Several years ago when I began trapping beavers, one particular bend in a stream taught me a valuable lesson about wildlife sign. It was along a rutted dirt road somewhere between the middle of nowhere and the end of the line where an old bridge spanned the stream as it meandered through a sand hills pasture thick with cedars. 

Cottonwoods of various sizes grew near the stream, and from the truck I could see that several of the bigger ones had been severely gnawed by beavers. The owner had told me of fresh beaver chewings along this creek, but I hadn’t expected the amount I was seeing. I donned chest waders and shoulder length gloves, and with traps and stakes in hand headed for the stream. In a sharp bend ahead of me a scraggly brushy tree had toppled from the high bank above and lay intact in a deep pool in the creek below. 

I was pretty sure its thick mass of roots sheltered a beaver den dug deeply into the mud beneath, because cleanly stripped sticks floated around the edges of the pool, and pine boughs lay on the banks nearby. The water around the uprooted tree was too deep to wade into, so I went a ways in both directions from the den, set four traps and headed home with visions of 4 beavers the next day. After all, given the amount of fresh sign, beavers had to be thick in this creek… or were they? Four days later, I had only1 large beaver to show for my enthusiasm. That year, I learned a valuable lesson about beaver trapping that I had long ago learned about hunting and trapping other species; the amount of sign left by our four- legged quarry isn’t always a true picture of the number of critters.

I remember another safari I once took after our only good tracking snow of that winter. I headed for the woods to see what the fresh snow could show me. My first stop was a 30 acre soybean stubble field nestled along the river and surrounded by hedge trees on all sides. There were quite literally thousands of deer tracks criss-crossing that field! It looked like an elementary school playground after recess. Now I know there are lots of deer there, but are there thousands? Look under any bridge that crosses a stream and you’ll find literally hundreds of raccoon tracks in the mud. There are lots of raccoons in this part of Kansas, but again, do hundreds visit that bridge? I’m learning that the same is true of signs left by beavers along any waterway. Severed branches floating everywhere and chewed &amp; toppled trees by the dozens do not mean dozens of beavers.&nbsp;

For starters, we need to consider that all mammals we hunt and trap have 4 legs, and 4 feet can leave a multitude of tracks in one night’s time. Secondly, animal’s lives revolve around survival, and a major part of that survival is foraging for food. Lots of steps are taken each night in pursuit of that, two- legged birds included. All of you who have watched deer browse or raccoons waddle along a stream know that they don’t stand in one place very long. Multiply that times eight hours or more and that’s a lot of tracks! If we were to freshly paint the floors and isles of our workplaces, or our kitchen floors near the refrigerator, then observe the number of shoe prints there at the end of an eight hour work shift, or the end of our day at home, we’d be amazed how many tracks just a few of us would make.&nbsp;

	In the end, this all amounts to a few animals leaving a multitude of life-signs of various kinds. When scouting there is no better find than tracks and other signs left by our four- legged quarry. And while it is true that the more tracks and other signs you see, the more animals there are using that particular area, we just need to consider all the above when estimating wildlife numbers. So to be on the conservative side, count the tracks and divide by four! 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>Several years ago when I began trapping beavers, one particular bend in a stream taught me a valuable lesson about wildlife sign. It was along a rutted dirt road somewhere between the middle of nowhere and the end of the line where an old bridge spanned the stream as it meandered through a sand hills pasture thick with cedars. Cottonwoods of various sizes grew near the stream, and from the truck I could see that several of the bigger ones had been severely gnawed by beavers. The owner had told me of fresh beaver chewings along this creek, but I hadn’t expected the amount I was seeing. I donned chest waders and shoulder length gloves, and with traps and stakes in hand headed for the stream. In a sharp bend ahead of me a scraggly brushy tree had toppled from the high bank above and lay intact in a deep pool in the creek below. I was pretty sure its thick mass of roots sheltered a beaver den dug deeply into the mud beneath, because cleanly stripped sticks floated around the edges of the pool, and pine boughs lay on the banks nearby. The water around the uprooted tree was too deep to wade into, so I went a ways in both directions from the den, set four traps and headed home with visions of 4 beavers the next day. After all, given the amount of fresh sign, beavers had to be thick in this creek… or were they? Four days later, I had only1 large beaver to show for my enthusiasm. That year, I learned a valuable lesson about beaver trapping that I had long ago learned about hunting and trapping other species; the amount of sign left by our four- legged quarry isn’t always a true picture of the number of critters.I remember another safari I once took after our only good tracking snow of that winter. I headed for the woods to see what the fresh snow could show me. My first stop was a 30 acre soybean stubble field nestled along the river and surrounded by hedge trees on all sides. There were quite literally thousands of deer tracks criss-crossing that field! It looked like an elementary school playground after recess. Now I know there are lots of deer there, but are there thousands? Look under any bridge that crosses a stream and you’ll find literally hundreds of raccoon tracks in the mud. There are lots of raccoons in this part of Kansas, but again, do hundreds visit that bridge? I’m learning that the same is true of signs left by beavers along any waterway. Severed branches floating everywhere and chewed &amp; toppled trees by the dozens do not mean dozens of beavers.&nbsp;For starters, we need to consider that all mammals we hunt and trap have 4 legs, and 4 feet can leave a multitude of tracks in one night’s time. Secondly, animal’s lives revolve around survival, and a major part of that survival is foraging for food. Lots of steps are taken each night in pursuit of that, two- legged birds included. All of you who have watched deer browse or raccoons waddle along a stream know that they don’t stand in one place very long. Multiply that times eight hours or more and that’s a lot of tracks! If we were to freshly paint the floors and isles of our workplaces, or our kitchen floors near the refrigerator, then observe the number of shoe prints there at the end of an eight hour work shift, or the end of our day at home, we’d be amazed how many tracks just a few of us would make.&nbsp;	In the end, this all amounts to a few animals leaving a multitude of life-signs of various kinds. When scouting there is no better find than tracks and other signs left by our four- legged quarry. And while it is true that the more tracks and other signs you see, the more animals there are using that particular area, we just need to consider all the above when estimating wildlife numbers. So to be on the conservative side, count the tracks and divide by four! Continue to Explore Kansas outdoors.Steve Gilliland, Inman, can be contacted by email at stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.

Exploring Outdoors Kansas: Count the tracks and divide by four

A series of six K-State Soybean Production Schools will be offered in late January and early February to provide in-depth training targeted for soybean producers and key-stakeholders. The schools will be sponsored by the Kansas Soybean Commission, and conducted by K-State Research &amp; Extension.

The schools will cover a number of issues facing soybean growers including weed control, crop production practices, nutrient management and soil fertility, insects, risk management, and disease management.

The dates are set and specific locations have been chosen with schools located across the state, the locations closest to our area are only listed.

Beloit, KS - January 25 (Tuesday) - 8:00 am to 1:00 pm First Christian Church in Beloit, 321 N. Mill Street Contact: Sandra Wick, swick@ksu.edu

Newton, KS - February 1 (Tuesday) – 8:00 am to 1:00 pm Meridian Conference Center, 1420 E. Broadway Ct Contact: Ryan Flaming, flaming@ksu.edu

Oakley, KS - February 8 (Tuesday) – 8:00 am to 1:00 pm Buffalo Bill Cultural Center, 3083 US-83 Contact: Kelsi Wertz, kjwertz@ksu.edu

Great Bend, KS - February 8 (Tuesday) – 3:00 to 7:00 pm Knights of Columbus Hall, 723 Main Street Contact: Stacy Campbell, 785-628-9430, scampbel@ksu.edu

Lunch/dinner will be provided courtesy of the Kansas Soybean Commission. There is no cost to attend, but participants are asked to pre-register by Wednesday, January 19. Online registration is available at http://bit.ly/KSUSoybean. You can also register by emailing/calling the nearest K-State Research and Extension office for the location you plan to attend (contact emails for each location are listed above).

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/2019/11/1574181994278.png" alt="written by: Stacy Campbell - Cottonwood Extension District" />
 <figcaption>written by: Stacy Campbell - Cottonwood Extension District</figcaption>
 </figure>A series of six K-State Soybean Production Schools will be offered in late January and early February to provide in-depth training targeted for soybean producers and key-stakeholders. The schools will be sponsored by the Kansas Soybean Commission, and conducted by K-State Research &amp; Extension.The schools will cover a number of issues facing soybean growers including weed control, crop production practices, nutrient management and soil fertility, insects, risk management, and disease management.The dates are set and specific locations have been chosen with schools located across the state, the locations closest to our area are only listed.Beloit, KS - January 25 (Tuesday) - 8:00 am to 1:00 pm First Christian Church in Beloit, 321 N. Mill Street Contact: Sandra Wick, swick@ksu.eduNewton, KS - February 1 (Tuesday) – 8:00 am to 1:00 pm Meridian Conference Center, 1420 E. Broadway Ct Contact: Ryan Flaming, flaming@ksu.eduOakley, KS - February 8 (Tuesday) – 8:00 am to 1:00 pm Buffalo Bill Cultural Center, 3083 US-83 Contact: Kelsi Wertz, kjwertz@ksu.eduGreat Bend, KS - February 8 (Tuesday) – 3:00 to 7:00 pm Knights of Columbus Hall, 723 Main Street Contact: Stacy Campbell, 785-628-9430, scampbel@ksu.eduLunch/dinner will be provided courtesy of the Kansas Soybean Commission. There is no cost to attend, but participants are asked to pre-register by Wednesday, January 19. Online registration is available at http://bit.ly/KSUSoybean. You can also register by emailing/calling the nearest K-State Research and Extension office for the location you plan to attend (contact emails for each location are listed above).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: K-State Soybean Schools scheduled for January, February

TOPEKA&nbsp;–&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly has announced appointments to the following state boards and commissions.

Solid Waste Grants Advisory Committee

The purpose of this Committee is to review competitive grant applications and establish project priority lists for reach fiscal year based upon the availability of funds.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1642441017397.jpeg" alt="(Unsplash)" />
 <figcaption>(Unsplash)</figcaption>
 </figure>Office of GovernorTOPEKA&nbsp;–&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly has announced appointments to the following state boards and commissions.Solid Waste Grants Advisory CommitteeThe purpose of this Committee is to review competitive grant applications and establish project priority lists for reach fiscal year based upon the availability of funds.<ul>
 <li>Charles Peckham, Atwood (reappointment)</li><li>Shay Hanysak, Osawatomie</li>
 </ul>

Atwood resident reappointed to Solid Waste Grants Advisory Committee

On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times host Gary Shorman speaks with&nbsp;Forward Ever: Meteorologist Dan Holiday.

<div><iframe title="Forward Ever: Meteorologist Dan Holiday" 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=4c2e9-117ffb0-pb&from=pb6admin&square=1&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=ffffff&btn-skin=3267a3&size=300" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times host Gary Shorman speaks with&nbsp;Forward Ever: Meteorologist Dan Holiday.

🎤Forward Ever: Meteorologist Dan Holiday

NW Kansas lagging far behind national numbers

By RACHEL PRADHAN and HANNAH RECHT <a href="https://khn.org/news/article/as-omicron-surges-effort-to-vaccinate-young-children-stalls/">Kaiser Health News</a>

Two months after Pfizer’s COVID vaccine was authorized for children ages
 5 to 11, just 27 percent have received at least one shot, according to Jan. 12
 <a href="https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#vaccination-demographics-trends">data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention</a>. Only 18 percent, or 5 million kids, have both doses.

Those figures are even more stark for northwest Kansas, according to KHN data. Northwest Kansas counties average 7.1 percent of children 5 to 11 with a single dose — and just 4.4 percent of those children are fully vaccinated.&nbsp;

There are just more than 12,500 children in that age group in northwest Kansas, and just 649 have been fully vaccinated, according to KHN data.

Ellis reported the highest rate of a single dose in the area at 13 percent, with 8.2 percent being fully vaccinated.

Pediatricians say the slow pace and geographic disparities are 
alarming, especially against the backdrop of record numbers of cases and
 pediatric hospitalizations. School-based vaccine mandates for students,
 which some pediatricians say are needed to boost rates substantially, 
remain virtually nonexistent.

“You have these large swaths of vulnerable children 
who are going to school,” said Dr. Samir Shah, a director at Cincinnati 
Children’s Hospital Medical Center. Compounding the problem is that 
states with low vaccination rates “are less likely to require masking or
 distancing or other nonpartisan public health precautions,” he said.

In Louisiana, where 5 percent of kids ages 5 to 11 have been fully 
vaccinated, Gov. John Bel Edwards, a Democrat, added the shot to the 
list of required school immunizations for the fall, over the objections 
of state legislators, who are mostly Republicans. The District of 
Columbia and California, where about 1 in 5 elementary school kids are 
fully vaccinated, have added similar requirements. But those places are 
exceptions — 15 states have banned covid vaccine mandates in K-12 
schools, according to the <a href="https://www.nashp.org/states-enact-policies-to-support-students-transition-back-to-school/">National Academy for State Health Policy</a>.

Mandates are one of multiple “scientifically valid public health 
strategies,” Shah said. “I do think that what would be ideal; I don’t 
think that we as a society have a will to do that.”

Vaccine demand surged in November, with an initial wave of enthusiasm
 after the shot was approved for younger children. But parents have 
vaccinated younger kids at a slower pace than 12- to 15-year-olds, who 
became eligible in May. It took nearly six weeks for 1 in 5 younger kids
 to get their first shot, while adolescents reached that milestone in 
two weeks.

Experts cite several factors slowing the effort: Because kids are 
less likely than adults to be hospitalized or die from the virus, some 
parents are less inclined to vaccinate their children. Misinformation 
campaigns have fueled concerns about immediate and long-term health 
risks of the vaccine. And finding appointments at pharmacies or with 
pediatricians has been a bear.

“One of the problems we’ve had is this perception that kids aren’t at
 risk for serious illness from this virus,” said Dr. Yvonne Maldonado, 
chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Infectious 
Diseases. “That’s obviously not true.”

Parents are left to weigh which is more of a threat to their 
children: the covid virus or the vaccine to prevent the virus. 
Overwhelmingly, research shows, the virus itself presents a greater 
danger.

Kids can develop debilitating long-covid symptoms or a potentially fatal post-covid <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/mis/mis-c.html">inflammatory condition</a>. And <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/71/wr/mm7102e2.htm">new research</a>
 from the CDC found that children are at significantly higher risk of 
developing diabetes in the months after a covid infection. Other 
respiratory infections, like the flu, don’t carry similar risks.

Katharine Lehmann said she had concerns about myocarditis — a rare 
but serious side effect that causes inflammation of the heart muscle and
 is more likely to occur in boys than girls — and considered not 
vaccinating her two sons because of that risk. But after reading up on 
the side effects, she realized the condition is more likely to occur 
from the virus than the vaccine. “I felt safe giving it to my kids,” 
said Lehmann, a physical therapist in Missouri, where 20 percent of younger 
kids have gotten at least one dose.

<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/acip/meetings/downloads/slides-2022-01-05/02-COVID-Su-508.pdf">Recent data</a>
 from scientific advisers to the CDC found that myocarditis was 
extremely rare among vaccinated 5- to 11-year-olds, identifying 12 
reported cases as of Dec. 19 out of 8.7 million administered doses.

The huge variations in where children are getting vaccinated reflect 
what has occurred with other age groups: Children have been much less 
likely to get shots in the Deep South, where hesitancy, political views 
and misinformation have blunted adult vaccination rates as well. Alabama
 has the lowest vaccination rate for 5- to 11-year-olds, with 5 percent fully 
vaccinated. States with high adult vaccine rates such as Vermont, 
Massachusetts, Connecticut and Maine have inoculated the greatest shares
 of their children.

Even within states, rates vary dramatically by county based on 
political leanings, density and access to the shot. More than a quarter 
of kids in Illinois’ populous counties around Chicago and Urbana are 
fully vaccinated, with rates as high as 38% in DuPage County. But rates 
are still below 10% in many of the state’s rural and Republican-leaning 
counties. In Maryland, where 1 in 4 kids are fully vaccinated, rates 
range from more than 40 percent in Howard and Montgomery counties, wealthy 
suburban counties, to fewer than 10 percent along parts of the more rural 
Eastern Shore.

Nationally, a November <a href="https://www.kff.org/coronavirus-covid-19/poll-finding/kff-covid-19-vaccine-monitor-winter-2021-update-on-parents-views-of-vaccines/">KFF poll</a>
 found that 29 percent of parents of 5- to 11-year-olds definitely won’t 
vaccinate their children and that an additional 7 percent would do so only if 
required. Though rates were similar for Black, white and Hispanic 
parents, political differences and location divided families. Only 22 percent of <a href="https://www.kff.org/coronavirus-covid-19/poll-finding/kff-covid-19-vaccine-monitor-vaccine-attitudes-rural-suburban-urban/">urban parents</a>
 wouldn’t vaccinate their kids, while 49 percent of rural parents were opposed.
 Half of Republican parents said they definitely wouldn’t vaccinate 
their kids, compared with just 7 percent of Democrats.

The White House said officials continue to work with trusted groups 
to build vaccine confidence and ensure access to shots. “As we’ve seen 
with adult vaccinations, we expect confidence to grow and more and more 
kids to be vaccinated across time,” spokesperson Kevin Munoz said in a 
statement.

Just before her younger son’s 5th birthday, Lehmann was eager to book
 covid vaccine appointments for her two boys. But their pediatrician 
wasn’t offering them. Attempts to book time slots at CVS and Walgreens 
before her son turned 5 were unsuccessful, even if the appointment 
occurred after his late-November birthday.

“It was not easy,” she said. Wanting to avoid separate trips for her 
10-year-old and 5-year-old, she nabbed appointments at a hospital a 
half-hour away.

“Both of my kids have gotten all their vaccines at the pediatrician, 
so I was kind of shocked. That would have certainly been easier,” 
Lehmann said. “And the kids know those nurses and doctors, so I think it
 would have helped to not have a stranger doing it.”

The Biden administration has pointed parents to retail pharmacies and
 122 children’s hospitals with vaccine clinics. Nationwide, more than 
35,000 sites, including pediatricians, federally qualified health 
centers and children’s hospitals have been set up to vaccinate young 
kids, according to the administration. Yet administering the covid 
vaccine to children presents obstacles that haven’t been as prominent 
for other inoculations.

Enrolling pediatricians in the covid-19 vaccine program is a 
challenge because of the application process, reporting requirements for
 administered doses, and staffing, said Claire Hannan, executive 
director of the Association of Immunization Managers.

“Many of them are short-staffed right now and don’t necessarily have 
huge capacity to serve,” she said. Plus, “it’s not as easy to engage the
 schools in school-based clinics in certain areas just due to the 
political environment.” Health centers, government officials and other 
groups have set up more than 9,000 school vaccination sites for 5- to 
11-year-olds nationwide.

The CDC’s long-standing program, Vaccines for Children, provides free
 shots for influenza, measles, chickenpox and polio, among others. 
Roughly <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/programs/vfc/about/index.html">44,000 doctors</a>
 are enrolled in the program, which is designed to immunize children who
 are eligible for Medicaid, are uninsured or underinsured, or are from 
Native or Indigenous communities. More than half of the program’s 
providers offer covid shots, although the rates vary by state.

Pharmacies have been heavily used in Illinois, where 25 percent of 5- to 11-year-olds are fully vaccinated.

Dr. Ngozi Ezike, a pediatrician and the director of the Illinois 
Department of Public Health, said 53 percent of shots administered to younger 
children as of Jan. 5 were done at pharmacies. Twenty percent occurred 
at private clinics, 7 percent at local health departments, 6 percent at federally 
qualified health centers and 5 percent at hospitals.

“You need all pieces of the pie” to get more kids vaccinated, Ezike said.

The Levite Jewish Community Center in Birmingham, Alabama, tried to 
boost vaccinations with a party, offering games and treats, even a photo
 booth and a DJ, along with shots given by a well-known local pharmacy. 
Brooke Bowles, the center’s director of marketing and fund development, 
estimated that about half a dozen of the 42 people who got a dose that 
mid-December day were kids.

Bowles was struck that children were more likely to roll up their 
sleeves when their parents emphasized the greater good in getting 
vaccinated. “Those children were just fantastic,” she said. In parts of 
the Deep South like this one, pro-vaccine groups face a tough climb — as
 of Jan. 12, only 7% of Jefferson County’s children had gotten both 
shots.

The greater good is what pediatricians have emphasized to parents who are on the fence.

“Children are vectors for infectious disease,” said Dr. Eileen 
Costello, chief of ambulatory pediatrics at Boston Medical Center. 
“They’re extremely generous with their microbes,” spreading infections 
to vulnerable relatives and community members who may be more likely to 
end up in the hospital.

Seventy-eight percent of the hospital’s adult patients have received 
at least one dose. For children 5 and up, the figure is 39 percent, with 
younger children having lower rates than adolescents, Costello said. 
Particularly amid an onslaught of misinformation, “it has been 
exhausting to have these long conversations with families who are so 
hesitant and reluctant,” she said.

Still, she can point to successes: A mother who lost a grandparent to
 covid was nonetheless reluctant to vaccinate her son with obesity and 
asthma whom Costello was seeing for a physical. The mother ultimately 
vaccinated all four of her children after Costello told her that her 
son’s weight put him at higher risk for severe illness.

“That felt like a triumph to me,” Costello said. “I think her 
thinking was, ‘Well, he’s a kid — he’s going to be fine.’ And I said, 
‘Well, he might be fine, but he might not.’ ”

Hays Post contributed to this report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1642184443270.jpg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><h2>NW Kansas lagging far behind national numbers</h2>By RACHEL PRADHAN and HANNAH RECHT <a href="https://khn.org/news/article/as-omicron-surges-effort-to-vaccinate-young-children-stalls/">Kaiser Health News</a>Two months after Pfizer’s COVID vaccine was authorized for children ages
 5 to 11, just 27 percent have received at least one shot, according to Jan. 12
 <a href="https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#vaccination-demographics-trends">data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention</a>. Only 18 percent, or 5 million kids, have both doses.Those figures are even more stark for northwest Kansas, according to KHN data. Northwest Kansas counties average 7.1 percent of children 5 to 11 with a single dose — and just 4.4 percent of those children are fully vaccinated.&nbsp;There are just more than 12,500 children in that age group in northwest Kansas, and just 649 have been fully vaccinated, according to KHN data.Ellis reported the highest rate of a single dose in the area at 13 percent, with 8.2 percent being fully vaccinated.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1642185215839.png" alt="KHN data" />
 <figcaption>KHN data</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1642184753049.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Pediatricians say the slow pace and geographic disparities are 
alarming, especially against the backdrop of record numbers of cases and
 pediatric hospitalizations. School-based vaccine mandates for students,
 which some pediatricians say are needed to boost rates substantially, 
remain virtually nonexistent.“You have these large swaths of vulnerable children 
who are going to school,” said Dr. Samir Shah, a director at Cincinnati 
Children’s Hospital Medical Center. Compounding the problem is that 
states with low vaccination rates “are less likely to require masking or
 distancing or other nonpartisan public health precautions,” he said.In Louisiana, where 5 percent of kids ages 5 to 11 have been fully 
vaccinated, Gov. John Bel Edwards, a Democrat, added the shot to the 
list of required school immunizations for the fall, over the objections 
of state legislators, who are mostly Republicans. The District of 
Columbia and California, where about 1 in 5 elementary school kids are 
fully vaccinated, have added similar requirements. But those places are 
exceptions — 15 states have banned covid vaccine mandates in K-12 
schools, according to the <a href="https://www.nashp.org/states-enact-policies-to-support-students-transition-back-to-school/">National Academy for State Health Policy</a>.Mandates are one of multiple “scientifically valid public health 
strategies,” Shah said. “I do think that what would be ideal; I don’t 
think that we as a society have a will to do that.”Vaccine demand surged in November, with an initial wave of enthusiasm
 after the shot was approved for younger children. But parents have 
vaccinated younger kids at a slower pace than 12- to 15-year-olds, who 
became eligible in May. It took nearly six weeks for 1 in 5 younger kids
 to get their first shot, while adolescents reached that milestone in 
two weeks.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1642184606479.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Experts cite several factors slowing the effort: Because kids are 
less likely than adults to be hospitalized or die from the virus, some 
parents are less inclined to vaccinate their children. Misinformation 
campaigns have fueled concerns about immediate and long-term health 
risks of the vaccine. And finding appointments at pharmacies or with 
pediatricians has been a bear.“One of the problems we’ve had is this perception that kids aren’t at
 risk for serious illness from this virus,” said Dr. Yvonne Maldonado, 
chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Infectious 
Diseases. “That’s obviously not true.”Parents are left to weigh which is more of a threat to their 
children: the covid virus or the vaccine to prevent the virus. 
Overwhelmingly, research shows, the virus itself presents a greater 
danger.Kids can develop debilitating long-covid symptoms or a potentially fatal post-covid <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/mis/mis-c.html">inflammatory condition</a>. And <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/71/wr/mm7102e2.htm">new research</a>
 from the CDC found that children are at significantly higher risk of 
developing diabetes in the months after a covid infection. Other 
respiratory infections, like the flu, don’t carry similar risks.Katharine Lehmann said she had concerns about myocarditis — a rare 
but serious side effect that causes inflammation of the heart muscle and
 is more likely to occur in boys than girls — and considered not 
vaccinating her two sons because of that risk. But after reading up on 
the side effects, she realized the condition is more likely to occur 
from the virus than the vaccine. “I felt safe giving it to my kids,” 
said Lehmann, a physical therapist in Missouri, where 20 percent of younger 
kids have gotten at least one dose.<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/acip/meetings/downloads/slides-2022-01-05/02-COVID-Su-508.pdf">Recent data</a>
 from scientific advisers to the CDC found that myocarditis was 
extremely rare among vaccinated 5- to 11-year-olds, identifying 12 
reported cases as of Dec. 19 out of 8.7 million administered doses.The huge variations in where children are getting vaccinated reflect 
what has occurred with other age groups: Children have been much less 
likely to get shots in the Deep South, where hesitancy, political views 
and misinformation have blunted adult vaccination rates as well. Alabama
 has the lowest vaccination rate for 5- to 11-year-olds, with 5 percent fully 
vaccinated. States with high adult vaccine rates such as Vermont, 
Massachusetts, Connecticut and Maine have inoculated the greatest shares
 of their children.Even within states, rates vary dramatically by county based on 
political leanings, density and access to the shot. More than a quarter 
of kids in Illinois’ populous counties around Chicago and Urbana are 
fully vaccinated, with rates as high as 38% in DuPage County. But rates 
are still below 10% in many of the state’s rural and Republican-leaning 
counties. In Maryland, where 1 in 4 kids are fully vaccinated, rates 
range from more than 40 percent in Howard and Montgomery counties, wealthy 
suburban counties, to fewer than 10 percent along parts of the more rural 
Eastern Shore.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1642184659504.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Nationally, a November <a href="https://www.kff.org/coronavirus-covid-19/poll-finding/kff-covid-19-vaccine-monitor-winter-2021-update-on-parents-views-of-vaccines/">KFF poll</a>
 found that 29 percent of parents of 5- to 11-year-olds definitely won’t 
vaccinate their children and that an additional 7 percent would do so only if 
required. Though rates were similar for Black, white and Hispanic 
parents, political differences and location divided families. Only 22 percent of <a href="https://www.kff.org/coronavirus-covid-19/poll-finding/kff-covid-19-vaccine-monitor-vaccine-attitudes-rural-suburban-urban/">urban parents</a>
 wouldn’t vaccinate their kids, while 49 percent of rural parents were opposed.
 Half of Republican parents said they definitely wouldn’t vaccinate 
their kids, compared with just 7 percent of Democrats.The White House said officials continue to work with trusted groups 
to build vaccine confidence and ensure access to shots. “As we’ve seen 
with adult vaccinations, we expect confidence to grow and more and more 
kids to be vaccinated across time,” spokesperson Kevin Munoz said in a 
statement.<h2>The Hunt for Shots</h2>Just before her younger son’s 5th birthday, Lehmann was eager to book
 covid vaccine appointments for her two boys. But their pediatrician 
wasn’t offering them. Attempts to book time slots at CVS and Walgreens 
before her son turned 5 were unsuccessful, even if the appointment 
occurred after his late-November birthday.“It was not easy,” she said. Wanting to avoid separate trips for her 
10-year-old and 5-year-old, she nabbed appointments at a hospital a 
half-hour away.“Both of my kids have gotten all their vaccines at the pediatrician, 
so I was kind of shocked. That would have certainly been easier,” 
Lehmann said. “And the kids know those nurses and doctors, so I think it
 would have helped to not have a stranger doing it.”The Biden administration has pointed parents to retail pharmacies and
 122 children’s hospitals with vaccine clinics. Nationwide, more than 
35,000 sites, including pediatricians, federally qualified health 
centers and children’s hospitals have been set up to vaccinate young 
kids, according to the administration. Yet administering the covid 
vaccine to children presents obstacles that haven’t been as prominent 
for other inoculations.Enrolling pediatricians in the covid-19 vaccine program is a 
challenge because of the application process, reporting requirements for
 administered doses, and staffing, said Claire Hannan, executive 
director of the Association of Immunization Managers.“Many of them are short-staffed right now and don’t necessarily have 
huge capacity to serve,” she said. Plus, “it’s not as easy to engage the
 schools in school-based clinics in certain areas just due to the 
political environment.” Health centers, government officials and other 
groups have set up more than 9,000 school vaccination sites for 5- to 
11-year-olds nationwide.The CDC’s long-standing program, Vaccines for Children, provides free
 shots for influenza, measles, chickenpox and polio, among others. 
Roughly <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/programs/vfc/about/index.html">44,000 doctors</a>
 are enrolled in the program, which is designed to immunize children who
 are eligible for Medicaid, are uninsured or underinsured, or are from 
Native or Indigenous communities. More than half of the program’s 
providers offer covid shots, although the rates vary by state.Pharmacies have been heavily used in Illinois, where 25 percent of 5- to 11-year-olds are fully vaccinated.Dr. Ngozi Ezike, a pediatrician and the director of the Illinois 
Department of Public Health, said 53 percent of shots administered to younger 
children as of Jan. 5 were done at pharmacies. Twenty percent occurred 
at private clinics, 7 percent at local health departments, 6 percent at federally 
qualified health centers and 5 percent at hospitals.“You need all pieces of the pie” to get more kids vaccinated, Ezike said.<h2>Kids Respond to ‘the Greater Good’</h2>The Levite Jewish Community Center in Birmingham, Alabama, tried to 
boost vaccinations with a party, offering games and treats, even a photo
 booth and a DJ, along with shots given by a well-known local pharmacy. 
Brooke Bowles, the center’s director of marketing and fund development, 
estimated that about half a dozen of the 42 people who got a dose that 
mid-December day were kids.Bowles was struck that children were more likely to roll up their 
sleeves when their parents emphasized the greater good in getting 
vaccinated. “Those children were just fantastic,” she said. In parts of 
the Deep South like this one, pro-vaccine groups face a tough climb — as
 of Jan. 12, only 7% of Jefferson County’s children had gotten both 
shots.The greater good is what pediatricians have emphasized to parents who are on the fence.“Children are vectors for infectious disease,” said Dr. Eileen 
Costello, chief of ambulatory pediatrics at Boston Medical Center. 
“They’re extremely generous with their microbes,” spreading infections 
to vulnerable relatives and community members who may be more likely to 
end up in the hospital.Seventy-eight percent of the hospital’s adult patients have received 
at least one dose. For children 5 and up, the figure is 39 percent, with 
younger children having lower rates than adolescents, Costello said. 
Particularly amid an onslaught of misinformation, “it has been 
exhausting to have these long conversations with families who are so 
hesitant and reluctant,” she said.Still, she can point to successes: A mother who lost a grandparent to
 covid was nonetheless reluctant to vaccinate her son with obesity and 
asthma whom Costello was seeing for a physical. The mother ultimately 
vaccinated all four of her children after Costello told her that her 
son’s weight put him at higher risk for severe illness.“That felt like a triumph to me,” Costello said. “I think her 
thinking was, ‘Well, he’s a kid — he’s going to be fine.’ And I said, 
‘Well, he might be fine, but he might not.’ ”Hays Post contributed to this report.

Effort to vaccinate young children stalls; NW Kan. lags even more

Recently, Imagine Ellis County hosted representatives of various organizations from Ellis County to identify, from their perspective, community needs that needed to be met for long-term growth and success of our county and region. Now it is your turn. We need your help to help identify community needs from the perspective of the residents of Ellis County.

On Feb. 7, we will host a Town Hall and facilitate small and large group discussions to learn more from our community members. It is from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn in Hays. Dinner is provided for those who attend. &nbsp;

Attendees are encouraged to be fully vaccinated or have a negative COVID test within 48 hours of attendance. Masks are not required but feel free to wear one. There will be plenty of space for a safe event.

While walk-ins are welcome, let us know if you intend to attend by clicking that you will attend on our event posted on our Facebook page or use our sign-up form at&nbsp; <a href="https://forms.gle/F1bgNywhV37N7rqw6">https://forms.gle/F1bgNywhV37N7rqw6</a>. See our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/1523831934656766/?active_tab=discussion">Facebook event page</a> for more information. Find <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ImagineEllisCounty">Imagine Ellis County</a> on Facebook, like and follow us.

Imagine Ellis County is a committee comprised of over 30 community members from Ellis County. The committee exists to serve the long-term interests of Ellis County. We have representatives from Catherine, Ellis, Hays, and Victoria on our committee. Committee members include people who serve as local elected officials, local government employees, employees from various community businesses, and those who are involved with non-profits and charitable organizations.

If you would like more information, contact Joe Leroux at 785-650-3600, or joe.leroux@hess-services.com.

Imagine Ellis County is a collaborative strategic vision for our community and region.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1642178166769.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>News releaseRecently, Imagine Ellis County hosted representatives of various organizations from Ellis County to identify, from their perspective, community needs that needed to be met for long-term growth and success of our county and region. Now it is your turn. We need your help to help identify community needs from the perspective of the residents of Ellis County.On Feb. 7, we will host a Town Hall and facilitate small and large group discussions to learn more from our community members. It is from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn in Hays. Dinner is provided for those who attend. &nbsp;Attendees are encouraged to be fully vaccinated or have a negative COVID test within 48 hours of attendance. Masks are not required but feel free to wear one. There will be plenty of space for a safe event.While walk-ins are welcome, let us know if you intend to attend by clicking that you will attend on our event posted on our Facebook page or use our sign-up form at&nbsp; <a href="https://forms.gle/F1bgNywhV37N7rqw6">https://forms.gle/F1bgNywhV37N7rqw6</a>. See our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/1523831934656766/?active_tab=discussion">Facebook event page</a> for more information. Find <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ImagineEllisCounty">Imagine Ellis County</a> on Facebook, like and follow us.Imagine Ellis County is a committee comprised of over 30 community members from Ellis County. The committee exists to serve the long-term interests of Ellis County. We have representatives from Catherine, Ellis, Hays, and Victoria on our committee. Committee members include people who serve as local elected officials, local government employees, employees from various community businesses, and those who are involved with non-profits and charitable organizations.If you would like more information, contact Joe Leroux at 785-650-3600, or joe.leroux@hess-services.com.Imagine Ellis County is a collaborative strategic vision for our community and region.

Imagine Ellis County schedules town hall meeting

TOPEKA — Two Kansas students have been selected as delegates to the 60th&nbsp;annual United States Senate Youth Program that will take place virtually March 6-9, 2022.

Gerrit Dangermound, a junior at Oskaloosa High School, Oskaloosa Unified School District 341, and William Rues, a senior at La Crosse High School, La Crosse USD 395, were selected to join the 104-student delegation that will virtually attend Washington Week. They each will receive a $10,000 undergraduate college scholarship with encouragement to continue coursework in government, history and public affairs.

Dangermound serves as vice president of his junior class at Oskaloosa High. He is active in school and community activities and enjoys spending his free time getting to know his peers and working at the local food bank.&nbsp;

Dangermound plans to teach high school social science after graduating from college.

Rues serves as president of the National Honor Society at La Crosse High. He also has served in many leadership positions at his school and competes in cross country and track. Rues recently had the opportunity to be a Boys State delegate and served in its Senate.&nbsp;

Rues plans to attend The University of Kansas (KU) on an Air Force ROTC scholarship and major in history. After he serves in the Air Force, Rues plans to return to college to obtain a doctorate in European history.&nbsp;

Chosen as alternates to the 2022 program were&nbsp;<a>Kevinh Nguyen, who lives in Topeka and attends Seaman High School, Seaman USD 345,&nbsp;</a>and Andrew Phalen, who lives in Lawrence and attends Lawrence High School, Lawrence USD 497.

Delegates and alternates are selected by state departments of education, after nomination by teachers and principals. The Chief State School Officer or Commissioner of Education for each jurisdiction confirms the final selection.&nbsp;

In Kansas, applicants have to pass a multiple-choice exam based on state and national government and write an essay. This year, the Kansas State Department of Education received 45 applications. The exams and essays are graded, and the top four applicants are selected. Delegates and alternates are authorized by Kansas Commissioner of Education Dr. Randy Watson.

In years past, the competitive merit-based program would send the 104 outstanding high school students — two from each state, the District of Columbia and the Department of Defense Education Activity — to Washington, D.C., for an intensive weeklong study of the federal government and the people who lead it. However, because of the pandemic, student delegates this year will attend online meetings and briefings with senators, the president, a justice of the Supreme Court, leaders of cabinet agencies and others.&nbsp;

The USSYP was created by Senate Resolution 324 in 1962 and has been sponsored by the Senate and fully funded by The Hearst Foundations since inception. The impetus for the program as stated in Senate testimony is "to increase young Americans’ understanding of the interrelationships of the three branches of government, learn the caliber and responsibilities of federally elected and appointed officials, and emphasize the vital importance of democratic decision making not only for America but for people around the world."&nbsp;

The overall mission of the program is to help instill within each class of USSYP student delegates more knowledge of the American political process and a lifelong commitment to public service. The Hearst Foundations provide each student with a $10,000 undergraduate college scholarship.

In addition to outstanding leadership abilities and a strong commitment to volunteer work, the student delegates rank academically in the top 1% of their states among high school juniors and seniors. Now more than 6,000 strong, alumni of the program continue to excel and develop impressive qualities that are often directed toward public service.

For questions about delegates, alternates or the selection process, contact Tamla Miller, Kansas Senate Youth coordinator at the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE), at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:tmiller@ksde.org">tmiller@ksde.org</a>&nbsp;or (785) 296-4950.&nbsp;

For more information on USSYP, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2ffile%3a%2f%2f%2fT%3a%2fRELEASES%2f2019%2fwww.ussenateyouth.org&amp;c=E,1,35AepP51Rxe2PvcRo-wBvjtvlmxH8pOhfEPbonQ4hg_DFaqAnVVih4BOuhB9_UzJUFD1-nV2ugxK2BTfr29-QvjpHdWtBD-vtQTkj-VhxaGYie9oag,,&amp;typo=1">www.ussenateyouth.org</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1642094809326.jpeg" alt="William Rues&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>William Rues&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>News releaseTOPEKA — Two Kansas students have been selected as delegates to the 60th&nbsp;annual United States Senate Youth Program that will take place virtually March 6-9, 2022.Gerrit Dangermound, a junior at Oskaloosa High School, Oskaloosa Unified School District 341, and William Rues, a senior at La Crosse High School, La Crosse USD 395, were selected to join the 104-student delegation that will virtually attend Washington Week. They each will receive a $10,000 undergraduate college scholarship with encouragement to continue coursework in government, history and public affairs.Dangermound serves as vice president of his junior class at Oskaloosa High. He is active in school and community activities and enjoys spending his free time getting to know his peers and working at the local food bank.&nbsp;Dangermound plans to teach high school social science after graduating from college.Rues serves as president of the National Honor Society at La Crosse High. He also has served in many leadership positions at his school and competes in cross country and track. Rues recently had the opportunity to be a Boys State delegate and served in its Senate.&nbsp;Rues plans to attend The University of Kansas (KU) on an Air Force ROTC scholarship and major in history. After he serves in the Air Force, Rues plans to return to college to obtain a doctorate in European history.&nbsp;Chosen as alternates to the 2022 program were&nbsp;<a>Kevinh Nguyen, who lives in Topeka and attends Seaman High School, Seaman USD 345,&nbsp;</a>and Andrew Phalen, who lives in Lawrence and attends Lawrence High School, Lawrence USD 497.Delegates and alternates are selected by state departments of education, after nomination by teachers and principals. The Chief State School Officer or Commissioner of Education for each jurisdiction confirms the final selection.&nbsp;In Kansas, applicants have to pass a multiple-choice exam based on state and national government and write an essay. This year, the Kansas State Department of Education received 45 applications. The exams and essays are graded, and the top four applicants are selected. Delegates and alternates are authorized by Kansas Commissioner of Education Dr. Randy Watson.In years past, the competitive merit-based program would send the 104 outstanding high school students — two from each state, the District of Columbia and the Department of Defense Education Activity — to Washington, D.C., for an intensive weeklong study of the federal government and the people who lead it. However, because of the pandemic, student delegates this year will attend online meetings and briefings with senators, the president, a justice of the Supreme Court, leaders of cabinet agencies and others.&nbsp;The USSYP was created by Senate Resolution 324 in 1962 and has been sponsored by the Senate and fully funded by The Hearst Foundations since inception. The impetus for the program as stated in Senate testimony is "to increase young Americans’ understanding of the interrelationships of the three branches of government, learn the caliber and responsibilities of federally elected and appointed officials, and emphasize the vital importance of democratic decision making not only for America but for people around the world."&nbsp;The overall mission of the program is to help instill within each class of USSYP student delegates more knowledge of the American political process and a lifelong commitment to public service. The Hearst Foundations provide each student with a $10,000 undergraduate college scholarship.In addition to outstanding leadership abilities and a strong commitment to volunteer work, the student delegates rank academically in the top 1% of their states among high school juniors and seniors. Now more than 6,000 strong, alumni of the program continue to excel and develop impressive qualities that are often directed toward public service.For questions about delegates, alternates or the selection process, contact Tamla Miller, Kansas Senate Youth coordinator at the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE), at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:tmiller@ksde.org">tmiller@ksde.org</a>&nbsp;or (785) 296-4950.&nbsp;For more information on USSYP, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2ffile%3a%2f%2f%2fT%3a%2fRELEASES%2f2019%2fwww.ussenateyouth.org&amp;c=E,1,35AepP51Rxe2PvcRo-wBvjtvlmxH8pOhfEPbonQ4hg_DFaqAnVVih4BOuhB9_UzJUFD1-nV2ugxK2BTfr29-QvjpHdWtBD-vtQTkj-VhxaGYie9oag,,&amp;typo=1">www.ussenateyouth.org</a>.

La Crosse student selected for United States Senate Youth Program

Dr. Jeffery “Jeff” Curtis, MD, has joined the Health and Wellness Services team&nbsp;at Fort Hays State University as its new medical director. He replaces Dr. Dallas Richards, who served as medical director for 30 years.

Curtis oversees medical clinic operations and works closely with campus academic and student affairs partners to support student wellness, health, and safety.

“We are honored that Dr. Curtis chose to come home to FHSU and continue his remarkable career in medicine at his alma mater,” FHSU President Tisa Mason said. “He is the epitome of the engaged global citizen that is the hallmark of so many of our graduates. For more than 20 years, he has provided invaluable leadership, generosity, and service as an FHSU Foundation Executive Board member.”

Curtis’ ties to Fort Hays State are deep and span decades and generations in his family. His father and mother attended FHSU and were married on the same day they graduated in 1950. As a boy, Curtis grew up a block from the FHSU campus and spent many days playing football and basketball on the Tiger football practice field and in Sheridan Coliseum.&nbsp;

After graduating from Fort Hays State in 1977, Curtis went on to earn his medical degree from the University of Kansas School of Medicine. He then completed a fellowship in cardiovascular disease at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine.&nbsp;Very early in his medical career, Curtis was a 1987 recipient of the FHSU Alumni Association’s Young Alumni Award.&nbsp;&nbsp;

In 1988, he and his wife Connie decided to return to Kansas.

“We wanted to come home to a place we are comfortable, a place where family comes first,“ &nbsp;Curtis said.

At the time, there was no opportunity for Curtis to practice cardiology in Hays, so the family settled in Topeka, where it spent the next 14 years.&nbsp;

When an opportunity opened at Hays Medical Center in 2002, Curtis was able to bring his family to Hays. He worked as a cardiologist and director of cardiology services at HaysMed for the next 19 years and retired in August 2021.

“It’s been a privilege to practice medicine for two decades in the town where I grew up,” he said. “I’ve never needed to attend any high school or homecoming events, because my job kept me connected to lifelong friends.”

As he began to look for his next professional challenge after retirement, Curtis found FHSU’s new integrated Health and Wellness Services model particularly appealing. He plans to draw on the experience of nurse practitioners, nurses, and other clinical professionals as he learns&nbsp;more about&nbsp;the new approach to&nbsp;wellness. He also looks forward to sharing his extensive medical knowledge as a teacher in the clinic and the university’s nursing program.

A long-serving member of the FHSU Foundation’s executive committee, Curtis currently serves as the Nominating Committee Chair for the Foundation. He is also a Wooster Society member, a 20-year donor, and a Leadership Circle member.

Jeffery and Connie Curtis are the parents of three, including son Christian, a graduate student at FHSU; daughter Cathryn,&nbsp;a graduate of the FHSU BSN nursing program and a graduate in the first class of BSN to DNP doctorate of nursing practice program. She currently&nbsp;serves as a nurse practitioner at HaysMed’s Family Medicine Clinic. Son Carter passed away in 2020. Cathryn and her husband, A.J. Preisner, are the parents of Jeffery and Connie’s four grandchildren.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1642026435529.jpeg" alt="\" />
 <figcaption>\</figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU University RelationsDr. Jeffery “Jeff” Curtis, MD, has joined the Health and Wellness Services team&nbsp;at Fort Hays State University as its new medical director. He replaces Dr. Dallas Richards, who served as medical director for 30 years.Curtis oversees medical clinic operations and works closely with campus academic and student affairs partners to support student wellness, health, and safety.“We are honored that Dr. Curtis chose to come home to FHSU and continue his remarkable career in medicine at his alma mater,” FHSU President Tisa Mason said. “He is the epitome of the engaged global citizen that is the hallmark of so many of our graduates. For more than 20 years, he has provided invaluable leadership, generosity, and service as an FHSU Foundation Executive Board member.”Curtis’ ties to Fort Hays State are deep and span decades and generations in his family. His father and mother attended FHSU and were married on the same day they graduated in 1950. As a boy, Curtis grew up a block from the FHSU campus and spent many days playing football and basketball on the Tiger football practice field and in Sheridan Coliseum.&nbsp;After graduating from Fort Hays State in 1977, Curtis went on to earn his medical degree from the University of Kansas School of Medicine. He then completed a fellowship in cardiovascular disease at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine.&nbsp;Very early in his medical career, Curtis was a 1987 recipient of the FHSU Alumni Association’s Young Alumni Award.&nbsp;&nbsp;In 1988, he and his wife Connie decided to return to Kansas.“We wanted to come home to a place we are comfortable, a place where family comes first,“ &nbsp;Curtis said.At the time, there was no opportunity for Curtis to practice cardiology in Hays, so the family settled in Topeka, where it spent the next 14 years.&nbsp;When an opportunity opened at Hays Medical Center in 2002, Curtis was able to bring his family to Hays. He worked as a cardiologist and director of cardiology services at HaysMed for the next 19 years and retired in August 2021.“It’s been a privilege to practice medicine for two decades in the town where I grew up,” he said. “I’ve never needed to attend any high school or homecoming events, because my job kept me connected to lifelong friends.”As he began to look for his next professional challenge after retirement, Curtis found FHSU’s new integrated Health and Wellness Services model particularly appealing. He plans to draw on the experience of nurse practitioners, nurses, and other clinical professionals as he learns&nbsp;more about&nbsp;the new approach to&nbsp;wellness. He also looks forward to sharing his extensive medical knowledge as a teacher in the clinic and the university’s nursing program.A long-serving member of the FHSU Foundation’s executive committee, Curtis currently serves as the Nominating Committee Chair for the Foundation. He is also a Wooster Society member, a 20-year donor, and a Leadership Circle member.Jeffery and Connie Curtis are the parents of three, including son Christian, a graduate student at FHSU; daughter Cathryn,&nbsp;a graduate of the FHSU BSN nursing program and a graduate in the first class of BSN to DNP doctorate of nursing practice program. She currently&nbsp;serves as a nurse practitioner at HaysMed’s Family Medicine Clinic. Son Carter passed away in 2020. Cathryn and her husband, A.J. Preisner, are the parents of Jeffery and Connie’s four grandchildren.

Fort Hays State welcomes new medical director

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1642182033592.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://hayspost.com/pages/state-farm-weather-window">For a full look at the weather click here.</a>

Three-day weather outlook

We are looking for CDL Drivers (A or with a hazmat endorsement, or ability to acquire one, for our oilfield wireline company. ELI would also consider helping the right people obtain a CDL license. The job will require rigging for wireline operations.&nbsp;

Applicants should be able to work outdoors and have the ability to lift 75 pounds. Typical 40-hour work week with overtime in peak season. Some weekend work and occasional travel out of state is required. Light maintenance, cleaning and mechanical work of vehicles &amp; equipment is also involved. 24/7 on-call rotation is also a requirement of this position.

Benefits include 100% Blue Cross Blue Shield Health Insurance paid by employer, 401K, and a competitive salary. This position is based out of Hays, Kansas. If interested, please apply at 1327 Rome Road, Hays, Kansas 67601.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1642173059034.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>We are looking for CDL Drivers (A or with a hazmat endorsement, or ability to acquire one, for our oilfield wireline company. ELI would also consider helping the right people obtain a CDL license. The job will require rigging for wireline operations.&nbsp;Applicants should be able to work outdoors and have the ability to lift 75 pounds. Typical 40-hour work week with overtime in peak season. Some weekend work and occasional travel out of state is required. Light maintenance, cleaning and mechanical work of vehicles &amp; equipment is also involved. 24/7 on-call rotation is also a requirement of this position.Benefits include 100% Blue Cross Blue Shield Health Insurance paid by employer, 401K, and a competitive salary. This position is based out of Hays, Kansas. If interested, please apply at 1327 Rome Road, Hays, Kansas 67601.

UNRUH: Soup made healthy — reduce the sodium

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

The Wonder Women League and the Fort Hays State University Criminal Justice Department hosted a self-defense class for women Saturday at FHSU. 

The class was taught by Stefan and Amy Gildemeister of Blue Guardian self-defense.

Thirty-four women participated in the event. Proceeds from registration fees will be donated to Jana's Campaign.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1642276550481.jpeg" alt="A self-defense class participant practices breaking free from a choke hold. " />
 <figcaption>A self-defense class participant practices breaking free from a choke hold. </figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostThe Wonder Women League and the Fort Hays State University Criminal Justice Department hosted a self-defense class for women Saturday at FHSU. The class was taught by Stefan and Amy Gildemeister of Blue Guardian self-defense.Thirty-four women participated in the event. Proceeds from registration fees will be donated to Jana's Campaign.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1642279086555.jpeg" alt="Stefan and Amy Gildemeister of Blue Guardian self -defense demonstrate a self-defense move during a self-defense class for women on Saturday at FHSU. " />
 <figcaption>Stefan and Amy Gildemeister of Blue Guardian self -defense demonstrate a self-defense move during a self-defense class for women on Saturday at FHSU. </figcaption>
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Wonder Women League hosts self-defense class for women

This year’s Olliff Family Educational Symposium at Fort Hays State University has been set for Thursday, Feb. 10, in an online webinar format. The symposium, sponsored by FHSU’s College of Education, will run from 8:15 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The theme of this symposium for area K-12 educators is “Creating Connected Classrooms.” Three areas of focus will be 1) How do we connect with the most “connected” generation of all time?; 2) How do you help young people learn in the ways they are built to learn?; and 3) How do we stay upright and thriving as educators during this challenging period of time?

<a></a>The featured speaker will be Dayton Galyon, a longtime college basketball and golf coach who now is the director of the men’s and women’s golf programs at Friends University in Wichita.&nbsp;Each year, he works with audiences around the country, helping educators understand and create avenues to connect with this generation. The workshop he will present at the symposium is called “Bridging the Gap.”&nbsp;

The symposium is free and open to the public. However, registration is required. Links to the webinar will be emailed to registrants. For information on how to register and a link to the registration page, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=-2BFJoAhsjp8losQfY8t-2BZtN-2Fj9s0yPyc2rbeRcam7tpkcn3nlGyYD39zFK5knPOuTwqj0_-2FnwFlkKVzcKMOkDYhP8GUyFUplsqhIzQPvqFQr864lE6mcAzErX0FzZi5JGU6rvvK6MLOuHK4jhl5V61fmGkhToZRMbpEKBDAFMZ0jElT3tJmz7vmG2Oh1wrxpMGOIemhlWgU2VZqB6beG-2FO2-2FUj67Y96dW-2BF3kDor8EkDtlR-2FOGdIHXd6c4ZYHmywXn5Oh-2BrUG8SzzvuGt0keispyAFZvHdnFx5-2BkoY52PkFYFKT2yQ800A3F9S-2BVnF9w0t6-2BvEH-2BHvjoTT1XmYcKbLyHXjzls9p-2BefvUe7uIFIGLqJbEfMmwFfuez3AyM6gRhD6wLS0b9m-2F2pUGZr11j62FfcZz2zYEY9Fd1TnkvhvLYOkGGhWz1DkgcDGcuRqZI78R5r-2FJxJVjLA2bRawfeszCxl-2FLg-3D-3D">https://forms.gle/7TQ2SXa5zUZkSHoEA</a>.

The symposium, which began in 2017, is sponsored by FHSU’s College of Education and was later named after the Olliff Family in honor of the late Darel Olliff and his wife, Shirley.

As a third-generation funeral director in Phillipsburg, Darel developed a passion for mental health. His son, Dr. Kenton Olliff – a long-time employee of FHSU – had worked with his dad for several years before going into teaching.

<a></a>To ensure the symposium would be offered every year, Kenton committed in 2019 to financially support this important event along with his mother; his wife, Carol Solko-Olliff; and the Olliff family. Kenton, a licensed clinical professional and addiction counselor, is an associate professor of Advanced Education Programs at FHSU, where Carol is the director of International Student Services.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1642111484090.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU University RelationsThis year’s Olliff Family Educational Symposium at Fort Hays State University has been set for Thursday, Feb. 10, in an online webinar format. The symposium, sponsored by FHSU’s College of Education, will run from 8:15 a.m. to 1 p.m.The theme of this symposium for area K-12 educators is “Creating Connected Classrooms.” Three areas of focus will be 1) How do we connect with the most “connected” generation of all time?; 2) How do you help young people learn in the ways they are built to learn?; and 3) How do we stay upright and thriving as educators during this challenging period of time?<a></a>The featured speaker will be Dayton Galyon, a longtime college basketball and golf coach who now is the director of the men’s and women’s golf programs at Friends University in Wichita.&nbsp;Each year, he works with audiences around the country, helping educators understand and create avenues to connect with this generation. The workshop he will present at the symposium is called “Bridging the Gap.”&nbsp;The symposium is free and open to the public. However, registration is required. Links to the webinar will be emailed to registrants. For information on how to register and a link to the registration page, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=-2BFJoAhsjp8losQfY8t-2BZtN-2Fj9s0yPyc2rbeRcam7tpkcn3nlGyYD39zFK5knPOuTwqj0_-2FnwFlkKVzcKMOkDYhP8GUyFUplsqhIzQPvqFQr864lE6mcAzErX0FzZi5JGU6rvvK6MLOuHK4jhl5V61fmGkhToZRMbpEKBDAFMZ0jElT3tJmz7vmG2Oh1wrxpMGOIemhlWgU2VZqB6beG-2FO2-2FUj67Y96dW-2BF3kDor8EkDtlR-2FOGdIHXd6c4ZYHmywXn5Oh-2BrUG8SzzvuGt0keispyAFZvHdnFx5-2BkoY52PkFYFKT2yQ800A3F9S-2BVnF9w0t6-2BvEH-2BHvjoTT1XmYcKbLyHXjzls9p-2BefvUe7uIFIGLqJbEfMmwFfuez3AyM6gRhD6wLS0b9m-2F2pUGZr11j62FfcZz2zYEY9Fd1TnkvhvLYOkGGhWz1DkgcDGcuRqZI78R5r-2FJxJVjLA2bRawfeszCxl-2FLg-3D-3D">https://forms.gle/7TQ2SXa5zUZkSHoEA</a>.The symposium, which began in 2017, is sponsored by FHSU’s College of Education and was later named after the Olliff Family in honor of the late Darel Olliff and his wife, Shirley.As a third-generation funeral director in Phillipsburg, Darel developed a passion for mental health. His son, Dr. Kenton Olliff – a long-time employee of FHSU – had worked with his dad for several years before going into teaching.<a></a>To ensure the symposium would be offered every year, Kenton committed in 2019 to financially support this important event along with his mother; his wife, Carol Solko-Olliff; and the Olliff family. Kenton, a licensed clinical professional and addiction counselor, is an associate professor of Advanced Education Programs at FHSU, where Carol is the director of International Student Services.&nbsp;

Registration open for FHSU’s annual educational symposium

Kansas Coalition Against Sexual &amp; Domestic Violence

TOPEKA — “We were alarmed and saddened to hear of three domestic-violence related homicides and a suicide within the first weeks of the new year in Kansas,” said KCSDV Executive Director Joyce Grover.

These Kansas deaths&nbsp;included three in Larned and one in El Dorado. In 2020, 34 Kansans were killed in domestic violence incidents.

“These are lives lost too soon. They are people someone knew and loved," she said.&nbsp; “The&nbsp;needless&nbsp;loss of life is distressing and is something our coalition members work every day to prevent and eliminate. We know that&nbsp;incidents of sexual and domestic violence are underreported. While much work is being done statewide by victim advocates&nbsp;and other allies&nbsp;to reach out to victims and assure resources are available across the state, there are still many victims who never tell anyone about abuse and violence inflicted upon them.

“For every survivor who reaches out for services, there are countless others who aren’t receiving services&nbsp;or don’t know that services are available.&nbsp;And, for those who are attempting to leave their abusers, they are&nbsp;often&nbsp;facing increased risks for violence, including murder,” Grover added.

Today and every day, victims deserve safety and justice. Here are tips on how to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcsdv.org/learn-more/resources/brochures/general-info/supportdv/">support a victim or to start a conversation.</a>

KCSDV urges all communities to&nbsp;assess&nbsp;what they can do to create safer and more immediate responses for victims and survivors and their children. As&nbsp;Kansans, there is something everyone can do:&nbsp;Know&nbsp;the Kansas Crisis Hotline number, 888-END-ABUS(E) or 888-363-2287 and be ready to&nbsp;share it confidentially with victims or publicly in your business or office. Know where your local services are and assure&nbsp;victims&nbsp;will have the contact information of their local victim advocacy services organization&nbsp;when they need it. These services can be&nbsp;found at &nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcsdv.org/find-help/in-kansas/dv-sa-services-map/">https://www.kcsdv.org/find-help/in-kansas/dv-sa-services-map/</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1642024527440.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Kansas Coalition Against Sexual &amp; Domestic Violence TOPEKA — “We were alarmed and saddened to hear of three domestic-violence related homicides and a suicide within the first weeks of the new year in Kansas,” said KCSDV Executive Director Joyce Grover.These Kansas deaths&nbsp;included three in Larned and one in El Dorado. In 2020, 34 Kansans were killed in domestic violence incidents.“These are lives lost too soon. They are people someone knew and loved," she said.&nbsp; “The&nbsp;needless&nbsp;loss of life is distressing and is something our coalition members work every day to prevent and eliminate. We know that&nbsp;incidents of sexual and domestic violence are underreported. While much work is being done statewide by victim advocates&nbsp;and other allies&nbsp;to reach out to victims and assure resources are available across the state, there are still many victims who never tell anyone about abuse and violence inflicted upon them.“For every survivor who reaches out for services, there are countless others who aren’t receiving services&nbsp;or don’t know that services are available.&nbsp;And, for those who are attempting to leave their abusers, they are&nbsp;often&nbsp;facing increased risks for violence, including murder,” Grover added.Today and every day, victims deserve safety and justice. Here are tips on how to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcsdv.org/learn-more/resources/brochures/general-info/supportdv/">support a victim or to start a conversation.</a>KCSDV urges all communities to&nbsp;assess&nbsp;what they can do to create safer and more immediate responses for victims and survivors and their children. As&nbsp;Kansans, there is something everyone can do:&nbsp;Know&nbsp;the Kansas Crisis Hotline number, 888-END-ABUS(E) or 888-363-2287 and be ready to&nbsp;share it confidentially with victims or publicly in your business or office. Know where your local services are and assure&nbsp;victims&nbsp;will have the contact information of their local victim advocacy services organization&nbsp;when they need it. These services can be&nbsp;found at &nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcsdv.org/find-help/in-kansas/dv-sa-services-map/">https://www.kcsdv.org/find-help/in-kansas/dv-sa-services-map/</a>— Submitted

Coalition speaks out after three domestic-violence deaths open 2022

As the 2022 legislative session kicks off this week all eyes are on Topeka. It’s an election year and the issues tackled this session will have a huge impact on the midterm results.

Last session, the legislature followed several other Republican-led legislatures across the country in passing restrictive voting laws. Most notable of these laws included restricting voter registration drives and limiting the number of ballots an individual can bring to the polls on behalf of someone else.

GOP lawmakers seem poised to once again take up legislation that would make it harder for Kansans to vote. Secretary of State Scott Schwab has also said he’ll once again be pushing bills that create extra hurdles, including shortening the period of time county election officers have to wait before removing inactive voters from the voter rolls.&nbsp;

Such laws have been introduced and passed in the name of “election integrity."

Of course, election integrity is important. It’s essential to democracy. However, extensive research shows that election fraud is extremely rare — 0.0003% according to the Brennan Center for Justice.

Most issues reported as voter fraud are actually voter or administrative error. Voter impersonation is virtually nonexistent and there is no evidence of large numbers of people voting illegally.

Previously, the Kansas legislature had expanded Secretary of State power to investigate fraudulent voting. As a result, Kris Kobach gained national attention for his diatribe against voter fraud in our state. However, even the former Secretary of State, who at the time claimed he had proof of over 100 cases of non-citizens voting illegally, was unable to find widespread voter fraud.

Kobach’s investigation resulted in thirteen prosecuted cases of voter fraud, only one of which was by a non-citizen. In the remaining twelve cases, registered citizens had cast two ballots in two different states during the same election. He expanded his investigation to the entire United States and found only 14 cases of fraudulent voting among the 84 million votes reviewed.

According to the voter fraud database collected by the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, there were zero cases of voter fraud in Kansas in 2020 and only one in 2021 — former Republican Congressman Steve Watkins was charged with false voter registration.

False allegations of fraudulent voting have consistently been repeated despite no evidence to support these claims. This has made it harder for eligible Kansans to participate in elections and has undermined free and fair access to the ballot box.

These strict voting rules also make voting disproportionately difficult for communities of color and other marginalized groups —the poor, the less educated, those who have criminal records, and those who are new to the voting process like young people and new immigrants.&nbsp;

One pillar of democracy is the holding of free and fair elections that allow voters to choose their representatives. But voter suppression laws shift that power and allow for representatives to choose their voters by creating more barriers to the ballot box, especially among underrepresented groups.

The legislature would better serve Kansans by not focusing their limited time and resources on repeatedly addressing voter fraud when it is virtually nonexistent and instead focusing on issues that would contribute to bettering Kansans’ quality of life, like COVID-19 response, Medicaid expansion, and the elimination of the grocery tax, just to name a few.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1633377761670.jpeg" alt="Alexandra Middlewood, PhD is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Wichita State University." />
 <figcaption>Alexandra Middlewood, PhD is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Wichita State University.</figcaption>
 </figure>As the 2022 legislative session kicks off this week all eyes are on Topeka. It’s an election year and the issues tackled this session will have a huge impact on the midterm results.Last session, the legislature followed several other Republican-led legislatures across the country in passing restrictive voting laws. Most notable of these laws included restricting voter registration drives and limiting the number of ballots an individual can bring to the polls on behalf of someone else.GOP lawmakers seem poised to once again take up legislation that would make it harder for Kansans to vote. Secretary of State Scott Schwab has also said he’ll once again be pushing bills that create extra hurdles, including shortening the period of time county election officers have to wait before removing inactive voters from the voter rolls.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575913663048.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Such laws have been introduced and passed in the name of “election integrity."Of course, election integrity is important. It’s essential to democracy. However, extensive research shows that election fraud is extremely rare — 0.0003% according to the Brennan Center for Justice.Most issues reported as voter fraud are actually voter or administrative error. Voter impersonation is virtually nonexistent and there is no evidence of large numbers of people voting illegally.Previously, the Kansas legislature had expanded Secretary of State power to investigate fraudulent voting. As a result, Kris Kobach gained national attention for his diatribe against voter fraud in our state. However, even the former Secretary of State, who at the time claimed he had proof of over 100 cases of non-citizens voting illegally, was unable to find widespread voter fraud.Kobach’s investigation resulted in thirteen prosecuted cases of voter fraud, only one of which was by a non-citizen. In the remaining twelve cases, registered citizens had cast two ballots in two different states during the same election. He expanded his investigation to the entire United States and found only 14 cases of fraudulent voting among the 84 million votes reviewed.According to the voter fraud database collected by the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, there were zero cases of voter fraud in Kansas in 2020 and only one in 2021 — former Republican Congressman Steve Watkins was charged with false voter registration.False allegations of fraudulent voting have consistently been repeated despite no evidence to support these claims. This has made it harder for eligible Kansans to participate in elections and has undermined free and fair access to the ballot box.These strict voting rules also make voting disproportionately difficult for communities of color and other marginalized groups —the poor, the less educated, those who have criminal records, and those who are new to the voting process like young people and new immigrants.&nbsp;One pillar of democracy is the holding of free and fair elections that allow voters to choose their representatives. But voter suppression laws shift that power and allow for representatives to choose their voters by creating more barriers to the ballot box, especially among underrepresented groups.The legislature would better serve Kansans by not focusing their limited time and resources on repeatedly addressing voter fraud when it is virtually nonexistent and instead focusing on issues that would contribute to bettering Kansans’ quality of life, like COVID-19 response, Medicaid expansion, and the elimination of the grocery tax, just to name a few.Alexandra Middlewood, PhD is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Wichita State University.

INSIGHT KANSAS: Additional voter suppression laws unnecessary

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1642181983016.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://hayspost.com/pages/state-farm-weather-window">For a full look at the weather click here.</a>

MANHATTAN — Kansas Farm Bureau is continuing in 2022 its recognition of “Sesquicentennial Farms” in conjunction with KFB’s annual “Century Farm” program. The Century Farm program honors farms with ownership of at least 80 acres within the same family for 100 years or more. The Sesquicentennial Farm recognition goes beyond that to farms in the same family for 150 years. Both programs require an applicant to be a Farm Bureau member in Kansas. “Kansas farmers and ranchers have a lot to be proud of,” Rich Felts, Kansas Farm Bureau president, says. “One thing we take pride in is our value in the traditions and strong family ties through generations of rural living. Kansas Farm Bureau is honored to celebrate those through the Century Farm and Sesquicentennial Farms programs.” The deadline for consideration to be part of the 2022 programs is May 15. Since the year 2000, Kansas Farm Bureau has recognized more than 3,100 family farms. Complete details for qualification and applications for both programs can be obtained at county Farm Bureau offices across Kansas or on the KFB website,&nbsp;<a href="https://kfb.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=45bba928f411d21617c5eadbe&amp;id=53d4c35b6e&amp;e=5bf0f0e5fe">www.kfb.org/centuryfarm</a>.

KFBMANHATTAN — Kansas Farm Bureau is continuing in 2022 its recognition of “Sesquicentennial Farms” in conjunction with KFB’s annual “Century Farm” program. The Century Farm program honors farms with ownership of at least 80 acres within the same family for 100 years or more. The Sesquicentennial Farm recognition goes beyond that to farms in the same family for 150 years. Both programs require an applicant to be a Farm Bureau member in Kansas. “Kansas farmers and ranchers have a lot to be proud of,” Rich Felts, Kansas Farm Bureau president, says. “One thing we take pride in is our value in the traditions and strong family ties through generations of rural living. Kansas Farm Bureau is honored to celebrate those through the Century Farm and Sesquicentennial Farms programs.” The deadline for consideration to be part of the 2022 programs is May 15. Since the year 2000, Kansas Farm Bureau has recognized more than 3,100 family farms. Complete details for qualification and applications for both programs can be obtained at county Farm Bureau offices across Kansas or on the KFB website,&nbsp;<a href="https://kfb.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=45bba928f411d21617c5eadbe&amp;id=53d4c35b6e&amp;e=5bf0f0e5fe">www.kfb.org/centuryfarm</a>.

Kansas Farm Bureau to honor tradition, heritage of family farms

Saturday evening, the Friends of the Hays Public Library is
set to host their annual meeting. 

The organization seeks to increase its membership
and community involvement, so the event is free and open to the public.

The meeting is set to take place from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at
the library.

“This year, they're going to do make it more special,” said Hays
Public Marketing Coordinator Callie Kolacny. You don't have to be a member of
the friends organization to attend this. They really want to get the word out
about the friends and possibly get some new members.”

Following a short meeting, wine, cheese and music will be
available, allowing attendees to learn about the group at their leisure.

“So it'll just be a nice social gathering. You can find out
more about the organization, which really is huge,” Kolacny said. “The
organization is very important to the library. … They have volunteer work, they
have the bookstore that they manage, they do those book exchanges, they do a
lot of work for the library — and a lot of it is behind-the-scenes work.

“They help just really raise funds for the library, because
all of the funds that go into the book exchanges and the bookstore, all of that
money goes back into the library in some way or another.”

She said a recent example of the benefits from the organization
is the addition of the Bookmobile and the full remodel.

It is also an inclusive group including people of a variety
of ages and backgrounds.

For those members, there are benefits as well, like early
access to book sales and discounts.

“There's a wide variety of things that you can do as a
member of the friends organization,” Kolacny said. “And you can be a member
for as little as $5 a year There's a variety of levels for the friend’s
organization to be part of it, you can do a lifetime membership, you can do
different, as I said different levels, depending on what you're comfortable with.

“And yes, this $5, it doesn't seem like a lot, but it does
benefit the friends organization which in turn benefits the library,” Kolacny
said. “So it is a great way to support the library without having to
maybe spend a whole lot of time or money either way. But you're still giving
something to the library.”

<a href="https://hayslibrary.org/friends/">For more information about the group
visit hayslibrary.org/friends.</a>

<div><iframe title="Friends of the Hays Public Library invites public to annual meeting" 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=x5y4f-117be67-pb&from=pb6admin&square=1&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=ffffff&btn-skin=3267a3&size=300" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>By JAMES BELL Hays PostSaturday evening, the Friends of the Hays Public Library is
set to host their annual meeting. The organization seeks to increase its membership
and community involvement, so the event is free and open to the public.The meeting is set to take place from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at
the library.“This year, they're going to do make it more special,” said Hays
Public Marketing Coordinator Callie Kolacny. You don't have to be a member of
the friends organization to attend this. They really want to get the word out
about the friends and possibly get some new members.”Following a short meeting, wine, cheese and music will be
available, allowing attendees to learn about the group at their leisure.“So it'll just be a nice social gathering. You can find out
more about the organization, which really is huge,” Kolacny said. “The
organization is very important to the library. … They have volunteer work, they
have the bookstore that they manage, they do those book exchanges, they do a
lot of work for the library — and a lot of it is behind-the-scenes work.“They help just really raise funds for the library, because
all of the funds that go into the book exchanges and the bookstore, all of that
money goes back into the library in some way or another.”She said a recent example of the benefits from the organization
is the addition of the Bookmobile and the full remodel.It is also an inclusive group including people of a variety
of ages and backgrounds.For those members, there are benefits as well, like early
access to book sales and discounts.“There's a wide variety of things that you can do as a
member of the friends organization,” Kolacny said. “And you can be a member
for as little as $5 a year There's a variety of levels for the friend’s
organization to be part of it, you can do a lifetime membership, you can do
different, as I said different levels, depending on what you're comfortable with.“And yes, this $5, it doesn't seem like a lot, but it does
benefit the friends organization which in turn benefits the library,” Kolacny
said. “So it is a great way to support the library without having to
maybe spend a whole lot of time or money either way. But you're still giving
something to the library.”<a href="https://hayslibrary.org/friends/">For more information about the group
visit hayslibrary.org/friends.</a>

🎙Friends of the Hays Public Library invites public to annual meeting

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

The Hays USD 489 school district heard a report on a community survey on facilities at its work session on Monday.

Superintendent Ron Wilson said he thought two themes worth noting were 70 percent of respondents said USD 489 is not keeping pace with other districts in terms of facilities.

Seventy percent also said an investment in school facilities is needed in order for Hays schools to continue to grow.

The district received about 900 responses from the community-wide survey with responses coming from a combination of parents, grandparents, district staff and taxpayers.

A majority of respondents — 55.7 percent said they thought USD 489 facilities did not meet the education needs of students.

Sixty-six percent of respondents said they did not think the current facilities met the future needs of students, and 76.8 percent of respondents said the facilities were not sufficiently updated or modernized.

The survey also asked several questions about the learning needs of students, and 84.6 percent of respondents said the learning needs of students are different today than they were when many of the district's facilities were built.

Several questions asked about how important the respondents thought school facilities were to the future success of Hays as a whole.

Just over 81 percent of survey respondents said the making a significant investment in schools is a critical priority for the community. Eighty-two percent said an investment in facilities was needed to help ensure people choose Hays to raise a family, and 71 percent of respondents said they thought improvements in schools was needed to maintain and grow home values.

The community was more split on what improvements should be made at district schools.

The district has floated three major plans for a possible bond issue. Each includes building a new school, either a high school, middle school or elementary school.

Just less than 63 percent of respondents said they favored building a new high school and renovating the high school into a middle school. This was the bond option that received the most support.

Building a new Hays High auditorium also received significant support as did adding adequate space to all schools.

Only 27 percent of survey respondents supported building a new middle school. Multiple concerns arose in the open comments on the survey about the consolidation of two or more of the elementary schools into a larger school.

Corey Barenbrugge with Community Link, which collected the survey data for the district, said the comments from the survey were very constructive and there was a general agreement improvements needed to be made.

Survey respondents said they thought available funding to upgrade facilities continues to be one of USD 489's biggest challenges along with its aging facilities.

Board Vice President Craig Pallister said he thought DLR, the district's architect, has been doing a good job of letting the community drive the contents of the bond issue.

Stephanie Meyer of DLR said, "Every meeting we've had, I've really stressed that DLR is here to be a facilitator for your community. We are not here to set what your scope is. We are here to provide the expertise to make that happen."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1641852947880.jpg" alt="Photo courtesy of Pixabay " />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy of Pixabay </figcaption>
 </figure><h2>District shooting for May 10 election</h2>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostThe Hays USD 489 school district heard a report on a community survey on facilities at its work session on Monday.Superintendent Ron Wilson said he thought two themes worth noting were 70 percent of respondents said USD 489 is not keeping pace with other districts in terms of facilities.Seventy percent also said an investment in school facilities is needed in order for Hays schools to continue to grow.The district received about 900 responses from the community-wide survey with responses coming from a combination of parents, grandparents, district staff and taxpayers.A majority of respondents — 55.7 percent said they thought USD 489 facilities did not meet the education needs of students.Sixty-six percent of respondents said they did not think the current facilities met the future needs of students, and 76.8 percent of respondents said the facilities were not sufficiently updated or modernized.The survey also asked several questions about the learning needs of students, and 84.6 percent of respondents said the learning needs of students are different today than they were when many of the district's facilities were built.Several questions asked about how important the respondents thought school facilities were to the future success of Hays as a whole. Just over 81 percent of survey respondents said the making a significant investment in schools is a critical priority for the community. Eighty-two percent said an investment in facilities was needed to help ensure people choose Hays to raise a family, and 71 percent of respondents said they thought improvements in schools was needed to maintain and grow home values.The community was more split on what improvements should be made at district schools.The district has floated three major plans for a possible bond issue. Each includes building a new school, either a high school, middle school or elementary school.Just less than 63 percent of respondents said they favored building a new high school and renovating the high school into a middle school. This was the bond option that received the most support.Building a new Hays High auditorium also received significant support as did adding adequate space to all schools.Only 27 percent of survey respondents supported building a new middle school. Multiple concerns arose in the open comments on the survey about the consolidation of two or more of the elementary schools into a larger school.Corey Barenbrugge with Community Link, which collected the survey data for the district, said the comments from the survey were very constructive and there was a general agreement improvements needed to be made.Survey respondents said they thought available funding to upgrade facilities continues to be one of USD 489's biggest challenges along with its aging facilities.Board Vice President Craig Pallister said he thought DLR, the district's architect, has been doing a good job of letting the community drive the contents of the bond issue.Stephanie Meyer of DLR said, "Every meeting we've had, I've really stressed that DLR is here to be a facilitator for your community. We are not here to set what your scope is. We are here to provide the expertise to make that happen."The district will have one more vision meeting at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 19, at the Rockwell Administration Center. District officials' goal is for the committee to finalize the bond scope at that meeting. If that is achieved, members of that committee will present a plan to the school board at its meeting Jan 24.The board has released a second bond survey asking about the specific scope of the bond. That can be found on the <a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HAYS489_2">district website</a> or any&nbsp; of the district's social media platforms. The school board could consider a final bond proposal at its work session on Feb. 7. Once the board has decided what projects it wants to include in a bond issue, it then must decide how it will fund them.District officials hope to set a vote on the bond before the end of school year, possibly Tuesday, May 10, Wilson said. Cover photo courtesy of Pixabay

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