at city hall, 7 p.m. - 10 p.m. with drawing giveaways at 8 p.m. • Shop with local merchants and register to win prizes • Follow the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/stocktonkansaschamberofcommerce">Stockton Area Chamber of Commerce on Facebook</a>

Old Tyme Christmas is Nov. 24 in Stockton

Last weekend, 4-H families across Barton County gathered for fun, fellowship, and celebrations!

The annual 4-H Achievement Celebration gives us an opportunity to celebrate individual and club achievements, and recognize leaders and supporters.

4-H Council officers Landon Woydziak, Melody Braddy, and Jonas Kern were our masters of ceremony as each club had the time to highlight a few of their activities and award winners for the past year.

In addition to club awards, a few special awards are presented including the Key Award and Friends of 4-H.

The Key Award is the most prestigious Kansas 4-H Award. Candidates must be 16 years old and have been enrolled in the Leadership project for the past four years. Nominees must have demonstrated outstanding contributions in leadership, citizenship, community service, demonstrations, and the holding of club and county offices. In short, it recognizes 4-H members who have lived up to the high ideals of the 4-H pledge. 

The Farm Credit Associations of Kansas proudly present these awards across the state each year and Parker Dicks is the 2023 recipient. 

Dicks is a 10-year member of the Busy Buzzers 4-H Club and has been active in the Leadership project for four years. He has held multiple offices for his club and at the county level for 4-H Council, Junior Leaders, and the 4-H Livestock Committee. He is involved in a variety of project areas and can be counted on to mentor young 4-H members and provide a calm and steady presence in and out of the show ring.

Each 4-H Club has the opportunity to nominate someone as a Friend of 4-H. 

The first recipient this year is the Dustin and Aimee Wyant family. Wyants give generously of their time to assist at the county level in several project areas. In particular, they provide direction for the STEM SpaceTech project, help younger members attending STEM camp, and assist livestock members in the poultry and rabbit projects.

An additional Friend of 4-H was awarded to Connie Hughes. She was a club leader for the Ellinwood Energizers 4-H Club for a number of years and continues to support Junior Leaders through peach sales, welcome photography youth to their family farm to practice their skills, and supports 4-H at the Barton County Fair Sale of Champions. She helped to plan the Achievement Celebration for many years and mentored many youth in the Beef project.

A wonderful 4-H Council committee planned the meal and the decorations for a fun-filled evening with a delicious dinner! In this season of thanksgiving, I always end the evening by reminding 4-H members to look around them and show their appreciation to their families and club leaders for direction and support. I’ll add the same here – 4-H couldn’t provide such opportunities without dedicated volunteers, club leaders, fantastic families, and my co-workers who step in to help whenever and wherever needed!

Keep learning. Keep showing grace and kindness.

Michelle Beran is the 4-H Youth Development Agent in the Cottonwood Extension District. For more information on this article or other 4-H Youth Development resources, email Michelle at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:mberan@ksu.edu">mberan@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;or call Cottonwood Extension District, Barton Office at 620-793-1910.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668179445671.jpeg" alt="Michelle Beran is the 4-H Youth Development Agent in the Cottonwood Extension District." />
 <figcaption>Michelle Beran is the 4-H Youth Development Agent in the Cottonwood Extension District.</figcaption>
 </figure>Last weekend, 4-H families across Barton County gathered for fun, fellowship, and celebrations!The annual 4-H Achievement Celebration gives us an opportunity to celebrate individual and club achievements, and recognize leaders and supporters.4-H Council officers Landon Woydziak, Melody Braddy, and Jonas Kern were our masters of ceremony as each club had the time to highlight a few of their activities and award winners for the past year.In addition to club awards, a few special awards are presented including the Key Award and Friends of 4-H.The Key Award is the most prestigious Kansas 4-H Award. Candidates must be 16 years old and have been enrolled in the Leadership project for the past four years. Nominees must have demonstrated outstanding contributions in leadership, citizenship, community service, demonstrations, and the holding of club and county offices. In short, it recognizes 4-H members who have lived up to the high ideals of the 4-H pledge. The Farm Credit Associations of Kansas proudly present these awards across the state each year and Parker Dicks is the 2023 recipient. Dicks is a 10-year member of the Busy Buzzers 4-H Club and has been active in the Leadership project for four years. He has held multiple offices for his club and at the county level for 4-H Council, Junior Leaders, and the 4-H Livestock Committee. He is involved in a variety of project areas and can be counted on to mentor young 4-H members and provide a calm and steady presence in and out of the show ring.Each 4-H Club has the opportunity to nominate someone as a Friend of 4-H. The first recipient this year is the Dustin and Aimee Wyant family. Wyants give generously of their time to assist at the county level in several project areas. In particular, they provide direction for the STEM SpaceTech project, help younger members attending STEM camp, and assist livestock members in the poultry and rabbit projects.An additional Friend of 4-H was awarded to Connie Hughes. She was a club leader for the Ellinwood Energizers 4-H Club for a number of years and continues to support Junior Leaders through peach sales, welcome photography youth to their family farm to practice their skills, and supports 4-H at the Barton County Fair Sale of Champions. She helped to plan the Achievement Celebration for many years and mentored many youth in the Beef project.A wonderful 4-H Council committee planned the meal and the decorations for a fun-filled evening with a delicious dinner! In this season of thanksgiving, I always end the evening by reminding 4-H members to look around them and show their appreciation to their families and club leaders for direction and support. I’ll add the same here – 4-H couldn’t provide such opportunities without dedicated volunteers, club leaders, fantastic families, and my co-workers who step in to help whenever and wherever needed!Keep learning. Keep showing grace and kindness.Michelle Beran is the 4-H Youth Development Agent in the Cottonwood Extension District. For more information on this article or other 4-H Youth Development resources, email Michelle at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:mberan@ksu.edu">mberan@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;or call Cottonwood Extension District, Barton Office at 620-793-1910.

BERAN: 4-H achievement celebrations

<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/2023/11/1700241789956.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

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   

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