For several years now there has been a real emphasis on using cover crops or adding livestock into cropping systems to improve soil health, and for some producers using these practices has work very well. But focusing on just of couple of these practices, which seem to get the most media coverage, we may not be paying attention to, or thinking about other ways to improve the resiliency of our soil and continue to grow profitable crops. 

There are a wide variety of other practices and strategies that can also be utilized to improve the soil.

One of the first things that comes to my mind, after fertilizer prices increased by 200-300% in the last year, is having a balanced fertility program. 

Using the 4Rs concept, 1) using the right product, 2) putting on the right rate, 3) applying it at the right time and 4) putting it in right place is good place to start. Given the current price of fertilizer this can pay big dividends in a hurry. I would even suggest taking this a step further and consider implementing grid soil sampling and using variable rate technology to apply the fertilizer. This is where fertilizer is applied based on the specific fertility needs of a certain area in the field, typically about 2.5 to 5 acres in size. Like the advertisement says, “if you don’t test, it just a guess,” and at todays fertilizer price you can’t afford to just guess.

Soil pH also needs to be maintained at optimum levels. Most plant nutrients are readily available when the pH is around neutral, or in that 6.5 to 7.0 range. So, you could be putting on the right amount of fertilizer the crop needs but if your pH is not within that range the crop can’t utilize those nutrients. Most western Kansas soils are inherently alkaline with a pH above 7.0. But in many fields the pH is now significantly lower because of the continued use of acid-based fertilizers, like Anhydrous Ammonia. A composite soil sample and a $25.00 soil analysis is a good place to start to see where your pH levels are. From there you can come up with a long-term strategy to get everything in balance if you need to.

Consider eliminating or reducing the amount tillage operations that you complete. Tillage destroys stabile soil aggregates and disrupts the soil biology that helps form and maintain them. A field with poor soil aggregate stability will have less pore spaces for water to flow through and be prone to soil erosion. In western Kansas everything is dependent on the amount of moisture we can capture and store in the soil and excessive tillage reduces our soil’s ability to do that.

If aren’t already doing some of these simple cost-effective practices, I urge you to consider using them to improve your soil. But more importantly consider using them to increase your farm’s profitability. Implementing some of these strategies will cost money, but if you can get a positive return on investment, it may be well worth the money to do it.

Dale Younker is a Soil Health Specialist with the Natural Resources Conservation Services office in Jetmore. For more information contact Younker at 620-357-8334, Ext. 113 or&nbsp;dale.younker@usda.gov.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1628525048992.jpeg" alt="Dale Younker&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Dale Younker&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>For several years now there has been a real emphasis on using cover crops or adding livestock into cropping systems to improve soil health, and for some producers using these practices has work very well. But focusing on just of couple of these practices, which seem to get the most media coverage, we may not be paying attention to, or thinking about other ways to improve the resiliency of our soil and continue to grow profitable crops. There are a wide variety of other practices and strategies that can also be utilized to improve the soil.One of the first things that comes to my mind, after fertilizer prices increased by 200-300% in the last year, is having a balanced fertility program. Using the 4Rs concept, 1) using the right product, 2) putting on the right rate, 3) applying it at the right time and 4) putting it in right place is good place to start. Given the current price of fertilizer this can pay big dividends in a hurry. I would even suggest taking this a step further and consider implementing grid soil sampling and using variable rate technology to apply the fertilizer. This is where fertilizer is applied based on the specific fertility needs of a certain area in the field, typically about 2.5 to 5 acres in size. Like the advertisement says, “if you don’t test, it just a guess,” and at todays fertilizer price you can’t afford to just guess.Soil pH also needs to be maintained at optimum levels. Most plant nutrients are readily available when the pH is around neutral, or in that 6.5 to 7.0 range. So, you could be putting on the right amount of fertilizer the crop needs but if your pH is not within that range the crop can’t utilize those nutrients. Most western Kansas soils are inherently alkaline with a pH above 7.0. But in many fields the pH is now significantly lower because of the continued use of acid-based fertilizers, like Anhydrous Ammonia. A composite soil sample and a $25.00 soil analysis is a good place to start to see where your pH levels are. From there you can come up with a long-term strategy to get everything in balance if you need to.Consider eliminating or reducing the amount tillage operations that you complete. Tillage destroys stabile soil aggregates and disrupts the soil biology that helps form and maintain them. A field with poor soil aggregate stability will have less pore spaces for water to flow through and be prone to soil erosion. In western Kansas everything is dependent on the amount of moisture we can capture and store in the soil and excessive tillage reduces our soil’s ability to do that.If aren’t already doing some of these simple cost-effective practices, I urge you to consider using them to improve your soil. But more importantly consider using them to increase your farm’s profitability. Implementing some of these strategies will cost money, but if you can get a positive return on investment, it may be well worth the money to do it.Dale Younker is a Soil Health Specialist with the Natural Resources Conservation Services office in Jetmore. For more information contact Younker at 620-357-8334, Ext. 113 or&nbsp;dale.younker@usda.gov.

YOUNKER: Other ways to improve soil health

On this episode of the Post Podcast, Grow Hays executive director Doug Williams shares details about the upcoming Think Like an Entrepreneur series.

<a href="https://postpodcast.podbean.com/">For more about the Post Podcast, including a full list of episodes and episode transcripts click here.</a>

<div><iframe title="Grow Hays plans third Think Like an Entrepreneur series" allowtransparency="true" height="300" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=ad7kb-12986db-pb&from=pb6admin&square=1&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=auto&logo_link=podcast_page&btn-skin=3267a3&size=300" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>On this episode of the Post Podcast, Grow Hays executive director Doug Williams shares details about the upcoming Think Like an Entrepreneur series. <a href="https://postpodcast.podbean.com/">For more about the Post Podcast, including a full list of episodes and episode transcripts click here.</a>

🎙Post Podcast: Grow Hays plans third Think Like an Entrepreneur series

🎥 Green & Growing: Growing butterflies

PAWNEE COUNTY—A Kansas man was injured in an accident just before 12:30a.m. Sunday in Pawnee County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2014 Honda Accord driven by 55-year-old Laughn M.&nbsp;Seltmann of La Crosse, was southbound on U.S. 183 six miles southwest of Garfield.

The driver failed to stop at a stop sign. The Honda traveled across U.S. 56 into the ditch, through a barbed wire fence, rolled and came to rest in a milo field south of U. S. 56.

EMS transported&nbsp;Seltmann to the hospital in Kinsley. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

PAWNEE COUNTY—A Kansas man was injured in an accident just before 12:30a.m. Sunday in Pawnee County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2014 Honda Accord driven by 55-year-old Laughn M.&nbsp;Seltmann of La Crosse, was southbound on U.S. 183 six miles southwest of Garfield.The driver failed to stop at a stop sign. The Honda traveled across U.S. 56 into the ditch, through a barbed wire fence, rolled and came to rest in a milo field south of U. S. 56.EMS transported&nbsp;Seltmann to the hospital in Kinsley. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

Kansas man hospitalized after car rolls into milo field

Fort Hays State University’s Department of Criminal Justice was recently awarded an additional $1.5 million to expand operations of the Central Region De-escalation Training Center. This marks the department's second major federal grant award over the past year. In October 2021, the program was awarded an initial $1.25 million grant.&nbsp;

FHSU hosts one of several regional training centers within a national network under the direction of the National De-escalation Training Center (NDTC). The de-escalation training model used by center instructors expands the law enforcement officers’ ability to interact with the people they serve and defuse potential situations that otherwise may escalate into the use of force.&nbsp;

The most recent grant funding source comes from the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) under the Byrne Discretionary Community Project Grants program. This program supports projects that improve the functioning of the criminal justice system.&nbsp;

The Department of Criminal Justice plans to use this new funding to:

“We would like to thank Senator Jerry Moran for his continued support of Fort Hays State University’s regional training center,” said Dr. Tamara Lynn, chair of the Department of Criminal Justice and director of the Regional De-escalation Training Center.&nbsp;

“The efforts of U.S. Senator Jerry Moran and his staff have been invaluable in securing the essential funding that drove the rapid expansion of the regional de-escalation training center at Fort Hays State University. Without Senator Moran’s support, we would not be able to train law enforcement officers in advanced de-escalation to improve encounters with citizens while also advancing community policing initiatives,”.&nbsp;

For more information about the Regional De-escalation Training Center at FHSU, go to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fhsu.edu/criminaljustice/regional-training-center">https://www.fhsu.edu/criminaljustice/regional-training-center</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660073187285.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU University CommunicationsFort Hays State University’s Department of Criminal Justice was recently awarded an additional $1.5 million to expand operations of the Central Region De-escalation Training Center. This marks the department's second major federal grant award over the past year. In October 2021, the program was awarded an initial $1.25 million grant.&nbsp;FHSU hosts one of several regional training centers within a national network under the direction of the National De-escalation Training Center (NDTC). The de-escalation training model used by center instructors expands the law enforcement officers’ ability to interact with the people they serve and defuse potential situations that otherwise may escalate into the use of force.&nbsp;The most recent grant funding source comes from the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) under the Byrne Discretionary Community Project Grants program. This program supports projects that improve the functioning of the criminal justice system.&nbsp;The Department of Criminal Justice plans to use this new funding to:<ul>
 <li>Expand the number of law enforcement officers trained in de-escalation, both via online and in-person coursework</li><li>Grow the program’s research capabilities to advance de-escalation as an evidence-based practice</li><li>Host a research and training conference to disseminate lessons learned and best practices</li><li>Support the national network of de-escalation training centers with targeted investments that will drive long-term viability</li><li>Launch a comprehensive advertising campaign to increase the visibility of the center and increase the number of agency training partners</li><li>Establish a prominent location on campus for the center’s offices and training spaces</li>
 </ul>“We would like to thank Senator Jerry Moran for his continued support of Fort Hays State University’s regional training center,” said Dr. Tamara Lynn, chair of the Department of Criminal Justice and director of the Regional De-escalation Training Center.&nbsp;“The efforts of U.S. Senator Jerry Moran and his staff have been invaluable in securing the essential funding that drove the rapid expansion of the regional de-escalation training center at Fort Hays State University. Without Senator Moran’s support, we would not be able to train law enforcement officers in advanced de-escalation to improve encounters with citizens while also advancing community policing initiatives,”.&nbsp;For more information about the Regional De-escalation Training Center at FHSU, go to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fhsu.edu/criminaljustice/regional-training-center">https://www.fhsu.edu/criminaljustice/regional-training-center</a>

Federal grant drives FHSU de-escalation training center expansion

A&nbsp;recent cool front and drizzle of rain was welcome, welcome, welcome. Instead of dreading to go outside to do chores, I got&nbsp;the&nbsp;weeding, veggie&nbsp;picking, and watering done, and looked forward to a country drive and&nbsp;a&nbsp;chance to spot&nbsp;Kansas wildlife. If I&nbsp;were really&nbsp;lucky, we’d spy some of this summer’s gangly,&nbsp;wild youngsters following their moms.

Nothing ever works out the way&nbsp;we&nbsp;expect, and this&nbsp;foray into the countryside wasn’t any different. We checked out favorite spots along the Saline, stopping to gaze up and down tree shaded banks where a thin trickle keeps the river bottom fairly green and offers drinks&nbsp;to thirsty critters.&nbsp;We pulled aside in spots where we have turkey&nbsp;or deer-watched in the past. Nothing, not even a mosquito when we rolled the windows down to listen.&nbsp;

Along the way, we saw&nbsp;several&nbsp;vulture&nbsp;flocks&nbsp;circling&nbsp;high above pastures, so I’m guessing&nbsp;more than one&nbsp;something didn’t make it til it’s next birthday.&nbsp;On&nbsp;the road,&nbsp;these&nbsp;large birds’ target was clear. A&nbsp;young&nbsp;raccoon lost&nbsp;its contest with a vehicle&nbsp;and left its carcass behind to sustainbuzzards who flew off only long enough for our car to pass.&nbsp;Even with our binoculars and zoom lens camera, we couldn’t identify the&nbsp;clean-up team’s&nbsp;targets&nbsp;farther&nbsp;from&nbsp;the road, so their dinner&nbsp;plans&nbsp;remained&nbsp;a mystery.&nbsp;

Over&nbsp;one&nbsp;stretch&nbsp;of dusty trail, we spied&nbsp;two&nbsp;different&nbsp;juvenile red-headed woodpeckers identifiable because of their black and white zippy flight pattern. We saw them flying&nbsp;about a mile apart&nbsp;but&nbsp;couldn’t tell if they came from the same nest&nbsp;despite their similar size and appearance.&nbsp;Their top notches hadn’t turned scarlet&nbsp;so we knew they were this year’s babies.&nbsp;Doves, meadowlarks, and king birds&nbsp;flitted&nbsp;nearby, but we didn’t detect a single turkey, deer, or pheasant.

After&nbsp;enduring extreme&nbsp;heat for so long, it was&nbsp;nice&nbsp;to&nbsp;crack&nbsp;our&nbsp;windows&nbsp;to capture 70-degreetemperatures&nbsp;during our&nbsp;cross-country quest.&nbsp;While all we saw were&nbsp;prairie&nbsp;birds, blue skies, sunflowers, snow on the mountain, lead plant, waving ditch grasses, and&nbsp;buffalo gourd plants,those made&nbsp;the&nbsp;drive worth time&nbsp;and gas.&nbsp;

Just when we were about to give up and head,&nbsp;we discovered our adventure was not over. We detoured south to Old 40 and drove into the west side of Ellis, our former hometown. We were about a block, maybe a block and a half off Big Creek when&nbsp;a momma turkey followed by three poults&nbsp;caught my eye. The&nbsp;gray toned&nbsp;young&nbsp;had&nbsp;feathered out but&nbsp;were&nbsp;nowhere near adulthood.Watching them&nbsp;go through grass to scare up insects they’d quickly snarf down, we could tell mom taught them well how to find food.

My husband&nbsp;drove&nbsp;around the block&nbsp;while I&nbsp;rolled&nbsp;down the windows&nbsp;to&nbsp;prepare to&nbsp;listen to their chatter as they&nbsp;hunted&nbsp;bugs.&nbsp;The group&nbsp;peeped,&nbsp;pipped, and&nbsp;skracled&nbsp;as they&nbsp;crisscrossed&nbsp;the empty lot, snagging occasional treats.&nbsp;I&nbsp;guess that’s turkey&nbsp;talk&nbsp;for “Eureka, I found one!”

Because they were in town,&nbsp;and the young&nbsp;were in that&nbsp;gawky stage that makes identification difficult,&nbsp;these could have been someone’s backyard pets out for a stroll.&nbsp;But they seemed to&nbsp;be wild turkeys&nbsp;wandering&nbsp;from&nbsp;nearby&nbsp;Big Creek to check out what was going on in&nbsp;town! &nbsp;No matter what, like&nbsp;lots&nbsp;of&nbsp;Ellis&nbsp;visitors, they found something good to eat before they headed home.&nbsp;They definitely added interest to our cool weather getaway.

Karen is a retired teacher, writer, photographer, outdoors lover, and
 sixth-generation Kansan. After a time away, she’s glad to be home.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660329139489.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>A&nbsp;recent cool front and drizzle of rain was welcome, welcome, welcome. Instead of dreading to go outside to do chores, I got&nbsp;the&nbsp;weeding, veggie&nbsp;picking, and watering done, and looked forward to a country drive and&nbsp;a&nbsp;chance to spot&nbsp;Kansas wildlife. If I&nbsp;were really&nbsp;lucky, we’d spy some of this summer’s gangly,&nbsp;wild youngsters following their moms.Nothing ever works out the way&nbsp;we&nbsp;expect, and this&nbsp;foray into the countryside wasn’t any different. We checked out favorite spots along the Saline, stopping to gaze up and down tree shaded banks where a thin trickle keeps the river bottom fairly green and offers drinks&nbsp;to thirsty critters.&nbsp;We pulled aside in spots where we have turkey&nbsp;or deer-watched in the past. Nothing, not even a mosquito when we rolled the windows down to listen.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658158605319.jpeg" alt="Karen Madorin" />
 <figcaption>Karen Madorin</figcaption>
 </figure>Along the way, we saw&nbsp;several&nbsp;vulture&nbsp;flocks&nbsp;circling&nbsp;high above pastures, so I’m guessing&nbsp;more than one&nbsp;something didn’t make it til it’s next birthday.&nbsp;On&nbsp;the road,&nbsp;these&nbsp;large birds’ target was clear. A&nbsp;young&nbsp;raccoon lost&nbsp;its contest with a vehicle&nbsp;and left its carcass behind to sustainbuzzards who flew off only long enough for our car to pass.&nbsp;Even with our binoculars and zoom lens camera, we couldn’t identify the&nbsp;clean-up team’s&nbsp;targets&nbsp;farther&nbsp;from&nbsp;the road, so their dinner&nbsp;plans&nbsp;remained&nbsp;a mystery.&nbsp;Over&nbsp;one&nbsp;stretch&nbsp;of dusty trail, we spied&nbsp;two&nbsp;different&nbsp;juvenile red-headed woodpeckers identifiable because of their black and white zippy flight pattern. We saw them flying&nbsp;about a mile apart&nbsp;but&nbsp;couldn’t tell if they came from the same nest&nbsp;despite their similar size and appearance.&nbsp;Their top notches hadn’t turned scarlet&nbsp;so we knew they were this year’s babies.&nbsp;Doves, meadowlarks, and king birds&nbsp;flitted&nbsp;nearby, but we didn’t detect a single turkey, deer, or pheasant.After&nbsp;enduring extreme&nbsp;heat for so long, it was&nbsp;nice&nbsp;to&nbsp;crack&nbsp;our&nbsp;windows&nbsp;to capture 70-degreetemperatures&nbsp;during our&nbsp;cross-country quest.&nbsp;While all we saw were&nbsp;prairie&nbsp;birds, blue skies, sunflowers, snow on the mountain, lead plant, waving ditch grasses, and&nbsp;buffalo gourd plants,those made&nbsp;the&nbsp;drive worth time&nbsp;and gas.&nbsp;Just when we were about to give up and head,&nbsp;we discovered our adventure was not over. We detoured south to Old 40 and drove into the west side of Ellis, our former hometown. We were about a block, maybe a block and a half off Big Creek when&nbsp;a momma turkey followed by three poults&nbsp;caught my eye. The&nbsp;gray toned&nbsp;young&nbsp;had&nbsp;feathered out but&nbsp;were&nbsp;nowhere near adulthood.Watching them&nbsp;go through grass to scare up insects they’d quickly snarf down, we could tell mom taught them well how to find food.My husband&nbsp;drove&nbsp;around the block&nbsp;while I&nbsp;rolled&nbsp;down the windows&nbsp;to&nbsp;prepare to&nbsp;listen to their chatter as they&nbsp;hunted&nbsp;bugs.&nbsp;The group&nbsp;peeped,&nbsp;pipped, and&nbsp;skracled&nbsp;as they&nbsp;crisscrossed&nbsp;the empty lot, snagging occasional treats.&nbsp;I&nbsp;guess that’s turkey&nbsp;talk&nbsp;for “Eureka, I found one!”Because they were in town,&nbsp;and the young&nbsp;were in that&nbsp;gawky stage that makes identification difficult,&nbsp;these could have been someone’s backyard pets out for a stroll.&nbsp;But they seemed to&nbsp;be wild turkeys&nbsp;wandering&nbsp;from&nbsp;nearby&nbsp;Big Creek to check out what was going on in&nbsp;town! &nbsp;No matter what, like&nbsp;lots&nbsp;of&nbsp;Ellis&nbsp;visitors, they found something good to eat before they headed home.&nbsp;They definitely added interest to our cool weather getaway.Karen is a retired teacher, writer, photographer, outdoors lover, and
 sixth-generation Kansan. After a time away, she’s glad to be home.

MADORIN: A summer turkey hunt

Professors of political science are in a unique position to not only impart academic knowledge, but to build better citizens.&nbsp;I give students the trust, resources, engagement, and invitations they need to participate. Then I encourage them to put those civic skills into action.

I teach&nbsp;my students&nbsp;how&nbsp;to think, not&nbsp;what&nbsp;to think.&nbsp;

Our young people&nbsp;have the opportunity to&nbsp;shape the communities we live in&nbsp;and in recent years they have started to participate in droves, especially young women.

Earlier this year,&nbsp;<a href="https://united-we.org/">United WE</a>, an evidence-based, nonpartisan organization dedicated to unlocking women’s economic and civic leadership, released<a href="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/545815dce4b0d75692c341a8/t/61fa931d5cf4fa1101723fb5/1643811618520/StatusofWomeninKansas2021_1.26.22.pdf">&nbsp;</a><a href="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/545815dce4b0d75692c341a8/t/61fa931d5cf4fa1101723fb5/1643811618520/StatusofWomeninKansas2021_1.26.22.pdf">new research</a>&nbsp;that illuminated progress made&nbsp;by Kansas women but also showed barriers to their economic potential.&nbsp;While several issues impact women’s ability to fully participate in the workforce, barriers to childcare stands out as a pressing issue in Kansas that even garnered&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/child-care-keeping-women-from-work/">national attention</a>.

In Kansas,&nbsp;about 29% of a working mother’s salary is spent on childcare costs alone, making Kansas childcare costs as a percentage of salary one of the highest in the country.&nbsp;Kansas&nbsp;womenalso&nbsp;represent a higher share of the labor force than the rest of the country, however, the gender earnings gap is wider in Kansas. For Kansas women, 73.5% are employed while only 69.6% of U.S. women participate in the labor force. Women in Kansas earned 78 cents for every dollar earned by a Kansas man in 2020.

In addition to the research report,&nbsp;United WE&nbsp;has been hosting a&nbsp;Town Hall Series across the state&nbsp;that is&nbsp;listening to Kansas&nbsp;women and allies share their stories about barriers they’ve faced in the workplace.&nbsp;The&nbsp;research statistics&nbsp;are&nbsp;compelling, but real-life stories provide eye-opening insights into often unspoken challenges:

•“I miss so much work trying to keep up with my licensure…for work.”•“They hired me because I was twice as qualified as anyone else, but I was still paid less.”•“At 34, I got my first job with health insurance.”•“I know if I have anotherchildI won’t be able to keep my job financially due to childcare expenses.”•“No matter what status or position us women are in, we are all experiencing the same struggles.”

These stories&nbsp;from the Town Halls&nbsp;highlight&nbsp;barriers impacting women in the workplace and entrepreneurship, including&nbsp;occupational licensing, pay equity, healthcare, childcare, and more.&nbsp;According to the&nbsp;<a href="https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/mckinsey.analytics/viz/USPowerofParity/Dashboard1womens-economic-task-force/">McKinsey Global Institute</a>, the Kansas economy can grow by 10-15% by 2025&nbsp;if women are fully participating in the workforce.&nbsp;To recruit and retain women in the workforce and grow our Kansas economy to its full potential, we need to come together and make progress in these areas.

There is a&nbsp;virtual&nbsp;statewide&nbsp;Town Hall&nbsp;by United WE&nbsp;on August&nbsp;24&nbsp;from&nbsp;12:00 p.m.&nbsp;to 1:00 p.m.&nbsp;This&nbsp;event is&nbsp;open to all women and allies and includes&nbsp;a Spanish translator and&nbsp;a $10 gift card for all participants. The stories heard will be combined into a comprehensive report and used to create bipartisan policy reform for all Kansas women.

Please join&nbsp;me&nbsp;at the virtual statewide Town Hall&nbsp;to&nbsp;speak up about&nbsp;issues that will make our state&nbsp;thrive,&nbsp;our economy stronger,&nbsp;our women empowered,&nbsp;and a place for our young people&nbsp;to&nbsp;be proud to live&nbsp;for years to come.

Alexandra Middlewood, PhD&nbsp;is an Assistant&nbsp;Professor of Political Science at&nbsp;Wichita State&nbsp;University.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1633377761670.jpeg" alt="Alexandra Middlewood, PhD&nbsp;is an Assistant&nbsp;Professor of Political Science at&nbsp;Wichita State&nbsp;University." />
 <figcaption>Alexandra Middlewood, PhD&nbsp;is an Assistant&nbsp;Professor of Political Science at&nbsp;Wichita State&nbsp;University.</figcaption>
 </figure>Professors of political science are in a unique position to not only impart academic knowledge, but to build better citizens.&nbsp;I give students the trust, resources, engagement, and invitations they need to participate. Then I encourage them to put those civic skills into action.I teach&nbsp;my students&nbsp;how&nbsp;to think, not&nbsp;what&nbsp;to think.&nbsp;Our young people&nbsp;have the opportunity to&nbsp;shape the communities we live in&nbsp;and in recent years they have started to participate in droves, especially young women.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575913663048.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Earlier this year,&nbsp;<a href="https://united-we.org/">United WE</a>, an evidence-based, nonpartisan organization dedicated to unlocking women’s economic and civic leadership, released<a href="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/545815dce4b0d75692c341a8/t/61fa931d5cf4fa1101723fb5/1643811618520/StatusofWomeninKansas2021_1.26.22.pdf">&nbsp;</a><a href="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/545815dce4b0d75692c341a8/t/61fa931d5cf4fa1101723fb5/1643811618520/StatusofWomeninKansas2021_1.26.22.pdf">new research</a>&nbsp;that illuminated progress made&nbsp;by Kansas women but also showed barriers to their economic potential.&nbsp;While several issues impact women’s ability to fully participate in the workforce, barriers to childcare stands out as a pressing issue in Kansas that even garnered&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/child-care-keeping-women-from-work/">national attention</a>.In Kansas,&nbsp;about 29% of a working mother’s salary is spent on childcare costs alone, making Kansas childcare costs as a percentage of salary one of the highest in the country.&nbsp;Kansas&nbsp;womenalso&nbsp;represent a higher share of the labor force than the rest of the country, however, the gender earnings gap is wider in Kansas. For Kansas women, 73.5% are employed while only 69.6% of U.S. women participate in the labor force. Women in Kansas earned 78 cents for every dollar earned by a Kansas man in 2020.In addition to the research report,&nbsp;United WE&nbsp;has been hosting a&nbsp;Town Hall Series across the state&nbsp;that is&nbsp;listening to Kansas&nbsp;women and allies share their stories about barriers they’ve faced in the workplace.&nbsp;The&nbsp;research statistics&nbsp;are&nbsp;compelling, but real-life stories provide eye-opening insights into often unspoken challenges:•“I miss so much work trying to keep up with my licensure…for work.”•“They hired me because I was twice as qualified as anyone else, but I was still paid less.”•“At 34, I got my first job with health insurance.”•“I know if I have anotherchildI won’t be able to keep my job financially due to childcare expenses.”•“No matter what status or position us women are in, we are all experiencing the same struggles.”These stories&nbsp;from the Town Halls&nbsp;highlight&nbsp;barriers impacting women in the workplace and entrepreneurship, including&nbsp;occupational licensing, pay equity, healthcare, childcare, and more.&nbsp;According to the&nbsp;<a href="https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/mckinsey.analytics/viz/USPowerofParity/Dashboard1womens-economic-task-force/">McKinsey Global Institute</a>, the Kansas economy can grow by 10-15% by 2025&nbsp;if women are fully participating in the workforce.&nbsp;To recruit and retain women in the workforce and grow our Kansas economy to its full potential, we need to come together and make progress in these areas.There is a&nbsp;virtual&nbsp;statewide&nbsp;Town Hall&nbsp;by United WE&nbsp;on August&nbsp;24&nbsp;from&nbsp;12:00 p.m.&nbsp;to 1:00 p.m.&nbsp;This&nbsp;event is&nbsp;open to all women and allies and includes&nbsp;a Spanish translator and&nbsp;a $10 gift card for all participants. The stories heard will be combined into a comprehensive report and used to create bipartisan policy reform for all Kansas women.Please join&nbsp;me&nbsp;at the virtual statewide Town Hall&nbsp;to&nbsp;speak up about&nbsp;issues that will make our state&nbsp;thrive,&nbsp;our economy stronger,&nbsp;our women empowered,&nbsp;and a place for our young people&nbsp;to&nbsp;be proud to live&nbsp;for years to come.Alexandra Middlewood, PhD&nbsp;is an Assistant&nbsp;Professor of Political Science at&nbsp;Wichita State&nbsp;University.

INSIGHT KANSAS: Speak up for women and our economic future

<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/2022/8/1660328782025.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

Extension Agent, Horticulture opportunity in Cottonwood District.

Primary office location is negotiable between GREAT BEND and HAYS, KS. See&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ksre.ksu.edu/jobs" target="_blank">www.ksre.ksu.edu/jobs</a>&nbsp;for responsibilities, qualifications, and application procedure.

Application deadline: 8/31/22. K-State Research and Extension is an EOE of individuals with disabilities and protected veterans. Background check required.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1659737809311.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Extension Agent, Horticulture opportunity in Cottonwood District.Primary office location is negotiable between GREAT BEND and HAYS, KS. See&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ksre.ksu.edu/jobs" target="_blank">www.ksre.ksu.edu/jobs</a>&nbsp;for responsibilities, qualifications, and application procedure.Application deadline: 8/31/22. K-State Research and Extension is an EOE of individuals with disabilities and protected veterans. Background check required.

SPONSORED: Extension district seeking horticulture agent

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

People in rural Kansas have talked about the "brain drain" for years.

Data released recently by the U.S. Census Bureau showed the statistics behind the loss of young adults from northwest Kansas.

Hays is retaining only about 50 percent of young adults between 28 and 36.

Doug Williams,  Grow Hays executive director, said losing so many young adults is not sustainable unless those individuals can be replaced with other people.

The drain of young people is often associated with with job opportunities elsewhere and quality of life issues, Williams said.

The study done in cooperation with researchers from Harvard, looked at nationwide statistics divided into commuting areas.

More rural areas in northwest Kansas fared worse than Hays.

Percent of young adults retained • 30 percent Oberlin • 33 percent Norton • 36 percent Goodland • 37 percent Phillipsburg • 42 percent Colby • 47 percent Great Bend.

The youth migration statistics mirrored overall migration patterns in Kansas that were released in 2021. Young people are migrating from rural areas of the state to metro areas.

Wichita and the Kansas City metro areas saw much higher young adult retention rates of 68 percent and 73 percent respectively. 

Just over 8 percent of the young adults who moved from Hays went to Kansas City, 3.8 percent moved to Wichita, and 2.3 percent went to Denver — a total loss of more than 14 percent.

Another 7.1 percent of Hays' young adults went to other larger communities in Kansas, including Manhattan, Salina and Topeka.

"I think that is pretty reflective of what has been happening in rural America, whether it be Hays or smaller communities," Williams said."There is the loss of younger people for a variety of reasons.

"Sometimes it's better job opportunities elsewhere. Sometimes it's just kids wanting to get to the big city."

The average young adult who grew up in Hays moved to an area about 183 miles away for their job. That is 2 miles above the national average (181 miles).

Nationally, about 80 percent of young adults stay within 100 miles of where they were raised. Kansas' large geographic area and rural nature bucks that trend.

What the statistics don't show is Hays has a fair number of young people come back when they decide to settle down and start families, Williams said. 

There are jobs in Ellis County, Williams said. Ellis County had a 2.1 percent unemployment rate in June.

"Certainly on the job side, I would contend a young person that is a professional whether that is a teacher or a health care provider or even a skilled laborer, there is more than ample opportunity here to make a good living," he said.

He said he thought Hays has a good quality of life to offer residents.

"I focus more on what can we recruit," Williams said. ... "Many experts are saying we are talking about the migration away from urban areas because of the cost, because of crime, because of traffic, because of all the hassle and hustle and bustle because of life in the city.

 "People are looking to migrate into more rural areas, and I think that is a great opportunity for us, particularly with the remote working capability that can occur now."

Remote work allows some to stay, come home

Prepandemic, one in 67 job postings on LinkedIn were for remote workers. Today, it's one in seven.

Brent Kaiser, development and sports coordinator for Special Olympics Kansas, said he accepted his job with Special Olympics about a year ago because it included remote work and allowed him to stay in Hays.

Kaiser directs Special Olympics sports for all of western Kansas and fundraises in an area that stretches to Kansas City.

He said he and his wife, who grew up in Gorham, said they appreciate the quality of life in Hays and wanted to raise their three children, now ages 7, 12 and 17, in Hays.

Kaiser, 38, who grew up in Hays, moved in and out of Hays several times before finally deciding to settle in Hays permanently. 

"I probably would not have taken the job had it not been remote," he said. "It wouldn't have been an option for me. The Hays community is important to me. Giving back to the Hays community and allowing my kids to grow up here is an important piece for me."

Sara Bloom, 38, recently took a job as a community development specialist with the Kansas Department of Commerce. Remote work is allowing her and her family to stay in Hays. Sara and her husband have lived in Hays for 16 years.

"My family and I are rooted in Hays, and we love this community. The fact that I get to serve our entire state in my new position while still making an impact on Hays, is invaluable," she said.

"I feel my location also played a role in my hiring. I get to serve the entire state and that means getting into a lot of communities. Hays is central enough, I can get just about anywhere in four hours or less. That makes traveling easy, and it means I’m home at night for dinner with my family."

"We love the restaurants, the parks, the events and of course all things downtown," she said. "Our kids are happy in their schools and recognize that there are opportunities for them here. 

"We feel connected here in ways that we just didn’t when we lived in more populated areas. Is there room to be better, always, but I want to be a part of that process too, and I can be."

Gabe Warrick, 26, is moving back to Hays with his wife from Lexington, Ky. Warrick works for BlueFrame Technologies, and his company has agreed to let him work remotely.

Both Warrick and his wife are Fort Hays State University graduates and were raised in Larned. The couple wanted to be closer to family in the area.

"I like the people in Hays. We've got some college friends that stuck around Hays and some high school friends as well," he said. ...

"I think I'm looking forward to getting back to Hays with more of the community feel where you can be a little bit more involved."

Williams questioned if the census statistics are really telling the community's whole story.

The number of on-campus students at FHSU has decreased in the last several years, but the number of apartment vacancies is still near to zero, he said.

"We've had an influx of people," he said. "I know we have. I think a lot of it is this remote work and people choosing to move here. It's just hard to validate it from any data."

Challenges remain for Hays, other rural communities

Hays needs to tell its story outside of the community to continue to recruit, Williams said.

"A doctor, they can go anywhere they want. They can live and work anywhere they want," he said.

"We just want to make sure they look at our community and understand the benefits that we have to offer versus maybe Denver were they have to drive an hour to work and get stuck in traffic and housing is crazy expensive."

Housing is more affordable in Hays compared to a metro like Denver, but Hays still has a long way to go to provide enough affordable housing, Williams said.

"We've got to do a better job and speed up the pace," he said of building housing stock, "if we're going to take advantage of this great opportunity of this migration from urban areas to rural areas."

Williams said Hays has a great story to tell. Passage of a school bond issue in May further added to the story of quality of life in the community.

More rural communities in northwest Kansas have gaps, and that not only effects rural Kansas, but Hays as well. Rural areas may not have high-speed broadband access and might lack other amenities that mid-size cities like Hays can offer, Williams said.

Hays relies heavily on drawing retail customers from the larger rural area. As the surrounding rural population dwindles, Hays is going to need to grow to sustain its economy, Williams said.

Hays grew 1.7 percent between 2010 and 2020, but Hays' trade area shrunk by about 5 percent.

"That's an unsustainable situation," Williams said. "We have to keep pace. If that is going to continue, we have to grow at a much faster rate than we have been growing to think we would have the same retail activity. ...

"We don't want to see migration out of this area at all."

While the number of young people leaving Hays is alarming, Williams said he thought Hays is doing the right things to keep more young people in Hays and recruit new individuals and families to the community.

"We're never going to retain as many people as Kansas City, Kan.," he said. "It's just not in the cards, but we can do better than 50 percent."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660062186637.png" alt="Young adult migration map. Other shaded areas show to where Hays young adults are migrating. Image courtesy of U.S. Census Bureau " />
 <figcaption>Young adult migration map. Other shaded areas show to where Hays young adults are migrating. Image courtesy of U.S. Census Bureau </figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostPeople in rural Kansas have talked about the "brain drain" for years.Data released recently by the U.S. Census Bureau showed the statistics behind the loss of young adults from northwest Kansas.Hays is retaining only about 50 percent of young adults between 28 and 36.Doug Williams, Grow Hays executive director, said losing so many young adults is not sustainable unless those individuals can be replaced with other people.The drain of young people is often associated with with job opportunities elsewhere and quality of life issues, Williams said. The study done in cooperation with researchers from Harvard, looked at nationwide statistics divided into commuting areas.<h2>Rural Kansas losing more young adults</h2>More rural areas in northwest Kansas fared worse than Hays.Percent of young adults retained • 30 percent Oberlin • 33 percent Norton • 36 percent Goodland • 37 percent Phillipsburg • 42 percent Colby • 47 percent Great Bend.The youth migration statistics mirrored overall migration patterns in Kansas that were released in 2021. Young people are migrating from rural areas of the state to metro areas.Wichita and the Kansas City metro areas saw much higher young adult retention rates of 68 percent and 73 percent respectively. <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660062875884.png" alt="Number of young adults retained in Hays and communities to which they are migrating. Image courtesy of U.S. Census Bureau" />
 <figcaption>Number of young adults retained in Hays and communities to which they are migrating. Image courtesy of U.S. Census Bureau</figcaption>
 </figure>Just over 8 percent of the young adults who moved from Hays went to Kansas City, 3.8 percent moved to Wichita, and 2.3 percent went to Denver — a total loss of more than 14 percent.Another 7.1 percent of Hays' young adults went to other larger communities in Kansas, including Manhattan, Salina and Topeka."I think that is pretty reflective of what has been happening in rural America, whether it be Hays or smaller communities," Williams said."There is the loss of younger people for a variety of reasons."Sometimes it's better job opportunities elsewhere. Sometimes it's just kids wanting to get to the big city."The average young adult who grew up in Hays moved to an area about 183 miles away for their job. That is 2 miles above the national average (181 miles).Nationally, about 80 percent of young adults stay within 100 miles of where they were raised. Kansas' large geographic area and rural nature bucks that trend. What the statistics don't show is Hays has a fair number of young people come back when they decide to settle down and start families, Williams said. There are jobs in Ellis County, Williams said. Ellis County had a 2.1 percent unemployment rate in June. "Certainly on the job side, I would contend a young person that is a professional whether that is a teacher or a health care provider or even a skilled laborer, there is more than ample opportunity here to make a good living," he said.He said he thought Hays has a good quality of life to offer residents."I focus more on what can we recruit," Williams said. ... "Many experts are saying we are talking about the migration away from urban areas because of the cost, because of crime, because of traffic, because of all the hassle and hustle and bustle because of life in the city. "People are looking to migrate into more rural areas, and I think that is a great opportunity for us, particularly with the remote working capability that can occur now."<h2>Remote work allows some to stay, come home </h2>Prepandemic, one in 67 job postings on LinkedIn were for remote workers. Today, it's one in seven.Brent Kaiser, development and sports coordinator for Special Olympics Kansas, said he accepted his job with Special Olympics about a year ago because it included remote work and allowed him to stay in Hays.Kaiser directs Special Olympics sports for all of western Kansas and fundraises in an area that stretches to Kansas City.He said he and his wife, who grew up in Gorham, said they appreciate the quality of life in Hays and wanted to raise their three children, now ages 7, 12 and 17, in Hays.Kaiser, 38, who grew up in Hays, moved in and out of Hays several times before finally deciding to settle in Hays permanently. "I probably would not have taken the job had it not been remote," he said. "It wouldn't have been an option for me. The Hays community is important to me. Giving back to the Hays community and allowing my kids to grow up here is an important piece for me." Sara Bloom, 38, recently took a job as a community development specialist with the Kansas Department of Commerce. Remote work is allowing her and her family to stay in Hays. Sara and her husband have lived in Hays for 16 years."My family and I are rooted in Hays, and we love this community. The fact that I get to serve our entire state in my new position while still making an impact on Hays, is invaluable," she said."I feel my location also played a role in my hiring. I get to serve the entire state and that means getting into a lot of communities. Hays is central enough, I can get just about anywhere in four hours or less. That makes traveling easy, and it means I’m home at night for dinner with my family."Bloom said Hays is home. "We love the restaurants, the parks, the events and of course all things downtown," she said. "Our kids are happy in their schools and recognize that there are opportunities for them here. "We feel connected here in ways that we just didn’t when we lived in more populated areas. Is there room to be better, always, but I want to be a part of that process too, and I can be."Gabe Warrick, 26, is moving back to Hays with his wife from Lexington, Ky. Warrick works for BlueFrame Technologies, and his company has agreed to let him work remotely.Both Warrick and his wife are Fort Hays State University graduates and were raised in Larned. The couple wanted to be closer to family in the area."I like the people in Hays. We've got some college friends that stuck around Hays and some high school friends as well," he said. ... "I think I'm looking forward to getting back to Hays with more of the community feel where you can be a little bit more involved." Williams questioned if the census statistics are really telling the community's whole story. The number of on-campus students at FHSU has decreased in the last several years, but the number of apartment vacancies is still near to zero, he said. "We've had an influx of people," he said. "I know we have. I think a lot of it is this remote work and people choosing to move here. It's just hard to validate it from any data."<h2>Challenges remain for Hays, other rural communities</h2>Hays needs to tell its story outside of the community to continue to recruit, Williams said."A doctor, they can go anywhere they want. They can live and work anywhere they want," he said."We just want to make sure they look at our community and understand the benefits that we have to offer versus maybe Denver were they have to drive an hour to work and get stuck in traffic and housing is crazy expensive."Housing is more affordable in Hays compared to a metro like Denver, but Hays still has a long way to go to provide enough affordable housing, Williams said. "We've got to do a better job and speed up the pace," he said of building housing stock, "if we're going to take advantage of this great opportunity of this migration from urban areas to rural areas." Williams said Hays has a great story to tell. Passage of a school bond issue in May further added to the story of quality of life in the community. More rural communities in northwest Kansas have gaps, and that not only effects rural Kansas, but Hays as well. Rural areas may not have high-speed broadband access and might lack other amenities that mid-size cities like Hays can offer, Williams said.Hays relies heavily on drawing retail customers from the larger rural area. As the surrounding rural population dwindles, Hays is going to need to grow to sustain its economy, Williams said.Hays grew 1.7 percent between 2010 and 2020, but Hays' trade area shrunk by about 5 percent."That's an unsustainable situation," Williams said. "We have to keep pace. If that is going to continue, we have to grow at a much faster rate than we have been growing to think we would have the same retail activity. ..."We don't want to see migration out of this area at all."While the number of young people leaving Hays is alarming, Williams said he thought Hays is doing the right things to keep more young people in Hays and recruit new individuals and families to the community."We're never going to retain as many people as Kansas City, Kan.," he said. "It's just not in the cards, but we can do better than 50 percent." &nbsp;

Hays sees young adult migration to metros, but remote work may bring some back

Following an extensive search, Fort Hays State University selected Terrance "Terry" Pierce as its next chief of police. Pierce succeeds Edward Howell, who retired from the force in June of this year after a career in law enforcement that spanned 40 years.&nbsp;

Chief Pierce comes to FHSU from Pittsburg State University, where he served as a police sergeant for the last 11 years. A veteran of 26 years of service, Pierce brings a wealth of experience in law enforcement in a university setting.&nbsp;

Hays Police Department Chief Don Scheibler served on the search committee that selected Chief Pierce.&nbsp;

“I was impressed by the qualifications and the professionalism of all the applicants, but Chief Terry Pierce quickly rose to the top as the best candidate to lead the Fort Hays State University Police Department,” said Scheibler. “Chief Pierce’s vast knowledge and law enforcement experience will be instrumental in helping us to keep our community safe.”

Pierce received a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice Administration from Missouri Southern State University in 2007, where he studied as a non-traditional student, taking mostly online courses.&nbsp; In 2015, he earned a Master of Science degree in Human Resource Development from Pittsburg State University. He also holds a Specialist in Education degree in Workforce Development and Education in 2020 from Pittsburg State University.

While at Pittsburg State, Pierce was responsible for supervising police officers and communications officers, enforcing state and local laws, and providing law enforcement services to a campus community of approximately 7,000 employees and students.&nbsp;

He also served on several university committees, including&nbsp;the university’s critical incident and crisis response teams, the budget and finance working group, and the legislative coordinating council. He participated in the support staff senate, where he also served as president.

Prior to his service at Pittsburg State, Pierce served as a city councilman and police officer in Butler, Missouri.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660311573695.png" alt="Pierce" />
 <figcaption>Pierce</figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU University CommunicationsFollowing an extensive search, Fort Hays State University selected Terrance "Terry" Pierce as its next chief of police. Pierce succeeds Edward Howell, who retired from the force in June of this year after a career in law enforcement that spanned 40 years.&nbsp;Chief Pierce comes to FHSU from Pittsburg State University, where he served as a police sergeant for the last 11 years. A veteran of 26 years of service, Pierce brings a wealth of experience in law enforcement in a university setting.&nbsp;Hays Police Department Chief Don Scheibler served on the search committee that selected Chief Pierce.&nbsp;<div><iframe title="FHSU selects next Chief of Police" allowtransparency="true" height="300" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=86g49-12986ef-pb&from=pb6admin&square=1&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=auto&logo_link=podcast_page&btn-skin=3267a3&size=300" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>“I was impressed by the qualifications and the professionalism of all the applicants, but Chief Terry Pierce quickly rose to the top as the best candidate to lead the Fort Hays State University Police Department,” said Scheibler. “Chief Pierce’s vast knowledge and law enforcement experience will be instrumental in helping us to keep our community safe.”Pierce received a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice Administration from Missouri Southern State University in 2007, where he studied as a non-traditional student, taking mostly online courses.&nbsp; In 2015, he earned a Master of Science degree in Human Resource Development from Pittsburg State University. He also holds a Specialist in Education degree in Workforce Development and Education in 2020 from Pittsburg State University.While at Pittsburg State, Pierce was responsible for supervising police officers and communications officers, enforcing state and local laws, and providing law enforcement services to a campus community of approximately 7,000 employees and students.&nbsp;He also served on several university committees, including&nbsp;the university’s critical incident and crisis response teams, the budget and finance working group, and the legislative coordinating council. He participated in the support staff senate, where he also served as president.Prior to his service at Pittsburg State, Pierce served as a city councilman and police officer in Butler, Missouri.

🎙 Fort Hays State University welcomes new chief of police

NWK Economic Innovation Center Inc. Program Director Lucas Goddard announced this week that planning is underway for a Rural &amp; Remote Summit: Connected
Communities. This free event is open to anyone interested in how remote working is impacting
rural communities in the northwest region of Kansas. The summit will be in Hays on
Sept. 22 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.


“This is an opportunity to find out more about our program, to interact with our team and other
local supporters of remote work, and to hear how local communities are becoming 'remote work
friendly,' " said Gretchin Staples, program coordinator.


Rural &amp; Remote is an initiative of the NorthWestKansas Economic Innovation Center Inc. and
was started in the spring of 2019. For over three years, Rural &amp; Remote has helped train and
connect northwest Kansas residents to remote job opportunities with customized skills training
and job placement support. They have established themselves as a local authority on remote
work and how communities can be prepared and welcoming to remote workers.


Brittany Pennington of Hays attended the 2021 Summit and was encouraged by what she
heard. She had recently been accepted into the Rural &amp; Remote program and completed her
Remote Skills Certification, and was now ready to find her ideal remote job. Listening to the
success stories that day really made an impact, especially Stuart Schmidt. 

“I knew that I was
looking for something very specific, but the interview with Stuart, a fellow Smith Center Redman,
caught my eye and made me think it was possible,” she said. 

Pennington used the job placement support
from the team and ultimately found online employment that fit around her busy schedule. As
for her experience with Rural &amp; Remote, Pennington could not be happier. 

“Rural &amp; Remote was
an incredible experience," she said. 

You can read more of Pennington's story at <a href="https://nwkeici.org/blog/">https://nwkeici.org/blog/</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660235628445.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>News releaseNWK Economic Innovation Center Inc. Program Director Lucas Goddard announced this week that planning is underway for a Rural &amp; Remote Summit: Connected
Communities. This free event is open to anyone interested in how remote working is impacting
rural communities in the northwest region of Kansas. The summit will be in Hays on
Sept. 22 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
“This is an opportunity to find out more about our program, to interact with our team and other
local supporters of remote work, and to hear how local communities are becoming 'remote work
friendly,' " said Gretchin Staples, program coordinator.
Rural &amp; Remote is an initiative of the NorthWestKansas Economic Innovation Center Inc. and
was started in the spring of 2019. For over three years, Rural &amp; Remote has helped train and
connect northwest Kansas residents to remote job opportunities with customized skills training
and job placement support. They have established themselves as a local authority on remote
work and how communities can be prepared and welcoming to remote workers.
Brittany Pennington of Hays attended the 2021 Summit and was encouraged by what she
heard. She had recently been accepted into the Rural &amp; Remote program and completed her
Remote Skills Certification, and was now ready to find her ideal remote job. Listening to the
success stories that day really made an impact, especially Stuart Schmidt. “I knew that I was
looking for something very specific, but the interview with Stuart, a fellow Smith Center Redman,
caught my eye and made me think it was possible,” she said. Pennington used the job placement support
from the team and ultimately found online employment that fit around her busy schedule. As
for her experience with Rural &amp; Remote, Pennington could not be happier. “Rural &amp; Remote was
an incredible experience," she said. You can read more of Pennington's story at <a href="https://nwkeici.org/blog/">https://nwkeici.org/blog/</a>.

Rural & Remote fall summit scheduled next month in Hays

In July, Hays residents saw 24 days of 90+ degree weather. Those numbers are concerning when it comes to the potential for illnesses such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke, according to Dr. Jeff Curtis, medical director of FHSU’s Health and Wellness Services.&nbsp;

Symptoms of heat exhaustion, which can lead to heat stroke, include weakness, dizziness, upset stomach, and heavy perspiration.

“Heat exhaustion is generally not fatal and generally treatable as long those around the individual recognize the illness,” Curtis said. However, on rare occasions, heat stroke can follow. Heat stroke symptoms include extreme skin redness, core temperature from 104 to 105, and mental confusion.

“It’s said to be more than 50-50 fatal if heat stroke develops,” Curtis said. “Most heat stroke is preceded by heat exhaustion. I think it’s really important to educate people about the seriousness if it progresses to heat stroke.”

Specific subsets of individuals, such as the elderly, people with chronic illness, or people taking certain medications, are more susceptible to heat stroke. He said that many individuals on the FHSU campus likely fall into one or more categories.&nbsp;

According to Curtis, as sports practices begin on campus, student-athletes should be aware of the potential for heat-related illness. He recently consulted with athletic trainers regarding cardiac emergencies in general.&nbsp;

Updates to the FHSU Sports Medicine Heat Illness Policy are currently under review by Dr. Wally Walstrom, Athletics Health Care Administrator. Modifications have been made regarding preventing, monitoring, and treating heat-related illnesses/injuries. Kota Wakasa, Assistant Athletic Trainer, said that the new policy sets a “clear line for activity termination,” among other details.&nbsp;

Procedures for preventing exertional heat illness for student-athletes begin with an annual pre-participation physical examination to identify possible pre-existing conditions which place the student at risk of heat-related illness. Environmental monitoring is required when temperatures are expected to exceed 80 degrees during scheduled practice times. Further heat-illness prevention procedures include acclimatization and hydration.

For the general population, knowing when to seek medical attention for a heat-related illness is critical.

“First sign of heat stroke is you stop sweating, you are red as a beet, burning up, and most commonly, the individual isn’t making sense,” Curtis said. “Altered mental state, confused or obtunded. That is really serious. Those people need to call 911.”

Prevention and common sense are keys to beating heat-related illnesses. Curtis stressed the importance of pre-hydration or drinking plenty of fluids before feeling thirsty.

“If you know it’s going to be a hot day, plan your day,” Curtis said. “If you can, divide your tasks into small segments. Work for 15 minutes, then go inside. Cool off, get a drink. It’s going to take a lot longer, but your body will reapportion itself.”

As climate changes potentially bring about shifting seasons, higher temperatures, and drier conditions for the central U.S., Curtis said it is important to be aware that summer temperatures can continue into what we once considered fall.&nbsp;

“What we traditionally think of as summer may not be summer,” Curtis said. “We may just be starting summer. It may not end on Sept. 21 but may go on until Nov. 1. We need to be aware that the fifth football game of the season might be played in 95-degree temperatures.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660228013074.jpg" alt="Image courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU University CommunicationsIn July, Hays residents saw 24 days of 90+ degree weather. Those numbers are concerning when it comes to the potential for illnesses such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke, according to Dr. Jeff Curtis, medical director of FHSU’s Health and Wellness Services.&nbsp;Symptoms of heat exhaustion, which can lead to heat stroke, include weakness, dizziness, upset stomach, and heavy perspiration.“Heat exhaustion is generally not fatal and generally treatable as long those around the individual recognize the illness,” Curtis said. However, on rare occasions, heat stroke can follow. Heat stroke symptoms include extreme skin redness, core temperature from 104 to 105, and mental confusion.“It’s said to be more than 50-50 fatal if heat stroke develops,” Curtis said. “Most heat stroke is preceded by heat exhaustion. I think it’s really important to educate people about the seriousness if it progresses to heat stroke.”Specific subsets of individuals, such as the elderly, people with chronic illness, or people taking certain medications, are more susceptible to heat stroke. He said that many individuals on the FHSU campus likely fall into one or more categories.&nbsp;According to Curtis, as sports practices begin on campus, student-athletes should be aware of the potential for heat-related illness. He recently consulted with athletic trainers regarding cardiac emergencies in general.&nbsp;Updates to the FHSU Sports Medicine Heat Illness Policy are currently under review by Dr. Wally Walstrom, Athletics Health Care Administrator. Modifications have been made regarding preventing, monitoring, and treating heat-related illnesses/injuries. Kota Wakasa, Assistant Athletic Trainer, said that the new policy sets a “clear line for activity termination,” among other details.&nbsp;Procedures for preventing exertional heat illness for student-athletes begin with an annual pre-participation physical examination to identify possible pre-existing conditions which place the student at risk of heat-related illness. Environmental monitoring is required when temperatures are expected to exceed 80 degrees during scheduled practice times. Further heat-illness prevention procedures include acclimatization and hydration.For the general population, knowing when to seek medical attention for a heat-related illness is critical.“First sign of heat stroke is you stop sweating, you are red as a beet, burning up, and most commonly, the individual isn’t making sense,” Curtis said. “Altered mental state, confused or obtunded. That is really serious. Those people need to call 911.”Prevention and common sense are keys to beating heat-related illnesses. Curtis stressed the importance of pre-hydration or drinking plenty of fluids before feeling thirsty.“If you know it’s going to be a hot day, plan your day,” Curtis said. “If you can, divide your tasks into small segments. Work for 15 minutes, then go inside. Cool off, get a drink. It’s going to take a lot longer, but your body will reapportion itself.”As climate changes potentially bring about shifting seasons, higher temperatures, and drier conditions for the central U.S., Curtis said it is important to be aware that summer temperatures can continue into what we once considered fall.&nbsp;“What we traditionally think of as summer may not be summer,” Curtis said. “We may just be starting summer. It may not end on Sept. 21 but may go on until Nov. 1. We need to be aware that the fifth football game of the season might be played in 95-degree temperatures.”

Prevention key to avoiding heat-related illness

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660328752223.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>

By MIKE COURSON Great Bend Post

From the 
sidelines of Great Bend High School to the dugout in Minnesota's Target 
Field, recent Great Bend High grad Molly Kaiser is making the most of 
her time at Kansas State University. This summer, she is winding down 
her journalism degree with an internship with the Minnesota Twins. 

"I
 started in high school with yearbook," Kaiser said. "That's kind of 
where my passion for sports photography grew. I had a passion for 
photography since a pretty young age, but through yearbook, I got 
introduced to the profession of sports photography, and just made it my 
goal to make it."

After graduating from GBHS in 2019, Kaiser 
headed to Manhattan to study journalism and mass communications with a 
minor in sports marketing. She did not shoot photos during her freshman 
year at K-State, but after COVID hit, she applied and was accepted for 
an internship with K-State Athletics. That turned into a paid position, 
and Kaiser has shot every sport at the school. Last year, she traveled 
with the women's basketball team as a full-time photographer.

"It was cool to experience the NCAA Tournament," she said. "I'm 
really excited for this year because we're going to the U.S. Virgin 
Islands for one of our tournaments. I think the coolest place I went 
last year was South Carolina."

All along, Kaiser is able to keep 
up with her school work. She gives credit to her advisor, who helps her 
with online classes and meeting with professors ahead of each semester.

"It
 is very challenging, and I definitely have to have my priorities 
straight on making sure school is still my top priority throughout all 
this," she said.

Approximately 10 Major League Baseball teams offer internships to 
photographers, and Kaiser applied for the position in four of the 
markets. She advanced in the process with Cleveland and Minnesota, 
eventually accepting a paid job with the Twins.

"I decided that 
the Twins were right for me," Kaiser said. "The sports photographer they
 have on staff has been a huge mentor for me, even before this 
internship. It's just super cool to be learning from him."

Kaiser 
uses her own equipment while shooting for K-State, but gets to borrow 
some additional items in Minneapolis. She uses two cameras during games,
 but with another photographer in the other dugout, does not have to 
operate by remote.

"All the guys are so nice on the Twins," she 
said. "I don't think I've had a bad interaction with any of the guys. 
It's just so awesome to be within arm's reach of some of the best 
athletes. Our setup for the stadium is super nice. We have positions 
right by our dugout and the visiting dugout. We are very spoiled."

Kaiser's
 boss in Minnesota is also an affiliate for USA Today and Getty Images, 
which sends photos to media outlets worldwide. He put Kaiser in touch 
with freelancers at USA Today, and for that publication, she will be 
working the upcoming Major League Soccer All-Star Game in neighboring 
St. Paul this weekend. Kaiser recently worked a concert by country 
artist Cole Swindell.

"It was a very cool experience," she said. "It was the first of its 
kind. I got to shoot directly for Cole Swindell. I got to really get to 
know him before the concert and was able to capture the experience of 
the first-ever after-game concert series."

Kaiser is preparing for her senior year at K-State. After that, the future remains wide open but will probably involve a camera.

"I
 would love to stay with a pro team," she said. "I'm leaning toward MLB 
just because I like the schedule; I like all the games in a row. It's 
what I like to do. I know there will be some college opportunities if 
I'm unable to get an MLB position right off the bat."

Molly is the daughter of Leonard and Brenda Kaiser of Great Bend.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660315603436.jpeg" alt="Molly Kaiser, a 2019 Great Bend High School graduate, is completing an internship with the Minnesota Twins." />
 <figcaption>Molly Kaiser, a 2019 Great Bend High School graduate, is completing an internship with the Minnesota Twins.</figcaption>
 </figure>By MIKE COURSON Great Bend PostFrom the 
sidelines of Great Bend High School to the dugout in Minnesota's Target 
Field, recent Great Bend High grad Molly Kaiser is making the most of 
her time at Kansas State University. This summer, she is winding down 
her journalism degree with an internship with the Minnesota Twins. "I
 started in high school with yearbook," Kaiser said. "That's kind of 
where my passion for sports photography grew. I had a passion for 
photography since a pretty young age, but through yearbook, I got 
introduced to the profession of sports photography, and just made it my 
goal to make it."After graduating from GBHS in 2019, Kaiser 
headed to Manhattan to study journalism and mass communications with a 
minor in sports marketing. She did not shoot photos during her freshman 
year at K-State, but after COVID hit, she applied and was accepted for 
an internship with K-State Athletics. That turned into a paid position, 
and Kaiser has shot every sport at the school. Last year, she traveled 
with the women's basketball team as a full-time photographer.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660316378655.jpeg" alt="Photo by Molly Kaiser" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Molly Kaiser</figcaption>
 </figure>"It was cool to experience the NCAA Tournament," she said. "I'm 
really excited for this year because we're going to the U.S. Virgin 
Islands for one of our tournaments. I think the coolest place I went 
last year was South Carolina."All along, Kaiser is able to keep 
up with her school work. She gives credit to her advisor, who helps her 
with online classes and meeting with professors ahead of each semester."It
 is very challenging, and I definitely have to have my priorities 
straight on making sure school is still my top priority throughout all 
this," she said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660317379170.jpeg" alt="Photo by Molly Kaiser" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Molly Kaiser</figcaption>
 </figure>Approximately 10 Major League Baseball teams offer internships to 
photographers, and Kaiser applied for the position in four of the 
markets. She advanced in the process with Cleveland and Minnesota, 
eventually accepting a paid job with the Twins."I decided that 
the Twins were right for me," Kaiser said. "The sports photographer they
 have on staff has been a huge mentor for me, even before this 
internship. It's just super cool to be learning from him."Kaiser 
uses her own equipment while shooting for K-State, but gets to borrow 
some additional items in Minneapolis. She uses two cameras during games,
 but with another photographer in the other dugout, does not have to 
operate by remote."All the guys are so nice on the Twins," she 
said. "I don't think I've had a bad interaction with any of the guys. 
It's just so awesome to be within arm's reach of some of the best 
athletes. Our setup for the stadium is super nice. We have positions 
right by our dugout and the visiting dugout. We are very spoiled."Kaiser's
 boss in Minnesota is also an affiliate for USA Today and Getty Images, 
which sends photos to media outlets worldwide. He put Kaiser in touch 
with freelancers at USA Today, and for that publication, she will be 
working the upcoming Major League Soccer All-Star Game in neighboring 
St. Paul this weekend. Kaiser recently worked a concert by country 
artist Cole Swindell."It was a very cool experience," she said. "It was the first of its 
kind. I got to shoot directly for Cole Swindell. I got to really get to 
know him before the concert and was able to capture the experience of 
the first-ever after-game concert series."Kaiser is preparing for her senior year at K-State. After that, the future remains wide open but will probably involve a camera."I
 would love to stay with a pro team," she said. "I'm leaning toward MLB 
just because I like the schedule; I like all the games in a row. It's 
what I like to do. I know there will be some college opportunities if 
I'm unable to get an MLB position right off the bat."Molly is the daughter of Leonard and Brenda Kaiser of Great Bend.&nbsp;

Recent Great Bend grad shooting photos for Minnesota Twins

The National Weather Service is calling for high temperatures of 100 to 106 degrees across western Kansas into next week.

In the Hays area, a high of 100 is expected on Saturday, with a high of up to 104 on Sunday. A high of 102 degrees is expected Monday.

Relief is on the way as a cooler front moves into the area Monday evening. There is a 20 percent to 40 percent chance of rain or thunderstorms after midnight Monday and through Tuesday night.

The temperature is expected to remain mild through next week, with highs of 82 to 88 degrees Tuesday through Friday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660338539978.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The National Weather Service is calling for high temperatures of 100 to 106 degrees across western Kansas into next week.In the Hays area, a high of 100 is expected on Saturday, with a high of up to 104 on Sunday. A high of 102 degrees is expected Monday.Relief is on the way as a cooler front moves into the area Monday evening. There is a 20 percent to 40 percent chance of rain or thunderstorms after midnight Monday and through Tuesday night.The temperature is expected to remain mild through next week, with highs of 82 to 88 degrees Tuesday through Friday.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Afternoon temperatures will continue to climb a few degrees each day, with the heat peaking Sunday and Monday, when triple digits will be common. A cold front is still expected to deliver relief from the heat Tuesday and Wednesday. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/kswx?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#kswx</a> <a href="https://t.co/aLLBsNOKp7">pic.twitter.com/aLLBsNOKp7</a>&mdash; NWS Dodge City (@NWSDodgeCity) <a href="https://twitter.com/NWSDodgeCity/status/1558050223242428416?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 12, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> </div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">After several very hot days Saturday through Monday, a cold front is expected to arrive on Tuesday. Afternoon temperatures in the 80s Wednesday will be several degrees below normal for mid August. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/kswx?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#kswx</a> <a href="https://t.co/hwT37pcudP">pic.twitter.com/hwT37pcudP</a>&mdash; NWS Dodge City (@NWSDodgeCity) <a href="https://twitter.com/NWSDodgeCity/status/1558150138270343168?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 12, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> </div>

NWS: Brutal, dangerous heat this weekend in NW. Kan.

The Hays school board voted 6-1 Friday morning to reverse its prohibition on Satanism in the schools' dress code.

The school board met in executive session for 45 minutes in consultation with its attorney and an attorney from the Kansas Association of School Boards.

About two dozen community members were present at the meeting, but there was no public comment session during the special meeting.

The revised policy unifies all the school dress code policies in the district to match board and KASB policy. It says ...

"Students must dress in a manner that is not obscene, offensive or substantially or materially disruptive to the learning environment. Apparel that is sexually suggestive or that promotes violence, illegal activities, drugs, alcohol or tobacco or that is determined to be gang related is prohibited."

Board member Tammy Wellbrock said the changes allows for consistency across the district. Board member Meagan Zampieri-Lillpopp said the consistency will help families.

The former policy in the elementary and middle school handbooks specially prohibited apparel that promoted satanism. <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/e153a0fc-fe06-4de4-b5c7-d6f0d57fa59b">At the board's July meeting, a parent, who said she was a longtime member of the Satanic Temple, opposed the policy because she said it infringed on her children's expression of their religion.</a>

The handbooks were brought back to the board with the word satanism removed from the elementary and middle school handbooks. The high school handbook never specifically addressed satanism.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/232ef2ef-ffa2-4666-9afa-3fe0993b01bb">The board Aug. 5 on a vote of 5-2 added a prohibition to satanic apparel to all of the schools' handbooks. </a>

The board's attorney at that Aug. 5 meeting told members they might be opening the district to a lawsuit based on that action.

The board Friday did not specifically address if the district had been threatened with a lawsuit. However, Hays Post received a copy of an open records request that had been submitted to the district on materials related to the satanism issue filed by Adam Steinbaugh, a First Amendment attorney.

Board member Curt Vajnar, who had initially made the motion on Aug. 5 to add the prohibition of satanic apparel to all school handbooks, referenced the threat of lawsuits prior to his vote to support the removal of the reference to satanism in the handbooks on Friday.

"I will vote yes for this," Vajnar said. "I don't like it. The liability of teachers and administrators does concern me. If we are going to lose millions of dollars in a lawsuit, and we have no way to win, we're caught."

Board Member Allen Park, who also initially voted for the prohibition of satanic apparel, also backpedaled Friday.

"I appreciate all the interests and concerns of our citizens," Park said. "I think we need to have that information. I think we can all agree there is a reason there is a separation of church and state in there, and this is what we have been practicing for almost a decade."

Board President Craig Pallister also reversed his stance on the issue.

"It has been hard on all the people who have been in this discussion," Pallister said, "because you have your heart. You have your head, and you have your position on the school board. I have had to really look at my heart, my head and my position on the school board and, as Curt said, the legal liability."

Pallister, who is a former district middle school principal, said the change will allow administrators to quell any disruption to the school day.

Board Ken Brooks was the lone board member who voted to oppose the removal of satanism as a prohibited part of the dress code.

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostThe Hays school board voted 6-1 Friday morning to reverse its prohibition on Satanism in the schools' dress code.The school board met in executive session for 45 minutes in consultation with its attorney and an attorney from the Kansas Association of School Boards.About two dozen community members were present at the meeting, but there was no public comment session during the special meeting.The revised policy unifies all the school dress code policies in the district to match board and KASB policy. It says ..."Students must dress in a manner that is not obscene, offensive or substantially or materially disruptive to the learning environment. Apparel that is sexually suggestive or that promotes violence, illegal activities, drugs, alcohol or tobacco or that is determined to be gang related is prohibited."Board member Tammy Wellbrock said the changes allows for consistency across the district. Board member Meagan Zampieri-Lillpopp said the consistency will help families. The former policy in the elementary and middle school handbooks specially prohibited apparel that promoted satanism. <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/e153a0fc-fe06-4de4-b5c7-d6f0d57fa59b">At the board's July meeting, a parent, who said she was a longtime member of the Satanic Temple, opposed the policy because she said it infringed on her children's expression of their religion.</a>The handbooks were brought back to the board with the word satanism removed from the elementary and middle school handbooks. The high school handbook never specifically addressed satanism.<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/232ef2ef-ffa2-4666-9afa-3fe0993b01bb">The board Aug. 5 on a vote of 5-2 added a prohibition to satanic apparel to all of the schools' handbooks. </a>The board's attorney at that Aug. 5 meeting told members they might be opening the district to a lawsuit based on that action.The board Friday did not specifically address if the district had been threatened with a lawsuit. However, Hays Post received a copy of an open records request that had been submitted to the district on materials related to the satanism issue filed by Adam Steinbaugh, a First Amendment attorney.Board member Curt Vajnar, who had initially made the motion on Aug. 5 to add the prohibition of satanic apparel to all school handbooks, referenced the threat of lawsuits prior to his vote to support the removal of the reference to satanism in the handbooks on Friday."I will vote yes for this," Vajnar said. "I don't like it. The liability of teachers and administrators does concern me. If we are going to lose millions of dollars in a lawsuit, and we have no way to win, we're caught." Board Member Allen Park, who also initially voted for the prohibition of satanic apparel, also backpedaled Friday."I appreciate all the interests and concerns of our citizens," Park said. "I think we need to have that information. I think we can all agree there is a reason there is a separation of church and state in there, and this is what we have been practicing for almost a decade."Board President Craig Pallister also reversed his stance on the issue."It has been hard on all the people who have been in this discussion," Pallister said, "because you have your heart. You have your head, and you have your position on the school board. I have had to really look at my heart, my head and my position on the school board and, as Curt said, the legal liability."Pallister, who is a former district middle school principal, said the change will allow administrators to quell any disruption to the school day. Board Ken Brooks was the lone board member who voted to oppose the removal of satanism as a prohibited part of the dress code.

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