Local colleges seek to fill need for workers in building trades

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

The construction industry is facing a shortage of workers locally and nationwide, which is delaying and adding costs to much-needed housing projects.

The industry needs 650,000 workers in order to meet demand
 in 2022, according to Associated Builders and Contractors. 

The workforce dilemma is being made worse as skilled workers age out of the workforce and fewer young workers are taking their place.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in five construction workers are older than 55.

Local schools, such as NCK Tech and the Department for Applied Technology at Fort Hays State University are working to fill positions with new workers, but gaps remain, said Doug Williams, Grow Hays executive director.

Williams said the area has a shortage of framers and companies that can build foundations and basements. He said only one basement company, based in Larned, is available in the area.

"It's not much competition and makes us pretty vulnerable," Williams said.

Williams said a local developer had eight basements installed, but is waiting up to 45 days to get framers on site. 

He said the worker shortage creates a cascade effect on the housing market.

"It pushes everything back and slows down the process," Williams said. "Our ability to get those houses done and people to move into them and sell the houses they are in — it slows down the whole chain of events."

Williams said a lack of competition also tends to result in higher prices. With delays, developers are also facing the volatility of the materials market. If they don't know if material costs or going to go up or down, they have to build contingencies into their budgets.

Pay is strong for workers going into skilled fields, such as plumbers, electricians, HVAC professionals and carpenters.

"If you can learn a trade, you can be assured employment and a good living," he said.

NCK Tech graduated 18 students from its building trades program this spring. Twenty-three students are enrolled in the nine-month program that starts in the fall. The program has a wait list.

Brandon Jacobs, NCK Tech carpentry and cabinetmaking instructor, said the school's graduates are in high demand. Companies from all over the state visit campus to recruit students. 

"This type of trade is highly sought after right now," Jacobs said. "We are at capacity student-wise, but it would seem that the field's at a shortage. Everybody is looking for help in almost all the trades, not only construction and carpentry."

Cody Blew of Phillipsburg was one of the May graduates from the program. Blew entered the NCK Tech program directly out of high school.

"There's plenty of work and it's a fulfilling job," he said of his choice of the building profession. "It's something that the world needs."

Carpentry student Demetrio Flores of Liberal will be continuing at NCK Tech in the business management track. He hopes to eventually own his own construction business.

Flores started his education at Fort Hays State University but said he didn't feel that was the right place for him and made the switch after a year.

"There's plenty of work to do," he said."There's always going to be carpentry jobs wherever you go."

The culmination of the NCK Tech carpentry program is the construction of a house, which sold at auction in the spring. The students design and choose all of the materials for the home, Jacobs said.

FHSU has two tracks in the building trades — construction technology and construction management.

Students from both degree tracks will likely become foremen or superintendents. The students in the applied technology track are more likely to enter the residential market, and the students in the management track are more likely to work in commercial construction, said Kim Stewart, chairman of the Center of Applied Technology.

Although accounting for inflation, construction spending over the last 12 months is down, more workers will be needed to fill projects created by the federal $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

Ten years ago, the department created the construction management track with two students. The track has 80 students now. The construction technology track has about 20 students. The program not only draws students from Kansas, but also from surrounding states.

The department has a 96 percent to 98 percent job placement rate within a year of graduation. Stewart in part attributed the high placement rate to the two internships most students complete before graduating.

This summer the program has 49 students on internships. Those students have been placed locally and across the Midwest.

Stewart said construction management industry growth is estimated at 10 percent to 11 percent during the next five to eight years.

Entry-level construction managers can earn $55,000 to $60,000 per year, Stewart said.

Stewart said FHSU graduates would likely be working on projects similar to the Center for Applied Technology building, which was a multi-million dollar project.

Graduates are also being hired to work on roads, bridges and other infrastructure projects.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1654299939002.jpeg" alt="Home under construction near 22nd and Wheatland. Photo by James Bell/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Home under construction near 22nd and Wheatland. Photo by James Bell/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Local colleges seek to fill need for workers in building trades</h2>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post The construction industry is facing a shortage of workers locally and nationwide, which is delaying and adding costs to much-needed housing projects. The industry needs 650,000 workers in order to meet demand
 in 2022, according to Associated Builders and Contractors. The workforce dilemma is being made worse as skilled workers age out of the workforce and fewer young workers are taking their place. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in five construction workers are older than 55. Local schools, such as NCK Tech and the Department for Applied Technology at Fort Hays State University are working to fill positions with new workers, but gaps remain, said Doug Williams, Grow Hays executive director.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1654299923155.jpeg" alt="Home under construction near 22nd and Wheatland. Photo by James Bell/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Home under construction near 22nd and Wheatland. Photo by James Bell/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>Williams said the area has a shortage of framers and companies that can build foundations and basements. He said only one basement company, based in Larned, is available in the area. "It's not much competition and makes us pretty vulnerable," Williams said.Williams said a local developer had eight basements installed, but is waiting up to 45 days to get framers on site. He said the worker shortage creates a cascade effect on the housing market. "It pushes everything back and slows down the process," Williams said. "Our ability to get those houses done and people to move into them and sell the houses they are in — it slows down the whole chain of events."Williams said a lack of competition also tends to result in higher prices. With delays, developers are also facing the volatility of the materials market. If they don't know if material costs or going to go up or down, they have to build contingencies into their budgets.<h2>Training the next generation of workers</h2>Pay is strong for workers going into skilled fields, such as plumbers, electricians, HVAC professionals and carpenters."If you can learn a trade, you can be assured employment and a good living," he said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1654267300888.jpeg" alt="The culmination of the carpentry program at NCK Tech is the construction of a house, which is auctioned to the public in the spring. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post " />
 <figcaption>The culmination of the carpentry program at NCK Tech is the construction of a house, which is auctioned to the public in the spring. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post </figcaption>
 </figure>NCK Tech graduated 18 students from its building trades program this spring. Twenty-three students are enrolled in the nine-month program that starts in the fall. The program has a wait list. Brandon Jacobs, NCK Tech carpentry and cabinetmaking instructor, said the school's graduates are in high demand. Companies from all over the state visit campus to recruit students. "This type of trade is highly sought after right now," Jacobs said. "We are at capacity student-wise, but it would seem that the field's at a shortage. Everybody is looking for help in almost all the trades, not only construction and carpentry."Cody Blew of Phillipsburg was one of the May graduates from the program. Blew entered the NCK Tech program directly out of high school. "There's plenty of work and it's a fulfilling job," he said of his choice of the building profession. "It's something that the world needs." <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1654267522973.jpeg" alt="NCK Tech students talk with each other at the ribbon cutting for the carpentry house in May. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post " />
 <figcaption>NCK Tech students talk with each other at the ribbon cutting for the carpentry house in May. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post </figcaption>
 </figure>Carpentry student Demetrio Flores of Liberal will be continuing at NCK Tech in the business management track. He hopes to eventually own his own construction business.Flores started his education at Fort Hays State University but said he didn't feel that was the right place for him and made the switch after a year. "There's plenty of work to do," he said."There's always going to be carpentry jobs wherever you go."The culmination of the NCK Tech carpentry program is the construction of a house, which sold at auction in the spring. The students design and choose all of the materials for the home, Jacobs said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1578078029117.jpeg" alt="Fort Hays State University Center for Applied Technology. Photo by James Bell/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Fort Hays State University Center for Applied Technology. Photo by James Bell/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>FHSU program grows rapidly</h2>FHSU has two tracks in the building trades — construction technology and construction management.Students from both degree tracks will likely become foremen or superintendents. The students in the applied technology track are more likely to enter the residential market, and the students in the management track are more likely to work in commercial construction, said Kim Stewart, chairman of the Center of Applied Technology.Although accounting for inflation, construction spending over the last 12 months is down, more workers will be needed to fill projects created by the federal $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.Ten years ago, the department created the construction management track with two students. The track has 80 students now. The construction technology track has about 20 students. The program not only draws students from Kansas, but also from surrounding states. The department has a 96 percent to 98 percent job placement rate within a year of graduation. Stewart in part attributed the high placement rate to the two internships most students complete before graduating.This summer the program has 49 students on internships. Those students have been placed locally and across the Midwest. Stewart said construction management industry growth is estimated at 10 percent to 11 percent during the next five to eight years. Entry-level construction managers can earn $55,000 to $60,000 per year, Stewart said.Stewart said FHSU graduates would likely be working on projects similar to the Center for Applied Technology building, which was a multi-million dollar project.Graduates are also being hired to work on roads, bridges and other infrastructure projects.

Building trades worker shortage slows local housing projects

Continuing a process that began over two years ago, the Hays Chamber is again attempting to create an insurance offering for members, this time attracting a big name to the project — BlueCross Blue Shield.

"We've tried to be proactive on putting together some affordable health insurance options for our Chamber members," said Hays Chamber President and CEO Sarah Wasinger. "The last two attempts, unfortunately, at this point in time had not been successful."

Those unsuccessful attempts led the chamber to explore other options.

"We are very excited about it because it's a name and insurance that people are very used to around here in western Kansas and that they know and they trust. It's called Chamber Blue of Kansas," she said.

Chamber Blue of Kansas, she said, is designed specifically for use by chambers of commerce.&nbsp;

The Hays Chamber has access to the plan through its affiliation with the Chambers of Commerce Executives of Kansas.

Wasinger said nearly 40 chambers of commerce across the state are participating members in the plan.&nbsp;

"So the goal of this plan is to essentially have all of us pool our resources together," she said.

Three sessions have been scheduled to allow for area businesses to find out more about the plan.&nbsp;

The first is slated for noon June 13 at The Venue at Thirsty's Brew Pub and Grill, 2704 Vine, during the chamber's Lunch and Learn session. RSVPs are required. Lunch will be available for $12.

The second event is scheduled for 8 a.m. July 13 at The Press, 230 E. Eighth, and the third at 9 a.m. Aug. 5 at the Hays Welcome Center, 2700 Vine.

"You don't have to be a chamber member to come learn about it," Wasinger said. Instead, these meetings are designed to explore the need, while allowing anyone with interest to learn more details.

But if implemented, only chamber members would be able to take advantage of the insurance program.

The chamber will use the information collected from interested parties to secure rates from the company.

"You can't really rate a group or get proper premium prices in place, and make sure that they're going to be valid quotes unless you kind of have that pre-data from that group that you're going to insure," Wasinger said. "So we're asking for folks whether they are currently chamber members or not to come learn about the plan."

An interest survey is also slated to be distributed in August.

"If you are a chamber member, we're going to be sending out a link to that survey," Wasinger said. It will also be available in the weekly chamber news email blast and the Monthly newsletter.

If implemented, the insurance offering would begin in January.

While the details continue to be shared, Wasinger said the potential offering could be a financial benefit to businesses — and could also help recruit and retain employees.

"As a small business owner, one of your biggest expenses right now is probably going to be, outside of payroll, your insurance," Wasinger said. "There are so many challenges to our workforce already (including) being able to entice people to fill those spots that you have in your organization.

"Having strong benefits is very necessary right now in order to compete with your cohorts across the region," she continued. "And so, we just think this is going to be one more tool in that kit to make your business stand out above the crowd."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1654708891033.jpg" alt="Image courtesy Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By JAMES BELL Hays PostContinuing a process that began over two years ago, the Hays Chamber is again attempting to create an insurance offering for members, this time attracting a big name to the project — BlueCross Blue Shield."We've tried to be proactive on putting together some affordable health insurance options for our Chamber members," said Hays Chamber President and CEO Sarah Wasinger. "The last two attempts, unfortunately, at this point in time had not been successful."Those unsuccessful attempts led the chamber to explore other options."We are very excited about it because it's a name and insurance that people are very used to around here in western Kansas and that they know and they trust. It's called Chamber Blue of Kansas," she said.<div><iframe title="Hays Chamber explores Blue Cross insurance option for members" 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=27dhk-1246341-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>Chamber Blue of Kansas, she said, is designed specifically for use by chambers of commerce.&nbsp;The Hays Chamber has access to the plan through its affiliation with the Chambers of Commerce Executives of Kansas.Wasinger said nearly 40 chambers of commerce across the state are participating members in the plan.&nbsp;"So the goal of this plan is to essentially have all of us pool our resources together," she said.Three sessions have been scheduled to allow for area businesses to find out more about the plan.&nbsp;The first is slated for noon June 13 at The Venue at Thirsty's Brew Pub and Grill, 2704 Vine, during the chamber's Lunch and Learn session. RSVPs are required. Lunch will be available for $12.The second event is scheduled for 8 a.m. July 13 at The Press, 230 E. Eighth, and the third at 9 a.m. Aug. 5 at the Hays Welcome Center, 2700 Vine."You don't have to be a chamber member to come learn about it," Wasinger said. Instead, these meetings are designed to explore the need, while allowing anyone with interest to learn more details.But if implemented, only chamber members would be able to take advantage of the insurance program.The chamber will use the information collected from interested parties to secure rates from the company."You can't really rate a group or get proper premium prices in place, and make sure that they're going to be valid quotes unless you kind of have that pre-data from that group that you're going to insure," Wasinger said. "So we're asking for folks whether they are currently chamber members or not to come learn about the plan."An interest survey is also slated to be distributed in August."If you are a chamber member, we're going to be sending out a link to that survey," Wasinger said. It will also be available in the weekly chamber news email blast and the Monthly newsletter.If implemented, the insurance offering would begin in January.While the details continue to be shared, Wasinger said the potential offering could be a financial benefit to businesses — and could also help recruit and retain employees."As a small business owner, one of your biggest expenses right now is probably going to be, outside of payroll, your insurance," Wasinger said. "There are so many challenges to our workforce already (including) being able to entice people to fill those spots that you have in your organization."Having strong benefits is very necessary right now in order to compete with your cohorts across the region," she continued. "And so, we just think this is going to be one more tool in that kit to make your business stand out above the crowd."

🎙 Hays Chamber explores Blue Cross insurance option for members

By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT Hays Post

The Ellis County Commission gave the go-ahead for fireworks during
the Fourth of July holiday in Ellis County on Monday, as long as conditions
remain favorable. 

Ellis County has a year-round ban on the sale and discharge
of fireworks within the unincorporated areas of the county but the commission
typically lifts the ban for three days in July. 

County Administrator and Fire Chief Darin Myers said Monday
there have been very few incidents in recent years.

“Last year, we did not have any fireworks-related incidents in
the unincorporated areas of Ellis County,” Myers said. “Accidents do happen, and
we are still a month away.

“We’ve had the recent blessing of some moisture but that
could change, as well as temperatures can increase to start drying the surface
out again,” he said. 

Myers said there have been numerous medical-related
incidents caused by fireworks.

The sale and discharge of fireworks in unincorporated areas
of the county will match with the city of Hays for July 2 through 4 from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.

They do that, according to Myers, to make it easier on law
enforcement.

Commissioner Joe Leroux said he was in favor of the
resolution to lift the ban for the three days.

“So long as, between now and then, we continue to get moisture,”
Leroux said.

The commission approved the resolution 3-0.

Myers added that they address the issue a month in advance to give vendors advanced notice.

By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT Hays PostThe Ellis County Commission gave the go-ahead for fireworks during
the Fourth of July holiday in Ellis County on Monday, as long as conditions
remain favorable. Ellis County has a year-round ban on the sale and discharge
of fireworks within the unincorporated areas of the county but the commission
typically lifts the ban for three days in July. County Administrator and Fire Chief Darin Myers said Monday
there have been very few incidents in recent years.“Last year, we did not have any fireworks-related incidents in
the unincorporated areas of Ellis County,” Myers said. “Accidents do happen, and
we are still a month away.“We’ve had the recent blessing of some moisture but that
could change, as well as temperatures can increase to start drying the surface
out again,” he said. Myers said there have been numerous medical-related
incidents caused by fireworks.The sale and discharge of fireworks in unincorporated areas
of the county will match with the city of Hays for July 2 through 4 from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.They do that, according to Myers, to make it easier on law
enforcement.Commissioner Joe Leroux said he was in favor of the
resolution to lift the ban for the three days.“So long as, between now and then, we continue to get moisture,”
Leroux said.The commission approved the resolution 3-0.Myers added that they address the issue a month in advance to give vendors advanced notice.

Ellis County Commission approves fireworks in county

Fort Hays State University's Kansas Wetlands Education Center is hosting the "In Search of Earth's Secrets" exhibit for public viewing from June 9-26. Special activities will be held June 20. All activities are free to the public.

"In Search of Earth's Secrets" exhibit allows audiences to enjoy hands-on exhibits while learning about exciting science topics researched by the Joides Resolution, such as earthquakes, volcanoes, and the extinction of the dinosaurs.

Joides is an acronym for the Joint Oceanographic Institutions for Deep Earth Sampling – a vessel that drills into the ocean floor to collect and study core samples. The ship drill can reach distances 6 miles beneath the ocean surface.&nbsp;

The exhibit will showcase how the Joides Resolution vessel drills into the ocean floor to collect and study core samples. Scientists use this data to better understand climate change, geology, and Earth's history.&nbsp;

The additional activities on June 20 include an 11 a.m. live video broadcast with the crew on the Joides Resolution Ship during their current expedition.&nbsp;

During the broadcast, the crew will give a ship tour, explain the science goals of the expedition, answer audience questions, and introduce viewers to ship-board scientists. The ship is scheduled to be near Cape Town, South Africa, at the time of the broadcast.&nbsp;

From 1 to 4:30 p.m., the KWEC will have special hands-on, come-and-go, drop-in STEM activities that further explain the museum exhibits. Activities will look at Drilling the Deep, explore the question "What is a Core?", examine Geology Under the Sea, Quakes and Waves, Deep Sea Fossils, Dino Doomsday, Deep Dark Life, and Stories from the Cores.

Participants who attend both the morning broadcast and the afternoon activities can register for a free pizza lunch by calling 1-877-243-9268.

Kansas Wetlands Education Center, affiliated with FHSU's Werth College of Science, Technology and Mathematics, is located 10 miles northeast of Great Bend. More information about the KWEC can be found at&nbsp;<a href="http://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=AzU7JuM9gNoo13mIpsUPJFc7vEqe7DS7B3ss6a93outtocafAwUBsUvyMro9tPazOupH_-2FnwFlkKVzcKMOkDYhP8GUyFUplsqhIzQPvqFQr864lE6mcAzErX0FzZi5JGU6rvvK6MLOuHK4jhl5V61fmGkhToZRMbpEKBDAFMZ0jElT3tJmz7vmG2Oh1wrxpMGOIemFzyoBhHGZ9-2FinTmH9ZL9xiGb3FOgLGxvpIGlqH5oqUnS0DnltIq-2BplIn6286f3jxjcm4-2FmitjpZp7Pz3mk6WjWpB28JdTf7FLy2m2g6KmXPG7Y-2ByswHNCKXW1FOV8-2FOld-2B-2FVj74K9hTND-2B5gmH-2BZMmdFA5aFWygcRr7DSy-2BluQou-2FX4zqdleKs6-2BSUZzain6NBWdggGQ6gey4SgLS0172Iw9QBcPDdMO-2BmzaCTVdxb4xzWPfxUrlH2gSGFb4AHlGQQujeppuhZimSsmFwtIWcg-3D-3D">www.wetlandscenter.fhsu.edu</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1654521724774.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU University CommunicationsFort Hays State University's Kansas Wetlands Education Center is hosting the "In Search of Earth's Secrets" exhibit for public viewing from June 9-26. Special activities will be held June 20. All activities are free to the public."In Search of Earth's Secrets" exhibit allows audiences to enjoy hands-on exhibits while learning about exciting science topics researched by the Joides Resolution, such as earthquakes, volcanoes, and the extinction of the dinosaurs.Joides is an acronym for the Joint Oceanographic Institutions for Deep Earth Sampling – a vessel that drills into the ocean floor to collect and study core samples. The ship drill can reach distances 6 miles beneath the ocean surface.&nbsp;The exhibit will showcase how the Joides Resolution vessel drills into the ocean floor to collect and study core samples. Scientists use this data to better understand climate change, geology, and Earth's history.&nbsp;The additional activities on June 20 include an 11 a.m. live video broadcast with the crew on the Joides Resolution Ship during their current expedition.&nbsp;During the broadcast, the crew will give a ship tour, explain the science goals of the expedition, answer audience questions, and introduce viewers to ship-board scientists. The ship is scheduled to be near Cape Town, South Africa, at the time of the broadcast.&nbsp;From 1 to 4:30 p.m., the KWEC will have special hands-on, come-and-go, drop-in STEM activities that further explain the museum exhibits. Activities will look at Drilling the Deep, explore the question "What is a Core?", examine Geology Under the Sea, Quakes and Waves, Deep Sea Fossils, Dino Doomsday, Deep Dark Life, and Stories from the Cores.Participants who attend both the morning broadcast and the afternoon activities can register for a free pizza lunch by calling 1-877-243-9268.Kansas Wetlands Education Center, affiliated with FHSU's Werth College of Science, Technology and Mathematics, is located 10 miles northeast of Great Bend. More information about the KWEC can be found at&nbsp;<a href="http://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=AzU7JuM9gNoo13mIpsUPJFc7vEqe7DS7B3ss6a93outtocafAwUBsUvyMro9tPazOupH_-2FnwFlkKVzcKMOkDYhP8GUyFUplsqhIzQPvqFQr864lE6mcAzErX0FzZi5JGU6rvvK6MLOuHK4jhl5V61fmGkhToZRMbpEKBDAFMZ0jElT3tJmz7vmG2Oh1wrxpMGOIemFzyoBhHGZ9-2FinTmH9ZL9xiGb3FOgLGxvpIGlqH5oqUnS0DnltIq-2BplIn6286f3jxjcm4-2FmitjpZp7Pz3mk6WjWpB28JdTf7FLy2m2g6KmXPG7Y-2ByswHNCKXW1FOV8-2FOld-2B-2FVj74K9hTND-2B5gmH-2BZMmdFA5aFWygcRr7DSy-2BluQou-2FX4zqdleKs6-2BSUZzain6NBWdggGQ6gey4SgLS0172Iw9QBcPDdMO-2BmzaCTVdxb4xzWPfxUrlH2gSGFb4AHlGQQujeppuhZimSsmFwtIWcg-3D-3D">www.wetlandscenter.fhsu.edu</a>.

Kansas Wetlands Education Center to host interactive exhibit

The&nbsp;Ad Astra Music Festival&nbsp;is gearing up for its ninth season slated for next month. It marks the return of the Russell Community Choir, who hasn’t sung together in person in three years. Rehearsals begin on Tuesday, June 21,&nbsp;in the Fellowship Hall at Trinity United Methodist Church where they’ll rehearse every Tuesday until their performance on Friday, July 15,&nbsp;at St. John Lutheran Church. This year’s program centers music about famous Kansan aviator, Amelia Earhart. The concert is a collaboration with the festival’s professional Chamber Choir led by festival artistic director, John Irving, and another choir made up of local high school students, led by festival manager, Shelby Laird.

The Russell Community Choir will be led by the festival’s artistic director and Russell native, Alex Underwood. To sign up to sing, complete the form at&nbsp;<a>www.adastramusicfestival.org/rcc</a>. Send questions to Alex at alex@adastramusicfestival.org.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1654630303825.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>SubmittedThe&nbsp;Ad Astra Music Festival&nbsp;is gearing up for its ninth season slated for next month. It marks the return of the Russell Community Choir, who hasn’t sung together in person in three years. Rehearsals begin on Tuesday, June 21,&nbsp;in the Fellowship Hall at Trinity United Methodist Church where they’ll rehearse every Tuesday until their performance on Friday, July 15,&nbsp;at St. John Lutheran Church. This year’s program centers music about famous Kansan aviator, Amelia Earhart. The concert is a collaboration with the festival’s professional Chamber Choir led by festival artistic director, John Irving, and another choir made up of local high school students, led by festival manager, Shelby Laird.The Russell Community Choir will be led by the festival’s artistic director and Russell native, Alex Underwood. To sign up to sing, complete the form at&nbsp;<a>www.adastramusicfestival.org/rcc</a>. Send questions to Alex at alex@adastramusicfestival.org.

Ad Astra Music Festival needs singers for Russell Community Choir

<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/2022/6/1654708276459.jpeg" alt="060922.jpg" />
 <figcaption>060922.jpg</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

By STACY CAMPBELL Cottonwood Extension District

The&nbsp;<a href="https://soilhealthnexus.org/soil-health-matrix-tool/">Soil Health Matrix Decision Tool</a>&nbsp;is a free tool that was recently developed by the Soil Health Nexus and a regional advisory team with support from&nbsp;<a href="https://northcentral.sare.org/">North Central&nbsp;Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE</a>). It is designed as a 101 tool to assess the effects of current and future management practices on soil health.

Producers who are looking to implement a new soil health practice on their operation can use this comparative tool to get an overall feel for practices that benefit soil health and which management decisions may be the best fit for their operation.

The tool includes four practices – tillage, manure, cover crops, and crop rotation – and two complementary practices – controlled traffic and managed grazing – and eight soil health indicators.

Users can select their current practices and then select any future planned practices that they are currently considering implementing on their operation. From there, users can explore their soil health score for their current practices and compare those with the scores for future planned practices they are considering.

The tool provides three scores: an indicator, practice, and an overall score. The indicator scores are based on how a practice affects each of the soil health indicators and the practice score is the score for a particular practice across all the soil health indicators. The overall score is the average of all the indicator scores allowing users to easily compare how different combinations of practices impact soil health.

It is important to note that the score values are not meant to serve as quantitative values producers can use on the farm. Instead, they are directional scores – that result from averaging the scores of research and extension representatives from across the region. The tool is designed to be a conversation starter between producers and their extension educator and allow producers to explore different implementation options to find the choice that makes the most sense to them.

The tool also includes a future considerations table that breaks down the equipment, time and labor, skill level, and cost for implementing new practices. Additionally, the table highlights any ecosystem services a new soil health practice will provide, such as groundwater protection and pollinator habitat,

You can access the tool by visiting the&nbsp;<a href="https://soilhealthnexus.org/soil-health-matrix-tool/">Soil Health Nexus website</a>. There are two versions of the tool: a downloadable Excel version that can be accessed by scrolling to the bottom of the page and the web-based version located directly on the website.

The tool is currently in the pilot phase and the team is looking for feedback on how to refine the tool and improve its function. A&nbsp;<a href="https://uwmadison.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6lfi7Ihy5qLSE9o">short 5-minute survey</a>&nbsp;is accessible on the Soil Health Matrix Decision Tool webpage and thoughts, feedback, and suggestions are encouraged.

For additional information or answers to your questions, you can contact DeAnn Presley, K-State Soil Management Specialist at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:dean@ksu.edu">deann@ksu.edu</a>. Presley was on the team that developed this tool.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1654531681187.jpeg" alt="Courtesy K-State Research &amp; Extension" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy K-State Research &amp; Extension</figcaption>
 </figure>By STACY CAMPBELL Cottonwood Extension DistrictThe&nbsp;<a href="https://soilhealthnexus.org/soil-health-matrix-tool/">Soil Health Matrix Decision Tool</a>&nbsp;is a free tool that was recently developed by the Soil Health Nexus and a regional advisory team with support from&nbsp;<a href="https://northcentral.sare.org/">North Central&nbsp;Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE</a>). It is designed as a 101 tool to assess the effects of current and future management practices on soil health.Producers who are looking to implement a new soil health practice on their operation can use this comparative tool to get an overall feel for practices that benefit soil health and which management decisions may be the best fit for their operation.The tool includes four practices – tillage, manure, cover crops, and crop rotation – and two complementary practices – controlled traffic and managed grazing – and eight soil health indicators.Users can select their current practices and then select any future planned practices that they are currently considering implementing on their operation. From there, users can explore their soil health score for their current practices and compare those with the scores for future planned practices they are considering.The tool provides three scores: an indicator, practice, and an overall score. The indicator scores are based on how a practice affects each of the soil health indicators and the practice score is the score for a particular practice across all the soil health indicators. The overall score is the average of all the indicator scores allowing users to easily compare how different combinations of practices impact soil health.It is important to note that the score values are not meant to serve as quantitative values producers can use on the farm. Instead, they are directional scores – that result from averaging the scores of research and extension representatives from across the region. The tool is designed to be a conversation starter between producers and their extension educator and allow producers to explore different implementation options to find the choice that makes the most sense to them.The tool also includes a future considerations table that breaks down the equipment, time and labor, skill level, and cost for implementing new practices. Additionally, the table highlights any ecosystem services a new soil health practice will provide, such as groundwater protection and pollinator habitat,You can access the tool by visiting the&nbsp;<a href="https://soilhealthnexus.org/soil-health-matrix-tool/">Soil Health Nexus website</a>. There are two versions of the tool: a downloadable Excel version that can be accessed by scrolling to the bottom of the page and the web-based version located directly on the website.The tool is currently in the pilot phase and the team is looking for feedback on how to refine the tool and improve its function. A&nbsp;<a href="https://uwmadison.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6lfi7Ihy5qLSE9o">short 5-minute survey</a>&nbsp;is accessible on the Soil Health Matrix Decision Tool webpage and thoughts, feedback, and suggestions are encouraged.For additional information or answers to your questions, you can contact DeAnn Presley, K-State Soil Management Specialist at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:dean@ksu.edu">deann@ksu.edu</a>. Presley was on the team that developed this tool.Stacy Campbell is a Crop Production Extension agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact him by e-mail at scampbel@ksu.edu or by calling 785-628-9430.

CAMPBELL: Soil health matrix decision tool

The Kansas Department of Transportation has started a project to repair two bridges along Interstate 70 in Trego County.

Crews are repairing the westbound and eastbound I-70 bridges located near Ogallah at exit 135. Traffic is reduced to one lane in each direction through the construction zones with a decreased speed limit of 60 mph. Minor delays not exceeding 5 minutes should be anticipated. KDOT expects work to be completed by the end of August, weather permitting.

PCiRoads of Topeka is the primary contractor for the project with a total contract cost of approximately $570,000.&nbsp;

KDOTThe Kansas Department of Transportation has started a project to repair two bridges along Interstate 70 in Trego County.Crews are repairing the westbound and eastbound I-70 bridges located near Ogallah at exit 135. Traffic is reduced to one lane in each direction through the construction zones with a decreased speed limit of 60 mph. Minor delays not exceeding 5 minutes should be anticipated. KDOT expects work to be completed by the end of August, weather permitting.PCiRoads of Topeka is the primary contractor for the project with a total contract cost of approximately $570,000.&nbsp;

Bridge repairs underway on I-70 in Trego County

By COLE REIF <a href="https://greatbendpost.com">Great Bend Post</a>

GREAT BEND — Great Bend Economic Development is ready to team up with a pair of
southwest Kansas cities to carry out an unconventional promotion in an attempt to
bring workforce to the area. 
Officials from Great Bend, Liberal and Dodge City will attend the New Mexico
State Fair in September to advertise workforce. 
Great Bend Eco Devo Director Sara Hayden said the three cities will split up the
event to recruit the fairgoers to Kansas. 
"We targeted New Mexico because they have a large amount of people that 
are looking for public sector, manufacturing and service positions," 
said Hayden. "We have a lot of openings in those." 
Hayden added the communities are developing creative bussing programs for those
in New Mexico to visit Great Bend, Dodge City and Liberal. 
"If there are any employers that want to make sure we're advertising 
your company at that fair, please reach out and give me information," 
said Hayden. "That is free of charge. I want to be able to make sure we 
have all of our positions that we need filled in our community." 
The New Mexico State Fair begins Sept. 8 in Albuquerque.

By COLE REIF <a href="https://greatbendpost.com">Great Bend Post</a>GREAT BEND — Great Bend Economic Development is ready to team up with a pair of
southwest Kansas cities to carry out an unconventional promotion in an attempt to
bring workforce to the area. 
Officials from Great Bend, Liberal and Dodge City will attend the New Mexico
State Fair in September to advertise workforce. 
Great Bend Eco Devo Director Sara Hayden said the three cities will split up the
event to recruit the fairgoers to Kansas. 
"We targeted New Mexico because they have a large amount of people that 
are looking for public sector, manufacturing and service positions," 
said Hayden. "We have a lot of openings in those." 
Hayden added the communities are developing creative bussing programs for those
in New Mexico to visit Great Bend, Dodge City and Liberal. 
"If there are any employers that want to make sure we're advertising 
your company at that fair, please reach out and give me information," 
said Hayden. "That is free of charge. I want to be able to make sure we 
have all of our positions that we need filled in our community." 
The New Mexico State Fair begins Sept. 8 in Albuquerque.

Great Bend looks to New Mexico to find workers

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment on Wednesday reported 21 new COVID-19 cases had been identified in Ellis County from May 28 to June 3.

KDHE now reports updated case numbers weekly on Wednesdays.

Nine northwest area counties were listed in KDHE's high incidence classification — Trego, Gove, Logan, Wallace, Graham, Rooks, Thomas, Sheridan and Lane. Ellis County was moved from the moderate to substantial incidence classification.

<a href="https://www.ellisco.net/97/Health">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;for information on how to receive a COVID-19 vaccination.

Since reporting began, there have been 7,205 cases of COVID-19 identified in Ellis County, including 79 coronavirus-related deaths as of April 1. KDHE has also discontinued county-by-county death totals.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1654707962083.png" alt="Statewide COVID-19 curve" />
 <figcaption>Statewide COVID-19 curve</figcaption>
 </figure>The Kansas Department of Health and Environment on Wednesday reported 21 new COVID-19 cases had been identified in Ellis County from May 28 to June 3.KDHE now reports updated case numbers weekly on Wednesdays.Nine northwest area counties were listed in KDHE's high incidence classification — Trego, Gove, Logan, Wallace, Graham, Rooks, Thomas, Sheridan and Lane. Ellis County was moved from the moderate to substantial incidence classification.<a href="https://www.ellisco.net/97/Health">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;for information on how to receive a COVID-19 vaccination.Since reporting began, there have been 7,205 cases of COVID-19 identified in Ellis County, including 79 coronavirus-related deaths as of April 1. KDHE has also discontinued county-by-county death totals.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1654707395572.png" alt="KDHE" />
 <figcaption>KDHE</figcaption>
 </figure>

KDHE: 21 new COVID cases in Ellis Co. in past week

U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran will join the Fort Hays State University and Hays communities for a press conference on June 10. Details on a new federal grant for renovation to FHSU’s Forsyth Library will be revealed.

The press conference is set for 5 p.m. on the library's first floor.

Forsyth Library is a vital part of FHSU – past and present. The grant-funded renovations planned will be among the most extensive in the history of the building.

The facility opened in 1967, and its three floors have been remodeled over the years to accommodate new departments and services. It currently houses the Writing Center, the Learning Commons, the Center for Ethnic Studies, the Honors College, the Tiger Food Exchange, Makerspace, and the various library departments.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1654615454060.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU University CommunicationsU.S. Sen. Jerry Moran will join the Fort Hays State University and Hays communities for a press conference on June 10. Details on a new federal grant for renovation to FHSU’s Forsyth Library will be revealed.The press conference is set for 5 p.m. on the library's first floor.Forsyth Library is a vital part of FHSU – past and present. The grant-funded renovations planned will be among the most extensive in the history of the building.The facility opened in 1967, and its three floors have been remodeled over the years to accommodate new departments and services. It currently houses the Writing Center, the Learning Commons, the Center for Ethnic Studies, the Honors College, the Tiger Food Exchange, Makerspace, and the various library departments.

FHSU to announce renovation grant for Forsyth Library

By GREG DOERING Kansas Farm Bureau It’s easy to forget today that agriculture is the foundation of civilization. It’s the process that ended our ceaseless following of food and allowed us to settle into cities. What followed, over the past several millennia is the world we inhabit today. In short, farming and ranching are the essential drivers of the manufacturing- or service-based economy we all enjoy. In the United States, where about 1 in 50 people grow the crops and livestock that end up on our dinner plates, it’s easy to overlook the importance of agriculture. Through our industriousness and separation of labor, we’ve made it easy for generations of citizens to imagine food only comes from the grocery store or the double-doors to a restaurant kitchen. All of that’s true, but it’s also slightly misleading. Fewer than 2 percent of the U.S. population is directly involved in growing the raw inputs—food, fuel, fiber—our nation consumes. But the crops and livestock they produce go on to support the jobs of nearly 1 in 3 Americans, illustrating just how long the road is from farm to fork. It’s worth reading the full report at&nbsp;<a href="https://kfb.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=45bba928f411d21617c5eadbe&amp;id=1c8f01abcc&amp;e=5bf0f0e5fe">www.feedingtheeconomy.com</a>, but here are the highlights: 43,464,211 jobs, $2.3 Trillion (capitalized for effect) in wages, $182.9 billion in exports and $7.4 trillion in total output. While those numbers are impressive, they’re not exactly representative. After all, we’re talking about the wealthiest country in the world some 12,000 years after humans first began bending the will of nature to their own ends by domesticating plants and animals. But it wasn’t until within the last century that we as species went from accidental agriculturalists to the purposeful planners we are today. Norman Borlaug proved it was possible to dramatically increase crop yields by switching from low-yield crops to high-yield varieties, which had a two-fold effect on the world’s economy. First, increasing the productivity of land meant farmers had more money to invest in labor-saving machinery further boosting their efficiency. Second, while machines did indeed replace many farm workers, the displaced workers were able to find higher-paying manufacturing or service jobs in towns or cities. In a University of Chicago paper, authors Gollin, Hansen and Wingender, speculate that without this transformation, the gross domestic product in the developing world would be half its current level. Or, more realistically, if these advances had simply been delayed by a decade, the world would have missed out on about $83 Trillion (again, capitalized for effect) in benefits from the increased nutrition unleashed by Boulaug and his disciples. To shed even more light on this miraculous achievement that has enriched the lives of everyone today is that agriculture is no longer an extractive industry. Even after the discovery and widespread use of high-yield crops and synthetic fertilizer, agriculture still needed more land to grow the food necessary to nourish a growing population. As the folks at&nbsp;<a href="http://ourworldindata.org/">ourworldindata.org</a>&nbsp;put it, humans cleared one-third of the world’s forests and nearly two-thirds of the grasslands since the end of the last ice age all to sustain our species through agriculture since the only way to expand production was through cultivating wildlands. With the tools provided by modern science and industry, however, that’s no longer the case. In fact, the world has passed “peak agricultural land,” a recent article declared. What that means is farmers and ranchers are producing more food than ever while at the same time reducing the number of acres devoted to that task. In essence, it’s not just everyday people like you and me who are more divorced from how our food is raised. Earth itself is becoming increasingly separated from production agriculture because the riches of production agriculture are being realized in both dollars and the land left unspoiled.

"Insight" is a weekly column published by Kansas Farm Bureau, the state's largest farm organization whose mission is to strengthen agriculture and the lives of Kansans through advocacy, education and service.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574694551876.png" alt="Greg Doering&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Greg Doering&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>By GREG DOERING Kansas Farm Bureau It’s easy to forget today that agriculture is the foundation of civilization. It’s the process that ended our ceaseless following of food and allowed us to settle into cities. What followed, over the past several millennia is the world we inhabit today. In short, farming and ranching are the essential drivers of the manufacturing- or service-based economy we all enjoy. In the United States, where about 1 in 50 people grow the crops and livestock that end up on our dinner plates, it’s easy to overlook the importance of agriculture. Through our industriousness and separation of labor, we’ve made it easy for generations of citizens to imagine food only comes from the grocery store or the double-doors to a restaurant kitchen. All of that’s true, but it’s also slightly misleading. Fewer than 2 percent of the U.S. population is directly involved in growing the raw inputs—food, fuel, fiber—our nation consumes. But the crops and livestock they produce go on to support the jobs of nearly 1 in 3 Americans, illustrating just how long the road is from farm to fork. It’s worth reading the full report at&nbsp;<a href="https://kfb.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=45bba928f411d21617c5eadbe&amp;id=1c8f01abcc&amp;e=5bf0f0e5fe">www.feedingtheeconomy.com</a>, but here are the highlights: 43,464,211 jobs, $2.3 Trillion (capitalized for effect) in wages, $182.9 billion in exports and $7.4 trillion in total output. While those numbers are impressive, they’re not exactly representative. After all, we’re talking about the wealthiest country in the world some 12,000 years after humans first began bending the will of nature to their own ends by domesticating plants and animals. But it wasn’t until within the last century that we as species went from accidental agriculturalists to the purposeful planners we are today. Norman Borlaug proved it was possible to dramatically increase crop yields by switching from low-yield crops to high-yield varieties, which had a two-fold effect on the world’s economy. First, increasing the productivity of land meant farmers had more money to invest in labor-saving machinery further boosting their efficiency. Second, while machines did indeed replace many farm workers, the displaced workers were able to find higher-paying manufacturing or service jobs in towns or cities. In a University of Chicago paper, authors Gollin, Hansen and Wingender, speculate that without this transformation, the gross domestic product in the developing world would be half its current level. Or, more realistically, if these advances had simply been delayed by a decade, the world would have missed out on about $83 Trillion (again, capitalized for effect) in benefits from the increased nutrition unleashed by Boulaug and his disciples. To shed even more light on this miraculous achievement that has enriched the lives of everyone today is that agriculture is no longer an extractive industry. Even after the discovery and widespread use of high-yield crops and synthetic fertilizer, agriculture still needed more land to grow the food necessary to nourish a growing population. As the folks at&nbsp;<a href="http://ourworldindata.org/">ourworldindata.org</a>&nbsp;put it, humans cleared one-third of the world’s forests and nearly two-thirds of the grasslands since the end of the last ice age all to sustain our species through agriculture since the only way to expand production was through cultivating wildlands. With the tools provided by modern science and industry, however, that’s no longer the case. In fact, the world has passed “peak agricultural land,” a recent article declared. What that means is farmers and ranchers are producing more food than ever while at the same time reducing the number of acres devoted to that task. In essence, it’s not just everyday people like you and me who are more divorced from how our food is raised. Earth itself is becoming increasingly separated from production agriculture because the riches of production agriculture are being realized in both dollars and the land left unspoiled."Insight" is a weekly column published by Kansas Farm Bureau, the state's largest farm organization whose mission is to strengthen agriculture and the lives of Kansans through advocacy, education and service.&nbsp;

Kansas Farm Bureau Insight: Riches of agriculture

Beginning Wednesday, 17th Street in Hays will be closed at Harvest Road for bridge deck repairs.&nbsp;The street will remain closed for approximately five weeks. 

For more information, call 785-628-7350.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1654616304173.png" alt="(City of Hays)" />
 <figcaption>(City of Hays)</figcaption>
 </figure>City of HaysBeginning Wednesday, 17th Street in Hays will be closed at Harvest Road for bridge deck repairs.&nbsp;The street will remain closed for approximately five weeks. For more information, call 785-628-7350.&nbsp;&nbsp;

17th Street to close at Harvest Road for bridge repairs

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1654618896082.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>

The Victoria Community Coalition will&nbsp;host a&nbsp;community meeting&nbsp;Wednesday atr 7 p.m. at the VFW.&nbsp;This gathering is open to anyone living in Victoria, having a Victoria address, owning a business or property in Victoria, having a child in USD 432, or simply interested in the future of Victoria. We need your input on identifying our community strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and priorities.&nbsp;This input will be used in preparing a housing assessment (the HAT - Housing Assessment Tool) for Victoria. The housing assessment is required for several funding applications with the Kansas Department of Commerce and Kansas Housing Corporation. We can't do this without your help.&nbsp; Please spread the word, bring&nbsp;a friend and join us on June 8th. Refreshments will be provided. Childcare will be provided. Door prizes will be awarded.&nbsp; We realize there have been similar community meetings during the last nine months regarding the rest home&nbsp;redevelopment and Image Ellis County. This meeting is specifically for the Victoria community and future grant applications with the state.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1654642547415.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>SubmittedThe Victoria Community Coalition will&nbsp;host a&nbsp;community meeting&nbsp;Wednesday atr 7 p.m. at the VFW.&nbsp;This gathering is open to anyone living in Victoria, having a Victoria address, owning a business or property in Victoria, having a child in USD 432, or simply interested in the future of Victoria. We need your input on identifying our community strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and priorities.&nbsp;This input will be used in preparing a housing assessment (the HAT - Housing Assessment Tool) for Victoria. The housing assessment is required for several funding applications with the Kansas Department of Commerce and Kansas Housing Corporation. We can't do this without your help.&nbsp; Please spread the word, bring&nbsp;a friend and join us on June 8th. Refreshments will be provided. Childcare will be provided. Door prizes will be awarded.&nbsp; We realize there have been similar community meetings during the last nine months regarding the rest home&nbsp;redevelopment and Image Ellis County. This meeting is specifically for the Victoria community and future grant applications with the state.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Victoria community meeting will focus on possible housing grant

By SHERMAN SMITH <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/06/07/federal-report-says-larned-hospital-staff-failed-to-keep-patients-safe-and-secure/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — A federal report on the <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/01/04/escape-of-second-dangerous-larned-hospital-patient-spurs-external-security-analysis/">escape of a dangerous patient</a>
 from the Larned State Hospital says the state put patients in 
“immediate jeopardy” by failing to ensure their safety and security.

A survey conducted by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services 
discovered the patient was able to escape in January because a nurse’s 
aide left the door to the secure area unlocked, and staff members 
responsible for checking on him every 15 minutes documented that he was 
in his bed for hours after he was gone.

Isaac Watts, a 43-year-old who was detained on charges of kidnapping,
 attempted murder and domestic battery, was under enhanced surveillance 
when he walked out the door in a straightjacket. He was considered a 
threat to himself and others.

At the time, the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services 
announced it was conducting a security audit of the chronically 
understaffed hospital. The escape was the second within six months.

Cara Sloan-Ramos, spokeswoman for KDADS, didn’t respond to email 
messages seeking comment on the status of the security audit or the CMS 
report about the Jan. 3 escape.

<a target="_blank" href="https://larnedcares.com/">Larned State Hospital</a>
 in western Kansas provides court-ordered mental health evaluations for 
individuals awaiting trial, as well as treatment for sexual predators. 
The facility has been short-staffed for at least a decade because of low
 wages, the rural setting, and the dangers of working in an environment 
where staff are physically and sexually assaulted.

Last month, the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas and the National Police Accountability Project <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/05/26/aclu-sues-kansas-over-excessive-wait-times-at-understaffed-larned-state-hospital/">sued the state over long wait lists</a>
 for mental health treatment. The ACLU said the hospital&nbsp;only fills 
about half of its beds because it lacks the staffing to cover shifts, 
and more than 100 people are currently on the waiting list.

CMS from Jan. 7 to Jan. 19 conducted an investigation into the escape
 by Watts. The&nbsp; federal oversight agency provided a copy of the report 
in response to a request from Kansas Reflector.

“Based on interview, record review, and policy review, the hospital 
failed to protect and promote each patient’s rights by failing to 
provide a safe and secure environment,” the report said. “The cumulative
 effects of this deficient practice resulted in an immediate jeopardy 
situation.”

By CMS standards, an “immediate jeopardy situation” is when 
“noncompliance has placed the health and safety of recipients in its 
care at risk for serious injury, serious harm, serious impairment or 
death.”

Video showed a certified nursing assistant unlocked an emergency exit
 door to the hospital’s Crisis Stabilization Unit at 2:03 a.m. Jan. 3. 
Patients discovered the unlocked door after noon. Watts could be seen 
pushing the door open at three times throughout the afternoon. He eloped
 at 9 p.m. and was captured the next day in Garden City.

During a Jan. 14 interview, the CNA said she opened the fire exit 
door “just to make sure the key worked.” She said she thought she locked
 the door after opening it but couldn’t remember if she pushed the door 
afterward to make sure it was secured.

“She did not want to answer any further questions and ended the call,” the CMS report said.

Trained staff are responsible for making sure each patient is 
accounted for at least every 30 minutes. When sleeping, the staff must 
see the patient’s skin and observe the chest rise and fall. They were 
supposed to check on Watts more frequently because he was suicidal.

The hospital’s Special Protection Flow Sheet showed a mental health 
technician documented Watts was in his room, calm and laying down from 
9:15 p.m. to 9:45 p.m., after he was already gone. Another CNA 
documented Watts was in his room, calm, eyes closed, with visible 
respirations from 10 p.m. to 10:45 p.m. Another mental health technician
 discovered Watts was missing — after he documented Watts was in his 
room from 11 p.m. to 11:45 p.m.

“We were notified that a door was found unlocked,” the staff member 
said. “When doing patient checks, we open the door to the patient’s room
 if the door is closed and look in to see what they are doing. We do not
 have to wake them up or pull the covers back, that’s a good way to get 
hurt or hit … but have to observe that a person is actually there by 
visualizing a body part or breathing. I thought maybe there was 
something up that night because when I did my first check, I didn’t hear
 him snoring. I guess maybe I wasn’t paying attention that night. As 
soon as the security guard said the door was open, I went into his room 
and pulled back the covers, and he wasn’t there.”

A hospital program director acknowledged that staff failed to follow 
policy, but the hospital couldn’t provide evidence that staff had been 
trained on patient checks.

The hospital in February terminated contracts with the CNA who left 
the door unlocked, and the CNA and first technician who inaccurately 
documented Watts was still in bed. The other technician was reassigned 
and given additional training.

A review of the hospital’s Safety and Security Department Shift Log 
showed that only four of 60 perimeter checks were completed during the 7
 a.m. to 3 p.m. shift between Dec. 3 and Jan. 2. Only 37 of 60 perimeter
 checks were completed during the 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. shift.

The three security officers who were assigned to check the perimeter 
on Jan. 3 all failed to check for unlocked doors. The hospital failed to
 provide evidence of training or corrective actions taken for security 
staff.

CMS accepted a plan proposed by KDADS and the hospital Jan. 19 to 
address the security failures. The plan includes more intensive patient 
checks, training and documentation. Leadership must check that all doors
 are secure each shift. Security officers have to report door checks by 
radio and email, and senior officials will conduct daily random audits. 
The hospital also was looking into door alarm systems.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1654635588270.png" alt="A survey conducted by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services documents the failure of staff at Larned State Hospital to keep patients safe and secure. (Kansas Reflector screen capture from KDADS video)" />
 <figcaption>A survey conducted by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services documents the failure of staff at Larned State Hospital to keep patients safe and secure. (Kansas Reflector screen capture from KDADS video)</figcaption>
 </figure>By SHERMAN SMITH <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/06/07/federal-report-says-larned-hospital-staff-failed-to-keep-patients-safe-and-secure/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — A federal report on the <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/01/04/escape-of-second-dangerous-larned-hospital-patient-spurs-external-security-analysis/">escape of a dangerous patient</a>
 from the Larned State Hospital says the state put patients in 
“immediate jeopardy” by failing to ensure their safety and security.A survey conducted by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services 
discovered the patient was able to escape in January because a nurse’s 
aide left the door to the secure area unlocked, and staff members 
responsible for checking on him every 15 minutes documented that he was 
in his bed for hours after he was gone.Isaac Watts, a 43-year-old who was detained on charges of kidnapping,
 attempted murder and domestic battery, was under enhanced surveillance 
when he walked out the door in a straightjacket. He was considered a 
threat to himself and others.At the time, the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services 
announced it was conducting a security audit of the chronically 
understaffed hospital. The escape was the second within six months.Cara Sloan-Ramos, spokeswoman for KDADS, didn’t respond to email 
messages seeking comment on the status of the security audit or the CMS 
report about the Jan. 3 escape.<a target="_blank" href="https://larnedcares.com/">Larned State Hospital</a>
 in western Kansas provides court-ordered mental health evaluations for 
individuals awaiting trial, as well as treatment for sexual predators. 
The facility has been short-staffed for at least a decade because of low
 wages, the rural setting, and the dangers of working in an environment 
where staff are physically and sexually assaulted.Last month, the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas and the National Police Accountability Project <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/05/26/aclu-sues-kansas-over-excessive-wait-times-at-understaffed-larned-state-hospital/">sued the state over long wait lists</a>
 for mental health treatment. The ACLU said the hospital&nbsp;only fills 
about half of its beds because it lacks the staffing to cover shifts, 
and more than 100 people are currently on the waiting list.CMS from Jan. 7 to Jan. 19 conducted an investigation into the escape
 by Watts. The&nbsp; federal oversight agency provided a copy of the report 
in response to a request from Kansas Reflector.“Based on interview, record review, and policy review, the hospital 
failed to protect and promote each patient’s rights by failing to 
provide a safe and secure environment,” the report said. “The cumulative
 effects of this deficient practice resulted in an immediate jeopardy 
situation.”By CMS standards, an “immediate jeopardy situation” is when 
“noncompliance has placed the health and safety of recipients in its 
care at risk for serious injury, serious harm, serious impairment or 
death.”Video showed a certified nursing assistant unlocked an emergency exit
 door to the hospital’s Crisis Stabilization Unit at 2:03 a.m. Jan. 3. 
Patients discovered the unlocked door after noon. Watts could be seen 
pushing the door open at three times throughout the afternoon. He eloped
 at 9 p.m. and was captured the next day in Garden City.During a Jan. 14 interview, the CNA said she opened the fire exit 
door “just to make sure the key worked.” She said she thought she locked
 the door after opening it but couldn’t remember if she pushed the door 
afterward to make sure it was secured.“She did not want to answer any further questions and ended the call,” the CMS report said.Trained staff are responsible for making sure each patient is 
accounted for at least every 30 minutes. When sleeping, the staff must 
see the patient’s skin and observe the chest rise and fall. They were 
supposed to check on Watts more frequently because he was suicidal.The hospital’s Special Protection Flow Sheet showed a mental health 
technician documented Watts was in his room, calm and laying down from 
9:15 p.m. to 9:45 p.m., after he was already gone. Another CNA 
documented Watts was in his room, calm, eyes closed, with visible 
respirations from 10 p.m. to 10:45 p.m. Another mental health technician
 discovered Watts was missing — after he documented Watts was in his 
room from 11 p.m. to 11:45 p.m.“We were notified that a door was found unlocked,” the staff member 
said. “When doing patient checks, we open the door to the patient’s room
 if the door is closed and look in to see what they are doing. We do not
 have to wake them up or pull the covers back, that’s a good way to get 
hurt or hit … but have to observe that a person is actually there by 
visualizing a body part or breathing. I thought maybe there was 
something up that night because when I did my first check, I didn’t hear
 him snoring. I guess maybe I wasn’t paying attention that night. As 
soon as the security guard said the door was open, I went into his room 
and pulled back the covers, and he wasn’t there.”A hospital program director acknowledged that staff failed to follow 
policy, but the hospital couldn’t provide evidence that staff had been 
trained on patient checks.The hospital in February terminated contracts with the CNA who left 
the door unlocked, and the CNA and first technician who inaccurately 
documented Watts was still in bed. The other technician was reassigned 
and given additional training.A review of the hospital’s Safety and Security Department Shift Log 
showed that only four of 60 perimeter checks were completed during the 7
 a.m. to 3 p.m. shift between Dec. 3 and Jan. 2. Only 37 of 60 perimeter
 checks were completed during the 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. shift.The three security officers who were assigned to check the perimeter 
on Jan. 3 all failed to check for unlocked doors. The hospital failed to
 provide evidence of training or corrective actions taken for security 
staff.CMS accepted a plan proposed by KDADS and the hospital Jan. 19 to 
address the security failures. The plan includes more intensive patient 
checks, training and documentation. Leadership must check that all doors
 are secure each shift. Security officers have to report door checks by 
radio and email, and senior officials will conduct daily random audits. 
The hospital also was looking into door alarm systems.

Report: Larned hospital staff failed to keep patients safe, secure

On Saturday, the Knights of Columbus Councils from Ellis County joined together to host a barbecue lunch for the first responders of Ellis County. 

"Our&nbsp;first responders put their lives on the line every day to be sure the public is safe and taken care of," the organization said in a news release. "It is with heartfelt appreciation that the Knights of Columbus thank you for your service and dedication."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1654520134163.jpeg" alt="Pictured from left, back row: Karl Meis, Matt Windholz, Jacob Meis, Stan Staab, Paul Meis, Tim Dickman, Larry Staab, Brad Stramel. Front Row: Gary Augustine, Bill Zimmerman, Bill Ring, Rocky Feltis, Roger Rife. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Pictured from left, back row: Karl Meis, Matt Windholz, Jacob Meis, Stan Staab, Paul Meis, Tim Dickman, Larry Staab, Brad Stramel. Front Row: Gary Augustine, Bill Zimmerman, Bill Ring, Rocky Feltis, Roger Rife. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>SubmittedOn Saturday, the Knights of Columbus Councils from Ellis County joined together to host a barbecue lunch for the first responders of Ellis County. "Our&nbsp;first responders put their lives on the line every day to be sure the public is safe and taken care of," the organization said in a news release. "It is with heartfelt appreciation that the Knights of Columbus thank you for your service and dedication."

Knight of Columbus celebrate Ellis County first responders

By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/briefs/usda-directs-32-million-in-covid-19-aid-to-kansas-ethanol-production-plants/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Operators of eight 
ethanol plants in Kansas disrupted by economics of the COVID-19 pandemic
 will receive more than $32.4 million in federal disaster aid, officials
 said Monday.

The largest Kansas recipients of assistance from the U.S. Department 
of Agriculture are Conestoga Energy Holdings, of Liberal, and East 
Kansas Agri-Energy of Garnett. Conestoga, which has two ethanol 
facilities in Kansas, qualified for $14.4 million. East Kansas 
Agri-Energy, with a single facility, was to receive $5.4 million.

Dan Fischer, acting state director of rural development at USDA, said
 the biofuel producer program was part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief 
and Economic Security Act also known as the CARES Act. The USDA 
initiative was designed to help sustain markets for Kansas producers of 
corn, soybean or biomass used in biofuel production.

“The pandemic disrupted the rural economy through market 
interruptions,” Fischer said. “The USDA is targeting resources to 
improve the resiliency of critical markets for Kansas farmers and 
ranchers.”

Overall, the CARES Act program for U.S. biofuel facilities appropriated grants to 195 production plants in 25 states.

Other Kansas recipients of federal aid: Pratt Energy, of Pratt, $4.1 
million; Western Plains Energy, of Oakley, $2.4 million; Kansas Ethanol,
 of Lyons, $2.1 million; Phillips County Ethanol Project, of 
Phillipsburg, $1.7 million; Nesika Energy, of Scandia, $1.3 million; and
 Purefield Ingredients, of Russell, $702,000.

In addition, two companies based in Kansas received USDA support for 
facilities operated in other states. Trenton Agri Products, of Wichita, 
received $2.6 million for a Nebraska plant. ICM Biofuels, of Colwich, 
received $1.2 million for a Missouri facility.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1654532227102.png" alt="The U.S. Department of Agriculture says eight ethanol plants in Kansas undercut in the COVID-19 pandemic will receive more than $32 million in CARES Act support. USDA earmarked comparable assistance to biofuel companies in 25 states. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>The U.S. Department of Agriculture says eight ethanol plants in Kansas undercut in the COVID-19 pandemic will receive more than $32 million in CARES Act support. USDA earmarked comparable assistance to biofuel companies in 25 states. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Northwest Kan. plants among recipients</h2>By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/briefs/usda-directs-32-million-in-covid-19-aid-to-kansas-ethanol-production-plants/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Operators of eight 
ethanol plants in Kansas disrupted by economics of the COVID-19 pandemic
 will receive more than $32.4 million in federal disaster aid, officials
 said Monday.The largest Kansas recipients of assistance from the U.S. Department 
of Agriculture are Conestoga Energy Holdings, of Liberal, and East 
Kansas Agri-Energy of Garnett. Conestoga, which has two ethanol 
facilities in Kansas, qualified for $14.4 million. East Kansas 
Agri-Energy, with a single facility, was to receive $5.4 million.Dan Fischer, acting state director of rural development at USDA, said
 the biofuel producer program was part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief 
and Economic Security Act also known as the CARES Act. The USDA 
initiative was designed to help sustain markets for Kansas producers of 
corn, soybean or biomass used in biofuel production.“The pandemic disrupted the rural economy through market 
interruptions,” Fischer said. “The USDA is targeting resources to 
improve the resiliency of critical markets for Kansas farmers and 
ranchers.”Overall, the CARES Act program for U.S. biofuel facilities appropriated grants to 195 production plants in 25 states.Other Kansas recipients of federal aid: Pratt Energy, of Pratt, $4.1 
million; Western Plains Energy, of Oakley, $2.4 million; Kansas Ethanol,
 of Lyons, $2.1 million; Phillips County Ethanol Project, of 
Phillipsburg, $1.7 million; Nesika Energy, of Scandia, $1.3 million; and
 Purefield Ingredients, of Russell, $702,000.In addition, two companies based in Kansas received USDA support for 
facilities operated in other states. Trenton Agri Products, of Wichita, 
received $2.6 million for a Nebraska plant. ICM Biofuels, of Colwich, 
received $1.2 million for a Missouri facility.

USDA directs $32M in COVID aid to Kan. ethanol plants

The Hays Fire Department invites the public to an open house 
about the potential construction of a new fire station at 1732 W. 41st.

The meeting will be 6:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at The Venue at Thirsty's, 2704 Vine.

During
 this meeting, the department will share design concepts of the new fire 
station and allow questions about having a 
fire station located near your neighborhood.&nbsp;

News releaseThe Hays Fire Department invites the public to an open house 
about the potential construction of a new fire station at 1732 W. 41st.The meeting will be 6:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at The Venue at Thirsty's, 2704 Vine.During
 this meeting, the department will share design concepts of the new fire 
station and allow questions about having a 
fire station located near your neighborhood.&nbsp;

City will host open house to discuss possible new fire station in Hays

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1654543533968.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>

With the 2022 Kansas spring turkey season ending, I sat here&nbsp;at my&nbsp;computer&nbsp;recalling spring turkey hunts from the past, and one particular hunt years ago keeps rambling through my mind. Now, everyone knows wild turkeys MUST&nbsp;be hunted from the ground. Sitting on the ground or on a&nbsp;five-gallon&nbsp;bucket until your butt and both legs are numb is just part of the turkey hunting&nbsp;experience, and NOT to do so would certainly be&nbsp;as un-American as eating pizza without potato chips, or owning a corvette with an automatic transmission. Yet&nbsp;there I stood, gazing longingly up the ladder of the&nbsp;landowner’s&nbsp;tree stand thinking what a perfect spot it would be&nbsp;to call-in the gobbler that roamed this&nbsp;wood lot.&nbsp;But I must persevere and not break turkey hunting protocol!

“What a great seat,” I thought to myself as I surveyed my surroundings from above&nbsp;(I’m sure you saw this coming.)&nbsp;At this point several acres of nice timber separated the crop field to my left from the river. Right here is where I wanted to be, but the&nbsp;ground below was unusually void&nbsp;of the normal brush and downed tree limbs that make such good camouflage, so I put out a couple hen decoys and up the tree I went.

My “yelps” were occasionally answered by a gobble from afar, and soon a young gobbler and a hen appeared from the far corner of the crop field and started toward me. “This is too easy” I thought as the pair steadily came my way. At fifty yards, they veered away and taunted me from the edge of the trees, hidden from sight by limbs on the tree next to my perch. For the next forty-five minutes it was a stand-off, and my desire to harvest him soon turned to wishes that he would just leave so I could climb down without totally spooking him and start afresh in the morning.&nbsp;

The next&nbsp;morning,&nbsp;I followed my bouncing flashlight beam across the field, found the proper tree, set the decoys out and scaled the ladder once more up and into the tree stand. This tree stood barely three feet into the woodlot&nbsp;from the edge of the crop field; if I fell out, I’d land in the bean stubble. I figured the gobbler to be roosted at the end of the crop field and along the river, some distance away. Usually you can hear a gobbler even in the dark, as he’ll often gobble at every barking dog,&nbsp;hooting owl&nbsp;or slamming car door, but this morning the woods was unusually quiet. Perhaps that wasn’t good; perhaps I had misdiagnosed where he roosted and would be left high and dry.&nbsp;Trying not to shatter yet another turkey hunting rule of&nbsp;“calling very sparingly while the turkeys are still roosted,”&nbsp;I watched and waited as daylight slowly poured itself across the landscape around me. I yelped softly with the box call and a gobble erupted beside me along the river probably&nbsp;seventy yards away; the rascal was&nbsp;roosting where I had not even considered. For thirty minutes he gobbled away, and I tried to find a good balance between calling back to let him know I was still interested and playing hard to get to make him come find me. For those thirty minutes he seemed not to move, and&nbsp;suddenly he was silent. I called softly a couple times but heard nothing in return. My heart dropped to my toes; what had I done wrong or not done right?&nbsp;

As I tossed the situation around in my mind, a gobble broke the stillness again, this time directly in front of me not far away; he had snuck quietly through the trees and was in the bean stubble where I knew he would see my plastic decoy “jezebels.”&nbsp;Soon I saw him strutting his way toward me in the open field. I put the call aside and brought the shotgun&nbsp;around into position. He got so close I heard him spit each time&nbsp;he&nbsp;fanned out, and could hear the scratching noise as each wingtip drug across the ground. I could see him well, but too many tree limbs were in the way for a sure shot. Like a target in an&nbsp;arcade,&nbsp;he marched back and forth but would not come any closer. I had just read an article where the author&nbsp;warned about placing decoys too close and creating just such a situation. It became another standoff as he remained behind too many limbs for a safe&nbsp;killing shot. I decided it was time for a plan “B”; if he would just step&nbsp;a little closer&nbsp;to the edge of the trees during his little show, he would momentarily be in a small clear spot for a shot.&nbsp;Finally,&nbsp;he appeared to stray a little closer to the trees,&nbsp;so as his back was toward me as he turned, I swung the shotgun around and leaned out around the tree trunk in front of me. He saw or heard me move and immediately&nbsp;dropped his tail feathers to run, but the&nbsp;twelve-gauge&nbsp;nailed him to the ground before he could take more than a couple steps.&nbsp;

If&nbsp;this story leaves&nbsp;some of you turkey hunting purists shaking your heads, I apologize. I’ve never been one to worry much about protocol. Maybe more of you have shot turkeys from tree stands than I know, but if not and the situation presents itself, give it a try. If you&nbsp;decide to&nbsp;try it, access your shooting lanes and place your decoys appropriately to draw the gobbler past you and to put him in a position for a clear shot if he hangs&nbsp;up a ways out. Continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors!

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574696211722.png" alt="Steve&nbsp;Gilliland" />
 <figcaption>Steve&nbsp;Gilliland</figcaption>
 </figure>With the 2022 Kansas spring turkey season ending, I sat here&nbsp;at my&nbsp;computer&nbsp;recalling spring turkey hunts from the past, and one particular hunt years ago keeps rambling through my mind. Now, everyone knows wild turkeys MUST&nbsp;be hunted from the ground. Sitting on the ground or on a&nbsp;five-gallon&nbsp;bucket until your butt and both legs are numb is just part of the turkey hunting&nbsp;experience, and NOT to do so would certainly be&nbsp;as un-American as eating pizza without potato chips, or owning a corvette with an automatic transmission. Yet&nbsp;there I stood, gazing longingly up the ladder of the&nbsp;landowner’s&nbsp;tree stand thinking what a perfect spot it would be&nbsp;to call-in the gobbler that roamed this&nbsp;wood lot.&nbsp;But I must persevere and not break turkey hunting protocol!“What a great seat,” I thought to myself as I surveyed my surroundings from above&nbsp;(I’m sure you saw this coming.)&nbsp;At this point several acres of nice timber separated the crop field to my left from the river. Right here is where I wanted to be, but the&nbsp;ground below was unusually void&nbsp;of the normal brush and downed tree limbs that make such good camouflage, so I put out a couple hen decoys and up the tree I went.My “yelps” were occasionally answered by a gobble from afar, and soon a young gobbler and a hen appeared from the far corner of the crop field and started toward me. “This is too easy” I thought as the pair steadily came my way. At fifty yards, they veered away and taunted me from the edge of the trees, hidden from sight by limbs on the tree next to my perch. For the next forty-five minutes it was a stand-off, and my desire to harvest him soon turned to wishes that he would just leave so I could climb down without totally spooking him and start afresh in the morning.&nbsp;The next&nbsp;morning,&nbsp;I followed my bouncing flashlight beam across the field, found the proper tree, set the decoys out and scaled the ladder once more up and into the tree stand. This tree stood barely three feet into the woodlot&nbsp;from the edge of the crop field; if I fell out, I’d land in the bean stubble. I figured the gobbler to be roosted at the end of the crop field and along the river, some distance away. Usually you can hear a gobbler even in the dark, as he’ll often gobble at every barking dog,&nbsp;hooting owl&nbsp;or slamming car door, but this morning the woods was unusually quiet. Perhaps that wasn’t good; perhaps I had misdiagnosed where he roosted and would be left high and dry.&nbsp;Trying not to shatter yet another turkey hunting rule of&nbsp;“calling very sparingly while the turkeys are still roosted,”&nbsp;I watched and waited as daylight slowly poured itself across the landscape around me. I yelped softly with the box call and a gobble erupted beside me along the river probably&nbsp;seventy yards away; the rascal was&nbsp;roosting where I had not even considered. For thirty minutes he gobbled away, and I tried to find a good balance between calling back to let him know I was still interested and playing hard to get to make him come find me. For those thirty minutes he seemed not to move, and&nbsp;suddenly he was silent. I called softly a couple times but heard nothing in return. My heart dropped to my toes; what had I done wrong or not done right?&nbsp;As I tossed the situation around in my mind, a gobble broke the stillness again, this time directly in front of me not far away; he had snuck quietly through the trees and was in the bean stubble where I knew he would see my plastic decoy “jezebels.”&nbsp;Soon I saw him strutting his way toward me in the open field. I put the call aside and brought the shotgun&nbsp;around into position. He got so close I heard him spit each time&nbsp;he&nbsp;fanned out, and could hear the scratching noise as each wingtip drug across the ground. I could see him well, but too many tree limbs were in the way for a sure shot. Like a target in an&nbsp;arcade,&nbsp;he marched back and forth but would not come any closer. I had just read an article where the author&nbsp;warned about placing decoys too close and creating just such a situation. It became another standoff as he remained behind too many limbs for a safe&nbsp;killing shot. I decided it was time for a plan “B”; if he would just step&nbsp;a little closer&nbsp;to the edge of the trees during his little show, he would momentarily be in a small clear spot for a shot.&nbsp;Finally,&nbsp;he appeared to stray a little closer to the trees,&nbsp;so as his back was toward me as he turned, I swung the shotgun around and leaned out around the tree trunk in front of me. He saw or heard me move and immediately&nbsp;dropped his tail feathers to run, but the&nbsp;twelve-gauge&nbsp;nailed him to the ground before he could take more than a couple steps.&nbsp;If&nbsp;this story leaves&nbsp;some of you turkey hunting purists shaking your heads, I apologize. I’ve never been one to worry much about protocol. Maybe more of you have shot turkeys from tree stands than I know, but if not and the situation presents itself, give it a try. If you&nbsp;decide to&nbsp;try it, access your shooting lanes and place your decoys appropriately to draw the gobbler past you and to put him in a position for a clear shot if he hangs&nbsp;up a ways out. Continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors!Steve Gilliland, Inman, can be contacted by email at stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.

Exploring Outdoors Kansas: Tree top turkey

By KIRBY ROSS Phillips County Review

After reports of a bank robbery, bomb threat, shooting and kidnapping in Kensington, and an alleged related homicide in Kirwin, law enforcement agencies from multiple departments swarmed into both small north central Kansas communities early Monday morning. While the Kirwin angle of this drama has not proven out, details are still sketchy on the rest and and apparently won’t become clear until after a full investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.&nbsp; The basic narrative that initially made its way through Smith and Phillips counties Monday morning was a basic hodgepodge of Facebook innuendo.

Facing off against the Facebook narrative, the Smith County Sheriff’s Office soon addressed it with a press release stating “As many have seen there has been a major event happening in Kensington today.&nbsp;&nbsp; “This morning a woman entered the bank in Kensington attempting to rob the bank and made a bomb threat. The woman left the bank and the two male suspects she was with took off taking her 8-week-old baby girl. "We have many agencies assisting with this event and we have no other details to give at this time. As more unfolds we will update.” As the events the Smith County Sheriff described were unfolding,&nbsp; in next door, Phillips County law enforcement officers were dispatched to Kirwin, ten miles from Kensington, amidst reports there was a body that had been shot to death in the old Kirwin School House.

Deploying one of our own Phillips County Review correspondents to that scene, within minutes she was reporting a swarm of over a dozen police were on the square in Kirwin, and a number more were surrounding the Kirwin school house. Meanwhile, at least one Wichita media outlet picked up on this activity, and reporting the possible incident at the old Kirwin school as being a “school shooting.” For our readers who are not aware, the Kirwin school was closed in 2007 as Eastern Heights consolidated with Kensington to form Thunder Ridge School District.&nbsp;&nbsp; The Kirwin school afterwards passed into&nbsp; private hands, and has gone into a state of decay since then. In recent years, according to sources within law enforcement, it appears to have been used as a temporary base for the homeless and by people passing through. With one of our own people already on the scene in Kirwin, this reporter headed to Kensington for a first-hand look at what was going on there.

Upon arrival, we found a perimeter had been set up around the entire downtown area, with ambulances, four wheelers, police vehicles, and public utility vans being utilized as roadblocks. In addition, a large number of civilians and law enforcement — two dozens perhaps — were manning these posts. Parking at a relative’s house a block from the bank to learn what he had observed, we found he was not home. Moving from that yard and past the adjacent VFW building, the scene we came upon looked like something out of an apocalyptic movie.&nbsp;&nbsp; Not a single person was in the downtown area.&nbsp; Nobody.&nbsp; And every single vehicle was gone from Main Street for a four block stretch.&nbsp; Not one vehicle was parked in the entire commercial district of downtown Kensington.  The only thing missing from this surreal scene was a tumbleweed blowing down the street followed by a small dust devil.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Likewise, the area immediately surrounding the bank itself was devoid of any persons or activity.&nbsp; No investigators were outside, or moving around inside. The closest people could be seen were two blocks away. With the entire commercial district of Kensington on tight lockdown we then made our way back to our car and proceeded over to Kirwin. Upon arriving at the old school there, which is in a state of considerable decline, we immediately observed a police command post with a number of vehicles and law enforcement officers around it. We were met by Phillips County Sheriff Charlie Radabaugh, who told us a sweep had been made through the building and nothing of consequence had been found relating to criminal activity, just evidence of occasional itinerant residents.&nbsp; We were advised both scenes in Kirwin and Kensington were secured and were awaiting investigators from the FBI and KBI to arrive. Afterwards seeking a more specific statement regarding the Kirwin scene, Undersheriff Gary Stephen told the Review “we found no evidence to support a shooting.” It was around that same time a general statement was issued by the Phillips County Sheriff’s Office: “Update--robbery suspect is in custody, no child or other persons of interest are being sought at this time. Kansas Bureau of Investigation is handling the situation. We’ll provide additional information when it becomes available.” There is a lot more to be heard regarding what exactly happened in these two tiny north central Kansas communities Monday morning.&nbsp; The huge gaps in this story apparently will have to wait to be told after the KBI and FBI finish their investigations.&nbsp;&nbsp; At that time, we’ll try to make sense out of the remaining mysteries of this unfolding story.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1580846595476.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By KIRBY ROSS Phillips County ReviewAfter reports of a bank robbery, bomb threat, shooting and kidnapping in Kensington, and an alleged related homicide in Kirwin, law enforcement agencies from multiple departments swarmed into both small north central Kansas communities early Monday morning. While the Kirwin angle of this drama has not proven out, details are still sketchy on the rest and and apparently won’t become clear until after a full investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.&nbsp; The basic narrative that initially made its way through Smith and Phillips counties Monday morning was a basic hodgepodge of Facebook innuendo.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1654537855881.png" alt="Fire truck blocking a street in Kensington. Photo and videos by Kirby Ross / Phillips County Review" />
 <figcaption>Fire truck blocking a street in Kensington. Photo and videos by Kirby Ross / Phillips County Review</figcaption>
 </figure>Facing off against the Facebook narrative, the Smith County Sheriff’s Office soon addressed it with a press release stating “As many have seen there has been a major event happening in Kensington today.&nbsp;&nbsp; “This morning a woman entered the bank in Kensington attempting to rob the bank and made a bomb threat. The woman left the bank and the two male suspects she was with took off taking her 8-week-old baby girl. "We have many agencies assisting with this event and we have no other details to give at this time. As more unfolds we will update.” As the events the Smith County Sheriff described were unfolding,&nbsp; in next door, Phillips County law enforcement officers were dispatched to Kirwin, ten miles from Kensington, amidst reports there was a body that had been shot to death in the old Kirwin School House.<div><div itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/VideoObject"><meta itemprop="uploadDate" content="Mon Jun 06 2022 12:47:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time)"/><meta itemprop="name" content="Kensington"/><meta itemprop="duration" content="P0Y0M0DT0H0M29S" /><meta itemprop="thumbnailUrl" content="https://cdn.jwplayer.com/thumbs/Tzv9T64A-720.jpg"/><meta itemprop="contentUrl" content="https://content.jwplatform.com/videos/Tzv9T64A-25NauLGk.m4a"/><div style="position:relative; overflow:hidden; padding-bottom:56.25%"><iframe src="https://cdn.jwplayer.com/players/Tzv9T64A-KcBmu4K3.html" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" title="Kensington" style="position:absolute;" allowfullscreen></iframe></div></div></div>Deploying one of our own Phillips County Review correspondents to that scene, within minutes she was reporting a swarm of over a dozen police were on the square in Kirwin, and a number more were surrounding the Kirwin school house. Meanwhile, at least one Wichita media outlet picked up on this activity, and reporting the possible incident at the old Kirwin school as being a “school shooting.” For our readers who are not aware, the Kirwin school was closed in 2007 as Eastern Heights consolidated with Kensington to form Thunder Ridge School District.&nbsp;&nbsp; The Kirwin school afterwards passed into&nbsp; private hands, and has gone into a state of decay since then. In recent years, according to sources within law enforcement, it appears to have been used as a temporary base for the homeless and by people passing through. With one of our own people already on the scene in Kirwin, this reporter headed to Kensington for a first-hand look at what was going on there. <div><div itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/VideoObject"><meta itemprop="uploadDate" content="Mon Jun 06 2022 13:02:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time)"/><meta itemprop="name" content="Kensington 2"/><meta itemprop="description" content="Video by Kirby Ross / Phillips County Review"/><meta itemprop="duration" content="P0Y0M0DT0H0M30S" /><meta itemprop="thumbnailUrl" content="https://cdn.jwplayer.com/thumbs/45oIpHKL-720.jpg"/><meta itemprop="contentUrl" content="https://content.jwplatform.com/videos/45oIpHKL-25NauLGk.m4a"/><div style="position:relative; overflow:hidden; padding-bottom:56.25%"><iframe src="https://cdn.jwplayer.com/players/45oIpHKL-KcBmu4K3.html" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" title="Kensington 2" style="position:absolute;" allowfullscreen></iframe></div></div></div>Upon arrival, we found a perimeter had been set up around the entire downtown area, with ambulances, four wheelers, police vehicles, and public utility vans being utilized as roadblocks. In addition, a large number of civilians and law enforcement — two dozens perhaps — were manning these posts. Parking at a relative’s house a block from the bank to learn what he had observed, we found he was not home. Moving from that yard and past the adjacent VFW building, the scene we came upon looked like something out of an apocalyptic movie.&nbsp;&nbsp; Not a single person was in the downtown area.&nbsp; Nobody.&nbsp; And every single vehicle was gone from Main Street for a four block stretch.&nbsp; Not one vehicle was parked in the entire commercial district of downtown Kensington.  The only thing missing from this surreal scene was a tumbleweed blowing down the street followed by a small dust devil.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Likewise, the area immediately surrounding the bank itself was devoid of any persons or activity.&nbsp; No investigators were outside, or moving around inside. The closest people could be seen were two blocks away. With the entire commercial district of Kensington on tight lockdown we then made our way back to our car and proceeded over to Kirwin. Upon arriving at the old school there, which is in a state of considerable decline, we immediately observed a police command post with a number of vehicles and law enforcement officers around it. We were met by Phillips County Sheriff Charlie Radabaugh, who told us a sweep had been made through the building and nothing of consequence had been found relating to criminal activity, just evidence of occasional itinerant residents.&nbsp; We were advised both scenes in Kirwin and Kensington were secured and were awaiting investigators from the FBI and KBI to arrive. Afterwards seeking a more specific statement regarding the Kirwin scene, Undersheriff Gary Stephen told the Review “we found no evidence to support a shooting.” It was around that same time a general statement was issued by the Phillips County Sheriff’s Office: “Update--robbery suspect is in custody, no child or other persons of interest are being sought at this time. Kansas Bureau of Investigation is handling the situation. We’ll provide additional information when it becomes available.” There is a lot more to be heard regarding what exactly happened in these two tiny north central Kansas communities Monday morning.&nbsp; The huge gaps in this story apparently will have to wait to be told after the KBI and FBI finish their investigations.&nbsp;&nbsp; At that time, we’ll try to make sense out of the remaining mysteries of this unfolding story.

🎥 Police clear central Kensington after attempted bank robbery

SMITH COUNTY –&nbsp;The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) and the Smith County Sheriff’s Office arrested a woman connected to a bank robbery in Kensington, Kansas, according to a media release from the KBI.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1654537855881.png" alt="Fire truck blocking a street in Kensington. Photo by Kirby Ross / Phillips County Review" />
 <figcaption>Fire truck blocking a street in Kensington. Photo by Kirby Ross / Phillips County Review</figcaption>
 </figure>SMITH COUNTY –&nbsp;The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) and the Smith County Sheriff’s Office arrested a woman connected to a bank robbery in Kensington, Kansas, according to a media release from the KBI.On Monday morning, June 6, at around 10:15 a.m., a woman robbed the Farmers National Bank at 133 S. Main St. in Kensington, Kansas. The Smith County Sheriff’s Office responded to the location and found Jennie R. Aanenson, 51, of Agra, Kansas, outside of the bank. Aanenson was detained.The KBI was asked to assist at approximately 10:30 a.m. When questioned, Aanenson reported that she was forced by two men to rob the bank while armed with a bomb that was in her bag. She also claimed that her infant daughter was abducted by the men who left the area while she was inside the bank.The Kansas Highway Patrol (KHP) and the Smith County Sheriff’s Office immediately began searching for the reported vehicles. Also assisting in the case were the Phillips County Sheriff’s Office and the Osborne County Sheriff’s Office.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1654562919835.png" alt="Aanenson-photo KBI" />
 <figcaption>Aanenson-photo KBI</figcaption>
 </figure>KBI agents arrived to assist, and concluded that no child was abducted, and that Aanenson does not have an infant daughter. KHP’s Hazardous Devices Unit responded to the bank, and determined that the device was not a bomb.&nbsp;Monday evening, Aanenson was arrested for suspected aggravated robbery with a dangerous weapon, aggravated criminal threat, and two counts of interference with law enforcement. She was booked into the Smith County Jail. Formal charges are pending.-------UPDATE 6p.m. from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.On Monday morning, June 6, at around 10:30 a.m., the KBI responded to a bank robbery that occurred at the Farmers National Bank at 133 S. Main St. in Kensington, Kansas. The Smith County Sheriff’s Office detained one female subject outside of the bank. The woman was questioned and reported that she was forced by two men to rob the bank while armed with a bomb. She also reported that her infant daughter was abducted by the men who then left the area. Upon further investigation, law enforcement concluded that many of her statements were not credible. It has been determined that the device was not a bomb, and that the woman does not have an infant.Once the subject is arrested, we will provide her name and booking information to you.--------UPDATE: 2:06 p.m. The Phillips County Sheriff's Department reported around 2 p.m. that a suspect is in custody.&nbsp;"No child or other persons of interest are being sought at this time," according to the department's Facebook page.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1654543064499.png" alt="Bank in Kensington / Photo by Kirby Ross, Philips County Review" />
 <figcaption>Bank in Kensington / Photo by Kirby Ross, Philips County Review</figcaption>
 </figure>THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY AND WILL BE UPDATED AS MORE INFORMATION BECOMES AVAILABLE.UPDATE: 12:45 p.m.&nbsp; From the Smith County Communications Facebook page:<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1654537663208.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Melissa Underwood, communications director for the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, has told media outlets that the KBI is "presently involved in this incident and it is very active." Underwood said she has not yet been briefed by those responding.<div><div itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/VideoObject"><meta itemprop="uploadDate" content="Mon Jun 06 2022 12:47:29 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time)"/><meta itemprop="name" content="Img 1083"/><meta itemprop="duration" content="P0Y0M0DT0H0M29S" /><meta itemprop="thumbnailUrl" content="https://cdn.jwplayer.com/thumbs/Tzv9T64A-720.jpg"/><meta itemprop="contentUrl" content="https://content.jwplatform.com/videos/Tzv9T64A-25NauLGk.m4a"/><div style="position:relative; overflow:hidden; padding-bottom:56.25%"><iframe src="https://cdn.jwplayer.com/players/Tzv9T64A-KcBmu4K3.html" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" title="Img 1083" style="position:absolute;" allowfullscreen></iframe></div></div></div>Video by Kirby Ross / Phillips County ReviewArea law enforcement were looking for a shooting victim, two robbery suspects and an 8-week-old baby following an attempted bank robbery in Kensington on Monday morning.According to scanner traffic, around 10:22 a.m. two Hispanic males entered a bank in Kensington in an attempt to rob the bank.They fled the scene and were being saught by law enforcement in Kensington and surrounding towns.Law enforcement in the area is also looking for an 8-week-old baby and a gunshot victim. The relation to the incident is unclear at this time.One suspect was described as wearing jeans, a white T-shirt has a gold tooth and three teardrop tattoos under an eye.The second suspect was described as wearing jeans and a green and white flannel shirt with cutoff sleeves.The suspects were described as driving a white passenger van with a touch screen and Texas license plates.The gunshot victim was described as driving a four-door Black Jeep Wrangler.<div><div itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/VideoObject"><meta itemprop="uploadDate" content="Mon Jun 06 2022 13:02:27 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time)"/><meta itemprop="name" content="Kensington 2"/><meta itemprop="duration" content="P0Y0M0DT0H0M30S" /><meta itemprop="thumbnailUrl" content="https://cdn.jwplayer.com/thumbs/45oIpHKL-720.jpg"/><meta itemprop="contentUrl" content="https://content.jwplatform.com/videos/45oIpHKL-25NauLGk.m4a"/><div style="position:relative; overflow:hidden; padding-bottom:56.25%"><iframe src="https://cdn.jwplayer.com/players/45oIpHKL-KcBmu4K3.html" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" title="Kensington 2" style="position:absolute;" allowfullscreen></iframe></div></div></div>Video by Kirby Ross / Phillips County Review